Yardbarker: LaDainian Tomlinson

Week 5 analysis ... Somebody hand Sage Rosenfels a cigarette, because Indy just made him their woman ...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:16:31 -0500

Let's get straight to the games! Washington vs. Philadelphia: Nobody else is going to win two road games against NFC East teams, so you have to tip your hat to the Redskins for that accomplishment. But Philly, why must you beat yourselves? Missed field goals, stupid penalties that gave Washington excellent field position, poor play-calling. Should Andy Reid be fired? Not because of what's happened so far. But Reid looked hesitant to use Westbrook, and they don't have a running game without him. Doesn't help that your two best players, Westbrook and McNabb, average almost a full separate injury per person. But give Washington credit. They ran the ball effectively, Portis is looking good, and Jim Zorn's plays work better when he has WR's that can catch. And yes, that is a direct shot at Seattle. Funny, for a team that "didn't have a two-minute offense" in week 1, the Redskins are now running the best 2 minute drill in the league. Seattle vs. New York Giants: Best team in football, the Giants. Not much else to say. San Diego vs. Miami: L.T.'s injury is harder to hide in the red zone. It limits their play selection, because his effectiveness as a decoy has declined. Why are the Chargers taking so long to wake up? And why couldn't they just smash that Widlcat offense? Ronnie Brown is now officially the most underrated player in the league. When a running back lines up as the QB that many times and can remain effective, then he's doing something right. The Dolphins are now a longshot to make the playoffs, but those are odds any "Phins fan would've taken at the beginning of the year. I'll say it again: Rest L.T.! Man needs some recuperative time, and they can survive with Sproles for a week or two. Indianapolis vs. Houston: If any player has ever proven why they are a career backup, it was Sage Rosenfels this weekend. Granted, Houston usually needs a hero, but they didn't need one yesterday and Sage shouldn't have tried so hard to be one. Protect the football! Indy's defense ratcheted up to a pro level in the 4th, but they were nonexistent the rest of the game. They can still be run on, and even the passing game was clicking early against their Sanders-free secondary. Major alarms going off in Indy. Atlanta vs. Green Bay: Gotta hand it to my boy Bzr034, he pulled out the major onions picking the Falcons on the road, and it paid off. Is Aaron Rodgers all right? Can't tell if he's playing hurt or if opposing defenses have figured him out, but it didn't help that the Packers running game has all but disappeared. Don't they remember how they got so far last year? It was rushing, all the way. The Falcons controlled the line of scrimmage, and Michael Turner seems to be head and shoulders above anyone else for ROY. Chicago vs. Detroit: This one was the bad beating the worst. Nobody thought Detroit would resemble a professional football team on Sunday, and they were right. I wish the 49ers played them twice a year, the NFC North gets all the luck ... Kansas City vs. Carolina: Carolina made a point early, calling six straight running plays en route to their first touchdown. But it didn't really matter what they did, it worked yesterday. KC showed just how real that upset victory over Denver was: not at all. This one was ugly, Carolina could be a good team if they improve their consistency. But given this year so far, consistency would be the exception rather than the rule. Tennessee vs. Baltimore: The first of the two games that tested the remaining undefeated AFC teams. A defensive battle, to be sure. Collins was rattled early but managed the final drive admirably. Sign for concern: Tennessee couldn't run the ball at all. If they had been able, it wouldn't have been nearly this close. Tampa Bay vs. Denver: What's there to say? No seriously, I can't think of anything interesting to say about this game. Denver wins. Bucs lose. New England vs. San Francisco: So we're up 14-7 and we pick Cassel for the second time in the 2nd quarter. And I'm thinking, the only way we can keep this up is if we win the turnover battle. Then J.T. throws an INT deep in Niners territory that leads to a touchdown that puts NE up 10. Three drives later, after we scored to get the game back down to 9 and stopped the Pats, momentum on our side, and he throws another pick that pretty much seals the deal. The 49ers will never beat a quality team making that many mistakes. Cincinnati vs. Dallas: T.O. can complain all he wants, but this is how the Cowboys should be winning games. Their rushing attack is the best aspect of their offense, and it sets them up perfectly. Cincy started drives in Cowboys territory four times, and came away with 15 points. If they could've capitalized on that field position, the game would've been theirs. Dallas really needs to get its cover teams straightened out. Buffalo vs. Arizona: The second test for an undefeated AFC team. The margin was wide enough that it's fair to question whether or not Edwards playing a full game would've changed anything. I think the game would've been completely different, but then again Edwards wasn't allowing all those passing TD's, the defense was. It was unlikely that Trent would've given up three turnovers by himself. I want to give Michaeldeluca credit for picking the Cards, but I don't think he called that injury. He won this week, for the second week in a row, so he's not lacking in accolades. Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville: This game was chalk full of stupid penalties that kept drives alive and moved the ball down the field when punts should've occurred. The Jacksonville offensive line is in dire straits if they can't get their running backs more yardage than that. Big Ben is an NFL titan, but even he can't survive a full season with this kind of pounding. They rarely win games that don't involve a highlight run from either Mojo or Taylor. Tomorrow: Team Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:28:54 -0500

What an interesting week of games it was as the Indianapolis Colts came back from a 17 point deficit late in the fourth quarter to overtake the Houston Texans, the Washington Redskins defeated another division foe in the Philadelphia Eagles on the road, and the Cincinnati Bengals, despite being 17 point underdogs, were close to winning their first game at Dallas. Injuries and suspensions continue to pave the way for more players to step up and become relevant in fantasy football. These are guys that will get the football as well as the opportunity to produce, so don't ignore them because they're a former backup or somebody who has yet to shine on the big stage. Without further ado, it's onto the Week 5 Waiver Wire. -------------------- QUARTERBACKS Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) Ryan has appeared on the Waiver Wire Watch List for a couple of weeks now, but it's now time for the Falcons QB to make the jump to the actual Waiver Wire list. In Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers, Ryan completed 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. The rookie looked good on the road and it appears the Falcons are more willing to let him air it out. Despite just being a rookie, Ryan has plenty of experience thanks to ample playing time during his four years at Boston College. He has adjusted to the NFL nicely, and thanks to the Falcons running duo of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, opposing defenses will not be able to simply drop back into coverage. He's not a weekly start in fantasy leagues, but is a nice play if the match-up is right. -------------------- TO FIND OUT WHO ELSE IS WORTH A WAIVER WIRE MOVE, CLICK THE LINK...

Dolphins 17, Chargers 10

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:43:02 -0500

The Dolphins came off a convincing win over the Patriots with another win over a very competitive team. The Chargers weren't able to get their offense going at all, Ladainian Tomlinson who could of surpassed 11,000 yards did not only gaining 35 yards, needing 54 to surpass 11,000. And Philip Rivers was kept to 159 [...]

Dolphins 17, Chargers 10

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:43:02 -0500

NFL Week 5 recap: Dolphins stun Chargers.

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:54:26 -0500

By Wayne Lin. Kansas City @ Carolina: Kansas City's victory over Denver last weekend was a fluke. Their defense was destroyed by Jake Delhome's passing game. The Chargers got stunned by the surging Dolphins, who have now won two in a row against good teams...

NFL Open Thread - Week 5 Early Games

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:44:16 -0500

Considering what happened to Kimbo Slice last night, it might be wise for LaDainian Tomlinson to ditch this particular workout, don't you think?

If you need to check up, go here for the broadcast maps and full announcing matchups. It's a CBS doubleheader this week.

CBS:

Indianapolis at Houston - Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf
Kansas City at Carolina - Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
San Diego at Miami - Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker
Tennessee at Baltimore - Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

FOX:

Washington at Philadelphia - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
Seattle at New York Giants - Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Chicago at Detroit - Matt Vasgersian, Brian Baldinger, Brian Billick
Atlanta at Green Bay - Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli

Let's have at it, folks.

Bush convenes Congress to figure out who he should start between LT2, Ronnie Brown, and Frank Gore

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:38:47 -0500

WASHINGTON, DC — President George W. Bush made an extremely unorthodox and frankly unprecedented move in the annals of American history Saturday, calling both houses of Congress together for an emergency weekend session. “I imagine that he’s calling us together to discuss the ramifications of the financial bailout plan,” said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who left [...]

Fantasy Football Roundtable - Week 5

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:33:36 -0500

Thursday Night was Joe Biden and Sarah Palin's turn, now, it's the Bruno Boys chance to debate. But, unlike those boring things like the economy, the war in Iraq, and what not, we'll be tackling the issues that matter to you most as we discuss all things fantasy football. So, enjoy the Week 5 Roundtable. -------------------- Weekly Match-Ups! (Who'll Have the Better Week?) -------------------- 4. Roddy White vs. Greg Jennings Bruno Boys Whooley: WHITE. Not only am I going with White because Aaron Rodgers' status is up in the air, but also because I think the game will dictate that Atlanta throw the ball much like their week 4 match-up with the Carolina Panthers did. If that's the case, White will be the receiver QB Matt Ryan looks for. Bruno Boys Larry: JENNINGS. Even though both of these players have been solid on the season, Jennings has been a little better and if Aaron Rodgers can play and be effective Jennings will have another big day. The Packers have a better pass defense then the Falcons even without Al Harris, and they are playing at Lambeau Field. Bruno Boys Ziza: JENNINGS. As much as I like Roddy White this week, Greg Jennings against that Falcons defense is just such an awesome matchup that he can be considered a WR1 this week. Roll with Jennings all day long. I feel so strongly about that this week that I really don't see the need to explain any further. -------------------- To read about other Week 5 matchups click the LINK below...

Fantasy Football Week 5 Podcast - Bruno Boys Breakdown

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:51:27 -0500

The Bruno Boys are back on the airwaves! So, grab a cold one, cozy up in that nice leather recliner, and get ready for a wonderful ride through the world of fantasy football with the latest Bruno Boys Podcast. Bruno Boy Cavigs and Bruno Boy Whooley breakdown all the upcoming WEEK 5 games, analyzing who has a strong match-up and who has one you should stay away from. All 14 games with all the information you need for fantasy football success. Some of the topics discussed are.. * Will the Indianapolis Colts offense find his groove against the Houston Texans? * After a stinker in Week 4 can Reggie Bush bounce back against a stout Minnesota Vikings rush defense ? * Coming off a Week 4 bye can Randy Moss and the New England Patriots show some life on offense? * Is the sudden stellar play out of Larry Johnson for real or just a flash in the pan? * and much much more.... TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, CLICK THE LINK

Top-Ten Fantasy Running Backs (Week Five)

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:31:37 -0500

Most of the leagues top running backs face mediocre to bad rushing defenses. With that mind, be prepared to change your strategy this week by securing one of these top-ten backs in the earlier rounds.

Vegas Martin's Week 5 NFL Bets

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:11:47 -0500

This week is a tough one in the NFL. There will be a lot of tight games. I wanted to come out and find a solid home team to take, but I didn't really like any of the home favorites. My top plays are Charger -6.5 over Miami and Chicago -3.5 over the Lions. Here's why...

NFL Week Five Predictions

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:21:49 -0500

The NFL season has reached the quarter turn, and it seems to be flying by. Many things have gone down as expected, but surprises abound as they do every year. So here are the pics... Buffalo @ Arizona Bills quarterback Trent Edwards has really surpassed expectations through four weeks of undefeated football. That string will continue as they march into Phoenix and enter the sloppy football that has come to be known as the Arizona Cardinals. One could argue that Kurt Warner is due for a big game, but...nah. www.rawsportsblog.com

Preview: Chargers Head to Florida to Tackle the Fins

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:31:01 -0500

Last week the San Diego Chargers started slow, but as they usually do against their rivals the Oakland Raiders, in the end it was the Bolts coming out on top 28-18. This week at 2-2, the Chargers have another interesting test, as they head to Miami to take on the 1-2 Dolphins, a team coming off a huge win two weeks ago in New England. The stunner for the Fins came out of nowhere, as they used Ronnie Brown just about any way they could, as he threw a TD and ran in four in the 38-13 route. Now they hope that against a good Chargers run D, he can get somewhat close to that same type of outing on Sunday. Overall Miami has run for 112.3 yards per game in three games. On offense, the Chargers will do what they do best, use LaDainian Tomlinson as much as possible early, then soften up the passing game for Phillip Rivers and the passing game, which has put up an impressive 247.8 yards per game, good for 7th in the league. The Dolphins are allowing 227.3 yards per game, so the matchup in this regard favors Rivers and the Bolts, who should be able to attack. Miami is going to need to use that momentum they showed against the Pats, and not get too frustrated if they can't do a lot of positive things early vs the Chargers. They are going to have to count on theid defense to keep them in the game, while they also will need that running game to at least produce somewhat to keep this a competitive game so they have a shot in the fourth quarter. I like the Chargers and what they have done the last two weeks. They have fallen behind to both the Jets and Raiders, and both times didn't panic and got back in the game before taking it over and finally winning. They know any team that can beat the Pats, Tom Brady or not, is to be taken seriously, so don't think they will overlook Miami for a minute. Look for San Diego to use a lot of Tomlinson early, and then look to pass their way to a win in the second half. They should be able to get the job done, and with Rivers and his teammates looking solid the last two weeks, the Chargers are getting better and better and look more like the team many think will be the AFC team in the Super Bowl.

Quarter report: Top 12 runningbacks

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:28:41 -0500

Ladies and gentlemen, the best fantasy football runningback in the NFL after the season's first four week is none other than LaDainian Tomlinson Adrian Peterson Michael Turner. The Burner, a former backup in San Diego to Tomlinson, has blown up against a pair of weak rushing defenses to earn the early season honor. Turner made a [...]

Quarter report: Top 12 runningbacks

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:28:41 -0500