Devils lose another overtime tilt

The New Jersey Devils scored the first goal of the game less than a minute into the game and scored the last goal of regulation with under a minute remaining.
In between was a lot of less than scintillating hockey and the Philadelphia Flyers ended it in overtime on a Braden Schenn goal to give Philadelphia a 3-2 win.
Adam Henrique scored in the first period (10) for the Devils,while Michael Ryder tied the game (14) with the goalie pulled,but the Devils a man down,so the goals was considered a shorthanded one.
The loss was the third in a row for New Jersey,who will host Dallas Thursday night...

Hell Raisers

1) Adam Henrique's goal scoring surge continued as he finished a touch off pass off from Ryane Clowe into the net.
Henrique's run of goal scoring will be one that hopefully will not be cooled off by the coming Olympic break.

2) The Devils almost won this game seconds before they lost it as Stephen Gionta smacked a shot off the opposite pipe that looked more like a centering pass.
The puck came very close to going in and Philadelphia would then win the game on the next rush up ice..

3) The Devils did turn around their issues with low shots for the evening as they put 33 on Ray Emery.
Most of them were pedestrian shots dead on center,but it was encouraging to the output raised.

4) Defensively,the Devils were strong other than one breakdown that cost the team a goal.
Marek Zidlicky played the middle man and then handed the Flyers a odd man rush,which handed the goal to Scott Hartnell.
A bad decision by Zidlicky and a costly one..

5) Eric Gelinas returned from Albany,but didn't play.
Not sure what the point of having to have him there was so quickly,if they were just going to scratch him?
Things of late make me wonder just what the thought process of Peter DeBoer is right now...

Cleveland Dengs the bell in deal with Bulls

The Cleveland Cavaliers had time constraints in moving the cap needle for Andrew Bynum and they looked to be gaining Pau Gasol from the Lakers in the "save us from the luxury cap derby" for the contract of Bynum.
Cleveland did move the contract of Bynum before the bell that would have forced the Cavaliers to either release Bynum and receive no assets for him or pay him another six million dollars in an attempt to gain something for him.
However,it was not the Lakers that finally pulled the trigger and it is not Pau Gasol that is coming to Cleveland,it's Luol Deng that is since the Chicago Bulls decided to avoid the luxury tax and send the talented small forward to Lake Erie.

Cleveland will be sending Bynum (who will be released to save the Bulls more dough) along with three draft picks-Sacramento future 1st rounder from the JJ Hickson trade (lottery protected and if the Kings don't make playoffs becomes a 2) and two second round picks that originally belonged to Portland.
Chicago also has the right to swap first rounders with Cleveland in 2015,if the Cavaliers are not in the lottery.

Deng brings the Cavaliers the most talented small forward that the team has seen since the departure of LeBron James and easily the most complete player that Cleveland has seen period since then when you consider his skills on the defensive end.
Deng has no weaknesses in his game and might be maturing (at 28) into the type of player that could be a franchise leader.

SO,what's the problem-just one . Deng is a free agent at the end of the year and could be a rental player.
By making the deal,the Cavaliers could offer him a max contract that they could not offer him had they not had his rights,but that still does mean that he will re-up with a less than compelling team (at this point anyway).

Deng will instantly improve the Cavaliers and might be the player that gets them into the playoffs,therefore saving the job of mediocre general manager Chris Grant before the free agency period with the decision of you know who and the talent filled draft.
I am more than fine with the cost (essentially second rounders) to take the chance to land a player of Deng's skills,but Chris Grant might be putting his job on the line on Deng putting this team in playoff action and then the ability to keep him in Cleveland.

Saints clip Eagles in Playoffs

Shayne Graham booted a 32 yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift the New Orleans Saints to their first ever road playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles 26-24 in Philadelphia.
The field goal was the fourth of the game for Graham and finished a drive that started after the Eagles had taken the lead on a Nick Foles to Zach Ertz scoring pass with 4:54 to go.
The Eagles would never touch the ball again.
The Saints advance to the next round,but face a daunting task in the Seattle Seahawks,who pounded the Saints 34-7 earlier this season in Seattle and Seattle once again will be the site of the game....

Saintly Thoughts (Hey,I don't usually do this)

1) Key to the win? Shutting down LeShaun McCoy.
The Eagle back led the league in rushing,but was held to 77 yards on 21 carries.
Without McCoy,the Eagles were forced to rely more on the pass than usual,which....

2) Allowed to Saints to drop men in coverage and not let Nick Foles to throw the ball downfield.
Other than a long pass interference call and one 40 yard gain to DeSean Jackson,Foles was forced to keep the ball underneath and finished with under 200 yards passing.

3) Drew Brees struggled in the first half a bit with two picks and a underthrown ball that would scored a touchdown early,but rebounded in the second half with a score and leading the game winning drive.
Was it vintage Brees? No,the evening cold was not a friend,but it was good enough to quiet thoughts that the Saints couldn't on the road or in bad weather.

4) The Saints use a balanced group of running backs,but with Pierre Thomas out for the game,Mark Ingram had to carry the load and the former Heisman winner did just that in finishing with 97 yards and averaging over five yards a carry.
Ingram has been somewhat disappointing as a pro,but he shows signs of coming around when he drops his habit of tipping toeing behind the line.

5) Drew Brees did not have a reciever with more than 44 yards (Jimmy Graham) and just one with four catches (Darren Sproles),but 11 different Saints caught passes.

6) Cameron Jordan finished with two sacks and was in the face of Nick Foles all day.
Jordan improves every season as a pass rusher and will be a main factor if the Saints are to win in Seattle.

7) Corner Keenan Lewis left the game early in the second half with a head injury and that is when DeSean Jackson suddenly became a force in the game.
Corey Allen struggled against Jackson and Lewis managed to keep Jackson under wraps-as in zero catches against Lewis.
Lewis will be needed against the Seahawks..

8) Jimmy Graham held to just three catches in the game,but Graham did catch a touchdown with one of those.
Graham is the receiver that most teams gameplan to stop against the Saints and the Eagles often were doubling Graham with a linebacker and a safety.

9) Much was made about rookie Terron Armstead starting at left tackle against Trent Cole.
Cole did finish with one sack,but I would not say that he was a force rushing against Brees and the rookie did account himself well.Armstead shows the skills of an elite left tackle,although he has a long way to go.

10) Finally,with the road playoff losing streak,the question is this-can the Saints win in intimidating Seattle,where the Saints lost in the playoffs to a bad Seahawks team before and was smashed this season.
Maybe. The Saints will have some confidence off this win,the Cardinals just won in Seattle handing the Hawks their first home loss of the season and Russell Wilson is not exactly playoff tested yet.
At the same time,home field in Seattle means so much and the Seahawks will be rested.
Wait until the next PPM

Double Oranges for OSU vs Clemson

It was fun and exciting and lots of offense,but it still wasn't enough as Ohio State fell to Clemson 40-35 on the Miami turf in the Orange Bowl.
Braxton Miller threw for over 200 yards and 2 scores,although he was intercepted twice in being pounded from pillar to post all night with a shoulder injury while Carlos Hyde rushed for over 100 yards and a score.
Ohio State ends the year at 12-2 and will take the next eight months plus off before returning against Navy in Baltimore.
Olentangy Offerings

1) Braxton Miller had a chance to win the game after the Buckeye defense intercepted Taji Boyd to get the ball back with under two minutes to go,but was then intercepted himself.
Miller said he injured his shoulder early in the first quarter and it showed as Miller was clearly damaged throughout the game and lacked zip on the throws.

2) The question is should Miller have been replaced by Kenny Guiton?
I think so.
Miller gave it all that he had and considering that he was getting blasted by defenders every play,his game was good enough,but Guiton was fresh and most importantly-uninjured and might have given the Buckeyes a better chance of winning.

3)  Carlos Hyde continued his bulldozing style against the Tigers with 113 yards.
Hyde finished with over 1,500 yards,good for seventh in Buckeye history and missed three games to do it,although in a 14 game season,that offsets his competition in shorter seasons.
I think Hyde is going to be the perfect cold weather runner for some NFL team and I am pulling for the Browns.
Runner's like Hyde may rarely have longevity,but they are brutally effective and fun to watch.

4) Speaking of future Browns.I've been talking up Sammy Watkins all season as the perfect fit for the Browns and boy,did he make me look good in setting an Orange Bowl receiving record.
Some of that might have been the absence of Bradley Roby,but I am salivating at the idea of a Josh Gordon/Sammy Watkins pairing.
Which means there is no chance of that happening....

5) The losses of Bradley Roby and Noah Spence to various issues meant the defense was less than sturdy,but I am not sure that their addition would have made a difference.
Spence may have made a play or two and Roby might have helped with Sammy Watkins,but enough to win? I'm hesitant to go that far.

6) Bradley Roby is going to the NFL and he'll be a high pick,but for all the reputations and awards-I found Roby to be quite ordinary and I'll have him ranked lower than most in my corner rankings for the draft.

7) Yes,the defense struggled and all three of the starters forced into action had their issues,but considering everything,they were not the difference in the loss.
In fact,Vonn Bell was especially impressive in keeping Clemson out of the end zone with a leaping interception of Tajh Boyd.
Bell might be the next standout defender from I saw in this game....

8) Luke Fickell is a great recruiter and a loyal Buckeye,but it is time for him to go as defensive coordinator.
Fickell's defense often seems unorganized with a month to prepare for this game,the defense seemed less than prepared-that goes on the coaching staff...

9) Carlos Hyde slammed the ball as noted,but carried the ball once in the 4th quarter,which denies the best part of Hyde's physical game-wearing down the defense.
Two games in a row that Hyde was preparing to finish off the opponent and the play calling stopped him.
Not a coincidence-two losses...

10) The play of the game-the fumbled punt by Corey "Philly" Brown.The Buckeyes lead by nine and forced a punt.Brown muffed the kick,Clemson recovers and would score.
That swung the game back in the Tigers favor and cost the Buckeyes the chance to put the game away.
Sometimes the best play is not to make a play....

11) Ryan Shazier and Braxton Miller need to return to Columbus.
Selfish wishes? Sure,but Miller needs tons of passing work and Shazier looks to be an inside linebacker in the pros.
Shazier was given a second round grade by the committee that helps juniors determine their draft value.
Problem is inside backers often go later than projected.
Shazier didn't have a great Orange Bowl and might make more money eventually by waiting.

12) The season has to be considered disappointing,but I was more down about the loss to Michigan State.
That was also a game that got away,but it just seemed different.
This was a fun game to watch and really didn't matter in the big picture whether OSU earned a win or loss other than the trophy.
However,this game also showed that Ohio State still has a way to go on the defensive side of the ball and Urban Meyer is still upgrading the program through recruiting.
Next season may be a step back in record and the MSU loss might have saved fans from a far less fun game against Florida State,who would have taken glee in stomping Meyer,but I still see a glossy future for the Buckeyes and the program..

Photo Credit;Cleveland Plain Dealer

Playoff PPM

Last Week:5-4
Season: 70-40

Bengals over Chargers 20-14
Saints over Eagles 28-23 (I wish the weather was normal,so I'd feel better about this pick)
Packers over 49ers 25-21
Chiefs over Colts 19-14

On the Signing Front

The Pile is growing smaller and this will be the next to last signing front of the year.
The next one will be my biggest post of stuff of the season and all from one person,so be on the look out for that one!

Thanks to Jason Christensen,who helped me during the Trenton-Binghamton playoff series.Jason gives me extras of guys and that's always great!
Jason also got me Gary Sanchez on his Top 100 and Mason Williams as well during the series.
Thanks for another great year,Jason!!

Thanks to Mike Oravec,who continues to help me with his mail successes with former Indians,Giants and Pirates.
My favorite might have been former Indian and Pirate shortstop Felix Fermin as a Prince William Pirate!
Mike also has given some extras from the early 90's Crown gas Orioles set too.
I have never liked the Orioles,but I love getting those cards signed as they are in many cases the only cards in an Oriole uniform that some players have.
Some favorites that Mike sent me from that set were Pete Ward,Jim Gentile and Fred Beene.
Thanks for the graphing help as well as our friendship,Mike!

Tom O'Brien continued to help me at Bowie,but he came through for me with two cards that I have long wanted signed-the 1970 and 1971 Indians cards of Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson!
Tom got the Hawk for me when the White Sox visited Baltimore and I love the additions to the collection!
Tom also helped at Bowie with former Pirate Jake Fox on his Indianapolis card,Giants prospect Joe Panik on his Topps debut card and Twins pitching prospect Trevor May on his debut among others.
Tom also helped with some players from the independent league,most notably Trevor Reckling on his Bowman top 100 refractor from a few years back.
I pulled that card out of a pack myself,so that made it even cooler.
Again,Thanks for another great year,Tom!

Finally to the mailbox,I have only sent scattered things out this year,but when old stuff comes back,it is always a treat.
Former Astros and Mariners catcher Skip Jutze
Former Mariners pitcher Brian Allard destroyed my record for longest wait with a return in 1,019 days,but held the record for just two weeks when former Yankees and Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey returned his in 1,023.
Former White Sox pitching prospect Tom Drees
Former Red Sox infielder (and an fan of mine in-person) Ed Romero! Persistence pays off!
And our buddy Jordan Conley signed his 2012 Jupiter card....
Hoping to get Jordan back for a winter interview.

Next signing front will be a big one to wrap up the 2013 season!

Devils freeze Penguins 2-1

Adam Henrique and Michael Ryder each scored a goal and assisted on the other's to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins to conclude 2013 in a positive manner.
Martin Brodeur stopped 19 of 20 shots in goal to earn the victory.
Henrique's goal (9) came in the first period less than two minutes into the game,while Ryder scored his (12) early in the second.
The Devils will be back on Friday hosting Chicago,likely no coverage in that one as I'll be covering Ohio State in the Orange Bowl...

Hell Raisers

1) Martin Brodeur didn't have to make a large quantity of saves,but he did make some quality ones,especially in the third period when Pittsburgh was on the attack.
Another strong game from the veteran...

2) Adam Henrique scored his third goal in three games after not scoring for twelve of them.
Henrique and Michael Ryder seem be developing some chemistry on their line,which makes sense to me as Ryder is more of a sniper type with Henrique better at rushing the net..

3) Patrik Elias crashed into the boards hard in the first three minutes and was badly shaken up.
Elias stayed on the ice for a few minutes and then left the game.
Elias would not return,but seeing the crash and then him skating away was a much better sign then I thought possible when I first saw the play...

4) Ryane Clowe has been playing on the line with Henrique and Ryder and assisted on a goal for his point since his return.
Clowe has a long way to go (especially with his contract),but there are a few signs anyway.

5) Considering the competition,this was a great effort for the Devils.
The Devils dominated the first and played the Penguins on even terms in the final two periods.
This was the first game all season that the team played a superior foe and generally had their way with them.
Good sign.

Photo Credit;AP Photo