Pujols' HR powers Angels past ChiSox
Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a
go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to
lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White
Sox on Wednesday night.
Taking Charge
Rodney Stuckey is sinking roots at the Pistons? practice facility this summer and taking on the mantel of leadership that Lawrence Frank asked of him, Keith Langlois writes for True Blue Pistons.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Just 11 days after the draft concluded on April 28, the Bears have already agreed to contract terms with four of their six picks.
On Wednesday afternoon sixth-round pick, cornerback Isaiah Frey, agreed on a four-year contract. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Frey was the 184th overall pick, out of the University of Nevada.
In 51 games for the Wolfpack over four seasons, he had career totals of 141 tackles, 7 interceptions, 38 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. As a senior, Frey was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference after leading the team with 5 interceptions and 21 passes defensed to go along with 37 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.
Only first-round defensive end Shea McClellin and third-round safety Brandon Hardin remain unsigned as the Bears get set for this weekend's rookie mini-camp at Halas Hall.
Frey faces an uphill battle for a roster spot in training camp. The Bears return their top three corners from last season, Pro Bowler Charles Tillman; Tom Jennings, who was re-signed as an unrestricted free agent; and nickel back D.J. Moore. In addition, veteran unrestricted free agents Kelvin Hayden and Jonathan Wilhite have been added to the roster, along with seventh-round pick Greg McCoy, who agreed to terms on Tuesday.
The Bears are expected to have five or six cornerbacks on their opening day roster.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: RB Matt Forte (tendered at $7.742 million).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LS Chris Massey filled in reliably last season, and Patrick Mannelly, the Bears' long-snapper for the past 14 years, is still rehabbing from the torn ACL that ended his 2011 season in November. Mannelly might not be 100 percent for some time.
--WR Roy Williams, at 6-3 and 215 pounds, is easily the biggest of an undersized group of wide receivers. But, despite high hopes last season, Williams' production was pedestrian: 37 catches, 507 yards, two touchdowns.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--DE Shea McClellin (1/19): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Alshon Jeffery (2/45): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--S Brandon Hardin (3/79): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--TE Evan Rodriguez (4/111): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Isaiah Frey (6/184): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Greg McCoy (7/220): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--RB Kahlil Bell: RFA tendered at $1.26M with no compensation; $1.26M/1 yr.
--TE Kellen Davis: UFA; $6M/2 yrs, $2.7M SB.
--DE Israel Idonije: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Tim Jennings: Potential UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Josh McCown: UFA; $850,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB.
--S Craig Steltz: UFA; $1.64M/2 yrs.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--RB Michael Bush: UFA Raiders; $14M/4 yrs, $7M guaranteed.
--QB Jason Campbell: UFA Raiders; $3.5M/1 yr, $2M SB.
--LB Blake Costanzo: UFA 49ers; $2M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB.
--CB Kelvin Hayden: UFA Falcons; $825,000/1 yr.
--LB Geno Hayes: UFA Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Brandon Marshall (trade Dolphins).
--DT John McCargo: FA; terms unknown.
--OG Chilo Rachal: UFA 49ers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Devin Thomas: UFA Giants; $700,000/1 yr.
--WR Eric Weems: UFA Falcons; $4.2M/3 yrs, $1,5M guaranteed.
--CB Jonathan Wilhite: UFA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--NT Anthony Adams (released).
--RB Marion Barber (retired).
--CB Zack Bowman: UFA Vikings; $615,000/1 yr.
--CB Corey Graham: UFA Ravens; $3/7M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB.
--QB Caleb Hanie: UFA Broncos; $1.25M/1 yr.
--S Brandon Meriweather: UFA Redskins; $6M/2 yrs.
--DT Amobi Okoye: UFA Buccaneers; $2M/1 yr.
--T/G Frank Omiyale (released).
Blackhawks agree to terms with 2010 draft pick Flick
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Rob Flick on a three-year contract.
Flick, 21, recorded 13 points (7G, 6A), a +2 plus/minus rating and 91 penalty minutes in 45 regular-season tilts with the American Hockey League’s Rock...
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Carlos Marmol (strained right hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12.
--C Steve Clevenger (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 26. He took 15 swings off the tee and 15 soft-toss swings May 16. Clevenger hoped to return in late May, perhaps in Pittsburgh. He said he'd likely go out on a minor league rehab stint before that.
--RHP Marcos Mateo (ulnar neuritis in right arm) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4.
ROTATION:
RHP Matt Garza
RHP Jeff Samardzija
RHP Chris Volstad
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Ryan Dempster
BULLPEN:
RHP Kerry Wood
LHP James Russell
RHP Rafael Dolis
RHP Shawn Camp
RHP Michael Bowden
RHP Casey Coleman
LHP Scott Maine
CATCHERS:
Geovany Soto
Welington Castillo
INFIELDERS:
1B Bryan LaHair
2B Darwin Barney
SS Starlin Castro
3B Ian Stewart
INF Jeff Baker
INF Adrian Cardenas
INF/OF Joe Mather
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Alfonso Soriano
CF Tony Campana
RF David DeJesus
OF Reed Johnson
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Jesse Crain (left oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 21. He was activated May 15 and pitched a scoreless inning May 16.
ROTATION:
LHP John Danks
RHP Jake Peavy
RHP Gavin Floyd
RHP Phil Humber
LHP Chris Sale
BULLPEN:
RHP Addison Reed (closer)
RHP Jesse Crain
LHP Hector Santiago
LHP Matt Thornton
RHP Zach Stewart
LHP Will Ohman
RHP Nate Jones
CATCHERS:
A.J. Pierzynski
Tyler Flowers
INFIELDERS:
1B Paul Konerko
2B Gordon Beckham
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Brent Morel
DH Adam Dunn
INF/OF Brent Lillibridge
INF Eduardo Escobar
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Dayan Viciedo
CF Alejandro De Aza
RF Alex Rios
OF Kosuke Fukudome
Draft Prep
The 2012 draft class is hailed as a deeper one than usual, and that cuts down on the butterflies personnel director George David will feel when he waits for the results of the May 30 draft lottery, Keith Langlois writes for True Blue Pistons.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE Cliff Avril (tendered at $10.605 million).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYERS: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--OG Leonard Davis won't be back. The Lions brought the veteran former Pro Bowler in last season for three reasons -- as insurance against injury, to push starter Stephen Peterman and to take an extended look at him to determine if he'd fit in the plans for 2012. It appears the answer to No. 3 is no, he does not fit.
--WR Rashied Davis was a stabilizing force on the special teams once he got healthy. He was also a stabilizing and at times hilarious presence in the locker room. But, he will be 33 and that will give the Lions some pause. Still, it is a good bet they bring him back.
--LB Isaiah Ekejiuba was another vital special teams player who was lost early; in Week 3. He will be 31 in October and it seems like there's still a lot of good football left in him, but the Lions are expected to revamp their linebacker core again and will be looking for younger special teams aces.
--S Chris Harris won't be back. If the Lions needed a run-stopping specialist, they would probably re-sign Harris without hesitation. But they aren't looking for one-dimensional defensive backs. Harris' inability to protect the back end against deep throws was exposed over and over last season -- in Chicago and in Detroit.
--CB Brandon McDonald went from the starting nickel back in training camp to being released in Week 14 to being brought back for the final two regular-season games and actually played the entire second half against Green Bay. But the Lions are looking to upgrade the entire secondary so it's doubtful McDonald is in the plans.
--RB Maurice Morris' time in Detroit is probably over. After productive years in 2009 and 2010, Morris seemed to lose a step last year. His numbers were similar (4.0 yards per carry) but he was unable to take charge of the position after Best, Jerome Harrison, and then Smith were injured. He will be 33 in December and it seems likely the Lions will not re-sign him.
--WR Maurice Stovall won't be back. The Lions didn't get what they were expecting in Stovall. He didn't tackle consistently enough to be a force on special teams and by the end of the season was used on offense in run plays only. He caught just one pass all season.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--WR Ryan Broyles (2/54): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Bill Bentley (3/85): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DE Ronnell Lewis (4/125): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Tahir Whitehead (5/138): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Chris Greenwood (5/148): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Jonte Green (6/196): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Travis Lewis (7/223): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--LT Jeff Backus: UFA; $5.85M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB.
--S Erik Coleman: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DT Andre Fluellen: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--P Ben Graham: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--TE Will Heller: FA; 1 yr, had been released by Lions; terms unknown.
--DT Sammie Hill: RFA tendered at $1.26M with fourth-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--QB Shaun Hill: UFA; $5.5M/2 yrs, $1M SB.
--OT Corey Hilliard: RFA tendered at $1.26M with sixth-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--LB DeAndre Levy: RFA tendered at $1.927M with second-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--LS Don Muhlbach: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--LB Ashlee Palmer: Not tendered as RFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Kevin Smith: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--MLB Stephen Tulloch: UFA; $25M/5 yrs, $$6.5M SB/11M guaranteed.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DE Everette Brown: FA Chargers; terms unknown.
--CB Jacob Lacey: Not tendered as RFA by Colts; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Bobby Carpenter: UFA Patriots; $775,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB.
--QB Drew Stanton: UFA Jets; $1.25M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
--CB Eric Wright: UFA Buccaneers; $37.5M/5 yrs, $15.5M guaranteed.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Bears did nothing in the draft to improve an offensive line that has allowed 105 sacks over the past two seasons and ranked No. 32 in the league in percentage of sacks allowed per pass play.
They did, however, pick up unrestricted free agent guard Chilo Rachal, and they're expecting to get back two starters who missed time last season. Right tackle Gabe Carimi played just two games in his rookie season, while left guard Chris Williams missed the final seven with a dislocated wrist.
"We like our offensive that we have with Chris Williams getting back out on the football field and Gabe Carimi, too," coach Lovie Smith said. "Adding Chris and Gabe to the mix, there's a period of time, you might have forgotten, during the season where we played pretty good ball on the offensive line."
During a seven-game stretch last season -- Games 4-10 -- the Bears allowed just nine sacks. But in the final six games -- all without quarterback Jay Cutler, in addition to Carimi and Williams -- the O-line allowed 26 sacks, more than half the season total of 49.
"We've added Chilo, and there are still a few options out there, too," Smith said. "Believe me, we want to do everything we can to open up holes for our running backs and of course to protect Jay Cutler, and we feel like we'll be able to do that."
--New York City police are expected to finish their investigation this week of a March incident allegedly involving Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, and no charges are expected to be filed against Marshall, ESPN reported Monday (May 14).
Marshall was alleged to have punched a woman in the face outside of a nightclub, but, according to the report, police have been unable to find evidence against Marshall.
Marshall has admitted he was at the club, but he denied he was involved in an altercation. He claims his wife was hit in the head with a bottle and was the victim.
"The situation in New York, it's unfortunate," Marshall said on ESPN 1000 in Chicago last week. "You never want to see anyone get hurt, but just the allegation of me balling my fist up and hitting a woman is just a lie. When the judicial system takes its course I'm very confident I will be cleared of any wrongdoing. My wife was the victim in this situation."
Two days after the incident Marshall was traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Chicago Bears.
A suspension by the NFL is unlikely, according to the ESPN report, although he may be fined.
--Tight end Evan Rodriguez, the Bears' fourth-round draft pick agreed to terms on a four-year deal May 8, and he is expected to help fill the void of pass catcher that has been missing since Greg Olsen was traded a year ago.
"He's another guy that can do a lot of things for us, whether it's lining up at the fullback position, splitting out as an F guy, being able to move," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's got good speed, (and is a) good blocker. We can do a lot of things with him, too. He gives us a lot of options."
At 244 pounds, Rodriguez isn't going to help the Bears as an in-line blocker, no matter what Smith says. But they feel he's got enough grit to be a lead blocker from the fullback position or hit a moving target on the second level.
--Six days after their second-round wide receiver Alshon Jeffery became the first draft pick to agree to terms, the Bears reached agreement Tuesday with seventh-round kick returner/cornerback Greg McCoy on a four-year deal.
Over his career at TCU, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound McCoy returned 52 kickoffs for 1,505 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 28.9-yard average. He also started all 26 of the Horned Frogs' games over the past two seasons at cornerback and had 4 interceptions and 62 tackles.
The 220th overall pick was named a CBSSports.com and Yahoo! Sports first-team All-American at kick returner and the Mountain West special teams player of the year as a senior.
With Johnny Knox's health still in question, McCoy will compete for the backup kickoff returner behind Devin Hester, although the Bears have signed veteran unrestricted free agents Devin Thomas and Eric Weems, both of whom have been productive return specialists. McCoy will also contend for a backup cornerback position and is expected to contribute on special teams in coverage. The Bears have also added unrestricted free agent cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Jonathan Wilhite in the off-season and re-signed Tim Jennings, who started 15 games last season across from Pro Bowl pick Charles Tillman.
"(McCoy) is going to have every opportunity to compete for that fifth or sixth corner depending on how many we keep," general manager Phil Emery said following the draft. "There's going to be an awfully good competitive mix since we brought in Jonathan and Kelvin to find out who makes that team."
The Bears, who host a rookie mini-camp this weekend, are hoping to have first-round defensive end Shea McClellin, third-round safety Brandon Hardin, fourth-round tight end Evan Rodriguez and sixth-round cornerback Isaiah Frey all signed by early next week.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We did our research on Shea, and everything came up with high marks. He plays with a motor. You can't play around here unless you play hard every down. You don't have to tell him that, he's that way." -- Bears coach Lovie Smith on first-round pick, defensive end Shea McClellin
Quenneville on staying in Chicago, coaching move
Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville spoke with members of the media via teleconference Tuesday night.
On his status as Blackhawks head coach:
“I think over the last few days there was some speculation about other things that were going on...
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Lendy Castillo went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 12, with a left groin strain. The Cubs recalled LHP Scott Maine from Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa. Manager Dale Sveum said Castillo came down with the injury over the weekend in Milwaukee and that it got worse Monday and Tuesday in St. Louis. "Sunday, he said he felt it running, tried to do stuff on Monday, tried to run and just kind of go through it," Sveum said. "Then he was really, really tender on Tuesday when he woke up." The little-used Castillo was a Rule 5 pick from the Phillies. He is 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in seven relief appearances.
--RHP Matt Garza worked 6 2/3 innings and got a no-decision. He gave up eight hits and two runs as his ERA went from 2.56 to 2.58. Garza made his second start since coming off a nasty flu-like illness. "I'm going to finish out the seventh, eighth and ninth like I used to," he said. "I'm not too worried about it. Twelve days off, it was a pain. It wasn't like it was a vacation. Twelve days off, fighting ... I don't know what the heck it was."
--LHP Scott Maine and RHP Michael Bowden had tough nights in the ninth inning. Maine faced three batters without retiring any. Bowden gave up a pinch grand slam to Hector Luna as the Phillies scored six runs. The bullpen has been beset by injuries and ineffectiveness. "It is what it is," said manager Dale Sveum. "The fact of the matter is we have guys pitching in roles they probably shouldn't be pitching in. It's tough. They've never had to do this before, and they're thrown into this mix all of a sudden. It's not the easiest thing to do."
--C Steve Clevenger, who has been on the DL with a strained right oblique, took 15 swings off the tee and 15 soft-toss swings early Wednesday. "It went good; it felt good," he said. Clevenger hopes to return by the end of next week, when the team is at Pittsburgh. He said he'd likely go out on a minor league rehab stint at the end of the current home stand.
--1B Bryan LaHair had his streak of reaching base snapped at 32 games. LaHair went 0-for-4. "I think he realizes (what he's doing), and he's been around long enough," manager Dale Sveum said. "He's not 22. He's a 29-year-old, 30-year-old, basically a rookie in the league and knows how tough it was to get here and understands how difficult this game is and understands how it can be the most humbling game as well as what he's going through on the upside right now."
BY THE NUMBERS: 14 -- 1B Bryan LaHair had a 14-pitch at-bat in the fourth inning against Phillies RHP Kyle Kendrick and reached on an error by left fielder Juan Pierre. The last time a Cub had a longer at-bat was June 15, 2006, when Ronny Cedeno had a 16-pitch inning against Houston's Fernando Nieve.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've been criticized as a player. I wasn't very good." -- Manager Dale Sveum on how he has handled whatever fan and media criticism he has gotten on the job so far.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Robin Ventura, who had managed 37 games entering the two-game series against the Angels, was asked to assess his performance so far in what has really been on-the-job-training. "I'm not going to sit back and assess what I'm doing," Ventura said. "It's about coming here every day and doing the right thing. I'm not going to give myself a grade. I have bosses that will do that. If it's not going well, I won't be here." The first-year manager did admit that his coaching staff has been a key to his comfort. "The most important part is the staff you have, how you interact," he added. "The questions, going back and forth, the ideas of how things can work better. What works, what didn't work. That's the part that until you're in this position you don't understand. Getting better at it."
--RHP Jesse Crain made his first appearance in a big-league game since he was taken off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, as the right-hander came in for the seventh inning of the 7-2 loss to the Angels on Wednesday. Crain had been on the shelf with a strained left oblique and didn't show any signs of the injury lingering, walking one and fanning one in his scoreless inning of work. It was a good way to get Crain back in the mix, considering the Sox were down five runs, but his role is still late-inning set-up.
--LHP John Danks knows that it would be a lot easier to make excuses about his 2-4 record and 6.46 ERA so far this season, but that's not the way the left-hander works. He is honest and not afraid to speak exactly what's on his mind. That's why he continued to insist that he is not hurt and he isn't tipping his pitches. He's just not very good right now. "We've looked at that (tipping pitches)," Danks told reporters. "We've looked at everything. For me saying I'm hurt when things aren't going well, I'm not going to make an excuse. I haven't made good pitches. That's the bottom line."
--Coach Kevin Hickey, who was the pre-game instructor for the club since 2004 and pitched for the team from 1981-83, passed away Wednesday morning at Rush University Medical Center at the age of 56. The Sox made the announcement before a night game with the Angels. Hickey had remained unresponsive in the intensive care unit at Rush University Medical Center after being moved to Chicago from Dallas in early April. The left-hander pitched six seasons in the major leagues with Chicago (1981-83) and Baltimore (1989-91). He was 9-14 with a 3.91 ERA (114 ER/232.2 IP) and 17 saves in 231 career games, all in relief. "Kevin Hickey was the ultimate long shot, the classic underdog," former White Sox general manager Roland Hemond said in a statement. Hemond had signed Hickey in 1978. "You couldn't help but root for him. Kevin did the absolute most with every single opportunity he received and earned every bit of his success."
--1B/DH Paul Konerko wasn't as worked up with the schedule this week like some of his teammates were, but he did have a problem with playing the annual Cubs series in May. According to Konerko, Sox-Cubs should come in the summer when the fans can appreciate baseball a bit more and there's more at stake in the standings. All Ventura seemed concerned about was that the next five games were on the road, considering the Sox are just 7-12 at home so far this season. "I don't think there is any magic dust where you play better at home," Ventura said. "The routine you're in and all that, I don't know if there is a reason for it. You do want to play better at home. Hopefully we do that."
BY THE NUMBERS: 14.73 -- The ERA for LHP Matt Thornton in the month of May so far, compared to the 0.82 ERA he posted in April.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The biggest thing Sale and I talked about is taking care of your body. It's something I wish I would have done a little better when I was 22 years old. You're invincible so you don't think you need to go in there and see the massage therapist or get some work done by the trainers. I never did that." -- RHP Jake Peavy on how he's been advising LHP Chris Sale with all the recent concern over Sale and his elbow tenderness.
Piece by Piece
It?s the 10-year anniversary of the three-month span of 2002 when Joe D nabbed Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. Incremental gains are the only alternative without a superstar, Keith Langlois writes for True Blue Pistons.
NOTES, QUOTES
The Lions either had genuine interest in free agent running back Ryan Grant or his agent was trying to stimulate the market for his client. Agent Alan Herman told the Detroit News last week the Lions had made Grant an offer and the running back would be visiting the team on Monday. The Lions never confirmed that an offer was made and Grant never visited. There are no future visits scheduled. Unless the Lions were to restructure some contracts or cut players, they wouldn't have had much salary cap space, either. It was believed they had less than $5 million left before signing any of their drafted rookies.
--The Lions did host veteran free agent safety Chris Crocker on Tuesday. A 10-year vet most recently with the Bengals, Crocker, 32, started all 16 games last season and made 61 tackles.
--Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson doesn't normally believe in curses, but eight of his former teammates from the 1994 Chargers team that played in Super Bowl XXIX have died. "I am a common-sense guy," said Jefferson, a 13-year standout in the NFL who has been coaching Lions' receivers since 2005. "I am not the smartest guy but I've got a lot of common sense. But you sit back and watch all this happen, common sense can't make sense out of this. The numbers are too great. It's scary." Running back David Griggs died in a car accident. Detroiter Rodney Culver and his wife were killed in a plane crash. Linebacker Doug Miller was struck by lightening twice. Center Curtis Whitney died of a drug overdose. Defensive end Chris Mims died of heart disease while linebacker Lew Bush and defensive tackle Shawn Lee suffered fatal heart attacks. And last week Junior Seau killed himself. "The odds of getting hit by lightning are what, one in a million? The odds of being in a plane crash are crazy, too, but this is happening to us like it's nothing," he said. "I think back to that team and people are saying that team was jinxed? I remember that team being like a family. That team was blessed, big-time. I don't understand it. Is it just an occurrence? Like, was it just their time? If that's the case then they sure enough died too young. The timing is awful and the sheer weirdness of it."
--By the time the rookie mini-camp starts Friday, six of the Lions' eight draft picks will be signed. According to the Lions' website, second-round pick Ryan Broyles has agreed to terms. Financial terms were not announced, but typically, a player taken with the 54th pick receives a signing bonus of more than $1 million.
Seventh-round linebacker Travis Lewis agreed to terms yesterday.
Earlier Thursday, deals were agreed to by fourth-round defensive end Ronnell Lewis, fifth-round linebacker Tahir Whitehead, fifth-round cornerback Chris Greenwood and sixth-round cornerback Jonte Green. All of those deals, including Broyles, are four-year deals as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement.
Yet to sign are first-round offensive tackle Riley Reiff and third-round corner Bill Bentley.
Unsigned players can still take part in the minicamp. The first to do so was seventh-round pick Lewis, a linebacker from Oklahoma. As the CBA stipulates, all draft picks get four-year deals, and first-round picks can negotiate for a fifth year. According to veteran NFL reporter Adam Caplan, Lewis' deal is worth $2.16 million. He will make $390,000 next year with $90,000 raises each of the next three years.
--Former Lions punter Jim Arnold has joined the growing litigation against the NFL. He is part of a group of 26 former players suing the league for concealing the risks associated with concussions. Arnold, 51, claims he is suffering memory loss and other symptoms related to multiple concussions. "You don't think about concussions too much when you're playing, you really don't," Arnold said. "You go out there and play the game that you love, and try to help out your team. But I worry about all of them. The nature of the game is not going to change unless there are (safety) process and methods that change it." More than 1,800 former players have brought lawsuits against the league.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would have bet everything I have -- my kids, my wife, everything -- that this guy would never do anything like that. He didn't have the makeup to do it. This guy was the heart and soul of that 1994 (Chargers) team. I watched this guy, day in and day out, game in and game out, season upon season, be that force, be that leader, be that role model. When the tough came, he got going. He was the calm on the team when the season was raging. He was the guy who would put the team on his back and say, 'OK, guys, I will get you through.' He was the most mentally and physically strong player I've ever known. You know the movie '300'? That was him. I am just dumbfounded." -- Shawn Jefferson on former teammate Junior Seau, who killed himself last week.
INSIDE SLANT
Every standout player on an above-average Bears defense is over 30.
But worry may be premature. Four of those old-timers were voted to the Pro Bowl last season -- Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman.
It may be asking too much for all four to continue playing at the same elite level they have over the past decade, but none of them showed signs of wear last season. All four played all 16 games. But what are the odds they'll remain that durable for another season?
"I still see a productive defense," said first-year GM Phil Emery. "And that's the most important thing -- that the players we have in starter roles, are they producers? And do they have, for want of another word, do they still have some juice? Do they still have legs? Do they still have burst? Can they still get to the ball? I see players on our defense as starters who still have that burst, that are still producing."
But clearly, the Bears need more help from supporting players and for younger players to step up and play a bigger role, especially in the pass-rush department. The Bears were 29th in sacks last season, despite the presence of right end Peppers, who had 11 sacks and still commands double-team attention. Even with offenses focused on Peppers, left end Israel Idonije contributed just five sacks. Up-and-down tackle Henry Melton quietly had seven sacks. But no one from last season who's back for 2012 had more than two.
The Bears' defense depends on getting pass-rush pressure almost exclusively from the linemen with little blitz help from the back seven, who ideally can focus on coverage. When the front four doesn't produce, an average-at-best secondary is more easily exposed. An upgrade is needed across from Tillman, and the safety position has been a revolving door in Smith's previous eight years. Coincidentally, the Bears have selected a safety in each of the last eight drafts, but they're still looking for a winning combination.
First-round pick Shea McClellin is being counted on to goose the pass rush, but it's tough to imagine where any additional pressure will come from.
"Obviously it helped fill a need for us as a pass rusher," Emery said of the first-round pick. "We are also very excited about Shea in terms of his all-downs ability. This is an all-downs football player, including special teams. This is a four-down player. We are excited about him for several reasons: He's got really quick feet and hands as a pass rusher, and he has natural hips as a pass rusher."
Unless McClellin can help the defense create constant pressure up front, the Bears struggle to create the turnovers that have been a huge part of every successful defense during Smith's reign. Since 2004, the Bears have 266 takeaways, the most in the NFL and 19 more than the second-place Panthers.
Blackhawks relieve Haviland of coaching duties
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the team has relieved Assistant Coach Mike Haviland of his duties.
Haviland spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Blackhawks after being named to the coaching staff on July 23, 2008. He arrive...
INSIDE PITCH
Left fielder Alfonso Soriano finally got off the home run schneid Tuesday in St. Louis, and he and the Cubs hope that's the start of something big.
Soriano had gone his first 119 at-bats of the season without a homer before hitting a game-tying homer against the Cardinals. Wednesday night, he hit his second, a two-run liner into the left-field bleachers to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning of a game they lost 9-2.
"It feels great," he said. "I had six weeks and had not hit one. I think I hit it at a good time to help the team. I was a little worried because I think the team needs my offense a lot. We have a young talent, but they need my offense, too."
Soriano, 36, has been a streaky hitter, especially for power, throughout his career. This season, he has a hitting line of .260/.295/.366 with 20 RBI.
The Cubs' management team said from last winter it believed Soriano could hit 25 home runs and help an offense that sorely needs power.
Often criticized for his defense, Soriano has played a decent left field so far.
"A lot of home run hitters and prolific guys like that in their careers are streaky," manager Dale Sveum said. "That just kind of comes with the territory sometimes. I think with Sori, he's still hitting .400 with men in scoring position. So he's getting the job done there, too, when guys are in scoring position. For the things he goes through with his legs, he's done a pretty good job in left field, too."
INSIDE PITCH
Gavin Floyd couldn't get it done in Wednesday night's 7-2 loss to the Angels, as the Sox pitcher lasted six innings and allowed seven runs on 10 hits. Thursday afternoon, it will be Chris Sale's turn once again.
The Sox coaching staff won't be the only ones watching Sale closely, as he makes his second start since he was pulled from the starting rotation for just over a week because of elbow tenderness and then given an MRI. Fellow starter Jake Peavy has been advising Sale on how he should be handling his health moving forward.
"It's just a fine line between if you're injured or if you're just playing with pain," Peavy told the Sun-Times when talking about how he's been helping Sale. "It's a touchy situation, the whole thing has been."
Peavy stressed that when he was coming up, young players weren't supposed to be in the training room and it was looked down upon by the veterans. But the game has changed, and Sale has to realize that.
"He's a prized jewel," Peavy said of Sale. "He could be as good as anybody that we've seen run through here in a long time if he stays healthy. Biggest thing I told him is just listen to your body.
"But it's almost a no-win situation. I've been in that same situation since I've been (with the Sox), and I'm a veteran. If you don't pitch you're soft and you're not giving everything you've got. If you go pitch and do well, well then you're a gamer. But if you pitch through pain and get hurt, 'I can't believe you were out there.'
"It's a Catch-22, and I've been fighting that war since I've been here. I was getting applauded for getting back so soon (from a 2010 surgery to reattach his lat) and working hard, and when I got back from surgery less than a year after I had it, struggling a little bit, then it's talked about how I'm not doing my job. There's nothing you can really do. There's no answer on this."
Manager Robin Ventura has insisted that there is no specific pitch count for Sale against the Angels on Thursday, but there is no doubt the Sox want to keep him near the 100 mark, at most.
"He's someone that needs to be protected," Peavy added.
Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, May 10, 2012 - Page 2
What about the playoffs next season? Which big man will the Pistons be targeting in the draft? What to do about the perception of tanking? Yup, it?s time for the latest edition of Pistons Mailbag.
INSIDE SLANT
Lions receiver coach Shawn Jefferson doesn't think concussions are triggering the recent rash of suicides among former players. This particular manifestation of depression, he believes, is borne out of the alienation players feel when they leave the game.
"It's not the depression that kills you," said Jefferson, who was a teammate with the late Junior Seau in San Diego. "It's trying to make that transition to real life without that support group you've had in place your whole career. The depression is a result of not being around your guys anymore; that's what kills you.
"The depression comes about because you don't have that structure any more. You aren't walking into that locker room and chatting with your locker mates. You're not in that fire on Sunday with those guys. You are at the door knocking, but nobody will let you in. You don't have that sense of purpose. For guys who retire, there is a dark side to that transition period."
Jefferson speaks from experience. He thought his post-football life would be great. He had saved and invested his money wisely. He had a young family to tend to. He figured he could happily live out his days fishing and, as he put it, "living the salt life."
A year into it, he was struggling. The void, the absence of the game and all of its attending structures, became increasingly unbearable for him.
"I was getting up every day and going fishing," he said. "After a while I was going by myself because my buddies had to work. I would just keep pushing the limits. I would go 50 miles out into the ocean. The next day, I'd say let's go out to where the big boys are and I'd go out 100 miles. But it's not the same. You just can't replace that feeling, that adrenaline rush you get playing the game."
The alienation of the retired player, Jefferson said, is similar to what a soldier feels when he's back from combat.
"People in the outside world don't know what it's like to go into battle with a guy," he said. "Civilians who haven't been to war have no idea what it's like to be in a foxhole with a guy, to depend on that guy to save your life. Basically, that's what football players do, they depend on each other to save their butts every week. You develop a bond and when you retire, that bond is gone and you crave for it."
Jefferson said he was thrown a lifeline, a lifeline he believes the NFL should finance and promote as much as it does player safety issues. He was asked by former Lions coach Steve Mariucci to take a coaching internship.
"It was by the grace of God that Mooch called me out of the blue," Jefferson said. "I was out of the game a year and he said, 'Hey, what're you doing?' He asked if I was interested in an internship and I jumped at it.
"This was the rope somebody threw me when I was drowning in high water."
He's been the Lions' receivers coach since 2005 and he wishes he could sit down with commissioner Roger Goodell to share some of his ideas. He believes part of the solution is for the league to take measures to keep retired players around the game. He's not saying give them all jobs. He's saying give them access. Establish internships -- coaching, consulting, commentating. Or, more simply, make them feel they are still welcomed, still part of the game.
"You don't know how much good it could've done if Junior Seau could have stayed around the game," Jefferson said. "If he would have come to my practice on a Monday, I would have told him I have a team meeting on Friday and he had 15 minutes to tell the team anything he wanted. He would have felt important. He would have been on that stage again and everybody would have been in tune with him. He would have been thinking about it all week. Can you imagine what that would have done for a guy like that?
"The NFL doesn't get it. They are looking in the wrong places."
Here's one of many ideas Jefferson has: When a player retires, give him a card, a sort lifetime NFL membership card. The card would give him access to team's practice facilities and stadiums.
"This would allow guys to go watch practice at a facility," Jefferson said. "He's not going to steal ideas or share ideas or anything like that. He's just going to watch practice. He's just going to smell the game, get on the grass, be around the guys. That would mean the world to retired players.
"The mere fact that he had that card, the mere fact that he knew he could be around football, would change things for him. You don't understand the change of mindset that would take place there. He would know he's still part of the NFL, that they still care about him, that his presence is wanted. If they did that, those guys would feel like employees for life even though they're not getting paid."
Jefferson applauds the league's stance on player safety. He understands the concern about head injuries.
"But," he said, "find out what triggers the depression and what triggers the depression is not being around the guys anymore, not being on the field anymore. Mother Nature has taken away that one great asset that she gave you and changed your life. That triggers the depression. The blows to the head don't. It takes something to trigger it. I know. I have been through it."
WingsCast
Teleconference to announce Nicklas Lidstrom's one-year contract
Blackhawks promote Maciver to assistant general manager
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that the team has promoted Norm Maciver to assistant general manager.
"Norm has proven to be a valuable asset to our hockey operations over the past five years, so we are excited to be able to elevate him ...
Phillies-Cubs Preview
Roy Halladay let out some frustration during his last start
after the Philadelphia Phillies lost for the fifth consecutive time
he'd taken the hill.
White Sox-Angels Preview
Game No. 1 under Los Angeles Angels new hitting coach Jim Eppard
would have to be considered an overwhelming success. The team
plated its most runs in more than a week, and most importantly,
Albert Pujols homered.
Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, May 10, 2012
Full speed ahead with the off-season. That means Pistons fans are full of questions on the draft, the possibility of free agency and trades, and their favorite team?s prospects for next season. On with Mailbag ?
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE Cliff Avril (tendered at $10.605 million).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYERS: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--OG Leonard Davis won't be back. The Lions brought the veteran former Pro Bowler in last season for three reasons -- as insurance against injury, to push starter Stephen Peterman and to take an extended look at him to determine if he'd fit in the plans for 2012. It appears the answer to No. 3 is no, he does not fit.
--WR Rashied Davis was a stabilizing force on the special teams once he got healthy. He was also a stabilizing and at times hilarious presence in the locker room. But, he will be 33 and that will give the Lions some pause. Still, it is a good bet they bring him back.
--LB Isaiah Ekejiuba was another vital special teams player who was lost early; in Week 3. He will be 31 in October and it seems like there's still a lot of good football left in him, but the Lions are expected to revamp their linebacker core again and will be looking for younger special teams aces.
--S Chris Harris won't be back. If the Lions needed a run-stopping specialist, they would probably re-sign Harris without hesitation. But they aren't looking for one-dimensional defensive backs. Harris' inability to protect the back end against deep throws was exposed over and over last season -- in Chicago and in Detroit.
--CB Brandon McDonald went from the starting nickel back in training camp to being released in Week 14 to being brought back for the final two regular-season games and actually played the entire second half against Green Bay. But the Lions are looking to upgrade the entire secondary so it's doubtful McDonald is in the plans.
--RB Maurice Morris' time in Detroit is probably over. After productive years in 2009 and 2010, Morris seemed to lose a step last year. His numbers were similar (4.0 yards per carry) but he was unable to take charge of the position after Best, Jerome Harrison, and then Smith were injured. He will be 33 in December and it seems likely the Lions will not re-sign him.
--WR Maurice Stovall won't be back. The Lions didn't get what they were expecting in Stovall. He didn't tackle consistently enough to be a force on special teams and by the end of the season was used on offense in run plays only. He caught just one pass all season.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
--WR Ryan Broyles (2/54): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Bill Bentley (3/85): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--DE Ronnell Lewis (4/125): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Tahir Whitehead (5/138): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Chris Greenwood (5/148): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Jonte Green (6/196): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Travis Lewis (7/223): 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--LT Jeff Backus: UFA; $5.85M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB.
--S Erik Coleman: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DT Andre Fluellen: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--P Ben Graham: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--TE Will Heller: FA; 1 yr, had been released by Lions; terms unknown.
--DT Sammie Hill: RFA tendered at $1.26M with fourth-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--QB Shaun Hill: UFA; $5.5M/2 yrs, $1M SB.
--OT Corey Hilliard: RFA tendered at $1.26M with sixth-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--LB DeAndre Levy: RFA tendered at $1.927M with second-round pick as compensation); $1.26M/1 yr.
--LS Don Muhlbach: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--LB Ashlee Palmer: Not tendered as RFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--RB Kevin Smith: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--MLB Stephen Tulloch: UFA; $25M/5 yrs, $$6.5M SB/11M guaranteed.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DE Everette Brown: FA Chargers; terms unknown.
--CB Jacob Lacey: Not tendered as RFA by Colts; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Bobby Carpenter: UFA Patriots; $775,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB.
--QB Drew Stanton: UFA Jets; $1.25M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
--CB Eric Wright: UFA Buccaneers; $37.5M/5 yrs, $15.5M guaranteed.
Hossa: Progress slow, but steady since injury
Marian Hossa remembers only a few seconds of the illegal hit that forced him out of Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal series against Phoenix.
That's the scariest part of his current ordeal, which finds the Chicago Blackhawks star fo...
