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SportDime - by Book It

So the matchup is set and the betting lines are out for Super Bowl XLVI. New England is a 3.5 point favorite and the total is 55. Funny enough how Eli and his teammates are underdogs in the home stadium of his older brother for the final NFL game of the season. I contend it is hard to beat teams twice in a row in football especially. Coaches have more to use to coach up their players with regards to film and the mistakes that may have won or lost them the game. But is there such thing as revenge over a Super Bowl that happened back in 2008?

With all the turnover amongst players and coaching staffs in this era of sports, it's almost unimaginable to think the 2012 version of these teams are thinking about 2008. But a good number of players on those teams then still remember and haven't forgotten Super Bowl XLII. The holdovers probably already initiated the newcomers via free agency and the draft about the matchup in their November 6th game this season.


And it seems Eli Manning has a pension for beating the always prepared duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. This season a late fourth quarter TD pass to Jake Ballard in Foxboro helped Manning and the Giants beat the Patriots 24-20. So really New England has double revenge on their minds but it seems the wrong team is favored in this game.

Sportsbook director Mike Colbert thinks the wrong teams is favored and expects a lot of two-way action wagered on the game but believes the number will settle around a field goal. Regardless of what the number is, that doesn't mean anything is figured out when the game is played. The total would be the second highest total as well trailing the 57 in the 2010 Saints-Colts matchup.

But is it either time for New England to get their revenge or do the Giants simply have their number at this point? How many times can a team hang with another one and have their number before being accepted as an equal or superior?


In their game this season, the struggling Giants went into Foxboro slated as 9.5 point underdogs and won outright. They have the better defense and just as many playmakers as the Patriots do on offense. And Eli Manning has been able to hold his own against Tom Brady whenever they seem to face off.

As much as I like Tom Brady and I expect to see New England prepared for this one, the Giants come off as one of those teams when given momentum, they ride it all they way through til the end. I guess Vegas could not pit New England as an underdog but they certainly are in the eyes of many in this Super Bowl. I wanted to see the 49ers and Patriots do battle, but this game will be great as well. I'll be pulling for my boy Brady (attended the same high school as him) but if the Giants win outright it's not like that hasn't happened before.
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The Team to Beat

September 1st 2010 01:28
My Dynasty Draft:

So winning the championship is great, it really is. But the terrible part about winning in 2009-2010 is that this year, I got last place in the draft. And that SUCKS! I watched Spiller, Mathews, and Bradford get picked up. (Remember, this is a dynasty league, and all the biggest 100 players are kept year-to-year. We draft for potential.)

I had my ace in the hole all picked out, and then watched as the guy before me, in pick #11, took Arian Foster. I'd been watching him quietly for 6 months, biding my time. I hadn't even mentioned his name to my brother, and we chat fantasy football all the time. I screamed and cursed. Pick #12 is the worst.

Our league is quirky. It's been together for 15 years. At its inception, I was a fantasy addict, and I won several times. The league understood a few years later when I quit for marriage and children. Then, 7 years later, they welcomed me back. Last season was good for me. Ray Rice matured into a scoring machine and Ricky Williams became one right when I needed him. Mid-season trades got me Dallas Clark and Anquan Boldin. Boldin became a problem for me in the off-season, though, when he was traded to the Ravens. In our league, you're only allowed to start one player from any one team. Uh-oh.

And no one took my offers for trades with Boldin. Finally, I got crazy and I traded Rice. I know, Trade Rice?! Seriously?! But I did it. I traded him for Jamaal Charles and Clinton Portis. I think Rice is going too high in the draft right now. With Boldin in Baltimore, and especially after watching Flacco throw so much in the preseason, I have a hard time seeing Rice score as many points this year as last. My only worry is that Charles doesn't see the ball as much as he should. And with Shanahan in Washington, Portis is no sure thing.

So my draft this year was all about depth. I picked up Larry Johnson AND Ryan Torain. I grabbed Rashad Jennings. I took Jermaine Gresham late in the draft. And I took both Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee.

My starting lineup will be:
- Coach Childress
- Matt Schaub
- Jamaal Charles
- Portis OR Ricky Williams, depending on the opponent and trends in Wash.
- Sims-Walker OR Floyd
- Boldin
- Dallas Clark
- Cincinnati Defense
- Green Bay Offense
- Atlanta Kicker

Wish me luck.
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The Rookies

July 9th 2010 02:19
Rookies Who MIGHT Make a Difference

Have you noticed how hard it is to get your daily dose of fantasy football news in the midst of the Lebron Mania? Oh yeah, and that little soccer thing over in Africa. Don't people have priorities anymore?!

Anyway. I had some time recently to pore over statistics and read inane articles in fantasy football magazines. I spent some hours reading pithy accounts of rookies' potential first years...

They're as random as the Lebron predictions over the last few weeks. Cleveland? Miami? Chicago?

Exactly. Let's start in Cleveland. Cleveland drafted Montario Hardesty, who could be a big contributor. IF IF IF Jerome Harrison gets hurt or loses a step. Can you imagine Harrison letting the job go after waiting this long to get it?! Not me. Hardesty would have to man up in a big way, avoid the injury bug he's been suffering with for years, and become Mr. Spectacular. Stay away from Hardesty.

Stay away from Chicago, too.

No rookies to report in Miami, either.

So Lebron isn't a good gauge of football talent. Go figure.

So let's go find them. First, Detroit. Jahvid Best is the best bet for talent and fantasy production. He's talented and the situation is ripe for him. Kevin Smith might push to keep his spot, but Smith's had two years to produce and hasn't.

Ryan Mathews, San Diego. He's in a good spot, too. His only obstacle is Sproles, and Sproles is at the tail-end of his own career, so Mathews will be drafted early, especially in Dynasty leagues.

Stay away from rookie WR's. It's the diamond in the rough who produces in season #1. The only rookie WR to produce recently was Eddie Royal in 2008. I had him. The next year, as you know, he bombed big-time. Coach's fault. No wonder Marshall left.

Stay away from rookie QB's, too. Bradford is tempting, as is Clausen, but unless you have a deep bench, and can hold them for two years, don't plan for championship production.

C J Spiller is an interesting prospect.The biggest problem there is that Buffalo has a way of destroying good running backs, and under-utilizing them when they're good. It's like all the coaches since Levy haven't got a clue. Case in point - Fred Jackson. Lynch has a suspension, so Jackson starts having a monster season. He has spectacular stats, and is just running all over people. And then Lynch's suspension ends, and guess what? Jackson gets benched. I'm sure that did wonders for his mental state. It's like "Hey! Whatta you gotta do to get on the field?!" Oh, that's right. Lynch has a bigger salary. I forgot. Anyway, I'd like to say I wouldn't touch Spiller, but if he's still available by the end of the second round and all the other starting RB's are gone, I might take him.

Ben Tate might be the 3rd best choice. Right now, it sounds like Arian Foster, an undrafted free agent in 2009, has the lead for the starting position. So Tate might have to wait, and if Tate waits, why draft him early? I'd watch that situation closely. Actually, I AM watching that situation. I thought Foster looked pretty good at the end of last season. He won me a championship in one league.

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Uh Oh... Here Come the Hold-Outs

June 9th 2010 01:10
Hold-Outs to Watch in 2010

The hold-out season is upon us, and as always, it's interesting to watch to see who's going to sit out and who's going to set aside gripes to play ball.

Vincent Jackson, leading receiver and pro-bowl candidate in 2009, threatens to sit out at least a portion of the season if his needs aren't met. Good luck, Vinny, and good luck, Chargers. If things aren't worked out, look for the Chargers to continue their slide back to mediocrity. There's certainly a chance that new RB Ryan Matthews will make a difference and Jackson's no-show will fade into the background, but that's a big chance for SD to take.

Reggie Wayne (and Robert Mathis) seem to be looking for more cash, too. The Colts main office seems more positive about the situation than the Chargers'. I'd be surprised if the holdout lasted past training camp in Indiana.

Rumor has it that Chris Johnson might pull a disappearing act, too. That would be great! I don't have him on my team, so I'm hoping he stays away, far away.

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For some reason, I don't remember having to plan for suspensions as I drafted. Now, you almost have to.
cushing, suspension, suspended, nfl
Cushing Suspended

So far this season, Cushing, Roethlisberger, and Santonio Holmes have been suspended to start the season. Another player suspended, Jason Ferguson (Dolphins), has less fantasy value; and if Vincent Jackson isn't suspended before the end of the 2010 season, then I'm a pink Hippo. With wings


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The QB Shuffle - Denver Broncos

May 3rd 2010 18:42
Lots of New Faces in the Denver QB Ranks
Who's going to Shine?

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Favre Is Thinking About Retirement...

Hmmm... feels like déjà vu. This time it's his ankle, and it needs surgery if Favre's gonna play this year


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Some Players Picked Late Who Could Make a Difference


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Carolina Panthers Nab 3 QB's

April 25th 2010 12:49
Do you think the Panthers are concerned about Matt Moore's ability to be a starting QB in the NFL? After Delhomme's downward spiral last year, and Moore's spotty performances, they traded Delhomme away last month and just nabbed three of the best rookie QB's in the draft.

#1 Jimmy Clausen - this kid could be the QB for the Panthers for the next decade, and when he was picked in the second round, he probably thought he would be...until the Panthers picked up two more QB's Friday and Saturday. Now, he's going to have to fight for the position, and that's a great situation to watch. None of the other 3 or 4 legitimate starters in camp are going to give him a day off. They're going to fight for snaps and fight for the starting job. I wish I could be there to watch


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NFL Draft 2010

April 25th 2010 12:45
Let's start with the obvious. The Rams drafted Sam Bradford. Good choice. No surprise there. I'd wait a few rounds before drafting him though, unless you're in a fairly deep keeper league. Then, he might mature for you in a year or two. Last year, I drafted Mark Sanchez AND Matthew Stafford in round one. I'd kept solid RB talent and Matt Schaub from the previous year, so I had a need for a decent backup QB, and at this point, I think it might work out.
Speaking of Matthew Stafford, he might turn into something... big "MIGHT" there. The Lions made a really curious choice picking Jahvid Best. After picking Ndamukong (can you say "King Kong"?) Suh 2nd overall, the Lions traded up to get Best. Quite a package deal, the #1 Defensive Lineman in the draft and arguable the most explosive back. With Kevin Smith already in town and running well (not all over defenses, but well, nonetheless), Best will have a little less pressure and lots of room to find his NFL "feet."

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