NFL Power Rankings: Ryan Fitzpatrick is Outplaying the Patriots and Jets??

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Funny how things change in a week...

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3):  I had the Chargers in my survivor pool; so this scrappy, injury-riddled group gave me a little scare in Week 3.

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-3)

30. St. Louis Rams (0-3):  Sam Bradford truly misses Danny Amendola. Rookie TE Lance Kendricks needs to step up.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2):  How is Blaine Gabbert supposed to develop with that receiving corps?

28. Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

27. Miami Dolphins (0-3)

26. Denver Broncos (1-2)

25. Carolina Panthers (1-2)

24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

23. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)


22. Arizona Cardinals (1-2):  It's really negligible between the Cards and Seahawks, so I'll take Larry Fitzgerald as the tiebreaker.

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21. Cleveland Browns (2-1):  Very impressive that they were able to squeak out a win without brusier Peyton Hillis.

20. San Francisco 49ers (2-1):  They may end up winning the NFC West by default. Ugly football being played out there.  


19. Chicago Bears (1-2):  If the Lions maintain their current pace, Jay Cutler's Bears may eventually become the forgotten team in the NFC North.


18. Tennessee Titans (2-1):  Soooo, I traded Roddy White for Kenny Britt prior to Week 3...ouch for me, ouch for Tennessee.

17. Washington Redskins (2-1)

16. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2):  Until they shore up their offensive line, they cannot be trusted.

15. Atlanta Falcons (1-2):  I laughed when I saw that Sports Illustrated's Peter King picked Atlanta to win the Super Bowl. They are probably the best 1-2 team, though.

14. Oakland Raiders (2-1):  If Darren McFadden can stay healthy, I believe the Raiders could upset the Chargers in the long run. I was extremely impressed by Oakland in Week 3 against my Jets, and reinforcements (Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford) are on the way.  

13. Tampa Bay Bucs (2-1):  I respect that this unit refuses to let up or back down, regardless of the circumstances.  

12. New York Giants (2-1):  I'm a big Ahmad Bradshaw guy. On the other side of the ball, man, this defense really beat the crap out of Michael Vick.

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11. Dallas Cowboys (2-1):  After a fourth quarter meltdown in the opener, much-maligned QB Tony Romo has responded with two consecutive fourth quarter comebacks while suffering through injury. Kudos.  

10. San Diego Chargers (2-1):  They've failed to impress me to this point, but I do like Ryan Mathews. He looks explosive, breaking out like LeSean McCoy did a season ago.


9. Houston Texans (2-1)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1):  Like the Chargers against the broken-down Chiefs, the Steelers also nearly blew an easy win over the depleted Colts.

7. New York Jets (2-1):  Their offensive line looks horrible without All-Pro center Nick Mangold, their veteran receivers are failing to get separation, RB Shonn Greene has been a disappointment and their team defensive speed is down. I'm losing a little faith.


6. Detroit Lions (3-0):  I'm still a bit skeptical.


5. New England Patriots (2-1):  Their defensive play has been nothing short of embarrassing.

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4. Buffalo Bills (3-0):  I have plenty of faith in Harvard man Ryan Fitzpatrick, but I still can't believe they're in first place after three weeks. Awesome storyline.


3. New Orleans Saints (2-1)

2. Baltimore Ravens (2-1):  Everything seemed to be back in order against the ragged Rams.

1. Green Bay Packers (3-0):  I'll definitely be surprised...if and when they lose a game this season.




Story Notes:

Greatest gainer:

Buffalo Bills from 13 to 4.

Biggest loser:

Philadelphia Eagles from 6 to 16.  

The Final Day of the 2011 MLB Regular Season: One for the Ages (Vol. II)

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In the first edition I discussed the heavyweight battle in the American League, and now it's time to take a look at the undercard -- the National League race for the Wild Card. I call this the undercard because there wasn't quite as much drama...but there was still plenty to go around.

Game #1: St. Louis Cardinals @ Houston Astros

No drama in this one, as Cardinals' veteran ace Chris Carpenter shut out the lowly Astros with a complete game, two-hitter. The embarrassingly poor Astros had absolutely no answer for Carpenter's famous curve, nor the outstanding location of his two-seam fastball.  

Tony LaRussa's Cards piled up eight runs, including Allen Craig's 11th and final home run of the season. The Cards were riding high after their easy victory, but their immediate future depended on the result of...

Game #2: Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves

How about this for a painful scenario: blow an extremely comfortable Wild Card lead, find out that your competition won their final game, get to a save situation to force a one-game playoff, blow the save, lose in extra innings to a hated division rival and manage to miss the playoffs altogether.

Well, that's what happened to Fredi Gonzalez's Braves.

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As a Mets fan, I can't say I feel too bad for them. I can empathize with the fans ('07 and '08 Mets), but that's about as far as I'll go. The better team won the Wild Card anyway. 

Electric rookie Craig Kimbrel blew the save for Atlanta, but it's obligatory to note that he was severely overworked throughout the latter portion of the season. It's a shame for Kimbrel's psyche; hopefully the Rookie of the Year award will eventually ease his anguish.

Now that we know the Cardinals are in, they are undoubtedly a team to watch. Power hitting left fielder Matt Holliday is reportedly set to return for game 1 of the NLDS, and St. Louis already has a slew of quality bats including the legendary Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman (Comeback Player of the Year), David Freese, Jon Jay and the aforementioned Craig.

Game #3: Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets

If I were Jose Reyes, I'd have a tough time asking to come out after one hit. Fully aware of the bloodsucking society we live in, ducking out before four at bats is obviously asking for trouble.  

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Nonetheless, Reyes did earn the National League batting title by finishing the year on an absolute tear. If he didn't hit as well as he did in the final week or so, he definitely would have lost the race to Brewers' superstar Ryan Braun. Reyes deserves congratulations, but he's more likely to receive scrutiny -- maybe for the rest of his career now.

From a financial standpoint, Reyes certainly did the right thing. It must be nice to hit free agency as the batting champion...

Get those checkbooks ready.

The Final Day of the 2011 MLB Regular Season: One for the Ages (Vol. 1)

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Wow. I really don't know what to say. The entire evening was just...unbelievable. I truly could not believe what was happening, and how it was happening. Let's take it game by game for some thoughts...

Game #1: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays trailed 7-0 in this one, and the circumstances certainly looked grim when a large portion of the hometown fans headed for the exits. I wonder what those idiots -- I mean, people -- are thinking right about now.  

But, as the case has been all along, the Rays weren't about to roll over and die. Far from it, in fact.

After a feverish rally, Joe Maddon's relentless Rays cut the deficit to one. Let's fast forward to the juicy stuff...

Bottom of the 9th. Yankees 7, Rays 6. Two outs. Bases empty. Yankees' right-handed reliever Cory Wade on the hill. Maddon looks to his bench for someone who could tie it with one powerful swing, and calls upon lefty-swinging Dan Johnson.

Knowing Wade's stuff -- 88-91 MPH fastball, slow curve and boring change-up -- I really liked this match-up for Maddon and Johnson. 

And then, with two strikes and the (potential) last pitch of the season on the way, just like a movie...

Johnson roped a game-tying homer down the right field line. The true fans left in attendance went absolutely bonkers, and deservedly so.

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The game proceeded into extra innings where Kyle Farnsworth and Scott Proctor did a nice job for their respective teams -- until the bottom of the 12th. 

After a couple of innings of work, Proctor was still in (because Joe Girardi was mixing and matching throughout the game) to face the Rays' franchise player, third baseman Evan Longoria.

And the movie continued.

Longoria responded under the immense pressure when he laced a shot towards the left field corner. Did it have the distance? Would it stay fair?

You could answer both questions with a single word..."Yes!"

Longoria won it for the Rays in dramatic fashion, with a laser beam of a walk-off homer. But the Rays' spot in the postseason was far from secure...

Game #2: Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles

Dustin Pedroia gave the Sox a 3-2 lead with an impressive homer off big, right-hander Alfredo Simon, but Boston didn't necessarily have to stop there. They had a few more excellent opportunities as the game progressed.

Manager Terry Francona, understandably so, developed an emotional attachment to rookie catcher Ryan Lavarnway after his storybook two-homer performance the other night. Unfortunately, that attachment caused him to leave Lavarnway at the plate with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th.

The Red Sox needed a hitter up there with the speed to stay out of a double play. With the expanded 40-man roster, there were a handful of viable options. But Tito stuck with Lavarnway, and the big fella ended up grounding into a rally-killing, inning-ending double play. Ouch.

Nonetheless, the Red Sox had the Orioles where they wanted them, holding a one-run lead in the 9th with their proven closer Jonathan Papelbon on the bump.

Bump is probably a good word choice because, well, it got more than a little bumpy out there. It was downright rocky.

Papelbon fell in love with his fastball to the point where he had Nolan Reimold and the Orioles down to their last strike, and he simply reached back and threw another hittable fastball that lacked precise location. Reimold smashed it into the right center gap, a shot that scored the tying run from second. 

Cue utility man Robert Andino.

Before the completion of his at bat I tweeted, "Andino is a sneaky good fastball hitter."

And he proved me right when he stroked a shot into left field...

Carl Crawford, the $142 million man, approached the ball...

It was clearly within his comfortable reach...and, as he's been doing all year...

He failed. 

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Crawford was unable to come up with the clutch catch and Reimold scored the winning run from second. And just like that, Red Sox Nation's World Series hopes were annihilated. A season that once had so much promise, was left with only one:

There will be no playoff baseball in Boston this season.

Quarterback Power Rankings: Using Baseball Movies to Rank the NFL's Signal Callers

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I'm going to rank the starting quarterbacks in tiers, and simply because they seem to work out perfectly, I will label each tier with a baseball movie title.

Yes, baseball movies. Trust me; it'll make sense, I promise.

Please keep in mind that these rankings are NOT based primarily upon this season. If they were, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Stafford would be in the top five. 

TIER 7: Major League: Back to the Minors

32. Blaine Gabbert - Jaguars
31. Kerry Collins - Colts

TIER 6: The Bad News Bears

30. Andy Dalton - Bengals
29. Tarvaris Jackson - Seahawks
28. Alex Smith - 49ers
27. Colt McCoy - Browns
26. Donovan McNabb - Vikings

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25. Chad Henne - Dolphins

TIER 5: Little Big League

24. Kevin Kolb - Cardinals
23. Cam Newton - Panthers
22. Rex Grossman - Redskins
21. Sam Bradford - Rams
20. Matt Cassel - Chiefs

TIER 4: Major League

19. Matt Hasselbeck - Titans
18. Kyle Orton - Broncos
17. Jason Campbell - Raiders
16. Josh Freeman - Bucs
15. Mark Sanchez - Jets
14. Jay Cutler - Bears

TIER 3: Moneyball

13. Matthew Stafford - Lions

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12. Ryan Fitzpatrick - Bills
11. Tony Romo - Cowboys
10. Eli Manning - Giants
9. Joe Flacco - Ravens
8. Matt Ryan - Falcons
7. Matt Schaub - Texans

TIER 2: Field of Dreams

6. Michael Vick - Eagles
5. Ben Roethlisberger - Steelers
4. Philip Rivers - Chargers

TIER 1: A League of Their Own

3. Drew Brees - Saints

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2. Tom Brady - Patriots
1. Aaron Rodgers - Packers




Andddd bring on the debate...

NFL Power Rankings: Jamaal Charles Goes Down, "Shady" McCoy Rises Up

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Last time around I promised a blurb for each and every team; turns out I lied. I came close this time, though!

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2):  So long, Jamaal Charles. It was a fun two-week season for my fantasy team.

31. Seattle Seahawks (0-2):  Everyone wants to blame Tarvaris Jackson, but it has to be awfully tough without Sidney Rice and a running game.

30. Indianapolis Colts (0-2):  I guess Peyton Manning is pretty good.

29. St. Louis Rams (0-2):  Tough luck with injuries early on.

28. Carolina Panthers (0-2):  Cam Newton puts up those numbers and they're still 0 and 2? Yikes.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1):  For the collective sake of their fans, I'm glad the Luke McCown era is over.

26. Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

25. Miami Dolphins (0-2):  At least they have Brandon Marshall and Cameron Wake.

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24. Denver Broncos (1-1)

23. Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1):  Does the following statement make any sense (?): I was actually impressed by Andy Dalton when he threw two picks against the Jets in the preseason. I mean that, really. He could be the Real Deal with the right supporting cast.

21. San Francisco 49ers (1-1):  Give David Garrard a shot. Do it.

20. Cleveland Browns (1-1)

19. Oakland Raiders (1-1)

18. Tennessee Titans (1-1):  I traded for Kenny Britt this weekend...I hope he burns you, Steve!

17. New York Giants (1-1):  Enigmatic.

16. Washington Redskins (2-0)

15. Tampa Bay Bucs (1-1)

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-1):  Concerning injury list: Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Felix Jones and Terence Newman.

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13. Buffalo Bills (2-0):  Will Ryan Fitzpatrick be considered a top 10 quarterback by Week 8?


12. San Diego Chargers (1-1):  Beat a good team for once, will ya?

11. Chicago Bears (1-1):  I'm a big Matt Forte guy. Phenomenal all-around back.

10. Detroit Lions (2-0)

9. Houston Texans (2-0):  I originally wrote, "The door is wideee open for a runaway division title" -- but I'm not sleeping on the Titans just yet.

8. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1):  I'm not quite sure Big Ben is as ready to go as they say he is.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1):  If Big Ben is a concern, then so is Michael Vick. In other news, LeSean McCoy might be the best offensive player who isn't a quarterback.

5. Baltimore Ravens (1-1):  I'm sure everyone made a lot of money betting on the Titans this past weekend.


4. New Orleans Saints (1-1):  Two of the best teams in the NFL were going at it in the season opener; there's no question about that.


3. New England Patriots (2-0)

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2. New York Jets (2-0):  Both teams are 2-0, and the Jets knocked the Pats out of the playoffs last season. Yes, I just wanted to remind everyone that New York knocked New England out of the playoffs last season. Please Google this if you do not believe me. Thank you.

1. Green Bay Packers (2-0):  Innocent until proven guilty.


Story Notes:

Greatest gainer:

Buffalo Bills from 29 to 13.

Biggest loser: 

Indianapolis Colts from 13 to 30. 

Moneyball: Geniuses At Work, Or the Biggest Scam in Baseball?

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With Moneyball (starring Brad Pitt) opening this weekend, sports fans everywhere seem to be debating its content, from the idolization of Billy Beane to questions about the "success" story of the sabermetric A's.

Awhile back, I voiced my opinion about this very topic.

Back then, I don't even think I mentioned the fact that Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada were highly-likely steroid users.

Billy Beane deserves credit for revolutionizing player evaluation, but his "success" was merely a result of six players: Giambi, Tejada, Eric Chavez, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito. 

Not Scott Hatteberg...

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Although the movie would like us to think that.

The Mets Put Me On Life Tilt

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In No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, a player often goes on "tilt" when a strong hand is cracked by a weaker hand that has -- in most instances -- been misplayed. A player on tilt usually plays differently in the short-term, throwing caution to the wind and recklessly "going on steam." Some tilters rant, rave, and turn red.

Well, as you can see from the title of this post, the New York Mets put me on life tilt. And how did they manage to do that tonight?

Interestingly enough, they put me on tilt during the Rays/Yankees game.

Where's the correlation? You wonder. 

Well, all it took was a bases loaded, extra-base hit by CF Curtis Granderson. Grandy came up in a big spot early on, and when Rays SP Wade Davis let a curveball hang middle-down, the Yankees' centerfielder came through with a clutch knock.

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That was enough for me to tilt. It really was. 

I immediately said, "See, that's the difference between Yankees and Mets baseball! The Yankees' superstars deliver when they are supposed to!"

And when they do deliver, like Granderson did there, it's never a surprise to me.

But I'll tell you what is surprising...

When David Wright gets a hit with runners in scoring position. In fact, if I'm being completely honest, I'd have to say it's surprising when he doesn't strike out. I'm pretty content when he flies out weakly to shallow center.

Yeah, I'm bitter -- I know. But what can I say? I'm sick of watching my favorite baseball team find different, spectacular ways to fail on a yearly basis. 

And the worst part is...I don't see the light at the end of this dark, endless baseball tunnel of Hell.

NFL Week 3 Survivor Pool Options: Steelers, Jets, Ravens Or...

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When it comes to NFL survivor (aka "suicide") pools, I'm not the kind of strategist who saves his big guns for last. Why? Because I don't want to be one of the people thinking, "Why did I take the crappy Cleveland Browns in Week 1?"

If I'm going down, I'm going with a bang. I took the Patriots in Week 1 and the Packers this past weekend (got a little interesting) and here we are, still alive for Week 3.

Here are the three games I'm mulling over:

Game #1: Baltimore Ravens @ St. Louis Rams

The pick: Ravens

After the impressive display we saw against the Steelers in the opener, the Ravens aren't going to fall to 1-2, are they?

Their Week 2 loss in Tennessee was a bit of a stunner, but the Titans are in much better shape than the Rams right now. St. Louis is without their RB1 Steven Jackson and WR1 Danny Amendola. An offense that was average (or slightly above) is now one of the least prolific in the league.

The Ravens' vaunted defense should cause fits for Sam Bradford without the balance of a rushing attack and his most frequent target.

In addition, after an underwhelming performance against the Titans, the Ravens' offense -- led by Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin -- should have an easier time against the Rams.

The concern:  It's a road game for the Ravens. They looked awesome at home in Week 1, and pretty terrible the following week on the road. And yet, the Rams are in such bad shape that I'm not really too concerned.

Game #2: New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders

The pick: Jets

I always feel comfortable with my Jets against the mediocre-to-weak teams, and that applies here -- for the most part.  

Two Raiders, in particular, make me nervous. One is RB1 Darren McFadden, who is emerging as one of the best and most dynamic offensive players in the NFL.  

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The other, surprisingly, is rookie WR Denarius Moore. He's an explosive talent, and I don't like that there's a lack of game film on him at the NFL level. Darrelle Revis won't have any trouble with Moore, but Antonio Cromartie sometimes gets exposed when Rex Ryan tinkers with the match-ups.

Outside of those two players, I'm not too worried about selecting the Jets. The Bills marched down the field with ease against the Raiders D, so the Jets' offense should find similar results.

QB Jason Campbell is known for keeping his teams in games, but the Jets should be a class above the Raiders in this one.

The concern:  Young, electric playmakers in the silver and black.

Game #3: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts

The pick: Steelers

A third road game; what a conundrum. Without Peyton Manning it's looking like the Colts are definitely one of the worst teams in the NFL. That being said, with Kerry Collins at the helm and an offense in disarray, I can't see the Colts having much success against the Steelers' talented, veteran defense.

Pittsburgh's offense should also thrive against the Colts' oft-embarrassing defense. This is a superb match-up for RB1 Rashard Mendenhall. Isaac Redman could also make an impact in limited work.

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The concern:  Ben Roethlisberger's health. If he's 90 percent or better, it should be an easy victory for the Steelers. If he's in the 80s or worse, taking them is an unnecessary risk.

The Decision

I'm going with the Ravens over the Rams, unless Steven Jackson is active; that may change things. For now it's the Ravens.


Thoughts?


UPDATE: I'm going off the list with the Chargers hosting the depleted Chiefs. Steven Jackson is expected to play, the Raiders make me nervous, and Big Ben's health is still a bit of a mystery. Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, it is.

Darrelle Revis: The Best Corner I've Ever Seen

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Yeah, I'm a Jets fan, but this is not a case of home cookin' -- I promise.

My teams are the Jets, Mets, UConn Huskies, Nets and Islanders, and I'm not the kind of fan who praises every player on those teams, simply because they're on those teams.

I take pride in evaluating players for their abilities, regardless of their team and my personal, individual opinion about them. For example, I hate Tom Brady and Chipper Jones for the things they've done to my Jets and Mets over the years, but that doesn't mean I'll rank Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger over Brady simply because he's torched Gang Green a few times.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback I've ever seen. That statement has no connection to the fact that the Patriots are my least favorite team in professional sports.

And that brings us to Revis Island.

To be honest, I'm tackling this subject because one of my friends asked me to. Where I'm from, there's a bit of an ongoing Jets/Giants feud, and this particular friend cannot stand the Revis bashing that comes from the Big Blue fanatics.

And Giants fans aren't the only ones calling Revis "overrated" these days -- Jaguars WR Jason Hill also ran his mouth without substantiation. Why a worthless receiver with no track record of success decided to verbally attack a legitimate NFL superstar...well, that's a rant for another day.

The point is that people seem to want to disrespect Revis. I suppose only the greatest have haters.

As for the man himself, why do I believe he's the best cornerback I've ever seen?

Because he has no weaknesses. None. Not a one. 

What do we, as fans, ask of our team's cornerbacks? And what do coaches ask of them? Put those questions together and here's my answer:

Jam opposing receivers before five yards to disrupt routes, be physical without committing penalties, have the versatility to cover both burners and possession receivers, understand all schemes so coverage breakdowns can be avoided, have the ability to blitz effectively when called upon, finish the plays that need to be finished, create turnovers and last but not least...be able to guard one-on-one, on an island. 

Darrelle Revis does all of those things, and more -- if that's even possible.

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And we all know he has the numbers to back it up. No one holds elite receivers to less production than Revis. The only corner who even seems to come close is Nnamdi Asomugha, formerly of the Raiders, now an Eagle. But even Asomugha has flaws that Revis doesn't. He has just 12 interceptions in eight seasons, whereas Revis has 15 in only four seasons.

What's the point? Well, both players get consistently avoided by opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks. But naturally, within the flow of each game, teams eventually take their shots.

When teams foolishly come after either superstar, Revis finishes more plays than Asomugha. 

With these two corners already in the discussion, here's my list of the greatest corners I've ever seen:

5. Nnamdi Asomugha
4. Champ Bailey
3. Charles Woodson
2. Deion Sanders
1. Darrelle Revis


At this point I could go on and on for days about Revis' unparalleled ability, but I won't. It's 11:13 p.m. and I'd like to pretend I have a life now.

Week 2 of Fantasy Football: I Have No Clue What I Am Doing

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You know Murphy's Law, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong"...

Well that applied perfectly to both of my fantasy teams this weekend. Here's an unhappy recap:

Team 1 (14 teams, deep rosters):

Originally I had Rams WR1 Danny Amendola as my last flex (WR/TE), but he suffered a severe injury in Week 1 and was clearly not a fantasy option for Week 2.

Amendola's injury led me to the Raiders WR2/3 Darrius Heyward-Bey, who led his team with seven targets in the opener. Heyward-Bey seemed like a decent last-spot option considering the injuries to WR1 Louis Murphy, WR2/3 Jacoby Ford and TE1 Kevin Boss, until he too was scratched from the lineup.

Initially that led me to Broncos WR3 Eric Decker, who played surprisingly well in Denver's Week 1 match-up. After reading the injury updates on Rotoworld, I decided against Decker because WR1 Brandon Lloyd was expected to suit up.

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Back to the Raiders I went, this time for fill-in WR2 Chaz Schilens, who has the "talented but oft-injured" label. Schilens was described as 100% to go, so I figured he'd see a nice amount of targets from QB Jason Campbell.

Schilens ended up with 0.8 points, including a stuff at the goal line which would have been good for eight additional points.

Lloyd ended up being a last-second scratch by the Broncos' coaching staff. 

Sadly, Decker exploded for 26 fantasy points, and would have been the difference in my series. Well done, Mr. Frascella.

I also got torched by Eagles WR2 Jeremy Maclin (who sucked in Week 1) after getting smoked by Chargers RB2 Mike Tolbert in the opening week.

Oh, and Felix Jones and Ben Roethlisberger were also injured for me. 

The End Result: 0-2 record.


Team 2 (12 teams, also deep rosters):

Going into the Sunday night game (Eagles @ Falcons), I was trailing 129 to 108. I had Matt Ryan and my opponent was completely out of players. Twenty-one for the tie, 22 for the win.

But before I get there, I must add that Plaxico Burress went for zero points in my lineup. Big performance.

Of course that wasn't the worst news.

The worst news came in the form of Chiefs RB1 Jamaal Charles' season-ending injury. Charles was my first-round selection, fourth overall. His devastating injury turned my Week 2 match-up into a must-win...

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Which brings us back to the Eagles/Falcons game. Fast-forwarding to the good stuff, Ryan was five passing yards away from tying my contest at 129. Twenty-five yards away from giving me the lead and the victory, barring a last-minute turnover of some sort.

The Falcons had the ball, trailing, with plenty of time to go in the 4th quarter. A longgg field ahead of them. And what happens?

They run the ball ALL the way down the field for a score. No passing plays! It became The Magical Michael Turner Show, exactly when I needed the opposite to occur.

Long story short, because I can't take the agony any longer, Ryan failed to pick up the measly five points. To make matters worse, Charles had 27 yards on just two carries to start the Chiefs game, a pace that suggested a lock victory for me given the final score.

The End Result: 0-2 record. 

Week 3 can't come quickly enough.  

Tricky Question: Is Jamie Moyer a Hall of Famer?

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Earlier this week I posed the question, "Is Kerry Collins a Hall of Famer?"

Friends and acquaintances read the post, and most agreed that Collins didn't have much of a chance. They came to that conclusion despite the fact that he's 10th on the all-time passing yardage list, ahead of megastars like Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and Y.A. Tittle.

Their counterargument was that Collins' cumulative statistics were merely a product of longevity. And, for the most part, there is validity to that argument. But that raised some questions...

Is longevity a positive or negative when it comes to Hall of Fame voting?

Should a player be rewarded for compiling stats over time, or should they be punished for lacking a clear prime?

These questions led us away from the NFL, and over to the MLB. As soon as the word "longevity" gets tossed around, it's hardly surprising when Jamie Moyer's name gets thrown into the mix.

Moyer pitched in 24 Major League seasons, spending time with the Cubs, Rangers, Cardinals, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners and Phillies. Although he had already been in the bigs for a decade, Moyer's best and most notable seasons began in 1997 with the Mariners, and concluded in 2005.

Voters may be impressed by Moyer's obvious ability to adapt and improve during The Steroid Era. While other starters were taking it on the chin and scratching their heads, Moyer was tinkering with his repertoire and strategy. The results were more than admirable. 

Moyer's career record is 267-204, with a 4.24 ERA, 2,405 strikeouts and 4,020 innings pitched. As you can see, that statistical set is a difficult one to analyze.

His 267 wins are good for 36th all time, with 26 of the 35 pitchers ahead already in the Hall of Fame. In addition, five other would-be Hall of Famers are not yet eligible for induction: Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina.

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Clemens will likely be rejected because of steroids and perjury; nonetheless, few would say that "The Rocket" wasn't a Hall of Fame caliber pitcher. Eliminate Clemens and 30 of the 35 pitchers ahead of Moyer will still be in the Hall of Fame.

But the detractors, like my friends, will come back with, "A 4.24 ERA isn't Hall of Fame worthy, and 2,405 strikeouts is not an impressive total over 24 years."

Clearly, there's no denying their response. A 4.24 ERA is hardly sparkling. 2,405 strikeouts puts Moyer at a little over 100 per season. When my friends (like many others) think of Hall of Famers, they think of lights out, dominant pitchers who embarrassed opposing hitters in their primes.

Well, that's not quite Jamie Moyer. 

However, they were saying that there is "no chance" he gets elected to The Hall. Now, I'm not saying he's a lock -- not by any stretch of the imagination -- but I do believe that Moyer has a 50 to 60 percent chance of induction. Saying there's "no chance" is a clear case of narrow-mindedness.

In the era of pitch counts and five-man rotations, Moyer's 267 wins are going to stand out when he's on the ballot for the fourth, fifth or sixth time. After the pitching superstars of his era get elected (Pedro Martinez, Johnson, Maddux, Glavine, John Smoltz, Mussina and Curt Schilling), Moyer's prospects will improve due to his win total, winning percentage, and 15 seasons of double-digit wins.

Considering the evolution of the game, many believe that 300 wins will be an impossible achievement for starting pitchers of the future, and even those of the present. With that in mind, if pitcher usage trends continue, it's reasonable to assume that Moyer's 267 wins will stick in the top five or 10 for the rest of baseball history.

Meaning, Moyer retired after the 2010 season -- from then on, only a few pitchers who retire will ever crack that win total. That has to be worth something.

In the end, we know Moyer isn't a lock. But saying he doesn't have a chance?

That's just foolish.

Nationals Beware: Drew Storen is a Headcase

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Prior to the MLB trade deadline earlier this season, I was shocked when I saw Drew Storen's name involved in rumors. Some reports even said a deal to the Indians was "almost complete."

Why was I shocked?

Because Storen was one of the Nationals' first-round draft picks two years ago (the other was some soft-tosser named Stephen Strasburg), and at just 24 years of age, he's already a highly-effective Big League closer. Naturally I wondered, "Why would a rebuilding franchise looking to 'go young' want to trade a 24-year old with great stuff and already impressive numbers?"

Lo and behold, GM Mike Rizzo ultimately decided against pulling the trigger on a deal that would have shipped Storen to the American League. It was certainly a wise decision.

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However, during tonight's ballgame against the Mets, I think I figured out why the Nationals' brass has concerns about Storen...

It's not his stuff or his stats; it's his attitude.

In the 9th inning, in the span of about three minutes, Storen showed himself three times:

1. He stared in at the home plate umpire, protesting a ball that was clearly outside and high. Color commentator said, "What is he arguing about? That pitch wasn't even close."

2. After getting off to a slow start, walking a batter and falling behind 3-1 on the next man, catcher Jesus Flores decided it was time to chat with his fiery closer. When he took a step out from behind home plate, the camera zoomed on Storen. He said something along the lines of, "I got it. I got it! Stay back there."

Flores makes the right decision and his closer rewards him with a childish response.

3. After walking the second man (Flores' instincts vindicated), the Nationals' pitching coach stepped out of the dugout and strolled towards the mound.

What does Storen do? Shake his head in disgust, and turn his back momentarily. A real class act.

And yet, in the end, all that matters is that the kid can pitch. As long as he doesn't alienate teammates and management to the point where they can't stand his presence on the roster, the best move is to hang on to him and let him do his thing.

If he improves his poise and command, Storen could be an All-Star closer for quite some time.

The Usual Suspects: The NFL MVP Race Has Become Too Predictable

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Because it has become virtually impossible for a running back or wide receiver to win the Offensive MVP award, it's only the second week of the season and we already know the plausible candidates.

At season's end we're looking at the following group:

Tom Brady

Aaron Rodgers

Drew Brees

Michael Vick

Philip Rivers 

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We know that because all five quarterbacks lead legitimate, top-tier playoff contenders, and we can lock them in for monster statistical outputs. I'm pretty confident in that list; but just in case, here are the wild cards:

Matt Schaub: If the Texans' opener was an indication of things to come in the AFC South, Schaub and his teammates could be in for double-digit wins. Big stats, more wins, more media coverage...a better shot at the trophy.

Matt Stafford: Ride the Hype Train. If the Lions make the playoffs, Mr. Stafford will be in the longshot discussion for the award. 

Joe Flacco: It will be tough because most would consider Ray Rice the best offensive player on the Ravens, but Flacco is doing his best to differentiate himself. He has the poise and mindset to hang around.

Tricky Question: Is Kerry Collins a Hall of Famer?

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My colleague asked me that question earlier today at work. Why did he ask?

Because yesterday, Collins passed the legendary Joe Montana on the all-time passing yardage list. Crazy, I know.

So, with that in mind, I suppose it's reasonable to consider Collins' chances for the Hall of Fame.

My immediate response to my colleague was, "Well, if Vinny Testaverde becomes a Hall of Famer, I guess Collins could be."

Testaverde is also near the top of the all-time passing yardage list, and like Collins, never won a Super Bowl. What people may forget, however, is that Collins reached the Big Game twice with two different teams: the Panthers and Giants.

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Collins has always had incredible arm strength, and his quick release often compensated for his glaring lack of mobility. Could he be a Hall of Famer given his longevity and statistics?

It's not completely out of the question. I don't think he was thought of as an "elite" quarterback at any time during his career, but he's always been "capable" and "solid."

Are "capable" and "solid" adjectives that describe Hall of Fame athletes? Not always, but sometimes.

What will ultimately hurt Collins' chances is that he's been labeled "a drunk," and people don't generally seem to be a fan of his. Hey, it helps to be liked. I'm not sure Mr. Collins is.

NFL Week 1 Thoughts: Will Tony Romo Ever Get It Done in the 4th?

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Cowboys @ Jets: 

If I needed a quarterback for the first three quarters of a game, I'd take Tony Romo. In the fourth quarter? Give me Mark Sanchez.


Both Romo and Sanchez made critical mistakes in the second half of Sunday night's Jets victory, but Romo's errors were truly mind-boggling. Trying to do too much while scrambling led to a fumble in chip-shot field goal range, and his attempted attack of Darrelle Revis ended in a gimme interception.

Romo was smiling and laughing all night until the final couple of minutes. Aww, sorry Tony. I was also happy to see Revis abuse Dez Bryant after his impressive start against Antonio Cromartie. I'd be willing to say that Revis' incredible coverage caused Bryant's debilitating cramps, to some extent.

Panthers @ Cardinals:

The Cardinals fought back for a nice win, but the story of the game was obviously rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Cam showed that he's ready to play in the NFL by breaking the league record for passing yards in a career-opening game.

Veteran WR Steve Smith looks like he's going to be a popular fantasy play this season. The question is...how soon will opposing teams double and triple-team him, forcing Legedu Naanee to become Cam's most available target?

Giants @ Redskins:

I feel like I'm always saying, "Rex Grossman's not that bad." He's always had a legitimate, professional arm, and now he has a better offensive coaching staff than he had in Chicago. Grossman torched the Giants' beat-up defense for over 300 yards en route to one of the most impressive individual performances of the opening weekend.

Grossman displayed considerable chemistry with WR2 Jabar Gaffney, a former teammate of his at the University of Florida. The Redskins' receiving corps has been weak in recent years, but they're in better shape this season with Santana Moss, Gaffney, and burner Anthony Armstrong.

The Giants, not surprisingly, looked out of sync. They need to be more committed to Ahmad Bradshaw. Their offensive line play was also embarrassing.

Steelers @ Ravens:

Not too stunning that the Ravens came away with a win, but their margin of victory was shocking. The Ravens' talented, veteran defense completely stifled the Steelers' offense, resulting in a pair of horrific performances from Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall. Thanks for the negative fantasy points, Ben.

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Colts @ Texans:

I don't think anyone was expecting Kerry Collins to come out and torch the Houston Texans, but damn...it wasn't pretty from start-to-finish. The Colts were fittingly out of whack, and the Texans went for the kill from the get-go.

Excellent showing for the Texans considering the absence of superstar RB Arian Foster. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson showcased their usual chemistry. When 'Dre is healthy he's with Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald atop the wide receivers list.

Lions @ Bucs:

Speaking of Calvin Johnson...

I'm wondering if "Megatron" is already making Matt Stafford look a little better than he actually is. Often times Stafford simply puts it up for grabs, and Megatron does the rest. Reminds me of Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress a handful of years ago.

As long as Jahvid Best stays healthy and effective, the Lions should be able to hang around in the NFC Wild Card race throughout the season. Not in the same league as the Packers -- sorry.

Eagles @ Rams:

I knew the linesmakers were asleep when they posted the Eagles at just (-4.5). After the Lions, I'd say the Rams were the No. 2 "buzz" team of the preseason, and I'm not exactly sure why. Now they've lost WR1 Danny Amendola for a good portion of the season and things are only going to get worse.

Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are freaks. So fun to watch.  

NFL Power Rankings: Are Aaron Rodgers and His Packers the Team to Beat?

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In the future I will provide blurbs for each and every team, but today I'm rushing out the door in a hurry. Just going to post the rankings to stir up preliminary debate.

Counting down from 32 to 1...

TIER 5: The Worst of the Worst

32. Carolina Panthers (3-13)

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)

30. Cincinnati Bengals (5-11)

29. Buffalo Bills (5-11)
28. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
27. Denver Broncos (5-11)
26. Miami Dolphins (5-11)

TIER 4: Not the Worst, but Pretty Damn Close

25. Cleveland Browns (6-10)
24. St. Louis Rams (6-10)
23. Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
22. Seattle Seahawks (6-10)
21. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
20. Minnesota Vikings (6-10)

TIER 3: Middle of the Pack

19. Detroit Lions (7-9)
18. Washington Redskins (7-9)
17. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (8-8)

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15. New York Giants (8-8)
14. Houston Texans (8-8)
13. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
12. Tampa Bay Bucs (9-7)
11. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)

TIER 2:  Potentially Solid Playoff Teams

10. Chicago Bears (10-6)
9. San Diego Chargers (10-6)
8. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
7. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
5. New York Jets (12-4)

TIER 1: The Super Bowl Favorites

4. New England Patriots (13-3)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
2. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)



Bring on the disagreements!