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09/04/2010 - Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens released quarterback Troy Smith and kicker Shayne Graham on Saturday, also placing safety Ed Reed on the Physically Unable to Perform List to highlight a slew of "cut-down day" maneuvers.
It was thought that the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Smith could stick with the team as a third quarterback behind starter Joe Flacco and backup Marc Bulger, but the Ravens ultimately decided to keep just two players at the position. Smith started two games with Baltimore during his rookie year of 2007, but had exclusively backed up Flacco the past two years.
The former Pro Bowler Graham was signed in the offseason with the thought that he would solidify the team's kicking role. But the longtime Cincinnati Bengal lost a competition with holdover Billy Cundiff, who was judged by head coach John Harbaugh to be the more consistent player during the training camp and preseason.
Reed's move to the PUP was also made official. The six-time Pro Bowler, who comes off of hip surgery, will be eligible to return to the active roster after the first six weeks of the season.
Also released were tight end Davon Drew, cornerback Travis Fisher, defensive back K.J. Gerard, wide receiver Justin Harper, cornerback Chris Hawkins, defensive back Brad Jones, guard Bryan Mattison, linebacker Albert McClellan, tackle Joe Reitz, wide receiver Eron Riley, running back Curtis Steele, tackle Devin Tyler and wide receiver Demetrius Williams.
Baltimore placed four players on Injured Reserve: offensive linemen David Hale (back), Ramon Harewood (knees), Stefan Rodgers (ankle) and nose tackle Kelly Talavou (knee).
Previously on Saturday, Baltimore dealt outside linebacker Antwan Barnes to the Philadelphia Eagles for an undisclosed 2011 draft choice.
The Ravens will begin their regular season next Monday night, when they visit the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium.
<< Federer, Soderling reach fourth round in Flushing
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five-time champion Roger Federer
and two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling were easy third-round
winners Saturday at the U.S. Open.
The second-seeded former No. 1 Federer cruised past capab
<< Nesbitt leads Georgia Tech in season-opening rout
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Nesbitt ran for 130 yards and three
touchdowns, as the 16th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets opened the 2010
season by trouncing South Carolina State, 41-10, at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Roddy Jones
<< Murray, Georgia get season started with rout of Louisiana
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Murray threw for three touchdowns and ran
for another, as the 23rd-ranked Georgia Bulldogs trounced the Louisiana Ragin
Cajuns', 55-7, at Sanford Stadium.
Murray, a redshirt freshman making his first c
<< Cubs' Silva to return Tuesday
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Silva will
make his return to the rotation on Tuesday against the Houston Astros.
The club made the announcement Saturday, shuffling their rotation so that
rookie Case
Broncos place Stokley on IR, cut 10, trade for TE Gronkowski >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wide receiver Brandon Stokley was placed on
season-ending injured reserve Saturday, with the Broncos also cutting 10
players and dealing for Detroit Lions tight end Dan Gronkowski to reduce the
roster to 53 play
Sisk still two clear Mylan Classic >>
Canonsburg, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geoffrey Sisk carded a two-under 69
Saturday to maintain his two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Mylan
Classic.
Sisk, who played the final three holes of his second round earlier Saturday,
completed 5
Steelers trim 11 to finish cuts, including center Hartwig >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Center Justin Hartwig, a 16-game starter for
the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past two seasons, was among the prominent
players cut as part of the team's final "cut-down day" maneuvers on Saturday.
Hartwig e
Arnaud leads Kansas City to draw at Philadelphia >>
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Davy Arnaud scored in the 70th minute and the
Kansas City Wizards tied the Philadelphia Union, 1-1, on Saturday afternoon in
Major League Soccer at PPL Park.
Arnaud had a goal and an assist last week to lead
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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