AFC South

1. Houston Texans

Key Players: QB Matt Schaub, RB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson

2. Tennessee Titans

Key Players: QB Jake Locker, RB Chris Johnson, DE Kamerion Wimbley

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Key Players: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, TE Marcedes Lewis, LB Daryl Smith

4. Indianapolis Colts

Key Players: RB Donald Brown, WR Reggie Wayne, DE/LB Dwight Freeney

Key Acquisitions

Texans: LB Bradie James (Cowboys)

Titans: G Steve Hutchinson (Vikings), DE Kamerion Wimbley (Raiders)

Jaguars: WR Laurent Robinson (Cowboys), CB Aaron Ross (Giants)

Colts: RB Mewelde Moore (Steelers), DE Cory Redding (Ravens), CB Vontae Davis (Dolphins), S Tom Zbikowski (Ravens)

Key Rookies

Texans: DE/LB Whitney Mercilus

Titans: WR Kendall Wright, LB Zach Brown

Jaguars: WR Justin Blackmon, DE Andre Branch

Colts: QB Andrew Luck, TE Coby Fleener

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens

Key Players: QB Joe Flacco, WR Torrey Smith, S Ed Reed

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Players: QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Mike Wallace, LB James Harrison

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Key Players: QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green, CB Leon Hall

4. Cleveland Browns

Key Players: RB Trent Richardson, WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CB Joe Haden

Key Acquisitions

Ravens: WR Jacoby Jones (Texans), G Bobbie Williams (Bengals)

Steelers: None

Bengals: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Patriots), CB Terence Newman (Cowboys)

Browns: DE Frostee Rucker (Bengals)

Key Rookies

Ravens: LB/DE Courtney Upshaw, K Justin Tucker

Steelers: G David DeCastro

Bengals: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, G Kevin Zeitler, DT Devon Still

Browns: RB Trent Richardson, QB Brandon Weeden, T Mitchell Schwartz

AFC East

1. New England Patriots

Key Players: QB Tom Brady, TE Rob Gronkowski, TE Aaron Hernandez

2. New York Jets

Key Players: QB Mark Sanchez, RB Shonn Greene, WR Santonio Holmes

3. Buffalo Bills

Key Players: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Stevie Johnson, DE Mario Williams

4. Miami Dolphins

Key Players: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Reggie Bush, LB Karlos Dansby

Key Acquisitions

Patriots: WR Brandon Lloyd (Rams)

Jets: QB Tim Tebow (Broncos), S Yeremiah Bell (Dolphins), S LaRon Landry (Redskins)

Bills: DE Mario Williams (Texans), DE Mark Anderson (Patriots)

Dolphins: WR Legedu Naanee (Panthers), G Artis Hicks (Browns)

Key Rookies

Patriots: DE Chandler Jones, LB Dont’a Hightower

Jets: DE Quinton Coples, WR Stephen Hill

Bills: CB Stephon Gilmore, T Cordy Glenn

Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill, T Jonathan Martin, DE Olivier Vernon

MLB Recap – August

Best Hitter – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.329 AVG 33 HR 109 RBI) Detroit Tigers

Best Pitcher – Felix Hernandez (13-5, 2.43 ERA)

Best Team – Cincinnati Reds 81-51 (39-28 road record)

Division Leaders

American League

New York Yankees 75-56

Best Player – SS Derek Jeter (.320 AVG 14 HR 45 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 72-59

Best Player – 1B Paul Konerko (.309 AVG 21 HR 62 RBI)

Texas Rangers 78-53

Best Player – 3B Adrian Beltre (.316 AVG 25 HR 82 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 80-51

Best Player – P Stephen Strasburg (15-6, 3.05 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 81-52

Best Player – P Johnny Cueto (17-6, 2.48 ERA)

San Francisco Giants 74-58

Best Player – C Buster Posey (.329 AVG 19 HR 82 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Oakland Athletics 74-57

Best Player – OF Yoenis Cespedes (.302 AVG 16 HR 63 RBI)

Baltimore Orioles 73-58

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.285 AVG 26 HR 68 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 71-61

Best Player – P David Price (16-5, 2.53 ERA)

Detroit Tigers 70-61

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.329 AVG 33 HR 109 RBI)

Los Angeles Angels 70-62

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.335 AVG 25 HR 74 RBI)

National League

Atlanta Braves 74-58

Best Player – OF Jason Heyward (.272 AVG 24 HR 69 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 71-61

Best Player – C Yadier Molina (.324 AVG 17 HR 62 RBI)

Pittsburgh Pirates 70-61

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.344 AVG 24 HR 79 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 70-63

Best Player – P Clayton Kershaw (12-8, 2.85 ERA)

Arizona Diamondbacks 66-67

Best Player – P Wade Miley (14-9, 2.85 ERA)

Outside Looking In

American League

Seattle Mariners 64-69

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (13-5, 2.43 ERA)

Boston Red Sox 62-71

Best Player – 2B Dustin Pedroia (.284 AVG 12 HR 54 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 60-71

Best Player – DH Edwin Encarnacion (.288 AVG 35 HR 90 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 59-71

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.307 AVG 25 HR 83 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 55-77

Best Player – OF Michael Brantley (.285 AVG 6 HR 55 RBI)

Minnesota Twins 53-78

Best Player – OF Josh Willingham (.262 AVG 33 HR 96 RBI)

National League

Milwaukee Brewers 63-68

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.310 AVG 36 HR 92 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 63-69

Best Player – P Cole Hamels (14-6, 2.99 ERA)

New York Mets 62-70

Best Player – P R.A. Dickey (17-4, 2.63 ERA)

San Diego Padres 62-71

Best Player – 3B Chase Headley (.276 AVG 22 HR 83 RBI)

Miami Marlins 59-73

Best Player – OF Giancarlo Stanton (.291 AVG 29 HR 72 RBI)

Colorado Rockies 53-77

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.309 AVG 21 HR 82 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 51-80

Best Player – SS Starlin Castro (.277 AVG 12 HR 65 RBI)

Houston Astros 40-92

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.294 AVG 5 HR 33 RBI)

It’s Over

So Lance Armstrong has decided to throw in the towel. The USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has been after him for allegedly taking PEDs during his 7 straight Tour de France victories.

Lance didn’t want to fight them anymore through arbitration and will let the USADA take away his Tour de France titles, earnings and be banned for life.

Now I can understand not wanting to go through more insane court hearings and spend all that time and money to defend yourself. But you’re Lance freaking Armstrong. That shouldn’t be a concern for you, but I don’t know the man’s finances. He could be in financial ruin or pretty close to it.

If you’re truly innocent, why stop fighting? Nothing has been proven and he hasn’t failed any of the drug tests he has taken while racing. But I have to think that he has something to hide now that he has given up.

He seemed to be pretty hell bent on proving to everyone that doubted him that he was clean and those wins were legitimate. Now all of that is done. The sport is done. Not that I actually cared, but it was easy to root for the guy.

He’s no better than any other prominent athlete who has been ruined by testing positive for steroids. There is a lesson to be learned from Lance and it’s a simple one. Unfortunately you are now guilty until proven innocent in society. However, he had his chance to do it in the court of law where you are innocent until proven guilty. He decided it wasn’t worth it. Why?

We’ll never know the answer. Probably not until he writes another book. His idol status is gone, to me at least. Yeah he beat cancer. I’m not taking any of that away from him. Yet he didn’t want to protect his innocence. What kind of message is that?

Life gave him many lemons. He made lemonade most of the time, but this time he chose to let it fester and just quit. So long Lance. You’re no different than any other alleged steroid user.