Big names set for 2010 Manning Passing Academy

If you haven't registered for the 2010 Manning Passing Academy, you are too late! That is typically the case with the annual event which enters its 15th year. For the fifth year, this year's camp is set for Nicholls State University from July 8 through July 11.

The event began in 1996 at Tulane University before moving to Hammond and the campus of Southeastern University for nine years. The magnitude of the camp required more space which Nicholls State affords. The Manning family has improved John L. Guidry Stadium with Archie Manning getting AstroTurf donated by General Sports Venue in 2007 to improve the facility. The field is now known as "Manning Field."

The brainchild of Archie Manning, the patriarch of the Manning family, the event has become a can't miss camp for aspiring college and professional quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. The event sells out early every year.

"I wish we could take more kids but it is difficult when you have so many instructors, security and dormitory space. We are fortunate to have such demand. We've got about 1,000 kids coming, quarterbacks and receivers from all over the country," said Manning.

Of course, the camp features a legacy unmatched anywhere--three NFL quarterbacks from the same family. Peyton Manning and Eli Manning are prime attractions and prime teachers at the camp while Cooper Manning, the oldest of the Manning brothers, plays a huge role as well. "Peyton, Eli and Cooper are their full-time every year. They are totally invested in the event," said Archie.

The 2010 Manning Passing Academy again features high school coaches, college coaches and assistants from various schools. "We have probably about 120 on staff this year. We always have a good time with the college guys who come in. The NCAA will let us have one player from each college," Archie said.

This year's featured college quarterbacks is a star-studded group which has Archie very excited. "This is the best collection of college quarterbacks we've ever had. We have Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Andrew Luck (Stanford), Christian Ponder (Florida State), Jordan Jefferson (LSU), Greg McElroy (Alabama), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Andy Dalton (TCU) and Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M). "Moore may break Colt McCoy's win record of 45 wins at a school before he is done," said Manning.

"All in all, we probably have 25 to 30 college players. We have some outstanding receivers as well. It's a very good group. I'm excited as well that my good friend Kenny Anderson is coming down this year. Kenny was a great NFL quarterback with the Cincinnati Bengals, leading them to a Super Bowl. He just retired from NFL coaching," added Archie.

Every camper receives a J5V football upon arrival in Thibodaux. They take home a free DVD of the 2010 camp when they depart. The popular "Air It Out" passing exhibition by the top quarterback instructors attending is set for Saturday, July 10 at 11 a.m. There are many good speakers from the college and professional ranks scheduled.

Having the camp in July guarantees that it is going to be hot--very hot! "We wait until we know it's good and hot," laughed Archie. "That's Louisiana. That's how we like it. That is home."

Perhaps it is a wrong sport analogy, but for those attending the Manning Passing Academy hit a home run. It is simply the best of its kind in the country. Having three Pro Bowl quarterbacks, including two who won Super Bowl trophies and Super Bowl MVP awards certainly helps. One (Peyton) is a four-time league Most Valuable Player. "I am humbled by the success Peyton and Eli have had and we feel very blessed," said Archie.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics has David Stern jumping for joy

Commissioner David Stern will never admit the NBA got the Finals matchup it wanted most after a Kobe-LeBron clash.

But if he could do cartwheels in those expensive suits, we're betting he would.

 

Hey, we're not going to lie. There's something magical about the Lakers and Celtics in the Finals, and we can't wait to watch it unfold beginning Thursday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Here's how The Heat Index breaks it down:

Point guard

Rajon Rondo, Celtics.

Nobody in this series has improved more since the teams last met in the Finals in 2008. Heck, maybe nobody in the NBA has improved as much as Rondo, who has averaged 16.7 points and 10 assists in this playoff run.

Derek Fisher, Lakers.

Fisher has done a terrific job of keeping Utah's Deron Williams and the Suns' Steve Nash out of the lane in the past two rounds.

Edge: Boston.

Shooting guard

Ray Allen, Celtics.

Allen ranks behind Reggie Miller on the NBA's all-time list for 3-point shots made in a career. He's great coming off screens, but he's also 34 years old.

Kobe Bryant, Lakers.

Forget that debate about who is better, Bryant or LeBron James. Bryant is so far beyond James as a complete player it isn't even debatable. If your life depended on it, who would you want to take the shot? Uh huh.

Edge: Lakers.

Center

Kendrick Perkins, Celtics.

Perkins is big, physical and active. But will he be available for the whole series? He has accumulated six technical fouls in the playoffs and will serve a one-game suspension if he gets another.

Andrew Bynum, Lakers.

Bynum missed the 2008 Finals against Boston because of a dislocated left knee cap. He may be only slightly more useful now because of torn cartilage in his right knee.

Edge: Celtics.

Power forward

Kevin Garnett, Celtics.

He's still got a mean streak, as evidenced by that dirty arm chop he gave to Orlando's Dwight Howard in the conference finals.

But his warrior's mentality is trumped by his worn-out knees.

Pau Gasol, Lakers.

His low-post game has evoked comparisons - ironically - to that of former Celtics great Kevin McHale. Let's just hope Gasol makes a better player-personnel guy some day.

Edge: Lakers.

Small forward

Paul Pierce, Celtics.

This is the key matchup of the series. Pierce is a resourceful scorer, who craftily uses his body to create space. He had some big games in 2008 and is almost as good in the clutch as Bryant.

Ron Artest, Lakers.

Pierce won't be creating much space by using his body against Artest. Opponents fear the guy. His teammates might, too.

Edge: Celtics.

Sixth Man

Rasheed Wallace, Celtics.

He is a matchup nightmare when he's right.

Lamar Odom, Lakers.

He is a matchup nightmare when he's right.

Edge: None.David sternDavid stern

Other key reserves

Celtics - C-F Glen "Big Baby" Davis, G Tony Allen, G Nate Robinson, G-F Michael Finley.

Lakers - G Shannon Brown, G Jordan Farmar, G Sasha Vujacic.

The Celtics can come with big bodies, defense and scoring. Los Angeles counters with, let's see, Shannon, Jordan and Sasha.

Is that the Lakers or the Sparks?

Edge: Celtics.

Bottom line: If the Lakers couldn't solve a zone defense thrown at them by the Suns, how will they fare against this now-healthy Celtics defensive juggernaut? Not well. Celtics in six.

 

Some Panthers in labor limbo

In any other year, the Carolina Panthers probably would not have so many contract issues.

 

But if the uncertainty over the league's labor future has made one thing clear, it is that this is no ordinary year.

 

The Panthers always have been proactive in locking up young players to contract extensions. But a combination of events leading to the lack of a labor deal beyond 2010 means they have not yet, and may not until after this season.

 

That means core players are left waiting for new deals. The smart ones understand the business realities, since owner Jerry Richardson's place on the league's negotiating committee practically guarantees he is going to take a harder line than most. One agent said "all deals are on hold with Carolina."

 

"This year more than any I've ever seen, the business is rearing its head," said left tackle Jordan Gross, who went through a two-year quest for a long-term deal. "With Mr. Richardson being at the spot he's at in the negotiating team and all that, I think he's got to walk the walk and talk the talk. And he's doing that."

 

This offseason, linebacker Jon Beason acknowledged he would have to wait for his payday despite peers DeMeco Ryans and Patrick Willis getting monster deals. Likewise, linebacker Thomas Davis seems resigned to playing under his one-year restricted free agent tender of $3.268 million. Running back DeAngelo Williams is not making an issue of it, but said last week "I'd love to be here. But somebody has to show me that they want me to be here."

 

In previous years, going back to players such as Dan Morgan, Mike Minter and Mike Rucker, the Panthers have been forward about writing extensions to keep their own. In the past 10 years, the Panthers have been in the top half of the league in payroll five times, and only twice have they been lower than 22nd, in the cap-strapped years of 2002 and 2007.

 

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney did not want to delve into the topic, but he has never been bashful in the past, which makes this offseason stand out.

 

"We've said before that keeping our core players together is important to us; I think our history has shown that," Hurney said. "However, as a matter of club policy, we don't comment on the status of individual players where they are currently under contract or under tender."

 

Part of the hesitance because of the unknown labor future. Without a new deal, no one knows whether there will be a salary cap, how big it will be, or whether the rules for free agency will change. So while they have a lot of business to do once a labor deal

 

is reached, they also lack many contractual entanglements, having dumped the bad ones without penalty this offseason.

 

It's a good position to be in come 2011, but the short-term question is what the strategy will do to the product on the field.

 

The Panthers released 66 years of organizational experience with the offseason purge. They are faced with questions about their pass rush, receiving corps and the quarterback position. The moves have left Carolina unproven and thin, leaving little to no margin for error if injuries pile up.

 

And while it's easy for Gross to sound an optimistic tone since he has a contract, he urged teammates to trust in the direction of the team.

 

"Mr. Richardson has been completely honest with me my whole career here, with anything he's ever told me," Gross said. "Anything he ever told me came to fruition in contract terms or roster moves or anything."

 

Carolina Panthers· running back DeAngelo Williams (left) and team General Manager Marty Hurney walk off the field Thursday at the Panthers practice field.

- DAVID T. FOSTER III /DAVID T. FOSTER III-dtfoster@cha

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·         Lots of work to do

A partial list of the players on the Panthers roster who could be unrestricted free agents after 2010:

QB Matt Moore: Now that he's a starter, he could make a huge financial leap with a solid season.

RB DeAngelo Williams: Convoluted "30 percent rule" makes it hard to pay him now, and the presence of Jonathan Stewart creates a debate as to how much they should spend at the position.

WR Dwayne Jarrett: A prove-it year for the former second-rounder.

TE Jeff King: A solid citizen and contributor.

C Ryan Kalil: Would be hard to franchise tag because of his position, and set to get rich after making his first Pro Bowl.

DE Charles Johnson: Gets chance to deliver on the potential he's flashed as the replacement for Julius Peppers.

DTs Tank Tyler, Louis Leonard and Ed Johnson: Whoever emerges among them stands to cash in.

LB Thomas Davis: Coming into his own as a player and a leader, he deserves to get paid.

LBs James Anderson and Jamar Williams: Not indispensable pieces, but you would think they would want to keep one of them for the future.

CB Richard Marshall: His future likely lies elsewhere since they might not be able to pay him what he wants.

- Darin Gantt