The Team to Beat...

'Melo to the Knicks, D. Williams to the Nets, Hinrich to the Hawks, K. Perkins to the Thunder, the Celtics get Jeff Green; these are some of the trades made prior to the NBA deadline. The NBA is unlike any other league because it completely revolves around its' individual stars. One key addition can turn an entire franchise into a contender while one major subtraction can handicap an organization (insert Cavalier joke here). So after all the dust has settled, what teams do you consider to be the favorites to make the Finals this season?

What Would Robin Hood Do?

The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting Raymond Felton. To imitate America's current economic condition, the gap between good teams and bad teams is growing. We have our contenders, and we've had them since day one of the season. Which of the five or so teams will win the NBA Championship? There is no chance for the other teams. Is it good for the league that its superstars are assembling themselves together?

Top 25 Under 25

We all know that the NBA still belongs to the likes of Kobe and LeBron, but there is a flood of young talent coming up so I looked at what the NBA is going to look like in the future. This is the players that I'd want for the next 10 years in this league. This is based on previous accomplishments, future potential, and a little personal preference thrown in as well.

Honorable Mention: Andrea Bargnani, Rodney Stuckey, JaVale McGee, Ty Lawson, DeJuan Blair, Michael Beasley, Tyrus Thomas

25. Brandon Jennings

24. Brook Lopez

Both will probably be higher in most people's opinions, but Lopez is 7 feet tall and just doesn't rebound while Jennings shoots an awful percentage from the field. They're also below average defenders.

23. Paul Milsap-

22. Serge Ibaka

These two will be top 10 power forwards for years to come. Milsap has the ability to put up 20 points a night, while Ibaka is more of a rebounding and shot blocking presence in the post.

21. DeMarcus Cousins- So maybe he's insane. Wasn't Dennis Rodman too?

20. Tyreke Evans- Tyreke's numbers are down from his rookie campaign, but I'm not too worried considering he's only 21 years old

19. Andrew Bynum- By now he should probably be in the top 5 of this list but it just hasn't happened yet. I still believe though.

18. Eric Gordon- The urban legend says that he played MJ's son in Space Jam. Apparently he learned how to shoot while on set. The kid can score.

17. Josh Smith-Undersized for a Power Forward, but doesn't have quite the skill set to be a Small Forward. Still a physical freak who can block some shots.

16. Luol Deng- An all around good player who will never be a great player. Still I'd love to have him on my team.

15. Rudy Gay- The rich man's Luol Deng.

14. John Wall- Could be the next great floor general.

13. Al Horford

12. Joakim Noah

These two are gonna be dominant Centers in this league for the next decade. They're both well rounded offensively and defensively. Horford is more of a scorer, while Noah is a top rebounder in the NBA

11. Monta Ellis

10. Stephen Curry

9. Rajon Rondo

All three are excellent guards but lack something. Curry is a well rounded offensive player but lacks the proper on-ball defensive skills. Ellis is an incredible scorer but is lackluster on defense. Rondo is an assist machine and an excellent defender, but his shot is less than impressive.

8. LaMarcus Aldridge- He has improved in every category this season. He already was a good player and has transformed into a great one.

7. Blake Griffin-I don't think I really have to say a lot here. Everyone knows about BG.

6. Russell Westbrook- He rebounds well, plays solid defense, and dishes out 9 assists a game. Also, the 22 a night isn't shabby. He's only getting better.

5. Kevin Love- When you're 22 and getting compared to Moses Malone you must be doing something right.

4. Derrick Rose

3. Chris Paul

Rose is an incredible scorer who contributes to his team in every other possible way as well. Paul is an outstanding player who could shine even more on any other team. I can't wait to see him in 2011-12 on another team.

2. Kevin Durant- He's only 22 and is most likely going to grab his second consecutive scoring title. Did I mention he's only 22?? He's also an above average rebounder for a small forward.

1. Dwight Howard- An absolute physical freak at the Center position. Howard could go down as a top 5 or 6 Center in NBA history.

In the Knick of Time

The Knicks finally put an end to all the Carmelo Athony trade talks. The Knicks decided not to wait until free agency and take the chance of losing Anthony. So are the Knicks a contender now? If not, how long until they become one? Should they have parted with so much to get Anthony?

Maximum Contraction

A list of ten teams that shouldn't be, from the three major sports.

10. & 9. NFL – Seattle Seahawks & Arizona Cardinals – The NFL has a perfect product, but they must be included in the list, if only to hope for a talent overflow somewhere in the league. (If I didn't enjoy the Jaguars, I'd have them and Houston here. The two teams picked have been to Championships in the last 6 years.) At least two teams really stink every year, but the Bills and Lions and Bucs and Browns (no, not them) all have great histories. Take Carolina, if you want, but two teams must go.

8. NBA – Minnesota Timberwolves – Didn't they draft two point guards in the top six overall in 2009? No one's seen either of them since (Sure, Jonny Flynn plays almost 20 MPG, but I don't watch Minny, and neither do you). They didn't draft their two best players: Kevin Love and Darmichael Beaslicic. And Nick Calathes went there and died along with the real Jonny Flynn and Rubio's rights.

7. MLB – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – This is a good team with a great manager (like that matters in baseball). But the name makes me want to eat Bartolo Colon's hair. No one does this. They are the Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of the MLB. Or the nerd wearing a Hollister T-shirt, when his glasses and pocket protector scream Bugle Boy. Anaheim, stop using Los Angeles' name to look cool.

6. MLB – Pittsburgh Pirates – History doesn't matter; look forward. The biggest splash they've made in the last three years is dumping Jason Bay. And we all thought he was good. I'm sorry, Andrew McCutchen. We know your secret.

5. NBA – Charlotte Bobcats – Supposedly, this is a real NBA franchise (No confirmation, as Collin is my source). If your most attractive personality is a non-player, you need contraction, even more-so if he's your owner. I'll let you keep your team when you re-replace your mascot: back to the Hornets now, jerks.

4. NBA – Toronto Raptors – Canada has a basketball team—not football or baseball, basketball. I'm no sociologist, but something seems off. Yeah, Montreal wasn't right for baseball, but Toronto would be. With all of the traveling-between-countries-with-customs woes, I'd rather the Buffalo Bills move to Toronto, then the players would only have to travel over a border 10-12 times a season (or 24, depending on the NFL's new CBA) instead of the 41 (and only 41, because Toronto doesn't make the Playoffs—don't Google, just trust......Darn you). Note: the previous portion of this paragraph was written in a Who Jays Haze. Yeah, there sure are four teams in the AL East. You're cute. What? Five? Now you're just talking crazy.

3. MLB – Florida Marlins – Yeah, they have two World Series wins in their short tenure. But their dumping of players upsets me, wins Boston a ring and puts Miggy the Alcoholic in a bad situation. You can't tell me that he would have been arrested or even drunk if he was in South Beach. Also, Hanley Ramirez told me he's tired of playing in front of twenty-nine people every night. If a city cannot fill seats for a team, they don't deserve it (Oh God, what am I saying? Mr. Weaver, I didn't mean it.)

2. NBA – New Orleans Hornets – There are three simple reasons to get rid of you, NO: it would release CP3 to run freely on a good team with management that appreciates him (or just management, which bring me to reason two) ; the NBA owns you; somehow, you're in the Western Conference. The last one discredits all names in the NBA, with New Orleans being farther East than like fourteen Eastern teams (but I'm no geographer either) and...You aren't the real Hornets.

1. NFL – Oakland Raiders – Al Davis is Jerry Jones without charisma (or the need to be liked and known, whichever Jones has). If you are affluent enough to own a professional sports team, you are not qualified intellectually to manage one. So Al, stop.

Something Has To Fill Our Time

Do you sense that the NBA is being pushed harder now than any other time in the last ten years? We hear about the deep pool of talent (though the last two drafts were pretty weak: maybe 4 players have a shot at being a superstar). And we have the classic powerhouse teams (but neither LA or Boston has changed much through the last four seasons). Is fear of an absent NFL season driving the media charge?

Fat Lady Sit Down

"Carmelo Anthony will end up in...", "Blake Griffin in the dunk contest", and more Blake Griffin were the headlines heading into All-Star weekend. Youth was served in a huge way by players like Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. Players showcased in the Skills Competition, Dunk Contest, and the All-Star game itself included stars like Blake Griffin, Rajon Rondo, Blake Griffin, LeBron James, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant and even Blake Griffin. Yet, after all was said and done, one man reminded us of who is STILL the best in the league. Kobe Bryant.
37 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals. That was Bryant's stat line at the end of the game. He was awarded with his 4th MVP of an All-Star game. Bryant sent a reminder to the rest of the league that he is still the best player in the league. No play summed up Bryant's statement greater than his dunk on LeBron James. It made you ask yourself if Kobe really ages. Speaking of if someone ever ages, Halle Berry, is she still in her twenties?
Veterans like Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Paul Pierce barely combined for 30 minutes in the game while Kobe played 29. Those same veterans combined for a total of 12 points on 5-13 shooting. Kobe shot 14-26 from the field. I understand the world is ready for Kobe to move off into the distance but the man refuses. In a game catered to the high energy of young players, Kobe shone the brightest.
Sure, the Lakers are on a three game losing streak and one of those was to the Cleveland Cavaliers (yes, those Cleveland Cavaliers). Yes, the Lakers have looked too old at times to even make a jog in the playoffs much less a run. Sure the league is better served by the explosive dunks of Blake Griffin, "Dream Team" in the Miami Heat, and a team in New York that is not a complete eye sore but in our haste to look for the next great "thing" we may have neglected the greatest thing since "His Airness". So Fat Lady please sit back down. Mr. Bryant still has some games to play.

Greatest Dunk...

The 2011 NBA dunk contest is upon us. Blake Griffin, unless he does a layup drill, will be the winner. That had us thinking, what is the greatest dunk you have ever seen?

MJ really the greatest?

Michael Jordan turned 48 today. We want to know is he really the greatest NBA player of all-time? What about greatest athletes in general? Has any other icon become as big of a global icon?

Look Out the Lockout

You've heard, "Any press is good press." But are labor talks between the NFL and its union surrounding a CBA--now that it has become the story from the offseason--inflicting a black-eye on the image of Goodell's good league?

NBA Finals Rankings

With the All-Star break coming up this weekend, we thought we'd take a look at all the teams in the NBA in some sort of season-so-far column or maybe a look ahead. After some thinking, I decided to go with a power rankings, but with a twist. These aren't just ranking the 32 teams, but ranking them in the order of who has the best chance of holding up the trophy come the end of the season.

1. San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs gaudy 45-9 record is the complete opposite of their "boring" play. Come playoff time the experience this team has is going to best friend. They just hope the age of their stars doesn't start to become a problem when game 100 rolls around.

2. Boston Celtics- The Celts are in the same boat as the Spurs. They have lots of experience, but their stars are getting up there in age as well. Their bench is pretty deep but they are also being hit by the injury bug, which could turn out to be a big problem.

3. Los Angeles Lakers- Things are somewhat ugly in LA right now, but I don't think anyone is worried about the two-time defending champs. There's definitely still a strong possibility of a three-peat.

4. Chicago Bulls- The Bulls have arguably the NBA MVP right now in Derrick Rose and lead the league in team defense. Also, they're 36-16 without Boozer and Noah being on the court at the same time. Throw in a nice bench, and this could be a sleeper pick to make the finals.

5. Miami Heat- They definitely have the star power to make the finals, but what worries me is their 0-5 record this season to the teams listed above. Though I still have them ranked high because you can't ever count out a team that has Wade and LeBron

6. Dallas Mavericks- This team is actually pretty deep as well. I think they live and die by Dirk a little bit to much, but if players like Butler can step up, and they can keep getting excellent play from Barea and Chandler, then they definitely have a good shot at making a run.

7. Orlando Magic- The 8 game losing streak to teams with a winning record was ugly, but the stomping of the Lakers Sunday was impressive. Inconsistency is their downfall, but this team does have the talent to take them there.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder- They're an extremely young team which is great for the future, but could be their downfall in this year's playoffs. Durant and Westbrook are gonna be stars in this league for years, but I don't know how far they can carry the rest of the team this year. Especially without a legitimate big man.

9. Atlanta Hawks- I'm not sure if Atlanta is ever gonna make the jump from 4-5 seed to legitimate Finals contender. Joe Johnson is playing outstanding this year though, as well as Al Horford. If they can consistently get big games out of Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith, then this might be the year that they start scaring people.

10. New Orleans Hornets- Okafor has been a nice addition for the Hornets this year, and could help take some of the pressure off of Chris Paul in the playoffs.

11. Memphis Grizzlies- This team reminds me a lot of the Thunder with all the young talent that they have. Rudy Gay is a stud, and Zach Randolph is playing like a man possessed. I just wonder if they're going to get absolutely anything positive out of OJ Mayo this year.

12. Portland Traiblazers- LaMarcus Aldridge is tearing it up this season. His numbers are ridiculous. I'd have this team a little higher, but Brandon Roy scares me if he's not completely heathly. They need him to come back strong.

13. Denver Nuggets- This ranking is only this high if they keep Carmelo. I like the rest of the Nuggets alright, but they will need 'Melo if they want to make a push for the finals.

14. Philadelphia 76ers- It's definitely not been pretty all season, but the 76ers have seemed to fare pretty well against the better teams in the league. They could put together a little run come playoff time.

15. New York Knicks- If they pull off the Carmelo deal then I'd rank them a few spots higher, but until then they stay here in the middle of the pack. Felton and Landry Fields have been playing well, and Amare has been quite the addition but without 'Melo they don't have much of a chance.

16. Indiana Pacers- The Pacers aren't very good, but the Eastern Conference is weak and so the Pacers would make the playoffs as it stands now. I give them slim to no chance on winning the finals.

17-21. Still a shot at the playoffs, but at this point wouldn't make it: Charlotte, Milwaukee, Utah, Phoenix, Houston.

22-25. Barely alive: Detroit, New Jersey, Golden State, LA Clippers.

26-31. No chance: Washington, Toronto, Sacramento, Minnesota

32. Cleveland Cavaliers- They had to be grouped by themselves considering how awful they are.

A Chat with George Wrighster:

In 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected a Tight End from The University of Oregon by the name of George Wrighster in the fourth round. In just two years at Oregon, Wrighster had 8 total touchdowns as well as 52 receptions and 691 yards. George played for six seasons with the Jaguars ('03-'08) and totaled 9 Tds, 94 receptions and 850 yards. Recently, Wrighster won the UFL championship with the Las Vegas Locomotives while grabbing 18 receptions.

George Wrighster was willing to take the time to answer questions for us at Salute Your Sports about life, the draft process, and the potential NFL lockout. Here is the interview:


SYP: Pepsi or Coke?

GW: Neither. Sprite. I rarely drink soda anyway.

SYP: Oregon Championship or UFL Championship?

GW: Oregon. I love the Ducks

SYP:Madden or Call of Duty?

GW:Madden

SYP:Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

GW:Peyton every time

SYP:Kobe or LeBron?

GW:Lol. Kobe #Lakers

SYP: Favorite stadium to play in the NFL?

GW: Baltimore Coliseum

SYP: Best player you ever played with?

GW: Fred Taylor

SYP: Funniest player you ever played with?

GW: Adrian Awasom

SYP: Who was the hardest hitting defender you ever took a shot from?

GW: Donovan Darius in practice.

SYP: You are very active on Twitter (@georgewrighster), what is the funniest thing someone has ever said to you on Twitter?

GW: It's funny when people have such strong opinions and get mad about things I could care less about.

SYP: If you could have one person follow you on Twitter who would it be and why?

GW: Obama- that means I'm making moves for real!

SYP: You are on a desert island and can have three items with you? What are they and why?

GW: I only need 1. iPhone. I have everything I need. All the tools I need to get off and books to read/music to listen to to keep me busy till help arrives or I build a raft off. Lol.

SYP: After a game you can go get a drink with three players, who are they and why?

GW: Adrian Awasom, Samie Parker, and Rashad Bauman

SYP: The draft is the next big item in the NFL "off" season, what was your experience like leading up to draft day?

GW: If was hectic. Flying to teams and working out. U just want to put yourself in the best possible situation to succeed.

SYP: You were drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 in the 4th round out of Oregon, what was the feeling like when you got the call?

GW: Instant chip on my shoulder. I felt like I should have been drafted higher.

SYP: You recently won the championship in the UFL with the Las Vegas Locomotives, how was that experience for you?

GW: It was so much fun. The business of football is still there but not as prevalent so it's was a lot of fun. Winning is always great!

SYP: You've said on Twitter that you hope to get back in the NFL, what does that process look like for you?

GW: Trying to get workouts lined up. As soon as I get on a team I will prove I'm still one of the best TEs around.

SYP: When was the moment in your career that you realized you could not only compete but succeed in the NFL?

GW: In training camp my rookie year. I was making some plays and a light when on and I said, "Hey I can do this. "

SYP: What was it like to score your first TD in the NFL?

GW: Bittersweet. We were getting blown out by the Buffalo Bills the 1st or 2nd game of my rookie year.

SYP: Is there a play that you made that stands out in your mind?

GW: Yes. 2. A TD against the Bengals on Monday night and the game winning TD against the Browns in the snow.

SYP: What is your perspective on the potential lockout looming over the NFL and how does it, if at all, impact your return to the league?

GW: It affects your health care for your children and yourself until the deal is done. Everyone knows a deal will get done eventually it's just a matter of when. It does affect my return to the league because free agency will be non existent until CBA is done.

Hopefully, the NFL will be able to reach an agreement sooner rather than later so athletes like George Wrighster will have the opportunity to continue living out their dreams. Again, we would like to thank George Wrighster for taking the time to share with us his perspective on issues and his life in general.

"With the 1st Pick..."

NBA All Star weekend will start this Saturday with all the skills challenges including the highly acclaimed "Slam Dunk Contest". Sunday will showcase the top players in the league from both conferences playing against each other. Let's adopt the NHL's policy of handling their All Star teams ( they do a fantasy draft with all the players selected to the All Star team. Eliminating conferences and allowing coaches to pick the teams) and you are the coach of the NBA All Star team, who is your first pick and why?

2011 QB Rankings?

Rankings are one of the best things about sports. There is nothing better than ranking athletes because everyone sees it differently. Sometimes we have "Shallow Hal" eyes and sometimes we just see the facts. Either way let's look at NFL QBs heading into the 2011 offseason.

The NFL is a quarterback driven league. Unfortunately, not all offensive systems are the same so it makes it difficult to determine the top quarterbacks in the league. Do we base it strictly off numbers? Wins? Clutch plays? Potential?

My rankings are based on the premise that all things are created equal. This means that coaching staffs, offensive weapons, and defenses are equal across the board. [I.e. Is it really fair to compare Drew Brees (41 passing attempts per game) to David Garrard (26 att/game, which was an NFL low) based strictly on numbers?] Some QBs in the rankings were backups in 2010 but I expect them to be starters in 2011. Obviously, rookies from the 2011 draft are not included. Also, only 32 QBs are ranked (Sorry Alex Smith). So with all things considered, here are the rankings:


1. Tom Brady- 36 TDs and 4 INTs. This man succeeds regardless of who he throws to.

2. Peyton Manning- Arguably the greatest regular season QB of all time but it's his post season accolades or lack there of that hurt.

3. Phillip Rivers- I know he has never one a SB. However, he finished 2010 with 4710 yards, 30 TDs and a 101.8 rating. Who did he throw to again? Exactly.

4. Aaron Rodgers- Fresh off the best post season we have ever seen played by a QB, yes the best, Rodgers only knock for me is that compared to Rivers he has better weapons at his disposal and never ever hands the ball off. Lower yards per attempt but he could be higher in most lists.

5. Ben Roethlisburger- Morals aside, this man wins. I am not even sure if this is truly accurate but he seems to make the most crucial plays more than any other QB. This SB aside, he is the one QB I would not want against me.

6. Drew Brees- He looks good throwing but his offense is strictly a passing offense and I'm not sure he has the same success in a balanced offense.

7. Josh Freeman- Love everything about this guy. he made the Bucs relevant this year and has them on a course to greatness. Has that it factor that everyone looks for.

8. Mike Vick- When healthy he is a weapon all to himself. He showed this year that he has matured as a QB and leader.

9. Matt Ryan- Matty Ice is clutch. He is one of those guys that seems to make the big play when it is most needed. By the way, is the NFC South really this loaded with QB talent? It is.

10. Joe Flacco- The Ravens play calling is horrible. Flacco is often times placed in situations where odds are against him. Plus, if TJ Houshmanzadeh catches that long 4th down reception against the Steelers, Flacco might have been playing last Sunday.

11. Sam Bradford- This guy impressed me because he took every snap as the STL QB last season and performed extremely well. He won at home and will learn how to win the tough game on the road.

12. Tony Romo- He's too high. Probably five spots too high but he has above average numbers and wins in the regular season.

13. Matt Schaub- Great numbers and great arm. Sometimes he seems to lack the ability to lead a team to victory.

14. Kyle Orton- Why is he getting moved so much? He won in Chicago but they chose Cutler. Now the Broncos are forced to try Tebow and part ways with Orton. If my team were to get Orton I would-be more than pleased. ( see #25)

15. Ryan Fitzpatrick- I'm a fan. He had no running game. No WRs until he made S. Johnson a name. No Defense yet he finished with 23 TDs.

16. Matt Stafford- Please stay healthy. My God you have Calvin Johnson to throw to!

17. Jay Cutler- hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

18. Kevin Kolb- He will be a starter next year. Crazy how one year can make us forget that he was projected borderline top 10 QB heading into last year. I will take him. ( see #25)

19. Matt Cassel- It's not that he has had great numbers but I blame the offense he plays in more than his actual ability.

20. Tim Tebow- He played better than I expected in his four games last year. He has all the intangibles but is inconsistent in passing plus he can not run all the time with his bruising style.

21. Carson Palmer- Where has this guy gone?

22. Eli Manning- see #21.

23. Donovan McNabb- He is getting old. But for me it's the drama that follows this guy. Every season he is involved in some story. It has to be bad for a locker room.

24. Chad Henne- He makes some great throws and then some horrible throws. He's young. In the right situation this guy could lead a team deep in the playoffs. Also, the Wildcat kills a QBs momentum.

25. David Garrard- He can not win a game by himself. He is as inconsistent as they come. I hate placing him this low and understand that personal heartbreak has influenced my decision. "The chip has been compromised."

26. Mark Sanchez- Who does he scare? He has had one of the best defenses, very good WRS and RBS and his numbers are still pedestrian.

27. Matt Hasselbeck- Often times hurt. Don't see much from him next season.

28. Colt McCoy- He will never be an elite passer. If he is going to succeed he will have to take the Mold of Big Ben. make big plays when they need to be made. I saw glimpses of that last year.

29. Vince Young- I actually would rank Jim higher if A.) he had a team and B.) he had only one personality.

30. Jason Campbell- mediocre on a good day

31. Kerry Collins- I believe Brett Favre laughed when he realized Collins was still playing. He's the next Mr. Wrangler.

32. Jimmy Claussen- Zero, yes zero, TDs to a WR last year. He has Steve Smith ( the crazy one) on his squad. I say Smith throws Jimmy under the bus around week 3, of the preseason.

The Carmelo Soap Opera

Another day, another trade deal speculated for Carmelo Anthony. Every few days it seems as if another team is putting a package together to try and grab Melo for the rest of the year (and hopefully years to come). Though anyone not named New York or Los Angeles should probably stop wasting their time since he won't end up signing an extension come next year. Carmelo is averaging 25 a game for his career and just a litle over 6 boards a game as well. He's arguably a top 5 player in the game right now, so this trade is gonna shake up the league and make any team that gets him considerably beter. Let's look at the two possible deals that are supposedly on the table right now.

1. Los Angeles Lakers- There technically isn't even an actual offer yet but the negations are ongoing as we speak. From what I've seen the deal is Carmelo for Andrew Bynum straight up. It's a strong possibility that the Nuggets would throw in some players with expiring contracts as well, maybe Kenyon Martin or Chris Andersen. For the Lakers I think this a good trade because life after Kobe is coming fast and Melo is a superstar and will be for another 8-10 years. Gasol can play Center and Odom comes into the starting lineup and you still have a great team on the court. On the Nuggets side of the deal I like it as well. Melo isn't gonna stay so they must trade him and get some young talent for him while they can. Bynum is supposed to have already been a superstar if not for some injuries. The Nuggets have a good center in NeNe, but adding Bynum would be a great addition.

2. New York Knicks- Carmelo wants to go to the Knicks over almost anyone, so they have a little leverage, but I think the Lakers have put a better package on the table. The Knicks deal is actually a three team deal involving the Timberwolves as well. As it stands right now the Knicks would receive Carmelo, the Nuggets would receive Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer, as well as Minnesota's first round pick. The Timberwolves would end up receiving Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry. There's actually a couple of things about this deal that are holding it back. First, the Timberwolves want to receive more in this deal, which makes sense because I think they're getting completely screwed in this deal. Another think is that the Nuggets are concerned with the health of Wilson Chandler, and they could be looking to receive more as well.

Either deal is interesting and could really change things for the second half of the season. I'm just ready for a deal to happen and this Melo soap opera to be over with. Which trade do you like better? Any other interesting deals you think could be made? Heck, by the time this is posted there could be two more different trade scenarios everyone is talking about.

Tim Tebow as Backup?

John Elway was asked two weeks ago who his starting QB would be and he said, "Kyle Orton". Orton put up very good numbers in 2010 (20 TDs 9INTs 87.5 QB rating) but Tebow, 2010 first round pick, also played well (11 total TDs, 3 INTs, and an 82.1 QB rating). So you are John Elway, who do you make your starting QB for 2011?

Super Bowl XLVI Contenders

Football season is officially over. That means it's time to start looking ahead to next season (if we have a next season). Here are the best possible contenders for next year's Super Bowl.

10. Philadelphia Eagles- I would probably rank them higher, but until I'm sure that Michael Vick is the official starter, I will leave them here. I believe they have the fastest offense, and the defense is solid enough to get them far in the playoffs.

9. Chicago Bears- They were close this year to making it, and I believe they can get back as long as Jay Cutler doesn't qui...I mean get injured again.

8. San Diego Chargers- Philip Rivers is a mad man from December on. As long as they don't put themselves in a hole next year by starting slow again, I believe we'll see them in the playoffs and see them make a run for the Super Bowl.

7. New Orleans Saints- They still have Drew Brees...

6. Atlanta Falcons- Matty Ice is young and should just keep getting better, and the rest of the offense is super talented. If the defense improves a little in the offseason then this could be the team to beat.

5. Baltimore Ravens- I really like this team, and if wasn't for a couple of huge dropped passes, then we could've seen them in the Super Bowl this year. The stars of their defense are getting a little old, but I think they can still hang with the youngsters for another year.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers- You can never count them out. This team seems to always be close every year, and I don't think next year changes anything.

3. New England Patriots- Belichick and Brady got as far as they did with arguably the worst possible supporting cast they've had in years. The defense is super young and should only get better. I like this team to improve and be even better next year.

2. New York Jets- Maybe I've bought into the "Hard Knocks" hype too much, but I loved this team this year, and like them even more for next year. A young, talented offense, and a veteran defense should take them far. Plus, I imagine Rex works his butt off to make sure he doesn't get knocked out in the AFC Championship game for a third year in a row.

1. Green Bay Packers- I think we all saw last night how dangerous this team is. Aaron Rodgers is an elite quarterback in this league, and he's only getting better. They also have one of the top defenses in the league. As long as this team stays together, they'll be the team to beat in 2011-12.

Top Story of the 2010 NFL season

Sure the games are over. The Super Bowl was just an exclamation mark on a rather exciting and unusual NFL season. The NFL has mastered the art of remaining relevant all year long. No matter if there are games being played, prospective rookies working out for potential coaches, or off the field issues that some major player finds himself in each off season, the NFL will remain in the news all year long.Now it is easy for us as sports fans to be caught in the moment and quickly remember the 2010 season with the scene of Aaron Rodgers holding the Lombardi trophy but is that truly the story of the 2010 season? Here are the top five stories of the 2010 season.

5. "Patriots trade Randy Moss and go 13-3."- After week four had come to an end, the New England Patriots WR Randy Moss had nine catches (season total) and one of the most disinterested performances in recent memory. The Patriots traded Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a 3rd round pick and apparently knew something the rest of the world did not. While Moss would later be cut by the Vikings and rumor has it he was picked up by the Tennessee Titans(this can not be confirmed nor denied due to lack of evidence on the field), the Patriots would acquire Deion Branch and Tom Brady would go onto make NFL history for pass attempts without an interception (335). The Patriots offense became unstoppable for the remainder of the regular season. Tom Brady finished with 36 TDs and only 4 INTs and the first ever unanimous AP

NFL MVP.

4. "Pittsburgh Steelers overcome Big Ben's off field troubles."- It was no Tiger Woods story but news of Ben Roethlisburger's night at a Georgia college night club was pouring out of television screens worldwide. This

was the third off season that Big Ben found himself in some sort of controversy ( motorcycle crash while

not wearing a helmet, rape allegations in Vegas, and rape allegations in Georgia). The NFL commissioner stepped in and decided to suspend the Steelers QB for the first four games of the season. How did the Steelers respond? A record of 3-1 with a realistic chance of of finishing 4-0 had Joe Flacco not stolen one from them. Obviously, the Steelers continued to win regardless of Big Ben's off field distractions and finished the season one TD away from winning the Lombardi Trophy.

3. "Michael Vick Unleashed?"- Kevin Kolb, QB for Philadelphia Eagles, exits week one with a concussion and Mike Vick enters the game with the same electricity he possessed years prior as the starting QB of the Atlanta Falcons. The difference for Vick this season was that he threw extremely effective and relied more on his arm than his legs a

s in previous seasons. Vick finished the season with career highs through the air in TDs (21), passer rating (100.2) and career low in INTs (6). He rushed for 9 TDs as well. All this plus a division title led Vick to receive the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award.

2. "I'm retired.....NOT: The Brett Favre Story."- Sure this has been a story for the last 10 seasons or so but this year it took and

even more pathetic turn. 3 players from the Vikings (Jarred Allen, Steve Hutchinson, and Ryan Longwell) left training camp and flew down to Favre's ranch to beg him to return. He did. The Vikings have the 12th pick

in the draft of 2011. Favre finished the season on the sidelines, injured. Not only did his consecutive starts streak end but nude photos of Favre flooded the Internet after a former Jets employee, Jenn Sterger, reported that Favre had made advances on her during his time with the Jets. Needless to say, Favre found himself as the most talked about player on television, radios and articles during the 2010 season.

1. "Should I tackle him backwards?"- The number one story of the NFL 2010 season was the leagues office enforcement of

"helmet to helmet" contact as well as unnecessary roughness. Players like James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers became the faces of players against the league office. Harrison at one point considered retiring because he felt like he could no longer play the game by the rules the NFL was enforcing. The reason this was the number one story to me was because once the league started fining players for its deemed "illegal", every hard hit was followed with a penalty marker or even worse no penalty in the game but a 25 thousand dollar fine. Once the league started enforcing and, in some cases, over enforcing the rules, it made the games hold a sense of reservation by the players that could be picked up by the viewer.

RF

Super Bowl XLV: Afterthoughts

Almost everyone I asked about the game told me they didn't really care who won. Most leaned toward Green Bay if they had to pick. So, why didn't we care? Were we pleased with the game or happy we watched? Was it a good Super Bowl?

Super Bowl XLV winner and MVP?

Super Bowl XLV is less than two days away. On paper this is one of the best match ups in recent history. Top two defenses, two elite quarterbacks, big play wideouts, and sneaky ground games. With that said, when the confetti starts to fall from the heavens when the clock hits all zeros in the fourth, who will be Super Bowl XLV's champion and who will be the games MVP?