Happy New Year From Outside the Boxscore

From all of us here at Outside the Boxscore, we wish all of our readers and fans a Happy New Year.

In honor of the changing to 2011, here are the top ten plays of the year from ESPN Sportscenter:

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Obama-Mike Vick Call Gets Taiwanese-Animated

As it has been properly-assumed, the people working at Taiwan’s Next Media Animation are prompt with their computer-animated news stories.

So, when this whole Obama-Vick phone call scenario started to play out, they were on the case:



(Courtesy of Off the Bench)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Alex Ovechkin Slapshots Destroys Russian Nesting Dolls

On the list of things that I would expect to see on the interweb, Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin destroy Russian Nesting Dolls with slapshots is something not on the list.

However, the fine folks at ESPN's Page 2 decided to let him destroy some that were filled with Russian dressing:



(Courtesy of DCist)

By Ben Chew with No comments

San Francisco 49ers Mine For Gold And Come Up Empty…Again

Isn’t it funny how a team named after mid nineteenth century, California gold rush miners gets no luck at coming up big? Seriously, even when they traveled out west nearly 200 years ago with nothing but clothes, picks and a little bit of food, they were still able to find gold.

Slowly, and sorry to say sadly, the days of striking gold with division championships, consistent playoff appearances, and super bowl trophies are slowly fading as distant, historical memories of a once dominant San Francisco 49ers team. With no world titles since 1995 and no playoff appearances or a winning record since 2003; the idea of winning is a term that is preached consistently, but not concurrent with the organization.

After losing to the Rams 25-17 in week sixteen of the 2010 NFL season, the 49ers fired coach Mike Singletary and appeared focus on rebuilding for the fourth time since that last playoff hurrah in 2002. A familiar sound fills the sports news cycles after team President Jed York explains where the team is going and what they will be looking for in a new coach and general manager in the off season.

“Obviously we had expectations of being a playoff-caliber team this year. When that was not realized, I wanted to make sure we were setting ourselves up for the remainder of the season but more importantly for next season,” York explains in a follow-up to the Singletary firing, according to a Yahoo! Sports article. “I think it’s important to get somebody that’s the right fit for the 49ers.”

Can someone take the needle off the spinning, broken record please?

Although the words are different from before, the meaning is still the same in regards to what direction the 49ers are going. Each choice for head coach made since firing Steve Mariucci had the York “stamp of approval” as the new great mind to lead the team back into the promise land. Yet, Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan, and now Mike Singletary are all just fake messiahs that would only digress the team farther away from where they began.

So what is Niner nation supposed to believe now? York is saying he is going to find the general manager first and give that person supreme authority over the choice of head coach. The 29-year-old president is also going seek help from his uncle, and former 49ers President, Eddie DeBartalo Jr. and New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft in whom to choose for the position. Ultimately, his assumption is that all this will help rotate the direction of the team going upward.

That’s a nice blueprint for York to have as he focuses ahead; the only problem is that there are still parts of the plan that need tinkering.

Losing out the last game and missing the playoffs could actually be a blessing in disguise for the niners. Had they gone ahead and won against the Rams and the Cardinals in week seventeen, they would have won the division en route to the post season. Yet, that happiness would only be fulfilling their fan base for the short term, as it would mask the bigger issues of the future. The franchise would benefit in the long run with high draft choices and a sense of changing the look of the team, rather than winning the NFC West and carrying the feeling of accomplishment that comes with winning.

Now that the path of the post-2010 season is going in the direction of rebuilding for the future, York needs to understand that the ability to become a winner and carrying that momentum consistently means improving on all levels. Obviously, the head coaching change reflects that concept, as does getting a new general manager to make the right decisions for the team; but it also means putting the team’s player personnel under the microscope. The biggest red flags will come from two locations, the inefficiency of the quarterback position and the lackluster level of talent in the secondary.

When Singletary was shown the door out of the 49ers organization, it also signifies that changes in player personnel will be in the near future. That most likely means good-bye to a Smith at quarterback, maybe even both Smiths. Alex Smith’s tenure with the team appears to be over and Troy Smith is definitely not the long term answer as the face of the franchise. So the third box on York’s to-do-list will be to get a new face for the franchise after getting the mastermind (general manager) and the leader (head coach).

The next item on the agenda will focus upon the pass defense. By far the Achilles heal of the defense, fans would groan in utter disgust with the ease as to which the opposing quarterbacks would carve up the 49ers secondary like a turkey on thanksgiving night. All of their corners are either shorter than or just at the six foot in height, with no ability to cover. With many of today’s NFL teams focusing their offense on innovation through the air, all football organizations must be able to not only attack vertically, but to defend vertically as well.

Regardless of what happens in the final game of the season and what choices the franchise makes with the roster in the near future, York will be making moves that will ultimately have him thinking like he’s on the last hand at the final table of the World Series Of Poker; he’s going to be all in for this one. With the recent wave of bad decisions and changes he wishes he could turn back time to redo, this upcoming off season will surely overwrite all of the historical, incorrect results he has made. His legacy will be forever etched in 49ers history with what he enters the 2011 NFL season with.

So maybe…just maybe…history can be on his side and the 49ers can strike gold once again.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Tyreke Evans Half-Court Buzzer Beater Sinks The Grizzlies

At first glance, it appeared the Memphis Grizzlies on a shot by OJ Mayo had escaped Sacramento with a 98-97 victory.

With about 1.5 seconds left and the Kings having to inbound from under their own basket, what could possibly go wrong?

What went wrong was a half-court game winning shot from Tyreke Evans:



(Courtesy of The Hoop Scene)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Lamar Odom's Behind-The-Back Alley Oop to Himself

During last night's blowout win over the New Orleans Hornets, Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers had a rather impressive alley-oop to himself.

I've seen Tracy McGrady throw it off the backboard to himself but never from behind his back:



(Courtesy of Sports News Nightly)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Tucker Carlson Thinks Michael Vick Should Have Been Executed For Killing Dogs

Obviously, the last couple of weeks have been a slow news day for many media network and many of them decided to drudge up the whole Michael Vick saga all over again when President Obama talked to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie about giving Michael Vick a second chance.

On last night's Hannity, Tucker Carlson had that topic for the Great American Panel and decided to let his feelings known about Mr. Vick:



(Courtesy of Mediaite)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Veria FC Misses 5 Straight Shots on Goal, EPIC FAIL

During a match between Veria FC and Levadiakos in the Greek second division, Veria FC appeared to have many opportunities to score a goal.

If your counting them at home, they had a total of five shots, most of them hitting the posts of the Levadiakos goal:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Mike Ditka Returns to Coaching For Under Armour Bowl, Funny Commercial You See!

It's been awhile since Mike Ditka has roamed the sidelines in the National Football League but you will be proud that he will be returning to coach football this season.

Ditka will be coaching in the UnderArmour All American Bowl for high school seniors but if this commercial is any indication, it will be awesome:



(Courtesy of Terez Owens)

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Amazing Gilbert Arenas Buzzer Beater That Didn't Count

During last night's Orlando Magic/New Jersey Nets affair, the first half was just about to conclude when Orlando's Gilbert Arenas hit a shot from 3/4 court.

Sadly though, the play didn't count since the ball hit the shot clock:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Mike Tolbert Gets Jacked Up by Reggie Nelson

One of the nice surprises this season was Chargers running-back Mike Tolbert but sadly his season ended with this nasty hit from the Bengals Reggie Nelson.

We wish Mike a speedy recovery and hopefully he'll be able to return next season:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Mike Singletary Yelling Match with Troy Smith, Then He Got Fired

The San Francisco 49ers season has been rather disappointing and it finally has seemed to boil over with head coach, Mike Singletary.

After an interception thrown by quarterback Troy Smith, Smith and Singletary got into it on the 49er sideline:



Huh, I wonder if that had any impact on him getting fired......

(Courtesy of Black Sports Online)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Ed Reed's Jacket Catches Fire During Browns Game

During yesterday's Browns/Ravens affair, Ed Reed was sitting on the sideline with his winter coat on next to a space heater.

I think you can figure out what happens next:

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

Happy Holidays from Outside the Boxscore

We here at Outside the Boxscore would like to wish all of you out there a Happy Holidays in regards to whatever holiday you celebrate during this time.

As a special bonus, here is one of my favorite internet clips, "CSI Miami One-Liners":



Happy Holidays Everyone!

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Unusual Suspects For The NFL MVP

When it comes to finding the one who fits the bill, sometimes it comes from the unlikeliest of characters.

That may be the route taken for one honor in a major sport. With just two weeks left before the regular season wraps up, the public is chiming in on who the favorites are for the NFL MVP.

There are two obvious names that everyone believes are top billing to capture the award. Tom Brady has his team firing on all cylinders mainly due to his ability to fire the ball all over the field. Michael Vick is having a miraculous comeback with jaw-dropping numbers and head spinning plays both with his legs and arm.

Yet, in a season that is formulating into one of the oddest in recent pro football history, crowning the most valuable player might mean more than just crowning the obvious. Not to take anything away from Brady or Vick, but other options deserve equal billing as the two of them.

Matt Ryan – QB – Atlanta Falcons

When looking up at the standings, there is only one team that matches the New England Patriots for the best record in the league: the Atlanta Falcons.

The reason why: third year QB Matt Ryan.

It’s easy to understand why the former Boston College standout gets no love in the discussion of MVP; the guy doesn’t even rank in the top five of the big statistical categories. His numbers are above average in comparison to the other superstar QBs (3,321 passing yards, 25 TDs, 90.5 QB rating). He’s also very mild-mannered and shies away from the limelight.

But how can he not be in the discussion for what he has done so far in this season?

His team plays in, arguably, one of the best divisions in football. They lead last year’s Super Bowl champions for their division. They have one of the most prolific offenses in football.

All because of the former third pick in 2008 NFL Draft.

He is the reason the Falcons are where they are and his value is immeasurable to his team. All valid reasons why Ryan deserves credit as an MVP candidate.

Aaron Rodgers – QB – Green Bay Packers

While Ryan is the reason the Falcons engine is running towards a first round playoff bye, the Packers are slowly seeing their motor towards the playoffs dying with only a few spurts left to keep it running.

Why is there no gas left in the tank? Mostly because of their leader Aaron Rodgers getting knocked out with a concussion in Week 14.

Prior to that week, the Packers were just 8-4, and only trailed the Bears by one game for their division. Rodgers was rolling behind center with spectacular numbers (3,289 passing yards, 23 TDs, and a QB rating of 98.5) and they would face the Lions with Chicago having a big match up with New England.

Then, the former University of California, Berkeley QB went down early with a concussion, which would lead the team to a 7-3 loss to Detroit (all while the Bears got blasted by the Patriots). They would also go on to lose a close game to the Patriots, while the Bears beat the Vikings to clinch the division. Now the Packers have two important upcoming games they must win in order to make the playoffs.

The award is given to the player who is the most valuable to his own team. Rodgers is the epitome of importance to the Green Bay Packers organization.

Matt Cassel – QB – Kansas City Chiefs

If anyone in the world picked Kansas City as the AFC West leaders at this point in the season should play the lotto with that type of luck. The Chiefs have got to be the biggest surprise of the 2010 NFL season with their team controlling their own destiny to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

The person who deserves a great deal of credit: former Tom Brady back-up Matt Cassel.

In his second year with the Chiefs, Cassel is living up to the expectations Kansas City had in him when they traded for him in 2009. The 28-year-old is having the best season of his career, with a QB rating of 96.2 (fifth in the NFL), 24 TDs (seventh in the NFL) and only five interceptions (tied for second lowest among all NFL starting QBs).

Cassel’s value to the Chiefs is also similar to what Rodgers is to the Packers.

When Cassel had an emergency appendectomy prior to week 14, his status was unclear for the biggest game of their season against San Diego. After being held out of the game, the Chiefs went down in a horrible 31-0 loss to the Chargers. He would bounce back to lead his team to victory against the Rams the following week, adding to the value of his importance to his team.

Cassel is just as deserving of recognition for MVP with what he has done this season and for the impressive turnaround of a franchise that has already more than doubled their win total from last season.

It’s pretty much a given that the MVP title for the 2010 season will most likely go through the exciting Vick or the extremely consistent Brady. Denying either or of the award would be discrediting to the league, especially with their statistics and value to their franchises.

But hey, even the dark horses knock off the favorites every once in a while.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: NFL Week 16

Here’s a few standard preface notes:

^ Notwithstanding the claims of any website to be your “home for Sunday morning injury report news,” nothing beats Google News – nothing. Entering a player name into this search engine trumps any other means of gathering information because it culls the data from an unbelievably wide variety of sources.

^ Especially earlier in the season, it’s always good to refer to a strong baseline of where players should have been drafted – and nothing beats FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTOLOGY 2010.

^ Unless there are any injury questions, we never discuss “gimme” players. Such core players should be started week in and week out unless there is any question surrounding their playing status. Winning teams only need to worry about “playing the matchups” with one, two or (at the most, during bye weeks) three spots in the lineup. With a full slate of games, and players drafted in a certain order for a multiplicity of reasons, we especially don’t advocate much juggling for the first two weeks of the season. Some websites promise you a crystal ball for how to manage high-risk, high-reward juggling during the season. We don’t. We play the percentages. That approach may be boring, but it’s highly effective and much more intellectually honest in what we promise you.

^ By the way, here are your core players who should not be benched if healthy or available (players listed in their order on our draft board):

QB: Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Michael Vick

RB: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steven Jackson, Michael Turner, Rashard Mendenhall, Ryan Mathews, Jamaal Charles, Knowshon Moreno, Shonn Greene, Matt Forte, Cedric Benson, Jonathan Stewart, LeSean McCoy, Ronnie Brown

WR: Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Miles Austin, Greg Jennings, DeSean Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston, Steve Smith (Carolina), Chad Ochocinco, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith (NY Giants), Dwayne Bowe, Michael Crabtree, Donald Driver, Vincent Jackson

TE:, Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, Brent Celek, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Jermichael Finley

^ Here are the players who have been added to the list this season:

QB: Michael Vick

RB: Arian Foster, LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Hillis

WR: Wes Welker, Terrell Owens, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Johnson, Mike Wallace

TE: none

^ Here are the players who have been removed from that list this season:

QB: Tony Romo, Brett Favre

RB: Ryan Grant, DeAngelo Williams, Beanie Wells, Frank Gore

WR: Pierre Garcon, Mike Wallace (since restored to the list, see above)

TE: Dallas Clark

^ Links for each game take you to the NFL.com home page for each game, with stats and analysis.

^ All times listed are EDT.

^ Teams listed as “All-In” have a combination of all of the above players and any marginal players reaching a status where QB/RB1/RB2/WR1/WR2/TE all should be played. Teams listed as “All-Out” should have only the above “locks” for their team in a fantasy lineup, with all marginal players being benched.

^ All advice is relative, because there are exceptions to every rule. There are no marginal players who absolutely should be played or benched, but the ones we refer to here should be in the vast majority of circumstances.

^ Of the non-gimme players we like this week, the stronger plays are the ones in all caps.

Week 16

Sat. Dec. 25

Cowboys at Cardinals, 7:30 PM All-out on marginal Cowboys and Cardinals

Sun. Dec. 26

Patriots at Bills, 1:00 PM RB GREEN-ELLIS, QB Fitzpatrick, RB Jackson

49ers at Rams, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal 49ers and Rams

Ravens at Browns, 1:00 PM QB Flacco, all-out on marginal Browns

Lions at Dolphins, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Lions and Dolphins

Jets at Bears, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Jets, QB Cutler

Redskins at Jaguars, 1:00 PM WR S Moss, TE Cooley, QB GARRARD, TE M Lewis

Titans at Chiefs, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Titans, QB Cassel, RB T Jones

Seahawks at Buccaneers, 4:15 PM RB Lynch, RB Blount, WR M WILLIAMS (TB)

Vikings at Eagles, 8:20 PM All-out on marginal Vikings, WR Maclin

Texans at Broncos, 4:05 PM All-out on marginal Texans and Broncos

Colts at Raiders, 4:05 PM TE Tamme, RB MCFADDEN, RB Bush

Giants at Packers, 4:15 PM TE Boss, all-out on marginal Packers

Chargers at Bengals, 4:05 PM RB Tolbert, all-out on marginal Bengals

Mon. Dec. 27

Saints at Falcons, 8:30 PM WR L Moore, all-out on marginal Falcons

By Rick Morris with No comments

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin Guest Appearance on The Price is Right

Last week, the two star faces of the NHL, Sidney Crosby/Alexander Ovechkin appeared on The Price is Right to give away some wonderful prizes.

As you can see, I'm trying to enhance this:



(Courtesy of The Big Lead)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Andray Blatche Tries To Fly, Gravity Wins

During last night's Bulls/Wizards contest, Andray Blatche appeared to have an uncontested dunk in the first quarter.

Then, a little thing called gravity got in the way:



(Courtesy of That NBA Lottery Pick)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Blake Griffin Kisses the Rim on Alley-Oop Dunk

During last night's Clippers/Rockets affair, Clippers Blake Griffin threw down a nasty-dunk off of an alley-oop pass from Eric Bledsoe.

Griffin gets up so high that he nearly kisses the rim:

By Ben Chew with No comments

The 12 Days of Christmas, Chicago Bulls Style

During the holidays, many professional sports teams like to spread their holiday cheer through some singing video that makes fools of the athletes.

Thankfully, the Chicago Bulls decided to do one this year, Enjoy!:



(Courtesy of That NBA Lottery Pick)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Bench Clearing Lacrosse Brawl, Yes Please!

The below video comes to us from the great white north of Canada during a lacrosse match between the Toronto Rock/Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League.

Let's just say that things got a bit chippy:



(Courtesy of Bob's Blitz)

By Ben Chew with No comments

That Michael Vick Commercial With Woodbury Nissan

Although this has been posted enough on the interweb, it deserves at least another posting for those who have not seen it yet.

It is Michael Vick's first commercial since coming out of prison and it's for Woodbury Nissan in New Jersey.

The title of it is called, "The Showroom":

By Ben Chew with No comments

Houston Texans Teammates Fight Each Other

For some reason when the Houston Texans/Tennessee Titans get together, a fight is bound to break out.

In yesterday's game after a sack by the Texans Mark Anderson, Texans teammates Brian Cushing and Antonio Smith got into a heated exchange after Smith got entangled with Titans offensive lineman, Leroy Harris:



(Courtesy of It's Always Sunny in Detroit)

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

The Miracle At the Meadowlands 3: Desean Jackson Punt Return TD Shocks Giants

It appeared that the New York Football Giants were well on their way to get back into the NFC East divisional race.

They were up 31-10 over the Philadelphia Eagles with less than a quarter to play but they didn't account for some Michael Vick magic to tie the score.

Then with less than 14 seconds on the clock, the Giants punted the football and DeSean Jackson decided to add another chapter to the Philadelphia history with the third version of the Miracle at the Meadowlands:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Dan Connolly Shames Packers Special Teams, 71 Yard Return From A Lineman

The one thing that I do know about special teams in American football is that the bigger the man, the shorter the kickoff return is.

However, New England Patriots special teamer/right guard Dan Connolly proved that theory wrong with this impressive 71 yard return return against the Packers on Sunday Night Football:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Dale Weise Drinking Gatorade FAIL

Recently in a game between the New York Rangers/Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers right winger Dale Weise decided to drink some Gatorade on the bench.

The only problem, the Gatorade bottle got the best of him:



(Courtesy of Cosby Sweaters)

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Vancouver Canucks Green Men Are At It Again!

Previously on Outside the Boxscore, we featured two clips of two Vancouver Canucks fans who are affectionately known as the "Green Men" who dress up in green bodysuits and taunt opposing players.

Well, the Canucks faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a recent game and the Green Men brought their A-Game:

By Ben Chew with No comments

New York Giants Become Victims of Miracle at New Meadowlands

As Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson crossed the goal line with the game-winning touchdown against the New York Giants, visions of Herman Edwards must have been dancing through the heads of those in attendance at the new Meadowlands Stadium.

A little over 32 years ago, the former Eagles cornerback recovered a fumbled handoff between Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik and fullback Larry Csonka and ran it back 26 yards for a game-winning touchdown in the old Meadowlands Stadium.

The play came to be known as the 'Miracle at the Meadowlands' because it occurred at a juncture when the Giants were in complete command of the game.

With Philadelphia trailing 17-12 and out of timeouts, New York faced a third-and-2 with 31 seconds left. Inexplicably though, Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson called for Pisarcik to hand it off to Csonka for a standard run up the middle.

However, vehement dissension in the huddle over the play call resulted in a rushed snap, a bobbled handoff and the eventual fumble that Edwards was only too happy to run back for a touchdown, giving the Eagles an improbable 19-17 victory.

Since that fateful afternoon of November 19, 1978, it certainly appeared that the Giants buried the skeletons of that inexcusable collapse with three Super Bowl trophies and the grand opening of a $1.6 billion new stadium.

But in Sunday’s afternoon tilt with the Eagles for NFC East supremacy, the Giants conjured up the spirits of collapses past by losing a game that will surely come to be known as the Miracle at the new Meadowlands.

After outgaining Philadelphia 222-74 to take a 24-3 lead into halftime, the G-Men were well on their way to debunking the widespread notion that Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is unstoppable.

And with a 24-10 lead after the third quarter and a 31-10 advantage with 7:58 remaining in the game, the Giants had the most satisfying victory of the season within their clutches.

This is when the catalyst of the NFL’s top-ranked offense started to dissect the league’s second-ranked defensive unit with his left arm and his nimble feet.

In the final eight minutes of the contest alone, Vick threw two touchdown passes (65, 18), ran one in for a score (4) and rushed for nearly 100 yards, while turning a 21-point deficit into a tie game with 14 seconds left. The Giants’ offensive inefficiency and a successful Eagles’ onside kick didn’t hurt either.

So, after a one-minute three-and-out that netted -7 yards, all the Giants had to do was kick away from the dangerous DeSean Jackson and regroup for overtime.

Punter Matt Dodge did the exact opposite though, and channeled his inner Joe Pisarcik in the process.

Dodge drove a line drive right down the middle of the field, which Jackson initially bobbled before returning 65 yards for the game-winning score in the penultimate play of the game.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin wasted no time in berating his rookie punter for the gaffe, but let there be no doubt that the monumental collapse was a collective effort.

And, as a result, a new legend was born in this heated rivalry that the Eagles will always remember and the Giants would like to forget as soon as humanly possible.

Joe Pisarcik, you’re not alone.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a recap of the 'Miracle at the new Meadowlands'.

By RMM with No comments

Fantasy Drafthelp: NFL Week 15

Here’s a few standard preface notes:

^ Notwithstanding the claims of any website to be your “home for Sunday morning injury report news,” nothing beats Google News – nothing. Entering a player name into this search engine trumps any other means of gathering information because it culls the data from an unbelievably wide variety of sources.

^ Especially earlier in the season, it’s always good to refer to a strong baseline of where players should have been drafted – and nothing beats FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTOLOGY 2010.

^ Unless there are any injury questions, we never discuss “gimme” players. Such core players should be started week in and week out unless there is any question surrounding their playing status. Winning teams only need to worry about “playing the matchups” with one, two or (at the most, during bye weeks) three spots in the lineup. With a full slate of games, and players drafted in a certain order for a multiplicity of reasons, we especially don’t advocate much juggling for the first two weeks of the season. Some websites promise you a crystal ball for how to manage high-risk, high-reward juggling during the season. We don’t. We play the percentages. That approach may be boring, but it’s highly effective and much more intellectually honest in what we promise you.

^ By the way, here are your core players who should not be benched if healthy or available (players listed in their order on our draft board):

QB: Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Michael Vick

RB: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew, Steven Jackson, Michael Turner, Rashard Mendenhall, Ryan Mathews, Jamaal Charles, Knowshon Moreno, Shonn Greene, Matt Forte, Cedric Benson, Jonathan Stewart, LeSean McCoy, Ronnie Brown

WR: Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Miles Austin, Greg Jennings, DeSean Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston, Steve Smith (Carolina), Chad Ochocinco, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith (NY Giants), Dwayne Bowe, Michael Crabtree, Donald Driver, Vincent Jackson

TE:, Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, Brent Celek, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Jermichael Finley

^ Here are the players who have been added to the list this season:

QB: Michael Vick

RB: Arian Foster, LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Hillis

WR: Wes Welker, Terrell Owens, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Lloyd

TE: none

^ Here are the players who have been removed from that list this season:

QB: Tony Romo, Brett Favre

RB: Ryan Grant, DeAngelo Williams, Beanie Wells, Frank Gore

WR: Pierre Garcon, Mike Wallace

TE: Dallas Clark

^ Links for each game take you to the NFL.com home page for each game, with stats and analysis.

^ All times listed are EDT.

^ Teams listed as “All-In” have a combination of all of the above players and any marginal players reaching a status where QB/RB1/RB2/WR1/WR2/TE all should be played. Teams listed as “All-Out” should have only the above “locks” for their team in a fantasy lineup, with all marginal players being benched.

^ All advice is relative, because there are exceptions to every rule. There are no marginal players who absolutely should be played or benched, but the ones we refer to here should be in the vast majority of circumstances.

^ Of the non-gimme players we like this week, the stronger plays are the ones in all caps.

Week 15

Sun. Dec. 19

Bills at Dolphins, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Bills, WR S Jackson

Eagles at Giants, 1:00 PM WR Maclin, QB E Manning, RB Jacobs

Redskins at Cowboys, 1:00 PM WR S MOSS, RB F Jones

Browns at Bengals, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Browns, TE Gresham

Jaguars at Colts, 1:00 PM QB Garrard, TE M Lewis, WR Garcon

Texans at Titans, 1:00 PM All-out on marginal Texans, QB Collins, WR Britt

Saints at Ravens, 1:00 PM WR L Moore, all-out on marginal Ravens

Chiefs at Rams, 1:00 PM RB T Jones, WR Amendola

Cardinals at Panthers, 1:00 PM RB Hightower, RB Goodson

Lions at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM RB Best, TE Pettigrew, QB Freeman, RB Blount, RB C Williams

Falcons at Seahawks, 4:05 PM QB Ryan, all-out on marginal Seahawks

Broncos at Raiders, 4:15 PM All-out on marginal Broncos and Raiders

Jets at Steelers, 4:15 PM QB Roethlisberger, TE Keller

Packers at Patriots, 8:20 PM All-out on marginal Packers, TE A Hernandez, TE Gronkowski

Mon. Dec. 20

Bears at Vikings, 8:30 PM QB Cutler, WR Knox, all-out on marginal Vikings

By Rick Morris with No comments

New York Jets Have Become NFL's New Age Outlaws

In a season best described as ‘Super Bowl or Bust’, the New York Jets have made a habit of generating more headlines for antics unrelated to their play on the field.

Prior to the start of the season, controversy arose when Inés Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, was subjected to footballs being thrown in her direction during a team practice and players' catcalls inside the locker room afterwards.

As a result, the NFL launched an investigation in the wake of a complaint made by the Association of Women in Sports Media against Gang Green.

This embarassing incident came on the heels of the Jets’ highly publicized appearance on HBO: Hard Knocks, which served to highlight the arrogance, boldness and confidence of the front office, the coaches and the players.

But although the aforementioned complaint had the potential to rock the team's foundation to its core, the Jets emerged from the ensuing melodrama virtually unscathed.

However, less than two weeks later, enigmatic wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police officers initially stopped Edwards for excessive tinting on his white Land Rover but Edwards’ bloodshot, watery eyes and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle prompted further investigation.

Subsequently, Edwards consented to and failed a breathalyzer examination, where it was determined his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, leading to his arrest. Among the four passengers in Edwards’ vehicle at the time of the arrest were teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston.

The Jets disciplined Edwards with a token first quarter suspension against the Miami Dolphins and his case has been adjourned until January 11, which also happens to be the week of the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

So in a span of ten days, the Jets organization found itself ensconced in two scandals that could have sent their season into an unrecoverable tailspin. But undaunted, Gang Green regained their swagger by winning 8 of its next 9 games as the aforementioned cases gradually dissipated from the public consciousness.

Unfortunately, while in the throes of a two-game losing streak, the Jets have become the subject of an NFL investigation for the third time in three months, including the ongoing Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger inquest.

During last Sunday’s game against Miami, Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi deliberately tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll as he was running near the sideline on a punt return. In response, Alosi issued an immediate apology before being fined $25,000 and indefinitely suspended from the team.

The Jets maintain Alosi acted alone despite player testimony and visual evidence suggesting head coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff were fully aware Alosi engineered the formation of a wall along the sidelines, leading to the tripping fiasco.

Thus, while Alosi seriously contemplates a name change to Lee Harvey Oswald, the Jets have once again stained the NFL’s image with behavior that reflects the personality of their head coach.

In the 1970’s and the 1980’s, Oakland Raiders general managing partner Al Davis transformed the ‘Silver and Black’ into a cast of mavericks and outlaws with trademarked slogans such as “Commitment to Excellence”, “Just Win, Baby” and “Pride and Poise”.

Now it appears the Jets have become the league’s new age outlaws which, for professional wrestling fans in the know, happened to be the name of a popular WWE tag team in the late 1990’s that ran with a stable appropriately dubbed Degeneration X.

Degenerates? Outlaws? Is this how owner Woody Johnson wants the New York Jets to be remembered in this decade?

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a recap of the notorious 'Tripping Incident'.

By RMM with No comments

JR Smith Poster Dunk on Gary Neal, "Fly Away"

During last night's Spurs/Nuggets affair, Nuggets reserve JR Smith decided to put his name in the running for the dunk of the year.

Watch as he soars over the Spurs Gary Neal and give Kevin Harlan another time to use a classic line:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Bowling Season In College Football Now Open

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again. Temperatures are low all across the country, snow, rain, and cold are usual forecasts many meteorologists predict in every neck of the woods. Kids cross off dates on their calendars, eagerly anticipating that final day of school before being let free for winter break. Malls fill with adults trying to find the gift their children have been begging for the past few weeks.

Then there is, of course, College football bowl games. It might not have a catchy-ring to represent it like “March Madness” does for basketball, but there is no denying the excitement of “Bowl Season”.

Curious about what the season encompasses? Well here’s a break down of the simple logistics of what is in store: 35 games, 70 teams, four weeks, 25 days off hard-hitting, game breaking plays by some of the best, young collegiate talent in the nation. Bowling kicks off on December 18th and culminates on January 10th for the championship game.

With so many games, players, and teams; finding out which games will have the biggest buzz and major studs can be a pain to figure out. Luckily, that won’t be the case for 2011. Here are some non-BCS and BCS games that fans can watch while enjoying the holidays:

Capital One Bowl – Michigan State vs Alabama

How could this match-up not be intriguing; last year’s championship title winners and preseason number one ranked team going up against a program that shares the honors of winning the Big Ten this season?

In the infamous words of WR Terrell Owens: Get ya popcorn ready.

This game contains some of the best players and two of the top teams in college football with talent and value high enough to be a BCS matchup. Sadly though, this is a bowl game that will fall under the “other” category.

Alabama Running back (and 2009 Heisman trophy winner) Mark Ingram and 2010 second team All-American WR Julio Jones are the main features in a Crimson Tide offense that under-performed during the 2010 season.

Coach Mark Dantonio leads a Michigan State team looking for some admiration for a college known more for its basketball program. With an 11-1 record (their best finish ever), the Spartans will be drooling over the chance to knock off the highly decorated Alabama team in hopes of solidifying their arrival as a perennial, football program.

Gator Bowl – Michigan vs Mississippi State

Many games have a strong pull because of the teams, the talent of the players, or the rivalry between the programs. This is one of those games that have virtually none of these issues, but still has big significance dependent upon its outcome.

For weeks now, rumors and questions have been swirling around the Michigan’s program. Will Rich Rodriguez be fired? Who will come in to take over the program? Can Michigan really ever get back to what they used to be? If Rodriguez wants to start silencing the rumors and keep his job, he’ll need a big win at the Gator Bowl.

For Mississippi State, it’s all about winning to build on an impressive season for the program. They sport a running game that ranks 16th in college football and a brilliant offensive mind in Coach Dan Mullen. Beating Michigan will give them more respectability in their tough SEC conference, as well as their first bowl win since the Liberty Bowl in 2007.

BCS Sugar Bowl – Arkansas vs Ohio State

Want a very even match-up with promising talent, headline coaches and historic football programs? This is the game to tune into when January 4th rolls around.

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel and dual threat, junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor will head into New Orleans to face off against Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino and the strong arm of QB Ryan Mallett for one of the premier BCS bowl games in the Sugar Bowl.

Tressel leads a Buckeyes squad that is one of the best running offenses in the country (14th in college football) that can score an awful lot of points in a hurry. Along with a high-powered running attack, the team has a defense that is one of the stingiest in allowing points (third in the country).

Petrino will have no worries with his Razorbacks team currently 8th in the BCS rankings. Mallett runs a strong passing offense team that can hurl the ball all over the field (third in college football for passing yards) and players he loves to feed (five players with 40 receptions or more on the season).

No doubt, the key to this game will be Ohio State’s defense against the Arkansas offense. The edge of that battle will probably determine the victor of the game.

BCS Rose Bowl – TCU vs Wisconsin

This game will have numerous labels: a runner-up match, a debate an undefeated team not playing for the national title, a non-automatic qualifier against a major conference champion.

The TCU Horned Frogs are the David in this match up against the Goliath that is the co-Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers. TCU will be pushing hard for a win with hopes of ending any doubts the pundits have had all season about a top five, non-major conference program.

Wisconsin will be ready to give them their all when the kick off happens on New Year’s Day in Pasadena. They have a three-headed, monster running lineup (James White, John Clay, Montee Ball) that helps to make them one of the best running teams in all of football (12th in the nation). Their run game is also a main reason they average over 40 points per game.

TCU will surely be ready with such an efficient running game when they themselves sport one of most decorated defenses in the nation. Currently, they are the best in the nation in points allowed per game and have two All Americans on defense in safety Tejay Johnson (1st team) and linebacker Tank Carder (2nd team).

Wisconsin’s offense vs TCU’s defense is the key match up for this one.

BCS Championship Game – Auburn vs Oregon

The chain of bowl games end when the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks roll through Glendale, Arizona on January 10th to see who can claim this season as college football champions.

This battle has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, with eye-popping plays from start to finish. Both teams rank in the top ten for scoring and rushing in comparison to the rest of the Division I colleges. That’ll happen when you have two of the most electrifying standouts in the nation.

This year’s poster boy in college football is Heisman trophy winner and 1st team All-American quarterback Cam Newton, and he is the main cog in the Auburn offensive engine. A dynamic athlete who can break plays with his legs, the junior QB can now also create plays with his arm. An impressive game, along with a win, for the young superstar will raise his stock in next year’s draft, which might be too tantalizing of an opportunity to pass up for his senior season in college.

The only problem is that the Oregon Ducks have one of the most explosive running backs in LaMichael James to counter the Auburn QB. The 2011 Doak Walker Award winner (for the best running back in college football) James is small in stature (five feet, nine inches tall at 185 pounds), but can break off some big runs (eight games with at least one run of 30 yards or more).

The Tigers will be a tough foe, but the Ducks have all the potential to topple them for the BCS title.

By Norcal JW with No comments

The Cliff Lee Effect On Major League Baseball

One of the most dominant pitchers over the past few years just threw a big curve ball. The difference is that he didn’t have to stand on a mound to do it.

After every sports rumor mill, publications and news sites churned out numerous stories that charted the raging tug-of-war between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers over pitcher Cliff Lee, it turns out that it was all an illusion that the 32-year-old magically performed. With a swift stroke of his pen, he etches his name on a five-year, $120 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a team no one ever wrote about in connection with trying to acquire Major League Baseball’s most coveted free agent.

The documentation of the process has been a major headliner in sports since the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. Where would Lee go? What would it take to get him? Everyone knew how bad the Yankees wanted him, offering nearly everything he desired and more. They were willing to give him whatever he craved, even as their captain and face of the team since the mid 90s, Derek Jeter, faced difficulties with management on a new extension.

The Texas Rangers was also willing to shell out virtually all they had, which would have left the team with nothing but lint in their pocket. Knowing he was the reason they got to the 2010 World Series, they felt he was worth every penny they could give. So they matched the Yankees offer with the idea that the money, along with the love of the city and the organization showed him since being traded to Texas, would be enough to persuade him.

In the end though, they both were outshined by the dark horse Philadelphia Phillies.
Even more startling is the fact that he goes back to the team he helped get to the World Series in 2009 for less money and years under contract than both Texas and New York offered.

The Lee signing changes the landscape of baseball for years to come.

1) Philadelphia Jumps To The Favorite, Not Just In The National League, But Of All The MLB.

Despite the loss of Jayson Werth to the Washington Nationals, the Phillies appeared to still be a strong contender in their division and league. Sure the Nationals moved up the chain in the NL East, but they are still light years away from challenging the Phillies’ for the division title. The New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and Atlanta Braves all have done little to improve their roster, so labeling Philadelphia the favorites is still a no-brainer.

Now, with Lee joining a staff that boasts 2010 Cy Young Winner Roy Halladay, three time all star Roy Oswalt, and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, the Phillies have the best rotation in baseball and are a clear cut to win the 2011 World Series. With the core of their line-up returning in Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino, the Phillies merely substitute the big bat of Werth for a dominant pitcher in Lee.

And, if there was anything the Giants showed not only the Phillies, but to most of the baseball world, it’s that pitching leads the way to championships.

2) The New York Yankees Now Take A Backseat To The Red Sox

As the off season continued to progress, it was obvious that the signing of Lee was a big necessity if the Yankees wanted to remain favorites in their own division. With Boston signing five-tool outfielder Carl Crawford and trading for a middle of the lineup hitter in first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, New York desperately needed to make a splash.

The transaction to validate that would have been signing Lee.

Getting Lee would have given the Yankees the best one-two pitching combination in baseball with C.C. Sabathia. The emergence of Phil Hughes last season also helps as a strong third option in their rotation. The acquisition of Lee would have also been a stronger influence for 38-year-old Andy Pettitte to return, knowing that he would be the key to getting another title in New York.

Now, the Yankees have merely a mediocre rotation and are only the second best team in their division. Their arch-rival Red Sox are out in front early on, breathing a sigh of relief that Lee burned the Yankees.

3) Texas Rangers Sent Back Into Mediocrity

While the Yankees still appear to be a viable playoff contender despite not getting Lee, the Rangers look like they are stuck in a maze with no path leading to a way out.

The main reason (and some would contend the only reason) the Rangers got as far as they did last year was because they had the six-foot, three inch lefty taking throwing for them. He led a pitching staff whose track record doesn’t qualify nearly as close to Lee’s credentials.

C.J. Wilson converted to the starting rotation after five seasons as a reliever. Tommy Hunter is only 24-years-old and has yet to pitch over 130 innings in a season. Colby Lewis is a journeyman pitcher who returned this past season to the Major League after two years in Japan. Losing Lee makes the pitching staff mediocre at best, which has got to make Rangers fans cringe with the powerful lineup they put out consistently.

The loss also doesn’t certify Texas as the obvious front-runner for the AL West it would have been had he signed with them. Luckily for them, the three other teams (Angels, A’s, and Mariners) are still quite inferior to them. The Angels seem to be the only team capable of knocking off the 2010 Division Champs, as the A’s and Mariners continue to rebuild for the future.

Yet, now the Rangers can clump themselves in the same category as their other three rivals, despite still being the early AL West favorites, as a weaker team entering 2011 now that Lee is heading back east to Philadelphia.

It’s hard to believe that Lee’s transaction would have such a rippling, domino-effect on the world of baseball. His signing shifts the balance of power in various divisions of baseball and will no doubt change the outlook of the league for years to come.

Hard to believe that a pitcher can throw change-ups in baseball, even without hurling a single pitch.

By Norcal JW with No comments

Crazy Dancing Grandpa At Wizards/Lakers Affair

Back in the old days, your parents had to go to a jazzy club or prohibition party to bust-a-move.

However, now all they have to do is go to an NBA game and get on Dance Cam.

Watch this grandpa bust a move and do a little bit of the John Wall Dance:



(Courtesy of The Big Lead)

By Ben Chew with No comments

High School Basketball Player Shatters Backboard, Sorta

Let's meet Andy Avgi of Woodbury High School is Oregon, Avgi is a 6'6 power forward who has been a pretty good player during his high school career.

So, when Woodbury took on Putnam High School, Avgi decided to let people in on the secret that he can break glass, sorta:



(Courtesy of Sharapova's Thigh)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Russian Hockey Players Be Fightin' Six Seconds Into The Game

One thing that I do know about hockey players is that they love to drop the gloves but in the below video; two KHL hockey teams dropped the gloves within seconds of the game beginning.

It happened in a game between Avangard and Vityaz in Russia when six seconds in, both teams started brawling.

To note, these teams had a history and had another brawl back in January:

By Ben Chew with No comments

Demar Derozan Poster Dunk on Tyrus Thomas

It's been awhile since we've shown an awesome slam dunk from the NBA but the below video is well worth the wait.

It happened during the Raptors/Bobcats affair from last night and came courtesy of one Demar Derozan:

By Ben Chew with 1 comment

High School Basketball Player Goes Body-Slamming A Referee

The below video occurred during a Desota High School basketball game in Florida in which a player decides to get a little physical when he's not happy with a referees call.

Watch at about the 1:25 mark when a player is called for a technical foul and goes berserk on the referee:

High School Player Throws Ref During Game from Frumpzilla on Vimeo.

(Courtesy of Frumpzilla)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Cam Newton Does David Letterman Top Ten List

During last night's "Late Show with David Letterman", Auburn quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton did the Top Ten List.

The topic, "The Top Ten Things That Cam Newton Can Say Now After Winning The Heisman":

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Belfast Giants Perform "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

Usually, I'm not a fan of these team-made music videos that pretty much make complete fools of the athletes who perform them.

The Belfast Giants are an Irish hockey team and decided to do a rather snazzy music video to the classic Mariah Carey hit, "All I Want For Christmas Is You":



(Courtesy of Off the Bench)

By Ben Chew with No comments

The Metrodome Roof Collapses, God Wants Brett Favre to Continue Consecutive Game Streak

Yesterday, the New York Giants/Minnesota Vikings were supposed to play a game at the Hubert H Humprhrey Metrodome.

However, Mother Nature has other plans as the Minneapolis/St. Paul region of Minnesota had 17 inches of snowfall over the past three days.

The snowfall caused a portion of the Metrodome roof to collapse and move the game to today in Detroit:



I guess God is a Brett Favre fan.

By Ben Chew with No comments

Washington Redskins Extra Point FAIL, Lose To Bucs

If you have been a Washington Redskins fan in this millennium, you have probably been disappointed by the franchise.

However your disappointment probably turned to frustration as it appeared the Redskins would send their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into overtime.

All they needed to do was hit the extra point, Uh Oh:



(Courtesy of Read and React)

By Ben Chew with No comments

Nolan Caroll Gets Tripped By NY Jets Assistant Coach

For those eager few that are on National Football League special teams, you'd expect to be hit by an opposing player.

However, I'm pretty sure that you weren't expecting a coach from the sidelines.

The below video occurred during the Jets/Dolphins game and appears that Dolphins special teamer Nolan Caroll is tripped by a Jets assistant Sal Alosi on the sidelines after a third quarter punt:

By Ben Chew with No comments