The end has come for many great NFL players this year, and that includes star defensive end, Jared Allen. The Carolina Panthers pass rusher officially retired from the league via social media on Thursday afternoon, using a video to literally “ride off into the sunset”.

Riding off into the sunset pic.twitter.com/wZXovseGKS

— Jared Allen (@JaredAllen69) February 18, 2016

Allen made it to his only career Super Bowl just weeks ago with the Panthers and ideally would have been able to finish his career with a Super Bowl ring. That wasn’t to be, but that didn’t stop Allen from “going out on top” by letting his final game be an appearance on the league’s biggest stage. Unlike some other NFL retirees making waves in the past two years, Allen’s hang up of the cleats makes plenty of sense. Allen still possessed some solid ability to get after the quarterback in spurts, but at almost 34 years old, the 4-time All Pro sensed that his days of registering double-digit sack season were likely over.

Allen capped his final NFL season with a trip to the Super Bowl, but was only able to muster up two sacks while in Carolina this past year. With just eight total sacks in his final two NFL seasons one in Chicago), Allen probably saw the writing on the wall and decided to call it a career.

Lasting Mark

Jared Allen certainly won’t be leaving the game of football without leaving a mark, as he owns an elite 22-sack season to his name and stands in at 9th overall in league history with 136 quarterback sacks. Originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Idaho State in the fourth round, Allen quickly displayed an elite motor and an array of power moves that helped him ascend to the top of the defensive end ranks. Upon latching on with the Minnesota Vikings in 2008, Allen’s career really took off, as he was able to register six straight 10+ sack seasons with the team before exiting in free agency in 2014. Allen will likely one day be retired as a Viking and will go down as one of the best pass rushers of the modern era.

While many will be sad to see Allen go, he was bound to get cut by the Panthers if he hadn’t chosen to retire, and his market would have been remarkably weak. Allen instead decided to stop bouncing from team to team, while a pay cut likely did not look attractive to a player nearing the age of 35.

Carolina Benefits

This ends up being fantastic news for Carolina in the long run, as they got all they could out of a regressing legend and now can cut his gaudy $8.5 million salary off the books. The Panthers already have a stacked defense even with Allen not coming back, and thanks to a strong showing in the playoffs, will also probably want to work Kony Ealy into a bigger role. Whether that happens or not, Carolina will likely look to add some quality pass rush talent in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft, while Allen’s departing salary also could help them address other issues such as wide receiver.

The NBA is officially back on Thursday night, as play resumes after a grueling week off during the 2016 All-Star break. Too much time was spent away from the hardwood if you’re a die hard fan or NBA bettor, but luckily the wait ceases tonight.

Tonight provides a tricky slate with just three games, but you may need some assistance with your NBA picks with tonight’s games having the potential to go either way. Let’s break things down and see whch way you may want to be leaning on Thursday:

Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers

This really feels like an easy call, but we might as well lay out all the reasons why. First, Jimmy Butler is out for a few weeks with a knee injury. Right off the bat the Bulls lose 20 points of offense, facilitation, some rebounding and the defensive stopper they’d surely sick on LeBron James. They already have regressed defensively as a whole, and they’re also without big men Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic. Taj Gibson is also banged up and Pau Gasol has a huge role but has not been an elite player in two prior meetings with the Cavs. This could turn into the Derrick Rose show thanks to Kyrie Irving’s complete lack of defensive prowess, but he and Gasol can’t do it alone. Michael Dunleavy is back and figures to start tonight, but short of a crazy hot run from outside, he changes nothing.

The other side is that Cleveland is a total menace on their home floor, posting a sick 22-4 mark at Quicken Loans Arena. They come in hot (won three in a row and 8 of their last 10), as well, and after dropping the first two games of this series to Chicago, there is no way they’ll want to lay an egg tonight. It honestly might not even be as close as the -13 line suggests. The Bulls do tend to play up to their level of competition and are fresh coming out of the break, but they’re on the road and extremely under-manned. I’m liking the Cavs straight up and it’s not all that crazy to chase that spread.

Pick: Cavs 106, Bulls 92

San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Clippers

This could be a strong candidate to be the game of the night, but it’s awfully tough to predict being that it’s in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. The Clippers are defintely behind the 8 ball here without Blake Griffin, but they still have CP3, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick. Kawhi Leonard and/or Danny Green should keep Redick largely in check, but if Jamal Crawford can be big off the bench, the Clips could be down for the upset tonight. I definitely think they can keep it interesting and should be able to beat the spread, which is a mild -5 line in favor of the Spurs.

The big thing working for the Clips is Chris Paul has been awesome lately and he and DeAndre Jordan still form a deadly inside/outside duo. L.A. has remained hot with a 7-3 run in their last 10 games, too, while they’ve done well at home (17-8). The other thing is the Spurs have not always been elite on the road, as all eight of their 2015-16 losses have come away from home this year. I don’t think #9 comes tonight, but I think this is a close game and probably high scoring (the previous meeting this year totaled 222 points). That has me liking the Spurs straight up, L.A. to beat the spread and the Over on the 205 Total.

Pick: Spurs 105, Clippers 102

Utah Jazz @ Washington Wizards

This one is by far the closest line of the night, with the home team (Washington) holding a minor -1 edge in what is basically a picke’m. So, who do you trust more? The pedestrian Wizards team that is just 23-28 overall and 11-16 on their own floor, but can run you wild with one of the fastest offenses in the league, or the mediocre 26-26 Jazz, who play at a snail’s pace and boast a stingy defense that allows just 96 points per game? It’s a tough call, but with Washington sporting no obvious edge on their home floor, there is little reason to love them in this matchup. If they push the pace and John Wall penetrates at will and Brad Beal shoots the lights out from deep, sure, they can take down an inferior offense.

But Utah isn’t a respectable 26-26 in the brutal Western Conference because of their offense. They dictate the pace and their bruising inside duo of Derrick Favos and Rudy Gobert limits easy buckets and makes you beat them with crazy shooting nights. Thanks to a startling lack of consistency, I can’t trust the Wizards. A big game from Rodney Hood or Gordon Hayward could be enough to push Utah over the top in what Vegas suggests will be a low scoring, tight game. I’ll take the under on the points (197) and give me Utah straight up and ATS.

Pick: Jazz 96, Wizards 94

Anytime a talented NFL player calls it a career before they’re even 30 years old, it’s interesting. That certainly doesn’t change when it comes from a player on the New England Patriots’ roster. That’s exactly what went down on Tuesday night, as star linebacker Jerod Mayo officially announced his retirement from the league at age 29.

Via his Instagram account, Patriots LB Jerod Mayo announces his time in New England is over after 8 seasons.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 16, 2016

Previously informed that his option for 2016 would not be picked up by the Pats (a bloated $11.4 million), Mayo decided the grind wasn’t tempting enough to endure in a new city. Drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, Mayo exits the game just six days shy of his 30th birthday and joins some elite company in regards to capable stars bowing out of pro football in their arguable primes. Patrick Willis was the latest big name to do so last year, while Calvin Johnson appears to be set on that path this off-season, as well.

Mayo’s Impact

Mayo was certainly deserving of his star status from day one with the Patriots, having won Rookie of the Year honors in 2008 and piling up well over 100 tackles in four of his first five seasons. Mayo’s statistical accomplishments include a career high 173 tackles back in 2010, a career high four forced fumbles in 2012 and a career high three sacks in that same year. An elite run support linebacker with solid instincts and reliable tackling ability, Mayo’s only real weakness was a lack of elite pass rush skills and only moderate ability in coverage. New England used him perfectly for much of his career, however, and even did well to use him successfully in a smaller role in 2015 – his final season.

While Mayo doesn’t leave the game playing at the highest level, he still arguably had the talent to go elsewhere and look for more money and a starting gig. Having missed 20 of 32 possible games through the 2013 and 2014 seasons, however, Mayo saw the writing on the wall and accepted a lesser role in New England last year. Mayo was able to finish his final season with 16 full games, 47 tackles and a sack. Mayo also is able to retire as a champion, having helped the Pats win the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl in 2014.

New England’s Next Move

The good news for the Patriots is Mayo was already transitioning to a smaller role and he wasn’t being counted on for as much in his final season with the team. He was absolutely a strong role player on another solid Patriots defense, but from here the Pats only save money and should be able to fill his spot with a younger, more explosive linebacker. Look for New England to do as they always do and target a player in the 2016 NFL Draft that can eventually fill his role, or more.

The 2015-16 NBA season has been an exciting one, but it could get even crazier in the next few days as we inch closer to the league’s Thursday trade deadline. That’s also when real live NBA games finally get back into action, so it’s easy to imagine how tense things are getting around the league.

Some names supposedly have been pulled back off the block, as stars like DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard, Jeff Teague and others have been in trade rumors, but have since supposedly been declared as not being moved. That could change quickly, but some lesser talent is very much in the process of being shopped. Let’s take a look at 10 intermediate names that could be in new cities by Thursday afternoon:

Michael-Carter Williams, PG, Bucks

The Bucks dealt for MCW in a trade that sent then restricted free agent Brandon Knight to the Suns. MCW hasn’t developed as hoped, and Milwaukee has reportedly been interested in moving him pretty much ever since they got him. That puts MCW as a very “gettable” trade pawn, as the Bucks try to get head coach Jason Kidd a lead point guard he can actually work with. The big issue here is few teams buy MCW as a legit franchise point guard, so the Bucks may have to take a lesser deal to pull off the move.

Jose Calderon, PG, Knicks

Calderon is simply a spot-up shooter at this stage in his career, so the Knicks are badly wanting to cut ties with their aging point guard. A trade could open the door to a bigger role for rookie point guard Jerian Grant and/or set the wheels in motion to bring in a veteran upgrade at the position. Names like Ricky Rubio and Jeff Teague have been floated around as potential incoming point guards, but New York may have to buy out Calderon to get anything done.

Victor Oladipo, SG, Magic

Orlando is looking for a go-to scorer or at least some value in return for one or two of their young talents and early reports suggest Oladipo could be on the way out of town. Oladipo has displayed elite defensive ability but has otherwise been rather erratic throughout his career in terms of shooting and play-making. With Evan Fournier rising up as a solid perimeter scorer, the Magic could be gauging his value as they deem him expendable.

Iman Shumpert, SG, Cavaliers

Cleveland is looking to add some fire power via trade and it remains to be determined if the Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov trade rumors are legit or not. The Iman Shumpert trade winds are picking up, though, as the defensive-minded guard has regressed in his second season in Ohio and may no longer be a part of the Cavs’ championship plans. There isn’t a clear trade in mind just yet, but Shump appears to be on the chopping block if Cleveland nails down a deal that can make them better as a whole.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kings

Sacramento is about to get rid of a talented guard for the third year in a row, as they currently don’t have a spot for the disappointing McLemore in their rotation. McLemore can defend and hit the outside shot, but hasn’t developed as the Kings had hoped. The Heat have been one team to reportedly show interest, but a young talent with upside like McLemore could attract a ton of buyers if the price stays low.

Tobias Harris, SF, Magic

Scott Skiles and Tobias Harris have mended a once broken relationship and Harris has been one of Orlando’s better players the past two years, but he could still be on the way out of Florida come Thursday. The Magic are looking for a go-to veteran star and if they choose to chase down someone like Rudy Gay, they may have to give up their budding forward to get the deal done.

Ryan Anderson, PF, Pelicans

Rando’s name has been swirled up in NBA trade rumors for roughly two years now and it sounds like he’ll likely be on the move before Thursday’s deadline. The Rockets have been an attractive landing spot in rumors basically all year, while the Miami Heat just recently popped up as a team that could pull the trigger on a deal.

Thaddeus Young, PF, Nets

The Nets don’t seem dead set on making a trade before the deadline, but if they do it sounds like power forward Thaddeus Young is one of their top bargaining chips. The Raptors have been loosely tied to the stretch four and a number of teams looking for some versatility at power forward could express interest. He just signed a big deal to stay with the Nets this past summer, however, so nothing is imminent.

Brook Lopez, C, Nets

Lopez certainly qualifies as a star player, but he’s easily the biggest name on this list. Like teammate Young, he’s on the trading block despite signing a massive deal with the Nets this past summer. It’s unclear just how dedicated Brooklyn is to moving him, but Lopez could bring back a big haul due to his scoring ability and untapped upside. Teams like the Nuggets, Thunder and Kings have expressed interest in the past, while other teams needing help down low could come calling.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star running back Doug Martin enjoyed a fine bounce-back 2015 campaign, where he posted his second 1,400+ rushing yards for the second time in four NFL seasons. As it turns out, he may have played his way out of Florida.

Per reports, the Bucs still have interest in retaining the man known as “The Muscle Hamster”, but plan to be “strategic” in how they go about building out their roster. Considering Tampa Bay just cut ties with head coach Lovie Smith and is more worried about building a deep, balanced team around franchise quarterback Jameis Winston, spending big money on a position as volatile as running back may not be the wisest choice.

It also may not be wise to shove away the team’s best offensive player a year after he rediscovered his elite form. It does sound at the very least that Martin will hit free agency and test the open market, however, while the Buccaneers still have until March 9th to try to hammer out a new deal without outside sources getting involved.

With free agency a very real – if not likely – possibility, the question then arises; where does Martin go from here? Martin certainly has had his hiccups in the NFL, suffering a torn labrum in 2013 and struggling to maintain elite form in both 2013 and 2014. A lack of a commitment from his coaching staff and injuries to his offensive line certainly didn’t help during that stretch, leaving his impressive 2012 and 2015 runs looking more like the player the Bucs drafted four seasons ago. Here are three possible destinations for The Muscle Hamster:

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys refused to pay up when DeMarco Murray entered free agency last year and it wound up blowing up in their face. Darren McFadden was the unstable lead rusher everyone pegged him as and Joseph Randle has seemingly played his way out of the league. That brings Dallas back to square one and one has to wonder if they just paid Murray the money he was owned in the first place, if 2015 would have gone a lot better. Perhaps they can do it over correctly this off-season by bringing in Martin, who has twice proven he can effectively dominant behind a strong offensive line. He’s had some very nice success in Tampa Bay, so it’s worth wondering how much better he could be behind the Cowboys’ elite o-line.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have nothing to work with on the ground as it stands. Bishop Sankey has been a bust and the team still can’t be sure what they have in David Cobb. With franchise passer Marcus Mariota needing all the help he can get on offense, the Titans would be wise to bring in a stud rusher who they know can get the job done, rather than merely hope what they have will get them by. Martin could be the answer, and per reports, the Martin to Tennessee talk has already started.

New England Patriots

Martin apparently wants to break the bank in free agency, and who can blame him? The only issue there is few teams love paying up big cash to running backs, as the position grinds to a halt before the age of 30 usually and truly special running backs that are actually worth those massive deals just don’t come around very often. Still, teams that need rushers will consider doing it and if Martin values winning at all, the Patriots could very well factor into the equation. New England had a ton of injuries at running back last year and may want to take the necessary precautions so they don’t endure that again. Bringing in Martin would give them an elite feature back they haven’t had since they had Cory Dillon.

The 2016 NBA All-Star game arrives this weekend and the festivities actually begin on Friday. Naturally, with a full 12-game slate going off on Big NBA Wednesday, many a NBA bettor is looking past Thursday’s small two-game slate. It’s even harder when the games feel like they’re pretty much decided before the teams even hit the court.

At least one of the two seems to be in doubt, though, so it’s worth taking the time and going through the matchups to see if your gut is right in regards to which way you may be betting tonight. With that in mind, let’s take a look at tonight’s slate as we issue our NBA picks for Thursday, 2/11/2016:

Washington Wizards @ Milwaukee Bucks

The Wizards have run all over the Bucks all year, as they head into the Bradley Center tonight with a pretty commanding 3-0 season series lead over the Bucks. As dominant as they’ve been by record, two of the games have been rather closer, with both teams topping 100+ points in both of the close affairs. John Wall has had his way with the Bucks and while Washington’s troubling road record (just 12-11 away from home) doesn’t promote an insane amount of confidence, they’re probably just too much offense for Milwaukee to handle. Greg Monroe and Khris Middleton bring the offense and have been playing well, but may need to be borderline perfect to prevent the 4-0 season series sweep. Milwaukee has struggled overall in their last 10 games (just 3-7), but the silver lining could be that this one is in their own backyard, where they’re a solid 14-8 on the year.

Normally this would be an easy call, and three times this year it was precisely that. Vegas suggests there is something to think about here, as the Wiz have just a -1.5 line. I think we’re in for a third close game and this could be one of those instance where everything clicks for Milwaukee’s offense. Their solid home record, Washington’s mediocre road record and the Wiz’s poor defense (allow 105 points per game) make the Bucks a fun bet tonight.

Pick: Bucks 104, Wizards 102

New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder

This is the game no one wants a part of on the New Orleans side, as the Pelicans head into Chesapeake Energy Arena completely banged up. Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon won’t play and the Pellies’ depth could take another hit with swing man Bryce DeJean-Jones also possibly out tonight. The Pellies certainly have the offense to give the Thunder a run for their money, as Anthony Davis can drop the hammer down on anyone, Ryan Anderson is a strong spark off the bench, Norris Cole has proven to be serviceable and Jrue Holiday has regained his pre-injury form.

It’s definitely debatable if any of that makes the Pelicans a serious threat on the road, where they’ve been a horrendous 6-20 this year. OKC have been dominant on their home floor, too, going a staggering 24-5 at home. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are a two-man wrecking crew with little stable help around them, but as a whole the Thunder are deadly at home and offensively can fill it up as good as anyone (109 points per game). Against an atrocious New Orleans defense (allowing 105 points per game), it’s very tough to see how that isn’t the case tonight.

The one thing working in New Orleans’ favor is they have won two straight and have the offense to survive a shootout if they start hot. I certainly expect a lot of points and shooting for the Over on the 218.5 Total isn’t crazy, but picking the Pelicans to win straight up is silly and even beating a -12 spread seems a little ambitious. Odds are of the two games tonight, this isn’t the one that goes down to the wire.

Pick: Thunder 113, Pelicans 100

If you’re looking for a little extra NBA betting insight for Tuesday night, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got you covered for a fun Tuesday, with a solid five-game slate that features some killer stars like Stephen Curry, James Harden and John Wall. Only two elite teams – Golden State and San Antonio – take the court tonight, but they could be challenged by Houston and Miami, respectively.

We’ll factor in injuries, trends and all the other noise as we try to help you get closer to making your final NBA bets for the night. Be sure to stay on top of the latest news leading into the night (first set of games tip off at 8 pm ET), but it doesn’t hurt to get the drama started early. Let’s get to it:

Celtics @ Bucks

Boston heads back to the Bradley Center, where they already beat the Bucks earlier this year. The Celtics are fully healthy again and without a doubt are the more balanced team between the two. Milwaukee is at home but their offense comes and goes so quickly and they’ve been struggling (five straight losses). Look for Boston to push the pace and get a nice road win.

Pick: Celtics 106, Bucks 101

Wizards @ Knicks

Washington heads to Madison Square Garden tonight for the first time this year, as they try to even their season series 1-1 with the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony should be on hand and the Knicks should be 100% healthy overall, but John Wall has been on a tear and the Wiz are surprisingly decent (11-11) on the road. New York has flat-lined with five straight losses and just fired head coach Derek Fisher. They could be in trouble if the Wiz control the pace.

Pick: Wizards 104, Knicks 98

Spurs @ Heat

Miami has three things going for them tonight: they’re at home, they can defend and Tim Duncan is probably out. Unfortunately, they’re not nearly the team the Spurs are and everyone else is healthy for San Antonio. I expect big games out of Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, but I do expect this one to stay close with it being in South Beach.

Pick: Spurs 98, Heat 96

Jazz @ Mavs

Utah travels to Dallas to take on the Mavericks for the second time this year. Dallas won the first meeting at home in November, 102-93. Utah is close to full strength and poses a legit threat due to their top shelf defense, but the Mavs are a different beast on their home floor (15-10 this year). As long as Dallas can get their offense going, they should be able to squeak out the win.

Pick: Mavs 101, Jazz 97

Rockets @ Warriors

Houston is healthy and can score the ball (105 points per game on the year), but they’re 0-2 against the Dubs this year and have lost seven straight regular season games to the defending champs. No one scores more than the Warriors (115 ppg) and the haven’t lost at Oracle Arena all season. I’m fine with shooting for the Over on the Total here and picking the Rockets ATS (a ridiculous -14 line) isn’t crazy, but the Warriors are the straight up pick all the way.

Pick: Warriors 112, Rockets 106

The writing was arguably on the wall throughout the 2015 NFL season, but it appears the end is finally here for Marshawn Lynch. The Seattle Seahawks star running back announced via Twitter (and with emoticons) that he is done with the NFL, while the team’s official Twitter “retweeted” Lynch’s announcement, likely confirming the news.

#ThankYouBeastMode https://t.co/kD4CvizhGT

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 8, 2016

Reports earlier in the week suggested Lynch had already told those close to him he was done, but his personal tweet just about cemented the rumors. Lynch endured an injury-ravaged 2015 campaign that was sidetracked for the second half of the year due to sports hernia surgery. Lynch ended up returning in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to face the Carolina Panthers, but wasn’t overly effective in a 31-24 loss. Lynch was in a spiral of sorts stemming back to last year’s Super Bowl, where he could have capped an amazing three-year run with Seattle’s second title, but instead of feeding “Beast Mode”, Seattle inexplicably decided to toss a slant pass into the end-zone. Russell Wilson’s pass was picked off, ending Seattle’s bid as repeat champions.

The end of Lynch’s career is still a successful one that fans will look back on and cherish, however, as Lynch was one of the most physical, menacing rushers in the entire league. Lynch first busted out his “Beast Mode” persona in a massive upset over the New Orleans Saints during the ___ playoffs. From there, he and the Seahawks built a perfect relationship that led to four straight elite seasons with 1,200+ yards and 11+ rushing scores.

Lynch was not the same player for much or 2015, as the 29-year old back was slowed by injuries and an ineffective offensive line. Regardless, Lynch still closed out what figures to be his final NFL season with 417 rushing yards and three scores in just seven games. The team will have a tough time replacing Lynch’s personality and edge as a player, but they should get Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael back and healthy for 2016. Drafting a running back or seeking one out in free agency (Matt Forte, perhaps?) is probably in order for the Seahawks, as well.

The loss of Lynch is not one to be taken lightly, but the Seahawks evolved into a very good team even without their iconic rusher in the second half of the year. That should ease concerns that the Seahawks can’t win without “Beast Mode”, so chatter regarding Seattle not being a title contender again in 2016 is more than just premature. Seattle arguably suffered from a bit of a Super Bowl “hangover” and even without Lynch, should remain in the mix to make a push for yet another Super Bowl appearance.

After a rather loaded Wednesday night (11 games) the NBA cools down on Thursday, with a light four-game slate. It’s still a fun one, with stars such as Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Anthony Davis hitting the hardwood. The best matchup we get in terms of likely competition is a duel between the Knicks and Pistons, but otherwise tonight could be tricky with some blowout potential.

If you’re not sure in regards to which way to lean with your NBA betting tonight, join us as we walk though each contest and hand out tonight’s NBA picks:

Knicks @ Pistons

New York and Detroit open the night in what is assumed to be the tightest game. Both teams are capable of playing solid defense and have more methodical offenses. Detroit is more explosive on a regular basis (102 points per game) and is strong at home (15-8), but will be without Marcus Morris. Both teams have been sluggish lately, losing at least six of their last 10 games. Even with Morris out, we’ll side with the home team, as the Knicks have lost two in a row and are tough to trust (9-16) away from MSG.

Pick: Pistons 91, Knicks 88

Rockets @ Suns

Houston is still treading water (5-5 in last 10 games) and they stink on the road (10-13) but Dwight Howard returns from a one-game suspension tonight and the Suns are awful. Phoenix lacks talent and have been flat out abysmal, losing five in a row and 9 of their last 10. The Rockets should win big.

Pick: Rockets 107, Suns 92

Lakers @ Pelicans

The Pelicans and Lakers are actually fairly evenly matched and neither side plays any defense, so I may have spoken too soon. If all goes well, this could be the best game of the night and also be the most high scoring. Kobe Bryant is active for this one and he could get his, but the Lakers are an atrocious 4-23 on the road and they have no one that can handle Anthony Davis.

Pick: Pelicans 106, Lakers 102

Raptors @ Blazers

If Portland plays like they have been, this could actually be the game of the night. That’s a big if, though, considering their five-game winning streak has come mostly against scrub teams. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games and at home, though, so we can’t count them out. Nor can we count out the Raptors, who have been even better (9-1 in last 10 contests) and also have been very solid (15-10) on the road. I lie what Portland has been doing, but the Raptors bring more defense and experience to the table. This is their game to lose.

Pick: Raptors 105, Blazers 101

The St. Louis Rams have moved to the bright lights of California. Now that they’re the Los Angeles Rams, they have plans of bringing a new superstar with them. Per reports, that superstar could be current Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning.

Manning is set to appear in his fourth ever Super Bowl this coming Sunday, but questions have arisen about his future. The 39-year old future Hall of Famer has suggested numerous times over the past calendar year that his 2015 ride could be his last, and thanks to injuries and visible regression on the field, it’s hard not to believe him. Add the very real possibility of Manning riding off into the sunset as a champion, and it’s almost certain Super Bowl 50 is his last hurrah.

Unless, of course, it’s not. The Rams need a quarterback and with a stud running back in Todd Gurley, an elite defense and a seasoned veteran coach in Jeff Fisher, there could be enough there to tempt Manning into giving it another go with a new team. There are two key factors that could drive Manning t continue playing: pride and logic. The latter suggests Broncos GM John Elway sees the end of the line for Manning and will want to move on – win or lose this Sunday. The former, of course, could lean on Manning’s pride. If he loses this week, he may want vengeance and to get it, he may need to seek it in a new city.

There is another x-factor, and that’s the bright lights of California, as well as the mere challenge of helping a Rams team simply missing guidance under center to get over the hump. The Rams have reportedly already had “internal discussions” about finding a way to lure Manning to L.A. and if Manning is actually interested in playing, this rumor could have wheels. Where there is a need in the NFL, there often is a way.

Except, logic prevails in pro football more often than not, and the skinny is this: Manning is tired, banged up and has nothing left to prove. With no guarantees in California, he’ll likely end his career sometime after the Super Bowl and go out with his final game being on the biggest of stages. The Rams can hope for a quarterback upgrade and they’ll probably come knocking on Manning’s door more than once. They just probably aren’t going to get an answer.

Should the Rams become successful in their unlikely bid to land Manning, it still may not change their fortunes all that much. From what we’ve seen of Manning this year, he’s nothing more than a game manager at this stage in his career and in L.A. he’d have a major downgrade across the board in terms of passing weapons. All of that points to Manning denying the Rams and moving on with a career beyond the football field, but Manning or no Manning, the Rams aren’t exactly the safest bets for Super Bowl 51.