Funtasy Football's Studs, Sleepers & Snoozers For Week 15 In The NFL

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QB

Stud – Drew Brees

Brees hits the road to take on the Chicago Bears this week and that’s a good thing. The Bears defense has only allowed more than 66 yards to one RB at home this year so the Saints will have to throw. To make the matchup even more enticing, Brees averages over 43 passing attempts per road game.

Sleeper – Jay Cutler

The Carolina running game is hot and the Denver rush defense is brutal. That means that the Broncos will get behind and lean on Cutler to throw 40 times to bring them back. The Panthers allowed 315 yards and 2 TD to Jeff Garcia last week.

Snoozer – Joe Flacco

The rookie may very well see his 8 game touchdown streak snapped this week. Flacco threw for just 192 yards and 1 touchdown in his first meeting with Pittsburgh.
WR

Stud – Greg Jennings

Jennings heads to Florida this week to take on the Jaguars, who will be missing Rashean Mathis. When Green Bay spreads 5 WR out, Jacksonville simply doesn’t have anyone that can matchup with Jennings.

Sleeper – Devin Hester

Hester has gradually gotten more involved in the passing game. He’s hauled in 8 rec. for 147 yards and a TD in the last 2 games. The Saints also give up the 2nd most fantasy points to WR.

Snoozer – Calvin Johnson

Duante Culpepper is unlikely to play this week, so Johnson will either have to rely on Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton or even Drew Henson. Stay far, far away.
RB

Stud – DeAngelo Williams

Williams has 727 yards and 11 touchdowns over his last 6 games and he’s firmly taken a hold on the #1 spot in the backfield. Carolina has the 6th most rushing attempts in the NFL and will try to establish the run early and often just like they did against the Bucs.

Sleeper – Clinton Portis

After successfully tabbing Portis as a snoozer last week, I’ll move him up one spot. He’s only rushed for more than 68 yards once in the past 5 games, but that should change this week. He was very critical of his coach and questioned how he’s being used, so I expect Jim Zorn to give Clinton the ball and make him back up his talk.

Snoozer – Joseph Addai

Despite the great matchup, this game has snoozer written all over it for Addai. He’ll likely start and get his touches, but when the game gets out of hand, (and it will) the Colts will probably rest him and let Rhodes take over.
K

Stud – Adam Vinatieri

The Colts head to Ford Field this week and you know that they will put points on the board. The only risk here is that they are all XP.

Sleeper – Kris Brown

Brown and the Texans face off against Tennessee this week. Schaub has the Texans offense clicking, but the Titans have a way of making teams bog down…hopefully in field goal range.

Snoozer – Josh Brown

Brown gets a good matchup as the Seahawks face the Rams, but he’s battling a groin injury and could be limited when it comes to long field goals.

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Studs, Sleepers & Snoozers For Week 13 In The NFL

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QB
Stud – Peyton Manning
Manning makes a return trip to the stud spot with a very enticing matchup vs. Cleveland this week. The Browns best defense will be ball control and that’s something that their offense isn’t very good at, so look for the Colts to do plenty of damage.
Sleeper – Brett Favre
Favre has been playing fairly well as of late, but he could really break out this week. Denver has been suspect on defense for the majority of the year and the Jets passing game is really starting to open up with the emergence of Dustin Keller.
Snoozer – Daunte Culpepper
The Culpepper experiment hasn’t been awful, but it hasn’t been a success either. There is a theory that the Lions always step it up on Thanksgiving Day because it’s like their Super Bowl. That’s not the case when the Titans defense comes to town.
WR
Stud – Roddy White
White was relatively quiet on Sunday after several weeks of trying to prove that he’s the best receiver in football. This week the Falcons will head to San Diego to take on a very suspect Chargers pass defense.
Sleeper – Justin Gage
Gage had 2 big weeks, but was a disappointment last week in what should have been a nice matchup. He’ll head to Detroit on Thursday, so he should have plenty of chances to find pay dirt.
Snoozer – Randy Moss
Moss is back on the radar after his 3 TD performance on Sunday, but don’t expect the Steelers to leave him in single coverage. Pittsburgh plays the pass very well and even if Cassel has time to throw, Moss won’t be willing to risk a big hit from Troy Polamalu.
RB
Stud – Adrian Peterson
It’s tough to figure out what Brad Childress is thinking when it comes to his use of AP, but he always gets his touches in the end. Minnesota takes on a Bears defense that got shredded by Ryan Grant. That’s good news for Peterson.
Sleeper – Chris Johnson
Johnson was a non-factor against a solid Jets rush defense last week, but that’s good news for this week. He received only 10 carries so he’s well rested for his date with a porous Lions defensive unit.
Snoozer – Matt Forte
This is a tough spot to list the talented rookie, especially after coming off of a huge game vs. St. Louis. The problem is that he’s facing a very solid Vikings defense and the Bears have started to go with other options on the goal line. There are better options this week.
K
Stud – Matt Bryant
Bryant will maintain his stud status until he proves me wrong. He only notched one field goal last week, but it was a long one. He also racked up a decent amount of extra points. Tampa should have plenty of scoring chances against a weak Saints defense.
Sleeper – Stephen Gostkowski
The Patriots will certainly have trouble moving the ball against the Steelers, but this feels like one of those games that they can get into FG range and not much further.
Snoozer – Jason Hanson
Hanson is usually one of the only useful Lions on a given week, but it’s hard to imagine the Lions sustaining a drive long enough to get him any chances this week.

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The Michael Vick Legacy

You ever see the show Dexter on Showtime? Well, I’ve been rather obsessed with it of late and I thought I might nominate a particular target for everyone’s favorite serial killer. Now, maybe a little back story: Dexter Morgan is an “orphaned” child who is raised by a noble Miami Police Officer. Early in Dexter’s life, Harry, Dexter’s foster father, realizes that Dexter has an uncontrollable psychological urge to kill, one that cannot be cured with things like therapy. So Harry, feeling attached to this boy, begins to find ways to channel his “son’s” urges toward good. He teaches him to be a perfect, uncatchable murderer, but the only condition is, he can only kill those who take innocent lives and manage to escape justice.

Now read this excerpt from a recent Associated Press story:

“Michael Vick put family pets in rings with pit bulls and thought it was funny watching the trained killers injure or kill the helpless dogs, a witness told federal investigators during the dogfighting investigation that brought Vick down.”
This of course is testimony from someone called “confidential witness Number 1” and his account may be subject to some scrutiny given the fact that he is operating under anonymity. However, reading that, picturing that, can you say that Michael Vick doesn’t sound like a sadistic, vicious murderer? I’m not trying to go all PETA on you I swear. I’m not operating under the precondition to “defend those who cannot defend themselves.” All I’m saying is, picturing that, and then looking at Michael Vick’s face, can you honestly say that you wouldn’t let out a big exhale of relief if Michael Vick suddenly disappeared?
Obviously no one is condoning murder, but it’s one of those human conditions where the end justifies the mysterious means. If these allegations are true, if confidential witness Number 1 wasn’t just blowing smoke up all of our asses, if Michael Vick suddenly disappeared, is there one person out there reading this (all 6 of you) that would actually have a vested interest in finding him?
Now when the whole Michael Vick thing came down, there were a lot of voices, the talking heads, which were saying that it was unjust for people to so harshly judge Michael Vick for his role in a dogfighting operation. Dogs aren’t humans after all, and killers of dogs aren’t real murderers. To counter, I present this, my psychological analysis for why dogs are so beloved in our society. The first reason is joy, whether we work for their affection or not, dogs have an innate ability to bring people joy and pleasure. The second reason is key, dependency. It’s a natural human reaction to be more emotionally invested in those things that are dependent on you. A properly bred and broken house dog is completely dependent on his owner. Harm done to your dog is harm done to you, just like a child. Right or wrong, rationally or irrationally, that is why people are so taken aback by what Michael Vick did. That is why most people would quietly support any action taken against him. That is why no one is in any hurry to get one of the greatest athletes alive on their football team any time soon.
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Is It Really That Hard To Coach In The NFL?

By The Sports Consigliere

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what is so hard about life as an NFL coach.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t discredit that they have a hard job and it takes a lot of preparation in the week leading up to the game. However, I find myself scratching my head at situations that really don’t seem that difficult, yet still get screwed up.

It would be easy to throw someone like Herm Edwards under the bus for going for the win vs. San Diego. When Shannahan does it and succeeds, it’s a gutsy call. When Edwards fails, it was the wrong decision. I don’t fault the choice and as Herm says, “you play to win the game.”

There have been 2 scenarios over the past week that I just can’t seem to comprehend.

The first situation came on Monday night as the 49ers drove down the field for the win.

Shaun Hill was doing a remarkable job hooking up with his playmakers and got the ball all the way down to the 2-yard line. As they begin to change out their package, I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t just spike the ball. They get the goal line group in and catch them off guard by running…a spike??? What kind of clock mismanagement leads to wasting 25 seconds while switching out personnel only to spike the ball anyway?

So there they sit, a few feet from a victory with enough time to call any play. They choose a run with Frank Gore and he comes up just shy. While the play is under review, Martz and Co. had plenty of time to come up with a genius call that would lead to the game winning score with no time left on the clock.

The ball is placed down and the clock begins to tick. Hill is set for what will surely be some sort of bootleg that gives him a run/pass option. He takes the snap and runs a dive to Michael Robinson?!?!

If I’m calling plays for a team that has a mobile quarterback, a great RB, some decent wide receivers and a solid TE, I’m certainly not running a dive with my backup running back.

Is it really that hard?

The 2nd scenario happened just last night.

The New York Jets defensive backs did a great job of shutting Randy Moss down, all night long. Well, almost all night long.

Through the first 59 minutes and 52 seconds, the Jets had bumped, jammed and annoyed Moss as he tried to release from the line. They would stand him up for the first couple of yards and by that time, Moss simply didn’t feel like finishing his route. You could see it on every snap during the final New England dive.

There was no way that the Jets were going to allow Moss to run by them and get room to roam. So why would they change that strategy on the last play? What would make you think that it was suddenly a good time to give him a 7-yard cushion?

About 7 seconds after I starred at the top of my screen and wondered why he wasn’t being jammed, the game was tied.

Being that the Jets went on to win in OT, most people will forget that play. I’ll continue to wonder if it’s really that hard.

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Nick Anthony's Free NFL Picks

Nick Anthony’s Sunday Selections

November 9th, 2008

by admin

New Orleans Vs. Atlanta
Spread: Falcons - 1
The Play: New Orleans - 1
Nick Anthony’s 5 Star Play Of The Day!

Tennessee Vs. Chicago
Spread: Titans - 3
The Play: Bars + 3

Detroit Vs. Jacksonville
Spread: Jaguars - 6.5
The Play: Lions + 6.5

Seattle Vs. Miami
The Spread: Dolphins - 9
The Play: Seahawks + 9

Green Bay Vs. Minnesota
The Spread: Vikings - 2.5
The Play: Vikings - 2.5

Buffalo Vs. New England
The Spread: Patriots - 3.5
The Play: Patriots - 3.5
Nick Anthony’s 5 Star Play Of The Day!

St. Louis Vs. New York Jets
The Spread: Jets - 9
The Play: Jets - 9

Baltimore Vs. Houtson
The Spread: Texans -1
The Play: Baltimore + 1
Nick Anthony’s 5 Star Play Of The Day!

Carolina Vs. Oakland
The Spread: Panthers - 9
The Play: Panthers - 9

Pittsburgh Vs. Indianapolis
The Spread: Steelers - 4
The Play: Colts + 4
Nick Anthony’s 5 Star Play Of The Day!

San Diego Vs. Kansas City
The Spread: Chargers - 14.5
The Play: Chiefs + 14.5

Philadelphia Vs. New York Giants
The Spread: Eagles - 3
The Play: Put Everything you’ve got on the G-Men!!!
Nick Anthony’s Play Of The Day!

San Francisco Vs. Arizona
The Spread: Cardinals - 9.5
The Play: 49ers + 9.5

Nick Anthony Went 12 & 3 last week in the NFL; raising his overall win percentage to 57% this NFL season…Wow!!!

Your Fantasy Football Season Is Not Over...It's Just Begun!

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Who is Spaceball?

Hi there and welcome to Spaceball Football. This year you can hear me on a variety of radio stations all over the country!

Who am I? I'm the expert with an attitude. I'm the expert with a sense of humor. But then again, nobody said experts had to be boring.

In addition to my show and guest appearances on Morning and Afternoon drive shows during the week, I was also tapped by the Chicago Sun Times to write a weekly column. At my 1st ever Fantasy Football convention, over 500 men came out to talk about their upcoming drafts. (For the record - this was as Peyton Manning was coming off his 28 interception rookie season.and I told everyone to keep him as he was going to be bigger than huge). By the time I took over ESPN Radio in Chicago, Fantasy Football was a mainstay in the city.
When it comes to Fantasy Football, that list of experts only goes one name deep. Millions play, hundreds are self-proclaimed 'experts,' but only one is a Fantasy Football legend. It's been my dream and now, it's your reality.

In much the same manner that Batman never revealed who he was in real life, I cannot either, however in my real life identity - I was the one who introduced the game to the general sports public some 20 years ago when I was running the Chicago sports radio station WSCR-AM (The Score) by hosting a Sunday morning Fantasy Football show. Fans would call as early as 5:30a and hold up to 45 minutes for the chance to ask my opinion on whom they should play that day.

Today, I show up on a regular basis on a number of stations throughout the country as well as make occasional appearances on a variety of other radio shows such as Steve Dahl (WJMK-FM / Chicago ), Mike North (WSCR-AM / Chicago), and Kevin Matthews (WLAV-FM / Grand Rapids ).

Give it a try. Tune in one day, talk some fantasy and let's have some fun.

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NFL Betting Daily & Week 1 Injury Reports

Every match up, every line and every significant injury is covered every week on the BetUS NFL Betting Daily Podcast, keeping you in the know for the upcoming NFL week 1 games.

We are also paid a visit by Passitdeep.com’s Jim DeGoerge who fills us in on his NFL QB touchdown Derby fantasy game running the whole NFL season…you can win $1500 in cash and a $500 BetUS Free Play for winning this thing, go sign up!

Click on this link or cut & paste it into your browser to listen to our interview with Betus Radio Show Host Damon D!

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NFL Quarterbacks Pre-Season Progress Report

Tom Brady

Team: Patriots

Last game: 17-27 loss vs. Eagles

Results: DNP…Brady missed yet another preseason game, but says he’ll be ready for the opener.

Tony Romo

Team: Cowboys

Last game: 23-22 win vs. Texans

Results: 15-19, 166 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT…This was a very solid performance for Romo and he appears ready for the season.

Peyton Manning

Team: Colts

Last game: 7-20 loss vs. Bills

Results: DNP. He has yet to test out his knee.

Ben Roethlisberger

Team: Steelers

Last game: 12-10 win vs. Vikings

Results: 10-17, 65 yds…Big Ben gave way for Leftwich to have an extended look in this one.

Derek Anderson

Team: Browns

Last game: 6-26 loss vs. Lions

Results: DNP. He’s still sitting out due to his head injury.

Drew Brees

Team: Saints

Last game: 13-0 win vs. Bengals

Results: 14-22, 199 yds, 1 TD…Brees will be one of the best again this year.

Matt Hasselbeck

Team: Seahawks

Last game: 17-18 loss vs. Chargers

Results: DNP. Frye got the look in this one.

Kurt Warner

Team: Cardinals

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Raiders

Results: 2-4, 40 yds…The best thing for Warner was Leinart’s 3 INT.

Carson Palmer

Team: Bengals

Last game: 0-13 loss vs. Saints

Results: 11-16, 105 yds…This doesn’t say much without Housh and Chad on the field.

Eli Manning

Team: Giants

Last game: 7-10 loss vs. Jets

Results: 10-17, 113 yds…It’s tough to gauge Eli when Plax isn’t on the field.

Philip Rivers

Team: Chargers

Last game: 18-17 win vs. Seahawks

Results: 11-21, 143 yds…So far, the knee is holding up.

Donovan McNabb

Team: Eagles

Last game: 27-17 win vs. Patriots

Results: 13-17, 180 yds, 1 TD…McNabb looked very efficient in his most extended preseason game.

David Garrard

Team: Jaguars

Last game: 23-17 win vs. Buccaneers

Results: 10-16, 118 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT…This was a very solid showing for Garrard. If he plays that way the whole year, the Jags will be near the top of the AFC.

Marc Bulger

Team: Rams

Last game: 24-10 win vs. Ravens

Results: 18-25, 182 yds, 2 TD…This looks like the Bulger of old.

Jay Cutler

Team: Broncos

Last game: 24-27 loss vs. Packers

Results: 6-13, 115 yds, 2 TD…Cutler didn’t complete many passes but he certainly made the most of them.

Jon Kitna

Team: Lions

Last game: 26-6 win vs. Browns

Results: 9-11, 98 yds…Kitna was accurate and more importantly he didn’t turn the ball over.

Jeff Garcia

Team: Buccaneers

Last game: 17-23 loss vs. Jaquars

Results: 11-18, 79 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT…Garcia can’t be happy about this performance, but he won’t be losing his job over it.

Jason Campbell

Team: Redskins

Last game: 3-47 loss vs. Panthers

Results: 6-10, 39 yds…It was not a good game for Campbell, as the score indicates.

Matt Schaub

Team: Texans

Last game: 22-23 loss vs. Cowboys

Results: 15-27, 166 yds, 1 TD…Schaub wasn’t very accurate but he’ll be huge for Houston if he can stay healthy.

Tarvaris Jackson

Team: Vikings

Last game: 10-12 loss vs. Steelers

Results: DNP. He’s still nursing his knee.

Vince Young

Team: Titans

Last game: 3-17 loss vs. Falcons

Results: 9-18, 102 yds, 1 INT…Standard Vince here. He has yet to turn into a complete QB.

Jake Delhomme

Team: Panthers

Last game: 47-3 win vs. Redskins

Results: 11-19, 159 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT…So far, so good for Delhomme.

Aaron Rodgers

Team: Packers

Last game: 27-24 win vs. Broncos

Results: 18-22, 193 yds, 1 TD…This is exactly what Rodgers needed to get fans to forget about Brett Favre.

Sage Rosenfels

Team: Texans

Last game: 22-23 loss vs. Cowboys

Results: 4-8, 29 yds…There’s not much to report here as he wasn’t given much playing time.

Damon Huard

Team: Chiefs

Last game: 0-24 loss vs. Dolphins

Results: 3-7, 26 yds, 1 INT…Ouch.

Chad Pennington

Team: Dolphins

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Chiefs

Results: 11-15, 94 yds, 1 TD…Short passes and a high completion percentage are exactly what Miami fans can get used to seeing.

Brian Griese

Team: Buccaneers

Last game: 17-23 loss vs. Jaquars

Results: 7-11, 71 yds…He has proven that he can be solid in relief of Garcia.

Josh McCown

Team: Dolphins

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Chiefs

Results: DNP…McCown is probably 4^th in line right now.

Quinn Gray

Team: Colts

Last game: 7-20 loss vs. Bills

Results: 8-16, 158 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT…Gray will find himself buried on the depth chart after this game.

Chris Redman

Team: Falcons

Last game: 17-3 win vs. Titans

Results: 9-11, 83 yds…Redman was good enough to lock up the backup spot and will take over if Ryan struggles.

Kyle Boller

Team: Ravens

Last game: 10-24 loss vs. Rams

Results: DNP. Flacco was given a long look in this one.

Joey Harrington

Team: Falcons

Last game: 17-3 win vs. Titans

Results: DNP…It’s not a good sign when you’re sitting out preseason games and you’re not the starter.

Trent Edwards

Team: Bills

Last game: 20-7 win vs. Colts

Results: DNP. The Bills let Losman handle this one.

Gus Frerotte

Team: Vikings

Last game: 10-12 loss vs. Steelers

Results: 13-19, 133 yds, 1 INT…He started in place of Jackson and struggled.

Brodie Croyle

Team: Chiefs

Last game: 0-24 loss vs. Dolphins

Results: 12-21, 110 yds, 1 INT…It wasn’t a good outing, but he’s clearly the best of the KC options.

Cleo Lemon

Team: Jaguars

Last game: 23-17 win vs. Buccaneers

Results: 9-12, 56 yds…No INT’s is key here. If he finds himself in the game, he’ll need to take care of the ball.

Kellen Clemens

Team: Jets

Last game: 10-7 win vs. Giants

Results: 9-12, 83 yds…Clemens turned in numbers very close to Favre, so the Jets have to be happy about that.

Trent Green

Team: Rams

Last game: 24-10 win vs. Ravens

Results: DNP. Kind of concerning since the Rams played 3 QB.

Luke McCown

Team: Buccaneers

Last game: 17-23 loss vs. Jaguars

Results: 11-19, 104 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT…He was the best of the Bucs quarterbacks.

Todd Collins

Team: Redskins

Last game: 3-47 loss vs. Panthers

Results: 9-15, 79 yds…He was the most impressive of the Washington QBs, or is it the least unimpressive?

Shaun Hill

Team: 49ers

Last game: 37-30 win vs. Bears

Results: 6-7, 60 yds…Hill was effective but O’ Sullivan has clearly taken the reigns.

JP Losman

Team: Bills

Last game: 20-7 win vs. Colts

Results: 13-19, 108 yds…JP did nothing to prove that he should be starting.

Rex Grossman

Team: Bears

Last game: 30-37 loss vs. 49ers

Results: 1-4, 6 yds…Lovie made the right call.

Kyle Orton

Team: Bears

Last game: 30-37 loss vs. 49ers

Results: 10-17, 147 yds, 2 TD…Orton showed that he can manage the game and give Chicago the best chance to win

Matt Leinart

Team: Cardinals

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Raiders

Results: 4-12, 24 yds, 3 INT…This is the game that lost him his job.

JaMarcus Russell

Team: Raiders

Last game: 0-24 loss vs. Cardinals

Results: 14-28, 140 yds, 1 INT…This could be an average game for Russell this year.

Alex Smith

Team: 49ers

Last game: 37-30 win vs. Bears

Results: 6-17, 83 yds…Smith has a lot of work to do if he ever wants to start again.

Brady Quinn

Team: Browns

Last game: 6-26 loss vs. Lions

Results: 14-24, 106 yds…Quinn looked good, but then again so did Ken Dorsey.

John Beck

Team: Dolphins

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Chiefs

Results: DNP…Beck is 3^rd on the depth chart.

Billy Volek

Team: Chargers

Last game: 18-17 win vs. Seahawks

Results: 3-9, 33 yds…This couldn’t be any less news worthy.

Drew Stanton

Team: Lions

Last game: 26-6 win vs. Browns

Results: DNP. Meanwhile Dan Orlovsky was very solid. Not a good sign.

Matt Ryan

Team: Falcons

Last game: 17-3 win vs. Titans

Results: 15-21, 102 yds, 1 TD…Ryan showed that he can be efficient and not make mistakes.

Brian Brohm

Team: Packers

Last game: 27-24 win vs. Broncos

Results: 0-4…This is not what Green Bay wants to see.

Joe Flacco

Team: Ravens

Last game: 10-24 loss vs. Rams

Results: 18-37, 152 yds, 1 TD…Flacco was given a whole game and he wasn’t amazing, but he wasn’t terrible either.

Chad Henne

Team: Dolphins

Last game: 24-0 win vs. Chiefs

Results: 2-7, 14 yds, 1 INT…Not a good showing for Henne, but he’s clearly the backup.

Brett Favre

Team: Jets

Last game: 10-7 win vs. Giants

Results: 9-12, 96 yds…Brett continues to settle in and has looked solid so far.

J.T. O’Sullivan

Team: 49ers

Last game: 37-30 win vs. Bears

Results: 7-8, 126 yds, 1 TD…O’ Sullivan looked calm and composed and solidified his spot as the starter.

Tyler Thigpen

Team: Chiefs

Last game: 0-24 loss vs. Dolphins

Results: 1-5, -5 yds, 1 INT…No comment.

Troy Smith

Team: Ravens

Last game: 10-24 loss vs. Rams

Results: DNP. Flacco played the whole game.

AFC Quarterback Showdown

AFC East
New England Patriots
The news out of Patriots camp is that there is no news. Tom Brady sat out another preseason game.Buffalo Bills
Trent Edwards continues to solidify his role as the starting QB for the Bills. Edwards turned in a nice game vs. Pittsburgh. He went 9-for-11 for 104 yards and 2 TD. JP Losman was 4-for-5 with just 19 yards.
New York Jets
Brett Favre made his debut and had the 3rd most passing yards for the Jets. New York made Brett’s debut a quick one as he attempted just 6 passes, completing 5 including a 4-yard TD toss to Dustin Keller.Miami Dolphins
Conventional wisdom will tell you that Chad Pennington is the starter so his 5-for-6 performance was plenty of work for him. It’s worth noting however that Chad Henne was 17-for-26 for 133 yards vs. the Jaguars.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben is clearly ready for the season to start, as he is looking sharp. Roethlisberger completed 9 of 11 passes for 142 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT vs. Buffalo.Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco made the most of his chances vs. Minnesota. Flacco went 10-for-15 for 74 yards. He didn’t throw an interception and that’s something that Troy Smith and Kyle Boller can’t say. Boller had 40 yards and Smith had 25.Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer comes out of Sunday’s game with a sad stat line. Palmer went 6-for-13 for 50 yards and an INT. In fairness to Carson, he was without TJ Housh and Ocho Cinco left early with an injury.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns will take on the Giants in this week’s Monday night matchup. The New York frontline should prove to be a good test for Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.AFC SouthIndianapolis Colts
The news here is similar to that for the Pats. No Peyton Manning as he recovers from surgery. This was your chance to see Quinn Gray, Jim Sorgi and Jared Lorenzen, as they won’t be on the field when the games count.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee quarterbacks were a combined 14-for-39 against Oakland. Vince Young easily turned in the worst performance going 4-for-13 for 37 yards.Jacksonville Jaguars
David Garrard hasn’t been very impressive so far this preseason, but he’s not exactly a flashy QB to begin with either. Jacksonville has had wide receivers with injuries and drug arrests too. Having said that, 7-14 for 63 yards vs. the Dolphins is unacceptable.
Houston Texans
Matt Schaub turned in an impressive outing vs. New Orleans this week. Schaub completed 14 of 16 attempts for 187 yards and 2 TD. Sage Rosenfels was 6-for-8 for 94 yards.AFC WestDenver Broncos
Jay Cutler was in mid-season form vs. Dallas. Cutler attempted 20 passes and connected on 16 of them. He tallied 178 yards and 1 TD.
Kansas City Chiefs
Brodie Croyle completed 7 passes for just 38 yards vs. Arizona. He now has 120 yards in 2 games. Tyler Thigpen got an extended look this week and he made the most of it. He finished with 16 completions on 24 attempts for 174 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers was not on the field this week, as Charlie Whitehurst and Billy Volek handled the duties under center.
Oakland Raiders
JaMarcus Russell looked good this week with 75 yards and 1 TD. He completed 59% of his passes but recorded just 4.4 yards per attempt.
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NFC Quarterbacks Showdown

Here’s a quick round up of the major happenings concerning the NFC’s QB’s.NFC South: Everything’s as we expect in the NFC South. Undeniable the best QB in the NFC is housed right in the NFC South. Drew Brees is going to have a stellar season, you just mark my words.
 New Orleans – Drew “easy breezy” Brees. No battle going on here, Brees is poised to lead one of the NFC’s most explosive offensive units (is anyone else excited about WR’s Robert Meachum and seventh round draft pick Adrian Arrington?) The only question surrounding the Saint’s in their defense….oh dear shed a tear! Mark my words; if the Saints are able to maintain just a solid defensive unit then they will certainly be play-off bound! Back-up: Mark Brunell.
 Atlanta - It’s between Matt Ryan, Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and DJ Shockley. I’m going to step out on a limb here and go with Matt Ryan! Seriously though, Ryan’s preseason performance has been solid (one game in.) Although the Dirty Birds came up short against J-Ville, Ryan made a splash with a 105.7 passer rating. Needless to say, the starting job is his.
 Carolina – Oh Boy…I’m concerned folks! Jake Delhomme is coming back for yet another season! How he manages to still be Carolina’s starting QB despite that fact that he missed the last 13 games of last season because of a devastating elbow injury is just plain weird! Only two QB’s in NFL history have ever come back from this type of injury and no one even remembers them…. Craig Erickson and Rob Johnson?! Point being…Jon Fox is gambling with his livelihood! Back-up: Matt Moore (Delhomme better stay healthy!)
 Tampa Bay – Jeff Garcia. Last week Garcia said he was a “dead man walking” when asked about the possible Favre trade. Ha, what a hoot! I respect Garcia’s candor; he knows he isn’t the leagues brightest talent. But he can certainly handle his own (pro-bowl selection last year.) Garcia may not have the finesse of P. Manning or the talent of Brady but he is a trooper and Tampa fans can rest knowing Garcia is at the helm. Watch out though, Garcia is coming off a ten day absence due to a minor injury…he’s got some work to catch up on! While this team probably isn’t play off bound fans can be reassured that the season won’t be a total loss, haha!NFC West: Two no brainers and two “well maybes”! Personally, I think all four teams have well settled starting QB’s. I think a lot of the hype surrounding AZ and San Fran’s QB race is just coaching staff attempts to spark competition and to bring out that competitive drive. With that being said, there isn’t much going on out West. The best QB in the West will be Matt Hasselbeck of course…oh it pains me to doubt my Cards!
 Arizona – It’s a battleground…a show down in the desert! As I said last week, Leinart is your starter but this is subject to change pending one series of unfortunate events. Seasoned vet Kurt Warner is poised and ready to assume the reigns…he will be on young Leinart’s heels the entire season. This is positive news for us Cards fans because competition makes the man! Matt just might FINALLY be focused!
 Seattle – There is no doubt that Matt Hasselback is the starter. Matt is def. a quality acquisition for your fantasy roster (even without Shaun Alexander!) Back-up: Now here we have a little battle brewing! It’s between Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye….both men are quality reserves.
 St. Louis – Marc Bulger, I’m just not excited about his franchise in any way shape or form. Def. not a playoff bound team. I wouldn’t rush to acquire Bulger; I don’t think he has that many offensive weapons at his disposal. Back-Up: Trent Green (yeah, I know he’s still around!)
 San Francisco – Battleground Galactica! Who knows where this is going to end up. Personally, I think former first overall pick Alex Smith still has the position on lock, I don’t think San Fran is ready to throw in the towel. However, J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill (like division rival, Kurt Warner) will be riding Smith’s heels. At this point, I expect O’Sullivan to take the #2 spot behind Smith, simply because of his familiarity with Mike Martz’s offense. Of course, things may change during the season but for now, I’m going with Smith followed y O’Sullivan.
NFC North: Here lies the confusion! The NFC North will not be making a splash in terms of QB’s. If I had to pick the best QB out of the bunch I would go with Aaron Rodgers. Thus far in the pre season he looks decent. Additionally, he has one powerful offense behind him. I would look for Rodgers followed by Kitna to be the top NFC North leaders.
 Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers, phew…the man can finally rest! Rodgers looked decent in his first NFL start; he recorded 9 of 15 throws for 117 yards and a touchdown. Back-up: Brian Brohm or Matt Flynn…let’s go with Brohm
 Vikings – Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson is the undoubted starter. There are many outsiders, operative word being outsiders, who doubt Jackson’s abilities to lead his team. However, his teammates and coaches remain optimistic and supportive…and quite frankly only their opinion matters. If Jackson can remain calm and collected under pressure and keep his confidence up he should hold down the starting position with no real threat. Back-up: Gus Frerotte and John David Booty.
 Lions – Jon Kitna…for now. Back-up: Dan Orlovsky, and Drew Stanton will battle it out for the # 2 position. Insiders favor Stanton as the #2, and some expect him to make a push for the starting job.
 Bears – Battleground: The Windy City Brawl. Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton…truth be told, I’d prefer neither. However, if I had to pick one, I would go with Grossman. Grossman has flashes of brilliancy but they are always overshadowed by a few dumb moves.
NFC East: there isn’t too much going on in the NFC East. The starting crew is pretty confirmed. From this division I predict Romo to have the best season followed by Jason Campbell. Yes, I’m once again doubting NY!
 Giants – Eli Manning.…just not a fan so I’m going to move it along!
 Philadelphia – Donovan McNabb, aging but still serviceable.
 Red Skins – Interesting, Interesting, Interesting! Colt Brennan is making headlines…his first NFL appearance was well done, but that’s where the buck stops for now. Brenan will hold down the 3rd spot behind Todd Collins. Collins is a sold and proven back-up. The Skins are well invested in Jason Campbell. Campbell has a very nice arm…with just a bit more experience and confidence Campbell should be a pretty decent QB.
 Dallas – Tony Romo, once again not much of a battle going in Cowboy’s camp. I’m certainly not a Romo fan, I REFUSE to jump on his bandwagon and shout his praises! If Romo leads his team to a playoff win this season then I MIGHT just whisper “good job Romo.”

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NFL Training Camps News & Notes

Miami DolphinsJosh McCown seems to be the best bet to make the first start of the season. After that, all bets are off. John Beck and Chad Henne would both like to get their chance to lead the Dolphins this year, but it probably won’t matter who is under center. At least Jake Long will prevent them from taking too much abuse.
AFC NorthPittsburgh SteelersThere’s no QB controversy in Pittsburgh as Big Ben gears his team up for another year. Roethlisberger was a happy man on draft day as Rashard Mendenhall fell into the Steelers laps. Mendenhall joins Willie Parker to form a potent 1-2 punch. The Steelers also added Limas Sweed to a WR corps. that already includes Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Cleveland BrownsBrady Quinn is used to waiting after his frustrating draft day, but it appears as though he’ll have to continue with his patience, as Derek Anderson became the unquestioned starter last year. Anderson has 2 of the best players in the game at his disposal. It’s scary but Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards should actually improve this year.
Cincinnati BengalsThe good news is that Carson Palmer’s #1 weapon is in camp. The bad news is that his #1 weapon wants to hit him in his bad knee. It’s not the first time that Palmer hasn’t been on the same page as Chad Johnson, but we’ll see if it affects the two during games.
Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco is the quarterback of the future, but when is the future? Kyle Boller will most likely be given his chance, but also a short leash. Either QB will have to rely on Willis McGahee and hope that Todd Heap can return to Pro Bowl caliber.
AFC SouthIndianapolis ColtsThe biggest news regarding Peyton Manning at camp is that Peyton Manning isn’t at camp. He’s somewhere nearby recovering from knee surgery and isn’t expected to see any action until late preseason.
Jacksonville JaguarsDavid Garrard enters his 2nd season at the helm with the aging Fred Taylor and the emerging Maurice Jones-Drew behind him. You can put down Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter as additions and Matt Jones as a subtraction/distraction.
Tennessee TitansReports out of camp are that Vince Young isn’t looking very sharp and making matters worse, the Titans failed to add any top WR during the draft. He’ll have Chris Johnson added to the backfield along with Craig Stevens at TE and Lavelle Hawkins at WR, but Tennessee passed on guys like Limas Sweed.
Houston TexansMatt Schaub hopes to show what he can do in a full year with Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones could be a sleeper at WR. Ahman Green is another injury concern and West Virginia rookie Steve Slaton could wind up with a decent amount of time in the backfield.
AFC WestSan Diego ChargersPhilip Rivers showed up to camp bigger and reportedly throwing the ball very well. Health will play a key role for the Chargers, as Antonio Gates tries to put his toe problems behind him. LT will continue to keep the pressure off of Rivers.
Denver BroncosAfter Jay Cutler lost 35 pounds during his battle with diabetes, he’s slowly regaining his strength. With the departure of Travis Henry, the Broncos next 1000-yard rusher is a mystery, but Cutler will still have emerging superstar Brandon Marshall on the business end of his touchdown passes.
Kansas City ChiefsBrodie Croyle needs to have a healthy Larry Johnson to help him keep defenses honest, but if he can’t, rookie Jamaal Charles will try to shoulder the load. Branden Albert will solidify the offensive line and 6-8 Brad Cottam will provide depth behind Tony Gonzalez.
Oakland RaidersFor JaMarcus Russell, the time is now. Russell takes over as the starter and he has a lot of question marks around him. Will the improved defense allow him to win games without being in a shootout? Will Javon Walker stay healthy? Will Darren McFadden be the next Adrian Peterson?
NFC EastDallas CowboysTony Romo doesn’t have Julius Jones behind him anymore, but he still has Marion Barber and newcomer Felix Jones. He also REALLY needs TO and Jason Witten to stay healthy. If TO goes down, they have Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd.
New York GiantsEli Manning returns this season as a Super Bowl MVP. The Giants fans love him…until his first INT. He should have a healthy Plax this year, which will lead to better numbers, but he’ll also have to rely on Kevin Boss to fill Shockey’s cleats.
Philadelphia EaglesDonovan McNabb says that he’s perfectly healthy, but he hasn’t made it through a full season since 2004 and Kevin Kolb has been impressive in camp. DeSean Jackson is the only major offensive addition from the draft and it remains to be seen if he’s going to be a punt return specialist or contribute at WR also.
Washington RedskinsJason Campbell has been up and down thus far during training camp. The Redskins are going with the West Coast Offense, so it will take everyone a while to get comfortable. Washington also added Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly via the draft.
NFC NorthGreen Bay PackersWhat can I say about Green Bay that hasn’t been all over the news already? The Packers remain in a standstill with Brett Favre, but it does appear that Aaron Rodgers will be the starting QB either way. He knows that he’ll have veteran Donald Driver and young star Greg Jennings out wide, but Ryan Grant is in the middle of a contract dispute and hasn’t reported to camp.
Minnesota VikingsMinnesota would love to bring in Brett Favre to replace Tarvaris Jackson, but that’s just not going to happen. Jackson will again lean heavily on Adrian Peterson to give him some breathing room. The Vikings did add Bernard Berrian, which gives them their best receiving threat since parting ways with Randy Moss. Look for Sidney Rice to improve on a solid rookie campaign.
Chicago BearsIt’s literally a coin toss in Chicago with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton battling it out for the starting gig. Whoever does win the job, takes over a position that no longer has Berrian to stretch the field or Cedric Benson in the backfield. Greg Olsen should be the go-to guy.
Detroit LionsDetroit is the only team in the NFC North not mention with Brett Favre, so they will enter the season with Jon Kitna under center. With Kevin Jones gone, Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith will carry the ground game. Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson return as one of the league’s top tendems. Gosder Cherlius was drafted to provide more time in the pocket for Kitna and room for the backs to run.
NFC SouthTampa Bay BuccaneersJeff Garcia is the starting quarterback. Just ask him. Brett Favre seems less and less likely to be on his way to Tampa, so Garcia would appear to be correct. Garcia will be handing the ball off to Warrick Dunn or Carnell Williams or Ernest Graham or Michael Bennett. His go-to WR will once again be Joey Galloway, but they did draft Dexter Jackson, the speedster from Appalachian State.
Carolina PanthersJake Delhomme is ready to take the reigns again and make Steve Smith the feared wide out that he can be. Jonathan Stewart will take the place of DeShaun Foster and join DeAngelo Williams in the backfield. First round pick Jeff Otah will provide the protection.
New Orleans SaintsDrew Brees rebounded from a rough start to post very respectable numbers last year. He spent a good chunk of the season without Duece McAllister and Reggie Bush did not embrace the role of starting running back. Brees will now have his full compliment of backs and the addition of Jeremy Shockey will be huge.
Atlanta FalconsOne thing is for sure in Atlanta. Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, DJ Shockley or Matt Ryan will be the starting quarterback. Word out of camp is that Matt Ryan looks good, but time will tell if they let the rookie have the job by the opener. The only offensive addition of note is the signing of Michael Turner, who joins Jerious Norwood to form a lethal combo.
NFC WestSeattle SeahawksThe Shaun Alexander era is over. Julius Jones will share the load with Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett will be the backup. Matt Hasselbeck needs a healthy Deion Branch if they want to be successful on offense. Seattle did add TE John Carlson in April.
Arizona CardinalsMatt Leinart feels much more comfortable with the Cardinals offense than he did last year. It remains to be seen if he can play well enough to keep Kurt Warner on the sidelines. With Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the table is setup for his success.
San Francisco 49ersAlex Smith will likely be the starter, but Shaun Hill will do his best to win the job. The Niners added DeShaun Foster, Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson in the off-season and Frank Gore should thrive under Mike Martz.
St. Louis RamsMarc Bulger needs Orlando Pace to get healthy. Pace is the key to the Rams offense as he protects Bulger and allows Steven Jackson all the room that he needs. Rookie Donnie Avery hopes to overtake Drew Bennett on the depth chart and start alongside Torry Holt.
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NFL Vs. The Dark Night

The Air Assault Begins July 21st, 2008: www.passitdeep.com

NFL vs. Dark Knight

Summer is about the -ions. By -ions of course I mean Relaxation and Anticipation. The kids are out of school, and most likely are just mentally rotting with all the partying they are doing and all the Wiffle Ball they are playing. The company you work for most likely has gone to a nice, relaxed dress code and you and your spouse have saved up your vacation time for the week long trip your taking to LBI or Hawaii if you’re so blessed. Summer is the time of year that flat out makes people’s lives worth while. Everything is more laid back, everything is just relaxed. But another thing happens during the summer, when a strange smell begins to form in the air. What’s that smell you ask? Football. The countdown to Week 1 has begun and we, as loyal sport’s fans, are sick with anticipation. Colin Cowherd would contend, with sharp objection to Antonio Vivaldi, “There are two seasons a year: Football season, and waiting for Football season.”

There’s something different about 2008 though. You see, something else happens during summer time every year. Summer marks the release of the mega blockbusters, namely the comic book, fantasy hero movies. Most of them are stupid, overhyped sequels that spend way too much money and make you so angry you stayed up until midnight on a Thursday to be the first to see it. But 2008 is different. As the NFL lingers, with all the fascinating stories popping up as training camp grows near, the only thing on my mind 24 hours a day is an animal. But it’s not a Dolphin, a Bear, a Bengal or any other animal for that matter that is so well represented by various NFL teams. Damnit, I’ve got Bat Fever!

Just admit it. The Dark Knight looks like it’s going to be the best movie you’ve ever seen (ever). I’ve already put the trailer for it in my Top 6 favorite movies ever (Somewhere in there around Punisher, Rocky IV, 300, Rock star and Super Troopers). By the way, what does it mean when a consistent component of my favorite movies is either Mark Wahlberg or the half naked muscle man factor? Ehh, better forget I said anything. Any who, you can’t tell me that you haven’t had flashbacks to yourself at age 13 when you experience all the “changes” your body goes through when you watch that trailer. God, this article is full of Freudian slips. I better balance this out...

Jessica Alba is hot!
Megan Fox is super hot!
Oh the things I would do to Carrie Underwood!

Okay. That should get me back in good with the Catholics.

Here’s the dilemma. What should you be more excited for? Let’s break it down. We’ll compare the upcoming NFL season with The Dark Knight by sorting them into several key dramatic categories. Whichever wins the most categories gets the nod.

Let’s hire that computer girl who only will show her fire red lips on screen as she does the announcing for the MTV Movie Awards. She’s so Resident Evil she’s the only person that can scare me when she says, “Best Female Performance.”

BEST VILLAIN:

NFL: Bill Belichick. Bill Belicheat, the evil mastermind of the NFL. He runs parallel with the typical Mob Boss villain, but he’s also a criminal genius. You know the type. He commits his crimes in plain sight of everyone but does just enough so that people still think he’s a good guy. South Park put it best:

“This is Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots. He’s won three Super Bowls. How? He cheated. He even got caught cheating, and nobody cared.”

Belichick is one of those villains that never seem to go away. You think you’ve beaten him, but he just comes back bigger, better and meaner.

Dark Knight: The Joker. He’s the most notable and most recognizable Batman villain. His one and only goal is to kill the hero. He is dark, mysterious, and sadistic. The guy flat out has a screw loose. A very complex character that takes a truly Class A performance to pull off. To date we haven’t been disappointed.

Advantage: Tight one, but I have to go Belichick and the NFL. The Joker is great, but I tried to keep how remarkable Heath Ledger looks as the Joker outside of my judgment. I guess the real tipping point is the morality tale angle. In the movies, the bad guy can’t win, good has to triumph over evil, but in the NFL, even though he got knocked backward this year, you know Belichick is going to win in the end. His evils transcend the arts.

BEST MARQUEE EVENT:

NFL: The Super bowl. The Super bowl is the biggest event in all of American sports. It’s the ultimate showdown. The Super bowl is littered with celebrities, $1 million commercials, epic video packages and Joe Buck. It’s a week long event that’s always in a hot climate and makes January in Miami look like Spring Break in Cancun. Each night is highlighted with a different rapper’s party and Bill Belichick spends the whole week taping practices regardless of if he’s participating or not.

Dark Knight: I was torn on which event to talk about. I had to decide between the premiere and the opening night Midnight showing at your local theatre. I guess, since it is tradition, I have to go premiere. It’s the opening night extravaganza, the cast and crew as well as all the A-List celebrities will be out for a Monday night of fun in New York. You roll out the red carpet. Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, and E!, they’ll all be there. No doubt they’ll be some pointless activist group out there trying to protest something the Director did wrong, maybe cruelty to bats and Ferrari’s. Don’t worry, no one will be listening to them, they will just get in the way of paparazzi trying to sneak in. Afterwards, there is sure to be an all night after party none of us have any chance of ever getting into and the viewing of the masterpiece is going to be watered down with Cristal and Cocaine bought on Lindsey Lohan’s tab.

Advantage: NFL again, jumping out to a big lead early. Nothing compares to the Super bowl. Though I personally will get more enjoyment out of seeing the nerds dressed up like Batman and Joker while I wait in line for the Midnight showing, disgracing the Super bowl is in fact a sacrilege and God will show no mercy on my soul.

LEAST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF A STAR:

NFL: The NFL lost two big stars after last year, Michael Strahan and Brett Favre. Favre might return, but it’s doubtful he will be with the Packers. So, for the first time in like 45 years the original jewel of the NFL will have another QB under center. The league will survive, but it’s definitely taking a hit from this. Favre can throw 5 interceptions in a game and The Packers could lose by 40 and he’ll still be a more compelling story than Spy gate or Pac man Jones.

Dark Knight: Most of the surviving cast is returning, with the exception of Mrs. Tom Cruise. I’m actually going to go out on a little bit of limb here and say that the movie takes a hit because of this. I thought she was perfect for the role. She has that whole nice, loveable, girl next door quality to her and she’s certainly the hottest girl to ever climb a ladder into a bedroom overlooking a creek. At the same time, she’s a scientologist so you know she can go Travolta on your ass and Saturday Night Fever all over your face until you Grease her all of your money.

Advantage: Dark Knight. Missing Holmes I think is being overlooked in the pre-release hype of Dark Knight, but the NFL lost its biggest hero here, on top of losing the creator of the “Ballin’!” sack dance.

LEGEND MAKING POTENTIAL:

NFL: There are very few stars left in the NFL that have the opportunity to turn in their first legendary performance. Of the four big contenders, the Pats, Colts, Cowboys and Giants, three out of the four quarterbacks have already made their mark. Brady and Peyton are two of the best QB’s of all-time and they already have their rings. Eli got his ring by beating Brady and overcoming his big brother’s shadow, so the only legend left to write really would be Tony Romo actually winning a playoff game with a hot blonde there to see him. He’s 0-2 so far, I think this year should be Britney’s year, she’s getting better (I guess?).

Dark Knight: This one is easy. Heath Ledger, who’s always been a shared spotlight or B-list actor, straps on the Joker’s boots once filled by Big Jack himself. Not only that, Ledger died soon after filming was completed. And now it’s looking like he’s going to clean up post mortem at the Oscar’s, Golden Globes, and even the Valhalla TV Lifetime Achievement Awards live from the Pearly Gates. Ledger could join Bach, Thoreau, Van Gogh and Emily Dickinson on the short list of people whose work achieved legendary status after death.

Advantage: Dark Knight by a mile. Seeing Ledger as Joker is what I’m most pumped about. Somehow, after the performance Christian Bale turned in for Batman Begins, people are more excited about seeing Heath Ledger. Sorry Romo, go cry with your face in Jessica Simpson’s large bust, which is an acceptable consolation prize I feel.

MOMENTUM BUILT FROM HOW LAST EPISODE ENDED:

NFL: Super bowl XLII ended as sort of a culmination of sorts. We got to see one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history. I mean come on, there were people saying that the Giants couldn’t beat the Bills in Week 16 just to get into the playoffs. They lose by a nose to the Pats in Week 17, then turn around and win three road games, two of them in Dallas and Green Bay, and my God the “Little Giants that could” are in the Super bowl! And it didn’t stop there. Those “Little Giants” overcame all odds and actually beat the De Facto best team to ever play on the game’s biggest stage. You can’t write that any better. Here’s the problem. The story plays like the end of an epic movie, one of those movies you don’t make a sequel for. It’s like if they made a sequel to Miracle, the first one was such an inspiring true story that the second one would have no chance to compare. There’s no doubt that this year’s NFL will be suspenseful, that’s what a salary cap does, but I’m really not working off anything that happened in 2007.

Dark Knight: Batman Begins was set up as a typical first installment of a comic book series. You give the background of your hero, cover all the bases established by years and years of comic books, make him question what his purpose is, and then just throw him right in with an enemy that he dispatches relatively easily. Comic book movies are the best at setting up sequels, and I thought Batman Begins did its job, but I wasn’t super pumped for Dark Knight until I saw what Ledger looked like as the Joker.

Advantage: Push. Neither of them spent too much time or had anything spectacular happen that set up the sequel. Sure, the Joker card was sick at the end of the movie, but you weren’t even sure they were going to make another one. And the NFL, well NFL Films always finds a way to get you pumped for the next season.

GREATEST CHANCE OF LEAVING ME WANTING MORE:

NFL: There is one thing about professional sports that you sometimes wish you could change: Everything is symmetrical, nothing carries over. I mean, the media will definitely play up story lines in between seasons and build up rivalries with pure here say, but the players don’t care. If you win the Super bowl, you do your celebrating on the field, and then in the locker room, then you have your parade, get your keys to the city and move on to the next season. There is very little carryover from year to year. And with free agency, you usually see massive turnover from championship teams from year to year. It’s times like this that you wish the NFL could take a page from the WWE, and just be a little scripted every now and then.

Dark Knight: One of the cool things about movies is: they are scripted. It’s funny; there are always two sides to these things. In another column I might say, “One of the cool things about sports is: it’s not scripted.” It’s one of those little tricks you can use to make your points sound better, it’s all about context. Anyway, Dark Knight is obviously scripted. And you know that if the movie does well, which it’s guaranteed to do, Warner Brothers will be foaming at the mouth to pump out a third. So, you know the ending is going to leave you saying, “Holy sh**! When is the next one coming out?” And then two years of anticipation begins and reaches its pinnacle when that first teaser trailer comes out. From there, you openly weep with passion and you furiously try to find your DVD of the Dark Knight that you haven’t touched since you watched it the day it came out.

Advantage: Dark Knight. I’m going to get home from this movie at 3am and not even think about the fact that I have to leave for work in three and a half hours and try to stay awake for a lunch with the COO of the Fortune 500 Company I work for. Well, at least I have another year of college to find a job. Moving on…

LOWEST DISAPPOINTMENT POTENTIAL:

NFL: Even if the Super bowl is the Seahawks vs. the Steelers, and you spend the whole time playing Ping Pong and eating Wings that will take you months to work off (true story), there is always something that makes your religious following of the NFL worth while. It’s all about the journey in the NFL; your overall enjoyment doesn’t rest on the Super bowl. That’s the great thing about sports whose playoffs are single elimination. You’re almost guaranteed to see a game you’ll never forget. You’re almost guaranteed to see a team win a game they had no business winning. In the NFL, a team just winning a playoff game is an accomplishment that can make a career, so every time you turn on a football game, you’re in for something special.

Dark Knight: I know for a cold hard fact I’m way too excited about Dark Knight. It’s nearly impossible for it to amount to everything I think it will. Now, I know Heath Ledger is going to be amazing, and there’s no doubt Christian Bale is great, and Michael Caine as Alfred was some of the most brilliant casting I’ve ever seen. But, I’ve set the bar so high not just for the movie but also for how crazy the Midnight showing is going to be there’s a really good chance I’m going to be disappointed with some aspect of the movie. Prediction on disappointment: Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Advantage: NFL. There are a few things in life that are for certain. Death, taxes, Patriots going undefeated (whoops), USA Basketball winning the Gold (let us pray) and the NFL season not disappointing.

Alright, well, we seem to have a good old fashioned, communist tie. There are three categories for the NFL, three for Dark Knight and a push. Well, at least we can find solace in the fact that you don’t have to choose one over the other. Hell, I have 2 TV’s in the same room of my apartment. I could watch them both at the same time when Dark Knight comes out on DVD!