Rex Grossman was asked about the team’s rookie receivers.

“Leonard Hankerson is gonna be a star,” Grossman said. “He started to make a bunch of plays on scout team, one-handed [catches] over the middle, just unbelievable catches, and started to gain a bunch of confidence. And it carried over to the game once they put him in there. He’s a big, fast, smooth route runner and is gonna be a playmaker and a starter for the Redskins for a long time. Niles Paul is the other rookie, just a big, strong, fast [guy], solid as a rock. Really good in the run game at blocking, just hasn’t had the opportunity to make a lot of plays down the field, but he can do that as well.”


(washingtonpost.com)

Running back Clinton Portis hasn't given up hope on playing in the NFL again.

Portis, who sat out the 2011 season after being released by the Washington Redskins, told NFL.com that he has his passion back after being "heartbroken" after the Redskins cut him.

"I'm ready to go back, ready to work things out and I'm open to idea of going out to prove that I can still play," Portis told NFL.com. "I just turned 30 and with nine years in the NFL and six 1,000-yard seasons that's enough right there to show what I can do. I'm just ready to go prove to whatever team that's ready and willing to open the doors to go out and prove it."

Portis' agent, Jason Fletcher, told NFL.com that he has meetings set up with some teams at next week's scouting combine to discuss his client.
Portis had played in only 13 games in the two seasons before his release because of a severe concussion in 2009 and a torn groin muscle in 2010.

Fletcher told NFL.com that Portis, who is 77 yards of 10,000 career rushing yards, has been given medical clearance to resume his career.


(espn.com)

Not that it’s a surprise because everyone has realized that if a new long-term contract isn’t reached with defensive end Calais Campbell, he would receive a franchise tag to buy time, but general manager Rod Graves said Thursday Campbell will be sticking around. Graves didn’t come out during an interview on Arizona Sports 620 and say Campbell will get the franchise tag, but he did say Campbell would stay put.

“Calais will be with us, rest assured,” Graves said. “We will continue to focus on getting a long term deal in place and it’s a process. But he will be an Arizona Cardinals player this year and we are hoping certainly to extend that to a long-term deal. Conversations are continuing with his agent.”
The only way Graves can be sure Campbell would be a Cardinal this year is to know the tag will be used if a new contract isn’t reached. There is still a long time before the tag deadline. Teams can start using the tag Feb. 20 (Monday) and must apply it no later than March 5, a little more than a week before free agency. There is plenty of time to get a contract hammered out before March 5, and the reality is most deals don’t come down without some kind of deadline approaching.

And of course, if/once the tag is used, discussions will keep going for a new contract.


(azcardinals.com)

As Queen’s “We Are the Champions” blared over the sound system, 200 cheering seventh- and eighth-graders welcomed New York Giants starting safety Antrel Rolle to the gymnasium at the Anna L. Klein School in Guttenberg.

“In my household, education came first I wasn’t allowed to get C’s on my report card,” said Rolle, whose Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, in the Super Bowl.

“Football is a great, outstanding thing, but it’s just a stepping stone,” he told the students, stressing that nothing beats receiving a good education.
Rolle came to the school on an invitation by his friend, Guttenberg Police Officer Chad Smith. The 29-year-old Rolle, who also reached the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals two years ago, did not hesitate in saying yes.

“I have a huge love and passion for the kids,” Rolle told The Jersey Journal.

“My mother was a guidance counselor for 32 years, while my father and two brothers are police officers in Miami (Fla.), so I know what giving back to the community is about.”

The students in attendance seemed to appreciate what Rolle, who owns a home off River Road in North Bergen, had to say, taking home the positive message he was trying to send.

“The message I took home is that education is big, something to take very seriously,” said Gilberto Cue, an eighth-grader who plays football and basketball.

“Motivation is the most important thing for everything you do,” is the message Simon Correa, also an eighth-grader, took home from the event.
Rolle, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, took questions from the kids.

“I knew from a young age I could do anything I set my mind to,” Rolle said when asked how he became a professional athlete. “Throughout my life, I saw plenty of more athletically gifted players than me, but they didn’t have my heart and determination.”

As far as the NFL goes, Rolle said winning Super Bowl XLVI was “a dream come true” and “the best feeling yet.”

Anna L. Klein vice principal Joe Forenza introduced Rolle to the students, while Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff presented Rolle with a plaque thanking him for his service to the community, as well as a Key to the Town.

“This is an honor, it’s great for the kids,” Drasheff said. “We’re stressing sports/fitness for our young people, but obviously we want to stress the importance of scholastics as well.”

Rolle stayed after his talk to sign autographs and have pictures taken with students, faculty and police officers.


(nj.com)

NEW YORK — Miami Heat sharpshooter James Jones will defend his title in the NBA All-Star Game Three-Pointer Contest against five rivals, including teammate Mario Chalmers, the league announced on Wednesday.

The event will be staged on February 25 on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game at Orlando, Florida.

The Three-Pointer field also includes Orlando's Ryan Anderson, Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Minnesota's Kevin Love and New Jersey's Anthony Morrow.

Jones claimed the crown last year, beating a field that included 2010 champion Paul Pierce and his Boston Celtics' teammate Ray Allen, the 2001 winner who is the all-time NBA leader in 3-point baskets.

Jones hopes to join back-to-back Three-Point Contest winners Mark Price, Peja Stojakovic, Jeff Hornacek and Jason Kapono, one shy of the record three wins in a row achieved by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.

Chalmers is the most accurate 3-point shooter this season among those in the contest at 46.3 percent followed by Anderson at 42.1 percent and Morrow at 42.0.

Morrow has the best career regular-season 3-point average of any of the shooters in the contest at 44.3 percent with Jones second at 40.2 percent.


(ap.com)

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported earlier this week that we would learn the fate of Ryan Braun‘s appeal before the outfielder reports to spring training, but Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports was told by a source “familiar with the appeal” that there’s a possibility a decision could take longer.

While there’s hope for a resolution on the matter by next week, Passan’s source says that it may not happen until the week after. Braun is scheduled to report to Brewers’ camp next Friday while the team’s first full-squad workout will take place the following day.

The 2011 National League MVP tested positive in early October for “insane levels” of synthetic testosterone and faces a possible 50-game suspension which would push his season debut back to May 31. If the suspension is upheld, Braun will still be eligible to play during Brewers’ spring training games.


(nbcsports.com)

Miami OG Brandon Washington has paid his dues as a pass protector at the college level and since Atlanta had issues protecting QB Matt Ryan at times in 2011, Washington will get a look in the second round. Washington is a huge, very athletic, incredibly strong lineman with upside.



(cbssports.com)

On January 10, Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh launched his own nonprofit organization, called A GRAN Foundation, targeted at empowering youth to success by giving them the necessary guidance.

For the last month, the foundation has been working once a week with underserved kids at Yorkshire Elementary in Manassas, Va.  That’s where the sweet workbooks come in, explained Rocky’s wife, Alessia.

“They spend half of their time doing physical activity and enrichment, and half the time doing academic, curriculum-based activities,” she said.  ”We’ve created these weekly workbooks to take home and work on.  When they meet with the teachers, they do a lesson that’s related to the week’s theme.”

The story behind the “GRAN”  foundation name, is actually the four names in the McIntosh family: Gavin (son), Rocky, Alessia and Natalie (daughter).  Not only is it a tribute to Rocky’s family, but it’s also a reminder that the youth need their families in order to succeed.

“We just meet once a month with the parents and try to get them engaged with the activities and promote healthy lifestyles,” Alessia explained.  ”Obviously, the kids aren’t the ones buying the groceries or picking the foods for the house, so we educate the parents a little bit about what a healthy lifestyle encompasses.”

Rocky explained that he’s been looking for a charity to support since he came to Washington six years ago.  He thanked his wife for supporting this venture, which the family is paying for out of pocket.

“The biggest thing is we provide them with shoes and coats for the winter, as well as the food, because we do feed them,” he said with a smile.  ”I can’t work with the whole school right now, and I know there are other parents interested.”

So McIntosh is hosting an event on Sunday, Feb. 19th at The Palms in DC, in order to raise money and expand his program.  The menu for the evening is Surf-n-Turf and the wait staff includes beloved Redskins Sam Huff, Brandon Banks, Kory Lichtensteiger, Josh Wilson, Derrick Dockery, Evan Royster, Charles Mann, Antwaan Randle El, Clinton Portis and Fred Smoot.

Almost a month remains before free agency begins in the NFL. So much can happen by then to change the landscape of who — and who will not — be available. One of the biggest examples is with the Cards. Defensive end Calais Campbell is scheduled to hit the open market, but no one believes he will, knowing the Cards will probably franchise him if they can’t come to a contract agreement, which is why those who have put together lists of the top 50 free agents (more on those in a minute) available don’t bother with Campbell’s name. It’s moot.

This close to free agency, I don’t expect, league-wide, a ton of new deals to get done because there is usually no down side for a player to wait at this point. It’s not like they can get hurt, so why not see what’s out there on the open market (which is why I think tackle Levi Brown, while still a candidate to remain in Arizona, won’t be restructuring with the Cards without first knowing what else is available.) Unless a player is floored with an offer, he looks around.

The Cards, aside from Campbell, don’t have expiring contracts that will likely create bidding wars. In both Pete Prisco’s top 50 FA list and the one done by Pro Football Focus, no Cards are to be found, given the Campbell caveat.


(azcardinals.com)

Brandon Merriweather: An unfortunate trademark of the Bears defense in the past decade has been a huge question mark at safety. The Bears have not been stable at safety, and the question mark manifested this season as the Bears signed Merriweather to give the team depth. He was cut by the Patriots, which should have been the first red flag.

Merriweather was not the safety who cleared things up for the Bears in the secondary. Even after they cut Chris Harris, he still didn't do much. Instead, Chris Conte emerged as the Bears new interception threat. Merriweather finished the season with exactly zero picks. He shouldn't be in a Bears uniform come August.


(nbcchicago.com)

Arizona’s Campbell, who dominated Doug Free when the Cowboys played the Cardinals this season, would be a major upgrade in free agency. However, there’s a decent chance that the Cardinals will use the franchise tag to prevent one of the NFL’s best 3-4 ends from testing the open market this offseason.


(espn.com)

In his second season as a big-leaguer, Valencia was struck by the infamous sophomore slump, with his OPS sinking by 122 points after an outstanding rookie campaign. That drop-off, however, was largely attributable to a 70-point dive in BABIP, which suggests that with steady peripheral rates and neutral luck his numbers at the plate will creep back upward in 2012.

Yet, judging by Ron Gardenhire's comments during the course of last season, Valencia's offense was not deemed by the club to be his most worrisome deficiency. If the young third baseman's starting job becomes endangered at some point this year, it seems likely that his glove will be the cause rather than his bat.

Late in August, Gardenhire expressed his frustration with Valencia's passive approach at the hot corner. On occasion, the manager intimated through media outlets that the team's future at third base had fallen into question.

You could hardly blame Gardy. After looking surprisingly sharp in the field during his big-league debut, Valencia showed severe regression in Year No. 2. Not only was he far more sloppy, committing 18 errors, but his range was visibly deteriorated. I'm reluctant to apply the UZR metric in single-season samples, but the difference there was stark: after putting up a 10.2 UZR/150 in 2010, Valencia finished at -6.1 in 154 games last season. In other words, UZR showed a 16-run defensive swing from one season to the next.

Whether you buy into that statistic or not, it seems clear that Valencia took a sizable step backward in the field last year, and that if he's unable to reverse that trend, his grip on the starting job will continue to loosen. As we've seen time and time again in the past, Gardenhire and the Twins are far more tolerant of substandard production at the plate than a failure to consistently get the job done defensively.


(startribune.com)

On Thursday, a three-person panel heard Ryan Braun's appeal of a 50-game suspension stemming from a positive test for raised levels of testosterone, CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman has confirmed.

The three members of the panel were MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner, MLB executive vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred and independent arbitrator Shyam Das, according to the New York Daily News, which first reported the story.

Braun is expected to make a short speech when he accepts his 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award at Saturday's Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner in New York.

Braun's representatives have repeatedly denied allegations that the Brewers outfielder took performance-enhancing drugs.

According to Heyman, no major league player has successfully appealed a positive drug test.


(cbssports.com)

The Giants unabashedly expressed their confidence -- some might call it cockiness -- during their run to the Super Bowl XLVI title. And at the forefront of it all was safety Antrel Rolle.

Consider: Rolle refused to put the Packers on a pedestal before their divisional-round game, then called out 49ers tight end Vernon Davis ahead of the NFC Championship Game. And heading into Super Bowl week, Rolle was blunt in saying the Giants wouldn't have boarded the plane for Indianapolis if they didn't believe they would beat the Patriots -- which they did.

Was it legit trash talk? Or simply media hype? Rolle, not surprisingly, is clear in how he feels.

"I've always understood that the media doesn't play the game of football," Rolle said Tuesday during a visit to NFL Network. "All they can do is write. No matter what, they have no say-so in what the outcome is going to be when the game is played. If you have a confident football team, that's what you need in this league. ... We (weren't) saying we can't be beaten; we (weren't) saying we're the best in the NFL. What we (were) saying is, 'Yeah, we're confident in our approach. We're confident in what we have here as a unit.'

"People are going to take it and twist and turn it around into whatever they want to write. But, at the end of the day, you need to have a confident team to play in this league."

Sure, the Giants could've dialed it back a bit, but that's not how they're made up -- especially Rolle.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with what we said," Rolle said. "Myself, in particular, they asked me how do I feel about (the Super Bowl). And I said we wouldn't board the plane if we didn't expect to win the game. Now, I can't think of one team or one individual that would get on the plane the week of Super Bowl thinking they're going to lose the game. That guy's got to keep his (butt) at home. That guy is not going to get on that plane. Our coaches and players understand that. And the media, they understand that also. But it's what sells. ...

"That's my mindset. That's me as an individual. Not everyone has to like it. I know what has gotten me to this league, what has gotten me to be the player that I am. And it is my confidence -- in my play and in my teammates I have next to me."


(nfl.com)

The Ed Reed situation is going to be one of the most interesting for the Ravens and their defense throughout the off-season. And not much has changed since the season ended last month.

There were questions at the end of the season about whether or not Reed will retire. He’s been battling various injuries the past few seasons that clearly affected him at times. But then veteran and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis said after the season’s final game that he’d be back for Season No. 17.

That came right after the painful 23-20 loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game a few weeks ago. However, Reed wouldn’t even talk to the media after that contest, which left his situation very much up in the air.

Reed was a first-round pick before the 2002 season and also will be a Hall of Famer. The only difference is that Lewis already has a championship ring and Reed doesn’t yet.

That’s why I think that Reed will return despite the problems he went through in the final weeks of 2011.

He drew lots of controversy in the final weeks for the remarks he made about starting quarterback Joe Flacco. Did Reed made those critical comments simply to fire up Flacco, who had one of the best games he’s had in a while versus the Patriots? It’s hard to tell.

Was Reed fired up himself by the various media criticisms he received from the media and fans about his stats going down this year. He addressed those things after the playoff win over Houston. But, as mentioned before, Reed wouldn’t talk at all after the New England loss.

Reed likes to do things his way. He’s also a tremendous competitor who hates to lose. That’s why the feeling here is that the Ravens won’t hear much in the early days of the off-season from Reed, who will make the decision when he’s ready.

The Ravens will just have to wait.


(csnwashington.com)

Tons of attention has been given to what the Texans should do this offseason when it comes to building the 2012 edition of this team.  For example, re-sign or franchise Mario Williams?

My contention is to have the Texans focus on their own players first before deciding who to go after on the free agent market.  However the draft is just around the corner and the Texans will for sure continue to build this team through that avenue.

Priority number one for this team should be to sign or franchise Chris Myers to a long-term deal.  If you franchise Myers, then you would possibly free up the money you would need to possibly sign Arian Foster to that long and well-deserved contract extension.  However if you sign Myers to the long term-deal of possibly three or four years, then you probably wash out the possibility of bringing Mario Williams back and extending Arian Foster.

The reason I feel that Myers is the most important free agent to bring back this offseason is two-fold.  Look at how the Texans fared this year without Mike Brisiel in the lineup with his leg injury.  He went out after the week 14 division clinching win over the Bengals and the Texans went winless in their final three games.  Not to mention what the four game suspension of Duane Brown contributed to the teams disappointing 2010 season.  Plus, the Texans ran for about 2,800 yards this season (Regular and postseason combined).  Along with nearly 8,000 yards of passing over the past two seasons.  What’s been the constant theme with these numbers?  Offensive line continuity!

It would be understandable if the Texans Pro Bowl centers would want to become one of the higher paid players at his position.  In order to make that happen, Houston would then probably have to pay Myers three to six million dollars annually.

So with that being said I think you franchise Myers, sign Arian Foster to a contract extension, draft an outside linebacker for depth (either in the first or second round), draft a receiver in either round you don’t take the ‘backer, and then focus on restructuring contracts or releasing players who could keep you under the cap.

After you do all these steps you can look at Neil Rackers, Joel Dressen, Jason Allen, & the other unrestricted free agents.  Along with drafting and signing all of your players by training camp next August.  So…  Who’s ready for all this to be behind us and get to that time of year?  My hand is up.


(houston.cbslocal.com)

Reggie Wayne
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 33
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 198 pounds

It certainly appears that Indy, with a new coach and GM, is looking to break up the band, so it should come as no surprise that Wayne has said the Colts haven’t reached out to him regarding his future. He has made it known — at least through a third party — that he’d be open to playing for the Patriots, as the Boston Herald reported that he told Willie McGinest that he’d welcome a chance to play in New England. He’d be a welcome alternative to Chad Ochocinco — he’s a similar size (Ocho is 6-foot-1, 198 pounds) and is almost a year younger. And even on short money, Wayne would be a better fit with the Patriots than this guy.

In 2011, Wayne had his worst season statistically since 2003, as he finished with 75 catches for 960 yards and four touchdowns. (I’ll let you think about that for a second — it might be the only time you see the words “worst” and “960 yards” in the same sentence.) The drop in numbers could very well be because Manning was sidelined for the bulk of the season and Wayne had to make do with the likes of Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins throwing him the ball. Despite that, he still managed to lead Indy in receptions and receiving yards.

Unless he gets knocked sideways by a ridiculous offer, he’s not going to go somewhere and start all over again. He also passes what might best be described as the Rosevelt Colvin test: in 2002, before a game against the Bears, Belichick waxed rhapsodic about Colvin’s greatness. In 2009, Belichick was effusive in his praise of Wayne, saying after the infamous fourth and 2 game (a contest where Wayne had 10 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns), “I can’t say enough about Reggie Wayne. That guy’s the best receiver we cover every year. It seems like he just keeps getting better. I thought the routes he ran and the catches he made were nothing short of spectacular — the go-route, the two touchdown catches, the third-down conversion on the corner route in front of our bench. He’s a tremendous receiver.”

Why it might not work: As is the case with Moss, the Patriots need to get younger at wide receiver, and signing a 33-year-old like Wayne isn’t a good way to do that. While on the surface, he would appear to be a good fit in many respects, New England isn’t likely to pony up multiple years and a ridiculous signing bonus to get him — he’d probably have to take less money to come to the Patriots. It also depends on how the rest of the market shakes out. This is a very good year for high-end wide receivers: Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Marques Colston, Stevie Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Wes Welker. And then, there’s the Peyton Factor. With the two of them having spent more than a decade together, some reports indicate that Wayne would follow Manning wherever the quarterback decided to land.


(weei.com)

(csncalifornia.com)

There’s usually a 25-day deadline between a drug test appeal and a decision, but that time frame has come and gone with respect to Ryan Braun.  Tom Haudricourt reports, however, that MLB’s decision on whether to suspend Braun for 50 games should come no later than February 24, which is Braun’s deadline to report to camp.

I have no idea what they’re gonna do and have zero insight into the process itself. But part of me wonders if they’re working hard to find a way to clear Braun in such a way as to not throw any future high-profile positive test into a situation where the zero-tolerance, automatic nature of it all is compromised.


(hardballtalk.com)

31. Sean Spence, LB, Miami (Fla.). Spence makes up for his 5-11 frame with a natural ability to read and react to plays in a flash.

45. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (Fla.). Miller has the vision to find open space and the explosive burst to hit holes and make big plays. He hasn't consistently shown the aggressive running style and strength to run through hits.

Click here to see the rest of the rankings.


(sportingnews.com)

Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh kicked off the offseason with a trip back to his roots, touring the United States military bases in Kuwait.
Brought up in an Army family (with his wife Alessia coming from an Air Force family), McIntosh has always been supportive of our nation’s military.

Several weeks ago, he was offered an opportunity to tour Kuwait with fellow NFL players James Laurinaitis (Rams LB), Sam Bradford (Rams QB), and Seneca Wallace (Browns QB), as well as two Chiefs cheerleaders.

McIntosh also got the opportunity to reunite and play football with an old Miami Hurricanes teammate, Willie Cooper.  Cooper and McIntosh were in the same year at Miami, and while Rocky went to the Redskins, Cooper declined an invitation to the Bears’ camp, choosing a career in the Army.

Rocky reached out to him once he knew he was going to Kuwait, and the two were able to meet up and get a picture with “The U”:



On this particular trip to visit deployed troops, he offered to take Redskins Nation with him, shooting footage and photos on his iPhone.  This is a glimpse of Kuwait with your tour guide and cameraman, Rocky McIntosh:

Taking off from Washington, it was a 14-hour direct flight to Kuwait.  During their week on the ground in Kuwait, the group was based out of Camp Arifjan, but visited eight other bases while they were on the ground.

This was Rocky’s abode while he was stationed at the base.  As he notes in his video commentary, it closely resembles a college dorm room–broken TV and all:



At each base that they visited, the players were greeted by base commanders and soldiers enjoying free time.  Sometimes the players were simply there to help the soldiers unwind.

Other times, they organized punt, pass and kick competitions to allow the players to display their physical prowess.  There were some humbling moments for everyone, but there were also some pretty impressive displays:



At each base, the group was given “challenge coins,” specific to each camp.  As it was explained to McIntosh and his fellow players, a challenge coin is a representation of squadron pride within the military, an illustration of someone “rising to the challenge.”  To be given one as a civilian is a high honor, and a token of the soldiers’ appreciation for their time and effort.



But after all of the fanfare and appreciation was taken care of, it was time to suit up, as the players joined the soldiers in games of flag football.

McIntosh mostly served as a coach and cameraman, but said he was impressed with the enthusiasm that the soldiers displayed on the gridiron.
Clearly, there are some quality American athletes deployed in the Middle East:



At one of the last bases they visited, the soldiers wanted to play against one another without player intervention.  The quarterback for the Red Team, known simply as “Slick,” put on a dazzling display running the Nebraska option offense.

McIntosh was particularly impressed with him, as he ran with the elusiveness of Brandon Banks, and bore a certain resemblance to linebacker London Fletcher in demeanor.  See for yourself:



Along with his details of the trip, McIntosh also gave a full review of the country of Kuwait.  Here’s a list of random facts, in no particular order:

There are posted speed limits on the desert roads, but no one really seems to obey them.  Convoys on the desert highways can be going speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour, which makes head-on collisions disastrous.  McIntosh noted that there were some “messed up wrecks” off to the side of the road.

He also noted that there were speed traps when you were coming back into town.

Many of the servicemen and women were from the U.S. midwest, and some of them were fans of the Rams, which led to McIntosh and Wallace feeling a little left out.  Fortunately for McIntosh, the Redskins Cheerleaders did a tour through Kuwait before Christmas.  As a result, the First Ladies of Football–and subsequently the Washington Redskins–were still favorites among the servicemen in those camps.

No alcohol is permitted in the country, which leads to wine and liquor stores with zero percent alcohol:

One of the top experiences of the trip was getting to watch the Super Bowl in the mess hall with the soldiers.  As McIntosh recalled, no commercials are ever played on the armed forces networks, so no Super Bowl commercials were played either.  But in an effort to make it a more enjoyable experience, Army soldiers had filmed their own funny (sometimes cheesy) commercials to be broadcast during the commercial breaks, and were a hit with those watching the game.

Despite all of the appreciation that was shown to McIntosh and his fellow players during their time in Kuwait, the real appreciation came from the players for what the soldiers allow them to do.

“I’ll do anything for the military,” McIntosh said, in reflection.  ”They’re the real heroes here.”


(blog.redkins.com)

Check out our EXCLUSIVE photos from the 2012 UM Baseball Fan Fest which featured a HR Derby won by proCane Minnesota Twin Danny Valencia. Other proCanes like Jemile Weeks, Jon Jay, Chris Perez, Eddy Rodriguez and many more joined the festivities.


Jemile Weeks, Danny Valencia

Jemile Weeks

Peter O’Brien

The Maniac

Jemile Weeks

Rony Rodriguez

Danny Valencia

Jemile Weeks

Danny Valencia

Danny Valencia, Peter O’Brien




Click here to see more photos ->> Read More...

Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald had an interesting mention in her Sunday football notes about free agent receiver Reggie Wayne, who apparently is open to the thought of playing with the Patriots.

Guregian caught up with former Patriot Willie McGinest, who is now an NFL Network analyst.  McGinest cited an on-air chat with Wayne and asked him about the potential of playing in New England.

“It came up in the conversation would he ever want to play for the Patriots,” McGinest told the newspaper. “He smiled and said, ‘Who wouldn’t want to play there?’

“If it could have worked with Chad (Ochocinco), it would have been good. It didn’t. I just think [Tom Brady] has a lot of weapons, but he can always use that stretch-the-field receiver. When they had Randy (Moss) there, it really made it tough for teams to stop them. Reggie Wayne is somebody who could stretch the field. He has great hands, he’s a professional who could pick up the system. Having another big-time receiver like that would put it over the top.”

With Wes Welker, and Deion Branch also set to be a free agents this offseason, the Patriots have some tough decisions to make.  The initial thought is that they’ll franchise Welker if an agreement on a long-term deal can’t be reached, and in all likelihood they’ll bring back Branch at a reasonable deal.  But they learned the hard way that they’ll need at least one more receiver to compliment what ended up being a depleted group without Rob Gronkowski in the line-up.

Wayne, who is 33, has been durable during his career, having played in all 16 games in nearly every season in the NFL.  He’s coming off of what he would probably consider a down year, catching just 75 passes for 960 yards after having seven straight years of finishing with over 1,000 yards.  A lot of that likely had to do with who was throwing the football, as Peyton Manning had been the guy feeding him the ball over that span. Manning’s future in Indianapolis appears to be over, so it would be to Wayne’s benefit to move on to a team like the Patriots where he’d certainly see his productivity potentially go up with Brady throwing him the football.

It’s an interesting idea and you have to be intrigued at the thought of Brady potentially having Welker, Wayne, Aaron Hernandez, Gronkowski, Branch, and a more seasoned Chad Ochocinco in the mix next season.   We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out when free agency begins on March 13th.


(patsfans.com)

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans: You can argue that Johnson is still the best wide receiver in the NFL, but his proneness to injuries over the last two years has put a dent into his overall draft value. I still see him as an elite fantasy wideout, however. Consider him a risk-reward selection.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: Graham would have finished fifth in fantasy points among wideouts last season, posting statistical career bests across the board. In an offense that features a pass-laden system and an elite quarterback like Brees, Graham is a good bet to succeed again.


(nfl.com)

RG Vernon Carey
2011 salary: $2.5 million
2011 stats: Started 15 of 16 games at right guard, but missed one whole game and parts of two others with various injuries. Allowed three sacks, seven QB hits and 15 QB pressures in his first year at right guard.

Noteworthy: Carey, who will be 31 next season, wasn’t happy with the switch from right tackle to right guard (and the “renegotiating” of his contract, which voided the last three years and made him a free agent this offseason). But Carey played admirably at his new position, and was one of the Dolphins’ best run blockers toward the end of the season.

Will he return?: Probably. He’s not young anymore, and injuries have forced him to sit out five games in the past two years (after he previously started 87 consecutive games), but he’s still got some good football left in him. Add in the fact that he likely doesn’t want to leave Miami – he played his entire high school, college and pro career down here – he was a decent performer in 2011 and will come reasonably priced, and it’s easy to see Carey return either as the starting right guard or as a valuable utility backup.


(palmbeachpost.com)

Dwayne Johnson, aka wrestling star "The Rock," is known for hardcore action films and what he calls "intense character" but is happy to switch gears for the new family adventure movie "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island."

In the film, which was released on February 10, Josh Hutcherson plays Sean Anderson, who partners with his mom's new man, portrayed by Johnson, on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island. Vanessa Hudgens appears in the film as Hutcherson's love interest, while Kristin Davis of "Sex and the City" fame portrays his mother.

"This movie came along at a really good time," Johnson told OnTheRedCarpet.com host Chris Balish at the movie's Los Angeles premiere. "I spent the past couple of years playing some intense characters who were hunting some bad men down and doing some violent things to them, so it was a nice change of pace."

"I wanted to make a movie that was in 3D and I thought, if I was going to go back into the Family genre and make an epic adventure like this, I wanted it to feel big and special," he added.

Johnson previously starred in the fifth installment of the popular cult race franchise "The Fast and the Furious." The actor and wrestler portrayed Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs who was on the heels of Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) in Rio de Janeiro. The film featured an "epic fight scene" that both Johnson and Diesel were amazed with.

While Johnson is taking a step out of his element for the family film, he also enjoyed shooting in Hawaii.

"For me, it was a very special place to shoot because I was raised in Hawaii," the California-born actor said. "So to be able to go back and bring a movie like this, this size and magnitude to Hawaii was such a cool thing, for me, personally, it was great."

Hudgens said Johnson also showcased his mellower - and musical - side in front of his co-stars.

"Dwayne was busy practicing his ukulele, which was equally as enjoyable [as Hawaii]," Hudgens told OnTheRedCarpet.com. "He has mad skills and he shows it in this movie. He has a beautiful voice that he gets to showcase as well."

Johnson has also starred in films such as "The Scorpion King," "Tooth Fairy" and "Faster." He is also set to star in "Arabian Nights" as Sinbad.


(ontheredcarpet.com)

She sits in the stands, using her video camera to capture every play.

Occasionally, she shouts a few words of encouragement. She bemoans tough calls.

She'll smile, shake hands with fans around her and savor every moment of the game.

To those unfamiliar with women's basketball in South Florida, she's an unassuming presence.

But to the South Broward girls basketball team, Tamara James is an inspiration.

She's a state champion. The University of Miami's all-time leading scorer. A first-round WNBA draft pick.

At South Broward, James is a legend, and for this brief window in time, she's a sort of volunteer coach, hoping to help lead her alma mater to a seventh state title.

"Not many players come back to help their school, but she is always here," said South Broward senior forward Kenidi Robinson. "She's committed to helping us get better and helping us get to college. She's a huge example to us."

Throughout much of her career, James, 27, has made it a priority to help her alma mater.

The former Washington Mystic has donated time and money to the program she helped turn into a state power.

Click here to read more.


(sun-sentinel.com)

MILWAUKEE — Had the date of Ryan Braun’s appeal hearing not leaked to the media, one would have no way of knowing that the recommended deadline for rendering a verdict is near.

But, just as the positive drug test of the Milwaukee Brewers’ star left fielder leaked, so did the hearing dates. Braun appealed that result and pending 50-game suspension before a three-man arbitration panel in New York City on Jan. 19-20.

Major League Baseball’s drug policy states that the panel chair, in this case Shyam Das, “shall make all reasonable efforts” to render a verdict within 25 days following the opening of the hearing. The 25th day after the hearing opened would be today.

That recommendation is not rigid, however. Das could ask for an extension if necessary, which some familiar with the process say could happen. There has been no indication a verdict will come down as early as today.

The 25-day recommendation is geared more toward in-season hearings, when games are at stake. With Braun’s hearing taking place in the offseason, there isn’t as much urgency.

Das might consider the opening of spring training more of a de facto deadline for rendering a decision. It would not be fair to Braun or the Brewers to have him report to camp not knowing his fate.

Brewers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in Phoenix on Saturday, but other players do not have to show until Feb. 24. Thus, Das could wait until just before that date to render his verdict if he needs the time. The other members of that panel are Rob Manfred, MLB vice president for labor relations, and Michael Weiner, executive director of the players association.

Because the process is designed to be confidential, the Commissioner’s Office would not make an announcement if Braun were exonerated. Rest assured that the players union and/or Braun’s representatives would announce the verdict, considering the damage already done to his reputation by the leaking of the positive test.

Even if suspended for 50 games, Braun would be allowed to participate in spring training, including exhibition games. He likely would leave the club before the start of the regular season.

With the start of camp only days away, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Friday that everyone involved would like a ruling as soon as possible.

“You’d like to see a decision, one way or the other,” said Melvin. “You get a little bit anxious about it. At some point, you want to know.”

Due to the supposedly confidential nature of the process, which has been violated on more than one occasion, Melvin said the club has been given no idea when to expect a ruling.

“We haven’t heard anything,” said Melvin, already in Phoenix to prepare for the opening of camp.

“We don’t know when it will happen. It doesn’t do us any good to think about it or worry about it at this point. We’re just going to get the guys ready to go. It’s out of our control, so there’s not anything we can do about it.”

Some have wondered if the longer the panel went without announcing a decision, the better the chance that Braun would become the first major league player to have a positive drug test overturned. Those familiar with the process, however, say the long wait favors neither side but merely indicates the sensitive and complex nature of the case and, in this situation, the absence of in-season expediency.

According to the original report by ESPN, Braun tested positive for an extremely high level of testosterone in early October at the outset of the playoffs. He immediately proclaimed his innocence and launched his appeal of the finding, including the hiring of prominent attorney David Cornwell to present his case to the panel.

Braun’s camp let it be known that he tested positive for a banned substance that was not technically a performance-enhancing drug and cited “highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan’s complete innocence and demonstrate there was no intentional violation (of the) program.”

To avoid suspension, the MLB drug policy states that “the player has the burden of establishing that his test result was not due to his fault or negligence. A player cannot satisfy his burden by merely denying that he intentionally used a prohibited substance; the player must provide objective evidence in support of his denial.”

When a suspension is announced for a major league player, the exact substance that triggered the positive result is not announced. MLB groups banned substances as “performance enhancing,” which results in a 50-game suspension, or a “stimulant,” with a penalty of a 25-game suspension. Braun did not test positive for a stimulant.

There is a lot at stake for both sides. For Braun, it is his reputation as well as his legacy as one of the top stars in the game. For MLB, it is the legitimacy of a drug-testing process already compromised somewhat by confidentiality being breached.

Accordingly, it should be no real surprise that three weeks have passed without a verdict being rendered, or that several more days could pass without one.


(superiortelegram.com)

Of the Washington Nationals outfielders in camp on non-roster invites, pay attention to veteran Jason Michaels and former perennial prospect Xavier Paul. At 35, MIchaels is a pro's pro who hits from the right side, comfortable in a backup role and able to play all three outfield position. Paul will be 26 later this month, boasts speed and versatility, and is still waiting for his power to develop. He's flamed out with the Dodgers and Pirates, but a new club gives him new hope.


(masnsports.com)

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Check out our EXCLUSIVE photos from the 2012 UM Baseball Fan Fest which featured a HR Derby won by proCane Minnesota Twin Danny Valencia. Other proCanes like Jemile Weeks, Jon Jay, Chris Perez, Eddy Rodriguez and many more joined the festivities.


Jon Jay, Danny Valencia, Jemile Weeks, Coach Jim Morris, Chris Perez

Peter O’Brien, Rony Rodriguez, Jemile Weeks, Danny Valencia

Jon Jay, Jemile Weeks

Danny Valencia

Jon Jay, Coach Gino DiMare, Jemile Weeks

Adan Severino, Richard Giannotti

Chris Perez

Jon Jay

Alex Fernandez




Click here to see more photos ->> Read More...

In case you weren’t aware, Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson is a big fan of tattoos.

And after a trip to the tattoo parlor yesterday, he had three new permanent designs, which he shared with his followers on Twitter (@HankTime85) earlier today (pictured above).  He also revealed that he got it done from a dude in Denver, that he got them all done in one sitting.

Moments after this popped up on my Twitter page, No. 85 himself walked down the hallway past my desk.  He showed me that the two words (“Blessed” and “Faith&rdquo were located on his biceps, while the “1989, A Star Was Born” was on top of his right forearm.  He also indicated that last week, he got a rose tattoo on his left elbow (not pictured).

That’s a lot of physical expression in a short span of time, but Hankerson said he’s happy with the work and that it’s stuff that he’s thought about for a while.

No word on when he’ll be getting his next tattoo (or round of tattoos), but he did say that these were inspired by personal reasons and his rehab process.

In 1989 a star was born–in 2012, Redskins fans will be looking for his shine.

Washington Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson (hip) could be ready for offseason workouts as long as he does not need to undergo surgery on his hip. He has been rehabbing the injury after elected not to undergo surgery but it is not known if surgery has been ruled out.




(kffl.com)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (Missouri Sports Magazine Contributor Network) – With the Colts organization undergoing a top-to-bottom housecleaning, one of the many players whose future is as questionable as Peyton Manning’s health is his longtime (former?) receiver, Reggie Wayne.

And much like Manning, the five-time Pro Bowler may be a casualty as the team ushers in a new era.

On Friday, Wayne revealed to ESPN’s Josina Anderson that the Colts haven’t contacted him since the season concluded, saying his phone “hasn’t rung yet.”

“I know one thing, my phone works. I do have service and every last bar on it and their number has not come across it yet. I haven’t heard anything from them yet, so maybe I am not as important on the chain of command as I should be,” Wayne told Anderson.

The 33-year-old would prefer to end his career in Indianapolis, but admitted “those feelings” could change as more time passes.

“All I know is the Colts. That is where I want to be. I have been there 11 years and I would prefer to end my career a Colt. However, in due time those feelings could subside,” Wayne said.

Wayne, an impending free agent, acknowledged in December that he might’ve played his last game in front of the Lucas Oil faithful.

That was one day before he hauled in the game-winning touchdown against the Texans in what played out like a Hollywood ending to an incredible 11-year run.

However, that was also before the club canned its general manager, vice president, and head coach as the rebuilding process gets underway. New management has no sentimental ties to Wayne, and won’t hold onto a player whose age may be catching up to him.

The odds remain extremely slim that Wayne dons a horseshoe in 2012.


(missourisoirtsmag.com)

The Panthers don't have as many of their own free agents to sign as they did last year. And this year's group might not have the big names who will be eligible for free agency in 2013.

But several of the 10 players who can become unrestricted free agents when the league year ends March 13 made lasting impressions during coach Ron Rivera's first season in Charlotte.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey was lauded by Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and others for the nasty streak he brought to a team missing that edge throughout the two-win season in 2010. He was a nice complement to Greg Olsen, but Shockey will turn 32 in August and likely will be looking for a deal worth close to the $4 million he made last season.

That could be prohibitive to a team that is tight against the salary cap after last summer's spending spree. The Panthers locked up seven core players with long-term deals, including all three starting linebackers, defensive end Charles Johnson, safety Charles Godfrey, running back DeAngelo Williams and center Ryan Kalil.

The Panthers have a cap number of about $123 million, for a 2012 cap projected to range between $121 million and $125 million.

With Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart among the Panthers who will be unrestricted in 2013, the team will have to be judicious in free agency.

"We made a lot of aggressive moves to keep our own players, our core, like we said we were," general manager Marty Hurney said recently. "And with those aggressive moves, the bulk of our salary-cap space is used with our core players right now, which is a good position to be in because when you look at our top-paid players, they're all core players. They're all very important players to us.

"Now we just have to make the right decisions as far as free agents go - our own and free agents from other teams - to complement those players and fit in both as players and into our salary-cap structure."

TE Jeremy Shockey
Age: 31
Experience: 10 seasons
Last season: Shockey caught 37 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns, and missed only one game to injury.
Outlook: Though not the same receiver he was a decade ago, Shockey still is a dependable target, particularly in the red zone. If his asking price is too high, Panthers could turn to Gary Barnidge, who was having a great 2011 camp before breaking his ankle.


(charlotteobserver.com)

JIMMY GRAHAM is working with 14-year-old Ashton Randall in the USA Network program "Characters Unite,'' which paired four NFL players who overcame social adversity with youth facing similar challenges. He was teamed with Ashton, who lost both his parents, through Boys Town Louisiana's New Orleans Center.



(nola.com)

With questions about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his future swirling around Lucas Oil Stadium, the status of former Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne has almost become an afterthought.

Manning's favorite target is set to be a free agent this offseason and with the quarterback's departure almost guaranteed, Wayne could be looking for greener pastures in 2012.

While there are plenty of options to consider, including a reunion with Manning elsewhere, a place like New England could provide exactly what the 33-year old is looking for.

The Patriots are coming off an appearance in the Super Bowl, so if winning another title is a factor, Bill Belichick and the Patriots have a leg up on the competition. The Patriots, meanwhile, could be looking for an upgrade opposite Wes Welker, and the sure-handed Wayne could be the No. 2 receiver New England was looking for when they acquired Chad Ochocinco.

Sure, Ochocinco could be more of a factor next year with a whole offseason under his belt, but the addition of Wayne would provide insurance for the Patriots. If Ochocinco does pan out in year two, the already explosive Patriots offense could be downright lethal.

Wayne is coming off arguably his worst season statistically, catching only 75 passes for 960 yards and four touchdowns, the lowest in each category since 2003.  Manning's lost season likely cost Wayne a considerable amount of money but may have put the receiver within New England's price range.

Wayne to New England makes sense for many reasons, but one reason in particular makes more sense than the rest. Wayne has 11 years of experience in an offense much like the Patriots', in that the quarterback needs to trust his receivers to run precise routes every time out of the gate.

That is part of the reason Ochocinco failed to get acclimated with New England's system. His route running was less than perfect and he lacked a general understanding of the Patriots' complex offense because of the shortened offseason. Wayne is used to the demands of an offense where timing and precise route running are paramount, for over a decade he played with the only man on the planet who is more of a perfectionist than Tom Brady.

If Wayne does decide to venture outside the Indianapolis city limits, only one place has the personnel and offense to make him feel right at home.

And that place is Foxborough, Mass.


(nationalfootballauthority.com)

The story of the Patriots' defensive line took so many twists and turns throughout the course of 2011, starting with the acquisition of Albert Haynesworth and the release of Ty Warren. Throughout most of training camp, the Patriots had about 20 defensive linemen on the roster, give or take, and some who didn't make the team caught on elsewhere.

They played more four-man fronts with one-gap assignments than they've done in the past, and Vince Wilfork stepped up his game once again. Then there was the emergence of both Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, while Kyle Love's stock skyrocketed over the course of the season and Brandon Deaderick showed some intriguing flashes. Aside from Carter, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor and Jermaine Cunningham succumbed to season-ending injuries that ate away at the team's depth.

And the defensive line was a story right until the very end, as Alex Silvestro's promotion cost wide receiver Tiquan Underwood a roster spot just 24 hours before the Super Bowl. The scary thing is that was just the Cliffs Notes version of the last six-plus months.

Defensive Linemen on Final Roster: Vince Wilfork, Mark Anderson, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick, Shaun Ellis, Kyle Love, Gerard Warren, Alex Silvestro, Markell Carter (practice squad), Aaron Lavarias (practice squad), Myron Pryor (injured reserve), Andre Carter (injured reserve), Jermaine Cunningham (injured reserve), Mike Wright (injured reserve).

Key Statistic: Anderson (10) and Carter (10) became the third tandem of Patriots to each record 10 sacks in the same season. Tony McGee (12) and Ray Hamilton (10) did it in 1977, and Andre Tippett (16.5) and Garin Veris (10) did it in 1985. Anderson added 2.5 sacks in the playoffs.

Hot Topic: Wilfork continued to raise his level this season as an every-down player who proved to be the most valuable member of the defense. He singlehandedly ripped through the Ravens in the AFC Championship, though he wasn't as spectacular in the Super Bowl. Wilfork gets better every year, but he just wrapped up his eighth season in the league. Since it's such a physically demanding position, how much longer can the 30-year-old play at this level?

One thing that is clear: His teammates play for him, and that was never more evident than after the Ravens game when the Patriots lauded Wilfork for his preparation and his ability to get everyone motivated to play alongside him. Linebacker Jerod Mayo gets a lot of credit for running the defense on the field, as he should, but the last few weeks really showed it's still Wilfork's defense.


(nesn.com)

proCane track star Murielle Ahoure posted 7.13secs to win the women’s 60m dash at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. Fellow proCane American Lauryn Williams was last in 7.34.

Had the date of Ryan Braun's appeal hearing not leaked to the media, one would have no way of knowing that the recommended deadline for rendering a verdict is near.

But, just as the positive drug test of the Milwaukee Brewers' star leftfielder leaked, so did the hearing dates. Braun appealed that result and pending 50-game suspension before a three-man arbitration panel in New York City on Jan. 19-20.

Major League Baseball's drug policy states that the panel chair, in this case Shyam Das, "shall make all reasonable efforts" to render a verdict within 25 days following the opening of the hearing. The 25th day after the hearing opened would be Monday.

That recommendation is not rigid, however. Das could ask for an extension if necessary, which some familiar with the process say could happen. There has been no indication a verdict will come down as early as Monday.

The 25-day recommendation is geared more toward in-season hearings, when games are at stake. With Braun's hearing taking place in the off-season, there isn't as much urgency.

Das might consider the opening of spring training more of a de facto deadline for rendering a decision. It would not be fair to Braun or the Brewers to have him report to camp not knowing his fate.

Brewers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in Phoenix next Saturday but other players do not have to show until Feb. 24. Thus, Das could wait until just before that date to render his verdict if he needs the time. The other members of that panel are Rob Manfred, MLB vice president for labor relations, and Michael Weiner, executive director of the players association.

Because the process is designed to be confidential, the Commissioner's Office would not make an announcement if Braun were exonerated. Rest assured that the players union and/or Braun's representatives would announce the verdict, considering the damage already done to his reputation by the leaking of the positive test.

Even if suspended for 50 games, Braun would be allowed to participate in spring training, including exhibition games. He likely would leave the club before the start of the regular season.

With the start of camp only days away, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Friday that everyone involved would like a ruling as soon as possible.

"You'd like to see a decision, one way or the other," said Melvin. "You get a little bit anxious about it. At some point, you want to know."

Due to the supposed confidential nature of the process, which has been violated on more than one occasion, Melvin said the club has been given no idea when to expect a ruling.

"We haven't heard anything," said Melvin, already in Phoenix to prepare for the opening of camp.

"We don't know when it will happen. It doesn't do us any good to think about it or worry about it at this point. We're just going to get the guys ready to go. It's out of our control so there's not anything we can do about it."

Some have wondered if the longer the panel went without announcing a decision, the better the chance that Braun would become the first major-league player to have a positive drug test overturned. Those familiar with the process, however, say the long wait favors neither side but merely indicates the sensitive and complex nature of the case and, in this situation, the absence of in-season expediency.

According to the original report by ESPN, Braun tested positive for an extremely high level of testosterone in early October at the outset of the playoffs. He immediately proclaimed his innocence and launched his appeal of the finding, including the hiring of prominent attorney David Cornwell to present his case to the panel.

Braun's camp let it be known that he tested positive for a banned substance that was not technically a performance-enhancing drug and cited "highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was no intentional violation program."

To avoid suspension, the MLB drug policy states that "the player has the burden of establishing that his test result was not due to his fault or negligence. A player cannot satisfy his burden by merely denying that he intentionally used a prohibited substance; the player must provide objective evidence in support of his denial."

When a suspension is announced for a major-league player, the exact substance that triggered the positive result is not announced. MLB groups banned substances as "performance enhancing," which results in a 50-game suspension, or a "stimulant," with a penalty of a 25-game suspension. Braun did not test positive for a stimulant.

There is a lot at stake for both sides. For Braun, it is his reputation as well as his legacy as one of the top stars in the game. For MLB, it is the legitimacy of a drug testing process already compromised somewhat by confidentiality being breeched.

Accordingly, it should be no real surprise that three weeks have passed without a verdict being rendered, or that several more days could pass without one.


(jsonline.com)

SAN DIEGO -- There can be something disrupting and halting about being traded from the only organization you've ever known, but Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso felt right at home after he was traded to San Diego from Cincinnati in December.

Alonso, who played at the University of Miami from 2006-08, joined a Padres organization that had four former Hurricanes teammates: outfielder Blake Tekotte, who made his Major League debut in 2011 and catchers Eddy Rodriguez, Jason Hagerty and Yasmani Grandal.

"It feels like I'm home because all of those guys are already here," Alonso said Saturday during FanFest. "For me, it feels like college all over again except that we're all now more mature and wiser."

Adding to the family feel is that Alonso and Rodriguez were best friends at Coral Gables High, which is located a handful of miles from the University of Miami campus.


(mlb.com)

Yonder Alonso has been one of the top prospects in baseball for the last couple of years. So it's not surprising that when he was traded to the Padres in the pre-Christmas blockbuster that sent young ace Mat Latos to Cincinnati for Alonso, pitcher Edinson Volquez and highly touted Minor Leaguers Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger, he immediately became his new team's top prospect.

But the deal didn't just clear first base for Alonso, who had been blocked by Joey Votto in Cincinnati. It also sent a message that the already-stout San Diego farm system has gotten burlier, and is now teeming with talent and players on the cusp of Major League readiness.

"Cincinnati drafted me, and I thank them for that. But I feel like we have elite players in the game, right now, when it comes to prospects in San Diego," Alonso said. "Only positive things are happening for the Padres.

"For myself, it's something I've been waiting for. I feel like I can contribute tremendously, and it's something I'm definitely looking forward to. This team is not only getting ready to win now, but in the future, too."

Just take a look at the top names and it's easy to see why. Alonso has been considered ready for the big leagues for a while, and his five home runs and 15 RBIs in 88 at-bats in the Major Leagues last year indicated that the Padres had good reason to say goodbye to their other first-base prospect, Anthony Rizzo, whom they obtained in the 2010 Adrian Gonzalez deal with Boston and dealt to the Cubs this winter.

Catcher Grandal immediately checks in at No. 4 on the Padres' MLB.com list, and reliever Boxberger, who is at No. 12, has a chance to impact the big club's bullpen at some point in 2012.

"Any time you're building the foundation for sustainable success, it starts with scouting, player development -- and there always seem to be those key trades that are tough to swallow sometimes and difficult to take. But they mean change in the organization," said Padres vice president of professional scouting A.J. Hinch.

"When you do a four-for-one and you're trading a talented pitcher like Latos, you'd hope the return is significant. One thing is that we hope to see the fruits of that trade pretty quickly. If the talent and timing matches up and everybody's happy, it's a pretty good success."


(mlb.com)