New Yahoo Post about Peyton Hillis and the Madden NFL Curse

Peyton Hillis Should Blame Himself, Not Madden Curse, For Dismal 2011

New Yahoo Post On Brock Lesnar's Retirement As It Relates To Shane Carwin

Brock Lesnar's Retirement Open The Door Wider for Shane Carwin

Tonight's UFC Heavyweight Fight: Lesnar vs Overeem

I don't watch a lot of UFC action. It's not because I don't like it. It's typically because I only have a few friends that enjoy it and none that I hang out with on a regular basis.  My favorite sports bar won't show it (expensive), and it's the kind of sport that I think is better when you are watching it with people you know and like.

Tonight I'm actually going to watch the fights with friends, and I'm eagerly anticipating the heavyweight match between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.  I am no fan of Lesnar, let's be clear on that. I thought that he got a very lucky break in his title fight with Shane Carwin a few years ago when he should have been called out on a TKO after Carwin pummelled his head a couple hundred times in one round.

I'm also not a fan of Lesnar's attitude and personality.  Ever since he attempted to use his ole WWE tactics in the ring in calling out sponsors and fellow fighters, I've greatly disliked the guy. In a sport where so many of the men seem to be respectful of their opponents and the fans, Lesnar doesn't fit.

Because I've stayed away from UFC in the past year or two for the most part, I don't know much about Overeem.  Obviously, I'll know a lot more after tonight.  I hope he beats the crap out of Lesnar.

Denver Broncos Fans Nervous In Anticipation of Kyle Orton's Return

Here's my new yahoo post on why fans in Denver are nervous about the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.  This article primarily deals with Kyle Orton and his relationship with the Denver fans.

Denver Broncos Fans Nervous In Anticipation of Kyle Orton's Return

Soccer Player Ruptures Testicle While Scoring Goal

File this under things you probably never wanted to read about.

Scott Dann, a defender for the Blackburn Rovers, suffered the injury during a match against West Bromwich Albion on December 17.  He apparently was injured when he scored a goal in the second half, but continued playing despite increasing pain.

Following the game, Dann was transported to the hospital after his injured testicle got grotesquely swollen.  Surgery was successful and Dann should be back in action in about six weeks.

Gives new meaning to the term "balls to the wall," doesn't it?

Yahoo Post: Sanchez or Tebow? Who Will Still Be Starting In 2012?

My latest post on Yahoo discusses the careers of first-round quarterback picks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.  Which quarterback will be starting after the other is finally benched?

Sanchez or Tebow? Which Quarterback Will Still Be Starting In 2012?

Drew Brees Should Thank His Lucky Stars That New Orleans Saints Believed In Him

Ever since Drew Brees has taken off as one of the most prolific passers ever in the NFL, conventional wisdom was that the Miami Dolphins made the worst decision ever in not picking him up as a free agent when they had the chance.

Considering all the quarterbacks that they've been through in the time that Brees has started every game in the past six seasons for the Saints, the Dolphins would have seemed to have made a crucial miscalculation in thinking that his shoulder would not fully recover from the near-catastrophic injury he suffered in 2005.  While diving for a loose ball, Brees suffered a serious shoulder dislocation that completely tore the entire ring of cartilage (the labrum) that surrounded his shoulder joint.  He also had a rotator cuff tear.

Most thought at the time that Brees would never be the quarterback he once was.  However, successful surgery with the famous Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham and a fierce rehab program healed the throwing arm of Drew Brees.

What it didn't do was turn in him the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback that he now is.

Is This Current Group of Quarterbacks The Greatest Ever In The NFL?

Brett Favre, Dan Marino, John Elway, Joe Montana, Warren Moon.

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning.

In 15 years, which group of quarterbacks will we look upon as the greatest ever?  Are we seeing, right now in the NFL, a group of the most superior quarterback to ever play the game?

Greatest NFL Passing Season Ever

I believe we are.  Certainly the prolific passing days of the 80's and 90's were great in themselves, but the NFL has taken passing to a new high in the past few years.  Quarterbacks are routinely throwing for 4,000-yard seasons.  In 2011 alone there is already one quarterback who has broken the 5,000-yard passing barrier (Brees).  Another one should join him on Sunday (Brady).  Six quarterbacks will have passed for over 4,500 yards by the end of the regular season (Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Eli Manning, Stafford, Rivers).  Certainly if Peyton Manning had played this season, he'd be right up there.

Is Tim Tebow Standing On House Of Cards In Denver?

My latest Yahoo post. Another article about Tim Tebow and his future in Denver after this season is over.


Tim Tebow Standing On House Of Cards In Denver

Denver Broncos Fans Over-Reacting To Tim Tebow

For Denver Broncos fans, this 2011-2012 NFL season has been a roller coaster.  They've experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and yet they still have a chance for their team to make the playoffs.

Low Expectations

Did anyone sane and intelligent truly believe that Tim Tebow would be capable enough at quarterback to lead the Broncos to where they are now after the way the season started at 1-5?

Certainly not me.  I wrote many an article about why Tebow would fail and yet he really hasn't.

Tebow's play against Buffalo was what many expected of him when he was named the starter back in October.  Critics were practically gleeful waiting to see him fall on his face.  Anticipation was huge.

Then a funny thing happened.  Tebow didn't fall on his face thanks to a revamped offensive scheme and a much improved defense.  He won several games in dramatic fashion and the Broncos season was revived.

Turn Into High Expectations

Then an even more remarkable thing happened.  Denver fans, some who were already in love with Tebow's intangibles, grew even more obsessed with the guy.

When he was ineffective throughout much of the first three quarters of games, they screamed and called him names.

When he turns it around at the end of the fourth quarter and leads the Broncos on a game-winning drive, they scream and call him some different names.

Fantasy/Christmas Update

Happy Holiday everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't been posting this past week.  With family in town, it's been difficult to a) keep up with all the sports news and b) have time to write about it.

I will get back to blogging on Wednesday.  In the meantime, you can always catch me on twitter, @sportingjules.

One update:

I made it to the Championship game of my fantasy football keeper league.  Unfortunately, I committed the biggest mistake a manager can make.  I played the matchup and not the best player.  I benched Victor Cruz (against the Jets and Darrel Revis) in favor of Vincent Jackson (against the very porous Detroit Lions with a playoff spot for the Chargers on the line).

Needless to say, when I lost by only 6 points (when starting Cruz would have resulted me in winning easily by 21) was a serious blow.  It was a valuable lesson for me, and you should always remember it.

You dance with the date that brought you.

Tim Tebow Has Earned Opportunity To Start in 2012

I would like to thank Tim Tebow for proving me wrong.  Seriously, thank you Tim Tebow.

I was one of those who felt that Tebow had no shot as a quarterback in the NFL and that the Broncos would never, ever give him that shot.

Then again, Tebow is one of those individuals who performs much better on game day than he does in practice.

Many quarterbacks have lost their jobs because they couldn't perform in the most stressful situations when the game was on the line.  Tebow is earning his job BECAUSE he performs in the most stressful of opportunities.

Every game he's showed improvement.  Poor spirals are mostly a thing of the past and his accuracy, while still criticized by certain people, is actually rapidly improving.  Tebow is making the tough throws now that he couldn't two months ago.  The rate of his progression is amazing.

I feel that Tebow's upside is tremendous from this point.  A full off-season of working on his passing skills could do amazing things.  The guy has earned this chance.

Too often, the player won't live up to his hype.  In Tebow's case, the hype was that he couldn't play in the NFL.  So, I guess he didn't live up to the hype, right?

Then again, who would have thought that these words by Tony Dungy would have been so prophetic back in 2009??

Tim Tebow Makes A Throw
Training Camp 2009

Ohio State Buckeye Fans Should Rejoice They Didn't Get Hit Harder By NCAA

Yesterday, the interminable investigation into the NCAA violations committed at Ohio State University finally came to an end (we think, it's been a while since new violations were uncovered).  OSU was slapped with the following penalties (I put in Bold what OSU wanted to penalize itself):

• Bowl ban in 2012
• Loss of nine scholarships (three scholarships each year for next three years)  (five scholarships)
• Three-year probation from 2012-2014 (two years probation)
• Vacated 2010 season, including bowl win and Big 10 Championship (vacate 2010 season)
• Forfeit the money received from the Big Ten for the Sugar Bowl appearance ($338,000) (return bowl money)
• Disassociate with Terrelle Pryor for five years, and with a particular booster for 10 years
• Jim Tressel has a five-year show cause order in place, which should prohibit him from being hired anywhere else in the next five years (how much does it matter, he took a position with Indianapolis Colts this season)

Four Quarterbacks Challenging Dan Marino's Single-Season Yardage Record

There is a nice graphic on NFL.com comparing the four quarterbacks who have a chance to break Dan Marino's 27-year-old record for single season passing yardage.

Obviously the most likely to break the record is Drew Brees.  Brees came super close last year, and I think that for a (barely) 6'0" quarterback to set records like this is amazing.  He's averaging 336 yards a game and only needs to average 239 to break the record. I think he's a lock.

I also think that Tom Brady has a shot at this.  He only needs to average 270 yards a game the rest of the season (currently averaging 320).  Brady should be able to do this.  The only caveat to that is if the Patriots emphasize the running game a bit more in the final few games.

As far as the other two guys, Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning, they need to average more yards per game the rest of the season than they currently throw.  Both guys could do it, and I'd love to see them do it, but I think it's significantly less likely.

Saturday Night Live's Skit With Tebow And Jesus

I haven't watched Saturday Night Live in quite a while, but last night's skit about Tim Tebow was pretty funny.

My favorite line was at 2:14.  I think it makes a couple good points, but of course that's bound to be controversial.  If you have a good sense of humor, you'd find this pretty funny.

How Would Tim Tebow Have Fared Under Josh McDaniels?

Former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is getting a lot of credit recently for the drafting of Tim Tebow last year in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.  At the time, it was a big shock (especially to Broncos fans), and McDaniels took a lot of heat for the pick.

Until a few weeks ago, the Tebow pick was seen in Denver as more of a burden than a blessing.  After John Elway was hired to run the Broncos front office earlier this year, most assumed that Tebow would be on his way out.  Had he had ANY trade value in pre-season, he may very well have been off-loaded.  As it was the Broncos couldn't even get rid of their designated starter, Kyle Orton.

What a difference a few months makes in the NFL.  Going 7-1 as the starter and completely turning around the franchise in a quarter of a season has turned Tebow into the talk of the town.  John Elway went from appearing not to support Elway to talking about how much he's looking forward to working with him over the off-season.

Is Fox the Difference Or Would Tebow Have Done Well With McDaniels?

Would Jerry Jones Ever Give Up Control of the Dallas Cowboys?

Would Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ever concede football control over his team again like when he did when Bill Parcells was the coach? If he were to let go of Jason Garrett, would he hire a guy who would demand complete player control decisions?  Could he ever stop being the GM?

Coaching Carousel

When Jones did it the first time, his team was in a lot of trouble.  Consensus opinion at the time was that it was heading in the wrong direction and didn't have a lot of talent on the roster.  Parcells brought in a lot of talent, both coaching and player.  However, his record was only 34-30, and his heavy-handed tactics didn't work with the players that he brought in.

James Harrison A Thug Or Just Playing The Game The Way It Should Be Played?

What is the difference between a defensive player who makes a big/solid hit and a player that is dirty?  That is the question I've been thinking about tonight after news that James Harrison has received a one game suspension (and, essentially, a roughly $75,000 fine for the game check he will miss) for the helmet-to-helmet hit that he laid on Colt McCoy last week.

A few years ago this subject is probably a lot more hotly debated than it is now.  I've had several arguments with friends and random strangers in sports bars about this very topic in the past.  The argument is usually player safety/dirty play versus "this is how the game is played."

This Bears Fan Reaction To Tim Tebow's Comeback Against the Bears

It took me 48 hours to begin to write this post.  I needed that much time to digest what had happened and stop making excuses.

You see, I live in Denver. I have watched this entire Tim Tebow phenomenon from back when he was drafted in 2010.  I like the guy, and I've rooted for the Broncos since he became the starter.

However, my loyalty to the Chicago Bears was so strong that, despite the fact that I actually believed the Broncos should win the game, I put myself 100% behind the Bears.  For one game only, I looked at Tebow from an outsider's perspective.

What I saw boggled my mind.  The Bears defense held Tebow and the Broncos offense in check for 55 minutes.  As a Bears fan, I felt like the game was in the bag. I just KNEW our defense would be able to hold the Broncos back from scoring 10 points in 5 minutes.  KNEW IT. I just wasn't going to believe anything else. MY TEAM was going to be the one to prove Tebow wasn't that good.  I wouldn't listen to anyone else who said Tebow still had a chance.

Ryan Braun Tested Positive For Highest Level Of Testosterone Ever Found In MLB

As more and more information is leaked about Ryan Braun's positive PED test, his case gets harder and harder to believe.

Today the information that was released and reported by ESPN was two-fold:

• Braun's positive test results were for exogenous testosterone (that means it came from outside his body)
• His test results were so high they might be the highest positive results that MLB has ever seen

This is the same type of positive PED test that cyclist Floyd Landis had after his incredible one-day mountain stage that propelled him to the Tour de France title in 2006.  Of course, we all know what happened next. His insanely high testosterone level led him to lose that title and be banned.  Adamantly denying everything for a few years simply dragged his name through the mud and lost him all the millions he had earned and won.  Eventually he admitted his guilt.

Tom Brady Gets Cussed Out By Quarterback Coach On Sideline

After Tom Brady threw an interception in the New England Patriots victory today against the Washington Redskins, his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien get into it on the sideline.

Note that this is the first year O'Brien is calling the plays for the Patriots.  He inherited the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach after Josh McDaniels left.

Pressure getting to him, perhaps?  Tom Brady is not someone I would want to tick off.

Then again, they did hug once the game was over. Heat of the moment, obviously.

Peyton Manning To Be Traded From Indianapolis Colts?

I just watched an NFL Network segment where they discussed the likelihood of Peyton Manning leaving the Indianapolis Colts at the end of the season.  The basis for this discussion was the very large roster bonus ($28 million) that Manning is due if he's still with the Colts next March and whether the Colts would want to invest that much money in a guy who, at best, only has 4-5 years left.

There are multiple problems with this that are becoming more evident as time goes by.  First of all, the Colts are terrible.  Winless.  They need help everywhere.  Being able to draft Andrew Luck at #1 and trade Manning for several additional picks is making more and more sense for this hapless team.

Secondly, do you really want to continue the Peyton Manning offense that's his signature style of play and force Luck to learn this as well?  If Peyton stays, the offense stays.

Will Bears GM Jerry Angelo Retire After This Season?

I just read that there are "persistent reports" that Chicago Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo may retire after this season is over.

Angelo has held that position since 2001.  He was the one who hired Lovie Smith, and the guy that orchestrated the trade for Jay Cutler.

However, I'm all in favor of the guy retiring.  The Bears have managed to win despite not having the kind of offensive talent that they have needed.  Trying to fit Devin Hester into a #1 receiver position is a prime example.  Not having offensive line talent is another.

The Bears are about to approach a critical juncture over the next few years.  The defense is aging and hasn't had new, far younger guys who have grown into stars.  They won't sign Matt Forte to a long-term contract.  I love Lovie Smith, but I felt he should have been fired a few years ago.

I just want a different approach.  

Rory McIlroy Dealing With Loss of US Open Trophy AND Dengue Fever

Earlier in the week, I blogged about Rory McIlroy was having difficulties with Chinese officials holding onto his US Open trophy.

Now news is spreading that McIlroy is suffering from Dengue Fever, and that is has been affecting his play over the last month.

McIlroy supposedly was infected with Dengue Fever while he was playing in golf tournaments in southeastern Asia in November.

What Is Dengue Fever?

Dengue Fever is a virus transmitted by certain types of mosquito.  There's no known effective prevention for it, and every year it's estimated over 50 million people are infected.  Found in the southern hemisphere in warm climates, it kills millions each year as well.

Yahoo post: Indiana Hoosiers Wake Up Echoes Of Past With Victory Over Kentucky Wildcats

I should be covering Indiana basketball more here, but if you read this post I put up over at yahoo, you'll know why I haven't before.

Indiana Hoosiers Wake Up Echoes Of Past With Victory Over Kentucky Wildcats

Yahoo post: Chicago Bears, Without Cutler and Forte, Face Off Against Tim Tebow and Denver Broncos

Here's my latest Yahoo NFL post.  I preview the game between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos and try to come up with a scenario on how the Bears could win.

Chicago Bears, Without Cutler and Forte, Face Off Against Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos

Does Ryan Braun Think We're All Stupid?

I'm going to say, first of all, that if by some miracle Ryan Braun is declared innocent of PED violations, I will write a post to apologize.

However, lay out the list for me of the athletes that have tested positive for illicit drugs that have been able to prove themselves innocent.

Go ahead.  I've got time.

ESPN's Finally Feeling Heat For Shoddy Reporting Policies

Twitter is now where news breaks on a regular basis.  It's the tool that those in the know are able to get out information that they can break to the masses.

In the sports world, because ESPN has been (not for long) the only 24 hour sports network, the Mothership was where all the news used to break.  If you wanted to know the latest rumors and breaking deals, you had to go to ESPN.  

Nowadays, thanks to Twitter, other sports reporters have an opportunity to break sports news and now ESPN is falling far behind the crowd in its reporting.  I've talked earlier about how the best investigative reporting has been done by Yahoo and Sports Illustrated in recent years.  ESPN seems to more of an entertainment network than an actual news network.  

Sidney Crosby Gets Some Time Off After Hard Hit, Penguins Playing It Safe

Sidney Crosby is getting a few games off from playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins after suffering another hard hit in a game Monday night.  After running into teammate Chris Kunitz, Crosby told team doctors that he wasn't "100%" afterwards.

Despite passing concussion tests, the Penguins are playing it ultra conservative after Crosby's long layoff in the 2010-2011 season following a concussion that wasn't rested properly.  Concussions don't always show up immediately after an impact, and the Penguins are correct in sidelining Crosby at any slight possibility that he may have sustained another head injury.  It's possible that the next concussion Crosby suffers could mark the end of his NFL career.

Here's the video of the hit he took Monday night.

Green Bay Packers Have Sold 185,000 Shares In Two Days

If you want to buy shares in the Green Bay Packers and be able to claim that you're an NFL owner, time is running out.  The Packers announced today that 185,000 shares had already been sold in the first 48 hours of the stock offering, raising $43 million so far for improvements to Lambeau Field.

There's only 65,000 shares left, and it's likely that those shares will be gone within the next week.  The Packers had originally set a deadline for the sale to end February 29, but clearly they underestimated the demand for the tickets.

I actually got myself one on Tuesday.  The Packers are the only publicly-held team in professional sports, and to be able to be a shareolder in an NFL team is an honor few football fans get to have.

If you can afford the $250 per share cost (plus a $25 handling fee for your total order), this is a great gift idea or just a unique present to yourself.

Buy a Stock Share From the Green Bay Packers And Become An NFL Owner

The Green Bay Packers have opened up their stock sale December 6 in an effort to raise more money for renovations at Lambeau Field.

As the only non-profit publicly-owned professional sports team, the Packers are unique in the sports world.  When they need to raise a significant portion of money, they sell stock rather than hike ticket prices or attempt to tax the locals.

The last time a stock sale was initiated by the Packers, it was late 1997.

Shares are $250 each, with a $25 processing fee added to the order.  The Packers will send you an official stock certificate after the sale is over.

This is an amazing opportunity to become an NFL owner.  Despite the fact that you own only a small fraction of the franchise, you have stockholder privileges such as attending the annual stockholders meeting and being able to buy exclusive shareholder merchandise.

Women's Professional Soccer League In Danger Of Folding

I wrote an article and submitted it to Yahoo concerning women's professional soccer in America.  Despite the insane success of the women's national team at the World Cup this past summer, our domestic women's league is about to fold.  The dissolution of the sixth team in the league and the difficulty in finding sponsors for additional teams has made it likely that US Soccer will remove D1 status from the league.  As such, our national team players would most likely not be allowed to play it in anymore or risk losing the ability to compete internationally for the U.S.

I am admittedly a late-comer to women's soccer, but the more I watch the more I like it.  It's a cleaner, more beautiful game than most men's soccer games.  I wish that I lived in a city that had a WPS team, but the closest one is 1,500 miles away.

Ironically, that team (the Atlanta Beat) play their home games in the soccer stadium at Kennesaw State University.  I graduated from there in 1996.  If I was still living in Georgia, I'd no doubt go to the games.  At times, irony sure does suck.

I hope that the WPS can achieve a last-second victorious equivalent to the women's victory against Brazil in the World Cup.  It'd be a huge shame to see it go.

Ndamukong Suh Lied To Police About Car Accident

KGW in Portland, Oregon is reporting that Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh lied to police about the cause of his car accident this past weekend.  Suh was driving a 1970 Chevrolet Couple in downtown Portland very early Saturday morning and lost control of the car and crashed into a tree.

Suh told Police that he was trying to pass a taxi cab when he lost control.  According to two passengers, however, there was no taxi cab.  Suh simply gunned the vintage car at the stoplight and raced down the street until he lost control.

Three passengers were injured in the crash, despite Suh's assurances to the 911 operator that everyone was fine.

The Chinese Won't Give Rory McIlroy's US Open Trophy Back To Him

USA-China relations have hit an all-time low (tongue-in-cheek) now that China is refusing to release the US Open trophy belonging currently to Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy was competing these past few weeks in the Far East. Tournament officials wanted to display the trophy while he was there.  It was shipped to a Shanghai customs office, while McIlroy was competing in the Shanghai Masters, and agents were set to deliver it to the golf course.  However, as no one was at the golf course to receive it, it was packaged and brought back to the customs shipping office where it has remained.

Efforts by everyone connected to the trophy (including his sports reps and agent) have attempted to get Chinese officials to release the trophy but to no avail.

Who knows, maybe they'll have involve the State Department to get this one back.

If Alabama Barely Beats LSU In BCS Championship Game, Are They Really #1?

I heard a really good point made by Mike Greenberg this morning on ESPN's Mike and Mike.  If Alabama, on a neutral field, were able to squeak a victory past LSU, does that really mean they're #1?  By default, they're the BCS Champions, but how fair is that?

Okay, I know that the words "BCS" and "fair" don't go together at all.  If that were the case, Boise State would be in a BCS bowl game instead of West Virginia.

Latest NFL Yahoo Post: Chicago Bears Lose Matt Forte To Injury; Season In Total Jeopardy

Here's my latest Yahoo post where I discuss the latest tragedy to hit the Chicago Bears: Matt Forte's knee injury.

Chicago Bears Lose Matt Forte To Injury, Season in Total Jeopardy Now

Tim Tebow Making Me Believe In Him And The Denver Broncos

With each game that the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow win, I'm becoming more of a believer in this particular team philosophy that coach John Fox has installed.  Stout defense, strong running game, and make as few mistakes as possible.  If you do those three things well, you will win far more games than you lose.

Many folks will say that the Broncos haven't faced a great team yet. A team that can put a lot of points up on the board. They haven't really been tested.  To that, I'd say...New York Jets? How about the Vikings today? Playing one of those crazy games where a team that shouldn't score a lot does, the Vikings put up 32 points on a Denver defense that had been averaging 11 points over the past three games.

San Diego Chargers Should Fire GM Smith When They Fire Norv Turner

It seems quite obvious that the Chargers are going to fire Norv Turner at the end of the season.  It's actually a move that they should have made a few years ago.  They missed out on potentially much greater success had they installed a better coach back when their talent level was higher.

A lot of that blame can go on GM A.J. Smith.  Smith was the guy who hired Turner in the first place, after firing Marty Schottenheimer (a move I did agree with at the time).  He was also the guy that drafted Philip Rivers and then let go of Drew Brees after Brees injured his shoulder at the end of the 2005 season because he had Rivers.

Should LSU Play Alabama For The National Championship?

Count me as one of those college football fans who really don't want to see Alabama play LSU in the National Championship.  Partly because it's been done before, and partly because I don't want to see another massive defensive struggle where neither team scores a touchdown.  

I know that the second time around, Nick Saban is less likely to be as conservative as he was in their first game.  I know that LSU's confidence has only grown since that game and that they may take more chances themselves.  

Peyton Manning's Fusion Has Healed, But How's That Nerve Regenerating?

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts got the good news they were hoping for when Manning's neurosurgeon announced today that the quarterback's cervical vertebrae had completely fused.  This basically means that his neck is now stable enough to begin more strenuous workouts such as throwing.

What this does NOT mean is that Peyton is healed.  Let's review:

• Peyton's surgery in September was needed because Peyton had pain in his neck that resulted from workouts.  Peyton had already been having problems throwing because nerve damage in his neck caused weakness in his throwing arm.  
• The surgery accomplished two things: it removed the damaged disc and then fused the two vertebrae between that damaged disc to limit movement (and protect the spinal cord).
• Roughly 12 weeks after the initial surgery, the fusion between the two cervical vertebrae has fused.
• This does NOT mean that the original nerve injury has healed.  Nerve regeneration/healing can take weeks to months or never happen.  Peyton is the one that will deliver news about whether or not he can feel that the strength is back in his arm.  He may not really be able to tell for a few weeks as his workouts ramp up.
• For more info, see my earlier post: Peyton Manning's Recovery Depends Totally On Nerve Regeneration Following Fusion Surgery

Hopefully Peyton will reveal more info tomorrow about where he's at in his rehab.  He's currently on schedule for the recovery that doctors thought he'd have, but there's no real timetable for his nerve to heal.