I'd better get these links up before the trick-or-treaters get here in earnest. Remember, the polls are still open. And if you need a refresher on our lineup, you can click here.
Are you ready for some civil discontent? It seems as if some Cleveland Browns have had enough of Mangini & Company. A season ticket holder who goes by the name "Dawg Pound Mike" is organizing a fan protest for the Monday night game Nov. 16 against the Baltimore Ravens. Basically, he wants fans to stay away from their seats (and, presumably, the TV cameras) for the opening kickoff.
Thank goodness the protest is taking that form. We all know that signs can be dangerous (at least, when they're made by fans and not the team PR department).
It ain't over til...well, it may not be over even then. The folks who run the Landshark Maniacs fantasy football league tell us that the scores aren't official until the Saturday after the games. This week we got a reminder why. Several days after Ben Roethlisberger apparently ran for minus-1 yard in a rush against the Minnesota Vikings, Elias Sports Bureau reversed itself by saying the play was a sack for the Vikings, not a run.
I have to think that somewhere out there in fantasy football, somebody's loss turned into a win (or vice versa) because of the extra points this would mean for the Vikings defense. Not so for the Landshark Maniacs. Tinks Revenge, who started the Vikings, still lost by a score of 93-88 to Big Lough O. If you know of someone who was saved/robbed by this, leave a comment and let us know.
Remember, this is supposed to be fun. A fellow blogger named Redsoxmaniac offers a list of Top Five Annoying-Sad-Great Things from Week 7 in fantasy football. The list proves that fantasy football is not for the faint of heart. After discussing Matt Cassell's stats from last week, he says "If I had him starting and seen this, I would Ryu dragon punch the next stranger on the street. I would be mad enough that I would have fire coming out of my fist!"
If you wan't something longer than a blog post... How about a book about blogging itself? Scott Rosenberg, a cofounder of Salon.com, has written a book called "Say Everything" about the history and development of blogging. It's a nice read for anyone who's interested in blogging. (And if you've read this far, I'm guessing you are.) Besides, if pitching the book keeps just one person away from lolcat picture collections, my job will be done.
Happy Halloween to all of you, except if you're the type of person who smashes up church pumpkin fundraisers. If you're that type of person, I hope you break your leg, Leon Washington-style.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update on the lineup.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Fearless Predictions - Week 8
You know em. You love em. You could probably live a long and comfortable life without them, but the Landshark Maniacs league predictions are back again, anyway. Last week's predictions went 2-3, lowering the season record to 17-18.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. For once, I'm going with the ESPN "experts" and predicting a Pigskin win.
Northeast Dragons vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. Some of these fantasy football picks you can't overcomplicate. The Dragons bounce back from last week's loss with a victory here.
Tinks Revenge vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. Big days for both Matt Schaub and All Day lead to another win for the Surfriders.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. D.C. Destroyers. Who would have thought we'd be saying "Miles Austin" and "difference maker" in the same sentence? In this case, Austin will be the difference in a Crew win.
Big Lough O vs. Southern Rebels. In a slight upset special, I'm saying Ronnie Brown and Larry Fitzgerald score more than the "experts" expect. The Rebels take this one.
We'll be back tomorrow with some recommended reading material. Until then, remember to vote in our polls.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. For once, I'm going with the ESPN "experts" and predicting a Pigskin win.
Northeast Dragons vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. Some of these fantasy football picks you can't overcomplicate. The Dragons bounce back from last week's loss with a victory here.
Tinks Revenge vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. Big days for both Matt Schaub and All Day lead to another win for the Surfriders.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. D.C. Destroyers. Who would have thought we'd be saying "Miles Austin" and "difference maker" in the same sentence? In this case, Austin will be the difference in a Crew win.
Big Lough O vs. Southern Rebels. In a slight upset special, I'm saying Ronnie Brown and Larry Fitzgerald score more than the "experts" expect. The Rebels take this one.
We'll be back tomorrow with some recommended reading material. Until then, remember to vote in our polls.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A Quick Thursday Update
First of all, thanks to those of you who voted in the tight end poll. The winner: Jeremy Shockey, who is now a part of our lineup. Now, some quick thoughts on football-related matters.
Here's your sign. By now you've probably heard about the new Washington Redskins policy about banning fan-made signs at FedEx Field. What I did not know (until I spoke last night with someone in the know) was that the Redskins also are barring fan interviews at FedEx Field. Nothing like working overtime to wave your middle finger at the very people you're trying to serve, Mr. Snyder. That should fix what ails your club.
There are plenty of takes on this. Michael Wilbon's is here. But to get true insight into this, you have to go to an older source, Bill Engvall, who loves signs. In fact, he says stupid people should be forced to wear a sign that says "I'm Stupid," so the rest of us will see them coming. (One question: Would Dan Snyder and his lackey be allowed to share a sign?)
A pitch for the TV people. Football fans of a certain age (and yes, I'm admitting to being one of them) will remember a regular feature of Sunday football telecasts: "Alcoa Presents Fantastic Finishes." Basically, toward the end of the game -- often at the two-minute warning -- they would show a fourth-quarter comeback from the annals of football history, like the Immaculate Reception, the Holy Roller, or (in the case of this clip) Roger Staubach's "Hail Mary" pass to Drew Pearson.
I remember always getting a lift from the clip, because it provided concrete proof that NFL teams could (and often did) come back, even on the last play.
Sometime in the distant past, the TV networks stopped showing these clips, even though Alcoa remains a going concern today. I would say it's time for the networks to start airing a slightly updated version: "Alcoa Presents Fantastic Fantasy Finishes." It could show things like a fantasy football player getting 21 points from a defense on Monday night to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
(Sorry, didn't mean to gloat.)
If Alcoa doesn't want to foot the bill for this, try Apple. They've certainly got the money for it.
We'll be back tomorrow with a preview of the Landshark Maniacs matchups. Here are the results from the tight end poll.
[polldaddy poll=2174977]
Here's your sign. By now you've probably heard about the new Washington Redskins policy about banning fan-made signs at FedEx Field. What I did not know (until I spoke last night with someone in the know) was that the Redskins also are barring fan interviews at FedEx Field. Nothing like working overtime to wave your middle finger at the very people you're trying to serve, Mr. Snyder. That should fix what ails your club.
There are plenty of takes on this. Michael Wilbon's is here. But to get true insight into this, you have to go to an older source, Bill Engvall, who loves signs. In fact, he says stupid people should be forced to wear a sign that says "I'm Stupid," so the rest of us will see them coming. (One question: Would Dan Snyder and his lackey be allowed to share a sign?)
A pitch for the TV people. Football fans of a certain age (and yes, I'm admitting to being one of them) will remember a regular feature of Sunday football telecasts: "Alcoa Presents Fantastic Finishes." Basically, toward the end of the game -- often at the two-minute warning -- they would show a fourth-quarter comeback from the annals of football history, like the Immaculate Reception, the Holy Roller, or (in the case of this clip) Roger Staubach's "Hail Mary" pass to Drew Pearson.
I remember always getting a lift from the clip, because it provided concrete proof that NFL teams could (and often did) come back, even on the last play.
Sometime in the distant past, the TV networks stopped showing these clips, even though Alcoa remains a going concern today. I would say it's time for the networks to start airing a slightly updated version: "Alcoa Presents Fantastic Fantasy Finishes." It could show things like a fantasy football player getting 21 points from a defense on Monday night to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
(Sorry, didn't mean to gloat.)
If Alcoa doesn't want to foot the bill for this, try Apple. They've certainly got the money for it.
We'll be back tomorrow with a preview of the Landshark Maniacs matchups. Here are the results from the tight end poll.
[polldaddy poll=2174977]
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 8
While you decide how to vote in our tight end and TV watching polls, it's time for a look at the week ahead.
The People's Pigskin puts its 4-3 record on the line this week in a rematch against Ravens Fan T Sizzle. Our last meeting (in week 1 of the Landshark Maniacs season) resulted in a 104-103 win for you, the Internet. Anything can happen on any given week in fantasy football, so don't let the Sizzle's 1-6 record fool you. This team is dangerous, and we need your help assembling this week's lineup. Here are our current starters.
Quarterback. Once again we feature Kurt Warner in the starting spot. As long as he stays upright, and as long as the Cardinals feature a pass-first offense, Warner will remain a fantasy football threat. If you disagree, we can pull a quarterback off the waiver wire.
Running back. Both of our starters have some tasty matchups: Matt Forte (against the Cleveland Browns) and Steve Slaton (against the Buffalo Bills). If you're tired of either of these options, we can call Jamal Lewis off the bench.
Flex. Please welcome back to the lineup Chris "Beanie" Wells, who scored 13 fantasy points (primarily from a touchdown) on the bench last week. If you think that score was a fluke, we can use Jamal Lewis instead.
Wide receiver. Greg Jennings remains in the lineup, but Chad Ochocinco has a bye week, so he's been replaced by his former teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh. If you want to replace one of these receivers, Nate Washington awaits on the bench.
You already know what's going with the tight end. There are no changes in kicker (Nick Folk) or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up and will be open until Saturday night. The tight end poll will close tonight. Please vote.
The People's Pigskin puts its 4-3 record on the line this week in a rematch against Ravens Fan T Sizzle. Our last meeting (in week 1 of the Landshark Maniacs season) resulted in a 104-103 win for you, the Internet. Anything can happen on any given week in fantasy football, so don't let the Sizzle's 1-6 record fool you. This team is dangerous, and we need your help assembling this week's lineup. Here are our current starters.
Quarterback. Once again we feature Kurt Warner in the starting spot. As long as he stays upright, and as long as the Cardinals feature a pass-first offense, Warner will remain a fantasy football threat. If you disagree, we can pull a quarterback off the waiver wire.
Running back. Both of our starters have some tasty matchups: Matt Forte (against the Cleveland Browns) and Steve Slaton (against the Buffalo Bills). If you're tired of either of these options, we can call Jamal Lewis off the bench.
Flex. Please welcome back to the lineup Chris "Beanie" Wells, who scored 13 fantasy points (primarily from a touchdown) on the bench last week. If you think that score was a fluke, we can use Jamal Lewis instead.
Wide receiver. Greg Jennings remains in the lineup, but Chad Ochocinco has a bye week, so he's been replaced by his former teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh. If you want to replace one of these receivers, Nate Washington awaits on the bench.
You already know what's going with the tight end. There are no changes in kicker (Nick Folk) or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up and will be open until Saturday night. The tight end poll will close tonight. Please vote.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The People's Win (and the Next Step)
The People's Pigskin made all the right moves and chalked up a 103-100 win this week over the Southern Rebels. Here's a breakdown of how we did it.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 20 of 36 passing, 231 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and 11 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals did just enough to defeat the New York Giants. The primary credit goes to the defense: Eli Manning was picked off three times.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 18 carries for 67 yards, 4 receptions for 22 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. His Houston Texans held off a rally by former No. 1 draft choice Alex Smith to beat the 49ers. Slaton continues to get his touches.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 2 carries, 58 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Brown left the game against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He says the injury was no big deal, and there was no need for the Indianapolis Colts to risk any aggravation against the Rams. It's disappointing, but it seems like he'll be available next week.
Matt Forte, Flex. The stats: 6 carries for 24 yards, 4 receptions for 25 yards, and 4 fantasy points. The Chicago Bears found themselves in a gargantuan hole early against the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, they had to abandon any hopes of a running game and throw deep. Fantasy football players, as usual, suffered the consequences.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 52 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers threw a lot of short routes against the Cleveland Browns. That was bad news for a deep threat like Jennings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 10 receptions, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. Now that's more like it. Carson Palmer found Ochocinco early and often against the Chicago Bears. Ochocinco has been nothing short of a fantasy football stud.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. Both catches came on the Redskins opening drive. And it's a good thing Cooley caught them when he could, because his night ended early. (More on him later.)
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 3 for 3 on field goals, 4 for 4 on extra points, and 14 fantasy points. Welcome back to the fold, Folk. The Dallas Cowboys finally had a complete offensive day against the Atlanta Falcons, and the kicker always benefits from this.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 3 fumble recoveries, 6 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 21 fantasy points. They made us wait until the last minute, but the Eagles' dominance at the line against the Washington Redskins provided the winning margin.
Now, back to Cooley. He left the Monday night game with a broken ankle. His season may or may not be over, but we cannot afford to find out. We need to get another tight end who can play right away. That means it's time for another poll. Here are the nominees:
Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints. He has at least 3 fantasy points in every game he has played this season, and he currently ranks ninth among tight ends with 45.
Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos. Another player who has scored at least a point in every game he has played. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 18th among tight ends with 31 points.
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a point in five of the six games he's played so far. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 19th among tight ends with 29 points.
The poll is up and will be available until Wednesday night. Please vote and/or comment. We'll be back next time with a more detailed look at our upcoming game.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 20 of 36 passing, 231 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and 11 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals did just enough to defeat the New York Giants. The primary credit goes to the defense: Eli Manning was picked off three times.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 18 carries for 67 yards, 4 receptions for 22 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble, and 18 fantasy points. His Houston Texans held off a rally by former No. 1 draft choice Alex Smith to beat the 49ers. Slaton continues to get his touches.
Donald Brown, RB. The stats: 2 carries, 58 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Brown left the game against the St. Louis Rams in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He says the injury was no big deal, and there was no need for the Indianapolis Colts to risk any aggravation against the Rams. It's disappointing, but it seems like he'll be available next week.
Matt Forte, Flex. The stats: 6 carries for 24 yards, 4 receptions for 25 yards, and 4 fantasy points. The Chicago Bears found themselves in a gargantuan hole early against the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, they had to abandon any hopes of a running game and throw deep. Fantasy football players, as usual, suffered the consequences.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 52 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers threw a lot of short routes against the Cleveland Browns. That was bad news for a deep threat like Jennings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 10 receptions, 118 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. Now that's more like it. Carson Palmer found Ochocinco early and often against the Chicago Bears. Ochocinco has been nothing short of a fantasy football stud.
Chris Cooley, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 21 yards, and 2 fantasy points. Both catches came on the Redskins opening drive. And it's a good thing Cooley caught them when he could, because his night ended early. (More on him later.)
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 3 for 3 on field goals, 4 for 4 on extra points, and 14 fantasy points. Welcome back to the fold, Folk. The Dallas Cowboys finally had a complete offensive day against the Atlanta Falcons, and the kicker always benefits from this.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception returned for a touchdown, 3 fumble recoveries, 6 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 21 fantasy points. They made us wait until the last minute, but the Eagles' dominance at the line against the Washington Redskins provided the winning margin.
Now, back to Cooley. He left the Monday night game with a broken ankle. His season may or may not be over, but we cannot afford to find out. We need to get another tight end who can play right away. That means it's time for another poll. Here are the nominees:
Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints. He has at least 3 fantasy points in every game he has played this season, and he currently ranks ninth among tight ends with 45.
Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos. Another player who has scored at least a point in every game he has played. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 18th among tight ends with 31 points.
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a point in five of the six games he's played so far. After his team's bye last week, he ranks 19th among tight ends with 29 points.
The poll is up and will be available until Wednesday night. Please vote and/or comment. We'll be back next time with a more detailed look at our upcoming game.
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Quick Monday Update
Unlike Jim Zorn, it seems as if the People's Pigskin has a chance.
After Sunday's games, including a surprising victory for the Arizona Cardinals, our fantasy football team trails the Southern Rebels by a score of 100-80. The Rebels have no one in Monday's contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Dead Coaches Walking...er, Redskins. We have Chris Cooley and the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams.
We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed breakdown of our game and a look ahead to next week.
After Sunday's games, including a surprising victory for the Arizona Cardinals, our fantasy football team trails the Southern Rebels by a score of 100-80. The Rebels have no one in Monday's contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Dead Coaches Walking...er, Redskins. We have Chris Cooley and the Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams.
We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed breakdown of our game and a look ahead to next week.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The People's Choice - Week 7
Thanks to those of you who voted in this week's polls. You voted to leave the People's Pigskin lineup the way it is now. You can follow our fantasy football matchup against the Southern Rebels here.
You also voted to suspend Tom Cable for a season if the allegations against him are true. I know the Napa County district attorney decided not to file charges in the incident where Randy Hanson broke his jaw. So that means Cable is in the clear, right? Not necessarily.
A new poll is up. This one asks about your Sunday TV viewing habits. The results of the two most recent polls are below. We'll be back later with an update on this week's matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2149200] [polldaddy poll=2135646]
You also voted to suspend Tom Cable for a season if the allegations against him are true. I know the Napa County district attorney decided not to file charges in the incident where Randy Hanson broke his jaw. So that means Cable is in the clear, right? Not necessarily.
A new poll is up. This one asks about your Sunday TV viewing habits. The results of the two most recent polls are below. We'll be back later with an update on this week's matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2149200] [polldaddy poll=2135646]
Saturday, October 24, 2009
More Recommended Reading
The lineup and Tom Cable polls will close later tonight. In the meantime, here are some links for fellow fantasy football fans to enjoy.
Innovative, like New Coke? ESPN.com published an excerpt from Chuck Klosterman's new book "Eating the Dinosaur." The excerpt takes a look at the development of the "read option" play (a much better description than Wildcat, if you ask me) and argues that football isn't what you might think it is.
"It feels like a conservative game. It appeals to a conservative mind-set and a reactionary media and it promotes conservative values. But in tangible practicality, football is the most progressive game we have -- it constantly innovates, it immediately embraces every new technology, and almost all the important thinking about the game is liberal."
He also argues that the read option didn't exist 25 years ago, though I can think of at least one coach who would beg to differ. But never mind that. Chuck's piece (as usual) is worth your time.
Circling the wagons...to ensure the prey won't escape. I can't decide if this is a sign of the times or just the latest way for football fans to express their displeasure at their coach, but one of our fellow Wordpress users has a blog called Fire Dick Jauron! But these folks aren't just ranting. They're trying to do something more productive.
If you live in the Buffalo area, you might have noticed a billboard urging the venerable Ralph Wilson to give Jauron his walking papers. The folks at Fire Dick Jauron! are helping raise money for the billboard (and possibly for a second one). Most "fire the coach" sites never get past the name-calling stage. This one makes you hope Mr. Jauron leased his home instead of buying it.
What's a reading list without an Ochocinco item? Here's the latest on the People's Pigskin's most quotable player, Chad Ochocinco. It seems that he plans to form a social news network on Twitter. He's calling it OCNN (Ochocinco News Network). One thing's for sure: This network will get scoops on things like uniform violations.
It's like Cliff's Notes for football. If you watch Sunday's game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders, you can expect to hear about the "Heidi Game" at least once. If you're not old enough to remember the incident, here's a video and a quick rundown.
On Nov. 17, 1968, the Raiders were trailing the Jets 32-29 when somebody decided the game was over. With 1:05 left on the clock, NBC affiliates in the eastern U.S. cut away from the game and started showing a made-for-TV remake of the movie "Heidi." In the meantime, the Raiders scored two touchdowns and won the game 43-32. NBC was flooded with angry calls, and football broadcasts have featured the phrase "will be seen in its entirety following today's game" ever since.
By the way, in researching this post, I learned that the "Heidi" in question was a made-for-TV version starring Jennifer Edwards, not the 1937 classic starring Shirley Temple. If the former ambassador is reading this, please accept my apologies for thinking you played a role in this controversy.
And apologies to the rest of you for not getting this post up sooner. There's still some time to vote in our polls. We'll be back Sunday morning with the results.
Innovative, like New Coke? ESPN.com published an excerpt from Chuck Klosterman's new book "Eating the Dinosaur." The excerpt takes a look at the development of the "read option" play (a much better description than Wildcat, if you ask me) and argues that football isn't what you might think it is.
"It feels like a conservative game. It appeals to a conservative mind-set and a reactionary media and it promotes conservative values. But in tangible practicality, football is the most progressive game we have -- it constantly innovates, it immediately embraces every new technology, and almost all the important thinking about the game is liberal."
He also argues that the read option didn't exist 25 years ago, though I can think of at least one coach who would beg to differ. But never mind that. Chuck's piece (as usual) is worth your time.
Circling the wagons...to ensure the prey won't escape. I can't decide if this is a sign of the times or just the latest way for football fans to express their displeasure at their coach, but one of our fellow Wordpress users has a blog called Fire Dick Jauron! But these folks aren't just ranting. They're trying to do something more productive.
If you live in the Buffalo area, you might have noticed a billboard urging the venerable Ralph Wilson to give Jauron his walking papers. The folks at Fire Dick Jauron! are helping raise money for the billboard (and possibly for a second one). Most "fire the coach" sites never get past the name-calling stage. This one makes you hope Mr. Jauron leased his home instead of buying it.
What's a reading list without an Ochocinco item? Here's the latest on the People's Pigskin's most quotable player, Chad Ochocinco. It seems that he plans to form a social news network on Twitter. He's calling it OCNN (Ochocinco News Network). One thing's for sure: This network will get scoops on things like uniform violations.
It's like Cliff's Notes for football. If you watch Sunday's game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders, you can expect to hear about the "Heidi Game" at least once. If you're not old enough to remember the incident, here's a video and a quick rundown.
On Nov. 17, 1968, the Raiders were trailing the Jets 32-29 when somebody decided the game was over. With 1:05 left on the clock, NBC affiliates in the eastern U.S. cut away from the game and started showing a made-for-TV remake of the movie "Heidi." In the meantime, the Raiders scored two touchdowns and won the game 43-32. NBC was flooded with angry calls, and football broadcasts have featured the phrase "will be seen in its entirety following today's game" ever since.
By the way, in researching this post, I learned that the "Heidi" in question was a made-for-TV version starring Jennifer Edwards, not the 1937 classic starring Shirley Temple. If the former ambassador is reading this, please accept my apologies for thinking you played a role in this controversy.
And apologies to the rest of you for not getting this post up sooner. There's still some time to vote in our polls. We'll be back Sunday morning with the results.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fearless Predictions, Week 7
I originally planned to post this much earlier, but I've been under the weather for most of the past two days. So before I drown myself in HiberNol, here are this week's predictions.
(Last week's predictions went 2-3, again, leaving us with a season record of 15-15.)
Peoples Pigskin vs. Southern Rebels. Let it never be said that I doubt the power of you, the Internet. This one goes to the Pigskin.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. This Peyton vs. Eli matchup goes to the older brother (playing the pitiful St. Louis Rams). And as a result, this matchup goes to the stumblrs.
Hawaiian Surfriders vs. Northeast Dragons. The cool thing to do would be to pick an upset that ends the Dragons' 72-Dolphins-like quest for perfection. Unfortunately, I've never been accused of being cool. The Dragons will win again.
Tinks Revenge vs. Big Lough O. Wes Welker must be salivating over the chance to face the Buccaneers defense. I see a big day for him and a victory for the Lough Os.
D.C. Destroyers vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. Reggie Wayne benefits from Peyton's big day against the Rams. The Sizzle will benefit to the tune of a second victory.
We'll be back tomorrow (if I'm upright) with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, remember to vote in the polls on the right side of this page.
(Last week's predictions went 2-3, again, leaving us with a season record of 15-15.)
Peoples Pigskin vs. Southern Rebels. Let it never be said that I doubt the power of you, the Internet. This one goes to the Pigskin.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. This Peyton vs. Eli matchup goes to the older brother (playing the pitiful St. Louis Rams). And as a result, this matchup goes to the stumblrs.
Hawaiian Surfriders vs. Northeast Dragons. The cool thing to do would be to pick an upset that ends the Dragons' 72-Dolphins-like quest for perfection. Unfortunately, I've never been accused of being cool. The Dragons will win again.
Tinks Revenge vs. Big Lough O. Wes Welker must be salivating over the chance to face the Buccaneers defense. I see a big day for him and a victory for the Lough Os.
D.C. Destroyers vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. Reggie Wayne benefits from Peyton's big day against the Rams. The Sizzle will benefit to the tune of a second victory.
We'll be back tomorrow (if I'm upright) with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, remember to vote in the polls on the right side of this page.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Getting a Jump on Weekend Reading
First and foremost, thanks to those of you who voted on which kicker we should use this week. I've attached the results of that poll to the bottom of this post, but I'll spare you some suspense. The winner is Nick Folk (yes, the same Nick Folk who started the year on our roster). Looks like Ahman Green isn't the only person getting a second chance this season.
As you ponder how to vote in our other polls (on the righthand side of this page), here are a few links for your fantasy football viewing pleasure.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Ronnie Brown. Everyone is looking for a way to show their Halloween spirit. And, of course, the National Football League is looking for a creative way to get its hands on your revenue. The solution: officially licensed NFL pumpkin-carving kits. Why put a jagged smile on your Jack O'Lantern when you can put the Carolina Panthers logo on it instead?
(One warning: If any of your trick-or-treaters drafted Jake Delhomme, they may be tempted to do this.)
And we used to hike 10 miles in the snow to get our stats. The good folks at TC Sportsline offer an interesting post this week: "Fantasy Football: Are We Really Better Off?" It's basically a look at how fantasy football worked before the Internet made instant stat updates possible. The verdict: Technology has made fantasy football better:
"Putting aside the fact that its integrity is tested by misinformation, pied-pipers and their unfortunate sheep, and monotonous harmonizing of strategy on a catastrophic level, I think fantasy sports and those players who play the game how it was meant to be played are stronger and will prevail over the rest."
This is your brain online. Any questions? The next time Grandpa gets on your case about your love for fantasy football (or for the Web in general), point him to this article about a study showing one benefit of the Internet for newcomers: improved brain function. Says one of the authors:
"We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function."
I can only assume that this older American was not part of the study.
We'll be back tomorrow with a Landshark Maniacs preview. Here are the results of the kicker poll.
[polldaddy poll=2140621]
As you ponder how to vote in our other polls (on the righthand side of this page), here are a few links for your fantasy football viewing pleasure.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Ronnie Brown. Everyone is looking for a way to show their Halloween spirit. And, of course, the National Football League is looking for a creative way to get its hands on your revenue. The solution: officially licensed NFL pumpkin-carving kits. Why put a jagged smile on your Jack O'Lantern when you can put the Carolina Panthers logo on it instead?
(One warning: If any of your trick-or-treaters drafted Jake Delhomme, they may be tempted to do this.)
And we used to hike 10 miles in the snow to get our stats. The good folks at TC Sportsline offer an interesting post this week: "Fantasy Football: Are We Really Better Off?" It's basically a look at how fantasy football worked before the Internet made instant stat updates possible. The verdict: Technology has made fantasy football better:
"Putting aside the fact that its integrity is tested by misinformation, pied-pipers and their unfortunate sheep, and monotonous harmonizing of strategy on a catastrophic level, I think fantasy sports and those players who play the game how it was meant to be played are stronger and will prevail over the rest."
This is your brain online. Any questions? The next time Grandpa gets on your case about your love for fantasy football (or for the Web in general), point him to this article about a study showing one benefit of the Internet for newcomers: improved brain function. Says one of the authors:
"We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function."
I can only assume that this older American was not part of the study.
We'll be back tomorrow with a Landshark Maniacs preview. Here are the results of the kicker poll.
[polldaddy poll=2140621]
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