"That's Kinda of Gay"

Redskins vs. Cowboys Miracle Finishes

Dwayne Wade's Game Winner Against the Bulls

In the closing seconds of double overtime, Wade steals the 

ball from John Salmons and hits a game winning 3 at the 

buzzer.

Bills Could Benefit by signing Owens

The Buffalo Bills have just signed T.O. to a 1 year deal worth  $6.5 million.  This isn't a bad proposition for the Bills if T.O. still has anything left in the tank at 35 years of age.  Owens should be extra motivated to prove his critics wrong and earn another big payday this following offseason.  The Bills would clearly be the beneficiaries in the 2009-10 season.  

Terrell Owens is generally regarded as a lockerroom cancer, but evidence suggests that teams play worse without him, where it matters most in wins and losses.  The San Francisco 49ers during T.O.'s last season were 7-9 but were 2-14 the following season without the disgruntled wide receiver.  The Philedelphia Eagles started the season 4-3 but after they suspended Owens for the rest of the season, the Eagles finished the season 1-8.  While the Philedelphia Eagles finished the following season 10-6, people tend to forget that the team started 5-6 and only went on winning streak with Jeff Garcia at the helm instead of Donovan McNabb.   As a Redskins fan, I hope this trend continues with the Dallas Cowboys.

Terrell Owens is generally seen as a scape goat for a team's failure in recent years.  Perhaps its easy for the national media to criticize Owens when he is often outspoken.  His brash comments usually offend his starting quarterbacks who are not used to such crticism.  

Still, it remains to be seen how Terrell Owen's is the root of all the Cowboy's problems.  For instance, I fail to see how Tony Romo's decision making will improve simply with T.O.'s departure.  Maybe the Cowboy's problems weren't a lack of chemistry but a lack of talent. 

T.O. Cut by the Cowboys

It turns out Dan Snyder didn't get 

the biggest name in free agency... yet.  

ESPN is reporting that wide receiver Terrell Owens has been cut by the Dallas Cowboys after three seasons.   T.O. has been blamed by many in the national media for Dallas's lack of chemistry, which barely missed the playoffs in tough NFC East.  It has been reported by ESPN that Ownes has been complaining about not getting as many touches and even indicated that tight end Jason Witten gets so many passes because he's good friends with QB Tony Romo.

Still, not all of Dallas's problems can be blamed on T.O.  When the team had a chance to clinch a playoff berth against the Eagles, the Cowboys ended up getting blown out 38-3.   It will be interesting to see how well Dallas can play without him.

If Dallas ends up moving on, they already have some pieces in place.  They gave up multiple picks last mid-season for 1 time Pro Bowler Roy Williams.  They already have Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton.   Look for Dallas to run the ball more with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice.

In the meantime, Dallas has certainly hurt T.O.'s options in free agency.  Teams like Seattle and Cincinatti could have wanted the six time pro bowler but have already spent big money on other free agent wide receivers (TJ Houshmenzadah and Laverneus Coles).  I doubt teams like the Eagles and 49ers, who have plenty of cap room and have big needs to fill the wide receiver position, will recruit Owens since they have already had the pleasure of dealing with his on and off the field.  It will be interesting to see whose Owen's potential suitors will be.  

Kobe Raps with Tyra Banks

Kobe is so hardcore that he even has a verse in Italian.

Breaking Down the Haynesworth Deal

Jim Zorn Introduces another high profiled player in Washington

The Washington Redskins made a big splash in free agency yet again by going after the biggest name in free agency. The Redskins ended up offering Haynesworth a 7 year deal that could be worth up to $105 million and $115 with incentives. However, the Redskins have in essence signed Albert Haynesworth to a 4 year deal worth much less.

Peter King from SI explains:

Haynesworth, barring a miracle, will never see the fifth year of the contract. In essence, he signed a four-year, $48-million contract Friday with the Redskins. That will carry him through his 11th season, in 2012 (barring a work stoppage in 2011, which is a real possibility).

So essentially, the Haynesworth signing turns out to be $12 million a year for the first 4 years. Dan Snyder, owner/GMs, lures free agents is by offering more guaranteed money than other team. These contracts are often backloaded and restructured later if a player stays longer than 4 years (see Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen, Cornelius Griffin). And other times a player are just let go if the team does not want to extend the contract (Marcus Washington and Shawn Springs in 2008).

The signing did address a glaring weakness of the Washington Redskins defense; the inability to create pressure on quarterback without sending an extra defender and stopping power runners. While the Redskins defense ranked 4th overall in yardage allowed, they were 28th in the league in forcing turnovers. The Redskins were also overpowered by teams with power running games. The Redskins lacked size on their defensive line especially with two finesse rusher in Andre Carter and Jason Taylor. Tennessee was 22-7 the past two seasons (including postseason games) when Haynesworth was on the field and 1-4 when he wasn't.

The Haynesworth signing is still a high risk proposition. Haynesworth has not played a full season in the 7 years since he has been in the league. His attitude both on and on off the field has been questioned. He received a 5 game suspension for stomping Dallas Cowboy's Andre Gurode who is still on the Dallas Cowboys.   The incident is cited as turning point in Haynesworth's career who underwent anger management, and has been a more effective player on the field since.

Maybe Dan Snyder signed Haynesworth

because he hates the Cowboys

Haynesworth has also been allowed to free-lance in Tennessee meaning he is often allowed to rush the passer instead of staying back to stop the run. One has to wonder if Haynesworth will be given the same privledge under defensive coordinator Greg Blatche, who gears his defense to stopping the run first and then the pass. Blatche has been more stringent in the past especially with ex Redskins Jason Taylor, who was forced to play out of his natural position. If Haynesworth plays out of a team concept, one has to wonder if the Redskins scheme be as effective, which was 4th overall.

At the end of the day, the Redskins look like they have upgraded their defense with this particular signing that will force turnovers.  There are still many questions that need to be answered.