THE NEW YORK JETS OFFSEASON REPORT

Year one of the Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez era was a roller coaster ride for sure. The New York Jets had many ups and downs, but it ended pretty well with a trip to Indianapolis for the AFC Championship. Yes, they were slaughtered by some guy named Peyton in the 2nd half, but there were many positives to take from the deep playoff run. The Jets have had a pretty active offseason to say the least. They have added a ton of big names, said goodbye to a couple old friends, and took a few key pieces in the draft. Let me try and go through it all for you all.

First let me tackle the pre-draft moves. The first trade was a third rounder to San Diego for Antonio Cromartie. Despite a drop off in performance and effort from this former all-pro, I think he will be very good playing opposite Revis Island. He is young and should be inspired to perform especially since is in a new environment and will constantly have to hear about how good Darrelle Revis is. You think he might have something to prove? I think this will be a great fit for the Jets, and improves that side of the secondary big time.

The next move was merely to add a big name to the roster. LaDainian Tomlinson is a future first-ballot hall of famer for sure, but his hey day is long gone. He has been a well below average back the last couple years. The Chargers had shifted from being his team to Philip Rivers's team a long time ago. I don't like this move for the Jets. They should have coughed up an extra $2 million to keep Thomas Jones on the roster. I know Jones slowed down at the end of the season, but he rushed for almost 700 yards more than Tomlinson last year. Shonn Greene better be really good because it is hard to see Tomlinson being very useful. Maybe he'll have a few 1-yard touchdown runs, but that will be about it.

The Jets then added troubled receiver Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh for a fifth round pick. This was a fabulous move. Granted Holmes will miss the first four games due to a drug suspension, but he is a former Super Bowl MVP that will play opposite Braylon Edwards. This will give Sanchez another weapon in difficult situations and should help him a lot. I believe the move will also enhance the value of Jerricho Cotchery. Cotchery showed a drastic loss of speed last year, so moving him to the slot can make him a great possession receiver. Dustin Keller improved as the season went on too, so Sanchez should have no shortage of toys to play with.

Then recently the Jets added former Dolphin, Jason Taylor. Personally I think the guy is a phony for signing with the Jets. No one hated the Jets as much as Taylor during his 10+ years with the Dolphins. I was shocked to say the least. From a football standpoint, he should add something to their pass rush. He is getting up there in age though, so it's possible he just falls off the map. I believe he has more tread left on the tires than Tomlinson, however. Even if he has a great season, I will continue to laugh at him for cameras catching him saying the game was over on that famous Monday night when the Jets came back from 30-7 down against the Dolphins in 2000.

Now to the 2010 NFL Draft. The Jets apparently got a steal in Kyle Wilson at #29. The Boise State cornerback will immediately be the starting nickel corner. With Cromartie and Wilson on that side of the field, the Jets shouldn't be torched like they were by the Colts in the AFC Championship. However, the Jets then made a puzzling move in my opinion. I don't mind that they drafted Vladimir Ducasse in the 2nd round, but I don't get why they would release pro-bowler Alan Faneca as a result. I know he was due a big payday, but it was only $2 million more to keep him on the roster opposed to what his release cost. Ducasse better be good, because otherwise the loss of Faneca is a big hit to the offensive line and the running game.

The other big news from the draft was the trade of Leon Washington to the Seahawks. The Jets took a similar, younger player in Joe McKnight in the 4th round. Once they took him it opened the door for a Washington trade. Even though I have loved Leon as a Jet, the move makes sense. Washington is coming off a severely broken leg that may really hamper what made him such a dynamic player. I wish him well, but from what I've heard about McKnight, he can possibly step right in and be the next Leon Washington anyway. Plus he's younger and not coming off a major injury. Here is where I really trust Mike Tannenbaum's talent accessing abilities. He is a fabulous GM and done great work in these drafts. I also liked the addition of fullback John Conner in the fifth round. Tony Richardson is getting old and who better to learn from for Conner.

So overall I think the Jets have improved their secondary and their receiving core big time. They should be tough to pass on and Sanchez should be much better in year two and build on his impressive postseason. The running game takes a big hit replacing Jones with Tomlinson and then cutting Alan Faneca. There will be a lot of pressure on Shonn Greene to become a big time back next year. I have no confidence in Tomlinson, so the Jets have to hope Greene takes the next step and that Joe McKnight makes an immediate impact. The Jets are clearly going for it and anything short of a Super Bowl appearance next year will be a disappointment.

Pat Morgan

NCAA COMES TO THEIR SENSES, WILL ONLY EXPAND TO 68

From everything we were hearing all Winter long it seemed as if it was inevitable that the NCAA was going to expand the greatest event of the sports year to a grotesque 96 teams. Every coach in America (except for UConn's Jim Calhoun) was for this 50% expansion of the NCAA Tournament. More importantly to the NCAA, expansion to 96 seemed like the only way to earn a big, new contract from either CBS or ESPN. For all intensive purposes it was basically all but a done deal.

In fact, I have already gone through the five steps of grief over this issue. First, I denied that the NCAA would ever expand by such a drastic amount. Second, I was angry at the fact the NCAA would ruin their best event just for money. Third, I bargained with myself that maybe the NCAA would settle at 72, 76 or even 80 teams. Fourth, I was depressed looking at my blank 2010 bracket thinking it would be the last time they'd play with 65 teams. Finally, I accepted the fact that they were going to 96 teams when the NCAA announced that would be the best way to expand at the Final Four.

Everyone in the sports world figured when, not if, this move to 96 would become official, but much to most of our delights we awoke to the news of a slight expansion to 68 teams. I have to say I let out a big "YES!" when I opened the link on CNNSI.com. Then, I was like well maybe they have the wrong number. I had to check two or three different sites to make sure it was correct. Phew! It's only 68. The integrity of the tournament stays intact and the regular season still means a little something.

Here's my thinking on why ultimately the NCAA stayed clear of expanding to 96. When I looked at what a 96-team field schedule would look like, I wondered to myself how they were going to pull off the second week. The first weekend would have happened as usual, but the second would have required teams to play three games in five days to get to the Final Four. And that included traveling after the first game! There's no way to can pull a student-athlete out of class for a week, then ask them to play Tues-Thurs-Sat (or Wed-Fri-Sun) in two different cities. Couple that with the first weekend, teams without byes would have had to play 5 games in 9 days. How does a fan follow all of that? It would have been absurd.

Another reason why I think they stayed clear of 96 is much more simple. I think they actually listened to the world. No one I heard was for expansion other than some coaches who wanted more job security. See coaches were thinking by having it easier to make the tournament, they would be more prone to keep their jobs because they'd have more tournament appearances. They tried to say their players deserved the opportunity to play in the tournament, but that was complete crap. They were thinking of themselves and nothing more. Even coaches with no chance of losing their jobs wanted big expansion to make their careers look better. Jim Boeheim from Syracuse consistently has teams on the fringe. Don't you think he knows those NIT appearances don't look good on his all-time resume? What a joke!

Anyway, it was a great relief to see the NCAA stop at 68. I'm sure that expansion will come up again at some point, but at least for the next hand full of years the tourney will stay as it should. I'm also thrilled ESPN didn't get the tournament. They have become utter garbage in how they cover the sports world. Props to CBS and Turner Sports for coming together and taking down the giant in ESPN and getting this deal done. Now please do something about that dreadful Jennifer Hudson version of One Shining Moment! Oh, and I wouldn't mind if newly signed Conan O'Brien did some color commentary for TBS's broadcasts.

Pat Morgan

Quality Over Quantity Could Be Recipe For Sharks

Here we are again. The Sharks are a top seed in the NHL playoffs and the scores do not show that whatsoever. Every game in their Western Conference Quarterfinals against the young and enthusiastic Colorado Avalanche have all been decided by one goal. The last three games have went to overtime, resulting in two Sharks wins and one by the Avalanche. The series is now tied 2-2, with pivotal game 5 scheduled for tonight at 10:30 p.m. at H.P. Pavillion.

The Sharks outshot their opponent 51-17 in Game 3 and had 40 plus shots in Game 4. Not to take anything away from Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson, but there were few shots that were even difficult to stop by NHL standards. From what I've seen, I feel as though San Jose just races down the ice and fires on net, hoping for a lucky bounce and something to go their way. I haven't seen a lot of screening the goalie or setting up decent shots. Yes, the Sharks are by far more talented than the Avalanche, but pure talent does not always result in victories.
Has anyone been paying any attention to the Sharks during recent years? Playoff disappointment after playoff disappointment, resulting in early round exits. I would rather have the Sharks put up 20 quality shots than fire 50 shots that have a very slight chance of going in. As a fan of San Jose, it's getting tiresome watching Anderson make save after save. He is a professional goalie. He will stop easy shots.

The Shark Tank is one of the loudest arenas in hockey, and it should be rocking tonight. There is still a lot of pressure on the Sharks to come through and win this game and series. They have three olympic gold medalists on the front line and neither of them have netted a goal so far. That has to change and it would be nice to see it happen tonight. I know that Anderson can stop a large quantity of mediocre shots. Can he consistently save quality shots from some of the best players in the league? I would like to find out.

Shawn Marosek

Halladay Likely Heading Toward Memorable Season

Practically everyone had predicted before this season that Roy Halladay would win over 20 games and be the unanimous Cy Young award winner in the National League. Many times, predictions such as these don't pan out. Not to worry, this one will.

The Philadelphia Phillies' ace is already 4-0 with a miniscule .82 ERA. He also has two complete games. Whoever has him on their fantasy team, you are going to have a hell of a time every fifth day. I will admit that I thought being in a smaller ballpark might affect the former Blue Jay right-hander, but I was way off. He has been unstoppable and might have the best year a pitcher has had in a very very long time. We are talking about maybe putting up Bob Gibson-like numbers (1.12 ERA in 1968).

Now the rules and ballparks favor the hitters more than they did back in 1968, but it looks as though Halladay could have an ERA in the 1-2 range. Looking at what he has done so far, it is certainly a possiblity. Maybe he doesn't match Gibson's legendary season, but something similar to Dwight Gooden's 1985 season is realistic (24-4 1.53ERA). I don't know what I was thinking. He is a sinkerball pitcher so ballpark size wouldn't have much of an effect on him anyway. For a pitcher to dominate the Yankees and Red Sox and then switch to the National League, it can only equal success.

We can't forget the team he plays for too! The Phillies are hands down the best team in the National League. Even on an off day, Halladay more than likely will pick up the win just because the offense has his back. The general manager got some criticism for not keeping Cliff Lee as well. How's that working out so far?

I am eager to see how Halladay's season will shape up with some of the best that have occurred over the past 35-40 years. Barring any injury, nothing should get in the way of Doc delivering pitch after pitch, resulting in win after win.

Shawn Marosek

Golf and Sex Scandals Don't Mix

So the big event of Tiger Woods coming back into the limelight was too publicized, yet again. There is a plethora of news articles about Woods and his comeback, along with the controversy of the latest Nike commercial, and his losing the Master's title.

Yadda, yadda, yadda. I don't particularly care about golf at all, but I was pleased that Woods botched him big "comeback" to the world of golf, and that Phil Mickelson had won instead. With the media buzzing about the mistresses, Wood's apologies and his Buddhist ways, it's not surprising that most everyone is talking about Woods and his loss this weekend. But what I want to focus on is the fact that Woods is the one person he should blame for everything negative that has gone on in his life; everything the public has been hearing about for months and months.

One. Don't leave golf for a short period of time (what was it, three months?) only to hype up your own comeback. Maybe he did feel bad about the whole cheating on his family thing, but he seemed more concerned about himself in all aspects of his life. If he was really concerned with his family, maybe he wouldn't have cheated with a million women in the first place. Now, I'm not saying that he had to stop golfing in order to fix the damage or whatever you want to call it, but did that actually accomplish anything? I think that all it did was cause even more fervor about Tiger and his escapades, and did nothing to actually help anything but boost his own appearance in the tabloids. That and it led to the controversial Nike commercial... To me it's not controversial. To me, it's just another way Tiger is making money off of his infidelities.

Two. If you are going to hype yourself up, and make all the drama for everyone to hear over and over and over... don't suck at your sport. The moral of the story is, you screwed up in your personal life, which became public to everyone who's ever read a newspaper, watched the news, or watched television in general, and you couldn't even make a good comeback in the sport that made you famous. Maybe instead of running around with women and then going to some sex addiction rehab clinic, or doing commercials, or giving insincere apologies to the entire world, maybe you should have just stuck to playing golf. I was actually very happy that Tiger didn't end up winning the Master's this weekend. If he had, then it would have generated more media about how no matter what he does, Tiger will always be a genius at golf.

Three. If he gets his own reality tv show, I will discontinue my Time Warner Cable service. But unfortunately, I have a feeling something like that is in the works.

Jaclyn Kahn