Bleacher Report - Articles by Graeme Frisque

Big Surprise... NFL Is In PETA's "Dog House" After Michael Vick's Reinstatement

Graeme Frisque — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:00:41 -0400

As reported by several media outlets, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is very angry at Roger Goodell and the NFL for reinstating Micheal Vick.

It comes as no surprise to hear that PETA is angry about this. The only time you ever hear about PETA, is when they are mad at somebody. That's just what they do.

As a dog lover and owner, I was as appalled as everyone upon hearing what transpired on Vick's property before his arrest and subsequent conviction for sponsoring a dog fighting ring.

I personally am no fan of Mr. Vick's, and won't watch or support any team that signs him, but that is my choice to make, not PETA's.

Michael Vick may be a despicable human being, but he has served his penalty as handed down by a court of law and as such has the right to pursue whatever vocation he so chooses within the confines of the law.

There are many professions where a criminal record prohibits your candidacy. For example, ex-cons cannot be police officers or teachers. But, nowhere does it say an ex-convict cannot be an NFL quarterback, nor should it.

There is absolutely no legal reason not to reinstate Vick to the NFL. The only reason that exists is a moral one. That is the only position that PETA can take at this point as they continue to advocate a lifetime ban from the NFL for the former star quarterback.

The problem with morality is that it is very subjective. Was what Michael Vick did wrong? Yes, according to the laws and customs of North American society what Michael Vick did was wrong, and he was punished accordingly.

Now, if you ask the question is it wrong for those who have abused animals such as Vick did to be allowed to play professional football? In my opinion the answer is a resounding no. The two have nothing to do with one another.

PETA is trying to use Vick's celebrity status as a pro football player to push their political and moral agendas. The way I see it, you'd be as crazy to use PETA as a moral compass as you would using Micheal Vick for the same purpose.

PETA is an organization that lives in its own little world. This is a group that is currently running a campaign aimed at "re-branding" fish as "Sea Kittens". As though fish were a clothing line or something.

The goal of this misguided and ridiculous campaign is to make people associate slimy fish with man's second best furry friend.

This is a group that is trying to lump fishermen into the same category as Vick by comparing fishing to putting a hook in your pet cat's mouth and dragging it behind your car. That is a direct quote.

I for one think it is folly for professional sports to assume the role of society's moral guardians. Professional athletes are entertainers, they are not experts on morality, nor should they be asked to perform that role.

Granted,athletes are considered role models for children. But the virtues they are best suited to impart on kids are hard work, perseverance, fair play and a desire to be the best at what you choose to do.

They are not well suited for the task of imparting society's morals on younger fans. That task falls to parents. If a parent feels that cheering for Micheal Vick on the football field goes against the moral code they are trying to instill in their children, then it is on their shoulders as parents to prohibit them from watching him play...not Roger Goodell's.

PETA has no business attacking the NFL and demanding that Goodell impose a lifetime ban on Michael Vick for his past sins.

I am all for the the rights and ethical treatment of animals, but only to the point where those rights don't infringe on the freedoms of human beings under the law.

Like it or not, Michael Vick has paid his debt to society for what he has done. As a result, he's now a member of society with all the rights and privileges of the rest of us who are free to pursue whatever vocation, under the law, he so chooses; that includes being an NFL quarterback.

PETA has every right to use him as an example of what will happen to you if you abuse animals; as Vick did, you will go to jail. Anything beyond that is an attempt at circumventing Michael Vick's rights as a person who has paid his debt to society, in an empty attempt to fortify a moral and political position held by a group of people who equate fisherman to people who drag cats behind cars.

In my opinion, bowing to the pressures of people like that is not only stupid, but dangerous.

I'd like to smack Vick in the head for what he did. Still, I applaud Roger Goodell for adhering to the letter of the law and reinstating him, rather than assuming a moral position and pandering to a group of people who would be just as inclined to see fishermen go to jail and forfeit their rights, as they would Micheal Vick.

Longtime Blue Jays Fan to Management: What Have You Done to My Team?

Graeme Frisque — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:23:29 -0400

I have been a Toronto Blue Jays fan since I was a boy. I have been to hundreds of games over the course of my life and stuck by the team through the best and worst of times.

Of all those years I have to say that the worst of times is right now.

The yahoos at the helm of both the team and the Rogers Centre are running the whole experience of a day at the ballpark into the ground.

So far, I have been to three games this season. I enjoy being close to the action, so I don't mind springing the extra money to get as close as possible. But it seems that no matter what my proximity to the field is, a day at the Rogers Centre is as boring and frustrating as it has ever been.

After each of the three games I have attended this season, I have left angry, insulted, and with very little motivation to spend any more money at the Rogers Centre ever again.

I will briefly explain my three experiences at the Rogers Centre thus far this season.

Game One: April 23, 2009

This was my first visit to the ballpark this season. It was a great game until the bottom of the ninth inning when B.J. Ryan gave up a game-tying home run into the section next to mine, a non-drinking section.

The fan who caught the ball, as is customary, threw the ball back on the field. A few minutes later, security arrived and ejected that young man from the stadium.

You can read the full article I wrote about these events after the game here.

I then proceeded to an information kiosk to ask why the guy had been thrown out. After a little waiting, I eventually got the chance to speak to a manager of ushers. This woman treated me like a miscreant for even asking the question.

Finally, I was informed that it was new policy after opening day to eject anyone who throws anything on the field. This includes real fans who would surrender such a souvenir in support of the team.

I left the stadium that night feeling like I got slapped in the face and a little less sure of my devotion to the Blue Jays.

Game Two: June 5, 2009

I had decided that I would start off my birthday weekend by taking in a game with a couple of my buddies.

There were some younger fans sitting behind us who were being a little louder than the rest of us, but by no means disruptive. There was some heckling and the odd curse word, but nothing most of us would consider unacceptable behavior at a sporting event.

The usher came down and told them that if they didn't settle down, they would be asked to leave. I spent the rest of the game looking over my shoulder afraid to jar the opposing outfielders in any way, or even cheer too loudly, for fear of being ejected.

The section became so quiet and boring that we decided to leave in the seventh inning and find something fun to do for my birthday elsewhere.

Game Three: June 12, 2009

This was the last game I attended, and probably the last game I will attend this season. I took the game in with my father.

Again, about halfway through the game, some fans around us got a little boisterous after Roy Halladay left the game with an injury. Those fans were warned to shut their mouths in such a way that they simply got up and left without being required to.

I heard the way the usher spoke to these three young men, and I didn't blame them for being insulted enough to leave.

After their ejection, I decided I would go and get a second $10 beer. The girl behind the beer counter remembered me from the first time, and for some odd reason decided I was drunk and wouldn't be getting that second beer.

I did not let this deter me however, and I simply made my way to another vendor for a top up.

When I went for my third beer in the bottom half of the sixth inning, I was surprised to see that the beer vendors around my section were all closed...in the sixth inning!

I was informed that only two vendors remained open, and they were located behind home plate. I was sitting in the outfield next to the Jays' bullpen.

After walking all the way around the stadium, I was greeted with a line that would make an alcoholic forget about that third beer!

I simply returned to my seat and waited for the game to end. Once again, we left early.

To add to my displeasure with the experience at Rogers Centre is the no smoking/no re-entry policy that management has put in place.

I am a smoker. I realize that most of you non-smokers could not care less about your smoking brethren, but you all must realize that 25 percent of the population shares my habit.

Every other stadium and sporting venue in Toronto opens up a gate or two for those of us that would like to step out between the action for a puff outside of the stadium.

Baseball games are long. At two of the aforementioned games, people who were sitting in proximity to me, with whom I had spoken about the ridiculousness of such an anti-smoking policy, left before the end of the game.

They had each decided they would rather satisfy their craving than watch the rest of the game featuring a frustrating team in a boring stadium. One of these guys even left his girlfriend behind and told her to meet him outside the stadium after the game! Needless to say, she wasn't happy with the policy...or her boyfriend!

There is one more point I'd like to address before closing out this rant! Over the many years that I have been attending Blue Jays games, I have been fortunate enough to develop a relationship with, and an affinity for, some of the long-standing employees of the Rogers Centre.

I didn't know him personally, but I certainly remembered him: Wayne McMahon, a beer vendor known as "Ice Cold Beer Guy." He was always a hoot when he came around. Fans knew him well for his famous sales pitch.

I was informed earlier this year that last season he had been fired for selling beer to a 22-year-old secret shopper.

Fans loved this guy, and to many he had become a staple at the Rogers Centre. He was an off-colour personality who had become a part of the whole experience for many fans.

His firing is just another example of why the product that Rogers is offering has become so boring and pathetic.

According to pretty much every baseball source on the planet, the Jays have been shopping most of their top tier players around the league. This pretty much tells me, as a fan, that they have no intention of winning anything in the near future.

But this goes way beyond just the team's performance on the field. Their futility has been well documented over the past 15 seasons. This is as much about about the overall product that Rogers offers fans during a day at the ballpark, as it is with the players it puts on the field.

The only reason that I can come up with for how things have gotten to this low point is that perhaps those at the reins of the franchise are trying to create a more corporate/family experience at the ballpark, while pinching their pennies to make the bottom line look more palatable to Rogers' shareholders.

Whatever the case, the Blue Jays can have their families and their corporate crowds, and the rest of us real sports fans can find some other place to have fun.

It doesn't matter whom the team puts on the field—Roy Halladay or a bunch of kids that they trade for. I don't care anymore. I, a once-die hard Blue Jays fan, have had enough. And, until they make things right, going somewhere else is exactly what I'm gonna do.

Go TFC Go!

Five Reasons Why Toronto Blue Jays Fans Are Staying Home

Graeme Frisque — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:47:14 -0400

As expected in this strained economy, attendance across Baseball's major leagues is down 5%. Some teams are weathering the storm better than others. The Toronto Blue Jays are not one of those teams.

Attendance at the Rogers Centre is near the bottom of the majors. Garth Woolsey of the Toronto Star penned a great article that takes a look at the raw attendance figures at the Rogers Centre for both this season and seasons past.

The article points out that the lower attendance figures can be partially explained by management not including free tickets when reporting overall attendance figures this season. The article also very aptly points out the correlation between on field performance and attendance.

However, this does not explain how a fast start and, up until about a month ago, a winning team was still unable to get fans to come out to the ballpark.

As an avid Jays fan I can think of five reasons that might help explain why the romance between the Jays and their fans has dried up.

1) The Economy:

As every team is feeling the effects of the economic downturn, this is the most logical place to start. For most fans, there is simply less money in the budget for things like an afternoon at the ballpark. This is the only situation that management really can't be blamed for. The recession is effecting everyone.

2) 15 Years of Futility:

This one is a no brainer. Toronto Blue Jays fans have had to endure 15 seasons without even a sniff of the playoffs. They are one of only four teams who haven't made the playoffs since the wild card was instituted in 1994. The others being Kansas City, The Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Not great company to be in.

Every year promises are made, and every year fans are treated to at best, mediocrity. This is far and away the biggest factor in explaining the downturn in attendance, not just for this season, but over the last 15 years.

At one time the Jays were biggest draw in the Major Leagues. It is no coincidence that at that time, they were also winning World Series. Hard core fans will support their team through the worst of times. Casual fans only support a winner, and the Blue Jays haven't been able to call themselves that in a very long time.

Granted, the Blue Jays are in the unenviable position of competing in Baseball's toughest division (A.L. East) alongside the free spending New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but they can't use that excuse on fans forever.

The reality is that Rogers Media Corp. is worth billions. The "whoa is me, we have to compete against the Yankees and Red Sox" card is wearing thinner and thinner with each passing year. Rogers has the ability to spend more on salaries, they simply choose not to.

They know it and the fans know it too.

3) Toronto FC:

Up until three seasons ago the Blue Jays benefited from the fact that they had little or no competition during the summer months in terms of another sports venue.

That all changed when Major League Soccer came to town.

Toronto FC is becoming a big draw in Toronto. Hardcore soccer fans, who are also casual baseball fans are now spending their sports entertainment dollars at BMO field instead of at Rogers Centre.

4) Ridiculous Policies:

After each visit to the Rogers Centre, one thing is becoming clearer and clearer: There exists a serious disconnect between fans and management; at both the team and stadium levels.

A day at the Rogers Centre isn't what it used to be. Compounding the fact that half the seats are empty, fans are faced with utterly ridiculous policies imposed by management.

Policies like ejecting fans for throwing opponent's home run balls back on the field and the firing of "Ice Cold Beer Guy" last season illustrate that Rogers Centre management has lost touch with baseball fans.

I have also personally witnessed Rogers Centre employees approach louder fans and ask them to be quiet. The Rogers Centre is a sporting venue, not a movie theatre. If some fans want a nice quiet afternoon at the ball park, management should set up "quiet or family" sections, and leave louder fans alone.

If management wants to bring fans back to the Stadium, they need to remember what being a baseball fan is all about.

5)No Smoking, No Re-entry: Rogers Centre's "no re-entry" policy makes no sense at all. At every other sporting venue in the city, smokers have the ability to exit the stadium/arena and have a puff if they so choose.

Not so at Rogers Centre.

As a smoker, the prospect of sitting at a ball game for 2-3 hours without being able to satisfy my cravings is a definite deterrent for me to spend a day at the ball park

For a team trying to fill seats, ignoring the needs and wants of 25% of the population of Toronto probably isn't the smartest course of action. Management should be instituting policies aimed at attracting fans back to the ball park, not creating policies to drive them away.

Whatever your position on smoking, a sports team ignoring that 25% of their fan base smokes, does so at it's own peril. Every other sports venue seems to understand this and makes an effort to accommodate their smoking fans in at least some fashion. Something the folks at Rogers Centre seem unwilling to do.

I fail to see how such a policy is designed to attract fans. I don't see how allowing smokers one or two gates to have a smoke outside the stadium would ever alienate non-smoking fans. However, the no re-entry policy as it stands most definitely alienates smoking fans.

At this point, the Blue Jays cannot afford to alienate anymore paying fans.

They don't have many to spare.

New Policy at Rogers Centre Is an Insult to Toronto Blue Jays Fans

Graeme Frisque — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:25:44 -0400

I attended my first Toronto Blue Jays game of the season last night. It was a usual Wednesday night at the ballpark, full of cheers, hot dogs, and a pint of beer.

I was enjoying myself immensely until the ninth inning, when Michael Young of the Texas Rangers hit a solo home run off of closer B.J. Ryan to the section next to where I was sitting to tie things up at 7-7.

The young man who caught the ball had been sitting quietly all night long, enjoying the game with his girlfriend in section 141—one of the non-drinking sections at the Rogers Centre.

As is customary when the opposing team hits a home run, I and the other fans around the young man encouraged him to return the unwanted souvenir back to the field of play. Being a true Blue Jays fan, the young man did exactly that.

What occurred next offended me not only as a Blue Jays fan, but as a baseball fan. Rogers Centre security approached the young man and escorted him from the stadium for this act of devotion to his team.

Upon witnessing this, I went to guest services and asked to speak to someone who could perhaps explain why this devoted fan was ejected. Surely, I thought to myself, there must be some other reason for his ejection beyond his display of allegiance.

To my surprise, I was informed by Kim, one of the "friendly" managers of ushers at the Rogers Centre, that the new policy following the debacle on Opening Day, was to eject anyone who throws anything on to the field of play—including an opposing team's home run ball.

For those of you who are unaware of what occurred on Opening Day at the Rogers Centre, Detroit Tigers' manager Jim Leyland pulled his team off the field after some unruly Jays fans began throwing balls and other debris at his outfielders.

The game was postponed for a number of minutes, and fans were warned that if the behavior continued, the Blue Jays would be forced to forfeit the game.

Granted, that sort of unruly behavior is unacceptable and, as I was informed, is the reasoning behind this new policy during Blue Jays games.

Now, I understand the need for such rules to ensure that opposing players are not put in danger at the hands of idiotic, drunken buffoons throwing objects from the stands.

However, this situation was very different. This young man was not being disruptive in any way whatsoever during the entirety of the game. He had not consumed a drop of alcohol the whole time he was there, as he was sitting in a non-alcoholic section of the ballpark.

All he did was what any other true fan would do, he showed his devotion to his team with a symbolic gesture that has been commonplace in baseball since I can remember.

As with any rule, common sense must apply.

To eject someone for disrupting a game or attempting to injure an opposing player is most certainly warranted. To eject a fan for showing their devotion to their team in a customary way most certainly is not, especially after that fan has paid their hard earned dollars for the right to be there.

Only the truest of fans would surrender a souvenir in such a manner.

I am amazed that a franchise who is trying to rebuild it's fan base after 15 years of futility would impose such an asinine policy targeting their most devoted fans.

I for one am disgusted by this policy. I have been a Blue Jays fan since I was a boy.

If this is how the Toronto Blue Jays have decided to show their appreciation for their true fans, then perhaps true Blue Jays fans should show their appreciation for this new policy by not going to anymore Blue Jays games.

New England Patriots Draft: Trade, Stand Pat, And The Future of Julius Peppers

Graeme Frisque — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:42:54 -0400

With the NFL draft fast approaching, trade speculation is running rampant. With their bounty of draft picks (four first-day picks, 11 in total), the New England Patriots find themselves front and center in such discussions.

For a couple of months now, one rumor refuses to go away. That rumor involves the Carolina Panthers' franchised defensive end Julius Peppers heading to the Patriots.

There are legitimate reasons to both support the possibility of such a trade, and to suggest that it will never happen.

Why It Might Happen

Since the departure of Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs as part of the Matt Cassel trade, there exists a glaring hole in the Patriots' pass rush. Peppers would fill that void nicely.

The standout defensive end has expressed an interest in playing linebacker in a 3-4 defense, which the Patriots employ. Being a natural defensive end, Peppers is the kind of versatile player that coach Bill Belichick covets.

It's almost a foregone conclusion that Peppers will be in another uniform next season. It is hard to fathom that the Panthers will simply let him walk next season for nothing.

Peppers has yet to sign his franchise tender, giving him the ability to control his own destiny to a certain extent. Peppers gave the Panthers a list of four teams to which he would accept a trade. The Patriots were one of those teams.

Since the Panthers only have the 59th overall pick on the first day of the draft, the Patriots' bounty of picks have to be of interest to them. Also, the Patriots are one of the few teams with the room to fit Peppers' under the salary cap.

Why It Might Not Happen

Another rumor that has been floating around is the signing of Jason Taylor. If Taylor were to sign with the Patriots, you can probably count Peppers out of the Patriots' equation for next season.

Both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick have publicly shared their admiration for Jason Taylor, making him in a Pats uniform next season a very real possibility.

Also, the Panthers have made it clear that they would like to keep Peppers in the mix, and are willing and able to fit him under their cap. Should they not be able to consummate a trade come draft day, it's hard to imagine that Peppers would sit out all next season and leave $16+ million on the table.

It is entirely possible that Peppers will sign the tender and play for the Panthers next season if the team were to promise not to franchise him again next season, much like the Patriots did with Asante Samuel before he departed for the Eagles through free agency last offseason.

Plus, there is always the possibility that one of the other three teams on Peppers' list might be able to make something happen. You never know with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys being one of those teams.

There are other trade scenarios involving the Patriots that may play out on draft day. One of which could see them moving up in first round to fill the hole at linebacker.

USC's Brian Cushing stands out as a player the Pats might use some of their picks to move up to get. He is rated in the 10-15 pick range, which, sitting at No. 23, is not out of the Pats' reach by any means.

There is one trade scenario that seems almost a foregone conclusion. Bill Belichick has a propensity for trading picks for future picks as they did two years ago in a trade with San Fransisco that netted them the No. 7 pick last year. The Patriots then traded that pick for the 10th overall pick plus a later round pick, using the No. 10 pick to select defensive rookie of the year Jarod Mayo.

This seems even more likely this year, given the the sheer number of picks the Patriots process versus the number of roster spots they will have available come fall. It is not Bill Belichick's style to draft players knowing he will probably have to cut them by the start of the regular season.

It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Belichick trade some of his second- or third-rounders this season to add a couple of extra picks for next year.

Whatever shakes out on draft day, one thing is almost for certain: The Patriots with their wealth of picks will be a part of it, one way or another.

It's Too Early To Count The Patriots Out Of The Julius Peppers Sweepstakes

Graeme Frisque — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:56:38 -0400

Recent reports circulating in the media have all but ruled out the possibility of the New England Patriots acquiring the services of Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers next season. These reports are largely based on a report by the NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

But are these reports premature?

It was just a week ago that reports were claiming that the Patriots acquisition of Peppers was only a matter of time; these reports were mostly based on another story released by the NFL Network's Vic Carucci.

If there is one thing I have learned about following the NFL all these years, it is that things usually aren't what they seem. It seems clear that the folks at NFL Network are pretty unsure of what's really going on in terms of where things are at between Peppers, the Panthers, and the Patriots.

What is clear is that Peppers is interested in playing for the Patriots, and Coach Bill Belichick seems to think highly of Peppers.

As reported by the Boston Globe in a recent article by Christopher L. Gasper, Belichick had this to say about Peppers in an interview with WEEI: "He [Julius Peppers] is a great player and still a young player," and said the 29-year-old Peppers "has a great future in this league."

Belichick went on to say, "Certainly, Julius Peppers is one of the better players in the league ... He brings a lot of skill, and he has had a lot of production."

Peppers' interest in the Patriots was also confirmed through a source that is close to the player, as reported by Mike Cranton in the Associated Press earlier this week.

So why does a marriage between Peppers and the Patriots suddenly seem so unlikely?

Reports earlier this week had Peppers going to the Patriots for a second pick (34th overall, acquired in the Cassel trade with Chiefs). Granted, that seemed a little low, but that doesn't mean the Patriots don't have any extra ammunition to sweeten the deal. The Patriots possess a first-round pick and three second-round picks to throw around, not to mention a probable third-rounder to be added as compensation for Asante Samuel.

I also don't see any reason why the Patriots wouldn't pony up for the standout DE either. Belichick also stated in his interview with WEEI that he felt Peppers could easily fit into whatever defensive scheme the team that acquires him wants to run.

Even if the Panthers are looking for a player in return, the Patriots have a lot of depth on the defensive line as it is, and could easily include a player like Jarvis Green in such a deal.

Peppers would likely move back and forth from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Patriots' system anyway, making a player like Green available to consummate a deal, not to mention to clear cap space to fit both Peppers and impending signee Vince Wilfork under the cap for years to come.

There are many scenarios that would allow for the Patriots to acquire Julius Peppers from the Panthers. There are also many scenarios that see him signing elsewhere, making any attempt at gauging what's really going on extremely difficult.

Add in the NFL's perchance for secrecy when it comes to trade matters and what results is little more than rampant back-and-forth speculation.

All that we know for sure at this point is that the Patriots like Peppers and Peppers likes the Patriots. That alone should be enough to tell observers that the possibility of Peppers in a Patriots uniform next season still holds water.

Not only does it hold water, but after hearing of the interest on the part of both parties over the last few days, it seems even more likely now than it did last week when insiders were only speculating that the Patriots were that "unidentified" AFC team on Pepper's list of desired trade locations.

Will this trade happen? It seems clear that no one knows for sure. But it is most definitely too early to rule out the possibility.

Vote: 2008 Regular Season Fantasy Football Running Back of the Year

Graeme Frisque — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:02:22 -0500

The Finalists:
Micheal Turner (Falcons)

Micheal Turner has been awesome in his first year in Atlanta. He has been the best running back in Fantasy Football this season.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
31 4 28 5 18 5 bye 5 13 15 20 35 10 12 15.7 204

Thomas Jones, RB (Jets)

Amidst all of the Brett Favre hoopla this season, Thomas Jones has been putting up solid numbers all year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
16 7 2 6 bye 25 15 11 15 32 17 17 27 12 15.6 202

Matt Forte, RB (Bears)

The Bears were horrible on the ground last season. Enter Matt Forte. Forte has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this season. He has been a monster for fantasy owners. He'll likely be a top 10 draft pick in most fantasy leagues next year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
19 11 20 8 17 16 12 bye 12 18 10 24 17 9 14.9 193

Adrian Peterson, RB (Vikings)

There was no sophomore slump for Viking running back Adrian Peterson. He showed that his breakout rookie year in '07 was no fluke. Peterson has been a delight for Fantasy owners, many of whom took home early in the first round

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
17 18 7 20 3 7 24 bye 19 28 8 14 19 11 15.0 195

DeAngelo Williams, RB (Panthers)

After starting slow out of the gate, Williams was able to wrestle the starting job from rookie back Jonathan Stewart. Since then Williams has been nothing short of amazing. His second half alone warrants his consideration for best fantasy running back of the year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
8 3 3 5 32 2 12 17 bye 20 24 19 32 * 14.8 *

*Stats will be updated after week 14 Monday night game.

Vote: 2008 Regular Season Fantasy Football QB Of The Year

Graeme Frisque — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:48:23 -0500

With most leagues closing out the fantasy football regular season after week 14, it's time vote for your 2008 Fantasy football regular season movers and shakers. I will post the results for the Fantasy MVP, Fantasy Rookie of the Year, and 2008 All-Fantasy team on Saturday Dec. 13th, 2008.

The Finalists:

Drew Brees, QB (Saints): Despite the mediocrity of the New Orleans Saints record to date, Drew Brees has been a fantasy monster this season. He has been chasing Dan Marino's single season passing yards record since week one and has posted very impressive fantasy numbers along the way.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10    11    12    13    14   AVG. Total
29 10    22   30   13   30     7   31   bye   24   13     36    17    21 21.8    283

Kurt Warner (Cardinals):   In a year where Kurt Warner(37), Kerry Collins(36) and Brett Favre(39), all landing starting jobs with their respective teams, 2008 might remembered as the year of the "old man quarterback". Kurt Warner has been the most effective fantasy option of the bunch all season long. Warner is putting up better numbers than he did in both of his NFL MVP seasons with the Rams, and is once again being mentioned for the award this season.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1   2   3   4    5   6   7    8    9   10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
13 32 17 18 23 17 bye 25 25 31 17 16 21 15 20.8   270

Aaron Rodgers, QB (Packers): Rodgers had big shoes to fill this season after replacing Brett Favre under center for the Green Bay Packers. He has done exceptionally well under the circumstances. The Packers have a poor record this season and are going to miss the playoffs, but it is hard to put too much blame on Rodgers. Fantasy owners who put faith in the first time starter were rewarded with some pretty hefty numbers this year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1   2   3   4   5   6   7    8     9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
22 31 18 12 28 26 13 bye 15 5   19 26 31 22 20.6   268

Philip Rivers, QB (Chargers): Philip Rivers had a solid year behind center San Diego. Which was huge for the Chargers, given that L.T. struggled for most of the season. Rivers was one of the top five QBs in Fantasy, and a real producer for fantasy owners this year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10    11    12     13    14   AVG. Total
26    33    26    12    12    30    14    29   bye    20    2     22     6     27   19.9   259

Jay Cutler, QB (Broncos): Jay Cutler really bounced back after a rough 2007 campaign. After being diagnosed with diabetes and now undergoing treatment, Cutler has bounced back as a top five fantasy QB this year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10    11    12     13    14   AVG. Total
23    38    20    16    16    17    9    bye    18    35    14    6    24 23 19.9   259

Vote: 2008 Regular Season NFL Fantasy Football Rookie of the Year

Graeme Frisque — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:32:39 -0500

The Finailist:

Matt Ryan, QB (Falcons): Matty "Ice" had a great rookie year for the Falcons. He wasn't anyone's "go to guy" in Fantasy, but he put up decent fantasy numbers for a rookie.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
12 3 14 7 18 18 bye 19 18 21 9 10 20 18 14.5 188

Steve Slaton,RB (Texans): Since taking over as the Texans starting running back from Ahman Green in week 3, Steve Slaton has been putting up better numbers than most veteran runnings. It looks like the Texans and fantasy owners have found a "keeper"!

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
4 bye 17 17 21 5 14 12 11 1 21 7 30 14 13.4 174

Joe Flacco, QB (Ravens)

It appears that the Ravens have finally found their quarterback. Rookie Joe Flacco has really come on in the second half of the fantasy season. Flacco should be a solid fantasy contributor for years to come.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
14 bye 1 11 2 4 15 23 21 21 13 19 24 7 13.5 175

Matt Forte, RB (Bears)

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
19 11 20 8 17 16 12 bye 12 18 10 24 17 9 14.9 193

Chris Johnson, RB (Titans)

The Titans have had quite the season. That has translated to an impressive fantasy season for rookie running back Chris Johnson. Despite losing goal line touches to Lendale White, Johnson has posted some really good numbers. It's scary to think what kind of numbers the rookie would have posted had he also been given that ball on the goal line.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
18 11 7 19 4 bye 22 14 21 1 8 3 24 22 13.4 174

Vote: 2008 Regular Season NFL Fantasy Football MVP

Graeme Frisque — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:14:54 -0500

With most leagues closing out the fantasy football regular season after week 14, it's time vote for your 2008 fantasy football regular season movers and shakers.

I will post the results for the Fantasy MVP, Fantasy Rookie of the Year, and 2008 All-Fantasy team on Saturday Dec. 13th, 2008 as per votes received.

The Finalists:

Drew Brees (Saints): Despite the mediocrity of the New Orleans Saints record to date, Drew Brees has been a fantasy monster this season. He has been chasing Dan Marino's single season passing yards record since week one and has posted gaudy fantasy numbers along the way.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
29 10 22 30 13 30 7 31 bye 24 13 36 17 21 21.8 283

Kurt Warner (Cardinals): In a year where Kurt Warner (37), Kerry Collins (36) and Brett Favre (39) all landing starting jobs with their respective teams, 2008 might remembered as the year of the "old man quarterback."

Kurt Warner has been the most effective fantasy option of the bunch all season long. Warner is putting up better numbers than he did in both of his NFL MVP seasons with the Rams, and is once again being mentioned for the award this season.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
13 32 17 18 23 17 bye 25 25 31 17 16 21 15 20.8 270

Aaron Rodgers, QB (Packers): Rodgers had big shoes to fill this season after replacing Brett Favre under center for the Green Bay Packers. He has done exceptionally well under the circumstances. The Packers have a poor record this season and are going to miss the playoffs, but it is hard to put too much blame on Rodgers. Fantasy owners who put faith in the first time starter were rewarded with some pretty hefty numbers this year.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
22 31 18 12 28 26 13 bye 15 5 19 26 31 22 20.6 268

Michael Turner (Falcons): Michael Turner has been awesome in his first year in Atlanta. He has been the best running back in Fantasy Football this season.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
31 4 28 5 18 5 bye 5 13 15 20 35 10 12 15.7 204

Thomas Jones, RB (Jets): Amidst all of the Brett Favre hoopla this season, Thomas Jones has quietly been amassing an impressive Fantasy resume this season.

CBSSports.com fantasy stat line:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 AVG. Total
16 7 2 6 bye 25 15 11 15 32 17 17 27 12 15.6 202

Is Plaxico Burress Getting a Raw Deal?

Graeme Frisque — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:01:29 -0500

Before I justify the title of this article, I would like to make one thing clear. Plaxico Burress is a moron for what he did.

There really is no excuse for carrying an unlicensed, loaded handed gun, with the safety switch off in your pants, into a club. He might not have got what he deserved, but you could say he got what was coming to him. He shot himself in the leg.

By now chances are pretty good that you have heard about what occurred in Plaxico Burress' world last weekend, so what I am telling you probably isn't news.

However...

This whole mess got me thinking about my old friend George, who once upon a time was hit by a cab in Toronto while jaywalking. He was taken to the hospital to have his wounds cared for and he eventually made a full recovery.

When he awoke at the hospital after treatment he was shocked to find that the police had come by while he was still unconscious and left him a ticket for jaywalking sitting on the night stand.

Although the charges Plaxico is facing are far more serious than a moving violation, and I think he is guilty as sin, I was a little shocked when I read earlier today that he is facing a mandatory 3-1/2 year prison sentence if he is convicted of carrying an unlicensed handgun.

The guy shot himself in the leg by accident, and now he might go to jail...talk about kicking a guy when he's down.

Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I remember being taught that prison was for people who were a danger to society at large; not for people who are a danger to themselves.

If I'm drunk and speeding and I crash into someone causing them bodily harm, I could go to jail. I was negligent and that negligence led to someone else being killed or injured. Restitution must be paid for that, both to the individual who was injured and to society.

Now, if I'm drunk and speeding and I hit a tree, only doing bodily harm to myself; it would suck, and I'd probably lose my driver's license, but chances of me going to jail would be pretty slim.

Plaxico Burress has certainly demonstrated that he should never be allowed to carry a gun again, or ever be issued another permit to do so, but I don't see how he is a danger to society at large and deserves to be sent to prison for what he did.

He was the only victim of his crime. Some might argue that the New York Giants were another victim. Others might claim it was a blessing for the team. Either way the only real victim here, who also happens to be the suspect, is in fact Plaxico Burress.

Burress is also experiencing something that many celebrities and professional athletes experience when dealing with the justice system. Lawmakers using the media spotlight that follows their suspects to gain exposure for their policies, or to further their own careers.

Let's face it, jailing one Plaxico gets a public official more media exposure and face time than however many hundreds of real criminals that he or she jailed for the same crime, altogether. An opportunity to gain this kind of media exposure without first having screwed up really badly, or having been exposed as corrupt is rare for public officials.

It is not inconceivable that one or two members of the Justice System involved with the case may take advantage of Plaxico`s spotlight and treat him differently than they would an ordinary suspect. Perhaps in order to make a self serving legal or political statement; or even simply to just make an example out of the guy.

Either way I find it odd that Plaxico Burress is facing a mandatory 3-1/2 sentence if convicted for what basically amount to him shooting himself in the leg, and Micheal Vick only got 18 months for running an illegal dog fighting ring and betting outfit.

The media, as usual, has jumped all over this thing and turned it into some kind of twisted social curiosity. Plaxico Burress should be held to account for his actions, but public lashing he is receiving in the media is way, way over the top.

The punishment needs to fit the crime, and that should hold true not only in a court of justice, but the court of public opinion as well.

As much as I view Plaxico Burress' actions as almost nonsensical, a part of me is starting to feel bad for the guy. I think everyone involved—from the courts, to the media, to the NFL, to the fans—should maybe just take it easy on the guy a little bit.

Bryan Colangelo: Is Toronto Raptors' GM Becoming a Victim Of His Own Success?

Graeme Frisque — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:22:39 -0500

With the firing of Sam Mitchell, the Toronto Raptors are back in the media's sights.

Opinions and commentary on the state of the franchise are running amok. Most observers claim to see glaring holes in the Raptor's lineup and are beginning to question the direction that Colangelo has taken the franchise since he's been here.

It seems to me that many Raptors fans are developing a bad case of the "What have you done for me lately's?" Many in Toronto also seem to have forgotten that their team has only been a playoff team for two seasons. It is no coincidence that the streak of playoff appearances coincides with Bryan Colangelo's arrival.

Near the end of the 2005 season, the organization was mired in a state of perpetual dysfunction. The Raptors hadn't made the playoffs in four seasons, and it seemed almost assured that Chris Bosh would follow the likes of previous Raptors superstars Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter out of town in search of greener pastures.

Enter Bryan Colangelo.

Bosh was re-signed and the roster completely made-over. Colangelo brought in nine new players to compliment his newly resigned superstar including T.J. Ford, Anthony Parker, Rasho Nesterovic, and 2006 first overall pick Andrea Bargnani. That season the Raptors experienced one of the most amazing one-year turnarounds of an NBA franchise ever.

The team went from 27 wins to 47 wins. Along the way they picked up their first Atlantic Division title and their first playoff berth in four seasons. Colangelo also won the Executive of the Year award.

Fast forward to last season.

The Raptors took a definite step backwards from their impressive '06 campaign; but it was only a small step. The team finished with a 41-41 record getting them the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a second straight year.

The Raptors woes in the playoffs the last two seasons have been frustrating for fans, but should they really be unexpected?

I think that a lot of Raptors fans could use a little dose of reality and should be focusing less on where the team could be, and more on how far the team has come since Colangelo's arrival.

Colangelo didn't take over a team that made the playoffs every year and whose only problem was not advancing in the post-season. Had that been the case, criticism of the team's playoff troubles, and where the team is at this point, would most definitely be warranted.

But, Colangelo didn't take over a team on the cusp; he took over a team that was in a very deep hole. Given where the team was when he took the reins, it's actually quite astounding they are as far along as they are after just two full seasons.

If anything he's earned the benefit of the doubt from Raptors fans. When he took over, Colangelo assured fans that he was committed to building a winner, but that there was a process involved in rebuilding a team that could compete. Colangelo has said many times that he is still committed to that process. But are fans?

Have Raptors fans already forgotten that the Raptors are only in the third season of a re-building program?

I think it's fair to say that since the Raptors breakout year in '06, fan expectations have been on the rise, and rightfully so. But have those expectation risen too high, too fast?

Can fans honestly say they expected Colangelo to come in and turn the Raptors into a playoff team in his first year, get them to the second round by his second, and be contending for a championship by his third?

Three years ago if you had asked a Toronto Raptors fan if they'd be happy with Colangelo's performance if he were able to get the Raptors into the playoffs in two seasons, most would have told you they'd be ecstatic. He did it in one.

Perhaps it is this early success that is now fueling the scrutiny Colangelo and the Raptors find themselves under now. Had the Raptors evolved as most rebuilding teams do fans likely wouldn't have such high expectations after only two full years under a new GM.

Just ask a Toronto Blue Jays fan about that.

J.P Ricciardi has been the Blue Jays GM for seven years and fans are still waiting for a playoff berth. Never mind an appearance in the second round.

By comparison, in only the 3rd year of the Toronto Raptors rebuilding program, fans have had their expectation risen so high, that anything less than a second round berth is a considered a complete failure. Just three seasons ago, fans would have considered a second round berth a miracle.

Granted, only four team per league make to the playoffs in Major League Baseball, as opposed to eight in the NBA, but the fact remains that Colangelo turned the Raptors into a playoff team much quicker than anyone really expected.

By turning the Raptors around as quickly as he did, Bryan Colangelo may have set a pace in terms of fan expectations that he might have trouble maintaining. Success can be a double-edged sword.

Those who experience great initial success within a sport's culture, mired in failure or sustained mediocrity, sometimes become victims of that success; buried by the expectations they themselves created.

The NFL's Ten Commandments

Graeme Frisque — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:42:24 -0500

As Handed Down by GOD-ell Himself...

1) Thou shalt not steal your opponent's hand signals using video cameras...it's okay to steal their signals, just don't use video cameras to do it.

2) Thou shalt not covet vitamins or supplements that include diuretics, but do not list them as ingredients on the label...you will not be given the benefit of the doubt "Juice head".

3) Thou shalt hit your opponent...but not too hard, or I'll fine your ass.

4) Thou shalt not tamper with players or coaches who are under contract with another team...unless the other team doesn't want them anymore.

5) Thou shalt not Horse-collar tackle your opponent...or your wife.

6) Thou shalt not carry a gun into a nightclub...especially without the safety on, causing you to shoot yourself in the leg, you moron.

7) Thou shalt not take drugs...ever. Except for powerful pain killers, anti- inflammatories, and cortisone injections from your trainers that allow you to play every Sunday between $50,000 commercial breaks.

8) Thou shalt not call officials things like "Moron", "Jerkoff", "Blind Idiot", "On The Take", "Stupid", or "Ignorant"...even if there is video evidence to prove it.

9) Thou shalt not get arrested and/or go to jail nine times...unless your name is "Pacman". I used to love that game as a kid.

10) This broadcast is presented under license from the NFL and presented exclusively by Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, CBC, CTV,TSN, ESPN, or any of their other television or radio affiliates; And cannot be copied or re-broadcast without the expressed written consent of any of the above mentioned parties and the NFL. Non-compliance will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law by the NFL's team of insanely overpaid lawyers.

Bryan Colangelo Is a Tough Act to Follow for Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke

Graeme Frisque — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:47:34 -0500

It worked for the Raptors.

But can their NHL sister franchise, the Toronto Maple Leafs, expect as quick a turnaround with the hiring of Brian Burke as the Raptors saw with the arrival of Bryan Colangelo?

There are many similarities between the signings of the two GMs.

Both are considered to be very capable GMs in their respective sports. Both are excellent evaluators of talent, and both have been described as independent thinkers and great deal-makers.

Both came in after the rebuilding process had been started by an interim GM. Colangelo took over from basketball sage Wayne Embry, and Burke is taking the reins from Cliff Fletcher. Both of whom were enlisted to weather the storm until the right man for the job could be found.

Like Colangelo, Burke is being given complete control over the franchise's hockey operations—insofar as that that is possible within the corporate structure that is Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment.

When the Raptors hired Colangelo three seasons ago, a wave of fan excitement and anticipation erupted across the city of Toronto—similar to the one that we are witnessing now, with the arrival of Burke to take the helm of Toronto`s storied hockey franchise.

Raptors fans' expectations were rewarded with one of the more remarkable turnarounds of a sports franchise in recent memory, as the Raptors went from Eastern Conference basement dwellers to the third seed the conference in Colangelo's first full season as GM.

But is it fair to place these same kinds of expectations on Burke?

Hockey and basketball are very different games. Most NBA teams are just a player or two away from contending, as one player can have such a huge impact on the game.

Not so much in hockey. The road from laughing stock to contender in the NBA is generally much shorter than it is in the NHL.

Bryan Colangelo also had a clear point from which to start rebuilding. He had Chris Bosh, a bona fide star to build his team around. Burke isn't so lucky in Leafland. Unlike Colangelo with Bosh, there isn't a single player on the Maple Leafs roster that Burke can really use as a starting point.

Sure, there are the Hagmans and the Schenns currently playing in Leafs' system who look to be bright spots in the future—but there is nary a Maple Leaf that could right now be considered part of a core nucleus to build around.

Colangelo quickly went into rebuilding mode and overhauled the Raptors' roster, bringing in nine new players to compliment Bosh in his first offseason as Raptors GM, including 2006 first-overall draft pick Andrea Bargniani—who, despite last year's dismal performance, did post decent numbers as a rookie in that turnaround year, placing second in Rookie of the Year votes.

Having a top-five draft pick when you are starting out as a new GM is handy, and it appears as though Burke may end up with just that by season's end. Ending up with the first-overall pick next year, as Colangelo did the year he took over, wouldn't be a bad thing for Burke at all.

John Tavares, whom many talking heads say will be the next Sidney Crosby, will go first overall next year. Should the Leafs be fortunate enough—or bad enough—for the rest of this season, they have a legitimate shot at owning that first overall pick come next year. John Tavares could easily become Burke's Chris Bosh, should he end up in a Leafs uniform.

Knowing Burke's history, Leaf fans can safely expect Colangelo-like roster changes this season. However, it would be unfair to expect Burke to have the same kind of first-year success Bryan Colangelo saw with Raptors, given the nature of the game of hockey and the current state of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise.

A new GM can't put points on the board in games, nor can they make saves or block shots. What they can do however is change the culture of a franchise, and acquire the appropriate personnel to help that culture thrive.

Bryan Colangelo definitely had a tall order in front of him when it came to instituting a new culture within the Raptors organization. For Brian Burke, however, this is doubly so. The culture of mediocrity that has plagued the Maple Leafs franchise has become entrenched over the last 40-odd years—a much deeper rut than Bryan Colangelo had to dig the Raptors out of.

Brian Burke's task in terms of fan expectations definitely isn't going to be made any easier by the success that Bryan Colangelo saw when he was given pretty much the same task with the Raptors three seasons ago.

Fans have every right to be excited with Burke at the helm. He is as capable and astute a hockey mind as there is. However, sports fans in Toronto may have higher expectations than normal in terms of the impact a GM can have after seeing what Colangelo did with the Raptors.

What Colangelo accomplished in turning the Raptors around in so short a time was nothing short of incredible. To expect lighting like that to strike the same city twice might be expecting a little much.

The blueprint worked with the Raptors, and now we'll see if it will work for the Leafs. Brian Burke most likely won't have the Leafs in the top half of the NHL's Eastern Conference by next year.

But with his arrival, the road to get there is already shorter.

Injuries and the NFL: Breaking a Few Eggs To Make an Omelete

Graeme Frisque — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:52:46 -0500

It seems every week I come across another article crying about injury rates in the NFL. Writers and fans alike complaining how it is an injustice of some kind that their favorite player is on the sidelines or their favorite team sucks because their best players are always out.

This is football people. Go watch curling or bowling or something if injuries bother you so much. Injuries are a reality of sports, especially so in football. Anytime you put 22 massive men on a field together where the object of the game is to hit or avoid being hit, injuries are a necessary evil.

You cannot have football without injuries. Even an intense game of flag football will likely result in an injury of some kind to one player or another. Love it or hate, it is what it is.

Let's get one thing straight before we continue, NFL players are not victims, nor are fans who are deprived of watching their favorite players every week. Injuries are in no way unfair or unethical.

Players get paid very well to take the risks involved in the game of football, and fans pay of lot of money to watch them take those risks. An NFL player's job is to put their bodies on the line week in and week out. Those who aren't willing to do so don't make it in a game that demands it; and aren't usually fan favorites.

As a New England Patriot fan, I know first hand that injuries can be both a curse and a blessing. Injuries to superstars often give birth to new superstars. An opportunity lost to injury for one player always results in an opportunity for another to shine.

You don't hear too many New England Patriots fans complaining about the injury to Drew Bledsoe that gave a once unknown backup quarterback named Tom Brady his chance to start. Nor would Matt Cassel have likely ever seen his shot had Tom Brady not gone down early this season with a knee injury.

Even though having Tom Brady under center would be nice, as is the case with most injuries, there has been a silver lining of sorts. I have really enjoyed watching Matt Cassel develop and succeed; not to mention the thrill of an actual race in the AFC east again.

As a Patriots fan, losing Tom Brady sucked, but as a football fan you gotta love watching Cassel do his thing. Texans rookie RB Steve Slaton and Eagles rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson are other great examples of young talent who shined when their numbers were called to fill in for injured starters this season.

Are there ways to reduce the risk of injury to players? It has been suggested that a 14-game schedule and/or less preseason games might reduce the incidence of injury. It may, but it will also result in less football for fans. There may be less injuries, numerically speaking, but less games will have little or no effect on the rate or the severity of injuries in the NFL.

This leaves the league with the other option of rule changes to minimize the risk to players. However, there is only so much the league can do in that regard without dramatically changing the product on the field.

So how can the league make an inherently dangerous game safer without changing the product on the field too dramatically? I think the answer lies in improving equipment, and grassroots training when it comes to tackling.

Rugby is a very physical sport and the players are not protected by pads. The fundamentals of tackling are emphasized from junior clubs all the way to the pros. Tacklers must be effective, but must also be careful. Not only for the benefit of their opponent, but for their own well being as well.

If rugby players were to fly at each other with complete abandon as NFL players do, they would be just as likely to hurt themselves as their opponent. In the absence of padding, effective, safer, fundamental tackling technique becomes essential.

Pro rugby players have very little in way of safety equipment, but consistently post lower injury rates than their counterparts in the NFL. Tackling technique and mechanics must be emphasized at every level from house leagues to college, and that will eventually translate to the NFL.

Better technique also makes better tacklers. I am always amazed when I watch an NFL game by how many guys are just flying all over the place missing tackles because they're trying to make a big hit, so they can do a little dance or something!

You don't have to make a highlight-reel tackle every down. The best tacklers in the NFL aren't often flashy, they just get the job done.

There are no easy ways to make the game of football safer. Personally, I don't think injuries in the NFL have reached a point of concern. Sure, players get injured every week and each new season brings new superstar casualties; but I think the old adage that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet is very applicable here.

Injuries for all their downsides are part of what makes the NFL exciting and competitive. They add to the weekly drama that is the NFL, and I like the weekly drama that is the NFL.

For every Joe Montana and Drew Bledsoe that gets hurt, a Steve Young or Tom Brady is born. Unfortunately, along with every superstar that gets injured, there are those who cry for changes to the game I love in the name of safety.

Injuries are a part of football, and they are a part of football that as a fan I am quite comfortable with. I don't want changes to the game, I don't want less games...I do, however, want the wimpy mouthpieces who bitch about injuries to do like the players they are lobbying to protect and suck it up.

Matt Cassel Could Remain Fantasy Monster Down the Stretch

Graeme Frisque — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:25:44 -0500

Matt Cassel has been putting up monster numbers over the last couple of weeks. He racked up three touchdowns against the Jets in a losing effort in Week 11, and followed that up with another three passing touchdown performance, while adding a score on the ground against a much-improved Miami defense last week.

As Cassel's real world free agency value went through the roof, his fantasy value followed suit. In NFL.com leagues Cassel has posted 42 and 39 fantasy points respectively over the last two weeks.

Cassel has grown into a more than decent NFL starting quarterback at an astonishing pace, his growing maturity and poise more apparent with each passing week. Cassel has now proven that he can put up monster numbers when attacking weaker secondaries.

Aside from Week 13 at Pittsburgh, looking at New England's matchups down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs, Cassel has the opportunity to continue putting up very good fantasy numbers the rest of the way. In Week 14 the Patriots face Seattle's 31st ranked pass defense.

In Week 15, the first round of the playoffs in most fantasy leagues, the Patriots play the Oakland Raiders, who, although ranked 10th against the pass this season, will have a tough time matching up against the Pats' spread offence and depth at the wideout position. This is especially the case after the release of Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall a couple of weeks back.

In Week 16 the Patriots square off against a very mediocre Arizona pass defense that is giving up 212 yards a game. They close out the season against an equally mediocre Buffalo Bills secondary.

Looking at the Patriots' remaining schedule, Matt Cassel looks like a good fantasy bet down the stretch. It doesn't hurt that the Patriots' running game at this point is inconsistent at best.

Also, Cassel's quick maturation in the passing game has allowed Josh MacDaniels to lean more and more on the spread offence that made New England so lethal in '07. The facts that Cassel can run the ball and that he and Randy Moss are really starting to get a feel for each other don't hurt either. All of these factors only add to Cassel's fantasy value down the stretch.

I would suggest adding Matt Cassel if he's still available in your league. After benching him Week 13 against Pittsburgh's No. 1 ranked defense, ride him the rest of the way and through the playoffs.

Where the Wheels Came Off for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Graeme Frisque — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:40:10 -0400

After a three-year playoff drought, fans in "Leaf Land" don't have a lot to be excited about. The team is finally in a much-needed rebuilding phase, a process that should have started a long time ago.

Given the current state of things, now is as good a time as any to look back at the events that now leave Toronto Maple Leaf fans with little more than hope for a brighter future.

1) The Salary Cap

This is the most obvious place to start. When the salary cap was introduced as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, it was well known that certain teams would have a harder time adjusting to the new economic environment of the NHL than others. The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of those teams.

The reason the salary cap was put in place was to level the playing field between teams that could afford to throw money at free agents and those who couldn't.

For many years before the introduction of the cap—and after the Harold Ballard years—the Leafs were one of the "Have" teams of the NHL. The Maple Leafs' free-spending philosophy put them in a bad position, with very little room to maneuver once the cap was imposed.

However, the salary cap alone is not sufficient enough to explain the considerable woes Leafs fans have been forced to endure over the last three seasons. The Detroit Red Wings were another team that it was thought would be negatively affected by the cap—but as all fans of the NHL surely know, they were able to adjust, whereas the Leafs have floundered.

In order to explain Toronto's decline, we must look back a little further than the introduction of the salary cap.

2) Short-sighted Trades

After the Salary Cap was introduced, it quickly became apparent that teams loaded with young talent were better suited to deal with the realities of a salary cap than those bloated with expensive veterans. Until this season, the Leafs' farm system was sorely lacking depth of any sort. The Leafs had very little young talent to move or develop at the time.

The reason for this, in my opinion, can be attributed for the most part to two trades—one in each of the two years prior to the lockout year.

The first is the Owen Nolan trade. As a fan, I was excited about the prospect of bringing in a player like Nolan at the trade deadline in '03. However, hindsight is always 20/20—and in hindsight it is now clear that this trade helped put the Leafs in a hole that they are still trying to dig themselves out of.

In exchange for Nolan, the Leafs sent Alyn McCauley, Brad Boyes, and a first-round pick to the San Jose sharks. Nolan ended up playing only 79 regular-season games and seven playoff games during his short and injury-plagued tenure in Blue and White.

Second, at the '04 trade deadline, the Leafs sent prospects Maxim Kondratiev and Jarkko Immonen, a first-round pick in the 2004 draft, and a second-round pick in '05 to the New York Rangers for defenseman Brian Leetch. This trade made no sense to me at the time, and makes even less sense in hindsight. Brian Leetch played a total of 27 games for the Leafs—14 regular season and 13 playoff games.

in these two trades, the Leafs dealt four prospects, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in exchange for two players who played a staggering total of only 112 games in a Leafs uniform. Their farm system is just beginning to recover from these blow now.

Certainly, there were other moves that contributed to the downfall of this once great franchise. However, these two trades were the first swings of a wrecking ball that has reduced this franchise to the state in finds itself in now.

3) John Ferguson Jr.

John Ferguson Jr. was hired to lead the Leafs into the new age of the NHL. Unfortunately, his decisions only led to grief for fans of the Blue and White.

This man single-handedly led the Leafs into the toilet. In all fairness, Ferguson can't be blamed for the Owen Nolan trade—that was Pat Quinn's handy work—but the responsibility for the Leetch debacle falls squarely on his shoulders.

It was Ferguson's contracts that dealt the death blow to an organization already in trouble. The most notable of these contracts was the one offered to Ed Belfour just one season before the lockout. The writing of a salary cap was already on the wall when Ferguson extended Belfour for two years at $8 million per.

Ferguson then went ahead and extended Bryan McCabe and a slew of other veterans for big-money deals, most of which included the "no-trade clauses" that have given the current Leafs brass so little room for movement, and so much grief in rebuilding.

The damage done by Ferguson gave the Leafs absolutely zero room to maneuver under the cap after it became clear his plans for the team were not working out. There was little anyone could do once the damage was done.

Between the crippling contracts that Ferguson incurred and the two trades that sent a big chunk of the future of the franchise out of town for essentially nothing in return. it became clearer and clearer that Leaf fans were going to be mired in the long period of disappointment that we are now seeing in Toronto.

These three factors in my opinion are where the wheels fell off and things really started to go sideways for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The salary cap forced the team to change their "buy a Cup" mentality. The Nolan and Leetch trades decimated the farm system, crippling the team's ability to grow under a cap environment. And bad contracts painted the Leafs into a corner they couldn't get out of.

However, there is hope for the future. Cliff Fletcher is an astute hockey man who knows that at this point there is little that can be done—except to start building from the ground up.

The Leafs are once again beginning to load up on prospects and are finally looking to the future again. How bright that future is going to be is entirely dependent on the franchise's ability to learn from their past mistakes.

Aaron Rodgers is Sooo Screwed!

Graeme Frisque — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:32 -0400

With Brett Favre's departure from Green Bay now a certainty, Aaron Rodgers is finally the undisputed guy in Green Bay. As most fans of the NFL not living under a rock probably already know, Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick late last night.

In terms of where the Packers stand at the QB position, they are essentially at the same place they were in March when Brett Favre prematurely announced his retirement from the NFL... that is with Aaron Rodgers as the Packers' starting QB for the upcoming 2008 NFL season. However, unlike in March, where he was the heir to a legend, Aaron Rodgers now finds himself in the unenviable position of having been chosen over a legend.

Even before number four decided to return to the NFL, Aaron Rodgers already had a tall order in front of him in having to fill the shoes of one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. What has changed in the wake of the fiasco that has transpired in Green Bay over the last couple of months culminating in Favre's trade to the New York Jets, is that any fan leeway that Rodgers could have expected had Favre stayed retired is now utterly gone.

It is hard enough for a young player in Rodgers' position to meet the expectations placed on a starting QB in the NFL. Had Favre stayed retired, Packers fans would have at least had some patience and at least a little sympathy for a young QB learning the ins and outs of playing every down, every Sunday.

The Packers brass in one trade essentially relegated Aaron Rodgers to a QB that must now prove himself to be as good or better than an NFL legend; instead of just being a young QB that simply has to prove himself as a worthy starter.

From the first snap of the 2008 NFL season, Aaron Rodgers will be competing with Brett Favre in the eyes of Packers fans. Rather than showing the fans what might lie ahead, Rodgers now has to deal with what could have been. In order for him to meet these expectations, he'll have to pull off what another #12 pulled off when his chance came up.

Unfortunately for him, Aaron Rodgers is no Tom Brady.

We all know what Tom Brady was able to do in 2001 when he replaced the guy who lost to Brett Favre in Superbowl 31 (Drew Beldsoe); Tom Brady won a Superbowl. These are the kind of expectations that fans are now going to place on Aaron Rodgers; and the blame for this lies entirely on the Packers' brass.

Instead of a team that was forced to start fresh with a new QB, the Packers are a now team that chose a fresh Aaron Rodgers over a QB that has won three MVP awards, owns almost every career record that matters and that took their team to the NFC finals last year. These are the kind of expectations that crush a young quarterback's confidence and possibly their entire career. Aaron Rodgers doesn't stand a chance.

What would have been crowd silence when the young Rodgers makes a mistake is now going to be heckling from the hometown crowd. What would have been tolerance in the media for a slow start by a young and inexperienced QB will now become a poor choice by the the Packers front office in choosing an unproven QB over Brett Favre. Whether Aaron Rodgers is at fault or not, he is now by default the guy who is not Brett Favre.

The Packers front office had a choice, let Aaron Rodgers sit for one more year and replace Brett Favre when Brett Favre was ready to leave the game, or force a young QB to live up to a legend right away. The Packers made their choice, and now Aaron Rodgers is going to have to live with it, whether he is ready for it or not.

No player can start their career under those kind of circumstances, not even Tom Brady. Tom Brady took over from Drew Bledsoe when the Pats were 1-3 and hadn't won a thing since 1997. Aaron Rodgers is taking over for a QB that took his team to the NFC championship last season.

If the Packers don't win right away, Aaron Rodgers' career might be over before it ever had the chance to start. I'm not big on predictions, but in this case I think Aaron Rodgers is completely screwed!