Category → NFL

Placing a Bet on Poker

22 March, 09:17, by Admin Tags:

Plenty of sportsbettors have found success at the poker tables, and it is worth giving poker a go if you haven’t yet. While it may not match the excitement of a big NFL bet coming in for you on a miracle last second touchdown, poker can be a steady source of profits, and a nice change of pace from the sportsbetting scene. Unlike when you have to nervously sweat a big bet with your fate in the hands of the players on the field, at poker you are much more in control of your own destiny, with ultimate profits or losses completely up to you and the decisions you make at the tables.

Online poker is an excellent way to familiarize with the game, as you can start at the play chip tables and work your way up to real money games. If you decide to jump right in, you can select a wide range of stakes, and also choose between playing in cash games or poker tournaments. Unlike sitting down in a poker room at a casino, learning to play online isn’t intimidating at all, as there are no other players watching if you make a mistake and you can play at your own pace, as well as look up poker strategy guides and articles online as you play.

As far as finding poker games online, many sportsbetting websites also offer poker games, so you can access the poker action from your existing account at those online gaming sites. This saves you the hassle of opening another account just for poker and in many cases you will be eligible for poker bonuses as well, which can be a nice boost to your bottom line when you are first learning the game. Your account balance moves with you from game to game at most gaming sites, so you will simply need to find the poker table, select a seat, and you are good to go.

Very few players are consistent winners at poker from the very start but before too long you should be holding your own, and working your way to playing profitability. Online poker forums and video training sites can help immensely, as well as reading poker strategy books. It is not rocket science but a good grounding in basic strategy goes a long way, and gives you a starting point to develop your own profitable playing style and strategy.

Chargers to use the franchise tag on Vincent Jackson?

11 February, 10:52, by Admin Tags:

Fans hoping that their favorite team had a shot at acquiring free agent Vincent Jackson this offseason may have to wait another year. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jackson expects the Chargers to use their franchise tag on him in 2011.

Jackson, according to someone familiar with the player’s thinking, expects the tag and plans to play for the more than $10 million it would guarantee him.

That is, if the franchise tag is part of a new CBA.

The NFL Players Association says teams have no right to a franchise tag since the current Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire March 3. The NFL says the franchise tag is included in the CBA under which the league is operating.

I have to side with the NFLPA on this one. If the current CBA deal is set to expire March 3, then how is it fair that teams can use their franchise tags for the 2011 season when the current contract applied to the 2010 season? I get that the NFL wants to keep things business as usual because it believes that a new deal will eventually be worked out. But how about the league just work on getting a new deal in place before worrying about whether or not teams can use their franchise tags. If the owners and NFLPA agree to a new CBA deal, then everything can go back to normal and all of this becomes a moot point.

Getting back to Jackson, his situation comes down to money. He sat out most of last season because the Chargers were only willing to pay him for one year at $3.2 million. If he’s tagged for the 2011 season, he’ll make roughly $10 million for one year and then the Chargers can let him walk in 2012 while accepting a future compensatory draft pick.

Browns start rebuilding process under Shurmur, release six veterans

11 February, 10:48, by Admin Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I started laughing when I wrote that title.

Start rebuilding process? Haven’t the Browns been rebuilding since 1999? Hahahaha…ahhhhh, their fans deserve better.

The Browns’ latest rebuilding project has started under new head coach Pat Shurmur, who on Wednesday night released veterans Shaun Rogers, Kenyon Coleman, John St. Clair, Robert Royal, David Bowens and Eric Barton. Most of those players were considered “Eric Mangini guys,” so it’s not surprising to see that they were let go.

By parting with those six players, the Browns will save roughly $16 million next year. The biggest name is obviously Rogers, who struggled with injuries last year and played in only a third of the team’s snaps. He was due a $5.5 million salary as well as a $500K roster bonus so even though he’s versatile enough to play in a 4-3 (which the Browns will switch to under Shurmur), he wasn’t worth the coin in the end. He turns 32 in March and it’s clear that the Browns want to get younger on defense, so parting with him makes sense on paper.

Under former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the Browns finished 22nd in total defense last year, 18th against the pass and 27th against the run. Considering they were on the field a lot thanks to a horrendous offense, those numbers could have been a lot worse. But at the end of the day, the Browns are changing schemes and weren’t going to keep players that Mangini had brought in to fit his defense.