Jets in More Trouble

The New York Jets, who are struggling to the max this season with their 1-6 start, now have more problems on their hands. ESPN reports, “Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a knee injury, ending the one time Pro Bowler’s season after seven games.” Vilma was hurt in last week’s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, then missed this week’s practices and then got placed on the injured reserve yesterday. “‘This is not a career threatening injury and the doctor’s expect a full recovery,’ said Mitch Frankel, one of Vilma’s representatives.” “The loss of one of one of their defensive captains is the latest disappointing development in what has become a season full of them as the Jets have struggled to a 1-6 start.” It hasn’t yet been said what the extent of the injury is, or where in the knee the injury took place. “I am disappointed that my season ended prematurely,” Vilma said in a statement. “I was looking forward to playing the rest of the season and helping the team get back on track. I now look forward to supporting my teammates for the rest of the 2007 season and returning to the field with them in 2008.” Rookie David Harris, a rookie from the University of Michigan and picked in the second round of the draft, is the most likely to take the starting position tomorrow against the Buffalo Bills. Harris has been given limited playing time this season and has 24 tackles. “Vilma’s a great player,” Harris said earlier this week. “Anytime that you lose a player like that, it’s very hard to fill his shoes. He’s a great team leader. He’s very well respected and he has run the defense for four years now. I’ll try to be ready when my number is called.” Injuries have been major factors this season, with Marvin Harrison out for the Colts; Zach Thomas, Ronnie Brown, and Yeremiah Bell, Travares Tillman, and Trent Green out for the Miami Dolphins; and then I have to put out for the Buffalo Bills that Kevin Everett has continued to progress since his spinal cord injury in week one against the Denver Broncos.

Colts' Harrison Out. Possible Loss Tomorrow?

Being from Indianapolis, I am a diehard Colts fan. So going up against the 4-2 Carolina Panthers, I’m a little bit worried. Could the Colts be vulnerable in the wide receiver position enough to lose their first game of the season? I hope not. Marvin Harrison, who bruised his knee in the game on September 30 game against the Denver Broncos, will not be playing tomorrow’s game. Harrison, a twelve year veteran of the game, will not be the only Colts player not playing tomorrow, ESPN reports. “Indianapolis will also be without starting weak side linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who is suffering from the effects of a concussion.” Now Harrison, like I said was injured in the Denver game nearly a month ago, did play in last Monday night’s game in Jacksonville against the AFC South (the same division as the Colts) Jaguars. Harrison played minimal minutes however, and only caught three passes for a mere 16 yards. “The eight time Pro Bowl receiver told coach Tony Dungy after the victory over the Jaguars that his knee, which had limited him in practice much of the week, was no worse than before the game. In the Jacksonville game, Harrison was on a strict play count, and participated in about 40 snaps, far below his norm. Had he been able to play Sunday, it’s likely that Harrison would have been on a similar play count.” The problem that ended up knocking him out of the line-up for tomorrow’s game is the fact that he was unable to practice this past week. “The optimism that Dungy expressed early in the week turned to doubt Friday, when the team announced that the availability of the star wide receiver would be a game time decision. The Colts host New England next week, but Dungy insisted that would have no bearing on whether Harrison played at Carolina.” I almost want to say that it’s a better decision to let Harrison sit this game out, as our defense should be able to control the Panthers’ offense, especially with their sudden jump to the near top of the defensive statistics, this coming out of last season with their near league-worst defensive statistics, up until the playoffs at least. Let’s hope the defense can still hold it together for the season, and that Peyton Manning will still do as he always has by connecting with the other receivers with roughly the same amount of numbers, attempts and yardage.

Michigan defeats Minnesota without help from Henne or Hart

Michigan has not exactly had a storybook season. With early losses to Appalachian State University and Oregon, they will be attending a bowl game but certainly not the Rose Bowl. Their luck is still declining as both Chad Henne and Michael Hart sat on the side lines against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Michael Hart, who injured his right ankle in the game against Purdue University, has missed 2 1/2 games. Carlos Brown was first to replace Hart but was replaced by Brandon Minor after fumbling the ball in the second drive. The Gophers were up 10-0 into the second quarter, and Minor who scored a touchdown to put the Wolverines ahead. All in all, both replacement running backs stepped up to the plate in replacing one of the best players on the team.

Chad Henne, Wolverine quarterback, also did not play in the game today. He was in and out of the game last week against University of Illinois. His injury is unknow as well the severity of it. Freshman, Ryan Mallett, replaced Henne and despite some screw ups, pulled his weight.

Mario Manningham who remains uninjured, who had a close call with the law after he was found with three vicodin pills, played a great game and helped carry the team.

Hopefully sitting Henne and Hart this weekend will help rest the team for the next few games as they face arch rivals Michigan State University and Ohio State University. It also gave some back up players gain some valuble practice and experience incase Henne and Hart are hurt themselves even more.

Michigan State University is known to be quite a violent place, especially when it comes to football. Continuing with this tradition, three Michigan State football players were arraigned on Wednesday for felony charges of robbery. This incident supposedly took place in April of 2007 when allegedly the players attacked and robbed somebody in a grocery store parking lot. The three players, SirDarean Adams, T.J. Williams, and Jeremy Ware, have since maintained their innocence.

According to Michigan State head coach, Mark Dantonio, the players will remain on the roster free from suspension and will even compete in games. I’m sure this was much to the contentment of MSU fans. The thing about this case that I feel is off is that the incident happened in April and was sent to the prosecutors but was sent back to police a few times for further investigation before charges were finally placed. I really don’t see this case going anywhere, any evidence of the incident is probably either long gone, or doesn’t hold much credibility anymore. I also feel that if the players were really in danger of being found guilty, they would be suspended by Michigan State or at least the football team.

If found guilty of unarmed robbery, the players could face a maximum of 15 years in jail, but would this sentence would probably never touch these players. T.J. Williams was also convicted of assault and battery but he would only face a maximum of 93 days in jail.

Suspensions to Come if Laws Broken

Major League Baseball officials are set to make more suspensions, for an unknown amount of time at this point. MLB players, such as Gary Matthews Jr., Paul Byrd, and Rich Ankiel face possible suspensions if the attained the used substances through breaking the law. According to ESPN, suspensions aren’t ruled out yet. “Citing a high ranking major league official, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that Major League Baseball’s commissioner hasn’t ruled out such discipline for players even if they did not violate baseball’s policy. Major League Baseball did not ban HGH (Human Growth Hormone) until January 2005, but steroids and HGH have been, and still are, illegal without a prescription.” It has been reported by Sports Illustrated.com that Matthews (Center Fielder for the Los Angeles Angels) made an order for HGH in 2004. “Matthews is expected to be called to Selig’s [League Commissioner Bud Selig] office in November to discuss the report,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Paul Byrd, starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, is the latest player to have used, or at least accused of using, HGH. “On Sunday [October 21], the day of game 7 of the ALCS [American League Championship Series], the San Francisco Chronicle reported the Indians right-hander had purchased nearly $25,000 worth of HGH and syringes between 2002 and 2005. According to Byrd, a doctor prescribed him the drug for what he called a pituitary gland issue. It was researched and was found that it wouldn’t be out of the question that he was telling the truth. Byrd said that both the Indians management and Major League officials both knew of his use of the drug, although both deny all knowledge of it.

Austin Scott Insists on Innocence

Penn State’s Austin Scott seems adamant about his innocence. So much so that I’m actually starting to really believe he’s telling the truth. Call me easily persuaded, but I actually feel bad for the kid. After being arrested and accused of rape charges on October 12, 2007. The tailback for the Nittany Lions has been suspended since these charges have been placed. This is his super senior year at Penn State and has a lot to lose if this case does not work out in his favor.

He seems so persistent about proving his innocence that he has insisted on setting up a meeting with the Centre County District Attorney, Michael Madeira. Scott spoke publicly on the issue for the first time on Saturday and was quoted as saying “I still think that if they would speak to me and look me in the eyes and ask me any questions they want that they would know I am telling the truth.” Either Austin Scott is innocent or he is a very good actor and I’m easily manipulated.

Seeing this happen to a young athlete makes me really upset. As I have stated in earlier posts, men and women in the sports world, whether they be college athletes or professional athletes, are role model’s for kids and teenagers. These kids look up to them and aspire to someday live the life they lead, but so much controversy surrounds their world that it ruins the glamour of it all.