www.baseballessential.com

Wow, I mean what can you say? Jenrry Mejia tested positive for Stanozol and Boldenone. Again.

Mejia served an 80 game suspension for using Stanozol earlier this year. In fact, Mejia tested positive shortly after injuring his elbow in a warm up session prior to the season opener, so he has only played a little this year.

Mejia struggled while coming up through the Mets’ minor league affiliates but won the fifth starter role at the start of the 2014 season. After struggling in the starter role and following the departure of Kyle Farnsworth, Mejia found some success as a closer. However, 2015 has shown Mejia’s true colors as he has been caught cheating for a second time. One wood think he understood.

Mejia’s apparent understanding is severely lacking as indicated by his positive steroid test. The Mets released this statement – “We were extremely disappointed when informed of Jenrry’s second suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the team said. “We fully support MLB’s policy toward eliminating performance enhancing substances from the sport.”

Whether Mejia felt the steroids were needed to get back on the mound faster or improve his average performance is irrelevant; using steroids is cheating and bad for baseball.

Is the steroid era really a thing of the past? Certainly, the culture of steroids in baseball has changed. If you believe Jose Canseco, the ‘needles everywhere’ image is a thing of the past. MLB has certainly kicked the discipline into high gear, and is sending a clear message – ‘you use, your gone’.

The Mets’ had found a hot streak following the 80 game suspension in April. The addition of Tyler Clippard could assist them in flaring up again. The former Oakland A’s closer has 37 appearances so far this season. Clippard has recorded a 2.79 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while striking out 38 batters and walking 21.

One has to wonder if the Mets knew that the Mejia test was positive. If so, Clippard isn’t just a good pick up but also a defensive move against the loss of Mejia well into next year.

Given the acrimony in the statements the Mets have released, Mejia’s return to the struggling team may be doubtful.

The post Jenrry Mejia Suspended for 162 Games appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images

Osi Umenyiora, the 6-foot-3, 255 pound outside linebacker might very well soon retire a New York Giant. The dominant pass rusher was a major contributor to two Superbowl victories with the Giants in XLII and XLVI. Drafted by the team in 2003, Umenyiora retiring with the team that drafted him is a fitting end to a storied career.

Umenyiora got to the NFL in an improbable way. Born in London, England, the Nigerian immigrant would live in his homeland before his parents moved to Georgia. The 33-year-old played for Troy University before being drafted 56th overall in the second round.

In 2005, Umenyiora recorded 14.5 sacks and 70 tackles; a performance that earned him a trip to Hawaii in the Pro-Bowl and a $41 million dollar contract.

Umenyiora, teammate Justin Tuck, and the rest of the G-unit combined for a league leading 53 sacks in a year that culminated with a victory over the heavily favored New England Patriots. Osi was, in part, responsible for preventing Tom Brady from ever getting comfortable in that game.

Umenyiora tweeted about his school in Nigeria recently, showing his fans a picture of himself as a young boy. This is the embodiment of the American Dream; if you work hard, stay dedicated to your passion, and believe in yourself, you can become something great.

2nd row, all the way to the right. Nigerian primary school days!!!! pic.twitter.com/dX71jdqsga

— Osi Umenyiora (@OsiUmenyiora) June 6, 2015

Umenyiora signed a two-year, $8.5 million dollar deal with the Atlanta Falcons before the 2013-2014 season. During a preseason game he tore his lateral meniscus which ended his season and required extensive surgery. The injury, apparently, seems to have taken enough of a toll on Umenyiora to be career-ending.

The Falcons and Giants are currently in talks to work out the largely ceremonial deal to enshrine Osi Umenyiora where he belongs: as a critical member of a defensive unit responsible for two of the greatest Superbowl victories the NFL has seen.

The post Osi Umenyiora in talks for one-day contract to retire With New York Giants appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Bob Donnan – USA Today

Following a trend to keep the team untouched, the Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed Matthew Dellavedova to a one-year, $1.2 million dollar deal. The backup to Kyrie Irving saw plenty of action in the Eastern Conference and NBA finals, as the unheralded Australian proved to be a reliable defender and point guard.

The Cavaliers certainly had the story of a legendary championship behind them. Had they gone on to beat Golden State, Dellavedova would been an integral part of it. Stephan Curry was knocked off his usual three-point perch by Dellavedova in game two at Golden State, helping LeBron James and company win an unexpected away game. Dellavedova became a fan favorite for his gritty defense on the league MVP.

Dellavedova averaged 4.8 points and three assists in just 20.8 minutes per game in 2015, shooting 40.7 percent three. It is reported that he wanted the contract done in time for him to play for Australia in the FIBA Oceania Championship next month. The 25-year-old has a lot upside with his ball handling and defensive skills.

Dellavedova will have to compete for his backup role with Mo Williams, who was also signed this offseason. He will likely win the backup job, pushing Williams to fight for time at shooting guard. No one can fault the Cavs looking for depth as a lack of fresh legs in a depleted bench were a major factor in the NBA Finals loss to Golden State.

The Cavaliers can be credited with not fixing what clearly isn’t broken. LeBron James, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, and James Jones have all resigned. The up-and-coming big man, Tristan Thompson, and the veteran J.R. Smith are in talks with the franchise to re-up as well. With all of those pieces in place, the hope for fans in the city with one of the longest droughts of a professional team championship, have another shot at an NBA Championship.

If the LeBron and company can follow the path set in Miami, Cleveland fans have a right to be hopeful. Having had a year to gel as a unit, the expectations are clearly to bring it home in 2016.

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Re-sign Matthew Dellavedova to One-Year Deal appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: David Zalubowski – Associated Press

To quote the great Sir Charles, Joe Dumars made a ‘knuckle-head’ decision inking Smith to a ridiculous contract in a terrible scheme in which Monroe, Drummond and Smith would play as a unit without a veteran signal caller at the point. They passed on giving Chauncey Billups a chance to retire a Piston that year; who knows, he might have helped reign Smith in and let the trio work together.

Regardless, Smith was released. I don’t understand the intricacies of NBA contracts but the end result of the cut means that next year Smith will get a tad less then $5 million dollars from the Pistons. With a chunk from the Clippers and a bit from the NBA, you get this $6.5 million dollar figure that Josh Smith will make.

Everyone is writing about his recent quote were Mr. Smith says this – “But at the end of the day, you know, I do have a family. So, it is going to be a little harder on me this year.”

“Really Josh Smith? ARE YOU FOR REAL?” That is what the media is saying to him right now. All caps, bold print, saying- “Josh Smith is a greedy, bad-hair copy of Latrell Spreewell.” Well he is not.

I am from Detroit and I don’t like Josh Smith. However, he did ink a long-term deal here and he did move his family here. He specifically mentions his family in the quote everyone is freaking out about. Josh Smith thought he was going to play with the Pistons until 2020. I really don’t think he is talking about the money.

That short-sighted, mismanaged and just plain bad decision to bring Smith to Detroit through 2020 is affording him the luxury to go for a title with the Clippers on a veteran’s minimum salary. Smith reportedly was offered a chance to resign with the Rockets for $2.5 million for the 2016 season and the Kings were rumored to be talking a long-term deal. What he was trying to say is: not being in Detroit, not-accepting a long-term deal, not staying with the Rockets and being in LA for one year will be harder… on his family.

Josh Smith might ride the coattails of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to a title, but he will not see close to his usual minutes. Also, Paul will shut down those silly long two’s he is so fond of. As Smith is not a lock-down defender and the Clippers were as close as you can get to the finals without him, he will likely be relegated to a very limited role.

It will be harder on his family, but D-Town’s cash will soften the blow. Smith’s comments might not have been well thought out as to how it would play in the media though. He is already seen as a whiner and a poor team mate, why not add insensitivity to the plight of the common man?

The real travesty in all of this is Josh Smith is being paid $5 million dollars to NOT be a Piston. So if the Clippers win it all next year I want an asterisk to denote Detroit’s contribution. You’re welcome LA.

The post Op-Ed: A Pistons Fan Take on Josh Smith’s Life Becoming ‘Harder’ in LA appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

cowboysblog.dallasnews.com

A ‘Football Move'; two words that have driven Dallas and Detroit crazy. Dallas lost to the Green Bay packers in part due to Dez Bryant’s infamous incomplete pass. Picture it for a moment, remember the emotion of the game.

It’s fourth and two, down by five. The NFC divisional game is on the line. Dez Bryant has been blanketed in double coverage for the entire game. Romo sees single coverage and sends Bryant on a sprint down the sideline. Romo gets the time to air it out… Bryant makes the catch! Touchdown! Wait, did he make the catch? What just happened?

Bryant seems to have maintained control but then the ball comes loose… Did he purposefully stretch to the goal line, or was it an accident? Regardless, Mike McCarthy, Head Coach for the Packers, wasted no time to throw the red flag. Green Bay goes on to win.

So did the ‘football move’ statement in the wording of the rule have an effect on the outcome of an entire game? To avoid future confusion and controversy, the NFL has removed the ‘football move’ component. The rule now states:

“A player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a runner. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball until after his initial contact with the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.”

So under these new rules was Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys robbed of a victory? No, because his movements after the catch ended in the ball touching ground. So does this help clarify anything? Application is always in contrast with intent… or in simpler terms: we will have to wait to wait and see.

The problem extends further then Dallas. As an avid Lions fan, I remember vividly the loss to the Bears due to Calvin Johnson not ‘finishing the process’ of the catch. With clear control Calvin touches the ground, with ball in hand, in an effort to regain balance and stand up. This prompted a debate about what completing the process of the catch meant that resulted in the ‘football move’ wording.

For better or worse, the Calvin Johnson Rule and Dez Bryant Rule inextricably links the games two most dominant receivers. One might think this is just another way Bryant is chasing Megatron for the media’s crown of best receiver; he couldn’t let Johnson have a rule named after him without his own.

Actually, Bryant was very positive following the playoff loss. He stated, “You can’t hang your head after a game. You can’t even get mad. You just have to accept it. We’re going to keep fighting and move on.” Right on Dez, but both of those were still catches.

The post NFL Makes “Football Move” Rule Change appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

Photo Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Tomlin has an impressive eight-year run that seems to justify the contract extension. Since 2008, he has had two Super Bowl appearances – XLIII (won against the Cardinals) and XLV (lost against the Packers) – four AFC titles, five playoff appearances and a 82-46 regular season record.

However, there is an argument to be made that Tomlin’s success is due in large part to Bill Cowher’s legacy. Tomlin’s greatest success, winning Super Bowl XLIII, was full of Bill Cohwer decisions: Dick LeBeau’s (a Cowher hire) crazy defensive scheme, James Harrison’s (a Cowher draft/resign after a short stint away) Super Bowl record 100 yard interception return, several amazing passes from one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, Ben Roethlisberger (a Cowher draft selection), and a legendary catch from Santonio Holmes (you guessed it, a Bill Cowher Draft selection).

This is not to say that Mike Tomlin isn’t a good coach; he is. Although most of his success did occur in the first half of his eight years with the Steelers when Cowher’s chess pieces were still in the game. However, Tomlin does not deserve all the blame; Big Ben has suffered multiple injuries in an offensive system that requires a quarterback of his talent to thrive in.

All this being said, Mike Tomlin had never been faulted for mishandling games, poor draft selection or being sub-par in any other way (save for one ill-fated tripping incident).

The question that does arise is, why wasn’t the extension longer? Despite the 11-5 record last year, Tomlin is not sitting on some permanent gig; the Rooney family expects more then losing in an AFC Wild Card game to a divisional rival. With Big Ben getting older and the once ferocious defensive onslaught being more of gentle roar in the last few years, Mike Tomlin does have something to prove; can he win it all without Bill Cowher’s help?

The post Mike Tomlin Signs Contract Extension, To be Amongst Top Five Highest Paid Coaches appeared first on Insider Sports Network.