Tom Brady Shoulder Injury Update: Expects to Play in Season Opener

It seems somewhat oxymoronic to see “Tom Brady” and “injury update” placed next to each other. If there is one thing we have come to learn about the New England Patriots and injuries, it’s that there are rarely any updates worth listening to.

(And Browns fans, get used to it…its how things will be with Mangini in charge.)

But there is at least one source of information that you would have to assume is somewhat credible: the player himself.

If you are like me, and expect a big season from Tom Brady in 2009 (so much so that you drafted him high in a couple of fantasy leagues this year), you cringed when Brady got flattened by Albert Haynesworth in the Patriots’ recent preseason game against the Redskins.

Brady left the game shortly thereafter, although Bill Belichick said that Brady was not removed because of any injury concerns.

Still, worry has lingered in New England and in fantasy football circles about the health of Brady’s shoulder. This morning, on his weekly Boston radio show, Brady did his best to assuage the concerns of Pats fans and Brady fantasy owners.

Tom Brady injury update via ProFootballTalk:

“I certainly am expecting to [play],” he said. “A lot of players have bumps and bruises. I’m expecting to play this week if coach lets me. Anyone that plays this game needs to be ready to play at less than 100 percent of perfect.”

As Tom Curran points out, implicit in Brady’s statement is an acknowledgement that he is indeed hurt. We obviously will never know the extent of the injury until we see whether or not it affects him in Week 1 against Buffalo.

For now though, it appears safe to keep Brady penciled into your Week 1 lineups. However, the risk associated with drafting him, which was already high considering he still has to prove there will be no lingering effects of the knee injury, did just go up a bit.

It might not be a bad time to float some trade offers, especially if there are any known Brady lovers in your league. Though he has looked good in the preseason, that’s now two injury issues with a guy you need be a star for your team to win.

Don’t give him up for nothing, obviously, but it might be prudent to see if someone is willing to give you really good value to take the risk off of your hands.

Matt Cassel Injury Update: Will Miss Time with MCL Sprain

A couple weeks back I told you to be wary of Matt Cassel this year as you prepare for your fantasy football drafts. That he’s in a new city with only one true playmaker on the outside (Dwayne Bowe) and no longer has the dynamic duo of Randy Moss and Wes Welker to make things easy on him were a few of the reasons.

And now there is another reason: He’s injured.

According to ESPN.com this morning, Matt Cassel has a sprained MCL and will miss two to four weeks. This means he will most likely be out for Kansas City’s opener on Sept. 13 against Baltimore, and could miss more time after that. Tyler Thigpen will start in Cassel’s place.

So, since signing a six-year, $63 million deal (with $28 million guaranteed), Cassel has failed to dominate the incumbents Thigpen, and Brody Croyle, so much so that new coach Todd Haley was saying as recently as a few weeks ago that the starting job was in question.

And now, though through no fault of his own, Cassel is injured and will miss valuable time building continuity with his new offensive teammates early in the season.

Not exactly the most auspicious of beginnings for the guy the Chiefs are obviously hoping to build around for the next half decade.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on Kansas City Chiefs tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

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Jared Allen and Brandon Marshall Deliver Some Entertaining NFL Preseason Goodies

A couple of Friday morning quick-hitters for you.

First off all, something that made me laugh out loud this morning while SportsCenter was running in the background as I got ready for work.

In case you didn’t hear the latest world-stopping controversy out of Minnesota, there were reports that surfaced yesterday about a “schism” in the Vikings locker room regarding the players’ support for Brett Favre.

While Favre played his I’m-just-a-simpleton-from-Mississippi card and explained that he didn’t know what “schism” meant, his new teammate Jared Allen was much more hilariously eloquent in describing how big, complicated, six-letter words are so foreign to NFL locker rooms:

Jared Allen’s comments on “schism,” via The Big Lead:

“I don’t think anyone on this team knows what schism means, let alone use it in a sentence form. At first I thought schism was an STD, and I was like WHOA we practice abstinence here!”

The video of him delivering the line was even funnier. He had just gotten done at practice, was all sweaty, and looked directly into the camera when he delivered the line. I wonder how long he’d been saving it, or how many of his teammates he tested it out on before running over to officially deliver it to the world.

I don’t really care one way or the other; it’s the funniest (and certainly the most ironic) line from an NFL player we’ll hear all year.

And here’s an early nominee for funniest message board post discussing this situation, from BoxDen.com: “he’s No. 69 for a reason abstinence my ass.”

And for anyone else who is still wondering what a “schism” actually is, here is the dictionary definition…and then here is a video that defines it even better in lovely, melodic tones as only Tool could define it.

Speaking of weird videos, did you all see Brandon Marshall at Broncos practice yesterday? Kudos to whoever described him as acting like an ass clown, because that’s about the most apt way to describe it.

Acting like a petulant child is definitely the way to go when you want to get traded and get a new contract.

Umm…not (actually, this is the NFL we’re talking about, so maybe Marshall is on to something).

Marshall was, of course, in full damage control mode this morning, but there is a good chance that this video will stick with him for the rest of his career, like TO doing push-ups in his driveway (and TO has only gotten two fat new contracts since that display…so take that Brandon Marshall! Wait a minute…).

I wonder what Josh McDaniels is thinking right about now. What’s the over-under on how many games the Broncos win this year? 3.5? I might be tempted to take the under.

Enjoy your Friday, everyone. Be back later if anything hot comes up and will definitely have a link post up this afternoon.

Patriots-Redskins, Packers-Cardinals: Preseason Odds and Predictions

Whether you’re an NFL odds aficionado or just a die-hard football fan, you’ve probably heard the old saying that the preseason “means nothing,” or that you “shouldn’t bet on preseason NFL football because it’s so unpredictable.”

The truth, however, is that you can properly forecast preseason games if you know what to watch for. Let’s put this theory into effect and make picks for Friday night’s NFL games.

New England Patriots @ Washington Redskins

Friday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m. EST

Favorite: Patriots -3

One of the tricks to betting on preseason football is asking yourself, “What, if anything, do these teams have to play for?”

The Patriots are solidly established already this preseason. Tom Brady looks healthy, having posted big yardage in his first preseason game and having shrugged off some big hits last week.

Now that the Pats know Brady is ready to go, they have nothing more to learn or prove. They know they’ll have a running-back-by-committee approach and that Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be the focal points of the passing game.

The Redskins haven’t played as well as the Pats in the preseason, but I like them to pull off the upset this week, because they’ll have more motivation to win. Quarterback Jason Campbell is struggling, perhaps distracted by trade rumors surrounding him over the summer; he was just 1/7 against Pittsburgh last week.

His No. 2 receiver still isn’t determined, as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are reportedly neck-and-neck for the job. Don’t you think, then, that the Redskins’ passing offense will (a) play a few more series than Brady’s unit and (b) work extra hard? Toss in a stingy defense and Washington looks good Friday night.

NFL pick: Redskins +3

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

Friday, Aug. 28, 10 p.m. EST

Favorite: Cardinals -3.5

Here’s a game that would’ve been tough to predict a couple of weeks ago, but now gives us plenty of hints based on the first two preseason games. The Packers look razor-sharp on both sides of the ball.

Aaron Rodgers is firing lasers, Ryan Grant is running with purpose, and the new 3-4 defensive scheme may be ahead of schedule.  This was evident when the Pack shut out Cleveland in their opener and were ball hawks in their win over the Bills, sacking them four times and picking them off twice.

The normally potent Cardinals offense seems out of whack. Whether it’s because they can’t establish a running game with Chris Wells on the mend or because Kurt Warner is battling hip pain, they’re not themselves.

It’s smarter betting management to go with another upset here and pick the Pack.

NFL pick: Packers +3.5

What About Bob (Sanders)?

Okay, so we have all seen the great comedy What About Bob (1991) starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. But in the last few seasons, the Indianapolis Colts have their own Bob who has been absent more than present.

Bob Sanders.

The seemingly unthinkable question that many Colts fans and analysts have been asking as we enter the 2009 season has started to spur my own thought process as well: 

Is  Sanders’ contribution to the Colts worth the hype and his salary?

In his five years with the Colts, Sanders has only played in more than six regular season games twice (2005 and 2007), and even in their Super Bowl year, he only played four games during the regular season.

Drafted in 2004, the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout safety drew comparisons to the great Ronnie Lott. But after a lengthy holdout and what would be the first of many injury-riddled seasons, he would only play in six games, starting only four of those six.

His best season by far came in 2007, when he started and played in 15 games, making 96 tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, and two interceptions. The 2005 season was a similar year in which he took the field in 14 games, netting 91 tackles and one interception.

In January of 2008, Sanders inked a five-year $37.5 million contract with $20 million in guarantees, making him the highest paid safety in the NFL. In fact, he makes over $1 million more than Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Ravens safety Ed Reed.

There’s no doubt that when on the field, Sanders’ leadership, charisma, and destructive power strikes fear in the hearts of all who enter his realm.

BUT…

The key word here is WHEN he is on the field.

Even the 2009 season has begun inauspiciously for Sanders and the Colts, as Bob is not likely to even cast a shadow on the field until week two or three.

So the question is: What About Bob? Is he worth the money the Colts dish out to him every season to play six games? Does his presence in those games make up for all of the games he sits on the sideline, injured?

I will tell you this, when he is in the game I am a huge Bob Sanders fan. But as much as he is injured it begs the question: is it a workout issue? Is he just injury prone?

The Colts need to make a decision, and one that I’m not even sure where I stand on. $37.5 million will—and should—buy you a lot more than six games a year in this league. Perhaps it’s time for Indy to move on.

Or, perhaps, after week two or three, Sanders will prove me wrong. I certainly hope so.

What do you think?

Chicago Bears Versus Denver Broncos: The Biggest Game of the 2009 NFL Preseason

If you can only watch one preseason game, you should watch the game between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos.

Preseason games don’t mean anything at all–if you don’t believe me, the Lions went 4-0 in the preseason last year before going 0-16 in the regular season–but this game will be a very interesting one.

 

Game Details

Date: Sunday, Aug. 30

Time: 8 p.m. eastern time (6:00 local time)

TV Channel: NBC

Location: Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.

Point Spread: Denver -2.5 (via DocSports’ NFL odds)

StubHub: Deals on Bears-Broncos Preseason Game Tickets

StubHub: Deals on Denver Broncos Regular Season Tickets

StubHub: Deals on Chicago Bears Regular Season Tickets

 

As you probably already know, Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton were traded for each other. Broncos fans are angry at Cutler for refusing to do anything unless he was traded. I can see why fans would hate Cutler, and I believe they did get the worse side of the trade.

Some might argue that Denver got the better side of the trade because of the draft picks. You have to remember, though, that just because a team has high draft picks and uses them for good college players doesn’t mean they will amount to anything in the NFL.

The No. 1 reason to watch this game is to see the quarterback battle. I am positive each quarterback will want to play better, command the game better, and perform better than the other.

These quarterbacks will play like it’s the Super Bowl, and it should be a great battle to watch.

Orton has the chance to make the Bears regret trading him away, but I don’t see him having a great day to change anyone’s mind. I liked Orton, but I didn’t see the Bears winning anything with him at quarterback.

Cutler will have to win Bears fans over during the course of the season, a process which he has already begun in earnest. This game is a great venue to continue doing so. If Cutler does well, the fans will continue to develop their love for him. If he doesn’t, well, it’s only the preseason, but you never want to do anything that might make the fans anxious or angry.

Be prepared to hear lots and lots of booing at Invesco Field, where Cutler used to play his home games. I expect to hear the fans boo every time Cutler is on the field until he steps off–that’s how much the fans there now despise Cutler.

Even Cutler expects to be hated endlessly.

This game should feel somewhat like a regular season game, at least until the starters leave. Up through that point, this game should be very enjoyable. The quarterbacks have things to prove, and the tension between the fans and players will give this game a regular season feel.

Overall, the first half will be a fun time for football fans. It will be a break from the boring and really long football preseason–I’m a fan of only two preseason games and adding more games to the regular season, for the record.

While this game logically doesn’t mean anything, it actually does. Coaches and players won’t tell you that it does, but I think it does.

Orton and Cutler are both thinking in their head: “I have to do better than the other guy,” and that alone should make the game exciting.

The idea that Bears switch week-to-week between loving and hating their starting quarterback is wrong, but you have to realize that Chicago has never had a franchise quarterback. No matter who they have tried, it’s just never happened. So when they get somebody who has the best chance to become a franchise quarterback, the highs and the lows have the potential to be more extreme.

On Sunday night, Jay Cutler has one more chance to get Bears fans believing before the regular season starts. The fact that he will do so in front of his angry former supporters makes it all the more intriguing.

Whether you’re a Bears fan, a Broncos fan, or just an NFL fan in general, this game should appeal to you. So everybody tune in to the game on Sunday.

You won’t be let down.

LOTD: Packers Fans Exact Their Revenge on Favre by Clothing the Homeless

You know all of those Green Bay Packers fans whose closets are lined with Brett Favre gear, who splurged on number 4 Jets jerseys the minute he announced his unretirement last season? (I know at least one such family…but I will not call them out by name because I don’t want my supply of the world’s best meatloaf to be cut off.)

Well, what are these folks to do now that their beloved is playing for a different team and *gasp* one that is in the Packers’ very own division? (If it’s the family I know, who are more Favre fans than Packer fans, it’s head over to NFLshop.com and get Favre Vikings jerseys, of course!)

The good folks at 1670 WTDY in Madison, Wisconsin—namely, “The Wisconsin Guys,” Dan and Kurt—have an idea: donate all of your old Brett Favre clothes to the homeless! It’s called the “4 The Poor Jersey Drive.”

Today’s link of the day, from TheWisconsinGuys.com (via Sports By Brooks):

So, how do you get rid of that old Brett Favre jersey, hat, sweatshirt, etc…?

There is no need to blow it up, light it on fire, run it over, shred it, or any of the other pretty good ideas you may have. If you give it to us, we’ll put your name in a drawing to win tix to see Benedict Favre take on the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 1st.

We will be taking those used but now useless clothing items to Minneapolis just prior to the Green Bay/Vikings Monday Night Football game on October 5th and we’ll be giving them to a Twin Cities homeless shelter. See, they don’t have to go to waste!

That, ladies and gentleman, is a constructive way to deal with feelings of anger, betrayal, and revenge…and could only come from the good folks who inhabit the glorious Midwest. Think Philly fans would be clothing the homeless with old Mike Schmidt jerseys if he had unretired to play for the Yankees? Shoot, they might not even give a homeless guy an old McNabb jersey and he’s still their QB!

(Philly fans, feel free to email me to express disgust that I just perpetuated the old stereotypes again…you were the first fanbase that came to my mind…I’m sorry!)

And here you go, some other solid links from around the web today.

Sports:

• University of Oregon threatening cheerleader Amanda Pflugrad over online bikini photos? — (Busted Coverage)
• Rick Pitino has had it with you lying liars — (Deadspin)
• Who cares what the topic is, this is always worth a click — (Hot Clicks)
• AFC West Preview — (MoonDog)
• I’ve finally kicked the Cubsahol…for now — (Not Qualified to Comment)
• MLB realignment is stupid — (Sharapova’s Thigh)
• Blogs With Balls Radio premieres on the Joe Sports Fan Radio Network — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)
• Colt McCoy and his Heisman ’stache — (Major League Jerk)
• QB controversy in Minnesota? What? — (The Viking Age)
• Jay Cutler 2009 Predictions — (Jay Cutler Superstar)
• Team-by-team success when top two starters pitch — (MLive.com)

Non-Sports:

• Granny goes nuts, attacks news crew with a garden hoe (AWESOME!) — (Straight Pinkie)
• The hotties of beer pong — (Spewf.com)
• Courtney Starburst looks good in Jamaica — (Hail Mary Jane)

Brett Favre: The Man, the Myth, the Legend…or the Letdown?

[Editor’s Note: It is with great pleasure that I present to you MSF’s newest contributor: Myles Berry (aka BigMB). Myles and I know each other from my time living in Indianapolis, during which he and I engaged in many highly competitive sports debates and games of Madden. (He’ll tell you that he owns a lead in the all-time series…but he’s wrong.) 

Myles will be covering the Colts for sure, as well as chiming in on the sports world at large. We are happy to have him as part of the team and hope that you enjoy his work, the first example of which is below.]

 

Maybe I should apologize to John Madden ahead of time, but with the turn of events in the most recent Brett Favre Saga, a question still lingers that needs to be answered.

Has Brett Favre perhaps turned what would have been a legendary career into a letdown?

We all know that many athletes have overstayed their welcome in the past. Some do it for the money, some do it for the fame and notoriety, and some do it because they love the game and can’t imagine life without it. Most likely, it’s a combination of all three reasons.

With respect to Brett Favre, let’s first take a brief look at his career with Green Bay. In 16 years, Favre only produced one losing season, alongside his 10 Pro-Bowl appearances, and three MVP awards. He went 5,377 of 8,754 for 61,655 yards, and had 442 touchdowns with 286 interceptions, while winning one Super Bowl.

Fast-forward to his 2008 one-year stint with the New York Jets. He led the Jets to a 9-7 record, yet another winning season, and started out in true Brett Favre fashion until the bottom fell out in the final five games of the season during which he completed 343 of 522 passes with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

A shoulder injury was partly to blame for the decline, but many would point the finger at Favre, accusing age and his reckless style as major contributors to his and the Jets’ downfall.

On Sept. 27, 1992, Favre was named Green Bay’s starting quarterback against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then he has maintained a living record of 269 consecutive starts, a record whose closet challenger is Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning, who is at a distant 176 games. This accomplishment knights Favre as the NFL’s, and perhaps all of sports’, true Iron Man.

So has Favre tainted his legend with this offseason’s teeter-totter of antics and surprises? Let’s take a quick look at another sport’s most famous player, who did much of the same thing.

You may know the name Michael Jordan.

He began his first season with the Bulls in 1984. Two years later, he was on his way to becoming the most dominant force in basketball. 

After three championships, Jordan retired in 1993, only to come back one year later. Another three-peat championship followed. 

Then, in 2000, he announced another retirement, followed by Jordan becoming partial owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. In January of 1999, Jordan was quoted saying the he was “99.9% certain” that he would never return to the NBA hardwood again (Sound familiar?).

However, in September of 2001 he returned to the NBA, playing for the team in which he had previously staked ownership. Two sub-par seasons followed, and Jordan retired again, this time permanently.

Other players have overstayed their welcomes as well.

Emmit Smith stayed around a few years too long to break the all-time NFL rushing record that was previously held by Walter Payton, a player who retired in his prime. Vinny Testaverde started NFL games well into his 40s. Gary Payton and Karl Malone, both past their prime, joined a stacked Lakers team in an attempt to win a NBA championship.

Agree or disagree with these athletes, playing sports becomes a way of life and becomes quite difficult to give up, especially when you still have the talent to stick around.

 

 

With the 2009 NFL season looming, Favre will again suit up, this time with the Minnesota Vikings. Perhaps he will have a great season. Perhaps he will have a poor season. Maybe it will just be quite average. But one thing is for sure: He will be exciting.

Will his reputation be tarnished?

Let me ask you this: When you look back at Michael Jordan’s career, do you think about the six championships, the scoring titles, the amazing buzzer beaters, as well as the Nike and Gatorade sponsorships? Or do you even, for one second, think about or remember one game with No. 23 in a Wizards jersey?

I think you have your answer, and I have mine.

Regardless of the ensuing 2009 NFL season and its results, Brett Favre remains The Man, The Myth, and The Legend.

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* – Brett Favre with Viking photo credit: Fantasy-Info.com

* – Brett Favre young in Green Bay photo credit: The Sporting Truth

Ranking the Big Ten College Football Stadiums from No. 1 to No. 11

Instead of showering today, I would rather talk about the football stadiums in the Big Ten and rank them top to bottom for various reasons while pointing out their typical fan bases. The one thing that draws me into being a huge college football fan (even before College Gameday started traveling) is the atmosphere that stadiums and teams generate.

On a side note, that is why I was a huge opponent of the Miami Hurricanes leaving the Orange Bowl and moving 20 miles north of their campus to Landshark Stadium. It is also home to the lackluster fan bases of the Dolphins and Marlins.

But let’s talk Big Ten since this is by and for Midwest sports fans.

I was excited to see Indiana’s newly renovated stadium on the Big Ten network and I am equally excited to see Minnesota leave the horrible Metrodome. Maybe their awesome new outdoor field will give them a home field advantage and some college atmosphere that they have been lacking.

That said, having a unique and imposing home field gives football teams the advantages they need to compete in the Big Ten, hosting visiting fans to a good experience, and sometimes an edge in recruiting.

(And, by the way, if you’re interested in attending any Big Ten games this year and don’t yet have tickets, click here to get great deals on Big Ten tickets from StubHub, or click on the name of each stadium to find tickets by team.)

1. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State)—102,329 capacity

Nicknamed “The Horse Shoe,” but not a horse shoe anymore since the 2001 renovation. The top spot is really a toss-up between Penn State and Ohio State. Penn State just joined the Big Ten in 1993 though, so the tie-breaker goes to the Buckeyes (this choice was greatly helped by the fact that I grew up in Columbus).

Ohio State has a raucous crowd that usually makes it deafening for the opposing squads.  Plus “The Best Damn Band In All The Land” marches across Woody Hayes Drive and onto the field before every game to form the famous Script Ohio, as seen below.

Fans run with the marching band and into the stadium as if they were scrambling to see an approach shot by Tiger Woods after a drive on the 18th hole. Other teams’ fans are annoyed at the obnoxious Buckeye fans as much as the British golf commentator is at the “GET IN THE HOLE!” guy at Augusta.

I just got goose bumps thinking of the craziness that occurs once the senior tuba player high steps his way to dot the “I” and the band belts out the oft played fight song. Everybody sings the words and yells O-H-I-O, each side owning one of the letters in order.

The Olentangy River runs right next to the stadium and serves as a great sight when walking through the miles of tailgates on fall Saturdays. The capacity expands to 105,000-plus during big games, especially the Michigan game. You will have a hard time finding a sizable road crowd during Big Ten games as the home fans just won’t give up their tickets so road fans can watch their team lose.

There is a reason there is a recruiting “fence” around the Ohio border and that reason is the memories conjured, the tradition, the size, and the atmosphere inside and out of Thee Ohio Stadium. I wanna go back to Ohio State, to old Columbus Town!

[Editor’s Note: And those of us who don’t bleed scarlet and gray like you are now ready to vomit.]

2. Beaver Stadium (Penn State)—107,292 capacity

The capacity is 107,282 and they have stuffed 110,000-plus during big matchups. Kirk Herbstreit deemed Happy Valley with the best student section in college football with the senior student section forming a block “S” in blue and white shirts or body paint.

I absolutely agree with Kirk. And so do my dead brain cells after partying with some of the craziest party people I ever met when I lived on South Beach. “They Were! Penn State!” (graduates).

The “White Outs” and the noise make this the hardest place for a road team to get any sort of rhythm in the Big Ten. If the crowd wasn’t loud enough, they have a huge Jumbotron and booming sound system that plays a cat-like roar, making the crowd’s roar just as intimidating.

Unlike Ohio Stadium, it is nice to see they have a crew smart enough to keep lush natural grass every year. This Saturday afternoon football church in Happy Valley reeks of Preparation H for old alumni, liquored up party people with flasks, and sexy college co-eds. In a good way.

3. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin)—80,321 capacity

Though not as large as Beaver Stadium, Wisconsin’s student section rivals that of Penn State.

The UW band sets off the crowd playing drinking songs, pop songs, and dance songs. And, of course, the sound man gets everyone jumping before the fourth quarter during “Jump Around” by House of Pain, a tradition that started against Purdue in 1998. The video below takes place during an Indiana game…which I am sure Wisconsin won. By a lot.

Video: Fans Jump Around at Camp Randall Stadium

Come to think of it, that would be a great nickname and slogan for the stadium: “Welcome to the House of Pain.”

The marching band was also suspended in 2006 and 2008 because of some off-the-field antics including hazing and sexual misconduct on road trips (sounds like a good time to me).

[Editor’s Note: Midwest Sports Fans does not explicitly endorse KVB’s idea of a good time.]

Established in 1917, Camp Randall is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten and the atmosphere (literally) is host to horrible weather conditions that stifles many road teams. The visiting locker room has been painted pale pink in the past and now a pale blue supposedly to distract the road teams. Wisconsin is currently 30-3 at home since painting it the distracting “prison blue” color.

If you travel there for a night game, expect the bad weather and bad play by your team. Even the Green Bay Packers play one preseason game a year at Camp Randall Stadium. In turn the Wisconsin marching band attends at least one Packers game at Lambeau Field a year.

4. Michigan Stadium aka “The Big House” (Michigan)—106,201 capacity

They are adding more seats to reach 108,000 plus by 2010. Insert “The Big House” and the fans that sit on their hands in silence here.

 

 

And by the way, if you don’t remember what inspired the despondent looks on the faces of the Michigan turds fans above, watch the first few minutes of the video below:

Video: Appalachian State Upsets Michigan

Interesting to me is that Ann Arbor only has an 114,000 person population so you know the town basically shuts down until football is over. That is how college football Saturdays should be.

You have no idea the size of the stadium on the outside since it is built with the stands and the field going down and underground from where you walk up to the ticket gates. One thing I will say about Michigan fans (like Buckeye fans) is that a road fan will be hard pressed to find extra tickets because the fan base is so loyal. Even if they are not that loud or intimidating, or that idiotic or drunk.

Michigan Stadium has hosted Wolverine football since 1927 and the famous Fielding Yost. As an Ohio State fan, I find it funny that they played on “Ferry Field” before Michigan Stadium. I couldn’t make that up. Never.

5. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)—70,585

Another stadium holding a pink-painted visitors locker room, but this wasn’t done by mistake like perhaps the drunk and stoned Wisconsin students in Madison. Former coach Hayden Fry majored in psychology at Baylor University and believed the pink color had a calming effect that could make visitors have less mental toughness and be less aggressive after pissing in a pink urinal.

Some women and those in the gay/lesbian community have protested for it to be changed saying it is a slap in the face to their lifestyle. (This furthers my believability that grassroots campaigns did in fact legalize gay marriage in the state earlier this year.)

Back to the stadium, it is about as boring as the dunkards who live in Iowa. But I will give Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner (Nile Kinnick) and Hayden Fry credit for instilling some excitement on Saturdays and creating a real loyal fan base. Iowa, which stands for Idiots Out Walking Around, takes a break from doing that every Saturday and they travel well as I noticed at the 2003 Orange Bowl.

6. Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue)—62,500 capacity

And here we have the first major drop off in atmosphere on this list. I have a hard time giving a lot of Purdue football fans any credit. Unfortunately I’ve probably been to 30 or so games at Ross-Ade, so I can say that.

Every top-10 matchup in Ross-Ade is invaded by the road team’s fans. Most Purdue fans were born and bred on Hoosier basketball, thanks to the movie and Coaches Knight and Keady. Hence, they know nothing about football, how it is played, and of all people the likes of Jim Everett and Joe Tiller taught the fans what winning takes. No, not loyal support, hard work, and consistency; but rather gimmicks and repetitive passing systems that have a hard time lining up when smash mouth, goal line situations are needed.

Tiller first took the Big Ten by storm with the spread and now every time there is a run up the middle the crowd groans and boos. That takes stupidity like calling an offense “Basketball On Grass” as some do. I’ve never seen a more boring ragtime marching band entertainment at halftime than Purdue’s, the “World’s Biggest Drum” and a dance team of fatties dancing the charleston included.

On the positive side, they did a great renovation enclosing the stadium, have an incredibly large video board, and there is not really a bad seat in the house. So you might as well go see your favorite team in West Lafayette and piss in one of the troughs installed in the restrooms (it’s a Northern Indiana thing, you wouldn’t understand).

Now back to crappiness.

About 15,000 University of Oregon fans took over Ross-Ade last year! The natural Bermuda grass is supposedly a credit to Purdue’s agricultural department finding prescription athletic turf. Good for them. I personally love natural turf. (This paragraph is brought to you by, “Obnoxious Ohio State Fan” mentioned earlier in the article. He’s righteous!)

7. Memorial Stadium (Illinois)—70,000 capacity

Sorry I’ll be much more positive the rest of the way. Just make sure you send No. 6 to an IU fan. They need some cheering up come football season.

And speaking of Memorial Stadium, also the name of IU’s stadium, the older of the two is in Champaign and opened in 1924 with Red Grange scoring six touchdowns against Michigan on its official dedication game in October. This Memorial Stadium is a dedication to the men and women who died in the World Wars and has sported artificial turf since 1974.

I love that the original drawing for this stadium was to support more than 80,000 people and have a tall phallic monument in the North end zone. They eventually settled on the smaller capacity and no monument.

In 2002 the stadium hosted the Chicago Bears while Soldier Field was getting renovated.

Oh, and Ron Zook coaches there now. When he’s not water skiing or bitching at Urban Meyer.

8. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State)—75,505 capacity

Spartan Stadium fell a lot on my list because I have seen too many big games blown on their own field. Most people blame the coach for this, but I just drop their home field advantage down a notch. Heck, their best win in the 90s was against No. 1 Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. How does this not hurt Ohio Stadium instead of Spartan Stadium? Simple. The ineptitude since then.

The most exciting things Spartan fans see on TV or at the stadium lately have been an introduction to the basketball team or a sideline reporter interviewing Tom Izzo in the middle of the second quarter while the team was losing. I can hear Mark Dantonio now…”I get no respect, no respect.”

Well, you’re right considering the high school talent that floods your stadium’s gates.

9. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota)—50,300 capacity

Gopher fans finally have a stadium on their campus and outdoors. This really makes me happy. There probably wasn’t a worse college football atmosphere than the Metrodome. This new stadium, on the other hand, could move up in the rankings once it opens this year.

TCF Bank Stadium includes an apparent easy-to-80,000 person capacity renovation that could take place if the team shows success on the field and makes some extra money in bowl games. It will also include the third largest outdoor HD video board in the nation.

The con here is it is outdoor and cannot bat down opposing team’s punts during games. Though I cannot imagine anyone in the Minnesota administration would have the arrogance of Jerry Jones, refusing to move such a video board if it did get in the way. HD really has us by the nuts doesn’t it?

10. Memorial Stadium (Indiana)—53,500 capacity

I love how this Memorial Stadium in Bloomington is dedicated to a rock while Illinois’ is dedicated to war heroes. That’s solid, solid as a rock. Very Charlie Brown in the Halloween episode. I did see the renovations to the stadium on TV and it is finally a Big Ten-worthy stadium. Too bad it wasn’t built for a better program, but I suppose IU does have its moments. While most people complain the top Big Ten teams don’t have a tough conference, IU fans complain their conference schedule is way too tough to compete.

[Editor’s Note: As an IU fan and alum, I can categorically say that I’ve never complained about the conference schedule being too tough. Except when we play Minnesota and Northwestern at home. Those games are haaarrrrrddd!]

11. Ryan Field (Northwestern)—49,256 capacity

I know I said I would get shorter with my writing as the list fell lower on the list. So in lieu of saying anything about Ryan Field, just watch the video below. It makes me happy, and unless you’re a douche it will make you happy too.

 

Really though, Evanston is a great section of Chicago because of this campus.

Well, now you’ve seen my rankings. What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

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*—Ohio Stadium Script Ohio photo credit: Ames Photos

*—Beaver Stadium S-Zone photo credit: Ames Photos

*—Super Wolverine and the Wrist Band Warrior photo credit: DawgSports.com

*—Michigan fans reacting during App State loss photo credit: Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News via MLive.com

*—Kinnick Stadium pink locker room: Sondrak.com

*—Ross-Ade Stadium penis photo credit: Deadspin.com

*—TCF Bank Stadium photo credit: GopherSports.com

Fantasy Football Sleeper/Bust Alert: Matt Cassel and Martellus Bennett

I hadn’t planned on writing a fantasy football post today, but two pieces of information I’ve heard over the last 24 hours have compelled me to do so anyway. And with most fantasy football drafts either already completed, underway, or fast approaching, this is must-have information.

First, let’s deal with the negative and issue a severe fantasy football 2009 bust alert for new Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel. 

As far as I’m concerned, there are a host of reasons why Matt Cassel has bust written all over him this season if you are considering him as anything other than a desperation fill-in type 3rd stringer for your fantasy roster. And unless you’re in a two-QB league, I don’t know why you’d carry 3 QBs in the first place.

ESPN’s 2009 player projections currently have Matt Cassel rated 11th among all QBs. Seriously? I could understand this rating if Cassel was still playing in New England, but there is absolutely no reason for him to be rated ahead of the likes of Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, and Ben Roethlisberger.

Shoot, I like Eli Manning, David Garrard, Matt Hasselbeck, Trent Edwards, Jake Delhomme, Chad Pennington, and even Joe Flacco over Cassel without thinking too hard about it. I’m sure there are others (Tarvsagebrett Rosenfavreson?) too.

Why am I so down on Cassel? Because I have a brain.

First of all, he no longer is playing for Bill Belichick, nor does he have Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator. I realize that Todd Haley wants to bring a wide-open style of offense to Kansas City, similar to what he ran in Arizona, but it still means that Cassel will have to make the adjustment to a new coach and a new system while also adjusting to a new city and a new locker room.

If we have learned anything about QBs it should be that familiarity and continuity breeds consistent success. Why else do you think that guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Donovan McNabb are always legit No. 1 QBs, while guys like Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers appear on the cusp of being the same?

Yes, they are incredibly talented; but they also benefit from year-to-year continuity.

I wouldn’t be quite as concerned about this if Cassel was going to a team with a lot of weapons, but even if he gets comfortable quickly in his new KC digs, who is he going to throw to? 

Yes, Dwayne Bowe is an emerging star who had a solid second year last season (86 catches, 10 TDs). But he also was inconsistent and dropped a lot of passes, then came into camp overweight and is currently running with the second team.

Make no mistake: he’ll be starting once Week 1 rolls around; Todd Haley is just trying to send a message and use a little tough love with his best playmaker. But it’s still a bit concerning that Cassel’s supposed No. 1 guy on the outside isn’t mature enough to consistently hold onto his starting position, even in training camp.

And how about the Chiefs’ other WRs? The ancient Amani Toomer and Bobby Engram, the underwhelming Mark Bradley and Ashley Lelie, and then some other guys who have proven nothing.

Contrast that with the guys Cassel had to throw to last season: Randy Moss and Wes Welker. That’s not just a dropoff, it’s like hurtling over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Expecting Cassel to even remotely replicate his 2008 success with his 2009 crop of targets is not a smart move.

Oh, and did I mention that reports are now surfacing out of KC that Brody Croyle is pushing Cassel for the starting job? Todd Haley has gone out of his way to say that he is not obligated to play anyone simply based on their contract.

Again, as with Bowe, I think the smart money is on Cassel opening the season as the No. 1 QB. And Haley is probably just using his two top offensive players to send a message to the rest of the team that there is a new sheriff in town.

But do you really want to waste a draft pick, even a late round one, on a backup QB who might not even be starting when you need him come bye week time? And one that, if he is starting, is going to be in for a rude awakening having only one true playmaker to get the ball to?

Avoid Matt Cassel like the plague in your drafts. I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t touch him.

In fact, if you are thinking of drafting Matt Cassel with a late round pick, I’ve got an idea for you. Why not take a flyer on a young tight end that currently is rated No. 25 at the position by ESPN, but who legitimately has the potential to finish in the top 15, if not the top 10.

I am speaking, of course, about everyone’s favorite Cap’N Crunch fan Martellus Bennett, the second string tight end for the Dallas Cowboys.

(By the way, follow the link for more of MartyB’s hilarious YouTube hijinx.)

As I’ve mentioned many times before, I founded Midwest Sports Fans but currently live in Dallas. And if you’ve ever been to Dallas and turned on sports talk radio, you realize that this town is obsessed with the Cowboys 24/7/365. And I am not exaggerating when I say that the most consistent theme I have heard emerge about the T.O.-less 2009 version of the Cowboys offense (in addition to the breakout potential of Felix Jones) is that they will be running 2-TE sets a lot.

Consider this, from ESPN NFC East blogger and Dallas radio host Matt Mosley:

Jason Witten is already an All-Pro. Now it appears that Martellus Bennett is on the verge of becoming a big-time player as well. The Cowboys could end up running plays out of a two-tight end formation 60 percent of the time—or maybe more. Defensive coordinators spend a lot of time trying to account for Witten. That should open things up for Bennett, a former college basketball player who has tremendous athleticism. Bennett’s an Antonio Gates starter kit. I think he and Witten will combine for 12 touchdowns in ‘09. Bennett gives Romo another option inside the red zone, and his blocking has improved a great deal heading into his second season.

Just look at Martellus Bennett’s stats from last season, his rookie year, and you can see that they are oozing with potential. Bennett caught only 20 balls, but scored 4 TDs and averaged 17.1 yards per catch. Read that again: 17.1 yards per catch…for a tight end!

At a minimum, Bennett is an excellent option as a backup tight end. He is also an absolute handcuff for Jason Witten owners. Usually you don’t think about TE handcuffs, but in this case you have to.

Witten will play through injuries, but does have a history of at least getting dinged up. With the TE poised to be such a huge part of the Cowboys’ passing game this year, Bennett would immediately become a top-5 option if anything happened to Witten.

As it is, Bennett is a legit threat to score every week, something even many starting tight ends can’t claim. That gives him value as a sub who is not just taking up space on your bench.

The Cowboys really only have one proven receiver on the outside, Roy Williams, and he has struggled to fulfill his potential since being drafted in the first round by the Lions.

I do think he will have a solid season as Tony Romo’s No. 1 WR target this year, but he isn’t exactly a touchdown machine. And with 40% of Romo’s career TDs now in Buffalo with Terrell Owens, he will need to find reliable targets in the red zone.

While Witten will certainly gobble some up, Bennett may actually be a better red zone target because of his athleticism and ability to go up and get balls. The “Antonio Gates starter kit” line is a very appropriate one.

Plus, although Bennett has caused some waves with his YouTube videos and the development of his online persona, which has caused many to rightfully question his maturity, every report I heard about Cowboys training camp this year was positive when referencing Bennett’s play and work ethic.

It is rare that two tight ends from the same team have legit fantasy value, but that is the case in Dallas. Martellus Bennett may only get 30-35 catches if Jason Witten stays healthy all year, but 6-8 of those could very well be TDs, which will eclipse the total for many TEs that will be drafted as starters.

Plus, Bennett actually has upside, which I just don’t see in Matt Cassell. (For the record, if you’re in a PPR league, downgrade my fawning over Martellus Bennett just a bit…but not a lot.)

And once again, I will reiterate the mantra that I always try to follow when constructing my teams: draft consistent, proven value in the early rounds to anchor your team and then follow that by drafting upside and potential in the later rounds.

If you buy into this philosophy as well, you’ll avoid Matt Cassel and think long and hard before you let Martellus Bennett start the season on the free agent wire.

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Remember, to get any and all fantasy questions answered in a quick and timely fashion, jump on over to the MSF Fantasy Football Discussion Forum , where we are waiting to help you out with your draft preparation.

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