Ben Maller’s Sports Rumors & Notes

Rumors Archive for April 23, 2007

top

NBA Rumors & Notes

Monday, April 23, 2007

Former assistant and Bucks coach Terry Porter could be a candidate in Sacramento, though they could take a look at Bulls assistant Jim Boylan, who has been key in the Bulls' turnaround the last three years. Also, former Bulls coach Bill Cartwright, now a Nets assistant, is a Sacramento native and popular in the area, where his family still lives.

The Blazers can't negotiate or talk about free agents until July 1, but indications are they will pursue Seattle small forward Rashard Lewis and Denver point guard Steve Blake -- a former Blazers player who still resides in Portland.

Although Celts owner Wyc Grousbeck and fellow managing partners Steve Pagliuca and Robert Epstein have shown remarkable patience, especially with director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and Rivers, count on a fair number of changes. Sebastian Telfair likely will be one. The point guard, who was arrested on a felony gun charge Friday in New York, probably has played his last game for the C’s. Aside from the arrest, Telfair also had a disappointing first season with the team and failed to mesh with Grousbeck’s oft-stated desire for his players to be more responsible off the court. Telfair, who will make $2.6 million next season, is easily movable.

New Sonics owner Clay Bennett is close to the Spurs organization, and the talk is a future coach and general manager will come from San Antonio after the move. Spurs GM R.C. Buford or his assistant, Sam Presti, are possibilities for the GM job, and assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo could get the call to coach.

Celts owner Wyc Grousbeck’s about to extend the contract of coach Doc Rivers. Neither Ainge or Rivers are in trouble now, but a repeat performance of 2006-07 next season and a third straight postseason shutout is guaranteed to trigger a blizzard of high-level pink slips. “There would have to be a reason for it, and then we’d have to address it,” Grousbeck said of the prospects of another early end to a season. “If it’s because we have the wrong personnel, then that’s something we’ll have to look at. But that’s all hypothetical right now.” Instead, Grousbeck gave hearty endorsements to both.

Chauncey Billups, who makes a modest $6.8 million this season, becomes a free agent this summer and is expected to sign a lucrative contract that will match his accomplishments in Detroit. Sunday was not the day to be asking him about his free agency and possibly leaving the Pistons to sign anywhere else. "I'm playing against them in a series right now, and you're asking me if I would consider playing for them?'' he said with obvious irritation in his voice. "I'm playing for the Pistons right now. I'm trying to win a championship. Ask me that when free agency starts. Don't ask me that now.''

If, as expected, the Sonics indeed relieve Bob Hill of his coaching duties this week, Rick Adelman would make an excellent replacement, perhaps the nearly perfect match. Seattle’s new ownership certainly can decide to hire an ascending assistant coach like Phoenix’s Marc Iavaroni, Portland’s Dean Demopolous or the Lakers’ Brian Shaw, some of the hottest names in the league right now. But with three different coaches leading the past three training camps, and no guarantee that any of those aforementioned names will prove successful, what may best serve the Sonics at this moment in their transition is a stabilizing force, somebody comfortable with himself and his place in the NBA paradigm. At 60, the venerable Adelman possesses the wisdom and patience of experience that develops only from the residue of success.

There are legitimate questions about whether Paul Pierce wants to remain in the midst of a slow rebuilding process. Wyc Grousbeck, however, feels he heard the real Pierce on Wednesday night, when the Celtics captain promised that the current 24-win group would reach the playoffs next spring.

Ohio State guard Mike Conley Jr. is rocketing up on the radar of NBA teams and projects now around the top 10. One of the rumors floating around with teams is whomever gets Greg Oden will be pushed to deal a major player for a draft pick to select Conley because Oden, despite his mature look, is considered more a follower and a playful kid compared with Conley. It provides a potentially interesting scenario for a team like the Bulls, who are ninth in the prelottery draft order after Friday's drawing to break ties. Say Memphis gets Oden. Would that expedite a deal for Gasol to get a top-10 pick and then Conley? Or Boston with Al Jefferson? It could put a team in an enviable position to get a veteran, and having a happy franchise center with a dynamic point guard would figure to be worth it for any team. This figures to be the most interesting draft in many years.

Although all five starters were injured at various points of the season, not having Peja Stojakovic for 69 games was the biggest blow that led to the Hornets missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season and finishing with a 39-43 record, 10th best in the Western Conference. Without him, New Orleans did not have an effective perimeter threat capable of consistently drawing the defense's attention. It allowed teams to pack the middle and limit Chris Paul's ability to drive, , and teams were successful stacking their defense on either side to prevent a shooter such as David West from having uncontested shots. "I know he's disappointed about this season because of something he couldn't help with the injury," Hornets Coach Byron Scott said. "But getting ready for next season can be helped, and I'm going to check on him like I always do. I know Peja is going to work his tail off." Stojakovic said he plans to continue his daily morning runs and workouts in the gym for the entire offseason. In the meantime, he will continue to go through his rehabilitation work monitored by the Hornets' training staff in Oklahoma City until May 12 before leaving for his offseason home in Greece. "My back is getting better, and I'm dying to get back on the court. I'm not going to have any day where I'm not doing anything," Stojakovic said. "I always have to be in some kind of shape. I'm running and lifting three times a week."

Orlando's Darko Milicic addressed questions surrounding his toughness or lack thereof — “Nobody actually knows me that much to say (expletive) like that” — why he thinks Detroit fans hatred toward him, and what it was like to face his former teammates in the first meaningful postseason minutes of his career. For the most part, Milicic took the “sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me” approach. “I don’t really care,” Milicic said about why he thinks Detroit fans constantly ride him. “Back home fans used to throw the baseball (bats) and stuff at me — everything. They tried to kill me back home. That’s why I don’t really give a (expletive) about it.” Asked if he was ever hit with any objects while playing in his home country of Serbia & Montenegro, he replied, “No. They missed me.”

The Nuggets activated point guard Anthony Carter for Game 1 but he did not play. Denver waived the seven-year veteran during training camp but signed him April 13 for the remainder of the season after his stint with Italy Legea Scafati Basket. "It just shows to never give up on what you want to do," Carter said. "I knew that I had a great training camp. They knew they were going to bring me back, they just didn't know when. I just kept my head right and did what I had to do to make it back. And I came back for the playoffs." The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder averaged 7.3 points, 5.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 13 playoff games for Miami in the 2000 and 2001 postseasons.

Though Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo has said the right things about supporting and bringing back Sam Mitchell, the belief is he remains uncomfortable with Mitchell, whom he did not hire. Also, it was no secret Colangelo was forceful in getting Mitchell to accept and play rookie Andrea Bargnani. There appears to be something of a power struggle going on with President Richard Peddie openly supporting Mitchell's return, apparently to push Colangelo. But the feeling is Colangelo will use the power of his turnaround of the franchise to bring in his own coach. Though Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni often is mentioned as a successor, rumors lately have Colangelo continuing the European style and bringing in a protégé of Raptors assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini from Benetton Treviso.

Larry Bird declined to talk about Rick Carlisle, though local media reports indicate he'll be out. Around the NBA, the talk is the Pacers will come hard after Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, whose contract expires after this season. Mitchell played three seasons in Indiana, and his hard-nosed, direct style was admired by management. He's the kind of leader they'd like to rebuild with.

As the NBA debated the level of fine Shaquille O'Neal would receive for calling out referee Eddie F. Rush after Saturday's loss in Chicago, the Heat center made no effort to backtrack Sunday. "I don't take nothing back," O'Neal said after a video session at AmericanAirlines Arena. Asked if he felt as strongly about the officiating as he did the day before, O'Neal brusquely replied, "Yup." After the 96-91 loss to the Bulls in the opener of the best-of-7 first-round playoff series, O'Neal said, "My intention was to just come out and be me, be myself, until Eddie Rush derailed me."

With his phones and other communication devices switched off for the playoffs, Tracy McGrady said he has enjoyed the quiet so much that he plans to keep it that way for a while. "Everything is off," McGrady said. "I notice the difference, but I'm so focused now, it really doesn't matter." McGrady said he plans to keep everything off "until I'm home watching the games — if that's possible." The implication was that he would watch games only if, when the Rockets' season is over, there are games left.

How About That? Jason Kidd's 10 rebounds and 15 assists Saturday was the second 10-and-15 game of his playoff career. He had 10 and 16 for the Suns in 2000 against the Lakers. No other player has done that in a postseason game since Magic Johnson (11 boards, 20 assists) during the '91 NBA Finals against Chicago.

Richard Jefferson said his sarcastic postgame comments about the fans wearing red Raptors T-shirts, which are the same color as the Nets road uniforms, will make him a target of booing in Game 2. "I have a feeling they're going to boo me more than they're going to boo Vince Carter," he said. "What are they going to do, boo us more? I think everyone noticed it (the shirts) and I was the first person to bring it up and say it and I said it in a joking fashion. I don't think anyone took it too seriously. They wanted to do red. We happened to decide the day before to go with our red jerseys." Now that the Nets have worn red, they must stick with it throughout the series. The Air Canada Centre marketing people might want to rethink what color T-shirts they'll be handing out tomorrow night

Nuggets strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess said Martin will begin rehabilitating his right knee in the swimming pool this week. Martin, who had microfracture surgery Nov. 15, has recently begun walking backward on a treadmill. "His leg work is going to increase," Hess said. "He's going to do single-, double-leg stuff, so much more. His intensity increased. In the next month he is going to start moving on it a little bit. Everything's increased and on par." Said Martin: "It's picking up now."

LeBron James will get treatment today on his sprained left ankle and might sit out practice as a precaution. The team is listing him as day to day, but James expects to play Wednesday in Game 2, so much so that he joked about it. He was asked if there was a chance he would skip the game, James smiled and quipped: ``No, I'm not playing.''

Injured guard Gilbert Arenas was all over the arena before the game. He dropped by the Cavaliers' locker room to talk some trash, chatted with players from both teams on the floor during pregame warmups and watched the game from behind the team's bench. Arenas also chatted it up with Cavaliers guard Eric Snow, who was wearing Arenas's signature sneaker, the Adidas Gil Zero. Arenas declined to speak with reporters, saying, "This isn't about me."

top

MLB Rumors & Notes

Monday, April 23, 2007

If Alex Rodriguez were to become available again, the Red Sox would be foolish not to at least investigate. And as last winter taught us, if the Red Sox really, really want a player, they aren’t about to be denied. When they’re motivated, money truly is no object. There are, to be sure, issues to be considered. As Public Enemy No. 1 among Red Sox fans, the Sox, ever-mindful of public reaction, will want to make sure that the move doesn’t alienate the fan base. But David Ortiz, for one, thinks that could be overcome. “Anybody who comes here is welcome,” said Ortiz before last night’s series finale with the Yanks. “You’re not going to boo your own players just because they played somewhere else before. That doesn’t make sense.” Ortiz, who professes to like Rodriguez, insists the Yankee slugger is simply misunderstood. “He’s not like people think,” said Ortiz. “I talk to him a lot.” If the Sox can clear potential chemistry/clubhouse hurdles, there’s little reason not to pursue Rodriguez.

Rich Harden can't go, but instead of Brad Halsey, the A's are going with right-hander Dallas Braden, and Halsey is convinced that he was bypassed because the A's found out that the left-hander is scheduled for an MRI exam later this week. That makes Halsey furious because he said he complained of arm trouble all spring and was repeatedly told he didn't need an MRI. "I kept going in and saying, 'My arm is bothering me, it's not right,' and they said, 'Oh, it's just biceps tendinitis, you'll be fine,' '' Halsey said by phone from Sacramento. "Then they send you down and screw you. I'm grinding it out, trying to be a team guy, and I get f -- . It's all just a business decision, because if I came up and pitched Tuesday and then had an MRI and had to go on the DL, they'd have to pay me major-league DL money. It's such a mom-and-pop organization. "Basically, they pulled the plug on me because our trainer called them to say I was scheduled for an MRI."

Mark Prior's visit with Dr. James Andrews could take place on Monday or Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala. If Andrews advises Prior to have arthroscopic shoulder surgery, he'll miss the rest of the season. If Prior gets the go-ahead to continue rehabbing, he'll return to extended spring training in Arizona with the hope of joining the Iowa Cubs by the middle of May.

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said Jeff Weaver, 0-3 with a 13.91 ERA in three starts, would make his next start Friday against Kansas City. When the issue was pushed, however, Hargrove declined to say if other pitchers were in consideration. Weaver signed a one-year deal for $8.25 million in January, and Seattle undoubtedly wants to give him more than three games to show himself. "That's a very tough move to make," Hargrove said. "But for the good of the club, sometimes you have to make moves you don't really like."

If Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, 31, has the same type of season this year that he had last year (31 homers, 98 runs batted in), he can expect a four-year free-agent deal worth about $50 million, but not from the Twins.

Ronnie Belliard's greatest value to the Nationals is on the trade market. Come July, there are going to be contending clubs that could sorely use a versatile, experienced and productive infielder like him, and someone's going to be willing to offer a halfway-legitimate prospect in exchange for him.

According to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, the team has no plans to put catcher Jorge Posada on the disabled list. "That hasn't been discussed at all," Cashman said yesterday before Posada sat out a second straight game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park with a bruised left thumb. "I was told it would be a few days. If it changes . . . but that was the last information I got. It was swollen pretty good."

Ken Griffey Jr. is expected to return to the Reds lineup Tuesday in St. Louis after not starting the past four games because he was suffering from diverticulitis. The Reds' right fielder delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth inning of their 9-3 loss to the Phillies on Sunday. His hit did nothing to alter the game's outcome, but it was a welcome sight for a team that has been struggling to score runs. "It feels a lot better the last couple of days," Griffey said. "The first two days were rough, but the last couple of days I felt close to normal, at least as close to normal as I get."

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ned Yost confirmed Sunday that they never considered calling up reliever Jose Capellan from Class AAA Nashville to replace Greg Aquino because of the message it would send to players in the organization.

One thing appears certain: The Cubs don't need five outfielders who all think they should be playing every day. And there are no indications they are close to trading Jacque Jones. The bottom line, according to Lou Piniella: "Soriano is going to play left field, we're going to have an everyday center fielder and then we might have to juggle it a little bit in right field."

Lou Piniella's message to Cubs management was loud and clear. "I need the 12th pitcher in here," Piniella said. "We can't go anymore with 11 pitchers. We stretched the rubber band about as far as it needs to be stretched. We need somebody. "[If] this game goes 11 or 12 innings today, and [Will] Ohman pitched two innings [on Saturday], and I have my closer in the game … What are you gonna do?" A move is likely to be made Monday, with Iowa closer Rocky Cherry as the probable call-up. Either Ronny Cedeno or Felix Pie could be sent to Iowa to clear a spot for another pitcher. Cedeno played shortstop for the second straight day. He went 0-for-5 and is hitting .107.

San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff is hitting .133 overall with 13 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. He's hitting .121 against right-handers with 10 strikeouts in 33 at-bats. Black said the Padres haven't gone to a platoon at third. Clearly, the Padres want Kouzmanoff – for whom they traded Josh Barfield to Cleveland – to be their regular third baseman. But production is production. Branyan is hitting .292 with a .469 on-base percentage. Branyan has the same number of homers (1) and one more RBI (4) than Kouzmanoff in 21 fewer at-bats.

Market value for a contract extension for Twins closer Joe Nathan, who is signed through next year, when he'll be paid $6 million, is $10 million a year. But it's unlikely the Twins would be willing to pay that much.

The Angels signed Darren Oliver to a one-year, $1.75-million deal last winter after the veteran went 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA in 45 games for the Mets last season, but Oliver has an 18.90 ERA in seven games so far, and opponents are batting .529 against him in 3 1/3 innings. Oliver pitched six times in the first two weeks, but his rocky outing Saturday, when he gave up three runs and three hits and retired one batter, was his first appearance since April 14.

Reds OF Adam Dunn, on the other hand, has had a difficult time making contact lately. His batting average, which had been above .300 all season, slipped to .286 after he went hitless in three at-bats Sunday with a walk. He struck out twice, including once with runners at first and third and nobody out in the fourth inning, and now has struck out 27 times in 70 at-bats, nine times in his last four games. After a spring training in which he concentrated on cutting down on his strikeouts, Dunn appears to have reverted to the player who struck out 194 times last year, which led the major leagues.

M's pitcher Arthur Rhodes will have yet another test on his ailing left elbow today in Southern California. The veteran will have a CT scan at the urging of Dr. Lewis Yocum, an orthopedist and arm specialist. However, Rhodes' hope of avoiding ligament-replacement surgery and missing at least the next 12 months seems to be receding. "Whatever it is, I just want to get it over," he said. "If I've got to do something (have surgery), then let's get it done."

Jay Payton's presence gives the team more versatility. As the Orioles shopped around for another outfielder this offseason, Payton was, "exactly what we were looking for," vice president Jim Duquette said. He can play anywhere in the outfield or bat anywhere in the lineup.

Washington Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill had his left shoulder -- which he injured while diving back into third base in Friday night's 6-5, 14-inning victory -- examined before Saturday's game. The diagnosis was a simple bruise, and Marlins physician Dan Kanell didn't think it would prevent Hill from making his next start, scheduled for Thursday in Philadelphia. "It was stiff when I woke up, but as soon as I started moving around, much better," Hill said. "It's going to be sore for a couple days, but I should be fine."

Who Knew? Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected from Sunday's game for the second time in a week and 127th time in his career. That's only four behind all-time leader John McGraw.

Pittsburgh slugger Adam LaRoche still wound up 1 for 4, leaving his average at a team-worst .105. He has just six hits all year -- half of which have been home runs -- and has struck out 22 times in 57 at-bats. Only the Cincinnati Reds' Adam Dunn has more strikeouts -- 27 -- in Major League Baseball. Hey, the Pirates' pitchers have six hits in 25 fewer at-bats.

How About That? Derek Jeter led off the fifth with a homer, his first of the season. It also gave Jeter a hit in 53 of his last 55 games. If he hits safely the next two nights in Tampa Bay, Jeter will have hits in 54 of 56 games, a highly unusual run of success. Joe DiMaggio hit in a record 56 consecutive games in 1941. According to Trent McCotter of the Society for American Baseball Research, only one other player has ever had two or fewer hitless games in a span of 56, Ed Delahanty for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1899.

Struggling Nats closer Chad Cordero watched video with pitching coach Randy St. Claire on Saturday afternoon. St. Claire said he believes Cordero has two problems. First, his hand is on the side of the ball, causing his slider to spin rather than bite and his fastball to tail over the plate. Second, St. Claire would prefer that Cordero throw more fastballs; Cody Ross's game-tying homer in the ninth on Friday came on a slider.

Yanks 3B Alex Rodriguez is the third player ever with 12 homers and 30 RBI in April. Rodriguez, whose 31 RBI match his career best for any month, joins Ken Griffey Jr. (13 homers, 30 RBI in 1997) and Albert Pujols (14 and 32 last year).

Did You Know? Chase Wright became the fourth Yankee to allow four home runs in an inning, joining Randy Johnson (2005), Scott Sanderson (1992) and Catfish Hunter (1977).

Outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' top prospect, is off to a sluggish start with Class AA Altoona, batting .163 with no home runs, five RBIs and 13 strikeouts in 43 at-bats. "Guys have streaks," Littlefield said. "This guy's hit wherever he's been. It's not something I'm overly worried about."

One of the big boosters of Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is Don Mattingly, the former Yankees Gold Glove first baseman and now the club's hitting coach. "As a hitter, he's dangerous, and I'd seen this kid play in Triple-A when I was doing some work with the Yankees, so I saw him play when they came through Columbus and you could see right away he could hit," Mattingly said. "He's dangerous against lefties and righties -- serious power all over the place. "And at first base, he seems to hold his own.

It is a virtual guarantee that Barry Bonds will hit his 755th and 756th home runs in the friendly confines of AT&T Park, the only stadium in America that would be filled with fans cheering instead of jeering. Bay Area fans have been paying homage to a false baseball god for almost a decade and aren't going to change now. Aren't any people in San Francisco embarrassed that Bonds wears a Giants uniform? I'm embarrassed for them. Bonds is the opposite of baseball ambassadors such as new Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, and the late Buck O'Neil. His attitude has turned off fans across the land for a long time and it is a shame that he's the one who will break the sport's most prestigious career record. He was a great player who became one of the greatest players with the apparent help of performance-enhancing drugs while insisting he was completely clean. If Selig isn't on hand for Bonds' 756th HR, the only people who figure to object would be the deluded fans in San Francisco and the few other people across America who believe Bonds is an honorable person and hit all of those home runs from 1999 through 2004 all by his natural self.

All Dan Uggla needed was three swings to fatten his anemic stats. Uggla, who connected on an upper-deck home run at RFK Stadium in Washington on Opening Day before going into a slump, hit another upper-deck shot Sunday and doubled his RBI total to 12. The second baseman on Sunday also added a three-run homer and drove in another run with a single. ''I've been antsy just getting hits,'' said Uggla, who began Sunday without a home run since Opening Day. ``I got [the first home run] out of the way Opening Day, but it didn't matter. I still struggled after that.''

Jim Tracy's 500th victory as a major league manager came at an opportune time — a few days before his Pittsburgh Pirates played his former team. Tracy knew that Dodgers clubhouse manager Mitch Poole paints baseballs to commemorate milestones. After all, Poole painted balls for victories Nos. 100, 200, 300 and 400 when Tracy managed the Dodgers. So Poole has a new project. The only difference with No. 500 will be that the colors will be Pirate black and gold rather than Dodger blue.

top

NFL Rumors & Notes

Monday, April 23, 2007

Life is good these days for Bill Cowher, who resigned as coach of the Steelers after last season. So good, in fact, that he said he could envision never coaching again. "I'm staying very open-minded," said Cowher, who turns 50 May 8. "I never want to say never because that can come back and haunt you. But I can foresee not coming back ever. I just won't etch it in stone." Will he return to coach in a year or two, as many have speculated? "I don't have any plans right now, honestly," Cowher said. "I'm looking forward to the fall and doing the thing with CBS. It's not going to take up a lot of time."

The possibility of a compensatory pick in 2009 is another compelling reason for Chargers GM A.J. Smith to retain Michael Turner. Smith anticipates trade talks regarding his backup running back to continue until the draft. A half-dozen teams have expressed interest in Turner, and a couple are in dire need of a running back. Smith is asking for a first-round and third-round pick, though he is “flexible.” He likely would take a first-round pick either this year or next in conjunction with a second-day pick. He could even take a high second-round pick this weekend, if he believes the right player is available there, in combination with another pick this year or next. However, should Turner stay with the Chargers for 2007, the interest in him in the 2008 free agency period will be intense. And the contract he gets will certainly be among the richest signed next spring. So, provided the Chargers do not sign a pricey free agent in '08, their compensation could well be a third-rounder in the 2009 draft.

Another veteran possibility could be Corey Dillon, who was released by New England and indicated he would retire if he didn't get a starting job elsewhere. If he changes his mind, there are two friendly faces on the Rams coaching staff. Linehan and new special teams coach Al Roberts were on the University of Washington staff when Dillon played there.

Mike Tomlin said he will try to reach out to Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca before the Steelers hold their next minicamp in three weeks. "I'm looking to establish personal relationships with all of the guys, Alan included," Tomlin said Sunday after the Steelers concluded their first minicamp under the new coach. Faneca skipped the first of two minicamps the Steelers are allowed this year and is apparently unhappy with his contract situation. He is in the final year of a deal that will pay him about $3.4 million this season, and not much progress has been made on a contract extension. Two other players (safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker Clark Haggans) missed minicamp, but they cleared their absences with the team.

One way or another, there is sure to be a reaction from the Lions when Patrick Willis is drafted -- joy if he is picked by the Lions, disappointment if they can't make the moves necessary to get him and he goes to another team. Willis had a stellar career for Mississippi at middle linebacker. He fits coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa Two defensive scheme. Willis is projected to be drafted around the middle of the first round. If the Lions are going to draft Willis, they'll have to trade down deep into the first round, or trade up from the second round, where they have the 34th pick overall.

If the Patriots go the receiver route in an early round, one name to watch is Anthony Gonzalez. Ted Ginn’s teammate at Ohio State, Gonzalez is speedy (4.4 in the 40), strong (6-0, 195) and smart (philosophy major). He’s considered a potential standout in the slot, which the Patriots currently have manned by Welker and veteran Troy Brown, should he be healthy enough to play. Asked at the NFL Scouting Combine about playing for the Patriots, Gonzalez didn’t mince words. “The Patriots certainly win a lot and I’m a winning person,” he said. “I love the idea of competing for victories every time I step on the field. Certainly I would be open to that and would love the opportunity.”

Jack Del Rio says defense. Jaguars vice president of player personnel James "Shack" Harris concurs. But if Ted Ginn Jr. is available when the Jaguars go on the clock for the 17th overall pick of the NFL Draft on Saturday, the team's decision-makers might have to rethink their mantra and consider selecting the Ohio State wide receiver, who was one of college football's most dynamic performers last season. While the team has made it clear that it's in the market for defensive help in the first round Saturday, the Jaguars would be hard-pressed to pass on a gamebreaker such as Ginn if he's there.

Though prospects such as Michigan's Leon Hall and Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis are expected to be gone long before the Ravens use the 29th overall pick Saturday, there are several players who have caught the team's interest. Arkansas' Chris Houston is considered the best man-to-man cornerback in the draft, holding Southern California's Dwayne Jarrett, LSU's Dwayne Bowe and Tennessee's Robert Meachem to a combined 14 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown last fall.

It was just a couple of months ago that the Vikings believed Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn could fall to No. 7. Now, though, it appears the Cleveland Browns, who have the No. 3 pick, are focusing on Quinn. That could mean Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson will be available to the Vikings. If he is, it's reasonable to think he will be Minnesota's pick. But there could be a major, and little-known, obstacle for the Vikings. The Washington Redskins have the No. 6 pick, and they don't have picks in the second, third or fourth rounds. And, they are intent on trading down to gain picks. So Peterson could be available to Washington just before Minnesota, and a team - perhaps the Buffalo Bills - could trade up to get him.

It isn't every day that someone with a future in professional football voices excitement, even giddy anticipation, about the prospect of playing for the Cleveland Browns. So when Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who was born in Dublin, Ohio, did just that, it was worth noting. "I basically said I was a fan when I was younger, and I definitely do have a desire based on where I live because where they are in the draft," Quinn said at the scouting combine. "I think economically that would be a good situation right now with them drafting in the third spot. "But that's where it stops. I'm not biased towards any team based on where I live. Whatever team I go to play for I'm going to be happy to play for." So what does the Cleveland braintrust think about that? Mixed signals, at best. Browns Coach Romeo Crennel is circumspect; General Manager Phil Savage is a trifle more effusive.

Adrian Peterson himself suggested that he could be drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. On Saturday evening he joined Evan Cohen on Fox Sports Radio and was asked… Adrian, if you had to give me two teams that you may play for — your gut feeling as to where you end up in the draft and those millions of dollars that you’re going to make would be riding on it, you tell me what two teams? "I would say Cleveland or Arizona. Arizona you think is a possibility even though Edgerrin James is there? Yeah, yeah, I think it’s a possibility."

Rob Brzezinski, Vikings vice president of football operations, admits that the Vikings might be some $25 million under the salary cap, but he explains that number can be deceptive. "It's different accounting, because signing bonuses are pro-rated over the term of the contract. So only a portion of that is counting against the cap," Brzezinski said. "Where you may be paying, take $5 million on a five-year deal -- it only counts a million a year against the cap, where the $5 million, it counts as cash. So there could be a big difference between those two numbers."

The Broncos also are discussing whether it's best to trade down so they can at least partially fill their sizable draft voids in the fourth and fifth rounds. As an example, the Broncos could give their No. 21 pick to the Chicago Bears, who in conformance of the value chart would surrender their No. 31 overall pick, plus their selections in the fourth and fifth rounds.

Defensive end. The Rams remain interested in possibly signing Grant Winstrom. But the former Ram seems intent on retiring following his release by Seattle.

The Oakland Raiders apparently are considering taking Chad Johnson with the top overall choice. The prevailing sentiment around the league is that the Raiders are more likely to go with Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell, which could leave Johnson going second to the Detroit Lions or to a team that might trade up into that spot. The Lions are said to be eager to trade down in the draft order, and Johnson might be the one prospect good enough to lead a club to trade up for such a lofty selection.

Unrestricted free agent Brandon Green, who started six games at defensive end for the Rams over the past two seasons, met Thursday with the Seattle Seahawks.

According to the experts, Dwayne Jarrett -- USC's all-time leading receiver -- has seen his stock drop after running a pair of 40-yard dashes in about 4.6 seconds last month in front of pro scouts. Although he was considered a first-round lock in the days after he dominated Michigan in the Rose Bowl and then declared for the draft, Jarrett could go somewhere between the late-first and early-second round.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's next minicamp is May 11-13 and that one is mandatory, so guard Alan Faneca would face a fine and possibly revocation of part of his signing bonus if he does not attend. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Tomlin said. Tomlin talked to Faneca and knew he planned not to attend the past weekend. Tomlin expects to talk to him again and encourage him to practice with his teammates.

Always reliable Donald Driver is the Packers go-to guy, and will be even if the much-rumored trade for Randy Moss ever happens. Greg Jennings, a second-round pick last year, got off to a great start but was slowed by an ankle injury the second half of the season. Perpetual disappointment Robert Ferguson is trying to come back from a career-threatening foot injury, leaving Ruvell Martin, Carlyle Holiday, Shaun Bodiford, Chris Francies and Calvin Russell as the less-than-household names populating the depth chart. So, expect the Packers to take at least one receiver.

Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams got no college offers out of high school. The Detroit Lions, with the No. 2 pick, are said to be targeting Adams, although they may attempt to trade down a couple of spots to do so. Whether it's the Lions, Adams looks like a top five pick. "It's a dream come true for me, coming from a small town and a small school playing eight-man football,'' Adams said. "It's just a dream come true, and it shows how much hard work pays off."

Punter B.J. Sander's tenure with the Rams was a short one. Two days after the Miami Dolphins announced that they would not match the Rams' offer sheet on restricted free agent Donnie Jones, the Rams released Sander on Friday. Sander signed a one-year deal with the Rams on March 5 while the team was in a negotiating stalemate with unrestricted free agent Matt Turk. But the Rams now are committed to Jones as their punter, by virtue of the five-year, $5.59 million contract he signed with the team. Cutting Sander gives him a chance to catch on with another team. While releasing Sander, the Rams have agreed to terms with former University of Miami (Fla.) punter Fred Capshaw.

The Wilf family, owners of the Vikings, thinks it is very necessary to have a new stadium so the Vikings can compete with the other NFL teams. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commissioner submitted a plan last week whereby the Metrodome would be torn down and a new $954 million stadium built on that site surrounded by a big business development. "We're looking to get a stadium so we can provide our fans and the people of the Twin Cities of Minnesota with an exciting and vibrant game day experience before and after the game, and as part of their development of downtown east Minneapolis and to provide the last piece of what I feel is the renaissance of downtown," Zygi Wilf said. The Wilfs would pay one-third of the stadium's cost, plus develop all of the other parcels through their real estate company. However, even though it is obvious a new stadium is needed so the Vikings can compete from a revenue standpoint, the Wilfs have never threatened to move the team like previous owner Red McCombs did, and they don't ever plan to do so even though the lease on the Metrodome ends in 2011.

Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Ricky Williams, explained on Fox Sports Radio why the running back kicked out of the NFL for drug use should be reinstated: "He found something in yoga and Zen to replace previous substance abuse."

Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn, appearing as a guest on Fox Sports Radio, asked about his former teammate WR Jeff Samardzija: "To me he’s the number one guy at wide receiver in this draft. I’m biased but I’ve seen his ability and I’ve seen what he’s able to do, he’s just an unbelievably talented athlete. I think a team will draft him and I think they should. Obviously in the likelihood that if things didn’t work out for him in baseball, which I think they will for him…he’s a great athlete. But I think they should in case there’s an injury or if anything did happen, and he would be able to play football, I think he’d terrorize the NFL, racking up yards like he did in college.”

Bill Cowher will arrive in Pittsburgh tomorrow from his home in Raleigh, N.C., to take care of some business capped Friday night when he receives the History Makers Award for Leadership at the Westin Convention Center Hotel. The award is presented by the Senator John Heinz History Center. By the time the draft starts at noon Saturday, Cowher will be on his way back to Raleigh. And, no, he has not been asked for any advice about prospects by his former co-workers with the Steelers. "No. Are you kidding me?" he asked. The former Steelers coach does not know what he will do with himself when the draft starts Saturday without him for the first time since he entered NFL coaching in 1985 with the Cleveland Browns. He'll either watch on TV or travel to Charlotte, N.C., where his youngest daughter, Lindsay, will compete in an AAU basketball tournament.

top

Odd Notes & Stuff

Monday, April 23, 2007

The Warriors were so giddy about breaking a 13-year playoff drought that Stephen Jackson, still facing probation violations for discharging a firearm during a preseason strip-club parking lot incident in Indianapolis, does a mock police frisk with his hands behind his head in pregame introductions with teammate Matt Barnes. "It's a little joke for all the people who think I'm a bad guy, who don't know me," Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's like, 'I got nothing on me, I just want to play basketball and have fun.' "

Las Vegas Review Journal... A pep talk by Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski highlighted opening night at Michael's restaurant at the South Point. After flying in specifically for the opening with his wife, Micki, Krzyzewski asked if he could say a few words to the staff after dinner. "He gave a pep talk, saying how great it was that our team stayed together over the years, and he related it to basketball and life," said maitre d' Jose Martel. The pep talk ended with Coach K and the staff joining in a champagne toast.

Frank Martinez better make sure his SportsNet New York subscription is paid up: The crazed Mets fan won't be seeing his beloved Amazin's in person any time soon. A Queens judge made the Mets' decision to bar the man from home games official yesterday when the Bronx exterminator was arraigned on charges he flashed a high-powered light in the eyes of Atlanta Braves players. Martinez, 40, also is forbidden from approaching Mets employees as part of the order of protection issued by Queens Criminal Court Judge Robert Raciti.

Though careful not to violate the club's facial hair policy, the Orioles' relievers have decided to grow mustaches as another symbol of team unity. They're definitely not going for fashion. "You like it? It looks kind of trashy," John Parrish said. The relievers got the idea from bullpen catcher Orlando Gomez, who has hair above his lip and some influence on the pitchers. "It feels kind of funny," Parrish said. "I've never had one this long." The look is spreading. Kevin Millar , Aubrey Huff and Jay Gibbons are among the position players who have decided to grow one. The facial hair policy doesn't allow for mustaches to extend beyond the corners of the mouth.

The Red Sox brass need to pitch in to buy closer Jonathan Papelbon a doggie seat belt for his Boss. Yesterday, the bulldog bolted out of Pap’s car as wife Ashley dropped off the pitcher at the players’ entrance at Fenway Park, forcing his owner to take off after him and make the save! Now, we really can’t have a pooch putting Pap in harm’s way now, can we??? BTW, we hear that the closer, the missus and Boss have moved to digs on Boylston Street to be closer to the old ballyard. Last year, the couple lived in the Park Lane apartments in the Seaport District, but “felt like they were living in Siberia,” said one real estate source.

Allen Iverson wore a Virginia Tech patch on the powder blue sleeve he wears on his right arm in all games. Thirty-two people at Virginia Tech were killed Monday by a lone gunman. "I just wanted the people of Virginia Tech to know that we were thinking about them," Iverson said. "The incident really hit home for me because I am from Virginia."

Superpoodle Gisele Bundchen was spotted at the Chelsea gay bar Barracuda with a posse of guy and girl friends Thursday night. Sadly for the regulars, she was not with boyfriend Tom Brady.

Kansas City Star sports columnist Jason Whitlock is a hot candidate to take the WFAN-MSNBC gig of fired talk-show host Don Imus.

As they did last year, the Cavs covered all their locker room dry erase boards with the game plans on them with black sheets. During the season, no such measures were taken. ``It's to protect us from any KGB or double agents,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox and Bulls, was at Harry Caray's Restaurant on Kinzie Street last week, and he posed for a photo next to the Caray statue. "If Harry had seen this, he'd probably roll over in his grave," Reinsdorf said. Caray and Reinsdorf feuded after Caray left the Sox's broadcast booth in 1981 to handle Cubs games.

FSN Houston threw an unexpected wrinkle at Rockets fans Saturday for Game 1 of the Rockets-Jazz series, pairing Clyde Drexler and Matt Bullard with Bill Worrell. The three will work together on FSN Houston games throughout the first round of the playoffs and, presumably, beyond. "I liked it," Worrell said Sunday. "I thought they (Drexler and Bullard) played off each other nicely. They were comfortable with each other, and the booth didn't seem too crowded."

Donald Trump was a good sport at the "Wig Out for Woody" 60th birthday bash for N.Y. Jets owner Woody Johnson at Doubles in the Sherry Netherland. Invitees had to wear one of the wigs graciously provided in a bin at the entrance. Jets' coach Eric Mangini donned a green Mohawk while Stephen Schwarzman, NFL Commish Roger Goodell, Jann Wenner (who brought Matt Nye) and Allure editor-in-chief Linda Wells went for less dramatic 'do's. Trump, who arrived with wife Melania, opted for a shaggy blond wig less complicated than his trademark coif.

The Boston Herald reports that Stephen Belichick, son of Bill, says he wouldn’t mind staying in the family business. Stephen, whose dad, of course, coaches the New England Patriots and whose grandfather, Steve, was a Navy coach, tells the Greenfield Recorder that he’d “like to give coaching a shot someday.” But the pigskin offspring, who is doing a year of prep school before heading to Rutgers on a lacrosse scholarship, doesn’t know for which sport he might want to patrol the sidelines.

There is a stipulation for tonight's giveaway at Tropicana Field. Cowbells will go to the first 10,000 fans wearing Rays gear

Twins OF Michael Cuddyer has a great collection of DVDs and movies. "I wouldn't say I'm an expert on them, but I enjoy watching movies," Cuddyer said. "... What I do is, I've got upwards of 700 DVDs, so I have like a library card system where, you know, [teammates] can check them out and put them on the index card -- who took it, how long they've had it. And you know, (Justin) Morneau had to buy me a DVD two years ago because his late fees got too excessive." Cuddyer said he likes all kinds of movies. "It depends on what type of genre we're talking about. If we go to a baseball movie, I've got to include 'The Natural.' 'The Natural' is probably my favorite."

Big-league umps this season are being miked for TV for the first time. Home-plate umpire Bob Davidson, on Fox's New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game Saturday, asked a kid in the stands to take an "oath." The kid did, raising his right hand as instructed and repeated after Davidson to "never, ever yell at an umpire for as long as I may live."