A lot of old-school NFL people will brush off the non-padded offseason workouts as meaningless. They’re wrong.

The OTAs are the first time coaches get a look at their new toys. It’s also the first time we get a gander at initial depth charts, which can help us uncover the hidden gems that decide fantasy titles.

Recent sleepers, such as Arian Foster and Denarius Moore, first shined during these workouts. With that in mind, let’s take a look:

Brick in the Wall

New Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is a dream for fantasy owners. He gets his receivers open vertically, doesn’t throw to running backs and keeps the pedal to the metal at all times. Larry Fitzgerald is going to have a bounce-back campaign, but the No. 2 wideout in this scheme is also set up for success. Andre Roberts ended the 2012 season in that spot, but second-year man Michael Floyd opened up OTAs as the starter. A rare strength/speed talent, Floyd is an ideal sleeper.

On the Ball

Montee Ball’s NFL career is off to a fast start. Although coach John Fox has a reputation for holding rookies back, he’s been heaping praise on the former Wisconsin back. VP John Elway is comparing Ball to Terrell Davis and Fox is downplaying the disappointing 4.66 wheels he showed at the combine. Once the Broncos cut loose Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno, Ball’s stock is going to soar.

Hop to it

Sometimes, a rookie steps onto the field and is even better than the franchise expected. That appears to be the case with DeAndre Hopkins. Check out these quotes from coach Gary Kubiak: “He’s special. Ball skills are extremely special. Very long; long arms. Big hands. He’s going to help us early, and we know that, and that’s why we brought him here.” Hopkins is in line for instant impact.

MLB news

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly won’t say it, but his actions point toward a change at the closer spot. Kenley Jansen is the one that got a one-out save on Tuesday and he’s the one with the real lights-out stuff. Brandon League’s time is just about done.

MLB pickups

Andrew Bailey, RP, Red Sox: Bailey is ready to come off the DL as soon as Monday. The saves shouldn’t be far behind.
Heath Bell, RP, Diamondbacks: It probably won’t be pretty, but Bell is holding off David Hernandez for now.
Dayan Viciedo, 3B, White Sox: Now over his oblique strain, Viciedo is hitting .429 with four RBIs in his first five games back.

The post Living the Fantasy: Early NFL depth charts appeared first on Metro.us.

Some guys seek out the girlfriend experience. Others want the true general manager experience.

For those of us who dream of being Jerry Reese, rather than being with Sasha Grey, we have dynasty leagues. The players we draft can be with us forever, we can sell prospects at the deadline to go for a title and we can build a perennial contender. It’s the truest form of fantasy.

The NFL draft provides a unique opportunity for dynasty owners. There are certain players that might not make a huge impact right away, but project to be major assets down the line:

Manly Christine
Why did the Seahawks use a second-round pick on Texas A&M’s Christine Michael when they already have Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin? Three reasons. First, Lynch has a balky back and is a candidate to be a cap casualty as soon as 2015. Second, Lynch is facing DUI charges and a possible suspension. And third, they really like Michael as a potential feature back down the line. It makes him an ideal dynasty stash as the Seahawks project to be a dominant, run-heavy team for years to come.

Backfield in motion
Denard Robinson is 5-foot-10, 199 lbs., ran a 4.43 at the combine and has the jukes to make defenders look silly. That sounds a lot like Chris Johnson. Robinson was a running quarterback at Michigan, where he piled up an absurd 4,495 yards and 42 touchdowns. The Jags drafted him to play running back, where they have Maurice Jones-Drew in a contract year. Robinson has the makings of a steal.

Cut the Cord
Cordarrelle Patterson played one year of Division I football. In that year, he caught 46 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns. The Vikings made him a first-round pick because of what he can be down the line, not what he is now. The most naturally gifted athlete in his class, Patterson will start off behind Jerome Simpson, catching mostly screens and running reverses. Within a couple years, he’ll be the Vikings’ No. 1 wideout.

NFL news
The biggest injury of the offseason is Robert Griffin III’s knee. Next up is Rob Gronkowski’s forearm. We’ll find out within the next couple weeks if he’ll need a fifth procedure on his infected left forearm. If he does, Gronk’s Week 1 status will be in doubt. The infection, however, is not expect to prevent him from smashing beer cans against his face and fist-pumping shirtless.
MLB pickups
Junichi Tazawa, RP, Red Sox: Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey are both on the DL. For now, Tazawa is the closer.
Andrew Cashner, SP, Padres: We’re always trying to add pitchers who call Petco home. This ex-reliever is now locked into the rotation.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B/3B, Padres: A highly-touted prospect, Gyorko is hitting .360 with three homers over his last seven games. The light is on.

The post Adam Levitan, Living the Fantasy: Dynasty owners are drooling appeared first on Metro.us.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is married again.

After finalizing a divorce settlement with longtime wife, Christina Weiss Lurie, this past August, Lurie is once again off the market. The billionaire tied the knot with Philadelphia resident Tina Lai in a private ceremony this past weekend.

Christina Weiss Lurie is still part owner of the Eagles and remains very active in the organization, mostly in charity and community service initiatives. Lai will reportedly have no official role with the Eagles.

“I am happy and excited as Tina and I begin our lives together,” Lurie said in a statement.

The post Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie weds in private ceremony appeared first on Metro.us.

The first running back in last week’s draft didn’t come off the board until the second round. The highest profile college back saw 60 names come off the board before he was called. And a player many draftniks had as their No. 2 runner (Johnathan Franklin) lasted until the fifth round.

However, the loss of real-life value hasn’t affected the fantasy value of rookie running backs. This year has a chance to be a special class:

1. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
The Steelers gave up on Rashard Mendenhall, have identified Isaac Redman as a complementary piece and are trying to trade Jonathan Dwyer. Add it all up and we have a potentially monstrous workload for Bell. The Michigan State product isn’t the most talented rookie, but he projects to play on all three downs and averaged 4.99 YPC in the rugged Big Ten.

2. Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
Lacy fell to No. 61 overall due to medical concerns. He had toe surgery in 2012 and showed up out of shape to his Pro Day thanks to a hamstring pull. Still, Lacy is entering a high-upside situation. At the very least, the powerful 231-pounder will be the clear-cut goal-line in arguably the league’s best offense. At the very best, he’ll get the 14.2 carries per game Cedric Benson was getting last year and be far more productive.

3. Montee Ball, RB, Broncos
As of now, both Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are on the Broncos’ roster. Thanks to a combination of injuries and salary, they are both candidates to be released at some point before the season. So John Elway grabbed Ball with the No. 58 overall pick and clearly expects him to be able to protect Peyton Manning out of the gate. Ronnie Hillman is nothing more than a change-of-pace option.

4. Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
The man with the most wiggle turned out to be the first running back selected. Bernard is explosive with a 4.53 forty at 202 pounds, but he’ll start off as the speed complement behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis. There’s a ton more Dynasty appeal in Bernard than re-draft value.

5. Tavon Austin, WR, Rams
No player generated more buzz than Austin ahead of the draft. By the time Thursday night came around, you would have thought a fair trade would have been Austin for the No. 1 pick and Joe Montana. The Rams certainly bought into the hype, as they traded up to No. 8 overall to select a 5-foot-8 slot receiver. It’s a wise move, however, as Austin is a Percy Harvin/Randall Cobb kind of talent. He’ll make plays right away in the Rams’ revamped offense.

6. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
Andre Johnson has never played across from a legit No. 2 receiver. At long last, the Texans got him some help. Hopkins is a Roddy White clone, one that isn’t the fastest guy but knows how to get open. He’ll step right in as the starting “Z” and benefit from single coverage all day long.

Thumbs down: Veteran losers on draft day

 
1. Kenny Britt: The Titans used a second-round pick on Justin Hunter after using a first-round pick on Kendall Wright last year.
2. Kevin Kolb: The Bills shockingly used a first-round pick on E.J. Manuel. You can bet they hope the massive rookie starts Week 1.
3. Brian Quick: Once thought of as an intriguing small-school gem, Quick is getting lost in the shuffle. Tavon Austin and newly-acquired Jared Cook will get more targets.

Sleeper alert: Jordan Cameron

 
The Browns run a tight-end centric scheme and they didn’t use any picks on a tight end. Jordan Cameron, a natural pass-catcher, is the man. Coach Rob Chudzinski has squeezed career seasons out of Kellen Winslow, Antonio Gates and Greg Olsen at previous stops.

The Bengals traded up and grabbed Tavon Austin with the No. 8 pick.

The post Adam Levitan: Analyzing NFL draft from fantasy perspective appeared first on Metro.us.

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Brittney Griner recently came out as a lesbian. No surprise there.

She talks like a man. She has the stature of a man. And she dunks like a man. None of that is wrong or meant to be insensitive. That’s just how she comes across on appearances — and that’s a good thing for the game of basketball, and sports in general. We sincerely hope that Mark Cuban stays true to his boast and drafts her in the NBA Draft.

We only hope that this could lead to a bigger outing, maybe in the NFL.

Free agent safety Kerry Rhodes is attempting to squash rumors that he is a gay man playing in the NFL. Rhodes’ alleged longtime boyfriend and assistant Russell “Hollywood” Jackson has gone on record saying Rhodes was “like his wife.”

The gossip website MediaTakeOut has published pictures of the two seemingly enjoying a romantic vacation. Instead of embracing the moment, Rhodes has pulled a trick from Richard Nixon’s playbook. Deny, deny, deny.

“Photos have been circulating of my former assistant and I that have caused some rumors regarding my sexuality, and I wanted to address the situation … I am not gay,” Rhodes tells TMZ.com. “The shots were taken during a past vacation in a casual environment with my entire business team … I know a lot of people are recently talking about athletes struggling to come out to their fans right now, and I support them, as well as wish those individuals comfort.”

We don’t know anything about Rhodes’ sexuality. Until he utters the words, “I am gay,” we’ll have to accept his statement as truth. We just hope — if the rumors do turn out to be true — Rhodes will have the courage to stand up and forge a new trail for gay athletes everywhere.

The post Playing the Field: It’s time for a gay NFL star appeared first on Metro.us.

One of the best phrases of all-time, which holds true in nearly every walk of life: “You never want to be the guy to follow THE GUY.”

This phrase rings true in most family structures in addition to professional environments. As fun as being Billy Madison is, you really don’t want to be Billy Madison when all is written. You want to be Billy Madison’s dad. You want to be the creator, the innovator, the guy who gets the credit, the guy who gets the good lookin’ gal, the guy who built the dream.

That’s why, contrary to most reports, it sucks to be Nate Montana.

Nate is the son of legendary 49ers quarterback Joe Montana and, of course, he has big dreams of following in daddy’s footsteps. Save for members of the Manning family, this plan rarely works out.

Nate chucked the ball around Cowboys Stadium on Monday as part of the NFL Super Regional Combine, with NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks calling Jr. Cool (bad ass name he should already be using) a “long shot.”

While the sports geek in me wants to combat Mr. Brooks and say foolish things like, “Yeah, that’s what they said about Tom Brady, idiot,” and “I can’t recall the last time a Super Bowl quarterback won due to having the best ‘zip,’” Mr. Brooks is probably right. I’m guessing Nate will be waking up hungover as hell at the crack of noon at the Montana family pool come late April instead of spending countless hours learning an NFL playbook.

In fairness, Nate Montana did have a decent Division II college career. He led the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in passing last season with 2,480 yards and 19 touchdowns while the starter for West Virginia Wesleyan, a school that boasts just over 1,400 students (but the tailgate scene is amazing.)

The worst thing that could happen to Nate going forward is some NFL team inviting him to camp just because he’s Joe Montana’s son. If Nate actually earns a spot, well, then, great.

Maybe the motivation here is Nate Montana’s need for daddy’s approval (shocker). We know that Joe Cool can be a little ornery at times and we know that he doesn’t really appreciate underdog stories like that of former teammate Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger.

So maybe Nate just wants to stick it to No. 16? Good luck, Jr. Cool, we’ll be rootin’ for ya.

Follow Metro Boston sports editor and columnist Matt Burke on Twitter @BurkeMetroBOS

The post Playing the Field: Nate Montana, Joe Montana’s son, wants to play in the NFL appeared first on Metro.us.

They say football is a religion.

Well, if that is really true, then there is a certain church in Las Vegas taking it to a whole another level. Pastor Randall can be heard at Remnant Ministries most Sundays, spreading the gospel and sharing life lessons to his wide-eyed congregation. The church is open to believers of all ages, races, denominations – and yes, even to Philadelphia Eagles fans.

In fact, some in Pastor Randall’s flock show up wearing midnight green, as they hinge on every word of Randall Cunningham’s sermon.

“People come from New Jersey, Delaware, and they say, ‘You’re really a pastor.’ They see the tears coming down my face and understand my faith,” Cunningham told Metro. “They tell me, ‘If I lived out here, I would definitely come to your church, and I say, ‘Come on out, we got tons of housing [in Nevada].’”

The former Eagles quarterback was told he would be a pastor as a child, something Cunningham calls a “prophetic message.” The road wasn’t always easy for him as he struggled with temptation early in his career. After some soul searching – and prodding from former teammate Reggie White – Cunningham accepted the Prayer of Salvation in 1987.

“Reggie [White] held me accountable for my sins and told me to be strong about my faith,” Cunningham said. “He would get in my face and challenged me when I was doing something that wasn’t right to get it right.”

Cunningham’s new book, “Lay It Down,” recently hit bookshelves. In it, he details how his faith carried him through some very tough times, including the accidental drowning death of his son, Christian, in 2010. Instead of turning his back on God at that moment, Cunningham jumped in his car and screamed, “Hallelujah,” at the top of his lungs.

“I chose to say, ‘God, thank you!’ How could I be mad at God?,” Cunningham said. “We didn’t call it a funeral, we called it a Going Home Celebration.”

Cunningham never doubted God, even when he was benched by the Vikings after just five games in 1998. He called it a “test.” He was tested often during his 11 seasons here, but he credits Philadelphia for turning him into the man he is today.

“I’m so thankful to God for sending me to Philadelphia,” he said. “I wanted to stay on the West Coast, stay in the sun and play golf but I matured so much as a person there because people are expecting greatness out of you. There is such a drive for success in that town, it pushes you to higher levels. It’s a great place to play because once you do reach the highest level, you earn the respect [of the fans]. They protect you, like, ‘Be quiet about him because this is one of ours.’”

Proud papa
Cunnigham’s pride beams through the phone when he discusses his son, Randall II.

The national media has already dubbed him, RC2. Standing at 6-foot-6, 180 lbs, the comparisons to dad were bound to happen. The high school junior is a dual-sport star at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), where he plays quarterback and runs track. He’s been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, and has cleared 7-feet, 2 inches in the high jump. He’s already received scholarship offers from Baylor, Syracuse and LSU.

“It’s very exciting,” Randall Sr. said. “I look back to 1995 when I had Randall. I had to miss a few days of practice and Rodney Peete stepped in. That was 17 years ago. Now I see my son … the No. 2 recruit in the country.”

Cunningham’s daughters are also decorated athletes. His daughter, Vashti, 13, is being recruited for volleyball and track and field. Gracie, 9, is ranked No. 6 in the country for high jump. Dad coaches Vashti and Randall II on their club track team, the Nevada Gazelles. Gracie is still too young, but he will coach her one day soon.

“I’m so proud of all my children,” Cunningham said.

 
The Ultimate Weapon
On Sept. 11, 1990, Sports Illustrated unveiled what would become — at least to Eagles fans — one of the magazine’s most iconic covers. It featured a digitally enhanced portrait of Randall Cunningham — on the run, in white Nike sneakers, with his cannon for an arm locked and loaded — with the headline, “The Ultimate Weapon.”

Cunningham played 11 seasons in Philadelphia and was named NFL MVP in 1990. His highlight reel can play on loop at the nearby NFL Films studio. His records are considered hallowed at the NovaCare Complex. However, he never delivered the ultimate prize, that elusive Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Still, some 18 years after throwing his last pass in Eagles green, Cunningham has no regrets (in his football life, at least) and remains proud of his legacy.

“Looking back at my whole NFL career, I’m OK with it now,” Cunningham said. “When I was playing, I wanted to be the greatest ever, but I also wanted to learn and grow as a man, and I did that, especially during my time in Philadelphia. My life in Philadelphia is what helped me impact people today.”

Cunningham laughs when asked what the current batch of young, athletic quarterbacks think of him. Remember, he was the first one to really integrate the speed and agility of a running back with the pocket savvy of a passer. Now, there are Cunningham clones everywhere you look. Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco, Russell Wilson in Seattle, Robert Griffin III (RG3) in Washington, etc. But ask Cunningham and he doesn’t see that way. He doesn’t consider himself an innovator.

“I started to play football with love in my heart. I went out there and had fun,” he said. “I hear a lot about how I started this new era for quarterbacks, the Randall era … I won’t take credit for it, but I will say it’s an honor to have an influence on these young players.”

Cunningham said he’s a huge fan of Kaepernick, and he recently sent RG3 a text message. When the topic of current Eagles quarterback Mike Vick came up, though, Cunningham’s tone changed and his voice trailed off.

“There’s nothing there [no relationship],” he said.

When asked to clarify, Cunningham politely said, “We talked a few years ago, but nothing since.”

Not playing the race card
Say the phrase, “mobile quarterback,” and the issue of race instantly takes center stage. Black quarterbacks have traditionally been viewed as more athletic, more fun to watch, more prone to make SportsCenter.

But the fact remains that only one black starting quarterback has ever won the Super Bowl, the Redskins’ Doug Williams in 1988.

Cunningham, playing in a blue collar town like Philadelphia, with a mostly white fan base filling up the stadium every Sunday he played here, surely was the victim of some form of racism in his career here. Well, if he was, he certainly isn’t saying. Cunningham always takes the high road.

“You know, I wouldn’t know because I’m Italian,” Cunningham joked. “I was in South Philadelphia, I remember going to the cheesesteak places, there were Italian guys everywhere … so I said I was Italian, too. I didn’t have to put up with that [racism] too much.”

Maybe someday, after Cunningham is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of those cheesesteak places will name a sandwich after him. He certainly earned it.

The post Exclusive: Randall Cunningham chats about new book appeared first on Metro.us.

Exactly one year ago, the Jets traded for Tim Tebow, a shocking move that addressed none of their needs but instantly created controversy and turmoil.

The fact that wide receiver Jeremy Kerley had more passing yards than Tim Tebow last year tells you everything you need to know about the NFL’s most scrutinized quarterback’s one, and likely only, year in New York. We didn’t learn much about Tebow on the field last season; the body of his work was so small as to make an assessment impossible, but we learned his place isn’t here with the Jets.

He came with much fanfare and hype, a standing room-only press conference for a player who was only going to be a backup. The Jets were going to revolutionize football, we were told, and the offense was going to utilize the skillset of Tebow, as was the special-teams unit with his role as a personal punt protector. He was set to take over Madison Avenue as the country’s most prominent evangelical Christian.

Instead, he ended up being the biggest distraction in the history of the game and through no fault of his own the Jets came crashing down like the walls of Jericho.

Just a couple weeks earlier, the team had given quarterback Mark Sanchez what amounted to a five-year contract extension to be their starting quarterback and the face of the franchise. Then within that very month they traded for Tebow.

To utilize Tebow properly — and he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL — the offense needs to be geared around his skillset. He won’t thrive in a conventional offense, and he won’t succeed as a pocket passer. But the Jets also learned the hard way he won’t do well as a gimmick.

Where the Jets went wrong with Tebow was in not letting him compete. Throughout his career, there were wobbly passes and plenty of moments of the cringe worthy variety, but Tebow somehow always seemed to get the job done, especially in big moments. It doesn’t mean he would have won the starting job or beaten out Sanchez, but the Jets doomed him from the start by limiting his role and anointing him as just a backup.

Now with a new general manager, the Jets better learn from this mistake, even as they prepare to move on from Tebow.

In all likelihood, there will be no second coming of Tebow in New York with his days numbered with the Jets. He is beaten, battered and bruised, and his already maligned reputation as a quarterback only got worse from his time in New York.

Tebow will likely be cut at some point in the next month or two and a forward-thinking NFL general manager will sign him to a contract. Tebow will go in and compete and push for the starting job wherever he signs — just like he should have been allowed to do with the Jets.

Follow Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer

The post Opinion: The mind-boggling Tebow trade, one year later appeared first on Metro.us.

Rather than blindly throwing your hard earned cash on your favorite team, there is some value in it if you carefully evaluate the most sensible and likely possibilities.

Obviously, any team would be lucky to have him under center but there will only be a small number of teams that meet the criteria necessary to sign him. That team must have a need for a QB, the necessary salary cap space (or ability/willingness to create it), the pieces in place to win a championship sooner rather than later (assuming Peyton is not in it for the money which I doubt), and be attractive to him aesthetically.

A number of teams will be in the running for Manning’s services. Let’s take a look at my three top options that offer some betting value. (All current odds via sportsbook.com as of this writing).

New York Jets +500 — Despite lots of opinions to the contrary, the Jets are actually a decent fit for Peyton. Let’s face it, Mark Sanchez is not the answer the Jets thought he would be. Manning could make them real contenders with the Patriots in the AFC East. Though there are some issues on the O-line, they have an established coach and system. They have enough tools on offense to make it work. They are in a big market, which would thrill Manning coming from small market Indianapolis. They have an owner and GM that would willingly create the cap space necessary to sign him. The fans would worship him. And then there’s the brother vs. brother factor that could play out on the biggest sports stage in the world. A marketing dream scenario for Peyton (and Eli).

Miami Dolphins +125 — The Dolphins make the most sense. They have a gigantic need at QB. They haven’t had a good one since Marino left so the fans would treat him like a king. Peyton has a condo on South Beach and spends a lot of time there during the offseason. He loves the weather and that could be a big factor for him, coming from the dome in Indy where bad weather isn’t an issue. Miami has a solid foundation at O-line, dynamic players in Reggie Bush and Brandon Marshall on offense, and a solid defense in place. Also consider that his favorite target with the Colts, Reggie Wayne (who played college ball for “The U”) has already made it apparent that he’d love to follow Manning to Miami if that’s where he signs. A security blanket always helps.

Arizona Cardinals +350 — Believe it or not, this could be a match. The Cards need a QB desperately. Kevin Kolb stinks, period. Arizona fans have to be salivating at the thought of Manning throwing to arguably the league’s best WR in Larry Fitzgerald. This connection could be better than Manning/Harrison back in the day. Peyton has to like the idea of it too. Arizona’s plays in a dome, a comfort that Peyton won’t find in any of the other top suitors for his services. Arizona plays in a winnable division, despite San Francisco’s amazing 2011 season.

There are other teams that will certainly be in the mix (Washington at +800, Seattle at +800, Kansas City +600) but I see the above three teams as the clear front runners. If you like wagering on futures, and you have some extra coin, taking a shot on one of these three might not be a bad idea. And being that all three are currently listed at “plus money,” the return on investment is nice.

The post Where will Peyton Manning go? Look to Vegas for a clue appeared first on Metro.us.

If you listen to talk radio in New York City, you’d think Peyton Manning was already on his way to Gang Green.

He’s not, but that doesn’t keep fans dissatisfied with Mark Sanchez from pleading their case.

A healthy Manning is better than Sanchez, no question. But if you go with Manning, you can’t fit both quarterbacks under the salary cap. You are giving up on Sanchez after three seasons for what could be Brett Favre redux.

The Jets have a bunch more pressing needs — a right tackle, a safety, a pass rusher and more.
And does Manning really want to compete for headlines with his brother? It seems unlikely.

Odds (out-of-10): 5

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals play in a weak division, indoors and with few media intrusions.

Former teammate Marshall Faulk has already chimed in, saying Manning won’t want to play in the NFC, to keep the Manning vs. Manning Super Bowl a possibility. Considering how reluctant the family has been to embrace this previously, we don’t know where that’s coming from.

It’s going to be hard to turn down throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerald. Manning has never had such a big red zone target to throw to before.

They also have a 1,000-yard rusher and a developing defense, as they were seventh in the NFL?in sacks last year.

Odds (out-of-10): 8

Miami Dolphins

All the stars in basketball and baseball are already taking their talents to South Beach. Why not Manning, too?

The Dolphins give Manning a chance to stay in the AFC, which he’s familiar with, and play in a warm weather city. It also recalls warm feelings of his only Super Bowl victory.

He would have Brandon Marshall as a target and Reggie Bush showed impressive ability down the stretch last season.

One negative is that he’ll have to go against Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan twice a year.

Odds (out-of-10): 7

The post Where does Peyton Manning go next? appeared first on Metro.us.

So close to an epic Super Bowl, one pitting a legend’s last hurrah (Ray Lewis) up against a kid that was pretty close to bagging groceries last year (Alex Smith). And a battle between two of the nastiest defenses ever assembled, one that would have evoked images of the backyard brawls of our youth, where the first team to score won the game.

Instead, we get Patriots vs. Giants on Feb. 5 in — of all places — Peyton’s Palace, in Indianapolis.

Wait, I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. We’re only one day into the script (and isn’t that what this feels like? … we saw this movie already, the ship hits an iceberg and sinks, end scene) and it’s already hard to watch. Get ready, two weeks of four-year-old highlights.

But this got us thinking here at Remember the Vet, however. What else can we watch on Super Sunday? There are no other real sporting events. The NBA and NHL games end in the early afternoon, so not an option. Don’t despair, friends. There are some alternative choices.

FOX is sticking with its usual Sunday lineup (The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, American Dad). ABC has back-to-back epsidoes of Funniest Home Videos. It’s not as good as the Bob Saget days, but it has potential.

Movies? We got Big Fish on CINEMAX. Solid. AMC has a double bill of Sleepless in Seattle followed by ET. Not bad. COMEDY CENTRAL is offering Joe Dirt (5-7 p.m.). That might get you through the first half. Or, if you want to keep it sports-related, head over to the GOLF CHANNEL and check out Tin Cup.

If you want real sports, well, the closest prime-time event is the World’s Strongest Man Competition on ESPN or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team is on marathon over on CMT.

If you want to learn something, we suggest starting with Nature on PBS from 6-7 p.m. The show profiles a wolverine, the largest animal in the weasel family. It is billed as a fearsome predator that can take down a moose. After that, switch over to ANIMAL PLANET and catch the Puppy Bowl.

We think we’ve outlined a pretty good selection up above. Still, we need something more. That’s why we’re going with Bring It On: All or Nothing (5-7 p.m.) on ABC FAMILY to start. It’s not as good as the original Bring It On, but it does star Hayden Panettiere, Rihanna and Beyonce’s less attractive (read: supremely inferior) sister. Once that ends, we’ll click on FUSE for their wildly entertaining Sexiest video series. From 8:30-10 p.m. it’ll be all Rihanna.

Wow, that actually wasn’t that hard. So go ahead, NFL, try and crush our Super Bowl dreams. We’ll be just fine — with some cold PBRs and cheap whiskey, of course.

The post Boycotting the Super Bowl? Here’s what to watch instead appeared first on Metro.us.

The playoffs are a great tool we can use to see who coaches and quarterbacks really trust.

For example, the chatter that Victor Cruz is actually a better receiver than Hakeem Nicks has quickly been squashed. Cruz is a very, very nice player. But as Nicks as shown in the last two weeks, he is a physical specimen with a better long-term outlook.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis doesn’t fumble, so he continues to play ahead of the more promising youngster, Stevan Ridley.

The Falcons blamed a lot of their running game failure on Michael Turner and are talking up the screen game for next season. The stone-handed Turner is going to see a drastic reduction in touches next year.

Arian Foster continued to prove he is matchup-proof. He was the best player on the field last week despite going against the Ravens’ elite run defense.

Fantasy NBA pickups

Depth charts are changing quickly as coaches move on from ineffective players.

1. Kemba Walker, SG, CHA — The Bobcats are going small and young, giving the explosive Walker 35-plus minutes per night. He’s got a green light to fire at will.

2. James Johnson, SF, TOR — The defensive dynamo is pushing hard for the starting gig. An average of 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals is realistic.

3. Daniel Gibson, SG, CLE — One of the best pure 3-point shooters in the game is now the starter. A real threat to make two treys per night.

The post Playoff clues to remember appeared first on Metro.us.

In fantasy, these are the players we need to take note of. Their coaches force-feed them the ball and when they get it, they do things that other mere mortals are incapable of.

Here are some guys that emerged as truly different players in 2011:

Julio at the schoolyard

Julio Jones ran a ridiculous 4.39, 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and has ideal size at 6-foot-3/220 pounds. In his rookie year, he proved that he knows how to use those measurements. Jones is already a better receiver than teammate Roddy White, dominating defenses with his physicality.  
      
Moore for Denarius

The ability to go deep at the NFL level is an art form. Denarius Moore showed that he’s close to mastering it already. His ability to adjust on long balls and make extremely tough catches is some-thing that can’t be taught.

Making it rain

If it wasn’t for Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, we’d be talking about Aaron Hernandez as the biggest freak at the tight end position. His skill set is so unique that the Patriots call reverses and bubble screens for him. That’s because in the open field, Hernandez makes defenders miss like a wideout.

The post Fantasy sports: Targeting the 2011 talents appeared first on Metro.us.

The Jets, who are 5-1 this season inside the confines of MetLife Stadium, aren’t finding the same success on the road.  

In their first two seasons under head coach Rex Ryan, the Jets were 11-5 on the road in the regular season. It was still friendly skies for the Jets come playoff time as all six of their postseason games were on the road, posting a 4-2 mark.

The Jets have completely flipped that success this year — and then some — going 1-4 away from home.

“As far as being on the road, there’s no different mentality this year; we take it week by week. It’s a huge change [from last year]. I don’t know why,” right tackle Wayne Hunter said. “We’ve been inconsistent all year, home or on the road, so that’s been the major problem.”

There doesn’t seem to be an excuse for the Jets other than their road schedule has been brutal this season. Three of their losses — in Oakland, Baltimore and New England — came against teams currently at the top of their divisions.

“I give credit to the teams that beat us, but at the same time, we haven’t played Jets football. They might have been games on the road but we didn’t do ourselves any favors,” Hunter said. “We got outplayed in those game in two of the three phases. That’s not good enough at home or on the road.”

But with a game at FedEx Field on Sunday against the Redskins, the Jets have an opportunity to get their second road win of the season. Especially encouraging for them is that Washington is just 2-3 at home and has been badly outmuscled in several of their home losses. Even though the Redskins have lost three straight at home, the Jets are anticipating that their hosts won’t be hospitable.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Ryan said. “They play with a certain personality in their stadium.”

And no one on the Jets roster knows how difficult of a place Washington, D.C. can be to play than wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who made several visits to the nation’s capital while a member of the Giants. Redskins fans are loud and passionate, creating an intense and hostile environment.

“I know those guys pretty well, they’re going to come out fighting, especially playing at home and their fans are really into it,” Burress said. “It’s important for us to get off to a fast start, get into a groove.”

“It’s just on us. We’ve played in a lot of tough environments; we just need to get back to that way of playing [from last year],” fullback John Conner said. “I can’t understand it; I can’t explain it. It’s all about us — playing with confidence, playing as a team and trusting in our assignments. That’s what is important and we need to make sure we do that and get that swagger back.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.

The post Jets not finding success on the road appeared first on Metro.us.

If you’re drooling over your dominant regular-season record and not prepping for the playoffs, you’re making a big mistake. Now is the time to add defenses, protect yourself with handcuffs and examine matchups.

Here are teams with the worst schedules for fantasy production in Weeks 15 and 16.

Sorry, St. Louis
The Rams host the Bengals in Week 15 and then travel to Pittsburgh in Week 16. Yikes. Owners riding Steven Jackson need to explore other options and Brandon Lloyd deserves a downgrade as well.
          
Frankly, trouble
Frank Gore’s role in the passing game has been reduced to nil. His burst is also gone. And in the fantasy playoffs, he’ll face the dominant run defenses of the Steelers and Seahawks. Also, Vernon Davis will be asked to block more than catch in these spots.       

Lynch mob
Marshawn Lynch’s surprising run of exceptional play is about to end. He has no chance in Chicago come Week 15 and he’ll get swallowed up by the Niners in Week 16.

Top NFL picks

Donald Brown
]RB, Colts
Right now, Brown is simply a better player than Joseph Addai. He’ll lead Indy in
carries going forward.   

Riley Cooper
WR,?Eagles
Jeremy Maclin remains
sidelined. Vince Young has targeted Cooper 16 times in the last two games.

Maurice Morris
RB, Lions
With Kevin Smith (ankle)?in doubt, Morris will get plenty of checkdowns once again this week.

The post Scheduling from hell appeared first on Metro.us.

To call last week’s effort in the rushing game pathetic would be an understatement.

They had 17 rushes for 29 yards … as a team. A 1.7 yards per rush average is actually hard to do.

Ahmad Bradshaw won’t play in tonight’s game — the fourth straight he has missed due to the cracked bone in his foot. At the time of the injury Bradshaw said he hoped to miss only a game or two, but that has stretched out to a month.

Brandon Jacobs will be left to pick up the slack. He was booed heavily a week ago. Da’Rel Scott may see more carries this week.

2. Who steps up to cover Jimmy Graham?

Maybe the best player in the NFL?you haven’t heard of is Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.

Graham was fourth in the NFL?in receiving yards before Week 12. Not fourth in receiving yards among tight ends, but fourth in the league among all receivers.

He has 62 catches for 879 yards. He trailed only Wes Welker, Steve Smith and Mike Wallace. The second-year player from Miami also has six touchdowns.

3. Dealing with injuries… yet again.

It’s been a recurring story for the Giants all season — who is out and who replaces him?

Bradshaw is out as mentioned, but linebacker Michael Boley appears to be out for his second straight game also. Mark Herzlich played solidly in his first start, but will need to be better in pass coverage, especially with Graham at tight end.

Tackle Will Beatty will also be out.

The post Giants vs. Saints: 3 things to watch appeared first on Metro.us.

LeSean McCoy, the man affectionately known as “Shady,” is as shifty as runner as there is in the league and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, because he’s also a deft receiving option out of the backfield.

McCoy is having a Pro Bowl-type season on the ground (906 yards and 10 touchdowns), but he’s also able to keep defensive coordinators awake at night because he’s third on the team in receptions (31) and fifth in receiving yards (196). He has two receiving touchdowns as well.

2. Will Vick suit up or sit this one out?

Vick is suffering from two broken ribs, but to a man in the Giants’ locker room, everyone is preparing this week as if Vick will start.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said he too thinks Vick will start and added he’ll think that until the time Vick doesn’t come out for warm-ups.

Coughlin added that should Vick not play, the game plan won’t change too much because backup Vince Young is also a very mobile quarterback.

3. Can Jacobs fill in for Bradshaw?

It looks like Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) will miss his third straight game, so it’ll be up to Brandon Jacobs to pick up the slack.

While New York has turned into a passing team this season, thanks to the ascension of Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin still seeks balance. Unfortunately, he hasn’t gotten it yet as the Giants are near the bottom in rushing yards (89.2 yards per game) and yards per carry (3.3).

The post Giants vs. Eagles: 3 things to watch appeared first on Metro.us.

Curse of Doug Flutie strikes!

Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips benched QB Doug Flutie before the 1999 playoffs, despite the fact he had gone 10-5. The Flutie-less Bills then lost to Tennessee thanks to the controversial “Music City Miracle.” The Bills have never returned to the playoffs. And any team that has employed Phillips since then has suffered incredible misfortune. The Houston Texans, where Phillips is the defensive coordinator, is the latest victim of the Curse of Flutie.
   
Houston was enjoying the greatest season in its history: a franchise-best 7-3 record, on pace for its first playoff appearance and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and the top scoring differential in the AFC (+107), a reliable indicator of Super Bowl potential. But on Monday we learned that the team had lost Pro Bowl-caliber QB Matt Schaub for the season. Some call it coincidence. We call it another triumph for the dreaded Curse of Flutie.   

FFchamps.com’s ‘Start and Sit’
   
Start him
SEA RB Marshawn Lynch He averages 122 yards per game over last two weeks; St. Louis defense allows NFL-worst 150 yards per game and is No. 29 with 5.1 yards per rush attempt.

Sit him
ARZ RB Beanie Wells
Cardinals back averages just 55 yards per game in last three; San Francisco is No. 1 in run defense (73.2 yards per game). 

The post The Cold, Hard Football Facts appeared first on Metro.us.

Bills (5-4) at Dolphins (2-7)

Line: Dolphins -2 (O/U 43)
The Scoop: Everyone is jumping off the Bills bandwagon. This is still the Miami Dolphins people.
Pick: Bills

Bengals (6-3) at Ravens (6-3)

Line: Ravens -7 (O/U 40.5)
The Scoop: The public is also getting off Cincy. But they are 7-2 ATS this year and are getting a full score.
Pick: Bengals

Jaguars (3-6) at Browns (3-6)

Line: Jaguars -1 (O/U 34)
The Scoop: Browns are winless ATS (0-3-2) in their last five games. Both teams stink, but the Jags do less.
Pick: Jaguars

Raiders (5-4) at Vikings (2-7)

Line: Raiders -1 (O/U 45.5)
The Scoop: Oakland is 0-2-1 ATS in the last three games they have been favorites.
Pick: Vikings

Panthers (2-7) at Lions (6-3)

Line: Lions -7 (O/U 47.5)
The Scoop: We like the Lions to bounce back at home.
Pick: Lions

Bucs (4-5) at Packers (9-0)

Line: Packers -14 (O/U 48.5)
The Scoop: Tampa is 1-5 ATS?in their last six games. The Packers will stumble soon, but not here.
Pick: Packers

Cowboys (504) at Redskins (3-6)

Line: Cowboys -8 (O/U 41.5)
The Scoop: Washington is 0-5 ATS?in their last five and it’s not like they’ve been favored then either.
Pick: Cowboys

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

Cardinals (3-6) at 49ers (8-1)

Line: 49ers -10 (O/U 41)
The Scoop: Might as well stick with the Niners until they lose ATS (8-0-1 so far).
Pick: 49ers

Seahawks (3-6) at Rams (2-7)

Line: Rams -1 (O/U 39)
The Scoop: Seattle regularly surprises ATS, as they now stand 5-3-1 on the season.
Pick: Seahawks

Titans (5-4) at Falcons (5-4)

Line: Falcons -7 (O/U 44)
The Scoop: The Falcons are simply the better team.
Pick: Falcons

Sunday 4:15 p.m.

Chargers (4-5) at Bears (6-3

Line: Bears -4 (O/U 45)
The Scoop: The Chargers have been quite the enigma this season — even more than usual. While the Bears have been on an unbelievable roll. The history isn’t good for the Bolts either. They are 2-9 ATS in their last 11, 1-5 in their last six on the road and 1-4 in their last five againt the Bears.
Pick: Bears

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Eagles vs. Giants

Line: Giants -4.5 (O/U 46.5)
Key injuries: QB Mike Vick (ribs) questionable. WR Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) questionable. S Nate Allen (concussion) probable. LB?Michael Boley (hamstring) questionable. RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) questionable.
The scoop: We would love to break down the spreads and what they mean for this game, but that would be all dependent on who plays quarterback. If the line isn’t off-the-board you will see the Giants as a small favorite. It appears like Mike Vick won’t play with two fractured ribs, but we don’t know for sure. If Vick doesn’t play you have to like the Giants here, at home, against a division rival they would love to put down for the season.
Pick: Giants 

Monday, 8:30 p.m.

Chiefs (4-5) at Patriots (6-3)

Line: Patriots -14.5 (O/U 46.5)
The Scoop: Talk about a big spread. Generally our feeling is you always should go with a team that is getting more than two touchdowns. The NFL just isn’t a blow-out league like you get in college. Then again, usually your starting quarterback isn’t Tyler Palko. The Pats really should roll in this one.
Pick: Patriots

College Football

Friday, 8 p.m.

Ok. State (10-2) at Iowa State (5-4)

Line: Oklahoma State -28
The Scoop: The Cowboys have had more than 2 TD spreads three weeks in a row and covered every time.
Pick: Oklahoma State

Saturday, Noon

Wisconsin (8-2) at Illinois (6-4)

Line: Wisconsin -15
The Scoop: Illinois is just 2-5 ATS?in their last seven games after starting 2-1 against lesser competition.
Pick:?Wisconsin

Nebraska (8-2) at Michigan (8-2)

Line: Michigan -3.5
The Scoop: Nebraska is just 3-6-1 ATS?this season, despite their overall impressive record.
Pick: Michigan

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Clemson (9-1) at NC State (5-5)

Line: Clemson -8
The Scoop: Clemson is 7-3 ATS this season. The Wolfpack is 3-6-1. Why is Clemson only giving 8?
Pick: Clemson

Penn St. (8-2) at Ohio St. (6-4)

Line: Ohio State -7
The Scoop: The Lions are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12. And, well, you know.
Pick:?Ohio State

Cincinnati (7-2) at Rutgers (7-3)

Line: Cincinnati -3
The Scoop: Rutgers is 1-4 ATS?in their last five against Cincy, plus they’ve struggled in conference.
Pick: Cincinnati

Saturday, 6 p.m.

Miss. St (5-5) at Arkansas (9-1)

Line: Arkansas -13.5
The Scoop: The Razorbacks have struggled on the road ATS. Not at home. They’ve covered three straight.
Pick: Arkansas

BC (3-7) at Notre Dame (7-3)

Line: Notre Dame -24.5
The Scoop: The Irish have covered 20+ point spreads against Navy and Maryland in their last three games.
Pick: Notre Dame

Saturday, 8 p.m.

USC (8-2) at Oregon (9-1)

Line: Oregon -15
The Scoop: The Trojans may become a trendy pick, with the line dropping, but we like the Ducks at home.
Pick: Oregon

Cal (6-4) at Stanford (9-1)

Line: Stanford -18
The Scoop: The Cardinal should bounce back against their rivals.
Pick: Stanford

The post Weekend football betting guide: Week 11 appeared first on Metro.us.

So after a week that saw a fistful of quarterbacks go down with injuries, there’s reason for concern. After all, a wideout is worthless if his quarterback can’t get him the ball. Should we be selling?

Bad for Bowe
With Matt Cassel done for the year, the Chiefs are turning to Tyler Palko. Yikes. Palko is a former undrafted free agent, possesses a weak arm and has poor size. These are all major red flags for an offense that was already skewed toward the run. Sell Dwayne Bowe while you can as his talent can’t overcome this.
          
Trojan horse
Before we write off Matt Leinart, let’s remember his credentials coming out of college. He’s got a big arm and he’s willing to use it. Considering Andre Johnson is perhaps the best all-around receiver in the league, he’ll sustain high-end WR2 value.       

Vinsanity
If Vince Young ends up starting in place of Michael Vick, look for lots of rollouts and short passes underneath. Give Brent Celek a boost, but don’t expect DeSean Jackson to finally break out. Young figures to play it conservative.

Top NFL pickups

Denarius Moore
WR, Raiders
Freakish talent, a full-time starting role and a quarterback not afraid to chuck it deep. Moore is for real.   

Lance Ball
RB,?Broncos
Knowshon Moreno (knee) is done for the year and the Broncos run the ball 800 times per game.

Vince Young
QB, Eagles
Michael Vick is shaky for this week and won’t push it once the Eagles are mathematically eliminated. Young runs.

The post Fantasy football: Quarterback carnage appeared first on Metro.us.

Of course you remember when Johnson’s Broncos stunned Oklahoma in one of the wildest bowl games of the last decade, but this week an NFL player scored a touchdown and ran to give his girlfriend — a cheerleader on the opposing team — the ball.

In the Bills-Cowboys game Sunday, the crowd was stunned by what went down, and the announcers, who apparently don’t read sports blogs, had no clue what was going on.

David Nelson plays for the Bills. He’s from Texas and went to the University of Florida. Kelsi Reich is his girlfriend, and she’s a cheerleader for the Cowboys.

After Nelson scored he jogged down the sideline toward his girlfriend. The camera operator seemed to know what was up, but the announcers were clueless about the whole thing.

Reich hopped on Twitter Sunday and showed everyone the ball, proclaiming she was the “happiest girl in the world.”

Uninformed vs. ‘fans’

I lobbied the editor of this space to get in a word about the lurid Penn State scandal. How can I not at least address what is the biggest scandal in the history of college sports? I’ll try to be succinct in my two points on the subject.

There are two groups of people chiming in on this sordid tale: Those who have read the 23-page grand jury report (they’re informed), and those who haven’t (they’re uninformed).

While the report is detailed, it does not include everyone’s entire testimony. It did contain enough detail to press charges against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky though.

At the same time, there are two other groups of people who feel compelled to talk about the topic: college football “fans” and people who have zero connection to the sport besides maybe having heard of Joe Paterno prior to the scandal.

A large portion of college football “fans,” for whatever reason, find it hard to believe a coverup could take place. Most of these people have not read the grand jury report.

People who live in a world unaware 107,000 people pack Beaver Stadium every game think everyone involved in the scandal knew what was going on and, disgustingly, did nothing.

– Jason Raj McIntyre covers athletes off the field and runs the popular blog, The Big Lead.

The post An indecent proposal? appeared first on Metro.us.

The main thing to look for in this game will be Frank Gore — a lot of Frank Gore.

The 49ers make no secret that they utilize Gore to the fullest. He’s their best — and some say only — offensive weapon. Gore has had a great season so far, posting 782 yards, 4.9 yards per carry and five scores. He is the backbone of an offense that would rather not put the onus on quarterback Alex Smith.
He’s having a career season, but his past makes the Niners faithful weary.

The Niners will look to pound a suddenly suspect Giants run defense.

2. Eli’s coming, hide your cornerbacks

Eli Manning is the hottest quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers and will look to keep it rolling against a very steady 49ers defense.

It’ll be a tough task, because Manning hasn’t had the luxury of his counterpart Alex Smith, who has a premier running game behind him.

Look for the Giants to implement a pass-heavy scheme to offset their inconsistent rushing attack. Manning was a turnover machine last season, but has been very judicious this season.

3. Will the injuries ever end?

The health of the Giants will also have a huge influence on the outcome.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw is having a bad statistical year and to compound that he’s also been banged up with a foot injury. His availability will be a game-time decision. The status of wideout Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) shouldn’t be as secretive. He’s slated to give it a go, but his effectiveness will be a mystery until the game starts.      

The post Giants at 49ers: 3 things to watch appeared first on Metro.us.

Stats point to Packers repeat

NFL teams win championships when they dominate through the air. Simply look at Passer
Rating Differential, which subtracts a team’s  Defensive Passer Rating from its Offensive Passer Rating. We call it the “mother of all stats” because 60 percent of NFL champions since 1940 were No. 1 or No. 2 in PRD.  
   
The 8-0 Packers are on pace for the second-best PRD since 1966 (the Super Bowl era). Here’s a look at the top 10 since then (nonstrike years). Teams in bold won the Super Bowl.  

1. 1966 Packers (+56.0 PRD, 12-2 record)
2. 2011 Packers (+47.0, 8-0)
3. 1989 49ers (+46.3, 14-2)
4. 1975 Vikings (+44.6, 12-2)
5. 1975 Steelers (+43.9, 12-2)
6. 1994 49ers (+43.3, 13-3)
7. 1999 Rams (+42.5, 13-3)
8. 1975 Bengals (+42.1, 11-3)
9. 1976 Lions (+40.9, 6-8)
10. 1996 Pack (+40.3, 13-3)

FFchamps.com’s ‘Start and Sit’
   
Start him
Denver RB Willis McGahee might be 30, but this Bronco is a long way from the glue factory. He’s
averaged 103 rushing yards over his six starts, with a high of 163 last week against Oakland.

Sit him
Bucs RB LeGarrette Blount is running hard, but his production has been greatly compromised by Tampa Bay being forced to throw a lot while in catch-up mode. And they’re almost always in catch-up mode.

The post The Cold, Hard Football Facts appeared first on Metro.us.

It was just about that long ago when the Jets came to town, losers of two in a row, with reports of the team imploding.

There were arguments between teammates. There was frustration with team production and results. It seemed like Rex Ryan was losing grip on his cast of characters — Antonio Cromartie, Plaxico Burress and Bart Scott, to name a few.

Of course, New York lost to the Patriots, dropping to 2-3 on the season. Immediately, they “just weren’t that good” and “didn’t do enough in the offseason” to remain legitimate contenders.

New England, on the other hand, improved to 4-1, and things were looking up. Wes Welker was on a historic pace, and Tom Brady’s offense was good enough to overcome a terrible defense.

Now fast forward to Nov. 11.

It’s the Patriots, not the Jets, who are reeling going into the rematch. Back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Giants have shown that a well-rounded opponent can easily exploit New England’s defense — and stop their offense just enough times. In a copy-cat league like the NFL, the blueprint may just be out on stopping the “juggernaut” in Foxborough.

With failed draft picks, poor offseason signings and a team that seems to have lost its mojo, the Patriots are in danger of losing their third game in a row for the first time since 2002.

Ryan challenged the rest of the league to beat the Pats this season. Three teams have done it.

Ryan is going to do his all to become the fourth. Bill Belichick is going to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Consider Week 10 a season-altering one.

The post Patriots at Jets: It doesn’t get any bigger than Sunday appeared first on Metro.us.

Jaguars (2-6) at Colts (0-9)

Line: Jaguars -3 (O/U 38)
The Scoop: Indy is 0-5 ATS?in their last five. They stink on all possible fronts.
Pick: Jaguars

Saints (6-3) at Falcons (5-3)

Line: Saints -1 (O/U 50)
The Scoop: A meaningless spread, so basically pick ‘em. The Saints are the better team. But take the over too.
Pick: Saints

Texans (6-3) at Bucs (4-4)

Line: Texans -3 (O/U 45.5)
The Scoop: Tampa is just 1-4 ATS?in their last five after starting 2-1. The trend will continue.
Pick: Texans

Steelers (6-3) at Bengals (6-2)

Line: Steelers -3 (O/U 41.5)
The Scoop: It’s surprising so many have jumped on the Cincy bandwagon. You shouldn’t.
Pick: Steelers

Titans (4-4) at Panthers (2-6)

Line: Panthers -3.5 (O/U 46)
The Scoop: Titans are 1-7 SU?in their last eight road games.
Pick: Panthers

Cardinals (2-6) at Eagles (3-5)

Line: n/a
The Scoop: With Kevin Kolb questionable this is off the board. When the line is set, the Eagles will cover.
Pick: Eagles (regardless)

Broncos (3-5) at Chiefs (4-4)

Line: Chiefs -3.5 (O/U 41)
The Scoop: Denver is 2-0 on the road ATS?with Tim Tebow as a starter. He loves being the underdog.
Pick: Broncos

Bills (5-3) at Cowboys (4-4)

Line: Cowboys -5.5 (O/U 48)
The Scoop: The bettors think the Bills’ slide continues. Then again, the public always loves the ‘Boys.
Pick: Bills

Rams (1-7) at Browns (3-5)

Line: Browns -3 (O/U 37)
The Scoop: The Rams’ only win ATS?this year was also their only win SU. They do the same here.
Pick: Rams

Redskins (3-5) at Dolphins (1-7)

Line: Dolphins -4 (O/U 38)
The Scoop: Jump on?Miami just like everyone else. There’s a reason.
Pick: Dolphins

Sunday 4:05 p.m.

Ravens (6-2) at Seahawks (2-6)

Line: Ravens -6.5 (O/U 41)
The Scoop: All they have to do is win by a touchdown? That is way too easy for Baltimore.
Pick: Ravens

Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

Giants (6-2) at 49ers (7-1)

Line: 49ers -3.5 (O/U 42.5)
The Scoop: Always pick the veterans when people jump on a bandwagon.
Pick: Giants

Lions (6-2) at Bears (5-3)

Line: Bears -3 (O/U 45.5)
The Scoop: Detroit is 10-2-1 ATS?in their last 13 and undefeated on the road ATS in their last six games.
Pick: Lions

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Patriots at Jets

Line: Jets -1(O/U 47.5)
Key Injuries: WR Plaxico Burress (back) questionable. RB Joe McKnight (toe) questionable. S
Brodney Pool (knee) questionable. Patrick Chung (foot) questionable. LB Brandon Spikes (knee) questionable.
The scoop: You can throw out the line with it so close. It’s basically a pick ‘em. The Jets are riding a hot streak coming in; the Pats are doing just the opposite. The game will depend heavily on injuries. If Plaxico Burress plays, it’s hard not to like the Jets. He is uncoverable in the end zone. Right now, it looks like he’ll play. We’ll go with the hot team evening up the season series.
Pick: Jets

Monday, 8:30 p.m.

Vikings (2-6) at Packers (8-0)

Line: Packers -14 (O/U 51)
The Scoop: The Pack only won by 6 at Minnesota.
Pick: Vikings

College Football

Saturday, Noon

Wake (5-4) at Clemson (8-1)

Line: Clemson -17
The Scoop: Clemson has covered big spreads this year and beat Wake by 20 last season.
Pick: Clemson

Nebraska (7-2) at Penn State (8-1)

Line: Nebraska -3
The Scoop: Ugh. Nebraska is really a better team regardless of the craziness. Let’s just stick with that.
Pick: Nebraska

Mich. St. (7-2) at Iowa (6-3)

Line: Michigan State -3
The Scoop: Iowa has won SU five times in a row against Sparty. That streak will end.
Pick: Michigan State

Okla. St. (9-0) at Texas Tech (5-4)

Line: Oklahoma St. -17.5
The Scoop: Tech has been blown out two weeks in a row. No reason to think they won’t be again.
Pick: Oklahoma St.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TCU (7-2) at Boise State (8-0)

Line: Boise State -15.5
The Scoop: Not the TCU teams of the past couple seasons.
Pick: Boise State

Auburn (6-3) at Georgia (7-2)

Line: Georgia -13
The Scoop: An awfully big spread for a team that barely beat Tennessee, Vandy and Florida.
Pick: Auburn

Saturday, 6 p.m.

Tennessee (4-5) at Arkansas (8-1)

Line: Arkansas -14.5
The Scoop: The Vols are 0-4 ATS?in their last four conference games. And three of those were at home.
Pick: Arkansas

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Western Ky. (5-4) at LSU (9-0)

Line: LSU -41.5
The Scoop: In all honesty, stay away from this game. It’ll be all back-ups probably, so they might not cover.
Pick: Western Kentucky

Saturday, 7:45 p.m.

Alabama (8-1) at Miss. St. (5-4)

Line: Alabama -18.5
The Scoop: Alabama has blown out the Bulldogs three years in a row. The average margin has been 23.3.
Pick: Alabama

Saturday, 8 p.m.

Oregon (8-1) at Stanford (9-0)

Line: Stanford -3.5
The Scoop: The Cardinal was blown out, 52-31, by Oregon last season.
Pick: Oregon

The post Weekend football betting guide: Week 10 appeared first on Metro.us.

Everyone knows that Fred Jackson is fantasy’s MVP, Chris Johnson is the biggest bust and Cam Newton is the rookie of the year. But what about these categories:

Injury of the year
It’s unlikely that owners were able to overcome Jamaal Charles’s season-ending Week 2 ACL tear. He had no clear handcuff and getting running back help during the season is brutal. While Kenny Britt’s knee injury was painful, there are enough wideouts out there to overcome it.       
          
Best performance
In Week 4 against the Broncos, Aaron Rodgers piled up more fantasy points than Vernon Davis or Mario Manningham have all season. He threw for 408 yards, ran for 36 more and scored six total touchdowns.      

Top waiver add
Victor Cruz wasn’t drafted coming out of UMass. He also wasn’t drafted in any fantasy leagues. But he has bucked the odds, establishing himself as a highly-productive No. 3 receiver and outscoring guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Brandon Marshall along the way.

Top NFL pickups

Roy Helu
RB, Redskins
Locked in as the every-down back in an offense that loves to check down to its backs. Major PPR?upside.   

Laurent Robinson
WR,?Cowboys
With Miles Austin out 2-4 weeks, Robinson is going to be a target hog. In this offense, he’ll have WR2 value.

Jacoby Ford
WR, Raiders
Ford has replaced Darrius Heyward-Bey as a starter. Has elite speed to catch up to bombs from?Carson Palmer.

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Earlier this week, a report came out that the wife of Bills running back Fred Jackson didn’t draft her husband until the fifth round of her fantasy draft, because she didn’t know what type of year he was in for.

It is shaping up to be a career year for him. He is fourth in the AFC with 721 rushing yards and adds plenty to the team with receptions and good blocking in the backfield.

“He continues to amaze me. He’s got all three aspects of the game. He can run it, he can catch it and he can block,” Bills head coach Chan Gailey said.

2. He is a real Harvard man

It was widely known that Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was a cerebral quarterback. He wowed scouts and management types seven years ago before the NFL draft with his intellect and Wonderlic scores, but no one knew if his play in the Ivy League could translate to Sundays.

He’s had plenty of rough patches, but Fitzpatrick would hold onto the starting job. This season, he has 1,739 passing yards including 14 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

3.  Watch out for the bye effect

Now in his third year with the team, head coach Rex Ryan has never won after a bye with the Jets, including a 9-0 clunker in Week 8 last year against Green Bay.

For whatever reason, Ryan hasn’t found the formula for success after a bye week and he offered no specifics this week though the Jets did practice in pads on Wednesday to get the blood flowing again after the layoff.

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Falcons (4-3) at Colts (0-8)

Line: Falcons -7.5 (O/U 44.5)
The Scoop: Only 7.5 points? This is the 0-8 Colts, right? Indy is 2-6 ATS as well. Atlanta big.
Pick: Falcons

Bucs (4-3) at Saints (5-3)

Line: Saints -8.5 (O/U 50)
The Scoop: The Saints are just 2-6 SU and 1-7 ATS?in their last eight games against the Bucs in New Orleans.
Pick: Buccaneers

Browns (3-4) at Texans (5-3)

Line: Texans -10.5 (O/U 41)
The Scoop: Browns are awful on the road and have just two wins ATS in their last 11 games.
Pick:Texans

Jets (4-3) at Bills (5-2)

Line: Bills -2 (O/U 44)
The Scoop: Basically a pick ’em type of game. Ignore the spread. We like a Jets team on the rise.
Pick:Jets

Dolphins (0-7) at Chiefs (4-3)

Line: Chiefs -4 (O/U 40.5)
The Scoop: Way too small a line for a team 1-6 ATS.
Pick:Chiefs

49ers (6-1) at Redskins (3-4)

Line: 49ers -4 (O/U 38)
The Scoop: Not only are the Niners doing well SU, they are also undefeated (6-0-1) ATS.
Pick: 49ers

Seahawks (2-5) at Cowboys (3-4)

Line: Cowboys -12 (O/U 44)
The Scoop: Seattle is 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight on the road and 0-5 ATS in their last five against Dallas.
Pick: Cowboys

Sunday 4:05 p.m.

Broncos (2-5) at Raiders (4-3)

Line: Raiders -9 (O/U 42.5)
The Scoop: Denver is just 2-5 ATS this year and you know the Raiders will want to run it up.
Pick: Raiders

Sunday, 4:15 p.m.

Packers (7-0) at Chargers (4-3)

Line: Packers -5.5 (O/U 50.5)
The Scoop: The Pack is easily the best team in football.
Pick: Packers

Giants (5-2) at Patriots (5-2)

Line: Patriots -9 (O/U 50.5)
The Scoop: Everyone is jumping big on the Patriots to win this game. Neither team has looked particularly consistent in compiling the same record. So here’s a funny stat for you: The Patriots are 4-1 SU against the Giants in their last five meetings. However, they are just 1-4 ATS in those games.
Pick: Giants

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Ravens vs. Steelers

Line: Steelers -3
(O/U 42)
Key Injuries: WR Hines Ward (ankle) questionable. WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee) out. LB James Harrison (eye) questionable. NT Haloti Ngata (thigh) questionable. C Matt Birk (neck) questionable.
The Scoop: You know this game will be physical and you know it will be close — at least before this year’s opening game blowout by Baltimore. Steelers get the three points for playing at home, so
Vegas isn’t exactly sure who will win. We like the Steelers to get some revenge against a Ravens team that is clearly struggling. It doesn’t hurt that the Ravens are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Steelers. You only need a touchdown more to win it.
Pick: Steelers

Monday, 8:30 p.m.

Bears (4-3) at Eagles (3-4)

Line: Eagles -8 (O/U 47)
The Scoop: Both teams are coming in on two-game winning streaks after a bit (or a lot) of shakiness. These teams have played within five points — one way or the other — in their last four meetings. That gives you the idea this game will be close. Since both teams are 3-4 ATS this year, we’ll go with a close game.
Pick: Bears

College Football

Saturday, Noon

Syracuse (4-3) at UConn (6-1)

Line: UConn -2
The Scoop: The Huskies shouldn’t be favored. Also, the stands will be empty … basketball season began.
Pick: Syracuse

Michigan (7-1) at Iowa (5-3)

Line: Michigan -4
The Scoop: Iowa is just 2-3 ATS?in their last five and lost SU?to Minnesota last week.
Pick: Michigan

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Purdue (4-4) at Wisconsin (7-1)

Line: Wisconsin -26
The Scoop: Yes, the Badgers are coming off two bad losses. But Purdue lost by 28 to Notre Dame.
Pick: Wisconsin

Saturday, 3 p.m.

Texas A&M (5-3) at Oklahoma (7-1)

Line: Oklahoma -14
The Scoop: The loss to TTU took off the pressure. The Sooners roll.
Pick: Oklahoma

Stanford (8-0) at Oregon St. (2-6)

Line: Stanford -21.5
The Scoop: A miracle cover last week kept Stanford on a spread-covering streak. They should win easy.
Pick: Stanford

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Cincinnati (6-1) at Pittsburgh (4-4)

Line: Cincinnati -3.5
The Scoop: Cincinnati is a paper tiger. They’ve beaten no one. Even with no Ray Graham we like Pitt.
Pick: Pittsburgh

Saturday, 7:15 p.m.

S. Carolina (7-1) at Arkansas (7-1)

Line: Arkansas -5.5
The Scoop: Arkansas is just 2-4 ATS?in their last six games despite their impressive record overall.
Pick: South Carolina

Saturday, 8 p.m.

Notre Dame (5-3) at Wake (5-3)

Line: Notre Dame -14
The Scoop: Wake Forest has lost three straight ATS. Besides, the Irish are just a better team.
Pick: Notre Dame

LSU (8-0) at Alabama (8-0)

Line: Alabama -4.5
The Scoop: The real national title. Bama wins it comfortably.
Pick: Alabama

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