One. Run. Away. Can the Indians pick up the pieces in 2017?One. Run. Away. Can the Indians pick up the pieces in 2017?
One. Run. Away. Can the Indians pick up the pieces in 2017?
Day: March 28, 2017
Who are these quarterbacks the Browns are chasing?Who are these quarterbacks the Browns are chasing?
Who are these quarterbacks the Browns are chasing?
Fantasy Insider: Shell Houston OpenFantasy Insider: Shell Houston Open
The Shell Houston Open marks the conclusion of three unconnected paths. First, and probably most obviously, it’s the last opportunity for golfers not yet exempt into next week’s Masters to qualify. Twenty-nine of the 144 in the field at the Golf Club of Houston already have reservations in and around Augusta, Georgia. For all of the others, only a victory would punch a ticket. Second, and more relevant to us, Segment 2 of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO wraps this week, some would say mercifully. The good news is two-fold. Not only don’t you have to worry about saving starts for anyone this week, but we’re also going to be restocked with three per golfer beginning with the Masters. Some would say just in time for the Masters. And lastly, those in the Web.com Tour graduate reshuffle category will be reordered for the third time this season when the SHO is in the books. That is a more of a fact than it is as noteworthy as the change in position following the first two phases. After the Masters and Heritage, which is an invitational hosting only 132 golfers, fields expand to the maximum of 156 beginning with the Valero Texas Open on April 20-23. So, if you’re in a season-long format in which drop-adds are allowed, you no longer need to hesitate in grabbing a hot hand in the middle or even deeper in that pack. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO My roster for the Shell Houston Open (in alphabetical order): Rickie Fowler J.B. Holmes Phil Mickelson Jon Rahm Adam Scott Jordan Spieth You’ll find my starters in Expert Picks. Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Daniel Berger; Tony Finau; Michael Kim; Patrick Reed; Justin Rose; Chris Stroud Driving: Tony Finau; Lucas Glover; Russell Henley; Billy Horschel; Kyle Stanley; Chris Stroud Approach: Lucas Glover; Billy Horschel; Justin Rose; Kyle Stanley; Nick Watney Short: Daniel Berger; Rafa Cabrera Bello; Russell Henley; Michael Kim; Matt Kuchar; Patrick Reed Power Ranking Wild Card Matt Kuchar … You might demand I drop a nickel in kangaroo court for omitting him from the Power Rankings in any week. And that’s not because of some mass devotion on your behalf, it’s because he may have averaged the most appearances in that column in my tenure. When he doesn’t appear, some of the more amusing questions in the discussion beneath that column ask if he’s actually playing. This is one of the reasons I’ve recently added the italicized note immediately below my writing schedule to specify which notables will appear in the FI. No reason not to invest again this week. Even among the most expensive in DFS, he’s easily among the most reliable. It just depends on how you construct your team as always. Solid record in Houston includes T8 in 2010 and 2011 as well as a playoff loss in 2014. Draws Tony Finau … The last cut from the Power Rankings because of the depth of the field. It’s not an indictment of any kind. Sure, we’d love for him to exhibit more consistency week to week, but the 27-year-old has zero haters in our world. He’s hung up three top 10s and another two top 25s in 2017 alone. Also profiles strong in Houston with trademark length off the tee and lights-out precision on approach (14th in GIR). Build around with him with cornerstones in whom swings to the other end of the spectrum aren’t as frequent. Daniel Berger … Trusting in his limited course history of which all of it is positive. After a T25 in his debut in 2015, he tied for fifth last year. His actual scoring average in his eight rounds is a sporty 69.63. Currently 18th on TOUR in strokes gained: putting and ninth in birdie-or-better percentage. Also played often and well enough of late to forget about his recent shoulder soreness. Stewart Cink … Prime example for gamers who prefer not to dive into the stats. Since his life outside the ropes has leveled with positive returns on his wife’s cancer treatment, his game has followed. Sometimes, that’s all we need to latch on. He arrived in Houston having survived six consecutive cuts and 10 of his last 11. He’s also perfect in every edition of the SHO since a T6 in 2013. Pure and simple, continue to ride him as he projects production. Nick Watney … Someone has found a gear he likes! In his last four starts, he has a trio of T14s and a T28. He ranked inside the top 20 in greens hit in each and inside the top 10 in proximity in the last two. Currently eighth in proximity for the season. Also scattered four trips to the Golf Club of Houston in its first 10 years as host, but made the cut in each and recorded top 25s twice. He’s DFS gold. Lee Westwood … Automatic in every format. He’s excused for missing the cut in the last two editions of the SHO as he focused on other priorities. He opened his record here with seven straight paydays, five going for a top 25. That reflects how proper his profile as a long hitter with precision on approach matches the formula for success at the Golf Club of Houston. Furthermore, as long as he’s feeling it, it removes the guesswork. Only one missed cut anywhere since last year’s trip to this tournament. Patrick Cantlay … One of the shiniest new toys on the PGA TOUR, or at least he’s back on the shelves for purchase. En route to his runner-up performance at Copperhead three weeks ago, he ranked T3 in total driving and led the field in greens in regulation. Also placed T8 in proximity and fourth in converting his chances into par breakers. The moral of this story is that DFSers will cling to him early and as often as possible before his price skyrockets. It matters not that he’s making his debut in Houston. Bernd Wiesberger … Could be a coup for DFSers, but I still wouldn’t reach. The 31-year-old from Austria still hasn’t unlocked any secrets to contending on U.S. soil. To wit, he hasn’t recorded a top 10 in 33 career starts on the PGA TOUR. However, he makes most cuts and can lean on the big stick a bit more this week. Placed T27 in his debut here last year, too. Johnson Wagner … A flier for the course. He’s banked more in earnings here than at any other stop on the PGA TOUR. Certainly, his win in 2008 helps, but he also lost in a playoff here in 2015 and placed T13 last year when he arrived having missed his first six cuts of 2016. Well, since opening this season with a T3 at Silverado, he’s just 1-for-9, so he has the Golf Club of Houston right where he wants it. Peter Uihlein … Injuries have derailed a trajectory many expected, but this sport offers innumerable chances to get to the point where his true talent can shine, so why not find a spot for him? He’s essentially competing on house money again this week. Tied for fifth with a consistent performance in Puerto Rico that extended his record worldwide since December to 9-for-9 with four top 10s. Fades Jim Herman … The defending champion is in the bucket with the guys who find the magic in spurts versus sustaining it. It plays and it’s lucrative in reality, but it’s not for gamers faint of heart (which means most of us). Perhaps most redeeming about the 39-year-old is that he’s so comfortable in his own skin. Surely, that goes with the territory as he creeps up on a certain age, but continue to limit him to complementary opportunities at best. The arc of his career demands for the conservative approach. D.A. Points … While he’s coming off a pretty sweet victory in Puerto Rico, the 40-year-old has never been a short-term investment. Gamers who have been around long enough know that I don’t need to present evidence as to why. Furthermore, I know it’s going to be sexy to cite his title in Houston in 2013 as fuel to fit him in, but consider that his second-best finish in the other six visits of his last seven overall is but a T60 in 2011. Bryson DeChambeau … Co-runner-up in Puerto Rico despite ranking T25 in par-4 scoring average. Finished T12 in greens hit and T9 in putts per GIR, so let’s see him do that again before ignoring the indicators that led to our hands-off approach all season. Make no mistake, however, he’s nothing short of compelling. Jimmy Walker … Positioned here only because he’ll be overpriced in DFS. You’d get more bang for your buck in someone like Watney than what Walker projects despite tempered converging trends of five straight cuts made upon arrival and six in a row in Houston. None of those 11 are top 10s and he didn’t put four rounds together in any. Jason Dufner … Putting as good as ever but his irons are letting him down and he’s making his first trip to Houston in eight years. Also worth noting is that this is the first time he’s competing the week before the Masters while knowing he’s already exempt into the season’s first major. Authoring a solid, not spectacular, season with five top 25s (no top 10s) in stroke-play action. Keegan Bradley … The honeymoon ended before it even started. You’ll remember that he blazed into the holiday break (and his wedding) last fall. He even picked off a T4 at Torrey Pines as a newlywed in January, but results have been fair to middling since. Even as he arrived in Houston in a slump last year, it could have been argued – and likely was – that all he needed was to connect with a joint where he’s enjoyed success. Alas, with a second-round 77, he had the weekend off despite a 5-for-5 before that with three top 10s. It would be insanity to buy into the same approach this year even though he remain a prototypical glove for the layout. Kevin Chappell … When you rely so much on a tee-to-green game, when it abandons you, the stress on putting can be too much to handle. This is his season in a microcosm. So, even if he won the Shell Houston Open in each of his first five visits, he’d land in this section. Of course, he hasn’t won in his career, but he also has just one top 30 among two cuts made at the Golf Club of Houston. He’s vowed to figure it out, so we can remain patient … for now. Cameron Tringale … He’s been a regular on leaderboard at the Golf Club of Houston (three top 10s among four top 20s), but his form overall has been sour for eight months. His only top 25 was a T8 at Riviera in February and that’s his only top 40 since the holiday break. Shawn Stefani … Knows this track maybe better than anyone, and he’s risen to the occasion here before, most notably with a solo fifth to exhaust a medical extension in 2014, but his form has deteriorated since an emotional closure to last season. Ranks an inspiring 34th in both fairways and greens hit, but he’s just 187th in birdie-or-better percentage. Andy Sullivan … He’s taken a back seat to the noise generated by fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton this year. Sullivan hasn’t factored anywhere since November. He’s now making his debut in Houston where experience has proven to matter for most. Returning to Competition Davis Love III … Back in action for the first time since having surgery for a broken collarbone suffered during a snowboarding accident in Idaho in the first week of the year. He circled the Shell Houston Open as his hopeful site to return. Give him this week to shake off the rust before revisiting for the potential of an investment at Harbour Town in two weeks, assuming he’s able and commits. Kelly Kraft … Last competed at Bay Hill where he withdrew before the second round with a sore back. A solo second at Pebble Beach bought quite a bit of insurance to take his time and heal properly, so that he’s ready to go again now is a great sign. Making his second start in Houston (T50, 2013). Notable WDs Dustin Johnson … The winner of his last three starts is resting in advance of the Masters. On an aside, he’s basically one more victory in a major away from securing his spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame with 15 career wins, including one major and at least one title in each of his 10 seasons with a PGA TOUR card. Also won the Vardon Trophy and the earnings title in 2015-16. Wesley Bryan … Made a valiant push to get into the Masters, but will instead settle for at least two weeks off. Suffice it to say that he’s invigorated his base who drafted him after his monster 2016 on the Web.com Tour. Graham DeLaet … Gone quiet since connecting four top 25s in February and March. Almost three-quarters of the way to matching last season’s earnings with still over one-half of this season remaining, so salary gamers aren’t complaining. David Hearn … The birth of his third child is imminent. While that alone is reason to celebrate, it doesn’t hurt that he just recorded a season-best T17 in Puerto Rico. Jon Curran … Sidelined since missing the cut at The Honda Classic. Withdrew early from the Valspar Championship as well, citing a sore rib. He’s gone 10 consecutive starts without a top 40. Keep the 30-year-old on a short leash. Power Rankings Recap – World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Jordan Spieth T30 (1-1-1) 2 Rory McIlroy T30 (1-1-1) 3 Martin Kaymer T17 (2-1-0) 4 Bill Haas 3rd 5 Jason Day T58/WD (0-3-0) 6 Francesco Molinari T58/WD (0-3-0) 7 Tyrrell Hatton T17 (2-1-0) 8 Hideki Matsuyama T51 (0-2-1) 9 Thomas Pieters T30 (1-1-1) 10 Sergio Garcia T30 (1-1-1) 11 Patrick Reed T51 (0-2-1) 12 Phil Mickelson T5 13 Kevin Na T9 14 Tommy Fleetwood T39 (1-2-0) 15 Brandt Snedeker T17 (2-1-0) 16 Paul Casey T9 Power Rankings Recap – Puerto Rico Open Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Graeme McDowell MC 2 Luke List T37 3 Graham DeLaet MC 4 Scott Brown T17 5 Chris Kirk T62 6 Peter Uihlein T5 7 Danny Lee T56 8 Ian Poulter MC 9 Fabrizio Zanotti T80/MDF 10 Harold Varner III T24 Birthdays among active golfers on the PGA TOUR March 28 … none March 29 … none March 30 … Shane Bertsch (47) March 31 … none April 1 … none April 2 … J.J. Henry (42); Rory Sabbatini (41); Shane Lowry (30) April 3 … none
Eagles sign DE Chris Long to two-year contract (Sports Betting News)Eagles sign DE Chris Long to two-year contract (Sports Betting News)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles agreed Tuesday to terms on a two-year contract with defensive end Chris Long, who won a Super Bowl last season with New England.
Eagles sign DE Chris Long to two-year contract (Sports Betting News)Eagles sign DE Chris Long to two-year contract (Sports Betting News)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles agreed Tuesday to terms on a two-year contract with defensive end Chris Long, who won a Super Bowl last season with New England.
Rahm ready for Shell Houston Open debutRahm ready for Shell Houston Open debut
HUMBLE, Texas – Having played 108 holes in seven tense rounds over five grueling days last week, Jon Rahm was tired. Too tired, as it turns out, to play a full practice round Tuesday in his initial look at the Golf Club of Houston. “I wish I would’ve been strong enough or not tired at all to be able to play all 18,” Rahm said. “But I could only make it through nine.” No worries. Considering the form he’s showing right now and the momentum he’s riding after reaching the finals at last week’s World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, the 22-year-old Spaniard should be just fine for this week’s Shell Houston Open – once he gets a good night’s sleep. The disappointment of losing to Dustin Johnson in the championship finals was more than tempered by the thrill of pushing the world’s top-ranked player to the 18th hole, especially after Rahm fell 5 down on the front side. Instead of going away quietly, Rahm turned up his aggressive play while capitalizing on a couple of rare Johnson miscues to make things interesting. “I played really good golf up until the front nine in the final,” Rahm said. “I wish I would have played a little better golf. I wish I would have been able to handle myself a little better. But hey, that’s golf, that’s life, and something I need to learn from and make sure I don’t do it again.” There are valuable lessons to be learned from Austin, especially on the front side. In losing five holes in a six-hole stretch, Rahm questioned his approach and thought process to some of the key putts he missed. But what he isn’t concerned about is how he handled the frustration of missing those putts and some of the other bad-break shots he encountered. During that key sequence, Rahm was visibly upset, but he doesn’t think that impacted his play. That’s just his nature. “I’m a very emotional person on the golf course and I like to show it just because that’s the way I am,” he said. “I’ve always gotten mad and frustrated my entire life. … I’ve gotten mad at matches before and haven’t had any repercussions or any change on the outcome of the match … “Granted, it was the first time I was in that situation like that and playing against the best golfer on the planet right now. Maybe I was a little anxious, little too pumped up. I really don’t know what the answer is. There’s certainly many things I can learn from. “Frustration could be one of them. I’m not saying it’s not. It’s something I’ve dealt with before. Hasn’t made me lose five holes in a row.” Although Johnson was scheduled to play the Shell Houston Open this week, he pulled out on Monday, citing fatigue after winning for the third consecutive start. Rahm, though tired, wanted to play this week before making his first Masters start next week. The last thing he wanted to do was arrive early to Augusta National and start dwelling on the year’s first major. He played two majors last year – the U.S. Open and the Open Championship – and didn’t play the week before either of them. He finished T23 at Oakmont and T59 at Royal Troon. He trying’s a new approach this year. “For the British Open, I think I would have benefited from playing the week before,” Rahm said. “That’s why I want to play this week. … Last week I played good. Why wouldn’t I keep that level of play up?” Indeed, in his last five starts, Rahm has four top-five finishes. That includes his first PGA TOUR win at the Farmers Insurance Open, and back-to-back top-3 finishes in World Golf Championships events (he finished T-3 at the Mexico Championship). Not bad for a first-year TOUR member. Although players such as Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy will go into next week as the Masters favorites, Rahm’s form should probably put him in the conversation. But then, he’s 22 and has never played Augusta National until a couple of practice rounds after the Mexico Championship. First-timers usually don’t go into the Masters as any kind of favorite. But then Rahm – who’s hoping for a couple of practice rounds next week with past Masters champs Jose Maria Olazabal and Phil Mickelson (who is also one of his playing partners this week) — isn’t exactly playing like a first-year pro. Asked if his name belongs as one of the favorites at Augusta National, Rahm responded: “That’s up to you guys. I feel like if I say it does belong, it sounds a little bit arrogant. “What I would say is certainly I do feel like I belong there, that I belong where I am right now and that I compete to win.”
NFL owners revamp video replay for officiating (Sports Betting News)NFL owners revamp video replay for officiating (Sports Betting News)
One day after approving the Oakland Raiders’ move to Las Vegas, NFL owners got busy passing several rules changes and adopting resolutions they believe will speed the game and enhance player safety. Most notable Tuesday was the change in handling officiating of video replays. League officiating chief Dean Blandino and his staff in New York will make the final decisions on those calls, with input from the referee, who in the past was the ultimate arbiter after consulting with league headquarters.
Jon Rahm just getting started and already rolling (Sports Betting News)Jon Rahm just getting started and already rolling (Sports Betting News)
Jon Rahm can be an imposing figure without a golf club in his hand. Nine months ago, Rahm was dressed in a coat-and-tie to receive the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top college golfer. By the end of the week, Rahm was the only amateur to make the cut and tied for 23rd.
Marchand’s approach paying offMarchand’s approach paying off
Marchand’s approach paying off
Why Duke’s Harry Giles was right to turn pro despite disappointing season (Sports Betting News)Why Duke’s Harry Giles was right to turn pro despite disappointing season (Sports Betting News)
Harry Giles declared for the NBA draft on Tuesday. It’s uncommon for a bench player averaging 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds to enter the NBA draft. Duke announced Tuesday that Giles will enter the draft and sign with an agent, ending his college eligibility.