Post-Lockout Recap

Has there ever been a more crazy couple of days in football? Every hour it seems as if a Pro-Bowl player is on the move somewhere. Last night there was word that Nnamdi Asomugha agreed to a deal with the New York Jets; however, that it is not true....yet. It is still possible that the Jets will land the top CB in the game, but Nnamdi has not agreed to a deal as of right now. Anyways this post is just a recap of the major moves since Tuesday.

Tuesday

• Panthers agree to terms with DE Charles Johnson on 6-year deal.
• Seahawks agree to terms with QB Tarvaris Jackson on 2-year deal.

Wednesday

• Panthers agree to terms with RB DeAngelo Williams on 5-year deal.
• Redskins send QB Donovan McNabb to Minnesota for draft picks.
• Colts agree to terms with S Melvin Bullitt on 3-year deal.
• Jets agree to terms with WR Santonio Holmes on 5-year deal.
• Titans agree to terms with QB Matt Hasselbeck on multiyear deal.
• Seattle agrees to terms with WR Sidney Rice on 5-year deal.
• Chiefs agree to terms with WR Steve Breaston on 5-year deal.

Thursday

• Saints agree to deal RB Reggie Bush to Miami.
• Arizona gets QB Kevin Kolb from Eagles for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, second-round pick.
• Redskins deal DL Albert Haynesworth to Patriots.
• Patriots acquire Chad Ochocinco from the Bengals for draft picks.
• Bears trade TE Greg Olsen to Carolina
• Texans sign CB Jonathon Joseph to 5 year deal
• Saints replace Bush with Sproles

This is just a small list of a bunch of deals that have happened in the past couple of days. Free agents are not allowed to officially sign until 6 PM today, so it is very likely we'll be hearing a thread of new signings later tonight. Stay tuned to The Point After for more crazy post-lockout deals!

Can the Pirates win it all?

After watching the Braves defeat the Pirates in the 19th inning last night on the worst call I have ever seen in my life, I found myself on the Pittsburgh Pirates bandwagon. First of all, if you don't know what I am referring to, regarding the worst call ever, take a look at the picture. Julio Lugo was called safe by umpire Jerry Meals in the bottom of the 19th in a 3-3 game after pitcher Scott Proctor bounced a ground ball to third base.

Regardless, the Pirates have quickly become America's Baseball Team. The last time they had a winning season or made the playoffs, I was celebrating my first birthday back in 1992, but right now they stand just 1 game out of first place in the NL Central. The division is very tight up top though, with just 5 games separating the top 4 teams. The Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates and Reds all have a legitimate chance to win the Central. So can the Pirates make it to the playoffs? Can a team that is 25th in the MLB in runs, play meaningful games in September? With the current roster, I don't think that's possible; however, with the trade deadline just four days away, the Pirates have the ability to bolster their chances.

Adding a bat is vital for a playoff-run and the Pirates should target a couple of Oakland Athletics. Josh Willingham and David DeJesus are two players that I could see the Pirates acquiring. Willingham is a big right-handed power bat that would fit nicely in the outfield with Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen. He could also play first base against left-handers, putting Lyle Overbay and his .231 average on the bench occasionally. David DeJusus would bring a left-handed bat with above-average defense. He would become the Pirates fourth outfielder, who could start games against right-handers. These two additions would provide some spark to a terrible Pittsburgh lineup.

Despite their inability to score runs, the Pirates find ways to win games. The pitching has been amazing, led by Jeff Karstens. The rotation has stayed healthy and have kept the team in the ball game every night. I still think that the Pirates could use another arm in the bullpen.

If the Pirates are aggressive during the trade deadline, they will have a chance at winning THIS season. The Pirates have way too many holes to compete in September against the dynamic Brewers and Cardinals lineups.

N.L. Central, A.L. Central: Contenders Wanted

Remember that time, not so long ago, when the central divisions ruled the baseball world? From 2004 to 2006, there was at least a team from either the A.L. Central or the N.L. Central represented in the World Series, with a strong Cleveland team choking in the 2007 ALCS that should have went. Twice, in 2005 and 2006, both teams in the fall classic were from their respective central divisions. In 2006, the A.L. Central was so good that the Chicago White Sox finished with 90 wins and ended up in third place in the division. But, times have changed in America's heartland.

For the past few seasons, the Central divisons have been trending toward mediocrity as the balance of power in the MLB moves inexorably east. In 2008 and 2009, the A.L. Central was won with 89 and 87 wins respectively, and both years the division was decided in a 163rd game. The Twins won the division in 2010 with 94 wins, but this was hardly a victory as they got beat in the first round by an AL East team, just like the last two central winners. The N.L. Central has not been much better over the same period. The Cubs won 97 games in 2008, but got swept out of the first round. The next two division champs each won 91 games and were also swept out of the first round.

Not much has changed this season. Detroit is only 6 games over 500 and is somehow in first place, followed closely by the Indians and Sox, with the Twins at 7 back. Pittsburgh, yes that Pittsburgh, is sitting in a tie at, you guessed it, 6 games over 500. They are follewed closely by the Brewers and Reds. As the season winds on, does any team in the mix, in either division, have what it takes to advance against their East coast counterparts?

That answer is not easy, with the trade deadline so close and so many teams hovering around the division lead. Every team has weaknesses that they must address. On the A.L. side, Detroit has a lot of star power upfront carrying the team. But, depth is an issue. If they do not acquire another quality starter, look out down the stretch. Cleveland is near the bottom of the A.L. in hitting and ERA, and it is hard seeing such a young team staying in the race. The White Sox can pitch with anyone, but have serious hitting problems. With no cap room to spare, Kenny Williams has to get creative. If either the Sox or Detroit make the right moves, they have the capability to be dangerous in October.

On the N.L. side, I have to pop the Pirates balloon. They are just too young. For the most part, the Reds lack quality pitching. The division should come down to the Brewers and Cardinals. It is hard to ever count out the guile of Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan, but the Brewers are an extremely talented team, especially with the addition of K-Rod. This one is a tossup, but either team has the star power to at least compete with the best.

The Tigers, White Sox, Cardinals, and the Brewers all have the pieces to make a deep run into October. They have also been, at times, mediocre at best. Will any these teams rise above their shortcomings and bring respectability back to America's heartland? If recent years are any example, don't hold your breath.

Dallas makes key cuts early

Not even 12 hours has passed since the owners and the players agreed on a CBA that everyone was happy with, but teams are already beginning to make roster changes to eventually get down to the 53 man team. Making moves right off the bat are the Dallas Cowboys who are parting ways with the long time veterans Leonard Davis, Roy Williams, and Marion Barber.

Cutting Leonard Davis practically guarantees that rookie guard Tyron Smith will be starting on the offensive line for Dallas. Davis was a three-time pro bowler who has struggled in the past few seasons, and has been unable to protect Tony Romo and is losing his power coming off of the line. Many teams could still use a guard like Davis; however, his skills and veteran leadership is what a lot of young teams need. I see him being picked up by the Tampa Bay Bucs, who are in desperate need for age in the front five.

By cutting Roy Williams, Dallas will save five million in cap space and it will allow youngster Kevin Ogletree to step up and compete for the 3rd receiver position. He will be competing with Rookie Dwayne Harris out of Eastern Carolina. Both Miles Austin and sophomore Dez "Big D" Bryant are posed to claim the 1st and 2nd spots respectively.

One of the more surprising cuts made by the cowboys is that of Marion Barber. His down hill running style made him a threat on the goal line and instilled fear into those he was charging head-on into. Depsite slating 12 TDs in 2008 his production out of the backfield has declined in the past two seasons. With more carries going to Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, there is simply no spot for Marion Barber. Jerry Jones would like to see Felix take most of the carries, and have Tashard lined up in the number 2 spot for RB. Barber was a fan favorite with his powerful running and long hair, but the future for the cowboys will revolve around their receiving core.

Spotlight: Alex Morgan

Athletic. Determined. Elegant. Three words out of many adjectives that describe Alex Morgan, a forward on this years USA Women's Soccer team. At age 22, Alex is receiving more attention that ever (which is well deserved) after she dazzled in the Women's World Cup in Germany. With her glistening and contagious smile, Alex proved that at her young age she has the potential to be a dominant player in women's soccer (not to mention that she was the youngest player on the roster).

During her time on the West Coast playing at the University of California Berkeley, Morgan clawed her way as a Golden Bear to being the teams leading scorer in 2007. She continued her sharp shooting in 2008 by being the highest goal scorer for Cal again with eight goals total. However though this seems like very few goals, Morgan would have had much more but she had national team commitments during her sophomore year. The Bears missed their leader of the pack that season as the fell out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round, however Alex was playing in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. After her experience nationally, Alex Morgan overpowered her opposing goalies during her senior year as she scored fourteen goals and had eight assists. Her name will forever shine in the "Golden State" as she is third all time in scoring for Cal. In 2011, Morgan was drafted in the first round by the Western New York Flash which was a first for the California Golden Bears.

While playing for the United States U-20 Women's team in Chile, Alex scored four goals, one of which was voted best goal of the tournament. Morgan pushed forward in March 2010 when she was a substitute in a match against Mexico where she scored her first international goal. This summer during the USA's semi-final match-up against France, Morgan scored in the 82nd minute which gave the United States a 3-1 lead. She also scored a goal in the World Cup Final against Japan. Alex Morgan continues to play for her New York club team and look for her to continue firing goals while smiling with her teammates.

Never Too Early for Big East Hoops

We've hit the half-way point of the summer, which means a new school year is around the corner. With that comes another exciting year of Big East Basketball. Recently the Home and Away opponents for each Big East school was announced. Schools will continue the recent format of playing each team once, either home or away, while 3 schools will be "repeat" opponents. Listed below are the opponents for each of the 16 squads with some thoughts about how each team will fare in the upcoming season.

2011-12 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Schedule Breakdown

Courtesy of BigEast.org

CINCINNATI
Home	DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova
Away	Connecticut, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John’s, USF, Villanova, West Virginia
CONNECTICUT
Home	Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, West Virginia
Away	Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse, Villanova
DE PAUL
Home	Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, West Virginia
GEORGETOWN
Home	Cincinnati, Connecticut, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, USF, Villanova
Away	DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, West Virginia
LOUISVILLE
Home	Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, USF, Syracuse, Villanova
Away	Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, West Virginia
MARQUETTE
Home	Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF, Villanova
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
NOTRE DAME
Home	Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, USF, Syracuse, West Virginia
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, West Virginia
PITTSBURGH
Home	Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, USF, Villanova, West Virginia
Away	Connecticut, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse, West Virginia
PROVIDENCE
Home	Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Rutgers, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse, West Virginia
Away	Cincinnati, DePaul, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, USF, Syracuse, Villanova
RUTGERS
Home	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Notre Dame, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
Away	Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, USF, West Virginia
ST. JOHN’S
Home	Cincinnati, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Providence, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, USF
SETON HALL
Home	Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John’s, West Virginia
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Providence, Rutgers, USF, Syracuse, Villanova
USF
Home	Cincinnati, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, West Virginia
Away	DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Syracuse, Villanova
SYRACUSE
Home	Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, USF, West Virginia
Away	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Louisville, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Villanova
VILLANOVA
Home	Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse
Away	Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John’s, USF, West Virginia
WEST VIRGINIA
Home	Cincinnati, DePaul, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Villanova
Away	Connecticut, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF, Syracuse

Each school’s three repeat opponents are in italics

Cincinnati led by senior Yancy Gates looks to build on where they left off last season. Head Coach Mick Cronin found himself on the hot seat going into the year but that quickly evaporated when he led his Bearcats to the Round of 32, falling to Big East foe and eventual champion UConn. As far as freshmen go, look for wings Shaquille Thomas and Jermaine Sanders to make an immediate impact. Home Game to Watch: Louisville.

Connecticut surprised everyone last year after a 9th place finish in the Big East. The Huskies finished the year on an 11-game winning streak to win both the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament. However this year, there is no Kemba Walker, and the team features just two players that are upperclassmen. Although inexperienced, these Huskies are mighty talented and I would expect them to be in the conversation come March. Home Game to Watch: Syracuse.

DePaul showed some improvements this year. While hard to prove with the win-loss record, rising sophomores Brandon Young and Cleveland Melvin look to be the face of Blue Demons Basketball. Look for this year's club to to be a lot better than DePaul teams of recent years, with freshman PG Shane Larkin pushing for playing time early. Home Game to Watch: Seton Hall.

Georgetown faces a lot of questions this year, not having won an NCAA Tournament game since 2008, and ending last season on the losing end in six of their final seven contests. This is unfamiliar territory for a program as storied as the Hoyas are, especially considering they welcome a new backcourt after losing Chris Wright, Austin Freeman, and Julian Vaughn. However, three freshmen look to make an immediate impact: small forward Otto Porter, who signed in the late signing period, center Mikael Hopkins, and shooting guard Jabril Trawick, who was impressive in the Mary Kline Classic. Home Game to Watch: St. John's.

Louisville seems to always be competitive. However this year, Head Coach Rick Pitino drew the ire of opposing fans when it was announced that his three returning leading scorers would all return to walk-on status in order to accommodate more recruits. This may add fuel to the fire when the Cardinals hit the road in league play. Look for freshman big man Chane Behanan to make an immediate impact and fill the bruiser role that have previously been filled by the likes of Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings. Home Game to Watch: Pittsburgh.

More previews to come soon... Check back later!