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Sports Quote of the Day:
"The answer to the following three questions will determine your success: (1) Can people trust me to do my best? (2) Am I committed to the task at hand? (3) Do I care about other people and show it?" If the answer is yes, there is no way you can fail." ~ Lou Holtz, NFL & NCAA Football Coach and College Football commentator.
Medal Count.
CS&T/AA Graphics
Updated: 2/18 2:01 PM
| # | Country | G | S | B | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 8 | 20 |
| 2 | United States | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 |
| 3 | Russia | 5 | 8 | 6 | 19 |
| 4 | Norway | 7 | 4 | 7 | 18 |
| 5 | Canada | 4 | 9 | 4 | 17 |
| 6 | Germany | 8 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 7 | France | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | Austria | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| 9 | Sweden | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 11 | Italy | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 12 | Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 13 | Czech Republic | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 14 | Belarus | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 15 | China | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Japan | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 17 | South Korea | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 18 | Poland | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 19 | Australia | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 20 | Latvia | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 21 | Britain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 22 | Finland | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Slovakia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | Croatia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | Ukraine | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Men's Olympic Hockey Schedule: USA-Czech Republic, Canada-Latvia Set For Quarterfinals.
USA Olympic Hockey Team discussing strategy during game.
The United States and Canada now know who and when they will play in the quarterfinals of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The defending gold medalists will take on Latvia in their first Olympic matchup since 1936, which the Canadians won 11-0. Latvia upset Switzerland 3-1 in Tuesday’s qualification round meeting. The three goals the Swiss allowed were two more than they let through in the entire preliminary round.
Team USA will play the Czech Republic. The Czechs defeated Slovakia 5-3 in an exciting qualification round meeting Tuesday afternoon. Boston Bruins center David Krejci led the way with a goal and an assist.
The winner of the two quarterfinals will play Thursday in one of the semifinals.
Check out the men’s hockey quarterfinals schedule below. All games are Wednesday.
Sweden vs. Slovenia, 3:00 a.m. (ET) NBCSN 2:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time; Chicago
Finland vs. Russia, 7:30 a.m. (ET) NBCSN 6:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time; Chicago
Canada vs. Latvia, 12:00 p.m. (Noon) (ET) MSNBC 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time; Chicago
United States vs. Czech Republic, 12:00 p.m. (Noon) (ET) USA NETWORK 11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time; Chicago
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? NHL needs to stop being cowardly about the shootout, adopt ‘T.J. Oshie rule’.
By Harrison Mooney
People are still talking about Saturday morning's shootout between Russia and the United States, and for good reason. It was perhaps the most captivating moment of the Sochi men's Olympic hockey tournament to date, gripping people the world over as T.J. Oshie, cool as a cucumber, outduelled Sergei Bobrovsky and the host Russians to give the United States the victory, both in the game and, eventually, in Group A.
But it did more than just hold our attention in the moment: it successfully mined a superstar out of a shootout for the first time since the NHL moved to the overtime-deciding format after the 2004-05 lockout, ostensibly to do exactly that.
Since then, Oshie's gone from some guy that plays for the St. Louis Blues to one of the most recognizable names in hockey. He's been everywhere. He got a tweet from the President Obama, who, let's face it, doesn't care about hockey in the slightest.
Hell, T.J. Oshie's mom -- his mom -- is making the media rounds. She's done The Today Show and Access Hollywood, neither of which are exactly known for their coverage of hockey player's moms.
Suffice it to say, Oshie became a household name overnight, and we have international hockey's relaxed shootout rules to thank for it. In international hockey, after your first three shooters have gone, you can use anyone you want, including one of the aforementioned three. Heck, you can go to him over and over. International hockey don't care. Just score.
Whatever.
It sets up the kind of incredible drama we saw on Saturday, with the outcome of the game, and the pride of a nation, resting on the shoulders of one guy. It's how you make heroes. It's how you tell great sports stories.
Meanwhile, In the NHL, Oshie goes once, he either scores or he doesn't, and then it's on to the next guy. And after you've used your three, likely your best, most recognizable players, it's time to start scanning the bench, picking guys not known for their moves and hoping they surprise you.
Sometimes it happens. Marek Malik remains the biggest surprise dangler in shootout history. But for the most part, it's a team's fifth defenceman or third-line winger wristing a shot, scoring or not scoring, and fans responding with a shrug.
Basically, NHL shootouts get less and less compelling as they go. International hockey shootouts, as we've learned, have the capacity to become more gripping and to create moments and superstars. It's entirely thanks to this rule.
It seems to me that the NHL should be looking into adopting this rule, like, yesterday. But according to Bill Daly, they probably won't.
“We haven’t even talked about that with our general managers at any point and time, but I would very surprised if the general managers would ever be supportive of that type of concept," Daly told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. "It’s tough enough that they don’t like the shootout as it is.”
Pardon me while I retrieve my eyeballs from the back of my head.
In other words, the NHL won't look into an obvious solution to make their shootout a more compelling in-game feature, because the mere mention of the word "shootout" is going to start an argument about shootouts in general.
I get that, I guess. I don't love the shootout. I don't think it should be deciding games either. But that's a different argument. It does decide games, and so long as it does, it's pure, liquid stupidity for the league to hold back on attempting to improve it so they can tiptoe around league GMs. Keeping the shootout as quiet as possible, so as to not disturb the general managers, is cowardly and asinine.
Presumably, the goal here is to put the best, most marketable product on the ice, and with his four goals in six attempts, T.J. Oshie didn't just win the game for he States, he exposed the NHL for failing to do that.
The arguments against going to this rule are weak. People will claim that allowing one player to be singled out like that somehow damages hockey's reputation as a team sport.
These folks will tell you much the same thing about the shootout as a whole. That's Ray Ferrarro's take:
Ray Ferraro ✔ Follow
@rayferrarotsn
Don't want to be stick in mud and was amazed w @OSH74,but shootout has almost no team component, and 1 player shooting 5x even less so
It's rubbish.
Hockey is a team game, sure, but as much as we try our best to tamp down anyone who might dare to stand out, each team manages to create stars. Quick: name the entire Chicago Blackhawks roster. You can't. But you can name their best players, because even in the teamest of team games, there are outliers.
Heck, one guy wears a bunch more padding than the others (what a peacock!), and occasionally, takes sole blame for losses. There's a guy with a "C" on his chest (such a diva move!). There's the shutdown defenceman, the powerplay quarterback, the first-line center, the elite sniper, and so on, and so forth.
It may be a team game, but there are players on the team with notable roles. "Shootout specialist" should be one of them.
NHL won't discuss 2018 Winter Games while in Sochi.
By LARRY LAGE (AP Hockey Writer)
The possibility of the NHL players competing in the 2018 Olympics won't be discussed by the league during the Sochi Games.
''It's not anything we're focused on dealing with right now,'' Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
Bettman was joined at a news conference Tuesday by NHL Players' Association Executive Director Don Fehr and International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel.
''There is nothing like an Olympic gold medal in the life of an athlete,'' Fasel said. ''Nothing.''
Then Bettman interjected: ''Except for winning the Stanley Cup.''
The league and the union have allowed their players to be in the Olympics since 1998, creating an elite hockey tournament that has become one of the most popular events at the Olympics.
''None of this moves forward, if it moves forward at all, is if the players don't want to play,'' Bettman said. ''If the players ever said, we're not interested, we're not going to force them to go.''
If NHL players ever did say that, it would be stunning. They all seem to want to keep having an opportunity to play for gold on the world's stage every four years.
''The Olympic Games is obviously a pinnacle of sports and it represents a lot,'' Canadian forward John Tavares said. ''I think it's important we continue to try and find a way to (make it) work. We certainly enjoy coming as players.''
While the NHL and NHLPA said a decision about 2018 could be made within six months, both parties didn't want to be tied to a timetable.
''We'll get a sense of what people are thinking over the next 12, 16 months,'' Fehr said after the news conference. ''We have our board meeting this summer, and I'm sure it'll be a topic of some discussion. And then the players either at that point will be able to say, 'This is what we want to do, go try and make it happen.' Or, they're going to say, 'We want to think about it a little more.'''
International competition in hockey isn't going away, but it might not happen at future Olympics because NHL owners don't like for at least a couple of reasons. Some NHL owners are not in favor of freezing their season for more than two weeks when they have less competition for fans in the United States. They're also wary of putting their well-paid players at risk of injury while playing for their country.
''I believe in the not too distant future the NHL and NHLPA will be in a position to talk about other international initiatives that we're discussing, including bringing back the World Cup,'' Bettman said. ''We see international competition on the horizon. It's really just a question of what the format will be.''
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!! Team Report - CHICAGO BEARS.
The Sports Xchange
A 180-degree turnabout by the Chicago Bears under coach Marc Trestman in 2013 left them where they have been six of the last seven years.
They once again watched the playoffs with one key thought going through their minds.
"We don't want to be sitting here next year with 46 seconds left and not be able to get to where we want to go," Trestman said.
The last-minute touchdown that put Green Bay into the playoffs with a third straight division title left Trestman and general manager Phil Emery knowing another offseason reconstruction project is in order, but this time on the defensive side.
Impacted greatly by injuries, the Bears defense collapsed in a year when they finally managed to reverse decades of futility on offense to finish with more yardage (6,109), passing yardage (4,281) and touchdown passes (32) under Trestman than in any season in franchise history.
Finishing last in rushing defense and 30th overall on defense may have been the result of injuries to linebackers Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams, cornerback Charles Tillman, and defensive tackle Henry Melton, or it could have been the result of different defensive coaches teaching a system they knew little about running.
It's a question they'll ponder over coming months.
The advancing age of their defense and injuries left Trestman and general manager Phil Emery knowing they had to treat the defense like when they added four offensive line starters and a tight end last year.
"Chicago is about defense and playing a certain way," Trestman said. "There's a toughness to the way we want to play, and that's what we did in the first three games."
After those three games -- all wins -- the injuries occurred and the Bears lost eight of 13. They dropped from leading the league in forcing turnovers to middle of the pack. They were eighth in interceptions even while tieing for last in sacks, and the lack of a pass rush impacted them all year.
"As the season progressed and we had more injuries, we fell dramatically," said Emery, who pointed out opponents averaged 6.4 yards per run from the ninth game on against the collapsing defense.
"We went from the beginning of the season of being a little over 20 percent (of) plays creating disruption against the pass," he said. "When we first started having injuries we were in the 15 percent range.
"There was a dramatic dropoff. So we're going to examine all aspects, but it starts with me. From a personnel perspective and from my perspective, I had not done enough to provide enough depth. We were at least one defensive lineman short."
The increased offensive production with both Jay Cutler and Josh McCown at quarterback was remarkable. It seemed to matter little which played as the offense moved up and down the field at will.
Trestman thinks what he saw from the offense will only improve considering where it all started.
"I've had the opportunity to go to San Francisco and be part of a good offense," he said. "I've had a chance in another instance to go into Oakland and be part of a good offense. But when I went in there, the system was in place, the language was in place, there was a foundation that was in place.
"When we came in here last January, it wasn't in place. We had to start over and the credit has to start with the players and the way, particularly our quarterbacks Jay and Josh took control of the situation."
Running back Matt Forte had his best year (career-highs 1,339 rushing yards, 74 catches, 594 yards) and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (89 catches, 1,421 yards) and wide receiver Brandon Marshall (100-1,295) ranked as the best 1-2 receiver duo in the league.
None of those numbers mattered in the end, though, as it all seemed like the Bears merely traded one losing approach for another.
Emery looked at 8-8 with a defeat in a season-ending division title game and saw progress over a 10-6 mark under Lovie Smith when they needed help to get into the playoffs but never got it.
"A year ago, we had to win those last two games and we had to have other people lose games for us to go and we didn't," he said. "This year, we were in control of that situation the last two games after having all our ups and downs of our season and fighting adversity and fighting injuries.
"We were still in a position the last two games to win it, so that is a little bit different to me."
Different, perhaps, but the end result produced a very familiar feeling of disappointment for all involved.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Bears quarterback Josh McCown does not plan to retire, ESPN reported. McCown led the Bears to a 3-2 record while filling in for injured starter Jay Cutler for part of the 2013 season.
Some believed McCown may retire but he reportedly plans to file for free agency in the offseason and is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks available.
McCown, 34, and Michael Vick are expected to lead a thin crop of free agent quarterbacks.
The Bears reportedly want to bring back McCown, but other teams more needy for a quarterback may have a better chance of luring him. The Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans are among the teams in search of a starting quarterback.
McCown threw for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception in eight games this season.
--The Bears fired defensive line coach Mike Phair and linebackers coach Tim Tibesar. Phair originally joined the team in 2011 as an assistant defensive line coach and Tibesar began in January of 2013.
The remainder of the coaching staff will remain in place for 2014.
"We thank Mike and Tim for their effort and dedication," Head coach Marc Trestman said. "They are men of high character and integrity. These are not easy decisions and we do not attribute our lack of success on defense to two individuals. We need to improve in all areas defensively and that will be a focal point for us this offseason. The process starts with me as the head coach. Our search for a defensive line and linebackers coach has begun and we will be looking for the best candidates whose experience can bring the most out of our veteran and young players in both areas."
One of the retained coaches who was potentially believed to be in jeopardy was defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Said Trestman, "Our team evaluation remains ongoing. We believe Mel is the right person to lead our defensive unit. He fully understands where we need to improve, has the skill set and leadership to oversee the changes that need to be made and to execute our plan to get the results we know are necessary."
--The Bears hired Reggie Herring as linebackers coach and Paul Pasqualoni as defensive line coach.
Herring, 54, has 33 years of coaching experience, including eight as a linebackers coach in the NFL.
Pasqualoni, 64, has 42 years of coaching experience, including 22 as a collegiate head coach and six seasons as a NFL assistant.
The two coaches worked together with the Cowboys in 2010 when Pasqualoni was Dallas' defensive coordinator/defensive line coach and Herring was the linebackers coach.
Herring spent the last three seasons (2011-13) as the linebackers coach of the Houston Texans, his second such stint with the team (2002-03).
Pasqualoni was most recently head coach at the University of Connecticut (2011-13) before being fired four games into the 2013 season. He also has served as head coach at Syracuse (1991-2004) and Western Connecticut (1982-86).
As a collegiate head coach, Pasqualoni compiled a 151-94-1 record, posted 15 winning seasons, won five conference titles and led his teams to a 6-3 record in nine bowl games.
--The Bears hired Clint Hurtt as their assistant defensive line coach to replace Michael Sinclair, who was notified he would not be back with the staff in 2014.
Hurtt has 13 years of collegiate coaching experience, including the last four as Louisville's defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator. This will be his first NFL job.
--Defensive end Julius Peppers seems to rate high on the list of Bears who are going to either be asked to take a pay cut or restructure their contract, or be outright released.
His 7.5 sacks were his fewest as a Bear and fewest since he had 2.5 in 2007.
General manager Phil Emery said Peppers "had an 8-8 season."
"Obviously, Julius had a lot of good games, like a lot of our players, and he had games that he would want back," Emery said. "And I think Julius would say that, too.
"We will work through each and every player on our squad and to determine where we're going with him in the future, and that process is going to take time. But Julius is under contract. We're proud that he's a Bear, and that's where we're at."
--The Bears promoted Pat Meyer to offensive line coach and hired Joe Kim to their coaching staff as assistant strength/skill development coach.
Meyer spent the 2013 season as the Bears assistant offensive line coach as Chicago's offensive line allowed just 30 sacks in 2013, tied for fourth fewest in the NFL. Along with Aaron Kromer, who will hold the title of offensive coordinator and continue to be involved in all aspects of the offense including the offensive line, Meyer helped develop 2013 first-round draft pick Kyle Long into a Pro Bowler during his rookie season.
"Pat came in with an understanding of the offense and quickly assimilated himself with the players," head coach Marc Trestman said. "He worked with Aaron, collectively, to not only teach the offensive linemen but to bring them together collectively and cohesively as a group.
"The move will allow Aaron to still be closely connected to the instruction and development of the offensive line while expanding his coordinator duties and free up time to help in the growth of all of our offensive players."
Kim has 21 years of experience as a consultant and assistant strength coach. He most recently worked in the NFL as a pass-rush consultant with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2010-12. Kim has also been a consultant with the New York Giants (2010), Buffalo Bills (2009), Penn State University (2009-10), the Denver Broncos (2007), Green Bay Packers (2005), Miami Dolphins (2001-06) and Dallas Cowboys (1998). He got his start in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns as an assistant strength coach/pass-rush specialist from 1992-95, his first of two stints with the team (1999-2000).
Kim is a 7th Dan Black Belt recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation, Kukkiwon and USA Taekwondo. He has produced over 250 Black Belts as well as several National and International Champions. He was a multi-time member of the U.S. National Taekwondo team including earning a bronze medal at the 1990 Pan Am Games and World Cup. Kim is a two-time U.S. Olympic Festival Gold Medalist and National Champion.
--The hiring of Lovie Smith in Tampa has led to plenty of speculation about which Bears free agents will be heading south to Tampa.
Defensive tackle Henry Melton is always on the possibility list, but cornerback Charles Tillman seems to be a consensus future Buc based largely on his close ties with Smith in the past.
The Bears' signing of Tim Jennings for $22 million over four years seems to make Tillman's return less likely, but not a certainty.
Prior to Smith's hiring in Tampa, Tillman seemed to anticipate something like this happening when he said, "I have some options. I have some thoughts. I have some decisions that I have to make that's what's best for myself and my family and my football career."
--The possibility middle linebacker Jonathan Bostic could move to outside linebacker was suggested by no less an expert than Emery. Bostic was drafted as a middle linebacker and played it this year after D.J. Williams went on injured reserve.
"I made that comment because his skill set -- he's a hit-and-run player in terms of the guy can really cover ground," Emery said. "He's very dynamic in his speed, and he's very dynamic in his ability to hit and the physicalness and the impact of it."
Emery ranked Bostic second among Bears in terms of an ability to "unload on another player in space and produce an impact tackle or an impact hit."
Bostic often failed at a basic requirement in the middle this year. He had trouble finding his way through blocking schemes to the ball carrier.
"He can improve dramatically in that going into his second season," Emery said.
--The Shea McClellin reboot is about to occur.
"Shea is capable of more and it's our job and our responsibility as coaches to get that out of him, and we're going to do everything we can to do that," coach Marc Trestman said.
In two seasons, Emery's first first-round pick has 6.5 sacks and has become a target for opposing running attacks. Coaches see his great speed and figure there must be a way to get production from a player they passed over Chandler Jones (17.5 sacks) and Whitney Mercilus (13 sacks) to take.
"He was brought in to the Chicago Bears to be a rotational, complementary pass rusher," Emery said.
"The whole idea and thought behind Shea is the high end of the athleticism he has and his speed to handle the quarterbacks that we face and the mobility that they have. The role model was some of the players that Lovie (Smith) had in the past in terms of being somebody that comes in during the nickel downs, primarily, and then goes anywhere from the high 40 percent to about 60-62 percent (of snaps) is the effective range of a player that has the skill set that you're looking for."
The possibility they'll play 3-4 in some situations or go to a different variation of the 4-3 all seems to hinge on McClellin.
--Melton's arrest for assault and public intoxication did not escape Emery's scrutiny when he discussed the future of the defense.
Melton is a free agent, but is rehabbing from his torn anterior cruciate ligament and Emery hasn't liked what he has seen in terms of the arrest.
"The under-tackle position in the scheme that we're in is the engine that drives the defense," he said of Melton's spot. "And when he was in the game, even though from a statistical standpoint he wasn't off to a fast start, it was very evident on tape that he was a very important part of the defense.
"So he knows, and that has been related to him that we signed you for a reason. Now let's focus in on getting healthy, and obviously he has some off-the-field issues that he needs to make sure that he's focused in on football and having a passion for football."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
*FREE-AGENT UPDATE
Scheduled to be unrestricted in March
--LB James Anderson
--CB Zack Bowman
--DT Nate Collins
--C Roberto Garza
--KR-PR Devin Hester
--LS Patrick Mannelly
--DT Henry Melton
--QB Josh McCown
--DT Jeremiah Ratliff
--CB Charles Tillman
--LB D.J. Williams
--DL Corey Wootton
--S Major Wright
--T-G Eben Britton
--DT Landon Cohen
--LB Blake Costanzo
--CB Kelvin Hayden
--S Derrick Martin
--CB Sherrick McManis
--QB Jordan Palmer
--TE Dante Rosario
--T Jonathan Scott
--S Craig Steltz
*UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Jay Cutler. Backups -- Josh McCown, Jordan Palmer.
Cutler described himself as "married" to coach Marc Trestman and his system, and he displayed what the team needed to see in terms of running and leading the offense to decide to pay him about $22 million of next year's salary cap. Cutler has all the throws and finally stepped forward and took the leadership role with this team. What they really need to see now is Cutler beating Green Bay, since he failed despite playing a solid game against them with the playoffs on the line. Retaining McCown might be difficult, but is preferable to keeping Palmer as backup and drafting a young third quarterback or signing another backup. McCown could draw interest as a backup from other teams, but at age 34 the best he'll do elsewhere in terms of playing time is a promise to let him compete to be a starter. He had plenty of support to start in Chicago with his 109 passer rating, but on the other hand he failed to beat two last-place teams (Minnesota and St. Louis) in starts and another last-place team (Washington) when he played most of the game. Any of those wins would have given the Bears a playoff berth.
RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Matt Forte. Backups -- Michael Bush, Michael Ford, FB Tony Fiammetta.
Forte is among the top three all-around backs in the league and at a peak as a player. He's coming off career bests in receptions (74), receiving yards (594) and rushing yards (1,339) and has been a good blocking back except for the prime-time failure against Philadelphia. He even improved in goal line or short yardage last year. Trestman's ability to use multi-purpose backs definitely applied in Forte's case. Bush got very few chances that weren't in short-yardage situations, but generally appears too slow into the hole to be a power-style complement to Forte. His $8.45 million cap figure over the next two years makes him a prime candidate to be cut for salary-cap purposes. The Bears would need to find a power back replacement, as Ford is more a multi-purpose back in Forte's mold, but without as much speed. They need this position filled to help preserve Forte, too, as there has been a tendency to overwork him. The Bears quickly locked Fiammetta up to a new deal based on his ability to help free Forte off the edge with his run blocking, and an ability to pick up blitzers on passes.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Martellus Bennett. Backup -- Dante Rosario.
Bennett's hands eventually proved better than billed, after a few games when he seemed plagued by drops. His ability to make plays with good quickness for a big player and also his run blocking on the edge proved critical in the offense when defenses focused on Brandon Marshall. Rosario had no impact as a receiver with one catch in 15 games and three starts. He was an effective extra pass blocker, but showed no ability to separate on short patterns. The Bears could use a second tight end with better size that is more physical. They had Fendi Onobun on the practice squad all year, and physically he shows he can be a big-play type with reach, speed and athleticism like a wide receiver. He also has skillets for hands and needs to work hard at making the most simple catches.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery. Backups -- Earl Bennett, Marquess Wilson, Joe Anderson, Eric Weems, Chris Williams.
It's difficult to deny Marshall's importance both as a target and a decoy to take pressure off Jeffery, but he also led the NFL in dropped passes (12), according to STATS Inc., and had a huge drop on the last drive against Green Bay to ensure no playoff berth. Still, Marshall and Jeffery together ranked as the league's best receiver tandem and also strong blockers downfield in the running game or screen game. The only thing the Bears lack in those two is world class sprinter's speed, although they make up for it with athleticism and the ability to go vertical for difficult catches. Bennett reworked his contract before last year, but could be a salary-cap victim with a $5 million cap number over the next two years. Replacing Bennett is no easy matter, since he had an ability to find dead spots in zones for third-down or goal-line catches. Wilson might have better speed than the other receivers, but needs to work on his strength and downfield blocking. Anderson is athletic with decent hands and speed but finished the year on injured reserve with two less serious injuries. Williams is a project, but has good speed and, like Weems, has special teams value.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Jermon Bushrod, LG Matt Slauson, C Roberto Garza, RG Kyle Long, RT Jordan Mills. Backups -- C Taylor Boggs, G-T Eben Britton, T Jonathan Scott, T-G James Brown, T Joe Long.
Bushrod came in with a big free-agent contract questioned by many analysts, but finished an excellent season protecting Cutler's blind side. He had only one poor game. The Bears thought enough to give Slauson a new deal. He proved solid and worked well in the inside-out pass blocking scheme. Garza does not play like a 34 year old and has been very durable for a player missing an anterior cruciate ligament, with only two missed games since becoming a Bear. Only on a few occasions did a player come up the "A gap," although Garza isn't the best short-yardage blocker and sometimes gets overpowered. Long played well enough as a rookie to be an alternate to the Pro Bowl. His speed and strength made it easy for him to pull and help with the edge rushing game and screen passes. It won't be surprising if he eventually becomes a tackle because of his athletic ability. Mills, who had surgery to repair a broken foot bone when the season ended, has been burned by speed rushers and is still developing in terms of footwork. That explains how Pro Football Focus had him ranked among the league's worst pass-blocking tackles all year. He was at his best sealing an edge for Forte, but also had value pulling to block off the left side in the run game. The Bears have a glut of backup tackles and it's expected Scott could go. They've brought Brown, Boggs and Britton along as young players in their system. Boggs might be an answer when Garza retires, but he'll need to bulk up. Britton produced all year as the sixth offensive lineman in run blocking formations, and played effectively replacing an injured Mills in the season finale. Joe Long has pedigree -- as Jake Long's brother -- and was good enough that the Bears plucked him from Pittsburgh's practice squad and put him on the active roster when they already had a plenty of tackles. Could challenge Mills in the future.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DT Corey Wootton, NT Jeremiah Ratliff, RDE Julius Peppers, LDE Shea McClellin. Backups -- DT Henry Melton, DT Nate Collins, DT Landon Cohen, DE Cheta Ozougwu, DE David Bass, DE Cornelius Washington.
Season-ending knee injuries suffered by Melton and Collins turned this into a collection of waiver-wire pickups. Peppers still is the best defensive lineman they have, although there are 30.4 million reasons in unguaranteed salary dollars to think he'll be cut unless he agrees to a drastically revised deal. He is a non-factor on too many plays and often was completely taken out by blockers on running plays. Wootton is no tackle, although he tried playing it to help. He's very versatile and as a player could also play end in a 3-4, he has value for a team that could be switching either to a 3-4 or else a 4-3 hybrid that uses a two-gap approach at times. Ratliff showed an ability to cave the pocket, and will only get stronger. With experience in one- and two-gap approaches, he also would be a free agent to keep. McClellin has been an abysmal failure as an end with his hand on the ground. From general manager Phil Emery's comments, they're obviously looking at turning him into a pass-rushing linebacker or some type of hybrid player. Collins is on course with his rehab to return by training camp, as is Melton. But Melton also had off-field problems after an arrest for being disorderly. Their return depends greatly on if the scheme continues emphasizing the three-technique role. Ozougwu is the young project who can rush the passer but can't stop the run, while Bass is the young end who can't rush the passer but plays the run. Washington has to step up both as a rusher and run stopper as he has been outperformed by many waiver-wire pickups despite being a drafted.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Lance Briggs, MLB Jonathan Bostic, SLB James Anderson. Backups -- MLB D.J. Williams, WLB Khaseem Greene, LB Blake Costanzo, LB Jerry Franklin.
Briggs' shoulder fracture healed, but he appeared out of shape when he returned. He remains the defense's best tackler and led a poor tackling team in tackles for losses. Although they want to get younger, letting go of a player with such skills seems counterproductive. Bostic's rookie season made it apparent he has outstanding speed and may be better suited to playing outside rather than the middle. He often failed to break down and missed tackles or overran his gap. Anderson is a versatile veteran capable of helping in several schemes, and although he initially wasn't expected to be on the field in the nickel, he wound up playing it all year fairly well -- except for failing to pick up a live ball against Green Bay. Like many defensive players this year, his tackling left something to be desired. Williams made a quick adjustment to a new scheme, was effective despite missing training camp with a knee injury, and then was quickly gone with a torn triceps. Like with all 30-somethings, his return as a free agent is not a guarantee. Costanzo has been a solid special teams player, but has little or no value as a backup and may not be someone a team lacking salary-cap room can afford. Greene had a debut much like Bostic. As Briggs' backup, he showed great speed, but played out of control and failed at the basic requirement of knowing his run fits. He also showed far less ability to deliver big hits than had been billed. Franklin is only a special teams player who was cut and brought back due to injuries.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Tim Jennings, RCB Zack Bowman, SS Major Wright, FS Chris Conte. Backups -- CB Isaiah Frey, CB Kelvin Hayden, DB Derrick Martin, CB Sherrick McManis, S Anthony Walters, S Craig Steltz, CB Charles Tillman.
Jennings signed, solving one problem. His ability to play man against taller players because of great leaping ability and speed have made him valued. Tillman's torn pectoral muscle and rehab are not a problem, but his return is anything but a lock. It's possible he'll get a bigger contract for one extra year in free agency than the year or two the Bears may be willing to give. Tillman will be 33 next season and although he hadn't missed a game in the previous three years, he's been bothered by nagging injuries. It's a tough call. Bowman showed great improvement in man pass protection this season as Tillman's replacement, and remains a physical player in run defense. Still, he hasn't shown the knack for shutting down big receivers like Calvin Johnson that Tillman has had. Neither Conte nor Wright distinguished themselves. They showed this year they had been beneficiaries from a good pass rush in the past since without the rush there they were beaten repeatedly. Conte missed out making big plays, and also gave up big plays. He may not have the speed to play safety in a scheme relying at times on single deep or man coverage. Frey played a whole year at nickel and was average. His tackling came into question at times, and some teams near the end of the year targeted him on third downs. Hayden's return from knee surgery is likely by the start of training camp, but whether he'll maintain the speed that made him starting nickel remains to be seen. Martin and McManis are special teams types and Steltz has been a dependable third or fourth safety. A lack of speed keeps Steltz from being a starter. Walters has not shown an ability to be a ballhawk and hasn't been physical enough.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Robbie Gould, P Adam Podlesh, KOR/PR Devin Hester, LS Patrick Mannelly.
Robbie Gould's missed field goal in Minnesota looms as one of the plays that kept the Bears from the playoffs, but he remains both accurate and one of the better kickers from 50 yards or longer. And, of course, he has handled the fickle weather and poor playing surface at Soldier Field well. Mannelly still remains very effective. The team will have to weigh whether someone 39 years old on opening day can also avoid being a detriment in punt coverage. Podlesh suffered through a roller-coaster season with his hang time and occasional shanks, so his departure might be a possibility. Hester's return seems unlikely. The Bears even signed a potential replacement during the regular season in Chris Williams, who was a standout return man in Canada.
Just another Chicago Bulls Session… Chicago Bulls Will Hit Their Stride in Second Half of Season.
By Sherron Shabazz
COMMENTARY | The All-Star break is over, and it's time to get back to business for the Chicago Bulls.
Many people expect the Bulls to make a move at the Thursday, February 20 trade deadline, but that's unlikely. Unless an impact player is offered and the Bulls can unload Carlos Boozer in the process, expect the Bulls to stand pat.
By trading Luol Deng, waiving Andrew Bynum, and trading Marquis Teague, the Bulls completed their most important mission of getting under the luxury-tax threshold. Now they just have to focus on winning games.
I, along with many other Chicago Bulls fans, hoped that the Bulls would "tank" this season for a chance at a high lottery pick in what could turn out to be a stellar 2014 draft class -- that's just not happening. The Bulls aren't built to tank. They have too much talent, too much pride, a great coach, and, in all honesty, even if they did lose a bunch of games, they'd still make the playoffs in a poor Eastern Conference.
Chicago is fourth in the East (27-25) and only one game behind the third place Toronto Raptors in the standings.
The Bulls have 30 games remaining on their schedule and 16 of those are at home. Eighteen of Chicago's final 30 games are against sub-.500 teams. The Bulls might be destined to take the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Other teams jockeying for the third slot include the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Bobcats, and the aforementioned Raptors. These six teams are separated by a mere five games.
The Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers could also make a late playoff push this spring.
Given the teams in the mix for mid-level playoff slots, the Bulls could conceivably win a first-round playoff series.
This season, Chicago is 3-0 versus the Bobcats, 2-0 versus the Hawks, 2-0 versus the Nets, 1-2 versus the Raptors, and 0-2 versus the Wizards.
Washington and Toronto's dynamic guards give the Bulls fits. Common sense says Chicago should avoid the Wizards and Raptors in the first round, but given their experience and coaching, I wouldn't count the Bulls out.
The Bulls are the second-best defensive team in the NBA behind the Indiana Pacers. Defense alone will allow the Bulls to rack up a couple of wins. Conversely, they're also the second-worst scoring team in the NBA, only slightly better than the Milwaukee Bucks.
With 12 filled roster spots, one being occupied by the injured Derrick Rose, the Bulls have to add one more player to meet the mandatory 13-player league minimum. It's imperative that they add someone that can score a little in emergency situations. Given salary-cap restrictions, Chicago will likely scour the D-League for the cheapest talent available.
In what has been a disastrous season after the season-ending injury to Derrick Rose, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. No, the Bulls won't win the NBA championship. They also won't win the NBA draft lottery. But they will build momentum going into next season that will have the players' confidence at an all-time high.
Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson are playing the best ball of their careers. Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell are playing meaningful minutes and getting valuable on the job training. D.J. Augustin is playing at such a high level, he's making it hard for the Bulls to consider not re-signing him in the offseason. Carlos Boozer is playing for his reputation and to stay in the Windy City.
This is the team that's going into the playoffs -- well-coached and hungry. I wouldn't want to play them in the first round.
Chicago Bulls: Pacers' Coach Loves Him Some Joakim Noah in All-Star Game.
By Dalton Russell
COMMENTARY | The Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah was one of the last reserves taken to round out the Eastern Conference All-Star roster, yet Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel showed the utmost respect to his Central Division rival with the way in which he decided to use Noah to help secure the East's 163-155 All-Star game victory.
The unwritten rule of the NBA All-Star game has always been for players to try to put on an entertaining high-wire act through the first three quarters of play, before finally turning up the defensive energy (or whatever passes for defense nowadays) to try and win the game in the final frame.
Sunday's All-Star finale played out exactly as advertised as dunk after dunk propelled the West to the most first-half points in All-Star history (89). When the fourth quarter rolled around, the East found itself down by three, and Vogel had an interesting decision to make.
NBA All-Star game head coaches are always tasked with getting everyone a fair share of minutes early on, but, when it is time to put the foot on the gas and go get a victory, the starters seem to find their way back on the floor.
NBA All-Star game head coaches are always tasked with getting everyone a fair share of minutes early on, but, when it is time to put the foot on the gas and go get a victory, the starters seem to find their way back on the floor.
With Dwyane Wade -- who many questioned the All-Star worthiness of in the first place -- unable to play a full load of starter's minutes, Vogel had to replace him with one of the East's reserves.
Instead of swapping a shooting guard for another shooting guard, or even selecting his own big man, Roy Hibbert, to help the East try to win its first All-Star game in four years, the Pacers' head coach tapped Noah on the shoulder and told him to go help bring the East a W.
Noah responded with six of his eight points and three of his five rebounds during crunch time.
And despite having their regular season run-ins, including nearly coming to blows in the playoffs last season, Noah found in unlikely pick-and-roll partner in LeBron James. Noah, who is not shy about voicing his hatred for the Miami Heat, connected with James on buckets late to lift the East.
But what are we to make of Vogel's personnel decisions in the fourth quarter? Was it that the he simply did not want to put unnecessary minutes on the legs of Hibbert, or was Noah's playing time a clear indication of what the Pacers' coach thinks of Noah as a defender? Noah led all reserves with 21 minutes -- six minutes more than the next closest player.
Vogel has guided the Pacers to allow a league-low 90.3 points per game to opponents in the first half of the season, but the Bulls have been right there with them, surrendering only 92.3 points per contest themselves.
On a night in which Blake Griffin was stuffing the stat sheet with dunks and easy second-chance put-backs, Vogel may have found it prudent to get Noah's 11.5 rebounds per game into the skirmish and limit Griffin's effectiveness.
Kevin Durant and Griffin each had their sights on Wilt Chamberlain's all-time All-Star record of 42 points, but fell just short with 38 points apiece in defeat.
The MVP race came down to either Kyrie Irving's 31points and 14 assists or Carmelo Anthony's 30 points on an All-Star record eight made three-pointers. In the end, the Cleveland Cavalries' second-year star walked away with the individual hardware.
Looking ahead for Noah and the Bulls, the team will get a few much-needed days off before getting back at it on Wednesday when they get to pull out their passports and hit the Air Canada Centre for a clash with the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls currently sit one game behind Toronto in the standings, with this showdown momentarily deciding third place in the East.
In addition to the on-the-court action, Chicago will be very interested to see what -- if anything -- happens before the Feb. 20 trade deadline. The Bulls have been rumored to be involved in blockbuster trade talks that could have potentially tide-shifting implications in the Eastern Conference race.
However, Chicago VP of Operations John Paxson recently downplayed those rumors when he told ESPN that a deadline deal was "unlikely."
For Cubs' Renteria, it's about high expectations.
By ANDREW SELIGMAN (AP Sports Writer)
There is one distinct message new manager Rick Renteria plans to deliver when the Chicago Cubs gather Wednesday for their first full-squad workout.
It has to do with high expectations.
''You shouldn't fear having expectations - high expectations,'' Renteria said.
The idea of the Cubs having high expectations might be a bit jarring given their recent struggles, not to mention that cursed championship drought dating to 1908. They're coming off their fourth straight losing season, and with management's eyes geared more toward the future than a quick fix, a big jump does not appear to be at hand.
It's more about development now, laying the foundation and getting the most out of the young players on the roster while the top prospects develop in the minors.
That's where those expectations come in. It's about individuals not being afraid to set high bars for themselves.
The Cubs fired Dale Sveum after two seasons and hired Renteria from the San Diego Padres' coaching staff hoping he could do just that.
They're looking for shortstop Starlin Castro to cut back on the physical and mental errors while regaining his All-Star form, and they're hoping Anthony Rizzo delivers on his promise and becomes the slugging first baseman they think he can be.
In Renteria, they believe they have a manager with a calm and patience to connect with their young players that will ultimately lead to bigger dividends - particularly if top prospects Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Albert Almora and Kris Bryant improve.
''It'd be nice over the next however many years for the Cubs to be constantly in the playoff hunt,'' Renteria said. ''That's my mentality. That's my mentality today. It was my mentality when I took the job. I'm not afraid to say it.''
They have a long way to go. But they have a manager who knows a thing or two about coming a long way.
He once sustained serious facial injuries after being struck by a line drive as a minor league player in 1990, only to make it back to the majors a few years later with the Florida Marlins.
He was a longtime coach and manager in the minors for Florida and San Diego and spent the past six years on the Padres' staff, serving as their bench coach for three seasons, before landing the Cubs job.
He also managed Mexico in the World Baseball Classic last March.
The interviews with the Cubs, not to mention Seattle and Detroit, came at an awkward time for Renteria. He had his right hip replaced after last season and was unable to travel.
That meant that all meetings were conducted at his home in Southern California, with Renteria in sweats because he couldn't put on a suit.
''Those were unusual circumstances, but he did a great job not letting it affect him,'' Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. ''He really dominated his rehab. It was nice to get to know him in his home, in an informal setting like that.''
Renteria wasn't a complete stranger to management.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer and senior vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod both worked with him during their days in San Diego's front office. Rizzo was also with the Padres when Renteria was there.
The Cubs aimed high, showing interest in Joe Girardi, but were forced to turn elsewhere after he decided to stay with the New York Yankees. They also interviewed Eric Wedge, Dave Martinez Manny Acta, A.J. Hinch and Brad Ausmus.
To Epstein, several things stood out about Renteria through discussions with former players - his baseball knowledge and his upbeat demeanor.
''He makes people look forward to being around,'' Epstein said. ''He makes being at the ballpark fun, kind of raises everyone's spirits. But he also holds people accountable.''
Cubs players mention his constant smile, with newcomer Jason Hammel even calling him a ''goofball'' in the most complimentary way.
''He came up to me the first day I came in (and said), 'Jason, hey, nice to meet you!' And he slapped me on the face almost like your grandfather talking to you,'' Hammel said. ''He made me feel very welcome. I'm excited. I feel like I'm wanted here.''
Renteria wants to get going, too.
''The last few seasons aren't acceptable for us as Cubs, but it shouldn't be something (players) use as a burden, as a weight or a realization of where we're not,'' Renteria said. ''Maybe we can use that as a motivation to take care of today. The reality is we've got to take care of today. If we do well today, it'll take care of what happened in the past.''
Golf glance.
By Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange
COMING UP
PGA TOUR: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz., Wednesday through Sunday.
TV: Wednesday, noon-6 p.m. EST on the Golf Channel; Thursday and Friday, 2-6 p.m. EST, on the Golf Channel; Saturday and Sunday, noon-2 p.m. EST on the Golf Channel and 2-6 p.m. EST on CBS.
LAST YEAR: Matt Kuchar avenged a defeat from the previous year when he took down defending champion Hunter Mahan, 2 and 1, in the Accenture final. In 2012, Mahan routed Kuchar on the way to the title with a 6-and-5 victory in the quarterfinals. Kuchar didn't reach the 18th hole in any of his six matches in 2013, also defeating Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan, 3 and 2; Sergio Garcia of Spain, 2 and 1; Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, 4 and 3; Robert Garrigus, 3 and 2; and Jason Day of Australia, 4 and 3, en route to the final. Kuchar also finished third in 2011, losing to eventual champion Luke Donald in the semifinals, 6 and 5, before beating Bubba Watson in the consolation match, 2 and 1.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif., March 14-16.
TV: Friday, 6:30-9 p.m. EDT; Saturday and Sunday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. EDT, on the Golf Channel each day.
LAST YEAR: David Frost of South Africa opened with an 8-under-par 63 and led virtually all the way in claiming a five-stroke victory over Fred Couples. Frost, who played the weekend in 66-65, earned his fourth victory on the Champions Tour, adding the Regions Tradition later in the year, after winning 10 times on the PGA Tour. Couples birdied the first hole of the final round to pull even with Frost, who regained control with birdies on the next two holes and finished things off with Couples still in contention by carding four birdies on the last five holes.
LPGA TOUR: Honda LPGA Thailand on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, Thursday through Sunday.
TV: Thursday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EST; Friday, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. EST; Saturday, 2-6 p.m. EST; and Sunday, 1:30-6 p.m. EST, on the Golf Channel each day.
LAST YEAR: Inbee Park of South Korea closed with a 5-under-par 67 and claimed a one-stroke victory over 17-year-old Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who lipped out a 3-foot putt to make a triple-bogey 8 on the last hole and shoot 72. It was the first of six victories for Park in 2013, including the first three majors of the season, which lifted her to No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. Jutanugarn, who made a hole-in-one earlier in the round, took a two-stroke lead to the final hole, but she drove into an unplayable lie in a bunker and took a penalty drop. She flew the green with her approach before three-putting.
NASCAR Budweiser Duel lineups set for Thursday.
Tony DiZinno
So, qualifying is in the books for the Daytona 500, which means little in the grand scheme of things but means more in some respects because we get to talk about it for a week.
The tangible outcome of the Daytona 500 qualifying speeds though, is that they set the grid for Thursday’s Budweiser Duel… which then sets the grid for the actual Daytona 500.
The lineups below are determined by said qualifying speeds, with three exceptions. Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte will move to the back of their respective Duel race because of engine changes.
DAYTONA DUEL NO. 1
| Pos | Car | Driver | Team |
| 1 | 3 | Austin Dillon # | DOW Chevrolet |
| 2 | 16 | Greg Biffle | 3M Ford |
| 3 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Caterpillar Chevrolet |
| 4 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt. Jr. | National Guard Chevrolet |
| 5 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse. Jr. | Nationwide Insurance Ford |
| 6 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Stanley Ford |
| 7 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Smithfield Ford |
| 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Shell Pennzoil Ford |
| 9 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Dollar General Toyota |
| 10 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Farmers Insurance Chevrolet |
| 11 | 18 | Kyle Busch | M&M’s Toyota |
| 12 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Budweiser Chevrolet |
| 13 | 10 | Danica Patrick | GoDaddy Chevrolet |
| 14 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | Kroger/USO Chevrolet |
| 15 | 36 | Reed Sorenson | Golden Corral Chevrolet |
| 16 | 38 | David Gilliland | Love’s Travel Stops Ford |
| 17 | 30 | Parker Kligerman # | Swan Energy Toyota |
| 18 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet |
| 19 | 55 | Brian Vickers | Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota |
| 20 | 26 | Cole Whitt # | Speed Stick Gear Toyota |
| 21 | 95 | Michael McDowell | K-Love Ford |
| 22 | 98 | Josh Wise | Curb Records Ford |
| 23 | 87 | Joe Nemechek(i) | 300 Rise of an Empire Toyota |
| 24 | 23 | Alex Bowman # | Dr.Pepper Toyota |
| 25 | 77 | Dave Blaney | Plinker Arms Ford |
DAYTONA DUEL NO. 2
| Pos | Car | Driver | Team |
| 1 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Chevrolet |
| 2 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Fastenal Ford |
| 3 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Miller Lite Ford |
| 4 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet |
| 5 | 27 | Paul Menard | Peak/Menards Chevrolet |
| 6 | 33 | Brian Scott(i) | Whitetail Chevrolet |
| 7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Lowe’s Chevrolet |
| 8 | 13 | Casey Mears | GEICO Chevrolet |
| 9 | 7 | Michael Annett # | Pilot/Flying J Travel Centers Chevrolet |
| 10 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | 5-hour Energy Toyota |
| 11 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | FedEx Express |
| 12 | 42 | Kyle Larson # | Target Chevrolet |
| 13 | 21 | Trevor Bayne(i) | Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford |
| 14 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Haas Automation Chevrolet |
| 15 | 51 | Justin Allgaier # | Brandt Professional Agriculture Chevrolet |
| 16 | 40 | Landon Cassill(i) | Hillman Racing Chevrolet |
| 17 | 66 | Michael Waltrip | BlueDEF/AAA Toyota |
| 18 | 35 | Eric McClure(i) | Hefty Ultimate/Reynolds Wrap Ford |
| 19 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | McDonald’s Chevrolet |
| 20 | 34 | David Ragan | CSX – Play It Safe Ford |
| 21 | 32 | Terry Labonte | C&J Energy Services Ford |
| 22 | 52 | Bobby Labonte | Phoenix Construction Chevrolet |
| 23 | 83 | Ryan Truex # | Borla Exhaust Toyota |
| 24 | 93 | Morgan Shepherd(i) | SupportMilitary.org Toyota |
Manuel Pellegrini claims Champions League referee favored Barcelona.
By Brooks Peck
It wouldn't be a Champions League knockout stage without someone claiming a referee favored Barcelona and this season, Manuel Pellegrini beat Jose Mourinho to the punch. The Manchester City manager went on an uncharacteristic rant after his side lost 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Barca. The match was scoreless until Martin Demichelis was sent off for a challenge from behind on Lionel Messi at the edge of the box in the 53rd minute and Pellegrini thinks referee Jonas Eriksson was doing his opponents favors at the Etihad.
"I think in the whole match we didn't have a referee with impartiality to both teams.
"He decided the game. He decided the game because it was a foul by (Sergio) Busquets on Navas. The referee was three metres away and he didn't blow the whistle and after that the foul from Demichelis is outside the box, it's not a penalty.
"Important mistakes against a great team like Barcelona make it difficult to win." [...]
He added: "I think it is a mistake to nominate a referee that has had problems with Barcelona.
"Maybe he made mistakes in Milan. To have the same the referee here, I repeat, is a mistake."Pellegrini was referring to a scoreless draw in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals between Milan and Barca two seasons ago in which Eriksson drew criticism for twice ignoring Barcelona's penalty shouts. They went on to win the second leg 3-1 before losing to eventual champions Chelsea in the semifinals.
Since Demichelis' sliding challenge on Messi started outside the box but finished inside, the still images sparked debate over whether it should've been a penalty. At full speed, it appeared to be and the challenge itself was always going to be a red card, so it's hard to say the referee was settling old debts. Unless, of course, you were the one on the losing end of the match.
Another explanation, of course, is that Jose Mourinho, who bemoaned his own experience playing with 10 men in UEFA competitions (particularly against Barcelona) at the start of the season, has gotten bored with his mind games and has now moved up to mind control.
Anyway, Messi and Yaya Toure wish we could all just get along...
Brazil's Rousseff to invite Pope to World Cup.
AFP
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff said Tuesday that she plans to invite Pope Francis, an avid football fan, to attend the World Cup tournament that gets underway in June.
"I'm going to invite him to the World Cup," said Rousseff on the eve of her visit to Rome, where she is due to meet with the pontiff.
The football-besotted pope, 77, who is a native of neighboring Argentina, is still a member of the San Lorenzo club he used to watch as a child with his father.
Prior to becoming pope last year, Francis was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
The first pontiff from the Americas is to meet with Rousseff at the Vatican on Friday, for what is expected to be a friendly encounter, despite the bitter football rivalry between their two nations.
The World Cup kicks off on June 12 in Sao Paulo.
The NCAA Basketball Top Twenty Five.
By The Associated Press
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Feb. 16, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:
Record Pts Prv
1. Syracuse (64) 25-0 1,624 1
2. Florida (1) 23-2 1,543 3
3. Wichita St. 27-0 1,489 4
4. Arizona 23-2 1,427 2
5. Duke 20-5 1,296 8
6. San Diego St. 22-2 1,232 5
7. Cincinnati 23-3 1,157 10
8. Kansas 19-6 1,129 7
9. Villanova 22-3 1,020 6
10. Saint Louis 23-2 1,019 12
11. Creighton 21-4 991 18
11. Louisville 21-4 991 13
13. Michigan St. 21-5 788 9
14. Virginia 21-5 752 17
15. Iowa 19-6 721 16
16. Wisconsin 21-5 609 21
17. Iowa St. 19-5 597 11
18. Kentucky 19-6 579 14
19. Texas 20-5 577 19
20. Michigan 18-7 421 15
21. UConn 20-5 382 24
22. Memphis 19-6 204 20
23. UCLA 20-5 168 -
24. Ohio St. 20-6 133 22
25. Gonzaga 23-4 112 -
Others receiving votes: North Carolina 54, Arizona St. 45, Pittsburgh 21, SMU 21, Stephen F. Austin 8, Oklahoma 7, New Mexico 3, VCU 2, Green Bay 1, Kansas St. 1, Louisiana Tech 1.
QB testifies in bid to form college athlete union.
By MICHAEL TARM (Associated Press)
The National Labor Relations Board opened a closely watched hearing Tuesday on a bid by Northwestern football players to form what would be the first union for college athletes in U.S. history.
''It's a job, there is no way around it - it's a job,'' said the 21-year-old Colter, who is a senior and whose college career is over. He is expected to be in Indianapolis later this week for the NFL combine, a series of pre-draft workouts for prospects.
Colter's attorney, John Adam, told the NLRB panel that players are employees and scholarships amount to pay.
''Being a football player at Northwestern is hard work. And make no mistake - it is work,'' Adam said. And, he added, the Wildcats' players earn ''their compensation with blood, sweat and tears.''
An attorney representing the university, Alex Barbour, challenged the notion the players are employees. He said academics are at the core of a football player's experience at the school.
''Academics always trumps athletics at Northwestern,'' he said. ''Northwestern is not a football factory.''
Shannon Sharpe, Dan Marino out, Tony Gonzalez in on major CBS pregame shakeup.
QB testifies in bid to form college athlete union.
By MICHAEL TARM (Associated Press)
The National Labor Relations Board opened a closely watched hearing Tuesday on a bid by Northwestern football players to form what would be the first union for college athletes in U.S. history.
From a witnesses stand in a federal court building, Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter testified that players adhere to sometimes grueling schedules, putting in 40- to 50-hour weeks on football during and before the season. During August training, he said, players wake at 8 a.m. and often only finish practice at 10 p.m.
''It's a job, there is no way around it - it's a job,'' said the 21-year-old Colter, who is a senior and whose college career is over. He is expected to be in Indianapolis later this week for the NFL combine, a series of pre-draft workouts for prospects.
The key question for the NLRB is whether college football players qualify as employees; if they do, under U.S. law they would have the right to unionize. The Colter-led bid, which is supported by the United Steelworkers, is seen as a test case that could transform the landscape of college athletics. The NCAA and Big Ten Conference, which includes Northwestern, both maintain that college students are not employees whatever their participation in athletics.
Colter's attorney, John Adam, told the NLRB panel that players are employees and scholarships amount to pay.
''Being a football player at Northwestern is hard work. And make no mistake - it is work,'' Adam said. And, he added, the Wildcats' players earn ''their compensation with blood, sweat and tears.''
An attorney representing the university, Alex Barbour, challenged the notion the players are employees. He said academics are at the core of a football player's experience at the school.
''Academics always trumps athletics at Northwestern,'' he said. ''Northwestern is not a football factory.''
Colter said most of the team's 85 scholarship players support forming a union - though he has been the only one to step forward publicly with the support of the Steelworkers, the newly formed College Athletes Players Association and its leader, former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma.
Supporters say a union would provide athletes a vehicle to lobby for financial security and improved safety, noting that players are left out of the billions generated through college athletics. They contend scholarships sometimes don't even cover livings expenses for a full year.
A decision by the NLRB could come soon after the testimony concludes. For now, the push is to unionize athletes at private schools, like Northwestern. Public universities, which are subject to different regulations, could follow later.
Shannon Sharpe, Dan Marino out, Tony Gonzalez in on major CBS pregame shakeup.
By Eric Edholm
Well, now. CBS is shaking things up dramatically for its pregame show.
Recently retired (and future Hall of Fame) tight end Tony Gonzalez will be joining the CBS NFL pregame "The NFL Today" show, and longtime fixtures Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe are out, the network confirmed.
Recently retired (and future Hall of Fame) tight end Tony Gonzalez will be joining the CBS NFL pregame "The NFL Today" show, and longtime fixtures Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe are out, the network confirmed.
The two-for-one switch is interesting. Is there room for another ex-NFLer on the set? For a while last season, it appeared that New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan could have been on the chopping block, and perhaps he was one of CBS' main targets. Then again, many believe Peyton Manning would kick off a major broadcasting bidding war once his playing career ends. And there's always Brett Favre, who did some remote TV appearances last season. So perhaps CBS will keep a slimmed-down set for now and make a move on Ryan or Manning or someone else in 2015.
"Having just stepped off the playing field, Tony brings a fresh and insightful perspective," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said. "As a future Hall of Famer, we are excited for him to share his knowledge, experiences and opinions with our viewers. Tony was one of the most respected and hardworking players in the NFL and a tremendous teammate.Gonzalez recently speculated in an ESPN interview whether he might leave the door slightly open for a comeback late next season, one that the Atlanta Falcons didn't seem to reciprocate. They said they were moving on with the assumption that Gonzalez's playing days were over, and this new broadcasting deal would appear to confirm that. But you'd have to think that CBS required some kind of written guarantee that Gonzalez doesn't bolt the set in Week 11 if he gets the itch to play again.
“While we welcome Tony, we want to acknowledge Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe who have contributed greatly to the success of The NFL Today for more than a decade," McManus said. “Dan and Shannon are true Hall of Famers on the field and in front of the camera. As they pursue other professional opportunities, we thank them for their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best."Sharpe, who had been with the network since 2004, had been known as an outspoken talking head on the show, and he added an edge to the discussion, even if his style wasn't universally loved. He likely will be picked up by another network because of his visibility.
One of the all-time great quarterbacks, Marino had been with CBS since 2002. Cue the talk of him returning to the Miami Dolphins in some form? Marino was named the team's senior vice president 10 years ago but resigned quickly thereafter, citing that the role was not best for him. Still, a return to the only pro team he has known has been speculated for years.
The well-spoken Gonzalez has appeared to be a natural for such a job, but there will be pressure to be camera-ready quickly because of this major shakeup on the set.
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