Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:51pm — Anonymous

Vinny Del Negro

The Clippers parted ways with coach Vinny Del Negro Tuesday, deciding not to renew his contract after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Del Negro led the Clippers to a 56-26 record this season and helped the organization to its first division title.

“This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward,” said Gary Sacks, vice president of basketball operations.

Now, the Clippers are focused on finding someone to replace Del Negro. According to the Los Angeles Times, former Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, Warriors assistant Mike Malone and Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer are top candidates for the job.

Scott, who was just fired from Cleveland after a 24-58 season, was the coach of the Hornets when they drafted current Clippers point guard Chris Paul in 2005. Scott and Paul reportedly had a “father-son” type of relationship and Scott’s presence could help keep Paul — who is a free agent this offseason — in Los Angeles.

Malone is another candidate who Paul holds in high regard from his days in New Orleans, according to CBS Sports writer Ken Berger. Malone has spent time with the Cavaliers and Hornets before most recently helped the Warriors to a trip to the Western Conference semifinals.

Budenholzer has spent his entire NBA coaching career with the Spurs organization, as he started as a video coordinator there in 1994. From there, he worked his way up to assistant coach in 1996 and was named top assistant in 2007. He already has interviewed with the Hawks for their coaching vacancy.

Another popular name that has been mentioned has been Lionel Hollins, who is coaching the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals. Hollins is No. 1 on the Clippers’ list according to Huffington Post writer Mark Heisler.

Blog Author: 
Kevin Dillon
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:48pm — Anonymous
McGuire joins Mut and Merloni to discuss the Bruins game 3 win, the Rangers awful power play, and the Shawn Thornton Derek Dorsett altercation.

[0:03:44] ... freelance. -- -- -- -- Not this is not so nice. Told John Mark put that one of the best power plays for. You want to protect us. Well yes there's a -- when a couple ...
[0:07:12] ... medicine hat tigers are in the western arguing -- -- -- The American League or someplace Columbus she's not gonna back down to prosecute you guys Gregory Campbell he's a tough kid. So I don't think he backed down I just think at that point they're changed you know kind of lost some momentum towards market part of but he gonna -- -- -- hear whispers sweet nothings. -- -- -- -- -- -- Won't turn it won't be on -- on this at all strong word short or do you think that was the reaction around here was -- -- -- -- pick on marsh Donna pick -- Chris Kelly you'll fight Campbell but it's like with Orton gets in -- there he's out you know old -- back and forth to ...




Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:47pm — Anonymous
Buster Olney joins Mut and Merloni to talk about the struggling Ellsbury and what that is doing to his contract value when he becomes a free agent.
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:46pm — Anonymous
Mut and Merloni discuss the Derek Dorsett, Brad Marchand, and Shawn Thornton altercation and how great it was.
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:43pm — Anonymous
LB joins the guys in studio to discuss John Torterella's coaching, Shawn Thornton sticking up for Marchand, and the fourth line.
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 2:42pm — Anonymous
Mut and Merloni discuss the lackluster effort from the Rangers in Game 3 and if the players have grown tired of his antics.
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:37pm — Anonymous

Brian Urlacher

Former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher announced his retirement Wednesday, ending a 13-year NFL career.

“After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire,” Urlacher wrote. “Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that I could retire after a 13-year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear. I want to thank all of the people in my life that have helped me along the way. I will miss my teammates, my coaches, and the great Bears fans. I’m proud to say that I have all of you everything I had every time I took the field. I will miss this great game, but I leave it with no regrets.”

The eight-time Pro Bowler played his entire career in Chicago, and was the face of the organization for many years. He and the Bears were unable to reach an agreement on a contract this offseason and he became a free agent.

Urlacher recorded a franchise-record 1,779 tackles in 182 games between 2000 and 2012. He also had 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 11 forced fumbles in his career.

The ninth overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft was the 2000 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 2005 AP Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro four times. He helped lead the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2007.

Blog Author: 
Kevin Dillon
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:10pm — Anonymous

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed at the NFL spring meetings in Boston on Tuesday that the NFL draft will be moved to May in 2014 due to a scheduling conflict.

Radio City Music Hall, the home for the draft, will be hosting an Easter show in April, which led to the need for the switch. Goodell emphasized that the league is happy with its experiences with Radio City Music Hall.

“We think we have found a location in New York that meets our requirements and where we think we can continue to grow the event,” he said.

Goodell said he expects the draft to remain in May and that adjustments to the NFL’s calendar will be discussed with the players’ union. There could also be adjustments made to the dates for the NFL combine and the start of free agency.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the changes being discussed would have the league year starting before the combine beginning in 2015. The NFLPA is looking to give free agents a chance to find new teams sooner with the change.

While Goodell can set the date of the draft without the NFLPA’s approval, he said he wanted to be sure that the union signed off on any changes to the league schedule or the draft to maintain league harmony.

Blog Author: 
Kevin Dillon
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 11:07am — Anonymous

Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson is going back to where his NFL career started, as the defensive back signed a one-year contract with the Raiders Tuesday.

The contract includes a $700,000 signing bonus and could be worth as much as $4.3 million in 2013. It is a deal that will make Raiders fans happy, as many of them staked out at the team’s facility Tuesday urging him to sign with the team.

The Raiders had a hole at free safety after releasing seven-year veteran Michael Huff. With the signing of Woodson, Oakland has added a player who can fill that hole while working with first-round pick D.J. Hayden at cornerback.

The 36-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft and spent eight seasons with Oakland before signing with the Packers as a free agent. After seven seasons with Green Bay, Woodson was released Feb. 15 with two years remaining on his contract.

Woodson has 55 career interceptions, 17 sacks, 24 forced fumbles and 11 interception returns for touchdowns in 206 career games. He recorded one interception in seven games last season after intercepting seven passes in 15 games in 2011.

Blog Author: 
Kevin Dillon
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 10:29am — Anonymous
Terry Francona joins the Dennis and Callahan Show to discuss his first-place Indians team as well as his time in Boston. The former Boston manager also touches on his recent book co-authored by Dan Shaughnessy and Shaughnessy's recent dust-up with David Ortiz.