Dr. Tyler; Captain America

Time for the Steelers to play the underdog card!

Not a place I'd like to move.

Sidney should've won the Calder

Uh, i don't think it matters what format you burn the media onto. It should work either way.

A lot of that is rumor and conjecture, but it's a good general guide for the salaries they are likely to command.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/topfas.html Some of those salaries seem insane to me.

Yeah, I've heard people speculate that Elias is going to get very close to the max, which seems somewhat stupid to me.

Eh, you might be right, but I'm thinking small market-like being that I'm a Pens fan; 5 mil for Gonchar seems insane, for example. Chara will probably get close to the max, although I think Jovanovski might go for closer to 5 than the max.

You're high if you don't think Kubina's gonna ask for 4mil+

Interesting report regarding the JJ to the Pens for the #2 overall rumor: Kyle Woodlief of the Red Line Report is reporting that the deal WILL happen, because Carolina is planning on offering Jack Johnson headlining a package going to the Pens for the #2 overall pick in this year's draft. As a Pens fan, I would be ecstatic if this were true. Jack Johnson is arguably as good, if not better, than Erik Johnson (a little smaller, but more passion) and he's further along than Erik -- which means he's more of a sure thing. Blueline help is what the Pens need most, and Jack could be ready to jump in next year, whereas Erik might be two or three years away from ever suiting up in a Pens uniform. If I was Pittsburgh, I would have to agonize over whether or not to trade for JJ -- and that's STRAIGHT UP. If the Pens were to get JJ plus an additional package of picks/players, I would be absolutely ecstatic. This goes back to what I was saying about Staal; the 'Canes are clearly convinced that he's the real deal, but he hasn't even proven himself to be much more than just an elite player in the OHL; he's not a team leader as much as he's just a solid, albeit very raw, player. He doesn't take over like Eric did, and despite the physical comparisons, he's still NOT a sure thing. Should the Canes really do this, or are the Pens committing highway robbery if they accept this trade?

I predict that we know absolutely nothing about the race yet, and it's pointless to analyze these polls except to say that neither Jeb Bush, John Kerry, or Hillary Clinton have any shot at winning in '08.

http://hfboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15833 Those of you who are draft deficient and want a little reading for it, that's a good source of info on most of the prospects.

Another rumor floating around with some credibility: are the B's really thinking of trading out of the #5 spot for a 2nd line C and a top 4 d-man?

So, draft questions: Is Erik Johnson REALLY the best d-man in the past 15 years, or is this standard draft hype? He's come out of nowhere in the past six months to become the top prospect, but he's facing a lower level of competition in the US NTDP. What did Kessel do to deserve dropping so far in the CSS and ISS reports? All he did was win the Freshman of the Year award for Minnesota last year, and he drops from "The American Crosby" to "huge bust risk". Honestly, I can see the Pens picking him at 2, and I think he will be huge on either Crosby or Malkin's wing a year or two down the line. Is Jordan Staal the most hugely overrated prospect in recent memory? The guy has a brother who just led his team to the Cup and another brother who was picked in the first round last year. However, so much of Jordan's production seems like it's projected. He's got some skills, no doubt, but would he be a mid-late 1st rounder if not for his name? On his scouting reports, I'm hearing things like "he's ahead of where his brother was physically", but his game isn't nearly as dominant for the Petes as Eric's was. Is he really worth the top pick? Could Backstrom, Brassard, or Toews sneak into the top 3? Anyone think there's any truth to the rumor that the Canes are trying to trade into the Penguins' #2 spot to pick Jordan -- with Jack Johnson as the bait? Draft weekend is awesome.

Any NHL draftniks out there?

Confirmation that the knees are minor from ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2480830

He could get an ice grill!

There are differing reports on it. I think the Trib (might've been the PG, I'm getting my articles mixed up and I don't feel like checking which one said it) reported that he lost "most" of his teeth, the other reported he had multiple chipped teeth. I'm going based on a report from a friend of a friend (obviously the most reliable source, haha) who is an ER doctor at Mercy in PA, who said that the surgery is mostly reconstructive since he had few or no teeth left and they had to wire his jaw, do extensive dental work, and close the lacerations. May or may not be true, but I trust the source considering the near corroboration from the media.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06163/697655-100.stm PPG article on it, which was updated after the Trib one that ESPN.com and a few others have referenced re: knee injuries, doesn't mention anything about it. John Clayton and Adam Schefter of the NFL Network have also reported that the knee injuries are nothing serious. I'd imagine he has a concussion as well, but hell, he's got 12 weeks until the season starts. No big deal for him. Three posts in a row? Hmm.

Also, how fast the bike was is irrelevant. The speed limit in the area he crashed was 25, and by all accounts, he was going the speed limit. Even if you hit someone going 25 mph, it's gonna sting a little.

From what I've heard, the "serious" knee injuries are just road rash. He got scraped up real good, doesn't have any teeth left, and broke his nose and jaw. He'll probably be on a liquid diet for the next seven weeks or something, and that could affect his conditioning, but sorry Bengals fans, he's still gonna be back before Carson

Even with Omar Jacobs at the helm, the Steelers would beat the Ravens

At least the focus will be back off of communist football for a few days!

He's in serious but stable condition (whatever that means) and is in surgery.

People who walk around with bluetooth headsets in their ear, even when they're not using it. My friend used to do that, and I wanted to strangle him for it.