Yardbarker: Mason Crosby

Packers Fall to 2-3 After Losing at Home to Falcons 27-24

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:02:23 -0500

An intentional grounding, an interception and a bungled onside kick attempt by a really confused Mason Crosby spelled doom for the Packers. Until those frustrating events occurred, there was a modicum of hope that the Packers could pull off a win. Aaron Rodgers gave a decent performance, with a few minor glitches, but there was no magic to be found, even though it was a comfort to learn that he was playing. An early score by Justin Peelle put Atlanta on the board first, and Green Bay had to try to play catchup all day. They finally did "catch up" in the fourth quarter, but the critical mistakes condemned the Pack to another home loss. Atlanta brought a great rookie quarterback, and the banged-up Packers just were not able to respond at all. Roddy White, with 132 yards of reception, forced the Packer defense to cover down field. This gave Turner a lot of running room, and he took advantage of the opportunity, with 121 yards in 26 carries. Aaron Rodgers completed 25 of 37 for 313 yards and 3 TDs, which is pretty impressive, considering the "game time" decision to play him. Ryan Grant wasn't really a factor, but he did manage to cover 83 yards in 18 carries. Again, this is a disappointing performance, considering some of the stats he was able to compile slightly less than a year ago. Due credit is due to Matt Ryan and crew for an impressive game and a well deserved win - even thought the fourth quarter mistakes of the boys in green did almost as much damage as Turner and White combined. Based on the results from today, the Packers are in for a long, painful season.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings - Kickers

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:57:26 -0500

What an exciting start we have had to this NFL football season. There have been many ups and downs. Quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Phillip Rivers have come into their own right before our eyes, while Tom Brady has been lost for the season and Peyton Manning has struggled to return to form from off-season surgery. Rookies like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, Jonathan Stewart, and Darren McFadden all have shown the potential to be stars in this league. While many fantasy football weeks, even seasons may hinge on the production of skill players like the ones mentioned above, any veteran fantasy footballer knows that it takes a complete team to win a championship. Many fantasy football games are decided by a few points, so not only do you need to make sure you start the right skill players, you better make sure you start the best possible option as kicker. That being said, please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 4 Kicker Rankings! -------------------- 1. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) @ Oakland Kaeding is 5 for 5 on field goal attempts the last two weeks for a total of 24 points. Now, the Chargers head to Oakland to play a Raiders team that fell apart in the 4th quarter in a week 3 loss to the Bills. Kaeding should once again post double-digit points as the Chargers will continue to pour on the hurt on Oakland. Point Projection: 11 points -------------------- TO FIND OUT WHERE THE REST OF THE KICKERS RANK THIS WEEK, CLICK THE LINK...

SNF Live Blog: Cowboys @ Packers, 2nd Half

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:44:44 -0500

Entering "Aaron Rodgers" into the Google search gets you some great photos of him with hippie hair, scraggly beards, and trash staches like the one seen at right. Aaron, bring this look back, man.

Felix Jones takes a knee in the end zone on the kickoff. Romo and the O will start at the 20. Barber rumbles for two straight eight yard carries.

"I just don't get how Witten can weigh anything any more....he plays tight end, wide receiver, fullback....he ought to get two paychecks." - John, after Witten gets a three or four yard catch. Barber gets dumped on 2nd and 4; it's now 3rd and 6 or so. Romo's pass is incomplete, the Cowboys punt, and the Packers bring it out to the 11.

Brandon Jackson rushes for a first down at the 26. Andrea gives us Favre Mention #4; Jackson gets another seven yards on the next play.

Rodgers hurls a bomb for 50 yards to Donald Driver, who is denied a touchdown solely by a Cwoboy defender making him jump straight up in the air. Brandon Jackson gets stuffed, Rodgers rolls out for a few. 3rd and goal -- and Anthony Henry gets his 2nd sack of the game. Here comes Mason Crosby again.

Kick is up, and good. 13-9, Cowboys.

As a Viking fan, I fully understand that you can't win with field goals. Good luck GB, if that's how you want to try it. - Jesse A

Dallas starts at the 20, Romo hits Witten for 5. Barber for a first, and then Romo hits Miles Austin for major yardage, and he's down at the 2 yard line. 1st and goal, Cowboys. That was a play they'd run for T.O. a lot. Barber brings it up to the 1. Marion Barber busts in again for the touchdown.

Kick is up and good, 20-9, Cowboys.

"I don't think Terrell Owens is going to medical school." - Al

"The first guy had to make it [cheese] somewhere and say, 'Stop, that's it!'" - John

Another three and out for the Packers, as Jay Ratliff brings Rodgers down on the 3rd down play. Adam Jones got fancy on the return but was tackled at midfield, with a flag.

"And Pacman Jones looking like Ms. Pac-Man on that return...." - Al

Cullen Jenkins ate up Felix Jones in the backfield on first down. Jenkins rushes Romo on 2nd, and forces him to rush a throw while still in the pocket -- which the refs flag. 3rd down is incomplete, punt by McBriar is a 65 yarder. Flags all over the place. Personal foul on GB, backs em up more. Grant rushes for a couple to end the third quarter.

This game is making me sleepy. After a Jennings catch for a 1st down, the offense stalls again. Punt coming, and it goes into the end zone. Dallas will start at the 20.

"Jones....big, gaping hole for nine yards and a first down!"- Al

Couldn't have said it better myself. Romo bombs for Miles Austin again, and it's incomplete -- double coverage once again. Witten gets another first down at the 46 on a pass. Barber rushes past midfield to the GB 42. Owens drops one; Romo gets flagged for intentional grounding again because there was no receiver on 2nd down.

Romo goes cannon to Miles Austin, who rushes in for the 52-yard TOUCHDOWN! Kick by Folk for the PAT is up and good, 27-9, Dallas.

Can we all go home now?

Several of you have noticed that Al was talking about Don Rickles winning an Emmy. Never mind whether it's relevant. What I want to know is: what was he in that actually got him an Emmy? Not like I'm gonna watch the telecast.

if this game is making you sleepy, wait until next week and the magic of the Bears QBs. - JG

Aw, damn it. Three and out again for Green Bay, stops at Dallas 29 with 8:30 left to play. Zzzzzz.....

I don't think Green Bay is trying any more. Martellus Bennett brings one in for 37 yards. Barber adds 12 more and is over 130 yards rushing. Barber apparently fumbles, and Blackmon recovers. GB ball. There's still some effort there.

Rodgers has hit three straight passes and the Packers are fairly deep in Dallas territory. 3rd down right now is at the 23, 5 yards to go. 1st down to Nelson for the catch. GB gets 1st and goal, and a defensive holding wipes out an incompletion. Rodgers sneaks in for the score.

"But you don't do a Lambeau Leap when you're down by three scores." - Al
"No, but you do get ready for an onside kick." - John

Kick is good, 27-16, Cowboys. And the highly implausible scenario continues...

"That is NOT less filling." - Al, as shots of donuts pass across the screen
"But they do taste great." - John

Onside kick, unsuccessful. Tramond Williams got the ball, but before the 10 yard marker for onside kicks. Dallas ball. The Cowboys are just running it out now.

Packers have it back after a turnover on downs, and a lateral type trick play gets called back because of an illegal forward pass.

DeMarcus Ware wails on Rodgers for another sack.

"Mike McCarthy is looking for a play that you probably don't have." - John

4th down is no good, Romo kneels, and this thing is finally over. Cowboys win, 27-16. See you next week for Eagles-Bears.

SNF Live Blog: Cowboys @ Packers, 1st Half

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:44:44 -0500

Tony Romo is ready to rock. Are you? The Cowboys head to Green Bay, where Aaron Rodgers will start from the get-go. Last year, he took over for Brett Favre when the Gunslinger got hurt in Dallas, and had a pretty good game.

Sadly for Rodgers, I'm picking the 'Boys, 38-27. Who ya got?

(Apologies. I thought this game was in Dallas again. Why, I don't know.)

Also, I'm putting Favre mentions at an over/under of 12. John just can't help himself. Packers take the kickoff back to the 24 yard line.

Favre mention #1. Rodgers tosses low to Jones on the first pass. Ryan Grant bumrushes for 9, but then he fumbles, and Adam "Don't Call Me Pac-Man" Jones recovers! Jones goes back to the Green Bay 14. Here comes the Cowboys' O. Marion "The Truth" Barber rushes for 2. (Either AA or I were calling Barber "the Truth" before we were calling Paul Pierce that.)

Two straight throws to T.O. are incomplete, and here comes Nick Folk for a figgie try. Kick is good, 3-0, Cowboys.

Could have been worse, GB fans.

Will Blackmon takes this kickoff bad to the 26. Greg Jennings grabs some major yards after the catch on a short slant pass, he heads out of bounds at midfield. Ryan Grant gets 6 after the injury time out. Grant gets the first down on the next carry. Now, we have 3rd and 4 at the Dallas 29 as the Cowboys call time. Rodgers hits Jennings again, ball down at the 11.

Did Al not get the memo that Adam Jones doesn't want media people calling him Pac-man any more? 3rd and 6 at the 7, Rodgers scrambles, but can't find anywhere to go and Anthony Henry gets a sack.

Mason Crosby's 36 yard FG attempt is good, 3-3 tie.

Do you think Madden will make more Favre references or Kournheiser refer to Rodgers more tomorrow night for the Jets-Chargers game? - Anon

Madden will make more Favre references. Tony K will be too busy talking about Favre to mention Aaron Rodgers more than two or three times. Favre Reference #2, with a jersey shot. Felix Jones takes the ball up to the Dallas 19. Barber gets 2 yards, then picks up the first with another 10 -- as John notes, T.O. got a good block on Charles Woodson. Romo's throw to Patrick Crayton is dropped, and Al Harris is on the ground -- another injury time out.

Barber heads up to the 36 on the next carry. Witten makes his first catch of the night, and it's very close to a first down at the 49. Barber gets across midfield and picks up the first.

Oh, that would have been lovely if it had worked. Romo hands off the end-around to Patrick Crayton, who hurls one into the end zone for T.O., who is double covered -- but he had an OK shot at that. Not saying that was an automatic bring it in, but still. Barber breaks a bunch of tackles, gaining 20+ at the Green Bay 20.

Just seeing a Cowboy player getting smacked makes me feel warm. - SSReporters

Romo throws over Witten on 2nd down, but gets him at the 11 for a first down on the next play. Next play drives the Boys back to the 16, as the play fake doesn't work and Romo gets sacked by Aaron Kampman. Al Harris makes a nice open-field tackle on Barber to hold him to a yard. Romo throws it....and he's PICKED IN THE END ZONE! Nick Collins goes all the way out to the Dallas 43 and T.O. tackles him.

The first quarter ends with Rodgers recovering his own fumble.

Surprised that the Cowboys drafted Felix Jones ? He was only part of one of better RB tandems in college football the past couple years. - JG

I suppose that statement by Al comes from the sense that everyone thought Jerry Jones would trade up to get Darren McFadden instead. Jennings catches it, gets to about the Dallas 40. Rodgers tosses a jump pass to Jennings while avoiding the sack...and dare I say, that was Favre-like. First down at the 25. Favre Count: 3. 3rd and 4 is incomplete to James Jones, and Crosby will come out again.

Figgie try is up....and good, 6-3, Pack.

"That's a good area to have bookends, your tackles and your corners and the Packers have good bookends at those positions." - JM

WTF? What other position could be considered a "bookend"? - Lucas

I swear, John's lunacy doesn't even faze me any more.

OK, that 2nd down play was a little wonky. Romo's getting sacked, Barber catches the throw, but gets hit and it's knocked in the air, and Tony Curtis comes up with it. Barber takes the next carry out to midfield. Cullen Jenkins pounds Romo to the ground on 3rd down, and we'll get a punt, which Mat McBriar shanks. GB gets it at its own 29.

Who isn't in that Diet Pepsi Max ad? So that's what Chris Kattan's been up to these days.

Good job on Rodgers for making Greg Ellis whiff on the scak, but the completion is coming back on a holding call. The 3rd down pass to Jennings is short, and it's punt time.

"Four flags, one hat, and a bean bag." - AM, after the punt return with two calls for blocking in the back on the Cowboys.

S2N can't catch a break, 3 weeks in a row of absolutely crap games. - SSReporters

Dude, I'm falling asleep here. Someone throw deep. I'm dying for the flex weeks to start. Barber barrels for a first down.

"Barber bangs his way through." - Al (via SSReporters)

And Felix Jones goes scampering down the sideline for 60 yards and the TOUCHDOWN! What was that I was asking for about excitement? Kick is good, 10-6, Dallas.

I had an instant SouthPark flashback when Madden said Jones' td was a scissor play.

"Know what the Dallas Cowboys call him? The oldest lookin' rookie in the history of the NFL." - John
"Kinda like LeBron James...he came in and he looked like he was in his eighth year in the league." - Al

Greg Oden wants you whippersnappers up there to pay him some mind.

"DeMarcus Ware chasing you will make you throw ducks." - John, after a weak 3rd down through by Rodgers.

Adam Jones receives the punt, doesn't get much, and the Cowboys will have another chance to score before halftime. Barber catches the short pass from Romo, then gets whacked on the rush. Witten comes up with the pass at the 23 of Green Bay.

"If you give Tony Romo that kind of time with those receivers, he's gonna eat you up." - John

With Fava beans and a nice Chianti, say?

That "NFL Stories" ad with the Chiefs groundskeeper is a bit off. I thought the stinky things he'd be chasing off the field would be the players themselves, not skunks. Romo hits Curtis at the 13, Barber picks up the first down with a carry at the 12. Romo hits Barber at the 5, with about 30 seconds left on the clock.

Romo then manages to fumble it once again after faking on the play action and holding it too long. Why did I start this moron instead of Philip Rivers tomorrow night?

I have a question. Why is the TE always referred to as being owned by the QB? It's always "his tight end", but you never hear it for any other position.

As a former TE my sophomore year in high school, I demand equality. - Jesse

You played in high school. You know the hierarchy. The QB owns everyone else.

Folk hits the FG, 13-6, Dallas. Kick off returned by Will Blackmon to the 27 with the half ending at the same score.

See you in the 2nd half thread.

Packers Suffer First Setback of 08 with 27-16 Loss to Dallas

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:45:05 -0500

Going up against a top NFC foe, the Packers were run over Sunday night by Marion Barber, Felix Jones and the Cowboys, as Dallas made a statement with a 27-16 win at Lambeau Field. The Cowboys soundly defeated the Pack making a claim that they are the top dogs in the NFL after three weeks. Marion Barber led the offensive attack, rushing for a career high 142 yards and a TD, and rookie Felix Jones added a 60-yard score in the ground assault. On the night, the Cowboys ran over Green Bay for 217 yards on 35 carries (6.2 yards per carry), while holding the Packers to 84 yards. Tony Romo was 17-for-30 for 260 yards and one TD, a 52-yard score to Miles Austin. Terrell Owens was held in check for the most part, making just two catches for 17 yards, but the fact Dallas was able to win the game anyway is a sign just how deep this squad is. The Cowboys piled up 453 yards in a hostile enviorment, a place where they had never won a game. Green Bay also came in without a loss at 2-0, but with Aaron Rodgers looking to continue his hot start, the Cowboys defense put the hammer down on him, getting five sacks and only allowing three Mason Crosby field goals till the 2:11 mark of the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. Rodgers threw for 290 yards on 22-for-39 passing with no TD's or picks. Ryan Grant ran for just 54 yards on 13 carries. Green Bay had 334 yards on offense, but again, was never really able to mount much of an attack against an inspired Cowboys unit that played well all night. No division titles or trophys are handed out in September, but the Cowboys clearly look like the team to beat in the NFC and the NFL right now. They are complete from top to bottom on offense and defense, and look like a team that can match up well with just about anyone, able to score a lot when they need to, or play tight defense when called upon. Green Bay, coming in now at 2-1, will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs who are now also 2-1.

SNF Live Blog: Cowboys @ Packers, 2nd Half

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:00:05 -0500

SNF Live Blog: Cowboys @ Packers, 1st Half

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:32:01 -0500

Packers 48, Lions 25

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:55:40 -0500

The Green Bay Packers almost lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. I thank God for the word "almost" right there. How close can a 48-25 game get? Very close apparently. At my 2:30 PM Update, the Packers were up 21-3 at the half and it seemed like they were in control. I even speculated that Matt

Packers 24, Vikings 19

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:56:01 -0500

Aaron Rodgers is undefeated as a starting quarterback in the National Football League, leading the Packers to a 24-19 triumph over the rival Minnesota Vikings on ESPN. The Packers see-sawed control with the Vikings, with Minnesota controlling the first and third quarters and Green Bay controlling the

Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings - Kickers

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:40:15 -0500

The first week of NFL and fantasy football is in the books, and boy, does it feel good to have football back. Many of us didn't move from in front of the TV or the computer all day long on Sunday. Fantasy football was finally here and no one was going to ruin it for us. Our families know by now that the opening day of the NFL is like a holiday for football fans all over the world, especially us fantasy football fanatics. With the first week in the books, it's now time to start preparing for week 2. Not only should you should be scouring your leagues waiver wire looking for the hot free agents. You need to evaluate your own players and see how they stack up this week. The best way to do this is to check in with the Bruno Boys for our Weekly Positional Rankings. Many fantasy football games come down to a few points, so you need to make sure you start the best possible player at each position and yes this includes your kicker. Please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 2 Kicker Rankings! -------------------- 1. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Philadelphia This has game of the week potential and it's on Monday night. The Eagles and Cowboys both had offensive explosions in week 1. This should be a high scoring affair and Folk will benefit from it, kicking his way to the top spot. Point projection: 11 points To read where the rest of the kickers rank, click the link...

Packers 24, Vikings 19

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:03:47 -0500

Props The season got off to a frustrating start for the Vikings in Lambeau Field Monday night. The Purple fell to the Packers 24-19, their fifth straight loss to their bitter divisional rivals, and their first to new Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. There is much to find fault with in the way the Vikings p

Vikings @ Packers

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:16:43 -0500

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers Here's my attempt at a pseudo-live blog, as the Cover It Live blog I wanted to do did not get set up. Injury Report @ 6:46 EST Vikings Madieu Williams - Out Maurice Hicks - Doubtful Tarvaris Jackson - Probable Robert Ferguson - Probable Packers Josh Sitton - Out James

Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings - Kickers

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:13:48 -0500

After what has seemed like an extremely long off-season, NFL football kicks off the 2008 season this Thursday as the Washington Redskins travel to New York to face the Super Bowl Champion Giants. By now most of us have drafted our fantasy football teams for 2008. If you used the 2008 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets to study for your draft you should feel comfortable that you drafted a solid team, but you have to make sure you always start the best line-up possible each week. This goes for all positions, yes even the kickers, and to make sure that you make the right decision, the Bruno Boys will continue the time honored tradition of it's weekly positional rankings. Enjoy, the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 1 Kicker Rankings. -------------------- 1. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) vs. Kansas City Gostkowski had 74 extra points in 2007 and was a great option kicking for the Patriots. He has an excellent match-up in week 1 against the Chiefs, moving ahead of Nick Folk for week 1's top honors. Point projection: 11 points To read more, click the link...

NFL PREVIEW: GREEN BAY PACKERS

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:39:26 -0500

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

Hey, Packer Fan! Once Brett Favre left, no Carnie wanted to write about your team. So it's left to your old garbageman Shooter to cut the cheese. Let's get to it!

Everyone and their mother is putting this year on Aaron Rodgers, but as always, I like to look beyond the obvious. Let's delve into the players that will also be on the hot seat in A.F. Year 1.

Al Harris, CB. Last seen as the defensive goat in the NFC Championship Game as Plaxico Burress wore him out like a Japanese condom, the longtime plus cornerback got a lifetime award to the Pro Bowl in what had to be a rather awkward locker room. The Pack's scheme needs him and Rod Woodson, who is also rather long in the tooth, to be plus corners for them to have a plus defense. Harris is a fierce competitor, but he's also old for a corner, and NFL wideouts can smell blood in the water. If the Packers struggle on defense, it will be in the secondary.

Mason Crosby, PK. The best kicker in the NFC last year as a rookie, Crosby will have much more pressure this year with an offense that's more likely to struggle in the red zone. With less margin for error and the possibility of a sophomore slump looming, Crosby will have to be as good or better than he was last year, and if he's not, the world will notice.

Donald Driver, WR. Favre's security blanket in past years has to adjust to life with a new quarterback at an advanced age. He will see more secondary corners, since running mate Greg Jennings is a prime deep threat, which means the Pack will need him more to move the chains. If he doesn't, they won't be shy about trying someone else.

AJ Hawk, LB. They love him locally, but he's probably overrated nationally... and in the biggest games of the year (i.e., Minnesota and at Minnesota), he will probably find himself in space with Adrian "Purple Jesus" Peterson more than a few times. It's not outside of the realm of possibility that his success in those encounters could swing the division.

Ryan Grant, RB. Last year's sensation is this year's expectation, and while he's got a good line, he's also got a quarterback that might need reassurance. It's harder to run in a close game than when you've got a lead, and there's a reasonable chance that the Pack will have fewer leads.

Fantasy Sleeper: Jennings. Young and fast and on a team with a fading #2 WR. He's also got a QB that's probably going to want to prove he can gunsling a little, and a good offensive line. Expect him to be targeted more, even if his numbers stay the same... and there's upside potential here.

Fantasy Death: Rodgers. In the long run, he should be fine. In the short run, he will struggle and surprise, just like any other young quarterback, which means that when you play him, he'll struggle, and when you bench him, he'll shine. Welcome to the whipsaw.

Team-wide prediction: The Pack still have what should be four auto wins in the division (Detroit, Chicago), and a split with the Vikes. The conference games look like at least four out of six (Dallas, in Tampa, Atlanta, in Seattle, in New Orleans, Carolina). I think they split their AFC South games. Add it up, and you get...

11-5, first place in the NFC North, and a Final 8 playoff loser. Yes, Packer Fan, there is life After Brett. It will also look a lot like Life With Brett, albeit without the drama and a tenth of the number of media mouth jobs. If I were you, I'd consider it a fair trade.

NFL Kickers: If the Fantasy Shoe Fits ...

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:50:44 -0500

Kicker is one of the few fantasy positions that can cause a GM to sweat. But as Screaming Sports' Hugh Duckwall explains, after the elite few, they're all the same. So if you miss out on a big name, take a deep breath and look for the best option available.