Partner Pulse

By JEFF FLETCHER
Bay Bridge Baseball

A few days ago I did Edgar Martinez in my series of pieces on my deliberations for my HOF ballot, and it generated some attention from my friends at FanGraphs. I've also written this and this, as it relates to Edgar, and I've been having the debate on two message boards.

What I'm trying to do with this post is put it all together in one place, so this can serve as my definitive piece on why I did not vote for Edgar Martinez. Hopefully, those of you who just got a sliver of the argument from some other source can see what you've missed. Also, this is for me, so I can just look back at this when the ballot comes next year.

Here is the nut graf, as we say in journalism:

-- I believe that Edgar Martinez fundamentally benefited from being a DH, both in the volume and quality of his offensive production. Therefore, his offensive numbers must put him well above the theoretical dividing line for him to be a Hall of Famer. Considering the era in which he played, his numbers place him only among a handful of borderline candidates. --

There, that's the crux of my argument. Now, let's separate that into two parts. The first, is that Edgar fundamentally benefited from being a DH. I don't think it's possible to debate the volume part. Clearly, the DH extended the careers of people like Edgar. As for the quality, people like to cite studies that show that DHs generally perform worse at DH than they do as everyday players. I believe those studies are faulty because most players become DHs when they are already in decline. If you look at other players who fill-in as DH from time to time, their numbers suffer from small sample size, as well as the fact that they are unfamiliar with how to DH, and view it as a day off.

But don't take my word for it.

Look at his splits. Edgar had a career OPS of .850 in 2,269 PAs as a third baseman, and an OPS of .959 in 6,218 PAs as a DH. (I'm ignoring his 1.263 OPS as a 1B because it was just 117 PAs.)

The reason Edgar's OPS is so much higher as a DH is because once he became a full-time DH in 1995, he started hitting a lot more homers and walking a lot more. This tells you where the homers came from ...

Click here for the full column on Edgar Martinez and the Hall of Fame.

Read more of Jeff Fletcher at Bay Bridge Baseball.

By DEREK STEPHENS
The Blue Bird Herd

There were a lot of ugly moments on offense Sunday for the Seahawks, no doubt about it.

Tarvaris Jackson continued to struggle making decisions. His timing was inconsistent once again, and in comparison to the previous two weeks, there wasn't much improvement from No. 7. Any perceived improvement in the passing game can be contributed more to Sidney Rice than Jackson, but that said, there wasn't a digression either. We've beat the Tarvaris Jackson drum (or horse) enough for three weeks, so maybe it's time to switch the focus up a bit to a more positive tone. Let's talk about attitude.

Attitude won the game for Seattle, plain and simple. There was a nastiness to this group, particularly on defense, that set the tone early for a Seattle win. Ironically, it started on a play that didn't count. A play that was ultimately nullified by a fabricated penalty that was called more out of shock than anything else. Literally ... shock. As in "Hello, Todd Heap. I'm Kam. Please excuse me while I attempt to decapitate you" shock. Did anyone think to check the Richter on that one? Looking at the replay of the hit that Chancellor laid on Heap after Earl Thomas had intercepted a Kevin Kolb pass, there was nothing dirty about it. Ken Wisenhunt was over there having puppies on the sideline, demanding a flag and the refs bought it.

By the time Heap re-entered the galaxy, the 'Hawks had left a mark. You can call the play back, but you can't call the hit back. A message had been sent, that the 'Hawk defense was not going to make a Cardinal win easy and regardless of what the scoreboard said at the end of the game, guys were going to be hurting if they ended up anywhere in Kam's vicinity.

It didn't take long for Red Bryant to send the same message. I was on the Cardinals' sideline for most of the game, and Bryant was blowing up his side of the Arizona O-line and doing so violently. On a number of occasions following plays in which Bryant would blow his opponent off the line or stuff the runner, he'd get up and yell “bring it” directly at the Cardinal bench and motion with his hand accordingly. A lot of players do that, I know. But rarely do you see no response from the sideline. The Arizona bench was silent. Nobody wanted to respond.

Click here to read the full column about the Seahawks' new attitude on Blue Bird Herd.

Read more of Derek Stephens at The Blue Bird Herd.

By JEFF FLETCHER
Bay Bridge Baseball

So today I started thinking about my Hall of Fame ballot -- hey, the thing's due in less than five months! -- and in particular Jack Morris. I have never really felt Morris had all that compelling of a case for the HOF, mostly because he had a rather pedestrian ERA and his vaunted "postseason excellence" is based on two or three games. (His overall postseason ERA is 3.80, compared with his regular season ERA of 3.90.)

Well, the crux of the argument in Morris' defense is that he was one of those "winners." He did win 254 games, which is an impressive total, for whatever it's worth. The Morris defenders say you can throw out his ERA.

"The goal is to win the game, and he did that," they say. "It's not just to have a sparkling ERA."

There's the old "pitch to the score" meme. When Morris had a 5-1 lead, he didn't care about his ERA, just making sure that the opponent didn't get that fifth run, the Morris defenders reason.

I've always thought that was a little silly.

Click here for the full column on Jack Morris and the Hall of Fame.

Read more of Jeff Fletcher at Bay Bridge Baseball.

By JOEL HUERTO
One Man Fast Break

TNT's Kenny "The Jet" Smith has said on more than one occasion that Mavericks guard Jason Terry got his "Jet" nickname not because of his game, but because it stood for his full name: Jason Eugene Terry.

After his performance in the 2011 NBA Finals, Terry may have picked up a new nickname: The Closer.

When Mavericks franchise player Dirk Nowitzki struggled in the early part of Game 6 in Miami, it was Terry who shouldered the load with 19 points in the first half. Once Nowitzki regained his shooting touch, the Mavericks took off and shot their way to a 105-95 victory to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

It was Dallas' first championship as an NBA franchise, and although Nowitzki was named MVP of The Finals, it was Terry who complemented Dirk and took some pressure off him when it mattered most -– the fourth quarter.

Click here for the full column on Jason Terry and Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Finals.

Read more of Joel Huerto at One Man Fast Break.

By KEVIN ROBERTS
Gridiron Experts

We know every rookie quarterback can't make a fast transition to the NFL and go all Dan Marino or Peyton Manning over the entire league in their first season. No, not every quarterback. But even though the numbers aren't high, almost every season still offers up a few passers who serve as decent spot-starts in fantasy football.

Sam Bradford was very solid and fairly reliable in 2010, while Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco have done well in the past.

So, which rookie quarterbacks have the ability to do some damage in 2011? Take a look at the top options as we tell you who to Start and Sit going into the new season:

Christian Ponder (Minnesota Vikings)
Ponder remains the surest bet to start in his first season, and given his great cerebral approach and solid overall skills, he could actually have a pretty productive first season. If Sidney Rice returns to the Vikings, Ponder will be surrounded by a good offensive cast, and would have the potential to put up Sam Bradford-type numbers, and possibly better.

Keep track of what his weapons will be looking like as the off-season progresses, as Ponder has the potential to be a solid QB2 right away.

Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals)
With Carson Palmer upset and still in limbo, Dalton's fantasy value is also looking stagnant. If Palmer is gone, it's a safe bet the smart and accurate Dalton starts from day one, but with Palmer remaining in the fold, it's hard to completely gauge his value.

Dalton has solid skills and athleticism to go with his accuracy and great leadership, making him a very solid rookie option, and one that could blossom with good, young talented receivers around him.

Click here for the full column on rookie QBs to consider for fantasy football.

Read more of Kevin Roberts on Gridiron Experts.

By KEVIN HEITZ
Press Box Online

We all know about the "Sports Illustrated" cover curse, but could there be a DWTS curse as well? That's Dancing With The Stars, for those of you who haven't been following the past 11 seasons of ABC's hit reality show. As Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward has two-stepped and tangoed his way into this season's finale, this is an important question not just for Steeler Nation, but for fans of every other team who'd like to see a little less gold and black during this year's NFL playoffs.

Jerry Rice was runner-up in Season 2, but his former football teams did not have similar success in 2006. The San Francisco 49ers suffered through a 7-9 season and the Oakland Raiders mustered just two wins.

Emmitt Smith took the stage during the fall of 2006, and became the first athlete to win when he topped Mario Lopez of Saved By The Bell "fame." Meanwhile, the Cowboys were a 9-7 wild card team, but lost during the first week of the playoffs when quarterback Tony Romo botched a hold on a go-ahead field goal in the closing minutes.

Clyde Drexler glided onto the DWTS stage in 2007, but results are mixed when it comes to curse talk. Portland went 32-50 that season, while Drexler's other former team, the Houston Rockets, went 52-30.

Click here for the full column about athletes and "Dancing With The Stars."

Read more of Kevin Heitz at Press Box Online.

By CARYN ROSE
MetsGrrl

That was my view of the game Monday night, the view from the Citi Field press box.

The Mets PR team invited some bloggers out for what are now regular events; this time we took a food tour of Citi Field (I’m still working on that writeup). At some point during the event, we were extended the opportunity to watch the game from the press box, or to sit in the lovely field level seats provided to us by the Mets.

Almost everyone jumped at the chance to sit in the press box.

I have to admit, walking into the press box was a little intimidating at first. It’s quiet. It’s imposing. It’s unfamiliar - to a certain extent. There’s a locker behind me that reads HOWIE ROSE, stacks of game notes and other photocopied documents on a counter, and the sound of hands clicking away on keyboards.

We were given a brief orientation and explanation of the ground rules: where we can sit, where we can get coffee, who to ask for media guides or more photocopies. If you’ve been in the press box (or any press box, really), you’ve probably noticed that the seating is tiered, rows of counters with chairs behind them. We were allowed to take any seats that weren’t taken, or didn’t have a nameplate, mostly along the top row. We were cautioned that the Mets beat writers were all down at the far end and that they could get cranky if things got too loud, especially on a night where the windows were closed.

And then, of course, there was the most important rule of all: No Cheering In The Press Box. It isn't just a cute phrase, or something people say, there is, quite literally, no cheering in the press box. I thought I could handle not cheering, it was the groaning at bad calls or missed opportunities or dropped fly balls that I thought would be tough, and most of all, jumping up and down yelling GO GO GO GO GO when Jose Reyes hits a triple or steals a base.

But I was willing to give it a try. The worst that would happen would be that I’d have to go down to the field level to watch the game.

I found a spot in in the top row behind the Marlins beat writers.

Click here for the full article about watching the game from the Citi Field press box.

Read more of Caryn Rose at MetsGrrl.com.

By JOEL HUERTO
One Man Fast Break

Ray Allen recently broke Reggie Miller’s NBA record for most 3-pointers in a career. Allen now has more than 2,600 3-pointers in his illustrious and soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame career. However, despite having the distinction of being the NBA’s all-time 3-point king, is Ray Allen the best pure shooter in the game today? Moreover, where does Allen rank among the all-time great pure shooters in NBA history? Let the debate begin.

OneManFastBreak.net examines the 10 best pure shooters in NBA history. Editor’s note: As much as we’d like to include Michael Jordan, Jerry West and Kobe Bryant on this list, they’re more pure scorers than pure shooters. A pure shooter is someone who relies on screens to score, and they rarely go for the spectacular dunks or the isolation dribble drives. Pure shooters, or basketball snipers, can also stretch a defense with their ability to make jump shots from beyond 23 feet.

10. Dale Ellis
Remember the flat-top haircut? Ellis’ Kid-n-Play haircut is just as impressive as his jump shot. Ellis was a big guard (6-7) who took advantage of his great size when he was shooting from distance. He may not have won an NBA title, but Ellis was a 3-point shooting king during All-Star Weekend. He also ranks in the top five in 3-point field goals made (1,719).

9. Byron Scott
When Scott was at Arizona State, he played point guard and shooting guard. But when he was traded to the L.A. Lakers in the early 1980s, he was strictly a shooting guard since the Lakers had a guy named Magic Johnson running point. B-Scott was one of the unsung heroes on the Showtime Lakers. He made countless big shots for Pat Riley’s bunch, and he was one of the toughest competitors in the game. His jump shot in the waning moments of Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons remains one of the biggest in Lakers history.

8. Danny Ainge
The Boston Celtics during the 1980s had arguably the best starting five in the league. They had an All-Star center in Robert Parish, a great power forward in Kevin McHale, the quintessential small forward in Larry Bird, a Hall-of-Fame point guard in Dennis Johnson and one of the deadliest shooting guards in the game in Danny Ainge. He complemented the Celtics’ Big Four extremely well because he was a tremendous spot-up shooter. He was fearless and unafraid to take (and make) the big shots. He was also a pest on the court, and sometimes his cocky persona got him in trouble. (See the Sedale Threatt punch that nearly rearranged Ainge's face.)

Click here for the full list of the NBA's greatest pure shooters.

Read more of Joel Huerto at One Man Fast Break.

By JOE PLATANIA
Press Box Online

OWINGS MILLS -- It's bad enough for the rest of the NFL that the Ravens have one of the best draft brain trusts in the league.

It got even worse for the opposition when they got the chance this year to focus solely on the seven-round selection meeting, which ended early Saturday night.

Because of the NFL lockout, the free-agent signing period and trading procedures have not yet begun, giving all 32 teams a chance to hone in on which college players could best help their teams.

But since the Ravens have done a lot better job drafting players than most other teams, it was a golden opportunity for them to really shine during the three-day pickfest.

"(The lockout) allowed us to focus on (the draft)," general manager Ozzie Newsome said after the Ravens completed their eight-man class -- the first in team history to have that number of players -- by taking Georgia Tech running back Anthony Allen after going without a seventh-rounder three times in the last four years.

Click here for the full column.

Read more of Joe Platania at Press Box Online.

By JOEL HUERTO
One Man Fast Break

Zach Randolph is finally getting the recognition he richly deserves. It took 10 seasons and four stops in NBA cities, which included Portland, New York, Los Angeles and now Memphis, but the man/beast known as "Z-Bo" is showing the basketball world that he is the real deal and the only reason why we haven’t realized it is because we've never seen it on the big stage.

Well, it can’t get any bigger than the NBA playoffs and Zach Randolph is sending one loud message: "Do you see me now!"

The Memphis Grizzlies power forward recently ripped the Oklahoma City Thunder for a career playoff high 34 points and 10 rebounds to lead Memphis to a stunning Game 1 victory. Just as he did in a Western Conference first-round upset of top-seeded San Antonio, Randolph was an absolute beast in the paint. The Thunder tried the long and athletic Serge Ibaka on him and didn’t work because Randolph was too strong for Ibaka. Then they matched him up with center Kendrick Perkins, one of the best low-post defenders in the league, and didn’t work because Randolph was too quick for Perkins.

Click here for the full column on Zach Randolph.

Read more of Joel Huerto at One Man Fast Break.

By DEREK STEPHENS
The Blue Bird Herd

Here’s a look at a few potential reaches as well as a couple of possible steals from the first round ...

Steals
Detroit Lions – Nick Fairley (DT – Auburn) - 13th Overall
Fairley’s maturity and consistency has been called into question after only one strong college year prior to entry into the draft. But that one year showed a combination of size, instincts and explosiveness that is unmatched by any other DT in this year’s crop. On tape, there’s no doubt that this guy is not an accident, and he knows what he’s doing out there. Putting him next to Ndomukong Suh should round out a tandem of DTs that could terrorize opposing QBs and O-lines for the next decade. Fairley had been projected as the possible top pick overall, only a few weeks ago, so the fall to 13 is a huge potential steal for Detroit.

Reaches
Atlanta Falcons – Julio Jones (WR – Alabama) – 6th overall (traded up)
The Falcons gave up a load of picks (this year and next) for the opportunity to move up and grab Jones. This reach is less about the player and more about the price. Jones is a solid prospect with good potential, but he would have been available further down. The Falcons simply got taken to school here by Mike Holmgren and the Cleveland brass. Perhaps they felt so strongly that they’re only a key piece or two away from contending that it was worth paying a premium to get one of those pieces. Good player, but questionable price.

Click here to see more reaches and steals in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Read more of Derek Stephens at The Blue Bird Herd.

By DEREK STEPHENS
The Blue Bird Herd

Happy Draft Day!

Here's a quick look at a few overrated and underrated players who could surprise fans and make teams regret their decisions over the next few months ...

Overrated
Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri
Oh yes ... I'll draw my share of criticism for this one, but hey, I'm just going off of game tape. Sure, Gabbert has a good arm. He's got prototypical size, and he flashes some nice accuracy. What I can't seem to get away from, though, is the overwhelming evidence of a lack of ability to go through progressions and find a second or third receiver consistently. Could this have something to do with the style of offense that Mizzou ran? Perhaps somewhat. However, there were clearly cases where Gabbert was supposed to check down and go through progressions, but instead held the ball too long, panicked and spun out of the pocket before making an off-balance throw down field, often times missing. He only performed marginally in Mizzou's spread attack during his junior campaign, and his lack of experience taking snaps from under center doesn't do him any favors in terms of cushioning the blow of an already steep learning curve that he'll surely be undertaking at the next level. There have been flashes, but I think this guy has a long way to go and needs to show loads more in the instincts department before I go spending a first round pick, let alone a top 5 pick on him.

Underrated
Ryan Mallett – QB – Arkansas
Mallett has the biggest arm and the best pocket presence of any QB coming out this year. He knows football, reads defenses and can make all the throws with accuracy. The character flags should raise some concerns, but this is football, and teams should be looking at the football player before anything else. Sure, a QB is the face of the franchise and Mallett clearly has some maturing to do, but I'd much rather bank on being able to help a young man develop as a person when he is already there as a player, than to hope that I can develop him as a player when the instincts are lacking and/or there are clear holes in his game (i.e. Gabbert, Newton, Locker).

Click here to see more overrated and underrated prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Read more of Derek Stephens at The Blue Bird Herd.

By JASON SARNEY
Fantasy Phenoms

With the NFL draft a week away, I figured it was time to put my Mel Kiper (hair) hat on, and dive into my take on the Mock Draft. It is as difficult to predict as ever these days, and it no matter what anybody with a blog thinks, NFL scouts and GMs know infinitely more than we do. With that said, I have taken into account that even the best draft predictors out there are rarely spot-on, and even rarely semi-accurate, so I have made a few head-scratchers. Can you blame me? If we have learned anything about the draft, is we should expect the unexpected.

1st- Carolina Panthers- Marcell Dareus DT Alabama: Cam Newton this, Cam Newton that. If I had the next decade of a franchise at stake with a No. 1 overall pick I would go with the most pro-ready prospect in the draft. That is not Cam Newton, or even Blaine Gabbert for that matter. Neither QB could step in like Matt Ryan or Sam Bradford in my opinion, so Carolina must go with Dareus should they hang-tough in the No. 1 slot. Dareus is a monster with freakish speed for a D-lineman. He has all the checkmarks for an All-Pro DL with his athleticism, great hands, quick feet, explosiveness, versatility, and perhaps the most important intangible; the fact that he was the anchor of Alabama’s pro-style defense. NFL scouts equate him to a Warren Sapp like player. There is virtually no risk with Dareus, while a QB at No. 1 is just too risky, and a miss sets a team back years.

2nd-Denver Broncos- Patrick Peterson DB/KR LSU: Now this is where the draft is fun. If Newton goes No. 1, or Gabbert does, Dareus won't get past Denver. That’s why they draft the players, much like that's why they play the games. Wrenches in the draft happen, and Denver will get a chance to net arguably the most talented player on the board in LSU defensive back Patrick Peterson. The versatile defensive back can play all over the field, and can neutralize top-end talent, like Dwayne Bowe and Vincent Jackson four times a season in the AFC West. Denver already has Champ Bailey as a mentor for Peterson, so he can fine-tune his near flawless game. Denver had just 10 INTs last season, and was ranked 25th overall in defense against the pass. Peterson can change that from the jump.

3rd- Buffalo Bills- Von Miller LB Texas A&M: Still no Newton you ask? Well, if you ask me, I think Ryan Fitzpatrick is good enough to allow Buffalo to fill a greater need in the first round, and go future-QB in the 2nd or 3rd. Miller is a ball-hawk who will no doubt help a Bills defense that was dead last against the run in 2010. Miller is simply perfect for Buffalo. They are a 3-4 scheme and that is where Miller will excel. His lightning-quick speed makes up for his relative under-sized frame, but his athleticism and heart out-weigh the height. He led the nation in sacks in 2009, and was the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker. For you NFL combine fans out there, his 60-yard shuttle run time was 11.15 which was the best ever in the combine's history. He will be an All-Pro and a fan-favorite in Western New York, and help that unit right away.

4th- Cincinnati Bengals- Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri: OK, so everyone out there says A.J. Green is a shoo-in for the Bengals. Well, I don’t disagree that Green is a fine fit, and is also supremely talented. However, Carson Palmer is threatening retirement, and I don’t think Jordan Palmer is evoking much confidence as a potential heir in the Queen City. So, here is one of those draft day wrenches again, and Cincy shocks us all and goes with Gabbert, thus sending Arizona into a tizzy. As for why Gabbert makes sense here. He is a prototypical QB prospect at 6’4’’ 234, who has been wowing scouts with his football and intellectual acumen, which is an intangible that should be very important in Cincy in 2011 moving forward. He does have a lot to learn while he assimilates to the pro-game and taking snaps under-center was not an every down occurrence while at Missouri. Cincy could easily go Green here, but the best QB in this class could be a more prudent move, while a WR in the 2nd could be a great value way to fill that need.

5th- Arizona Cardinals- Nick Fairley DT Auburn: If Gabbert goes to Cincy, the Cardinals may have to resort to their contingency plan, which should be fill the glaring need of no run support in 2010. The Cardinals have no QB, sure, but I have a feeling a veteran is bound for the desert. Perhaps a Donovan McNabb, but either way the 30th ranked rush defense from a season ago needs help in the middle, and Nick Fairley is talented enough to be a top overall pick. Out of Auburn, the uber-talent has every physical tool imaginable, yet there are some character issues. Regardless of the work ethic and less than Boy-Scout reputation, he can flat out stop the run, and be a force against the pass as well. Fairley can be a terrific plan B here, but if Gabbert is around, the Cards will likely build their team around him.

Click here for the complete first-round projection of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Read more of Jason Sarney at Fantasy Phenoms.

By DEREK STEPHENS
The Blue Bird Herd

ROUND 1
1. Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton – QB – Auburn: Newton’s freakish athleticism and tantalizing upside make him tough for any team to pass on. Especially when a team has a hole as gaping wide as the Panthers have at the QB position.

Newton's passion for the game has been called into question , and many wonder if his solid work ethic will dwindle once he hits a few snags at the NFL level, or his celebrity surpasses his relevance as a football player. After all, he plans to be an entertainment icon.

In all seriousness though, He has displayed the ability to make all the throws, and flashes rare instincts, but his lack of experience in a pro style offense has left scouts wondering how quickly he can adjust to the pro game.

Blaine Gabbert is viewed by many as the most deserving of the top QB selection, but a team that passes on Newton will most certainly be questioning their decision.

2. Denver Broncos
Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama: Dareus is considered to be the most steady, reliable and "sure" defensive lineman coming out this year. While Jamal Williams, Justin Bannan, Kevin Vickerson and Ryan McBean could be effective in a rotation, Denver lacks a true anchor on the D-line and Dareus possesses the explosiveness and versatility to step into the Broncos' 3-4 (assuming they stick with a 3-4) and contribute from any of the three positions, immediately.

3. Buffalo Bills
Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri: Buffalo's failure to establish consistency at the QB position over the past several years has been well documented. And while the Bills seem to be in a favorable spot with the third overall pick, this year's QB crop lacks the “Bradford” or “Ryan”-like runaway top signal-caller to merit an automatic QB pick at this spot. Gabbert flashes the accuracy, arm strength and athleticism that could translate to a solid, if not spectacular NFL career, however, his decision making and pocket presence have raised some flags of concern among s0me NFL scouts. Like with Newton, Gabbert’s suitor will be banking on his ability to transition from a spread, shotgun-based offense to taking snaps from under center ... which, of course is an entirely different ballgame (pun intended). Gabbert is a classic "Boom or Bust" prospect.

4. Cincinnati Bengals
Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU: Any team lucky enough to nab Peterson anywhere after pick No. 1 should consider him a steal. The former LSU standout is the top athlete on the board this year, and the Bengals should be licking their chops to reel him in at 4. The Joseph-Hall CB tandem performed well in '10 but the Scott-Cosby kick/punt return duo failed to impress and Peterson would bring a game-changing explosiveness and play-making ability to both the defensive backfield and the return game. Charles Woodson and Darrell Revis have proven that one player with this type of ability can swing and entire game almost single-handedly. The Bengals should strongly consider WR A.J. Green or DE Robert Quinn here, if Peterson is off the board.

5. Arizona Cardinals
Von Miller – OLB – Texas A&M: Clark Haggans and Joey Porter are within a feather's reach of their mid-30's now, and neither one generated much in the way of a pass-rush last season. What's a feather's reach? Who knows. Sounded cool. Thus, the Cardinals would be either gutsy or stupid to pass on a corner-turner as rare and explosive as Von Miller. The former Aggie possesses a rare combination of speed and balance that help to make up for what some consider to be size issues, and he explodes off the snap with consistency. He’s a classic “tweener” in the sense that he’s seemingly small to play every down as a rush end, however, he impressed in coverage during the Senior Bowl enough to convince scouts that he’d be an ideal fit as a rush ‘backer in a 3-4. Barring injury, he’ll be a double-digit sack artist at the next level for years to come.

6. Cleveland Browns
Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina: It's no secret that the Browns have a big need at receiver, but on defense, they have virtually no pass rush from the edges and the departure of Shaun Rogers makes finding an impact D-lineman that much more critical. Quinn is the best pass-rushing 4-3 defensive end in the draft and despite missing an entire season to suspension, recent workouts have teams believing he’s the real deal.

Click here to see the predictions for the first three rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Read more of Derek Stephens at The Blue Bird Herd.

By CARYN ROSE
MetsGrrl

This headline -- from the Daily News -- is causing a lot of outrage today. It’s causing fans to be angry and either harass Martino -- known as @surfingthemets on Twitter - or to post collective grar at him. Who does he think he is! How dare he! What a douchebag! I myself stopped following Mr. Martino after a tweet during spring training in which he referenced "Future Yankee Jose Reyes" (and in the interests of full disclosure, I probably hurled some grar at him before I did).

The problem is: Martino's story isn't a bad story. It's accurate. It's well-written. It reads more like a well-written fan blog than it does a story filed by a professional sportswriter, but as someone who writes a fan blog, and who can skip writing about a particular game if I feel like it, I get where he's coming from. The problem is that no one is reading the story. They’re RT’ing the link and people are clicking through and I’m sure his editor loves the pageviews he’s getting, but no one is reading the actual story. People are talking about him, but they’re not talking about how the story is oddly empathetic with the plight of Mets fans. They’re just calling him a douchebag.

I don't expect, nor want, the beat writers who cover my baseball team -- or any baseball team -- to be fans of the team. It is tough to walk the line between being a fan and being an apologist. While a fan will bring you the years of history that you internalize, it's tough to walk that line and know when that color is useful and when it’s starting to veer into homer territory.

Click here for the full article about the Mets and new media.

Read more of Caryn Rose at MetsGrrl.com.