My Sports News Digest

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson may be the prospect in this year’s draft class with the fewest amount of flaws. There is no consensus about who is the No. 1 pick; folks don’t even agree who is the best defensive end, defensive tackle, or quarterback.  The one guy everyone seems to love is Peterson.   He looks to be as safe a future Pro Bowler as you can find in this draft. Even though Peterson has plenty of straight-line speed, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he could wind up being an All-Pro safety in the end.  To this point, NFL teams aren’t [...]

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The Eagles fired McDermott on Saturday, ending his brief tenure as defensive coordinator less than a week after the team was knocked out of the playoffs. McDermott’s defense received plenty of criticism this past season, especially for its performance in the red zone, and his job was seen as vulnerable following Philadelphia’s 21-16 loss to Green Bay last Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid had said in his Monday press conference that McDermott would be back, but five days later was proven wrong. McDermott led the defense for two seasons after the death of longtime coordinator Jim Johnson from skin cancer. [...]

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It has been a very slow weekend here at CFT, but there is nevertheless some very sad news coming out of Columbus where Jake Nickle, a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at Ohio State, died while playing a pickup basketball game at OSU’s practice facility on Friday. The 22-year-old collapsed during the game and was transported to the Ohio State Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. No cause of death has been determined yet. Nickle played defensive end at Capital University and began volunteering with OSU’s strength and conditioning coaches in January. Volunteer coach or not, Nickle was doing [...]

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CLEVELAND – Baron Davis’ debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers will have to wait. Davis, acquired on Thursday from the Los Angeles Clippers, won’t play in Cleveland’s game against Philadelphia on Sunday. Center Semih Erden and forward Luke Harangody, acquired in a trade with Boston on Thursday, also won’t play. Coach Byron Scott said the new players haven’t had a chance to practice with the team. The Cavaliers don’t play again until Wednesday night against San Antonio. Scott said Davis, who has been bothered by a sore knee, is questionable for that game.

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No terms of the deal were released. However, the Oakland Tribune reported on Thursday that Routt will be guaranteed million over the first two years with the contract potentially being worth .5 million overall. Routt is a six-year veteran and has spent his entire career in Oakland. Last season he started 15 of the 16 games he appeared in and had two interceptions, 13 passes defensed and 55 tackles. During his time in the NFL, he has appeared in 94 games and has six interceptions, 35 passes defensed and 188 tackles.

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Offensive linemen tend to be forgotten, at every level of football.  Indeed, we posted a poll with the finalists for the PFT Heroes Award for the best offensive lineman of 2010. And then we forgot all about it. We’ve finally remembered.  Based on your input we’re giving the award to Browns left tackle Joe Thomas. Thomas, a four-year veteran, has started all 64 games of his career.  He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All Pro. The other finalists were Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, Chiefs guard Brian Waters, Buccaneers tackle Donald Penn, Packers guard Josh Sitton, and Falcons tackle [...]

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Not that it really matters all that much, given the player’s extensive experience at this level, but Iowa could very well be without their leading receiver when spring practice opens next month. According to Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, senior-to-be Marvin McNutt underwent surgery recently to repair damage to his thumb and shoulder.  As a result of the procedures, the wide receiver will very likely be held out of the spring sessions. McNutt should be completely healthy for the start of summer camp in a few months, however. Perhaps the only issue with McNutt presumably being unable to [...]

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MIAMI – Carmelo Anthony took some easy shots about 12 feet from the basket Saturday afternoon, swishing just about every attempt. All were left-handed – a clear sign that the New York Knicks’ newly acquired star was having plenty of distress in his right elbow again. Regardless, Anthony said he would “without a doubt” be in the lineup Sunday night when the Knicks visit LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat in a game that has all the makings of being far from another ordinary part of the NBA’s marathon regular season. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said [...]

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