FanNation

With his $72M contract, when will Matt Ryan start?

Having criticized excessive rookie contracts in the NFL a few weeks ago, news of Matt Ryan’s $72m contract has left me somewhat aghast and dismayed.

I can understand paying Ryan more than than Jake Long if there was a consensus that Ryan was the best player and only fell to number three because the Dolphins already had a franchise quarterback (hypothetically).

The fact is however:, Ryan was never perceived as the best player in the draft and never a realistic shot to go first overall. He was perceived as the best QB in a rather weak QB class. Maybe I’m a little pre-occupied with perceptions but I think this contract is a little on the excessive side and I’m fairly sure that other NFL owners will think likewise.

Barry Bonds has a 50-50 chance of playing in 2008!

Reports that Federal prosecutors have unveiled a revamped indictment against Barry Bonds were a timely reminder that the home run leader still exists and is still unemployed.

Like I have said before, it saddens me that Bonds remains jobless. We are being deprived of a great story and the controversy/pantomime that a Bonds return would undoubtedly entail.

So what are the chances that I will get my wish and when is it likely to happen?

Before the All-star Break?

Man Utd vs Chelsea: the new Cold War and arms race!

Its Man Utd vs Chelsea, the Manchester Reds vs Chelski or the USA vs Russia (the Glazers vs Abramovich, if you haven’t yet got the basis of the analogy). Its the Cold War version 2.0; played out in England. And with only the Champions League final left to go in the 2007/2008 season, the next stage of the arms race will soon begin.

The upper hand in this Cold War is currently with the Reds (thats ironic). Their recent success can be attributed to greatly improved performances from weapons which where initially deemed unworthy of the price paid for them. (Carrick, Vidic, Evra, even Ronaldo) and the continuing effectiveness of old reliables (Giggs and Scholes). Meanwhile Chelskis recent history of purchasing high priced but ultimately ineffectual weapons (Ballack, Shevchenko and Malouda) has put them on the back foot.

From redemption to regression for Kobe Bryant?

In response to:
Lakers sore at Kobe's OT shooting
Kobe Bryant valiantly carried the Lakers through regulation's final five minutes, using his head and his heart and the best Mother's Day passing that didn't involve a brunch plate. But once he pulled his team into the overtime, he seemingly abandoned them there. He insisted on shooting even as his wracked body was betraying those shots. He forgot about passing even though that is what the Lakers had done best. The Lakers survived regulation thanks to him, but lost in overtime seemingly because of him. Coach Phil Jackson blamed the overtime problems on Bryant's teammates for not working hard enough to get the ball. "I was angry at his teammates for dropping the ball in his lap," Jackson said. "I felt guys just bailed out on him." And most of Bryant's teammates received it with wonder. They took exactly three of the team's 10 shots in overtime, and it was their fault?

How and when will Ken Griffey Jnr retire a Mariner?

In response to:
Griffey denies Seattle trade rumors
Ken Griffey Jr. cleared up the trade speculation that arose this week after the Red right fielder reiterated his desire to retire as a Seattle Mariner. Or did he? Asked if he would accept a trade back to Seattle, where he spent the first 11 of his 20 seasons, he said, "I haven't even thought about that. "When I finish playing, I want to retire there," Griffey said over the weekend at Shea Stadium. "Does that mean I want to play for them? That's my first organization. That's who I want to retire with. When I'm done, that's where I'm gonna go. I give examples like [NFL running back] Emmitt Smith. He signed a one-day contract [with the Dallas Cowboys] and went home."