And the Award Goes To: American League Predictions

The 2011 Major League Baseball season saw so many great players elevate their game to the next level, making handing out this year's major awards all the more difficult.

American League Most Valuable Player: Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
In what should be one of the closest votes in the Award's eighty-year history, Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury should be this year's AL MVP. After missing most of the 2010 season due to an injury and playing only in 18 games, Ellsbury came back with vengeance. The 28-year-old outfielder not only became the most productive and best all around player in the Boston lineup, but one of the best in majors.

Ellsbury turned into a superstar center fielder
 in 2011.

Playing his usual Gold Glove caliber defense, Ellsbury's bat swung to new heights. The speedy leadoff hitter turned into a prolific power threat, hitting a career-high 32 home runs, nearly quadrupling his previous career high. Prior to the '11 season, Ellsbury had only totaled as many as 9 home runs in a single-season, that coming back in 2008.

In only 349 career games before '11, Ellsbury had only hit 20 career home runs, a number he nearly doubled this season.

To go along with his power, the center fielder lead the majors in total bases (364) and extra-base hits (83). He also was in the top five in hits (212), doubles (46) and runs (119). Not to mention the fact Ellsbury climbed into the top ten in RBIs (105), steals (39), average (.321), slugging percentage (.552) and on-base plus slugging (.928).

Ellsbury looked to be the clear cut favorite for this year's honor after it was a toss up most of the season, that was until his team took a nose dive in the season's final month. The Red Sox completed the worst September collapse in baseball history, blowing a nine-game wild card lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, missing the postseason for the second straight season. Despite his Sox finishing 7-20 record in September and completely floundering, Ellsbury flourished in the season's final weeks.

He hit .358 in September with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs, three of those home runs coming in a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Sept. 26. He also recorded 43 hits that month, the most he had recorded of any month during the season.

There has been much speculation that Detroit's Justin Verlander, who is the favorite to win his first Cy Young Award, might become the 11th pitcher in major league history to win both the MVP and Cy Young in the same season. No pitcher has accomplished that feat since Oakland Athletics' closer, Dennis Eckersley, took home both honors in 1992 and don't expect it too happen again anytime soon.

Verlander started 34 game for the Tigers this season, which means he only had a hand in 34 of the 162 games Detroit played in during the regular season. There's no question if you take away Verlander's 24 wins from the Tigers' 95, they are not a playoff team. However, how can a pitcher be more valuable to a team than an everyday player, such as Miguel Cabrera, who won the AL batting title at a .344 clip, or Victor Martinez, who led the majors with a .394 average with RISP.

How can a player be deemed the most valuable player in the AL, if he might not be the most valuable to his team?

Toronto's Jose Bautista put together a case of his own after leading the majors in home runs (43) for the second straight year, also leading in slugging percentage (.608), on-base plus slugging (1.056) and base-on-balls (138). New York's Curtis Granderson and Boston's Adrian Gonzalez also put up fantastic campaigns, but don't edge out Ellsbury. Despite Granderson hitting a career-high 41 home runs, driving in an AL best 119 runs and leading the majors in runs scored with 136, his .262 average and opportunity to hit in arguably the best lineup in baseball hurts his chances.

With his 32 home runs and 39 stolen bases, Ellsbury joined the 30-30 club this season and was honored with the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award Thursday. He could add another trophy to his rapidly growing cabinet when the AL MVP is announced Monday, Nov. 21.

American League Cy Young: Justin Verlander, DET
There have been a total of 21 unanimous Cy Young Award winners since the award's inception in 1956, 13 from the National League and 8 from the American League. The last pitcher to win the award unanimously in either league came as recent as last year when Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay won in his first year in the National League. He also become the fifth pitcher in major league history to win the award both in the AL and NL.

Detroit's Justin Verlander should become the 22nd pitcher in baseball history to be named the Cy Young Award winner unanimously. The four-time All-Star went 24-5 for Jim Leyland's Tigers and tossed his second career no-hitter in '11. Verlander is the first pitcher to win 24 games in a single-season since five-time Cy Young Award winner, Randy Johnson, won 24 back in 2002 while pitching for the then-defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks and went on to win what would be his final Cy Young.

Verlander drenched by his teammates after
his no-hitter May 3 in Toronto.

Verlander started the off rather slow, going 2-3 in his first 7 starts, but after throwing his no-hitter on May 7 against the Blue Jays, the right-hander went 22-2 in his final 27 starts of the season and almost inevitably ensuring his first career Cy Young.

Along with his major league best 24 wins, the Tiger's ace lead the AL in strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40), winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. All that being said many believe Verlander is the front-runner to also come away with the AL MVP honors as well, but that simply should not be the case.

Not even the spectacular season of that Verlander put together deserves that honor. Johnson's '02 season couldn't even capture him both honors and believe it or not his numbers were even better than Verlander's. That season to go along with his 24-5 record, Johnson threw 260 innings, the second most of his career, and posted a career-low 2.32 ERA. He led the majors in strikeouts with 334 and tossed 8 complete games, four of those were shutouts.

Not to mention the fact Johnson pitched in the midst of the steroid era while playing in the same league as slugger Barry Bonds, who was fresh off his record-breaking 73 home run season.

Compare those to Verlander's '11 numbers, that also consisted of 251 innings with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. Johnson would not finish the top five in the NL MVP voting, finishing seventh, that season.

There is no question Verlander should this year's unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young, but as for  the MVP, not so much.

American League Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Hellickson, TB
In another tough decision, the Rays Jeremy Hellickson seemed to stand out the most of any other first-year AL player. Hellickson helped orchestrate Tampa Bay's improbable September comeback, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in his 29 starts this season. The rookie right-hander got his first taste of the big leagues last season, tossing 36.1 innings in 4 starts and 10 total appearances.

Still eligible for the award, Hellickson could be the second Rays player to win the honor in the last four years. All-Star Evan Longoria was the first, being named the AL ROY in 2008.

Hellickson was among not only one of the best
rookie pitchers, but best in the majors
in '11.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Mark Trumbo was a close second. The 25-year-old slugger batted .254, but his pop and overwhelming offensive contributions are what drove this Angels offense most of the regular season.

Trumbo's 29 home runs and 87 RBIs led the team, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to lead in both those categories.

The Anaheim native also came two home runs shy of tying Tim Salmon's rookie franchise record of 31 set back in 1993. Trumbo also added two crucial walk-off home runs during the season to keep Los Angeles in contention. Without the welcoming surprise of his bat, the Angels could have been playing meaningless games as early as July.

New York's Ivan Nova also gave a later surge, winning 16 games and posting a 3.70 ERA. If not for being sent down in early July to make room for Phil Hughes in the rotation, Nova might have won a lot more games. That being said, his ERA was a bit high and benefited from some of the best run support in the majors.

Another one of Joe Maddon's rookies burst onto the scene and played a pivotal part to their late season surge. Desmond Jennings played in only 63 games this season, but filled in nicely for the departed Carl Crawford. Jennings hit .259 with 10 home runs and stole 20 bases for the Rays and if he would have been called up sooner, we might be talking about him instead of his fellow teammate.

Despite Hellickson having a record hovering around .500, the right-hander saw his offense average only 6.43 runs per game in his starts. That's nothing compared to Nova's 8.82 per game which was second in the majors.

American League Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, TB
Three months ago if you would have said the Tampa Bay Rays were headed to the postseason, you would have been called crazy. Manager Joe Maddon didn't think so, with his unorthodox methods and never say die attitude, he lead his team to their second straight playoff appearance and third in four years.

Nine games back of the wild card as late as Sept. 3, the Rays came all the way back and capped off their magical run with an unbelievable walk-off win in the final game of the regular season that launched them into the postseason. Maddon was the architect of this club and with the departures Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, and Joaquin Benoit, he saw his team win 91 games, good enough for second in the AL East, after they were pronounced dead before the season even started.

Maddon never let his team quit and the
end result was a wild card berth.

Cleveland's Manny Acta had the Indians in first-place most of the first half, but the Tribe trailed off after the All-Star break and settled for second in the division at 80-82, 15 games behind the AL Central champion Tigers.

Mike Scioscia kept the Angels in contention most of the season and may be the best manager he baseball when it comes to getting the most out of his players.

Maddon, who at one time was Scioscia's bench coach, is a close second in that regard, but should be this year's AL Manager of the Year.

On Their Way Back

Cycling Back To Arlington

Young, right, celebrates after his second home
run of the game that completed a team inning
cycle.

Just when it looked like the Detroit Tigers' season was on the brink of ending with their ace on the mound, a 99 mph fastball saved their season.

Justin Verlander pumped his fist after inducing a groundball double-play off the broken bat of Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, escaping a one out base loaded jam in the sixth.

With the game still tied at two and inspired by Verlander's work in the top of the inning, Detroit's potent offense roared to life in the home half, that is with a little bit of luck.

Utility man Ryan Raburn, who has been filling in for the injured Magglio Ordonez, greeted Texas Rangers starter C.J. Wilson with a hard led off single to left followed by what would have normally been a routine 5-4-3 double-play, but for the first time in the series, the Tigers got the ball to bounce their way. Miguel Cabrera's ground ball hit the third base bag, shooting up and out of the reach of the Rangers' Adrian Beltre and down the left field line.

Cabrera cruised into second with an RBI double, seizing the lead back for the Tigers, 3-2.

Victor Martinez, much like he has all season for Detroit, delivered again with a triple into the right corner, scoring Cabrera. Following Martinez, Delmon Young answered the bell, blasting his second home run of the game and fifth of the postseason.

The Tigers had hit of the cycle in the inning, making that the first time it had been done in postseason history. If that weren't impressive enough, Detroit did it with with four consecutive hitters while hitting for the cycle the "natural" way.

Wilson escaped the inning alive, but the damage had already been done.

On the other side, Verlander trotted back out for his seventh inning of work, having a shut down inning, producing his first perfect 1-2-3 inning since the second and emphatically yelling, "It's about f-ing time".

Raburn added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with a home run off Koji Uehara, increasing the lead to 7-2. Boy did they never need it. Nelson Cruz continued his unbelievable ALCS, hitting his fifth home run of the series and his second home run off Verlander in the series. This time a two-run shot, cutting into the Tigers' lead, 7-4.

Cruz is only the fifth player in major league history to have five homes in a postseason series, and the first to do so in a LCS. Surprisingly, Cruz had never hit five home runs over a a five game game span in his career, until now.

Manager Jim Leyland called upon left-hander Phil Coke to finish the game with the unavailability of set-up man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde. Leyland made it clear prior to Game 5 that both Benoit and Valverde were not made available to pitch after extended work the last couple of games. The 66-year-old manager said he'd hope to get through the game using just Verlander and Coke and that's exactly what he did.

Despite the game becoming dicey with two outs in the ninth, Coke got the game's final five outs, sending the series back to Arlington for a Game 6 Saturday.

Bur the Rangers find themselves in a familiar spot. Last season Texas held a 3-1 series lead against the then-defending World Series champion New York Yankees. New York also won Game 5, only to have the Rangers close out the series at home in Game 6.

Verlander hasn't been sharp this postseason,
 but fought his way through Game 5.

Only 10 teams in major league history have overcome a 3-1 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series, most recently the Boston Red Sox, who did it in the 2004 and 2007 ALCS against the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians respectively.

With their backs against the wall, Detroit will need to defy the odds once again like they have all season long.

Epstein Headed To The Windy City

Was it time for Theo to go in Boston?

After being an instrumental part of breaking the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, Boston Red Sox executive vice-president and general manager Theo Epstein has decided to take on another hex, this time on the North Side of Chicago.

It has been reported by multiple sources, Epstein has agreed to a five-year $15 million contract to become the new GM of the Chicago Cubs, a position vacated by Jim Hendry, who was fired back on Aug. 19 and hired by the Cubs in 2002, the same year Epstein was hired in Boston.

The decision comes nearly three weeks after Boston finished their epic September collapse and "mutual" parting with manager Terry Francona.

It's not the first time he decided to resign from his post. In October of 2005, Epstein left his position as GM after a contract dispute with team CEO Larry Lucchino. San Diego Padres GM Jed Hoyer and Epstein's current assistant GM Ben Cherington shared the duties until he returned two months later.

The deal has not been announced officially with some minor details needing to be hammered out, including what the Red Sox will receive in compensation for this GM's services.

Boston brass is also insisting Chicago pick up Epstein's $3.5 million bonus he is due, bringing his contract total to nearly $20 million. The deal would already have him the highest-paid GM in baseball history.

If this is in fact the end of Epstein's nine year run as Red Sox GM, what a marathon it was.

Prior to the 2003 Major League Baseball season, Red Sox owner John Henry offered Oakland Athletics' GM Billy Beane a job, as it has been portrayed in the recently released feature film "Moneyball". Beane initially accepted the offer, but later decided to finish what he started in Oakland, where he still resides today.

Beane's change of heart opened the door for a 28-year-old Yale graduate to accept his dream job.

Epstein had previously worked for the San Diego Padres and was an intern for the Baltimore Orioles, but his first job with Boston made him the youngest GM in baseball history.

In his first year as Red Sox GM, Epstein put together a team that went all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS before the ghosts of Yankee Stadium were awoken in the eight inning and their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, were able to erase a three-run deficit and force extra innings, where knuckleballer Tim Wakefield surrendered the infamous Aaron Boone walk-off home run in the 11th inning.

Epstein would have his revenge the following season.

Sparked by a midseason walk-off home run by Bill Mueller off Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, the '04 Red Sox rolled into the postseason with abundance of confidence, setting up a highly anticipated ALCS rematch with New York.

But the Yankees got out of the gate quickly and put a stranglehold on the series, wining the first three games convincingly. It looked like New York would get Epstein and Co. once again after '03's dramatic Game 7 loss and missing out on trading for superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez in the offseason, who would eventually be dealt to their hated rivals.

Instead for the first time since 1918, the Red Sox got the last laugh.

Epstein's club became the first team in baseball history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series and went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, sending liberation throughout New England and exercising an 86-year curse.

In only his second year as GM, Epstein enjoyed
his first World Series title.

The Red Sox would add another World Series title in 2007 and come within one game of winning the 2008 AL Pennant before losing to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Along with being the architect of two World Series teams, Epstein accumulated 839 wins during his tenure in Boston, second only to who else, the Yankees.

The soon to be 38-year-old GM's goal was to come to Boston with the focus of strengthening the scouting and player-development in the organization and did he ever. In the past decade the Red Sox farm system has produced players like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.

That's exactly what Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and team president Crane Kenney were looking for and now apparently have.

Epstein also made key acquisitions that were a pivotal part of both the Red Sox World Series teams, including the signings of David Ortiz, Mike Timlin, Bill Mueller, and trading for All-Stars Curt Schilling.

He also traded for Jason Bay and most recently Adrian Gonzalez, both whom worked out great.

But along with striking gold there came a batch of fool's good. This included a three-ring circus and revolving door at shortstop. Since trading Nomar Garciaparra in '04, Epstein has seen names like Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, who played for the Sox in two different stints, Alex Cora, Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie, Marco Scutaro, and highly touted prospect Jose Iglesias command one of, if not the most crucial position on the diamond.

The Sox believe Iglesias is the shortstop of the future, but they may have had that covered years ago if it wasn't for a certain trade.

In November of 2005, the Red Sox made a deal that sent Hanley

The trade went on to benefit both teams as Beckett and Lowell, who would be named the '07 World Series MVP, were key contributors in getting Boston back to the Fall Classic, while Ramirez has developed into one of the games brightest young stars, winning the National League batting title in 2009. Sanchez has seen become a quality major league pitcher and threw a no-hitter in only his 14th big-league start.

Moves that didn't quite work out in Epstein's tenure consist of signing Lugo, J.D. Drew, John Lackey, Carl Crawford, and trading for Eric Gagne.

Although the signing of Crawford could prove to be a good one with six years still remaining on the seven-year $142 million contract he signed this past winter, maybe needing a season to get acclimated to the pressure cooker that Boston is after playing all those years in Tampa Bay.

Epstein leaves behind an almost unfillable legacy with a daunting task in front of him.

The Curse of the Billy Goat has haunted
the Cubs for 103 years and counting.

The Cubs continue to be haunted by the Curse of the Billy Goat and have yet to win a World Series since 1908. That is 103 years, by far the longest drought in professional sports. Their last World Series appearance came in 1945 when Chicago lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games.

Chicago made the playoffs three times in the last decade, '03, '07, and '08, all coming under the watch of Hendry.

If Epstein can bring a World Series title to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, it would not be inappropriate to call him the greatest GM in the history of baseball, breaking two of the most terrorizing spells in professional sports.

Cherington looks to be the heir apparent in Boston, but it's not strange to hear the name of Yankee GM Brian Cashman, whose current contract expires at the end of the month, surface.

Coincidence or not, it's interesting to think both teams Epstein has agreed to GM for have suffered from two of the longest championship droughts in history while their arch rivals, the Cardinals and Yankees, have won double-digit World Series during that time.

He must be a man looking for a challenge.

Garcia Dismissed From His Duties With Gamecocks

Garcia's colligate career will be remembered
for the all the wrong reasons.

It took five different suspensions and numerous off the field issues, but the South Carolina Gamecocks finally decided to dismiss quarterback Stephen Garcia Tuesday, putting an end to quite an era.


Reportedly failing a drug and alcohol test, was the last straw for the fifth-year senior and now will no longer take another snap for the No. 15 ranked Gamecocks.

After suffering his fifth suspension last spring, Garcia agreed to frequently undergo those tests, but has failed to meet the guidelines the team put into place for him, which they believed was the best opportunity for he and the program to succeed.

Garcia was recently benched in favor of sophomore signal caller Connor Shaw, who is coming off a spectacular game in the team's 54-2 thrashing of the Kentucky Wildcats. Shaw threw for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions.

Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks, who are currently leading the SEC East with a 5-1 record, will need their young sophomore to continue to shine with some quality opponents still on their schedule.

South Carolina's next game is at Mississippi State with a trip to the No. 10 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks two weeks after. They will then be visited by the newly unranked, but speedy Florida Gators and will host No. 8 Clemson the final week of the season.

As for Garcia, his legacy at South Carolina unfortunately will always be a kid with a big arm, who was given every opportunity to succeed by the "old ball coach", but could never quite shake his off the field demons.

Garcia's on the field career for the Gamecocks was much different.

His best season came in 2010, when he threw for 3,059 yards, 20 TD, 14 INT and completed 64.2 percent of his passes.

In 34 career games at South Carolina, Garcia threw for 7,597 yards, 47 TD and 41 INT, but his inability to perform under pressure will overshadow his success under Spurrier.

In maybe the biggest game of his career, the 6-foot-2 quarterback saw him team get obliterated in last years SEC Championship game against the eventual National Champion Auburn Tigers, 56-17. In the game, Garcia was outplayed in every facet of game by the Tigers former QB, Cam Newton.

Newton accumulated 408 yards of total offense alone and accounted for 6 TD, 4 passing and 2 rushing, without surrendering a turnover. On the other hand, Garcia only totaled 188 yards with 2 TD and 2 INT.

Following the loss, the Gamecocks would still punch a ticket to a the Chick-fil-A Bowl, setting up a matchup with the underdog Florida State Seminoles. Despite sustaining an injury to their former starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, the Seminoles were able to hold off the turnover-prone Gamecocks, 26-17 and stunned Garcia.

In the game, Garcia with three interceptions and no touchdowns, proving once again he would never be a big time QB.

It is interesting though after Garcia was longer No. 1 on the depth chart to have him cut now, in his senior season, after so many chances. You have to wonder if he was still their starting quarterback, would this move have been made?

South Carolina, whose only lose of the season came Oct. 1 against Auburn, 16-13, will now look to the future and hope Shaw can lead them to where they are capable of going.

Cruz-ing Into Detroit

Cruz's power bodes well in the Texas lineup
and ballpark.

There have already been so many of firsts this baseball season and Monday's Game 2 of the ALCS proved to be no different.

Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz continued to find his stroke this postseason after struggling mightily in Texas' first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cruz, who homered in Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers, hit a pair of home runs, both coming in most crucial moments of the game.

With the Rangers trailing 3-2 after six and a half innings, Tigers manager Jim Leyland elected to have his starting pitcher, Max Scherzer, to return for the bottom of the seventh and pitch to Cruz. With left-hander Phil Coke warming in the Detroit bullpen and lefties David Murphy and Mitch Moreland to follow, it looked as if that would be the only batter Scherzer would face, no matter the result.

If all went according to plan, Leyland could have Coke finish the seventh and then summon set-up man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde from the 'pen, for the eighth and ninth, to seal the win. It didn't.

On Scherzer's 91st pitch of the night, Cruz hammered a 1-2 fastball up in the zone and deposited it into the left field seats for a game-tying home run.

But it would be Cruz's second home of the night that would make postseason history.

After three scoreless innings from both the Detroit and Texas bullpen, innings that included both closers walking a tightrope and escaping ninth inning bases-loaded jams, Game 2 headed to the eleventh, setting the stage for a postseason first.

Texas set-up man Mike Adams struck out the first two batters of the inning, but surrendered a two-out single to the versatile only to have 2011 AL batting champion, Miguel Cabrera, fly out to center field to end the inning.

The Rangers quickly jumped on Tigers reliever Ryan Perry with three consecutive singles to start the home half of the inning, loading the bases with nobody out for the second time in the game. The first time Detroit was fortunate enough to allude any damage, this time would be much different.

Cruz, who had been dropped all the way to seventh in the order due to his recent struggles, came to the plate with a chance to be a hero. Someone who relishes in the moment, the 31-year-old slugger blasted his second home run of the game for a walk-off grand slam, giving the Rangers a 7-3 win and a 2-0 LCS series lead.

There have been 42 walk-off home runs in postseason history, but Cruz's walk-off grand slam was the first of it's variety, adding another accomplishment to his impressive postseason resume.

Technically it should have been the second in postseason history after newly hired Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura hit a walk-off home run with the bases-loaded in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS as a member of the New York Mets to beat the Atlanta Braves, but was mobbed by teammates before he could reach home plate turning a grand slam into what we know today as a "grand slam single".

In last years postseason, Cruz hit .317 with 6 home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 extra-base hits. That is why his struggles in the ALDS, where he batted .067, came as such a shock.

An All-Star in 2009, Cruz is rapidly turning into one of the best big game performers in the majors, but injuries have halted him from becoming one of the games brightest young stars. The Monte Cristi native has taken five trips to the disabled list over the last two seasons, mainly due to hamstring issues. He has averaged only 120 games over the last three seasons with the Rangers, playing only 108 in 2010.

Texas will need to find a way to keep him healthy and his bat hot if they are repeat as American League Champions and return to the World Series.

Super Mario Loses Some Fire Power

Williams won't be needing his helmet the rest
of the 2011 campaign. 

Just when many thought the injury to Indianapolis' Peyton Manning, who led the Colts to a division title seven out of the last eight years, would open the door for the Houston Texans to take hold of the AFC South, the injury bug is back.

The Texans have lost outside linebacker Mario Williams for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in their 25-20 loss to the emotionally driven Oakland Raiders Sunday.

Williams was injured after sacking Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell late in the first quarter. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time after their superstar wide receiver Andre Johnson was injured just a week prior.

Johnson sustained a right hamstring injury in their Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has yet to play since, having to undergo a minor procedure to help repair his hamstring, putting his status for their Week 6 game in Baltimore in doubt.

As for Williams, who changed positions this spring from defensive end to outside linebacker to accommodate newly hired defensive coordinator Wade Phillip's 3-4 defensive scheme, was just starting to flourish in the new system. The 26-year-old linebacker had recorded 5 sacks through the team's first five games and had forced a fumble.

Williams has been placed on injured reserve and is said to be undergoing surgery sometime next week.

The injury to Williams leaves a gapping hole at the linebacker position for head coach Gary Kubiak with him now having to rely of his eight-year defensive end out of Oklahoma State, Antonio Smith, and linebacker Brian Cushing, to carry much of the defensive load.

Williams played his college ball at North Carolina State and was selected with the first overall pick by Houston in the 2006 NFL Draft, surprising many when they elected not to take collegiate star Reggie Bush out of the University of Southern California.

It looked like a terrible move out of the gate when Williams struggled mightily in his first year in the NFL. In the 16 games Williams played in '06, he only recorded 4.5 sacks with 47 tackles, 35 were solo.

In 2007 that all changed. Williams became a defensive force and had monster season recording a career-high 14 sacks with 59 tackles, forcing two fumbles and recovering one of them and returning it for a touchdown. His 14 sacks ranked third in the NFL that season, but he was snubbed of his first career Pro Bowl when he obviously deserved to play in Hawaii.

2008 might have been his best season overall when he forced a career-high four fumbles and totaled 12 sacks. Those numbers were good enough to have himself selected for his first career Pro Bowl and then again in 2009.

His 2010 season was hampered by a sports hernia, causing him to miss three games during the regular season, but his numbers were still impressive. Williams recorded 8.5 sacks in his limited action, giving him his fourth-straight season of nine sacks or more.

Johnson hasn't played since Week 4 & probably
will not play Sunday against the Ravens.

Despite Bush winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints two years ago, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins this offseason after the Saints didn't think his productivity matched his pay. On the other hand Williams has turned into one of the games best defensive players and has played all six seasons with Houston, but that might no longer be the case come this offseason.

Williams is a free agent at seasons end, putting himself and the Texans organization in a tough situation. You can bet they most certainly want him back, but at the right price.

For now Houston must continue on with what they have and set their sights on their first division title in the franchise's brief history.

They are currently tied for first-place in the AFC South with the 3-2 Tennessee Titans while the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) and Indianapolis Colts (0-5) are starting to plan for next season. They will need their Pro Bowled filled offense of quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Arian Foster, who is currently dealing with a hip issue and was injured to start the season, and Johnson to stay healthy and lead the way if this is the year they are to make the postseason.

Williams will have to sit watch, wondering if he has played his last game as a member of the Houston Texans.