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Baltimore Ravens Michael Oher's position uncertain

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 11:10
Written by Tom J. Winston
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Baltimore Ravens Michael Oher position uncertain - Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher made a series of media appearances over the past few weeks -- including the rare, in-studio appearance on Mike Francesa's radio show on WFAN in New York -- and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun wrote recently that Oher is the foundation of what the team will do on the O-line for years to come.

In an update on the situation on Monday afternoon, Preston's colleague Jamison Hensley wrote that the Ravens actions this offseason will determine the position from which Oher will help build up the line.

The first situation likely to be resolved is that of fellow OT Jared Gaither. Currently, it's a little hard to read the tea leaves, though the local reporters all seem to be in agreement that it's a long shot for Gaither to return. If Gaither does return, however, he'll probably be back at LT, with Oher switching back to the right side. If the Ravens want to extend Gaither, they can do so up until the end of the league year, which concludes at the stroke of midnight on March 4.

Following the decision on Gaither, the next step will either be free agency -- if there's a new CBA by then -- or the draft -- if there's not. Some of the tackles that are being graded out as first-round prospects are projected as RTs at the NFL level, so if the Ravens grab one at No. 26 overall, this could mean Oher would stick at LT.

 

Free agency may not provide much help, as teams usually retain top-flight tackles. But there are some intriguing possibilities (if they aren't retained by their current teams), including Matt Light, Doug Free, Tyson Clabo, Jammal Brown, Jermon Bushrod and Willie Colon.

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Peyton Manning is getting another deal with Indianapolis Colts

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 11:04
Written by Glen Bloomberg
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Peyton Manning is getting another deal with Indianapolis Colts  - Throughout this offseason, if anyone was going to be getting the franchise tag, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was going to be included on the list. Though there were hints last week that the Colts would wait until closer to the tag deadline to make the move, they've decided to join the party on Tag Tuesday, according to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

Mort also confirmed that Manning's one-year tender due to the tag will be just over $23 million for 2011, and that the Colts will continue to work with Manning and agent Tom Condon on a long-term contract extension to replace the tag tender.

Following the $50 million guaranteed deal doled out to Sam Bradford last offseason, former Colts coach Tony Dungy argued that Manning (and Tom Brady) were worth $70 to 80 million in guaranteed money. It's unclear if that is Manning and Condon's target figure, but the Colts may wait until the new CBA is reached in order to structure the contract in tune with the new tenets of the agreement.

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Super Bowl MVP 2011 Betting Odds Rodgers The Favorite to win

Friday, 04 February 2011 13:22
Written by Glen Bloomberg
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With the Super Bowl betting taking over in the final days before Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Betting odds to win the Super Bowl MVP award have been solidified. At the top of the list, none other than Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who looks to solidify his legacy and place in franchise history by delivering the team the same amount of championship titles as his predecessor, the legendary Brett Favre. Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ranks second on the list of favorites as the list has favored the position in the past, while both starting running backs and a couple of key wide receivers also rank near the top of the list.

The Favorites

Aaron Rodgers - 3-2 Super Bowl MVP Odds

Rodgers has been an absolute stud in the postseason, throwing for 10 touchdowns in his first three playoff games before laying a little bit of an egg in the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal that rank among the best in the league, with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jordy Nelson each in double digits for receptions this postseason. The fact that this game will be played indoors at Cowboys Stadium is another reason to think that the MVP award should favor the passing game, and when you consider that Rodgers' passer rating in 12 career dome games is 111.5, it's easy to understand why he is the sports betting favorite.

Ben Roethlisberger - 7-2 Super Bowl 2011 MVP Odds

While the fact that quarterbacks get this award more than any other position, it's obvious to understand why Roethlisberger goes second on this list. The Steelers don't throw as often as Green Bay, but 'Big Ben' has had his share of big moments in the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger has actually struggled in domes throughout his career, throwing 14 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions in nine contests.

Next In Line

Rashard Mendenhall - 15-2 Betting Odds

Given Roethlisberger's struggles inside the dome, Steelers' running back Rashard Mendenhall seems to be a solid pick for those that think Pittsburgh will come out on top in Super Bowl XLV. Mendenhall's tough running style and ability to wear defenses down make him a top choice for the Steelers.

Greg Jennings - 12-1 Betting Odds

For as good as Rodgers has been, there is no chance he would be regarded in the same football betting way if it weren't for his top passing option in Jennings. The Pro Bowl wideout has 16 catches for 231 yards the last two games, but has yet to catch a touchdown pass this postseason. That should change in a big way this weekend.

The Longshots

James Starks - 14-1 Betting Odds
The rookie running back surprised more than a few people with his 123-yard rushing performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card game, but it's hard to imagine him getting much done against the top rush defense in the league.

Mike Wallace - 16-1 Odds

The key gamebreaker on a Steelers' offense that has thrived on the big play, Wallace finished the regular season with three straight 100-yard performances. He's been quiet in the postseason with just four catches, and could be ready for a big sports betting bonus day.

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Big Game Ben lifts Steelers over Jets NFL Superbowl Betting Odds

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 14:57
Written by Chad Lexington
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Big Game Ben lifts Steelers over Jets NFL Betting Odds - The Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl bound and you can thank quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for punching their team's ticket to Dallas.

Yes, Roethlisberger’s numbers were downright dreadful in the Steelers’ 24-19 NFL Picks victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game but Big Ben’s game has never been about statistics. Big Ben is all about winning. Superbowl Betting Odds Pittsburgh Steelers +3 underdogs.

Let’s start with the only stats that really matter. Ben Roethlisberger is 2-0 in this year’s playoffs, pushing his career postseason win-loss record to 10-2, including two Super Bowl championships. Can Peyton Manning say that? How about Phillip Rivers? Those two guys have won Super Bowl ring between them. Tom Brady has won three championships and has a career 12-5 postseason record, but his team’s have lost their last three playoff games, including the past two years at home with one and done both seasons.

Which leads us back to Ben.

The Steelers raced off to a 24-3 halftime lead and Ben was instrumental in that first half, though, not so much with his arm but with his legs. He ran for 12 yards for a crucial first down on their first drive of the game, a clock eating possession that nearly lasted 10 minutes. He also scored the team’s second touchdown on a nifty move at the goal line to extend the lead to 17-0. Yes, Ben threw his first interception and 198 attempts but he had the team driving and the crowd believing that this team was destined for Dallas.

When the wheels came off in the second half as the Jets outscored the Steelers 16-0 and came within a whisper of taking what seemed like an insurmountable lead away from Pittsburgh at home in surely what would have been described as the worst collapse in Steelers’ history, Ben rode to the rescue again. With 3:05 to go on the clock,  the Steelers had the ball at the forty and the game was in Ben’s hands. On second and eight, Ben hit Heath Miller for 14 yards and a first down but, with all three time outs in their hip pocket, there was still work to be done. The Steelers faced 3rd and 6, with 2:00 minutes remaining. Instead of calling a run, the Steelers went pass. Ben was flushed out of the pocket and, facing heavy pressure, flipped the ball as only he could, over three defenders, and into the waiting hands of rookie Antonio Brown.

Completion. Game over.

The final game line on Ben Roethlisberger read like this:

Ten completions. 133 yards. 2 interceptions. A passer rating of 35.5.

AFC Champion.

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NFC Championship Picks: Packers vs. Bears Betting Odds

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 14:47
Written by Eno Goldmenster
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NFC Championship Picks: Packers vs. Bears Betting Odds - The longest-running rivalry in the National Football League renews in the one venue they have never met, the NFC Championship Picks game, as the Green Bay Packers (12-6) versus the Chicago Bears (12-5).

The Packers are -4 point NFL Betting Odds favorites and Green Bay has won three of the past four games in the series between these fierce NFC North rivals. Overall, the Pack has the edge in the divisional series, leading 12-8 over the past twenty games.

Green Bay and Chicago are both defensive minded teams – the Packers have averaged 15 points per game (second in the NFL) and the Bears ranked fourth with 17.9 points per game.

Green Bay likes to get after the quarterback, and are second in the league with 47 sacks while Chicago has had trouble getting to the quarterback and has only 34 sacks despite signing DE Julius Peppers to a huge free agent contract in the off-season.

What set these two teams apart, though, is their offenses.

Green Bay, with Aaron Rodgers, ranks 10th in scoring with 24.3 points per game while the Bears have struggled all season and average only 20.9 points per game (20th in the league).

In the end, how the offenses perform could be the difference in this game and the Packers were on fire last week in Atlanta. How they will handle themselves in the cold winds of Soldier Field is another story entirely in the last (and most dramatic) chapter between these two storied franchises. NFC Championship Picks Bet on Packers vs. Bears UNDER the posted total.

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