A Weight on Carmelo's Shoulders

(photo courtesy of ballnout.wordpress.com)

Carmelo Anthony recently played the game of his life in this year’s summer Olympics. The New York Knicks' star forward scored a record breaking 37 points (on 10 for 12 from beyond the arc) in Team USA’s trouncing of Nigera. The only member of the 2003 draft class’ big 4 to not have a championship, Carmelo will now be depended on more than ever to lead his Knicks to a title. Many adjustments have to be made with the New York squad. Signing Jason Kidd and Ronnie Brewer have, thus far, been the biggest moves they've made, but championships aren't won with transactions alone. They must learn to work better as a team and mature on both ends of the court. A title is still a long ways away, but the route to that title must be led by Anthony.


-Raindrops

*Manning's Denver Decision Could Kill Tebow Mania

Peyton Manning vs. Tim Tebow: When one soap opera meets another. 

(photo courtesy of businessinsider.com via Getty Images)

The most talked about free agent sweepstakes in the history of professional football seems to have a winner. The same city that lived the legend of Tebow mania will swiftly turn the page this off-season and usher in another new era. There’s this guy, he goes by the name of Peyton Manning, I hear he can play a little bit of football, and it looks like he’s just jacked Tim Tebow for his job in Denver.  

When it became evident that Peyton's career-long tenure in Indianapolis was over, the media instantly flooded our brain space with speculation about where Peyton would wind up. He had meetings in Arizona and Miami, with local cameramen covering every angle. He also met officials in Tennessee where he played college ball, and San Francisco where they were bringing in all the attractive supporting cast membersthey could to lure the four-time league MVP. Ultimately it was John Elway’s Broncos that won out, according to reports close to the negotiations. 

(photo courtesy of nflpassers.com)

Obviously any team in the league would be happy to have a guy of Peyton Manning's calibre on board. What makes this signing curious is the fact that the Broncos already have arguably the most popular player in football taking snaps for them. The debate about Tim Tebow's legitimacy as a starting NFL quarterback has raged since the day he was drafted, and on this issue it seems like even his biggest supporters have their doubts. Elway and the Broncos are now reportedly exploring trade scenarios for Tebow, basically throwing in the towel on what was a shaky, but exciting and compelling team dynamic.

Manning presents a massive opportunity for the Broncos to take a strong step towards contention. The potential for high rewards isn't debatable, however this deal is probably a higher risk than most people care to say. Manning is 36 years old and coming off of the first major injury of his career, an injury that had critics questioning whether or not he would ever play football again. Tebow is far from a safe bet, but to ship out a young star, regardless if that stardom is duly warranted, for a rapidly aging one could be their undoing. Manning can't have that much football left in him, and skills have a tendency to decline in the latter years of a player's career.

Tebow won't be going to Miami, where he played in college and is a living football deity, as reports have David Garrard now signing there. There is speculation linking him to Jacksonville however, another Florida-based franchise in which he could thrive and grow into a quarterback more befitting of his status. That could be a major pie in the face of the Broncos in about 2-3 years time when Peyton is retired comfortably and Jacksonville is entrenched in renewed Tebow mania. 

(photo courtesy of inquisitr.com)

 There is no real correct stance to take on this if you’re John Elway. There couldn’t have been many teams out there that weren’t interested, on one level or another, in Peyton Manning. He’s a surefire first-ballot hall of fame quarterback. It’s just not that often that we see general managers in any sport moving out youth in favor of age. It goes against typical team-building mantras.

There is one scenario in which this becomes a grand slam (winning the Manning sweepstakes is already a home run): If the Broncos can convince Tim Tebow to stay on board as a backup. Tebow is an athletic specimen whose career has been plagued with criticisms about his throwing arm and play-reading abilities. Peyton Manning is in many respects the anti-Tebow; a true quarterback’s quarterback who thrives on his instincts and mastery of the intangibles of the game. Could there ever be a more perfect mentor? If there was a quarterback in the world that could help Tebow become the dominant force he was in college, wouldn't it be Peyton Manning? 

Alas, football is also a game of egos, and even a humble man of god like Tim Tebow is probably feeling a bit slighted by the signing. If Tebow can turn the other cheek however, he and Manning could prove to a be a formidable 1-2 punch behind centre, and that might be the only scenario that sees Tim Tebow become the star that the American public wants him to be.

Blue Jackets Setting the Bar for Bad

(photo courtesy bleacherreport.com)

The Blue Jackets are finished in Columbus, even if they don't know it yet. This team is not only dead last in the NHL standings by a country mile, but have a fractured management system from the top down. Perennial lottery picks that fail to pan out from poor drafting, misinformed free agent signings, and only one playoff appearance in their history. Not even Ken Hitchcock could save them, and he now has St. Louis in first place. The guy can coach. Compounding matters, their coveted first overall pick-to-be, Nail Yakupov, now has scrambled eggs in his skull. They've had bad luck, but the problem boils down to consistently atrocious mismanagement. With little fan interest, their franchise player begging to leave, and no discernible sign of hope on the horizon, I doubt they'll still be in Columbus within five years.
           (Columbus Captain Rick Nash addresses trade rumours)

Williams Wills Bills Into Respectibility

(photo courtesy of buffalonews.com)

                    

You can now call Mario Williams simply "Mario Bills" if you're not into the whole brevity thing. You can also call him rich to the tune of $96M, $50M of which guaranteed. For a team with one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last season, this could be well worth it. The Bills had only 29 sacks last season, Williams averages over 8.5 sacks a year, his career best being 14. That new threat will force offenses to adjust, opening things up for players like Marcell Dareus. This guy will have a ripple effect on Buffalo's entire defensive presence. Buffalo pulled out all the stops, and landed a top free agent, one that addresses a major need. This sends a strong message to fans and free agents alike: Buffalo means business, so pay attention.

Cowboy Kyle Orton is a Good Fit

(Photo courtesy of mysanantonio.com)

Kyle Orton is not Jon Kitna, and while that’s enough for many Cowboys fans, this is not an insignificant move. Tony Romo puts up some of the best regular season stats in the NFL, but he’s also had his share of injury trouble. Romo’s absence from the lineup has had a severe effect on the Cowboys’ record in recent years. With the departure of Laurent Robinson and Martellus Bennett, the Cowboys need some responsible ball management should Romo be out. Orton’s career passer rating of 79.4 (only two points better than Kitna’s) doesn’t exactly scream “responsibility”, but Orton is younger, and still has the goods to start on some NFL teams. Free agency still leaves alot to be determined, but as of right now “America’s Team” has shored up a position that’s been dogging them for a long time.