Maybe this can be the Carolina Panthers new mascot because of their pitiful record...

Are the Falcons the best in the NFC?

On Sunday, November 28th, the Atlanta Falcons proved a point by beating the Green Bay Packers 20-17. With Michael Turner's dominant running game and Matt Ryan's impressive passing game, the Falcons have a lot of talent to go far into these year's playoffs. They seem to seem to be a great team that can make a strong Super Bowl push, along with beating difficult teams (such as the Packers). With Michael Turner's fourth-down TD run in the fourth quarter and Tony Gonzales's controversial receiving TD in the second quarter proves that the Falcons can win close games when needed most. To win games in the NFL, teams need to play big adversity downs in each game which is exactly what the Falcons did. Leading the NFC division, there is no doubt that the Falcons are one of the most elite teams in the NFL and leave fans to ponder about what this team can really achieve when the playoffs arrive. With wins against Green Bay, New Orleans, and Baltimore, it wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons continued to play in January or even February. Although it is important to keep winning and stay atop in the NFC south, I feel the Falcons have a very strong chance of playing deep into the playoffs. This is a team to watch out for, to say the least...

Oden done for the season...again!

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, the number one overall pick in the 2007 draft, has to undergo micro-fracture surgery on his left knee and will not play this season. Oden has not played since last December when he had to have micro-fracture surgery on his right knee in able to repair a fractured patella. Greg Oden is clearly on the way to becoming an overall BUST in the NBA alongside with the former Portland center Sam Bowie, whom the Blazers chose in front of "his airness" Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft. It was expected that Oden would play this season, but to no surprise once again Oden is sidelined with another injury. Greg will be a restricted free agent summer, and I have a strong feeling the Blazers organization will have no desire to chase after him to stay on the team. As a matter of fact, Portland made it clear that they will not offer Oden a contract extension clearly showing there is no more hope for his career with the Blazers. Back in 2007, everyone was worried about taking Oden early in the draft because of his injured wrist and the amount of foul trouble he would get himself into; But no one realized that he would be plagued with an assortment of season ending surgeries each year of his NBA career. It is evident that Oden's "run" (if you can even call it that) in Portland is finished and must move on to another team, if one is even willing to take him. It never seems to get any better with the Trailblazers as injuries also bring down the team one way or another...

One of my all time favorite NBA marvel pics

So sick....nothing else can be said

Davis not active

Baron Davis looks on from the bench

Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro told the "Los Angeles Times" that guard Baron Davis will be sitting on the sidelines until at least Thanksgiving. The cause of this action is because of swelling in his left knee that has recently been bothering him. The Clippers believe that a week or two will help get Davis back on track to a healthier and more productive season, which is much needed in the Clipper's department. At the moment this is nothing major, but precautions are being taken to ensure that the Clippers may still produce a chance for playoff hopes in the competitive western conference. I still do not know if Baron Davis is one of the pieces to the puzzle Los Angeles has been looking for as he has not shown solid consistent numbers up to date. Only averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 assists this season, Davis has not shown strong signs of consistency or excellent play. Hopefully after these next two weeks of rest, he can step up and help lead the Clippers out of their losing slump (overall record of 1-9) and turn things around in LA.

Percy Harvin returns to practice, but is he a liability to have on the team?

          Friday, November 12th, Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings returned to practice as he has suffered severely from migraine headaches this past season. Percy has missed the past two practices due to these painful headaches, and Brad Childress (the Viking's coach) even said they haven't completely cleared. He is even doubtful to play this Sunday against the Bears, which is a detriment to the team as Percy is a vital Wideout to this team. Harvin has also been dealing with a sprained ankle, but is nothing to worry about as the migraines are more of a bigger issue. It always seems that Percy Harvin is always doubtful, or encounters limited reps because of the migraine issues. I do not disagree with the precautions they set on Percy so he does not get any concussions, but I think it may just be time for the Vikings and Harvin to part ways. With the payload he is receiving, and the outcome he is producing on the field, I just feel that the two do not balance out and this waste of money is not needed. Although Percy Harvin is a tremendous talent, he cannot play to his full potential with his migraine issues. The 5 year, $12.05 million dollar contract starting back from the 2009-2010 season would be a respectable deal if Harvin had no uncertain week by week issues. I would believe this uncertainty would be too much to gamble on, but who knows what will happen with the Vikings and Harvin. All we can do is wait and see...

A few more NBA marvel pics

im liking this one..

One of my favorites...probably because the Mavs are my favorite
team


Steve Nash...arguably one of the best point guards in the NBA.

Yao sidelined once again

          As of Wednesday November 10th, Yao Ming has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. But for some reason this injury doesn't come as a surprise to me, as it seems Yao is always injured in one way or another. While he was sidelined the entire 09-10 NBA season for surgery on his broken foot, I had a feeling that time frame still was not enough time for a proper rehabilitation. Yao Ming suffered this mild sprain during Wednesday's game against the Wizards which resulted in a 98-91 loss. He had played the first 6 minutes of the game and then never returned to the floor. Although Yao's playing time has been limited due to his fragile foot, I still feel it was too early for him to return to the floor because of another injury possibly occurring (which is just what happened). I believe Rick Adelman, Houston Rockets head coach, should have made Yao sit out at least the first 25 games of the season because he still is not ready to play. After a 15-16 month layoff of no basketball, it is clearly obvious Yao will not be up to par with all of the other NBA players who have been consistently active. I think Adelman made a mistake for playing Yao this early; end of story.

Derrick Rose reveals he has played with turf toe since last season

          Chicago Bull's guard Derrick Rose revealed after practice Tuesday that he has been dealing with turf toe in his left big toe since last season. Rose believes the injury happened some time during last season's playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fortunately for the Bulls, Rose doesn't believe it will cause him to miss any time. The injury apparently hasn't affected Rose this season becasue he's averaging 23.8 points and 9.2 assists, but knows that the injury could become more serious if he doesn't keep an eye on it.

"You can't bend your toe at all," Rose said. "I thought it was jammed, but talking to the trainers, it was turf toe."

Rose knows he will probably be stuck with the injury for the rest of his career.

"It's there forever now," he said with a laugh. "My left big toe, it's there forever now so that's going to be an injury I'm going to have for a long time." 

I honestly believe that this injury is nothing to worry about as of right now, but down the road and further into Derrick Rose's career this may affect his play drastically. If Rose can be cautious and take care of his toe throughout his career, then no Bulls fans should worry. Lets just hope this minor issue does not escalate into something career threatening and possibly destroy this young phenomenal talent.

Wade Phillips Fired

          On Monday November 8th, Wade Phillips career as the Dallas Cowboys head coach ended abruptly. Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips with no hesitation, even though he had declared numerous times that Wade would remain the coach and finish out the season for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones had never fired a coach since he had purchased the team in 1989, and the team's success has only become more difficult for him and he has even apologized to the fans for the embarrassing play the Cowboys have shown. Ever since the Cowboys started 1-2, they had gone in a terrible slump and lost 5 straight to a record of 1-7 with the most recent loss 45-7 to the Green Bay Packers, forcing Jerry Jones to make his decision and fire Phillips. The Cowboys have been outscored 179-107 in this last five game slide and have just performed horribly, but I honestly do not believe it is all due to Wade Phillips.

          I feel the team was slacking due to poor fundamentals and to develop better fundamentals and basics for the game takes time and cannot be transformed in a matter of games, let alone a season. Phillips had an overall record of 34-23 in Dallas and won two NFC titles in the process. He is 83-65 overall as a coach and was awarded with a two-year contract extension but obviously cannot fulfill this time frame anymore as Jerry Jones was the one to pull the plug on Wade Phillips. Even though Jerry Jones had high hopes for the Cowboys this season, and even believed they were to be the first team to participate in their own stadium for the Super Bowl, (which is ridiculous) this year as well as many other in the past have not gone as planned finally resulting in consequences suffered by Phillips. I honestly do not believe it was time for Wade Philips to leave the "Big D", but five consecutive losses placed the Cowboys into this situation where Jerry Jones was forced to do something he didn't want to- fire the coach.

Boozer takes another step

          Last Wednesday morning Carlos Boozer, new member of the Chicago Bulls, had his cast and pins removed from his fractured right hand and participated in practice on Sunday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It is a positive sign that Boozer is practicing with the team, but he practiced with non-contact and is still in the rehab process.  Although this seems like great news, Boozer is still not 100% healthy to return to the starting lineup as he has a return date around late November or early December. But once Boozer returns to the floor, I feel he and Derrick Rose will tear up opposing teams with their duo and implement pick-and-roll sets similar to how Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire used to execute in Phoenix. When Boozer is completely healthy and cleared to play, the Bulls will truly have a chance to compete in the East. With the Bulls original roster and a healthy Carlos Boozer, I have no doubts the Bulls will make the playoffs and be within the top five teams in the East; I guarantee it.

Eagles Defeat Colts in Vick's Return

          After a month off due to an injury to his rib cartilage for Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick, he made an impressive return topping off the Indianapolis Colts to a final score of 26-24. Vick had thrown for 218 yards and one TD, along with 74 rushing yards and a rushing TD leading the Eagles to a gratifying win. The Eagles had not beaten Manning in the previous three matchups, and felt with all of the immense preparation they devoted, it was time for a W. Desean Jackson's return from a concussion on October 17th also helped lift the Eagles to victory, as he had 109 receiving yards and one TD. Vick had seemed he had returned to his normal self completing 17 of 29 passes, and scrambled out of the pocket for some vital first downs, helping the Eagles become victorious. With 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, football on the Indy 26 yard line,  and the football in Peyton's hands, it seemed like a Colt victory would be possible, but not this Sunday. Asante Samuel had sealed the deal with his second interception of the game and helped create a winning record of 5-3 (the same as the Colts). It was an impressive sight at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, giving the Eagles fans something to cheer about and create some more hope for the future this season. Vick may be the answer for the Eagles after all...

John Wall Injured?

          Saturday night October 30th, while the Wizards played the Atlanta Hawks, the number one overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft John Wall sprained his right ankle. As a precaution, Wall wore a walking boot on Monday and missed practice, but Wizards head coach Flip Saunders believes he will play tonight, Tuesday November 2nd, against the Philadelphia 76ers. This is not something the Wizards fans should worry too much about, but hope John Wall's ankle does not worsen throughout the season, because it seems he is the biggest asset to this team already averaging 21 points and 9 assists through his first two NBA games. Gilbert Arenas is still injured and does not seem to be coming back on the floor anytime soon, adding more pressure on the rookie John Wall to meet his expectations and hopefully beyond, leading the Wizards to a winning record; Something they have not seen for a long time.