Happy Valentine's Day

There Is Nothing More Gangsta Than a Kicker

Congrats to the Steelers winning the Super Bowl. I'm not the biggest fan of the Steelers, but I respect them much more than I hate them. However, their kicker threw a bitch fit in a convenience store in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. Now that's gangsta! Citizens of Pittsburgh who own a store with restrooms, please be sure to have towels available for Jeff Reed. If not, well, he'll tell you how he really feels.

Here is urban dictionary's definition of a bitch fit:

	-When a person, usually a female is angry and upset about something and starts whining/crying/yelling/screaming/throwing things when things don't go their way. -Basically its going all PMSing and Godzilla like. -Also can just be "BF" if you can't curse in front of certain people. -Made famous by the Wayans Brothers comedy "White Chicks."

Larry Hughes Becoming a Net?

One rumor going around has Larry Hughes going to the New Jersey Nets for Bobby Simmons and Maurice Ager. Ager would be included to make the salaries match. I don't see the point of this trade for the Nets. The Nets already have Kenyon Dooling manning the back-up point guard spot and Jarvis Hayes, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Trenton Hassell can the two guard or SF spot. Larry Hughes would probably get more playing time than any of these players. Hughes's deal does end next year so that's a plus. I wouldn't do the deal. Hughes needs the ball in his hands to be effective. The Nets already have Devin Harris, Vince Carter, and the developing Brook Lopez and Yi Jianlian (currently injured) as designated scorers for this team. Will Hughes contribute enough on the defensive end to off-set his lack of touches on the offensive end? I doubt it.

For the Bulls, they would be getting an overpaid player who is average in nearly every facet of the game. His defense might be slightly above average. Drew Gooden is still injured so I guess Bobby Simmons would fill in at the PF spot off the bench. I can stretch the floor for Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich with his outside shooting. I guess its a win-win trade, if it happens.

Troy Aikman Critical of Tony Romo

I'll let Troy Aikman do the talking:

"I think maybe things happened so quickly for Tony in terms of obscurity to all of a sudden national spotlight that he hasn't fully grasped what being the Cowboys quarterback is all about," Aikman told former teammate Michael Irvin on Irvin's radio show. "And you don't go to Cabo the week before a playoff game. You just don't do it.

"It didn't take away from his preparations. I know that. I mean, everything he says is I think accurate. I don't think that had any bearing.

"But to say, 'I don't worry about perception,' you better worry about perception, because it's a big part of making it through some very difficult times."

"So, believe me, the NFL is such a reality show. Week to week, you're the best player in the league to the worst player in the league. It all depends on what you've done for me lately."

HEAT's Shawn Marion Involved in Trade Rumors

The latest rumor involving Shawn Marion has his services along with Marcus Banks headed to Toronto for Jermaine O'Neal. If this trade happens, it would benefit both teams.

The HEAT are in need of some height in their frontcourt. Their tallest frontcourt player is Jamal Magloire and his defense isn't that great either. There is no defensive presence behind Joel Anthony who has done an admirable job as the HEAT's starting center. Shawn Marion wouldn't be missed by the HEAT because they have so much depth at that position. The HEAT have Dorell Wright, James Jones, and Yakhouba Diawara can fill the potentially vacated SF position. Can you imagine the line up of Chalmers, Wade, James Jones, Haslem, and O'Neal? You could do worse. Jermaine O'Neal gives Wade another pick-n-roll buddy, a low post presence, and a post defender. However, the rub in this trade is the health of Jermaine O'Neal. He has been injured this season with those bothersome knees. If the HEAT make this trade, I think it signals that Riley couldn't care less about this summer's free agent class as O'Neal has a player option for more than $20 million. There is no doubt he'll exercise that option. This trade is a win for the HEAT, if O'Neal's healthy.

The Toronto Raptors would be getting a high energy player who can score in a variety of ways, rebound and defend. Shawn Marion can't shoot the three pointer with any degree of regularity. The move would allow the Raptors keep Andrea Bargnani in the starting lineup and go up-tempo more often. Marion is a huge upgrade at SF as Bosh has had enough of the errors made during the game.

Another possible trade partner is the Dallas Mavericks. Josh Howard is on the block and has been on there for quite sometime now. His admission about drug use doesn't help either. Shawn Marion for Josh Howard and another player? This could benefit both teams. As I said earlier in the post, Pat Riley doesn't care about this summer's free agent class. Josh Howard would give Dwyane Wade a much needed sidekick for this season and next. Howard could use the change scenery. The HEAT would still be short in the frontcourt but more potent offensively. The attention that Wade gets could result in Howard returning to his All-Star level. For the Mavs, they'll have Jason Kidd's and Shawn Marion's contracts expiring after this season. That is $38,552,000 coming off the books between. That doesn't include other contracts that expiring after this season. I think Marion would blossom playing next to Jason Kidd for obvious reasons and the Mavs could re-sign him after the season. The trade works out both teams.

Ravens Need Weapons on Offense

Surrounding weapons around Joe Flacco should be one of the Ravens priority. The Pittsburgh game exposed this weakness. Derrick Mason is the reliable receiver in the Ravens receiver group. There is some talent in that group with Marcus Smith and Demetrius Williams. Marcus Smith has been relegated to special teams duty to start his career, though he could blossom in his second season. Williams was suppose to have a big year this season, but that was not the case injuries derailed his season. He has a slight build so getting of the line of scrimmage is a problem, but he does possess good speed to go deep. He is still a raw route runner. The Ravens also have Mark Clayton, Terrence Copper, and Yamon Figurs. Mark Clayton has been a disappointment since being drafted. He had one breakout year and the other years were subpar. The lack of production can attributed to injuries or lack of development. Yamon Figurs is a bust and Copper is a roster filler. That is what Flacco had to work with this season, along with Le'Ron McClain, Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Todd Heap. That is not good enough especially in the receiving corps.

TJ Houshmandzadeh probably won't make it free agency. The Bengals will probably franchise tag him. Letting him go would set the Bengals back for years and I don't think Carson Palmer would not be a happy camper, along with Chad Johnson. The Ravens should rule out TJ at this point and while we're at it, Ocho Cinco should be eliminated from their minds. Baltimore does not need this head ache especially with a young man at quarterback. See Tony Romo.

Here are other possible options hitting the market that I personally like: Antonio Bryant, Bryant Johnson, and Amani Toomer. Of the bunch, Amani Toomer seems the least likely player to sign with the Ravens as I think the Giants will re-sign him or he retires. Antonio Bryant seem to have resurrected his career this season with the Buccaneers. I know he has had his problems in the past with drunk driving and substance abuse, but he was a really good number one receiver for the Buccaneers. He has the size and speed that the Ravens need at the WR position. Bryant is a good route runner, strong, agile, and has good speed. He is a big play receiver and may have finally mature as a player and person. Given what he did for the Bucs, his contract should be many times more than the league minimum. Bryant Johnson would be a good buy low player. He didn't have the season he was expecting because of the quarterback play. I wanted the Ravens to sign him last year but that didn't happen. Johnson would be a good addition for the Ravens and be a solid number two receiver. By the way, Bryant Johnson is a Baltimore native.

I doubt the Ravens will upgrade the running back position as McGahee will be a Raven next year. The Ravens won't release Willis McGahee because of the possible cap hit. Hopefully, Ray Rice will be given more opportunities to contribute on offense. He is a good change of pace back for the Ravens, though he is not as explosive as one would think given his size.

As for the TE position, Todd Heap has been more of a blocking tight end than a receiving tight end. I think he'll be a Raven next year, though I am not a fan of him. He gets injured way too often and isn't even that great blocking either. Owen Daniels might become available when free agency starts. He is a Todd Heap clone and might be a bit better at this point. I think the Texans will re-sign to a long term deal.

I'll address ways to improve the offense through the draft later.

Ray Lewis to the Cowboys?

Jerry Jones is still following his same path that he has followed for the last couple years. His method is to sign every big free agent that is on the market and throw tons of money at them. This method hasn't worked at all but that doesn't seem to stop him. Plus, the Cowboys need to sign DeMarcus Ware to a ginormous extension. With that said, I don't think they'll sign Ray Lewis. Ray Lewis will be a Raven next year. I hope.