tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70374227054443776082024-03-13T20:08:05.070-07:00Fantasy Football, Football Updates, Fantasy GamesFantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-35151645353644877752016-03-31T11:41:00.000-07:002016-04-07T12:06:47.450-07:00An open letter to NFL GMs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dear NFL general managers,</div>
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I hope this letter finds you in good health. I understand this is a busy time of year for you, but I wouldn't be writing unless I thought this matter was of the utmost importance. It ... it's about Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg.</div>
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Hackenberg is one of the more talked-about prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, as you may know. The former five-star and possible No. 1 pick is now a potential mid-rounder, but I am not here to discuss his merits as a professional quarterback. There are plenty of other places where you can find people opining on his NFL outlook. I'm not a scout and don't pretend to be one on the Internet.</div>
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I am, however, someone who has seen Hackenberg just get smashed to a fine powder for the past two seasons while he played behind an extremely bad offensive line. And as someone who grew up rooting for Penn State, all I want is for Hackenberg to go to a nice, quiet NFL team where he hopefully won't get hit very much.</div>
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Hackenberg was sacked 38 times in 2015, tied for third-most in the nation. He was sacked 44 times in 2014, which was somehow only second in the nation. Here he is being hurried within two seconds by a mid-major that's only rushing two defenders against six blockers:</div>
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The numbers for Penn State's offense last year, <a data-ref-index="6" href="http://www.footballstudyhall.com/pages/2015-penn-state-advanced-statistical-profile">neatly compiled over at Football Study Hall*</a>, are grim.</div>
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<li>59th in Offensive S&P+</li>
<li>101st in points per game</li>
<li>111th in Offensive Success Rate</li>
<li>107th in points per trip inside the 40-yard line</li>
<li>107th in Rushing Success Rate</li>
<li>120th in Stuff Rate</li>
<li>107th in Passing Success Rate</li>
<li>111th in Adjusted Sack Rate</li>
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"I don't know what the fuck we're doing."</div>
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Yeah, same here.</div>
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It was more than just the sacks and hits, though. I can only speak to what I saw, but it seemed like he was more likely to hit an open receiver in the ankles than in the hands. His completion percentage dropped every year, ending at 53.5 percent as a junior in 2015. The numbers paint an ugly picture by themselves, but it was so much worse to actually watch the games.</div>
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Every now and then, you'd see flashes of the talent. But you didn't see it nearly often enough.</div>
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I realize I'm not selling you on drafting him as a way to necessarily make your team better.</h4>
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Make no mistake; I have no idea whether he'll ever help you win. I really don't even want him to have to play football for a while, if that's what it takes. Just park him on your bench, where he can't be sacked.</div>
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Maybe it was the terrible offensive line. Maybe Hackenberg regressed. Maybe he received suspect coaching. All seem pretty likely, actually. The marriage between Hackenberg, head coach James Franklin and (now former) offensive coordinator John Donovan just never got off the ground. Donovan was fired following this past season, and murmurs from the message board set about a bad relationship between quarterback and head coach <a data-ref-index="7" href="http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/23/nfl-draft-carson-wentz-jared-goff-paxton-lynch" style="background-color: white;">feel pretty much confirmed</a>.</div>
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Players have to earn everything they can get in the NFL. That's not the case for coaches, maybe, but it definitely is for players. But if we're going to sit here and talk about things that people have earned, Hackenberg has more than earned the chance to go play somewhere extremely quiet and peaceful. Somewhere he won't be harried like a fox, trying like hell to escape from a pack of hounds and rich aristocrats.</div>
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We're trusting you with him now. We just hope you make the right decision.</div>
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Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-81204525052326979982016-03-24T11:14:00.000-07:002016-03-24T11:14:05.331-07:00NFL Rumors<p>Check out the latest NFL news and rumors below.</p>
<p>NFL concussion studies that <a href="http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/03/24/league-concussion-research-investigation-flaws">downplayed</a> the effects of head injuries on players <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/sports/football/nfl-concussion-research-tobacco.html?_r=0">used flawed data</a> and left out over 100 diagnosed concussions, reports <em>The New York Times</em>.</p>
<p>Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson said the team is <a href="http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/03/24/tennessee-titans-open-trading-top-draft-pick">open to trading</a> the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AdamSchefter/posts/1122712074448099" target="_blank">reports</a> ESPN's Adam Schefter.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.chatsports.com/nfl/a/here-are-6-nfl-teams-have-had-worst-offseason-so-far-27615">Chat Sports: Six NFL teams that have had the worst off-seasons so far</a></strong></p>
<p>The Philadelphia Eagles have <a href="https://twitter.com/dangrazianoespn/status/712747384565051392">signed</a> wide receiver Reuben Randle to a one-year deal, reports ESPN's Dan Graziano.</p>
<p>San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said the team is “<a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/baalke-nowhere-near-trading-kaepernick">nowhere near</a>” trading quarterback Colin Kaepernick, reports CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.</p>
<p>Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown was <a href="http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2016/03/23/cincinnati-bengals-owner-mike-brown-aj-mccarron-trade-vontaze-burfict-nfl-team-in-london/82167036/">noncommittal</a> about head coach Marvin Lewis’s future with the team, telling the <em>Cincinnati Enquirer </em>that “he’s going to be our coach this year” and “we’ll see how it plays out.”</p>
<p>The Indianapolis Colts <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/712804280542105600">signed</a> cornerback Patrick Robinson to a three-year, $12 million deal, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.</p>
<p>The New Orleans Saints have signed linebacker Craig Robertson to a <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/24/craig-robertson-agrees-to-deal-with-saints/">three-year deal</a>, reports Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.chatsports.com/si" class="no-router">Chat Sports: More NFL news and rumors inside the Chat Sports App</a></strong></p>
<p>Las Vegas is still a <a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/nfl/2016/03/21/with-rams-set-in-los-angeles-l-a-waits-on-its-other-teams/">relocation option</a> for the Oakland Raiders, <a href="http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/03/24/oakland-raiders-relocation-las-vegas-option">reports</a> the <em>Los Angeles Daily News’</em> Vincent Bonsignore.</p>
Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-66672784584594422122016-03-21T10:02:00.004-07:002016-03-21T10:05:47.477-07:00NFL games in China? It could happen by 2018, according to report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As the NFL continues to expand globally, new destinations are appeaing on the league's map every year it appears.</div>
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The newest rumored destination: China. (Insert Donald Trump joke here.)</div>
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It appears that the league — which has hosted a series of games in London, has one scheduled this year in Mexico City and has looked at future games in Germany and South America — could land in Asia within two years.</div>
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The NFL never has played a game — regular season or exhibition — in China. The league had planned to host a preseason game between the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="13" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nwe/" style="color: #1b70e0; text-decoration: none;">New England Patriots</a> and <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="14" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sea/" style="color: #1b70e0; text-decoration: none;">Seattle Seahawks</a> in Beijing in 2007, a year prior to the Olympics there, but the game was postponed two years and ultimately canceled.</div>
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The NFL had a long-running preseason series in Japan through the 1990s up until 2005. The only three countries outside the Unites States to host a regular-season game to date are Canada, Mexico and England.</div>
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So let's talk about China. It was the dream of former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, as he said in one of his final state-of-the-league addresses, to land in that country. Tagliabue said he envisioned the day where Chinese-born quarterback "Yao Fling" would take the NFL by storm. That clearly hasn't happened yet, and it might be decades away from coming to life in some form. But the league hosting a game over there might go a long way toward breaking into the Asian market, which has a stated goal of Roger Goodell but has yet to really take shape under his watch.</div>
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The state department says that China remains a very safe country, with petty street crime likely the biggest concern for Americans making the trip over there. Now, we try to stay as apolitical as possible here at the Shutdown Corner, but we do wonder what this report might do for the Trump campaign.</div>
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Because, after all (and please do yourself the favor and watch the video all the way through):</div>
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Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-25244771399800090342016-03-16T09:57:00.001-07:002016-03-16T10:20:46.656-07:00Collateral damage: Players hurt by free agency<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Free agency marks the best and worst of times for NFL players. For every big-name free agent who inks a cap-shaking contract, someone else on the roster is out of work.</div>
Here's a look at players who suffered collateral damage during the free-agency period. Their football futures have taken a hit:<br />
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<strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/brianhoyer/81294/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/brianhoyer/81294/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Brian Hoyer</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Houston Texans</a> quarterback:</strong> The stink remains on Hoyer after tossing four picks in Houston's wild-card loss to the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/kansascitychiefs/profile?team=KC" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/kansascitychiefs/profile?team=KC_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chiefs</a>. His disastrous outing overshadowed an otherwise productive season, but Hoyer won't have a chance to make up for it. The four-year, $72 million contract handed to <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/brockosweiler/2533436/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/brockosweiler/2533436/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brock Osweiler</a> thrusts Hoyer back into the shadows. His only chance to open the season as a starter -- and it's a slim one -- is trading the average-armed passer to a team desperate under center.<br />
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<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643907/article/winners-losers-from-nfl-free-agencys-first-week" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643907/article/winners-losers-from-nfl-free-agencys-first_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free agency winners and losers</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643390/article/seven-riskiest-signings-of-nfl-free-agency-so-far" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643390/article/seven-riskiest-signings-of-nfl-free-agency_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seven riskiest free-agent signings</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643212/article/texans-giants-among-big-spenders-with-adjusted-draft-priorities" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643212/article/texans-giants-among-big-spenders-with-adju_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brooks: How free agency will affect the draft</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643062/article/john-elway-broncos-stay-course-in-letting-brock-osweiler-walk" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643062/article/john-elway-broncos-stay-course-in-letting-_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Broncos stay course in letting Osweiler walk</a></li>
</ul>
<h6>
Watch:</h6>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644182/3-teams-that-won-in-free-agency" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644182/3-teams-that-won-in-free-agency_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Three teams that won in free agency</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644435/Which-teams-have-made-the-best-free-agency-moves" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644435/Which-teams-have-made-the-best-free-agency-_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Which teams made the best free agency moves?</a></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644183/3-teams-that-lost-in-free-agency" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000644183/3-teams-that-lost-in-free-agency_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Three teams that lost in free agency</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<strong>Cleveland's next quarterback:</strong> We're posting this long before the draft, so plenty can change. That said, whoever starts at quarterback for the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Browns</a> is bound to be saddled by a roster with more holes than last year's three-win outfit. With center <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/alexmack/71375/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/alexmack/71375/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alex Mack</a>, right tackle <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/mitchellschwartz/2532945/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/mitchellschwartz/2532945/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mitchell Schwartz</a> and deep-threat <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/travisbenjamin/2532790/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/travisbenjamin/2532790/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Travis Benjamin</a> all signing elsewhere, the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Browns</a> are nowhere close to fielding a competent offense. Cleveland's new coaching staff and front office inherited a mess that will take years to steer out of.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/andydalton/2495143/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/andydalton/2495143/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Andy Dalton</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Cincinnati Bengals</a> quarterback:</strong> Dalton will struggle to repeat his career campaign from 2015. For starters, the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bengals</a> passer no longer has talented play-caller Hue Jackson in his ear. The team also lost depth at receiver with <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/marvinjones/2532884/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/marvinjones/2532884/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marvin Jones</a> and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/mohamedsanu/2533040/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/mohamedsanu/2533040/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohamed Sanu</a> leaving for big-money deals elsewhere. With two of Cincy's top-five pass-catchers from last season out the door, Dalton's surrounding cast could include a handful of new faces in 2016.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/t.j.yeldon/2552471/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/t.j.yeldon/2552471/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">T.J. Yeldon</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> running back:</strong> Yeldon has plenty of potential, but the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jaguars</a> handed <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/chrisivory/2507999/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/chrisivory/2507999/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chris Ivory</a> a five-year contract worth $32.5 million. Look for Ivory to handle plenty of short-yardage and red-zone carries, leaving Yeldon in a bind from a fantasy perspective. With both runners battling injuries last season, Yeldon will still see his share of carries. Free agency, though, turned this into a committee backfield.<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/sambradford/497095/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/sambradford/497095/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Sam Bradford</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Philadelphia Eagles</a> quarterback:</strong> It's suspect to list anyone who signed a deal for $36 million over two seasons. Bradford, though, is in a fight for his starting job after new <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eagles</a> coach Doug Pederson lured quarterback <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/chasedaniel/81284/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/chasedaniel/81284/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chase Daniel</a> into the fold. Pederson -- in an attempt to quiet the chatter -- recently <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643313/article/pederson-sam-bradford-is-no-1-chase-daniel-is-no-2" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000643313/article/pederson-sam-bradford-is-no-1-chase-daniel_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">announced</a> that "<a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/sambradford/497095/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/sambradford/497095/profile_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sam Bradford</a> is the No. 1. <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/chasedaniel/81284/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/chasedaniel/81284/profile_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chase Daniel</a> is the No. 2." While fans still wait for any hint of inspired play from Bradford, we're booking Daniel for meaningful snaps in 2016.<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/bishopsankey/2543682/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/bishopsankey/2543682/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Bishop Sankey</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/antonioandrews/2550474/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/antonioandrews/2550474/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Antonio Andrews</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/player/davidcobb/2552376/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/davidcobb/2552376/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">David Cobb</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Tennessee Titans</a> running backs:</strong> Tennessee's ho-hum carousel of runners all dropped a spot in the pecking order with the addition of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/demarcomurray/2495207/profile" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/player/demarcomurray/2495207/profile_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DeMarco Murray</a>. The former <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cowboys</a> and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI_3";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eagles</a> back has the faith of new general manager Jon Robinson, who told reporters last week: "There's more than enough tread left on his tires." An enigmatic player coming off a disastrous season, Murray is no lock as a workhorse, but the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN" onclick="s_objectID="http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN_2";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Titans</a> will hand him a massive role out of the gate.</div>
</div>
Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-70694157626280032162016-03-15T11:18:00.002-07:002016-03-15T11:52:01.690-07:00Which NFL teams have stacked up the most draft capital?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="timestamp" data-behavior="date_time" data-date="2016-03-15T13:53:28Z"></span><br />
Last week, the NFL handed out 33 compensatory picks to be used in the upcoming NFL draft. That annual announcement yields two pieces of insight. First, it gives all of us a quick reminder of the teams in this league who actually have any idea what they're doing, given that teams who acquire comp picks are the ones who mostly stay out of free agency and have valuable talent they can afford to lose. Second, we learn the final draft order, barring trades. The compensatory selections round out the selection order, giving us our first full look at when each team will pick in the 2016 draft.<br />
With the draft order in mind, we can figure out which teams have the most and least to work with on draft day in terms of available capital, given their picks and what each pick is worth. The pick values come from Chase Stuart's <a href="http://www.footballperspective.com/draft-value-chart/" target="_new">draft value chart</a>, which uses historical estimates of value to place an expected return on each of the first 224 selections in a given draft. The information is essentially what you would think: The teams selecting at the top of the draft have the most draft capital and the ones at the bottom of each round have the least. You don't need an estimate to figure that one out.<br />
What's far more interesting here is figuring out which teams have done the most to accrue or give away capital heading into the draft, because that often provides insight into how general managers are trying to build their teams. To figure that out, I rebuild the draft order by removing all the compensatory picks, returning any selections voided by the league to their original teams, and undo any trades involving draft picks. Each team ends up with their original seven picks. I calculate the draft capital they would have held with those seven picks, compare it to their actual draft assets heading into April's draft, and find the difference between the two.<br />
Let's start by running through the five teams who have added the most draft capital to their coffers here in early March. (These figures may change as teams deal picks between now and the draft, of course.) This top five is based upon the percentage by which a team improved upon their baseline draft capital. It starts with a familiar face ...<br />
<h2>
Most draft capital added</h2>
<h3>
5. Baltimore Ravens</h3>
Original draft capital: 53.8 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 60.1 points<br />
Difference: 6.3 points (11.7 percent)<br />
The Ravens keep doing Ravens things. They picked up two fourth-rounders and a sixth-rounder as compensatory picks from losing free agents last offseason, and moved up from a fifth-rounder to a fourth-rounder by trading the Broncos center <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14999/gino-gradkowski">Gino Gradkowski</a>, who subsequently failed to make Denver's roster. (The Broncos did make the pick less valuable by winning the Super Bowl, presumably out of spite for the Gradkowski trade.)<br />
The Ravens don't pick this high very frequently, of course. The last time they had a top-10 pick was in 2008, when they traded the eighth pick to the Jaguars for four selections so the Jags could move up and draft Derrick Harvey. Several of those picks would be traded again and the Ravens would eventually come away with <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11252/joe-flacco">Joe Flacco</a> and Tavares "T-Good" Gooden.<br />
<h3>
4. Los Angeles Rams</h3>
Original draft capital: 44.7 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 51.3 points<br />
Difference: 6.6 points (14.8 percent)<br />
Unlike most of the teams in this top five, the Rams are missing two of their original picks. They're down a fifth-rounder after selecting offensive tackle <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2977676/isaiah-battle">Isaiah Battle</a> in last year's supplemental draft, and they sent a seventh-rounder to the Texans for Case Keenum, who currently sits atop the Los Angeles depth chart at quarterback. Yeah, so much of that preceding sentence feels weird.<br />
Fortunately for the Rams, they have the most valuable traded pick (besides the Miami-Philadelphia first-round swap) in the draft heading their way: the 43rd selection from the Eagles, courtesy of last year's <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13197/sam-bradford">Sam Bradford</a> trade. The net of all of Philly's trades these past few weeks has basically been to get themselves back to even in terms of draft capital; they have 46.4 points worth of assets after starting with 45.6 points.<br />
<h3>
3. San Francisco 49ers</h3>
Original draft capital: 52.7 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 60.8 points<br />
Difference: 8.1 points (15.4 percent)<br />
If you're wondering why the 49ers and their $58 million in cap space appear to have earmarked the free-agent period as the right time for a particularly long nap, this is part of the answer. Under Trent Baalke, the 49ers have placed a heavy emphasis on acquiring as many draft picks as possible, frequently trading down while attempting to procure extra compensatory picks each offseason. You can take issue with Baalke's execution, or his desire to stick to that strategy this year given the threadbare nature of his current roster, but history tells us that he's right to pursue picks in bulk.<br />
If Baalke and Chip Kelly do eventually turn things around in San Francisco, all of these extra picks will help. The 8.1 points of draft assets they've added is a larger raw total than anybody else in this year's draft. The 49ers picked up fourth-, fifth-, and two sixth-round compensatory picks, to which they'll add a fifth and two more sixth-round picks from trades. Two of those traded picks came from San Diego when the Chargers traded up to grab <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2576434/melvin-gordon">Melvin Gordon</a> in the first round last year, a deal that hasn't worked out for them so far.<br />
<h3>
2. Denver Broncos</h3>
Original draft capital: 33.3 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 38.6 points<br />
Difference: 5.3 points (15.9 percent)<br />
<br />
While the Broncos might not have had this free-agent period turn out the way they planned, they should be in line to receive a bevy of compensation picks in 2017. That goes with the healthy stash they've acquired for the 2016 draft. John Elway & Co. picked up a third-rounder for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14204/julius-thomas">Julius Thomas</a>, a fourth-rounder for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13996/orlando-franklin">Orlando Franklin</a> and a sixth-round pick for Terrance Knighton. (They're already in line for <a href="http://overthecap.com/compensatory-draft-picks-cancellation-chart/" target="_new">two third-round picks in 2017</a>.) Those picks alone are worth an even nine points of draft capital, roughly equivalent to the 56th pick in the draft on its own. That's not enough to get a franchise quarterback, but it's going to help the Broncos to retool their roster as they try to defend their title in 2016. And if the Broncos do end up trading for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick">Colin Kaepernick</a>, the extra picks will make it easier to swallow the cost of doing business.<br />
<h3>
1. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/gb/green-bay-packers">Green Bay Packers</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 36.5 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 42.5 points<br />
Difference: 6.0 points (16.4 percent)<br />
Atop the leaderboard, though, is a team that Ted Thompson <a href="http://grantland.com/features/bill-barnwell-ted-thompson-influence-nfl/" target="_new">rebuilt on a bed of extra draft picks</a>. The Packers generally treat their picks as a precious resource and rarely invest in free agency, and while that may anger some more shortsighted Packers fans, it leaves the Packers with one of the league's more perennially stacked rosters. Green Bay has kept its seven picks and added a pair of fourth-rounders for losing cornerbacks <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/5432/tramon-williams">Tramon Williams</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14157/davon-house">Davon House</a> in free agency. Recent Packers fourth-rounders have included rotation linebacker <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2515337/jake-ryan">Jake Ryan</a> and starting left tackle <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/15963/david-bakhtiari">David Bakhtiari</a>, so these picks wield more power in Thompson's hands than they do in most.<br />
<h2>
Most draft capital lost</h2>
And then, of course, there's the flip side: Here are the teams who have lost the most draft capital versus their would-be stash of original selections. This year, it's heavy on teams who have lost draft assets in a less usual way: They've been docked picks by the NFL.<br />
<h3>
5. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 50.2 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 45.3 points<br />
Difference: 4.9 points (9.8 percent)<br />
While the Dolphins still have seven picks, they've bizarrely swapped first-rounders with the Eagles as part of the trade that sent <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14133/byron-maxwell">Byron Maxwell</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/15819/kiko-alonso">Kiko Alonso</a> to Miami, a deal that Philadelphia likely regarded as a favor and should have required the Eagles to send extra draft compensation, not the Fins. Miami also drops some by virtue of lacking even a single compensatory pick, which isn't much of a surprise. The Dolphins haven't received a comp pick since 2013. They'll finally pick one up next year by virtue of <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14982/olivier-vernon">Olivier Vernon</a>'s departure ... just in time for compensatory draft picks to be tradable.<br />
<h3>
4. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 36.8 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 33.1 points<br />
Difference: 3.7 points (10.1 percent)<br />
The Steelers basically gave away two picks at the bottom of their draft in August, sending a fifth-rounder to the Eagles for Brandon Boykin and a sixth-rounder to the Jags for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/5662/josh-scobee">Josh Scobee</a>. Boykin failed to crack the cornerback rotation and played 24.7 percent of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps before hitting unrestricted free agency, while Scobee kicked the Steelers out of a victory against the Ravens before being released.<br />
Pittsburgh did pick up a sixth-rounder as a comp selection, but the seventh-rounder they got from the Giants for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/16241/brad-wing">Brad Wing</a> is seen as a sub-replacement pick (as are all picks after 224) and has zero draft value.<br />
<h3>
3. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 42.2 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 37.3 points<br />
Difference: 4.9 points (11.6 percent)<br />
The Falcons also are missing fifth- and sixth-round picks, albeit under very different circumstances. Their sixth-rounder went to the Titans for free-agent disappointment <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12614/andy-levitre">Andy Levitre</a>, who subsequently signed a restructured deal to stay with the Falcons. He wasn't much better in Atlanta. Their fifth-rounder, meanwhile, was taken away by the NFL as punishment for piping crowd noise into the Georgia Dome. Let's remember that the blame for the noise was <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000482500/article/atlanta-falcons-lose-2016-pick-for-pumping-fake-noise" target="_new">pinned on director of event marketing Roddy White</a> and that the Falcons somehow had a guy in their front office with the same name as their star wideout. Or maybe the more famous Roddy White really just wanted to be an event planner all along.<br />
<h3>
2. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/kc/kansas-city-chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 35.6 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 30.9 points<br />
Difference: 4.7 points (13.2 percent)<br />
<br />
This gap amounts to the Chiefs lacking compensatory picks and missing their third-rounder, which was nabbed by the NFL as punishment for tampering with Eagles wideout <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12579/jeremy-maclin">Jeremy Maclin</a>. The league additionally fined the Chiefs $250,000 for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14938272/kansas-city-chiefs-docked-two-draft-picks-fined-tampering-pursuit-jeremy-maclin-2015" target="_new">contacting Maclin during the open negotiating window before free agency</a> when teams are otherwise only allowed to contact the agents for impending free agents. If your head is spinning, you're not alone: The Chiefs were stripped of a draft pick for illegally tampering during the legal tampering period.<br />
<h3>
1. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/ne/new-england-patriots">New England Patriots</a></h3>
Original draft capital: 35.0 points<br />
Actual draft capital: 25.9 points<br />
Difference: 9.1 points (26.0 percent)<br />
And then, far away from the pack, there are the Patriots. They've lost nearly twice more of their draft capital as anybody else in football, even after acquiring a third-rounder and three sixth-rounders as compensatory picks. That helps account for New England's missing fifth-rounder, which was sent to the Texans for backup wideout <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14916/keshawn-martin">Keshawn Martin</a> and a sixth-rounder, but it does little to make up for the huge hole in New England's draft.<br />
The Pats are down a first-rounder (and a fourth-rounder in 2017) as part of the punishment for last year's Deflategate saga. It's the second time the Patriots have been docked a first-rounder during Bill Belichick's reign, having lost their 2008 first-round pick in the Spygate scandal. That pick alone is worth 13.2 points of draft capital.<br />
Here is a chart on draft capital leaguewide:<br />
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<aside class="inline inline-table"><div class="table-wrapper">
<div class="scrollable">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-color: lightblue; border: 1px;"><caption>Draft capital for all 32 teams</caption><thead style="background-color: lightblue;">
<tr><th style="display: table-cell;">Team</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Draft Capital</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Rank</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Comp Capital</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Original Capital</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Difference</th><th style="display: table-cell;">% Difference</th><th style="display: table-cell;">Rank</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Cardinals</td><td style="display: table-cell;">35.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">28</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">34.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">3.5%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">9</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Falcons</td><td style="display: table-cell;">37.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">26</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">42.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-4.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-11.6%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">30</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Ravens</td><td style="display: table-cell;">60.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">7.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">53.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">11.7%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">5</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Bills</td><td style="display: table-cell;">43.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">16</td><td style="display: table-cell;">3.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">41.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">2.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">5.1%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">8</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Panthers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">32.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">30</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">34</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-4.1%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">24</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Bears</td><td style="display: table-cell;">48.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">10</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">48.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">14</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Bengals</td><td style="display: table-cell;">36.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">27</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">38</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-3.2%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">21</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Browns</td><td style="display: table-cell;">67.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">62.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">8.0%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">7</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Cowboys</td><td style="display: table-cell;">56.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">4.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">57.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">15</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Broncos</td><td style="display: table-cell;">38.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">23</td><td style="display: table-cell;">9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">33.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">5.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">15.9%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">2</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Lions</td><td style="display: table-cell;">44.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">15</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">44</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.1%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">13</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Packers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">42.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">18</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">36.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">16.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Texans</td><td style="display: table-cell;">40.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">20</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">39.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">2.0%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">11</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Colts</td><td style="display: table-cell;">39.4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">21</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">42</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-6.2%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">27</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Jaguars</td><td style="display: table-cell;">53.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">54.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.0%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">18</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Chiefs</td><td style="display: table-cell;">30.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">31</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">35.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-4.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-13.2%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">31</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Rams</td><td style="display: table-cell;">51.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">44.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">14.8%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">4</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Dolphins</td><td style="display: table-cell;">45.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">14</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">50.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-4.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-9.8%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">28</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Vikings</td><td style="display: table-cell;">37.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">25</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">38.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.8%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">17</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Patriots</td><td style="display: table-cell;">25.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">32</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">35</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-9.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-26.0%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">32</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Saints</td><td style="display: table-cell;">43</td><td style="display: table-cell;">17</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">45.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-5.9%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">26</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Giants</td><td style="display: table-cell;">47.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">11</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">49.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-3.7%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">22</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Jets</td><td style="display: table-cell;">38.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">24</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">40.4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-5.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">25</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Raiders</td><td style="display: table-cell;">46.4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">12</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">45.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">2.7%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">10</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Eagles</td><td style="display: table-cell;">46.4</td><td style="display: table-cell;">13</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">45.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.8%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">12</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Steelers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">33.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">29</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">36.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-3.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-10.1%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">29</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Chargers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">56.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">1.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">59.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-3.9%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">23</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Seahawks</td><td style="display: table-cell;">40.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">19</td><td style="display: table-cell;">7.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">36.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">3.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">9.8%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">49ers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">60.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">3</td><td style="display: table-cell;">6.2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">52.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">8.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">15.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">3</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Buccaneers</td><td style="display: table-cell;">49.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">49.8</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">16</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Titans</td><td style="display: table-cell;">65.5</td><td style="display: table-cell;">2</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">67.1</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-1.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.4%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">20</td></tr>
<tr class="last"><td style="display: table-cell;">Washington</td><td style="display: table-cell;">38.7</td><td style="display: table-cell;">22</td><td style="display: table-cell;">0</td><td style="display: table-cell;">39.6</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-0.9</td><td style="display: table-cell;">-2.3%</td><td style="display: table-cell;">19</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</aside>
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Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-45565457335979138082012-01-09T00:50:00.000-08:002014-08-24T06:20:57.563-07:00Get better your physical strength by using punching bags<div align="justify">Boxing is one among the toughest game you could ever come across at any given day. It is a very risky sport but quite amazing as well, as it is played with a lot of spirit and dedication.</div><div align="justify">A professional boxer is not ready within a single day. So if you aspire to become a professional boxer, you need to train very hard right from your childhood itself. It takes years of hard work, practice, will power and determination for you to reach the highest of levels, particularly in boxing. You have to get ready yourself both mentally as well as physically. You also need to practice harder with the suitable boxing equipment like boxing gloves, boxing mitts, boxing shoes etc., in order to safeguard your health. Boxing safety accessories are a must at any cost when it comes to boxing. You should never ignore them, and failing to do so could lay severe cost or catastrophes.</div><div align="justify">Punching bags are a very significant boxing accessory that plays an essential role in a professional boxer’s practice sessions. It is great boxing equipment for fitness strength training. They are not only used in boxer’s training sessions but also in gyms for working out, carrying out physical exercises etc. They are mainly used in boxing sessions for improving the boxer’s agility, stamina, power, punching technique and strength. Typically boxers and other athletes move around these punching bags swiftly, punching them as hard as possible, ducking rebounds etc which allows them to build their physical strength and stamina. How these punching bags develop your strength and technique is further elaborated below.</div><ul><li>Hitting the bags stands out to be as one of the best physical exercise anyone could ever get. It helps you to get better your strength, stamina and agility as you move quickly around the bag punching it for several hours.</li>
<li>The same method mentioned above allows you to build your endurance and fitness as you duck, sway, move away and block the swinging bag for several hours to build your reflexes and endurance.</li>
<li>Punching these bags using numerous techniques or methods allows you to work out on different muscles of your body. Maintaining the same for several hours will wear you out and help you develop as an athlete.</li>
<li>The boxing attires used during training enhance your training as they are quite comfortable and suitable. They help you to focus and think well which shapes up your mind.</li>
<li>Training in rounds helps to build your strength and agility better instead of going at it in one shot.</li>
<li>While punching, use your entire body weight and not just your fists. This leads to overall workout of your body.</li>
<li>Using your legs correctly, jumping and moving swiftly warms up your muscles and act quickly as well. This surely adds to your agility and reflective nature.</li>
<li>This bag could be punched using any technique which will help you to work out very different muscles of your body. This helps trainers to teach boxers different combos and punching techniques. </li>
</ul>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-19896892712188269532011-04-18T08:28:00.000-07:002011-04-18T08:28:52.219-07:00Alabama Football Spring Game<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Nice day for a practice in front of 95,000 fans?</b><br />
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Alabama detained its A Day spring game on Saturday, and few question marks are slowly being sorted out. It was a day that started with the school unveiling a nine-foot tall figurine of head coach Nick Saban and.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dlPiwwsSFHQ/TaxYObHMCpI/AAAAAAAAAPU/q9DXoUYHmIs/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Alabama Football" /></div><br />
It appears A.J. McCarron has the inside border at quarterback although Saban was pleased with the play of third-string QB Blake Sims. McCarron finished 21 of 38 overall attempts for 222 yards and a touchdown. Sims was 19 of 38 for 229 yards and one interception.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a> </div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-73864117211582699202011-04-12T05:04:00.000-07:002011-04-12T05:04:57.011-07:00Liverpool Beat Manchester<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">England's most luxurious player Andy Carroll scored his first goals for Liverpool to help beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Premier League.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDYkF26saao/TaQ-8pLbM7I/AAAAAAAAAPE/oPf38hROa-s/s320/ftbl1.jpg" title="Andy Carroll" width="320" /></div><br />
Kuyt slotted in the next for Liverpool with a low angled shot into the bottom left-hand corner.<br />
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Seconds later Liverpool was three up after a sparkling header from Carroll. He out-jumped Kolarov to join onto a great long-range delivery from Raul Meireles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2RCrBwhkHQU/TaQ_JE2NDZI/AAAAAAAAAPM/IGE2J_a-16k/s320/ftbl3.jpg" title="Liverpool Beat Manchester" width="320" /></div><br />
The result means that Liverpool is closing in on a top five position in the league which would mean a place in Europe next time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" title="Fantasy Football"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a> </div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-76640936539957824832011-04-12T04:22:00.000-07:002011-04-12T04:35:13.462-07:00Neil Lennon looking for consistency from SFA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Neil Lennon says he will be watching what type of penalty the SFA hands down to one of his counterparts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The Celtic boss was handed another four-match ban for his conflict with Rangers assistant Ally McCoist back in the March 2 Scottish Cup fifth round replay at Celtic Park and he is waiting to observe what happens to Aberdeen’s Craig Brown.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Brown had a similar argument with Motherwell chairman John Boyle recently and the Hoops boss admits he is involved to see what occurs on that front.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0j2QQe_Ico/TaQ4YIG04oI/AAAAAAAAAO8/H-0kb1wudaY/s320/ftbl.jpg" title="Neil Lennon" width="272" /></div><br />
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"Yes, I just want to be treated like any other manager,” he said. “Is anything diverse from what Craig Brown did to what I did?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"All these people are telling me I've got to grow up and I want to show more maturity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"Well, there is the oldest manager in the game - with 30, 38 years of experience - perhaps doing a lot worse than what I did.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"Yet what he did acquire laughed off and I get demonized for it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"There is a distinction in personalities and the way you depict it in the public eye.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"I am used to it. I am not looking for sympathy. I'm just looking for justice, that's all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
“Other managers condemn referees. Am I the only manager in the world who criticizes referees?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"Sometimes it has seemed that way this time. I have been to the Scottish Football Association a pair of times and I ended up getting a suspended fine because my comments were not really that bad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
"They weren't personal, which is for sure, and no dissimilar to what other managers do."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" title="Fantasy Football"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a></div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-20028651448109976062011-04-07T23:59:00.000-07:002011-04-08T00:00:19.255-07:00Match preview of Aston Villa v Newcastle United<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In 16 Premier League visits they won 6 and drawn 5, but they have lost their last three.<br />
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In August Newcastle thrash Villa 6-0 with a hat-trick from Andy Carroll and a brace from Kevin Nolan.<br />
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Nolan is banned after collecting his 10th care, against Wolves, while James Perch begins and three-match ban and Cheik Tiote completes a two-game deferment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CM0zD-cuGP8/TZ6yAnVfe2I/AAAAAAAAAO0/ZbiGM0k2nPQ/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Aston Villa v Newcastle United" /></div><br />
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Ryan Taylor is accessible after a suspension and Jose Enrique undergoes a test, but Leon Best is out for the period.<br />
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Dan Gosling, Alan Smith, Stephen Ireland and Hatem Ben Arfa are also missing.<br />
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Villa has Ciaran Clark available after a two-match ban.<br />
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<b>Thanks to: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8435940/Aston-Villa-v-Newcastle-United-match-preview.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk</a></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span><b> </b></a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-77362785864163361662011-04-07T23:48:00.000-07:002016-03-15T11:53:21.847-07:00A SUNDERLAND fan is suing his club<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A SUNDERLAND fan is suing his club after being knocked out by a wander off shot while watching a training session.<br />
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Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn revealed the authorized action in a radio phone-in.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EA073vCTDwc/TZ6ungh7DkI/AAAAAAAAAOs/RKyYNs3IqhQ/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn" /> </div>
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Said by Quinn, “We had a supporter who got a bad damage.<br />
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“I believe it was one of Djibril Cisse’s misses where he had a shot from 20 yards.<br />
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“It knocked a supporter out. It was quite severe. That supporter is in the process of suing us right now.”<br />
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Cisse played for Sunderland 38 times in the 2008-9 season, scoring 11 times, while on credit from Marseille.<br />
<br />
Boss Steve Bruce is situating to ring the changes for tomorrow’s visit of West Brom following a dreadful run of form and the 5-0 thrashing by Manchester City on Sunday.<br />
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He is set to remember Steed Malbranque, Nedum Onuaha and fit-again Kieran Richardson.<br />
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<br />
Fraizer Campbell will notice a knee specialist today and expects to be given the all-clear for tomorrow’s visit of West Brom.</div>
Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-46209622625060446642011-04-06T04:14:00.000-07:002011-04-06T04:16:41.739-07:00Egyptian Football Domestic League<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qk820KFwLpw/TZxKLPuuKtI/AAAAAAAAAOk/p3ZdbyQU_Uw/s320/ftbl.jpg" title="Egyptian Football" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Egyptian FA says the country's domestic league will continue next week after a two-month break.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a statement late Tuesday the EFA said football would come back "in all grades and in the presence of the fans on April 13."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The EFA had said it was delaying the return of league matches following a violent ground attack at an African Champions League match in Cairo on Saturday. The EFA also said it was considering holding matches behind closed doors after that uprising by fans of Cairo club Zamalek.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The EFA said the result to resume the league coming Wednesday came after a meeting involving Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Egyptian league was delayed in early February during the protests against previous president Hosni Mubarak.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" title="Fantasy Football"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a></div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-22333530708090113892011-04-06T03:53:00.000-07:002011-04-06T04:02:11.637-07:00Argentina ask Japan to reconsider<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1fcQgqcH4s/TZxFLKnT4DI/AAAAAAAAAOc/6DA7Cu011DQ/s320/Japan-national-football-tea.jpg" title="Japan Football Team" width="320" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Argentine Football Association spokesman Jose Luis Meiszner said Japan had been given 10 days to assessment their initial decision to focus on the country's recovery from last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"There is a time limit of 10 days," Copa America organising committee chief Meiszner said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Nothing has been advanced. We met, we talked and we set a deadline to see if Japan gets to the Copa America," he said behind a meeting between AFA president Julio Grondona and his Japanese matching part Junji Ogura.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ogura, whose country had acknowledged an invitation to play in the tournament for the second time, told South American Football Confederation president Nicolas Leoz at their Asuncion headquarters on Monday that Japan wanted to withdraw.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nearly 29,000 people are dead or missing and thousands have been left homeless as a result of the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and huge tsunami that hit Japan's northeast coast. Sports plans are in chaos including the J-League.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Japan played as a guest team at the 1999 Copa in Paraguay, were drawn in Group A with Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">World champions Spain said earlier on Tuesday they had been invited to fill the slit left by Japan in the 12-team tournament while another option was a CONCACAF country filling in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Costa Rica has played in the tournament three times and is coached by Argentine Ricardo La Volpe is measured favourites to come in.</div><br />
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<br />
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<div style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a></div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-87539280890904211062011-04-05T06:29:00.000-07:002011-04-05T06:29:30.702-07:00Dan Gaspar has a new challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Gaspar said will join long-time colleague, Carlos Queiroz, as a subordinate coach and goalkeeping coach on Iran's national side. Queiroz was named trainer on Monday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The former MetroStars assistant coach confirmed his appointment on Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
MetroStars University of Hartford coach has worked together with Queiroz on the Portuguese National Team in the 2010 World Cup, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Grampus Eight in Japan, the South African National Team and the MetroStars in 1996.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhOHZ0a_hTU/TZsYzeHL8xI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/zPkwL69xGVo/s320/gaspar1_large.jpg" title="Dan Gaspar" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gaspar lately resigned as Hartford coach. He coached at the school for 6 years as the Hawks compiled a 36-46-21 record.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
“Dan has been active in building the brand of Hartford men’s soccer throughout the community,” Patricia Meiser, director of athletics and particular assistant to the president said in a statement. “His leadership and dedication to advancing Hartford men’s soccer will be hard to return. We wish Coach Gaspar the best of luck in his next effort.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Queiroz and Gaspar coached mutually on Portugal during qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. Gaspar also worked with the Portuguese under Felipe Scolari, who heading for Brazil to the 2002 world championship.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
The twosome also co-authored Project 2010, an arrangement commissioned by U.S. Soccer that described the challenges the United States faced in winning the World Cup in 2010.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
He has also served as the goalkeeper coach for Benfica and Porto. He also trained FC Porto's Vitor Baia, who was selected as the UEFA's best European goalkeeper in 2004.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Gaspar is also the proprietor and operator of Star Goalkeeper Academy and the Connecticut Soccer School.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-63625705600288345712011-04-04T04:47:00.000-07:002011-04-05T06:32:00.636-07:00Jackson Statue at Ground<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Michael Jackson statue has been unveiled outside the stadium of Premier League side Fulham, commemorating the tardy singer's friendship with the club's chairman.<br />
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Mohammed Al Fayed danced with children in front of the statue of the King of Pop behind it was unveiled prior to Fulham's home match with Blackpool at Craven Cottage.<br />
<br />
And he later told fans they can "go to hell" if they do not be glad about the statue.<br />
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Al Fayed, a close friend of the late performer, caused controversy after announcing he had decided to place the tribute to Jacko outside the Cottagers' stadium.<br />
<br />
The statue was commissioned following Jackson's death in June 2009 and was due to be erected at Harrods earlier than Al Fayed sold the Knightsbridge store. The decision to move it to Craven Cottage is likely to divide estimation, with statues at football grounds normally reserved for club legends.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfufGdcq4PI/TZmtDAS2CkI/AAAAAAAAAOI/brqknCssI7Q/s1600/ftblimg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfufGdcq4PI/TZmtDAS2CkI/AAAAAAAAAOI/brqknCssI7Q/s320/ftblimg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Jackson's links to Fulham are fragile to say the least - he watched a game there as a guest of Al Fayed in 1999 - while the singer was also dogged by argument during his lifetime.<br />
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Regardless of this, Al Fayed has refuted claims that the memorial is peculiar and lashed out at fans that have spoken against it. "Why is it bizarre?" he said following the unveiling. "Football fans love it.<br />
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"If some dense fans don't understand and be grateful for such a gift they can go to hell.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gD-d8z8MgmQ/TZsZlSar5KI/AAAAAAAAAOU/w31Tylb2g7U/s320/ftbl.jpg" width="320" title="Jackson Statue at Ground" /></div><br />
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"I don't want them to be fans. If they don't understand and don't consider in things I believe in they can go to Chelsea, they can go to anywhere else."<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" title="Fantasy Football"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fantasy Football</b></span></a> </div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-79859269017079874472011-04-04T04:05:00.000-07:002011-04-04T04:47:08.913-07:00Manchester United will tire themselves out against Chelsea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hEiGna10Lw/TZmlW9REwlI/AAAAAAAAAOA/a9Qk59zPH1M/s1600/ftblimg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>United tour to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and host the go back leg on April 12 before playing Arsenal in London on May 1. An FA Cup date with Manchester City at Eastlands on coming April 16 means that United will have played six games previous to the trip to London, two more than Arsenal.<br />
<br />
"The way I seem at it is that United have two extra big games previous to they have to play us," said Van Persie, referring to the Premiership's current leaders' conflict with Chelsea in the Champions League.<br />
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"Hopefully, they will have to dig bottomless into their reserves and come here exhausted. That's how I am looking at it because I want us to have the biggest opening against them."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hEiGna10Lw/TZmlW9REwlI/AAAAAAAAAOA/a9Qk59zPH1M/s400/ftblimg.jpg" title="Robin Van Persie" width="400" /> </div><br />
The detail that Arsenal's leading goalscorer is hoping that their rivals' heavier match list will give them a helping hand gives a good impression of the two sides' relation fortunes in recent weeks, with Arsenal going through a poor run of appearance which saw them knocked out of three competitions.<br />
<br />
But although that bend continued with a dispiriting goalless draw at home to Blackburn at the weekend – a result which left Arsene Wenger dejected and his side seven points floating of United in the Premier League – Van Persie insists that his side is capable of starting anew. <br />
<br />
"We were just inauspicious with injuries in certain games," he said of a run of two wins in the last eight games. "We start working tough on Monday another time and everyone will be positive."<br />
<br />
"We cannot be diverse. We do believe."<br />
<br />
As for the practice of watching United overcome a two-goal deficit at half time to win by two: "It was not fine. But it does not matter. We still play them and we have an opportunity to get three points there.<br />
<br />
"It's up to us. Everyone stays helpful and speaks to each other and says, 'Come on, we've eight games to play for, present it your all.' We will do that."<br />
<br />
<br />
The fight might yet be a title-decider, but Arsenal has games against Blackpool, Liverpool, Spurs and Bolton to discuss in the meantime.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>fantasy football</b></span></a> </div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-80401512572197509282011-04-01T07:28:00.000-07:002011-04-01T07:28:14.286-07:00Bosnia and Herzegovina were balanced from international football<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bosnia and Herzegovina were balanced from international football Friday in a chain over the presidency of their football federation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">FIFA, the sport's global governing body, and UEFA, the organization in claim of European soccer, took the step after Bosnia and Herzegovina's football association failed to modify its three-headed presidency.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The NFSBiH represents two football associations and now has a Bosnian, a Croat and a Serb head to reproduce the racial groups within the former Yugoslav republic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Ftbl.com"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-99TJdSwBgoM/TZXgP0w_mlI/AAAAAAAAAN4/bh9t-bhke98/s320/ftbl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosnia and Herzegovina were balanced from international football</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A meeting in the nation's capital of Sarajevo attempted to address the matter, with FIFA having ordered the NFSBiH to reform and present one presidential figure, but no resolution could be found.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been suspended until additional notice by FIFA and UEFA as of today," read a FIFA statement Friday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The Executive Committees of FIFA and UEFA had requested the FFBH to assume the statutes according to FIFA and UEFA minimum requirements by no later than 31 March 2011; if not the FFBH would be automatically suspended.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"FIFA and UEFA deeply apologize for that this decision had to be taken and will meet shortly to argue the next steps required to try to bring the FFBH back into the football family as soon as possible."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The deferment means Bosnia and Herzegovina will be unable to struggle in both international matches and continental club competitions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The news will come as a gust to Safet Susic's national side, which are fourth in Euro 2012 qualifying Group D after a 2-1 victory over Romania on March 26.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At present, the team will be incapable to fulfill their next qualifying match, also against Romania, on June 3.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>fantasy football</b></a> </div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-32273734444663329712011-03-31T06:26:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:28:12.833-07:00Spain unbeaten<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>KAUNAS:</b> World and European champions Spain remained victorious atop Group I of Euro 2012 qualifying with a 3-1 win over Lithuania on Tuesday.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Goals from Xavi and Juan Manuel Mata sandwiched possess goal by Tadas Kijanskas to hand the Spaniards their fifth victory from five games, although the hosts had briefly drawn stage with a wonder strike by Marius Stankevicius.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"It was important to win today despite the lamentable state of the pitch," said Spain midfielder Xavi. "It's just sand, it's sad to perceive a pitch like that. You can't play football here.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"But we're happy. We have a foot and a half in the Euro," he told Telecinco. "They played on the counter-attack and we tried not to fall into their catch</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All the pre-game talk had been of the unfortunate quality of the pitch, with Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque even going as far as saying he would wish his side not to play the match due to the woeful state of the playing outside.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the two teams seemed unchanged on the pitch, with Spain opening the scoring in the 20th minute when Xavi's dipping shot took a wicked deflection off a defender to loop past goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But Lithuania battled fine against the winners of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and strike back in the 57th minute through Stankevicius.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Valencia defender capitalized on a poor authorization from the penalty area to drill a right-footed volley straight and hard past despairing Spain captain Iker Casillas in goal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1sxP0p89c0/TZSAqwnRMhI/AAAAAAAAANw/8G1-3bLiXg0/s1600/ftbl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1sxP0p89c0/TZSAqwnRMhI/AAAAAAAAANw/8G1-3bLiXg0/s320/ftbl.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Xabi Alonso then saw his well-struck 65th-minute free-kick superbly tipped over the bar by Karcemarskas.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although Spain was not dominating midfield, a slip-up by the hosts saw Mata played in down the left.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Valencia forward troop into the area and crossed perfectly into the pathway of Fernando Llorente.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the Athletic Bilbao striker was trodden to it by the misjudged knee of fast-approaching defender Tadas Kijanskas, contact from which nudged the ball into the goal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v1sxP0p89c0/TZSAqwnRMhI/AAAAAAAAANw/8G1-3bLiXg0/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Spain Vs Lithuania" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Spain wrapped up the result when a beautiful one-touch build-up saw David Silva play in Mata, the very small winger taking the ball on and beating Karcemarskas at the near post.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>Fantasy Football</b></a> </div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-46158903829076786292011-03-29T01:46:00.000-07:002011-03-29T01:46:12.687-07:00Neymar dreams of blues move<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Neymar improved his claims as one of the best young talents in the world with a genius display in Brazil's 2-0 win over Scotland on Sunday.<br />
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The Santos attacker has been linked with a go to Europe for some time with all the top clubs on the continent chasing his signature.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DcD67UplHmI/TZGbp5AxuQI/AAAAAAAAANk/N_vuvk4FvwE/s1600/10-11_Brazil_Home_No.11_Ney.jpg" title="Neymar" /></div><br />
Chelsea has detained a long-term interest in the 19-year-old and Neymar has admitted he would be happy to formulate the move to Stamford Bridge.<br />
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"Chelsea's a great club," Neymar told. "It's a dream of each player to play at Chelsea.<br />
"If one day it happens, I will be very joyful to come.<br />
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"When the jiffy comes we are going to sit with my family.<br />
<br />
"We are going to think about it and argue the options."<br />
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Chelsea tried to sign Neymar last summer, but the skilful forward did not sense the time was right to leave Brazil.<br />
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However, the teenager would give serious thought to a shift to West London this summer if Chelsea come calling again for his services.<br />
<br />
"Last year, when Chelsea came, we sat mutually and we thought it wasn't the time yet," added Neymar. "If it happens this year, we are going to sit again and going to talk about about it."<br />
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Although attracting interest from a host of clubs, Neymar insists he is happy at Santos for the time being.<br />
<br />
"I am happy there and, when the time comes, God will make me take the right choice and things will happen," concluded Neymar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>Fantasy Football</b></a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-88881404978944840062011-03-29T00:30:00.000-07:002011-03-29T00:30:53.170-07:00Barry happy at leading England<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Gareth Barry insists the conditions culminating in him leading England out as captain for the first time will not diminish his sense of satisfaction.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8L0D13B0zjI/TZGJylEifwI/AAAAAAAAANY/_-O4u04xd0Y/s320/gareth-barry-415x345.jpg" title="Gareth Barry" width="320" /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Manchester City player has been handed the armband for Tuesday's friendly international with Ghana after John Terry was out from the squad, along with four others, following the Euro 2012 qualifier in opposition to Wales on Saturday.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Barry did not even make the substitutes' bench in Cardiff but is the most experienced activist left in the squad, and said: "I'm well aware that there are a lot of players not here and, in dissimilar circumstances, I obviously wouldn't be captain. But, personally, I can't let that take it left from me. I'm going to be leading my country out."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He added: "As dissatisfied as I was on Saturday not to be playing, it's going to be a great honor to lead England out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"It came as a revelation but this is just football.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"To find myself not involved at the weekend, and then a few days later on to be told I'm going to lead the team out at Wembley, it sums up the game and how speedily things can vary.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"I'm not timid about doing it. I had two or three great years at Aston Villa, leading the team out, and it does furnish you a good lift leading the 11 players out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"It's something I'm looking forward to doing."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Barry broke into the Villa team as a 17-year-old central defender and learnt a lot about leadership by playing under and at the side of Gareth Southgate.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He said: "Initially Gareth was a great head for me. Being a young player at Aston Villa, he was certainly a enormous role model, someone I learned a lot off. At club level he was a great leader to learn off."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>Fantasy Football</b></a> </div></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-62340931017050314222011-03-29T00:07:00.000-07:002011-03-29T00:08:46.560-07:00Northern Ireland v Slovenia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YrvZzWH75NQ/TZGEfWsSpOI/AAAAAAAAANM/4zzfFpbU3uo/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Northern Ireland v Slovenia" /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Northern Ireland go into tonight’s Euro 2012 crunch clash with Slovenia at Windsor Park knowing a beat is likely to spell the end of their qualification hopes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Last Friday night’s 2-1 loss to Serbia — after Northern Ireland had led 1-0 at half-time — has left Nigel Worthington’s men lying second from foot of Group C.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
And although we have a match in hand, a beat tonight would mean we’d have to win all five remaining games in order to formulate the finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Gareth McAuley will captain Northern Ireland from the start for the first time — in the lack of Aaron Hughes, who suffered a shoulder injury in Belgrade — and both he and fellow defender Jonny Evans are upbeat about tonight’s must-win encounter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
“It’s huge. Being in the leading place we threw away at least a point in Serbia,” said McAuley.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
“It makes this game even bigger. We’ll be going at it right from begin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
He added: “It’s an honor to be captain and it would be pleasant to look back on it as a winning occasion. We know we can strike Slovenia.”<br />
</div>Evans said: “We have to win this one to get us back on way and try to qualify.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/">Fantasy Football</a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-87198924394697510522011-03-25T22:21:00.000-07:002011-03-25T22:24:51.632-07:00Villa Rocks Spain Beat Czechs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>GRANADA (Spain):</b> David Villa became Spain's record goal-scorer when he strike twice as the world champions fought back from 1-0 down to strike Czech Republic 2-1 in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday.<br />
Jaroslav Plasil silenced the home fans with a powerful long-range make in the 29th minute that went in off a post to give the visitors an upset lead.<br />
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Villa equalised in the 69th minute with a low down shot that was too good for keeper Petr Cech before netting from the penalty spot four minutes later after Andres Iniesta was felled in the area.<br />
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The Barcelona attacker now has 46 international goals for the European champions - two ahead of former Real Madrid marksman Raul.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ftbl.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YhsGBghd7uA/TY13P4aAR6I/AAAAAAAAANE/5HfoOBDHWbQ/s320/f1.jpg" title="Spain Beat Czechs" width="266" /></a> </div>The success gave Spain a perfect 12 points from four games in Group I.<br />
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The home team immediately put the Czech goal under stress on a warm Andalucian evening and Iniesta tested Cech with a snap shot in the second minute before Joan Capdevila flashed a header narrowly wide.<br />
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Villa stung Cech's hands with a influential volley from Alvaro Arbeloa's cross in the 26th minute but the visitors grabbed a surprise lead three minutes later on with their first shot on goal.<br />
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Plasil collected the ball in an innocuous-looking position in central midfield before letting fly from 29 metres.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>Fantasy Football</b></a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-2015917643518273892011-03-24T04:44:00.000-07:002011-03-24T04:48:44.594-07:00Wales' Ashley Williams eager for England test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVPBydlF8k0/TYsuP7C4xII/AAAAAAAAAM8/LKbsrBh578A/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="Fantasy Football" /></div>Wales defender Ashley Williams is eager to test himself against "some of the best players in the world" on Saturday.<br />
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England trainer Fabio Capello is tipped to pair Andy Carroll with Wayne Rooney in attack for the Euro 2012 qualifier in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.<br />
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"It would be unbelievable... we don't need to speak anything about Wayne Rooney," said Williams.<br />
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"Everyone knows about him and it'll be a tough sport definitely - probably one of the toughest in my career."<br />
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While Williams has not at all faced Manchester United star Rooney before, the 26-year-old Swansea City centre-back has tangled with Carroll.<br />
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New Liverpool striker Carroll snatched a point for former club Newcastle last season in a taut Championship promotion battle, heading home three minutes from time at the Liberty Stadium.<br />
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"He's a good player, he's a physical occurrence, he's good in the air, also he's got good feet and his movement's not too bad as well, having played against him before I know it'll be a tough game," Williams added.<br />
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"As a player and as an expert you want to play against the best and they've definitely got some of the best players in the world.<br />
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"There's no point measuring against normal players, you may as well play against the best and notice whereabouts you are.<br />
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Bale quietly confident ahead of England quarrel<br />
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"But that's secondary; the first thing is the team. We want to get the win, if we all played and got the win we'd get that.<br />
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"After the game you can look back on your personal recital and see how you did.<br />
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"It will probably be the biggest game for a lot of the boys in our team.<br />
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"Their squad probably won't say that but for us and for me personally it's definitely the biggest game, the biggest presence and... I'm on top of the world at the moment; I just can't wait to get into the game."<br />
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Wales are currently bottom of Group G having lost their opening three matches of the campaign but under the leadership of new coach Gary Speed and in front of a packed Millennium Stadium crowd, there is real hope they can upset the odds.<br />
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Tamworth-born Williams, who signed for Swansea in 2008 from Stockport County, may not speak with a Welsh inflection but the 2009 Welsh Footballer of the Year says there will be no divided loyalties on Saturday.<br />
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"I was born in England, that's a detail, but lived here for the last three years and I've played 24 times for Wales so I definitely know which side I'm on!" Williams said.<br />
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"I know I'm English and always will be but I've got Welsh family and having lived downward here I think it helps." <br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/">Fantasy Football</a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-41900113286094460502011-03-21T22:58:00.000-07:002011-03-21T22:59:44.852-07:00UNH Football Player’s Death<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>DURHAM, N.H. --</b> New information in the shooting death of a University of New Hampshire <b>football</b> player was exposed Monday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="UNH Football Team" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dHLZDHQCNBk/TYg52g9vtSI/AAAAAAAAAM0/oPv7zqI7cQ4/s1600/ftbl.jpg" title="UNH Football" /></div><br />
Court paperwork released in Boulder County detailed the altercation that cost Wildcat wide receiver Todd Walker his life.<br />
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Police said Walker and a female friend, Elizabeth Roach, were walking down the middle of a street Friday when they were approached by a man, with a bandanna over his face, and pointed a semi-automatic weapon at Roach.<br />
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According to the affidavit, "Roach said the guess said, 'Give me all your money.' Roach said she thought it was a joke, and pulled down the suspect's bandanna. The suspect continued to demand she give him all of her money, but she told him he was a 'joke,' that 'This was Boulder,' and 'I'm not giving you my money.'"<br />
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Police said the man fired a shot in the air and repeated his command.<br />
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"Roach said Todd tried to intervene and he and the suspect got into a pushing match. Walker told the man, 'This is ludicrous, leave her alone,'" police said.<br />
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Investigators said the man pointed the gun at Walker and shot him.<br />
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Police identified the shooter as 22-year-old Kevin McGregor, of Longmont, Colorado. Police said the manager of a local sandwich shop recognized the separate lettering described on the gunman's hoodie, and believed it might belong to McGregor.<br />
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Police said the manager "went to the back office area where she knew McGregor had stashed a handgun previously. She found a little caliber handgun; she removed the magazine, and noted there were only three bullets in the magazine."<br />
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Detectives said McGregor was arrested Saturday night, and they said he admitted to the shooting.<br />
McGregor is charged with first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, police said.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/"><b>Fantasy Football</b></a> </div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037422705444377608.post-7878066951379200722011-03-20T23:34:00.000-07:002011-03-20T23:34:29.099-07:00Liverpool beat sunderland 2-0<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>LONDON:</b> Dirk Kuyt scored a controversial penalty as Liverpool bounced back from their Europa League outlet with a 2-0 win at 10-man Sunderland on Sunday.<br />
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Liverpool was beaten at Sunderland in doubtful circumstances last period when Darren Bent scored with a goal that deflected in off a beach ball which had been thrown onto the pitch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Liverpool beat sunderland 2-0" border="0" height="224" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KiwoPGz1KQA/TYbw1ngGWsI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5_tl07vnriw/s320/LIV-VS-SUND.jpg" title="Liverpool beat sunderland" width="320" /></div>But Kenny Dalglish's side enjoyed their own moment of good fortune at the Stadium of Light this time as Kuyt netted a first half penalty awarded for a tackle by John Mensah that took place outside the area.<br />
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Replays showed Mensah's challenge made contact with Jay Spearing before the midfielder fell in the area and referee Kevin Friend initially gave a free-kick, only to change his conclusion to a penalty on the advice of a linesman.<br />
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Sunderland was angry and Kuyt rubbed salt into their wounds as he drove home the spot-kick.<br />
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Luis Suarez scored Liverpool's second goal from what seemed an impossibly tight angle in the 77th minute to help erase the memory of his team's lacklustre midweek defeat against Braga in the Europa League and raise the Reds within four points of fifth placed Tottenham.<br />
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Mensah's miserable day was completed when the Ghana defender was sent off for an expert foul on Suarez in the closing stages.<br />
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In Sunday's late game, Chelsea faces Manchester City at Stamford Bridge with the hosts looking for a win that would take them above their opponents into third place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ftbl.com/">Fantasy Football</a></div>Fantasy Footballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06398642454277484172noreply@blogger.com0