Belichick Could be Suspended for One Year!?

A report has surfaced from Sal Paolantonio of ESPN that if the latest allegations against the Patriots taping the Rams walk-through at Super Bowl XXXVI turn out to be true, he will be suspended for a full year. Turns out that after what happened with the Jets earlier in the year, Commissioner Roger Goodell warned Belichick that the next time something like this happens, he will be suspended. That could make today's game his last with the Patriots. For more, read the article over at ProFootballtalk.com.

This is huge news, and a suspension of a full year would be unprecedented. If the Patriots are found to have cheated again, they deserve whatever they get. I have a hunch that Belichick will just retire after the game today, rather than take any more penalties from the NFL. I would not expect this to affect his coaching ability, if anything it might make him more hungry to go out a winner.

Ravens Going After McNabb?

The Baltimore Ravens want to upgrade their quarterback position, and they may be targeting Donovan McNabb. Chris Mortenson of ESPN reports that the Ravens are going after our quarterback, and may be willing to offer up their number 8 pick in the draft this year. Mortenson does not report that the Eagles are interested, simply that the Ravens are willing to "do what it takes" to get a solid quarterback for next year. Remember, too, that the Ravens hired former Eagle coach Jim Harbaugh to be their head coach, so there is a connection there. For my take on this situation, read my previous article, Weighing in on McNabb. Needless to say, if the Eagles do make this deal, they better get a standout receiver or lineman with that 8th pick.

Flyers Bounce Back

The Flyers bounced back from a poor effort against the Rangers by shutting out the Stanley Cup Champs 3-0. Like always, the Flyers were outshot (27-25), but Martin Biron was strong in goal, stopping everything the Ducks could muster. The Flyers offense was all provided by Mike Knuble, who had the first hat trick of his career. This is surprising, considering he has topped 30 goals in a season twice in his 11 year career. Knuble has been playing on a checking line with R.J. Umberger and Jeff Carter for the last few weeks, so it has been great to see that he is combining strong defensive play with his scoring touch. On the fighting front, Riley Cote continued to prove his worth by squaring off with Ducks tough guy George Parros. Even though Cote was soundly beaten in the scrap, he has continually shown that he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere. Cote will continually find himself in the line-up for the Flyers, even when everyone is healthy, if he maintains this level of toughness.

*Yes, more Forsberg! Another day, another piece of news on Peter Forsberg. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren hopped on a plane to Sweden to go and talk to Forsberg. Everything is being set into motion, and I bet by the end of next week, Foppa will be wearing the orange and black again. The only question will be what number he will wear, seeing as how Jason Smith has #21 already.

A Smattering of Super Bowl Predictions

Here are a bunch of predictions for the Super Bowl from experts and analysts from various sources:

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 34-27
Dr Z, Sports Illustrated: Giants 24-20
John Clayton, ESPN: Patriots 38-24
Len Pasquarelli, ESPN: Patriots 31-20
Tom Jackson, ESPN: Patriots 31-21
Ron Jaworski, ESPN: Patriots 41-21
Bill Simmons, ESPN Sports Guy: Patriots 42-17
Jeremy Green, Scouts Inc: Patriots 27-23
Keith Kidd, Scouts Inc: Patriots 27-20
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 34-24
Mike Greenberg, ESPN Radio: Giants 24-23
Mike Golic, ESPN Radio: Patriots 31-24
Plaxico Burress, New York Giant: Giants 23-17
Princess the Camel: Giants Win

As you can see, you need to either be a fossil (just how old is Dr Z now anyway?), know little to nothing about sports (I can't remember a prediction Greeny got right), looking to pump your team up (and subsequently giving the Patriots even more of a reason to be fired up....way to go Plaxico) or be a camel to pick the Giants to win the Super Bowl.

Will I go the way of the camel?? My prediction coming soon!

Sixers Volunteer Coach Aaron McKie Traded to Memphis

It's not every day that a coach gets traded, and it's even more rare when that coach is traded and the team he works for isn't even involved in the trade. Local guy and former Sixer Aaron McKie was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Pau Gasol trade yesterday. Apparently McKie never filed his retirement papers and the Lakers were the last team he played for, so he was still their property. The Lakers needed to move him to make the salaries even out in the trade, so they signed him to a contract and then shipped him out. Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni, a forward on the Sixers last championship team, said that McKie will fill a player/coach role with Memphis. McKie had been working with the young guys on the Sixers, and apparently was playing a lot in practice to stay in shape. I bet McKie plays the rest of the year in Memphis, seeing limited action, and then comes back to the Sixers in a coaching role next year.

*Read Marc Narducci's Inquirer article about it here. The most interesting item from the article was that the Sixers are still paying McKie from a contract they signed him to several years ago. Aaron McKie, the Memphis Grizzlie, is being payed 7 million dollars by the Sixers this year. Gotta love Billy King.

Flyers Demolished by Rangers

In a game that was painful to watch, the Flyers were shut out by the Rangers, 4-0. The Rangers netted the 4 goals all before the 2 minute mark in the second period. All of the goals were scored on Antero Niitymaki before he was pulled from the game for Martin Biron. Niitymaki didn't play terribly, the defense in front of him, especially Jim Vandermeer, who was a -3 for the game. Offensively, the Flyers never got much of anything going and only managed 20 shots in the game. It was especially disheartening considering the Flyers were shut out not by the Rangers All-Star goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, but by their seldom-used back-up, Stephen Valiquette. Watch highlights of the game here, if you dare.
The Flyers still stand atop the Atlantic Division, but with the Ducks coming to Philly on Saturday, they are going to have to step it up to stay there.

*Obligatory Forsberg Update
Peter Forsberg finally announced today that he plans on returning to the NHL. He told his agent to start talking to teams about a contract. The top three teams I keep reading about in rumors are the Flyers, Red Wings and Avalanche. That Rangers rumor from the other day looks to be bogus. Click here for an interesting article by TSN insider Bob McKenzie on Foppa's impending return.