Hester Ends Holdout

Chicago Bears' all-pro kick returner Devin Hester ended his two day holdout on Sunday when he agreed to a new four year extension reportedly worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million. Hester was unhappy with his previous contract which was due to play him just $445,000 this season. He missed the first two days of training camp but is expected to be back in camp on Monday.

These holdouts seem to be a common theme recently in the NFL. Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant is a camp holdout. After last year's breakout season he feels that he should be paid more like a star running back and less like a rookie backup. Instead of living up to their contracts many players seem to have a "pay me now" sort of attitude instead of putting in their time and getting rewarded for it down the road, the way it is supposed to be done.

Manny On The Move?

One of the biggest rumors in MLB the past couple day has concerned Manny Ramirez and his future with the Boston Red Sox. Manny's antics over his career in Boston have been well documented and then shrugged off as "Manny being Manny." This year however he has crossed the line and the Red Sox appear to have had enough. He pushed a 64 year old traveling ticket agent to the ground, he got in a fight with teammate Kevin Youkilis, and then most recently took himself out of the lineup before a game against the Sox's arch rivals the New York Yankees.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstien, who has made clear in the past is discontent with many of Manny's antics, has admitted that the Sox are listening to trade offers for the all-star left fielder.

One thing that could potentially be a road block in a trade of Manny Ramirez is the fact that Manny has a no trade clause that kicked in after last season. This gives Ramirez the right to veto any trade agreed to by the Sox in which he is a part of. Today in an interview with ESPN Deportes Manny said that he would not, in fact, block a trade should it come to that. It remains to be seen if he will live up to his word.

"If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object. I don't have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball. If they can get a trade, I'd approve it. If they can't trade me, then they will simply have to inform me by the end of the season that they won't use the options and we'll go separate ways. I don't want to be a problem and a distraction to the Red Sox in such a critical moment of the season. I want to help the team, even if that means I have to go."

The biggest problem I have with this comment is that Manny has been a distraction. He coined the phrase "Manny being Manny." He is the one that makes bathroom trips during the game into the green monster. He is the one who threw a old man to the ground because he would not give him the tickets he wanted. He is the one that brings up his contract situation every time he talks to reporters. He is the one that has put himself and the Red Sox in the position they are in now.

If Manny really wants to not be a distraction he should be a man and live up to his contract and play EVERYDAY to the best of his abilities. Reports have indicated that he thinks he is worth upwards of $25 million a year over the next four years. Even taking out of account his off field shananagans, his play over the last few seasons does not merit $25 million. It is time for Manny Ramirez to stop acting like a child and start acting live a professional. He needs to prove to the world what he is worth as a ballplayer. If he does he will get rewarded, and likely by the Red Sox, the team he has said all along that he wants to play for.