tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82608113966164801992024-02-08T07:59:15.231-08:00E.I. Sports DeliberationE.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-22990222453335535802010-09-05T20:31:00.000-07:002010-09-05T20:33:39.120-07:002010 NFL Preview<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Editor's Note: This post was originally published on September 2, 2010. </span></i></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I haven't had much to write about lately, especially since I've been waiting (and wanting) to do a column about the ever-interesting Tiger Woods, but I am waiting until he regains his championship form and returns to the real-life golf version of The Terminator that we all know and love (or hate, for all the Phil Mickelson fans). So really, that leaves football, which excites me. I had my fantasy football draft about a week and a half ago and have been recklessly trying to get people to sign up for my football pool on ESPN.com, to relatively no avail. So I'm going to go ahead and do my best to project out this NFL season with playoffs and some fantasy relevance when I feel it's important. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NFC West</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> San Francisco 49ers 11-5 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 8-8</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team really took off in the second part of last season after it made the switch to Alex Smith as it's starting quarterback. Mike Singletary is an excellent defensive coach, and will continue to coach this talented defense to it's potential. Their schedule is incredibly easy, and their division is equally as weak. I've penciled them in for 11 wins, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them get to 12. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Arizona Cardinals: 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 10-6</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team has a lot of departures to overcome, most notably Kurt Warner at the quarterback position. They've also lost Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, and Bertrand Berry, each a key player for the Cardinals. Can they repeat their success as of late? I'm not so sure, especially not with Derek Anderson running the show in the desert. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Seattle Seahawks: 6-10 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 5-11</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I've gone over their schedule about five times now, and I just can't believe I'm giving this team one more win than they had last season. Can Pete Carroll get it done with an NFL squad? Who knows, but I have them starting the season off the season 2-8 and then finishing 4-2, with wins against St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Arizona, and Carolina. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> St. Louis Rams: 1-15 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 1-15</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My poor Rams. I told myself I would disown them if they took Sam Bradford instead of Ndamakong Suh in the draft, and they went and took a quarterback with tons of injury risk instead of a defensive lineman that wants to break the opposing quarterback's neck. If Bradford looks good early on and they surprise some people, I'm going to have a hard time not watching them. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NFC North</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Green Bay Packers: 13-3 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 11-5</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team is one of the best offensive teams in the league. So many weapons offensively, especially in the passing game. With Aaron Rodgers gaining another year of experience under his belt and having Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley to throw to (not to mention Ryan Grant to keep defenses honest), I expect this team to beat Minnesota at least once this year and take the division. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Minnesota Vikings: 12-4 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 12-4</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This is assuming Brett Favre stays healthy all season long. I actually think they win their season opener in New Orleans and get off to a good start with wins at home versus Miami and Detroit. If for some reason Favre gets injured, this record could easily plummet to 8-8. That's how much Favre means to this team.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Chicago Bears: 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 7-9</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team's biggest problem last season was it's offensive line, which resulted in a lack of a running game and tons of sacks. Well guess what? Nothing's changed! The offensive line is still horrendous, which is going to lead to Jay Cutler having to make a lot of quick decisions. I have him on my fantasy team because I'm hoping Mike Martz can get SOMETHING out of him, but other than that, I don't see a whole lot changing from last season, which means tons of sacks and lots of interceptions. I'm just hoping the touchdown and yardage offset the turnovers, for my sake.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Detroit Lions: 2-14 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 2-14</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">How much difference does a beast of a defensive lineman make? I tried to find another game that maybe the Lions could eek out, but I just couldn't do it. I think they copy their record from a year ago, although I DO think Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson hook up a few more times for some prime time touchdowns. On the bright side, at least Lions fans don't have to see Matt Millen at the helm anymore, which means things could be looking up in a few seasons. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NFC East</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Dallas Cowboys 11-5 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 11-5</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Dallas plays in probably the toughest division in the league, but I don't think Washington is THAT much better than they were last year. The Giants look too vanilla to me, and I think the only team that has a chance at beating the Cowboys this season in their division is Philadelphia, despite the loss of Donovan McNabb. How 'bout them Cowboys?!</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Philadelphia Eagles 10-6 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 11-5</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">So the Eagles lose two pieces of the last decade or so in Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb. Big deal. Westbrook has almost nothing left in the tank, and Kevin Kolb is going to be a more than capable replacement for McNabb. Andy Reid will continue to air out the ball, but I don't think DeSean Jackson has the same monster year that he did in 2009. Look for more mid to short route completions to Brent Celek, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy out of the backfield. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> New York Giants 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 8-8</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My concern with the Giants is that they're just too...blah. Brandon Jacobs has regressed, the defense looks bad, and...I don't know. I'm really going with my gut on this one. A few of their offensive lineman are injured, and the most memorable part of their preseason was Eli Manning getting gouged in the forehead. Not a very good omen for the upcoming season. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Washington Redskins 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 4-12</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Can Donovan turn Santana Moss into DeSean Jackson of 2009? Can Mike Shanahan take another running back off of the scrapheap and make him into a 1,000 yard rusher? These are questions that Redskins fans are hoping will be answered in a positive manner this year. I realize this team has the potential to be a lot better than last season, but I just can't put them ahead of any other team in the division. If they make the playoffs, it'll be a surprise. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">NFC South</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> New Orleans Saints 12-4 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 13-3</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last season I did nothing but pick against the Saints. I didn't want to be a part of the bandwagon fans, and I finally got burned on my Super Bowl pick. Their schedule is pretty easy this year, and I think they will cruise to 10 wins, and have the upside of 13-14 wins this season; the rest of this division is just not that good. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Carolina Panthers 8-8 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 8-8</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Carolina seems like one of those teams that doesn't have the talent to make it to the super bowl, but also shouldn't be taken too lightly, hence the 8-8 record. They lost Julius Peppers and Jake Delhomme to free agency, but given the way Delhomme played last season, I can't see that being anything but a good thing. Maybe we'll see Jimmy Clausen before the end of the season, maybe not. But I expect the majority of their offense to come from their two stellar backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart, both of whom have a lot to gain if their counterpart gets hurt. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Atlanta Falcons 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 9-7</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I feel uneasy about this record; it's almost as if I'm writing them off too soon. This was a playoff team two years ago with rookie Matt Ryan running the offense and Michael Turner carrying them all the way to the playoffs. Last season, Turner got injured and Ryan went into the dreaded sophomore slump. I feel like they should be a 10-6 team, but I just can't muster the strength to put them there.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-15 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 3-13</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team is just terrible. The Bucs, Rams, and Lions are the worst teams in the league, with the Bills, Browns, and Seahawks not too far behind them. You know your favorite team is bad when they don't have any viable starters for a 10-team fantasy football league. Kellen Winslow is an exception, but that's only because of the depth of the tight end position this season. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">AFC West</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> San Diego Chargers 11-5 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 13-3</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Both Western divisions in either league were terrible last year, and haven't improved this year, except for the teams at the top of the division. San Diego had virtually no running game last year, but fixed that problem by trading up and drafting Ryan Mathews, who is in great position to be a fantasy monster. It doesn't look like Vincent Jackson will be suiting up for them at all this season, but I don't think that will matter much. Every single receiver on this team is huge, and Rivers still has a go-to-guy in Antonio Gates. Go ahead and crown them the division winners again, and don't be surprised if Malcom Floyd or Legedu Naanee has a breakout year.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Denver Broncos 8-8 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 8-8</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team got off to a scalding start last year, and the wheels just came off midway through the season. They lost Brandon Marshall, and who knows what to expect from Knowshon Moreno. Their cornerbacks were old last season, and it finally caught up with them. I feel like 8-8 might be too high of a ranking., especially without Elvis Dumervil.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Oakland Raiders 6-10</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 5-11</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Despite the addition of Jason Campbell, I still don't like the Raiders. They have a lot of good young players and a good mix of good veteran players (I just used the word 'good' for a 6-10 team three times in one sentence. Maybe my rankings too low), but they keep throwing Darren McFadden out there instead of the better Michael Bush, and the volatile Tom Cable is still the head coach. I think this team's ceiling for wins is eight.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Kansas City Chiefs 5-11 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 4-12</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Why did they add Thomas Jones? Seriously, Jamaal Charles was the fantasy football MVP of the second half last season. They should have tried to shore up that offensive line in order to maybe give Matt Cassel some more time to find open receivers. They brought in a Belichick protege in Romeo Crennel to run the defense, but I don't know how much better a coach alone can make a team when the team isn't very good. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">AFC North</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Baltimore Ravens 11-5</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 9-7</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">One of my favorite teams last year. Kind of weird that they're bringing in Anquan Boldin to team with their young elite quarterback, but only because I'm used to the Ravens of old; control the clock and win with defense. They still have Ray Lewis headlining this defense and a strong young fantasy stud running back in Ray Rice, so no worries about those aspects of the game. Baltimore should be able to win 11 games and the division.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 9-7</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I hate this team, probably more than any other team in the league. It pains me to put them at 10 wins and second in the division, but they're the Steelers. They still have James Harrison, Casey Hampton, and Troy Polamalu. They'll be without Big Ben Roethlisberger due to his extracurricular activities off the field, but they'll be 2-2, or even 3-1 coming out of those first four games. They lost Santonio Holmes, but that's okay because Mike Wallace is extremely talented and is a good fantasy sleeper for this season.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Cincinnati Bengals 5-11</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 10-6</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This team last year was the New York Jets of the AFC North. Towards the end of the season they stumbled a bit and choked in the playoffs. As much as it pains me to say, I think the knee injury totally affected Carson Palmer's career from that moment forward. He just isn't as accurate, and also seemed to choke against the Jets last year as well. I just think they played over their heads last year and also get the AFC East on the road this year. Tough, tough schedule. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Cleveland Browns 3-13</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 5-11</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">If I have Cincinnati at 5-11, I can't imagine Cleveland being better than that, or even equal to it. They get the Pats and Jets at home, so maybe they can steal one of those games, but ugh. Their big offseason addition was Jake Delhomme, and not LeBron James. Count me as a non-believer. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">AFC East</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> New York Jets 11-5 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 9-7</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">They added Antonio Cromartie and were this year's feature for Hard Knocks on HBO. They also added LaDainian Tomlinson (which the jury is still out on), but they've failed to sign Darrelle Revis to a new contract. If they can sign Revis, 11 wins should be an automatic. With this offensive line, I think Shonn Greene is going to have a monster year. He might not get 300 carries, but I'd assume his 180-190 carries will be enough for him to rack up the stats. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> New England Patriots 9-7 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 10-6</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I am a former hater of the Patriots. I hated them while they were winning their Super Bowls, only because they beat the Rams in 2002. It started with the "Tuck Rule" game against the Raiders, and ended with stupid Adam Vinatieri kicking that ball through the uprights at the end of the game. It ended when my fantasy football team three years ago featured Tom Brady AND Randy Moss during their record-breaking season. So I don't hate them, but I still love when the Colts beat them. It gets me every time. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Miami Dolphins 9-7 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 7-9</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Dolphins are a typical Bill Parcells team. Even though he's not coaching it, he still has a hand in what happens on the field. He hand-picks his players, he hand-picked his coaching staff, and the reason being is because they most resemble the play style that he likes. The Dolphins might never be an elite offensive team, but the players that are on the field will make up for what they lack in talent with hard work. They acquired Brandon Marshall during the offseason, and he has a lot of potential to vault Chad Henne to a great year in fantasy. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Buffalo Bills 2-14 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 6-10</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">How was this team 6-10 last year? They had Fred Jackson rush for 1,000 yards, but both of their quarterbacks were terrible and unexciting and the Terrell Owens experiment didn't work out. This year it looks like rookie C.J. Spiller will be the focal point of the offense, unless Chan Gailey decides that the team needs to give Jackson and Marshawn Lynch some ill-advised extra touches. This team's ceiling is 5 wins, and that's generous. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">AFC South</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Indianapolis Colts 13-3 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 14-2</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">How has this team only won one Super Bowl since Peyton Manning has been the quarterback? That's astounding to me, and after losing the perfect season AND the Super Bowl last season, I can only imagine the kind of fire that Manning will come back with in order to get back to that threshold this season. As long as the big three of Manning, Robert Mathis, and Dwight Freeney can stay healthy for the playoffs, they are my favorite for the Super Bowl this year.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Houston Texans 8-8 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 9-7</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Schaub to Johnson, all day long. What's good for the Texans is that it looks like Owen Daniels' torn ACL injury is fully healed and should enable him to play in Week 1. Last year he was on his way to a 1,000 yard year until he blew his knee out. With all the attention that Andre Johnson should be commanding, Daniels and 4th year man Jacoby Jones should see a decent amount of passes flying their way. Ben Tate is out for the year, but it looks like Arian Foster is the real deal. Pick him up in later rounds if you're in need of a running back. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Tennessee Titans 7-9 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 8-8</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Can Vince Young return them to their winning ways? I don't think so. I still say the guy is not a viable NFL starting quarterback, but then again I'm old fashioned and I may have some bias against him because of the whole Rose Bowl thing. All that aside, the guy just seems to win when he's in the game. It aggravates me to no end, but he just does. With that being said however, this team wasn't the defensive shutdown unit that we've seen in the past, and can Chris Johnson really do THAT again? He says he wants to rush for 2,500 yards, but color me skeptical. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Jacksonville Jaguars 6-10 </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Last Year:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> 7-9</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">That's odd, I have every team in this division getting worse by one full game this year. The Jaguars remind me of the Seahawks for some reason, even though Seattle doesn't have a running game. They are just mediocre; they have no fans, nothing really to get excited about, they have to go to San Diego, Kansas City, New York, and Dallas to play on the road, not to mention their other three division rivals. They were 2-6 on the road last season, and the only road game that they might be the favorite in is at Buffalo in Week 5. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Super Bowl</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Indianapolis Colts</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> over Green Bay Packers</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">MVP</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rookie of the Year</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Buffalo Bills</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></h1><h1 style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Defensive Player of the Year</span></h1><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Detroit Lions</span></p></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-10746519383416643762010-09-05T20:27:00.000-07:002010-09-05T20:30:37.673-07:00My 2010 Fantasy Football League Draft Recap<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Editor's Note: This post was originally published on August 21, 2010. The draft took place on the 15th of August. </span></i></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In this space, I will review and look back on my recently completed fantasy football draft. Each team began with two keepers each, and I'll list those as the first two rounds. As fair warning to anyone who was involved in this draft, I'm not selectively critical of anyone. If I don't like a certain pick, I'm going to say so. This is not meant as a slight to any owner, this is just me being as honest as possible. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">(If you're interested, my league that I manage is a standard ESPN league with ESPN standard scoring.)</span></em></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></em></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Each manager's keeper selections</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Steve Taylor - Calvin Johnson WR, Det and Beanie Wells RB, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">David Puigros - Frank Gore RB, SF and Reggie Wayne WR, Ind</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Mike Lascalera and Nick Galbraith - Hines Ward WR, Pit and Tony Romo QB, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Weston Taylor - Steven Jackson RB, StL and DeAngelo Williams RB, Car</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Kyle Butcher - Randy Moss WR, NE and Maurice Jones-Drew RB, Jac</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Chance Moses - Drew Brees QB, NO and Larry Fitzgerald WR, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Nick Vasquez - Adrian Peterson RB, Min and Peyton Manning QB, Ind</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Don Allan - Andre Johnson WR, Hou and Philip Rivers QB, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Robert Voce - Aaron Rodgers QB, GB and Michael Turner RB, Atl</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Cameron Butcher - Chris Johnson RB, Ten and Ray Rice RB, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> The keeper selections that I didn't agree with were Philip Rivers (Don also had Roddy White) and both players kept by Mike and Nick (They traded a sixth round pick to me for Tony Romo when they already had Matt Schaub, and also could have kept Anquan Boldin and/or Steve Smith (CAR) without giving up a draft pick. Mike also traded a 5th round pick to Kyle Butcher last season for Joseph Addai, whom I suppose he was planning on keeping at the time, but it seemed like that was a waste of a move). However, it's not like they were dumping two can't-miss studs for two nobodies. They'll get more help in the auction format next season. One thing I found interesting about everyone's keepers was the propensity to keep quarterbacks; five of the top ten quarterbacks were taken, further inspiring me to wait until the latter rounds for a starting quarterback. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 1</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1) Steve Taylor - Miles Austin WR, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2) David Puigros - Ryan Grant RB, GB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">3) Mike and Nick - Rashard Mendenhall RB, Pit</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">4) Weston Taylor - Shonn Greene RB, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">5) Kyle Butcher - Roddy White WR, Atl</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">6) Chance Moses - Ryan Mathews RB, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">7) Nick Vasquez - Pierre Thomas RB, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">8) Don Allan - Felix Jones RB, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">9) Robert Voce - Anquan Boldin WR, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">10) Cameron Butcher - Brandon Marshall WR, Mia</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My strategy this year was really all-or-nothing. I could have kept Rashard Mendenhall over DeAngelo Williams, but I felt like Williams' upside was just too great to pass on, and that's pretty much the same sentiment I have with the pick of Shonn Greene. The upside was just astronomical, and I had to stick with my theme. After my pick Chance exclaimed "Dammit!". Guess he wanted to be the first homer and take Greene (although he would have been perfectly justified). </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Biggest Reach: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It's gotta be a tie between Thomas and Jones, although if I had a choice I would take Jones over Thomas, and to me it's not really close. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 2</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">11) Cameron Butcher - Tom Brady QB, NE</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">12) Robert Voce - Greg Jennings WR, GB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">13) Don Allan - Brandon Jacobs RB, NYG</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">14) Nick Vasquez - Marques Colston WR, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">15) Chance Moses - Steve Smith WR, NYG</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">16) Robert Voce (From Kyle Butcher) - Cedric Benson RB, Cin</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">17) Weston Taylor - Steve Smith WR, Car</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">18) Kyle Butcher (From Mike and Nick) - Matt Schaub QB, Hou</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">19) David Puigros - DeSean Jackson WR, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">20) Steve Taylor - Jamaal Charles RB, KC</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The OG Steve Smith. In many mock drafts I had myself picking Anquan Boldin with this pick, but since Robert decided to jump the gun on Boldin and everyone else passed on OG, he fell to me and fits perfectly in my WR1 slot, alongside my (potentially) three RB1s. I have to say that having two guys with the same name is utterly confusing. Chance took Steve Smith of the Giants two picks before me, and for .5 seconds I was crestfallen until I heard the word "Giants" after the name.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Best Value: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Gotta be Jamaal Charles. This guy has the potential to be Chris Johnson of last season, and even with Thomas Jones vulturing carries, shouldn't be slipping this low in any drafts. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Biggest Reach: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Again, it's gotta be Don's pick of Brandon Jacobs. I liked the guy last season, but he continues to get injured, and he kind of made it on my list of "non-upside" players, not to mention he's almost guaranteed to split carries with Ahmad Bradshaw in New York. He should have taken Charles or even Cedric Benson with that pick. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 3</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">21) Steve Taylor - Jonathon Stewart RB, Car</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">22) Mike and Nick (From David Puigros) - Ricky Williams RB, Mia</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">23) Mike and Nick - Santana Moss WR, Was</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">24) Mike and Nick (From Weston Taylor) - Vernon Davis TE, SF</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">25) Robert Voce (From Kyle Butcher) - Dallas Clark TE, Ind</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">26) Chance Moses - Matt Forte RB, Chi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">27) Nick Vasquez - Ronnie Brown RB, Mia</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">28) Don Allan - Michael Crabtree WR, SF</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">29) Robert Voce - Knowshon Moreno RB, Den</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">30) Cameron Butcher - Sidney Rice WR, Min</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">N/A; Was traded to Mike last season for Kurt Warner. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Best Value: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">At first glance, I can't really label any of these guys a good value in this round; this is about where I had all of these guys ranked. But after hearing that Ronnie Brown is fully healthy once again, I would say that he has a good chance at a bounceback season. The biggest upside pick though, is Michael Crabtree. I would have taken a long look at him if I would have had my pick in this round. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Biggest Reach: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It has got to be Santana Moss. The thinking behind this pick is that he has the potential to be McNabb's favorite downfield option this season, a la DeSean Jackson of last season; I'm not buying it. With those three picks, I would have taken LeSean McCoy, Antonio Gates, and Michael Crabtree. Yes, Vernon Davis went crazy last season, but I would still rather have the safer Gates as my starting tight end. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 4</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">31) Steve Taylor (From Cameron Butcher) - LeSean McCoy RB, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">32) Robert Voce - Chad Ochocinco WR, Cin</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">33) Don Allan - Antonio Gates TE, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">34) Nick Vasquez - Vincent Jackson WR, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">35) Chance Moses - Clinton Portis RB, Was</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">36) Kyle Butcher - Brent Celek TE, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">37) Weston Taylor - Mike Sims-Walker WR, Jac</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">38) Kyle Butcher (From Mike and Nick) - Joseph Addai RB, Ind </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">39) David Puigros - Donald Driver WR, GB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">40) Steve Taylor - Jerome Harrison RB, Cle</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I was not a happy camper with this pick, and I'm still relatively disgusted by it. I was the epitome of bummed after I watched McCoy, Gates, and Brent Celek come off the board. If I could have a mulligan, I would have taken Wes Welker, or even Jerome Harrison. I'm still disgusted with this pick. Let's just move on. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Best Value: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Again, another one of Steve's picks, it's gotta be McCoy. Will he be the next Brian Westbrook? Probably not, but still, as far as running backs go, he's a solid flex position player for my dad. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Biggest Reach: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Vincent Jackson, and it's not close. This pick blew me out of the water; I didn't think anyone was going to touch him until after round eight or nine at least. Why would anyone take that guy with everything looming around him? Just way too many flashing red lights for me. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 5</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">41) Steve Taylor - Jason Witten TE, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">42) David Puigros - Joe Flacco QB, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">43) Mike and Nick - Derrick Mason WR, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">44) Weston Taylor - Pierre Garcon WR, Ind</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">45) Robert Voce (From Kyle Butcher) - New York Jets D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">46) Chance Moses - Tony Gonzalez TE, Atl</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">47) Nick Vasquez - Wes Welker WR, NE</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">48) Don Allan - Justin Forsett RB, Sea</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">49) Mike and Nick (From Robert Voce) - San Francisco 49ers D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">50) Cameron Butcher - Jahvid Best RB, Det</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Pierre Garcon, which I am actually more happy with than my previous round pick of Mike Sims-Walker. Peyton Manning has proven in the past that he will go to the best receiver available as much as he can, and right now it looks like Garcon has the ability to at least show up Reggie Wayne a little bit. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Best Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Wes Welker, by far. I wanted this guy so bad, but I thought I could have waited another round to get him. That's what I get for taking Mike Sims-Walker. Ugh.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Biggest Reach: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Three-way tie between both defenses and Derrick Mason. Mike and Nick continue to add to their aging roster by selecting Mason. The reason I list the defenses is because I'm of the firm belief that nobody should ever take a defense before the fourth-to-last round of the draft at the earliest. 50% of people end up dropping their defenses for a better one anyways at some point during the season, so why take one early? Spend the pick on a position player with upside rather than a defense. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 6</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">51) Cameron Butcher - Zach Miller TE, Oak</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">52) Robert Voce - Santonio Holmes WR, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">53) Don Allan - Baltimore Ravens D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">54) Nick Vasquez - Reggie Bush RB, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">55) Chance Moses - Green Bay Packers D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">56) Mike and Nick (From Kyle Butcher) - Stephen Gostkowski K, NE</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">57) Weston Taylor - Jay Cutler QB, Chi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">58) Weston Taylor (From Mike and Nick) - Owen Daniels TE, Hou</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">59) David Puigros - Jermichael Finley TE, GB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">60) Steve Taylor - Eli Manning QB, NYG</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Picks: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Jay Cutler and Owen Daniels. Boy, did I make out in this round. Cutler was supposed to be awesome last season and wasn't, but I'm sure as everyone has noticed, Mike Martz is on the sidelines now. If he was able to make the Detroit Lions into a .500 team in one season, then a turnaround year for Jay Cutler is immensely probable. As for Owen Daniels' knee surgery, word has it that he'll be ready for the season opener, and to get him this late after the tear he was on last season before he injured is a HUGE bargain. This pick made me a lot less sad that I didn't get Gates, Dallas Clark, or Celek. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Best Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I'm going with both of my picks here, especially considering two defenses, a kicker, Zach Miller, and Reggie Bush went before both of my picks. Zach Miller will be serviceable at tight end this year, but that was quite a reach by Cameron.</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Worst Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Stephen Gostkowski, not close. Kickers should always be taken with your final pick. There are no exceptions to this rule. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 7</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">61) Steve Taylor - Dwyane Bowe WR, KC</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">62) David Puigros - Dallas Cowboys D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">63) Kyle Butcher (From Mike and Nick) - C.J. Spiller RB, Buf</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">64) Weston Taylor - Johnny Knox WR, Chi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">65) Steve Taylor (From Kyle Butcher) - Kevin Kolb QB, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">66) Chance Moses - Thomas Jones RB, KC</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">67) Nick Vasquez - Kellen Winslow TE, TB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">68) Don Allan - Nate Kaeding K, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">69) Robert Voce - David Buehler K, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">70) Cameron Butcher - Braylon Edwards WR, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Johnny Knox. I had Knox last year after his big game, and I continue to like his upside. ESPN had this as his status shortly after training camp started, "Knox is emerging as Jay Cutler's top target, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports." That was pretty much the confirmation that I would be taking him this year. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">After round six is when things start to get haphazard. It doesn't really matter how far you reach for a player in these rounds, especially this year. We see another defense and two more kickers (eyeroll) come off the board, and after getting bombarded by ESPN alerts about Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch being injured during the preseason, KB pretty much ran up to the board to select C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills. We'll see how that works out for him. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Round 8</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">71) Cameron Butcher - LaDainian Tomlinson RB, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">72) Robert Voce - Donovan McNabb QB, Was</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">73) Don Allan - Matt Ryan QB, Atl</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">74) Nick Vasquez - Hakeen Nicks WR, NYG</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">75) Chance Moses - Carson Palmer QB, Cin</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">76) Kyle Butcher - Jeremy Maclin WR, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">77) Weston Taylor - Malcom Floyd WR, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">78) Mike and Nick - Fred Jackson RB, Buf</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">79) David Puigros - Marion Barber RB, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">80) Steve Taylor - Chad Henne QB, Mia</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My pick: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Malcom Floyd. Meet your new #1 wide-out, San Diego! With Vincent Jackson doing his own thing with his contract and suspension, this is the guy you want for your team. He's listed at around #150 overall on ESPN lists, but obviously I liked him a little more than that. If he can play the role that V Jax played last season, I will be euphoric. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My dad took his third(!) quarterback, Marion Barber, LaDainian Tomlinson, Carson Palmer, and Donovan McNabb finally come off the board (how the mighty have fallen), and Mike and Nick keep chugging forward with old or injured guys. When asked about Fred Jackson's injury, Nick said, "I'm not worried". </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rounds 9 and 10</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">81) Steve Taylor - Percy Harvin WR, Min</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">82) David Puigros - Ben Roethlisberger QB, Pit</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">83) Mike and Nick - Terrell Owens WR, Cin</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">84) Weston Taylor - Brett Favre QB, Min</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">85) Kyle Butcher - Arian Foster RB, Hou</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">86) Chance Moses - T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR, Sea</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">87) Nick Vasquez - Darren McFadden RB, Oak</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">88) Don Allan - Visanthe Shiancoe TE, Min</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">89) Robert Voce - Steve Slaton RB, Hou</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">90) Cameron Butcher - Robert Meachem WR, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">91) Cameron Butcher - Minnesota Vikings D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">92) Robert Voce - Mike Wallace WR, Pit</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">93) Don Allan - Steve Breaston WR, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">94) Nick Vasquez - Dez Bryant WR, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">95) Chance Moses - Mason Crosby K, GB</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">96) Kyle Butcher - Montario Hardesty RB, Cle</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">97) Weston Taylor - Michael Bush RB, Oak</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">98) Mike and Nick - Mark Sanchez QB, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">99) David Puigros - Kenny Britt WR, Ten</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">100) Steve Taylor - Philadelphia Eagles D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Picks: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Brett Favre and Michael Bush. Wow, getting Favre this late really surprised me. It also shocked me that there were a few guys at the draft that thought he was done playing, although I do believe this will be his last season. He is a HUGE health risk, but if he can stay healthy, the upside is just as great as the risk. This is why I wait on quarterbacks every year. Michael Bush wasn't someone I wanted, but at this point in the draft, I figured I needed to start taking a few backup running backs, and this guy deserves a chance to get more of the workload than the disappointing Darren McFadden. The only problem even if he gets that job is that he's still a Raider. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Percy Harvin this late was a steal. He did collapse at practice the other day, but as long as he's on the field, he has big play potential, along with the fact that he will continue to return kickoffs and punts for this team. Arian Foster was another big pick that I maybe should have taken instead of Favre. I thought for sure I'd be able to draft Shiancoe with a later pick, but was again muffed. Oh well. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rounds 11 and 12</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">101) Steve Taylor - Garrett Hartley K, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">102) David Puigros - Chris Cooley TE, Was</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">103) Mike and Nick - Jeremy Shockey TE, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">104) Weston Taylor - Jason Snelling RB, Atl</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">105) Kyle Butcher - Donald Brown RB, Ind</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">106) Chance Moses - Lee Evans WR, Buf</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">107) Nick Vasquez - Kevin Boss TE, NYG</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">108) Don Allan - Tim Hightower RB, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">109) Robert Voce - Laurence Maroney RB, NE</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">110) Cameron Butcher - Ryan Longwell K, Min</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">111) Cameron Butcher - Matthew Stafford QB, Det</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">112) Robert Voce - New Orleans Saints D/ST (Final pick)</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">113) Don Allan - Devin Hester WR, Chi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">114) Nick Vasquez - Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">115) Chance Moses - Eddie Royal WR, Den</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">116) Kyle Butcher - Julian Edelman WR, NE</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">117) Weston Taylor - Chester Taylor RB, Chi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">118) Mike and Nick - New England Patriots D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">119) David Puigros - Cadillac Williams RB, Tam</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">120) Steve Taylor - Ben Tate RB, Hou (Final Pick)</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Picks: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Jason Snelling and Chester Taylor. With these two picks I was just looking at upside and taking someone else's handcuffs, since the guys who were handcuffs to my running backs were either drafted already or no good. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rob, Mike and Nick both take backup defenses. I'm not a fan of that strategy, because you really only need a different defense one week unless the one you drafted is just outrageously terrible. Donald Brown finally comes off the board (KB will be trying to trade him this season) and my dad takes Ben Tate. Shortly after the pick I showed him my text from ESPN saying Tate will have ankle surgery and would miss the season. He then proceeded to scratch Tate off his list and focus his efforts on Chaz Schillens. Quite the trade, dad. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Rounds 13 and 14, and lost picks</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">121) David Puigros - New York Giants D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">122) Mike and Nick - Darren Sproles RB, SD</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">123) Weston Taylor - Cincinnati Bengals D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">124) Kyle Butcher - David Akers K, Phi</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">125) Chance Moses - Julius Jones RB, Sea</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">126) Nick Vasquez - Rob Bironas K, Ten</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">127) Don Allan - Fred Davis TE, Was</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">128) Cameron Butcher - Mohamed Massaquoi WR, Cle</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">129) Cameron Butcher - Tashard Choice RB, Dal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">130) Don Allan - Devery Henderson WR, NO</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">131) Nick Vasquez - Matt Leinart QB, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">132) Chance Moses - Chris Chambers WR, KC</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">133) Kyle Butcher - Rashad Jennings RB, Jac</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">134) Weston Taylor - Shayne Graham K, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">135) Mike and Nick - Mike Williams WR, Sea</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">136) David Puigros - Jerricho Cotchery WR, NYJ</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">137) David Puigros - Jay Feely K, Ari</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">138) Kyle Butcher - Alex Smith QB, SF</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">139) Cameron Butcher - Willis McGahee RB, Bal</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">140) Kyle Butcher - San Diego Chargers D/ST</span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">My Picks: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I picked a defense and a kicker, and it took me a combined .75 seconds to make the decision on both picks. </span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Thoughts: </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">I actually liked the Fred Davis and Mohamed Massaquoi picks. Immediately after Nick Galbraith made his final pick of Mike Williams, he handed me an issue of Sports Illustrated with an article saying the disappointing former first-round pick has found new opportunities and motivation under his old head coach Pete Carroll. Color me a skeptic, but hey, it's the final round; anyone's worth a flyer now. Meanwhile, Chance loves the veterans; his picks from round 4 to the end of the draft (in order): Clinton Portis, Tony Gonzalez, Green Bay Packers D/ST, Thomas Jones, Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Mason Crosby, Lee Evans, Eddie Royal, Julius jones, Chris Chambers. With the exception of Mason Crosby and Eddie Royal (whom he has since dropped), every single one of those players (I'm including the Packers D on this, they've been in the league for quite some time now) has at least seven years of experience in the NFL. Well, I guess if he's disappointed after this season, at least he can't say he didn't see it coming.</span></p></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-12474779903937539112010-09-05T20:11:00.001-07:002010-09-05T20:16:07.458-07:00The Dodgers' Options This Postseason<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><div><i>Editors Note: This note was originally posted on August 3, 2010</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></div>After a demoralizing loss tonight, I've decided to go ahead and write the obituary for this season's playoff hopes, although I'm probably two weeks too late. The Dodgers are a horrific 5-13 since the All-Star break, and the offense is incapable of scoring any runs. They have scored 41 runs in 18 games, for an average of 2.28 runs scored per game since the break. Cliff Lee couldn't help the Dodgers right now if he tried.<br /><br />Every offseason, teams have three options (depending on their situation). What's funny is that the Dodgers could quite possibly fit into all three scenarios.<br /><br /></span><h1 style=" margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Option #1: Go all in and splurge for a World Series title run</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />This option is probably the least likely of them all. With the Dodgers' ownership problems, we might as well write this one off because unless a judge orders Frank McCourt to sell the team, the Dodgers are going to stay in their financial stasis. But just for the hell of it, let's see what this entails.<br /><br />Next season the Dodgers are on the hook for $65.29 million, and that's with starting pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla, along with role players Garrett Anderson, Reed Johnson, Ronnie Belliard, Jeff Weaver, and $3.5 million worth of Juan Pierre coming off the books. That's also not considering that James Loney, Ryan Theriot, Hong-Chih Kuo, Chad Billingsley, and Russell Martin are all due arbitration (George Sherrill is also up for arbitration, but considering the way he's pitched this year, I can't imagine the Dodgers wanting to keep him around). I've estimated those players' arbitration salaries bumping the Dodgers' 2011 payroll to $83.44 million. Depending on who (or if) buys the team, the payroll could increase to over the $118 million that was spent in 2008 (incidentally the first year the Dodgers had won a playoff series since 1988).<br /><br />Let's say a wealthy (compared to Frank McCourt, not you or me) owner that is able to shoulder a big checkbook purchases the team and puts his payroll ceiling at a cool $135 million. Obviously for Dodger fans, this is the most ideal scenario because it allows them to pursue marquee free-agents Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee. Assuming both those free agents command a combined $40 million a year, that leaves the Dodgers with around $12 million, which could be enough to sign a 4th and 5th starter (or maybe just a fourth if they choose to bring back Kuroda) and a couple of bench players (Ronnie Belliard will be a free agent, along with Wes Helms, Austin Kearns, and Marcus Thames) for around $800k a piece. This leaves them with about $8.5 million of financial flexibility, which might allow them to retain Kuroda if they can convince him to take a pay cut and stay with the club. If they choose to get a high-end 4th starter (such as Kuroda), they could experiment again with John Ely at the end of the rotation, or scrape the bottom of the bargain barrel by trying to acquire Jake Westbrook, Dave Bush, or Kevin Millwood. The Dodgers would also be able to run Ronald Belisario, Ramon Troncoso, Travis Schlichting, Justin Miller, and Kenley Jansen out of the bullpen to compliment Jonathon Broxton and Hong-Chih Kuo. This is all assuming they buyout Octavio Dotel for $.25 million, instead of picking up his $4.5 million option.<br /><br />If this ended up happening, the Dodgers' Opening Day starting lineup would look something like this:<br /><br />1) Furcal SS<br />2) Crawford LF<br />3) Kemp CF<br />4) Ethier RF<br />5) Loney 1B<br />6) Blake 3B<br />7) Theriot 2B<br />8) Martin C<br />9) Lee P<br /><br />Rotation: Cliff Lee, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Jake Westbrook<br /><br />Bench: UTIL Jamey Carroll, OF Austin Kearns, OF Marcus Thames, 1B/3B Wes Helms, OF Xavier Paul<br /><br /></span><h1 style=" margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Option #2: Restructure the roster in an attempt to give minor league players some experience (Rebuild)</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />This is the one that fans never want to hear. The dreaded term usually means that an organization is blowing up the team and bringing in cheap veterans to mix with their major-league ready prospects. In my opinion, if the Dodgers don't end up getting sold, this is the only viable option that they have. Think about it, will Frank McCourt have money after the divorce? Most likely not. He wasn't that wealthy anyways, and Jamie McCourt is trying to take him for every last penny that he's got. So between alimony and his own personal living expenses, he's not going to have the money to field a championship caliber team. That's the sad reality of the situation.<br /><br />So where to go from here? Well, the Dodgers currently have three prospects in AA that I like, along with a couple in AAA that are major-league ready as well.<br /><br />AA Chattanooga<br />Trayvon Robinson, CF, 20/60 candidate, currently batting .301/.390/.448 in AA ball.<br />Jerry Sands, 1B/OF, 30/15 candidate, currently batting .267/.379/.583 in 34 games of AA ball<br />Dee Gordon, SS, incarnate of Juan Pierre at shortstop. Currently batting .281/.328/.368 with 39 steals in 99 games in AA.<br /><br />AAA Albuquerque<br />Ivan De Jesus, 2B/SS, comparable to Omar Vizquel. Currently batting .289/.329/.400 in AAA.<br /><br />So by my count, that's two outfielders, a shortstop and a second baseman. The last I heard, Gordon's field instincts needed a little refining, although if the team is rebuilding, that shouldn't be a problem. The only decision Ned Colletti would have to make is where Sands would play, and what to do with Rafael Furcal. If the team is indeed rebuilding, it would be imperative to get both Gordon and De Jesus playing time, making Furcal expendable. I'm sure Furcal might fetch a decent return in either draft picks or prospects to a team on the verge of winning the big one. If they decide to play Sands in the outfield, they're going to have to trade either Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, or Robinson. I would think the choice there would be Kemp, but the problem is that they probably wouldn't get equal value for him. To improve markedly, they would have to get a power hitting third baseman or catcher for him. The only guys that would fetch a return would be David Wright and Ryan Zimmerman, unless they wanted to trade him within the division, which could mean a trade to Arizona for Mark Reynolds and maybe a prospect that needs a fresh start. Assuming the last deal might be the only realistic deal, the Dodgers might be more inclined to keep Kemp, move Sands to first, and trade Loney. I'm not exactly sure what the Dodgers would get back in exchange for Loney, but perhaps they could get back a 3rd caliber starter, or a good arm at the back of the bullpen. I'd like to see them acquire a big bat at third base, but with home runs in such a high demand these days, I don't think there's any way the Dodgers would be able to acquire a big corner bat for James Loney straight up. If Colletti went through with this plan, the opening day starting lineup would look something like this:<br /><br />1) Gordon SS<br />2) Robinson LF<br />3) Ethier RF<br />4) Kemp CF<br />5) Sands 1B<br />6) Blake 3B<br />7) De Jesus 2B<br />8) Martin C<br />9) Kershaw P<br /><br />Obviously if minor league success translated directly to the big leagues, this lineup would be pretty formidable. Sands hasn't struck out much as a minor leaguer, and Robinson's plate discipline has also really improved since last year. Gordon could be a liability at the top of lineup if he doesn't improve his plate discipline, but the speed is very tantalizing. The pitching would probably be shored up with cheap free agents, a la Ted Lilly, Westbrook, or Padilla. With the likes of Mark Buerhle and Wandy Rodriguez headlining the starting pitcher free agent class of 2012, the Dodgers had better hope that Ethan Martin progresses sooner rather than later and is able to come up to the major league level and contribute in a major way to the ballclub if they're going to go with this option.<br /><br /></span><h1 style=" margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Option #3: Stand pat with the core of your team, make minor adjustments, and hope to get a bargain</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />If I was a betting man (or if I had money), I would bet on this one. Over the past three seasons, the only big acquisition the Dodgers have come up with is Manny Ramirez, who they got for nothing (aka Andy LaRoche). Players that have signed with or been traded to the Dodgers have included Belliard, Orlando Hudson, Padilla, Jon Garland, Sherrill, Blake, Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Mark Loretta, Mark Sweeney, Garrett Anderson, Reed Johnson, Brad Ausmus, Scott Podsednik, Jim Thome, Ryan Theriot, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, Jeff Weaver, Guillermo Mota, Chan Ho Park, Jamey Carroll, and Octavio Dotel. There might be others, but those are the only ones I can think of at the moment. After reading that list again, it almost makes me queasy with the amount of subpar players Colletti has spent money and prospects on. It's almost like he attempts to strike gold with one of these mediocre players, and that's fine, except the players he pulls out can't be squeezed anymore. If the Dodgers end up not spending any money next season, the opening day starting lineup could look like this:<br /><br />1) Theriot 2B<br />2) Furcal SS<br />3) Ethier RF<br />4) Kemp CF<br />5) Loney 1B<br />6) Blake 3B<br />7) Paul LF<br />8) Martin C<br />9) Kershaw P<br /><br />...with major question marks in the starting rotation after Kershaw and Billingsley.<br /><br />That feeling you have is the feeling of malaise, which is also the feeling the entire Dodger nation will have when they find out the club will continue to cut payroll under the control of McCourt and Colletti. I've never been more depressed in my time as a Dodger fan than I am right now.<br /><br />(All contract information was obtained from </span><a href="http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Cot's Baseball Contracts</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">)</span></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-84844507529450360372010-09-05T20:08:00.001-07:002010-09-05T20:14:26.590-07:00All Things LeBron<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><div><i>Editor's note: This was originally posted on July 30, 2010</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></div>I've always hated LeBron James. Ever since he entered the NBA, I've hated him. So it's safe to say that I am a hater, and that's fine. I'm comfortable with that. I've hated him because he was anointed "The King" before he even stepped on to a professional basketball court. Then, when he finally made it, he showboated on the court and on the sidelines and took part in cheesy games during practices. He never really showed that he was dedicated to winning or had that killer instinct that all the greats had. Sure, he is the reigning two-time MVP and is probably the most versatile player in the NBA today, but after his egocentric charade that he put on for his announcement, I can safely say that I may not ever hate any professional NBA player more than I hate LeBron James right now.<br /><br />I honestly didn't care where LeBron went. I expected him to go to the Knicks to make a run at becoming infallible. If he won a title in New York City, he would undoubtedly be deserving of his throne. If he won in Cleveland, he would be a real-life superhero. Not only would he be "The King", he would also be able to use Dwight Howard's nickname and make it his own. He would truly be Superman. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, with the ability to fly and jump over skyscrapers in a single bound, he would be LeBron James, vanquisher of curses and voodoo spells. He would be forever loved in Cleveland. Instead, he became forever banished as evidenced by </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ZEYREnHH0" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ZEYREnHH0" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">this clip</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">. Whether he likes it or not, he is never going to be able to show his face on the streets of Cleveland again without an entourage of bodyguards armed with riot shields, and to be perfectly honest, I don't blame the people in Cleveland one bit. No true fan that sits through the good times as well as the bad times deserves that kind of jettisoning.<br /><br />What's funny about the whole debacle is that I couldn't get enough LeBron bashing after he narcissistically took his talents and media circus to South Beach. I read every article on ESPN. I sat on facebook and watched people's status updates come flying in by the minute. Every single piece of writing that I read was laced with enough criticism to last a lifetime, but strangely, it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough that finally this moron had fallen from everyone's good graces to being the most hated player in the NBA today, and I still want more. Call me a glutton, but I want to see LeBron in four years, disgraced, watching Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, or Dwight Howard celebrating with their teammates on the podium as David Stern hands one of them the MVP trophy and congratulating them on beating this underwhelming team from Miami while LeBron sits in the locker room at age 29 with aches, bumps, and brusies wondering where it all went wrong. I want to see LeBron's failures to continue. I want to see karmic justice. Not only would it make me happy, but it would give me peace. I would be able to sleep at night knowing that people who wrong others get their fair due.<br /><br />I believe every theory that I have read. I believe that </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417864-nba-should-launch-tampering-investigation-of-miami-heat" target="_blank" title="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417864-nba-should-launch-tampering-investigation-of-miami-heat" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">he lied </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">and </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5365793" target="_blank" title="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5365793" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">that he quit</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">during the playoffs last season. I think it was a cowardly move to not at least sit down with Dan Gilbert and the other front-office members of the Cleveland Cavaliers and tell them after the playoffs that he most likely wasn't coming back to the Cavaliers. Also, if he was willing to take a pay cut in Miami, why wasn't he willing to do that for his hometown team? Yet another way this guy turned his back on this city that hasn't won anything for 46 years, but I guess anytime you have the chance to scornfully spurn an entire city and flush your professional image down the toilet at the same time in a matter of minutes, you have to do it.<br /><br />The best part about all of the hype surrounding the Miami Heat is the pressure and the fact that Kobe Bryant (captain motivation himself) is probably chomping at the bit right now, waiting for the season to start. He's been courting these defensive role players (Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff) to come to the Lakers to help this team three-peat. The Lakers won the championship on June 17th 2010, but anyone that started following the NBA a week after that wouldn't know who won. There has been little to no talk about the Lakers since that Game 7 win over Boston, and really, I think that's just how Kobe likes it. This offseason has surely provided fuel to maybe the most insane athlete when it comes to winning; the guy will do whatever it takes and will use whatever motivation comes his way to try and push himself to the next level. He knows that if the Lakers meet the Heat in the Finals, he is going to have a chance at not only winning another ring, but he will also have the chance of adding a huge chapter to his storied career by knocking off this team of superstars and undoubtedly moving him up the list of all-time greats. Kobe may not be the most likable guy on or off the court in terms of his surly demeanor, but at least his fans and Laker fans know that he is committed to winning and that he's willing to do whatever it takes to put another championship banner up in the rafters of the Staples Center. Like him or not, Kobe Bryant is the epitome of a true champion.<br /><br />Bill Simmons from ESPN has questioned how the Heat will work due to the fact that there are multiple "alpha dogs" on the team. He's discussed this with Dan LeBatard on his podcast, and LeBatard rebuked him for that statement, saying if it was Boston, Simmons would be all over the trio's ability to work on offense, and he would have no worries about their ability to gel as a unit. Simmons didn't really say much else on that topic after LeBatard called him a homer, but at first glance, it looks like this group can't be compared with the Big Three in Boston. In Miami, we have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, two guys that are used to having </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=usageRate&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dusageRate" target="_blank" title="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=usageRate&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fsort%3dusageRate" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">the ball in their hands</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> and are used to either creating offense for themselves or drawing double-teams and dishing to their other teammates. Chris Bosh isn't known for his passing, unlike Pau Gasol or even Kevin Garnett when he was with the Timberwolves. So what we have are three guys at three different positions that need the ball to play their game, which reminds me of what LeBron said when asked about his concern of him, Wade, and Bosh sharing the spotlight, "Well, it's not about sharing the spotlight, it's about everyone having they own spotlight". Not only was this a grammatically incorrect sentence, it was totally contradictory of a team mentality. Everyone having their own spotlight? How many times has that worked with three superstars? And how can someone read that statement and say that there won't be alpha dog issues a la Kobe and Shaq in 2004-2005? In Boston the big three worked right away because they had Paul Pierce (a creator with the ball through isolation and pick-and-rolls), Ray Allen (a pure shooter that runs opponents rampant around the court off the ball, through several back screens to find the split second opening that will allow him to catch and shoot in less than a second), and Kevin Garnett (who has really always been a pass-first player [almost to a fault], but could also spread the floor and score in the low post). So they had an alpha-dog, an off the ball pick-and-pop guy, and a pass-first low post facilitator/scorer instead of three scorers that need the ball to facilitate their offense. So while it may end up working out in Miami, it is going to take some major adjusting by all three superstars for this to go smoothly.<br /><br />Right now there are I think three teams that have a good chance at beating the Miami Heat in a seven-game series and two others that have an outside chance at beating them (barring injury). The five teams that will have a chance to beat them (in order from greatest chance to slimmest chance) are the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Thunder, and Bulls. The Thunder and Bulls have an outside chance due to Kevin Durant and the athleticism and quickness that all of their players bring to the table, and the Bulls also just made the Celtics' defensive mastermind their head coach. If his defensive philosophies inspire Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer to play some defense, they'll give themselves a decent chance to at least stay with them. Ultimately I think they will lose to Orlando or Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.<br /><br />But in my opinion, losing in the third round of the playoffs won't be soon enough.</span></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-22269324519175515222010-07-05T23:36:00.000-07:002010-07-05T23:40:03.522-07:00The 2010 All-Snubbed Team<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">For the past two or three days, sportswriters and fans alike have been checking and re-checking the 2010 All-Star rosters to make sure they didn't read them wrong, and for good reason. Questionable selections on this year's roster include Omar Infante, Arthur Rhodes, CC Sabathia, John Buck, Jose Bautista, and David Ortiz, among others. Some of these guys didn't statistically deserve to be on the team, and others were selected because of the popularity of their name. In this space, I'm going to roster a team full of All-Star snubs from both leagues that I believe would have a great chance at beating either All-Star club in this game.<br /><br />I will follow the same positional rules for the All-Star game except for Designated Hitter, but only because that position is so generalized. Another caveat will be that if a player has experience at other positions in recent years of his career that will help me fill out the team, I will definitely use him at that position to help me fill the needs of the team.<br /><br /></span><i style="font-family: 'lucida sans', 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Disclaimer: I am writing this before the "Final Vote" selections have been made for each All-Star team, which means that the ten players on each ballot are very much in play for this team, regardless of whether or not they get voted on or not. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">First Base:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds 19/57/.312, .984 OPS (tops in NL)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Easily the most egregious snub on either roster, Votto has become a household name thanks largely in part to his being snubbed, despite his outstanding production this season. He's having an MVP-caliber year, and about an hour before I started writing this, he hit yet another home run, this time against the Mets at Citi Field, the same field that makes Jason Bay look like Pablo Sandoval, circa 2010 (okay maybe not that bad). Those sounds you hear are Giants fans throwing themselves off of the Golden Gate Bridge.<br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Paul Konerko (CWS), Adam Dunn (WSH)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Second Base:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins 16/49/.271, .839 OPS<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> It's pretty much a toss up between the remaining second basemen, but I chose to go with Dan Uggla, the poor man's Adam Dunn of second baseman. I realize he strikes out a lot, but not nearly as much as Rickie Weeks, who was my second choice and will consequently make this team; the one guy that won't make this team will be Kelly Johnson. After having an April line of 9/18/.313, he has come back down to Earth in the last two months with a paltry line of 4/18/.245. The defense might be lacking a bit at this position, so I'll include a defensive replacement on the bench, just to be safe.<br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Rickie Weeks (MIL), Ben Zobrist (TB)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Third Base:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox 17/54/.299, 1.000 OPS<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Yeah, Youkilis only has a couple of games at the hot corner this year, but he played there almost half the time last season, so not only is he fantasy eligible for 3rd, he's eligible for this piece as well. It's nothing short of a travesty that this guy didn't make the All-Star team, but his snubbing has been completely overshadowed by the aforementioned Votto getting the shaft. Currently Youkilis is 11th in WAR, 4th in OPS, 5th in ISO, and 1st in runs scored among all major leaguers. He's the only reason Boston has stayed afloat despite the plague that seems to have hit the Red Sox; the only way things could get worse is if they all lost their first-born males.<br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Michael Young (TEX), Mark Reynolds (ARI)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Shortstop:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers 4/28/.338 (51 GP), .889 OPS, 12 stolen bases, 1st in WAR among SS.<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> He's been injured this year, but when he's out there, he's been nothing short of fantastic. Right now he's in the midst of an 8-game hitting streak in which he's batting .575 with 13 runs scored, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 2 steals. At times this year he has carried the Dodger offense while still showing off his cannon arm at shortstop. If he wasn't injured this year, and assuming he would have produced somewhere close to this (which is entirely possible), he most likely would have taken Jose Reyes' position on the team, but probably could not have challenged Hanley Ramirez for the starting spot. (Side-note regarding my bench selections: I've been a believer in Erick Aybar all season long, and that still remains true. Since May 18th, he is hitting .338 as the Angels' leadoff batter.)<br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Alex Gonzalez (TOR), Erick Aybar (LAA)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Catcher:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Miguel Olivo, Colorado Rockies 11/39/.307, .901 OPS (higher than any other catcher on the All-Star team)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> It's a wonder why this guy isn't on the team. He has the highest OPS among major-league catchers and leads them all in WAR as well. Sure, he splits time behind the dish in Colorado, but he still has 212 at-bats this year, which more than qualifies him for all-star catching duties. If I was Jim Tracy, I'd seriously consider trying out Olivo at first base on some of his days off; with Todd Helton's corpse on first, it's really a no-lose situation. (On a side-note, I'm shocked that it took as long as it did for Mike Scoscia to figure out that he NEEDS to get Mike Napoli regular at-bats. If the Angels weren't going to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero, they should have just allowed Napoli to inherit the DH slot. Sure, he'll probably bat somewhere around .260, but he is fully capable of hitting 30 home runs as long as he's healthy. Currently he leads all catchers [and-ironically-his team] in home runs, and that's really only after Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson, Hideki Matsui, and Kendry Morales had gotten injured to open up playing time for Napoli. I guess it's fitting that John Buck got the replacement spot on the team instead of the hometown guy.)<br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Mike Napoli (LAA), Geovany Soto (CHC)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Outfield:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals 16/40/.278, .916 OPS, 5th among all outfielders<br /><br />Alex Rios, Chicago White Sox 13/45/.303, 22 SB, .867 OPS<br /><br />Josh Willingham, Washington Nationals 15/46/.281, .413 OBP, leads all outfielders<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> So Rasmus has more home runs, runs scored, stolen bases, and RBI while maintaining a higher ISO, OPS, and SLG than his teammate Matt Holliday, who choked away Game 3 of the NLDS last season, grossly underperformed this season, and yet, made the All-Star team ahead of Rasmus. Holliday has a higher WAR than Rasmus because of the disparity in fielding, but still, Rasmus deserved the spot.<br /><br />Can anyone tell me the only outfielder to have more than 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases while still batting .300 this year? Your answer should be Alex Rios. He is literally the only outfielder to do that this season (the only other players to currently have .300-10-10 are David Wright and Brandon Phillips), a season that the Blue Jays knew Rios was capable of, but were tired of waiting for. After a very mediocre 2009, Rios has rebounded quite nicely to help out the White Sox and fantasy owners alike.<br /><br />Not only does Willingham lead outfielders in OBP, he is also 6th in WAR and third in OPS among outfielders, checking in at .926. He's helped the Nationals try to make some noise in the NL East, but it seems like that Washington club has gotten back to their sub-par ways, even with the promotion of Stephen Strasburg.<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Nick Swisher (NYY), Aubrey Huff (SF), Brett Gardner (NYY), Andrew McCutchen (PIT)<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Starting Lineup</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />1. Rafael Furcal SS<br />2. Alex Rios CF<br />3. Kevin Youkilis 3B<br />4. Joey Votto 1B<br />5. Josh Willingham LF<br />6. Miguel Olivo C<br />7. Adam Dunn DH<br />8. Dan Uggla 2B<br />9. Colby Rasmus RF<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Starting Pitcher:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 8-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 124:26 K:BB ratio in 108.2 IP<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Analysis:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> This one for me is a no-brainer. Weaver has emerged as the ace that the Angels knew he could be, and this game is being played in his home stadium. His K/9 leads all major league starters at 10.27, and his xFIP of 3.26 ranks sixth in the league among starters. His ERA is a full run better than Phil Hughes, and a half run better than CC Sabathia, both of whom made the All-Star team ahead of Weaver. I guess the pinstripes cloud the minds of players, coaches, and fans alike.<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bench:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> Roy Oswalt (HOU), Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Mat Latos (SD), Francisco Liriano (MIN), Felix Hernandez (SEA), Billy Wagner (ATL), Carlos Marmol (CHC), Hong-Chih Kuo (LAD), Heath Bell (SD), Luke Gregerson (SD), J.J. Putz (CWS)<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Team Count:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> San Diego Padres-3, Los Angeles Dodgers-3, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-3, Chicago White Sox-3, New York Yankees-2, Washington Nationals-2, Chicago Cubs-2, Minnesota Twins-1, Seattle Mariners-1, Atlanta Braves-1, Tampa Bay Rays-1, Boston Red Sox-1, Texas Rangers-1, Colorado Rockies-1, San Francisco Giants-1, Pittsburgh Pirates-1, St. Louis Cardinals-1, Houston Astros-1, Toronto Blue Jays-1, Milwaukee Brewers-1, Arizona Diamondbacks-1, Florida Marlins-1, Cincinnati Reds-1.</span></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-71962392892429436792010-06-29T14:07:00.000-07:002010-06-29T18:27:36.496-07:00NL All-Star BallotI released my AL All-Star Ballot about two weeks ago on my site, and yeah, I've been thinking about doing this one for a while, but I've been lazy. Sue me. Before we go into this, I want to reassure everyone that I put my hometown Dodger bias aside for this one.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Stats: Runs/Home Runs/RBI/Steals/Average</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My 2010 NL All-Star Ballot</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">First Base:</span> James Loney (just kidding) Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. 41/16/52/7/.305<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Yes, Joey Votto is keeping up with Albert in basically every category this season, maybe even surpassing him in OPS, but the fact remains that Pujols is the most feared hitter in baseball. He has been walked intentionally more times than anyone else in the major leagues, and his BB:K ratio is 55:40. He isn't having his vintage Pujols year, as he's batting a low (for him) .305 with "only" 16 home runs. Baseball fans have come to expect much more than this from him, but that doesn't mean that he's not having an MVP-Caliber year. His glove is still one of the best at first base, and he's seemingly also added a little bit of speed to his game, as evidenced by the seven stolen bases this year. This guy is a lock for another top-5 MVP spot.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Adrian Gonzalez (SD), Joey Votto (CIN)<br /><br /><b>Second Base:</b> Martin Prado, Atlanta Braves 54/7/32/3/.331<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Normally this spot is just kind of an automatic Chase Utley position, but this year not only is he currently injured, but he also has had a bit of a down year, batting .277. Anyway, enough about him. Prado has really come out of nowhere this year to be the current NL batting leader, provide a spark at the top of the Braves' lineup, and pretty much be a swiss army knife-type of player that Bobby Cox can really put anywhere on the infield (although he has yet to play shortstop). He might not run as much as a prototypical second baseman would, but nowadays, if a team can get ANYTHING out of a second-base position, it gives them a very good chance to field a winning team.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Brandon Phillips (CIN), Rickie Weeks (MIL)<br /><br /><b>Third Base:</b> David Wright, New York Mets 43/14/61/13/.303<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> He's bounced back nicely from a weird year in which he only hit 10 home runs after averaging around 28 in his previous four years of being in the majors, much to the relief of Mets fans and Wright's fantasy owners alike. He's still striking out at an amazing clip, but it seems like strikeouts are becoming much more accepted as long as the hitter can still hit for average, and that's what he is doing. The only argument I have for him being here instead of Scott Rolen is because of the stolen bases. Rolen has pretty much identical numbers, but trails Wright in RBI and SB. He has hit three more home runs than Wright, but the gap in stolen bases is too wide for three homers to make much of a difference in this argument.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Scott Rolen (CIN), Ryan Zimmerman (WAS)<br /><br /><b>Shortstop:</b> Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins 42/11/46/14/.295<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Oh, Hanley Ramirez. How you tantalize everyone with your elite talent level yet half-ass it through several games over the course of a regular season. Whenever I see professional athletes walking their way through a season, it frustrates me to no end, especially the ones that are as talented as Ramirez. Earlier this season he was seen missing a ball, kicking it, then jogging towards it, all while the play was very much alive. After seeing that laziness in the field, I can only imagine the apathy he uses when it comes to how he's doing at the plate. However apathetic that may be, he is still the top shortstop in the National League offensively even though he may be getting by on just talent alone. If this guy put forth the hard work to make himself better, he would probably achieve triple crown numbers.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Jose Reyes (NYM), Troy Tulowitzki (COL)<br /><br /><b>Catcher:</b> Miguel Olivo, Colorado Rockies 33/11/38/4/.303<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Yes, he's on my fantasy team in my big league. No, that's not the reason he's my choice for the starting catcher position. Catching is hard to come by, especially in the National League. And although Olivo has pretty much only played every other day, he still deserves a spot on this roster. No other catcher in the NL has more than 11 home runs while hitting .300. None. At this point, the rockies would be better served throwing him at first on his catching days off and getting Todd Helton's corpse a day off. This selection isn't as much a choice as it is an obligation, really.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Brian McCann (ATL), Yadier Molina (STL); Molina was chosen solely for defensive purposes.<br /><br /><b>Outfield:</b> Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers 36/12/47/1/.313<br />Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers 48/11/49/11/.303<br />Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals 46/16/40/8/.276<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Lots of options in the National League outfield this year, and despite Ethier missing a couple weeks with a knuckle injury, he still gets my vote. He was hitting around .390 before the injury and was red-hot while the Dodgers were killing it. He's only been serviceable since his return, but that's to be relatively expected. However, he should continue to produce, and we're not playing with future numbers anyways, so Ethier gets a spot.<br /><br />My second vote went to Ryan Braun. He's a legitimate 40/20 guy who will hit for average every year, and right now his power numbers aren't as high as most would like to see, but he's still running and the average is still there, so it's completely plausible that right now his numbers will balloon up sometime in the near future. All of his talents, however, are nowhere near as awesome as his nickname "The Hebrew Hammer". To answer your next question, yes, he is Jewish.<br /><br />My third vote was a difficult one; I originally had Jason Heyward in this slot, but that was before June started and he fell into his rookie slump that a lot of people were waiting for, so I present to you a little-known but well deserving player in Colby Rasmus. Rasmus currently leads all NL outfielders in OPS and is second in slugging percentage. He has done a nice job protecting Albert Pujols this season, and has had an arguably better year than the other guy in the outfield that the Cardinals just signed to a mammoth contract.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Andrew McCutchen (PIT), Corey Hart (MIL), Jayson Werth (PHI), Justin Upton (ARI)<br /><br /><b>The 2010 NL All-Star Starting Lineup</b><br /><br />1) Hanley Ramirez SS<br />2) Martin Prado 2B<br />3) Albert Pujols 1B<br />4) Adrian Gonzalez DH<br />5) David Wright 3B<br />6) Andre Ethier RF<br />7) Ryan Braun LF<br />8) Colby Rasmus CF<br />9) Miguel Olivo C<br /><br /><b>Starting Pitcher:</b> Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins 8-3, 1.83 ERA, 107:27 K:BB ratio, 108 IP.<br /><br /><b>Analysis:</b> Ubaldo Jimenez has been great, no doubt about it. But before we go ahead and automatically give him the starting spot, let's take a look at this guy, who has been better than Jimenez. Right now Josh Johnson has the same ERA as Ubaldo, a higher K:BB ratio, a lower WHIP, and has given up 13 less walks while also owning a higher K/9 than Jimenez. The only thing he doesn't have is a no-hitter, and while that's impressive, should we say that Roy Halladay and Edwin Jackson are better pitchers this season because of their feats? No. The fact is that this guy can bring it day in and day out and is a legitimate ace and as long as he continues to pitch this way, he could be this year's NL Cy-Young Award winner.<br /><b>Bench:</b> Ubaldo Jimenez (COL), Roy Halladay (PHI), Adam Wainwright (STL), Chris Carpenter (STL), Tim Lincecum (SF), Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Jonathon Broxton (LAD), Luke Gregerson (SD), Billy Wagner (ATL), Carlos Marmol (CHC)<br /><br />Final Tally<br />St. Louis Cardinals: 5<br />Colorado Rockies: 3<br />Cincinnati Reds: 3<br />Milwaukee Brewers: 3<br />Atlanta Braves: 3<br />New York Mets: 2<br />Philadelphia Phillies: 2<br />Washington Nationals: 2<br />Florida Marlins: 2<br />Los Angeles Dodgers: 2<br />San Diego Padres: 2<br />San Francisco Giants: 1<br />Arizona Diamondbacks: 1<br />Pittsburgh Pirates: 1<br />Chicago Cubs: 1<br />Houston Astros: 0E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-64130702498302199682010-06-19T01:39:00.000-07:002010-06-19T01:42:39.787-07:00The 2010 Laker Championship: What It All Means<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It wasn't perfect, but hell, it was taken care of. In a game that meant so much to so many people in both Boston and Los Angeles, it was sheer motivation that turned out to be the deciding factor in a drama-filled seven game series. Last night we witnessed probably one of the ugliest Game 7's in NBA history, yet I guarantee nobody turned off their TV, not even when the Celtics were ahead of the Lakers by 13 with 8:15 left to play in the third; we all knew something great was still coming. Regardless of which side you were rooting for, I think we can all agree that this one will be shown on ESPN Classic for years to come, if not for the gritty looks that every player wore (except for Paul Pierce; he had the same "lights are on but nobody's home" look that he always has, except when he's whistled for a foul and can't believe it, or when he's being carted off the court in a wheelchair) in the fourth quarter, then for Pau Gasol's timely offensive rebound after Kobe's 543rd terrible shot, or Ron Artest's "hold-your-breath" three point shot that made it's way through the net to answer Rasheed Wallace's three pointer out of the timeout, or even Sasha Vujacic turning down his body temperature to come off the bench and hit two monumental free throws with the game on the line. Yes, the Celtics had their big moments as well, but none really in the fourth quarter; this was the Lakers' night to close out the victory, and close it they did. When the game ended, I immediately turned, high fived, and hugged my father. On an emotional level, I would have been devastated had the Lakers lost this game, especially because this game needed to be won by the Lakers to further emphasize the fact that they are the greatest franchise in the NBA, both presently and historically. If they had lost, I don't know what I would have done. I can't even fathom the amount of angst that would have come along with a loss, so thank God they won. But now there are things to be thought about, and multiple meanings for different people. So what does this mean for everyone involved on the Laker side? That's what I'm going to try to figure out...<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Phil Jackson's Future With the Club</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />In terms of relevance, I'd say this is the biggest storyline of them all. Apparently Dr. Jerry Buss is offering him a paltry $5 million per year, down considerably from his $12 million salary that is currently due to expire. He said after the game that he has to look at some things medically before he makes a final decision, but then added that there were in fact some other non-medical related issues that he has to check out, and obviously that has to do with his contract. Yes, we ARE in a recession, but the Lakers are the most lucrative franchise in the NBA. They have the money to re-sign him to at least a $10 million per year contract, and Phil knows it. To not re-sign Phil would be throwing the 2011 championship down the drain; Kobe isn't going to listen to anyone else, and look what happened when the Lakers thought they would be fine with Rudy Tomjanovich in 2005. They need Phil more than Phil needs them, and they should be doing everything and anything in their power to keep him. The guy has ELEVEN NBA Championships and has figured out how to control the volatile temperament that exudes Kobe Bryant. He deserves a fair shake.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Derek Fisher's Impending Free Agency</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />This would be issue #2 that is looming over the Lakers' chances for a 2011 three-peat. Besides Phil, Fisher has been the one constant that has been with Kobe every single time he has stood on that podium at the end of the season. Not only is he the voice of reason on the floor, he is undoubtedly the captain of this Laker team. During the regular season, he was the last person Laker fans wanted to see shooting the ball; every game it seemed like there was at least one or two people crying out via their Facebook updates for Fisher to stop shooting, much like Laker fans have done with Ron Artest this entire postseason. Having said that, during the playoffs he was a different player. He came through in clutch moments (Game 3 vs. Boston, Game 7 vs. Boston, Game 3 vs. Utah) and also helped contain Deron Williams and Ray Allen, the latter of which was the most important, as it helped save Kobe's legs from the rigors of marathon sprinting that Allen routinely puts his defenders through. Fisher may have lost some speed over the years, but he more than makes up for it with his physicality and willingness to be in the moment. He is the Ron Harper of the 2000 Laker team, and he definitely needs to be resigned.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Kobe Bryant's Laker Legacy</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />This is probably the toughest call of all. Now that Kobe has five rings, where do we put him? Understand that Los Angeles is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill franchise. We do not retire numbers for just anyone. Playoff heroes, fan favorites, and mainstay franchise role players don't get recognized in Los Angeles. To have your number retired in Los Angeles, you need to be a basketball god. You need to be the first or second best player on at least one Laker team that won a championship. Having understood that, I think Kobe is probably the second-greatest Laker of all time, behind the one and only Magic Johnson. I think he needs one more championship to be on par with Magic, two to surpass him. Kobe said it best regarding this topic, "All this means is that now I can have dinner with Magic", and those are my sentiments exactly.<br />My list of all-time Laker greats:<br /></span><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Magic Johnson</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Kobe Bryant</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Jerry West</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Shaquille O'Neal</span></li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br />I have him above Kareem despite Kareem being atop the NBA all-time leaderboard for points scored. Kobe was the clear second-best player on three championship teams, but then was the apparent best player on two more champions and an NBA Finalist, giving him five rings as a Laker, two as the best player on his team, something Kareem cannot say. He's earned NBA Finals MVP twice while Kareem only did it once. For what it's worth, Magic is pretty much responsible for the rejuvenation of Kareem's career, making the choice to put Kobe ahead of him that much easier.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Kobe vs. Shaq</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />Probably the easiest and the most trivial subplot of all is the feud between Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal that is all but dead, but I decided to bring it up anyways. From my point of view, it looks like Shaq worked hard one offseason and got into shape enough to be a factor on a championship team since being exiled from LA. Since then he has made stops in Phoenix and Cleveland, both of them coming with much hype upon his arrival and ending in disappointment. He was supposed to help Phoenix beat the Spurs in the playoffs, and couldn't. He was supposed to "win a ring for the king" and couldn't. The only thing he really managed to do was make a fool of himself in 2008, freestyling at a nightclub after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. His infamous "Kobe, you can't do without me" lyric was just another piece of fuel added to the fire that drove Kobe Bryant to win two more championships and get ahead of him in titles.<br />O'Neal was also the main reason the Lakers didn't win five titles in a row; he lacked the work ethic and couldn't handle Kobe wanting to stretch out his wings. I don't blame him as much for the alpha-dog struggle as I do for the conditioning. He was the anchor to that team, both offensively and defensively, and there was no excuse for him being out of shape. Every single offseason, Bryant has welcomed the challenge of getting into exorbitant shape for every single season, and every season it has payed off. He wants to win more badly than probably any other player in the league, and that's exactly what separates him from everyone else. Right now Kobe is head and shoulders above Shaq.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Lakers vs. Celtics</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />To be honest, I don't think this one is a contest either. I realize we have to take into consideration the history behind every franchise, but give me a break. Since 1980, the Lakers have made 16 Finals appearances (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010) and won 10 of them ('80, '82, '85, '87, '88, '00, '01, '02, '09, '10) with a 3-2 record against the Celtics during that span. The Celtics have made 7 Finals appearances (1981, '84, '85, 1986, '87, '08, '10), winning 4 of them ('81, '84, '86, '08). So in the past 30 years, that brings the NBA Finals appearances count to 16-7 in favor of the Lakers, NBA titles count to 10-4 in favor of the Lakers, and a 3-2 record in the NBA Finals against the Celtics, just for good measure. As far as I'm concerned, the Lakers own the Celtics in terms of NBA royalty, because at some point we have to start taking into account the longevity and frequency of a franchise's success, and the Lakers have done just that since 1980.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">2008 Vanquished?</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />I'm not buying Doc Rivers' postgame comments about how this team never truly got a chance to defend their 2008 title because Kendrick Perkins wasn't on the floor for Games 6 and 7; Perkins was easily the worst player out there for the Celtics, and they had the chance in Game 3 to set the tone for the next two games and make true on Paul Pierce's arrogant declaration of "We ain't coming back to LA", but they didn't. They lost Game 3 to the Lakers and lost the series. Their best four players were out on the court, and they ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. What the Lakers' victory does do is expose the Celtics for the drooling, slobbering, dancing-at-the-free-throw-<wbr></span><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">line, obnoxiously profane clowns that they are.<br />Now that that's out of my system, I do believe that players like Gasol and Odom needed that series to happen. Maybe Gasol more than Odom; the Spaniard needed to hear that people thought he was soft. He was too European for an American-style game. Not enough muscle. Not enough pride. All of those things were said about Gasol after that dreadful 2008 series, and he put in the time in the weight room and mentally carried those words with him as motivation on his way to two NBA titles. So are the Lakers vindicated for 2008 because they beat the Celtics this year? I'm torn on this, but I'm going to have to say yes, although they couldn't have won this year without getting out-muscled in 2008.<br /><br /></span><h1 style="font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ron Artest, How Fortunes Change</span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /><br />This might be the best story out of them all. This is a guy that was part of the worst brawl in NBA history. Prior to 2010, he was always the craziest guy on the court. Nobody knew what he was going to do next, and everyone in the stands was relatively mortified because there was a slight chance of having a huge basketball player hurtle towards them in the stands and attempt to rip their eyes out. Ron (we're on a first name basis) was suspended for the entire 2005 season after he viciously attacked a fan in the stands after throwing a cup of beer on him while he was laying on the scorer's table at the Palace in Auburn Hills. Since then he has earned multiple ejections, flagrant fouls, and technicals based solely on his reputation as a thug. In 2010, however, he has re-created himself, being the defensive, physical presence that this Lakers team needed. I would even go as far as saying he was the Dennis Rodman of this Laker team. He knew he wasn't the star on the team when he accepted the contract, but he wanted to show everyone that he could control himself and be a big factor on this team. After the game he thanked his psychiatrist, all of his homies in the hood, and pretty much anyone that had any relevance to him during his change. With this championship and with the multiple times that he made plays based on pure grit and muscle, he becomes a beloved figure in LA. To me, he's like the child with a learning disorder that everyone wants to see succeed, and finally he did. It was great to see Ron-Ron on stage with the commissioner and a winning team. Congrats, dude. Shout out to your homies in Queensbridge anytime.</span></span>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-76604095674599763892010-06-11T15:00:00.001-07:002010-06-11T15:22:18.071-07:002010 AL All-Star Ballot<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Well, we're already two and a half months into the 2010 baseball season, and after filling out my All-Star ballot, I realized that there are going to be quite a few snubs that I think should be getting spots on the roster. When I go to vote I put any Dodger-bias on the side, but only because of the ramifications of this game that were instilled by Bud Selig in an attempt to make the game more competitive. My ballot also does not follow the "at-least-one-player-from-</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><wbr></span></span><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">each-team" rule, either. If it so happens to end up that way, so be it, but in my opinion, nobody should get a free pass because their team sucks. So here we go...<br /><br /></span></span><i style="font-family:'lucida sans', 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Statistics for hitters: Runs/Home Runs/RBI/Steals/Batting Average</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /><br /></span></span><h1 style=" margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">2010 AL Ballot</span></span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">First Base:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers 42/18/53/2/.339<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> The fact that Mark Teixeira leads the AL vote in first basemen is an atrocity. I understand the reason he's leading is because he's a popular name, he's a Yankee, and people probably still remember Cabrera from the tail end of last year when he admitted he had a drinking problem and was irrationally violent. But still, Teixeira is barely batting his weight (he recently got his average up to a whopping .226) and has two fewer home runs than Kendry Morales, he of the excessive celebration (sorry Angels fans, I had to go there). Cabrera is currently tied for the AL lead in both homers and RBI and he is fifth in the league in batting average. He is a legitimate triple crown threat, and as such should get the recognition he deserves.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Justin Morneau (MIN), Kevin Youkilis (BOS)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Second Base:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Robinson Cano, New York Yankees 45/12/46/2/.376<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> To say that this is a huge no-brainer would be an understatement. I understand that Dustin Pedroia was the MVP two seasons ago, but Robinson Cano has just played out-of-his-mind ridiculous this season. He leads all AL Second Basemen in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage. He probably won't win a gold glove, but his arm strength is incredible for someone playing his position. He also owns the highest WAR out of any other AL Second Basemen.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Orlando Hudson (MIN), Ben Zobrist (TB)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Shortstop:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers 41/0/19/18/.302<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> I picked Andrus about a month ago for this spot, and I'm going to stick with him. His defensive metrics have a regressed a little bit and I realize he's not hitting for any power, but he brings the speed and a high batting average. He bats in the leadoff hole for the run factory in Texas and thrives in that position. He has a .385 OBP to go with everything else he brings to the table. He gets my vote to start the AL All-Star game.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Derek Jeter (NYY), Marco Scutaro (BOS)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Third Baseman:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays 40/11/47/10/.326<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Unfortunately for me and my fantasy team, it looks like the guard has changed. This past offseason, I traded Longoria for Alex Rodriguez because I thought A-Rod would steal more bases and hit almost the same amount of home runs, but that hasn't been the case at all so far. Actually, Longoria has been everything that Rodriguez hasn't this year. He's hitting for average, power, and hell, he's even stolen ten bases! He's not taking as many walks as maybe anyone would like to see, but to criticize him for that would be nitpicking. He doesn't have someone like Robinson Cano protecting him in the lineup, but he doesn't care. He continues to rake, and hey, striking out 25% of the time is better than grounding into double plays 25% of the time. This guy looks like he's going to post some ridiculous numbers in 2010 and beyond.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Jose Bautista (TOR), Adrian Beltre (BOS),<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Outfield:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays 37/15/40/2/.297<br />Alex Rios, Chicago White Sox 39/12/29/18/.309<br />Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers 19/10/34/7/.327 (32 Games played)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Vernon Wells is yet another no-brainer. People forget that this guy was a five-tool player in 2006. He got his huge contract, then just became victim to an array of wrist injuries. This year, though, he seems to have joined a cast of all-but-forgotten players to find their second wind and decide that 2010 is going to be the year of resurgence. The only question is whether or not he'll keep it up, but then again, I've been saying that all year and he's showed no signs of slowing down as of yet.<br /><br />Another guy that has been touted as a 30-30 player but has perennially disappointed every year is Alex Rios. For years in Toronto, they waited for this guy to finally have his breakout year, and it never came. Last season he continued to look like a player that wouldn't develop even after he was traded to Chicago. This year, his BABIP has risen back to a tad over his career averages, up to .322 from last year's .273 atrocity. The eleven steals is not really telling, as he's always had speed, but he is on pace for career highs in doubles, home runs, and slugging percentage. This might be the year that Toronto had been waiting for; too bad it came in Chicago.<br /><br />Nelson Cruz...what more can you say about this guy? He's the stereotypical frustrating fragile superstar. When he's playing, he's nothing short of amazing. He has half the AB as anyone who's stayed healthy and still has hit ten home runs and batted .327. Had he stayed healthy, we could be looking at a 40/25 season from someone batting around .315 on the year, and unless he can stay healthy, he's going to fall well short of those numbers in 2010.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Josh Hamilton (TEX), Nick Swisher (NYY), Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Catcher:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins 32/2/27/1/.320<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> This one isn't as big of a no-brainer as it might seem, especially with Victor Martinez finally showing everyone why Boston decided to keep him around; in his last 30 games he's hitting .366 with five homers and fifteen RBI. Having said that, he can't throw runners out. Earlier this year, the Texas Rangers stole NINE bases in one game off of the combination of Tim Wakefield and Victor Martinez (Vladimir Guerrero had two of them to put that into perspective), which set a Rangers franchise record.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Victor Martinez (BOS), Mike Napoli (LAA)<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Designated Hitter: </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers 37/13/53/2/.339<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Since the All-Star Game is in Anaheim this year, the teams will be playing with a Designated Hitter. Since this is a position that can be played all game, there should really only be one player, and there's no contest between Vlad and the rest of the field. His numbers are MVP-type numbers at an age where he was supposed to be slowing down. That ballpark in Arlington has apparently been a hot tub time machine for him, where he's hitting .381 with 10 of his 13 home runs and and OPS of 1.076. He's also nothing short of amazing against left-handers, batting .429 with 2 home runs and an OPS of 1.059. No bench needed for this position.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; line-height: 14px; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Starting Lineup</span></span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br />1) Elvis Andrus SS<br />2) Joe Mauer C<br />3) Evan Longoria 3B<br />4) Robinson Cano 2B<br />5) Miguel Cabrera 1B<br />6) Vladimir Guerrero DH<br />7) Nelson Cruz RF<br />8) Vernon Wells CF<br />9) Alex Rios LF</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Starting Pitcher:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Cliff Lee, Seattle Mariners 61.2 IP, 4-2, 57:4 K:BB, 2.77 ERA<br /><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Analysis:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> This is no contest. After missing almost the entire first month of the season due to injury, Lee has been nothing short of dominating; he's gone at least eight innings in five of his eight outings, and has given up only one home run this year. ONE! To go with that impressive resume, he also has only given up four walks this year as well. There's not much else I can say about this guy that will increase respect for him. I just hope he gets the job.<br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Bench:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"> Jered Weaver (LAA), Phil Hughes (NYY), David Price (TB), Jon Lester (BOS), Ricky Romero (TOR), Rafael Soriano (TB), Mariano Rivera (NYY), Neftali Feliz (TEX), Jose Valverde (DET), Andrew Bailey (OAK)<br /><br />Final tally by team:<br />Boston Red Sox: 5<br />Texas Rangers: 5<br />New York Yankees: 5<br />Tampa Bay Rays: 4<br />Toronto Blue Jays: 3<br />Minnesota Twins: 3<br />Seattle Mariners: 2<br />Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 2<br />Detroit Tigers: 2<br />Chicago White Sox: 1<br />Oakland Athletics: 1<br />Kansas City Royals: 0<br />Baltimore Orioles: 0<br />Cleveland Indians: 0</span></span></span></div>E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-62714447710245809692010-06-04T01:49:00.000-07:002010-06-04T01:52:05.523-07:00Lakers vs. Celtics, Take 12.2-9. That's the Lakers' current record against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. To date, the Celtics have practically owned the Lakers when it has come down to deciding who has the right to hold up the Larry O' Brien trophy at the end of the year. Most of that damage was done by Bill Russell, but there was also considerable emotional damage done by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish in the 1980's, and those years are the ones that really are remembered; the Magic skyhook, the McHale-Rambis clothesline, Larry Bird whipping the air with his towel. Unfortunately for me, I only remember those moments in clips of highlights shown from those memorable battles during the 1980's. The memories I DO have, however, consist of Paul Pierce sitting in a wheelchair like he's seen his final days as an NBA player and then miraculously coming out of the tunnel like he had just been cured by a witch doctor to lead the Celtics to a victory. I remember Lamar Odom shying away from driving the ball into the lane, Pau Gasol flopping all over the place, the Celtics reinforcing the "defensive thug" stereotype of the Eastern Conference teams. That's what I remember. I remember an inexperienced and (other than Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher) "happy to be here" Lakers team, and if there's one thing that will be different about this year's finals, it's that everyone on the team knows that anything less than a title would be a colossal meltdown.<br /><br />Los Angeles needs this title. As of right now, it looks like both baseball teams are not going to be able to make it to the World Series unless they pull off some major trades, and we still don't have a football team. There are too many negative ramifications looming for the Lakers to lose this title. The Lakers would have lost twice to the hated Celtics in the NBA Finals over the past three years, Phil Jackson would be even more tempted to flee Los Angeles for retirement, and the Lakers would have to win five to six more NBA titles to overtake Boston for "the greatest NBA franchise in history" title if they lost, and that's something no Laker fan wants to deal with. Reliving the 1980's is something nobody really wants to deal with, not even if your name is Alf, and if the Lakers want to hang with the Celtics, they're going to have to set the tone in this series that they're not going to be pushed around. I could just see Phil Jackson bring DJ Mbenga off the bench to intentionally start a fight with Kendrick Perkins and have him miss a crucial game in this series. But really, they're going to have to defend their home court and not let their emotions towards the Boston defense aggravate them, and really, all of that starts with one man: Ron Artest.<br /><br />This year the Lakers boast a tougher, more formidable squad, one that is more comfortable with the physical play that Boston brings to the table. That's not to say that the Lakers are as physical as the Celtics, but I believe that the addition of Ron Artest is going to pay dividends for the Lakers in this series. Artest won't have a problem playing up to the physical style that Pierce plays with although I don't think anyone doubted that, especially after the melee that he was involved in. To be honest, after the Lakers acquired Artest via free agency this past offseason after letting Ariza go off for greener pastures, the first thing that popped into my mind was "back-to-back", and the reason being was because every contender that the Lakers were going to see from the Eastern Conference was going to have a small forward that they were going to have to deal with; the Cavaliers had reigning MVP LeBron James, the Celtics had 2008 Finals MVP Paul Pierce, and the Magic had newly-acquired All-Star Vince Carter. So far he's made his presence felt against the league's leading scorer in Kevin Durant, and he should continue to earn his paycheck against Pierce.<br /><br />People might point to the point guard position as a sore spot for the Lakers on defense, but given the Phoenix series, I think they've figured out how they're going to slow down Rajon Rondo, or at least make him do things that he doesn't want to do. Against Phoenix, the Lakers guarded Steve Nash one-on-one and used his defender as a helper on the Suns' shooters that got open off the pick-and-roll. Look for the Lakers to do the same against Rondo. They should challenge him to make 15-20 footers and guard the Celtics that are rolling off of screens. What they can't have happen is Rajon Rondo driving to the basket for all of his points, drawing fouls, or dumping the ball off to Garnett and Perkins for easy hoops. As long as the Lakers can do that, they'll have an excellent chance to win this series. Given how badly Kobe wants to win and Artest's determination to show that he was the correct choice for this team, I do believe the Lakers win, but not without someone getting a bloody nose.<br /><br /><b>Winner:</b> Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3.<br /><b>Series MVP:</b> Kobe BryantE.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260811396616480199.post-72762100902311109352010-06-04T01:45:00.000-07:002010-06-04T01:48:19.522-07:00Armando Galarraga, 28 up, 28 down.You're in Detroit, Michigan. It's a moderately cool night, with a comfortable breeze. Summer is right around the corner, and with that comes many hours of America's favorite pastime. So now you've watched eight and two-thirds innings of perfect baseball pitched by 28 year old Armando Galarraga, a pitcher who had been in the minor leagues all season until May 16th. After watching a would-be double chased down and improbably caught Willie Mays-style by Austin Jackson about eight feet from the wall to start the top of the inning, you know something magical is going to happen. So you watch as Galarraga calmly and collectively goes into his windup and delivers the third pitch of the at-bat to the 27th batter of the game. The right-handed hitting batter grounds in into the first-second base hole and all of a sudden, everything is in slow motion. It looks as if the ball is going to be trouble for first baseman Miguel Cabrera, but he fields in cleanly, turns to throw to Galarraga, who is covering first, and delivers. The play is made. Galarraga beats the runner by a step, and the Tigers win. It's the 21st perfect game thrown in major league history, the third this month, and the second by a totally unlikely source this season. Everyone on the Tigers is celebrating. Club ace Justin Verlander comes out of the dugout and gets the kid in the face with a shaving cream pie on his perfect day. Bud Selig comes out of the stands and shares a celebration smoke with manager Jim Leyland and Galarraga. It's a great day to be a fan of the game (unless you're an Indians fan).<br /><br />But that's not how it happened. What really happened will go down in baseball lore for the rest of eternity. What really happened was inexplicable and egregious. What really happened was a prime example that is everything wrong with sports; an umpire blew the call. Jim Joyce called Chris Donald safe at first after he was clearly out on the play, costing Armando Galarraga a chance at history. Instead of the celebrations on the field, there was nothing but consolation and disdain. Animosity towards Jim Joyce, who apparently is one of the best umpires in the game, is not out of surplus. Even though the Tigers won, the day is ruined.<br /><br />After what happened today, there is absolutely NO WAY that Bud Selig can deny the sport of baseball some form of instant replay. Last season human error reared it's ugly head in Game 4 of the ALDS when Tim McClelland decided that a player doesn't have to be standing on the base to be safe. I understand that baseball games take long enough as it is, but it's not like we need replay for every play, and especially not for balls or strikes. I honestly believe that managers should have some sort of challenge flag that they can throw on the field and ask for a replay. Unlike football however, there would be no repercussion for being wrong on the challenged play; instead, each team only gets one opportunity to challenge a call, and that includes a safe-or-out play at any base, a catch-or-trap instance, or a fair-or-foul call. No more, no less. Furthermore, the challenge flag should only be able to be used in situations where one call can make or break a game (i.e. If your team is behind by six or more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning with nobody on base, the challenge flag is unusable). With this method, there is very little time wasted watching replays, and we eliminate human error to an even higher degree. Everybody wins.<br /><br /><h1>Other baseball-related thoughts</h1><br /><br />After a rash of injuries to start the season, the Dodgers are back at full strength, yet their offense seems to be doing worse now than they were without Furcal and Ethier, and they won yesterday because of a wild pitch and an unexpected line drive single from Garret Anderson, who isn't even batting his weight this year. Will the shoddy offensive play continue? I doubt it; the guys who just got back from the DL are still shaking off the rust. Vicente Padilla is due back within the next week or so, and he should be no higher than fifth on the starting pitchers depth chart for the Dodgers, but that doesn't really make them any more of a contender. They still desperately need an ace-caliber starting pitcher, and they need it this season. If the Dodgers want to win a World Series, they had better do everything possible to acquire Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt before the trading deadline. Manny Ramirez is gone after this season, so going all-in on this season seems like the smart thing to do.<br /><br />After Kendry Morales broke his ankle in that freak post-game celebration last weekend, the Angels are going to need more production out of Hideki Matsui, the guy that was supposed to fill the shoes of an apparently over-the-hill Vladimir Guererro. After hitting just .184 in May, he is 4-8 with two doubles in June. I realize it's a small sample size, but with this franchise it always seems like the players always find a way to deliver. The return of Jeff Mathis should help the Angels, and hopefully Mike Scoscia finds a way to keep Mike Napoli's bat in the lineup; it's clear they need the slugging catcher's bat now more than ever with the loss of Morales. If Napoli or Mathis can't play first base, the Angels might try to make a trade if they're still in the hunt around the trade deadline. Interesting options would be Lance Berkman, Garret Jones, Adam LaRoche, or Paul Konerko.<br /><br />Ken Griffey Jr. finally said goodbye to the game today. My thoughts on the matter is that this should have been done at the end of last season. I love Griffey and I truly believe that he is probably the most unlucky player this game has ever seen. He missed a total of 472 games between the ages of 24 and 34, which translated to about 1844 at-bats. From his breakout year in 1993 to his last full year with the Reds in 2007, he averaged a home run abuot every 13 at-bats. If you calculate that out, Griffey probably would have hit another 142 home runs, giving him 772 home runs for his career, which would be ten ahead of Barry Bonds. I know that's purely statistical speculation, but what if he hadn't gotten injured? This guy would be the undisputed, asterisk-free home run king and everyone outside of the bay area would sleep a little more easily at night knowing that a cheater didn't sit atop the all-time home run leaderboard.E.I. Sports Deliberationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405322526133094203noreply@blogger.com0