Marshall to be Suspended

According to Ed Werder of ESPN, wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been suspended by the Denver Broncos for contact detrimental to the team.

The lenght of the suspension has not yet been released. The maximum suspension allowed is four games.

Marshall, who put on a stunning display of selfishness at yesterday’s practice, has been vocal about his unhappiness in Denver. Although he has requested a trade, it is doubtful the Broncos will oblige. Jay Cutler has already forced his way out, and Denver wouldn’t want to set a precedent for players unhappy with their situation.

Josh McDaniels has done a superb job running the franchise since being named the head coach.

Cutler Looks Sharp

Beasley Enters Rehab

It was widely known across the NBA that Micheal Beasley had issues coming into the league.

Beasley just got the memo.

The Miami Heat forward admitted himself into a Houston rehabilitation facility last week and is being treated for various issues, including depression, a person briefed on the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, and could not say whether the other issues included drug or alcohol treatment.

“Based on what I’m getting right now, there’s a bit of concern,” Bruce Shingler, Beasley’s manager, told The AP in a telephone interview. “I don’t really know what’s going on. I just know his mom is on her way to go see him in Houston. That’s it. I’m still collecting a lot of information.”

It’s unknown how long Beasley will remain at the facility, or whether he will be available when the Heat open training camp on Sept. 28.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com NBA writer Chris Sheridan was used in this report.

Inauspicious Debut for Favre

Yanks Rout BoSox

BOSTON — The Yankees’ best offensive game in more than two years began with another leadoff hit for Derek Jeter. It ended with four runs in the ninth inning.

Slugging from start to finish, New York beat the Boston Red Sox by a seemingly comfortable 20-11 margin on Friday night. But with the short Green Monster in left field and the Red Sox mounting comeback after comeback, the Yankees were relieved to take the opener of the three-game series.

“That was an uncomfortable 20 to whatever it was game,” Jeter said, “because you get a couple of guys on base [and] you pepper that wall and it could be a whole new game.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn’t taking anything for granted, even after Hideki Matsui homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs, Alex Rodriguez went 4-for-4 and Jeter went 3-for-6, actually lowering his batting average over an 11-game stretch to .543 (25-for-46). New York also led 12-1 after 4 1/2 innings.

The Yankees scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second, six in the fifth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh and four in the ninth.

“It’s plain and simple that we got our [butts] kicked pretty good,” Lowell said.

Matsui hit three-run homers in the fifth and ninth, giving him 21 for the year, and drove in a run with a groundout in the seventh. He is batting .366 (15-for-41) with two homers and 10 RBIs against the Red Sox this season.

“We lost three games in a row twice here this season,” Matsui said through a translator. “In that sense, it was very important for us to set the tone.”

Rodriguez emerged from a 5-for-25 slump. Mark Teixeira and Melky Cabrera had three hits apiece and Teixeira drove in three runs. Jeter had his fourth three-hit performance in the last five games.

“He’s probably as hot right now as I’ve ever seen him,” Andy Pettitte said.

The Yankees led 12-1 before the Red Sox scored three in the bottom of the fifth off Pettitte (10-6).

Jeter doubled in the first, the fourth time in five games he led off a game with a hit. Teixeira walked, Rodriguez singled and Jorge Posada hit a two-run single.

There was one downside to the inning when Johnny Damon fouled a ball off his right knee, then struck out and left the game in the bottom half with a bruised knee. Girardi said he’s day to day.

Eric Hinske, Damon’s replacement in left field, doubled in a run in the second before a two-run double by Teixeira and an RBI single by Rodriguez.

Michael Bowden relieved Penny with two on in the fifth and Matsui hit his second pitch for his first homer. A run-scoring double by Robinson Cano and RBI singles by Cabrera and Teixeira made it 12-1.

The long inning may have affected Pettitte, who had allowed just one hit through four innings. In the fifth, Jacoby Ellsbury singled in two runs and Dustin Pedroia doubled in another. But the Yankees got those three runs right back in the sixth on Cabrera’s run-scoring double and Jeter’s two-run single.

img src=”http://www.thesportscoliseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/yanks-362×220.jpg” alt=”yanks” title=”yanks” width=”362″ height=”220″ class=”alignleft size-large wp-image-214″ />

But Jason Varitek and Mike Lowellhomered in Boston’s four-run ninth.

“When we ended the ninth,” Girardi said, “I felt pretty good.”

New York’s 20 runs and 23 hits were its most since it had 21 runs and 25 hits against Tampa Bay on July 22, 2007. The 20 runs also were the most allowed by the Red Sox since the Yankees scored 22 on June 19, 2000, at Fenway Park.

This year, the Red Sox had won the first eight games between the rivals before the Yankees swept a four-game series at home from Aug. 6-9. None of that mattered Friday night.

“If you’re carrying games that happen in April and May around and, what are we, in August right now, you’re not going to be a very good team,” Jeter said.

The Yankees’ latest offensive outburst extended their winning streak to three and gave them a 7 1/2-game lead over Boston in the AL East.

The 31 runs were the most scored in a game between the two franchises, surpassing the New York Highlanders’ 15-14 win over the Boston Americans on July 29, 1903, in Boston.

“They’ve got a lot of really good hitters over there,” Girardi said. “So you want to keep tacking on the runs.”

It helped that the Yankees were facing Brad Penny (7-8), who allowed eight runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings and is 1-6 in his last 11 starts.

“They have a great team,” Penny said. “One through nine, all can do damage. It’s one of the better hitting teams you’ll face in the league.”

Game notes
Ellsbury swiped a base to tie the Red Sox record of 54 steals set by Tommy Harper in 1973. … The Yankees broke a seven-game losing streak at Fenway Park. … New York activated LHP Damaso Marte from the 60-day disabled list and optioned 3B Ramiro Pena to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. … The Red Sox activated Rocco Baldelli from the disabled list, called up Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket, optioned OF Brian Anderson to Pawtucket and designated RHP Fernando Cabrera for assignment. … New York’s Nick Swisher reached for the 29th straight game, the longest current streak in the majors.<

Burress Cops a Plea

NEW YORK (AP)—Facing the prospect of spending at least 3 1/2 years behind bars, one-time Super Bowl star Plaxico Burresson Thursday accepted a plea bargain with a two-year prison sentence for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.

The former New York Giants wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he had faced. He will be sentenced Sept. 22, and lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he expects Burress to begin serving his sentence immediately after.

Burress got into a black SUV without speaking to reporters outside Manhattan state Supreme Court, but Brafman said, “After an agonizing period of discussion, Plaxico decided that he wanted to do this, to put this behind him as quickly as possible.”

The ex-football star was indicted earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. He faced a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted at trial.

Hours after his court appearance, the NFL announced commissioner Roger Goodell had suspended Burress and said he is ineligible to sign with any team until he completes his jail term. Goodell, who met with Burress and his representatives last week, said Burress will be reinstated upon completion of his sentence.

Burress’ guilty plea ends months of haggling between Brafman and the Manhattan district attorney’s office. The case went to a grand jury after negotiations broke down, apparently because District Attorney Robert Morgenthau was insisting that Burress serve at least two years in prison.

Does Favre Solidify the Vikings?

Written By Ryan Eoff

It’s clear that Brad Childress, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, thinks Brett Favre makes his team better. That’s why he has kept in contact with Favre for the past three weeks despite Favre turning them down. And, that’s why Childress met Favre at the airport when he arrived. That’s also why the Vikings have signed him to a two year contract in which he will make $12 million this season.

Before the start of last season, many experts had the Vikings in their top two or three teams from the NFC. While they may have underperformed based on expectations, they still managed to win their division and finish with a 10-6 record. In their only postseason game they scored just 14 points while Tavaris Jackson completed less than 50% of his passes with no touchdowns and an interception. Up until this point, throughout Vikings camp and after one preseason game, Sage Rosenfels has appeared to be the guy for the starting QB job. Now, it appears the Vikings are handing the job to the 39 year old Favre who had surgery in the offseason and was not involved in training camp. He will be starting their next preseason game against the Chiefs on Friday the 21st.

So the question is does Favre make the Vikings Super Bowl contenders? Or, does Favre even make the Vikings better at all? Last year the Vikings threw for 3,217 yards
(Frerotte: 2,157 yds, Jackson: 1,056 yds, Chester Taylor: 4 yds) while completing 59% of their passes. Favre threw for 3,472 yards with the Jets while completing 65.7% of his passes. As a team, the Vikings threw for 22 touchdowns and 17 interceptions and combined for a passer rating of 81.5. Favre threw for 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions and had a passer rating of 81. Now at 39 years old to start this season (turning 40 in October) many of the concerns for Favre will be on the health of his arm and whether or not he can play well for the entire season. Last year Favre had the Jets at 8-3 going into week 13. To finish the season the Jets lost four out of five games and fell out of a playoff spot. Favre didn’t have a passer rating above 64.5 in any of the last five games and threw only two touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions. On the upside, it wasn’t the worst season Favre has ever had.

There is no question that his veteran leadership will certainly give the Vikings a boost in terms of late game situations and playoff experience. So far all the reports out of Favre’s first couple of practices with the team have been positive. Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said in an interview that he thinks Favre was at an 8.5 out of 10 after just two practices. Favre gives the Vikings the potential to be one of the top two teams in the NFC and with his playoff experience they become a threat to reach the super bowl.

As far as the future is concerned, what is going to happen when Favre’s contract is up in two years? Does Favre finally retire for good? Will the Vikings have to start all over at quarterback or will Rosenfels and Jackson still be there fighting for the job? All we know right now is that this season will be exciting.

Yelle Signs 1-year, $550K Deal With ‘Canes

The Hurricanes said Wednesday that the 14-year pro has agreed to a one-year deal worth $550,000.

The 35-year-old had seven goals and 11 assists with Boston, and has won the Stanley Cup twice with Colorado.

General manager Jim Rutherford calls Yelle “a proven winner” who “adds depth and experience to the Hurricanes at the center position.”

The Hurricanes previously signed free agent defenseman Aaron Ward from the Bruins and forward Tom Kostopoulos from Montreal.

Detroit Signs Todd Bertuzzi

Detroit signed Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Tuesday in the hopes that the veteran forward can help make up for some of the Red Wings’ significant losses.

After falling one win short of repeating as Stanley Cup champions in June, the Red Wings watched watch as forwards Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky signed with other teams.

“We lost almost 90 goals,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “I read or hear people picking us to be about fourth in the Western Conference.

“Even though a lot of teams have gotten better, I still think we’re a Stanley Cup contender because our defense is as good as anyone’s defense and I like the rest of our team.”

The 34-year-old Bertuzzi scored 15 goals and had 44 points last season, ranking sixth in both categories for the Calgary Flames . He played in an average of 67 games the past two seasons after a back injury stunted his career.

Mark Messier Reunites With Rangers As GM

Mark Messier, who in 1994 led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup title in 54 years, is returning to the club as a special assistant to general manager Glen Sather, the club said Sunday. Messier, a six-time Cup champion as a player, has not been shy in recent years about his desire to eventually run a team as GM.

This could be the first step in the process that might lead Messier replacing Sather when the current GM’s tenure with the Rangers is over.

In a statement, Sather called Messier one of the greatest players in the NHL and is “looking forward to him joining the organization and learning a whole new part of the hockey business.”

Messier played his final game with the Rangers on March 31, 2004 – during his second stint with the team – and scored his 694th goal. He officially announced his retirement on Sept. 12, 2005, after the yearlong NHL lockout.

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