Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Singletary on Davis-Crabtree spat: 'The elephant was exposed'
A heated exchange between San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree on Wednesday led coach Mike Singletary to proclaim afterward, "There are no more elephants in the room. The elephant was exposed," according to The Sacramento Bee's Matthew Barrows. Singletary didn't say what the mid-practice beef was about, but the coach felt the need to mediate the heated discussion -- seemingly initiated by Davis, a team captain -- and separate two of his best skill players. Then, while the rest of the team participated in a pre-game walkthrough, Singletary escorted Davis and Crabtree to the locker room, where the three men remained for aproximately 10 minutes. Davis was the first to emerge, with Crabtree and Singletary following soon thereafter. Singletary wouldn't go into detail about the incident in his news conference, but he did have some interesting things to say about it. "Vernon and Crabtree -- just to let you know -- I will not talk about the issue. But I will talk about this. They were both wrong," Singletary said. "And we will not have distractions on this team. Vernon just forgot temporarily that this is not allowed. We don't do that. We don't treat family like that. We don't disrespect each other. I just needed to remind him that's not who were are." Singletary continued to suggest that Davis was in the wrong. "I appreciate Vernon speaking from his heart," Singletary said. "But he was just wrong. But he indeed is every bit the reason why I made him captain. He's not going to sugar-coat things. He doesn't know how to sugar-coat things. I wish he did sometimes."
Rookie WR Bryant won't play until Cowboys' opener, Jones says
Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant won't see game action until the Sept. 12 season opener against the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday. Bryant, who sustained a high right ankle sprain on July 30, returned to practice Tuesday. Jones told The Dallas Morning News that part of the reason Bryant will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins is because the first-team offense will not play. Bryant was projected to be out four to six weeks when he was injured after being tangled with defensive back Orlando Scandrick on the next-to-last play of a training-camp practice. This past weekend marked four weeks, and the season-opening weekend would be six.
Manny, Others on the Spot in September
Filed under: Braves, Giants, Phillies, Red Sox, White Sox, YankeesAs Manny Ramirez goes through September in his new White Sox uniform, the eyes of the baseball world will be upon him. It won't just be the normal slow-down-to-gawk-at-the-car-wreck curiosity with which we normally watch Manny. We are going to be eager to see if the old Manny, the one who was a dominant offensive force, can return, and carry the White Sox into the playoffs.
"If he hits, we'll be better," White Sox GM Kenny Williams said. "If he doesn't, we won't be better."
The White Sox trail the Twins by four games, and their offense could use a boost, which is why Ramirez is one of the guys who will be in a spotlight in the season's final month. He's not the only one. Not even on his own team.
With September upon us, here are the players who are going to be counted on the most heavily if their teams are to get where they want to be. These are players who have underperformed, but have a month to make everyone forget about what's gone wrong lately.
"If he hits, we'll be better," White Sox GM Kenny Williams said. "If he doesn't, we won't be better."
The White Sox trail the Twins by four games, and their offense could use a boost, which is why Ramirez is one of the guys who will be in a spotlight in the season's final month. He's not the only one. Not even on his own team.
With September upon us, here are the players who are going to be counted on the most heavily if their teams are to get where they want to be. These are players who have underperformed, but have a month to make everyone forget about what's gone wrong lately.
Anderson to start for Cards; Leinart reportedly on trading block
As reports circulate that Matt Leinart is being shopped by the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Derek Anderson will start at quarterback again Thursday night when the Cardinals play the Washington Redskins in their final preseason game. NFL Network contributer Jay Glazer, writing on Foxsports.com, reported Wednesday that the Cardinals have reached out to teams around the league to gauge trade interest in the former first-round pick. Meanwhile, coach Ken Whisenhunt said he will use the same playing order as he did in last Saturday's 14-9 win at Chicago, meaning Leinart will replace Anderson at some point in the preseason finale. "It worked for us," the coach said, "so we'll see if it continues to work that way." He said neither quarterback will get as much playing time as they did against the Bears, "but both guys will get the opportunity." Whisenhunt's decision came following a meeting Monday afternoon with Leinart after the former Heisman Trophy winner told reporters that he had outplayed Anderson in training camp and preseason and that his problem with his coach "probably goes beyond football." Whisenhunt called it "a good talk" "We obviously touched base on where everything was, which I've always said I wanted," he said, "If players have an issue or a problem, (they need) to come see me. We had communicated before about where we were, and, obviously, we needed to talk a little bit more, but it was a good talk." Leinart did not make himself available to reporters after the Cardinals worked out Tuesday for the first time at Arizona State University's indoor practice facility. His meeting with Whisenhunt came amid widespread speculation that his days with Arizona could be numbered, that the team was looking to trade him or might even release him. Unless the Cardinals acquire another quarterback, the team could be left with the unlikely prospect of having two rookies -- John Skelton and Max Hall -- back up Anderson. General manager Rod Graves did not return a message left on his cell phone Tuesday. Whisenhunt said he has been consistent in the way he communicates with players since he took over as head coach in 2007. "I'm comfortable with the way we've done that," he said. "Obviously, there must have been some breakdown because he didn't hear what he wanted, but hopefully we got that cleared up yesterday." He said he has nothing personal against Leinart. "I've always liked Matt," Whisenhunt said. "I think Matt is a tremendous person, and he's done a lot for this city and this community, but it's my job as the head coach of this team to pick the best players for our squad. I didn't think, as the preseason progressed, that we were as efficient as we needed to be." Whisenhunt said the Cardinals played better last week. "I don't know if that was a function of making the changes or whether that was a function of our guys waking up a little bit," he said. "We get an opportunity to see this week." Whisenhunt has not announced the starting quarterback for the regular-season opener Sept. 12 at St. Louis, but Anderson appears to be the front-runner, considering he's making the last two starts. Leinart said Monday that he didn't know what else he "could possibly do" to earn the job. "It probably goes beyond football, beyond the field actually," he said. "For me, I am not making excuses. I am not going to complain. For me, I just really want an explanation, and I haven't been given one." Whisenhunt wasn't happy that Leinart had expressed his feelings to the media. "Would I have rather he come to me and talked to me? Yes, to be perfectly honest, I would," Whisenhunt said. "But you know, that's what sometimes happens in this business. Matt and I had an opportunity to talk yesterday. He definitely had some feelings that he needed to get out, and he came up and saw me, and that was important." Anderson, signed as a free agent after Cleveland released him, has seen far more playing time than Leinart in the preseason. The former Oregon State quarterback has completed 31 of 53 passes (59 percent) for 287 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Leinart has completed 83 percent (19 of 23), most of them short-range throws, for 161 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Tyreke Evans Takes Aim at Regaining His Jump Shot
Filed under: Kings, NBA VideosSACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The player on the computer screen doesn't look like Tyreke Evans.
He's skinnier than the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, his muscles more natural than nautilus and the 6-foot-6 frame of this YouTube sensation both long and lean. But the most eye-opening difference is the difference in his game.
This Tyreke Evans has a jumper -- a deadly jumper. He pulls up from almost anywhere on the floor, burying deep threes and mid-range looks with a scissor-kick motion and high-arching shot that floats with swagger. This is Tyreke Evans in high school, and the modern-day Tyreke Evans has finally taken notice.
The Sacramento Kings guard was on his couch when the clip of his American Christian Academy days began, lost in a world of texting or perhaps Twittering on his cell phone while resting inside his four-bedroom house in the Sacramento suburb of Natomas. But his brothers' ruckus finally caught his attention.
Doc and Reggie Evans are using their younger brother's laptop to show these grainy highlight reels to this reporter, offering proof that the outside game that was so absent from his one season at Memphis and one season with the Kings did exist at one point. And as Evans himself stands to join the viewing audience, he stares at his old self as if he needs convincing too.
He's skinnier than the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, his muscles more natural than nautilus and the 6-foot-6 frame of this YouTube sensation both long and lean. But the most eye-opening difference is the difference in his game.
This Tyreke Evans has a jumper -- a deadly jumper. He pulls up from almost anywhere on the floor, burying deep threes and mid-range looks with a scissor-kick motion and high-arching shot that floats with swagger. This is Tyreke Evans in high school, and the modern-day Tyreke Evans has finally taken notice.
The Sacramento Kings guard was on his couch when the clip of his American Christian Academy days began, lost in a world of texting or perhaps Twittering on his cell phone while resting inside his four-bedroom house in the Sacramento suburb of Natomas. But his brothers' ruckus finally caught his attention.
Doc and Reggie Evans are using their younger brother's laptop to show these grainy highlight reels to this reporter, offering proof that the outside game that was so absent from his one season at Memphis and one season with the Kings did exist at one point. And as Evans himself stands to join the viewing audience, he stares at his old self as if he needs convincing too.
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Novak Djokovic Prevails in Five Sets
Filed under: U.S. Open, ATPThird-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia withstood the blistering heat at Flushing Meadows to defeat his compatriot Viktor Troicki in first-round U.S. Open action 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. It was Djokovic's perseverance through the heat, however, that was the biggest storyline of the three hour, 40 minute, five-set match.
Djokovic and hot temperatures have mixed like water and oil this year. Djokovic suffers from a serious allergy condition and it has severely hampered him throughout the season. He was forced to retire in Belgrade earlier in the year at his hometown Serbia Open because of allergies. He has been breathing heavily all spring and summer, and Tuesday's victory was a huge step in the right direction for the Serb.
Down two sets and a break, Djokovic shook off the heat and rallied back in the fourth set with consistent play. His unforced errors steadily declined and he was able to outlast Troicki in the long match. It was Troicki, not Djokovic, who became noticeably fatigued toward the end of the match.
Troicki committed 61 unforced errors, while Djokovic had 43. Many of Troicki's errors came in the latter portion of the match when Djokovic had his back against the wall. Djokovic steadily generated winners and allowed his opponent to falter.
Djokovic and hot temperatures have mixed like water and oil this year. Djokovic suffers from a serious allergy condition and it has severely hampered him throughout the season. He was forced to retire in Belgrade earlier in the year at his hometown Serbia Open because of allergies. He has been breathing heavily all spring and summer, and Tuesday's victory was a huge step in the right direction for the Serb.
Down two sets and a break, Djokovic shook off the heat and rallied back in the fourth set with consistent play. His unforced errors steadily declined and he was able to outlast Troicki in the long match. It was Troicki, not Djokovic, who became noticeably fatigued toward the end of the match.
Troicki committed 61 unforced errors, while Djokovic had 43. Many of Troicki's errors came in the latter portion of the match when Djokovic had his back against the wall. Djokovic steadily generated winners and allowed his opponent to falter.
Ilya Kovalchuk's Contract Won't Force Devils to Break Up Young Core
Filed under: Devils, NHL EconomicsWhile we're waiting for the NHL to make its decision on the latest Ilya Kovalchuk contract, there seems to be some concern swirling around the New Jersey Devils and what they'll have to do to fit the contract under the salary cap, and what impact it may have on the future construction of the team.
We know this much: the Devils are going to have to find a way to dump somebody. Once the Kovalchuk contract gets approved (if it gets approved, that is), the Devils will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million over the $59.4 ceiling for the 2010-11 season. As such, they're going to have to get rid of some money, whether it be in the form of a trade, or placing a player on waivers and hiding his contract in the American Hockey League.
Both are legitimate -- and very likely -- options. What shouldn't be an option is trading a player like Travis Zajac or worrying about losing Zach Parise in the future.
We know this much: the Devils are going to have to find a way to dump somebody. Once the Kovalchuk contract gets approved (if it gets approved, that is), the Devils will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 million over the $59.4 ceiling for the 2010-11 season. As such, they're going to have to get rid of some money, whether it be in the form of a trade, or placing a player on waivers and hiding his contract in the American Hockey League.
Both are legitimate -- and very likely -- options. What shouldn't be an option is trading a player like Travis Zajac or worrying about losing Zach Parise in the future.
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