Flames give D Smith two-year deal
Hockey Betting Lines
02/08/2012 - Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Derek Smith to a two-year contract worth $1.55 million on Wednesday.
"Derek came to training camp this year on a two-way contract and played his way into our starting line-up," said Flames general manager Jay Feaster. "When Mark Giordano went down with his hamstring injury, Smitty stepped-up and shouldered an increased workload and did so in excellent fashion.
Smith, who is out with a high ankle sprain, has totaled two goals and 10 points in 32 games for the Flames this season.
In 43 appearances with Ottawa and Calgary over parts of the last three years, Smith has recorded 11 points.
The Hague, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A hat trick from Charlison Benschop helped AZ Alkmaar on its way to a 6-0 triumph at Den Haag on Wednesday, allowing the club to join PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table. AZ slip
<< Wildcat Creek comes in for Hutcheson Stakes
Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A field of six three-year-olds have
been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The
seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida
Derby.
<< Catania, Roma finish all square in resumed match
Catania, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The final 25 minutes of Roma's match at
Catania concluded on Wednesday with neither side able to break the 1-1
deadlock they started the day with.
The match was suspended after 65 minutes bec
<< Panthers sign long snapper to 4-year deal
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers signed long snapper
J.J. Jansen to a four-year contract on Wednesday.
Jansen, 26, has played all 48 games in his three NFL seasons with the Panthers
and went without a mistake this p
<< Capello leaves England no better than he found it
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The appointment of Fabio Capello as manager of England's
national team in December 2007 was supposed to be a step in the right
direction following the disappointing 18-months that Steve McClaren spent at
the hel
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic moved four points clear of second-place Rangers on Wednesday after securing a 4-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle Stadium. The Hoops charged out to a three-goal lead in the first 30 min
Air Force fires basketball coach Reynolds >>
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff
Reynolds was fired Wednesday with the team in the midst of a six-game losing
streak.
Athletic director Dr. Hans Mueh made the announcement. Associate head co
Sharapova, Goerges reach QFs in Paris >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova and six-
seed Julia Goerges of Germany were second-round winners Wednesday at the Open
GDF Suez.
Sharapova, who withdrew from this event last year due to illness, advanc
Yankees sign veteran INF Branyan >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees signed veteran infielder
Russell Branyan on Wednesday.
The minor league deal includes an invitation to spring training.
Branyan, 36, has played for 11 teams since appearing in his first
Colts name Telesco VP of football operations >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts have promoted Tom
Telesco to vice president of football operations.
Telesco, who spent 14 years in the personnel department, was promoted by new
general manager Ryan Grigson. The
FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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