Argonauts keep LB Pottinger
Football Betting Lines
02/15/2012 - Mississauga, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Argonauts re-signed free agent linebacker Jason Pottinger on Wednesday, keeping him with the club through the 2013 season.
"We are happy to be able to keep Jason in his hometown of Toronto. His athleticism, intelligence and leadership make him a valuable asset to our team," said Argos general manager Jim Barker. "His dedication to the Argos was never more evident than last season, when he played through an ACL injury, where many others would have not have even attempted to play. He represents everything an Argo should be and it was important for us to keep him here."
Pottinger suffered that knee injury in the 2011 season opener but returned in Week 10. He finished with 34 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles.
The former second-overall pick of British Columbia in 2006, the 28-year-old has totaled 162 tackles and five sacks with the Lions (2006-08) and Argonauts (2009-present).
"It's about time we bring pride back to the Double Blue and a Grey Cup to our dedicated fans," Pottinger said. "It's great to be able to continue to play in front of my family and friends and nothing would be sweeter than competing for a Grey Cup on home soil this year."
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia cornerback Sanders Commings has been suspended two games, the university announced on Wednesday. The suspension stems from the senior's arrest for domestic violence on January 21. He will miss th
<< Long-time Astros broadcaster Hamilton to retire after 2012
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milo Hamilton, who has been the voice of the
Houston Astros since 1985, announced on Wednesday that he intends to retire
following the upcoming season.
Hamilton will close the books on a career which s
<< Sam Houston State to play Baylor, Texas A&M
Huntsville, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sam Houston State won't take the easy way as
it tries to return to the FCS national championship game.
The Bearkats, who finished 14-1 as the national runner-up this past season,
will make trips to two in-st
<< Calhoun to miss at least three more games
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Connecticut men's head
basketball coach Jim Calhoun will miss at least three more games as he
receives treatment for spinal stenosis, the school announced Wednesday.
Calhoun was
<< Gunners humiliated in Milan
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan put Arsenal to the sword in
convincing fashion at the San Siro, cruising to a 4-0 win over the English
side in the first leg of the Champions League knockout round on Wednesday.
The Ital
Davie, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins signed running back Jerome Messam on Wednesday. The Toronto, Ontario native, spent the last two years playing in the Canadian Football League, where he recorded just 93 yards on 2
No. 18 Indiana takes care of Northwestern >>
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cody Zeller scored 23 points and grabbed
seven rebounds, as 18th-ranked Indiana avoided a fourth consecutive loss to
visiting Northwestern with a 71-66 victory at Assembly Hall.
Victor Oladipo and Ch
Cooley takes over, lifts Irish past Rutgers >>
South Bend, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jack Cooley scored 17 of his 22 points in
the second half, helping No. 23 Notre Dame pull away from Rutgers in a 71-53
decision at the Joyce Center.
Cooley also pulled down 18 rebounds to record his thi
Magic drain 15 3s in rout of 76ers >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Orlando Magic live and die by the three-
pointer, they not only lived on Wednesday night, they thrived.
Ryan Anderson scored 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc and
Orlando drained 15 t
Ducks stay hot, down Penguins >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Teemu Selanne scored a tiebreaking goal in
the third period and Jonas Hiller turned away 25 Penguins shots, backstopping
the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-1 victory, their first in Pittsburgh in more than a
decade.
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Betting Football
NFL Football Betting OnlineIs there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.