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ESPN is reporting that Carson Palmer, quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, is back to 100% after missing 12 games last season with a wonky elbow. Palmer is an extraordinarily gifted player and his return to action will make watching his dreadful team a more palatable option…what am I missing with all this Michael Vick returning to the NFL as a “insert position here”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting Vick may play wide receiver. NFL.com is suggesting running back. Huh? Vick had some wonderful moments during the initial stages of his career, including a playoff victory in Green Bay at a time when winning at Lambeau really mattered. But he never improved, never showed the dedication and commitment to his craft necessary to take his game to an elite level. Any team taking Vick is going to get a headache, and possibly a costly one, and nothing more. He will never be a frontline quarterback in the NFL and these proposed move to various other positions is surreal…nice piece in the Sporting News commends the Kansas City Chiefs for the pick-up of Matt Cassells but notes their ice cream soft defensive line remains untouched. The Chiefs had a league low 10 sacks last year and remain at least another year away from contending; even with the hero of New England at the helm…did you catch the latest from ex NFLer Jeff George? The strong armed QB is known for being unceremoniously turfed from every team that had the displeasure of making his acquaintance. The 41 year old, out of football for seven years now, has apparently taken up residence in the Twilight Zone. In an interview with a local paper George proclaimed he’d have won the Superbowl last year if only the Minnesota Vikings had provided an opportunity…rumour has offensive tackle Orlando Pace, a seven time pro bowler, on the verge of inking with the Baltimore Ravens. Pace has great difficulty making it through an entire year but the Ravens could use his talents judiciously and perhaps utilize him on passing downs only. Pace can still be a tremendous asset protecting the ball chucker…Toronto Blue Jay closer B J Ryan has a 9.00 ERA this spring. Ryan doesn’t seem worried, commenting that he is “moving in the right direction”…ex Jay Dave Winfield selected Rickey Henderson as the best all round player he ever had as a teammate. Don Mattingly and Kirby Pickett also received mentions…Steve Stamkos, the 2008 number 1 pick overall, has 12 goals in his last 20 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning…Sid Crosby has racked up 25 points in the last 15 games. Sid the Kid looks set to roar into the playoffs. Hopefully Evengi Malkin is in a similar frame of mind…the surest sign playoff hockey is about to begin? Patrick Marleau disappearing from the San Jose Sharks this week…Bryan Colangelo (see earlier reference to people living in the Twilight Zone) has announced he still see’s the troika of Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and Andrew Bargnani as the core of the team for the foreseeable future. Colangelo indicates he is optimistic he can sign Bosh to a contract extension this offseason. Everybody else on the planet pegs Bosh as an ex-Raptor after 2010…since the Miami Heat acquired Jermaine O’Neal the team has stagnated. O’Neal, as per usual, has excuses, namely his move from the low post to the high post. Looks like the move did squat for both franchises with Shawn Marion simply a passenger on a sinking ship…on Sunday I kicked back and watched a NASCAR race from start to finish, something most of us can only rarely make time for. It was terrific entertainment as the Martinsville track produced another compelling afternoon of competition. But, tell me, do you ever have the compulsion to watch a truck race? Or a Busch race? My NASCAR pool is the craziest, most raucous struggle in existence with tremendous camaraderie. But I differ from most of the good old boys who will watch anything, absolutely anything, offered from the speedway the week of the race… Oscar De La Hoya has scheduled a press conference for April 14^th. It is expected the Golden Boy will reveal his future plans with retirement certainly an option. I wonder, however, if Oscar won’t be sorely tempted to fight Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. The young pup has a gaudy record, the electric name, and a whole host of vulnerabilities. It would guarantee a huge payday and also, likely, allow for an exit on a high note. On the other hand a loss would, ahem, clarify matters for Oscar. As Muhammad Ali said after losing a decision to Trevor Berbick, “If I can’t beat him, it’s time to retire”…