Betting News & Views : Wagering on North American Sports
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Browns sign veteran WR Engram 07/08 17:18:10 ET
Berea, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Browns signed veteran wide receiver Bobby Engram on Thursday.No terms of the deal were announced.The 37-year-old Engram played in only five games for Kansas City in 2009, catching five passes for 61 yards.Throughout his 14-year career with Chicago, Seattle and the Chiefs, he has caught 650 passes for 7,751 yards and 35 touchdowns.His best season was 1997, when he caught 94 balls for 1,147 yards, both career-highs, and matched his career-best with six scores.The Bears made Engram a second round selection, 52nd overall, in the 1996 NFL Draft after a four-year career at Penn State, where he holds the career marks for receptions and receiving yardage
Agent: free agent DL Smith to miss season with Achilles tear
Littleton, CO (Sports Network) - NFL free agent defensive lineman Kenny Smith will miss the entire 2010 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, according to his agent.The injury occurred while Smith was working out and he's expected to undergo surgery on Monday, according to Paul Sheehy of Pro Star Sports Agency.The 32-year-old appeared in six games with Kansas City last season and accumulated two tackles.In 36 career games, Smith has 71 total tackles and 4 1/2 sacks with New Orleans, Oakland and the Chiefs
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NFL: PRO FOOTBALL NEWS
Falcons LB James suspended by NFL 07/08 17:54:39 ET
Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - The National Football League has suspended Atlanta Falcons linebacker Robert James for four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.James has appeared in just one game for the Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of Arizona State."Robert James of the Atlanta Falcons has been suspended without pay for the team's first four games of the 2010 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances," the NFL said in a released statement."James' suspension begins on Saturday, September 4. He will be eligible to return to the Falcons' active roster on Monday, October 4 following the team's October 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers. James is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games."
Antonio Pierce retires; heads to TV 07/08 11:22:40 ET
Bristol, CT (Sports Network) - Former linebacker Antonio Pierce has decided to retire and will become an NFL analyst for ESPN.Pierce spent the past five seasons with the New York Giants and played his first four years with the Washington Redskins. He was released by the Giants in February after an injury cut short his 2009 season.The veteran appeared in only nine games last year because of a bulging disc in his neck and posted 55 tackles with one sack. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2006 with the Giants and helped New York win Super Bowl XVII after the 2007 season.Over 124 career games, Pierce compiled 692 tackles with 8 1/2 sacks and seven interceptions.
Report: Vick in confrontation before shooting 07/07 21:57:52 ET
Virginia Beach, VA (Sports Network) - The Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney has reportedly said Michael Vick was in a confrontation prior to the shooting that occurred last month outside a restaurant celebrating his 30th birthday.The revelation comes just a day after Virginia Beach police announced that no charges would be filed in the incident and that Vick was cleared as a suspect.According to TV station WAVY, Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey L. Bryant said that while Vick was not present when the shooting happened, he was in one of several confrontations between individuals and groups -- minutes before shots were fired.Bryant told the station the confrontation involved shouting and some bumping, and that Vick needed to be restrained by friends. He told the station Vick's friends put him in a limousine before Vick got back out to confront an unidentified person.The Virginia Beach police's statement Tuesday said investigators determined the shooter's identity, but the Commonwealth Attorney's office elected not to file charges because of the lack of cooperation from the victim and the reluctance of witnesses.
Pavin alluded a few weeks back that Woods wasn't even guaranteed a captain's pick anyway. Jack Nicklaus was in Madrid and asked by reporters about Pavin's statements. "He'd (Pavin) need a brain scan if he left Tiger out of the team," Nicklaus said. "Of course he should pick Tiger. The truth is that Tiger is going through some personal problems, which I've nothing to say about, and he's also got some problems with his game, which he's going to have to resolve himself. But Tiger will be in the team, I have no doubt."
A brain scan wouldn't be enough. Pavin might be a double-agent if he doesn't take Tiger. If Woods doesn't want to go, there's nothing the Americans can do. If Pavin doesn't even offer him a spot, well, Pavin is Kevin Costner's character in "No Way Out." Pavin might just show up at press conferences using a French accent or something. Yes, the American team won the Ryder Cup in 2008 without Tiger. That's the exception, not the norm. True, Woods has been on five Ryder Cup teams and the U.S.only captured one of them, but he's going to go down as the greatest player ever and if he's not there because of Pavin's choice, then, no matter the outcome, Pavin's the worst Ryder Cup captain EVER.
Woods isn't the only question mark at this point.Kim had thumb surgery, hasn't played since Quail Hollow in early May and withdrew from the British Open. Stricker has been hurt. Glover, Johnson and Kuchar would be rookies and sadly, maybe Capt. Pavin can't count on Johnson when the heat is turned up. Pavin could bring maybe a Stewart Cink, a Hunter Mahan or a Scott Verplank or two players who are hot heading into the Ryder Cup. Ben Crane is close. So is Jeff Overton, but are those names that'll scare Padraig Harrington on the first tee Sunday?
Of course not. Truth be told, there aren't going to be many names that'll scare the European side. Their point system is semi-complicated. The top-four names come from a world points list, loosely based on the world rankings. The next five come from a European points list which has more to do with performance on the European Tour. Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter have the top four places. Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross McGowan, Francesco Molinari and Luke Donald are in as of now. Jimenez just won in Europe last week. The top-four players have all won in the U.S. this year. Basically, this team is loaded.
Colin Montgomerie has three spots available to him. Among his pool is Justin Rose, who has won twice on the PGA Tour this summer and should've had a third title; Padraig Harrington, who won three majors in 13 months not that long ago; Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, a pair of Swedes with Ryder Cup experience and top-30 resumes; and Paul Casey, a top-10 player in the world.
We didn't even mention Sergio Garcia. His game has gone downhill in a giant slalom fashion, but he's a Ryder Cup star and Monty all but said he's got a spot if he doesn't make it on points and barring a British Open/PGA summer of love, Garcia won't. So Monty's team is missing four players inside the top 30 in the world rankings. Pavin has to decide between Bo Van Pelt and Brian Gay. The scariest thing is that the European side can get better.
Who's missing from the American squad that needs to get there? Cink? He's got one top-10 since February.Zach Johnson? He won Colonial, but has exactly zero top-10s since or before. Rickie Fowler? He's still a kid with no experience and has yet to even win. Monty's best nine before he has to pick could be: Westwood, McIlroy, Donald, Rose, Casey, Poulter, Harrington, Kaymer and McDowell. Let's just say that there is some serious depth on the European side. In fact, its B squad would be competitive at the moment. Six weeks remain for the Americans to get going with their games. Honestly, their best chance might rest on all of the great Europeans not making the team.
RANDOM THOUGHTS - My hunch says Aronimink gets a major sooner rather than later or Philly gets a full-time tour stop.- If I was a gambling man, it would be very hard for me to not put some loot on Cristie Kerr at the U.S.Women's Open. Remember this, though: Jiyai Shin lost the No. 1 ranking when Ai Miyazato went crazy, then she got hurt and Kerr took the top with the best major performance by anyone since Tiger's dominant run in 2000.- Movie moment - Saw "Toy Story 3" and I have to say we have our first Best Picture nominee. Amazing story, amazing animation, amazing voice acting. Just awesome.In my generation's history, I believe the "Toy Story" films will go down as the most historic, not just for Pixar animation, but the stories and the beauty of them.
PGA: PRO GOLF NEWS
Six weeks and counting 07/06 15:24:56 ET
By Jim Brighters, Golf Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - In roughly six weeks, the eight automatic members of the United States Ryder Cup team will be finalized. Two weeks after that, the nine automatic guys for the European squad will be known.It's getting down to it now.
Corey Pavin's American team features the usual suspects to this point. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim are all but locks. Lucas Glover, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker are in now, but by no means safe. It's pretty amazing that Woods just gets slipped into the equation. He is sixth in points, but was non-committal about the Ryder Cup when he was asked at his first real press conference during Masters week."Well, as of right now, I'm not on the team, am I? I'm not on the team point- wise. So I have a long way to go," Woods said a few months back. When asked if he would like to play, his response was, "Would I like to play in it? If I qualify." So if he doesn't get a top-eight spot, he's not going to Wales? Could be.
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North American Sports Betting Analysis, News & Views. The latest online betting info from Bookmaker.com July 9 2010
