NCAA Basketball Contenders with the Most to Prove

The NCAA Tournament will have several of the usual suspects there, trying to get March glory. Some of them have already had their success in past years, with little else to prove. But several other NCAA Tournament teams, and national championship contenders, have a lot to prove. They have some painful March history that they have to overcome, or are just struggling to take that next step to greater heights. Here are the NCAA Tournament teams that have the most to prove in March Madness this year, to make up for mistakes of the past.

 

UCLA Bruins

The Bruins have gotten to the final weekend three straight years, falling short each time. The UCLA senior class is going back to the tournament once again, with one last chance to finally get into immortality. However, the chances of doing that are a long shot.




UCLA and most of the Pac-10 are down this season, with the Bruins not on many people's national championship list, unlike the last three years. But perhaps now that few people expect the Bruins to go far, they might have better luck. Could the end be any more painful than the last three years was?

 

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Once upon a time, Gonzaga was the Cinderella to end all Cinderellas. Year after year, they got far into the NCAA Tournament against all odds. At least that's how it was when Gonzaga first began their rise to power. But in the last several years, Gonzaga has consistently fell apart when they were a high seed in the tournament. The closest Gonzaga came to matching their old standards was their Sweet 16 collapse against UCLA a few years back. With Gonzaga a top 15 teams again this year, the Bulldogs will again have high hopes to finally get to Elite 8/Final 4 territory. But maybe Gonzaga can only get that far as a double digit seed.

 

Duke Blue Devils

Since when did Duke have a problem in the NCAA Tournament? Since the last several years, apparently. Ever since winning it all in 2001, Duke has flamed out with upset losses in the tournament, except for their Final Four year in 2004. Other than that, Duke has been met with upset defeats in the first round, second round and Sweet 16. The Blue Devils start fast every year and then fall apart, until it doesn't become so shocking for them to lose early in the NCAA's. Will this year be any different at Duke?

 

North Carolina Tar Heels

The Tar Heels have hardly gone without success in the NCAA Tournament, having reached the Final Four last year.

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But the North Carolina senior class, led by Tyler Hansborough, was so hyped up and acclaimed, that they should have won two national championships already. Instead, North Carolina collapsed in the 2007 Elite Eight, and were blitzed by Kansas in last year's Final Four. This is the last chance for many Tar Heels to claim a national championship that they should have had by now. Once again, North Carolina will be favored to get it. But that favored status has not worked well for the Tar Heels before.

 

Pittsburgh Panthers

The Pitt Panthers may very well be labeled the number 1 seed of the entire NCAA Tournament when it begins. But this is a lot of pressure to put on Pittsburgh, when the Panthers haven't even gotten over the Sweet 16 hump. Since becoming a traditional Big East power to start the decade, Pittsburgh has only gotten as far as the Sweet 16 on four occasions. For all of the winning done by the Panthers, they have never gotten close to getting over the hump to elite status. This year is probably their best chance by far to do it. Is this finally the year that the Panthers become a national power? Or will Pitt again fail to take that step?

Top 5 Wide Receivers in the NFL for 2009

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Thanks to all of the recent discussion about Terrell Owens, new life has been brought to the debate, which is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Even though there are countless potential candidates, there are only a few who have the capability to make the big catch when the team needs aTop Five Wide Receivers in the NFL in 2009 momentum change. Here are the five best wide receivers in the NFL

# 5 - Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

One of the best kept secrets in the NFL is wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, is hidden away in the roster of the first team ever to experience a 0-16 season. During the 2008 NFL, Calvin Johnson had 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns for a team that had 5 different quarterbacks at the helm. It may have taken then 4 tries, but it appears the Lions finally selected a premier wide receiver that can not only stretch the field but is not afraid to catch the ball over the middle of the field. If you ask any Lions fans for the lone bright spot on a rather dismal season, without a doubt they will cite the work of Johnson.

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In 2009, Johnson will be entering his third year in the league, so we should expect to see an increase in his numbers across the board. The future does look bright for Johnson, especially if the Lions are able to turn things around and actually find a capable quarterback to throw him the ball. When that eventually happens, expect Johnson to climbs the ranks and take over the top spot for best wide receiver in the NFL.

# 4 - Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills)

Despite what you may think of his antics off the field, Owens remains one of the top receivers at his position. If you were to look at just Owens numbers during 2008, he had 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. Despite having his least productive year with the Cowboys, Owens was still on par with most number one receivers in the NFL. Now Owens will have the chance to show whether the reduction was from the affects of aging or those who are left in Dallas.




It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Terrell Owens who signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. Terrell Owens has shown flashes of brilliance, especially when during the first season with a new team. If he is able to carry the Bills into the playoffs, Owens canTop Five Wide Receivers in the NFL in 2009 expect to have a good deal of suitors this time next year.

# 3 - Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos)

Whoever starts the 2009 season at quarterback for Denver, he will relish the chance to throw to one of the best wide receivers in the game, Brandon Marshall. Marshall started the 2008 season off with a bang when he recorded 18 receptions for 166 yards in the Broncos' controversial win over the San Diego Chargers.

By the time the season was over, Marshall had 104 receptions for 1,265 yards and 6 touchdowns. Of the 8 games the Broncos lost in 2008, Marshall had 6 catches or less during 6 of those contests. Brandon Marshall really excels for the Broncos were in the red zone of their opposition, where he caught 5 of his 6 touchdowns. Since Marshall is 24 years old and entering his 4th season in the NFL, opposing defenses will have to continue to game plan for this wide receiver for years to come.

# 1a - Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)

Before the end of the regular season in 2008, Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, was already on his way to having another monstrous season. Fitzgerald managed to have 96 receptions for 1,431 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns. But the real magic came for Fitzgerald when the Cardinals started their improbable run to the Super Bowl.

During the post season, Larry Fitzgerald hauled in 30 receptions for 546 yards with 7 touchdowns. He had a touchdown reception in every game and seemingly caught every ball thrown his way. The only knock against Fitzgerald is that he does have a Pro Bowl quarterback, Kurt Warner tossing him the ball, along with playing opposite Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald may find himself at the top of the list in 2009 if the Cardinals are not able to retain Boldin and he is able to improve on his already Pro Bowl numbers.

# 1 - Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)

What I am sure is somewhat of a surprise to some people, Andre Johnson earned the top spot for best wide receiver in the NFL because of the season he had in 2008. When the season was done, Johnson had career highs with 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and 8 touchdowns. What makes his yardage total even more impressive is that he had 5 games where he did not break 60 yards.

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Then there is the tandem of quarterbacks Johnson had to deal with to accomplish these career numbers. Oh yes, the second leading receiver on the team was the Texans tight end, Owens. Based on this, Johnson gets a slight nod over Fitzgerald as the best wide receiver in theTop Five Wide Receivers in the NFL in 2009 game. One thing is sure for, NFL fans will have the chance to enjoy these two wide receiver battle it out for the top position for some time.

Top College Football Players Show Their Talent - The Combine

While most sports fanatics are gearing up for March Madness, others are working out for the meat market known as The Scouting Combine. Every year top college players are invited to get the chance of a lifetime, show their skills to NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts.

Some question the usefulness of the Combine results, and whether or not it should continue further. In fact this issue comes up every year, and every year it gets the same response. Coaches use the combine to assist in the all important draft day decisions. Interviews are conducted, and physicals performed to lay the groundwork for each player's worth.

 

This year's physical proved to be a career ender for Brian Mandeville, a tight end from

Northeastern. Doctor's discovered a non-life threatening problem with his heart valve and recommended that Mandeville no longer continue to play.




This was certainly a devastating blow for a young man that has spent most of his life playing, without complications. The Combine isn't just physicals and interviews though. There are several workout, referred to as measurable drills, that each and every player must go through, regardless of their position. The first drill is the 40-yard dash, which according to an NFL.com poll is a fan favorite. Each player begins in a 3 point stance and must explode from the start and run as quickly as possible through three separate timed intervals at 10, 20, and 40 yards. Each position has a specific speed that is considered best, just consider Offensive Lineman running next to a slimmer safety or running back. They certainly won't reach the 40-yard line at the same time.

 

The next drill, and one that a lot of the lineman strive to be best at, is the bench press. The player must bench press 225 pounds as many times as they can. It is expected that a player with more endurance will be capable of competing more reps than one that avoided the weight room, in favor of only running drills. Another workout is the vertical jump, in which the player must jump from a flat footed position with the goal of hitting the highest flag possible on the pole in front of them.

 

Next is the broad jump, a drill quite similar to the long jump in track and field. However, with the broad jump, the athlete is starting from a stable position and doesn't have the advantage of gaining speed before they leap. Arguably, this jump is further complicated by the fact that players are not supposed to move after they land, unlike long jumpers who don't always land gracefully.

 

Finally, each athlete is expected to complete a 3 cone drill and a shuttle run. Both drills are intended to test their ability to change directions and move laterally at high speed, something they will be expected to do quite often during their NFL career. However, these players aren't done after all of these demanding workout drills. They are also required to complete drills that are specific to the position they play. Clearly The Combine offers if nothing else an incredible workout opportunity for each player invited. Though many of them are hoping that their performance will help land them a professional career, playing the sport they love so much.

 

Why Dallas got rid of Terrel Owens

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When the Dallas Cowboys announced that they had released Terrell Owens, the move was meant with mixed reaction. While everyone agreed that he was probably a distraction to players and coaches on and off the field, the consensus was Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be crazy to cut someoneCutting Terrell Owens was the Best Move for the Dallas Cowboys of Owens' talent.

 

While the true reasons why may never be admitted, it is clear that Owens had to go because his affect on team chemistry surpassed the effect his play had on the scoreboard. Ultimately, that cost Owens his job in Dallas.This past season proved that any team can compete for the NFL title. Experts who made the pre-season picks in 2008 never dreamed the Arizona Cardinals could make it to the Super Bowl. While there is considerable talent on the Cardinals team, the team played beyond expectations late in the season and during the playoffs. The team made a "run" unseen in the NFL in recent memory. The reason is simple: team chemistry.

 

Looking at the Cowboys' roster, there was no reason why the team shouldn't have been among the NFL's elite, yet they constantly underperformed. It was up to Jerry Jones to determine why.

Ultimately, he did not blame the coaching, as he kept head coach Wade Phillips when he had a chance to make a change. He also kept offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and assistant coaches who clashed with Owens (Assistant coaches Jones did fire worked with the defense and special teams).

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Some argued the coaches tried too hard to placate Owens' complaining, working him into the play-calling when the running game or players like Jason Witten and Roy Williams could do just as well.

 

Jones did not blame other players. Yes, Tony Romo did not play to his potential. However, Owens questioned his play during the season (even as his stats saw a boost when Romo was healthy), and some may argue undermined Romo's role as leader of the team. Owens openly criticized Jason Witten, accusing him of conspiring to have more plays go his way.  When Romo struggled to come back from injury, he spent more time throwing to Owens instead of allowing the trio of running backs (Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice) take some of the load. Roy Williams, regarded as one of the game's best receivers, saw few plays go his way. Cutting Terrell Owens was the Best Move for the Dallas Cowboys He would never see the touches he needed to make an impact while Owens was on the team. Of all of these players, Owens was the most expendable, and probably the only one whose play did not warrant the attention he demanded.

 

Is it fair to have him take all the blame? Perhaps not, but someone had to. Wade Phillips tried to establish a nurturing, positive locker room atmosphere. Time and again, Owens upset that. They tolerated it when his play made the Cowboys better. It didn't anymore. His mouth and ego wrote checks his play couldn't cash. Owens may still be better than 90% of the receivers in the league. When you don't win, however, little else matters.

 

Jean Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News pointed out that while Owens was one of the best receivers the Cowboys ever had, he also bore the responsibility for a poor locker room atmosphere. "T.O. was flawed.

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Who could possibly dispute that? He whined way too much. At 35, he's a declining player whose ego will never ever allow him to admit it. He is a locker-room cancer," he wrote. That being said, he said all the team's excuses for poor play and bad chemistry go with him. Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Tony Romo and the rest of the cast have no excuses now. It's time to start winning, or at the very least play like a team that cares.

 

Source: Dallas Morning News