Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/288115719?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Thursday, February 28, 2013
Christie signs NJ Internet gambling bill into law ? Casino Online ...
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) ? Get ready for betting in your jammies, at work, from the kitchen table, or at the beach: New Jerseyans ? and possibly many others ? will soon be able to gamble over the Internet.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill Tuesday legalizing Internet gambling, hours after the state legislature passed a revised bill that made the changes he wanted. They included setting a 10-year trial period for online betting, and raising the taxes on the Atlantic City casinos? online winnings from 10 to 15 percent.
New Jersey became the third state in the nation to legalize gambling over the Internet. The lawmakers? votes and Christie?s signature marked the largest expansion of legalized gambling in New Jersey since the first casino began operating in Atlantic City in 1978.
Nevada and Delaware have passed laws legalizing Internet betting, which also is going on offshore, untaxed and unregulated.
?This was a critical decision, and one that I did not make lightly,? Christie said. ?But with the proper regulatory framework and safeguards that I insisted on including in the bill, I am confident that we are offering a responsible yet exciting option that will make Atlantic City more competitive while also bringing financial benefits to New Jersey as a whole.?
The idea is to help the struggling casinos by attracting new gamblers who are not now visiting the casinos. The comps, like free hotel rooms, show tickets, meals or other freebies, would be accrued from online play, but would have to be redeemed in person at a casino, presumably enticing a player to spend more money while there.
Tony Rodio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, welcomed the new opportunities for his industry.
?The objectives for the continued stabilization, development and success of Atlantic City that Gov. Christie and our legislature has facilitated over the past couple of years have taken a significant step forward today with the passage of Internet gaming,? he said.
The advent of Internet gambling is particularly good news for one of Atlantic City?s most struggling casinos, The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. It is in the process of being bought by the parent company of PokerStars, the world?s largest poker web site.
?Our state leaders have stepped up, worked together and seized this moment,? said Michael Frawley, the casino?s chief operating officer. ?New Jersey will be better for it as the benefits of I-gaming for our state are only beginning to be fully appreciated. We strongly believe that the economic development and reinvestment in Atlantic City, driven through I-gaming, will be remembered as a critical turning point for this proud town. We look forward to the renewed success this new law will surely bring.?
The state is counting on that success, too. Budget figures released Tuesday by Christie envision contributions to the state?s Casino Revenue Fund soaring from $235 million this year to $436 million next year, largely due to an influx of online gambling revenue.
But Donald Weinbaum, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, worried that expanding gambling options will increase the ranks of the estimated 350,000 New Jerseyans with a gambling problem. He also expressed concern about young, tech-savvy people developing gambling problems from playing online.
The bill will not take effect until the state Division of Gaming Enforcement sets a start date, sometime between three and nine months after the law is signed. Casino executives have estimated it could take six months to a year to get the system up and running.
It would allow the playing online, for money, of any game currently offered by Atlantic City?s 12 casinos; online poker is expected to be a particularly popular option.
?I?m sure I?ll experience it firsthand,? said Jonathan Wanchalk, a Lancaster, Pa., business owner who said he frequently played poker online before a federal crackdown on offshore betting sites. ?In college, I played poker a lot. It?s basically where all my money came from. Especially with poker, when it was allowed and then it wasn?t, I?m as curious as anyone else to see how it plays out.?
Gamblers would have to set up online accounts with a particular casino, and could set daily limits on their play.
They also would be subject to the same per-hand limits as gamblers physically present in the casino. Casino executives say final rules have to be approved by the gambling enforcement division, but they expect the state to require gamblers to have to appear in person at a casino to open their accounts and verify their age, identity and other personal information. Payouts could be made remotely to a credit card account or bank account when a player cashes out, if the state approves such an arrangement, the executives said.
They conceivably could even gamble through social media sites, as long as the sites worked with casinos that have an online gambling license, according to state Sen. Raymond Lesniak.
Joe Brennan Jr., director of the Interactive Media Entertainment Gaming Association, said a new industry is ready to take off.
?We were always confident this day would come, because even after he vetoed the original iGaming bill, Gov. Christie immediately came back to us, to try and find a way to make this happen,? Brennan said. ?It took a little longer than we expected, but in the end, it was done right, and now it?s time for Atlantic City to take this and run with it.?
And the Poker Players Alliance hailed the law?s enactment.
?New Jersey has gone ?all in,? ? said John Pappas, executive director of the group, which claims 1 million members, 20,000 of which live in New Jersey. ?Residents now will have access to a safe and regulated online gaming market, and the state will have a new source for revenue and job creation ? something the federal government has failed to do thus far.?
The bill allows gamblers in other states to place bets in New Jersey as long as regulators determine such activity is not prohibited by federal or any state?s law. It even has provisions for allowing people in other countries to play, although federal law would have to be changed before that could happen, Lesniak said.
Article source: http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Christie-signs-NJ-Internet-gambling-bill-into-law-193568981.html
Source: http://casinoonlinemarketing.com/christie-signs-nj-internet-gambling-bill-into-law-2/
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Linux Gaming: Open-Source Is Better For Everyone - Features ...
The open-source operating system has long been the exclusive domain of programmers and other DIY computer nerds, but big players like Valve have recently begun making real progress in supporting Linux for heavy-duty gaming. Here's why you should cheer for those efforts rather than laughing them off or feeling like they threaten your existing PC gaming domain.
You can't throw a virtual rock on the Internet without hitting a game developer commenting on how dealing with platform holders takes time, effort, and money away from making better games. The additional coding required to conform to standards that affect a tiny portion of their audience in order to pass Microsoft certification comes at a cost. The thirty percent or so (an extremely vague figure, as it varies from game to game and platform to platform) of revenues that platform holders take off the top make it harder for developers to profit from their work. The requirements and restrictions of a platform's exclusive marketplace can make some ideas impossible to bring to life - witness the lack of MMOs on Xbox despite a strong network infrastructure. Finally, onerous burdens like having to pay a platform holder to patch your game make games like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 lag far behind their PC versions.
With an open-source platform like Linux, there is no platform holder to deal with. Nobody can stop you from making and distributing whatever Linux software you like, charge you a fee for it, or tell you what you can and can't do with a Linux game. That has been the advantage of PC gaming since its inception, and it's done wonderful things for creativity, flexibility, and pricing over the years. With Microsoft pushing Windows in the direction of being a closed platform with Windows 8 (ARM-based tablets running Windows 8 can only run Microsoft-approved programs, and only software sold through Microsoft's digital storefront can access the full suite of Metro UI features), this massive advantage that PC gaming holds could be lost. Linux's open-source nature prevents it from ever being pushed down a similar road.
Valve's Steam service (which recently launched in a Linux incarnation) shares many of the downsides of closed platforms like consoles, iOS, or the Windows Marketplace. However, Valve doesn't control your hardware and cannot prevent any games or content from working on your machine whether it runs Windows, Linux, or Mac. Lacking that stick, Valve and competing companies (including GameStop, which owns Game Informer) must resort to carrots like seamless patching, community features, sales, and other ways to add value in order to attract games and players to their services. Many developers are happy to give Valve and other retailers their cut of a game's sale price in exchange for the visibility and marketing they receive in return, and others prefer using the pre-fab solutions for anti-piracy measures, community/online integration, and other developer-focused added value that Steam in particular offers.
Though Steam and similar services share some downsides with closed platforms like consoles, the key ingredient is choice. If a company doesn't like the way Valve does business, or doesn't think that Steam's positives outweigh its negatives, they're free to ignore it and release their game through other channels. NCsoft and ArenaNet probably didn't need any additional exposure for Guild Wars 2, and obviously decided to avoid losing the revenue that using a reseller like Valve takes off the top. Nonetheless, Guild Wars 2 is available to all PC gamers who own the requisite hardware. Blizzard sticks with its own Battle.net service. EA and Ubisoft insist on annoying players with their own proprietary Origin and Uplay systems. Hundreds of indie developers sell games through their own websites. The PC gaming ecosystem is wider and more diverse than closed platforms by orders of magnitude, and it's all due to its open nature. Game development on Linux will remain open to all business models, types of content, and services, forever.
Finally, a Linux gaming machine will by definition cost around $100 less than the same machine running Windows. Not having to pay Microsoft for its operating system is a huge boon, particularly at the lower end of gaming-capable PC building like Valve's "SteamBox" initiative. A high-end $1,900 machine going up to $2,000 isn't that big of a deal, but bringing a $600 box down to $500 is huge.
As glorious as a Linux-centric PC gaming future would be, there are a number of hurdles that must be cleared for any serious Linux development to take root. Come back Friday for a look at those, and leave your thoughts in the comments section below in the meantime.
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Anti-Aging Skin Diet: Reduce Wrinkles | Style Goes Strong
It's one thing to have a bathroom stocked with the best and latest beauty products. But the deep dark secret in the anti-aging game is that you are young ?.as you eat.
Top dermatologists will tell you that your diet plays a major part in how young, vibrant, elastic, non-wrinkled and plump your skin will look as you play the aging game.
There are simple foods that you can add to your diet that will have a major impact on your daily glow while combatting lines and wrinkles. Of course, eat some of them in moderation, but enjoy them at the same time. Remember: You are as young as you eat.
The Anti Aging Skin Diet:?
BLUEBERRIES. They're not only low calorie delicious and coming into season, but top skin docs insist that they're great wrinkle fighters. Sprinkle them on everything from cereal to yogurt and blend them into smoothies.
SPINACH. It's another great, low cal food that packs an amazing skin punch. Spinach contains Vitamin K, which also reduces under eye puffiness from the inside out.
AVOCADOS. Guacamole, anyone? This good for you fat gives your skin a nice glow, but is also moisturizing for your hair and makes it grow faster.
YOGURT. Jammed with great protein, a little yogurt snack isn't just a great afternoon treat. It also helps with skin renewal, which makes you look younger and prevents wrinkles. Go for Greek yogurt, which has twice the protein.
SALMON. There's nothing worse than dealing with adult acne and menopause at the same time. If you add salmon to your diet the Omega 3's will give you enough anti-inflammatory help to combat adult acne, experts insists.
WALNUTS. If you want to turbo load some omega-3's then add delicious walnuts to your diet. Your skin's elasticity will take a turn for the better, plus the copper in the walnuts will help your body return to the land of collagen production.
EGGS. A little protein in the morning doesn't just keep your stomach full all morning. There is biotin in those eggs that not only give your skin a glowing boost, but promotes stronger nails and glossy hair.
POMEGRANATES. They're not just the trendy "add on" to salads and yogurt, but have tons of polyphenol antioxidants that fight free radicals, reduce lines and help to improve your skin's blood flow. In other words, no more dull skin and the return of your rosy beauty. You can eat the fruit or try the juice.
GREEN AND YELLOW PEPPERS. Any veggie that's yellow or orange is packed with great antioxidants that will help your skin not wrinkle as much while also protecting it more from the harsh sun. This might sound tough, but experts say to add two cups daily of these veggies.
CHOCOLATE. Skip the milk chocolate and go for the dark because it contains a higher level of flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants. Dr. Nicholas Perricone says to choose chocolate that's 70 percent cacao. Warning: You only need a few squares per day to give your skin that glow.?
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The New VW Golf GTI is Better in Every Way
Within the past year or two, performance-minded hatchbacks blew up in the U.S. The Fiat 500's American introduction served as a quasi-litmus test for the segment as a whole, and now even GM and Ford have brought their own souped-up subcompacts stateside.
But the progenitor of all this hot hatch hullabaloo in the U.S is the one against which all others are measured: the 1983 VW Rabbit GTI. And ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, today Volkswagen released the vitals on the next generation of its high-performance hatch: the 2014 Golf GTI Mk VII.
The 2014 features an upgraded version of the Audi-engineered EA888 2.0-liter turbo-four engine found in the every VW since 2008, with a welcome bump in power. The new GTI puts out 220 hp, up 20 from the last-gen GTI, and 230 with an optional performance pack. The 258 lb-ft of torque is available at a surprising 1500 rpm and totals an increase of 57 over the last generation. The GTI has never been faster off the line (excluding the one-off W12 and R models) than it is now, dealing with 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds, 0.3 faster than last year's model. It will go on on to hit 153 mph.?In addition to being quicker, the GTI is more efficient, based on European standards it gets an estimated 39.2 combined mpg (though that number will probably be lower with EPA testing). That's a feat achieved in part by shedding nearly 60 pounds.
Styling-wise, the MK VII GTI is almost identical to the new Golf GTD announced last week. The only differences are the GTI's iconic red stripe across the grille, "Clark" tartan-patterned seats, its 17-inch "Brooklyn" alloys, and a GTI-braded "sport" steering wheel, shifter knob, instrument cluster, and other interior accents.
However, it's important to note that the performance figures are for the European version. While the U.S.-bound GTI should be identical in appearance?with even more standard equipment?the two cars may differ slightly in engine power due to fuel differences between the continents. For reference, this year's 2013 GTI is slightly more powerful (7 hp) than its American counterpart. In addition, it's still up in the air if options like the performance pack?including a horsepower boost and a mechanical limited-slip differential?and summer tires, which are standard overseas, will be open to American buyers.
Europeans will get their hands on the 2014 GTI this May, to the tune of 28,350 Euros. We get to wait until next year here in the States. No word on price yet, but one thing is for certain: The new GTI is a step up in every way.
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We need reporters, researchers and a chemist | The Wirecutter
I am looking for writers and researchers who can obsessively research and find the best gear, equipment and stuff?electronic and not electronic. And a chemist.
Please read this entire note before applying. Any notes that do not follow instructions will not be considered.
For The Wirecutter, writers and reporters needed:
I?m looking for people who can easily spend a few dozen hours researching, reporting and testing to find the best choices in a particular category. The work is hard but rewarding. We pay decent hourly rates, and you?ll feel good about your efforts if you?re into helping people make difficult decisions quickly so that they can get on with their lives.
Researchers
If you have between zero to three years of editorial reporting and researching experience, you could be a researcher for us, with a chance to write after a while. This is a good job for someone in college or fresh out of college who can commit to working about 10-20 hours a week.
You must have coursework or experience in journalism or other research-intensive majors and jobs. You also have to be organized and efficient and effective at looking up and logging products online in spreadsheets.
To apply, send an email with ?researcher? in the subject line to jobs@thewirecutter.com explaining why you?d be right for the job and what you?ve done in the past. No attachments, please.
Reporters
If you have?at least three years of experience doing product writing and general interest reporting, I?d like to invite you to apply to write for the site. Don?t worry if you?ve been doing this for awhile. Some of our best and most senior writers have been doing this kind of work for 10-15 years and they enjoy it. 95% of the job is research and reporting. 5% is writing. The best people can pick up a few beats and update them over time for us.
We are collecting general resumes right now from experienced tech/shelter reporters, but we also have specific needs for writers who can pick up.
- Health/fitness gadgets
- Bag editor (with fashion and tech writing experience)
- But to be explicit, we need general tech writers, too.
To apply, send a letter and resume (no attachments) with the subject line ?Wirecutter reporter? to jobs@thewirecutter.com explaining what you?ve done and what you want to do, and why you?d be right for the job. Don?t forget to mention the beats you?ve written about before and send some links to clips.
For our new site?
For a new project that Joel Johnson and I are working on, we need people who can do research and writing for home goods. (This is not a call for writers who work at home.) When I am asking for a home writer, I am asking for reporters who can apply the process we have at Wirecutter to home products, everything from toothpaste to tools to towels to bathroom cleaners to sheets and garden hoses. If you have experience writing about home gear, that gives you a leg up. As a researcher, if you?ve worked in a hardware store or have done home improvement, that gives you a leg up.
We could use writers and researchers with specific backgrounds in
- Kitchen equipment
- Tools
- Gardening gear
- Home improvement
To apply, send a letter and resume (no attachments) to jobs@thewirecutter.com with ?home reporter? or ?home researcher? in the subject line, explaining what you?ve done and what you want to do, and why you?d be right for the job.
Chemist
We?re looking for a chemist who can moonlight for us part time. We need solid information, in reports based on academic papers, interviews and research, on what the chemicals in home products are and what they do. We want to know if they?re less or more desirable/safe/effective than other alternatives. This extends to cleaners, medicines, lotions, soaps, but also, occasionally, things humans and pets might eat.
Pay is hourly for all the work above, and dependent on experience.
To apply, send a letter and resume (no attachments) to jobs@thewirecutter.com with ?chemist? in the subject line, explaining what you?ve done and what you want to do, and why you?d be right for the job.
Bonus tip?thoughtful applications do better than fast twitch applications. It's not a race. And if you think about what makes this site different than other sites, you will understand how to approach this job application process.
Source: http://thewirecutter.com/2013/02/we-need-reporters-researchers-and-a-chemist/
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Mophie Juice Pack Helium iPhone 5 Review - Business Insider
My iPhone battery is always running low.?
Everyday by mid-day my battery it's practically dead, meaning if I'm going to be out for the evening, I need to remind myself to bring my charger from home.?
That doesn't always happen.
For a while I resorted to carrying around the Mophie powerstation mini an external battery with a USB port that can power most mobile devices, but I hated carrying around two phone-sized things to stay charged.
When I learned that Mophie was finally releasing its latest battery extender for the iPhone 5, I got excited. And I was lucky enough to get my hands on one a bit early.
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
With the exception of a few minor quirks, the Mophie Juice Pack Helium is an essential accessory for just about any iPhone 5 owner.
The new juice pack builds on the previous versions, yet it doesn't add too much bulk to the svelte iPhone 5. Obviously, your iPhone 5 will be significantly thicker than before, but that's because the Helium adds an extra battery that's almost as big as the one in your phone now.
Still, the extra thickness didn't bother me at all, especially because the case adds an additional 80% to my battery.
By itself, the helium weighs 2.44-ounces and adds a 1500 mAh battery capacity to your iPhone 5. This means that you can talk for six more hours on 3G, use the internet for 6 more hours on 3G/LTE/Wi-Fi, and listen to audio for an additional 30 hours.
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
Using the helium
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
The helium is ridiculously easy to use. After placing the case over your phone, just turn the switch when you need a charge.
I did notice the juice pack got relatively warm when it was charging for an extended amount of time, but on a cold winter night this wasn't necessarily a disadvantage. The case charges with a regular USB cable, so you won't need to go digging around for one of the special new iPhone 5 cables. (It charges your phone too).
What's bad about the helium?
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
The worst thing about the helium is the headphone jack. The case makes the port extra deep, so it's nearly impossible to plug in your headphones without a special extender that comes with the Helium.
The extender works fine, but it's a bit annoying to carry around another dongle. And it's so tiny that chances are pretty good you'll eventually lose it. It feels like an odd compromise.
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
Should you buy it?
Kevin Smith/Business Insider |
I think the juice pack is a necessary accessory for any iPhone 5 user, especially since those iPhone 5 chargers are hard to come by.
Even if you don't outfit your phone with the case at all times, having the helium easily accessible in a briefcase or purse can save you when in a pinch and battery is low.
The helium will begin shipping March 15. It retails for $79.95 and comes in two colors: dark metallic and silver metallic.
Bottom line:
The helium adds 80% more battery to your iPhone with a slim profile. The only negative is access to the headphone jack, which makes it difficult to plug in accessories.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/mophie-juice-pack-helium-iphone-5-review-2013-2
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Monday, February 25, 2013
Social Media Savvy Marketing Benefits Sellers | Real Estate Blog ...
Everyone is talking about it but not many real estate professionals are doing it?social media marketing. The numbers say it works but the competition has yet to embrace the tech savvy marketing that only benefits their sellers. Recent studies show that social media does influence the products we buy.
Traditionally, the number one way to market has been word of mouth advertising, but now social media has the power to influence consumers to buy according to what their family and friends like. Social media marketing has become word of mouth marketing on steroids.
This chart below shows a study from eMarketer citing the number of internet users who would buy a brand from social media influence.
eMarkerter also found that; ?while that is a relatively small percentage, younger consumers were more likely to buy because of a ?like.? They found that 23% of US internet users under the age of 35 said they would buy a brand because of a friend?s social endorsement, and nearly as many internet users between the ages 35 and 49 would do so. Females and males were about even by this metric, at 18% vs. 17%?.
What does this mean for sellers? All real estate professionals need to be utilizing social media including blogs, facebook, twitter and more to promote their properties. Not doing this is a disservice to the seller. The National Association of Realtors in 2011, found that 52% of the first time home buyers were between the ages of 24 and 35 years old. First time home buyers made up 37% of all homes purchased. These numbers directly correlate with the study of influence of social media on buying decisions.
So when looking to make a decision on who to list your home for sale with make sure your real estate professional is social media savvy.
Source: http://blog.homesconnection.com/social-media-savvy-marketing-benefits-sellers/
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Ranking the free agents
The Scouting Combine is all the rage right now, but it's just a steppingstone toward the late-April NFL draft. While forty times and vertical leaps are great fun, an NFL steppingstone that will impact draft results to a much greater extent than the Underwear Olympics is free agency. And it kicks off in just over two weeks.
Here is my ranking of this year's top-50 NFL Free Agents, with guesses on where each player will land, and for roughly how much.
1. Quarterback Joe Flacco -- The Ravens want it. Flacco wants it. And the amount of money is no longer a topic of debate. Flacco will average $20 million on his forthcoming extension, leaving only length and structure to be negotiated. A tag will be wielded if it comes to that, but look for Ozzie Newsome to wrap this thing up within the week, allowing the Ravens' offseason to move forward.
Free Agent Forecast: Ravens on a seven-year, $140 million contract.
2. Left tackle Ryan Clady -- VP of Football Operations John Elway has made it clear Clady isn't going anywhere. He'll be slapped with the franchise tag, and the Broncos will explore something more long term when Clady proves he's fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.
Free Agent Forecast: Broncos via the franchise tag.
3. Defensive end Cliff Avril -- Avril projects to break the bank in free agency because he's the top natural pass rusher available, just about to turn 27, and offers scheme versatility. He'll appeal to 4-3 and 3-4 clubs alike. With 39.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, and 16 forced fumbles over the past five seasons, Avril disrupts offenses in a variety of ways. Indy is flush with salary cap space, and Avril's versatility-athleticism combo would be put to great use in Chuck Pagano's hybrid defense.
Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a five-year, $64 million contract.
4. Cornerback Aqib Talib -- The Patriots are rolling the dice a bit with Talib, but they could emerge looking awfully smart. They'll let him hit the market, gambling that corner-needy teams will instead focus on players with cleaner off-field histories at free agency's deepest position. Expect Talib to be disappointed with offers elsewhere and ultimately re-up in Foxboro at a team-friendly rate.
Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a four-year, $30 million contract.
5. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger -- Kruger's free agency buzz was red hot just ahead of and following Super Bowl 47, but it's come back to Earth the past few weeks. While Kruger is a good player and will command a pretty penny, he's a complementary as opposed to franchise pass rusher. He's Brian Robison, and he's going to get paid like Jared Allen. In Cleveland, Kruger could still complete a formidable rush 'backer duo with Jabaal Sheard in Ray Horton's new 3-4 defense.
Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $60 million contract.
6. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- All signs out of Indianapolis point to Bowe getting a second straight franchise tag. Teams such as the Bills and Vikings would love to get their hands on a receiver like Bowe, but it's not happening. Look for the Chiefs to let Branden Albert walk, tag Bowe, and target a long-term extension worth roughly $11 million annually down the road. Alex Smith is going to be Kansas City?s quarterback, and an offensive tackle figures to be the No. 1 pick.
Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs via the franchise tag.
7. Wide receiver Mike Wallace -- Both the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel have reported that Wallace tops GM Jeff Ireland's free-agent wish list. "60 Minutes" would give Ryan Tannehill a playmaker on the perimeter capable of both catching bombs and attracting frequent double coverage. Signing Wallace could open up Miami's offense underneath.
Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a four-year, $50 million contract.
8. Safety Jairus Byrd -- Adept in center-field coverage and a hawk on the ball, Byrd has developed into perhaps the premier free safety in football, forcing 28 turnovers through four NFL seasons. The Bills could use the franchise tag as a steppingstone in long-term contract talks. Soon, Byrd will join Eric Berry, Troy Polamalu, and Eric Weddle as one of the NFL's highest paid safeties.
Free Agent Forecast: Bills via the franchise tag.
9. Defensive tackle Henry Melton -- The surest way to torpedo an opposing passing game is to attack it with interior pressure. Melton does that like a rolling ball of butcher knives from his three-technique tackle position, registering 13 sacks over the past two seasons and getting better every year. The 2013 franchise number for interior defensive linemen costs a reasonable $8.306 million.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears via the franchise tag.
10. Safety Dashon Goldson -- If Byrd is the top ballhawk in the game, Goldson might be the premier pure cover safety. Toward the end of the season, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cost the Niners some leverage by publicly acknowledging Goldson was "right up there" with Ed Reed. Goldson wanted Eric Weddle money last offseason. He may get more after a career-best year.
Free Agent Forecast: 49ers on a five-year, $42 million contract.
11. Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer -- Sporting the Cowboys' franchise tag in 2012, Spencer delivered career bests in tackles (95) and sacks (11). Despite changing its defensive alignment from 3-4 to 4-3, Dallas has made no bones about wanting Spencer back. They could clear enough space to make it happen by signing Tony Romo to an extension, which they already plan to do.
Free Agent Forecast: Cowboys on a four-year, $44 million contract.
12. Tight end Tony Gonzalez -- Gonzalez seemed dead set on retirement late in the 2012 season, but ESPN's Ed Werder has since reported the future Hall of Famer is "wavering" and may return for one more Super Bowl run. Although he is 37 years old, Gonzo has plenty of good football left, coming off a 93-reception season. Expect the allure of a championship to bring Gonzalez back.
Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7 million contract.
13. Defensive tackle Desmond Bryant -- Flying under the radar only because he played on a bad team, Bryant has highly impressive game tape and possesses scheme versatility at 6-foot-6, 300. With nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and productive starts at both tackle and end the past two seasons, 27-year-old Bryant was this year's sleeper for a white-hot market before last week's arrest. Pete Carroll's forgiving Seahawks aren't afraid to take chances on players, and they were looking for an interior pass rusher like this when they signed Jason Jones last spring.
Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a five-year, $25 million contract.
14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery?s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.
15. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer -- Primarily a right tackle in New England, 28-year-old Vollmer's value is enhanced by his capability of adequately protecting the blind side. Lean and athletic at 6-foot-8, 315, Vollmer would be coveted on the market even after arthroscopic knee surgery. The Pats are unlikely to let him get there, prioritizing Vollmer over Talib and Wes Welker.
Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a five-year, $36 million contract.
16. Defensive end Michael Johnson -- In a breakout contract year, Johnson amassed 11.5 sacks -- the same amount he totaled across his first three seasons in the league. The fact that Johnson was an underachiever before 2012 suggests the Bengals would be savvy to keep him in another contract year. They could do so with the franchise tag, worth $10.98 million at defensive end.
Free Agent Forecast: Bengals via the franchise tag.
17. Wide receiver Wes Welker -- Although they eventually leaned on him due to Aaron Hernandez and Julian Edelman's injuries, the Pats opened last season essentially phasing Welker out of their offense. It's probably a sign of things to come. Welker is 32 and not under consideration for New England's franchise tag. The Patriots simply don't value him as highly as it seems like they should.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a three-year, $27 million contract.
18. Running back Steven Jackson -- Jackson will void his $7 million player option for 2013, but the Rams still view him as a key component in their offense. The expectation here is that S-Jax signs a deal to finish his career in St. Louis. If he doesn't, the Falcons, Packers, Steelers, and Broncos would be sensible suitors. Jackson would surely look at playoff-contending teams first.
Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $17.5 million contract.
19. Cornerback Sean Smith -- The Miami Herald is South Florida's most plugged-in paper and vehemently insists Smith won't be franchise tagged. Look for Smith to hit the market targeting $8 million per year. In Jacksonville, new coach Gus Bradley is in pursuit of big, physical corners.
Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a four-year, $32 million contract.
20. Right tackle Andre Smith -- Smith would be an interesting case in free agency. He has a worrisome history of weight issues, but played like the best right tackle in football last season. While the Bengals don't always pony up for free agents, they realize Smith is critical in their offense. They may let him reach the market initially, then re-sign him if bidding is lukewarm.
Free Agent Forecast: Bengals on a six-year, $39 million contract.
The Scouting Combine is all the rage right now, but it's just a steppingstone toward the late-April NFL draft. While forty times and vertical leaps are great fun, an NFL steppingstone that will impact draft results to a much greater extent than the Underwear Olympics is free agency. And it kicks off in just over two weeks.
Here is my ranking of this year's top-50 NFL Free Agents, with guesses on where each player will land, and for roughly how much.
1. Quarterback Joe Flacco -- The Ravens want it. Flacco wants it. And the amount of money is no longer a topic of debate. Flacco will average $20 million on his forthcoming extension, leaving only length and structure to be negotiated. A tag will be wielded if it comes to that, but look for Ozzie Newsome to wrap this thing up within the week, allowing the Ravens' offseason to move forward.
Free Agent Forecast: Ravens on a seven-year, $140 million contract.
2. Left tackle Ryan Clady -- VP of Football Operations John Elway has made it clear Clady isn't going anywhere. He'll be slapped with the franchise tag, and the Broncos will explore something more long term when Clady proves he's fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.
Free Agent Forecast: Broncos via the franchise tag.
3. Defensive end Cliff Avril -- Avril projects to break the bank in free agency because he's the top natural pass rusher available, just about to turn 27, and offers scheme versatility. He'll appeal to 4-3 and 3-4 clubs alike. With 39.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, and 16 forced fumbles over the past five seasons, Avril disrupts offenses in a variety of ways. Indy is flush with salary cap space, and Avril's versatility-athleticism combo would be put to great use in Chuck Pagano's hybrid defense.
Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a five-year, $64 million contract.
4. Cornerback Aqib Talib -- The Patriots are rolling the dice a bit with Talib, but they could emerge looking awfully smart. They'll let him hit the market, gambling that corner-needy teams will instead focus on players with cleaner off-field histories at free agency's deepest position. Expect Talib to be disappointed with offers elsewhere and ultimately re-up in Foxboro at a team-friendly rate.
Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a four-year, $30 million contract.
5. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger -- Kruger's free agency buzz was red hot just ahead of and following Super Bowl 47, but it's come back to Earth the past few weeks. While Kruger is a good player and will command a pretty penny, he's a complementary as opposed to franchise pass rusher. He's Brian Robison, and he's going to get paid like Jared Allen. In Cleveland, Kruger could still complete a formidable rush 'backer duo with Jabaal Sheard in Ray Horton's new 3-4 defense.
Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $60 million contract.
6. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- All signs out of Indianapolis point to Bowe getting a second straight franchise tag. Teams such as the Bills and Vikings would love to get their hands on a receiver like Bowe, but it's not happening. Look for the Chiefs to let Branden Albert walk, tag Bowe, and target a long-term extension worth roughly $11 million annually down the road. Alex Smith is going to be Kansas City?s quarterback, and an offensive tackle figures to be the No. 1 pick.
Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs via the franchise tag.
7. Wide receiver Mike Wallace -- Both the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel have reported that Wallace tops GM Jeff Ireland's free-agent wish list. "60 Minutes" would give Ryan Tannehill a playmaker on the perimeter capable of both catching bombs and attracting frequent double coverage. Signing Wallace could open up Miami's offense underneath.
Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a four-year, $50 million contract.
8. Safety Jairus Byrd -- Adept in center-field coverage and a hawk on the ball, Byrd has developed into perhaps the premier free safety in football, forcing 28 turnovers through four NFL seasons. The Bills could use the franchise tag as a steppingstone in long-term contract talks. Soon, Byrd will join Eric Berry, Troy Polamalu, and Eric Weddle as one of the NFL's highest paid safeties.
Free Agent Forecast: Bills via the franchise tag.
9. Defensive tackle Henry Melton -- The surest way to torpedo an opposing passing game is to attack it with interior pressure. Melton does that like a rolling ball of butcher knives from his three-technique tackle position, registering 13 sacks over the past two seasons and getting better every year. The 2013 franchise number for interior defensive linemen costs a reasonable $8.306 million.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears via the franchise tag.
10. Safety Dashon Goldson -- If Byrd is the top ballhawk in the game, Goldson might be the premier pure cover safety. Toward the end of the season, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cost the Niners some leverage by publicly acknowledging Goldson was "right up there" with Ed Reed. Goldson wanted Eric Weddle money last offseason. He may get more after a career-best year.
Free Agent Forecast: 49ers on a five-year, $42 million contract.
11. Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer -- Sporting the Cowboys' franchise tag in 2012, Spencer delivered career bests in tackles (95) and sacks (11). Despite changing its defensive alignment from 3-4 to 4-3, Dallas has made no bones about wanting Spencer back. They could clear enough space to make it happen by signing Tony Romo to an extension, which they already plan to do.
Free Agent Forecast: Cowboys on a four-year, $44 million contract.
12. Tight end Tony Gonzalez -- Gonzalez seemed dead set on retirement late in the 2012 season, but ESPN's Ed Werder has since reported the future Hall of Famer is "wavering" and may return for one more Super Bowl run. Although he is 37 years old, Gonzo has plenty of good football left, coming off a 93-reception season. Expect the allure of a championship to bring Gonzalez back.
Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7 million contract.
13. Defensive tackle Desmond Bryant -- Flying under the radar only because he played on a bad team, Bryant has highly impressive game tape and possesses scheme versatility at 6-foot-6, 300. With nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and productive starts at both tackle and end the past two seasons, 27-year-old Bryant was this year's sleeper for a white-hot market before last week's arrest. Pete Carroll's forgiving Seahawks aren't afraid to take chances on players, and they were looking for an interior pass rusher like this when they signed Jason Jones last spring.
Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a five-year, $25 million contract.
14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery?s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.
15. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer -- Primarily a right tackle in New England, 28-year-old Vollmer's value is enhanced by his capability of adequately protecting the blind side. Lean and athletic at 6-foot-8, 315, Vollmer would be coveted on the market even after arthroscopic knee surgery. The Pats are unlikely to let him get there, prioritizing Vollmer over Talib and Wes Welker.
Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a five-year, $36 million contract.
16. Defensive end Michael Johnson -- In a breakout contract year, Johnson amassed 11.5 sacks -- the same amount he totaled across his first three seasons in the league. The fact that Johnson was an underachiever before 2012 suggests the Bengals would be savvy to keep him in another contract year. They could do so with the franchise tag, worth $10.98 million at defensive end.
Free Agent Forecast: Bengals via the franchise tag.
17. Wide receiver Wes Welker -- Although they eventually leaned on him due to Aaron Hernandez and Julian Edelman's injuries, the Pats opened last season essentially phasing Welker out of their offense. It's probably a sign of things to come. Welker is 32 and not under consideration for New England's franchise tag. The Patriots simply don't value him as highly as it seems like they should.
Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a three-year, $27 million contract.
18. Running back Steven Jackson -- Jackson will void his $7 million player option for 2013, but the Rams still view him as a key component in their offense. The expectation here is that S-Jax signs a deal to finish his career in St. Louis. If he doesn't, the Falcons, Packers, Steelers, and Broncos would be sensible suitors. Jackson would surely look at playoff-contending teams first.
Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $17.5 million contract.
19. Cornerback Sean Smith -- The Miami Herald is South Florida's most plugged-in paper and vehemently insists Smith won't be franchise tagged. Look for Smith to hit the market targeting $8 million per year. In Jacksonville, new coach Gus Bradley is in pursuit of big, physical corners.
Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a four-year, $32 million contract.
20. Right tackle Andre Smith -- Smith would be an interesting case in free agency. He has a worrisome history of weight issues, but played like the best right tackle in football last season. While the Bengals don't always pony up for free agents, they realize Smith is critical in their offense. They may let him reach the market initially, then re-sign him if bidding is lukewarm.
Free Agent Forecast: Bengals on a six-year, $39 million contract.
21. Left tackle Jake Long -- This year's free-agent tackle class is incredibly deep, and there are three top-ten left tackle picks in the draft. The result is a buyer's market, where veterans perhaps past their primes like Long will receive disappointing offers. Expect Long's price tag to drop after waiting a day or three in free agency, and the Dolphins to re-sign him at a club-friendly rate.
Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a five-year, $37.5 million contract.
22. Cornerback Brent Grimes -- Before Grimes tore his Achilles' early last September, he had quietly emerged as a top-five NFL corner. By all accounts, Grimes' recovery has gone smoothly and he's now performing strenuous workouts on land. Turning 30 this July, Grimes remains a red-light injury risk and will probably have to accept a short-term, incentive-laden deal. The Falcons know Grimes best and could clear enough cap space to re-sign him by cutting Dunta Robinson.
Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7.5 million contract.
23. Guard Andy Levitre -- Levitre and Louis Vasquez are the cream of the crop in a top-heavy free-agent guard class, and Levitre is better than Vasquez. 27 in May, Levitre is young and versatile, capable of starting at any of the three interior line spots as well as tackle in a pinch. Ex-Bills offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins is now on the Lions' staff, and Detroit is needy at guard.
Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a six-year, $38 million contract.
24. Cornerback Derek Cox -- Despite his client's laundry list of durability woes, Cox's agent expects a "vigorous" market for the 26-year-old corner. Per the agent, Cox permitted a 69.0 passer rating last season, better than more heralded CBs Talib (98.7), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (87.7), and Sean Smith (85.1). Cox and his agent may be slightly disappointed, but they'll get a solid deal. Broncos DC Jack Del Rio knows Cox well from their Jacksonville days.
Free Agent Forecast: Broncos on a four-year, $28 million contract.
25. Strong safety William Moore -- Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan made Moore a featured player in his first season with Atlanta. Moore responded with a breakout year, setting a career high in tackles (75) and intercepting four balls. While the Falcons seem unlikely to slap Moore with the franchise tag, re-signing him is an obvious priority and they are likely to get a deal done. At $6.65 million annually, Tyvon Branch's 2012 contract figures to be a starting point in negotiations.
Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a five-year, $33.5 million contract.
26. Wide receiver Greg Jennings -- If Jennings truly believes he's worth $14 million annually -- as has been reported -- he'll be sorely disappointed. Going on age 30 with 11 missed games the past two seasons, Jennings would do well to surpass Reggie Wayne's three-year, $17.5 million deal. He probably will, but not by much. Minnesota is desperate for an established, playmaking receiver.
Free Agent Forecast: Vikings on a four-year, $25 million contract.
27. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora -- Still an effective situational pass rusher at age 31, Umenyiora registered six sacks and two forced fumbles last season while playing 61 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps. The Bucs are starving for an improved pass rush, and Osi is familiar with Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan from his five-year stint (2005-09) on the Giants' staff.
Free Agent Forecast: Buccaneers on a three-year, $20 million contract.
28. Defensive end Michael Bennett -- Bennett is a complementary-type pass rusher, but will be coveted by teams that run 4-3 defenses because he can affect the offense from both left end and tackle. At 6-foot-4, 274, he's like a poor man's Justin Tuck. 27-year-old Bennett is coming off career bests in tackles (41), sacks (9), and forced fumbles (3). The cap-rich Bucs not only need to re-sign Bennett, they need to add another outside-edge rusher to join him. (See Umenyiora.)
Free Agent Forecast: Buccaneers on a five-year, $36 million contract.
29. Left tackle Will Beatty -- Gifted athletically and 28 years old, Beatty graded out as a top-ten left tackle in Pro Football Focus' 2012 ratings and is in the midst of his prime. The Giants aren't willing to pay Beatty franchise-tag money, but do want to complete a long-term deal. Look for the G-Men to get Beatty re-signed without breaking the bank. About $6.5 million annually ought to get it done.
Free Agent Forecast: Giants on a five-year, $32.5 million contract.
30. Wide receiver Danny Amendola -- If Amendola hits the market, expect the Broncos and Patriots to show interest. More likely, the Rams will identify him as a core offensive player and make a competitive offer closer to the eve of free agency. Amendola is St. Louis' only reliable on-field receiver, and his 20 missed games over the past two seasons should bring down his price.
Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $18.5 million contract.
31. Right tackle Phil Loadholt -- Vikings GM Rick Spielman realizes Loadholt's worth. Minnesota plays run-first offense, and Loadholt is a crucial puzzle piece as a 343-pound mauler. The sides have discussed an extension off and on since last fall. 27 and coming off a career-best season, Loadholt may use Doug Free's four-year, $32 million deal as a jump-off point in negotiations.
Free Agent Forecast: Vikings on a three-year, $27 million contract.
32. Free safety Ed Reed -- Reed played last season on a $7.2 million salary. If he really wants another Super Bowl ring, he'll have to take less. Going on 35 and entrenched in his decline phase, Reed may only have a year or two left. A mutual admirer of Pats coach Bill Belichick, Reed spoke of signing with New England in January and there's a good chance that dream will become reality.
Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
33. Defensive tackle Randy Starks -- Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland conceded at the Combine that he's "likely" to wield the franchise tag ahead of next Monday's deadline. Sean Smith won't get it, and neither will Jake Long. At $8.306 million, the defensive tackle franchise number would be more cost effective than Smith and Long's positions, and a sensible way of retaining 29-year-old Starks.
Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins via the franchise tag.
34. Guard Louis Vasquez -- The Chargers made overtures to Vasquez at the Combine, identifying him as a priority to keep on an otherwise poorly-assembled offensive line. Expect the sides to hammer out a deal worth over $6 million annually. San Diego can't afford to let him get away.
Free Agent Forecast: Chargers on a seven-year, $44 million contract.
35. Tight end Martellus Bennett -- Bennett fit the Giants well in 2012, flashing Pro Bowl-caliber ability when he was healthy and the offense clicked. John Carlson's $25 million over five years should be a baseline in negotiations. Bennett is only 26 and could bet on himself in the short term.
Free Agent Forecast: Giants on a three-year, $16 million contract.
36. Wide receiver Brian Hartline -- Hartline falls into tier two of this year's receiver free-agency class; in the Danny Amendola group behind Bowe, Wallace, and Jennings. Teams around the league realize Hartline is only a competitive No. 2 receiver, but his $6 million-per-year target price is not unreasonable. The Dolphins want Hartline back, and they have ample money to keep him.
Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a three-year, $18 million contract.
37. Tight end Dustin Keller -- The Jets can't afford to retain Keller, and he's destined for the open market. Last year's injuries may depress Keller's value some, even if he'll be the premier seam-stretching tight end available with Jared Cook returning to Nashville on the franchise tag. Reunited with Brian Schottenheimer, the Rams could pair Keller with Lance Kendricks in two-tight end sets.
Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a four-year, $22 million contract.
38. Defensive end Dwight Freeney -- 33 and best suited for a specialist's role on limited snaps, Freeney can still bring heat on passing downs as a "wave" rusher. He could be a short-term fix for a Seattle team needing pass-rushing reinforcements as Chris Clemons recovers from a torn ACL.
Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a two-year, $10 million contract.
39. Running back Reggie Bush -- Although Bush didn't embarrass himself as the Dolphins' feature back the past two seasons, NFL teams still envision him as a "space" player who's at his best on limited touches, mostly in the pass game. The Lions badly need to add juice to their backfield, and Bush's fit would be ideal in the league's pass-heaviest offense. He's not going to break the bank.
Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a four-year, $16.5 million contract.
40. Left tackle Sam Baker -- Baker is coming off a career year, but past back issues will concern tackle-needy clubs, and his value will be further depressed by a rich market at his position. The Falcons would be smart to let Baker reach free agency unsigned, because he'd likely come back willing to take less money. It's safe to say the Sam Baker "sweepstakes" would not be fierce.
Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a five-year, $27 million contract.
41. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie -- Rodgers-Cromartie is a maddeningly poor tackler and returning from an inconsistent year in coverage, but he oozes talent and is only 27 years old. "DRC" had the best season of his career in 2009 under then-Cardinals defensive coordinator Billy Davis. Davis just so happens to be running Chip Kelly's defense in Philly now.
Free Agent Forecast: Eagles on a three-year, $17 million contract.
42. Cornerback Keenan Lewis -- Lewis took off in 2012, playing physical and consistent coverage and tackling efficiently opposite Ike Taylor for the Steelers' top-ranked pass defense. Pittsburgh now lacks the financial means to retain Lewis, who entered the league when Ray Horton was the Steelers' defensive backs coach. Horton is now coordinating the division-rival Browns defense.
Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $36 million contract.
43. Cornerback Chris Houston -- Much better suited as a No. 2 than No. 1 corner, Houston has nevertheless spent the past three seasons in the latter role with Detroit. Unfortunately for Houston, he's another middling option in a free-agent cornerback class full of No. 2s. Expect him to re-sign affordably with the Lions, and GM Martin Mayhew to target a future No. 1 in April's draft.
Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a two-year, $11.5 million contract.
44. Defensive tackle Jason Jones -- Jones never really found a home in Seattle's 2012 defense, playing under 30 percent of the defensive snaps and notching three sacks as an interior pocket pusher off the bench. If he's healthy, Jones is capable of injecting explosive rush ability into a defensive front seven. Old Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is now Jacksonville's head coach, and the Jaguars are desperate for pass rushers both inside and off the outside edge.
Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a three-year, $12 million contract.
45. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus -- Cherilus was arguably Detroit's best offensive lineman in 2012, but he's a right-tackle only with a long history of knee problems and no longer part of the Lions' long-term plans. Cherilus will likely be viewed on the open market as a short-term fix. The Texans make sense as a landing spot because their primary weakness up front is right tackle.
Free Agent Forecast: Texans on a two-year, $10.5 million contract.
46. Free safety Louis Delmas -- Delmas would be much higher on this list if not for persistent injuries. A difference maker when in the lineup, Delmas has missed 13 games the past two seasons due to knee and groin surgeries. Delmas hasn't yet turned 26, so he could pursue a one-year, prove-it deal to display durability before re-testing free agency in 2014. The Chiefs are needy at free safety across from Eric Berry and should be willing to give Delmas a shot.
Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs on a one-year, $5 million contract.
47. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton -- Knighton never met expectations in Jacksonville, but he's a 340-pound 26-year-old long on run-clogging potential. A one-year, prove-it deal with the 2014 market in mind might serve Knighton best in the big picture. Denver needs an anchor for its defense, and coordinator Jack Del Rio was Knighton's head coach for three years with the Jags.
Free Agent Forecast: Broncos on a one-year, $4.75 million contract.
48. Linebacker Daryl Smith -- Smith is coming off a lost season due to injury, but should have quality football left at age 31. His "SAM" linebacker position is also critical in new coach Gus Bradley's 4-3. Look for the sides to reunite and career Jaguar Smith to finish things up in Jacksonville.
Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a three-year, $15 million contract.
49. Tight end Jared Cook -- Cook played roughly 60 percent of his 2012 snaps lined up in the slot or out wide. He wants to be franchise tagged at the wide receiver number of $10.5 million. The Titans prefer him at the tight end number ($5.962 million), and the sides figure to agree to meet somewhere in the middle. Tennessee's coaches and front office seem dead set on keeping Cook.
Free Agent Forecast: Titans via the franchise tag.
50. Cornerback Antoine Cason -- Although susceptible deep, 26-year-old Cason can make plays on the football and offers impressive corner size at 6-foot-1, 195. Indianapolis is rich on salary cap space and in the market for a bookend across from Vontae Davis. Cason is young, should be relatively affordable, and fits defensive-minded coach Chuck Pagano's press coverage scheme.
Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.
Best of the Rest Free Agents: Kenny Phillips, Connor Barwin, Israel Idonije, Rashard Mendenhall, Bradley Fletcher, Glenn Dorsey, Jermon Bushrod, Bryant McKinnie, Cary Williams, Richard Seymour, Matt Moore, Fred Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, Mike Jenkins, James Casey, Brandon Moore, Ronde Barber, Shaun Phillips, LaRon Landry, Leodis McKelvin, Pat Chung, Charles Woodson, Jerome Felton, Dannell Ellerbe, Jerraud Powers, Victor Butler, Glover Quin.
Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42620/309/top-50-free-agency-forecast
hook troy miracle andy whitfield kennedy demi moore roy oswalt
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Mount Clemens boys basketball coach Jermaine Jackson finds that deeper level of team chemistry spawns success
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Mount Clemens coach Jermaine Jackson's passion for developing youth has made the boys basketball team one of the most successful programs in the area this season. - (Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com)
The Mount Clemens boys basketball team has been used to success on the court in recent seasons. After winning its fourth Macomb Area Conference Gold title in a row on Friday night with a 91-84 victory against Warren Woods Tower, it goes without saying that nothing has changed in Mt. Clemens' winning ways.
Well, almost nothing.
When Jermaine Jackson took over the head coaching position at Mt. Clemens this year, he inherited a team that had plenty of talent and grit to continue the dynasty that the program had been building. Most coaches would have a hard time waiting to get on the court and start creating some chemistry.
But for Jackson, he decided to start building chemistry before practice even started.
?The first two weeks before practice, we didn?t train, we didn?t pick up a basketball, we didn?t do anything,? Jackson said. ?I got to know them. I built a relationship with them. No basketball. No anything. I built a relationship with every kid.?
Jackson was not kidding around either. Making an effort to get to know the parents of each player, the brothers and sister ? even the girlfriends ? Jackson wanted his players to know that he was going to do everything in his power to make his team feel like a family. Heck, he even had dinners with some of the families.
Luckily for Jackson, his efforts proved to be fruitful.
?We?re with each other 24-7,? Mt. Clemens sophomore Josh McFolley said. ?We are basically a family, we are like brothers ? We?ve got to learn everybody.?
The tighter the team got off of the court, the tighter it got in games and in practices. As that happened the win began to snowball and now Mt. Clemens sees itself with a 17-1 record with its only loss coming by three points in double overtime to New Haven.
Not bad for chemistry, right?
Jackson, who has a history of mentoring area youth though his own Jermaine Jackson Community Center in Mt. Clemens, he believes that the best can be drawn out of any player if they are placed in the right type of environment. The best way Jackson knows how to create a nurturing environment is by using his strong faith as a guide.
?God got me through,? Jackson said. ?I tell the guys all of the time that it is all God, it?s not us. It?s all God giving us the ability, the strength, the conditioning and the focus and love that we have for each other.?
Maybe Jackson can coin the term ?a team that prays together, wins together.? Plus, it also helps that Jackson knows a thing or two about basketball.
As a former point-guard at University of Detroit Mercy, Jackson also spent some time playing professionally in the NBA and overseas. With his abundant amount of skill and knowledge, combined with his full-throttle attitude, it is no wonder that Mt. Clemens is experiencing one of its greatest seasons ever at this point.
However, Jackson will be the first to remind his players that the season is far from over and that there is plenty of work still to do. For Mt. Clemens, it is all or nothing. That is why the Battling Bathers will celebrate its fourth-straight MAC Gold title by heading back to school and holding a practice right after the game.
?We just won but the guys know that we are going to go back to the school and practice tonight,? Jackson said. ?We?ve got a lot of missed assignments, we weren?t in help-side defense. (Tower) scored 84 points on us. Not to say they can?t score, but we pride ourselves on defense.?
Actually, with the way Jackson has been running the ship so far in his first year, Mt. Clemens can pride itself on everything.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 hands-on
It’s day minus-one of Mobile World Congress 2013, and we already have the first major device announcement from Samsung. Variously leaked and rumored over the past couple of months, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is official today, and we’ve had the chance to go hands-on with the mid-sized, stylus-toting tablet in Barcelona.
At first glance, the Note 8.0 is a surreal device to behold, looking a lot like a supersized Galaxy Note 2. The basic Samsung design language holds over from the company's 2012 smartphones, meaning we’re dealing with a curvy, shiny, plasticky device. A first for a Samsung tablet, the Note 8.0 includes physical buttons as opposed to the more common on-screen kind, and from a branding perspective. Samsung clearly wants consumers to identify the Note 8.0 as a companion device to the S3 and Note 2. So you should know what to expect if you’ve handled either of those products -- the Note 8.0 is unashamedly light and shiny, and something of a fingerprint magnet. That said, it’s not at all creaky, nor does it feel fragile.
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/CEuKyql0QgE/story01.htm
Martha Raddatz Chris Lighty JJ Watt jerry sandusky johnny depp hayden panettiere raul ibanez
South Africa destroy Pakistan with as innings victory to complete a series whitewash
By Mike Dawes
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South Africa today won the third Test against Pakistan by an innings and 18 runs to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep.
The Proteas had won each of the first two Tests with a day to spare and went one better at Centurion, wrapping up the tourists' second innings for 235 on the third evening.
Dale Steyn took four for 80 in the second innings while Kyle Abbott took nine wickets on his Test debut.
Key moment: South Africa celebrating the key wicket of Younis Khan
Posing with the trophy: South Africa re-affirmed their status as the No.1 Test team
Half-century partnerships between Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat and the unlikely pairing of Saeed Ajmal and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed were in vain as Pakistan managed only a minor improvement on their first-innings capitulation to 156 all out.
The visitors began the third day on 14 for one, with Azhar and Younus Khan at the crease, having followed on 253 runs behind.
However, the partnership was broken on 38 by Steyn, with Younus edging to captain Graeme Smith at first slip on 11.
Howzat! Alviro Petersen, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers have a huge appeal for LBW against Saeed Ajmal
Azhar and Farhat patiently negotiated the remaining overs before lunch but after their partnership reached 54, a mix-up as they turned for a second run saw Azhar sent back by his partner and run out for 27 as Steyn fizzed in a powerful throw and AB de Villiers demolished the stumps.
Farhat followed for 43, slashing a short ball from Kyle Abbott to De Villiers, as the rot set in.
Misbah-ul-Haq (five) offered another easy catch to the wicketkeeper with a thin edge off Rory Kleinveldt and Asad Shafiq (six) then popped a leading edge off the same bowler straight to Vernon Philander at wide mid-off, with Pakistan still 139 behind.
Two reviews then went in the batsmen's favour, Ajmal successfully overturning an lbw decision as Hawk-Eye showed Robin Peterson's delivery was bouncing over the top, before South Africa failed to have Sarfraz caught at slip.
Defence: Pakistan's Azhar Ali showed some resistance to put some fight into their performance
Ajmal paddled Peterson neatly over De Villiers' head for two and lofted the next ball down the ground for six as the pair offered some overdue resistance with a stand of 62 by tea.
The interval arrived with Sarfraz unbeaten on 30 and Ajmal on 27, but the latter added only an additional boundary in taking the partnership to 69 before being dismissed lbw by Steyn, with DRS this time unable to save him.
Again, the departure of one set batsman was swiftly followed by another. Sarfraz had advanced to 40 from 45 balls before slashing Steyn to third man, where Dean Elgar took a very well judged catch.
Bails flying: De Villiers runs out Ali for 27 runs and end Pakistan's hoes of survival
Ehsan Adil hit two boundaries before becoming Abbott's ninth victim of the match, caught at mid-on for 12.
Rahat Ali hit five boundaries, two of them edged off Steyn in an over that also saw him successfully overturn a bat-pad decision against him, but was trapped lbw by Peterson to end the match.
Abbott's match figures of nine for 68 were the third best ever by a Proteas debutant, bettered only by Alf Hall and Sydney Burke who took 11 wickets apiece.
The two teams will now contest two Twenty20 internationals, next Friday and Sunday, followed by five one-day internationals.
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
Foreign military sales growth area for Army
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Army News Service, Feb. 21, 2013) -- Selling military hardware to allied nations is a way to keep weapon production lines hot, ensure the viability of America's industrial base, and strengthen ties with the militaries that buy the equipment. Foreign military sales is a growth area for the future, and a good idea, said the commander of Army Materiel Command.
"There's a growth in demand for training," said Gen. Dennis Via, commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command, during a presentation at the 2013 Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare Symposium and Exposition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "We think this is an opportunity we can leverage as we continue to build partner capacity and build relationships with allies and partner nations."
Through its Foreign Military Sales office, the Army facilitates the sale of military weapons and hardware to partner nations. When that happens, training and support packages are also sold to those customers, which ensure an ongoing relationship between the U.S. Army and the allied nation's military.
In FY 2012, the Army was able to generate $19.6 billion in foreign military sales to 144 different nations. The projected sales in FY 2013 are about $12.2 billion. Via said partner nations and allies want American military goods, and AMC can provide those goods through FMS.
"What I'm finding in my travels, as I meet with embassies and foreign militaries, is they have trust in the equipment the United States provides to them," Via said. "Certainly, I'd leverage every opportunity to push for a sustainment package as well. Because, at some point in time it is going to have to be sustained; it is going to have to be maintained."
Providing those sustainment packages along with FMS helps the Army preserve its own organic industrial base, its arsenals and depots, as well as provides opportunities for training and creates interoperability between U.S. and foreign militaries.
"That's been a win-win for both the U.S. Army and our allies as well; and also a win-win for industry," Via said. "We see that as continuing in the out years. This is a growth industry."
Source: http://www.army.mil/article/96953/Foreign_military_sales_growth_area_for_Army/
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