Michael Crabtree’s Agent Has Gone Too Far, Betraying His “Brother”

Eugene Parker is a smart man. He is a great agent, an astonishing businessman, and he is a recognized leader in the African-American community.

But he isn’t God—and, right now, he doesn’t even look like a man of God.

For a man who claims to be unwavering in his religious values, Eugene Parker is committing a terrible sin. He is brainwashing and ruining the career of a young man who does not know any better.

While it’s true that Michael Crabtree is also receiving bad advice from his deadbeat cousin, the truth is that Eugene Parker is a titan in the NFL, and he clearly has both of Crabtree’s ears.

So why isn’t he encouraging Crabtree to sign?

It’s simple. All logic suggests that Eugene Parker is currently engaged in a grand experiment of sorts, with the Texas Tech receiver serving as his guinea pig.

Parker is famous for having innovated highly lucrative contracts for his star players, but if he were to succeed in his latest quest—breaking the unwritten NFL Draft slotting rules—he will become a legend.

In the eyes of Parker, Crabtree is nothing more than an “interesting opportunity.” Rarely has the NFL seen a talent like Crabtree fall this far down the Draft Board.

The perception that Crabtree fell too far is accepted by some. The notion that he should get paid Top Five money? Universally ridiculed. 

What does Parker have to lose if he fails in his fun little experiment? Nothing.

Eugene Parker is a multi-multi-multi-millionaire, whose client list is nothing short of breathtaking. Among other stars, he represents: Larry Fitzgerald, Steven Jackson, and Derrick Brooks. He has represented several Hall of Fame players in the past.

Let’s not mince words here. Eugene Parker could retire tomorrow, misplace $10 million, and not even notice a difference in his lifestyle. He’s filthy rich.

But guess who has a little less money right now?

Unsigned rookie Michael Crabtree.

If Michael Crabtree were to accidentally trip and fall down the stairs tomorrow (heaven forbid), and never play a game in the NFL, he would be living off insurance for the rest of his sad life.

He has no college degree, so forget about a second career. He has no good will, so forget a life in public speaking. 

In short, Eugene Parker is putting his own interests—the desire to become an agent of (even more) legend—ahead of Crabtree’s.

Meanwhile, the real losers are Crabtree, and we the fans who were so excited when the Niners took a chance on him at No. 10.

I may not be a model of a pious man, but I have enough common sense to know a charlatan and a sinner when I see one.

Eugene Parker, if you are reading this, you are betraying your brother. You are wickedly putting yourself before your client, and you are toying with somebody who trusts you.

Crabtree must take responsibility for himself, he is a grownup. But barely. And you are misleading him.

Good luck explaining this act of selfishness and greed to your creator, you filthy hypocrite.

 

“It is easier for a camel to get through a eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  –  Mark 14:25

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NY Giants Football: Ranting & Raving In 2009, Part 2

Part No. 2 of Rant & Rave.  For those of you who maybe puzzled. A Rant is a complaint and a Rave is a compliment.

 

Rant

Who the hell is Albert Haynesworth.  The $100 million man right.  Whatever!  I did a little research…yes, I did my research comparing the Giants Defensive Tackles to this “supposed” best tackle in football.

Before we even start I do want to acknowledge that Albert is very good…but $100 million good?  He did benefit from playing on a GREAT defense in Tennessee.  Back my Rant. 

In his seven year career Fat Albert has 271 tackles, 24 sacks, and 18 knock downs.  In the same seven years Rocky Bernard, who played his entire career in Seattle, has 280 tackles, 29 sacks, and 13 knock downs.

In eight years Fred Robbins has 275 tackles, 26.5 sacks, and 11 knock downs.  So what gives?  Is Albert overrated or is the NY Giants Defensive Tackles underrated?

 

Rave

How good does Clint Sintim look?  This guy has a motor and it’s always running.  Did you know this guy had 245 tackles at Virginia, 39 behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. Throw in the 27 sacks and I think we got a football player.

Those 27 sacks are the most by any active linebacker in the NCAA ranks at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign.

Sintim will be looking over the shoulder of Danny Clark all season.  Look for Clint to make a big contribution this year and possibly start before the seasons over if Danny Clark doesn’t have an outstanding year.

 

Rant

Why is Gerris Wilkerson on this team?

In three years this guy has 51 tackles.  I don’t see what he brings to the table. The Giants could have kept TE Michael Mathews, WR David Tyree, RB Allan Patrick, or DE Maurice Evans.

Any of these three players could have contributed more than Wilkerson.  He’s either hurt, missing tackles, or getting run over.  Could there be some hidden raw talent somewhere…I just don’t see it.  

This is his 2008 recap:  He played in eight regular season games with five starts before injuring a knee that caused him to sit out the remainder of the season.  He finished with 11 tackles and two special teams tackles.  Two special teams tackles!…you got to be kidding me.

Wilkerson started at weak side linebacker in the season opener against Washington and finished with only four tackles.  Against Cleveland he mustered up another two tackles before leaving the game with a knee injury.

He was inactive for six games before returning to the field against Washington where he had his two special teams tackles.  On the opening kickoff of the Dallas game he injured his knee and was inactive for the rest of the season.  Oh Boy!

 

Rave

Can some one please call Kevin Boss’s number and throw the kid the ball.  This guy actually hurdled Eagles Strong Safety No. 27 Quintin Mikell on Nov. 10, 2008, with the ball in his hands! 

Anytime a 6’6″ 255lb guy jumps over a Strong Safety…I say he’s an athlete! 

Mr. Gilbride…please throw him the ball.  We didn’t throw to Shockey because everyone said he had a big mouth, or he dropped too many balls, or he made Eli nervous. 

Now we have a big dude who runs good routes and keep his mouth shut. Throw him the rock and lets put the seem pass that Simms made famous back into the playbook.  Did someone forget he is wearing No. 89. 

 

Rant

Anyone love a kick return for a Touchdown?  What if I told you that there was an active player on the Giants roster who had returned 23 kickoffs for Giants resulting in 675 yards and a touchdown?

What if I told you that there is an active player on the roster who holds the Giants all-time post-season return record with 290 kick off yards in four games?

For the love of all that is red, white, and blue…Can we please put Domenik Hixon back in center field and let him shag flies? The guy is a stud with the ball in his hand and our return game has not been the same since. 

There has been plenty of starting running backs and wide receivers that returned kicks for their teams.  Maybe you’ve heard of Tim Brown, Eric Metcalf, Dave Megget, Devin Hester, or Brian Westbrook.

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Minnesota Vikings Vs Cleveland Browns: The Campaign Begins

When the Browns take the field on Sunday, get ready for something you haven’t seen on the Cleveland sideline in years—Preparation.

 

Head coach Eric Mangini has taken a lot of criticism from the media over his handling of the quarterback situation, which I have added my voice to. I thought he overplayed the incident and created an unnecessary distraction.

 

But it’s over and we’re ready to play football. Not only are the fans ready, but the team will be ready for the beginning of the season as well. What’s gotten lost over the last few weeks—as everyone wrung their hands in frustration over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson—is that Mangini will be fielding a team actually prepared to play a real, regular season football game.

 

Gone are the days of Romeo Crennel wandering the sidelines, looking for the nearest buffet line while his team floundered on the field, not sure where the end zone was or if scoring points was a real objective.

 

Do I think the Browns are going to win?

 

Maybe.

 

I’m a big believer in the “Any Given Sunday” theory. Brett Favre might come out with some rust on his arm and throw a few timely interceptions. Of course there’s still Adrian Peterson to think of, but Favre absolutely will be throwing the ball, let’s not kid ourselves.

 

Match-ups include Favre versus the Browns defense, Quinn versus destiny, and Mangini versus the world.

 

Favre is healthy and the Brown’s defense is weak, with a secondary so thin it could be described as anorexic.

 

The defense also has a huge hole in the middle now that Mangini was forced to admit Shaun Rogers has an injured foot, and listed him as questionable on Friday’s injury report. Then again, in the name of confusing the Vikings, Rogers may just have an ingrown toenail and will tear it up on Sunday.

 

Rogers is the mainstay in this thin defense. Backup Ahtyba Rubin showed progress during the preseason, but Rogers is a beast who could not be contained last year.

 

It’s hard to see how the Browns will stop Peterson from scoring five touchdowns on 579 yards this Sunday without Rogers, but stranger things have happened.

 

Expect Quinn to come out slinging. The knock on Quinn is that he stays away from the deep ball, checking down his receivers too quickly and going with the safe pass. Don’t be surprised to see Quinn blow those notions up by 1:15 p.m. (1:18 if the Vikings get the ball first, there’s Peterson’s run to think of).

 

Since both Kevin and Pat Williams will be playing Sunday, it will be a true test for rookie running back James Davis. If Davis can break through that wall, we’ll know he’s the real thing.

 

If Jamal Lewis can find his 25-year-old legs somewhere in his 30-year-old body, it would take a lot of pressure off the passing game and allow the Browns to spread the Viking’s defense out.

 

The problem is, there are too many “ifs.” Add to that the Mangini Mystery Factor, and this game could be a lot more interesting for Browns fans than most of the national sports media believe.

 

Mangini likes to keep everything close to the vest, so much so that I wonder if the team breakfast before the game will only be described as containing “mystery meat.”

 

What color uniforms will the Browns wear? Well, that’s a closely guarded state secret, the answer to which might give Minnesota a clear competitive advantage, so we’ll let you know the uniform colors after the game, just in case the game is blacked out in your area.

 

In closing, I’m not expecting a miracle, but sitting here, before one game is played, is it too much to hope that the Browns can be this year’s Miami Dolphins?

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Game Plan: New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills

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Cleveland Browns Need to Stop Adrian Peterson to Win Against Minnesota Vikings

Browns Backers,  

schism—”division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties”       

One would never guess that the Minnesota Vikings were theologically astute when they alluded to the fact that there was a “schism” among players in their locker room, in their support for QB’s Tavaris Jackson and long-time NFC nemesis from their arch rival, Brett Favre.  

You can’t help but wonder if it will ever be along the lines of the “Great Schism” that split the Catholic Church in the 11th century, but you can always guess. 

As the Browns prepare for the home opener against the Vikings, who can be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Vikings have the guile of a legend in QB Brett Favre, the top overall player in the NFL in RB Adrian Peterson, and the defensive line tandem known as the “Williams Wall”; that may give the Great Wall of China a run for it’s money.  

For the Browns to have chance of winning, they must stop All-World RB Adrian Peterson, and that will be a tall order for a defense that had a tough time stopping a run of diarrhea, ranking bottom in run defense.  

With the Browns focused squarely on stopping Peterson, this will open up the passing game for Favre to attack the Browns defense. Look for rookie WR Percy Harvin to gash the secondary with some clutch down-field catches.  

For the Browns to win they will need three things: (1) Come out aggressively with Quinn, (2) Keep the Vikings defense honest with play-action, and (3) Feed off the crowd.  

In coming out aggressive with Quinn, Daboll will need to throw multiple screens to Davis, Lewis, and Cribbs to keep DE Jaron Allen and the Williams Wall honest. Don’t be surprised to see Quinn test the suspect Vikings secondary with a couple of shots down field. 

Expect Quinn to throw safe underneath check-down passes and extend plays by being using his mobility outside of the pocket. WR Mike Furrey will be his “safety blanket” on third down plays and tight spots when the protection breaks down.  

The last thing the Browns will need to do is feed off the energy of the home crowd, Browns fans everywhere have been waiting to see their future savior QB on the field.

The Browns must keep the Vikings under pressure with long drives utilizing dink-and-dunk passes. This will eat up the clock and tire the Viking’s defense, allowing Quinn to be in position to land the knockout blow.  

Prediction: Browns 27, Vikings 24   

GO BROWNS!

Dawgfather

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Through Thick and Thin: Motivating Raider Nation

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Raider’s fans have been taught through history, preconditioned even, to keep expectations low, hopes high and fingers crossed when a new season approaches.  More often than not that hope and that prayer go unanswered and it’s more of the same, from year, to year, to year. 

So if you expect the worst, why go to games?  Why pay to see these players play? Surely watching a team struggle is not exciting, of course being letdown time and time again is no fun.

Maybe by divine intervention, Jamarcus Russell will turn into that franchise quarterback that we hoped for.  Perhaps if the football gods love us enough, maybe we’ll get to the playoffs and win a game or two. 

Wishful thinking maybe, but this is why we pay, this is why we watch.

Everyone needs some type of motivation, to push them over the top, and in the same way every one needs someone to believe in them even when times get tough. Amidst all of the unanswered question revolving around the team and the expectations, one thing needs to remain constant to achieve those expectations, a strong support system.

Of course there will always be bandwagon fans, those who see the bus leaving and try to jump on at the last minute. Better yet, those who try to get on the bus for free when it’s finally moving, after the rest of us have paid.

However, never forget when things start to click; when the bus starts rolling, it’s those fans that have been there from the beginning that will enjoy the ride the most.

So let’s try something new. Let’s watch effort, let’s watch progress.  Let’s measure the players by this instead of strictly wins and losses.

Now as Herm Edwards passionately put it, yes you play the game to win, but if the effort is there the wins will come, no one can argue that.

Stay strong Raider nation for the best is yet to come.  As William Penn put it, “no pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.”

With a promising young wide receiver in Darius Heyward-Bey and a talented RB and QB in McFadden and Russell, time and patience is key. You can’t take a baby out of the crib at 4 month and expect it to walk can you? Players need time to develop and learn the game together.

So as you’re watching opening day Monday, watch with optimism because who knows, maybe this is the season where wishful thinking becomes reality.

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Fantasy Football Week One Rankings: Risers & Fallers

The NFL is an ever-changing landscape, from year to year, week to week, and even day to day. Hence, the Bruno Boys bring to you our Week One Edition of the Fantasy Risers and Fallers. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept behind the article, it’s rather simple. Risers and Fallers highlights those players who have seen their fantasy value for the weekend’s upcoming games either rise (increase) or fall (decrease).

WEEK 1 RISERS

WR Steve Breaston (Arizona Cardinals) – Hamstring issues have left Anquan Boldin as iffy for Sunday’s match-up with the San Francisco 49ers. If Boldin can’t go, it’s Breaston—who is probable for the game—wjp moves into the No. 2 receiver slot for the Cardinals, a spot he occupied quite nicely in 2008.

WR Mark Clayton (Baltimore Ravens) – Despite a strained left hamstring, Clayton was not listed on Baltimore’s injury report this week and is fully expected to suit up and be on the field against the Chiefs on Sunday. Clayton, who is still the team’s No. 2 wide receiver thanks to Derrick Mason’s unretirement, should only be used in deep, deep leagues.

RB Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) – Stewart participated in all of the Panthers’ practices this week and does not appear on the injury report, despite missing time in the preseason due to an Achilles injury. While his value has risen, owners may still want to play it cautious here as Stewart faces a tough matchup against the Eagles and will likely see his workload reduced upon his return from injury.

RB DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) – Yes, Jonathan Stewart will be around in week one, but the split in carries will be more in Williams’ favor than it was in 2008 as the Panthers will look to ease Stewart back into the mix.

QB Carson Palmer & WR Chris Henry (Cincinnati Bengals) – Palmer and Henry were both expected to be ready to go in a nice matchup against the Denver Broncos as both were listed as probable, but it’s nice to have head coach Marvin Lewis confirm that both will go.

QB Kyle Orton (Denver Broncos) – Orton, despite a questionable listing, is expected to start Sunday against the Bengals. No doubt, though, the injured finger on his throwing hand leads us to recommend you stay away even if Orton goes here. I mean, this is a guy who threw three INTs in his first work ever as a Broncos’ QB in week one of the preseason.

RB Correll Buckhalter (Denver Broncos) – With rookie Knowshon Moreno a question mark for week onee’s battle with the Bengals, Buckhalter will be the Broncos’ starting back. While he’ll share duties with LaMont Jordan and Peyton Hillis, this is a matchup he can exploit, making him an interesting option as a flex play.

K Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) – Hanson is probable for the Lions matchup against the Saints this weekend. However, we have to assume you have a better option for your kicker for week one as Hanson ranks 24th in our kicker rankings.

QB Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) – Always a health concern, Schaub is probable for week one and after full participation in Friday’s practice, he looks like a safe start. The Texans will need to beat the New York Jets through the air, so look for Schaub to post some nice numbers.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) – After an injury scare in the team’s last preseason game, MJD appears to be fine as he gets set for a week one smack down with the Indianapolis Colts, a team he has scored six TDs against in six career games.

RB Reggie Bush & RB Mike Bell (New Orleans Saints) – With Pierre Thomas officially ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Lions, both Bush and Bell will see an expanded role—which is great news for those owners who own the two, as the Lions’ are looking like a juicy opponent.

RB Darren McFadden & RB Michael Bush (Oakland Raiders) – Justin Fargas’ absence means it will be these two who carry the load against the San Diego Chargers.

QB Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) – Bulger is apparently having no issues in regard to the broken finger he suffered. Still, until Bulger returns to the form that made him a perennial top-10 fantasy quarterback, we suggest you stay away.

 

WEEK 1 FALLERS

WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) – A limited participant in the Cardinals’ practice on Friday, Boldin’s status for week one won’t be known until pre-game warmups. With the Cardinals playing an afternoon game, it’s wise to look elsewhere. After all, you don’t want to start the fantasy season off with a goose egg in a slot due to an inactive player.

TE L.J. Smith (Baltimore Ravens) – Smith has never quite lived up to his potential, and it appears as nothing is changing but the scenery. Smith, already behind Todd Heap on the depth chart, is doubtful for the Ravens’ week one battle with the Kansas City Chiefs.

RB Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) – At less than 100 percent, the Broncos’ rookie running back is questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals. With the depth the Broncos have at the RB slot, the team probably feels fine taking it slow in returning Moreno to the lineup.

WR Kevin Walter (Houston Texans) – Walter, who is dealing with hamstring issues, remains a game-time decision. Check back with the Bruno Boys on Sunday for a status update.

QB Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) – While Cassel is still a game-time decision, we’re not even going to tell you to check back on Sunday because in a matchup with the Ravens, he is not worthy of a fantasy start.

WR Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) – His quarterback situation has improved with the arrival of Brett Favre, but Berrian may not be on the field on Sunday to take advantage as a hamstring has limited his participation in practice. Check on his status on game day.

RB Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) – For those of Thomas’ owners holding out hope that the back would play against the Lions, I hate to burst your bubble—but Thomas has officially been ruled out of week one’s action.

RB Justin Fargas (Oakland Raiders) – Fargas missed practice yet again on Friday. The possibility of him playing on Monday night against the Chargers is slim.

For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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NFL Week 1: Game Previews (Fantasy Style)

Throughout the off-season, the Bruno Boys peered into their Crystal Ball to provide you out there in Bruno Boys Nation with a look into what the future held for specific players for the 2009 season.

Now, we shift our focus and utilize our psychic powers to provide you with a breakdown of all the NFL games on the docket for this Week 1 of football action as Bruno Boys Kyle presents Week 1—Game Previews (Fantasy Style).

 

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

The two biggest surprises of last year square off as their respective franchises take another resurgent step forward. Fantasy owners will be watching to see if Matt Ryan takes a noticeable step forward during his sophomore year.

Fantasy Prediction—Ronnie Brown nears 100 yards against an Atlanta run defense that was in the bottom quarter of the league a year ago.

 

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals, who we’ve gotten to know through the “Hard Knocks” series open against what will be one of the most interesting teams to follow from a fantasy perspective in the Broncos.

Fantasy Prediction—If there was ever a game you should feel good starting Cedric Benson, this would be it.

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns

Everyone will be watching the quarterbacks from both teams, as Brett Favre comes out in a stylish purple helmet for the first time. Meanwhile, Cleveland will be trying to answer questions about their talent at every skill position.

Fantasy Prediction—Brian Robiskie will not make the splash everyone thought he would to start his career, and gets, at most, two fantasy points.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

The Jags were 1-1 against the Colts last season, with each team claiming a win at the other’s home stadium. Maurice Jones-Drew had a combined 329 rushing and receiving yards in those contests, but scored only once.

Fantasy Prediction—MJD will match that touchdown total in this game, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he doubled it.

 

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints

Can Detroit win their first game since 2007? No. One need only look to Week 16 of last year, when the Saints throttled the Lions by the score of 42-7 in Detroit, and four different Saints players scored a rushing touchdown. 

Fantasy Prediction—Drew Brees threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns last season. He’ll throw for fewer yards this time, but more touchdowns.

 

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay

This game is a rematch of a real barn burner from last season that saw the Cowboys prevail, 13-9. In fairness, Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia were the quarterbacks, and that’s not what you’ll see this year. What you will see is Byron Leftwich sacked at least twice by DeMarcus Ware because it takes longer for him to get rid of the ball than it does for a 90-year-old woman with arthritis to cross a street.

Fantasy Prediction—Leftwich fails to reach double-digits in fantasy points.

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers

Both teams have to be considered legitimate contenders in the NFC to reach the postseason, so this match-up will be a good litmus test for each.

Fantasy Prediction—Neither DeAngelo Williams nor Jonathan Stewart cross the goal-line for Carolina.

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens

The Chiefs will try to replicate what the Ravens did last season and go from a struggling team to one in playoff contention. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they don’t have Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, etc.

Fantasy Prediction—Larry Johnson gets five or fewer fantasy points.

 

New York Jets @ Houston Texans

The Mark Sanchez era begins in a game that pits what should be a very good defense in New York against what we know can be a powerful offense in Houston.

Fantasy Prediction—Steve Slaton is decent but not great against a solid Jets run defense, picking up fewer than 10 points.

 

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

New York took both games in the series last season, one with Plaxico, and one without him. Brandon Jacobs had 187 rushing yards and one touchdown in the two games against the Redskins.

Fantasy Prediction—Jacobs scores the first touchdown of the season for the Giants, en-route to at least 15 points.

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals beat the 49ers twice last season to account for two of their nine wins. Anquan Boldin had 15 catches for 174 yards and two scores in the two games, while Frank Gore ran for 96 and 99 yards, respectively, with one touchdown.

Fantasy Prediction—Gore is the centerpiece of the Niners’ offense, and proves it with another day of at least 90 rushing yards.

 

St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks beat the Rams twice last season, despite Steven Jackson amassing 255 rushing and receiving yards with one touchdown.

Fantasy Prediction—Like the aforementioned Gore with the 49ers, Jackson will be the main focus of the Rams’ offense, and will accumulate over 125 yards of total offense.

 

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

These two teams split the series last season at 1-1, including a 20-17 win by the Bears in overtime. Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdowns and two picks combined in the two contests.

Fantasy Prediction—Greg Olsen was the leading receiver for the Bears in both games against the Packers last season, and will be so once again this year, with over 50 receiving yards.

 

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

The Bills were 0-2 against the Patriots last season, and scored a total of 10 points in the two games. Trent Edwards didn’t amass even 130 passing yards in either of the two games, and finished them with a grand total of 248 passing yards.

Fantasy Prediction—Edwards’ numbers improve, but not much, as he registers fewer than 10 fantasy points.

 

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

The Chargers beat the Raiders twice last season by the combined score of 62-25. LaDainian Tomlinson had two of his better games on the year, scoring three rushing touchdowns to go with 197 rushing yards.

Fantasy Prediction—More of the same from LT, who scores once and proves his precipitous decline isn’t going to be as rapid as some believe.

 

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY KYLE SMITH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW.*

BRUNO BOYS FANTASY FOOTBALL

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A Writer’s Reflection: The 2009 NFC East Preview

 

Football season is just a day away, and I can’t put into words how excited I am.

 

I met with Robert Allred of the Cowboys, John Fennelly of the Giants, and Jack Anderson of the Redskins – three of my favorite writers on Bleacher Report – to put together an NFC East preview for this season.

 

Along with myself for the Eagles, we have all four teams represented to voice our opinions on what should be yet another competitive NFC East race.

 

Here are the questions below, along with answers from myself, John, Jack, and Robert.

 

1. Rank the four NFC East quarterbacks in order.

 

Cody (Eagles): McNabb, Romo, Manning, Cambell. All are above average…

 

Robert (Cowboys): Donovan McNabb has been the best quarterback in the NFC over the past decade, so until he starts to show a decline, he still has to be number one in the Beast. Romo would be my second, followed by Eli and then Jason Campbell.

 

John (Giants): Eli Manning – Giants, Donovan McNabb – Eagles, Tony Romo – Cowboys, Jason Campbell – Redskins

 

Jack (Redskins): McNabb, Romo, Manning, Campbell

 

2. Predict the wins of each NFC East team this season.

 

Cody (Eagles): Wow. That’s tough. I had said the Eagles are winning the Super Bowl several months ago, but a lot has happened since then. Most of it bad. As of now, I have to go Giants 12, Eagles 11, Cowboys 9, and Redskins 9. And I have the Eagles as the wild card with the Cowboys and Redskins just missing out.

 

Robert (Cowboys): I really have no idea. Speaking of my team, the Cowboys, I have been going back and forth all season. I think that they could be a very special team and win 12-13 games, or I think they could turn in another 9-7 kind of season. If you twisted my arm, however, I would peg the Eagles and Giants both at 11-5, the Cowboys at 10-6, and the Redskins at 8-8. I think we will see three teams from the East back in the playoffs this year.

 

John (Giants): Giants 12, Eagles 10, Cowboys 10, Redskins 8

 

Jack (Redskins): Giants: 11, Eagles: 9, Redskins: 9, Cowboys: 8

 

3. Which one player from another NFC East team would you most like for your own?

 

Cody (Eagles): DeMarcus Ware. We absolutely need a linebacker and Ware is probably the best in the game. He might be the single best defensive player in the game.

 

Robert (Cowboys): It would have to be Osi Umenyiora. While I think that Anthony Spencer will fill in nicely for Greg Ellis, I would love to have Osi and DeMarcus Ware play opposite each other. You can never have enough great pass rushers, and with Ware, Umenyiora, and Spencer, opposing offensive coordinators would not be able to sleep the nights before games against the Cowboys.

 

John (Giants): Jason Witten

 

Jack (Redskins): DeMarcus Ware

 

4. Which one player from another NFC East team do you respect the most?

 

Cody (Eagles): Jason Witten. He is probably the best tight end in the game.

 

Robert (Cowboys): For some reason, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Donovan McNabb, despite the colors he wears. He has put up with a lot of crap since coming into the league, including a lot of abuse from his own fans, but has kept his cool, stayed classy, and has continued to prove that he is the best NFC quarterback of the 2000s.

 

John (Giants): Donovan McNabb

 

Jack (Redskins): Donovan McNabb: He takes so much heat in Philly and still defies the critics.

 

5. Which is the most intense rivalry among the NFC East teams?

 

Cody (Eagles): How do you pick just one? That whole division is a rivalry. But I have to go Eagles vs. Giants over Eagles vs. Cowboys or Cowboys vs. Redskins, largely because the Eagles and Giants have met in the playoffs in two of the past three seasons, and these two teams are the two favorites to win the division this year.

 

Robert (Cowboys): The Cowboys and (fill in the blank). In recent years, the Cowboys fans typically have reserved the majority of their hate for whichever of the three other teams is the better one at the moment. Right now that would be the Eagles or the Giants, as they have both ended one of our past two seasons. The other three teams all hate the Cowboys more than any other.

 

John (Giants): This ebbs and flows. Traditionally, it was Dallas-Washington and NY-Philadelphia, which makes sense again these days because of the talent.

 

Jack (Redskins): Redskins-Cowboys (Yes I’m biased)

 

6. Who will play in this season’s conference championship games and the Super Bowl? Which team will emerge as a Super Bowl champion and who will take home the Super Bowl MVP?

 

Cody (Eagles): In the NFC, it will be Eagles over Giants. In the AFC, it will be Chargers over Patriots. As of now, I see the Chargers winning Super Bowl XLIV, and Philip Rivers taking home the MVP award.

 

Robert (Cowboys): The NFC is wide open. I really believe that any of these teams CAN make the Super Bowl, and I can also see a situation play out where NONE of them do.

 

However, if I am going to assume that someone from the East will represent the NFC  in the big game, I am going to go with Dallas—simply because I see Dallas, New York, and Philly as tossups, and the idea of Dallas being the one to go makes me happier. If (when?) they make it to the dance, and if (when?) they win it, then DeMarcus Ware will have a beast of a game, wreaking havoc on Ben Roethlisberger (Or whomever) for 60 minutes and winning the Super Bowl MVP while solidifying himself as the best defensive player in football today.

That felt really great to put on paper, but that’s just a pipe dream right now. Let’s play the regular season first!

 

John (Giants): The Giants will beat Chicago for the NFC title. New England will top San Diego. New England will win the SB and Tom Brady will be the MVP.

 

Jack (Redskins): Conference Champs: Patriots and Giants, Super Bowl Champs: Patriots, Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady

 

7. How will Eli Manning – the highest-paid quarterback in the game – perform this season without Plaxico Burress? Will he be the cool and confident Eli who guided the Giants to a fourth-quarter comeback in Super Bowl XLII or the one who played like a rookie in last year’s playoff loss to the Eagles?

 

Cody (Eagles): Well, first of all, I don’t think Eli Manning was worth that contract. I think Eli Manning has a better group of wide receivers than most people realize, and I see him putting up his usual stats – a passer rating around 85.0 with 20-22 touchdowns and about 12 interceptions. And I see him putting up another poor performance against Philly in the playoffs.

 

Robert (Cowboys): Somewhere in the middle, I think. Anyone that knows me can testify to the fact that I cannot stand Eli Manning. I don’t know if it’s because of the dumb face he makes when he yells “dang” after every single play that goes wrong, his prima donna move leading up to the 2004 Draft, or the jersey he wears, but I do not like the guy.

That being said, he has vastly improved as a quarterback. I would go so far as to say he is a pretty darn good quarterback. Is he worth the contract he signed? No, but I can hardly fault him for signing the dotted line when New York was foolish enough to make him such a huge offer.

He is probably a top 10 quarterback in the league— or at the very least just outside that group— and I think he will (unfortunately) continue to improve. I do not expect him to put up great numbers, because he has never been a numbers guy, but I do think that he will play efficiently and help his team win.

 

John (Giants): Manning will have a Pro Bowl season. His new receiving coprs will prove to be much better than the old one.

 

Jack (Redskins): Manning has matured as a QB, but the lack of a true number one WR will definitely cause problems for him. If he can continue to sharpen his game and spread the ball around to his many receivers, things should be a step up from last year, but don’t expect Peyton-like numbers from little bro, Eli.

 

8. The Giants captured the NFC East crown last season largely because of their style of smash mouth football with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who combined for close to 2,500 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. This past offseason, Ward departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Will Jacobs and Bradshaw see a decline in their play or will the Giants remain one of the elite rushing teams in the league?

 

Cody (Eagles): The Giants will remain an elite rushing team. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are a dynamic duo. This team plays tough smash mouth football, and they will be tough to beat when December rolls around.

 

Robert (Cowboys): I think they will still have to run the ball quite a bit because they have lost a serious receiving threat in Plaxico Burress. However, I do not see Jacobs and Bradshaw alone combining for the kind of yardage that the three of them combined for last year. They are going to have to either find someone to step in to Ward’s role, or they will need to find more success through the air without Plax.

Will the Giants still be one of the elite rushing teams in the league? They might be, but probably not. That being said, Jacobs and Bradshaw are definitely still talents that defenses will have to account for, and I see them both having another productive season.

 

John (Giants): The Giants, barring injuries, will have a monster running attack this season.

 

Jack (Redskins): The Giants offensive line is one of the better run blocking units in the NFL so there won’t be much of a drop off. Ward had the best vision of the three and it’s not certain if Jacobs can carry a full load with his upright running style, but Bradshaw is the perfect change of pace back. Despite the loss of Ward, the Giants will again be a top rushing team.

 

9. The Eagles just recently added Michael Vick to their roster in a highly-publicized move. Will Vick help the offense or is he overhyped? Where will he play on the field? Predict how many total touchdowns (passing, rushing, receiving) Vick accounts for this season.

 

Cody (Eagles): I hate to say it, but I am not a huge Vick fan. At all. I think he is vastly overrated as a quarterback. I think he will be used mostly in wildcat-type formations, but I don’t think he will account for more than two or three touchdowns this season.

 

Robert (Cowboys): I don’t see Vick having a huge impact this season. I think that we will see him on the field a couple of times a game, and I think that he will make a couple of plays, but I also don’t see this move as something that puts the Eagles over the top.

I think that Vick will be most effective when both he and Donovan McNabb are on the field, whether it’s in the Wildcat or if he lines up as a receiver and is a potential wide receiver passing threat.  I have no idea what Vick’s numbers for the season will be, although I would venture to guess that he puts up 400-500 yards and three or four touchdowns.

 

John (Giants): His presence will do as much damage as it will good.

 

Jack (Redskins):  don’t see the Eagles as good fit for Vick. They already have a ton of speed and there isn’t much room for him. McNabb still has a year or two left (and is light years better) so to me Vick is just an insurance policy in case McNabb gets injured.

I can’t imagine more than two or three TDs this year for Vick.

 

10. The Eagles’ defense has suffered a blow this past offseason, to say the least. Future Hall of Fame safety and team leader Brian Dawkins departed for the Denver Broncos via free agency. Longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, arguably the top assistant in the game, passed away from a bout with cancer. And star middle linebacker Stewart Bradley tore his ACL and will miss the season. How much does this hurt the Eagles’ defense? Will this team still feature one of the game’s top defenses?

 

Cody (Eagles): It will hurt. I can’t deny that. The defense is still one of the best in the game, bordering on elite, but you cannot replace a legend like Jim Johnson, a team leader like Brian Dawkins, and arguably the best defensive player in Stewart Bradley. With that in mind, I still think the Eagles will finish eighth or higher in total defense, but I don’t see us winning the division any longer.

 

Robert (Cowboys): I still think that the Eagles have a top 10 defense. Sean McDermott has been with the team since before Jim Johnson, and has been fortunate to spend the majority of his career learning from one of the best of the best. I do not see Jim Johnson’s defensive ideals disappearing simply because a new coach is stepping in.

Instead, I expect to see the same blitz happy defense that has terrorized offenses for years, except with perhaps a tad less talent.

 

John (Giants): They are in big trouble. There is too much to overcome there.

 

Jack (Redskins): After a big offseason, the Eagles have been sent reeling with the losses of Johnson and Bradley. The defense will still employ the aggressive scheme that has made them so successful, but the absence of those three guys will prove costly.

The defense will be tough once again, but it won’t be able to replicate the defense of years past. They will rank somewhere in the top 15.

 

11. Tony Romo will be entering his first season without Terrell Owens as his No. 1 receiver. How will this affect his play this year? Will Romo be able to find a No. 1 target in Roy Williams, who caught just 19 passes in nine games with the team in ’08? And is there any truth to the rumors that Romo could be gone after the season if he doesn’t win a playoff game?

 

Cody (Eagles): The Cowboys would be just flat out stupid to get rid of Tony Romo. I am not a Romo fan – at all – but he is a talented quarterback who is one of the ten best in the league. I think he will be fine without T.O. this season, a player who is on the decline faster than people realize. I don’t think Romo will win a playoff game this season, but it’s a team game. Quarterbacks don’t lose playoff games. Teams do.

 

Robert (Cowboys): Romo is going to be a Cowboy in 2010, regardless of whether he wins a playoff game this year or not. The Cowboys have invested too much in him, and if they were to try and trade him, they would not be able to get fair market value for him. Just look at the Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton trade for proof on that.

Williams can be a perfectly good No. 1 option for the Cowboys, so long as the Cowboys commit to running the ball and involving their tight ends more in their offense. The Cowboys receiving corps is not necessarily bad, but it is very thin. If Williams, Crayton, Hurd or Austin go down to injury, then things can get very dicey.

However, they do have the best tight end duo in the league and arguably a top running back trio. If the Cowboys can move from pass happy to more of a control offense, then Williams might turn out to be the perfect man for the job. Not only that, but Romo’s job becomes much easier too.

 

John (Giants): Romo will have an average year. The Cowboys will run more than they pass.

 

Jack (Redskins): Romo will struggle mightily without TO. Williams is a good receiver, but he’s not TO. After Williams comes a load of receivers with potential. Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton lead the group. Those aren’t guys that Romo will be able to consistently depend on.

However, Romo is a playmaker and those are hard to come by. Should he fail to get the Cowboys that elusive postseason victory, the heat will be on, but Jerry Jones will give him another year to prove himself. Romo has only started for two and a half seasons and it would be a mistake to pull the plug on a QB with such potential as Romo’s.

 

12. Last season for the Cowboys was marked by controversies surrounding many of the players – Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, and Tank Johnson, to name a few. Owner Jerry Jones ridded his locker room of those three distractions and reportedly is focusing much more on team morale than ever before. Will this be a distraction in Dallas in 2009 or will the team be able to simply focus on football?

 

Cody (Eagles): I don’t think the Cowboys will have the distractions they had last season, but I just don’t know if they are quite as good as they think. I would not be surprised to see this team miss the playoffs. Then again, I could see them taking the division. As of now, I have them at third place in the NFC East with nine wins.

 

Robert (Cowboys): Dallas is under a microscope in the sports media world, so I won’t go so far as to say that there will not be a single distraction this season. However, it has been an awfully quiet training camp and preseason, and that has been quite nice.

With TO, Pacman, and to a lesser extent Tank gone, there is definitely less to talk about in Dallas. However, that doesn’t mean that the media will not want to discuss Dallas at all next season. Love them or hate them, Dallas has a huge following and they garner a lot of media attention. If they are winning next year, then that is all you will hear about. However, if they are losing next season, then that too is all you will hear about.

Should Wade Phillips be fired? Is Tony Romo a bum? Was the new stadium a bad idea? These are all distractions that very well could rear their ugly head should things not go the Cowboys’ way.

 

John (Giants): They will focus on football but they are not the team they were in 2007, that is for sure.

 

Jack (Redskins): The team will focus on football, but the roster doesn’t have the talent offensively it did a year ago. They will have to adapt to a run-first style considering they have three great backs in Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. The run game will be a the key as the passing game is lacking a standout receiver.

Overall, it appears the Cowboys will take this year much more seriously, but if they don’t change their pass-happy style, focus won’t matter much.

 

13. The Redskins spent $100 million on Albert Haynesworth this past offseason. Will the move pay off for the team that finished in last place in the NFC East in ’08? How will Haynesworth fit in the Redskins’ defense?

 

Cody (Eagles): Albert Haynesworth is not worth the contract he signed, simply because few players other than Lawrence Taylor are worth that much money. Haynesworth will have a great season and probably make the Pro Bowl, but I don’t think he will be enough to push the ‘Skins over the edge. And I don’t think he is the best defensive player in the NFL, as Sporting News rated him in their Top 100 NFL Players.

 

Robert (Cowboys): Albert Haynesworth is a thug, and I sincerely hope that Andre Gurode stomps on his face not once, but twice this year. But he is a great player, and he will be a help to a Redskins defense that really didn’t need that much help.

I do not think this move is as much about whether or not Haynesworth will come in and play to the level of his contract. Instead, I think the foolishness of this move stems from the fact that it was unnecessary. The money they used to bring him in would have been much better served to bring in someone to help their ailing offense.

Still, Haynesworth is a big body in the middle, and he is one mean dude. The Redskins defense has gotten tougher, no doubt.

 

John (Giants): Their line will be better, but they need more than Albert Haynesworth to compete in the NFC East.

 

Jack (Redskins): The Redskins have long been unable to pressure opposing QBs. Haynesworth gives them pressure up the middle, keeping the QB from stepping up in the pocket. That means more sacks for Andre Carter and other speed rushers.

Haynesworth also commands double teams, which will free up London Fletcher to be an even better run stuffer at MLB. Haynesworth’s presence gives the ‘Skins an opportunity to play aggressively with an already good defense.

 

14. The Redskins enter the season as odds-on favorites to again finish last in the division. What is the key for this team to stay competitive in a division that could easily boast three of the NFC’s six playoff teams?

 

Cody (Eagles): Pray. The Redskins are overmatched against the three other teams in their division. To be competitive, the Redskins will need to excel in division play and hope the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles suffer some key injuries to star players.

 

Robert (Cowboys): I think it all comes down to quarterback play. I don’t think that Jason Campbell needs to set the world on fire with his play, but he does need to be a consistently efficient quarterback if the Skins hope to do something special this season. Campbell has shown flashes of brilliance since he has taken over the quarterback duties, but he has yet to put it all together.

In a weaker division, this team is probably good enough to squeak its way into the playoffs, but in the East it is not going to work until their quarterback play improves.

 

John (Giants): They need for Campbell to get better, a lot better. Plus they need to stay injury-free and hope the other teams do not…

 

Jack (Redskins): The offense must rise to the challenge. With the defense projecting to be in the top five again, the offense needs to carry it’s weight. The offense has to sustain drives, maintain field position and post 20+ points a game. If the ‘Skins can score three times a game, that could be enough for this defense.

It all comes down to the trenches. The Redskins offense can get into a rhythm if the guys up front can hold their blocks. That’s a big “if,” but if the Redskins find their groove, it would go a long way to keeping opposing defenses honest.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Seven Habits Of Highly Successful Fantasy Football Owners

I’m sure you’re a good fantasy owner, but you could be better. Not exactly a way to win friends and influence people, but that’s not my goal. As you can probably imagine, I get quite a bit of email every day from people looking for fantasy football advice.

The questions are wide-ranging, and I make a point to answer every one I get as quickly as I can. A solid majority are start/bench questions. Some want to know my opinion on a particular player, while others want to discuss draft theory. But, believe it or not, two of the most popular questions I get each week are:

    1. What separates a good fantasy owner from a great one?

    2. What can I do to become a better fantasy owner?

The truth is there are no easy, concrete answers to these questions. There’s a laundry list of improvements the average fantasy owner can make to become a great fantasy owner. For the sake of my laptop battery and my sanity, I selected seven easy things the average fantasy owner can do to improve and become a great fantasy owner.

Utilize one, utilize all seven, it doesn’t matter. Implementing any of these habits will help you improve and take another step to annual league domination. So, without further ado, here are Seven Habits of Highly Successful Fantasy Owners.

 

1. Highly successful fantasy owners embrace technology.

You’re using the Internet. Congratulations! Sorry to say, but there’s a number of tools available via the World Wide Web that you’re probably not utilizing that could definitely expedite your evolution from fantasy chum to fantasy shark.

First of all, if you’re not on Twitter, you should be. Yes, I am well aware that nothing in the history of the planet so amazingly cool has ever been so inappropriately named. And I know that “tweeting” sounds like something your wife does on Sundays while you’re watching football.

The fact of the matter is that if you’re not using Twitter, you are getting information much later than the other owners in your fantasy football league who are wisely monitoring Tweet Town. Think about it.

For NFL insiders like Peter King, Jay Glazer, Adam Schefter (personal favorite), and Chris Mortensen, Twitter is the fastest way for them to break a story. They may not have a camera or a laptop handy, but if they’ve got their iPhone or Blackberry, they can publish breaking news immediately to millions of people on Twitter.

I’m not saying you have to tweet, but be warned that it is fun and kind of addicting. Just follow key football people and read what they post. And make sure two of those “key people” are @mattkamke and @BrunoBoys.

The second major Internet tool all great fantasy owners use is an RSS reader. You know that little orange square with the weird white lines you see popping up on more and more websites? That’s a link to that particular website’s RSS feed.

An RSS reader allows you to “subscribe” to your favorite websites and automatically receive updates to those websites in one convenient place. The RSS reader I recommend (and personally use) is Google Reader. It’s free and, as you’d expect with Google, very easy to use.

Please don’t be intimidated, it’s much easier to set up than it sounds and the time you’ll save going to one website for all your football news instead of 20 different websites will more than make up for any time lost setting up the RSS reader.

Right now, my RSS reader has 36 subscriptions or feeds: 25 are NFL-related and the other 11 are college football related. That means I get to read up to the minute pro and college football news from 36 different websites in one convenient place. If that doesn’t sound like something you should be using or something that could make you a better fantasy owner, I don’t know what will.

 

2. Highly successful fantasy owners consider the Vegas over/under totals line in starting lineup decisions.

I have a feeling this one may turn some heads, and that’s a good thing. Don’t fool yourself, no one reading this column (or writing it for that matter) is more in tune with football than the guys who create betting lines on which millions of dollars will be wagered each week.

These linemakers are not just good. They are wicked-sick, scary good. The drinks in Vegas are free for a reason, and it’s not because of the plethora of winning football bettors. The NFL lines are arguably the toughest to beat in Vegas and deservedly so since the most money is wagered on them.

So what does the over/under totals line have to do with fantasy football? I’m glad you asked. Everyone and their sister knows that Drew Brees is a good start this week against a pitiful—though improved—Detroit Lions team.

That’s an obvious, no doubt about it, must start. But let’s look at some other games. Right now, I’m wondering why the over/under in the Minnesota @ Cleveland game is only 40 points. The Vikings have a high-powered offense and the Browns offense is better than people think. The Minnesota defense is above average and Cleveland’s defense leaves a bit to be desired. Couldn’t you see Adrian Peterson andin the Commodore opener against Western Carolina company putting up 30-plus and making a statement right out of the gate? So why is that line set at just 40 points?

The other game that stands out is St. Louis @ Seattle. Both teams have some decent offensive playmakers and neither defense is anything special. So why is the line just 40.5 points? What does the linemaker know that I don’t?

Probably quite a bit, and it would certainly be worth my while as a fantasy football owner to find out. If you have a questionable starting lineup decision, I would advise taking a look at the over/under total lines for the games. You will probably find a game where more or less points than you thought are expected to be scored and you can try and take advantage of that by starting or benching players in those games. The most intelligent sports bettors will tell you the No. 1 rule to successful sports betting is always respect the line. Fantasy owners would be wise to do the same.

 

3. Highly successful fantasy owners avoid conventional wisdom.

With all due respect to the Worldwide Leader In Sports, if you saw or heard it on ESPN, you can rest assured someone else in your fantasy league did too.

Conventional wisdom downs fantasy teams like Kirstie Alley downs Twinkies. To be successful in fantasy football, you have to find or give yourself an edge. The information contained in most preseason fantasy football magazines is common knowledge. To alienate yourself from the average fantasy owner, you need to find information that the other competitors in your league will not.

At the very least, get in the habit of finding the information before they do. The best places for this information are blogs that cover a specific team. Some of these blogs are operated by the local newspaper and the team’s beat writer. Some of them (usually the best ones) are created and maintained by a crazy but dedicated fan of the team. These blogs are going to give you important information that flies under the radar to the general fantasy community.

I jumped on the Jermichael Finley bandwagon very early in training camp when the Green Bay Press Gazette Insiders Blog reported that Finley had matured, vastly improved his game, and was a one-man highlight reel. Needless to say, I got a lot of strange looks at my early August drafts when I took Finley with one of my final picks.

When most of the guys at your draft are asking who that guy is, you know you’ve done your homework and have found an edge. Fast forward three weeks later, and instead of asking who that guy was, competitors in my league responded with vulgarities when I snatched Finley a few picks before they planned to.

This is just one of many examples. In 2001, it was a rookie running back from Texas Christian University with the strange name of LaDainian Tomlinson that had my opponents wondering what I knew that they did not. You know the “it” fantasy players each season.

I hear the word “sleeper” abused worse than Tila Tequila (too soon?). If every fantasy owner and preseason magazine is touting a certain player as a sleeper, is that player really a sleeper? Find the players that could give you an edge. Nobody said becoming an elite fantasy owner was easy, but it is well worth the effort.

 

4. Highly successful fantasy owners rarely make trades and do not abuse the waiver wire.

This is going to draw a few blank stares. Fantasy football is not Major League Baseball. I know this may be hard to believe, but you don’t have to make a blockbuster deal every week for your team to be good.

No, really, you don’t.

Few things in fantasy football annoy me more than the owners who are constantly proposing trades, especially the ridiculous insult-my-intelligence trades. Recently, a guy in one of my What The Hell, Why Not Leagues was generous enough to offer me Ben Roethlisberger for (drumroll please)…Greg Jennings.

And no, this league does not award points to a quarterback for getting sacked.

I obviously declined the offer and told the guy that someone dumb enough to accept that deal wouldn’t have been smart enough to figure out ESPN’s Draft Room to get a team in the first place. Few fantasy owners would ever willingly admit that they drafted poorly and have a crappy team.

And yet, owners who wheel and deal and abuse the waiver wire each year are unknowingly saying precisely that. Do I use the waiver wire in my leagues each year? Absolutely. I’ll make three to five moves per season to cover defense and kicker bye weeks, and combat injuries.

The owners I’m talking about are the ones who make two to four moves each week. These owners are always looking for the hot hand or the next big thing. In the process, they usually end up dismantling what could have been a solid team. Unless I am devastated by injuries, I will rarely need to make a trade or waiver wire move all season.

Did you catch the key word in that last sentence? N-E-E-D. Very few fantasy teams ever actually need to make a trade or waiver-wire move. If you prepared properly and dominated your draft, trading your players for other players will only weaken your team while strengthening the competition. Every day, I get email from fantasy owners wondering if they should pull the trigger on this deal or that blockbuster.

In truth, most of the offers are pretty much a toss-up, no real advantage or edge for either team. But to the average fantasy owner, that doesn’t matter. They want to make big, blockbuster (and unnecessary) trades. I can’t tell you how many fantasy football owners every year make trades that improve a position of strength instead of fixing a position of weakness.

This is the complete opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish when making a trade. If you NEED to make a trade because you didn’t draft well and have very little talent or depth, you should trade players from a position of strength to acquire players that fix a position of weakness. Players are rarely traded for other players in the NFL. Why should your fantasy league be any different?

 

5. Highly successful fantasy owners do not overreact.

Elite fantasy owners maintain perspective and always look at the big picture. To the average fantasy owner, a 0-2 start is a fate worse than death. They immediately start looking to make changes when, in reality, no changes are needed.

If your team is healthy and putting up good scoring numbers, there’s not a whole lot you can do and patience should be the flavor of the day. The absolute worst thing you can do is start a fire sale, yet I see it happen in nearly every league nearly every season. Fantasy owners seem to forget that a fantasy team can be the second highest scoring team every week and still finish the season a Motown-esque 0-13.

If your team or a particular player starts out poorly, diagnose the problem before coming to a hasty resolution. Is your team posting solid numbers but coming up short to a better team that particular week? Did a particular stud player start slowly because he had to face two tough defenses to kick off the season?

Too many fantasy owners are looking to fix something that isn’t broke. Overreaction will kill a fantasy football team as quickly as conventional wisdom. Don’t believe me? Just watch. Check out how the Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall owner in your league acted after Thursday’s game. One NFL game is officially in the books and there is a large majority of fantasy owners chomping at the bit to overreact to it.

Right now, as I’m writing this, some guy can’t sleep because he can’t decide which running back he’s going to pick up when he drops Parker or Mendenhall this weekend. Patience is a virtue for a reason. The NFL regular season is 17 weeks long. While each week is important, the season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Always maintain perspective and keep the big picture in mind. Fantasy football is like pretty much every other endeavor life has to offer. It’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts. 

 

6. Highly successful fantasy owners are not results-oriented.

Too many owners take a bottom-line approach when it comes to fantasy stats. Far too many fantasy owners consider only the numbers and fail to dig deeper to see the whole picture.

They see that Vincent Jackson caught five passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Pretty good numbers, right? What they miss is that 80 yards of that was the touchdown play, a blown assignment in the defensive backfield left Jackson wide open to stroll into the end zone. Take away that freak blown assignment and your receiver registered a pedestrian four catches for 22 yards.

Obviously, those numbers don’t look so impressive now. Whether out of laziness or ignorance, the vast majority of fantasy owners take a results-oriented approach. Copy them at your peril.

 
7. Highly successful fantasy owners challenge themselves every year.

Challenge yourself and make a concerted effort to try new things each season. Join leagues you don’t think you can win. Play against people you know to be top-notch fantasy football owners. Try out an auction league, a keeper/dynasty league, or a league that uses individual defensive players.

You may find out that you absolutely love one of these variations. You will not grow and evolve as a fantasy owner if you continue to beat up your brother, father, and uncle in a family league every year. Not that family leagues aren’t fun, but get in other leagues that will challenge and push you to be the best fantasy owner you can be. Get out of the kiddie pool and dive headfirst into the deep end. That’s the only way you’ll ever learn to swim…

 

I hope you enjoyed this article and I hope you consider incorporating these habits into your fantasy football routine. My new weekly feature, Kamke’s Korner, debuts next week. Be sure to check it out! As always, if you have any fantasy football questions, feel free to email me at mkamke@brunoboys.net

. Best of luck to your fantasy teams this week…unless, of course, you’re playing against me!

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