Is Cammy Cam Ready?

Much like Tim Tebow was, Newton has been surrounded by questions since the end of his season. Many analysts wondered if Tim Tebow was good enough to be an NFL quarterback. Would he be able to pick up a pro-style offense quickly? Was his release quick enough to become an effective passer at the professional level?

Many of these same types of questions swirled around Cam Newton, until his most recent workout for the media. There wasn't a single person watching his workout that wasn't impressed. Newton's footwork and release in the pocket were much better than most anticipate. He made all but 4 of his throws. Newton's motion is very smooth and his throws are always hard and accurate, a skill that can take a while to teach a young quarterback. Newton could still have a much harder throw if he used his lower body to generate a little more force. I've always been suprised by his ability to throw, especially since his agility and speed are what most fans notice. Not to mention he's 6'5", 250 lbs and able to see right over his line to where he's throwing.

His drop back and movement were also solid. Cam was very mobile in the pocket and was quickly able to assess situations and escape rushers, just like he did at Auburn. And as I mentioned earlier, he looked very comfortable when dropping back. His play-action passes looked smooth. Half the battle of a transitioning quarterback is being able to feel comfortable and confident in your abilities when game time comes around. Cam has all the on-field skills to compete at the NFL level. He has the rare combination of size and agility, an especially infrequent occurrence in quarterbacks.

Now this whole write-up seems like a bunch of hype about how good Cam Newton is, but that's because he was good, and is good. I hope he carries over his agility and ability to scramble onto the next level and doesn't leave it behind because he has to run a different kind of game. That quickness is what gives Michael Vick the edge in games, even when the opposing quarterback could throw him into the next week.

This post is obviously a very quick and brief analysis of Cam Newton. If you would like a better look, I'd definitely find the video of his workout and make your own decisions on Newton. So what draft pick is he looking at? The way I see it, there's no way that Carolina, Buffalo, and Arizona will all pass him up. He will definitely go in the top 5. I'm truthfully expecting him to end up in Buffalo because I don't think Carolina has given up on their hopes for Jimmy Clausen yet. Wherever he ends up, I think he'll quickly be able to compete at the NFL level, and I expect to see him during the next season, whenever that may be.
  

Panic? Furthest Thing From it for C's

After last night's disappointing 92-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics are no longer the undisputed best team in the NBA. Of course they are still up there with the best, and they may even still be better than the Lakers. But in the wake of this loss, some people are actually suggesting the panic meter is in sight. Really? Honestly?

An ESPN article this morning explains why it isn't time to panic if you're the Boston Celtics. Thanks for enlightening me, but does anyone actually think it's close to panic time? In my opinion, it couldn't be further from it. We're talking about the NBA here, folks. Regular season wins don't matter. Period. Bold statement, yes. Irrational, maybe slightly. But true, in my opinion. I've grown less and less interested with the regular season endeavors of the Boston Celtics because I have grown aware of how meaningless those endeavors are in today's NBA. There is, for all intents and purposes, a 0% chance the Celtics don't make the playoffs, and arguably the same percentage they don't finish in the top 4 seeds. They showed last year that home court advantage is rather overrated (which I've always believed it is in the sport of basketball). They finished fourth last season and had mighty struggles most of the regular season. Why, then, would anyone panic after a 6-point loss to the Lakers and a rough little skid this past week? Did we learn nothing from last year? Are we blind to the way the NBA is constituted? If you love the game more than anything else and you love watching it night in and night out, maybe you disagree. But I'm just shooting out the facts. The regular season in the NBA is a mere warm-up. We know what's going to happen, to quite an extent, in the postseason (let's not even get into the rigged conspiracy theories; I'm just basing that statement on sheer talent). It's not like hockey, football, or baseball where you might have a stud arise from the minors and put the team on his back or a team of relative no-names bond together as a unit and shock the world. Sorry folks, but it doesn't happen in the NBA. It's a star-driven league, and in the end, there are maybe five teams that will compete for the title. The Celtics and Lakers are two of those five teams. Last night's loss was as significant to Boston's season as the brand of cereal I ate for breakfast this morning.

Maybe it's a cynical approach, but I've felt this way about the NBA for the past few years. I personally don't like the direction it is headed in. I like the regular season to mean something. I like the uncertainty that comes with the NHL or the NFL, leagues where you truly cannot know if your team will even make the postseason. Now we're talking about sending Carmelo to Hollywood? Whatever. I know it's all about the money and the ratings, but as a fan of integrity and parity, I like having a little uncertainty when it comes to crowning a champion in the preseason.
 

Get Ready for History, Boston

Tonight will, in all likelihood, be a very historic night at Boston's TD Garden. In what amounts to one of the most incredible weeks of the year for the building as a whole, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers will tip off tonight with one Celtic looking to etch his spot in professional basketball history.

On Monday night, the Boston College Eagles and Boston University Terriers battled an instant classic in the opening round of the Beanpot at the Garden. Then, last night, the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens bruised their way to an incredible 14-goal, 182 penalty minute bloodbath that the B's won, 8-6. Tonight, rivalry week continues with the C's and Lakers.

Ray Allen needs just one three-pointer to tie Reggie Miller's all-time mark (2,560) for three-point field goals made in a career. Allen will break the record with the second longball he drains tonight -- assuming he isn't ice cold -- and the Garden will erupt. There will likely be a stoppage and a memo on the jumbotron to honor such a phenomenal achievement. Four years ago, we may not have even cared one bit that Ray Allen might someday break the record. After all, most of those threes came with the now non-existent Seattle Supersonics. Today, though, we cherish Allen as one of our own. When the moment comes, every Celtics fan can do nothing but tip his or her cap to the greatest of all-time from downtown.
 

Bruins vs Habs: Live Blog

Seguin a Healthy Scratch vs Habs

Boston Bruins prized rookie Tyler Seguin will be a healthy scratch against the rival Montreal Canadiens tonight, Claude Julien announced this afternoon. Jordan Caron will fill his roster spot and join the fourth line while Zach Hamill will remain on the third line between Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler.

I haven't been shy about my disapproval of the Bruins' handling of Seguin this season, but I respect their motives. Seguin hasn't been too impressive given the expectations, and the stresses of big-league hockey -- let alone the entire lifestyle changes of living on his own -- may definitely be catching up to him. With a rookie like Seguin (19 years old), it's marathon; not a sprint. Boston hopes that this kid grows into a man, a superstar, a legend, all while wearing the black and gold sweater.

Ultimately, this team is still capable of bringing a Cup home this season. It would be nonsense to put the success of the team in jeopardy to give the young kid more ice time. Right now, Hamill deserves a look. He, too, was a highly coveted draft pick a few years ago. His time is running out, but Boston has elected to give him one last shot to prove himself. But I do hope this doesn't last long. After all, when the Bruins made the decision to keep Seguin instead of sending him to juniors for another year, it was with the understanding that he would play and develop this season. Nights off aren't the worst things for a teenage phenom, but let's hope Julien doesn't make this into more of a regularity.
 

The Reigning Versus The Greatest

The circumstance that Paul Pierce suggested last month will present itself at this year's NBA All-Star festivities. The reigning champ of the 3-Point Shootout will face far stiffer competition this time around, when his fellow Celtic sharpshooter Ray Allen joins the pool. We've got the reigning champ against -- soon to be, anyway -- the best 3-point shooter in the history of this league.

It's a good move by the league and everyone involved. Ed B discussed the issue last month, and I completely agree with his notion -- All-Star weekend has begun to lose its spark. It has become a bit mundane. A storyline like this one with some teammate competition might just give it the boost it needs. Speaking of teammate competition -- do you think the NBA would ever consider following in the footsteps of the NHL?

It sounds totally insane and an idea to scoff at. The NBA? Following the NHL? Never in a million years. But let's face it. The NHL made a great move. In a league where the players are so much more distinct and well-known, with a game that features so much more isolation and individual showcasing, wouldn't it be a must-see event? To watch Rondo cross up Ray Allen at the top of the key, drive to the lane, get contested by KG, but dish it off to ... Kobe? For three? I think it would be a lot more interesting. It might serve the NBA best to swallow their pride and follow the hockey guys on this one. Because after all -- there's an extremely small chance that I watch the actual all-star game this season. It just doesn't interest me one bit.

Irrelevant contests aside, Ray Allen will look to become the NBA's all-time leader in career 3-point field goals made tomorrow night. What better a stage than the Celtics versus the Lakers at the Garden? Ray-Ray planned it just right. It's all shaping up to be an unforgettable night, hopefully featuring an energized and rowdy crowd celebrating a milestone achievement by a star and a statement victory over a rival.
 

Savard-less Bruins Will Look to Move On

As many of you may have heard yesterday, the Bruins and Marc Savard have announced their plans to shut down the injury-plagued forward for the season and any potential postseason run due to his second concussion in as many seasons. It is extremely worrisome for not only the Boston Bruins organization but Marc Savard as an individual being. Savard has expressed his concerns in regards to occasional memory lapses and moments of dizziness since Matt Hunwick's hit gave him a mild concussion a few weeks back.

As he enters his mid-thirties, it might be time to consider hanging them up for Savard. Bruins fans hate to hear the thought of it, but it might be the best choice for him. He has already said he isn't ready to retire, but he may start feeling some influence from his loved ones and his everyday experiences. The bottom line is that concussions can have far worse long-term effects than anyone may realize right away. Hanging them up and sacrificing his final few years in the league could potentially prolong his healthy, normal life by a much greater margin. As hard as it may be to give up his quest for a Stanley Cup on a team with such great potential, it's something he will have to consider.

Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins still have a job to do. It's disheartening to lose a guy like Savard and it is impossible to feel anything other than sympathy for the man. But there is still a task at hand, and the black and gold remain the Northeast Division leaders. How will Boston move forward and fill the void left by their former all-star centerman? Back when Savard's injury took place, general manager Peter Chiarelli said that he would target an impact forward in the trade market if Savard were deemed out for the season. Whether he will act on that notion or not, nobody can know for sure. But is it ultimately a necessity if the Bruins want to compete for the Cup this season?

The optimists of the world -- like myself -- would claim that Boston has the necessary depth. I would love to see Tyler Seguin play the rest of the season as the third line center -- no questions asked. But Claude Julien seems very resistant to throwing Seguin into the center slot, slating Blake Wheeler into that position with Seguin playing his wing instead. And when Daniel Paille went down, Seguin bumped down to fourth line wing and saw Zach Hamill slide up into his place in just his first game of the year. I don't understand why, but Julien is pulling the reigns quite forcefully on Seguin this season. I guess we can only hope it's for the best.

But going back to the trade possibility, the Bruins have been benching Mark Stuart for the last several games. Stuart is still a very solid defenseman in this league, and he would like garner significant trade interest. Whether he will be enough to get a top forward, no one can be sure -- but the Bruins do have several draft picks stocked up if they wish to make an attempt. Rumors have been thrown around about making a move for Devils forward Zach Parise, but the pieces don't seem to add up for a trade like that to go down. Needless to say, though, I wouldn't be complaining if it did.

Either way, the Bruins' depth will need to hold steady over the next stretch of games up until the point that a decision is made on the composition of the team. It's possible that the Bruins will be content relying on their depth that they take such pride in. Still, fans will be anxiously waiting to see the course of action the front office takes.
  

Eagles Storm to Beanpot Final

The 59th Annual Beanpot is only halfway done, but the excitement level has certainly risen to a championship caliber thus far. Last night marked the opening round of this year's Beanpot, and it pitted Harvard against Northeastern before Boston College against Boston University in the latter game of the evening. After Northeastern stoned the Crimson, 4-0, the stage was set for college hockey's greatest rivalry.

It was an unreal atmosphere going to this historic game for the first time as a BC student. The T-Storm saw hundreds of Superfans lining up outside of the green line subway station to pack the train cars and stampede through the city en route to Boston's beloved Garden. When the train broke down, though, the Eagles faithful scrambled to find cab cars and buses to make their trek to the site of the action. By the time the puck was dropped, the balcony sections behind each team's goal were packed full of students -- half from BC, half from BU -- hollering spiteful chants at one another.

The Eagles drew first blood with less than six minutes to go in the first period when Philip Samuelsson fired a shot from the left boards that deflected off BU defenseman (and Bruins prospect) David Warsofsky and over the shoulder of goaltender Keiran Millan for a 1-0 BC lead. Just 38 seconds later, though, the Terriers pulled even with sophomore winger Wade Megan's sizzler past John Muse's blocker side. Then, early in the second, BU's Corey Trivino notched the go-ahead goal as he snapped a loose puck through Muse's five-hole for a 2-1 Terriers lead.

Boston College appeared to tally the equalizer late in the second when Pat Mullane crashed the net and seemed to have pushed the puck over the goal line, but the call on the ice was no-goal. Video review lacked conclusive evidence, so the call on the ice stood and the Superfan section made their displeasure heard loudly and clearly.

But five minutes into the third period, Eagles forward Jimmy Hayes erased any doubt in the minds of the faithful when he fired a feed from Mullane past Millan's glove side to knot the score at 2-2. That was when the fun stuff really began.

The Terriers got back-to-back power plays in the final five minutes of the game on two cross-checking penalties by Boston College, and they peppered the BC goal. John Muse made some spectacular saves in the most critical moments, and the Eagles were able to get clears on the brink of collapse each time. At the end of the second kill, Samuelsson jumped out of the box and was sprung for a clean breakaway, bringing the entire house to its feet. Millan stood tall between the pipes for BU, though, stoning Samuelsson's deke attempt with 51 seconds remaining. Millan also turned aside a last-second chance by the Eagles and sent the game to overtime.

It didn't take long for the overtime momentum to establish itself at the Garden. End-to-end action in the first minute -- most of the pressure applied by the Eagles -- led to a penalty on Boston University and critical power play chance in overtime for Boston College. They didn't let it pass them by, and a future Bruin capped off the instant classic with a memorable goal.

United States Junior Olympic defenseman Brian Dumoulin slid a pass over to fellow defenseman Tommy Cross at the blue line, and Cross danced across the line before snapping a shot toward goal. The puck soared past multiple players in the slot before getting the slightest piece of a BU shin pad and continuing past Millan's glove side. The goal light flashed red and the near-side stands erupted. As John Muse celebrated down the other end of the ice, the Boston University fan section flooded to the exits behind him. The Superfans were rejoicing at 3:17 of the first overtime session, where future Bruin Tommy Cross delivered the game-winning power play strike.

The Superfans will all be flooding back to the green line en route to the Garden next Monday night when they will compete for their 16th Beanpot title against the Northeastern Huskies. The Huskies, led by captain Tyler McNeely and goaltender Chris Rawlings, will look to win their 5th Beanpot title and dethrone the nation's #1 ranked team. It will be difficult for the excitement level to top last night's showcase, but all bets are off when you're talking about a tournament so prestigious, so historic, and with so much pride and tradition at stake.
  

Fantasy Baseball Preview: First Basemen

Today, Burga and I take a look at the sluggers of the MLB: First basemen. These guys are generally going to be your Fantasy Team’s big bat. It’s a very strong position, as several other players could state their claim to make this list. In the end, here is what we got. Note: Kevin Youkilis was purposely kept off this list due to his impending move across the diamond to third.

Burga's Rankings:
Albert Pujols
Miguel Cabrera
Joey Votto
Adrian Gonzalez
Mark Teixiera
Ryan Howard
Prince Fielder
Kendry Morales
Justin Morneau
Adam Dunn

Key Points:
• With Pujols still being the consensus number 1, it’ll be interesting to see who finishes behind him in the rankings. Average Joe has Votto over Miggy, whereas I had them the other way around. I believe Miggy has a greater chance to surpass Pujols, especially in a better lineup than Votto, and he’s been around a little longer which gives them a slight edge over Votto in my book.
• Though Average Joe and I have the same players consisting our top 3, don’t be the one who underestimates Adrian Gonzalez on draft day. Playing in a MUCH better hitters park, in the middle of a studded lineup, this guy should be in the running for AL MVP and has the chance to unseat the first 3 if he hits the ball like people expect him to in Fenway.
• Joe has Justin Morneau 4 spots higher than me. If Morneau stays healthy then Average Joe might prove me wrong here by seasons end. However, Morneau’s history proves otherwise and he was limited to 81 games last year. This guy can rake with the best of them when healthy but in the meantime I’ll take a less risky pick here.
• Adam Dunn is always a 40 home run threat and one of my favorite players. His consistency makes him a great addition to any fantasy team and, unlike some other power hitters, his average won’t kill you. Being upgraded from Washington to Chicago will give him a hitter-friendly park and a stronger lineup, where he could thrive in his best year yet.

Average Joe's Rankings:
Albert Pujols
Joey Votto
Miguel Cabrera
Adrian Gonzalez
Justin Morneau
Mark Teixiera
Ryan Howard
Prince Fielder
Paul Konerko
Kendry Morales

Key Points:
• First base is an extremely top-heavy position, in that all ten of these players could be on an all-star team. Votto did win MVP last summer, but Pujols still is superior to Cincinnati’s first basemen. If you have the first spot, and you want the best baseball player overall, take Pujols
• Caution: Boston Bias. Cabrera is the best AL first basemen, but if Gonzalez can wrap some home runs around Pesky’s poll, and live off of opposite field homers and wall-ball doubles, don’t be surprised if their numbers are pretty similar.
• Justin Morneau and Kendry Morales should both bounce back from their injuries. And when healthy, Morneau is an MVP candidate (he already has one). So don’t forget about them.
• On the same note, take Teixiera with caution. His April struggles could hurt your team, but in the end his numbers will be MVP-caliber.
• Konerko makes the list, a no-brainer for me. Yes, he is inconsistent; last season was the first time since 2006 that his average was above .300. But, at age 34, his 2010 OPS was the best of his career. This is the only positions where a guy who it .312 with 39 home runs is ranked 9th at that position.
  

BIG Day in Boston Sports World

Lots of things to look forward to today. This evening, Super Bowl 45 will finally be played out (and get the 2010 season out of Patriots fans minds). At 2:30 this afternoon, the Celtics take on the Magic in the rubber match of the regular season series between the two clubs. And that should be a great game as well.

But if you happen to take a look over at ESPN2 from 2 to 4 PM today, you will see the 2011 New Balance Boston Indoor Games, otherwise known as BIG. Yes, this is a track meet. I will find this far and away more interesting than 98-100% of you. But some of the biggest names in the world of Track and Field came to the Reggie Lewis Center yesterday (yes it's a recording) to compete in our city. Pretty cool stuff. I know I'll be watching some of it.

Happy Super Sunday! Don't forget your homework, kids!
  

Super Bowl Gameday Preview

It's finally Super Bowl Sunday, and most fans will be spending the day preparing their living arrangements for company or cheffing up some delicious plates of munchies or dip or whatever else might look good. Even some of them will be watching the Jersey Shore marathon from noon until gametime. But all distractions aside, what will we look for in the big game tonight?

We already know that I have a bias for Green Bay in this game, but I'll look at things in as partial a way as possible. When it boils down to the product left on the field, who wins the key points and matchups and gives themselves the necessary advantage to win the ultimate prize?

Line of Scrimmage: The line of scrimmage will be a critical matchup in this game, and Pittsburgh is the more vulnerable team. Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey will miss the big game, leaving Doug Legursky to fill his slot. Legursky is a capable backup, but it's not every day you stare across the line at B.J. Raji. The Packers' big guy could cause some serious problems for the Steel Curtain, but if Legursky is able to hold his own, he'll flip the advantage back to his squad. In a game where everyone is raving about the two quarterbacks and the two defensive secondaries, the line of scrimmage will be where the battle is won or lost. For now, I can't put my trust in Legursky over the former BC Eagles star Raji. Advantage: Green Bay.

Ground n' Pound: The running game is directly related to the battle of the line of scrimmage, but here's the thing -- you need the running back to go along with the offensive line. James Starks has been exceptional in the postseason, but will the pressure of the biggest stage get to him? Tough to say, but Rashard Mendenhall has proven himself. He's been among the top backs in the NFL in the past couple seasons, and I expect he'll be ready to go tonight. The running game will be a huge determining factor in the outcome from the offensive side of the ball, and the Steelers have the raw goods in that department. Advantage: Pittsburgh.

Air it Out: It's what everyone is discussing in this game -- the passers. Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger are two of the NFL's premiere QBs, but it's not even too close when it comes to my opinion. I think Aaron Rodgers is one of the most underrated players in the game, even despite the fact that most people think he's among the elite. He's better than that. Rodgers deserves to be in the conversation with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning; the only thing separating him from that class is the jewelry on his fingers. A win tonight from Aaron Rodgers gets him to the next level. Regardless, I can see the skill set. Rodgers throws a pass resembling that of Tom Brady and he eludes the pocket with the efficiency of Michael Vick. He's gotten there with a usually brutal offensive line that allows so many sacks that the QB's health is often put in question. And he still carries this team where they need to be. If I was starting an NFL team right now, I would most definitely consider picking Aaron Rodgers over every other field general in the NFL. That's saying something. I'm giving the passing game to the Pack. Advantage: Green Bay.

Turn the Tables: Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. They can make or break a football game, and the team that wins the turnover battle is oftentimes the team who wins the game. I'll take the Packers once again, who have been fundamentally sound all year long. Pittsburgh nearly coughed their season away with turnovers in the first half of their game against Baltimore -- we've seen that they can be susceptible to those mistakes. Pittsburgh may have some playmakers on defense to force them, but the Packers have guys who are playing just as well (if not better) in their side. Advantage: Green Bay.

X-Factors: All of these categories can be thrown out the window if the gamechangers can make their gamebreaking plays. Those are the matchups you have to watch out for. Let's start with the Pack. Clay Matthews can be the difference if he elevates to the level he's capable of. He can nullify Pittsburgh's advantage in the running game and deny Roethlisberger the time to elude the pocket as he does so well. Conversely, Mike Wallace can stretch the defense and completely change the dynamic of the game for Pittsburgh. One deep pass to Wallace can lead to several underneath passes to Hines Ward and dump-offs to Rashard Mendenhall. The two QBs are obviously huge gamebreakers as well, and the Steelers have Troy Polamalu in the secondary to make things happen. When it comes to the wild cards who can steal the game away despite the other factors, the guys who have been here before get the edge. Advantage: Pittsburgh.

The Result: Football is an incredible sport, and an outcome can't be quantified by who wins which categories. Still, I'm feeling the mojo for the Packers' run to the title. I think they have what it takes. These two teams are so strikingly similar, it's bound to be an exciting game. Pittsburgh may run the ball a little better and Green Bay may pass it a bit more effectively, but the composition of the two squads are very much alike. I can't wait for 6:30 to get here, and I'm predicting (and hoping, of course) that Green Bay brings home it's first championship since January of '97. The Pick: Packers 27, Steelers 20.