Worst-case scenario, if Manny becomes a cancer in the locker room, can’t hit or is doing nothing positive for the team they can simply cut him and will not be affected in the big picture. However, if Manny starts the season on a tear the A’s will have two great options for him moving forward. They can either keep him in the middle of the order, riding out his hot hitting in a tough, but winnable division if things go right offensively. Or Manny’s hot hitting will garner him trade value and allow Oakland to move Manny to a contender for prospects.  The Oakland A’s have used their farm system to build up their big league club and moving Manny will only help something that is already a strength.

The A’s are franchise built on a well-stocked farm system and on potential. A marquee hitter will never go to Oakland through free agency. The lack of financial mobility and a big ballpark that favors pitchers are factors that turn away power hitters. They will never have the ability to make up for a bad signing like Boston and New York can do. So as a franchise, the Athletics must take risks on guys with upside potential. Manny fits in perfectly in this scenario. Manny is one of the greatest right handed hitters of all time and if he finds his groove in Oakland and even if he returns to a slightly diminished version of himself the A’s have a middle of the line up guy that will DH every day. They also just signed Yoenis Cespedes, who is reportedly a fan of Manny. Ramirez will provide a comfort factor for the Cuban making a drastic transition into the MLB. Any time you can help smooth the transition of a guy you want to become an important part of your team and be a middle of the line up guy you need to explore that.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a young and dynamic team loaded with talent. They have made tremendous strides the past three seasons. They made a huge leap last season when they not only made the playoffs as they did in 2009 but also made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they would lose to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Kevin Durant is playing like an MVP candidate and showing up in clutch moments for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook has been playing with more patience this season, which dramatically improves his game. If Westbrook can slow his pace and pick his spots to be a scorer more effectively, the Thunder’s chance of winning the NBA Title will be dramatically improved. More importantly James Harden has stepped up in a major way. He is providing a major lift off of the bench. He is the leader in the clubhouse for sixth man of the year and in a lot of analysts mind as well as mine, Harden should have been invited to Orlando this season. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka provide a strong front line on the defensive end and make up for what they may lack on the defensive end. If Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook, and Nick Collison can provide stability off the bench the Thunder should be waiting for whoever emerges out of the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. The Loss of Eric Maynor is a bigger one than most might think.

While they have a dynamic point guard in Russell Westbrook, Maynor provided a true point guard that could play in spots and settle a Thunder offense that can become erratic at times. Russell will need to prove in the playoffs that he can control his pace and not make bad decisions with the game on the line. The road to the NBA finals will not be an easy one. They will have to go through savvy veteran laden teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs who are full of not only experience but have Hall of Famers and ring holders.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat were in the NBA Finals last season in the first year of the new “Big Three.” They improved the roster that they took to the NBA Finals last season. A fully healthy Udonis Haslem provides low post depth and a more traditional low post scorer. They also selected Norris Cole with the 28^th overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, who has shown flashes of being a reliable point guard who can score the basketball and is a huge improvement on the Mike Bibby/Eddie House spot in the rotation. They also have the ability to bring Mike Miller or the newley acquired Shane Battier off the bench late in games and let either Dwyane or Lebron bring the ball up. Battier is a lock down defender and will prove very useful against teams with dynamic wing players in the playoffs. The Heats ability to spread the floor and add length, especially late in games is a huge plus.

My two biggest questions with the Heat revolve around their closer and consistent production from the low post. The Heat need to establish a hierarchy for late game situations. The power struggle between Lebron and Wade in late games must be solved before the playoffs start or all close games will a crapshoot. The Heat should allow Dwyane Wade to control the ball late in games. Letting Chris Bosh spot up on either side of the free throw line with Lebron running the baseline should give the Heat an open shot somewhere. Opponents will double someone and as Wade drives Lebron or more likely Bosh’s defender will rotate to double. If Wade can hit Bosh and Lebron is baseline on the same side, ideally Lebron will be able to get a lay up or Bosh will be open for a 15 foot jumper that he will hit more times than not.

Much like Oklahoma City, the Heat are not looking for huge offensive numbers from their low post, but rebounding and especially offensive rebounding is crucial. They must create extra possessions and start fast breaks to help this team to be productive.  While Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem are not defensive stars by any means they must be able to change shots and provide a defensive presence down low.

Chicago Bulls

Where Derrick Rose goes, the Bulls will go. He is the catalyst that drives this team and must play exceptional to make a title run. He is more than capable of doing this. The Bulls do not have that second option like Oklahoma City or Miami but have a stronger starting 5 and a bench that can provide a punch. Joakim Noah provides a defensive and rebounding force down low and does not require the ball to be effective. Carlos Boozer has evolved into more of a jump shooter as his career has advanced but has the ability to get you a bucket when you need one. Loul Deng has made a tremendous stride this season and was recognized by his peers with an All Star nod. Adding Rip Hamilton is a tremendous upgrade that is more than just on the court production. Not only does he provide scoring with his ability to move without the ball, but also his championship experience is very important for a team led by so many young players. He can keep the Bulls emotions in check and avoid peaks and valleys, which is pivotal in high-pressure playoff situations.

The Bulls have been battling injuries all season. While they have been finding new pieces that fit into their puzzle through the turmoil, when the playoffs they will need to remain healthy in order to remain a legitimate title contender. Richard Hamilton and Carlos Boozer must provide consistent scoring. The bench must also be productive on both ends of the court. Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and CJ Watson must provide stability and scoring off the bench. Derrick Rose must be the MVP for this team, stay healthy and put this team on his back. This is a huge ask by the Bulls of Derrick Rose, but they don’t have much of a choice at this point.

Of the three contenders the Bulls are the most flawed. They rely on Derrick Rose for everything and if he has an off night they don’t have another guy they can go to that is at an elite level in the likes of Russell Westbrook or Dwyane Wade. The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder will play for the Larry O’Brien trophy this season assuming they don’t have any catastrophic injuries.

I can’t talk about the NBA title contenders without mentioning the Los Angeles and Boston Celtics. Even though I don’t see it for either team. The Lakers had made three straight Finals appearances until last season, winning two of them. The Boston Celtics played the Lakers in two of those Finals appearances, winning one and losing the other in 7 games. They have veteran laden teams with guys who know how to win when it matters most. The versions of these teams will not hot a candle to the teams that appear when the playoffs start. They are just trying to get into the playoffs in the sprint and once the playoffs start they will turn it on. They are old flawed teams that are a shell of what they were in previous years but they know what it takes to make a title run and I cant say I would be shocked to see Kobe or Paul Pierce hoisting the trophy come seasons end.

As hard as fan takes a loss like The New England Patriots took on Sunday, players must have the ability to move on. If you live and die with each game, a player will be mentally drained unable to focus when it matters most. If you ask Rob Gronkowski, this loss hurts and will provide motivation to work hard all off-season. Rodney Harrison said on NBC’s Super Bowl 46 Pregame coverage, that he is still affected by the loss in Super Bowl 42 four years ago. A two-week build up to the biggest game of your life has to put stress on any person. While not everyone will agree, Gronkowki felt the need to let loose after a long and tiring season.

New England Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski might get crushed for a post Super Bowl celebration, especially in the Boston Area. I will give Gronkowski a pass. I will not judge peoples way of releasing tension after a season of hard work and dedication. He spent it much the way any person in their early twenties would.

I came away from this story with two questions. Rob Gronkowski has a high ankle sprain that clearly limited him in Super Bowl 46, yet it was clearly feeling good enough to be out on the dance floor? I guess alcohol really does a lot for pain.

My other question is how would people react if you replace Rob Gronkowski with other athletes in a similar situation? Perception plays a huge role in fan and media reaction. Lebron James would get killed if a video surfaced like this of him. They would use the video as another sign of why he will never win. However it was Kevin Durant, people would point to the fact that KD is young, has time to win titles and use it as another reason to love Durant.

The Giants front four was imposing and kept Tom Brady out of rhythm all day. Jason Pierre Paul and Justin Tuck were impressive. The Giants wide receivers made the Patriots underwhelming secondary pay all day. These two building blocks should have the Giants in position next season to make another run. They are getting Prince Amukamara back from injury and should help the Giants secondary. If they can add a few complimentary pieces through the draft and free agency, the Giants along with the Packers should be favorites going into the 2012 NFL season.

As for the Patriots the future is not bleak for them either. They have serious needs to address in the off-season including a beleaguered secondary. But building around Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo is a good start. The Patriots need to get young and athletic in the secondary. New England will have another few runs with Tom Brady under center and they must take advantage of that.

The past few seasons has taught me the team that will win the Super Bowl isn’t necessarily the best team but the one that got hot at the right time. Having all your pieces healthy is a must. You also quarterback who can step up and make all the big throws at critical times. The Packers last season and the Giants this season were the hottest team going into the playoffs. They had confidence and a belief that they could not be beat.

Vegasinsider.com currently have futures posted for next season. The top 3 highest are

Packers 5/1

Saints 6/1

Patriots 7/1

Longshots I like (20/1 or more)

Giants 20/1

49ers 20/1

Bears 30/1 *if forte is back

Titans 50/1 *homer pick but kind of a sneaky one

Panthers 50/1

You could also place money on teams Peyton Manning could end up on. The odds will get dramatically worse depending on where he ends up.

The Patriots biggest weakness is their secondary. While it has been improving over the last few weeks of the season and into the playoffs, the Giants passing game is by far the best they have seen and will have Julian Edelman on Mario Manningham. Julian Edelman for those who don’t know is a wide receiver on the Patriots roster. Manningham, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have been torching other teams secondaries all season and will have no issue doing the same thing to New England.

The front four of the Giants have been dominant as soon as Osi Umenyora returned from injury. They have the best front four in football. They way to beat the Patriots is to get to Tom Brady and hit him. He will become very familiar with the Giants front four and will find it hard to get the ball to his playmakers.

Tom Brady is the second best quarterback ever behind Joe Montana and will keep the Pats close. The Giants will get a late score and edge out the Patriots.

Giants 34 Patriots 31

For the betting public:

3 points have decided every Patriot Super Bowl. If your looking for a long shot MVP to jump on look at Victor Cruz who will have a huge day and Jason Pierre Paul who will be hanging onto Tom Brady all day. 10/1 and 20/1 respectively.

Peyton is going to looking at a situation that will give him a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl. The number of teams Peyton can sign with that need a quarterback and give him a realistic shot at the Super Bowl is small group.  Peyton has made his money and is now only looking to add rings to his fingers.

Super Bowl contenders

San Francisco 49ers

Peyton Manning can step right in the 49er offense and take the team right back to NFC championship and farther. The 49ers defense is amongst the best in the league with a dynamic front four, a stud linebacker in Patrick Willis and a ball hawking secondary that makes big plays in the clutch. Peyton will be behind a solid offensive line that will give him a ton of protection, a running game that has proven to be powerful and dynamic weapons like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, that will only improved with Peyton getting them the ball. Jim Harbaugh has the 49ers ready to win and Peyton is the piece that puts them over the top. A Peyton versus Eli rivalry could be year in and year out rivalry with a trip to the super bowl on the line for the next few seasons.

New York Jets

With the Jets, Peyton Manning could be the calming force in a locker room seemingly full of turmoil. The Jets have a strong defense with lockdown corners that will keep the Jets in all the games. Manning will have strong targets to get the ball to in Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller and potentially Plaxico Burress coming back. He can hand the ball to Shonn Greene who will have a better season with season with Peyton under center. The idea of two Mannings in New York is exciting and will only fuel the rivalry. With Peyton in New York a Super Bowl featuring both teams from New York and two Mannings is a likely scenario.

Sharing a city with his brother Eli Manning and a division with Tom Brady are two signs that point to Peyton not signing with the Jets. Peyton being the ultimate competitor, this might intrigue him and motivate him. I never count Rex out.

Contenders with flaws

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins proved last year with questionable quarterback play, that they can be competitive. They have a improving defense with big play ability. He will have weapons on the offensive side of the ball in big play receiver Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush who proved he could be an every down back. The Dolphins have one of the issues Manning would face in New York, being in the same division as Tom Brady on a team with seemingly less talent. The Dolphins also feature first year coach Joe Philbin, which could scar of Manning. The connection with Philbin could bring free agent Matt Flynn to town, which might make more sense for a team closer to the rebuilding phase as opposed to being a contender.

Tennessee Titans

What is a better way to stick it to your old team than playing with a division rival? The Tennessee Titans have great offensive line, talented receivers in Kenny Britt and Nate Washington. The ability to hand of to Chris Johnson, who should have a shot at returning to old form with defenses forced to not load the box and respect the passing game. The Titans also have a talented defense that can take the Titans deep in the playoffs with Manning under center. The Titans are in a very winnable division, which only helps their chance of luring him to Nashville. Peyton also attended the University of Tennessee, where his is revered for his time as a Volunteer.

Wildcards

New Orleans Saints

A native of New Orleans, Peyton could return to his home and play for the home team. While the Saints have had success ever since Drew Brees took over under center, including a Super Bowl victory, rumors are swirling that there is some issues with the contract extension.  Logic would dictate that Brees will be returning to New Orleans. However, if Peyton Manning is your fall back if there is some reason the Saints can’t lock up Brees. The Saints are built to win now and with Manning they will not skip a beat.

Dallas Cowboys

The Tony Romo era could come to a halt quickly if Peyton Manning comes to town. The Cowboys are loaded with talented players and the thought of Peyton Manning under center has to give Jerry Jones a tingly feeling all over. I never count Jerry Jones out of anything, much like his NBA counterpart in Dallas, Mark Cuban. Peyton Manning makes the Cowboys a favorite with Green Bay in the NFC. Manning could be a calming factor that provides stability and the idea of throwing to Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten has to be an exciting thought to Jerry and the Cowboys. The Cowboys could move Romo for a piece to help the secondary.

If I were in Peyton Manning’s shoes, my choice would be either the San Francisco 49ers or Tennessee Titans. The 49ers are in a division that should be locked up for the next few seasons, a conference that features an easier road to the Super Bowl and a team that is ready to win now. The 49ers made it to the NFC championship with Alex Smith under center and the difference between he and Peyton Manning is vast.

With the Tennessee Titans, the talent level isn’t as high as what the 49ers feature but as a competitor that chance to play the Colts twice a year and keep your former team out of the playoffs has to excite Manning. With Manning under center the Titans have the ability to make a serious run at a super bowl title. Only time will tell what the future has in store for Peyton Manning. He should be released early next week after the Super Bowl hoopla is over. What happens from then will shake out after the draft, during free agency.

Daniel Hudson will have a lineup with loads of run scoring potential which is anchored by MVP candidate Justin Upton and Paul Goldschmidt, who proved he was major league ready last season and into the playoffs. Along with the run scoring ability, the Diamondbacks can be equally as productive with their prowess in the field with an outfield who’s ability to make run saving catches in the case of Chris Young and rocket in the case of Justin Upton who can throw out runners trying to advance. Being surrounded by a team that can produce at the plate and in the field will help Hudson’s numbers.

Miguel Montero will be a huge asset to Hudson this season as well. The presence of a veteran catcher who can call games well and leave Hudson from second guessing decisions will help Hudson make strides this season.

Daniel Hudson went over 200 innings last season, which is a positive sign for his durability and stamina. Many young pitchers will start to slow as they reach the 200-inning mark, as many of them have not pitched that many innings before. Not only did Hudson pitch well late in the season, but also gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a guy they could rely on going into the playoffs.

Being surrounded by a pitching staff anchored by Ian Kennedy will be a huge boost to Hudson. He can slot in the 2 or 3 spot of the rotation depending on how Kirk Gibson sees newly acquired Trevor Cahill fitting into the rotation. The veteran presence not only takes the pressure of Hudson, allowing him to do what he does best, but he can lean on them throughout the season for advice on dealing with different situations. In JJ Putz, Hudson has a closer he can rely upon, which will help Hudson approach a 20-win season. Improving upon his 16 game win total from last year is a realistic expectation for Hudson.

With the talent surrounding Hudson, solid leadership from his Manager Kirk Gibson and a division that’s not exactly murders row, he should be able to make a serious run at CY Young candidacy. He will have hefty competition from Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum who have each won the award. But Hudson will approach 20 wins this season and 175-200 strikeouts. With those numbers he should be in the conversation for Cy Young, especially on a division winner.

The time to move Dwight Howard is now. The Magic must look to the future and make a move that is best for their team. There are a handful of teams that make a lot of sense for Dwight Howards interests and giving the Magic a healthy haul.

The Dream Scenarios

Los Angeles Clippers

While Blake Griffin is a tremendous talent with huge upside, if the Clippers get an opportunity to add Dwight Howard they have to jump on it. They will be able to pair Howard with Chris Paul who is in the prime of his career. The combo of Howard and Paul makes the Clippers a title contender this year and will challenge Oklahoma City for the Western Conference title and Lebron and the Heat for NBA’s biggest prize.

If you are Orlando, you jump at the opportunity to acquire Blake Griffin. He is a player that Orlando can build their team around. Magic fans will be ecstatic with this deal. The fans will come out in droves to see Griffin play, wearing his jersey. Contract wise they will be able to acquire another player, and DeAndre Jordan would make the most sense. He will be able to fill Howards shoes on the defensive end of the floor.

New York Knicks

While he’s not Blake Griffin athletically or age wise, Amare Stoudemire is a name that makes a lot of sense for Orlando. Not only will the Magic have Amare locked up for the rest of this season but have him guaranteed for 3 years after this season. They will be able to feature Amare and is a great building block for the future. Reestablishing Amare as the guy puts the owness back on him and forces him to dominate games.

The Knicks are not going in the direction they need to be and moving Amare might make the most sense for the Knicks. Acquiring Dwight Howard will make Carmelo Anthony the alpha dog on the offensive end and Howard can dominate the defensive end. The Knicks can move Tyson Chandler to the power forward spot and all but lock the paint down.

Teams that make sense

New Jersey Nets

While Brook Lopez and some picks isn’t the ideal haul but when a player is forcing his way out, sometimes you have to take what you can get. Brook Lopez is solid center than can be the third best player on a title team. He does a little bit of everything. The picks will allow the Magic to reload and build to the future. A strong draft class this season might allow a franchise caliber player to head to Orlando.

For the Nets, this is a no brainer. You can pair Dwight Howard with Deron Williams. It’s a ideal inside/outside situation for New Jersey and should make a viable contender in the Eastern Conference.

Los Angeles Lakers

While Dwight Howard makes a lot of sense for the Lakers and will give Howard all his wishes, The Lakers only have one piece they can legitimately move which is Andrew Bynum. While Bynum can be a franchise guy, his inability to stay on the court has to be concerning. A guy of Bynum’s size tends to have issues physically, but his ability has to make Orlando take serious thought into this deal. They will have to add another player to make the contracts work out.

This trade makes the Lakers a favorite out west but Dwight shouldn’t sign a long-term deal or he will be in the same boat with Lakers as he is now in Orlando. Kobe is in the twilight of his career and has two years left of being a guy who can carry a team to a title.

The Wild Card

Dallas Mavericks

I never count out Mark Cuban. There are a lot of rumblings of Dwight to Dallas but it seemed more of an off-season transition then a mid season move. The Mavericks did a great job restructuring salaries and signing players on one-year deals to make a run at Howard and Texas native, Deron Williams. Pairing Dirk and Howard would be a dynamic duo and give Dallas a chance to repeat.

My only concern is what can the Mavericks send back to Orlando. The Magic will need more than expiring contracts coming back. It will depend on what the Magic see in players such as Roddy Beaubois, Ian Mahinmi, or Brandan Wright. I think this deal is a long shot but never count out Cuban.

Blake Griffin goes dunkface on Kendrick Perkins