Finally a Griz

The Griz introduce Iverson at 11 a.m. today in FedExForum. Iverson's one-year deal is worth roughly $3.5 million and has several team-based incentives. Iverson's pay can increase with the amount of wins the Griz rack up. His highest-paying bonus is tied to a Grizzlies playoff berth. There are no individual incentives in the contract. There is no doubt, though, that Iverson represents the biggest player acquisition in franchise history. He'll bring superstar and box-office appeal. "The issue will be playing time and how he will be utilized," Hollins said. "We talked about a lot of situations. We talked about situations under pressure. He doesn't want it to be just about him. He wants it to be about the team. I know this: He's passionate about winning. I'm excited about it. I'm ready to get started. He can really help us. He's a talented young man. My mindset is to figure out how to best utilize him and how to best help our team." GM Heisley said Hollins wanted to make sure Iverson would accept coaching. Iverson's role could change throughout the season. It's likely he'll start some games but come off the bench for most. He'll play alongside Mayo and Conley at different times. There will be occasions when Hollins plays all three guards together. Looks to be a good move if everything goes according to plan but you never know.

Ocho Vs Skip

I could not find the whole show [working on that] but here is what part is out so far if you missed Ocho vs Skip

A lot of Potential

The talent and potential of Hakeem Nicks are so tantalizing for the G-Men. He looks so smooth and has such great hands and made so many big plays during the preseason. It would be easy for the Giants to rush him up their depth chart, or maybe even into the starting lineup of their unheralded receiving corps. And it would be easy to project greatness for the 20-year-old Nicks, even in his rookie season. Except for one thing: Nicks, the Giants' first-round pick, is fighting against history. In the last 25 years, rookie seasons for Giants receivers have rarely worked out very well.Nicks has pushed his way up to the fourth-receiver spot, and he could push Mario Manningham for No. 3. Nicks was so good, in fact, that backup David Carr compared him to Andre Johnson, one of the best receivers and a former Carr teammate from their days in Houston. Even Nicks admitted he was "encouraged" by his summer and promised there's a lot more to come. The one thing he can't do anything about is the Giants' rookie receiver history. From 1985-2008, a span of 24drafts, the Giants drafted 27 receivers, including three in the first round and six in the second. Yet the best numbers any of those receivers put up as a rookie in the regular season were the 16 catches and 211 yards in 2003 by sixth-round pick David Tyree. "Yeah, I know," Nicks said. "But that's not something I think about. I put that out of sight, out of mind. I look forward to making plays and being a Giant."

Hometown Still In It

Beat writer Mike Reiss says the Patriots would turn to Sam Aiken before Julian Edelman if a starting receiver suffers an injury. When the Patriots go four-wide, Edelman will likely enter as the fourth receiver alongside Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Joey Galloway. However, Aiken would get the starting nod should Moss, Welker, or Galloway go down. Aiken is a local NFL player from my area so I am defintely cheering this man on. He has been in the league for quite some time now [6 seasons to be exact.

Ginn 3rd Year a Charm?

Dolphins officials believe Ted Ginn Jr. is ready to break out and didn't feel a need to get him a lot of offensive touches in the preseason (five catches). ``Most of the great receivers really come on in the third year,'' he said. What changed from last year? ``He's doing an excellent job of route-running,'' Chad Pennington said. ``It's one thing to be fast. It's another thing to create separation. Those are two totally different things. In this league, you don't create separation just by speed. He's learning that. When he's coming out of breaks, he's got that separation now. I'm really happy where he is.'' This is coming straight from his own QB so Ginn must be doing something right.

A Little More Cautious

"I may not finish the year. If you would have asked me my first year if I would finish I'd have said, 'I may not,'" Favre said. "No one thought I'd play 18 straight years without missing a game, me included. I have no idea what's going to happen. None." Favre acknowledged as much Wednesday, the day a rocking chair appeared in front of his cubicle in the locker room courtesy of an unknown prankster. If his health were to become a hindrance to Minnesota's success this season, would Favre step aside? "Absolutely. I was receptive to it last year," he said. Jets running back criticized Favre after last season, claiming he should've been benched while the team stumbled down the stretch and missed the playoffs. Favre said Wednesday he felt like he was harming the team with slight misses on some throws. He said he spoke with the general manager, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach but the consensus was to finish it out. So look for either Sage [more likely] or Tarvaris to play a few games to rest the old man especially down the stretch .

Quinn Gets the Nod

Brady Quinn beat out Derek Anderson for the Browns' starting quarterback job and will start Sunday's opener against the Vikings, an NFL source told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday. Quinn, who went 1-2 as a starter last season before succumbing to a broken right index finger, was told Tuesday night by Browns coach Eric Mangini that he won the job, but continued to go along with the charade when he met with reporters on Wednesday. Anderson, who wasn't as chipper Wednesday as he's been during preseason, may have inadvertently tipped his hand during his interview session when asked if it would be hard to keep the secret the rest of the week. Mangini informed the quarterbacks in separate conversations Tuesday night, explaining why and how the decision was made. He let the rest of the players find out when the 11:30 a.m. practice was closed to the media after the first 30 minutes and the team lined up for 11-on-11 drills. By 3 p.m. Bills receiver Terrell Owens tweeted "Congrats 2 Brady Quinn for starting job with Cleveland Browns." Quinn admitted he'd be excited to go against Brett Favre, who's started 269 games to Quinn's three. Anderson should not worry though he will probably get in sometime during this season unless Quinn plays that great.

Kelly Starter

Coach Jim Zorn finally made it official after practice, announcing that second-year wide receiver Malcolm Kelly is the new starting flanker opposite split end Santana Moss. "He's gone all training camp really improving along the way," Zorn said. "His overall explosion off the line of scrimmage has been very good. I can't tell you everybody just stepped back and watched him go. But we're going to give him the opportunity to be out there." After being limited to only five games in his rookie season because of knee problems, Kelly said he views the 2009 season as a new beginning for him. Kelly began camp behind fellow second-year wide receiver Devin Thomas and veteran Antwaan Randle El.

In other 'Skins news,The New Orleans Saints signed rookie quarterback Chase Daniel, who was cut Saturday by Washington, several media outlets reported Sunday. Daniel, who was a standout at the University of Missouri, will be placed on the Saints' practice squad. Daniel had a strong training camp with the Redskins, who had hoped to sign him to their practice squad. He has been compared to the Saints' starting quarterback, Drew Brees, because of their similar size and backgrounds.

Contract Talks

The Broncos are in a tough spot with Brandon Marshall. They could use his talent and productivity. They're paying $2.198 million this year in return for his talent and productivity. But they know Marshall is not happy with $2.198 million. He's asked to be traded. Can he be productive if unhappy? Earlier in training camp, the Broncos submitted at least one contract proposal to Marshall, according to two NFL sources. The proposal was considered to be team-favorable and was quickly rejected. Since that proposal, Marshall was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Several NFL executives and agents say they expect the Broncos to wait to see how Marshall performs before they engage in serious discussions regarding a contract extension.

Contract Extended for Next Year

Ricky Williams revealed to The Miami Herald that he signed another one-year contract extension this offseason that will keep him in Miami through the 2010 season, at which point he said he plans to then retire as a Dolphin. ``I talked to Bill [Parcells] about it, and we came to an agreement,'' said Williams, who rushed for 659 yards on 160 carries last year. ``It was quiet and easy.'' Williams agreed to the contract after a sit-down meeting with Parcells that was very similar to the negotiations that occurred last August, which similarly resulted in the current contract he is playing under.When he finishes football, Williams said he would complete his undergraduate degree before applying for medical school. He is currently enrolled in Algebra at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.