The Carolina Panthers Free Agency Frenzy

 

Earlier this offseason at the team’s season-ending press conference, Carolina Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman boasted to reporters that the club will no longer need to shop at the “dollar store” for roster depth, making it known that the veteran competition coming to Charlotte this offseason would be a step up from acquisitions made in past offseason signing periods.

One of the greatest obstacles Dave Gettleman has had to weasel around in his tenure with the Panthers has been working with limited salary cap space – one of the holdovers from years of poorly devised contracts by former GM Marty Hurney. Now two full seasons removed from having assumed his position, the team appears to be mere steps away from financial solvency and the latest slew of signings are clearly indicative of the team’s ability to corral legitimate talent.

Entering the 2014 offseason, the team had to make decisions regarding 22 unrestricted free agents on their roster. After having applied the franchise tag to DE Greg Hardy, the team’s available budget had been sliced in half, and Carolina was forced to turn away a number of players who had out-performed the team’s price range. Financial restrictions forced the franchise to pay the veteran minimum for the following six free agents:

WR Jerricho Cotchery

WR Tiquan Underwood

WR Jason Avant

CB Antoine Cason

S Roman Harper

S Thomas DeCoud

In 2014 both Cotchery and Harper were able to find starting roles and made real contributions on what turned out to be a division-winning team. However the other players listed failed to live up to their expectations; Underwood was one of the first preseason cuts, Cason and Avant were released mid-season, and DeCoud struggled all year long.

Now in the midst of the 2015 offseason, and a full three weeks into free agency, it is clear that Dave Gettleman was not simply blowing smoke with his early offseason comments, because the Panthers have now signed the following seven free agents this offseason to address specific needs on the roster:

RB Jordan Todman

WR Jarrett Boykin

WR Ted Ginn, Jr.

OT Jonathan Martin

OT Michael Oher

CB Teddy Williams

S Kurt Coleman

Time will only tell how much better these players can be than those who were signed in 2014; for all we know, they could be terrible (I doubt that). But one thing I can say for certain is that I much prefer the team being able to spend reasonably rather than having to scrounge for aging receivers or settle on slow safeties.

Good work, Gettlemagic. I can't wait to see the latest crop of cardiac cats in action!

The Beginning of the 2015 Arena Football League Season

Are you ready for some football?!

 

The Arena Football League season will kick off this Friday, March 27, when the Cleveland Gladiators square off against the Tampa Bay Storm at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida at 7:30 PM EST. The opening action will be followed up by the highly-anticipated matchup of the Los Angeles Kiss against the Portland Thunder at 10:00 PM EST in the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Cleveland had the best record in all of the AFL last season, going 17-1 on their way to an appearance in ArenaBowl XXVII. In that championship game, the Gladiators were steamrolled by the 15-3 Arizona Rattlers, who enter play in 2015 having won the last three ArenaBowl titles. Their first game will be on Saturday, March 28, when they host the Spokane Shock at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona at 9:00 PM EST.

This is placeholder football at its finest, and if you are feeling as football-deprived as I do on Sunday afternoons, then hopefully you will enjoy the full slate of six games jam-packed into four days for the AFL kickoff weekend. However, you will also probably need to get some sort of exclusive (likely non-existent) cable package in order to view the games…

Predicting the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

 

Although College Basketball ordinarily does little to hold my attention, this brief window in the year often serves as the lone exception. The drawn-out hype of the March Madness tournament can provide the perfect placeholder to distract me from the agonizing tease that is spring training baseball...

 

This afternoon I printed out my bracket and chose my winners largely at random, because I have next to no knowledge of the teams in the tournament outside of the University of Kentucky. With all of the recent recruiting violations that have marred the image of Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, I've found myself particularly disillusioned from the NCAA, and I seem to know even less about the state of the college game than ever before.

 

One thing I do know about College Basketball is that the University of Kentucky has an undefeated team, and in essence the program is just a one-year stopping ground for a number of NBA prospects. The school has won previous tournament championships with a similar approach, most recently in 2012, when I had also picked them to win the Championship. It didn't take a genius then and I'm guessing that it won't take one now...

 

Here are my selections for the Final Four and the Championship Game:

 

Final Four

Midwest Champion 1 Kentucky def. West Champion 1 Wisconsin

East Champion 5 University of Northern Iowa def. South Champion 2 Gonzaga

 

National Championship Game

1 Kentucky def. 5 University of Northern Iowa

 

 

That's right, everyone, the University of Kentucky is Blake's pick to win the NCAA March Madness tournament. Alternatively, if you're looking for another fun way to spend the next three weeks and basketball isn't your thing, you could always give the "Best Seinfeld Episode Tournament" a try...

 

The Dreaded Tommy John Surgery

 

 

Every spring it seems as though Major League Baseball experiences a wave of Tommy John surgeries.

 

Last week, fans learned of a number of big-name pitchers who will be moved to the disabled list for the entire 2015 season due to ligament damage in their throwing arms. Among those injured are Texas Rangers' Japanese ace Yu Darvish and the young New York Mets' starter Zack Wheeler, as well as two left-handed relief specialists, Kansas City Royals' reliever Tim Collins and New York Mets' southpaw Josh Edgin.

 

For those not in the know, "Tommy John surgery" is the colloquial name in baseball for a type of medical procedure in which the damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in a player's elbow is surgically repaired. The procedure has saved the careers of countless ballplayers since its groundbreaking first attempt on Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Tommy John in 1974, and there are already almost a dozen players slated to undergo the surgery this spring training.

 

In total, 31 players saw their seasons end due to Tommy John surgery in 2014, and that number seems as though it could easily be trounced in 2015 given the current pace at which these injuries are occurring. However it is promising to know that many players have recovered before; of the 53 Major Leaguers who have undergone the surgery since the start of 2012, 32 have made a full recovery and are currently back in the MLB.

 

The Will Ferrell 2015 Baseball Marathon

This ought to be pretty amusing...

Thursday afternoon, actor and comedian Will Ferrell is going to travel via helicopter to five separate MLB spring training games across the Cactus League in Arizona. During his tour, Ferrell intends to play for all ten teams on the bill, and to play all nine positions on the field throughout the day. It's a premise that only someone as courageous and funny as Will Ferrell could think up, and his baseball marathon will be documented for a special to be released by HBO, partnered with his website, Funny or Die.

Playing all nine positions is a baseball feat seldom attempted since Kansas City Athletics shortstop Bert Campaneris first pulled it off on September 8, 1965. In the game, Campaneris played all eight fielding positions and pitched ambidextrously, throwing with his left arm against left-handed batters, and vice verse. It waits to be seen whether Ferrell tries throwing with his non-dominant arm, but I have a feeling he will; it'd just be too funny.

Here is the schedule for Ferrell and where to find him on the field this afternoon:

Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics, 12:05 PM, PDT (2B and SS)

Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 1:10 PM (CF and 1B)

Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks, 2:10 PM (3B and LF)

San Francisco Giants at Chicago White Sox, 4:05 PM (C and DH)

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres, 6:15 PM (RF, P and Umpire)

Perhaps one of these clubs will find a place for Ferrell on their roster; he's hungry if nothing else...

Farewell: DeAngelo Williams

The Carolina Panthers announced the release of running back DeAngelo Williams this week. Williams, who will turn 32 this April, is the franchise-leader in nearly every rushing category, including career rushing yards (6,699) and rushing touchdowns (46), just to name a couple.

Selected 27th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, Williams has consistently been recognized as one of the standout franchise players in Carolina, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2009 and contributing to three division-winning teams during his tenure with the Panthers, while splitting his carries with running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.

Even with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his record, Williams' greatest legacy to the National Football League might actually be his contributions to the spread of breast cancer awareness. Williams was one of the original NFL players to spearhead the "pink" campaign which runs through the month of October. Some fans may also remember Williams going so far as to dye his dreadlocks pink in honor his late mother in 2014.

While it is difficult to say goodbye to the players we love so dearly, this is the time of year when players and spectators alike are reminded that this sport is a business, and a cruel one.

Fans of the Carolina Panthers will miss DeAngelo Williams for a number of reasons. For his enthusiasm, for his work ethic, and for his transparent relationship with those fans who loved him so much. Williams' active social media presence and unwavering positive attitude helped the franchise survive a three-year sub-.500 lull, and those same attributes have made the team's recent successes even more enjoyable. I will always cherish the memories I have of his sideline celebrations with Jonathan Stewart, and I will wait for a day when there is another player who shares a similar child-like adoration of the game.

I can think of no more fitting way to close than with a quote:

"Of the seven days of the week, I'd choose game day every day." - DeAngelo Williams, running back, Carolina Panthers. 

We'll miss you, 34.

Alex Rodriguez Hits a Home Run in a Spring Training Game!

Being a New York Yankees fan, I am somewhat familiar with the sensation of having to cheer for multi-multi-multi-millionaires and admitted steroid-abusers. For instance, the journeyman power hitting first baseman Jason Giambi (who just retired this offseason) still remains one of my favorite players in the history of Major League Baseball, despite his admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs.

What got me to writing just now is this: Alex Rodriguez just hit a home run in what was an ostensibly meaningless spring training game, and I couldn't be happier.

For the last 12-16 months, I have been one of many baseball fans to revel in the downfall of A-Fraud. As recently as two weeks ago, I found myself checking Rotowold with the inquiry, "How much longer do I have to watch this aging bum steal the Yankees' money?" (The answer is ~$21 million a year for the next three seasons, in case you're still waiting.)

But as I relax here on this lovely Wednesday afternoon, watching spring training baseball, and dreaming of the dog days of summer, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to watching these closing years of the Alex Rodriguez Saga.

Rodriguez may be a self-absorbed jerk and he definitely tried to fool every sports writer in the nation with his lies concerning the extent of his steroid use. But knowing that every one of his future successes will send Yankee-haters into a fit of rage, it makes rooting for him so much easier.

Watching A-Rod belt a homer to left-center this afternoon on a 3-1 pitch from Boston reliever Brandon Workman felt as rewarding as any home run I have seen in his entire career (and I was in attendance for his 600th). This may just be the deprivation from real baseball talking, but I can't wait to watch Alex Rodriguez get back to hitting the occasional home run for the Yankees this summer. Can't wait.

The Return of the Returner, Ted Ginn, Jr.

Fans of the Carolina Panthers are rejoicing this afternoon with the announcement that the speedy wide receiver and return specialist, Ted Ginn, Jr., is coming back to Charlotte for the upcoming 2015 campaign.

Ginn, the perennial deep threat and fleet-footed return man had a career-year with quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers during their 2013 season, one in which the franchise won 12 games and their divisional title. In that season, Ginn recorded 36 receptions for 556 yards and a career-high 5 touchdowns, along with over 900 net-returning yards.

Despite the sizable multi-year contract he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in last year's free agency period, Ginn's numbers saw a sharp decline as he failed to find his place in the Cardinals' passing game in 2014.

Carolina's coaching staff is hopeful that they will see more of what they came to know Ted Ginn for in 2013 when he returns to play for them in 2015. One thing that will help the Panthers' management and fans rest easy this evening is knowing that the era of Brenton Bersin returning kicks is mercifully over...

The Denver Nuggets Defeat the New York Knickerbockers, 106-78

As the 2014-2015 NBA regular season listlessly draws to its conclusion, some teams are gearing up for a playoff run while others are quite literally counting the days until they can collect their checks and begin the offseason. No, seriously, as recently as two weeks ago, Denver Nuggets players were heard breaking the team huddle with the chant of “1, 2, 3… Six weeks!”

Last night, on Monday, March 9, the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, two of the absolute worst teams in the NBA, squared off at the Pepsi Center in the mile-high city for a performance that was nearly unwatchable. From the perspective provided to me by the MSG Network, the arena never looked more than half-full in a game where not a single player managed to score twenty points. The contest got out of hand by the start of the fourth quarter and Denver prevailed with their most convincing win of the season by a score of 106-78.

Now, for reasons that are beyond even my own comprehension, I am a Denver Nuggets fan; a difficult truth to admit in a season when the franchise has sunk to its current punchline status. When I made my emotional investment in this team almost ten years ago, they were consistent 50-game winners with a renowned head coach and star power to boot, but tragically, a lot has changed since my first Nuggets game…

The new-look Denver Nuggets have played to the tune of 10-22 since the beginning of 2015, with an overall record of 23-41 on the season. Since firing head coach Brian Shaw on March 3, the team has gone 3-2 under interim head coach Melvin Hunt, including last night’s matchup with New York.

Ordinarily, I would be jumping for joy and antagonizing Knicks fans everywhere after watching the Nuggets win in such a convincing fashion. Tragically, however, after all of the adversity that this season has delivered to fans in Denver, I even found myself wishing the game away... Well, 1, 2, 3... Four weeks!

What to watch: New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies (3/3/15, 1:05 PM)

The New York Yankees will begin their slate of spring training games in 2015 this week with a Tuesday afternoon match-up against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, FL.

The Yankees will be playing their first game of the year while the Phillies look to rebound following their loss to the University of Tampa baseball team; a game in which a Divison-II college squad defeated millionaire professional athletes and the rookies trying to take their jobs by a score of 6-2.

Now five full seasons removed from their meeting in the 2009 World Series, the Yankees and Phillies are two of the least-intimidating teams in all of professional baseball. For two franchises that have both won championships in the last decade, it's a little surprising to find myself speaking about them in this tone.

Philadelphia sportswriters are calling for manager Ryne Sandberg's job only days into the 2015 campaign, and with the organization already shopping players like P Cole Hamels and OF Domonic Brown, all signs appear to point to a long summer in the City of Brotherly Love.

As for New York, well, the Yankees have little much more to look forward to in 2015. No one would be surprised to see this team hover around .500 for most of the year, and realistically, that might even prove to be a challenge. Most Yankees fans will spend the year bemoaning the absence of Derek Jeter while cursing Alex Rodriguez's name and exorbitant salary, all the while praying that some no name farm prospect will assume the role and persona of Derek Jeter II.

It's going to be a long summer for fans who have actual expectations, but I will simply take solace in the return of baseball rather than waste time wishing the Yankees were competitive.