Former Red Sox star Roger Clemens leaves federal court in Washington, D.C., Thursday after jury selection for his trial. (AP)

Remember when Roger Clemens was on top of the Boston sports world? With the Rocket’s perjury case in progress, those days have never felt further away. Whether it’s because of contract disputes, trouble with the law, or locker room drama, plenty of former Beantown sports heroes have fallen out of favor over the past few years. We’ve got 10 that take the cake.

10. Nomar Garciaparra

If you were a Red Sox fan from 1997 to 2004, chances are you had at least one article of clothing with the number five on it. After winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1997, Nomar quickly became the undisputed face of Fenway Park. With two batting titles and five All-Star selections, he was grouped with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez as the three most exciting short stops in the league. Garciaparra seemed destined to play out his career in Boston, and perhaps help the Red Sox finally break the curse of the Bambino.

However, when TV cameras caught him sulking in the dugout while sitting out of a 2004 classic against the Yankees (when Jeter dove headfirst into the stands), Red Sox fans did not react well. That incident, combined with general manager Theo Epstein‘s desire for improved defense, led to the shocking trade. Garciaparra had to look on from Chicago as the Red Sox won it all without him with the help of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. Still, Nomar can expect a much better reception in Boston than most of the athletes on this list, especially because a one-day contract allowed him to retire as a member of the Red Sox.

9. Joe Thornton

Thornton entered the NHL with Boston in 1997 and led the team in scoring for several years, but it was never enough to get the Bruins to the next level. The center faltered under intense scrutiny, especially in the postseason and during his time as captain. After being traded to the Sharks in 2005 for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, Thornton won the Hart Trophy, making him the only player ever to be named MVP in the same season he was traded.

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ESPN the Magazine ranked the Bengals as the worst franchise in professional sports this week, out of 122 teams throughout football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. TV analyst and former Bengal quarterback Boomer Esiason had no objection to the ranking.

“Don’t you think we’d all be surprised if they weren’t ranked last? It’s never going to change,” he said. “There is no expectation the team is going to win. There never has been. I can’t sugarcoat it.”

The Patriots finished 38th overall and first in the coaching category. The Celtics ranked 40th, the Bruins 72nd, and the Red Sox 79th. The Packers were rated the best NFL franchise and first overall, while the Lightning, Saints, and Angels led the way for their respective sports.

Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY THURSDAY:
NBA: Celtics at Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ Players and owners aren’t the only ones who would be affected by an NFL lockout. The town of Foxboro would be devastated to lose as much as $1.1 million in stadium ticket revenue generated by the Patriots, as explained in a story in The Attleboro Sun-Chronicle. “If the lockout occurs for a year, the town will be in serious financial trouble,” town manager Kevin Paicos said. Finance director Randy Scollins added that the pending lockout “would basically wipe out Foxboro’s capital budget.”

♦ The Jazz shocked the NBA Wednesday by trading All-Star point guard Deron Williams to the Nets. In The Salt Lake Tribune, Gordon Monson writes that Utah traded “a problem for a project.” In the New York Daily News, Filip Bondy writes that the Nets have to be able to re-sign Williams, whose contract expires after next season.

♦ The NCAA released its report on violations committed at Tennessee, re-igniting calls for basketball coach Bruce Pearl‘s head. With accusations leveled at the football team as well, Stewart Mandel at SI.com writes that athletic director Mike Hamilton needs to face the music.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Feb. 24, 2004, the Coyotes made a coaching change, replacing which former Bruins assistant with which former B’s head coach?

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According to ProFootballTalk.com, Steve Scarnecchia, the Denver assistant who was fired after by the Broncos after taping the 49ers’ wal-through last month, was labeled a repeat offender by the NFL when the league levied its punishment against Josh McDaniels’ team. The report states that Scarnecchia was identified as such because of his previous employment by the Patriots, even though he hadn’t worked for New England since the 2004 season and wasn’t part of the 2007 incident in which the Pats and head coach Bill Belichick were fined for taping Jets’ coaches.

To read the entire report, click here.

According to the Denver Post, the Broncos are being investigated by the NFL for potentially having illegally videotaped the San Francisco 49ers’ walk-through prior to the teams’ meeting in London at Wembley Stadium four weeks ago. According to the Post, Denver chief operating officer Joe Ellis confirmed that the team’s director of video operations, Steve Scarnecchia, is on a “personal leave of absence” during the investigation.

The investigation centers around the time on Oct. 30 when both teams were allowed to use Wembley Stadium. It was the only day during the teams’ trip to England — which culminated with San Francisco’s 24-16 win over the Broncos — would be both using the same facility.

Both Scarnecchia and Denver head coach Josh McDaniels were with the Patriots when they were disciplined by the NFL for videotaping Jets’ coaches during a 2007 game. That punishment came in the form of the Patriots losing their 2008 first-round draft pick , with the team also being fined $250,000 and head coach Bill Belichick incurring a $500,000 fine.

To read the complete report click here.

What was becoming increasingly apparent given Cleveland’s Thursday practice report has become official: On Friday, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was officially named the starter for Sunday’s contest against the Patriots.

In his first two starts, McCoy has played well, considering the competition. Against the Steelers in his first start, McCoy completed just under 70 percent of his passes for 281 yards, while he did enough against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in New Orleans to secure a win.

“I think with each experience, it helps you, because you recognize some things better and you get more comfortable adjusting,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said.

Browns quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace have not practiced since Oct. 10, since suffering high ankle sprains. Earlier in the week, team president Mike Holmgren said once his veterans return, he will meet with his coaching staff to decide on the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Bills second-year tight end Shawn Nelson was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for a repeat violation the league’s substance abuse policy. This means Nelson will miss Buffalo’s Week 3 game against the Patriots.

Nelson had 17 receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown in 2009.

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon's implosion Monday night at Yankee Stadium is only one of many sour moments for Boston sports teams this year. (AP)

Although 2010 is less than half over, Boston sports fans have dealt with their fair share of tough losses already. With all the success the local teams have had the past decade, a sense of entitlement has permeated the Hub. We are no longer used to historic collapses and unfulfilled expectations. However, teams and players that have enjoyed copious amounts of success have hit more than a few road bumps recently.

The year is still young and we have a lot of things to look forward to, but so far the new year has been anything but nice to New England sports fans. Although they may be tough to digest, here are 10 of the worst moments from our Boston sports teams in 2010:

10. March 10: Grizzlies 111, Celtics 91

As the fans were relentlessly booing the Green at halftime, there was a real sense that maybe this Celtics team is too old and too slow to win another championship. The Big Three are two years creakier and older than during the 2008 title run, and after the C’s were annihilated by a team led by young stars Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo and surrendering 111 points, Celtics coach Doc Rivers was left searching for answers. The devoted fan base began filing out of TD Garden midway through the fourth quarter, as the Celtics looked incapable of keeping up against a younger, fresher team.

9. May 15: Tigers 7, Red Sox 6 (12 innings)

Jon Lester pitched tremendously for the Red Sox, who were looking to build a winning streak and begin closing the gap on the Rays and Yankees in the AL East. The bullpen, which had been shaky to this point, could not hold a 6-1 lead, with Hideki Okajima surrendering two runs in the eighth and Ramon Ramirez ultimately walking in the winning run in the 12th inning. As maybe a sign of things to come, the Sox offense, which was labeled as the weak link on the team heading into the season, came through while the pitching staff again faltered late.

8. Jan. 31: Lakers 90, Celtics 89

After the Lakers opened up an early 13-point lead with the inside dominance of Andrew Bynum, the Celtics flipped the script on LA and headed into halftime leading 52-47. Things only got better in the third quarter as Tony Allen and Rajon Rondo sprinted and darted their way to an 81-70 Celtics lead with only nine minutes to play. However, things progressively got worse from there as Boston’s Big Three played miserably in the fourth, allowing an 11-point lead to slip away, and the Lakers capped off the comeback when Kobe Bryant hit the game-winning jumper with 7.3 seconds remaining.

7. April 16-17: Rays 3, Red Sox 1

With mother nature stopping Friday night’s game prematurely in the ninth with the score tied at 1, the Sox and Rays were forced to finish their game the following day, then play the scheduled game afterward. The Red Sox had the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning but failed to score, as David Ortiz grounded into a fielder’s choice at home and Adrian Beltre hit into a double play. In the 12th, Manny Delcarmen allowed a two-run home run to Rays designated hitter Pat Burrell, who began the day hitting just .185 with no homers or RBI. The Rays would go on to sweep the four-game series, solidifying themselves as the best team in the division, while at the same time making Red Sox Nation a little worried. Read the rest of this entry »

A week ago, Bill Belichick was not in the most cheerful of spirits after his failed decision to go for a fourth-and-2 from his own 28-yard line. Now, seven days later, Belichick can sit back in his office in jollier spirits after the Patriots overpowered Rex Ryan’s Jets, 31-14, in a Sunday afternoon showdown in Foxboro.

Yet, while Belichick may be able to put on a merry Monday morning quarterback face this week, a few of his former coaching pupils find themselves either in the losing column, on the hot seat or just plain out of work.

Since Belichick first became a head coach for the Cleveland Browns in 1991, there have been multiple coordinators, assistants, scouts and other personnel who have sought to create their own legacy to follow in the footsteps of their great mentor. Although some have fared better than others since leaving Belichick’s staff, the majority of his coaching family tree has experienced a degree of difficulty making the transition from acting behind-the-scenes to manning a franchise of their own. Here is a look at how the five most prominent graduates of Belichick’s Coaching Academy have performed since departing from their teacher.

Charlie Weis

When Belichick left the Jets to be named head coach of the Patriots in 2000, Weis followed him from New York to New England. Serving as the offensive coordinator until 2004, Weis engineered the initiation of the Erhardt-Perkins offensive system. Assisting in Tom Brady‘s development as the franchise quarterback, Weis helped guide the team to three Super Bowl titles before leaving the Patriots to take over as Notre Dame head coach in 2005. Since then, Weis has not enjoyed the same success as he did in New England. With a 35-26 mark and a 1-2 record in bowl games, Weis has recently come under massive scrutiny, allowing many to speculate that his days as the Fighting Irish coach could be numbered. Indicating a 6-5 record was not good enough when he replaced Tyrone Willingham, Weis has already stated he would not argue with a firing if that is the end result.

Eric Mangini

Hired as the Patriots defensive coordinator in 2005 after serving as the defensive backs coach, Mangini left New England for the Jets in 2006. Accepting the job Belichick had turned down seven years earlier, Mangini instantly became Belichick’s nemesis, causing their relationship to sour. From avoiding postgame handshakes to refusing to acknowledge each other’s success, these two coaches spiced up a rivalry for three years. Referred to as “Fredo” (the disloyal son in “The Godfather”) by Patriots defensive lineman Ty Warren, Mangini opened the door for New England fans to detest him even further after accusing Belichick of recording the Jets’ defensive signals in 2007 during the infamous Spygate incident. In his three years overseeing the Jets, Mangini struggled, including a late-season collapse in 2008 that ultimately cost him his job. Mangini’s tenure in New York ended with a 23-25 record along with a 2006 AFC wild card playoff loss to the Patriots.

Now guiding the Browns, Mangini’s coaching career has gone from bad to worse. With a 1-8 record in the first year of a three-year deal, Mangini has drawn criticism for his strict coaching mechanisms and his inability to earn respect from his players.

Romeo Crennel

Winning three Super Bowls as defensive coordinator with the Patriots from 2001-04, Crennel was unable to carry his success over to the Browns. As Browns coach from 2005-08, Crennel failed to deliver a playoff berth, compiling a 24-40 record in four seasons. Entering 2008 with high expectations after a 10-6 2007 season, Crennel watched his young, talented team fall to a 4-12 record that led to his firing at year’s end, making way for Mangini to take over. Even though he is currently unemployed as a coach — opting to sit out this year while recovering from hip surgery — Crennel still can be seen on Sundays — in Coors Light commercials, that is.

Josh McDaniels

Starting out as a personal assistant with the Patriots in 2001, McDaniels assumed several coaching roles with the Patriots before becoming offensive coordinator in 2006. Agreeing to take over in Denver following the Mike Shanahan firing, McDaniels wasted no time sparking controversy in his new organization.

After reports were leaked indicating McDaniels had tried to aquire Matt Cassel from the Patriots to serve as his quarterback, an offended Jay Cutler requested a trade from the Broncos. The disgruntled quarterback was eventually dealt to the Bears.

The bickering did not end there. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall demanded to be traded during training camp after clashing with McDaniels. While McDaniels only suspended Marshall instead of granting him his request, he seemed to temporarily calm the storm as the Broncos began the season 6-0, including a Week 5 defeat of the Patriots by an overtime score of 20-17. With Denver having lost four straight since then, many wonder if McDaniels finally has become exposed. With the Broncos set to host the Thanksgiving night game against the Giants, only time will tell.

Nick Saban

In 1995, Saban was named defensive coordinator of the Browns under Belichick. After a successful tenure with Louisiana State University when he led the Tigers to a 2003 BCS national championship and was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Saban started his NFL head coaching career following the 2004 season, when he agreed to fill the Miami Dolphins‘ vacancy. In his two seasons with the franchise, Saban showed he had difficulty transitioning between the collegiate and professional level, going 15-17 before leaving the Dolphins to return to college. His decision to do so generated a significant degree of controversy. For the past three seasons, Saban has coached the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are 11-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll behind the University of Florida.

While Saban’s college history is decorated, his NFL career — like those of many of the Belichick coaching progeny — is remembered only for its mediocrity and controversy.

Call it intuition. Label it a gut feeling. Follow your instincts. And just in case, be prepared to suffer the consequences and assume responsibility if your decision does not go according to plan.

It was no surprise when last week’s football talk was dominated by nothing but Tom Brady-Peyton Manning comparisons, the difference from playing indoors as opposed to outdoors, who had the edge, who was the better team, and, most importantly, who would win the intense battle between arguably the two best teams of the decade: the Patriots and the Colts.

For 57 minutes and 52 seconds, it had appeared the Patriots had answered that question and were on their way to locking up their seventh victory of the season, handing the Colts their first loss at the same time. Yet, Bill Belichick, the Jedi mastermind of the Patriots, opted to take the gamble of the season and go for the first down on fourth-and-2 from his team’s own 28. It was a risk he was willing to take and it was also what cost him the game.

Boomer Esiason deemed the decision “reckless.” Brady backed Belichick, insisting that he will “never second-guess” his coach. Rodney Harrison was quick to assert that it was “the worst coaching decision” he ever saw his former coach make. Tedy Bruschi admitted the call would make his “blood boil for weeks.” The Colts defense saw the move as a sign of disrespect while Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather was “ecstatic” that Belichick was confident enough to trust his defense to prevent Manning from scoring with only 20-plus yards to spare. Would Belichick himself make the call again?

“You only get one chance,” Belichick told reporters outside of Gillette less than 24 hours after making a decision that would cause e-mail boxes to overload and blogs to overflow around the country. Though many may question his fourth-down strategy, especially those who are reluctant to execute trick plays and make risky decisions, it is not the first time Belichick defied traditional standards and gambled while behind enemy lines.

Earlier this season, on Sept. 27 against the Falcons, Belichick challenged Atlanta’s defense by going for a fourth-and-1 on New England’s 24 in the third quarter with his team up 16-10. This time, instead of relying on Brady to complete a pass for the first, the Patriots handed the ball to Sammy Morris, who rushed ahead to the 26-yard line to move the chains forward. Later in that drive, the Patriots converted another fourth down from the Falcons’ 37, leading to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. While the Patriots would end up winning the game, 26-10, Belichick ran the risk of shifting the momentum to the Falcons’ side if the initial conversion had not been successful.

In the 2004 AFC championship game against the Colts, Belichick made the decision to go for it on fourth-and-short from Patriots territory on the first drive of the game. The decision stood in defiance of football conventional wisdom. But the Patriots converted and marched down the field for a touchdown. Later, the decision to go for it was credited as having played a significant role in the Patriots reaching the Super Bowl. Belichick’s gutsy call — based on his embrace of the studies of economists — was deemed by the New York Times as an indication of his genius.

Maybe it’s the overwhelming level of trust Belichick has in his offense’s ability or perhaps it is the lack of confidence in his defense’s capability. Either way, Belichick has made some head-scratching fourth-down decisions that have not gone in his favor before. In the third quarter of Super Bowl XLII, with his team up 7-3, Belichick opted to go for a fourth-and-13 from the Giants‘ 32 instead of allowing Stephen Gostkowski to attempt a 49-yard field goal. Putting the ball in Brady’s hands, Belichick watched as Brady made an incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs to the Giants, who eventually hoisted the Lombardi trophy after a 17-14 decision.

Still, while there certainly will be plenty of opinions circulating in the next few days by fans, analysts, experts, players and anyone else who wishes to add their two bits, there are also the cold, hard numbers and statistics that rely on quantitative data to either support or reject the decision.

According to the Lawrence-Journal blog, there is a 56 percent level of success when teams go for the first down on fourth-and-2. However, when it comes to choosing whether to pass or run, teams who make the call to pass experience a success rate of 44.1 percent as opposed to a 68.3 percent success rate when rushing. In addition, as Advanced NFL Stats points out, a successful fourth-and-2 conversion wins the game for the Patriots, leading those who like to play with numbers to side with Belichick. Add the fact that Brady and Randy Moss are better than your average quarterback-wide receiver tandem and it would seem the logical call would be to give the ball to your best guys on the field.

With all the frenzy and speculation that is sure to surround Bill Belichick this week, it will not come as a surprise if he chooses to make another daring decision in the team’s next game. Though we will never fully understand what goes on in his brilliant mind, one thing is for sure: He must be glad he won’t get the same treatment as Grady Little.