Philadelphia Eagles 2007 Draft Preview
Football Betting Lines
04/04/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Outside linebacker and defensive tackle were two of the Eagles' biggest need areas entering the offseason, but a trade for ex-Bill Takeo Spikes and the acquisition of former Colt Montae Reagor helped offset those respective requirements. Depth behind those players and end Jevon Kearse, all three of whom have missed significant time due to injury of late, will remain a focus, however. The weakest spot on the field for Philadelphia in 2006 was at strong safety, though there is unlikely to be a natural first- round fit for the team in that area. On the other side of the football, there is sentiment within the organization that a club can never have too many offensive linemen, and more value will be placed on that unit than the running back and receiving corps. If the Eagles take a skill player, he will probably be a running back that can challenge Correll Buckhalter for the No. 2 job behind Brian Westbrook.
2006 Record: 10-6
First Pick: No. 26
Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2006 - Brodrick Bunkley (DT, Florida State); 2005 - Mike Patterson (DT, USC); 2004 - Shawn Andrews (OL, Arkansas); 2003 - Jerome McDougle (DE, Miami); 2002 - Lito Sheppard (CB, Florida); 2001 - Freddie Mitchell (WR, UCLA); 2000 - Corey Simon (DT, Florida State); 1999 - Donovan McNabb (QB, Syracuse); 1998 - Tra Thomas (OT, Florida State); 1997 - Jon Harris (DE, Virginia); 1996 - Jermane Mayberry (OG, Texas A&M-Kingsville); 1995 - Mike Mamula (DE, Boston College); 1994 - Bernard Williams (OT, Georgia); 1993 - Lester Holmes (OG, Jackson State), Leonard Renfro (DT, Colorado); 1992 - none; 1991 - Antone Davis (OT, Tennessee); 1990 - Ben Smith (CB, Georgia).
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If he is still available at No. 4, there is no way the Buccaneers can pass up Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. However, if another team trades up to snatch Johnson with one of the first three picks, it won't be the
<< San Francisco 49ers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Niners are in major need of a No. 1 receiver after
releasing Antonio Bryant, and might have to look long and hard at multi-
talented Ohio State standout Ted Ginn, Jr. There are also secondary needs,
though the signings of
<< Green Bay Packers 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With Ahman Green now a Houston Texan, the Packers have a
hole at running back that the franchise has not experienced heading into a
season since the pre-Edgar Bennett days. Head coach Mike McCarthy says he's
comfortable with
<< Atlanta Falcons 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Falcons have multiple needs on defense, and with the
No. 8 overall pick (obtained in the Matt Schaub trade) could justify selecting
any of the following players - safeties LaRon Landry (LSU) and Reggie Nelson
(Florida), t
<< Arizona Cardinals 2007 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona has long featured one of the weakest lines in the
league, and with disappointing-yet-serviceable tackle Leonard Davis now a
Cowboy, the Cardinals could be setting their sights on a player like Penn
State's Levi Brown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of pitchers will make debuts with their new clubs this afternoon when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies conclude their three-game series at Coors Field. Left-hander Doug Davis was acquired by Arizona in
Carolina Panthers 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Panthers had glaring weaknesses at linebacker and on
the offensive line last year, and though both positions should be healthier in
2007, upgrades are also needed. With top tackler Chris Draft now a member of
the Rams and
New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saints defense was held together with duct tape last
season, and the New Orleans brass wasn't delusional enough to believe the team
could get by under similar circumstances in 2007. Head coach Sean Payton has
spoken publi
Pettitte's return to the Bronx rained out >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte's much anticipated return to the
Bronx will have to wait as Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Yankee Stadium has been postponed due to rain.
No makeup da
Washington Redskins 2007 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington places little to no value on the draft, as
evidenced by the fact that it has one pick among the first 142 and has an NFL-
low five selections overall. Which isn't to say that the Redskins are without
needs, particu
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
FOOTBALL TRASH TALK
NFL Football Trash TalkTrash talk has a place in every competitive endeavor (except baseball; those stirrup-wearers are too busy chewing on their sunflower seeds and their supplements to worry about what their opponents are doing).
Fantasy sports is no exception. Any intelligent discussion of the subject would probably start with a thesis statement or a definition of terms. Thankfully, this wont be an intelligent discussion.
Let me just say that I am happy to take a place in this space alongside my talented colleagues, even our commissioner. (You should see how she bleats like a demented paper boy about league fees on our fantasy site).
Trash talking, I would argue, is primarily about amusing your friends, their sheeplike demeanors and sloping foreheads notwithstanding. The best place I have found for football trash talking is at www.SportsAlarm.com.
Beyond the entertainment factor, though, I would recognize that the sophomoric ritual has one advantage, when properly applied. It magnifies your fantasy triumphs and mitigates your fantasy failures by transforming the eventual point total into an afterthought. Winning makes it seem like your opponent really is a truss-owning, lapel-pin-wearing nitwit. And in defeat, trash talk can be the air bag to break the fall from your hyperbolic heights. The plug-necked yahoos on your team, you can say, will be sacking groceries by the end of the season.
The best trash talk, in my view, is layered and nuanced. And it doesnt focus only on your opponents team. It picks apart your opponent. The idea is to create a shock-and-awe-scale blizzard of nonsense, and the goal is to make your opponent drop his hands from his keyboard in exasperation.
What team does your opponent root for? Accuse a Giants fan of having a Joe Namath pillowcase. Wheres your opponent from? Give a look of concern no matter his reply, then say, I'll try to type slower for you next time. Is your opponent into politics? Label everyone a tax-and-spend corporate shill.
Cap all that with a liberal application of irrelevance. For instance, dont just conclude by saying your opponent is a twerp who drafts like my grandmother. Say that your opponent is a sweater-wearing, eyebrow-plucking twerp who drafts his team about as well as Zsa Zsa Gabor gave acceptance speeches at the Oscars. By the time your foe makes sense of that, his starting running back will have had puppies.
But what about you? Hmm? Recall a memorable slam? Have a tried-and-true technique? Know someone who seems impervious to insult? Take a moment and tells us about it. Put together some (fit-for-publication) thoughts. You wont be too busy returning phone messages from your friends, Im sure, to reply.
In addition to the trash talking, the Sports Alarm has a huge gallery of high resolution pictures of beautiful women and models in bikinis. The most popular models are: Lindsay Lohan, Carrie Underwood, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Paris Hilton.