The Fall of Alex Rodriguez

There was a point in time where Alex Rodriguez was the can't-miss prospect of baseball. He was the up and coming stud shortstop who could do it all, so much so that he bypassed playing college at Miami to be drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 1st pick of the 1993 draft. He saw limited action in both the '94 and '95 seasons, but in 1996 he stormed onto the scene in his first full season as a regular. He took his spot at shortstop and looked impressive with solid defense to go with his his balmy .358 average, 36 home runs and 123 RBI, finishing 2nd in the MVP vote. People took one look at this kid and thought, "he's the next great one".

Courtesy of ESPN

And they weren't wrong. He went on to play 5 full seasons in Seattle, finishing in the top 10 of the MVP voting each year, and averaging 37 HR's, 115 RBI and 25 steals. Then, he cashed in on his next opportunity. The Texas Rangers wanted him, and they were willing to cough up a good chunk of change for him to bolt from Seattle. He ended up signing a 10-year, $252 million dollar contract with them, by far the richest contract in the history of North American sports. But given the totally different state of baseball economics as opposed to the real world, why not? This was a franchise player who you'd have locked up for a decade. Someone who'd be worth the money, but he'd have to live up to it.

That's when he supposedly decided to dip his toe into the PED waters. He was just given this monstrous contract, and he needed to perform to show that he was worth it. And perform he did. Despite only spending 3 seasons in Texas, Rodriguez absolutely killed it. He lead the league in home runs each season, blasting 52, 57, and 47 in each season respectively, and averaged 132 RBI to go with a .305 average during his brief tenure in Arlington. He also won the 2003 MVP, even though the Rangers finished dead-last in their division and were a generally awful team.

That's when the Yankees stepped in and offered to take him off the Rangers hands. Texas was now realizing what a burden his contract was, and how badly it was hindering their growth as a franchise. After nearly sending him to Boston in a deal that would have netted them Manny Ramirez, the Yankees hopped in and grabbed him in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees were now getting this superstar who had already garnered 345 career home runs courtesy of one of the most beautiful swings in baseball, and was still on a lightning pace to break the home run record along with countless other records, including Pete Rose's hits record.

To be able to elaborate upon Rodriguez's stint in the Bronx, you'd have to transcribe it into some sort of novella for it to be readable. In short, A-Rod was up and down with mostly ups as he stayed healthy. He twice won the AL MVP, with his most impressive season coming in 2007 as he bombed 54 home runs, 156 RBI and boasted a .314 average. In addition to leading the league in HR's and RBI, he also was the frontrunner in slugging (.645), OPS (1.067), total bases (376), and runs (143). All of this was aside from him switching positions to play third base, as Derek Jeter was the incumbent shortstop, and playing under the extremely bright lights of New York. Countless times Rodriguez was told to "earn his pinstripes" and was constantly berated over his ever-growing celebrity off the field, his sometimes questionable on-field antics, and his growth as one of the most enigmatic figures that baseball had ever seen.

Following the now-infamous ordeal surrounding the exposition of him as a former steroid user during his stint in Texas, Rodriguez came forth in 2009 and told everyone that he did in fact use steroids while with the Rangers, but he ceased use of these after Spring Training of '03. Now, on top of everything else he had to deal with, there was now this admission. However, it seemed as though this was a weight lifted from his broad shoulders as he went on to have his 12th straight season of 30 long-balls and 100 RBI, and absolutely dominate the postseason, something he had never done before. He had long been seen as a postseason failure, but in 2009 he delivered: batting .365 with 6 HR and 18 RBI, leading the Yankees to their first World Championship since 2000.

Since that season, Rodriguez has found himself riddled with injuries and unable to stay on the field for a full season. He hasn't even played more than 138 games since his MVP year of 2007, and his recently signed 10-year, $275 million dollar contract is looking more and more like a massive burden and mistake on the part of the Yankees front office. He still has 5 years left on that deal, and is owed more than $114 million, so it's impossible for the Yankees to simply just cut him. While he's still an above average third baseman when healthy, he certainly is not worth the money he's being paid and the baggage that he seems to always bring along for the ride. Especially now, as we are on the heels of another surprising report claiming that Rodriguez was among 6 players named on a list of ballplayers who received performance-enhancing drugs during the 2012 season.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

This would be the second time A-Rod would be nabbed as a user, and it's especially disconcerting considering there was a point in time where he said he was done with them and hadn't used any since 2003. That would have to make one wonder how long he's actually been flying under the radar doing these things, and what this will ultimately mean to the rest of his career. It's been reported that the Yankees are willing to explore all avenues to void his contract if he is indeed disciplined by MLB for his reported use of PED's. All this aside from the fact that A-Rod is sidelined until at least the All-Star break regardless, as he is coming off major hip surgery.

Combine the injuries, with the off-the-field distractions, with his obvious decline in skill, and now the purported use of his steroid use and you see what is fueling the urge for the Yankees to want to cut their ties with the once-surefire Hall of Famer. All of this blossoming from a young high school kid who seemingly was supposed to be the next big thing to grace baseball. He surely was the next big thing, but maybe not for all the reasons Rodriguez would have hoped.

5 NFL Players That Could Change Teams

With NFL teams free to sign whichever free agents they desire beginning on March 13th, teams will surely be looking to improve upon a roster that they already have. While perhaps making a few marquee changes, most teams will sit pat and make a few low-key changes to bolster their squads.

There will also be a number of players that are not free agents, but will surely be made available via trade or restricted free agency. Here are 5 of the most intriguing of whom could be wearing different uniforms come next September.

5. Reggie Bush, RB

Courtesy of Naples News

Bush makes this list not because of his skill and playmaking, but because of the intrigue that he carries because of his aforementioned skill. Coming out of USC, Bush was considered the once-in-a-lifetime, can't miss prospect. He was simply electric at Southern Cal, smashing records and making opposing collegiate defenses look absolutely foolish. Then when the Texans passed him up with the #1 overall pick, people were absolutely beside themselves with shock. As it would turn out, the Texans made the right choice by passing on Bush and selecting Mario Williams who was a stalwart on their defense for 6 years.

Bush went on to win a Super Bowl with the Saints, and was later traded to Miami for a 6th round pick and some shoulder pads. With the Dolphins, Bush resurrected his career. He's rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, something he never did in New Orleans, and he's gotten a crack at showing what he can do as an every-down type back. There are still durability questions about Bush, and there are certainly still questions about the type of player he is and whether he can carry the load, but his skill-set and dynamic playmaking potential make him very intriguing for a team searching for a ballcarrier who can catch out of the backfield and make defenders miss.

With him being tabbed as "highly unlikely" to return to Miami in 2013, Bush will almost certainly find a new home and try to elongate his up-and-down career elsewhere.

4. Matt Flynn, QB

After signing a lucrative 3 year, $19.5 million dollar contract with the Seahawks last post-season, it was widely assumed that Flynn would compete for, and win, the Seahawks starting QB position. After his signing, Seattle went out and selected Russell Wilson in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft, presumably to groom behind Flynn. Then, Wilson went out and set the world ablaze, earning the starting gig outright and relegating Flynn once again to the bench. Only this time instead of backing up a Super Bowl winner, he was now backing up a 3rd round rookie.

After Wilson's remarkable rookie campaign, he is surely the face of the Seattle franchise for the foreseeable future. This makes Flynn expendable, especially considering they are on the hook for the remaining 2 years of his deal and he's making more than their incumbent starter. Luckily for Seattle, Flynn looked like a potentially excellent starter, as he excelled in his spot-starts in Green Bay and showed the ability to be at the helm of an NFL offense.

If Seattle doesn't cut him outright, they'll certainly explore a trade to ship Flynn out of town and give him a chance to start in the league. There is always a market for starting QB's in the NFL, and Flynn could turn into a hot commodity come free agency. Teams like the Jets, Bills, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Chiefs are all in need of a reliable QB, and Flynn could find himself in one of these towns next season.

3. Alex Smith, QB

Similar to Flynn, Alex Smith is a high-profile backup QB who drew the short straw. After starting the 49ers first 9 games in 2012, and doing an admirable job, Smith suffered a concussion and was forced out of action in Week 11. Enter Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick stole Smith's gig, and led the Niners to a Super Bowl berth. Now, Kap is the QB of the future for the Niners and Smith is on the outside looking in. Smith himself has tabbed this season as incredibly bittersweet, but has shown total professionalism in his handling of the unenviable position of losing your job. The worst part for him is that he was playing well, and he was only dethroned following a head injury, rather than being replaced for poor play.

Courtesy of SF Gate

After being considered a total bust as the 1st overall pick in 2005, Smith has turned his career around and is now a very respectable starter who takes care of the ball, and can lead a team if he has a decent supporting cast around him. Smith certainly won't stay in San Fran next season, and it's just a matter of whether the Niners will choose to grant him his release to test free agency, or trade him in hopes of getting something in return. A lot should be said for how well Smith has handled everything surrounding this season, and that'll certainly add to his intrigue as teams are always looking for poised, professional leaders.

2. Ed Reed, S

Following the Super Bowl, Ed Reed may have played his final game in the purple and black that he's worn his whole career. The future Hall of Famer will surely test free agency, and it's been reported that the Ravens are willing to let him walk if he finds something elsewhere. And while Reed will be 35 years old, and isn't as effective as the 28 year old Reed, he is still an extremely cognizant, hard-hitting safety. He's also still an innate ballhawk, and will be nothing short of valuable for a team looking to add a veteran presence to their secondary.

If Reed walks, look for veteran teams who have a legitimate title shot look to add him. Someone like the Patriots, who are always in desperate need of secondary help, could pounce on Reed immediately. Especially since Bill Belichick's fondness for Reed is no secret, and Reed's presence would emulate that of the Rodney Harrison addition of the early 2000's.

The Ravens will take a huge risk by letting Reed walk after watching Ray Lewis retire, as they'd be losing both heart and souls of their defense in a single offseason. But it's a risk they're apparently willing to take.

1. Victor Cruz, WR

In what would be the biggest shock of the NFL offseason, Victor Cruz could potentially find himself not playing for Big Blue in 2013. While it is highly, and I stress highly, unlikely that Cruz will leave New York, he is still a restricted free agent which could allow other teams to sneak in and steal him from the Giants. What makes pursuing Cruz dangerous is that whichever team signs him will be forced to give up a first round pick in the event they land his services, and we saw that no one was willing to do that for Mike Wallace just a season ago.

Courtesy of The Daily News

Another snag in that plan is that if Cruz does agree to sign an offersheet put forth by another team, the Giants will then have 7 days to match that, which they almost certainly would do. But why wouldn't they? Cruz is a focal point of the Giants offense after being an undrafted free agent out of Massachusetts, and they are the reason that Cruz has found immense success in this league.

In 2011, he began the season buried on the depth chart and found his way on the field due to injuries in front of him. Not only did Cruz take this opportunity by the horns, but he annihilated the Giants record book, hauling in 80 catches for a franchise-record 1,536 yards and 9 touchdowns. He then went on to win the Super Bowl with the Giants and become a household name among NFL fans. Cruz followed up his breakout season this year with 1,092 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, showing he was no fluke.

He has no fear of going across the middle, and his crisp route running and elite speed has given defenses fits the past two seasons. Cruz is certainly a top-tier receiver in this league, and someone is going to give him a huge pay day in a few months time. While I stress that I still think the Giants will pay him graciously, we've seen weirder things happen and there's always the off-chance that Cruz could wind up elsewhere in 2013.

Why Tiger Woods Needs a Big 2013

Courtesy of Total Pro Sports

Tiger Woods is the man solely responsible for making the game of golf what it is today. He single handedly invoked a mass interest in the game of golf via his astounding play, his brashness, and his youthfulness. Golf had simply never seen anything like Tiger before. He was this egomaniacal, eccentric man who dominated the game of golf over the course of the better part of a decade the way no one has ever dominated a sport before. Watching him go to work was absolutely masterful, and he made the game of golf something that more people could appreciate.

Tiger burst onto the scene in 1996, and in 1997 he became the youngest player to ever win the Masters at the age of 21. Not only did he win the Masters, he blew away the competition winning by a then-record 12 strokes en route to what would wind up becoming the most magnificent and encapsulating PGA career of any golfer, ever.

Not only was Tiger the youngest to achieve Masters glory and don the famous green jacket, but he also become the youngest golfer to win a career grand slam, and the youngest to 50 career Tour wins. Additionally, he's one of only two golfers to garner a career grand slam 3 times, the other being the one and only Jack Nicklaus.

Following his early successes, Tiger became a household name and recognizable figure throughout the world. A young, black golfer was not something that had ever been the norm, but Tiger was simply rewriting every facet of the golf record book. He's gone on to end the PGA season as the money leader a record 9 times, win the Player of the Year award a record 10 times, win 14 major championships (second only to Nicklaus' 18), and become the only golfer to win each major by at least 5 strokes. Simply put, once Tiger Woods entered the realm of the professional golf world it would never, ever be the same.

With Tiger's continued success came continued fame and glory, he signed lucrative contracts with the likes of Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, and EA Sports. The latter of which still bears his name and image on their annual golf video game entitled "Tiger Woods PGA Tour". The legend of one Eldrick "Tiger" Woods was something to truly behold and it was continuing its uphill climb towards him becoming recognized as potentially one of the single greatest athletes to play any sport, in any time period. Due to his rapid ascension to superstardom, the interest in the game of golf was reaching heights that had never even been dreamt of. Young children were darting to golf courses to become the next Tiger, and television ratings were skyrocketing to numbers unheard of. He is such a renowned figure that him simply participating drew the likes of casual fans and diehards to the TV screen just to watch history happen.

It seemed that Tiger was invincible. Everyone loved him and he was turning the game of golf into something much more modern. He had no qualms with swearing, breaking clubs, and screaming with exuberance, thus reversing the old notion of golf being a "gentleman's game", and people looked past it because it was Tiger. He ran the show.

Following his now infamous infidelity scandal which erupted in late 2009, Tiger had briefly fallen off the face of the Earth. He suffered through a split with his wife, losing millions in endorsements, and watching his brand become somewhat of a joke. After spending a record-breaking 281 days atop the World Golf Rankings as the number 1 golfer in the world, Tiger saw his stock plummet as his golf game declined greatly upon his return to the Tour and at one point, he fell to number 58 in the world. A number that would have seemed wildly inconceivable a mere 6 months prior.

Courtesy of Guardian News

But Tiger regained his stroke over time, and has now risen back to number 2 in the world once again. He still has yet to win a major since his remarkable, 5-round effort in the 2008 US Open while he essentially played on one leg. Yet despite that, it doesn't quite feel like Tiger is done. In order for that to be true, Tiger needs a big year in 2013. He needs to prove his doubters wrong and show that he is, still, the single most talented golfer that has ever swung the sticks. Towards the end of the 2012 tour, you could see glimpses of Tiger rounding into shape, winning 3 PGA tour events and regaining a little bit of that swagger that made him such an enticing figure. But Woods must continue this success into 2013, and show he can still play.

However, in order for 2013 to be a real success, Tiger must win a major. To go another full calendar year without winning that elusive 15th major that he's been searching for since 2008 would be an absolute shame. It would be demoralizing for Tiger, and it would hurt his credibility among both avid and casual golf fans. If he fails to win a major for the 5th consecutive year, many would chalk Tiger up as being done professionally and turn their eyes to the new apple of the golf world's eye, Rory McIlroy. If Tiger wants people to still see him as the greatest golfer in the world, he must win a major or two, and defeat McIlroy in the process. Otherwise, Rory could go on to have another year like he did in 2012, and that'll be all she wrote for Tiger.

It's likely that in 20 years Tiger will still be revered as the greatest golfer ever, but if he falls off the cliff enough to officially pass the torch to McIlroy in 2013, he'll become an afterthought for the present. He'll be recognized as the player who could have, and should have, passed Jack for the most majors, and he should've done it in a breeze. Sure, he could win a few more events and eventually pass Sam Snead as the most decorated golfer of all-time, but it won't mean as much as passing Nicklaus' record.

In order for Tiger to be the greatest who ever lived, he must have a bounce back year and show the world he's not done yet. If he falters people will wonder how much greater the career of the world's greatest golfer could have been, and that'll be a question that lingers for eternity.

Top 5 MLB Outfields

On the heels of the Braves recent acquisition of outfielder Justin Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks, they would seemingly be in prime position to send out one of the better outfields in the bigs on a day-to-day basis. But where does their crew stack up against 4 of the other best outfields in the league?

5. Oakland Athletics 
Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick

After a wild season in Oakland that saw the A's shock the baseball world and win the AL West crown over the vaunted Angels and Rangers, they'll be back with a similar lineup for 2013. One thing that will certainly be the same is their starting outfield which consists of Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, and Josh Reddick.

Cespedes is definitely more recognized for his offensive skillset than his defense, but he's a talented defender as well. He doesn't have the range to get to everything in the field, but he's got an above-average arm and, generally speaking, he plays fundamentally sound. Crisp is also known for his highlight-reel catches, and his incredible speed to track down balls and steal bases. Rounding out their trio is Reddick, who is coming off a breakout season in 2012 which saw him blast 32 home runs to go with 85 RBI. He was certainly something the Red Sox could have used, had they not shipped him to Oakland for Andrew Bailey. He was also awarded for his stellar defense by reigning in his first career Gold Glove Award.

Their defense from left to right should be stout once again in 2013, both offensively and defensively.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers
Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier

Courtesy of Zimbio

The potential of this outfield certainly comes down to health. If healthy, it could be the best in baseball in terms of offensive production and solid defense. In center, you have Matt Kemp who is arguably the best 5 tool player in baseball when healthy. Unfortunately for Kemp, he missed 56 games scattered throughout the 2012 season and was never healthy enough to get a string together a steady campaign. However, if you take a step back and look at his 2011 campaign you see the potential of Kemp. In addition to his 11 outfield assists and respectable 5 errors, Kemp was an offensive machine. He blasted 39 taters to go with his 126 RBI and 115 runs, all of which lead the league in each respective category. He also swiped 40 bags, showing his dynamite speed. If a healthy Kemp is roaming centerfield, the Dodgers will be very happy.

His longtime partner in crime has been Andre Ethier whose defense is certainly sub-par, but he can bring it offensively and is a very nice complementary player to Kemp. Unfortunately he has a very undesirable contract which the Dodgers handed to him prior to last season, and they may be stuck with him as he rides the decline of his career.

Their newest addition will be Carl Crawford in left, whom they acquired after last years trade deadline from the Red Sox. If Crawford plays like he did in Tampa Bay, the Dodgers will be wildly happy. If he repeats his injury riddled performance in Boston, LA will be scrambling to make ends meet all season. At his best, Crawford brings otherworldly athleticism as he's lead the league in triples and steals four times each in his career, and has stellar defense to go with his solid offense. He's never had more than 5 errors in his career, and his 2010 gold glove award is a testament to his defensive prowess.


3. New York Yankees
Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson, Ichiro Suzuki 

From left to right, the Yankees have potentially the best defensive outfield in the MLB. With Gardner's ability to play left field like a centerfielder and track down everything, there was talks of him making that role official and switching spots with Granderson. While that has yet to be made official, Gardner is currently penciled in as the everyday left fielder, assuming he can stay healthy. Gardner's incredible speed also allows him to steal bases at a stellar rate, as he lead the league in swipes in 2011.

Granderson is also an above-average fielder with great speed. He'll make circus catches from time to time and is as reliable as they come in center. In 3 seasons in the Bronx, he's made only 5 errors, including zero in 2012. He's also a huge power threat in the middle of the Yanks lineup, blasting 84 home runs the last two seasons, but also stealing 35 bases in the same time span to prove his speed on the basepaths.

With Ichiro rounding out the trio in right, you know what you get from him: incredibly fundamentally sound defense, with a cannon of an arm and the ability to leap over walls when it calls for it. Despite just turning 39 years old, Ichiro can still bring it defensively and he's never made more than 5 errors in a single season, including only 1 last year in his time with both Seattle and NY. Ichiro can also still hit, despite his early season struggles in Seattle, as he hit .322 in his stint with NY, and he can still swipe bases with the best of them, having never stolen fewer than 29 bases in a given season.

This outfield should steal a ton of bases, and play sound defense. It's likely that you won't see too many balls find the gap with this trio roaming the outfield.

2. Atlanta Braves
Justin Upton, BJ Upton, Jason Heyward 

Courtesy of USA Today

Now this is one hell of an outfield. First you have the Upton brothers. Separated by almost 3 years to the day, these brothers tend to bring out the best in each other. They're known as two players with immense talent, just sometimes unable to harness it all into one effort. BJ, the elder Upton, began his career as a middle-infielder, but was quickly shifted to the outfield to maximize his skill-set. That proved to be the wise move, as BJ is definitely better suited to be in centerfield and his defense has improved annually. He can also steal bases at a high clip, as he snagged 31 last season and 42 as recently as 2010.  Combine all this with his ever-growing power and you have a new, dynamic centerfielder that the Braves should be excited about.

The younger Upton is a little more raw defensively, but his offensive growth has to be considered far greater than BJ was at the same point in his career. Justin has already topped BJ's career high in home runs, as he clocked 31 in 2011, and his RBI production is also a step-up from his older brother. If these two brothers can add a sibling rivalry to fuel their growth and success, it could make the life of their third outfielder a little bit easier as well.

That third outfielder, Jason Heyward, was tabbed as the next big thing for baseball when he came up as a rookie in 2010. He quickly lit up the league, winning rookie of the year and looking like a stud in the process. Then after a sophomore slump in 2011, Heyward looked good once again in '12. He hit a career high 27 home runs and 82 RBI, in addition to another career high with 21 stolen bases. He also nabbed his first career Gold Glove award, which certainly could be the first of many.

Overall, this is a young and extremely athletic outfield that can do a little bit of everything. The two new acquisitions conveniently came from the same family, and could be pivotal to the Braves overall success in 2013.

1. Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos, Josh Hamilton

Courtesy of Yahoo!

What could, and should, potentially be the best outfield in the bigs comes courtesy of the other team in LA. The Angels should be sitting pretty with arguably the best outfield in the MLB, and they could be together for the forseeable future. Right now, many consider Josh Hamilton the best overall player in baseball. When healthy, Hamilton is a once in a generation type player who can hit for power and average and play stellar defense. Last year, considered a down year for Hamilton, he still hit .285 and hit a career high 43 home runs. Once he hit free agency, however, teams were reluctant to offer him a huge contract due to health concerns and the obvious insanity of handing out a 10 year deal to an outfielder who will be 32 in the second month of the season. The Angels stepped in and handed him a lucrative 5 year deal which will keep him in Anaheim through 2017 to pair with the All-World Mike Trout.

Trout is coming off perhaps the greatest rookie season any MLB player has enjoyed. Everyone knows the story, ranging from his 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases, to his amazing defense robbing just about everyone of home runs. He also finished 2nd in a hotly contested MVP debate, and lead the Angels to the best record in baseball following his call-up from the minors. All of this, and Trout is still only 21 years old. After playing centerfield for all of 2012, Trout will shift to left field in '13 to allow Peter Bourjos to step in center.

Bourjos is incredibly fleet of foot and showed huge upside during his only full-time gig in the majors in 2011. Unfortunately for Bourjos, the Angels outfield was a crowd in 2012 and it saw him ride the pine despite his undeniable skills. Now that things have changed and Vernon Wells is rightfully on the outside looking in and Torii Hunter is in Detroit, Bourjos will get his shot as the everyday centerfielder. If he plays like he did in 2011 and in limited action in 2012, Bourjos will certainly be a favorite for a Gold Glove and will provide a new element to the Angels offense.

This has to be the best outfield in baseball due to the wide-range of skill-sets each of these players brings to the table. There will be home runs abound in LA, along with stellar defense and stolen bases for days. If all are healthy, these 3 alone could help carry the Angels to the West crown.

What's Happened to the Patriots?

For over a decade, the New England Patriots have been the cream of the crop of the NFL. Year in and year out, they consistently win double-digit games, and are unparalleled in terms of their undeviated regular season success. The only time the Patriots have not won their division in the Belichick/Brady era was in 2002, following their first Super Bowl victory when they lost out on the division due to a tiebreaker, and in 2008 when they played without Tom Brady due to his torn ACL and still won 11 games, again losing out on a tiebreaker. The Patriots have become such a model of success that fans across the nation have grown such a disdain for this team that they root against them in almost any situation. Even players from other teams have grown to hate the Patriots and Tom Brady, likely because of their ruthless domination over them and the rest of the league. So much so that Terrell Suggs, a man who refers to himself as T-Sizzle, called them "arrogant pricks" following their triumph over the Pats in this year's AFC Championship, and that was probably the nicest thing he had to say about them.

Courtesy of Tumblr

One of the more confounding items pertaining to the Patriots is that despite all of their regular season success, and Brady surpassing Joe Montana for most playoff victories by a QB all-time, they have yet to win a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. They've made two additional trips to the Super Bowl, once in 2007 and 2011, yet their efforts were twice thwarted by Eli Manning and the Giants. Both games they could have, and arguably should have, won. But they didn't. Thus, Brady's playoff record currently stands at a still-impressive 17-7 and is 3-2 in the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, Brady was once 10-0 in the playoffs and 3-0 in Super Bowl games, so each of those winning percentages has drastically declined in recent years. Is there something from the Brady of old compared to the new Brady? Or is it something systematically with the team and coaching staff that isn't as successful as the old regime?

First things first, anyone that says Brady has declined as a player clearly isn't watching the same game I am. Yes, he's 35 years old and isn't getting any younger. But this experience has groomed him to become the QB he is. Since his last Super Bowl victory, he has garnered two MVP's and two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and has put up absolutely stout numbers throughout his career. This past season Brady managed to throw for 4,827 yards while completing 63% of his passes and tossing 34 touchdowns compared to only 8 interceptions. He was just as steady and consistent as he's always been, and people have grown so accustomed to seeing him do this year in and year out that it's taken for granted. What's more remarkable is that the revolving door of offensive coordinators Brady has had over his tenure has never been a hindrance to him. Granted, they all run similar schemes and game-plans in an effort to keep a semblance of continuity within their offense, but Brady has battled through these changes almost effortlessly.

But there's something missing in this equation. Before the AFC Championship a reporter posed a question alluding to his postseason experience and how that could help him in this game. Brady responded with a rather pertinent answer by saying, "Well there was a time when I was inexperienced and we did pretty well." Of course, that would be referring to Brady's three championship rings that he won within his first four seasons as a starter. Since then, when Brady has constantly been referred to as "experienced" he is 7-7 with no additional rings. He also seems to underperform in the more heartbreaking losses, and seems to disappear when the team needs him most. There was once a time where giving the ball to Brady, down by X amount of points and a game winning drive to be had, you'd sit back, smile, and watch him go to work. Nowadays, you bite your nails and wonder if Brady can get the job done. More often than not lately, he doesn't. He has zero playoff comebacks since 2007 and zero game-winning drives in the same time span. That can be attributed to the Patriots throttling certain teams in the playoffs and leaving no room for comebacks, but also shows how when the Patriots are down, Brady hasn't led a hard charge back.

But it obviously can't all fall on Brady's shoulders. Over the last 5 years the Patriots have had nothing short of a dismal defense year in and year out. They are constantly finding themselves beat in coverage, watching receivers fly past them, and are prone to big plays every single week. They're also young. Only Brady and Vince Wilfork are the remaining players from their last championship run and Brady's weapons are constantly reloaded with different receivers and backs. After their acquisition of Aqib Talib in 2012, their defense vastly improved and it gave them a new edge and a little bit more, dare I say, swagger. They had a big, dynamic playmaker on the outside for once, and it allowed other players to shift around to positions where they were more effective such as Alfonzo Dennard on the #2 receiver, Devin McCourty playing safety, and Kyle Arrington as the nickelback. It was also evident that without Talib, the defense takes a hit as it did in last weekend's Championship game when Talib left with a thigh injury in the 1st quarter.

If the Patriots are smart, they'll re-sign Wes Welker, as he is still Brady's favorite target, and they'll also re-sign Talib. They need him and they're unquestionably a better team with him on the field. Belichick also needs to have a solid draft, as he has made many questionable decisions the last few years with the exception of 2012 where he walked away with a very respectable group of rookies who played well in their allotted time, and give hope to the growth of this team, especially the defense.


The Patriots have shown that they're trying to maximize their time left with Brady, which realistically may only be 3 or 4 more years. They've loaded up at running back and established a very good ground game with the likes of Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Danny Woodhead in an effort to take the load off Brady's right arm. Their defense was also improved in 2012, especially after the aforementioned addition of Talib who cost them a 4th round pick. They're making necessary moves to help out their future first-ballot Hall of Famer, but it might not be enough.

Courtesy of SBNation

Then again, despite everything, maybe it's just the Ravens and the Giants that give the Patriots fits. In four of their last five playoff visits, the Patriots have exited the playoffs courtesy of one of these two teams. It's an anomaly and it's head-scratching, but it's the reality of it. Even when Brady bested the Ravens in last year's AFC Championship, he still played like a deer in the headlights and they were extremely lucky to walk away from this game as the victors.

If the Patriots, and Tom Brady especially, are going to win another Super Bowl title, they need to close in on it soon. They've created a culture where it is Super Bowl or bust every single year, and anything short of a title is of the utmost disappointment. That is unfortunately a product of their early dominance, and regular season supremacy, but it's a culture they embrace and strive in. All of these things culminate in wondering if the Patriots can win another title with their HOF tandem of Belichick and Brady, and how long it'll take for it to happen. If they don't, it won't affect their status as perhaps the greatest in their respective fields, but it'll make people wonder what happened to a team that conceivably could have won upwards of 5 Super Bowls in their day, but failed to win a big, must-have game in convincing fashion since maybe the 2007 AFC Championship.

The Two Great Closers

Mariano Rivera is a calm, humble man. He is a 5x World Champion, a 12x All-Star, and one of only two pitchers in MLB history to amount 600 career saves. His 608 saves is 7 ahead of Trevor Hoffman for most all-time, and Hoffman has long since retired, paving the way for Rivera to increase this cushion the longer he plays. To add to his already startling resume, Rivera is also the postseason pitching career leader for games played, saves (42), and ERA (minimum 50 IP, 0.70). It's rather safe to say that Mo has been there, and done that. What's also extraordinary is that Rivera has made his living with essentially two pitches: a fastball, and a cutter. The cutter is his signature pitch, and when you think of a cutter, you think of Rivera. He's sawn off endless amounts of opposing bats, and made so many batters look foolish on a pitch they are certain is coming that you wonder when they'll figure him out. Rivera has been the stalwart of the New York Yankees bullpen since 1996, and he's climbed the charts of the greatest pitchers of all-time while wearing those pinstripes. Needless to say, Rivera has plenty of reasons to not be humble.

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

On the other side of this spectrum you have Kobe Bryant. A man of such dedication and tireless work put into his craft that he doesn't feel the need for humbleness. Drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, Kobe has spent his entire career in Los Angeles wearing the purple and gold after a draft day trade. Since the first time Kobe put on that jersey, onlookers knew they were witnessing something special. In the 17 years that Kobe has been among the NBA elite, he has won 5 NBA titles, to go along with his 15 All Star appearances and MVP award. Last season he became the Lakers all-time leading scorer in a franchise full of superstars, and this year he became just the 5th player to reach the 30,000 point plateau in NBA history. Kobe Bean Bryant is a legend in the basketball world, and he knows it because he worked his tail off to get to this point, and he's not going to let anyone try to humble him.

There you have it, two 5x World Champions who are on the top of the world in terms of mastering their craft. They've spent countless hours that have lead them to the pinnacle of their careers, and it's worth noting that despite never sharing the same playing surface, these two superstar athletes share so much in common. They are feasibly two of the greatest closers in their respective sports, and it's hard to dispute that. Rivera's only job is to close games when the Yankees have been staked to a lead of 3 runs or less entering the 9th, and sometimes 8th, inning. He's closed out the game 608 times in the regular season, and has failed to close it out only 73 times. That's a remarkable success rate, and one that has been rivaled by no one in the immense history of the game of baseball. They say being the closer of a baseball team is a job that demands a certain type of bravado and gutsiness, and Rivera has taken that role and redefined it. Closers will forever be compared to Mo, and that's just downright unfair.

Courtesy of Tumblr

Kobe, on the other hand, is a closer by default. When the game is on the line, or the game is tight, #24 is called to action. Not only does Kobe want the ball in his hands in crunch time, but he demands it. Many have claimed that Kobe is a ball-hog and he doesn't pass up the rock when sometimes he should. But the fact of the matter is that Bryant is the second greatest shooting guard to ever play the game, settled only behind one Michael Jordan in this ranking. To not give him the ball, especially when the time and scenario begs for it, is just silly. It's simple knowledge that you'd rather live and die by the hands of your best player and best shooter, than to trust a role player who might find the moment too big for him. If it's the fourth quarter or overtime, I'm putting the ball in Kobe's hands 100 times out of 100. He's proven time and time again that no moment is too big for him, and he's as cold-blooded as they come. It's a facet of his game that is so reveled that people have continually criticized players like LeBron James for passing the ball away down the stretch, rather than putting the onus on themselves and going to work. People also contend that Kobe's regular season success rate of 31% on shots taken to tie or win the game is far too poor to make him "clutch". However, no one has the ability to create his own shot like Kobe when in times of need, and no one is as fearless in putting up those shots as he is. The reality of it is, if he doesn't take those shots, who's going to? It's fair to say that Kobe's reputation as clutch is a byproduct of the name he has made for himself, but he had to do something to earn that reputation in the first place, and being gutsy enough to take and make these shots has helped that.

Two incredible athletes who have earned their careers by becoming the best at what they do, but are two wildly different individuals. One is a man who plays with such an edge, and such intensity that he often barks at his coaches and teammates to get their attention. One who would attack on command simply to get his team a win, or hit that clutch bucket to put his team ahead. The other, a quiet man who has perfected his job with such pristine that he almost gets better with age. Dominating the competition with such class and respect for his opponents, that even arch-rivals and nemeses of the Yankees can't help but feel affection for the only man still wearing number 42 in the big leagues. Two men who will certainly be forever enshrined in their respective sports Hall of Fame in the coming years, and will be forever remembered for being two of the greatest to ever do it.

Will the Real Manti Te'o Please Stand Up

At the onset of the 2012 college football season, news poured out that the star linebacker of Notre Dame, Manti Te'o, had suffered two egregious losses in a span of a few hours. First his grandmother died, then hours later his girlfriend died after a battle with leukemia. All of this was a remarkable back story for one of the best players in the nation, and this inspiration kept Te'o going en route to leading his team to an undefeated regular season and a date in the BCS National Championship.

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

Now, courtesy of an intense Deadspin.com report, it is being uncovered that not only did his girlfriend not die from leukemia, but that she didn't exist at any point. Someone had deceived Te'o into believing a girl out there named Lennay Kekua was the love of his life. He carried on this relationship over the course of a year, and supposedly spoke with her on the phone daily and cared about her deeply.

The most baffling notion of this whole story is the fact that Te'o himself, and his parents, claimed they met her in person. His parents say she used to visit him in his home state of Hawaii, and he says he originally met her after a game versus Stanford in 2011. So then if he claims he met her, then she would have to be real, right? Apparently not.

According to Deadspin, this woman never existed and there is evidence to support this. They say Te'o never met Kekua, and that he maintained a relationship with her solely online. On its surface, this alone sounds strange, and Te'o's insistence of this relationship seems like the actions of someone who struggles socially. But with that in mind, there are millions of people who are in online relationships today. It is a relatively new phenomenon, and there are more people than just Manti Te'o who claim to be in love without ever having met their significant other. It is certainly odd, but surprisingly common nonetheless.

Now, Te'o is supposedly going to speak soon and address of all the madness. He has already released a statement, along with Notre Dame, that claims he was the victim of a hoax. Someone online lead him to believe that who he was talking to was a female whom he wound up caring for deeply. They then exacerbated this whole thing by concocting stories of a severe car accident she endured, followed by the discovery of cancer in her body which would eventually lead to her demise. Apparently Te'o believed it all, believed that was suffering yet another loss after the passing of his grandmother, and shared it with the college football world. Everyone felt his pain and sorrow, and even the biggest Notre Dame haters became more inclined to root for them because of Te'o and his remarkable story. Several months later, however, the truth has come to light.

The most pressing question of all is what happens to Te'o next? Per the deadspin report, there are numerous people and accounts that believe Te'o was not really duped, but was in fact a perpetrator of this incident all along. That he participated in the creation of this woman, and helped support this story by continuing to talk about her in the media and tell of his sob story. Would he do that for publicity? Perhaps for Heisman votes? Why would Te'o drag something like this on, and carry it into the light so extensively that ESPN did a whole behind the scenes story on him and the struggles he endured over the past year? Is this soft spoken Hawaiian-born man of faith secretly a malicious person who will do anything for some good publicity? Or is he just, unfortunately, incredibly naive?

Neither one of those things is the best look for Te'o moving forward. However if you had to pick your poison you would hope he is just remarkably naive and the victim of some disgusting, humiliating prank. "Catfishing", as it is commonly referred to, is the act of luring someone online into believing you are someone you're not, and continuing to carry on a relationship. It's become such a huge thing that there was even a documentary movie created about it, and there is now a television show of the same name. It now appears that Te'o is suddenly the most famous person among the scores of those who have been catfished.

Whenever Te'o decides to speak, not only should he be 100% honest with what actually happened on his end, but he should anticipate heavy fire coming from everyone who has questions. If Te'o speaks and isn't truthful, one would have to imagine that the truth will come to light eventually as it seemingly always does. If that is the case, Te'o could watch his reputation and his draft stock drop dramatically in the coming weeks. After a poor championship performance against Alabama, Te'o could be on a fast track to watching that stock potentially plummet if he becomes the face of a mastermind ploy for fame and fortune, and ultimately yield great untrustworthiness.

Simply put, this whole situation is unprecedented and wildly complex. The entire Deadspin report reads like something out of a Christopher Nolan script, as there are twists and turns and new names at every corner. Currently, no one knows what to think. Whether to feel bad for Te'o and console him for being at the heart of something so senseless and brutal, or condone him for creating something that is so baffling and cynical that it makes him look like someone who doesn't exactly have all his marbles. Either way, Te'o is about to endure a brutal few weeks of questions, picking, and pruning into this entire endeavor and attempts to expose him for who he really is.

It's just a matter of time until we find out if Te'o is still the gentle, kind spirited person he was portrayed to be over the course of his tenure at Notre Dame, or if he is this villainous schemer whose plan has been foiled to the utmost extent. Will NFL GM's see him as a worthy NFL linebacker, or a guy who can't be trusted in the locker room and ultimately has more cons than pros. It'll be an interesting few months until the NFL Draft, and soon we'll all find out who the real Manti Te'o is.

10 Most Intriguing MLB Free Agents for the 2014 Class

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in almost a month to the day, there are many players who will be reporting to new teams and getting acclimated to their new surroundings. Unfortunately for us as fans, the free agent class of 2013 wasn't exactly mind-blowing. There were a handful of studs (Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke), a couple solid guys (Michael Bourn, BJ Upton, Nick Swisher) and mostly a bunch of very respectable, but not All-Star caliber players.

Since most of the notable names have been taken off the board for the upcoming season, we'll fast forward to 2014 and take a look at the best players who could be swapping uniforms when it's time.

1. Robinson Cano, 2B 

Conceivably one of the top 5 overall players in baseball, Robinson Cano has made a name for himself on a team loaded with names over the years. Called up from the minors in May of 2005, Cano instantly blew up, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race and giving himself a permanent position on the right side of the Yankee infield. He has seemingly improved every year in the big leagues, and owns a career .308/.351/.503 slash line. His power has been on the rise every season, and he topped off with a career high of 33 home runs in 2012. Cano is also one of the most natural hitters in baseball in recent memory, as he consistently hits for average and is among the league leaders in both average and extra base hits every year.

He's also a naturally gifted fielder, as he owns two Gold Gloves to accompany the four Silver Sluggers on his mantel. Many people, and Yankee haters, say that Cano is far too lax in his approach to baseball, as he makes stellar plays look effortless. But it's obvious the numbers speak for themselves over his career.

Cano has said he will be looking for a 10 year deal, and won't be giving the Yankees any hometown discounts. He probably won't wind up with those 10 years, but with Scott Boras as an agent you know he'll be going home with a good chunk of change in his pocket. If the Yankees are too stern in their approach to lower their salary, and let Cano walk to another contender, fans will be calling for the heads of those in the front office. Ultimately I think the Yanks cough it up and keep their superstar in pinstripes for the rest of his career.

Projection: Yankees, ~8 years, $200 million

2. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

The big issue with Ellsbury is his health. If he stays healthy, we all saw what he is capable of doing because of what he did in 2011. Finishing 2nd in the AL MVP race, Ellsbury had career highs in games played (158), home runs (32), RBI (105), and slash line (.321/.376/.552). Unfortunately for Ellsbury, and Sox fans, he can hardly ever stay healthy. Whether it's by running into walls, running into Adrian Beltre, or running into Reid Brignac, Ellsbury has had a rough go of it when it comes to staying on the field.

When he is on the field, he's a lightning rod at the top of any lineup. He can fly around the basepaths, as he's twice lead the league in stolen bases and once in triples, and he can hit for average and power in most situations. He's also a phenomenal defender in center field, as he can track down just about any ball in his vicinity and can make circus catches preserved for the likes of the Sportscenter Top 10.

2013 will prove to be a huge year for Ellsbury, because if he can stay healthy and produce he'll be in for a hefty payday following the season. If not, he could find himself shipped out of Boston in a trade and signing for minimal years come 2014.

Projection: Cubs, ~4 years, $60 million

3. Curtis Granderson, CF

Currently the Yankees everyday centerfielder, you'll be hard-pressed to say the same statement come 2014. Granderson is a decent fielder, as his speed makes up for some of his ambiguous routes, and a potent power hitter, topping 40 HR's each of the last two seasons. Granderson has also gotten markedly better at hitting left-handed pitching, as he was a liability for Detroit in this aspect, but has become a machine against lefties for the Bronx Bombers. Considering the Yankees want to drop their payroll considerably, and the increasing likelihood that Granderson will be demanding big money thanks to his play, and his reputation as being an all-around great guy and teammate, he will likely be roaming the outfield for another team in 2014.

His power and defense will be greatly appreciated on just about any team, but his playoff woes and steadily declining batting average may hinder what other teams are willing to give him. Fortunately for him, unlike Ellsbury, Granderson has no injury history to speak of and you can ultimately rely on him being ready for game day at all times.

Projection: Rangers, ~5 years, $100 million

4. Tim Lincecum, RHP

Big-time Timmy Jim was far from a big time pitcher in 2012, to the surprise of just about everyone. After 4 straight years of finishing in the top 10 of Cy Young voting, including winning the award in back-to-back years, Lincecum fell off the face of the Earth in 2012. He posted a hideous 5.18 ERA, allowing career highs in earned runs (107), walks (90), and home runs (23). Lincecum also posted a career worst K/BB ratio with a 2.11. It got so bad that Lincecum was demoted to the bullpen late in the season, and saw most of his playoff action from inside the 'pen as well.

If "The Freak" can channel his inner freak, and bounce back to form in 2013, he'll definitely be in line for a solid payday. Whether or not he stays in the city by the bay also depends on his performance in '13, as having another rough year will almost certainly make SF inclined to let him walk. If he improves upon his 2012 season, it'll be hard for the Giants to let him walk and see him fall back to form in another city.

Projection: Giants, ~5 years, $75 million

5. Roy Halladay, RHP

A two-time Cy Young winner himself, Doc Halladay is the model of consistency when it comes to starting pitchers. Although he'll be 37 come 2014, Halladay will likely still see another hearty contract barring something unforeseen. He most certainly had his worst year in a long time in 2012, but a lot of that can be attributed to being injured, and the all around inefficiency of the Phillies.

Typically Halladay can be chalked up for at least 17 wins and an ERA below 3.00 with about 200 strikeouts, but 2012 was an aberration from those numbers. The Phillies struggled, and so did Doc. A strained shoulder undoubtedly capped his effectiveness, and it clearly had a role in how he was able to pitch.

As one of 2 pitchers to pitch a no-hitter in the postseason, and the first since 1973 to hurl multiple no-hitters in a season, Halladay will be in line for bidders crawling over themselves for his services. Again, despite some unforeseen hindrance, Halladay will likely be fetching close to $20 mill annually and I'd be surprised if it doesn't come from Philly.

Projection: Phillies, ~3 years, $50 million

6. James Shields, RHP

Over the last 5 years, James Shields has been as durable as they come in the MLB. Starting exactly 33 games in each of those season, Shields has been especially effective in the latter two. In 2011, Shields tossed 11 complete games, by far the most in the MLB, and lead the Rays to a wild card berth in the postseason. He head their rotation once again in 2012, this time sans Matt Garza, and was a very respectable 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA and 223 strikeouts.

Unfortunately for Shields, the Rays sent him packing in a deal with the Royals that saw #1 prospect Wil Myers go to Tampa. He'll be the ace of Kansas City's rotation in 2013, but I'd be surprised to see him stick around KC much longer than this season. If he is once again effective, he'll be in for a good contract come 2014, but if he looks like he did in 2010 (leading the league in hits allowed, earned runs allowed, and HR allowed) then he'll be sorely disappointed come free agency.

Projection: Yankees, Red Sox, or Angels, ~5 years, $60 million

7. Carlos Beltran, OF

Yes, Beltran will be 37 come Opening Day 2014, but he's still a borderline Hall of Famer and his numbers support that. He enjoyed a very nice 2012 campaign in which he slugged 32 home runs to accompany his 97 RBI and mediocre .269 average. The Cardinals had a huge void to fill in the middle of their lineup with the departure of Albert Pujols, and Beltran did what he could to help replace some of those missing numbers.

Of course no one can replace the production of Pujols, but Beltran did a respectable job and complimented Matt Holliday rather nicely. Arguably one of the 10 greatest switch hitters of all-time, Beltran also has an extremely impressive postseason resume for any team hoping to add him come 2014.

If Beltran can replicate his production from 2012 as he continues to get older, he could still prove to be very valuable in the middle of any lineup to provide some pop and veteran experience.

Projection: Cardinals or Braves, ~2 years, $25 million 

8. Matt Garza, RHP

Garza has been one of the more consistent starters in the MLB over the last several years. Since his rookie season in 2006, Garza has yet to have an ERA over 4.00 or strikeout fewer than 125 batters. After being shipped to the Cubs in 2011 and having another standout year, Garza only managed to pitch half the season in 2012 due to an elbow injury.

For his career, Garza is under .500 at 57-61, but that can mostly be thanks to being on poor offensive teams. He has always managed to keep his teams in games, and he is the owner of a solid 2.46 K/BB ratio. Garza will certainly be an attractive piece for a contending team come 2014, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him traded from the North Siders in the midst of 2013 season and sign an extension with his new team. But until that point, Garza is definitely among the most intriguing pitching free agent options of 2014. If he reaches free agency, I'd expect Garza to garner something in a similar vicinity of his former teammate, James Shields.

Projection: Blue Jays, Yankees, or Red Sox, ~4 years, $44 million

9. Jon Lester, LHP

As an above-average left handed starter, Lester will be highly sought after come 2014. It won't be any thanks to his subpar 2012 season, but thats somewhat excusable due to the circus surrounding the Boston Red Sox lately. Sure, he could've played his part a little better and stepped up when his team needed him, but its hard to be a dominant pitcher on a team that has no other dominating aspects to it. His ERA was a shade under 5.00 at 4.82, and he allowed a paltry 110 earned runs to go with 25 long balls.

On the flip side, Lester is just two years removed from being a 19-game winner and he will still be just 31 at the onset of the 2014 season. He's also rather durable, pitching at least 190 innings in each of the past 5 seasons and has averaged 190 strikeouts in those years. In a league where starting pitching is always at a premium, a good season from Lester in 2013 should certainly net him a good chunk of change when he's set to become a free agent. It'd likely be wise for the Sox to lock him up.

Projection: Red Sox, ~5 years, $80 million

10. Derek Jeter, SS

"The Captain" as he is so commonly referred to, Derek Jeter has spent his entire 17 year career in pinstripes and theres no reason to think that will change. Jeter, who will be 40 come 2014, has an $8M option for '14 which could jump to $17M based on certain incentives. If this number sniffs $17M, it'd be likely that Jeter accepts that option and perhaps plays one final year in Yankee Stadium. If it stays at $8M then Jeter will likely opt out and hope for a 2-year extension from the Yanks, assuming he wants to play that long. But the way he speaks, it doesn't seem like he plans on going away anytime soon.

And why should he? Yes he's coming off a badly broken ankle from the 2012 ALCS, but he had one of his most productive seasons in years. He lead the league in hits with 216 to go with his .316 average and 15 HR's, his most since 2005.

If Jeter does anything it'll be either sign with NYY or retire, but it's extremely unlikely that he tries to squeeze out one final year with someone outside of the Bronx. So yes, he may only have one season left come 2014 and will likely stay in New York, but this list is about the best potential free agents. And Jeter can still play ball, so he's certainly fitting to round out this top 10.

Projection: Yankees, ~1 year, $15 million 

Other Notable Free Agents: Nelson Cruz, (OF), Brian McCann (C), Hunter Pence (OF), Carlos Ruiz (C), Michael Young (DH/3B), Michael Morse (OF), Shin Soo-Choo (OF), Josh Johnson (RHP)

Top 10 Offensive Players Remaining in Playoffs

Wild would be a severe understatement for just how wild the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs were this season. We saw one team come back from a 14-point second half deficit to win a double OT thriller (Ravens), a quarterback from one team blossom into a superstar before our eyes (49ers), another team blow a 20-point halftime lead and nearly choke the game away (Falcons), and another team thoroughly dominate in what was supposed to be a closer game (Patriots). All of that has set the table for next sunday and the conference title games. With that being said, it's time to take a look at the 10 best offensive skill players remaining from the four teams still standing.

10. Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers 

After a terrific 2012 season in which Crabtree showed exactly why he was so highly touted coming out of college, he continued his stellar play in the divisional round game versus Green Bay. He caught 9 balls from Colin Kaepernick for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The sure-handed Crabtree was a two time Biletnikoff winner while at Texas Tech, and was taken 10th overall by San Fran in 2009 in order to be their receiver of the future. After a slow start to his career, Crabtree busted out in 2012 becoming newly minted starter Kaepernick's favorite target. He finished the season with 1,105 yards and 9 scores, and was one of the more reliable targets in the NFL in a league constantly growing with skilled wideouts. Crabtree's connection with Kap could make them a dynamic duo for years to come, and could be a pivotal pairing if they hope to advance to Super Bowl 47.

9. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens 

One of the consistently unheralded QB's in the NFL, Flacco has made a name for himself by making it to the playoffs and winning road playoff games. Unfortunately for him, it has yet to culminate in a title and it's got Ravens fans wondering if he's their QB of the future. After Saturday's win in Denver, he may have silenced those thoughts. He threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns, outclassing Peyton Manning in the process, and connecting with Jacoby Jones on a 70 yard bomb to tie the game with 30 seconds to go. He's got the strongest arm in the game, and he can make those throws, but doing it consistently is Flacco's next task.

8. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons 

The second-year player out of Alabama has proven to be a huge commodity for this Falcons offense. He's given Matt Ryan another proven target to throw to, and he's a perfect compliment to Roddy White on the other side of the field. He can jump out of the stadium, and catch mostly anything that comes his way. Jones is big, fast, strong and has all the athletic intangibles that you look for in a number one receiver. If he can keep up his level of play throughout the postseason, he'll be a tough matchup for anyone who stands in his way and he'll make Matt Ryan that much more dangerous.

7. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers 

The Inconvenient Truth, as he's been dubbed, had another quietly stellar season in San Francisco's backfield. He rushed for 1,214 yards in 2012, the most he's run for since his breakout campaign of 2006 and was extremely reliable for this Niners offense. He gave them a formidable ground game, as usual, and was a dangerous receiving threat as well. The 3rd leading rusher among active players, Gore is just what the 49ers need to keep their suddenly high-powered offense going. With Gore, the Niners can rest their defense and take more of the burden off of their young QB and his young weapons, keeping them all fresh for the next time their number is called. There's no doubt he'll once again be an integral role in the future success of this team.

6. Roddy White, WR, Falcons

Lining up across from the aforementioned Jones is Rowdy Roddy White. The talented Falcons receiver is a veteran of his craft and is teaching Julio a thing or two along the way. He runs perfectly crisp routes, and is among the most reliable in the NFL in terms of catching balls thrown his way. This tandem will be dangerous for anyone daring to stop them, and White will be a huge part of what Atlanta plans to do to be successful.

5. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

The 5'8'', 212 lb. Rice is a bowling ball of a player and is arguably the most prolific running back in the NFL. As a second round pick coming out of Rutgers, many scouts thought Rice was just too small to succeed at the next level, and boy has he proved them wrong. He's rushed for at least 1,100 yards in every season that he's been a starter, and he's had at least 475 yards receiving in those seasons as well. He does a little bit of everything, and he does them all well. He's the ultimate check down back, turning dump downs into a huge gains, he reads blocks well, and of course he's an elite rusher. Rice will once again be the focal point of the Ravens offense next week, as he is every week, and his effectiveness will likely prove to be a difference maker in the matchup with New England.




4. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

Through the first 12 weeks of the season, Matty Ice was considered a serious MVP candidate until the likes of Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson took everyone else out of that conversation. Despite that, his squad still finished 13-3 and garnered the number 1 seed in the NFC once again. The only thing plaguing the growth of Ryan was capturing that elusive first playoff victory. After nearly blowing it in an epic meltdown last week versus Seattle, Ryan ultimately lead a final drive which culminated in a game winning kick to keep their season alive. There has been talk of Ryan being on the fringe of being an elite QB, and if he can bring his Falcons to a Super Bowl, and potentially win it, then he will certainly cement himself among the elite signal callers in the league.

3. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots

The "slot machine" is one of the most consistent wideouts to ever put on shoulder pads in the NFL. Since coming to New England in 2007, Welker has undoubtedly been Tom Brady's favorite target every season since their pairing. He has finished top 6 in receptions every season he's played for the Patriots, and he's finished top 2 in 5 of those years, including this one. Welker has no fear of crossing the middle of the field, as he continually gets popped by opposing d-backs on a per-game basis. He also catches just about everything thrown his way, oftentimes striking awe into viewers watching him work. When plays break down, or a big play is needed to keep a drive going, Brady automatically looks for Wes. Don't expect that to change anytime soon, unless of course the Patriots don't pay him this offseason. Not paying Welker for his services in New England will be the ultimate head scratcher, and it'll likely leave Brady wondering what's going on, too.

2. Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers

Probably a bold move putting the young Kap this high on this list after one postseason start, but anyone watching that game on Saturday can see why he is here. Not only did he throw for 263 yards and two touchdowns, often throwing darts right on point, but he also ran for 181 yards and two more scores. The 181 yards are the most rushing yards for a QB, ever, in any game. He looked downright scary with his ability. People talk about the inefficiency of the spread-option in the NFL, but the way Kaepernick runs it and reads the defense makes you wonder why everyone doesn't do it. They don't because they don't have who the Niners have. Many wondered if benching Alex Smith was the right move by Jim Harbaugh earlier in the season, but after watching the youngster go to work on Saturday night validated Harbaugh's contentious decision. Smith gave the Niners a real chance to win, but Kaepernick does more than that for this offense. If he maintains this high level of play, the 49ers will surely be visiting New Orleans in two weeks.

1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

Who else did you think would be number one? The 2x MVP, 3x Super Bowl winner, 8x Pro-Bowler, 2x All-Pro, and the owner of countless records, Tom Brady redefines how the quarterback position is played. He's just so efficient and great at what he does, that his numbers and records almost become boring. You expect Brady to throw for nearly 300 yards and 3 touchdowns almost every week, and when he throws an interception it almost makes your jaw drop with shock. He'll be playing in his 7th AFC title game on Sunday, and if he wins it'll mark his 6th trip to the Super Bowl. Yes, 6 Super Bowl's played in 11 career seasons. That's more than half the seasons he's played that he's gone to the big one. Most quarterbacks can't even say they've been to the playoffs half of their seasons, never mind the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for Brady and the Patriots, they've achieved such a high level of success that their expectations are to win another Super Bowl despite anything else. Anything short of that will be considered a failure, while most teams are just happy to participate. Brady has shown no signs of slowing down, despite what the naysayers may think, and he's just as dominant as he was in his prime. Then again, when TB12 is playing, it seems he's always in his prime.

Stick a Fork in Them, the Lakers are Done

Ah, Hollywood. One of the most influential and compelling places in the whole world. A place where some of the world's biggest stars reside and make their living, and a place where some of the most epic scripts have been written and put onto the big screen. The 2012-13 Lakers were supposed to be one of these monumental scripts. First, they acquire Steve Nash in early July. A 2x MVP and one of the most prolific point guards in NBA history, Nash recently amounted 10,000 career assists and also is the current leader in career free-throw percentage. Nash figured to add the dynamic to the Lakers offense that's been missing since the arrival of Kobe Bryant in 1996: a true point guard who can lead the offense and take a burden off Kobe.

But their offseason joyride didn't end there. They then went out and acquired 6x All-Star and 3x Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard. D12 is the best true center in the NBA, and he is still very young at only 27 years old. The most glaring part is, the Lakers didn't even give up much to acquire him. It was a four team deal which sent their current big man, Andrew Bynum, to Philadelphia who flipped Andre Iguodala to Denver, and saw Denver send a package focused on Arron Afflalo to Orlando. It seemed the Lakers were practically given the best big man in the NBA, and they could now pair him with the aforementioned Nash, Pau Gasol and, of course, one of the best players to ever lace up his shoes in Kobe Bryant.

The screenplay was written, the stars were together, and now the Lakers just had to go through the motions before, inevitably, reaching the playoffs and making their run to the finals to try and hoist their 17th banner. It all seemed like it would be a cakewalk. Then the season started.

First, Nash goes down in the second game with a broken bone in his leg and subsequently misses nearly 7 weeks. Then, they get off the blocks slow and hobble out to a 1-4 start, ultimately costing head coach Mike Brown his job. So they go out and hire Mike D'Antoni, Nash's former head coach, and an offensive mastermind. The only problem is nothing has gotten better. The defense has somehow gotten worse, Gasol has been uncharacteristically ineffective and injured, Howard is still bouncing back to form after offseason back surgery and more recently injured his shoulder in a loss to the Nuggets. The lone bright spot this season has been the Black Mamba, KB24.

Bryant has had his most efficient season in years, leading the league in scoring and currently shooting the highest field goal percentage of his 17 year career. He had been forced to handle the role of primary ball handler with Nash out, and he was efficient in it, yet prone to turnovers. Like the rest of the Lakers, his biggest weakness has been his defense. As a whole, LA is allowing the 5th most points per game and letting opponents shoot a ridiculous 45% from the field. The offense is holding their own, scoring the 4th most PPG in the league and also shooting 45% themselves, but the virtual nonexistence of the defense is killing them.

They're constantly getting beat in transition and allowing younger, more athletic teams to run all over them. They're in the midst of a 6 game losing streak, allowing an unheard of 112 PPG in those losses. Their scoring defense is so bad it makes even the biggest sieves blush. Due to their inability to stop even the simplest offensive sets, their record now stands at 15-21 and good enough for 11th place in the Western Conference. Traditionally, teams in the west need at least 45 wins to even make the playoffs, and at this rate the Lakers might be hard-pressed to even reach the 40 win plateau. Combine that with Gasol currently sitting out with a concussion, Howard still sitting with his injured shoulder, Jordan Hill being done for the season, and Kobe Bryant's ever-growing frustration and you have a recipe that is on a fast track to disaster.

To even have a chance at sniffing the playoffs, the Lakers need to go 30-16 to wrap up the year, and given the disarray of the current team, that seems like a long shot to say the least. Their best chance at a title will probably come in 2014, assuming Howard re-signs, when they have a full training camp with their new coach and system, and everyone at full strength. Unfortunately, Kobe isn't getting any younger and neither is Steve Nash.

If the Lakers don't have a dramatic, Oscar-worthy turnaround this year, then they'll have to place all their bets on 2014 because there's no way Kobe, or an organization as esteemed as the Lakers, will let this franchise hit a permanent downward spiral. If things continue to get uglier, it could be an abrupt fade to black on the stars in the Staples Center.

Five Cup Favorites Heading Into the Shortened Season

Now that NHL hockey will be back in full effect in a week or so, fans and those associated can step back from the ledge they were inching towards for the past 3 months. It seemed like, as in 2005, the season was going to be cancelled and all would be lost once again. Fans were beginning to call for Gary Bettman's head, as if we weren't already, and there was a growing disgust with the unfortunate consistency of the mismanagement of the league and it's failure to build upon past successes. Lo and behold, the two sides finally came to an agreement to end the lockout and go back to work. So now that we know we'll have a hockey season, albeit shortened to 48 games, it's time to look at what teams have the best chance to walk away as Stanley Cup Champions in mid-June.

5. Chicago Blackhawks, Central Division, Western Conference

It was only 3 years ago that the Blackhawks were standing atop the mountain as Cup champions, and there's a very real chance that they can return to the top in 2013. They have a young, dominant core made up of studs Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and a solid supporting cast to fill the holes. Despite a playoff appearance last season, the 'Hawks disappointed some by only qualifying for the 6th seed and finishing 4th in an extremely tough division. In a shortened season it'd be disappointing to see this young squad fail to garner anything higher than a 4 seed, as they're young and athletic enough to keep up a rigorous pace throughout the lesser amount of games. If they can stay hot throughout the playoffs, the Blackhawks are the type of team with ability to fly past anyone. All this is without mentioning the return of Marian Hossa, who was being carted from the ice the last time we saw him. Chicago should be able to score with anyone, but they're goaltending could potentially provide more questions than answers.

Projection: 30-10-8, 68 points

4. Boston Bruins, Northeast Division, Eastern Conference

Fresh off their incredible Stanley Cup run in 2011, the Bruins came back last year to have a solid season, yet disappointing in the eyes of some. They still won their division by a respectable 10 points, but many felt like they left a lot on the ice as they were knocked out in the first round by the 7 seed Capitals. The Big Bad Bruins kept their usual bad boy persona, amounting the second most fights in the NHL, and their offense was much improved in front of their always stout defense and goaltending, finishing with the highest goal differential in the league. They have most of the core intact from their championship run, and those stars are all still relatively young. If Tyler Seguin can get off to a hot start and build off of last season's breakout campaign, in addition to his success in his brief stint in Switzerland, the Bruins could be equipped with one of the brightest and most talented offensive stars in the NHL. And if Tuukka Rask can take his new, full-time job by the horns and play like he usually did in backup duty, then the Bruins can made a hard charge at winning a Cup for the 2nd time in 3 years.

Projection: 33-12-3, 69 points 

3. Los Angeles Kings, Pacific Division, Western Conference

After a midseason coaching change, and the acquisition of Jeff Carter, the Kings were sparked from non-contenders into Cup champions last year. After a rough stretch during the middle of the season amid all the changes, most figured the book on the 2012 Kings' season was closed. But they turned it around in time to squeak into the playoffs as the 8 seed and face the vaunted Canucks in the first round, sweeping them away in remarkable fashion. This playoff run made people in LA remember they had a hockey team, and it introduced the world to Jonathan Quick. The LA netminder had one of the greatest playoff runs in NHL history, as he lead the Kings to a ridiculous 16-4 record, taking out the top seeded Canucks, the 2nd seed Blues, and the 3rd seed Coyotes en route to knocking off the Eastern Conference champion Devils for the Cup. The Kings also won 10 straight road playoff games, tying the NHL record, and made themselves look like serious contenders for years to come. If Quick continues to grow as arguably the best goalie in hockey this side of Henrik Lundqvist, the Kings will be a dangerous team and could make a run at a repeat in 2013.

Projection: 31-11-6, 68 points

2. Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference

If the Penguins can stay healthy throughout the course of this shortened season, they could perhaps be the runaway favorites for the Cup in 2013. Considering they have two of the top 5 skaters in hockey, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and a quasi-elite goaltender in Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh is sitting pretty in terms of making a strong run. The thing holding them back could be their health. If Crosby suffers any sort of setback and misses more time with his history of head injuries, it could severely hamper their chances at retrieving the Cup that they won in 2009 with a similar core. They're a veteran, experienced team with players young enough and talented enough to skate with anyone. One promising sign was Malkin putting the team on his back last season without Crosby, and leading his team to within one point of the Atlantic title and netting the Hart Trophy as the leagues MVP. If all things click for the Pens, they'll be a dynamic, top-tier team in 2013.

Projection: 34-9-5, 73 points 

1. New York Rangers, Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference

Aside from being in one of the most competitive divisions in hockey, aligned among the Penguins, Flyers, and Devils, the Rangers possess one of the deepest and most talented rosters in all of hockey. They have the reigning Vezina Award winner in Henrik Lundqvist, and a young offensive core consisting of their captain Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, and Brian Boyle. They've also got talented young defensemen in Marc Staal, Michael Del Zotto, and Ryan McDonagh. Couple those with the recently acquired Rick Nash, and former free agent scoops Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards and you have a recipe for success. If the Rangers are as dominant on the ice as they were in 2012, managing the #1 seed in the East, they could see their first title since 1994, and only their second since 1940.

Projection: 35-10-3, 73 points 

Divisional Round X-Factors

With the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs set to begin at 4:30PM on Saturday evening, there are many intriguing matchups, both teams and individuals, that could lead to a wild weekend for NFL fans. Here are a few of the X-Factors that could play a defining role in their team's win, or loss.

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos

Ravens X-Factor: Ed Reed, safety 

A surefire Hall of Famer, Ed Reed is one of the most dangerous and elite safeties to ever step onto a football field. Peyton Manning himself says Reed is undoubtedly the best safety he's ever played against, and if Manning has any hope of winning on Saturday he has to make sure he knows where Reed is at all times. Not only does Reed possess a magnificent football IQ that enables him to be in the right place at the right time, he's also a ballhawk. If Reed can sniff out a play and get there, there's a good chance he'll get his hands on the ball. He is the owner of 61 career regular season interceptions, and 8 playoff picks in 12 games. He also has plenty of experience against Manning throughout their careers. If Manning sticks to his preference for simple patterns and playcalls, Reed could wind up giving Manning fits. He also has 6 career defensive touchdowns, as he tends to turn into an ball-carrying threat when he gets his hands on it. So if Joe Flacco can't get his team in the endzone, Ed Reed could very well put some points on the board for Baltimore.

Broncos X-Factor: Knowshon Moreno, running back

After only being given 8 carries in the first 11 weeks of the season and finding himself buried on the depth chart, Moreno stepped up huge for Denver when Willis McGahee went down with a knee injury. Through the last 6 weeks, Moreno tallied 510 yards and 3 touchdowns for the high powered Bronco offense. He wasn't elite, but he was effective. Moreno didn't turn the ball over, and he made sure the Broncos kept a balanced attack so all the pressure didn't fall on Manning. If Moreno can do more of the same, by not turning the ball over and managing close to 100 yards on the ground, the Broncos should be in a solid position to advance to the AFC Championship.

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

Packers X-Factor: Randall Cobb, receiver/return specialist

2012 was a coming out party for Cobb, as the former 2nd round pick out of Kentucky became one of the new favorite targets of All-Pro Aaron Rodgers. He blew up for 954 yards receiving, and 8 touchdowns becoming not only one of the Packers better threats, but one of the ultimate threats in the NFL. He has top-end speed, and can evade even the best defenders in the open field. If Cobb can stay on the field, he has the ability to catch upwards of 8-10 balls from Rodgers and get free from the pesky Niners defenders. In addition to his upside as a pass catcher, Cobb is also the main punt return specialist and has been known to give his team great field position. In a game where field position could play a huge role, Cobb could be exactly what Green Bay needs to advance.

49ers X-Factor: Colin Kaepernick, quarterback

This one seems like a pretty easy call. Coach Jim Harbaugh made the gutsiest decision all season, by replacing a very sound quarterback, Alex Smith, with a second-year player who had yet to start a game in his NFL career. At times, Kaepernick made Harbaugh look like a genius, as he's a dual threat quarterback with a cannon for an arm. But other times, Kaepernick looked a little lost in the flurry of an NFL game. Fortunately for him, they have arguably the best defense in the league to fall back on. But if the Niners have any hope of winning this game, Kaepernick will have to protect the football and do what he does best: improvise. The 49ers absolutely have to score, because if they don't, Aaron Rodgers will surely put up enough points to send them packing early.

Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons

Seahawks X-Factor: Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, cornerbacks


On one side of the ball you'll have the Atlanta Falcons lining up with wideout studs Roddy White and Julio Jones. The only remedy to stop them is two big, physical corners who love to tackle. Cue Browner and Sherman. Arguably two of Pete Carroll's best finds during his tenure with Seattle, Browner is an undrafted corner who came to Seattle after playing 3 seasons in the CFL. Sherman, on the other hand, is a 5th round pick out of Stanford who may be as well known for his trash talk as much as his game. Browner and Sherman are each 6'4'' and they both will hit you in the mouth if you make the catch, or get their hands on the ball if you don't. They are a dream tandem for a coach who has to gameplan for the likes of White and Jones, and they could definitely limit the damage these receivers can do, and open the game up for Seattle to take advantage. If these two play as well as they did all season, that could be good news for the 'Hawks, and bad news for the Dirty Birds.

Falcons X-Factor: Jacquizz Rodgers, running back

The easy choice here would be Matt Ryan, who has yet to furnish a playoff victory for his otherwise impressive football resume. If Ryan plays well, and makes smart decisions, the Falcons will be sitting pretty. But the less obvious choice here is Rodgers. Considering Michael Turner's career is all but over, Rodgers eventually will become the new lead back in Atlanta. He's more of a Darren Sproles-type weapon, as opposed to an every down back, and he gives the Falcons a nice change of pace and a good checkdown weapon if Ryan so chooses to utilize him. He's small enough to get lost in the shuffle of huge linemen, and if he gets open and uses his explosiveness, the Seahawks could be chasing him around all afternoon.

Houston Texans at New England Patriots 

Texans X-Factor: Matt Schaub, quarterback

When these two teams matched up in Week 14, it marked a downward spiral for Schaub that he has yet to break out of. He's tossed a measly one touchdown in the 5 games since then, and he has looked downright awful at times. The Texans did manage to win last week at home, but not really with any help from Schaub. He made a horrible decision on a throw in the flat that beget the only Bengals touchdown with a pick six from Leon Hall, and you have to wonder if he's really even healthy. If Schaub continues playing as lousy as he has, the Texans could likely be in for a long day. But if he can bounce back and expose the Patriots secondary that has a tendency to get burned, Schaub could be a big boost to a team that needs it.

Patriots X-Factor: Rob Gronkowski, tight end

With so many weapons at Tom Brady's disposal, why is Gronk this week's X-Factor? Probably because the Texans didn't have to account for Gronk in their last visit, thanks to a broken forearm, and they still got smoked. The Pats offense managed to torch the Texans D for 42 points, and Gronk wasn't even suited up. The man who leads the league in touchdowns over the last 3 years is back this time, and the Texans will need to keep an eye on him at all times. That shouldn't be too difficult, seeing he is 6'6'', 265, but he's got speed that will surprise you and some of the softest hands of any tight end in football. If Gronk can continue to be a favorite target of Brady and get open in the middle of the field, and more importantly in the red zone, the Texans might end up regretting even boarding the plane to Foxboro in the first place.