Calvin Johnson to Retire

Here is our own Patrick Higgins discussing the surprising news about Calvin Johnson. 

Article by Patrick Higgins

Hello everyone, there was some surprising NFL news out of Detroit this week. One of the best wide receivers in the NFL according to sources, Calvin Johnson told head coach Jim Caldwell that he will retire from the NFL. Caldwell told Johnson not to rush his decision and to take his time, and out of respect to Caldwell, Johnson agreed to do just that, according to sources. The Lions though have not given up hope that Johnson will change his mind, but one person who knows Johnson well said, "He's pretty content with his decision."

Johnson's body has been so sore and his conviction so strong that he shared his decision to retire after the 2015 season with only two teammates, quarterback Matthew Stafford and Stephen Tulloch. Johnson requested that they keep it confidential, according to sources.

Johnson was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, and Johnson had his best year in 2012, when he set the NFL single-season record with 1,964 receiving yards. He is the Lions' all-time franchise leader in receptions with 731, and receiving yards with 11,619. Johnson played in all 16 games this past season and had 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. It was his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season and the seventh of his career.

If this is the end, Johnson will go down as one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. Just look at the NUBMERS that he was able to put up, especially when he set the record for most receiving yards in one season. I am very sad to hear this news, because I love watching this man play. Though I have heard some rumors that he is doing this to get out of his contract with the lions. let his body rest, then will come back to another team. Do you BLAME him, he has dealt with many injuries, and the team hasn’t produced even with the best receiver in the game. The Lions have made the playoffs twice during Johnson's nine-year career but have posted losing records in the other seven seasons, including their 7-9 record in 2015. Can you imagine what he can do for a team that has a good overall offense. I would love to see him not retire or if he does come back. Though we may have seen the final game of a future Hall-of-Famer, and one of the best receivers ever to play the game.

Battle in Santa Clara

Chris Saunders gives his insight into this Sundays Super Bowl. 

Article by Chris Saunders

Back in September, thirty two team entered the 2015 season of making it to the Super Bowl, with only half having a realistic shot of making it to the promise land.  On Sunday, the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers will square off in the 50th incarnation of the biggest event in sports.

It's a game with the makings of a classic matchup; the high-octane offense of Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers against the NFL- best defense Denver Broncos. It’s funny to think that the old guard of Peyton Manning under center pitted against the new “New era” of the NFL Cam Newton. Let’s look at both teams!

First, the outset of the 2015 season, the Denver Broncos were considered one of the favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50.The Broncos held up their end of the deal. Two years ago, the Broncos rode a record-setting offense to an AFC title and a berth in Super Bowl XLVIII. Their reward; a 43-8 beatdown at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.This season, that offensive juggernaut was nowhere to be found. In fact, quarterback Peyton Manning had the worst year of his Hall of Fame career. Due in large part to an injured foot that cost him six games, Manning set a career low in passing yardage,  touchdown passes, passer rating. Wouldn’t you know it the Broncos are back in the Super Bowl!

 This time, however; they have the defense to thank. Notable players on the defensive front are lead by outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware and the NFL's deepest and most talented secondary, the Broncos led the league in total defense (283.1 yards per game) and passing defense (199.6 yards per game). They were third in the league in run defense (83.6 yards per game) and fourth in scoring defense (18.5 points per game). No team in the NFL had more sacks in 2015 than the Broncos' 52. If the Broncos are going to win Super Bowl 50, that defense is going to have to play every bit as well as it did in the AFC Championship Game win over the New England Patriots.

Lastly, the Carolina Panthers entered this season as an afterthought. Carolina was the reigning two-time NFC South champions, but last year the Panthers were 7-8-1 division champs.  Carolina has spent most of 2015 taking the NFL's teams by storm! 

This team, lead by Head coach Ron Rivera; has a chance to become only the third Super Bowl champion to finish a season 18-1. No team in the National Football League scored more points than the Panthers' 31.2 points per game this season. The defense was sixth in points allowed. Carolina's plus-192 point differential on the season was best in the NFL.

Prediction?

The Carolina front seven should be able to get a push against a Denver offensive line that has struggled this season going through multiple formation changes. If Short and ends Charles Johnson and Jared Allen(foot injury) get after Manning the way they did Carson Palmer one could imagine Manning having the same fate as Palmer.

Broncos may well have the best defense in the NFL this year; but Newton has been making defenses look silly all season long. He's a matchup nightmare especially play too soft defensively, and Newton, Jonathan Stewart and the league's second-ranked ground game will chew up yardage in chunks.  If you Crowd the line, Newton will beat you with his supreme accurate/strong arm over the top with wideouts Corey Brown and Ted Ginn.  The two plays Carolina runs as well are simple but tricky to beat because of their elite speed combinations. Zone reads and Jet sweep will most certainly give miller/ware enough fits. Not to mention we have gone this whole article with without even mentioning Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen. That speaks to Carolina’s weaponry.

Final Score- Carolina 24-Denver 17

Comment-  Twitter- @C_Broadcaster, Facebook- Chris Saunders, Email Chrisweather16@yahoo.com

Youth brings rebirth to Yankees?

Here is our own Chris Saunders talking about how the Yankees youth is improving this team and may be building the team to a possible championship contender. 

Article by Chris Saunders

To many Yankees fans have “World Series or bust”  mentality and Yankees GM Brian Cashman knows all about that. Going into the offseason Cashman had his shopping list consisting of a second baseman, Reliever, Outfielder, and possibly another starting pitcher.  

Cashman not only orchestrated two trades one day apart from each other; but he also acquired his outfielder as well. First he traded from a surplus of catching depth a la JR Murphy and swapped him for Aaron Hicks from the twins. Twins didn’t have a need for hicks as they themselves had an excess of Outfielders(Top prospects Bryan Buxton, Eddie Rosario, Oswaldo Arcia, and Miguel Sano).    

Next Cashman traded Right Handed reliever Adam Warren to the Cubs for Shortstop/second baseman Starlin Castro on Dec eighth. Not even twenty four hours later Cashman flipped left handed reliever Justin Wilson to Detroit in exchange for minor-league prospects Luis Cessa and Chad Green. For people to label Warren as a “Throw in,” let’s pump the brakes for a second. The Yankees’ pitching staff was like a circus act spiraling out of control with inconsistency and decimated with a ton of injuries, Warren gave the team everything it could have asked for. When Joe Girardi called on him to fill in and be a starter, Warren performed exceptionally well to the tune of a 3.66 ERA, which ranked second amongst all New York starters. And when you consider all the adjustments that came from being stretched out as a starter and returning to the bullpen, a cycle that continued over the course of the year, Warren had a solid season overall (7-7 with a 3.29 ERA).Believe it or not, Warren was one of the most valuable Yankees last year and Girardi expressed that a bevy of times during the season.

But the Yankees had their sight sets on two things: getting younger and more athletic. After watching the young and athletic Kansas City Royals win back-to-back pennants and close the deal this year, there’s no question changes had to be made!

Altogether you might say what’s the good news with all these trades? IT MAKES THE YANKEES MORE ATHLETIC AND YOUNGER!

In the first place Castro is only 25 years old and in his young career has shown some promise.  Bad news; he’s been inconsistent ever since his rookie campaign where he hit .300 and only struck out 71 times. Since then, however, the batting average has fluctuated and the strikeouts have increased from year to year. The Yankees are certainly hoping he becomes more consistent while playing a solid second base, a relatively new position for him after coming up as a shortstop. If this comes to fruition, the Yankees can solidify their up the middle-infield tandem for years to come with Didi and castro. One thing I noticed as the season progressed is that Didi looked a lot more comfortable, maybe taking the pressure off himself and stopped trying to live up to the “post” Derek Jeter era.

Secondly the acquisition of Aaron Hicks/two pitching prospects from Detroit help give the Yankees much needed depth at two positions they have lacked over recent years. For the most part Hicks is insurance if Beltran/Jacoby Ellsbury/ Bret Gardner all known for their rash of injuries cannot play a certain amount of games. Beltran in particular is more of a DH type player now, which brings hicks into play. Reasoning why; he’s only twenty six years old and his young legs/plus bat speed can make up for an injury to one of the big three.

By and large the Yankees needed starting pitching depth, and with the trade of Wilson while he was a major piece in their bullpen, acquiring those two pitching prospects helps fill the Triple A rotation as well as having Aroldis Champan on the team helps soften the blow a bit.      

In conclusion, when it was time for overhaul, the front office would target the big name free agents, but things have changed. The Yankees are looking to acquire young talent for cheap and develop the farm system. The key to getting better is to just meticulously address the areas of need. Going into next season, second base won’t be a question mark. The hope is that Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and a few others have bounce back years. The Yankees aren’t satisfied with first-round exits and they’re looking to build a contender for 2016 – and beyond.

Hello sports fans!!!! We will have two new articles here on the sports blog tomorrow morning!!!!! Stay tuned for some great articles from our sports department.