Philip Rivers wants Peyton Manning in Denver

You can't fault Philip Rivers' competitive nature, even as the team around him looks like it's falling apart. The San Diego Chargers missed the playoffs last season and conceded the AFC West crown to the Tim Tebow led Denver Broncos. Now Rivers would love to see the Broncos bring Peyton Manning aboard. Not because he has a personal vendetta against the guy. It's because he says it's good for the division to stop being looked at as the weak sisters of the NFL. And he loves the thought of battling Manning twice a year.

“It would make it that much tougher to win the West,” Rivers said on San Diego’s XX 1090 radio, via the Denver Post. “All the sudden, at least from a media’s perspective, it would become a division that’s not lost in the shuffle like it’s been in years past. I kind of hope that that’s the case just because it’s always fun to play a Peyton Manning-led football team. To play him twice a year that would be a battle like crazy to win the division. I hope it happens. One thing you know about him, he’s going to be thorough and make the best decision for him that gives him the best chance to go win. And if that ends up being Denver then it will be exciting.” 


And another hurdle for your slow starting team to overcome. If I'm Rivers I'm begging John Elway to leave Manning alone and let him go elsewhere. How about concentrating on how the Chargers can avoid a slow start or midseason swoon that ruins their season.

Vikings sign former college point guard

I don't keep up with the Minnesota Vikings a whole lot, so I'm not really in the know about their team needs this offseason. I suppose the Vikes do need help in the secondary so their really trying to get some bodies in there. So instead of hunkering down for the draft or looking for the best free agent fit they make the puzzling move of signing Nicholas Taylor.

Who? you might ask. I'll give a quick description of Mr. Taylor.

Taylor played collegiately at Florida International for the basketball team and has been playing defensive back in a low level arena league.

Taylor spent time last season in a minor arena football league and worked out on Wednesday at FIU's pro day, where he was clocked at 4.34 and 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash.


The Vikings apparently thought enough of him to bring him to Minneapolis for a private workout on Friday and signed him shortly thereafter. Taylor said team officials told him his long-shot bid to make the roster will include a look at cornerback, punt returner and perhaps receiver, too. 


It's a long shot that he makes the team, but there is a the matter of a three year contract that is a reserves/futures contract, so there is a three year committment.

This could turn out to be a heartwarming story or a move of high stupidity. I'm rooting for the guy to make it but figure the odds on this one.

Rumeal Robinson losing part of his NBA pension

After being convicted in 2010 for wire fraud among other crimes, former NBA player and Michigan Wolverine star, Rumeal Robinson, stands to lose nearly $369,000 from his NBA pension fund to cover restitution for some shady business dealings.


The Des Moines Register reports federal prosecutors had filed papers to tap Robinson's NBA pension account and were granted permission this week.


The former University of Michigan player was convicted in September 2010 of participating in a scheme along with a bank officer to defraud the Community State Bank in Ankeny of more than $1.1 million.


Robinson's serving a 78-month sentence for wire fraud and other crimes.


Court documents say Robinson will have enough left in his pension account to fund a monthly annuity estimated amount at $140.


I can't say I feel sorry for the guy since he had an opportunity to do something that most of us never will do and that's get paid a handsome amount of money to play NBA basketball. Even if it didn't work out too well for him he still had a Michigan education to fall back on. To use that knowledge for criminal activities is unspeakable. I really have no words for it. I really hope he doesn't go broke, but you can't say it wasn't well deserved.  

Sanchez calls 'unnamed teammates' gutless

After the New York Jets failed to match expectations they brought upon themselves, there were many that pointed fingers at quarterback Mark Sanchez.

There was a report about unnamed teammates being very critical of Sanchez and now Sanchez has finally spoke up for himself.

Sanchez called the "unnamed teammates" gutless since they couldn't put their name to the comments.  

"It is a gutless thing to do," he said. If you're not going to put your name on something, why waste anybody's time? Obviously, they had strong opinions about it, but not strong enough to say who they were." 


That's kind of like the "unnamed sources" when breaking news comes out.

Sanchez did own up to some of the blame, but all of the Jets should look in the mirror, because all of them underperformed this year. Sure, the quarterback most of the time is the face of the franchise, but that doesn't mean he should shoulder all the blame when things go wrong. If Sanchez passes for 500 yards and 5 touchdowns a game and you lose I'm sure it wouldn't be his fault.

Rex Ryan has let the genie out of the bottle and needs to get this locker room back under control.

Pistons might want to follow Oden's progress

Would it be wise for a team to take a flier on Greg Oden? Only at a minimal cost.

After years of seeing the ghost of Sam Bowie, the Portland Trail Blazers finally ended the Oden era. It was something that had to be done after having Oden face surgery after surgery. The Blazers also decided to throw in the towel on the season and rebuild on the fly, but that's another story.

My question is, do you give Oden a shot if he gets healthy? Maybe. If I'm in the Detroit Pistons front office it's something I would keep an eye on. Hear me out before you call me stupid.

Oden will never be completely healthy, but he could still be healthy enough to be a servicable NBA player. Not the dominant force many thought he would be when he was made the number one pick out of Ohio State. I would keep an eye on his progress and if I deemed him to be healthy enough, then sign him to the veteran's minimum. That way if he's no good to you, get rid of him, eat his contract and it doesn't set your franchise back.

Joe Dumars should take a look and see how Oden has progressed after his third microfracture surgery. It couldn't hurt the Pistons and Oden is still young enough to be a decent NBA player. He is only 24 so I'm sure he'd be willing to give it another try before calling it a career. I'm not saying go out and sign him now. Just see how he progresses and take a shot on his damaged upside.

There is this disclaimer. Oden shouldn't rush to get back on the court like he has in years past. It always seemed like he was trying to justify his status as the number one pick due to the success of Kevin Durant. If Oden can fully concentrate on rehab, then he might be worth the risk even if he hasn't played extensively in three years.

It remains to be seen whether Oden, because of his modest salary, is claimed on waivers even though he isn't expected to be ready to try to resume his career until well into the 2012-13 season.

Southern Miss band have a racist chant for K-State's Angel Rodriguez

What a few members of the Southern Miss band directed towards Kansas State guard Angel Rodriguez was uncalled for. It has no place in the world of sports and those who did it should be dealt with accordingly.

When Rodriguez was shooting free throws a few members of the Southern Miss band started a chant of "Where's your green card?".

Here's the video of the ridiculous chant.

Good thing that didn't last long.

Marbury rips D'Antoni

I guess Mike D'Antoni didn't win many over in his time as head coach of the New York Knicks. That's why coaches get fired, add in the fact that he wasn't winning enough made him more cannon fodder for the critics. But I bet D'Antoni didn't count on Stephon Marbury jumping on the rip D'Antoni bandwagon. Remember Marbury played for D'Antoni while the two were in Phoenix and New York.

Now Marbury is the last person to rip anyone considering he wasn't necessarily a winning player while he was in the NBA.  

Marbury went on Twitter to call D'Antoni a coward.

"Coward's Step down men knock walls down that men like him post up. I told you'll about that dude but you'll didn't listen. #DANPHONY"  

Mighty bold words from someone who once ate Vaseline. Just because D'Antoni couldn't make things work with Carmelo Anthony and tried to trade him for Deron Williams and failed doesn't make him a coward. I just call it a failed power play. And just because Marbury could never see eye to eye with D'Antoni doesn't make him a coward. It's called a clash of egos.