Pigskins & Pucks

Out With The Old...And Other Thoughts From Last Night's RAW

2008-11-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

My latest on Sportstalkbuzz.com

http://sportstalkbuzz.com/2008/11/11/out-with-the-oldand-other-thoughts-from-last-nights-raw/

WXW debuts in Central Florida

2008-09-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

(Readers: Though this blog primarily concerns itself with football and hockey, I want to bring to the attention of any pro wrestling fans the successful debut of Afa Anoai's WXW (World Xtreme Wrestling) promotion in Central Florida. Also known as Afa the Wild Samoan, Mr. Anoai runs one of the most well known and respected wrestling schools in the world and has worked with many superstars of the business. I will be posting future updates about the school and the promotion in this space.)

WXW website: http://www.wxwwrestling.com/
Website of The Wild Samoan Training Center: http://www.wildsamoan.com/

WXW SUCCESSFULLY DEBUTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

In front a packed house at the Minneola Recreation Center, WXW successfully held its debut show in Central Florida on September 20th, 2008. The crowd was filled with families and children of all ages who attended WXW’s family friendly event. Not only did families enjoy WXW, but so did Minneola Mayor David Yeager. The Mayor was in attendance and presented WWE Hall of Famer Afa The Wild Samoan with the KEY TO THE CITY! Due to the success of the show and it's strong attendance, Mayor Yeager has already stated that he will welcome WXW back to Minneola in the near future. The Mayor however did not have a smooth evening as his welcome and introduction to the crowd was interrupted by The Perfect Creation, who came to the ring and insulted him. However, the Mayor exacted a measure of revenge later that evening, costing Perfect Creation his chance to win the WXW Heavyweight Title. Minneola City Councilman Pat Kelley also paid a price for his wanting to cut funding to the Minneola Recreation Department. WXW Champion Sugaa pleased the crowd by suplexing Kelley in the center of the ring!

The wrestlers of WXW put on a fabulous show for the packed house and the residents of Minneola did not go home disappointed. The event was taped for WXW Rage TV and the crowd let themselves be heard with loud ovations throughout the night.

WXW will return to Minneola for Fall Fest, Saturday October 25th at the Minneola Trailhead Park. This show is free to the public, courtesy of the City of Minneola. WXW thanks all of our fans for attending the debut show and hopes to see even more at our upcoming events in Minneola and Leesburg, Florida!

Full Match Results
Mad Man Mandrake def. Jerrelle Clark
Zero Gravity def. Ivan Radski
Bane def. David Mercury
Havoc and C.J. O'Doyle went to Double DQ and brawled back to the locker room
Sgt. Hardcore def. Convict #1
Mercedes Martinez def. Rain
Xtreme Billy Dream def. DJ Hyde
Sugaa def. Perfect Creation to keep the WXW Title after Mayor David Yeager interfered in the match.

Upcoming Dates:
Saturday October 25th – FALL FEST – Minneola Park – Belltime 5:00 PM
Sunday October 26th – Leesburg Armory – Belltime 6:00 PM
Saturday November 15th – WXW ELITE 8 Woman’s Tournament - Leesburg Armory – Belltime 7:30 PM
Saturday December 20th – Minneola Recreation Center – Belltime 7:30 PM

NFL Injury Report- Week 2

2008-09-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

My latest on Sportsbuff.com

http://www.sportsbuff.com/FantasyArticle.asp?articleid=10646

Islanders tab Scott Gordon to be their man

2008-08-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

My latest on Rumor Me This:

http://rumormethis.com/transactions/hirings-and-firings/islanders-tab-scott-gordon-to-be-their-man/

Brett As A Jet Era Begins Today

2008-08-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

My latest on the Brett Favre trade at Sportstalkbuzz.com

http://sportstalkbuzz.com/2008/08/07/the-brett-as-a-jet-era-begins-today/

My Interview with former NHL player Jason Wiemer

2008-07-23T17:36:00.001-07:00

http://rumormethis.com/interviews/exclusive-jason-wiemer-on-his-nhl-career-the-lockout-and-the-state-of-the-league/

Biggest Fantasy Disappointments- Defensemen

2008-07-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

My latest on Sportsbuff.com

http://www.sportsbuff.com/FantasyArticle.asp?articleid=10168

Nolan Out As Isles Coach

2008-07-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

My latest on Rumormethis:

http://rumormethis.com/transactions/hirings-and-firings/nolan-out-as-isles-coach/

NFL Fantasy Outlook-Prospects-Round Two-Part Two of Four

2008-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

So much of a prospect's fantasy fortunes can depend upon the team that drafted him. Good players can become great ones in the right system. On the flip side, great players can sometimes fight a losing battle in the wrong ones.

Here's a look at where the prospects were selected in the 2nd round of the '08 Draft and their current situations from a Fantasy Perspective:

James Hardy-WR-Selected 41st Overall by the Buffalo Bills- A former basketball player, Hardy (and his 6'6 height) will be put to good use by the Bills on red zone fade routes. He also owns soft hands and has shown the ability to make the tough sideline catches. He's not the fastest horse on the track, but he is elusive and ought to make a respectable contribution for Buffalo this season while he learns the offense.

Eddie Royal-WR-Selected 42nd Overall by the Denver Broncos- Royal projects primarily as a Kick Returner, so he's going to most valuable to those owners whose leagues allow them to garner points in that area of the game. However, in leagues that don't award points for returns, he still brings something to the table. His receiving abilities should allow him to be a slot receiver for Denver, a position he could see extensive looks in, considering the injury history of Brandon Marshall and the free agent loss of Javon Walker.

Matt Forte-RB-Selected 44th Overall by the Chicago Bears- Forte is a player that Dynasty League owners ought to consider holding long term. A powerful runner, he has exhibited great football sense and it has been widely speculated that he will overtake Cedric Benson sometime this season as the starter for the Bears. A strong RB who can carry the load during Chicago's frigid latter-season home schedule should be worth his weight in Fantasy gold.

Jerome Simpson-WR-Selected 46th Overall by the Cincinnati Bengals- Simpson steps into a situation in flux, considering the Bengals have a potential holdout in Chad Johnson and released troubled Chris Henry in the off-season. However, he has a tremendous opportunity to start and produce immediately. His leaping ability and precise route running could partner very well with QB Carson Palmer's skill at putting the ball in the correct space and Simpson could be a surprise contributor for Fantasy owners this year and beyond.

NFL Fantasy Outlook-Prospects-Round Two-Part One of Four

2008-05-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

So much of a prospect's fantasy fortunes can depend upon the team that drafted him. Good players can become great ones in the right system. On the flip side, great players can sometimes fight a losing battle in the wrong ones.

Here's a look at where the prospects were selected in the 2nd round of the '08 Draft and their current situations from a Fantasy Perspective:

Donnie Avery-WR-Selected 33rd Overall by the St. Louis Rams- It was a complete surprise that the first round ended without a WR being taken and an even bigger surprise that Avery was chosen for the honor in the second. He is quick, however and could play a part in "The Greatest Show on Turf, Part 2". With the current group of WR's on the Rams' roster, Avery could see meaningful snaps this season.

Devin Thomas-WR-Selected 34th Overall by the Washington Redskins- An excellent package of speed and strength, Thomas steps into a very good situation in Washington. With only Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El as reliable receivers, he could conceivably leapfrog also-rans like Billy McMullen and James Thrash with a good camp. Don't be surprised if Thomas ends up as the Slot WR on this team before October rolls around.

Jordy Nelson-WR-Selected 36th Overall by the Green Bay Packers- Nelson enters a packed Green Bay Receiving Corps with the larger issue of Brett Favre's retirement throwing the entire offense into a state of flux. However crowded the group might be, though, there are certain indisputable facts: 1. Donald Driver is 33 and will likely not maintain a high level of play much longer, 2. Greg Jennings is a fine talent but has recurring injury issues and 3. Neither Ruvell Martin nor James Jones have distinguished themselves as of yet. Nelson, a possession receiver in the mold of Joe Jurevicius, could carve out a place for himself (although probably not in his first year).

John Carlson-TE-Selected 38th Overall by the Seattle Seahawks- Carlson, despite the fact that he is not terribly dynamic and doesn't perform any aspect of his job with an exceptional degree of skill, has the chance to step into the starting role of Seahawk TE as a rookie. However, this accolade is due more to the fact that the rest of the Seattle TE's (Will Heller and Jeb Putzier) have shown an inability to seize their own opportunities in the role. It would appear that the Seahawks intend to go with more of a running scheme going forward as Carlson's potential is greater in the area of Blocking, not Pass Catching.

Fantasy Outlook-Prospects-Round One (Part 2 of 2)

2008-05-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

So much of a prospect's fantasy fortunes can depend upon the team that drafted him. Good players can become great ones in the right system. On the flip side, great players can sometimes fight a losing battle in the wrong ones.

Here's a look at where the prospects were selected in the 1st round of the '08 Draft and their current situations from a Fantasy Perspective:

Felix Jones-RB-Selected 22nd Overall by the Dallas Cowboys- Jones steps into a very familiar situation here. He played foil to Darren McFadden at Arkansas and he'll play the change of pace RB to Marion Barber with the Cowboys. With Dallas' strong offensive line, his transition to the Pro game will be less pressure-filled and he'll likely be one of the best rookie RB's next season from a fantasy perspective.

Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Selected 23rd Overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers- Willie Parker owners can cry in their beer all they want, but picking up Mendenhall was a very smart choice by Pittsburgh. The Steelers now have two backs who can share the load between the 20's and a goal line back (Najeh Davenport, provided he can remain healthy) to pound the ball in. Mendenhall's fantasy numbers will not be over-the-top great, but he could be heir apparent to a coveted role in Pittsburgh for years to come.

Chris Johnson-RB-Selected 24th Overall by the Tennesee Titans- Johnson joins a crew that already has last year's draft choice Chris Henry and 2006 pick Lendale White vying for supremacy. Johnson is fleet of foot (he ran the fastest 40 yard dash at the combine), but he projects as no more than a 3rd down back right now. Of course, neither White or Henry have shown the ability to remain injury-free, so he could end up seeing more touches than expected.

Dustin Keller-TE-Selected 30th Overall by the New York Jets- As stated before in this blog, Keller was a curious choice by New York (given the fact that they already have a decent TE in Chris Baker and all the WR's from the draft were still available). He will likely play an H-back role similar to the one Chris Cooley occupies in Washington. Keller's fantasy numbers will largely depend on how the Jets choose to utilize him near the end zone.

Fantasy Outlook- Prospects- Round One (Part 1 of 2)

2008-05-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, Reggie Bush was the top rated RB and was taken by the New Orleans Saints in the Rookie Draft. Bush was considered to be the most talented offensive player at the time and most figured that he would be able to immediately translate his collegiate success into NFL glory. However, the Saints struggled mightily as a team last season and Bush was unable to avoid his own troubles as well. Meanwhile, an RB named Joseph Addai was taken much later in the first round of that Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He stepped into a situation where the Colts were a team primed to make a victorious Super Bowl run and benefited tremendously.

So much of a prospect's fantasy fortunes can depend upon the team that drafted him. Good players can become great ones in the right system. On the flip side, great players can sometimes fight a losing battle in the wrong ones.

Here's a look at where the prospects were selected in the 1st round of the '08 Draft and their current situations from a Fantasy Perspective:

Matt Ryan-QB-Selected 3rd Overall by the Atlanta Falcons- Ryan has his work cut out for him. He was drafted to be the new face of the franchise after the Michael Vick fiasco, but he does not have either the offensive line nor the complementary receivers to succeed right now. His Pro path could be a rough one.

Darren McFadden-RB-Selected 4th Overall by the Oakland Raiders- McFadden must have been gnashing his teeth when his name was called. Not only does he step into a dysfunctional team dynamic, he'll also have to likely share carries with possibly Lamont Jordan, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. He wanted to be with a team where he was the clear #1 RB, not one of the herd.

Jonathan Stewart-RB-Selected 13th Overall by the Carolina Panthers- Stewart has a fine situation in Carolina. He'll share touches with DeAngelo Williams, who has not shown he has the ability to commandeer the starting job. The Panthers also bolstered their Offensive Line by taking T Jeff Otah and could be on their way to establishing a very strong Running game.

Joe Flacco-QB-Selected 18th Overall by the Baltimore Ravens- Flacco has a similar situation to Matt Ryan. He is going to be expected to quarterback a team in transition without an intimidating array of receiving options. His mettle will be tested early and often and fans hope he's not the second coming of Kyle Boller, another strong armed QB who hasn't made the transition to the Pro game successfully.

Top Fantasy Prospects From the 2008 NFL Draft

2008-04-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know....right now, the most pertinent Fantasy Sport being played is Baseball. However, some of us Fantasy Gurus never stop thinking about Football. For those of you who play in a Dynasty League, you might be very interested in which players will be coming out of the upcoming Draft.

You might not have the time to properly research all the prospects before the end of April. Meaningless things like Marriage, Kids, Career and Everyday Life sometimes gets in the way. Fortunately, we here at Pigskins and Pucks are burdened by none of these predicaments and are dedicated to preparing you to pick the best player for your team.

Here is a primer for you to peruse.

Quarterbacks:

1. Matt Ryan: Possesses all the intangibles to become a very good pro QB...Has an uncanny ability to scan the field and find the Hot Read...Plays through injuries and is mentally tough...Sometimes has the inclination to try to win games all by himself, resulting in turnovers

2. Brian Brohm: Has a good arm and delivers the ball with excellent velocity...Is known for having good touch on the ball, especially in the Red Zone...Very competitive and hardworking...Has to improve upon the mental game (decision making and staying calm in the pocket)

3. Chad Henne: A good athlete who can scramble well when he needs to...Very accurate on short passes...Possesses good leadership qualities...Needs to continue to work on dropping back and staying in the pocket

Running Back:

1. Darren McFadden: Incredible athlete who has size, speed and strength in abundance...Has the ability to hit top speed very quickly...Follows his blockers very well...Still needs to work on his blocking and blitz recognition skills

2. Rashard Mendenhall: Runs equally well up the middle or to the outside...Has excellent field vision and picks his holes decisively...Possesses an excellent ability to separate from tacklers once he reaches the secondary...There are questions about his durability and route running

3. Jonathan Stewart: Compact, powerful frame (5'11, 234lbs) makes him tough to tackle...Excellent ability to make cuts...Has the intangibles necessary to start as a Rookie...Lacks elite receiving skills

Wide Receiver:

1. Limas Sweed: Fantastic athlete who runs the 40 in 4.45...Has a great ability to make tough catches in traffic...Possesses excellent blocking skills which could allow him to immediately start for some teams...Suffered a badly broken wrist this past season which still bothers him

2. Devin Thomas: Has good speed and has the strength to fight off bigger CB's at the line of scrimmage...Has excellent football instincts...Plays with a load of heart and fire...Needs to run more disciplined routes

3. James Hardy: Tall (6'6) receiver with excellent leaping ability...Is deadly on fade routes in the end zone...Has good agility for a big man...Needs to bulk up to address doubts that he can fight through NFL CB's.

Tight Ends:

1. John Carlson: Is the undisputed top pick at the TE position...Not only tall (6'6) but fast as well (4.67 40 yard dash)...Has a strong ability to fight for yards after the catch...Needs to work on his blocking skills

2. Fred Davis: Possesses big play ability...A former WR, he has excellent hands...Reads coverages very well...Needs to better utilize his size

3. Dustin Keller: Is very versatile, can also play H-back or slot receiver...Has good speed for a TE (4.55 in the 40)...Is a disciplined route runner with above average hands...Undersized (240 lbs) for the position

Islander Season Recap

2008-04-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

Note: I will be issuing a series a series of grades regarding the performance of the players and coaches in future blogs. This is a quick overview.

(With apologies to good time rockers Squeeze):

"Now the season is over
I can count the cost"

Many fans had what I feel were misplaced expectations for the New York Islanders this season. They actually believed that, with lots of hard work and a little bit of luck, Coach Ted Nolan's squad might contend for a playoff spot. However, they were really ignoring a very simple fact: This team was never good enough to finish much higher than they did.

Truth hurts, doesn't it?

However, I laud those same fans for their optimism. After all, why should it be a prerequisite that fans have realistic expectations? We deal with enough hard-hitting Reality in our daily lives. If a fan chooses to believe that the Improbable can happen with a hockey team, so be it.

A fan can be as optimistic as they'd like, but anyone who didn't believe that this was a rebuilding year for the Isles was fooling themselves. After the team lost Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti to Free Agency and bought out Alexei Yashin, GM Garth Snow was unable to land adequate replacements in the Free Agent pool. He cannot be blamed completely; Long Island is a tough sell for a variety of reasons. However, it should have been apparent right then and there that this would be a lost season.

Though the team initially started well in October, there were signs that the wheels were perilously close to coming off. Two blowout losses to Toronto and Carolina were harbingers of the fact that, the way the Islanders were constructed, if they didn't give their best effort every single game, just about any other NHL squad would be mopping up the ice with them. The margin for error was virtually nil....and that is a recipe that invites Disaster.

Then, the injuries began to mount. Through the course of the season, the Islanders lost 3/4 of their Top 4 defensemen. Though I don't believe in using injuries as an excuse, the fact remains that if Detroit had lost Nicklas Lidstom, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall for the rest of the year by early March, there is no way they would've won the President's trophy. I'd even wager they would've had trouble retaining a playoff spot.

The biggest blow to the Islander's season was the one dealt by G Rick Dipietro's unfortunate incident during the All Star weekend. He injured his hip (memorably captured on air by the Network's microphone) and was never the same player afterwards. On many nights earlier in the season, Dipietro was the main reason why the Islanders were able to hang on in close games. Sure, he let in soft goals at times, but he stood on his head on too many occasions to count to steal the victories.

Outside of injuries, the Islander's biggest problem was their lack of scoring ability. They finished second to last in the entire league in Goals Scored. Players like Miroslav Satan, Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedotenko did not deliver on the promise of their abilities. The rest of the lineup was comprised of career third liners who couldn't be counted on for more than 15 goals (at best).

However, all was not bad in Islander Country this year. The silver lining in the Injury cloud was that it opened up opportunities for players like Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, Frans Nielsen and Sean Bergenheim. Each of these players took a step forward in their development and, Okposo in particular, gave the fans something to be very hopeful about in the future.

Tonight could be one of the biggest nights in Islander history. At 8pm, the Lottery for the Draft Position will occur and the Isles have a slight chance (8.1%) of obtaining the #1 pick in June. If the Miracle happens, they could lay their hands on Steve Stamkos, a difference-maker just below the mold of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

If that were to occur, it would be worth every bit of angst this season caused.

Fantasy Hockey: The Final Week Approaches

2008-03-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

The final week of the Fantasy Hockey season is upon us. The trade deadline is long past and the only source of help is your league's waiver wire. You've got to love this time of year.

It is my sincere hope that my readers are battling it out for their league's championship (in two week final formats) or are on the cusp of getting to the big stage. If so, I am here to provide you with some last minute tidbits which might help you get over the hump and bring home the gold.

As was discussed in an earlier blog, players who win their Fantasy Playoffs are the ones who happen to have the hottest players of the moment on their teams. It is, unfortunately, not about being loyal to the guys who brought you this far. If a hotter current option exists out there, you have to make the move to grab him. Ask the guys who stuck with Sidney Crosby how they're doing right now. You can find them in the Consolation Brackets.

Another point that was brought up was Opportunity i.e which NHL teams will play more games during the week. This tenet is never more crucial than in the playoffs, where there is no tomorrow.

The following teams play four times next week: New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues. I'm going to identify a player on each team that may still be available on your waiver wire and who might provide you with the edge.

St. Louis: Barret Jackman- Jackman has had a pretty disappointing season fantasy-wise, only recording 14 points in 72 games. However, he has been effective lately....6 of those points have come in the last month. He's also accrued 23 penalty minutes in that time period (a nice bonus in leagues that count them).

New Jersey: John Madden- He has quietly put together a 41 point year, matching his career high. Not too shabby for a 3rd line Center who is best known for defensive capabilities. More importantly, he has 3 points in the last six games and is always a threat to get a shorthanded point (which, as everyone probably knows, can be hard to come by. Recording one might just put you over the top in a head to head, category-based matchup.)

New York: Martin Straka- It's unlikely that Straka is available in any but the most shallow leagues, but the time he missed out on earlier this season may have caused some owners to forget about him. That's a shame because he has been absolutely "en fuego" lately. He has 5 points in his last four games, can be slotted as a C or W and is a swell dresser. Okay, I don't know about his fashion sense, but it's hard to deny the guy is getting his points when it matters most to you.

Jets Spread Green Around to Free Agents

2008-03-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the players the New York Jets have signed during the Free Agency period and their contracts:

Alan Faneca- 5 years, $40 million

Calvin Pace- 6 years, $42 million

Damien Woody- 5 years, $25 million

Huh?

Is this the same organization that refused to give Pete Kendall, a senior member of their offensive line and designated "good soldier", a lousy $1 million raise....that he was apparently promised?

I'm not sure what's behind the new largess the Jets are showing. Perhaps they were motivated by their bullying Big Brother Giants winning the Super Bowl and casting an even further shadow over Gang Green. Maybe GM Mike Tannenbaum and Coach Eric Mangini are feeling the weight of a poor season and are attempting to rectify the situation immediately. Maybe Owner Woody Johnson just feels like throwing money around to Anyone and Everyone. (I like this last scenario and want to tell Mr. Johnson that, if he is indeed this generous, he can send me some, care of this blog.)

Whatever the case may be, I'm all for New York improving it's football team. I just question the manner in which they've chosen to do it.

Overpaying for Free Agents is always a dicey proposition. For instance, Alan Faneca has been a Pro Bowl player numerous times in his career. He will likely bring stability to the offensive line and will be a mentor to the young studs D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. Still, there's no escaping he is on the downside of his fine career. Is it worth $8 million a year to find out that he can't produce like he once did?

How about Calvin Pace? Does having one good season (6.5 sacks with Arizona) translate into a new gig paying $7 million a year? Apparently, it does.

I'm hoping these new acquisitions perform up to the level of their expectations. Otherwise, that is one expensive of carton of eggs that Tannenbaum, Mangini and Johnson will be wiping off their faces.

Exciting News

2008-03-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

If you like the content here on Pigskins & Pucks, you'll be happy to know that you can now find more of my work on other sites.

Sports Talk Buzz (http://www.sportstalkbuzz.com/)- Featured Blogger- New York Jets

E-Sports (http://www.e-sports.com/)- Blogger- New York Islanders

Rumor Me This (http://www.rumormethis.com/)- Featured Blogger- New York Islanders

In addition, I have created 4 Facebook Groups which might interest readers looking to get involved in more discussions and to connect with other fans:

Pigskins & Pucks: Football-

Pigskins & Pucks: Hockey

Pigskins & Pucks: Fantasy Football

Pigskins & Pucks: Fantasy Hockey

This "Joke" Isn't Funny Anymore

2008-03-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Colin Campbell, the NHL's Discipline Czar, is an utter joke.

There, I've said it.

Chris Pronger, All Star defenseman for the Stanley Cup defending Anaheim Ducks, stomps on the leg of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler during a game. Here is the videoclip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5rBWarx6A

As NHL fans may well recall, Chris Simon of the Minnesota Wild engaged in a similar incident earlier this year with Pittsburgh's Jaarko Ruutu. His sentence was a 30 game suspension. Campbell took into account several factors to determine the length of the suspension: Intent to injure, any injury that resulted from the action and prior record of offenses. His ban of Simon was record setting and largely deserved.

Now we come to case of Pronger. Allow me to play Discipline Czar for a moment. I will utilize the same criteria as Campbell used to judge Simon.

1. The intent to injure Kesler in a premeditated fashion is not clear, so I'll cut Pronger a break there. Was there still intent to injure in the heat of the moment? I'd say there is a definitive stomping motion taking place. So , let's call it poor decision making on Pronger's part and move on.

2. Was there any injury resulting from the action? As in the Simon case, no, there was not. Therefore, that cannot weigh too heavily upon my judgement.

3. Does Chris Pronger have a prior record of suspensions? You bet he does. In fact, he has been suspended SEVEN times in his career for on-ice incidents.

So, in my assumed role as NHL Discipline Czar, I've weighed all the evidence and now hand down my sentence: 15 games. My rationale? Even though Pronger's incident does not appear to be premeditated like Simon's was, a player must be held accountable for his actions.

Campbell's real-life sentence? Nothing. Not ONE single game.

What message does the man they call "Soupy" deliver here? It's okay to stomp on another player as long as it happened in the heat of battle? There is one set of rules for enforcers and marginal players (Simon, Jesse Boulerice, Steve Downie...etc) and another for All-Stars?

I'm not even going to dignify the official NHL party line that there "wasn't enough video evidence to make a determination." Maybe they ought to simply look at the same Youtube clip I've provided here.

Campbell has shown that he has no problem handing out lengthy suspensions for violent acts that resulted in injuries (the aforementioned Boulerice and Downie incidents as well as Scott Hartnell....hmmm....all these players are Philadelphia Flyers....Coincidence?) What he has now also shown is that he is spineless when it comes to allocating the same punishments to superstars of the league.

He ought to be immediately removed from office. The league has entrusted their reputation to this weak little excuse for a man and I, for one, am sick of the bias he has flagrantly exhibited.

Campbell Must Go!

The joke is now old.

Winning your Fantasy Hockey League Playoffs

2008-03-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

That special time of the year has arrived for Fantasy Hockey players...the Playoffs. Hopefully, you've made wise decisions all season long and find yourself in the hotly contested tournament to grab all the glory.

Here's something I've noticed in all my years playing head to head Fantasy Hockey: You must have a different mindset than you had in the regular season in order to win. There are no more games against negligent owners who fail to field a proper lineup for the week or incompetent ones who don't know Johan Franzen from Johan Sebastian Bach. You are now playing against the creme de la creme of your league....and you need the edge to beat them.

I am your Edge.

Here are three things that you must do in order to fortify your squad for the next 2-3 weeks in order to win.

1. Find the Hot Hand- Fantasy Hockey, like Life, is all about timing and, as a wise man once said, "Timing is everything." Your roster may have gotten you this far, but there's no guarantee they will keep performing over the next few weeks. You have to tweak the lineup if you want to win by searching your league's waiver wire and identifying the players who are currently riding that hot streak. Scott Walker, for instance, has 9 points in his last 8 games, including two game winning goals. Grab him and others like him now and watch them perform for you...or let someone else snatch them up and enjoy your first round exit.

2. Find your Role Players- Every year at the NHL's Trade Deadline, some contending team overpays for a gritty forward or power play quarterback to shore up their weaknesses. You need to do it too. All season long, you've been looking for the best possible players, well rounded in all areas. Now, you have to look for "Specialists", a guy whose game is disproportionately strong in one area. If you're lacking in PIM, you'll likely find Adam Burish or Jared Boll on the wire because all they provide is major penalties. Go get them. The Shorthanded Points column is often the hardest to attain points in. However, there's a good chance that a gentleman named Eric Perrin (and his 8 SHP) is probably available to you in your league. Assess your team's strengths and dilute them slightly in order to gain overall balance.

3. Make sure they'll play- A very important and often overlooked factor in the Fantasy Hockey playoffs: How many NHL games does your roster have scheduled over the next two weeks? Pittsburgh, Columbus and Dallas all are playing just two games each this week. Their players can't score for you if they're not on the ice, can they? You need to sit down, look at the team schedules and figure out if you're going to be holding the short end of the stick. If so, now is the time to act.

Follow these three tenets and you'll have an excellent chance of being crowned your league's winner. Best of luck...unless you play me.

Farewell Brett

2008-03-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Though the major focus of this blog right now is on hockey, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to honor the retirement of one of football's greatest players and a true gentleman, Brett Favre.

I imagine there are an awful lot of testimonials being written about Brett now that he has formally announced he is leaving the game. I honestly cannot think of an individual more deserving of such tributes.

He is the current holder of many quarterbacking records, including : Most career passing touchdowns, most career passing yards and most career completions. He has been voted to the Pro Bowl 9 times. He is also a legendary "Ironman": His streak of 253 consecutive starts by a quarterback is truly mindboggling.

However impressive these stats are, though, they don't begin to scratch the surface of what an outstanding player Favre was. His "come from behind" heroics thrilled millions of fans as did his Gunslinger mentality. He was as mentally tough a player as ever lived. No matter how many interceptions he threw (he is the career leader in that category as well, by the way), he always came back the next series determined to succeed. His Never Say Die attitude inspired teammates and allowed them to believe that, no matter the score, having Favre as their leader always gave them a chance to win.

He endured quite a few hardships along the way, but instead of surrendering to the grief, he channelled that negative energy and found a way to turn it into a positive performance on the field. What football fan could ever forget the game against the Oakland Raiders on December 22,2003? A day after his father passed away, Brett threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to a 41-7 victory.

More than anything else, I feel the enduring image that fans will have emblazoned on their minds when they think of Favre is one of him sprinting downfield to celebrate with teammates after throwing a touchdown pass. The pure joy he exhibited was an inspirational message to people of all walks of life. Passion like that cannot be taught. It is that same passion, coupled with a great deal of talent, that allowed him to achieve what he did. He is a role model that every spoiled, pompous millionaire football player who thinks he's bigger than the game ought to consider emulating.

Fare well in your retirement, Brett. The game will miss it's greatest ambassador.

Fantasy Hockey: Hot and Not

2008-02-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

The NHL's Trade Deadline is tomorrow and the deadline in your own league is likely coming up pretty fast. Fantasy Hockey, much like life itself, is mostly based on timing. Getting the right players at the right time can win you that elusive championship you seek.

Here are some players you should try to obtain and ones you should jettison.

Who's Hot:

Mike Ribiero-C-Dallas Stars: Ribs had his worst month this season (besides November) in January, when posted only 13 points in 14 games. "Still a point a game", you say, but 5 of those games were of the "0-fer" variety. He's rebounded somewhat in February. He's still suffering too many games where he records nothing, but at least lately he's been making up for it with multi-point performances (5 this month so far)

Teemu Selanne-RW-Anaheim Ducks: The Finnish Flash returned and picked up where he last left off. Shaking off a considerable amount of rust in impressive fashion, he has failed to record a point in only 3 of the ten games he's played this year. Last night's five point bonanza (3g, 2a) lends some serious credibility to the notion that Selanne will continue to be a force to be reckoned with the rest of the Fantasy season.

Who's Not:

Daniel Briere-C-Philadelphia Flyers: Honestly, I could've titled this entry "Any Flyer you care to name" as the entire team has gone sub-zero during this horrid ten game losing streak. However, most of the team does not carry Danny's contract or the weight of his expectations (both of which appear to be crushing him right now.) He was signed to be a "more than a point-a-game" player, but he's currently delivering roughly half of that. What's worse, he starting to hear the boos from the Flyer faithful (perhaps they're a tad peeved with his repulsive -23 plus minus rating?) See if you can sell another owner on his Power Play prowess and potential, but divest yourself quickly.

Georges Laraque-RW-Pittsburgh Penguins: Let's face it...you're not looking for pretty, end-to-end rushes from Big Georges. His point scoring is merely a bonus. No, you have Laraque on your team for one reason only: To get you some badly needed penalty minutes. His recent drought is likely causing you to look elsewhere (as well it should) to fill this need. Maybe it's not all his fault as there aren't many players left willing to take on this intimidating Warrior. But that's really not your problem....unless you own him.

To Buy or To Sell...that is the question

2008-02-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

As recently as two weeks ago, the New York Islanders chances of making the playoffs seemed dead in the water. The team was fighting injuries and was playing it's most uninspired hockey of the season. Fans began to glumly accept that a shot at the Cup was not to be and started debates over which players should be moved at the upcoming trade deadline.

Then things got interesting.

The Islanders are now in the midst of a four game winning streak and are once again in the thick of the hunt for one of the coveted 8 spots. They dismantled an underwhelming Atlanta team in convincing fashion on Saturday and today defeated one of the league best squads, the San Jose Sharks. Fans began singing the praises of players such as Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedotenko when, only days earlier, they were ready to send each of them to any other NHL destination for a bag of pucks and a couple of rolls of tape.

So, which team is for real? The underachieving Islanders who need to be rebuilt or the hungry group who needs a few key parts to win it all?

As a long time fan, I am not fooled. This team, winning streak notwithstanding, is fundamentally unsound and cannot compete in the long haul. This has become the trend in recent years: Strong start, middle of the season swoon, rebounding effort at the end just to make the postseason, then first round exit. It is not a formula for success and needs to be revamped.

I believe that GM Garth Snow has a rebuilding plan in mind and is determined not to repeat the mistakes he made during the Ryan Smyth fiasco. I think he signed players like Comrie to 1 year contracts in order to either sell high on them at the trade deadline or to simply use them as a stopgap measure until players from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were ready to assume regular roles with the big club.

Stay the course, Garth. Do not be tempted by the silver lure gleaming off Lord Stanley's chalice. The Isles do not have a chance to win this year, but if they continue the rebuilding program they are on, they may have a chance to compete for many years to come.

Teemu goes Duck hunting

2008-01-28T17:26:00.001-08:00

Teemu Selanne officially rejoined the Anaheim Ducks today, ending a season-long Waiting Game and inspiring some very heated debate.

On the one hand, Selanne, one of the game's most prolific goal scorers, made it clear early on that, if he were to postpone retirement and to play this year, he would only suit up for Anaheim. It was his choice to make and there was never any question.

Alternatively, critics point to his situation (as well as the Scott Niedermayer one) as unfair to the entire league. Their point does have some validity to it: Why should a player who has been resting most of the season suddenly be allowed to join whatever squad he chooses just in time for a playoff push?

My take is that Selanne merely (legally) exploited the lack of a rule preventing such actions. He feels the Ducks have a good chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions and therefore, he wants to be a part of the triumph. Do some of his teammates feel slighted that they've carried the heavy load thus far and now the Flying Finn will enter the picture and lead them to playoff glory? Perhaps. However, hockey is first and foremost a team sport. The players know that a rejuvenated and healthy Selanne means that more wins are on the horizon.

Hoisting that silver chalice in June would go a long way towards dispelling any lingering bitterness.

Fantasy Hockey: Surprises and Disappointments

2008-01-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

The Fantasy Hockey season is around the half-way point and it's time to highlight some surprising performances, both good and bad.

Nice Surprises:

Alexi Kovalev-Montreal- This enigmatic superstar is on pace to reach 78 points this season which would be the second highest total in his career to date (he recorded 95 with Pittsburgh in 2000-01). There were likely bigger name RW's taken ahead of him on Draft Day like Jaromir Jagr and Marion Hossa, but thus far, he represents the best value at the position.

Brendan Morrow-Dallas- Morrow is on pace to record 80 points this season, a mark that would easily eclipse his previous best effort of 65. Known more in the past for his penalty minutes than anything else, he has reinvented himself as a power-play specialist and already has 20 points with the man advantage.

Ty Conklin-Pittsburgh- Slated to be nothing more than the Pen's third string/emergency goalie, Conklin has been ridiculously hot since being called up from the minors. He has yet to lose in 7 games and boasts a .939 save percentage and two shutouts.

Bitter Disappointments:

Ray Emery-Ottawa- Drafted by many to be their starting goalie, Emery has led his owners on a rollercoaster ride amidst injuries, trade rumors, causing team dysfunction and the occasional "kung-fu fighting" bout with Brian McGratton. He has only started 12 games and is carrying an anemic .891 save percentage.

Patrick Marleau-San Jose- Marleau's season thus far has been downright perplexing. He has only 18 points and his owners must be tearing their hair out as they most likely expected better numbers from him than those of a third line plugger.

Jonathan Cheechoo-San Jose- Granted, he's missed 7 games due to injury this season, but 11 points so far for a projected top 6 winger? Cheechoo's lack of production has played a big role in the Sharks' troubles this year.

A Brand New Year

2008-01-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all my readers.

Fantasy Football has been laid to rest for the time being, so the new focus of this blog will be Fantasy Hockey. I'll be updating regularly about the sport starting next week.

I am also the new correspondent of the New York Jets for the following site: www.sportstalkbuzz.com. Please feel free to check me out on this excellent site as well.

For the record, Mrs. Pigskins and Pucks, Bridgette Raes, released her first book today: The Style Rx.

The book details how women should dress and accessorize in order to accentuate the body they have for the body they want. It makes the PERFECT gift for any woman and it available at all major bookstores.

Click here to order the book

30 Games for Simple Simon

2007-12-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

I've read a couple of people's comments on other boards that state something to the effect of "Well, the guy wasn't hurt. Simon should've just gotten two minutes."

Um...not the point, guys.

Whether the player was hurt or not is immaterial. The intent to injure was clearly there. The NHL or Colin Campbell (whom I have been very tough on in this blog, but his actions here go a small way towards earning my respect) cannot just punish the results of violent behavior. If they only dish out two games because the player wasn't hurt, how is that going to deter other acts of violence? If you wait until someone does get seriously hurt, it's a bit like closing the barn door after all the animals have escaped.

There is clearly something wrong with Chris Simon. He not only loses control of himself, he looks to seriously injure an opponent. I was outspoken last season after the Hollweg incident and I will repeat myself here: As a longtime fan of this team, I do not want (nor have I ever wanted) Chris Simon to be an Islander.

As a human being, I hope he gets the psychological help he needs so that he can, one day, be a productive and useful member of society.

As a hockey fan, I never want him to take the ice again.

Start/Sit: Week 15

2007-12-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

Ok, guys and gals: This is it...Fantasy Playoff Time.

Conventional wisdom states the following: You dance with the one that brought you. In other words, this is not the time to get cute trying to outfox the experts by starting some lower regarded player in the hopes that he busts off a big game and makes you look like a genius. If you have Peyton, you play Peyton. It's just that simple.

But what if you don't have Peyton (or LT or Randy Moss or Antonio Gates)? Well, then it's my job to help steer you to a player on your roster who might help you win. I make no guarantees, but I have sacrificed a virgin goat to the Fantasy Gods in the hopes of covering my bases this week. Try finding a virgin goat sometime....not as easy as it looks. One farmer told me the average goat gets more action than you've had hot dinners.

Quarterback:

Start- Matt Hasselbeck- The Seahawks have been living up to their namesake by taking to the air often in recent games. That bodes well for Hasselbeck, who draws the toothless Panthers, the team that allowed David Garrard to hang 249 yards and two scores on them. Matt is getting hot at the right time of the year for his owners. Ride him to the finish line. Forecast- 280 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit- Ben Roethlisberger- It's really not all Big Ben's fault. He has had to deal with numerous roadblocks to Success recently, ranging from poor field conditions to having to face the Patriots. However, the numbers show that he hasn't thrown for more than 200 yards a game for the past four weeks and that's not likely to change against a ravenous Jacksonville defense. You may not have a better option, but use him at your own peril. Forecast- 175 yards, 1 touchdown

Running Back:

Start- Rudi Johnson- Johnson has had an awful, injury-marred season However, he has risen from the dead and is back to producing again. He has scored in each of his last three games and, with Cincy's once-feared passing attack mired in a deep slump, seems primed to run all over the 49er's. Start him with confidence. Forecast- 90 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Kolby Smith- He came from nowhere to win Fantasy players' hearts and then broke those very same hearts last week in a crucial matchup, delivering only 12 measly yards on the ground. He's also banged up right now and is questionable for the tilt against Tennessee. Want some more evidence against him? The Titans desperately need this game to stay in the playoff hunt, Albert Haynesworth is back and they only give up an average of 101 yards per game on the ground anyway. Forecast- 50 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start- Brandon Marshall- Marshall is the lucky beneficiary of the injuries to Javon Walker and Brandon Stokely. He's become the Main Man in Denver and is coming off a huge effort against KC (115 yards, 2 touchdowns.) Houston, despite spending draft pick after draft pick on defensive players, is still not very good. Look for another fine week from Marshall. Forecast- 8 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Roddy White- White played okay last week against New Orleans (3 catches for 75 yards), but most of that yardage came on one big pass play. That was before Atlanta was completely thrown into a maelstrom of confusion caused by their head coach resigning on Tuesday. Tampa Bay shut down White the last time they played him. I wouldn't recommend any Falcon this week and, if I did, White certainly wouldn't be the one. Forecast- 4 receptions, 30 yards.

Tight End:

Start- Ben Watson- Though he hasn't been very impressive lately, it is "elementary" to start my dear Watson this week (sorry, couldn't resist.) The Jets will probably concentrate all their efforts on blanketing Moss and Welker (yeah, good luck with that.) The Pats' waterboy may even score in this one. Watson should see a nice uptick in his numbers. Forecast- 5 receptions, 40 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Desmond Clark- Clark has been strong this season, holding off the challenge of young buck Greg Olsen. However, he now faces Minnesota with Kyle Orton as his quarterback. Granted, teams have thrown on the Vikings this year, but I think the whole Chicago air attack gets a downgrade with K.O at the helm. You can likely do better. Forecast- 3 receptions, 30 yards

Defense:

Start- Seattle- Five sacks and five interceptions last week against Arizona ought to be enough to convince anyone of Seattle's viability against Detroit. For those who still doubt, keep in mind that Seattle allows less than one touchdown per week through the air. Yes, I know Detroit ran well last week, but do you really want to be the guy betting that they can do it two weeks in a row? Didn't think so. Forecast- 4 sacks, 2 interceptions

Sit- Kansas City- This team just looks whipped. They've now lost 6 six games in a row and got pasted by the Broncos 41-7 last week. They can be beaten both in the air and on the ground and seem to have given up the ship. Vince Young and Company should definitely be able to exploit this bunch of Surrender Monkeys. Forecast- 1 interception

Fantasy Hockey: Go Get 'Em

2007-12-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

As the football season winds down, we will be concentrating a little bit more on the "Pucks" side of things here.

Here's a list of players who a.) Might be available on your waiver wire or b.) you should possibly target in trades.

You won't find a Crosby or Ovechkin on these lists. They're most likely unattainable anyway (and if you're their lucky owner, you should thank your lucky stars and hang onto them like a life vest in the middle of a shipwreck).

Goaltenders:

Ray Emery- Emery is proving to be the lesser of two evils in the Ottawa goaltending duo with Martin Gerber. While he's no sure thing and still lets in his share of bad goals, at least the Senators tend to compete harder and have a decent shot of winning when he is in the nets. He can probably be had for a relatively cheap price as well.

Tomas Vokoun- Florida is showing signs of life after a mediocre start to their season. Vokoun will be the beneficiary of the improved play in front of him. He's also started 26 of the Panthers games, never a bad statistic for a fantasy goalie.

Defense:

Joe Corvo- Continuing with the Ottawa theme, Corvo has been very active lately, recording at least one point in 5 of his last 6 games. A smooth skater with an offensive flair, he is also a +12 on the defensive side of things. With other defensemen currently struggling for the Sens, look for Corvo to get more ice time and to continue his fine season.

Pavel Kubina- Prior to his knee injury which shelved him for 10 games, Kubina was being very productive. Since returning, he has picked up where he left off, recording a point in each of his last 3 games. He has a healthy +9 rating and sees time on the power play also.

Forward:

RJ Umberger- Last night's 5 point game (including a hat trick) notwithstanding, Umberger has been fairly "Feast or Famine" this season. Though he has recorded points in only 12 of the 26 contests he's played in, 5 of those game were multi-point affairs. If you can withstand a few dry games, you ought to be rewarded with some nice outbursts from him (hopefully at a point when you need it.)

Brendan Morrison- Morrison is not a main weapon on the Canucks, but he does play an important role, one which you can utilize for your fantasy squad. More than half of his points (11 of 20) scored this year have come on the power play. He still needs to shoot more and he's not going to blow anyone away with his overall stats, but he can be a nice compliment to a team who desperately needs depth at the Center position.

Start/Sit: Week 14

2007-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Many, many leagues begin their playoffs this week...it's an exciting time of the year for us fantasy geeks.

This column will be a little shorter than usual due to my attention being diverted by a developing situation outside the realm of fantasy sports (gasp...there's a realm outside fantasy sports??) My apologies.

Quarterback:

Start- Kellen Clemens- True, he might be down a couple of weapons. However, this one will be a shootout due to Cleveland's excellent offense coupled with their awful defense. Kellen will be flinging the rock all day long, never a bad thing. Forecast: 250 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Sit- Marc Bulger- Yes, he's been medically cleared from his concussion to play against the Bungles. That doesn't mean he should be in your lineup. One sack could end his day fast. Forecast: 150 yards

Running Back:

Start- Kolby Smith- Running backs going against the Denver Broncos tend to be an automatic start. Smith gained 83 yards last week against an improving San Diego line last week, so he's shown he has the right stuff to succeed. The only cautionary flag is the fact that his o-line is banged up right now. Forecast: 90 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Willis McGahee- McGahee keeps rearing his head in this column on both sides of the Start/Sit meter. This week, we're going with the Sit option. He did play very well against New England on Monday night, but the Colts have studied that game tape and will focus on stuffing him and making Kyle Boller beat them through the air. Forecast: 65 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start- Bobby Engram- If you own Engram, you've got to be very pleased with his 38 catches and 2 touchdowns since his bye week (October 28). He has taken advantage of the instability involving the Seattle receiving corps and proven himself to be a steady force to be counted on. Start him with confidence against a banged up Arizona defense. Forecast- 8 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Larry Fitzgerald- Fitz picked the wrong time of year to come down with a groin strain. He is likely a game time decision against Seattle. Even if he goes, he's still not going to be healthy enough to take advantage of Anquan Boldin's absence. Forecast- 4 receptions, 50 yards

Tight End:

Start- Ben Watson- Watson's numbers have been nothing to write home about lately. He also had a couple of crucial drops against the Ravens. However, he makes for a sneaky play against Pittsburgh, who will be concentrating hard on limiting Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Forecast- 4 receptions, 40 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Alge Crumpler- Crumpler did have a big game last week against St Louis. However, he has done little else this season to justify a starting role in your lineup. Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling he doesn't do a lot on Monday night against New Orleans.- Forecast- 3 receptions, 30 yards

Defense:

Start- San Diego- The Chargers have been pretty hit or miss this season. However, they face a Tennessee team that is banged up and running on fumes these days. The Titans defense won't be able to hold back LT, so their offense is going to have to air it out, which will play right into San Diego's hands. Forecast- 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery

Sit- New York Giants- In the last game they played against the Eagles, their pass rush destroyed Philadelphia and Donovan McNabb. I can't see the Eagles letting that happen again. Besides, this is a statement game for the Iggles at home and I expect them to come out gunning. Forecast- 1 sack, 1 interception

Not "Raven" about the "Reffin''... and other thoughts from Week 13

2007-12-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

I am not a "Conspiracy Theorist" by any means. Nor am I a fan of the Baltimore Ravens. However, I think there might be some slight credence to opinion that is making it's way around the NFL these days: The league is more interested in the Patriots having an undefeated season than it is in fair play.

There were several questionable calls made during Pats-Ravens game Monday night. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, with the Patriots driving and seemingly running out of hope, the calls against the Ravens started to get more bizarre. Granted, the refs didn't force Rex Ryan to take his ill-advised timeout which cost the Ravens the game (the defense had stopped the New England on 4th & 1, only to have the play nullified due to Ryan calling a timeout moments before the ball was snapped.) However, the call on Bart Scott for complaining about a ruling was unjustified. Scott's overreaction in throwing the flag into the stands, costing his team another 15 yards, was his own fault. But the frustration was certainly understandable.

Then comes the "Boy" allegation made by Samari Rolle, contending that one of the officials referred to him in a derogatory manner. The league is investigating this as well. Stay tuned.

Onto the other thoughts:

- I think the Redskins' starting the game with 10 men on the field in tribute to Sean Taylor is one of the noblest gestures I've ever seen. The organization chose to honor one of their leaders in a unique fashion and showed us all that, shockingly, there are more important things in this life than winning a football game.

- I suppose we can all stop worrying about Adrian Peterson's knee now. Not a bad performance by "Hey, I was here first!" Peterson of Chicago either.

- The Jets proved, despite the god-awful ugly uniforms, they are able to beat up on somebody. Memo to Miami: If you can't beat the Jets, you're not beating anybody.

- I think Sidney Rice may turn out to be the steal of the wide receivers in last year's draft. And yes, that includes "Megatron" Calvin Johnson.

- Javon Walker, please stay off the field until you are healthy enough to contribute fantasy-wise. I haven't been teased this badly since the fourth grade, when someone discovered my last name is the same as a very popular corn oil with an annoying jingle.

- Would anyone have ever guessed before the season that Fred Taylor would have more rushing yards than MJD? You go, Triple F! (Formerly Fragile Freddy)

- So, let me get this straight: Chris Redman, the guy who couldn't hold off Kyle Boller in Baltimore, is the latest quarterback savior for the Falcons? Have you no shame at all, Bobby Petrino?

- I guess we can give Randy Moss a mulligan for dropping that pass in the end zone, even though he cost me an undefeated fantasy season in one of my leagues by doing so. However, his fashion sense is atrocious. The pin stripe suit he wore to the post game press conference went all the way to 11, if you know what I mean.

Start/Sit: Week 13

2007-11-30T11:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm daring to show my face around here after recommending benching Favre on Thanksgiving. Turns out my crystal ball was one week off. Several readers of this blog will find this funny: C'est la Blackjack!

Quarterback:

Start- Jason Campbell- This game is going to be an emotional one for the Redskins after the death of Sean Taylor. Teams in this situation can either rise above the grief and dedicate their efforts to their fallen teammate or they get crushed by the overwhelming sadness. My bet is on Washington to overcome their devastation and for Campbell to lead the way. He has shown enough improvement this year to cautiously place your faith in him. Forecast- 280 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception

Sit- Carson Palmer- God, I am getting tired of recommending Palmer be benched. He's too good for that sort of treatment. Yes, I'm aware he had a great game last week. But going against Pittsburgh at Ketchup Field in potentially poor weather conditions is not my idea of a particularly successful scenario. Forecast- 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions

Running Back:

Start- Justin Fargas- I am finally sold on Huggy Bear Jr. He ran for 139 yards last week against a much improved KC defense. Now he gets Denver, who, while they have been better recently, have not conclusively proven they can stop anyone on the ground yet. HBJ ought to be able to bust the Broncos. Forecast- 110 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Maurice Jones-Drew- Last season must seem like a long time ago to MJD. His average is down a full yard per carry and he has scored half the touchdowns. To make matters worse, Fred Taylor seems to have borrowed Lt. Dan's "Magic Legs" because lately, he's running like a young Gump. The Colts are also somewhat stingy against the run and will stack 8 men in the box, daring David Garrard and his group of no-name receivers to beat them. Forecast- 55 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start- Wes Welker- Does anyone else need to be convinced yet? Any team that is determined to take Randy Moss out of the game is doomed to failure because Wes will torch them like he's wielding a flamethrower. The Baltimore D has fallen on some hard times especially when it comes to defending the pass. Having to face the Patriots is the exact opposite of finding the remedy for what ails them. Forecast- 7 receptions, 90 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Roy Williams- Roy Boy is not a happy camper in D-town lately. The self-professed "Cheapest Man in the NFL" has found the Lions are being a little stingy themselves in regards to the amount of targets Williams has received (only 7 last week.) The Vikings are coming off their mauling of Eli Manning and the Midgets last week and are hungry for more. It'll be hard for Jon Kitna to target Williams more while he's flat on his back staring at the Metrodome's lights. Forecast- 5 receptions, 60 yards

Tight End:

Start- Tony Scheffler- Scheffler continues to impress recently. He has not caught less than 3 balls in a game since October 7. With the continued injury woes of Javon Walker (and now Brandon Stokely), Jay Cutler needs somebody to throw to. Scheffler could continue to be that guy. Forecast- 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Owen Daniels- Despite my recommendation of sitting him, Daniels remains a decent TE option for the rest of the year. I just think that he won't be very good this particular week. Tennessee should see the return of Albert Haynesworth, a premiere defensive player whose presence they have sorely missed. The Titans look to make a strong stand and that doesn't bode well for any Texan, Daniels included. Forecast- 4 receptions, 40 yards

Defense:

Start- St. Louis- Whether or not I have lost my mind is certainly up for debate. What is not up for debate is that the Rams have been playing better in recent weeks. They face the Patron Saint of the Brain Freeze, Joey Harrington, this Sunday. Can you say "Enticing Matchup?" Forecast- 3 sacks, 2 interceptions

Sit- New York Giants- The Midgets must be ashamed of themselves this week after the drubbing they took against Minnesota on both sides of the ball. They might be good and revved up to face the Bears this week. However, if they happen to get "Good Rex", they could be in trouble yet again. The secondary in particular is prone to giving up big plays and, when Grossman is "on", he is capable of turning in a couple of those. Forecast- 2 sacks

An Open Letter to Colin Campbell

2007-11-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

Mr. Campbell,

As the Discipline Czar for the NHL, it is your job to mete out punishment for infractions that go above and beyond the severity of what a referee can impose during the game. You are entrusted with the sanctity of this sport and play a big role in determining how hockey is viewed by the general public.

There have been a rash of violent incidents recently in NHL games that have warranted your attention. The Steve Downie incident, the Jesse Boulerice incident, the Patrice Bergeron incident, the Mattias Ohlund incident and now the Scott Hartnell incident. All of these situations required the injured player to be helped from the ice. With all due respect, sir, the punishments you gave to these players for their deeds were ridiculously light.

I will qualify that statement somewhat: The suspension you gave to Steve Downie was severe, but not severe enough. He was docked his salary for 20 games, which I'm certain put a crimp in his finances. However, his crime deserved much more. His intent to injure Dean MacAmmond was clear.

You gave the following rulings on the other aforementioned incidents: Boulerice -25 games for cross checking another player in the face, Randy Jones - 2 games for ramming a defenseless player from behind into the glass, Mattias Ohlund- 4 games for winding up and viciously slashing another player in the leg and Hartnell- 2 games for ramming a player who was on his knees into the boards.

Pathetic.

What sort of punishment is 2 games? That is a mere slap on the wrist and sends the message to every player that this sort of heinous behavior will continue to be tolerated. You have punished the result of the crime, not the intent behind it. If any of those injured players had their careers ended due to their offending action, would you have denied any of the criminals the privilege of playing in the league? Apparently not, as evidenced by the fact that players such as Todd Bertuzzi still don a uniform on a nightly basis.

Obviously, hockey is a violent game and injuries are to be expected. I have been a fan of the sport for over 30 years and have seen many players injured as the result of simply playing. However, you have allowed the sport to spiral out of control. Players no longer fear any repercussions from their behavior. It is your fault that unskilled players attempting to make a name for themselves are allowed to perpetrate felonious assault and can get away with it. The pain and suffering of victims like Steve Moore is on your head.

You need to adjust your casual attitude 180 degrees and make an example of the very next offender. If you don't, the sport we love will forever be linked with this type of thuggery. The respect and approval that we crave from the general public will be withheld...and rightfully so. The beauty of a game played by some of the finest athletes in the world will be irrevocably marred because you fiddled while Rome burned.

Change your ways, Mr. Campbell. You have been given a huge responsibility and have failed miserably at carrying it out. I challenge you to prove you are not just an impotent figurehead, but a man worthy of respect.

Otherwise, the next person who should receive a lifetime ban is you.

"HELLO CLEVELAND!".....and other thoughts from Week 12

2007-11-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

Don't look now, but the perennial NFL door-mats Browns are making a mad dash for the playoffs. They are 7-4 and have a very friendly schedule for the rest of the season.

Cleveland still has issues on the defensive side of the ball, but their offense is proving that, when it's in the groove, they can compete with anyone in the league except perhaps the Patriots or Cowboys. Derek Anderson has gone from an after-thought to a top 5 quarterback. Braylon Edwards has emerged as a top-flight WR. Jamal Lewis, whose career was thought to be on the downside (to put it kindly), has run with a passion that he hasn't exhibited in years. I'm reminded of a Shakespearean quote to describe him: "Who knew the old man had so much blood in him?" (It seems only appropriate to use the Bard's words in connection with a team coached by a man named Romeo.)

As Derek Smalls from Spinal Tap said, " I mean, people should be envying us, you know?"

Trust me, Cleveland....fans of other teams already do.

On to the other thoughts:

- I'd say the recent performance of Huggy Bear Jr., Justin Fargas, makes it a little easier for Oakland to give Lamont Jordan his walking papers, wouldn't you?

- You really need to be awful in order to make Tavaris Jackson stand out in a game. Congratulations, Eli Manning....you achieved the improbable.

- Not too complain too much, but with all the weeks he hasn't scored, I think Chad Johnson could've come up with something a little more original than grabbing the camera for his end zone celebration.

- With a weapon like Devin Hester, I'd think it wouldn't matter that Chicago's once fearsome defense is now porous and their backfield will now be comprised of "The Other" Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe. And why on earth do teams continue to kick to this guy? They're not playing with fire...they're jumping right into the inferno.

- Big time kudos to the Philadelphia Eagles, who came thisclose to beating the mighty Patriots. New England has such an aura of winning about them right now that I'd say teams expect to lose to them. The Eagles, backup quarterback and all, didn't fall prey to that negative line of thinking and left it all out on the field. Belichick and Co. are going to need to be at their best the rest of the season or someone just as unlikely will knock them off.

- Welcome back, Frank Gore....Here's a guy you really root for....a superior player on a bargain-basement team who fights the overwhelming odds and achieves success...kind of like Kelly Leake from The Bad News Bears.

- Boy, even with a fistful of gold, those Rams just can't buy a break this year.

Sean Taylor 1983-2007

2007-11-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

The NFL is reeling today after the sudden, violent death of one of it's superstars, Washington safety Sean Taylor, who was shot over the weekend.

Taylor was an outstanding player on the field. Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams called him the best natural athlete he'd ever coached. His physical style of play intimidated opposing receivers and he was having a Pro Bowl season.

His off the field behavior was far from exemplary. He had numerous brushes with the law including an arrest for driving under the influence and a felony assault and battery, the incident which many speculate the circumstances of death may have stemmed from.

Those close to Taylor claim that he was in the process of turning his life around. He recently became a father and many in the Redskins' organization saw a change in him that reflected a new found maturity.

Whatever the situation, the violent death of any 24 year old should be considered a tragic event. I cannot judge Sean Taylor or his previous actions because I don't know enough about the background of his life. If his death resulted from his criminal behavior, will this be a wake-up call to the rest of the NFL to clean up their acts, lest they suffer the same fate? Probably not. We will likely have to read about more young men cut down in the prime of their lives...individuals who, despite their riches and fame, could not leave their rough childhoods in the past and who continue to associate with those who secretly wish them harm. That is the real tragedy here.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Guest Column: Against the Spread Picks Week 12 by William Jones

2007-11-22T08:12:00.001-08:00

Many thanks to Frank for covering the picks last week for me. I only wish he had done a better job (just kidding).

Green Bay (-3.5) @ Detroit - It's all about turnovers and while both teams are at +5 takeaway/giveaway (TA/GA) this season, Detroit has coughed up the ball NINE times in the past two weeks! Ouch! Green Bay has been winning with a stifling Defense and no running game. Detroit is really gonna miss Dre Bly this week. Favre gives his wife a Thanksgiving treat with at least 4 TD passes as GB wins big. Take the Packers and give up the 3.5

New England (-22) vs. Philadelphia - Not only is the Pats' Offense unstoppable, not only do they have a +17 TA/GA advantage, the D out thinks everyone. Coach BB goes for it on 4th and 1 at the opposing 7 with a four TD lead. Now McNabb is out, too? Wow...this one should get ugly quick. Is-22 too big a deficit for ANYONE to overcome? Not this crew. Take the Pats and give up the 22

Upset Special of the Week!Cleveland (-3.5) vs. Houston - Cleveland can put up a lot of points against marginal teams but Houston showed up with it's two big weapons in Schaub and Johnson returning last week. Look for this to be a high scoring game but I see the Houston defense coming up with some key stops and turnovers to make the difference. The Texans will win the thing outright, +3.5

Happy Turkey Day!

Guest Column: College Football Picks by William Jones

2007-11-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry I missed you last week...just to make it up, I'll deliver the goods with these three winners:

Texas (-6) @ Texas A&M - If not for a "look ahead" loss to Kansas State and a nailbiter loss in the aforementioned look ahead game against Oklahoma,the Longhorns have played solid football this season. While they cut it close in many games (winning two of the last three each by 3 points), they are poised to bury A&M, a program in shambles. Coach Fran has on foot out the door, the players don't even have pride to play for and UT needs a big win just in case Oklahoma slips up vs. Okie State and they can backdoor their way into the Big 12 Title game. Every A&M loss has been by at least 8 points with them losing to Miami (FL) by 17 and lowly Nebraska by 22. This one has massacre written all over it. Take Texas -6

Virginia Tech (-3.5) @ Virginia - I blindly called this game VT -12, and, upon further review, it will be more lopsided. VT, since losing to LSU in Week 2, has pummelled opponents, winning their last five by a combined 195 -75, scoring in the forties 4 times. Virginia has gotten by through the grace of God...three of their last four wins were each by 1 point! They lost to a so-so NC State team and beat up on a disorganized Miami Hurricane team. The last ranked team they beat was 'tweener Wake Forest, hardly on anyone's National Championship list. This game will decide who wins the ACC Coastal. VT needs this to help get over the horrible tragedy, they would love to beat their in-state "rival" to continue to win the recruiting war going on down there and they would have a chance to vindicate themselves against the Boston College team that won in the rain. VT wants this and we're going with them -3.5

And the Upset Special of the Week

Hawaii (-4) vs. Boise State - It's hard to beat Hawaii at home...it just doesn't happen. It's a nightmare roadtrip... flying kids to the most isolated place on earth. It's going to take it's toll at gametime. That being said, Hawaii's schedule was a cakewalk until they brought a determined Fresno State team to Oahu where the Bulldogs knocked out (literally) gunslinging QB Colt Brennan just one TD pass short of the NCAA record. Folks, I saw the hit Colt took and I would be more than surprised if he plays this weekend. It's a huge game and I know he will be game, but starting Colt after such a violent hit that had him on his back for at least 5 minutes, will hurt Hawaii more than help. With a healthy Brennan, I'd say this game was too close to call. However, I'd have to say there's no way he's ready to go and, if he does start, Boise's Defense will look to confuse him enough to make at least two huge mistakes. From there, the Boise offense will grind out points and kill the clock. Without Brennan, I thought the game would be Boise (-8) so I'm going with the Broncos at +4!

Start/Sit: Week 12

2007-11-21T09:04:00.000-08:00

Quarterback:

Start- Matt Schaub- Anybody else think that Schaub is excited to have Andre Johnson back and healthy? Schaub recently got over his own injury woes and is poised to have an excellent second half. He gets the Cleveland Browns this week whose defensive backfield is hurting. Given the uncertainty of Houston's running game and the fact that this will most likely be a shootout, look for Matt to air it out early and often. Forecast- 300 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception

Sit- Brett Favre- In light of how he's been playing, how on earth can I suggest sitting Brett Favre? Well, I do so with a qualifier: Only sit him if you have another top ten option. I just don't think Brett will have an extraordinary game here. When you play the Lions at the Silverdome on Thanksgiving, they always seem to come up with that extra defensive effort that turns immortals back into mere men. Forecast- 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

Running Back:

Start- Cedric Benson- I must remind people that the purpose of this column is point out players who may do better than expected, not just endorse everyone else's Top Ten list. This is why I'm truly going out on a limb with Benson, a disappointment if there ever was one. However, Benson has been such a bust this year that garnering anything over 25 yards would seem like he's overachieved his expectations. I say Ced puts things together against an atrocious Denver Run D and is a somewhat pleasant surprise this week. Forecast- 85 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Willis McGahee- McGahee made us look smart last week by producing when we called his name. This week, however, we see a different scenario unfolding. The Chargers play at home, they are desperate for a win and know that McGahee represents the Ravens' best (and probably only option) to put points on the board. I can see them putting 8 or 9 in the box and daring Kyle Boller to beat them with his arm. Forecast- 70 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start- D.J Hackett- As Marv Albert might intone, "Hackett is ON FIRE!". Since returning from his injury, Hackett has posted 6, 8 and 9 receptions in his last three games. The news out of Seattle is they plan to keep throwing the majority of the time and they face a St. Louis defense who has given up 322 yards per game though the air. As matchups go, your Aunt Hilda's giblet gravy couldn't possibly be any tastier. Forecast- 8 receptions, 120 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit- Anquan Boldin- Boldin caught 22 passes in three weeks prior to his hip injury, then 18 passes in the four weeks since he returned. See where we're going with this? The time share between he and Larry Fitzgerald is in full effect and will limit the scoring opportunities for both of them. Besides, who really needs to throw on San Francisco anyway? Forecast- 4 receptions, 50 yards

Tight End:

Start- Ben Watson- Watson has been somewhat quiet this season, but a little known statistic about him is that he is scoring on 25% of his catches. Every now and then, some team gets it into their heads that if they can shut down Randy Moss, they can contain the Patriots. Sorry to disappoint people, but New England just finds new ways to kill you if you do that, including throwing red zone touchdowns to guys like Watson. I foresee a productive game for him against Philadelphia. Forecast- 4 receptions, 40 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Tony Gonzalez- I just don't like Tony with Brodie Croyle throwing the ball to him. He's still the same superstar player, but I don't see it doing him a lot of good until Croyle goes through his growing pains. Besides, if there's one thing the Oakland Raiders are halfway decent at, it's defending the pass. I'd resist the temptation. Forecast- 3 receptions, 35 yards

Defense:

Start- Jacksonville- Though they've been far from the automatic start they used to be, I like the Jaguars matchup this week. They're at home, they're facing a Buffalo team minus Marshawn Lynch and they're in the playoff race at 7-3. I can't see Jack Del Rio letting his squad lose a winnable game at this point. Forecast- 3 sacks, 2 interceptions

Sit- Baltimore- Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Remember when just the mention of the name "Ravens" brought fear to the hearts of opposing fantasy owners? Decimated by injury and ravaged by age, the Ravens are getting by mainly on reputation these days and that just won't be good enough against an on-the-ledge San Diego team. Forecast- 1 sack, 1 interception

In Kellen We Trust and other thoughts from Week 11

2007-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Jets-19 Steelers-16.....I believe this qualifies as "Miracle at the Meadowlands, Part II."

The Jets are a completely different team with Kellen Clemens at the helm. He's got all the intangibles of Pennington (intelligence, guts, a belief in himself and the team) and all the physical characteristics that Chad lacks (strong arm and the ability to scramble). No, he doesn't blow anyone away with his numbers, but the Steelers defense played well for the most part and are considered to be one of the top D's in the league. Clemens didn't panic when he led the Jets on the game tying drive and made several key plays (his toss to Chris Baker was huge, as was his scramble for a first down.) Give him another year to get completely used to the speed of the pro game and to develop the ability to read the defense better....He will be a special quarterback in this league someday.

On to the other thoughts:

- We now enter Week 2 of the Search for Adam Vinatieri. Federal Marshalls swarmed Area 51, but apparently the aliens who have kidnapped the Colts kicker were able to elude them. The search is now rumored to include every outhouse and hen house as well. The dragnet is also being widened in the hopes of discovering what happened to the entire Indianapolis offense.

- Boy, how much lower can Byron Leftwich's career sink? You know things are going badly when Falcon fans are rooting for Joey Harrington, Patron Saint of the Brain Freeze, to take over.

- I'm guessing that I, at age 37, out of shape and woefully inadequate in most athletic endeavors, could get 40 yards running behind the Minnesota O-line. Chester Taylor doesn't seem like such a bad backup plan now.

- The Pats hung more points on some poor foe, Moss scores four more touchdowns (unwilling to be bested by the other #81, T.O) and Brady continues to prove the existence of God's effect on mankind. Ho hum.

- Would someone mind telling me which Arizona defense is for real, the one we saw from last weekend or the one that allowed St. Louis to torch them for 31 points in Week 5? If the answer is the former, I'm guessing they're probably available on your league's Waiver Wire and and worthy of deep consideration.

- Donald Lee has quietly become a fantasy force this season.

- Very strange Phil Dawson field goal....The Ravens must be consulting every Feng Shui expert in the country in an attempt to dispel this black cloud that has been hanging over them lately.

Against the Spread Picks- Week 11

2007-11-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Bill Jones is a little swamped this week, so I'll be covering him with the picks. For those of you who depend on Bill's advice each week, well...you're stuck with me. I'll try not to let you down.

Green Bay -9 1/2 over Carolina- This is some roll that Brett Favre and the boys are on, eh? Now they get the Panthers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Carolina hasn't been awful on defense this year, giving up only 215 yards per game through the air. But they are surrendering 113 yards and a touchdown per game on the ground. Look for the Packers to establish the run early, for Brett to throw a touchdown or two and for the stifling Green Bay defense to shut down whoever gets the nod in Carolina's revolving door quarterback situation.

New England -16 over Buffalo- How can we endorse a 16 point spread in the NFL? Easily...it's the Pats after all. They have run roughshod over just about everyone and the Bills will be no different. The Belichick Crew have had an extra week off to rest their injuries and come up with new ways to get the ball in the endzone. This week, it might be Steve Grogan coming out of retirement to throw a lineman-eligible touchdown to John Hannah. Boy, won't Mike Vrabel be steamed about that one?

San Diego +3 over Jacksonville- Jacksonville's formerly tough defense gives up 261 ypg through the air. While Phillip Rivers has been no one's idea of a Pro Bowl quarterback this season, he's proven he can get the ball to Antonio Gates, whom the Jaguars have no answer for. Week 9's meltdown against the Vikings notwithstanding, the Chargers defense has been very active the past three weeks, producing 4 sacks and 10 interceptions. Look for them to batter Quinn Gray (or David Garrard...it doesn't matter) and to bottle up Jones-Drew and Taylor.

Take it to the Bank pick:

Pittsburgh -9 1/2 over New York Jets- You could probably make this a 19 1/2 point spread and it would make no difference. Pittsburgh has been simply dominant on the defensive side of the ball this season except for a couple of out of character games. Meanwhile, the Jets offense has an extreme inability to run the football. The passing offense doesn't exactly keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night either. Pittsburgh will dominate with their own running game and a few Ben Roethlisberger touchdowns thrown in for good measure.

Start/Sit: Week 11

2007-11-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

Quarterbacks:

Start- Kurt Warner- Warner is one of those boom or bust players that sometimes are worth taking a chance on. He threw for 3 touchdowns last week and seems to be getting into a rhythm with the offense. Of course, he's always one sack away from an injury, but he's benefited from improved play by the defense and no longer feels like he has to win the game by himself. It doesn't hurt that he's playing the Bengals, whom your grandmother could throw on for 180 yards (at least). Forecast: 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Sit- Carson Palmer- Palmer just hasn't looked like himself this year. Much of his trouble can be attributed to an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries. There is cause for hope for him, though, with the return of Chris Henry. I just think you might have a better option this week. Forecast: 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 sacks

Running Back:

Start- Willis McGahee- Every time this column has predicted a big game for McGahee, he has inevitably come up short. We're hoping this time might be the charm. Baltimore is fighting for it's season right now, has the woeful Browns defense at home and will need to establish a strong running game to compensate for it's putrid passing offense. If he can't get it done this week, he won't get it done any week. Forecast- 125 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit- Reggie Bush- Bush has been banged up recently and is showing the effects of being the main man in the backfield for the Saints, a role which he has not convinced many people that he is suitable for. He left last week's game with an injury and may not be 100% for this contest. Also, look for the Saints to start expanding the roles of Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker to keep Bush fresh. All this adds up to a sub-par day for Reggie. Forecast- 65 yards, 1 touchdown

Wide Receiver:

Start- Santonio Holmes- Holmes has caught 6 receptions in a game twice this season and now faces a tasty matchup against the woeful Jets. Pittsburgh is annoyed with a perceived lack of respect (with the rest of the league in love with the Patriots). Look for them to make a statement with this game. Expect Holmes to be a big part of that. Forecast- 7 receptions, 110 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Plaxico Burress- Burress has not been healthy for nearly the whole season, but at least had been able to play through the pain. However, his ankle appears to be getting worse and it is now starting to affect his game. He came up small last week against Dallas and, with his inability to push off and leap like he normally would, he will be invisible again versus Detroit. I know it's tough to swallow, but go with a healthier option on your roster. Forecast- 3 receptions, 40 yards.

Tight End:

Start- Owen Daniels- One would think that Daniels would've benefited the most from Andre Johnson's injury, but the opposite has been true. Defenses have focused on him and his numbers have suffered. Johnson returns this week and Daniels ought to be able to shake free to make some key catches across the middle. He's a bit of a forgotten man in Fantasy circles and may even be available on your waiver wire. Forecast- 5 receptions, 45 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit- Vernon Davis- It's gotten tough to recommend any 49er this year, but Davis has been singled out a couple of times because his potential. However, San Francisco's problems appear to simply be getting worse. Davis is being forced to stay in and block due to the 49er's porous offensive line, a task for which he is not suited and which frustrates him greatly. You really don't want any part of this trainwreck. Forecast- 3 receptions, 30 yards

Defense:

Start- Dallas- The Cowboys are coming off a big win against the Giants and are looking to maintain their momentum against another division foe. They are also only giving up 87 yards per game against the rush, meaning it could be a long day for Clinton Portis. They will dare young Jason Campbell to beat them through the air. Campbell is getting better, but he will not be able to handle the variety of blitzes that Wade Phillips will throw at him. Forecast- 3 sacks, 2 interceptions

Sit- Jacksonville- Jacksonville has just not been the same rapacious defense they've been in past seasons. Part of the problem has been an ineffective offense which has kept the D on field for too much of the season. They are giving 102 yards on the ground per game, not a terrible number. However, LT comes to town this week and the Charger's gameplan will be to run him all day long and the Jaguars will not be able to keep up. Forecast- 1 sack, 1 interception.

Vinatieri replaced by an alien...and other thoughts from Week 10

2007-11-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

What a weird game Sunday night....Who would've possibly imagined that Peyton Manning would throw six interceptions, Adam Vinatieri would miss two field goals and the Colts STILL had a chance to win?

Vinatieri, I cannot fathom. Here is one of the greatest clutch kickers in the history of the league and he blows THAT chip-shot? Clearly, he was kidnapped prior to the game and an extra-terrestrial was put out in his place. Bad field or not, it was a shame because of how desperately the Colts battled to get back into that game. However, the injuries are mounting on both sides of the ball now with Dwight Freeney expected to miss several weeks. Still, I wouldn't worry about a complete Indianapolis free-fall about to occur, with games coming up against Atlanta, Oakland and Houston. Let's face it: If they lose to those teams, even with their current injury woes, they won't deserve a chance to defend their title.

On to the other thoughts from the week:

- Here's a question about the Cardinals-Lions game: Since he's so close with both Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna, which QB did God want to win? Obviously Warner.

- Speaking of Grocery Boy, it was nice to see him finally realize that Larry Fitzgerald can be thrown to in the Red Zone. You may recall I took him to task for this a couple of weeks ago. Too bad it took Anquan Boldin being majorly hobbled with a bad hip for Kurt to look elsewhere.

- Fine, I'll be the one to say it: Brett Favre for MVP. I know the entire football world is on the Tom Brady bandwagon, but I say this: There is no one player more important to his team than Favre is to the Packers. Without his play, the Packers are a .500 squad at best. Isn't this really the definition of Most Valuable Player? The Patriots would still be a good squad without Brady at the helm. Not anywhere near as good as they are now, but good enough to compete.

-Another Favre-like thought: I've heard many people say that Jay Cutler reminds them of a young Favre. I say, if you're going to give anyone with that honor, you have to give it to Big Ben Roethlisberger. Tough as nails, scrambles well when he needs to, competes until the final whistle and always gives his team a chance to win with his arm. Sounds like Brett to me.

-Was that an Alge Crumpler sighting this past weekend? Great gumdrops, it was!

- Kind of a heartbreaking moment to see AP get injured after the amazing rookie campaign he's had so far. I'm glad it doesn't look like it will end his season. But I have one question: Did Peterson not being able to run the ball somehow contribute to the decline of Minnesota's ability to stop other teams from rushing against them? What the Sam Hill happened to the league's second best rushing defense? Ryan Grant galloped all day like a modern Red Grange against them.

- When will Brian Westbrook get the honor he deserves as being one of the top 5 running backs in the game right now? He has 54 receptions out of the backfield, people...to say nothing about 700 yards rushing and 9 total touchdowns. The Eagles are an impotent offense when he's not in the lineup. How does he keep getting ignored? He'd be #2 in my MVP argument behind Favre.

-The Giants looked much tougher against the Dolphins in London. I guess that's what happens when you go up against a team that has a quarterback named Cleo Lemon (I still can't stop laughing when I say his name. Do you realize he throws to a TE named Justin PEELLE? "Lemon...to Peelle...Espresso! I mean, touchdown!")

- How happy is Rex Grossman right now?

No party for Marty

2007-11-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

Martin Brodeur, arguably the finest goalie to ever play hockey, had a chance to win his 500th game Saturday night, an incredible feat that will be feted by the hockey community when it does happen (and rightfully so).

However, no team wants to make history as being the losing side in such an historic game and the New York Islanders were no exception.

The Islanders played a tight, focused contest (achieving the remarkable accomplishment of not recording ANY penalties) and held off the Devils 2-1. Miroslav Satan recorded his third straight game winning goal. He's as hot as the sun right now.

After the game, Brodeur exhibited a bad case of Sour Grapes, claiming "I don't think they beat us. Look at the two goals they got." Ok, Marty....here's a way to look at "the two goals they got": No matter how they happened, they both ended up in the net behind you....case closed...end of story. Funny how he didn't mention that the Devils lone goal was accidentally knocked into the net by Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt.

Clearly, Brodeur was agitated and disappointed that he didn't reach his milestone on this particular night, but making such statements is beneath him. He knows better than anyone that all goals count the same, whether they were created by a beautiful, Bobby Orr-like, End to End rush or they barely trickle across the plane of the goalmouth. Matteau's series winning goal that clinched the game for the Rangers in 1994 against Brodeur was no beauty, either. But, boy, did it ever count.

Next time, Marty, try closing your mouth (as well as your legs) and you'll let fewer goals in...and fewer stupid remarks out.

Guest Column- Against The Spread picks Week 10 by William Jones

2007-11-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

Upset Special
Arizona (-1) vs. Detroit - How this is nearly a "pick 'em" is beyond me. Detroit coming off 3 straight wins while Arizona has the exact opposite trend losing 3 in a row (including last week after a bye.) Both teams give up a ton of passing yards but the Lions are 17 turnovers better and that is huge underdog margin. Look for this to be a high scoring affair with the Lions coming out ahead. Pick - Detroit +1.

Buffalo (-3) vs. Miami - Again, this is nuts. Buffalo coming off 3 straight wins vs. Miami coming off 8 losses. Despite having a bye week, Miami has found no solutions for any of ails them and with Buffalo coming to town, they won't find any this week. Losman is in a groove and Lee Evans has woken up. Add in the rookie RB Lynch and we'll have a laugher. Pick - Buffalo -3.

Only 2 plays this week. There doesn't seem to be many clear cut opportunities so we'll take what we can get and not try to force the plays.

Guest Column: College Football Picks by William Jones

2007-11-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

Kansas State (-7.5) @ Nebraska - OK, KState totally laid an egg last week, losing to (gulp) Iowa State, but this week they are giving almost 9 fewer points to a Nebraska team which has a -14 takeaway/giveaway margin to KState's +6...that's a difference of 20 turnovers. KState usually wins by 13.5 whereas Nebbie loses by 8. While we're always a bit nervous about the old "7.5", if KState can get at least 2 turnovers, they win by two scores easily. Go with K-State -6.

East Carolina (-7) @ Marshall - Same story as above with the takeaway/giveaway margin - it's E. Carolina with a 26 turnover advantage,so we expect at least 3 turnovers going EC's way. Marshall usually loses games by 14 points and most recently lost to second place UCF by 34 points. UCF's only conference loss is to, you guessed it, first place East Carolina by 14. Our resident Vegas Insider, Pete-Diddy, believes this game is a trap, since the line should be much higher, but, then again, he also believes in UFOs. Go with EC -7.

UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK North Texas (+15.5) vs. Navy - How on earth can I pick NT, the worst team in I-A football, the team with a former (as in last year) high school coach running the program, the team I've consistently picked against and won?!?! Well, Navy is coming off the emotional, historic triple overtime win over ND. Navy is the one team who may have a more shallow defense than NT. Plus Navy runs the ball while NT has gotten quite adept at passing with Freshman QB Giovanni Vizza (remember that name...ok, don't remember that name...) gaining lots of experience this season. Navy will win the game, but for them to win by 16, it will take more of a vertical offense than they have. Take NT +15.5.

Don't forget to thank a Veteran this weekend!

Start/Sit: Week 10

2007-11-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Quarterback:

Start: J.P Losman- Some people consider threatening a man's job will give him the proper motivation. Whether or not it's the correct course of action to take, it certainly seems to have worked wonders with J.P. Just when it seemed as though Trent Edwards would be the future for the Bills, an injury re-opened the door for Losman and he has played well enough to keep the rookie at bay for now. Losman gets the woeful Dolphins D this week and should put his rediscovered connection with Lee Evans to good use. Forecast: 225 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit: Kurt Warner- It's not really Kurt's fault...he's just not very reliable at this stage in his career. He was stuck in that Foodtown in Dubuque (or wherever) during what should have been some very productive years. In any case, playing against the surging Lions defense will not help him further his career this week. Unless you don't have other options, I'd steer clear of Grocery Boy. Forecast: 190 yards, 1 touchdown (to Anquan Boldin, of course), 2 interceptions, 2 sacks

Running Back:

Start: Kevin Jones- KJ has been somewhat enigmatic this season. He rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, but turns in only 71 yards against the Sieves, I mean The Broncos. Weird, wacky stuff, but look for him to have another good matchup in the offing here against an Arizona club that's been giving up 125 yards per game on the ground. He ought to be especially useful late in the game, eating up the clock. Forecast: 110 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Shaun Alexander- Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Only two years removed from an 1,800+ yard rushing season, Alexander managed 32 yards against Cleveland, a team your Aunt Delia could hit the rushing century mark against (provided that she uses one cut and hits the hole with authority). He hasn't been healthy the entire year and continues to make fantasy owners miserable who drafted him based on his name alone. Even with an enticing matchup against the 49'ers, he should be planted firmly on your bench. Forecast: 40 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start: David Patten- "The Little General" has averaged 90 receiving yards in his last two games and is proving to be a useful cog in the great New Orleans Comeback Story. He gets the winless Rams at the Superdome this week, which is understandably a good situation. Drew Brees has been on fire and will certainly take to the air, a pretty good thing for Patten, who has carved out an 11 year career for himself despite the fact he wasn't even drafted. He does another famous Patton (George S.) proud, who once remarked: " If a man does his best, what else is there?" Forecast- 5 receptions, 90 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Steve Smith- We really hate to keep harping on poor Steve, but his season has been a complete disaster since Jake Delhomme retreated to the bayou to heal his arm. He's trying his hardest, but he has 5 catches for a combined 33 yards over the last two games. I'll grant you that the Falcons are hardly an imposing defensive squad, but with either "Has-Been Vinny" or "Never-Was Carr" throwing the ball, any defense can look spectacular. Until he shows some signs of life, I'd say put Steve on the "Do Not Resuscitate" list. Forecast- 4 catches, 40 yards

Tight End:

Start: Donald Lee- It looks like Bubba Franks' time in Green Bay has come to an end and Lee becomes his worthy replacement. He just signed a 4 year, 12 million dollar contract extension and will be in the mood to show the Packers how grateful he is. The Packers play the Vikings this week, who can defend the run like no one's business but can be thrown on all day long. Even though Brett Favre spreads the ball around, Lee will still get his share and be useful. Forecast- 4 receptions, 60 yards

Sit: Vernon Davis- "Super Freak" has been on a nice little run the past two weeks, averaging 74 yards per game to go with 6 catches. However, the 49'ers play Seattle at Qwest Field this Monday night, which is where the run will end. It's not so much that the Seahawks have linebackers who can cover Davis. It's really more an issue of just how many sacks and interceptions they will force QB Alex Smith into. Forecast: 3 receptions, 40 yards

Defense:

Start: Oakland- The Raiders have been pretty average when it comes to overall defense this year, but they are particularly good at garnering interceptions. Enter Brian Griese, who is pretty good at throwing them. It really shouldn't be much of a stretch to figure out what should happen here. With defenses like Tampa Bay on a bye week, Oakland makes for a nice fill in. Forecast- 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 touchdown

Sit: Baltimore- Can I possibly be suggesting sitting the Mighty Ravens at home? If you watched Monday Night's game against the Steelers, you'd know why. It's not that I think the Ravens are bad. It's just that I think that, with both starting cornerbacks injured, they are ripe to be had by a desperate Bengals team who will throwing the ball like it's going out of style. Forecast- 2 sacks

Big Ben Weathers the Storm and other thoughts from Week 9

2007-11-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Every football writer in the country is probably leading off their column by covering the mini-Super Bowl that occurred between the Patriots and the Colts on Sunday. I will definitely get to that later. However, I would like to call attention to last night's game between the Steelers and the Ravens first.

When I first tuned in to the game and saw the sheets of rain pelting the stadium in Pittsburgh, I figured we were in for a low scoring, defensive battle. After all, the footing was terrible, the visibility was virtually nil and the ball was as slick as it would've been had it been covered in grease. Therefore, I was truly impressed to see Ben Roethlisberger turn in a Brady-like performance by throwing FIVE first-half touchdowns. Big Ben has quietly performed at an elite level this season and often goes unnoticed when the discussion about who is among the Top Ten quarterbacks in the game is held. Like Glenn Close's psycho character in Fatal Attraction, he "will not be be ignored" for much longer.

On to the other thoughts:

- The Pats and Colts certainly fought an entertaining battle, didn't they? I believe that a healthy Marvin Harrison would've made the difference for the Colts. Reggie Wayne was the only elite receiver the Colts had ( he really should've made that catch though....that drop was a killer) and they still stayed stride for stride with Mighty New England for nearly the whole game. As for the Patriots, what more can one say? They have to be considered the overwhelming favorites to win the Super Bowl and have an excellent chance to go undefeated.

- My friend had this to say about Bill Belichick: "He's the kind of guy you want something bad to happen to." While I wouldn't go as far as to say that, I do find it rich that he accused the Colts of piping in stadium noise to disrupt his team. I can't believe he would find a sympathetic ear in the entire league who would listen to him. Your behavior has caused nearly everybody to hate you, Bill. Justified or not, you have made your own bed here. Have a nice nap.

- Adrian Peterson just continues to exceed the already-lofty expectations for his rookie year. Breaking the single game rushing yardage record is yet another bit of icing on the Rookie of the Year cake. He is truly the most talented RB in the league not nicknamed "LT."

- I think the Jets have cause for a little optimism. Yes, they are still horrible and probably will finish is the bottom three in the league. But Kellen Clemens is going to be a very good quarterback in this league. His ability to squeeze the ball into tight spaces with velocity and accuracy is a huge improvement over Chad Pennington's feeble tosses. I'm not blaming Chad...he never had a strong arm to begin with and he certainly deserves respect for coming back after two major shoulder injuries. But having a QB who can gun the ball downfield is going to eventually make the Jets harder to play against. Now if they could just do something about all those horrific drops by the receivers.

- You could have timed Shaun Rogers' touchdown run with a calendar. I still can't believe they didn't need to perform CPR on the big man in the end zone.

- Do you get the feeling that someone kidnapped Drew Brees in the beginning of the season, shoved him a root cellar somewhere and replaced him with a doppelganger out on the field? He must have have escaped his shackles during the bye week because he looks like a completely different quarterback out there.

- You know what, T.O? There's less "love" in those boos that you hear at Lincoln Field than you think. You may want to look into purchasing a bullet-proof vest for your next visit.

Celebrating Arbour Day

2007-11-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Al Arbour returned for a one game stint to coach the Islanders against the Penguins last Saturday night and the organization sure put on one hell of show during and after the game.

As a fan of the Islanders since 1976, I well remember Radar and the Cup winning teams he coached. Critics will scoff that he had a ridiculously talented team to work with during his tenure. I won't argue that the players on his teams had talent, to put it mildly (Potvin, Bossy, Trottier, Billy Smith and Clark Gillies spring to mind.) But I don't think those same critics give Al enough credit for getting the very best out of those players.

Having talent is one thing...there are plenty of special players, both today and in the history of the sport. These players can dazzle you with their brilliance on a nightly basis, pulling off feats of athleticism that the fan can only dream about. They can impress you with their ability to fight against adversity. They can amaze you with their mental toughness and stamina, staring down pressure filled games without batting an eyelash.

But how many of those hundreds of skilled players in the history of the league have won multiple Stanley Cups with the same teams? How many of them were able to harness their immense gifts to not only provide entertainment, but to fit within a system so that they were part of a bigger picture? I'll tell you who they were...the guys who had great coaches.

Arbour took a team of stars and got them to perform every night as a unit. Egos were checked at the door. Mike Bossy busted his butt as much as Billy Carroll, a fourth line center who barely got any ice time. Bryan Trottier put in as much work as Duane Sutter did. Al Arbour was noted during his playing time as a hard worker who never took a shift off. He passed that same work ethic onto his players.

It has been said about those Cup winning teams from the early 80's that they could beat you in any style you wanted to play them. You want to outmuscle them? Good luck. You're going to confound them with your speed? Nice try. Beat them with a suffocating defense? Go ahead and give it your best shot.

So, how does that happen? How does a team become so proficient in every area of the game that they can adjust to the style of every opponent?

Coaching....which is what Al Arbour did as well as any who have ever submitted a lineup card and stood behind a bench.

The Islanders deserve the league's respect for celebrating this man's unique accomplishments and giving him one final moment in the spotlight. It was a night full of class from top to bottom.

Oh, by the way, the Islanders won the game with a gritty, third period comeback against a very talented Pittsburgh team with a couple of current superstars you may have heard of. They simply outworked the Pens, sacrificing the body and refusing to give in to the ready-made excuse that their star goaltender was knocked out of the game by an accidental high stick.

Sounds like the playing career of a certain coach.

Start/Sit: Week 9

2007-11-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Quarterback:

Start- Matt Hasselbeck- Hasselbeck and the Seahawks play Cleveland this week and that translates to only one thing: Fantasy Gold. He's coming off a bye week and battling a strained oblique muscle, but he does get promising WR D.J Hackett back this week. He'll have to air it out all day to keep up with the Browns' explosive offense. Forecast: 280 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Sit- Kurt Warner- Brenda, I mean KURT, Warner draws a tough Jacksonville unit who are only allowing an average of 235 yards a game to opposing passers. They know that they'll have to win with defense due to their offensive situation and will be primed for the task. Warner is about as mobile as the Statue of Liberty and the Jaguars' fearsome pass rush should encounter few problems reaching him. Forecast: 185 yards, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

Running Back:

Start- Marshawn Lynch- Lynch takes on the woeful Bungles Defense this week and is probably tickled pink about it. He ran for 84 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against Baltimore, who is roughly three times as good as Cincy's D is. With quarterback J.P Losman back and raring to go, Marshawn will have more room to run and should take advantage. Forecast: 125 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sit- Frank Gore- It's been a really trying season for Gore. He lost his mother, he has been dealing with an ankle injury and his offensive line cannot open a hole for him if their lives depended on it. Though, on paper, a matchup against Atlanta seems tasty, I think Gore is more hurt than he's letting on and will struggle even against the Falcons. Don't give up entirely on him yet, but you probably have a better option on your bench. Forecast- 50 yards, 2 receptions, 15 yards.

Wide Receiver:

Start- Brandon Stokley- Stokley makes for a sneaky start against Detroit this week. He has proven to be one of QB Jay Cutler's favorite targets in recent weeks (He caught a combined ten balls for 141 yards and a touchdown the last two weeks.) With Javon Walker out for several more weeks, look for this trend to continue. Forecast: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sit- Steve Smith- To say that Smith has had a rough season thus far would be a ridiculous understatement. Things don't get much better this week against a resurgent Tennessee defense. David Carr, never one of football's most accurate quarterbacks, will likely having flashbacks to his Texans' days and will be running for his life. Sadly, Smith will probably be open as he is still one of the WR's out there, but he will produce another lousy performance for his owners. Forecast- 3 receptions, 30 yards

Tight End:

Start- Vernon Davis- Davis is a superstar whose career is still waiting to take off. He's been hampered by injuries and truly bad quarterback play. However, with San Francisco's main weapon, Frank Gore, hobbling around on one good ankle and WR Darrell Jackson doing his usual "You paid me a lot of money, but I'll be constantly injured" routine, someone has to step up and that man is V.D (ouch...unfortunate initials.) Forecast- 6 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sit- Eric Johnson- It seems like everyone else on New Orleans has gotten in on Drew Brees' Rise from the dead except Johnson. He came up short last week with just two catches for 12 measly yards on a day when Drew threw for 4 touchdowns. Johnson is, at the best of times, an safety outlet for a struggling quarterback and is often an afterthought in the game plan. There ought to be at least two TE's who have a better situation this week. Forecast- 3 receptions, 20 yards

Defense:

Start- Washington- The Redskins are mad as hell and won't be taking it anymore. They got destroyed by the Patriots last week and are looking for a team to take their frustrations out on. Along comes the Jets with their anemic offense, patchwork offensive line and newbie quarterback. The Redskins really couldn't ask for a better matchup than this one. Forecast- 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.

Sit- Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings have been...well, "Vikings"...when it comes to defending the rush this year. However, they haven't yet had to play a guy named LaDainian yet, who is kryptonite to opposing defenses. San Diego's Phillip Rivers is also managing the game better, making key throws when he needs to compliment the hurricane force of Tomlinson's running. Oh yeah, they also have some guy named Gates who's supposed to be pretty good at catching footballs. Forecast- 1 sack

Guest Column: Against the Spread picks- Week 9 by William Jones

2007-11-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Ok kids.....I'm back with the picks for the NFL Week 9. A quick reminder that these picks are for entertainment purposes only. Don't put your hard earned money on players who get paid regardless of the outcome. And, if you do, there is one key element to pay attention to: Don't let your wife find out.

Cincinnati -1 @ Buffalo - This may be the lock of the century. Ocho Cinco is not pleased with his recent lack of opportunities to showcase his entertaining end zone antics and will look to rectify the situation post-haste. He needs the ball and shall receive it this week. I have no idea who is running the ball for the Tiger-Cats, but with their air attack, who cares? The Cinci Offense outpaces the suspect Bills O and wins by a landslide!

Washington - 3.5 @ NYJ - OK, the Jets are my boys and I hate picking against them but their best player (L. Coles) is out. Gunslinger QB Kellen C. gets a shot and that should spell turnovers all day for Jersey's second team. The Redskins' D will be itching to erase last week's embarrassment against the Pats. Washington runs the ball all day, Los Jets can't stop the run...any questions?

UPSET SPECIAL!!!

Green Bay +2 @ Kansas City-Yeah, I know they had a short week, a tough overtime win at Mile High and Arrowhead is an impossible place to visit and win but you can't count the Pack out...I love the D and Favre is having the time of his life. LJ is nice, but I can't see the QB situation in KC overcoming that fierce D. So much against them and Green Bay gets the win anyway!

"Do you believe in miracles?" Part Two

2007-11-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so perhaps it wasn't nearly as impressive as Team USA's Olympic stunner over the ridiculously talented Soviet squad in 1980. However, the Islanders did manage to defeat a very good Tampa Bay Lightning team for the first time in two years last night.

The Lightning have always had some sort of mystical hold on the Isles. Even the dreadful Tampa Bay clubs of the past have managed to stomp all over New York. Recently, the Lightning have just outright dominated the series. Martin St. Louis, in particular, has used these games to pump up his stats.

However, a corner may have been turned. New York turned in an inspired performance, outplaying the struggling Lightning in most facets of the game. True, they needed an outstanding Rick Dipietro in goal (as well as a couple of lucky goalposts) to do it, but shutting out Tampa Bay requires an entire team effort.

What was the reason for such a gritty, on-the-same-page response? Was it the occasion of Mike Sillinger's 1,000th contest and the team wanted to play well? Was it the upcoming one game return to coaching of Al Arbour that had them "jacked up"? Or were they simply tired of always losing to Vinny LeCavalier & Company and decided to take a stand?

Whatever the reason, the Islanders demonstrated that, when they're firing on all cylinders, they are a competitive team to be reckoned with. It is coach Ted Nolan's job to make sure that efforts like last night's are the norm and not just an anomaly.

Guest Column: College Football Picks by William Jones

2007-11-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

This week looks to pick up where we left off last week when we went 2-1 (Texas A&M went down the tubes, taking their coach with them!) with a three-play of picks.

Kansas State (-14) @ Iowa State - The numbers indicate K-State to be a 34.5 point favorite in this one with I-State giving up an average of 32 points per game. Since upsetting rival Iowa in week 3, I-State has lost all their conference games. K-State, coming off a last second loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago, drubbed Baylor by 38 this past Saturday, a Baylor team that beat it's I-AA opponent while I-State lost to theirs. K-State covers no problem vs. a team with nothing left to win.

LSU(-7) @ Alabama - OK, we know LSU is, most likely, the best team in the country. But this game will hinge on one thing and one thing only...Saban gets to play his first game against LSU after leaving them to go to the Dolphins in 2005. This will be the first and only time some of his former recruits (class of 2009) at LSU will get a chance to show up the man who promised them the moon and then left for Miami. I'm sure, given a do-over, each and every one of the players he recruited would still have picked LSU but they have to feel some level of betrayal. Interestingly, media pieces quoting Alabama players discussing the LSU game have been plentiful, but LSU player quotes are in scarce supply. Hmmmm. Last time I saw this in a rivalry game, UCLA upset USC last year, killing any shot the Trojans had of getting to the Championship Game. Take the grudge, LSU's battle to regain a BCS championship berth and the fact that they are a statistical 11 point favorite and the Tigers will get their revenge on Saban. Go with LSU.

The UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK!!! Georgia Tech (-2.5) v. Virginia Tech (Thursday Nov.1) - Both teams have been going up and down the polls this year for different reasons. GT had a storybook season last year, but lost superstar WR Calvin Johnson to the NFL. VT, a perennial ACC favorite, entered the season reeling from the tragedy that occurred there. Both teams have adjusted nicely, with GT leaning on stud RB Tashard Choice and VT easing into a groove after a bad early loss to LSU. Both teams are near equals statistically, with the math working GT out to be a true 2.5 point favorite. The x-factor to this game will be Choice and his #1 backup sitting out this game with injuries. The third option has a better yard per rush average and as many TD's as Choice, but we'll see if he can carry the load. After thumping their last two opponents (Clemson and Duke) by 18+ points each, VT was ready to prove they were emotionally ready to take hold of the ACC. They went up to play BC in the rain and let their guard down in the final two minutes after dominating a sloppy, run oriented game. They won't take their foot off GT's throat this week. VT wins outright!

We've been 2-1 but this week's slate had so many generous games, I'm thinking we should go 3-0.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse and other thoughts from Week 9

2007-10-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Another week, another blowout by the Brady Bunch. So what makes this one so noteworthy? Try 52 points scored against a formerly decent Redskins defense. As one of the football-crazed British folks who watched the Giants-Dolphins game on Sunday might say, "What's Belichick playing at, eh?"

Are all these games Billy's revenge against the league for punishing him over Spygate? Is he not only going for a perfect season, but one so dominant that it leaves no question in anyone's mind as to who the greatest coach who ever lived is? Whatever his reasons, he did show a lack of class in continuing to keep the pedal to the metal throughout the 4th quarter. Mark my words: An injury will occur at some point if he continues to leave his starters on the field that late in blowouts and he will have no one but himself to blame. He should also remember that, if the Pats ever find themselves in a similar situation as the teams they've beaten up so badly, those same teams will not hesitate to dunk their heads in the toilet the way New England has done to them. Paybacks could be a you-know-what.

On the the Week's thoughts:

- I've written plenty over the course of the season about Brett Favre's joie de vivre and how great it is to see the enthusiasm he displays on a weekly basis, so I won't bore you with more of it here. Instead, let's talk about the way that Brett can still sling the pigskin at his age. That scoring strike to Greg Jennings that ended last night's overtime thriller was a thing a beauty to behold.

- Boy, Jeff Garcia sure made up for lost time this week, didn't he? He hadn't thrown an interception all season long, then puts three picks up on Sunday.

- Speaking of rare occurrences, did we have a Matt Jones sighting this week? You bet your booty we did. Fantastic play by the invisible Jags WR. We look forward to his next catch sometime in the 2009 season.

- Guess the rumors of the death of Joseph Addai's Fantasy Value were greatly exaggerated, eh?

- Of all the ways the Pats humiliated the Redskins this week, the greatest was the fake spike turned in by Brady to Moss. Criss Angel doesn't sell illusions any better than Tom Terrific.

- I can't imagine the London game captured the imagination of too many new fans across the pond. An Englishman who plays in my fantasy league remarked that pretty much everyone in the UK who is interested in American football was in attendance. 90,000 out of 60 million? Not great, but still a much better ratio than Americans who care about the NHL.

- Is everyone buying Drew Brees' resurgence now? I am.

- Lastly, the San Diego Chargers deserve credit for the heartfelt tribute they gave to the firefighters of the area who battled the horrible blazes. There was much talk about how distracted the players would be and how they were ripe for an upset, but I likened this game to the Saints return to the Superdome. There was no way this team was going to let down the fans of their hometown that had suffered so much recently. Does a win make up for losing your house? No, of course not. But Sports are supposed to give the fans an outlet to forget their problems and the Chargers responded brilliantly.

Guest Column: College Football Picks by William Jones

2007-10-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, now that the wedding bells have stopped ringing, our Blogmeister,Frank, can get back to work and I can get my picks out to the starving masses after a couple of weeks off. New rule: no fluff picks...I know most fans are looking for as many picks as possible, but we're going to focus on quality, not quantity.With that, let's look at Week 9 of the NCAA.

Middle Tennessee State -12.5 visiting North Texas - The fact that North Texas is arguably the worst team in D-1 isn't really what put us on this pick. Dwight Dasher, the QB for the MTSU, is what you'd get if you could combine Michael Vick at Virginia Tech and Kordell Stewart at Colorado...and you put him against Sun Belt Conference caliber defenses. North Texas is used to losing by 30+ points and MTSU, while the overall record is deceiving, look at them since they played LSU and inserted Dasher and they have dominated on Offense, giving the D more chances to make plays. This team will play in a minor bowl, no question. Take MTSU in a laugher.

Oregon -3 vs. USC - Living in SoCal, I have been hearing all the USC fans gush about it matters not who the QB is against the Ducks since either one of them will walk away with a victory...not so fast! The USC line has been obliterated with injuries and they actually had a student walk out of biology class and onto the practice field just because he had size...forget that he hadn't played football since high school and never played O-Line! USC hasn't played anyone impressive. They will have lots of first year players who have never played in an environment as hostile as Autzen Stadium or against an offense as deceptive as OU. This will be a matter of how the Trojan's offense plays against the decent OU defense and, with the lack of continuity of the O-Line, Sanchez starting in that noise bowl and the lack of big playmakers at the wideout position will cause the offense to sputter. Look for the O-Line to take offsides and holding calls all day. I'm going with the Ducks.

Kansas -3 at Texas A&M - Look at this for the upset of the week. Kansas is 7-0, the bulk of those wins coming against weak opponents. A&M needs a win desperately before going on a rough stretch facing Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas...if they come away with one win out of those three, I'll be shocked. Kansas is fairly full of themselves and this is the first real tough road-test, after playing K-State (had to believe Kansas had fans travel for that) and Colorado in away games. A&M has a 260 lbs RB who is unstoppable...this may be a clock-eating affair... let's go with A&M!

Start/Sit: Week 8

2007-10-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Quarterback:

Start: Brian Griese- How can you not love this matchup? Griese has to be brimming with confidence after last week's stunning comeback against the Bears. Also, he has thrown for 300 yards a game and 8 touchdowns over the last 4 games. Detroit may be able to garner a couple of turnovers, but they will not stop Bernard Berrian and friends from finding the end zone. Forecast: 310 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

Sit: Eli Manning- You must be saying "He's gotta be kidding me. Manning is an automatic start against the Dolphins!" Let me explain: Manning will do very well early on against the hapless Fins and therein lies the problem. There will be no need to throw the ball after the second quarter since the Giants will completely dominate Miami with the ground game. In Fantasy Football, it's sometimes better to start a lesser QB who will be slinging the ball all game. Forecast: 150 yards, 1 touchdown

Running Back:

Start: Fred Taylor- Jacksonville lost David Garrard last week to injury and, if you watched Quinn Gray take the reins, they also lost their entire passing game in the process. Jacksonville's only hope is to run the ball 30 or more times. With MJD hampered with a slightly sprained knee, Taylor will get the lion's share of the carries. The Bucs can be run on. Forecast: 105 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Steven Jackson- He seems like he's raring to go, but I don't imagine the Rams will just throw him in there and let him carry 25 times after missing 4 weeks with an injured groin. Scott Linehan may have a losing ball club, but he's no dummy. Jackson will be worked in slowly, thereby limiting his fantasy potential. I know the matchup is tempting, but stay away. Forecast: 45 yards, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start: Jerricho Cotchery- The Jets are reeling and need this game like a drowning man craves air. Chad Pennington will be anxious to prove that Coach Mangini made the correct decision in sticking with him. Cotchery often goes under the radar as opposing defenses focus on Laveranues Coles and that is to his benefit. Look for the Jets to attack through the air and for JC to be the prime beneficiary. Forecast: 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Santonio Holmes- Those who choose to start Holmes may suffer a similar fate to Eli Manning owners: Their man just may not be utilized very much. While the Cincinnati defense is horrible, the Pittsburgh defense is not and they will control the game. This means that the Steelers, who would like to define themselves as a power running team, will probably run the ball upwards of 35 times during the game, so passing opportunities could be few and far between. They will be content to let the Bengals make the mistakes through the air. Forecast: 4 receptions, 65 yards.

Tight End:

Start: Donald Lee- Bubba Franks is out for this game and Brett Favre has been known to throw the ball a time or two. Lee makes for a sneaky play here against Denver's formerly formidable pass defense. Pittsburgh threw 3 touchdowns to their TE's last week, so the Broncos clearly can be had while focusing on the opposing WR's. Forecast: 4 catches, 40 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Chris Cooley- Cooley and the Redskins play New England this weekend and the TE position's production will be on Belichick's radar as one of the key areas to limit. Expect the Pats to throw a variety of blitzes at Jason Campbell, who will likely not be able to handle the pressure. This will certainly hinder Cooley's numbers. There should be better options available this week. Forecast: 3 catches, 30 yards.

Defense:

Start: Tampa Bay- As noted earlier in this column, Jacksonville will have trouble passing the ball. The Bucs will be able to focus almost exclusively on stopping the run and should be at least marginally successful. On the rare occasion that the Jaguars do throw the ball, Tampa's ball-hawking defensive backfield ought to be able to snag a few turnovers. Forecast: 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.

Sit: San Francisco- Drew Brees and Co. have turned a corner and are once again becoming a fantasy force to be reckoned with. The problem with Niners is not that their defense is terrible...their offense is. The D will spend way too much time on the field and will be gassed by late in the 3rd quarter. Forecast: 1 sack, 1 interception.

Loves me some Zetterberg and other NHL thoughts

2007-10-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

It's a complete mystery to me why some are surprised that Henrik Zetterberg is having such a fine season (7g, 11a, +6). He's the starting LW for a powerful offensive team and has been chock full of potential since he entered the league. He has also demonstrated an ability to come through in the clutch as evidenced by his 25 career GW goals. I think Zetterberg somehow gets overlooked when the conversation turns to Great Left Wings in the game today...but he won't be for long.

Other thoughts:

- It only a matter of time before Tim Thomas takes over the starting goaltender job in Boston, sending big ticket Free Agency item Manny Fernandez scurrying to the bench. They've each started 4 games. Goals against? Fernandez-16, Thomas-5. Not to mention, the Bruins seem to play with more confidence with TT in the net.

- Speaking of goalies, Martin Gerber is also making a serious run at staying the Senator's top choice. Ray Emery may be back from wrist surgery, but in his absence, the Senators didn't lose a step with Marty G backstopping them. He has accumulated 6 wins against one loss this season. Look for Gerber to either take the starting spot outright or be traded to goalie starved L.A as his value is extremely high right now.

- Mr. Consistency Mats Sundin is playing up to his usual standards. He's second in the league in scoring. Nik Antropov and Jason Blake's contributions notwithstanding, Sundin is once again carrying the Leafs with very little help. He can be a scary presence on the ice and I'm not just talking about his uncanny resemblance to Skeletor.

- What's up with the Rangers? That seems to be the million dollar question around the league. Many Islander fans are reveling in the Blueshirts' current troubles. To them, I say this: Enjoy it while you can. This Ranger team is not like the previous incarnations ( a place where over the hill veterans came to cash in on their former glory for one last paycheck...Valeri Kamensky, I'm talking to you.). Their issues right now boil down to injury woes and chemistry. The former is a roll of the dice and will happen to every team at some point this season and the latter takes more time to develop. When it does, I believe the Rangers will go on a tear that will have people losing their breath....and my fellow Isles fans crying in their beer.

- Speaking of being on a tear, the Minnesota Wild has been...um...running wild (couldn't resist) as of late. They are 7-1 despite not having a single player in double digits in scoring. Some of this success can be attributed to the superb play of goalie Nicklas Backstrom, but this is a team which is truly more impressive as a sum of it's parts as opposed to having players that garner individual accolades.

- finally, raise your hand if you thought that the Flyers would have a better record than the Penguins at this point in the season? Yup, that's what I thought.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls......

2007-10-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

...it tolls for thee, Chad Pennington.

While the season-long struggles of the Jets can be more attributed to an indescribably horrific defensive showing, it can no longer be ignored that, though Pennington is a warrior who will go through a wall each every week in an attempt to win, the winds of change are blowing in Hempstead. It is time to see if Kellen Clemmens can shoulder the load. His stronger arm will lead to more downfield chances and will give the Jets a chance to compete in the shootouts that will inevitably ensue due to the aforementioned lack of defense. It may not be the definitive answer, but clearly something must be done before the Jets end up with the #2 pick behind the Dolphins (come to think of it, that wouldn't be a bad thing).

More thoughts from Week 7:

- Tom Brady throws six more td passes, giving him 27 for the season (or, to put it another way, 1 more than all of last season.) Are you kidding me? We all knew his receiving corps would be improved over last season, but let's look closer: I feel the credit must go to an outstanding offensive line. They clearly keep Brady upright and give him the time to dissect the defense.

- Tough news for Ronnie Brown. The league's leading rusher one day, candidate for ACL surgery the next. The Dolphins certainly weren't going anywhere this year anyway, but now they are the obvious frontrunners in the Draft Day sweepstakes.

- Great news for Titans fans. Your team never needs to score another touchdown again. Just let Rob Bironas kick 8 field goals every single week. Who would've guessed that anyone, let alone a kicker, would've stolen Brady's thunder on Sunday?

- You really have to feel for Frank Gore these days. The guy is such a competitor, he played the entire second half "purely on Adrenalin" according to a source while battling an ankle sprain. There was no way the Niners were going to win that game and no one would've faulted Gore for sitting and trying to remain healthy for the rest of the schedule. The San Francisco coaching staff should've stepped in and made him take a seat.

- Ye Gods, a Running Back by Committee situation in Indy? Is nothing sacred? All Joseph Addai owners, if they haven't already, need to lay their hands on Kenton Keith asap. You may even consider breaking one of Fantasy Football's most highly touted Commandments: Thou shalt never, under any circumstance, play two RB's from the same backfield. With the Colts passing game the way it is, Indy can easily play Ball Control in the second half of most games. If they are going to continue to alternate carries between the two, you could probably do worse for your RB scoring.

- I think that, if I'm a Larry Fitzgerald owner, I'm wondering if Fitz did something bad to Kurt Warner (perhaps had an affair with his wife, then left her stranded in the desert with no gas) that makes God Boy ignore him in the Red Zone. Warner seems to look for everybody else (Anquan Boldin, Leonard Pope, the waterboy, Laura Bush) but Larry when it comes time to score.

"Only Mad Dogs and Englishmen.....

2007-10-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

....go out in the mid-day sun." I know this to be true, having just spent 11 days on the beautiful island of Tobago for my honeymoon, watching pale vacationers park themselves on beach chairs in the unrelenting heat for hours at a time, crisping their delicate skin to a fiery reddish tone.

For those not in the know, Tobago is a small island near the eastern coast of South America. It is influenced tremendously by the British and therefore 90% of the resort was occupied by Her Majesty's citizens. This was not, for the most part, a bad thing. I tend to find my fellow Americans on vacation to sometimes be a tad embarrassing and loud. The few American Scuba Divers at the hotel certainly didn't disappoint in this regard, (even doing the unthinkable...The Electric Slide.....during the evening's entertainment down on the patio while my wife and I desperately attempted to distance ourselves by appearing as European as possible.)

Though the English may be reserved, they are far from boring as evidenced by the characters we witnessed on this trip. First up was an old gentleman we nicknamed "Brother" for his charming habit of referring to every male he encountered as his brethren. I moved out of his way at the buffet line and received a cheery "Thank you, Brother!" for my consideration. Easily 60+ years old, Brother was the unquestioned Big Man on Campus (or Resort as it were). He and his wife were on their tenth trip to the hotel and seemed to know every staff member by name.

There were other notable individuals as well: "Dumpster" (a stout, boisterous, linebacker of a woman who wouldn't seem out of place in a Sumo ring), "Snarky Snarkerson" ( a 12 year old boy whose face appeared to be frozen in a permanent sneer...my favorite memory involving him occurred when his own parents, tired of the boy's constant bellyaching, dumped him off the kayak they were all riding in and paddled away as the impudent lad flipped them off) and the Cholesterol Brothers (a portly duo straight out of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels". The fatter one could've easily won a Wet T-Shirt contest had one been held. However, their veins were also full of a genuine love of fun and they provided many hours of beach side antics.)

Coco Reef Resort and Hotel has the most tranquil and beautiful lagoon I have ever had the pleasure to come across in the Caribbean. The newly-minted Mrs. P&P and I snorkeled to our heart's content by the amazing reef and found ourselves up to the neck in Sergeant Majors and Clownfish. We also brought down bread rolls from breakfast and lunch and stood in the waist high clear water, literally feeding these same fish by hand. An unparalleled experience, I assure you.

If it sounds like we were clutched tightly against Mother Nature's breast, well....we were. At no time was this more evidenced than the occasion when we were sitting in the open air patio area, enjoying a nice breeze and some shade. I glanced to my left and saw a 2 1/2 foot snake slither into the area. Anyone who knows me knows that, by all I find Holy, I do NOT do snakes. Exhibiting a cowardice which shames me as I write this, I dashed off to the Front Desk for help, leaving Mrs. P&P (who, for the record, is much braver than her husband) behind with the viper (ok, so it was most likely some sort of non venomous garden snake...but I wasn't taking any chances). The serpent went away unharmed and peace reigned once more, leaving me only slightly shaken and a little worse for wear.

Overall, a wonderful journey to a place not many of my fellow countrymen know about. However, I missed football and hockey and missed writing for all of you. I'm back and raring to go.

Revenge: Sweet for some, bitter for others...thoughts from Week 4

2007-10-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Week 4 saw a number of "Revenge" games in the NFL....players that suited up against their recent former teams. There were a number of good performances turned in, but who could top Daunte Culpepper's thrashing of the Dolphins? DC basically told the Fins "How you like Joey Harrington over me now?"

Jamal Lewis scored a touchdown against the Ravens and their defense which, according to Ray Lewis, "has no weaknesses". I guess there might have been ONE weakness, eh, Ray? I mean, considering the fact that your team lost and all.

Matt Schaub played well, but couldn't pull out a win against Atlanta and Darrell Jackson barely made Seattle notice he was on the field. Just remember, guys: Revenge is a dish best served cold. The Count of Monte Cristo waited over a decade for his revenge. Your time will come much sooner.

On to the thoughts:

- Anyone who cannot share in the joy of Brett Favre breaking the record for touchdown passes thrown is not a real football fan. I have written before of how refreshing it is to see Favre's true love of the game on display every week, but nothing could exceed the euphoria a true fan must have felt when he saw Brett sprint down the field after the historic throw. One question, though: Do you think Green Bay management has a collective heart attack every time Favre picks one of these guys up on his shoulders and runs around with them? The possibility of straining something important would be high, I feel.

- A disgusting situation in Cincinnati occurred (and I'm not talking about the Bengals performance) when New England's Mike Vrabel, having just caught a touchdown pass, ran to the stands, offered a Bengals fan the ball, then snatched it away from him. It was a surprisingly classless move by a normally upstanding individual. The fans pay your salary, Mike...remember that the next time you diss one on national television.

- Was anyone else impressed by Green Bay punter John Ryan ducking and weaving for a first down on the fake punt attempt? I haven't seen such movement from Ryan since he took down Sean Miller in the movie "Patriot Games". Oh wait, that was Jack Ryan. My apologies.

- A rather impressive defensive effort by the Giants, no? You would've figured that, eventually, The Eagles could have given Winston Justice some help in defending against Osi Umenyiora when the Nigerian Nightmare recorded his 5th sack of the night. What were they thinking? The sixth time would be the charm? If I'm Donovan McNabb (and I'm glad I'm not), I'm pretty peeved right now with Andy Reid.

- Where have you gone, Rex Grossman? A Bears Nation turns it's lonely eyes to you...boo hoo hoo.

All right, people: Pigskins and Pucks will be going on hiatus until late October, owing to the fact that I'm marrying Mrs. Pigskins&Pucks this Sunday and going on our honeymoon to Tobago.

Preview of the NHL Season-Southeast Division

2007-10-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Carolina Hurricanes:

Strengths: Though Eric Staal had a down year last season, he should bounce back to once again produce upwards of 90 points....Rod Brind'Amour's veteran leadership is essential to this team's success. There's few better at providing such an asset....The Hurricanes should have a healthy Cory Stillman back in their lineup. He missed a large portion of last season with a shoulder injury.

Weaknesses: The health of the defensive corps is a huge concern. Frantisek Kaberle, Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley all missed significant time last year....Cam Ward will have to play better in goal this season for Carolina to reasonably expect to do well. The depth behind him is too weak to provide any relief....The team as a whole must bounce back from last year's disappointing finish.

Prediction: 1st in Southeast Division

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Strengths: It would be hard to count out any team that boasts Vincent LeCavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards in their lineup....The Lightning added bulk and toughness to their defense in the off-season....They also added Michel Ouellet and expect him to boost the power play.

Weaknesses: Dan Boyle's freak injury puts a pall on the early season for the Bolts. Boyle was expected to be the number one defense from the beginning and will now miss considerable time....Though they added toughness to the d-line, the loss of Corey Sarich in free agency will hurt....Goaltending is a major issue. If neither John Holmqvist or Marc Denis can handle the job, Tampa Bay will not achieve it's potential.

Prediction: 2nd in Southeast Division

Washington Capitals:

Strengths: Washington made a big splash in the free agent market this past summer, obtaining Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti. These additions should produce immediate dividends....Alex Ovechkin, already an All Star, now has a better cast around him and should produce even results....The Capitals expect Niklas Backstrom to contribute this year as well, making them very deep at the center position.

Weaknesses: Washington hopes they addresses their special teams' woes with the new additions. Their Penalty Kill was especially weak last year....The defense also suffered last season. The Caps found themselves on the wrong end of way too many late game losses....Washington has to hope that Olaf Kolzig can still stand the rigors of the game at his age. If not, there's not a good answer behind him.

Prediction: 3rd in Southeast Division

Atlanta Thrashers:

Strengths: Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk form a strong tandem that drives the Atlanta offense....The Thrashers are strong in goal. Either Kari Lehtonen or Johan Hedberg could emerge as the starter.....Slava Kozlov had a career season last year and is a veteran presence in the locker room.

Weaknesses: The team as a whole must put the meltdown they experienced in the playoffs behind them. It will be easier said than done....The Thrashers lost Andy Sutton in free agency to the Islanders. Sutton, though slow and at times plodding, provided a toughness and snarl on the blueline that they will have to replace....The defense is a bit on the old side and lacks playmakers.

Prediction: 4th in Southeastern Division

Florida Panthers:

Strengths: Olli Jokinen is a superstar presence whose consistent play will once again anchor the offense....Florida added some very good veteran talent in the offseason to compliment their youth. Tomas Vokoun, Ville Peltonen and Josef Stumpel will greatly aid Jokinen in putting the puck in the net....Vokoun should bring stability to the Panther's goaltending situation. He's the best they've had since the horrific Roberto Luongo trade.

Weaknesses: If Vokoun is not the answer in nets, it will be a very long season in Miami as there is no one behind him capable of shouldering the load....The young players on the team need to continue their forward progress in their development....The Panthers have to hope that Mike Van Ryn's surgery on both wrists has corrected the problems he had last year.

Prediction: 5th in Southeast Division

Preview of the NHL Season- Northeast Division

2007-09-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Ottawa Senators:

Strengths: The Senators boast one of the league's elite collection of scoring firepower, including Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson....The defense remains strong as well. Anton Volchenkov, in particular, provided outstanding play last season and Chris Phillips' steady presence makes this unit particularly hard to beat....Ray Emery proved to be one of the top ten goaltenders last season and is line to have another fine year.

Weaknesses: Wade Redden's play late in the year was a cause for concern as it will if it continues this season....Emery has already sustained an injury in the preseason. His health is paramount to Ottawa's chances of making it back to the Stanley Cup Finals....The team needs to address Dany Heatley's pending free agency status sooner rather than later before it becomes a locker room distraction.

Prediction: 1st in Northeast

Buffalo Sabres:

Strengths: Ryan Miller has proven himself to be among the elite netminders in the league....Buffalo has one of the best rosters comprised of young talent in the NHL. Maxim Afenigenov, Drew Stafford, Tim Connolly and Brian Campbell could all eventually develop into perennial All-Stars....Coach Lindy Ruff had the team playing consistently hard all of last season and there's no reason to think that will change.

Weaknesses: The Sabres were arguably hit the hardest of any team in the league by Free Agent defections this past summer, losing Chris Drury, Daniel Briere and Dainus Zubrus among others. Their contributions will be very hard to replace....Recurring injuries continue to thwart the development of many Buffalo's players....The downside of a having such a young squad is that Veteran leadership is an issue. Someone needs to step up in the locker room and motivate the team when they are behind.

Prediction: 2nd in Northeast Division

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Strengths: This team has already proven they have no problems putting the puck in the net. They bolstered that attribute even further by signing Jason Blake, who scored 40 goals last year for the Islanders....The defense has stepped up and provided a steadier presence, unlike years past. With players like Carlo Colaiacovo and Stefan Kromwell, the Leafs have good core to build from....Toronto signed Vesa Toskala in the offseason, hoping the Finnish goalie will continue his development toward becoming an all star netminder.

Weaknesses: The Leafs Front Office seems to lack a cohesive plan on how to build this team. Their indecision has led to tumult and an unbalanced lineup in recent years....Though Andrew Raycroft recorded 37 wins last season, he lets up too many soft goals. If Toskala does not prove to be the answer in net, the Leafs will find themselves without a reliable goaltender for a stretch run....Toronto has too many players on their roster who play a reckless game and lack discipline for periods of time (Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker are two who come to mind.)

Prediction: 3rd in Northeast Division

Montreal Canadians:

Strengths: The Canadians are solid between the pipes. Cristobal Huet, Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price form a trio that incredible amounts of potential....Montreal has several budding talents in their system on the Offensive front as well. Players like Guillaume Latendresse and Andrei Kostitsyn should continue their development this season....Andrei Markov also has the ability to bloom eventually into an All Star.

Weaknesses: The Canadians lost a big source of scoring when Sheldon Souray left the team to go to Edmonton....Montreal signed Roman Hamrlik and Brian Smolinski during Free Agency, but neither player will have a tremendous impact on the team's fortunes and will eat up valuable cap space....The chemistry in the locker room has not been right for awhile and the current roster seems to fold under the immense pressure from the Montreal media. They lack a few strong voices to right the ship.

Prediction: 4th in the Northeast Division

Boston Bruins:

Strengths- The Bruins have possibly the league's most underrated center in Marc Savard. He put up 96 points last season....Phil Kessel came out on top with his battle against cancer and has a load of potential. this could be a big year for him....The Bruins acquired Manny Fernandez to stabilize their situation in goal. Fernandez combined with Niklas Backstrom last season to win the Jennings Trophy.

Weaknesses- Beyond Zdeno Chara, there is very little else to boast about in the Bruins Defensive Corps....Claude Julien takes over the coaching reins. There has been some doubt expressed about his ability to galvanize the dressing room into a cohesive unit....An injury to Fernandez, who has never played more than 55 games in a season in his career, would leave the Bruins with considerably less talented goaltending options and would likely doom their season.

Prediction: 5th in Northeast

Guest Column: Against The Spread Picks-Week 4 by William Jones

2007-09-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last week we went 2-1 in the NFL and we're looking for a perfect week to get us on the positive side for good!

Game 1 - Green Bay -1 @ Minnesota - Let me just say I LOVE the Minnesota defense. Now, let me add one thing...I REALLY LOVE the Green Bay defense! If you look at this game, it's about the QB's. You have Brett Favre, The Bayou Legend himself vs. Kelly Holcomb. All thing being equal, it's a no-brainer. Adrian Peterson can clear a spot on the mantle for his Rookie of the Year award now, but stacking the line against him will only get the Vikes so far. Rainman could be the Packers Defensive Coordinator on this one...Stack against the run and let your top quality cover men lock down the receivers. Packers D will have to record at least 3 sacks and 2 picks this week.... AND they get the win, so we'll give up the measly 1 point and take the Pack.

Game 2 - Jets -3.5 @ Buffalo - The Bills have been a tough home team in years past and the Jets look like a far different team from last year's playoff contenders but this game is all about injuries. The Bills have been annihilated with at least 7 starters expected to sit this one out. They have rookie Trent Edwards starting at QB. It took the Jets 3 games to get a sack; look for them to add 2 or more in this game and win easily. The difference will be Special Teams and Defensive touchdowns. Take the Jets and give up the always dangerous 3.5 points.

And the UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK!!! - Chicago -3 @ Detroit - Keeping with the theme of injuries, let's take a look at the real story at Chicago. This Rex Grossman thing is a band-aid on an amputation since Griese obviously has no business starting anyway (if he did, he would've beaten out Rex in training camp.) Chicago will lose and lose badly this weekend because of injuries at each level of their defense....Tommy Harris (Defensive Line), Lance Briggs (Linebacker) and Nathan Vasher(Defensive Back). When each tier of your defense is compromised, I have no idea how you can win. Griese manages the game but just as they expected Rex not to LOSE games, I can't expect Brian to WIN games for them. Detroit's high flying offense keeps the second stringers on defense running, causing the Bears to run out of gas in the fourth. Take the Lions and the 3 points...they win outright!

Start/Sit: Week 4

2007-09-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't been all that on target lately with my picks, but that's the nature of the beast. As I said in my first post on the subject, any idiot can tell you to start Peyton Manning and LT every week. There are just some guys who you never sit...period. My job is to try and identify some guys who may be under the radar who might produce better than usual. On the flip side, I might pinpoint some studs who have difficult matchups that you may be better off sitting.

On to this week's picks:

Quarterback:

Start: Phillip Rivers- Prince Phillip finally had a breakout game last week and it came against a very stout Defense. He appears to be developing chemistry with Vincent Jackson, giving him three legitimate hot targets (Gates and some guy named LaDainian being the other two). Also, with all signs pointing to Tomlinson on the path to fantasy recovery, Rivers will get his chances to exploit an elderly Chiefs defense. Forecast: 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Sit: Jay Cutler- Cutler had a nice game last week against a tough Jacksonville defense, but he faces another uphill task in the Colts now. Brandon Marshall has been a nice surprise for him this year, but leading receiver Javon Walker is hobbled and, even if Walker plays, his chances of having a big game are slim. Cutler will have to throw plenty to keep up with the great Indianapolis offense and, without his receiving corps at full strength, I don't see him succeeding. Forecast: 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks

Running Back:

Start: Thomas Jones- The poor Buffalo Bills have been decimated by injuries to their starting defensive lineup. That bodes well for Jones, who has seen his workload increase each week. The Jets will look to get on the board early and then control the clock, relying heavily on TJ to keep the Bills D on the field. Forecast: 105 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Adrian Peterson- Peterson is one of the frontrunners for Rookie of the year. However, he draws the Green Bay Defense this week and the rest of the Vikings offense is devoid of playmakers. Adding in the fact that Chester Taylor may return from injury this week, thereby cutting into AP's carries, so I suggest that you may be better off finding someone else to play RB on Sunday. Forecast- 50 yards

Wide Receiver:

Start: Wes Welker- The Bengals will be so focused on stopping Randy Moss that Welker will have ample opportunity to get open. A strong receiver in his own right, his forte is his ability to exploit the seams in the Cover 2, which will come in handy as it happens to be a glaring weakness of Cincinnati's. Tom Brady knows he has weapons other than Moss and will look Welker's way often. Forecast: 6 catches, 70 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Anquan Boldin- Granted, his performance against the Ravens was impressive last week. However, Boldin is clearly hurting this week (injured hip) and may be limited if he even plays at all. He goes against a solid Pittsburgh defense and, no matter who the Cardinals choose to rotate in at QB, I don't see him having a successful outing. Forecast: 4 catches, 40 yards.

Tight End:

Start: Dallas Clark- With dynamic duo Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison blanketed by Denver's elite cornerbacks, Clark has the opportunity to have a special game here. Peyton Manning looks his way often and Clark is too shifty for the Denver linebackers. The Colts will probably be throwing less than usual due to the fact that they should run the ball effectively on Denver, but when they do, you can bet that Clark will be a prime recipient. Forecast: 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Heath Miller- This may seem like an odd choice because Ben Roethlisberger clearly enjoys throwing to his TE's in the Red Zone. However, that's the problem: The throws can go to any one of three tight ends (Matt Spaeth, Jerame Tuman or Miller). The Steelers will look to have a run-heavy day with Hines Ward out, so you must downgrade expectations for their entire receiving corps, Miller included. Forecast: 3 catches, 30 yards.

Defense:

Start: Dallas- The Cowboys are not yet an elite, every week starter. But they are matchup-friendly and they have a good opportunity here against a severely hurt St. Louis squad. Marc Bulger will be limited both in his throws and his movement due to playing with broken ribs and Steven Jackson is out, giving Brian Leonard his first NFL start at RB. Forecast: 3 sacks, 2 interceptions.

Sit: Chicago- I'm sure you must be rubbing your eyes, saying to yourself "He's not SERIOUSLY recommending benching the best defense in the league?" Yes, I am and here's why: They have been devastated by injuries and will not be the usual defensive force they have been, especially defending against the pass. They draw pass-heavy Detroit this week, whose elite receivers will be able to take advantage of the Bear's misfortune. Forecast: 2 sacks, 1 interception.

Preview of the NHL Season- Atlantic Division

2007-09-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

1. Pittsburgh Penguins:

Strengths- The Pens pack a formidable offensive punch led by soon-to-legendary Sidney Crosby.... They also have an excellent Evengi Malkin centering the second line. Malkin posted 85 points last season....They added veteran Peter Sykora in the offseason and may pair him with Crosby, making for a potentially combustible scoring situation.

Weaknesses- Marc Andre Fleury, despite his 40 wins last season, has not proven yet that he is capable of being the premiere goaltender that Pittsburgh has missed since Tom Barrasso left....The young Defensive Corps, while showing excellent potential, still has a ways to go in terms of developing....The team relies so much on Crosby that an injury to the young star would be devastating to it's bottom line.

Prediction: 1st in Atlantic Division

2. New York Rangers:

Strengths- The Rangers obtained Chris Drury and Scott Gomez in the off season, two of the most sought after Free Agents in the market. How these two fit it on Broadway remains to be seen, but there is no denying their skill level....Jaromir Jagr remains one of the game's all time greats at age 35. He tallied 96 points last season....Henrik Lundqvist's play in goal stabilized the team last season and has made the transition to a post-Mike Richter era smoother.

Weaknesses- Their defense remains a huge question mark. Though certainly not a poor group by any stretch, there are many concerns that they do not play an overly physical game...Marc Staal is an important piece of the future for the Rangers, but may be pressed into heavier action than he's ready for at this stage in his career should injuries mount on the blue line...There's not much proven depth behind Lundquist in goal.

Prediction: 2nd in Atlantic Division

3. New Jersey Devils:

Strengths- Martin Brodeur is one of the best to ever strap on the pads and remains an elite goaltender. Kevin Weekes will do fine in a fill in role for the Devils whenever Brodeur needs one of his infrequent nights off....Zach Parise continued his meteoric development last year and should be a tremendous offensive force this season...The defensive corps, though young, is an underrated unit that should blossom.

Weaknesses- The Devils were decimated during the free agency period, losing Brian Rafalski, Scott Gomez and Brad Lukowich. How they replace their output is a definite concern...Few teams rely as heavily on their goaltenders as New Jersey does Brodeur. An injury to him would be cataclysmic to their chances this season....Brent Sutter is a first time NHL coach. He has had quite a bit of success at the junior level, but it is uncertain how that will translate to the major leagues.

Prediction: 3rd in Atlantic Division

4. New York Islanders:

Strengths- Ted Nolan and Garth Snow have been busy ridding themselves of the vestiges of the failed Milbury era and have acquired a number of hard-nosed grinders who will consistently work hard....Bill Guerin brings a positive veteran leadership to the club, a key ingredient they have lacked.....The defense is tougher than it has been in recent years and should also produce more power play points with Marc Andre Bergeron playing a full season.

Weaknesses- The club could be offensively challenged yet again, having lost considerable firepower in the offseason in the forms of Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov and Tom Poti...While the defense added muscle, the corps got slower and may be exposed by faster skating teams....Goaltender Rick Dipietro needs to take a huge jump in his development from an above average goalie to an elite one. Otherwise, the Isles will find themselves on the losing end of quite a few 3-2 games.

Prediction: 4th in Atlantic Division

Philadelphia Flyers:

Strengths: The Flyers acquired Daniel Briere in the offseason, who will bring a much needed infusion of offensive talent to their ranks....Simon Gagne should have another outstanding year playing on Briere's wing....Kimmo Timmonen should quarterback an improved powerplay, a former weakness of the team.

Weaknesses: The defense, though big in stature, remains slow of foot, a factor that will be taken advantage of by more fleet teams....Neither Martin Biron nor Antero Niittiymaki inspires much confidence in terms of providing the Flyers with consistently good goaltending....The team is still very young in their maturation process and doesn't have a strong leader to guide them.

Prediction: 5th in Atlantic Division

Guest Column: College Football Picks by William Jones

2007-09-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last week saw Air Force and Georgia Tech laying eggs while Wake Forest covered the 3 points (in OT, yet!) kept me from going "o-fer". This week's picks have been brought to you by the letters "E", "I" and "S" as in Etched In Stone!

West Virginia -7 visiting Southern Florida - The USF team is nice, but the juggernaut known as the Mountaineers offense has a chip on their shoulder with all the gurus saying they played in a weak conference last year. Now, with USF getting some national attention, this is where WV gets "over" on the "Marks". SF has great team speed on defense, but the Mountaineers have insane firepower with White and Slaton...this one could be a nail biter or a blow out, but, either way, WVU wins it.

Cincinnati -14 visiting San Diego State - Ah, SDSU. The ivy covered walls...the tradition...the academic pride...or not. I'm in SoCal and it's all about Babes and Booze down there. Cincinnati, however, is for real. We're looking at a team that, on average, wins 45-7. It will be a late start for Cincy(10PM EST), but they flew into Oregon State and won by 31 points two weeks ago. This is a Titanium pick! Cinci wins by 40.

UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK!! - Air Force +2.5 visiting Navy at Annapolis -The Air Force Academy was torched by BYU through the air (ironic, eh?)where they are weak. The good news is Navy's Pass to Run ratio is 1:4. AFA is built to stop the run, giving up just over 15 points a game. Since both teams run the ball, this will be a game with fewer possessions and fewer drives, keeping the score close. I expect AFA to win this one outright!

Return of the (previously thought to be) Dead and other thoughts from Week 3

2007-09-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, everybody...raise your hand if you thought Kurt Warner would see the field for meaningful action this year in any other scenario than Matt Leinart being injured.

Ok, let me take a look...You in the back? No?....All right...I come up with exactly....zero hands.

Kurt Warner? Joey Harrington? Roddy White? Nate Burleson?

Who in their right minds could have predicted that ANY of these players would've had a significant Fantasy impact in Week Three? Gotta love the NFL. Who's next? Christian Okoye comes back to spell LJ and runs for 200 yards?

On to the thoughts:

- Good Lord, those Philadelphia uniforms. I haven't seen anything that ugly since I was ten years old and my dentist showed me a picture of a patient who had something called "Trenchmouth". I'm being kind here....This is what the Eagles should do: Auction off the game used uniforms, donate the money to charity, burn the designs, send the "innovator" whose idea this was into hiding in Albania and let's all move on with our lives.

- Staying on the Eagles, their offense moved on the Detroit D like Napoleon through Austerlitz. That's a good thing for Donovan McNabb because, had Philly gone 0-3, he might've been exiled as well....perhaps to a small island in the middle of Lake Muhlenberg.

- I think the Saints are in very, very serious trouble. Tennessee completely outclassed them last night. The news that Deuce McAllister is likely done for the year did not help them any, either. An unfortunate blow to a team that had very high expectations.

- The Giants saved their season with that goal line stand. In fairness, though, I think it speaks more about the Redskins inability to muster a consistently decent red zone offense than anything else.

- Memo to the officials: Either enforce the Horse Collar Tackle rule or choose not to. But do not do what you did on Sunday night in the Bears-Cowboys game. Roy Williams (the man for whom the rule was created) performed the illegal move to bring down Desmond Clark and was rightfully penalized 15 yards. However, on the very next series, the Chicago defense perpetrated the very same horse collar tackle on Julius Jones and was penalized...nothing. It's a very clear judgement, guys...If you tackle someone by grabbing them by the back collar of their jersey and drag them down, it's a penalty. Case closed. There should be none of this "Well, it was just the jersey....You need to get your hand under the shoulder pads" talk.

- I really pity the Buffalo Bills. It seems like they are getting more than their fair share of severe injuries. On the bright side, there's has been a lot of positive progress in regards to Kevin Everett and that's something we should all feel good about.

- Phillip Rivers may have actually arrived as an NFL QB this past week. At this point, he and Antonio Gates are about the only things San Diego has going for them.

That's all for now...look for my upcoming NHL preview later this week.

Guest Column: Against the Spread Picks- Week 3 by William Jones

2007-09-22T09:13:00.001-07:00

We took our lumps in the SD game but we got even with the GB pick to win outright. Then, the pick that looked like pure gold, Seattle -3 over the lowly Cardinals of Arizona, was about to be put away. Seattle was the running the ball with purpose on a clock killing drive that would, in 99 out of 100 cases, produce the game winning TD. In the end, the Two Stooges, Matt and Shaun, make with the pratfall and fumble us into a 1-2 week. But that's fine because we can make it right with the following "fumble-free" picks.

Carolina -3.5 vs. Atlanta - The points dropped from -4 indicating the Atlantites are putting their cash on the Dirty Birds in this one and Vegas needs to make the Panthers more advantageous to balance the action. Well, they didn't have to sell me as the Falcons don't have the firepower to make this competitive. Steve Smith will break a few but will be a decoy for most of the game. Look for the Defense to land half of the points for Carolina. Take Carolina and give up the ugly 3.5 number.

Tampa Bay -3.5 vs. St. Louis - Although we hate the 3.5 number, we'd give up 5.5 in this game as the Bucs are back, baby! Jeff Garcia and his large, bumpy head is the Yoda of the West Coast offense. St. Lunatics D has many holes and the O-Line is still hurting with two guys having to jump around from their natural positions to try to defend Bulger. Tampa Bay is playing at home AND...last week we had national Pirate appreciation Day so all signs point to the Bucs playing Kevorkian as they pull the plug on the Rams. Yo ho ho!

UPSET SPECIAL!!!

Detroit +6 at Philadelphia - Philly has many key injuries and a QB who is flapping his gums to scout out suitors for next year's contract. The formerly airtight McNabb is falling apart at the seams! This game is easy...Detroit can play on both sides of the ball and, even if Philly finds someone to play defense, he'll need ten more just like him. It's simple...Lions offense beats Philly D and Lions D eats up Philly O because it's only real receiver, TE LJ Smith, on the shelf again with a hangnail. Go rent the Brinks truck to bring home the "booty"...Don't forget national Pirate Day! Yo ho ho! Take the Lions with 6 huge points!

We're 1-2 looking now, but can expect nothing less than a clean sweep this week! Go git some!

Start/Sit: Week 3

2007-09-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Quarterbacks:

Start: Jason Campbell- True, he hasn't been all that "Mmm, Mmm Good" as of yet. But he did play an impressive game against Philadelphia on Monday night and added some nice rushing yardage to his so-so passing stats. Washington is playing with confidence right now and Campbell is a big reason why. This week, he draws the G-men, whose secondary and linebacking corps have been less than noteworthy (to put it kindly). Forecast: 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Sit: Donovan McNabb- No, it's not because he's a black quarterback as he might claim (Funny how he brought that up yet again. Could it be a smoke screen to divert attention from his recently awful play? Hmmm.) He's clearly not fully healthy, his main weapon Brian Westbrook is banged up and he faces an underrated Detroit defense this week. These are not the ingredients in a recipe for success. Forecast: 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 3 sacks

Running Back:

Start: Laurence Maroney- His owners are worried about his lack of goal line opportunities and well they should be. He's lost touchdown carries to both Sammy Morris and Heath Evans thus far. However, New England ought to be able to put the game against Buffalo out of reach early and will utilize Maroney to control the clock. Besides, he has the talent to break off a long one every now and again and may get his touchdowns that way. Forecast: 105 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Frank Gore- Kudos to Gore for playing well on what was a very difficult game for him last week after his mother's death. He is an intense competitor and will usually thrive in most situations. However, he plays a ravenous Pittsburgh team this week who will attempt to shut him down and force San Francisco to beat them through the air. The Steelers held the hapless Bills to a field goal last week and the 49er's have a very similar makeup to Buffalo (strong running game, questionable quarterback, underachieving receivers.) Forecast: 45 yards, 3 catches

Wide Receiver:

Start: Joey Galloway- The Ageless One proved again last week that he still has that fifth gear he can shift into to run away from defensive backs. He is averaging an amazing 23 yards per catch this season. A healthy Cadillac Williams could only help his cause, but it shouldn't matter in any case. St. Louis doesn't have anyone in the secondary who can keep up with him. Forecast: 7 receptions, 108 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit: Donald Driver- Driver, like Galloway, is another aging WR who continues to defy the odds and produce quality results. However, he will face an enraged San Diego defense who was humiliated by New England last week. Expect Brett Favre to be scrambling all day and for Driver to draw double coverage. I just don't see this ending up well for Cheesehead Nation. Forecast: 4 catches, 55 yards

Tight End:

Start: Bo Scaife- Scaife is having a quiet year so far, but expect that to change soon, beginning with Monday night. He is historically Vince Young's favorite target dating back to their days in college at Texas together. Young has only been able to look Scaife's way 7 times this season, but, in fairness, the Titans have played two very good defenses in Indianapolis and Jacksonville. New Orleans is nowhere near as good on the defensive side of the ball as those two and Scaife should have a breakout game. Forecast: 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Tony Gonzalez- As you can see, I am not afraid to recommend benching Studs when the circumstances call for it. Gonzalez's problems go deeper than just the matchup against Minnesota. He is dealing with a clearly shaken Damon Huard at QB, who knows he is "thisclose" to being pulled for Brodie Croyle, which certainly wouldn't help Gonzales' fortunes any. Throw in a porous offensive line, a sub-par Larry Johnson and an opportunistic Minnesota defense that has the linebackers capable of blanketing a star like Tony and you'll see why sometimes, it's better to rest and fight another day. Forecast- 3 catches 30 yards

Defense:

Start: Dallas- All the attention has been focused on the Dallas offense this season, but the Cowboys Defense quietly rebounded from their Week One meltdown by posting a very solid day against Miami last week. Wade Phillips brought the house against Trent Green and the Fins, which resulted in 2 sacks and 4 interceptions. They'll have a great opportunity this week against Chicago to keep the momentum going. Saying that Rex Grossman turns the ball over frequently is like stating there's a little water in the Pacific Ocean. Forecast: 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery

Sit: Jacksonville- Though Jacksonville tore apart an inept Atlanta squad last week, it's hard to forget that they ceded a franchise record 282 rushing yards against Tennessee the week before. The run game is a specialty of the Broncos with Travis Henry averaging 133.5 yards a game this season. Jacksonville also lost it's starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh to a season ending injury which will make them more vulnerable through the air as well. Forecast: 2 sacks, 1 interception

Guest Column- College Football picks by William Jones

2007-09-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

We just keep expanding here at Pigskins and Pucks for your sports mania enjoyment.

William Jones examines the topsy turvy world of College Football and makes his recommendations on which teams will be your best bets.

This is a great week to start as there are several head scratchers when picking against the spread.

Air Force (+11) @ BYU - I'm hearing the "Gurus" talk about how BYU has a huge home field advantage and has a huge personnel advantage over AFA. BYU lost to UCLA and Tulsa (barely powerhouses) and AFA is coming off the improbable victories over Utah ("Make it two"- sorry, Point Break reference there) and TCU with last minute heroics. This should be a great matchup as AFA runs the option and BYU has kept opponents to under 90 rushing yards/game. BYU will air it out, but AFA will slow down the pace and keep the score nice and close. Don't be surprised if BYU wins outright.

Wake Forest (-3) vs. Maryland - UMD is 2-1 with victories over doormats Villanova (they HAVE a football team?!?) and Florida International...right. Wake Forest, at 1-2, coming up short against the very real Boston College and Nebraska, lost their starting QB in week 1. During his absence, the team ran roughshod over the Huskers for 236 yards. He's expected to return for this contest but that will be a gametime decision. Regardless of QB Skinner's status, MD gives up big yards on the ground and their quarterback has a 1:3 TD/INT ratio. This is a divisional game, so WF needs to get right to maintain any kind of prayer to stay in the race for the division championship. Let's "get right" ourselves and take WF, giving up the 3 pts.

GAME OF THE WEEK - Georgia Tech -3.5 @ Virginia - I've been following Virginia for years since their head coach Al "Don't call me Dave" Groh left my NY Jets to take the job. They have been a spoiler team vs. ranked opponents for three of the last four years but kind of fell off a bit last year in big games. This year, they are 2-1 but they've only beaten Duke and North Carolina ( both 1-win-against-a-scrubby-opponent teams) by a total of 19 points . Duke beat Northwestern and NC beat James Madison for crying out loud! They lost to Wyoming, whose only other win comes against my man Philly Gino the Latter Day Saint's alma mater, Utah State, an 0-3 team...GT's RB leads the ACC in rushing but has a tight hamstring...if he doesn't go, they have formidable backups to take his place. They also have the top run defense in the ACC even after losing to #14 Boston College by 2 TDs. They are 2-1 and the "weak" victory was by 30 points. BC has NFL talent, something Virginia hasn't had consistently in awhile, so the Virginia defense, which is average at best,will be on it's heels all day. The fourth quarter will be brutal for the Cavs. Furthermore, this is a divisional conference game with Virginia leading the conference with it's two creampuff wins. Coach Chan "First Cowboys Coach not to win it all" Gailey will stress the importance of winning since the BC loss was in-conference.Finally, I think the records, the RB question, as well as the fact that UVA is leading the division have skewed the points. Let's win big with GT-3.5.

That's it for NCAA, Children. Do with the picks as you will, but,PLEASE...these are for entertainment purposes only! Week 3 NFL picks coming soon!

Brady who? Thoughts from Week Two

2007-09-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing that everyone who had already anointed Brady Quinn as the starter for Cleveland's next game probably has been popping Zantac by the hour after all the crow they had to eat. Derek Anderson absolutely shredded the Bungles defense (who themselves were highly touted after a strong Week One showing against that offensive powerhouse, the Ravens) on Sunday, proving that perhaps the Quinn era is not quite ready to get started yet.

On to the thoughts:

-What was up with the Steelers ridiculous uniforms? I really thought I was watching the Ampipe (H.S) Bulldogs from the Tom Cruise 1983 movie "All The Right Moves" play the Bills. Come to think of it, the game probably would've had a similar result.

-I think you have to hand it to Jets, who gave Baltimore everything they could handle. Kellen Clemmens showed that he may have a very bright future, performing as well as he did against the Ravens crushing defense (whom I'm not so scared of anymore). But the next thing Justin McCareins may catch is the slip of paper informing him he has been waived if he plays another game like that. He'd probably drop that as well.

-Didn't Marvin Lewis once have a reputation as being one of the better defensive coaches in the league? Bang up job you're doing there in Cincy, Marv. I guess it helps the scheme when you have Ray Lewis and company carrying it out. (I think I have the Ravens on the brain. This is their third mention in this column thus far.)

-Ok, let's shift now to former Ravens. Welcome back to the land of Fantasy Relevance, Jamal Lewis. Lewis set the clock back with his performance last week. I can see good (but not great) things for him in the future....maybe 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns. It won't win you your league, but it's nice to see a guy most people had already written off remind everyone he's not through yet.

-I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't weigh in on the week's biggest story, Videogate. Bill Belichick exhibited a stunning amount of gall to continue his illicit practice against Man-Genius, who probably held the camcorder himself a few times in his stint as a Pats assistant. Pride goeth before a fall, Bill. The fines were not devastating (although, I don't care if you're Bill Gates, 500k hurts no matter who you are), but the loss of potentially two draft picks is going to affect the future of the Patriots considerably. A harsh lesson learned and for what? I highly doubt they needed to steal the Jets signals in order to beat them.

-Following up on this story, I was checking the standings in the New York Post yesterday and saw an asterisk next the Pats. Confused, I looked further and saw it stood for "Caught Cheating". Ah, Rupert Murdoch...you are one class act, brother.

-I don't believe I've ever witnessed a a greater example of a wide receiver unwilling to give up on a play than Steve Smith's remarkable touchdown reception against the Texans. He shed no fewer than three certain tackles to escape and gallop more than half the field for the score. He may be small in stature, but week in and week out, he plays with the heart of a lion. Take note, kids....the only person who can stop you from reaching your potential in life is yourself.

-Another story about playing with heart is Brett Favre. At an age when many quarterbacks have retired and are living the good life, Favre continues to enjoy playing with the enthusiasm of a seven year old on Christmas morning. I believe he sees each game as a gift and is determined to enjoy his career and performing for the fans to the fullest. It's a wonder to witness

-On a final point, I have no idea what is going on with New Orleans these days, but Sean Payton is definitely on the hot seat as far as righting that particular ship. With the array of talent that the Saints possess on offense, there's no reason they shouldn't have beaten Tampa Bay.

Guest Column: Against the Spread Picks- Week 2 by William Jones

2007-09-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

Another new feature here at Pigskins & Pucks:

Stats Guru William Jones will give advice each week on whom you should place your hard earned money on and which matchups to shy away from.

He will utilize his Beta Equalization System which will not only take into account a team's record, but also all applicable trends and history against their opponents. If you believe that you've discovered a new angle regarding beating the odds, chances are he has already thought of it.

Seattle (-3) at Arizona- The Cards let that game slip away last week and I have to believe they are still smarting. The short week will not help. The Seattle D showed up strong last week, shutting down a Tampa Bay team that actually got out to a nice offensive start in the first half. The Seahawks made solid adjustments at the half, knocking Garcia and Cadillac out of the game. Arizona's O-Line is beat up after the Monday night game and they aren't that good to begin with! The Card WR's were a non-factor - was it the defensive coverage of the Mighty 49'ers (Clements can't cover everyone) or is there something wrong with QB Matt Leinart? I'm thinking the Seahawks are as loaded as they were the past two years but this time everyone is as healthy as possible. This one won't be close so give up the points and pick Seattle.

NYG (-1.5) vs. Green Bay - The Pack visits NJ to play NY, having beaten PHI. The Giants are nowhere the defensive team the Eagles are, so look for Favre (in his last go-round in the NFL) to leave us awestruck. The Giants hung 35 points on Dallas's D last week when Terence Newman was out along with Greg Ellis. The Jints will face, in my opinion, one of the top Defenses in the Packers this week; With or without Eli, I can see Coughlin's face on the side of a milk carton as we speak after this blow out. New York has too many holes to fill. The only thing that keeps this close would be the Mercy Rule. Packers +1.5.

New England (-3.5) vs. San Diego - Wish I were a betting man! (Ironic, isn't it?) NE beat a Jets team that is still coming together. They had bogus tape to nail the coffin shut...not this week! SD beat a formidable Bears defense without LT getting a ton of yards. With the aging NE linebackers and patchwork secondary, I see this getting ugly fast with SD looking to assert themselves as the most physical team in the AFC, including the Ravens. NE can't bring the heat on defense like they could 2 or 3 years ago. I'm going with SD +3.5.

Start/Sit: Week 2

2007-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Quarterback:

Start: Ben Roethlisberger- Big Ben got off to a great start last week in Cleveland by throwing four touchdowns. His merry ride should continue this week in Buffalo against a Bills squad that lost up to three regulars on the defensive side of the ball. Not to mention, the Bills D wasn’t all that impressive to begin with, yielding 470 yards against the Denver Broncos last week. Forecast: 225 yards, 2 touchdowns

Sit: Matt Leinart- Leinart looked completely off the page with his receivers on Monday night, though a late touchdown did restore a patina of hope for this game. However, he faces a stingy Seahawks defense whose front seven will likely shut down the running game and force him to air it out against their undervalued secondary. Give him a couple of more weeks to get it together before you considering starting him. Forecast: 150 yards, 2 interceptions

Running Back:

Start: Willis McGahee- No one has tortured the Jets more in recent years than McGahee. On one occasion, he left a game with cramping, ate a Subway sandwich on the sidelines and returned to absolutely torch them. He is their Lex Luthor and his performance this Sunday will prove it once again. Forecast: 150 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns

Sit: Larry Johnson- Right up front, I will tell you that this advice goes against a treasured Fantasy Commandment: Never sit your studs, no matter who they are playing. However, when your stud is his team’s lone threat (as LJ is), his quarterback is Damon Huard (who scares no one) and he is facing an angry defense (that also happens to be arguably the league’s best) coming off a loss, you may hear a little voice in your head telling you there might be better options available. Listen to the little voice. Forecast: 50 yards, 1 fumble

Wide Receiver:

Start: Marques Colston- Colston was one of the only Saints to have a decent game last week against the underrated Colts defense (6 catches, 47 yards). This week, expect the entire Saints offense to get back on track and for him to improve on those totals. The Bucs secondary is too old to run with Colston and is overmatched as a whole against the Saints receivers. Expect New Orleans to air it out early and often. Forecast: 7 catches, 90 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Plaxico Burress- He may have just had an otherworldly game against division rival Dallas, but the circumstances are not quite the same for Plax to succeed this week. For one, even if Eli Manning does play, he will most certainly be limited. If he doesn’t, Burress will be playing catch with "The Hefty Lefty" Jared Lorenzen, a scenario which does not inspire. He’ll also be matched up against a secondary that boasts Charles Woodson and Al Harris. Plus, he’s not playing against my fantasy team this week which seem to be the only occasions on which Burress explodes. You can do better. Forecast: 4 catches, 40 yards

Tight End:

Start: Jason Witten- He was a forgotten man for much of last year, but Witten ripped the G-Men apart for 116 yards and a touchdown last week. He benefits greatly from Terry Glenn’s injury woes and a more stable Dallas offensive line that gives him time to find the seams in the defensive coverage. Miami’s defense is usually tough to play early in the season so Witten may not reach the lofty heights he did against New York, but he will still perform above previous expectations. Forecast: 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 touchdown

Sit: Chris Cooley- Cooley owners entered the season with high hopes that their man would have a breakout season. Well, if "Breakout" means "One catch for ten yards in a game that extended into overtime", then mission accomplished. He will almost certainly have better games than the last one, but it’s obviously going to take some time for Jason Campbell to grow into a competent quarterback in this league. Until then, Cooley should not be considered a regular starter and should not be facing a good Philadelphia defense on Monday night. Forecast: 3 catches, 35 yards.

Defense:

Start: Denver- No, they are not the second coming of the Ravens or the Bears and are not an automatic start each week. However, they have a particularly advantageous matchup this Sunday against the Raiders. No one knows who Oakland’s starting quarterback will be, but it doesn’t seem to matter much. Whoever it is will be forced to throw against Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Lamont Jordan may have a bit of success against the Broncos, but they should be able to clamp down and force some turnovers. Forecast: 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.

Sit: San Francisco- The 49er’s will be a strong defense sometime soon, perhaps even later this season. However, they face an embarrassed Rams team in St. Louis this week. Steven Jackson and Company will be looking to restore their reputations and are always a tough customer when they play at home. San Francisco may have looked somewhat impressive last week against the Cardinals, but they won’t be able to keep Marc Bulger in check. Forecast: 1 interception, 1 sack

Note: I wish to pass on my condolences to my good friend Jeff Goldschmidt on the passing of his father earlier this week.

I really hope I don’t need to tell anyone to do this, but love your family and friends like there’s no tomorrow. The little things that get in the way of relationships can obscure their value. Don’t let them. Contact an old buddy just to say hi, call your mom to tell her you love her, give an unsolicited hug to someone today. Life is just too damn short.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, my friend.

Final Thoughts on Week 1

2007-09-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

- Controversial ending or not, you have to give kudos to Carson Palmer and the rest of the Bengals for limiting their mistakes and outplaying the Baltimore Ravens Monday night. Of course, it didn't help the Ravens when Ray Lewis was injured early on, but their defense is one of the league's elite and yet they managed only one sack. A very entertaining matchup.

- The 49ers-Cardinals game, even with the exciting finish, was, for the most part, unwatchable. Both teams played as if it were Week Three of the exhibition schedule. Matt Leinart desperately needs to get on track with his fine receivers as soon as possible. Edgerrin James will not stand up to the pounding for a full season if he continues to get 20+ carries a game.

- The NFL ought to exempt Chad Johnson and only a few others from the "No Celebration" rule. Johnson's antics are fun to watch. They're creative and entertaining. For the most part, though, the rule is a good one. It cuts down on my personal least favorite showboating tactic, the Finger to the Lips to "shush" the crowd. Hey, back-up TE who caught a touchdown pass in the preseason: Don't attempt to quiet the fans. They paid good money to come to a game where they should be free to express themselves in whatever civil manner they choose to.

- Speaking of fans expressing themselves, the Jets fans who cheered when Chad Pennington was injured are really setting a fine example for their children. Personal opinions notwithstanding, it shows an absolute lack of class (not to mention basic Human Decency) to applaud an injury to any player. It gave a black eye to the entire organization and the true Jets fans. Do us all a favor and leave your drunken, boorish and disgusting behavior at the stadium entrance. You are pathetic.

- Finally, I would like to wish Kevin Everett a full recovery from his horrific accident. My eyes welled up with tears last night when I heard that he had some voluntary movement in his extremities and there is finally some hope of at least a partially normal life. Godspeed, Kevin.

The Reclamation of Randy Moss and other thoughts from Week One

2007-09-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.

Ok, perhaps I can say a little more. When the Patriots traded a fourth round pick for Randy Moss last April, it was viewed as a brilliant move by a few and a travesty by many. Coming off his two miserable seasons in Oakland in which he was injured often and frequently displayed a poisonous attitude, he was largely written off by the experts as a player who had wasted the prime years of his career. Never again would the fans be treated to the sight of him scoring highlight reel touchdowns.

"How you like me now?"- LL Cool J

Granted, his offensive explosion came against the hapless Jets, so I'm not quite ready to recommend him as an automatic start in every game this season. However, it wasn't so much his impressive statistics (9 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown) as it was the way in which Tom Brady utilized him. Since he was given ample time against the pathetic New York pass rush, Brady's first look almost always seemed directed to Moss. Brady is usually thought of as a QB who will use every receiver available to him, making no particular New England WR a great fantasy play. Is he that type of quarterback or could it be that he just never had a #1 target with the prodigious skill of Moss to play with? This situation bears watching.

Other thoughts on week 1:

-I am not an alarmist by any means. But any Jet fan who watched the game yesterday has to be hearing warning bells going off in his brain today. From Chad's ankle injury to the inability of the defense to stop the Patriots, there was a lot to be depressed about. Scary thought: New England is not even the best defense in the AFC. Baltimore looms and it will not be pretty no matter who is under center.

-Is it too much of a conspiracy theory to think that Atlanta is going to tank the season so that Brian Brohm (the likely #1 pick of next year's draft) can be reunited with his college coach Bobby Petrino? Atlanta looked worse than Oakland or Detroit yesterday.

-Welcome back, Chris Brown. Nice one. The over/under on you getting banged up is two more games. Boy, won't all those fantasy owners who jumped on your bandwagon feel foolish then?

- The Giants defense may stink, but they showed a lot of heart last night and nearly gave me a heart attack since my opponent in my fantasy league had Plaxico Burress. If Jason hadn't benched Eli Manning, I'd have been a dead duck for sure.

-As far as my start/sit options from Saturday went, I blew it with my Kitna, Deion Branch (zero catches...hey Lama, how about a little something, you know, for the effort?) and Jax defense picks. But I'll give myself a pat on the back for Lee Evans, KC defense and Eli Manning. Just goes to show that predicting much of fantasy football is as much of a safe bet as winning the Powerball lottery.

-I'll give $500 cold hard cash to any fantasy owner in the world who had Derrick Ward in their starting lineup last night (offer expires at 2pm today).

Start/Sit: Week 1

2007-09-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

A new feature for Pigskins and Pucks fans.

Let's face it....my cat Bianca (in between the 18 hours a day she sleeps) could tell you to start LaDainian Tomlinson and Peyton Manning every week. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

The purpose of this feature is to let you know what potential diamonds you may have hidden in the rough of your Fantasy roster for each upcoming game and which pitfalls to avoid.

Quarterback:

Start: Eli Manning- Manning Version 2.0 has been anything but a sure start in his brief career. His accuracy has been erratic, his confidence has been shaky and his leadership skills have been called into question. Still, he makes an excellent option for this week's tilt against a banged up Cowboys D, who may need a couple of games under their belt before they fully grasp the new defensive scheme. Forecast: 275 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Sit: Jon Kitna- Even with his superb Receiving Corps, Kitna seems to always find a way to snatch Defeat from the jaws of Victory with his brain-numbing mistakes. He'll face a potent crew in the Raiders, who have an excellent secondary and a surprisingly strong front seven. Kitna will air it out a lot, but you don't want to be the recipient of the outcome. Forecast: 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, 3 sacks.

Running Back:

Start: Willie Parker- Fast Willie has a matchup here that he has been dreaming about since he first laid hands on a football. The Cleveland team he faces is overmatched on both sides of the ball, though they do boast a decent secondary. Therefore, the game plan will be to give Parker 25+ carries and watch him carve up the Brownies. With other top running backs seeing much stiffer competition, he could be the top RB of the week. Forecast: 195 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Sit: Rudi Johnson- Poor Rudi draws the formidable Ravens D his first week. Though you can normally pencil him in for 75 yards and a score every week, he will find the going rough here. Palmer and Co. will be forced to throw plenty to keep up with an improved Baltimore Offense, which will limit him further. Forecast: 60 yards.

Wide Receiver:

Start: Deion Branch- Branch goes up against an aging Bucs secondary and will play the Roadrunner to their Wile E. Coyotes. His speed and long ball prowess will be too much for them to handle. He'll be especially valuable in leagues that reward big plays. Forecast: 7 catches, 115 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Sit: Lee Evans- He may be the Bill's best offensive threat, but he faces Champ Bailey this week who devours opposing WR's likes whales do plankton. The improved Denver pass rush will also force JP Losman into mistakes, further limiting Evans' potential. Look for a very quiet week for Lee with the Bills exploring other options. Forecast: 3 catches, 50 yards.

Tight End:

Start: Vernon Davis- This is a bit obvious, but Davis, due to his injury from last year, has some owners taking a Wait and See approach. Don't be one of those owners or you will watch the parade pass you by. Davis is too much for the Arizona D to handle and will share the glory of this game with Frank Gore. Forecast: 6 catches, 70 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Sit: Alge Crumpler- Not only does it remain to be seen if A.C can capture the same chemistry with Joey Harrington that he had with Michael Vick, he is gimpy this week as well. While the Minnesota defense he faces in this game is better known for their run stopping, their pass rush is underrated and will harass poor Joey all day long. Look elsewhere. Forecast: 4 catches, 40 yards.

Defense:

Start: Jacksonville- Another fairly obvious pick, but many owners are only familiar with the Ravens and the Bears as top notch Fantasy D's. Jax is a definite up and comer and has an ideal matchup against Galloping Vince Young and his no-name Titan receivers. Look for them to wear Tennessee down early, then capitalize on their mistakes. Forecast: 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries.

Sit: Kansas City- On paper, this would seem a good matchup against the formerly hapless Texans. However, the Chiefs don't have a cornerback capable of keeping up with Andre Johnson and their pass rush is suspect at best. Additionally, their offense will be anemic, meaning the old D will be on the field a lot, sapping whatever strength they did possess. Forecast: 1 sack.

The Unrivaled Rivalry: Islanders vs. Rangers

2007-09-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

"Rags!"
"Icelanders!"
"1940!"
"We want Fishsticks!"
"Crackhead Theo!"
"Potvin Sucks!"

Ah, the celebrated war of words between Islander fans and their Ranger counterparts. The level of passion exhibited on both sides is nearly unparalleled in the world of sports. True, there are more famous rivalries: Yankees-Red Sox, for instance, gets far more media attention. But I cannot recall ever experiencing on a first-hand basis anything like the pure vitriol that exists whenever the Blueshirts visit the Coliseum.

The Islander brass LOVES when the Rangers come to town because they know that these games will be automatic sell-outs, occasions which are few and far between in the venerable old building. The crowd is split evenly and the chanting for one team almost never outshines the other. I have screamed myself hoarse numerous times at these games. Whatever happens on the ice cannot match the intensity the fans bring with them.

I witnessed the famous brawl back in the late 90's between the teams from my ice level seats. The Islanders had just scored to make the game 3-0. Mad Mike Milbury, for reasons that are unknown to me to this day, called a time-out to talk to his team. This action prompted a seething reaction from the Rangers, who felt they were being "shown up". The feeling of tension in the building was palpable. Every person sitting in a Coliseum seat knew that Armageddon was close at hand.

John Muckler sent out Darren Langdon (one of the most underrated fighters in the history of the sport), Jeff Beukeboom, Bill Berg, PJ Stock and another large defenseman whose name escapes me at the moment. Milbury, displaying a level of naivete that was shameful in it's enormity, countered with Trevor Linden, Ziggy Palffy, Mariusz Czerkawski, JJ Daignault and Zdeno Chara....with the exception of the big Slovak, they were hardly an intimidating bunch. It should be noted that the Islanders primary enforcer, Gino Odjick, had been ejected earlier in the game when his jersey came off during a fight with Langdon (the controversial Rob Ray rule).

The puck dropped and the Rangers attacked. Berg, a chippy player who was not normally known for dropping the gloves, went after the Islanders captain Linden. Beukeboom took the easy route by grabbing a seriously overmatched Daignault and forcing him to his knees while Langdon quickly separated Chara from the scrum. Stock latched onto to Czerkawski and proceeded to pummel him unmercifully. Tommy Salo, the Islander's goaltender, left his crease and tried to save the pacifist Pole.

Then all hell broke loose.

Dan Cloutier, a goalie of questionable skill in every area except fisticuffs, screamed down the ice and jumped the unsuspecting Salo. It's tough to hurt a goalie during a fight due to the 30+ pounds of padding they are dressed in, but Cloutier gave it his best shot. Punch after unanswered punch rained down on Salo, who did the smartest thing he could and turtled up against the onslaught.

Cloutier, finished with his blitzkrieg triumph, then proceeded to challenge the Islander bench, knowing full well that not one player would be allowed to engage him due to the hefty suspension and fine that would result. The Islander players, handcuffed by the rules, hurled invectives at the smug goalie. It was a cowardly gesture by Dan on the level of the beating that Mick Vukota gave religious Jeff Bloemberg after the Pat LaFontaine incident at the Garden years earlier.

I took complete leave of my senses and screamed through the glass at Cloutier, attempting to answer the call that my team was prevented from responding to by demanding he meet me in the parking lot after the game. Fortunately, he didn't pay any attention to me. The proposed showdown would've likely resulted in jail time for him and a lengthy hospital stay for me. I then boldly looked around for any fan in a Ranger jersey upon whom I could vent my rage (the nearest one was one of my best friends who is in my upcoming wedding party). Fortunately, through the grace of God, I returned to the world of reality and took my seat.

I look back on this story and laugh at my behavior. Fighting is a completely foreign concept to me except for defending those that I love. Still, I never felt so alive as I did during those matches between my beloved team and their hated enemy. It is what makes sports so essential to us, the fan. For three hours, we're entitled to forget our problems and create a fantasy world where a hockey game between two local teams represents the absolute zenith of importance in the history of Mankind. When else in our pedestrian lives do we ever get to give our emotions such free reign? This outlet is to be cherished.

The Islander-Ranger rivalry will always mean much more to supporters of both teams than it ever will to the players. It is a celebrated tradition that I hope never ceases to exist.

Top Fantasy Stars: NFC West

2007-09-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Just got back from my wild Las Vegas Bachelor party week. For those of you who plan to travel there, I have two words for you: Mandalay Bay.

On to the blog.

Arizona Cardinals:

1. Edgerinn James-RB- James chose to leave the Indianapolis Colts via free agency in order to become an Arizona Cardinal and, thus far, it would appear that he made a fairly bad decision. However, there is room for hope with new coach Ken Whisenhunt promising a more balanced offensive approach. While giving an aging RB like James 400 carries seems like a dubious proposal, he proved he could carry a decent load last season, rushing 337 times for 1,159 yards and six touchdowns. While these are not numbers you'll want out of an RB1, he'll make a nice RB2 and should be available in the early third round.

2. Larry Fitzgerald-WR- Value Alert: Fitzgerald missed three games last season with an injury and therefore may have fallen off a few owner's radar screens because his stats weren't exactly in line with what one expects from a WR1 (69 catches, 6 touchdowns). However, his talent is undeniable and a huge rebound season could be in the works. Even though he shares the wealth with Anquan Boldin, he has a talented QB in Matt Leinart and an aggressive offensive scheme which should ensure that his numbers return to their previous lofty levels. Steal him by the third round as your WR1 and watch him become a top 5 receiver.

3. Anquan Boldin-WR- If you miss out on Fitzgerald, Boldin makes a pretty nice consolation prize. He played in all 16 games last season for the first time since his rookie year, but his numbers didn't rise dramatically with Fitzgerald being out due to the fact that he was constantly double-teamed. A healthy Fitzgerald will paradoxically result in better totals for Boldin. Take him in the late third round as a high end WR2.

Bargain Bin: Matt Leinart-QB- While he still has some growing to do, Leinart has some impressive weapons at his disposal in the above three. He will also benefit from newly bolstered offensive line which should translate to fewer sacks and interceptions caused by pocket pressure. He should still be available in the ninth round as a very low level QB1 or a good QB2/reserve.

San Francisco 49ers:

1. Frank Gore-RB- The fact that he injured his hand in preseason should be looked on as both a gift and a curse: While he avoided a more serious injury and should be fully healthy for the season, a broken hand could spell trouble in terms of holding on to the football. He was the most pleasant surprise in Fantasy Football last year when he seemingly came out of nowhere to garner 1,695 rushing yards, 61 receptions and nine total touchdowns. With the San Francisco offense slightly better on paper this season, Gore should be able to come close to those totals again as he is no longer the lone threat. He'll be gone by the sixth pick of the draft as someone's RB1.

2. Vernon Davis-TE- A physically gifted freak of nature, Davis had his rookie year stunted by a broken leg. However, his potential is off the charts and the 49ers plan to make him a huge part of their attack. It is feasible he could triple his numbers from last year (20 catches, three touchdowns.) Better known TE's will taken before him, but if you take him by the seventh round as your TE1, you could wind up with the steal of the draft.

3. Darrell Jackson-WR- Though Jackson is a supremely talented receiver, his injury problems in past seasons and now this preseason are a major caution flag. He will be San Francisco's starting WR and they'd love to get him involved in a major way. Despite his injuries, Jackson has a nose for the goal line the likes of which few possess, having averaged nearly seven touchdowns per season in his career. Target him in the eight round as a WR2 and hope for the best.

Bargain Bin: Alex Smith-QB- Smith has shown signs of potential as a franchise QB and should benefit from the new weapons he has. His maturation process will continue to be slow, but expect his numbers to rise slightly higher than last year's totals (2,890 passing yards and 18 total touchdowns.) He should be available in the later rounds as a good reserve QB.

Seattle Seahawks:

1. Shaun Alexander-RB- With the Madden Curse behind him, Alexander should once again reclaim his standing as one of the top 5 running backs in the league. There have been whispers that his broken foot has not healed properly, but those are likely just scuttlebutt rumors. Even with his 10 game season last year, he still scored seven touchdowns and a healthy season could produce double that number. He'll taken as an RB1 with one of the top ten picks in the first round.

2. Deion Branch-WR- With Jackson having moved onto to the 49ers, Branch becomes the #1 WR for the Seahawks. He has ached for the chance to prove that he can be a top flight receiver and now he has his opportunity. He has good chemistry with QB Matt Hasselbeck and his new role should increase his stats above last year's (53 catches and 4 touchdowns). Target him in the sixth round as an excellent WR2.

3. D.J Hackett-WR- Hackett also benefits from the Jackson trade and moves into the second WR spot. A burner with tremendous speed, he is the Seahawks' best threat for long touchdowns. He should definitely increase last year's numbers (45 catches and 4 touchdowns.) A certifiable sleeper, he will outperform bigger names and should be grabbed in the eight round as a WR3/Flex player.

Bargain Bin: Matt Hasselbeck-QB- Once considered one of the best QB's in fantasy football, Hasselbeck's stock dropped quite a bit with a subpar season last year. However, he is still a top ten choice and will benefit from having a health Alexander to alleviate some of the pressure. He makes an excellent pick as a QB2/Reserve by the ninth round.

St. Louis Rams:

1. Steven Jackson-RB- If not for a guy named LaDainian Tomlinson, Jackson would be the consensus #1 pick in the draft. He possesses every aspect that comprises a top flight RB (speed, power, intelligence and receiving ability). He has set a goal of 2,500 total yards for this season and realistically has a shot to achieve it. If you don't have one of the first two picks in the draft, forget about him as your RB1.

2. Torry Holt-WR- Year in and year out, Holt is one of the safest picks in all of Fantasy Football. Despite turning 31 this offseason, he is not showing any signs of slowing down either. He is durable (only two games missed in eight seasons) and he has not recorded less than 91 receptions since 2001. Taking him in the second round as your WR1 will put you heads and shoulders above most teams in your league.

3. Marc Bulger-QB- His name is often mentioned among the top 5 Fantasy quarterbacks (and with good reason.) He not only has Holt, Isaac Bruce and Randy McMichael to throw to, he can also dump the ball out of the backfield to Jackson (which he did 90 times last year.) He also played in all 16 games for the first time in his career last season, dispelling concerns about his health. At 31 years old, he is still in his prime and is a steal of a QB1 in the third round after you've loaded up on RB's and/or WR's.

Bargain Bin: Randy McMichael-TE- No one was happier to escape the Miami quagmire than McMichael. He steps into a perfect situation in St. Louis and should respond accordingly by becoming one of the top 7 TE options. Best of all, his name appears to be off the radar in recent drafts and you can still nab him as your TE1 past the ninth round.

Top Fantasy Stars: NFC South

2007-08-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Falcons:

1. Jerious Norwood-RB- The Falcons are still insisting that, as of right now, Warrick Dunn is the starting running back. That seems very hard to believe considering what Norwood brings to the table over Dunn. A small back with exceptional speed and power, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season and is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. He is an exceptional value pick in the fifth round as a quality RB2.

2. Warrick Dunn-RB- Dunn may be the lesser threat in the Atlanta backfield but he still has a role to fill. In fact, considering his age (32), he may actually benefit from taking on a smaller responsibility. A shifty runner who rarely takes a big hit full on, Dunn can be invaluable in terms of moving the chains and providing a change of pace over the more powerful Norwood. He'll be largely overlooked in drafts and you should be able to take him around the eight round as an RB/3Flex player or a reserve RB.

3. Alge Crumpler-TE- He has been former QB Michael Vick's favorite target for years and it seems entirely possible that new QB Joey Harrington will become enamoured with him as well. Crumpler is quite simply the best receiving threat the Falcons have (even with an over the hill Joe Horn now on the roster) and should be able to at least match last year's totals (56 catches, 8 touchdowns). He is still one of the better TE's out there not named Gates and can be stolen in the ninth round as a TE1.

Bargain Bin: Joey Harrington-QB- Vick's suspension left the Falcons with no other choice than to put the ball in Harrington's hands and hope for the best. He has not been a spectacular quarterback throughout his career by any means, but he does occasionally have hot streaks where it looks like he may fulfill his potential. You shouldn't have him anywhere near your starting QB position, but he should be available in the later rounds of the draft as a somewhat serviceable backup.

Carolina Panthers:

1. Steve Smith-WR- It's very possible that Smith will be the first WR taken in the draft, a designation that is well deserved. He is capable of dominating a game the way few others are. Though he suffered a bit of a down year last season, he still put together an 83 catch, 8 touchdown campaign. Look for him to rebound from those "dismal" numbers to once again approach 100 catches and take him in the second round as your WR1.

2. DeAngelo Williams-RB- Williams is one of those rare running backs: A backup who is more coveted than the actual starting running back (not unlike the situation in Atlanta). Given the fragility of DeShaun Foster, there is good reason for this. Williams had a decent rookie year, marked by an excellent 33 catches out of the backfield, which will increase his value in PPR leagues. He should be the starter at some point this season and therefore must be drafted before the end of the sixth round if you want him as your RB2 or 3.

3. Deshaun Foster-RB- A player who has an immense amount of talent, Foster has unfortunately been hindered by injuries his entire career thus far. He managed to stay reasonably healthy last year and rushed for 897 yards and three touchdowns. However, it always seems like it's only a matter of time before he goes down again. If he can put his health issues to rest, he'd be an exceptional value in the 7th round as an RB3/Flex player.

Bargain Bin: Jake Delhomme-QB- His season was interrupted by injuries last year, but Delhomme is still a capable NFL QB. His connection with Steve Smith alone makes him a commodity. He's likely to be undervalued this season so you ought to be able to nab him in the later rounds as a very good backup QB.

New Orleans Saints:

1. Reggie Bush-RB- Bush is an absurdly good pick in a keeper league and an excellent running back in a yearly league. He is expected to carry more of the load this year, which should translate to the numbers many expected of him when he was drafted #2 overall. His 88 receptions last year proves that he is one of the most dangerous backfield threats in the league. He'll be among the top ten RB's taken in the draft (he could go in the top six in PPR leagues), so you'll have to take him in the late first round as your RB1.

2. Marques Colston-WR- Colston came out of nowhere to surprise everyone last season. Teams will be concentrating on him this year, but it's difficult to contain a receiver with his talent, speed and size (6'4, 231 lbs). Expect him to eclipse his previous stats (70 catches, 8 touchdowns). He'll be among the top ten WR's taken and therefore must be targeted no later than the third round as a WR1.

3. Drew Brees-QB- If the Chargers didn't already have a young developing QB in Phillip Rivers, they might have been kicking themselves for letting Brees go. He quieted the negative buzz about his surgically repaired shoulder and put together one of his finest seasons to date (4,418 yards and 26 touchdowns.) With an outstanding young WR crew and Bush and McAllister in the backfield, he is poised to have his best year yet. He'll be among the top five QB's taken, so be sure to grab him by the fourth round as your QB1.

Bargain Bin: Deuce McAllister-RB- Many thought a timeshare would doom McAllister to fantasy mediocrity, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the timeshare did him a favor by keeping him relatively healthy last season (when he scored double digit touchdowns for the first time since 2002.) He should be drafted in the fourth round as an excellent RB2.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

1. Carnell Williams-RB- Cadillac endured a terrible Sophomore Slump last season, accruing only 798 rushing yards and one measly touchdown. Inconsistent QB play and the fact that the team played from behind in many games contributed heavily to the situation. A marginally improved offensive line and Jeff Garcia as the starting QB should alleviate these concerns somewhat, but he still must prove he can remain healthy for a full season. A bounce-back year is predicted, but proceed with caution and don't draft Williams any higher than the fifth round as an RB3/Flex player.

2. Joey Galloway-WR- He may be close to qualifying for his AARP card, but Galloway can still surprise teams with his speed and playmaking ability. Doubters who keep predicting his decline may have to keep waiting. The fact that he amassed 62 receptions and 7 touchdowns last season doesn't sound like he is about to become irrelevant in the world of Fantasy Football. He will likely be overlooked in drafts and would make a fine WR2 if he fell to you in the sixth round.

3. Jeff Garcia-QB- His career was thought to be over but Garcia has made a habit of proving experts wrong. He resurrected the Eagles season last year by coming off the bench to throw ten touchdowns in eight games. He is also an experienced veteran who can run Coach Gruden's West Coast Offense very well. He's not starting QB material, but you could do a lot worse than him in finding a backup QB in the later rounds.

Bargain Bin: Maurice Stovall-WR- Finally, a player who truly defines the meaning of "Bargain Bin". The Buccaneers have been seeking someone to replace the disappointing Michael Clayton as a compliment to Galloway and they may have found him in Stovall. A Super-Sleeper, he has the size and the skill to fill the job and is worthy of taking a flier on in the last three rounds of the draft.

Note: I'm taking off for my Bachelor Party in Las Vegas tomorrow and will finish this series next week.

Vick's Punishment

2007-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

So, after all the posturing, Michael Vick is set to enter a Guilty plea in court. His plea has been carefully worded to minimize his culpability and he is expected to throw himself upon the mercy of the court.

Opinions differ greatly on what his punishment should be. Some say he should get the maximum (5 years, I believe.) Others feel he ought to serve no more than 18 months. Still others have suggested that the punishment fit the crime and that Vick should be thrown into a fighting ring with those dogs he helped train to kill.

I say he shouldn't serve any jail time. Not one single minute.

Before anyone castigates me as a Vick apologist, let me clarify my position. Vick's crimes were heinous and he should never be allowed to set foot on an NFL field again. He deserves to lose what may amount to millions of dollars in salary and endorsements. He also deserves to suffer the fate that, no matter what steps he takes to repair his image, like OJ or Pete Rose, his legacy will forever be linked to this horrible situation.

However, what good will it do anyone if Vick serves 5 years in jail? Those who gleefully anticipate that he will be beaten and sodomized daily are a.) depraved in their own way and b.) fooling themselves. He will be looked upon as a celebrity hero in jail. He can regale inmates with stories of his sick pursuits and tales of his gridiron glories. When he gets out, he will be the same man as he was when he went in except with possibly a greater sense of self-aggrandizement and importance. Does this sound like punishment to you?

No, we are missing a HUGE opportunity here to turn this nightmare into something positive.

Let Vick spend his five years going around the country to inner city and rural schools, lecturing impressionable kids about the dangers of running afoul of law. Make him promote animal benevolence in numerous PSA's to the point where it may dawn on him that his behavior has been deplorable. Sentence him to work the phones for Animal Rights groups. There are many avenues of repentance and Vick should be forced to travel down every one of them.

People close to Vick have gone on record as saying that, deep down, he has a good heart.

Make us believe it.

Top Fantasy Stars: NFC North

2007-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Chicago Bears:

1. Cedric Benson-RB- Finally free of the timeshare with Thomas Jones, Benson is set to carry the load for the Bears for the first time. There have been huge expectations for him since he was drafted 4th overall and he showed a glimpse of reaching that potential last year by scoring 6 times. However, there are serious questions about his durability. He'll be taken by late in the second round as an RB1 and will be good fall back option for those who wish to draft another position with their first pick.

2. Bernard Berrian-WR- Berrian is a speedster who can break a game open on any pass thrown to him. He looks to supplant Mushin Muhammed this season as Chicago's top receiving threat. In addition to his 15.2 yards per catch last year, he also racked up 775 yards and 6 touchdowns. Take as your WR3 by late in the 9th round and he will provide good depth to your squad.

3. Chicago Defense-Def- Chicago, along with Baltimore, is one of the only defenses worth reaching for. They led the league in Forced fumbles last season, were second in interceptions and third in Points per Game Allowed. If your league awards points for Special Teams play, Chicago has the ever dangerous Devin Hester returning it's kicks (5 returned for touchdowns last season). You'll have to take them no later than the early ninth round (and, in many cases, before then) but you won't be disappointed if you do.

Bargain Bin: Mushin Muhammed-WR- Though he's 34 years old and entering the downside of his career, "Moose" is still a fantasy force. He caught 60 balls last year to go with 5 touchdowns. His stock may be dropping because of the youthful presence of Berrian, but you can still get him in the later rounds as a fine reserve WR.

Detroit Lions:

1. Roy Williams-WR- He's been a bit overshadowed by the arrival of Calvin Johnson, but many forget that Williams is still the number one wide receiver for the Lions. He had an excellent season last year, recording 82 catches for 1,310 yards and 7 touchdowns. He's also healthy for the first time in awhile. Take advantage of the CJ smokescreen, grab Williams by the beginning of the 4th round as your WR1 and watch him outscore several of the bigger name receivers taken ahead of him.

2. Calvin Johnson-WR- It's rare that a rookie WR makes an immediate impact in the NFL Johnson is one of those rare individuals who can do just that. Not only is he blessed with wish-list size (6'4, 237lbs), he has speed , agility and fantastic hands as well. His value in a Keeper league is off the chart, but in a yearly league, you'll need to take him by the early part of the sixth round as your WR2.

3. Tatum Bell-RB- Bell, fresh from his timeshare in Denver, gets a chance to start all over again in Detroit. With Kevin Jones still being affected by his Lisfranc Sprain injury, Bell has the opportunity to shine as an unquestioned starting running back. While he earned 1,025 rushing yards in part time work last season, his low touchdown total (2) is worrisome since the Lions also have renowned goal line vulture TJ Duckett on their roster. Since he's potentially has a starting gig, he'll be gone before the seventh round is done, but don't expect more than RB3/Flex player stats from him.

Bargain Bin: Jon Kitna-QB- Kitna must believe he has died and gone to heaven with the amount of options he has available to him. The only thing that limits him from reaching top ten status is his propensity for turning over the ball. With Williams, Johnson and Furrey catching his throws, Kitna is worthy of being drafted by the eight round as a QB2 or a solid Reserve.

Green Bay Packers:

1. Donald Driver-WR- Driver has proven his critics wrong, flourishing as the Packer's number one receiver since Javon Walker left. His reception and yardage totals have all steadily improved the past three years and he is Brett Favre's unquestioned Go To Guy. On the downside, he's 32 years old and just suffered a sprained foot which will keep him out of action for an indeterminate amount of time. If you're willing to roll the dice, taking him in sixth round as a low end WR1 or a high WR2 could pay very nice dividends.

2. Brandon Jackson-RB- Jackson looks like he'll be the main ball carrier for the Packers this year with Vernand Morency being injured in preseason. A second round pick from Nebraska, he possesses a nice blend of speed and strength. One drawback to his potential thus far has been his struggles to pick up the backfield blocking assignments. That should improve as he gains more experience and Jackson is worth taking in the sixth round as an RB3/Flex player.

3. Greg Jennings-WR- Jennings is a speed demon who started last year on fire then tailed off after injury woes took their toll. He is a very nice compliment to Driver, snagging 45 balls for three touchdowns in his rookie campaign. His role could expand this year though he will be pushed by rookie James Jones for playing time. He makes a nice pick in the tenth round as a good WR3.

Bargain Bin: Brett Favre-QB- It may be hard to believe that one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history could be overlooked in a draft. Favre may be chronologically old (he'll turn 38 during the season), but he still approaches the game with the enthusiasm of a rookie. You can find him late in the draft as a great backup to your starting QB.

Minnesota Vikings:

1. Adrian Peterson-RB- Peterson has had an excellent preseason, flashing the skills that made him a first round pick. He is expected to supplant the more experienced Chester Taylor simply due to his potential. However, Peterson is a bit of an injury risk and does play for the woeful, offensively challenged Vikings. Defenses will be stacking the box against him early and often, so take him no sooner than the 4th round as your RB2.

2. Chester Taylor-RB- Taylor must have been the only Viking who was unhappy to hear the news that Peterson had been drafted. He probably figured his fine season of 1,216 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year would ensure that he'd be the starter again this year. Such is life in the NFL, but with Peterson's injury history, Taylor will still see plenty of work. Look to draft him in the eight round as an RB3/Flex player and hope for the best.

3. Tarvaris Jackson-QB- Jackson does have a rifle for an arm and fleet feet, so the potential to create some semblance of offense is present. However, he has a mostly unproven WR corps to work with and his decision making ability is still very much in it's infancy. Still, he has an enviable situation with an excellent offensive line and a top notch backfield to take some of the pressure off of him. Don't draft him, but keep an eye on him as the season progresses.

Bargain Bin: Troy Williamson-WR- Williamson has been labeled a major bust since being drafted in the first round in 2005. On the bright side, he did improve his catch totals from his rookie season and is entering his third year in the league, giving a small reason to hope for a better performance. No Viking WR is draftable, but give a glance towards Williamson on the waiver wire every now and then to see how he's progressing.

Top Fantasy Stars: NFC East Preview

2007-08-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Dallas Cowboys:

1. Terrell Owens-WR- It's true: If TO were a military officer, his name would be Major Drama. One of the most controversial players in the history of the game, TO often has fantasy owners on the edge of their seat, worried that their starting WR is going to aggravate his NFL team to the point where they suspend or cut him. While he does bring his share of stress, his talent and professional statistics are beyond reproach. Draft him by the early third round and watch one of the best WR's in football deliver 10-13 touchdowns along with his share of Maalox moments.

2. Marion Barber III-RB- MBIII delivered an outstanding season under the tutelage of Bill Parcells last season, scoring 16 touchdowns in a timeshare backfield. While it may be a bit much to expect those lofty numbers again, he has the talent to be used in a variety of ways by new coach Wade Phillips. A punishing inside runner, he is also a gifted receiver out of the backfield. Look for Phillips to keep some semblance of the timeshare intact (to ensure both him and Julius Jones stay healthy) and draft Barber III in the fifth round as a low tier RB2 or a very good RB3/Flex player.

3. Julius Jones-RB- The other half of the Cowboy's running attack, Jones fell into disfavor with Parcells last season and was consequently not used to his fullest potential. Despite dealing with the demotion, he still managed to run for more than 1,000 yards and 4 touchdowns. How Wade Phillips will use him is unclear as of right now, but Jones should continue to be a valuable cog in the Dallas system. You might still be able to get him late in the sixth round as an RB3/Flex player or a very good reserve RB.

Bargain Bin: Tony Romo-QB- Dallas fans haven't forgotten Bobble-Gate yet. That's a shame because, other than that one cataclysmic error, Romo rescued the franchise from the elderly (and often inept) clutches of Drew Bledsoe. He's one of the better second tier QB's available and should be targeted late in the eight round as a serviceable starting QB or a high quality backup.

New York Giants:

1. Brandon Jacobs-RB- A rumbling tank of a man, Jacobs should seize the opportunity afforded to him by Tiki Barber's retirement to prove he is an every down back and not just a goal line vulture. His game is playing smashmouth football, pounding a defense until they wear down. Whether or not he is capable of of lugging the rock 25 times a game is a question mark, but he will certainly see the goal line looks regardless of whether or not the backfield develops into a timeshare with Reuben Droughns. He is a very sexy pick this year for fantasy owners, so you'll have to nab him no later than the early second round if you want him as your RB1.

2. Plaxico Burress-WR- Though he never really hit his stride in Pittsburgh, Burress has found a home with the Giants as their starting wide receiver. He possesses quite a bit of skill along with prototypical NFL WR size and bulk (6'5, 232lbs.) and good chemistry with quarterback Eli Manning. The questions revolve around his health ( he is currently dealing with a pesky ankle injury) and his sometimes suspect attitude. Expect him to last no further than the late fifth round as someone will be happy to make him a sound WR2 with their pick.

3. Jeremy Shockey-TE- There's no doubt he's a warrior, but the drawback is his hard nosed style often results in nagging injuries throughout the season. He continues to improve as a player, though, posting over 60 catches each of the last three seasons. The Giants love to employ him in the Red Zone as well, which ups his value (seven touchdowns last season). He'll definitely be among the top six TE's selected and will make a good TE1 by the early part of the eight round.

Bargain Bin: Eli Manning-QB- It really can't be easy being stuck in the shadow of his older brother Peyton. However, Eli has started to establish his own buzz by posting 24 passing touchdowns last season and standing up to derogatory comments made by ex-Giant Barber in reference to his leadership abilities. He should be taken as an excellent reserve QB past the tenth round.

Philadelphia Eagles:

1. Brian Westbrook-RB- He's forever listed on the injury report and yet he always seems to be on the field performing at a high level. They don't come much more lethal than Westbrook as a receiver out of the backfield (257 career receptions) making him especially valuable in PPR leagues. He also has a nose for goal line as evidenced by his 38 career touchdowns. He'll be gone by the end of the first round and may go as high as sixth overall, so take him with confidence as your RB1 if you get the opportunity.

2. Donovan McNabb-QB- Questions abound regarding whether or not he'll be able to return from ACL surgery and perform at the high level we're accustomed to. It would be foolish to count him out, though, because he has proven to be one of the better QB's in the league when he's healthy. He has fought the critics his whole career, outlasted TO in Philly and should be primed for a bounce back season. His status may scare off some owners which means you should be able to steal him in the late fifth round as your QB1.

3. Reggie Brown-WR- Brown is one of several WR's entering their third season in the league and is being counted on by the Eagles to have a breakout year. He improved marginally on his reception totals from his rookie year (46 vs. 43), but made big strides in the touchdown department (8 vs. 4). It's possible he could break 1,000 yards receiving this year a well, making him even more attractive. You wouldn't be wrong drafting him as a WR2 in the middle of the sixth round.

Bargain Bin: Kevin Curtis-WR- Curtis joined the Eagles this off-season looking for a new start and greater responsibility. He'll certainly get the chance in Philadelphia, who expect him to be a solid possession receiver that will counterbalance the home run threat in Brown. Don't reach, but Curtis makes a nice pick in the ninth round as a WR3/Flex player.

Washington Redskins:

1. Clinton Portis-RB- An injury cut short his season last year and suddenly football fans everywhere discovered Ladell Betts. Portis is also experiencing some trouble with his knee this pre-season, leading many owners to shy away. For those who are brave of heart, Portis could potentially turn in a good season (expect 1,000 yards rushing and six touchdowns) despite sharing time. Take him as a low level RB1 or a solid RB2 by the middle of the third round.

2. Santana Moss-WR- A speedster by nature, Moss' problem has been staying on the field consistently. He is allegedly healthy entering this year as Washington's primary WR. That could be good news for your team as the last time Moss was healthy (two seasons ago), he produced 84 catches for nine touchdowns. Don't go crazy, but drafting him by the end of the sixth round to be your WR2 is not the worst thing in the world.

3. Ladell Betts-RB- He took less money to stay with Washington when he was a free agent and the move has turned out to be a pretty good one for him. Given the injury history of Portis, the Redskins will be much more inclined to give touches to Betts to keep the running game healthy. He showed he was more than capable operating as the #1 RB last year, racking up over 1,100 yards rushing to go along with 5 total touchdowns. He's a great choice as an RB2 and will be gone before the seventh round.

Bargain Bin: Chris Cooley-TE- He's not one of the more high profile TE's in the league, but that's all about to change this season. Abundantly talented, especially around the red zone, expect Cooley to be QB Jason Campbell's primary safety valve, making it very possible he will eclipse last year's totals (57 catches and six touchdowns.) Don't sleep on this guy past the seventh round for, if you do, you'll be watching him become a top 5 TE for some other team.

Top Fantasy Stars: AFC West Preview

2007-08-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Denver Broncos:

1. Travis Henry-RB- Henry resurrected his career last season with Tennessee and will now be playing for a Denver team renowned for turning out 1,000 yard rushers. He is a bruising back who will fit in just fine with the Broncos blocking scheme. The only worry about him is his propensity towards injury. Even so, Henry will make a fine RB1 and will be snapped up by the very early second round.

2. Javon Walker-WR- Walker put to rest the rumors that his ACL injury from two seasons ago would rob him of his potential to be a great receiver by posting 69 catches and 8 touchdowns last year. He is the undisputed #1 WR on the Broncos and will be counted on heavily by quarterback Jay Cutler. The only wrinkle is the amount of double teams he will most certainly suffer due to the lack of another receiving threat on the team (except for possibly Daniel Graham or Tony Scheffler). However, he is well worth a fifth round pick as a low end WR1 or an excellent WR2.

3. Jay Cutler-QB- Cutler is a rising star in the world of Fantasy Football and his keeper potential is off the charts. In five games last year, he put together an 88.5 QB rating to go along with 1,001 yards passing and nine touchdowns. He will likely still endure some growing pains, but he possesses the arm, the brain and the other intangibles to produce a fine season this year as well. Best of all, you can nab him after the ninth round as a reserve QB.

Bargain Bin: Daniel Graham-TE- Graham got lost in the shuffle on the Patriots where Tom Brady tossed touchdown passes to everyone but the water boy. He is an excellent blocker and that will ensure that he is on the field for a great plays this season. He also has wonderful receiving skills and is a steal past the tenth round as a TE2.

Kansas City Chiefs:

1. Larry Johnson-RB- Johnson's threat of a holdout appears to be coming to an end. Now that he will actually be playing, he returns to his status as one of the top 3 fantasy running backs. There is concern about his durability given that he ran the ball 416 times last year, but it's not enough to eclipse his potential. He's guaranteed to be one of the top 5 players off the board and is a franchise RB1 for keeper/dynasty leagues.

2. Tony Gonzalez- His reception totals have dropped the last two seasons, but he's still one of the top four available at his position. His athleticism, even at age 31, continues to be unreal and he is the primary receiving threat for the Chiefs. What remains to be seen is how the change at the quarterback position affects his performance as he had tremendous chemistry with the departed Trent Green. Take him the seventh round with confidence as your TE1.

3. Eddie Kennison-WR- Kennison is a little long in the tooth at age 34. Still, with defenses concentrating on LJ and Gonzalez, he knows how to take advantage of the mismatches that he sees. Expecting a repeat of his totals last season (53 catches, 5 touchdowns) is not unrealistic. Don't reach, but you can find him after the tenth round as a WR3/Flex player.

Bargain Bin: Dewayne Bowe-WR- The Chiefs expect big things from Bowe, but maybe not during his rookie season. First year WR's rarely contribute heavily, but Bowe might be the exception. He has the opportunity with K.C's poor receiving corps to make his mark and is worth a late round flier as a reserve WR.

Oakland Raiders:

1. Lamont Jordon-RB- Jordon's return from injury is an intriguing storyline. Can he be the powerful runner he was when we last saw him or will the injury and the poor run blocking of the Raider's offensive line knock him back to pedestrian status? With Dominic Rhodes suspended for the first 4 games of the season, he will certainly get the opportunity to reestablish himself. He should still be available past the sixth round and, being that he is a starting running back, is worth the risk as a weak RB2 or a decent RB3/Flex player.

2. Jerry Porter-WR- Porter has been a forgotten man in Oakland. He is entering his prime and is only one season removed from a 76 catch, 5 touchdown year. The QB situation in Oakland is far from ideal, but Porter has the potential to step up and grab the playmaking WR role the Raiders so desperately need filled. He should be around after the ninth round and is worth a risk as your WR3.

3. Ronald Curry-WR- Curry recovered nicely from an injury to post a 62 catch season last year. He was forced to deal with exceptionally bad quarterback issues but emerged as the go- to guy. With Porter returning to the lineup (and no Randy Moss distractions) and drawing defenders away, Curry may improve upon those numbers, especially the 1 touchdown he scored. He'll be available late in the draft and you could certainly do worse than him at the WR3 position.

Bargain Bin: Daunte Culpepper-QB- The days of the NFL fearing Culpepper are long gone after his devastating knee injury from a few years ago. He is being given a chance to resurrect his flagging career in Oakland and should emerge as the starter eventually. He'll be available in the later rounds and might be worth a gamble as a Reserve QB.

San Diego Chargers:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson-RB- Do I really need to tell you take LT with the first pick of the draft? He is far and away the best Fantasy RB in the game today. Barring injury, he will again be the dominant force this season. If you aren't picking first, forget about him.

2. Antonio Gates-TE- Another no-brainer. There is Gates and then there is everyone else at the TE position. His "down" year of last season consisted of 71 catches and nine touchdowns. Take him as your TE1 by the end of the third round.

3. Vincent Jackson-WR- He's is everyone's popular Sleeper pick this year and with good reason. He will fill the role of starting wide receiver left vacated by Keenan McCardell. Though LT and Gates are clearly the dominant Alpha males in this offense, Jackson ought to be able to use his ability and size to carve a nice niche for himself. Take him by the 8th round as your WR3.

Bargain Bin: Phillip Rivers-QB- Rivers has one of the most enviable QB situations in all of football. He gets to pass the Gates in the red zone and to Tomlinson out of the backfield. Take him by the 8th round as a backup QB and play him with confidence if your starter struggles.

Up next....The NFC

Top Fantasy Stars: AFC South Preview

2007-08-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

Houston Texans:

1. Andre Johnson-WR- Here is a case of an elite WR stuck on an offensively challenged squad. Johnson has been the Texan's only reliable weapon for 4 years, but he hasn't let the rest of the team's shortcomings slow him down. He's coming off a career high 103 catches last year and should continue to be the brightest star in the Texans' universe. The only wild card is whether or not he'll find chemistry with new quarterback Matt Schaub, but draft him with confidence by the middle of the fifth round.

2. Ahman Green-RB- It's undeniable that Green has seen better days back in Green Bay. But he is a starting RB in the NFL and therefore is worthy of a spot on your team. Green's real value this year will be in Point per Reception leagues as he is an excellent check down option out of the backfield (350 career catches). He's only good as a low end RB2 or a decent RB3/Flex player, so don't reach higher than the middle of the 5th round to get him.

3. Owen Daniels-TE- Daniels was quite a pleasant surprise for Houston last year. He hauled in 34 receptions and 5 touchdowns, providing the only real complement to Johnson. He obviously had good chemistry with David Carr and will now have to establish some with Schaub. Still, he's a viable TE2 and will likely still be available after the eight round.

Bargain Bin: Matt Schaub-QB- The Texans are very high on a player who has only thrown 161 passes in his professional career. Whether or not that trust is misplaced remains to be seen, but like Ahman Green, he is a starter in the NFL and that makes him draftable. Having said that, he's only worth a pick as a reserve QB, so don't reach anywhere higher than the 10th round to get him.

Indianapolis Colts:

1. Peyton Manning-QB- He's been the number one fantasy quarterback for several years running now. He just won his first Super Bowl last year, retained two of the best WR's in the world (Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne), has a young threat out of the backfield (Joseph Addai) to work with and is almost never injured. Any questions? He'll go fast so you'll need to take him with your first pick but with Manning as your QB1, you won't even have to think twice about the position all year long.

2. Joseph Addai-RB- With Dominic Rhodes moving on to not so green pastures in Oakland, Addai inherits the starting RB position for the Colts this season. This will translate to Fantasy Gold. There are questions about his ability to handle the workload, but his talent and situation makes him one of the most attractive options out there. If you're picking past the 8th spot in the first round, you likely will not have a shot for him to be your #1RB.

3. Marvin Harrison: Father Time can't catch Harrison and neither can opposing cornerbacks. He continues to defy aging and keeps posting Pro Bowl worthy stats every season. Don't expect a drop off this year either. You'll have to draft him by the end of the second round, but that's the price you pay for getting one of the very best at the WR1 position.

Bargain Bin: Reggie Wayne-WR- Wayne falls into the exact same category as Housh: A WR2 who performs like a #1 and that makes him a bargain. He is constantly able to exploit defensive coverages as teams usually assign their shutdown CB to Harrison. He'll be taken by the end of the 3rd round, but he's a very good value if you want to spend your first two picks at other positions.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

1. Maurice Jones-Drew-RB- Drew was one of the biggest surprises in the league last year due to scoring 15 touchdowns while sharing the load with Fred Taylor. He also caught 46 passes out of the backfield. He is young, quick, powerful and should take over the starting job this season. With this sort of potential, you cannot let him fall any lower than the middle of the second round before grabbing him as a lower tier RB1 or a great RB2.

2. Fred Taylor-RB- Taylor appears to have shed the "Fragile Fred" label by playing in 40 games the last three seasons. The timeshare with Jones-Drew may even be helping his stats (6 TD's last year) by keeping him fresher. Despite all the positives, it seems clear that he will be getting fewer touches this year. Don't think about risking him as an RB#1 or even a #2, but he's worth a 6th round pick as an RB3/Flex player.

3. Matt Jones-WR- As he is entering his third year in the league, hopes are high that Jones can put his immense talent to use and become a dependable player. He did improve upon his totals from his rookie year slightly last season (41 catches vs. 36) and his large frame makes him an attractive red zone target. Still, he has a lot to prove before anyone considers him a good bet. Take him as a WR3/Flex player after the ninth round.

Bargain Bin: Jaguars Defense-DEF- I rarely advocate taking a defense before the last four rounds of the draft. However, the Jaguars defense has special potential. They recorded 35 sacks and 20 interceptions last season and drafted a strong prospect in safety Reggie Nelson. Make your move for Jaguars DEF to be your starter once Chicago and Baltimore are off the board.

Tennessee Titans:

1. Vince Young-QB- As Young goes, so go the Titans. He had an impressive rookie season considering he was surrounded by very little talent in the WR department and his 7 rushing touchdowns gave him a nice value as well. However, the Titans did not improve their WR corps much in the off-season and his behavior in camp thus far (specifically engaging in a fist fight with a teammate and being benched for a preseason game for violating team rules) do not speak to his abilities to lead this team. His athleticism and potential will have someone drafting him as a QB2 by the seventh round, but proceed with caution as there should be better options available.

2. Lendale White-RB- White appears to be the leader in the competition for the Titans' starting running back position. Though he has battled weight and injury issues, he has had an impressive training camp thus far and could be a sleeper candidate for a breakout year. Even in a timeshare situation, he should also see most of the goal line touches considering his size (235 lbs.) Take him by the end of the eight round as an RB3/Flex player.

3. Bo Scaife-TE- Though technically he is the backup to Ben Troupe, Scaife has tremendous chemistry with Young dating back to their time as teammates at University of Texas. Troupe's inability to stay on the field or out of the coach's doghouse should result in greater opportunity for him to make his mark. He's worth a flier in the late rounds as a TE2.

Bargain Bin: Eric Moulds-WR- True, he may be far removed from the glory days earlier in his career. However, Moulds brings a veteran presence to the Titan's very young WR group. A cagey warrior who still knows how to get open, he could be worth drafting very late as a WR3/Flex player.

Top Fantasy Stars: AFC North Preview

2007-08-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Ravens:

1. Willis McGahee-RB- McGahee replaces the older, slower Jamal Lewis as the Raven's primary backfield threat. He's overcome a variety of injuries, including his horrific knee injury while playing for The U., and has the potential to be a dominant runner. Look for him to easily eclipse the 990 yards and 6 touchdowns he produced last season with Buffalo. You'll need to grab him as a low-level RB1 or a high-end RB2 before the second round is done.

2. Todd Heap-TE- Picking a TE not named Gates or Gonzales can be a risky proposition, but Heap's numbers justify taking him sooner rather than later. He's bounced back from a dismal 2004 season, posting reception totals of 75 and 73 the last two years. The Ravens will use him plenty and he's worth going after before getting an unproven WR3. You'll have to target him around the late 5th or early 6th round if you want him as your starting TE.

3. Mark Clayton-WR- Clayton improved upon his rookie season and is poised to make a big jump this year as the starting WR for the Ravens. He is also entering that mythical Third Year when many wide receivers finally catch up to the speed the game is played at the pro level. Though his numbers may be limited by the Ravens Run-First attitude, he is a lower tier WR2 and an excellent WR3. He shouldn't last any later than the 8th round.

Bargain Bin: Baltimore Def-DEF- This comes with a qualifier. While I'm not in favor of reaching for a defense when there are so few that are distinctly better than the others, Baltimore's D is worth a slight stretch. I wouldn't take them any higher than the 7th round, but if they are still available after that, grab them and be confident that you will have one of the best D's in history.

Cincinnati Bengals:

1. Rudi Johnson-RB- If you like consistency and are unafraid to make a pick that will seen as less than sexy by your contemporaries, Johnson is your man. You can basically pencil him in for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns because he's reached those totals each season for the past three. Kenny Irons' injury makes him even more valuable as Irons was slated to steal carries from him this year. Johnson is a strong RB1 and needs to be taken no later than the early second round.

2. Chad Johnson-WR- Ocho Cinco has been ranked the #1 WR for this season by more than a few publications. While it remains to be seen whether or not he can achieve that lofty status, his skill level and his chemistry with Carson Palmer are otherworldly. It will also be interesting to see what new Celebratory dances he comes up with as well. Johnson is quite obviously a fine WR1 and will be off the board by the middle of the third round.

3. Carson Palmer-QB- His knee injury is far behind him now and Palmer is poised to once again be among the top three QB's in Fantasy Football. Though the loss of WR Chris Henry to an 8 game suspension will hurt (they hooked up for 9 touchdowns last season), he should approach the 30 td mark this season. Look for him to go over 4,000 yards again as well. After Manning is gone, Palmer will be the best choice for a starting QB available and will likely not be around after the middle of the 3rd round.

Bargain Bin: T.J Houshmandzadeh-WR- This pick also requires a qualifier. Well known to FF drafters, Housh is a rare animal: Technically a WR2, he produces like a WR1. For those who wish to load up on other positions with their first two picks, Housh will make a fine WR1 late in the third round.

Cleveland Browns:

1. Jamal Lewis-RB- Lewis is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise abysmal Cleveland offense. Though his career was thought to be on the wane, all reports coming out of training camp have described him as a rejuvenated player who is running with a chip on his shoulder. Lewis clearly feels he has something to prove and that is good news for Fantasy owners. He's not going to be your RB1, but he should be a steal in the 5th round as a minor RB2 or a strong RB3/Flex player.

2. Braylon Edwards- WR- Like Mark Clayton mentioned above, Edwards is now entering the "Magical" Third Year for a WR. He possesses an insane amount of talent and has prototypical NFL WR size (6'3, 212 lbs.) The only thing that will hold him back will be the revolving door that is the Cleveland QB system, a situation that will cost him valuable chemistry with any one passer. Even so, Edwards can be a low level WR2 or a strong WR3 and should end up on someones team before the sixth round is complete.

3. Kellen Winslow-TE- A self-described "Soldier", Winslow appears to finally be maturing and putting his childish antics behind him. His injury history is worrisome, especially for such a young player (he underwent the controversial Micro Fracture surgery on his knee this past offseason.) Even so, his talent and potential cannot be overlooked. He will make a fine TE1 by the end of the eighth round.

Bargain Bin: Brady Quinn-QB- Quinn did not do himself any favors by holding out. He could've taken over the starting position immediately on a team desperate for a franchise quarterback. Having said all that, he should be a starter no later than mid-season and that means he can be drafted as a Reserve in the later rounds.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

1. Willie Parker-RB- Fast Willie is a rising star in the Fantasy world and should be treated accordingly. He is the most important piece of the Steelers' running game and, if healthy, will receive the lion's share of the carries. Look for his receptions total to rise also as Big Ben will use him as a checkdown option. Parker will be one of the first ten RB's chosen and therefore must be nabbed in the first round.

2. Hines Ward-WR- A stalwart of the Pittsburgh offense for years, the ultra-athletic Ward has proven to be a relatively safe pick in the unstable Fantasy World. He won't ever be elite, but he is as dependable an option as you'll find. The promise that the Steelers plan to open up the passing game bodes well for him too. Take him as a low end WR1 or a great WR2 by the late fifth round.

3. Ben Roethlisberger-QB- Big Ben has survived his brush with death and should be poised for a bounce-back year. He possesses a strong arm and unflappable nature, key ingredients that you want in any quarterback. He has a number of options and will use them all with the new system. He is a steal as a backup QB in the ninth round after all the big names are gone.

Bargain Bin: Santonio Holmes-WR- A burner who will stretch the field, Holmes compliments Ward very well. He is having an excellent training camp thus far and should be a great option as a WR3/Flex player available in the later rounds.

Top Fantasy Stars: AFC East Preview

2007-08-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

New England Patriots:

1. Laurence Maroney-RB- With the apparent retirement of Corey Dillon, Maroney now becomes the main man in the Patriot's rushing attack. He is a very dangerous runner who scored 6 touchdowns in a share situation last season. The only worry about him is his durability, a definite cause for concern as he has suffered numerous nagging injuries in his short career. Even so, his potential dictates that he will be one of the top 10 RB's taken off the board and should be taken with a late first round pick.

2. Tom Brady-QB- You will find few QB's as consistent as Brady who are not named Peyton Manning. Though he has never been considered a fantasy superstar, he will likely be the 4th QB taken off the board. The Pats are providing him with two potential blockbuster WR's in Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth, so his numbers could see a big spike. Target him no later than the late 3rd/early 4th round.

3. Randy Moss-WR- Which player will show up this season, Supernova Randy or Black Hole Moss? Most bets are being placed on the former as he seems overjoyed to be out of Oakland (well, wouldn't you be?). The odds on him becoming the player he once was seem very long indeed, but if he can avoid the injury bug (no sure thing as he already has developed hamstring problems in training camp), he ought to be a very effective WR2 or 3 for your team. He won't make it past the 5th round, so plan accordingly.

Bargain Bin: Wes Welker-WR- In points per reception leagues, Welker will be extremely valuable. He won't score much, but he is a reliable safety valve which Brady will utilize extensively.

New York Jets:

1. Thomas Jones-RB- His recent calf injury is very worrying because he is slated to be the top rusher for the Jets, a team in need of a good ground game to implement the play action offense that it's quarterback excels in. If healthy, he should easily eclipse the 1,210 yards and six touchdowns he achieved in his timeshare with the Bears last season. His receiving ability out of the backfield (36 catches last year) is nice as well. Look for him to be taken as an RB2 late in the second round or third round (depending on the severity of his injury)

2. Laveranues Coles-WR- He posted some of his best career stats last season (91 catches) and is an integral cog in the Jets attack. A warrior, he plays even when hurt and contributes on a weekly basis. His chemistry with Chad Pennington is readily apparent and he will make a very nice WR2 or 3 for some team. He should be a steal in the 6th round.

3. Jerricho Cotchery-WR- He was a nice surprise for the Jets last year, recording 82 catches and scoring 6 times. He won't fool anyone this year, though. Still, he is an excellent value as a WR3 or Flex player. He'll be gone by the 8th round.

Bargain Bin- Leon Washington-RB- He may see extended playing time if Jones remains injured for a long period. A scatback with a tremendous burst, he is a nice addition as a reserve.

Buffalo Bills:

1. Marshawn Lynch-RB- Lynch, a first round pick of the Bills, is expected to contribute heavily as a rookie. Despite current reports of a committee situation, he should receive the majority of touches by season's end and be a fantasy force to be reckoned with. His receiving ability will be a nice bonus on PPR leagues as well. He should be played as a high level RB2 and should be drafted no later than the 4th round.

2. Lee Evans-WR- An undeniable gem, Evans broke out for 82 catches and 8 touchdowns last season. He is poised to equal or better those numbers this year and is a low level WR1 or an excellent WR2. He will be among the top 15 WR's selected and should be scooped up by the early 5th round...if he lasts that long.

3. J.P Losman-QB- Losman was pilloried in his first year as a starter for his suspect decision making and erratic play. Granted, some of that criticism was legitimate, but the fact is he still managed to put together a decent season by posting an 84.9 QB rating (11th in the NFL) and over 3,000 yards through the air. He would be a good choice as a backup or a QB2 in some formats. You can nab him in the 7th round or later.

Bargain Bin- Roscoe Parrish-WR- A speedster, Parrish caught 23 balls for an average of 13.9 ypc. With a maturing Losman at the helm of the offense, he should be good for at least 30 catches this year and could prove valuable with an injury to Evans. He is worth the late round flier.

Miami Dolphins:

1. Ronnie Brown-RB- True, there aren't many reasons to be excited about the Dolphins this year, fantasy-wise. However, Brown is the exception. Not only did he run for over 1,000 yds. and 5 touchdowns last season, he caught 33 passes out of the backfield as well. He also will be leaned upon heavily this year to carry the load. He will be among the top 10 RB's to be chosen and you cannot count on him making it past the early second round at best.

2. Chris Chambers-WR- Chambers had one of his worst seasons as a pro last year and his inability to hang on to passes was a huge reason. However, there is reason to hope as the QB situation has improved marginally with Trent Green coming aboard. His accuracy may translate into a better season for Chambers, who has been working hard this off-season to correct his issue. Don't reach for him, but take him in the 7th round as a low-level WR2 or a WR3.

3. Trent Green-QB- Green's season was interrupted last year by concussion problems and he hasn't had a worse injury since he played a key part in "The Kurt Warner Story". He can be a decent QB, though, whose accuracy has been steady throughout the years. Don't count on him being your starter by any means, but he can be a decent backup who will be available past the 8th round.

Bargain Bin- David Martin-TE- Replacing Randy McMichael's numbers will be no easy task. Martin does have the size (6'4, 265lbs) that many teams covet and and surprising soft hands. He will be a favorite of Green's, who clearly knows how to utilize TE's in his offense. Martin is worth the gamble as a backup TE and should be available in the later rounds.