http://www.yardbarker.com/users/Justwannawinna Recent Yardbarker Articles: Justwannawinna en-us Shaun Suisham kicking a 110 yard field goal? Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:55:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284221 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284221 Since 2000, the Eagles have been consistent playoff contenders in the NFC, finishing only one season under .500. During the decade, despite having an offensive-minded head coach and offensive stars such as Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, the team's backbone has been Jim Johnson's aggressive defense. When that unit has made key plays and limited opponents' scoring, the Eagles have been more successful. But last year, except in a few key games, both the solid and the spectacular elements were missing from the defense. It didn't help that longtime linebackers/defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo took the system he learned under Johnson to New York and made the division-rival Giants the league's top pass-rushing defense. The Eagles were beaten at their own game in their own division. Despite sending a defensive end, Trent Cole, to the Pro Bowl, the Eagles finished with a so-so total of 37 sacks, and Cole (12 1/2) provided more than a third of them. On the last line of pass defense, the secondary, injuries were a major problem. Cornerback Lito Sheppard missed five games, while safety and unit leader Brian Dawkins missed six, contributing to the team finishing dead last in the league with only 11 interceptions. The Eagles managed to be pretty strong against the run because of good interior line and linebacker play, but they didn't really strike fear into teams by swarming after quarterbacks and forcing them into big mistakes. The defense did have one surprising stand against the high-powered Cowboys offense in an impressive Week 15 victory. Philly recorded three sacks and three picks of Tony Romo in a 10-6 win. Not surprisingly, both Sheppard and Dawkins were active for that game. The Eagles will need many more performances like the one they enjoyed in Dallas to get back into contention for a playoff spot in a very tough NFC East. However, there's hope they can do it with a cleaner bill of health and improved personnel. The strength of last year's team was up front, where Cole and young tackles Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley combined to anchor the defensive line. Former Titan Juqua Parker showed promise in seven starts last season, and the addition of former Raider Chris Clemons (eight sacks) will bolster both the team's edge pass rush and its overall depth. At linebacker, Omar Gaither will be more comfortable making plays after moving from the middle to the weak side. Of course, there is that monster offseason addition in the secondary. Philly obtained arguably the best player on the free-agent market: cornerback Asante Samuel. Samuel, with 16 interceptions over his final two seasons in New England, has emerged as one the game's most dangerous ballhawks. Not only does he reinvigorate the Eagles' takeaway potential, but he also allows them to have a fine nickel package that includes '07 starters Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. After a down year, Johnson should be much happier with the results this season. The defense can take a huge leap with Samuel's presence as the driving force. The offense is the source of the team's second burning question: What should be expected from McNabb? But if the defense regains its old swagger, that question won't matter as much. As the team proved as recently as 2006, it can win plenty of games when the defense is operating at a high level, supplemented by heavy doses of Brian Westbrook and the running game. Philadelphia finished in the division basement and was the only team in the NFC East not to make the playoffs last season, but it still was 8-8 and proved it could play with the 13-3 Cowboys when everything was clicking. The Eagles have improved their roster and gotten healthy enough on defense to turn the NFC East standings upside down. With a little help from the offense, worst to first isn't as big of a jump as you might think. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:43:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284103 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284103 1. Andre Iguodala, Sixers: Iguodala's decision to turn down a $57 million deal last summer is tough to justify. At the time, the Sixers appeared to be the only team with significant cap room; I'm not sure where he thought his next paycheck would come from. He had a great regular season, but a woeful postseason has put his stock back in check. He's coveted by the Grizzlies, but the chances of them prying him away from Philly look very slim. 2. Josh Smith, Hawks: On talent and potential, Smith should be on top of this list. He's a freakish athlete who can score, rebound and block shots. What holds him back is a questionable attitude. Nonetheless it appears the Hawks have to re-sign him. Given the Hawks' ownership woes, Smith is one of the few restricted free agents a team with cap space may try to pluck away -- the same way the Hawks did with Joe Johnson a few years ago. I could see the Sixers making a run at him. 3. Emeka Okafor, Bobcats: Okafor turned down $13 million per season to hit free agency this summer. He's not the best player on this list, but he's the best young center on the market. Still, there's no guarantee he'll get more money from another team. I'm sure the Grizzlies will be interested, but they know the Bobcats will match. I don't see him going anywhere, but a sign-and-trade isn't out of the question here if the negotiations go on too long. 4. Jose Calderon, Raptors: Calderon played at an All-Star level this past season. When T.J. Ford went down with injuries, he became the leader of the Raptors and proved to be the best true point guard on the free-agent market. The Raptors say they'll match any offer for Calderon and I believe them -- especially now that they've agreed to a trade with the Pacers that will ship T.J. Ford to Indiana. As it stands now, he's their only point guard. Still, don't be shocked if the Sixers make a big offer to him. They need a long-term replacement for Andre Miller and I hear Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is a big fan. 5. Luol Deng, Bulls: Everyone loves Deng's talent, but so do the Bulls. At least they used to. Injuries and a poor season have hurt his value around the league. Still, it's hard to see the Bulls not matching any offer Deng gets next summer. He declined a $57.5 million extension in October, so if he makes more than that he'll come out ahead. It will be interesting to see if the budget-conscious Bulls will take advantage of the market conditions and offer him much less. 6. Andris Biedrins, Warriors: Biedrins didn't get the lucrative contract offer that several others did. He was looking for something in the five-year, $50 million range and got an offer that was reportedly substantially lower. Biedrins falls a little bit into the Anderson Varejao category -- energetic big man whose stats don't tell the whole story in terms of on-court contributions. Given that he continues to improve and he's only 21 years old, it's hard to believe the Warriors wouldn't match an offer. 7. Monta Ellis, Warriors: He's young and he can score. But his restricted status is going to hurt him. No team has the money to offer him more than the midlevel, and he probably feels as though he's worth considerably more than that. He's a player who may be better off taking the one-year tender from the Warriors so that he can be an unrestricted free agent in 2009. 8. Josh Childress, Hawks: Childress doesn't get nearly the respect or hype of many of his teammates in Atlanta, but he's been a devastatingly effective sixth man and who might still be expendable given all of Atlanta's wing talent. He probably can't get more than a midlevel deal on this market, but he'd be a bargain at that price. 9. Ben Gordon, Bulls: Of all the players who turned down lucrative contract extensions last summer, Gordon made the most mind-boggling decision. He turned down a five-year, $50 million deal that seemed above market value on a down season. For him to recoup that money this summer seems almost impossible … and now that the Bulls have added Larry Hughes to the mix, it's no longer clear where Gordon fits into the picture. There isn't a huge market for undersized 2-guards with streaky jump shots. Gordon is most likely to be the top restricted free agent not to have his offer matched, but he's going to struggle to get a huge offer from anyone. Gordon may be better off taking the Bulls' one-year tender offer. 10. Nenad Krstic, Nets: Before his knee injury last season, Krstic looked like he'd be locked up by the Nets. Now the uncertainty over his health could hurt his value. Philadelphia is one team to watch for. Sixers GM Ed Stefanski was a fan while he was back in New Jersey. A sign-and-trade is another possibility for the Nets. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:36:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284098 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284098 1. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards: Arenas has turned himself into a max player over the past few years and, despite recent knee troubles, will likely cash in on his newfound celebrity status. While he continues to maintain publicly that his first choice is to re-sign with Washington, it's possible that, given his eccentricity, he could change his mind. The biggest issue for Arenas is the same one that plagues all the free agents: Who else has the money to pay him? I can't see the 76ers or Grizzlies spending the cash. The Clippers would have interest, but Arenas already spurned them once. 2. Corey Maggette, Clippers: Maggette has been on the trading block for years and appears eager to bolt the Clippers. He's making $7 million next season and should be due a raise. Teams will be out in force trying to get him, but most will have only the midlevel exception to offer -- which would mean he'd be taking a pay cut. A sign-and-trade is the most likely option, with the Phoenix Suns looking like the team most interested in him. They could offer a swap of Leandro Barbosa that may interest L.A. 3. Antawn Jamison, Wizards: Jamison is still putting up big scoring and rebounding numbers at the age of 32. He even made a surprise appearance at the All-Star Game this past season. Washington will likely try to lock him up, and should have the best shot to do so. With teams capped out, which team is going to spend all of its money on a 32-year-old? 4. DeSagana Diop, Nets: He's only 25, but five points and five boards are about all you're going to get from him. Still, he's big and he plays good defense … meaning some team will blow its midlevel exception on him. I think Dallas is the front-runner to give him a ridiculous deal. 5. Beno Udrih, Kings: The Kings were impressed enough with his play that they felt no remorse in letting Mike Bibby go. But will they be able to keep him? As the only decent unrestricted point guard on the market, Udrih is drawing a lot of interest. Expect him to get multiple offers for the full midlevel from a number of teams desperate for a point guard. I'd put the Clippers at the top of the list. 6. Kurt Thomas, Spurs: He's 35 years old, but still tough enough to help just about any title contender. The Spurs got him in a steal of a deal at the trade deadline. Look for them to try to lock him up with a three-year deal this summer. 7. James Posey, Celtics: Posey helped himself with a strong performance against the Lakers in the Finals. He's another player who should get a three- to four-year midlevel deal somewhere. 8. Mickael Pietrus, Warriors: No one is sure why the Warriors didn't play Pietrus more. He's one of the most athletic defenders in the league and he's a solid 3-point shooter. Some team will pick him up and try to use him in a Bruce Bowen-type role. 9. Ricky Davis, Heat: The talented but troubled swingman hasn't helped his cause in his second tour with Miami. Pat Riley thought, after dumping him the first time, that Davis finally had the maturity to play for him. But Riley is clearly reassessing the situation. Davis looks like a midlevel-or-below type of player. I doubt he returns to the Heat. 10. Kwame Brown, Grizzlies: The former No. 1 pick has run out of excuses. Yes, he's huge, athletic and only 25 years old. But after seven years in the league, he's yet to prove that he's anything more than a backup. Someone will pay him something, but no one is expecting much. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:32:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284096 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284096 Throughout his outstanding 14-year NFL career, Brian Mitchell was always a team player. It was never more evident than in front of a national television audience on Nov. 12, 1990, when former Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs told the rookie to go play quarterback because the vaunted Philadelphia Eagles' "Gang Green" defense had already knocked out two signal-callers that night. You would think that Mitchell, who once played quarterback at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now known as Louisiana-Lafayette), might welcome this unsuspected opportunity at a chance to showcase his skills playing under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. You would think. "I was scared as hell that night playing quarterback against that defense with Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown, Andre Waters, Seth Joyner and seeing them knock eight or nine players out of the game that night," laughed Mitchell, recalling what would become known as the "Body Bag Game," which the Eagles went on to win 28-14. "Honestly, I was terrified but it was Monday Night Football and it gave me some memories that will last a lifetime." Mitchell, the 130th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, was a proven team player long before that memorable Monday night game. Mitchell grew up the youngest of seven children back in Plaquemine, La. where his parents stressed the importance of always giving back to others, especially those less fortunate. "My mom and dad have always been givers and giving back to the community, and it just came naturally growing up in the South. I always saw my parents helping and giving back to others," said Mitchell who now resides in Centerville, Va. "My dad always believed when you are getting blessed, then it is time to give someone else a blessing, so I always did charities once I got into the NFL and specifically when I arrived in Philadelphia. I wanted to make things more central so I knew exactly who I was helping and what I was doing." The Redskins allowed the running back/kick returner extraordinaire to become a free agent prior to the 2000 season because the feeling in Washington was that he had lost a step. However, Eagles head coach Andy Reid and his staff felt differently about No. 30. Acquiring Mitchell paid immediate dividends during an early road contest at New Orleans in 2000, when Mitchell returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown, capping off a 21-7 victory. It was one of Mitchell's all-time NFL record 13 career special teams touchdowns. "That was fun because I told (former Eagles running back) Duce Staley before the game in the locker room, 'Don't be surprised if I break one today or maybe even two because I always have success down here in this place,'" Mitchell said. "It was a great feeling because I had about 25 family members at the game, being that I am from Louisiana. I always had a little vendetta against the Saints because they told me they were going to draft me and they never did. So every time I played them, I wanted to show them they made a mistake." The following week, on national television, Mitchell ignited the Eagles offense as he combined for 290 total yards and scored two touchdowns in a 38-10 steamroll of the visiting Atlanta Falcons. During the game Mitchell took a kickoff back 89 yards for a score, and sealed the big night with an 85-yard touchdown run as he was filling in for Staley who suffered a season-ending Lis Franc sprain earlier in the game. "In sports, people always talk about being in the zone, and on that night I really felt like I was in the zone," Mitchell said. "But that was a bittersweet night because Duce is a good friend of mine and seeing his season end on that night was tough for everybody." Mitchell was a key component of an Eagles team that secured three consecutive playoff berths during in his time in Philadelphia. But despite all the victories, the one game that Mitchell will always remember for the rest of his life is the 2002 NFC Championship game against Tampa Bay, which would be the final Eagles game ever played at Veterans Stadium. In the opening moments, Mitchell sent the stadium into absolute eruption when he returned the initial kickoff 70 yards, which led to a touchdown by Staley. It gave the Eagles an early lead, but it was squandered in the face of a 27-10 defeat. Although it was a crushing loss, Mitchell will always remember the special atmosphere those Eagles fans created. "On that day, that was the loudest stadium I have ever played in during my entire career. On the opening kickoff, I get the good return and then Duce is in the end zone," Mitchell said. "I thought we were going to the Super Bowl just like everyone else sitting in the stadium that day. The Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2004, but I still say that the 2002 team was the best team the Eagles ever had and we would have destroyed the Raiders in the Super Bowl that year." After spending 2003 in New York with the Giants, Mitchell retired. Now, Mitchell, who is married with four children, is involved with a variety of sports media outlets both as a television and radio sports host within the Washington D.C. area. His résumé includes WUSA-TV in Washington where he works as an NFL analyst and he co-hosts a Sunday night program called "Sports Plus." He also dabbles with the public speaking circuit on occasion, and is an avid golfer. He even took the time to offer up his predictions for the 2008 season. "The New York Giants are the team to beat, but it comes down to a lot of little things in my opinion. Quarterback Eli Manning took a big step, but can he come back and be consistent again this year?" said Mitchell. "I really feel that Philadelphia is not as far away as many people think, and I am sure even a few Eagles fans are a little skeptical, but I feel the Eagles are a lot closer than many people think." One player who should give the Eagles some sizzle especially on special teams is rookie return specialist DeSean Jackson, who set a Pac-10 Conference record with six punt returns for touchdowns in only three seasons at Cal. Not surprisingly, Mitchell thinks the rookie will have an immediate impact. "The first thing I look for in a return guy is that he has to be fearless and from the clips I have seen on DeSean he is fearless," Mitchell said. "I also like his speed and shiftiness, but a return man cannot be scared because I think it is the most dangerous job on the football field. This kid is fearless so I think he will be successful." Mitchell, a longtime enemy of the Eagles, was able to endear himself to the fans in just three seasons. He said Philadelphia fans will always appreciate effort, which is all he had to give whether it was at running back, return man or quarterback. All in all, Mitchell was a true team player. "I truly gave the fans everything I had and possibly exceeded their expectations," Mitchell said. "You always hear about the negativity of the Philadelphia fans, but since I left I still go through Philadelphia, and I really get the feeling that I was a Philadelphia Eagle my entire life." This is one reason why Mitchell, who is second all-time in the NFL in all-purpose yards (23,330) – behind only Jerry Rice – has devoted himself to a variety of charities over the years, including his very own Brian Mitchell Foundation, started in 2001 as a non-profit organization designed to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth within the communities of Plaquemine, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:05:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283544 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283544 As they were putting some of the finishing touches on the Richard Jefferson-Yi Jianlian deal, the Nets received a call from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who offered them Wally Szczerbiak and his expiring, $13.2 million salary for Vince Carter. According to two Eastern Conference executives, who asked for anonymity so as not to spill Rod Thorn's secrets, the Nets considered it -- but not for very long. Thorn would not comment on the discussion yesterday, but while the deal would have crippled his offense, it would have freed up yet more money for the 2010 free-agent market. The Nets have only $36 million earmarked toward player salaries that summer, and the removal of Carter's four-year contract would cut that in half. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:07:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283525 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283525 Funny guys from The dream, to Tim thomas to Joakim Noah check the link Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:04:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283523 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283523 NFL Live Breaks Down each team in the NFC East and what they need to do heading into the season Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:47:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282905 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282905 Hall of Famer Julius Erving slammed NBA MVP Kobe Bryant during a radio interview on AM 570 in Los Angeles. Dr. J, while appearing on the Joe McDonnell Experience with Joe Mcdonnell, Joe Grande and Tim Cates, said he was upset with Kobe's approach off the court: "I was a little disappointed this year with Kobe's flippant attitude at some of the press conferences. He made light of a very serious situation. The hopes and dreams of the fans of LA, the effort of the franchise to be a champion. You gotta stand up, when it gets tough thats when you gotta be at your best, thats when what's really inside of you gets revealed. So I was a little disappointed in his performance. He's young enough, where he can rectify that." "If he were to be judged today. It would be pretty easy to replace him, because he's left a lot of work undone. He's done everything you can do on the basketball court, but so much of what you gotta do off the court he's left undone." Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:38:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282903 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282903 It's tough enough when you're the Chicago Bulls, sitting with the No. 1 overall pick. Derrick Rose, the point guard from Memphis. Or Michael Beasley, the muscular forward from Kansas State. You can't walk the tightrope forever. But what if you're the 76ers, and 15 teams are choosing ahead of you? You've made it pretty clear that you prefer to take a big man, ideally one who can play in the post, who can rebound and, hopefully, defend and even score a little. You've also made it clear that you want the prospect who will, in the long run, become the most productive. So who's No. 16? The Sixers, as you would expect, insist there are 16 players they like in the pool. They have spent countless hours trying to figure out which of those will be on the board when their turn comes, ranking them in order of preference. President/general manager Ed Stefanski said last night that he and his staff had pared down a preferred list of about eight names, but he did not feel comfortable offering any specifics. Stefanski also said he has received offers to move down in the first round, or even to sell the pick, but that "nothing makes sense right now." He added that the price of moving up remains prohibitive, which might as well translate to the Sixers having no interest in parting with the future first-round pick they acquired from Utah in the Kyle Korver trade. Might No. 16 be Darrell Arthur of Kansas, who brings the intangibles of having been a starter on an NCAA championship team? Or Texas A & M's DeAndre Jordan, who qualifies as a project after a sporadic freshman year and has left people wondering whether he can truly blossom or whether he has teased them in predraft workouts? Could the choice even be, say, Stanford's Robin Lopez, who cut short his workout schedule because of an ankle injury? The Sixers, as with all teams, say they prefer to choose a guy they've met up close and personally, sending him through the interview process and the requisite psychological testing. But it's not a hard and fast rule. Could someone such as Louisiana State's Anthony Randolph, projected to go higher, somehow slip through the cracks to the Sixers? ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, in a conference call earlier in the week, said "He's got all the tools you want in a player, but he's 197 pounds. Is his body going to get there? If so, when? I mean, he makes [Golden State's] Brandan Wright look like Mr. Universe." The bottom line is, making the pick - actually pulling the trigger - isn't easy. "We feel there will be a guy there for us who not only will be a nice player for the future but will fill a need," said Stefanski, who will have the final say for the first time in his front-office career after serving under Rod Thorn with the New Jersey Nets. "One need is a 'big,' and there are a lot of 'bigs' in this draft. A point guard could be a possibility, because guys fall, but more likely from what I see, a 'big' could be available. And that's probably our No. 1 priority right now. "I'm not saying No. 16 is going to jump in and help you right away, but I think it was a consensus that the Sixers [before Stefanski's arrival] didn't think Thaddeus Young [at No. 12 last year] would come in and help right away. This kid, whoever we pick, we're going to have to nurture him from a basketball standpoint. All these kids are young. You interview them, it's like talking to your children in that respect." So, could it be Kosta Koufos, the 7-footer from Ohio State with offensive skills? Or Marreese Speights, the Florida center who emerged after the key components to the Gators' back-to-back championship teams were gone? Or somebody like 6-9 J.J. Hickson, from North Carolina State? Or even a longshot like Ryan Anderson, a scorer from California? Stefanski has been careful to say he feels only the pressure of making "the right decision," rather than having the last word for the first time. He said the pick is "all part of the big picture, which includes having a little more than $11 million under the salary cap to use in the free agent/trade market; free-agency discussions can begin Tuesday. If the Sixers can come up with a serviceable "big" tonight, they are likely to search for a perimeter player in free agency or trade, with the hope of perhaps also landing a young point guard. They also have to re-sign restricted free agents Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams. "The problem is, you don't have enough money to do everything," Stefanski said. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:08:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282550 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282550 As the Hatfield-McCoy thing between the NFL and Comcast continues to rage, details have emerged regarding an outside-the-box effort by Comcast in 2006 to get its hands on the eight regular-season games that the league has held in its back pocket for broadcast on NFL Network. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, in 2006, Comcast offered a combination of rights fees and partial ownership of the Versus channel, if the eight games would be aired on that station, which at the time was called "Outdoor Life Network." Comcast believed that the owners would be able to shield the equity stake in Versus from the 59-cents-on-the-dollar revenue distribution to the league's players. The NFL and the NFLPA disagree with that assessment. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue supposedly acknowledged that the Comcast offer might have been too good to pass up. "Perhaps the owners are making a mistake here," Tagliabue reportedly told Comcast's CEO, Brian Roberts. "Your offer may be better. Sometimes the owners have to learn the hard way." When the NFL passed, Roberts reportedly told Tagliabue, "Your relationships with the cable industry are going to get very interesting." Needless to say, things have gotten more than very interesting since then. The most popular sports league in America can't find a suitable home on many major cable systems for its in-house network, causing the effort to lose, by all appearances, a lot of money — and reportedly resulting in discussions with ESPN about a partnership aimed at salvaging what has become a slowly sinking ship. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:03:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282548 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282548 The Grizzlies are working to acquire the No. 2 overall pick Thursday in the NBA draft, but they aren't willing to sacrifice point guard Mike Conley. The inclination to keep Conley, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 draft, was characterized Tuesday by those familiar with the discussions as an organizational decision -- meaning ownership, management and the coaching staff are opposed to a deal that would send Conley as part of a package to the Miami Heat in exchange for the presumed right to draft forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State at No. 2. Griz general manager Chris Wallace couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday but has said the franchise is exploring all options as it prepares to make the fifth pick. The first pick is expected to be University of Memphis guard Derrick Rose by Chicago. The Griz and Heat have talked for weeks about possibly swapping first-round picks. Reportedly, Miami originally sought a deal that would give them Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the Grizzlies' No. 5 pick. The Griz countered with a variation of that trade, only they prefer to substitute the No. 5 selection with their No. 28 pick. Both proposed trades included other players from both teams to make the deals work under the league's salary cap. Miami has expressed interest in moving Mark Blount and Marcus Banks. Memphis' longstanding preference has been to unload Brian Cardinal and the remainder of his contract. According to ESPN.com, the Heat's latest proposal wanted the Griz to send Miller, Conley and the No. 5 pick for the No. 2 pick and Daequan Cook. It's a high price tag, according to sources who acknowledge the team's willingness to part with Miller and Lowry. Another report has the Grizzlies sending Conley, Miller and the No. 5 pick to Miami for Udonis Haslim, Cook and the No. 2 selection. Miller, a veteran whom the Griz may have to consider negotiating a contract extension, can be used as an asset to help the team advance its youth movement. Lowry is considered expendable given the Grizzlies' depth at point guard. Conley is a player the franchise is counting on to develop alongside Rudy Gay on a team starved for talent. He has to develop a consistent outside shot, but the assertiveness he displayed toward the end of his rookie season provided reason for optimism. Conley began to improve his effectiveness in pick-and-roll situations and finish stronger at the rim. His quickness and athleticism are considered obvious tools for helping the Griz improve on defense. It's possible the Grizzlies will explore several different avenues if there is a roadblock with Miami. One report has the Grizzlies sending the No. 5 pick and Brian Cardinal to the New York Knicks for David Lee and other considerations. Another is the Griz sending the 28th pick along with Lowry to Denver in exchange for the No. 20 pick and possibly forward Linas Kleiza. The deal would give the Griz an earlier shot at drafting Western Kentucky guard Courtney Lee, who was impressive in his Memphis workout. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:57:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282545 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282545 The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 27th pick in Thursday's NBA draft for cash considerations, a Blazers source told ESPN.com. The deal was agreed to verbally between the two teams on Tuesday night, according to the source. The teams have scheduled a trade call with the league in the morning to make the deal official. Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has been very active in the past few drafts acquiring picks. Armed with the financial might of owner Paul Allen, the Blazers acquired the 23rd pick in the draft last year and drafted Rudy Fernandez. They also used cash to acquire Sergio Rodriguez in 2006. It's unclear who the Blazers are eyeing at No. 27. One possibility is Croatian big man Ante Tomic, whom the Blazers have coveted for years. Other potential targets are French swingman Nicolas Batum, who has slipped in the draft because of concerns about his heart, and Memphis swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:00:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282170 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282170 Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard skipped all but the mandatory minicamp this offseason and has not addressed his situation with reporters since late May. Sheppard hosted a daylong free fitness camp for several hundred children in his hometown of Jacksonville this weekend. Patriots receiver and ex-Eagle Jabar Gaffney, also a Jacksonville native, helped run the event. And they both deserve credit for doing that. Sheppard was asked by a local television station about his status with the Eagles. (You can access the video from the link above, too.) "That part of the business has to take care of itself," Sheppard said. "I'm just preparing myself to play, wherever that might be, but I'm going to be ready." Of course, the thing that stands out is the phrase "wherever that might be." Hard to know what his intent was, without being able to ask any follow-up questions. Perhaps, Sheppard is just being realistic as trade rumors persist, despite assertions by Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson that Sheppard remains a big part of the Eagles' plans. Perhaps, Sheppard is girding himself for the possibility that he might not be with the team. Perhaps, it means nothing. However, Sheppard's status will continue to be a talking point as the offseason continues and training camp approaches. Sheldon Brown, Sheppard's fellow corner, was sure that Sheppard would show up for the start of camp for one reason: the fines for not showing up. * In other charitable endeavors by Eagles players, safety Sean Considine was back in Illinois for the Considine Charity Classic golf tournament. He weighed in on several subjects in a story in the Rockford Register * On Lito Sheppard: "Right now we have three of the best corners in the NFL. It's hard to get three guys on the field every snap at corner, but we will come up with different packages to get people on the field. It's still up in the air what's going to happen with Lito. He was a little upset over the deal. He didn't make our last optional workouts. We'll see how it all pans out. The bottom line is we have three great players. We'd love to have Lito, but this is a business. You never know what will happen." * On the safety situation, where he is listed as the backup to Quintin Mikell at strong safety: "They didn't bring in any other safeties, but the guy who took my spot played well. I have to come back and prove that I'm healthy and can get through a season on this shoulder. It's a little bit of an uphill climb right now, but that's how I like it. We'll see what happens. Last year, Quentin, who took my spot, played in all 16 games, because I was hurt and (free safety) Brian Dawkins was hurt. I'm going to have an opportunity to win my spot back. Even if I don't, I will play." Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:57:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282168 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282168 NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA is so angry at disgraced referee Tim Donaghy that it wants him to reimburse the league for the cost of his basketball shoes. The NBA said in a court filing it spent $750 over three seasons to buy sneakers for Donaghy, who pleaded guilty last year to taking payoffs from gamblers. Now, the league wants its money back. It also wants a court to force the referee to repay his salary, his airfare expenses and meal allowances, and cough up at least $4,500 for complimentary tickets he received over the years. All told, the league is seeking $1.4 million from Donaghy. The written demand was filed Thursday at a federal court in Brooklyn. Donaghy's attorney has called the league's demands an attempt to retaliate against his client for alleging widespread misconduct by NBA executives and employees. Donaghy has admitted betting on about half the games he officiated for three seasons, beginning in 2003. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:06:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281018 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281018