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01/13/2012 - Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Graham DeLaet missed most of last season with a herniated disc in his back.
He is playing this season on a major medical extension and has to earn over $650,000 this season in order to keep his tour card for next year.
So far, so good.
DeLaet fired a seven-under 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club.
The Canadian is searching for his first win on the PGA Tour, though he has won three times on the Canadian Tour.
K.J. Choi, the 2008 champion, and Carl Pettersson are tied for second place at minus-five. They were joined there by Kyle Reifers, who made it back to the PGA Tour this year for the first time since 2007.
Last week's winner Steve Stricker and Webb Simpson, who tied for third behind Stricker at Kapalua, both carded four-under 66s and they headline a group of 12 players that share fifth place.
Through seven holes, DeLaet didn't look like he would be the first-round leader. He birdied the first, but gave that stroke back when he tripped to a bogey on the fourth.
After three more pars, DeLaet caught fire. He rolled in an 11-foot birdie try on No. 8, then chipped in for eagle on the par-five ninth.
DeLaet poured in a 37-footer for birdie at 10 to move to four-under. He kept going with a birdie at the 12th.
The 29-year-old parred his next four holes. At the par-three 17th, DeLaet dropped his tee shot within eight feet and he converted that putt for birdie. He played his third to the par-five 18th to about three feet. DeLaet sank that for a closing birdie and a two-stroke lead.
"It's definitely exciting to be back on the golf course," admitted DeLaet. "Great way to start the year. Just being in Hawaii, period, is a great way to start the year and to come out and fire a nice round in the opening round was great."
Last year, DeLaet only played in four events (two PGA, two Nationwide Tour) due to a herniated disc. He had surgery early last year, but admitted it was probably November before he could take a full swing with his driver.
"I'm still progressing, I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent, but better than even before the real bad injury," DeLaet said. "I'm just so excited to be back out. The one thing with the injury, when you're out here on tour, I had a good season my rookie campaign (2010), and then it was all basically just taken away. And I realize now how fortunate we are to be playing golf for a living and you know, my whole attitude is definitely better."
Choi played the back nine first Thursday and had four birdies and a lone bogey on his opening nine. He parred the first six holes of the front side, then birdied two of the last three holes to share second.
Pettersson had a bogey-free round with three birdies on the front and two more around the turn.
Reifers started on No. 10 with a par. He birdied three of the next four holes, but his non-birdie in that span was a bogey at the 13th. Reifers turned at three-under after a birdie on 17. He had three more birdies and a bogey on the front nine.
NOTES: Last year's winner Mark Wilson struggled to a three-over 73, which left him tied for 121st place...Sixty-three of the 144 players in the field broke par in the opening round.
<< No. 4 Stanford cruises past Utah
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nnemkadi Ogwumike scored 18 points and
pulled down 13 rebounds as No. 4 Stanford rolled past Utah, 62-43.
Chiney Ogwumike also recorded a double-double for Stanford (14-1, 5-0 Pac-12)
with 11 points
<< Hawks crush Bobcats sans Horford
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - No Horford, no problem.
The Atlanta Hawks learned they would be without starting center Al Horford for
3-to-4 months Thursday, then responded with a 111-81 dismantling of the
Charlotte Bobcats.
Josh
<< Mississippi State holds off Tennessee
Starkville, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It wasn't Dee Bost's best effort, but
Mississippi State's leading scorer came up with a steal and game-sealing dunk
in the closing seconds to give No. 20 Mississippi State a 62-58 victory over
Tenness
<< Niemi helps Sharks blank Jets
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Antti Niemi made 24 saves to earn his second
shutout of the season and lead the San Jose Sharks to a 2-0 victory over the
Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
Logan Couture and Brad Winchester provided the offen
Irving leads Cavs past Suns >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 points and
Antawn Jamison added 23, as the Cavaliers bested the Suns, 101-90, on
Thursday.
Daniel Gibson chipped in 10 points and Anderson Varejao had eight point
Duke survives Virginia's last-second three >>
Durham, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mason Plumlee scored 12 points to lead four
players in double figures, as eighth-ranked Duke hung on to down No. 16
Virginia, 61-58, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Games at Cameron have become automatic
Howard, Bryant lead All-Star balloting >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Los
Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant lead their respective conferences in votes
for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.
Howard leads all players with 754,737 votes in the
Saint Mary's beats down No. 21 Gonzaga >>
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matthew Dellavedova scored 26 points, including
five treys, as Saint Mary's made a big statement with an 83-62 waxing of No.
21 Gonzaga at McKeon Pavilion.
Brad Waldow added 17 points and Stephen Holt scor
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
In the wake of the news that the 49ers have signed receiver Michael Crabtree after an extended holdout, there has been not a hint of the dollars to be paid to Crabtree.
And since this means that his agent hasn't leaked the numbers, it means that his agent feels no specific motivation to do so.
Possibly because his agent isn't all that thrilled to have his name on the deal.
So the numbers will come from sources other than Crabtree's agent. And we've gotten our mitts into them.
Per a league source, Crabtree has signed a six-year, $32 million contract. (The total includes guaranteed money, base salaries, and the one-time incentive based on achieving minimum playing time.)
The deal also includes $17 million in guaranteed money.
As reported elsewhere, the deal can void to five years based on performance triggers, wiping out a final year base salary of $4 million. But they won't be easily reached.
The source tells us that, in his first four seasons (including 2009), Crabtree must either qualify for two Pro Bowls, or he must qualify for one Pro Bowl in one year and he must participate in 80 percent of the offensive snaps in a separate year in which the team makes the playoffs.
In other words, if in 2010 he qualifies for the Pro Bowl and the team makes the playoffs and he participates in 80 percent of the snaps, he'll still need to make it to the Pro Bowl or achieve the 80-percent/playoffs in another season.
Since the chances of Crabtree making the Pro Bowl or participating in 80 percent of the offensive snaps this year is roughly zero percent, he'll have three years to get it done.
And it won't be easy. Frankly, he'll be hard pressed to make it to one Pro Bowl in three years with the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, the other Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, DeSean Jackson, Johnny Knox, Percy Harvin, Greg Jennings, Roddy White, T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the same conference for sportsbook betting.
So, by all appearances, it's a six-year deal. And at $17 million in guaranteed money, the per-year guarantee is a tepid $2.83 million per year.
There's another problem with the deal -- it has no mid-tier incentive package. Instead, the additional $8 million that Crabtree can earn (pushing the max value to six years, $40 million) requires the kind of unrealistic, mega-star performances that no rookie is likely to ever achieve.
So while the contract paid to Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji covers five years and pays $22.5 million, he has the ability (if he's a solid player) to make up the difference between his base deal and Crabtree's five-year, $28 million haul via the mid-tier incentive package in Raji's deal.
And unless Crabtree meets the performance thresholds necessary to void the sixth year, he'll be stuck under contract for another year at a base salary of only $4 million.
There's one other area of concern with the deal. Crabtree, per the source, received no option bonus. Instead, he has significant money tied to a fairly new device known as a "discretionary salary advance," which unlike an opition bonus is subject to forfeiture if Crabtree decides in a year or two that he wants to hold out for a better deal. (We're also told that the 49ers have included language that would make certain escalators subject to forfeiture, too.)
Meanwhile, the deal falls well short of the mark for which Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker were aiming -- the five-year, $38.25 million contract paid by the Raiders to receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick in the draft.
Even if Crabtree successfully voids the final year, he'll make more than $2 million per year less on average than Heyward-Bey.
Thus, as we explained earlier in the day, this is a deal that Crabtree could have done in July, which would have given him a much better chance of making a contribution to the 49ers during his rookie year.
So while the final outcome can be described as win-win, the broader view suggests that it's really a lose-lose situation.
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