Roger Goodell Upholds Brady Four-Game Suspension

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has decided to uphold Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for his involvement in deflate-gate.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld today the 4-game suspension imposed on #Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. pic.twitter.com/CYm9fT0rUy

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) July 28, 2015

Brady is presumably still going to fight the case and try to overturn the ruling.   Despite being suspended, he is still allowed to be around the team during minicamp and preseason.

Jimmy Garoppolo will serve as the interim quarterback in Brady’s absence.  Garoppolo was drafted 62nd overall out of Eastern IIlnois.

He has played in a total of six games completing 19 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown.

Muhammad Wilkerson Will Report To Jets Training Camp

New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson will report to training camp on Thursday, despite having friction with front office officials about his contract.

Wilkerson and his agent continue to work on a long-term extension, and is scheduled to make $6.97 million this season. He is in the final year of his rookie contract.

Despite Wilkerson holding out of voluntary offseason workouts, he was in attendance for mandatory minicamp in June.  

The Jets drafted USC star Leonard Williams with the sixth-overall pick in the NFL draft, so it would have been in Wilkerson’s best judgement to rejoin the team as soon as possible.

The NFL is a business and theres always a revolving-door in the building.

The Jets will be counting on Wilkerson to help carry the team on the defensive side.  Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Wilkerson had 55 tackles for the team last season.

[ESPN]

Yasiel Puig: ” I’ll Play Anywhere”

The Dodgers’ front office is willing to trade anybody on the team, just ask Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon.

When Andrew Friedman came to town, he had the impression as someone who wants to get every cent out of the product he pay’s for.  And sometimes may take on a reclamation project in some players.

With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline looming, Yasiel Puig was the latest Dodger to hear his name in trade discussions. Rather than remain silent on the topic, Puig voiced some of his opinions saying he would not want to leave the organization if it where up to him.

“I’ll play anywhere,” Puig said. “I came to the United States [from Cuba] to play baseball. Baseball is the same anywhere. If they want to trade me, that’s their decision. I can’t do anything about that.”

The Dodgers have already informed teams they are “listening to offers” on Puig.  They do need pitching in the postseason after all, so you never know.

It would make sense seeing how they have a surplus of outfielders already, and names such as Cole Hamels, David Price or, possibly Noah Syndergaard via trade sound really good for the Dodgers’ rotation right about now.

But financially the move does not make sense considering Puig is owed a total $19.5 million over the next three seasons.  It would seem to be a sell-high buy-low deal, especially since Puig has been injury-prone lately.

Even though he is a polarizing figure in the clubhouse, he is still just 24-years old with only two seasons under his belt.  The MLB season is still 162 games, so let’s give the guys a chance and see what he happens.

[Yahoo Sports]

Dodgers Put Yasiel Puig On Trading Block

Andrew Friedman is known for making smart moves with little financial backing.  That’s one reason why the Dodgers’ got him to run baseball operations.

The Dodgers’ payroll is like a blank check now-a-days, and assumptions where that Friedman could turn overcrowded outfields and banged-up pitching into valuable pieces that could help the team make a deep October run.

After getting rid of Matt Kemp, Dee Gordon and a few other players.  Nobody is exempt from the no-trade list, including Yasiel Puig.

With the trade deadline approaching, the blue crew is in need of some pitching and are willing to part with their Cuban superstar now that he has showed some signs of frustration.

The #Dodgers have let teams know that Yasiel Puig is available in the right deal, but teams showing much more interest in their prospects.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2015

One possible destination could be New York.  No not the Yankees, but the other guys.

The Mets are in need of some hitting to go along with their young pitcher if they want to make a wild-card run, they are currently two games behind the Washington Nationals in the National League East. 

Send Puig over to New York where he will instantly become a star and reconnect with ex-Dodger and clubhouse mentor Juan Uribe.  And in return, the Mets send over Noah Syndeergaard. 

It all sound’s nice in my head.  You can even include a package deal in that, just all depends on who’s really serious. 

UCLA Will Offer “Additional Scholarship Aid” To Athletes

 

College Football is ruled by five conferences: Pac-12, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and the ACC.

In January, the NCAA approved a legislation amongst these elite conferences to offer cost-of-attendance scholarships.

Starting this academic year, UCLA will give $5,500 or more of additional scholarship aid to student-athletes.

Scholarships were known to only cover tuition, fees, room and board and books.  And it was up to the student to find their way around town for a meal and rarely did scholarships help when you live off-campus.

Considering how many athletes are coming out of high with an “one-and-done” mindset if they go to college, questions have arisen about what does an actual “full ride” include?

UCLA will give athletes living off-campus $5,624 including health insurance, and $4,925 to student who choose to get a dorm on-campus.

Payments will begin Aug. 1.

[OC Register]

Byron Scott: “There’s Some Games (Kobe) Could Play Power Forward

When Chris Bosh went to Miami in pursuit of championships, he gave up the idea of a post-up player, and decided to transform himself into what we now call a “stretch four”.

It was an successful transition and got him two championships alongside Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

Lakers’ head coach Byron Scott has flirted with the idea of playing Kobe Bryant there in certain situational games.

In an interview with NBA.com’s David Aldridge, Scott said it could work against certain teams in the East.

“The one thing that we wanted to do and accomplish through this draft and through free agency was to try and be a little more versatile, have some versatility. So I think (Clarkson, Russell, Williams) can definitely do that. Kobe can play one, two and three. There’s no doubt in my mind. And there’s some games. against some teams, where he’ll probably play four. With his tenaciousness, the way he guards people and when his mind is set, if I say ‘Kobe, you’ve got him,’ he takes that as a challenge. You know how he is. He’ll compete.”

Yes, Bryant has that “will to compete” mentality, but even if Kobe was fully healthy and went  back in time 12 years.  The idea would still be a head-scratcher.

One reason being they play in a tough Western Conference, and I don’t think Blake Griffin is backing down from Bryant in the post.

A way that theory could work is if the Lakers played their whole entire season in the medicore Eastern Conference, and even that would be a long shot.

Fortunately for them they have two, possibly, three guys who can play power forward.  Julius Randle is presumably the starter at that spot, but according to L.A Daily New’s Mark Medina there is “competition at every position“.

The third guy could be Ryan Kelly.  But that would be a long stretch.

[ProBasketballTalk]

Nick Young Wants To Be In Starting Lineup

Nick Young, better known as Swaggy P wants a new role with the Lakers’ next season, but it’s highly unlikely that his request will be granted.

With the addition of Lou Williams, who is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, speculation has arisen as to how will Young and Williams be able to play together?

They both are high-volume shooters.

“I don’t want us fighting for every shot,” Young said via L.A Daily News. “Lou is my guy. It should be all right. No one can really guard anybody when we’re out there. You can’t leave me open. You can’t leave him open.”

Assuming Byron Scott will go “small” this season and start both Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell in the backcourt, what will happen at small forward?

The clear guess is just move Kobe Bryant over, but Young would like his opportunity to make a name for himself in the starting lineup.

“It would be a good change of role,” Young said referring to wanting to be in the starting lineup. “But whatever my role is, I’m ready for whatever.”

Young’s best bet would be to continue coming off the bench.  He would thrive in the second unit.

If everything stays intact until the season tips-off.  Williams would be the back-up point guard with Young at shooting guard. Draft pick Anthony Brown would be the small forward and possibly Brandon Bass at power forward.

Who will be the back up center is a mystery to me.  All signs point to Tarik Black, but he’s undersized for that position.

Then there’s Robert Sacre, seven feet of pure nothingness. If Sacre can show any ounce of footwork or talent he could easily be on the second unit, maybe even the starter and the Lakers would not have traded for Roy Hibbert.

[L.A Daily News]

Dodger News: Greinke To Start Sunday

Zack Greinke was scheduled to start on Friday against the New York Mets, but left the team Thursday after wife, Emily Kuchar,  gave birth to their first child.

Greinke will start Sunday.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) July 25, 2015

Greinke, who has a hitless streak spanning back two months, will return to the team Friday afternoon. Replacing him will be left-hander Ian Thomas who was called up for the spot start.    

Thomas helped the Dodgers to 7-2 victory holding the Mets to one earned run on three hits.  He went five innings and had five strikeouts.

Yasmani Grandal Exits In 6th Inning For Dodgers

Dodgers’ catcher Yasmani Grandal exited Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals in the sixth inning after taking a foul-tip off his mask.

#Dodgers staffer out to check on Yasmani Grandal, who took a foul tip off his mask. Grandal had a concussion earlier this year.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 19, 2015

Grandal was pointing to his temples while being led down the tunnel and into the clubhouse. Here comes … Alex Guerrero?

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 19, 2015

No Alex Guerrero did not replace A.J Ellis for reserve catcher.  But the thought does sound amusing. 

Grandal missed six games in May, after taking a few shots to the head in the San Diego Padres Series, and was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. 

Grandal has been a pleasant surprise after being traded from the Padres in exchange for fan favorite Matt Kemp.  He is batting .280 with 14 home runs and 36 RBI’s.

Carl Crawford To Re-Join Dodgers In Atlanta

The Dodgers will get another bat on Monday.

Outfielder Carl Crawford has finally completed his rehabilitation assignment for the Dodgers’ triple-A team Oklahoma City.  He will rejoin the MLB club in Atlanta on Monday.

Carl Crawford traveling today, expected in Atlanta tomorrow.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 19, 2015

Crawford has been sidelined since April 28 with a right oblique strain. Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals was his 74th missed game due to injury.

With Crawford rejoining the club again, what will happen with the outfield now?  Manager Don Mattingly said he may play Crawford and current left-fielder Andre Either together in order to give players some rest.

Mattingly said that Carl Crawford will allow him to move Andre Ethier to right field to give Yasiel Puig some days off.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 19, 2015

In 15 games for the Dodgers, Crawford was batting .245 with three RBI’s.