Redskins release 21, including three ex-Steelers

Football Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins released 21 players from their roster as part of Saturday's "cut-down day" maneuvers, including three who won Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2008.

Running back Willie Parker, fullback Carey Davis and safety Tyrone Carter, each members of the 2008 Steelers team that would defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, failed to catch on with the Mike Shanahan regime in Washington.

Parker, the three-time 1,000-yard rusher and two-time Pro Bowler, was unable to crack a crowded Redskins depth chart already including Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson.

Also released were wide receiver Terrence Austin, quarterback Richard Bartel, offensive tackle Selvish Capers, offensive lineman Erik Cook, linebacker Curtis Gatewood, nose tackle Howard Green, linebacker Robert Henson, wide receiver Shay Hodge, linebacker Rob Jackson, tackle Clint Oldenburg, offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, cornerback Ramzee Robinson, tackle William Robinson, safety Anderson Russell, defensive end Darrion Scott, running back Ryan Torain, tight end Lee Vickers and wide receiver Bobby Wade.

Notables among that group include the team's final three 2010 draft picks - Austin, Capers, and Cook - who were all seventh-round selections of the club back in April and could re-appear as part of the Washington practice squad.

Among veterans, Rinehart opened four games for the Redskins last season; Henson appeared in six contests with Washington in 2009; and Wade was a six-game starter with the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago

Also on Saturday, the team dealt cornerback Justin Tryon to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for an undisclosed future draft choice.

Tryon, who was obtained from the Redskins in exchange for an undisclosed future draft choice, appeared in 29 games for Washington over the past two seasons, with a pair of starts.

The Redskins will open their season next Sunday night, when they host the arch rival Dallas Cowboys to open the Shanahan era.

Azzsports Football Betting News

<< Revolution top Sounders at Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Revolution kept their slim Major League Soccer playoff aspirations alive with a 3-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. Goals by Chris Tierney, Marko

<< Federer, Djokovic, Soderling reach fourth round in Flushing
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Five-time champion Roger Federer, 2007 U.S. Open finalist Novak Djokovic and two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling were easy third-round winners Saturday at the U.S. Open. The secon

<< Jurrjens, Braves shut down Marlins
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jair Jurrjens and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Atlanta stifled Florida, 2-0, in the middle meeting of a three-game set at Sun Life Stadium. Jurrjens (7-4) allowed three hits, while he w

<< Chiefs release 13, including Morgan; Leggett and Urban to IR
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Safety DaJuan Morgan was among the most prominent players released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player maximum. Morgan played in 28 games as a Chief after

<< Phils score twice in seventh to squeeze past Brewers
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun's throwing error in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Phillies to score the go-ahead run, as Philadelphia got past Milwaukee, 5-4, in the second test of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Pa

Jacksonville State revels in upset of Rebels >>
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville State didn't have to go for a 2- point conversion, and the win, in the second overtime against Mississippi on Saturday. It's a good thing JSU coach head coach Jack Crowe didn't believe his defense

Razorbacks roll to season-opening win >>
Fayetteville, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Mallett tossed three touchdown passes to lead 17th-ranked Arkansas to a 44-3 rout of Tennessee Tech in the opener for both schools. Mallett went 21-for-24 for 301 yards along with a pick for t

Goalkeeper gaffe gives Columbus win at United >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored the lone goal after a mistake by D.C. United rookie goalie Bill Hamid and the Columbus Crew won 1-0 on Saturday night in Major League Soccer at RFK Stadium. Columbus (13-

Cornhuskers clobber WKU >>
Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez ran for three touchdowns and accounted for 263 of Nebraska's 536 yards of offense, as the eighth-ranked Cornhuskers walloped Western Kentucky, 49-10, at Memorial Stadium

Engram, Jennings, McDonald among Browns' final cuts >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wide receiver Bobby Engram, running back Chris Jennings and cornerback Brandon McDonald were among the notables released by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to 53 players. Engram,

How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.