All of this gets into the realm of hypotheticals, and that’s sort of the point. We have no clue if New York would be a lottery team sans Anthony, and if you are going to posit they would be, you have to marshal at least some evidence. And the evidence we do have indicates they may well have been a solid no. 7 or no. 8 seed without him.
(via Grantland)
NFL Draft Hangover
3 weeks, 5 days ago
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[Dion] Jordan is a symbol of this draft in one very prominent way; for whatever dreams his athleticism fosters in the hearts of general managers, he hasn't actually played all that great during his time at school....
The Bills need to be all-in with Manuel and use the rest of their draft to shore up holes on the offensive line and at receiver....
I don't think there was really a problem with [Sharrif] Floyd inasmuch as he was just second best on a bunch of draft boards, always very close to being chosen without being the guy until that 23rd pick. Compared to expectations, Floyd was the value pick of the first round. (via Grantland) , who concludes with a prediction about Manti Te'o: "Te'o will be best on a 4-3 team that's thin at middle linebacker, which leaves obvious targets in Cincinnati (37), the New York Giants (49), and Chicago (50)."
The Bills need to be all-in with Manuel and use the rest of their draft to shore up holes on the offensive line and at receiver....
I don't think there was really a problem with [Sharrif] Floyd inasmuch as he was just second best on a bunch of draft boards, always very close to being chosen without being the guy until that 23rd pick. Compared to expectations, Floyd was the value pick of the first round. (via Grantland) , who concludes with a prediction about Manti Te'o: "Te'o will be best on a 4-3 team that's thin at middle linebacker, which leaves obvious targets in Cincinnati (37), the New York Giants (49), and Chicago (50)."
What’s most important, though, is that the players’ dynamism mirrors that of the league’s thinking. The increased complexity of NFL defenses has forced coaches to create game plans through which they can dictate terms. It’s the players who don’t fit traditional boxes who make that possible. And when Tavon Austin is the first skill player off the board tonight, it'll be no wonder why.
(via Grantland) , on the versatile West Virginia receiver who has risen up draft charts to become a Top 10 lock.
I’m not saying this is right, but there’s something magical to me, something literally enchanted, about a place that can inhale a clutch of Victorian sailing ships and leave behind a handful of brass buttons and a copy of The Vicar of Wakefield. Terrifying, but enchanted. That high white vanishing fog — doesn’t it call to you, too?
(via Grantland)
Darrelle Revis Traded From Jets to Bucs
1 month ago
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I don't know whether this trade will end up being what any of the parties involved hope it will be. I just know that it's depressing to have something as wonderful as Darrelle Revis and then give it away for some unknown quantity. It's just too difficult to get another Darrelle Revis.
(via Grantland)
"The Marathon"
on 16/4/13
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The Marathon was the old, drunk uncle of Boston sports, the last of the true festival events. Every other one of our major sporting rodeos is locked down, and tightened up, and Fail-Safed until the Super Bowl now is little more than NORAD with bad rock music and offensive tackles. You can't do that to the Marathon. There was no way to do it. There was no way to lock down, or tighten up, or Fail-Safe into Security Theater a race that covers 26.2 miles, a race that travels from town to town, a race that travels past people's houses. There was no way to garrison the Boston Marathon. Now there will be. Someone will find a way to do it. And I do not know what the race will be now. I literally haven't the vaguest clue.
(via Grantland)
On Josh Hamilton's Texas Homecoming
on 8/4/13
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BOOOOOOO! It was a loud, soul-cleansing, turn-the-anger-up-to-11 boo. A boo that seemed to echo to Grand Prairie. If you listened, you could detect small hiccups, little stop-and-starts in which Rangers fans caught their collective breath. It sounded like a car that refuses to start: BOOOOOOOoooo … BOOOOOOOoooo … BOOOOOOOoooo.
(via Grantland)
National Reax: 49ers/Seahawks WR Deals
on 12/3/13
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You can't fault Seattle for trying to make a move to put their offense over the top, and if they can somehow keep Harvin healthy long enough to fulfill his promise, this deal could look like a steal in two years. But with the risks related to Harvin's health and (reported) attitude issues, it could also look like an enormous misstep.
(via Grantland) , adding: "In a market where other options (Wallace? Greg Jennings?) would have been available without requiring draft pick compensation, Harvin will need to be an elite player to justify this trade and the contract extension he's about to receive."
The End of the Yankees
on 7/3/13
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It's not necessarily a bad lineup, or at least it won't be once Granderson and Teixeira return, and assuming no one else gets hurt. But there's no there there, and if the old guys start playing like old guys, the downside risk is enormous.
(via Grantland) , adding: "The Evil Emperor has no clothes. Even the Yankees are capable of down cycles. This looks like the start of one."
"Geek Love": Last Word from Sloan
on 4/3/13
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Some of the panels suffered from vague statements and nonspecific examples in the interest of institutional discretion, and I get the sense that in the future we may be seeing more "topical" talks. This year, the concept of "Big Data" (such as the SportVU stuff, for example) was a clear theme, and the enthusiasm of the people discussing its vast potential shined through.
(via Grantland) , adding: "By and large, the discussions at this year's SSAC routinely came back to the importance of communication, collaboration, and context."
