U.S. WNT to open 2007 against Germany

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12/22/2006 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States Women's National Team will open the 2007 season by participating in the Four Nations Tournament from Jan. 26-30 in China.

The tourney will pit the U.S. versus some of the world's strongest clubs in preparation for the 2007 Women's World Cup, also in China in September. The four-team, round-robin tourney features Germany, China and England along with the American squad.

China and Germany have already been selected into top slots in two of the four groups for the World Cup and a strong showing by the U.S. in the tourney will solidify its chances of the same.

"I am really pleased with the quality of opponents we will face in China," U.S. WNT head coach Greg Ryan said. "Playing against three potential World Cup opponents, including number-one ranked Germany, will help us continue the process of developing our young team. Our young players have more than held their own over the past two years. I am proud of them and excited to take them into this competition."

The Americans, ranked second in the world in the FIFA Rankings, open their schedule on Jan. 26 against Germany, the top ranked team. The USA will then face England on Jan. 28 and play host China on Jan. 30.

The USA will be without four regular starters in China as Ryan will not bring forwards Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach, midfielder Aly Wagner or defender Christie Rampone. Wambach is the only one of the four that will attend the training camp.

"We will be taking a very young and talented team to the Four Nations Tournament," Ryan said. "We will not be bringing some of our top veteran players to allow them to rejoin the team with fresh legs and minds in February. These players led the way for us in a very successful 2006 campaign and I believe this additional rest will help our team peak in the Womens World Cup in September."

The USA will ride a team-record 32-game unbeaten streak into the tourney having not lost a match in regulation time over the past two years. The USA has compiled an undefeated 26-0-5 record under Ryan, who took over as head coach in March of 2005.

"We will no doubt face many difficult challenges in these three matches," Ryan said. "But this is the very best way to accelerate the development of our players individually and collectively. It is critical that the young players stand up and perform without the help of the veterans that we are leaving behind. This opportunity will only strengthen these players so that we are even more powerful when our full team returns."

2007 Four Nations Tournament Schedule:

Jan. 26 - China vs. England

Jan. 26 - USA vs. Germany

Jan. 28 - China vs. Germany

Jan. 28 - USA vs. England

Jan. 30 - Germany vs. England

Jan. 30 - USA vs. China

* all games are played in Guangzhou, China

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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