Bargain Hunters: 5 Free Agents Jets should target

June 1, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Vonta Leach FB:
The Jets need a good fullback for their “ground and pound” offense

There is no question that the New York Jets love to run the football. However, in today’s game your more likely to find great fullbacks in a museum exhibit rather than on the field. Vonta Leach is a three-time pro bowler who is not only an excellent blocker but who can also be a great short yardage back. While Tommy Bohanon had an average rookie season, he still struggled at times throughout the season and has a lot to improve on. Bringing in Leach could do two things for Bohanon. Either push him to take the starting job or give him a mentor next season. Leach still has plenty of gas in the tank, and in the right system could be a Pro Bowler once again. Low risk, high reward type of signing.
Jermichael Finley TE:
Working back from a nasty injury Finley could be a solid backup

The Jets may have picked Jace Amaro in the Draft, but still could use some depth at tight end. Jeff Cumberland is a solid backup player but Finley could be a good rotational tight end and help round out the Jets tight ends. While it remains to be seen if he can come back from his injury, the Jets should at least invite him to camp to see what he has. With 20 career touchdown catches and only 27 years old, he could be a steal for the right price. Geno Smith needs weapons and Finley could be a nice piece to New York’s offensive puzzle.

London Fletcher: LB
London Fletcher 1 Father Time 0

I can hear the criticism already. London Fletcher? He’s 39 years old! Why should the Jets pick him up? True he maybe old, but Fletcher can still play. Now I am not saying he should be a full-time starter, but Fletcher could be a great rotational linebacker. The middle linebacking position is thin in terms of depth for the Jets and London Fletcher’s ability to stay healthy, he has not missed a game in over a decade, would make him an excellent backup. Not to mention he’s had over a hundred tackles every year he’s played. He maybe old but he is reliable. Also, Fletcher may not be a game changer on the field, but there is no question that he is a great leader. He could become the voice and general of the Jets defense and whose presence would be more meaningful than his own production.
Asante Samuel CB:
An experienced corner who could push for a starting role

He may be 33, but Samuel still is a solid man coverage corner. In a defense with a lot of questions at corner, it wouldn’t hurt to invite Samuel to camp to try to make the roster. His press cover skills are very good which fits the Rex Ryan defensive mold. He may not find the fountain of youth and be a pro bowler again, but Samuel could be a good number 2 or 3 corner in Ryan’s system. One thing that Samuel still does exceptionally is make plays in the secondary, something Gang Green has severely been lacking.
Jim Leonhard: FS
A reunion in New York

When the Jets released Jim Leonhard two years ago it was because of lingering questions about his health. Two years later Leonhard is available for Rex Ryan to bring back. He may not be an every down starter any more, but Leonhard is a great veteran presence in the secondary. With first round pick Calvin Pryor at strong safety, Leonhard could be a good mentor for Pryor and Antonio Allen. While I do like Antonio Allen, the presence of Jim Leonhard as a rotational player and knowing the ins and outs of Ryan’s defense could make Leonhard a great teacher. As a third safety Leonhard provides good depth in the secondary in case of an injury and can still make plays even with limited snaps on the field. This could be a nice move to get some veteran presence in the secondary.

Targets Acquired: 5 players Mets should target

May 30, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Giancarlo Stanton:
Wishful thinking? maybe not

This may seem like a pipe dream, but if we’ve learned anything about the Marlins it’s that they are always looking to deal. What makes this trade more probable is that not only are both teams struggling, but they have needs that the other can help with. The Marlins need young arms, and the Mets need a big bat. The price tag for Stanton would be huge, but with his presence in the lineup the Mets could finally have a major league quality lineup. It won’t be cheap, but it maybe worth the high sticker price.
Josh Zeid:
Relief for Mets terrible pen

While not a household name, Zeid is a young relief pitcher who could greatly improve the Mets middle relief. With the crowded Astros bullpen and despite a very good season, Zeid has bounced between the majors and Triple A. A solid reliever whose career 3.89 era and good stuff out of the bullpen could bring some stability to the Mets woeful relief pitching. A small risk, big reward type of target.
Luis Sardinas
A shortstop finally?

The Mets shortstop position has been a revolving door since Jose Reyes was let go. Sardinas maybe a year or two away, but Texas already has a great shortstop and could use a pitcher for a postseason run. Bartolo Colon could be a nice trading piece to bring in a great fielding shortstop. While he may not have a lot of power, Sardinas is a great fielder whose speed could transition nicely into a leadoff or top of the order hitter in Flushing.
Joc Pederson :
Outfielder who can make an impact in 2014

The Mets outfield is still a mess. Despite his numbers including 15 home runs in the minors already in 2014, Pederson is blocked by a slew of outfielders in the majors. He could be a five tool player and with the Dodgers already crowded outfield could become a nice piece for the Mets. It may take a few good pieces in a trade to get Pederson, but he could be a great cornerstone with Juan Lagares in the Mets outfield for the next decade.
John Ryan Murphy
A crosstown catcher with major league potential

The Mets making a deal with the Yankees may seem unlikely, but if it were to happen Murphy would be a great return. With the struggles of d’Arnaud at the plate and staying on the field, it would be nice to get an insurance policy. With McCann already the starting catcher, and a plethora of catchers including Gary Sanchez behind him, Murphy could be moved. Once again Bartolo Colon to the Yankees maybe a good move for the Mets. Murphy is hitting .357 as a backup and has shown very good defense behind the plate. Best case scenario is that he can become the Mets starting catcher, worst case a great backup whose bat could be vital off the bench or if the Mets need him to fill in as a third baseman or outfielder. Who do you think the Mets should target or be looking to move? Comment and follow below!

Rangers need the king to win the ring

May 30, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Henrik will be the key for the blue shirts

You could feel the tension at Madison Square Garden in-game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. After an embarrassing loss in-game five with the possibility of a game seven in Montreal was now looming over the Rangers and their fans. The man with the most pressure took his place between the iron pipes and for sixty minutes proved once again why he is the backbone to the Rangers playoff success.

After being pulled after 4 goals on 16 shots in Montreal in-game five, it was understandable that Rangers nation was uneasy when Henrik Lundqvist took his place in net for game six. However, as the Rangers now head to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in twenty years, the Rangers know they have Lundqvist on the right track. True, there have been some hiccup games with poor performances during these playoffs, but when the Rangers have needed him most in crunch time Lundqvist has come through. For the New York Rangers to hoist the Cup, Lundqvist will need to be in top form.

Big saves, like this one the the second period, have propelled Rangers this postseason

Big saves, like this one in the second period, have propelled Rangers this postseason

There is no question that Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. With the victory over the Canadiens he now has the most wins for a Rangers goaltender in the playoffs with 42. Unfortunately, when you’re the king you need a ring. If Lundqvist wants to be a Hall of Famer or one of the best goaltenders in NHL history he needs to win a championship. These playoffs Lundqvist has been great with a 2.03 GAA and .928 save percentage. Still, Lundqvist is 42-44 in the postseason. Not exactly a great record for one of the games best. While Lundqvist needs the Cup to cement his legacy, the Rangers need him to be in top form. With an aggressively fast offense that gambles and doesn’t feature a great deal of firepower in terms of goal scorers, strong goaltending is key. Whether it’s Chicago’s explosive offense or facing the Kings Jonathan Quick, no matter who the Rangers play they will need Lundqvist at his peak. While game five might have been a fluke, if Henrik Lundqvist can build on his game six performance, the question won’t be if but when the Rangers hoist the cup!

Times Up! Why Sandy Alderson must be fired

May 27, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Sandy Alderson needs to be fired

Meet the mess! Meet the mess! Opponents step on up and beat the Mets! Sandy Alderson needs to be fired by the New York Mets as he has driven this proud franchise further into the abyss. Many people will argue that his failings are not completely his fault, evidenced by the penny-pinching Wilpons whose finances have been in tatters since the Bernie Madoff scandal. Ownership is a major part of the problem, but unfortunately the Wilpons have been adamant about not selling the team. In his four years as the general manager the Mets have been an embarrassment. The Mets under Alderson have a 247-289 record after the Memorial Day weekend.

Why does Sandy need to go? There has to be a shakeup to show that losing is no longer acceptable. Despite the money problems, the Mets still have an above average payroll and had money to spend this past offseason. Once again, Alderson did little to improve this team. I won’t even go into the embarrassing state of the Mets bullpen during Alderson’s tenure. It’s been a joke. Look, I understand that the Mets do not have the Yankees money and also believe that developing prospects is the best way to improve but the Mets have failed completely in both regards. They have not spent money, and if they have unwisely, or developed good young players. Let’s look back at Alderson’s track record.

Fixing the Mets bullpen? Something that every year Alderson says he is going to do but come April Mets’ fans start praying the second Terry Collins comes to take the ball from the starter. One word, disaster. Bringing in pieces through free agency? If anything the Mets have lost more pieces in free agency then gained. They lost Jose Reyes, a great homegrown piece and waited until the past offseason to open the checkbook. While I did like the Granderson and Colon signings, those were the only two good signing the Mets made. They did not bring in a short stop or capable relievers and instead spent 7.5 million dollars on Chris Young? Chris Young? Seriously? Alderson, Shin Soo Choo and Stephen Drew were available at reasonable prices. Young is an overrated player and has been outplayed by Bobby Abreu who will probably be playing shuffle board in Florida next year.

Despite their failure in free agency, the big reason Alderson should be fired is because of his failure to develop young talent. When he was hired that was what he sold Mets fans. He may not be a proactive member in free agency but he sold Mets fans that he would build through prospects. What has he done? Matt Harvey was drafted in the former regime and he’s the only excitement the Mets have experienced in the past four years. Zach Wheeler? A lot of upside but has been spinning his wheels in the majors. Travis d’Arnaud? He’s struggled with injury and hitting as an everyday player. Noah Syndergaard? May need tommy john surgery. While the starting pitching has been a strength there are no major leaguers in terms of everyday players that can contribute. Lucas Duda and Ike Davis have been a disaster at first, there is no shortstop, and the outfield has been such a disaster that the government should be sending the Mets funds.

Looking back at Alderson’s tenure the biggest failure was the mishandling of Jose Reyes. Alderson had two scenarios. Sign Reyes long-term or trade him for prospects. That failure not only left the Mets without their dynamic home-grown shortstop, but also without pieces that could be helping them in the present.

Alderson has not built this team the Wright way

The Mets are a disaster, plain and simple. Not only has Alderson failed to change the roster, but more importantly the culture. The Mets were losers when Alderson arrived and are still losers. In a city with so much passion for its sports teams, mediocrity is not acceptable. New York needs a change. Not only should Alderson be shown the door, but also Terry Collins. Collins deserves much less of the blame, but this organization needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. That also means the owners, although that will probably never happen. Hey New Yorkers! Are there any billionaires interested in a franchise? Please buy the Mets we need a savior! Ok that was a hail mary, but the Mets should be completely overhauled. Start spending money on players and focus on finding everyday players who can contribute. The Mets may not be any closer to the postseason since Alderson took over, but if they want to take a step forward instead of back tracking into obscurity, he needs to go.

The Mets can hire and fire staff and bring in new players, but the most important thing that the Mets need to bring back to their fans the most important thing any professional franchise needs, hope.

America’s Grade: Dallas Cowboys Draft Grade

May 23, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / 4 Comments

Round 1: Zach Martin

Protecting Tony Romo

With the first pick, much to the dismay of Cowboys fans, Dallas selected offensive lineman Zach Martin. Despite the pleas to draft Johnny Football, the Cowboys made the right pick. Trust me, it would have been entertaining to see Jerry World have Manziel in the center ring, but with the enormous contract of Tony Romo that would never happen. In order to protect their muli-million dollar man at quarterback, the Cowboys made the smart selection of Martin. He started every game in college and can play every position on the line. He will be a day one starter at tackle or guard and was the safest pick for Dallas at this point. Could become staple on their offensive line for next decade.

Grade: A

Round 2: Demarcus Lawrence

Demarcus Ware’s Replacement?

Without question the Cowboys defense was abysmal last season. Not only did the team struggle on the field, but with arguably their best playmaker in Demarcus Ware heading to Denver, this defense has problems everywhere. To address the rebuilding, the Cowboys are relying on Lawrence to be the foundation. An outside pass rusher who can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt, his flexibility means that he can moved all round in the Cowboys defense. He maybe lacking in run defense, there is no question that Lawrence can get to the quarterback. He has some big shoes to fill in Ware’s absence, but could be a consistent double-digit sack artist if utilized correctly. Dallas needs to get after the quarterback and believe that Lawrence will be happy to oblige.

Grade: A

Round 4: Anthony Hitchens

A big reach

With 5 picks in the seventh round, it’s puzzling why the Cowboys would pick a player who projected to be there. Hitchens was a productive player in college but at 6’0 and 240 pounds Hitchens will at best be a backup in the Cowboys new 4-3 defense. He fits the mold for an outside backer, but with Bruce Carter already at the weak linebacker position, Hitchens will probably be just a backup and only see a few snaps this season. With other needs and talent still available, the Cowboys stretched for a backup next season.

Grade: D+

Round 5: Devin Street

Another weapon for Romo

The Cowboys made a nice pick with Street here in the fifth round. Despite lacking elite speed, Street’s 6’3 size and great hands make him a nice red zone target for Tony Romo. With Dez Bryant the clear number one receiver on the depth chart, Street could work his way up into the number two or three spot by the end of the season. Terrance Williams will be opposite Bryant opening day, but don’t be surprised if Street becomes a solid third receiver for Cowboys. A good pick, but the Cowboys offense is not the problem. Would have been better off improving their terrible defense but at least they get a nice offensive piece.

Grade: B

Round 7: Ben Gardner

Building up D-Line

A puzzling pick. Despite their needs on the defensive line the main problem for the Cowboys is rushing the passer. Gardner is an above average run stuffer who struggles rushing the passer. If anything the only reason this pick makes sense is if the Cowboys still are unsure about what base defense to use. While they are transitioning to a 4-3, Gardner would be a solid 3-4 end and could be a backup plan if the 4-3 does not pan out. Either way, if the Cowboys do decide to stick with the 4-3 the 264 pound Gardner can’t play inside. Will have to play well on special teams or could be cut be end of training camp. Could be the case of square peg trying to fit into round hole.

Grade: D+

Round 7: Will Smith

Not that Will Smith

No, not Will Smith the actor, although you never know with Jerry Jones in his constant quest to be in the spotlight. Smith is a better prospect here in the seventh round then Hitchens was in round four. Good size and speed has the tools to develop into a versatile outside linebacker. Fits 4-3 mold and despite average run stopping skills and raw pass rushing ability, Smith is great in coverage. If he develops could be a nice role player on defense and special teams. Has more upside then Hitchens and could be a dark horse to be a late season starter and compete for a starting job next season.

Grade: B

Round 7: Ahmad Dixon

Cowboys finally address woeful secondary

Is it just me or is Jerry Jones sticking to Texas prospects? Maybe trying to make up for not drafting Johnny Manziel by drafting players his fellow Texans will know. The safety position was a disaster in Dallas last season. While the team could have addressed this in round one, Dallas waited to the seventh to add depth to the safety position. Dixon is a stout run stopping safety, whose limitations in pass coverage mean he is better suited for strong safety position. Wilcox and Heath maybe in front on the depth chart right now, but if Dixon can learn the playbook and work on his coverage, then he maybe a backup for 2014. Unlikely to start this year, but could be a nice project in two to three years if given time to develop.

Grade: B –

Round 7: Ken Bishop

Run stopper

Cowboys could see Bishop developing into a future run stopper in their 4-3 scheme. Small school prospect who will be better off in rotational role, will have to prove his worth to make 53 man roster. Could be destined to make practice squad in order to develop or could be a training camp casualty. Despite drafting two linebacker already, Yawin Smallwood was available and could have been a steal here. Missed opportunity for the boys.

Grade: C

Round 7: Terrance Mitchell

Steal in seventh round

How Mitchell was available in the seventh round I will never know. Good size makes up for lack of explosive speed and burst. Very raw player with a decent ceiling. Could make a strong case to be third cornerback on the depth chart next season or at very least fourth corner. Provides very good depth and young prospect. Left school too early, but if developed correctly could become a very good corner.

Grade: A –

Overall Grade: B –

Some hits and missed, but overall a solid draft considering lack of picks

With only four picks in the first sixth rounds, the Cowboys were under a lot of pressure to get it right. While it would have benefitted them to probably move up by trading some of their five seventh round picks, the Cowboys were limited in the top end of this draft. Zack Martin may not have been the pick Cowboys fans wanted but he was the pick they needed. A safe pick that will shore up the offensive line and help Demarco Murray and Tomy Romo instantly. The loss of Demarcus Ware is a big one on an already depleted defense but Lawrence will be a nice addition and whose pass rushing ability will fit either the 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. After two great picks, the Cowboys whiffed in round four. The problem? Not only did they select better linebacking prospects in the seventh round, but also missed out on some good receivers and safeties available. Street is a nice edition in round five, but receiver wasn’t a primary need for this team. Despite eventually filling all of their needs, Dallas waited until the very end of the seventh round to it. There were some nice developmental picks in the seventh round, but it’s hard to imagine all five making the fifty-three man roster or even the practice. The good news is that the Cowboys did not completely screw up this draft and take Manziel in round one. The bad news is, their will be minimal impact by these prospects this year as these players will probably make their impact down the road after some development. They may have a lot of holes, especially on defense, but the silver lining is the Cowboys are still in the NFC East. No team significantly improved in the draft or free agency in this division and I still believe Dallas is the second best team in the division. I predict 8-8 in 2014, but at least this draft is keeping the Cowboys heading in the right direction instead of heading for a complete disaster.

The Return of the King?

May 22, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

The King returning to his former kingdom

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the jackpot. For the third time in four years the dismal franchise will have the number one pick in the NBA Draft. With the most talented draft class in probably the last decade, the Cavaliers could be poised to be a playoff team in the near future. However, the true jackpot may not be in this draft, but possibly in the homecoming of their former savior.

With a strong young nucleus, this years number one pick could be the final key to luring back Lebron James from South Beach. Many Clevelanders might not want their former king to return to Cleveland as the wounds from his departure are still fresh and deep. Still, if Lebron James was to come back the Cavaliers would be favorites to win the title.

It may only be speculation at this point, but Cleveland has put themselves in a great position to entice James. Miami may win a third title this year, but their future is in question. Despite great ownership and a talented roster, the Heat are getting older and may only have one or two true title runs left. Despite this, James may choose to stay in Miami because of the lifestyle it has to offer and the larger market available there rather than Cleveland. Los Angeles and New York are long shots to get James in the future, but at least they provide the market for the Lebron James brand. Even though the end goal will be to attract James back to Cleveland, it will still depend on what Lebron James wants to do. Either way, the Cavaliers have made themselves as attractive a destination as possible. If they can add a legitimate coach, it will be hard to imagine that James could turn down a young talented nucleus with a great head coach. He’s in the business of winning, and that’s a winning formula.

King James may not return to his former empire, but even without James the Cavaliers now have the young pieces to become a competitive basketball team. With a young and upcoming roster they could soon become a perennial contender and maybe even a championship contender. However, in a perfect world the King will return to his people and bring them the championship they so rightfully deserve.

Rich Sports Talk

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Author: Rich Sports Talk