Hump Day Headlines

In this week's Hump Day Headlines, we discuss the Netherlands shocking upset of the Dominicans, LaDainian Tomlinson's choice to stick with San Diego, Roger Clemens' roiding, and what Cleveland State's win means for the NCAA bubble...

• Apparently they play baseball in the Netherlands. Who knew? Actually, the team is comprised of a lot of players from Dutch Territories and a couple players who's ancestry may have included someone who knew someone Dutch. Either way, their stunning upsets of the Dominican Republic have sent La Republica home and Rik Smits' countrymen to the second round in Miami. The Dominican team had a team loaded with major league superstars, such as Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, David Ortiz and Miguel Tejada. The Netherlands had, who, exactly? Some guy named Kingsale, Sidney Ponson, and a man better known for beating running sausages than anything else. Talk about your David vs. Goliath type match-up. La Republica's roster was collectively making more than $83 million, while the Dutchmen were making a combined $0.4 million. There were 23 major-leaguers on the Dominican team, and just two on the Netherlands. The fact that David was able to win twice though really is something. The Dominicans were a favorite to win the World Baseball Classic, and why not? They had a team full of stars! How is it that a team with six pitchers I've never heard of combined to shut down a lineup filled with not only major league players, but star players last night? Unreal. Maybe the Dutch will start playing more baseball, which I guess is one of Bud Selig's goals: globalize the game.
• Ladainian Tomlinson is returning to the Chargers after all. The star running back must really love playing in San Diego, because I'm not sure I could work for an arrogant jerk like GM A.J. Smith. Then again, with the weather and the Pacific Ocean in the backdrop I could probably be persuaded. So could Tomlinson too, apparently, as team president Dean Spanos was apparently able to smooth over the strained relationship between the running back and the organization. This ultimately allowed the restructuring of Tomlinson's contract to happen. He'll make a bit more than back up back Darren Sproles, who was franchised this off season. This deal had to happen for the Chargers. If Tomlinson wanted out the Chargers just wouldn't be as good. Granted, Tomlinson's numbers weren't all-world last year like they usually are. But he's crucial to a team that has flirted with greatness in the AFC for awhile now. Good job by the Chargers, and by Tomlinson for getting the deal done.
• Here's a story that's not surprising. Federal authorities found that the syringes, vials and gauze pads used on Roger Clemens that Brian McNamee supplied investigators all had performance enhancing drugs on them. Shocking! As we have mentioned before, there was no reason for McNamee to lie, because the man just doesn't want to live his life behind bars. Clemens on the other hand, could end up behind bars, since he has denied steroid use under oath. The Rocket still maintains that he was only injected with lidocaine and B-12. Apparently that's not the case, according to these tests, and the DNA found in the blood on the syringes (reported February 6th int he Washington Post). "I assumed, and I am not surprised, that the tests were positive for both DNA and for performance-enhancing drugs, because that's what Brian said all along, and there's not much doubt that Brian's been telling the truth," Richard Emery, the attorney for McNamee told the AP. "The confirmation of that fact, once again, just seems to me to be another significant step towards jail for Clemens." I agree.
• With Cleveland State's win over 17th-ranked Butler, two Horizon league teams will be heading to the NCAA tournament. That means bad news for the bubble dwellers, who can only hope this week that as few surprise teams as possible force their way into the field of 65. Other than their big win over Syracuse on that 60-foot 3-pointer in December, Cleveland State's tournament resume wasn't good enough to make the dance otherwise. Their other quality wins were against...well, nobody. So now teams like Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Northwestern, San Diego State and the like will need to make big moves in their conference tournaments, even more so now than before. And they'll have to sweat out every conference championship the rest of the week. The next few days are why we love college basketball. Teams are fighting for that chance to dance. And then next week begins the glory that is the tournament, with non-stop basketball action for four straight days. Ahh how I love it.
• Bonus Point: Did anyone see that Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin told a recruit that if he goes to the University of South Carolina he'll end up pumping gas like everyone else there? I've said in the past Lane Kiffin is a moron. I don't think I need to say it again, do I? This guy better win a lot of games for those rocky toppers down there. If he doesn't, what a total loser this guy is.

Everything You Need To Get Ready For the the NFL's Divisional Round

Philadelphia (+4) @ New York:

Often, it's said that when two teams face each other three times in the same season, it's difficult for one team to win all three of those game. Don't worry about that here.

Often, you can look towards home-field, and handicap a game based on which team has that advantage. Don't look at that here either.

Really, don't look for any sort of cute indicators. Both teams won games during the year on the other's home field, neither game decided by more than a touchdown. The Giants, after a bye week, are just about fully healthy. Justin Tuck is going to play, even if it's only on one leg. The Eagles are nicked up, but, nothing out of the ordinary or not to be expected this deep into the season.

It's going to be absolutely freezing at the Meadowlands today, so expect both teams, despite Andy Reid's wishes, to run the ball, a lot. We all know how tough the Giants run game can be but the Eagles can be just as difficult to handle if only because of their versatility. Keep in mind, Brian Westbrook might not be your prototypical back, but he did have one of his best games on the ground this year in New York (err...New Jersey). Also, as they showed last week, the Eagles don't necessarily have to run the ball to keep Westbrook involved. Screens and short passes to him and my man Kevin Curtis will be the name of the day.

No question, tough game to pick. About a two months ago, it was impossible to predict against the Giants. They were running over people, just ripping up the NFC. Then Plaxico and Pierce did their best Bonnie and Clyde impression, Brandon Jacobs got hurt, and they became human. The Eagles, on the other hand, have been (pardon the corny pun) flying. With the points not being much difference here, I'm taking the Eagles. Jim Johnson's D will have the G-Men scrambling all day, and the Eagles will find a way to keep it simple with Westbrook. Close game, but Eagles and the points.

Scott's Pick: Philly Jordan's Pick:  New York

San Diego (+6) @ Pittsburgh:

Here's my thing, so far as San Diego's concerned: they're playing with house money because they don't have their star running back, and, they know they really shouldn't be in the playoffs. Did they earn their spot? Sure they did. But, most any team worth the fibers stitched on their jerseys (read: not Denver) would've sealed the deal with a 3 game lead and 3 to play. Good for San Diego that Denver stinks.

That all considered, San Diego's got a tough task today.  While it does seem like the ever-frequent image of LT is of one sullen superstar sitting in an over-sized coat on the sidelines come playoff time, fact is, dude is hurt, again.  So, it's up to Darren Sproles.  The odds are supremely stacked against him.  Pittsburgh hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher all season.  In fact, including this year's preseason, this season and last year's playoffs and season, they've only allowed one 100 yard rusher in the last 27 games.  It was amusing watch Sproles scat his way all over the field last week, such a similar result ain't gonna happen.

So, Philip Rivers, it all falls on you.  Pissed off you didn't make the Pro Bowl (how on Earth did that happen, by the way)?  Show the world (read:  15 people that watch the "joy" that is the NFL's all-star game) that you deserved to be there.  Though, Brett Favre did his best to show he didn't belong in the season's final weeks, and no one seemed to notice.  

While it isn't likely to be raining or snowing Pittsburgh today, the weather, as in New Jersey, will surely be dreadful and close to frostbite inducing (again, read:  not a lot of scoring or enjoyable play).  Low scoring affair that this game seems destined to be, Pittsburgh has to be the way to go.

To go all Winston Churchill on you, it's time that the Iron Curtain closes on the dream that has been the Chargers season. 

Or something like that.

  

Scott's Pick:  Pittsburgh Jordan's Pick: San Diego

The Monday Morning Longsnapper

Worst Player on a Good Team Edition

It's easy to pick on him, but I can't help it:  Tavaris Jackson plain stinks.  He just isn't a good quarterback, and you don't need to be a film coach to see it.  He has awful technique (he drops his arm when he throws, rarely squares up, and often stares down the same receivers), and he's wildly inaccurate.

His only saving graces (only!) are that he can occasionally throw a deep ball, and he can run a bit.  But, he only can do the former so often, and seems unwilling to do the latter enough.  

Yesterday's Wild Card game between TJ's Vikings and the Eagles was difficult to watch at points, if only because you sort of got the feeling that Jackson wasn't ever going to be able to do much.  It was as if he'd lost a bet, and someone told him, for the next few years, you have to go out and embarrass yourself in front of millions of people a year, because we all know you can't play in the NFL.  Even if it's amazingly apparent that you can't play, you can't quit, no matter what.

Now, hear me out (or, in this case, read me out), I'm not solely going off this one game.  I've seen him play before, and, frankly, I couldn't figure out why he was playing those other times.  The pass he threw to Asante Samuels (I have trouble calling it an interception because I'm of the belief that it was intended more for Samuels than Sidney Rice) was just pathetic.  Don't even start with this nonsense that he was hit as he threw, it was just one of his many awful, off-target throws.  That one though, just happened to swing the momentum of the game in the favor of the opponents.

Yesterday, Jackson connected with his receivers at a clip of under 43%.  Come on, already.  Do this kid a favor, find someone else to play quarterback.

• From that same game, the one guy that will likely never get the credit he deserves is Kevin Curtis, for two reasons.  First, he's a wideout on a team that hasn't had a popular one since you-know-who.  Second, he's a white wideout, which makes him quite the rarity, to where he'd need to be as good as, say, Wes Welker, to get a national bit of clout.  Which, he isn't, at least not in the Eagles system.  Point is, Curtis is a solid wideout that most people likely don't pay attention to.  Also, he can do little things, like block downfield.  Just check that Brian Westbrook screen pass run again.  Yes, that is Mr. Curtis flattening a Viking DB downfield (white guy, number 80) to spring Westbrook.
• Ed Reed may not be the best safety ever, but he has to be one of the best ball-hawk safeties ever.  He's a better receiver than about half of the clowns actually playing that position in the league.
• Chad Pennington was simply over matched yesterday.  Chad's a calculated quarterback, one that's made his living in the league with short passes, quick routes, and nearly impossible-to-miss targets.  Occasionally, he'll go more than 15 yards down the field, but, his strong suit is within the first down markers, and letting his wideouts do the rest.  Yesterday, down by a bunch early, he couldn't do that.  The Ravens, a-la what the Eagles would later do to Tavaris Jackson, wouldn't stop picking on Pennington.  Blitzing, applying constant pressure, and making Pennington throw the ball where he didn't (and couldn't) want to.  It was especially rough, when you consider that the entire season, Pennington had only thrown 7 INTs.
• I had it predicted right, at least partially.  I said the Chargers would have success on the ground, I was just wrong about who it was that would have that success.  Backup Darren Sproles, who nearly set a record for most all-purpose yards, just tore it up after LT couldn't go with a groin injury.  Sproles isn't your prototypical back, listed at only 5'6", 181.  But, he can motor, and he's quick on a dime.  Not sure what his future is, but, this is only the beginning of the death knoll for Tomlinson.  His days as a top notch back are over.  He'll have a few good games sprinkled in, here and there, but, elite is now a past tense word for him.

Everything You Need To Get Ready for Wild Card Weekend

Sunday Edition

Here are the results of Saturday's picks:

As usual, Scott fared better than me.  We both lost with the Cardinals defeating "our" Falcons in the afternoon game.  Scott won the night cap as the Chargers got some help from the referees and an outrageous performance by Darren Sproles to beat the Colts at home.  So Scott went 1-1, and the self-proclaimed "blithering idiot" (Jordan), went 0-2.

Baltimore (-3) @ Miami

Now that the Dolphins successfully completed the worst to first story line after beating the Jets in New York last week, they'll face a very tough six seed in the Ravens on Sunday.  Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been an excellent game manager this year, as Scott pointed out in the Saturday edition of this preview.   But if he performs like the other rookie quarterback in this year's playoffs, Falcons QB Matt Ryan, it's going to be a quick exit for the Ravens.  

On the other side of things, while the Dolphins are the higher seed and have the home game, they are the underdogs because the Ravens were really a better version of them this season.  The Ravens offense ranked 11th in the NFL this season while the Dolphins ranked just 21st.  On the defensive side of the ball, Baltimore, known for its stifling defense ranked 3rd in the league, allowing just over 15 points per game.  Miami's defense was much improved and very good this year too, but ranked 9th in the league allowing almost 20 points per game.

By the numbers, the Ravens would obviously have the edge.  But the Dolphins have continued to silence their critics this season after an excellent 11-5 run in a tough AFC East.  And, whenever it seems the Dolphins aren't supposed to win, they continue to do so time and time again.  That's why I like Tony Sparano's 'Fins in the early match-up.  But, why listen to me?  I'm always wrong.

Scott's Pick:  Baltimore Jordan's Pick:  Miami

Philadelphia (-3) @ Minnesota

After their infamous tie against the Bengals in which Donovan McNabb idiotically admitted he didn't know an NFL game could end in that fashion, the beleaguered QB has been nothing short of spectacular since.  He has thrown 9 touchdown passes and 1 interception during that stretch, and has once again silenced his critics and the lunatic Eagles fans that were once again ready to run him out of town.  Despite the Eagles up and down season, and their bizarre 9-6-1 record, Philadelphia is a dangerous team to tangle with in the playoffs.  Under Andy Reid, the Eagles have never lost a first round playoff game, and they have reached the NFC Championship four times.

The Vikings on the other hand have had a series of disappointments in the playoffs recently.  Then again, they usually burn out and fail to make it to the post season, but with Chicago's loss in Houston last week the Vikes clinched before their win over the Giants on a last second field goal by Ryan Longwell.  While they have an incredible running game with the incomparable Adrian Peterson and former feature back Chester Taylor, their passing game is their X-factor.  If Tavaris Jackson (or maybe even Gus Frerotte) is bad, conventional wisdom would suggest the Vikings have no chance of being serious playoff contenders.  It's likely that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will challenge the Vikings quarterbacks to beat them and stuff the box to contain Peterson.  If they can get some solid QB play, however, this could be a long day for the Eagles.  The Metrodome is one of the loudest and most difficult venues for road teams in the NFL.

The Eagles are a better team than the Vikings, but the Vikings defense can keep the Philly offense in check.  And with the Vikings having home field advantage and a lot to prove in this year's playoffs, expect them to come up with a big victory at home against the Eagles.

Scott's Pick:  Philadelphia Jordan's Pick:  Minnesota