Jacory Harris Grade 51
6'3" Height
32 1/8" Arm Length
203LBS. Weight
9 3/4" Hands

Travis Benjamin Grade 73
5'10" Height
31 3/4" Arm Length
172LBS. Weight
8 3/4" Hands

Marcus Forston Grade 64.5
6'3" Height
300LBS. Weight

Lamar Miller Grade 87
5'11" Height
31 3/8" Arm Length
212LBS. Weight
9 1/4" Hands

Sean Spence Grade 80.2
5'11" Height
222LBS. Weight

Tommy Streeter Grade 71
6'5" Height
34 3/4" Arm Length
219LBS. Weight
9 1/2" Hands

Olivier Vernon Grade 82
6'4" Height
265LBS. Weight

Brandon Washington Grade 66
6'3" Height
33" Arm Length
320LBS. Weight
9 3/4" Hands

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami -- Miller has not let postseason shoulder surgery slow him down. The speedy back recently returned to training after rehabbing his shoulder and has been posting times in the mid-4.3s.

Oliver Vernon, DE-OLB, Miami -- Vernon sat on the sidelines for half of last season, serving an NCAA suspension. His stats, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, are nothing to get excited about. But on film Vernon looks fast and athletic. He could be the talk of the Combine; at more than 260 pounds, he has been regularly posting times in the low-4.6-second range


(cnnsi.com)

40. *Brandon Washington, OG, Miami, 6-4, 320, 2 Washington is a stout, no-nonsense, get-it-done lineman who played guard and tackle at Miami but will move inside at the next level. He is one of four siblings raised by his single mother in a tough Miami neighborhood, where he first played three years at Edison High then finished on Miami Northwestern's National championship team. Rated one of the top preps in the country, Washington needed to attend Milford (N.Y.) Academy to become academically eligible for Miami. He has improved each year and is a brutal blocker on runs, but still needs work recognizing variables presented by various pass rushers. At Miami he started 15 games at left guard his first two years and 12 at left tackle last season.

See the rest of the rankings here.

43. *Lamar Miller, RB, Miami, 5-11, 212, Heading into combine week, he might be the most undervalued player in the draft. After doing well in his only full year as a starter, Miller has decided to enter the draft although many scouts think he needs to learn a little more in college. But with an eye on the cash and a concern over getting beat up in college, he is convinced it is, as teammates call him, "Miller Time." He is a tough runner with deceptive second-gear acceleration, both of which serve him well as a kickoff returner. In his only full season as a starter last year, Miller finished second in the ACC with 1,272 yards rushing on 227 carries with nine touchdowns. The third-year sophomore's career included 1,918 yards, 335 carries, 15 touchdowns, 28 catches for 181 yards, and 15 kickoff returns for 376 yards and his most memorable college play, a dazzling 88-yard return for a touchdown against Ohio State in 2010.

See the rest of the rankings here.

58. Sean Spence, OLB, Miami, 5-11, 228, 2 Spence does everything he can to overcome lack of natural size and strength. He is already a coach on the field -- something teams may note for the future -- and shows amazing recognition skills that result from intense film analysis. Athletically, he reads and reacts quickly without wasted steps. Spence is not fooled often by play-action, and shows above average skills as a pass defender. He a sure tackler who hits as hard as he can, again, for his size. Spence has been consistent throughout his athletic career, collecting more than 100 tackles as a senior on Miami Northwestern High School's 2007 national championship team (chosen by USA Today). As a high school junior he had 147 tackles (10 for loss), two interceptions and three sacks. In 2008 he earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors at Miami and his career totals include 317 tackles (169 solo and 46 for a loss) and 10.5 sacks.

See the rest of the rankings here.

Miami DE Olivier Vernon fits the classic one-gap style for the position at 6-4 and 265, plus with good speed. The interview process in Indy will be big with him because he was suspended six games for taking $1,200 in benefits from Miami booster Nevin Shapiro. One of the few middle-to-late round DE prospects who fares well against the run and pass.


(cbssports.com)

The Redskins often go with the best player available later in the draft. An interesting prospect here might be Tommy Streeter of Miami. He’s another big guy at 6-5. Streeter didn’t play much until his 2011 junior season. Streeter became a big-play guy leading the ACC with an average of 17.6 yards per catch. He should get a good look from the Redskins at the combine as a third-day project.


(csnwashington.com)

Here was a weird thing that happened on Sunday and early Monday: people on Twitter started wondering whether Clinton Portis had died in a car crash. Like, famous people started wondering, too.

“What happened with clinton portis?” Maurice Jones-Drew asked on Twitter.

“Crazy people talking this Clinton Portis nonsense and I was just with the dude out...wow twitter sways people to say anything,” Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson wrote.

“Clinton portis is my family!!!! Alive and well! Whoever said that I wish I could c u in person! #TryYourLuck!!” Browns cornerback Joe Haden wrote.
Portis, naturally, chimed in on Twitter himself.

“Not sure about the rumor that’s out but I’m alive and well, before it even begins to spread of a car crash!!!!” Portis wrote. “I’m in bed goodnight world hopefully I don’t go in my sleep 2night!”

Still, people continued to speculate about Portis’s death for hours after that, and his name was trending for much of Sunday night and Monday morning.

If you wanted to know more, Portis was on 106.7 The Fan with Holden Kushner Monday afternoon, and he confirmed that he was not, in fact, dead.

“That rumor scared the mess out of me, got my mama calling me wanting to talk every hour,” Portis said. “I don’t know where the rumors came from, but I’m alive and well. Man, I done got calls from everybody. I guess it’s a trending topic on Twitter or whatnot....But I’m good, man. I appreciate the people that are worried, but it ain’t my time yet.”

Portis also talked about his potential comeback, saying he spent the last year traveling and being a dad, and also watching the Redskins. Which led to this.

“With the way Rex was playing, turnovers and all, your record 3-1, why go make the drastic change?” Portis asked. “Then all of the sudden you start the controversy in the locker room, and Beck comes in, and then you go back to Rex, and guys start to [get injured]....It was just a lot of shuffling, as usual.”

And he yet again wrapped up his tenure in D.C.

“I enjoyed my time with the Washington Redskins,” Portis said. “I don’t regret anything, I don’t look back and wish I would have changed anything. It was a moment in life. You know, everything comes to an end. That’s relationships, buying a new car, buying a new house.

“You always love it in the beginning, and towards the end, you see a new car that you want, or you feel like you need to upgrade and move, or you want to re-do your house. Nothing lasts forever, and I understand that. And I understand the decision that the Redskins made in moving on....I don’t have any regrets. I think Mr. Snyder gave me the opportunity to do something that most people would die for.”


(washingtonpost.com)

Miami (FL) RB Lamar Miller has reportedly recovered from postseason shoulder surgery and has been running forty times in the mid-4.3s during pre-Combine training.
Miller is a candidate for a huge Combine because of his straight-line speed. ESPN College Scouting Director Todd McShay likens Miller's explosiveness to that of Chris Johnson, and he's in the mix to be the second tailback drafted. A forty time in the mid-4.3s would excite NFL evaluators, to put it mildly.


(rotoworld.com)

New York Giants
2011 Record: 9-7 First round draft position: No. 32
Top Priority: OT

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: He's got the NFL size, length and overall athletic skill set. However, he's not a natural anchor player and doesn't strike me as a guy who is ever going to be real physical at the next level. He can mirror in space, but struggles to stick through contact and isn't real heavy handed. Looks like a finesse tackle who will get over drafted because of athletic talent, but is going to have a hard time keeping the edge clean at the next level.

Brandon Washington, OL, Miami: The talent is there for this guy to mature into a guard you can win with consistently inside at the next level. He needs to improve his pad level in the in-line game and tighten up his footwork in all areas. However, with a year of seasoning he certainly should mature into an above-average guard in the NFL with the talent to start at right


(cnnsi.com)

If LB Tavares Gooden can find a team to give him a chance to play on defense, he might take it, but that won’t necessarily happen. Gooden made his share of plays on special teams (12 tackles) and would be a good piece for the team to retain. Verdict: Stay.




(cbssports.com)

Team brass is enamored with Jeremy Shockey ’s locker-room leadership, practice work ethic and game-day attitude. At 31 years old, he may be a step slower, but he would still prove to be a dependable target for Cam Newton – if his contact demands are not too high. If Shockey departs, TE Gary Barnidge could acquire a bigger role.


(cbssports.com)

Go to about the 1:50 mark.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A steady stream of veterans filed into the clubhouse at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday. Among them was Aubrey Huff, looking lean, rested and ready to put a miserable 2011 season in his rearview mirror.

"I'll have no regrets, good or bad this year," Huff said. "I'm coming out with a positive mind frame, and I'm ready to go."

Huff, 35, spent much of the offseason working out in Arizona and resumed Pilates workouts in an attempt to turn back the clock to 2010, when he had a .290 average and 26 home runs. Those numbers dropped to .246 and 12 last season, and with youngsters Brandon Belt and Brett Pill coming after his job, you might think Huff would spend more time than ever this offseason working on his swing.

He said it's been the opposite.

"We've got a month and a half here to get the swing going," Huff said. "Sometimes you do too much in the offseason if you're hitting and throwing. You've got to give your body a timeout from those kinds of workouts."

Infielders Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot, former teammates at LSU and with the Cubs, also worked out Wednesday. Top prospect Gary Brown was among the minor leaguers to show up. Outfielder Melky Cabrera is the only projected starter who hasn't settled into the clubhouse yet, but he is expected to report Thursday.


(mercurynews.com)

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp doesn't believe he should be given the National League Most Valuable Player Award if the actual winner of the award, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, loses his appeal of a 50-game suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug test.

"I feel like that would be by default...I wish I would've won it just by them voting me and me being the MVP...That would be special," Kemp said Tuesday.

Kemp finished second to Braun in balloting for the award after batting .324 with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs last season.

"I know Braun. We have always been cool and we have been friends. He is one of my favorite players in the big leagues. I hope it's not true."

Braun is scheduled to report to Brewers training camp on Friday and is still awaiting word whether he'll be suspended for the first 50 games of the season.


(theindychannel.com)

Brandon Washington, G, Miami: Washington is one of eight Miami players invited to the combine and has played all over the Hurricanes’ offensive line. Between Miami (8), Florida (3), Florida State (6), UCF (1), USF (1), FIU (1) and FAU (1), 21 players from Florida colleges were invited to the combine.

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami: Another underclassman from Miami, Miller rushed for 1,272 yards this season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Sean Spence, OLB, Miami: He started all 13 games in the 2010 season and was named the team’s co-MVP. He was accused of taking improper benefits from former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro.

Marcus Forston, DT, Miami: Assuaging injury concerns could be big for Forston. He was also accused of being involved with Shapiro.


(jacksonville.com)

Jeremy Shockey, Carolina tight end. He's a potential value pick at a position the Dolphins need to bolster. He had four touchdowns while playing behind Greg Olsen in Carolina. He's a big target at 6-5 and has good experience. Also with South Florida ties as he played for the U of Miami.

(*Initially, I had Greg Olsen in this spot, not realizing he had signed a four-year extension with Carolina.)


(sun-sentinel.com)

Veteran safety Antrel Rolle had a choice to make earlier this season with the New York Giants: Complain about the fact that he was moved away from his natural position, or do what the coaches asked for the betterment of his team. Fortunately for the Giants, he chose the latter, and Giants players and fans couldn’t be happier as he helped deliver the team’s second Super Bowl title in the past four years.

“I only played safety two games this year. I pretty much played a fill-in position. I played whatever position was needed at that point. And I wasn’t too happy about that throughout the course of the year but towards the end of the year, I had to make a decision, is this about me, or is it about the team? Is it about my own self-goals or is it about the team goals,” Rolle said in an exclusive interview with Jared Ginsberg of Class Act Sports.
Rolle was all over the field this season (he had a career-high 96 tackles to go along with two interceptions) playing whatever roll was needed on the defense, forgetting about individual accolades for the sake of his teammates.

“And once I made that decision that the team was so much more bigger than myself, I started to become the best nickel that I could possibly be. It didn’t matter whether or not I got interceptions, it didn’t matter whether or not I was playing safety, playing nickel, playing linebacker. I said to myself whatever position I was going to play, I was going to be the best at that position. So I tell people all the time, I’ve been All-Pro, I’ve been to the Pro Bowl but there is nothing like a team accomplishment, and there is nothing like winning the Super Bowl,” Rolle said.

The Giants started out 6-2 before four-straight losses put them at 6-6. The last loss of that streak was to the defending champion Packers, 38-35 on a field goal as time expired.  After that game, Rolle told anyone that would listen, “We’ll see them again.” The Giants did see them again, to the tune of a 38-20 NFC Divisional Playoff win at Lambeau Field, and it was Rolle who was one of the leaders and most vocal guys in the lockerroom.

“First and foremost, I think it always starts with myself. I go home every day and look at myself in the mirror and see how I can get better as an individual and see how I can help my team. I just felt like we needed a little more boost, we needed a little bit more energy. We needed a little more fire, a little more mental toughness in order to make the run we knew we needed to make to get to the post season,” Rolle told Class Act Sports.
The Giants went on to finish the regular season with three wins in their final four games, before four-in-a-row in the playoffs. Rolle helped keep it loose during that time, even attributing to one of the team slogan’s, “Where Trel At?”

“I’m always the last guy out of the lockerroom, That’s just my thing. I like to be the last guy out, make sure everyone gets out there efficiently and on time, but whenever Deon [Grant] didn’t see me, he’d always ask, ‘Where ‘Trel at? Where ‘Trel at? You know the defense don’t roll without ‘Trel! Where ‘Trel at?’ So the [equipment team] they’re in charge of my equipment- they took it and ran with it and started making fun of our Ebonics- ending a sentence with a preposition. It became like an in-house slogan. Whenever you said it, no matter what you’re going through it always brightened up your day. It was more of an energy booster. When times got tough, going through the postseason I knew it was going to be a stressful stretch, so one Saturday, I decided to get everybody shirts and put it in their lockers, and they came in Saturday and saw the shirts, and it just put a smile on everyone’s face. And that’s what it was all about. And each week, we kept our tradition going. We put out different shirts every week,” he said.

Another key part of the stingy and timely defense that helped the Giants win their fourth Super Bowl was Jason Pierre-Paul. The second-year defensive end had a breakout year with 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks. And while Rolle admitted, he didn’t see this coming, he expects more of the same from Pierre-Paul in the 2012 season.

“I can’t tell you that I imagined him having the season he had this past season but I really didn’t know too much about JPP. But being around him, and seeing his work ethic each and every day, the sky is the limit for this guy. He is only just beginning he is definitely going to bring a whole lot more than what he brought this year,” Rolle told Class Act Sports exclusively.

Before the season began, Giants fans were unhappy with their GM Jerry Reese who let tight end Kevin Boss and wide receiver Steve Smith walk away during free agency and not make a splash signing any free agents. But Reese said the Giants would make the playoffs, and boy did they ever. In fact, Rolle said he was surprised at just how much everyone inside the organization believed in the team.

“Our management has always been awesome. Thanks to them, I am a Giant and thanks to them, I am a Super Bowl Champion. I think when everyone questioned ‘What are they doing? How come they aren’t making the moves? You know the Eagles are doing this, everyone is doing that, and we’re just staying put,’ I think they understood what we had in our lockerroom. Probably more so than we did, and I think they believed that through tough times, we will get it done, and it made us get stronger. It made us build chemistry and I think that was their mindset. They don’t have a crystal ball to say what is going to happen. But if the season had turned a different way, I’m pretty sure everyone would have probably ripped them for that, but thanks to us and thanks to them, we believed in each other and they believed in us more than anyone, and were able to go out there and be Super Bowl Champions,” he said.

He had made the Super Bowl with the Cardinals three years ago, and was seconds away from being a Champion, before Santonio Holmes caught the winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds remaining in the game. So Rolle did all he could to ensure not having that feeling repeat itself again in Super Bowl XLVI.

“It’s extremely special. Most of all, because I think it is well-deserved. It was a collective team effort from top to bottom, and most of all, we gave ourselves a chance when no one else did. And we believed in each other and that’s all it took. Once we got on the same page at the same time and things started clicking, we weren’t going to be denied and we knew it and we felt it, we went out there and we believed it, we dreamed it and it became true,” Rolle said.

It won’t be easy repeating, as the Patriots were the last team to do it in the 2004-2005 seasons, but Rolle knows his team is very capable of winning it again- if they play as the did when it mattered this season.

“It’s going to take more, it’s going to take the same thing just magnified by ten because being the Super Bowl Champs, that bulls-eye is going to be on your back. But I’m never going to sell ourselves short. I think the sky is the limit for us. I think we have an identity. I think we know who we are and what we can be at this point and we are only going to get better,” he said.


(classactsports.com)

The Baltimore Ravens need to pursue the Colts' Reggie Wayne. He's the most accomplished wide receiver in this free-agent class but there will be less competition for him than the younger and more explosive pass-catchers. And, at age 33, Wayne will have a narrow list of teams as well because he wants to go somewhere he can win a championship. The popular theory is Wayne will follow Peyton Manning in some sort of a package deal. The Ravens, though, have an inside edge over teams with safety Ed Reed, who was Wayne's roommate at the University of Miami and can recruit his friend to play in Baltimore.


(espn.com)

One week after reporting the Dolphins would "probably" re-sign free agent RG Vernon Carey, the Palm Beach Post now considers Carey a "longshot" to return.
The Post is now on board with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which reported in January that "Carey's value is much higher elsewhere than in South Florida." A liability on passing downs last season, Carey is unlikely to draw much interest as a starter going into his age-31 campaign.


(rotoworld.com)

John Salmons would normally have come off the bench last night ahead of Garcia, but Salmons was inactive because of a sore hip. Salmons’ injury led to one of Cisco's better lines of the season. Once Salmons is back, Garcia should return to obscurity. He didn't even play in his previous three games.




(rotoworld.com)

Scott Maine and John Gaub would appear to be contenders as well but have longer odds for the role, but the Cubs will take a long look all spring at 38-year-old veteran Trever Miller, who pitched last season with St. Louis, Toronto and Boston.

Miller was traded in July by the Cardinals to Toronto. The Blue Jays released him before the Red Sox picked him up. Miller said he would have made the Red Sox' postseason roster, but Boston collapsed down the stretch. However, he will get a World Series ring from the world-champion Cardinals.

“I was pulling for those guys, especially when I'm sitting at home,” Miller said. “Three years with a team is a long time, especially in my role. I usually don't get to stick around that long. I loved all those guys there.”


(espn.com)

JUPITER, Fla. -- After making just four starts during the second half of the 2011 season, Alex Cora found himself entertaining few offers this offseason. However, the 36-year-old said on Tuesday, after completing his first workout in Cardinals camp, that he never did prepare for the possibility of retiring.

Instead, Cora is now preparing for a six-week battle to earn a spot on his seventh different Major League roster. Invited to camp under a Minor League deal, Cora will be considered for a utility infield role.

"At this level, I'm going to play until someone says, 'No,'" Cora said. "I'm healthy, and I'm in a good situation where I think I can help this team win."
Last year, Cora had little opportunity to prove that, in his 14th big league season, he could still be a valuable infielder at this level. He got some starts at third with Washington early in the year when Ryan Zimmerman missed time with a left abdominal strain. Third base had actually been a fairly unfamiliar spot for Cora before that point.

He's made 616 Major League appearances at short and another 530 at second. Thirty-one of his 48 career third-base appearances came in 2011, and Cora has played another 13 games at first. He remains most comfortable at short, the position he played most regularly after being drafted in 1996.

How Cora fits on this club could hinge on what happens in the second-base competition between Daniel Descalso, Skip Schumaker and Tyler Greene. The two who do not win the starting job would likely remain on the roster as backup infielders, though Schumaker could also serve as a backup outfielder. If outfielder Allen Craig is also healthy, that would leave manager Mike Matheny with just one additional open bench spot to fill.
"Organizations look for players that have a lot of gloves in their locker, but at the same time are good players," Cora said. "I don't think I have to prove myself. I just think I have to come here and earn my spot. Everybody knows what I can do."


(mlb.com)

PHOENIX -- Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said that left fielder Ryan Braun remains upbeat amid his long appeal of a drug suspension, and is planning to be in camp for the team's first full-squad workout on Saturday.

"He's been doing good all winter though this, and he's excited to get going in Spring Training," said Roenicke, who spoke with Braun several weeks ago and exchanged text messages in recent days. "Hopefully, the outcome will be the way we all want it.

"I know everybody thinks it's really hard, but it's not something that I dwell on. I know what happens during the course of a season when you lose players -- key players -- and it's part of baseball. You just deal with it."


(mlb.com)

JUPITER, Fla. • World Series MVP David Freese and starting center fielder Jon Jay were among the players who finalized their contracts for 2012 with the Cardinals this morning, a player and an official confirmed.

Jay and Freese — both of whom are participating in their first workouts today — completed their contracts this morning.

These deals are one-year contracts and its rare for a player to take a significant leap in salary. For players with no experience in the majors, their deals will be for the major-league minimum salary ($480,000).

Players like Freese and Jay will receive slight raises; each made slightly above the major-league minimum in 2011.

Terms of their contracts were not disclosed.

The club has all the power when it comes to negotiating deals for players with fewer than three years of experience. If a contract isn't agreed to before the deadline this spring, the team can renew the player's contract at a price the club sets.

The Cardinals could have all the members of the 40-man roster signed for 2012 within a week.


(stltoday.com)

37. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (Fl)* -- Miller offers tremendous ball-carrying skills and home-run speed. He has the ability to quickly get through running lanes, then take it the distance. Miller needs a little more experience, but comes with big-time potential.

Click here to see the rest of the rankings.


(cnnsi.com)

Last week came word that Clinton Portis still wanted to play NFL football, and that he had struggled with the idea of playing in 2011 because he was “heartbroken” over the end of his Redskins tenure.

Monday, Portis explained himself further during an interview with John Thompson on ESPN 980, and he took the love metaphor to the next step.
“I really don’t feel like the terms I exited on was my goodbye,” Portis said. “You know, I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank. If there’s some questions left, I want to put those questions to rest. I feel as if I can still do it, and I want to....

“Like I said before, it was like a bad breakup, when you’ve been somewhere for so long and all of the sudden you’re gone and you’re to blame for everything,” he later explained. “It was just a bad breakup. And for myself it was a question, can I really go to another city? Do I really want to move and go through this? Will I still have the same desire to go out and play for heart?

“You know, I’m not playing for monetary reasons. Wherever I go, it’s not gonna [be like] oh, Clinton just signed a $10 million deal. So for myself, it’s really just about going to the right situation and having the right opportunity to go out and play and really enjoy playing again. So that’s what I’m looking forward to. I really want to go to the right situation that I can come in and just have fun and make my run and my exit be a memorable one.”

Portis said there are teams that are talking with his representatives, but that he didn’t want to make any names public. He did say that he wanted to go to a team with a bond that could go on a run like the Giants did last season, or a team that could have a quick turnaround like the 49ers.

“There’s no situation you can pick and say well this is gonna be the team,” he said. “I just want it to be wherever I go to that I can find a way to relate to my teammates and help my teammates move forward and we put together a magical run.”

Portis said he would be fine in a backup role or in a competition for playing time, and that “if I go out and play, my work’s gonna speak for itself. If I go out and perform the way I’m capable of performing, I don’t have to worry about playing a secondary role.”

And he also said that he would be more vocal about his desire to play football.

“Just for myself, I really don’t ever think I took the forefront last year to really say I want to play ball,” Portis said. “And it was probably one of the better decisions that I’ve made, to take the time off and really reflect and enjoy and appreciate the things that I have accomplished, and realize and set some goals to go out and accomplish again. So that’s what I did. I re-set my goals, and I’m looking forward to accomplishing them.”


(washingtonpost.com)

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami -- They need to a replacement for Cedric Benson and Miller would give them more speed.

See the rest of the mock draft.


(cbssports.com)

Coach Keith Smart said he wants John Salmons to give some "pop" off the bench.

With Isaiah Thomas looking strong as a starter, Salmons' shift to the bench may not be temporary. The veteran has no one to blame but himself for the demotion, as he's shooting 36.1 percent and scoring 7.0 points per game on the season.


(rotoworld.com)

Hapoel Holon rebounded from its State Cup thrashing at the hands of Maccabi Tel Aviv with a dramatic 71-70 BSL victory over Barak Netanya on Monday.

Bryant Dunston had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Holon, which climbed to third place with the win.

Adrian Banks scored 25 points for Netanya, while Brian Asbury had 18 points and 11 boards for Danny Franco’s team, which lost for the fourth time in five games to remain in ninth place.


(jpost.com)

I headed over to the other side of the clubhouse, where Danny Valencia dresses. Get your urban dictionaries out, because Valencia wants everyone to know he's ``yoked,'' this year.

He weighs about the same as he did last season but says it's the best he's ever felt.

``It's night and day how I feel,'' he said.``I really made a serious, conscious effort to get my body right. I feel like I can move and feel strong at the same time.

``I  worked really hard,'' he said, `` but I feel great., I'm a lot stronger than I've ever been. I'm faster than I've ever been.''


(startibune.com)

Position: Catcher
Height: 6-2
Weight: 232
Age: 23
Born: Havana, Cuba
Drafted: 2010, first round, 12th overall
Acquired: Trade with Cincinnati Reds, Dec. 17
Projected arrival in majors: 2013

Strengths: Advanced from Single-A to Triple-A last season; switch-hitter is expected to provide above-average offense and solid defense; has a balanced approach, controls the strike zone, and uses the entire field.

Weaknesses: University of Miami product had 19 passed balls in 90 games and must improve receiving skills; has an average arm, and speed is well below average. Could need a full season at Triple-A.

Quote: "(Advancing three levels last season) was satisfying. Especially, as I moved on, I did better. It was satisfying just to be able to get those three levels under my belt in one year."


(nctimes.com)

Pat Burrell, one of the heroes from the Giants’ 2010 championship run, might join a luminous list of former players who visit spring training for a week or two of special coaching.

Manager Bruce Bochy just told me that he and general manager Brian Sabean talked to Burrell this winter about a post-retirement role in the organization, and that could include a stint here in Scottsdale doing the kind of work that Will Clark (currently here), Robb Nen and Shawon Dunston do.

“Brian and I will get together and see what makes sense for both sides,” Bochy said. “We think a lot of Pat.”

The timing of any potential visit could depend on Burrell’s recovery from a shoulder operation, which came as a surprise to Bochy. The Santa Cruz-area native is retiring at 35 because of a chronic foot problem, and Bochy said Burrell did not complain about any shoulder pain during his final season last year.

How could Burrell help here?

“He’s a guy who can talk to players about the right way to play,” Bochy said. “I think his strength would be his approach to the plate on the hitting side.”

Indeed, Burrell had one of the majors’ best eyes at the plate and worked counts better than any Giant in 2010. He retired with a career on-base percentage of .361.

Quiet day so far at camp. Within the hour Brian Wilson is scheduled to throw a bullpen session. I’ll let you know how he looked.


(sfgate.com)

Caught an episode of Clubhouse Confidential on MLB Network Friday. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it takes an analytical look at the news of the day and other topics using non-traditional stats. It’s great for fans that want to familiarize themselves with sabermetric stuff.

One of the areas they covered was leadoff hitting. In addition to discussing what type of offensive player should be leading off, host Brian Kenny pointed out some guys in the game that should be batting first and others that shouldn’t. A couple of Marlins came up. Kenny’s quote: “[Gaby] Sanchez, not Jose Reyes, is a better leadoff candidate for the Marlins this year.”

Seems odd, right? Reyes after all is a prototypical leadoff man in the eyes of most baseball fans. Not so says Clubhouse Confidential because he has too much power. According to The Book: Playing the Percentage in Baseball, a leadoff man logs 36 percent of his plate appearances with the bases empty. That figure for the No. 2 hitter increase to 44 percent. For third and fourth hitters, 48 percent and 51 percent, respectively.

Based on that, teams that have a power hitter in the leadoff spot aren’t maximizing that pop. Reyes in 2011 slugged a career high .493 thanks in part to a league-leading 16 triples. He also totaled 31 doubles and seven homers. What the show didn’t mention is even after last season Reyes’ career slugging percentage is .441, which makes him a little more palatable as a leadoff man based on the aforementioned premise.

The other big stat for leadoff men is on-base percentage, a component of which is walks. Top of the order hitters come up with no outs in 48 percent of their plate appearances.The two through four spots are 33 percent, 28 percent and 34 percent, respectively. That means a walk is as good as a hit for leadoff men. Ideally, you want your leadoff man to draw a base on balls in 10 percent or better of his plate appearances.

Although Reyes had a .384 on-base percentage in 2011, his walk rate was 7.3 percent, raising his career average to 6.9 percent. Clubhouse Confidential tells us Reyes has too much power and doesn’t walk enough to hit first. Their alternative: Sanchez.

Sanchez had a .352 on-base percentage, walked in 11.2 percent of his plate appearances and slugged .427. Again, Clubhouse Confidential didn’t take into account the numbers from his 2010 rookie season (.341 on-base, .448 slugging and 8.9 percent walk rate).

One player the show did not mention was Emilio Bonifacio, who likely will bat first this season. Bonifacio had a breakout season in 2011, reaching base at a .360 clip and walking in 9.2 percent of his plate appearances. He doesn’t hit for power, plus he is a prolific base stealer, so I was surprised Clubhouse Confidential didn’t identify him as a better leadoff candidate than either Reyes or Sanchez.

From Twitter comments I’ve received, plenty of Marlins fans aren’t sold on Bonifacio. Manager Jack McKeon really got him playing with confidence last season. Bonifacio taking half a step back in 2012 wouldn’t surprise me. His batting average on balls in play last season was .372. In 2009, his BABIP was .312 and in 2010 it was .333. Anything much higher or lower than .300 suggests that player will see a regression or a rebound.

My Opening Night batting order: Bonifacio, Reyes, Ramirez, Stanton, Morrison, Sanchez, Buck, Infante, Johnson.


(sun-sentinel.com)

PHOENIX (AP) - Ryan Braun's navy blue No. 8 uniform hangs in one of his corner lockers with a pair of perfectly crisp white pants. Four shoeboxes are stacked in his second space.

The wait for Milwaukee's NL MVP is on at Maryvale Baseball Park. The Brewers may hear this week whether arbitrator Shyam Das will uphold Braun's 50-game suspension for a positive drug test.

In the meantime, the team is moving forward in preparations for what manager Ron Roenicke expects to be a different formula for winning without departed slugger Prince Fielder and perhaps Braun, too. Outfielder Nyjer Morgan is among a large contingent of position players already in camp ahead of Saturday's first full-squad spring training workout.

"Yep, guys are just getting prepared,'' Morgan said while quickly heading outside to work.

Roenicke said Monday he expects Braun to arrive in time for that initial practice. They traded text messages a few days ago and Roenicke spoke to his star left fielder a couple of weeks back.

"He's doing good. He's been doing good all winter through this,'' Roenicke said as his pitchers and catchers took to the field for their first formal session in the Arizona desert. "He's excited to get going in spring training, and hopefully the outcome will be how we all want it.''

The Brewers are plenty confident at the start of spring that they can make another special playoff run even if they are without Braun early and big run producer, Fielder. Milwaukee won 96 games and the NL Central last season and got by Arizona in the first round before losing in the NL championship series to division rival and eventual World Series champion St. Louis.

Braun began the appeal process last month of his positive test in October, and many figured the Brewers would have an answer regarding his status by the start of spring training. Matthew Hiltzik, who has spoken on behalf of Braun's representative team, has said there was "absolutely no intentional violation of the program.'' Hiltzik did not return a phone message seeking comment Monday.

MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said Monday he has no indication when a ruling might be.

A lineup without both Braun and Fielder would leave a big power void. Fielder is off to Motown after the Detroit Tigers signed the free agent first baseman to a $214 million, nine-year contract in January.

Braun, the 28-year-old 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, hit .312 with 33 homers and 111 RBIs last season and beat out Dodgers star Matt Kemp for the MVP award.

Milwaukee signed third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a $36 million, three-year contract in December to add a key bat and help lessen the effects of losing Fielder. General manager Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash were committed to building another successful team for 2012 with a chance to repeat as division champions.

"Gord and Doug and (owner) Mark (Attanasio) did a great job this offseason acquiring pieces that we needed in case we were going to lose Fielder,'' closer John Axford said. "Obviously Aramis Ramirez was a huge pick up. He was a Silver Slugger award winner last year. I think that's going to be a great offensive pick up and also a great defensive pick up. You know, we might have some closer games, some tighter games this year. Maybe that bodes well for me down there in the ninth.''

With the very real likelihood that fewer balls will clear the fences without Fielder, Roenicke plans to get more creative with bunting baserunners over, hit and runs or whatever else it takes to score runs.

"Fortunately we have won those tight games because we're in a lot of them. Any time you have a great pitching staff, defensively we think we're going to be better this year - I thought we were fine last year but I think we're going to be better this year - I think when you have that you're going to play close ballgames,'' Roenicke said. "We're going to have to try to figure out even better than last year how we grind out runs in those close games, how we are able to get that run, because I think our bullpen will hold the other team down and give our offense an opportunity.''

Catcher Paul Phillips believes there are an ample number of talented players in Milwaukee's clubhouse prepared to take on bigger roles.

"When you take an A-plus player and lose him, you have to try to find another one because you're used to it,'' Phillips said. "When you don't, you have to try to find a way to get around that until you can find that, or until one develops.''


(cnnsi.com)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could consider releasing TE Kellen Winslow this offseason because they would save $5 million in salary cap space. Winslow has had knee problems in his career and only caught two touchdowns this season but did catch 75 passes for 763 yards. The Bucs would take a $0 cap hit if they released Winslow.

Winslow has already been paid the $20.1 million guaranteed in the six-year contract he signed in 2009, which did not include a signing bonus. Signing bonuses are typically prorated over the life of a contract. Coming off a 75/763/2 season, Winslow is set to make $3.3 million in 2012. It's quite possible that the Bucs will look into severing ties this offseason or next.


(rotoworld.com)

There is some talk that Manning and Reggie Wayne may go to a new team as a package deal. A few pro scouts believe Wayne’s production may dip, given he probably will be in a new offensive system for the first time in his career, and he is 33 years old. That isn’t to say the free agent to be doesn’t have a couple of good years left in him, however. Wayne could maximize his ability if he were to continue his connection with Manning. Wayne can’t go deep as well as he once did, and he’s not as likely to gain as many yards after the reception. But he still can separate, and he still can catch.


(profootballtalk.com)

Panthers MLB Jon Beason (torn Achilles' tendon) is aiming for a June return to football activities.

Beason resumed working out in January, but is currently limited to "underwater running to treadmill work." Despite the severity of his injury, Beason reportedly has "no contract uncertainty" after signing a six-year, $51.3 million deal last July that included $25M guaranteed. The Panthers are going to keep paying him.


(rotoworld.com)

AVENTURA – Olivier Vernon trotted past the finish line so fast Pete Bommarito just about triple checked his stopwatch. The former University of Miami standout who left school early to enter the NFL draft had just ran a 40-yard dash time that would be declared fast for a linebacker. Ironically, that's the position most NFL experts believe this Hurricanes defensive end might end up playing.

"Don't you dare write that down," said Bommarito, the founder and CEO of Bommarito Performance, a training program that works with NFL and MLB players.

Bommarito immediately became paranoid, and no longer trusted the 40-yard dash times he had on the 50 NFL draft prospects he's trained for this week's NFL Combine, and their school's Pro Day.

Suspecting his times were wind assisted during their Tuesday workout Bommarito spends 15 minutes changing directions of the sprints. But Vernon runs another fast 40-time fellow teammate, UM linebacker Sean Spence, is envious of.

If Vernon manages to keep that pace at this week's NFL combine his lukewarm draft stock will certainly heat up.

"I want to show off my athletic ability. I want to show I'm versatile. I want to show I can play in any scheme, a 4-3 or a 3-4," said Vernon, who contributed 18 tackles, and 1.5 sacks in the six games he played last season. "I don't want to be looked at as a defensive end."

Vernon, who contributed 39 tackles and six sacks in 2010, missed six games because of an NCAA suspension. Plenty Hurricane fans second guessed his decision to enter the NFL draft, but he has plenty of company in his early exodus to the NFL.

A record-setting 65 underclassmen entered this year's draft class, and five of them were Hurricanes.

Tailback Lamar Miller skipped his final two seasons at UM after rushing for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. However, he's got a pretty decent excuse considering tailbacks have a short shelf life in the NFL.

Miller, who is often compared to Clinton Portis, is projected as a second-round pick, and is unanimously viewed as one of the draft's top three tailbacks.

Tommy Streeter, who led the Hurricanes in catches (46), receiving yards (811) and touchdown catches (eight), cashed out after his one breakout season. Streeter hopes his rare blend of speed (6-foot-5), size and athleticism pushes him up the draft boards.

Brandon Washington left UM after playing out of position as a tackle his junior season. This offensive guard is viewed as one of the draft's top 50 prospects.

"I felt like I was ready for the next level," said Washington, who a first-team All-ACC left guard selection as a sophomore. "My mindset was different. I'm ready to play against grown men."

Defensive tackle Marcus Fortson played in three games last season before blowing out his knee. He could have petitioned the NCAA for another year of eligibility, but preferred to move on.

"It is unusual to have that many [early entries] especially given the record they had last year. I don't know what the situation is," said Mike Mayock, NFL Network's draft analyst. "I'm an Al Golden proponent. I live in Philadelphia. He came from Temple. I don't know if he went down there with a different way of doing things, and that's why so many underclassmen left. I don't know that answer. But we're not talking about five first-round picks like in the old days at Miami."

The early defections gutted the Hurricanes' talent base. But UM's loss could be the NFL's gain.

All of the early entrants were invited to the combine, and with strong performances in the draft process their draft stock could rise considerably.

The recent success of former Hurricanes tight end Jimmy Graham, a third-round pick who made it to the Pro Bowl last year, and undrafted success stories like Sam Shields and Antonio Dixon proves the UM brand still has some cache.

"I'm a physical specimen, a physical playmaker, a guy who creates mismatches on any area of the field," said Streeter, who'll receive his degree this spring. "I still feel like the first round is still a possibility….I control my own destiny."


(sun-sentinel.com)

All season long, Antrel Rolle was a regular guest on WFAN with Joe and Evan.  From a blogger’s perspective, he was an absolute goldmine for content, not just for the nonsense he spewed, but also for his penchant for inserting the phrase “at the end of the day” after every other sentence.  Here’s a quick sampling of that (audio only):



Well… apparently Antrel can poke fun at himself a little.  At the Giants’ parade, you have to look close, but he was sporting an “At the end of the day” hoodie.  Good for you, Antrel.  Cheers, bud, and thanks for the fodder.




(bloggingthebeast.com)

The Rock says he is going to electrify MetLife Stadium like never before at next year's WrestleMania.

But Dwayne Johnson was a football player at the University of Miami before he became The Rock. And he dreamed of playing in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl. That is why he took time to walk on the MetLife Stadium field before yesterday's WrestleMania press conference and soak in the atmosphere of the home field of the world champion Giants. He also said he is thrilled for his fellow Hurricanes Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips.

"Very proud of those guys," Johnson said. "What happens when we’re at the University of Miami, there is such a love and connection and a brotherhood that we all have that we love and we support each other. It is about 'The U' whether we have winning seasons or not. But all those guys who go on and play in the NFL, I am very very proud of those guys. That was my goal too but it didn’t happen for me. It happened to those guys and I am very proud."

"Football was my life for a lot of years," he added. "I've always had what I call Super Bowl dreams, of getting drafted and playing in the NFL and playing in the Super Bowl. That never happened. So I live vicariously through a lot of these guys and the New York Giants is one of them.

"To be able to come here and not be a Super Bowl champion but be 'The People's champion'... on this field... awesome."


(espn.com)

If Vincent Jackson departs in free agency, the Chargers are going to need a No. 1 wide receiver. According to one team insider, that person could be Reggie Wayne, who is a free agent after 11 seasons with the Colts. Wayne played in a vertical passing game in Indianapolis similar to the one that the Chargers run, and he could step right in and be a go-to guy for Philip Rivers.


(profootballweekly.com)

Free-agent C Chris Myers (Texans) says he would love to stay with the Houston Texans, and he is hopeful the business end works out. According to former Houston Texans offensive lineman Chester Pitts, ‘It Will Not Be Cheap To Keep Chris Myers.’


(fantasysp.com)

The Broncos need to find a running back to pair with Willis McGahee, who ran for 1,199 yards in his first season in Denver. But McGahee is 30 and was dinged up a lot. Denver will likely add a running back in the early rounds of the draft unless it address that need in free agency. The Tebow-run offense was as its best when Denver ran the ball well, so help in that area is paramount.


(espn.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Before it will host Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, MetLife Stadium will be home to WrestleMania XXIX in 2013.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and Jets and Giants owners Woody Johnson and John Mara were among those at a news conference to announce that WWE's biggest annual event would be held at MetLife Stadium on April 7, 2013.

"In terms of the competition for this event, it was as much that we went through to try to earn this event from Vince and his company that we went through with the Super Bowl," said Mark Lamping, president of MetLife Stadium.

The Giants and Jets fought hard to be awarded an outdoor, cold-weather Super Bowl game. Now the home of the Super Bowl champion Giants and the Jets will get an appetizer of sorts on what it will be like to handle a big sports entertainment event before the Super Bowl comes the following year.

"This is not a one-day thing," Christie said. "This is a week-long celebration that is going to be brought here to New Jersey and the surrounding area. You will have fans from all around the country and around the world who are going to come and generate tens of millions of dollars in all type of economic activity for this area."

WWE star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who played football at the University of Miami and dreamed of playing in the NFL before following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather into the WWE, said he walked on the MetLife Stadium field before Thursday's conference.

"I went out there and I soaked it all in," said the actor and wrestler, who will be featured in the main event of this year's WrestleMania and told reporters he will be a part of the WrestleMania at MetLife Stadium as well. "Football was my life for a lot of years. I've always had what I call Super Bowl dreams, of getting drafted and playing in the NFL and playing in the Super Bowl. That never happened. So I live vicariously through a lot of these guys and the New York Giants is one of them.

"To be able to come here and not be a Super Bowl champion but be 'The People's champion'... on this field... awesome."

In 2011, WrestleMania was held before 71,617 fans at the Georgia Dome. This year's event will be April 1 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. WrestleMania has generated more than $200 million in cumulative economic impact for its past four host regions.

"I can tell you I will come to WrestleMania XXIX and I will electrify MetLife Stadium as it's never been electrified before," Johnson said before delivering his trademark "if you smell what The Rock is cooking" sign off.

"WrestleMania has very quickly grown into a week-long celebration that generates in excess of $60 million of new direct spending for the host community where it takes place," said John Saboor, WWE's senior vice president of special events. "We expect by virtue of the enormity and popularity of this market that we could see an even greater result tied to WrestleMania."

John Cena, Triple H, Mark Henry, Sheamus and Brie and Nikki Bella joined Dwayne Johnson and the Giants' David Diehl and Zak DeOssie and the Jets' Kyle Wilson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Matt Slauson and Donald Strickland at the press conference.

"I'm glad you don't have a roof on the building," Cena said of the open-air stadium. "Because we would surely blow it off."

Triple H also presented Woody Johnson, the Jets chairman and CEO, and Mara, the Giants CEO and president, with world championship belts and stood between the two holding both their hands up like prized wrestlers.

"I think it was pretty funny," Diehl joked about seeing the Giants co-owner with a championship belt over his shoulder. "I think you saw the tale of two tapes between [Mara] and Woody. Looking to see them wrestle each other at WrestleMania."

The 2013 WrestleMania will be the fifth one to be held in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. McMahon said he was thrilled to be bringing WrestleMania "home."

"It all started back in 1985 in Madison Square Garden where the first WrestleMania," McMahon said. "Who will ever forget Muhammad Ali as the guest referee of the main event. Billy Martin was the guest ring announcer. Mr. T was in the main event with Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. Of course there was Cyndi Lauper in the corner of one of our Divas matches and let's not forget, Liberace and The Rockettes.

"WrestleMania on April 7, next year, comes home," he added.


(espn.com)

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – John Salmons was asked to assess how his first game as a reserve this season went.

"It wasn't the best, it wasn't great," Salmons said. "It wasn't great."

Salmons was benched as the Kings started rookie guard Isaiah Thomas along with Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton on the perimeter.

Salmons was in the game late for defense as the Kings lost 114-108 to the Detroit Pistons Friday night at The Place of Auburn Hills.

Salmons was acquired from Milwaukee in a three-team trade last June that sent guard Beno Udrih to the Kings. Salmons was touted as an upgrade defensively and a player that would be solve the Kings' lack of consistent scoring at small forward.

Kings coach Keith Smart said he wanted another ballhandler and someone who could run the offense which is why Thomas is now starting.
Smart has praised Salmons' defense. Salmons, however, has been in a season-long slump on offense.

"I don't think it was an issue on the defensive end," Salmons said. "It was more of an offensive thing. It's just something I've got to adjust to and keep it moving."

Salmons is averaging 7.1 points, his lowest since averaging 4.1 points in his third season with Philadelphia.

Salmons field goal percentage (35.9 percent) and three-point shooting (28.2 percent) are all on pace to be career lows for the 10-year veteran.

"(Smart is) just trying, I guess, to get me going in a different way,"

Salmons said. "He's just trying to use me in a different way. He told me before the game that he was just going to try to use me in a different way off the bench, try to get some pop off the bench."

Good shooting, still losing – The Kings shot 50 percent, just the second time the Kings have made at least half their shots in a game.

The Kings have lost both of those games.

The Kings shot 52.1 percent in a loss to Orlando Jan. 8 at Power Balance Pavilion.

Get back to work – The Kings will practice today in Cleveland for the first time during their season-long six-game trip.

The Kings played back-to-back games to start the trip and had Thursday off.


(sacbee.com)

The hardest part for Gaby Sanchez wasn't so much the Marlins trying to replace him with Albert Pujols.

It wasn't the prospect of losing his dream job with his hometown team to a future Hall of Fame first baseman.

Instead, it was those few days in early December when his cell phone nearly blew up as those Pujols rumors raged.

"It just got annoying with the phone calls and the texts," Sanchez said during the Marlins Caravan this week in preparation for spring training. "People were like, 'I can't believe they're doing this,' and, 'Oh, what are you going to do now?' "

On those rare occasions when Sanchez did answer the phone or hit the reply key, his responses were pretty much what you'd expect from the unassuming all-star.

Angry at the Marlins? No way.

Even if they never got around to giving him a heads-up about their plans.

"There was no tipoff," Sanchez said. "But if you looked at any type of media, if you looked at SportsCenter one time, you knew the Marlins were going after him. I knew it. Everybody else knew it. It wasn't a shock to me."

This isn't Hanley Ramirez struggling to accept a position move 50 feet to his right.

Sanchez, the former University of Miami standout, completely understood the Marlins' rationale.

"You're talking about one of the best players in baseball," Sanchez said. "If I was running the Marlins, I would have done the same thing. I would have gone after Pujols also."

For a few days there, it appeared the Marlins might actually stuff Phat Albert into their overflowing basket.

It was looking like the two-time World Series champion might have just two choices for his services: a surprisingly modest offer from the Cardinals and a 10-year, $201 million offer from the Marlins.

As the winter meetings unfolded and the constant updates came rolling out of Dallas, Sanchez was left to ponder his future.

He figured he would have a job somewhere in 2012. He just didn't know where.

Maybe it would be St. Louis, where he'd have the unenviable challenge of following a legend.

Maybe the Cubs. Or the Nationals.

It wasn't like Sanchez would have much say. The Marlins still held his rights, so when it came time to flip him, the 28-year-old would just have to accept his new workplace.

"I just had to realize it's a business," Sanchez said. "The Marlins are going to go after who they feel is going to help the team win and who is going to be more beneficial than what I can do."

What Sanchez can do is pretty good in its own right.


(sun-sentinel.com)

MILWAUKEE, WI (WHBL) - A three-person panel is expected to make its decision on MIlwaukee Brewer outfielder Ryan Braun’s possible 50-game suspension some time before Brewers position players report for spring training next Friday.  Of course, that panel was expected to release its final work on Braun’s status after 25 days, but it didn't.  That would have been last Tuesday.  Brewers pitchers and catchers are reporting today in Maryvale, Arizona.  They'll take their physicals tomorrow and have their first workout on Monday.  Even if Braun is suspended, he will be allowed to take part in spring training, then sit down for the first 50 games of the season.  If his appeal is allowed and the suspension not enforced, the Milwaukee outfielder would become the first player to prevail in the appeal process.


(whbl.com)