Digital Sports Daily

Leinart given permission to seek trade
Thursday, September 02 2010 21:34    | Written by Steve Evely    PDF Print E-mail

The Arizona Cardinals will Matt Leinart find a new home. They have told the former USC quarterback that he has permission to seek a trade.

This news comes after a frenzy of reports and denial of teams interested in Leinart. Tom Condon, Leinart’s agent, refused to talk to the media about the situation and Leinart’s future with the Cardinals.

As reported earlier, Arizona has given Derek Anderson the starting job, at least during the preseason. With this report coming out, we can assume that Anderson might be starting under the helm Week One for the Cardinals.

Leinart hasn’t played poorly during the preseason so this decision must be due to off-the-field problems. Many could assume that Leinart’s best option is to stay with the Cardinals and fight for his starting back if he does lose it. Every other team will be set at quarterback leaving Leinart with the task of having to learn a new playbook if he is traded and most likely being a backup on any roster.

Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 23:11 )
 
NCAA suspends Alabama's Dareus
Thursday, September 02 2010 19:19    | Written by Travis Duncan    PDF Print E-mail

Photo via NewscomPhoto via Newscom

The University of Alabama announced Thursday evening that starting defensive end Marcell Dareus will be ineligible to play for two games because of receiving improper benefits from an agent. Dareus will miss the Tide's opening game this weekend against San Jose State as well as a week from Saturday in a key matchup against Penn State.

Dareus is projected as a high first round pick in the 2011 NFL draft. 

All things considered Dareus and Alabama can consider themselves lucky. While Penn State is no slouch they can win without him. We don't know exactly what Dareus received and if the punishment fits the crime, but this really shouldn't hurt either Alabama or Dareus in any way other than the fact he'll be rusty Week 3 at Duke.

 

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 19:38 )
 
Rob Dibble defends Nyjer Morgan
Thursday, September 02 2010 12:08    | Written by Travis Duncan    PDF Print E-mail

 

A lot of the blame for Wednesday night's Nationals-Marlins brawl has been pinned on Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan. Morgan has had difficulty controlling his anger at times and is currently appealing a seven-game suspension for throwing a ball in the stands at Phillies fans who were heckling him.

Morgan ran over Marlins catcher Brett Hayes at the plate Tuesday night (perhaps unnecessarily) and the play resulted in a season ending shoulder injury for Hayes.

Wednesday night Chris Volstad hit Morgan with a pitch in the 4th inning in retaliation. Morgan then stole two bases with the Marlins up big, breaking one of baseball's unwritten rules. Volstad threw behind Morgan in the 6th inning and the brawl ensued.

D.C. area commentator Rob Dibble, a former big league pitcher who was recently fired as the Nationals TV analyst, likely for his comments that he though Stephen Strasburg was 'soft' ,chimed in on Wednesday's brawl.  Dibble said Thursday that because Volstad threw at Morgan twice, Morgan had a right to defend himself.

"The first pitch in the back with a 92 mile-an-hour fastball should be like listen, quit playing out of control, get yourself under control and let's play some baseball," Dibble said on XM radio, via the Washington Post. "But the second one, you have to defend yourself. And I've had guys charge at me, and I've said this after the fight, I would say 'Listen, if you felt that I was throwing at you and it was intentional, you have every right to defend yourself.'

Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 12:36 )
 
Opening Night College Football Preview and Picks
Thursday, September 02 2010 10:44    | Written by Travis Duncan    PDF Print E-mail

There are 78 games for your enjoyment to open the first week of the 2010 College Football season. Thursday will feature 18 games, Friday two games, Saturday 54 games, Sunday two games, and Monday will feature the final two games of the week.

Each of the AP Top 25 teams play this week, including six teams which will play another ranked opponent: Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET No. 24 Oregon State vs. No. 6 TCU ESPN, Saturday No. 21 LSU vs No. 16 North Carolina 8 p.m. ET  (Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia) ABC, and Monday night No. 3 Boise State at No. 10 Virginia Tech. (FedEx Field Landover Maryland) ESPN.

Thursday will open the 2010 College Football season with 18 games, highlighted by the Utah Utes versus the No. 15 Pittsburgh Panthers on VERSUS.  We'll have Preview and Picks posted at Digital Sports Daily each day until Monday.

THURSDAY SEPT. 2

Presbyterian at Wake Forest ESPN3.com 6:30 p.m. ET 

The Demon Deacons will get a cupcake of an opener, coming off their 5-7 season. Presbyterian of the Big South Conference didn't win a game last season. Look for Wake Forest to win easy.

Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Ball State Cardinals 7 p.m. ET 

Ball State is coming off a disappointing 2-10 season. The Redhawks didn't do much better in the Ohio Valley conference finishing at 2-9. We're picking Ball State to win.

Rhode Island at Buffalo 7 p.m. ET 

How will Buffalo do without the guidance of Turner Gill?  The Bulls hired Brian Kelly's offensive coordinators at Cincinnati, Jeff Quinn. He was an assistant for Kelly for 22 years, so we know who one Notre Dame coach will be rooting for Thursday night.  The Bulls are coming off a disappointing five win season, while the Rhode Island Rams won just a single game last season in the Division-11 Colonial Athletic Association. Buffalo by a field goal

Hampton at Central Michigan 7 p.m. ET 

The season opener marks the debut of Dan Enos as the Chippewas' head coach. Meanwhile, the Chippewas will be Hampton's first ever FBS opponent. Central Michigan in a landslide.

Murray State at Kent State 7:00 p.m. ET

The 2010 opener at Kent State marks the sixth time in the last 10 seasons the Racers have opened the season on the road against an FBS opponent.  Chris Hatcher formerly of Georgia Southern will be making his debut as coach for Murray State. Kent State is 5-0 against FCS/Division I-AA teams under coach Doug Martin and that shouldn't change. Kent State by 10 points. 

Marshall at No. 2 Ohio State 7:30 p.m. ET Big Ten Network

This game will be more about quarterback Terrelle Pryor making his first Heisman audition for the 2010 season more than anything else. Ohio State by 20

Florida A&M at No. 13 Miami (Fl) 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN3.com

If Miami does have National Title aspirations, it might be helpful to run up the score while several voters in the Coaches Poll are tuned in. Quarterback Jacory Harris has been nursing a thumbinjury so we'll see if he has fully recovered from that or if it affects his game. Miami wins big 

Towson at Indiana 7:30 p.m. ET Big Ten Network

Indiana will be playing without leading wide receiver Tandon Doss due to a groin injury, it will be interesting to see how Ben Chappell navigates the Hoosier offense without one of his best weapons, none the less Indiana should win by two touchdowns.

Norfolk State at Rutgers 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN3.com

The Scarlet Knights lost an awful lot on both sides of the ball, and face an uphill challenge with in the Big East but look for them to handle NSU easy.

Minnesota at Middle Tennessee 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN U

The Gophers lost nine starters on defense, and this game could be competitive in spots. The Gophers are trying to establish the run game, and they should be able to do that Thursday night. MTSU will be without their starting quarterback Dwight Dasher who is suspended for this game, either way look for Minnesota to prevail.

Southern Miss at South Carolina 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN

The Ole Ball Coach pledged that this was the year he finally got the Gamecocks on track, that was before the NCAA visited Columbia.  

While the NCAA visits may turn out to be no more than a headache he did have to suspended tight end Weslye Saunders for lying to coaches and in general the chaos surrounding the program can't be considered a positive-none the less the Gamecocks should win by two touchdowns. 

Florida Atlantic at UAB 8:00 p.m. ET 

The last time these two teams met, which was just last season, UBA won easily 56-29 and we look for the same result in in 2010.

Northern Illinois at Iowa Sate 8:00 p.m. ET 

The fact that the BCS AQ team Iowa State is favored by just four points makes us think that Northern Illinois really is just the better team here. We're picking the Huskies to upset.

Southeastern Louisiana at Tulane 8:00 p.m. ET

Before writing this preview we didn't even know Southeastern Louisiana exited, so we're going to pick Tulane in this cupcake game. 

No. 15 Pitt at Utah 8:30 p.m. ET VERSUS

The voters like Pitt, the odds makers like Utah, both teams look great on paper, but the Utes do have that 17-game home winning streak. The pressure has always been on Pitt but Utah headed to the Pac-10 next year has a lot to prove that they can compete in an AQ BCS conference. Pitt by a field goal. 

North Dakota at Idaho 9:00 p.m. ET

The Vandals aren't the top team in their own state, but that doesn't mean they won't beat North Dakota. They will by two touchdowns. 

Eastern Washington at Nevada 9:05 p.m. ET

Nevada, like Utah will have a lot to prove this season as they make the step up to the Mountain West conference. Eastern Washington isn't exactly a cupcake and has some weapons on offense but Nevada will win by 10 points. 

No. 14 USC at Hawaii 11:00 p.m. ET  

Aw what a perfect time for Lane Kiffin to make his debut, 11:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. All eyes will be on sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley just as much as they will be on Kiffin. USC will beat Hawaii but the question is by how much? Hawaii could keep it close. And is Barkley good enough to lead USC to a Pac-10 title?

 
Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 17:19 )
 
Rivers adds Kansas to his list
Thursday, September 02 2010 09:31    | Written by Travis Duncan    PDF Print E-mail

Austin Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, has added the Kansas Jayhawks to the list of schools he will visit this fall.

Rivers is the No. 1 prospect for the 2011 class according to Rivals.com

Adam Zagoria of Zagsblogs writes that Rivers hasn't setup an official date with KU yet, but he will make a trip to Lawrence.

Rivers is set to visit North Carolina on Oct. 1 and Duke on Oct 15. According to Zagoria, the University of Florida, is a 'maybe' at this point.

The 6-foot-3 guard from Winter Park, Florida decommitted from the Gators this past April.

He has a tremendous first step and a great jump shot. 

If you were to take an internet poll, most believe Rivers will end up at Duke.

Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 09:47 )
 
No Ryno for the Cubs?
Thursday, September 02 2010 08:16    | Written by Travis Duncan    PDF Print E-mail

When Lou Piniella announced that he was retiring as the Chicago Cubs manager, the name that appeared to be a likely replacement was Ryne Sandberg, former second baseman and Cub great. Not only is Sandberg anxious to be a big league manager, he has paid his dues and currently is the manager of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

Former Chicago Cubs second baseman and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg waves to the fans during pregame festivities prior to the Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)Former Chicago Cubs second baseman and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg waves to the fans during pregame festivities prior to the Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

He has personally instructed some of the Cubs best young talent, such as Tyler Colvin, and most importantly, some argue, he would bring back that 1980's Wrigley Aura.

Not so fast says Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts.

Ricketts tells the Chicago Sun-Times, "But it's about winning, not about marketing. 'I don't think we need a marquee name to sell tickets. What we need is a team that produces on the field. That's really what's most important to us.''

That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for Ryno. But that also doesn't rule out Sandberg. Sandberg could very well, be a marquee name, sell tickets and produce on the field. 

Last Updated ( Thursday, September 02 2010 09:18 )