Concussed

Photo: The Inquisitor

Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, and Michael Vick suffer concussions in yesterdays games but the suits in the commissioner's office will argue that they are working to protect their players. I don't think a penalty flag is enough to keep those defensemen from passing on an open shot when it is their job to be on their toes and anticipating at all times. A guy on the radio broadcast I was listening to last night made an interesting point about going back to leather helmets. He was 100% sarcastic, but I thought on the idea.

Photo: The Costarican Times

Players now use their helmets no different than they would a club or bat. They use the hard object they are equipped with the connect thunderous blows to their opponents in a reckless fashion. The revolutionary technology of protecting a player's head has quickly backfired and has been turned into a weapon.

I know it sounds stupid when talking about protecting the heads of football players, but think about how it would be if you take the helmets out of the equation. Gang tackling and arm tackling would come back into play. Rugby players do it. I do know that injuries would still be apparent like in rugby, but you can't say it isn't food for thought. Sure it doesn't provide the fans with the much anticipated thunderous boom that echoes in the stadiums, but if we are legitimately concerned with protecting the players then we must admit that the current helmets are used more so as a weapon than a shield.


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But I Thought The SEC Champ Automatically Won the National Title..?

With the Crimson Tide Falling this weekend and two other non SEC teams being on their tail in their respective #2 and #3 spots in the rankings, we may not see an SEC team playing for the title this year. The last time this happened was...I don't even remember when. Was it USC vs Texas in '06?

I am urging all of you to be worried about the well being of the southern part of our country. First Obama gets reelected and now this?

Cue the "Two a Days" show on MTV from 10 years ago. The people in the south will need a replenished sense of pride about their football again.


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Super Bowl Matchup In November

Photo: Houston.sbnation.com

The Bears play the Texans this week and the rest of the games in the NFL seem to have taken a back seat. The Texans are a 1-point underdog in this big game that will take place in Chicago, and there has been many conversations about who is the better team. I am going to pick against my own team and say that the Bears will come out of this battle victorious.

A battle is exactly what this game will be. The Texans will be looking to put an end to a 6 year streak of winning 7 games in a row in a season by the Bears this weekend, and with the weather forecast showing a cool damp day all the factors seem to slant toward the Bears. 

The statistical comparisons of the two teams are dang near identical. With two offenses that know how to score, and defenses that specialize in creating havoc for those who are lined up against them, there is only one thing that is certain about this game. Chicago fans will be out and rowdy. It will be a treat to watch.

Photo: Chicago Sun-Times

The question yet to be answer is: Will these two teams meet again in February for all the marbles? There is a pretty good chance but I am sure all the people in Atlanta would like to argue their place in that debate as well.






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2012-13 NBA Season A Marathon Not A Sprint

Photo: Detroit News

Let's pump the brakes a little. How many games have been played? That’s it? What is all the fuss about? The Lakers have a few new large additions into the starting lineup, and the fact that they haven't jelled off the bat shakes the west coast like an earthquake? 

I don't think the Laker's fans are to blame, I think rather the title hungry East coast is chirping a little too much at the Lakers and their slow start. If I recall, when Miami got a face lift done to their starting lineup it took sometime (and by sometime I mean losing a title to a team from the West with significantly lower numbers on their payroll). 

Coming from a Rockets fan, I cannot stand the Lakers but we can all agree that Kobe is Kobe and the guy doesn't know what it is like putting together a mediocre season. Now, remember how much of grind last season was with the compacted schedule due to the delayed start of the season and ease off of the gas pedal because this season will seem like it is an eternity in comparison. It is a marathon this year not a sprint.

I am already looking forward to Lakers/Heat final. I'd actually take Lakers in game six of that series, with the Rockets losing in game seven of the Western Conference final of course. 

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Marcus Lattimore's Test of Character

I don't even know the guy but I wouldn't hesitate to say that Marcus Lattimore is a great guy. By stopping and thinking about the magnifying glass that all big name collegiate athletes currently live under, you quickly realize that these kids are under heavy scrutiny. Lattimore is a prime example of a guy who has passed the judgment of fans, media, classmates, professors, and many other opinions of the twitter world, and for that I commend him. His character must be everything that it is advertised to be, because if it wasn't and he didn't cross the street at the right time on the wrong day then we would all be talking about that as opposed to his character and injured knee. 

(Photo: By Jeff Blake, US Presswire)

It is a shame that such current athletes aren't commended by the media or the public eye on an equal level as their counterpart screw ups. We as fans are so quick to jump on board of the latest NCAA violation or run in with the law that we forget about the purity of collegiate athletics. The molding of NCAA Football in this post TV contract era is easily seen from one Saturday to the next. Players are getting away with touchdown and defensive celebrations that those who wore the same jerseys ten years ago would have been penalized severely. This coming from someone who is roughly the same age as the athletes on those fields signifies a dramatic shift in not just one sport but all NCAA fields of competition.

What happened to Lattimore this weekend was very unfortunate. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that his road to recovery still opens the door to an opportunity to play in the NFL, as I am sure that has been a childhood dream of his. 

2010 NFL Fantasy Quarterback Rankings

The 2010 NFL fantasy football draft pool has a handful of superstar quarterbacks from which to choose with the top few picks.

However, it's tough to pick against the Super Bowl MVP to top the list.

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees threw for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions during the regular season in 2009, then went on to win the Super Bowl XLIV MVP award while leading the Saints to the title. Brees, who topped 5,000 passing yards in 2008, directs a potent offense in New Orleans that includes stars such as Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush. Plenty of weapons for Brees to do some damage in 2010.

2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Manning's consistency keeps him near the top of the fantasy football quarterback list every year. He's only dipped below 4,000 passing yards twice in his 12-year NFL career, and he's never thrown fewer than 26 touchdowns. His 2009 numbers: 4,500 yards, 33 touchdowns.

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre's former protégé has shined in two seasons as the Packers' starter, with 8,472 yards and 58 touchdowns in 32 games at the helm. In 2009, he threw for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.

4. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Romo has quite an arsenal surrounding him heading into the 2010 season, with 2009 breakout star Miles Austin, wideout Roy Williams, tight end Jason Witten and rookie receiver Dez Bryant. He accounted for 4,483 yards and 26 touchdowns against just nine interceptions in 2009, and his 2010 offensive crew is even better.

5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Back healthy in 2009, Brady threw for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. With Randy Moss out wide, and Wes Welker working his way back from injury, Brady and the Pats look poised to put up more stellar passing numbers in 2010.

6. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Schaub had an NFL-best 4,770 yards and an NFL-high 583 pass attempts in 2009, with 29 touchdowns against just 15 interceptions. He's got star wideout Andre Johnson at his disposal, which bodes well for the continuation of those passing statistics in 2010.

7. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

The Chargers like to pass, and Rivers produces the type of statistics fantasy managers love — an NFL-best 62 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Rivers connected for 4,254 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2009, and there's no reason to think he won't again surpass 4,000 yards in 2010.

8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco is surrounded by talent, with the addition of receiver Anquan Boldin bolstering an already-solid receiving corps, and running backs Ray Rice and Willis McGahee keeping defenses honest. Flacco threw for 3,613 yards and 21 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions in 2009, giving him 6,584 yards and 35 TDs over two seasons.

9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan had somewhat of a down season in 2009 after his stellar rookie year of ’08. To be fair, he missed almost three full games with a turf toe injury in ’09, and he still managed 2,916 yards and 22 touchdowns. A healthy Ryan, plus a return to health for running back Michael Turner, could mean big numbers for fantasy owners in 2010.

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Peyton's little brother surpassed the 4,000-yard mark in 2009 for the first time in his six-year NFL career. He also threw a career-high 27 touchdown passes, and developed a good on-field chemistry with Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. Expect the duo to continue shining in 2010.

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2010 NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs Preview

Most NFL fantasy football leagues over emphasize running back statistics in comparison to quarterbacks. Look at any NFL fantasy football draft cheat sheet and they are stacked with running backs at the top. This makes the first running back drafted, the most important pick of any NFL fantasy football owner.
There are a few running backs flying below the radar for the 2010 NFL season and a few running backs that could be forgotten because of an off year in the 2009 NFL season. Running backs to focus on are on teams losing a running back or an emerging back that will take carries from the teams top ball carrier in the 2009 NFL season. The following is a list of the running backs to adjust up and down on the fantasy football running back list.

Comeback Running Back of Year Matt Forte Chicago Bears

Matt Forte was a huge pickup for NFL fantasy football owners in the 2008 NFL season and was saved by many of those same owners to begin 2009. Forte played most of the season for the Chicago Bears on a bum ankle and was dealing with a new quarterback in Jay Cutler to boot. Look for Forte to get back to his 2008 fantasy football numbers this season. Move him up the list and grab him early if possible.

Clinton Portis is Healthy & Ready to Produce for Washington Redskins
Clinton Portis took a step back in the 2009 NFL season and for 2010 he will be rejuvenated playing with Donovan McNabb in the Washington Redskins offense. Look for Portis to get more catches out of the backfield as he becomes a critical aspect of the more aggressive Washington attack. Portis has shown in the past he is a threat to break long runs off the short pass and he could be a huge fantasy football pick up in the second round of most fantasy football drafts.

Beanie Wells Will See More Carries With Leinert at QB

Beanie Wells fantasy football value will increase now that Kurt Warner has retired. The new Arizona Cardinals offense will have to rely on Wells giving them better passing situations by eating up yards on first and second downs. Wells is prone to injury and can be a risky pick but he is worth moving up the running back board.

Marion Barber Will Lose Carries to Jerry Jones Favorite Felix Jones

Marion Barber has been an aggressive, hard hitting running back for several years now in Dallas. The problem for Barber is he has not only delivered punishment, he has also received his share over the years. Felix Jones is showing that he is ready to take on more of the work load. It is important not to over value either running back on the Dallas Cowboys on any fantasy football draft board. Barber will see less carries in the 2010 NFL season and Jones will see more action.

Chris Johnson Should be Down in Production for 2010 NFL Season

Chris Johnson said in the off season he will rush for 2,500 yards in the upcoming NFL season. Subtract 1,000 yards and it will be more accurate. Johnson will rush for 1,500 yards in the 2010 NFL season but that still makes him a top five NFL rusher. The Tennessee Titan's Johnson is still worth saving for fantasy football leagues that save two players but he isn't the hot ticket he was last year.

Final Tips for Choosing Running Backs in Fantasy Football

When choosing the first three running backs during a fantasy football draft it is important to look at three key components. The first is if there is a possibility of two backs sharing carries. The second key component to look for is the running backs durability and the third key is to consider the offensive scheme. Will the team be a run first or pass first offense? In fantasy football leagues with four and five running backs it is good to gamble on rookie running backs and back up backs to injury prone running backs.

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