KICKING OFF WITH THOUGHTS ON THE BIG NFL NEWS
The middle of the defensive line of the Buffalo Bills improved significantly Tuesday with the addition of Star Lotulelei and the decision of Kyle Williams to return for his 13th NFL season.
Buffalo’s run defense was awful last season – particularly after Marcell Dareus was traded. Lotulelei might not quite measure up to Dareus in raw talent and potential but he figures to be more reliable and dependable.
-Don’t be surprised if Sammy Watkins blossoms into an elite player this season with Kansas City. He was productive when he was healthy in his three seasons with Buffalo and last year with the Los Angeles Rams. In his four NFL seasons, he’s averaged 15.9 yards on 192 catches, including 25 TDs. That’s impressive. And he’s only 24.
The Chiefs could have the NFL’s most explosive offense in 2018. Strong-armed second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes figures to put up some impressive numbers with wide receivers Watkins and Tyreek Hill, tight end Travis Kelce and running back Kareem Hunt.
-The Minnesota Vikings “won” the Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes. Will they regret it? It isn’t his fault that he was the fortunate fellow at the right position at the right time to become the NFL’s highest-paid player (three years for $84 million, all guaranteed). But he’ll be under intense scrutiny and pressure. Will he perform better for the Vikings than Case Keenum did last year? The loaded Vikings are expected to be a legit threat to win Super Bowl 53. Will teammates resent his contract – particularly if he struggles even a little bit?
-I’m surprised that Denver winds up with Case Keenum as starting quarterback. I believe he peaked for Minnesota last 2017 season – at least until the playoffs – and that he’ll be another QB blunder by John Elway.
-The Bills probably got a break with Sam Bradford opting to sign with Arizona (one-year, $20 million, with $15 million guaranteed). He’s too much an injury risk for even a bridge QB.
-- The Jets added the last of the three former Minnesota QBs – Teddy Bridgewater. In terms of playing the Jets twice in the regular season, Buffalo gets a break possibly facing Bridgewater instead of Cousins.
-The Philadelphia Eagles will miss departing defensive tackle Beau Allen but veteran Haloti Ngata is an impressive replacement. The Eagles also retained former LB Nigel Bradham (five year for $40 million). He was an unsung hero for Philadelphia last season and wound up calling the defensive alignment on the field.
-I’m glad Drew Brees accepted the two-year, $50 million deal to stay with the Saints instead of being lured away by a reported two-year, $60 million (all guaranteed ) offer from another team. I assume he has enough money for future generations to live comfortably and he belongs in New Orleans.
--New Miami wide receiver Danny Amendola probably will miss New England and Tom Brady more than vice versa. His departure drops the Patriots a bit closer to the rest of the AFC East. I don’t believe adding Amendola and Albert Wilson offsets the loss of Jarvis Landry for the Dolphins. New England also is losing three more former Super Bowl mainstays in CB Malcolm Butler (Tennessee), RB Dion Lewis (Tennessee) and OLT Nate Solder (Giants).
--I like Green Bay’s additions of DT Muhammad Wilkerson and TE Jimmy Graham. Most talented imports thrive with the Packers.
--The Cleveland Browns are getting better. A 0-16 team with lots of money to spend and the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks in the draft almost has to, right? They could have a dynamite trio of running backs if they draft Saquon Barkley. They’ve added Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson is a terrific receiver out of the backfield (74 catches for 693 yards last season). They won’t miss departed Isaiah Crowell (to the Jets).
-Enormous salaries and cap management are huge parts of the NFL today. The off-seasons have become more interesting as the movement of star players from team-to-team has increased. In terms of generating interest among fans, it reminds me of winter bombshell trades in baseball before free agency.
-Responsible moves regarding the salary cap by Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott make it much easier to be optimistic about the long-term future of the Buffalo Bills.
WHERE DO YOU RANK KIRK COUSINS?
Becoming the NFL’s highest-paid player doesn’t mean Minnesota Vikings new Kirk Cousins is the NFL’s best player – or even the best quarterback. Quarterback we all know is the most important position and most of us also know Cousins is not at the top of that list.
Cousins has been durable and has passed for 4,166; 4,917; and 4,093 yards in the past three seasons. He also had a 24-23-1 record over that span for the Washington Redskins. Tyrod Taylor was 23-20 for Buffalo. Last season, Cousins ranked 7th in yards passing, 9th in completion percentage and 12th in passer rating (93.9). His NFL career record is 26-30-1, including 10-18-1 on the road.
Here’s how I rate the current QBs heading into the 2018 season:
Better than Kirk Cousins – Aaron Rodgers...Tom Brady...Matt Ryan...a completely healthy Carson Wentz...Drew Brees...Russell Wilson...Alex Smith
About the same – Jimmy Garoppolo...a healthy Andrew Luck...Ben Roethlisberger...Matthew Stafford...a healthy Deshaun Watson
Good quarterbacks I rate below Cousins – Philip Rivers...Cam Newton...Andy Dalton...Derek Carr...Jared Goff...Jameis Winston...Case Keenum...Sam Bradford (health a big issue)...Marcus Mariota (maybe I’m being kind)
Considerably worse to much worse than Cousins – Dak Prescott...Josh McCown...Nick Foles...Tyrod Taylor...Blake Bortles...Ryan Tannehill...Eli Manning...Joe Flacco...Patrick Mahomes (at least for now)...Jay Cutler...Mitchell Trubisky...Jacoby Brissett...Trevor Siemian...Ryan Fitzpatrick...Brett Hundley...Brian Hoyer...Nathan Peterman...Paxton Lynch...C.J. Beathard...DeShone Kizer.
THIS COULD BE THE SEASON THE TORONTO RAPTORS ARE FOR REAL
The Toronto Raptors have established a reputation for being an underachieving NBA team. This might be the year they perform as well in the playoffs as they do in the regular season.
The Raptors have the Eastern Conference’s best record (50-17) and have become a very deep team. DeMar DeRozen and Kyle Lowry finally have quality help and are fresher for the fourth quarter of close games.
The rotation includes Serge Ibaka and lesser-known Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, OG Anunoby, Norman Powell and Delon Wright.
Here’s how this well-balanced team measures up in the 30-team NBA (league ranking in parentheses):
Scoring 112.3 (3rd), behind only Golden State (115.6) and Houston (113.7)
Scoring defense 103.4 (6th-best)
Point differential +8.9 (2nd; Houston 1st +9.0; Golden State 3rd +7.9)
Field-goal percentage .471 (7th)
Field-goal percentage defense .447 (5th)
3-point FG percentage .355 (22nd)
Free-throw percentage .802 (3rd)
Rebounding differential per game +1.0 (12th)
Turnovers per game 12.6 (4th fewest)
Assist/turnover ratio +1.90 (t3rd).
The Raptors began in the 1995-96 NBA season. The team’s all-time record is 835-988 (.458) in the regular season and 28-44 (.389) in the playoffs.
Toronto has played 13 playoff series in 22 seasons and has won 5 of them.
The Raptors entered this season with only 8 winning seasons, 13 losing seasons and one .500 season.
This is the year Toronto might win the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals for the first time.
AN EXCITING WEEK FOR BUFFALO’S BASKETBALL BIG FOUR
The Buffalo region’s Big 4 major college basketball teams – with a combined record of 91-39 this regular season – will all be playing tournament basketball this week:
St. Bonaventure rallied from an early 14-5 deficit to upset UCLA 65-58 in a First Four play-in game Tuesday night in Dayton. The Bonnies take on the Florida Gators Thursday night (9:57) in Dallas. The Bonnies won despite a 2-for-16 shooting performance from Jaylen Adams. Courtney Stockard, returning from a hamstring injury, scored 26 points. St. Bonaventure is 26-7 and set a school record for victories in a season Tuesday night.
The Niagara Purple Eagles (19-13) play at the Eastern Michigan Eagles (21-12), Wednesday, 7 p.m., in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It’s a first-round game in the 16-team College Insider Tournament. There is no betting line out of Las Vegas due to the iffy status of Niagara star guard Matt Scott’s injured ankle. EMU played a tougher schedule in a better conference and is 13-3 at home this season.
The Canisius Golden Eagles (21-11) will host Jacksonville State (21-12), Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the first-round of the 16-team College Basketball Invitational. Canisius is favored by 4 ½ points.
The SUNY-Buffalo Bulls (26-8) take on the Arizona Wildcats (27-7), Thursday, 9:40 p.m., in Boise, Idaho. It’s a first-round game in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. Arizona is favored by 9 points.
BASEBALL CAN BE A FUNNY MONEY GAME
The Minnesota Twins released veteran pitcher Anibal Sanchez last Sunday, less than one month after signing him. He left with $417,000 in termination pay for his time and trouble.
Meanwhile, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, not eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2019 season, will play for $622,300 this year. Judge’s two-way contract would pay him $275,488 if he were demoted (highly unlikely).
STREAKING KNIGHTHAWKS UP TO NO. 3 IN NLL POWER RANKINGS
The Rochester Knighthawks, with four impressive victories following a six-game losing streak to boost their record to 6-6, advanced one spot in this week’s National Lacrosse League Power Rankings and now are No. 3 in the nine-team league.
The rankings: 1-Saskatchewan Rush...2-Colorado Mammoth (four straight wins and their next two games against the hapless 1-11 Vancouver Stealth)...3-Rochester Knighthawks...4-Buffalo Bandits...5-New England Black Wolves...6-Georgia Swarm...7-Calgary Roughnecks...8-Toronto Rock...9-Vancouver Stealth.
SHORT SHOTS
ESPN Insider Jonathan Givony’s 2018 NBA Draft has Arizona freshman center Deandre Ayton going No. 1 overall to Phoenix and Syracuse sophomore guard Tyus Battle going Tyus Battle going No. 35 overall to Orlando. I believe he’s selling Battle short, but draft forecasts like that might inspire him to return to the Orange for at least another season.
On this date in sports, March 14, 51 years ago (1967), the Baltimore Colts made Michigan State lineman Bubba Smith the No. 1 overall pick in the first NFL-AFL combined common draft...49 years ago (1969), Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win a race at Aqueduct...38 years ago (1980), 22 American amateur boxers were among the 87 killed in the crash of a Polish airliner...Last year (2017), Muirfield in Scotland, the world’s oldest golf club, voted to admit women as members for the first time in 273 years.
On this date in sports, March 15, 149 years ago (1869), the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team...60 years ago (1958), Cincinnati Royals star center Maurice Stokes collapsed during an NBA playoff game with encephalitis. He went into a coma and was permanently disabled...30 years ago (1988), the NFL St. Louis Cardinals officially moved to Phoenix.
Believe It Or Not note from ESPN golf writer Bob Harig: Tiger Woods has missed 17 cuts in his PGA Tour career. Jordan Spieth, age 24, already has missed the cut 19 times.
The signing of veteran switch-hitting second baseman Neil Walker by the New York Yankees likely means top prospect Gleyber Torres will at least start this season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders (International League).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Wednesday, March 14
Simone Biles (21)...Anthony Bennett (25)...J. T. Miller (25)...Patrick Patterson (29)...Marwin Gonzalez (29)...Stephen Curry (30)...Arthur Moats (30)...Ahmad Brooks (34)...Daryl Smith (36)...Antowain Smith (46)...Larry Johnson (49)...Greg Biekert (49)...Darcy Wakaluk (52)...Kevein Brown (53)...Richard Migliore (54)...Wes Unseld (72). Billy Crystal (70), Quincy Jones (85) and Michael Caine (85) are invited to the birthday party.
Thursday, March 15
Jabari Parker (23)...Devonta Freeman (26)...Tavon Austin (27)...Xavier Henry (27)...Eric Decker (31)...Jon Jay (33)...Kevin Youkilis (39)...Darcy Tucker (43)...Cornell Brown (43)...Louis Riddick (49)...Terry Cummings (57)...Craig Ludwig (57)...Mike Pagliarulo (58)...Harold Baines (59)...Stump Mitchell (59). Eva Longoria (43) is invited to the birthday party.