|
Have
Some Thoughts For Tedy This Week
A stroke didn't keep Tedy Bruschi
hospitalized for long. The question now is if it
will keep him off the field for the New England
Patriots. The popular 31-year-old was released Friday
from Massachusetts General Hospital after spending
two days there recovering from a mild stroke that
caused numbness, blurred vision and severe headaches.
 |
He
waved and smiled but didn't comment to reporters
as he stepped into a waiting sports utility
vehicle and drove off. Patriots spokesman
Stacey James did not respond to questions
about whether Bruschi would be able to play
football again. |
Experts say his return will depend on the stroke's
cause and severity. A mild stroke isn't necessarily
career-ending for a professional athlete, but the
risk is higher for someone who takes the punishment
of an NFL linebacker.
Doctors pointed to Bruschi's quick release from
the hospital, along with reports that he was walking
and talking normally a day after the stroke, as
hopeful signs that he may be able to continue his
career. Still, his prognosis remains uncertain because
all strokes cause some level of brain damage and
can raise fears of a recurrence.
"There really is no good stroke," said
Dr. Larry Brass, a professor of neurology, epidemiology
and public health at the Yale University School
of Medicine.
"I think the biggest thing you've got to overcome
is your own mind," Mullen said. "It definitely
gets in your head. You ask yourself, 'Am I doing
the right thing for my family?"
Well we here at Wageronfootball.com certainly hope
Tedy makes the best decision for himself and his
family. Good Luck Bro.
Pay
'em now or pay 'em later
That's the decision facing NFL teams considering
whether to use their franchise tag on their hot
commodities. The deadline is today, and perhaps
10 players will find themselves receiving one-year
offers that will pay them no less than the average
that the top-five individuals at their position
earned in 2004. If the player is already at that
level, the tender bumps the salary an automatic
20 percent.
At the least, the tag essentially takes the player
out of the free-agency market and gives the club
more time to negotiate a long-term deal. If nothing
else, it buys the player for one year at a figure
not friendly to the salary cap, which should be
about $86 million this season.
In signing a player to a longer contract, the team
can pay a signing bonus up front and write off that
value over the ensuing years, penciling in lower
base salaries that escalate toward the end of the
deal. That keeps the cap number lower. But in some
cases the team simply chooses to conserve the cash,
pay the higher base salary (all of it guaranteed)
and take the cap hit.
This is what the New Orleans Saints wrestle with
in tagging defensive end Darren Howard again. "We've
got a lot of time and effort invested in him, and
we don't want to see it go to waste," general
manager Mickey Loomis says. "He had a really
good year for us last season, and we want to keep
as many good players here as we can."
The numbers present a mixed bag for the club and
the player. St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando
Pace, already named their franchise player, will
earn $8.4 million if he doesn't do a long-term deal.
This is his third go-round as the franchise player,
and he earned $12.75 million over his first two
turns. Throw in the 2005 number, and he pulls down
$21.18 million for three years. Last year he rejected
a seven-year deal valued at more than $42 million.
Howard earned $6.5 million in 2004 on the franchise
tag and would get $7.8 million this year. While
a shot at a bidding war for Howard's services would
be ideal, "I don't mind him being franchised
for those numbers," says his agent, Gary Wichard.
"The franchise number for 2006 is going to
be around $9.36 million. If they want to franchise
him over the course of three years, that's $23 million-plus
for him. If they do it for two years, he earns $14.3
million and then we're out in free agency in 2006.
If he has another double-digit sack year and they
want to keep him around, he'll have made $23 million
and change. He can't lose."
Howard can if he is injured. A signing bonus is
money in the bank vs. earnings based on performance
season after season. But after a couple of years
of the franchise tag, the gross dollars start to
even out.
Green Bay designated Bubba Franks, three-time
Pro Bowl tight end, as their transition player.
The Packers can try to negotiate a long-term deal
with Franks. Until a deal is reached, Franks will
receive a one-year contract at a tender rate set
by the NFL for tight ends.
Indianapolis signed right tackle Ryan Diem to
a seven-year contract, another step in keeping their
high-scoring offense together for one more season.
The next move could come today, with the Colts expected
to place the franchise designation on running back
Edgerrin James. Diem's deal kept him from becoming
an unrestricted free agent in March. Salary figures
were not immediately available, but the salary-cap
friendly deal was believed to include a signing
bonus of about $12 million.
The Washington Redskins are trying to trade disgruntled
wide receiver Laveranues Coles to avoid having to
release him without receiving anything in return,
according to NFL sources. But any move is contingent
on Coles agreeing to restructure his contract. One
possibility, according to a source, involves Coles
forfeiting a $5 million deferred signing bonus payment
he is scheduled to receive April 1 in exchange for
being sent to a team of his choice.
Receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Samari Rolle
were among six players released by the Tennessee
Titans in an effort to cut up to $27 million to
get under the NFL salary cap. In addition to Mason
and Rolle, the Titans released starting defensive
lineman Kevin Carter and right tackle Fred Miller.
They also cut fullback Robert Holcombe and kicker
Joe Nedney.
Around
the NFL
2005 Draft Order
- 49ers - Dolphins - Browns - Bears - Buccaneers
- Titans - Raiders - Cardinals - Redskins - Lions
- Cowboys - Chargers - Texans - Panthers - Chiefs
- Saints - Bengals - Vikings Rams - Cowboys - Jaguars
- Ravens - Seahawks Packers - Broncos - Jets - Falcons
- Chargers - Colts - Steelers - Eagles - Patriots
Important
NFL Dates
Free agency begins March 2nd for veterans.
• Feb. 22 - Deadline for
clubs to designate franchise and transition players.
• Feb. 23 - March 1 - Scouting
Combine, Indianapolis.
• Feb. 25 - NFL Europe
League training camps open.
• March 1 - Deadline for
submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their
restricted free agents whose contracts have expired
and to whom they desire to retain a right of first
refusal/compensation.
• March 1 - Deadline for
clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain
exclusive negotiating rights to their players with
fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose
contracts have expired.
• March 2 - Veteran free
agency signing period begins.
• March 2 - Trading period
begins.
• April 22 - Deadline for
old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted
free agents.
2005
NFL Draft Update
Here’s a quickhit listing that shows the
skill position players who have declared themselves
eligible for the NFL draft as underclassmen and
have declined to play their full eligibility in
the NCAA.
QB’s - Adrian McPherson
Florida State, Aaron Rodgers California, Alex Smith
Utah, Walter Washington Temple
RB’s - Marion Barber III
Minnesota, Clemson Maurice Clarett Ohio State, Ciatrick
Fason Florida, Frank Gore Miami, T.A. McLendon N.C.
State, Ryan Moats Louisiana Tech, Vernand Morency
Oklahoma State, Damien Nash Missouri, Eric Shelton
Louisville, Tyson Thompson San Jose State, Matthew
Tant Vanderbilt
WR’s - Chris Henry West
Virginia, Roscoe Parrish Miami, Dante Ridgeway Ball
State, Steve Savoy Utah, Mike Williams Southern
Cal, Troy Williamson South Carolina
| |
InGame
Live
Sports Wagering - Join Cybersportsbook.com
Today to wager Live on NBA Basketball Games.
Practice up for next years NFL season already. |
Well folks that's it
for me for this week, enjoy the rest of the week
– Now Get Back To Work……….
Wager
On Football Writer Ray Monohan is an NFL analyst
with 10+ years of experience covering the NFL. He
provides a great perspective on the NFL with player
and team insight unmatched in the NFL betting industry.
| | | | 
MySportsbook.com
Review
Sportsbooks Rating: A+
