http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/2481 Recent articles about Aaron Kampman en-us How to Spot A Fantasy Football Sleeper is a knack that could make or break your fantasy team. Daniel Kalles gives all you fantasy owners a "How To" locate and find fantasy sleepers and plenty of time to exam the players you feel could be sleepers this season. Best of luck this season. As Daniel Kalles, The first thing you need to know about finding a "sleeper" is figuring out what a sleeper is. Many people will have many different explanations as to what a sleeper really is, where to find them and how important they are, but they will pretty much agree that a sleeper is someone who doesn't have a big name, probably doesn't start, hasn't put up big numbers in the past, who now might have a chance to have a breakout season and be a difference maker on your team. Sleepers are usually either late round draft picks or waiver-wire pick-ups who went undrafted. Now how to spot sleepers, when to draft them, and how long you wait until you believe they are actually worth putting in your lineup are all a little different. Having one of the few sleepers who pan out and be a worthy starter can make the difference in winning your league or not winning. No one starts off the season knowing which sleeper will for sure breakout; all you can do is try and draft one or two and hope that a couple of things fall your way and your sleeper goes from nobody to somebody just like that. It's very hard to go into the draft focused on the guys who will be drafted in the later rounds, but the truth is many drafts are won in the later rounds. If you can have a good draft from top to bottom, it will help you down the line; having a deep team will help you in the event of an injury or to make trades. It's not very difficult to draft players in the first bunch of rounds, guys like Alexander, Tomlinson, Owens, Moss, these players have a history, they have done it before, we can look at their numbers and see where they should be drafted, but a sleeper is different. Most sleepers haven't played enough to accumulate enough stats to make decisions on, so you have to take a small sample (if one exists) to figure out who might be the sleepers of this year's draft. There are many different places and ways to find sleepers. One way is to look for 2nd or 3rd year players who had a chance to play near the end of the year before. At the end of most seasons, the teams out of the playoff hunt will look at some young players, giving them starts and letting veterans sit out. Watching these players can sometimes give you a hint into who might be a good sleeper the next season, if they play a good game or two. Look at Willie Parker who was undrafted out of college and was sitting on the bench in 2004 when the Steelers went 15-1. In the last game of the season, once they had already clinched home field advantage, they decided to rest veteran running back Jerome Bettis, and see what Parker could do. He went into Buffalo, on a cold January Sunday, to face the hottest team in football. The Bills were looking to get a victory and a spot in the playoffs. Well, Parker gained 102 yards on only 19 carries, to help the Steelers win the game, and give anyone who was actually paying attention to this Steelers backup a 1200 yards rusher out of nowhere in 2005. Now this doesn't mean things will always work out for you, but it's a good way of finding a sleeper. Another way of finding a sleeper is to watch the player and coach movement in the off-season, and see which players have been put in situations where they might be able to break out, with the help of certain coaches and their philosophies. A player who might have been going downhill in his career, or hasn't been able to find his way yet might be able to change that by being on a team whose system better suits their abilities. Koren Robinson is a good example. He's a former 1st round pick of the Seahawks, and while he had a couple of solid seasons with them (78 for 1240 yards and 5 TD's in 2002), he was let go at the end of 2004 because of off-field and poor behavior issues. He latched on to the Vikings as their top return man and part time WR. During the off-season they hired new head coach Brad Childress, who brings with him his West Coast offense, and they traded Nate Burleson, leaving the spot of #1 WR open. With those and many other changes the Vikings made on offense, they go into the season looking for players to step up and be leaders. Robinson has a good chance of doing that because he is a step ahead of most of the other WR's because he played in the West Coast offense while in Seattle. He could be in for a very big season. While all this looks good and could very well happen, many times it doesn't, and guys like Robinson will always be picked up for his potential, but might never realize it, because he can't control his other issues. These are just a couple of the many ways to find a sleeper. So, make sure to always pay attention to injury situations, and follow closely what players are doing at training camp. Doing this can help you find many sleepers. Lastly, don't forget that you can still find sleepers after the draft in the first couple of weeks of the season. If you see a player break out and do better then expected, don't sit on the sidelines and watch - make an effort to pick them up and see if they can sustain that output. Or if you know that a starting player has any injury at all, make sure you're the one to get anyone who might back that player up, because once a player goes down, whoever takes over can be a real steal. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:24:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290094 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290094 When he vacationed in Orlando last summer, agent Kennard McGuire brokered a long-term deal with Detroit for its franchise player, Cory Redding. McGuire hopes the same can happen for another client this week, Cowboys' franchise player Ken Hamlin, although a deadline is approaching. The Cowboys and McGuire have until 3 p.m. Tuesday to reach an agreement on a long-term deal or else the Pro Bowl safety can only play for the one-year tender offer of $4.396 million. Since putting the franchise tag on Hamlin in March, the Cowboys were able to finalize multiyear deals for fellow Pro Bowlers Flozell Adams, Terence Newman, Terrell Owens and Marion Barber, among others. Even as they vacationed, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones and McGuire kept negotiating on a multi-year deal last week, but the talks figure to take on more urgency. With more than $8 million in salary-cap room, money has not been the issue, however, the structure of the contract has because of changes in the collective bargaining agreement coming next year. Dallas Morning News Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:52:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290080 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290080 On May 25, an F-5 tornado, packing winds in excess of 200 mph, destroyed a small town of 1,900 in Parkersburg, Iowa. The monstrous three-quarters of a mile wide twister needed just 34 seconds to kill six people and demolish the pride and joy of this community: the Aplington-Parkersburg High School, which has produced four active NFL players, fifth most of any high school in the nation.  Casey Weigmann (Denver Broncos), Brad Meester (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Jared DeVries (Detroit Lions) gathered in nearby Cedar Falls on Sunday to help raise money to rebuild the school's athletic program. The fourth A-P alumni, Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers) was detained during a trip to Africa, and was unable to attend the fundraiser.  The NFL players signed autographs, while "Together We Will" T-shirts and "AP Falcons Tornado Relief" hats were sold.  The fundraiser also included a silent auction for signed football jerseys and helmets, as well as signed photos by NFL players and other celebrities.   During a live auction, a Miley Cyrus guitar was sold for $10,000, while the second-highest bidder offered $8,000 to buy another. A Brett Favre autographed jersey brought in $3,100.  "I just think it shows that people care, people have big hearts." DeVries said. "It's a very tough time for the community, and they're willing to do whatever they can do." Jaguars center Brad Meester delivered a check of $90,000. $32,000 came from Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, while the remaining $58,000 was raised through hat sales on Jaguars.com, and donations from some of Meester's Jaguar teammates.  The NFL charity program will match every player donation up to $5,000. "I heard that there would be quite a few people here, but when we walked up and saw a huge line, that meant a lot," Meester said. "Just knowing that everyone was coming here to help raise some money and support this program. That means a lot." The players had hoped to raise $100,000 at the fundraiser, although the final total was reportedly close to $200,000.  Construction on a new high school is expected to begin August 1.   SOURCES: ESPN & KWWL - Iowa's News ChannelOTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - LA Dodgers - The Biz of Baseball Portable, Battery-Driven CT Scanner for Bats to Be Unveiled - The Biz of Baseball MLB Launches "Welcome Back Veterans" Initiative - The Biz of Baseball Sunday MLB on TBS: Comments from Red Sox/Cards Game - The Biz of Baseball Matt Sosnick Talks Being a Player Agent - The Biz of Baseball New Bidders in the Mix for Cubs. One Would Offer Shares - The Biz of Baseball The 2008 Playoffs: Where the Revival of the NBA's Two Flagship Franchises Happened - The Biz of Basketball Olympic Free Agents? - The Biz of Basketball Tim Donaghy's Tales - The Biz of Basketball Ex-Ref Donaghy Claims NBA Playoff Games Were Altered. See Video of David Stern's Response - The Biz of Basketball Pistons Name Michael Curry as Head Coach - The Biz of Basketball Judge Rules on Motions Filed in Sonics Trial - The Biz of Basketball AEG Reaches 5-Year Agreement with Blazers to Run Rose Garden Arena - The Biz of Basketball NHL 2K9, First Officially Licensed Game by NHL and NHLPA for Wii, Coming this Fall - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey NBC Reports 6.8 Million Viewers for Game 6. Up 111% from 2006 - The Biz of Hockey Post-Game Commentary from Babcock, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Osgood, Therrien, Crosby, Lemieux, Whitney, and Malkin - The Biz of Hockey TV Ratings for Decisive Game 6 of Stanley Cup Up Dramatically From Last Game 6 Played - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey NHL.com Breaks All-Time Record for Number of Fans Consuming Streaming Video - The Biz of Hockey NHL Renews Agreement with Anheuser-Busch for Bud Light - The Biz of HockeyNick Kappel is a staff member for the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network's Author Profiles Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:30:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287732 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287732 So that genius over at Arrowhead Addict, Adam, had a great idea for this week's Best View column: our dream doubleheaders.  Nine of us Fan-Sided bloggers participated, and the results were amazing.  I was one of the nine chosen to participate and here is mine (I actually overachieved and did two): First: I'm in Oregon during the late spring, early summer months.  I'm staying out in Junction City at my great-great-grandparents' old farm with some distant relatives for my stay.  During the day, I head into Eugene and catch the Eugene Emeralds, a San Diego Padres affiliate.  After the game (which is brief and just a good game), I head over to Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus for the Pac-10 track championships.  I'm a huge running buff, and just to see some of the best college athletes on some of the most hallowed ground in track & field lore would be an amazing experience for me.  I see some new records and experience the mystique of a historic landmark. Second: I'm in Green Bay on a Sunday in October.  Da Bears are in town for a good ol' fashioned grudge match and the stadium is hopping.  I get end zone seats.  The Packers dominate, 34-0.  Sexy Rexy is absolutely eaten alive by Aaron Kampman: three sacks for my man.  Rodgers throws for 300+ yards and two touchdowns, one to Greg Jennings who Lambeau Leaps right into me.  Ryan Grant tacks on 120-plus rushing yards and two touchdowns while the Packers just play a flawless game.  Then the real fun begins.  I hop a mass transit system (I hope there is one) down to Milwaukee for Game 7 of the NLCS between the Brewers and my Phillies.  Cole Hamels pitches eight shut out innings and the Phillies win 2-0 behind home runs by Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, sending them to the World Series. The rest of them can be read in this week's Best View.  I urge you all to check them out and leave your own dream doubleheaders here.  I'm interested in seeing what you have to say. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:27:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286896 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286896 I loved Prisco's top 50, but there were definite faults in it.  Even though he did a great job tackling the Brady v. Manning topic, some of his picks were, how do you say, questionable.  Here is my attempt at naming the top 50 players in the NFL.  With 1696 players on the active roster, cutting it down to 50 is tough, but here I go. 1. Tom Brady/QB/New England Patriots (Prisco Ranking-1): Ugh.  I hate this.  I hate putting Brady at number one.  50 touchdown passes does qualify him for this spot though.  This doesn't feel right.  Do I have to put Patriots players on my list? 2. Peyton Manning/QB/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-2): Ah, this feels better.  Manning in his downyear through for more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, got his team a first-round bye while missing his top wide receiver for most of the year.  Scary to think of what he can do with the whole team in his "great" years. 3. Randy Moss/WR/New England Patriots (Prisco-4): When he's not bumping traffic cops, he's pushing off of cornerbacks and safeties to break the receiving touchdowns in a season record (although that title is complete bogus).  He should do well again this year, but not 20+ touchdowns. 4. LaDanian Tomlinson/RB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-3): LDT is a Hall of Fame running back, but there are other backs in the league that are catching up to him.  Tomlinson can do it all: run, catch, and even pass.  He's the definition of an all-around back. 5. Bob Sanders/S/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-7): Sanders is definitely the best defender in the league.  No other defensive player changes a game in the way that Sanders does.  We've all seen what the Colts did on defense in 2007 as opposed to the Sanders-less 2006. 6. Jared Allen/DE/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-12): Legal matters aside, Allen has moved into the category of a healthy Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney as the game's premier pass rushers.  He got 15.5 sacks in 14 games last year.  It is crazy to put him out of the top 10. 7. Antonio Cromartie/CB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-NR): I have no idea how Antonio Cromartie was not ranked by Prisco.  Cromartie led the league in interceptions, returned a missed field goal for a touchdown, and he recovered 2 fumbles.  He was definitely the best corner in the league last year. 8. Adrian Peterson/RB/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-15): Peterson exploded onto the scene last season, running for over 1300 yards, leading the league in rushing yards per game, and taking home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. 9. DeMarcus Ware/OLB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-9): Last season, Ware had the best season of his career.  He had career-highs in sacks and tackles, and he is only going to improve. 10. Walter Jones/OT/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-16): Even though the Seahawks have no offensive weapons, the Seahawks have a top 10 offense.  How is it possible?  This man is the reason why. 11. Nnamdi Asomugha/CB/Oakland Raiders (Prisco-29) 12. Brian Westbrook/RB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-20) 13. Reggie Wayne/WR/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-22) 14. Steve Hutchinson/OG/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-19) 15. Albert Haynesworth/DT/Tennessee Titans (Prisco-14) 16. Terrell Owens/WR/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-13) 17. Jeff Saturday/C/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-NR) 18. Champ Bailey/CB/Denver Broncos (Prisco-5) 19. Shawne Merriman/OLB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-11) 20. Kevin Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-10) 21. Dwight Freeney/DE/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-25) 22. Ed Reed/S/Baltimore Ravens (Prisco-23) 23. Jason Peters/OT/Buffalo Bills (Prisco-27) 24. Richard Seymour/DE/New England Patriots (Prisco-30) 25. Braylon Edwards/WR/Cleveland Browns (Prisco-34) 26. Devin Hester/RS/Chicago Bears (Prisco-50) 27. Andre Johnson/WR/Houston Texans (Prisco-26) 28. Chad Johnson/WR/Cincinnati Bengals (Prisco-28) 29. Asante Samuel/CB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-37) 30. Patrick Willis/MLB/San Francisco 49ers (Prisco-43) 31. Antonio Gates/TE/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-24) 32. Osi Umenyiora/DE/New York Giants (Prisco-42) 33. Tony Romo/QB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-NR) 34. Tony Gonzalez/TE/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-46) 35. Steven Jackson/RB/St. Louis Rams (Prisco-33) 36. Patrick Kerney/DE/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-NR) 37. Mario Williams/DE/Houston Texans (Prisco-6) 38. Ernie Sims/OLB/Detroit Lions (Prisco-39) 39. Larry Fitzgerald/WR/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-31) 40. Ben Roethlisberger/QB/Pittsburgh Steelers (Prisco-17) 41. Lofa Tatupa/MLB/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-40) 42. Adrian Wilson/S/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-NR) 43. Shawn Andrews/OG/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-38) 44. Tommie Harris/DT/Chicago Bears (Prisco-36) 45. Pat Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-NR) 46. Aaron Kampman/DE/Green Bay Packers (Prisco-45) 47. Drew Brees/QB/New Orleans Saints (Prisco-35) 48. Brian Urlacher/MLB/Chicago Bears (Prisco-32) 49. Larry Johnson/RB/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-NR) 50. Plaxico Burress/WR/New York Giants (Prisco-NR) Unranked Players On My List That Are On Prisco's List: Carson Palmer (8) Charles Woodson (18) Steve Smith (21) Vince Wilfork (41) Kellen Winslow (44) Marcus Trufant (47) Wes Welker (48) Fred Taylor (49) Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:49:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284878 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/284878 On May 25, an F-5 tornado, packing winds in excess of 200 mph, destroyed a small town of 1,900 in Parkersburg, Iowa. The monstrous three-quarters of a mile wide twister needed just 34 seconds to kill six people and demolish the pride and joy of this community: the Aplington-Parkersburg High School, which has produced four active NFL players, fifth most of any high school in the nation.  Casey Weigmann (Denver Broncos), Brad Meester (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Jared DeVries (Detroit Lions) gathered in nearby Cedar Falls on Sunday to help raise money to rebuild the school's athletic program. The fourth A-P alumni, Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers) was detained during a trip to Africa, and was unable to attend the fundraiser.  The NFL players signed autographs, while "Together We Will" T-shirts and "AP Falcons Tornado Relief" hats were sold.  The fundraiser also included a silent auction for signed football jerseys and helmets, as well as signed photos by NFL players and other celebrities.   During a live auction, a Miley Cyrus guitar was sold for $10,000, while the second-highest bidder offered $8,000 to buy another. A Brett Favre autographed jersey brought in $3,100.  "I just think it shows that people care, people have big hearts." DeVries said. "It's a very tough time for the community, and they're willing to do whatever they can do." Jaguars center Brad Meester delivered a check of $90,000. $32,000 came from Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, while the remaining $58,000 was raised through hat sales on Jaguars.com, and donations from some of Meester's Jaguar teammates.  The NFL charity program will match every player donation up to $5,000. "I heard that there would be quite a few people here, but when we walked up and saw a huge line, that meant a lot," Meester said. "Just knowing that everyone was coming here to help raise some money and support this program. That means a lot." The players had hoped to raise $100,000 at the fundraiser, although the final total was reportedly close to $200,000.  Construction on a new high school is expected to begin August 1.   SOURCES: ESPN & KWWL - Iowa's News ChannelOTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - LA Dodgers - The Biz of Baseball Portable, Battery-Driven CT Scanner for Bats to Be Unveiled - The Biz of Baseball MLB Launches "Welcome Back Veterans" Initiative - The Biz of Baseball Sunday MLB on TBS: Comments from Red Sox/Cards Game - The Biz of Baseball Matt Sosnick Talks Being a Player Agent - The Biz of Baseball New Bidders in the Mix for Cubs. One Would Offer Shares - The Biz of Baseball The 2008 Playoffs: Where the Revival of the NBA's Two Flagship Franchises Happened - The Biz of Basketball Olympic Free Agents? - The Biz of Basketball Tim Donaghy's Tales - The Biz of Basketball Ex-Ref Donaghy Claims NBA Playoff Games Were Altered. See Video of David Stern's Response - The Biz of Basketball Pistons Name Michael Curry as Head Coach - The Biz of Basketball Judge Rules on Motions Filed in Sonics Trial - The Biz of Basketball AEG Reaches 5-Year Agreement with Blazers to Run Rose Garden Arena - The Biz of Basketball NHL 2K9, First Officially Licensed Game by NHL and NHLPA for Wii, Coming this Fall - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey NBC Reports 6.8 Million Viewers for Game 6. Up 111% from 2006 - The Biz of Hockey Post-Game Commentary from Babcock, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Osgood, Therrien, Crosby, Lemieux, Whitney, and Malkin - The Biz of Hockey TV Ratings for Decisive Game 6 of Stanley Cup Up Dramatically From Last Game 6 Played - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey NHL.com Breaks All-Time Record for Number of Fans Consuming Streaming Video - The Biz of Hockey NHL Renews Agreement with Anheuser-Busch for Bud Light - The Biz of HockeyNick Kappel is a staff member for the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network's Author Profiles Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:35:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282063 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282063 A look at the Packers foes in the NFC North… Chicago Bears - Ryan Grant's life just got tougher for the next four years. - Chris Simms could join the meat party for Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. - Brian Urlacher is shutting his yap. Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings want an adjustment from Tarvaris Jackson. - They're also pretty glad they didn't gamble on Jevon Kearse… That's all for this week folks. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:37:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281147 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281147 Apparently, there is talk of a trade for disgruntled Miami Dolphins defensive end/dancer Jason Taylor. A catalyst for these rumors is the fact the Packers are looking for an option to secure their defensive line. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is coming off knee surgery and although he says he will be fine by training camp, there is still a question mark surrounding him. With the loss of Corey Williams, the Packers hope to move right defensive end Cullen Jenkins to right defensive tackle, where he played until last year. Aaron Kampman has left defensive end locked up while there is a battle for left defensive tackle between Johnny Jolly, Colin Cole, and Justin Harrell. If the Packers were to swing a deal for Taylor, they would want Taylor for two years instead of the one Taylor says he is going to play. Greg A. Bedard gives the best explanation of a possible deal: Namely, the Packers inquired in passing about what the Dolphins wanted for Taylor before the draft. They were told a first-round pick. The Packers almost laughed. Since then, the Packers have checked in from time to time. The Dolphins outwardly are still bluffing, but inwardly they are coming off their asking price…. …That's because Taylor has only pushed harder for a trade since he denied doing exactly that. Taylor is miserable with his situation with the Dolphins, from what I've been told, and wants out more than ever. Packers GM Ted Thompson has discussed Taylor with defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn. I don't know exactly what they said to Thompson, but I know they both love Taylor. There will be little, if any, discussion unless Taylor backs off his plan to only play one more season. Taylor, I'm told, is amenable to that if it's the right situation. Both sides might be willing to do the deal for a second-round pick. But that's only if two very stubborn negotiators — Thompson and Bill Parcells — both feel they're getting a good deal. That might be tough to do. And we all know how Thompson keeps a death grip on his draft choices. To me, this could be a great deal for the Packers. They were close to the Super Bowl last year, and the New York Giants showed that a great pass rush is necessary to win.  The Pack is under the cap, and if Taylor agrees to go two years, they could be sitting pretty.  If the deal doesn't go through, it's not that big of a deal. Brian over at Phin Phanatic has already blogged his opinion on the matter.  And it is a good, well written and informed one at that.  Check it out. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:01:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280198 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280198 Defensive end is one of the most important positions on your defense. Look at the New York Giants and how they won the Superbowl. Pressure, pressure, and more pressure. Something Tom Brady is not used to seeing much of. So with that being said, here are the teams who benefit most from having a scary tandem at defensive end. 10. Kyle Vanden Bosch & Jevon Kearse: The unpredictable outcome of Jevon Kearse's return to Tennessee after a horrific showing in Philadelphia for the past 4 seasons pushes the Titan's tandem to ten. 9. Elvis Dumervil & John Engelberger: The Denver Broncos have a young star emerging on the line in Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil had a breakout season last year recording 12.5 sacks, 4 fumbles forced, and 1 interception. The problem is, the Broncos will have a position battle for the left defensive end spot. John Engelberger started last year but Jarvis Moss will be fighting for playing time and so will Tim Crowder, two young guys waiting to jump in and shine. Until they have an established left end, I cannot move them up the list. 8. Adewale Ogunleye & Mark Anderson: The two Chicago ends helped anchor a defense that pushed this team to a Superbowl appearance just two seasons ago. The defense took a step back last year and did not have the type of season that we are used to seeing from a Bear's defense. Ogunleye and Anderson each had an alright season, but not to potential. 7. Will Smith & Charles Grant: The New Orleans Saints are not especially known for their defense, but Smith and Grant want to make us believe otherwise. With the help of a revamped front 7 (additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis) this tandem should be expected to do big things in 2008. 6. Mario Williams & Anthony Weaver: The first overall pick was a mistake right? Reggie Bush was the obvious pick right? Wrong. Dead wrong. Super Mario collected 14 sacks this past season and showed everyone that Houston made the right choice. But because of the lopsided sack count, as Weaver had 0 sacks, they must be placed 6th. Not to be disappointed, they'll get better with experience. 5. Patrick Kerney & Darryl Tapp: The Seahawks pass rush brings two different skill sets to the line. Strength and speed. Patrick Kerney's brute strength gets him to the quarterback. He recorded 14.5 sacks this past season, 2nd in the NFL. Darryl Tapp brings speed and versatility to the line in Seattle. At age 23, he tallied 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Don't expect rest from these two, they bring it every single down. 4. Aaron Kampman & Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila: These two Green Bay stars are a bit overlooked by the football world. All the hype is on Brett Favre, but with his recent departure, it'll be up to the defense to get it done. Just check the stats, Kampman and KGB are the real deal. 3. Trent Cole & Chris Clemons: The Philadelphia Eagles are known for their offensive and defensive line play in the Andy Reid era. After Derrick Burgess departed to Oakland and Jevon Kearse did not pan out, Trent Cole has stepped in and been a force. His breakout numbers last season( 12.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles) showed he is among the elite pass rushers in the NFL. Clemons played for Oakland but his numbers don't lie. This 24 year old decided to breakout the same year as Cole with 8 sacks 2. Osi Umenyiora & Justin Tuck: With Michael Strahan's recent retirement, the Giants have a new look to their defensive line. Expect Osi to take a lot of double teams, but expect Tuck to explode. Tuck recorded 10 sacks last year and is good enough to step in and make an impact. Do not expect him to fill Strahan's shoes, but expect him to play very well in New York. 1. Jared Allen & Kenechi Udeze: Jared Allen is arguably the best defensive end in the NFL today. He lead the NFL in sacks last season and will be added to the Vikings stacked defensive line. With the Williams' brothers in the middle and Allen on the end, expect Udeze to have a big impact as a lot of focus will be off of him. These two hold the number one spot for the best defensive end tandem in the NFL for the 2008 season. Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:06:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278076 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278076 GREEN BAY, Wis. (May 29) - Aaron Kampman was back at work Thursday, but his mind was back in Iowa. The Green Bay Packers' two-time Pro Bowl defensive end spent Monday and part of Tuesday in Iowa, surveying the devastation from the tornado that struck the region Sunday, killing seven and injuring more than 50, including Kampman's paternal grandfather, Claas. Fri, 30 May 2008 14:40:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272535 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272535 There's going to be at least one or two late-round choices next Sunday that we'll see making big noise in the next few years. So, don't ignore the selections your team makes in the sixth or the seventh, because they could wind up giving you a Super Bowl or three to celebrate about in the near future. Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:29:11 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/250217 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/250217 1. Tom Brady, Patriots (2000) 2. Joe Montana, 49ers (1979) 3. Steve Largent, Oilers (1976) 4. Shannon Sharpe, Broncos (1990) 5. Ken Houston, Oilers (1967) 6. Terrell, Davis, Broncos (1995) 7. Andre Reed, Bills (1985) 8. L.C. Greenwood, Steelers (1969) 9. Charles Haley, 49ers (1986) 10.Rodney Harrison, Chargers (1994) 11. Charlie Joiner, Oilers (1969) 12. Art Shell, Raiders (1968) 13. Dan Fouts, Chargers (1973) 14. Richard Dent, Bears (1983) 15. Zach Thomas, Dolphins (1996) 16. John Stallworth, Steelers (1974) 17. Rayfield Wright, Cowboys (1992) 18. Harry Carson, Giants (1976) 19. Dwight Clark, 49ers (1979) 20. Seth Joyner, Eagles (1986) 21. Mark Clayton, Dolphins (1983) 22. Mike Webster, Steelers (1974) 23. Harold Carmichael, Eagles (1971) 24. Earnest Byner, Browns (1984) 25. John Taylor, 49ers (1986) 26. Clyde Simmons, Eagles (1979) 27. Hardy Nickerson, Steelers (1987) 28. Matt Hasselbeck, Packers (1998) 29. Jamal Anderson, Falcons (1994) 30. Karl Mecklenburg, Broncos (1983) 31. Bob Kuechenberg, Eagles (1969) 32. Mark Schlereth, Redskins (1989) 33. Hines Ward, Steelers (1998) 34. Mark Bavaro, Giants (1985) 35. Keenan McCardell, Redskins (1991) 36. Trent Green, Chargers (1993) 37. Greg Lloyd, Steelers (1987) 38. Marc Bulger, Saints (2000) 39. Tyrone Braxton, Broncos (1987) 40. Ahman Green, Seahawks (1998) 41. Larry Brown, Cowboys (1991) 42. Brian Sipe, Browns (1972) 43. La'Roi Glover, Raiders (1996) 44. Jesse Sapolu, 49ers (1983) 45. Leon Lett, Cowboys (1991) 46. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals (2001) 47. Troy Brown, Patriots (1993) 48. Aaron Kampman, Packers (2002) 49. Joe Horn, Chiefs (1996) 50. Brian Westbrook, Eagles (2002 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:23:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242386 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/242386 With less than three weeks left before the 2008 NFL Draft, the drums are beginning to beat louder for teams to make certain picks. The Oakland Raiders fans may be beating the loudest drums, just not the same ones. The sounds emanating from Raider Nation sound a lot like Chris Long, Darren McFadden, Vernon Gholston, or trade down amongst others. It seems like we hear this every year, but whatever the Raiders decide to do will have a deep impact on the first round and the rest of the draft. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:06:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/234334 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/234334 Check out this preview of tomorrow's NFC title game by The Red Zone Report's Kelsey McCarson. Both the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants have had their fair share of intrigue and turmoil this season. The Packers started the season as sure favorites not to be in the playoffs. Remember all the Brett Favre retirement talk and expert analysis of all the Pack didn't achieve in the offseason? The intrigue continued when the season began as Green Bay searched for a running game. After drafting Brandon Jackson with their first pick in last years NFL draft and holding onto one-time Oklahoma State superman Vernand Morency, the Pack looked ready to revive a running attack seeking a steady replacement for free-agent loss Ahman Green, but four games into the season the Packers were still looking for a legit ball carrier. Again, experts across the country cited Green Bay's atrocious running game as evidence of an assured downfall, and again, the pundits were wrong... Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:37:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/77551 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/77551 It's been well documented that I'm a Packers fan, and with the success they've enjoyed this season it's been a fun ride. But every year, someone has to do something to reinforce the redneck, backwoods, hillbilly stereotype that hovers over every Packer Backer. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:49:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76538 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76538