Slow down, Jim Irsay: Colts offensive line isn’t ‘fixed’ just yet, says former O-line coach

The Colts offensive line might not be as fixed as franchise owner Jim Irsay recently proclaimed.

But the person who Irsay cited in making such a statement believes it isn’t far away from happening.
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They cancelled a workout on us when we flew out to Sacramento, and they just decided to cancel it as we flew, Ainge said. So there was something that he didn’t want to play for the Celtics. In spite of that, we’ve watched Josh for two years and we’re fans. He’s a terrific kid and a good player. So we tried not to overreact to those kinds of things and make a big deal of it.
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Ainge was also quick to say the cancelled workout didn’t keep the Celtics from drafting Jackson but he certainly was mad about the situation the former Jayhawk put him and his fellow personnel in.

No. No. no. Well, there were thoughts, yeah, I was mad, Ainge said. We flew cross-country. Are you kidding me? I had to get up at 4 o’clock and fly back home.

The GM was specifically upset because Jackson forced them to fly to Sacramento and just chill out for a night. And considering the fact Ainge played in Sacramento, he knew that was a waste of time.

There’s nothing to do in Sacramento, he joked. After the laughter died down in the press room he went on. That could get me in trouble there.

The same can be said of the latest addition to the Saints’ backfield — running back Adrian Peterson. Even with his NFL experience, Strief admits he has gotten awe-struck by some of the plays Peterson has made in offseason practice.

I think the general perception of Adrian throughout our building is that he is still a total freak show, Strief said. You hear (outside) people’s perception of him, obviously coming off a knee injury and being later in a career for a running back, that maybe he’s not going to look or be a certain way. He sure still passes the eye-ball test.

Lebron James and Tristan Thompson give Cleveland a distinct size advantage.

He’s an effective rebounder for the position, and he’s capable of playing off-the-ball on offense. In spot-up situations, Fultz, hit shots at a 52.1 effective field goal percentage clip, an above-average level. He also has something of a burgeoning post-up game for a weapon against smaller defenders, is a smart distributor in transition and doesn’t turn the ball over a ton for what is his astronomical usage rate (a 13.4 turnover rate).

Overall, Fultz is the best offensive prospect in the draft and the most complete offensive guard to enter the league in at least the last five years.

Bruce Ellington Elite Jersey On paper, Golden State looks like a team that should dominate for a decade. And on NBA 2K17, the Warriors are basically unbeatable.
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But if Golden State loses the finals, it’ll be because it gets outrebounded, overpowered and bullied out of a title.

Playoff basketball tends to be more physical compared to the regular season, and Lebron James and Tristan Thompson give Cleveland a distinct size advantage.

Adding Durant gave the Warriors more of what they were already the best in the league at — shooting.

Golden State is a finesse team, and considering Klay Thompson’s recent playoff struggles, he could be the odd man out if the Warriors lose.

Thompson is averaging less than 15 points per game in the playoffs on 39 percent shooting and only 36 percent from three, compared to his regular season averages of 22.3 points per game on nearly 47 percent shooting.

In life, let’s say you own an iPhone, a MacBook and an iPad. Should your next Apple purchase be a Mac desktop computer or Apple Care to protect your three products? Probably Apple Care. In the Warriors’ case, Durant is the desktop computer. Golden State simply added more of what it already had.

Shipping Thompson for some size (or Apple Care) is something the Warriors will consider if they lose to Cleveland.

NBA Finals: Draymond Green already in foul trouble in Game 4

The Spurs have one of the best developmental cultures in the league, and have a need in the frontcourt and in terms of athleticism. I’m taking the highest upside big I can find. Anigbogu probably doesn’t fall this far on draft night for that reason — upside — but the Spurs would be happy to get a chance to work on his game and create a quick replacement for Dewayne Dedmon.

Jeanne has the same agent as Rudy Gobert, and the team will certainly have its eye on him. Jeanne would likely not be a stash in this scenario, as he’d take his preferred route of coming over to America for next season and working with Utah’s staff — either with the Jazz or the Stars in the D-League.

Golden State’s Draymond Green picked up a technical foul (one of many first-quarter fouls) on a controversial call in the first quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Green’s outburst came after a jump-ball situation in which he was tied up with Cleveland’s Iman Shumpert with 1:55 left in the first quarter and called for a foul. Green argued and was given a technical afterward. Warriors coach Steve Kerr also sprinted down the sideline after the call.

Cleveland led 49-33 after the first quarter. The Cavaliers hit 14 of 22 from the line.

Charlotte could use one more player on the wing that can create offense, and Kennard fits that bill to a T. He would help to space the floor for a team that likes to shoot 3s, but finished 18th in the NBA in percentage from deep, and would also fit an organization that likes to run side pick-and-rolls for wings with Nicolas Batum. Steve Clifford might get angry defensively early on, but the Hornets could use the skill. nike_vikings_1973

NBA playoffs 2017: Cavaliers’ Tyronn Lue says Celtics more difficult to defend than Warriors

Limited Kids Stephon Tuitt Jersey Did Tyronn Lue throw some shade at the Warriors?

The Cavaliers coach made a shocking statement Wednesday, saying the Celtics were tougher to defend than the Warriors.

I don’t even think about (the Warriors), Lue told reporters, via ESPN.com. We’re just focused on Boston. The stuff they’re running, it’s harder to defend than Golden State’s [offense] for me, as far as the actions and all the running around and all the guys who are making all the plays, so it’s a totally different thing.

In the Cavs’ 15 playoff games, Smith has reached double-digit scoring just twice, with his high in shot attempts being nine. Compare that to his 2016 run when he took nine or more shots in 12 of Cleveland’s 21 playoff games, and you understand Lue’s reasoning.

The reason Smith is in the game his ability to get buckets. But if he’s not doing that, then Cleveland may as well put in a guard who plays better defense. Lue said as much after the game during his media session.

Q: If you would point a single aspect of your game you need to improve to win Game 3, what would it be?

Limited Kids Terrell Davis Jersey COACH LUE: Defensively. I think that having awareness, can’t relax, can’t fall asleep. This team, their offense is constant movement, so you got to be locked in, you can’t take a peek somewhere and lose your man, so they make you pay. And they have a lot of guys who can shoot the basketball, have a lot of guys who are great passers, so you got to be alert at all times.

Combine Lue’s comments with ESPN’s report, and don’t be surprised if you see Shumpert start Game 3.

Why Jerry Colangelo’s feelings about Lonzo and LaVar Ball matter

Not mentioning LaVar Ball by name, 76ers special assistant Jerry Colangelo said the people aroundNBA Draft prospect Lonzo Ball will make having him on the roster challenging for a team.

Colangelo, though, suggested it would be a mistake for a team not to select Ball because of that reason.

Still, saying Irving is better than one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history might be a stretch. But if you compare Iverson and Irving through the first six years of their careers, you’ll see the latter compares favorably.

Irving, 25, already has an NBA title (who could forget his go-ahead 3 in Game 7 last year?) and has been named to four All-Star teams, compared to Iverson’s three. And while Iverson has the edge in points, rebounds and assists per game, Irving has been a more efficient shooter: He has a 45.7 shooting percentage (compared to Iverson’s 44.5), has shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc (compared to Iverson’s 31.8 percent) and has an effective shooting percentage of 51.2 (compared to Iverson’s 45.1).
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Regardless of who’s actually better, Durant saw enough from Irving in the finals to warrant those comparisons.

Kyrie just makes you happy, Durant said of Irving’s play. He makes you happy when you watch him play. You just smile when you watch him play, cause it’s like, for somebody to be that skilled, you know had to work tirelessly. The stuff he has in his package is next level stuff that, like, you can teach your kids how to do it, but you’ll never be able to do it.

Authentic Kids Andre Williams Jersey I’ve never seen anybody block his layup. He’s 6-2. I’ve never seen one person pin his layup on the glass. Not one. Cause like, the spin he got on it, and he don’t even have to look at it, it’s like, I got so much respect for him because I know how much work he put in to be that good. I’ve never seen anybody like him.

Adam Jones’ latest arrest should be final nail in ‘Pacman’ redemption lie

Did the Bengals ever really believe those Adam Jones redemption stories A man can change his surroundings, and surroundings can change a man. Unless they don’t.

The cornerback occasionally known as Pacmanwas arrested Monday night in Cincinnati on multiple charges, police said: assault, disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and harassment with a bodily substance. The last of those is a felony charge, which is nothing new for Jones; hes been arrested at least nine times since being drafted in 2005.

Maybe Mike Brown is surprised, though. The Bengals owner is a believer in rehabilitation. Though hes been slowly ceding control to his daughter, Katie Blackburn, Browns fingerprints were all over the Jones signing. Talented but troubled is his type, a weird sort of Moneyballphilosophy that has helped the Bengals to a 118-103-3 record since 2003 under coach Marvin Lewis. The market inefficiency here seems to be players with whom no one wants to deal.

Jones was on that track in 2009, when he couldn’t even get a job in the Canadian Football League. The Bengals signed him in 2010, the same offseason they gave a four-year contract extension to defensive tackle Tank Johnson, whose rap sheet was almost as long as that of Jones.

The redemption story line was put in motion almost immediately. Jones had completed rehabilitation for his alcohol problems. He had learned from his year outside the NFL which came shortly after a season-long suspension in 2007. He wanted to be on a winner, and the Bengals were coming off a 10-victory season and trip to the playoffs.
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Best sights and sounds from Opening Night

Elite Nick Perry Jersey Super Bowl Opening Night was filled with stars from the Falcons and Patriots, throngs of media looking for a juicy quote and a few smiles from New England coach Bill Belichick. Yes, smiles. You know, expressions of happiness.

A friend of Jonathan Shecter aka Shecky Green, a music and pop culture journalist and former hotel executive in Las Vegas has been betting the Packers on the money line since their eight-game win streak started against the Eagles on Nov. 28, rolling over his winnings to make his wagers larger each week (via Uproxx and R.J. Bell).

For the uninitiated, winning a money line bet requires that a team win the game outright, regardless of the point spread.

This gambler started with a $300 bet on Green Bay at Philly, and the amounts of his wagers have grown with each Packers win. On Sunday night, his $10,259.50 bet on the Packers turned into more than $28,000 when they beat the Cowboys on Mason Crosby’s last-second field goal.

At the casino where the bet was placed, Green Bay was a +170 underdog vs. the Falcons for the upcoming NFC conference championship, meaning the $28,213 wager would net a $47,963 win if the Packers beat Atlanta, potentially boosting the gamblers Packers-based bankroll to $76,176 or $0 if the Falcons, who are favored by four points (-4), win outright.
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There are few areas in which Watson, at 6-2, 205 pounds, may not project as well as Kizer, Trubisky and Mahomes, starting with his undersized frame. There are concerns about whether he can translate his exceptional passing and running skills in the spread to a more conventional offense.

But that ignores what NFL teams will love about Watson.

NFL Pro Bowlers tell bad jokes in hilarious video

What do you call a pig that does Karate A pork chop.

What do you call a bear with no teeth A gummy bear.

Those are just two examples of the terrible jokes NFL Pro Bowlers read, as part of a game called, Bad Joke Telling.
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Watch as the players hilariously went head to head to see who could hold out the longest without laughing:
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New England’s goal-line stand just before halftime was huge, and the story going into the second half would be the health of Le’Veon Bell, whose groin injury kept him out almost all of the second quarter.

The Patriots entered the break with a 226-180 advantage in total yards despite having held the ball three minutes less than the Steelers. Neither team had much success running the ball through the first 30 minutes, as the game’s leading rusher was DeAngelo Williams with his 24 yards.

Tom Brady was his brilliant self in the first half, as he completed 19 of his 24 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns and a rating of 133.0. Ben Roethlisberger had a solid half, too a鈧€?16 of 22 for 136 yards and a rating of 88.4. One of his potential touchdown passes was dropped, and another was reversed upon replay review.

Earlier this week, Bell told Bleacher Report that he wanted to change the way the running back position is approached in the same way Curry has inspired up-and-coming hoopers to hone their 3-point shot as opposed to their hops. True story: My friend Romando came over to my apartment and somehow slept through the whole game, perhaps worn out for cheering against the Patriots in their loss to Ravens in the early game. I seriously don’t know how, considering all the screaming.

Famed baseball player, broadcaster Jimmy Piersall dies at age 87

Jimmy Piersall, a former major league outfielder and White Sox broadcaster, died Saturday at a care facility in Wheaton, Illinois at the age of 87.

During an MLB career that spanned from 1950-67, Piersall played for the Red Sox, Indians, Mets, Senators and Angels. He appeared in two All-Star Games as a member of the Red Sox and also earned two Gold Gloves.
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That would work out just fine, as Fowler would have the best year of his career and earn his new deal in St. Louis. He hit .276 with a .393 on-base percentage, scoring 84 runs in 125 games with 4.7 WAR. He even hit a lead-off homer in Game 7 of the World Series. There’s no doubting that, without Fowler, the Cubs aren’t holding the trophy at the end of the season.
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Albert Almora Jr., a 23-year-old Cubs outfielder, got his first taste of the big-leagues in 2016 and had his own role to play in the World Series victory. Almora was the pinch-runner who tagged and went to second base in the 10th inning of Game 7 against the Indians, eventually coming around and scoring the go-ahead run. Fowler made a strong impression on the rookie, despite their limited time together.

Dexter was incredible, Almora said. He has the best smile in baseball for a reason, and it’s not fake. He’s a generally happy, great human being. It was a pleasure and an honor to learn from him during the time that I was here and he was here. He’s probably one of biggest reasons we won the World Series.

Geno Smith: ‘I can be one of the best’ QBs in the NFL

Geno Smith is set to become a free agent after four strange years with the Jets.

The West Virginia product was brought in to be the team’s starter, which he was in his rookie season. Things didn’t go well in his first year, however, as Smith threw just 12 touchdowns to 21 interceptions. He improved slightly in his sophomore campaign, but injuries have rocked his last two seasons.

His latest injury shouldn’t worry teams as Smith told NFL Network he’ll be a “full-go” by the time training camp starts. But what kind of quarterback will that team be getting?

“Now, you have teams like Buffalo, who have three African-American quarterbacks on their roster at the same time, and a couple of other teams, but when you’re talking about 32 teams and about the number of starting African-American quarterbacks in this league, and all of the guys who could have developed if given the opportunity, those are the things I think we miss on. It’s not the guys who are starting, because if you can come in here and play, nobody is going to deny you anyway. But you’ve got guys who stay in this league for 90 years and don’t even play.”

Williams’ concerns are similar to what’s happening with assistant coaches. An ESPN study published before the last season found that 80 of the league’s 85 offensive coordinators, quarterbacks coaches and offensive quality control coaches were white, while 23 of 32 defensive coordinators were white.

Many head coaches are discovered this way, which leads to fewer head coaches of color. Or in Williams’ argument, since fewer black quarterbacks are being developed, it leads to fewer black quarterbacks remaining in the league for long periods of time, or at least compared to their white counterparts.texans_030