The Fifth Down: Monday Matchup: Ravens at Jaguars

Ravens at Jaguars, 8:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
Line: Ravens by 9?

You know a franchise is in sorry shape when even opponents are nostalgic about its past. Ray Lewis sounded almost misty-eyed last week when he talked about the glory days of the Ravens-Jaguars rivalry. The teams played twice a year from 1996 through 2001 in the old A.F.C. Central and had some memorable meetings, including a 6-3 game in 2000 that featured 10 sacks and only 374 yards of total offense. “You know, we did have some great rivalries with the Jaguars for many years — for many, many years,” Lewis said, pining for the days of Fred Taylor, Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith.

?Baltimore and Jacksonville now meet every three years, and any “great Jaguars rivalries” have receded into the past. The Jaguars are on a five-game losing streak since their narrow 16-14 win over the Titans in the season opener, with the rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert completing 48.8 percent of his passes while opponents stack the line to stop the team’s one recognizable star, Maurice Jones-Drew. Lewis also had kind words for another figure from the past: Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio, a former Ravens assistant. “Anytime you play a Jack Del Rio team, you have to know that they’re going to be ready to play,” he said. Even if you’re not certain who they are.

Pick: Ravens?
(Pick does not reflect betting line)

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Fantasy Faux Pas Monday: Shanahanigans!

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Fantasy Faux Pas, Josh Freeman, Mike Shanahan, Peyton Hillis, Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower, Victor Cruz, Washington Redskins

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It’s that time again. Time to pay penance for your Sunday fantasy football sins with our weekly Fantasy Faux Pas blog. This week, many of you have joined us because you were led astray. Hoodwinked. Bamboozled. In short, you were the victim of Shanahanigans. For some people, it took the form of starting Tim Hightower like @PunchByeYa.

playing Tim Hightower. I could’ve left it blank and gotten the same amount of points.

For others, it meant going with Ryan Torain, like @MikeEfff

started ryan torain instead of ernest graham (becasuse you told us too!!) probably will cost me the win

Our bad. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Then again, it could have been worse. You could have been @onthenickel.

Determined not to get Shanahaned, I started Torain AND HIghtower. I got Shanahananahaned

Yes. Yes you did.

But not all fantasy fails originated in the D.C. Beltway. Strange things were afoot in the Midwest as well. Just ask @DodgerJunkie.

starting Peyton Hillis!!!! What a waste of a start! Let down of the week

As frustrating as that was, it might not have been as bad as fantasy owners like @MikeBfo20, who ran out of patience with Josh Freeman a little too soon.

I dropped Josh Freeman 2 weeks ago. The guy I’m playing got him off ww and he is +5 Thomas vs Greene MNF

Sometimes patience is a virtue. Although @gltorno might have been too virtuous for her own good.

I’ve left Victor Cruz on the bench the last 3 wks and finally started him this week.

Sad face, indeed. Yet for as bad as you think you have it, this week’s big winner (loser?) is @nsatterl and his Tales of Fantasy Woe.

losing to an opponent who started 2 players on bye. Thanks to felix jones, gresham, cruz, and MINN. D.\

Yeah, good luck living that one down in next year’s draft. All we can say is…next week is a new week. Here’s to not stubbing our toes again.

– Marcas Grant

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The Fifth Down: Brandon Marshall's Monday Night Promise

Dolphins (0-4) at Jets (2-3), 8:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

Just in time for the Halloween costume season, Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall vowed to “play like a monster” on Monday. He plans to make the most of what he thinks will be a brief appearance.

“I don’t know if it’s throwing a football 15 yards in the bleachers, or getting a 15-yarder, or punting the ball and getting thrown out of the game,” he said Thursday. “I’ll probably get kicked out after the second quarter.”

He said the threat of a $50,000 fine would not change his mind. At least Marshall sounds pumped up. Miami may be the flattest, most listless team in the league. The Dolphins are winless without style, their mediocre offense lacks star power, and their defense is almost incapable of producing sacks (six) or interceptions (two).

If they become any more nondescript, they will become the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Florida is not big enough for two such teams. Marshall versus His Own Impulses makes a fine undercard for Jets versus Themselves, the compelling main event Monday night.

With the backup quarterback Matt Moore under center for the rest of the season and Marshall talking like a man who hopes to clock out at 10 p.m., the Dolphins are no match for the Jets. But the fractious Jets do not need an adversary, and while Marshall’s rant was less-than-professional, he has one up on Santonio Holmes: he did not drag any teammates into it. Pick: Jets

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Monday Night Live: Dolphins-Jets

Join our ESPN.com NFL experts as they break down the "Monday Night Football" match up between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET. See you there.

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3rd Round Pick DL Ellis Could Make His Debut Monday Night

With defensive end Ropati Pitoitua’s availability for Monday night in question, Jets third-round defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis could make his NFL debut against the Dolphins, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said on Friday.

“I think it’s looking that way,” Pettine said via Connor Orr of The Star-Ledger. “I think this is a team that I know will try and establish the run. It’s a pretty good offensive line we’re going against and again, not sure of Ropati’s eligibility.

“I could see this being the week, he’s certainly getting the reps in practice, but that decision has yet to be made. He’ll be ready to go.”

Pitoitua has not practiced this week due to a knee injury.

A third-round pick out of Hampton, the 6-foot-5, 346-pound Ellis had seven tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass defensed in the preseason, but has been unable to crack the team’s 46-man roster on gamedays.

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AP Source: Big East Leaders Slated to Vote Monday

To help convince some of the candidates — such as Boise State — that the Big East will be stable in the long run, the conference has a plan in place to double its exit fee to $10 million.

An official in the Big East told The Associated Press that conference leaders are slated to vote Monday on raising that fee, which will clear the way to invite six new members.

Along with Boise State, which would be invited only to play football in the Big East, the league also wants to invite Air Force and Navy as football-only members and Conference USA members Central Florida, SMU and Houston to join in all sports.

The official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league wasn't announcing its plans publicly, said he is confident the league's members are ready to move forward with the plan.

The Big East has only six football schools committed to the league beyond this season. The conference would like to get to 12 football members and split into two divisions, East and West, and play a championship game.

"Everybody realizes there is a window of opportunity here to get these six teams," the official said Saturday.

Boise State and Air Force, currently in the Mountain West Conference, and Navy, an independent in football, have concerns about the long-term health of a league that has already had three defections during this latest round of conference realignment.

"I don't have any idea right now from just reading accounts in the media of who's going to be in, who's going to be out, there's a great deal of uncertainty out there," Boise State President Bob Kustra told the AP before the Broncos played at Colorado State. "And so if anybody asked me today, if anybody invited me today, I wouldn't know what I was getting invited to. And so the first thing is to nail that down and be more certain."

In a short statement given to the AP on Saturday, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto stressed the conference "has not extended membership invitations to any institutions."

Kustra also told the AP: "We've not been extended an invitation."

Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced last month they will move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, though Big East rules require them to stay in the league for the next two seasons and Marinatto has said he will hold the Panthers and Orange to that. It seems unlikely Pitt and Syracuse will be forced to stay if the Big East can get to 12 football members by 2012.

TCU was slated to join the Big East in 2012, but the Horned Frogs reneged on that commitment and accepted an invitation to the Big 12 last week. TCU is free to go immediately because it was never an official member, but the Big East is expecting to collect a $5 million exit fee.

Trying to recruit new members has been tricky for the Big East because its remaining members have not committed to stay in the league.

Louisville and West Virginia are possible targets for the Big 12 if it needs to replace Missouri — which is pondering a move to the Southeastern Conference — or if it decides to expand back to 12 teams.

Connecticut has interest in joining the ACC if it expands again, and there has been speculation about Rutgers moving, too.

The Big East also has eight members that do not compete in football: Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's, Providence, Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul and Notre Dame.

The agendas of the football members and the ones that don't play football in the conference have often conflicted. But they came together this week to agree on a plan that they hope will allow the Big East retain its automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series, and the millions in revenue that goes with it, for years to come.

Neither the Mountain West Conference nor Conference USA has an automatic BCS bid, which makes the Big East attractive to Boise State despite being nearly 1,900 miles away from Louisville, the closest current Big East member.

"Well, there's no doubt that for a long time the coaches have felt like this distinction between AQ and non-AQ isn't fair," Kustra said. "I've been very vocal about my thoughts regarding the BCS and when they organize in 2013, I hope there's a way to deal with some of these inequities.

"But in the meantime, it seems like our responsibility is to get as close as we can to AQ status. And that's the reason why we're not just shutting down any interests from others who ask us questions about what are your future plans? Our future plans are to do whatever we can to work out a better TV arrangement, get on more TVs in more living rooms and at the same time work toward AQ status."

___

AP Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton in Fort Collins, Colo., contributed to this report.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at http://Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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The Fifth Down: For 'Monday Night' Introduction, How About the Haka?

All good blog threads must go to die, but here’s a Fifth Down final word (we think) on Hank Williams Jr.

Many readers responded with suggestions about what could replace the opening theme of “Monday Night Football.”

Chris FitzGerald of Lafayette, Calif., wrote:
“Here’s how I’d like to see MNF introduce the games: The Haka; this clip is New Zealand vs. Tonga.”

Great stuff. The N.F.L. has no equivalent. Well, we do have  Ray Lewis (below), maybe the one person on earth who could out-intimidate an entire team’s Haka.

Extra point Australia and New Zealand are meeting in a Rugby World Cup semifinal this weekend. Whom should we be rooting for?
(In that Haka clip, do I detect a little Three Stooges at the 32-second mark?)

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Playbook: Monday notebook

This week, the Playbook research staff started its day by putting aside watching every game from Minute 1 to Minute 60.

But that doesn’t mean we took a real break.

Instead, we sifted through every touchdown, every sack and every interception of this past weekend on coaching tape to try to find some trends in the NFL. And after we labored over the statistics … we watched every game.

Statistics Anonymous

We’re addicted to tape study, and it shows

Runs of 20-plus: Who says fullback is a dead position? Fifty percent of runs of 20-plus (14 of 28) were with a fullback blocking. And another trend: 57 percent of those 28 runs were accomplished through zone blocking by the offensive line.

Picks-six: In Week 4, there were eight interceptions returned for touchdowns. Through the first four weeks of last season, there had only been seven pick-six plays total.

Sacks: The idea that most pressures are brought by blitzing was proven to be a falsehood this weekend. Of the 59 sacks allowed in Week 4 (before Monday night’s game), 38 were against a four-man rush.

Tidbits

A few things we noticed along the way

San Francisco 24, Philadelphia 23

Nnamdi Asomugha is playing at safety, at linebacker depth over the tight end (in this case, over Vernon Davis on third downs), and at nickel corner. The Eagles seem to be playing him anywhere but where he earned a reputation for being one of the best corners in the league — in press, man coverage. On the few occasions he played up in a Niners receiver’s face, Asomugha mirrored him with ease. Otherwise, Asomugha looked out of place.

Green Bay 49, Denver 23

Broncos rookie safety Rahim Moore and veteran Brian Dawkins are a combination of youth and speed with strength and maturity. But against Green Bay’s explosive offense, Aaron Rodgers exploited Moore’s immaturity and Dawkins’ lost step. Rodgers didn’t just manipulate Denver’s safeties with stare downs and pump fakes, but made perfect throws and decisions against the Broncos’ varying coverages.

Denver allowed 10 plays over 15 yards.  Moore looked like a rookie — often having eyes in backfield and misjudging the speed of the Green Bay receiving corp. Dawkins, a moving piece throughout the game, rolled down inside the box but lacked the speed and burst to get into throwing lanes.

Houston 17, Pittsburgh 10

While Antonio Smith had only one of Houston’s six sacks on Ben Roethlisberger, he made pretty much all of them. On two consecutive sacks by Connor Barwin, Smith took two blockers on a stunt and allowed Barwin to come free. On Smith’s sack, he came through two blockers and hit Big Ben. Quite a show from Smith, not withstanding his patented fencing celebration.

Chicago 34, Carolina 29

On the first play of the game, the Panthers had already chosen their target — Bears safety Brandon Meriweather. Cam Newton found Meriweather not maintaining his zone coverage responsibilities in both Cover 2 and Cover 3 and exploited that on big pass plays to Steve Smith.

And it wouldn’t be surprising to see Meriweather receive another call from the league office on a helmet-first hit on Smith’s 26-yard reception in the second quarter. Meriweather continues to play undisciplined and has proven to be a liability for the Bears, who lost Danieal Manning to free agency and Chris Harris to injury.

“Who?”

You won’t see their jerseys on the rack

Detroit defensive end Willie Young, a 2010 seventh-round pick out of North Carolina State, showed up to play against this year’s ninth overall pick, Tyron Smith.  With the same move — taking his right hand and shoving it up Smith’s left armpit — Young was able to gain leverage on three pass rushing situations against the Cowboy’s right tackle. On one of those rushes, he got Smith completely off-balance, pushed him aside and sacked Tony Romo for a 10-yard loss.

Some interesting characters lined up at fullback this weekend, including three defensive players. The Patriots used linebacker Dane Fletcher on a goal line touchdown, even though he got shellacked by a Raiders defensive back. Josh Brent, the Cowboys’ defensive lineman, hinted to the Lions that Dallas was about to punch the ball in on the goal line, but instead the Cowboys used play action and threw to Jason Witten. In Philly, San Francisco aligned Isaac Sopoaga in the backfield on several occasions, pairing him with every-down fullback Bruce Miller — who played defensive end at Central Florida last year.

Fullback Jed Collins, a War Room favorite, scored a touchdown this weekend, but that’s small potatoes compared to the yards he has earned the Saints blowing up linebackers in the run game. He plays with reckless abandon in searching out his blocks, but each week he has shown more discipline in positioning himself correctly and sealing off defenders. Collins can get careless every now and again, losing his feet to make a block or shoulder shrugging a guy, but this journeyman has found a home in New Orleans.

“Playbook” — the ultimate football Xs and Os show — airs Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook.

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Fantasy Faux Pas Monday: Vick, Gore, Bryant pull fast ones

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Michael Vick, frank gore, Dez Bryant, Eric Decker, Cam Newton

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Monday morning is a harsh reality for many of us. It’s the end of the weekend and the start of the work/school week. It’s also the day when many of us are kicking ourselves about the foolish decisions we made that might have cost us a fantasy football victory. Just know that whatever bonehead move you pulled on Sunday, you probably weren’t alone. That’s why we’ve instituted “Fantasy Faux Pas Mondays”.

Every week on the @NFLFantasy Twitter account, we’ll ask for the moves you wish you could have a do-over for. Just remember to add the #FantasyFauxPasMonday hashtag when weighing in and we’ll post some of the best in the blog every week.

Dez Bryant was iffy all week with a thigh injury that had him listed as questionable on the injury report. But after snagging a pair of touchdowns, it was questionable as to how anyone could ever had doubted him. @HardlyClerkin summed it up pretty well…

Not starting Dez Bryant. Injured, sure you are.

Frank Gore’s status was even more precarious than Bryant’s, with rumors circulating that Kendall Hunter was going to get the start for San Francisco. Gore not only played, but posted his best game of the season, rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown. @codyhuey, we feel your pain.

starting kendall hunter over frank gore, bad ankle my a–!

But maybe the biggest head fake belonged to Michael Vick, who went from possibly being out for multiple weeks to starting against the 49ers. If you were scared off by the potential of a major Vick implosion, we forgive you. Unfortunately, the fantasy scoreboard won’t. That’s something that @iamjustdanny now knows all too well.

easy… I messed up royally by benching vick, decker and gore!!!

But the Sunday screw-ups weren’t limited to those three. Here are a few more of your Monday morning misgivings.

yeah, that whole sitting the questionable wells for the #1 RB tim hightower. (Thanks Mike bleeping Shanahan) – @patmaughan

sitting cam newton for matt schaub :’( – @moss022

If that was us, @moss022, we’d cry too. The good news is that it’s a new week with a chance for us to make up for our past mistakes. Here’s to not stubbing our toes next week.Posted in: Fantasy  

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Monday Nightmare: Close makes it harder

Adam Rank | Tags: Monday Nightmare, LeGarrette Blount, Pierre Garcon

Seriously, you could not score one more touchdown? (Associated Press)

One of the worst things that can happen to you in fantasy football is hope. That glimmer of hope that makes you believe that your team can pull off the impossible. And trailing my buddy Scotty J. by 51 points after his team (with Wes Welker and Beanie Wells) went nuts, I had resigned myself to the loss despite having LeGarrette Blount and Pierre Garcongoing on Monday.

In fact, I sent him a text saying, “hey if Blount has 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Garcon has 150 yards and a touchdown, I am back in business,” I joked.

And when Garcon scored his first touchdown, he quickly fired me a text before I make the — what seemed gratuitous — “only 40 points to go jokes.” Needless to say the texts got less jovial and nonexistent once Blount scored on his 35-yard touchdown run. Even I did not want to jinx things by pointing out that I was now suddenly within striking distance.

But we all know how this turned out, Garcon could not catch another pass, Blount would not score again, and my hopes which had been mounting as the impossible drew closer to my grasp were now dashed. But that’s fantasy football, right?

So let’s all vent here. There is nothing I can say that will help you, but I will let you know that it feels better to get it out. Consider this one great big therapy couch, and the rest of us are here to help.

Let it out, you will feel better when you do.

You can receive daily fantasy advice from Rank via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.

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Monday Nightmare: Counting on Eli

Adam Rank | Tags: Eli Manning, Andrew Siciliano, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, New York Giants, Nick Bakay

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At some point, you have to feel like the “Monday Night Football” announcers were taunting those needing a big game from Eli Manning for fantasy purposes. Like they had to keep rubbing it in that drafting Eli was one of the worst decisions of the fantasy season.

Yeah, I got it.

Though I was smart enough to sit Eli in the NFL.com Experts League (take that Nick Bakay), I knew I needed a big game to overcome the computer that drafted Andrew Siciliano‘s team for him in our NFL Network League. After the first quarter (if that long), I had already switched to RAW to see what CM Punk was up to. Partly because of Eli, and partly because Hakeem Nicks had already won me another week in yet another league (I am carrying five this year).

But I do feel for those of you who had to sit through that game in agony, waiting for Eli to come through. Or maybe you needed a big game from Mario Manningham and you had to suffer the indignity of watching him fall on his face as he was racing for a sure touchdown — which is the kind of thing you would expect from Eli and not one of his receivers (that stuff is contagious). And really, you gave yourself a concussion on that?

Well, there is nothing I can say that will help you, but I will let you know that it feels better to get it out. Consider this one great big therapy couch, and the rest of us are here to help.

Let it out, you will feel better when you do.

You can receive daily fantasy advice from Rank via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.

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‘Playbook’ Monday notebook: Week 2

We were up early going through Sunday’s tape, and here are a few things we noticed …

‘Eye in the Sky’ matchups: From what we told you to watch for, here’s what you ended up seeing

Brandon Marshall vs. Jonathan Joseph: It was a shame this matchup got cut short when Joseph went down with an injury during the second quarter, because they went head-to-head on six occasions during the first half and it was a back-and-forth battle. Joseph didn’t let Marshall get over top of him, but the 6-foot-4 receiver did leap over Joseph on a 29-yard vertical route down the sideline.

Detroit TEs vs. Chiefs:  Tony Scheffler’s touchdown reception came on a post-corner-post route against Brandon Flowers, but another interesting part of the story was how the Chiefs used their tight ends to open up routes for the wide receivers, especially Nate Burleson. Scheffler was often put in the slot, running vertical routes to create spacing for Burleson on short and intermediate routes.

Bills’ WRs vs. Raiders’ CBs: In a high-scoring game, the Bills’ receivers got off the line quick versus the Raiders’ man-to-man cornerbacks. Stevie Johnson beat CB Jerome Boyd on a pivot route for a touchdown early in the game, and his slant route at the end of the game drew coverage from a safety and away from WR Donald Jones, who was wide open in the corner of the end zone — even though everyone was open on that play and the throw went to TE David Nelson.

Saints’ interior offensive line vs. Bears’ defensive tackles:  The Saints’ interior trio of Jahri Evans, Olin Kruetz and Carl Nicks handled Henry Melton and Co., picking up stunts and creating a push in the run game. Saints QB Drew Brees was hit just twice.

Ravens’ defensive front four vs. Titans’ offensive line: The Titans didn’t give up a sack. Coach Mike Munchak cleaned some things up between Week 1 and Week 2. We had the matchup right, but the wrong expectations. We tip our hats to the Tennessee offensive front.

Tidbits: A few things we noticed along the way

Titans 26, Ravens 13: Ravens QB Joe Flacco was late and indecisive in his throws.  There were times that his tardiness gave the defense a chance to recover and make plays on the ball. On the other side of the line, Titans DEs Dave Ball and Derrick Morgan showed relentless motors coming after Flacco. Ray Rice received plenty of check-downs.

Lions 48, Chiefs 3: The Chiefs ran the ball effectively on their first seven plays, using lots of two backs and multiple tight ends formations — but when they got behind and began to throw, they didn’t score the rest of the game.

Redskins 22, Cardinals 21: Rookie OLB Ryan Kerrigan, a converted defensive end from Purdue, showed on the film versus the Cardinals that he has adjusted well to 3-4 outside linebacker. On a scramble drill, he covered WR Andre Roberts for nearly six seconds. On the play prior, coming after the quarterback — his specialty — he used a speed rush to get around the right tackle and sack QB Kevin Kolb.

Who? You’ve never seen his jersey on a rack before

– Preston Parker has turned into one of Josh Freeman’s favorite targets for the Buccaneers, leading the team with 142 yards receiving. Parker, a second-year player out of Fresno State, runs lots of routes over the middle and is able to distinguish zone and man coverage well in the process. He is a fluid route runner, using stems to create angles and leverage on defenders.

– You’ve heard about WRs Stevie Johnson and Donald Jones for the Bills, but how about TE David Nelson? A 6-foot-5 slot wide receiver, the Bills use him like a tight end. Nelson consistently turns short passes into extra yards after the catch. He led Buffalo with 10 receptions against the Raiders.

Jason Pinkston, a rookie offensive lineman for the Browns, had a great day at left guard versus the Colts’ defensive front. We already had him on our watch list in Week 1 for our “Rookie Richter” report and noticed he is a mauler at the point of attack. Pinkston continued to make strides against the Colts by pulling and getting to the second level and shocking linebackers. Peyton Hillis was the benefactor with 94 yards rushing. The Browns gained 77 percent of their 99 yards (76) rushing behind the left side of the line.

“Playbook”, the ultimate football Xs and Os show, airs Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook.

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Final New England-Miami Injury Report For Monday Night

A revised last look at the Patriots-Dolphins injury report for Monday night in Miami:

New England

Out: LB Jermaine Cunningham (groin), WR Taylor Price (hamstring), LB Jeff Tarpinian (knee), OT Sebastian Vollmer (back), OL Ryan Wendell (calf)

Questionable: DE Mark Anderson (knee), CB Kyle Arrington (hip), G Dan Connolly (foot), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb), DT Albert Haynesworth (illness), DL Myron Pryor (groin), RB Stevan Ridley (ankle), RB Shane Vereen (hamstring)

Probable: CB Leigh Bodden (hand), WR Julian Edelman (hand)

Miami

Out: FB Charles Clay (hamstring)

Questionable: RB Daniel Thomas (hamstring)

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Monday Nightmare: There is always Tuesday

Published: December 28th, 2010 | Tags: Monday Nightmare, Atlanta Falcons, Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Michael Vick, New Orleans Saints, Roddy White

That certainly was some championship performance, Michael Turner. Two points? Against a team that you normally dominate? Not championship material.

The blame should not rest entirely on your shoulders, Michael. You were doomed once the Monday Night Football announcing team started raving about the fact that you never fumble. Everybody got upset with that Jets special-teams coach who formed the wall on the sideline, but announcers jinxing your fantasy team is much more devastating.

And once the Falcons lined up at the 1-yard line, you wish you could get fantasy points for calling ,”Here comes the fumble … which never happens.”

Saints QB Drew Brees was not much better. He notched just under 12 points in your NFL.com basic scoring league. Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Marques Colston: You all are guilty of this, too.

I hope both teams fail to make the playoffs.

Thankfully, there is still one more game that will give us a chance to capture fantasy gold. But if any of the Saints or Falcons failed to deliver for you, then feel free to consider the comment section your therapy couch. You will feel better if you share.

And, who knows? If Michael Vick fails to deliver, I might just join you tomorrow.

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Monday Nightmare: Rice sinks Faulk

Published: December 14th, 2010 | Tags: Marshall Faulk, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Woodhead, Jason La Canfora, Jim Gigliotti, Marshall Faulk, Michael Fabiano, Nick Bakay, Ray Rice, robert meachem

The first round of the playoffs for the NFL.com magazine league came down to the final moments for fantasy editor Michael Fabiano and Marshall Faulk. And it was one for the ages.

The future Hall of Famer was trailing by six points at the start of Monday’s games, but had Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw going against Ravens RB Ray Rice. Faulk took a lead behind Bradshaw’s 17.50 points. But a nice reception from Rice put Fabiano over the top, 84.42 to 84.06. Only a recount and stat recalculation can save Faulk’s season.

And the thing that will haunt Faulk during the entire offseason will be starting Saints WR Robert Meachem over Patriots RB Danny Woodhead.

It also warrants mentioning, that NFL.com fantasy preview editor Jim Gigliotti outscored both Fabiano and Faulk, but ran into a juggernaut, run by yours truly.

In the NFL Network talent league, Nick Bakay knocked off Jason La Canfora after that pick six by the Ravens. La Canfora was up by four points until then. Tough break for La Canfora who was the top-ranked team coming out of the draft.

So those of you who lost last night, you are not alone. Share your story. Consider the comments section your therapy couch. You will feel better once you share.

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Monday Infirmary Report: Week 14

Published: December 13th, 2010 | Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Antonio Gates, Brandon Graham, Brandon McDonald, Chinedum Ndukwe, Courtney Roby, Cullen Jenkins, Damien Woody, Eric Smith, Everette Brown, Gerald McCoy, Jason Williams, Kyle McCarthy, Landon Johnson, LaRon Landry, Mike Iupati, Quincy Black, Ronald Bartell, Stewart Bradley, Week 14 injuries 2010

Packers DE Cullen Jenkins said it’s possible his calf injury keeps him out for the rest of the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy reiterated his stance that the team will err on the side of caution when it comes to Aaron Rodgers’ second concussion of the season.Redskins HC Mike Shanahan said S LaRon Landry, who has missed the last four games with an Achilles injury, will be placed on injured reserve.Bucs HC Raheem Morris confirmed rookie DT Gerald McCoy (biceps) and LB Quincy Black (broken forearm) are out for the season.The Jets announced RT Damien Woody will undergo surgery on Wednesday to fix a partial MCL tear in his right knee. Woody is expected to miss at least one game. Rex Ryan said it is doubtful SS Eric Smith will play after suffering a head injury.Chargers TE Antonio Gates told the San Diego Union-Tribune he’s uncertain if he’ll be able to play again this season due to the plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Gates has missed three of the last five games.Saints HC Sean Payton said WR Courtney Roby was expected to be released from the hospital Monday and didn’t appear to have any long-term damage after suffering a neck injury and concussion.Eagles rookie DE Brandon Graham will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL on Sunday night, while LB Stewart Bradley is out indefinitely after dislocating his right elbow.Lions HC Jim Schwartz said CB Brandon McDonald (broken arm) will go on injured reserve, while LB Landon Johnson, who suffered a neck injury, could return to action this weekend, according to the Detroit Free Press.Rams CB Ronald Bartell, who was out last week due to a left shoulder stinger, could get limited work in practice this week.49ers HC Mike Singletary said he considers LG Mike Iupati, who left Sunday’s game with a shoulder stinger, as “day to day.”Posted in: News  

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Monday Nightmare: Playoff dreams dashed

Published: December 7th, 2010 | Tags: Monday Nightmare, Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Braylon Edwards, Deion Branch, Monday nightmare, New England Patriots, Rex Ryan, Santonio Holmes, Tom Brady, Wes Welker

Some playoff dreams were dashed on Monday night. And no, not just those of the Jets. (Although in fairness to the Jets, they should make the playoffs. But coach Rex Ryan might have a hard time getting those guys on a plane to New England in January.)

I am talking fantasy playoffs. For many of us, our regular season ended on Monday night. And while every game counts the same, there are those excruciating defeats and exhilarating wins that occurred on a somewhat strange game.

In my main fantasy league, the final playoff spot came down to Patriots WR Deion Branch vs. Jets WR Braylon Edwards to decide a one-point game. My man, Mike C., was on the right side as Branch secured Mike’s sixth consecutive victory and the last spot in the postseason. He is like last year’s Jets, getting hot at the right time.

In a matchup for a first-round bye between a pair of twins, the duo of Jets WR Santonio Holmes and Patriots WR Wes Welker helped one brother squeak by in another nail-biter. But heaven help me if I can tell one brother’s team from the other.

And how about you? Did Patriots QB Tom Brady push you over the top? Did sitting Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis keep you from the postseason? You have stories and we want to read them.

Consider the comment section your therapy couch. Trust me, you will feel better if you share.

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Monday Nightmare: Rivers returns the favor

Published: November 23rd, 2010 | | Tags: Jimmy, Kyle Orton, Michael Vick, Mike Eruzione, Monday nightmare, Philip Rivers

Fantasy football sure can be fickle. One week, you are taunting your friend as Eagles QB Michael Vick scored touchdown after touchdown after touchdown.

After touchdown.

After touchdown.

And one more touchdown for good measure.

The following week, you are watching Chargers QB Philip Rivers carve up the Broncos and give your ultimate fantasy rival, Jimmy, a victory he did not deserve. But that is the breaks old boy. One week you are Mike Eruzione celebrating the “Miracle on Ice” during the opening credits of the Wide World of Sports.

The next week you are that anonymous skier wiping out in a blaze of snowy glory.

You know what helps me in times like this? Reading all of your comments about it. And trust me, a lot of them are hilarious. So where were you this week? Did Rivers deliver you the win, or did he sink you? What about Broncos QB Kyle Orton? One of my friends was confident that the bearded one could do enough to push him over the top. But his 12 points (in our league scoring) left him just short. (And our league is very generous with quarterbacks.)

So what do you have? Consider the comments section your therapy couch. Let it out. You will feel better when you share.

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Monday Nightmare: How did Vick do?

Published: November 16th, 2010 | | Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin, Keiland Williams, Monday nightmare

Well, that was something. Not sure if Redskins QB Donovan McNabb was in shape enough to even watch Eagles QB Michael Vick on Monday night.

Honestly, the Redskins were probably hoping to motivate a quarterback with a contract extension, too bad it was the wrong one for them.

And was it the wrong quarterback for you?

Vick nearly scored enough to beat some fantasy teams by himself. Some of our followers on Twitter were reporting that Vick scored nearly 100 points in some leagues.

But for every happy fantasy enthusiasts, there were many who were not happy. In fact, I had Vick and the Eagles defense, and trailed my pal Doc Z — who had Eagles K David Akers – by four points. Moments after Vick hit DeSean Jackson on an 88-yard touchdown pass to open the game, I sent a text to the Doc which read, “Well, at least you got a point out of that.”

And it was not just Vick. Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and even Redskins RB Keiland Williams — filling in for Ryan Torain — had great games.

We know you have stories, and we want to hear them. This will be one of the most talked-about games of the year. Consider the comments section your therapy couch. Let it out. You will feel better when you share.

Tweet your fantasy questions to @nflfantasy. Your Tweet might end up on the air on NFL.com Fantasy LIVE.

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Monday Nightmare: That TD should have been Ben’s

Published: November 9th, 2010 | | Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Terrell Owens, Antwaan Randle El, Mike Wallace, Monday nightmare

No Monday night lead ever feels safe, even when you are up by 49 points (standard scoring), going against only Bengals WR Terrell Owens. It’s kind of like when Skylab was falling. Sure you were pretty confident that a piece was not going to come busting through the roof of your bedroom ceiling. Yet, you still pulled your Rams sleeping blanket over your covers for some extra padding just in case.

What, that was just me?

Needless to say that Owens did not come close (28 points) to closing the gap. And his huge night, that was all for naught for my pal Frank H., was more a punch in the gut than anything else.

A couple of NFL.com users had a couple of bad nights, and shared their stories @nflfantasy.

@Artysmokes needed a big night from Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, but had to be bummed when Antwaan Randle El tossed a touchdown bomb to Mike Wallace. Isn’t that the worst?

He obviously was not alone. How many of you needed another Big Ben touchdown toss? That is a tough way to go down.

But our grand-prize winner goes to @kristiniverson who lost to her boyfriend and had her five-game winning streak snapped.

So we know you have your stories. Trust me, it will feel better when you get it out. This is your chance to vent.

Take a seat on the couch, the doctor is in.

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