The performance of Jimmy Clausen last night against the powerful Baltimore Ravens defense may have many in the Carolina area doing an Irish victory dance.  The Panthers seem to have gotten Clausen at a deal with a four-year $6.3 million contract with $2.53 million in guarantees.

In fact, ESPN analysts such as Keyshawn Johnson and Jon Gruden were ecstatic while talking about the performance.  While the overall stats of Clausen might not be quite so impressive (8 for 15 with an interception), Clausen still seems to be adjusting to NFL life rather quickly.  He seemed confident in his abilities and the interception was simply a product of his target falling leaving a wide open Raven waiting in the wings.

Many are also impressed with Clausen standing in the pocket and taking the certain sack rather than throwing a ball senselessly into the way of defenders.  This had already led to comparisons to Atlanta Falcon quarterback Matt Ryan.  Also of note was his ability to scramble and safely slide to the ground to pick up several yards when absolutely necessary.

The Panthers seem intent on starting Matt Moore at quarterback this season. but Clausen is making a case for starter and the Panthers have made that known.  While Matt Moore is 6 – 2 as a starter in the NFL it is worth mentioning that many of those games were meaningless after the Panthers were already essentially dead in contention for a playoff spot.

Some of the better quarterbacks in NFL history have come with late picks.  Brett Favre (33), Joe Montana (82) and Tom Brady (199) all came with selections that were in the second round or later.  Each of those quarterbacks made many other teams wonder what it was that made them select others ahead of them. 

Clausen’s journey to the NFL hit some bumps in the road leading up to the draft. In late 2009 he announced his intention to forego his senior season at Notre Dame and enter the NFL Draft and from that moment on was slated to be one of the best quarterbacks coming out, second only to Oklahoma product Sam Bradford. 

In the months leading up to April, Clausen was slotted as high as the 10^thoverall with many analysts pointing to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 4 as a potential landing spot. Part of that prediction was based on the fact that former Irish coach Charlie Weis had become offensive coordinator there months after his firing from Notre Dame. 

Surprisingly, however,Tim Tebow was the only other quarterback selected in the first round after Sam Bradford leaving Clausen to fall to No. 16 in the second round (48^thoverall).  After the Draft, many pointed to Clausen’s cocky demeanor as the reason for the tumble.  However, many – including former NFL great and Notre Dame Quarterback Joe Montana – would come to the defense of Clausen by indicating that a certain level of confidence is required for a quarterback to be successful in the NFL.

After the performances of both Moore and Clausen last night the Panthers can feel comfortable knowing they have depth at the quarterback position.   In fact, they can take comfort in knowing they didn’t pass on Clausen or Moore.  In the not too distant future teams like Buffalo, San Francisco and Jacksonville may be scratching their heads while asking . . . . “What were we thinking?”

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

With the signings of Russell Okung and C.J. Spiller on Friday the entire first round class of 2010 NFL Draft picks are now signed and expected to be in camp.

Although Dez Bryant was the first of the picks to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, the ball really got rolling when first overall pick Sam Bradford signed with the St. Louis Rams to a record $50 million guaranteed.  Since then, a rapid flurry of signings has taken place including that of Ndamukong Suh on Tuesday.  Suh was widely believed to be the best available and was often believed to the Rams first choice in many mock drafts. 

The signing of Russell Okung by the Seattle Seahawks represents the first of what could be many first round signed draft picks under new coach and former USC Trojans coach Pete Carroll. Okung, an Oklahoma State product, was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year last season and will be expected to be a replacement to lineman Walter Jones who sat out the entire 2009 season due to injury. 

C.J. Spiller was believed to be the best available of running backs in the 2010 Draft and fell into top place during the draft when he was selected by the Buffalo Bills as the ninth overall pick.  Spiller represents the first pick of former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey. 

Buffalo has struggled mightily in the past few season on the offensive side of the ball.  The team often looked as if they needed a map, compass and a lot of luck to score.  The matter was further complicated when starting quarterback Trent Edwards was lost to injury. 

Spiller will be expected to take pressure off of the offense in Buffalo and will specifically be expected to provide variation to an offense that sometimes appeared one dimensional.  Before selecting Spiller, many believed Buffalo would opt for a quarterback and met several times with Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow. 

Listed below are the first round picks of the 2010 NFL Draft class along with the terms of the respective agreements.

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – Signed (6-years, $78M/$86M max; $50M guaranteed)
2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska – Agreed to Terms (5-years, $68M max; $40M guaranteed)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma – Signed (5-years, $63M max; $35M guaranteed)
4. Washington Redskins – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma – Signed (6-years, $60M max; $36.75M guaranteed)
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – Signed (6-years, $60M; $34M guaranteed)
6. Seattle Seahawks – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State – Agreed to Terms (6-years, $48.5/$58M max; ~$30M guaranteed)
7. Cleveland Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida – Signed (5-years, $50M max; $26M guaranteed)
8. Oakland Raiders – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama – Signed (5-years, $30M/$40M max; $23M guaranteed)
9. Buffalo Bills – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson – Signed (5-years, $25M/$37M max; $20.8M guaranteed)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Tyson Alualu, DT, Cal – Agreed to Terms (5-years, $28M; $17.5M guaranteed)
11. San Francisco 49ers– Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – Signed (5-years, $26.5M; $15.954M guaranteed)
12. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State – Signed (5-years, $25.65M max; $15.083M guaranteed)
13. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan – Signed (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)
14. Seattle Seahawks – Earl Thomas, S, Texas – Signed (5-years, $21.1M; $12.32M guaranteed)
15. New York Giants – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – Signed (5-years, $20.05M; $11.629M guaranteed)
16. Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech – Signed (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)
17. San Francisco 49ers – Mike Iupati, G/T, Idaho – Signed (5-years, $18.25M max; $10.8M guaranteed)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida – Signed (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)
19. Atlanta Falcons – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri – Signed (5-years, $17.54M max; $10.4M guaranteed)
20. Houston Texans – Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama – Signed (5-years, $13.1M; $10.35M guaranteed)
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – Agreed to Terms (5-years, $15.85M/$18.5M max/$9.66M guaranteed)
22. Denver Broncos – Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech – Signed (5-years, $12.155M/$15.5M max)
23. Green Bay Packers – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa – Signed (5-years, $14.75M max; $8.76M guaranteed)
24. Dallas Cowboys – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Signed (5-years, $11.8M; $8.375M guaranteed)
25. Denver Broncos – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida – Signed (5-years, $11.25M/$33M max; $8.7M guaranteed)
26. Arizona Cardinals – Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee – Agreed to Terms (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)
27. New England Patriots – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers – Signed (5-years, $10M/$13.2 max; $7.825M guaranteed)
28. Miami Dolphins – Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State – Signed (5-years, $13.07M max; $7.133M guaranteed)
29. New York Jets – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State – Signed (5-years, $12.99M max; $7.12M guaranteed)
30. Detroit Lions – Jahvid Best, RB, Cal – Signed (5-years, $9.8M)
31. Indianapolis Colts – Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU – Agreed to Terms (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)
32. New Orleans Saints – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State – Signed (5-years, financial terms undisclosed)

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

With the preseason kickoff literally days away, many NFL teams have been bitten by the injury bug during this year’s camp.  When the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals start things off on Sunday night, the ‘Boys will be doing it without an integral part of their future. 

The Cowboys were the first NFL team to begin training camp and they were also the first to suffer a significant injury when rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant went down with a high ankle sprain on July 30th. Bryant, an Oklahoma State product, was drafted twenty-fourth overall and has drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens who was signed by the Bengals as a free agent.

Bryant who drew criticism for not carrying veteran Roy Williams’ pads in the ongoing NFL rookie ritual, was awarded jersey No. 88 the day after he signed with the Cowboys.  That number carries a lot of responsibility in Dallas as it was the jersey worn by legend Drew Pearson and eventual Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. Bryant is expected to remain on the sidelines for about six weeks, taking him out of preseason play and jeopardizing his ability to see action in the first game of the regular season. 

The Denver Broncos have been hit especially hard throughout camp including the injury of running back Knowshon Moreno.  Moreno was injured early and is expected to miss the rest of training camp and preseason play.

Joining Moreno is Elvis Dumervil who has been sidelined with an injured chest muscle.  Dumervil was the leader last season in sacks and was awarded for his efforts last month with a five year contract valued at just over $58 million dollars.  The contract is a record for his position as it offers just over $43 million in guarantees. 

Sources indicate that Dumervil may be out for five months, meaning it is likely he will miss the entire season.  Add to this dilemma the fact that Darrell Reid remains injured and has not yet participated in training camp and the Broncos are without a proven pass rusher as they enter preseason play.

There’s bad news for the Green Bay Packers too. Safety and four-year veteran Atari Bigby will need arthroscopic ankle surgery and will have the procedure on Friday.  Bigby is confident that he will not miss a significant amount of playing time but Packers Coach Mike McCarthy would not comment about a possible time table for a return. 

Staying in the NFC North, Detroit was riding high just days ago after the signing of second overall pick Ndamukong Suh.  With news that safety Louis Delmas has a lingering groin injury the celebration has become a bit more conservative as the severity of the injury remains a question mark to the Lions.

Delmas is a big piece of the puzzle for a Lions team that hopes to improve dramatically on the defensive side of the ball. Though Delmas admits that surgery has been discussed he is adamant that it is not the option he expects saying this on his Twitter account:

@LouisD_26 I am not having a season ending surgery dont believe everything you hear… click here to read more . . .

The Washington Redskins remain hopeful that Albert Haynesworth will be at full strength soon but he has not participated in training camp due to his inability to pass the required conditioning test.  The test was required for Haynesworth after he sat out on the mandatory mini-camp in June due to personal objections with new coach Mike Shanahan’s direction of the defense.

Haynesworth first failed the test on July 29^th and 30^th before sitting out the next two days and attempting it again on Monday before quitting due to knee stiffness.  Haynesworth has not attempted the test since Monday and an MRI was conducted that revealed no structural damage in his knee. 

Adding insult to injury is the fact that analyst Mike Golic passed the test with relative ease earlier this week on ESPN.  Golic is an NFL veteran who has been retired for sixteen years and currently works for ESPN. 

The Minnesota Vikings are on standby as they await the retirement decision of quarterback Brett Favre and the veteran says that decision is centered around his ankle injury.  Favre was rumored to have sent text messages to certain teammates and Vikings officials on Tuesday but was later found working out with the local high school team in Mississippi. 

However, on the same day as the rumors of retirement began, Vikings kicker and friend Ryan Longwell spoke to Favre and indicated retirement had never come up during discussion.  We have since learned that Favre will meet with Dr. James Andrews next week to discuss the success of his ankle surgery. 

While the actions of legendary quarterback Brett Favre would most likely be difficult for even the most skilled of gamblers to bet on, it seems clear from the statements of other Vikings players that Favre would be welcomed back to the locker room regardless of when the decision is made.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

After a lengthy holdout, Ndamukong Suh has agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions.  Suh, the second overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, agreed late Tuesday to a five year contract worth a maximum of $68 million dollars with at least $40 million in guarantees. 

The Nebraska standout is expected in training camp by late Wednesday afternoon.  Suh has missed a total of four days worth of practice and the team is excited to have him ready by the first game of the preseason as they travel next week to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Though some members of the Lions team and staff expressed frustration with the amount of time it took to sign Suh, the negotiation pales in comparison to that of wide receiver Calvin Johnson who waited roughly twice the amount of time to reach a deal. 

The deal came days after Sam Bradford, the first overall pick in the draft, agreed to terms with the St. Louis Rams.  Bradford wound up with a contract of $78 million over the next six years with $50 million guaranteed.  Historically speaking, Suh wound up where many second picks normally do – with slightly less than the first overall pick received.

Regardless, the deal will make Suh one of the highest-paid rookies in the NFL and brings him close in contract value to the number one Draft pick of 2009, teammate and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.  Stafford immediately agreed to a contract of $78 million with $41.7 million of which is guaranteed on the day before the 2009 Draft.

At the end of the college football season, Suh was considered to be the likely number one pick of the 2010 Draft.  Suh has been considered possibly the most skilled defensive tackle to be drafted in the past 30 years and those close to him describe his work ethic and determination for success to be “relentless”.  However, the Rams decided to go with a quarterback with the first pick allowing Suh to fall into the welcoming arms of the Lions. 

As the first defensive tackle taken with one of the two overall picks in the draft since Darrell Russell was selected by the Oakland Raiders in 1997, Suh will roll into camp having missed some practice but with plenty of the training camp and preseason still lying ahead.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Across our nation, teams and media outlets are buzzing with what has turned out to be eventful NFL training camps thus far. The most recent news coming out of the camps was Brett Favre allegedly telling Chilly and Zygi he is retiring and not to expect him in camp but more on that later.    

The preseason will officially begin for the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys this Sunday night and follows shortly thereafter for the remaining 30 NFL teams.  Many are left wondering if the issues and problems in camps can be conquered prior to game time.

The main news out of the Cowboys camp surrounds first round pick Dez Bryant. The rookie signed quick, was the first to show on the field the first day of training, then refused to carry veteran Roy William’s pads. The following week, Jon Kitna threw a pass behind the wide receiver and after getting hit on the play, Bryant is expected out with an injury that occurred on the play. Is the Lions’ curse hitting the ‘Boys in Dallas?

For the Detroit Lions after revamping the roster with several trades and FA signings, the primary obstacle remains signing Ndamukong Suh.  As the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Suh is likely to request quite a payday.  Last season, the Lions were faced with a similar obstacle as they worked out a record contract with University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford but that was signed the evening before drafting the No. 1 overall pick. 

Presumably, Suh or his agents were waiting on Sam Bradford to sign with the St. Louis Rams in order to gauge and asking price.  With Bradford recently signing for $78 million – $50 million of which is guaranteed – it seems likely that the Lions will have to show Suh the money.  Much of the speculation has been that Suh will ask for more than Bradford.  Suh’s agents claim this is not the case but continue to pursue what they believe to be market value for what many still consider the best player to come out of the draft.

The training camp season has been one of injury struggles thus far for the Philadelphia Eagles.  As of Monday, six starters were on the shelf during training camp with the most notable being DeSean Jackson.  Jackson went down on Saturday with a lower back injury and was carted off the field.  As of Tuesday morning, Coach Andy Reid has commented that Jackson is steadily improving. 

For the Washington Redskins, the primary issue has been Albert Haynesworth.  Haynesworth has been unable to complete the team conditioning test satisfactorily.  After initially failing the test twice, Haynesworth sit out due to knee soreness on Saturday and Sunday.  Haynesworth began the test on Monday but was unable to continue due to the knee issue.

The team conditioning test mandates that certain running drills are completed within an allowed amount of time.  While Haynesworth has been unable to successfully complete the drills, 47-year-old Mike Golic 16 years retired out of the NFL completed the drill on the ESPN network Monday. 

The Redskins – Haynesworth drama began in early June when Haynesworth failed to show up for a mandatory mini-camp due to his objections of the new defensive scheme. He later pocketed a $21 million bonus and demanded a trade.

Though the New York Jets believe they are Super Bowl contenders with or without Darrelle Revis many would argue that Revis will significantly increase those chances.  Revis has yet to show up for the Jets training camp and though various reports exist on the reasons for the holdout many agree that the main issue is total compensation. 

With 54 tackles and 6 interceptions last year with perhaps the largest coming during the Wild Card game that lifted the team over the Bengals, Revis is said to want either a short term deal with a large signing bonus or a long-term deal believed to be in the range of $30 million.

The running back position is now the area of concern for the Denver Broncos as starter Knowshon Moreno was recently carted off the field with what wound up being diagnosed as a “slight tear” in his right hamstring.  The Broncos remain convinced that Moreno will be back in 2 – 3 weeks but that seems like a best case scenario.  The team remains hopeful that Moreno will not miss any carries as the talent behind Moreno on the depth chart is unproven.

In Chicago, the Bears are learning a new offensive system and are getting newly acquired pass rusher Julius Peppers accustomed to the defensive system.  At this point in time, hope is high but the Bears will need to execute in all areas in a division as competitive as the NFC North.  After a dismal 2009 season, Bears fans are hopeful that the Martz offensive system will work to Cutler’s strengths. 

In Minnesota, the Vikings have learned that Brett Favre will retire for a third time.  However, many inside the NFL and owner Zygi Wilf are convinced Favre will return before all is said and done.  Regardless, the Vikings will need to look at the possibility of moving forward with Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and Joe Webb as signal callers.  Behind Favre, the quarterback position in Minnesota is still unproven and training camp play has given no firm indication of who might be the projected starter should Favre stay true to his word.

Expectations are higher than ever for the Houston Texans.  Coming off of their first winning season in franchise history, the Texans are looking to make their first playoff appearance in the history of the team.  Many around the NFL point to the possibility that they may do it in impressive fashion – clinching the AFC South ahead of the Indianapolis Colts.  If quarterback Matt Schaub can continue to pass as he did last year only bright things should be expected for this team as the young talent continues to gain experience.

Competition in Arizona has led to many on-field fights as the team begins to adjust to life without Kurt Warner.  The expectation in Arizona is that Matt Leinart will be the signal caller for the start of the season.  When the Cardinals drafted Leinart the expectations were that he would someday carry the weight of the organization on his shoulders.  In the NFL, he has had mixed results with moments of despair and flashes of brilliance.  In any event, the success of the team likely hinges on how the team adjusts without Kurt Warner.

When the preseason begins this Sunday night, teams will have four weeks to adjust their roster to the best possible.  If the past few seasons have shown us anything expect new faces in the playoffs and a high level of competition across the league.

MORE NFL: Is Roger Goodell Losing his Big Stick? – Sports Climax

Jockey Hires Tebow, Boxers or Briefs? – Sports Climax

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

With Vince Young, Cedric Benson and Michael Vick avoiding suspensions, is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell losing his big stick?

Big Ben wouldn’t say so and neither would Detroit Lions exec Tom Leywand who was hit with a 30-day suspension and a $100,000 fine by the NFL for his recent DUI arrest but look at some of the history of the league’s policy and how Goodell may be slacking off a little bit.

One of the earliest acts of Goodell was his enactment of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy in April 2007.  This was in response to what had been a particularly disturbing season of player conduct issues in 2006.  Although the policy has been strongly defended by many members of the NFL it has faced equally as strong opposition from others.  This has left many wondering about how it is determined that a player or staff member be suspended.

Chris Henry and Adam “Pacman” Jones were the first two players to feel the wrath of the policy when they were both hit with suspensions shortly after the policy was enacted on April 10, 2007.  Henry was suspended for the first eight games of the season while Jones was forced to sit out for the entire season.

Henry was suspended following five arrests in the span of 28 months and a two game suspension late in the 2006 season.  He was warned that further arrests or off-field issues could result in the end of his career as an NFL player.

Jones was suspended following ten separate interviews with police in his short career.  His most recent offense before the suspension came in a strip club brawl in February 2007 that left one man paralyzed. 

Following an altercation with his bodyguard at a Dallas hotel on October 8, 2008, Jones was again suspended for the minimum four games for violations of the conduct policy.  Jones was eventually released by the Dallas Cowboys and played briefly for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  He has since rejoined the NFL as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.

One June 4, 2007, Tank Johnson was suspended for the first eight games of 2007.  This was in response to a misdemeanor weapon charge.  Johnson was required to spend 45 days in prison along with the four month sentence he was already serving for probation violations.

Among the most notable of the suspensions might be that of then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.  When police initially conducted a narcotics search of Vick’s property in April 2007, the wound up finding several animals that were part of an illegal dog fighting ring that Vick had established.

Vick was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NFL on August 24, 2007.  He would remain suspended while serving his jail sentence before being reinstated on July 27, 2009.  After being signed to a one year contract by the Philadelphia Eagles, Vick was allowed to play the final two preseason games of that year but was required to sit out the first two regular season games.

Donte Stallworth was suspended for the entire 2009 season following manslaughter charges for an incident that occurred in Miami on March 14, 2009.  Stallworth served 24 days of a 30 day sentence before being released from prison.  Stallworth was released by the Cleveland Browns and reinstated following Super Bowl 44.  He will be a member of the Baltimore Ravens for the 2010 NFL season. 

The latest to be suspended under conduct policy violations is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault at a Milledgeville, Georgia nightclub in March 2010.  Even though criminal charges have not been filed, Roethlisberger will miss the first six games of the 2010 NFL season.

Many have criticized the suspensions and stated they were too harsh when charges were never filed in some cases.  Many also point to the “spygate” incident in which members of the New England Patriots staff were caught videotaping defensive play calls of other teams following a September 2007 game against rival New York Jets. 

Coach Bill Belichick was never suspended but was fined $500,000.  Many were critical of no suspension being handed down even though videotaping is not listed as a violation in the policy.  Goodell later stated that the videotaping of the calls did not impact the game between the Patriots and the Jets – a game the Patriots won 38-14. 

Though Benson, who is mentioned earlier, was recently forced to meet with Goodell due to his arrest for assault with bodily injury, he was not suspended for personal conduct violations.   Jets receiver Santonio Holmes was recently suspended for the first four games of the regular season although it was in response to the substance abuse policy of the NFL. 

Tennessee Titans quarterback Young was recently cited for assault after a strip club brawl in Dallas but will not be suspended for any length of time from that offense. 

For the sake of clarity, one can only hope that Goodell will provide clarification in the future in regards to the reasons for suspensions or lack of suspensions.  If certain players are to be suspended without charges and others will walk free there seems to be some explaining that should be in order.

And should a personal conduct policy really be in place for current NFL players?  If a retired player or someone such as a general manager makes a colossal mistake it will still reflect negatively on the image of the NFL even if they aren’t on the field of play every Sunday.

RELATED: Athletes Mugshot Gallery – Sports Climax

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

The Baltimore Orioles hired Buck Showalter as new manager on Thursday after meeting with numerous other candidates including interim manager Juan Samuel.  Before the hiring by the Orioles, Showalter had been linked to the Florida Marlins earlier in the season. 

Showalter’s last tour of duty came with the Texas Rangers where he served as manager for four years before being fired at the conclusion of the 2006 season.  Since then, Showalter had served as a senior adviser of baseball operations under the Cleveland Indians and most recently worked with ESPN where he was an analyst for Baseball Tonight. 

Twice named Manager of the Year, Showalter’s career began with the New York Yankees in 1992 after being promoted to the coaching staff two years earlier.  In 1995, the Yankees clinched the American League Wild Card berth and were eventually defeated by the Seattle Mariners in an exciting and memorable finish to the playoff series.

Shortly following the season, Showalter left the Yankees due to personal differences and conflicts with owner George Steinbrenner.  The 1995 playoff appearance marked the first for the Yankees since 1981.  In 1996, the Yankees went on to win the World Series after defeating the Atlanta Braves in six games. 

Showalter was hired shortly thereafter by the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks.  He began work two years before the team was to begin play in 1996 in order to help the upstart team form what would become an eventual roster. 

In just the second season of play, the team compiled a 100-62 record.  However, the third season was considered disastrous following several free-agent player acquisitions a season earlier.    After three years with the Diamondbacks, Showalter was fired as manager.  Once again, the Diamondbacks won the World Series in the year following Showalter’s departure. 

Showalter faces a much different challenge in Baltimore.  The team has experienced several dismal seasons with the latest of blows coming on April 12 when the team set a record for Camden Yards with the lowest paid attendance since the opening of the stadium in 1992.

In the years following the departure of Cal Ripken Jr. the team has struggled mightily and has failed to contend.  The team last made the playoffs in 1997.  Much of Showalter’s work will be with young talent as the Orioles have been unable to attract free-agent players to the city.  In late 2008, the team briefly flirted with signing then free-agent and hometown product Mark Teixeira before he eventually chose the Bronx as a landing spot.  

If the Showalter experience in Arizona is remotely similar to what can be expected in Baltimore the once proud baseball tradition at Camden Yards may be resurrected.  Much like the case in Arizona, Showalter will be expected to develop and encourage young talent to perform.  The question will be when or if Showalter is once again convincing enough to lure veteran players to the city. 

Maybe… finally… one of the nicest parks in Major League Baseball will once again experience sellouts and the thrill of a late season push toward October play.  And maybe Showalter will be around to experience it without watching the success unfold a season later on television. 

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Once considered a villain in the National Football League, Jack Tatum passed away yesterday at the age of 61.  Tatum spent his college career at Ohio State University and played ten seasons in the NFL under both the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers. 

Initially recruited to Ohio State as a running back, it was under the advice of assistant coach Lou Holtz that Tatum became a defensive back.  Tatum switched positions and became part of the National Championship team that went 13-0 in 1968.

In 2005, Tatum was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame – 24 years after his induction into the Ohio State Varsity Hall of Fame in 1981.  Tatum is still fondly remembered at Ohio State today as Coach Jim Tressel introduced the “Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award” in 2001. 

Tatum had a somewhat controversial career in the NFL where he was nicknamed “The Assassin”.  Among his most infamous moments was the hit on Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game that paralyzed the wide receiver from the chest down.  Although the hit was considered to be clean, it did result in the NFL tightening rules regarding the intensity of hits.

Tatum was also involved in what many consider the most remarkable NFL play of all time – The Immaculate Reception.  Tatum collided with Terry Bradshaw’s intended target John Fuqua knocking the ball spiraling into the air and landing into the waiting hands of Franco Harris who scored with the game winning touchdown.

As an NFL player, Tatum was selected to the Pro Bowl three separate times and consecutively in 1973, 1974 and 1975.  During his time in the NFL, Tatum became famous for the remark:

“I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.” 

It was later disclosed that the Oakland Raiders defensive backfield had made side bets before games that paid out according to the severity of an incident.  If a player was knocked out cold or carted off the field, the amount of the payoff would vary accordingly. 

After his career in football ended following the 1980 season, Tatum went on to write three books, including ‘Final Confessions of NFL Assassin” pictured here. All three of which became best sellers.  Tatum also spent many hours volunteering for numerous diabetes associations in the central Ohio area.

The untimely death of Jack Tatum puts to an end his battles with diabetes and controversy.  The unfortunate incident with Stingley often leads many to believe Tatum was vicious and violent.  The Raiders organization and Buckeye family prefer to remember him as an extremely talented and competitive player.  Despite how Tatum may be viewed, his love of the game and fierceness on the field will never be forgotten.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

In what was supposed to be the first meeting between two Major League Baseball rookie phenoms.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg reached another first milestone as he was scratched from what was supposed to be his first time facing Atlanta Braves rookie sensation Jason Heyward. 

Though Strasburg faced the Braves earlier in the season, it was during the time that J-Hey was sidelined with an injured thumb.  Once again, this battle between these two surging stars will have to wait.

Despite injuries and scratched starts, Heyward and Strasburg are easily two of the biggest rookie stars in MLB and, barring season-ending injuries, seem among the most likely candidates to claim the National League Rookie of the Year. 

As the season began, Heyward was widely considered the No. 1 MLB prospect with Strasburg sitting in the No. 2 position.  With expectations and pressure high, Heyward delivered in his first major-league at bat with a three run home run off of Carlos Zambrano on opening day in front of a delighted Turner Field crowd.  In the history of the Braves organization, Heyward is the fifth to begin his career with a home run while appearing at the plate for the first time. 

Since then, Heyward has been named the Rookie of the Month in both April and May of this season.  In June, Heyward was placed on the disabled list due to a thumb injury.  Although he was selected to start the All-Star Game he did not play due to the injury. 

Thus far, Heyward boasts a .276 batting average through 349 plate appearances.  With 81 hits on the season, Heyward is currently at 11 home runs and 48 RBI’s. 

Strasburg was hyped like no other prospect in the history of Major League Baseball and was selected first overall in the 2009 draft.  Moments before the deadline to sign with the Nationals, Strasburg set a record with a contract valued at $15.1 million. 

The former San Diego State University star began his MLB career against the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of a sold out Nationals Park on June 8, 2010.  Living up to the hype, Strasburg did not disappoint with 14 strikeouts across seven innings and no walks.  Amazingly, the last seven batters in his rookie start were fanned.  The debut performance set a team record for strikeouts by a starter.

Strasburg currently boasts a 2.32 ERA with a 5-2 record across nine starts.  Thus far on the season, Strasburg has 75 strikeouts and has not had a start where he did not strikeout at least five batters. 

Strasburg was not selected for the All-Star Game as Phillies Coach Charlie Manuel indicated he needed to be “broken in” prior to becoming an All-Star.  In all fairness, the pitchers Manuel selected had played the entire first-half of the MLB season.  Strasburg later acknowledged that he felt “undeserving” of a selection given his amount of starts.

The Nationals have placed a 160-inning limit on Strasburg.  Currently, Strasburg is at 54.1 innings for the season.  Tests that have been conducted on the arm of the rookie phenom show inflammation in the right shoulder but no structural damage has been revealed.  Assuming Strasburg returns to the mound as normal it would appear that the battle between the two rookies might go until the end of the season. 

And with the Braves and Nationals meeting up in three more series before the end of the regular season, we might get to see the Heyward-Strasburg battle after all.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

In the turbulent economic times of today with few professions being safe from financial challenge, the top American athletes continue to find guaranteed financial success.

While the economy dips, the average salary of the top 50 highest-earning American athletes shows an increase of 11 percent from the 2009 average with an unprecedented $26.2 million.  Not only guaranteed of the salary agreed to in the terms of their contracts, today’s athletes are raking it in for various endorsements deals.

Golf actually topped the list with the top two American athletes in terms of overall earnings are golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.  Despite the recent troubles Tiger Woods has faced, as well as the loss of several endorsements, he still leads the way as the highest paid American athlete at over $90 million dollars.  Woods also remains the leader in endorsements at $70 million.

At nearly $30 million behind fellow golfer Tiger Woods sits Phil Mickelson at a total of over $61 million in earnings.  Mickleson is second in endorsements as well at $52 million.  Woods and Mickleson represent the only two members of the PGA on the list.

Surprisingly, the NHL is not represented on the list and the only boxer listed is Floyd Mayweather coming in third at just over $60 million.  Mayweather was not listed last year but the earnings from two successful fights propelled him near the top.

While racing is represented on the list, it is only represented by NASCAR with three competitors receiving mention.  Of those, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was highest at 16th.  Each of the NASCAR drivers were alike in that the endorsements they received outweighed their salary and winnings by millions.  Coincidentally, all three are currently under contract to Hendrick Motorsports with the other two NASCAR representatives, in order of earnings, being Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

The NBA had the most athletes on the list at 16.  Not surprisingly, the league leader in terms of earnings was LeBron James at 4th.  Of the nearly $46 million James received in earnings, $30 million came as endorsements.  James’ new teammate Dwyane Wade landed 10th on the list at nearly $28 million in earnings.  The majority of Wade’s earnings came from his salary and winnings.  The other new resident of South Beach, Chris Bosh, is not currently on the list.

The NFL was the second most represented league with a total of 15 representatives.  Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning led the way at 9th.  Of the nearly $31 million earned by Manning the split between salary and winnings along with endorsements was almost even.

The second representative of the NFL was Matthew Stafford at 11th.  Nearly all of the almost $28 million Stafford earned came from his record breaking contract following the 2009 NFL Draft.  Stafford received less than $1 million in endorsements.

MLB players occupied 13 spots on the list.  Of these, five were members of the New York Yankees with the top MLB representative Alex Rodriguez coming in at 5th with $37 million as he looks to hit his 600th career home run in the near future.

The Boston Red Sox represented three spots on the list while the Toronto Blue Jays held one which may mean, in terms of salary, the ultra-competitive AL East appears to be the place a free agent looking for a big payday might wish to land.  Between New York, Boston and Toronto, the division held nine of the MLB’s thirteen representatives.

The MLB also held the final spot on the list.  New York Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett was listed as 50th at a total of just under $17 million.  Nearly all of Burnett’s earnings were due to his salary.

The list appears certain to change.  For instance, popular Yankee Derek Jeter is currently 8th on the list but may be destined to climb higher as his contract ends and negotiations are likely to guarantee a pay increase.  Though not currently on the list, one might estimate that the recent deals of Joe Mauer and the soon to be on-the-market Prince Fielder will be propelled into the top 50.

The average of $26.2 million among the top 50 seems like an amount that is meant to be overshadowed with these and many new deals looming.  As sports in the major four professional organizations seems to be more competitive than ever with late season pushes into the playoffs and ratings at all time highs one can safely assume that these deals are only likely to continue as markets fight to place a winning product onto their fields.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC