Bucs get one-year tender for the Cadillac

Sports betting experts will react differently to various NFL transactions during the sleepy months of Spring. One of the events that might generate at least a little buzz is Tampa Bay’s signing of running back Cadillac Williams to a one-year tender. This happened on Wednesday, May 12. Williams is a rugged and insistent runner. He’s not a breakaway back or a home-run threat, but he runs with tenacity and toughness every time he gets the ball. Yes, it’s true that the Buccaneers are in dire need of a steady and reliable passing game, but the thought of keeping Cadillac around in the backfield is a generally pleasant one for the flagging NFC South franchise. The Auburn product gives Tampa Bay at least one problem for opposing defenses to solve.

Bills sign running back Mendenhall

Another running back firmed up his place on an NFL roster on May 12. Former Pittsburgh Steeler Walter Mendenhall signed with the Buffalo Bills last Wednesday. He walks into a situation where point production has been hard to come by. The Bills sputtered on offense in 2009, particularly in the fourth quarters of games and even against some of the other bad teams in the National Football League. It’s the hope of the new coaching staff, led by freshly-minted head coach Chan Gailey, that Mendenhall - given a change of scenery and a chance to start fresh - will be able to make a positive impact for this AFC East outfit. With the ball-hawking New York Jets lingering in the Bills’ division, it will be important for Buffalo to establish the ground game. There’s no way any AFC East team will want to challenge the Jets’ secondary on a regular basis.

Saints sign wide receiver Billings

NFL betting gurus won’t be drastically altering their Super Bowl odds based on this move, but for what it’s worth, the New Orleans Saints are trying to give even more targets to superstar quarterback Drew Brees. On May 12, the world champions of professional football signed receiver Montez Billings. The Auburn grad impressed coach Sean Payton in tryouts… enough, at any rate, to earn a shot as an undrafted free agent. Billings had academic issues during his senior year at Auburn, which led to a rocky an uneven season plus an expectedly rough time with NFL Draft evaluators. Perhaps, however, this pass catcher will find a way onto an NFL roster. If he can make it in New Orleans, Billings will have a very good situation on his hands. He’ll also have some accurate Drew Brees passes on his hands as well.

It may seem like a day where most people are focused in on horse racing in the sportsbook as the Preakness - otherwise known as the second jewel of the North American Triple Crown but consider this your update from NFLBet, your NFL betting guide (an occasionally college football betting guide).

This week - of all weeks - Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder decided to come out and voice his disappointment for last year’s prized free agent signing, Albert Haynesworth. No kidding. As a matter of fact, who in Washington isn’t disappointed with Haynesworth?

Let’s face it: he’s done as a Redskin. They don’t want to trade him at this point because (a) Snyder has already paid him so much year for just one year of services and (b) because his value is at its absolute lowest point. New head coach Mike Shanahan is a dictator and you don’t mess with this guy. You can rest assured that he is not going to soften his stance for Haynesworth and he’s going to expect he shows up for offseason workouts. If he doesn’t, he’s not going to force a trade this way. Given his track record and the sports betting odds, Shanahan will not be bullied and they will force Haynesworth to sit out on the sidelines until he is either ready to grow up or until the Redskins get fair value.

The Redskins are turning things around but this is one mess from last year that they’ll have to clean up.

NFL betting players are wondering if anyone is going to take a flier on Terrell Owens, the 36-year-old receiver with nine seasons of 1,000 yards or more, but he’s been known to cause some trouble in locker rooms.  Despite all this, not to mention a poor quarterbacking situation, Owens still caught 55 balls for 829 yards and five touchdowns last year in Buffalo, so there should be a team willing to take a risk.  Here’s a trio that could end up rolling the dice.

Jacksonville

David Garrard needs targets if he is going to improve, because no team with Mike Sims-Walker as their No.1 receiver is going to go to the playoffs.  At least Owens could keep him from getting double-teamed.  In addition, the Jaguars are having major problems selling tickets, and Owens would probably help with that.

Chicago

Owens would have had the most yards on the Bears, whose No.1 receiver is Devin Hester.  He’s improving as a receiver, but he’s not a top receiver in the NFL.  Jay Cutler has experience with troubled receivers, having played with Brandon Marshall in Denver, and he’s the best quarterback on this list, by far.

Oakland

It’s amazing that this hasn’t even been considered yet.  Owens would probably fit in well with the Raiders’ “outlaw” image, and Raider Nation would embrace him.  The problem is, for Owens anyway, the quarterbacking situation.  The Raiders did pick up Jason Campbell from Washington, but Oakland pivots have been terrible lately (ahem JaMarcus Russell), which bogs the entire offense down.  Even if Owens didn’t boost the team’s online betting odds, it may excite Raider Nation, which is a start.

In looking at the 75th Edition of the NFL Draft, like the Preakness betting stakes, the top pick appears clear to most fans of sports betting. Sam Bradford, former quarterback for the University of Oklahoma, will most likely be snapped up first by the Rams as their number one pick on Thursday. While nearly everyone sees Bradford as a lock, the rest of the picks are a little less clear.

At number two, the Detroit Lions will not be able to pass up the opportunity to snag Ndamukong Suh, former defensive tackle for Nebraska. Considered by many to be the best athlete in the entire Draft, Suh could start immediately for the Lions, and would be a welcome addition to the team.

At number three, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will snap up Gerald McCoy, former defensive tackle for the University of Oklahoma. After the Lions take Suh, Tampa Bay will take McCoy - considered just slightly behind Suh in talent.

After the Buccaneers pick, the waters get considerably more murky. Many are positing that the Redskins will pick up Russel Okung, former offensive tackle at Oklahoma State. Fans of online sports betting know that following the Redskins’ acquisition of Donovan McNabb, the team needs an offensive tackle to replace Chris Samuels, who recently retired. While some are predicting the team to go with quarterback Jimmy Clausen, expect common sense to prevail and the team to pick Okung.

Rounding out the top five picks, expect the Kansas City Chiefs to pick Eric Berry. Berry is an intriguing prospect. While he ended his college career as a safety with the Tennessee Volunteers, Berry was considered one of the most dominant defensive backs in NCAA history.

The NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday evening.

The San Diego Chargers were one of the busier teams on the opening day of the NFL’s first uncapped free agency period since 1993.

With seven unrestricted free agents, and several more restricted, general manager A.J. Smith continued on his quest to help San Diego get over the hump and earn a Super Bowl berth in 2010.

The most notable of moves may have very well also been the biggest surprise of the day in southern California, when the Chargers decided to change their decision to allow running back Darren Sproles become an unrestricted free agent just hours before free agency opened. Instead, Smith placed the maximum first-and-third round tenders on the speedy, undersized rusher, which meant a contract offer for just over $7 million. Should Sproles decide to sign with another team, San Diego will have the chance to match that offer, or receive that team’s first and third round draft picks for the 2011 draft.

In another surprise sportsbetting move, the Chargers released run-stuffing defensive tackle Jamal Williams, a 12-year veteran of the team.

San Diego also made first-and-third round tenders to former Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman, left tackle Marcus McNeil, and wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. It was also reported earlier in the day that the Chargers had reached an agreement to send cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

college basketball betting takes over with March Madness, the NFL combine takes center stage. Here is a rundown of some top performers so far.

After one of the best college careers of all time, Tim Tebow has not disappointed at the NFL Combine finishing among the top quarterbacks in every test he has entered. Slipping to fourth in the 40 yard dash, he was still able to walk away with first in the vertical leap, 3-cone drill, the 20 and 60 yard shuttles. It was not even close in some of the competitions as he jumped 3.5 inches higher than second place Zac Robinson and won the 60 yard shuttle by 0.52 seconds. To put some of his numbers in perspective, he came fourth out of all players in the 3 cone drill; almost unheard of by a quarterback.

Wide receiver Scott Long, out of Louisville was knocked coming into the combine as a player who would not be a big time performer in the NFL due to his lack of speed. While his 40 time was nothing special at 4.46, he is first in the 60 yard shuttle, 3-cone drill and vertical. He is bigger at 6’2” and 216lbs, competes for every ball and is looking like he could be a good early to mid-round pick-up for a team needing a possession receiver with the potential of being a poor-mans Hines Ward.

Jocoby Ford is a former track star at Clemson and after scorching a combine best 4.28 in the 40-yard dash, he posted a very average time of 11.58 in the 60-yard shuttle. Most would expect this to be an anomaly as he has been compared to Denver Broncos Eddie Royal as a small (5’9”, 186lbs) slot receiver with great speed. Projected as a mid to late round pick, he has big play potential.

Combines Best Numbers: TE Dorin Dickerson 43.5 inch vertical, OL Mitch Petrus 45 bench reps of 225lbs (combine record),WR Blair White 4.03 in the 20-yard shuttle.

The biggest weekend in sports is set to go down, and there is only one question you need ask yourself: Do I have the correct hot sauce to ranch ratio?

The two teams heading bettors are evaluating on the Super Bowl 2010 odds couldn’t be more different – the Colts come into this game off a which saw not only Peyton Manning but the entire team rise to the occasion on a consistent basis. The Saints on the other hand are a remarkable comeback story – one which parallels that of the city they represent. While the Saints may be the sentimental favorite, it is certainly not that way with the bookmakers, as Indianapolis is coming in as a -5.5 favorite.

Because the Colts aren’t known for running the ball, expect New Orleans to focus on the pass – something that should work to the underdogs’ advantage. While its obvious the Saints are going to have to pressure Peyton Manning, they’re going to have to get physical to do it – no easy feat given the Colts’ offensive line. The Saints are also going to have to constantly be on the lookout for every opportunity. You have to believe Gregg Williams will continue his emphasis on exploiting any opportunity to turn the play around.

Indianapolis, however, has to stop the Saints offence –
New Orleans has dangerous accuracy when it comes to throwing the ball, and the
Colts can’t give them an inch. Making sure that Brees doesn’t have the physical
space to get his throws off is critical and will ensure the Colts stave off the
upset.

The bottom line? Without a serious defense to stop him, Peyton Manning will run game on the New Orleans Saints, capturing himself and the Colts another championship title. Look for Indianapolis to slowly pull away from a close contest in the first half of the game to put a stamp on things in the 3^rd and particularly 4^th quarters.

While most people are only looking at the Super Bowl odds, there is plenty of other NFL news being released that is flying under the radar.

LaDainian Tomlinson Likely Done In San Diego

A contrite LaDainian Tomlinson spoke to the media once again after the NFL season and it looks like he has come to terms with the facts. Tomlinson, no longer the player he once was, is likely to be released soon. For the first time, we heard Tomlinson talk about expecting his release, which should come within a month. His agent is talking to the team to expedite the process.

Donte Stallworth To Be Reinstated

Donte Stallworth is about to be reinstated in the NFL this Sunday. Stallworth had been suspended indefinitely after killing a pedestrian in the offseason, will get his chance to get his life back in order and join an NFL roster next year. It’s very likely that the Browns will cut him shortly as the new season starts at the end of the month. They have no plans to keep him.

Michael Irvin Charged With Rape In Civil Suit

It seems like Michael Irvin just can’t keep his nose clean. On Friday, he was charged with rape in a civil suit by a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by him.

Irvin was fired from his cushy gig at ESPN for a drug charge and now he might be on the hot seat at the NFL Network after his latest incident.

Super Bowl MVP odds are out for Sunday’s big game between Indianapolis and New Orleans, and even though the focus will be on Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning and his Saints’ counterpart Drew Brees, each team has to have a secondary player step up if they want to win. Here’s the best choices for each team.

Austin Collie, Indianapolis (+1800)

Collie, from Hamilton, Ontario, was a fourth-round pick out of BYU last year, and he was worked into the offense, ending the regular season with 60 catches for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. However, his coming-out party came in the AFC championship game, catching seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Jets tried to take away Dallas Clark, the Colts’ slot receiver/tight end. Collie could still fly under the radar on Sunday.

Darren Sharper, New Orleans (+2500)

The Saints’ defense will have a big problem trying to stop Manning and the Colts, but Sharper will have a hand in trying. Sharper came to New Orleans this year and was tied for the league lead in picks, returning three for touchdowns. Then in the playoffs, he recovered a fumble in the Saints’ rout of Arizona, and he was in Brett Favre’s face all day against Minnesota in the NFC championship game, along with a team-high 11 tackles. Sharper will have the same role against Manning that he did against Favre. He has to play his free-safety position to help the New Orleans cornerbacks on the Colts’ receivers, but he’ll also have to blitz because the Saints know they can’t let Manning just sit back there and pick them apart.

The Super Bowl line is up and while the story of the day will be the offenses, the defense that plays best will truly be the key. Here is a breakdown of the defensive matchups:

Defensive Line:

While the Indianapolis Colts would normally have the edge, there is an opening for the New Orleans Saints to match up a little more evenly if Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is unable to play.

There is some concern about a sprained left ankle, which could limit him. If he’s healthy, the Colts have the edge. For now, that’s an unknown so this is an even matchup.

Advantage: Even

Linebacking Corps:

The linebacking matchup is an even one and another one that is tough to pick.

The Saints have the best player of the bunch with Pro Bowler Jonathan Vilma, and he’s flanked by a couple of steady players in Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle.

Meanwhile, the Colts have more balance and Clint Session and Gary Brackett are very good players overall and Philip Wheeler is also up-and-coming.

This is close, but we’ll give the edge to the Saints.

Advantage: Saints

Secondary:

While the first two areas are tight, the secondary is a much different story. The Saints have two Pro Bowl safeties in Darren Sharper and Roman Harper while the Colts have just one. Also, the Saints have far more experience at cornerback as the Colts starters Jacob Lacey and Jerrod Powers are rookies.

Advantage: Saints