Subject :ge the rules to the CBA and sign a bench during the post-season. Or hedg
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Reggie Nelson Bengals Jersey . -- Heres one that wont come as a surprise: Peyton Manning writes down his New Years resolutions on index cards. "My dad, since I was a kid, hes been telling us, Write them down," Manning said. Though he refused to divulge whats on those cards, or what his lifetime success rate has been with those resolutions, he hasnt left much doubt about what his day-to-day goals on the football field were for 2012, the year of his comeback. Work hard. Improve. Keep building chemistry. Those are the only ways to get to the ultimate goal -- winning the Super Bowl, which is something Manning and the Denver Broncos are now favoured to do. Yet to hear Manning tell it, even if the Broncos do win it all, there will still be room for improvement -- quite a tall task for a quarterback who compiled some of the best numbers of his career and a team that finished tied for the leagues best record at 13-3. "Im not sure you can do it all in one season," Manning said Wednesday, after the Broncos, the AFCs top-seeded team, practiced for the first time during their bye week. "I think weve done a good job of being the best that we possibly can in this short period of time." What began as a season of mystery for Manning -- How would his body react after missing more than a year with the neck injury? How would his new teammates respond to him? -- has turned into one of his very best campaigns. He threw 400 completions for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns, completed 68.6 per cent of his passes and finished with a 105.8 passer rating -- all franchise records and ranked second best of the 14 years hes played in the NFL. He is in the mix for his fifth Most Valuable Player award, votes for which are being counted this week. On Wednesday, he received his second AFC offensive player of the week honour this year. It marked the 23rd time hes received that over his career, tied with Tom Brady for most ever. "To be able to come out and participate like hes done, to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league, its unbelievable," receiver Demaryius Thomas said. "He had an injury that not many people come back from." His latest award came on the strength of a 23-for-29, 304-yard, three-touchdown game against Kansas City on Sunday. The highlights were his touchdowns to Eric Decker and Thomas, who stretched out (in Deckers case) or up (in Thomas case) to make one-handed grabs on balls Manning put in places where only they, and not the defensive backs covering them, could catch them. Were they passes he wouldve thrown to those receivers in Week 1? "Probably would have thrown them earlier, not sure if we wouldve completed them," Manning said. "Its hard to say. But theres no question, it would be just downright disappointing if we had not improved throughout the season." Manning, however, doesnt judge improvement simply on completions or any other numbers on the stat sheet. Its a much more intangible thing to him. Take the touchdowns against Kansas City. Manning said neither he nor the receivers had seen the kind of coverage the Chiefs were in on those plays until Sunday, the last week of the NFL season. The next time they see it, though, theyll have a readymade reference point. "So if you play together long enough, then you can say, Hey, remember Kansas City in 2012? Remember that? Oh, yeah," Manning said. "Im not going to have that much eligibility to be able to refer back too long, but those guys certainly will. Its been kind of like cramming for a test and I think both of those guys have put in the time to cram and weve really worked hard in the short time weve had together." In fact, its the chemistry hes built with Thomas, Decker and the rest of the receivers that Manning lists as one of his most pleasant surprises this season. "The rapport with the receivers has come probably quicker than I thought," he said. "I really didnt know on some of the timing routes, some of the adjustments and things." Its not to say flaws dont exist, but "I dont think it makes any sense to reveal those things with a game coming up." Indeed, its now time to make the best of the hand theyve got. In Denvers case, its a pretty good hand. "There are still things that I wish would be better and I think you kind of have to pick and choose your battles," Manning said. "Its, Hey, weve only had 16 games together, were not going to be able to fix that. But lets try to get really good at this. Lets be as good as we can at that. Some things just take time." Notes: Broncos offensive co-ordinator Mike McCoy will have three interviews this weekend for vacant head-coaching positions -- with Arizona, Buffalo and Chicago. The interviews will take place in Denver. ... Executive vice-president of football operations John Elway denied the Chargers an opportunity to interview player personnel director Matt Russell for its vacant GM position. ... Though he wasnt required to give an injury report, Broncos coach John Fox said KR Trindon Holliday (ankle) was making progress. "I think Trindon will be able to go next Saturday," Fox said. ... The Broncos are 0-1 vs. Baltimore in the post-season and 0-2 vs. Indianapolis, though both those games came when Manning was with the Colts. The Broncos and Bengals have never met in the playoffs. Wallace Gilberry Bengals Jersey . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. Adam Jones Jersey . Jayson Werth and Denard Span had three hits each for Washington, which had lost 6 of 7. Previously slumping, Washingtons offence has 14 runs and 30 hits in its last two games. Strasburg (4-4) allowed two unearned runs, though his error led to them, and six hits.On this weeks Three Man Weave, Will Strickland and Duane Watson of TSN 1050s 1 On 1 With Will & Duane draft, NBA TV Canadas Mr. Everything and host of The Hangout, Akil Augustine (@akilaugustine). As the NBA playoffs go on and teams look to survive and advance, they evaluate the remaining series and summer tasks for the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry is Masai Ujiris first order of business this summer, but who should his second be? Greivis Vasquez or Patrick Patterson? Strickland: No Brainer: Greivis Josue Vasquez Rodriguez. Quality back-ups at point guard are Loch Ness Monster-rare in The Association right now. When you have a guy like Kyle Lowry playing human bowling ball to help his team get wins, injuries are pre-destined. Vasquez stepped in admirably for Lowry in those times, as well as aiding to create a potent two point-guard backcourt with sure ballhandling, keen decision-making and absolutely zero fear of The Moment - all necessary variables to a winning equation. Project Pat Patterson, a handle hung on him by my #1On1 partner, Duane Watson, will be a priority to retain as well for Ujiri and the MLSE braintrust. I doubt he walks unless the offer to dance between the lines elsewhere with similar playing time is too great to pass.Augustine: Small forward?! Not that I know what Masai should do... (#InMasaiWeTrust) but I would love to see an upgrade on the wing that would by some time for T-ROSS to blossom. Luol Deng anyone? Vince? Watson: It has to be The General Greivis Vasquez, a back-up guard who can play both positions and play alongside Kyle Lowry. Vasquez runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, but he also isnt scared to take the big shot. He got into a rhythm during the playoffs and was the most reliable player off the bench. His fire and passion are just the type of elements this team needs.Why does the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 regular season record against the Miami Heat mean nothing in the post-season?Strickland: The regular season is just that: regular. The second season, aka the playoffs, is where your legend is born. The Brooklyn Nets legend in the playoffs is rooted in being at full strength and still losing last year to the Nate Robinson-led, grossly undermanned, but infinitely tougher Chicago Bulls. Oh, lets not forget what should not have happened this season with the Nets edging the young Toronto Raptors. The two-time defending world champion Heat are built for the playoffs and are showing their pedigree in winning fashion with a commanding 2-0 lead over Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semis. If the Nets lose Game 3 at home, itd be a safe better for them to procure the #TackleBox post haste. Augustine: Because the Heat have two modes: Regular season and playoffs. The Nets also have two modes?...wait, no they dont. They are the No Mode Squad starring Busta-Ankle, aka D-Wont! Watson: This is why they call it the playoffs. As they have the past two springs, the Heat take their game into another gear in the playoffs. In two of the four losses against the Nets, Dwyane Wade was resting - for this very time of the year. For all of the Nets veteran experience, they are tired and bruised after a series in Toronto that they barely escaped from and Miami will have an answer for Joe Johnson.If the Oklahoma City Thunder lose to the Los Angeles Clippers, whos to blame - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or Scott Brooks?Strickland: The Thunder were one Zach Randolph "punch" to the face of noted agitator from The Bill Laimbeer School Of Smart Skullduggery, Steven Adams, away from a potential first-round exit. Tied at 1-1 with the Clippeers and headed to LA, the blame will have multiple directions for various reasons. Mike Nugent. Scott Brookss loyalty to line-ups over deft and necessary adjustments, as well as other questionable coaching moves will catch major darts. Russell Westbrooks greatest strengths of supreme athleticism, overt passion and singular focus may also be his biggest weaknesses, especially in the eyes of his detractors. And last but not least, the 2013-2014 NBA scoring champ and MVP who has been famously quoted as being sick and tired of coming in second would face LeBron James-level scrutiny of his true value with a second round loss to the Clippers. Augustine: Scott Brooks. And the GM. Kendrick Perkins is stealing cash, Serge Ibaka is stuck in neutral ?and the rest of the bench isnt old enough to get into a club, excluding team chaperone Derek Fisher, let alone win a series. Watson: Sam Presti. As the GM of the Thunder he has nickled and dimed with this team to avoid the luxury tax, but he hasnt found the right supporting cast to work with his two stars. Since James Harden left, it has been on a downward slide and the MVP campaign of Durant hides some of the teams deficiencies. Is Roy Hibbert the key to the Pacers success? Strickland: No. Paul George is the key to the Pacers success, which could be fleeting in the face of the most dangerous team no one knows in the Washington Wizards. With rumours abounding over Hibberts inexplicable metamorphosis from All-Star to Hasheem Thabeet in the playoffs, Big Roy is a necessary piece for the Pacers just to get by the Wiz, nevermind talking Eastern Conference final rematch with the Heat. Augustine: Yes. Is this a trick question? ?Pull up footage of last year and superimpose it on top of footage from this year. Then, you will have your answer! Watson: He definitely makes a big difference to the Pacers chances on both sides of the ball. His post presence helps the defence and, if hes an option offensively, it allows Indiana to work an inside-out game. Hibbert awakening from his slumber is the easiest fix to a team that has been slumping for the better part of the year. What must the Portland Trail Blazers do to stop the San Antonio Spurs? Strickland: Quit? Hope Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich all of a sudden turn into Dwight Howard, James Harden and Kevin McHale (OUCH!)? How about play stout defence, show the half-court execution they exhibited in the first 40 games of the regular season and understand in a hurry the difference between playoff basketball and championship-level basketball in the playoffs, if they have not already been brutally and ruthlessly made aware by arguable the best team in basketball right now? Coach Stotts and rising stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard have to be better in Game 3 at home in the Moda Center or there will be some fine playoff parting gifts, courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs. Augustine: Wait 365 days until next year. Or change the rules to the CBA and sign a bench during the post-season. Or hedge harder on those DAMN screens! All three options come with little chance for success! Watson: Hope that Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter walk through that door! The Blazers need all the help they can get and its interesting to see such an outmatched team in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge have played at an all-world level for the Blazers, but their lack of depth on the bench is an Achilles heel, as the Spurs reserves have already proved they can compete with the Blazers starters. ' ' ' |
