2 kickers for $18 million dollars.Only the Raiders

Leave it to Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders braintrust to sign their kicker to a contract worth $9 million dollars.Last week it was reported that Sebastian Janikowski was signed to an extension for two years and $9 million dollars.In the same story,it was reported that the Raiders also sined punter Shane Lechler to the same deal.I know it seems like I dog the Raiders a lot on here and I really don't have much room to talk since I'm a Lions fan.At least the Lions can get rid of their mistake(Millen).The Raiders can't do anything with Al Davis.Also they make lousy draft picks(JaMarcus Russell,Darrius Heyward-Bey),hiring lousy coaches(Lane Kiffin,Tom Cable),they also make lousy signings that will hurt their salary cap for a few years.No one signs kickers and punters for that much.I guess this is their committment to excellence.

The Bengals must like the criminal image

Recently,Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga,was cited for drunk driving and entered himself in a rehab clinic.According to reports over the past week,the team is looking into bringing in receiver Donte Stallworth and reportedly want to bring in Adam "Pacman" Jones in for a workout.Stallworth was reinstated by commisioner Paul Goodell after a one year suspension for pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter after killing a man in Miami Beach last March.Although he got off easy,I can see giving Stallworth a second chance.Jones,on the other hand,seemed to run out of chances.At least until I heard the the Bengals were bringing him in for a workout.If you pay any attention to the news,you should know all about Jones' rap sheet dating back to his college days at West Virginia.I guess as long as the talent is there you'll still get multiple chances to play somewhere.Thing is, I really don't think head coach Marvin Lewis has anything to do with this.I kinda feel sorry for the guy.I feel that as far as personnel matters go he is consistently undermined by team president Mike Brown.I don't know him  personally,but Lewis seems to be a man of integrity.He just happens to coach a team that always has someone running afoul of the law.He has changed the culture,somewhat,by winning a couple of division titles.But if he is being sabotaged regarding personnel,he should resign and hold out for a better situation.Lewis,not Brown will ultimately be held responsible when the players underperform or get in trouble off the field.Brown wants his input and will let him coach the team,but won't let him help put it together.That's why the Bengals,at least right now,won't be taken as serious contenders.   

I might be wrong,but the Celtics could be done

I was talking basketball with a few friends recently and the conversation turned to the NBA playoffs and possible matchups.More specifically about the Eastern Conference.One of my friends boldly predicted a Cleveland vs. Atlanta Eastern Conference final.We both came to a conclusion that Orlando is a good team,but doesn't really know what they are.They seem kind of lucky last year.They caught Cleveland looking ahead and their perimeter shooters caught fire.Just like the hot goalie in hockey.We said that if Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson can't score for the Hawks,Cleveland would run through them.As good as Joe Johnson is it seems like he shrinks up when guarded by Lebron James.After Johnson and Crawford,the Hawks have no bonafide scorers.They have some good players,but not enough to beat the Cavs.Then the talk turned to the Boston Celtics.
   The Celtics are a good team,but they might be fool's gold.They'll make the second round by default since the East is so weak.But they might not have enough to beat the young gun squads like Orlando,Atlanta,and Cleveland.The Celtics need to get younger,which is why the Ray Allen rumors have been out there for the past few weeks.The team's core,the big three,aren't getting any younger and as much as it might pain Boston fans to think about it,its getting dangerously close to thinking about blowing this team up.Don't be alarmed,I'm not saying do it now.If there are some sweetheart deals in trade possibilities that can keep them among the elite, then make those moves.If things remain status quo,others will start to pass them by.I've seen this before with the Miami Heat back in 2001,when they held on and were swept out of the playoffs in the first round.It happened with the old Pistons and Celtics teams when they held on to aging stars.Piston fans today think they should've held on to Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace.But the fact is that they would've gotten their 50 wins and drummed right out of the playoffs.The Celtics need to heed this warning.Kevin Garnett is playing on one leg,Ray Allen is prone to shooting slumps,Paul Pierce is Paul Pierce,which is the only thing that seems to be holding them together.Rajon Rondo is good,but he might end up pouting himself out of town this offseason.I think they might have a last stand in them,but Danny Ainge might want to think about retooling this offseason if they can't make a deep playoff run.

What's with NBA players and nude pics?

Last week we hear about nude pictures of Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden(gasp!) circulating and now it comes out that San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill is apologizing for having nude pictures that made their way into cyberspace.First of all,I'm not into judging other men by their looks,but Oden isn't much to look at.Secondly,who would go out of their way to put these photos out there.I know it can't be the players themselves.Who really knows though? There are some things that need to be kept private and left alone.I know they have both apologized for the inappropiate photos,but I don't think they were the parties responsible for the overexposure.Oden,Hill and others also need to be more careful about who has access to such things so they don't get put out there.

Saints were super,but you can't pin the loss on Manning

The New Orleans Saints are the Super Bowl Champions.It was hard fought and well deserved.Down early 10-0 the Saints never wavered from their gameplan.Play keepaway from Peyton Manning.It was clear which team was the agressor and which team played on their heels the entire night.Even though Drew Brees threw the ball around,they were short, precise passes that chewed up much of the clock.The defense stepped up big time and showed that they are capable of shutting down a top notch offfense.The Colts had their chances to make this outcome different.I won't blame coaching,but there was no way that Matt Stover should've been attempting a 51 yard field goal.They should have tried to shorten the distance instead of going for it all with the incomplete pass to Austin Collie.The Colts didn't get her playing it safe,but sometimes you have to.If anything maybe they should've tried to pin the Saints deep in their own end.Another thing I noticed was that it seemed like Reggie Wayne was shortarming passes all game.That eventually came back to haunt them,when he cut his route short on Tracy Porter's game clinching pick 6.I wasn't in the huddle so I don't know what play was called,but it looked like he sat on his break,while Porter jumped the route.I know,Manning was the one who threw the ball.Being a watcher of bad football for years(I'm a Lions fan),I know when receivers run bad routes.That's why I say you can't blame Manning for the loss.He didn't have his greatest game,and I know the quarterback is supposed to be your leader,but he can't go out and defend passes and tackle the opposing running back either.Overall,it was a good game and the Saints defense showed me alot.With a lot of key players in their last year of their contract,they might not have this oppurtunity again.The players and fans should enjoy this,as they've been through hard times and lean years in the Big Easy.The Colts had a great season and have nothing to be ashamed of.They will be back and hopefully Manning can shake the choker label and get another ring.

Old,bitter quaterbacks

First we had to hear Fran Tarkenton go all bitter old man on Brett Favre,mostly for being a former Packer now quarterbacking the Vikings.I believe it had something to do with Favre possibly getting the Lombardi Trophy to Minnesota.Something he wasn't able to accomplish in his storied,Hall Of Fame career.Now there is the Joe Theismann shot at Tim Tebow.I'm not the biggest Tebow fan,but he's taken enough about his possible NFL prospects.Theismann was quoted as saying"Obviously they don't teach throwing the football at Florida.I'm no football historian,as Theismann's college days were a bit before my time.But if I can remember,Notre Dame wasn't throwing it all over the yard during your playing days either Joe.Just leave Tebow alone and let it all play out.Odds are he won't be a quarterback,but he at least deserves a shot to try.At least Tebow wore a real helmet.     

All Talk Millen(ATM)

After Herschel Walker's semi-impressive MMA debut,former Detroit Lions president and current football analyst,Matt Millen said he thought about giving it a try.As a Lions fan we know how he like to try jobs that he's not qualified for.This would be hilarious and ridiculous if he actually went through with it.He wouldn't have a shortage of possible opponents.There would be thousands of Lions fans(insert joke here) that would be willing to get a shot a Millen in any ring.