Pats Cut Winslow, Hernandez Back?

ESPN is reporting that the Patriots have cut Kellen Winslow at his request.  Word on the street is Aaron Hernandez has been seen back in the Pats locker room.  This doesn't mean he'll definitely be back this week, but it does mean he is healing faster than planned.  Good for Kellen Winslow for knowing to jump ship before Hernandez returns and he tumbles down the depth chart.  This could be some great news for Gronk fantasy owners, like me.  If Hernandez is back it's, much harder to double up Gronk, which means more fantasy points for all of us.  I guess it's also good news for all you suckers who got stuck with the lesser Pats TE.  Here's to hoping Hernandez has been eating enough Gronk Flakes to facilitate a comeback as early as this week.

That's That Shit I Don't Like

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8432212/nhl-cancels-remainder-preseason-schedule

Gaming Preview - Assassins Creed 3

As dear to our hearts as sports are and have become, most of us developed our inner compete level (mine always at a DA level 10) with our passion and game play on the consoles... We all probably could probably name the last 12 video games systems off the top of our heads before we could reel off the 12 Apostles names, 10 commandments, or even the last dozen college classes we took...

So I figured I'd make a post once a week on the latest trailers (commercial version on the blog, article and insider's video on the Gamer's page)...

I started with a title that any home-grown Bostonian who has any of the major 3 systems should own, play furiously until they beat it, then beat it again on a higher difficulty... Assassins Creed 3... So check it out, get jacked up for the fall/winter/holiday title releases, and Game On!!!

Cherishing 2012 Red Sox Memories @Fenway (98.5 Sports Hub)

 
Audio > http://boston.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd1%2Fd1%2FdC%2FdO%2Fd5%2F11CO5_3.MP3&podcast_name=Toucher+%26amp%3B+Rich%3A+Cherish+The+Red+Sox+Memories+of+2012&podcast_artist=Toucher+%26amp%3B+Rich&station_id=&audio_link=true&config_file=config.xml&dcid=CBS.BOSTON

NFL, NFLRA Deal Imminent

A deal is reportedly in place that would allow the regular NFL referees to return to work in time for the Thursday night game between the Ravens and Browns, in addition to the full slate of weekend games.

What's in the Deal???....

•  Eight-year term covering the 2012-2019 seasons.
• The current defined benefit pension plan will remain in place for current officials through the 2016 season (or until the official earns 20 years of service). The defined benefit plan will then be frozen.
• Retirement benefits will be provided for new hires, and for all officials beginning in 2017, through a defined contribution arrangement, which will have two elements: an annual league contribution made on behalf of each game official that will begin with an average of more than $18,000 per official and increase to more than $23,000 per official in 2019, and a partial match on any additional contribution that an official makes to his 401(k) account.
• Apart from their benefit package, the game officials' compensation will increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, rising to $205,000 by 2019.
• Beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL will have the option of hiring a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year-round, including on the field.
• The NFL will have the option to retain additional officials for training and development purposes, and may assign those additional officials to work NFL games. The number of additional officials will be determined by the NFL.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/20380815/deal-between-nfl-officials-is-imminent-would-allow-refs-to-work-thursday-night

Ed Hochuli's Private Captain's Meetings

Ed Hochuli is perhaps the most famous of the National Football League's 121 regular officials, and if a new contract with the locked-out officials gets done within the next 24 hours, American football fans will owe him a debt of thanks -- because the prep work of Hochuli will be a key for the real refs to hit the ground running, starting with Sunday's 13 NFL games.

A deal, however, is not imminent, according to one official who got an email from NFL Referees Association negotiator Scott Green early this afternoon. "He said we're making progress but not close to a deal right now,'' the official said.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported earlier today that the two sides were on the verge of an agreement that would end the stalemate that has put ill-suited replacement officials on the field for the first three weeks of the season. One league source said shortly after noon today that it was doubtful the pension part of the labor deal had been finalized, and he hadn't heard that a deal was imminent. But with a compensation specialist on hand Tuesday and today for the talks -- a usual precursor to a deal, another league source said -- the biggest question remaining seemed to be: Could a deal be ratified in time for the regular officials to ride in on their white horse and work 13 of the 14 games this weekend, excluding Thursday's game?

The answer is yes -- if a deal gets done by late Thursday. Here's how, said one officiating source with knowledge of the NFL Referees Association's plan:

• The officials must meet to ratify any proposal accepted by the NFLRA's board of directors, which includes referees Scott Green and Jeff Triplette.
• If a deal gets done midday Thursday, the officials would meet in Dallas on Friday and vote on the proposal. "They want to go back to work pretty bad,'' said the officiating source. "If they go to Dallas, they'd be voting for the deal."
• The officials could then fly to their respective games Saturday morning and have their regularly scheduled crew meetings, complete with game tape study, Saturday afternoon.
• The league likely would not demand they go through any preseason training, because the NFL is so anxious for the nightmare of the replacements to be over.
• The NFL will have Hochuli to thank for the training sessions the NFL has not been able to run because he has run some of his own.

Every Tuesday night, the veteran official with the Popeye arms has been holding rules-related conference calls with all officials. Average attendance on the calls, I'm told, is between 90 and 110 per week. Hochuli, the officiating sources says, gives all officials a test each week, similar to one they might get from the NFL during a regular week of preparations, and then goes over the results on the phone with the officials.

"That's one of the reasons why the officials will be up to date and ready to go,'' the officiating source said. "Ed grabbed the bull by the horns and made sure that whenever this thing ended, the regular officials would be ready to go back to work immediately.''

As for terms of the new deal, it's likely the NFL will get some but not all of what it wanted with a taxi squad of developmental officials. One source said that was accomplished by guaranteeing the officials the same pool of money they would get even if some of them are replaced during the season for performance or health reasons.

Belichick's Reach Around... $50k

 Talk about not getting your money's worth... Bill Belicheck was fined $50,000 by the NFL for his post-game physical contact with a fill-in ref after not getting an explanation of the ruling on the game ending FG in Baltimore Sunday night in the Patriots 31-30 loss. The fine comes as no surprise, as in all sports goes a high-price for any physical confrontations with league officials - even if they are the fake refs... Maybe Bill should pay the fake ref's contact fine with fake money? John Harbaugh on the other hand was not fined by the league for bumping an official on Sunday night either.

Either way, there has been increased discussions yesterday and today with the NFLRA to bring back the real officials targeting week 5. The details are all over the place of where there are still separation between the two groups, but there will be a settlement in place to have the officials return for week 5 (or week 6 at worst)

These NFL games are truly in train-wreck mode, most of us just can't turn away, the impact is mesmerizing, increasingly deadly to each team it effects each week, and although not really laughable anymore, but its more so an expected laugh, kind of like when you hear how bad the Sox lost again last night... It's not really funny, but its expected insult at this point... but like the 2012 Red Sox season, after a long enough time, you get sick of it, it becomes unwatchable, meaningless, and we will tune out... Let's hope the newest ref talks are for real, because "Intertouchdown" can't happen again.

NHL's Re-Alignment... Coming soon

I thought I would throw up a post that can help distract from the travesty in Seattle Monday night and the absurdity of a second NHL lockout in the last 8 years.

For the last few years, reports have been out there in the NHL circles that the relocation of select teams was inevitable. The Phoenix Coyotes are owned by the NHL, the New York Islanders are being driven off LongIsland by taxes and a poor facility, and Florida really can’t support 2 NHL teams. Add to that the fact that Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz took team management on a tour of Seattle’s Key Arena yesterday. Quebec City and Hamilton, ON have been clamoring for teams for a long time. Relocation is coming, and with that, the need for realignment is becoming more and more obvious. So I decided to do some fantasy booking and redraft the divisions with what I think would happen once realignment occurs.

There are two potential ways to go about this, with 6 divisions of 5 teams each, as the league is currently structured, or the way that the proposed realignment looked last December, 4 divisions, 2 with 8 teams and 2 with 7 teams.

I have arranged the divisions with the Coyotes moving to Quebec City, The Islanders moving to Hamilton, and the Oilers moving to Seattle. If a 4^th team were to move, say the Panthers, Oklahoma City or Houston would be potential locations, but for the sake of this posting, I am leaving the Panthers in Florida.

6 Divisions

• Eastern Canada: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton
• Atlantic: Boston, New York, New Jersey, Buffalo, Philadelphia
• Midwest: Pittsburg, Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis
• Southeast: Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Nashville
• Southwest: Colorado, Dallas, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose
• Northwest: Minnespta, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle

4 Divisions

• Northeast: Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, Hamilton, Buffalo
• East: New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Pittsburg
• Midwest: Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Columbus, St. Louis, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Dallas
• West: Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado, Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary

I am more partial to the 4 division setup, as it does more to preserve the natural rivalries than the 6 division setup does, but it is anyone’s guess as to what the NHL will decide to do. This is just one man’s opinion. I am curious to think what others think about this.

Edmonton Oilers to Relocate to Seattle

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1261723--nhl-lockout-edmonton-oilers-eye-seattle

Counterpoint

Mike said earlier he will be boycotting the NFL for at least the next week, if not longer, if this ref lock-out doesn't come to an end. This boycott is completely justified. Goodell is always talking about the "integrity of the game" and how nothing should compromise it, yet here he is letting this shit-show go on. Completely valid reason for a boycott, "let's show him we're sick of it and don't want to see our team's season jeopardized by all this manure." I definitely follow this reasoning and would even consider joining in, if I had other excuses to get hammered on a Sunday in September.

But, even if I did have another reason to booze it up, there is no way I would miss out on this. This is MUST watch TV. Seriously, look at that picture, when is the last time you saw a Touchception? Answer: Never. This is all new. You never know what is coming next (neither do the refs, which is why it's so exciting). Sure, we all miss Ed Hochuli and his spectacularly sculpted body, but just get these new guys some HGH and into the weight room and we're saying, "Ed who?" by week 7.

If you're seriously considering a boycott, just take a second and consider my pick for Most Entertaing Matchup of the week: New Orleans @ Green Bay 4:25pm on Fox. Here's the matchup: Team Bent Over By Roger Goodell Before Season vs. Team Given Unwanted Rectal Exam Last Week By Scab Refs Hired By Roger Goodell. Not only is this a battle of who hates the Commish more (If you thought that Bull-Shit chant in Baltimore was good, get ready for this one), but think about this little tidbit. Green Bay is the only team in the league not owned by some billionaire dickhead who doesn't want to pay real refs a small percent more money. The Packers are owned by their fans. Fans who will fill the Lambeau stands next week. Can you imagine what will happen after a couple of phantom defensive holding calls go against the Pack next week? Lambeau Field will turn into a modern day Colosseum, where the Cheesheads will hold a Ref-erendum, if you will, to decide whether the Replacements get to live or die. Not a chance I miss that.

Mike, you can have your boycott, I'll be parked right in front of the TV, about 6 beers deep, on the edge of my seat, just waiting for the bloodshed.

Breaking Point...

I have cropped/scripted a set of pictures from 2 angles of Monday night's game ending TD catch by Golden Tate... We have 3 major problems here... First of all the rule was interpreted incorrectly, or these replacement refs cannot read... Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 5 states...

 

By this definition and how the play unfolded, Jennings clearly establishes the initial catch, so ignore the first sentence in this rule about the ball belonging to the passers (which is where the replacement ref reviewing the call most likely got this wrong in the first place)... The 2nd sentence goes on to state that the play is ruled not a simultaneous catch... Which it was deemed a simultaneous catch (this is the problem with the rule)... Then the player who gains control first and the opponent (2nd) subsequently gains joint control, that it would not be a simultaneous catch...

So answer here is that this should've been ruled/deemed that Jennings gained control first (this would eliminate the first part of the ruling), second that because Jennings establishes "control" first and the second player then gains "control" simultaneously, that it is still NOT a simultaneous catch (still rules out the first sentence in this ruling), thus granting possession (and "control") to the first player who established the catch & control which was Jennings...

Here is a set of shots from that sequence... Judge for yourself... but GB got hosed... Between the Baltimore crowd yelling Bull Shit across national TV and this blown call in which cost another key market team a bad loss... I will say two things... First I will not be watching the NFL Thurs/Sun/Mon this upcoming weekend, the NFL has lost my viewership for a week after this weekend... I may even take 2 weeks off... We'll see how bad they blow the next week's worth of games... But the NFL has chosen to put a poor product on the field, thinking we are simply going to watch no matter what the result is... Well I take my stand here... I'll watch the highlights instead next week

Baltimore Crowd, Loud and Proud

If this was Gillette Stadium chanting this, we'd all be proud of ourselves, and in this case, I am just as proud of the Ravens Faithful who did EXACTLY what the league needed, a clear, loud, in-your-face, un-blockable, call-out of the awful officiating and product that the NFL has put on the field... This sent the message loud and clear... I say the NFL refs are back with their new deals by week 5 after this... THANK YOU BALTIMORE

Epic View of the Week - Lingerie Football League Big Hit!!!

Bernard Pollard Interview On Toucher & Rich w/98.5 The Sports Hub

Article > Bernard Pollard On Toucher & Rich: NFL Replacement Refs ‘Way Out Of Their League’ « CBS Boston

Audio > http://boston.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd1%2Fd1%2FdB%2Fd0%2FdP%2F11B0P_3.MP3&podcast_name=Bernard+Pollard+On+Patriots%2C+NFL+Replacement+Refs&podcast_artist=Toucher+and+Rich&station_id=&audio_link=true&config_file=config.xml&dcid=CBS.BOSTON

NHL Lockout Facts

• This is the 3rd lockout in 18yrs, and 4th labor-related work stoppage in the past 20yrs
• Jaromir Jagr is the only active player to have played during all 4 stoppages
• 8 Different Teams have won the cup since the last lockout
• Tornoto is the only franchiseto not record a playoff game since the last lockout
• The NHL is the only North American League to lose an entire season due to a labor dispute
• 16 NHL players have signed deals overseas within 48hrs of the lockout
• Since 1992 1,728 games have been canceled due to lockout/labor strikes
• Since July 1st NHL Teams combined to spend $1.8 billion on salaries
• The NHL was worth ~$3.3B last year
• The NHL's last offer to the NHLPA was to reduce salary from 57% to 46% along with restructuring Hockey Related Revenues
• Shea Webber will receive a $13m signing bonus regardless of the lockout (3 other players @$10m)
• 35yr old Shane Doan signed a 4yr-$21.2m deal by the league owned Phoenix Coyotes simply because Vancouver would've done it if PHX did not (teams spent a combined $220m this week alone)
• A Poll this weekend on TSN is a quick reminder as to what fans remember/think of a lockout...

Match-Up of the Week

Presented by

 

 

While Queen LaTifah remixes the national anthem, our Patriots throttle the Titans, and the headlines await for the Sunday night game (Denver vs Pittsburgh), the real matchup of the week will be Aaron Rodgers' GB Packers hosting Alex Smith's 49ers...

San Fancisco has imported an off-season of WRs and depth at defense to bolster their league leading defense from last year, but their atrocious red zone to TD ratio from last year (resulting in fantasy stupidity like taking Akers in the 7th/8th round in drafts this year) will need to improve... With some youth and experience in the backfield, and a few new options for the passing game, this is the real deal year for Alex Smith, a final push for Frank Gore (aging out), and a true test out of the gates for this defense

Green Bay's running game went from bad to awful and somehow even worse to start this season. Injuries to starting and backup RBs have forced GB to bring in Mr. Fumble himself Cedric Benson... Yes you can argue his numbers, but this unproven improvement will not be the season-long answer some of the fantasy nerds, or cheese-heads, would like to think he can be... Expect Rodgers to test the corners and safety's of the 49ers early and often as the league's 2nd best arrial attack will be launching off again

Fantasy Locks - Rodgers, Nelson, Finley, Davis

Fantasy Busts: Jennings, Cobb, SF DEF, GB DEF, Frank Gore

Fantasy Sleepers: Alex Smith, Michael Crabtree

Prediction: 49ers control the clock more than you think this game, Rodgers hits deep, but the defense bleeds out...   SF - 30   GB - 27

Tron Nerds... Enjoy

Check out "Playoff Mike"

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=748724308382

Bruins ink Brad Marchand to 4yr Contract Extension worth $4.5M/yr

Brad Marchand signs contract extension

Bruins ink rookie goalie Malcolm Subban

Bruins sign goalie Malcolm Subban