The 10 Fantasy All Stars You Never Heard of Before 2009

Every year as the summer draws to a close, groups of friends around the country get together for their annual fantasy draft. The top few selections and rounds tend to go by without too many surprises.

But as time passes and everyone gets sick of sitting in front of a computer screen, selections are made that could decide the league champion.

Often these players are either unknown or unproven. These guys come through and routinely make their fantasy owner look like a genius. These are the players from 2009 who have made thousands of people happy across the country (Even if in August the owner didn’t know his name).

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For Redskins’ Zorn, Albert Haynesworth’s Comments Are Especially Scrooge-Like

For an organization and coach trying to point the Washington Redskins in the right direction this holiday season, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is playing the part of Scrooge.

After arriving late to a team meeting, Redskins coach Jim Zorn sent the combustible Haynesworth home Friday in the most recent event in a trouble season for the highly paid All-Pro. The day after Christmas, Haynesworth decided to speak out against his coaches and the Redskins’ organization as a whole.

“They’re all against me or whatever, ” Haynesworth told the Washington Post . “But I know what I’m saying is right because I’ve been in a scheme that works.”

This week has been a trying one for Haynesworth and the Redskins’ defense. In the Skins’ Monday night fiasco versus their rival New York Giants, Haynesworth was part of an intense scuffle involving Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. The fight seemed to be a physical manifestation of the frustration and anger that Redskins fans have displayed all year.

When the NFL laid fines on both Jacobs and Haynesworth, the matter was though to be closed. 

Haynesworth has a history of volatile and disruptive behavior in his NFL career. In a 2006 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Hayenesworth (then with the Titans) stomped on center Andre Gurode’s head twice leaving him with 30 stitches. The incident has in many ways defined Haynesworth’s legacy to this point.

As hard as it is to admit, Haynesworth has a point. Last year with the Titans, the massive defensive lineman ate up three blockers at a time allowing Kyle Vanden Bosch and Tony Brown to have career years. The Titans were 13-3 and surpassed many people’s expectations.

In Washington, fans and coaches expected more of the same when they made Haynesworth the highest paid Defensive tackle in the NFL. With Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter both posting 11 sacks this season, it’s hard to deny Haynesworth’s impact. Still, these defensive numbers haven’t translated to wins for an increasingly football anxious city. 

Yes, Haynesworth has been hurt. And the offense has dealt with inconsistent play and injuries from the beginning, but the weaknesses of the team seem in many ways to be institutional and schematic.

It’s been hard to be an advocate for Jim Zorn all year. He had his play calling duties revoked. He’s been under constant pressure. Shanahan has already been interviewed. Most recently, the Redskins failed to execute one the worst trick plays in history against the Giants.

Haynesworth’s comments, though ill-timed in many ways, are the latest event in a disappointing season for the Redskins. As sad as it is for Zorn, Haynesworth’s feelings could likely be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for a team and organization in peril. 

It’s easy to write Haynesworth’s thoughts on his new team and merely a disgruntled over-paid player’s opinion. But the situation in Washington requires a little more insight. As the Washington front office continues to make changes, like the additions of Bruce Allen, it is becoming more likely that this is the end for Zorn.

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In Crowded AFC, Ravens Seek Clarity in NFL Playoff Scenario

At the conclusion of an up and down regular season, it all comes down to this for the Baltimore Ravens: Two more wins.

With just two weeks left in the regular season, the Ravens find themselves in the driver’s seat, and in complete control over their playoff future. In week 15 with a chance to solidify their playoff destiny, they face their hated rival in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Ravens got a significant boost last week, when seemingly all of the teams in contention for an AFC wild card spot lost. The Jaguars, Dolphins, Broncos, and Jets losses put the team in an excellent position this week to clinch a playoff berth with a win over Pittsburgh and losses by either Denver or Jacksonville.

After dismantling the Bears and Lions in successive weeks, the Ravens look to capitalize on the momentum of two huge home wins. In the midst of injuries and fatigue at the end of the season, the Ravens recognize that the next two games are more important than ever.

“We need a win,” said running back Ray Rice. “It’s clear cut. You know, we win, and we control our own destiny in the playoffs.”

Rice, the NFL’s number two running back in total yards from scrimmage, could be the key to a Ravens victory especially against the perennially stout Steelers run defense. Facing a depleted Pittsburgh team without Ben Roethlisberger, Rice ran for 68 yards on 19 attempts and no touchdowns on Nov. 29. With Big Ben back, and coming off a 503 yard onslaught versus the Packers, the Ravens will need a big day out of Rice.

Equally important, to the Ravens cause is the play of the secondary. With rookie Lardarius Webb likely out for the season, a banged up defensive backs unit hopes to contain the surging Roethlisberger. 

Amidst rumors the team is looking at former Ravens Corey Ivy and Chris McAlister to come to the aid of the ailing secondary, the Ravens’ pass rush will have the most impact on the outcome of Sunday’s showdown. If the Ravens’ defensive line can dominate the Steelers protection and knockdown the quarterback, the team will be in a great position to win. 

Still, leaving Pittsburgh with a victory has eluded the Ravens in recent years. Heinz field in December will be cold and the Terrible Towels will be waving. Even if the Ravens do get a win Sunday, they will have to travel to Oakland to butt heads with the upset kings of the 2009 NFL season in week 17.

“I think our guys approach the fact that we control our own destiny as a challenge,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s well deserved. We have fought through a lot of adversity. We’ve lost some tough games that we would like to have won, and yet we bounced back.”

In a game that in many ways define the season, it is this resilient quality that could determine the outcome. As the Ravens prepare this week for a familiar rival, it seems fitting to look back on a shirt that Linebacker Terrell Suggs wore throughout training camp. It read, “You bet your sweet ass I hate the Steelers!” 

Ravens vs. Steelers in December with a playoff spot on the line. Does it get any better than this? I don’t think so.

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Top 10 Reasons Why I Love The NFL

Of all the “Big Four” American professional leagues, the NFL commands the most respect form me. It’s the most efficiently run league, has the most stupefyingly athletic players, and, since no other country’s play football, is quintessentially “American.”

Because my obsession with anything in the NFL, I wanted to set in stone why I think the National Football League and Roger Goodell make Bettman, Stern, and Selig look like high school SGA presidents.

 

10. Fantasy Football

Sure other sports have fantasy games, but no league can compete with the NFL’s situation. They have created maybe one the nerdiest things on the planet and made it not only socially acceptable, but cool.There is even a show solely devoted to it on FX! Everyone plays it. Every group of guys around the country has a league. You’re actually more of a loser if you don’t sit at your computer at 4 am and meticulously monitor injury reports. How they did this, we may never know.

 

9. Mike Tomlin

First of all, Tomlin is as smooth as Shaft. In his post-game press conference after the loss to the Ravens, he made me honestly scared for the teams who have to play the Steelers (The Raiders must not have seen that interview). He wears fresh sunglasses on the sidelines at games. Tomlin, in short, is a boss.

 

8. C’mon Man!

This segment on ESPN not only features Hall of Fame players calling out current stars on bone-headed mistakes and poor efforts, but also holds coaches, fans, and even cheerleaders responsible for their actions. Moral of the story: Do not do something stupid at an NFL game these days. Chris Carter and Mike Ditka will find you.

 

7. Coors Light Commercials

Maybe the most culturally relevant beer commercials ever made. They have brought me more laughs over the past few years than any other ad on TV. Period. I do have one request Coors. Give us more Herm Edwards. I know he’s on ESPN and sort of insightful, but the guy’s press conferences were made for these ads. Thanks.

 

6.Ochocinco

Just when you thought Chad’s career and antics were slipping, he is a featured player on HBO’s Hard Knocks . Aside from coining hilarious colloquialisms like “Child Please” and “Kiss the Baby,” Ochocinco spoke about himself candidly and his poor knowledge of the banking system. 85 is vastly more entertaining than any movie Nicholas Cage has made in the last 5 years.

 

5.The Screen Pass

Can you imagine anything more beautiful on the football field than a perfectly called and executed screen pass to the running back? I didn’t think so. It might be because it so frustrating to defenses, but I love the screen.

 

4.Body Paint

Yeah I know. College sports have body paint, too. But give me a fat guy with two beers in his hands at Reliant Staium in January over some “Dookie” and I’ll be happy. Plus, you have to take into account how embarrassed his wife is to be sitting next to him as yells “Brady! You gawtah hit Welkah!” And don’t even get me started on his kids watching the game at home.

 

3. Offensive Linemen

Maybe it’s the fact that these guys are 3-8 inches taller than I am, weigh 150-160 pounds more than I do, and can beat me in a race. Offensive Linemen are the best athletes in the NFL. Don’t believe me? Look at last years combine results for O-linemen. Incredible.

 

2. NFL Draft

For NFL teams and fans, late April is the season of perpetual hope. It’s the time of year when lowly GMs can give their fans something to cheer about. And that’s beautiful. It’s also incredibly fun to listen to irrational and disgruntled fans of 8-8 teams wish their coaches and players had tanked the season so they could pick 7th instead of 15th.

 

1. No Name College Superstars

In a sport with such a high profile college feeder system, it is truly amazing that every year some rookie from Nichols St. emerges as a team’s best pass rusher or wide out. This is a league where anyone with the talent can make it. Sometimes guys slip through the cracks in recruiting, or their combines are sub-par, but in the NFL if you’re a player, you’ve got a shot. And they always make for great stories. Famous college no name alums: Steve McNair, Pierre Garcon, Johnny Knox, Mike Sims-Walker, Tim Hightower, Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Al Harris, etc……

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Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco Fall a Mile in a Game of Inches

It was all there for the Ravens on a frigid Monday night at Lambeau Field. A chance to separate themselves from an increasingly clogged AFC wild card picture. A chance to break away from their hated rival Pittsburgh Steelers. And most importantly a chance to prove to all doubters that they belong with the NFL’s elite. Unfortunately, they’re just not good enough.

With everything to play for, Joe Flacco, a battered Ravens defense, and a rag-tag group of receivers made mistake after mistake as the Packers did their best to give Baltimore a shot. Although the game featured an ungodly deluge of yellow penalty flags, the lasting images in the disappointing defeat will be Flacco’s ill-advised pick in the end zone on second down and the under thrown ball to Todd Heap on his next pass.

Flacco took the blame for the loss in his postgame interview. “I think it was a stupid decision and a worse throw,” Flacco said.

While Flacco admittedly may have cost the Ravens the game, his attempt at making a play reveals a greater problem as the team moves further. With no reliable down field threat, opposing defenses can stack the line and play single coverage in the secondary, putting pressure on the quarterback nearly on nearly every drop back.

As the Ravens move forward this season, it is clear what their weaknesses are. With no number one receiver or shut down corner back, John Harbaugh’s team is constantly vulnerable.

After the game, Harbaugh alluded to the Ravens character. “We are fighting for or lives right now, but we are still breathing.” 

While the Ravens are not dead in the water in the playoff race, last night’s meltdown does not inspire hope. Injuries, inconsistent play from nearly every player, and a looming match up with the Steelers at Heinz field make the Ravens playoff chances murky at best.

The Ravens are close. They are a few players away from being a contender. But in this league almost just doesn’t cut it.

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