James Harrison Insulting Roger Goodell Proves One Thing -- He is an Idiot

Working with a Steelers fan is never an easy task. My fellow writer Adam Parker is a die-hard. He bleeds black and gold. It is especially tough being an Eagles fan, as it is all too easy for him to fire off  the insults during the postseason. Because as Philadelphia goes one-and-done, Pittsburgh manages to pull some ridiculous fourth quarter magic and blaze a path of victories straight to the Super Bowl. Making the playoffs generally one of the most emotionally draining moments of the season, compounded by Adam rubbing the Steel City's success in my face.

The reason I gave you that intro is because I know that when Adam, and most other Steelers' fans read this, they are going to unanimously disagree.

But here we go anyway.

I have never liked James Harrison. Ever. I think that Harrison has an absolutely awful attitude and that he plays dirty because he isn't actually as good as he is set-up to be. I really honestly believe that because Harrison plays in Pittsburgh, a team that is infamous for their solid defense, he feels entitled to the point of not following the rules. Combine that self-found entitlement with the majority of Pittsburgh fans stuck in the old mindset about rule changes, and it forms an entitled jerk like Harrison.

To clarify -- By playing dirty I am of course referring to the consistent helmet to helmet shots that Harrison delivers to other NFL players, with little to no remorse. I am not going to open the debate about helmet to helmet contact, because that is a whole other mess in itself. But currently, the rule is that players can not engage one another with helmet to helmet shots intentionally. Harrison must think that he is an exception to this rule because he simply does not follow it.

Widely known around the NFL as the Hitman, Harrison was recently fined $75,000 following a hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, in which he was unable to return to the game. Roger Goodell made the decision to lay down such a heavy fine following Harrisons' third helmet to helmet infraction that season, which of course gave the Steelers linebacker even more bad blood towards the NFL commish.

At this point, most Steelers fans will throw down the, 'NFL conspiracy against Pittsburgh' card. Complaining that Goodell and the NF as a whole love to hold back the Steelers from success by hitting them with excessive fines and suspensions. Ok. I'll bite and just agree that Goodell for some ridiculous reason is out to get Pittsburgh, (Even though almost every suspension and fine handed to Steelers players has been reasonable).

That does not excuse what Harrison said in a Mens Journal interview conducted earlier this year. Throughout the interview, Harrison repeatedly threw insult after insult at the NFL Commissioner, saying things such as:

"..He's a crook.."

"..If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it..."

"..I hate him and will never have any respect for him.." 

Then my personal favorite was not even in regard to Goodell, but Harrison pointed his hate towards his own quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's Super Bowl performance:

"Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain’t that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does." 

Really, James?

Not only did Harrison manage to disrespect the man who will be fining and suspending his punk-ass, but he also managed to throw the player who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl under the bus. It is simply mind blowing that any player in the NFL would have that much blatant disrespect for his own teammates, and the head of the NFL. I thought that Harrison was bad before, but this puts him on an entirely new level.

This is not something Chad Ochocinco would do, or even Terrell Owens. This is bush-league. This is out of control. This is beyond real.

If I was Mike Tomlin, I would be foaming at the mouth. There is not a chance that Tomlin will let this slide on his club, and I would not be even slightly surprised to see Harrison straight up cut, or traded immediately once the lockout is lifted. There is no room for idiots like Harrison on a team that has so much respect and such a strong history, regardless of what he brings to the table defensively.

This is a matter of character, and it is clear that James Harrison has none.

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David Kahn Strikes Again: Kurt Rambis Ousted as Timberwolves Head Coach

Kurt Rambis out as Head Coach of the Timberwolves.

The longer the Kurt Rambis saga dragged on, the bigger the mess got for president of basketball operations David Kahn and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The organization endured a torrent of criticism nationally for allowing Rambis to twist in the wind, tarnishing the team's image across the league while many accomplished candidates took other jobs as Kahn mulled the decision.

The long expected firing finally was officially announced Tuesday, ending more than three months of uncertainty and awkwardness surrounding the head coach of the worst team in the NBA last season.

"People can argue about this should have happened and that should've happened, but I think collectively we felt that we were doing the right thing in terms of the way we approached it,"Kahn said. "But I also recognize it took a long time. That's on me. And I realize that it can look more convoluted and complicated than maybe it really is, and that's on me. And to that extent I feel badly about that, too, and I apologize for that."

“His arrival signaled we were serious about building a championship-contending ballclub over the course of time,” said Kahn in the statement. “We have accumulated a solid nucleus of young talent with a bright future during the last two years. I am hopeful Kurt receives his share of the credit for helping develop that talent and his contributions are not forgotten as we become a better basketball team.” said Kahn. Kahn didn't elaborate on those "contributions"  -- maybe Rambis bought the team a bunch of medical supplies or nice chairs for the locker room.

Kahn hired Rambis in 2009 to turn around one of the league's struggling franchises. But Rambis went 32-132 in his two seasons, including a league-worst 17-65 in his second year on the job; thereby turning the T-Wolves into a league-wide punchline.

The unusual sequence of events began at season's end, with Kahn holding his own press conference hours before the season finale on April 13 to say that he would take his time to make a decision on Rambis' future. The eventful summer also included Kahn asking Rambis to write a report on what he would change if he returned for a third season and offering a position in the front office if Rambis would step down as coach.

Through it all, eyebrows were raised across the league, never more than in May when dozens of league executives came to Target Center to watch a group of draft prospects workout. Rambis showed up unannounced, even though he did not know if he would be back in 2011-12.

Rambis wasn't fired until seven weeks later, long after being told he was not welcome at an introductory news conference for point guard Ricky Rubio or the draft on June 23.

It was somewhat similar to when Kahn was first hired in 2009 and let then-coach Kevin McHale dangle for weeks before ultimately deciding not to retain him.

"I wish it was easier to do," Kahn said of finding the right coach, mentioning that 19 have been fired since Rambis took the job in 2009. "I feel certainly the weight of having to do this. I don't want to say this at Kurt's expense, but obviously we need to do it better than the last one."

Rambis has two years left on the four-year contract he got to leave his job as Phil Jackson's top assistant with the Lakers. That means owner Glen Taylor will be on the hook for about $4 million while he and Kahn look for a new coach to work with the youngest team in the NBA. The move could prove even more costly if the lockout wipes games off the schedule next season.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has given me," Rambis said in a statement given to The Associated Press. "During my years working with coaches Jackson, (Pat) Riley and (Cotton) Fitzsimmons, I learned all about the ups and downs of this sport. And today is one of the down days."

"But I'm confident that my work -- and the work of my staff -- with our many young players over the last two years will begin to pay off for Mr. Taylor and Timberwolves fans. Now, as important new players are added to the mix, the future of this franchise should be a bright one, and I am thankful for the chance I had, to play a part in shaping that future."

No mention of Kahn there. As their second season together in Minnesota wore on, the relationship between Rambis and Kahn appeared to deteriorate as well.  The two rarely spoke as their philosophies on what would work best on the court diverged.

Kahn wanted Rambis to retool the offense, which had elements of the triangle system used by Jackson, to a more up-tempo, fast-break-or-bust mentality. The triangle offense limits the point guard's ability to freelance and create, something Kahn wanted to change with Rubio's arrival for next season.

Rambis didn't feel that run-and-gun approach would be conducive to winning in the NBA, so the two drifted off the same page.

"I didn't feel comfortable dictating how the team should be coached," Kahn said when asked what led to the final decision. "I think it needed to flow from out of him."

Under Rambis, Kevin Love blossomed into an All-Star and Michael Beasley and Darko Milicic also showed flashes of the potential that made them top draft picks. But the Wolves were making the same mistakes -- too many turnovers, poor perimeter defense, inconsistent ball movement -- at the end of the season that they were at the beginning. They went on to lose their last 15 games.

"He tried hard," Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver said. "At the end of the day, he didn't have the success that we wanted to. It wasn't because of a lack of effort. But I respect David Kahn's decision to hire a new coach. It's a business."

Now, in some ways, the Timberwolves are back to square one -- looking for the kind of leader who can mold this young team into a playoff contender in the powerful Western Conference.

For the moment, the Timberwolves have no coach, and, with the players and owners locked out, no league. Oh well, I suppose there's always the year after next year.

This lockout should give Kahn just enough time to concoct his next crackpot plan to stabilize a franchise that has become the league's personal punching bag.

Good luck, David. You'll need it.

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Deion Sanders Bails on Dez Bryant, Are The Dallas Cowboys Next?

Will Jerry Jones Also Cut The Cord?

There was much speculation and much debate when Jerry Jones reached in the 2010 NFL Draft and selected Oklahoma State wider receiver Dez Bryant to the Dallas Cowboys, despite having a team that had crucial needs that had been pushed under the rug for several seasons. However, Jones has been known to ignore the long-term health of his team and instead draft and trade for flashy new talent that can stack the Cowboys roster. Bryant is no exception.

Aside from making occasional flashy plays throughout the season, before being injured in the latter half, Bryant was inconsistent and had a typical diva wide receiver attitude. There were times in games where Bryant would be in the middle of a play and start to jog instead of sprint. He would pace himself off the line and not go the extra effort to block or chip a player down the field, letting other teammates shoulder the load.

Ring a bell, Dallas? Can anyone say Terrell Owens?

However, instead of poking jabs at fans and dumping popcorn on himself, Bryant decided to up the ante of diva. According to reports, Bryant bought jewelry in 2009, and never paid back the total balance due and is now stuck in a lawsuit. The total bill for Bryant's bling? $900,000 bucks.

Considering that the NFL Lockout is in place, Bryant will be safe from suspension from Rodger Goodell, as far as anyone knows. But if this case were to come up during the regular season, or even during a non-lockout offseason, who knows what Bryant's personal conduct violation would end up being. I suppose that in a way, Jones and the Boys' got a bit lucky with the lockout.

But all in the same, Bryant continues in his downward spiral. Earlier this week on a radio show, Bryant's long term-mentor Deion Sanders, announced that he was cutting ties with the troubled receiver. Sanders claimed on the radio show that he didn't want to have Bryant giving his kids the wrong example as they are growing up and interacting with him. In reality, that seems like a lame excuse to cover for a messy break-up.

I am well aware of how important Sanders' kids are to him, but that just doesn't add up.

Now the table turns to Jones, who is the king of football in the land of Cowboys. I'm sure that Jerry is sitting his stadium and looking at the highlights of his weak 2010 campaign with a poetic look in his eye, reflecting on what to do about Bryant in the long-term. I'm sure he is tossing the ideas around of the potential that Bryant could bring to Dallas in later years, and also the thought of Bryant running even more aground with the law.

In the end, Jones knows his players. He is the most active and involved owner in the NFL, and he knows what is up in the locker room.

Even with as much talent as the Cowboys could get out of Bryant down the road, he may be too much for the Big D to handle right now. The Cowboys are the most popular team in America, and there is a lot of pressure to win. There is nothing worse than having a distracting young wide receiver, who has not proven himself as a consistent threat, especially on a veteran team like Dallas.

The idea for Bryant was good. If he were able to stay in line and keep his emotion under control, Jones would probably keep him around. But in the current situation, with the Cowboys window slowly closing to get back to the Super Bowl, Jones is not going to be messing around. There are enough teams in the NFL that are wide receiver needy that Jones can ship-off Bryant for a high price, and get enough return to make it worth it.

Plus Dallas -- You still have Miles Austin. Quit complaining.

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The New York Giants Need to Re-Sign Ahmad Bradshaw

Running Back Ahmad Bradshaw needs to playing for the G-Men in 2011.

DeAngelo Williams may be the better player, but Ahmad Bradshaw could be the most important free-agent running back to his current team. The Carolina Panthers are deep at the position, and losing Williams wouldn't put a massive dent in their promising running game. The New York Giants need Bradshaw.

Unlike Cedric Benson, Bradshaw, a 25-year-old spark plug, does it all. He's a very physical ball carrier. He lacks 

Benson's bulk and ability to wear down a defense, but Bradshaw is an exceptional short-yardage runner who inflicts plenty of punishment. He is an extremely competitive runner and a handful to get to the ground. But that is just a part of what he brings. He is also very effective outside the tackles and shows excellent elusiveness in space.

Although Bradshaw needs to hold onto the ball better and has fought his share of injuries -- particularly to his feet -- he plays through pain and has missed just two games over the past three seasons. En route to rushing for a whopping 1,235 yards last season, Bradshaw averaged 4.5 yards per rush. He's averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry over his career.

Bradshaw can break the long run. He also received nearly two-thirds of New York's rushing attempts last season. 

Only a handful of running backs had a better season than Bradshaw in 2010. He is a complete back.

Bradshaw is a fantastic asset in the passing game. If you haven't watched him pass block, you are truly missing out. In fact, along with the Redskins' Clinton Portis, he might just be one of the best in all of football at it.

Bradshaw also is a fine receiving threat. He caught 47 passes last season, and I expect him to improve upon that as he masters the nuances of running routes out of the backfield and detaching from the formation and becoming an eligible receiver to cause matchup problems against linebackers.

Bradshaw's star is on the rise and he's proven to be a jack of all trades. If the Giants can retain him, he is poised for a monster season running behind a very good offensive line that endured a lot of injuries last season. If the Giants' stable of wide receivers is healthy enough to keep teams from keying on Bradshaw, look out.

However, if they aren't able to retain Bradshaw's services, the Giants would be in complete disarray. Yes, they still have Brandon Jacobs, but running backs have a short shelf life in the NFL because of the punishment they take on virtually every play.

Usually when a running back reaches the age of 28 or 29, teams start to look for his replacement. Unfortunately for Jacobs, 29, he's reached that so-called 'plateau', and I don't honestly think the Giants can count on him to be the featured back in their running game if they want to continue getting the same production out of him.

At 6'4" 264 lbs, Jacobs is essentially a linebacker playing running back. He won't wow you with his speed, and he definitely prefers to plow over defenders rather than juke them out of their cleats. Jacobs has a punishing running style. The only question is, does he get back as much as he doles out?

If the Giants are concerned about Jacobs' longevity, it's absolutely paramount that they re-sign Bradshaw rather than having to replace him with someone outside the organization. Bradshaw knows their system. He knows what it's like to play under the pressure that the New York market brings. He does things for them that they don't know if another running back could or would even be willing to do.

In short, other than subbing in Jacobs for the occasional short-yardage/goal line situation or when Ahmad needs a breather, Bradshaw is the Giants' running game. Without him, Eli Manning and the Giants' offense will suffer mightily, and they'll be watching postseason pigskin at home on their couches in 2011, rather than being a part of it.

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Kobe Bryant Headed to Europe? The NBA Can't Take a Hit Like That!

Kobe Going To Europe Too? Not if The NBA Can Do Something About It.

When reality finally struck the NBA that the lockout was something that could happen, I think that most super-stars just waved it off. They would just count this one is an extended vacation, and it wouldn't be a big deal, because they work hard for most of the year right? Possibly one entire season, or a shortened season, wouldn't matter at all, because they are catching a break and not having to do the long and tedious work that comes with being a member of an NBA team.

Then rumors started circling that Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets was pursuing playing for a European basketball team if the NBA was still locked out by August interested in possibly. This would mean that a top three point guard in the NBA was making the decision to go to one of the weakest basketball leagues in the world. That means one thing: Unbalanced match-ups.

Following the news of Williams looking into playing overseas, Kobe Bryant is not ruling out playing in Europe if the NBA does eventually end up not having a season. Hold up. I can handle an elite point guard leaving for Europe who is unhappy with the team he is currently playing for, but Kobe Bryant? That just can not happen.

As my Mother would always say to me, 'It's a matter of principle.'

For those of you who still don't understand the injustice of this, let me break it down:

The Euro league in basketball is mainly for European players, and NBA flunkies. Or in rare cases it could be used as an escape method for American high school students who don't want to play college ball and get paid right way, like Brandon Jennings. Overall the Euro league is much different from the NBA in play style, and the talent level alone is not even on the same level. I don't want to make it sound like Europe is a terrible basketball world, with no good players, because that is not entirely true.

But there is no one like Kobe Bryant.

I think that I would make the case, along with most NBA fans, that Bryant is the best player in the world. Bryant has the inside drive, the dunking, the defense, the wicked fade-away jump shot from the top of the key, the nicknames, the ice-water in his veins, the NBA Championship rings, and he is an NBA player. Whether or not 

David Stern would like it to happen, Bryant is the face of the NBA and American basketball.

There is not another player in professional sports that has more dedication and respect for the game than Bryant. 

When he steps onto the floor, he is in game-mode. It's just Kobe, the basketball, and a rim for him to toss the ball at. In my lifetime, besides Michael Jordan, I can't think of any player better to watch than Bryant. He is a gamer, and he plays to win, all while having the respect and dedication of an NBA player.

What Bryant has crafted in the NBA rarely ever happens. Despite being on a team that is hated by most, almost every player and coach in the game has nothing but the highest respect for what Bryant does. Aside from personifying that winning attitude, Kobe has shown a certain class that is so hard to find in professional sports. 

After games he doesn't jump around the court and yell profanities, or freak out when his team loses, he takes every one of his actions like an NBA player should.

If Bryant leaves for Europe, even if it is only for one season, the damage done to the NBA could be permanent. Stern must realize that Bryant is an asset in his game of monopoly that he can not lose. As an athlete and person, Bryant brings so much to the table, and I hate to say it but there are limited years left. Bryant will be looking towards retirement soon, and with this Europe adventure he is considering embarking on, there may be no going back.

So David -- I am pleading with you. Don't let this drag on like the NFL's Lockout. Schedule meetings with your players and owners until they can come to terms and accept a respectable CBA agreement. Or you will lose Kobe.

The Ball is in your court.

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Bengals Will Have to Rely on Ground Game to Succeed in 2011

Bengals definitely need to re-sign Benson if they are to compete at all in 2011.

In recent years, many NFL teams have moved away from relying on that one franchise do-it-all player at running back and transitioned into a running back-by-committee style. The players are getting stronger and faster, and while equipment improvements have been made, many teams are currently using a stable of two or three different running backs to spark their rushing attack. This helps keep the 'horses' fresh in the short-term while potentially adding years to their career long-term.

However, despite this recent trend, there are still a small batch of true workhorse backs in the league, and over the next two days, I'll discuss two potential free agent workhorses who must be re-signed if their current teams want to succeed in 2011.

Today, we'll shine the spotlight on Bengals free agent running back, Cedric Benson.

Cedric Benson might be the most important player to re-sign in all of football, not just at running back.

Thanks in part to Benson's workhorse ability in 2009, the Bengals won the AFC North with 10 wins. Fitting the preferences of Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, the Bengals were a 50-50 run-to-pass team. Head coaches with defensive backgrounds usually prefer a good running presence because it gives the offense a physical style.

The Bengals turned more into a passing team last year. Carson Palmer wanted to go back to his 4,000-yard passing attacks. The team signed Terrell Owens. The season was a complete disaster. The Bengals went 4-12, and they ended up passing the ball 59.1 percent of the time.

With Palmer expected to sit out the season, Chad Ochocinco expected to be released or traded and Owens gone, the Bengals have no choice but to go to a running game. They now have one of the youngest passing offenses in football, particularly if they go to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton as the starter.

Benson is one of only six or seven backs in the league who can consistently average 20 carries a game. The 

Bengals can't expect to go to a passing type of offense. The receiving corps of Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham, Jerome Simpson, and A.J. Green is too young. Dalton has too little experience and though I think he's smart enough to pick up an NFL offense with relative ease,

Compared with the other free-agent backs available for their own teams to sign, Benson's importance is enormous. 

The Panthers will do everything to re-sign DeAngelo Williams, but if he leaves, they still have a good back in Jonathan Stewart. If Ahmad Bradshaw leaves the Giants, they still have Brandon Jacobs. There is more of a chance the Dolphins won't re-sign Ronnie Brown than they will.

But the Bengals would be nothing without Benson. To his credit, he's loved it in Cincinnati. After a bad experience in Chicago, Benson found a home with the Bengals. Players respect him. He's become a valuable running back for Lewis, and this season the offense will get back to the style that suits him best.

The Bengals have to have a workhorse runner to compete in 2011. If they let this horse escape the Cincy stables, they aren't going anywhere this fall.

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Mike Vrabel to Return to Ohio State - as a Coach

Mike Vrabel retires from the NFL to become a coach at his alma mater.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Mike Vrabel will retire from the NFL and be named an assistant coach at Ohio State on Monday, sources told The Columbus Dispatch on Saturday night.

None of the parties involved would comment when reached by The Dispatch, but the paper reported the school has a tentative news conference scheduled for Monday to announce the hiring. Vrabel, an Ohio State alum, played the past two seasons with the Chiefs after eight years with the New England Patriots. He has been part of NFL's labor negotiations as a member of the NFL Players Association's executive committee.

Luke Fickell, the Buckeyes' former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, was promoted to head coach on May 30 after Jim Tressel resigned. According to The Dispatch, Fickell and Vrabel were roommates and teammates during their time together at Ohio State.

Speculation has been rampant that new Ohio State coach Luke Fickell coveted Vrabel, his former OSU teammate and roommate. Now, it appears he has his man.

At Ohio State, the 35-year-old Vrabel was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award recipient before being drafted in the third round of the 1997 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed with New England before the 2001 season and won three Super Bowls as a member of the Patriots.

The Chiefs traded a second round pick to New England during the 2009 offseason to acquire Vrabel and quarterback Matt Cassel. The move was Scott Pioli’s first major personnel move as the Chiefs' general manager and it turned out to be a good one. In it, he got the team a future Pro Bowl quarterback and a grizzled veteran leader to be the quarterback of his defense.

Though Vrabel’s best playing days were behind him, he made a clear impact on a struggling young defense. In particular, Vrabel served as a mentor to outside linebacker project Andy Studebaker.

Originally less than thrilled about being traded away from perennial contender New England to a terrible Chiefs team, Vrabel eventually embraced his new role as mentor and helped the organization turn things around.

Vrabel’s true contributions to Kansas City may not be fully realized until Andy Studebaker gets a chance to see consistent playing time. Should Studebaker develop into one of the game’s top linebackers, or even just a solid contributor, there will be no doubt that Mike Vrabel’s teachings will be largely responsible for his success. Come to think of it, you could even say Vrabel’s coaching career started in Kansas City.

Who knows, perhaps if he is successful at Ohio State, he’ll look to return to the NFL someday as a coach.

If Vrabel does indeed retire and doesn’t pull a Brett Favre, he’ll finish his career with 742 tackles, 57 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 11 interceptions, 42 pass defenses and one defensive touchdown.

He also has a remarkable ten receptions for 14 yards and 10 touchdowns as a goal line tight end. In his 14-year NFL campaign, Vrabel spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. He won three Super Bowl Championships with the Patriots in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Beard and Stache wish Mike “Eight Pack” Vrabel all the best as he begins a new chapter in his life.

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Why Prince Fielder is a Lock To Win The National League MVP

The Major League Baseball All-Star game is fast approaching, so I figured now was a good time to talk about a possible National League MVP controversy. Now, before I delve into it, I'd just like to say that it's still possible, albeit unlikely that Albert 'The Machine' Pujols could come out and have a spectacular second half of the season after recovering from his injury and blow these other two contenders out of the water.

However, I believe Pujols will struggle mightily when he initially returns from the disabled list, which opens the door for someone else to take home the hardware at season's end.

Before I make my selection and explain the reasoning behind it, let me just quiet one potential argument you might have right now. There is specualation abound that players in their contract year, like Fielder and Reyes, can just flip a switch and turn it on and improve their play so they can increase their price tag when free-agent bidding war begins.

Some believe that this 'switch' is the main reason that these two names are even in contention for the National League MVP Award. Though I doubt that's really possible to do in baseball, it's definitely something that is constantly brought up as a potential reason for why a certain player is having an exceptional statistical season.

I completely disagree.

I don't believe that this so-called 'switch' exists anymore in America's favorite pasttime; especially now that the steroid era now seems to be a relic of the game's past.

Need any additional proof that steroids are no longer a part of the game? The proof is as clear as Goose Gossage's mustache is thick. The dominance of the pitcher has reigned over these last few seasons and a new era has begun - the Era of the Pitcher.

But despite all of the great arms in baseball today, there are still those select few, those truly elite hitters that have the necessary tools and know-how to get it done day in and day out.

Two such players are Jose Reyes and Prince Fielder. Reyes and Fielder are both fantastic players in the prime of their careers; and one could easily make an argument for either of them.

But if I had to pick one to be this seaon's NL MVP, my money would be on Prince Fielder, and here's why:

The first thing I look at when choosing Fielder over Reyes is their teams' respective records.

Brewers: 45-41, 1.0 game back in the NL Central.

Mets: 43-42, 10.0 games back in the NL East.

Though the team records are technically only separated by 2.5 games, Fielder's Brew-Crew is in a much more advantageous spot than Reyes' Mets as far as being postseason hopefuls. The National League Central division has been coming down to the wire in recent years, and this season isn't any different. The biggest support for the Brewers keeping in contention for that playoff spot has been Fielders recent performance on the field.

The Brewers are only one game out of the division lead behind St. Louis, and with Pujols still on the DL and Fielder streaking, Milwaukee definitely has a puncher's chance at taking home the division crown.

We turn the page to find the Mets are 10.0 games back for the lead in an extremely competitive National League East. Fueled by their 'Big 4' in the starting rotation and their potent lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies (54-32) again have a decisive edge over everyone else in the division. The Atlanta Braves (50-36) are the only other realistic contenders for the NL East while the Mets will be lucky to put together a run at a wild card berth.

I don't know about everyone else, but in my mind, an MVP award carries more weight if it's given to the most valuable player of a team that can actually stay competitive and win games. Now, we still have close to half a season to play, but at this point, it's the Fielder-led Brewers that are within striking distance for their division. The Mets, on the other hand, are one misstep away from being their division's cellar dwellers.

Point goes to Fielder here.

Stats, stats, and more stats. Baseball is nothing without it's database of statistics. Both Fielder and Reyes have been solid throughout their respective careers, but since the MVP award is given out annually, we'll focus on stats they've compiled up to this point of the current season.

Since debuting in 2005, Fielder has been the best hitter for the Brew-Crew, despite having Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks as running mates. Prince has 21 long-bombs on the season, while also batting in 69 runs, placing him third and first respectively in the NL in those categories. He also has a great .299 batting average for someone normally classified as a power hitter.

Reyes has been the only true consistent offensive threat for an underwhelming Mets team this year. He leads all of Major League Baseball with an insane .354 batting average and 15 triples. He only has three homers, but that's not why he's valuable to the teams success. Reyes has an entire offensive game that Fielder wouldn't even be able to fantasize about in his wildest dreams.

The Mets All-Star has Usain Bolt-like speed on the basepaths (2nd in MLB with 30 stolen bases) and that speed gives him exceptional range playing shortstop. Like Fielder, Reyes too has learned patience in the batter's box while progressing as a hitter. All those attributes make Reyes the best spark plug in professional baseball.

Point goes to Reyes here.

For the tiebreaker, we go to the issue of durability; or in the case of Reyes, the lack thereof.
Up until 2009, Reyes was extremely durable despite the way the Mets literally ran him ragged. However, a hamstring injury forced Reyes to cool his jets and miss the remainder of the '09 season after only 36 games.

Two years and change later, the Mets have returned to almost the exact coordinates -- the intersection of "Not again" and "Oh no!" Reyes is hurt. Those words mean even more now than they did then. For the team and for him.

He removed himself from Saturday's game against the Bronx Bombers after two innings citing tightness in his left hamstring. This injury will sideline Reyes once again, and the Metropolitans will be without their most prolific player for awhile. No matter when he plays again -- before the All-Star break is possible but inadvisable given his history and the black cloud that follows the franchise -- another betrayal by Reyes' hammy pulls at the muscle of the Mets' tenuous Wild Card aspirations.

Unlike his counterpart, Fielder has been the epitomy of durability in Milwaukee, not having missed more than five games since his first full season with the team in 2006.

MVP stands for most valuable player. Reyes and Fielder are clearly the franchise players for their respective teams, but in order to have it recognized league-wide, you have to bolster your team with consistent production.

Prince looks to be at the top of his game right now and will likely continue his stellar season while Reyes will most likely have to go on another sabotical to the disabled list to nurse that injured hammy.

Bottom line, you can't be valuable to your team if you're not playing.

Point goes to Fielder here, and your 2011 NL MVP is....Prince Fielder.

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The End of an Era: Yao Ming Hangs 'Em Up

Yao Ming Calls it Quits

Several weeks after the surprise retirement of the #1 big man in the league (for most of the past 20 years), Shaquille O’Neal, comes the much less-anticipated and somewhat heartbreaking report of the retirement of fellow big man, Yao Ming.

During his nine seasons in the NBA (doesn’t it seem longer than that?), Yao not only played basketball, but served as a great ambassador for the NBA to China. His jerseys were worn throughout the nation and his stardom revitalized and ignited Chinese support of the league.

At 7-foot-6, Yao was one of the tallest to ever play the game. He spent his entire career as a member of the Houston Rockets and played alongside some great players over the course of his career, including Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Tracy McGrady, and Ron Artest.

The Houston Rockets center has been plagued by lower-body injuries throughout the second half of his career, mainly due to his size and thus the strain that he places on his knees and feet. We know that, injury-free, he had plenty of years left and was just beginning to reach his prime. It’s sad to see him go.

However, one of Yao’s agents recently spoke and said Yao has not spoken to the Rockets organization or the league about his retirement and will hold a press conference on July 20 to express his career plans. Unfortunately, due to the injuries and his lack of playing time over the past few seasons, its safe to say the man some call the “Great Wall of China” because of his imposing size in the paint has likely come to a permanent, grinding halt.

The Rockets have no comment on the report because of the lockout, and the NBA has not received official retirement paperwork from Yao.

Yao’s contract expired after last season, and the Rockets said they were interested in re-signing him if he came back healthy. Yao said in April that his professional future depended on his recovery from a stress fracture in his left ankle.

"We'd all be really happy if Yao comes back to play, and I hope he can," new Rockets coach Kevin McHale said when he was introduced last month. "I think he'll give it his best shot. His body is going to dictate if he can come back and play. That's all going to be laid out in the future."

With Shaq and Yao missing from the game, and most other big men in the league going the skill route—taking jumpers and facing opponents up instead of backing them down—we really are looking at the end of an era of dominant big men in basketball. Only Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum come to mind as true big men in the traditional sense of the term in the NBA. Is the low post game, which was such a staple in the 90s and early years of this past decade, nearly extinct?

If so, it gives us one more reason to appreciate the career and the persona of a unique player in the NBA who was great, but probably never reached his full potential due to being sidelined with injuries. The Beard and Stache would like to celebrate the career of Yao Ming. Unless, of course, he 'pulls a Favre' and announces that he’ll give it one more go.

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Jacksonville's Mike Thomas Ready to Break Away from the Pack and Become Jags' No.1 Wideout

Jacksonville's Mike Thomas is looking to breakout in 2011.

The concept of a No. 1 receiver is often misunderstood. The term is extremely cliche. The cast of 'true No.1's is far and in between, and Houston's Andre Johnson is one of few that fits the prototypical profile.

Unfortunately for the other 31 NFL teams, there aren't 32 Andre Johnsons: Big, physical, fast targets with good hands, who can run deep, go fearlessly across the middle to make the tough catch, consistently draw double coverage or make defenses pay a giant price for not paying sufficient attention.

No, the well of Andre Johnsons is as dry as the Sahara; which is why many NFL teams will be in the market for a wide receiver once the lockout ends. One such team could Houston's AFC South rival - the Jacksonville Jaguars.

However, they could already have their potential No.1 under contract and just might not know it yet.

As the Jaguars sit in lockout limbo, their No. 1 wide receiver is Mike Thomas. Whether he can become a true No. 1 receiver remains to be seen. He is on a run-first team where running backMaurice Jones-Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis rank as primary threats in the passing game. He’s branded as a slot receiver, a tag that often denotes limitations. At this stage, many know him solely as the guy who caught David Garrard's Hail Mary that was batted by Glover Quin to defeat the Houston Texans last season.

“I think highly of myself and I think that’s the only way to be,” Thomas said. “I see that kind of stuff and I just kind of smile at it and laugh. We’ll see what happens. It’s not my job or I don’t care about it as much when people say those kinds of things. It comes with the territory. It doesn’t deter me from what I believe."

“Whatever jargon people can come up with, it’s nothing but fuel when you believe you’re just as good as some of the other receivers that they tend to give this high praise to. People tend to look over you, to look past you … I love it, getting that from people," he said. "When they see what I am doing on the field, they think differently. I think I am more than a slot receiver and that’s the way I go about my business.”

But if he does become No.1 on Jacksonville's depth chart, it will be in the style of Carolina’s Steve Smith, a climb made despite not fitting the ideal height/weight/speed mold that all of the scouts and other NFL personnel salivate over.

All the former Arizona Wildcat has done since being selected by the Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2009 draft is make plays. A confident and explosive receiver, the 5-8, 198-pound Thomas has not allowed his size to hold him back. He has developed a solid rapport with quarterback David Garrard, raising his receiving yards from 453 to 820 and reception total from 48 to 66 from 2009 to ’10.

But Thomas is not just a weapon in the passing game — he is also the club's No. 1 punt returner and a dangerous ballcarrier on end-arounds thanks to his blistering 4.3 speed.

Although Thomas has already established himself as the Jaguars' most trusted wideout, 2011 could be the season in which he becomes a star. With the imminent departure of free-agent WR Mike Sims-Walker, the Jags' receiving corps - outside of Thomas - consists of a plethora of no-name walk-ons. Hell, with how their depth chart looks at receiver, I'd consider suiting up and trying out myself if I were in football shape.

But since that's not the case, I'll pass the torch to Thomas.

He has the tools and opportunity to finally become the team's No. 1 option in the passing game. If he makes the same reception jump he made from his rookie year to his second season, he’d be in line for 91 catches in a full season in 2011.

He wants 1,000 yards receiving and points to four games in 2010 where he had two catches or fewer. If he can be more of a factor in those four games, he should rack up more than the extra 180 yards that stood between him and the magical 1,000-yard mark.

Thomas said it’s not so hard to shine as a receiver in a run-based offense, citing Roddy White in Atlanta as a prime example.

“I’m a receiver and I love to catch the ball, so of course I’d love to see us throw it more,”  Thomas said. “At the same time I stay in my lane and I respect what kind of team we are, the guys I play with.”

He got a little work with first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert during a recent player-organized practice and their relationship could be a key one for Jacksonville in the years to come.

But for now, Thomas expects Garrard to be under center.

“We’ll just have to see what happens at camp, and hopefully that’s soon,” he said. “The team’s come out publicly and said Gabbert’s going to take a year and develop and get some coaching. That being said, if it’s Dave, we’re going to continue to run with Dave. I think Dave is a hell of a quarterback. We hope he can get us in position to make a playoff push. If it’s Gabbert, then we’ll do the same thing with Gabbert."

“Whoever it is, I think it’s going to be a fantastic time.”

Thomas is also different from many wide receivers in that he doesn't have a bona fide diva complex. He’s more concerned with getting a chance to say “We’re No. 1” than “I am a No. 1.”

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