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Jets' Smith rips player workouts: report

June 28, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Jets safety Eric Smith says player-organized workouts being held during the NFL lockout are too risky and only benefit team owners.Smith, who has moved back in with his parents while players are in... Read on

Jets safety Eric Smith says player-organized workouts being held during the NFL lockout are too risky and only benefit team owners.
	 
Smith, who has moved back in with his parents while players are in labor limbo,
	 told the Washington Post, "I don’t understand why guys are doing this stuff. You’re risking injury. And you got the rookies who aren’t getting paid any money, flying in to do these workouts. So they’re putting themselves in a hole before they make any money."
	 
The Jets this month held three days of workouts at a college near their New Jersey headquarters. Also, several offensive skill players attended a passing camp run by quarterback Mark Sanchez in California, and defensive lineman gathered in New Jersey to practice together.
	 
Smith did not attend any of the workouts, the report from Sunday says.
	 
NFL players have been locked out by owners since March, with negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement ongoing.
	 
"Basically, we’re giving the owners all these practices for free," Smith said. "They aren’t spending any money, but their players are still practicing. So they’re making out.”
	 
Smith made 26 tackles during this year's playoffs starting in place of injured Jim Leonhard. The special teams standout will be a free agent when NFL business resumes.

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T.O. recovering from surgery, but agent say's he'll be ready

June 28, 2011 , ι Associated Press

Terrell Owens is recovering from left knee surgery and plans to be ready to play when the NFL season starts.Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Tuesday that the 37-year-old star receiver tore his... Read on

Terrell Owens is recovering from left knee surgery and plans to be ready to play when the NFL season starts.
	 
Owens' agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Tuesday that the 37-year-old star receiver tore his anterior cruciate ligament, had surgery in early April and "will be playing at the start of the NFL season."
	 
In an interview with ESPN, Rosenhaus called speculation that Owens was considering retirement "nonsense" and said the 15-year veteran is doing "fantastic" and could be recovered as early as August.
	 
Rosenhaus said Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery to the same knee in which Owens tore his meniscus late last year.
	 
"The old injury has been repaired," Rosenhaus said. "He is many months into recovery and doing fantastic. No predictions on training camp, but he comes back fast from injuries. I won't rule him out of anything. He will be a starting receiver for someone this year."
	 
As for Owens mulling retirement, Rosenhaus said "all the retirement talk is nonsense. There's been no discussion about that and this injury is not a big deal."
	 
Two of Terrell Owens' former teammates also said the star wide receiver plans to return. Both players spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because Owens hasn't publicly discussed the surgery.
	 
Rosenhaus declined to say how the injury occurred.
	 
Last season, Owens had 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Dec. 21, a day after surgery for his torn meniscus.

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Taylor looking for one more year with Jets: report

June 28, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Jason Taylor on Monday repeated he would be interested in returning to the Jets. "I'd love to come back and play one more year in New York," Taylor said on ESPN's "NFL Live," according to Rotoworld... Read on

Jason Taylor on Monday repeated he would be interested in returning to the Jets.
	 
"I'd love to come back and play one more year in New York," Taylor said on ESPN's "NFL Live," according to Rotoworld.com.
	 
Taylor, who turns 37 in September, had five sacks last season, his first with the Jets after spending most of his 14-year career with the Dolphins.
	 
It was thought immediately after last season Taylor might retire. However, in March he said he wanted to keep playing, but only for the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan.
	 
“If I’m going to play ... it’s going to be with the Jets,"
	 Taylor said before the NFL lockout started. "... I had a great time; we came up a little short. It’s not easy to repeat and make it to the AFC Championship three years in a row, but if they’ll have me, I think I’d enjoy doing it again.”
	 
The Jets signed Taylor to a two-year contract but released him after one season due to a lucrative bonus clause. The lockout could help him return because it will become difficult for teams to teach new players the playbook if training camp is delayed or cancelled.
	 
The Patriots are a team that could have interest in Taylor if the Jets do not.
	 
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel speculatesTaylor's tryout appearance on "NFL Live" is a precursor to a broadcasting career.
	 
Taylor told ESPN.comthat moving training camp out of Cortland to Florham Park this summer due to the lockout would not hurt the Jets', but that spending time in Cortland definitely helped the team.
	 
"I think staying home for camp is a little more familiar, it's a little easier," Taylor said. "For young guys I think it's good to go away for camp; for older guys, we like to be at home. There's a healthy balance, a mix there, and I know it worked well for the Jets the last two years."

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Rangers' Ryan not interested in Mets' Rodriguez, Beltran

June 28, 2011 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

It sounds like Nolan Ryan reads The New Yorker. The Rangers owner did not sound impressed with Mets Carlos Beltran or Francisco Rodriguez, a day after Texas was linked to the two players in an SI.com... Read on

It sounds like Nolan Ryan reads The New Yorker.
	 
The Rangers owner did not sound impressed with Mets Carlos Beltran or Francisco Rodriguez, a day after Texas was linked to the two players in an
	 SI.com report.
	 
It could be trade posturing by Ryan or his realistic view of the two fading stars.
	 
"I can't believe that we have an interest in either,"
	 Ryan told ESPN Radio in Dallas. 
	 
Sources told The Post on Tuesdayit was too early to speculate on potential favorites to land the Mets' trade bait. The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.
	 
The Rangers have one of the top young closers in the game (Neftali Feliz), and Ryan does not see K-Rod as an improvement in any portion of the Texas bullpen.
	 
"I go by what I saw yesterday from K-Rod and I don't see that's an upgrade," Ryan said, a day after Rodriguez gave up two runs to the Rangers while finishing off an 8-5 Mets’ win at Texas.
	 
"And Beltran, you worry about his knee. And you're taking on an awful lot of salary."
	 
Beltran has had a strong season batting .278 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs in the final year of his contract with the Mets. He has played in 76 of the 78 games this season as a right fielder after missing significant time the previous tow seasons with knee injuries.
	 
Mets owner Fred Wilpon said it himself
	 in an interview with The New Yorker when he suggested at the start of the season that Beltran was playing at "65 to 70 percent" of what he once was, chiding himself for signing the former center fielder to a seven-year, $119 million deal before the 2005 season.
	 
"With his history with the Mets he's had so many medical problems and played so little at times, it's just a real risky situation," Ryan said.

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Post Power Rankings: AL East teams dominate Top 5

June 27, 2011 , ι By JUSTIN TERRANOVA

Just call it the AL Beast. With the Rays going on another hot streak, they join the Yankees (up to No. 2) and Red Sox (down to No. 3) in the Post Power Rankings Top 5. The division has three of the... Read on

Just call it the AL Beast.
	 
With the Rays going on another hot streak, they join the Yankees (up to No. 2) and Red Sox (down to No. 3) in the Post Power Rankings Top 5. The division has three of the best four records in baseball, falling in behind the Phillies and with the Giants.
	 
The problem? Only two can make the playoffs.
	 
(Rankings, records based on games through June 26)
	 
1. Phillies (49-30) (Previous ranking: 2)— Roy Oswalt continues to be only concern in Big Four.
	 
2. Yankees (45-31) (3)— Have won all five series since being swept by the Red Sox. And they still don’t have a consistent No. 2 starter.
	 
3. Red Sox (45-32) (1)— Losing four straight to Padres and Pirates is odd way to finish red-hot June.
	 
4. Giants (44-34) (7)— Got swept by A’s in Bay Area battle, but rebounded with five straight wins.
	 
5. Rays (44-34) (11)— Third in AL East with fourth best record in baseball.
	 
6. Brewers (44-35) (4)— Chance to pull away in NL Central with Cardinals' Albert Pujols on disabled list.
	 
7. Braves (44-35) (6)— Pitching staff must continue impressive run to stay atop NL wild-card standings.
	 
8. Tigers (42-36) (8) — Justin Verlander’s June: 5-0, 0.86 ERA, 48 Ks, 4 BBs. He went at least eight innings in all five starts.
	 
9. Diamondbacks (43-36) (10)—Would they be willing to add another starter with Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy pitching beyond expectations?
	 
10. Rangers (41-38) (9)— Lucky to be in mediocre AL West.
	 
11. Pirates (39-38) (16)— Don’t question being over .500 this late in the season, just enjoy it Pittsburgh fans (like my Uncle Jim, who goes to approximately 70 home games a season).
	 
12. Cardinals (41-38) (5)— 1-5 since Pujols went down.
	 
13. Mariners (39-39) (12)— Can top prospect Dustin Ackley push Seattle past Texas in AL West?
	 
14. Nationals (40-38) (23)— Don’t blame Jim Riggleman for leaving, but intrigued by what Davey Johnson will do with this team.
	 
15. Reds (40-39) (13) — We’ll know more if they are still .500 at All-Star break with 10 of next 13 on road against Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Milwaukee.
	 
16. Mets (39-39) (15)— Won road series in Milwaukee, Atlanta and Texas this month. Now they have to figure out how to win at Citi Field.
	 
17. Blue Jays (39-39) (19)— Need to figure out bullpen before pulling away from .500 mark.
	 
18. Indians (40-36) (14)— Slow slide toward .500 continues after 30-15 start.
	 
19. Rockies (38-39) (21)— Have recovered from dreadful 8-21 stretch to hover around .500, which is good enough in NL West and wild-card races.
	 
20. Angels (39-40) (25)— Have derailed the Jered Weaver, Dan Haren trade talk for now.
	 
21. White Sox (38-41) (18)— Pressure on Jake Peavy now that the resurgent John Danks hits the DL.
	 
22. Orioles (35-40) (22)— Mark Reynolds has average up 50 points to .227 with seven-home runs in June.
	 
23. Athletics (35-44) (28)— Lost 12 of 13, won six straight with new manager Bob Melvin, but that’s been followed up with four losses in their past five games.
	 
24. Padres (34-45) (27
	 )— Winning two of three at Boston has to feel good for Adrian Gonzalez’s former team.
	 
25. Dodgers (35-44) (20) — "Upcoming 12-game homestand is best chance to get back into inviting NL West race." – was my comment two weeks ago. They would go 4-8 against Reds, Astros, Tigers and Angels.
	 
26. Royals (33-45) (24)— Seem headed for 90 losses for seventh time in eight seasons.
	 
27. Marlins (34-44) (17)— Jack McKeon will need miracle to get this team to playoffs.
	 
28. Twins (32-44) (26)— Five-game losing streak is killer after sniffing .500.
	 
29. Cubs (31-46) (30)— Tough to get back over .500 when longest winning streak of season is two. (This was the note the past six weeks, but I’m keeping it until they get three straight.)
	 
30. Astros (28-51) (29)— Gave up 29 runs at home while getting swept by the Rays.

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T.O. tore ACL while filming reality TV show: report

June 27, 2011 , ι NEWSCORE

NFL star Terrell Owens reportedly underwent surgery recently for a torn ACL in one of his knees, treatment that places his season and even future career in question. The wide receiver, who played... Read on

NFL star Terrell Owens reportedly underwent surgery recently for a torn ACL in one of his knees, treatment that places his season and even future career in question.
	 
The wide receiver, who played with the Bengals last season and is scheduled to become a free agent when the lockout ends, was apparently injured while taping a television show for VH1,
	 ESPN reported Monday. 
	 
Another source suggested Owens suffered the injury during a personal workout. Neither Owens nor his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, commented on the report.
	 
Owens, 37, tore meniscus cartilage in his left knee Dec. 19 against the Cleveland Browns, ending his 2010 campaign.
	 
Owens was expected to be one of several veteran wide receivers available when free agency begins, a group that includes Jets Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards, and former Patriots star Randy Moss.
	 
The 16-year veteran, who had 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns last season, ranks second to Jerry Rice in all-time receiving yardage and third in receiving touchdowns.

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Sapp 'didn't think much of' Barber before comeback: report

June 24, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Maybe Warren Sapp will come back for a chance to hit Tiki Barber on the field.Because Sapp certainly blitzed Barber off the field, according to NFL.com.The NFL Network analyst told host Rich Eisen... Read on

Maybe Warren Sapp will come back for a chance to hit Tiki Barber on the field.
	 
Because Sapp certainly blitzed Barber off the field,
	 according to NFL.com.
	 
The NFL Network analyst told host Rich Eisen that Barber, attempting a comeback, wasn't so great before the running back left the game four years ago.
	 
“Enough is enough ... I didn’t think much of him when he did play,” said Sapp, a former Buccaneers defensive lineman. ”I mean that’s the whole point. He was a fumbler all the way through his life, and then all of a sudden, somebody taught him how to hold the ball up high and then he (left the Giants) and said, Eli (Manning) can’t lead them and they’ll never win a championship.
	 
“That kind of lends to who I’m talking about. This is the same guy. This is all encompassed into the same thing. There’s no way you turn your back on your teammates that block for you, that gave you the ball on short fields and did whatever they did. … There’s still no reason for you to attack your teammates.”
	 
Sapp was appearing on
	 a podcast with Eisen and Michael Strahan, who stuck up for his former Giants teammate -- sort of.
	 
“Sapp is 100 percent right,” Strahan said. “Only thing is, if it comes to playing football, (Barber) can play.”
	 
The Buccaneers are one of the teams reportedly interested in Barber, along with the Steelers.
	 
Sapp played with Tiki's twin, Ronde, in Tampa Bay for seven years.

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Davey 'top choice,' Bobby V could manage Nationals: reports

June 24, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Former Mets manager Davey Johnson is the "top choice" to take over the Nationals job that was surprisingly vacated by Jim Riggleman on Thursday, the Washington Post reports.Johnson, a senior adviser... Read on

Former Mets manager Davey Johnson is the "top choice" to take over the Nationals job that was surprisingly vacated by Jim Riggleman on Thursday,
	 the Washington Post reports.
	 
Johnson, a senior adviser with the team, is "Their top choice, and the most compelling possibility, ... according to a source with knowledge of the Nationals’ thinking," the report says.
	 
Johnson, who led the Mets to the 1986 World Series championship, last managed the Dodgers in 2000. He also has managed the Reds and Orioles.
	 
He was not available to comment, the newspaper said.
	 
MLB.com mentionsformer Mets manager Bobby Valentine as a candidate. He was a finalist before the job was given to Riggleman.
	 
Riggleman resigned abruptly Thursday, reportedly over a contract dispute, after the Nationals won for the 11th time in the
	 past 12 games to go over .500.
	 
"We don’t have an immediate plan for a successor as manger,” general manager Mike Rizzo said.
	 
Johnson likely would be manager only until the end of the season. Valentine would be a more permanent choice.

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Redskins' Cooley pushes for Plaxico: report

June 23, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

OK, Dallas Cowboys, you're next.The Redskins became the latest NFC East team to have a player publicly lobby for Plaxico Burress, joining the Giants and Eagles in the chase for the wide receiver... Read on

OK, Dallas Cowboys, you're next.
	 
The Redskins became the latest NFC East team to have a player publicly lobby for Plaxico Burress, joining the Giants and Eagles in the chase for the wide receiver.
	 
Discussing the Redskins' roster, tight end Chris Cooley
	 on Wednesday told NFL.com. "We need a big-time receiver. We've got to have someone step in and fill that position."
	 
After dismissing Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Cooley said, "In my opinion, Plaxico Burress probably is a guy that's humbled such as Michael Vick was, a lot, in the same situation. If you were going to take a risk on a guy that's a good player, he's probably the guy you're going to take a risk on.
	 
"He'll probably step in a locker room, keep his mouth shut, work hard and try to earn his way back into the league the first season."
	 
Burress last played for the Giants in 2008 and this month was released from prison after serving 20 months for a gun-related conviction.
	 
Former Giants teammates, Brandon Jacobs most prominently, have lobbied for Burress return, and Vick, the Eagles quarterback, also has expressed a preference to play with Burress.
	 
Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher also endorsed Burress,
	 according to ESPN.com.
	 
"I'm a big fan of his. Always been a big fan of his, football-wise. Every time he plays against us, he gives us fits," Urlacher said. "He's a tough matchup for any corner. He's a big guy [6-foot-5, 232 pounds], good red-zone guy. I don't know how fast he is, but that doesn't really matter when you're that good."
	 
Jets coach
	 Rex Ryan has not ruled out Burress, and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this week also said
	 he would welcome back his former teammate.

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VIDEO: Nash, Parker on joining Knicks

June 23, 2011 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

All-Star point guards Steve Nash and Tony Parker visited New York on Wednesday and commented on rumors that they could be traded to the Knicks.The Suns have said they will not trade Nash, but the two... Read on

All-Star point guards Steve Nash and Tony Parker visited New York on Wednesday and commented on rumors that they could be traded to the Knicks.
	 
The Suns have said they will not trade Nash, but the two-time NBA MVP had great success playing for Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni when both were in Phoenix.
	 
Phoenix has already reportedly shopped Nash around to the Timberwolves, who own the second pick in tonight's draft, with hopes of drafting Arizona forward Derrick Williams.
	 
Nash, who lives in SoHo during the offseason, hosted his 4th annual Showdown in Chinatown soccer game in the city yesterday.
	 
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About the Author

JUSTIN TERRANOVA Justin Terranova joined the Post's sports department in 2006. He covered NASCAR before taking over as the sports media reporter in 2007. He joined NYPost.com the following year and has worked as a reporter, editor and a blogger for the Web site.