L.T., Belichick in harmony at Pro Bowl; Taylor-Merriman feud still going

Football Betting Lines

02/06/2007 -

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) -LaDainian Tomlinson now thinks Bill Belichick has nothing but class, and Belichick says the feeling is mutual.

Meanwhile, Jason Taylor has no problem starting alongside Shawne Merriman at the Pro Bowl - but it's still unclear whether Merriman is less than thrilled to play with the Miami star who said the steroid-tainted San Diego linebacker shouldn't be allowed to play in Hawaii.

Though Peyton Manning and his four offensive teammates from the champion Indianapolis Colts hadn't yet arrived, the star-studded AFC squad enjoyed the first day of workouts Tuesday on Oahu's gorgeous west shore.

While league MVP Tomlinson no longer has any bad feelings toward the New England Patriots' three-time Super Bowl-winning coach after their playoff meeting, another San Diego player's feud still might be simmering: Merriman pointedly refused to speak to reporters after working out alongside Taylor, Miami's NFL defensive player of the year.

In late December, Taylor spoke out strongly against players who test positive for performance-enhancing substances. Though only some of his comments were addressed directly to Merriman, Taylor said players who use banned substances shouldn't be allowed to receive postseason honors or even play in the league.

Taylor and Merriman didn't speak during Monday evening meetings or Tuesday's practice, but Taylor believes the situation is workable.

``We'll talk,'' said Taylor, who beat out Merriman for the defensive player award. ``Shawne and I are on the same team, and I don't think it's going to be a problem for any of us. It's not a big deal. I never said it was anything special about Shawne. I just felt like it's something that it's time for the league to address.''

Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney directed even more pointed comments at Merriman last week, echoing Taylor's viewpoint. The NFL is reportedly considering a Pro Bowl ban as a consequence of a positive test.

``I'm glad the league has done something about it and is looking at it,'' Taylor said. ``Sometimes it takes somebody with enough guts to stand up and say something. I'm not a pioneer or anything. I just think it's good they're doing something.''

While Merriman had nothing to say, his teammates stuck by his side. Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal also said he supports more stringent drug-testing - and he thinks Merriman would agree.

``It's not Shawne that's in question,'' Neal said. ``He shouldn't be slammed because of one bad mistake he made. He knows he was taking something he shouldn't have been taking, but it wasn't the way people are making it out to be. He didn't read the labels (on a legal supplement). He made his choice, he paid his dues, and I think people need to let it go now.''

Tomlinson's now-squashed problems with Belichick occupied much less time before practice.

New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs added an insult to the Patriots' road playoff victory over San Diego last month when he danced on the Chargers' midfield logo with some of his teammates. Moments later, Tomlinson said the Patriots ``showed no class, and maybe that comes from the head coach.''

After having nearly a month to cool down, Tomlinson no longer blames Belichick. Tomlinson said both the coach and the running back ``kind of apologized'' Monday.

``He was joking around, having a good time with all the guys,'' Tomlinson said. ``We even joked about the (playoff) game. I told him that I said some things that maybe I shouldn't have said, and in return, Bill said he didn't even see Hobbs doing it, but after the game, he definitely said something to him about handling the situation better.

``I still think Hobbs was wrong, but when I sit back and think about it, I don't think Bill has any control over how his players act. He can tell them all day long, 'Guys, let's act like we've been there before,' like Marty (Schottenheimer) does to us, but guys can always do whatever they want to do.''

Tomlinson now wishes he hadn't invoked Belichick's name - and he's excited to see how New England's coaching staff will use him in the Pro Bowl along with Manning, Marvin Harrison and the rest of the offensive talent.

``We talked,'' Belichick said. ``I have all the respect in the world for LaDainian as a person, as a player, and it's fun to be out here working with all of those guys from the Chargers.''

Belichick had less to say about retired Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, who claims Belichick forced him to participate in full-strength practices shortly after incurring a concussion. Johnson says the resulting brain injuries left him with memory loss, depression and an addiction to amphetamines.

``I wish Ted well,'' Belichick said. ``I know he's going through some things, and I hope it works out well for him. ... I really don't want to go into the past. I just hope things work out well for Ted. I really do.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwrichsex Football Betting News

<< Magic-Bucks Preview
The Milwaukee Bucks had hoped to have Michael Redd back in the lineup Tuesday, but they'll again be without their leading scorer as they try to snap a four-game losing streak in a matchup with the struggling Orlando Magic.Redd, who averages 27.7 poi

<< Bulls fine Thomas $10,000
CHICAGO (AP) -The Chicago Bulls fined forward Tyrus Thomas $10,000 on Tuesday, one day after the rookie said he only was interested in the money for the NBA's slam dunk contest.The first Bull since Scottie Pippen in 1990 to participate in the event,

<< Bucks' Gadzuric out 6 weeks
MILWAUKEE (AP) -Bucks center Dan Gadzuric dislocated his left shoulder on Saturday night and will miss six weeks.The team said Tuesday that Gadzuric injured the shoulder late in the third quarter of the Bucks' 117-98 loss to the Miami Heat.Gadzuric

<< 1957 World Series MVP dead at 80
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. (AP) -Lew Burdette, MVP of the 1957 World Series when he pitched the Milwaukee Braves to their only championship, died Tuesday. He was 80.Burdette had been ill for an extended period with lung cancer. Family members were with him

<< Patriots LT Light selected for Pro Bowl
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light was chosen for the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, replacing Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens on the AFC team.Light was selected for the first time in his six NFL seasons. He will be New

From Sapelo Island to Miami: Allen Bailey takes ferry to the big time >>
SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -The double-decker ferry eases away from the rest of the world with a dozen people aboard. A lone fisherman stays behind, huddled at the end of the dock with eyes firmly locked on a couple of lines that disappear beneath the

2007 Spring Training Dates >>
Team Pitchers-Catchers Full SquadFirst/Workout WorkoutArizona Diamondbacks Feb. 17 Feb. 22Atlanta Braves Feb. 16 Feb. 21Baltimore Orioles Feb. 15 Feb. 20Boston Red Sox Feb. 18

Heat flirting with .500 mark again >>
MIAMI (AP) -When Shaquille O'Neal returned to Miami's lineup after recovering from knee surgery, he was asked when the struggling Heat needed to regain their championship form.O'Neal got right to the point.``Not next month. Not next week. Not tomorr

Iverson hopes to play against New Orleans >>
DENVER (AP) -Allen Iverson can run just fine on his sprained right ankle.If only he could cut on it.The Denver Nuggets point guard made it through practice Tuesday afternoon on the tender ankle and is optimistic he'll be ready to play New Orleans on

Former Iowa State coach joins South Florida staff >>
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney was hired Tuesday as assistant head coach and defensive line coach at South Florida.The Bulls also announced the addition of Mike Canales to coach Jim Leavitt's staff as receivers coach. Meanwhi

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards