tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373042292024-03-05T11:14:22.782-05:00Mell-o's ThoughtsI'm from Boston. I have opinions. Please read on...(Special Note: All my works from here on in will be dedicated in loving memory to my Uncle Frank, who passed on 12/28/06. He wasn't viewed as perfect by the common man, but his vision of unbridled independence is something that is lacking in the world, and therefore, he was perfectly imperfect, and we loved him for being who he was. So off on a journey he will go, most definitely to a better place. God bless...)Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-53420142152919860112022-12-21T23:28:00.008-05:002022-12-25T17:43:56.022-05:00The Top 25 Wrestling Matches Of All Time<p>"When I get bent, I must represent." ~ Black Moon</p><p><span> So being a self-proclaimed "wrestling dork," I spend a gigantic amount of time on YouTube and various other platforms watching wrestling from today and from yesteryear, with a large quantity of my attention of course on the "Attitude Era." Another thing in keeping with the wrestling theme is that I like to see the opinions of fans and "experts" about how they interpreted and rank certain matches based on whatever criteria they deem necessary. I have to say that I haven't been too impressed with a large majority because, essentially, they all look the same. I've also noticed this when I am looking at lists about musicians and they're rank in terms of artists, bands, songs, albums, etc. I think a lot of people are afraid to take risks, and if they do, they over-compensate the ranking in order to attempt to be "bold and different."</span></p><p><span><span> Personally, when concocting this list, I wanted to be different, but I didn't want to get super-weird with it. I think there are simply classic matches, which is why they are described as such. I also think that some matches have kind of been swept under the rug because of one reason or another. The list will mostly cover matches from my lifetime (basically 80s and on), so don't get offended if you don't see many Bruno Sanmartino or Pedro Morales matches...or get offended, I don't mind.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> First, let's go through a few matches that seem to pop up on a lot of lists, and why they should <i style="font-weight: bold;">NOT </i>make it...</span><br /></span></span></p><p><b>The Rock vs. Steve Austin (Wrestlemania X-Seven, 2001):</b> In what would become the death-nail of the Attitude Era, Stone Cold made arguably the worst heel turn of all-time in joining forces with the devil himself, Vince McMahon. The match overall is fine, but everything that happens at the end made me shake my head. First of all, the finish was really stupid. It wasn't a Stone Cold Stunner or a Rock Bottom that did the job. Rather, it was Stone Cold belting Rocky with a chair introduced by McMahon, which was so anti-climatic. Of course the reason why it misses the list is because of the negative connotations it caused after. Ratings went down, and even though Austin was meant to be despised, he was still cheered wherever he went. Such a sour note to end on for arguably the greatest wrestling PPV ever put on. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>1992 Royal Rumble: </b>This will no doubt be remembered for two things: Ric Flair and the star-studded field, but after that, is there anything really redeemable here? Don't get me wrong, the story with Flair nearly running the entire gauntlet to win is great, and his "tear in my eye" promo after the match was even better, but when you actually watch this, it's pretty rough to watch. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania XII, 1996): </b>While I used to think this match was great, upon recent viewings, this match is kind of dull for the most part. With no decisions for either in the first sixty minutes of the match, this was like watching soccer where the teams kind of volleyed the ball back and forth for the entire game before it ended in a nil-nil tie. The decision to continue the match after the bell sounded also made no practical sense because it was never in the rules that the match would continue in case of a tie. If that was a known fact, Bret Hart, who dominated the conclusion of the bout, would have stayed on Michaels after the bell sounded. Instead, Hart had already left the ring with his title belt, giving Michaels time to recover from the sharpshooter Hart had locked on as the bell sounded. The match ended minutes later when Michaels super-kicked Hart for the victory. The finale also shone light on the incredible ego HBK had at the time, demanding Hart leave after the final bell had sounded so he could celebrate (I believe the exact words were "get out of my f*cking ring"). This would be a sign of times to come in terms of the WWE favoring Michaels over Hart leading up to the infamous Montreal Screwjob that happened one year later. I will say that the superkick spot into the timekeeper during the match was a great visual, but outside of that, there wasn't too much that was memorable here.</p><p><br /></p><p><span><span><span><b>Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant (Wrestlemania III, 1987): </b>Obviously this match has one of the more memorable and enduring spots ever with Hogan body-slamming Andre at the end and hitting the leg-drop to end Andre's title reign...but what else happened? This match makes lists because of its "cultural significance," but that's literally it. The match itself was incredibly clunky, and another match on the card, which will be mentioned a little later, has overshadowed this match entirely.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><b>Kurt Angle vs. Steve Austin vs. The Rock vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. Rikishi (Armageddon, 2000): </b>Yet another match that will be remembered for one spot, this first, and only six-man Hell in a Cell match is really only known for Rikishi being tossed off the cell by the Undertaker. In reality, the reason this match is remembered is because it featured the biggest names of the late 90s - early 2000s. There was solid action that happened outside the ring when the entrants all made it out of the cage, but for this to be on an all-time list is lazy in my opinion.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><b>#25: Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker (St. Patrick's Day Slam, 2021):</b><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc0dG4ocpNMRq8i927sALe76N6dECS7eDuEopdE5EAic_OcKviQz67Z3cIpT48nZxIm2UYN_LF634Q5HajogF_idfdQhi_DUQCle6q6MHwMcktI2Xhp8vilR67O8xwe9Zn22DXk5ROKU-U5rqXbEYq256dxzYd_wQRqEWaPvYTIRRygBRiVM/s1200/rosabritt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1200" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc0dG4ocpNMRq8i927sALe76N6dECS7eDuEopdE5EAic_OcKviQz67Z3cIpT48nZxIm2UYN_LF634Q5HajogF_idfdQhi_DUQCle6q6MHwMcktI2Xhp8vilR67O8xwe9Zn22DXk5ROKU-U5rqXbEYq256dxzYd_wQRqEWaPvYTIRRygBRiVM/w417-h233/rosabritt.jpg" width="417" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It what I believe will be my only submission that could even begin to be deemed somewhat "controversial," these two women put on arguably one of the best televised matches of all-time. Given the "Lights Out" stipulation, you knew going in that there would be weapons and everything else involved, but I don't think anyone in the crowd, or watching at home...or even people backstage who knew what was coming, expect how well this match was going to go off. Baker starts right off in her heelish ways by hitting an air-raid onto the aisleway within a minute of the match starting. From there, things escalated quickly. Rosa's Death Valley Driver spot to Baker on the ladder is one of the stand-outs, along with the visual of the blood pouring down Baker's face (which she's parlayed into a best-selling t-shirt), and her kickout at 2 1/2 after being power-bombed into a large pile of thumbtacks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><b>#24: Tyler Bate vs. Walter (UK Takeover: Cardiff, 2019):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7X-rYZJuXvipgp2UMBj11Ez3SVuQFAdpkE0esBeWCSHdfqoEHepNOEwwAz5VmTc6gf_yvHhK4PxaTopAAOdSQyWCubGCdS2hyoIHTYPtfa4hkwbUVgovwUlpOpNW_BHnr4qubUxU5JBRnLfYRAFeF719X21wAQwi76Y-S9ctW1Lp8D5J0iA/s800/batewalter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7X-rYZJuXvipgp2UMBj11Ez3SVuQFAdpkE0esBeWCSHdfqoEHepNOEwwAz5VmTc6gf_yvHhK4PxaTopAAOdSQyWCubGCdS2hyoIHTYPtfa4hkwbUVgovwUlpOpNW_BHnr4qubUxU5JBRnLfYRAFeF719X21wAQwi76Y-S9ctW1Lp8D5J0iA/w463-h260/batewalter.jpg" width="463" /></a></div><br /><br />So a classic David vs. Goliath set-up here, and if done correctly, those are some of the best matches you can get with a live audience pulling for the underdog and against the giant favorite. In this case though, Bate made it clear that this was not going to be ordinary, as he was able to pick up the bigger Walter and hurl him around the ring, with a giant crowd pop on every occurrence of this happening. Walter also looked amazingly agile for his size, and with that, the dynamic of "the unexpected" came full-circle, as now, everyone's premonitions on how this match would go had been thrown out the window. Ultimately Walter would prevail, but not before plenty of moments where it looked like Bate had him on the ropes and up against it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#23: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (Smackdown, 2003):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTqFIAfDcceznIkyTT8MXhvG6YzEzfuxBN1ZBlmk_mJ15lOOGO-MMq52TdbSFUceXX6_d1Tq34JV1XBKYGWYoFWXDBi6xQ9vrza3yOjqnzm282-VjTQ1HNZelHltWj155yNgrK5WywnGDxbSUBc21yckkprPN8oaj7fTI_SLuRn2LSyTbkE/s474/brockangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZTqFIAfDcceznIkyTT8MXhvG6YzEzfuxBN1ZBlmk_mJ15lOOGO-MMq52TdbSFUceXX6_d1Tq34JV1XBKYGWYoFWXDBi6xQ9vrza3yOjqnzm282-VjTQ1HNZelHltWj155yNgrK5WywnGDxbSUBc21yckkprPN8oaj7fTI_SLuRn2LSyTbkE/w588-h331/brockangle.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><br /></div><div>In what would be the first Iron Man match ever televised on TV by the WWF/E, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, the two greatest amateur wrestlers to ever turn professional, went 60 minutes on a September episode of Smackdown. Their match at Wrestlemania is more well-known, but that can mostly be attributed to Brock's now-infamous botched shooting star press. This match went back-and-forth but did feature Brock using cheap shots, low blows, and even a chair to gain the advantage. This could be looked at the precursor to Lesnar slipping back to the dark side as it was shown he would do literally anything to take back the title. It came down to the very end as Angle had his ankle lock sinched in, but was unable to make The Beast Incarnate tap, making Lesnar once again the champion.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#22: Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart (Survivor Series, 1996):</b></div><div><b><br /></b><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdYCXIqOM2TQ9ICEhQDqNMoHp04jSCOlIHMgoZQuvh79ZOxn5dduTa1XM4G-spRCWV0H_D0gLPucx1Dg5pQu6PlxmYde5TEbE5shSTAMJ1-WnTT4ZrKeRQohwgNtITIQ9GoBZknQMI5XOceCcgN70IVx6SwPZOQL_A_R0hlA151ckioJ58D4/s815/wwf_survivorseries96_austinhart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="815" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdYCXIqOM2TQ9ICEhQDqNMoHp04jSCOlIHMgoZQuvh79ZOxn5dduTa1XM4G-spRCWV0H_D0gLPucx1Dg5pQu6PlxmYde5TEbE5shSTAMJ1-WnTT4ZrKeRQohwgNtITIQ9GoBZknQMI5XOceCcgN70IVx6SwPZOQL_A_R0hlA151ckioJ58D4/w485-h370/wwf_survivorseries96_austinhart.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><br /><div>In what would be the first match of a legendary feud that would stretch almost until Bret Hart's departure from the WWF in 1997, these two powerhouses squared up in Madison Square Garden after months of build-up. Hart had been away from the company for six months, and during his hiatus, Steve Austin had gone from "The Ringmaster" to "Stone Cold," with him stealing the show seemingly every week on RAW cutting scathing promos against the Canadian hero ("if you put an "S" in front of Hitman, you have my exact thoughts on Bret Hart" was classic). While their next 1-on-1 encounter will be mentioned in a little bit, this was the precursor to that. The match itself is obviously a clinic, but perhaps Austin's walk to the ring could be the biggest thing to take out of it. Right in front of the camera upon his entrance, you could literally see the transition from professional to stone-cold killer, with an almost demonic look heading to the ring. The finish is a great story-telling mechanism as well, as Austin had the Million Dollar Dream submission locked on, but Bret reversed it into a pinfall that won him the match, leaving Austin in shock, which is possibly the time when Austin needed to forget about his past with Ted DiBiase, and focus more on his present and future, making the Stone Cold Stunner his de facto finisher from here on in.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">#21: The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan (Wrestlemania X8, 2002):</span></b></h3><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdEqqaVlxtf4s2s2BmdJ_2WXURnRjacKSNUKjmjz4Zr1Z7FuV9_3SKlfxu8UyQzN5jQ-4WveVwUBzl2jUub68JXchW9fV9StzBcDoBbsOk6CYmhRrLwgB6s0C-iTp8OOoNGa7Qxwee2EmmSaEJie_VbTOq0a7PlWwHYqd2_4jO4E945L79Xk/s642/wrestlemania-18-the-rock-and-hollywood-hogan1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="642" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdEqqaVlxtf4s2s2BmdJ_2WXURnRjacKSNUKjmjz4Zr1Z7FuV9_3SKlfxu8UyQzN5jQ-4WveVwUBzl2jUub68JXchW9fV9StzBcDoBbsOk6CYmhRrLwgB6s0C-iTp8OOoNGa7Qxwee2EmmSaEJie_VbTOq0a7PlWwHYqd2_4jO4E945L79Xk/w517-h291/wrestlemania-18-the-rock-and-hollywood-hogan1.webp" width="517" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div><div>Going into this match at Wrestlemania, you kind of knew what the outcome would end up being. Hogan, as the heel, would try some dastardly things to win the match, but Rock, as the babyface, would wind up overcoming and winning the match because at the time, Rock was a far superior athlete and wrestler than Hogan, who was on the final lap of his career, was. What ended up happening though was the fiery Toronto crowd treated Hogan like he was coming out in 1990 at Wrestlemania VI (also in the SkyDome) to face the Ultimate Warrior. He was lauded with praise and cheered throughout the entirety of the match, making the two participants have to change the match on the fly to counter this seemingly new development. As Hogan "hulked up" towards the end of the bout, a spot that was improved in the match, the crowd went into an absolute frenzy. So while maybe the quality of the match was par for the Wrestlemania course, the atmosphere was possibly the most electric it has been in the company's long history.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#20: Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa (Takeover: Chicago, 2018):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mCzBULhUnOmsuQ8XQuT6bg4gPhODJB6T823Se2DMSO309Smfa4zFOEe4RFFQQURMMjRdMPFeCVYiaEu6ZA5IJV4s6qEh9M1iZ12meUFYY5F8-rMcvyrGZyJvGnanCV_f8ZanSUPePN22S3DpnLUgcccayJHuM1ntHtEpneyV8LuMpf6RapQ/s1200/garganociampa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mCzBULhUnOmsuQ8XQuT6bg4gPhODJB6T823Se2DMSO309Smfa4zFOEe4RFFQQURMMjRdMPFeCVYiaEu6ZA5IJV4s6qEh9M1iZ12meUFYY5F8-rMcvyrGZyJvGnanCV_f8ZanSUPePN22S3DpnLUgcccayJHuM1ntHtEpneyV8LuMpf6RapQ/w577-h324/garganociampa.jpg" width="577" /></a></div><br />In what became the biggest rivalry in the history of the NXT brand, Gargano and Ciampa put on a trilogy of matches stemming from Ciampa's shocking betrayal of Gargano, which took place in Chicago a year prior to this match. While their first encounter at Takeover: New Orleans was an epic encounter, I favor this match because of the gripping storytelling between the two former best friends and tag partners. It got so personal that, at one point, Ciampa ripped the wedding band off Gargano's finger and hurling it into the crowd. Another aspect that makes this is a classic is its finish. With Ciampa prone and handcuffed, it appeared Gargano was about to garner yet another victory in the feud, when Ciampa was able to headlock Gargano and blast a draping DDT onto the exposed wood of the mat to score the victory, in one of the most out-of-nowhere endings in modern wrestling history.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#19: Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (SummerSlam, 1994):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvgvhhMEaHbzusMGfgswBSVNOl4YG9-oNAQDQ2e8CACKidFt59DTMao3WH28LznJRMWyFBwcEj07qmiKmzOM3-S-2t5bcg49RGFcopP1C0BglD6R0Hk9uld9AFMvwc5Cf2mX85MFg3OAOA_i6lUTHKhJe-Q1gAIk2qP82cpW2UfpzDfyGi0I/s1024/hart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvgvhhMEaHbzusMGfgswBSVNOl4YG9-oNAQDQ2e8CACKidFt59DTMao3WH28LznJRMWyFBwcEj07qmiKmzOM3-S-2t5bcg49RGFcopP1C0BglD6R0Hk9uld9AFMvwc5Cf2mX85MFg3OAOA_i6lUTHKhJe-Q1gAIk2qP82cpW2UfpzDfyGi0I/w447-h335/hart.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div>While it's possible their encounter at Wrestlemania X is held in higher regard by some, I prefer the Hart brothers' bout at that year's SummerSlam for a few reasons. First, it was for the WWF Championship, and would easily be the closest time Owen had to become the company's #1 man. Second, the steel cage presented so many close calls in terms of the end of the match which included both men frantically trying to escape via the door or climbing over the top of the cage. The match went back and forth so much that there really wasn't any clear advantage for either brother, which meant every attempt to win was ratcheted up more and more as the match went along. Third was the constant shots of the Hart parents, Jim Neidhart, and Davie Boy Smith, which further encapsulated how the entire Hart family was torn as to who they wanted to become victorious.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#18: Kenny Omega & Adam Page vs. Young Bucks (Revolution, 2020)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0M4zDO-yYG9Idsh9BjJD_BrjbEafKoevO1B7zaMrPk0aoU4exg4q77qW25oYen01Cek2l2g23Q6dsaNm6WyptCyyNXCafVpw9jcywTl70pMbZ-iOFbBTHIG5KM0k5uOqGBR5NfP9QM5wZ2NpH64vWta1MKUrx1VvR0G2VjAg2R7B5kSaqw/s820/aew-revolution-2020-kenny-omega-adam-page-the-young-bucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="820" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0M4zDO-yYG9Idsh9BjJD_BrjbEafKoevO1B7zaMrPk0aoU4exg4q77qW25oYen01Cek2l2g23Q6dsaNm6WyptCyyNXCafVpw9jcywTl70pMbZ-iOFbBTHIG5KM0k5uOqGBR5NfP9QM5wZ2NpH64vWta1MKUrx1VvR0G2VjAg2R7B5kSaqw/w571-h341/aew-revolution-2020-kenny-omega-adam-page-the-young-bucks.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><br />While the Young Bucks and Omega were at this point very-much household names, this would be the match that established "Hangman" Adam Page as a bona fide superstar. While of course rising to fame along with the three in Japan being in the Bullet Club, it would be this match that made Page a main-eventer, with his rise culminating in capturing the AEW World Championship from, of all people, Kenny Omega the next year. All the participants emptied out everything in their respective arsenals, with Page ending the match by using Omega's One-Winged Angel finisher to get the win for his team.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#17: Mankind vs. Undertaker (King of the Ring, 1998): </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRC4IrJxgsM-YYia8QFhdoJXNLj4OBzExo-f6SitSJGuc8F2b6utiNQhc_u5MVopRHGvKyzkvLqgFhoqvNLXJ05KgpqpoUyTKIq-RTIW4SeUp1OWVUMLp9XFJf9anFyUKtEP1kRvdPiP4IWSyvv-h9rr5KDmGDL4g5qKPQE-xNth2W5w_VjU/s638/Mankind-Undertaker-Hell-In-A-Cell-Featured.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="638" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRC4IrJxgsM-YYia8QFhdoJXNLj4OBzExo-f6SitSJGuc8F2b6utiNQhc_u5MVopRHGvKyzkvLqgFhoqvNLXJ05KgpqpoUyTKIq-RTIW4SeUp1OWVUMLp9XFJf9anFyUKtEP1kRvdPiP4IWSyvv-h9rr5KDmGDL4g5qKPQE-xNth2W5w_VjU/w560-h317/Mankind-Undertaker-Hell-In-A-Cell-Featured.png" width="560" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>It can't be overstated how tough the Undertaker is, as he basically did this entire match on one leg as he was dealing with a broken foot at the time. However, when we look back on this, it all comes down to Mick Foley, as he endured two of possibly the most dangerous spots in wrestling history, flying off and through the Hell in a Cell. A lot of people have this match ranked higher, but this makes the list in terms of the sheer brutalness of the events that took place. In reality, for a 25-minute match, there is probably only six or seven minutes of actually grappling, with most of the time checking to see if Foley had survived the horrific falls he was put through.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#16: CM Punk vs. John Cena (Money In The Bank, 2011):</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHjOz7NnK4ua2_RNYtCxj5dCk4gCHOQjTCAcPEKdyFh3mEbt_UfpaxoH37A7fHRHwnWQjK_gUmRqIwaHrpgOXjM0O2yQUUAflU-hvKZyV9Mw233Yw2ngu_q_TtnmbVaSRyqfds0QGbkqRWuUPVBNCkcs35EPX_5RoX6ouMuwNfySpTx7moFU/s683/cenapunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="683" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHjOz7NnK4ua2_RNYtCxj5dCk4gCHOQjTCAcPEKdyFh3mEbt_UfpaxoH37A7fHRHwnWQjK_gUmRqIwaHrpgOXjM0O2yQUUAflU-hvKZyV9Mw233Yw2ngu_q_TtnmbVaSRyqfds0QGbkqRWuUPVBNCkcs35EPX_5RoX6ouMuwNfySpTx7moFU/w609-h339/cenapunk.jpg" width="609" /></a></div><br />A match that had possibly the best build-up of the last 20 or so years, CM Punk would take on John Cena for the world title in Chicago, Punk's hometown. If you were not aware of this going in, it was made evident by the crowd in attendance, who went bat-shit crazy upon the arrival of their native son, who at the time was meant to be a heel. The match had been billed as possibly Punk's last in a WWE ring, as noted by his "pipe bomb" promo, which blurred the lines of kayfabe and reality in one of the landmark moments of modern professional wrestling. The match itself was very entertaining as well. Cena was booed unmercifully, and despite the "you can't wrestle" chants, made a very strong showing. Despite Mr. McMahon's best efforts at the end to win the match for Cena, Punk would emerge victorious and escape through the crowd with the belt.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros. (All Out, 2021):</b></div><div><b>Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood, 1997)</b><div><b>Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania XXV, 2009)</b></div><div><b>Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart (Wrestlemania 13, 1997)</b></div><div><b>Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton (Backlash, 2004)<br />Rey Mysterio, Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc, 1997)<br />Chris Benoit vs, Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania XX, 2004)<br />Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (Takeover: Brooklyn, 2015)<br />Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (Dominon, 2018)<br />A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels (Unbreakable, 2005)<br />Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat (Wrestlemania III, 1987)<br />Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (Wrestle Kingdom XI, 2017)<br />Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X, 1994)<br />Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Chi-Town Rumble, 1989)<br />Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boys vs. Edge & Christian (Wrestlemania X-Seven, 2001)<br /></b><p></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-51089621471061449402016-08-15T13:45:00.001-04:002016-08-21T12:23:03.398-04:00Fantasy Football Dossier 7.0"It's years since you've been there<br />
Now you've disappeared somewhere<br />
Like outer space, you've found some better place<br />
And I miss you..."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/53/50/4c/53504c76f9198dcce87155c8b80b0c01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/53/50/4c/53504c76f9198dcce87155c8b80b0c01.jpg" /></a>What
is happenin' cap'n? Is it once again football season...thank you
Jesus!! August is such a boring sports month. No offense to the Sox or
baseball, but when that is the only sports entity that is on, it
literally lulls me to sleep.<br />
<br />
At least we have the
Olympics now to kind of cure the boredom...at least a little bit...some
of that stuff is also mind-numbingly boring. Here's a few Olympic quick
takes while I'm on the subject:<br />
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<ul>
<li>USA
Swimming and Gymnastics are going to dominate for a long, long time.
Phelps obviously, but the emergence of Katie Ledecky dominating the rest
of the world and winning the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle. Simone Biles
is the best all-around gymnast in the world, while Massachusetts' own
Aly Raisman could be #2.</li>
<li>USA Basketball should be as dominating, yet have looked very
undominant (?) lately, barely getting by Australia, Serbia, and France.
Despite not having LeBron, Steph, Westbrook, and Harden, the games
shouldn't be this close.</li>
<li>Korea has a bad ass Archery team.</li>
<li>Fencing is so sick to watch. They black out the crowd and spotlight
the floor so all you see is the two fencers battling. Then when a touch
is made, a light illuminates the winning side...it's a sight to behold
(thank you On Demand and streaming!).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.eurosport.com/2016/05/02/1847177-38940776-2560-1440.jpg?w=1050" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.eurosport.com/2016/05/02/1847177-38940776-2560-1440.jpg?w=1050" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>The shooting coverage is horrible. They just show the people
shooting, but they don't show the targets that they're shooting at...am I
missing something? Isn't the entire point of the sport to hit set
target? Why would we not want to see how close a shooter is to the
target? I would put a little box next to the shooter that had a camera
on the target. This way you get the results in real time and not have to
wait for a box to turn green or red at the bottom of the screen...that
stuff really grinds my gears.
</li>
<li>Water polo is the most dreadful game to watch...it's like slow-motion handball, which is the second-most dreadful game to watch.</li>
<li>While it's not in the games this year, there is a distinct
possibility that ballroom dancing will get added for the 2020 games in
Tokyo. I'm actually ok with this. I think there is a heightened
awareness of the art of dancing and while it may have grown through
unconventional means (Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can
Dance?...even Dance Moms), it's still there. Also, if you have a few
couples that you can spotlight and that put on a spectacular show, it
could be an interesting added revenue stream for an event that takes
very little to put on (basically just a dance floor right?) </li>
<li>Last point: Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian EVER. Period.</li>
</ul>
<br />
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So there's some Olympic coverage for ya. Now, back to why you
clicked on this (if you came to the jam, well I'm glad you
came)...football, football, FOOTBALL!!!! Yesssssss!!! So it's been kind
of an auspicious start to the NFL season, as the Hall of Fame game that
normally gets played the Sunday after the HOF induction ceremony was
cancelled this year due to field conditions...not quite what they were
going for. How is it possible to not account for how the paint that you
use to paint the field can have an adverse reaction to the field turf
you intend to paint on? I mean have we not done this before? Literally
every Hall of Fame game ever has gone off without a hitch. Just
incredibly bad timing for a league that really did not need any more bad
pub. Sure this is not going to derail the league entirely, but it's yet
another blow to its integrity, which at some point will matter (at
least I hope).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mcRmGSInDa8/V6gKu3FhjqI/AAAAAAAATyM/lEj645omUUoMXvu7Fc8JeSriimtkX6_jACLcB/w1200-h630-p-nu/cropped_halloffamefield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mcRmGSInDa8/V6gKu3FhjqI/AAAAAAAATyM/lEj645omUUoMXvu7Fc8JeSriimtkX6_jACLcB/w1200-h630-p-nu/cropped_halloffamefield.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So fantasy time is here. If you are not
familiar with how I conduct my preview, it's pretty simple. I will run
through a mock draft I did with total strangers (hopefully some of them
cared) on a now not-effed up laptop (thank you Acer for making a $200
computer). I'll show you who I picked, why I picked them, then tell you
about other targets in the area and guys that I wouldn't touch with a 10
foot pole (this Bud's for you Eli!). So, without further ado...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/eli-manning-asks-wtf-after-interception.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/eli-manning-asks-wtf-after-interception.png" height="213" width="320" /></a><i><b>Team Name: Free Brady: </b></i>Well
this was a fairly easy decision. Whatever the case may be, my team name
was going to be something pro-Brady or something very, very, VERY
anti-Goddell (which is tough to give away given ESPN's stance on
inappropriate names...different in private leagues though!)<br />
<br />
<i><b>Pick Position: 1: </b></i>I
landed at #1 in one of the two mocks I did before this one. Nice to get
anyone you want to, but that wait after you pick until #20 is
LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh: </b>Brown
is the concensus #1 pick, which marks the first time basically ever
that a receiver will go #1 in a fantasy draft, and not only that, but
Odell Beckham, Jr. is slotted right behind him at #2. So while receivers
are suddenly dominating the top of the board, just remember this...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nfl/images/2015/12/21/122115-nfl-Antonio-Brown-pi-mp.vresize.1200.675.high.11.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nfl/images/2015/12/21/122115-nfl-Antonio-Brown-pi-mp.vresize.1200.675.high.11.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><i><b>Theory #1: Do Not Rule Out Taking Adrian Peterson or Todd Gurley #1: </b></i>Obviously
in this example, I went Antonio, but in the back of my mind, I did
consider this one fact...there just aren't many workhorse backs in the
league anymore, which explains why receivers, who play every down, are
now being valued much higher in an overall sense than backs. In the top
10 of most people's boards, you are looking at only a few RBs (AP,
Gurley, David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliot). Meanwhile, there are a slew of
guys that I would not mind being my team's top receiver in the second
round. So it's something to consider. Ultimately, I just love Antonio
and I think he's the best overall player in the league right now, and
although his numbers were eye-popping last year, there is nothing to
suggest that he cannot repeat that performance this year.<br />
<br />
So
obviously, there's about three or four options at #1, and once you
decide on that, the wait is long for the next pick, and lots of the top
talent will go off the board. There are three guys I would be a little
bit wary of:<br />
<br />
<i><b>1. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta:</b></i>
I do really like Freeman's game, but he trended downward over the
second half of last year, and new head coach Dan Quinn is said to really
like Tevin Coleman, meaning there's a chance the carries could happen
in less than a 75/25 split for Freeman. He projects as a 3rd to 4th
rounder who is going in the top 10-15.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dZFo0ABPaWQmEV7_kTu0_g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9Mzc3O2lsPXBsYW5lO3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTY3MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/af42376ffe8a8e32690f6a706700be09.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dZFo0ABPaWQmEV7_kTu0_g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9Mzc3O2lsPXBsYW5lO3B4b2ZmPTUwO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTY3MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/af42376ffe8a8e32690f6a706700be09.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><i><b>2. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay: </b></i>After
his rookie year, Lacy was pegged for stardom, being a top 5 pick two
years ago, but his inconsistency is well documented, and until he proves
he can play at a high level for more than a half a season, I'm staying
away from Lacy.<br />
<br />
<i><b>3. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City: </b></i>This
guy is one of my favorite players in the league, but comes with such a
huge risk price tag that I can't in good conscience recommend taking him
in the top 20. He is a good guy to target in a trade, especially if he
struggles out of the gate, and could be a nice buy-low candidate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5452b7f7/turbine/chi-fantasy-start-sit-week-9-mark-ingram-20141030" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5452b7f7/turbine/chi-fantasy-start-sit-week-9-mark-ingram-20141030" height="213" width="320" /></a><b>20. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans: </b>Ingram
also comes with a bit of injury concern, but I feel like at 26, this is
going to be the breakout season. Again with relatively no competition
for carries, Ingram not only will get the bulk of the carries, but also
be used in the passing game, making him even more valuable in PPR
leagues.<br />
<br />
<b>21. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay: </b>I have
been a huge advocate for Evans since he was catching balls from Johnny
Manziel at A&M. He's got one of the best frames for a receiver in
the whole game, and with Jameis Winston perhaps poised for a big season
(more on that later), one would think that Evans makes the leap into the
All-Pro category this season, and that even at #21, this could become a
steal.<br />
<a href="https://blog-blogmediainc.netdna-ssl.com/upload/SportsBlogcom/54607/0353726001439295258_filepicker.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blog-blogmediainc.netdna-ssl.com/upload/SportsBlogcom/54607/0353726001439295258_filepicker.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
...and now we wait...<br />
<br />
<b><i>Guys Going From 20-40 I'm Big On:</i></b><br />
<ul><a href="http://eastvillagetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Allen.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://eastvillagetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Allen.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>
<li><i><b>Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle: </b></i>By far my favorite fantasy QB not named Tom Brady or Cam Newton<i><b>. </b></i>In
all seriousness though, I think Wilson is so good he potentially could
beat out Newton for #1 fantasy QB this year. One can only hope Thomas
Rawls can keep the running game going, which really frees up Wilson to
do his thing. Imagine if they can actually get Jimmy Graham involved
too?</li>
<li><i><b>Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland: </b></i>Like Evans, I
feel like this is the last time Cooper will be falling in this range.
Cooper has already shown that he can be a legit superstar in the league,
and has a reliable battery with David Carr, so look for him to wind
up in the 1200-1400 yard range with 6-10 scores.</li>
<li><i><b>Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego: </b></i>Of
all the receivers clumped into this range, I feel like Allen is
arguably the most reliable of the group. Despite always having an array
of receiving targets, Philip Rivers always seems to find Allen. He did
miss half of last year, but that was due to a lacerated kidney (ouch),
so I don't really think there's so-called "injury concern" (although it
is football, so there's "injury concern" about everyone really).</li>
</ul>
<i><b>Guys I'm Like "If I Get 'Em In The 5th Round, I'll Be Happy, But Here?...Ehhhhh...:</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay: </b></i>So
Cobb couldn't crack the top 100 last year when he was by far the main
target of the offense, and now Jordy Nelson's back, and you still want
me to take him this high? Okie dokie!</li>
<li><i><b>Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina: </b></i>I feel like
we've been waiting for Stewart to be a top back since forever, and yet,
it's been kind of blah. Carolina's got a crowded backfield, and with
Kelvin Benjamin back, obviously the pass game will be even more
emphasized, so expect more blah.<i><b> </b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<b>40. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington: </b>I
was ecstatic to see Reed fall all the way to me at the bottom of the
4th round. I would think he is a lock for the 3rd round, so I wouldn't
expect this turn of luck to happen again. Outside of Gronk, Reed is by
far the best TE option there is. He's clearly established a rapport with
Kirk Cousins, and could break into the top 20 this season.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/os0yWbZHA8k/maxresdefault.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/os0yWbZHA8k/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>41. Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago: </b>At
this point in the draft, you have to know that the well of potential
"star" RBs is about to completely dry up, especially if you have to wait
19 picks for your next selection. Langford could be anything from a
bust to a top 10 pick. He hasn't been the main man for a prolonged
stretch yet, but has shown he has the ability to be a star, being a
threat running the ball and almost even more so, in the passing game,
much like his predecessor, Matt Forte. The feeling is that you're not
going to be able to get him for this cheap again.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Guys Going 40-60 That You Can Call Honey Smacks 'Cause I Dig 'Em:</b></i><i><b> </b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City: </b></i>Maclin
broke the mold of what had been the black hole of receivers' careers in
KC (here's to you Dwayne Bowe). Also, he had six TDs in his last six
games, so clearly his value is on the uptick.</li>
<li><i><b>Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle: </b></i>Baldwin
was on a TD storm in the second half of last season, producing top 10
numbers over the final eight weeks of the season. Seems like the 'Hawks
are focused on involving him more in the offense, and while he may not
go on a tear like last year, he should have a quality season.</li>
</ul>
and last but not least... <br />
<ul><a href="https://d13csqd2kn0ewr.cloudfront.net/uploads/image/file/134987/cropped_REU_2303868.jpg?ts=1444599508" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://d13csqd2kn0ewr.cloudfront.net/uploads/image/file/134987/cropped_REU_2303868.jpg?ts=1444599508" width="320" /></a>
<li><i><b>Thomas Edmund Brady, Jr., G.O.A.T., New England: </b></i>So yeah, there's the whole suspension thing, but once he returns in Week 5, expect Brady to absolutely set the world on fire.<i><b> </b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
<i><b>Guys I'm Not So Keen On: </b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland: </b></i>While
he did rush for 1,000 yards, Murray was altogether really unspectacular
in an offense where he could have broken through and been a star. I
feel like Oakland may be trending towards a more pass-heavy offense with
more and more trust being placed on Derek Carr.</li>
<li><i><b>DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee: </b></i>I
feel like once he left Dallas, he never was able to find a comfort zone
in Philly, and while one would hope a change of scenery will help, my
thoughts are that Murray will end up being a timeshare back with newly
drafted Derrick Henry figuring to get 30-40% of the action right off the
bat. </li>
</ul>
Apparently I'm not a fan of Murrays in this instance haha.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nfl/images/2015/08/14/AmeerAbdullahBarrySanders.vresize.1200.675.high.67.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/nfl/images/2015/08/14/AmeerAbdullahBarrySanders.vresize.1200.675.high.67.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><b>60. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit: </b>Both
Langford and Abdullah will come with the exact same risk/reward
factor...either breakout stars, or duds. Again, Abdullah, like Langford,
is useful both running and catching the ball. Theo Riddick will likely
get carries, but over the long haul, it will be Abdullah getting the bulk
of the work. Remember that the Lions no longer have Megatron, so expect
a rise in the amount of work the backfield gets this year.<br />
<br />
<b>61. Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland: </b><br />
<br />
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<i><b>Theory #2: Take Josh Gordon Whenever You Can: </b></i>Yes,
he's suspended for the first four games. Yes, he didn't play at all
last year, but after his 2013 and 2014 seasons, there's no way I'm not taking him.
Once he serves his suspension, he will likely rise to the top of the
FLEX rankings, making him a steal at the top of the 7th round.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Player To Watch: Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee: </b></i>I
would say Walker is in a tie with Greg Olsen for third best TE on the
board, and you can get him two to three rounds after him. Great value
play. Walker should have a big season with Marcus Mariota becoming more
and more comfortable behind center.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Player To Avoid: Arian Foster, RB, Miami: </b></i>No
way...there's just no way I take him. Too much injury concern, and Jai
Ajayi actually looked competent last year, so who's to say he won't
continue to keep the starting job once Foster comes back healthy?...that
is, if he comes back healthy.<br />
<br />
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<b>80. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle: </b>Lockett
is emerging into a stud receiver and while Doug Baldwin is obviously
still the #1 threat, Lockett is a solid backup target for Russell
Wilson. There's definitely going to be a lot more passing going on in
Seattle as well.<br />
<br />
<b>81. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville: </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #3: Blake Bortles Will Be A Top 5 QB This Year...Again: </i></b>Yes,
Bortles actually was a top 5 QB last year, and yet he is being treated
as a borderline top 10 QB. There is nothing to suggest that Bortles
can't have close to 5,000 yards this year. He has dynamic playmaking
threats in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Julius Thomas, all of whom
are expected to have better seasons than last, and he looked very strong
down the stretch.<br />
<br />
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<i><b>Player To Target: John Brown, WR, Arizona: </b></i>There
are a lot of options at Carson Palmer's disposal, but he seems to be an
equal-opportunist for his receivers. Brown was great last year because
if he wasn't having big yardage games, he was scoring touchdowns.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Player To Say Class Dismissed To: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jacksonville: </b></i>The
addition of Chris Ivory has to be incredibly telling that they do not
believe Yeldon as being a workhorse guy and someone who can be of
fantasy relevance. Both Yeldon and Ivory are going in this range, so be
wary of drafting either.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://heitnerlegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/USATSI_8271824_155451184_lowres.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://heitnerlegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/USATSI_8271824_155451184_lowres.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><b>100. LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England:</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #4: LeGarrette Blount Will Be A Top 15 Back Despite Being Drafted As The 30th RB Off The Board: </i></b>With
Dion Lewis still recovering from his ACL tear last year, Blount
figures to be the main back of the committee. Also, with Jimmy
Garroppolo going the first four games, the run game likely will get a
boost in numbers. I think this is an absolute steal this late. Literally
no risk and RB2 upside at the end of the 10th.<br />
<br />
<b>101. Seattle D/ST: </b>At
this point, you have to start thinking defense. I know at some point
they will have a bye week and render themselves useless, but it's
imperative to get a top 5 D. Those 15-20 points the good D's score
consistently can make a huge difference. 'Hawks, Broncos, Texans,
Panthers, Cardinals...one of those five you need.<br />
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<br />
<i><b>Player To Target: Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland: </b></i>Barnidge
was solid last year and really found his groove right as Josh McCown
was settling in as the starter. Barnidge went for over a 1,000 yards, which is quite the feat for a tight end. Remember also that
Travis Benjamin is in San Diego and Josh Gordon will not be back until
Week 5. Obviously the chemistry between him and RG3 has yet to be
tested, but if you have waited this long to grab a TE, Barnidge is a
great value pick from the 8-11th rounds.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Another Player To Target (why focus on potential duds?...it's the 11th round!!): Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota: </b></i>Diggs
at times showed he has the potential to be a WR2 and even a FLEX play
with his explosive playmaking abilities. The Vikes did draft Laquon
Treadwell, who is expected to see plenty of run in his rookie campaign,
but Diggs remains an extremely low risk/high reward guy with Teddy
Bridgewater improving each year he is in the league and his ability to
distribute the ball around.<br />
<br />
<b>120. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay: </b><br />
<br />
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<b><i>Theory #5: Jameis Winston Will Be Drafted Like A QB2 But Will Start For A Team In Your Fantasy League Playoffs: </i></b>I
don't see any way how Winston will regress after what he showed last
year. Now he's clearly the leader of that team even though it's his
second year. It's very much the same way Cam Newton took over the
Panthers. They were a struggling team, then suddenly, new QB, more
wins...okay this is a philosophy we can get on board with! Winston has
weapons everywhere and is already a borderline top 10 QB (finished 13th
in ESPN last year).<br />
<br />
<b>121. Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina: </b>Funchess
is a lottery pick. The height of his value will likely be due to
injury, which is unfortunate to say, but he is third in line next to
Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen in terms of who's getting the targets.
However, if in some scenario he slipped into the #2 spot in that
rotation, he could easily be a 1,000 yard, 8-10 TD receiver.<br />
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<br />
<b><i>Player To Target: Derek Carr, QB, Oakland: </i></b>I
am at the point of almost being scared because everyone has the Raiders
as their "darkhorse" team...which means they're not much of a
darkhorse. In any event, still love Carr. He'll be a solid backup for
you and can spell you in a bye or in case of injury.<br />
<br />
<b><i>...Another One: Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh: </i></b>With
Martavis Bryant gone with the wind, Wheaton becomes their #2 man, and
if Bryant's production is any indication, being the #2 in Big Ben's
rotation can be quite lucrative from a fantasy perspective. Wheaton has
also shown his tremendous upside while Bryant was suspended the first
time around, so grabbing him this late is a great play.<br />
<br />
<b>140. Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia:</b><br />
<br />
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<i><b>Theory #6: Darren Sproles Is The Most Underrated Player In Fantasy...And Probably Has Been For His Entire Career: </b></i>Sproles
is still getting it done and now has an even clearer path to touches
with DeMarco Murray out of the picture in Philly. Couple that with Ryan
Mathews...where it's like who the hell knows what you're gonna get with
him? Obviously Sproles has been a PPR phenom his whole career, but is
also quite useful in standard leagues. He's a tremendous handcuff given
Mathews' injury-prone past. Here we are at the end of the 14th round,
and Darren Sproles is still here? Really?...alrighty then!<br />
<br />
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<b>141. Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay: </b>Obviously
I have a proclivity for Tampa's offense, and I get the impression that
they are going to be putting up a lot of points. Aguayo is amongst the
likes of Sebastian Janikowski, Martin Gramatica, and Stephen Gostkowski
in terms of most ballyhooed kickers coming out of college (not going to
lie, this article was just a giant rouse in order for me to slip the
word ballyhooed into a discussion haha). And...well...you apparently
have to draft a kicker right? Well then it's settled.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i.iheart.com/v3/url/aHR0cDovL2NvbnRlbnQuY2xlYXJjaGFubmVsLmNvbS9jYy1jb21tb24vbWxpYi8zMzkyLzA4LzMzOTJfMTQ3MDUwNzE4Ny5qcGc=?ops=max%28210,210%29,quality%2890%29" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.iheart.com/v3/url/aHR0cDovL2NvbnRlbnQuY2xlYXJjaGFubmVsLmNvbS9jYy1jb21tb24vbWxpYi8zMzkyLzA4LzMzOTJfMTQ3MDUwNzE4Ny5qcGc=?ops=max(210,210),quality(90)" /></a><b>160. Eric Ebron, TE, Detroit: </b>Ebron's
gigantic frame sets up as a great target for Matthew Stafford.
Obviously there is a great deal of risk with injuries, but his
production should see an uptick with Megatron retiring, and you're
drafting him as a backup, so really there's no risk involved at
all...this is the last pick of the draft so you can afford to get a
little nuts.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Undrafted Player Who You Should Think About: Anquan Boldin, WR, Detroit: </b></i>In
getting back to Megatron retiring, I feel like this move went wildly
under the radar. Golden Tate is the clear #1, but Boldin is in line for a
60-70 catch season regardless.<br />
<br />
Sooooooooooooooo here's a rundown (round drafted in parentheses):<br />
<br />
<b>QB: </b>Blake Bortles (9)<br />
<b>RB: </b>Mark Ingram (2)<br />
<b>RB: </b>Jeremy Langford (5)<br />
<b>WR: </b>Antonio Brown (1)<br />
<b>WR: </b>Mike Evans (3)<br />
<b>TE: </b>Jordan Reed (4)<br />
<b>FLEX: </b>Ameer Abdullah (6)<br />
<b>D/ST: </b>Seattle (11)<br />
<b>K: </b>Roberto Aguayo (15)<br />
<b>BN: </b>Josh Gordon (7)<br />
<b>BN: </b>Tyler Lockett (8)<br />
<b>BN: </b>LeGarrette Blount (10)<br />
<b>BN: </b>Devin Funchess (13)<br />
<b>BN: </b>Darren Sproles (14)<br />
<b>BN: </b>Eric Ebron (16)<br />
<br />
As
with any draft, of course I'm going to say that went well. Also keep in
mind that Josh Gordon is likely to slip into the FLEX spot upon his
return from suspension, so it stands to reason I'll have three top 10
receivers starting for me every week. Also, if Langford busts (I don't
see that happening, but you never know), I have plenty of insurance with
Abdullah, Blount, and Sproles, who you could make an argument could all
be in the RB2 tier at some point this season.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://assets.audiomack.com/mixtape-republic/0eec2937526199a041e638fee4e75454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.audiomack.com/mixtape-republic/0eec2937526199a041e638fee4e75454.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I
wasn't really sure how to react to having the first pick. Sure you get
Antonio, but again...the wait for the next pick is brutal, but after
running through this sim, I did a ton of damage. It's also nice to have
back-to-back picks and strike twice in one swoop. I've always enjoyed
that position.<br />
<br />
Well I hope this was informative for you
guys. When all is said and done though, obviously this isn't gospel.
Your team is dependent on your likings and your observations. I'm not an
expert, but I've always enjoyed educating people and arguing ideas and
opinions. You're going to be inundated with fantasy football stuff, so
I'm just very happy you chose to check this out. It means the world to
me. Hope y'all have a great day! Good luck in your drafts and leagues
this year! (unless you're in my leagues...y'all are in trouble haha).
Stay safe and happy y'all! Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-2250221618501840922016-08-02T21:51:00.003-04:002016-08-02T22:00:46.631-04:00No Chris Sale...Well Not Yet"Last year I had drama, girl not right now."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY28W1i80QeUJECS9wmgNwgZGwupeOeBDB8pKYGir32ypggZPY0O7NM7t1lVXwcD3Sm2MGXoq_VSvYt2N9F_qBDSfp81_rTENTVNTuFjv6cG2mU599Lq2K0ZkUEN5mCKgSbPgJ/s1600/florida-rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY28W1i80QeUJECS9wmgNwgZGwupeOeBDB8pKYGir32ypggZPY0O7NM7t1lVXwcD3Sm2MGXoq_VSvYt2N9F_qBDSfp81_rTENTVNTuFjv6cG2mU599Lq2K0ZkUEN5mCKgSbPgJ/s1600/florida-rain.jpg" width="320" /></a>What's up campers? I know the song lyric is "it never rains in California...but when it pours, man it pours"...but the exact same happens over Fort Lauderdale Beach. Lots of storms miss us, but when they hit...look out! So as the rain continues to fall (going on three hours now), let's talk about some recent sports events.<br />
<br />
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The PGA Championship had a dramatic finish on Sunday. I watched most of it, which was great and at the same time unfortunate because I was at work, and quite frankly, the more sports I get to watch, the less $$ I make...kind of a Catch 22...thank you 7th grade summer reading list! Haha. Anywho, Jimmy Walker (tremendous name) won the tourney, edging out Jason Day by one stroke at Baltusrol (also tremendous name) Golf Club. This marks the third time ever that all four majors were won by first-time major winners (I can't believe there was more than one?). Say what you will about golf, but there's nothing like when a major tournament comes down to the final 9 holes.<br />
<br />
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The last two majors have had fantastic finishes. The Stenson/Lefty duel at Royal Troon was epic, calling on not only the two to be ten shots clear of the field, but also for Stenson to fire a major score-tying 63 (whose list now stands at 29 players all time...also another shockingly high number). I dunno...it's tough not to root for Phil if he's in the hunt at a major. He sinks a few putts, gets the little fist pump going, sheepishly starts acknowledging the crowd as he has commanded the second biggest amount of batshit crazy fans of our generation (Tiger)...how do you not get caught up in that? Another 2nd for Phil, but the fact that he is still playing at as high of a level as he has for as long as he's done it...guy's sick I guess is what I'm getting at (he made his pro debut at the U.S. Open 24 YEARS AGO!!). Stenson absolutely deserved the Jug though...63 in the final round of a major? When the guy you're paired with is in a heads-up match with you? That's crazy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jason-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jason-day.jpg" width="320" /></a>Jason Day is the #1 player in the world, and yet if we're talking about who is the best golfer in the world, I would make a guess that his name continues to be passed up, most likely in favor of the other top 2 of the "New Big Three" (copyright 2008 Boston Celtics), Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. This despite the fact that not only did he win the FedEx Cup last year, he is also the leader and odds-on favorite to win this year. Day also has two Match Play Championship victories and has finished in the top 2 in consecutive PGA Championships, including a victory in the event last year, his first major victory. I think the only reason Day is not considered to be the unanimous #1 player is simply because he does not receive the amount of exposure that McIlroy and Spieth get. You have to wonder what attributes to this? Why is it that an average sports fan probably is not aware of Day's accomplishments, or that he is actually, literally, the #1 player in the world? It's fascinating. He's actually a really easy sell too. He is by far the most accomplished Australian golfer since Greg Norman, and all of this before he hits 30 (turns 29 in November), and in addition to all that he has done, let's not forget that he nearly won the U.S. Open last year despite dealing with vertigo and collapsing during the final round. This guy is an animal. One has to wonder if he has, unknowingly to the masses, actually already lapped the field in terms of who is and has been the best over the last two seasons. The way that the three main characters are trending, it would seem that it is Day, and not the other more touted players, is on the higher and longer career trajectory.<br />
<br />
(Quick side note: While obviously being ranked 4th amongst the most important of the four majors, the Wanamaker Trophy is the biggest of the trophies handed out in those events...classic male overcompensation?) <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kcra.com/image/view/-/41001268/highRes/2/-/maxh/630/maxw/1200/-/mv1d33z/-/Fernando-Abad--Minnesota-Twins-jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kcra.com/image/view/-/41001268/highRes/2/-/maxh/630/maxw/1200/-/mv1d33z/-/Fernando-Abad--Minnesota-Twins-jpg.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Baseball's non-waiver free agency trade deadline came and went with plenty of activity, setting a new all time record for amount of trades made from June to the deadline at 48. The Sox made a little bit of a splash acquiring reliever Fernando Abad from the Twinkies for a minor leaguer. Abad strikes out a lot of guys, and looking towards a potential postseason run, it never hurts to have more bullpen help. Of course they were unable to corral Chris Sale away from the ChiSox, but ultimately, I don't think they were ready to let Moncada go, and the more I think about it, they are probably very correct about being so hesitant to move him. He seems like he's going to be a stud. My opinion is that they need to think about moving him or Pedroia to first base next year when HanRam will officially ascend to the DH spot in replacement of the DH G.O.A.T., Big Papi. They lose a huge bat in Ortiz, but perhaps will be benefited if Moncada can join Andrew Benintendi, who just got the call-up today and is expected to play in the Seattle series starting tonight, and hopefully fill the void. Moncada, while being a highly-paid prospect, has the potential to outgrow the amount the Sox are playing him by as early as next year. So while it was disappointing to not get Sale and get that second ace a la Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling, it's understandable to see why they balked on any deal involving Moncada.<br />
<br />
Now while the Sox were unable to acquire Sale now, it stands to reason that the more of a headache he becomes in Chicago's clubhouse, the more they will be willing to move him. So while he's not here yet, I would be very surprised if he would be around past next year's deadline, especially if the White Sox continue on their current decline.<br />
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I think the most interesting story to come out of the trade deadline is that suddenly, the Texas Rangers, at least in my opinion, became the overwhelming favorite to represent the AL in the World Series (where they will face, barring some insane circumstances, the Cubs). This is yet another splash the Rangers have made at the deadline, acquiring Cole Hamels from Philly last year, and this year, adding the potent trio of Jonathan LuCroy to play behind the dish, Carlos Beltran at DH, and Jeremy Jeffress to be the 8th inning man for incumbent closer Sam Dyson. If Yu Darvish can help out in any way, shape, or form that even closely resembles his form pre-Tommy John surgery, they are going to give every team not only in the AL, but every team en general a run for their money. Armed with probably the best lineup in baseball, a potentially dynamite 1-2 in the starting rotation, and the back end of their bullpen seemingly sewn up, the Rangers were the big winners and took a tremendous stride to bringing home their first ever World Series title.<br />
<br />
Well short and to the point...just how I like it. Hope y'all have a terrific eve<br />
ning. Stay classy. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-o<br />
<a href="http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/p11-nl-a-20150414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jto.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/p11-nl-a-20150414.jpg" height="117" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/14/files/2016/08/9416132-mookie-betts-dustin-pedroia-mlb-boston-red-sox-los-angeles-angels-768x547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/14/files/2016/08/9416132-mookie-betts-dustin-pedroia-mlb-boston-red-sox-los-angeles-angels-768x547.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
(<i>PS: Ichiro is at 2,998 hits!!!)</i><br />
<br />
<i>(PPS: How sick was the Sox game on Friday? Pedroia hits a 3 run bomb, then X Man goes deep, and the whole bench is going nuts? That was freggin' amazing!!!) </i>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-69173383352628077722016-07-22T14:06:00.000-04:002016-07-23T09:25:11.022-04:00The One Where Jae Crowder Sounds Off"I come from the school of the sly, wicked, and the slick."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hiphoplive.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/dj_quik_born_and_raised_in_compton_379017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hiphoplive.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/dj_quik_born_and_raised_in_compton_379017.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a>Hey hey hey! What is the haps everyone? Thank you very much for coming back to check out the site. It's the middle of July, so the sports scene for me is pretty much revolving around the Sox and Celtic trade rumors, but there are a few things I wanted to sound off about.<br />
<br />
To get the serious stuff out of the way, I just wanted to throw my two cents in on the early allegations of Ezekiel Elliot and the domestic abuse case that is about to be started against him. Call me crazy, but I am at a complete loss when it comes to matters like this. Like what would every motivate a man to raises his hands/fists against a woman? I guess maybe some guys are wired differently and that is a concept that they just can't grasp.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://cdn29.elitedaily.com/content/uploads/2016/07/22114627/ezekiel-elliot-domestic-violence-girlfriend-photos-instagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://cdn29.elitedaily.com/content/uploads/2016/07/22114627/ezekiel-elliot-domestic-violence-girlfriend-photos-instagram.png" width="320" /></a>Obviously the pure physicality and violence of the game of football could be looked at as a driving force behind this, and most likely, it is, but there are also plenty of men doing this without being involved in football. It is outrageous to me that this type of behavior is obviously just an accepted thing amongst certain groups/circles. I was such a huge fan of Zeke and was all over his stock for fantasy football, but that's forever tainted. If found guilty, and let's face it, it is looking bad for him, you can't allow him to play this game unless he is put through a rigorous rehabilitation program. While these crimes are heinous, I believe that he can be helped and be a positive member of society, but until it is deemed he can live in society and not pose any kind of threat to women or anyone else around him. This is truly a horrible thing that has happened, and one can only hope the NFL will do its due diligence after botching literally every disciplinary matter as it pertained to domestic violence in the past few years.<br />
<br />
So yeah, really just a horrible incident and a black cloud over those positive vibes we all want to be sending, but as a man, it's difficult for me to fathom doing anything that despicable, and it just makes me sick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.celticshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/jae-crowder-celtics-hub-kevin-durant-decision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.celticshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/jae-crowder-celtics-hub-kevin-durant-decision.jpg" height="161" width="320" /></a>Okay, let's get back to the good times. So Jae Crowder was obviously part of the official "bring KD to Boston" party that went to the Hamptons to try and lure Durant to Boston, and in the aftermath of Durant choosing Golden State over the Celts and OKC, Jae wasn't too thrilled with how that went down. He was at the Hall of Fame yesterday (in glorious Springfield, Massachusetts!) and was asked about what they did to recruit KD. Here's a few excerpts from that interview:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Celtics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Celtics.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
"We were the only team in the NBA to beat both (Cleveland and Golden
State) on their home court — the only team in the NBA, the Boston
Celtics. We told him that. We played him clips from both games and told
him basically the scouting report of how we guarded Steph (Curry) and
Klay (Thompson) — our entire game plan, basically. That’s what made me
mad. We (expletive) told him everything we do to beat these guys, and we
beat them, and he went and joined them. I mean, that’s part of the
process, but I did not think he would go to those two teams…I felt like
afterward, I was talking to Isaiah, like maybe after you sit back, you
shouldn’t have told him everything, but who the (expletive) thought he
was going to Golden State, realistically? It was like a slap in the face
for us, basically.”<br />
<br />
“That team is for sure the villain of the league,” Crowder said. “Every
other NBA guy, friends of mine, are really disgusted from how the league
is turning on that standpoint. Everybody is joining together, everybody
wants to go to Golden State or Cleveland.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nbatitlechase.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PHOTO-Jae-Crowder-With-Tom-Brady-At-Boston-Airport-Before-Kevin-Durant-Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://nbatitlechase.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PHOTO-Jae-Crowder-With-Tom-Brady-At-Boston-Airport-Before-Kevin-Durant-Meeting.jpg" height="320" width="313" /></a>So...there's that haha. Needless to say, Jae's pissed. I guess you have to be considering Durant actually at one point was ready to jump ship to play for the C's. The report came out earlier this week that once Tom Brady was involved in the recruitment pitch, KD actually wanted to come...<br />
<br />
“I was ready to just say, 'Alright let's go. I'm ready to go,' seeing Tom Brady there," ~KD on Monday<br />
<br />
Ultimately, the more "title ready" team won out, but still, it does seem like they had him on the hook, and the way they went into the specifics on how they guard the team he ended up choosing would definitely leave a sour taste in my mouth as well.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Crowder was not done. He then kind of went out of his way to talk a little smack about another team:<br />
<br />
“My guys were telling me that Bleacher Report says we’ll win 59 games,”
Crowder said. “That’s a lot of wins, but I want to get past the first
round of the playoffs. Two seasons in a row getting swept” <i>(Note: The Celtics lost in six games this past year)</i>
“that’s my goal to be honest with you. I think our ceiling is the
Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto is not a team we’re worried about. I
think Cleveland is the top team. That’s what it comes down to.”<br />
<br />
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Ehhhhhhhh, we didn't need that. The Raptors are actually quite a sound team. The Lowry/DeRozan combo is still in full effect, and at last check, they finished #2 in the East, we were tied for 3rd, and also, they beat us three out of four times last year, so to jab them like that...I dunno. Like why go after them? Of course everyone's gunning for Cleveland, but to talk that kind of shizz about another team, I would prefer to A.) actually beat them in a season series, and B.) make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I dig Jae's passion, but I don't think we have to be that team to talk smack, especially since we still haven't accomplished anything. Let's win some games and some playoff series before we start saying we're not "worried" about a team.<br />
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On a semi-related note, I just stumbled upon this section of <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/">fivethirtyeight.com</a> that is really fun to look at. It's called the <a href="http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/carmelo/" target="_blank">CARMELO future projection system.</a> It basically uses historical data and player comparisons to draw an NBA player's projected career arc. It even includes what kind of market value a player will be worth. Very cool stuff. I found out about this after Marcus Smart's projections were linked up all over Twitter (he's expected to have a massive jump this season to the point where his market value will be 5 years, $165.5 million and a "future All Star"...not bad for a guy who is still going to be under his rookie contract for the next three years, paying him about $5 million on average annually).<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i0.wp.com/monstah-mash.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20556634-mmmain.jpg?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i0.wp.com/monstah-mash.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20556634-mmmain.jpg?w=640" height="208" width="320" /></a>The Sox are red hot at the moment. After last night's 13-2 drubbing of Minnesota, the good guys have found themselves first place in the division, and a half game up on Baltimore. This is a big series for us against the Twins. They have been fairly awful all year (worst record in the majors), and if yesterday's performance was any indication, they should have no problem reeling off another three wins and furthering the distance between us and the O's and Toronto.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://images.follownews.com/2682/2682037/red-sox-wrap-steven-wright-bostons-offense-dominate-twins-in-132-win_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://images.follownews.com/2682/2682037/red-sox-wrap-steven-wright-bostons-offense-dominate-twins-in-132-win_1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Again, the offense continues to be brilliant, but Steven Wright had a really, REALLY good start yesterday, going eight innings, striking out nine while only giving up two runs (one earned). He was excellent, and is such a critical piece to the overall puzzle. With Kimbrel out until at least mid-August and Koji landing on the DL himself, starting innings are becoming more and more valuable by the day, and the starters' effectiveness will help control how many innings the 'pen will be taxed (Junichi did just get recalled from the DL, so that's big...it will clearly be him and Ziegler in the 8th and 9th). So starts like that are huge. Drew Pomeranz, who we just traded one of our top prospects (Anderson Espinoza), got roughed up in his first start (3 innings, 8 hits, 5 earned with two homers allowed)...he HAS to get it together. Clearly we traded for him way before the deadline because the closer the deadline will get, the more demanding clubs will be about their return knowing that the window will shut if the other team cannot pull a deal off, and starting pitching will be in high demand. The third starter is what we are lacking, and as we inch closer to the postseason, it will be that much more critical in a seven game series to have an effective 1-2-3.<br />
<br />
Well that about does it for now. Hope everyone has a lovely rest of your day. Stay positive and don't sweat the small things...it's hot enough already down here :) haha. Keep it going y'all!! Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-o<br />
<br />
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
“My guys were telling
me that Bleacher Report says we’ll win 59 games,” Crowder told
MassLive.com’s Tom Westerholm. “That’s a lot of wins, but I want to get
past the first round of the playoffs. Two seasons in a row getting
swept” (Note: The Celtics lost in six games this past year) “that’s my
goal to be honest with you. I think our ceiling is the Eastern
Conference Finals. Toronto is not a team we’re worried about. I think
Cleveland is the top team. That’s what it comes down to.”<br />
<br />
Read more at: <a href="http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/" title="Jae Crowder Rips Raptors: ‘Toronto Is Not A Team We’re Worried About’ | Boston Celtics | NESN.com">http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/</a></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
“My guys were telling
me that Bleacher Report says we’ll win 59 games,” Crowder told
MassLive.com’s Tom Westerholm. “That’s a lot of wins, but I want to get
past the first round of the playoffs. Two seasons in a row getting
swept” (Note: The Celtics lost in six games this past year) “that’s my
goal to be honest with you. I think our ceiling is the Eastern
Conference Finals. Toronto is not a team we’re worried about. I think
Cleveland is the top team. That’s what it comes down to.”<br />
<br />
Read more at: <a href="http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/" title="Jae Crowder Rips Raptors: ‘Toronto Is Not A Team We’re Worried About’ | Boston Celtics | NESN.com">http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/</a></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
“My guys were telling
me that Bleacher Report says we’ll win 59 games,” Crowder told
MassLive.com’s Tom Westerholm. “That’s a lot of wins, but I want to get
past the first round of the playoffs. Two seasons in a row getting
swept” (Note: The Celtics lost in six games this past year) “that’s my
goal to be honest with you. I think our ceiling is the Eastern
Conference Finals. Toronto is not a team we’re worried about. I think
Cleveland is the top team. That’s what it comes down to.”<br />
<br />
Read more at: <a href="http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/" title="Jae Crowder Rips Raptors: ‘Toronto Is Not A Team We’re Worried About’ | Boston Celtics | NESN.com">http://nesn.com/2016/07/jae-crowder-rips-raptors-toronto-is-not-a-team-were-worried-about/</a></div>
Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-9348372418025260102016-07-13T14:11:00.002-04:002016-07-13T15:20:13.627-04:00Red Sox Medio Segundo: Win One For Papi"Days are changing, with the weather.<br />
Like a riptide could rip us away."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6WNm_6vkZfLnsCrVH98OjYdpE8haKCEdlbibKBZjK57mmRBUVlEG-08izcTHH4RyfHZL7pki_4T99VN0aysL-jhMUFZaFERk6ZcKBapueqMlN6-SW-xGYSIP0C7ZDIOjRswe/s400/david+ortiz+famous+as+fuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6WNm_6vkZfLnsCrVH98OjYdpE8haKCEdlbibKBZjK57mmRBUVlEG-08izcTHH4RyfHZL7pki_4T99VN0aysL-jhMUFZaFERk6ZcKBapueqMlN6-SW-xGYSIP0C7ZDIOjRswe/s400/david+ortiz+famous+as+fuck.jpg" width="320" /></a>So yesterday was mostly all about the Celts. Today the primary focus will be on the Sox, where they're at now, what could potentially happen, and other ways to get a ninth World Series title to Boston and more importantly, how to send Big Papi, the greatest designated hitter then, now, and forever (copyright WWE :) haha) out on a high note...because I will not tolerate Peyton Manning being the only one to be able to ride off into the sunset with a championship.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/10/34/07/2212289/5/628x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/10/34/07/2212289/5/628x471.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a>(I'm kind of seething over here considering A.) Peyton won another ring, and B.) He beat the Pats to get there...deep breaths, deep breaths...and then I remember that time Ty Law picked him off three times in one playoff game and we beat them 20-3...okay I'm better now!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sportsmasher.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Tom-Brady-4-rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sportsmasher.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Tom-Brady-4-rings.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>But first, the big news of the day is that the suspension appeal of Tom Brady will not be heard by the U.S. Second Court of Appeals, meaning that the one last glimmer of hope to somehow make this travesty of time and money end is the U.S. Supreme Court...the mack daddy. If they decide to hear the case, it is very likely Brady will play the entire season due to the large docket already set before this country's highest court. Brady's legal team will now have 90 days to prepare their case and submit it. What a crazy turn of events this is all taking. Again, an incredible waste of time and money...incredible (already a reported $20 million over the past two years).<br />
<br />
Essentially Goodell's case is not so much whether or not Brady knowingly under-inflated, but whether or not his authority can be challenged in a manner that a length of suspension can be changed. This is why Brady's appeal was overturned in the first place. I think everyone who thinks Brady is a cheater are basically just Brady haters at this point. Sure the Patriots had under-inflated balls for the AFC Championship game against Indy...but we fail to mention that three of the four Indy balls tested were under-inflated too. How convenient that little detail kind of gets swept under the rug, but no, let's go after the greatest QB of all time (there's no debate anymore) and destroy his legacy when he could have used a beach ball to beat the Colts that game.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://images.latintimes.com/sites/latintimes.com/files/styles/pulse_embed/public/2014/09/13/ray-rice-and-roger-goodell-memes.jpeg?itok=bZxYcVJD" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.latintimes.com/sites/latintimes.com/files/styles/pulse_embed/public/2014/09/13/ray-rice-and-roger-goodell-memes.jpeg?itok=bZxYcVJD" height="186" width="320" /></a>Not going to lie, this is only making Brady look better and his supporters (including this guy) rally even stronger behind him. How does this not look like a witch hunt? Why do you think Brady is going to go absolutely as far as he can take this? Am I really supposed to believe that he would lie and go through all of this trouble? Of course you can make the argument that he's just trying to save his legacy, but at this point, I'm pretty convinced it's not only that, but it's about standing up for yourself and not letting some two-bit hack tell you to sit out a quarter of the season because of a suspicion and yet no hard evidence whatsoever. Hopefully the case will be heard again, and the justices will finally determine that while Goodell does indeed have power to hand out suspensions, his prior mishandling and complete idiocy on other matters regarding suspension length (Ray Rice) and how other cases were handled (Greg Hardy) is proof positive that there needs to be a checks and balances system within the league office and the NFLPA in terms of how to handle such cases. The Supreme Court would be the ultimate checks and balances system to only be used on this one occasion. I will give Goodell this: He's an incredibly good businessman. He makes the league SO much money, but he is an incompetent leader of this league. Someone with a better grasp on how to handle these situations (like, you know...a judge) should be in control of discipline and all matters pertaining to players' conduct, and Goodell should be CFO or something to that effect and keeping making that $$. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing. He knows he's in way over his head...it is time for some kind of change to be made.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/the-time-my-dad-played-nuthin-but-a-g-th/u/original/2465213/dreolddayzz.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/the-time-my-dad-played-nuthin-but-a-g-th/u/original/2465213/dreolddayzz.png" height="176" width="320" /></a>Okay, now back to the lecture at hand (perfection is perfected so I make 'em understand). The Sox currently sit two games back of Baltimore, having ended the first half going 7-3 over their last ten games. If the season were to end today, the Sox and Toronto would be in a dead heat for the two wild card spots, meaning that they would play a one game playoff to determine who would advance to the Division Series (can you imagine there were three teams from the AL East to make the postseason...and the Yankees would NOT be one of them? Haha suckas!!!!).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://cbsboston.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/625-mookie-betts-xander-bogaerts-jackie-bradley-jr.jpg?w=625&h=352&crop=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://cbsboston.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/625-mookie-betts-xander-bogaerts-jackie-bradley-jr.jpg?w=625&h=352&crop=1" width="320" /></a>The obvious key to why the Sox have been so successful has been the play of the offense, and how essentially up and down the lineup, they have been completely smoking it. They are #1 in runs for the majors by THIRTY over the Cubs (oh by the way, have played one less game than them too). Led by Papi, who is having his best statistical year ever thus far, and the Killer B's: Part Deux (Houston had Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman back in the mid 90s to the early 2000s...but now, it's all about Betts, Bogaerts, and my boy Bradley Jr.), the Sox O has been cranking. Lost in all this is Dustin Pedroia, who is having another solid season, Brock Holt manning left like a champ, the resurgence of Hanley Ramirez, and the emergence of Travis Shaw at third. Even with a seemingly never-ending carousel behind the plate (it does look as though Sandy Leon has thankfully taken a grip of that job for now), the Sox have just been crushing it, which is why they are ensconsced in the postseason picture.<br />
<a href="https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/bluejays/2016/04/16/price-bogaerts-stand-out-in-red-sox-win-over-blue-jays/price.jpg.size.xxlarge.letterbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/bluejays/2016/04/16/price-bogaerts-stand-out-in-red-sox-win-over-blue-jays/price.jpg.size.xxlarge.letterbox.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Now the pitching, on the other hand, is leaving something to be desired. David Price was a huge signing because while its important to have an all around good staff in your rotation, you gotta have a guy you can give the ball to and say "this is for all the marbles...bring it home." You need that ace, and while he's had a few bad outings, Price has been overall exactly what comes with having the moniker of being the "ace" of a staff.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/ap_white_sox_red_sox_baseball_82793390.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/ap_white_sox_red_sox_baseball_82793390.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1" width="320" /></a>Steven Wright has been an absolute godsend for the Sox. Coming out of Spring Training, it appeared like the Sox had a bunch of #3 and #4 starters behind Price, but Wright, seemingly out of nowhere, has become not only a good pitcher, but an All Star pitcher to boot. It's going to be tough for him to keep up his pace, and he has stumbled a little in his last few starts, but I still believe that he will be at the very least a third option if the Sox are lucky enough to get to the final four in the AL, which brings me to step #1 on how the Sox will be able to win a title this year:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Step #1: Trade for Chris Sale</b></i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chrissale-1400695884n84kg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chrissale-1400695884n84kg.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a>Hey you know what the Sox should do? Trade for the guy who just started the All Star Game for the AL!! Okay it's not the most groundbreaking idea of all time, but still, this is something that I would put basically the whole house on. Sale is signed thru 2019...that's this year and three more years of arguably one of the top 2 lefties (Kershaw) in the game for $12 million next year, $12.5 the year after, and $15 in 2019...yeah it's time to make a deal here. The hope is that the White Sox are even willing to do this...obviously they need to be HIGHLY motivated if they are even open to any kind of negotiations. The Sox do have a loaded farm system, so if the ChiSox are willing to take back a boatload of prospects, this is a deal that could get done.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://sportsofboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/yoan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://sportsofboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/yoan.jpg" width="320" /></a>The BoSox do know that any kind of Sale trade will involve one of their two mega prospects, Yoan Moncada or Andrew Benentendi. I would think Moncada is the more likely because he's being boxed out of the majors right now by Pedroia at second and the X Man at short, his two primary positions. While he is their best prospect, you can't pass on a chance to get a pitcher like Sale, in the prime of his career, under contract for the next three years at a rate that is close to a third of what he could possibly get if he were a free agent today. Not only will he be a factor in this postseason, but he would team with David Price to make the most lethal 1-2 lefty starter combo of the modern era for AT LEAST the next three years.<br />
<br />
So, we hope a deal can get done with the South Siders. That is our Kevin Durant right now...the unreachable star that's suddenly reachable. So Moncada may be gone, but you have your other stud prospect waiting in the wings, which brings me to step #2:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Step #2: Promote Andrew Benentendi and Immediately Insert Him As Starting Left Fielder</b></i><br />
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Benintendi is just too good to keep down in the minors and not make an impact in the big leagues. He's got nothing really else to prove in the lower levels. We need to see what this kid has got for the Sox right now. Brock Holt is a tremendous talent, but we need him as the Swiss Army knife. He is the super utility man who can spell a starter at literally every position outside of pitcher and catcher, so we need for him to remain flexible and not just be a left fielder. The lineup has plenty of pop even if this experiment ends up not working out, so the juice is worth the squeeze.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
Based on recent events, here's an easy one:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Step #3: Do Not Bring Craig Kimbrel Into A Non-Save Situation EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!</b></i><br />
<br />
ERA in Save Situations: 1.45<br />
ERA in Non-Save Situations: 6.75<br />
<br />
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.<br />
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<br />
But seriously, we have Koji, Junichi, and just acquired Brad Ziegler from Arizona...don't question why it doesn't work for him, just stop trying to make it work. We traded for Kimbrel because he's a bad ass closer...and when you bring him in when he's not getting saves, he's not a closer. Look, I wish the guy pitched better if he wasn't going for the save, but he doesn't, and his ERA over the last three years in non-saves is over 5, so this is not a new thing. Kimbrel will be out 3-6 weeks following successful knee surgery, so upon his return in September, seriously, unless we're up and the game is on the line, DON'T BRING HIM IN!!!!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/12/23/1103818509_7705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2004/12/23/1103818509_7705.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a>So I think those are the three steps needed in order to propel us to a World Series victory. Not saying I have the pulse of every Sox fan, but I'm going to go ahead and say that those three steps would be a jam that everyone can boogie to. The most important thing is that the Sox need to pull out all the stops to try and get Papi a ring in his final year. He is the most important Sox player of all time not named Ted Williams (sorry Yaz and Pedro), and he deserves to have this team pull out all the stops to make something happen. We have the flexibility in both money and prospects to pull off something huge coming down the stretch. We just witnessed an All Star game that had FOUR Sox starting...this is a team that can get it done, but we need to make a few moves to make it all happen. The next two and a half weeks until the Trade Deadline will be edge of your seat kind of stuff. So happy we are out of the AL East basement. A team with the kind of resources ($$) we have should never even be put in that position ever.<br />
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Alright gang, hope you have a pleasant Wednesday. See you on this side or the other. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-69394494996176434332016-07-12T13:53:00.001-04:002016-07-13T09:29:24.098-04:00the reb00t.mpeg"Lend me your ears, stop and stare."<br />
<br />
Good afternoon everyone! Hope y'all are having a lovely Tuesday so far. I just wanted to take this time to inform everyone who may have been a fan of my writing in the past, or for my friends that have come into my life without knowing about this site, that I am going to be once again contributing to my blog I established almost ten years ago. I feel like I have reached a point in my life where things have finally settled down for me. I have established myself as a South Floridian, which is a lot tougher than it sounds. I have dealt with numerous personal issues that have made me wonder what my purpose is, but my vision has become very clear:<br />
<br />
My purpose in life is to inform, enlighten, question status quo, and to bring love and joy into people's lives.<br />
<br />
One of the ways I always felt I could do this is through my writing. It's something that I have been extremely passionate about for most of my life. This was more of an escape for me while I was finishing school and heading off into the "real world." It served as something to establish what my legacy will ultimately become. It was a way to get my voice out when I wasn't necessarily the most boisterous in real life, but when the pen hit the paper (or in this case, the fingers to the keys), it was magical for me. I could just write and write and write, and even if no one read it, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Those words are going to be there forever, and when my time is done, those writings will always be a key part into my development not only as a writer, but as a man and a contributor to society, no matter how big or small my reach was.<br />
<br />
I appreciate everyone throughout the years reading and supporting me. I will do everything I can to keep my writings at a high standard that will be both entertaining and thought provoking. Thank you again for checking in...<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://media.breitbart.com/media/2015/04/F-the-system-AD-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.breitbart.com/media/2015/04/F-the-system-AD-640x480.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>This is first and foremost a sports site, but also, I like to throw in my other loves (music/TV/movies) into the equation as well. The title for this post was inspired by the show "Mr. Robot" that will be launching its second season tomorrow on USA at 10PM. To me, the first season was some of the <br />
most compelling and incredible ten episodes of television I have ever seen. Obviously it is now being showered with accolades and awards, but I would recommend this to everyone, especially if they are fascinated by cyber security and hacking like myself, to check out the first season, which is On Demand right now. It's a game changer.<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay getting back into sports. The biggest thing that there is to talk about right now from a Boston sports fan perspective is the Celtics' pursuit of Banner 18. It has been a wild offseason, from narrowly missing a chance to land a top 2 pick in the Lottery, to an overwhelming negative reaction from the Boston faithful about not only about drafting Jaylen Brown and not PC product Kris Dunn, but also not making a huge splash via a draft day trade, to recruitment trips to the Hamptons, to landing the single biggest free agent in the history of the franchise...like I said, wild.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://elnacional.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Al-Horford-presenta-su-camiseta-de-los-Celtics-de-Boston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://elnacional.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Al-Horford-presenta-su-camiseta-de-los-Celtics-de-Boston.jpg" width="200" /></a>While signing Al Horford is obviously a big story, it's even bigger than anyone could make it out to be. The gates that have previously been locked shut over stars wanting to play in the Garden have been thrown open in one fail swoop. This was the first of what is most likely to be many of the <br />
dominoes that will fall over the next few years that will alter the landscape of the NBA for years to come.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sneakerbardetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/kevin-durant-kd-warriors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sneakerbardetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/kevin-durant-kd-warriors.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>Think about what already has happened: The Celts were most likely one of the last two teams that Kevin Durant was considering before making his decision to go to Golden State (while all of this is hearsay, all the news around the events of the Hamptons would lead you
to suspect that it was ultimately the Celts vs. the Warriors in the
end). The only reason the Celts lost Durant is because he was assuring
himself of that elusive ring he's been chasing. They won an NBA record 73 games last year, so obviously in choosing them, he's got a ready-made title contender (although news of <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/warriors%E2%80%99-draymond-green-arrested-in-east-lansing-mich/ar-BBucWbn?ocid=ansmsnsports11" target="_blank">Draymond Green's arrest in East Lansing</a> over the weekend could alter the "ease" of how they were going to get that done). The fact that the Celtics not only secured a meeting with KD, but came that close to landing him speaks volumes about the direction this team is going...which is WAY up.<br />
<br />
<br />
We are still hearing little hints spread across management that they are not done this offseason, and while no major deal may materialize this offseason, this has clearly been the "flag-planting" year of the Celtics' future. With Horford in tow and a roster full of young talented players, the Celts find themselves as the second-favorite coming out of the East. Obviously the defending champion Cavaliers will be the gold standard once again this year, but even they have to be aware that the distance between them and us is closing, which would explain why they have suddenly been rumored to try and be in trade talks with one target that C's fans have long been clamoring for: DeMarcus Cousins.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://images.sportsworldreport.com/data/images/full/41311/isaiah-thomas-demarcus-cousins.jpg?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.sportsworldreport.com/data/images/full/41311/isaiah-thomas-demarcus-cousins.jpg?w=640" height="240" width="320" /></a>It seems like the stars are aligned for Boogie to get shipped out of Sacramento. He has an extremely friendly contract that lasts another two years ($15.8 million this year, $16.8 million next) and is in a place he doesn't want to be, with management doing everything in their power seemingly to make the team as unattractive as they possibly can (eight coaches in ten years, signing inept GM Vlade Divac to an extension, trading a freak athlete they drafted this year (Marquese Chriss) for a bunch of sluggish big men...it goes on and on). The time has to be now for the Kings to hit the reset button. They are going nowhere fast. which is why the Celtics make the perfect trade partner.<br />
<br />
While the Cavs have been discussed, ultimately, they don't have nearly the kind of assets that Boston can offer (even if they include Kevin Love in a deal). The Celts have a plethora of young talent at bargain-based pricing (Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Kelly Olynyk, Jaylen Brown) and also have the two most important assets of them all: The right to swap picks with the Nets in 2017 and the Nets' outright selection in 2018. The Nets will most likely be horrible this year, and because of the pick swap, they are likely to wind up picking in the 20s when their record would suggest they should be picking in the top 3.<br />
<br />
Bottom line: They're bad, and they're not getting better anytime soon.<br />
<br />
Both the 2017 and 2018 picks could become the #1 overall picks if the ping pong balls fall right for the Celts. While maintaining patience may not be the most popular move amongst fans, especially after management had promised "fireworks" (although the Horford signing was HUGE), it seems like it is the correct path to take. Those picks are so valuable not only in the type of prospect they will be able to get that high in the draft. but also how team-friendly rookie deals are. To put this into perspective, Timofey Mozgov just signed a deal that will pay him $16 million a year for the next four years. In contrast, #1 overall pick Ben Simmons' deal with Philly is for five years that will pay him an average of $7.46 million a year, with his 5th year the only year he'll be making double-digit millions.<br />
<br />
Those assets are incredibly valuable. While people may be disappointed we haven't made a splash, there are really only three names it looks like we would be willing to break the trade asset bank for: Cousins, Jimmy Butler, and Russell Westbrook. It seems like Chicago is going to build around Butler, and the same can be said for Westbrook in OKC, especially after Durant's departure and the knowledge that the Thunder are absolutely his team. That leaves Cousins, who if teamed with Horford down low, would resemble what Al was able to accomplish with Paul Millsap in Atlanta, but on a whole other level.<br />
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So now the question becomes how much do you give up? In my opinion, you have to give up one of the Nets' picks. That seems like a given. Also I would think Avery Bradley or Jae Crowder would be in there too. They are both so good and wildly underpaid given the current financial landscape. You could make the case they are two of the most valuable trade assets in the league. Here would be the proposed trade:<br />
<br />
<b>Celtics Get: </b>DeMarcus Cousins ($15.8 million)<br />
<br />
<b>Kings Get: </b>Avery Bradley ($8.3 million), Kelly Olynyk ($3.1 million), 2018 Brooklyn pick, 2019 Memphis pick top 8 protected<br />
<br />
In this scenario, the Kings get an All-NBA defender in Bradley, a stretch 4 in Olynyk, perhaps the #1 overall pick in 2018, and a likely top 10-15 pick down the line in 2019. This is a pretty good haul for <br />
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a guy who really doesn't want to play with his current team and is set to be a free agent in two years, at which time they would receive nothing when he walks. If you're Sacramento, you have to at least think long and hard about this. They will have to go through a rebuild, but they will suddenly have a wealth of valuable picks, especially in 2018, where they could have two picks in the top 2-3. Of course I'm biased as a C's fan, but the Kings are going nowhere fast, and if they have any aspirations about even getting into playoff contention out West in the near future, they are likely going to have to pull off some kind of massive trade knowing that Cousins is out the door at the end of 2018.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://celticsbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/Brad-Stevens-Ange-Wyc-1050x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://celticsbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/Brad-Stevens-Ange-Wyc-1050x450.jpg" height="137" width="320" /></a>Keep it here for more trade/free agency/Celtics rumors. I am a freak about this stuff and literally check Google and Twitter about 100 times a day looking through what is being reported out there. <br />
While most of the rumors are just those...rumors, it still is such a fascinating time to be a fan of this team and where the future may take us. We have the management/ownership (Wyc Grousbeck and Danny Ainge), the coach for the next 20 years (Brad Stevens), and the face of the franchise (Isaiah Thomas)...I'm just so excited for this team it's just a really great feeling.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://img04.deviantart.net/6ce6/i/2015/168/c/c/isaiah_thomas_celtics_wallpaper_hd_2015_by_zgartwork-d8xq939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img04.deviantart.net/6ce6/i/2015/168/c/c/isaiah_thomas_celtics_wallpaper_hd_2015_by_zgartwork-d8xq939.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a>(Isaiah did reiterate <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2016/07/11/isaiah-thomas-brinks-truck" target="_blank">in a recent interview</a> that the Celts "will have to break out the Brinks truck" in 2018 when he becomes a free agent, and in a market where he will likely demand $25-$30 million a year in contrast to the $6.5 million he's making right now...think about that before you judge the Celts on why they are trying to stay flexible with their cap room...this is not the kind of guy you want to see in anything else but green and white.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Well that will do it for now. Thank you guys very much for checking me out. Expect more to come about the C's as well as the Sox, Pats, and B's in the future...and also some of my incoherent rambling that you've come to know and love...well at least know...over the years. Take it easy everyone. Stay strong y'all. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-o<br />
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P.S. Jackie Bradley starting in the All Star Game tonight boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-45581183081255880932015-08-04T12:50:00.005-04:002015-08-04T12:53:45.557-04:00RepeatGate: The 2015 New England Patriots Preview<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My what a journey it has become being a Patriots fan. As if
there wasn’t a big enough target on our collective backs because we’ve
essentially become like Duke basketball or the Yankees (winning at obnoxiously
high rates), now the scandal that is DeflateGate has emerged. Honestly I want
to knock this out first because it is the giant elephant in the room and you
can’t be a Pats fan…or human, to not have an opinion. Here’s the thing: I love
Tom Brady unconditionally, but there’s no way of getting around how wildly
shady all of this is. Whether his suspension is overturned in federal court or
the Supreme Court, or is ultimately upheld, there is no way of getting around
that the longer this is dragged out, the worse it is doing for his legacy. Here’s
a guy who just stamped his name on being the “Greatest Quarterback Ever,” and
yet for the time being, none of it matters. It’s really a shame how it has all
come to this. When we see Tom Brady again has yet to be seen, but one thing is
for certain…</span> </span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE CHAMPS ARE
HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </b></span></h2>
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</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yup, Pete Carroll should have ran, but he didn’t, so get
over yourselves. Last year’s edition of the Patriots truly taught everyone a
lesson in the art of perseverance on the road to the team’s fourth Super Bowl
title. So now that we’ve reached the promised land, is it possible that we can
stay on top?</span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
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</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The short answer is: Maybe, and a longer answer is: Maaaaayyyyybbbbeeeeee.
What I can’t really get over, at least for the time being, are all the
subtractions from the defensive side. Browner to the Saints, Revis to the Jets
(I went from hating him, to not minding him, to loving him, back to hating
him), Big Vince to Houston, Arrington to Baltimore…I mean that’s a lot. In
starting with the defensive backfield, Bradley Fletcher and Malcolm Butler
(yes, THE Malcolm Butler) will now be asked to fill the Revis/Browner void. Don’t
get me wrong, I like them both, but you can’t help but think it will be a tall
task for them, and their other corner adds (Robert McClain, Chimidi Chekwa), to
accomplish. Browner I can see them kind of getting around…I swear when he came
back from his suspension last year, it’s almost as if he had no idea what the
new rules were regarding contact with receivers, as it rained yellow all over
him (that doesn’t sound right at all!), but losing Revis is what I’m chiefly concerned
over. He essentially shut down half the field to the point where he didn’t even
have to be having a good day, and they still wouldn’t throw in his general
direction almost based on reputation. We have nothing like that now, so you
have to wonder how susceptible the outside will be. </span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What we do know is Devin McCourty will be patrolling centerfield
for the foreseeable future, so that is reassuring. Along with Patrick Chung,
they make a solid up-the-middle duo. Throw in Logan Ryan at nickelback, and
suddenly, as a unit, we’re looking okay. Again, not what we had, but not
terrible either…so at this point I can’t help but feeling like Mr. Orange
bleeding in the back of the car while Harvey Keitel is screaming “You’re going
to be okay! Say the GD words! You’re going to be okay!” Yeah, lots of
self-convincing. Well at least I can kind of see this working out. It’s not
like the Red Sox’ rotation. Oh I tried desperately, but even in my unwavering
homer ways, I could never talk myself into that one (my goodness are they
awful).</span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So okay, in getting into more positive things, the
linebacking core is nasty. The head of the group continues to be Jerod Mayo,
with the only question about him is being able to stay on the field. When
healthy (yes, it’s been a big “when” lately), he has been one of the more
outstanding middle linebackers in the game. Now being flanked by Jamie Collins
and Dont’a Hightower on the outside, they will stack up against any unit in the
league. Hightower and Collins are really coming along though. After watching
him develop the past two years, Jamie Collins has the possibility of really
turning the corner and entering the “elite” category after this year. </span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While losing Vince to free agency, the D-Line continues to
be strong, and probably the most underrated part about this team. Filling the “underrated”
moniker conveniently is Rob Ninkovich, who has quietly put together two solid
back-to-back years (153 tackles, 16 sacks). He is a force, and is quite
reminiscent of another #50 for Pats fans (that would be THE Ohio State’s Mike
Vrabel). On the other side is Chandler Jones, who is downright filthy. Those
two make for an incredible outside presence, and both can double as outside
linebackers, which plays on Belichick’s model of having tons and tons of
versatility with his lineup. </span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On the inside will be the Pats’ last two first round picks
in Dominque Easley and rookie Malcom Brown. Easley is unproven and has had
terrible luck with injuries (tore both his Achilles in college and had a
season-ending knee injury last year), but despite placing him on the PUP list
already, he is still planning on being ready for Week 1. Brown looks like he is
a solid prospect who had great tape and rave reviews basically across the
board. Obviously they knew the general direction they wanted to go in letting
Wilfork go, and that was to be younger and faster along the front.</span></span></h2>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Pats franchised Stephen Gostkowski (I mention this in
the middle because I didn’t want to end this by talking about kickers…snoozer!).
In all honesty though, this could be one of the better moves they made. They
did a similar move with Adam Vinatieri back in the day. You have to appreciate
the peace of mind in having arguably the best kicker in the game back there.
Also, having one that can put one through in the clutch. Gostkowski has been a
beast…at least as beastly as a kicker could possibly be.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When you talk Pats offense, of course you start with Tom
Terrific. Again, the greatest quarterback of all time. Period. Whenever he does
take the field, he hasn’t really shown any signs of slowing down at all. He
nickel-dimed/dink and dumped all over one of the best defenses of our lifetimes
in the Super Bowl, and has shown the ability to adapt to what the defense is
giving him. Of course with his suspension still holding, we’re bracing for the
Jimmy Garoppolo era to officially get under way. It’s an unfortunate situation,
but in attempting to find a silver lining in all of this, I really do want to
see what Jimmy G is all about. I mean he’s supposed to be the heir-apparent
right? Also, it’s not like he’s being rushed into the situation. He’s known he’s
going to start the season being the starter as soon as the suspension was
handed down, so you have to think he’ll be ready to go, especially after
training camp and the preseason. Again…just four games. That’s what you have to
keep saying…</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“You’re going to be okay!!”</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">4/5 of the line from last year are back to protect Tom and
The Jimmy (with Dan Connolly being the exception after retiring). Solder and
Vollmer on the outside have proven to be solid, and I think that Bryan Stork,
who was a rookie last year, is going to go down as one of the best steals this
team has had in the draft in the Brady era. Already he looks like he could
possibly get to an All-Pro level. The guard position could be in trouble
without Connolly…definitely something to watch going forward.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The backfield has been shaken up with the loss of Shane
Vereen to the G-Men. I have to say that I think this one will sting because it’s
tough to see anyone replacing his production. They signed Travaris Cadet in an
attempt to, but still, it’s tough to find RBs that are good for eight or nine
catches a game on a consistent basis. LeGarrette Blount will be out the first
game after his run-in with the law in his now infamous time with the Steelers…you
know, the team he walked out on and then subsequently walked into a Super Bowl
ring with us…yeah them. In any event, that first game will likely showcase
Brandon Bolden, who has been a solid contributor the past three seasons
(averages 4.6 yards a carry for his career). His role should expand this
season, which is something I think Pats fans are fairly comfortable with.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The emergence of Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell has
finally given the receiving corps some legitimacy. Edelman has shredded his “Welker
Clone” label to become one of the best slot receivers in the game. You have to
love you some Julian Edelman. LaFell gives them the vertical threat they had
been craving since Randy Moss was running routes. Throw in Danny Amendola, who
played extremely well in the playoffs, and Tom finally has some weapons both
inside and outside the numbers.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once the Pats get in a position to get down near the end
zone, they are going to be almost impossible to beat. Gronk is not only one of
the best red zone targets in the game now but in the game all-time. He is the
game-changer. It’s a wildly different team when he’s not healthy. Simply no
specimen has ever graced the league the likes of him, which is saying a lot
because there have been a lot of big dudes who have played this game, but his
power/speed combo is unhuman. It’s completely unfair for opposing defenses. Now
throw Scott Chandler into the equation, who had terrified the Pats for years up
in Buffalo, and you could be looking at the greatest two-headed tight end duo
we’ve seen in a while (you know, since we had what’s his name who decided to go
schizoid and start murdering people).</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">All and all, even with the departures of some big names on
defense, the offense remains mostly intact, and any time you have Tom Brady,
you have a chance. Yes, we’re going to be hearing about deflated balls and
being cheaters until the end of time, but when it came down to a game where it
was impossible to cheat, the Pats came out on top because ultimately, scandal
aside, they were the best team last year. Going forward this year, it’s going
to be tough to repeat, but they are going to be in it until the end, and as a
fan, that’s all you can ask your team to do. Put yourself in a position every
year to win a title, and luckily, for the past 15 years, we have been able to
do just that. Go Pats! #FreeBrady. Peace.</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">~Mell-o</span></span></h2>
Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-84921294452581294152014-08-17T08:00:00.003-04:002014-08-17T08:26:08.883-04:00Fantasy Football Dossier 6.0"Ohhhh, I've been missing you<br />
And the way you make me feel inside."<br />
<br />
What it is, what it is? So great to be back in the football mix in this, the year of our Lord, 2014. This is especially true for Pats fans, as we are gearing up towards a year of perhaps historical significance (everyone back home is expecting 13-14 wins and a Super Bowl birth, and really no one can definitively say they can't, so yeah, it's nice).<br />
<br />
Well I'm no good at intros...or drawing...or ice skating...or cohesive thoughts, so let's dive right in shall we? As always, I'm doing a random ESPN draft with people I don't know on my F'd up laptop that still kinda functions (so long as you don't try and open another window or do anything outside of typing in Microsoft Word). I'm choosing to do a 12-teamer snake draft with a Flex and D/ST, which is essentially the no limit hold 'em, or the Cadillac, of fantasy football. You can make a much better team via auction drafts and managing budgets and all that good stuff, but still, the vast majority of people are doing snake drafts, so we're going to be leaning pretty heavy on that (also all the drafts I do are snake...why can't my friends get with it?)<br />
<br />
Along the way, I'm going to go through my team, which of course, is gonna be super duper (at least in the present tense...we can only hope I know what I'm talking about), and also I'm going to mention a few guys that I missed out on, or that I wanted to miss out on. In any event, like I always say, this is ultimately your team and your decisions, but I am glad that you decided to check me out...you sexy minx...whoa, whoa what just happened there? Okay moving right along...<br />
<br />
<b>Team Name: <i>SCLSU Mud Dogs: </i></b>So I feel like there are not enough references in team names to The Waterboy, and I kinda just wanted to throw that out there. This isn't the greatest name of all time, but I'm just trying to make a point...and I am mostly not clever with that shit at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Draft Pick #: <i>3: </i></b>Okay this is nice to know. While I certainly love Eddie Lacy, Megatron, Forte, and Jimmy Graham...theory time (da-duh, da-da-da-da-da, dahhhh dahhh, bum-bum-bum bah...that's the phonetics for the intro to Simon Says by Pharoahe Monch by the way...if you look it up, or if you already know, yes, I do need that sound to drop right here, but no, no clue how to make that happen...somebody help me!)<br />
<br />
<b>Theory #1: <i>AP, LeSean McCoy, and Jamaal Charles Must Go Top 3: </i></b>Hey, like I've said before, you gotta start off with the easy stuff and work you're way from there. I would probably go McCoy #1. I just think even without DeSean Jackson, Philly will have a fairly dynamic offense. Maclin, Cooper, and Ertz are going to take plenty of pressure of McCoy (who also has his fair share of catches). Next I would go Peterson, because who the hell is going to say "Adrian Peterson?...that was dumb" ever?<br />
<br />
<b>#3: <i>LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia: </i></b>Okay at this moment I want to point out Peyton Manning went #2, and while that's bogus, the rest of the draft was fairly well accounted for...and also it's a draft with a bunch of strangers for a team I probably won't keep up with, so whatevs. So yeah, getting the best player at #3 is always nice.<br />
<br />
Okay, so there's a fairly lengthy amount of picks before my next selection, so I'm going to go ahead and make you aware of the "Dudes That I Like/Don't Like" section. In between picks, if there's a dude who I like or who I think was of good value, I'll let you know, and there's a dude I don't...you know I think you're smart enough to figure all the rest out...anywho...(pick taken is in parentheses, just like this statement!)<br />
<br />
<i>Dudes That I Like: Essentially a facsimile of the aforementioned group, but <b>Lacy</b> (7th), <b>Megatron</b> (9th...wow 9th? Really??), <b>The Jimmy</b> (6th), <b>Forte</b> (4th), <b>A-Jizzle</b> (AJ Green, 12th), <b>Demaryius </b>(13th), <b>Le'veon</b> (17th), <b>Brandon Marshall</b> (18th) <b>Zac Stacy</b> (19th), <b>Big Al</b> (Alfred Morris, 21st)</i><br />
<br />
<i>Dudes That I Don't Like: <b>Marshawn Lynch</b> (10th), <b>DeMarco</b> (15th), <b>Arian</b> (17th)...literally for all of these guys, I think they're going to get hurt. I don't wish it on them, but I can just see it all going down. I had this instinct about Troy Tulowitzki in baseball this year. Despite drafting him in the first round last year, I decided not to keep him for this year because I just had a gut feeling about it. So the first three months, he was literally having one of the greatest fantasy seasons (and real ones) of all time...so that was not sitting well with me. Anyway, fast forward to now, he just had successful hip surgery, but he's done for the year. Obviously it would have been nice to have those first few months, but long-term, I knew I needed someone to help me when the playoffs hit that I was at least a little assured that they would remain healthy and playing in those crunch time games. So again, I don't wish this on any of them, but just call it a feeling.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Oh, and <b>Doug Martin</b> (21st)...his value has gone kerplunk.</i><br />
<br />
<b>#22: <i>Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta: </i></b>I would consider using a top 10 pick for him. I don't know what it is, but Julio Jones does it for me. He's just cool and composed...Dez Bryant's got that Michael Irvin bad attitude on the sidelines shit coursing through his veins from that #88...makes it tough to root for (oh did I mention he plays for Dallas too?). I don't know why I had to mention Dez Bryant here. I guess it's because he's so talented and I loved him at Okie State, but now, it's like man, we get it, you're really good. They should throw the ball to you. Understood. You should talk to the coach in private about that, and not make a scene. That just doesn't sit well with me. I get pissed when people don't do their jobs, he gets pissed because he doesn't get enough attention...it's like oil and vinegar. Anyway, love Julio. I want him across the board on all my teams, because I draft guys I like to root for...in fact, that sounds like theory potential:<br />
<br />
<b>Theory #2: <i>Don't Draft Guys You Hate Or From A Team That You Can't Stand Because Ultimately, They Will Probably Screw You Over: </i></b>That's actually a lot more fact than fiction from my early days of playing fantasy (when you were young, and your heart was an open book...)<br />
<br />
<b>#27: <i>Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England: </i></b>Yes I'm a total homer, but I'm pretty sure if you're actually reading this, you probably already knew that. The top 3 TEs have to be Graham, Gronk, and Julius Thomas. Those are the only guys worthy of top 30 picks because they could all end up outgaining the likes of an A.J. Green or a Dez Bryant...not saying it will happen, but it's possible. As you see my team unfold, you'll start to realize what a lynchpin Gronk could potentially be. It's a big if, but if healthy, he's a top 10 player for certain.<br />
<br />
<i>Dudes I Like That Random Anonymous People Drafted And, Ergo, Are Dickbags: <b>Alshon Jeffery</b> (29th...oh GD you don't even know how proud I am of AJ1 making his talents transition so smoothly from USC to the NFL...he's a ballllllleeeeerrrrrrr...GAMECOCK!), <b>Montee Ball</b> (33th...this is strictly value...if you do Yahoo! (oh help you God if you forget that exclamation point), he's going top 10...so outside top 30 here...that's enough of a disparity to take a gamble), <b>Larry Fitzgerald</b> (37th...he will resurrect to a top 5 receiver), <b>Andrew Luck</b> (43rd...what is all this talk of he has no one to throw to?...everyone knows they have T.Y., Reggie Wayne...AND Hakeem Nicks now? He was 9th overall in points last year on Yahoo!...AND he has Hakeem Nicks now?), <b>Ryan Mathews </b>(44th...tremendous value)</i><br />
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<i>Dudes I Said "You Go Right Ahead And Destroy Your Team By Taking": <b>Ben Tate</b> (30th...again, gut feeling...I do not like the future here...I almost liked him more as Arian Foster's backup honestly), <b>Reggie Bush</b> (36th...he will have games that will make him worthy of going this high, but he will also likely have more games where he's so not, and you are basically inclined to draft Joique Bell as a handcuff...and it gets to the point where it's like "why am I drafting a guy that I almost HAVE to draft his backup?"), <b>Trent Richardson </b>(38th...holy shit people are taking him this high?...I made the mistake of banking on him last year, and wow does he look suddenly like a #2 on his own team, let alone on a fantasy team).</i><br />
<br />
<b>#46: Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee: </b><br />
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<b>Theory #3: Drafting Rookie RBs, Especially In Keeper Leagues, Is Imperative: </b>The reason you are able to get a guy like Sankey this low is the great unknown. I mean if you say to anyone, no matter if they know anything or everything about football "hey, here's a guy who ran for 1,870 yards in what was arguably the best two to three conferences in the nation...do you think he'll be any good now?"...wouldn't you think they would say yes? Sankey has zero competition, and considering how well top flight rookies have been doing lately (Lacy, Le'veon, Stacy, Doug Martin two years ago), I would expect him to be in the keeper conversation<b> </b>come next year.<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>Two Dudes In A Row That I Wouldn't Touch With A Ten Foot Pole: <b>Frank Gore </b>(47th), <b>Toby Gerhart </b>48th...noooooooooo thank you)</i><br />
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<b>#51: Julian Edelman, WR, New England:</b><br />
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<b>Theory #4: Julian Edelman Will Finish In The Top 3 In Receptions This Year: </b>In somewhat of poetic irony, Wes Welker went the pick before at 50...and then I take the "Welker Clone" who is now simply known as Julian Edelman. Not only will I not be surprised if he's in the top 3 in receptions, but I believe he will have a better year than Welker, and furthermore, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he led the whole league in receptions. You just have to trust me on this (especially if you're in PPR leagues...oh man is he going to be dynamite there).<br />
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<i>Dudes I Like Here: <b>Matthew Stafford</b> (52nd), <b>Keenan Allen</b> (53rd), <b>Cordarrelle Patterson</b> (62nd), <b>T.Y. Hilton</b> (66th)</i><br />
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<i>Dudes That, Yeah, Not So Much: <b>Michael Crabtree</b> (58th), <b>Ray Rice</b> (59th...not so much for the fact that he's a wife-beater...oh I'm sorry...fiance-beater, but his game took a turn for the worst last year, and Bernard Pierce is essentially on the same level, if not more valuable than Rice right now), <b>Sammy Watkins</b> (65th...great talent, but he's going to have to be the man immediately, and I'm not sure he's going to be able to make it happen).</i><br />
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<b>#70: Tom Brady, QB, New England:</b><br />
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<b>Theory #5: Tom Brady, Yes That Tom Brady, The First Ballot Hall Of Famer, Is The Most Underrated Player In Fantasy: </b>In ESPN's rankings, they have him #111 overall...111? That's a three-digit number...I'm sorry, but Brady should be in the top 100 even if he's throwing to armless receivers because he's Tom Brady. This is insanity that he is this low. Obviously he is coming off a "down" year (I know, only 4,343 yards..what a bummer), but he has all his receivers back for another year in the system, and, again big if, but if Gronk stays healthy, he should be tipping 5,000 yards this year. Now Tom Brady has a fantasy football chip on his shoulder...what's next?<br />
<br />
Quick sidenote: I've been thinking about this recently, but it's amazing how the careers
of Tom Brady and David Ortiz have intertwined. Both are viewed as
almost god-like by their respective fan bases. They have three titles a
piece, including winning that first title that seemed like the
unreachable star for literally my entire life up to that point, and in
line with that, they both participated in the wildest series of events
to win that first title (The Snow Game, Down 3-0 to NY) They were
essentially cast off and wound up becoming future Hall of Famers (Brady
for sure, Papi...I mean I think he's in. This whole "a DH can't be in
the HOF" thing is totally ridiculous), and both were supposed to have slowed down by now. Papi just hit his 400th home run in Boston, giving him 459 for his career, so you have to believe 500 is well within reach, and Brady could be a Pro Bowler again this year...good stuff.<br />
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<b>#75: Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego: </b>Our old friend of Patriots nation has found a home in San Diego, and is now one of the best flex options there is based on two things. First, he fills it up with rushing and receiving yards so that he is good for at least 80-90 total yards a game, and second, there is always the possibility of a Ryan Mathews injury, which would give him even more touches.<br />
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<i>Dudes You Can Label Me Intrigued By: <b>Brandin Cooks</b> (80th...LOVE him), <b>Michael Floyd</b> (82nd), </i><br />
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<i>Dudes Who Are Extremely Questionable: <b>Maurice Jones-Drew</b> (76th...you can argue value here, and I can argue that I think he only plays half a season), <b>Jeremy Maclin</b> (83rd), <b>Pierre Thomas</b> (88th)</i><br />
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<b>#94: Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets: </b>Okay so I kinda broke my theory here by taking a Jet, but the guy is going to be on my bench anyway, and getting a guy with Decker's credentials this late is a steal.<br />
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<b>#99: Khiry Robinson, RB, New Orleans: </b>I absolutely think Robinson takes the starting job away from Pierre Thomas sooner rather than later, and could potentially be a nice flex option this year.<br />
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<i>Dudes I'm Rocky Mountain High On: <b>Charles Clay</b> (103rd), <b>Riley Cooper </b>(109th), <b>Bernard Pierce</b> (115th)</i><br />
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<i>Dudes I'm Death Valley Low On: <b>Deangelo Williams</b> (110th), <b>Dwayne Bowe </b>(116th...you can tell that guy smokes a ton of weed)</i><br />
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<b>#118: Patriots D/ST: </b>Pats D? No way!! Look, this wasn't the best unit last year, but this is how much confidence I have in how they will come together this year. With Mayo and Wilfork back, and the additions of Revis and Browner (coming Week 5), this should be a top 10 D. Also, with Edelman returning punts, there is the potential to double down if he were to score a TD on a return...it's-ah-nice, high five! (you loving these dated references<i>?).</i><br />
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<b>#123: Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco: </b>The Niners may have found the heir-apparent to Gore. I was really hoping it would be Marcus Lattimore, but he is continuing to work his way back into at least attempting to become a professional. I really hope he can return to his former glory, but in the meantime, Hyde is making it look like a potential time-share situation, as he is becoming what they always wanted Kendall Hunter to be: Someone to take the load off of Gore.<br />
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<i>Dudes I'm Considering: <b>Darren McFadden</b> (124th...he's actually the backup now, which could be the best thing for his career if you can believe that), <b>Zach Ertz</b> (135th...I'm HUGE on him...in fact, I kind of wish I drafted him instead of Hyde, but oh well), <b>Tavon Austin </b>(137th), <b>Mike Evans</b> (139th...hmmm...another guy I probably should have taken over Hyde...well, that's why it's a mock draft I guess) </i><b> </b><i> </i><br />
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<i>Dudes That I'm Like Hall And Oates Being All I Can't Go For That, No Can Do: <b>Mark Ingram</b> (132nd), </i><b><i>Antonio Gates</i></b><i> (141st)</i><br />
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<b>#142: Johnny Manziel, QB, Cleveland:</b><br />
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<b>Theory #6: Buy In On Johnny Football: </b>Most likely, someone is going to pick him way above his ranking, but I would suggest that if you do draft him, just know that it may take some time for him to actually become the starter...my guess is after their bye week in Week 4, Brian Hoyer (assuming he gets the starting job to begin the season) plays okay, but not spectacular, and the Browns go 1-3 and they have no choice but to put him in. Once that happens though, this guy could be a fantasy juggernaut. Also, because Brady doesn't have a bye until Week 10, it gives me time to see where Manziel is at, and if need be, I'll find someone else, but the risk/reward is too great here.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>#147: Jared Cook, TE, St. Louis: </b>Gamecock! Getting Cook this low brings yet another theory:<br />
<br />
<b>Theory #7: The Tight End Position Is Surprisingly Deep: </b>Cook will be a backup on my team, but in actuality, he's a borderline top 10 TE. The same can be said about a ton of guys you can get in the 100s...Ertz, Ebron, Delanie Walker, Ladarius Green (in the likely event he becomes the starting TE in San Diego), Kyle Rudolph...so if you miss out on the big three, fear not. I would scoop up some skill players and wait until the 9th or 10th round to start looking at a tight end.<br />
<br />
At this juncture, I'm just gonna keep it to dudes I like because when you're this far into the draft, everything is relative.<br />
<br />
<i>More Dudes I Like:<b> Ronnie Hillman</b> (148th), <b>Justin Hunter</b> (149th), <b>Ladarius</b> (152nd), <b>Andre Williams</b> (160th)</i><br />
<br />
<b>#166: Rod Streater, WR, Oakland: </b>I actually don't like how many people have listed him as a sleeper. Usually when that happens, we're all left with egg on our face. Hopefully this is not the case, but to get him this late, I figure what the hell right?<br />
<i> </i><br />
<b>#171: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina: </b>He's in a very similar situation as Sammy Watkins in that he's a rookie, but yet he's the essentially the de facto #1 receiver for the Panthers. The difference is that the pressure will be much less on Benjamin, and he also has a much better QB throwing him the ball. This guy is definitely a guy to look for towards the end of the draft as becoming a major steal.<br />
<br />
<b>#190: Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City: </b>Wooooooo Succop! Gamecocks baby!!<br />
<br />
<i>The Last Drafted Dude I Like: <b>Ka'Deem Carey </b>(191st...really looking forward to see how the Bears implement him...dynamic back here)</i><br />
<br />
<i>The Undrafted Dude I Really Like: <b>Blake Bortles </b>(he may get the job out of camp, but if he doesn't, it should read very much like how it will in Cleveland if Manziel doesn't start Week 1...if the Jags start off slow, they're going to go to the rookie, and by all accounts, he should be just fine considering he has absolutely no real expectations...nothing even close to Johnny Cleveland) </i><br />
<br />
So of course that went really well...probably too well. Here's the squad in case you were scoring at home...<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i><b>QB: Tom Brady</b></i><br />
<i><b>RB: LeSean McCoy</b></i><br />
<i><b>RB: Bishop Sankey</b></i><br />
<i><b>WR: Julio Jones</b></i><br />
<i><b>WR: Julian Edelman</b></i><br />
<i><b>TE: Rob Gronkowski</b></i><br />
<i><b>FLEX: Danny Woodhead</b></i><br />
<i><b>D/ST: Patriots</b></i><br />
<i><b>K: Ryan Succop</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>BN (QB): Johnny Manziel</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (RB): Khiry Robinson</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (RB): Carlos Hyde</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (WR): Eric Decker</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (WR): Rod Streater</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (WR): Kelvin Benjamin</b></i><br />
<i><b>BN (TE): Jared Cook</b></i><br />
<br />
So yeah, that's pretty much everything I could have wanted. Tons of star power, tons of Pats, tons of value. If you do enough of these, you can really get a feel for how drafts are unfolding. My suggestion would be to do a few mock drafts before hitting the real thing. You want to have contingency plans in place once you're actually on the clock for real. There's nothing worse than hearing that stupid countdown clock as you're trying to make a decision on who to take. Check out ESPN's ADP calculator (right <a href="http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/livedraftresults" target="_blank">here</a>) before the draft to find out which guys are moving up or slipping in drafts and plan accordingly. <br />
<br />
Well, it's about time to hit the old dusty trail. Thank you so much for taking your time to read this, or tolerating this link popping up on your Facebook news feed. Hope it was somewhat entertaining and insightful. Also, I mean most of you are at work...what else do you have to do?...work? Oh come on! Anyway, best of luck to all of you (unless you're in a league with me...then you can suck a D). Enjoy this season. LET'S GO PATS!! Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-o<br />
<b> </b>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-64017424079616573972014-05-08T13:35:00.002-04:002014-05-08T19:46:04.812-04:002014 NFL Mock Draft"Rumors follow everywhere you go<br />
Like when you left and I was the last to know."<br />
<br />
What it is football fans! We have finally reached Draft Day (thank you so much NYC for having to push this back another two weeks...as if this wasn't late enough to begin with). This is a special day for me not just because I may get the distinct honor of watching the draft for three and a half hours only to have the Pats trade down and get someone, and not because my Bruins hope kick a little Montreal ass tonight (actually they really need to do that), but because we may see a Gamecock go #1 overall tonight for the first time in almost 35 years, when the legendary, Heisman Trophy winning George Rogers was picked by the New Orleans Saints, or as they were referred to then, the Aints, in 1981.<br />
<br />
Jadeveon Clowney for some reason does not have a contract right now despite being arguably the greatest defensive prospect to ever go through the draft process. That's right...EVER. This is irking me a little bit, not gonna lie. What else does he have to do really? I still think for Houston to either not take him, or for someone to not move into the top spot to take him, is completely insane, but that's just my incredibly partisan view of the whole situation.<br />
<br />
So, with that being said, it's onto the mocking of the draft. Over the years, I had posted mock drafts in February and March and a few weeks before the draft, but suddenly it's donning on me that those are complete wastes of time. Instead, I'm just doing this one...on Draft Day, because really this is the only one that matters. The intel on most of the top prospects is in, so we have a much better sense of what teams think about players and who is sliding up/down draft boards. So, with out further ado, here's the 2014 Draft as predicted by moi, the best qualified superstar (that's an EPMD line for those who were unaware...if you ever have some free time, check out their catalog on Spotify or wherever...you'll be glad you did).<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Houston - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, THE USC: </b>Again, it would be utter madness if anyone else went here. I certainly dig Khalil Mack's game, but Clowney was impressive against SEC opponents (and Clemson, where he terrified Tajh Boyd for three years), whereas Mack was impressive against Ohio State, and literally that is the only non-D1AA school (or whatever the abbreviation is for the league that is under Division 1 is now) that he played against. What may be even more perplexing is if Atlanta does not make the move up to get him. In no way are the Texans going to receive an RG3-like deal in return should they decide to move down, but I think the bounty will be something like trade spots, a 2nd, 4th, and a first next year. This is a win-win for both teams. Atlanta gets JC7, who wants to go there anyway, and least we forget the recent run of success Gamecock defenders have had there (most notably John Abraham and Dunta Robinson). Plus, the Texans will move down to #6, where Blake Bortles, who many speculate is the Texans' #1 QB, will likely still be available. In getting back to Houston, I think two things are perhaps getting overlooked: The owner is from USC, and they also have one of JD's teammates, D.J. Swearinger, already on defense, so in terms of comfort level, Houston and Atlanta would be the top 2.</li>
<li><b>St. Louis - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: </b>In what could be the lightning rod of the draft if the Rams decide to go Johnny Football here, I think ultimately, Sam Bradford remains the QB, and they sure up his blind side with Robinson, who has become the unanimous #1 offensive lineman in the draft.</li>
<li><b>Jacksonville - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: </b>This was brutal between Watkins and Mack. Ultimately, I think the Jags go with a receiver here. They just signed Chris Clemons, and the receiver situation is a mess with Blackmon likely done there, and Cecil Shorts being the only guy of note.</li>
<li><b>Cleveland - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: </b>Nope, no Johnny Manziel here either. The Browns will be between whoever is the #1 receiver on the board and Jake Matthews. Evans is finally getting the boost up draft boards that he deserves, and now will likely not make it by Oakland's pick at #5.</li>
<li><b>Oakland - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: </b>If ever there was going to be a steal at #5...</li>
<li><b>Atlanta - Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: </b>The Falcons will likely stay put and snatch the best available tackle at #6...come on, where's your balls Atlanta? Trade up for Jadeveon!</li>
<li><b>Tampa Bay - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: </b>At this point, the Bucs will be seriously looking to trade down, especially with Watkins and Evans off the board. Lovie Smith really likes Donald, and that usually wins out in the War Room (unless the owner gets overzealous here and demands they take Manziel).</li>
<li><b>Minnesota - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: </b>There was a lot of speculation that the Vikes would go Blake Bortles here, but that doesn't seem to be the case (in fact, if the Rams take Manziel at #2, look out for Sam Bradford heading to Minny). Instead, the Vikings are likely to go with someone in the front 7, whether it be Barr or if Donald fell to them.</li>
<li><b>Buffalo - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan: </b>Lewan rounds out the consensus OTs in the top 10. The Bills have been rumored to try and be moving up to take Clowney, but I expect they stay put and go tackle, a la Atlanta.</li>
<li><b>Detroit - Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, LSU: </b>Beckham is perhaps the most fluid receiver in the draft in terms or route running and ability to operate in space. He has gone from borderline first round to absolute top 15 pick.</li>
<li><b>Tennessee - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: </b>Gilbert is believed to be the top corner, and the Titans have been starved for help in the secondary, as it seems to be a fluid changeover aside from Jason McCourty.</li>
<li><b>New York Giants - Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame: </b>Martin represents the last of the "elite" linemen. Like 90% of the mocks I looked at had Eric Ebron going here, but there seems to be enough information out there to suggest the G-Men will not be looking to go after a tight end this high.</li>
<li><b>St. Louis - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M: </b>Let me first just say that I think it's going to be someone else besides the Rams who trade up to take Johnny either here or perhaps somewhere in the top 10. This would be a dream scenario for St. Louis though. They could either take Manziel here and trade the albatross known as Sam Bradford, or they could trade out and once again accumulate picks based on a team's glaring QB need.</li>
<li><b>Chicago - Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: </b>Seems to be the thought that they will go DB, but they really can trade down and get a quality guy in the low 20s. I'm calling this the Manziel/Bortles territory...at some point, someone's going to make a move on these guys.</li>
<li><b>Pittsburgh - Darquese Dennard, CB, Michigan State: </b>If the Bears and Steelers for whatever reason stay put, I would be very surprised if it's not DB-DB, and setting off somewhat of a run on the secondary towards the end of the first round.</li>
<li><b>Dallas - HaHa Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: </b>Sure, taking Johnny Manziel as the heir apparent sounds like a good idea in theory, but Romo was actually great last year. It was their defense that was so atrocious, they missed the playoffs yet again. I mean their defense was historically bad, so as tempting as Manziel would be if he were around here, they need to scoop up someone to help them defensively. Dix is also a potential Pro Bowl caliber player, so it's not as though the consolation prize would be all that bad...HaHa!</li>
<li><b>Baltimore - Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina: </b>With the departure of Ed Dickson, Ebron could fill in right away and make for an exciting combination with Dennis Pitta to set Flacco up for the future.</li>
<li><b>New York Jets - Marqise Lee, WR, Southern Cal: </b>I think Lee has star potential, which is why I have him ranked ahead of Brandin Cooks and Cody Latimer. Really though, I'm hoping they botch this pick so they can add it to their choke picks (Kyle Bundy over Warren Sapp...smooth move ex-lax...that joke is time-related as well).</li>
<li><b>Miami - JaWuan James, OT, Tennessee: </b>Odds of Miami moving up after last year: One trillion to one...place your bets!</li>
<li><b>Arizona - Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida: </b>Not saying he will go here necessarily, but this would probably be his floor I'm thinking.</li>
<li><b>Green Bay - C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama: </b>They've addressed their need at pass rush by adding Julius Peppers, now they need help on the inside to go along with A.J. Hawk.</li>
<li><b>Philadelphia - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oklahoma State: </b>After losing DeSean Jackson to DC, I would have to believe they're going to be going in the way of a receiver sooner rather than later.</li>
<li><b>Kansas City - Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA: </b>In our annual "Logan Mankins/Must Have An Interior Lineman In The First Round" pick, Su'a Filo presents the Chiefs to load up along the left side of their line after taking Eric Fisher #1 last year. There has been talk of a QB just in case they can't ink Alex Smith to a deal.</li>
<li><b>Cincinnati - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: </b>The Bengals have a general need at CB and DE so I would think they go with either/or here. Kony Ealy from Mizzou is another guy to watch for here.</li>
<li><b>San Diego - Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: </b>When Danario Alexander went down before the season started and without Malcom Floyd for most of the year, the Chargers' receiving depth was exposed (although Eddie Royal did have a nice resurgeance).</li>
<li><b>Cleveland - Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State: </b>Of all the QBs that I have being taken in the first round, this is the one I can see actually happening. I feel like the Browns know that they can stay put here at the tail end of the first round and still get the guy they want (the feeling is that they think drafting Carr at #4 is too high, which I tend to agree with).</li>
<li><b>New Orleans - Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: </b>Seems like size is the only thing that is a con about Verrett, as many say he is the most talented of all the corners in the draft.</li>
<li><b>Carolina - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State: </b>The Panthers have to be desperate to get a receiver after watching their two best from last year, Steve Smith (Ravens) and Brandon LaFell (Pats) skip town.</li>
<li><b>Your New England Patriots - TRADE DOWN:</b> I mean is it even worth thinking about who they would take here?...Is it? The only problem is I just don't know if the kind of buzz exists for teams wanting to move back into the first round (this is assuming that the top 3 QBs are gone), so having said that, I guess I'll make a pick against my own will...<b>Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech: </b>It's about time we get Tom Terrific some weapons.</li>
<b></b>
<li><b>San Francisco - Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska: </b>The Niners have to be looking at Seattle and just say "okay so big dudes on the outside is the way to go." Jean-Baptiste's measurements: 6'3, 218lbs...yeah. I will say this though: SF has to be at least throwing out some kind of deal to move up because they really covet Odell Beckham, so I would not be surprised if they hatched out a deal if he were to slide out of the top 10.</li>
<li><b>Denver - Ryan Shazler, LB, Ohio State</b>: Gotta be defense...like 100% lock.</li>
<li><b>Seattle - Joe Bitonio, G, Nevada: </b>Seattle is in the sweet position of not only being the champs, but being loaded basically across the board. Now may be the time to start focusing in on the trenches. Bitonio is extremely versatile, and can play both tackle and guard at the NFL level.</li>
</ol>
Well, I hope your Draft Day is an epically amazing one (except if pull for the Jets, then I'm really hoping it all comes crashing down on you). Take care everyone. Stay safe. GO BRUINS!!<br />
<br />
Peace,<br />
<br />
Mell-o <br />
<ol>
</ol>
Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-1541476141243202382014-03-14T01:26:00.001-04:002014-03-15T00:39:49.267-04:00Fantasy Baseball Dossier 7.0"He's the kind of guy that would say<br />
Hey baby let's get away<br />
Let's go some place, huh<br />
Well...I don't care."<br />
<br />
Well, here we are again. In only a few weeks, baseball's regular season will officially be open for business (in Australia of all places), and what would be a baseball season without doing a long, rambling, semi-coherent fantasy preview (semi-coherent is being generous, but when you are the sole writer, editor, publisher, and creator of a page, you can afford to use some self-generosity...if there is such a thing/word). Well shit man, let's get right on after it before you roll-bounce to another site...especially to that dreadful Matthew Berry, who sits on literally the highest metaphorical horse known to man.<br />
<br />
So, as you may have been accustomed to seeing if you have read any of my prior dossiers, the preview will revolve around a real mock draft that I did with real people I've never met before on a fucked up laptop. The reason again that I do this is that as the draft progresses, it's easier to point out the trends. I have to stress that before we dive into this that ultimately this boils down to who you want on your team and not what some Yuengling drinking<i>, really </i>good looking guy from Boston tells you to do. This is like making picks, and then saying "for entertainment purposes," which in essence absolves you from having to take any responsibility for anything you say...it's pretty great actually:<br />
<br />
<b>Roster Setup: </b>Standard ESPN League: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 1B/3B, 2B/SS, 5 OF, UTIL, 9 P's, 3 BN <br />
<br />
<b>Team Name: It's Koji Time Bitch!: </b>Even if I don't land Koji on my team, it still is representing the defending champs and a guy who, in one year's time, went from cast-off reliever, to early 90s Eckersley in six months...pretty freggin' great if you ask me.<br />
<br />
<b>Draft Position: #2 of 10: </b>So here, I'm either getting Mike Trout or Miggy Cabrera. You could argue Goldschmidt, McCutchen, even Kershaw could go 2, but to me...<br />
<br />
<i><b>Theory #1: Mike Trout and Miggy Cabrera Are Still The Only Sure Things</b></i>: Hey, you gotta start off with the easy ones and work your way down...that's good business. But in all seriousness, Goldschmidt had a monster year, but he's still below this group. Basically the same with McCutchen, Car-Go, and Clayton Kershaw, who rightfully deserves to be the best fantasy baseball pitcher <i>by far </i>right now.<br />
<br />
<b>#2: Mike Trout, OF, LAA: </b>If you get Mike Trout, feel free to do cartwheels and flips...or at least attempt to do them. This guy literally prints fantasy money. So I'm excited, and I have no inhibitions on hiding it.<br />
<br />
So I have about 15 picks to do flips and other lucha libre maneuvers. In this time, the usual suspects to the top 20 (Tulo, HanRam, Prince, Adam Jones) go by, and new standbys (Bryce, Chris Davis, Carlos Gomez) go by as well. Bryce is near and dear to me because you really can't tell me that it wasn't worth it at the time to take him wherever he ends up going (potentially a top 10 pick this year). His ceiling is the best player in baseball...there's not a whole lot of guys you can say that about. Carlos Gomez is another guy I'm huge on. He's a .300-30-100-30 player potentially. and finding that outside the top 10 is usually pretty difficult. So of course, both of these guys go in succession before my next pick, so I went pretty safe...<br />
<br />
#<b>19: Yu Darvish, SP, TEX: </b>I would be surprised if Yu doesn't win the AL Cy Young this year. Outside of Kershaw, few dominated like Darvish...and he has to face a DH.<br />
<br />
#<b>22: Yasiel Puig, OF, LAD: </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #2: Nothing Can Be Said To Not Take Yasiel Puig In The Top 25: </i></b>Puig had a, dare I say, Mike Trout-like effect on fantasy teams in the second half of last year, and in just doing that, there's no way I would pass on Puig here. In my eyes, fantasy usually comes down to the players that jump off the page at you, and know that it is entirely possible that one guy could take a matchup over. Puig is absolutely one of those elite players in this game, and his potential is scary and exciting at the same time.<br />
<br />
<b>#39: Jose Fernandez, SP, MIA: </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #3: All I Want Is Jose Fernandez And Forget The Rest: </i></b>I actually got to see this guy throw most of his starts. I would be the only one at the bar I worked at that was eager to throw the Marlins games on with Jose starts at first, but as the season progressed, everyone understood that this guy is must-see TV. My theory within this theory is that the fact he plays on the Marlins is why he's not closer to the the top 20-25 in rankings. Otherwise, if you had actually watched this guy pitch, you could argue he was the best pitcher in the second half of last year...and that includes Kershaw. This guy is 21 years old (turns 22 in July). and already, he seems to have a tremendous amount of poise and command both on and off the mound. He is a special, special player.<br />
<br />
<b>#42: Craig Kimbrel, RP, ATL: </b><br />
<br />
<i><b>Theory #4: I Still Love Closers: </b></i>No matter what, I continue to be convinced that if you surround your team with a few elite closers and other guys who will rack up saves, more often than not, you are going to win your pitching categories. Obviously you can't have all closers, but just know that, at least in this situation, you are rolling with nine pitchers at a time, and rather than have mostly starters who only go one, maybe two times a week if you're lucky, I think that closers, who can sometimes pitch three, four, even five games a week (five is in pretty limited circumstances...but it could happen) have a bigger impact, and because they throw one inning or less an appearance, if they screw up, not only is it less circumstantial on your overall ERA, but they have other attempts to make it up. I feel like I say this every year, but I enjoy being the pied piper of closer domination.<br />
<br />
Kimbrel continues to be the gold standard of closers, and even though I love Aroldis Chapman (i.e. the Cuban Missile Crisis), there's no way you can convince me that Kimbrel's #1 in that category.<br />
<br />
<b>#59: Kenley Jansen, RP, LAD: </b>Chapman went two picks before here...if I had a Kimbrel/Chapman 1-2 at closer...well that wouldn't even really be fair would it? Jansen is a pretty good consolation prize. Let's see, a 9th inning guy who pounds the shit out of the strike zone with a cut fastball...sound familiar? It's like Mariano reincarnated...into a really big dude.<br />
<br />
<b>#62: Wil Myers, OF, TB: </b><br />
<br />
<i><b>Theory #5: This Will Be The Last Time Wil Myers Goes Outside The Top 50 For A Long Time: </b></i>I'm convinced after last season that Myers is ready to explode this season, and once that happens, good luck getting him this low. It's quite possible he makes a jump into the top 30 by the end of the year.<br />
<br />
<b>#79: Billy Hamilton, OF, CIN: </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #6: Anytime A Guy Could Conceivably Steal 100 Bases, Take Him:</i> </b>It was at this point when I really felt like I had the league by the balls and that if I took any interest in this team, it would be curtains...curtains I say! Like the theory mentions, it is quite possible Hamilton goes for 100 steals. He is going to have a never-ending green light on the basepaths, so try and jump on a guy who could single-handedly win the SB category for you (by the by, 18 teams had less than 100 stolen bases <i>for the season </i>last year...so yeah, he is a big-time difference maker).<br />
<br />
<b>#82: Carlos Santana, C/1B, CLE</b>: Santana is great for me because he allows me to be flexible in terms of the next spot I need to fill, whether it be catcher or first base. He is a solid option at both spots.<br />
<br />
<b>#99: Manny Machado, 3B, BAL: </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Theory #7: I'm Still All-In On Manny Machado: </i></b>Despite recovering from that horrific knee injury, I still can't get past what he did last year, and it sounds like he is on the way to recovering at least close to the start of the season, so right now, I still consider him a borderline top 50 player, and getting him around #100 is a big steal.<br />
<br />
<b>#102: Trevor Rosenthal, RP, STL: </b>People were practically begging the Cardinals to give Rosenthal the closing gig last year, but after Edward Mujica did such a good job in that role, Rosenthal was relegated to set-up duties. However, Mujica faded down the stretch, and Rosenthal was able to step up in a big way, and now is the incumbent Cards closer dating back to his playoff run from last year in which he allowed no runs in 20 1/3 innings.<br />
<br />
<b>#119: Everth Cabrera, SS, SD: </b>Shortstop is going to be a fairly weak position every year, so it would be wise to plan according and don't wait and think someone remotely decent will fall to you late in the draft. Cabrera has shown elite speed which could propel him to the 45-50 stolen base mark, and also showed much improved discipline at the plate, spiking his average up from .246 in 2012 to .283 in 2013.<br />
<br />
<b>#122: Michael Wacha, SP, STL: </b>Well if you didn't know about him before, Wacha's performance in September and in the playoffs was certainly an eye-opening experience. He's got all the tools and plays on the favorite to get back to the World Series. This is yet another guy who I'm finding it hard to believe is going this late, but, as I've explained before, rankings are for suckers, so take advantage while you still can.<br />
<br />
<b>#139: Xander Bogaerts, 3B/SS, BOS: </b>The expectations are big here as Bogaerts could represent stability at a position the Sox haven't had since...NOMAH!...and yet we've won three championships since then...crazy...anyway, his position eligibility will become SS/3B within a matter of a week or so (depending on how many games at a position your specific league requires...ESPN is I think 10 games?). I'm really looking forward to this, and I'm excited because this is by far the Sox' best option at the position they've had since Alex Gonzalez (no offense Stephen Drew).<br />
<br />
<b>#142: Jurickson Profar, 2B/3B/SS, TEX: </b>So Profar finally has a clear path to the Rangers' everyday lineup with the Ian Kinsler trade to Detroit. I think he's going to be great in his first full year. He has a realistic shot of making the top 10 2Bs next year if he can package together what he showed us in flashes last year. These last two picks are representing a pretty common thread:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Theory #8: Basically No One On My Team Is Over 25: </b></i>This current wave of players hitting the majors is probably the most exciting crop to come along since I've been watching baseball. These guys are pushing the game to new heights, and I'm doing everything in my power to cash in on it. Green is the new black.<br />
<br />
<b>#159: Danny Salazar, SP, CLE: </b>The guy throws 100 MPH on the reg...I mean what else is there? I've never heard of a guy throwing that fast and not having made at least some kind of dent on the stat sheet. Even if he might get touched up here and there, his K/9 will be north of 10, so in that value alone, Salazar is of tremendous value here.<br />
<br />
<b>#162: Sonny Grey, SP, OAK: </b>Not only does he have the best name in baseball, and the thought of his name wants me to transition into random <i>Donnie Brasco </i>references (forget about it), but Grey showed that he was ready for the jump and was great down the stretch.<br />
<br />
<b>#179: Christian Yelich, OF, MIA: </b>Another one pretty near and dear to me. Yelich was thought all along to be the Marlins' best prospect until Jose's swift takeover last year. Still, Yelich has the makeup of a potential batting champ. I'm expecting at least .290 with a good possibility he puts it into the .300-.310 range by the end of the year.<br />
<br />
<b>#182: Neftali Feliz, RP, TEX: </b>There have been concerns about Feliz' velocity in spring so far, but considering he was throwing 98 in the Dominican League, it seems like he's saving some MPHs for the regular season, which seems like a smart decision. Also, he is finally back in the bullpen after a so-so attempt to become a starting pitcher.<br />
<br />
<b>#199: Jason Castro, C, HOU: </b>This is where Santana's position flexibility pays off for me. I've been able to hold off getting a catcher, and if Castro went off the board, I could simply draft a 1B (Mark Teixeira's ADP is 180.7...I know he's not the same player, but doesn't that seem really low?). I really like Castro and his 30 homer potential for the lowly, but soon to be pretty good Houston Astros.<br />
<br />
<b>#202: Nate Jones, RP, CWS: </b>His fastball rarely dips under 97 MPH and he's the frontrunner to become the closer on the south side...where do I sign up?<br />
<br />
<b>#219: Anthony Rendon, 2B/3B, WSH: </b>Rendon is a very intriguing player for the Nats, as they seem poised to take over the NL East. In that lineup, Rendon could do some serious fantasy damage.<br />
<br />
<b>#222: Alex Wood, SP, ATL: </b>While he still does not have a starting spot locked up, Wood has looked great this spring, and it would appear like he will be in the rotation over Freddie Garcia. The Bravos did pick up Ervin Santana after Kris Medlen appears likely to miss a significant amount of time (I never like hearing "elbow injury" and "Dr. James Andrews" appearing too close to each other).<br />
<br />
<b>#239: George Springer, OF, HOU: </b>I would be surprised if Springer is not starting for the 'Stros right away. He's too good to keep down right now. Sure it was between AA and AAA, but his minor league line last year is staggering (.303-37-108-45). He will provide immediate dividends in every stat category.<br />
<b><br />#242: Taijuan Walker, SP, SEA: </b>For my final pick, I take another risk/reward guy in Walker, who, due to shoulder inflammation, was shut down earlier this spring and is now just getting back to throwing long toss. Even if Walker ends up on the DL to start the year, it sets up for you to use a DL spot (hopefully your league has at least one) and pounce on a player who gets off to a hot start. Then, once Walker returns, you can further evaluate him without feeling pressure to actually put him in the starting lineup. To me, if Walker gets back to where he has been at, he could have a tremendous strikeout impact for the suddenly prospering Mariners.<br />
<br />
So, to recap, here's the lineup:<br />
<br />
<b>C: </b>Jason Castro<br />
<b>1B: </b>Carlos Santana<br />
<b>2B: </b>Jurickson Profar<br />
<b>3B: </b>Manny Machado<br />
<b>SS: </b>Everth Cabrera<br />
<b>2B/SS: </b>Jurickson Profar<br />
<b>1B/3B: </b>Xander Bogaerts<br />
<b>OF: </b>Mike Trout<br />
<b>OF: </b>Yasiel Puig<br />
<b>OF: </b>Wil Myers<br />
<b>OF:</b> Billy Hamilton<br />
<b>OF: </b>Christian Yelich<br />
<b>UTIL: </b>Anthony Rendon<br />
<br />
<b>BN: </b>George Springer<br />
<br />
<b>P: </b>Yu Darvish<br />
<b>P: </b>Jose Fernandez<br />
<b>P: </b>Craig Kimbrel<br />
<b>P: </b>Kenley Jansen<br />
<b>P:</b> Michael Wacha<br />
<b>P: </b>Danny Salazar<br />
<b>P: </b>Sonny Grey<br />
<b>P: </b>Neftali Feliz<br />
<b>P: </b>Nate Jones<br />
<br />
<b>BN: </b>Alex Wood<br />
<b>BN: </b>Taijuan Walker<br />
<br />
This draft really couldn't have gone much better. Maybe if I could have paired Bryce Harper and Mike Trout together, but otherwise, this team is going to do some major damage in every conceivable category you can come up with. The emphasis on the hitting side is on speed and average. I figure if you focus on those two aspects, the power numbers along with runs will fall into place. Plus, if you have Mike Trout and don't make the playoffs, you should be ashamed of yourself.<br />
<br />
I continue to emphasize strikeouts and pitchers who can get a lot of them. If you just go by the K/9 stat line, it really makes drafting pitchers much easier. No stat can tell how well a pitcher dominates a game more than the K/9 stat. I'm feeling incredible about this one, and really wish my friends could just for some reason allow me to replicate this and beat them out of their money...I would really appreciate that.<br />
<br />
As always, I love to talk about guys who may not be getting drafted, or may be slightly off the 2014 radar but could make an impact either at the end of this year or in 2015 and beyond.<br />
<br />
<b>The All 260.0 (Undrafted) Team:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Mike Zunino, C, SEA: </b>Hey who really knows what the Mariners are going to be capable of this year...at the very least, they seem to be attempting to progress. I think Zunino is like the only righty in this lineup...I'm not sure what that does for his fantasy value, but I just wanted to point out that this team has like eight lefty hitters (Justin Smoak (GAMECOCK!) is a switch hitter for the sake of argument...so maybe 1.5 righties)...that's got to be some kind of record right?...anyway, Zunino's got serious potential, and the only question now becomes if he will fulfill it this year or will he need a full year to adjust. I know I'm not betting against it.<br />
<br />
<b>Travis d'Arnaud, C, NYM: </b>This is finally going to be the put up, shut up time for d'Arnaud, who I swear I've been looking up his page on MILB.com for like five years (made his first minors appearance is '07 with the Phillies organization, so even longer). I'm excited to see what he does with Zack Wheeler and, ultimately, Matt Harvey.<br />
<br />
<b>Kolten Wong, 2B, STL: </b>Wong will become the everyday second baseman with Matt Carpenter moving to third full time. There could be some Jurickson Profar/Dustin Pedroia-like slow adjustment to start, but once he gets locked in, he will be a run-scoring machine.<br />
<br />
<b>Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF, DET: </b>With the Fielder/Kinsler trade, Miggy Cabrera is shifting back to first while Castellanos, who had been transitioning to become an outfielder, will return to his natural third base spot, which could mean he may have the always intriguing 3B/OF eligibility. <br />
<br />
<b>Javier Baez, SS, CHC: </b>He may not make it to the majors this year, but he's worth officially adding to the radar. Last year's line between A and AA: .282-37-111-20...and <i>he's a</i> <i>shortstop! </i>This is some epic stuff, and the hope is that Baez tears up whatever level he ends up at and Theo has no choice but to pull the trigger (Note: Because Starlin Castro is the SS of the present and future, Baez may be in for a position change to third base).<br />
<br />
<b>Byron Buxton, OF, MIN: </b>Like Baez, there is a chance Buxton doesn't play in the majors at all this year, but he's already the #1 minor league player after only playing one year in A ball. Perhaps not this year, but next year could be the debut of Mike Trout 2.0, so get ready for that.<br />
<br />
<b>Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, BOS: </b>So obviously JBJ is basically the easiest guy for me to root for...he's a Gamecock <i>and</i> he plays for the Sox...what's not to like? I may be a homer in saying this, but Jackie's going to have a really strong year. He's not going to replicate what Jacoby will do in the Bronx, but expect a high .200s average and plenty of runs scored, and maybe a stolen base and homer sprinkled in along the way.<br />
<br />
<b>Archie Bradley, SP, ARI</b>: Bradley is the #1 pitching prospect, and judging on how filthy he was in AA last year, you may want to make a note around May or June, whenever Bradley's arbitration clock runs out, and pick him up in hopes that he's anywhere close to how well he has played in the minors.<br />
<br />
So in essence, the all undrafted list is looking a lot more like a top prospect list. You have to credit the fantasy community for unearthing most of the gold mines (I recall last year's list being hella long)...damn you internet.<br />
<br />
In all seriousness, the draft I went through went too well, but it does display pretty much everyone I have any intention on drafting...here are some notable guys besides Bryce Harper and Carlos Gomez that I just missed out on:<br />
<br />
<b>Matt Carpenter, 2B/3B, STL (selected 58th): </b>This guy was a huge pickup for me last year. He had an amazing amount of position flexibility, with second, short, third, and outfield. In addition, he led the NL in hits and runs. Still is eligible at second along with third base, and should have no problem putting up at least comparable numbers this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Greg Holland, RP, KC (selected 76th): </b>He started off so dreadful that is widely thought that hard-throwing phenom Kelvin Herrera would unseat Holland. Fast forward six months, and Holland is wrapping up one of the most dominant stretches ever for a closer. He ended with the second best K/9 of closers with a 13.84. He was absolutely unhitable to close out last year, and is probably the third closer going off the board.<br />
<br />
<b>Matt Adams, 1B, STL (selected 101st): </b>Ideally, I wanted Santana at catcher and Adams playing first, but Adams went a pick before I went, sullying that plan. In any event, this will be Adams' first full season starting, and considering he had so much success in the power numbers department, Adams is an enticing, high ceiling player who doesn't come with too much risk.<br />
<br />
<b>Tony Cingrani, SP, CIN (selected 149th):</b> Cingrani is a big part of my continued emphasis on youth, especially in dealing with starting pitching. Cingrani put up big strikeout numbers in his two stints in Cincinnati, and he's a southpaw...that's a winning combo right there.<br />
<br />
<b>Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP, LAD </b> <b>(selected 155th): </b>Ryu is another lefty who had huge strikeout numbers in his first go-around in the majors. Being out in LA, he's going to get a bunch of wins, so look for Ryu's numbers to be even better this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Chris Archer, SP, TB (selected 217th): </b>I just re-watched his start against the Yankees where he threw a complete game shutout on the road, and it's just burned in my memory. I know I shouldn't judge based on one start, but he was <i>that </i>good, and his numbers overall last year were also pretty good having only pitched about 130 innings.<br />
<br />
So, of course, you're not going to get everyone, but I'm still very happy how things went, and hoping when that actual live draft happens, I'll be looking somewhat like this...one can only hope. <br />
<br />
Well please feel free to leave a comment about anything you read on here...or anything en general, and I'll be more than happy to entertain them. As always, good luck, happy drafting, and cheers everyone. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-25946831610918790322013-08-23T05:31:00.001-04:002013-08-23T13:04:41.666-04:00Fantasy Football Dossier 5.0"A smoke-filled room in a corner basement<br />
The situation must be right<br />
A bag of goodies and a bottle of wine<br />
Were gonna get it on right tonight."<br />
<br />
Alright, it's late August, and we're right back in the fantasy football mix. This is probably the "hot spot" of fantasy drafts (between the 2nd and 3rd preseason games), so I'm thinking the timing is perfect for you to waste a few minutes, or hours, or, if this makes you exceptionally drowsy, a few days with me. Well I'm hideous with intros, so let's just get right after it:<br />
<br />
As per usual, I'm going to run through an actual draft that I just did with strangers on a fucked up laptop. Not to get completely off topic, but this is reminding me about the iPhone and iPad not having Flash, and how infinitely frustrating that is around this time when literally every draft platform uses Flash (by every platform, I mean Yahoo! and ESPN...at least those are the ones I use). Anywho, I think I have a real good handle on everything this year, so let's see how I manage to get off of my own advice and blow it...<br />
<br />
<b>Team Name: Lattimore Nation </b>(Marcus Lattimore will become one of the biggest stories in football when he gets healthy and looks to bridge the Frank Gore era in San Francisco)<br />
<br />
<b>Pick: #1 </b>(of course this will never happen in any of my real drafts...except hockey...I have good luck with hockey picks for some reason)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>#1: Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota: </b>Duh.<b> </b> <br />
<br />
<b>Theory #1: We Know Who #1 Is, But Who Does #2 Work For?: </b>So clearly, Adrian Peterson is atop the fantasy mountain, and if you were in a keeper league and picked him up in the third round last year (like this guy), then you're flying high again like Ozzy. So, with that debate most likely settled, who comes off the board next? Here are the candidates:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Arian Foster (HOU): </b></i>So going into this season, it was presumed that Foster, who was #1 last year coming off of AP's ACL injury, would be #2. However, the injury bug continues to persist with Foster, with first a calf injury, and now, a back injury...and on it goes. Look, Foster is like the Troy Tulowitzki of fantasy football. He's a freak when he's healthy, but you have to set yourself up for him going down.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Jamaal Charles (KC): </b></i>In my opinion, the only one who could possibly surpass Peterson in points this year is Charles. As I've been saying for years, Charles is the biggest home run hitter in the league. No one busts them off like him. The Chiefs are revamped, have two stud outside tackles (Brandon Albert and #1 overall pick Eric Fisher), and a QB who can actually make teams believe they might be passing at some point. Of course, he has a foot strain, and may not play at all in the preseason. Still, the risk/reward is too much to pass up.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>Doug Martin (TB): </b></i>One could argue that his back-to-back games against Minnesota and Oakland last year were the two greatest consecutive running performances of all time on the road...or in general really. In any event, Martin has burst onto the scene and is now a top 5 back. He suffered a head injury against the Pats in the preseason, but it doesn't sound like it will keep him out of the opener. I'm looking for a repeat performance this year.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Marshawn Lynch (SEA): </b></i>Lynch is probably the most solid of all the other options. I just can't imagine a scenario where he doesn't get 1,300 yards and 10 TDs. There may be some who get more points, but Lynch is solid, and has suddenly found himself in the middle of one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Calvin Johnson (DET): </b></i>While this may come as a shock to some of you, think of it like this: If someone reaches for Megatron at #2, I'm betting your reaction goes something like "wow that's really high for him...but he is really good." With that, I say taking Calvin Johnson at #2 is not a reach. Not only did the guy break the Madden Curse, but came within 36 yards of 2,000...and this was on a team with no clear-cut #2 receiver and basically him banking on double coverage every play...this guy is the real deal.<br />
<br />
<b>#20: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta</b><br />
<br />
<b>Theory #2: Julio Jones, A.J. Green, and Brandon Marshall Are Worthy Of Late First Round/Early Second Round Picks: </b>While there is a tremendous amount of depth at receiver, at the elite level, there just isn't. What I would suggest is seriously consider using one of your first two picks on one of these three (or get more than one). Jones and Green will both be entering their third years, and while both played on an elite level last year, their potential has yet to be fully realized in my opinion. Brandon Marshall seems to be really gelling with Jay Cutler on the Bears. He could be in for a Megatron-esque season this year.<br />
<br />
<b>#21: Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Theory #3: Tight End Depth Is Retardedly Low: </b>With news that Gronk is likely to be out for at least the first few weeks of the regular season, and Dennis Pitta and Dustin Keller both winding up with season ending injuries before the real games even started, you're looking at four elite tight ends (Graham, Vernon Davis, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten) with the rest being shots in the dark to certain degrees. If you wait until after the 5th round to draft a tight end, you're going to be relying on a risk or a sleeper...so good luck with all that.<br />
<br />
<b>#40: DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas: </b><br />
<br />
<b>Theory #4: If You Can Stomach The Risk, DeMarco Murray And Maurice Jones-Drew Are The Best Values In The Draft: </b>If based on talent and situation alone, Murray would be a top 10
pick. If I draft DeMarco, I'm basically banking on the fact that while
he may not play the whole season, but when healthy, he is a dynamic runner.
Also, you can't go wrong with a Sooner 1-2 at running back.<br />
<br />
Drew is basically in the exact same boat, just with less offensive talent to soften the load. MoJo has been the catalyst of the Jags' offense, but his injuries and Blaine Gabbert's awfulness have me kind of concerned. Still, Drew in the third round?...that's a jam I can get down with. <br />
<b><br />#41: Colin Kapernick, QB, San Francisco: </b>The thinking here is this: At this point to start the 5th Round, all the "old faithfuls" (Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Manning) are off the board, throw in Cam Newton, and suddenly we're looking right at the 2nd year wonders in Kaepernick, RGIII, Andrew Luck, and Russell Wilson. As I have stated before, I believe Kaepernick has the highest ceiling of this group from a fantasy perspective, with Luck having the biggest real upside.<br />
<br />
Kaepernick has weapons now, and with Michael Crabtree slated to come back by mid-season, his numbers should only improve. This 40-60 range is where all four should go off the board, so if you're in the market for one of these franchise guys, this would be the time to move in.<br />
<br />
<b>#60: Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis: </b>I'm thinking of similar draft day moves for skill players that the Rams did, and I can name Ricky Williams to New Orleans and Julio Jones to Atlanta, when teams, in essence, gave up nearly an entire draft to move up to get these guys. Julio is obviously paying off, and say what you will about Ricky Williams, but by the numbers, he is one of the best backs in the history of football (look it up). If this holds true, then Austin could be poised for a monster year. With Danny Amendola going to the Pats, Austin becomes the de facto #1, and in addition to that, he may factor into the return game as well.<br />
<br />
<b>#61: Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay: </b>While this is not a PPR league, I think that getting Nelson this low is a bargain. In the absence of Greg Jennings, I believe it will be Nelson, and not Randall Cobb, who will end up as the leading point getter of the Packer receivers. This is a bit of a risk going with a receiver at the flex over a runner. However, I crafted a theory around this...<br />
<br />
<b>Theory #5: Somehow, There Is Always A Runner That Comes Out Of Nowhere To Become Relevant: </b>This is also known as "The Peyton Hillis/Alfred Morris Corollary." I am not too concerned with getting another runner at this point because the value simply isn't there. Getting a receiver the caliber of Nelson presented an opportunity to add depth and provide a Tavon Austin insurance plan just in case that doesn't work out as well as I would like.<br />
<br />
Handicapping the runners coming out of nowhere is always a challenge, so let's see where some of the sources may come from:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Stepfan Taylor (ARZ):</i> </b>To me, Taylor is the clear-cut favorite to do big things breaking from obscurity. I wrote about him in my preview before the preview, and I continue to share the same sentiments today with Mendenhall and Ryan Williams in front of him.<br />
<br />
<b><i>LeGarrette Blount (NE):</i> </b>So not really an obscure name, but after losing his job to Doug Martin, Blount went right off the fantasy pool's deep end, but it seems like he's landed on his feet in New England. Blount will be featured as a change of pace to the elusive Stevan Ridley while also being a 3rd down and goal line situational back, meaning Blount could get something in the neighborhood of 8-10 TDs if all goes as planned.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Bilal Powell (NYJ):</i> </b>Of all the running back situations in the league, this is probably the murkiest. Chris Ivory has never been above third string on an opening day depth chart, and now finds himself #1 in the Meadowlands. The problem is that he can't stay on the field (at least yet), which opens the door to Powell and Mike Goodson. Powell seems like he has much more upside than Goodson, and just finished his last preseason game averaging nearly ten yards a carry.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Knile Davis (KC):</i> </b>Jamaal Charles' foot strain is a problem, and despite wanting to draft him #2 if I had the choice, remains a risk. If I draft Charles, I will look to lock up Davis as well as a handcuff. Davis looked okay in his last year at Arkansas, but has turned it up in the preseason, and now is the clear-cut backup in KC. In addition, he is catching passes out of the backfield, meaning he will transition a lot easier than a one-dimensional player.<br />
<br />
<b><i>DuJuan Harris (GB):</i> </b>Eddie Lacy looked impressive in his first go as a starter, but the fact that he has not been named the starter, and Harris will get the bulk of the reps says something.<br />
<br />
<b>80. Giovanni Bernard, RB, Cincinnati: </b>Bernard looks like he's poised to take over the starting job in Cincy from the Law Firm (Benjarvus Green-Ellis...and associates). Bernard should particularly get a look in PPR leagues as it seems like the Bengals are going to try and get their short game in order, drafting Bernard and Tyler Eifert this past year.<br />
<br />
<b>81. Seattle D/ST: </b><br />
<br />
<b>Theory #6: Drafting Team Defenses Sucks: </b>I know I've probably said this before, but I hate the idea of drafting a team defense. This feels like it was such a rushed move when the D/ST spot was first concocted..."So what are we going to do about defense and return men?" "Oh right...them...well they matter so little to us that rather than draft them as individual players, we'll lump them all in together so we don't have to come up with point systems for them." Seriously, whoever started this is lazy and a major dick...and to protest, here are the top 10 fantasy D-Men for those who are doing IDP (Individual Defensive Position) leagues.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona: </b>Peterson clearly already has the return game down, and with his improvements in coverage, he has become one of the favorites for defensive player of the year. I would spend a pick in the first eight rounds to get him, which is unheard of for DBs.</li>
<li><b>J.J. Watt, DE, Houston: </b>The biggest force off the edge in the league, Watt could be pushing 20 sacks to go along with all kinds of tackle for losses and forced fumbles.<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina: </b>The BC tackle machine is going to be a force for years to come at middle linebacker, and already projects as the top tackler in the league for this year.</li>
<li><b>James Laurinaitis, LB, St. Louis: </b>Much like Kuechly, Laurinaitis is a tackling machine. With Chris Long, they have created a solid foundation for the Rams' defense.</li>
<li><b>Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco: </b>If it weren't for the concerns of his hand injury, Willis could very well top the list. Continue to monitor his status, as while he may not go in Week 1, he will likely be available the following week or soon thereafter.</li>
<li><b>Sean Lee, LB, Dallas: </b>Lee has perhaps the best pure instincts at the middle linebacker position. Along with DeMarcus Ware, these two should be racking up the fantasy points in big D.</li>
<li><b>Jerod Mayo, LB, New England: </b>Mayo has been a mainstay in the Pats' D since being drafted to go along with Vince Wilfork as the best 1-2 middle punch in the league.</li>
<li><b>Eric Berry, S, Kansas City: </b>Berry is about to emerge as the best safety in the league with figureheads Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu on the back 9's of their respective careers.</li>
<li><b>Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago: </b>Tillman forced 10 fumbles last year and is unquestionably a force in the Bears' secondary.</li>
<li><b>Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City: </b>Johnson is an elite tackler and is also known for having one of the best ball-stripping skill sets in the league.</li>
</ol>
<b>100. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Pittsburgh: </b>Mike Wallace is out of the picture, and while Antonio Brown is talented enough to become a star, he has been inconsistent. Enter Sanders, who has looked great in the preseason and is more than capable of pushing 1,000 yards.<br />
<br />
<b>101. Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver: </b>I was big on Montee Ball coming into the season, and figured he would win the job outright, but he really hasn't separated himself from Hillman or Knowshon Moreno for that fact. I will take a gamble on Hillman here knowing he is my fourth back and that if this doesn't work out, hopefully I can get in on the ground floor of a waiver wire gem.<br />
<br />
<b>120. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston: </b>This was a fairly low-risk pick, with the only chance of Hopkins not producing being if his concussion symptoms continue to linger. Matt Schaub finally has two deep threats to make use of his cannon arm.<br />
<br />
<b>121. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Theory #7: Justin Blackmon Is The Biggest Darkhorse Of The Draft: </b>You could make the argument for Percy Harvin and Michael Crabtree as well, but Blackmon is the only one of the three to not be on the sidelines due to injury. Blackmon will do absolutely squa-douche for you for the first four weeks due to a drug suspension, but after that, his potential is huge. Blaine Gabbert is a downer, but even so, Blackmon is probably a top 15-20 receiver when he's out there.<br />
<br />
<b>140. Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland: </b>The buzz around Cameron is growing by the day, so getting him this late is getting less and less likely. Cameron is going to be a beast in the red zone. Look for at least six TDs with that number likely to be closer to double digits.<br />
<br />
<b>141. Blair Walsh, K, Minnesota: </b>Never like to take a kicker last because everyone else does, so screw that. Walsh kicks in a dome, can bomb long field goals, and will be working around a Christian Ponder-led offense. Translation: Points bonanza.<br />
<br />
<b>160. E.J. Manuel, QB, Buffalo: </b>It doesn't even matter to me that Manuel may not be the starter in Week 1 due to a knee procedure he had done, he will be the starter when I need him to be (Kaepernick's bye week, Week 9). Manuel has the upside of any of the four second-year stars, but he's available, like in this draft, in the final round. Even if Manuel doesn't work out, I will have eight weeks to try and navigate the backup QB market before needing to deploy one.<br />
<br />
Now, a few last news and notes items:<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Michael Vick</b></i> being ranked outside the top 100 is ludicrous. His stock is going up since being named the starter, but he still is going right around the 10th round. Sure, he's not a top-5 caliber QB anymore, but he can fill up the stat sheet. I'm trying to get him as a backup, but if I whiff on the big 4 sophomore QBs, I would still feel confident starting Vick from the get-go. </li>
<li>Keep an eye on <i><b>Kembrell Thompkins</b></i> in New England. He just went over 100 yards in his last game, and with no one taking the baton as the #2 receiver for Tom Terrific, Thompkins could be a steal in the late rounds of the draft.</li>
<li><i><b>Zach Sudfeld</b></i> is another Patriot worth noting. It looks like he will fill the proverbial slot tight end role in place of Aaron Hernandez. Also, with Gronk out for Week 1, Sudfeld will likely start until he returns, and will be featured in 2-TE sets.</li>
<li>It was thought that the Rams' backfield was going to be very crowded, but it looks like <i><b>Daryl Richardson</b></i> will become their featured back and could receive upwards of 20 carries a game. He is a strong choice in the 7th-8th rounds.</li>
<li><i><b>Ryan Broyles</b></i> is finally healthy, and with the Titus Young saga officially over in Detroit, Broyles is in line to be the #2 receiver in Detroit. Broyles has loads of talent, and can be a major contributor if he stays healthy. Broyles is going undrafted in most leagues.</li>
<li><i><b>Daniel Thomas</b></i> has been splitting first-team reps with Lamar Miller in the preseason, and while Miller carries a 3rd-4th round price tag, Thomas is available in the 11th-12th. This is an optimal chance to snag a backup before he potentially becomes a starter.</li>
</ul>
Alright gang, that's at least a little of what you need to know for your draft. Anyone trying to tell you they have everything is completely full of themselves. Again, we're fantasy analysts, not fortune tellers. You can only hope to correctly prognosticate the future, but really, we're just assholes who think we know more than we do...but it's entertaining right? I mean if you made it this far, that has to mean something.<br />
<br />
Well, seasons greetings from the MIA. Can't wait for the fall...really can't wait for the winter (never thought I would ever say that). So, take care of yourselves everyone, and good luck this year. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-89286706196511364022013-07-15T11:29:00.001-04:002013-07-16T04:53:24.451-04:00Fantasy Football: The Pre Preseason Edition"Whatsoever you want, got to work very hard to gain."<br />
<br />
So
I guess my roof is being painted right now, so no suntanning today,
meaning I'm kind of stuck inside before work, meaning I have time to
kill, meaning I'm doing something fantasy sports related.<br />
<br />
Sure,
we haven't even got to training camp, but so much has been happening
already that I would be remissed if I didn't try and weave my way
through the inner workings a little bit before the season and every
other preview guide (including mine) comes out.<br />
<br />
This is
more of a way to discuss what has happened so far and what the possible
ramifications could be. Also, it's going to be a way to try and predict
the future, which, when you boil it down, is really what all of us
fantasy pundits are doing (we're probably better than Miss Cleo, but not
by much). So, without further ado...<br />
<br />
<b>The Aaron Hernandez Saga And What It Means To Guys Who Will Actually Play Football This Year: </b>I'm
not going to go into the details of this whole story because it's been
done (and is still being done) by every breathing sports writer in
America, and also, to write anything more than a sentence about a guy
who was going to be a fixture in the Patriot offense for years to come
and is now a murderer is beyond depressing.<br />
<br />
Needless to
say, I have a better chance of impacting your team than he does, so
what does that mean? Well, let's start with what it does for the Pats.
Clearly their entire offensive scheme that was derived from two years
ago when the epic WHONK trio (Welker/Hernandez/Gronkowski) was in
effect. Wes is in Denver, Hernandez is...well, you know, and Gronk has
been an injury train wreck after being seemingly indestructible in 2011.
The Pats are likely to have Gronk and Jake Ballard (TE sleeper for the
first few weeks if Gronk is out) as their tight ends, which, while being
a decent combo, does not present nearly the kind of mismatches that a
Hernandez/Gronk combo would. This means there will be more pressure on
the receivers to make up for the production.<br />
<br />
Danny
Amendola is clearly the biggest prize of the Pats' receiving corps, so
look for him to go somewhere in the 5th-6th rounds. He will likely be
the Hernandez replacement in the slot with the ability to run outside
routes. The true sleeper is Julian Edelman, who, all the while, has been
the "Welker clone," and is one of the big reasons why Wes became, at
the time, "expendable." Edelman is a huge darkhorse, and has shown
flashes of brilliance in the receiving game and the return game. He will
be the slot receiver and will also likely be returning punts, so keep
him in mind for those sleeper lists.<br />
<br />
Another name to
consider is Aaron Dobson, the rookie out of Marshall. While Donald Jones
is listed ahead of him on the depth chart, I think ultimately, Dobson
wins the job based on size (6'3) and his pure athletic ability. Many
receivers have gone to Marshall since Randy Moss was drafted in '98, but
none have been compared to him except Dobson, who scouts have raved
about. He will need to be a key contributor in the outside passing game
for Brady and the Pats to have any success throwing the ball downfield.<br />
<br />
Now
that we've covered the Patriots, what does Hernandez being out of the
game mean in terms of drafting tight ends? Well, the tight end pool, in
terms of guys who put up consistent numbers, is extremely shallow. This year, I'm saying that Dennis Pitta is the dividing line between guys that
can put up 10 points a game and guys that can't. Pitta, by the way,
could venture his way into the top 3 in fantasy with more of an
importance placed on his position with the departure of Anquan Boldin.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Plus-Pitta Side</b><b>:</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Jimmy Graham:</b></i> The consensus #1.</li>
<li><i><b>Gronk:</b></i> Could be a steal if you can get him cheap and don't mind rolling with a lesser TE for a few weeks. </li>
<li><i><b>Tony Gonzalez:</b></i> Came back just in time to be a top 5 tight end...again. </li>
<li><i><b>Vernon Davis:</b></i> Has been in line for a giant season for
seemingly years, and now might get it with a stable QB and Michael
Crabtree down for at least the first 6 to 8 weeks due to an Achilles
injury.</li>
<li><i><b>Jason Witten:</b></i> Lost in the shuffle was the fact that this guy caught 110 balls last year.</li>
</ul>
<b><i>The Minus-Pitta Side</i></b><i><b>:</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Kyle Rudolph:</b></i> If he had someone other than Christian Ponder throwing to him, he would be ranked higher.</li>
<li><i><b>Owen Daniels:</b></i> This is an example of a guy who isn't the "sexy" pick, but always produces.</li>
<li><i><b>Brandon Myers:</b></i> Leaving Oakland could possibly become
the greatest move of his career. Another guy, like Rudolph, who could
find themselves on the Plus-Pitta side before too long. </li>
<li><i><b>Antonio Gates:</b></i> Stock continues to keep slipping.</li>
<li><i><b>Jermichael Finley:</b></i> Sure, he's been a disappointment,
but without Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, A-Rod will probably be
looking for someone familiar to keep that dynamic passing offense going.</li>
</ul>
Not a whole lot else really to report from tight ends. I would
keep an eye on Tyler Eifert in Cincy. Suddenly the Bengals have one of
the best 1-2 TE combos in the league with Eifert and Jermaine Gresham,
and Andy Dalton will be letting it fly this year, and while I wish it
were possible, he can't throw every ball to A.J. Green. Also, Brandon
Pettigrew in the pass-happy Detroit set. He is a tremendous bye week
plug-in, and could realistically be a top 10 TE when all is said and
done.<br />
<br />
<b>Rookie Running Backs Will Always Be Underrated...Buy Low While You Can: </b>Coming
into this season, there will be three guys (Doug Martin, Trent
Richardson, and Alfred Morris) who will likely go in the top 10 of your
drafts this year that were rookies last year. Martin and T-Rich were on everyone's radars,
but none were drafted anywhere close to where they are ranked now
(T-Rich went in the 3rd-4th, Martin in the 5th-6th, and Alfred
Morris?...well, if you drafted him, I applaud your psychic sense, but
otherwise, he was the big prize in the fantasy waiver sweepstakes last
year). The reason for this is the "unknown" factor of how well their
talents will translate from Saturdays to Sundays. There are two rookie
backs who will likely land the starting job on their respective teams
from Week 1:<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Montee Ball:</b></i> Drafted in the 2nd round by Denver, Ball
will have no real competition outside of Ronnie Hillman, who is
projected as more of a Jacquizz Rodgers type in terms of being the
"change of pace" back. Everyone knows how dynamic the Broncos passing
offense will be, which should lead to a lot of running room for Ball up
the middle. He is projected to go in the 4th round but could see his
stock creeping into the 2nd round by the time this season's up.</li>
<li><i><b>Le'Veon Bell:</b></i> Also picked in the second round, the
Steelers finally get a bruising, every down back in Bell. He is even
more of a no-doubt Week 1 starter than Ball. The Steeler offense could
struggle if Antonio Brown cannot assume the #1 receiver role (which I
think he can, but you never know), and their line can't stay healthy,
which was the biggest reason they struggled last year. Le'Veon is ranked
a little lower than Ball, but is a strong pick in the 4th-5th rounds.</li>
</ul>
A sleeper that you need to keep on your radar is Stepfan Taylor,
who was drafted in the 5th round by the Cardinals. Rashard Mendenhall
and Ryan Williams seemingly cannot stay healthy, which could open the
door for the rookie out of Stanford to take over the reigns. Some
draftniks had Taylor's value as high as the late 2nd to early 3rd in the
NFL Draft, but managed to slip all the way into the 5th. As your looking for ways to spend those final picks to add to
your team's depth, I would keep an eye on Taylor, and check out his
progress throughout the preseason.<br />
<br />
<b>Second-Year QBs Are Getting No Love In The Fantasy World: </b>You
would think that after having the most productive rookie QB class to
enter the league since 1983, these guys would be hitting the top 5
rounds of fantasy drafts, but alas, that is not the case. What is the
deal? If you're looking for some kind of reasonable explanation here
besides "it's only their second year," then you won't get it from me. To
be honest, I'm almost spellbound at the fact that this group all could
finish inside the top 10 in QB scoring this year, with maybe two or
three hitting the top 5. I think the only real question is which
direction should you head? Well, let's see if we can break this down a
little.<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Andrew Luck:</b></i> Last year's number one
pick hit the ground running in Indy, helping the Colts reach the
playoffs after there was supposed to be a "learning curve." Look, this
guy was projected to be a stud, and, ta-da, he's a stud. He revitalized
Reggie Wayne's career, and made T.Y. Hilton (shout out to FIU) a solid
#2. With Ahmad Bradshaw on board to help out Vick Ballard, Luck has a
solid backfield to take some pressure off. His football IQ is
ri-donkey-balls, so expecting him to exceed his outstanding rookie
season (4,374 yards, 23 TDs) is actually completely within reason (don't
forget he also had 255 yards rushing and 5 TDs on the ground...yeah
he's got wheels too).</li>
<li><i><b>RGIII: </b></i>No full name needed
here. The guy was electric as advertised, and became the first QB since
Randall Cunningham to throw for 3,000 yards and run for 800 yards. My
assumption for why he's ranked so low (some have him outside of the top
15) is because of that brutal knee injury that he re-aggravated in the
playoffs against Seattle last year. However, he's looked solid in
practice, he says he's okay...that's pretty much all we can go by right
now. The preseason should be very telling in terms of his draft stock.
Personally, I think he's going to be okay, but there's always that risk
when you're talking about a scrambling QB.</li>
<li><i><b>Russell Wilson: </b></i>He's
too short, his college success won't translate to the pros...yeah where
are those people now? Wilson was stellar after taking the job outright
from Matt Flynn, who was signed to be the QB of 2013 and possibly
beyond. Now he's in Oakland, and the Seahawks are one of the Super Bowl
favorites. Now with Percy Harvin on board to team with Sidney Rice, you
have to believe Wilson's numbers are only going up.</li>
<li><i><b>Colin Kaepernick: </b></i>I
truly think we're sleeping on this guy...still. Even though he went to a
Super Bowl, even though he was a magician throughout the regular season
and the playoffs, he's still underrated. Okay so here's my theory on
this...it's a west coast thing. This kind of stuff happens all the time.
East coasters (like myself) are painfully oblivious to what happens on
the left coast. Maybe it was the competition level at Nevada that had
people questioning this guy a little, but regardless of who you play, if
you have 10,000 passing and 4,000 yards rushing throughout a collegiate
career, your name is Colin Kaepernick, and that's it...<i>in the history of Division I College Football!!</i>
Then, he takes away the job of Alex Smith in the midst of the best year
of his career (Smith was leading the NFL in completion % at the time of
the injury that cost him his starting spot)...and he's still not
breaking the 5th round? This is why I love preseason rankings. Only
concern here is Crabtree, whose injury will certainly affect the passing game.</li>
</ul>
<i>Random
Sidenote: ESPN literally just had a discussion about who was the best
of these four as I was writing this...iiiirrrooonnnnyyyyyy.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Real Life Rankings:</b></i><br />
<ol>
<li>Andrew Luck</li>
<li>Colin Kaepernick</li>
<li>Russell Wilson</li>
<li>RGIII</li>
</ol>
<i><b>Fantasy Rankings:</b></i><br />
<ol>
<li>Kaepernick (I would draft him in the 4th-5th rounds)</li>
<li>Luck (5th-6th)</li>
<li>RGIII (6th-7th)</li>
<li>Wilson (6th-7th)</li>
</ol>
I
have to stress that the space between 1-4 is so minute that you can
argue literally any order of this you want. The bottom line is that
because of last year's draft and the emergence of Kaepernick in his
second year in the league (first starting), you don't have to sweat if
you miss out on an Aaron Rodgers or a Tom Brady.<br />
<br />
<b>There Is A TON Of Wide Receiver Depth: </b>Sure,
the top guys (Megatron, AJ, Julio, Brandon Marshall, Dez Bryant) are
great to have. You're guaranteed either 100 yards, a TD, or both pretty
much every week. However, if you choose to go RB-RB the first two rounds
(or RB-RB-RB in the first three), and don't get any of the "elite" WRs,
fear not. You'll be pleasantly surprised to know that you can actually
get yourself in really good shape if you start drafting WRs in the 4th
or 5th rounds. Here's a few examples of what's available:<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Larry Fitzgerald (Projected Round: 5th): </b></i>Okay,
hear me out if you got burned by Fitzy last year. You shouldn't blame
him, you should blame Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, and the rest of the
ship-shod QBs the Cards had to try to throw the ball to him. I know
Carson Palmer isn't going to throw for 5,000 yards, but you have to expect that he will be a significant upgrade over last year's QB crew. If he gets a decent QB, Fitzgerald is still a top 5 receiver.</li>
<li><i><b>Antonio Brown (6th): </b></i>Yet
another guy who, if you drafted last year, probably killed you. Brown
not only got hurt but wasn't nearly as productive as what was projected
for him. However, with Mike Wallace in Miami, Brown becomes the de facto
#1 in Pittsburgh. I'm banking on a bounce-back performance.</li>
<li><i><b>Reggie Wayne (6th): </b></i>Wayne
has become fantasy's "old faithful" as he continues to grind out year
after year of successful campaigns. He still finds himself on the
outside of the "elite" receivers, which is good for you because with
Andrew Luck on board, Wayne will continue to be a top 50 player.</li>
<li><i><b>Danario Alexander (7th-8th): </b></i>When
Vincent Jackson left for Tampa, it was assumed that Malcom Floyd would
be Philip Rivers #1 target, but Alexander emerged as a TD machine in the
second half and one of the most valuable fantasy receivers in the game.
With another year in the system, Alexander could be in line for a 1,000
yard, 10 TD season.</li>
<li><i><b>Cecil Shorts (7th-8th): </b></i>CSI
follows the Danario Alexander plan of coming from out of nowhere to
become fantasy relevant. The one concern going forward here is the murky
QB situation in Jacksonville. Shorts had a massive up-kick in numbers
when Chad Henne assumed the reigns from Blaine Gabbert, so the hope is
that he wins the job in camp. Another thing to keep in mind is that
Justin Blackmon will be out the first four weeks, meaning CSI will be
the #1 until his return, so there is a chance for immediate short-term
benefits regardless of who is throwing to him.</li>
<li><i><b>Stevie Johnson (8th): </b></i>This
is contingent on E.J. Manuel winning the starting job from Kevin Kolb,
which I think is an inevitability. If that were to happen, the deep ball
would be back in effect in Buffalo. Ryan Fitzpatrick came unglued last
year, which was unfortunate, especially after I sang his praises for the
better part of the last three years, so Johnson's numbers probably took
a hit because of it. Having said that, he still went over 1,000 yards
on the season, making it three straight years going over 1,000. Getting
Johnson as your WR2 or even as a backup is a pretty solid option.</li>
<li><i><b>Greg Jennings (8th): </b></i>Sure,
he switched from Aaron Rodgers to Christian Ponder...to say that is a
drop-off is an understatement of the wildest portions. Still, he's got
plenty of upside considering he's going for the first time this low in
about three years. I say he has at least two good years left at a
minimum.</li>
<li><i><b>Tavon Austin (8th): </b></i>The last time a team
moved way up the draft board to get a receiver, it was Atlanta with
Julio Jones. After a few weeks of growing pains, Jones became a beast.
I'm not saying Austin will be hitting Julio's numbers, but the Rams made
a significant move to get him, meaning that he will be a big part of
the offense from the jump. It may not all click immediately, but I'll be
very surprised if looking back on this draft, getting Tavon in the 8th
round will not be considered a serious bargain. </li>
<li><i><b>Jeremy Maclin (9th): </b></i>Maclin
seems like the guy doing all the scoring while DeSean Jackson is more
of the chain-mover in Philly. Again, drafting guys this late, you're
essentially filling your bench and getting bye week replacements, but
with a guy like Maclin, he could sneak into your starting lineup based
on a good matchup.</li>
</ul>
<b>There Are Two Defenses Worth Taking In The First Ten Rounds: </b>It's
a simple as this: If you miss out on Seattle and San Fran's D/ST, you
might as well wait it out and fill up your bench. These two are both on
elite levels already, and only got better in the offseason. The Seahawks
went and got Cliff Avril from Detroit to help with their pass rush,
while the Niners blew up their whole defensive backfield, signing Donte
Whitner, Carlos Rogers, and, perhaps the biggest splash of all if it
pays off, Nnamdi Asomugha. They also moved up to get Eric Reid in the
draft, and he will be the starter at free safety from day one. <br />
<br />
The
Broncos, Bears, and Texans are probably on that second tier of
defenses, and after that, it's a real crap shoot. The Ravens and
Steelers are always solid options, but don't offer nearly the kind of
big-return potential that they used to. In terms of underrated, you may
want to check out Arizona...not so much for their defense, but anytime
you have control over Patrick Peterson, the odds go way up to score a
special teams TD.<br />
<br />
Okay, good first day (or three).
Of course I will be back with the 5th installment of the fantasy
dossier. Look for that right in the middle of the preseason. Until then,
I'll be stocking up on knowledge, and I suggest you do the same. Take
care and be safe everyone. Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-16773495481570498382013-04-25T14:14:00.001-04:002013-04-25T14:28:10.451-04:002013 NFL Mock Draft 2.0"The bars could not hold me<br />
Force could not control me now."<br />
<br />
Heidi-ho neighbor! Well the draft is finally here. This truly is the greatest thing ever...I think the only problem I have is that it's not a two-day marathon on Saturday and Sunday like it used to be. Sure it meant you had no life if you watched >75% of the whole thing (which I would have done every year had it not been for work, which they say I'll hopefully not have to do at some point in my life...those will be good times). Anyway, it's one of those things that I hold close to me...much like Patriots' Day (I would be remissed if I didn't mention the Marathon, given the wicked Boston guy that I am...we showed our resolve as a community, and has been showed in the past/present/and most definitely the future, we ain't nuthin' to F with).<br />
<br />
<b>Trends That Have Happened Since Two Months Ago:</b><br />
<br />
So what I have figured out is that over-analysis is the devil. Really trying to narrow down the truth versus complete vagaries, which are eevvveerrryyywwwhheerrreee, is the sweet science of mock drafts. Basically Step #1 is to just introduce team needs and the prospects that could make a significant impact on the first few rounds (which let's face it, is basically what most of the people will be tuning into see). Then Step #2 is putting one out like the night before or the day of (hopefully I can get this done by Thursday night...actually I have Thursday off so, and I'm putting this in print (or ink if you still for some reason print articles), I promise we'll be good. Okay...rambling...<br />
<br />
<b>Trend #1: Dion Jordan Has Gone From A Late First Rounder To Lawrence Taylor: </b>Okay so there was never any question about Jordan's athleticism, but after the combine and just understanding how gigantic this guy and how quick he moves, he could absolutely be electric this coming year and for many more to come. <br />
<br />
<b>Trend #2: A Left Tackle Will Go #1 Overall: </b>Most likely this is Luke Joeckel, who has been the consensus top tackle from the jump. There has been some rumblings about Eric Fisher though, which has solidified his stock in the top 5. <i><b>Update: </b>In an interesting turn of events, it looks like it will be Eric Fisher going #1 tonight.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Trend #3: QBs Will Control The Late First Round/Early Second: </b>Probably the most fascinating dynamic in all of the draft is the complex QB picture that has surfaced this year. Geno Smith will likely be the first QB off the board, but there is really no spot that he has been tied down to. He could go as early as #4 to Philly, and as late as the end of the first round to a team that traded back in (like Jacksonville). What is known is that there will be a lot of signal callers available then, with the possible exception being Ryan Nassib, whom Buffalo has been linked with at #8 because his old Syracuse coach, Doug Marrone, is now the head man with the Bills.<br />
<br />
I would keep an eye on E.J. Manuel. He has tested off the charts, and after his hype-fulfilling senior season, he is probably the best QB in this draft. I'm thinking that he doesn't get out of the first round, as one of those "hot" teams (i.e. teams that aren't set at QB...Jags, Raiders, Bills, Browns, Jets) could be looking to get back into the first (dear Oakland, pleeeeaassssseeee trade with the Pats...I want a chance at Jadeveon Clowney next year).<br />
<br />
<b>Trend #4: There May Not Be A Running Back Taken In The First Round For The First Time In Awhile: </b>1963 to be exact, so that's...that's a lot of years right there. While Eddie Lacy is by far the #1 RB prospect, there hasn't been enough juice behind his hype machine to make him a surefire lock to go on Thursday.<br />
<br />
<b>Trend #5: </b><b><b>Tyler Eifert's Stock Is Going Wayyyyy Up</b>:</b> I really thought I had
too much to drink at Flanigan's last night when I saw Todd McShay mock
Eifert in the top 10 (to the Jets at #9). For a fairly deep tight end
class, and the way defense is dominating the shape of the first round,
it's kind of a shock to see Eifert that high up. He has the tools to be a
dynamic playmaker, so you can't hate on that. I'm pretty sure Vernon
Davis was the last tight end to go in the top 10 (2006), so it's been
some time.<br />
<br />
<b>Trend #6: </b><b><b>Dee Milliner's Stock Is Falling Fast: </b></b>I stand by my thoughts that
Milliner is a top 5 pick despite his medical past. The fact remains
that despite him not being of the likes of Patrick Peterson, Milliner is
an above average prospect at arguably the toughest position in
football. It seems like he'll be ready for training camp (although will
likely miss OTAs), but despite that, Milliner will likely slip into the
middle of the first and not towards the top like what was originally
thought.<br />
<br />
<b>Trend #7: Star Lotulelei's Stock Is Falling Even Faster: </b>If you had told me two months ago that Manti Te'o had a chance to get taken over Star, it would have been laughable...now?...not so much. Health issues and the post-combine aftermath have pushed his stock further down than just about anyone's in the draft.<br />
<br />
So with those bits out of the way, here's how things might go...<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Kansas City: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan: </b>Choosing between Fisher and Joeckel is basically like Coke and Pepsi. They're both on the same level, and essentially, it comes down to personal preference. While we had thought all along Joeckel was the man (and hey, he still might), the word is that the Chiefs are leaning more towards Fisher.</li>
<li><b>Jacksonville: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M: </b>I was always under the impression that Joeckel would go 1, leaving the Jags to choose between Fisher and Dion Jordan. Now with this recent development, it opens up some possibilities. First off, the Jags will have first dibs on the consensus #1 player in this draft. Second, in having said dibs, they also control a major bargaining chip. There are plenty of teams that would love a franchise left tackle, and they will likely be out of luck unless they get into the top 4.</li>
<li><b>Oakland: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida: </b>Raiders should be looking to get out of this pick, as there will be a number of teams looking to leap-frog Philly to get Lane Johnson.</li>
<li><b>Philadelphia: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: </b>If he's still there...</li>
<li><b>Detroit: Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, OLB, BYU</b></li>
<li><b>Cleveland: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: </b>Nothing like drafting QBs in the first round in back to back years.</li>
<li><b>Arizona: Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon: </b>If ever there was a steal at #7.</li>
<li><b>Buffalo: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: </b>Austin or Ryan Nassib...and if Buffalo has their way and can get back into the end of the first round, maybe both.</li>
<li><b>New York Jets: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU</b></li>
<li><b>Tennessee: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: </b>This is assuming that they are absolutely sure he can go from Day 1 of camp.</li>
<li><b> San Diego: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: </b>I just got done watching McShay go through his draft scenarios, and I have to agree that the Chargers will want to move up to #2 or #3 to take one of the stud tackles if the price is right (and even if it is right, it will be pricey). If they don't, they have their choice of the best interior linemen in the draft class, with Warmack being regarded as one of the great guard prospects of all-time.</li>
<li><b>Miami: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: </b>The offensive overhaul continues in the Gardens.</li>
<li><b>New York Jets: Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: </b>The Jets make two logical picks...BOOOOOOOO!!!</li>
<li><b>Carolina: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri</b></li>
<li><b> New Orleans: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas</b></li>
<li><b>St. Louis: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson: </b>He went to Clemson...strike one...but he's a beast...it's the C.J. Spiller effect (you're nasty but you had to go there?).<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Pittsburgh: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: </b>The Steelers get a value pick in the first round...it's like clockwork at this point.</li>
<li><b>Dallas: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah</b></li>
<li><b>New York Giants: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama</b></li>
<li><b>Chicago: Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: </b>It seems like everyone on Jah's green Earth has Te'o here, which means that there's zero chance this actually plays out.</li>
<li><b>Cincinnati: Matt Elam, S, Florida</b></li>
<li><b>St. Louis: Alec Ogeltree, ILB, Georgia: </b>Off the field issues are the only issue here.</li>
<li><b>Minnesota: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee: </b>At one point, Patterson was the hands-down #1 receiver.</li>
<li><b>Indianapolis: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State</b></li>
<li><b>Minnesota: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina: </b>Do yourself a favor and just plug in a QB here and probably the next four or five picks.</li>
<li><b>Green Bay: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama</b></li>
<li><b>Houston: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee</b></li>
<li><b>Denver: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: </b>Huuugggggeeeee value.</li>
<li><b>The Fahkin Pats: Keenan Allen, WR, California: </b>The thing about being nasty every year is that more often than not, you're waiting until forever for the Pats to make a pick, and again, more often than not, they trade out. I don't think this year will be any exception. I mean it's almost like the stars are aligning. Here we are with only five picks in the whole draft, with two coming in the seventh round, and a bunch of teams jockeying to move into the first round to get a QB...couldn't get any better. The key is for Bill and his staff to correctly prognosticate who's going to suck the most in 2013. If I had to guess of all the teams looking to climb back, I would say Buffalo. Rookie head coach, probably a rookie QB starting (or Kevin Kolb, which would be even better...for us, not them)...I could see 4-12 or 5-11 coming from that.</li>
<li><b>Atlanta: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston: </b>Quite the story. <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/video-dj-haydens-injury-released-220848542.html" target="_blank">Life-threatening injury</a> to the first round in New York. Good stuff.</li>
<li><b>San Francisco: Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford</b></li>
<li><b>Baltimore: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International</b></li>
</ol>
Have a great time tonight football fans. Hope your team does well...unless your team is the Jets. In that case, I hope tonight ends up on the Jet fan draft montage with all y'all just bugging out (can I please have a then and now moment with when Mark Sanchez got drafted and the opinion about him now?...that would be priceless). Anyway, take it easy everyone. Peace.<br />
<b><br /></b>~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-83566507986667349582013-02-28T15:33:00.001-05:002013-03-29T15:54:58.027-04:00Fantasy Baseball Dossier 6.0"Not a heavyweight but I go twelve rounds."<br />
<br />
What's good everyone? Well it's that time of year again. Spring training is under way, and with about a month to go until the start of the regular season, it's time to crack eggs of fantasy knowledge. Hard to believe this is the sixth year of the dossier (at least the 6th year I've recorded it...anyone who knows me when I was a kid probably knows that I've been writing this kind of stuff up for a while...a long while). It never gets old for me though. It's a new year, and like actual baseball, everyone starts off 0-0. The beauty is that no one will be 100% on all of the predictions they make. I like to think I'm decent at fantasy sports, but what I love about the game is that it can make me look like a genius one day and a total dickhead the next...it's such a long season that anything can happen.<br />
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Much like I did with my fantasy football draft, I will be taking you round-by-round through a draft that I completed, and along the way, I'll kind of explain what the thought process was in all of it, what trends are starting to emerge, sleepers, prospects, etc. Make sure you continue to check back in throughout the month as I will be updating this column to account for injuries or news from spring training. Again I can't thank you enough for reading this, and hopefully there's a few things that you can take away from this.<br />
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Before I get into the analysis, a few shouts, for without the following sites/people I probably couldn't come up with something so mediocre:<br />
<ul>
<li>ESPN Fantasy Baseball Live Draft/Mock Draft Rooms/Average Draft Position (ADP)/the 90% of my column I stole from them (nah, I'm only kidding, it's something much lower like 80-85%)</li>
<li>Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball </li>
<li>Baseball-reference.com</li>
<li>Google search</li>
<li>Really good looking women I can't stop thinking about</li>
<li>Yuengling</li>
<li>Sports Grill wings </li>
<li>Herbal Essence (not the shampoo)</li>
</ul>
This draft took place on February 26th using ESPN.com on a fucked up laptop. I don't know any of the people participating in this draft, which can kind of screw things up, but really, I'm just using this as a model to bounce ideas off of. In other words, my team is going to be ridiculously nasty, and unless my friends become morons on draft day, I'm probably not going to get it as good as this...results may vary is what I'm getting at. This is based on a 10-team league and we're going to be using ESPN's lineup, which means that there are two infield flex spots, 5 OFs, and all the pitchers are bunched into one category. One thing I have to stress is that you should definitely familiarize yourself with the way your lineup is constructed before you get into the actual draft room. Your strategy should be geared towards that specific format (ex. If you're in a league with two catchers, you may want to think about getting them early because catching is a weak position this year). This is just a model. It's not gospel. This is your team. It's a representation of your knowledge and your abilities. I write these because I want to inform the casual, and perhaps even the hardcore fantasy player. Also right now, I really have nothing better to do, and this actually may count as being productive (at least it does to me).<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Team Name: HGH In My Pot Braunies </b>(as of right now, you have to say Braun is like our generation's Rafael Palmeiro...speaking of which, how do the writers keep guys out of the Hall of Fame for juicing, yet allow them win MVPs?...ohhhhhh-kaaaayyyy)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Draft Order #: 5</b> (which means no Mike Trout...sad face...does kind of segway into Theory Numero Uno)</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>Theory #1: Until Proven Otherwise, Mike Trout Is The Tecmo Bo of Fantasy Baseball: </i></b>I mean we've heard lofty things said about prospects before. Trot Nixon was supposed to be the next Babe Ruth. Was he a good player? Yes. Babe Ruth? No. So there was a little hesitation when people started talking about how Trout is this freak of nature and can't be stopped and on it went...but the thing is I'm not so sure he can be stopped. He is literally too good to be believable. I know Miggy won the Triple Crown, and if you take him #1, I wouldn't blame you, but when did you ever think there would be arguments about who the MVP should be when a guy just won the Triple Crown? That was the case last year. I'm just hoping I get him man. He is just absolutely money in literally any category you want to throw out there. So do what you will, but in one-year drafts, and especially in keeper/franchise leagues, Trout is my guy.<br />
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<b>#5: Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh: </b>Ryan Braun, despite being the #1 ranked player on ESPN, fell to #4, right before me. I wouldn't take him if he came to me though. I know it shouldn't be a game played on emotions, but my thing is that I need a team that I can root for. There's nothing worse than having to rely on a guy you totally don't like or can't root for...and he totally sucks balls and kills you.<br />
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Anyway, back to guys I like. Cutch has it all. When you're drafting in the top 5, you want to look at your team, point to the guy you take, and say "this is the difference maker." Trout, Cabrera, Braun (unless he gets suspended), Cutch, Cano, and Matt Kemp...you can argue Tulo as well...which brings me to my next point (this is just a seamless document right here)...<br />
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<i><b>Theory #2: Troy Tulowitzki Is Worth Taking In The Top 5: </b></i>I was on here last year saying that Tulo was the most valuable player in fantasy, so this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Simply put, he plays at the weakest position in the game right now and is capable of putting up top 10 numbers. Of course he got hurt as I proclaimed him to be the best player last year, but that would not stop me from taking him if he was there in the middle or late in the first round.<br />
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<b>#16: Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Miami: </b>Of course Tulo went one pick before me...isn't that always how it goes? I will say that Stanton is not a bad consolation prize. All signs are pointing to this year being the year Stanton blows the roof off of the place. He missed 39 games last year, and still hit 37 homers while batting .290. Yes the Marlins suck, and he has no protection...but he really never has, so what's the difference? Stanton could creep into 50 homers this year. This was tough because it was between Stanton and Stephen Strasburg, but I gave the edge to Stanton because he plays every day and his power potential is off the charts.<br />
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<b>#25: Bryce Harper, OF, Washington: </b>All outfield so far, but at this point in the draft, it's tough to draft based on position...I mean personally, I'm taking best available and just hope that I can find guys to plug in at positions to make it work. This was brutal because I actually passed on my man Dustin Pedroia for Harper, but as the next theory states...<br />
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<i><b>Theory #3: Despite Being Ranked In The Late 30s, Bryce Harper Will Finish In The Top 15 In Fantasy: </b></i>If Stanton and Strasburg are gone, and I'm picking in the third round, it comes down to whether King Felix is still there, which he wasn't in this draft. Other than that, the guys that will be around in the mid-to-late 20s do not have nearly the value that Harper has. You can call it reaching, but ultimately, when you look at someone's roster, you're looking at who is on their team, and not where they drafted them. Can you really blame me for orchestrating a McCutchen/Stanton/Harper outfield by the way? I would assume if you're playing head-to-head, or even playing rotisserie, and you come across these three guys on one team, you're not going to be gaining any confidence in winning that matchup.<br />
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<b>#36: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Atlanta: </b>After picking Harper, the three guys I was targeting (Pedey, Jered Weaver, and Jason Heyward) all were picked, so staying in character, I went with the best available. You could make cases for both Billy Butler (arguably the most consistent hitter in all of baseball) and Adam Jones (who is the face of a Baltimore team that continues to get better). I went with Kimbrel simply because at his position, he is by far and away the best, and at this point in the draft, all of the starting aces that you would want to front-line a team were gone. As soon as I made this pick, my entire draft philosophy in terms of pitching changed. With Kimbrel now as my #1 pitcher, I decided, as I have been doing a lot recently, to go super heavy on closers.<br />
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<i><b>Theory #4:</b></i> <i><b>If Your Team Is Made Up Of A Bunch Of Closers, You're Probably Going To Dominate Every Pitching Category But Wins: </b></i>Ideally, you are trying to find guys that fill up every stat, but when it comes to pitching, that's not possible, so the thought has always been to have a fairly even amount of both starters and relievers. The more years I do this, the more turned off I get about having a bunch of starting pitchers. Unless you just have aces across the board (which is possible in auction drafts but tough to obtain in a regular snake draft), at some point, someone's going to have a bad night, and if you're playing in a weekly head-to-head league, that could finish you. So I've been trending towards taking relievers because even when they have a bad night, it's not going to ruin you because normally a closer is in the game for an inning, with bad outing usually ending in giving up 2-3 runs, whereas starters can go three or four innings, where the damage could wind up being much more severe (5-6 runs?), so with more innings, it makes it harder to bring your total ERA and WHIP down. As you're going to notice, I have some stud relievers, and it wouldn't be totally out of the question to expect my ERA to be in the low 2's and my WHIP to be around 1, if not under that.<br />
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<b>#45:</b> <b>Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland: </b>Adam Jones went right before my pick...that was crushing. Still, in landing Cespedes, I add to my freak outfield. His numbers are only going up because of his experience in the majors last year and also, he missed 33 games due to different injuries (hand/wrist/hamstring), so we have yet to see a full year of production, which I'm thinking will put him around .280/30HR/20SB.<br />
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<b>#56: Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox: </b>I had a really tough time with this one. Carlos Santana just went off the board at #53, and Matt Wieters was available, so I hesitated, but then, I remembered this:<br />
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<b><i>Theory #5: Potential 20-Game Winners Are Worth More Than Potential Franchise Catchers Not Named Buster Posey: </i></b>Chris Sale is an animal people. To say he's a young Randy Johnson is not as completely far-fetched as you might think. Averaging a strikeout an inning last year, Sale could be in the top 25-30 by the end of the season. In my opinion, for elite starting pitching, he is one of the few guys you don't have to spend a top 40 pick on.<br />
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<b>#65: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona: </b>This came down to Goldie or Aroldis Chapman, the freak closer-turned-starter. For the record, I think Chapman will be fine this year, but I believe where he is ranked is more a depiction of his value as a closer. We really haven't seen him stretched out yet, so this should be a very interesting season on that front. Goldie had a monster year after starting off very slow (I specifically remember picking him up and dropping him soon thereafter sometime in the first half of the season). Here's a guy who will hit close to .300, is good for around 25-30 homers, and perhaps most importantly, can steal 15-20 bases...very rare to see a first baseman helping in the steals department.<br />
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<b>#76: Jason Motte, RP, St. Louis: </b>Right now, I have Motte as the second best closer in baseball, with Papelbon a close third. At this point, it was Motte or Kris Medlen, who was phenomenal down the stretch last year. If you recall, Medlen was on the waiver wire last year, and while I'm not saying that you're going to be able to find a guy who will go 10-1 with a sub-1 ERA in free agency, it's going to be a lot tougher to find saves than it will be to find wins. <i><b>Update (3/25): </b></i>Motte suffered a what they're calling a "mild" elbow strain, and the Cards are probably shutting him down for the rest of Spring Training. They're also considering him starting off the season on the DL. Despite the injury, I'm still drafting Motte pretty high, although with this news, he probably comes off the board at least one round later than he was slated to go, if not more. Mitchell Boggs will be the interim closer, but there is no closer controversy in the Lou. Motte will be the 9th inning man whenever he's ready.<br />
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<b>#85: Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs: </b>Much was made about Rizzo's initial debut with the Padres two years ago when he struggled mightily, but once the Cubs traded for him, they waited patiently until they felt Rizzo had developed fully enough to handle a major league workload, and it paid off. Rizzo looks like a natural hitter with lots of power potential, and this will be his first full season in the majors.<br />
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<b>#96: Fernando Rodney, RP, Tampa Bay: </b>Rodney had arguably the greatest year for a closer in the history of baseball. A 0.60 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, and 48 saves later, and he's still available around the 100th pick. I have to believe people are scared away because of his age, but because this is not a dynasty or keeper league, and I only have him for one year, I'm totally happy with this pick. Right now I'm sporting three of the top 5 closers in the game.<br />
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<b>#105: Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore: </b>Call it a reach, but I believe Machado will wind up at least filling out the value of a top 100 player, if not, more like a top 50-60 player. Machado showed signs of things to come after his surprising call-up from AA Bowie last season. He can hit for contact, power, and run. Like first basemen, when you can get stolen base help from your third baseman, it adds a rare element to your team.<br />
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<b>#116: Matt Harvey, SP, New York Mets: </b>I really like what Harvey showed me last year. His call-up was a lot less surprising than Machado, but I think people didn't expect how well Harvey would perform in his first go-around in the bigs, but he pitched exceptionally well, sporting a sub-3 ERA over ten starts. Harvey racks up the K's as well, so he will certainly help you with that.<br />
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<b>#125: Sergio Romo, RP, San Francisco: </b>Anytime you can make a guy like Brian Wilson, who was perhaps the best closer in the game as close as two years ago, expendable, you know Romo has the goods. Health is the one issue to look out for here, but when he's taking the ball in the 9th, it's pretty much going to be a done deal.<br />
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<b>#136: Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston: </b>So happy how low Middlebrooks is ranked. If you watched the Sox at all last year, you know how dynamic a player Middlebrooks can be. Despite getting hurt and slowing down a bit at the plate after a torrid start, Middlebrooks has the potential to rip 30 homers if he plays a full season. He has reported to Fort Myers at 100% health, so hopefully he can play to his potential because the Sox desperately need his bat in the lineup.<br />
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<b>#145: Neil Walker, 2B, Pittsburgh: </b>There's nothing that really jumps out at you about Walker, and I think that's part of the reason I like him here. He's a top 100 talent that is being overlooked because of other "sexier" options. Walker is consistent though, and he won't really hurt you in any category. Also, you have to believe he will produce a bunch of runs hitting towards the top of the Pirates lineup.<br />
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<b>#156: Jarrod Parker, SP, Oakland: </b>I picked him up almost immediately after his call-up last year, and Parker did not disappoint. Parker is one of two pitchers since 1900 to give up one run or less in 10 of his first 14 major league starts. He was steady for the most part all year, so I really feel like he's a solid pick here.<br />
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<b>#165: Tom Wilhelmsen, RP, Seattle: </b>After taking the closer's job from Brandon League, Wilhelmsen was a stud, converting 29 of 34 saves, and running his K/9 to nearly 10. He seems like he will be a solid contributor who could close in on 40 saves given a full season of work.<br />
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<b>#176: Jurickson Profar, 2B, Texas:</b> The unanimous #1 prospect in baseball sets up our next theory...<br />
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<i><b>Theory #6: Despite Not Having A Starting Job, Draft Jurickson Profar Now: </b></i>Now I'm not saying when Profar gets the call, he's going to go off like Mike Trout, but he will be as dynamic a middle infielder that will be playing in the coming two to three years. The Rangers are going to have little choice, especially when his arbitration clock runs out towards the end of April, but to bring him up, because they are lacking offense with the departure of Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, and the possible suspension of Nelson Cruz as it relates to the ongoing Miami PED case. Profar may have some ups and downs, but his ceiling is so absurdly high that picking him in the 18th round is tremendous value in my opinion. <i><b>Update (3/29): </b></i>Profar did get optioned down to the minors, but one would suspect that his call-up time is imminent much like Trout and Harper last year.<br />
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<b>#185: Bruce Rondon, RP, Detroit:</b> The reason Rondon ranks so low is because of the unknown factor. What is known is that over three levels last season (A, AA, AAA), Rondon was dominant, and his strikeout numbers are completely absurd (13.1 K/9 in A, 9.6 in AA, 10.1 in AAA). The unknown factor will also lead to immediate dividends, with hitters trying to adjust to a pitcher they only see once a game. I talked about this with Yu Darvish last year, who came from Japan without any of the current major leaguers facing him, and he went 16-9 in his first full season, including a 10-4 mark in his first three months. I expect Rondon to struggle at times, but what he will get you right out of the box will be sparkling. <i><b>Update (3/29): </b></i>Rondon has been optioned to the minors, a move that I guess you could see coming after his really shaky spring. It's one thing to have a bad spring and be an established closer (like Craig Kimbrel), but a rookie trying to do the same? It's a much loftier task. Expect Rondon to eventually take over the role in about June when he's rocking it in the minors and the Tigers realize that you can't have a closer-by-committee and expect to be a contender.<br />
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<b>#196: Andrelton Simmons, SS, Atlanta:</b> As I mentioned before, shortstop depth is dreadful, so the fact that a talent like Simmons is going this late is kind of surprising. Yes, it's his defense that ultimately sticks with you when you watch him play, but I love his contact, and I love how he's leading off for a lineup that now has B.J. and Justin Upton along with Heyward, McCann, and Freddie Freeman. I just see this kid being an all-around stud.<br />
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<b>#205: Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay: </b>There is a chance that Tampa waits out his arbitration clock (actually, very likely unless he destroys it this Spring), but the moment the clock is up, Wil Myers will finally be in the majors. It feels like this should have probably happened last year, and because the Royals got greedy and wanted to wait it out to call Myers up, he never got to play for the team, and instead, was traded to the Rays for James Shields (quick sidenote: the entire deal was Shields and Wade Davis to KC for Myers and three prospects including Jake Odorizzi, another stud who is basically on Wil Myers' same career path right now...also Tampa saved $28 million in the deal for the next two seasons). I'm again surprised by this low ranking...just an absolute electric offensive arsenal.<br />
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I will say that Ernesto Frieri went the pick before, and despite my gushing about Myers, I would have totally gone with Ernesto here. In terms of the most impressive relievers in baseball last season, his name has to be in the conversation. The man is a strikeout machine.<br />
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<b>#216: Bobby Parnell, RP, New York Mets: </b>I feel like the mad scientist..."closers, closers...and MOOORREEEE CLOSERS!!" Parnell is young, has an explosive fastball, and is receiving competition from Frank Francisco who I'm convinced pitched last season on a blown arm and has been slow to recover from it. <br />
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<b>#225: Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City: </b>I think this pick is so clutch this late that it needed it's own theory...<br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b><i>Theory #7: Salvador Perez This Late Is The Best Pick Of The Draft: </i></b>The reason this pick is so critical is because I have purposely avoided catchers knowing that Perez would still be around this late. I will say that it looks like his value is rising (he is right now the 10th catcher off the board, with an ADP of 192.3), so this may be a little trickier to pull off in the future. Here's a guy who could get close to the top 100 if he plays a full year, and getting him at 225 is crazy.<br />
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<b>#236: Josh Rutledge, SS, Colorado: </b>My "Profar Plan" is complete by taking Rutledge to fill my middle infield flex spot. This isn't bad for a guy I anticipate spending only about a month or two playing before Profar gets the call. Rutledge has 20/20 potential playing in Colorado, and has only played in the majors for about a half a year (73 games). He had eight homers and seven steals during that time, which shows the kind of blend in his game.<br />
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#<b>245: Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh:</b> I follow up my "Profar Plan" with my "Wil Myers Plan." Marte had a huge season playing winter ball in the D.R. (he was named MVP of the championship series), and while it's not the majors, it is still encouraging about the direction that Marte could go now that he will be the everyday left fielder in Pittsburgh.<br />
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So that wraps up the draft portion. Here is my complete team with positions. I have rosterbated five times already while writing this. Loving it...<br />
<ul>
<li><b>C: </b>Salvador Perez, KC</li>
<li><b>1B:</b> Paul Goldschmidt, ARZ</li>
<li><b>2B: </b>Neil Walker, PIT</li>
<li><b>3B: </b>Manny Machado, BAL</li>
<li><b>SS: </b>Andrelton Simmons, ATL</li>
<li><b>1B/3B: </b>Anthony Rizzo, CHC</li>
<li><b>2B/SS: </b>Jurickson Profar, TEX</li>
<li><b>OF: </b>Andrew McCutchen, PIT</li>
<li><b>OF: </b>Giancarlo Stanton, MIA</li>
<li><b>OF: </b>Bryce Harper, WSH</li>
<li><b>OF: </b>Yoenis Cespedes, OAK</li>
<li><b>OF: </b>Wil Myers, TB</li>
<li><b>UTIL: </b>Will Middlebrooks, BOS</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>BN: </b>Josh Rutledge (SS), COL</li>
<li><b>BN: </b>Starling Marte (OF), PIT<b> </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>P: </b>Craig Kimbrel (RP), ATL<b> </b></li>
<li><b>P: </b>Chris Sale (SP), CWS</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Jason Motte (RP), STL </li>
<li><b>P: </b>Fernando Rodney (RP), TB</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Matt Harvey (SP), NYM</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Sergio Romo (RP), SF</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Jarrod Parker (SP), OAK</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Tom Wilhelmsen (RP), SEA</li>
<li><b>P: </b>Bruce Rondon (RP), DET</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>BN: </b>Bobby Parnell (RP), NYM (who will be in the lineup when Sale, Harvey, or Parker are not starting)</li>
</ul>
So needless to say I'm extremely happy with how this came out. The beauty of it all is that those contingency plans for Profar and Myers are going to last for about a month (hopefully), so once one or both get called into the majors, I can start pursuing other options if I so choose (maybe another closer...telling you, you can never have too many closers in fantasy baseball). I might have a problem in steals on occasion, and by only having three starters, it limits my wins, but I just can't imagine a scenario where I lose any other category for the bulk of the year. I would say the "worst" contributor to batting average might be Middlebrooks, and he's still going to hit .250-.260. I'm flush in power, which covers homers and RBIs. Love the offense, especially if the two rookies bust loose.<br />
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My pitching is crazy. As I mention above, Parnell will be starting when one of the starters isn't going, so there will be upwards of seven closers going at one time. This strategy really does work. I'm not saying that it's going to work every week in your matchups, but being able to produce a ton of K's while keeping the ERA and WHIP to a minimum is really when this works out. Clearly I'll be winning the saves category every week barring some miracle...always nice to be 99% sure you won't get shut out in any week.<br />
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Now for my favorite part. I have put together a list of players whose ADP is 260.0, which I have dubbed "The All-Undrafted Team." Some of these guys may not have an impact on the first half of the season, or in 2013 altogether, but it's good to familiarize yourself with a few of these names.<br />
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<b>The All-Undrafted Team:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Travis d'Arnaud, C, New York Mets:</b> The cornerstone of the R.A. Dickey trade from Toronto, d'Arnaud was blocked in Toronto by J.P. Arrencibia, and as a result, has yet to have a major league at-bat. From his work in the minors, it seems like d'Arnaud could be a classic contact hitter who could get around 15-20 homers given a full year of work. He is not the starter yet for the Mets, but he should be able to beat out John Buck for the honors this Spring. <i><b>Update (3/29): </b></i>d'Arnaud will start the year in the minors, which is surprising considering he could beat John Buck out any day of the week.</li>
<li><b>Mike Zunino, C, Seattle: </b>After the Profar/Myers/Dylan Bundy crowd elevate to the majors, Zunino may become the #1 prospect in baseball. He's only played 43 professional games, and already, he has the baseball world buzzing. In Low A Everett, Zunino hit 10 homers and batted .373 in just 29 games. He graduated to AA last year, and could start off in AAA this year. Depending on how the catching situation pans out (Jesus Montero is the only catcher on the current 40-man roster), Zunino could get the call mid-season. If that were to happen, he would be a huge pickup if your catching is a little below par.</li>
<li><b>Chris Carter, 1B, Houston: </b>So Houston moved to the AL, and if you hadn't heard about it, that's okay, I have to keep reminding myself about it anyway. With the move though, the 'Stros pick up a DH spot, meaning Carter, who destroyed the ball for Oakland last year, will have more playing opportunities. He's more of the Adam Dunn/Mark Reynolds all power, no average kind of player, but if you need power, he is a great plug-in source.</li>
<li><b>Justin Smoak, 1B, Seattle: </b>This is probably Smoak's last chance to break in with the M's. With the recent acquisition of Kendrys Morales, Smoak is going to have to step up the pace and get back to the mid-to-high .200s as opposed to the dreadful .217 he put up last year. I like his chances though...don't bet against a Gamecock. </li>
<li><b>Christian Yelich, 1B/OF, Miami: </b>Yelich is the Marlins' top prospect despite having yet to crack AA ball. He is converting into an outfielder in the minors, so his eligibility may change as soon as next year. Yelich has an outside chance of making it to Miami this season outside of a September call-up, but with how bad the Marlins are likely going to be this year, anything is possible.</li>
<li><b>Jedd Gyorko, 2B, San Diego: </b>Gyorko is a career .319 hitter in the minors. His natural position is third base, but because of Chase Headley's monster season, and the fact that the Pads did not trade Headley before the deadline last year like a lot of people thought they might do, Gyorko is now transitioning to second base. If he sticks at second and makes the big team, you really want to keep an eye on this guy. He hit 30 homers last year between AA and AAA, and that kind of power coming from the 2B slot is rare. <i><b>Update (3/29): </b></i>With Chase Headley expected to be on the DL for upwards of two months, Gyorko can now man third base as well as second, making him eligible in both positions. He is guaranteed to start basically every game.</li>
<li><b>Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis: </b>Wong's path is a lot more crowded than Gyorko's. He's got as many as three guys who could play second in St. Louis, and Wong only has 173 games of experience, meaning he'll likely take a back seat unless the three in front of him (Matt Carpenter, Ronny Cedeno, and Daniel Descalso) are ineffective or injured. Good source of average and steals.</li>
<li><b>Billy Hamilton, SS/OF, Cincinnati: </b>One of the most talked about prospects after his spell-binding season in 2012 where he stole an all-time, single season baseball record of 155 bases over two levels. The likelihood that Hamilton makes the team in 2013 in a large capacity is slim to none. Hamilton is converting to center field, and the Reds will likely have him stay in the minors and develop in the outfield while newly acquired Shin-Soo Choo mans center in Cincy for the time being. Choo is only signed to a one-year deal, so it looks like it's Hamilton's job to lose come 2014. <i><b>Update (3/14): </b></i>Hamilton has been struggling so far in camp (as of today, he's 2 for 18 with 8 K's), so I absolutely expect him to spend at least the first half of the season down in the minors. However, he could be a huge weapon for the Reds in September as a pinch-runner, and into the postseason if Cincy makes it that far.</li>
<li><b>Xander Bogaerts, SS, Boston: </b>Much like what's happening with the Reds, the Sox signed a veteran (Stephen Drew) to a one-year deal as a stop-gap solution for Bogaerts arrival in '14. However, Drew has been banged up recently, only able to play a half a season for the last two years. Jose Iglesias is certainly in the mix as well, but it looks like his bat is not translating to the next level (at least not yet). Bogaerts represents the total package, and could finally put an end to near decade game of musical chairs at shortstop in Boston.</li>
<li><b>Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis: </b>Taveras had a monster year in AA last season (.321/23HR/94RBI) and there is a possibility that the Cards could call him up after his arbitration clock runs out in April and become a fourth outfielder, with both Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran aging, and Jon Jay, who plays great defense, but can't really hit.</li>
<li><b>Leonys Martin, OF, Texas: </b>Obviously Jurickson Profar is the prospect getting all the attention (this column certainly did nothing to diminish that), but Martin could actually break camp and be in the starting lineup come Opening Day. Martin has a little power and a little speed, but you need to pay attention to the .323 average he has over 128 games.</li>
<li><b>Jackie Bradley, OF, Boston: </b>I can't even help myself. Bradley probably won't be up in the majors until 2014, but it is amazing how he has changed the perception of the future of the Sox. Once Jacoby Ellsbury made the switch to Scott Boras, it became evident that he would not stay in Boston for the so-called "hometown discount." This had me and the rest of Sox nation (or at least some of them) fairly nervous about what was going to happen if Jacoby didn't re-sign. Then all of a sudden, in the midst of the Bruins making a run towards a Stanley Cup, the Sox drafted Jackie Bradley, and everything changed. Of course unless you had watched him play at Carolina, you really had no idea what was about to happen. I saw it, but I mean I think he's exceeding my expectations and they were pretty high knowing what kind of player and person Jackie is. This will be a fascinating season and perhaps even more fascinating off-season for the Sox. Hopefully JBJ will make it up at some point this year. <i><b>Update (3/14): </b></i>If you had not heard, JBJ has been the story of Sox camp so far. He seems to get at least two hits every game, and sits at .536 (15 for 28). You have to imagine that with the impact Bradley is having, John Farrell and Co. have to seriously consider starting Bradley in left field on Opening Day. Jonny Gomes projects more like a fourth outfielder, and Ryan Kalish can't seem to stay healthy. There's really no one else to speak of in the outfield, outside of fellow prospect Bryce Brentz, who probably will begin the season in the minors. While the real world likely will keep Jackie in the minors for now, if you look at it with no circumstances other than who is playing the best and should start right now, it's JBJ. A Gamecock tearing it up on the Sox...doesn't get any better. </li>
<li><b>Trevor Bauer, SP, Cleveland: </b>You have to hope a change of scenery will turn it around for Bauer, who was all over the place in his initial call-up with Arizona last year. His minor league stats were staggering, so there is reason for hope. Would not be the worst call if with a late pick, you roll the dice.</li>
<li><b>Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta</b>: I suspect that much like Bauer, Teheran may have been called up too early because he was too tantalizing a prospect to not at least give a shot. He's 22 right now, and I think with a little job security in hand, he may prosper for the Braves. <i><b>Update (3/29): </b></i>Teheran has been electric this spring. He has a 1.04 ERA over 28 innings, and also sports a 12.1 K/9. Of course it's tough to go off of spring stats, but this guy has been a highly-touted prospect for the better part of three years until his flame-out last year. I'm starting to target Teheran towards the end of the draft as he is still considered a "sleeper."</li>
<li><b>Gerrit Cole, SP, Pittsburgh: </b>I would have thought that if a Pirate prospect was going to emerge in 2013, it would have been Jameson Taillon, the #3 overall pick from 2010, who has been impressive, but a little inconsistent. Cole has been phenomenal, rising through to AAA in his first year in the minors. His stuff is electric, and he may warrant a mid-season call-up.</li>
<li><b>Luke Gregerson, RP, San Diego: </b>You can call this a "speculative" pick just based on Huston Street's recent injury string, but even if Gregerson is not the man in the ninth, he helps with the ratio categories and can get some pretty decent K numbers.</li>
<li><b>Trevor Rosenthal, RP, St. Louis: </b>While being listed as a reliever, the Cards ultimately want to stretch Rosenthal out into a starter. He was outstanding out of the bullpen, especially in the postseason (0 ER in 8.2 innings), so continue to monitor Rosenthal as well as fellow Cardinal prospect Shelby Miller as they compete for the Cards' 5th spot in the rotation. <i><b>Update (3/8): </b></i>The Cards have stopped trying to stretch Rosenthal out, meaning they will use him out of the bullpen. While his strikeout numbers will be great (especially K/9), he won't have the value that he would have if he had claimed the 5th spot in the rotation, which now looks like will go to Shelby Miller. </li>
</ul>
<br />
Well, that pretty much puts a bow on it. Like I said, I will be trying to update this as Spring Training progresses, but until then, I hope everyone out there is staying as positive as you possibly can, and thanks again for reading. Good luck this season! Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-o Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-88237850776646622962013-02-23T12:25:00.001-05:002013-02-25T14:28:15.978-05:002013 NFL Mock Draft 1.0<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good.
Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What's happening everybody? So if you were unaware, I just moved to Miami because mother nature had been putting me in the Figure Four for most of my life, and I had about enough of it. So I grabbed the ropes and moved to South Florida, putting all the winter bullshit behind. Some people like the cold...these are the people that should be living in New England. Me? I would get sick for like six months out of the year and couldn't function as a normal human being (as if functioning like one is easy when it's nice out). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sooooooooo the question then probably comes down to what I'm going to do for money, and while I don't have one yet (getting close though...trust me on this), I have been on Craigslist a bunch lately. While I was there, I came across an ad that talked about a site called <a href="http://www.fantasyfootballplanet.com/" target="_blank">Fantasy Football Planet</a> and how the creator wanted people to write for him (of course, no $$ involved...yet). So, I figured I had some time in between sleeping and going to the bars to give him a bit of a sample. Hope you guys enjoy. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">On The Defensive:
Mock Draft 1.0</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Rich Lyons</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you needed a franchise
quarterback, this was not your year to suck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry to Kansas City, Jacksonville,
and perhaps Oakland. Timing in drafting, sports and life en general is
everything, and you didn’t have it. It’s okay. Actually every single team goes
through this (Yankees fans are rooting for the Wild Card, Red Sox fans like
myself are rooting to not be a complete embarrassment, and everything after
that would be icing on the Little Debbie cupcake). So, where does a team with
this high of a pick go? I don’t mean for any of this to be putting down Geno
Smith. He’s a great talent. He was, at times, completely electric operating the
WVU offense. The reality of the situation is that these teams are not as
gung-ho as they would have been last year about taking a QB this high. So, it’s
time to break down the top 3, because in my opinion, three have emerged as
locks, with Philly at #4 to break the ice on the next level (or perhaps trade…for
a team that was dubbed the “Dream Team” two years ago, they need a bunch of
help).
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Star Lotulelei, DT,
Utah: </b>This is even worse timing for KC because in my opinion, Lotulelei is
probably the best player in the draft. He plays arguably the most important
non-QB job in football in being able to have the ability to play the 3-4 nose tackle,
but can also play the 4-3. The Chiefs have drafted three top-15 defensive
tackles in the last five drafts, including Dontari Poe last year. That’s why I
say it’s unfortunate. It seems like they just can’t find the stabilizing guys
that you would expect when drafting and spending that high (keep in mind that
Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are being paid from their pre-CBA rookie
contracts, which were bananas). KC needs a QB, but probably won’t pick Star
because of their recent Detroit drafting wide receiver-like spell. So the best
player won’t go #1 (it happens…not too often…last time was probably 2007 with
JaMarcus Russell being taken over Calvin Johnson and, if you want to look
deeper, Adrian Peterson), so who will?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Star Update (2/25): </b></i>So after the fast 40 times and the saga that was the Manti Te'o press conference, the emerging story of the Combine is Star's heart condition <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000144927/article/star-lotulelei-sidelined-by-heart-condition-at-combine" target="_blank">discovered in his physical</a>. Star is scheduled to see a specialist either today or shortly, and right now his status is "pending" for the Combine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Luke Joeckel, OT,
Texas A&M: </b>Joeckel will go #1 I think…for now. These things can change,
especially when there’s no clear-cut answer as to who is going at the top. If
you’re the Chiefs, this is probably going to be the easiest to sell. Look for a
QB through the trade market (definitely don’t look for the answer in free
agency because after Joe Flacco, who doesn’t look like is going anywhere, it
gets real bare, real quick), and sell your fans on the fact that this guy not
only ranks as the #1 guy on a lot of boards, but protected Johnny Football, and
right now, any association with him, and you’re in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jarvis Jones, LB,
Georgia: </b>Going into this season, this guy probably projected as the #1 pick
given the value of having a talented outside pass rusher who can, at the very
least, divert traffic in the running game. Von Miller went #2 to Denver two
years ago…can you really blame them for that move?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right
now, it would seem like it’s Joeckel to KC at 1, Jarvis at 2 to the Jags (and
if he isn’t the pick, hopefully someone that can rush the passer), and Star at
3 to Oakland (or something in the defensive realm). Philly is at #4. They need
a bunch as was noted earlier. Regardless of if they stay here or they don’t,
here are the guys that teams would at least consider trading up to get to:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Geno Smith, QB, West
Virginia: </b>Quarterbacks run the world, and quite frankly, if you don’t have
a good one, you’re going to be bad, and even if you make the playoffs with a
bad quarterback, you will not win the championship, which is the ultimate goal.
Seriously, last ten years, the “worst” QB to win a Super Bowl was
Roethlisberger (notice I put worst in quotes…and he won two). So, it seems like
Geno is the favorite to be, perhaps, a difference maker, with Sean Glennon from
N.C. State, Tyler Wilson from Arkansas, and E.J. Manuel as the proverbial dark
horse candidates for difference maker (I just don’t know about Matt Barkley…last
year did not go so hot). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clearly
KC could go with Geno at #1, and this next argument could be put to bed real
quick. So, let’s say that they don’t. Here are teams who could be looking to
get into the 4 spot for him:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arizona (picking 7<sup>th</sup>):
</b>Possibly the best storyteller currently of the need to have a steady QB.
The Kevin Kolb/John Skelton/That Other Guy experiment is not working in ‘Zona,
and if I’m Larry Fitzgerald, I might be kind of nervous at the legacy-dampening
that has been done not only to his career but to his team. I’m sure starting
fresh would not be the worst move for the Cards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Buffalo (picking 8<sup>th</sup>):
</b>The Bills have 180’d on Ryan Fitzpatrick. They gave him a whole bunch of
money, and now, as they miss the playoffs year…after year…after year,
eventually, you too need to start fresh. I think Buffalo is actually a much
more interesting scenario than Arizona because of the C.J. Spiller factor. What
you would be doing is narrowing the playbook and focusing on the athleticism.
Of course you will need to throw in the pocket at some point, but a
Geno/Spiller/Fred Jackson combo could be something else to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other
than that, everyone is either completely set, or delusionally set at QB (“delusionally
set” is referring to teams who think they have it figured out but really sort
of don’t…Jacksonville, Cleveland, the Jets, and coming soon, Oakland, because
Carson Palmer is working…for now). At least the Bills and the Cards have made
enough of a ruckus to make it known that they are not entirely satisfied with
how things are going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Damontre Moore, DE/OLB,
Texas A&M:</b> I will say that unless the Chiefs talk themselves into Geno,
Moore is the one guy I could see mixing into the top 3. Again, there’s a huge
demand on pass rushers, and unlike franchise QBs, usually a few emerge as stars
every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bjoern Werner, DE,
Florida State: </b>People have been flip-flopping on who is the best edge
rusher in the draft. Despite what people may say, the fact remains that it’s likely
Moore and Werner both go in the top 5. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eric Fisher, OT,
Central Michigan: </b>While the pair of D-Ends are likely guys that teams will
trade up to get a crack at, Fisher represents filling an actual need for the
Eagles, with their line in complete shambles as Jason Peters tries to return
this year from an Achilles injury.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dee Milliner, CB,
Alabama: </b>Seemingly corner is a need that Philly has had for the last
decade. They struck out with Nnamdi Asomugha, and when he becomes a cap causality,
the Eagles will again be looking for that elusive “shut down” corner they
really haven’t had since Asante Samuel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you haven’t noticed by now,
this isn’t exactly the best draft to be looking for offensive talent in the
first round…in fact, this could be one of the worst of all time (there’s one or
two QBs (Geno and perhaps Sean Glennon) who will go in the first round, maybe
one RB (Eddie Lacy), and two or three WRs (Cordarelle Patterson, Keenan Allen,
and Tavon Austin) who could go in the top 30-40 picks). With this lack of
talent, I expect there to be a lot of trading towards the end of the first
round (which has actually become somewhat of a norm, especially with the
emergence lately of skill players taken at the end of the first or sometime in
the second round). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, as
you will see, defense reigns supreme in the first round this year. Here’s how I
think things will shape up right now. Of course none of this will go according
to plan, but it’s a good way of seeing what teams need, the trends of the
draft, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">KC</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Star Lotulelei</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">PHI</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Eric Fisher</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">OT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Central Michigan</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DET</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Bjoern Werner</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Florida State</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">6</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CLE</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Damontre Moore</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Texas A&M</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">7</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ARZ</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Chance Warmack</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">G</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Alabama</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">8</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">BUF</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Geno Smith</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">QB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">West Virginia</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">9</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">NYJ</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ezekiel Ansah</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">BYU</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">10</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TEN</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dee Milliner</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Alabama</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">11</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">SD</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Barkevious Mingo</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">LSU</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">12</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">MIA</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Shariff Floyd</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Florida</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">13</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Lane Johnson</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">OT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Oklahoma</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">14</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CAR</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Kenny Vaccaro</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">S</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Texas</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">15</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">NO</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dion Jordan</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Oregon</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">16</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">STL</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Cordarelle Patterson</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">WR</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tennessee</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">17</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">PIT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jonathan Hankins</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ohio State</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">18</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DAL</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sheldon Richardson</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DT</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Missouri</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">19</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">NYG</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Alec Ogletree</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ILB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Georgia</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">20</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CHI</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Manti Te'o</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ILB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Notre Dame</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">21</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CIN</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Datone Jones</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DE/OLB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">UCLA</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">22</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">STL*</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Kevin Minter</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ILB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">LSU</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">23</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">MIN</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Keenan Allen</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">WR</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">California</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">24</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">IND</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jonathan Banks</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mississippi State</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">25</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">SEA</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jonathan Cooper</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C/G</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">North Carolina</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">26</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">GB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tyler Eifert</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">TE</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Notre Dame</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">27</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">HOU</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Xavier Rhodes</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Florida State</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">28</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">DEN</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Desmond Trufant</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 40.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">CB</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="160"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Washington</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 25.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="33"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">29</span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 35.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="47"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">NE</span></span></span></div>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ATL</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">SF</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jonathan Jenkins</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">BAL</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sam Montgomery</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">*St. Louis gets the 22nd pick from the RG3 trade from last year </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ll
be back with more updates as the Combine continues this weekend. There’s still
plenty of time for moving and shaking. Plus, free agency will begin shortly, so team needs will be changing by the day.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">So that's about all I have for you right now. I will keep working on my draft reports, and also, I will be coming out with my annual fantasy baseball preview shortly. Take care everyone! Peace.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">~Mell-o </span></span>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-16229832884368878052012-12-29T21:01:00.001-05:002013-02-23T10:36:14.780-05:00The 2013 Boston Red Sox: Bringing and Buying Character Back"A license to love, insurance to hold.<br />
Melts all your memories, change into gold.<br />
His eyes are like angels, his heart is cold."<br />
<br />
Clearly something needed to be done, and as the last out of the 2012 Red Sox was being recorded in Yankee Stadium, on the heels of an eight-game losing streak, one of the most critical off-seasons in the history of this franchise begun.<br />
<br />
After the worst season for the Red Sox since the Vietnam War era, the prophecy of ownership trying to run the Red Sox was finally realized. After labeling the hated Yankees as the "Evil Empire," they became the very same enterprise. Ten years ago, after winning the first world title in 86 years for the franchise, it was thought that this ownership group was almost sent from the divine. Fearless entrepreneurs who would stop at no cost to resurrect a team who always had the fans, but couldn't muster the resources ($$).<br />
<br />
Now, if you ask a Sox fan what they think of the ownership group, they will sing a much different tune. No more are their names heralded in the same regard as other ownership tycoons like Tom Yawkey or Bob Kraft. Fans will tell you that they have become out of touch with what the fans want in their team/organization. That they have become more concerned with their newest child in the Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool. Or, they will liken them to money-grubby capitalists looking to pry every dollar they can until they decide to sell the team (to put this into perspective, the team was bought by the John Henry-led group in 2002 for $660 million, and last year, a investing group led by Magic Johnson bought the Dodgers for $2 billion...needless to say the profit margin for if/when Henry does decide to sell the team will be massive).<br />
<br />
So what is there to be done about this situation? First, what needed to be done on the part of the ownership group, especially by its head baseball official Larry Lucchino, was to trust the people that they put into their respective positions to do their respective jobs, and while reserving the right to have the last say on matters dealing with the team, they would allow their baseball people to do their jobs without any interference. Clearly this was not the case on arguably the biggest and worst decision that was made by giving Bobby Valentine, someone Lucchino anointed because of his lack of trust in the post-Theo Epstein regime that was led by rookie GM Ben Cherington (he was co-GM with Jed Hoyer in December of '08, but that only lasted until January of '06).<br />
<br />
Cherington had been groomed to become the GM before he was a co-GM and in the six years leading up to Theo Epstein becoming the president of the Cubs. If he couldn't be trusted to find a manager, then why was he put in charge as the general manager? That question still remains a mystery, but if anyone was a winner after last season, it was Cherington, who watched as Lucchino's guy deep-sixed any chance of the Sox contending, and also masterminded a deal with the free-spending Dodgers to rid themselves of close to a quarter of a billion dollars in future contract dollars.<br />
<br />
<br />
As this off-season continues to make its way into 2013, not all of the pieces of the puzzle have been put into place, but after the few moves they have made, one common denominator seems to be a constant: Character.<br />
<br />
The so-called "toxic" clubhouse that first reared its head to the general public at the end of the 2011 collapse went into full gear under Valentine's watch, leading to him eventually not caring about his position or what people thought of the job he was doing altogether. The first step in this process was the aforementioned Dodgers trade, ridding themselves not only of money, but also Josh Beckett, one of the patriarchs of the "chicken and beer" scandal, and someone who many believe were steering their two young franchise pitchers (Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz) towards the dark side, i.e. the chicken eating, beer-drinking side. While Beckett was integral in not only his first World Series title with the Marlins in '03, and as a dominant ace in the Sox' 2007 crown, his legacy has forever been tainted by this controversy, and while it's not steroids, this, and his demeanor en general, was plenty to get him run out of town.<br />
<br />
The Sox cast their first stone in their re-building process by hiring manager John Farrell. Farrell of course was the pitching coach for the Sox up until 2011, when he was hired by Toronto to become their manager. Boston, and most notably, Cherington, have been trying to get him for the past two seasons. Farrell was reluctant to join up last year (probably citing how horrible the 2011 season ended and how bad it looked like 2012 was going to be), but the Sox finally got their man (although it cost them Mike Aviles, which continues the seemingly never-ending revolving door at shortstop). Farrell is a player's manager...not a 1980s player, but a 2013 player, and that's extremely important. What became apparent almost from the start was that Bobby V was over his head in terms of responsibility and in terms of how to handle the current and future major leaguers. He was simply out of touch and couldn't find, or didn't want to find, a way to right that ship. Farrell should be a breath of fresh air given his aforementioned compatibility with players in the clubhouse, and also for his knowledge of how things not only run behind the scenes in Boston, but also on the back pages of papers and on sports radio, an underrated tool that has shipped many a player and manager alike out of town. Once they found a manager, the Sox then went out to re-tool <br />
<br />
What the Sox set themselves up to do this winter was to try and recoup similar talent at the positions left by the three big names they traded (first base, outfield, #3 pitcher). Their first signing was Jonny Gomes from Oakland for two years/$10 million. While Gomes is a serviceable player who has been more known as a platoon player in recent history, what seems to be a unanimous view about Gomes is this: He's got character, he's great in the clubhouse, he's not going to cause any problems...this seemed to be the theme of the off-season.<br />
<br />
The length of contract also seemed to be a driving point this year when it came to free agents, as no player signed has received over a three year pact. After signing David Ross to both be a backup catcher, and to make it plausible to move either Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway via trade, the Sox made their first real "splashes" by signing Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino within a week of each other to three year deals worth almost identical money (Napoli was 3 years/$39 million, Victorino: 3 years/$38 million).<br />
<br />
<i><b>Update (2/14): Because of a hip injury that doesn't seem to be completely healed, the Napoli deal went from 3 years and $39 million to 1 year and $5 million...quite the fall-off) </b></i> <br />
<br />
Napoli was supposed to be a major get for the Sox. A right-sided hitter with a proclivity to pull the ball, almost a must for any righty playing 81 games at Fenway. Napoli also is a catcher in addition to being a first baseman, further solidifying the depth at that position. As of right now though, Napoli hasn't been officially introduced yet due to a lingering hip issue that was brought up during his physical. While this continues to linger, the Sox have been linked to Adam LaRoche in case Napoli doesn't end up working out. LaRoche would not be a bad consolation prize at all, coming off of a season where he had a career high 34 homers and his second career 100 RBI season and won a gold glove at first. What the Sox are likely to do is to offer the three year contract Napoli is supposed to get to LaRoche, who has made it clear that while he wants to stay in Washington where he has played the last two seasons, but he also is seeking three years, something the Nationals have seemed to be unwilling to do thus far.<br />
<br />
Perhaps an even better example of paying for character was the signing of Victorino. The "Flyin' Hawaiian's" deal was almost laughed at by baseball executives, saying that after one of the worst offensive seasons of his career, he would have been able to command maybe $7-8 million a year at best, but almost $13 million? What were they thinking? Well, it's called paying for character. The Sox needed to woo Victorino by throwing a little more money at him than other teams could or would be willing to. Sure, it's a Yankee philosophy to throw money at a problem, but I feel like because $13 million is not as giant of a piece of the payroll pie as it would be to a team like, say, Oakland, and because the Sox are at least attempting to patch together a team that was engulfed in dissension within the ranks and bring some energy to a club that sorely needs it, fans will not be as quick to complain about Victorino as they were to Carl Crawford, who, while never really getting a chance to settle into left field in Boston, made $40 million over the last two years, and while showing flashes of the brilliance we saw in Tampa, was generally sub-par by Crawford's standards, and mostly injury-plagued.<br />
<br />
With the signing of Ryan Dempster, the Sox may have put the last touches on their free agency bonanza. Yet another high character guy, the Sox needed to add an additional $1.5 million to their original $25 million, two year deal in order to get him away from the Royals (yes, we're having to outbid the Royals now...these are crazy times). Dempster stabilizes the middle of the rotation so the Sox will have at least a presentable 1-2-3. John Lackey was deemed to be that #3 that they are currently receiving in Dempster, but his first tenure with the Sox has been nothing short of a train wreck.<br />
<br />
Last week, the Sox traded for Joel Hanrahan (and likely fleeced Pittsburgh in the process), and from day one, he will be the closer despite having a healthy (or at least as healthy as he's going to be) Andrew Bailey. Hanrahan is known for his high 90s fastball and has effective in the closer role for the Pirates, with 76 saves combined in the two seasons he served as the 9th inning man. Once again, low ego wins the race. One could argue that Alfredo Aceves should have had a chance to compete for the closer role if he didn't talk and complain so much. Do your job and shut up about it...that could be the team motto of the 2013 Red Sox (and probably should be every year really).<br />
<br />
Are the Sox going to win the AL East and make the World Series? Probably not (although that would be an incredible story), but you will see and hear about less drama going on with this team, which plagued this team for a season and a month. What Sox fans need to just hope is that our collective fate with this team is determined on the field and not off of it, and really, then we can just get back to enjoying baseball, and not concern ourselves with all the other crap that has been unearthed about this team.<br />
<br />Go Sox! Peace.<br />
<br />
~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-65326756799525602472012-08-10T08:34:00.018-04:002012-08-21T20:57:18.689-04:00Fantasy Football Dossier 4.0<blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight- -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- ;">"The only game you know is do or die..."</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);" ><br /></span><i>deep breath...<br /><br /></i>Ahhhhhh...football. The spirit of pro football is reaching an apex right now in New England...and had it not been for a threat of a lockout last year, probably would have started this much sooner (that and the Gronk party, which while beginning in 2010, never really got into full gear until about halfway through 2011). So I'm real stoked and am falling in love with this team by the hour (by the way sports radio, why do I want to hear about Gronk having drops in practice?...is he like fighting for his job?...at last check, he obliterated every single season tight end record last year...I think he'll be okay...just a hunch). I'm so excited I can't even stand myself, so rather than be preoccupied by the preseason, I'm going to just dive in right now.<br /><br />So in doing something a little different than what we've done in the past, I'm going to lead you down a draft that I was actually able to pull off today. Now granted, the level of those drafting may be in question (sorry if I can't get an "experts" league going on a Wednesday afternoon), but I think I'll be able to run you through exactly what's going on out there...<br /><br />...and so here goes:<br /><br /><b>Team Name: Nobody Move, Nobody Get Burned </b>(I've been listening to that Easy-E song like five times a day lately)<div><br /><b>Opening Draft Position: #9 of 12<br /><br />#9: Tom Brady, QB, Your New England Patriots: </b>Just want to throw this out there: Peyton Manning went 5th...now I know he has high expectations this year...but come on. Anyway, this brings me to my first theory:<br /><br /><i><b>Theory #1: If You Don't Draft A QB in the Top 30, You Will Be Holding Out For RG3 and Andrew Luck: </b></i>Now I have nothing against those two in the least bit, but just know that if you're looking for a QB who is going to be a difference maker, you're likely going to have to make a decision on that pretty early...like the first three rounds early. The breakdown goes a little like this:<div><br /></div><div><i>First Round:</i></div><div><ul><li>Tom Brady, NE</li><li>Aaron Rodgers, GB</li><li>Drew Brees, NO</li></ul><div><i>Second Round:</i></div><div><ul><li>Matthew Stafford, DET (and he might go in the 1st round as well)</li><li>Cam Newton, CAR</li><li>Michael Vick, PHI (you can justify all three of these guys going in the first round really)</li></ul><div><i>Third Round:</i></div></div><div><ul><li>Eli Manning, NYG</li><li>Peyton Manning, DEN </li><li>Philip Rivers, SD</li></ul></div><div><i><blockquote></blockquote>...</i>after that, it gets dicey. You're looking at Tony Romo (I have never heard of anyone who was pumped up to get Romo...ever), Matt Ryan (great QB in real life...for fantasy?...a little inconsistent), Matt Schaub (Andre Johnson's health is in question, which means Schaub's season is in question), JAAAAASSSSSHHHHH Freeman (my candidate to break out last year, he was a dud...sorry about that...if it makes you feel any better, he should be much better just by having Vincent Jackson involved), Jay Cutler (who should have it all figured out after being reunited with Brandon Marshall...then again, I believe the phrase "Jay Cutler will have it figured out this year" has been uttered for the last four seasons, so you never know), and Big Ben (I'm biased, but he will never be on my team)...so yeah, if you want a QB you're not going to have to worry about every week, you have to go early.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, the fact that I could get Brady at #9 further dumbs down how legit this is, but it's more about using this as a template...also, why the f___ would I talk about a draft that didn't go well for me?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>#16: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Your New England Patriots: </b>I know what you're saying...how does the biggest Wes Welker fan pick Gronk over Dub Dub? Easy, he got taken at the top of the second at #13 overall (which could be considered high, but when you put into context that the greatest slot receivers in the history of the game are Welker and Jerry Rice, then you can make sense of it). So in any event, I now have a Brady-Gronk combo, which means if I finish less than third, it would make me completely incompetent...I hope for my sake and yours as well that that's not the case. </div><div><br /></div><div>Getting right down to it, I had the pleasure of actually going to the split New England/New Orleans practice yesterday, and seeing Gronk and Jimmy Graham in person resulted in the next theory:</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold; ">Theory #2: In No Way, Shape, or Form Should Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham Fall Past The Middle of the Second Round:</i> I thought Gronk could not be touched in terms or physicality and athleticism for a big guy, but Jimmy Graham could give him a run for his money. He made an acrobatic catch in double coverage yesterday and made it look so easy...and this is just the preseason. This guy is just frightening, and appears like he is only going to get better. Despite Gronk having the greatest statistical season for a tight end ever, do not be surprised if Graham actually outduels him in fantasy this year. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>#33: Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta: </b>Right here it became Michael Turner vs. Fred Jackson for me. Slight edge to Turner because of his consistency and the C.J. Spiller factor in Buffalo (I know, a Clemson guy...yuck). Turner is an animal...he's a bigger Maurice Jones-Drew or Ray Rice...whatever works for you. <i><b>Update (8/21): </b>This isn't really an update about anything happening with Michael Turner (he's still really good if you were wondering), but more like an add-on, so here goes...it's kind of creepy how color commentators describe Michael Turner's lower body...and I get that it's impressive, but I know I've heard something to the effect of this: "Look at Turner's lower body, he's got those thick, you know, those really thick strong thighs bouncing off of flailing arms and hands"...and I know they've gone "glute" a few times as well...I dunno...can we just go "great lower body" and move on?...I could be old-fashioned like that, I get it. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Trent Richardson went #21 in this draft...theory drumroll please...</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold; ">Theory #3: Trent Richardson Will Not Make It Out Of The Top 15 Despite Being Ranked In The 30s: </i>Now with recent news about his arthroscopic surgery to remove "hangnail" cartilidge from his knee coming to light (how do you get a hangnail in your knee?), this may change soon. In the meantime, early draft results are showing T-Pain going right around pick #15, so be warned that this is the first of what will sure to be many falsehoods that the rankings contrived.</div><div><br /></div><div>At this pick, I was really hoping A.J. Green would fall to me, but he went the pick before (isn't that always the case?). Also, DeMarco Murray went at the end of the second round, which brings me onto the next one...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Theory #4: The Idea That A.J. Green and DeMarco Murray Are Falling Out Of The First Two Rounds Is F___ing Baffling To Me:</i></b> I think my biasedness towards USC perhaps made me snap judge A.J. Green going before Julio Jones in the '11 Draft as a mistake by Cincy...boy was I way off on that one. Green is about to appear in MegaTron and Larry Fitzgerald's company, and yet he's ranked in the 30s and available for the most part in the third round. Grab him if you can. DeMarco Murray should be in the top 10 in the rankings strictly due to his rookie campaign and the fact that he performed on the same level as Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma should give you an indication of what we're dealing with here.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>#40: Reggie Bush, RB, Miami: </b>Whoever said you had to draft two running backs with the first two picks is a freggin' moron. They're out there, you just have to be in the know and understand that if you don't get Ray Rice, you're not entirely screwed (although he would certainly help), but getting back to this pick...</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>Theory #5: Reggie Bush Is Going To Tear Shit Up Again:</i> </b>I was fortunate to grab him midseason last year, and he was my horse down the stretch. The difference with Bush now has to be his willingness to run north/south, in between the tackles. He tried to be an edge rusher in New Orleans in his limited carries, and that did not work at all. Now, he does not have to worry about punts or kicks. He is strictly a running back...this is the best thing that could have ever happened to his career as a runner and his fantasy stock. He is currently ranked #51...if he's outside the top 25 by the end of the season, I'll be stunned.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#57: Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh: </b>What I like about Brown is that he clearly is already nasty, and his stock can only go up whatever way the whole Mike Wallace situation breaks down. If Wallace stays, Brown is likely going for over 1,000 yards and five or six scores. If Brown is the #1? Well your guess is as good as mine, but I'm under the impression that his #'s could only go up. This pick and my next fold up very nicely...</div><div><br /></div><b>#64: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Your New England Patriots:</b></div><div><br /></div><div> (keep in mind I used the standard ESPN lineups, which includes a "flex" spot, open for any RB/WR/TE...if you don't have this spot in your league, or you can't start two tight ends at the same time, I would not suggest going with two tight ends this high...unless you really like Aaron Hernandez...I have to say I'm not above having both Gronk and Hernandez just because...)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Theory #6: Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez Are By Far and Away The Most Undervalued Players Entering This Year's Draft:</i></b> Antonio Brown is ranked in the late 60s, but will have third round value come draft day. Aaron Hernandez is a wide receiver with a tight end label. He's nuts people. He catches, he blocks...<i>he runs out of the backfield</i> for crying out loud! He's good for about 20 yards rushing a game...so hello 2 pts. that no other TE in the history of the league could offer you. Sure, he's not going for "Gronk numbers," but he will do as good if not better than your second WR most likely, meaning his value will end up somewhere in the top 50, and not close to where he is currently (that would be #93...that's right, a top 50 player is ranked in the 90s...you know what to do...).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>#81: Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore: </b>In picking Smith, I have completed my starting lineup of skill players...</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>Theory #7: Draft Your Entire Skill Lineup First, Then Add Depth In The Later Rounds: </i></b>To me, this is one of the most important parts of the first seven or eight rounds. I know that drafting the best player available has its advantages, but with the new wave of tight ends in the league, it's tough to justify waiting on a tight end. When I go through the first stages of the draft, I'm getting guys that are going to start 16 of the 17 weeks for me. You can't really bank on trading unless you're absolutely positive you can get fair value in return, and that is rare. I know people are nuts about bye weeks, but in the same token, what does it really matter? Sure, if I have a team full of Patriots, I'll probably be in trouble come Week 9 (their bye week), but the other 16?...I would probably pound the shit out everyone...so why wouldn't I trade one off week for 16 dominating ones?...see if you say it like that, it makes a whole lot of sense (I would say to try and keep your QBs on different byes though).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>#88: James Starks, RB, Green Bay:</b> Talk about value. Starks has officially pushed Ryan Grant out of town and now is the lone back in Lambeau. To an unbiased observer, this pick would have been brutal because C.J. Spiller was available as well, and with an added emphasis on getting him touches in Buffalo, he is another viable RB candidate that you can wait until the 7th or 8th round to get.<br /><br /><i><b>Update (8/15): </b>Cedric Benson has officially signed with Green Bay, and while he will not play in the next preseason game against Cleveland, certainly makes the RB situation in Green Bay a little more interesting...Benson is ranked in the 100s right now?...I think we may be underestimating the kind of impact this guy could have (this could go both ways...like how Randy Moss went in the first two years (un-f___ing-believable) or how it went the last two years (un-f___ing believably dramatic)...oh, and if that wasn't enough, James Starks has a turf toe injury...lotta dudes getting roughed up in the preseason...telling you, make it a 17-game regular season and have two preseason games (one home, one away)...sure, hurts the bottom line a little, but I will trade two preseason games for one regular season one...wouldn't you?</i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On an unrelated, but yet somehow relatable note, RG3 went #73 in this. In the 80s is when I'm targeting him. There are probably two exceptions to Theory #7 and filling out your lineup before taking backups. One is Hernandez, and the other is RG3. You have to look at this in a black and white sense...RG3 is like Cam Newton but with a higher football IQ...Cam Newton had the greatest single season for a rookie QB on an awful team...and here's RG3, who is going to, at the least, an "okay" team. So it seems like all the elements are there for "The Third" to break out (I get tired of saying RG3 all the time, so I'm bringing "The Third" to the nickname table ...there really aren't any notable IIIs out there right now...I'm feeling a list coming on)...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Top 5 "IIIs" of All-Time<br /></b><ol><li><i>King George III: </i>We would be sipping tea and eating crumpets right now if our Fore Fathers didn't hate this son of a bitch so much (not that tea and crumpets is a bad thing...it's actually quite a delicious combo). Fun fact: He got the throne because his brother got whacked in the chest with a cricket ball...can you believe that?...cricket paved the way for America.</li><li style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight- -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- "><i>Wrestlemania III:</i><i style="font-style: normal; "> </i>When you look back at the history of wrestling in the sports and entertainment sense, this was the watershed moment. There was nothing about this that was small in any regard. Wrestlemania I was at Madison Square Garden, which holds roughly 20,000 for special events. Wrestlemania III was held at the Pontiac Silverdome, which housed roughly 93,000 people for the event. Second, in a watershed moment inside of a watershed moment, Hulk Hogan completed a body slam of Andre The Giant, perhaps the biggest moment in the history of wrestling. Finally, you had arguably the greatest match in modern wrestling history with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeating The "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Title...just thinking about this gives me the chills everytime.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight- -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight- -webkit-composition-fill- "><i>Ali vs. Frazier III (The "Thrilla in Manilla"):</i><i style="font-style: normal; "> </i>In what is now known as "The Fight of the Century," Muhammad Ali reclaimed the heavyweight championship from Joe Frazier in the Phillipines. What has to be noted was that Frazier was integral in getting Ali his boxing license back before the fight was scheduled, as he had been stripped of it for refusing to serve in Vietnam.</span></span></li><li style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Grand Theft Auto III: </i>This was on the ground-breaking levels of games like Goldeneye, Final Fantasy (also a good III), and Halo 2 to name a few. Yes, there was violence and all the raunchy stuff (which was amazing), but more importantly, the worlds that were created and the number of missions and all other kinds of stuff that you could do to continue to make the game "playable" was mind-blowing. That game made the GTA franchise probably the most successful one since like Sonic probably.</li><li><i>Robert Griffin III: </i>Won a Heisman Trophy and went #2 in the draft...he's off to a good start to get to #2 on this list.</li></ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Honorable Mentions:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i><br /></i></span><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Rocky III: </i>While being a classic, it's like the third or fourth best Rocky, and in a series of just six (five really if you don't count Rocky V which I still contest never happened), in that context, that's not so hot...still, Rocky vs. Clubber Lang (Mr. T)...good stuff.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Davis Love III: </i>Had it not been for his tough luck in the majors (only one win in the '97 PGA Chqmpionship...more commonly referred to as "the other major"...it's the Australian Open of golf), he would probably have cracked the list...he was on the '99 Ryder Cup team that played at Brookline...so he's got that going for him...which is nice).</span></li></ul></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight- -webkit-composition-fill- -webkit-composition-frame- ;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dishonorable Mention:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><ul style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;">Godfather III:</span> Think about this like the 2012 Red Sox...all the talent is there, but the product they put on the field sucks major dick...it's exactly like that...</span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />#105: Jon Baldwin, WR, Kansas City: </span>Baldwin is the poor man's Antonio Brown in that he is a big-play guy, and right now, his stock can only go up because the #1's contract situation (in this case Dwayne Bowe) is in flux. I think my only question about Baldwin is Matt Cassel...hopefully the return of Jamaal Charles will help him because he looked absolutely dreadful last year (so dreadful he got replaced by Kyle Orton...Kyle Orton is stealing jobs?...this is a mad world Gary Jules haha).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#112: Jared Cook, TE, Tennessee: </span>I defy you to draft a better set of tight ends. In a position that is taking over the passing game, Gronk, Hernandez, and Cook are all in the top 10 for TEs, and by the end of this season, could perhaps all drift into the top 5. Cook is a Gamecock, which makes the pick easy, but what made a decision about Cook even easier is that his measurables are off the chart (he has the same body as Jermichael Finley, but jumps six inches higher and runs a 4.4 40-yard dash) and he will also be catching balls from a first-year starter (Jake Locker), meaning he should see a lot of looks (especially with Kenny Britt getting himself into off the field problems at will now). GAMECOCKS BABY!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#129: Ryan Williams, RB, Arizona:</span> This is now becoming fish in a barrel. Most of the people who were in the draft room are gone, and now it's like I have a pick every 30 seconds. Williams lost his entire season last year due to a ruptured patella in his knee. With Beanie Wells' health also a gigantic red flag, this brings Williams' value up even more.<br /><br />...anddddd it's around this point that I probably need to drive something home...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theory #8: Draft Rashard Mendenhall and Pray It Works Out For You: </span></span>This is advice that I for some reason didn't take (he actually went twenty picks after this). Sure, Mendy will start the year on the PUP list (meaning he automatically misses the first six games, no matter if he's healthy or not), but consider this: At this point in the draft, you are picking backups and guys that have a 10-15% chance of playing for your team on an every week basis, so based on that logic...how can you lose taking Mendenhall? Sure, he may not play at all this year, and that would be a bummer, but here's a guy who is telling everyone he would have been healthy for Week 1. The doctors won't clear him for football activity that soon, but if he gets over a month to get fully healed, and he can return in Week 7, you're talking about a top-10 back in this league. So stashing him on your bench seems like a smart play right now...although I have to <span style="color:#ffffff;">say everything I did in this draft and everything I'm saying right now seems about right to me, so factor that in while you're dissecting this.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight:"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><b>Update (8/20): </b>Sorry I didn't update this like two days ago when I found out about this, but Mendy has officially been activated off the PUP list, meaning he's eligible to play, uh...now. So having said this, I'm still thinking you're going to miss him in the preseason or working out in any public matter until Week 1...people, I'm still drafting him in a heartbeat...honestly, I really don't need to see anything. The guy says he's ready, the Steelers think he's ready...and they're not the Red Sox training staff (who apparently thought it was okay to bring a guy back (Carl Crawford) who, likely today, will ask permission to get Tommy John surgery...wowwww...let's skip spending money on free agents and try getting some f___in' doctors man). So, the question now becomes at what point to get him at. As of today, he is the 49th RB off the board...okay that is ridiculous even if he missed six weeks!...as of right now he is still ranked 170 on ESPN...again, I would monitor this as the story unfolds, but 10th round?...there's little risk and gigantic reward.<br /></i></span><br /><b>#136: Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee:</b> </span>So as I documented earlier, someone already snatched up RG3, then Luck went soon there after (#83), so now I find myself in no man's land full of QBs who could put up a 30 point week and then get benched the next...it's a cruel system. So, in lieu of that, I went for the one QB who continues to stay off the radar. I hailed Locker last year, and went so far as to put him in his own theory and titled it "Jake Locker Is Going To Go All Tebow On Us." Well, he did kind of right? Sure he only played in five games and had the bulk of the throws in just three, but I think in that abbreviated window, we kind of got a feel as to what he is all about. His first game at Atlanta, he was only 9-19, but had two TD throws. Against the Saints, he threw for 282 yards and a score, and also ran for 36 yards, adding another TD on the ground. Finally, he had his most efficient day as an NFL passer against Indy, going 11-16 for 108 yards and a score. All this with no INTs mind you. Hopefully the Titans will let this kid play. I love Matt Hasselbeck (Norfolk, MA, Xaverian Brothers High School, BC, you get the idea), but he's f___ing old man. Locker has the potential to be special if given the opportunity I think.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#153: Kendall Wright, WR, Tennessee: </span>Boy I am all about the Titans this year I guess. They're going to have a shitty team, but that actually translates into fantasy gold (especially in dealing with guys directly related to the passing game...in my case, I have Locker/Cook/Wright, which is great...anyway, the worse they are, the more often they are going to be behind in games, meaning they will be opting to pass more to try and get back into the game...hopefully that makes sense). Wright is being compared to DeSean Jackson, and while we have no real proof of that, and we have yet to see him catch any balls from someone not named Robert Griffin III, the initial word out of Nashville is that this kid has massive upside, but after missing the first week of training camp, is still trying to figure things out. With Kenny Britt's situation in a state of mass chaos, not only recovering from three knee surgeries and an ACL replacement, but also just racking up arrest #8, a DUI which will likely suspend him for at least a third of the season, Wright could figure into getting a lot of balls thrown his way alongside Nate Washington. Also, he may factor into the kick and punt return game as he has been splitting reps with Damian Williams, so there's yet another wrinkle.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#160: Bills D/ST: </span>I know this was close to the end of the draft...close...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theory #9: Anyone Who Says You Should Wait Until The Final Two Picks To Take A Kicker and a Defense Is a F___ing Douche: </span></span>I find it to be almost at the point of being relieving if I have a good kicker and good defense...it's just one less thing to worry about. Sure, my final pick (spoiler) of the draft was a kicker, but I'm not telling you that you have to wait that long. Now I'm also not saying draft a kicker in the 5th round, but 11th, 12th? Why not? Again, this is a guy who will likely play pretty much every single week for you...you may want to think about investing something a little more than your last pick on him.<br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As far as defenses go, I would say there are four to consider drafting before the 10th round:<br /></span><ol style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li>49ers D/ST (Average Draft Position: 71.0)</li><li>Ravens D/ST (84.3)</li><li>Texans (90.7)</li><li>Bears (96.4)</li></ol><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">After that, it gets a little hazy...you really can never lose with the Steelers (110.3) or the Jets (129.8), unless they are playing the Pats. I went with the Bills for a couple of reasons. First, you have to believe that they are going to show some immediate flashes just based on the acquisitions (Mario Williams being the lead man, but also Mark Anderson, and The University of South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, who apparently is wowing all the defensive coaches so far), and also, the C.J. Spiller factor rears its head yet again, as you can expect him to handle most of the punt return duties (say what you will about him...I know I have...but he is a hell of a return man). The Bills have become a team I am really not looking forward to playing...especially at Buffalo (the Bills game on the road was by far the worst game the Pats played all last season). It's funny because I was always under the impression that it would be the Jets who would be our Lex Luthor, and after beating us in the playoffs a few years back, and going to back-to-back AFC Championship games, that's how it was. Now though? After last season, the new gadget offense (anytime you have a "gadget" offense, it basically implies your team is too shitty to run an actual offense...like Miami when they went to the Wildcat...and the ironic thing is that Tony Sparano, the guy who engineered the reappearance of the Wildcat, is now the offensive coordinator of the Jets...so now they can re-install the Wildcat and further entrench themselves in mediocrity), and the ridiculous amount of brawling going on at camp (I get that fights happen during football practice...ahhhh this looks more like street fighting, you could possibly get arrested if you were doing that any place else but a football field stuff)...I don't know what to expect from the Jets...all I know is that they seem ripe to get their asses handed to them at Foxboro, in Jersey, on the Moon, wherever else the Jets want to play the Pats...bring that shit on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">#177: Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Chicago: </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At this point in the draft, I knew I was close to something special. Yes there was literally no one left in the draft room, and I did kind of whiff on Mendenhall, but in my mind, that was like giving up a walk during a perfect game. It's not perfect, but I was still throwing a no-hitter at this point, so why the hell would I leave now? That's like giving the ball to the manager in the 8th inning...I've come so far, now let's finish what we started right? For my last skill position player, I went with a homer pick and took another former Gamecock...but hey, it's like taking Patriots...if they're good, and you like rooting for them, where is the harm? Jay Cutler will probably throw close to 20 picks this year, but he's also going to shatter 3,000 yards passing (I would say something close to 4,000 for him), and Alshon has been appointed the #2 receiver in Chicago...so giddy up...Gamecocks baby! August 30 vs. Vandy. Y'all know what's up!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">#184: Matt Prater, K, Denver: </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That's a Verlander 100 MPH fastball for strike three to end the game. Outside of Janikowski, Prater has the biggest leg in the game, and it also doesn't hurt that he kicks in Denver, and he will be also kicking for a team QB'd by Peyton Manning...ask Adam Vinatieri and Mike Vanderjagt before he became a basket case how that works...good times.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So again, results will vary, and by that I mean in no way will I ever be able to re-construct this and get that many breaks. However, I just felt extremely confident going through the process that I would have a Plan A, B, C, etc. for every single pick and that I wouldn't panic. Sure there were times were I was scrolling up and down and debating between players, but more often than not, I was getting my pick in after like two seconds (you should have seen how quick I drafted Brady haha).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">There are tons of previews out there dissecting sleepers and telling you who to stay away from. The bottom line is this: It's your team. All I can do for you is tell you about one that I did and kind of help you follow the trends of what has been happening in draft rooms. When you do about ten of these (which I'm sure I have), there are definite outliers (Peyton going #5 here is an obvious one), but really, the results start to come towards the middle and you can get a feel for players everyone is all about (Trent Richardson) and those not getting much love (which has recently been Mike Wallace with the speculation he could be traded to the Dolphins...I have to say that would not be the best career move he's ever made...have fun with Ryan Tannehill...yikes).</span> <span style="color:#ffffff;"><i><b>Update (8/21): </b></i></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">Mike Wallace is returning to the Steelers...this is incredible news for him, fantasy players, Pittsburgh...but again, it makes you wonder why a team like Miami, with Tannehill, who like it or not, is their franchise guy (for the time being), and Reggie, who is by far and away their best offensive weapon, would not pull the trigger on two first rounders for Wallace...news flash Miami, you need an exceptional...and I mean exceptional passing game to keep pace in the AFC East, and while I like Devone (huge in Hawaii) and Legedu, you are trying to make 1's and 2's out of complimentary receivers who excel in being called on at the right moment, and not all the time...that's where Wallace would come in...to me, this makes me think Miami is like "we're gonna suck for an immediate period, so we can't give up picks that high"...how does that make you feel Miami?...you know I'm right.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Again though, it's your team. No player is a "reach" if he's good. Once the draft is over and the rosters are in place, you don't see where you drafted each player...all you see is who you have, and that's an important point that I can't stress enough. All these rankings are based off of the past and have no real impact on the present or future. Gronk and Cam Newton went undrafted in my league and now they will both be in the top two rounds of this year's draft. The draft is big, but what is even bigger is being happy with the players you have on your team and being able to make adjustments as the season progresses.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">With that, I will say adieu. Good luck, have fun, draft Patriots and Gamecocks early and often. I'll be seeing you, this side or the other ("The Town" could be one of the most underrated movies of the last decade...that, "The Other Guys," and "Hot Tub Time Machine" to name a few). Later y'all</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Peace.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mell-o</span><br /></div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-1225292795084960342012-07-23T11:57:00.013-04:002012-08-04T15:17:23.491-04:00Everything Other Than Penn State"Enter the mind, not many make it out."<br /><br />What is happening in your area everybody? I feel like I need a warm-up for my fantasy football guide (which I'll start to work feverishly on pretty soon). Also, as the title of this column suggests, I think we need something else to pontificate about other than...you know...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stuff Happening In The G.B.: </span>As horrible as this sounds, I was not at all surprised that Adam Scott blew his load on the back 9 on Sunday. It's unfortunate, but you can do really well in the regular season, and then just not show up when it matters (I'm looking at you Vancouver). The guy is a hell of a talent, but his time simply isn't now...he definitely has the ability to overcome this. Hopefully he takes this all as motivation...he's not like Van de Velde...the guy will be back.<br /><br />BIG ERNNNNNNN!!!<br /><br />Big Ern is once again above the law. Four birdies on the back 9, shooting mid 60s when everyone else was going mid 70s. Also, he has one of the more appropriate nicknames of all time...let me see if I can turn this into a list...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Top 10 Most Appropriate Sports Nicknames...We'll Say Of The Past Like Twenty To Thirty Years:<br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Primetime" - Deion Sanders</span>: As far as I'm concerned, this will never be topped...ever.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Showtime" - Lakers: </span>Yes, I'm including teams...this way there will be less names of individuals that I'll leave out because while attempting to do the best I can, I'll probably leave someone out...anywho...with Magic running the show, everyone in Hollywood had to be there...but much like many of the celebrities that go to Fenway, they were really into the shit...they weren't "pink-hatting" it as we like to say (that is a common misconception...that celebrities want to be there because it's the place to be...not really...the pink hats are the ones who want to go a game because it's the thing to do...you look at people like Affleck and Eliza Dushku (beyond strikingly beautiful), they actually know their shit...it's like Jack and Whoopi back in the day in LA).</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Great One" - Wayne Gretzky: </span>He is and will always be the greatest ever.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Bad Boys" - Pistons: <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>When you watch the film of these guys, it reminds you that there was a time when you could get away with some wild shit in the NBA.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Human Highlight Reel" - Dominique Wilkins: </span>There is the possibility that because 'Nique had some "average" years at the end of his career, he is not as highly regarded as he should be. His numbers are amazing, and he is the only guy who could ever take Jordan when he was in his prime.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Big Easy" - Ernie Els: </span>Luke Donald is attempting to take Els off of the throne of "best mechanical, powerful, and yet extremely effortless looking swings" platform, but after this stunning comeback and a fourth major, the Big Easy is back.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Big Papi" - David Ortiz: </span>Call me a homer, but you look at the guy...I mean who even calls him David Ortiz anymore? I go for Papi or Big Papi like every time.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"White Chocolate"/"The Professor" - Jason Williams/Grayson Boucher: </span>I had to get an And 1 Mixtape reference in here somehow...why ESPN2 decided to stop running those in the afternoon I'll never know. Anyway, what you have is the exact same player, except one was in the NBA, and one was on the playground...and when they were both on, they were electric.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Megatron" - Calvin Johnson: </span>In spoiling my fantasy preview a little bit, receivers and, yes, tight ends are going higher in fantasy drafts than we have ever seen...it speaks to how much elite pass-catchers are regarded.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Wizard" - Ozzie Smith: <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>You have to give it up for this one. First off, Ozzie Smith was a literal wizard in the field...probably the slickest defensive shortstop to ever live. Then, when you factor in that you can combo it into "The Wizard of Oz," that puts it over the top in my opinion.</li></ol><p>Honorable Mentions: "The Truth" - Paul Pierce, "The Answer" - Allen Iverson, "The Mailman" - Karl Malone, "The Excellence of Execution"/"The Best There Is, The Best There Was, And The Best There Ever Will Be" - Bret Hart, "The Big Ticket" - Kevin Garnett, "Playmaker" - Michael Irvin, "Joey Bats" - Jose Bautista...and all the other cool ones I'm missing.</p><p>So the Open Championship is over, now it's time for the Olympics. I'm really surprised how intrigued people have been about the U.S. Olympic tryouts. I'm at parties on a Saturday night and seeing people huddled around a TV watching swimming and track and field, barber shops full of guys watching the men's gymnastic qualifiers...it's fascinating...but in a good way.</p><p>I will say this: I don't know a whole lot about many of the athletes in it, but I will say that there is an interesting occurrence happening with Michael Phelps, in that the story of Ryan Lochte is trumping him...and I don't think anyone ever thought Phelps would ever be topped, but don't you find yourself secretly hoping that Lochte breaks out this year? Other than that, I'm hoping the US does well, and if they lose, its because some guy/girl/team from some other country did some crazy good shit to win.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why The Red Sox Are Not Doing Well: </span>I understand that the locker room is bad...I get that, but the game is not played in the locker room. Baseball is the most 1-on-1 of all the major sports if you think about it, and while team chemistry and feeling good about your teammates is important, it's not going to necessarily mean that you can't win games. Let's do a short analysis here...</p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">You Still Know Exactly When They Are Going To Blow A Game:</span> </span>The new look Sox that were winning championships were winning games we have never seen the Red Sox win (most notably Games 4 and 5 of the '04 ALCS and Game 6 of the '07 ALCS...I know those were a little more important than the regular season, but it's always a good time to bring them up). So if you're sitting at home, and you know they're going to blow it, you can probably imagine the guys in the dugout know too.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">They Have Tons Of Talent, But They Can't Seem To Catch Fire At The Same Time:</span> </span>This was also the case last year outside of one month give or take.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Consistent Starting Pitching:</span> </span>Could you even imagine if John Lackey was healthy how much more obvious this section would be?</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trading Josh Reddick and Letting Jonathan Papelbon Go:</span> </span>While Cody Ross has been brilliant as of late, the fact remains that Reddick would have brought some stability to a position that has been a revolving door that has included the likes of Adrian Gonzalez. Then there's Papelbon...the fact that they just f___ed with him one too many times and he was not about to let the team run him (this is now being referred to as getting Ray Allen'd). While Aceves has been great now, the fact remains that because they let Pap go, they felt compelled to trade for Andrew Bailey, and thus, trading Reddick (and we come full circle).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lack Of Pitching Coming Through The Minors:</span> </span>This is tough because I feel like it's tougher to make the transition from minor league pitcher to major league than it is hitting-wise (just ask Trevor Bauer), but even so, the last guy to really break through was Clay Buchholz and he debuted like five years ago (you may recall Felix Doubront actually debuted before Clay and he is just coming on now). Hopefully Matt Barnes will be ready to see some action next year as he is by far and away the best we have right now with Anthony Ranaudo coming undone in AA (he's actually now on the DL with a "dead arm"...no good).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Media Pounds The Shit Out Of This Team Like It's Their Job:</span> </span>It seems like now these guys are looking for something, anything totally negative to talk about all the time. We're not talking about Will Middlebrooks breaking out, or Jacoby Ellsbury returning to the lineup a year removed from being 2nd in the MVP vote, the fact that Scott Atchinson has been brilliant after being the "dude we bring in to eat up innings in a blowout" guy last year...no...we just hear the clubhouse sucks and no one's happy...and you wonder why they're not happy? These guys are well compensated yes, but there is also the emotional element of the job. I know personally, I have been in positions when working when I felt like there was absolutely no way of pleasing my superiors and was almost under the impression that they were rooting against me...I bet like a few of these guys are feeling the same way right about now.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Health:</span> </span>Pedroia and Ellsbury have been the big ones, but we would have really liked to see Carl Crawford and Andrew Bailey because in both cases, the return has yet to be seen, and while Crawford played for us last year, he only showed flashes of what he brings to the table. Bailey is likely the eighth inning guy that we have been lacking now that Aceves has blossomed into a closer this year.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Bard:</span> </span>Speaking of eighth inning guys, Bard's present career has tanked due to his and the team's indecisiveness on how to use him. He wanted to be a starter, but I think what he failed to realize is that on this team, his best use was a set-up man, so in putting his personal aspirations of starting ahead of the team, he probably cost himself this season and the Sox 8-10 games because of it. While I get why he wants to do it (you make more money and he apparently is more comfortable doing it), he picked the wrong time to do it (he was very effective, then became very shaky at the end of last season...unless someone is proving they should be given a promotion, you can't let them call the shots like that).<br /></li></ul><p>So, there's basically what I think of that. They actually have a chance to make the postseason based on the personnel, but I would really expect them to go after a good set-up man (Aaron Crow from the Royals comes to mind), because that's the last of the chinks in the armor that can be fixed (no one is trading for Jon Lester and especially Josh Beckett unless they get them for nothing, and right now, you're going to have to trade big pieces of the future to get a Cole Hamels or a Zack Greinke, so forget about fixing the pitching staff, which is the only other thing they need).</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fantasy Baseball In The Second Half: </span>For all those who had Mike Trout from Day 1 (which includes me in my Lynchburg league), congratulations...you're probably at least close to the top just because of that. If not, here are some things to watch out for in the coming months:</p><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Wil Myers:</span> What I am learning: The youth movement has been pushed by hitters, and not pitchers. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper...yes...Trevor Bauer?...not so much. So, the next big thing is Myers, who should be in KC already if they weren't paying Francoeur so much money (sorry Jeff, you were recruited to be a QB at Clemson...I'm not the most sympathetic guy when it comes to those in the orange and purple). In Yahoo, he's eligible at catcher...so when he finally does come up, he will be eligible at catcher AND outfield, a combo that to my knowledge has never been seen before. There is going to be a literal mutiny in and around Kaufman Stadium if he's not out there soon.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trade Deadline: </span></span>What this mostly means is tracking closers. We just had a deal that shifted Francisco Cordero from a set-up man in Toronto to a closer in Houston, and Brett Myers moved to Chicago to be their set-up man after a sub-par first half closing for the 'Stros. Other deals could include Jonathan Broxton and J.J. Putz, so look out for Greg Holland in KC and David Hernandez in 'Zona if any deals with those guys go down.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Slow Starting Bunch: </span></span>Albert Pujols is the pied-piper here, and others to follow will include Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Upton, and Tim Lincecum. All of these guys are too good to keep down, and if there was ever a time to buy low on them, it's now.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If You Have R.A. Dickey or Yu Darvish, Trade Them Now: </span></span>It would take something historic for them to match their first half against anything they could do in the second half, so I'm banking against that happening.</li></ul><p>If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Mock draft rooms are in my future for the rest of the day as I'm spending my last day of vacation once again being as unproductive to the "real world" as possible. Take care everyone. Good to be back. Peace.</p><p>~Mell-o<br /></p><p><br /></p>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-44328264759752358792012-04-11T10:34:00.022-04:002012-04-14T12:34:11.486-04:002012 NFL Mock Draft 1.0<blockquote></blockquote>"All the time, mocking, mocking, mocking, mocking, all the time...but now, it's Babu's turn to mock."<div><br /></div><div>Helllloooooo April! If the Sox weren't sucking so much balls, I would say we've been having a pretty good month here in the Bay State. The B's and C's are locked into the playoffs, with both playing inspired as of late. What more can you say about the Masters that hasn't been said already? Absolutely riveting television that was capped off with the conclusion that despite there being really only three mainstream lefty golfers on tour, they have dominated Augusta in the past decade (Mikey Weir, Phil, and now Bubba have won five of the last ten Green Jackets).</div><div><br /></div><div>Now back to the lecture at hand...the NFL Draft, which, let's face it, is the single most important event in the world...period. We are t-minus two weeks away from the three day extravaganza which makes watching hours and hours of watching guys in nice suits and adjustable hats must see programming. So, without any more delay, allow me to bring the ruckus...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Round #1:</b></div><div><ol><li><b>Indianapolis: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: </b>My only question is why haven't they just given this guy a contract already and get those jerseys printed right now? Do they realize they could be making a shitload of money right now if they just announced what could possibly the most pain-stakingly obvious #1 pick perhaps in the history of the draft?</li><li><b>Washington (via St. Louis): RG3, QB, Baylor: </b>Dude's never going to go by his full name anyway, so let's stick with the abridged version.</li><li><b>Minnesota: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal: </b>He's supposed to be better than his brother...and his brother is a Pro-Bowler...questions, comments, concerns?</li><li><b>Cleveland: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: </b>This is the only spot where there is a slight chance I could be wrong. Maybe the Browns go with corner Morris Claiborne here, but when they let Peyton Hillis, a 1,000 yard back who was derailed by the Madden curse, just get up and go to KC, this had to be the backup plan right? Also, anytime literally everyone when they talk about Richardson says he's "the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson," that has to mean something right?</li><li><b>Tampa Bay: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: </b>What has happened to Aqib Talib? Man, it's like receivers and corners, the guys who line up away from the line, are always the guys getting nabbed by the coppers for some kind of tomfoolery. In any event, Talib is looking more Pac Man Jones right now...and it took him like five years to steer his life right (one of the best draft moments in recent memory was when he was drafted...they flashed to him and his family in West Virginia, and he had a diamond encrusted Pac Man medallion necklace...that was amazing haha). Anyway, who knows what the dilly is with Talib right now, so Claiborne is the obvious choice here. What's great about where the Bucs are drafting is that they are guaranteed either Claiborne or Richardson here, which would fill a big need for them either way.</li><li><b>St. Louis (via Washington): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State:</b> Clearly the biggest pre-draft winners are the Rams, who have now turned their fans into Redskin haters (their next two first rounders will go to St. Louis). Blackmon was clearly the best receiver in the nation. There are apparent concerns about his measurables and being smaller than what was originally thought, but if you watch him in game action, this guy could really be special, and the Rams desperately need a big-play receiver now that Brandon Lloyd has moved on (to Foxboro baby!!!)</li><li><b>Jacksonville: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: </b>This is the only pick thus far that I've made a slight hesitation about. Floyd, like Blackmon, is clearly a special athlete and player, and owns pretty much every receiving record at Notre Dame possible. The reason for the hesitation is the Melvin Ingram factor...it's tough for me to not put him here because a top 10 Gamecock is long overdue (I want to say (Pastor) Troy Williamson was the last one).</li><li><b>Miami: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: </b>I feel like Tannehill is this year's Christian Ponder...he's gonna go way, WAY too high because he's a QB, and teams whose QB situation is even a little in flux are overcompensating like whoa to get one in. The Dolphins, like the Brownies, completely wiffed on the Manning/Matt Flynn/RG3 sweepstakes, and now are totally screwed...this makes me happy. What would make me even happier is if they get Tannehill, because I really think he's going to suck big time...so yeah Miami...make it happen!</li><li><b>Carolina: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis: </b>Okay now it's getting kinda interesting. To me, the Panthers have to go DT here, but will it be Poe, the Combine beast, or Fletcher Cox from Miss St., the beast on film, here? Ever so slight advantage to Poe because I honestly think the freak athlete branding that came with Cam Newton will follow up here on this pick.</li><li><b>Buffalo: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa:</b> The Bills clearly made pass-rushing a priority in the offseason by getting Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, so now they will look to protect newly-annointed franchise QB Ryan Fitzpatrick by going tackle here.</li><li><b>Kansas City: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: </b>There is waaaayyyyy too much buzz about Cox for him to slip anywhere past here. He's a guy teams will be burning the phone lines looking to move up to take him. Lots of different ways the Chiefs could go here. This team isn't nearly as bad as their record from last year indicates. Lose your best offensive (Jamaal Charles) and defensive (Eric Berry) players before the season really even starts, and tell me how good you're going to end up?</li><li><b>Seattle: David DeCastro, G, Stanford: </b>First off, he's a Pac-10 (sorry...Pac-12...wow does that sound stupid) guy, and Pete Carroll clearly still has a a soft spot for west coast guys. Second, like Trent Richardson, DeCastro is simply summed up universally as "the best guard prospect since Steve Hutchinson." If you're making a list of guys who will be almost sure-fire Pro-Bowlers, he has to be in the top three or four coming out of this draft. The importance of interior linemen is finally getting first round play in the draft...you can thank Bill Belichick for that one when he shocked the world and took Logan Mankins at the end of the first round in '05 following our third Super Bowl victory (I know we're 0-2 in Super Bowls since then, but I can't see any way that Bill and Tom Brady don't win another one...I think quite frankly that's an impossibility).</li><li><b>Arizona: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College: </b>Kuechly could possibly be a target of both KC and Seattle, and there is no way he gets past Philly at 15. This guy is an absolute tackle machine, and will probably start posting 100+ tackle seasons immediately.</li><li><b>Dallas: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina: </b>I'm under the impression that unfortunately, Coples is higher on Dallas' board than Ingram due to Coples sack ability, whereas Melvin is much more of an all-around outside linebacker. If Coples did not have the character issues that he does, he would definitely be in the top 10.</li><li><b>Philadelphia: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: </b>Word is that Philly is looking at DTs here, and while they hope Poe or Cox falls this far, Brockers is still an excellent value pick for the Eagles in the middle of the first round.</li><li><b>New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, THE University of South Carolina:</b> After the signing of LaRon Landry, the Jets' biggest need, safety, was addressed. Now I think they will look to adding an outside presence,whcih unfortunately means that Melvin will wind up in Jersey, and I have to root against him basically all the time...please don't make this a reality. Ingram could be another guy teams may be looking to move up to snag, sooooooo please do that...don't let him go to the Jets!</li><li><b>Cincinnati (via Oakland): Stephon Gilmore, CB, THE University of South Carolina</b>: Back to back Gamecocks baby! This is going to be a very interesting race to see which CB goes off the board after Claiborne. It will be between Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Janoris Jenkins, and all three can make equal cases here. Give the advantage to Gilmore based on his size and how smooth he is coming off the breaks.</li><li><b>San Diego: Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama: </b>The Chargers had absolutely no pass rush last season, so what's going to happen most likely is that they are going for the top-rated outside guy, which would be Upshaw. This is yet another excellent value pick in the middle of the first.</li><li><b>Chicago: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor:</b> It seems like the Bears are attempting to overhaul their entire offense, which may even include cutting Matt Forte loose if they can't get a long-term deal done with him. They added Brandon Marshall, but still really don't have a wealth of other passing options. Wright is being projected as DeSean Jackson-like, so the Bears will be able to build around him and Marshall on the outside for the next five years.</li><li><b>Tennessee: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: </b>Not sure how the rest of the league feels about him, but Jenkins would have been in the top 10 if he stayed at Florida. Again, the whole "character concerns" issue rears its ugly head. You know, sometimes this concern is legit, but honestly, these kids are like 18 or 19 when most of this stuff goes down...they're still basically kids even though technically, they are adults. Also, if you were the king of a school that had like 25,000 kids, you're saying you wouldn't start some static just because you can?</li><li><b>Cincinnati: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia: </b>After a breakout combine, I will be stunned if Glenn falls any further than this. Again, there is a renewed dedication to developing interior linemen and it's now the norm to go guard in the first round. Cincy has been rumored to perhaps be on the move with one of their first round picks in order to get Mike Wallace from the Steelers...imagine a scenario with A.J. Green AND Mike Wallace...that kind of firepower would give Pittsburgh and Baltimore a run for their collective money in the AFC North.</li><li><b>Cleveland: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford: </b>Does anyone know if Colt McCoy is going to be okay? I mean they have to be feeling semi-confident about his chances after attempting to low ball the Rams to move up to #2 to get RG3. They may stun people and go Tannehill at #4, but even if they do that, you would have to believe the line needs an upgrade opposite of Joe Thomas.</li><li><b>Detroit: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: </b>The Lions' secondary was simply atrocious last year...and actually were a big reason why Matt Flynn was able to cash in this offseason. If the Lions are lucky, one of these mid-first round corners will fall to them here.</li><li><b>Pittsburgh: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama:</b> Can you remember the last time the Steelers struck out drafting a linebacker? </li><li><b>Denver: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin: </b>This seems to be a consensus choice especially now that it's clear that Jeff Saturday will not be joining Peyton Manning in Denver. Konz is the best center prosepct, and Denver needs to do anything in its power to protect the new face of the franchise.</li><li><b>Houston: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech:</b> The only concern about drafting a GA Tech receiver is that they never get enough reps in school (a la Demaryius Thomas). Hill only had 49 catches for his entire career, but he has all the tools, plenty of size, and keep in mind last year, despite only having 28 catches, he had 820 yards, good for a 29.3 yards/reception clip.</li><li><b>New England (via New Orleans): Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State:</b> Everyone has him going here to us...I've seen the film, and I am completely comfortable taking this guy. Big 10 defensive lineman of the year.</li><li><b>Green Bay: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois:</b> We all know about Clay Matthews, but can you name the other starting OLB for the Packers?...I didn't think so (it's Erik Walden if you were curious...yeah I never heard of him either).</li><li><b>Baltimore: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: </b>Randle has unfortunately leap-frogged over THE University of South Carolina's Alshon Jeffrey as the #4 receiver in the draft. Baltimore would love to have Konz to upgrade at the center position, but once again, the Ravens are also in the market for a receiver. Torrey Smith has been the closest thing to a receiver that they have drafted who has panned out for them in basically the history of their franchise.</li><li><b>San Francisco: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford:</b> It seems like a lot of people are believing that with Alex Smith coming back, Harbaugh is going to really start to focus his attention up the middle, which could bring on investing in a 2-TE system, especially considering Vernon Davis is probably going to receive all the attention from opposing defenses. Again, copying the way the Pats do things is just the way to go in my humble opinion.</li><li><b>New England: Mark Barron, S, Alabama:</b> This would be a dream scenario for the Pats, who would be drafting two elite players at the bottom end of the first round. Unfortunately, I don't think it will happen because a.) Barron is the best safety in the draft, which is sure to attract attention from other teams, meaning it's highly unlikely he slips this far, and b.) I just cannot envision a scenario where the Pats are going to stay put and use both picks...they never have, and I don't think this year will be any exception unless this scenario plays out exactly.</li><li><b>New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State:</b> Despite winning a Super Bowl, the G-Men have no real talent at offensive tackle to speak of. While teams at the end of the first usually have most of their ducks in a row in terms of their team's talent, and tend to go for the next best available player, I'll be shocked if the tackle position is not addressed here.</li></ol><div>Okay, so there's the first round. The Pats also have two picks in the second round, and for my next update, I'll do a two-round mock for my final installment, but here are some possibilities in terms of where the Pats may be headed with their two second rounders (again, it will be hard for me to believe they use both of them, but it's fun to dream)...</div></div><div><br /></div><div>#48:</div><div><ul><li>Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska</li><li>Andre Branch, DE, Clemson</li><li>Vinny Curry, DE/OLB, Marshall</li><li>Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame</li><li>Mohammed Sanu, WR, Rutgers</li></ul><div>#61:</div></div><div><ul><li>Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia</li><li>LaMichael James, RB, Oregon</li><li>Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina</li><li>Brandon Taylor, S, LSU</li><li>Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska</li><li>Tank Carder, OLB, TCU</li></ul><div>Alright, so that was great to finally get to do again (and I did it all at work...and nothing really suffered...everybody wins!). Again, I'm looking to get a two-rounder down right before the draft begins...oh man this is absolutely my favorite time of the year. I finally finished this on Friday afternoon, so the Sox have been sucking more balls in the meantime, but we got the draft, and perhaps more importantly, two teams right now heading into the playoffs with legit chances of winning a title (B's got it done in an OT thriller to go up 1-0 in the series against the Caps, and the C's are playing their best basketball they have played in the post-Kendrick Perkins era). Good freggin' times. This weekend is going to be beautiful, so get out and enjoy it New England (okay non-New Englanders, you can enjoy it too I suppose). Take care everyone. Peace.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>~Mell-o</div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-81677550982646068622012-03-19T12:57:00.014-04:002012-04-01T09:36:09.240-04:00Fantasy Baseball Dossier 5.0<p>"I get juice when I let loose a little of my cleverness."<br /><br />Alright, so here's how to dominate...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">who needs intros?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Troy Tulowitzki is the #1 Fantasy Player Available: </span>Besides him just being a beast, Tulo plays at a position where value starts to go down very quickly save one or two sleepers (which I'll totally be getting to in a bit). Batting in Colorado will never go out of style...that is the hooded sweatshirt of baseball if you will (when will hoodies not be a good idea...retractable covering for your head!). And yes, this is probably biased because I don't particularly care for Miguel Cabrera's sudden position change to 3rd and Albert Pujols, who effectively LeBron'd St. Louis to go to Anaheim...that was kinda cold by Pujols.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>Actually, he kind of Manny'd them like when he basically turned down the same money from Cleveland that the Sox were offering. Plus, Ryan Braun? It's like I want to believe it because he's nasty, but...it's not like he was 100% innocent right? I mean test results like that in testosterone don't just happen right? So...I don't know (as you can tell, I let my heart get into this more than my head, but I do like really good players, so that can't hurt me too much...just no Yankees).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How To Pay For Saves And Not Pay For Saves At The Same Time:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Closers Who Are Valued Just Right or Are Perhaps A Little Undervalued That You're Going To Pay A Lot For:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Craig Kimbrel, ATL: </span>Right now he is the #1 closer and he's going around the start of the 5th round. In auctions, he's going for around $21...actually, let's just try this...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Craig Kimbrel, ATL (50.0, $20.5...thanks Yahoo): </span>So my thinking is that Kimbrel is most definitely #1 and projects to have the best season of all closers...am I saying in a snake draft I'm taking closers in the 5th round? Probably not unless Papelbon comes back to the Sox. In an auction draft though? Absolutely.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jonathan Papelbon, PHI (68.0, $15): </span>If Kimbrel does not get to the top of the list for closers, this guy will. Pap always pitched like he had a chip on his shoulder because the Sox would never lock him up to a long-term deal, and now that he has the deal, I feel like the chip will still be there to prove the Sox were wrong to let him walk, plus I'm under the impression Philly will be in line to win a few games this year, so the opportunities will be there.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Drew Storen, WSH (87.7, $13.1): </span>I'm just going to go ahead and point out that I have team crushes on the Nationals and the Royals and all I want is like all of their players. Having said that, Storen proved he was elite last year, and will probably be in this part of the column for a while to come.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jose Valverde, DET (108.8, $8.3): </span>When I mentioned before about the "perhaps undervalued" guys, this was the guy I really had in mind. This is almost astonishing low to me, especially his auction value. He's in the discussion for best closer in the game, yet is $12 cheaper than Kimbrel?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Closers That Are Either Unproven, Undervalued, or Are Being Completely Slept On:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Jordan Walden, LAA (138.7, $7.2): </span>I can't even start to tell you how low this is for Walden. I was just checking Closer Watch on Hardball Times and it said Walden's hold on the closer spot is shaky? Are you serious? I get that he had ten blown saves, but have you seen his stuff? I don't want him showing up in the 9th of a Sox game anytime soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Carlos Marmol, CHC (140.1, $6.4): </span>This is even crazier. Like Valverde, Marmol has to be in the discussion for the best closer in all of baseball right now, so for him to be close to the 10th or 11th closer off the board is amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kenley Jansen, LAD (166.6, $3.2): </span>I'm kind of cheating here, because Jansen is technically the 8th inning man to Javy Guerra, but it says something when the set up guy is getting picked higher (166.6 vs. 199.9) and is going for higher in auctions ($3.2 vs. $2.3) than the closer. Worst case scenario: He's the NL version of Daniel Bard as a set-up guy...not bad.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Brandon League, SEA (167.8, $4.1): </span>This guy just looks like a closer. He throws gas, and has a lock on his spot in Seattle. He is projecting to get as many saves as Papelbon and Valverde.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jim Johnson, BAL (217.1, $1.5): </span>I'm assuming this is because he's on a really bad team that his value is under two bucks. Look, if you're at least 75-80% sure a guy will be a closer for the entire season, he should be worth five bucks strictly on principle.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If You Do An Auction Draft, Load Up On Pitching: </span>I thoroughly enjoy auction drafts because you have the ability to assemble "dream teams" that you would in no way have any chance of forming in snake drafts, like getting Pedey, Gonzo, and Jacoby on one team (which I've successfully done twice), but upon further examination, the dream team you nay want to be after may consist of five aces and four lights out closers.<br /><br />The cost of the top 10 hitters combined: $464.1<br />The cost of the top 10 pitchers combined: $333.2<br /><br />While it's probably going to be impossible to get either of those two scenarios on your team, you can see that you save a whole bunch of money going after the best pitchers rather than best hitters. Here's a team I made using the approximate retail prices from Yahoo:<br /><br />P Justin Verlander, $39.1<br />P Clayton Kershaw, $37.8<br />P Jered Weaver, $29.7<br />P Jon Lester, $24.1<br />P Craig Kimbrel, $20.5<br />P Ian Kennedy, $17.1<br />P Jonathan Papelbon, $16.9<br />P J.J. Putz, $10.6<br />P Jose Valverde, $9.3<br />BN Carlos Zambrano, $1.3<br />BN Brandon McCarthy, $1.3<br />BN Tim Stauffer, $1.0<br /><br />Pitching Budget: $209.7<br /><br />C Wilson Ramos, $1.5<br />1B Gaby Sanchez, $1.8<br />2B Jason Kipnis, $2.4<br />3B Mike Moustakas, $3<br />SS J.J. Hardy, $6.5<br />1B/3B Eric Hosmer, $16.2<br />2B/SS Ryan Roberts, $2.5<br />OF Yoenis Cespedes, $4.6<br />OF Austin Jackson, $1.5<br />OF Jose Tabata, $1.4<br />OF Michael Brantley, $1.3<br />OF Brandon Belt, $1.2<br />UTIL Jemile Weeks, $4.8<br />BN Mike Carp (1B/OF), $1.1<br /><br />Hitting Budget: $48.6<br /><br />Total: $258.30 out of $260<br /><br />So as you can probably see, in drafting nine of the top 20 pitchers, you should be in good shape to not only dominate the wins and K's, but also having four of the top closers in the fold to get you on top of the SV, ERA, WHIP categories as well. The offense is not made of top tier guys outside of perhaps Hosmer, because, well, you definitely want to have someone you're almost completely positive will have a big year, which is my thoughts on Hosmer's potential (and I don't want to say any more and jinx it...my apologies to Steve Slaton, Ryan Mathews, Josh Freeman and Pedro Alvarez for doing that). I may have wanted to enlist some more speed, but even still, you're going to be at least middle of the pack with this basic collection of $5 or less sleepers I have.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleepers By Position:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Catcher:<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">J.P. Arencibia, TOR (175.2, $3.4):</span> He had major power surges last year, which makes me kind of curious as to why he's so far down. He strikes out a lot, but he still had 23 homers in 129 games in his first full season in the bigs. Him and Lawrie look like potential foundations of the future in Toronto.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Wilson Ramos, WSH (214.0, $1.5):</span> Another guy entering his second full season with his power numbers projected to be slightly less than Arencibia but with a better average. He's the poor man's Matt Wieters. Also, how messed is it that you have to consider how much getting kidnapped will have an effect on his career?</li></ul><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First Basemen:</span></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Ryan Howard, PHI (88.0, $14.3):</span> Howard makes the sleep column strictly based on the bargain you're getting for 2/3 a season from him (especially in auctions, where normally, he is a mid $30 player). The protective boot, not starting on Opening Day thing doesn't exactly settle completely well with me, but people have injuries, sometimes they come back like nothing happened, and sometimes it gets pushed, which normally doesn't end up well. I think the Phils can still have a potent offense with John Mayberry and Ty Wigginton filling in. Also, he makes way too much money for either of those two to take too many starting reps from him once he's back.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Goldschmidt, ARZ (127.0, $8.5):</span> Perhaps an even bigger bargain here considering the power he's being projected out as (Bill James is going 32HR, 99RBI, and most others have him at least in the mid 20's in homers, 80+ in RBI).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Freddie Freeman, ATL (142.0, $6.5):</span> I don't think enough is being made about how well Freeman did in his first full season as a starter (played in 157 games, .281-21-76, that's impressive).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Mike Trumbo, LAA (191.8, $3.1)/Kendrys Morales, LAA (194.8, $3.2):</span> Two guys giving you the exact same thing from the exact same position...it's tough to really separate the two, so for now, you might as well take your pick as both will get reps from first and DH, with Trumbo possibly gaining 3B eligibility as the season progresses.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Gaby Sanchez, MIA (230.6, $1.5):</span> Two consecutive solid seasons and now they have Reyes table-setting at the top of the lineup...what's not to like?<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Mitch Moreland, TEX (244.5, $1.3):</span> Another guy who will have a solid season which you can base on his rookie campaign last year, and playing in the park and lineup that he plays in.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Brandon Belt, SF (245.2, $1.2):</span> Belt could be a potential game-changer. He showed his power last year, a season that started in AAA, went to the majors, saw a DL stint with a fractured wrist, back to AAA, then winding up in San Fran by the end of the year. His power projects higher than Sanchez and Moreland and is on or clear of Goldschmidt's power. Also, Belt is healthy and is eligible at both first and outfield, meaning he will have all the opportunities to stay in the bigs and make a big impact this season. This is super-low for a guy who could potentially have close to 30 homers this season.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Mike Carp, SEA (259.8, $1.1): </span>Plain and simply, the AL version of Brandon Belt. Big lefty who is eligible at first and the OF. Carp had 12 homers in under a half a season last year.</li></ul><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second Basemen:</span></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Jemile Weeks, OAK (158.3, $4.8): </span>By the end of this season, he may get on the same level as his brother Rickie. Great speed potential (upwards of 30 SBs) and a tremendous contact rate keeping his average right around .300 where it was in the minors and in his first action last year.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Jason Kipnis, CLE (206.6, $2.4):</span> Kipnis has some exciting potential and a 20/20 season is certainly within the realm.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Danny Espinosa, WSH (207.4, $2.2):</span> He's not going to do you a ton of favors in terms of batting average, but consider that he was close to a 20/20 season in his rookie season, and potentially reaching the 25/25 level this season.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Ryan Roberts, ARZ (212.2, $2.5):</span> Roberts has the rare "2B/3B" eligibility (I think Casey McGahee was the last one I've seen that is eligible at both). Roberts is projected to repeat his performance from last year, which is both nice (because he was a near 20/20) and semi-discouraging at the same time (his potential is capped after his rookie season?).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Allen Craig, STL (228.9, $1.7):</span> He is coming off knee surgery, but should be in line to return to action either on Opening Day or close to it. Good guy to take a chance on this low coming off of a great postseason and eligible to play in the outfield as well.</li></ul><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third Basemen:</span></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Martin Prado, ATL (152.2, $4.6): </span>Prado was an all-star last season, has OF eligibility, and hits very well for average (has a very low strikeout rate as well).</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Mike Moustakas, KC</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">(188.3, $2.9): </span>His numbers may have not broken glass like they were expected to, but Moose still has a long way to go until the book is fully written on him. There's a very real possibility he has a 20-80 season in his first full year.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Pedro Alvarez, PIT (240.5, $1.4): </span>I'm still not giving up on Alvarez even though he kinda-sorta tanked last year after getting injured very early in the season. He's still got raw power, and has had a good spring. Again, you're looking at a guy who may be close to the last few picks in your draft, so a good gamble here.</li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shortstops:</span></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Dee Gordon, LAD (127.2, $9.2): </span>While Gordon is close to the top-10 in most SS ranks, I still believe he is a sleeper based on the fact that he could steal 50-60 bases this year and hit close to .280 or .290, so this is probably the last draft where you'll be able to get him in the 100s.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">J.J. Hardy, BAL (130.5, $7.6): </span>Hardy is in the rarest of breeds right now. A shortstop with proven 30+ homer ability. If you can get speed somewhere else, drafting Hardy will give you a power boost from a position known to be lacking homers.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Zack Cosart, CIN (234.8, $1.5):</span> Some projectors are feeling that Cosart, once healthy and fully implanted in the Reds' lineup, could break into the "elite" category either this year or next year. Tremendous value.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Tyler Pastornicky, ATL (237.4, $1.6):</span> There has been no official word on who will be the starting SS this year for the Braves, but Pastornicky could be a very sneaky source for steals, with his full-year projections putting him around the 25-30 mark.</li></ul><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Outfielders:</span></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Andre Ethier, LAD (134.6, $6.1...by the way I switched to ESPN's rankings...no offense Yahoo, but they have their auction and snake rankings on the same page and I'm kinda lazy like that): </span><span>If Ken Griffey, Jr. and Luke Donald (#1 golfer in the world if you do not know who that is) have taught us anything, stick to guys that have a smooth stroke.</span></li><li><em>Drew Stubbs, CIN (122.4, $7.5)</em>: 30/30 is not gonna go out of style anytime soon...who cares if he hits .250?</li><li><em>Yoenis Cespedes, OAK (201.5, $2.1)</em>: There is a decent chance that you will not get the opportunity to draft him this low for the next five or so years, so with that, I'm REALLY excited to see what this guy can do in his first year in the MLB.</li><li><em>Brennan Boesch, DET (216.6, $1.8)</em>: A lot of people have this year as his potential breakout season, and even if it doesn't happen, he's still going to get you at least 20 homers. Outfield is surprisingly weak this year, so guys like Boesch and Cespedes will be great finds late in the draft.</li><li><em>Lorenzo Cain, KC (226.1, $0)</em>: Arguably the best name in baseball right now, Cain has been fuego this spring, and again...I love the Royals...LOVE!</li></ul><p><strong>Starting Pitchers:</strong></p><ul><li><em>Jeremy Hellickson, TB (101.2, $9.1)</em>: All of the rage is about Matt Moore coming out of the Devil Rays' staff, and with good reason. David Price probably receives the rest of it, but Hellickson continues to fly under the radar despite being the anchor of that staff last year when they made their epic playoff push.</li><li><em>Yu Darvish, TEX (119.1, $9.6)</em>: I'm sure there are some people, especially those who are from around here, who are a little skeptical about the whole Japanese import thing after the Dice-K experiment (which, while having not been the greatest results ever, still could have been a lot worse...see: Irabu, Hideki). You have to understand he's getting 10 wins easily because no one has seen him before and he's going to make a lot of people miss his first go-around. What happens in the second half of the season is anyone's guess, but for the first two or three months, this guy will probably be close to the top production-wise of starting pitchers in the game.</li><li><em>Brandon Beachy, ATL (135.0, $6.3)</em>: Beachy showed a lot of promise last season, coming right out of the gate with one of the highest K/9 ratios in the history of baseball. You're looking at 12-13 wins and 200 Ks as perhaps his floor, so buy low on him.</li><li><em>Cory Luebke, SD (147.5, $5.2)</em>: Luebke is now the man in San Diego after the trading of Mat Latos to the Reds. He came on basically halfway through last year and ended up being one of the best second-half pitchers in baseball. You have to like him pitching half his starts at Petco Park as well.</li><li><em>Brandon Morrow, TOR (173.8, $3.1)/Wandy Rodriguez, HOU (188.3, $2.3)</em>: Strikeouts, strikeouts, strikeouts.</li><li><em>Brandon McCarthy, OAK (187.8, $2.2)</em>: I thought after the ESPN the Mag cover story they did on him, the cover was blown on his anonymity, and while they may be true in real life, in fantasy, we haven't really seen any sort of major jump is price, which is nice because you have the opportunity to spend a double-digit round pick on a potential playoff contender (watch out for Oakland this year).</li><li><em>Ivan Nova, NYY (212.6, $2.0): </em>So he's a Yankee, which I understand means that he's evil, but he did go 16-4 last year...I repeat: Ivan Nova, in his first full season in the bigs, went <em>16-4! </em>I mean I can't have any part of the Yankees, but if you're not<em> </em>as headstrong as someone like myself, I would suggest giving this guy a look.</li></ul><p>Closers kind of already had their own segment, so let's move right on to the next topic at hand:</p><p><strong>Draft Bryce Harper NOW!!!: </strong>I know the guy is polarizing because apparently he's kind of arrogant or whatever, but he is worth all of the hype going around on him. The reason the Nats are keeping him in AAA is to push his arbitration eligibility back a year. Don't be surprised if Washington does attempt to offer him a long-term deal once he does make it to the bigs. He's got the whole package, and will be the starting centerfielder by probably June. If you don't get him now, someone's going to get him the second it's announced that he's coming up. Harper's prospect hype is perhaps only surpassed by one man who happens to be his teammate (Strasburg). Right now, he is the 48th ranked OF with an ADP of 214.6 and auction value of $2.5...if he isn't one of the top outfielders of the board next year when the draft goes, I don't even know what to tell you. Desmond Jennings had a huge impact on the Rays when he was finally called up full-time (took them waaaayyyyy too long to do that by the way), and he was last year's #1 prospect heading into the season. Harper projects out at 15 homers and 25 steals, but if you're in a keeper league or you have an extra spot on the bench, you can do some second-half damage with this kid in the fold. So, like many others, I'm basically drooling over the chance of Harper getting the call-up in a few months...let's see if there are any more prospects who could make that kind of potential splash (which I refer to as <em>The Jacoby Effect).</em></p><p><strong><em>Prospect Watch:</em></strong></p><ul><li><em>Devin Mesoraco, C, CIN: </em>Ryan Hanigan currently stands in the way of Mesoraco being a full-time catcher for the Reds, but the fact that a timeshare has already been put into place means Mesoraco has the chance to overtake Hanigan based on production and will get a decent amount of ABs to prove it.</li><li><em>Travis d'Arnaud, C, TOR: </em>The problem here is that Arrencibia, who is going into just his second full season, is in his way, and while d'Arnaud could potentially be better, Arrencibia is coming off an impressive rookie season which makes me believe the only way d'Arnaud breaks into the majors is (knock on wood) injury, or via trade, where he would be an extremely valuable commodity.</li><li><em>Anthony Rizzo, 1B, CHC: </em>Sox fans are familiar with Rizzo as he was one of the centerpieces in the Gonzo trade with San Diego. He has a huge bat, but Bryan LaHair, who is becoming a trendy pick, is ahead of him on the depth chart. There's a reason Theo made the move to get him back into his organization, because Rizzo is projecting out as a 30-100 guy at first.</li><li><em>Yonder Alonzo, 1B, SD: </em>Alonzo will most likely be the starting first baseman on opening day, so you will be able to gauge his impact fairly quickly. He has some opposite field power it seems, which makes people wonder if he can be Gonzo-like in San Diego.</li><li><em>Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL: </em>With only Casey Blake in his way, Arenado could be in Denver by the All-Star break depending on how he fares in AA or AAA. He led all of minor league baseball last year with 122 RBIs.</li><li><em>Miguel Sano, 3B, MIN: </em>Sano is still growing, which is scary considering he's 6'3 and over 200 pounds already. He plays both short and third, but again, it seems like he's gonna be too big to play at the 6, so he projects out as a third baseman or first baseman. There really is no position stability for either of those spots, with Danny Valencia at third and the now oft-injured Justin Morneau at first.</li><li><em>Jurickson Profar, SS, TEX: </em>You can't beat that name. If you need more, he's just 19 right now, and already has a full year of minor league ball under his belt (in which he went .286/.390/.883 with 12 HR, 65 RBI, and 23 steals).</li><li><em>Mike Trout, OF, LAA: </em>Trout broke into the majors last year and played 40 games, where he started off very slow, but managed to turn it all around very quickly at the end of the season. He projects to be a guy who could potentially hit 20 homers and steal 40 bases. If there is any prospect who right now can perhaps have a bigger impact than Bryce Harper, it's Trout.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Matt Moore, SP, TB: </span>I honestly forgot to mention Moore in this category the first time around because he is being ranked amongst the top 100 players drafted this year, and yet he only has about fifteen innings of major league pitching under his belt. However, if those fifteen innings are any indication, the learning curve for Moore this season is going to be exceptionally brief (three words: high 90s fastball).<br /></li><li><em>Trevor Bauer, SP, ARZ: </em>I'm very anxious to see what Bauer can do in the majors. He has amazing stuff, and his use of long-toss as a means to stretch his arm out have been well-documented.</li><li><em>Manny Banuelos, SP, NYY: </em>Banuelos is like a lot of pitchers who are hard throwers: They strike out a lot of guys, but their control is an issue. They are saying that Banuelos is working on getting the old WHIP and BB/9 stats down, and there is a very real chance that he may start the season on the Yankees instead of starting in the minors.</li><li><em>Shelby Miller, SP, STL: </em>Huuuggggeeee curveball, and he has a plus-fastball. Starting off in AAA, but the Cards may need a spark if they encounter a World Series/losing Pujols hangover.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Addison Reed, RP, CHW: </span>While Matt Thornton will start the year closing for the ChiSox, Reed will be pushing the action all year long. After Chris Sale's incredible season while not succeeding Thornton as closer though, be advised that Reed may just be a nasty 8th inning guy this year.<br /></li></ul><p>And now, for some parting words of advice:</p><ul><li><strong>The Depth At Outfield Totally Sucks: </strong>I think Carl Crawford or Adam Jones is at the tipping point, and they are ranked 17 and 19 respectively on ESPN. Remember you need at least three, if not more of these guys on your team, and the breaking point is very high in terms of when production starts to fall off. I hope I'm right about my sleepers, but I would be all over the top 8 when they come out (Kemp, Braun, Jacoby, Justin Upton, Car-Go (who is really underrated this season), Grandy Man, Stanton, and McCutchen).</li><li><strong>The Depth At Second Base is Amazing: </strong>On the contrary, you only need one second baseman (two if you use one for your 2B/SS slot), and the tipping point is right around 16 with Danny Espinosa. Sleepers abound here. I love Espinosa, Jemile Weeks, Ryan Roberts, and Jason Kipnis late too.</li><li><strong>Don't Draft Ryan Madson or Joakim Soria: </strong>Both are done for the year. Jonathan Broxton becomes a steal for the Royals who were figuring they were just going to use him in a set-up role, or perhaps they knew more than we did about Soria's arm. Sean Marshall now becomes the man in Cincy with Aroldis Chapman being a huge wild card at this point.</li><li><strong>The Most Important Waiver Claim Time Is Right Now and In September: </strong>Anyone who does anything remotely good the first week of the season is going to get picked up, which means two things. 1.) They may have a huge season or they may bust...of course it's up to your knowledge of the player as whether to jump on him or let someone else grab him, in which case 2.) they drop someone who they either don't like, don't know, or is off to a slow start. When this happens, you may be able to buy low on a guy slumping, but has a track record that suggests the slump won't continue for too long. I was able to trade for both Dustin Pedroia and Evan Longoria last year using guys who were at their peak, but I was also wary that they might do a 180 and tank, which is what a lot of them ended up doing (Dillon Gee is a perfect example of this). In September, you have minor league call-ups, which is a perfect way to fill a hole in your lineup.</li></ul><p>If I think of anything else, perhaps I can make an appendix of some sort, but that's pretty much it for the most part. As with all drafts, I suggest you get players you enjoy rooting for. While that may take away the chance to take a good player (or in my case, an entire team), if you load up on players you genuinely like, I've found that it's just a much better way to go about things. There's less anxiety about should I/shouldn't I pick up or drop someone. My fantasy hockey team is rocking this year and I honestly know about 10% of the players in the league, but the players I drafted were, for the most part, in that 10%, and it's working out for me. I actually drafted Austin Jackson in a league I drafted in last Sunday...but I really don't like the guy...he's a former Yankee, he strikes out a ton...I'm not a fan. I had to drop him because I honestly was losing sleep being like "if freggin' Austin Jackson doesn't work out, I'm going to feel like a complete asshole." So now I have Lorenzo Cain, and I'm feeling a lot more at ease about where my team is headed.</p><p>If you take anything from all of this: Draft a team you like. Have fun dominating everyone. Peace.</p><p>~Mell-o</p>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-79415290289090123002012-02-05T08:55:00.003-05:002012-02-05T12:42:34.299-05:00So I Talk To My NFL Diary (Super Bowl XLVI)8:58: Almost made it to 9. Haha, that was my goal because I was thinking if I got like six or seven hours sleep today, it would perhaps help in the survival of the non-stop drinking escapade that is colloquially known as Super Bowl Sunday...which is here!!!...FINALLY!!! YES!!! Haha, it's Super Bowl Sunday, and your New England Patriots will be playing in their fifth one in ten years. I know it's been said a lot, but quite frankly, before 2000, we honestly thought that we would never get back to the Super Bowl after the Tuna bolted for Jersey and took Curtis Martin (actually, newest member to the Hall of Fame Curtis Martin) with him. But, with a sly trade with the same team for an evil genius of a coach, a 6th round QB who has become the greatest ever, and a commitment to excellence, we have been the gold standard in the NFL for the past decade...pretty freggin' great.<br /><br />Okay, so enough gushing about the past, onto the present. I'm sure like me you've been fed Super Bowl "insights" at nauseum (especially if you live up here), so I'm gonna hope to touch on things that perhaps have gone unnoticed. Let's get right into it...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What The Giants Have Going For Them:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The "Hot" Factor: </span></span>While the Patriots are riding a 10-game winning streak, the Giants have arguably been the best team in football in the last month outside of the Niners game which they miraculously pulled off. They demolished two solid pass offenses in Atlanta and Green Bay and, much like four years ago, they are playing their best ball now coming off of two wins on the road vs. the #1 and #2 seed in the NFC.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pass Rush: </span></span>You would be remissed to talk about the Giants and not talk about their front four, which is the best in the game. Canty, Umenyiora, Tuck, Pierre-Paul...they're really good...we get it. It worked the last time these two teams played, and the G-Men are going to do everything they can to make that happen again.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wide Receivers: </span></span>Again, you really can't talk about this team without mentioning the wideout group, especially when you have someone as talented as Mario Manningham being an almost after-thought in the grand scheme of things. Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and Victor Cruz are an imposing group, and helped Eli to almost throw for 5,000 yards this season...speaking of which...</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eli: </span></span>For a while, it didn't seem like Eli would ever be put under the "strengths" of the Giants, as he was prone to go Romo on his team late in games, causing people to believe he would never get out from under his brother's shadow. However, if he pulls this down tonight, he could be argued as being better than Tom Brady <span style="font-style: italic;">right now </span>(all-time, he's got a LONG way to go to catch TFB), and being the best QB in the league. If Eli had the season he had basically any other year but this one, he likely would have been a runaway MVP choice. Now, he has a chance to become the best player at his position by winning a Super Bowl at the place his brother built, and take a 2-1 lead over his brother in rings...it's an interesting subplot.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Coughlin: </span></span>Oddly enough, Tom Coughlin is almost facing the same shadow-fighting that Eli is. Belichick at this point has to be thrown in the discussion with Lombardi, Walsh, and Landry for greatest coaches in the history of the league, while Coughlin may not even make people's top 5 list for best coaches in the present NFL despite having a 10-7 postseason record and a Super Bowl ring. Both he and Belichick came up through the aforementioned Tuna with the Giants back in the day, and you can tell that Coughlin is not at all happy to be playing second fiddle <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span> to Bill despite beating him not only in the Super Bowl but in the 2011 season with yet another two-minute drill for the win.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Much Improved Rushing Attack: </span></span>It was tough for me to understand why the Giants were so awful rushing the ball with two very good backs in Bradshaw and Jacobs, but they were 31st in the regular season in yards. However, it appears like the G-Men are using their new and improved "thunder and lightning" attack much more effectively, and was evident in all three of their playoff wins. Ahmad Bradshaw is practicing back-to-back days for the first time all season apparently, so you know he's going to be at his best tonight, which the Giants need to create a semi-equal mix of run and pass (I say semi-equal because I will be shocked if it's not about a 65/35 pass/run split and Eli has at least 35-40 attempts.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">What The Pats Have Going For Them</span>:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brady and Belichick: </span></span>I mean what can you say really? They have outdone Walsh and Montana thus far, and only need the one more ring for both of them to be the greatest ever at their respective positions. Brady beat the all-time passing yard mark in a season set by Dan Marino by 150 yards...<span style="font-style: italic;">and got no MVP votes...ZERO!!! </span>(Drew Brees, who now has the record with 5,476, got two votes...yikes). Clearly he has been playing with that pissed off mentality ever since these said Giants beat him, which, oh by the way, was the last game we have lost in almost three months. Belichick apparently will not be rocking an ultra-gay red hoodie like he did the last Super Bowl. I thought we were in trouble going into that game, and then I saw his neon red ensemble, and I knew we were screwed. Stick with gray Bill. Remember, the more homeless looking, the better (or the more evil looking...something like that)</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dub-Dub: </span></span>Okay, so it is possible that this is Wes Welker's last game in New England, but honestly, if we can't work something out to keep the greatest slot receiver in the history of organized football here, we have more problems than I think Pats fans ever want to know about, and furthermore, I don't want to ball and weep which is what I know will happen if my favorite Patriot of all time goes anywhere else. In any event, the aggressive Giants front means a lot of looks for the human chain mover. His 11 catches in XLII against the G-Men tied a Super Bowl record, and also added a nine catch, 139 yard performance against them this season. They have no answer for him, as basically the NFL has yet to figure him out. Speaking of offensive weapons no one can figure out...</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gronk Spiking and Making It Rain: </span></span>I don't even have to look this up, but Gronk and Hernandez are the greatest 1-2 TE punch in the history of the league...that has to be true. Gronk obviously is getting more of the attention due to having the most prolific season by a tight end, having an ankle injury that no one really has any clue about how severe it is to him (while high ankle sprains could derail a lot of people, consider that Gronk a.) played immediately after injuring it in the Baltimore game, and b.) landed on his neck earlier this year that would have caused most people, like myself, to have induced paralysis, and not only did he get up, but he Gronk spiked the hell out of the ball), and for his general aloofness to pressure or any scrutiny whatsoever (how clutch was "yo soy fiesta?"...even my Mom knows about that). However, Aaron Hernandez is a top 5 TE in this league, and he's on the same team. If Hernandez is on any other team (which I pray to God never happens), he would probably make the Pro Bowl and have Gronk-like numbers. However, he has excelled in his role and has even added running out of the backfield to his repertoire (the formation with him directly behind or set next to Brady with Gronk on the end of the line has proven to be lethal this year). I expect a monster game from both collectively. Vernon Davis, who I consider to be like a Gronk/Hernandez hybrid, torched the Giants for 112 yards and two scores (granted, he only had three catches). Gronk had eight catches for 101 yards and a score against them in Week 8, while Hernandez added four catches for 35 and a score as well.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Middle of The Field (offense): </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>As I just demonstrated, the WHONK combo lit the Giants up this year (well, they pretty much did that to everyone), so there's that. Then, you look at the other part of the Pats' offense that goes overlooked, and it's the interior linemen. Both Logan Mankins and Brian Waters were selected to <span style="font-style: italic;">start </span>the Pro Bowl...that's impressive. Dan Connolly has done a great job filling in this year for the injured Dan Koppen...it's a very good G-C-G tandem. While the Giants will likely be flooding blitzers and linemen from the outside, the Pats excel at moving the chains between the numbers. The Law Firm had a terrific game against the Ravens with 68 yards and a score, and at one point was averaging close to nine yards a carry. Look for the Pats to impose their dominance up the middle early.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Middle of The Field (defense): </span></span>It all starts with Vince Wilfork playing up front. He has been probably the most consistent defensive player we've had on this team since Bruschi. Without Big Vince, all the injuries we had on defense would have sunk us. Speaking of injured players, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes, who both missed time this year, look to be at about 100%. Mayo is a known commodity in the league and is one of the biggest tackle machines in the league. Look out for Spikes though. This was one of those picks the Pats made that I was super-excited about from the jump. Spikes not only can play the run and the pass, but he's also shown that ever-mentioned "ball hawking" ability. I will be stunned if he doesn't make a significant mark on this game (oh yeah, he got hurt <span style="font-style: italic;">during </span>the last Giants game and missed the final drive...but the media doesn't seem to bother to tell you about that...hmmm...interesting). At safety, Patrick Chung can just straight light people up, and that's all you really need to know.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Wild Cards: </span></span>I could be wrong, but I think we know everything about the Giants on a team level. I'm pretty sure no one is going to come up and surprise anyone today. However, on the Pats side? We're littered with them. You have to start at the receiver position because never on a Tom Brady-led team have the WRs been downplayed this much. Deion Branch won Super Bowl MVP against Philly and has shown that he still has the speed and abilities to make big plays (the 60+ yarder against Denver). Julian Edelman is Wes Welker's backup at the slot, but he's also the starting punt returner and plays corner on nickel packages. The Giants have been salivating to get out and test Edelman's abilities, but honestly, I'm not extremely worried about Julian out there. I think we have precedence with Troy Brown playing corner, and I think once he was able to do that successfully, having Edelman take reps at corner was not really that big of a deal to me. Eli will be looking his way a lot, and Victor Cruz is going to make catches, but they're not going to do nearly the amount of damage that they think they will. Perhaps the biggest wild card of all is the Ocho...yes, him. I have been going on for months and months about how Ocho could have his breakout game this week. Well, this is it. This is the reason Chad came here. Honestly, if he's out there, it's put up or shut up time. He will have all the advantages in the world going up against Aaron Ross with all of the defensive focus being funneled into the middle. I just can't see how if Ocho is healthy he doesn't at least make one play to make us remember that he's good and he actually plays on this team. Defensively, Mark Anderson has been a Godsend for us, especially in the wake of the Andre Carter injury (who would have gone to the Pro Bowl if his season wasn't cut short), Gerard Warren up the middle in the 4-3 sets, and the biggest one of all on defensive, Rob Ninkovich coming off the outside. Again, another one of those "ball hawk" types who has received zero press these past two weeks, and really, the whole season.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MHK: </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>While unfortunately going unnoticed in terms of national coverage, thankfully, the life and work of Myra Kraft is now being given its proper due. While everyone who is a Patriots fan knows the kind of impact that this amazing woman had on our community, even we are appreciating her efforts even more now that she has passed on. You have to understand that before 2000, it was a very interesting time to be a Patriots fan. There were rumors that the team might get moved to Hartford, and once the momentum from that started to grow, we all kind of cooled on the Krafts, which in retrospect, was an unfortunate thing to happen. Without the Kraft family, none of this happens. We are the gold standard because they are the gold standard for running an organization. Myra's work in the community is well documented now, and as we get ready for this game, we're going to see that MHK patch on the Pats' jerseys and think of her and everything she did for us...she embodies what the Patriot way is all about.</li></ul>So at this point, I guess I have to make a pick, although I bet you know where this might be headed:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your New England Patriots (-2.5) vs. The G-Men: </span>It's a biased pick, but honestly, if you have read this far and didn't see this coming, you need to be slapped. Also, I happen to think we're going to win as well, so it may not be that biased after all...okay it is.<br /><br />In addition, here are my best Prop Bets for this evening:<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Successful 2PT Conversion (+375):</span> In what promises to be a close game, this is a great line. Not sure how many there have been in Super Bowl history, but we've had one in each of the last two with Lance Moore two years ago vs. Indy and Antwaan Randle-El last year against Green Bay. Also, Kevin Faulk had one against the Panthers in Super Bowl 38.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tie Score At Halftime/Pats Win (+1200): </span>Again, another wildly realistic outcome, but an even bigger payout.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wes Welker Receptions vs. Hakeem Nicks Receptions (-190): </span>If you think Nicks can win this bet, then you may want to bet on him for, gulp, Super Bowl MVP (12/1).</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Brady Has More Than One TD Pass (-500): </span>Because if he doesn't, we're probably going to lose...okay I have to stop dwelling on the negative shit here!</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kelly Clarkson Will Sing The National Anthem In Over 1:34 (-130): </span>This has become the most researched non-sports prop bet of them all. People have scoured the internet and YouTube for months most likely to get some kind of read on this. From what I can gather, it's going to come down to almost a millisecond either way here. Her average is 1:38, but there was an outlier discussed from the Indy 500 when she sang it as a duet with Seal (good for Seal by the way). She had 1:34 at the World Series, 1:35 at the NBA Finals, but I have to believe a girl from Texas has football at #1, so I'm thinking somewhere in the 1:38 range...hahaha, I have absolutely no freggin' clue what I'm talking about here guys (<span style="font-style: italic;">my scouring was done on the <a href="http://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/how-long-will-clarkson-s-anthem-last-yep-you-can/article_c39bd8a2-a172-5026-a84c-7fea61a80d11.html">Lincoln Journal Star</a> by the way)</span>.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kelly Clarkson Will NOT Omit A Word Or F*ck Up (-325): </span>Christina Aguilera is a dumb bitch, Kelly Clarkson is not...questions, comments, concerns?<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wes Welker Receptions vs. LeBron James Assists (-125): </span>Ahhh rooting for Wes and against LeBron...what's not to like?</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henrik Lundqvist Saves vs. Giants Points (-130): </span>This is yet another one that I picked because if it losses, we're probably gonna lose, and since I think we'll win, I think it happens.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rob Gronkowski Scores a TD (-170): </span>Considering he averaged a TD a game, this is a great price...and what would the Super Bowl be without a Gronk spike?</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aaron Hernandez Scores a TD (+105): </span>And that children is what we call hedging our bets.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">No Player Will Be Called For An Excessive Celebration Penalty (-400): </span>Gronk spikes and rain-makings have officially been tolerated by the No Fun League, so let the party continue (I did link this on Facebook, but I am loving <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeBMpCMFbHE">"Welcome To The Gronk Party"</a>...this is brilliant!)<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Super Bowl Will Be Decided By Exactly 3 Points (+325): </span></span>We do very well when they do. Not so much 4, but 3 is our wheelhouse.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Boston Has The Higher Local TV Rating (-7) Than New York (-130): </span>Quite simply, they have more people who care less about sports...so there you go. Furthermore, I've been to NYC, and it's such a Jets town. Oh there are a bunch of Giants fans there, but it's a Jets town. Having said that, even if you're a Jets fan, it's going to be tough to pass up watching the Super Bowl. However, I think I speak for everyone when I say that New York and everyone from there can go fornicate themselves with an iron stick.</li></ol>YEEAAAAHHHHHH BUDDY. It's 12:00. Let's get our drink on New England. It's Super Bowl Time. YO SOY FIESTA BABY!!! GO PATS!!!...And I'm out like that!<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />~Mell-oMell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-48015018026763940462012-01-21T11:06:00.006-05:002012-01-22T11:04:24.359-05:00So I Talk To My NFL Diary (Championship Round)"Bobbin' and weavin' and let the good get even<br />C'mon down and welcome to the terrordome."<div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold; ">Saturday, 11:18: </i>Man I thought I was pumped up last week. Haha, it's time to get back to that Super Bowl boys! Seriously, we are feeling it up here for two reasons. 1.) There are few teams left that we have not got vengeance on, and those would be the Ravens and the G-Men...that alone is enough right there, but then there's the fact that 2.) this team, despite having bad D stats and all that good stuff, has been on fire for the past wo months, and it could be argued that the current offense is even better than the one we had in 2007.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Ravens have shown that they have a formidable defense. That's pretty much the most obvious observation you can make about this team, but let's face it, they are the only chance for the Ravens tomorrow. They are going to need all on them to stop the offensive freight train that we have been pummeling opponents with for the last three months. Clearly the focus will continue to be up the middle of the field for the offense. Ed Reed, who is one of the best safeties in the history of the game (Bill refers to him as "the greatest free safety in the history of the league"), but his game is really based on deflecting/catching the deep ball, something the Pats do not nearly as much as they did in the last playoff encounter, or really for the entire decade of dominance. Instead, short passes have burned opposing D's, and if one or two of the members of WHONK is getting doubled, you're going to get burned by the others. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was watching "AFC Playbook" on NFL Network this morning, because I was pretty sure the Pats game was going to be focused on big time being as it's the only AFC game left this year. Anyway, they ran an interesting piece about the effect that Ray Rice could potentially have. It's no secret that he is their biggest weapon, and in the last two meetings, he's had over 100 yards on the ground. Knowing our "bend, don't break" defensive philosophy, Rice could be close to that in this game, but what was shown was the Pats' ability to limit his yards catching balls out of the backfield. By having Brandon Spikes and Patrick Chung back, we have means for stopping the flow over the middle. They aren't all-pros (yet), but it cannot be emphasized how much they both mean to this D. </div><div><br /></div><div>I understand Baltimore's got a great team, but I'm taking my chances making Joe Flacco try and beat us, because ultimately, he's going to have to try and keep pace with the Pats' scoring. We likely won't get 45 like last week, but I'll be stunned if we're not right around 25-30 at least, even against such a good defense. What tends to get overlooked when people talk about the divisional playoff game when we got blown out was that Wes got hurt in the final game of the year, and the starting receivers that day were Moss, Edelman, and Sam Aiken. Nothing against those guys, but the lineup of Welker, Gronk, Hernandez, Branch, and the Ocho (yes, that guy) puts them to absolute shame. All I see is an offense that is firing on all cylinders and a defense that is looking to prove themselves, mostly in terms of shutting Rice down.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>New England (-7) vs. Baltimore: </b>I will say this: Flacco has a tremendous record in road playoff games (4-1 in non-Pittsburgh games, who he's lost <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">to twice at Heinz), but played fairly shitty in basically all of them (with their blowout of the Chiefs being the exception). He's going to need a monster game ti pull this off, but again, the Ravens have never played against all these weapons,mand while they will put pressure on Tom, he has too many checkdowns up the middlenfor that to work like it has in the past.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><b>The G-MEN (+3) vs. San Fran:</b> I'm not even getting into the stats of it, but more like attempting to reach back to the past to find the answers to this game. So the Niners are coming off a game that was eerily similar to the T.O. catch game (i.e. The Catch II), right down to the crying part. In '98 when that happened, the Niners lost their next game. The G-Men are looking like the road warriors that they were in '07, where they of course won the whole thing. I'll give the Niners all the credit in the world if they can somehow pull this one out because I don't know how they would have anything left after that game last week (in all honesty, the Niners/Saints game is up there with The Music City Miracle and Pats/Panthers in terms of the greatest playoff game I've ever seen).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Alright guys, time to get this party started! Haha, I'm actually finishing this up on Sunday morning (sorry about not time-stamping it...it's 11:00 if you must know), so the excitement is really at a fever pitch right now. I'm pumped. Let's do this. GO PATS!!! Peace.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame- color:rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">~Mell-o</span></div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-32059134410866529242012-01-13T14:28:00.003-05:002012-01-13T17:55:36.292-05:00So I Talk To My NFL Diary (Divisional Round)"Freak to the funk that no one else is bringing."<div><br /></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold; ">Friday, 2:31: </i>So pumped about tomorrow that I couldn't even wait to get this one in. You're probably aware that Tim Tebow will be playing tomorrow night, but it seems like the rest is completely irrelevant. I just want to say thanks to every media outlet for playing the Tebow angle up...again. That really helped the first time around, and I'm hoping for similar results tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for what to expect: Tim Tebow is a gifted athlete, a captivating figure, and a spark plug for football in Denver and the league en general...however, that is not going to matter a whole lot tomorrow in Foxboro. Let me set the mood for you. </div><div><br /></div><div>The past two seasons, the Pats have been knocked out of the playoffs in their first game. This season, Brady has been playing with that "pissed off, I'm going to light you up" look in his eye more often than not. Expect similar results tomorrow night. As much as Tebow has the desire to win, no one has it more than Tom when he's in the zone. That alone should be a terrifying warning to Denver and Tebow jumkies, but it gets worse (for them...really great for us).</div><div><br /></div><div>The game is also going to showcase a lot of personalities not present at the last meeting. You may recall Andre Carter actually got injured early on in the first Pats/Denver game, but let's also not forget that Patrick Chung, Brandon Spikes, and Sebastian Vollmer were also not involved. With all three, they will have a big effect on the things Denver loves to do: Rush the ball and rush the passer. While Dane Fletcher had a great season, Spikes is a presence. Comboing him and Mayo will solidify the middle, right where Tebow and Co. do their damage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Patrick Chung is one of the best hitters in the game. He really is cut from a Rodney Harrison-like cloth. The Pats were playing their safeties way back in their first encounter. While they will likely show the same look this week (the 80 yard TD at the end of the Steelers game was a nice reminder that this team has big play making abilities), Chung has shown the ability to get up to the line as quick as anyone in the league at the free safety position. </div><div><br /></div><div>Vollmer adds more depth to a line that actually did quite well this season. Him and Matty Light will likely be the starting tackles with Nate Solder serving in spot duty. Denver will be coming with Dumervil and Von Miller all night long. Not saying they won't be able to get a few shots in, but it's great to finally be playing with a full deck on the exterior to at least attempt to stop the pass rush.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Josh McDaniels angle is really not being played up at all, which I find to be a bit surprising, but in any event, he's back in the fold, which just makes our offense that much better. Not saying that he is going to somehow be able to blueprint everything that Denver will do (he coached there two years ago and drafted Tebow and DeMaryius Thomas...you're welcome for that Denver by the way), but his presence adds another element that we probably didn't even need, but gladly accept.</div><div><br /></div><div>Denver has one chance, and that's if the Pats just don't show up. Otherwise, there is no way this game will not get ugly...like really ugly. The Tebow phenomenon could not have picked up at a better time. The Pats are poised to piggyback off of this again and jump start the playoffs much like it did the regular season for us. I think Denver has a solid team, a great running game, and obviously a QB whose future potential is limitless...but I just don't see it...call me biased (I am), but I see domination coming.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>New England (-13.5) vs. Denver: </b>Apparently Vegas feels likewise.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>San Fran (+4) vs. New Orleans: </b>The splits are loaded in the Niners favor, plus it seems like you can't find anyone even willing to entertain the possibility of San Fran winning this game. We're about to find out what this defense is made of tomorrow. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Baltimore (-7.5) vs. Houston: </b>Andre Johnson was not in the first matchup when the Ravens won handily. He's back, but I don't see that being able to compensate for T.J. Yates' inexperience in playoff conditions. The running attack was held in check the last time around for Houston, and while the Texans have had a good attack against the opposing ground game, Ray Rice should carve this team up yet again (over 160 yards from srimmage last outing).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The G-MEN (+7.5) vs. The Pack: </b>I can't help but think the G-Men will at the very least keep it close on Sunday. They have been the hottest team on the NFL leading into the playoffs. The Pack may get a huge boost from the returns of both Greg Jennings and A.J. Hawk, but look for the Giants to expose that secondary that was 31st in the league against the pass. Green Bay is more than capable of running it up on anyone, but they have shown the affinity for outlasting the good teams instead of blowing them out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can't wait for tomorrow! LET'S GO PATS!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>~Mell-o </div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-24272966629725240312012-01-07T10:29:00.007-05:002012-01-08T12:41:02.316-05:00So I Talk To My NFL Diary (Wild Card Weekend...You Know, The One The Pats Aren't Playing 'Cause We're Nasty And What Not)"Get the duck boats ready, the Cup is coming home."<div><br /></div><div>10:48: It's the start of the NFL playoffs, and yet all I really care about is the defending Stanley Cup champs. Huge game today not only because it's a rematch of the finals from last year, but Vancouver, as much as we do not like them (just watched Game 7 looped to the radio call...man those cheap shots at the end of the game are fueling the fire), are one of the best teams in the game, so a nice barometer, and an even better excuse to stumble down memory lane today. I love afternoon hockey! Okay, so to keep appearances, the picks...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Houston (-4) vs. Cincy: </b>So the line and the over/under (38), are exactly what I would predict the final score to be (Houston 21, Cincy 17). Basically, it would be wise to not bet on this game, and you're gonna have to hope there is something good on TV elsewhere because I'm getting bored just thinking about this game. Houston has two premiere backs (Ben Tate is a backup, and rushed for 100 yards twice coming off the bench while Arian Foster also ran for 100...that is a joke!), and while the QB play of T.J. Yates may be brought into question, you can't deny the importance of a player like Andre Johnson being back in the fold. The Texans also feature Jonathan Joseph (all-pro Gamecock!), who shut down A.J. Green, Cincy's lone equalizer, the first time around. Tough team to beat at home, and also Foster had a week to rest. He might be tearing shit up from the jump.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>New Orleans (-10) vs. Detroit: "</b>New Orleans, at home, at night" has been the mantra all year long, and it is no different today. If I had to say anything betting wise, I would say bet the under. Sounds insane considering who is playing, but I see an epic beatdown by the Saints here based on the Lions being too tight, and the Saints, coming off of "The Run" and the apparent game that subsequently went with it in Seattle last year. If you think like 42-10 or even a more conservative 35-21, it's still under.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Sunday:</b></i></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div>10:37: I'm again trying to use my iPad to type this, and again, it erased everything I just wrote (apparently I underestimated the "undo" button in this scenario). So while I restrain myself from throwing this increasingly evil machine on the ground, let's get to Sunday's picks...</div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i>By the way, went through every week and tabulated my win % at about 55 for the year. While that may not sound like much, consider that if you go 60% for a season, you are a god. So, five ticks away from being a fake gambling god?...I'll take it!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>THE G-MEN (-3) vs. The ATL: </b>The lone bright spot going into this game for the Falcons would be that their corners are good enough to slow down at least two of the Giants' receivers...but therein lies the problem. With Nicks, Cruz, and Manningham, someone is going to be open. If that isn't bad enough, the Giants also have a big-time running game that has only been getting better lately. The Falcons have a great passing attack and one of the best runners in the league in Michael Turner, but they are simply outmatched in basically every facet of the game.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Denver (+9) vs. Pittsburgh:</b> While Isaac Redman has certainly proved his worth when called upon this year, the loss of Rashard Mendenhall cannot be overlooked. It is absolutely huge for them. In addition, no Ryan Clark, and Big Ben on one leg...this sounds like a team that can be taken advantage of by an agressive, athletic team. Enter Denver, with you know who at QB, a fantastic running game, and a super-aggressive defense that should be all over Ben (also, no Maurkice Pouncey today either, another huge blow). Tebow has been horrendous in the cold weather, but quite frankly, he needs to do just enough today to win. I'm thinking around a 13-10 game, so if Tebow can limit mistakes and they stick to keeping the ball on the ground, they may have enough to actually take this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whoever wins is going to get smashed in Foxboro next week anyway, so good luck with all that. Have a good rest of you weekend everyone. Peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>~Mell-o</div><div><br /></div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304229.post-81688013784911530072012-01-01T08:55:00.002-05:002012-01-01T17:23:26.779-05:00So I Talk To My NFL Diary (Week 17, 2011)"We can break through<br />Though torn in two<br />We can be one."<br /><br />9:30: Happy New Years everyone! What is happening? I just spent a half an hour typing on my iPad, and it erased everything I wrote...no warning, nothing. You know I got it for Christmas, and honestly, I keep wondering if I should have just asked for a new laptop (currently using the one I had in college, which was now, unfortunately, kind of a long time ago, and the one I bought last year has a busted hinge and is totally infected with viruses because my roommate does not understand the power of softcore Cinemax porn and chooses to go on XXX sites on my laptop, then does a horrendous job trying to cover it up...it's like dude, at least erase the history...or not have it on the site when I open up the lid!). I mean I think the technology is great, and the apps and the potential it has is big, but right now, all I wanna do is type, download illegal music, and bootleg movies and TV shows, and I guess I can't do any of those things on there.<br /><br />Anyway, the jist of what I was saying is that the Pats are probably going to rope-a-dope Ryan Fitzpatrick today, much like they did against Matt Moore last week, and really, any non-elite QB that we play. Lots of soft zone to start the game to identify the targets, routes, and tendencies, and then once the 2nd quarter, or perhaps maybe even later into the 2nd half, the adjustments come in...and nobody adjusts better than the Pats. Spiller has been huge for them (111 yards and a score in the Tim Tebow beatdown of last week), and expect him to have an equally big game today. Remember though, Reggie Bush was torching us last week, but ultimately, he did not win the game for them...and why? We just didn't allow the big play to happen on the ground. Credit the D-Line and our MLBs (Jerod and Dane Fletcher) for containing Bush.<br /><br />At risking the chance of repeating myself, here's how it is: The Pats are not losing this game because we just don't lose to the same team twice, and furthermore, that #1 seed is looking real shiny, especially because there is a very good chance we would avoid having to play Baltimore or Pittsburgh until the AFC Championship game, which, God-willing, would be at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady is going to play probably more than he should today (at least 3 1/2 quarters) and, as we keep seeing over and over again, no one can stop this offense right now. Some teams have multiple weapons, and then there are teams like the Pats, Green Bay, and New Orleans who have three or four elite playmakers, making it impossible to double one or two without leaving someone really, really good open.<br /><br />Ohhhhhh man is it going to be Welker time today. 217 yards on 16 receptions in the first meeting, which of course was a loss, but even so...<span style="font-style: italic;">217 yards! </span>Lots of Wes, and I would be shocked if Gronk was not brought back in as the focal point of the offense, especially down by paydirt (do I owe James Brown any money for saying "paydirt" by the way?). I mean...how in the world are they going to stop us?<br /><br />Alright, so let's dive right into it. No diary today. SBS (Social Boston Sports for those of you not in the know) is having some kind of brunch shindig for the game, so I'll be hitting that up. I'm not going to lie, I didn't even go out last night. I watched Lethal Weapon 3, passed out because I was really tired (drunk...well really a combination of the two...I was getting trunked up!), and I woke up at 11:45, went to my roof to watch the fireworks, and that was pretty much it...not bad, but anyway, I have energy and I'm feeling way better than I probably should, so I'm predicting rowdiness today.<br /><br />It's about to get Rowdy Roddy Piper in this bitch!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your New England Patriots (-10.5) vs. Buffalo: </span>Thank you Miami for backdoor covering last week and making this spread lower than the 20 it probably would have been had we kept our 10 point lead. Also, with concerns about Brady, that also can explain why this is not a 2-TD spread. Anyway, you know we're winning, so now it becomes by how much? I would think we want to get this one over with real quick so the starters can rest for a least a portion of the 4th quarter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philadelphia (-8) vs. Washington: </span>The Skins are stumbling to the finish, and the Eagles are playing like they actually have something to play for, which they do not. The only real noteworthy event is Shady McCoy's attempt to track down MoJoDo for the rushing title (although down over 100 yards already, it's going to take a miracle).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atlanta (-10) vs. Tampa: <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Atlanta's got really nothing left to play for than seeding, but Tampa has been just so abysmal, especially on defense this year, that I think even a 60% effort from the Falcons could result in a two TD spread here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">San Fran (-10) vs. St. Louis: </span>The #2 seed on the line against probably the worst team in football (I wish I could say Indy, but they're running hot on a two-game winning streak putting their total wins to...2)...even if the Rams do cover this, could you really see it coming?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Minnesota (-2) vs. Chicago: </span>No Cutler/Forte > no Adrian Peterson.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Bay (+6) vs. Detroit: </span>When else are you going to be able to bet on the Pack as 'dogs? Also, I was at Foxboro when Matt Flynn took the reigns last year for this Packer offense (this game will affectionately be known forever as the "Dan Connolly run-back" game), and he's not too bad. Plus, you have to figure that even though everything is locked up, they're not going to allow Detroit to just waltz into Lambeau and steal one here right?...<br /><br />Right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carolina (+8) vs. New Orleans: </span>I just love how basically all year, I've been able to pick Cam Newton as an underdog and having that come through over and over again. The Saints are at home, but it's an early start, meaning the Panthers should be able to jump out to a pretty decent start. New Orleans is also playing for that first round bye, but once that Niners score gets out of hand (which I have a feeling it will), the Saints will be locked into that #3 spot regardless of what happens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Houston (+3) vs. Tennessee: </span>Andre Johnson is back...hopefully to stay this time. Yes, Matt Hasselbeck was brilliant last week, but Houston's defense has been near the top of the league all season, so this should speak volumes in terms of how good he really is right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cincinnati (+3) vs. Baltimore: </span>The fact that this spread hasn't wavered very much since it opened (if anything it's shading towards Cincy) tells me that I'm not the only one who thinks Cincy is feeling that playoff push right now (currently 6th, win and they're in).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pittsburgh (-6) vs. Cleveland: </span>Can anyone name something besides Peyton Hillis as a reason to not think the Steelers are pulling this off?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indy (+4) vs. Jacksonville: </span>See this is painful for me because I slammed the door on the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes a bit prematurely as the Rams continue to get smoked in basically every game they play, and Indy, who has had over a week of rest going into this game, has won two in a row. It seems like they don't want to be known as the worst team in the NFL.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miami (-2.5) vs. Jersey: </span>J-E-T-S suck suck suck! Hahaha, hey it's true.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oakland (-3) vs. San Diego: </span>The AFC West is on the line, and if that wasn't enough, it's San Diego on the road...so yeah.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kansas City (+3) vs. Denver: </span>Yes, I'm betting against Tebow. However, I am betting on the poetic justice that Kyle Orton, who was benched and then released by Denver so they could start said Tebow, can go back into Denver and stop their season in its tracks...that would be amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arizona (-2.5) vs. Seattle: </span>It's okay...Kevin Kolb is not playing, so you can feel free to once again bet on the Cards.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The G-MEN (-3) vs. Dallas: </span>I actually had Dallas at first, and I changed it not because of how bad they play in December/games that mean anything, but because of how impressed I am with the Giants' offense and their pass rush. You could argue that the two biggest breakout stars of this year play on the same (Victor Cruz and Jason Pierre-Paul).<br /><br />Alright, let's get drunk...again. Yeah-ya! Hopefully 2012 treats us well. Have a great day everyone. Remember, USC/Nebraska tomorrow at 1:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">.</span><div><br />GO COCKS!!!!...<br /><br />and of course...<br /><br />GO PATS!!!!<br /><br />Bass in the face means peace see ya later!<br /><br />~Mell-o</div>Mell-ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079543093153930627noreply@blogger.com0