Carmelo Anthony Still Likely To Be Moved

By: Stephen Patterson

While Carmelo Anthony is making it seem like he actually wants to remain with the Nuggets and is content with his situation, sources have said that the proposed four team mega-deal that would've sent Melo to the New Jersey Nets is more accurately described as "dormant" than "dead". And while he may not necessarily be moved in that deal, I feel it's highly unlikely he will be in a Nuggets uniform past the February trade deadline without a signed extension.

After watching the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors lose their respective franchise players during the offseason for basically nothing, I don't think the Nuggets have any interest in suffering the same fate next summer if Melo decides to leave via free agency. While it's highly unlikely Denver will receive equal value in any move made for Anthony, there are plenty of interesting options the Nuggets should definitely investigate.

Most of you have already seen the potential deal involving the Nets, Bobcats, Jazz, and Nuggets (if not, click here for Tyler's post on it), so I won't cover it in this list. These deals were made with the help of ESPN's NBA Trade Machine and have either been discussed, rumored, or would work for both teams involved and could potentially happen, although most probably won't occur due to Anthony's preferred destinations. Keep in mind almost all of these potential deals would also likely include at least one, and in some cases, several draft picks going to the Nuggets.

Potential Deal 1: Denver receives Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler while New York receives Carmelo Anthony.  

Eddy Curry has arguably been one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA over the past decade (including Darko Milicic's entire career, Yao Ming's bone density, Kwame Brown being drafted first overall), and would only be accepted by the Nuggets because of his expiring $11.3 million contract. It's likely Curry might not even play for Denver, as he has already managed to injure himself in training camp, and will miss 4-6 weeks as a result. That's not even mentioning the fact he has played in fewer games than Greg Oden since Oden was drafted. With the Nuggets' abundance of solid front court players, they may choose not to punish their fans by making them watch Curry play. Chandler and Gallinari are both pretty decent players and would likely receive a fair amount of playing time with the Nuggets, but wouldn't come close to replacing Anthony's production.

The Knicks are high on the list of preferred destinations that Anthony would like to land with, and New York would likely move everything short of Amare and MSG to make the deal happen. Once LeBron James and other top free agents passed on the chance to join the Knicks, the team set their eyes on acquiring Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker to form their own Big Three to compete in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. Any move they make with Denver would certainly include their first round draft pick this year. That pick could potentially belong to the Rockets, as they have the option to switch first round picks with the Knicks this season as part of the Tracy McGrady deal back in February.

Potential Deal 2: Denver receives Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, and Brandon Bass while Orlando receives Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

This trade would likely be the best case scenario for the Nuggets if Carmelo does indeed get traded. There have been reports that the Magic are willing to part with anyone other than Dwight Howard to make a deal happen, but they have insisted that Billups be included in any scenario. Nelson would be a solid replacement for Billups at point for the Nuggets if they wanted to go that route, and while he doesn't have the experience of Billups, he also doesn't have the mileage on his body. 

Vince Carter has always been an electrifying, and sometimes unsatisfying player throughout his career and would instantly become ticket and jersey seller for the Nuggets, although he certainly wouldn't fully replace Anthony's presence in Denver. His contract has a team option at the end of the season, and they could likely get him to stick around at a steep discount from the $17.5 million is scheduled to make this year. Bass has shown signs of being a good player, but has never really received the playing time to truly show off his skill set. He would probably earn more minutes with the Nuggets than in Orlando.

The Magic have had an in-state war of words with the Miami Heat ever since they formed their mega team over the summer with the acquisitions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and would love the chance to make a move that rivals theirs. Pairing Anthony and Howard would instantly give the Magic one of the top duos in the league, and with Billups' extensive playoff experience, would instantly put them on par with the Heat. J.J. Redick is ready to step up into the starting role and with all of those offensive threats surrounding him, he would become an even more deadly shooter from downtown. 

Potential Deal 3: Denver receives Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young while Philadelphia receives Carmelo Anthony. 

This trade would land Denver with a pair of versatile wing players that would likely replace most of Carmelo's on-court production, but probably wouldn't do much with the fan base. While it is one of the better offers the Nuggets could receive for Anthony, neither player will sellout arenas on a nightly basis. With J.R. Smith reportedly falling out of favor more and more with every passing day, both would likely start for the Nuggets and keep them in playoff contention.

Philadelphia has been in need of a superstar to replace the presence of Allen Iverson since they traded him to Denver when both parties mutually agreed it was time to part. Maybe the two teams can consummate another blockbuster deal, although this would be much more beneficial to both franchises than the previously mentioned trade. Anthony would instantly be a fan favorite with the Sixers fan-base, and with young players like Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday on the team, they would have a fair chance at convincing him to sign an extension.

Other potential, but less likely moves: 

Denver receives Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and Taj Gibson while Chicago receives Carmelo Anthony.

Unlikely to happen because of the Bulls' unwillingness to part with Noah, which is understandable because they would have a gaping hole at center if they made this move. According to the Trade Machine, it would decrease both teams win totals, with the Bulls dropping by nine and the Nuggets by two (although that number would likely be slightly higher).

Denver receives Kevin Martin and Shane Battier while Houston receives Carmelo Anthony.

This trade would land the Nuggets with two solid players, but I can't imagine them moving Anthony to another Western Conference team unless they are absolutely blown away by the offer. If the Knicks completely bomb, and the Rockets include the first round draft pick they could potentially swap with New York, there is a better chance of a deal occurring.

Denver receives Monta Ellis and Vladimir Radmanovic while Golden State receives Carmelo Anthony.

The Warriors probably couldn't convince Anthony to re-sign with the them unless they make an improbable championship run, which is unlikely to happen under any circumstances. While the move has the Warriors' win total increasing by eight according to Trade Machine, that likely wouldn't put them at better than seventh or eighth in the West. Not exactly an upgrade for Carmelo.

Grizzlies Sign Draft Picks Xavier Henry & Greivis Vasquez To Contracts

By: Tyler Ward

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Friday that they have signed rookies Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez to contracts, just four days before the start of training camp. The contracts were multi-year deals, but full terms were not disclosed.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley was trying to use an uncommon strategy towards Henry and Vasquez, by including performance bonuses in their contracts to avoid paying their full salary (Can you say "cheap owner", anybody?) Teams can pay players up to 120 percent of their scale amount and Heisley was reportedly wanting to tie up 20 percent in performance bonuses. Heisley eventually retracted his offer, stating that he "was on the wrong side of the issue."

Henry had previously stated that he was prepared to hold out for the entire year if he didn't get the 120 percent of his scale amount. But, for now, Henry is just anxious to contribute to the Grizzlies and hopefully lead them to a playoff berth - however, he was not mad at Grizzlies management for their offer. "It's not personal. It's a business. My teammates and coaches like me," Henry said. "Even when I wasn't around they would call me to make sure I was doing all right. It wasn't them that didn't want me, so I understood that as soon as you get into this that it's a business."

He went on to say, "My agency was behind me, and they were fighting for me. My agent took a step forward and said if they weren't willing to cooperate then we were prepared to go as far as we needed on principle. But I'm ready. I've been ready for a while. I'm anxious to play."

"I'm trying to come in here and help any way that I can. I know I can play defense really well, I can shoot the ball, I can drive, so I'm trying to bring whatever package," he continued. "I can bring to help the team and try to fit in. I want to be on a playoff team and always want my team to win, so as much as I can help, that's what I'm going to do."

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement, "Like all new players, they have to get used to the speed and the physicality, athleticism and the demands of stepping up from collegiate basketball to the NBA, which are considerable," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "But we're excited to have them. We think they can definitely help our team. Now we'll turn them over to coach (Lionel) Hollins and his staff, and it's on them to earn their spurs as NBA players."

Henry and Vasquez, the only two first-round draft choices not to be signed, will now be able to participate in training camp, which starts Tuesday. 

Henry was drafted 12th overall by the Grizzlies, and Vasquez was taken 28th, respectively. Henry, a star at Kansas, is a 6'6" hybrid guard, who will most likely receive playing time at shooting guard -- and serve as O.J. Mayo's back-up. The one-and-done player averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Jayhawks last season. The Grizzlies now have a very promising corps of players with Henry, Mayo, and Rudy Gay. Throw in players like Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol and you have a pretty solid team - maybe not a playoff-contending team, but a very potentially good team.

Vasquez, probably the most excited player in the draft, will now participate as Mike Conley's back-up at the point guard position. Vasquez, an All-American at Maryland, averaged at least 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5 assists in his final three years at the school. 

However, the former Terrapin injured his right ankle while playing in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He had to have surgery in July to remove a bone spur. According to Vasquez, his ankle feels 100% healthy and he is expected to be back on the court in two or three weeks.

And in case you didn't know, I'm from Memphis and the Grizzlies are my favorite team (yeah, there's a few of us, but not too many). The first thing that popped into my head when I saw this was, "It's about time. I can't believe this." I was so disappointed that the Grizzlies were trying to go the cheap route and not try to win more games. The whole thing just doesn't make any sense to me. At one point, I thought Henry's rights were going to get traded to some other team. I don't know why, but I just thought, "Oh no. Please no Michael Redd! No Hedo Turkoglu! Nooo...Rip Hamilton!" There were a lot of names that popped in my head with expiring contracts or big contracts that teams would want to unload. I was so thoroughly convinced that Michael Redd was going to be in a Grizzlies uniform. I don't know why. It just happened that way. I'll be the first to tell you...I don't like Heisley as the owner of the Grizzlies - he seems to cheap his way out of things and draft some players that well...frankly, aren't going to be that good. *cough* Haaaasheeeem Thaaaabeeeet! *cough* Brian Cardinal signing. Kwame Brown (I'm sorry, but I don't want him anywhere near my team). Thabeet over Tyreke Evans & Stephen Curry. Gasol-for-nothing deal. Didn't want to give both draft choices full scale guaranteed deals. Hiring Mike Iavaroni. Anyway.....that's another story for a different day.

Broncos Receiver Kenny McKinley Found Dead

By: Tyler Ward

(Yes, I know I'm a little late on this story, but I felt entitled to still do something about this).

Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead at his home on September 20, 2010. The cause of death appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said in a statement, "Although the death of McKinley appears to be the result of a self inflicted gunshot, the investigation into this matter, conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office, is on-going."

Authorities were called to McKinley's apartment at approximately 5:35 P.M. ET. A female friend found the Broncos receiver's body after returning to the apartment with McKinley's son, Keon. The NFL Player's Association has set up a trust fund for McKinley's son, in hopes of providing health care and educational expenses for the one-year old. 

Brittany Boyd, McKinley's best friend, was one of two women taking care of his one-year old son when they discovered McKinley had commited suicide. She told the Associated Press that he had shown no signs of distraught or depression, but she wouldn't rule anything out. "That's not the type of thing he would say and if he did say it, that's not the type of thing that you would take seriously coming from him. Because of his personality, because of who he is, nobody would have ever believed he would have done it." Boyd said that she had picked McKinley up from the airport last Sunday and nothing seemed wrong with him - he seemed perfectly fine.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels was emotional at the news conference that was hosted shortly after McKinley's death. "Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more important, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room," McDaniels said. "This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

McKinley, South Carolina's all-time leading receiver, had not found his groove in the NFL since being drafted with the 141st overall pick by Denver in 2009. In his rookie season, he appeared in eight games, but failed to register a reception - he was primarily used as a returner, bringing back 3 punts for 32 yards and 7 kickoffs for 158 yards. On December 28, 2009, he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and did not play the rest of the season. The team put him back on injured reserve prior to this season, so he would not be able to play at all during the 2010 season.

The Broncos receiver was reportedly battling depression shortly before his untimely death. A police report showed that McKinley was showing bad signs of depression - he apparently stated that football was all he knew, and if he wasn't able to play the game he loved, he "should just go kill himself." Also, according to the report, McKinley was taking 500 milligrams of Naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-flammatory drug. No one entirely knows what was going through McKinley's head at that point and we will never know. The only thing I know is that it was too soon. He, like other athletes, had potential and could have been a very good player in the NFL. Now, we'll never know.

Broncos president and CEO Pat Bowlen said in a statement, "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."

Steve Spurrier, McKinley's coach at South Carolina, said, "I saw him here. He came to the Georgia game. He seemed in good spirits. He had a great smile, like he always had. I don't understand it, if it happened the way they say. It's hard to comprehend. Kenny was one of my favorite all-time players. He was one of them. He was a wonderful guy. It's hard to figure out how, or why, this happened."

McKinley's funeral was held on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia at the World of Faith Family Worship Cathedral. A few hundred people attended the funeral, along with Steve Spurrier and former South Carolina teammates.

McKinley's death is just another tragic loss for the Broncos. Cornerback Darrent Williams, a promising player, was killed in a drive-by shooting on January 1, 2007. Running Back Damien Nash collapsed at a charity basketball game on February 24, 2007. Both players were just 24 years old. McKinley was 23.

Rest in peace, Kenny. You will be sorely missed and it's a shame that we will never get to see your full potential. Hope you feel better on the other side.

*R.I.P. Kenny McKinley (January 31, 1987 - September 20, 2010)*

Bills Cut Ties With QB Trent Edwards

By: Tyler Ward

Well, the Trent Edwards era is over in Buffalo. The Bills announced Monday that they have released quarterback Trent Edwards. Edwards was the team’s starter for the first two weeks before being benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills ended up losing their third straight game anyway, falling 38-30 against the New England Patriots on Sunday and becoming the only winless team in the AFC East.

The Bills had reportedly tried to trade Edwards, but could find no suitors, so they just went ahead and released the former Stanford quarterback. Edwards might have been traded if he had better numbers – in his two starts this season, he threw for just 241 yards and got sacked seven times. He led the Bills offense to a dismal 17 points, while the opposing teams combined for 49. No wonder they couldn’t trade him.

The release of Edwards marks the end of a three-year stint with the Bills. A third-round draft choice in 2007, Edwards was thought to be the franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up that way.

In the middle of his rookie season, Edwards took over for 2004 first-round draft pick J.P. Losman midway through the year. He ended his rookie campaign with 1,630 yards and seven touchdowns, along with eight interceptions. However, there was no “sophomore slump” for Edwards, as he had the best season of his short career (so far). He passed for 2,699 yards, along with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and an 85.4 QB rating. But, he got worse in his third season, playing in half of the season, tossing for 1,169 yards. He would also throw six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Now, one question remains: Who will he sign with? Somehow, Edwards is one of the best free agent quarterbacks, so a team is likely to take a shot on him. But, who will that be? I think that teams like the Jaguars, Raiders, Browns, Panthers, and Cardinals need a quarterback, whether it’s for the starting job or in a back-up role. Also, don’t count out teams like the Lions, Seahawks, and possibly the 49ers. I don’t think Edwards will be on the free agent market for long.

For the Bills now, Ryan Fitzpatrick is penciled in as the starter with Brian Brohm listed as the back-up. Against the Patriots, Fitzpatrick showed that the team can actually do something on offense. In the game alone, they almost doubled their output, scoring-wise, from the first two games of the season. But, is Fitzpatrick the long-term key for the Bills? Probably not. We will most likely see the Bills take a chance on a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft and most are already envisioning Washington QB Jake Locker in that role (however, we can still see somebody different – like Andrew Luck, who coincidentally goes to Stanford, Trent Edwards’ alma mater). But, for now, the Bills still remain winless (0-3) and in my opinion, they will be lucky to win three games. I consider it almost a shoo-in for them to hold the #1 pick in next year’s draft unless Detroit or St. Louis slips up somewhere down the road.

Fitzpatrick is not a prototypical starter, but he’ll do for the time being. Maybe the Bills can get lucky and win more games. I highly doubt it, though. They lack too much at the receiver position with Lee Evans being the main and only target. Their defense also needs some work, as they have surrendered 87 points in three games this season. The Bills are still in a rebuilding phase and they still may be that way for a few more years.

Hall-of-Famer George Blanda Dies At 83

By: Tyler Ward

George Blanda, one of the greatest players of his era, has died at the age of 83. Blanda spent 26 seasons in the NFL – 10 with the Chicago Bears, part of one with the Baltimore Colts, 7 with the Houston Oilers, and the final 9 with the Oakland Raiders.

Blanda was most known for the time he spent with the Raiders and he and owner Al Davis remained close friends before passing away on Monday. The Raiders released a statement, stating “We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great George Blanda. George was a brave Raider and a close personal friend of Raiders owner Al Davis.”

When Blanda retired before the 1976 season, he was the all-time leader in points scored with 2,002 points – he kicked 335 field goals and 943 extra points, along with 236 passing touchdowns and 9 rushing touchdowns. He was also elected to four Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Blanda entered the NFL in 1949 as a 12^th-round draft pick out of Kentucky. He spent most of the decade with the Bears, but played one game with the Colts in 1950. He won the Bears starting job in 1953, but got injured the next season and was benched. The Bears felt that he was no their solution at quarterback and Blanda retired from the NFL in 1959 at the age of 31. His retirement didn’t last long as he would leave for the AFL’s Houston Oilers the next season.

He is perhaps the best player in AFL history. In seven seasons with the Oilers, Blanda threw for 19,149 yards and 165 touchdowns. He was named the AFL Player of the Year in 1961.

Oilers owner Bud Adams, who was another good friend of Blanda, said of ex-Oilers great, “He was the perfect fit for the start of the AFL, joining our league from the NFL and displaying the ability to lead a high-flying offense. His play garnered our league a lot of attention and fans. We had a celebration last year in Houston for the 1960 and 1961 AFL championship seasons and the team hall of fame members and it was great to have George join us and remember fondly those early years.”

In 1967, Blanda left the Oilers and many considered his career to be finished. However, the Raiders took a shot on him and wanted to use him as a back-up quarterback and kicker. He would last nine seasons with the Raiders and perhaps played his greatest for the Raider faithful. He played great for the team and led the Raiders on a remarkable five-game stretch in 1970 – he led the Raiders to four wins and a tie, while advancing to the playoffs. Blanda led them to late touchdowns or field goals to seal the victories. In the playoffs, he became the oldest quarterback to start in a championship game, but lost to the Baltimore Colts in the AFC Championship game.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said of Blanda, “George Blanda will always be remembered as a legend of our game including his amazing career longevity of 26 seasons in four different decades. George’s multi-talented flair for the dramatic highlighted the excitement of pro football during an important period of growth for our sport.”

For that 1970 season, here’s what Blanda accomplished:

-         Replaced injured Daryle Lamonica and threw three touchdowns in a 31-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers

-         Kicked a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds to tie the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-17

-         Threw a tying touchdown pass with 1:34 remaining in the game; he then proceeded to kick a 52-yard game-winning field goal against the Cleveland Browns; the Raiders won the game 23-20

-         Threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff to secure a 24-19 victory over the Denver Broncos

-         Kicked a 16-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat the San Diego Chargers, 20-17

On Monday, the NFL lost one of the greatest players in pro football history. He was elected to four Pro Bowls and won two AFL championships. The NFL will sorely miss Blanda and we appreciate everything he did for the NFL to make it what it is today.

R.I.P. George Blanda (September 17, 1927 – September 27, 2010)

Falcons Stun Saints In New Orleans 27-24

By: Tyler Ward

The only game (so far) to go into overtime this weekend? The Saints vs. Falcons. And it was an exciting game. The NFC South showdown featured both teams facing each other in New Orleans, with the Falcons beating the Saints 27-24.

Saints kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime, which can almost be considered a guarantee in the NFL. However, he did not, and with 1:55 left in overtime, Falcons kicker Matt Bryant made a 46-yard field goal to seal Atlanta's victory. New Orleans seemed to be in control of the game and it looked like they were going to win the game on their first possession of overtime. The Saints started off overtime at their own 32-yard line and running back Pierre Thomas ran for 23 yards on the first play from scrimmage. They would next use five plays to march 34 yards down field to the Falcons' 11-yard line. Hartley came out onto the field and proceeded to miss the "easy" 29-yard field goal.

Hartley had recently played hero, as he kicked the Saints to a 25-22 win over the 49ers last week. However, his luck ran out this week. Hartley has missed 3 of 7 field goals so far this season after previously making 22 of 24 attempts in his career. And if ya'll remember correctly, Hartley was the one that kicked the Saints into the Super Bowl last season. After the game, Hartley told the media, "That was then," he said. "That was then. This is now, and I just lost a game we should have won."

New Orleans were clicking on all cylinders with the passing game. Drew Brees went 30-for-38 for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. The best wide receiver of the game, however, wasn't Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, or Devery Henderson. It was Lance Moore, who has been relatively quiet this season. Moore finished the day with 6 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns (dang, I wish I had him on my fantasy team!) Colston, Meachem, and Henderson were quiet the entire game, combining for 7 receptions for only 53 yards. The Saints also could do nothing on the ground game, with Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory combining to carry the ball 16 times for 43 yards (a. 2.7 average).

The Saints also lost the time possession battle. The Falcons held the ball for 45:50, while the Saints had it for just 27:15. Atlanta finished off the game with a long 12-play drive that spanned a little over 7 minutes in overtime, with Bryant kicking the field goal to end it.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went 19-for-30 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Unlike his counterpart, he did not throw an interception, which severely helped Atlanta win the game. Tight End Tony Gonzalez had his best game of the year, catching 8 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Roddy White added in the other touchdown, while catching 5 passes for 69 yards. 

Roddy White added after the game, "This is a character win. ... It shows the division that we are going to compete." And he may be right. Want to know a little fun fact? No team in the NFC South has ever repeated as the division winner. So, with that being said, the Saints may not retain their division title. I'm not superstitious, but you never know.

The Falcons also did something that the Saints could not do all game - and that was rushing the ball. Michael Turner carried the ball 30 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard game of the year. Turner left last week's game with a groin injury, and back-up running back Jason Snelling admirably filled in for him to finish the game and rushed for over 100 yards. Snelling also played well against the Saints, carrying the ball 14 times for 62 yards.

Ryan acted like Drew Brees in the second quarter, leading the Falcons on a 19-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 10:39 and successfully tied the game right before halftime at 14. The Falcons were able to convert on two fourth-and-short plays before Turner ran into the endzone on a 1-yard touchdown carry. 

The Falcons now puts them at 2-1 on the year, with the Saints also hosting the same record. They are now tied atop the NFC South. The Falcons will play the 49ers next week, with the Saints facing off against division-rival Panthers.

Carmelo To NJ? Blockbuster Trade In The Works?

By: Tyler Ward

Well, Carmelo may finally get his wish. For the last few days, rumors have been swirling around involving a potential blockbuster four-team trade that would send Carmelo Anthony to the Nets, Andrei Kirilenko, Derrick Favors, and multiple first-round picks to the Nuggets, Boris Diaw to the Jazz, and Devin Harris to the Bobcats. But, how does this work out for every team involved?

- New Jersey Nets: All the Nets would receive in this deal would be Carmelo. They would be giving up Favors, Harris, and other picks just to get Carmelo. Is it worth it? I don't think so. If the Nets do the deal, they would have no starting point guard at all. Jordan Farmar and Ben Uzoh would most likely be the candidates to supplant Harris. If the Nets want to succeed in the Eastern Conference (even though they are still in a rebuilding phase), they would have to have a starting point guard. Farmar is a backup and I just don't think he can be a typical starter. They would also be giving up Favors, who some people consider the next Tim Duncan. The Nets don't have much depth at the front court, so giving up Favors (who has a lot of the potential) could end up being a mistake for the Nets. I just believe that if they get Anthony, they will still be in a rebuilding process until they add more decent players to the team. They just seem to be giving up too much to get one player.

- Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets would probably get the best end of the deal. They would be getting Favors, who is in work in progress, but is still a good player at such a young age. He will add another big man presence to Denver, who already has Nene, Al Harrington, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Andersen, so Denver would be very good on the defensive side of the ball. Denver would also receive Andrei Kirilenko in the deal, who has shown time and time again that he can do well offensively and defensively. Kirilenko would most likely serve as a backup to either Al Harrington, J.R. Smith, or he could possibly even start. Not to mention, Denver would receive multiple first-round picks in the deal, so Denver could make bank off of this trade. When you add in players like Chauncey Billups, Ty Lawson, and Smith, the Nuggets could make some noise this season. Denver, in my opinion, would definitely get the most out of this trade.

- Charlotte Bobcats: It's a simple trade, but it's definitely an upgrade. Charlotte would end up giving up Diaw in the deal, but would get young point guard Devin Harris. The Bobcats lost Raymond Felton to the Knicks via free agency, so the Bobcats are vacant at the point guard position. D.J. Augustin would have been the starter, but has not showed that can be a "main guy" for Charlotte. If they could lay their hands on Harris, it would be a sure-fire upgrade for the Bobcats. Diaw has had a couple of decent seasons since being drafted in 2003, but he just isn't one of those players that you can build a team around. And with Diaw making $9 million this season alone, there's no way that Charlotte wouldn't want to do that trade. We could see Charlotte in the playoffs again this season, albeit a poor performance in last season's series when they faced off against the Orlando Magic. I think they can make a playoff run (#7 or #8 seed)  and may win the first playoff game in the Bobcats' short history.

- Utah Jazz: It's a pretty much even deal for the Jazz in this situation. Utah would end up giving up defensive stud (and injury-plagued) Andrei Kirilenko in the deal, but would receive Diaw from Charlotte. It's not really an upgrade for Utah, but it's still something for Utah. I see the Jazz in a rebuilding process, too, so we may not see much out of the Jazz this upcoming season. Deron Williams and Al Jafferson are the main two bright spots on the team, and they cannot carry the load all by themselves. I would not expect the Jazz to make a playoff run this point and coach Jerry Sloan's career could be shortly coming to an end.

I'm actually anxious for this trade to happen. I don't know about ya'll, but I love when blockbuster trades go down (except when it involves one of my favorite players switching teams). 

Sources say that the trade could be finalized at some point soon - one of the main things that's holding it back is Carmelo signing an extension in New Jersey, and not just being there for a year or two. The Nets, under new management, want a long-term commitment from Anthony, si they would need to get one to make the trade happen. But, I think that this trade will eventually go down - it just depends on when. But, we will see another major superstar switching uniforms yet again this offseason.

Marcus McNeill Ends Holdout With Chargers

By: Tyler Ward

According to sources, McNeill, a Chargers offensive lineman, has ended his holdout and has signed a 1-year/$630,000 tender with the team, effectively ending his holdout. The two sides have two weeks to work out a deal for a long-term contract.

McNeill will be forced to sit out the next three games and will be eligible to play in Week 6 when the Chargers take on the Rams in St. Louis. Sicne he signed the tender today, he will be able to travel with the team to Seattle when they the Chargers take on the Seahawks this weekend. Second-year player Brandyn Dombrowski has taken McNeill's place so far this season. 

The Chargers offered McNeill a tender worth $3,168,000 and when he didn't sign it by June 15, the team was entitled to reduce McNeill's salary by 110 percent, which would be $630,000. The salary will further be reduced because McNeill hasn't particiaped in any games thus far and will miss the next three games. His original four-year contract expired after at the end of last season. However, since this is an uncapped season, McNeill would need at least six years on his contract to be considered an unrestricted free agent. 

The left tackle has shown signs of promise since being selected 50th overall by San Diego in 2006 (played collegiately at Auburn). He has started all, but 2 games since entering the NFL and is a two-time Pro Bowler. Many consider him to be one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL and it's just my opinion, but he deserves to be paid like one. The Chargers will regret their decision if McNeill leaves the team in the future (I view him as another Jonathan Ogden). He will eventually get a deal done, but one question remains: Who is going to be that team?

McNeill, along with fellow teammate Vincent Jackson, have been looking for long-term deals with the Chargers since last season and the team has yet to give either of them one. Jackson has said that he is prepared to sit out the entire 2010 season, in hopes of getting a long-term deal worked out with the team or somehow landing on another team. Jackson was still a Charger at 3 P.M. CT, which means that he will not be able to play until at least Week 7. The NFLPA assigned Jackson a three-game suspension because of his roster expempt status - and it would have been lifted if Jackson was traded before the deadline. The Minnesota Vikings had reportedly expressed the most interest in Jackson - but, the asking price was too steep for Minnesota to pull the trigger (2nd & 3rd round pick in 2011). 

I just don't understand why [a trade wasn't completed]," Jackson told the NFL Network. "They obviously think I'm a valuable player by asking for such high trade compensation, but why am I only offered tender salary?"

The wide receiver has shown that he can be a potentially great receiver, and I don't think we will ever see Jackson in a Chargers uniform again. I think, at some point, he will be traded, whether it's before the actual NFL trade deadline or sometime after the season is over. But, I just don't think it's worth it to him to return to the Chargers. The Vikings seem to be the most likely suitors and with their best receiver, Sidney Rice, being injured, they may actually take the offer at some point. The Vikings are currently 0-2 and need a lot of help to make it to the playoffs.

Jackson was taken 61st overall by the Chargers out of Northern Colorado in the 2005 NFL draft. His numbers have steadily increased since turning pro and those numbers would have probably gotten better if the two sides had worked out a deal. Like McNeill, Jackson deserves to be paid with a long term deal, or at least one that makes him one of the top 15 highest-paid receivers in the league. 

Mike Singletary's Fiery Interview

By: Tyler Ward

Wow. That's all I can say. I just saw this video and I am amazed beyond belief.

I'll just give ya'll a brief overview: Mike Singletary, the current 49ers head coach, had an interview with sports anchor Dennis O'Donnell - some of the questions (in my mind) seem out of hand. I mean, if you were in Singletary's shoes, wouldn't you want to talk about football and the upcoming game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints (this interview was held prior to Monday's game & after the 49ers' embarrassing 31-6 loss to the Seahawks). Also, this interview has led to O'Donnell no longer hosting the "Coach's Corner" segment with Singletary that appears on a San Francisco television station every weekend.

Apparently, Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye have butted heads and have had communication problems since last season. And, we all know that the 49ers have had problems with the offense.

Quarterback Alex Smith has had 6 different offensive coordinators in 6 seasons, so one can expect the young QB to have problems along the way. (I still think Smith can be a good quarterback, he just needs an offensive coordinator that can run a good system.

RB Frank Gore has been one of the few brightspots on offense. Since 2006, Gore is third in the NFL in rushing yards with 5,103 - LaDainian Tomlinson (5,267) and Steven Jackson (5,144) are the only two players ahead of him. Gore is only averaging 75 rushing yards per game this season, but his numbers should go up with upcoming games against Kansas City, Oakland, and Carolina.

With weapons like Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis through the air, their passing offense could finally click and maybe they'll get something going on offense. It seems like the 49ers need to somehow fix their communication problems and if they can't, the Seahawks or Cardinals (got to say no to the Rams) could make a run for the NFC West title.

The Yahoo commercial that Singletary refers to in the video was written by Yahoo NFL writer Jason Cole. The article can be found here: 49ers Communication Problems

Going into the season, it's the 49ers' division to lose. On paper, they are the most talented team - I wouldn't expect them to go 13-3, but at least have a 9-7 record. The Seahawks are in a rebuilding phase and lack a defense that can compete with other division winners. Their receiving corps could very well be the worst in the league (I mean, Mike Williams? Seriously? The #1 receiver? What are you doing, Pete Carroll? The Cardinals lost possible Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner in the offseason to retirement - and not only is Warner gone, but also WR Anquan Boldin, LB Karlos Dansby, and S Antrel Rolle (but they did add Kerry Rhodes to replace him, so it's not all that big of a loss). Derek Anderson has shown so far that he is not a starter in the league and you can only think that he would do decent with one of the top 5 receivers in the league (Fitzgerald). So, it looks like we could see one of the rookies, John Skelton or Max Hall, sometime soon. Arizona has also been struggling defensively, especially after surrendering 41 points to the Falcons last week. And last, but not least, the Rams. Arguably one of the worst teams in the league. They're having to rely on a rookie quarterback (Sam Bradford) and it looks like he may need some time to become the QB they want him to become. They lack receivers and tight ends, so it's hard for them to get anything going through the air (luckily, they have Steven Jackson - their only bright spot). Like Seattle and Arizona, they are also struggling defensively, and in my opinion, the Rams will be lucky to win 5 games this season. So, with that being said, the 49ers should win the division (and I need to stress the word, "should"). 

So, anyway, here's the video that was broadcasted on the news:

Michael Vick Will Start Against Jaguars

By: Stephen Patterson

This time there are no injuries involved. Eagles head coach Andy Reid named Michael Vick the starter for the remainder of the season yesterday, only days after saying Kevin Kolb would regain the job when he returned from the concussion he suffered in the first half of the Eagle's Week 1 loss against Green Bay. Vick has been hot in both games since taking over for Kolb, and he will look to continue the streak against a weak Jacksonville defense this weekend.

Vick made his first start since December 2006 against the Detroit Lions this past Sunday, and helped lead Philadelphia to a win. Against the Packers, Vick amassed over 100 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, bringing the Eagles within a touchdown of tying the game before falling just short. He has had a QB rating over 100 in both of his games this season (although he didn't start against the Packers).

Many in Philadelphia were surprised with the move, as Kolb was supposed to be the new face of the franchise after the team made the decision to deal Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. The team was high on Kolb after he came in and passed for over 300 yards in consecutive games last season in place of an injured McNabb. But in the first half against Green Bay and during much of the preseason, Kolb didn't resemble anything of that QB from last season. It appears the reaction to the move is overwhelmingly positive in Philadelphia, as well as around the country according to recent polls.

After the team suffered devastating season-ending injuries to Pro-Bowl fullback Leonard Weaver and starting center Jamaal Jackson, Reid felt the team would need a mobile QB moving forward this season, and Vick definitely fits that mold. Vick has always been known more for his speed and running capabilities than his arm, but he has shown better judgment and slightly improved accuracy this season after a full training camp with the team.

With Vick entering free agency after this season, it is truly now or never for him to prove he is capable of leading a football team and being a starter in the NFL again. With many teams having definite issues at QB that will need to be addressed in the offseason this year, there is a very good chance he could land a starting job somewhere if he plays at a high level this season. Although the Eagles made a long term commitment to Kolb, there have been rumors today the team is considering moving him to another team before the deadline. If for some reason they do move Kolb, expect the team to consider keeping Vick around.

Vick has had plenty of ups and downs throughout his professional career. After having his best professional season in 2006, in which he became the first QB in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards, Vick went on a spiraling downfall amid dog-fighting charges. When it became clear how bad the charges were, many weren't sure if Vick would ever be back in the NFL. But after serving almost two years in prison, the Eagles signed him to a contract before last season to give him a chance to show he can still play football and that he is a new person. His continuing journey to redeem himself will begin a new chapter on Sunday against the Jaguars, and hopefully Vick will continue to shine in this new found opportunity.