Memphis Grizzlies' Darrell Arthur Out For The Season

By: Tyler Ward

It has been reported Tuesday that Grizzlies power forward Darrell Arthur will miss the entire 2011-12 season due to an Achilles injury. An MRI exam yesterday confirmed that Arthur has suffered a torn right Achilles tendon and will be forced to have surgery, thus making him miss the upcoming season.

Arthur was reportedly hurt in practice on Sunday and will have surgery within the next seven days, but he is expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Considered to be undersized, the 6'9" power forward played in 80 games last season, averaging career-highs in points per game (9.1), minutes played (20.1 per game), field-goal percentage (49.7 percent) and free-throw percentage (81.3 percent). He also averaged 4.2 rebounds per game for the Grizzlies last season.

Over his career, Arthur has averaged 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and .7 blocks per game. He has also played in 188 games, with 73 starts, while averaging 18.8 minutes per game and shooting 46.8 percent from the field.

The former Kansas Jayhawk was drafted with the 27th overall selection by the New Orleans Hornets and on draft day, was consequently sold to the Portland Trail Blazers. On the same day, Arthur was part of a three-team deal that sent him to Memphis, while the Rockets traded the rights to Nicolas Batum to Portland -- the Grizzlies also dealt Donte Greene and a 2009 second-round pick to Houston, while the Rockets traded Joey Dorsey to Portland.

Arthur's injury leaves a widening gap on the Grizzlies' roster, as it leaves the team with just Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Brian Skinner and Walter Sharpe in the frontcourt.

It appears that the Grizzlies will now try to acquire a big man through free agency or a trade, as the bench is rather limited. It is apparently clear that Skinner and Sharpe, if they even make the final cut, cannot handle the load off of the bench and there is no possible way that Randolph and Gasol will be able to play 48 minutes per game.

So this leaves the Grizzlies with a tough question even though their season starts in less than a week.

Current free agent big men include players such as former first-round selections Hilton Armstrong, Ike Diogu, and Alexis Ajinca, Samuel Dalembert, Erick Dampier, Dan Gadzuric, Chuck Hayes (who was released by Sacramento a few days ago), Ryan Hollins, Kris Humphries, Solomon Jones, Leon Powe, Joel Przybilla, Etan Thomas, Theo Ratliff and Yi Jianlian.

It should become abundantly clear to the Grizzlies' front office that they need to sign one of these players or make a trade elsewhere because they are not going to able to make it through a 66-game season with bench players like Brian Skinner and Walter Sharpe.

It seems likely that the Grizzlies should be able to sign players such as Ryan Hollins, Hilton Armstrong, Ike Doigu or Erick Dampier -- simply because they would likely accept a one-year deal at the veteran's minimum, which is just a shade over $1 million.

And the Grizzlies will make a frontcourt move if they want to repeat the season last year when they fell just one game short of making the Western Conference Finals. It's a shame that Arthur won't be a part of their plan this season, especially after he became perhaps the Grizzlies' most consistent player off the bench last season -- Arthur also succeeded in the playoffs for the Grizzlies last Spring, averaging 7.1 points per game in 15.5 minutes per contest.

Over the next few days or upcoming weeks, watch for the Grizzlies to make a frontcourt acquisition after Darrell Arthur went down.

Texas Rangers Win Bidding War To Talk To Japanese Pitching Phenom Yu Darvish

By: Tyler Ward

It was announced late Monday night that the defending American League champions Texas Rangers have won the Yu Darvish sweepstakes, successfully making a record bid of $51.7 million to talk to the Japanese pitching phenom, who was heavily courted by many teams including the Rangers, New York Yankees and others.

Although Rangers general manager Jon Daniels did not say how much the bid was, sources say it eclipsed the $50 million mark. Bidding closed last Wednesday and Darvish's former team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, had until 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday to accept.

The Rangers now have thirty days to negotiate a deal with Darvish and his representatives, Don Nomura and Arn Tellem. If the Rangers and Darvish fail to come to an agreement, the posting fee will be voided and the pitcher will return to Japan to pitch next season. Along with the winning bid, the Rangers will likely spend over $100 million on the pitcher if they reach an agreement.

Darvish is considered to be one of the best pitchers in Japan, along with being noted as one of the most highly-touted prospects in recent history.

Tellem said of the Rangers' winning bid, "We were pleased to learn that the Texas Rangers were the high bidders for Yu Darvish. The Rangers are an extraordinary franchise in an exceptional city with equally exceptional fans. Yu is honored to be prized so highly and recognized as a once-in-a-generation pitcher. We look forward to getting negotiations under way."

The bid on Darvish is slightly higher than the one given to Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007 by the Boston Red Sox. Matsuzaka and his representatives were paid $51.1 million. Boston eventually signed Matsuzaka to a six-year, $52 million contract, so the Red Sox invested a total of $103.3 million in the pitcher.

However, it is questionable as to why the Rangers placed a bid on Darvish, as they already seemingly have their rotation set for the 2012 season with Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando, Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz, who spent last season as the team's closer, but will enter the starting rotation next season -- the Rangers signed former Twins closer Joe Nathan in the offseason to take the place of Feliz in the closer role.

Texas lost their No. 1 starter C.J. Wilson during the offseason, as the left-handed ace signed with the Rangers' division rival, the Los Angeles Angels, on a five-year, $77.5 million deal -- and as we all know, these same Angels agreed on a 10-year, $252 million contract with Albert Pujols.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander posted an 18-6 record last season with a league-leading 1.44 ERA and 276 strikeouts. He also pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Darvish started pitching professionally when he was just 18 years old.

Although putting up mediocre numbers in his first professional season, Darvish came back to post a 12-5 record in his second season with a 2.89 ERA and 115 strikeouts. He has slowly gotten better and better since then and has become arguably the best pitcher in Japan and now will take his talents to the United States if he can reach a deal with Nolan Ryan's Rangers -- a team who has won the American League pennant the last two seasons, but failed to win the World Series in both years.

The 25-year-old is thought to have an amazing collection of seven different pitches that also includes a two-seamer that he added to the repertoire in 2010.

For his career, Darvish has a 93-38 record in Japan in seven season with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He has started a total of 164 games, completing 55 of those contests and also posting 18 shutouts. Darvish has also registered 1,268.1 innings pitched, giving up just 916 hits and 281 earned runs -- which comes out to a 1.99 ERA. He has also struck out 1,259 batters, which averages a shade under one strikeout per inning.

He has also posted an ERA under 2.00 in five straight campaigns, with his best season coming last season, as the right-hander posted an 18-6 record with ten complete games and six shutouts -- he also struck out 276 batters and accumulated a 1.44 ERA in last year's juncture.

However, with the unfortunate history of Japanese and Chinese pitchers lately, it is unclear as to how Darvish will fare in the majors. Many scouts project that he will be a team's No. 1 or 2 pitcher and he will be the best prospect thus far.

But for the team's sake, they better hope that Darvish will eventually become one of the team's top starters, if they can come to an agreement with the pitcher. Hopefully, he would perform better than former Japanese players that have decided to take their talents to the United States.

Let's take a look at some of the former players that have come to America before Darvish:

* Kei Igawa, New York Yankees: 2-4 record, 6.66 ERA, 53 strikeouts; $46 million investment

* Kazuhisi Ishii, Los Angeles Dodgers: 39-34 record, 4.44 ERA, 435 strikeouts; also pitched for the New York Mets

* Hideki Irabu, New York Yankees: 34-35 record, 5.15 ERA, 405 strikeouts; also played for the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers (Died in 2002)

* Tomo Ohka, Boston Red Sox: 50-67 record, 4.20 ERA, 573 strikeouts; also pitched for the Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians

* Akinori Otsuka, San Diego Padres: 13-15 record, 2.44 ERA, 217 strikeouts, 39 saves; also played for the Texas Rangers

* Shingo Takatsu, Chicago White Sox: 8-6 record, 3.38 ERA, 88 strikeouts, 27 saves; also played for the New York Mets

* Kazuhiro Sasaki, Seattle Mariners: 7-16 record, 3.14 ERA, 242 strikeouts, 129 saves

* Mac Suzuki, Seattle Mariners: 16-31 record, 5.72 ERA, 327 strikeouts; also played for the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers

* Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Los Angeles Angels: 45-44 record, 3.71 ERA, 447 strikeouts; also played for the Seattle Mariners

* Hiroki Kuroda, Los Angeles Dodgers: 41-46 record, 3.45 ERA, 523 strikeouts; currently a Free Agent

* Takashi Saito, Los Angeles Dodgers: 21-15 record, 2.18 ERA, 389 strikeouts, 84 saves; also played for the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers -- signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2012 season

* Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox: 2-3 record, 7.46 ERA, 13 strikeouts

* Koji Uehara, Baltimore Orioles: 5-9 record, 3.13 ERA, 188 strikeouts; was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 30, 2011

* Hisanori Takahashi, New York Mets: 14-9 record, 3.55 ERA, 166 strikeouts, 10 saves; signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Dec. 2, 2010

* Hideo Nomo, Los Angeles Dodgers: 123-109 record, 4.24 ERA, 1,918 strikeouts; considered the best Japanese pitcher of all-time -- also played for Mets, Brewers, Tigers, Red Sox, Rays and Royals

* Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox: 46-27 record, 4.18 ERA, 542 strikeouts; underwent Tommy John surgery in early June 2011

* Hideki Okajima, Boston Red Sox: 17-8 record, 3.36 ERA, 215 strikeouts

Of course, since Japanese players have immigrated to Major League Baseball, there have been more pitchers, but the ones listed above are just the notable ones and as the readers can see, most of these players have been mediocre throughout their MLB careers. Few have actually stood out and had decent careers, such as Nomo, Matsuzaka, Okajima, Kuroda and Ishii. Some of the others were just flat out mediocre and were never able to make a name for themselves, other than checking their names in the "Bust Box", most notably Igawa.

If you want to look at it on paper, there have been better hitters to come to the United States than pitchers -- including Ichiro, who is undoubtedly the best Japanese player to ever put on a MLB uniform. Others include Kosuke Fukudome, Hideki Matsui, Kaz Matsui, So Taguchi, Kenji Johjima, Tad Iguchi, Akinori Iwamura and Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who made his professional debut last season with the Minnesota Twins.

The point here is that there have really never been that many great players that have come over from Japan other than Ichiro, who is likely to eventually make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hideki Matsui, Matsuzaka and Nomo have all been good players -- so in reality, only four players out of the myriad of Japanese players have gone on to successfully build a solid career, which means the odds are stacked up against Darvish.

But personally, I believe Darvish will flourish in Major League Baseball and I haven't thought that since Ichiro arrived many years ago. The pitcher seems to have all the tools to become a great pitcher in the United States and he will definitely use those to his advantage. I believe that he will eventually become a top player in the Rangers' rotation, perhaps even their No. 1 starter in the next couple of seasons.

If the two sides are able to reach an agreement and if Darvish is able to make it into the Rangers' rotation and start thirty games, I believe his record will look like this for his rookie season: 14-7 record, 3.22 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 73 walks, along with two complete games, including one shutout. We'll see what happens.

I'm not going to guarantee it, but I have a good feeling that Darvish will succeed and it will be worth the $100+ million the Rangers will spend in order to bring him to their franchise.

Former King, Maverick Peja Stojakovic Calls It A Career

By: Tyler Ward

Former Kings and Mavericks player Peja Stojakovic, one of the best sharpshooters in NBA history, has decided retire after a 13-year career in the NBA.

Stojakovic, 34, told ESPN.com on Monday that he decided to call it quits after a history of back and neck troubles that have plagued him over the last few seasons. The three-time All-Star won his first championship with the Mavericks last season and thought to end his career on a high-note.

"When you start competing against your body more than you're preparing for the actual game, it's a wakeup call," Stojakovic said.

He was a key component in the Mavericks' title run last season, scoring 15 and 21 points in home games against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Mavericks swept the then-defending champions in the playoffs. In Dallas' Game 4 rout of the Lakers, the sharpshooter went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc, perhaps the best postseason performance of his career.

Stojakovic had a bitter rivalry with the Lakers throughout his career as the starting shooting guard of the Sacramento Kings. At the beginning of the 2000's, the Kings-Lakers rivalry was among the best in the NBA, successfully fueled by such players as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Rick Fox and Stojakovic.

Stojakovic was chosen with the 14th overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He would not make his professional debut until the start of the 1998-99 season, averaging 8.4 points per game in his rookie season.

He would get better over the next few seasons, eventually landing in the starting lineup as the shooting guard, beginning in the 2000-01 season. In just his third season, Stojakovic averaged 20.4 points per game and in the following season, he set a then-career high in points per game with 21.2 per contest -- in that same year, he also became the first European player to win the Three-Point Shootout, annually held during All-Star Weekend. He would then go on to successfully defend his title the following year, becoming the fifth player to win at least two consecutive shootouts since it's inception -- Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price and Jeff Hornacek are the others.

During the 2003-04 season, Stojakovic averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game, while also making the All-Star team. He also led the NBA in free-throw percentage (92.7%) for the first time in his career.

The following season, Stojakovic's stats started to decrease, as it would become the last season in his career that he averaged at least 20 points per game.

Just 31 games into the 2005-06 season, Stojakovic would get traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Ron Artest on Jan. 25, 2006. It was the first time that he would be traded, but it surely would not be the last.

He would finish out the season with the Pacers, playing in 40 games while averaging 19.5 points and a career-high 6.3 rebounds per game. Many thought that the Pacers would re-sign him, but instead he was dealt to the New Orleans Hornets on July 12, just a little over six months after he arrived in Indiana -- he was subsequently dealt for Andrew Betts, who has not played in an NBA game thus far.

Stojakovic would miss most of the 2006-07 season, playing in just thirteen games. However, in one of those thirteen games, Stojakovic became the first player in NBA history to score his team's first 20 points, as he accomplished that feat against the Charlotte Bobcats on Nov. 19, 2006.

The subsequent year, Stojakovic would have his best year as a Hornet, averaging 16.4 points per game and leading the NBA in free-throw percentage for the second time in his career (92.9%). He would go on to play just a little more than two seasons for the Hornets before being dealt to the Raptors along with Jerryd Bayless for David Andersen, Marcus Banks and Jarrett Jack on Nov. 20, 2010.

Stojakovic played just two games for the Raptors before being waived just two months after he was sent up north. Four days after being waived, he signed a one-year, $636,320 deal with the Dallas Mavericks and it couldn't have ended any better.

He would quickly become friends with Dirk Nowitzki, once a bitter National team rival over in Europe. Stojakovic, along with a team comprised with other veterans, would help the Mavericks win their first ever NBA Championship, defeating the Miami Heat in six games.

Dallas' defeat of the Heat was perhaps one of the best championship teams ever, as quite a few players won their first ever championship after playing in the NBA for ten or more years -- including Stojakovic, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Brian Cardinal and DeShawn Stevenson. The team also consisted of Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood, both of whom were in their ninth year of professional basketball when they struck gold with the Mavericks.

Stojakovic's decision to retire from the NBA was not a surprise, however. After a stellar 13-year career, it was time to call it quits.

"Peja will go down as one of the great shooters in the history of the NBA. His success was the result of a tireless work ethic and an unquenchable desire to be the best at what he did. Peja's legacy, however, goes way beyond his 3-point skills and that elusive Finals title he won last season with the Dallas Mavericks," NBA commissioner David Stern said of the retirement. "Peja was part of the wave of international stars that helped introduce the world to the NBA game and inspired thousands of fans to begin playing the sport of basketball."

Stojakovic said in a statement released on Monday, "I feel so blessed to have been given the athletic gifts to play professional basketball. I have always loved the game and have great respect for it and I know the time is right to step away. I promised myself a long time ago, if it came to the point where my heart and body were not 100 percent committed, I would step away. I have reached that point and I know the time is right to retire."

"I want to thank the great fans in Sacramento, Indiana, New Orleans, and Dallas who supported me throughout the years. I also want to thank the Dallas Mavericks for believing in me this past season and for giving me the chance to end my NBA career with a championship," Stojakovic continued. "I look forward to taking some time to spend with my wife, Aleka, and my three children. I will slowly figure out the next steps in my life and determine what my second career will be. I'm sure I will stay involved in basketball in general and the NBA in particular."

Stojakovic averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc and 45 percent from the field for the Kings, Pacers, Hornets, Raptors and Mavericks.

Why The Rams Should Cut Ties With Steven Jackson After The 2011 Season

By: Tyler Ward

This may sound crazy, but to me, it doesn't. Steven Jackson, undoubtedly the team's best player, has been their most consistent player since arriving in St. Louis in 2004. Although he has had his fair share of injuries over the past few seasons, he is still a top-ten running back in the NFL and the Rams are lucky to have him. Jackson, a first-round draft choice out of Oregon State in 2004, hasn't been apart of a playoff team since his rookie season and it doesn't look like he'll be going back any time soon.

The Rams haven't finished better 8-8 since that season when Jackson served as the team's back-up to Marshall Faulk. But since taking the reins in 2005, Jackson has become an NFL star and has developed into one of the best running backs in the league, surpassing the 1,000-yard plateau in every season since.

With the Rams struggling this season, there is no doubt that they will have a top-five draft selection in the 2012 draft and it will probably stay that way for a few more seasons.

So, it has become transparently and abundantly clear that the Jackson-Rams relationship needs to conclude quickly.

It may sound like something that shouldn't be done, as Jackson is practically their only building block to a better future instead of succumbing to years of mediocrity once again. As of right now, the Rams aren't going anywhere -- especially with one of the most unproven receiving corps in the league, along with a suspect offensive line that can't protect the broad side of a barn and a defense that has regressed over the season, especially when a 37-year old Al Harris has been their best cornerback for much of the season.

So to say the least, the Rams have copious amounts of problems and they will have a hard time addressing them all over the next couple of seasons, especially in the draft process.

From the Rams' prospective, why not trade Jackson to a team that is in desperate need of a running back, in hopes of landing a quality running back along with a few draft selections and possibly another player or two that fills some of their needs? There is bound to be at least one team out there that should want Jackson, who is on the verge of successfully completing his seventh-straight 1,000-yard season (currently just 34 yards shy of that mark).

St. Louis' front office should take advantage of the opportunity to deal Jackson because they aren't going to winning a Super Bowl anytime soon and it would be in Jackson's best interest to leave the only professional team he's ever known. I'd go as far to say that the Rams are by far the worst team in their division, especially with the 49ers appearing to be a juggernaut over the next few years, along with the Seahawks and Cardinals on the rise, while the Rams are progressively getting worse.

If the team can get an exceptional deal right now for Jackson, they need to take it because it will benefit the team in the future.

Jackson is just 28 years old and will turn 29 next July, so one can assume that he is still in the prime of his career and has a few more years left in the tank, so he could help a team succeed -- if he has quality pieces around him, of course.

If the Rams were to sever ties with Jackson, there should be quite a few teams interested, even though he will be making approximately $9.6 million in 2012 and will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season. But when a team looks at his stat sheet, one can't help but want him on their team, if they are in need of a running back.

Around the NFL, there are many teams that are in need of a running back and one or some of those teams should take a peek at Jackson, including Washington, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Green Bay.

Washington Redskins: Although Jackson would likely see a steep decrease in his carries in Washington, he would still become a much better option than Tim Hightower, Roy Helu and Ryan Torain. As we have seen in the past with Mike Shanahan's offenses, he likes to use a multitude of running backs instead of just one player getting the high majority of carries.

But still, if the Redskins could somehow acquire Jackson, along with drafting a quarterback in the first round of next year's draft, they would definitely be on the right track to stardom once again. The Redskins practically have the worst owner in professional sports -- also known as Dan Snyder -- and that has not helped them become a winning team as of late.

But if any coach is going to turn around a franchise, it will be Shanahan who has won two Super Bowls over his coaching career. And if the Redskins want to win, they will eventually acquire a running back that is considered to be one of the top 15 players at that position. However, if the 'Skins were somehow able to acquire Jackson, they would likely have to give up multiple draft choices along with a player or two. But it would be worth it, as he would likely become the team's best running back since the days of John Riggins -- and if you consider that a stretch, we'll just go with Stephen Davis.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts, who have been one of the league's worst running teams in the last five or six years, haven't been able to carry the ball since the Edgerrin James era. Joseph Addai has gotten the bulk of the carries since James' departure and he hasn't been spectacular to say the least.

However, the Colts aren't one of those teams that would go out and make a major trade or sign a marquee free agent -- their best acquisition in the last decade has perhaps been Adam Vinatieri, albeit one of the best kickers in NFL history. They particularly use the draft to build their team and even that has been shaky as of late -- Anthony Gonzalez, Tony Ugoh, Jerry Hughes, among others. So it is unclear as to who the Colts would give up to acquire Jackson, unless they can strike a deal with St. Louis for the No. 1 overall pick if the Colts do, in fact, end up with the league's worst record this season.

Of course, this is perhaps the unlikeliest scenario of them all, but you can never rule it out, as the Colts are almost in the rebuilding phase for the first time since Peyton Manning was selected with the No. 1 selection in 1998. But if the Colts could somehow land Jackson, they would not regret it as it would finally give them a formidable running attack for the first time since the mid-2000's.

Cleveland Browns: It appears clearer and clearer every day that the Browns are not likely to have Peyton Hillis as their starting running back in 2012. After missing multiple games this season because of questionable injuries and circumstances, Hillis is likely to find another home next year, whether it be through a trade or a release.

Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbannaya are the other running backs on the roster and they certainly aren't starting material, especially with Hardesty's history of injuries. And although Ogbonnaya has been a surprise this season, he is not a week-to-week starting running back.

So that leaves the Browns with a giant question mark, as Hillis is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and Mike Holmgren and Co. are probably not going to give him a contract extension. Jackson seems like an ideal fit for the Browns, but it is doubtful that he would go from one consistent losing team to another.

Also, the Browns really don't have the players to give up for Jackson, although they will have two first-round picks for the 2012 NFL Draft, along with multiple other selections from Atlanta because of the Julio Jones trade in last year's draft.

Cincinnati Bengals: A very likely scenario, Jackson would be a great fit in Cincinnati, especially with a young offense that consists of Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. These three players are likely to form a great offense over the next few seasons and a veteran like Steven Jackson could make them contenders in the AFC North that already features the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Prior to the start of this season, running back Cedric Benson signed a one-year, $5 million extension with Cincinnati and is set to become a free agent when the season concludes after the Super Bowl. That leaves a gigantic gap at the running back position with Bernard Scott becoming the only viable option if they do not retain Benson.

Like Cleveland, the Bengals also hold two first-round picks, so it is always likely that they take a running back with one of those selections. However, the team can pull off something like a sign-and-trade deal that would send Benson and one of the first-round selections to St. Louis for Jackson.

If the Bengals were to somehow land Jackson in a trade, it would immediately make them contenders in the AFC with one of the most potent offenses in the conference, maybe the entire league. Cincinnati already has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and with Jackson in the backfield, it is plausible that he could cross the 1,300-yard plateau, along with 10+ touchdowns.

Detroit Lions: The Lions, one of the best up-and-coming teams in the NFL, are bound to make their first playoff appearance since 1999 when Charlie Batch, Johnnie Morton, Germane Crowell and Herman Moore were roaming the field.

With one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, the Lions have been quite a surprise this season with quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. However, the running game has been somewhat of an issue this season, as second-round draft choice Mikel LeShoure suffered a season-ending injury before opening day -- and not to mention, Jahvid Best, who was expected to carry the bulk of the load, also suffered a season-ending injury after the Lions' loss to the 49ers on Oct. 16.

This left the Lions' front office scouring for a running back that could help for the rest of the season, which eventually led to the addition of Kevin Smith, who has been a nice surprise this season. Maurice Morris also helped with the load, but has showed that he is not a week-to-week starter in the NFL.

So with Best's future in Detroit doubtful, it just leaves LeShoure, Smith and Morris at the running back position and none of them seem to be starters for an entire season. So that's where Jackson comes in.

Jackson would be a great fit for the :Lions and would immediately form one of the best offensive attacks in the NFL, along with Stafford, Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew. If they were to acquire the former Oregon State star, the Lions would likely have to make a deal that would include Best, Corey Williams, and perhaps a draft pick or two. This would probably be the best option for Jackson and the Rams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Although it seems like a doubtful scenario, it could still happen nonetheless. Personally, I believe that the Bucs need Jackson to help their running game because their current starter, LeGarrette Blount, is not an every-down back. Blount is a solid player and contributor, but he is not one of those players that should get every single snap -- and not to mention, the Buccaneers should enter their re-building phase next season, as they have been one of the most disappointing teams this season after going 10-6 last year, whilst being on the verge of making the playoffs.

Like the Rams, Tampa Bay has a myriad of needs that they need to fix and it will take time for them to fix them all before they can become a Super Bowl-contending team.

The Buccaneers have a multitude of young players that includes quarterback Josh Freeman, tight end Kellen Winslow and wide receiver Mike Williams, but those three players -- along with Blount -- aren't going to win games by themselves. The team needs help in many different areas and if they were to reach a deal with the Rams, they would likely have to give up Blount, multiple picks and possibly one of their young wide receivers and defensive lineman.

So in other words, it doesn't look too good for Jackson ending up in Florida.

Green Bay Packers: If Jackson somehow ended up in Green Bay, it'd be one of the most unfair turn of events in the NFL. The Packers are currently the best team in the NFL, albeit a mediocre running game, so adding one of the best running backs in the NFL would be amazing for the Packers, easily making them the best team in the league on paper.

With once-reliable running back Ryan Grant set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season expires, the Packers would only be able to list last year's playoff hero James Starks on the depth chart, along with rookies Alex Green and Brandon Saine. So it appears that there would be an opening at the running back position, unless the coaching staff thinks that Starks is an every-down back in the league.

Starks has been a viable option this season, but I don't believe he's a week-to-week starter and would be more suited as the team's third-down back and a receiver out of the backfield. With Grant possibly gone, the Packers should look at adding Jackson, as they have a number of assets to acquire the Pro Bowler.

And they should definitely go for it, as they would have the most potent offense in the NFL.

Other Trade Scenarios:

* St. Louis trades RB Steven Jackson to Carolina for RB DeAngelo Williams and a 2012 3rd-round selection

* St. Louis trades RB Steven Jackson and WR Danny Amendola to the New York Jets for RB Shonn Greene, a 2012 5th-round selection and a 2012 6th-round selection

* St. Louis trades RB Steven Jackson, WR Brandon Gibson and a 2012 5th-round selection to Miami for DE Phillip Merling and a 2012 2nd-round selection

* St. Louis trades RB Steven Jackson, CB Ronald Bartell and a 2012 5th-round selection to Arizona for RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, OT Levi Brown and a 2012 3rd-round selection

Colts Shock Titans, Win First Game Of The Season

By: Tyler Ward

Well, there will be no 0-16 team this season. The Colts, at home at Lucas Oil Stadium, shocked the Tennessee Titans (7-7) with their 27-13 win, which marks their first win of the 2011 campaign.

The last time the Colts won was Jan. 2, when they coincidentally beat the Titans in Indianapolis.

Since losing franchise quarterback Peyton Manning for the season after having neck surgery, the Colts talked former Titan Kerry Collins out of retirement, immediately listing him as the team's starting quarterback. However, Collins struggled and was benched just a few weeks into the season.

Indianapolis then handed the starting reins to Curtis Painter, a former Purdue quarterback, who had held Manning's clipboard since arriving in the NFL. He would openly struggle after head coach Jim Caldwell named him the starter and was benched after horrendous starts against New Orleans, Atlanta and Jacksonville. Painter was benched in favor of Dan Orlovsky  -- who was on the 2008 Lions 0-16 squad -- after their loss against the Carolina Panthers after throwing two key interceptions in the endzone.

Orlovsky, who had never won an NFL game, almost led the Colts to an amazing comeback against the Patriots two weeks ago after throwing for a career-high 353 yards. The Colts would lose the following week to the Ravens after Orlovsky was anything but spectacular.

However, entering Sunday, there was an aura in the air in Indianapolis and many fans felt that Sunday was their best opportunity to win a game this season. And they did, failing to become the second team in NFL history to go 0-16 in a season -- something current Colts linebacker Ernie Sims and Orlovsky were apart of.

The Colts jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on an Adam Vinatieri 47-yard field goal -- the first time they had led a game in the last nine weeks. The lead didn't last long, as Titans kicker Rob Bironas kicked two field goals in the second quarter to give the playoff-hopeful Titans a 6-3 lead at halftime.

Tennessee received the ball to start the second half with the Colts quickly forcing them to punt. Titans rookie Tommie Campbell got called on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play, giving the Colts the ball at the Titans' 43-yard line.

The 0-13 Colts quickly drove down the field in seven plays, scoring on an 18-yard touchdown reception by Reggie Wayne. That gave the winless team a 10-6 advantage and they would not look back.

Matt Hasselbeck would get intercepted by Jacob Lacey a few minutes later, which was returned 32 yards for a touchdown, the second touchdown of Lacey's career. The Colts held a 17-6 lead and it looked like that they would win their first game in almost a year.

On the ensuing kickoff, Titans returner Marc Mariani tried to field the ball, only it didn't work out to his advantage -- the ball seemingly bounced off his foot and went out of bounds at the Titans' 1-yard line. The Colts forced another punt and running back Donald Brown broke off a 39-yard run that eventually set up a 40-yard field goal by Vinatieri, giving the Colts a 20-6 lead with less than thirteen minutes to play.

Later in the quarter, Hasselbeck was benched in favor of rookie Jake Locker, who saw a good amount of playing time against the Saints last week. Locker would drive the Titans down the field, throwing a 7-yard pass to Nate Washington, their only touchdown of the game with less than four minutes to go. They would only be down seven after the touchdown and it looked like the Titans could make a comeback.

However, on the Colts' following possession, Donald Brown would somehow break off an 80-yard touchdown run, when it seemed like he would suffer a multiple-yard loss. This gave the Colts a 27-13 lead that they would not relinquish and the game would finish with that same score.

Although throwing for just 82 yards in the win, Orlovsky led the Colts to their first win in fourteen games, dating back to last season. Brown, perhaps the game's hero, carried the ball 16 times for 161 yards and that key touchdown at the end of the game that put it away for the Colts.

However, the Titans have no one to blame, but themselves. They committed three costly turnovers in the game, including two interceptions by Hasselbeck -- one in the Colts' endzone by Pat Angerer -- and a fumble by tight end Jared Cook.

Former Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck completed 27-for-40 passes for 223 yards and those two costly interceptions. Chris Johnson acted like his 2011 self, running the ball 15 times for 55 yards. He also caught eight passes for 54 yards.

With the loss, it appears the Titans will not make the playoffs this season -- with the loss, the Steelers will officially make the playoffs, giving the AFC just one seed to fill.

If they had won their last three games, it would look like they would make a playoff appearance. But with their slip-up against Indianapolis, they will most likely be watching the 2011 playoffs from home, with the Houston Texans representing the AFC South in the playoffs.

Reports: Orlando Magic Pull Dwight Howard Off Trade Block

By: Tyler Ward

According to multiple sources, the Magic have reportedly pulled All-Star center Dwight Howard off of the trading block and are no longer willing to trade him elsewhere.

The Magic have said that none of the offers that have been on the table, most notably from the Lakers and Nets, have been worth accepting. To avoid more headlines, the team is no longer taking calls for the aforementioned Howard, who has been on the trading block as of late.

Yesterday, Howard made a short list of teams he's willing to play for that included the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets and the defending champions Dallas Mavericks. Now it looks like Howard will remain an integral part of the Magic heading into the upcoming season.

Early Wednesday morning, reports surfaced that the Nets were close to striking a deal for Howard, that included the Blazers and of course, the Magic.

The Nets would have acquired Howard, point guard Chris Duhon and Hedo Turkoglu's hefty contract from the Magic, while Orlando would have received center Brook Lopez and center Johan Petro from New Jersey and forward Gerald Wallace from Portland -- they would have also likely received one or two first-round picks. In exchange for Wallace and for participating in the trade, the Blazers would have acquired an astounding four first-round picks. 

However, the deal died after it was first reported by ESPN.com and it appears that Howard isn't going anywhere, as the Magic are preparing to keep him for the entire 2011-12 season.

General manager Otis Smith was trying to achieve financial flexibility with the deal, as he would have gotten rid of Howard's remaining contract, along with Turkoglu and Duhon, who are both combined to be owed almost $45 million for the next three seasons.

But if the deal had still gone through, the Magic wouldn't have been a cap-friendly team anyway. They recently re-signed Jason Richardson to a four-year, $25 million deal and signed forward Glen Davis, who they just acquired from Boston, to a four-year, $26 million contract. That does not help them moving forward, as they're looking to sign Howard to a long-term extension.

The Nets had recently been looking for a third team to help them acquire Howard -- Golden State had recently attempted to become that third team, in hopes of getting rid of Monta Ellis to provide valuable assets to the Magic.

Orlando had reportedly wanted to get rid of Turkoglu's hefty contract, along with Duhon, who is owed $10.7 million over the next three seasons.

But it looks like for now, the Magic will retain Howard and it is uncertain whether he will be traded anytime soon.

Nuggets Retain Nene On Five-Year, $67 Million Contract

By: Tyler Ward

Perhaps the most sought-out player left on the free agent market, Nene is now off the board and has officially re-signed with the Denver Nuggets on a five-year deal that could be worth more than $67 million.

Nene was courted by teams such as New Jersey, Golden State, Indiana, Houston and possibly a few more, but ultimately decided to stay in Denver, the city he's been in since his NBA career started in 2002. However, it wasn't his intention to ever leave Denver and his suitors knew that, which is likely why they didn't push harder to sign Nene.

According to sources, the contract will pay the forward an average of $13.5 million over the next five seasons -- no team could offer five years, which is possibly why he stayed.

Earlier Tuesday, the Nuggets acquired guard Rudy Fernandez and forward Corey Brewer from Dallas in exchange for a future second-round pick. This trade benefits the Nuggets, as they lost three players to China when the lockout was still in place -- Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin.

They still hope to re-sign Chandler, who is likely to return to the United States in March. There is no doubt that Chandler is one of the marquee free agents still on the board, but no team can sign him, as he is still currently under contract in China.

But yesterday was Nene's day, as he could likely stay in Denver for the rest of his professional career. It was clearly Denver's No. 1 priority to re-sign the big man and they have successfully done that, as they look to make some noise in the playoffs.

Nene's wife is from Denver and he has close ties to the organization and is a favorite among the community.

He has said in the past that he has copious amounts of respect for the team, as they helped him through a serious knee injury just three minutes into their opening night game of the 2005-06 season -- Nene was also diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008 and has since successfully beaten the bout.

Last summer, Nene and his agent, Dan Fegan, turned down an offer from the Nuggets that would have paid him $50 million over four seasons. He would have made a little over $12 million per season, so they should be glad to strike the newest deal, as he is guaranteed almost $2 million more per season, and perhaps more depending on the incentives of the contract.

Nene, born Maybyner Rodney Hilario, was chosen with the seventh overall selection by the New York Knicks in the 2002 NBA Draft -- he was traded by the Knicks on draft day with Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson to Denver for Antonio McDyess, Frank Williams and a 2003 second-round draft pick.

Over his career, Nene has played in 527 games (424 starts), while accumulating averages of 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. His best season perhaps came last season, as he started 75 games and shot a career-best 61.5 percent from the floor -- he also averaged 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game for the Nuggets in his ninth year in the NBA.

NCAA Football: 2011 All-America Teams Announced

By: Tyler Ward

It has been reported Wednesday that the Associated Press has selected their All-America Teams for the 2011 NCAA Football season.

Alabama and LSU dominated the lists -- both teams will play each other next month for the National Championship.

AP All-America First Team:

Quarterback: Robert Griffin III, Baylor (also claimed Heisman Trophy)

Running Backs: Trent Richardson, Alabama; Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Tackles: Barrett Jones, Alabama; Matt Kalil, Southern California

Guards: David DeCastro, Stanford; Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

Center: David Molk, Michigan

Wide Receivers: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State; Robert Woods, Southern California

Tight End: Dwayne Allen, Clemson

All-Purpose Player: Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Kicker: Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

Punter: Brad Wing, LSU

Defensive Ends: Melvin Ingram, South Carolina; Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

Defensive Tackles: Devon Still, Penn State; Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

Linebackers: Dont'a Hightower, Alabama; Luke Kuelchy, Boston College; Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Cornerbacks: Morris Claiborne, LSU; Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Safeties: Mark Barron, Alabama; Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

AP All-America Second Team:

Quarterback: Andrew Luck, Stanford

Running Backs: LaMichael James, Oregon; David Wilson, Virginia Tech

Tackles: Jonathan Martin, Stanford; Nate Potter, Boise State

Guards: Will Blackwell, LSU; Austin Pazstor, Virginia

Center: Peter Konz, Wisconsin

Wide Receivers: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma; Kendall Wright, Baylor

Tight End: Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

All-Purpose Player: Joe Adams, Arkansas

Kicker: Caleb Sturgis, Florida

Punter: Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech

Defensive Ends: Frank Alexander, Oklahoma; Vinny Curry, Marshall

Defensive Tackles: Joe Vellano, Maryland; Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati

Linebackers: Courtney Upshaw, Alabama; Lavonte David, Nebraska; Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Cornerbacks: Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama; David Amerson, North Carolina State

Safeties: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State; Antonio Allen, South Carolina

AP All-America Third Team

Quarterback: Matt Barkley, Southern California

Running Backs: Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State; Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky

Tackles: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State; Cordy Glenn, Georgia

Guards: Ryan Miller, Colorado; Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma

Center: Grant Garner, Oklahoma State

Wide Receivers: Patrick Edwards, Houston; Jordan White, Western Michigan

Tight End: Coby Fleener, Stanford

All-Purpose Player: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Kicker: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

Punter: Shawn Powell, Florida State

Defensive Ends: Sam Montgomery, LSU; Andre Branch, Clemson

Defensive Tackles: John Simon, Ohio State; Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

Linebackers: Tank Carder, TCU; Sammy Brown, Houston; Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Cornerbacks: Nigel Malone, Kansas State; Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State

Safeties: Josh Bush, Wake Forest; George Iloka, Boise State

Orlando's Dwight Howard Narrows His List Down To Four Teams

By: Tyler Ward

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, along with Hornets point guard Chris Paul, have been subject to many trade rumors as of late and it has become apparent that one of both will be traded before the NBA season opens Dec. 25.

There are currently 30 teams in the NBA and Howard doesn't want to go to 26 of them -- he has made a list for the Magic that consists of four teams that he wants to play for.

This list consists of the Orlando Magic, who drafted Howard in 2004 and have made one NBA Finals appearance since then, mainly due to Howard's spectacular play. There is also rapper Jay-Z's New Jersey Nets, last season's champions Dallas Mavericks and of course, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lately, there has been speculation that the Chicago Bulls could also be on Howard's list, as they have a budding superstar in Derrick Rose, who was last season's MVP. There is also Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, who both form one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. The Bulls also have players that could entice the Magic in dealing Howard to the Windy City.

However, this list limits trade possibilities for the Magic, which has said that they won't exclusively deal to a few teams and that they will field offers from the league's 29 other teams. Unfortunately, no team is going to make a blockbuster trade to acquire Howard if he won't sign a lengthy contract extension with whichever team lands him. So, this practically means that it really is just four teams that he'd ideally play for because he won't sign an extension with any of the other 26 teams and would become a free agent after this upcoming season is over.

Alex Martins, the team's new CEO, met with Howard on Monday morning at the Amway Center and after the meeting, Howard apparently had toned down a little about wanting to get out of Orlando as quick as possible.

"I love this city, there is no place I'd rather be but Orlando. I just want to make sure we have the right things here so we can win a championship," Howard said. "I'm all about change. If you're willing to change and you're willing to do what it takes to win, then, you know, you got me."

Martins, who became the CEO last week after the resignation of Bob Vander Weide, has made no secret that he wants Howard to return to Orlando and help the team win their first ever championship.

Last Friday, the Magic gave Howard permission to speak with the teams on his list -- the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers.

The All-Star has seemed to be most frustrated with the fact that he feels the Magic haven't made enough changes to become a championship-caliber team. They did make the NBA Finals a few seasons ago, but haven't been close to going back since that campaign. General Manager Otis Smith has made the team into a perennial playoff team, but hasn't made significant roster changes.

If you look at the past couple of seasons, the teams that have won a championship have had multiple All-Star talents with key role players -- Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum; Boston Celtics with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo; Dallas Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler.

For the Magic, there seems to be just Dwight Howard. He has solid players around him such as Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson, but those three players aren't going to land Orlando their first NBA championship. There needs to be more pieces added to the puzzle and Howard feels that Smith and the rest of the team's personnel have failed to surround him with multiple great players that could succeed in the playoffs.

And I can't blame Howard for being frustrated. When you enter a professional sport, the main thing to do is win a championship; not filling up stats in the record books -- for instance, Dan Marino in the NFL; Marino was one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, but he never won a championship. He put up gaudy numbers for the Dolphins, but was never able to win the big game. If he had won at least one championship, he'd be considered the greatest at his position of all-time.

Howard is undoubtedly the best center in the NBA. There is no doubt about it. But if he wants to go down as one of the all-time great centers, he needs to win a championship. And the Magic have failed to provide him with that opportunity to hoist the trophy above his head.

So now, with Howard threatening to leave, it may just strike that fear into Martins and Smith that they need to acquire a big name or they will never win a championship, as they would have to deal away the best player in the franchise's history. When you look at it, Howard on the Nets with Deron Williams have that opportunity to win a ring. Going down to Dallas with Dirk Nowtizki has that chance. He, Derrick Rose and Co. has a chance to win it, too. And of course, Kobe Bryant, the best center of our generation, and the rest of his Lakers, also. All these teams listed above with Howard make them among the league's best to win a ring.

If the Magic want to be among the league's best, they will give Howard a superstar to team up with, no matter what it costs. And it'd be a wise decision to do so. I can't blame the former No. 1 overall pick for one second. Maybe he can finally win a ring whether it be with Orlando or some other fortunate team.

Video: Cincinnati-Xavier Basketball Brawl (December 10th)

By: Tyler Ward

I'm sure you all have seen the brawl that occurred at the end of the game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the No. 8 ranked Xavier Musketeers.

After the dust had settled, Cincinnati announced that they had suspended senior Yancy Gates, junior Cheikh Mbodj, and freshman Octavius Ellis six games each for their actions in the brawl. Cincinnati freshman Ge'Lawyn Guyn was also suspended one game.

Xavier also announced that they had suspended freshman Dez Wells and walk-on Landen Amos for four games, junior guard Mark Lyons for two, and senior guard Tu Holloway for one game.

So in case you haven't seen it, here it is:

Can The 2010 Tight End Class Become As Prominent As The 1983 Quarterback Class?

By: Tyler Ward

The 2010 NFL Draft class of tight ends could potentially be the best class of that position in NFL history. Even though they are just two years into their professional careers, they are already shaping up to be Pro Bowl caliber players.

Let's take a look at some of the prospects of the 2010 tight end class:

* 1st round, 21st overall: Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
* 2nd round, 42nd overall: Rob Gronkowski, New England
* 3rd round, 70th overall: Ed Dickson, Baltimore
* 3rd round, 93rd overall: Tony Moeaki, Kansas City
* 3rd round, 95th overall: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
* 4th round, 113th overall: Aaron Hernandez, New England
* 4th round, 114th overall: Dennis Pitta, Baltimore
* Undrafted Free Agent: Jake Ballard, New York Giants

This class could go down as one of the best classes of any one skilled position in the league's history, much like the 1983 quarterback class.

That draft class, 28 years ago, is famed because there was so much hype surrounding these players before they were selected in the draft and most of the quarterbacks ended up having solid NFL careers. You may recognize two of the names in that draft class... No. 1 overall pick John Elway and future record-breaker Dan Marino, two of the most prolific players in NFL history. Elway went on to be one of the most clutch players of his time and won two Super Bowls with the Broncos in the late 1990's. Marino went on to become an elite quarterback for the Dolphins, although he never won a Super Bowl. He currently holds many all-time passing records, including the single-season passing yards mark, which is bound to be passed this season by Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees... or all three.

The 1983 draft also featured Jim Kelly, who went on to play in four consecutive Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills, but was never able to win the big game. Tony Eason led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl appearance, but was beaten by Walter Payton's Chicago Bears, 46-10.

Todd Blackledge and Ken O'Brien went on to have solid careers in the NFL, but were never able to live up to the expectations that surrounded them. Although they were extremely serviceable, they are considered busts, when comparing them to other quarterbacks in the class.

That's where last year's class of tight ends comes into play. These tight ends have great potential, even though they have been at the professional level for not even two seasons. They have already showed that they will be in the NFL for a long time, as most of them are key components on their respective teams. With the way some of them are playing right now, there is a very good possibility that we will never see a tight end draft class like this again.

Jermaine Gresham, who played collegiately at Oklahoma, was the first tight end off the board with the 21st overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals. Although his stats aren't flashy, Gresham has proven to be one of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton's favorite targets this season. Forming a trio with Dalton and rookie receiver A.J. Green, Cincinnati could have one of the league's most potent passing attacks if they all develop correctly in the next couple of seasons.

Physically, Gresham is an intriguing and amazing specimen who is practically a wide receiver trapped in a tight end's body. He's one of the biggest at his position with long arms and huge hands. He's too fast for linebackers to cover and too big for cornerbacks to defend, making him a solid prospect that is treacherous throughout games.

Gresham is also a very dangerous threat down field and is able to make terrific catches due to his long arms and great hands. Additionally, Gresham is a great run-blocker and has helped out running back Cedric Benson numerous times throughout the 2011 season.

Given time to develop, he should become a top-five tight end in the NFL if all of the pieces fall the right way. Currently, Gresham has played in eleven games this season, registering 43 receptions for 452 yards and five touchdowns. During his rookie campaign, the former Sooner caught 52 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns.

Conceivably, Gresham has all of the right tools to become a great player and he will have many Hawaii visits in front of him.

Arizona's Rob Gronkowski was the next tight end chosen, as he was tabbed with the 42nd overall selection by the New England Patriots, who were trying to fill their biggest need. And they sure fixed their need and did it quickly with the selection of Gronkowski.

In 2011, the former Arizona Wildcat has become quarterback Tom Brady's favorite target as of late -- even more so than Wes Welker, who has practically been the main option over the last couple of seasons. Gronkowski has shown that he is one of the best at his position after setting the single-season record for touchdowns (15) by a tight end against the Redskins on Sunday -- and there is still three games to play. He also has the second-most touchdowns (25) through his first two seasons in NFL history -- only Randy Moss in 1998-99 has more (28) through his first two seasons.

Often, Gronkowski has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten, who is currently one of Tony Romo's main targets with the Dallas Cowboys. He has shown that he could perhaps be better than Witten, who has been one of the top tight ends since he was drafted by Jerry Jones and Co.

Gronkowski is perhaps the best tight end in the league when it comes to yards after the catch, as he always seems to get a good bulk of yards once he catches the ball, something most defenses dread.

Like Gresham, Gronkowski is a better-than-average run-blocker who consistently shows good balance and strength to absorb hits from defensive linemen and linebackers. He is one of the best blocking tight ends when the Patriots actually run the ball with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

The future great also has some of the best hands in the NFL and that is scary when you are already in an offense that consists of Welker and Tom Brady as your quarterback. Gronkowski has feasibly been the best tight end in the NFL this season and it looks like he'll continue down that path for years to come with many Pro Bowls in his future.

Watch out opposing defenses, Gronkowski will be a force once he reaches his full potential. Through not even two seasons, he has registered 113 receptions for 1,634 yards and 25 touchdowns.

With the 70th overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens chose Ed Dickson, who played collegiately at Oregon and was widely considered to be the best tight end in college football in 2009. He is currently the starter on an offense that usually revolves around running back Ray Rice, but he is still able to contribute to a team that likes to use tight ends during games.

Although quarterback Joe Flacco is still developing, Dickson has become one of Baltimore's security blankets when it comes to the passing game. He usually thrives in short-yardage situations, as shown by his stats -- 48 receptions, 458 yards, three touchdowns.

Dickson is not an explosive runner by any means, but he is still able to outrun players in the second level. Dickson is also able to get off of the line quickly, which mainly helps in short-yardage situations. Although his stats aren't great, he has shown to be one of Flacco's most consistent targets even though he is just in his second year.

The ex-Oregon Duck also has great hands and is able to make tough catches, especially in traffic. With his size and athleticism, Dickson is also a red-zone threat, primarily due to his extraordinary leaping ability. His touchdowns don't show it, but he is a beast in the end-zone, as he is able to either catch touchdowns or draw interest from other defenders.

Dickson will be a solid tight end in the future, once he fully develops. He may not be a perennial Pro Bowl nominee, but he will still flourish in his own way and could become Flacco's main receiving target.

The second tight end chosen in the third round, Tony Moeaki, was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 93rd overall selection. He is currently on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but should be able to return healthy by the start of the 2012 season.

Although he has a history of injuries that has stunted his development, Moeaki still has the potential and upside to become a solid tight end in the NFL if he could remain healthy. While at Iowa, he missed time almost every single year he attended -- dislocated elbow in 2007 (missed majority of season), broken wrist in 2008 (missed spring practice), broken foot, pulled hamstring and concussion in 2008 (missed significant time in regular season) and missed time in 2009 due to an ankle injury.

Despite the injury concerns, the Chiefs still believe that Moeaki can become a serviceable tight end for the Chiefs and I'm inclined to agree with them. He has great potential simply because of his size and build. He has the ability to use his size as a mechanism for blocking techniques. With that, he is a superb run-blocker that is able to hold blocks and get off the line quickly.

If he can remain healthy, he could become a great weapon in the Chiefs' offense.

Last season, the former Hawkeye caught 47 passes for 556 yards and three touchdowns and likely would have increased those numbers if he didn't tear his ACL prior to the start of the regular season.

Perhaps the most surprising player this season was chosen with the 95th overall selection last year -- and his name is Jimmy Graham, who chose to play football over basketball after he was told that he really didn't have a future in basketball or NBA.

A former basketball player who rarely did anything on the court, Graham only played one season of football at the University of Miami. But with his sensational leaping abilities in basketball, he became an intriguing NFL prospect and thus, was selected in the third round of last year's draft to the NFL's most explosive offense.

Standing at 6'7", Graham is able to tower over most, if not all, players on opposing defenses. He has exceptional strength and height, which makes him a down field threat in the Saints' offense. Graham is also perhaps the most dangerous tight end on goal-line and red-zone situations as quarterback Drew Brees just has to lob it up and Graham will come down with it practically every single time. He could eventually be known as the most dangerous tight end in the entire league.

Thought of as a reach in the third round, Graham has proved all of his doubters wrong, as he has become a fan favorite in New Orleans. He flourishes in Sean Payton's system and has proved that he is a humongous threat with 80 receptions for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns. With the season he's having, Graham has become the first tight end in Saints history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau.

At the combine before the 2010 draft, Graham showed impeccable speed for a player for his size (4.56 in 40-yard dash) and astounding athleticism (10-foot broad jump and 38.5 vertical jump). With those components, Graham is virtually unstoppable, as he is faster than linebackers and taller than cornerbacks. Graham has struck fear in opposing defenders this season, as he is perhaps the biggest and most genuine threat in the vertical passing game.

This season, he has already shown that he is one of the best up-and-coming tight ends in the league and he hasn't even reached his full potential yet -- defenses should start quivering now.

With the 113th selection in the draft, the Patriots chose their second tight end of the draft, choosing former Florida Gator, Aaron Hernandez.

Hernandez is usually on the field for most snaps, as the Patriots primarily run a two-tight end set that features Hernandez and fellow 2010 draftee Rob Gronkowski. Although his stats pale in comparison to those of Gronkowski's, Hernandez is still a formidable tight end that is considered to be one of the top up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL.

He was one of the most successful players at Florida and was a key part on their two championship teams. He blossomed into Tim Tebow's favorite target and his stats at Gainesville were exceptional, as he graduated as one of the most decorative tight ends in the school's history. Former head coach Urban Meyer had some kind words for him, stating "Aaron was one of the very best at his position I have ever been around. He has all the tools to be successful at the next level."

Primarily known for his pass-catching abilities than his blocking techniques, Hernandez is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. He knows how to get open and has great hands, which he uses excessively in the Patriots' offense.

Tom Brady likes to use the former Gator in red-zone situations, as evident by his stats. He has caught 59 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns this season, while only playing in eleven games. Last season, he registered 45 receptions for 563 yards and six touchdowns, while starting in just seven games.

He also has good speed for a tight end (4.6 in the 40-yard dash) and is a considerable threat down field. With a two-tight end set the Patriots use, Hernandez will be able to get better and better.

The Ravens also chose their second tight end of the draft with the following selection, as they picked Brigham Young's Dennis Pitta with the 114th overall selection. His stats may not be as promising as the others in this class, but he still has the ability to become a solid tight end in the NFL.

The 6'5" Pitta is an extremely reliable receiving tight end, as he catches incredibly well and rarely drops passes. Pitta can also make spectacular catches, especially when it's over his shoulders. He is very acrobatic for a player of his stature, even though he lacks speed and explosiveness.

With Baltimore, he has been primarily used as a blocking tight end, usually lining up as a fullback or on the offensive line where tight ends normally are placed. His stats aren't great, as he has just 31 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns this season. However, Pitta definitely has the potential to become a top-15 tight end in the league.

The last player in this class wasn't even chosen in the first seven rounds and was forced to become an undrafted free agent. A former Ohio State Buckeye, Jake Ballard took over the starting reins after Kevin Boss tested the free agent market and left for the Oakland Raiders.

Not many people expected Ballard to play this well prior to the 2011 season, but he has become one of Eli Manning's primary targets over the course of the season.

With his 6'5" stature, Ballard has developed into a valuable starting tight end. He has great size, while weighing in at 250 pounds, which makes him a solid run-blocker for the Giants, as well. Ballard is also a good pass-catcher and has been a threat in the vertical game for a majority of the season. He has also become one of Manning's favorite down field receivers, as he has registered a good amount of receptions that totaled over twenty yards.

It looks as though Ballard will retain the starting role and become the next Kevin Boss for the Giants, maybe even better. He turned out to be quite a steal for New York, as he has caught 37 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns this season. His 15.9 yards per catch rank among the top for starting tight ends in the NFL.

This class has also featured role players such as Seattle's Anthony McCoy, St. Louis' Michael Hoomanawanui, Green Bay's Andrew Quarless, Indianapolis' Brody Eldridge, Atlanta's Michael Palmer, New York Jets' Jeff Cumberland, and Arizona's Jim Dray.

Clearly, this class of tight ends has great upside and could possibly become one of the most elite classes in NFL history. All the players listed above have played significantly through their first two seasons and most will likely keep it that way for many more seasons.

Fifteen years from now, we will look back on this class and be amazed at how great it was. Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski are already top-five tight ends, while Jermaine Gresham, Ed Dickson, Tony Moeaki, Jake Ballard and Aaron Hernandez are already knocking on the door of the top-ten tight ends list.

This class will be just as famed as the 1983 quarterback class: Write it down.

Report: Dolphins Sever Ties With Head Coach Tony Sparano

By: Tyler Ward

In a not-so surprising move Monday, reports have surfaced that the Miami Dolphins have fired head coach Tony Sparano. This is the second firing of the day, as the Chiefs let go Todd Haley earlier this morning.

Over the weekend, reports said that the Dolphins intended on cutting ties with Sparano at the end of the season. But with their loss to the lowly Eagles on Sunday, the Dolphins' front office apparently didn't want to wait that long, firing him on Monday afternoon.

Defensive Backs coach Todd Bowles has been named the team's interim head coach for their remaining three games against Buffalo, New England, and the New York Jets.

Sparano was hired by the Dolphins in January 2008 and immediately had success after the Dolphins were 1-15 the previous season. In his first year with the Dolphins, he led the team to an 11-5 record, one of the biggest surprises in the league.

However, Sparano has been considered to be one of the most inconsistent head coaches in the NFL.

The Dolphins finished 7-9 in 2009 -- Chad Henne's first season as the team's starting quarterback. Henne started thirteen games that season and had been drafted by the Dolphins in the second round (57th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft.

He was pegged by the Dolphins to be the team's franchise quarterback, but he has been far from that. Henne has struggled since his arrival in Miami, but Sparano never gave up on him, as it could have led to his demise. Henne's inconsistency caused the Dolphins to struggle offensively, as they weren't scoring enough points and the defense was giving up too many points.

The former Wolverine finished his sophomore campaign with a 60.8 completion percentage, throwing for 2,878 yards, twelve touchdowns and fourteen interceptions.

Miami finished 7-9 yet again the following season, with the Henne Experiment still going on with Sparano at the helm.

Henne seemed to regress in 2010, throwing for 3,301 yards and fourteen touchdowns, along with nineteen interceptions.

Sparano still thought that he their next franchise quarterback and stuck with him through training camp and listed him as the team's starting quarterback for the 2011 season. Henne started off the season slow and the Dolphins started off 0-3.

During the Dolphins' loss to the Chargers in Week 4, Henne left the game with a shoulder injury and was eventually placed on injured reserve after having shoulder surgery. The Dolphins were then forced to start Matt Moore, who played with the Panthers the previous season.

Moore led the Dolphins to three more defeats, as the 'Fins started off the 2011 campaign with an 0-7 record. After their seventh loss, it was predicted that Sparano would be let go sometime in the near future, as his job was definitely in jeopardy. His job remained safe over the following few weeks, as his team somehow rallied off three straight wins against Kansas City, Washington and Buffalo.

Although the three wins were questionable, Sparano still remained safe. Miami would then go on to lose a close game against Dallas on Thanksgiving Day and the rumors were back on. The Dolphins blew out Oakland last weekend and at one point in the game, were up 34-0. However, it wasn't good enough for the Dolphins' brass, as rumors surfaced yet again that there was no way Sparano would be back for the 2012 season -- it just depended on when he would be let go.

After their 26-10 loss to Andy Reid's Eagles, he was fired after leading the Dolphins to a 4-9 record in 2011.

Miami could potentially become a hot spot this offseason for head coaches, especially if the Dolphins get a high selection in the draft and select a quarterback such as Baylor's Robert Griffin III, USC's Matt Barkley, or Oklahoma's Landry Jones. Henne's career in South Beach seems to be done and it is time for the Dolphins to move on after the former Michigan star led them to a 13-18 record over his time with the 'Fins.

Rumors have linked former coaches such as Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher to Miami, but nothing has happened thus far and it really doesn't look like it. There are also other coaches that have been rumored to be on the hot seat throughout the season such as Philly's Andy Reid, Indianapolis' Jim Caldwell, Tampa Bay's Raheem Morris, Dallas' Jason Garrett and New York's Tom Coughlin. Dallas' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has also been thought to be a head coach next season if he decides to leave Texas. Jack Del Rio and Todd Haley are also available after being fired this season.

The Dolphins are likely to pursue a big name after the season is over and we'll see what happens in the near future.

Report: Chris Paul To Clippers Deal Falls Through

By: Tyler Ward

Chris Paul just can't seem to catch a break. He cannot end up in Los Angeles, whether it be with the Lakers or the Clippers.

Sources close to the deal say that the league-owned Hornets were shot down by the Clippers, after it appeared that the Hornets were wanting too much for their All-Star point guard, who is arguably the best player at his position.

New Orleans was apparently asking the Clippers for Minnesota's unprotected first-round pick, point guard Eric Bledsoe, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and shooting guard Eric Gordon, one of the best up-and-coming players in the NBA, for Paul.

The Clippers thought of the deal to be "too steep", even after Paul told the Clippers that he would accept the option for the 2012-12 season, meaning that he would be with the team for at least two years before entering free agency, if he chose to do so.

Paul has recently expressed interest in playing with former No. 1 overall pick Blake Griffin, who is widely considered to be one of the most prolific players in the NBA.

It was not immediately known if the Hornets and Clippers would still continue to try and make a deal, especially after the Lakers backed out almost a week ago of a possible re-submitted trade.

Last Thursday, commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers in exchange for Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The Hornets, in turn, would have sent Gasol to the Rockets for shooting guard Kevin Martin, power forward Luis Scola, point guard Goran Dragic and an unprotected first-round pick that the Rockets acquired from the Knicks.

The Hornets are currently owned by the league, after former owner David Shinn sold the team for an estimated $300 million in December 2010.

New Orleans is very persistent in trying to unload Paul, as they do not want to go through the same thing the Nuggets did last season when Carmelo Anthony wanted out. Denver ultimately dealt Anthony to the Knicks in the middle of the season, after the "saga" dragged on for quite a while. The Hornets are trying to avoid that and deal the point guard before the season begins on Christmas Day.

Orlando is also trying to do the same thing with Dwight Howard, one of the best players currently in the NBA. Although they have not officially come to a deal with any team, Howard has expressed his interest in leaving the team that he was drafted by in 2004. Rumors have circulated that Howard wants to go to the Nets and has requested a trade to the future Brooklyn-bound team. He has also been interested in playing with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and it appears the Lakers could pursue him heavily, that being the reason they backed out of negotiations with the Hornets after Stern vetoed the deal.

It is very likely however, that neither Dwight Howard or Chris Paul will play a full season with their current team and both should be dealt before the trade deadline. Two questions remains for both of them: Where will they go and what will their current teams get for them?

Only time will tell.

Kansas City Chiefs Part Ways With Head Coach Todd Haley

By: Tyler Ward

It was announced Monday that the Chiefs have relieved head coach Todd Haley of his duties with three games left in the 2011 season. Haley led the Chiefs to a division title last season, but it wasn't enough to retain his job after a rather disappointing season thus far, mainly due to season-ending injuries to quarterback Matt Cassel, running back Jamaal Charles, tight end Tony Moeaki and safety Eric Berry.

Following the Chiefs' 37-10 loss to the New York Jets, the Chiefs dropped to a 5-8 record behind back-up quarterback Tyler Palko, who has progressively gotten worse and worse since Cassel was placed on injured reserve. In their 27-point loss, the Chiefs committed 11 penalties for 128 yards, including a 15-yard penalty on Haley for unsportsmanlike conduct.

With his departure, Haley becomes just the second Chiefs head coach to lose his job during the season (Paul Wiggins in 1977 was the other one). He is also the second head coach to be fired this season, as the Jaguars fired Jack Del Rio last month.

Romeo Crennel, once the Browns' head coach, has been named the interim leading man with Haley's departure. He will coach the Chiefs for their remaining three games of the season when they take on the undefeated Packers at home and then play the Raiders at home and go to Denver to face Tim Tebow and Co. for their last game of the regular season. Judging by the schedule, it looks like the Chiefs could finish with a 5-11 record.

Haley's job has been in question since training camp and he seemed to save it when the Chiefs won four in a row after dropping their first three games of the season. The Chiefs then lost games to the Dolphins and Raiders and Cassel went down with a season-ending injury and it has been downhill since then.

Since Palko took over the starting reins in Week 11, they have lost three of four, including a near-upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks ago. The Chiefs have also scored just two touchdowns since Palko took over as the team's starting quarterback.

Haley ultimately decided to work on conditioning during training camp, in hopes of cutting down the number of injuries. But somehow, it increased with losses to linebacker Brandon Siler in training camp and Moeaki in the Chiefs' preseason finale.

Eric Berry went down with a torn ACL in Week 1 against the Bills and the following week, Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles went down with a torn ligament in his left knee against Detroit. The losses piled up due to injuries and Haley's job was in question yet again.

And that led to his release on Monday.

Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement, "This was a difficult decision but one that we feel is best for the future of the Chiefs. Although there have been bright spots at different points this season, we have not made meaningful progress."

"We felt that it was necessary to make a change," Hunt said. "We appreciate Todd's contributions during his time with the club, and we wish him well in the future."

There is also a good chance that Haley's departure has to do with his friction with general manager Scott Pioli. It was no secret that the two did not like each other and one was eventually going to be fired and it turned out to be Haley, who really had no chance at coming back when the team lost Cassel.

Pioli has stated that he wants his team to be consistent and the Chiefs have been anything, but that this season. They started off the season by losing their first three games and then won their next four games. They would then proceed to lose four-in-a-row, followed by a win and another loss, thus leading to their 5-8 record.

"We believe change is important at this time," Pioli said on Monday, following the news of Haley's firing.

Haley leaves the Chiefs, the first NFL team he has ever coached, with a 19-27 record. The Chiefs are currently in turmoil, as they have regressed all season and it doesn't look like they have improved whatsoever.

Cassel hasn't seemed like the quarterback they were hoping for, while three offensive lineman are not likely to come back to Kansas City next season. Charles is still recovering from injury and may not put up the same numbers next season, as he did in 2010. Their receiving corps is good on paper, but unproven -- Bowe is the leading receiver and has been the most consistent player on the team. Breaston hasn't lived up to expectations and really isn't a No. 2 option, while Jonathan Baldwin is a rookie and hasn't put up gaudy numbers that Chiefs expected.

Haley was thought to be an offensive genius, but the Chiefs have struggled this season on that side of the ball -- they average 293.8 yards per game, which currently ranks 28th in the NFL. Their aerial attack also ranks 30th out of 32 teams and likely could be at the bottom at the end of the season if Palko remains their quarterback.

Haley was the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals when they reached the Super Bowl in 2008 and also had previous stints in Dallas, Chicago, and New York.

He is still likely to become a head coach elsewhere, as there could potentially be more teams letting go of their head coaches at season's end.

New Form Of Drafting: Can Basketball Players Continually Make It As Tight Ends?

By: Tyler Ward

As of late, there has been a "new" form of recruiting in the NFL. And it consists of teams grabbing up and drafting former college basketball players and placing them as tight ends on NFL squads.

Currently, three of the best tight ends in the NFL were once college basketball players -- San Diego's Antonio Gates, Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham.

Gates, a former basketball standout at Kent State, went undrafted in 2003 and was eventually picked up by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He somehow latched onto the Chargers and never let go. He debuted with San Diego that very year, starting eleven games and catching 24 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns in his inaugural season.

Over the next four seasons, Gates eclipsed the 900-yard season mark in each of those campaigns. Combined, Gates registered 316 receptions for 3,973 yards and 41 touchdowns in that span. Included in that magnificent stretch was a 13-touchdown season in 2004, which was the highest season touchdown total, along with Vernon Davis in 2009, for a tight end until New England's Rob Gronkowski broke the record against Washington on Sunday.

In 2008, Gates tallied just 60 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns, the lowest totals across the board since coming into the NFL. However, the following season, Gates caught 79 passes for 1,157 yards (a career-high) and eight touchdowns. In 2010, the former basketball player had his third career ten-touchdown season as he caught 50 receptions for 782 yards and ten touchdowns.

Although he has played a lesser role in San Diego's offense this season, he has still caught 53 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns. He also missed a couple of games earlier in the season due to injury.

Since Gates was picked up by San Diego, they have consistently had one of the league's top offenses. Pairing up with Philip Rivers made Gates an easy target for the young quarterback and has perhaps helped him succeed since arriving in California in 2004.

Although injuries have recently sidelined him somewhat, Gates has still been one of the most dangerous tight ends in NFL history.

Gates' career stats are also better than any tight end that is currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- yes, even better than John Mackey, Mike Ditka, Ozzie Newsome and Kellen Winslow. These stats currently rank second all-time only to the next man, who also once played basketball.

Tony Gonzalez, perhaps the player that started this phenomenon, was a first-round pick (13th overall) by Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. Playing collegiately at California, Gonzalez was never thought to become the player that he currently is.

While at California, Gonzalez played both football and basketball and was eventually forced to choose between the two. With his basketball career questionable, Gonzalez ultimately decided to choose football and he forfeited his final year of eligibility to go pro in football.

And apparently, he made the right decision.

A bonafide future Hall-of-Famer, Gonzalez is the all-time leader in receptions (1,142), receiving yards (13,275) and touchdowns (95) for a tight end, which clearly makes him the best tight end in NFL history. He has also made the Pro Bowl an astounding eleven times, currently the most for any tight end in the league's existence.

Over his first two seasons, Gonzalez started 16 total games, while catching 92 passes for 989 yards and four touchdowns. During his third year in the NFL, the former California standout would flourish.

He started 15 games for the Chiefs in 1999 and registered 76 receptions for 849 yards and eleven touchdowns, successfully earning his first or many Pro Bowl appearances. From 2000-06, Gonzalez had a remarkable stretch, as he accumulated 553 receptions for 6,872 yards and 46 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl berths in each of those seasons.

Included in that stretch was a 102-reception campaign in 2004, a single-season record for catches among tight ends. The record still stands and it will be a tough record to break.

From 2007-08, Gonzalez had perhaps two of the best seasons of his career, as he caught 99 and 96 passes, respectively. He posted back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons (1,172 and 1,058) and totaled 15 touchdowns over those two campaigns.

The Chiefs sent Gonzalez to Atlanta prior to the 2009 season and he has still been able to put up good numbers. He has caught at least 70 passes in those three seasons and has also registered at least 650 yards and six touchdowns.

Gonzalez is arguably the best tight end in NFL history and it may not have gone that way if he chose basketball over football while attending California. But he made the right decision and chose the pigskin and has been the best tight end over the last decade. He is likely to go down in the history books as one of the best at his respective position.

The newest member to join this group, Jimmy Graham, played collegiately at the University of Miami and only played one year of football before being picked in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. While playing basketball, he was not tabbed as a player that would have an NBA future, so he decided to go the football route.

Although he had rarely played football, he was immediately noted as one of the top tight end prospects in the 2010 draft. And once the draft rolled around, Graham was selected with the 95th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints.

He started five games for the Saints as a rookie last season and accumulated 31 receptions for 356 yards and five touchdowns.

Entering the 2011 season, Graham was expected to be the starter and become one of Drew Brees' favorite targets. And he has become that.

Now twelve games through the season, Graham has looked like Brees' main target, as he has caught 80 passes for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns. He is currently leading the Saints in all three categories, as he has developed into one of the best up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL.

With his 1,000-yard season, he has become the first Saints tight end ever to reach that plateau and it looks like he could go over that mark over and over again.

Standing at 6'7", Graham is a freakish athlete that also has a great pair of hands, as he is one of the best receiving tight ends in the game right now. He also has extraordinary leaping abilities, which makes him a great vertical threat, especially with his stature. Graham is also one of the scariest players on short-yard and goal-line situations, as he practically towers over every opposing linebacker and cornerback.

Clearly, Graham will flourish in the next few seasons, as he hasn't even reached his full potential. He also has Drew Brees as his quarterback, who is one of the best at his position with majority thanks going to Sean Payton, the team's head coach and offensive mastermind. With the stats he's providing, it also looks like he'll surpass Antonio Gates as the league's best tight end and Tony Gonzalez before him.

So, all of this brings me to the point I've been trying to make: Basketball players seem to make exceptional tight ends in the NFL. Basketball players are already very athletic -- and they also seem to have a great height and weight advantage over most defensive players. They are also much faster than linebackers, so they are able to run directly past them and into the third level of defenses. And when they get to that third level, they are able to reach over most cornerbacks and safeties.

When you look at it, these basketball-turned-football athletes are virtually unstoppable most of the time.

As of right now, it seems like a great idea to use a mid-to-late round selection on a former basketball player in hopes that they turn into the next Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez or Jimmy Graham. These players have paved the way for future athletes that have never thought of playing professional football

The height and freaky athleticism that these players possess makes them diamonds in the rough, and it seems like they will succeed, if they are given the chance to perform. Once you look at the statistics, these basketball-turned-football athletes are three-for-three when it comes to success. No players that have been continually used or placed in a starting role have been mediocre -- they've been spectacular.

So, it appears to be worth it to use a mid-round selection on a developmental player that could potentially make it as a tight end in the NFL. In the future, you will see more teams go this route in hopes of finding the next diamond in the rough.