No need for Pronger to rush back to Flyers

Hockey Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a few weeks time, the importance of NFL training camp will be called into question when Brett Favre starts the regular season under center for the Minnesota Vikings.

At 40 years of age, Favre will get just over three weeks of practice in with his teammates before the start of the 2010 season, and the abbreviated training camp will likely give the legendary quarterback more than enough time to get back into the swing of things.

The Philadelphia Flyers could learn a thing or two from Favre when contemplating the situation concerning their No. 1 defenseman Chris Pronger, who is currently recovering from surgery to his right knee.

Pronger underwent a procedure on July 27 to remove loose bodies from his knee and his recovery time is expected to bleed into the start of training camp. There is also concern that the veteran blueliner will not be ready to play for the defending Eastern Conference champion Flyers when they begin the regular season in Pittsburgh on October 7.

Like Favre, Pronger is a seasoned professional who at this stage of his career needs little time to get prepared for a season. Unlike NFL players, Pronger doesn't even need to study a bulky playbook to get ready for the campaign; he simply needs to be physically fit.

It's no secret that Pronger is an immensely unpopular player amongst NHL fans (unless he suits up for your favorite team, of course), but there are few people who can deny the mammoth defenseman's work ethic and passion for the game of hockey. His current injury and the way he battled through it during the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring stands as a testament to his determination.

Pronger originally suffered the injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston, but the ailment never caused him to miss a game. In fact, Pronger still wound up leading the entire league in ice time during the postseason, averaging just over 29 minutes of action per contest. He even managed to log a whopping 37 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time just six days after hurting the knee.

But, that was the playoffs, the time of the year when players of Pronger's ilk prove what their true value is to an NHL team. There is little doubt that Pronger will do everything in his power to be back for the start of the regular season, but both he and the Flyers know that the former Hart and Norris Trophy winner's overall health is the bigger priority.

"I do not have a time frame. The team knows that," said Pronger last week. "I spoke to the doctor and trainer and it is really just about when my knee feels good and strong again. I don't want to come back early and play a couple of games and then be out of the lineup and then play a few more and be out. I want to come back when the knee is as close to 100 percent as possible so I can play every single game from then on."

The fact that the Flyers have shored up their blueline over the course of this offseason should also be a factor in Pronger taking his time getting back into game shape. Philly acquired Andrej Meszaros and Matt Walker in separate trades with the Tampa Bay Lightning and also signed veteran Sean O'Donnell. That trio, combined with Kimmo Timonen, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn, could be a solid six-man rotation for the Flyers while the club waits to regain the unique skill set Pronger brings to the ice.

The Flyers should be able to keep their heads above water if Pronger happens to miss the start of the season. After all, unlike the NFL, the regular season in hockey is an 82-game marathon and not a 16-game sprint.

Just as Favre knows the importance of getting on the field in time for the start of the campaign, Pronger has been around long enough to realize that his club can hold on for a couple of weeks before he joins them on their long road to qualify for the playoffs.

It's not an ideal situation for the Flyers and Pronger, but it's also not an issue that should have a big effect on their postseason dreams.

Footballbettinggamble Hockey Betting News

<< Vikings' Harvin collapses at practice
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Vikings wideout Percy Harvin was taken to a hospital in an ambulance Thursday after collapsing at practice. Vikings head coach Brad Childress said that Harvin looked up in the sky on a punt re

<< Kansas City Chiefs 2010 Season Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the critically acclaimed but sadly short-lived Starz comedy series "Party Down," boss Ron Donald and his catering team are confronted with a pre-banquet choice. They can take a 20 percent gratuity in advance for the wor

<< Slimmed-down Powe ready to power Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -For six years, everyone else has had their say.Now it's Jerrell Powe's turn.As the Mississippi defensive tackle enters his senior season, he's in the best shape of his life, he's on the verge of earning his degree and he's up for

<< Jets bond in camp after busy offseason of changes
CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) -The New York Jets give themselves an ``A'' for chemistry.After a busy offseason in which several popular players were released or traded and plenty of new faces were brought in, the Jets used training camp in SUNY Cortland to bo

<< Kapur in front at Czech Open
Celadna, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shiv Kapur fired a six-under 66 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort. Tano Goya and Peter Hanson are knotted in second place at five-under

Clemens indicted for perjury, making false statements >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Clemens has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements to Congress about using performance- enhancing drugs. Clemens has been charged with one count of Obstruction of Con

Ribery motivated to play larger role for Bayern >>
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title last season with star winger Franck Ribery starting less than a third of the games, and the Frenchman is motivated to play a larger role this season. Bayern opens the

Rangers add striker Jelavic, winger Weiss >>
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic will join Rangers after the teams reached an agreement on a transfer of the 24-year old Thursday, when Rangers also signed winger Vladimir Weiss. Jelavic will finalize

Woods commits to playoffs opener >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods will defend his FedEx Cup title. The world No. 1 announced on his website Thursday that he will play in The Barclays next week. The event kicks off the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs for the top

Nats go deep to down Braves, avoid sweep >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Morse and Willie Harris each homered, as the Washington Nationals took down the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, to avoid a three- game sweep at Turner Field. Ryan Zimmerman, Roger Bernadina, and Ian Desmond ea

MySportsbook.com is a must-have for the smart veteran sports investor who enjoys following the odds almost as much as betting them. Simply put, no one offers more betting options and offers them faster than MySportsbook. This football sportsbook is known for its ability to set the early market odds on events without having to worry about weak lines. Professional players are well aware that getting a crack at the early betting line is worth as much as, and sometimes more than, huge bonuses or reduced prices. MySportsbook's fearless, yet smart bookmaking style is what keeps everyone watching, including most other sportsbooks.

This is also a great choice for those who just want to have a worry free, fun experience. The ownership’s motto is “Sweat the game, not the payout”. These are not just decorative words used to fill space on the homepage. MySportsbook aims to give their customers the fastest withdrawals in the industry. Payouts are processed within 24 hours by an online sportsbook that carries our A+ financial rating.

Those who enjoy proposition and future wagers consider MySportsbook.com a top choice. Smaller players who seek large bonuses would do better at their sister book, Sportsbooks.com.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your betting football needs.

Football Betting Sportsbook Accepts Credit Cards

Michael Vick is back, Brett Favre isn't and the NFC East remains the best division in the NFC, maybe in all of football.

As players start to gather for the start of another season, some things change and some stay the same in the world of the NFL.

Bet 2010 Super Bowl Odds

The NFC East has been the dominant division in the National Conference for a while, despite limited playoff success, save for the New York Giants surprise Super Bowl win two seasons ago.

Hell, there's a generation of kids in Texas who have never seen the Cowboys win a playoff game (last win was in 1996).

But collectively, the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins (well, maybe not so much the Redskins) are as good as a division gets in an NFC conference that has struggled to stay competitive with the AFC side.

Sports bettors have both acknowledged the NFC East's dominance, as one glance at the NFL future odds menu will show.

Looking over the NFL betting odds at online sports book MySportsbook.com we see the top three teams listed to win the NFC Championship are all from the NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys - 7 - 1

Philadelphia Eagles - 13 - 2

New York Giants - 9 - 2

Slotting in behind these three are two teams from the NFC North: the Minnesota Vikings (15-2) and the Chicago Bears (10-1).

Again, despite the lack of recent playoff success, the Dallas Cowboys are popular with the sports betting community, as they hold 14% of all the money wagered on who will win the NFC Championship.

So far, the New York Giants are the bettors' favorite to represent their conference in the Super Bowl, as they have 24% of the overall NFC Championship betting volume.

And what about the Philadelphia Eagles? For the most part, the Eagles had a very productive offseason, the kind that could bring them back to the top.

They had a good draft adding the likes of WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy.

Unfortunately, the team received a blow when long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away on Tuesday.

But this team will make a real run at the division title this year. Going into the regular season, Philly is listed at +240 to win the division.

Last season the Eagles were 9-6-1 SU and 10-6 ATS.

Teams from the NFC East will play teams from the AFC West in the regular season and the Eagles haven't really been a good bet in the last 20 games against the likes of San Diego, Oakland, K.C. and Denver, only going 8-12 ATS.

Two seasons removed from that Super Bowl title, the New York Giants see themselves listed as the odds-on favorite in NFC East championship futures at +162.

Plaxico Burress is gone and with him all the bad publicity surrounding the gun in the sweatpants incident, but can they replace him in the offense?

Last season the Giants were a very reliable bet going 12-4 ATS.

In the Giants' last 20 games against fellow teams from the NFC East; they are 13-7 ATS.

Dallas is listed at +240 to win the division.

Dallas went 9-7 SU and 7-9 ATS last season and with the amount of talent the Cowboys have, a similar performance won't do.

The Cowboys have been atrocious against divisional rivals, going 6-14 ATS in their last 20.

The Washington Redskins are longshots to win the division at +550.

RSS Sports Betting Odds Feeds

Visit MySportsbook.com for free sportsbook odds RSS feeds go to MySportsbook.com for all your betting football needs.