MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) - Like a doting father, Davis Love III was brimming with pride after watching his rookies clean up on the opening day of the Ryder Cup on Friday. Spurning conventional wisdom by throwing his first timers into the deep end of golf's ultimate test of nerves, Love's instincts paid off when the Americans snatched a 5-3 lead at the end of the first day. ...
Medinah, Illinois (Reuters) - Perhaps it was the appearance of Michael Phelps at the opening ceremony on Thursday that inspired Davis Love III to throw his Ryder Cup rookies into the deep end. After the 18-time Olympic gold medallist made a brief appearance on the stage, Love turned his back on conventional wisdom by adopting a sink-or-swim approach to the opening morning's competition on Friday. In an event where seasoned professionals have struggled to cope with the suffocating pressure, Love gambled by picking three of his four Ryder Cup rookies to tee off in the morning foursomes. ...
Conventional NFL wisdom says do not draft a running back too high in the draft, but that doesn't mean Trent Richardson won't be a lot of fun to watch.
Cleveland's rookie had his breakout game against Cincinnati. He scored his first career touchdown on a 32-yard run in the second quarter and had his first 100-yard rushing game -- and neither of those accomplishments was his most impressive highlight of the day.
In the third quarter, Richardson took a screen pass to the left and made four Bengals defenders miss on his way to the end zone. He juked the first two Bengals defenders in his way, powered past safety Jeromy Miles and then simply ran through cornerback Nate Clements, with Clements desperately hanging on, trying to pry the ball free. That play showed off the entire package of skills that made Richardson a standout at Alabama.
The Browns lost 34-27, but it wouldn't have been that close without Richardson. He finished with 109 yards rushing and 36 yards receiving.
Richardson, the third pick of April's draft who missed the preseason with a knee injury, had a pedestrian 39 yards on 19 carries last week against Philadelphia, but he looked like a superstar in Week 2.
More sports news from the Yahoo! Sports Minute:
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
• Tim Brown: Dodgers' season fate rests on Matt Kemp's shoulders
• Kevin Iole: Poor training kills Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against Sergio Martinez
• Fans protest lockout outside NHL store in New York
• Y! Games: Fall Games Guide 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) -- On his team's most chaotic day of the season, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel didn't give his players a fiery pep talk or words of wisdom - or any advice at all.
Continuing with today's theme of Osi Umenyiora pearls of wisdom, this time, he's urging his NFL brethren to be more like the straitlaced, church-going, high-on-life Tim Tebow.
"I know that everybody likes to make fun of Tim Tebow and talk about him, but he sets an outstanding example for people," Umenyiora said. "I think if more people would focus and try to be like him and carry themselves the way he does, I think things would be better."
Tebow, of course, is a devout Christian and behaviorally, as far as anyone knows, walks the straight and narrow. He's never been arrested, never been in trouble, never been anything other than a model citizen and extremely charitable man.
I know who Osi is talking about when he mentions people making fun of Tebow. Maybe it happens in Osi's world, but I think people are more making fun of the Tim Tebow legend, the beloved media creation, incapable of ever doing wrong on a football field or being something other than the perfect human being.
But maybe there are NFL players who do ridicule Tebow. I don't know. If they do, I'd hate to think it was any of the ones who have been arrested recently — the ones at whom Osi pointed his comments.
"For the life of me, I can't understand it," Umenyiora said. "It's ridiculous, to be honest with you. People need to be more focused and more grateful for what it is that they have … to be messing around like that, man, it's really unfortunate."
It is. And sure, Tebow would be a good role model for any NFL player considering throwing their career away because they don't want to call a cab, but no one has to go full Tebow, either. There are plenty of solid people in the NFL who set an example every day: Madieu Williams, Reggie Wayne, Malcolm Jenkins, DeMeco Ryans, etc. There are a lot of role models out there.
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said it best, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
For Jeremy Maclin that pearl of wisdom couldn't ring truer.
At this point last year, the wideout's thoughts couldn't have been further from football. A mysterious illness, initially thought to be lymphoma, hijacked his body. It was a scary time. Weakness ensued. Pounds dropped. Insomnia kicked in. Instead of worrying about learning new wrinkles in Marty Mornhinweg's offense, he was simply trying to live to fight another day.
Eventually, when his fever lifted and appetite returned, all seemed right again. But a different set of challenges awaited the hard-luck receiver over the next few months.
Exuding the toughness of a heavyweight boxer, Maclin attempted to power through. Though hampered by additional nicks and scrapes, including a shoulder injury that cost him three games from Weeks 11-13, the Missouri product managed to post respectable numbers. His 63 catches for 859 yards and five touchdowns nearly matched his production over 16 games the year before.
Overall, he ranked as a low-end WR2 in 12-team leagues (8.9 ppg, WR24), proving to be a fantasy difference-maker during the most opportune time. His combined 13 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown against division rivals Dallas and Washington in Weeks 16 and 17 were huge for trophy seekers.
Expect him to pick up where he left off.
Anyone and everyone affiliated with the Eagles has openly professed their love for the Mac Daddy this summer, Michael Vick in particular. From Eagles.com:
"I think this is going to be Jeremy Maclin's best year yet," said Vick. "He has worked tremendously hard over the offseason. He has caught a ton of balls the last four-five days (of minicamp). I'm proud of him and I'm proud of his attitude most importantly."
In late-May, Vick compared Maclin to Michael Irvin. High praise. Though his character is slightly more reserved, his size/speed combination and savvy route-running skills are similar to the Hall of Famer's at his peak.
Soon the numbers may also match.
With 2011's nightmare in the rearview mirror, the 23-year-old has the makings of busting out in a major way. DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy will again carve out significant vertical roles, but Maclin is the trusted short-to-intermediate weapon for Vick, especially in the red zone. His looks inside the 20 understandably dipped last year, but his 21 targets in 2010 ranked fifth among WRs.
Most importantly for fantasy purposes, his touchdown-scoring prowess should rebound. It's unlikely McCoy will be able to repeat his 20-TD feat from a season ago. Assuming that happens, the reallocated scores could fatten No. 18's bottom line. A return to the double-digit TD class is well within reach.
Suffice it to say, at his current average draft position (57.0, WR24), Maclin is the most underappreciated wide receiver in the virtual game. His improved health, confidence from Vick, who some are also predicting will have a banner year, and Andy Reid's lust for passing (54:46 pass:run split in '11) suggest the pre-camp hype isn't baseless bluster. Ranked No. 10 on the Noise's WR board, it would be no shocker if he outpaced highly touted products Andre Johnson (19.0 ADP, WR3), Wes Welker (27.5, WR6) and Roddy White (30.1, WR8) this year.
Unlike last season, Maclin will be the cause and not the effect of chaos in 2012.
Fearless Forecast (16 games): 81 receptions, 1,138 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns
Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise and be sure to check him along with Andy Behrens, Brandon Funston and Scott Pianowski on The Fantasy Freak Show (Now on iTunes) every Friday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Yahoo! Sports Radio
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
• Dan Wetzel: Joe Paterno's role in Jerry Sandusky cover-up grows as evidence is leaked
• Citing injury, Chris Bosh withdraws from U.S. Olympic basketball consideration
• Video: Jessica Hardy emotional, 'grateful' for berth in London Games
• Y! News: 13 million without power on East Coast after deadly storms
Recent Comments