Who Is The NBA's Best Shooting Guard?

1. Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers

Age:

27

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

220

School:

Lower Merion (HS)

Years:

10

In his first season back with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant put up one of his best statistical seasons ever, and that’s pretty impressive given his brilliant nine-year career. As the only legit scoring option for the Lakers, Kobe posted career highs in points (35.4) and three-pointers (2.3) while continuing to put up dominant numbers in almost every other category. The big attraction to Bryant isn’t his ability to score at will; it’s his free throw shooting. With 10.2 attempts per game and connecting at an 85 percent clip, there is no one that can control the free throw percentage category better than Kobe. Other than adding Vladimir Radmanovic, who will help spread the court, the Lakers haven’t changed their personnel much and will continue to rely heavily on all facets of Bryant’s game.

Bottom Line: Kobe is a sure fire pick and should put up another tremendous season under Phil Jackson.

2. Dwyane Wade - Miami Heat

Age:

24

Height:

6'4''

Weight:

225

School:

Marquette

Years:

3

Simply put, Dwyane Wade is the best in the business. LeBron James may have the superior stats and fantasy status, but Wade has the ring and the stats to boot. LeBron and Wade were the only two players in the league to average more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game last season. If that’s not enough, Wade also added two steals, 0.8 blocks and a ridiculous 49.5 field goal percentage. That 49.5 percent is even more impressive when you factor in his 18.8 shots from the floor per game, a number that may go up this season. Those that watched the 2006 NBA Playoffs know Wade has an uncanny ability to get himself to the free throw line. Last year, he attempted a whopping 10.7 shots from the line and shot an above-average 78.3 percent. Turnovers are a lost cause, but Wade greatly improved his three-point shooting during the 2006 NBA Playoffs. While he probably won’t be a big time three-point shooter, his 37.8 percent from beyond the arc during the playoffs shows potential to improve in his worst statistical category.

Bottom Line: Forget about threes and turnovers, Wade’s dominance in nearly every category is more than enough to make up for his so-called deficiencies.

3. Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics

Age:

28

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

230

School:

Kansas

Years:

8

Paul Pierce is the total package. As one of the most consistent performers in the game, Pierce always puts up big time stats and never misses time due to injury. What more can you ask for in a first round pick? As a player, Pierce is a multi-category producer that will score, rebound, dish, steal and drill three pointers. A proven scorer, Pierce can score in a variety of ways, whether by draining the outside shot, driving to the basket or drawing a foul. He’ll get to the line about 10 times per game where he’ll help your FT percentage immensely by shooting around 78-80 percent. The biggest, most surprising addition to his game has been his improving field goal percentage. A career 44 percent shooter, Pierce shot 47.1 percent from the floor last season. He’s unlikely to duplicate that feat again this year but should be able to keep it in the 45-46 percent range.

Bottom Line: Pierce is as close to a sure thing as anyone else in the league. He’s never missed considerable time due to injury, and he’s always posted tremendous stats in almost every category.

4. Ray Allen - Boston Celtics

Age:

31

Height:

6'5''

Weight:

205

School:

Connecticut

Years:

10

Allen makes the game look easy with his flawless jump shot and great instincts on the court. If you are looking to finish high in the standings in three pointers, there’s no one better in the league to have than Allen, who has hit on at least 2.5 threes a game in each of his last seven seasons. In fact, last year, Allen led the league by 70 three pointers. As one of the best free throw shooters in the league, Allen gets to the line about five times per game and can make a huge difference hitting on at least 88 percent of his shots from the charity stripe. Allen doesn’t rebound or pass as well as Pierce or Kobe but keeps it respectable with consistent boards and assists per game, all while creating more than a steal per game.

5. Ben Gordon - Chicago Bulls

Age:

23

Height:

6'3''

Weight:

200

School:

Connecticut

Years:

2

A year after winning the Sixth Man award in his rookie season, Ben Gordon took his game to the next level with increased playing time. Showing the ability to score in waves and nail the three ball, Gordon thrived in the Bulls offense, scoring 16.9 points with 2.1 threes and 0.9 steals in 31 minutes per game. Gordon may increase his value if he could secure more playing time, but with the likes of Chris Duhon, Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni and Tyrus Thomas all fighting for minutes, he might not see as much playing time as we’d like. Still, he’s a great option for points, threes and steals. Like many of his counterparts, his field goal percentage is below average given the amount of shots he takes from beyond the arc, but he’ll balance that out by shooting nearly 80 percent from the free throw line.

Bottom Line: Gordon should be able to increase his scoring in his third year so expect around 17-18 points, three boards, three assists, 1.2 steals and more than two three pointers per game.

6. Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets

Age:

27

Height:

6'8''

Weight:

210

School:

Christian Academy (HS)

Years:

9

It’s hard to believe that in just one year Tracy McGrady could be considered injury prone. That’s what happens when you miss 37 games with a lingering back injury. Reportedly, T-Mac is feeling great and is ready to go after taking nearly three months off from basketball related activities. Still, when the words “chronic” and “back” are mentioned in the same sentence, one has to be worried about his ability to come back pain-free. Despite the injury concerns, T-Mac is way too talented to be overlooked. Even in a down year, he still averaged 24.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.6 threes and even tossed in 0.9 blocks for good measure. When healthy, T-Mac is as good as anyone in the game and can post Kobe Bryant-like stats.

7. Vince Carter - New Jersey Nets

Age:

29

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

220

School:

North Carolina

Years:

8

When he’s motivated, Vince Carter is easily one of the best players in the NBA. Many will question his durability, toughness and leadership, but even his detractors wouldn’t dare question his game. With the Nets, Carter put up Tracy McGrady-esque numbers, scoring 24 points with nearly six boards, four assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 threes a game. He’ll even throw in some blocks for good measure, as he has averaged 0.9 blocks per game in his eight year career. It’s no coincidence that playing with Jason Kidd has helped Carter regain his status as one of the NBA’s top players. With the Nets lineup virtually unchanged, Carter will take on the same offensive responsibilities in New Jersey again this season.

8. Jason Richardson - Golden State Warriors

Age:

25

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

225

School:

Michigan State

Years:

5

A flashy player with great athleticism and the ability to jump out of the building, Jason Richardson has all the tools to be a superstar in the NBA. His style of play is reminiscent of a young Vince Carter with his high-flying dunks and ability to contribute in multiple categories. Richardson has matured and improved his game every year. J-Rich is a great option for points (23.2), rebounds (5.8), assists (3.1), steals (1.3) and threes (2.4). Most valuable for his improving three-point shooting, he’s also done a much better job in shot selection, culminating with a 44.6 percent from the floor last season. If there’s anything holding him back from becoming a superstar, it’s his dismal free throw percentage that stood at 67.3 percent last season.

9. Michael Redd - Milwaukee Bucks

Age:

27

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

215

School:

Ohio State

Years:

6

Like Ray Allen, Michael Redd has one of the game’s smoothest shots. Most valuable for his ability to score at will and drill the three, Redd had his best season as a pro, posting career highs in points (25.4), assists (2.9), steals (1.2) and free throw percentage (87.7 percent). With his all-around game coming into shape, Redd can no longer be considered just a two-category stud. The improvement didn’t come out of nowhere; his improved supporting cast certainly helped in the process. There aren’t many that can match Redd from the charity stripe. His 87.7 percent shooting percentage from the line ranked ninth in the NBA, and his 7.1 attempts per game makes him one of the most dominant free throw shooters in the fantasy game. Though T.J. Ford’s departure may hurt Redd a little, the addition of Charlie Villanueva will help, as opposing defenses will be forced to cover the versatile big man instead of doubling up on Redd.

10. Manu Ginobili - San Antonio Spurs

Age:

29

Height:

6'6''

Weight:

205

School:

None

Years:

4

Manu’s penchant for big-game heroics means little-to-nothing in the fantasy world, but the potential is truly salivating. Manu isn’t just clutch, though…his production in the playoffs can be traced back to an increase in minutes.

After proving himself on the game’s biggest stage, Manu Ginobili is ready to make the jump from solidperformer to elite status. Most impressive about his playoff run was his playmaking ability. At times, he absolutely took over games, using his blazing speed to blow by defenders and create scoring opportunities. Although he only averaged 16 points, four rebounds and nearly four assists during the regular season, those numbers were weighed down by the fact that he played in less than 30 minutes a game. In the playoffs, he received 33.6 minutes and responded by scoring 20.8 points with 5.8 boards, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 threes while shooting more than 50 percent from the floor and near 80 percent from the line. Part of the statistical increase can be attributed to the fact that Ginobili is a clutch player, but the increase in minutes also played a large part in Manu’s dominance during the playoffs. It will be hard for San Antonio to keep Manu off the floor this year so expect to see his minutes climb to the 33-35 range.

Bottom Line: Manu has the ability to be an 18/5/5 player in this league, and he’ll be a dominant force in threes (1.3) and steals (1.6) while shooting great percentages. This is the year he breaks out in the fantasy world, and you’ll want him on your team when he does.

11. Raja Bell - Phoenix Suns

Age:

30

Height:

6'5''

Weight:

210

School:

Florida International

Years:

6

Filling the void left by the departure of Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson, Raja Bell stepped in and became the beneficiary of increased playing time and Steve Nash's amazing talent for finding the open shooter. In Phoenix, Bell became one of Nash’s favorite targets and posted career highs in nearly every fantasy relevant category. With 14.7 points, 1.0 steals and 2.5 threes per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the floor, Bell turned in a highly efficient season. It wasn’t all Nash, though. Bell showed signs of breaking out in previous seasons; he just didn’t receive the minutes he needed to be productive. Though he won’t create his own shot, Bell has turned into a great spot-up shooter and will take advantage of Nash’s playmaking abilities again in 2006-07.

12. Larry Hughes - Cleveland Cavaliers

Age:

27

Height:

6'5''

Weight:

184

School:

St. Louis

Years:

8

After a career year in Washington, Larry Hughes took his game to the Cleveland Cavaliers and struggled through an injury-plagued season. Missing games is familiar territory for Hughes as he’s reached 70-plus games just once in his eight-year career. Even when on the court last season, Hughes wasn’t his usual self, posting just 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 threes per game. He still has the talent, though. Remember, Hughes is just one year removed from a season in which he averaged 22.0 points, 6.3 boards, 4.7 assists, 1.0 threes and 2.8 steals for the Washington Wizards. Keep in mind that Hughes posted those numbers with both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison taking shots away from him, so he has the potential to put up numbers even with Lebron James and Zydrunus Ilgauskus in the mix. When healthy, he’ll be a solid contributor across the board especially in steals, where he will challenge for the league lead.

13. Stephen Jackson - Golden State Warriors

Age:

28

Height:

6'8''

Weight:

218

School:

Butler County CC

Years:

6

Jackson is always a quality option for points, steals and threes as he averaged 16.4 points, 3.9 boards, 1.3 steals and 1.4 threes per game for the Pacers in 2005-06. Despite that, his percentage from the floor stands at a paltry .411 and while his free throw percentage is solid (78.1 percent), he turns the ball over way too much for a shooting guard (2.5). This is not to mention he doesn’t offer much in terms assists. Regardless, Jackson is a prototypical SG and his ability to put up at least a steal and three-pointer per game will prove valuable.

14. Cuttino Mobley - Los Angeles Clippers

Age:

30

Height:

6'4''

Weight:

215

School:

Rhode Island

Years:

8

Mobley, who averaged 14.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 threes per game for the Clips last year, will again help spread the court with his sharp-shooting abilities from downtown. Unfortunately, in an offense that focuses on Elton Brand and mid-range jumpers, Mobley hit on a career-low 1.1 three pointers per game. Still, Mobley is a fine option at shooting guard for his ability to excel in threes, points and steals and near 83 shooting percent from the free throw line. His rebounding is decent for a guard and he’ll probably pull in around 4 a game. He’ll fit in well on the Clippers and should be primed for another solid season.

Bottom Line: There’s little risk attached to Mobley as he’s usually healthy and consistently puts up numbers that everyone expects of him.

15. Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons

Age:

28

Height:

6'7''

Weight:

201

School:

Connecticut

Years:

7

Always a great option for points, steals and the percentages, Richard Hamilton put on a show last year, hitting on 49.1 percent of his shots from the floor and scoring a career high 20.1 points per game. His steals dropped from 1.0 per game to 0.7, but his range is subtly improving to the point where it’s within reason to see him hitting a three pointer per game. With Flip Saunders in and Larry Brown out, Rip was allowed more freedom on the offensive end and teamed with Chauncey Billups to form one of the highest scoring backcourts in the league. His killer percentages set him apart from the crowd, especially considering the high volume of shots he takes from the floor every night.

Bottom Line: Not much risk here, Hamilton can be counted on as a solid producer. You’ll never have to worry about him taking a night off, as he’s one of the hardest working, most determined players in the game.

Bill Parcells Wastes No Time In Making Changes in Miami

Bill Parcells is now the boss on the Miami Dolphins and this is reflected in his decision to let Cam Cameron go, along with just about everyone else on the Miami Dolphins. He has complete freedom to do this too because his promise to rebuild this franchise is trusted by nearly everyone.

The thing with Bill Parcells is that he wants people he knows surrounding him as he tries to fix the Miami Dolphins. He's not familiar with Cam Cameron or many of the other staff members, so he had to let them go.

To recap, late last month, they brought in Parcells to run the organization. He hired Jeff Ireland as general manager this week, and they fired most of the coaching staff Thursday.

"They were struggling on both sides of the ball," Ireland said. "Looking at it from afar, we've just got to put the right person in place."

Cameron was fired Thursday after winning only one game in his first year as an NFL head coach. The move means Miami will have its fifth coach in five seasons.

Such instability has contributed to the Dolphins' decline. This season they lost their first 13 games and finished 1-15, the worst record in franchise history.

Now the Dolphins are starting over.

Parcells, the Cowboys' coach in 2003-06, may tap the Dallas pipeline again. The early front-runner to replace Cameron is Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano, who is scheduled to interview Friday for the head coaching vacancy in Atlanta.

"Tony's an outstanding coach," Dallas head coach Wade Phillips said this week. "He's got all the attributes, I think, to be a head coach. He works well with people. His players play for him; I think that's important. And he's a really sharp, sharp guy as far as Xs and Os. And I think he'd work well certainly putting a staff together."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen has confirmed through sources that the Dolphins also will consider these five additional assistants as Cameron's successor:

" Maurice Carthon, Cardinals running backs coach
" Todd Haley, Cardinals offensive coordinator
" Mike Tice, Jaguars assistant head coach/tight ends
" Rex Ryan, Ravens defensive coordinator
" Leslie Frazier, Vikings defensive coordinator

All but two members of Cameron's coaching staff were also fired, although some might be rehired by the new head coach, Ireland said. Retained were assistant special teams coach Steve Hoffman and linebackers coach George Edwards.

Now that the coaching staff is in the process of being replaced, it'll soon be time for Parcells to take a look at the players. It wouldn't surprise me if Bill Parcells brought the players he likes to the Dolphins in addition to the coaching staff. How funny would that be if Vinny Testaverde came out of retirement to be the quarterback of the Dolphins or if Terry Glenn came to the Dolphins as a receiver. Romo loves Terrell Owens and his other receivers so much in Glenn's absence that Glenn looked out of place on that team in the final week of football.

Say So Long To Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp told the Oakland Raiders on Thursday that he was retiring, ending the career of one of the best defensive tackles to play in the NFL.

Sapp told the Contra Costa Times that he phoned Raiders owner Al Davis with the news Thursday. The Raiders had no official comment, but coach Lane Kiffin hinted at Sapp's decision earlier this week.

Sapp

Sapp, 35, was the quintessential "three technique" tackle during his 13-year career, lining up between the guard and tackle and splitting that gap. Few did it better than Sapp, who made seven Pro Bowls, won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 1999, and was a key cog in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl winning defense in the 2002 season.

"Every defensive tackle that's drafted in the top five is supposed to be the next [me]," Sapp said earlier this season. "All of them have that tag. ... I've played the game pretty well, so if I'm the standard by which [they'll] be judged, that's tough, because I'd like to relive that guy, too. He's a bad boy. He's dead now. I give you flashes of him every now and then but, nah, that guy was sick."

After having 10 sacks in 2006, Sapp wasn't as successful this season when he finished with only two. He was also part of a Raiders defense that struggled against the run, allowing a league-worst 4.8 yards per carry.

That's the reason Sapp gave for his retirement. He said his skills are declining and feels he can't perform as he used to anymore.

Sapp was no longer the every-down menace he was during his younger days in Tampa, but he could still pick his spots. In his final game against San Diego, Sapp shot through a gap and hit quarterback Philip Rivers' forearm before he could hand the ball off to LaDainian Tomlinson, causing a fumble. "You get a little older, you can see your weaknesses a little bit more and go about 45-50 plays now," Sapp said late in the season.

Sapp finished his career with 96½ sacks, the 28th most since the NFL began keeping track of the statistic in 1982. What made that even more remarkable is that Sapp played primarily on the inside at tackle, where sacks are traditionally much harder to come by. He was considered a coach on the field by the defensive staff on the Raiders and was viewed as a leader by the young players that surrounded him.

A Preview Of The Interview With Roger Clemens And CBS' "60 Minutes" Has Been Released

Roger Clemens says he was injected with "Lidocaine and B-12" and not steroids or human growth hormone by former trainer Brian McNamee, according to a portion of an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" released Thursday.

"Lidocaine and [vitamin] B-12. It's for my joints, and B-12 I still take today," Clemens told Mike Wallace in the interview, which is scheduled to be shown Sunday night. It is Clemens' first interview since the release of the Mitchell report in December.

In the Mitchell report, McNamee claims to have injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001. He said he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with HGH in 2000, according to the report.

According to CBS, Clemens calls the accusation that he used steroids and HGH "ridiculous" and says he "never" used any banned substances. The interview was conducted last Friday at Clemens' home in Katy, Texas, a suburb west of Houston.

Wallace asked Clemens if he swears he didn't use banned substances. "Swear," Clemens responds.

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that can be used by dentists and in minor surgery. It also is available as part of ointments used to treat skin inflammation.

Clemens is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday, the day after the interview is broadcast.

Earl Ward, an attorney for McNamee, said his client stands by "everything he said to Senator Mitchell and federal investigators."

"Brian has a master's degree in sports medicine," Ward told ESPN The Magazine's Shaun Assael. "He knows the difference between Lidocaine, B-12 and testosterone. What he injected into Roger Clemens wasn't Lidocaine or B-12. It was testosterone."

Another lawyer for McNamee, Richard Emery, has threatened to sue Clemens for defamation.

"I think that this is a lawyers' game, which allows him to try and attempt to say that McNamee didn't know what he was injecting or that at least Clemens didn't know what he was injecting,'' Emery said.

"It really depends now on how the whole interview goes, and whether he goes after Brian. Look, I don't care whether Clemens used Sodium Pentothal. I don't care if he used strontium 90. My only concern is for Brian's well-being and his future.''

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told The New York Times his client has nothing to hide.

"I believe a client who's telling the truth should tell the world the truth," he said. Of Clemens' 60 Minutes appearance, Hardin said, "I think [Clemens] expressed himself very emotionally, and it'll give the viewer a chance to look at Roger and make up their mind."

On Thursday, Hardin added: "In his interview with 60 Minutes Roger told the truth. It is that simple. I encourage Mr. McNamee to watch the program."

Emery said a decision whether to sue won't be made until after the 60 Minutes interview is broadcast.

"It really depends on what a reasonable person would take away from the entire interview as to whether he's going to damage Brian. And we can't tell until what we see happens on Sunday,'' Emery said. "But it is fascinating. I think that Hardin and Clemens are responding to the fact that McNamee is going to defend himself aggressively by them trying to parse this closely and issue this statement through CBS. So it's fascinating, and I'm glad to see that they are responding to Brian's notice to them that he is not going to be trashed by them.''

Also on Thursday, the New York Daily News reported that Hank Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees' senior vice president, said Clemens will not be back in pinstripes.

"I'm not signing Clemens," Steinbrenner told the Daily News in a telephone interview.

Steinbrenner said the team has Andy Pettitte, who is also mentioned in the Mitchell report and who has admitted using performance enhancing drugs, signed for one season.

"Andy is [signed] for one year and he's only 35 and he knows how to pitch in the big games," Steinbrenner said, according to the Daily News. "Roger does, too, but let's face it, he's going to be 46 [in August].

"Pettitte is just as good with the young pitchers, though Clemens was great with the young kids last year. I don't think Roger is going to come back anyway."

When Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steroids in 2005 and was suspended for 10 days, he said a tainted vial of B-12 given to him by a teammate -- later identified as Miguel Tejada -- might have caused the doping violation.

Shortly after the Mitchell report's release, Clemens issued denials both through Hardin and in a video posted on his Web site.

"Let me be clear, the answer is no. I did not use steroids or human growth hormone, and I've never done so," Clemens said in the video, released on Dec. 23. "I did not provide Brian McNamee with any drugs to inject into my body. Brian McNamee did not inject steroids or human growth hormones into my body."

Baseball players and owners did not have an agreement to ban steroids until September 2002, and they didn't ban HGH until January 2005.

Emery wouldn't say whether McNamee did inject Clemens with Lidocaine and B-12.

"That's much too specific. That evidence has yet to be developed,'' he said. "There is a ton of evidence that the Mitchell report failed to explore that will corroborate Brian, and so it would be foolhardy for Clemens or Hardin to allow Clemens to trash Brian.''

Emery said it was unlikely McNamee would sue CBS. He also hasn't decided whether a suit would be filed in New York or federal court.

"Either court in New York would be perfectly acceptable,'' he said. "No New York jury is going to be hoodwinked by this claim if he ends up defaming Brian.''

Mike Wallace actually came to my university to give a presentation and I got a chance to meet him. He's a tough, in your face, no-nonsense type of guy. If anyone can dig and claw the truth out of Clemens, my vote would be for Mike Wallace to do it.

Who Is The NBA's Best Point Guard?

1. Gilbert Arenas - Washington Wizards

Age:

23

Height:

6'3''

Weight:

191

School:

Arizona

Years:

5

Gilbert is the perfect point guard. He won’t just give you prototypical point guard stats; he’ll dominate them. Filling the stat sheet with points, threes and steals is the norm for the lightning quick All-Star, and he just keeps getting better and better. It seems as though there is no ceiling for this guy, as he improves his game in nearly every aspect every year. A deadly sharpshooter from the outside, Arenas can also use his quickness to drive to the hoop or nail down a mid-range jumper. Putting the ball in the basket isn’t his only saving grace, though. He’s improved his court-vision during the last few seasons and will dish out around six assists per game. The best part of his game, however, has to be his free throw shooting. Much like Dwyane Wade, Arenas is adept at drawing fouls on his way to the basket. Not many can match his 82 percent from the line in 10 free throw attempts per game.

2. Chris Paul - New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Age:

21

Height:

6'0''

Weight:

175

School:

Wake Forest

Years:

1

After an impressive rookie campaign, it is clear that Chris Paul is the future of the point guard position. With seemingly limitless potential, the kid averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.6 threes in his rookie season. Simply put, this kid is good…real good. Not only does he contribute in nearly every category but he also shoots a high percentage from the line (85 percent). He also showed the ability to get to the charity stripe often with six free throw attempts per game. Paul’s stats are favorably comparable to a young Jason Kidd, only with more offensive firepower. His three-point shooting was the only disappointment in 2005-06, but he’s a technically sound shooter and should improve in that area this year.

3. Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers

Age:

31

Height:

6'0''

Weight:

165

School:

Georgetown

Years:

10

Trade or no trade, Allen Iverson will score, steal, dish and knock down free throw after free throw no matter where he plays. As of press time, the trade rumors have died down, and he’s one of those players that will have similar value regardless of what uniform he’s wearing. In his second year at the point, Iverson continued to prove that he’s not just a gunner. His 7.4 assists per game ranked eighth in the NBA, and his improved shot-selection led to a much-improved 44.7 shooting percentage from the floor. Always a top-notch thief, Iverson uses his quickness, anticipation and tough on-ball defensive pressure to create around two steals per game. Don’t forget about his brilliant free throw shooting, either. During the last two seasons, Iverson has shot higher than 80 percent from the line while attempting nearly 11 shots from the stripe per game. His three-point shooting isn’t spectacular, but he’s kept it respectable by averaging more than a three per game for eight straight seasons.

Bottom Line: If there is anything to worry about, it’s that Iverson’s intense style of play can lead to a variety of injuries, but he is one of the biggest warriors in the game and will play through pain if he’s physically able to so.

4. Steve Nash - Phoenix Suns

Age:

32

Height:

6'3''

Weight:

195

School:

Santa Clara

Years:

10

Not since John Stockton have we seen a player dominate the assist category the way Steve Nash has during the last two seasons. A nice contrast to the new wave of high-scoring point guards, Nash is an old-school player with a pass-first mentality. Aside from his crisp passing abilities, Nash’s greatest strength lies in his ability to get down the court quickly and lead the fast break. Even if Amare Stoudemire isn’t 100 percent to start the season, we can realistically expect Nash to lead the league in assists for a third straight season. With Joe Johnson in Atlanta and Amare on the shelf, Nash took on more point scoring responsibilities last season and responded with a career-high 18.8 points per game. Impressively, he did this without sacrificing the other aspects of his game. His 10.5 assists per game were down from 11.5 in 2004-05 but still led the league by a large margin. He also picked up the slack on the boards, putting up a career-high 4.2 rebounds per game. If there’s anything to complain about, it’s his lack of steals from the point guard spot. The Canadian has never averaged more than a steal a game and doesn’t figure to do so at this point in his career. No need to worry, though, Nash more than makes up for his lack of steals by shooting more than 50 percent from the floor and 90 percent from the line.

Bottom Line: Nagging injuries are frustrating and we can a expect a modest regression in points, threes and boards if Amare returns to form, but Nash will still be a dominant.

5. Jason Kidd - New Jersey Nets

Age:

33

Height:

6'4''

Weight:

210

School:

California

Years:

12

A few years ago, Jason Kidd was a sure fire first round draft pick in fantasy drafts. Last year, injury concerns dropped his stock to the point where he was found hanging around in the second or even third rounds. When healthy, Kidd is one of the top point guards (if not the best) in the NBA. Those who nabbed him in the third round last season were rewarded with 13.3 points, 7-plus rebounds, 8-plus assists, nearly two steals and 1.7 threes per game. You will have to endure the dismal field goal percentage, but he’ll make you happy as he flirts with triple-doubles on a nightly basis. He’s not shy about involving his teammates and with proven scorers like Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and even Nenad Krstic on his side, he’ll come close to challenging Steve Nash for the league lead in assists this season.

Bottom Line: Don’t be fooled, even at 33 years of age, Kidd still has a few good years left in the tank.

6. Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons

Age:

29

Height:

6'3''

Weight:

202

School:

Colorado

Years:

9

After three solid seasons as Larry Brown’s protégé, Chauncey Billups took his game to the next level in new head coach Flip Saunders’ up-tempo offense. Billups posted career highs in points (18.5), assists (8.6), threes (2.3) and free throw attempts (6.4) with Saunders at the helm. The points and threes were to be expected, but nobody could foresee the increase of nearly three assists per game. With the assist totals climbing, Billups has gone from solid fantasy starter to fantasy stud in just one season. Other than Big Ben Wallace leaving town, the Pistons are virtually the same tea, and since Wallace didn’t offer much on the offensive end, Billups should be expected to shoulder the same offensive load in 2006-07. We’d love to see more steals, but the domination in threes and his near 90 percent shooting from the line will make up for his lack of thefts.

7. Mike Bibby - Sacramento Kings

Age:

28

Height:

6'2"

Weight:

190

School:

Arizona

Years:

8

While not as flashy as some of his counterparts, Mike Bibby is as solid as they come among point guards. In 2005-06, Bibby became the go-to-guy on the offensive end for the Kings and responded with career highs in points (21.1) and three pointers (2.3). The points and threes were nice, but Bibby’s assist totals dropped from 6.8 to 5.4 and his thefts dropped from 1.6 per game to 1.0. The numbers didn’t change much once Ron Artest joined the squad, but his steals improved in the second half, perhaps because Ron-Ron’s tough defense forced more errant passes. Though he won’t dominate any particular category, he’ll contribute favorably in points, assists, threes, steals and the percentages.

Bottom Line: Underrated for years, Bibby has now propelled himself into stardom with his newfound ability to put the ball in the basket.

8. Jason Terry - Dallas Mavericks

Age:

28

Height:

6'2''

Weight:

180

School:

Arizona

Years:

7

After a dismal first season in Big D, Jason Terry turned his game up a notch and helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2005-06. Back in 2004-05, Terry found himself in Don Nelson’s doghouse, averaging just 30 minutes per game. When Avery Johnson took over, his playing time increased and his stats followed suit. With Nellie out of the picture, Terry averaged 35 minutes per game and responded with 17.1 points, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 three pointers per game in 2006-07. Although most of his stats came back to his career norms, Terry’s assists completely dropped off the table. It’s a trend that should continue into next season, as Terry acts as more of a shooting guard than a point guard in Avery Johnson’s offensive game-plan. In fact, Terry actually led the team in assists with just 3.8 per game, and the Mavs averaged just 18.0 assists per game on the season. As a matter of reference, the New York Knicks averaged a league-worst 17.9 assists per game. With point guard Devin Harris coming into his own, Terry might find himself playing the two more often than not this season. With this in mind, Terry’s point scoring and threes should remain high but don’t expect his assists to improve anytime soon.

Bottom Line: Assists or not, Terry is still a valuable commodity. He’ll contribute heavily in points, threes and steals while keeping his percentages and turnovers respectable.

9. Kirk Hinrich - Chicago Bulls

Age:

25

Height:

6'3"

Weight:

190

School:

Kansas

Years:

3

A rising star in the NBA, Kirk Hinrich has everything you are looking for in a point guard. Solid point totals (15.9) to go along with 6.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.6 threes and 81.5 percent from the free throw line. Though he is young and has the ability to improve his numbers, Hinrich actually took a step backwards last season. Sure, he shot better from the floor (41.8 percent), but his steals and threes took a hit while his points and assists remained the same. For that, we can blame the Bulls deep bench, which allows Scott Skiles to limit his starters to less than 40 minutes per game. In fact, Hinrich led the Bulls in minutes with an average of 36.5 minutes per game. He’s the point guard version of Pau Gasol, circa 2004-05. Great talent, great player but never sees more than 40 minutes per game. With that in mind, it’s hard to get too excited about Hinrich’s upside. Despite this, there is reason for optimism. The Bulls are a young team on the rise, and Hinrich is their ringleader. He’ll have plenty of finishers to dish to, including Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and the freakish Tyrus Thomas, which should lead to an increase in his assist totals in 2006-07.

Bottom Line: As he gains experience in his fourth professional season, we can expect Hinrich to improve on his numbers across the board.

10. Stephon Marbury - New York Knicks

Age:

29

Height:

6'2''

Weight:

200

School:

Georgia Tech

Years:

10

Categorizing Marbury’s 2005-06 season as a down year would be an understatement. A year-long feud with head coach Larry Brown didn’t help his cause as Marbury’s minutes and production dropped off the table. While 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.6 threes per game isn’t terrible, it’s well below his career averages of 20.2 points, 8.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 threes per game. Nobody knows how Isaiah Thomas will fare as the head coach of the Knicks, but one thing is for sure, he’s going to give Marbury plenty of freedom on the court.

11. Tony Parker - San Antonio Spurs

Age:

24

Height:

6'2''

Weight:

180

School:

France

Years:

5

Parker stepped up his play in his fifth full season, setting career highs in points (18.9) and field goal percentage (.548). He isn’t the best assist man (5.8) and won’t hit any threes (0.1), but his 54.8 percent on 14.2 shots per game blows away the competition. His high percentage from the floor is largely due to his reluctance to shoot the three ball. Parker knows his limits and doesn’t attempt many three point shots, thus keeping his field goal percentage high. Like many of his teammates, Parker is a good defender and is adept at stepping in the passing lanes to create at least a steal a game. Parker is still young so he has plenty of upside, but he’ll have to improve on his free throw percentage (.707) and three pointers to move into elite status.

Bottom Line: With the Spurs lineup virtually unchanged, Tony Parker should continue to be a solid performer. He’ll contribute in points, assists, field goal percentage and steals.

12. Andre Miller - Denver Nuggets

Age:

30

Height:

6'2''

Weight:

200

School:

Utah

Years:

7

After a few years marred in mediocrity, Andre Miller returned to prominence in Denver under the direction of head coach George Karl. Miller’s outstanding play had fantasy owners flashing back to 2001-02 when he was one of the league’s premier assist men. The emergence of Carmelo Anthony as the go-to-guy certainly helped as Miller upped his assists from 6.9 to 8.2 per game. Much in the mold of Tony Parker, Miller’s field goal percentage remains high due to the lack of range on his jump-shot. Knowing his limitations, he attempted only 0.3 three pointers per game last year, a trend that should keep his field goal percentage in the .460-.470 range. Always a top notch thief, Miller has put up more than a steal per game in each of his six NBA seasons. He’s also an above average rebounder for a guard as he has averaged more than 4 boards per game in each of his last six seasons.

Bottom Line: Due to his mediocre performances since leaving Cleveland after the 2001-02 season, Miller is still a bit underrated, but he shouldn't be.

13. Baron Davis - Golden State Warriors

Age:

27

Height:

6'3''

Weight:

223

School:

UCLA

Years:

7

Baron Davisis truly one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the NBA, that is, when he’s on the court. There was a time when Davis was considered an iron-man of sorts as he hadn’t missed a single game in his first three seasons in the league. Unfortunately, he is now known as one of the most injury prone players after missing considerable time during the last four years. Despite his injury history, Davis is big-time when he’s on the court, averaging 17.9 points, 8.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.9 threes per game last season. These are the types of numbers Davis can put up if he’s fully recovered from the various injuries that have kept him out of action. Aside from the injuries, Davis still has some risk attached to him. He’ll kill you in field goal and free throw percentage and turns the ball over at an extremely high rate. Still, if you can stomach the percentages and the turnovers, he’ll be a dominant force in points, assists, steals and threes.

Bottom Line: Davis is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward pick. If you are feeling lucky, take a chance. He just might stay healthy this year.

14. Raymond Felton - Charlotte Bobcats

Age:

22

Height:

6'1''

Weight:

198

School:

North Carolina

Years:

1

Though he spent much of his rookie season sitting behind the oft-injured Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton flashed signs of brilliance in his first season as a pro. Had Knight not been around, Felton may have actually challenged Chris Paul for Rookie of the Year honors. Don’t laugh; just take a look at Felton’s stats after the All-Star break: 16.7 points, 7.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 threes per game. Chris Paul-esque indeed. The Bobcats seem ready and willing to hand the keys to the offense over to Felton this year. Although Knight still resides in Charlotte, he’ll play second fiddle to Felton in 2006-07.

Bottom Line: Guaranteed to be on many a sleeper list, Felton has the potential to be a top-10 point guard and should live up to the hype.

15. Speedy Claxton - Atlanta Hawks

Age:

28

Height:

5'7''

Weight:

170

School:

Hofstra

Years:

5

Though he started just three games for the Hornets, Speedy Claxton proved to be a valuable fantasy backup by posting 12.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 28.5 minutes per game. Signing an off-season deal with the Atlanta Hawks, Claxton immediately becomes a super sleeper due to an expected increase in minutes. The Hawks desperately needed a true point guard to lead their incredibly young and talented squad and got just what they were looking for in Speedy.

Now an unquestioned starter, Claxton should see around 35 minutes per game and will be a big time contributor in assists and steals. Living up to his name, he’s as quick as anyone in the league and will always be among the league leaders in steals if given the minutes. As a starter for Golden State back in 2004-05, Claxton averaged 13.1 points, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In Atlanta, we should expect more or less the same, though he could certainly up those assist numbers with Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Josh Childress and Salim Stoudamire around to finish off his passes.

Bottom Line: Everyone will have Claxton on their sleeper lists, making him not much of a sleeper at all. Still, he’s talented enough to live up to the hype, especially in assists and steals.

In-Depth Wild Card Weekend Preview

Jaguars	Category	Steelers	Reason
check	Offense		Both teams want to run the ball, but the Jaguars have more of an identity. They are a running team, period.
	Defense	check	Both are strong here, but a healthy Troy Polamalu allows Pittsburgh to make more big plays.
	Special teams	check	The Steelers are better equipped to handle the footing if there are bad weather and field conditions issues at Heinz Field.
check	Coaching		Jack Del Rio has the experience of being in the playoffs. In addition, he also has his team playing better right now.
check	Intangibles		The Jaguars have finally manufactured enough big plays in the passing game in the absence of Jimmy Smith.
check	Wild card		Jags' ability to get Maurice Jones-Drew the ball in space will cause trouble for the Steelers' LBs.

Overall: Jaguars
The Jags are among the few teams that match up well physically vs. Steelers.

Redskins	Category	Seahawks	Reason
	Offense	check	This team has gotten comfortable becoming one-dimensional with Matt Hasselbeck and the receivers.
check	Defense		The front 7 has been pretty strong most of the year, but now the secondary is making more plays.
check	Special teams		Antwaan Randle El has a history of making big plays in the playoffs.
check	Coaching		Mike Holmgren is used to the big stage, but Joe Gibbs has his team on a roll right now.
	Intangibles	check	As Tony Romo learned, Seattle can be a hard place for a visitor this time of year.
	Wild card	check	Shaun Alexander is just two years removed from league MVP and is capable of a big game.

Overall: Redskins

This game will not be the kiss of death for the Redskins.

Titans	Category	Chargers	Reason
	Offense	check	The players and coaching staff have finally come to the realization that LT must keep getting the ball.
	Defense	check	The Chargers have picked up their pass rush in the past four games, and the run defense now looks like it did last year.
	Special teams	check	Darren Sproles gives the Chargers one of the most explosive return games in the league.
check	Coaching		Jeff Fisher gets as much out of players as any coach, and he will have them ready for a physical football game.
	Intangibles	check	We'll finally get to see how much of a difference it makes not having Marty Schottenheimer.
	Wild card	check	Philip Rivers gets to prove he'll be a benefit and not a hindrance in a key situation.

Overall: Chargers

Albert Haynesworth is not 100 percent, and the Titans lack outside speed. If anything, the Madden curse should theoretically haunt this game.

Giants	Category	Buccaneers	Reason
check	Offense		They have the better running game and Plaxico Burress is getting healthier.
	Defense	check	They can line up in man coverage at corner and pressure the QB without sending a lot of blitzes.
check	Special teams		They keep throwing guys out on returns who can take it to the house.
	Coaching	check	Jon Gruden is feeling less pressure and has a better history in big games.
	Intangibles	check	The Giants might not be able to overcome the emotionally and physically draining game against the Pats.
	Wild card	check	Conversely, the Bucs should go into this game well-rested and healthy.

Overall: Buccaneers

Tampa Bay's zone defense should confuse Eli Manning, forcing him into turnovers.

With help from Yahoo Sports and Cris Carter, this was one of the most detailed breakdowns of this weekend's NFL Wild Card games that I could find.

In Remembrance Of Michael Vick

I didn't think it was possible to compile a list of Michael Vick's most amazing plays, but ESPN found a way to do it. Here's a video of what ESPN thinks to be Michael Vick's Top 10 plays.

This was obviously before Vick was exposed for dogfighting, but its amazing to think while this rodeo clown was running around on the field he was also secretly having dogs fight to the death. These plays remind me of Adrian Peterson running, or a very good running back, which Michael Vick will probably become if the league lets him back in. What I want to see, however, is a video of Michael Vick's Top 10 worst plays. That shouldn't be too hard to make. Every other play was a bad play with this guy.

Peterson: Offensive Rookie of the Year? Of Course!

Running back Adrian Peterson from the Minnesota Vikings was voted as the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press this morning. This was a no brainer considering Peterson's enormous skill and huge potential to be the next greatest running back in the league. This season, he set a league mark for rushing in a game with 296 yards in a 35-17 win over the San Diego Chargers. He also had 224 rushing yards in a win against the Chicago Bears. Peterson led the NFC with 1,341 rushing yards and is second in the league only to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson. These extremely impressive stats clearly paved the way for being selected for this honor. Peterson definitely deserves this award. He has been an unbelievable and explosive running back for the Vikings scoring 78 points on 13 touchdowns (second in the NFC). Towards the end of the season, however, it appeared that opposing teams figured out a way to stop him. In the Vikings game against the San Fransisco 49ers, for instance, Peterson had 14 rushing attempts for a mere 3 yards. If the Vikings want to maintain Peterson's highly effective running game, they would be wise to improve their passing offense. Derek Anderson would be a good pickup. The Vikings should jump all over him.

The First United States Outdoor NHL Game Was A Success

In creative attempts to keep NHL fans watching while simultaneously drawing in new fans, the NHL decided to try something new and different. The NHL decided to have the Buffalo Sabres and Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, host a game outdoors against the all-star Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a huge success and fans seemed to have had a fantastic experience.

"This is Buffalo," crowed Dan Barrett, of nearby Fort Erie, Ontario, while making his way through the parking lot as a light snow fell.

"Pass 'em around boys," someone was overheard saying, while distributing a handful of Jell-O shots.

There were tents and tuques (winter hats, as they're known in Canada), grills, gloves and Christmas cookies. There were Sabres flags flying from cars and vans. One group of fans gathered in a converted school bus and watched TV while being warmed by a propane heater.

Rather than Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas jerseys, fans wore those of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek.

Fans dressed in layers, began filtering into the 74,000-seat stadium once gates opened at 11 a.m., had it packed well before the opening faceoff, and sang along as the pregame band played the Neil Diamond classic, "Sweet Caroline."

And a very big cheer went up as both teams, led out by a bagpiper, came out of the end-zone tunnel and made their way to the rink for the pregame skate.

The crowd, announced at 71,217, stayed until the end, and included several young men who went shirtless for most of the game. Fans in the lower bowl stood throughout, and the cheers were most loud when the game went to a shootout.

"This is awesome!" said Michelle Adams as she settled into her seat in section 330, some 15 rows from the top of the top of the stadium. "This is so cool!"

Actually, it was relatively mild for Buffalo with temperatures at about 30 and, more important, little wind coming off nearby Lake Erie.

"They couldn't have picked a better town to have it in," added Elizabeth Brooks, who came prepared, with 18 pairs of hand-warmers stuffed into the pockets of her winter coat.

Not that she needed them.

"We know cold," Brooks said. "This isn't cold."

Penguins fans were enjoying themselves, too.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything," said Alex Greif, who made the three-hour drive from Pittsburgh earlier in the day.

Greif and his brother Karl purchased their tickets on e-Bay about two months ago. They spent $170 each on tickets that had a face value of $29, and sat eight rows from the top.

The view turned out to be very good, because they had a clear look at the entire ice sheet below. Fans sitting in the lower bowl had their sight lines partially obstructed by the boards.

"Everybody told us we wouldn't be able to see because we were so high, but I think it's wonderful," Alex Grief said.

Not that anything -- the view or their ticket price -- mattered.

"I couldn't care less," Alex Greif said about how much they paid for tickets. "It was worth it."

What about the game itself? Well, some snow for a setting, a shootout and Sid the Kid's winning goal added up to a perfect hockey day outside. The Penguins captain somehow saw space between Ryan Miller's pads as he shuffled through driving snow and gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres at the outdoor Winter Classic in front of an NHL-record 71,217 fans on Tuesday.

Is this the solution to make hockey more aware to the masses? By having games outside in huge stadiums? Well, I don't know. NBA games are indoors and they have no problem attracting fans. However, this idea for the NHL proved to work and they should definitely set these events up more often. Anytime you can get tailgaters to party and hang out before events, you know you're putting on an a show worth attracting people.

So Much For Hawaii's Undefeated Season

I finally took the time to watch a college bowl game this year (well technically its a new year now so the year is young). Too bad I picked the game that turned out to be a major disappointment. After going undefeated during the regular season, Hawaii got smacked by Georgia 41-10 in the All State Sugar Bowl. Perhaps this gives credit to those in charge of the BCS Standings who didn't give much love to Hawaii despite going undefeated because they played easy teams. Many thought if they were pit against a very good team, they would get embarrassed. This theory was proven Tuesday night.

Overpowering the country's last unbeaten team, black-clad Georgia took out its frustration at getting passed over for a shot at the BCS championship with a 41-10 rout of Colt Brennan and the Warriors on Tuesday night.

Next Monday, on the very same Superdome field, Ohio State will meet LSU in the national title game. The No. 4 Bulldogs feel they're as deserving as either of those teams, and they'll certainly get no argument from Hawaii, which came to the Big Easy with a perfect record and left all beaten up.

"We're No. 1," Georgia safety Kelin Johnson proclaimed. "We're supposed to be in the national championship game. The nation knows it, everyone knows it."

Added linebacker Marcus Washington as he celebrated on the field: "We're the best in the land. We should be playing next week."

Georgia (11-2) established itself as a leading contender in 2008 with a total whippin' of the 10th-ranked Warriors (12-1), who cracked the BCS with an unbeaten run through the Western Athletic Conference, then fell flat in their biggest game ever.

When a powerful offense meets a powerful defense, traditionally the cliche "defense wins championships" is used. That cliche certainly applies here. Knowshon Moreno ran for a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter and the Bulldogs' defense made life miserable for Brennan, a Heisman Trophy finalist and catalyst for the nation's highest-scoring team. He was sacked eight times, threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles, one of them recovered for a Georgia touchdown.

After getting slammed to the Superdome turf one last time by Geno Atkins, Brennan staggered to the sideline, his night mercifully done. The junior had the worst showing of his career in a game played to the finish, going 22-of-38 for just 169 yards, less than half of his 348-yard average this season.

"This is not how I wanted my career to end," the senior said.

Heisman winners don't usually fair well in bowl games. The most notable example I can remember is Vince Young's upset victory over Matt Leinart. However, now look at these two players in the NFL. One is struggling to keep his team in contention and the other became injured and out for the season.

Unranked Michigan Defeats The Ex-Champs Florida (12)

Its the curse of the Heisman Trophy. Tim Tebow and Florida played well, but Michigan was one touchdown better as they defeated last season's national champions 41-35.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was doused with water, surrounded by dancing players and then carried onto the field.

He went out a winner.

Big Ten chomp
Perhaps last season's national championship game was the exception and not the rule. With its loss to Michigan today, Florida falls to 2-4 this decade against the Big Ten Conference in bowl games.
School	Bowl	Result
Michigan	'08 Capital One	L, 41-35
Ohio State	'07 BCS Championship	W, 41-14
Iowa	'06 Outback	W, 31-24
Iowa	'04 Outback	L, 37-17
Michigan	'03 Outback	L, 38-30
Michigan State	'00 Citrus	L, 37-34

Chad Henne threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, Mike Hart ran for 129 yards and two scores and the Wolverines upset No. 9 Florida 41-35 Tuesday in the Capital One Bowl to win their first bowl game since 2003.

This one was special.

Michigan's senior class won its first bowl game in four tries and Carr ended his coaching career on a high note.

"It's extremely meaningful on a personal level," Carr said. "But the reason it's meaningful is because I can be in that locker room with the guys that did it. Our coaches put together a great game plan, our players executed. Of course, we were big so-called underdogs.

"To come up with that kind of effort and to find a way to win means that we have some memories that we're all going to be able to celebrate for years to come."

Henne, Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham torched Florida's secondary all game. Arrington caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and Manningham added five catches for 78 yards and a score.

The Gators (9-4) kept it close thanks to four turnovers and plenty of big plays by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and speedster Percy Harvin.

Playing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand and facing constant blitzes, Tebow was 17-of-33 for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 57 yards and a score.

Harvin ran 13 times for 165 yards and a touchdown, and caught nine passes for 77 yards and a score.

It wasn't enough.

Florida failed to convert a fourth-down play at its 25 yard line, and K.C. Lopata's 41-yard field goal put Michigan (9-4) ahead 41-35 with 2:21 remaining.

The Gators got another shot, but Tebow threw four straight incompletions to end any chance of a comeback.

"You definitely don't want to end the season on a losing note, so it definitely does take a little bit of the positive out of [the season]," Tebow said.

The Wolverines dumped a bucket of ice water on Carr in the closing seconds, then players started jumping up and down and dancing around their retiring coach.

They also carried him to midfield for the postgame handshake and interviews. His players dropped him off and headed straight to the Michigan section for a raucous celebration -- one they haven't had after a bowl game since beating Florida in the Outback Bowl.

Jose Canseco Is Getting On My Nerves

Someone shut Jose Canseco up. Please. One book was enough, but he's writing another book now. Again, on the same topic, which is steroids. Please, just vote this guy into the Hall Of Fame so he'll stop writing books and exposing others as a way to avenge the MLB and the other players who are or will make it in. Don't you see? Roger Clemens was a sure-fire vote for the Hall Of Fame. Jose Canseco is so bothered by the fact that he's not in the Hall Of Fame that he's exposing others to prevent them from potentially entering the Hall Of Fame. Canseco's mindset is that if he can't get in, then no one else will either.

Jose Canseco has finalized a book deal for his sequel to "Juiced" and it is expected to hit bookstores by Opening Day of the 2008 season, two New York newspapers reported Sunday.

Canseco

Robert Saunooke, Canseco's lawyer, told The New York Daily News and The New York Post that the book, which has a working title of "Vindicated" will be co-authored by former Sports Illustrated writer Don Yaeger.

"Jose already has a lot of stuff put together," Yaeger told The Daily News.

Disappointed by the Mitchell report, Canseco hopes to publish "an unjaundiced view, without the rose-colored glasses" of steroid use in baseball, Saunooke told The Post.

"The book is basically going to be -- I don't want to say an attack -- but it will be a clarification of why certain names should have been mentioned [in the Mitchell report] that were not mentioned," Saunooke said of the new book. "We had hoped that the Mitchell report would have been more revealing. It basically ended up being nothing more than [Mitchell saying], 'I talked to a lot of people, some people wouldn't talk to me and it's up to the commissioner,'" Saunooke told The Daily News.

Saunooke told The Post that he and Canseco talked to Sen. Mitchell and provided him with "tons of information and background" on steroid use in baseball. But when the Mitchell report was released, he and Canseco were disappointed that names like Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez were not named.

Canseco's name appears 105 times in the Mitchell report, more than that of Barry Bonds (103) or Roger Clemens (82). In all, the 409-page report identified 86 names to differing degrees, but Clemens clearly was the symbol.

"I saw the list of players, and there are definitely a lot of players missing," Canseco told Fox Business Network this month. "I don't know what they accomplished or what they are trying to prove."

Prodded further about players not included, Canseco said this of Alex Rodriguez: "All I can say is the Mitchell report is incomplete. I could not believe that his name was not in the report."

One of the topics of Canseco's new book, Saunooke told The Post, will be how Mark McGwire asked for immunity before his appearance before Congress in 2005.

Another topic of Canseco's new book might be A-Rod.

In July, Canseco told WEEI Radio in Boston that he had "other stuff" on Rodriguez, who he called a "hypocrite" who "was not all he appeared to be."

"Jose has information about A-Rod and the Yankees that will be in the book. But, I am not sure if Jose is willing to disclose it at this point," Saunooke, told The New York Times in July.

In Baltimore for a Yankees' game against the Orioles that month, Rodriguez told reporters that he hadn't heard Canseco's comments about him. "And I have no comment."

In "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big," Canseco called himself the "godfather of steroids in baseball," saying, "I single-handedly changed the game of baseball by introducing them into the game."

He wrote in that book that he personally injected McGwire with steroids and that he saw McGwire and Jason Giambi inject each other.

Canseco also claimed he introduced the performance enhancers to Palmeiro, Rodriguez, and Juan Gonzalez when he joined the Rangers in 1992.

Canseco hit 462 home runs in a major league career between 1985 and 2001. He played seven full seasons for the A's before being traded to Texas in '92. He also played for Boston, the Yankees, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Oakland again, and the White Sox.

Wow, now Canseco is going to raise debate about Ivan and Alex Rodriguez. I knew there were more names on the list, but I don't want to hear anymore from Canseco. The Mitchell Report was just the first of many lists to come.

Browns Seeking To Trade Derek Anderson?

The Browns are about to embark on an important offseason with several crucial decisions, none bigger than at quarterback.

If anybody is interested in him, we'll just have to see how it goes. Sometimes people can make you an offer and you can say, 'No, I think I'm going to stay with what I got.' Sometimes they make you an offer and you say, 'Oooohhh.'

--Romeo Crennel

Derek Anderson, the former sixth-round pick who began '07 as Charlie Frye's backup and ended it as a Pro Bowl alternate, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent.

The team has several options with Anderson, who passed for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns but also had 19 interceptions. Complicating matters is that Brady Quinn, he of the Notre Dame pedigree and runway model looks, also is on Cleveland's roster and the Browns gave up their 2008 first-round draft pick to Dallas in order to get him.

Needing to fill other holes, especially on a defense that struggled with injuries all season, the Browns may be willing to part with Anderson. They'll listen to offers.

Are they kidding? Derek Anderson is the best thing to happen to the Browns since.....I don't even know. If anything, trade Brady Quinn since he deserves playing time, but he shouldn't get it on the Browns. The Browns drafted Quinn thinking he would be their next star QB. They had no idea at that time Derek Anderson would impact the team in the way that he did. Therefore, they should stick with Derek Anderson while he's developing into his prime and trade Brady Quinn to another team who needs a future quarterback.

Teams Shakeup Coaches, Front Office

Yesterday, both the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins fired managers and coaches in their attempt to rebuild their broken teams for next year's season. Coach Brian Billick and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan were dismissed by the Baltimore Ravens who finished this season 5-11. This is a sorry end for Billick who had great success in Baltimore. In his second year coaching for Baltimore in 2001, he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory. He also led the Ravens to a franchise best record of 13-3 in 2006. However, these successes were marred by this year's failure. There were great expectations for the Ravens who had arguably the best defense in the league and a potentially powerful offense thanks to the addition of Willis McGahee. However, these expectations proved to be uncalled for as the Ravens ended their season 5-11. It is hard to expect much from the Ravens for next season as the team will be going through a reorganization of the coaching staff. Just look at the Chargers who had their own coaching shakeup this season. The team suffered in the beginning of the season, although they did pick it up towards the end of the regular season. Expect something similar from the Ravens. They will most likely play poorly in the beginning of next season, but will be a stronger contender towards the end of the season.

The Miami Dolphins were also shaken up when new executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells fired general manager Randy Mueller as well as other members of the player personnel staff. The future of first year coach Carn Cameron is also uncertain. All of this is necessary for the Dolphins, who are the eight team ever to finish 1-15. Expect better things from the Dolphins next season. Miami will have the top draft pick as well as two second round choices. This gives the franchise a huge opportunity to pick up team changing players. Also, with Big Tuna virtually running the Dolphins and cleaning up the staff, Miami will have better, more competent personnel to lead the team. Despite the bright future foreseen for the Dolphins, there will be some growing pains. The Dolphins, however, will come out of this rebuilding process a much stronger team as well as a dangerous playoff contender.