Bad decision by a good kid

By all acounts Jay Cutler is a decent kid who just should shut his mouth.   He spends some offseason time working with mentalled challenged youngsters. He also is part of an organization that helps at-risk kids stay in school. He has overcome the personal obstacle of playing the toughest position in the toughest sport and at the same time remembering to inject himself with insulin every day.   Great. Now just shut up.   Does it say anywhere in his contract that the Denver Broncos can't discuss trading him? Does it say anywhere in the contract that the team will do everything in can to make sure Cutler is mentally comfortable?   OK, so new coach Josh McDaniels let the cat out of the bag. In three-team trade talks the chances are good that someone will blab. Pro football reporters have good sources.   McDaniels figured he could improve his team with Matt Cassel at quarterback. Whether he's right on that, who knows? But he has a right to try to improve a team that hasn't gone to the playoffs since Cutler arrived two years ago.   McDaniels and the Broncos are trying to smooth things over and BetJamaica.com and other books still have them listed middle of the pack to win next year's Super Bowl at 35-1. Cutler has reponded to that by putting his Denver-area home up for sale.   It's time for t... [More]

NBA races within the race

Connecticut pays a price for Calhoun

Jim Calhoun has this thing about tough, unexpected post-game questions. A few years back he went off about not recruiting Connecticut native Ryan Gomes after Gomes and Providence College toasted the Huskies. Now he throws a nutty after being asked about his salary.   Had Calhoun held his fire and given the questioner an ounce of respect ("Hey I know people are hurting and I do make a lot of money, and it does seem out of whack for coaching, but I think I'm pretty good at what I do, etc. etc etc.), it would have been no biggie.   But Calhoun's response gave the question -- and the issue of coaching compensation at state schools -- more legs than it deserved and guaranteed that it would be a monkey on the team's back right into the NCAA Tournament, and perhaps beyond.   Should Calhoun be paid based on the number of fannies in the seats at UConn games? On the number of NCAA Tournament appearances? On the number of players he prepares for the NBA?   Who knows?   All I know is that seeing a fuming Calhoun go off at that press conference reminded me of the smug auto company CEOs who took private planes to Congressional hearings...of the companies that gave bonuses to execs as they took taxpayer bailout money...of the firms that didn't have the common sense to cancel lavish junkets as their stock tanked.   Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell knew instantly that Calhoun had done some damage. "I think if coach Calhoun had t... [More]

Is Bill Belichick going soft?

That's it?   That's what they're saying here in New England as fallout continues from the Matt Cassel/Mike Vrabel deal.   A second-round draft choice for a starting quarterback and a starting linebacker?   That's it?   Getting information from the Patriots is easier than making the snow go back into the clouds, but three theories are emerging from the trade's aftermath:   1. It's all about the Benjamins. The Pats were locked in salary cap hell as long as Cassel's $14 million for 2009 were on the books, and wanted to be players in free agency. That was impossible with Cassel there.   2. Vrabel was going to get whacked anyway, and they did him a favor and enabled a good guy to avoid the embarrassment of being cut. He can play for the Chiefs for a year, then retire with his dignity intact.   3. The Pats would rather have a high second-round pick than KC's No. 3 overall (assuming they can't deal and have to make the pick). Top-10 picks are guaranteed more money than many Pro Bowlers.   New England obviously didn't want to take the chance of being stuck with Cassel and not being able to move him, so the Pats bought time and salary cap relief, and now have flexibility to make moves to improve a defense that gave up more TD passes than 30 other teams.       ... [More]