PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hometown hero Mathis becomes 'rising star' with Jags
Football Betting Lines
09/21/2006 -
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -When cornerback Rashean Mathis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he bought his mother a house - on the other side of town.
He knew that if she lived too close, she would come over all the time.
``I love her. She's my role model. But I just couldn't have her around every second of the day,'' Mathis said.
The crosstown move is just one example of how well Mathis plays defense.
He leads the NFL with three interceptions, giving him 15 in his four-year career and more than anyone else drafted in 2003. Coach Jack Del Rio calls him one of the team's ``rising stars,'' and it would be tough to argue, especially after the first two games.
Mathis played a pivotal role in wins against Dallas and Pittsburgh, helping slow down Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and Hines Ward and creating three crucial turnovers.
He picked off a pass from Drew Bledsoe in the opener, returned it into Dallas territory and set up Jacksonville's first touchdown.
He intercepted two against the defending Super Bowl champions Monday night. The first one came with about five minutes to play. It essentially ended Pittsburgh's comeback attempt and led to a field goal that sealed the 9-0 victory.
His second came on Ben Roethlisberger's final pass. He cut underneath Cedric Wilson, caught the pass and returned it to the 2-yard line. The Jaguars ran out the clock from there.
Two days later, Mathis was chosen AFC defensive player of the week.
``He's really developed. He's really matured,'' safety Donovin Darius said. ``I still don't think he's reached the tip of the iceberg. Not at all. From a technique standpoint, he's still a raw, talented guy. He has the mind and the heart to learn and get better. And he's reaping some of the benefits of the hard work he's put in. But the best is yet to come from him.''
Mathis gets a chance to show more improvement Sunday at Indianapolis. Marvin Harrison torched Mathis several times last season in Jacksonville, including on the Colts' first play of their second possession - a double move that ended in a 65-yard touchdown reception.
Harrison finished with six catches for 137 yards and two scores.
Mathis took the blame.
``Everybody has expectations, but the expectations I set for myself are higher than anybody can have for me,'' Mathis said. ``I know the ability I have. I have a God-given talent. It's up to me to determine how good I'll be. I'm taking that task very serious.''
Despite a few bad plays, the Jaguars believe Mathis could be one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
``His biggest attribute is that he's a ballplayer and a playmaker,'' secondary coach Dave Campo said. ``The mark of a real good player is one who can track the football and make something happen. Some guys are playmakers and some guys aren't. Some guys are fast, but don't have that burst. He's got it. That's what sticks out.''
Mathis wasn't always sure things would turn out so well.
He was a major college recruit going into his senior season at Englewood High School in Jacksonville. He committed to Florida State, but after breaking his leg returning a kickoff, the Seminoles withdrew their scholarship offer.
Mathis pointed to the 4-inch scar just above his right ankle as he talked about having to make a decision between walking on at Florida State or accepting a scholarship to attend Bethune-Cookman, a Division I-AA school about 90 miles south in Daytona Beach. Mathis and his family struggled growing up, so the decision was fairly easy.
``A lot of people had done it before me, guys like Jerry Rice,'' Mathis said. ``There were small-college guys who had found success, so I knew it was possible.''
Mathis found success in a hurry.
He finished his career with 31 interceptions and broke the Division I-AA record for picks in a season as a senior. His 14 interceptions were two more than ``Superman'' actor Dean Cain had at Princeton in 1987.
``It didn't take me very long to show everybody I could play football,'' Mathis said.
The Jaguars drafted Mathis in the second round in 2003, taking just a few seconds to announce the hometown selection. Mathis has started every game since, playing six games at safety before settling in at cornerback.
He signed a five-year, $25.5 million extension in August 2005, with $9.4 million guaranteed. It was plenty of money for Mathis and his family to live comfortably - even if they needed to be across town from each other.
``It's a good thing,'' Mathis said. ``They know where I am, I know where they are and we still see plenty of each other, just not all the time. It hasn't been stressful at all.''
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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.