Even before the release of next season's schedule (which should happen in April, about a week before the draft) we already know who everyone will be playing in 2015. That means it's possible to calculate who'll have the toughest row to hoe, and who gets a break. The Falcons will face the weakest teams, their 2015 opponents compiling a .409 regular-season winning percentage last season. They'll face just four opponents who had winning records, but their relative cakewalk is a function of the historically bad NFC South getting to play the similarly woeful AFC South, as well as the usual six intradivisional games. In fact, the two divisions account for the eight easiest 2015 schedules. The Steelers have the toughest strength of schedule, their opponents putting up a co…

Y’see, the thing is, Trail Blazers, you can’t play-act being some sort of feminist champion organization for five minutes, just long enough to get people to notice, and then hope it all goes away when your credentials on that prove to be thinner than a playing card. You can’t dip your toe into these issues to give the appearance that you care, and then decide you don’t want any part of it when the tough part comes along. Once you’re in, you’re in. It’s not a buffet. So when you pretended that you really wanted to hire Becky Hammon as your coach, because your owner really wanted it, you open the door to all kinds of stuff when you hire a less experienced coach with a rape accusation and lawsuit settlement in his past. Because you don’t get to care, or claim to care, about…

Vikings GM Rick Spielman was trotted out in front of the media today to explain why the Minnesota Vikings decided to reinstate Adrian Peterson despite the fact that he has been indicted on child injury charges in a case where none of the facts are in dispute. Spielman explained that Peterson was deactivated on Friday, right after the news of Peterson's indictment broke, because the organization wanted to "take a step back" and "gather information." Having gathered the same information that everyone else has, including disturbing images of the physical wounds that Peterson's son had a week after the incident and witness testimony that included phrases like "Daddy Peterson hit me on my face," Spielman said that allowing Peterson to return to the tea…

McLaren Racing signed Formula One driver Lando Norris to a multiyear contract, the team announced Friday. His previous four-year deal was set to expire at the end of 2025, but McLaren wanted to assure he stayed part of the team for the long term. McLaren did not announce the specific length or financial terms for Norris, who has been with the team for six years. "McLaren's felt like home since day one," Norris, 24, said in a video posted to the team's social media. "I'm just happy to be staying with the people that I've grown up with, who have helped me develop as a driver, who made me into the person I am today. The team's as strong as it's ever been. "They are who I believe I can win my championships with. I've prepared more tha…

data-mm-id=”_lq8i208uf”>Major League Baseball is now faced with a singular question: now what? Scandal has touched baseball once again, with the Houston Astros' sign-stealing raising all kinds of questions. How did they do it? How long did it go on for? How did it impact the outcomes of games?With new proof of wrongdoing emerging seemingly by the hour, the question now becomes what sort of punishment awaits the team for its transgressions. This isn't like the steroid controversy, where Hall of Fame voters could simply decide not to elect individual players to Cooperstown. When it's apparently a team-wide conspiracy that may have lasted several years and impacted who knows how many games, what can be done?Draft Pick Forfeiture The MLB Draft is perhaps the most difficult t…

data-mm-id=”_gmjt49xkv”>Preston Tucker has collected 68 RBI in his 243 Major League games spread over three seasons. He's on a slightly more torrid pace over in the KBO. The sweet-swinging lefty, now playing for the Kia Tigers, went 4-for-4 and drove in seven runs in today's blowout victory against Doosan. Preston Tucker having a day! A base clearing double after hitting his 4th HR of the season. #KBO #KiaTigers pic.twitter.com/KOV1pVETMC— KBO Collections (@kbocollections) May 16, 2020Preston Tucker with his 4th HR of 2020. He is now tied for the early league lead with Han Dong-min and Kim Jae-hwan. #KBO #KiaTigers pic.twitter.com/LCp0QadynP— KBO Collections (@kbocollections) May 16, 2020He could have notched his second five-hit game of the young season if not for a minor…

data-mm-id=”_gwal1qx0l”>Major League Baseball is considering a radical plan to save the 2020 season. A proposal reported by USA Today' Bob Nightengale would create three 10-team divisions split up regionally. Some executives are high on the idea as a way to salvage as much of the campaign as they can. Frankly, it's the best idea we've heard yet. There are no good options for bringing baseball back soon. There's no way to play out the full season, there is noway to safely allow fans to the park and there's no way the league can safely allow a traditional travel schedule for teams. Which is why a radical switch-up makes sense. Nightengale lays out the proposal and claims it would realign the teams based on geography and have everyone still play in their home stad…

data-mm-id=”_6fipzrlpe”>As the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers played Game 2 of their first-round NBA playoff series Thursday night, ESPN's Mark Jackson started insulting Carmelo Anthony's former coaches. George Karl was not a fan of it and lit Jackson up on Twitter.During the broadcast Jackson essentially blamed Anthony's former tutors for his reputation as a bad defender. Karl, a former long-time coach of Anthony's, had a retort.I heard @MarkJackson13 is taking shots at my defensive coaching during tonight’s broadcast. Remind me, how many all-star teams did you coach, Mark? How many DPOYs? How many Finals appearances? How many of my teams became dynasties right after I left?— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) August 21, 2020Damn George. That's a b…