Edgerrin James Returns to Cardinals Practice
Jun/01/07 11:05 AM
| Edgerrin James
| Permalink
Despite some
conflicting reports on his whereabouts, Cardinals
running back Edgerrin James did return to organized
team activities earlier this week as expected. His
arrival came shortly after Coach Ken Whisenhunt got
him on the horn and said that he needed him in the
Valley.
"He said, 'I am going
to be there at some point,' and I said, 'Edgerrin, I
need you here,' " Whisenhunt said. "He said,
'I'm gonna be there Coach, I've got my calendar.' I
said, 'Bring it in and we'll talk about it.' And
that's all I can ask for."
It's really nice to see James answer the call.
Although he would probably prefer to be in Florida
working out with the Giants Plaxico Burress and
Jeremy Shockey, the team comes first and rhythm with
teammates is extremely important.
By all accounts, James
is expected to return next Monday and spend the
entire week (Thursday) with the team as they round
out their OTA's. From there he'll likely go back to
Florida and workout until training camp begins on
July 30th.
(aolsportsblog.com)
Giants' Burress and Shockey Pull Disappearing Act ...
Again
May/31/07 11:37 PM
| Jeremy Shockey
| Permalink
The Giants began their
third round of organized team activities yesterday
and surprise, surprise, surprise, tight end Jeremy
Shockey and wide receiver Plaxico Burress were no
where to be found.
"You've just got to
accept it," Eli Manning said. "I've got to do what
I've got to do. You make the best out of it. Whoever
comes to practice, I'll try to get the best out of
them."
It sounds like Manning is waiving the white flag and
I suppose the fans and organization should do the
same. While Burress and Shockey reluctantly showed up
earlier this month, it's apparent that is the most
effort they're going to give.
I'm a bit disappointed to learn about their most
recent disappearing act because I truly thought they
had turned a corner. Sadly, that's not the case at
all and they won't be getting the additional work
with their young quarterback like the team so badly
needs.
(aolsportsblog.com)
Jimerson Carries Diamond Jaxx over Smokies, 5-4
(Jackson, TN) May
29th- Charlton Jimerson
hit three home runs, including a walk-off homer in the
bottom of the ninth inning as the West Tenn Diamond
Jaxx rallied to defeat the Tennessee Smokies 5-4 in
game two of a five game series from Pringles Park.
The win pulls the Diamond Jaxx to within four games
of the Smokies in the Northern Division. Tennessee
remains one game ahead of Huntsville, who lost to
Montgomery 3-0.
Jimerson homered in his
first two at-bats and delivered a two run double down
the left field line to tie the game at four in the
sixth inning. With Smokies pitcher Greg Reinhard
(0-1) on the mound and one out in the bottom of the
ninth, Jimerson hit a drive over the left field wall
for his third homer of the night. Jimerson finished
the night 4-5 with three homers and five RBI's. He
also made Kam Mickolio (3-0) the winning pitcher.
Mickolio pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Tennessee scored all of their runs in the first two
innings. The Smokies were held to just two hits after
the second inning. Josh Kroeger hit a three run homer
to pace the Smokies offense. Casey McGehee extended
his hitting streak to fourteen consecutive games and
made three outstanding defensive plays at third base.
Game three of the five
game series takes place on Wednesday night at 7:05
CDT. Left-hander Robert Rohrbaugh (4-4 4.50) gets the
start for the Diamond Jaxx. Tennessee will counter
with right-hander Mark Holliman (6-2 2.26).
(oursportscentral.com)
Hester looks great
May/30/07 10:10 AM
| Devin Hester
| Permalink
The experiment never
worked at the U. of Miami, but Chicago’s super
return man, Devin Hester, looked like a natural at
receiver in recent mini-camp work. The first two days
of camp, he didn’t drop a pass. He ran solid,
crisp routes and, basically, had his teammates and
coaches raving about him.
Give head coach Lovie Smith high marks for convincing
Hester to junk cornerback for being a wide receiver.
“It was more exciting than I really thought it
would be,” Hester said. “Whenever a
player gets his hands on the ball and knows what he
can do with it, it's a lot of fun.”
After the catch, Hester routinely made players miss.
The new dimension should be great for Rex Grossman
and also alleviate the frustration that Hester, who
returned six kicks for touchdowns last season, will
face when punters and kickers kick away from during
the season. The Bears needed to find a way for Hester
to get more touches.
On kickoffs, Hester will be paired with safety
Danieal Manning, former college kickoff specialist,
in hopes they can form a 1-2 punch. He will still
wear No. 23 and be listed as a running back/receiver.
(foxsports.com)
Leon Williams Update
May/30/07 10:10 AM
| Leon Williams
| Permalink
Crennel revealed that
second-year linebacker Leon Williams had arthroscopic
surgery on his ankle and will be brought along slowly
(ohio.com)
Ryan Braun Update
May/30/07 10:09 AM
| Ryan Braun
| Permalink
It took nearly two
months but the final piece to the Brewers' infield
puzzle has joined the squad in the person of third
baseman Braun. A first round pick from the University
of Miami, Braun is a right-handed power hitting third
baseman with great speed. Prior to his recall, Braun,
23, was tearing up the International League, batting
.342 with 10 HR, 22 RBIs and a .701 slugging
percentage in 34 games. He picked up in the majors
right where he left off in Triple-A, collecting four
hits, one a home run, in his first eight at-bats
before going 0 for 7 his past two games. Although the
Brewers are 0-4 since he hit the scene, Braun's
Achilles heel, his fielding at the hot corner, hasn't
been a problem yet -- he's handled all 10 of his
chances cleanly. There's little reason to believe
that Braun won't be a fixture on Milwaukee's infield
-- with Rickie Weeks and MVP candidates Prince
Fielder and J.J. Hardy -- for the rest of the decade.
He's an automatic in all leagues.
(cnnsi.com)
Video of Ryan Braun's 1st Major League Homerun
May/29/07 07:05 PM
| Ryan Braun
| Permalink
Click Here to check out Ryan
Braun's 1st Homerun. You must have Windows Media
Player installed on your computer.
Vernon Carey Update
May/29/07 01:53 PM
| Vernon Carey
| Permalink
Our sources tell us
that Dolphins OT Vernon Carey is not thrilled about
making the switch from the right side to the OLT
spot, but that he's willing to do so for the good of
the team. Word is Carey feels more comfortable,
particularly with his footwork, at right tackle.
(pfw.com)
DJ Williams Update
May/29/07 01:52 PM
| DJ
Williams | Permalink
The fact the Broncos
didn't take an inside linebacker in the draft speaks
volumes for how easily they think SLB D.J. Williams
will adapt to a switch to the middle to replace Al
Wilson. Previous middle linebackers in new defensive
coordinator Jim Bates' system have thrived in terms
of production, and Williams' skills have been
underutilized to this point in Denver, according to
our sources. Free-agent signee Warrick Holdman is
expected to have an edge for Williams' old spot on
the strong side.
(pfw.com)
Ryan Braun Audio Interview after His First MLB Game
May/29/07 11:11 AM
| Ryan Braun
| Permalink
Listen to Ryan Braun
comment about his first MLB game with the Milwaukee
Brewers.
Click Below to
listen:
052807_Braun
In Greg Olsen and Devin Hester, Bears Add Speed to
Offense
May/28/07 11:26 AM
| The U | Permalink
As long as Rex Grossman
is under center, the Bears' offense is never going to
strike fear in the hearts of opposing defensive
coordinators. But John Clayton made an interesting
point on ESPN today: Has any team added more speed to
its offense in the off-season than the Bears?
Think about it. Chicago has moved kick returning
superstar Devin Hester to offense, where he'll play
some wide receiver and some running back, and the
Bears drafted Greg Olsen in the first round, and in
terms of straight-line speed, Olsen is probably the
second-fastest tight end in the league. (San
Francisco's Vernon Davis is a bit faster.)
Hester and Olsen (who
were teammates in college at Miami) won't make a huge
impact on the offense, but the mere threat of a few
extra big plays has to put smiles on the faces of
Bears fans. It's been a long time since anything on
offense has done that.
(aolsportsblog.com)
Jarrett Payton, Son of Walter, to Play Canadian
Football
May/28/07 11:22 AM
| Jarrett Payton
| Permalink
Walter Payton was
a great player on the field and a good person off the
field, and that has engendered a great deal of fan
support for his son, Jarrett Payton.
Jarrett has played running back for the Miami
Hurricanes and the Amsterdam Admirals and the
Tennessee Titans, but he doesn't have anywhere near
the talent of his father, and he's never been more
than a role player. He couldn't find an NFL team to
offer him a spot at its training camp this year.
But in a strange way, there's something especially
admirable about Jarrett Payton's efforts to make it
in football. Payton has signed with the Montreal
Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, and he
says he's going to keep pursuing his lifelong
ambition of playing pro football. Jarrett Payton
knows he'll always be defined as his father's son in
the eyes of most fans, and he knows he's never going
to match his father's accomplishments. But he
continues to play because he loves the game, and
wherever he goes, he'll be a fan favorite.
(aolsportsblog.com)
Eric Winston Update
May/28/07 11:22 AM
| Eric Winston
| Permalink
Eric Winston will
become the new starter at the right tackle spot,
starting his second season out of the University of
Miami.
(seahawkshuddle.com)
A NICKEL FOR PHILLIP:
May/28/07 11:22 AM
| Philip Buchanon
| Permalink
Look for cornerback
Phillip Buchanon to get first crack at nickel back,
if offseason workouts are any indication. Buchanon
signed a two-year, $5-million contract this
offseason, which showed he isn't just another
throwaway backup.
He will have to fend off Torrie Cox and, possibly,
others. The need for a nickel corner arose when Juran
Bolden was released last month.
(sptimes.com)
Who's Hot? Devin Hester
May/28/07 11:22 AM
| Devin Hester
| Permalink
The Bears couldn't be
happier with Hester's transition from cornerback. He
is proving to be a good route runner, sure-handed,
and, after the catch, he has made defenders miss.
Chicago is satisfied it has found a new weapon.
(star-telegram.com)
Winslow looking good, QBs Quinn, Frye not so much
May/28/07 11:21 AM
| Kellen Winslow
| Permalink
This and that from a
Browns offseason practice... with the proviso that
only so much can be gleaned from a workout that was
voluntary and included no contact...
Tight end Kellen Winslow did not participate in the
practice and probably won't take part until training
camp. But if looks mean anything, he's doing fine in
his comeback. Winslow walked out to the practice
about midway through -- he was inside doing rehab --
and looked as fit as ever. He barely had a limp, wore
no brace or sleeve on his knee, and when he jogged
about 10 yards, he did so with no limitation. He
still has to prove he can come back from
microfracture surgery, but if looks mean anything,
he's on track.
(ohio.com)
