Sports Central

Navy v. Notre Dame - Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly must ease Everett Golson into first start

Emerald Isle Classic - Notre Dame will look to Manti Te'o and Everett Golson against Navy

In every team sport in the world there is some form of hierarchy amongst the players on the field. Sometimes the division, or divisions, are clear such as in rugby where the captain is given the license to talk to officials, or in Cricket where the captain has multiple responsibilities such as designating his/her teammates positions on the field. Other sports don't have official titles with such notable responsibilities, but whenever a group of people is created, different levels of leadership take prominence.

The game of American Football somewhat blurs the line between official and natural leadership patterns. Certain players are expected to be greater leaders than others because of the position they play, but expectations are not always met.

Notre Dame versus Navy - An international showcase that Irish fans should fall for

The setting was different. The sport was different. The two teams won't be playing again. Yet, the similarities largely outnumbered the differences. One side felt joy. One side felt heartbreak. One team won. One team lost.

Six days before Navy and Notre Dame do battle in the Emerald Isle Classic, Cork and Donegal clashed in a completely different sport in Dublin. Instead of welcoming an international audience, Cork and Donegal celebrated Irish sport with the semi final of the All-Ireland Gaelic Football Championship. Despite the fact that neither sets of teams likely had any notion about the others' sports, there were unmissable aspects of the Irish sporting event that will be on show this weekend in the nation's capital.

Boston Celtics Bring Back Jeff Green

Throughout the off-season in the NBA, most expected forward Jeff Green to return to the Boston Celtics. Even though it came much later than anticipated, Green has now officially rejoined his former teammates after being released last year.

Green was released after undergoing heart surgery entering last season. The 25-year-old's season was ended before it even began and the beginning of his career with the Celtics was stalled after only spending half a season with the team the year before.

As the most pivotal piece in the Celtics' trade of Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was imperative for the team to bring him back.

New England Patriots v. Philadelphia Eagles preview

If there is one overwhelmingly obvious strength of the Philadelphia Eagles' defense, it is their cluster of different pass rushing defensive linemen. If there is one overwhelmingly obvious weakness of the New England Patriots' offense, it is their confusion and uncertainty on the offensive line.

With the Eagles and Patriots clashing tonight, in a preseason game that should be of importance to both sides, there is a massive opportunity for the Patriots' offensive line to prove itself...or prove its doubters right.

While plenty of fascinating matchups exist across the field, such as Brandon Lloyd and Nnamdi Asomugha, Rob Gronkowski and Brian Rolle, Demetress Bell and Chandler Jones, it's nearly impossible not to zone in on the trenches tonight.

Explaining the New England Patriots Matchup Offense and What Brandon Lloyd Brings to it

The New England Patriots spent this off-season attempting to revamp a defense that severely struggled last year. Adding Dont'a Hightower, Chandler Jones, Bobby Carpenter, Steve Gregory and Jonathan Fanene, amongst others, should improve the defense, but there is no doubt that the Patriots' offense enters the season expected to carry the franchise once again.

With Tom Brady at the helm, that should surprise roughly zero people.

While Brady is a superstar, there is a lot more to the Patriots offense that the casual fan doesn't see. Today's NFL may be a quarterback driven league, but it is far from tennis. Today's NFL is still very much a team sport that extends past the quarterback, into his other offensive teammates and counterparts on defense.

New England Patriots - What does Brandon Lloyd's addition mean for Aaron Hernandez?

The New England Patriots may not have made the biggest splash of the off-season in free agency, at least not from a financial perspective, but the addition of Brandon Lloyd is odds on to prove to be the most impactful of all moves made this off-season.

Lloyd joined the Patriots on a three year deal worth $12 million after finishing last season with the St. Louis Rams. At 31 years of age, Lloyd is a nine year veteran who has had five different teams throughout his career. Even though he has never started all 16 games in any of those seasons, Lloyd figures to do so with the Patriots this year.

While with the Denver Broncos in 2010, Lloyd had the best season of his career posting 77 receptions for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns. Significantly, Lloyd spent that season working under the then Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was fired by the Broncos after that season before becoming the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.

New England Patriots - Logan Mankins returns from Injury

So far this off-season, life has been pretty good for New England Patriots fans. The Patriots made arguably the signing of the season when they brought in Brandon Lloyd, the team's defense added two of the most talented defenders from college to their defense through the draft, while former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returned to the team(although, technically that happened during last season).

Probably the most uplifting news for Patriots fans occurred yesterday though when news broke that Logan Mankins was to return to practice. Mankins' mysteriously tore his ACL during last season despite not missing any time on the field.

As a player who repeatedly abused his teammates for missing practice in the past, it was tough for Mankins this off-season "

Katie Taylor Encapsulates Everything About an Irish Champion

She turned to her corner and uttered gently something along the lines of, "is it me?" Not a touch of arrogance on a face that suddenly looked more childlike than was possible, considering the feet the owner of it had just managed.

Katie Taylor was looking at her father with the curiousity of a child. She didn't raise hers arms or egotistically announce herself the champion. Instead, she looked to her father, her leader and her coach who had a smile on his face and looked approvingly back at her.

Regardless of the result, she had made him proud.

Will the New England Patriots Offensive Line hold them back in 2012?

There is a saying in the NFL, albeit a potentially outdated one, that football is won in the trenches. In the contemporary league that bears such little resemblance to the history of the game, that saying may have about as much solid ground beneath it as "defenses win championships."

In today's NFL, teams live and die by their quarterback. The signal-caller, ring leader, pocket passer or scrambler, what ever you want to call them, the quarterback's status in today's game is elevated to an unprecedented level. The teams with the Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Bradys of the world prize them more than anything else, while every other team is grasping at every single prospect trying to find their own cornerstone at the position.

Brady has largely been the reason for the Patriots success over the past decade. His limitations were often determined by the amount of talent that surrounded him. In 2007, Brady erased any remaining doubters when he Randy Moss, Wes Welker and a few others broke the single season touchdown record. However in other years, Brady had good, but not great, production with lesser receivers such as Jabarr Gaffney and Reche Caldwell in the lineup.

New England Patriots Training Camp - Robert Gallery's retirement brings some clarity

The New England Patriots Robert Gallery retired today before every playing a down for his new team. It is currently unknown why the eight-year veteran has retired at only 32 years of age, but it clearly adds to the Patriots' already numerous issues on the offensive line.

With Nate Solder entering his first season as a starting left tackle in only his second year, Logan Mankins' status for the season unclear after tearing his ACL, Dan Koppen coming off a season which finished on IR, Brian Waters being in the twilight of his career and Sebastien Vollmer coming off an injury hit season, the Patriots' most reliable offensive lineman appears to be Dan Connolly.

New England Patriots Training Camp - The Secondary

Devin McCourty:
McCourty is entering his third season after a disappointing follow up to his impressive start as a rookie. McCourty's inconsistencies threatened to cost him his starting position at cornerback for this year but he enters camp with as good a chance as anyone to be a starter.

Kyle Arrington:
Arrington may be seeing his role with the team change this year depending on how the other players at his position pan out in training camp. Arrington would be an excellent nickel cornerback for the Patriots if two outside cornerbacks can step up to afford him that opportunity. Arrington's starting position will need to be stripped from him if he is to be relegated at all. His role as the nickel cornerback will most likely just be in situational defenses.

Ras-I Dowling:
Dowling had an impressive start to his rookie season, however that start only lasted for one game before he landed on IR. Dowling needs to prove both his health and ability in this camp to try and earn a starting spot in the Patriots' secondary. As a big physical cornerback, he offers the team's defense something that they didn't have last year.

Sterling Moore:
After a strong finish to his rookie year, Sterling Moore will be hoping to kick on and earn a greater role with the team this season. He is still developing as an all around football player but has the talent to make a mark in training camp. He and Dowling will most likely be competing for the third spot on the depth chart at cornerback.

Alfonzo Dennard:
Alfonzo Dennard enters his first training camp as a late round draft pick who fell in the draft because of off-the-field issues. If Dennard can show up on the field, and keep his nose clean off of it, Bill Belichick will have no hesitation in playing him. However, Dennard needs to prove he was worth the risk before he can even consider stepping inside the gridiron.

Steve Gregory:
Gregory is a veteran who was signed from the San Diego Chargers this off-season. He is a reliable veteran but not a game changer on the back-end. He should help the Patriots defense as a whole but not massively. He enters training camp as the starter at safety with Patrick Chung.

Patrick Chung:
Chung has quickly become one of the more experienced players on the Patriots' defense. He needs to stay healthy and develop an understanding with Gregory ahead of this season if he is to fully reach his potential.

Tavon Wilson:
The Patriots' surprise second round pick will have to force his way into the starting safety spot ahead of Steve Gregory. Wilson may not even feature in sub packages as rookie if he is unable to beat out veteran James Ihedigbo. 

New England Patriots Training Camp - The Key Linebackers

Bill Belichick's era in New England as head coach of the Patriots will always be remembered for the quality of linebacker he brought to Boston. While Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and the late Junior Seau are all gone, Belichick is attempting to bring in a new group capable of continuing the legacy.

Jerod Mayo:
Mayo is the veteran of this group now despite being only 26 years of age. He showed his versatility last year moving to strong side linebacker in a 4-3 opposed to playing inside in a 3-4. Mayo will likely be asked to play both positions again this season as Donta Hightower and Bobby Carpenter are better suited to play strongside in a 4-3.

Brandon Spikes:
Spikes instincts and ability to knock out defenders have quickly seen him stand out in his career so far. The greatest issue with Spikes is his durability. He hasn't played a full 16 game season so far in his very short career. While it is too early to call him injury prone, he needs to be on the field this year if the Patriots defense is going to improve.

Bobby Carpenter:
It was no surprise that the Patriots signed Carpenter as a free agent this off-season. While Carpenter has never lived up to his hype coming out of college, he is a player who has played adequately in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. Bill Belichick is obviously hoping that Carpenter will provide the team with some veteran stability without forcing Donta Hightower into action straight away.

Dont'a Hightower:
Everyone will expect Hightower to start from day one, but he will need to earn his spot for the Patriots. The most likely outcome is Hightower will start at strong-side linebacker, because of the question marks over his coverage skills, with Spikes playing inside and Mayo lining up across from him. Hightower is very intelligent and physically gifted, but nothing is handed to anyone in New England.

Dane Fletcher:
Fletcher is entering camp a lot leaner this season compared to last. Last year he was a bit part player in the regular season but had an impressive training camp and pre-season. Fletcher needs to focus on continuing his development while being ready to fill in if required for Spikes.

Tracy White:
At this point in his career, Tracy White will just be hoping to land a roster spot. White has never been a starter in his nine year career and that doesn't figure to change this year.

Niko Koutouvides:
Much like White, Koutouvides is another player on the Patriots roster who will settle for a job for the year. Koutouvides has started three games in his eight year career.