Report: Jennings to Get a New Contract
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings is a rising star at the position. Last season, he emerged as the top receiver on the team, replacing veteran Donald Driver. Driver is now the No.2 WR, and Jennings is asking for money that reflects his standing as the team’s No.1 receiver. He had 1,292 yards and 9 touchdowns last season, good enough to be a Pro Bowl-alternate. The going rate for top WRs in the game is $10 million, set by Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald. According to John Clayton of ESPN.com, Jennings is about to get paid. And while the deal won’t quite put him up to the Fitzgerald level, he’ll be in that range.
The Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Greg Jennings are in the process of finalizing a three-year extension that will keep him with the team through 2012.
According to a source, Jennings could make $27 million in new money with the deal, but if he performs at a Pro Bowl level, his new contract could be worth as much as $30 million. Jennings was in the last year of his rookie contract and was scheduled to make $535,000.
Jennings will earn slightly in excess of $16 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli. The source also said that the structure of the contract is more front- than back-loaded.
Though both sides have come to an agreement on the numbers, a couple things have to be worked out as far as the language of the contract. First, it must be approved by the NFL Management Council. Second, it has to be signed by both parties. The plan is to try to get the final draft ready in the next couple of days.
Jackson May Coach Home Games Only
Well, this is interesting. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson is currently in the process of deciding whether or not he will come back to coach. His health is ultimately going to be the deciding factor, but he is considering — how should we say –different options. One is coaching only the home games, and leaving most of the road games to assistant coach Kurt Rambis. Rambis has been with Jackson for years, and he wouldn’t do anything Phil wouldn’t do. In Portland earlier this year, Jackson did not make the trip and Rambis coached the team. Though the Lakers lost, things went smoothly and the team seemed to respond to Rambis nicely. Plus, Kobe has taken on more of a coaching role over the past season, which would benefit Rambis, because the players respond to Kobe, and he would make sure they respond to Rambis. It would be a tough adjustment for the players, but the Lakers are a championship team that should be able to adjust the situation, if it happens. ESPN.com:
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in a radio interview Tuesday that he will make a firm decision about returning to the bench next season by “early July” and that he will also explore the possibility of letting Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis coach more road games in Jackson’s place.
In the interview with ESPN Radio in Los Angeles (710 AM), Jackson insisted that health concerns would be the only reason that prevented him from completing the final season of his current coaching contract.
He also revealed that the concept of Rambis coaching the team regularly on the road — theoretically sparing Jackson, who turns 64 in September, from the rigors of travel — has already been discussed internally.
The Lakers completed a test run of the concept in April when Jackson, having had both of his hips replaced in recent years, skipped a one-game trip to Portland on the second night of back-to-back games shortly after the team had finished a grueling seven-game trip. With Rambis in charge, L.A. suffered a 106-98 loss to the Blazers.
“Yeah, we’ve toyed around with that idea actually,” Jackson told ESPN Radio hosts John Ireland and Mychal Thompson. “I guess it’s not that revolutionary. We talked a little bit about it, and you know I was actually kind of given the green light to actually try this out and when the time came.”
“I think the idea has some merit to it,” Jackson went on. “[But] I don’t want to lose control of the team. And I think that’s the one thing that you find out your team needs. I don’t mean control, like control, but like being in the trenches with them, i.e., when things get tough or something happens, you’re there with them. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this idea and it’s certainly not going to be the last. And I’m going to discuss it a little with [Lakers general manager] Mitch [Kupchak], that same idea.”
Sources: Foye, Miller Traded to Wizards; Amir Johnson to Bucks
Randy Foye and Mike Miller have been traded to the Washington Wizards. In return, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquire the 5th overall pick in this years draft, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, and Oleskiy Pecherov. The Detroit Pistons have traded Amir Johnson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Fabricio Oberto. Great trade for the Bucks and Wizards, terrible trade for the Pistons and Timberwolves.
ESPN: The Washington Wizards are close to a deal that would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a league source told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher on Tuesday.
The Wolves would then keep the draft pick and their own selection at No. 6 and not try to package those to move up, a source told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz.
The trade hasn’t been consummated yet because of a clerical point that Etan Thomas needs to handle, a source told Katz. Thomas has to come to the Wizards’ offices Wednesday to sign an agreement that he won’t opt out of his deal on July 1 and become a free agent. By agreeing to the trade, Thomas would receive $1.2 million. Thomas is expected to sign the note, but it is a procedural matter that must be done before a conference call with all parties can be held.
Meanwhile, Minnesota owner Glen Taylor, who is the chairman of the board of governors, was expected to meet with general manager David Kahn Tuesday night to go over the trade but wasn’t expected to balk at the move. The source told Katz that the Wizards expect this trade to become official Wednesday. Washington had made overtures regarding moving the No. 5 pick ever since the Wizards landed it on the draft lottery on May 19. Washington listened to offers from New York, Dallas, Phoenix and Portland but settled on a deal with Minnesota, looking for veteran perimeter help while getting rid of expiring contracts.
Once the trade becomes official on Wednesday, Minnesota the NBA draft board will show the Timberwolves on the clock with the fifth pick on Thursday night, not the Wizards. When trades are completed after the midday deadline on draft day the draft board doesn’t change, and teams must pick for their trade partner.
The source told Katz that until the deal is officially done, Minnesota could still work a trade to get a third party involved.
Meanwhile, the source said that Washington was thrilled to land Foye and Miller to beef up its perimeter shooting. The Wizards look at Miller as filling a 3-point shooting void on a team that was considered a playoff contender had it been healthy last season. Miller would be in the mix with Caron Butler while Foye would be a solid lead guard in a rotation with Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young and DeShawn Stevenson.
Foye is a three-year veteran who was second on the Wolves in scoring last season at 16.3 points per game. He added 4.3 assists per contest.
Miller was part of an eight-player, draft-day trade last season, going from the Grizzlies to the Wolves with Kevin Love for the rights to O.J. Mayo. The nine-year veteran averaged a career-low 9.9 points per game for the Wolves last season.
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RealGM: The Bucks have flipped Fabricio Oberto to the Pistons in exchange for Amir Johnson, according to a source.
Oberto was acquired by Milwaukee from San Antonio earlier on Wednesday.
RealGM Note: The move will save Detroit in their salary cap space pursuits, as Oberto’s contract is non-guaranteed.
Sources: Spurs Acquire Richard Jefferson for 3 Players
I think this is a great trade for the Spurs. When Manu Ginobili is injured they will have a replacement, and when he is healthy they will actually have an offense. Richard Jefferson is also a good defender. The Spurs traded Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, and Kurt Thomas.
ESPN: The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto a Bucks source told ESPN.com.
The two teams have agreed to the deal in principle. A trade call to make the deal official is coming later Tuesday.
The move gives the Spurs a dynamic wing scorer to play alongside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs had promised to make their team better this summer and adding Jefferson for role players should give them a huge shot in the arm.
The Bucks incentive to make the trade is largely financial. Bowen, Oberto and Thomas are all in the last year of their contracts. The deal will clear $15 million off the books for the Bucks next season and give Milwaukee more flexibility for next year. It also saves them roughly $3 million this year. That may give the Bucks the wiggle room to sign one of their restricted free agents — either Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions — next year.
Bowen, Oberto and Thomas also give the Bucks some veterans who will fill key holes for the team. The move also opens up some playing time for the Bucks lottery pick last year, Joe Alexander.
However, Bowen has a nonguaranteed contract for next season, so the Bucks could release him, further saving about $4 million next season and giving them a better chance of retaining Sessions and Villanueva. In that case, Bowen might return to San Antonio later this summer.
Rumor: Pistons Reject Celtics’ Blockbuster Offer
The Boston Celtics offered the Detroit Pistons Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo for Rip Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, and Tayshaun Prince, but it was immediately rejected. It would have been a huge steal for the Celtics if it would have gone through.
RealGM: The Celtics reportedly offered Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen to the Pistons for Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.
League sources told Yahoo! Sports of the deal, which reportedly never made it past lower level executives as Detroit rejected the offer immediately.
The offer was made this past weekend.
76ers Bringing Back Old Logo and Colors
ESPN: PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers are going retro.
The Sixers have changed their logo and colors to revive the traditional “76ers basketball” logo and the red, white and blue color scheme.
The logo, last used during the 1996-97 season, consists of a color scheme originally established in 1963 and used during the Sixers’ two championship seasons in 1966-67 and 1982-83.
This is the first major logo change for the Sixers since 1997-98, when the logo was modernized to incorporate black, silver and gold into a stylized “76ers” that featured a red and silver star to the left and a gold ball with blue stripes below.
The new logo includes a rectangular court-shaped enclosure around the ball with “PHILADELPHIA” along the bottom and silver shaping the perimeter.
The old 76ers logo
Well They Are America’s Team At Least They Want Us To Believe …..
When I look at the Dallas Cowboys I’m led to believe that they are America’s Team. Well as far as I’m concerned a team is meant to be a consistently cohesive unit that is capable of overcoming adversity. And that only happens if there’s leadership shown from the highest echelons on down. At the same time there’s got to be character being shown by someone on the team who aspires to be its leader.
Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones (center) seated alongside the team's coach Wade Phillips (right) and to the left of Jones is his son Stephen who is also the Executive Vice President of the Dallas Cowboys and its business holdings. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Tony Gutierrez ...........
The same can be said of any military unit as they’re the ones I’ve no doubt that a professional sport’s team aspires to be like in terms of discipline , character and camaraderie. Those definitely aren’t the traits that you’ll find with the Cowboys. And that’s despite what we’ve been told and led to believe . This team has become to be now known more for its drama off the field than anything achieved on it in recent times. So much so that I know more likely than not although as the team’s owner Jerry Jones still loves the press coverage received by the team. Whether it’s duly wanted or not. It keeps them in the public eye 24/7 365 days a year. And that’s the sort of pub’ that money can’t buy at all.
Cowboys' coach Wade Phillps instructs his team during a practice session at the team's minicamp in Carrollton Tx,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Tony Gutierrez .................
Many Cowboys’ fans might feel to the contrary with the evidence being put forth not just within this article but also as evidenced by what the team has been through. Last year’s team finished with a (9-7) record within the highly competitive NFC East. They failed to make the playoffs. And then having to look up at both the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) and New York Giants (12-4) within their division make the playoffs. That had to have placed a thorn in their claws. And that was with what we’re being told was perhaps the best team on paper in the entire NFL. Well being the best on paper is a vast difference from being the best within your own division, conference , much less the entire league.
Cowboys' offensive coordinator speaks with the team's quarterback Tony Romo during a practice session at the team's minicamp . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Tony Gutierrez ...............
Much to the chagrin of the common fan. Jones and the Cowboys’ fans believe in that in their own eyes and that in this team’s mindset they’re still better than everyone else. That particular thought process has to be totally devoid of all reasoning. The fact that last year’s roster was laden with Pro Bowl caliber players did nothing to persuade many that this was still the same ol’ Cowboys of recent years.
How else can one explain that abysmal record even by their own lofty standards ?
Cowboys; secondary coach Dave Campo speaks with Mike Mickens (33) during a session at the team's minicamp in Carrollton , Tx,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Tony Gutierrez ..........
The chances are that you’ll find much of the turmoil created within the organization started off with the constant meddling of Jerry Jones , himself. Wherein the coaching staff led by Wade Phillips , defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and the offensive coordinator in Jason Garrett , were merely like puppets for the marionette in Jones who orchestrated almost everything from up on high. The drama played out for all to see like a late eighties’ soap opera. Fortunately for us however, there was very little sex, just a tinge of rock & roll . But most definitely there was a certain amount of violence. And the internal combustion that was caused when on your roster you have the narcissistic attitudes of Terrell Owens , Roy E. Williams and the rotten apple in all of this in Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones. For ‘Pacman’ Jones his record would be far more distinguished on the field were it not for his continued off the field problems at the time. So much so that you’d find it far more recognizable were his name being mentioned concerning his latest transgression of the law rather than anything that he’d accomplished on the field with the Dallas Cowboys.
Members of the Cowboys' offensive line look to work out on some drills using training equipment during minicamp . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Tony Gutierrez ...............
The star we were led to believe and the leader on the team was meant to be quarterback Tony Romo. What he at times lacked in his discipline concerning his play. He made up for with his innate and acute awareness as to what was happening around him when his offensive line at times faltered. But then Hollywood came a calling in his buxom, often considered trite but yet overly ambitious and some might say less than talented girlfriend in the guise of Jessica Simpson. It’d be remiss of me to suggest that since Simpson’s introduction into the Cowboys’ fold that things started to spiral out of control and descended downhill for the franchise. That’d be false as much of this began prior to Simpson’s interaction with Romo.
Cowboys' wide receiver Patrick Crayton (84) makes a catch whilst defensive player Mike Mickens (33) looks to negate the play during the team's minicamp training session. picture appears courtesy of ap/ photo/ Tony Gutierrez ...............
The team lacked discipline and that was the one thing above all else that Phillips’ predecessor Bill Parcells demanded of his players on the field. And they were held accountable for those actions. In the case of Phillips whilst he’s considered to have be a brilliant defensive mind. His coaching qualities and skills are shall we say ‘….. not always up to par ?’ His style is very much lackadaisical and with little or no effort with regard to his players being held accountable for what went on , on the field of play.
Quarterback Tony Romo (9) prepares to throw a pass during practice at the team's minicamp training session. With former receiver now having been cut from the team also with the release of Pacman Jones and safety Roy Williams. It has to be said that any semblance of normalcy that the Cowboys hope to be looking for will be a work in progress. picture appears courtesy appears courtesy of ap/photo / Tony Gutierrez ......................
Much of that was witnessed as the ‘08-’09 season progressed and wound down for the team. And it was all brought to the boil with the internal bickering that took place between Owens , Romo, Patrick Crayton , Phillips and allegedly Garrett. When the dirty laundry is being aired out in public, with the baby , bath water and kitchen sink said to be in play. You know that things aren’t at all right with the team.
Romo and Simpson attend an NBA game . I still for the life of me can't understand what all the fuss is about. Is it her lack of intelligence and having a 'hot bod' and the presumptiveness in thinking that he has the makings of being a great quarterback that makes this couple apparently so fascinating ? Over to you Billy Bush for an update on what they're now said to be allegedly doing. ' Jess offcourse it's chicken of the sea.' 'But Tony Nick always told me that chickens have wings'. 'So why doesn't tuna ?' ' Why do you always have to bring up that douche-bag Nick ? Don't I satisfy you ?' ............... picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Maria Oxley .... Added script supplied by yours truly Alan P.
And all of those lofty ambitions that’d began in the preseason came and went during the regular season . As there was considerably far more action happening off the field , in the locker rooms and elsewhere than anything that was happening on the field when it came to the Cowboys and their play.
As highly combustible and potent an offense as this team was said to be . The stats didn’t not necessarily bear that out when one looks at them closely.
They were a predominantly passed oriented offense (344.5 total yds a game, 236.8 passing per gm/ , 107.7 rushing per gm) but their scoring average per game was a miserly 22.6 points a game. Which’d suggest that there were a great many dropped passes . And defensively they weren’t that much better allowing opponents on average 294 yards a game and 22.8 points a game.
Team wise individually the stats of certain players do bear a closer inspection . And in doing so one can see that the Cowboys’ problems were on both sides of the ball. And as productive as wide-out Terrell Owens was said to be. It may not be the productivity that was always a cause of many of the alleged problems between he and his teammates. But the mere fact that his demeanor and presence was far too overbearing . And the glare of the spotlight that he wanted and commanded was all too much for the team to bare. And given the fact that in Romo you had a quarterback who was as demonstrative as a docile church mouse . One could see who actually was ruling the roost amongst the cocks within this particular chicken coop.
As I’d alluded to earlier there was never or has there ever been any leadership on this team since Wade Phillips was introduced as the team’s coach. But the fault also doesn’t necessary lie with Phillips alone. As it all starts with what happens from the top on down . And when you’ve got an owner in the guise of Jerry Jones , whose meddlesome ways are about as rewarding as having a tooth pulled without the assist of a pain killer. Then you know that there’s bound to be problems. And this comes despite the fact that Jones’ll tell you that he was the prime architect behind the Cowboys winning three Superbowls during the nineties.(‘93,’94 and ‘96) Which is true in some ways but oh so false in others. Were it not for the fact that he had a great coaching staff with Jimmy Johnson at the helm of it all. Who knows how things might’ve turned out for allegedly what is said to be America’s Team ?
Strawberries And Cream, All The Pomp, Ceremony, And Circumstance That Is Wimbledon
This is the time of year that I so long for. And being a Brit who’s now living in the US. I just miss the days wherein I’d make it my rite of passage each year to attend one of the major sporting events that’d be taking place during the height of Summer.
A panoramic view of Center Court at Wimbledon as a match takes place on Day 1 of the event. picture appears courtesy of afp/getty images / Leon Neal .................
In soccer it would be the FA Cup. Basically it’s English soccer’s answer to the Superbowl. In horse racing it would either be The Derby from Epsom racecourse or attending Goodwood racecourse “ “Glorious Goodwood” for the pageantry and the exciting thoroughbred racing that’d take place there over the course of several days.
Roger Federer of Switzerland seeded #1 here at Wimbledon in absence of reigning champion Rafael Nadal. Federer would earn a straight sets' victory over Lu Yen Hsun of Chinese Tapei . Federer seeks to surpass the 14 Grand Slams singles titles' record that he now shares jointly with Pete Sampras. The defeat of Hsun makes that passage appear somewhat easier as he makes his way into the second rond. picture appears courtesy of ap/ photo/ Andra Niedringhaus ..................
At heart I’m an avid sport’s fan and within reason just about any sport that elicits excitement and athletic endeavor . And you’re liable to get me hooked on it as either as a passive observer or an avowed fan. Within reason they’re also several sports that I’ve no real time for. But to relate those to you would take up far too much time. And as they say …..” time is of the essence “. Suffice to say boxing and the martial arts are also two of the great loves of my life ! But it is Wimbledon that seems to elicit all of the emotions within me. And the mere fact as a sporting event it’s where I have some of my fondest memories. Over the years I’d attended six Wimbledon events prior to my departure for the United States.
Fans watch a tennis match on a giant tv screen within the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club at Wimbledon. There've been a number of improvements made at the venue. Including an automated domed roof that covers Center Court. The installation was completed in time for this year's event. picture appears courtesy of afp/ getty images/ Leon Neal ................
Which brings me on to Wimbledon and the All England Tennis Championships. The formal name given to the most prestigious event in the sport. And despite the formalities of the sport at heart it is very much the fact that although the All England Tennis Club’s President is presided over by a member of the Royal Family, HRH Prince Edward The Duke of Kent. It’s merely a ceremonial title and although the Prince is a passionate follower of the sport. He likes to be treated as an ordinary fan or member of the public would like to be viewed when it comes to tennis. Don’t let that dissuade you from the fact that the ambiance and emotional highs that one can get from watching the sport.
Ai Sugiyama returns a cross court forehand shot against Patty Schnyder in the first round of the women's singles tournament at Wimbledon. Sugiyama would win the game in straight sets 6-4,6-4 and make her way to the second round. picture appears courtesy of afp/getty images/ Gly Kirk .................
At the heart of Wimbledon is the empathy and passion that players and fans reciprocate between one an another. I doubt that there’s any sporting event in the world that elicits that sort of unbridled passion between the fan and the players. The intimacy of being that close to the action as it takes place is what in large part plays into it all. And as a venue the All England Lawn , Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) exhibits that.
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