10 Reasons Not to Like Peyton Manning Exposes an Abundance of Tomfoolery

It is no secret that Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning isn’t quite the same poster-boy for popularity as he happens to be for marketability.

For one reason or another, Peyton Manning has become the proverbial punching-bag for the masses to attempt to swing their feckless fists at in the attempt to gain a moment of temporary satisfaction.

In any event, the New York Times recently published an article written by KC Joyner in an attempt to uncover the true motives behind this phenomenon.

While there is no prerequisite to remain impartial while writing an article about a sports figure (or anyone else for that matter), there is a difference between taking a shot at someone in response to behavior that one might deem to be questionable, and taking pot-shots without motivation simply for the satisfaction of pouncing on an easy target.

I need not defend Peyton Manning as his performance both on and off the field does the talking for him.

But while articles such as the aforementioned deal with petty issues for which Peyton himself would likely care little about, there is nothing to prevent me from exposing the reality of such instances by taking a firm stand in opposition of the sports-writing bullies of the world.

But before those who can recall the plethora of anti-Brady articles that I have written over the course of my B/R tenure speak out for the hypocrisy they might feel to be taking place in this very article, understand of course that there is a great deal of difference between questioning the moral conduct regarding the intake of questionably obtained competitive information while taking the stance that one such particular football-god might rank below some others, and creating a list of of petty reasons not to like another.

What I can do is provide for you, the list of ten reasons why KC Joyner feels that the Peyton Manning Fan-Club has “membership issues” and analyze the validity of the reasons provided.

 

1. “His pre-snap histrionics. All that gesturing and leg-lifting and waving and dummy audibles drive fans up a wall. I know Manning thinks this gives him an edge, but compare his pre-snap moves with Brett Favre’s. Before just about every snap, Favre barks the same signal: “Blue 58…Blue 58…Green 19…Green 19, set, hut!” I swear that I have heard Favre do this so many times I can hear it in my sleep, yet it isn’t halfway as annoying as Manning. And since Favre has been just as successful as Manning over the years, one has to wonder about the edge this really gives to Manning.”

Now let me analyze this for a moment. “Since Favre has been just as successful as Manning over the years”, really now?

I suppose in Joyner’s estimation, Favre’s career quarterback rating of 85.4 is mathematically equivalent to Manning’s 94.7.

Manning’s +9.3 points of quarterback rating accounts for an greater amount of distance between him and Favre than Favre (85.4) is from Jay Fiedler (77.1), but I suppose that is irrelevant.

Let’s not make any mention that Manning has a higher completion percentage, averages more yards per-game, more touchdown passes per-game, and fewer interceptions per-game.

This simply appears to be an instance where the author recognizes that both Manning and Favre have been productive, therefore is under the impression that their performance must be identical.

“One has to wonder about the edge this really gives Manning”.

How about being the most productive player in NFL history and possessing the highest quarterback rating for any quarterback to have played over a decade’s worth of games.

I would argue that Manning’s pre-snap antics frustrate anyone who isn’t a Colts fan because it makes them sick to see this guy who is performing gestures they don’t understand, put more points up on the board than their beloved heroes.

 

2. “His history of on the field pouting when things don’t go well. He did this in the playoff losses to New England and also had more than a couple of regular-season occurrences of this. Fans don’t like to see any player act this way, but they are especially unforgiving about quarterbacks.”

I am curious to find out what the author’s definition of “pouting” is.

If he is referring to times when Manning has thrown his hands up in the air and looked so emotional that he could explode, than yes we are talking about the same Peyton Manning.

But this is a reason not to like someone?

We see players who spit in the mouths of others, throw up gang-signs in celebration and brush past other players while refusing to even shake hands, but Manning throwing his hands up in the air and getting red in the face is the real issue?

I don’t think so.

True, people might say negative things about such behavior but I don’t think that is the real motivation for their distaste of Manning.

Again, people love to point out flaws in people who appear to be reasonably flawless.

In Manning’s case, people who dislike the fact that he produces more both on and off the field are going to love the opportunity to pounce on instances where they feel they can have a quick laugh at his expense.

 

3. “Throwing his teammates under the bus after a loss. Manning may have been trying to be very careful and fair about distributing blame after some of the big losses over the years, but again, it doesn’t come across well to fans.”

I love how people take one instance that accounted for about ten-seconds of Manning’s 11-year career, and paint a picture of him being a poor teammate.

Obviously this was a reference to Manning remarks following the 2005 AFC Divisional playoff defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Manning said that “I’m trying to be a good teammate here, let’s just say there were some issues with protection” after being sacked five times and having even less time per-snap to get the ball off than Tom Brady had in Super Bowl XLII (I suggest looking back at the film).

Do we make reference to Manning being heckled by reporters about the issue for minutes prior to his remarks?

Of course not and why would we?

The sound-bites always sound better.

But have we ever heard a single player say that Peyton Manning was a bad teammate?

Have we ever heard a single player say that they felt as though Manning had “thrown them under the bus”?

I assure you with as much as people like to make an issue of his remarks, they would be equally excited to expose a direct opinion from one of his teammates that reflected the same implication.

Too bad the guys Manning has played with have not shared that point of view (and take it from me, I’ve interviewed two of them directly).

4. “His P.R. approach to everything. Manning has the same issue that some politicians have. They become so well-polished with their answers that they seem somewhat fake or phony. Football fans want to identify with their quarterback as the guy next door, a guy they could go out and have a beer with, and Manning might not strike a lot of fans as that kind of guy.”

Well I suppose the fact that Manning graduated in three years from the University of Tennessee with honors and a degree in communications has led people to believe that he is too sincere to be sincere.

And since people could not picture hanging out with Manning in an Indianapolis bar and sharing an alcoholic beverage, he must be some sort of social deviant.

If Manning chooses to spend more of his time studying film and less of his time indulging in the pleasures that intoxicating substances have to offer, I would say those would be the qualities of a finer quarterback.

I could understand wanting to relate to a guy and have a good old time but if a man wants to dedicate more time to honing his craft, that’s the guy I would rather have on my football team.

 

5. “His commercial endorsements. Manning’s ubiquitous endorsement presence can be irritating. It can make him come across as being self-absorbed and mercenary, no matter how cute the commercials themselves are.”

This reason might have some validity to it, but let’s analyze this for a moment.

Peyton Manning gets paid millions of dollars (much of which he gives back to charity mind you) to promote products that end up making the people who hired him even more millions of dollars and this is a bad thing?

For every football fan who sits on the sofa every Sunday and criticizes Manning for being in one too many commercials, how many of them would decline millions of dollars if they could earn the same position Manning has?

 

6. “His football royalty lineage. Football fans aren’t the type of people who easily connect with someone from a privileged background. That’s where Manning came from, at least from a football perspective. Fans are much more likely to connect with a quarterback who had to fight odds and overcome being a second stringer. Someone like, say, Tom Brady for instance.”

So I suppose that Manning’s biological make-up is his fault.

In all actuality though, why should a person’s ability to relate to a player’s upbringing dictate how they feel about the person overall?

Meaning, obviously most people can connect with the “common man” but if someone from a “privileged background” was raised with the right morals and in-turn, has set a good example and become one of the best role-models a child could have, why are we less inclined to like that person?

Seems like a petty reason to dislike a person as far as I’m concerned because there is a difference between not connecting to someone due to the in-ability to relate to them, and disliking them.

 

7. “His intellectual style. I make my living by reviewing stats and other metrics, so I’m all for this approach, but even I don’t want to make the game quite as intellectual as Manning seems to want to at times.”

So because Manning chooses to further investigate the various aspects of the game of football in greater depth, we should not like this person?

Think of Brett Favre for a moment (who I do like as a matter of fact) and watch his “Favre 4ever” DVD as he explains that for years into his NFL career, he didn’t know what a “nickel” coverage was.

Do you not think that such failure to comprehend the game might have translated into a tendency for him to make mistakes on the field?

And wouldn’t Manning’s passion for being becoming further knowledgeable play a role in his success?

I could understand why his football-vocabulary might confuse people, but it doesn’t strike me as something to hold against him.

 

8. “His lack of physicality. Manning has already started more consecutive games than just about anyone in NFL history and there is a good chance he will end up breaking Favre’s quarterback record in this category. Despite this, he still isn’t seen as a tough guy. This is partly because he has an offensive system that is designed to protect him. He rarely takes any hits due to this, though he is also helped by his ability to get rid of the ball quickly. Not taking hits does help him survive physically but it doesn’t do much for his reputation.”

People must have forgotten when in 2001, Manning had his Jaw cracked about half-way through after taking a helmet collision to the face.

And how much time did this player who “isn’t seen as a tough guy” miss?

One snap.

As he continued to play every single game for the rest of the season with a special facemask created to prevent further damage.

Coming back from multiple knee-operations while playing hurt to win the league MVP award is worth noting, but I suppose it wouldn’t change many people’s minds.

 

9. “He plays indoors. When you bring up a mental image of Favre, what do you see? A cold Sunday at Lambeau field when he is having a shouting match with Warren Sapp. When you bring up a mental image of Manning, what do you see? A domed stadium and an unsoiled uniform.”

It must have been part of Manning’s scheme to get drafted to a team that played in a dome.

That would explain why he returned to Tennessee for a senior season when he was projected to go number one overall to the Jets in 1997.

He didn’t want to play in the cold so he risked his chances by playing another season of college football that didn’t help improve his draft-position just so he could play in the comfy confines of the RCA Dome.

Worthy of further mention is that Lucas Oil Field isn’t exactly a dome.

It has windows in multiple areas that open to let the air in. Granted it’s a lot better than playing in Lambeau field in the middle of December, but the RCA Dome it is not.

 

10. “His clean off-field image. One would think this would be a big plus, but Manning in some ways is seen as almost too much of a goody-two-shoes. He’s kind of like the Roger Staubach of today. Staubach tried to fight that image, once telling an “NFL Today” interviewer that he liked sex as much as Joe Namath did, but he had it with one woman.”

So since Manning does not get into legal troubles of share his romantic life with the world, he must be too well-behaved to be liked? As a matter of fact, people are going to dislike him more for behaving better?

 

When it’s all said and done, I cannot say that the reasons KC Joyner provided are inaccurate.

I think that there is some validity to his list of reasons why people tend not to like Manning, I just think that the real motive behind why they feel that way was not explained in further depth.

The issue is, I wouldn’t usually view an article such as this to be of an attacking nature.

If one were to simply try to generate a list of reasonable explanations for why a certain player is facing various public-affection issues, it would be understandable.

But there is a difference between trying to provide an answer to a reasonable question, and turning your list of reasons into a comical performance that pokes fun at someone who didn’t initiate any kind of confrontation.

Of course my rebuttal was plagued hyperbole, but the points I made are no less valid than the explanations provided in the first place.

 

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Buffalo Bills Release New Throwback Uniforms For AFL Anniversary

Old is new again in Buffalo. 

In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the American Football League, the Buffalo Bills (one of the original members of the AFL) released a new away version of their popular throwback jersey.

According to BuffaloBills.com the new uniforms will be worn in three games:

• Aug. 9 – Hall of Fame game vs. Tennessee
• Sept. 14 – Opener at New England
• Nov. 15 – at Tennessee

The blue throwback jerseys will be worn on:

• Nov. 29 vs. Miami

Buffalo is one of eight original teams in the American Football League. The Boston Patriots (New England Patriots), Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs), Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans), Los Angeles Chargers (San Diego Chargers), New York Titans (New York Jets), and Oakland Raiders will all sport throwback jerseys this season. They jerseys will largely be used only when playing against one of the original AFL franchises.

 

Buffalo Bills: Marketing Geniuses of the NFL

It’s sometimes incredible to think about what not making the playoffs for almost a decade can do for a franchise. 

Bills fans are faced with a strange dilemma year in and year out.  Each year the organization builds up hope and each year the team disappoints.  Over the last 10 years the Bills have found just about every imaginable way to disappoint their fans from the Music City Mistake and the Monday Night Football losses against Dallas and Cleveland, to letting good quarterbacks go or by hiring unproven coordinators as head coaches. 

Each offseason rolls around and every season ticket holder is left with the question as to whether or not to renew their tickets. As a fan the only way to really have your voice heard about the poor product on the field is to do so with your wallet. If a fan wants to prove something to the organization they don’t renew their tickets, they don’t buy merchandise and they don’t watch games. That’s the only conceivable way to make a statement.

This is where Bills fans are in a strange paradox. A Bills fan’s greatest fear of late has been the threat of losing their team to a city like Toronto. Owner Ralph Wilson Jr. complains about how the Buffalo market can’t compete with that of Dallas and other larger cities. So if the fans were to take a stand and not pay up, what happens to the franchise?

Last season the Bills sold 56,011 season tickets, good for second best in club history. Last season the fans actually had legitimate things to be excited about.  They had a young intelligent quarterback entering his first season as the full time starter. They finally drafted a tall WR opposite Lee Evans and had an official pro-bowl left tackle. They traded for Marcus Stroud to strengthen the interior of their defensive line, and young players like Ashton Youboty and Paul Posluszny looked to become promising starters. 

The excitement was understandable.

Last season the Bills started out at 5-1, so everything the club promoted and fans believed seemed justified.  Then they fell apart and ended up 7-9 again. In a surprising move the Bills still signed head coach Dick Jauron to a contract extension despite his unpopularity among fans and the teams decomposition following their impressive start.

Since that meltdown, the Bills lost their left tackle, and swung Langston Walker over from the right spot. They drafted rookie offensive linemen to switch to the guard position. They drafted a one year starter from Penn State in hopes of curing their anemic pass rush. 

Their players also got into trouble into the offseason. Marshawn Lynch was arrested for possession of a gun and marijuana.  Ko Simpson was arrested for hindering a police investing and tried to use his not-so-big-time name to get him out of trouble. Donte Whitner was arrested in a brawl outside of a night club in Cleveland and lastly Corey McIntyre was arrested in an exposure case. Not all of these players were charged with their respective allegations, but in all it sure didn’t the Bills as a franchise look very classy.

And still with all that being said, somehow, all of the pieces fell into place for Buffalo in respect to their marketing for the upcoming season.

This is why this offseason so frustrating. Despite last season’s collapse, the questionable moves and legal woes, the club is still selling just as many season tickets than ever, currently around the 54,000 mark. 

The signing of Terrell Owens is the first thing that comes to mind when discussing Buffalo’s marketing genius. For now, T.O. is all fans apparently need to believe that Buffalo has a whole new, relevant team. Now we are going to get to see the catchphrase posted everywhere, “T.O. to T.O.” when the Bills try to promote their disappointing visits to Toronto.

T.O. also brings great career totals, the publicity of two television shows, and swarms of media now in attendance at Bills practices. While he does bring so many different elements to the Bills from his play to his character, he is basically being used to hide all of the other problems the Bills have.

Besides the signing of T.O. comes the 50th anniversary of the American Football League. What timing! As if selling thousands of T.O. jerseys practically overnight wasn’t enough for revenue, comes the release of the new throwback jerseys in honor of the anniversary celebration.  And to top all that off, T.O. now has his own cereal.

Then there is the fact that Ralph Wilson Jr. and Bruce Smith are getting inducted into the Pro- Football Hall of Fame in ten days.  The Buffalo Bills will be a major focus of that week’s festivities having two inductees entering this year along with the team being asked to participate in the annual Hall of Fame Game. So many things to market!

It’s hard not to be impressed with how the Bills still find ways to get fans overly excited about the approaching season.  When you talk about simply the team we see from week to week, sure, there is always the possibility of something big happening. We’ve seen moments of greatness from the majority of this roster over the last three seasons, but it’s not enough.

The Buffalo Bills franchise has done a spectacular job at making money when they really shouldn’t be. They have made all the right moves.  Let’s hope they can do the same on the field for once this decade. 

 

Michael Vick Is Worth the Risk for the Miami Dolphins

There is plenty of hubbub as to where Michael Vick should end up. There’s even a list on ESPN, Dolphins included, of teams that say they are not interested. They all supposedly fear the fallout from PETA or dog lovers everywhere

Meanwhile Vick is working with the Humane Society and anyone else he can to try to raise awareness on and eradicate dog fighting all together.

I don’t want to sit here and applaud his sins. The man clearly should not have been engaging in those activities.

However, and not like an everyman, he fessed up for what he did and spent 23 months in a correctional facility that most couldn’t even last a day in, unless of course you earned your ride there. Then of course you have no choice.

That being said, Vick has paid his dues, and if his talent is anywhere close to where it was, then he deserves a shot as a law-abiding citizen to resume his life the best he can.

If he starts winning, the dog lovers in his community won’t be ecstatic, but you better believe they will be happy about the W’s in the ole column.

For this reason, I think Michael Vick would be a steal for the Dolphins. We wouldn’t even have to release anybody important, and the originators of the wildcat in essence would have the most ideal quarterback for the formation besides the ideal rookie quarterback we already have.

We could sign Vick as a “RB” or “WR” when clearly he is a QB to save roster space, and with rumors saying his best offers are from the veteran minimum or $2 million for a year, this could be a steal for one of the most talented QBs to ever play the game. If his skill set diminished, you cut him like any other player without a huge cap hit.

It sickens me to know that the Patriots lead the way in signing him as well when for the past three seasons and including this season, the Patriots have made the most significant free agent offseason moves in NFL history. Letting them have Michael Vick and run the offense we originated into this league on us makes me want to pull what little hair I have out.

There is no way that for the pennies we can have him for now we can let New England, which really needs no help at this point except on the O-line, have Tom I won’t finish his name for personal discrepancies and Michael Vick. NO WAY!

The Dolphins should play possum to see who comes close to signing him and snag him for the highest he’ll get and the lowest we can get him for. It’s a win-win for all of those involved.

It gives the Dolphins the truest talent for the wildcat formation, it keeps the Patriots from turning into Dragonzord or Megazord or some other mythical creature bent on world domination, and it makes our team way more talented than it already is.

It would add some veteran leadership to the locker room and raise awareness about a topic of relevance in a community that probably ignores or even encourages such action.

I don’t see anything wrong with picking up another Pat White, except that Vick’s no untried rookie. He’s the only QB to beat Brett Favre at his home in the playoffs…sounds like a winner to me!

Tony Sparano, do us all a favor and tell Bill Parcells to SIGN HIM!

Brian Orakpo Signs With The Redskins After Missing First Day Of Camp

The deal had to get done.

Brian Orakpo was signed Thursday evening, missing just a day of training camp before inking his deal with the team.

Terms of the deal are not yet disclosed.

This might very well end up being the most important move in training camp. Orakpo is expected to move from defensive end, the position he played in college, to the SAM linebacker.

The transition requires Orakpo attend training camp and familiarize himself with both his new position and the pro game.

A lengthy holdout would have hurt his ability to quickly make himself an impact player, and would have put his availability for the 2009 season in question. Now those concerns are history.

Orakpo showed some maturity signing his deal before many of the other first round picks above and below him. It’s rare for a player to do that since he risks leaving money on the table, but Orakpo proved he wants to play football and play it well.

The Redskins certainly need him to be up to speed in time for the regular season. They don’t have another player with Orakpo’s skills at the SAM LB position so it was key to get him in camp.

At Redskins Park, the team kicked off the 2009 season with their first set of two-a-days. No injuries thus far which is the big news and things seem to be in much better order as Jim Zorn begins year two.

Will The Giants Sign Hakeem Nicks On Time?

There are several million reasons that New York Giants fans ought to be worried about Hakeem Nicks.

How many, exactly?

Well, that’s the problem.

With training camp a mere three days away, every member of the Giants’ 2009 draft class, from Clint Sintim all the way down to Stoney Woodson, has been signed to a deal.

Everybody except Nicks, that is.

According to Peter Schaffer, Nicks’s agent, both sides are “working hard every day” to get a deal done, but he ended his comments to one beat reporter on an ominous note:

“We shall see.”

Schaffer is one half of the well-respected All Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc, a sports management company that’s been home to players ranging from Eddie George and Barry Sanders and currently lists Braylon Edwards and Larry Johnson as clients. 

Talent-wise, this is undoubtedly fine company for Nicks to be in. But those last two names, Edwards and Johnson, ought to make Giants fans nervous; both held out during their rookie years, even when players picked ahead of them had already signed contracts.

Of all the players drafted by the Giants this offseason, Nicks is easily one of the most important, and one of the players who most clearly needs to be on the field from day one.

Wide receivers typically have a very tough time adjusting to the NFL in their first year, and those who miss large chunks of time in training camp almost never see the field once the season starts.

And for all the tantalizing stats he put up in college, for all the talk about his tremendous hands and all his experience with the streak-read offense, none of it will matter if Nicks isn’t up in Albany.

Especially not with a month-long battle royale scheduled to take place between Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Domenik Hixon, and David Tyree for the starting wide receiver spots.

To be fair, these two sides are likely to negotiate well into the weekend to try and get something done.

But until they do, Giants’ fans have between 10 (Clay Matthews’ guaranteed money) and 6.1 million (Ziggy Hood’s) reasons to be very concerned.

‘Twas the Night Before Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp

On this the eve of training camp reporting day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I have three fantastic pieces of news for Bucs fans.

First, as we speak, players are moving about this country in order to report to NFL training camps on Friday. The first practices are Saturday.

I hope you have your tickets to this weekend’s practices. If not, you are out of luck as the free tickets have all been distributed for all sessions until Tuesday. That is, of course, except for the night practice on Saturday at Raymond James.

That’s right, the Bucs are offering a no-ticket-required open practice “under the lights.” More importantly, they are giving the fans an opportunity to get in shape for the season as well. The parking lots are opening early, and you may tailgate before the practice.

There is clearly some buzz among the fans to see some football this weekend. Buzz to see the beginning of the quarterback battle; buzz to see Kellen Winslow in a pewter helmet; and buzz to witness the first Bucs defense to take the field in 13 years that won’t line up in the Tampa 2.

That unfortunately, may be the only buzz that the Bucs are receiving early this season. The prognosticators and NFL analysts are not predicting a happy year at One Buc Place.

I, for one, hope for a quiet training camp this summer. There are too many untied shoelaces in Bucs camp for the media to be on this dance floor.

A rookie head coach, a quarterback battle, a new defense and a historically volatile tight end could make this summer even hotter by the Bay. This is a topic that I will touch on this weekend in my next column, as the practices move forward.

But on to the second piece of great news. According to the Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times, the Bucs and first-round pick Josh Freeman are close on a contract. Holder says he expects Freeman to be signed and report on time.

It is great to have all rookies in camp. As previously stated, this team cannot afford distractions this summer.

While I will not advocate Josh Freeman getting anywhere near the starting quarterback role this season, he does need to be in camp learning the system.

The best situation for the Bucs and the rookie is to let him go through this year on the third unit, try to get the most out of the two veterans and then compete in earnest next summer.

Since camp hasn’t actually started yet, there will be plenty of time to discuss Freeman’s progress as we approach exhibition games and the season opener.

Thirdly, and perhaps the best thing I have heard all week: Get your creamsicle gear out of the closet and have it dry-cleaned. Scrape off that old barbecue crust and prepare for November 8.

The team has announced that Tampa’s squad will be wearing their 1976 throwback jerseys against Green Bay after the Bucs get back from London and rest up during the bye.

My biggest question is this: Why do they have to announce them as the ’76 jerseys?

They wore these fantastic pieces of history until 1997, and yet they want to bring up the expansion year? Is the front office afraid that one 0-16 Lions team will make NFL fans forget the 33-year love affair with McKay’s 0-14 swashbucklers?

Anyway, I am very excited to see those uni’s on the field this year.

Be safe at the practices this weekend. We’ll talk soon.

Fantasy Bargain Hunting: Working the Waivers, Stashing the Keepers

It’s never easy to predict a player’s season. After all, games aren’t played on paper, they are played on the field.

However, as a potential fantasy team owner, it’s necessary for you to assess players like a stock broker assesses stocks—research your guys and consider their potential.

What is that potential based on? Well, it depends on the owner quite frankly. There are those who draft solely based on a player’s resume—whether that resume be short or long in nature—they assume the numbers will be similar as long as that guy stays healthy.

Others, however, take a different approach. They look at the schedule, find the matchups that present a hiccup, and decide how many of those hiccups could turn a potential Pro Bowl season into a busted one.

It is that owner who makes the best decision because they actually have the ability to go in with their eyes wide open as opposed to riding a wing and a prayer.

All that said, there are a few players this season who are being overlooked. Some are old standby’s who are looking a little tread-worn whereas others are hiding under the rug waiting to be discovered by a very astute owner with a nose for uncovering the gems—the sleepers.

Chances are, if you play fantasy football on the regular, you have a few nuggets of wisdom to drop as well. Feel free to do so below.

Otherwise, the guys below are the ones who are potential sleepers, keepers, and bandwagon leapers.

Quarterbacks

Sage Rosenfels, Minnesota Vikings

For now it seems the quarterback battle is down to two; even money is on Rosenfel’s beating out the inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson for the job.

Rosenfels has been known to chuck the ball up at the wrong times, but his 62.5 completion percentage in 12 starts is promising—especially when you consider the stellar offensive line he will stand behind in Minnesota.

Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

The perceived idiocy of Josh McDaniels aside, Orton did win nine games as the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears last season. It’s a safe bet that he will have better production from Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall than he did from Devin Hester and Greg Olsen. Honestly, there are worse options for a no. 2 guy.

Running Backs

Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

This seems like a no-brainer for some; Portis is a Top 10 fantasy back after all—however, his average draft position (ADP) has him going late in the second-round in many formats.

Considering the Redskins will face some easy run defenses early, it seems odd to overlook a guy who has averaged 1300 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns a season over his career. Throw in his ability to catch the ball and Portis almost seems like a steal. 

T.J. Duckett, Seattle Seahawks

He isn’t likely to give you big yards but, if you need a guy who will get you touchdowns, T.J. is definitely your guy. He had eight touchdowns last season as the Seahawks primary red zone guy; that’s as many as Matt Forte and more than Marion Barber (seven).

He reunites with former offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, and is likely to be the back of choice again inside the five.

Shonn Greene, New York Jets

Thomas Jones isn’t a happy camper, even if he were, the chances are good that the Jets drafted Greene for the near-future and not just show (they did trade up for him after all).

He is likely to get some shots on the field this season—most of which will come at or around the goal line. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get six to seven scores this season. He’s definitely a keeper for the near-future.

James Davis, Cleveland Browns

Another keeper candidate, but, he could find some playing time this season. Jamal Lewis isn’t as young as he used to be and barely managed 1,000 last season. Jerome Harrison will get his share as well, but Davis is the explosive runner the Browns have been waiting to sign.

If Lewis falls prey to injury, Davis could find more opportunities than many think; he’s worth watching.

Wide Receivers

Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears

Two words: Jay Cutler. Bennett and Cutler were the dynamic duo at Vandy and an SEC connection like that one hasn’t disappeared. If Bennett proves his chemistry with Cutler is still golden, he could find himself sneaking in on a few plays this season. Will they be significant? Hard to say, but it’s worth watching.

Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams

Torry Holt has moved onto to greener pastures and, considering the empty bin that is the Rams offense, that makes Avery numero uno for Marc Bulger this year.

If Bulger remembers how to throw a pass, and if Steven Jackson returns to his dominating form, and if the Rams can find someone, anyone, to be a legit No. 2, then Avery could have a nice season.

Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints

It’s the final chance for Meachem to show what he’s made of; he’s no longer the chosen one in New Orleans and if he wants a piece of the playing time pie, he will have to prove that he is better than he’s been thus far.

That said, he’s got a ton of talent and upside if he can find his way onto the field. Watch to see what he does in the preseason, that will speak volumes. He’s a deep sleeper candidate.

 

If you enjoy talking fantasy football with other serious players, check out myfantasyplayers.com, it’s a phenomenal new site which allows you to debate, discuss, and offer your analysis on who is and isn’t on your draft board this season—in a REAL-TIME format.

It’s great for bouncing ideas around too, offering intelligent perspectives from others like you who play the games and live the fantasy football life 24/7/365. Give it a look.

When To Draft Reggie Bush in Points Per Reception Leagues

In this weeks edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag I will be tackling some hot topics that are surfacing in our Bruno Boys Message Board. If you haven’t already signed up for an account head over to our FORUMS (click to sign-up) and do so. Last but not least we will provide you with some valuable information on how everyone should use a Commish Kit Draft Board during their live fantasy football draft.

As always, if you have a question about a specific fantasy football player or need some draft strategy advice send an email to contact@brunoboys.net

and we will give you all the support needed to make you successful. With that being said. lets get started on the July 30th, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.

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QUESTION: Hey guys, I have the third pick and I can’t decide between [Maurice] Jones-Drew and [Matt] Forte. I’ve been looking at everything:  fantasy playoff schedule, o-line, etc. Jones-Drew’s schedule for weeks 13, 14, and 15: Houston, Miami, and Indianapolis (all home games). Forte’s schedule for weeks 13, 14, and 15:  St. Louis, Green Bay, and @ Baltimore. Jones-Drew’s o-line: Eugene Monroe, Vince Manuwai, Brad Meester, Maurice Williams, Eben Britton. Forte’s O-line: Orlando Pace, Josh Beekman, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, Chris Williams. So, what does Bruno Boys nation think? — Antsant9397 (Bruno Boys Forum)

ANSWER: Ant…I agree with all of the above on this…the choice is Maurice Jones-Drew. He has been touchdown machine (38 in three NFL seasons) and with no Fred Taylor, he should exceed his career high of 14 TDs this season. MJD has never reached the 200 carry mark, but with no RBBC you can forecast around 240-260 carries and over 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.

No doubt about it, Matt Forte will be a RB1 in 2009, but expect a more balanced approach from the Chicago offense and for Forte to not be as heavily relied on as he was in 2008. He’s still the focal point of the Bears’ offense, but you better believe Jay Cutler wants to post solid numbers as well.

Finally, if your gut says Forte, don’t hesitate to do it, because it’s your team and your stomach ache if Forte shines and MJD struggles, but if I was sitting in your position the choice would be MJD. Best of Luck in 2009!

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QUESTION: In a 12 team PPR league snake draft, what is the earliest Reggie Bush should be taken?—Pokermaster1 (Bruno Boys Forum)

ANSWER: Pokermaster1…Thanks for the question, as this is one we definitely get a lot.

The value of Reggie Bush fluctuates so much depending on your league’s scoring system. In standard leagues, we peg Bush as the 48th best available player in our Top 150 Rankings, which means he would be worthy of a fourth round selection. However, obviously, thanks to his impressive receiving skills, Bush’s value jumps in PPR leagues. So, the question becomes how high does he jump up the board?

In assessing Bush’s value in PPR leagues, it’s crucial to remember two things that owners will overlook: first, Bush may be an excellent receiver, but there are other backs in the league that can also catch the ball out of the backfield (maybe not as well as Bush), and many of these backs can also do a lot more on the ground than Bush, meaning they should remain ahead of the back regardless of the league.

Secondly, a PPR league also increases the value of wide receivers meaning that some that would be behind Bush in standard leagues will jump ahead of him in PPR leagues, causing his rise up the charts to be a bit more limited than one might initially think. Taking all of this into consideration, in a PPR league, I believe Bush becomes a mid- to late-third round option. Best of Luck in 2009!

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After Further Review: Analyzing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s First Two Years

We’re fast coming up on the second anniversary of Roger Goodell’s succession to the NFL commissioner’s job, so it seems as good a time as any to review his tenure.

Unfortunately, I’d rate Goodell’s performance thus far as poor, for the following reasons.

 

Possible labor troubles ahead

Goodell inherited an NFL with the coziest labor-management situation in its history. Indeed, few sports leagues have enjoyed such a long period of relative peace, and this can partly explain the NFL’s place at the top of American sport.

Now, however, the league’s situation is uncertain. The owners have bowed out of a collective-bargaining agreement that seemed beneficial to both sides. The players union, after the death of Gene Upshaw, has taken a more hard-line stance than in recent years.

The stage seems set for a significant problem.

Truly, some of these circumstances are beyond Goodell’s control, but as nominal leader of the league, he must shoulder the responsibility of righting the ship. Should he fail, the league faces the uncertainty of an uncapped year and a possibly disastrous work stoppage.

Given the stakes of this problem and the apparent lack of progress thus far, Goodell cannot be rated highly in this department.

 

Player conduct

Goodell’s major issue when he first took the job was policing player conduct better. Certain fans felt the behavior of players had been lawless and urged the league to deal with violations more harshly.

Goodell has definitely done so, but the question remains if such an approach is right.

Many fans have an almost sadistic desire that sports leagues “get tough” on players, ignoring the fact that they would not like to work under such conditions. Should someone’s livelihood be threatened by a mere arrest?

This problem is exemplified by the Michael Vick decision. The idea that a six-game suspension could accomplish what a two-year prison sentence could not is laughable.

To be sure, Vick’s crimes were horrible, but what does the suspension do besides hinder his attempt at a comeback?

This is not to say the commissioner’s power to censure players should be revoked. Instead, I believe it should be applied to protect the integrity of the game, not as a supplement to the country’s legal system.

If, though, Goodell wishes to continue to use his power to punish lawbreakers, it would at least be beneficial for him to set down guidelines for punishment. Currently, players are caught in a kind of limbo—they have no idea how the league will punish them for their infractions.

 

Draft woes

Goodell has altered the way the NFL draft functions, and most believe the changes are not for the better.

The league recently announced it would change the draft’s format, moving it to prime time on a Thursday and extending the event to three days.

I believe this decision is a big mistake.

The league’s selection meeting has long been the envy of other sports leagues. It has become an event unto itself—it’s covered live by two networks, and seemingly the entire Internet spends the preceding months speculating as to possible selections.

The draft is uniquely suited to take advantage of the breezy nature of weekends: Casual viewers can tune in and out at their own pace, able to follow the event at their leisure (and between other activities). Die-hard fans can follow all the action, as they have both days off.

However, the event is not exactly action-packed and pales in comparison to other prime time programs. As the time offers more options than weekend television, ratings for the draft will likely suffer.

Should interest in the draft wane, a key part of the league’s power will be lost.

 

“No Fun League” continues

Goodell has continued in the footsteps of his predecessor (Paul Tagliabue) in fining players who engage in “excessive celebration.”

I by no means want sportsmanship in the NFL to suffer, but we must remember that the NFL is, at heart, entertainment.

Are Chad Johnson’s (sorry, Ochocinco’s) celebrations a vital threat to the heart of the sport?

Is Wes Welker’s snow angel celebration (yes, he got fined for that) showing up an opponent?

There are occasions when such actions go beyond what is acceptable (Keyshawn Johnson’s “throat slashing” comes to mind), but that is precisely why the commissioner is given discretion in such matters—so he can determine when a celebration is fine-worthy and when it is not.

 

The NFL remains incredibly popular, to be sure, but I feel it has made a series of missteps that severely hinder the product on the field. Should the league continue down this road, I believe it could be overtaken by other sports.

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