Even 2011 Belmont betting players will be paying attention to the ongoing NFL lockout saga currently going on, but the ones that may stand to be hurt most by the lockout are rookie quarterbacks. It’s the toughest position in the NFL to grasp, not just on the field, but off as well, and they’re going to have a lot of work on their hands when the season gets underway.

Of course, the biggest worries surround the quarterbacks who were taken in the two rounds, as they’re the ones most likely to get playing time right away. A lot of pivots, such as the No.1 pick, Cam Newton and No.10 Blaine Gabbert, spent their college careers playing in a spread, so they would love to have some time to get used to their new centers, not to mention their new receivers. Then you have players like Jake Locker, Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton, all of whom have a chance to start this season, but they’re going to be behind the eight-ball if the lockout continues.

All of the players are going to be affected by this lockout, but the learning curve for a rookie pivot is so steep in the NFL that it’s hard to imagine any of them playing very well whenever the new season starts. Don’t expect much out of these rookies when we resume action, because even though some are working out with their new teammates anyway, they still can’t have any contact with coaches, which is a huge part of the process. It’ll be interesting to see who ends up being the favorite for Rookie of the Year in your sports betting book.

Even online Belmont betting players will be watching the NFL lockout situation as the football season is being threatened, but teams are also waiting to start making moves to improve their team on the free-agent market, and the biggest fish out there may be cornerback Nmandi Asomugha, who likely won’t be resigned by Oakland.Here are the top three places where he should land.

Philadelphia – The Eagles need someone opposite Asante Samuel, who would have a chance to reach double figures in interceptions with Asomugha on the other side. Philadelphia also needs some secondary help in the NFC East, which features such quarterbacks as New York’s Eli Manning and Dallas’ Tony Romo.

Houston – The Texans aren’t going to come out of the AFC South until they figure out a way to slow down Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning, and they have a decent pass rush; it’s just that their secondary is atrocious. The Texas were dead last in the NFL against the pass, and they should be the first or second in line to make an offer to Asomugha when the lockout ends.

Washington – The Redskins are also in the NFC East, but they’re the only team in the league without a decent quarterback as they’ll probably get rid of Donovan McNabb. That means they may need Asomugha more than anyone else in the division because they don’t figure to score a lot of points, so improving their defense is the best way to boost their odds at your favorite betting website.

The interminable mess that is the NFL’s labour dispute only got worse for fans last week when it was revealed that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling extending the lockout imposed by the owners.

At this point, the conflict has become more of a legal battle than the balanced negotiation it should have been. Instead of making trade-offs to come to a mutually satisfying agreement, both parties have taken to the courts in the hopes of gaining bargaining power.

DeMaurice Smith, the head of what was the NFL Players Association – no longer an actual union since the players voted to decertify it – has taken to grandstanding for the public like he’s engaged in a WWE-style feud. He talks of “counterpunching”, not “laying down” amidst the “chaos” the league is allegedly creating.

His rhetoric is only further poisoning the already-toxic relationship between the two sides, so even if they ever do get back to the bargaining table, it’s hard to imagine a respectful atmosphere of cooperation emerging. Expect NFL news to still be dominated by stories about lawsuits and finger-pointing instead of what to do about escalating rookie salaries and whether to extend the regular season.

The next major step is the antitrust suit being filed by a number of players against the league, colloquially known as “Brady vs. NFL”, with initial hearings set for early next month. The players want the lockout lifted on the grounds that it is unlawful, while the league is countering that the decertification of the union is a sham. (By no longer operating as a labour organization, the players can operate under antitrust legislation.)

The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be moving further and further away, with the scheduled start of the preseason only two months away. Even if a deal can be struck, the league still needs to have a free agency period, sign rookie contracts, and hold training camps. Week one of the 2011 NFL season was suppose to encompass the 10^th anniversary of September 11^th, but it’s now entirely possible that greed and ego are going to get in the way of what would be a major cultural moment for the United States.

Oh, and if Ray Lewis is to be believed, a football-less fall will apparently turn the country into some kind of anarchic, crime-riddled wasteland, because people won’t have anything better to do. So that’s not good either.

Those wagering on Preakness Stakes betting odds will have many choices this weekend, but at least there are a couple of frontrunners. At the quarterback position in Washington, the Redskins have no idea who is in pole position to be their starter under center whenever the season kicks off after the lockout. Both John Beck and Rex Grossman say they will start, while Donovan McNabb is his usual quiet self, and it’s going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

The McNabb situation is obviously the thing that coach Mike Shanahan (and son Kyle, the offensive coordinator) has to figure out when the lockout ends, and the smart money is on McNabb not being in the nation’s capital when Week 1 starts. The Shanahans and McNabb had a contentious 2010 season, which ended with Grossman getting the nod over McNabb, and the two sides clearly can’t be on the same team anymore. But then what? The Redskins didn’t draft a quarterback, and there isn’t much out there in terms of free agents, outside of McNabb’s old Philadelphia teammate Kevin Kolb, and it looks more like he’ll end up in Arizona.

Of course, this is all speculation and it’s tough to make a prediction until the lockout is sorted. But the Redskins can’t be competitive in the NFC East, where the other three teams are loaded at quarterback. McNabb is their best option, and the Shanahans seem desperate to run him out of town. It doesn’t look good for Washington’s online sports betting odds.

Even 2011 Preakness Stakes betting can’t take attention away from the NFL, and there are things to talk about even without the lockout. Of course, no moves can be made until the situation is sorted out, but it’s always fun to think of what will happen when the time comes, and one of the most intriguing situations will surround free-agent cornerback Nmandi Asomugha, who likely won’t stay in Oakland.

Asomugha is definitely in the top three when it comes to cover corners in the NFL, alongside the Jets’ Darrelle Revis and Denver’s Champ Bailey, and you could argue that Asomugha is the best of the three. Asomugha had eight picks in 2006, but only three in the last four seasons because teams simply don’t challenge him anymore. It seems as though he is through with the Raiders, and Dallas and Philadelphia are the odds-on favorite to make a run at Asomugha, who is Louisiana-born but went to college at California. The Eagles desperately need a corner opposite Asante Samuel, who was tied for second in the NFL with seven picks last year, while the Cowboys, while the Cowboys were 26^th in the league against the pass.

When you look at the quarterbacks in the NFC East, Tony Romo (Dallas), Michael Vick (Philadelphia) and Eli Manning (New York Giants; we’re waiting to see what Washington tries to pull off), being a good pass-defending team is essential, and the team that picks up Osamugha will definitely boost their online sports betting odds.

Those who bet Kentucky Derby online should be in for a wild race on Saturday, but it may not be half as wild as the race for win the starting quarterback job for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, who had the No.1 pick in the draft and took Heisman winner Cam Newton out of Auburn. As soon as the pick was announcing, many started to speculate on the future of Jimmy Clausen, who the Panthers took in the second round last season, and it hasn’t worked out. Unlike Saturday’s Derby, this looks like it’s going to be a rout.

Clausen finished last season with a 52.5% completion rate, throwing three touchdowns and nine picks, but reports have surfaced that the team, specifically receiver Steve Smith, never warmed up to the former Notre Dame star. The Panthers are banking on much bigger things from Newton, who led the Tigers to last year’s BCS title, but his signature game was the “Iron Bowl” against Auburn’s biggest rival, Alabama. On the road in Tuscaloose, Newton rallied the troops when the Tigers were down 24-0 and with everything (the “Iron Bowl” is bigger than any championship in Alabama) on the line, powered Auburn to a 27-24 win. Newton is a leader of men, and it doesn’t appear that Clausen has that same intangible about his game.

Of course, the two have to go to training camp to battle for the spot, which can’t happen until the lockout is resolved. But if this were a prop, we would say it’s a smart wager on Cam Newton starting the next season as the Carolina starter when you’re betting online.

Each year there’s a group of NFL Draft prospects who carry obvious red flags about their ability to adjust to NFL life both on and off the field. Inevitably, some GM will overlook the warning signs and get burned.

Here’s just a few top prospects for the 2011 draft who come with a sizable risk.

Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

Quinn is big, fast, and powerful, and was a force on the Tar Heels D-line in 2009. However he was out of football in 2010 after being suspended by the NCAA for lying to investigators about over $5,000 worth of jewelry and travel accommodations he allegedly received. Some players can bounce back after time away from football (Michael Vick), some don’t (Maurice Clarett). GMs are hoping Quinn falls into the former camp.

Oh, and he has a brain tumor. Teams might want to keep that in mind, if you’ll pardon the pun.

Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

Like Quinn, Bowers is a physical specimen at a premium position, and he’s coming off a 15.5-sack season for the Tigers. He’s a versatile player who matches up well against both the run and the pass and worked hard to drop 25 pounds heading into his final college season, and was rewarded with the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as college football’s best defensive player

But thanks to a faulty knee, Bowers remains a risky prospect. He missed a pair of games in 2009 with a strained ligament, and went under the knife in January to repair a partially torn meniscus, which forced him to miss the NFL Draft Combine.

Lingering knee injuries can hamper a player’s entire career, and Bowers’ durability definitely makes him a risky prospect.

Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

Mallett has an absolute cannon of an arm and has had success in pro-style offenses in college, making him one of the best pure pocket passers in this class. However, serious questions have been raised about his maturity following an arrest for public intoxication in spring 2009, and he reportedly admitted his drug use to teams in private interviews.

While the fact he was willing to be honest about his past should be seen as a positive, what happens when a player with a reputation as a “big party guy” gets his first six-figure paycheque? Former New York Jets QB Erik Ainge, a collegiate star at Tennessee, recently washed out of the NFL due to drug problems, and substance abuse plagued former Raiders QB Todd Marinovich – like Mallett, a tall, strong-armed passer – was a bust for the same reasons.

If Mallett can keep his nose clean, he could be a star. If not, he could cost a GM his job.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

If you ask some scouts, GMs, and draft experts, Cam Newton is the best prospect in this class, a championship-winning signal-caller who accounted for 50 scores in the 2010 season. Ask others, and they’ll tell you he’s a bust waiting to happen.

Newton has tantalizing potential – as a fast, powerful runner with a rocket arm, he’s reminiscent of Daunte Culpepper. Of course, whether or not that’s a good thing is up for debate. He’s not the most accurate passer, and many have questioned his awareness in the pocket.

And perhaps most worrisome is his attitude. He seems to have the LeBron James “Global Icon” DNA – a sense that he’s entitled to become a superstar. He’s also been entangled in a number of controversies, from academic cheating to laptop theft to a recruiting investigation that might cost him his Heisman.

Even MLB baseball betting players have one eye on the ongoing NFL lockout saga as football always looms over the online wagering scene, whether they are in offseason, and especially if there is a threat that there won’t be a season in the fall. However, things are looking up, or at least better, as the two sides are back at the bargaining table after a month of no discussions.

The two sides met for 16 days in Washington D.C., but as of March 11th they still couldn’t come to an agreement and then talks just stopped. Word was leaked out that the players attempted to set something up with the owners, who declined to go back to the table, but then a judge ordered that the two resume talks in Minneapolis, where representatives and attorneys for the two sides met on Thursday. Judge Arthur Boylan will be the mediator in this set of discussions, and with the lockout at 33 days, no one knows what to expect.

Business seems to be going on as usual in the NFL as the draft is still being planned for later this month in New York City, teams are meeting with prospects, and the preseason schedule has been released. But there should be a cautious optimism about the talks because it didn’t seem like neither side really wanted to discuss things. The fact that a judge had to order them back to the table is a sign that these two sides are far apart in what they’re willing to concede, so until we have an idea of what is going to happen in the fall, be careful of NFL odds at your favorite sports betting sites.

Spring usually means online MLB betting, but college football betting players will have their eyes on the spring games as teams start to see who they can build around. There’s a huge task at Texas for coach Mack Brown as the Longhorns missed the postseason for the first time since 1997, and they may look to the younger brother of their former start pivot.

Case McCoy was the best player in Texas’ spring game, and while he isn’t even as big as older brother Colt, who is a legend in Austin, McCoy is going into his sophomore year, which means he has time to fill out. Most of his work in the spring game came against the first-team defense with the second-string offense, which is a good sign for McCoy (or a bad sign for the defense, however you want to look at it). McCoy is battling with last year’s starter, Garrett Gilbert, who took over for Colt, and he has a chance as Gilbert had a problem with turnovers in 2010, and that was a major reason that the Longhorns finished 5-7.

There will be a lot of pressure on McCoy if he does win the starting job because he’s going to play in the shadow of Colt, who finished with the all-time NCAA record for wins as a starting quarterback. The Longhorns also have a new offensive coordinator in Bryan Harsin, who left Boise State, so there’s a new offense to learn. But McCoy is off to a good start, and could play a major part in Texas improving their sports betting odds next season.

Even online March Madness betting players have been keeping an eye on the lockout situation in the NFL, but there have been a couple of players who have made news for off-field problems. Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib came into the NFL with “character issues”, and he could be in major trouble after his latest escapade.

Talib turned himself into police after an altercation with his sister’s boyfriend ended in a gun being fired and allegedly more, and now he is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Talib was suspended for the first game of last season for beating up a taxi driver, so he could be in line for discipline by commissioner Roger Goodell when the lockout is resolved.

This could be a huge loss for the Buccaneers as Talib is emerging as one of the best cover corners in the NFL, racking up six interceptions, and he is a physical guy who won’t be pushed around by receivers, making him the perfect cornerback in Tampa Bay’s scheme. The Bucs can expect Talib to be disciplined by the league when football resumes, even if he isn’t convicted of a crime as Goodell has made his name on cleaning up the league, and that is going to hurt the Bucs coming off a great season. Many were expecting Tampa Bay to be a dangerous underdog in the league, and this will put a lot of pressure on their pass defense, which hurts their odds at your best online sportsbook.