09/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the toughest decisions television executives have to make is how to effectively replace a starring character on a popular program. More often than not, the swap leaves the presentation falling flat on its face.

Late 1990's comedy "Spin City" lasted just two seasons after Parkinson's disease forced the beloved Michael J. Fox off the small screen in favor of Charlie Sheen, while the more recent "Scrubs" barely limped through one season without Zach Braff in the lead. Heck, even a contract dispute by Luke and Bo Duke in 1982 led to a forgettable season of Coy and Vance that nearly deprived the nation of two more seasons of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

The point is that fans often reject change to something they love. But St. Louis Rams supporters, a gray-cloud-followed group that has witnessed just six wins in the last three seasons and a 17-game losing streak that bridged the 2008-09 seasons, hope that the coming of quarterback Sam Bradford is like their very own version of Woody Boyd.

Patience, though, will be key for residents in the Gateway City. After all, it took actor Woody Harrelson four seasons as a loveable bartender in "Cheers" to net his first Emmy and there is still a very good chance that Bradford will begin the season behind A.J. Feeley, who worked with current Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur when the latter was Philadelphia's QB coach.

Still, Bradford figures to be the top guy on the depth chart sooner rather than later.

"I think you just have to go play football," Bradford told St. Louis' website at the start of camp. "If you start worrying about all those other things, then it can really affect your performance. I always put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed as it is. I don't think that's going to change. I have very high expectations for myself and this team this year. I think that's really what's going to drive me to work to succeed."

Either way, the Rams will have a different look under center after the exit of Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, the duo that started the majority of St. Louis' games last year.

Like luring a big movie star to the small screen, Bradford didn't come cheap. The top overall pick of the 2010 draft -- the Rams' reward for its 1-15 campaign a season ago -- signed a reported six-year deal, with a record $50 of the $78 million being guaranteed.

St. Louis faithful, including new majority owner E. Stanley Kroenke, need to remember though that Bradford will be eventually taking over a young team with some youth on the offensive line and no proven playmakers in the receiving game. That unit took an even greater hit after a season-ending injury to wideout Donnie Avery in the preseason.

"Donnie is a quality guy and a character guy and we'll miss him," head coach Steve Spagnuolo told the Rams' website.

And while the Rams look to boost last year's lowest scoring offense, they also are hoping to improve a defense that allowed nearly 17 more points per game last year than its offense scored.

St. Louis does have a chance to impress early as four of its first five games to open the season are against teams that posted five wins or fewer a year ago.

A strong start by the Rams could have their fans feeling, ahem, cheerful for a change.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the St. Louis Rams, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2004, lost to Atlanta, 47-17, in NFC Divisional Playoff

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Sam Bradford (1st Round, Oklahoma), QB A.J. Feeley (from Panthers), TE Darcy Johnson (from Giants), C Hank Fraley (from Browns), T Rodger Saffold (2nd Round, Indiana), DT Fred Robbins (from Giants), LB Bobby Carpenter (from Cowboys), LB Na'il Diggs (from Panthers), CB Kevin Dockery (from Giants), CB Jerome Murphy (3rd Round, South Florida), S Kevin Payne (from Bears)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Kyle Boller (to Raiders), QB Marc Bulger (to Ravens), RB Samkon Gado (to Titans), TE Randy McMichael (to Chargers), T Alex Barron (to Cowboys), DE Leonard Little (not tendered), DT Adam Carriker (to Redskins), LB Paris Lenon (to Cardinals), CB Jonathan Wade (to Lions), CB Eric Bassey (not tendered), S Clinton Hart (not tendered)

QB: Bulger was let go after struggling in the three years following a 2006 Pro Bowl season in which he completed a career-high 24 touchdown passes. He notched just 27 TD throws between 2007-09, with 34 interceptions. Keith Null, a 2009 sixth-round pick, made four starts for the Rams late last year, but he is likely to be the third QB this year behind newcomers Feeley and Bradford. The Rams were leaning on starting Feeley in Week 1 at the start of camp and that doesn't appear to have changed despite a minor thumb injury during preseason, or the fact that he hasn't started a game since 2007 with the Eagles. Owner of just 15 career NFL starts over nine seasons, he knows he is just keeping the seat warm for Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma. For what it is worth, Bradford did look very good versus New England in the club's third preseason game.

RB: Whether it is youth (Bradford) or inexperience (Feeley) under center, workhorse Steven Jackson will be expected to take the pressure off with a much- used ground game. Not that he isn't up for it. Despite the presence of little help through the air last year to keep defenses honest, Jackson led the NFC with 1,416 rushing yards, though he did score just four touchdowns. He also led the club with 51 catches for another 322 yards and played in 15 games despite a back injury that required offseason surgery. St. Louis' dependence on Jackson leaves few opportunities for backups Chris Ogbonnaya and Kenneth Darby, as the two combined for just 38 carries last year. Mike Karney returns as the fullback.

WR/TE: St. Louis' young group of receivers suffered a big blow with Avery (47 receptions, 5 TD) out for the season. There will now be more pressure on Laurent Robinson, who showed promise with 13 catches for 167 yards with a score in three starts last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Still, there is potential for the Rams with this unit. Third-year receiver Danny Amendola finished with just four fewer catches than Avery last year, but only scored once, while Brandon Gibson managed 34 grabs in nine games as a rookie after being acquired from the Eagles midseason. Keenan Burton (25 receptions) also contributed in nine games before going on injured reserve in November due to a knee injury. Rookie Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati) is also promising, but no receiver on St. Louis' roster has more than four years of experience. That could cause the Rams to lean on tight ends Billy Bajema, a six-year vet who excels at blocking, or Daniel Fells (21 receptions, 3 TD), after the Rams decided not to bring back the disappointing Randy McMichael. Rookie TE Mike Hoomanawanui also impressed during camp.

OL: The offensive line will feature youth on the outside, experience around the center position and a leader in the middle. Center Jason Brown made 16 starts last year despite knee issues and is in the second year of a five-year contract. St. Louis' anchor will be flanked by left guard Jacob Bell, a seven- year veteran who is coming off a hamstring injury, and Adam Goldberg on the right. Entering his eighth season, Goldberg appears to have held off John Greco for the starting job. Jason Smith, the second overall pick of the 2009 draft, enters his second season after knee and concussion issues caused him to miss seven games last year, and will start at right tackle. Meanwhile, rookie Rodger Saffold replaces Alex Barron at left tackle after the Rams grabbed the Indiana product with the first pick of the second round. Veteran Hank Fraley can back up at both center and guard, while youngsters Ryan McKee and Phil Trautwein are reserve tackles.

DL: St. Louis' defensive line will feature a pair of new full-time starters in defensive end Chris Long and tackle Fred Robbins, who are both expected to anchor the left side. Long (43 tackles, 5 sacks) made just four starts last year, his second since being taken second overall in 2008, but will take on a bigger role in 2010 and the Rams are counting on him to take another step forward as he replaces the departed Leonard Little. James Hall (43 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks) and his veteran leadership were re-signed to remain on the right side next to retuning end Clifton Ryan (42 tackles, 1 sack). A back injury took Chris Hovan out of the mix for the defensive tackle rotation, but Darell Scott and Gary Gibson provide solid depth. Victor Adeyanju and C.J. Ah You back up at the end spots.

LB: Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis (120 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) burst onto the scene as a rookie last year and led the team in tackles, only the second Rams rookie to do so. The Ohio State product is likely to have two fellow alums beside him in Na'il Diggs, Bobby Carpenter or Larry Grant. Diggs spent his last four seasons with Carolina and had 39 tackles in 14 games last year. He should start on the strong side opposite either Carpenter (46 tackles, 2 sacks with the Cowboys) or Grant. Last year's starter on the left side, David Vobora (46 tackles), moves to a backup role along with undrafted rookie Cardia Jackson.

DB: The Rams prevented a big hole from forming in the secondary when they re- signed free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who was second on the team last year with 74 tackles to go along with two interceptions despite missing the last four games due to a shoulder injury. Craig Dahl (65 tackles, 2 sacks) looks like he will get the call at free safety until James Butler (69 tackles, 3 INT) is ready to return from a knee injury, while new addition Kevin Payne (46 tackles with Bears) should come off the bench. Keeping Atogwe in the mix should help corners Kevin Dockery (25 tackles with Giants) and Ron Bartell (66 tackles). Bradley Fletcher will push Dockery once his knee injury from last year heals. Quincy Butler and Justin King are also in the mix for reserve roles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Both kicker Josh Brown and punter Donnie Jones return to their respective roles in 2010. Brown saw limited chances last year due to St. Louis' struggling offense, but he did hit on six of his seven attempts from at least 50 yards out. Brown brings a big boot, as his 12 career field goals from 50-plus yards are second-most in team history. Jones, meanwhile, put a career- high 34 punts inside the 20 a season ago and averaged 46.8 yards per kick. Long snapper Chris Massey played in just seven games last year due to a knee injury, but was re-signed this offseason. Amendola will again return kicks after averaging 24.5 yards per kickoff in 2009 and 11.6 yards on punts. Rookie Mardy Gilyard will also lend a hand in the return game.

PROGNOSIS: Strap yourselves in Rams fans, because the rebuilding process is about to begin. Yes, St. Louis has nowhere to go but up after a one-win season, but the team definitely went from being an older team to a youthful one in a hurry this offseason. Bradford should get plenty of snaps in 2010 -- after all, how much can he learn from Feeley -- but to expect the Rams to challenge the rest of the NFC West is a mile-long stretch. While there are without a doubt some winnable games to start the season, 2010 will mostly serve as a learning season for a majority of the Rams, who should be overwhelmed once the Chargers, Falcons and Saints of the league come calling.

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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