SB Nation Boston: All Posts by Mark Sandritter

Desmond Bishop already drawing interest following release

2013-06-17T21:00:52Z

The Packers officially released Desmond Bishop on Monday, but the linebacker is already drawing interest from other teams. Bishop may not have to leave the NFC North as he is expected to visit the Minnesota Vikings, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Although he missed the entire 2012 season due to a ruptured hamstring, Bishop should draw interest from several teams. He was one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL in 2011 if healthy could be an upgrade for linebacker-needy teams. The Vikings would be a solid fit as fourth-round pick Gerald Hodges is currently penciled in as a starter. Assuming he's healthy to open the season, Bishop could take over at middle linebacker for Minnesota, allowing Erin Henderson to move back outside.

While the Vikings are the first team with reported interest in Bishop, they aren't likely to be the only one. The Kansas City Chiefs could also be a great fit for Bishop. Kansas City general manager John Dorsey is familiar with Bishop, having come from Green Bay, and the Chiefs have a hole at middle linebacker. Derrick Johnson is a solid starter at one of the middle linebacker spots, but former undrafted free agent Akeem Jordan ran as the other starter during OTAs. Bishop would be an upgrade over Jordan and, combined with Johnson, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, would give Kansas City a very talented linebacker group.

Like Dorsey, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has ties to Bishop from Green Bay and like the Chiefs, the Raiders could use depth at linebacker. Oakland re-made its linebacker corps this offseason, signing Nick Roach, Kevin Burnett and Kaluka Maiava while drafting Sio Moore in the second round. Roach is currently slotted to start at middle linebacker, but played mostly a utility role during his career with the Bears. The Raiders have very little depth at linebacker so even if Bishop didn't overtake Roach for the starting job, he would provide much-needed depth.

The Falcons had issues at linebacker last season and even if their starters have bounce-back seasons, depth is seriously lacking. Stephen Nicholas and Sean Weatherspoon are coming off offseason surgeries and 27-year-old NFL rookie Brian Banks is one of the top backups. After losing linebacker Victor Butler for the season due to a torn ACL, the New Orleans Saints could also have interest in Bishop.

More from SB Nation:

• Broncos blog talks to All-Pro Von Miller

• NBC hires Scott Pioli as NFL "informationalist"

• 5 quarterback battles to watch

• NFL quarterbacks as TV dads

• Watch NFL rookies interviewing each other

HCA: Monday morning trivia

2013-06-17T12:00:11Z

WSU's quarterback depth chart is going to be undecided heading into fall camp and with the highly-touted Tyler Bruggman arriving in Pullman this summer, some have speculated he could win the starting job. While that isn't likely to happen, there could be a scenario where Bruggman plays next season. That leads to today's trivia.

Q: Who was the last true freshman quarterback to attempt at least one pass for WSU in a season opener?

Football recruiting:

WSU is a top target for high school wide receivers and Dvonte McKneely could be close to getting a WSU offer.

*****

Nifae Lealao and Bobby Okereke are focus of Pac-12 Conference
The days of flying underneath the radar appear to be coming to a long-awaited end for Dvonte McKneely. The senior-to-be from Corona (Calif.) Centennial doesn't have any offers, yet it appears as if Washington State is about to change that whole scenario. The 5-10 and 195-pound wide receiver will camp with the Cougars on June 22 and a follow-up visit in the works for mid-July. McKneely is about to pop, so stay tuned for updates.

Baseball:

We don't hear about baseball recruits like we do in football or basketball, but the Columbian has a nice feature on incoming pitcher Ian Hamilton.

*****

Skyview's Hamilton is All-Region baseball player of year | The Columbian
Late this summer, Hamilton will be headed to Washington State to prepare for his freshman year of college baseball with the Cougars. But there is still some unfinished high school business. The Storm are looking forward to when their rings arrive. They designed them because they earned them.

Justin Rose accepts his new trophy as 2013 U.S. Open champion

2013-06-16T23:56:27Z

Justin Rose has a shiny new trophy and he didn't waste any time breaking it in.

U.S. Open results 2013: Phil Mickelson loses by 2 shots, settles for 2nd for a 6th time

2013-06-16T23:44:33Z

Although Justin Rose was able to come away with the win, the Merion Golf Club got the better of most players in all four rounds. The course played at least four strokes over par in each round, making some of the best golfers in the world look like weekend warriors.

No player shot better than a 67 in any round, with just six players shooting in the red on Sunday. The result was quite different than many expected, as record low scores were predicted due to heavy rain leading up to the tournament. Lee Westwood, who finished the tournament at 9-over, said the course would have been "impossible" if not for the rain.

More: Justin Rose wins the U.S. Open

Tiger Woods was among the players struggling, finishing the tournament at 13-over. Woods' final round got off to a good start with a birdie at No. 1, but the wheels fell off one hole later as he carded a triple bogey on No. 2. He went on to shoot a final-round 74 and never approached contention during the weekend. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy had similar issues, finishing at 14-over after shooting a 76 on Sunday.

Phil Mickelson, who held at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, settled for a sixth runner-up finish at his country's national championship. Mickelson's day started rough, and he lost his lead with a double bogey on the par-3 third hole. It was touch-and-go throughout the front nine, but he sunk a wedge shot from 76 yards out on No. 10 for eagle and sole possession of the lead.

That would be his only red number on the back side, though, as Phil bogeyed three more holes coming in to tie for second. After a cursed U.S. Open history, it seemed this week would finally be the breakthrough for Phil, but he once again comes up short in the hunt for the white wale of his career.

With the winning score at 1-over, Merion presented a true U.S. Open test where even-par is always the ideal winning score. Here are the complete results of the field that made the cut at Merion:

Place	Player	Score
1	Justin Rose	1
T2	Jason Day	3
T2	Phil Mickelson	3
T4	Jason Dufner	5
T4	Ernie Els	5
T4	Billy Horschel	5
T4	Hunter Mahan	5
T8	Luke Donald	6
T8	Steve Stricker	6
T10	Hideki Matsuyama	7
T10	Nicolas Colsaerts	7
T10	Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano	7
T10	Rickie Fowler	7
14	Charl Schwartzel	8
T15	Lee Westwood	9
T15	John Senden	9
T17	John Huh	10
T17	Brandt Snedeker	10
T17	David Lingmerth	10
T17	Michael Kim (a)	10
T21	Martin Laird	11
T21	David Hearn	11
T21	Padraig Harrington	11
T21	Mathew Goggin	11
T21	Bo Van Pelt	11
T21	Ian Poulter	11
T21	Henrik Stenson	11
T28	Mike Weir	12
T28	John Parry	12
T28	Matt Kuchar	12
T28	Morten Orum Madsen	12
T32	Kevin Chappell	13
T32	Geoff Ogilvy	13
T32	Webb Simpson	13
T32	K.J. Choi	13
T32	Tiger Woods	13
T32	Jamie Donaldson	13
T32	Edward Loar	13
T32	Bubba Watson	13
T32	Paul Lawrie	13
T41	Carl Pettersson	14
T41	Scott Langley	14
T41	Rory McIlroy	14
T41	Jerry Kelly	14
T45	Steven Alker	15
T45	Russell Knox	15
T45	Sergio Garcia	15
T45	Bio Kim	15
T45	Adam Scott	15
T45	Cheng Tsung Pan (a)	15
T45	Charley Hoffman	15
T45	Paul Casey	15
T53	Scott Stallings	16
T53	Matt Bettencourt	16
55	Dustin Johnson	17
T56	Josh Teater	18
T56	Nicholas Thompson	18
T56	George Coetzee	18
T59	Shawn Stefani	19
T59	Martin Kaymer	19
T59	Marcel Siem	19
T62	Kevin Phelan (a)	20
T62	Matt Weibring	20
64	Michael Weaver (a)	21
T65	Peter Hedblom	22
T65	David Howell	22
T67	Kevin Sutherland	23
T67	John Peterson	23
T67	Jim Herman	23
T67	Alistair Presnell	23
71	Robert Karlsson	25
72	Simon Khan	26
73	Kyle Stanley	28

More golf from SB Nation:

• Justin Rose wins 2013 U.S. Open | Big payday

• Tiger posts worst score as a pro in a major

• Think Merion is unfair? It’s not supposed to be easy

• Sergio heckled with taunts of “Fried chicken!”

• Four Days in Fort Worth: Putting on a PGA Tour event

U.S. Open purse 2013: Justin Rose wins $1.44 million

2013-06-16T23:32:00Z

Justin Rose was able to overcome rain and difficult course conditions at the Merion Golf Club to win the 2013 U.S. Open, and now he will be rewarded handsomely. By holding off a crowded leaderboard, Rose will take home the first-place prize worth $1.44 million.

More U.S. Open: Complete coverage Leaderboard updates

Rose shot an even-par 70 in the final round to win the first major championship of his career. He played well early, finishing the front nine at 1-under, and was able to navigate Merion's difficult closing stretch well enough to hang on for the one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson. Rose bogeyed the final two holes on Saturday, but managed to play the 17th and 18th at even par on Sunday to secure the victory.

As it did during the first three rounds, Merion got the better of most players on Sunday. Golfers near the top of the leaderboard struggled to make pars down the stretch, with falling rain only making matters more difficult. Players moved up and down the leaderboard with hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake — not to mention the U.S. Open title.

For the sixth time in his career, Mickelson finished as the runner-up in the U.S. Open. Although he wasn't able to capture his first U.S. Open title, Mickelson will take home a check worth nearly $700,000. While the finish was worth a small fortune, it isn't likely to be much of a consolation prize for Mickelson, who has made close to $70 million in PGA Tour winnings during his career.

Players able to overcome conditions well enough to finish in the top 10 will all take home at least $200,000. Each of the top three finishers will receive a check worth more than $500,000.

Here's a look at the complete payouts for the field that made the cut at Merion:

Place	Player	Payout Amount
1	Justin Rose	$1,440,000
T2	Jason Day	$696,104
T2	Phil Mickelson	$696,104
T4	Jason Dufner	$291,406
T4	Ernie Els	$291,406
T4	Billy Horschel	$291,406
T4	Hunter Mahan	$291,406
T8	Luke Donald	$210,006
T8	Steve Stricker	$210,006
T10	Hideki Matsuyama	$168,530
T10	Nicolas Colsaerts	$168,530
T10	Gonzalo Fdez-Castano	$168,530
T10	Rickie Fowler	$168,530
14	Charl Schwartzel	$144,444
T15	Lee Westwood	$132,453
T15	John Senden	$132,453
T17	John Huh	$115,591
T17	Brandt Snedeker	$115,591
T17	David Lingmerth	$115,591
T17	Michael Kim	Amateur
T21	Martin Laird	$86,579
T21	David Hearn	$86,579
T21	Padraig Harrington	$86,579
T21	Mathew Goggin	$86,579
T21	Bo Van Pelt	$86,579
T21	Ian Poulter	$86,579
T21	Henrik Stenson	$86,579
T28	Mike Weir	$60,183
T28	John Parry	$60,183
T28	Matt Kuchar	$60,183
T28	Morten Orum Madsen	$60,183
T32	Kevin Chappell	$47,246
T32	Geoff Ogilvy	$47,246
T32	Webb Simpson	$47,246
T32	K.J. Choi	$47,246
T32	Tiger Woods	$47,246
T32	Jamie Donaldson	$47,246
T32	Bubba Watson	$47,246
T32	Edward Loar	$47,246
T32	Paul Lawrie	$47,246
T41	Carl Pettersson	$37,324
T41	Scott Langley	$37,324
T41	Rory McIlroy	$37,324
T41	Jerry Kelly	$37,324
T45	Steven Alker	$28,961
T45	Russell Knox	$28,961
T45	Sergio Garcia	$28,961
T45	Adam Scott	$28,961
T45	Bio Kim	$28,961
T45	Cheng Tsung Pan	Amateur
T45	Charley Hoffman	$28,961
T45	Paul Casey	$28,961
T53	Scott Stallings	$23,446
T53	Matt Bettencourt	$23,446
55	Dustin Johnson	$22,561
T56	Josh Teater	$21,485
T56	Nicholas Thompson	$21,485
T56	George Coetzee	$21,485
T59	Shawn Stefani	$20,111
T59	Martin Kaymer	$20,111
T59	Marcel Siem	$20,111
T62	Kevin Phelan	Amateur
T62	Matt Weibring	$19,406
64	Michael Weaver	Amateur
T65	Peter Hedblom	$18,926
T65	David Howell	$18,926
T67	Kevin Sutherland	$17,965
T67	John Peterson	$17,965
T67	Jim Herman	$17,965
T67	Alistair Presnell	$17,965
71	Robert Karlsson	$17,165
72	Simon Khan	$16,844
73	Kyle Stanley	$16,523

More golf from SB Nation:

• Justin Rose wins first major

• Phil Mickelson settles for second ... again

• Tiger posts worst score as a pro in a major

• Think Merion is unfair? It’s not supposed to be easy

• Sergio heckled with taunts of “Fried chicken!”

• Four Days in Fort Worth: Putting on a PGA Tour event

2013 U.S. Open leaderboard: Justin Rose leads, Phil Mickelson 1 back

2013-06-16T22:59:00Z

The back-and-forth final round continues at the U.S. Open, and now Justin Rose is alone at the top of the leaderboard. Phil Mickelson is one stroke back after he bogeyed No. 15.

Mickelson appeared to have a good birdie opportunity at the 15th after an excellent tee shot, but a poorly hit approach left him with an impossible birdie putt. He chose to use a wedge to chip the ball over a ridge, but caught the ball thin, leaving a long par putt. His putt missed, dropping him to 3-over on the round.

While Mickelson bogeyed No. 15, his playing partner Hunter Mahan had even bigger problems. Mahan began the hole tied for the lead, but his approach shot landed in thick rough. He wound up three-putting the hole to card a double bogey and fell two shots off the lead with three holes to play.

Rose entered the difficult 18th hole with the lead, but has had issues on the hole this week. He's 2-over on Merion's finishing hole this week. Jason Day had a chance to post 2-over, but bogeyed No. 18 to finish at 3-over.

Here is a quick look at the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Score	Thru
Justin Rose	+1	17
Phil Mickelson	+2	15
Jason Day	+3	F
Hunter Mahan	+3	15
Jason Dufner	+5	F
Ernie Els	+5	F

More golf from SB Nation:

• Poor 3rd dooms Tiger | Why do we cheer for Tiger?

• Think Merion is unfair? It’s not supposed to be easy

• Who is Billy Horschel? | Horschel dance

• Sergio heckled with taunts of "Fried chicken!"

• Four Days in Fort Worth: Putting on a PGA Tour event

Phil Mickelson eagles No. 10, now tied for U.S. Open lead

2013-06-16T22:16:53Z

The final round was not going well for Phil Mickelson, but that changed on No. 10 when he holed his approach shot from 76 yards for a surprising eagle. The shot vaulted him back into a tie for the lead with Justin Rose.

Prior to holing out, Mickelson had been unable to catch a break. He lipped out three puts through his first nine holes, with at least two more just missing off the edge. He took the putter out of the equation on No. 10, landing his approach shot out of the rough a few feet from the hole and celebrating after it rolled in.

While Mickelson ignited the crowd with his eagle, Rose moved back into the red shortly after with a birdie on No. 13. He was unable to keep the lead long, however, as a bogey at No. 14 dropped him back to even. Rose played the final five holes at 6-over through the first three rounds.

Hunter Mahan is quietly one stroke back as he continues to make pars. Mahan is 1-over on the day with the only blemish on his round a bogey at No. 6. He recovered well and has made five straight pars since.

Here is a quick look at the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Score	Thru
Justin Rose	E	14
Phil Mickelson	E	12
Hunter Mahan	+1	12
Jason Day	+2	14
Steve Stricker	+4	13
Jason Dufner	+5	F
Ernie Els	+5	F
Billy Horschel	+5	14
Rickie Fowler	+5	15
Luke Donald	+5	13
Charl Schwartzel	+6	13
Lee Westwood	+9	F
Brandt Snedeker	+10	F
Ian Poulter	+10	17

More golf from SB Nation:

• Poor 3rd dooms Tiger | Why do we cheer for Tiger?

• Think Merion is unfair? It’s not supposed to be easy

• Who is Billy Horschel? | Horschel dance

• Sergio heckled with taunts of "Fried chicken!"

• Four Days in Fort Worth: Putting on a PGA Tour event

2013 U.S. Open leaderboard: Justin Rose leads at even par

2013-06-16T21:35:27Z

Justin Rose, one of the few players under par on Sunday, has now taken over the lead at the U.S. Open with an overall score of even par. Rose is 1-under on the round and leading the field by one stroke.

Rose dropped a shot early at No. 3, but birdied three of his next four holes to move to 1-under for the round. He's managed to avoid miscues since and remains even through 10 holes. Rose has putted well on Sunday, rolling in a few crucial putts to make his run. He also appears confident, something not many of his counterparts can say.

Jason Day was tied for the lead at even, but ran into trouble at No. 11. He hit his approach shot into the water hazard, but recovered as well as possible, chipping in from the edge of the green to salvage a bogey. Day is 1-under on the day and one stroke back.

Phil Mickelson remains in contention, two strokes off the lead, but he has missed multiple opportunities to gain ground. He hasn't been sharp with his approach shots and while he's come close on a few lengthy birdie putts, he's yet to make one. That trend continued on No. 9 when Mickelson's birdie try caught the left edge, but lipped out.

Ernie Els and Jason Dufner are the leaders in the clubhouse at 5-over. Els had a chance to post 4-over, but bogeyed the 18th hole. Depending on how the leaders fare coming in, Els and Dufner could still be in the mix.

Here is a snapshot of the leaderboard.

Player	Score	Thru
Justin Rose	E	10
Jason Day	+1	11
Hunter Mahan	+1	9
Phil Mickelson	+2	9
Ernie Els	+5	F
Billy Horschel	+5	11
Jason Dufner	+5	F
Steve Stricker	+5	9
Rickie Fowler	+5	12
Charl Schwartzel	+6	9
Luke Donald	+6	10
Lee Westwood	+8	17
Ian Poulter	+10	14
Matt Kuchar	+12	F

More golf from SB Nation:

• Poor 3rd dooms Tiger | Why do we cheer for Tiger?

• Think Merion is unfair? It’s not supposed to be easy

• Who is Billy Horschel? | Horschel dance

• Sergio heckled with taunts of "Fried chicken!"

• Four Days in Fort Worth: Putting on a PGA Tour event