MLB baseball, NFL football and Sports Blog

Sad Bengals fan

2007-01-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

Today, I am a sad Cincinatti Bengals fan. It still hurts 2 days after our season abrutly came to a end with a loss to the rival Steelers. A win would have prepelled the 2006 Bengals into the playoffs considering that the Broncos lost to the 49ers and the Chiefs beat Jacksonville. We lost to the Steelers, in turn we lost our playoff spot to the Chiefs. I also read today that Marvin Lewis does not plan on letting Odell Thurman return to the team next season. I do a Bengals fan site, bigorangemachine.com. Go there and read more about the Bengals, right now I am just disappointed.

My Yahoo Fantasy Baseball Team

2006-06-21T10:08:00.000-05:00

I am currently in a Yahoo fantasy baseball league and I am in 2nd place. I like my team honestly, here is the squad:

H/AB R HR RBI SB AVG

40/132 20 4 27 0 .303 R. Martin (LAD - C) (dropped Barret recently for him)
82/256 46 17 55 0 .320 P. Konerko (CWS - 1B)
83/265 49 13 43 4 .313 D. Uggla (Fla - 2B)
64/250 33 13 39 1 .256 A. Ramírez (ChC - 3B)
72/286 54 4 22 16 .252 R. Furcal (LAD - SS)
65/208 42 20 54 3 .313 J. Dye (CWS - OF)
82/262 46 10 36 23 .313 C. Crawford (TB - OF)
85/296 54 24 50 18 .287 A. Soriano (Was - 2B,OF)
73/201 39 8 43 3 .363 N. Garciaparra (LAD - 1B,3B,SS)
81/228 38 4 37 1 .355 F. Sánchez (Pit - 2B,3B,SS)
73/292 34 15 53 0 .250 J. Francoeur (Atl - OF) (Going to drop 2marrow for Cantu TB)
74/237 49 12 33 6 .312 N. Johnson (Was - 1B)

DL H. Matsui (NYY - OF)

SP J. Beckett
(Bos - SP)
SP A. Pettitte
(Hou - SP)
K. Millwood
(Tex - SP)
Cl. Lee
(Cle - SP)
J. Nathan
(Min - RP)
J. Papelbon
(Bos - SP,RP)
T. Saito
(LAD - RP)
F. Rodney
(Det - RP)
J. Borowski
(Fla - RP)

Let me know your thoughts guys. I feel as though my OF good use some depth and my SP I am hoping will get hot. I did have Jered Weaver for the Angels who was 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA. I was hoping I struke gold and then they sent him to triple A? I have read he will most likely be up again soon though so I maybe get lucky to get him again.

Big Ben and Steelers not so Lucky after all

2006-06-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

Big Ben Roethlisberger has had everything go smoothly in his NFL career. You would be hard pressed to script his career to this point any better than it has unfolded for Big Ben. Luck has been on the 24 year old Steelers QB who in just 2 NFL seasons already has a Super Bowl ring.

Breaking news this morning sounds as though Lady Luck may have just left Big Ben's corner. Monday morning, June 12 at 11:25 in downtown Pittsburgh the Super Bowl QB was riding his motorcycle and is now in serious condition after his motorcycle collided with a car on Second Avenue near the 10th Street Bridge, police said.

Roethlisberger lost most of his teeth, fractured his left sinus cavity bone, suffered a nine-inch laceration to the back of his head and a broken jaw, and severely injured both of his knees when he hit the ground, police said.

AJ Nicholson Bengals Linebacker

2006-06-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

If you have not heard, AJ Nicholson was drafted out of Florida State by the Bengals in the 5th round of the 2006 NFL draft. He is a 2nd or 3rd round draft talent but has had legal troubles.

His latest incident happened 1 month after he was drafted. He broke into a former Florida State football teammates apartment. I found a great article covering this subject. Read about AJ Nicholson now.

Brett Favre gets to Work

2006-06-01T23:03:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would share something I found resfreshing to hear in todays sports world. Brett Favre, one of the NFL all time great quarterbacks has had his image somewhat tainted this offseason due to allegations reguarding him retiring along with his contract hold out.

This evening I just heard while watching ESPN sportscetner that Brett Favre is participating in volentarty workouts for the Green Bay Packers. I for one am happy to hear this. Sounds like Brett is getting to work and will be back to play for the Packers in 2007. I am not a Packers fan, but from a football fans perspective, this is refreshing to say the least.

Monroe-DiMaggio ball fetches $191,200

2006-05-08T08:26:00.000-05:00

A baseball signed by New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio and actress Marilyn Monroe sold for $191,200 in a sports memorabilia auction.

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10 Things to Love About Baseball

2006-05-08T08:24:00.000-05:00

It's never a good sign when the commissioner of a league doesn't go to games.

When the Barry Bonds Traveling Circus hit Milwaukee last week, Bud Selig didn't make the 10-minute trip from his office to the ballpark. He said he was busy. Must have been his bowling night.

Bud, Bud, Bud. You can be honest with us. You have Steroid Fatigue. We can hardly blame you. We could blame quite a bit of this mess on you, but today, we're here to help.

Barry's gigantic head is blotting out the sun on the game. There are plenty of things, old and new, that remind us baseball is more than grand juries, booing fans and flying syringes.

So, pass the Cracker Jack, kick back with a Ballantine and don't interfere with balls in play as we look at 10 things you can still love about baseball.

We hope Selig will take a moment and reflect, too. If a man who gets in free won't go, how can he expect anyone else to watch?

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No Crying in Fantasy Baseball? Says Who?

2006-05-05T08:40:00.000-05:00

Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, such as when Pirates closer Mike Gonzalez is lifted in the ninth inning after allowing a walk; I seek the courage to change the things I can, such as dropping Angels pitcher Jeff Weaver, who simply isn't consistent and never will be, and I ask for the wisdom to know the difference between the right time to stay the course with the Braves' Jeff Francoeur, and when to cut my losses.

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Baseball won't bother to certify Bonds ball

2006-05-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

When Barry Bonds hits home run No. 715 and moves into second place on the all-time list behind Hank Aaron, the lucky fan who catches the ball might have a hard time proving it's the real thing.

That's because Major League Baseball won't authenticate any of the baseballs the Giants are using.

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Character an issue with NFL teams

2006-05-04T08:19:00.000-05:00

Memo to anyone with aspirations of playing in the NFL one day: Character does count, after all.

That may be difficult to believe in a league where Lawrence Phillips was once a first-round draft choice and where a certain team with fleur-de-lis on its helmets once traded an entire draft for Ricky Williams. But while the win-at-all-costs mentality hasn't necessarily changed, many NFL clubs are finding that players with baggage may not be worth risking a high draft pick on. Or, possibly, any pick at all.

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Astros will try to sign Clemens

2006-05-01T08:33:00.000-05:00

The Houston Astros, eligible to re-sign Roger Clemens today, plan to contact the seven-time Cy Young Award winner's agents.

Clemens, 43, pitched for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in March, and though he considers himself retired, he has not ruled out a return.

The Astros, Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers have expressed interest in signing him.

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NFL suspends Ricky Williams for 2006

2006-04-26T08:49:00.000-05:00

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's substance abuse policy for the fourth time.

The league announced the suspension after Williams' appeal of his latest positive drug test was denied. Williams met with NFL counsel Jeff Pash on April 10 in an attempt to have the league overturn the test.

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How the NFL draft got its start

2006-04-25T08:54:00.000-05:00

IT WAS A CONVENIENT STANCE for Bert Bell given the lowly state of his franchise. His ability to sell his concept to the owners of the Giants, Bears and Packers, who benefited most under the old system, cemented his place in history.

Still, Bell has been overshadowed by the popular commissioners that followed him. mCharismatic Pete Rozelle and scholarly Paul Tagliabue took the game to never-before seen heights of popularity during their long, successful tenures.

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NFL Network to replay games

2006-04-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

NFL games will be replayed in a 90-minute format on NFL Network during the upcoming season.

In the past, the league didn't allow full rebroadcasts. But beginning Tuesday, Sept. 12, "NFL Game Re-Airs" will feature four of the best matchups from the previous weekend. Eliminated will be halftime and, according to a league announcement, "other elements not critical to the outcome."

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NFL teams will draft for speed

2006-04-24T09:31:00.000-05:00

How high would Steve Smith, the Pro Bowl wide receiver taken in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers, go in the 2006 draft?

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Shaun Alexander Nabs Madden NFL 07 Cover

2006-04-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's official. League most valuable player and record-breaking running back Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks will grace the cover of Madden NFL 07, EA's critically acclaimed football title to be released in August on all major platforms.

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BetUS.com Posts Odds On Ricky Williams NFL Future

2006-04-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

The NFL has no timetable to rule on an appeal by Ricky Williams regarding his positive drug test, that could result in the Miami running back's suspension for the 2006 season. Because the league doesn't acknowledge drug tests until there is a final determination speculation is building furiously as this would be Williams' fourth violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, meaning at least a one-year suspension.

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NFL draft experts often proven wrong

2006-04-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

A week from Saturday the NFL Draft will be held in New York putting an end to two of the silliest months for pro football fans.

From the end of the Super Bowl in early February until the draft, a strange phenomenon hits. Fans who spend little time actually watching college football in the fall suddenly become draft experts. It's like they all suddenly went to night school to study the theology of pompadoured-ESPN guru Mel Kiper Jr.

For instance, it seems that every loudmouth is convinced that the tight end from Maryland is way better for his team than that defensive end from Louisville. Never mind that he's never seen the aforementioned Vernon Davis or Elvis Dumervil actually play _ or even know what they look like.

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Bonds and baseball deserve what they get

2006-04-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

The happiest home run stat of early April is Bronson Arroyo 2, Barry Bonds 0.

Bronson Arroyo is a pitcher, tall and skinny, 29 years old, four hits lifetime before this month, never a home run in the bushes or the bigs. The first two weeks, he had 2 -- and the BALCO Basher had 0.

Another smiling note is Everybody's Hittin' 'Em and Barry's Not.

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Vince Young positive he can wing it in NFL

2006-04-18T08:41:00.000-05:00

That's the word one NFL scout used to describe the throwing motion of University of Texas quarterback Vince Young.

Funky? That's passable when talking about the way someone dances, dresses or even smells. But when you're a quarterback hoping to be among the top three picks in next weekend's NFL draft, having someone dissect your delivery and produce that word could be taken as the ultimate insult.

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Fantasy baseball guide is a home run

2006-04-17T08:31:00.000-05:00

The scene of the most embarrassing moment of my six-year fantasy baseball career was a Marriott hotel room in Asheville, N.C.

It was Independence Day, 2003. My fiancee and I were preparing to go out on the town to celebrate the nation's birthday. I happened to flip on the television and saw the information on the ESPN ticker--Moises Alou of the Chicago Cubs had hit three homers against St. Louis that day.

Seconds later, the remote control shattered against the wall, having flown from my hand in a fit of rage. Judging from this reaction, you might think I'm an ardent Cardinals fan. But in fact it had nothing to do with either the Cubs or the Cardinals.

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Focus on NFL's greed

2006-04-17T08:28:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the National Football League can't see past its own arrogance.

NFL owners voted recently to ban cameras of local television stations from shooting game-day footage from the sidelines. The league says the new policy is to protect the holders of broadcast rights as well as to ease congestion on the sidelines. A spokesman has pointed to unauthorized use of game footage posted on a station's Web site.

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Fantasy baseball's waiver wire, where injury meets opportunity

2006-04-14T08:33:00.000-05:00

Fantasy baseball addicts are the ambulance chasers of the sports world. Spy a significant injury, and off they scurry, nary a tear shed, to be the first to sign his replacement.

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NFL should free Ricky, one way or another

2006-04-13T09:58:00.000-05:00

Free Ricky!

In the succinct philosophy of T-shirts and bumper stickers, that would approximate our thoughts today on the Ricky Williams situation based on what information is publicly known.

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On blacks and baseball

2006-04-12T08:05:00.000-05:00

SIXTY YEARS ago, I became a Red Sox fan. Unbenownst to me as a 9-year-old black sandlot player, the Sox were a bastion of segregation.

In 1986, I complained about this era in Red Sox history and how it had disadvantaged the club in its then-unredeemed search for a world championship. On Opening Day 1986, I wrote in the Globe about how the Red Sox had passed on their chance to get Jackie Robinson before the sagacious Branch Rickey brought him to Brooklyn. Those memories were renewed by Tommy Harper's 1986 exclusion from a segregated Florida Elks Club patronized by the Red Sox and racial discrimination charges filed against the team, a matter subsequently obscured by the team's near-miss in the infamous New York City sixth game.

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NFL rule gets TV static

2006-04-12T08:03:00.000-05:00

Just when the Bengals finally got good, area TV stations' ability to produce localized highlight reels is being curtailed.

A unanimous vote from the NFL owners at a meeting last month banning local television from shooting game action has triggered an outcry from area stations.

These stations had been producing Sunday night shows and specials from video of game action shot by their own cameramen.

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1986 World Series re-enacted in RBI Baseball

2006-04-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

Just found this cool clip of RBI baseball for the ol school NES. They are re-enacting the 1986 World Series where the NY Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox and we all know about Bill Buckner by now.

If you are a old school Nintendeo fan and a baseball fan you will appreciate this.

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Price is Right for the Bills

2006-04-11T08:23:00.000-05:00

After a visit last week to One Bills Drive, former Bills wide receiver Peerless Price became a member of the Buffalo roster again signing with the Bills earlier today.

Price saw the irony in his returning to the team that made him a second round draft pick in 1999.

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Griffey hits past baseball legends

2006-04-10T08:28:00.000-05:00

With one hit, Ken Griffey Jr. left both Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio behind him.

Statistically speaking, that is.

In a young baseball season crying out for good news, that has to be worth something. One hit on Wednesday evoking the memory and numbers of two legends. The home run Griffey blasted in Cincinnati was his 537th, one more than Mantle, one RBI more than DiMaggio's 1,537.

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Odes to those beloved baseball cards

2006-04-10T08:25:00.000-05:00

I still can see myself shuffling through a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards while breaking my baby teeth on the stick of gum. Moose Haas. Jerry Don Gleaton. Cesar Geronimo. Bob Knepper. Didn’t know them from a dentist in Detroit.

But wait … oh my lucky stars. It’s George Brett.

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Fantasy Baseball Fun

2006-04-10T08:23:00.000-05:00

"The Pickoff" is a weekly video feature about Fantasy Baseball available only online. Produced by the NBC Broadband studios, it is the most comprehensive fantasy baseball information program on the web.

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NFL seems to forget that it's just a game

2006-04-08T10:37:00.000-05:00

In its never-ending quest to take itself too seriously (and have you take it too seriously), the NFL has decreed that end-zone celebration productions stop now. No props. No groups.

Gee, guys, can they smile?

In what might be the ultimate team sport, now it's not OK to include your boys in your boogie.

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Spring baseball tickets below 2005 levels

2006-04-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

Ticket sales for West Valley spring training games this season fell sharply from last year's highs, with officials blaming inclement weather and competition from the inaugural World Baseball Classic for less-than-stellar turnouts.

At Peoria Stadium, where the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres play, fans purchased about 200,000 tickets during the monthlong season, an 11 percent drop from last year.

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2006 NFL on FOX broadcast schedule

2006-04-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

That's arguable, but no one would debate that superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens' career with the Philadelphia Eagles ended on horrific terms a year ago. Now on the rebound, TO heads back to Philadelphia in Week 5 next season as the hated enemy. The Sunday, Oct. 8 match-up between the Eagles and Owens' new team, the Dallas Cowboys, already a bitter NFC East rivalry, sets up as one of the all-time great grudge matches, and the most anticipated game of the 2006 NFL on FOX regular-season schedule.

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Baseball Tonight Extra

2006-04-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

Both the Yankees and Angels stumbled slightly this week, each losing a pair of games after opening the 2006 season with a win on Monday. They'll clash this weekend in a rematch of their postseason series from a season ago.

The Angels have been the Yankees' bugaboo during New York's reign of success, as the Angels are the one team that has found a way to beat the Yankees with regularity.

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2006 NFL schedule keeps teams in `flex '

2006-04-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

The Dolphins open the NFL regular season against the Steelers Sept. 7 in Pittsburgh.

And the Dolphins could close the regular season with a Sunday night game Dec. 31 in Indianapolis.

It all depends on the flex.

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NFL looks for better Sunday night games

2006-04-06T08:14:00.000-05:00

The NFL has a plan to eliminate those not-ready-for-prime-time matchups that often sneak on to national television.

The league plans to hold off scheduling Sunday night games in seven of the final eight weeks -- just as playoff races start heating up -- to ensure the best games are played on NBC. The league has long wanted some kind of flexible schedule, but could never implement one until now.

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Baseball trading card business not what it used to be

2006-04-06T08:12:00.000-05:00

The billboard that appeared Saturday outside AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, said "Trade Barry." It looked like one of those message ads paid for by concerned citizens, in this case by fans wanting the Giants to dump embattled slugger Barry Bonds.

If it wasn't immediately apparent that the big sign was the launch of a commercial campaign - to promote collecting and trading baseball cards - that may be because few people really think about baseball cards these days.

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It's great to have baseball back

2006-04-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm still trying to clear my head after a busy sports weekend that included three lousy, one-sided Final Four games, two women's Final Four games that nobody really cared about, Wrestle Mania 22 in Chicago, and our national pastime's opening day.

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Baseball average salary closing in on $3M

2006-04-05T07:59:00.000-05:00

Baseball's average salary jumped nearly 9 percent to $2.87 million on opening day, and the three highest-paid players were - you guessed it - all on the New York Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez topped the list at $25.7 million and was No. 1 for the sixth straight year, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press. Derek Jeter was next at $20.6 million, followed by Jason Giambi ($20.4 million).

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Baseball Ticket Prices Up 5.4 Percent

2006-04-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

Get ready to pay more to go out to the ol' ballgame this year.

Baseball ticket prices are up an average of 5.4 percent, and the Boston Red Sox have the highest average for the ninth straight season.

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The Baseball Steroid Dilemma

2006-04-04T08:28:00.000-05:00

The Major League Baseball season swung into full action today, with 13 games played across the country. In Cincinnati, President Bush threw out the first pitch in the opener between the Reds and the Chicago Cubs. And tonight, the player under the heaviest scrutiny this season, San Francisco's Barry Bonds, returns to the plate after missing most of last season due to injury.

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Cincinnati signs Sam Adams

2006-04-04T08:19:00.000-05:00

The Cincinnati Bengals signed Sam Adams, an unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle, to a three-year contract Monday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Adams earned three Pro Bowl selections in the last six years. He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 1994 draft by the Seahawks, and played six seasons for the Hawks before signing as an unrestricted free agent with Baltimore in 2000.

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Baseball's Web Site Is Big Business

2006-04-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

Bud Selig's lack of computer savvy has done nothing to hinder the growth of mlb.com, which has become part of a $200 million company in the five years since its shaky start. Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the company created to manage the sport's digital assets, could be worth $2 billion to $3 billion if it were to go public, based on the acquisition prices of some other Web sites.

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2006 Major League Baseball Season Preview

2006-04-03T08:44:00.000-05:00

The Chicago White Sox begin defense of their 2005 World Series title as the 2006 Major League Baseball season opens. They will again be favorites to win their division and play deep into October. But the beautiful thing about baseball is that with the new season comes renewed hope for the 29 other teams that maybe -- just maybe -- this is finally the year. After all, other than perhaps Kansas City, Florida, and Baltimore, are there any teams that shouldn't have expectations of improvement over last year? I don't think so. With 27 teams having a realistic shot at being better in 2006, let the excitement begin.

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Baseball season opens today

2006-04-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, this year is the Cubs’ year. This is their year to go all the way and win the World Series. I can feel it. Then again, I say that every year, and every year ends in disappointment — but that’s part of being a Cubs fan. It is part of the invisible pact one makes when placing faith in a team whose last World Series victory came in 1908. This, by the way, is the longest championship dry spell of any team in the MLB, NFL, NHL, or NBA.

Whether this will be a good year for the Cubs is still debatable, but this is certainly a good day for Major League Baseball. The defending World Series champions, the Chicago White Sox, opened the 2006 season last night when they hosted the Cleveland Indians, but the majority of the league’s games start today. With 13 games to watch, it is a good day indeed.

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NFL on FOX 2006 Preseason Schedule

2006-03-31T10:27:00.000-05:00

FOX Sports kicks-off its lucky 13th season of National Football League broadcasts with three prime time preseason games this August. The NFL on FOX's 2006 season is the first under the new six-year broadcast rights agreement reached and continues through the 2011 season.

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Major league baseball season opens on XM Radio

2006-03-31T10:21:00.000-05:00

XM Satellite Radio announced this week that it would begin comprehensive coverage of the 2006 MLB season this Sunday, April 2, with Opening Night in Chicago, as the defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox play the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field at 8:05 pm ET.

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Major League Baseball Will Investigate Players' Steroid Use

2006-03-30T09:46:00.000-05:00

Things are about to get real interesting in Major League Baseball. Major League baseball will open an investigation into past steroid use by several major league players, most prominently Barry Bonds.

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Rose backs punishment for baseball’s steroid users

2006-03-29T10:04:00.000-05:00

Pete Rose figures it’s only fair that baseball punish players caught using steroids under the major leagues’ new testing policy.

And he has some history with baseball punishment.

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Bonds, Baseball, Steroids: New Book Details Drug Allegations

2006-03-29T10:03:00.000-05:00

Mark Fainaru-Wada's new book could change baseball history.

Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, Balco, and the Steroids Scandal That Rocked Professional Sports,'' co-written with fellow San Francisco Chronicle reporter Lance Williams, contains detailed allegations that Bonds and other sluggers used performance-enhancing drugs to pump up their home-run production.

The book has prompted baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to consider a formal investigation, one that conceivably could result in some of baseball's most hallowed records being erased or footnoted. Bonds holds the single-season record of 73 home runs, and the San Francisco Giants outfielder needs only 48 more to break Hank Aaron's career mark of 755.

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L.A. on list for NFL's future

2006-03-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

Before he retires as commissioner, Paul Tagliabue would like to see the NFL get closer to placing a team back in Los Angeles.

While Tagliabue plans to be gone from the league in July — if the owners can get together and find a successor by then — a solution to the situation doesn't figure to come that soon.

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BENGALS: Notes: Harrington in mix

2006-03-28T10:07:00.000-05:00

Joey Harrington was never thought of as a potential backup QB on draft day of 2002 when he was the 3rd overall pick by the Lions. Times have changed though and Joey football did not pan out in Detroit. He has struggled mightely.

I am finding myself excited about him being the potential backup to Carson Palmer. When I step back, it does not make sense though. If Palmer was not a franchise QB, I would be hype because Joey Harrington does have talent. If he is the Bengals backup, he will never flourish in Cincy. He will be banking on a often injured Palmer so he can shine and move on again as a starter for another team.

I would rather have Harrington over Jamie Martin or Anthony Wright just because I am a Joey Harrington fan and the other names do not do much for me. Read this article about how Joey is on the radar of the Cincy Bengals.

Miami, Pittsburgh to open NFL season

2006-03-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

The NFL season opener is set up, Dolphins vs. Steelers. I personally disagree with the descion to put the Dolphins in the opener. The Steelers are a given for the fact they won the Super Bowl.

Why not Bengals vs. Steelers? This is a division rival, and not to mention this would have been a rematch playoff game that many feel the Steelers would not have won if Carson Palmer would not have been injured.

My guess is the NFL does not know if Palmer would be ready and that would eliminate the hype. I still would rather have seen the Bengals over the Dolphins anyday of the week.

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NFL wants to crack down on celebrations

2006-03-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

It wasn't a good day for Terrell Owens at the NFL meetings yesterday. For starters, it was revealed that among the several rule changes that will be considered by the owners this week is a crackdown on end-zone celebrations that would outlaw many of the ex-Eagle wide receiver's post-touchdown routines.

The league also decided that T.O. isn't ready for a prime-time matchup against the Eagles next season, at least not in Week 1. The NFL announced its prime-time slate for the first week of the season, and Eagles-Cowboys was nowhere to be found.

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No time to lose; baseball must investigate Bonds

2006-03-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

In one week, Barry Bonds will resume his fraudulent chase of baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron. The clck is ticking, and there is no more wiggle room.

It is time for baseball to acknowledge that there is an elephantine man in the middle of the room. There can be no more averting of the eyes. No more staring at the floor and shuffling the feet.

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Millen: Divorce helps Joey, Lions NFL roundup

2006-03-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

To Matt Millen, the Lions' split with Joey Harrington comes down to this:

"I think it's best for him and it's best for us," Millen said Sunday at the NFL annual owners meeting. "It won't surprise me in the least bit when Harrington has great success, and I hope he does."

In his first comments since coach Rod Marinelli declared the Lions were moving on at quarterback, Millen, the team president, expressed a mixture of resignation and regret.

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Vince Young showcased his skills for more than 100 NFL officials

2006-03-24T11:10:00.000-05:00

With the second week of free agency wrapping up, the draft starting to come into focus and the impending vacancy in the commissioner's office about to take center stage, doesn't it seem like there's always plenty to chew on in the league that never sleeps? Rhetorical question, dear football fans....

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Top 100 risers/fallers in NFL draft

2006-03-24T11:05:00.000-05:00

If you are following the 2006 NFL draft prospects then this is must read.

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Arrington's agent files lawsuit against NFL players association

2006-03-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

Agent Carl Poston has sued the NFL players' union, challenging a two-year suspension over the handling of LaVar Arrington's 2003 contract extension with the Washington Redskins.

The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan came after Poston was disciplined by an NFL Players' Association committee during the union's meetings earlier this month in Hawaii.

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Major League Baseball 2K6 Goes Musically Massive

2006-03-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

Venerable indie rock label Matador Records has teamed up with Major League Baseball 2K6 to provide selected in-game music for the 2K Sports franchise.

This partnership marks the first time that Matador has licensed a block of music for a videogame soundtrack.

Major League Baseball 2K6's soundtrack will feature 19 songs, including songs from such high profile Matador artists as Interpol, Stephen Malkmus, Pavement, Belle & Sebastian, and Guided By Voices.

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MLB in court over fantasy baseball

2006-03-22T09:47:00.000-05:00

Who owns Ken Griffey Jr.'s home run statistics, Roger Clemens' pitching record or the rights to Alex Rodriguez's name?

Major League Baseball claims it does. A company that runs fantasy baseball leagues disagrees. And in July, both sides will fight it out in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

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Owens laughing all the way to the bank

2006-03-22T09:45:00.000-05:00

Lito Sheppard laughed when he heard that Terrell Owens had signed with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. He wasn't the only one.

Owens is laughing too, all the way to his bank, with $10 million in salary and signing bonus for 2006 and $25 million should he stay in Big D for all three years of his deal. He is so happy to stick it to the Eagles by signing with their most hated rival that he's recorded a rap song dissing the Birds and is writing a supposed tell-all book about his ordeal in Philly.

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Major Moves in a Busy NFL

2006-03-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Major moves took place across the NFL yesterday as teams continued to reshape themselves.

The New York Jets found a taker for disgruntled defensive end John Abraham; kicker Adam Vinatieri moved from the New England Patriots, the team he helped win three Super Bowls, to Super Bowl wannabe Indianapolis; the Dallas Cowboys cut all-pro guard Larry Allen; and the Seattle Seahawks signed all-pro linebacker Julian Peterson hours after losing all-pro guard Steve Hutchinson.

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Colts, Vinatieri reach deal

2006-03-22T09:34:00.000-05:00

I must admit, this deal really suprises me as a NFL football fan. The Colts have Mike Vanderjagt who is the NFL's most accurate kicker. Now they have Adam Vinatieri who is the NFL's most clutch kicker. I suppose the Colts did not like how Vanderjagt chocked in the AFC Championship game against the Steelers. Life as a NFL kicker, job security is not something they have. No doubt Vanderjagt will be kicking for someone next season though, he is money 99% of the time.

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NFL ROUNDUP: Joey may be Chief concern

2006-03-22T09:32:00.000-05:00

The Chiefs don't have much to say about Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, but they have expressed interest in him in the past and appear "smack-dab in the middle of the hunt for his services," the Kansas City Star reported Tuesday.

The paper said Chiefs president Carl Peterson was just back from a scouting trip and "in no mood to talk about the Harrington buzz" Monday, shortly after Lions coach Rod Marinelli said he was moving on without Harrington.

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Japanese ecstatic over Baseball Classic title

2006-03-21T09:43:00.000-05:00

Japan's victory in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday was met with euphoria as fans said at last their nation would get the respect it deserved on the diamond.

The title showdown with Cuba began late in the morning on a national holiday, allowing businessmen to devote their full attention to the game without being distracted by their jobs.

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NFL ROUNDUP: Commish Tagliabue to retire

2006-03-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Paul Tagliabue is leaving the NFL, and he's leaving it both peaceful and prosperous.

The 65-year-old commissioner will step down in July after 16 years, his tenure marked by labor harmony and unprecedented riches through television deals.

Tagliabue has been in charge since 1989, when he succeeded Pete Rozelle, and agreed last March to stay to complete the TV deal and a long-term contract with players.

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Baseball Hall-of-Famer Schmidt Reflects on Boos, Bonds, Rose

2006-03-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

Mike Schmidt was a cool, cerebral baseball star who hated publicity, particularly the intense scrutiny of the wolfish Philadelphia sports media.

So it's surprising that his new book -- ``Clearing the Bases: Juiced Players, Monster Salaries, Sham Records, and a Hall of Famer's Search for the Soul of Baseball'' -- sounds like the kind of tabloid headline he despised.

The book, it turns out, isn't nearly as sensational as its title suggests.

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2006 Fantasy Baseball Preview

2006-03-16T09:11:00.000-05:00

Before the 2004 season Sam Walker was a happily married sports columnist for TheWall Street Journal. He wore a tie to work, maintained a social life and showered on a frequent basis. But by the time that season was over, Walker had spent tens of thousands of dollars of his own money, traveled more than 20,000 miles, interrogated hundreds of major league ballplayers, scouts, managers and executives, skipped weddings and funerals, and severely tested the patience of his family and friends.

How did this happen?

Though he'd never played Rotisserie baseball, Walker had accepted an invitation to compete in Tout Wars, an elite, 12-team fantasy league that featured some of the nation's most seasoned statistical analysts and baseball savants. Along the way he hired a team of advisers ranging from a NASA mathematician to a baseball astrologer and set what is probably a world record for asking baseball players inappropriate questions. By the final month of the season he had become a disheveled, caffeine-addled insomniac who was willing to do anything to help his fantasy team, including, in some cases, actually trying to "manage" the major leaguers on his roster. The following is an excerpt from Walker's new book, Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe (Viking, $25.95).

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NFL: REDSKINS: Gibbs: No Timetable For Ramsey Trade

2006-03-16T09:10:00.000-05:00

Head coach Joe Gibbs said on Wednesday that the team continues to work at trading Patrick Ramsey, but added that there is no set timeframe for completing a deal for the fourth-year quarterback.

"We're working real hard at it," Gibbs told reporters after Wednesday's press conference to introduce newly signed defensive end Andre Carter. "We're trying to do what's best for Patrick and what's best for the Redskins."

Entering the offseason, Ramsey was one of several veteran quarterbacks available in free agency and via trades.

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NFL notes: Henson to play in NFL Europe

2006-03-16T09:08:00.000-05:00

Drew Henson didn’t need to be talked into playing in NFL Europe by Dallas owner Jerry Jones -- not considering some of the league’s success stories.

The former Michigan standout spent three years struggling with curves in the New York Yankees farm system, then returned to football and has been on the bench for two seasons with the Cowboys, for whom he has thrown only 18 passes, all in one 2004 start.

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NFL Notes: Brees blows in, Brooks out with Saints

2006-03-16T09:06:00.000-05:00

On the same day the New Orleans Saints introduced Drew Brees as their new quarterback, they released Aaron Brooks, their old quarterback.

Brooks' stay in New Orleans was effectively over after he endured his worst season in 2005, throwing for 13 touchdowns and 17 interceptions before being benched with three games left. New Orleans finished 3-13.

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NFL | Linebacker McGinest signs with Cleveland

2006-03-16T09:02:00.000-05:00

Linebacker Willie McGinest agreed to terms with Cleveland yesterday, opting to leave New England to rejoin Browns coach and former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

The 34-year-old McGinest, a member of three Super Bowl winners, had been with the Patriots since being drafted in the first round in 1994.

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Ex-baseball star Dwight Gooden arrested in Florida

2006-03-15T09:48:00.000-05:00

TAMPA, Fla. – Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was arrested Tuesday after he failed a drug test, local television stations reported.

Gooden, a Tampa native, had been on probation since he fled from police after a traffic stop in 2004.

One of the conditions of his probation was regular drug tests and he was sent to the Hillsborough County Jail after he tested positive for cocaine.

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Baseball Fans' Views of Barry Bonds Mixed

2006-03-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

The issue of steroids in Major League Baseball is at the forefront of news again, this time because of the publicity surrounding the upcoming release of "Game of Shadows," a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters. "Shadows" alleges that baseball's single-season home run king Barry Bonds repeatedly took performance-enhancing drugs beginning in 1998; allegations that have been part of public discourse for the past couple of years.

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NFL Clubs Go Shopping for Quarterback Keepers

2006-03-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

Daunte Culpepper is heading for Miami. Drew Brees is bound for New Orleans. Jon Kitna is now a Detroit Lion, and Patrick Ramsey could soon be a New York Jet.

The game of musical quarterbacks is in full swing, and it probably will have a profound effect on three key prospects at the top of the 2006 draft: USC's Matt Leinart, Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler and Texas' Vince Young.

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Baseball must probe steroid use claims, take action

2006-03-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

Word is that the commissioner of Major League Baseball is considering suspending Barry Bonds for his alleged steroid use.

What's to consider? Commissioner Bud Selig should immediately launch an investigation, determine if serious revelations in a book about to be published are true and, if they are, should suspend the San Francisco Giants slugger. Given Bonds' age, 41, and gimpy knees, that would be tantamount to banning him from baseball.

If Pete Rose can be kept out of baseball and the Hall of Fame for gambling, why shouldn't Bonds endure the same fate if he used steroids and then lied about it?

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Baseball classic means more to some countries than others

2006-03-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

The worst thing about the World Baseball Classic - besides the incomprehensible tiebreaker system - has always been its timing.

Baseball simply isn't supposed to mean this much in March.

Actually, it doesn't seem to mean that much to the U.S. team, which sleepwalked its way through a loss Monday night to South Korea and now must rely on Roger Clemens and some luck to stave off elimination.

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2006-03-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

The Steelers may have won the 2005 Super Bowl, but they just lost out on resigning Antwaan Randle El... who just signed with the Washington Redskins.

The skins paid big money for him, seven-year contract worth $31 million that includes $11.5 million in bonuses. The deal is voidable after the sixth year. I think that is to much money for this guy and I am glad my team did not sign this guy to that contract. He had 35 catches last year.

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Darryl Strawberry - A Fresh Perspective

2006-03-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

When Darryl Strawberry celebrates his 44th birthday today he should take some time to reflect on what could have been. Strawberry was blessed with extraordinary talent, which could have earned him a place in Cooperstown.

Instead, Strawberry has spent time in prison, under house arrest and in rehabilitation facilities since helping the Mets overtake the Red Sox in the memorable 1986 World Series. Numerous legal problems, many of which are drug related, have overshadowed the 335 home runs Strawberry hit during his 17-year major league career.

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NFL | James abandons Colts for Cardinals

2006-03-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Edgerrin James ran off to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday, agreeing to a four-year, $30 million contract with a long-downtrodden franchise that had the worst running game in the league last season.

James, who became a free agent after seven seasons with the Colts, knew there was little chance he would return to Indianapolis when the season ended in a loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC divisional round.

Last month, Colts president Bill Polian admitted he was taking a gamble by letting James hit the free-agent market. And now James is gone after setting team records for career rushing attempts (2,188), yards (9,226), and touchdowns (64).

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NFL Notes: No more Patriot games for McGinest

2006-03-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

The New England Patriots released linebacker Willie McGinest in a salary cap move yesterday, ending a 12-year relationship with the NFL's all-time post-season sack leader.

The release of the two-time Pro Bowler was announced a day after NFL owners voted to extend the collective bargaining agreement, resulting in a new, higher salary cap figure of $102 million (all figures U.S.) for next season.

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Bengals' Brown upset about NFL's new deal

2006-03-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

CINCINNATI | Bengals owner Mike Brown got a shock when he arrived for work on Thursday.

A printout from NFL headquarters outlined more details of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which the league owners passed in a 30-2 vote in Dallas on Wednesday. Brown and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson were the only dissenters.

Brown, who said the CBA is "tremendously costly" for low-revenue teams such as the Bengals, learned about the noneconomic features of the deal, which favors the players.

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Boomer Esiason Foundation

2006-03-09T14:30:00.002-05:00

Boomer Esiason vowed to eliminate the threat of cystic fibrosis after his young son, Gunnar, was diagnosed with the disease in 1993. Boomer and his wife, Cheryl, are strongly committed to supporting this critical research to discover the cure for cystic fibrosis that they believe could be near. Boomer Esiason Foundation was created by the former NFL QB works to ensure that:

- researchers and scientists working on finding a cure for cystic fibrosis have the resources they need to expand and accelerate their efforts
- doctors and caregivers have access to effective and innovative treatments that ease suffering and enhance the lives of those stricken with cystic fibrosis;
- people from all walks of life are educated and motivated to become active participants in the ongoing battle against cystic fibrosis
- those directly affected by cystic fibrosis are encouraged and empowered to fully understand this deadly disease and to take active roles in combating it; and
- students and hospital staff are provided with the financial resources and educational tools they need to prepare for life's challenges and to create a legacy of quality healthcare for generations to come.

NFL owners, players reach new agreement

2006-03-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

Heated discussions were followed by cool heads, as NFL owners concluded two days of sometimes-contentious meetings by overwhelmingly approving a six-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The new pact, which passed by a 30-2 vote, runs through 2011 and will increase this season's salary cap by $7.5 million – to a record $102 million.

Free agency is to begin at 9:01 PST tonight, but several agents said they expect the kickoff to be postponed at least a day while lawyers finalize language in the agreement. The delay also would give teams and agents an opportunity to discover the ins and outs of changes to salary-cap guidelines.

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Bonds, a fraud masquerading as a baseball hero

2006-03-09T09:22:00.000-05:00

BASEBALL wrote its bible in numbers. The home run holiest is 755. Please, don't let Barry Bonds desecrate the record book as a fraud.

If major league commissioner Bud Selig has an ounce of integrity and an inch of spine, he will launch an investigation that will kick Bonds' asterisk out of the ballpark. Forever. For good.

The steroid madness that cost baseball its credibility cannot end so long as Bonds casts a long shadow of doubt every time he steps to home plate in pursuit of the home run record.

Hey, Barry: Got Juice?

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Bonds news bad news for baseball

2006-03-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

PHOENIX - It should have been a grand day for what has become an international pastime. The successful debut on these shores of the ambitious, multi-cultural, forward-thinking World Baseball Classic.
Team USA played Mexico at Chase Field on Tuesday, and it was a festive, colorful affair. Flag-waving fans of both teams, to the tune of 32,767 in the ballpark. Dueling, spirited chants of U-S-A! and Meh-he-co!

Players on both sides amped up. A crisp, competitive game. Decided, 2-0, by a pair of big fly balls by two of the Yanks' cast of sluggers, Derrick Lee and Chipper Jones.

But the whole affair was overshadowed - on a total-eclipse-of-the-sun level - by the game's own Dr. Evil, Barry Bonds.

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Kirby Puckett, you will be missed

2006-03-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite baseball players of all-time, Kirby Puckett, passed away today at the young age of 45. It has been said many times today, but I have to say it again. Kirby Puckett was the man. That's all there is to it. If you wanted a storybook, heroic performance in the clutch, all you had to do was look at the Twins center fielder and chances were you wouldn't be disappointed.

It turns out that Kirby wasn't perfect, in fact, he was probably far from it and we will most likely learn all about his problems in the near future. But it doesn't really matter in the long run. Kirby will always be the man to me. I started watching baseball when I was 7 in 1987 when Kirby was at his best. I remember playing RBI baseball for my Nintendeo and playing with the Twins and Kirby Puckett from time to time. Seems like yesterday.

I sincerely hope that there is a heaven solely so that Kirby can patrol center field once again. I'd be willing to bet that he quickly becomes the most popular player up there just like he did in Minnesota. Thanks for the happy memories and helping me love the game of baseball for all the rights reasons. Kirby Puckett, a class act, you will be missed.

Bengals Fan Site Launched

2006-03-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce the BigOrangeMachine.com website went live on March 06, 2006. For those unfamiliar this is a Cincinnati Bengal's fan site that is for the fans to get Bengals merchandise and news.

BigOrangeMachine.com will be adding Bengal football related content such as previous NFL draft picks, information about Paul Brown Stadium, order game tickets, Bengals merchandise, player pages, football rumors and more.

BigOrangeMachine.com was developed by a long time Bengal's fan named Eric Schumann. Eric has been designing web sites since 1999 and has decided to now have some fun and bring one of his biggest passions in life (Bengals football) together with his career of web design. Eric has many idea's for BigOrangeMachine.com that will be coming in the next several months so be sure to bookmark his site if you are a Bengal's fan.

NFL Notes: NFL and union delay free agency again

2006-03-06T08:57:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — NFL labor negotiations took yet another surprising turn late Sunday when the league and union agreed to postpone free agency another 72 hours, giving the sides more time to try to reach agreement on a contract extension.

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I personally do not know what all is on the line with these talks. I know that the main issue is the salary cap and it maybe raised. I personally do not want to see that. The good teams that have prepared and used money for the long haul loose out and then teams like the Steelers will suddenly be able to afford to keep Randle El because now they have money.

NFL owners delay free agency three days

2006-03-03T13:53:00.000-05:00

A few hours after NFL owners rejected a proposal from the players' union, the league extended its deadline for free agency by three days and resumed talks aimed at an extension of the collective bargaining agreement.

That left teams looking at a midnight deadline to get under a 94.5 million-dollar salary cap - rather than the approximate 104 million-dollar cap expected if an extension had been agreed.

NFL vice president Joe Brown announced the delay on Thursday afternoon in New York.

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NFL salary cap complications may be avoided

2006-02-28T09:52:00.000-05:00

INDIANAPOLIS - Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones strongly hinted that an extension of the collective bargaining agreement is likely only days away, avoiding what could have been a complicated situation with the salary cap for the NFL but possibly delaying the start of the free agency period.

''Yes,'' Jones said when asked if there had been progress over the past few days. ``I feel we'll likely have a deal within -- we've got a pretty tight timeframe here with the (league) year (starting Friday). It will be firmed into a situation that will reasonably address the beginning of the league year.''

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Baseball great Mark McGwire adapts his home-run swing to golf

2006-02-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

At 6-feet-5 and 250 pounds, Mark McGwire is an imposing figure whether he is at the plate or on the tee. His strength, combined with flexibility developed through baseball, will stand him in good stead as he applies his tremendous athletic ability to golf.

McGwire carries a 5-handicap, and judging by his swing, it won't take him long to get that down -- especially since he plays almost every day. I know Mark is friendly with some PGA Tour players, and I'm sure bits of advice from them have filtered into his great-looking action.

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The Complete History of African American Quarterbacks In The NFL

2006-02-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

History has shown that the journey of the African American QB was not an easy one, but when given the opportunity these men thrived in a system that was sometimes stacked against them. African American Quarterbacks are now in 2006, no longer an anomaly and are thriving.

There has even been debate that Warren Moon with his gaudy statistics and winning ways in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) has the credentials to be the first Full Time African American Quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which I know will create an interest in this topic.

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Cal Ripken Jr.Interview

2006-02-24T13:21:00.000-05:00

Cal Ripken Jr. was a player that earned many peoples respect including mine threw out his baseball career. I found a good interview with baseball's iron man and he talked about The Associated Press, about how he misses spring training, the World Baseball Classic, and whether he thinks about being voted into the Hall of Fame next year, the first time he's eligible.

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NFL teams to potential `tag' players: You're not it

2006-02-24T13:15:00.000-05:00

Three players received the franchise tag and three others got the transition tag before Thursday's deadline, according to reports from around the NFL.

New York Jets defensive end John Abraham, Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus and Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements were tagged as franchise players.

Seattle Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson, Buffalo Bills cornerback Brian Williams and Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun Foster were given transition tags.

That is a significant drop from last year, when 13 teams put franchise or transition tags on players. Teams can still avoid exposing free agent-eligible players to other teams' offers if they can sign deals in the next week.

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Great news for rehabbing Cubs pitchers... Really?

2006-02-23T10:49:00.000-05:00

I am a Chicago Cubs fan. Every since 2003 I have been very excited about Mark Prior and the starting staff that included Prior, Zambrano, Wood and Maddux. What potential! World Series thoughts have been on my mind. In 2003 we beat the Braves in the playoffs and had the Marlins right where we wanted them but fell short. We will not get into Steve Bartman.

I have been disappointed since 2003 because of injuries to our pitchers mostly. I am trying to not get to excited this season because you hear so many different things and I almost have the mind set that Wood's rehab will not go well and we will be lucky to get 15-20 starts from him and the same I feel for Prior. I want to be wrong. I want them to be healthy. One day I read about Cubs pitchers feeling great and the next I read about more injuries to Cubs pitchers. It is killing me!

For the Cubs to win it all this year we have to have are starters pitching well all year and some youngsters such as Murton and Cedeno have great years. It can happen, let's play ball!

Minor-league umpires likely for World Baseball Classic

2006-02-23T10:39:00.000-05:00

Found a article about how the World Baseball Classic will have to resort to minor league umpires because the MLB umpires were looking for far too much. I am actually looking forward to this World Baseball Classic. Some of the games will be televised and I plan on watching. Hopefully there will be no issues with the umpires.

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Ricky Williams up in smoke?

2006-02-20T10:10:00.000-05:00

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams faces at least a one-year suspension from the NFL after a fourth violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. Williams was a true talent out of Texas that everyone thought would have a Hall of Fame tyle career. In six seasons with New Orleans and Miami, Williams has 7,097 yards on 1,757 carries -- four yards per carry -- and 47 rushing touchdowns. His best season was in 2002 with Miami, when he gained 1,853 yards in 383 carries and ran for 16 TDs.

It just blows me away that he retired from the NFL to smoke weed and travel. Then it blew me away that he came back and basically did not hide the fact that he basically just needed the money. Not I miss my passion in life playing football. Then to beat all he has took a huge cut in zeros on that paycheck.

At the time of his return, Williams was ordered to pay the Dolphins $8.6 million for breaching his contract, although there has been no financial resolution between him and the team. He was scheduled to be paid the league minimum of $540,000 last season, but was docked four games' pay due to his league-mandated suspension and was fined another four games in pay, reducing his take to $285,882. Williams' base salaries for the two coming seasons are $545,000 and $670,000, the minimum for a player (he entered the league in 1999) of his NFL tenure.