David Garrard has interest in the Detroit Lions

Last season was pretty rough for former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard. Garrard was released from Jacksonville to make room for then rookie Blaine Gabbert close to the end of training camp. After that Garrard elected to have back surgery. Garrard still had teams making offers for his services including the Oakland Raiders, even though he elected to take the season off.

After a year off Garrard has put the surgery behind him and his agent says that he has been medically cleared to play. Garrard has planned to visit some NFL teams and with the way quarterbacking is these days he shouldn't have a hard time finding a job. One of the teams he has interest in is the Detroit Lions.

"If the Lions are interested in David's services, we will listen," said Al Irby, Garrard's agent. "Because of the chain reaction Peyton (Manning) will cause, teams that inquired about David before, may change their mind when certain quarterbacks become available. It is my opinion that David is the next-best quarterback now on the market. Once Peyton makes a decision, based on recent activity, David will be a hot quarterback.


"David informed me not to turn down any team's inquiry. He wants to examine every situation. He is open to compete for a starting job, assume the starting job, or backup the current starter. He believes that the best player will ultimately play. He is very confident in his ability to do any job for the right team. All he wants is a chance to win." 


With the Lions potentially losing backups Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton in free agency, the Lions could be an intriguing option, for the right price.

Garrard has 76 career starts in 86 games since 2002. He led Jacksonville to the playoffs in 2007 and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2010. 


Garrard should be one of the top backup options in free agency. If he's willing to sign for the right price he could be worth a flier. If the Lions lose Hill and Stanton to free agency quarterback would become another priority for the team in the draft and free agency.

Lakers wheeling and dealing

With the trade deadline looming, the Los Angeles Lakers have been doing some retooling to their roster. Earlier today it was reported that the Lakers sent Luke Walton and a first round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Ramon Sessions and  forward Christian Eyenga.

There also has been confirmation by Ken Berger of CBSsports.com that the Lakers will be sending Derek Fisher and a first round pick to the Houston Rockets for forward Jordan Hill.

What this does for the Lakers is give them a servicable point guard in Sessions that is capable of scoring, and they add a rugged big body in Hill that can give Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum a rest for a few minutes. He won't score like them but he can play defense and rebound.

In a Western Conference where the only legitimate threat is Oklahoma City, the Lakers appear to be getting a makeover for another run at the Finals.    

Captain Jack coming full circle

A few days ago Stephen Jackson was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Golden State Warriors. It was a homecoming of sorts as Jackson was going back to Golden State. Now a few days after that it looks like Jackson's career is coming full circle. The San Antonio Spurs are trading small forward Richard Jefferson for the volatile Jackson. Golden State will also receive a first round pick in the deal.

In a bland Spurs locker room Jackson has bee described as the ultimate teammate by Tim Duncan. I guess that can carry some weight since Jackson has worn out his welcome in lots of places since his first stint in San Antonio. With Manu Ginobili not being at full strength, this could turn out to be a coup for the Spurs as Jackson always states that he just wants to win.  

TJ Ford retiring from the NBA

Today San Antonio Spurs point guard TJ Ford decided that it was time to throw in the towel on his NBA career. By no means am I calling Ford a quitter. He succeeded in beating the odds for sticking around this long but sometimes enough is enough.

Ford told reporters that lying motionless March 7 on the court against the New York Knicks wasn’t the first time it had happened, and he decided to walk away while he still had a chance. He was playing just his 14th game in an injury-prone season when Knicks guard Baron Davis elbowed him in the back, knocking him to the ground.


“If it’s anybody else, it’s just a regular play,” Ford said at a Spurs practice before Monday’s game against Washington. “But because of me and my condition, a simple elbow in the back has a different outcome than hitting someone else in the back.”

Due to a surgically repaired spine, Ford never became the big star that may thought he would be when he came out of Texas after his sophomore year. There were flashes of the talent that made Ford a collegiate star, where he transformed Texas into a legitimate basketball school. But he was often injured which include a year on the sidelines after undergoing spinal fusion surgery.

The ever positive Ford doesn't look at his exit negatively. That's just the kind of person he is. He knows he played against doctor's advice and seems to look back fondly on his career.

“I think I succeeded at beating the odds, of being the little guy, making it to the NBA and lasting as long as I did,” Ford said. “I think I achieved a lot. I know I didn’t have the career I anticipated and everyone anticipated, me having been the player of the year (at Texas). But I think I still had a successful career.”      


It's sad to see that Ford will not leave the game on his own terms. The Ford I remember was a dazzling point guard leading the Texas Longhorns to the Final Four in a thriller of a game against the Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse team. I would like to see him stay around the game because I feel that Ford could make a smooth transition to the coaching ranks.

Good luck in the future TJ.

Mike Tyson has thoughts on Mayweather and Pacquiao

Now days it seems that everyone has a take on the stalemate between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
Everyone wants to know what's the hold up that's holding up the biggest fight yet to be made.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson put in his two cents about Mayweather and Pacquiao and came up with a pretty extreme solution to their problem.

"I would throw them in jail if they didn’t fight. I’d have them arrested," Tyson said. "You can’t do that but that’s what I would try to do. These guys need to get locked up and find a new profession until they get their heads clear."

I think that's a bit much, but at this pace in negotiations that might be what it takes to finally get these two into the ring.

Verlander wonders about free agency

Will Justin Verlander be a Tiger for life?

The reigning AL Cy Young Award Winner and AL MVP spoke with Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via MLBTradeRumors.com) where he (Verlander) discussed his newfound celebrity status and his future with the team. Verlander expressed his love for Detroit but admitted that he wondered what it would be like playing in a bigger market and what it would take for him to remain a Tiger.


Verlander acknowledged that, sure, he’s thought about what it would be like to play in a bigger market.


“It would be fun, but hopefully I help turn Detroit into a major market,” he said. “Other teams are major markets not just because of their fan base but because of the national fan base. That comes from winning. They’re always on the news because they win.


“We may not have the biggest city in the world, but if we go out there every year and we’re in the playoffs and win some World Series titles, then our national fan base grows. My goal is to help make Detroit and their fan base a major market. I want to be a key piece in that.”


The key is owner Mike Illitch. Illitch desperately wants to add a World Series trophy to his collection of Stanley Cups. Illitch is willing to make the committment to win na dthat means spending money. He proved it by signing Prince Fielder to a megadeal this offseason.


“That’s one of the conversations I had with the Tigers right before I signed,” Verlander said, in reference to the five-year, $80 million extension to which he agreed before the 2010 season. “We talked about money and all that stuff. I wanted reassurances that I’m going to be part of a winning team. They said, ‘We’re going to do what it takes.’ That’s all I needed to hear. I want to win a World Series. And some of the other things I want to do in this game involve being on winning teams.”


I'm pretty sure that Verlander will be a lifetime Tiger, but nothing is certain in the world of sports. Just ask Peyton Manning about that.

Izzo blasts Illinois for firing Weber

Bruce Weber was fired from the head coaching job at Illinois earlier today. That really was no surprise since the Illini struggled mightily down the stretch and Weber ultimately paid the price.

Michigan State coach, Tom Izzo didn't like the way things went down in Champaign and let everyone know about it at his press conference. Izzo blasted the Illinois administration for firing Weber and said that he'll help Weber get a new job if he needs it.


"I'm sick about it. I'm sick about it. And I'm sick about it -- and make sure you understand the reason why.


"They beat us early in January, and I beat Ohio State, and so I have three problems. Bruce is a friend of mine. He's been here since the Gene Keady days. He's done it the right way. He doesn't cheat. He mans up to his own responsibilities. Incredible, incredible person. I've recruited against him and lost, and I've recruited against him and won, and (it) hasn't changed things.


"Number two, we have to understand that we blame kids for a lot of things. Kids have changed. Now we have administrators that are pulling the rug under ourselves in the middle of January, when you're 16 and 6 or 7 or whatever it was, and we publicly talk about -- we'll make decisions at the end of the year.


"I don't know what you guys think of kids, because they haven't changed much, but if there's one place they've changed, they're a little more fragile. Not as many two-parent homes. Not as good of school systems that are holding kids accountable and demanding. And so now we put that on those poor kids? And then we're surprised that they lose nine out of 10?


"I don't know who's beaten me the worst, probably Bo (Ryan), but second on that list -- and I'm canonized as something some of the time ... .


"I think it was ridiculous the way that thing was handled. And if I take abuse for that, I really don't care, because I'm also the president of our association. This isn't about a friendship. This is about a profession.


"And whenever you're in an organization, whether it be yours, whether it be mine, or whether it be a business one, the only way you can be successful is if, top to bottom, from the president to the trainer, we're all on the same page, and that in five, six months, you can determine something.


"I feel bad for the Illini nation, because somebody's -- somebody pulled the rug out from under them. I feel bad for those players that have been there that, in my estimation, weren't given a fair chance back about the middle of January, whenever that famous statement was made.


"But if you look at that team from that statement, it went directly down. And I feel worse for Bruce, because we lost a good soldier. And yeah, friendship is some of it, but it's not all of it. We lost a good coach. We got a coach that beat me and my team more often than not, and I just -- I can't figure that out.


"I can't figure out how you guys allow it. You guys are always figuring out the negatives of things. I can't figure out how you guys allow it.


"And my wife and I shed a tear this morning over it, and it was half for Bruce and half for my profession.


"But unless there's things -- and I will publicly state this -- that I don't know, but when I heard those comments back in January, it made me sick, and I said there's a problem.


"And so I hope the administrators that made those statements have a good game plan, but you guys lost a good guy, we lost a good guy, and I think -- I just hope he gets another job. And I'm going to do everything in my power to help him.


"And I guess that's all I'll say, because I'll probably put my foot in my mouth, because if it was HBO, we could get at it right now, and I'd really be fired up about it, because I just think -- I can't believe -- I can't believe nobody's looked at when those comments were made and where that team went.


"I mean, this guy has won more games than anybody -- percentage than anybody that's been at the school. And he's done it the right way, and that's not easy to do. And it's not an easy job there. And when a big-time recruit’s father, I think -- watch what I say here -- comes out and makes statements, I mean, you better have a good idea the guy you're dealing with.


"And I know this. I've known Bruce Weber since the day I was a grad assistant. There's not a classier, better guy -- and I don't want to just hear he's a nice guy -- better coach. He's had some things thrown at him, too, with injuries and guys leaving early and stuff like that.


"So I'm sad, more sad for my profession than I am for Bruce, because he's a man. I've seen him in his press conference. He'll man up, and he'll get it done.


"So sorry I had to get on a soapbox, but I'll leave it at that."


Izzo is safe at Michigan State but it's good to see him take up for his fellow man. By the way, the "mystery' administrator Izzo spoke of would be Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas.