NFL to use tracking devices during games, practices

The NFL is watching, Tom. (Getty Images)

Note to NFL players: if you're thinking of sneaking out mid-game to grab a burger or whatever, don't do it. You're about to be tracked.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated dropped this headscratcher of a tweet on Wednesday:

No, the system isn't about babysitting, though you know that's going to come into play at some point. Rather, this is a way for the NFL and teams to track the coordinates of every single player while on the field. The idea is to get a better sense of players' conditioning, and it's not a new program: the Bills, Falcons, Cowboys, Jaguars, Eagles and Rams already use the technology.
Players will be tracked by means of a device like the one by Catapult Sports. About the size of a pager (remember those, kids?), the GPS device will be placed inside the pads on a player's back. Here, per the Buffalo Bills, is how the system works:

“The number one goal of this system right now is trying to help prevent injury as well as help us with the rehab process,” said [Buffalo] strength and conditioning coordinator Eric Ciano. “There are a lot of different things that goes into it, but the biggest thing is how can we monitor guys on the field to help us get the information? What do they really do at their position? How far does a receiver really run in practice? How fast does a receiver run in practice? Then create standards for each position group to be able to say, ‘Well this guy has done four days in a row in this (work rate) zone, this guy is at risk for injury.’ That’s the main reason we did it.”

The device uses a metric called "player load," which tracks a range of practice variables. If a player hits a player load rating of 400, which would be very high, on consecutive days, the tech team will notify the coaching staff and keep the player to a less rigorous workout afterward.
“I think the most I topped off at for total distance in a practice was close to 2,000 yards,” the Bills' C.J. Spiller said. “That’s a lot. You’re never out there thinking I’m covering this much. It’s a good program they’ve got. Top speed I think I hit around 18 or 19 (miles per hour). So it’s a good thing to have.”

How long before the GPS tracks a player into a nightclub/condo where he shouldn't be? We're going to set the over-under at 12 hours. Take the under.

Report: One-armed Zach Hodskins receives preferred walk-on offer from Florida (VIDEO)

He may not be the best prospect in the Class of 2014, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more impressive player than 6-foot-2 shooting guard Zach Hodskins from Milton, GA.
A mid-major recruit that’s reportedly getting looks from the likes of UAB and Birmingham Southern, Hodskins just picked up an offer to be a preferred walk-on at Florida, according to Yahoo’s Prep Rally. A preferred walk-on doesn’t receive a scholarship, but he doesn’t have to try out to make the team; he’d be guaranteed a spot on the roster.
What makes that so impressive is that Hodskins is anything but a typical recruit.
Hodskins was born with one hand.
A birth defect left him with a left arm that ends just below his elbow.
And, if he wants to, he can play on a team consistently competing for SEC titles and Final Fours. That’s incredible, but it’s also not simply a charity case. Hodskins can hoop. He’s a knock down jump-shooter that’s mastered a couple of nasty dribble moves despite lacking the capability to cross over:

It appears that Hodskins may have sealed the walk-on offer by excelling at the ScoutsFocus All American camp. Get Me Recruited, a hoops recruiting analysis and promotion site, called Hodskins the most impressive talent at the entire camp, citing his stunning ball handling ability and shockingly accurate passing. You can see his performance at the ScoutsFocus event in the video above. Remember, he's doing this with one hand.

 While Hodskins has yet to receive a full Division I scholarship, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Birmingham Southern have both reportedly been considering offering the guard a scholarship.

Whether they can top the opportunity Hodskins could have at Florida is another question entirely.

Justus Sheffield found the ultimate way to avoid being banned from playing for his school

Tullahoma (Tenn.) High pitching sensation Justus Sheffield conjured up a creative way to avoid a Tennessee high school athletic association rule that restricts players from participating in all-star competitions while classes are in session.

Sheffield, who apparently isn't related to nine-time Major League Baseball All-Star Gary Sheffield despite many previous reports to the contrary, dropped out of school in order to play in Sunday's Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego and plans to re-enroll this week, according to The Tennesseean.

A Vanderbilt commit and likely top-round pick in next year's MLB draft, Sheffield avoided a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association provision that would have banned him from playing his final season for the Wildcats.

“It’s one big loophole that you can go through,” Tullahoma athletic director Jerry Mathis told The Tennesseean. “It’s really a rule we probably need to sit down and look at so that they’re permitted to play in it.”

Sheffield learned of the method from future Commodores teammate Phil Pfeifer, who discovered the loophole as a Farragut (Tenn.) High rising senior in 2010, when former Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.) High star and current Toronto Blue Jays prospect Daniel Norris employed the strategy as a senior that summer, according to the report.
Norris avoided the same fate as former Smyrna (Tenn.) High and current Oakland Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray did in 2007. Likewise, Sheffield's older brother Jordan, who chose Vanderbilt over signing as a 13th-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox, did not play in the 2012 Perfect Game All-American Classic as a result of the rule.
The younger Sheffield struck out two in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the East squad's losing effort in the 2013 edition of the all-star competition that invites roughly 50 of the nation's top prep baseball players to its annual event in San Diego each summer.
"I had a blast," Sheffield told the paper. "It was the greatest showcase I’ve ever been in. We got so much gear -- a new glove, cleats, a bat. I met players from all across the U.S."

For such a short outing, the real shame would have been Tullahoma losing Sheffield for his senior season, since he finished his junior year with a 10-2 record and a 1.28 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 71.1 innings, leading the Wildcats to a 35-10 season this past spring.

The TSSAA plans to address the issue in December, but Sheffield appears safe from any punishment by the state's prep athletics governing body. The scouts who follow him all spring might as well add another plus now in the intangibles column for creativity. - By Prep Rally

VIDEO: Take 24 seconds to watch this unbelievable knockout

You have about 24 seconds? Then watch this knockout. Jinh Yu knocked out Darla Harris in what is one of the year's most memorable knockouts. At the Sugar Creek Showdown in Oklahoma, Yu wobbled Harris with a kick to the head, then followed with two power lefts that left Harris stiff.

It's only Yu's second professional fight. She won with a first round submission in her pro debut in April. Clearly, she's a name to look out for.

MUST SEE: Video of Tom Brady knee injury at Patriots practice

Tom Brady suffered a scary injury to his left knee during Patriots practice on Wednesday. It's currently considered mostly a precautionary thing that he left practice but watch the video that surfaced from a Patriots fan Chad Kopcak on Twitter  You be the judge how serious Tom Brady's injury could be.
In the video, Patriots tackle Nate Solder is pushed backward by an opposing Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive end and into Brady. Brady falls on the ground, holding his left knee. You can hear fans yelling "OH NO!" as it happens.

Patriots president Jonathan Kraft on 98.5 The Sports Hub (on Tom Brady): “I don’t believe it’s serious but I do not know.” but that is the same knee Brady injured when he lost the 2008 season with an ACL tear.
Lets hope Brady's injury isn't too serious. 

"Hard Work Pays Off" - Wayne State Football 2013

During the month of August every college football team prepares for their season at training camp. One team ready to hit the field is my Alma Mater, Wayne State University.  During my college football days I found out very quickly, it takes hard work to win! If their off season workout video is any indication how the Warriors will play this year, I can guarantee there’s going to be a lot of winning in Detroit this season! Check it out..

MUST SEE VIDEO!!! BOTH teams dog-pile on the mound (VIDEO)

 As the video shows, the East players, seeing that the West were having so much fun after winning the championship for the third straight year, decided to join in on the mound celebration. It was a cool moment that showed these young players, win or lose, were simply grateful to be playing ball in a big league stadium at such a high level.

Only the guy on the bottom probably didn't think it was so great.