Sports Agenda for Monday (3/5/12)
Big Story:
We certainly have our pick of big stories…from the Heat dropping two of their last three, to the Panthers opening a four point lead in the Southeast Division, to Peyton Manning watch, but we'll start with news that broke late Friday night and could completely annihilate the Saints franchise for a few years.
Lyric of the day: "There's something right with the world today, but everybody knows it's wrong."
Best chant of the weekend: "Urine Sample" to Brewers player Ryan Braun!
Saints Bounty:
If you missed it late Friday afternoon, the NFL did a document dump that revealed Saints coaches and management knew and carried out a bounty program that would pay defensive players for knocking opponents out of the game or injuring them to the point they couldn't play.
If you recall, Kurt Warner and Brett Favre both had their careers ended against the Saints due to vicious hits.
Now, the story is getting pretty deep and I don't think they know how deep the rabbit hole is just yet.
But the Saints are going to be made an example out of.
If you thought Spygate was bad, just wait.
This is 100x worse than Spygate ever could think about being.
Bascially, the Saints defensive coordinator ran the program, that players would pay into a pool, and then the money would be paid out from said pool for severity of injury.
Jonathan Vilma, from the U, put a $10,000 bounty on one players head.
Nice to see the U represented so well in the NFL. Guess you can't spell THUG without the U.
What made this worse was head coach Sean Payton knew about it and didn't stop it. Then, general manager Mickey Loomis was told to stop it by Saints owner Tom Benson, and Loomis just ignored him.
Yikes.
Personally, if it were up to me, I would ban Gregg Williams from the NFL for a minimum of five years. I'd ban Sean Payton for a year. I'd ban Loomis for five years. And I'd suspend any player involved for a minimum of five games without pay. Plus, I'd take away the Saints' first and second round picks next year plus a first round pick in the following year.
You can't let things like this go on.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he will be evaluating what punishment is necessary.
Goodell better drop the hammer hard on them because if he doesn't, players who have been suspended for vicious hits will have plenty of room to file grievances over disproportionate punishment for them versus coaching and front office staff.
Heat: (off Monday, next game Tuesday)
Well, that was a pretty ugly road trip.
It just goes to show that Chris Bosh is that key to this Heat lineup.
They sorely missed him Sunday against the Lakers.
He can get Pau Gasol out of the lane to open it up to LeBron and D-Wade. Instead, the lane was clogged and the Heat's offense struggled mightily.
Still, the Heat will get it corrected over a three game home stand this week.
But one other thing….to the people who are criticizing LeBron for his play at the end of the Jazz game…I have two words for you.
SHUT UP!!!
Look, it was the right basketball play to make. That's what LeBron does, he makes the right play.
Udonis couldn't have been any more wide open and if Derrick Rose had passed the ball, no one would say a word.
It's just this obsession with tearing down LeBron as all he does is carry this team nearly every night.
If you want someone to blame for that loss, take a look at D-Wade near the end.
Now that was some really, REALLY, ugly basketball.
But please people, get off the LeBron is always wrong float….jeez.
Panthers: (off until Thursday)
Well, leave it to these Panthers to get skunked by Winnipeg and Nashville and then thump the Senators.
Huh?
Can someone find me a little consistency here?!?!
Still, Florida is maintaining its four point lead in the Southeast division with just four weeks to go in the regular season.
This week a tough back to back of away games at Philly and at San Jose.
Next week a four-game home stand against Carolina, Toronto, Boston, and Buffalo. (all very winnable games, sans Boston)
Only time will tell if Florida can pull it out, but it's going to be a fun ride to the end of the season no matter what.
The official site is the March to the Playoffs.
Somewhere there's a penguins joke there.
Peyton Manning Watch:
Not much movement on this front as everyone still expects Manning to be released by the Colts.
Then the bidding war begins between the Redskins and Dolphins.
It's likely to be one of those two teams, just my gut feeling.
The happiest team is going to be the St. Louis Rams.
Why?
Because they hold the keys to RGIII.
The loser of the Manning sweepstakes will have to engage in a bidding war for RGIII likely with the Cleveland Browns.
The Rams can sit back and wait for teams to come to them with the biggest deal…
Maybe…
The Rams may also overplay their hand here.
Let's say for example, Miami lands Peyton Manning.
Then let's say Cleveland decides to go after Matt Flynn or stick with Colt McCoy.
That leaves the Redskins as the only bidder.
Oops.
And thus begins the delicate dance that can't be started until Manning is officially released on March 8.
It's going to be bizarre seeing that cross the wires/Twitter, but it's coming Thursday.
One final thing….
I think it's safe to say that Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo put on a cLINic yesterday on Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.
You give up 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists and it looks like you're in over your head.
Remember I said Lin would get exposed and it could get really ugly for him?
I give you just the latest example.
Whether it was Deron Williams humiliating him, the Heat just shutting him down, or Rondo just abusing him; the blueprint to beat him is out and he's not able to adjust.
Linsanity? Only for those New Yorkers who thought he could lead them to a title.
How's that crow taste this morning Knicks fans?
