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07/01/2010 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Maple Leafs signed free agent forward Colby Armstrong to a three-year contract on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Armstrong, who had been with Atlanta since coming over from Pittsburgh before the trade deadline in 2007-08, reportedly signed with Toronto for $3 million a year.
Armstrong had a career year for the Thrashers in 2008-09, posting 22 goals and 18 assists, but his production dipped to 15 goals and 29 points in 79 games with Atlanta last season.
In five NHL seasons, Armstrong, who Pittsburgh selected with the 21st overall choice in the 2001 NHL Draft, has compiled 78 goals and 100 assists in 360 career games.
<< Spain's Martinez injured in training
Potchefstroom, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spain midfielder Javier
Martinez left practice Thursday after injuring his ankle and could miss
Saturday's FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Paraguay.
Spain released a statement
<< Earthquakes release Sanchez, Weber
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced Thursday
that midfielder Ramon Sanchez and goalkeeper Andrew Weber were released on
Wednesday.
Sanchez appeared in 13 matches since signing with the 'Quakes in 20
<< D.C. United signs Argentine forward Hernandez
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United signed Argentine forward Pablo
Hernandez on Thursday.
Hernandez, 23, joins United on loan from Club Defensor Sporting of the Uruguay
first division and will be available to play upon receipt of
<< Habs bring in Auld for one year
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens brought in goaltender
Alex Auld on a one-year deal Thursday.
Terms of the pact were not disclosed, but the Montreal Gazette reported it is
worth $1 million.
Auld, who split last
Rangers acquire Molina from Giants >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Bengie
Molina and cash from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitchers Chris
Ray and Michael Main.
Molina will join the Rangers on Friday when they open a
Sabres ink Leopold to three-year deal >>
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres filled one vacancy on
defense Thursday, signing free-agent Jordan Leopold to a three-year deal.
Leopold split last season between Florida and Pittsburgh, racking up 11 goals
and 26 po
Whitney signs with Coyotes >>
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes added scoring depth
Thursday, signing veteran winger Ray Whitney to a two-year deal.
The 38-year-old Whitney, who recorded 21 goals and 58 points in 80 games for
Carolina last year
Thrashers get Ladd from Blackhawks >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers acquired forward Andrew
Ladd from the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday in exchange for defenseman Ivan
Vishnevskiy and a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Ladd had spent the las
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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