"The Stack" 3-1-17
Adrian Peterson may be running with the Minnesota Vikings no more. The team declined to pick up his $18 million option making him a free agent. There is still a decent chance he re-signs with them at a reduced price.
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs cut Jamaal Charles on Wednesday. He'll try and make it with another team, but after a torn ACL a couple of seasons ago, he did not look great last year and will have to prove to teams that he is going to be able to be effective.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Stack is back on this Wednesday with some big names in the world of sports to discuss. We’ll talk more about Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors more on Thursday if the MRI comes back and reveals significant damage after Zaza Pachulia fell back into Durant’s knee, hyperextending it, in the Warriors’ 112-108 loss to the Washington Wizards. Kentucky overcame a 19 point deficit to come back and beat Vanderbilt 73-67 in Lexington. It is the biggest comeback for the Wildcats in some 20 years which is a big deal. What else is in “the stack” today? Find out as we get into the first day of March (March Madness is fast approaching) in “the stack” for today, Wednesday, March 1st:
Several NFL greats released
Tuesday saw a trio of some of the best players in the NFL either get cut by their teams or their options not picked up. We start in Minnesota where to no one’s surprise the Vikings announced they are not picking up running back Adrian Peterson’s $18 million option for next year. At 31, Peterson has been injured in two of the last three seasons and the Vikings desperately need help addressing the offensive line. There is a pretty good chance I say of Peterson coming back at a discounted rate, but he will at least now have the option of signing with another team. We know he has mentioned the Houston Texans, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before. We’ll see what happens. At the right price, most Vikings fans I would say would want AP back on the team.
Peterson has a much better chance of coming back to his team than either Jamaal Charles or Darrelle Revis have of coming back to theirs. The Kansas City Chiefs announced they are cutting running back Jamaal Charles, the franchise rushing leader. Charles tore his ACL two seasons ago and was never the same last year and ending up missing almost the whole season. Someone may give him a chance, but he will need to show that he is able to either be a backup or show that he can carry the load. The Chiefs elected to move on.
The New York Jets also moved on from their former shutdown cornerback and member of his own island (Revis Island) in Darrelle Revis. This move was one most people saw coming after the tumultuous season Revis had last year where he routinely got burned by wide receivers. That train of thought increased dramatically with the arrest of Revis in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago and subsequent felony charges laid against him. The Jets were wise to wait until making sure what was going on legally with Revis so they wouldn’t have to pay him.
As free agency creeps closer and the new NFL year begins on March 9th, we’ll see who else may be released. Washington slapped the exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Kirk Cousins so he won’t be going anywhere unless Washington trades him. That’s about $24 million he’ll be making next season.
NFL Scouting Combine beginning in Indy
The NFL world has descended upon Indianapolis this week and into next week for the annual NFL Scouting Combine. This is a chance for a lot of players to increase their draft stock or potentially damage it depending on how they do in things that matter so much in football like the Wonderlic test or the 40 yard dash. Hand sizes will be measured. Bench press reps will be analyzed as will three cone drills and throws by quarterbacks and catches by wide receivers. Interviews will be the biggest part of the combine as players will meet with all 32 teams. Some players who weren’t invited to participate include Oklahoma running back Kenny Mixon, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly, a few Baylor players and others. Kelly is going there to interview with teams to try and show that he has changed. That’s the biggest thing with the combine. Make an impression and make it a good one. Hopefully we don’t hear of any ridiculous questions from scouts to try and get under a player’s skin like they have in years past. NFL Network will have all of the coverage you can ask for and Rich Eisen will run the 40-yard dash for charity (St. Jude’s I believe) which is nice. This is a big week coming up for players and for teams who are trying to get back on the winning track and for those teams who are looking to strengthen their roster and keep the winning ways going.
American East tournament preview (March 1st, 6th & 11th)
Like many smaller conferences, the American East tournament will be played on campus sites all the way through to determine a champion. Their tournament tips off today and then they will go four days in between games. Being tired is absolutely not an issue or an excuse. Vermont finished with an undefeated conference record in the regular season. This Catamount team is good and I do like my Vermont Catamounts. Their biggest challenge is going to come in the semi-finals if they have to face New Hampshire who has played them tough this season. In the end though, Vermont will just be too much for their opponents and they’ll win this tournament.
Prediction: Vermont
Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament preview (March 1st, 4th & 7th)
Surprise, surprise. The NEC tournament also will be played on campus. Their tournament tips off today and Mount St. Mary’s may be the favorite, but LIU-Brooklyn just beat them and if I may say, I think Wagner as the three seed could be the team to beat in this tournament. I’ll take them to the final, but can I actually pick them? May I have to go with the Mount for now. Check back later.
Prediction: Mount St. Mary’s
Ohio Valley Conference tournament preview (March 1st-4th)
The OVC tournament starts in Nashville today. Man, Nashville is such a great city. That should be an advantage to teams like Tennessee State and Belmont. Belmont is the prohibitive favorite to win. Maybe a team like UT Martin gives them a scare, but I doubt it. Going with the Bruins.
Prediction: Belmont
Coming up Thursday: Conference tournament previews and other top headlines in sports.
Listen to this week’s “The Sports Block” podcast here.
