Author: Dave Ettinger

Dave is a Trending News Sports Writer for Athlon Sports, covering breaking and trending news across major sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, college football and basketball. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave’s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism. In addition to his role at Athlon Sports, Dave works in TV Production at ESPN, where he manages the production, editing, and processing of shows and events that re-air across ESPN's network of channels. Prior to joining ESPN, Dave served as an Executive Producer at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, further solidifying his expertise in sports media. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Communications from SUNY College at Old Westbury, bringing both his education and extensive industry experience to his roles across various platforms.

When A Dream Actually Comes TRUE!!

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

We all dream.

Dream of what we will one day become. Some dream of being a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. While others dream of being a professional athlete (MLB player was my dream). The latter, is nearly impossible. Only the most talented and luckiest of the lucky become professional athletes. Sure, there are the stories of LeBron James and Sidney Crosby. The phenoms who made it. But every so often, a professional athlete takes the road less traveled.

Meet Scott Foster….

Scott Foster is a 36-year old accountant from Oak Park, Illinois. He also dabbles in some hockey from time to time. Foster played for the Petrolia Jets in the Western Ontario Hockey League in 2000-2001 and also played at Western Michigan University from 2002-2006. And his current team:

Johnny’s IceHouse in a Chicago Rec League!!

You can’t make this stuff up.

Foster has attended 15 Blackhawks’ games this season as their emergency backup goalie. That means that in order to get into a game, both the starting and backup goalie would have to get hurt on the same night….

Enter Scott Foster….

On Thursday night, March 29th, Starting goalie, Anton Forsberg, injured himself during pregame warmups, forcing Collin Delia to start the game. This launched Foster into the backup role, meaning he was one more injury away from making his NHL debut. And with 14:01 to play in the 3rd period, Delia left the game as well. This was Foster’s moment. He would be responsible for preserving a 6-2 lead over the Winnipeg Jets. Preserve he would. Foster went 7 for 7 on saves, and the Blackhawks won.

Foster, obviously, was named the 1st Star of the game!!

Check out Foster in action:

Following the game, Foster had this to say:

“A few hours ago I was sitting on my computer typing on the 10-key, and now I’m standing in front of you guys, just finished 14 and a half minutes of NHL hockey. From my perspective, this is a dream regardless. This is something that no one can ever take away from me, it’s something I can go home and tell my kids.”

Share your dreams in the comment section below….

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It’s Championship Time!!

April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Then, there were two.

Nearly three weeks ago, 68 teams had their sights set on the ultimate prize; a national championship. Today, only two teams are left standing: Villanova and Michigan.

Monday night, Villanova will look to capture their 2nd national championship in three years. They currently stand as 7-point favorites. That’s a lot of points for a national championship game. And Michigan is playing as well as Villanova right now. No, they can’t light it up from 3-point range like Villanova, but they can still overwhelm opponents on both ends of the floor.

It would be hard for Villanova to repeat their shooting performance from their Final Four victory over Kansas (18-40 on 3-pointers)!! But expect them to come close. This will be a competitive game that comes down to the final two minutes.

Tune into TBS tonight @ the ungodly hour of 9:20 P.M. EST to catch all the action. As much as I want to watch this game, sadly, I will be sound asleep by 10:30 P.M.

Score Prediction: Villanova 74, Michigan 69

Imperferction

On the women’s side of things, UConn did not win the national championship. That doesn’t sound right. Undefeated heading into Friday’s final four matchup with Notre Dame, Uconn would fall, to the eventual champion, 91-89 F/OT.

Notre Dame’s championship victory Sunday night involved yet another buzzer beater by Arike Ogunbowale. Notre Dame’s junior guard hit the shot that took down UConn in overtime. And then she hit the shot that hoisted the trophy. While it wasn’t Kris Jenkins from 2016, it was pretty close.

Snow Baseball

It’s April. Oh, you thought you were done with snow for the year?? HA! So silly you are. While the MLB season is trying to get into full swing, New York (and other less important cities) may have an obstacle to hurdle today. With 4-6 inches of snow expected to accumulate in the Tri-State area, the Yankees’ home-opener is in slight jeopardy. Currently set for 1:05 P.M., my guess is it’ll be postponed allowing time for this snow to melt (it will). If not, the Yankees will have a double-header in their future.

Speaking of Yankees’ fans (I’m a die hard one as well), please RELAX!! The Yankees aren’t going to give up grand slams every day. Their bullpen will be a strength, not a weakness. And they’ll win 90+ games, not miss the playoffs. People are SO reactionary it makes me angry. Stop hanging on every moment of every game. IT’S A 162-GAME SEASON!!!!

Enjoy what should be the final snow of the year!! And enjoy your snow baseball!!

Who will win the Men’s National Championship?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

Snow + Sweet 16 = Springtime!!

March 22, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Now that’s what I call SPRING!!

The 2nd day of Spring brought the Tri-State Area a care package; A FOOT OF SNOW!!

You won’t find whining and complaining here. I LOVE SNOW!!

Go ahead, call me crazy. You won’t be the first. For those who live in New York (like myself), and have for 10+ years, what do you expect?? 60’s and sunny on March 1st?! That’s not how this works people. The Tri-State Area generally gets hit with a major snow storm every March. If you don’t like it, move to Florida….

Anyway, alongside this beautiful snow day; basketball. Before we get to the basketball on hand this evening, let’s take a look at the amazing feats the NBA provided Wednesday night.

Superman!!

Self-proclaimed Superman, Dwight Howard, had a historic Wednesday. He posted the 1st 30-30 night in nearly 8 years, and the 2nd in nearly 40 years. Not since Kevin Love in 2010 (and Moses Malone in 1982) has an NBA player hung 30 points and 30 rebounds on an opponent in a single game. The opponent?? The Brooklyn Nets. I know, I know, it’s the Nets. Listen, 30 rebounds is 30 rebounds. That’s some Wilt Chamberlain stuff right there.

The King

Self-proclaimed King, LeBron James, had a historic Wednesday of his own.

35 points, 17 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and ZERO turnovers.

That’s insane. Playing without Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr., LeBron wanted to send a message to the #1 seed, Toronto Raptors. 132-129. MESSAGE SENT. MESSAGE DELIVERED. LeBron, candid as always, said this prior to the game, “I’ll be available, so we got a chance.” Oh, they have a chance alright. With a healthy LeBron James on the floor, expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals — again.

March Madness!!

The Sweet 16 commences this evening, with 4 games on the schedule:

#11 Loyola-Chicago vs. #7 Nevada (CBS @ 7:07 P.M.)

#7 Texas A&M vs. #3 Michigan (TBS @ 7:37 P.M.)

#9 Kansas State vs. #5 Kentucky (CBS @ 9:37 P.M.)

#9 Florida State vs. #4 Gonzaga (TBS @ 10:07 P.M.)

Loyola-Chicago has won both of their games by a combined 3 points. Nevada is fresh off of a 22-point comeback. Which Cinderella story will prevail??

Score Prediction: 69-68 Loyola-Chicago

Texas A&M manhandled UNC in the 2nd round. With one of the most potent frontlines in college basketball, can Texas A&M do the same to Michigan??

Score Prediction: 70-64 Michigan

Kansas State was given a super early Christmas present when UMBC knocked off Virginia. Their road will get a lot tougher tonight, as they run into a Kentucky team playing as well as anyone in the country.

Score Prediction: 67-60 Kentucky

Florida State took a page out of UMBC’s playbook, knocking out #1 seed, Xavier. Can they continue their strong play against a tournament ready, Gonzaga team??

Score Prediction: 80-72 Gonzaga

Who will advance to the Elite 8 tonight?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

The (Actual) 20 Most Dominant Athletes Of The Past 20 Years

March 21, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

It’s the worst list ever made — EVER!!

And it’s not even that close.

In celebration of ESPN the Magazine turning 20, Peter Keating put out a list of the 20 Most Dominant Athletes of the Past 20 Years. The concept; great. The execution; not so much.

Keep in mind, this list is the most DOMINANT athletes, not the BEST athletes:

Peter’s “List” DaveTalksSports’ List

20.) Tom Brady 20.) Marta

19.) Manny Pacquiao 19.) Barry Bonds

18.) Mike Trout 18.) Kobe Bryant

17.) Barry Bonds 17.) Allyson Felix

16.) Allyson Felix 16.) Diana Taurasi

15.) Novak Djokovic 15.) Rafael Nadal

14.) Cristiano Ronaldo 14.) Cristiano Ronaldo

13.) Lauren Jackson 13.) Michael Schumacher

12.) Serena Williams 12.) Lionel Messi

11.) Lionel Messi 11.) Jimmie Johnson

10.) Usain Bolt 10.) Annika Sorenstam

9.) Marta 9.) LeBron James

8.) Floyd Mayweather Jr. 8.) Tom Brady

7.) Michael Schumacher 7.) Floyd Mayweather Jr.

6.) Annika Sorenstam 6.) Usain Bolt

5.) Roger Federer 5.) Lance Armstrong

4.) Jimmie Johnson 4.) Roger Federer

3.) Peyton Manning 3.) Serena Williams

2.) LeBron James 2.) Tiger Woods

1.) Tiger Woods 1.) Michael Phelps

Honestly, I don’t know where to start. This is literally the worst list ever constructed by man, or woman. My head nearly exploded when I first saw Peter Keating’s list. I highlighted Peter’s most egregious errors.

I’m convinced Peter made this list strictly to garner attention (it’s working) because no one with a wealth of sports’ knowledge could possibly, rationally, reasonably, sanely, proudly publish this list.

The most dominant athlete of the past 20 years is Michael Phelps. He won multiple gold medals, in multiple events, spanning over 4 Olympics. His only competition for nearly 20 years was himself. He holds the record for most gold medals ever (23). For Peter not to have him on the list is unfathomable.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning drew comparisons throughout their careers. They played in the same era, and they often met in the postseason. However, no one in their right mind would ever claim Peyton Manning was better, or more DOMINANT, than Tom Brady. Brady, simply, is the best football player that ever lived.

No disrespect to any of the following athletes, but they don’t belong on this list: Mike Trout, Novak Djokovic, Lauren Jackson, Peyton Manning, and Manny Pacquiao. It’s as simple as that.

Say what you want about him, but Lance Armstrong not being on this list is almost as egregious as Michael Phelps’ exclusion. Don’t start with me over the drug doping. EVERYBODY CHEATS. Armstrong won 7 Tour De France’s in a row. And if Peter is going to put Barry Bonds on the list, there’s no reason Armstrong can’t join him.

I hope this article lands in front of Peter Keating’s eyeballs: PETER, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!!

Did I leave anyone out?? Do I have someone who doesn’t belong?? Post your list in the comment section below.

The Jets Did Something SMART?!?!

March 20, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

The NFL is simple.

You can’t win without a quarterback.

Rather than waste time we can never get back, just trust this is an indisputable fact. Skeptical?? The list of Super Bowl winning QBs is all the evidence one would ever need. Listen, if you still think the “Trent Dilfers” of the world are a sustainable option at the QB position, you probably still think jean shorts are socially acceptable….

Jean shorts. The perfect segue to the New York Jets.

This past Saturday, the New York Jets shook up the NFL Draft. They traded up from the #6 overall pick to the #3 overall pick:

New York Jets Receive:

2018 #3 overall pick

Indianapolis Colts Receive:

2018 #6 overall pick
2018 2nd round pick (37)
2018 2nd round pick (49)
2019 2nd round pick

From the Colts point of view, this trade makes sense. With Andrew Luck set to return, the Colts don’t plan to draft a QB in the 1st round. Also, they’re in the midst of a rebuild, and stockpiling draft picks during a rebuild is never a bad idea.

As for the Jets, this is a SMART TRADE. I’ve listened to countless Jets’ fans criticize this trade, claiming they gave up TOO MUCH. That’s idiotic. The name of the game is find a franchise QB. In this QB rich draft, the Jets have that unique opportunity. Therefore, they had to do whatever possible to land a top-3 pick in the draft.

While you’re crying about three 2nd picks, I’m applauding aggressiveness.

The Jets HAD to jump ahead of the Denver Broncos. While they signed Case Keenum this offseason, they’re still in search of a REAL QB. Also, the Buffalo Bills were trying to acquire the #3 overall pick as well, so beating them to the punch was necessary. The Jets MUST love each of the top-3 QBs (Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen) equally, for this trade can’t be made if they feel otherwise.

Dumb dumb fans should applaud general manager, Mike Maccagnan, for getting this deal done without including any future 1st round picks.

The Jets’ QB situation went from an absolute mess to pretty attractive overnight. Jeremy Bates is the Jets’ new offensive coordinator and has been a QB coach for years. Josh McCown may stink, but there are worse QBs to learn from. And Teddy Bridgewater, if healthy, will spark the competitive juices of the Jets’ newest QB.

Well done Mike Maccagnan!! Now, all you have to do is not screw this up. If Maccagnan drafts the Jets’ QB for the next 10-12 years, he’ll find his pot at the end of the rainbow; job security in New York.

The Moment Impossible Becomes Possible!!

March 19, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Best. Tournament. EVER!!

This has been, without a doubt, the best NCAA Tournament in the history of college basketball. It’s had everything; buzzer-beaters, CINDERELLA STORIES, and unreal comebacks. Remember when I said Day 1 would be tough to top?? Let’s just say, if Day 1 was jumping off the high-dive at your local pool, Day 2 was jumping off an 80-foot waterfall without making a splash.

Cinderella

Apparently, the 136th time is the charm. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded from 32 to 64 teams in 1985, a 16-seed had never beaten a 1-seed. Friday night, the UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) Retrievers changed sports’ history, forever. Some of the 135 teams came close with 1-point and overtime losses, but no David’s had ever slain Goliath.

Virginia was the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. They won the ACC regular season title and ACC Tournament, and held a record of 31-2 in a conference that sent 9 teams to the NCAA Tournament. UMBC, finished 2nd in the America East Conference.

This is the biggest upset in sports’ history.

Bigger than Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson. Bigger than the United States over Russia in the 1980 Olympics. Bigger than any other upset you can think of.

And UMBC didn’t just squeak out a victory. They dismantled Virginia, 74-54. Of the six Retrievers to score, four finished in double figures. But this historic win was made possible by senior guard, Jairus Lyles’, 28 point effort. At halftime, the game was tied at 21. UMBC must have had some of “Michael’s Special Stuff”, because they shot out of their locker room like a cannonball and didn’t look back. Allow me to put UMBC’s 53 2nd-half points in perspective. Virginia held 16 of their 34 opponents this season to 53 points or less; FOR AN ENTIRE GAME!! Virginia also didn’t allow 70 points in a game prior to Friday night’s embarrassment.

Now That’s A Weekend

Nevada’s epic comeback. Michigan’s last second buzzer-beater. Loyola-Chicago is in the Sweet 16. Florida State took down Xavier. Syracuse outlasted Michigan State. Texas A&M’s ‘Texas Size’ beat down of UNC.

Did I leave any storylines out??

With 10:49 left to play, Nevada trailed 65-43. Thanks to Cody Martin’s 25-points, Nevada completed one of the most epic comebacks in NCAA Tournament history, 75-73. Martin scored 11 points in the final 10:48 and played all 40 minutes. If you missed this game, I feel badly for you.

Michigan Vs. Houston was a close, competitive game throughout. Houston led by as many as 5 points, while Michigan’s biggest lead was 6. A trip to the Sweet 16 came down to a last second 3-pointer by Michigan’s Jordan Poole to capture a 64-63 victory over Houston.

11-seed, Loyola-Chicago, has now beaten Miami and Tennessee to reach the Sweet 16. If only someone had predicted that….

Saved By The Be..nch. Florida State’s bench outscored it’s starting lineup 46-29. Xavier would fail to score in the final 1:49 of the game. Florida State drilled a late 3-pointer and ended the game on a 7-0 run. That’s the long and the short of it. 75-70.

According to many,Syracuse shouldn’t have been in the NCAA Tournament. Now, they’re in the Sweet 16. Honestly, they didn’t deserve to make the tournament, but it proves that parody is real in college basketball. It also proves their pesky zone defense is really freakin’ annoying!! The sounds of brackets ripping filled the nationas the final buzzer sounded. 55-53.

Soooo, UNC forgot they had a game yesterday. UNC would jump out to a 20-13 lead, but it was all Texas A&M the rest of the way. A&M would outscore UNC 73 to 45 to capture an 86-65 victory. This isn’t the way Roy Williams’ squad wanted to go out, but someone should have reminded them what time their game started….

I don’t know how this tournament could get any better, but I also said that on Friday morning…..

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the best NCAA Tournament EVER!!

Teams will be back in action Thursday night for the start of the Sweet 16.

Is UMBC over Virginia the biggest upset in sports’ history?? Tell me if I’m crazy in the comment section below.

Day 1 = AWESOME!!

March 16, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

That..was..AWESOME!!

Thursday marked Day 1 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It had everything you’d hope for; blowouts, buzzer-beaters, and major upsets. Where else can you get 12 hours of uninterrupted entertainment?! Wait, don’t answer that! If you hadn’t noticed, we’re a big fan of lists….

4.) 1st Overtime Game – The 1st game of the tournament, Oklahoma Vs. Rhode Island was a nail biter. After leading by as many as 7, Oklahoma found themselves down 6 with 4:12 left. That was about the same time Trae Young started to heat up. After scoring 10 early points, Young went scoreless for 22 minutes and 56 seconds. Finishing with 28 points was impressive, however, losing overshadows anything positive. Rhode Island will take on Duke in the 2nd round following an 83-78 F/OT victory.

3.) Career High – Rob Gray put on the performance of a lifetime. Gray, a senior guard for Houston University, scored a career high 39 points Thursday night. Gray willed his team to victory (67-65), carrying them into the 2nd round. The final 1:08 was epic. Devin Watson of San Diego State and Rob Gray traded 3 pointers not once, but twice. And with the game tied at 65, Gray drove the lane, making an acrobatic layup with 2 seconds left.

Check out the play here.

This was the 1st, official, ‘jump off the couch moment’ of the tournament. Or, the ‘I scared the crap out of my dog, Jordan, moment’.

2.) Arizona Stinks – That was pathetic. I don’t mean to disparage Buffalo’s accomplishment, but they have no business beating Arizona — by 21 (89-68)!! Maybe someone should have reminded Arizona what time their game was, because they still haven’t shown up. If you ever wondered what quitting looked like in physical form, just watch the last 10 minutes of this game….

1.) Can I Get A Buzzer-Beater?! – And last, but certainly not least, Loyola-Chicago Vs. Miami was the game of the day. A closely contested game throughout, saw drama reach its peak in the final second. Miami choking the game away didn’t hurt either. Their final 4 possessions consisted of 3 turnovers and 1 missed free throw.

Trailing by 1, with 9 seconds left, Loyola-Chicago’s Ben Richardson grabbed a defensive rebound. With no timeouts remaining, they were forced to push the ball up the floor. The ball wound up in Donte Ingram’s hands, who launched a 3-pointer from 25-feet. HE NAILED IT with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. 64-62. BOOM!!

What was your favorite part of Day 1?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

The Best Day Of The Year!!!!

March 15, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Whether you like it or not, today is going to be crazy. There will be buzzer-beaters, major upsets, and absolute blowouts. If only we had a crystal ball to predict the future, this would be a lot easier (and more lucrative). Whatever happens, don’t bet more than you can afford to lose, and have a good time.

Upset City

(12) South Dakota State over (5) Ohio State

(11) Loyola-Chicago over (6) Miami

(11) St. Bonaventure over (6) Florida

(11) Loyola-Chicago over (3) Tennessee (2nd round)

(8) Missouri over (1) Xavier (2nd round)

None of the top 4 seeds, in any region, will lose in the 1st round. You’ll see at least one 12 seed beat a 5 seed. It happens every year. This year, it’ll be South Dakota State taking down Ohio State.

Loyola-Chicago is under-seeded. Vegas agrees, as Miami is just a 1.5 point favorite in today’s game. Seemingly every year a double-digit seed makes it to the sweet 16. This year, it’s Loyola-Chicago.

Since the inception of the “first four” (in 2012), at least one team has advanced from the “round of 68” to the 2nd round. St. Bonaventure will carry the momentum from a win over UCLA to a win over Florida.

Our last major upset of the tournament actually falls into our next category….

First #1 Seed To Fall

Xavier. Xavier is the weakest #1 seed. They’ll run into a Missouri team in the 2nd round, who recently regained the services of one of the top prospects in the country; Michael Porter Jr. Expect Porter Jr. to hit his full stride come the 2nd round.

Final Four

South – ARIZONA

West – GONZAGA

East – VILLANOVA

Midwest – DUKE

**The winner of the Sweet 16 matchup between Michigan State and Duke will advance to the Final Four.

Champion

Villanova. Jay Wright is a phenomenal basketball coach. He consistently produces top-line NCAA teams every year. This season, his squad has returned to life as a #1 seed. Balanced scoring is the name of their game. Villanova has six, double-digit scorers on their roster, making their bench almost as dangerous as their starting five.

Villanova will be cutting down the nets for the 2nd time in three years.

Who’s going to win the Championship?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

The Results Are In: THE NFL IS INSANE!!

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

So I sat here for approximately 10 minutes, staring at a blank screen, trying to think of the most creative way to describe the (unofficial) start to the NFL’s free agency. And then, I realized I should just tell it like it is….

The NFL is wild. The NFL is insane. The amount of players that change teams every year is astronomical. Redskins become Vikings, Patriots become Dolphins, Browns become Jets, and Cats and Dogs are living together. It’s madness I tell you. MADNESS!!

Monday, March 12th, marked the unofficial start to free agency. The official start to free agency is Wednesday, March 14th at 4:00 P.M. EST. The league calls this the “legal tampering” period. While Monday created some buzz, the NFL world didn’t tilt on its axis until Tuesday. As usual, we’ve made a list to attempt to organize the insanity (today, let’s go most important to least important):

1.) Kirk Cousins (Vikings)

While this is the biggest story of free agency, it’s not surprising. Not even a little bit. It was rumored the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings were finalists in the Kirk Cousins’ sweepstakes. That made this equation rather simple; Money Vs. Winning. What will it be?? We know where Carmelo Anthony stands on the matter. Anyone who thought Cousins would choose the Jets doesn’t understand football, or the Jets.

Players don’t actively CHOOSE to play for the Jets. They sign with the Jets when there is no other viable option (or when the contract is twice as much as the next offer). Kirk Cousins went with the team that provides the best opportunity to win (and he’s also getting paid a few bucks). Cousins will reportedly earn $84 million over the next 3 seasons (fully guaranteed). This is the 1st multiple year, fully guaranteed contract for a QB in NFL history.

2.) Jimmy Graham / Jordy Nelson / Muhammed Wilkerson (Packers)

The 2nd happiest man in the NFL right now is….Jimmy Graham. “They’re going to pay me to play with the best QB in the history of the world?! You’re joking!”

No Jimmy, they’re not joking. Just be happy the Packers enjoy making a splash rather than fixing their offensive line. Get used to hearing, “Rodgers to Graham for the touchdown!!”

The end of an era is upon us in Green Bay. Jordy Nelson was released by the Packers Tuesday. This move will save them $10 million, however, it’s rumored they could bring him back on a cheaper deal.

And the Packers will throw their hat in the ‘draw out Muhammed Wilkerson’s potential’ ring. As a Jets’ fan, all I have to say is, good luck!!

3.) New York Jets

The New York Jets were busy on Tuesday. After swinging and missing on Kirk Cousins, they turned their attention to an oft-injured, 39-year old, train wreck in Josh McCown. The Jets will bring back ol’ man river on a 1-year, $10 million deal. Thankfully, that wasn’t the only QB move they made. Teddy Bridgewater will reportedly join the Jets’ band of misfits under center. Bridgewater, who’s still fighting his way back from a gruesome injury in 2016, will compete for the starting job. He’ll also be on a 1-year deal (reportedly for $5 million). At least this will spark QB competition, while simultaneously incentivizing Bridgewater to earn his next contract.

If the Jets don’t draft a QB with the #6 pick, because of these moves, I’ll lose my mind!!

The Jets will also add RB Isaiah Crowell, CB Trumaine Johnson, and LB Avery Williamson.

Crowell is an average running back with good break away speed. While it wasn’t the Jets’ biggest need, there are worse RBs out there (ahem..New York Giants..Jonathan Stewart..ahem). Williamson is a tackling machine, and should plug in very nicely when the Jets don’t retain Demario Davis. And the prize of the Jets’ offseason, SO FAR, is Trumaine Johnson. He’s the best cornerback available, and CB is a position of need for the Jets.

4.) Danny Amendola (Dolphins) / Malcolm Butler (Titans) / Dion Lewis (Titans)

Nothing makes me happier than watching the Patriots lose good football players. The only problem is, it doesn’t matter. As long as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are upright, they’ll continue to own the AFC East. Butler will go from being benched in the Super Bowl, to being the Titans’ top CB, and Lewis will join Butler on a Titan’s team that’s trending upward. Amendola choosing to stay in division makes me chuckle….

Honorable Mentions

Drew Brees – Brees was reportedly offered a 2-year, $60 million contract to play for the Arizona Cardinals. He took $50 million to stay with the New Orleans Saints. He’s smart.

Sammy Watkins – How is it that this guy is still getting paid so much?! 3-years, $48 million (Chiefs) for a receiver who will undoubtedly be injured by Week 10 is just stupid.

Sam Bradford – How is it that this guy is still getting paid so much?! Bradford will “play” quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals next year, for $20 million. All I have to say is, HAHA!

With official free agency starting today at 4:00 P.M. EST, stay tuned for the latest news and notes from around the NFL.

Which team has had the best free agency so far?? Tell me in the comment section below.

I Could Have Sworn I Was Worth More Than That!!

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

I don’t care if it’s half of what you wanted, just SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE!!

Said MLB owners everywhere.

With the weirdest, MLB free agency period ever in full swing, no one is receiving the contract they’d expected. But with the start of the season just 16 days away, players’ hands are being forced — literally. As usual, we made a handy dandy list of the latest market misreads (from best to worst):

4.) Lance Lynn

Lance Lynn barely made the list. Lynn has had a solid MLB career. With a career e.r.a. of 3.38 and a winning record in every season he’s been a starting pitcher, Lynn is a nice addition to any starting rotation. After signing a 1-year, $12 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, he’ll get right to work and try to improve a below average pitching staff. The only problem is, Lynn could have stayed in St. Louis, with the Cardinals, for a 1-year, qualifying offer of $17.4 million. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but $5.4 million is $5.4 million.

3.) Jake Arrieta

Rewind your clocks a little more than 2 months. Right around the New Year, Jake Arrieta publicly stated he would be seeking a new contract of approximately 6 years and $160 million. That’s $32 million per year. Yeah, not so much. After holding out as long as he could, Arrieta “settled” on a 3-year, $75 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal became official on Tuesday. $25 million per year isn’t bad for a 32-year old who’s best days are behind him. But by Arrieta’s estimation, he left an imaginary $85 million on the table.

2.) Carlos Gonzalez

Oh Carlos. What were you thinking?? Betting on yourself is a great concept. It exhibits a clear sense of confidence, and it often pays off. But sometimes, it backfires. Carlos Gonzalez was reportedly offered a 3-year, $45 million extension with the Colorado Rockies last Spring. Obviously Gonzalez didn’t foresee one of the worst seasons of his career, but I bet he wishes he had that contract now. Instead, he’ll have to re-prove himself on a 1-year, $8 million deal. Good luck!

1.) Mike Moustakas

Mr. Moustakas takes the cake. He accomplished it all this off-season. Mike Moustakas was reportedly seeking a long-term deal in line with his former teammate, Eric Hosmer (8-years, $144 million). HA! Moustakas and his super-agent, Scott Boras, were slightly off on this one, huh?! The worst part is, Moustakas turned down not one, but two deals significantly more than the 1-year, $6.5 million contract he signed with the Kansas City Royals.

First, he refused to sign the 1-year, $17.4 qualifying offer from the Royals. And then, he turned down a 3-year, $45 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Really solid decision making!! The real problem is, no one has ever had the huevos to tell Moustakas he’s just not that good. Scott Boras is like that parent who’s never had the courage to tell their kid they’re not good at something. And it cost Mike Moustakas $38.5 million.

Eh, it’s just money. Right??

Side Note: Neil Walker signed a 1-year, $5 million deal with the New York Yankees on Tuesday. And Ichiro Suzuki is coming back to the Seattle Mariners on a 1-year, $750,000 deal. Walker provides veteran stability in a young infield and is an absolute bargain. Ichiro can’t seem to hang ’em up, as he’s currently 44 years old. Good for you Ichiro!!

Who’s had the worst off-season so far?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

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