Bleacher Report - Rankings/List

Oregon's Season in Review- Uniform Style

Mike Foster — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:35:33 -0500

Oregon just capped off it's 2009 regular season with a 37-33 win over the Oregon State Beavers in the "Civil War." Great news coming from Eugene, because Oregon is always a fun team. Their style of play is awesome. Masoli is so fun to watch. Their stadium is incredible. But, Oregon has become known nationally because of their uniforms. As you may have noticed, Oregon has gone the past few seasons without wearing the same thing in a season twice. Ridiculous? Maybe, but nevertheless it makes for a really intriguing critique. In this slide-show we aren't going to breakdown the final score of each game, we are going to break down the uniform of each game. The ducks unveiled new uniforms (again) this year, complete with shiny numbers and a wing pattern. And then there is, well, lots of other stuff that would take a textbook to explain. Anyways, obviously some uniform combinations will look better than others, but Oregon went with some pretty weird ones this year. Here is a breakdown.

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Percy Harvin, Michael Oher, and The Best Rookies of 2009

T.J. Donegan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:31:27 -0500

In the NFL more than just about any other sport, the draft can make or break a franchise. Rookies in the league are required to learn on the job and, right from the beginning, are expected to contribute.

The draft is about talent and thinking toward the future, but with more and more money riding on draft picks, there's pressure right away to perform. As has been seen again and again, sometimes that pressure gets to young players.

In a meritocracy like the NFL, few players get a free ride. Even though the top drafted players are already collecting a king's ransom, many have already begun earning their keep with stellar performances this year.

With that, let's look at the ten rookies making the most of their rookie campaigns and how important they have been to their teams.

Percy Harvin, WR/KR, Minnesota Vikings

Harvin has been as good as advertised in his first year in Minnesota. The kid just makes plays for his team.

He likely already has the rookie of the year award sewn up, barring a stunning final month from some of the other candidates, but it's worth going into what he's done so far.

Through 11 games he already has 693 yards from scrimmage, third among rookies. You can also add to that his 924 return yards, giving him the most aggregate yards for any of the first-year players.

But more than just racking up real estate, he's already managed seven touchdowns (five receiving, two on returns) with nearly 30 yards per return on average, tops in the league, also giving him the league lead for yards per touch.

All told, Harvin is just an offensive machine. He's a big play waiting to happen. He's not the best receiver or the best kick returner in the league, but his combination of talent and penchant for making a big play whenever needed makes him the no-question answer for rookie of the year, currently.

Brian Orakpo, OLB/DE, Washington Redskins

The way Harvin makes big plays on offense, Orakpo does on defense. He broke the rookie franchise sack record in Washington by the second week of November and keeps getting better.

He's already got seven sacks on the year to go along with six QB hits and eight pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.com. (They also credit him with nine sacks, but he officially has seven.)

He's managed that despite only rushing the passer on 212 snaps.

Sure, playing next to Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter will get you some pretty sweet matchups when you're rushing the passer, but Orakpo is not a dog off his leash.

He's a much more versatile player and his coverage skills, while still developing, have allowed the Redskins to use him in pass coverage on another 132 snaps.

You win as a rookie by being versatile and stepping in to help your team wherever possible. Orakpo has done that and has a bright future ahead of him because of it.

Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills

There are easy ways to get noticed as a rookie in the NFL. One of them is to tie for the league lead in interceptions in your first year.

Byrd's done that, tying with New Orleans' Darren Sharper with eight picks. Even more impressive? He's done that in just 519 snaps, 132 less than Sharper.

He doesn't provide the all-around safety skills that Sharper does, as he's used mostly in a coverage role, but he's not asked to do those things in Buffalo's defense.

Byrd's got a bright, bright future ahead of him. He plays with a lot of talent in the Bills secondary, but he's carved himself out a nice niche despite that.

Not bad for the 42nd pick in the draft.

As I said before he'll have to develop some of the more all-around skills a safety needs beyond ball hawking, but if there's any rookie that can lay claim to being "the next Ed Reed" it's Byrd.

Michael Oher, T, Baltimore Ravens

While Oher has gotten plenty of publicity for his tortuous life path that has led him to the NFL, it's the work he's put in during his first year that has impressed me the most.

Oher has started every game in his rookie year for the Ravens, helping man the edge of one of the best run-blocking units in the league. He's a big, bruising, nasty player and is a pleasure to watch.

Simply put, he's one of the best right tackles in the league already. His sheer athleticism and raw technique make him a perfect fit for the position.

He was drafted as high as he was because of his possible future as a franchise left tackle, but with Jared Gaither still in Baltimore he has some time to wait.

Still, he's already filled in admirably guarding the blind side in the two games Gaither was injured against Cincinnatti and Minnesota as the Ravens gave up just five sacks in those two games.

Clearly, he's got a big future ahead of him.

Sebastian Vollmer, LT, New England Patriots

When Matt Light went down with a knee injury in the fourth quarter of what would eventually be a loss to Denver, New England's season seemed to be going down the toilet.

It's not often that a team already having protection issues can lose its Pro Bowl left tackle and find an immediate replacement in the form of a late second rounder who didn't even start playing football until he was 14.

Yet from the time Vollmer stepped into the limelight, he's been a revelation, to the point that many in New England are questioning whether Matt Light, who has at times looked lost against the best pass rushers in the league, should even get his starting job back.

Vollmer was lucky enough to be eased into the league with early starts against the Buccaneers and Titans but when faced with Joey Porter of the Dolphins and the Colts' Dwight Freeney, he stepped up to the challenge, holding both sackless.

He's been given help in the form of tight ends and chip blocks from New England running backs, as Michael Oher has in Baltimore, but even when left on his own, he's been as good as one could possibly hope.

With left tackle one of the premier positions in the sport, it's a miracle he slipped as far as he did. That New England traded out of the No. 23 spot with Michael Oher still on the board is somewhat less unforgivable because of Vollmer's performance.

Brian Cushing, OLB, Houston Texans

Pick a USC linebacker, any linebacker was the mantra going into this year's draft and with Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, and Cushing all looking like first-round picks, it was clear why.

Maualuga had perhaps the most hype despite his injury, Matthews would ultimately beat him off the board, but it's Cushing who has had the best rookie year of the trio.

He's been outstanding this year, winning AFC defensive player of the week twice. He's a leading candidate for defensive rookie of the year and has done everything the Texans have asked of him.

Like some of the other names on this list, he plays among a talented group that has allowed him to shine by taking some pressure off him, but he's performed very, very well in nearly every game.

He's second on the team in tackles, sacks, and stops according to Pro Football Focus. With all the talent around him, even on a team that doesn't play great team defense, that's amazing.

He's a workhorse, too, playing in 687 defensive snaps, second on the team behind only DeMeco Ryans.

He was the second linebacker taken in the draft but with all he's done for the Texans this year and how bright his future looks, he's earned every penny of his rookie money.

So that's the list. There are others, of course. Knowshon Moreno and LeSean McCoy certainly deserve an honorable mention (though they're lagging behind last year's rookie runners), but this group has distinguished itself as some of the best rookie players this year.

One of the common themes, as I touched on briefly above, is the fact that these guys have had considerable help and play on, for the most part, very talented teams. It's part of the curse of being drafted high; when you go to a bad team, opposing teams can gameplan to stop you.

I think that, for the most part, there are more talented rookies who, for one reason or another, haven't stepped up to the level of these players yet. Part of it's opportunity, part of it is the natural development that being a rookie requires, but for 2009, these guys deserve the notice they've gotten.

Got a favorite or think I missed someone? Feel free to shout it out in the comments or shoot me a message here .

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The 10 Greatest Moments in Boston Bruins history

Ryan Pickard — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:41:48 -0500

The Boston Bruins are a franchise that is steep in tradition and history. They were the very first American based hockey team to join the NHL and a member of the Original Six. With so much history there is bound to be great moments and with the Bruins there are plenty. So many that this list will leave off some that could have made it if the list had been expanded to more than just 10. This is the second of a five part series I will be writing based on the history of the Bruins. The first one was the greatest Bruins players of all time.

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Analysis of Every Group From the 2010 World Cup Draw

Willie Gannon — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:35:42 -0500

The World Cup draw has produced not one but two "Groups of Death", as well as handing England and Italy the best possible routes to the knockout phases.

Over 190 countries tuned in to watch the World Cup draw as Charlize Theron and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke drew the eight groups for next year's finals. The duo barely got through the process without throwing the balls at each other, with Valcke in particular making some very strange insulting comments towards the Hollywood star.

But who really cares, let's look at the draw.

As ever with FIFA, no draw is without controversy. The strange seeding system chosen this time was based on continents rather than ranking, and as such France and Portugal found themselves facing the very real possibility of finding themselves in an unwanted group.

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

South Africa were the first team drawn, as hosts they were awarded a first seed ranking and will play their opening match in the 95,000 Soccer City stadium.

As one of the lowest seeds in the tournament, 74th, Bafana Bafana were hoping for an easy draw. Even before the draw, bookmakers had made South Africa favourites to be eliminated.

Initially the draw was kind, Mexico and Uruguay are there for the taking, but with France coming out of the bowl last, the group has taken on a very stiff task for the hosts.

Carlos Alberto Parreira has the unenviable task of getting South Africa through the group. The Brazilian will have to use every trick in his wide repatoire to achieve this unlikely task.

Javier Aguirre was the man who picked up the pieces in Mexico following Sven Goran-Erikkson's disastrous reign. And they may have found the right group, some of their matches will be played in high altitude, something that favours the Mexicans.

Uruguay were the last team to qualify from South America after a tight play-off victory over Costa Rica. Gone are the stars of yesteryear, and the over-reliance on the Ajax star Luis Suarez makes them very one dimensional.

Having qualified through the most controversial way possible, France will be thanking their lucky stars for such a favourable draw, especially when you consider that they were unseeded.

Raymond Domenech will continue to scupper his team's chances, and it will be interesting to see if he ever gets around to playing his best team, one that could conceivably win the tournament. Judging by his poor recent history, expect France to qualify and then crumble when they are questioned.

Winners: France

Runners Up: Mexico

Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece

This was the group that all the top seeds wanted to get. The least amount of travelling, and one fixed hotel throughout the first stage makes it a much coveted placing.

Diego Maradona will lead Argentina into battle in his first World Cup as a manager. But how they stumbled to get there reveals many cracks in the great player's managerial skills.

Whilst they may appear to be as weak as at any time in living memory, you can never write off a side that contains attacking talent such as Barcelona's 2009 Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, and Angel di Maria of Benfica.

But that all depends on if Diego plays them...

Under Guus Hiddink, South Korea built a very steady reputation for themselves. That has continued through a qualifying campaign that saw them unbeaten and only conceding four goals. However, this well drilled team lack the players or the fervent home support of 2006 to make a real impact in South Africa.

Nigeria will fancy their chances of making an impact in this group, and progressing to the last eight after a favourable pairing within Group A.

Up front they are incredibly powerful with Everton's Yakubu, and Wolfsburg's Obafemi Martins providing the fire power while Jon Obi Mikel is their star in midfield. Their defence remains their Achilles' heel though, and they don't look capable of winning tight matches.

The European Champions of 2004 will fancy themselves in this group. Greece still possess a brilliant team ethic and will be difficult for any team to beat, as they never give up. Their front line remains a problem area and they will look to sneak wins rather than go out and win matches.

Winners: Nigeria

Runners Up: Argentina

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Fabio Capello will hardly be able to contain his glee at being handed such a group. England will not fear any of their opponents and given their opponent's abilities it should give Capello a perfect opportunity to give his squad players a game.

John Terry and co. will also be keen to lock horns with the US and delete that historical 1-0 defeat thanks to Joe Gaetjens' header in 1950.

Having made their 6th World Cup in a row, Team USA will be expected to push for the knockout phase of the tournament. A solid team who are more than the sum of their parts, Bob Bradley's team will be difficult for any team to break down. They still lack the nous of a top class midfielder and it will be their downfall against well organised opposition.

The underdogs of Group C, Algeria, are more than capable of beating any in this group. While there will be distant odds on them qualifying they do possess a team with players plying their trade around Europe. And any team that can go into to an 80,000 cauldron and still come out winners deserve respect.

Slovenia are a middle tier team in Europe, more than capable of exposing weaker opposition but who regularly fail against well organised teams. They will be grateful at the group they were given but should not go any further.

Winners: England

Runners Up: USA

Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

The first of the two groups of death sees the three time winners face an uphill battle to progress. Germany will find it difficult to advance past rivals who will all be looking at the same goal.

Germany do not come with the same mystique as previous incarnations but they still possess phenomenal quality. Michael Ballack will lead the team into South Africa and he will be backed by the likes of Miroslav Klose, Phillipe Lahm, and Mesut Ozil.

Another team where Guus Hiddink's shadow remains is Australia. The Aussies boast a team packed with Premiership talent and with a superb work ethic to match. A very similar proposition to the US, Australia will also be looking to progress to the knock out stages.

The Black Stars were the first African team to qualify for the World Cup after they sailed through their qualifiers. Ghana possesses two world class midfield talents in Muntari and the sublime Michael Essien and they will be extremely tough to beat.

Serbia come into their first World Cup after dominating their qualifying group. They have almost secretly built a team that can boast stars in some of Europe's top teams. While they are a fantastic prospect for a long run in the competition, they might come undone by their international inexperience.

Winners: Too tough to call but... Germany and Serbia to take the top two positions.

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Holland, as ever, will go into this tournament as one of the favourites. They have always produced teams of technical brilliance and this current team is no different. Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Snejder, Arjen Robben, and Robin van Persie are some of the best players in the world and as ever, the Dutch's biggest enemy will be themselves.

They have been handed a good group and should easily advance, so the battle should really be for second place.

Of the three teams in the group, it would seem a straightforward battle between Denmark and Cameroon for that runner up spot.

Denmark came through the trenches of qualification in possibly the toughest group in world football. The Rolligans eliminated their fierce rivals Sweden as well as consigning Portugal to the playoffs. They are an extremely well organised team, and just lack that extra bit of flair that is needed to progress to the next level. Discount them at your peril.

Cameroon only qualified on the last game day. Despite this, they are extremely talented and experienced at this level. Samuel Eto'o will provide the goals while Alex Song should provide the steel in midfield.

Their un-doing could be their unpredictability.

Japan enter Group E as makeweights despite being the very first team to book their place at the footballing banquet on show. They are lightweight throughout their side and the physical Danes, and cameroonian's should be a bridge too far, never mind the skillful Dutch.

Winners: Netherlands

Runners Up: Denmark

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

This group will suit Italy and their playing style down to the ground. The Italians will go into these fixtures full of confidence and will be extremely confident of making it through to the next stage unscathed.

The have a formidable defence, a brilliant midfield, and possibly the best 'keeper in the world in Gianluigi Buffon. Their weak point is their strikers, who have not been hitting the old onion bag with any real venom for some time now.

Paraguay qualified for South Africa after they beat Argentina 1-0, and only finished one point behind Brazil, so they are no pushovers. Their main players are all based with high performing teams in Europe and they will be looking at taking advantage of their weaker group members.

The All-Whites qualified for their first World Cup since 1982, and New Zealand will be looking to acquit themselves well in a group they are not expected to qualify from.

Their squad is predominately made up of lower league journey men with a smattering of Premiership class in between. They have a great team ethic and will not be easy to beat, but they will find it difficult to win.

Even though Slovakia won their group they will still be looked upon as being fodder for the bigger nations. They have some quality players, namely Marek Hamsik, but they lack guile and real nous where it counts. They will be stubborn opposition and will have set the game against Paraguay as their make or break game in this World Cup.

Winners: Italy

Runners Up: Paraguay

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal

The other group of Death and the most intriguing of the early stages. Brazil are the only ever present team in World Cup history and they have been handed a real tough proposition in the Ivory Coast and Portugal.

As favourites for the tournament Brazil will be expected to advance from Group G. Having won South America's qualification group in the best possible fashion, the five-time winners will be looking to add an incredible sixth title.

In previous years, Brazil were always one of the favourites but they either had bad managers or poor goalkeepers to hamper them. This time around they boast one of the best 'keepers in the world in Julio Cesar, and have an extremely well respected manager in Dunga.

And we haven't even mentioned the players in their squad yet. Brazil boast frightening talent and should progress but they won't find the going easy.

Portugal and the Ivory Coast will be battling it out with Brazil to win the group but will in all probability finish second to the South American giants.

Didier Drogba is the most well known player from the Ivory Coast, but many look past Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Didier Zokora, and Aruna Kone.

They boast a brilliant team and are capable of beating any team in the tournament, and if they are lucky with injuries they could go far.

Portugal are one of the slickest passing teams in world football, their technical brilliance is perhaps only matched by Brazil.

Cristiano Ronaldo is easily their stand out star, but all too often he has to do everything himself. Portugal are suspect to high balls at the back and lack a forward of any kind of quality. So this group could expose them badly.

North Korea will be looking to make as big an impact as they did on their last foray in the World Cup. In 1966 they sent Italy home and ran Eusebio's brilliant Portugal to the wire, leading 2-0 before losing 5-2 in the Quarter Finals.

That is not going to happen again.

Their three opponents are too experienced to allow such a catastrophe to happen and North Korea will have to be happy with participation.

Winners: Ivory Coast

Runners Up: Brazil

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Group H is another tough group to call. Spain should sail through so the real battle is for second, between three evenly matched teams. And it is in effect another Group of Death, albeit of a different level.

Spain are one of the favourites and rightly so. The current European Champions play a sublime brand of football that has seen them win 30 of their last 44 matches.

They boast Fernando Torres up front, Xavi, Iniesta, and Fabregas in the middle, and Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique at the back, as well as Casillas in goal.

They will go far in this tournament and their mental strength will be questioned as never before.

Switzerland have a tradition of being a well organised dogged team, and under the wily old Ottmar Hitzfeld nothing has changed too much.

Defensively they are very well drilled and extremely difficult opponents to score against while Alex Frei is more than capable of scoring important goals. They will look to capitalise on set pieces and could easily nick second.

Like New Zealand, the last time Honduras qualified for a World Cup was in 1982.

Honduras are a rapidly improving side, boasting a number of players who ply their trade in England, Tottenham's midfielder Wilson Palacios and Wigan duo Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa are their most well known players.

Currently there is political upheaval in Honduras and it will be interesting to see what frame of mind they take to South Africa. That being said, they will be massive undergogs to qualify.

Another team who have not appeared at a World Cup in some time is Chile, although they did manage to finish third in 1962 in that lone appearance.

It is some statement when your team is labeled as the most attractive footballing team is South America, more so when it is ahead of the likes of Brazil and Argentina. But that is exactly the position that Chile find themselves in.

A rapid fire counter attacking team with tons of speed and flair, Argentine coach Marcelo Biesla has transformed Chile's ambitions.

Their squad is also the youngest of all 32 nations in the World Cup, averaging out at just 23 years of age.

Bravery is their forte, and naivety is their bane. Chile could upset a few teams this year.

Winners: Spain

Runners up:Chile

Agree or disagree? Leave your opinions on the comments page.

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The 10 Greatest Fights in TUF Finales

Jessy Morris — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:42:57 -0500

Tomorrow night, the UFC will present the finale of season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. Jon Jones will fight Matt Hamill, Matt Veach will fight Frankie Edgar, and Brendan Schaub will collide with Roy Nelson to crown the new ultimate fighter.

It's safe to say that the finales of each season have produced some of the most entertaining fights in UFC history. Whether it was for the title of ultimate fighter or simply for bragging rights, fighters have been putting on memorable fights on finale night.

Here are some of the greatest fights to air on finale night throughout the many seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

10. Joe Stevenson-Nate Diaz (TUF Nine Finale)

Joe Stevenson was coming off back to back losses to Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez, while Nate Diaz was coming off his first UFC loss against Clay Guida. It's safe to say that both men's backs were up against the wall in this fight.

Both fighters didn't disappoint in what was mostly a grappling match. Joe Stevenson did a good job avoiding damage standing up and taking the fight to the ground and avoiding submissions there. He ended up winning a much needed unanimous decision over Diaz.

The fight earned "Fight of the Night" honors.

9. Joe Stevenson-Luke Cummo (TUF Two Finale)

Four years before his win over Nate Diaz, Joe Stevenson was involved in The Ultimate Fighter Two finale against Luke Cummo for the right to be named the ultimate fighter champion. Both men engaged in a very entertaining fight that saw both fighters give it all they had.

They had entertaining exchanges on their feet, as well as nice transitions on the ground. In the end, Joe Stevenson was able to pull off a decision win to be crowned the winner of the second season.

8. Brad Imes-Rashad Evans (TUF Two Finale)

Stevenson and Cummo were not the only fighters fighting for The Ultimate Fighter crown. Brad Imes faced off with Rashad Evans in the heavyweight finale and like Cummo and Stevenson before them, they didn't disappoint.

Rashad was underestimated the whole season, especially by UFC president Dana White, and when he had to fight a man eight inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than him, Rashad was a heavy underdog. Rashad was known as a wrestler, but to everybody's surprise, he decided to strike with Imes the whole fight.

The exchanges between both men ended up keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. Rashad was able to drop Brad more then once in the fight, which most likely helped him win by split decision.

7. Chris Lytle-Kevin Burns (TUF Nine Finale)

Chris Lytle and Kevin Burns knew heading into this fight that they would have the fight of the night and well...they were right. Both men exchanged on their feet for most of the fight, swinging at each other like wild animals.

Kevin Burns was able to rock Lytle during the fight, but Chris got his senses back and continued on. Lytle displayed the heart of a lion coming back in the fight and landed big punches to finally win a decision over Kevin Burns.

6. Kendall Grove-Ed Herman (TUF Three Finale)

Since this epic fight between these two men, it's safe to say that not a lot has happened for either fighter. Both guys had a really hard time climbing the ladder of success in the UFC, but at The Ultimate Fighter Three finale, they put on a show that will be remembered for a long time.

Both men fought their hearts out for the UFC contract for 15 minutes. Wherever the fight took place, it was a great battle and the fans were really into it. At the very end of the second round, Herman locked in a triangle choke on Kendall, but Grove was saved by the bell.

In the end, Kendall Grove won by unanimous decision in a very close fight. For his efforts, Ed Herman also received a six figure contract with the UFC.

5. Clay Guida-Diego Sanchez (TUF Nine Finale)

In each UFC event, one fights earns "Fight of the Night" honors. On special occasions, two fights earn "Fight of the Night" honors, but it only happened once that an event had three "Fight of the Night" honors.

The Ultimate Fighter Nine finale saw Nate Diaz battle Joe Stevenson and Kevin Burns take on Chris Lytle. Each fight earned that honor prior to the main event of the evening between Clay Guida and Diego Sanchez.

Both guys came out like bulls ramming heads. They met a the center of the octagon punching each other in the face as if their life depended on it. Guida was the first to back up because he got rocked, but it didn't take time for him to get back in the fight. Later in the first round, Clay received a brutal head kick that knocked him down. Many fans thought Guida had died on the spot, but he was okay and got back up.

Guida was able to take Sanchez down in the next two rounds and do his damage there. In the end, Sanchez got the win in a razor close split decision.

4. Scott Smith-Pete Sell (TUF Four Finale)

This is probably the most crazy fight in UFC history. Scott Smith and Pete Sell had become very good friends on the show and now had to fight on the finale. Both men had a striking fight the whole time, but neither fighter wanted to take the fight to the ground.

Add to that the fact that both guys were smiling and laughing the whole fight and high- fiving the other after a good flurry of punches, and it made for quite a scene. On top of everything, Sell hit Smith in the abdomen and badly hurt him. He goes in for the kill with his guard down and gets knocked out by a right from Smith, who is still hurting from the body shot.

Both men collapse to the ground after the fight, but Scott Smith's hand is raised in victory because of the KO punch. This was the kind of ending you would see in a movie and you would probably be cursing on your couch. It was one of those moments.

3. John " Warmachine" Koppenhaver-Jared Rollins (TUF Six Finale)

Season six of The Ultimate Fighter was arguably the worst season ever, but then again, the finale didn't disappoint, as it featured two classic fights. The first one was between Jon Koppenhaver and Jared Rollins. Both guys had a falling out during the show and were now forced to fight in the finale.

It's actually pretty hard to describe this fight other then saying it was great. By the time they reached the third round, they were bloody and very tired, but both men still had a lot of heart left. When it seemed the fight would go to a decision, Koppenhaver was able to sweep Rollins on his back and finish him with punches from the top.

Both fighters were so tired after the fight they had a hard time standing. This was really a war.

2. Clay Guida-Roger Huerta (TUF Six Finale)

Another fight that took place that night and tore the roof down was the main event between Clay Guida and Roger Huerta. This was Roger's first big test in the UFC and it turned out to be a classic.

Clay Guida dominated most of the fight with take downs and sheer aggressiveness. He really rocked Huerta with a right uppercut in the second round that had Roger seeing stars for a couple of seconds. To his credit, Huerta survived the second round. As the third round was about to start, Roger Huerta, who had lost the first two rounds, came out with a menacing smile on his face as if he had been possessed between rounds.

He came out in the third and rocked Guida with a vicious knee and then choked him out with a rear naked choke in one of the most surprising turn of events in a fight.

1. Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar (TUF One Finale)

Most of you had probably guessed it as soon as you saw the title of the article. Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar had one of the greatest fights of all time at the first finale of The Ultimate Fighter.

Both men had a war standing up for 15 minutes. They were bloody and they were exhausted, but they still had the drive to win the show and be named The Ultimate Fighter champion. It's kind of surprising neither fighter got KO in this fight. At the end, fans in the building were on their feet, screaming their lungs out. Dana White was smiling like a little girl while clapping his hands together. Everybody knew they had witnessed a great fight.

Forrest Griffin ended up winning, but both fighters were rewarded with a six figure contract with the UFC.

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NHL Power Rankings: Week Ending Dec. 5, 2009

Ed Cmar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:27:54 -0500

This is my maiden voyage into doing power rankings—so be gentle, please.

I thought, seeing as I’m woefully at the Mendoza line (.200, 1-for-5), as it relates to pre-game prognostications, I’d see if my luck would change in being able to assess which teams are the strongest, weakest, or somewhere in between.

That being said, here are my power rankings for Dec. 4.

1. San Jose

Wow! Where do I begin? Not only the league’s best record, not only the league’s most prolific first line—so far, Heater’s been both happy and productive, and Joe Thornton’s leading the league in scoring—but most impressive, the Sharks have played the majority of their games on the road. Now, can they replicate that success come playoff time?

2. Pittsburgh

I know, I know, nice homer pick (being born and raised in the Pittsburgh area), but let’s face it, they are getting healthy and have been the league’s hottest team during the past 10 games, with the exception of one team...

3. Chicago

The league’s hottest team, coming off of an eight-game winning streak. Apparently Cristobal Huet’s inconsistencies haven’t surfaced recently. Time will only tell—otherwise, quite possibly the league’s rising supernova.

4. New Jersey

I was getting to them. Not pretty, but their tried and true formula—great goaltending, a very defensive-minded system (Louie hockey: Trust him, it works), unselfish players—works like a charm. The key is keeping Martin Brodeur healthy.

5. Calgary

A really tough group of guys. Kipper’s been generally steady—always the key to the team’s fortunes—Jarome Iginla’s on fire, and their blue line has been coming on—that paring of Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester’s just plain unfair.

6. Washington

Still hot, in spite of Alex Ovechkin’s suspension and injury, not to fear. Simeon Varlamov carried the team the past week. I’d say it’s safe to say the job (starting netminder) is his to keep.

7. Nashville

How this team does it is a near miracle. Barry Trotz should not only be the coach of the year, he should also be considered for the coach of the decade. This team accomplishes what it does with its leading point-getter having 20 points and its leading goal-scoring threat coming from the blue line.

8. Boston

Here come the B’s, and with backup Tuukka Rask in net, although reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas has also been starting to heat up. David Krejci’s three power play (PP) goals and Marc Savard’s ability to step up in the wake of Milan Lucic’s injury spell woe to the rest of the Eastern Conference.

9. Buffalo

Lots of strong, third period, come from behind victories are testament to this team’s grit. Imagine how tough they become when Thomas Vanek kicks it into overdrive.

10. Los Angeles

I warned you, at the beginning of the year: If the goaltending situation becomes solid—thank you, Jonathan Quick—watch out! This team has the firepower, recent goal-scoring woes aside, and has built the back line into something special, so when the offense returns, it spells bad news for the Western Conference’s old guard.

11. Atlanta

A hot team, even with using different goaltenders during their recent 6-2-2 run. How great for Don Waddell, one of the true gentlemen in the game.

12. Phoenix

Somebody explain how they’re doing it. Maybe Dave Tippett’s that good (Dallas), or was the Great One that bad/mediocre as a coach? The fact that Tippett’s doing it with a team that’s under financial duress, pretty offensively impaired, and receives little fan support is downright amazing. Way to go, Desert Dogs!

13. Colorado

Well, the "living in a tree" start has ended. With a 2-5-3 slide and a five-game road swing, the clock could be striking midnight on one of the true startling starts in the NHL.

14. Dallas

Brad Richards is back on track after a tough-luck, injury-riddled season. If the Stars can get Marty Turco to return to being ‘Turco-licious—it is the final year of his contract—the Stars could continue to surprise those, like me, who predicted their impending demise.

15. Ottawa

The ‘Sens keep playing steady hockey, and don’t look now—Jason Spezza’s starting to find the net once again. Here’s to a return to health—could anyone’s luck be any worse?—to Pascal LeClaire.

16. Tampa Bay

Steven Stamkos is the real deal, and Vinny Lecavalier has been starting to return to, well, a semblance of old form. Now, if they can get the goaltending situation to solidify—well, that’s been the question over the last several years since their Stanley Cup title year.

17. Vancouver

Ryan Kesler continues to torch the twine, and the Sedin twins have really come on as of late. With Roberto Luongo in net, this could all start to come together.

18. Detroit

Wait, what’s that thud you just heard? Oh, it was the Red Wings crashing down to earth. Their issues in net, without their usual stout tandem of goaltenders, along with a rash of injuries and free-agent departures, has made the descent go much more quickly than anyone imagined.

19. Philadelphia

Yes, they’ve struggled recently, but it was precipitated by a lengthy West Coast road trip. It’s gotta turn around, right? A home stand should start to help the recovery now about the current lack of firepower.

20. NY Islanders

You’ve gotta cheer for this turnaround—if for no other reason because they’re currently tied with their NY cohabitants, the salary-bloated (for many years running) NY Rangers.

21. Columbus

I’d consider lower, but hey, I live here and want to keep it that way, thanks. However, their season-long penchant for being on the wrong end of blowouts—they have given up six or more goals in seven of their last 28 games—coupled with a recent 1-4-3 slide is troubling. Could Ken Hitchcock be possibly losing the team/clubhouse?

22. St. Louis

The Blues are starting to recover from their stumbling start. While a defensive-minded team, the departure from their usual textbook PP numbers (currently last at 12.4 percent) is puzzling, to be kind.

23. NY Rangers

Marian Gaborik and Ales Kotalik’s recent PP results aside, this team is underperforming, to be kind.

24. Toronto

Starting to play solid hockey after that horrendous 1-7-1 start. The return of Phil Kessel certainly is welcome for a pretty offensively impaired team, now built by Brian Burke on defense and grit. Their goaltending situation could be a problem given Jonas Gustavsson’s recent heart concerns.

25. Montreal

Just a steady .500 team, which, for the league’s greatest dynasty, is completely unacceptable. Cary Price has been playing well as of late, but otherwise, having just one dependable line just won’t cut it.

26. Florida

Just when it looked as if the Panthers were starting to rebound, their four-game losing streak brought them back down to sub-mediocrity.

27. Anaheim

Take away Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, and Corey Perry, and you have a team biding its time for the draft lottery. Keep struggling like they have, and they may just get their wish.

28. Minnesota

Perhaps the league’s most dysfunctional team, directionally, they have begun to pull themselves out of the bottom-feeder doldrums and have been playing steady, albeit boring, hockey.

29. Edmonton

The loss of Ales Hemsky for the season may have been the death knell for this underachieving squad. Pat Quinn deserves so much better.

30. Carolina

Jim Rutherford: I loved you as a kid when you played goalie for the Pens, but it might be time to rebuild your team. This is an absolute mess, even when Cam Ward returns.

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

2010 World Cup Draw: Which Country Has the Hottest Fans?

Mike McD — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:10:45 -0500

The day that we have been waiting for has finally arrived. The draws for the 2010 World Cup has been announced. Now we just have to wait an agonizing half a year to see some action. Or do we? A little while ago I ranked the competing countries by the hottest woman from there. But let's be honest, those women probably won't show up to the games. If a country's hotness is going to swing the World Cup, it has to come from the fans. So let's take a look at the lovely ladies who might be cheering their team on to victory next year. The Hottest Fanbases Of The World Cup.

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Juventus-Inter Milan Preview: Five Keys for Juve To Stay in the Scudetto Chase

Danny Penza — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:03:01 -0500

The Derby d’Italia is always one of the biggest games in Europe.

Both Juventus and Inter Milan seem to be at the top of the Serie A table no matter what point in the season it is. This season is no different, with Inter holding the top spot and Juve in third, one point behind AC Milan.

But the first edition of the Derby might determine Juve's fate a little earlier than many had hoped. A loss puts the Bianconeri a massive 11 points behind the leaders in black and blue.

To say it's the most important game in Juve's season would be putting it lightly.

1. What Kind of Tactics Will Ciro Ferrara Use?

The Juventus manager has not had all his toys to play with so far this season. At times, it has been far from that. The cupboard has been bare, leaving Ferrara with some of his most important players in the stands because of numerous injuries.

For the most part, Ferrara is getting his squad back to full health. Captain Alessandro Del Piero and midfielder Claudio Marchisio are now available for selection meaning Ferrara could go back to his base 4-3-1-2 formation.

The question is, will he use it?

Marchisio has been Juve’s best midfielder and is a perfect match for the three-man midfield. It also allows Del Piero to play in his infamous supporting striker role instead of out on a wing where he clearly doesn’t fit.

But switching to a three-man midfield in support of Diego means that Juve’s other little magician, Sebastian Giovinco, will likely be relegated to the bench, The 22-year-old Italian has seen his playing time determined by what formation Ferrara goes with.

Like it or not, Ferrara is under one hell of a microscope in his Derby debut on the Juve sidelines. He has the backing of the board, now it’s time to prove his doubters wrong on the biggest of stages.

2. Diego Must Get Involved Early and Often

When Juventus is doing good, so goes Diego. The same can be said in the opposite sense when the Old Lady is playing poorly like they are right now.

Juve’s big summer signing has had it awfully rough lately. His form has dipped and his purchase has been called into questions by some in the media.

There's no doubting that when he is clicking, Diego is one of the best in the world. It's just a matter of actually getting him going with defenses obviously trying to mark him out of the game before he really gets into it.

No matter what kind of formation Ferrara goes with, his effort and his role in the team is crucial. Juve aren't Diego-dependent, but with a formation that calls for him to be the playmaker and with no real creative midfielder playing behind him, the Brazilian magician is going to have to be the man that makes everything happen.

That's why Juve need to get him involved in the game from the start. You feed him the ball and watch good things happen. Well, it can't be that easy, can it?

With the season basically on the line, Diego will have to be at his best to secure three points.

3. Can Amauri Have Any Impact at All?

Remember this time last year when Amauri was scoring goals left and right and things seemed to be wonderful?

Yeah, those were nice. Too bad it’s a completely different season now.

There isn’t much to say about Amauri right now other than he is in a funk of massive proportions. This isn’t the same striker that was at Palermo or the one who arrived in the summer of 2008. He has only scored four goals so far this season in Italy and two of those came against Sampdoria last month.

But with injuries to both David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta, Ferrara has no other option but to play Amauri at striker every week—whether it's as a lone striker or in a 4-3-1-2.

Unless Trezeguet's rapid recovery and inclusion in this weekend's squad means he is starting, Amauri will be playing from the first minute. Not exactly something a lot of people want to be hearing with the season on the line.

4. Can Fabio Cannavaro Recover After Last Weekend's Disaster?

For the most part, Cannavaro's return to Turin has been a productive one.

There haven't been many things to frown about. Yes, there have been the occasional slip up, but nothing to really shake your head at and worry anything serious is going on.

However, his showing against Cagliari this past weekend was something many people feared when Sporting Director Alessio Secco brought back the 35-year-old Italian back to Turin this summer. He looked slow, lethargic, and he got taken to school by Cagliari attackers on numerous occasions.

It was easily his worst showing in a long, long time.

With Diego Milito and Samuel Eto'o both as dangerous as ever, combining for 15 goals so far this season, Cannavaro will have to be at his best to shut them down. Giorgio Chiellini can't do it all by himself and that's why his central partner's role is so crucial.

5. Playing the Complete 90-Minute Match

Yes, we've been here before. But until Juventus can show they can put a complete and consistent match together, it won't be going anywhere.

What has doomed Juve this season is their complete lack of consistency. Not just over the course of the season, but also during the course of a game. Throw out a few games and their résumé is nothing impressive. There have been glimpses of what the team can do, but they have rarely put a complete game together.

Against Inter, that has to change if you want to come out on top.

On the biggest of stages and in such a heated rivalry like this is, it is not only important to come out of the blocks quick, but to also maintain that kind of pressure and quality of play.

People want to see the Juventus spirit that the club is famous for. It's time for these players to prove they are up to the task.

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

Championship Weekend: What College Football’s Been Waiting For All Year

Josh Klein — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:32:47 -0500

The college football gods could not have lined it up better. Last night the PAC-10 had its championship game, even though it’s technically not a championship game. The Ducks had everything in a row and took care of the Beavers in the fourth quarter. It was good start to a big week of college football. But who will win the remaining Championship games? What follows are my thoughts on each championship and “non-championship” game this weekend. There may be a few surprises, but once again just my thoughts feel free to interject your own.

Begin Slideshow

10 Dawgs To Be Excited for Next Year

Mike Foster — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:17:07 -0500

We all can be excited for the return of A.J. Green next year, but for some Georgia fans and outsiders, the expanse of Georgia's arsenal may be a mystery. A lot of old faces are gone or potentially gone, but Georgia has a few classes of youngsters who have potential to become great players. Aside from A.J. Green, here are ten Dawgs you can be really happy to have next year.

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Your 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team

JW Nix — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:25:45 -0500

It may be early still, but I am going to name my 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team.

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Detroit

The Lions' first-round draft pick set an NFL rookie record with five touchdown passes in one game, which also tied a team record. He leads all rookie quarterbacks in attempts, completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, and passing yards per game.

Running Back: Knowshon Moreno, Denver

The Broncos first-round draft pick leads all NFL rookies with 688 yards so far.

Running Back: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia

The Eagles second-round draft pick has 528 rushing yards while playing a part-time role much of the season until recently.

Wide Receiver: Percy Harvin, Minnesota

The Vikings first-round pick does a bit of everything. He has 42 receptions, 91 yards on 11 carries, and five touchdowns.

Wide Receiver: Austin Collie, Indianapolis

The Colts fourth-round draft pick has been a huge help towards the Colts undefeated season. He leads all rookies with 43 catches and has four touchdowns already.

Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit

Despite missing two games, the Lions second first-round draft pick leads all rookie tight ends with 30 receptions and has two scores.

Tackle: Michael Oher, Baltimore

He has started in all games, mostly at right tackle, for Baltimore this year, including a few at left tackle when incumbent Jared Gaither was hurt. He shut down All-Pro Jared Allen one game, and has been largely spectacular most of the season.

Tackle: Eben Britton, Jacksonville

The second-round draft pick has started in every game he has played, missing one from injury. He and first-round pick Eugene Monroe should bookend each other for a long time.

Guard: Louis Vasquez, San Diego

Despite missing Week's Two and Three from injury, this third-round pick has started every game and is a big part of the Bolts' resurgence.

Guard: Andy Levitre, Buffalo

The second-round pick has started all games for the Bills, and recently showed his versatility by moving to left tackle to replace the injured Demetrius Bell for awhile. He and fellow rookie guard Eric Wood, the first-round pick who started every game until he broke his leg Week 10, should anchor the Bills' trenches for years.

Center: Alex Mack, Cleveland

He has struggled at times, but his future appears bright. He has started every game for the Browns so far.

Defensive Tackle: Roy Miller, Tampa Bay

The third-round pick has 25 tackles and two sacks so far.

Defensive Tackle: Terrance Knighton, Jacksonville

The Jags' third-round draft pick leads all rookie defensive linemen with 29 tackles.

Defensive End: Matt Shaughnessy, Oakland

The Raiders' third-round draft pick has 16 tackles and two sacks.

Defensive End: Everette Brown, Carolina

The first-round draft choice has 15 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks.

Outside Linebacker: Brian Orakpo, Washington

The Redskins' first-round draft pick leads all rookies with seven sacks, which is also the 12th most in the league.

Outside Linebacker: Brian Cushing, Houston

The first-round pick leads all rookies with 99 tackles, which is the fifth most in the league. He also has recorded a safety, three interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and defended 12 passes.

Middle Linebacker: James Laurinaitis, Saint Louis

The Rams' second-round draft pick is second amongst all rookies with 85 tackles, which is the 12th most overall. He also has two interceptions and a sack.

Safety: Louis Delmas, Detroit

The Lions' second-round pick is third in rookie tackles with 61 tackles, and he has a sack, interception, and touchdown off of a fumble recovery.

Safety: Jarius Byrd, Buffalo

The Bills' second-round draft pick is leading the NFL with eight interceptions.

Cornerback: Jacob Lacey, Indianapolis

The undrafted free agent, along with third-round pick Jerraud Powers, might be the most valuable rookies to the Colts. Both were thrown into the starting lineup after injuries decimated the secondary.

He is fifth amongst rookies with 56 tackles, Powers is fourth with 58, and he has an interception and 11 passes defended.

Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Miami

The first-round draft pick has two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and he and fellow rookie Dolphin CB Sean Smith appear to have the starting jobs locked up for years ahead.

Kick Returner: Percy Harvin

He has two touchdowns already, which leads the NFL, as does his 29.8 per return average.

Punt Returner: Quan Cosby, Cincinnati

The undrafted free agent is second in the NFL with 30 returns, and third with 335 yards. His 11.2 yards per return leads all rookies.

Kicker: Ryan Succop, Chiefs

The seventh-round selection leads all rookies with 65 points, and has missed just four kicks, one from being blocked, all season.

Punter: Kevin Huber, Cincinnati

The Bengals' fifth-round choice leads all rookies with 54 punts for 2,453 yards, as well as 18 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Now on with my Week 13 picks.

I went 8-5 last week, dropping me to 109-50.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons

Both teams are in desperation mode right now. A loss will cripple their playoff hopes. The difference is that Atlanta is hurting at quarterback and running back right now.

Eagles 34, Falcons 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

The Bucs are not a great team, but their coaching issues are a big part of the problem. Carolina has underachieved all season.

Some Panther fans are happy that Matt Moore may start at quarterback this week, while others think it won't matter.

Moore is an unknown X-factor, due to his throwing only 69 balls in three years. A toss up, but thinking promising Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman will get the win.

Buccaneers 17, Panthers 16

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Miami has had some positives this year. They got their young quarterback playing experience, and witnessed the rebirth of running back Ricky Williams. Unfortunately, the Patriots will be too much to handle for the 'Phins.

Patriots 26, Dolphins 16

Saint Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears

Running back Steven Jackson is beat-up and hurting, but the Rams keep giving him the ball. A big reason is that he is their only weapon, and he is second in the NFL in rushing yards right now.

Chicago is in a turmoil of their own, and fans are calling for massive changes from the coaching staff to the roster. This is a game where Bears QB Jay Cutler steps up.

Bears 23, Rams 17

Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals need this win bad to maintain a hold of the AFC North. Detroit should consider shutting down prized rookie Matthew Stafford for the year because he is beaten up.

Bengals 27, Lions 13

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are undefeated for a few reasons besides talent. They are reliant and never quit. Titans QB Vince Young has rallied the team to five straight wins, with running back Chris Johnson a big reason behind it.

If Johnson gets off in this game like he has been doing all season, the Titans have a good chance to deal the Colts that first loss of 2009.

Titans 26, Colts 24

Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Raiders have recently shown a little improvement on offense after a quarterback change. It still isn't enough to deal with an angry and desperate Pittsburgh team clinging to playoff hopes.

Steelers 31, Raiders 13

New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins

I expect a very good Redskins defense to keep this close, but Washington can never close out a game because of terrible coaching.

Saints 26, Redskins 20

San Diego Chargers @ Cleveland Browns

The Bolts are missing three starters on defense, but they have good depth. Their offense has been on fire lately, and will be too much for the worst team in football.

Chargers 41, Browns 9

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Denver is still very much in control of their playoff destiny, but they need to keep winning to stay ahead of teams nipping at their heels. Kansas City is not one of those teams. The Chiefs are trying to finish strong, so it won't be an easy win for Denver.

Broncos 23, Chiefs 17

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

After losing their last three games, Houston has pretty much buried their playoff hopes. They either rally this week or go home.

Jacksonville was absolutely horrible last week in their loss to the 49ers, and this inconsistency has been the theme of the young team all year.

Texans 27, Jaguars 24

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Dallas needs this win to keep a game ahead of the Eagles for the race to the NFC East crown. If the Giants lose this week, they are pretty much done. The Jints have failed to dominate the trenches lately, and Dallas needs to take advantage of that.

Cowboys 31, Giants 23

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

The Niners still have faint hopes in winning their division, while Seattle does not. San Francisco is better in the trenches, and they should ride running back Frank Gore's back to victory.

49ers 27, Seahawks 20

Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals

Game Of The Week

This is a scrum that sees two record-setting quarterbacks with a Super Bowl ring in their resumes. Minnesota has an excellent defense, so Arizona must run the ball well to give balance to their offensive attack.

The Cardinals have a good defense themselves, and both can be explosive on special teams. The sharpness of Cards QB Kurt Warner will be key.

Cardinals 38, Vikings 34

Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers

This will be a very fun game to watch. The biggest weakness of the Ravens is pass defense, while passing is the Packers offensive strength.

The Packers have a good defense, but their offensive line is the key to this game. Baltimore has a very good front seven, and that should make the difference.

Ravens 27, Packers 23

NFL Power Rankings

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. New England Patriots

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. San Diego Chargers

7. Dallas Cowboys

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Philadelphia Eagles

10. Denver Broncos

11. Baltimore Ravens

12. Green Bay Packers

13. Arizona Cardinals

14. Atlanta Falcons

15. Tennessee Titans

16. New York Giants

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

18. Miami Dolphins

19. San Francisco 49ers

20. Houston Texans

21. New York Jets

22. Seattle Seahawks

23. Carolina Panthers

24. Chicago Bears

25. Kansas City Chiefs

26. Oakland Raiders

27. Buffalo Bills

28. Detroit Lions

29. Washington Redskins

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. St. Louis Rams

32. Cleveland Browns

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

How Close Did Vegas Get Last Spring Picking the Top College Football Teams?

Larry Burton — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:06:08 -0500

Hope springs eternal, especially in the spring, when all the college football teams are undefeated and prospects look good. But in Las Vegas, it's all business, setting the odds for the winner and the other teams.

So let's go back to May 4th, 2009, a time when I was in Las Vegas to do an article on sports gambling, and picked up the "official" odds of teams winning the BCS National Championship.

They had Florida as the favorite, as they should; they were a 2/1 favorite. Then things went horribly wrong.

The next two names on the list were Oklahoma and USC, who fell apart this season. Oklahoma is not even in the top 25 and USC is still over rated at 18.

Oklahoma proved that they are simply a supporting cast to Sam Bradford, and without their star, they are just an average team. The pendulum simply caught up with USC. After so many years on top, they were bound to fall sooner or later. However, Las Vegas does love its usual front runners.

Next was Texas, and that was a safe pick from last year's season, but next came Ohio State, who, while still rated No. 8, is perhaps the most over rated team in the top 10 today.

The next was Florida State, and you have to wonder what they were thinking. Was Bobby Bowden really going to fix all the problems and put them back in the top 10? Apparently they thought so. However, they are not in the top 25 now.

Apparently Vegas came to their senses, too. Florida State started off at 18 to one odds on Mar. 6th, 2009, and by May 4th, 2009 they went to 30 to one.

Then comes Alabama. I bought a $20 ticket at 10 to one odds. I'm feeling better about that every week. Alabama started off at 20 to one and two months later dropped to 10-1.

Next was Va. Tech holding steady the whole time at 20 to one. They have been in and out of the top 10 all season and are presently 12th.

Miami was next as apparently the odds makers felt Randy Shannon would finally get everything put together. They had them at No. 9, but with 25 to one odds. Today they are rated 17.

The final Top 10 team was LSU, also at 25 to one odds. They are presently 13th.

So to recap the top 10 and where they are now:

Pos. Team Opening odds Odds on 5-4-09 Today's BCS Ranking+

1. Florida 2/1 2/1 1

2. Oklahoma 6/1 6/1 N/A

3. USC 6/1 6/1 18

4. Texas 10/1 6/1 3

5. Ohio State 12/1 10/1 8

6. Florida St. 18/1 30/1 N/A

7. Alabama 20/1 10/1 2

8. Virginia Tech 20/1 20/1 12

9. Miami 25/1 25/1 17

10. LSU 25/1 12/1 13

Therefore you can see that they only correctly picked four of the top 10 teams if the season ended today. With bowl wins, Virgina Tech and LSU could sneak in. An Ohio State loss would put them out of the top 10.

So where were the teams that are in the top 10 at the beginning of the betting season?

Present BCS Ranking and team Preseason Odds

4. TCU not listed—no odds given

5. Cincinnati 27th place 60/1

6. Boise State 39th place 80/1

7. Oregon 14th place 45/1

9. Iowa 24th place 60/1

10. Georgia Tech 29th place 65/1

Overall you can see that Las Vegas is not a much better guesser that the rest of us. After all, who didn't see Florida being at the top after returning almost the whole national championship team?

The moral of this story is to not listen to Las Vegas. If you're so inclined, bet on the team you root, in a nice a legal place, and hope for the best. You know as much as they do.

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

NFC North Offensive Unit Rankings

MJ Kasprzak — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:37:40 -0500

A quick look at the NFC North offensive units explains why the Vikings have run away with the division thus far...the Vikings are best in three of the four units and second in the fourth. Green Bay, clearly the second best offense in the division, is first in the other unit, and second in two. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions' struggles are obvious considering they are last in two categories and third in the other two.

Begin Slideshow

QBER/Week 12: For Brees, Nothing Succeeds Like Six-cess

Paul Ladewski — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:08:13 -0500

(QBER is short for Quarterback Efficiency Rating, a more comprehensive, easily understood rating system that I devised to place the emphasis where it belongs—the ability of a quarterback to advance the ball, avoid negative plays, and score touchdowns in comparison to his peers. A rating of 100.0 is the league average.)

Several quarterbacks have turned in dominant performances this season, but one stands out more than any of them. It’s the remarkable ability of Drew Brees to find the end zone.

In 361 pass calls, Brees has accounted for 26 net touchdowns, which is more than twice (102.9 percent) the league average of one TD per 13.9 pass attempts. Already the New Orleans Saints veteran has had games of three, four, five and six touchdown passes this season.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre owns the second most dominant rate in the yardage, touchdown and turnover categories, as his turnover rate is 67.7 percent higher than the league norm.

If not for a turnover rate that is nearly 12 percent worse than the league average, Brees would rank higher than second overall. On the plus side, he is one of 11 qualifiers who have not had an interception returned for a touchdown this season.

Brees threw five TD passes last week. Better yet, he was not guilty of a turnover for the second time in as many weeks. If he protects the ball at a similarly high rate in the final five games of the regular season, the Saints have to be considered a serious threat to finish with a 16-0 record.

The QBER leaders through Week 12 of the regular season:

1. Brett Favre 146.2

2. Drew Brees 143.4

3. Peyton Manning 134.0

4. Philip Rivers 133.0

5. Aaron Rodgers 132.2

6. Donovan McNabb 127.5

7. Tom Brady 121.2

8. Matt Schaub 118.7

9. Tony Romo 118.1

10. Kyle Orton 115.4

11. Kurt Warner 115.1

12. Eli Manning 111.1

13. Carson Palmer 110.9

14. Joe Flacco 109.8

15. Ben Roethlisberger 107.1

16. Matt Hasselbeck 103.1

17. Alex Smith 102.8

18. Matt Ryan 101.9

19. Matt Cassel 94.2

20. David Garrard 86.3

21. Jay Cutler 84.3

22. Jason Campbell 82.9

23. Marc Bulger 82.6

24. Chad Henne 80.2

25. Trent Edwards 79.6

26. Kerry Collins 78.9

27. Matthew Stafford 71.4

28. Mark Sanchez 60.5

29. JaMarcus Russell 50.3

30. Jake Delhomme 45.6

A few observations:

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is on a serious roll. His QBER has never been lower than 122.5 in the last six weeks, and his current 133.0 rate is the highest that it has been this season. He did not have a sack or turnover in the last two games, a span of 51 pass calls.
Jake Delhomme can’t stand prosperity, it seems. A four-turnover performance put the Carolina Panthers signal-caller back in last place, a spot he held down in each of the first seven weeks of the season. His 21 turnovers (18 interceptions, three fumbles lost) are the most in the league.
Veteran Bruce Gradkowski may not be the long-term answer, but he gives the Oakland Raiders offense a chance at least. The biggest difference between Gradkowski and predecessor JaMarcus Russell lies in their abilities to produce points in the pass game. Gradkowski averages one TD per 37.3 pass plays, while Russell checks in at one per 118 tries.
All interceptions aren’t created equal. Those of Ben Roethlisberger (minus 139 yards from the line of scrimmage), Jay Cutler (minus 135), David Garrard (minus 102) and Chad Henne (minus 88) have been the most costly in terms of field position.

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MLB 9s: For Minnesota Twins, a Strong 2009 Helps Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel

Ash Marshall — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:15:33 -0500

Who would you rather have in your outfield: Torii Hunter or Larry Hisle?

What was more impressive: Ed Battey's 26 home runs in 1963 or Joe Mauer's 28 in 2009?

Is power more important than speed? Do achievements from the past outweigh successes in the present?

It all points to one question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Twin had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

They are calling it MLB 9s.

Here I have separated the contenders from the pretenders in an effort to pick my dream Twins lineup, based on their one career year. Have your say by commenting below.

My other MLB 9s you might want to check out are:

Diamondbacks , Braves , Orioles , Red Sox , Cubs , White Sox , Reds , Indians , Rockies , Tigers , Marlins , Royals , Angels , and Dodgers .

Catcher: Joe Mauer (2009)

Mauer certainly swung a power bat in 2009, setting the high marks for a Twins catcher in runs batted in (96) and home runs (28). His 94 runs scored is second all-time.

More impressively is his league-leading .365 batting average, .444 on-base percentage, and .587 slugging percentage.

His batting average put him over the top against Mark Teixeira in the MVP voting, and between being selected as an All-Star starter and Silver Slugger, he is an easy choice here for the Twins.

Highlight Game: May 21, 2009 @ Chicago White Sox. When your team puts 20 runs up on the board, there is a better-than-average chance that you got a little piece of the action.

Mauer went 3-for-4 with a home runs, two doubles, a pair of runs, and a sac fly in seven innings of action as the Twins trounced the Sox 20-1.

Competition: Earl Battey hit 26 home runs in the 1963 season—the most ever by a Twins catcher until Joe Mauer’s 28 in 2009.

Battey drove in 84 runs, batted .285, and was selected to represent the American league at the All-Star game.

His .476 slugging percentage is third all-time, and Battey ranked inside the AL top 10 in runs batted in, on-base percentage, home runs, and intentional walks.

First Base: Rod Carew (1977)

In my opinion Carew is the best Twins first baseman of all time. He was a .334 lifetime batter in his 12 seasons in Minnesota, an All-Star every year, and one of the top players of the 1970s.

Carew’s 1977 season was the highlight of his time with the Twins. He led the American League with a .388 batting average, 128 runs and 16 triples.

His .449 on-base percentage was also the best in the league, fueled mainly by his career-high 239 hits.

He hit 14 home runs and drove in 100 batters, while stealing 23 bases and romping away to the MVP award that had alluded him the previous four years.

Highlight Game: August 7, 1977 vs. Cleveland. Carew went 4-for-5 with three doubles, four runs, and a steal in an 11-1 victory over the Indians.

It was one of eight four-hit games on the season for Carew, who failed to record a base hit in just four of the 155 games he played in.

Competition: From one MVP to another, Justin Morneau finishes this race second. In the 2006 season, Morneau hit 34 home runs, batted .321, and recorded 130 runs batted in—the most most by any Twins player in the history of the franchise.

Mickey Vernon deserves a mention for his 1953 season with the Washington Senators. He won the batting title with a .337 average, led the league with 43 doubles and finished third on the MVP ballot to Al Rosen and Yogi Berra.

Second Base: Chuck Knoblauch (1996)

Knoblauch’s speed and plate discipline made him a dangerous proposition at the top of the Twins order.

In 1996 he batted .341, stole 45 bases, and scored 140 runs. He led the league with 14 triples, and he also hit 13 home runs, and walked 98 times.

He ranked second in the AL for runs scored, fourth in stolen bases, and second in the number of times hit by a pitch. His 197 hits ranked fifth, and his batting average fourth.

His 140 runs is still a Twins record for a second baseman.

Highlight Game: June 29, 1996 @ Kansas City. Knoblauch hit a pair of three-baggers and a double as the Twins beat the Royals 12-7.

Knoblauch finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, a sacrifice fly, and two runs scored.

Competition: Todd Walker is a deserving second place. In the 1998 season, Walker hit a dozen home runs, swiped 19 bases, and batted .316. His 62 runs batted in are on a par with Knoblauch, but he scored 55 fewer runs—largely because he played more than half of his games batting in the bottom half of the lineup.

Third Base: Harmon Killebrew (1969)

No Twins player has ever hit more home runs in a single season than the 49 hit by Killebrew in 1969.

The third baseman—who played in 162 games—drove in 140 runs and scored 106 times on his way to winning the AL MVP ahead of Boog Powell and Frank Robinson.

He led the league with 145 walks and a .427 on-base percentage, and to this day no Twin has ever had a better RBI tally at the end of the season.

His 145 walks rank second all-time in the Twins franchise.

Highlight Game: September 7, 1969 @ Oakland. Killebrew hit a three-run home run in the first inning, a grand slam in the second inning, and he walked and was thrown out at home plate in the fourth inning.

With the Twins up 12-3 in the middle of the fourth, Killebrew was replaced in the field.

He never recorded more than seven RBI or two home runs in the 1963 season, so who knows what he could have done with two more at bats in the game.

Competition: Corey Koskie had a very good season in 2001 with 26 home runs, 27 steals, 103 RBI, and 100 runs scored.

Gary Gaetti hit 31 homers in 1987, scoring 95 times and batting in 109 runs, but he was hampered by a .257 average.

Hall-of-Famer Killebrew is head and shoulders above the crowd.

Shortstop: Joe Cronin (1930)

Cronin had many good season with the Washington Senators. He came runner-up in the MVP race in 1933 and led the AL in triples in 1932.

His 1930 season, although not rewarded with an All-Star selection or single MVP vote, was the best all-round showcase of his talents.

He hit 13 home runs, stole 17 bases, batted .346, scored 127 runs, and batted in 126. Not too bad for a guy that was bought for $7,500 and traded six years later for a player a $225,000.

Highlight Game: July 23, 1930 @ St Louis. Cronin had his first multi-home run game of his career in a 10-9 win against the Browns.

He hit a solo shot in the third inning off Dolly Gray and another solo bomb off Chad Kimsey in the ninth to help the Senators avoid a four-game sweep.

Competition: The competition is pretty slim, to be honest. Christian Guzman stole 25 bases, hit 10 home runs, and batted .302 in 2001, and Roy Smalley launched 24 homers and drove in 95 runs in 1979.

Cecil Travis probably comes in between the two. In 1941 he batted .359 with 101 RBI and 106 runs. His .359 clip is still the most by any full-time shortstop in the history of the franchise.

Outfield: Ed Delahanty (1902)

Delahanty won’t get much recognition in the All-Time 9s voting. According to MLB.com, he isn’t even in the top five Twins outfielders, meaning he polled less than four per cent of the vote.

That is a shame, because based on the era he played in, he was one of the greats.

A Hall-of-Fame member, Delahanty hit 43 doubles in the 1902 season. His .453 on-base percentage and .590 slugging percentage were both league highs, and his 10 home runs and 14 triples ranked fifth and third respectively.

Oh, and he only played 123 games.

His OPS+ statistic—a measure of his on-base and slugging percentages compared to the league average in the year he played—is higher than any outfielder in the history of the organization, including Kirby Puckett.

Highlight Game: September 3, 1902 @ St Louis. Delahanty hit his 100th career home run in the top of the sixth inning off Willie Sudhoff. It was a two-out, three-run blast, his last of the 1902 season, and the penultimate home run of his career.

Kirby Puckett (1988)

Puckett played all 12 seasons of his Hall-of-Fame career with the Twins. He finished within the top seven on the MVP ballot seven times, so picking one incredible offensive season is hard.

The center-fielder’s 1988 season was probably the best though. He hit .356 and drove in 121 runs, both career highs. He also led the American League with 234 hits and 358 total bases, and he finished the season third in the MVP race for the second year running.

Highlight Game: August 31, 1988 @ Texas. Puckett hit two home runs and went 3-for-5 with four RBI as the Twins beat the Rangers 10-1.

It was the second multi-home run game of the season for Puckett, and just the second time he recorded four runs batted in in the same game.

Larry Hisle (1977)

In his final year with the Twins, Hisle hit 28 home runs, led the American League with 119 runs batted in, and batted .302.

It may have had something do to with it being a contract year, because the number of runs (95), home runs, doubles (36), hits (165) and RBI he recorded were all career bests.

He was granted free agency at the end of the season, picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers, and then had an even better season, finishing third in the MVP voting.

Highlight Game: June 8, 1977 vs. Kansas City. Hisle broke a 10th-inning 8-8 tie with a walk-off home run off Larry Gura to give the Twins a 9-8 victory.

Hisle finished the game 2-for-5, also hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Competition: There is certainly depth in the outfield for the Twins. The fact that Tony Oliva, Torii Hunter, and Roy Sievers can’t make the cut speaks volumes to the quality they have paraded out there over the years.

Oliva batted .323 with 32 home runs, 94 RBI, 109 runs, and 12 steals in 1964 when he won the Rookie of the Year.

Hunter combined power and speed for 29 homers and 23 steals in 2002, and Sievers led the AL with 42 homers and 114 runs in 1957.

Designated Hitter: Jason Kubel (2009)

Kubel finished the season with a .300 batting average, 28 home runs, and 103 RBI. All three statistics were career highs for the DH who has struggled to find a regular spot in the Minnesota outfield.

Only Chili Davis has hit more home runs in a single season, while only Paul Moliter has recorded more runs batted in.

Kubel’s 103 RBI and .539 slugging percentage ranked eighth in the American League.

Highlight Game: October 4, 2009 vs Kansas City. Game number 162 of the season for the Twins, tied with the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central lead.

Kubel came up big for the Twins, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI. He hit a three-run shot in the first inning and then another three-run blast in the third to help the Twins to a comfortable 13-4 victory over the Royals.

As we know, the Twins would win the one-game playoff the following day to send Minnesota to the ALDS.

Competition: Paul Molitor came close with his 1996 season when he batted .341 with 113 RBI, 99 runs, and 18 steals.

Chili Davis also deserves a mention for his 29 home runs in 1991.

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The MLB's All Latino Decade Team: 2000's

Tony Menendez — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:11:15 -0500

The 2000's are heading into history.

As in all sports, fans love to know the opinion of who were the best players of the decade.

As Barry Bonds was the man in the 1990's, this decade was all property of Albert Pujols.

For "El Hombre" from the St. Louis Cardinals, his offensive numbers did all the talking as he hit every year for at least a .300 average, 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in.

His success defensively as a first baseman and as a ball player off-the-field, it was a no-brainer was MLB Player of the Decade. Both The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated gave him this honor.

Pujols was the king of the diamonds, but there were many other players who excelled throughout the decade as well.

As we are approaching the 2010’s, this is a good time to select the All-Decade Latino Team for the 2000’s.

Our MLB Latino Decade Team 2000-2009:
C-Jorge Posada
1B-Albert Pujols
2B-Placido Polanco
3B-Alex Rodriguez
SS-Miguel Tejada
OF-Carlos Beltran
OF-Vladimir Guerrero
OF-Manny Ramirez
SP: Bartolo Colon, Livan Hernandez, Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, Javier Vazquez
RP: Mariano Rivera

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NBA Rookie Watch (Dec. 3rd): Top 10 Performers

kevin roberts — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:08:18 -0500

We're not even two full months into the 2009-10 NBA season, but what's sports coverage without over-analyzing every step that young players take?

The beautiful thing about covering the NBA Draft and watching the games as the season progresses, is getting to see which top picks quickly begin to live up to (and sometimes surpass) their projected potential, and which one's never get off the ground.

Read on for the debut of our Top Ten NBA Rookie Watch:

1. Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee Bucks

Season Stats: 34.4 MPG, 21.5 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 47.6 3PT%, 42.2 FG%

Jennings earns the top spot for our debut rookie ranking article, simply because he carries the offensive load more than any other rookie, and does more with the ball in his hands.

He's shooting lights out from behind the arc, something scouts never thought he'd be able to do, while focusing more on the "team game," getting his teammates involved, and not playing selfishly.

He's also leading all rookies in points per game, while keeping his Milwaukee Bucks above .500. At least for this week, he's the top rookie in 2009-10.

2. Tyreke Evans, PG, Sacramento Kings

Season Stats: 35.5 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 30.3 3PT%, 44.9 FG%

Evans could just as easily be the top guy in these rankings, but we'd like to see more consistency out of his shooting before we put him over Brandon Jennings, who is killing Evans in three-point percentage.

Evans has all the talent and potential in the world to get where he needs to be, and is arguably already extremely close to getting there. This figures to be a very heated battle for ROY honors all the way to the bitter end.

3. Jonny Flynn, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

Season Stats: 29.1 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 29.2 3PT%, 43.5 FG%

Flynn has stepped into the starting role in his first year and has embraced the ability to run the floor in total control, while showing, at times, an ability to score at will.

He's been remarkably consistent overall, failing to reach double digits in scoring just twice all season.

4. Darren Collison, PG, New Orleans Hornets

Season Stats: 22.5 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 2.3 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 37.5 3PT%, 42.4 FG%

Collison has performed very well as he's taken over for the injured Chris Paul, and despite the team's struggles, he has done a lot on the court that suggests he has a bright future.

Collison exhibited his clutch ability by hitting a game-tying shot against the Milwaukee Bucks last week, and has continued to be a consistent source of points, reaching double figures in 10 straight games, while also improving as a passer and notching five or more assists in his last seven.

5. Omri Casspi, SG/SF, Sacramento Kings

Season Stats: 23.4 MPG, 10.2 PPG, 1.2 APG, 3.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 47.2 3PT%, 52.5 FG%

While everyone is talking about his teammate, point guard sensation Tyreke Evans, we'd be foolish to forget about Casspi, who has brought excellent overall percentages and a strong work ethic to a young Kings' team that is quickly improving.

Casspi is already proving he was worth a first round pick, and has topped 10 points in five straight games.

6. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors

Season Stats: 30.4 MPG, 10.2 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 38.8 3PT%, 42.6 FG%

For the amount of minutes Curry is getting and the fast-paced offense the Warriors run, it's amazing that his numbers aren't better.

His percentages are solid, though, and a lot of his struggles just have to do with discovering his role at this level, and learning the game.

The nice thing about Curry so far in his first season, is that despite his offensive game not coming to him as it naturally does, he still makes an impact by playing solid defense and racking up steals.

7. Ty Lawson, PG, Denver Nuggets

Season Stats: 21.1 MPG, 8.9 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.1 RPG, 50.0 3PT%, 52.6 FG%

Lawson has been very efficient and focused when he gets on the court, and has benefited from having a great point guard (Chauncey Billups) to learn from.

He's exhibited the same strong fundamentals and shooting percentages that he did at North Carolina, and should only continue to rise up the rookie rankings as the season goes on.

8. Marcus Thornton, SG, New Orleans Hornets

Season Stats: 19.5 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 0.9 APG, 1.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 34.6 3PT%, 42.9 FG%

Thornton was an excellent, athletic scoring guard in college, and with the Hornets' main source of points ailing (Chris Paul), Thornton has stepped up and done a fine job helping out in that department.

9. Chase Budinger, SF, Houston Rockets

Season Stats: 19.3 MPG, 8.7 PPG, 1.2 APG, 3.3 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 34.9 3PT%, 41.0 FG%

Budinger's stats don't jump out of the box score, but, knowing the way he plays the game, it'd be unfair to simply looking at the numbers.

Budinger offers excellent effort and athleticism on both ends of the floor, and has quickly established himself as an offensive threat when he's in the game.

He's already learned when to take shots and when to look for teammates, and just needs his shots to fall a little more often to earn more minutes.

10. Terrence Williams, SG/SF, New Jersey Nets

Season Stats: 26.4 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 2.2 APG, 5.1 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 29.8 3PT%, 35.9 FG%

While the Nets have yet to win a game, and now hold the NBA record for the worst start in league history (0-18), at least they have some nice, young pieces to build towards a brighter future.

Williams is a very versatile scorer and once his shooting becomes more consistent, he could be a dangerous player.

Honorable Mentions: DeJuan Blaire (San Antonio Spurs), Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls) Eric Maynor (Utah Jazz)

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Sell Alexander Ovechkin?: NHL Week 10 Fantasy Hockey Stock Watch

John Canario — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:39:00 -0500

Buy Jimmy Howard, check. Hold Dion Phaneuf, check. And, and...sell Alexander Ovechkin? Sell Alex Ovechkin?! Yep, now is the time.

Buy

Jimmy Howard, G, DET

Look out, Chris Osgood owners. The numbers tell the tale. Since Nov. 5, Jimmy Howard has six victories for the Wings. How many does Osgood have? Zip.

If Howard can mimic Ty Conklin’s 2008-09 performance and steal the regular-season starting job from Osgood, the addition of Howard could very well be the most important acquisition you make this year. Starting goaltenders are at a premium in most pools, and with Howard currently owned in just 22 percent of leagues, don’t take your time with this one.

David Backes, RW, STL

Both Iain and I have questioned Backes’s early struggles in the Stock Watch in recent weeks, but the RW seems to be coming around rapidly, accumulating six points during a current four-game point-streak.

Last season, Backes started out cold as well with just three goals in his first 21 games before finishing with 28 over his final 61 contests. Backes is as streaky as they come. He’s become available in a number of pools in recent weeks and is definitely worth the risk.

Maxim Afinogenov, RW, ATL

At just $800,000 per year, Afinogenov is hands down the acquisition of the 2009 offseason. After hitting rock-bottom over the last couple of years, he’s been re-energized since playing with fellow countryman Ilya Kovalchuk and should be a definite starter in all leagues. Now 75 percent owned, chances are he’s been scooped up in your pool, but it doesn’t hurt to check.

Hold

Dion Phaneuf, D, CGY

Don’t panic and sell Elisha Cuthbert’s lesser-half. While Phaneuf might not look like the fantasy warrior he was in 2007-08, he’s better than he’s played so far. Besides, with his lackluster numbers, you’re not going to get full value if you try moving him right now. Wait for a bump in production before weighing offers.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere/Jonas Hiller; Mike Smith/Antero Niittymaki; Semyon Varlamov/Jose Theodore

I’ve grouped these three goaltending battles together because they’re all still very much undecided. All you can really do here is wait and see who plays themselves into the starter’s spot, though I would rank Varlamov as the most likely of the six to win his battle.

While there is no argument that Niitymaki has outplayed Smith, Lightning coach Rick Tocchet seems to have a soft spot for Smith, and has been starting him regardless of his poor play. The Ducks find themselves in 13th in the Western Conference, thanks in part to sub-par goaltending from both Giguere and Hiller.

Sell

Alexander Ovechkin, LW, WAS

W-w-what?! That’s right, Ovie’s in the sell category. This suggestion isn’t for the faint of heart, and you’d need a real pair of cojones to send Ovechkin packing, but let’s consider the facts.

He’s the best hockey player in the world, and you will get virtually anything you want in return. Everyone in your pool is going to want Ovechkin, and you can play all the bidders against each other until you get a truly tantalizing offer. Finally, Ovechkin looks destined for the injured reserve this season with the increasingly reckless style of hockey he is playing, and if you’re without that kind of production for even 10 more games this season it could spell defeat for your fantasy team.

Niklas Hagman, LW, TOR

As a Leafs supporter, I am enjoying the Finn’s current pace, but his current fantasy value is too great to pass up as trade bait. With 13 goals through 25 games, you’ll probably be able to lure away a better talent from that Leafs fanatic in your pool.

John Canario is a fantasy hockey contributor at MyOfficePool.ca. To review the full article, click here. Check his weekly articles to help manage your team to the championship.

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NFL Quarterback Power Rankings: Week 13

kevin roberts — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:10:08 -0500

Want an interesting way to decide where your favorite team ranks with the rest of the NFL's playoff hopefuls? Chances are, you're likely to find your team where you find it's quarterback. Chicago and Carolina, unfortunately represented by two 18+ interception guys, Jay Cutler and Jake Delhomme, would easily be found somewhere near the bottom. But we don't want to make Bears and Panthers fans cry, so we'll keep this list short and sweet, constricting it to the top ten quarterbacks that really matter in 2009, and rank them by who is on top of their game heading into Week 13. And no, Eli Manning (above) didn't make the cut.

Begin Slideshow

Ten Biggest Misses Ever During a Penalty Shootout

Andrew Jordan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:07:14 -0500

Throughout the history of football, there have been many great matches that have ended during penalty shootouts. During the penalty shootout, many heroes have been born for great saves that have gotten their side a trophy or advancement onto the next round, or missed to ruin their sides chances of advancing or preventing your side from winning. This is a list of the players who missed and ruined their sides chances of winning. So here is a list of the ten players who cost their side in the ultimate battle of nerves: a penalty shootout.

Begin Slideshow

The Real NFL Power Rankings + The Cap

Alex Tichenor — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:30:13 -0500

Week 12 of NFL action was an action-packed week with blowouts, comebacks, and last-second wins alike.

There were many heroes and goats, surprises and disappointments and I will detail them here in my NFL recap (aka The Cap) of week twelve action.

The Real Power Rankings

T he Super Sixteen

1. New Orleans Saints (11-0) Previous Rankings: 2, 2, 1, 1, 2

The Saints may have struggled in the past few weeks, but New England saw them in early season form on Monday night.

Brees now has three receivers, in Colston, Meachem, and Henderson; playing at a high level and the team has one of the best qualities of a great team: showing up for big games.

They put a shellacking on the only other team 7-4 or better that they've played on the road up in Philly. The Saints have to be the favorites to win the Super Bowl right now.

2. Indianapolis Colts (11-0) Previous Rankings: 7, 1, 2, 2, 1

Indy has been down in the fourth quarter in five straight games...and won all of them. No team in NFL history has ever done that even in four straight games (I credit CBS's broadcast with that stat).

That's just a testament to how good Peyton Manning is in the fourth quarter. He's truly one of the best clutch athletes to ever walk the face of the earth (although in the playoffs, not so much).

There's a reason Belichick went for that fourth and two, Manning is good. Really, really, really good.

3. Minnesota Vikings (10-1) Previous Rankings: 8, 4, 4, 3, 4

The Vikings, whose one loss could have just as easily been a win, can legitimately say that they are the best team in football.

Of Indy, New Orleans and Minnesota; Minnesota has the best defense and probably the most versatile offense with Favre throwing to a deep group of pass catchers and having Adrian Peterson run behind a top three offensive line.

Jered Allen is playing as well as any defensive end in football as well. Minnesota is one dangerous team.

4. San Diego Chargers (8-3) Previous Rankings: 10, 14, 15, 12, 7

Now this is the Chargers team that I thought they would be going into the season. Sure, destroying a few cupcake teams looks good on the resume, but that nearly 30-point win in Denver looks much more impressive after what Denver did to the Giants in Mile High.

This win streak is also amidst Vincent Jackson struggling and Tomlinson coughing up the ball in the red zone.

If those ills can be fixed, San Diego is likely looking at a first-round bye in the playoffs this year.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3) Previous Rankings: 18, 15, 9, 7, 3

Things went from looking bright and sunny to murky and cloudy in Cincinnati. Yes, Cedric Benson has been out, but they have really struggled on the offensive side of the ball.

How does a good team only manage 33 combined points against Oakland and Cleveland's sorry excuses for defenses? Bengals fans can only hope Cedric Benson brings back the offense's firepower with him.

6. New England Patriots (7-4) Previous Rankings: 12, 6, 5, 5, 5

Twice in the past three weeks has New England gone on the road, and twice have they lost. Both were equally heart breaking to the Pats and their fans.

The Indy game was gut-wrenching because of the now infamous fourth-and-two call from their own 28 that let Peyton Manning work with a short field to throw the game-winner to Reggie Wayne with 16 seconds left on the clock.

The New Orleans loss was so sickening because they just found out that they weren't as good as they thought they were.

Since when does Drew Brees show up Tom Brady the way that he did on Monday night? Since now. Brees is playing at a higher level than No. 10 right now.

7. Arizona (7-4) Previous Rankings: 17, 20, 16, 16

A last-second loss on the road to maybe the hottest team in football, on the road, without their starting Pro Bowl quarterback does not affect the way I look at Arizona at all. How could anybody expect Matt Leinart to go into Nashville and win?

That's kind of like asking Vince Young to win five straight games after sitting on the bench for the first six of the season...oh, crap. The Cards were just the victims of bad circumstances on Sunday.

8. Green Bay Packers (7-4) Previous Rankings: 19, 16, 10, 14, 13

Green Bay went from not likely to make the playoffs to looking very likely to get in as an NFC wild card team.

Aaron Rodgers continues to play lights out when he's not on the ground and Charles Woodson is looking like he did in his Heisman days in Ann Arbor. Woodson's been ridiculous the past few weeks.

9. Baltimore Ravens (6-5) Previous Rankings: 1, 5, 11, 10

Baltimore probably shouldn't be this high after barely beating a Dennis Dixon-led Steelers team at home, but they are. They just seem like a better team than their record right now.

Every game they've lost has come right down to the wire (with the exception of the second Bengals game). Ray Rice continues to have a remarkable breakout season with over 140 yards against Pittsburgh's D.

10. Dallas Cowboys (8-3) Previous Rankings: 14, 17, 20, 11, 11

The Cowboys have beat every team that they should beat this season and lost most of the games they should have lost. They've had a favorable schedule and their record shows it.

No question, on a good day, they are a very good team, but the Cowboys still have trouble being consistently good.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Previous Rankings: 9, 12, 8, 6, 6

Make no mistake, Troy Polamalu's health struggles and the Steelers' winning troubles are directly related. Whenever the best defensive playmaker in the league is off the field, the team he leads will struggle.

Pittsburgh fans still need not panic. They have a very easy schedule from here on out and will get Ben and Polamalu back down the stretch.

Even if Pittsburgh looks like a mediocre team at the end of the season, if they sneak into the playoffs, beware of them.

12. Tennessee Titans (5-6) Previous Rankings: 20, 22, 30, 24, 16

Everybody knew that the Titans weren't 0-6 bad. Now it is clear that they are yet a good team. Chris Johnson continues to run all over everybody and Vince Young throwing for almost 400 yards in one game helps a little bit as well.

Can the Titans finish 10-6 after starting 0-6? Anything is possible, but Tennessee faces a big roadblock this week: undefeated Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

13. Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) Previous Rankings: 16, 13, 13, 8, 12

This is a typical Eagles team. Very inconsistent on offense, always solid defensively, plays to their competition.

Nobody is scared of them, just like every year. They will likely sneak into the playoffs once again and fall short of the big game once again. A typical year in Philly.

14. Denver Broncos (7-4) Previous Rankings: 13, 7, 3, 4, 17

Just when the Broncos were left for dead, they go and kick the snot out of the Giants. Kyle Orton looked as sharp as ever and their defense looked in early season form.

The team that played on Thanksgiving was the one that started the season on a six-game win streak, not the team that lost four straight games. The question is: which team will we see in the remaining five games?

15. Houston Texans (5-6) Previous Rankings: 15, 19, 18, 10, 10

When Peyton Manning led the Colts down the field to make bring the Colts within six points of the Texans on Sunday, it was clear that the Colts would win, just like always. Houston always seems to find a way to lose against Indy.

They completely dominated the first half and the entire second half was just completely dominated by Indy in every facet.

Matt Schaub is one of the worst QB's in the league when under mental pressure as well. The pick six he threw to give the Colts a comfortable lead did not surprise me in the least.

16. Atlanta Falcons (6-5) Previous Rankings: 5, 10, 7, 13, 15

Atlanta is clearly a second-rate good team. The Tampa game can basically be thrown out because of the Ryan injury, but they've been struggling lately.

It appears the Birds will be on the outside looking in on the playoffs this year unless they can find replacements for their costly injuries.

The Rest of the Pack

17. San Francisco 49ers (5-6) Previous Rankings: 6, 9, 14, 18, 21

18. New York Giants (6-5) Previous Rankings: 3, 3, 6, 17, 18

19. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) Previous Rankings: 26, 18, 23, 25, 20

20. Miami Dolphins (5-6) Previous Rankings: 27, 21, 17, 19, 19

21. New York Jets (5-6) Previous Rankings: 4, 8, 19, 20, 22

22. Carolina Panthers (4-7) Previous Rankings: 22, 25, 21, 21, 14

23. Buffalo Bills (4-7) Previous Rankings: 21, 26, 29, 22, 27

24. Washington Redskins (3-8) Previous Rankings: 25, 24, 26, 28, 25

25. Chicago Bears (4-7) Previous Rankings: 11, 11, 12, 15, 23

26. Seattle Seahawks (4-7) Previous Rankings: 23, 23, 22, 23, 24

27. Kansas City Chiefs (3-8) Previous Rankings: 29, 31, 25, 27, 29

28. St. Louis Rams (1-10) Previous Rankings: 32, 32, 32, 29, 26

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-10) Previous Rankings: 28, 29, 31, 32, 28

30. Oakland Raiders (3-8) Previous Rankings: 24, 30, 24, 26, 31

31. Detroit Lions (2-9) Previous Rankings: 30, 27, 27, 30, 30

32. Cleveland Browns (1-10) Previous Rankings: 31, 28, 28, 31, 32

Five WOW Performances

1. Vince Young (27/43, 387 yards passing, 1 TD, 0 int, 4 carries, 8 yards rushing)

It's amazing how far VY has come in a year. Last season, even amidst a 13-3 season, he was grumbling about playing time and was whining constantly.

Now he's the toast of Nashville. He's 5-0 as the starter this year and lit up the stat sheet with almost 400 yards and threw a great game winning touchdown in the back of the end zone.

Truly a great, heads up play. Young has been a clutch player since his days at Texas and he showed that on Sunday.

2. Drew Brees (18/23, 371 yards passing, 5 TD, 0 int)

Drew Brees did something Peyton Manning could not do. Destroy the Patriots and throw for five touchdowns against them. He totally took control of the offense and found open receivers all over the field all game long against Bill Belichick's team.

Brees worked his way back into MVP talks with the magical performance he cooked up in the Superdome on the big stage of Monday Night Football against a supposed "elite" team. Bravo Drew, bravo.

3. Brett Favre (32/48, 392 yards passing, 3 TD, 0 int)

The old man does it again. Wasn't this supposed to be Adrian Peterson's offense. Now Peterson is just a piece in the clockwork that is Brett Favre's scoring machine.

The Vikings aren't just great defensively, they boast one of the league's top offenses in the league.

It's amazing that Favre continues to roll along the way that he has. His league high passer rating sure didn't take a hit after his amazing Week 12 performance.

4. Chris Johnson (18 carries, 154 yards rushing, 1 TD, 3 catches, 32 yards receiving)

Every week it seems inevitable that Johnson will break Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record. He's just incredible.

He now has 125+ yards in six straight games, something only the aforementioned Dickerson and Earl Campbell have done.

That's some Hall of Fame company. If Johnson continues at this pace, he'll have himself a bust in Canton.

5. Charles Woodson (2 interceptions, 1 sack, 1 forced fumbles, 6 tackles)

Wasn't Woodson supposed to be washed up about three years ago? Now he's possibly headed for the All-Pro team. It's amazing what leaving Oakland can do to a player.

Woodson is locking down elite receivers right now and picking footballs off right out of the air. The NFL's top corners might be Asomugha, Revis, then Woodson right now.

Yes, his two picks were off a rookie, but still, he took Calvin Johnson out of the Lions game plan.

Five Surprises of the Weekend

1. Vince Young playing his fifth straight good game. Jeff Fisher must be kicking himself for sticking with Kerry Collins now.

2. Concussions keeping out marquee quarterbacks. Warner and Roethlisberger looked like "goes" until game day, but were pulled at the last minute. Just shows that the NFL and it's teams are taking concussions very seriously.

3. Seattle not passing the ball nearly at all. I guess when Justin Forsett is racking up 130 yards on the ground, there is no need to pass. Forsett is Seattle for the long run.

4. Cincinnati's struggles against Cleveland. Eric Mangini must have something on the Bengals that Tomlin and Harbaugh do not. The Browns shouldn't give the Bengals two competitive games like they did. Still, the Bengals did finish 6-0 in the AFC North this season. Pretty amazing.

5. New Orleans dismantling of New England. I was one of the many to pick against the Saints in that game. The Saints continue to prove me wrong.

Top Five Games of the Weekend

1. Tennessee vs. Arizona

Two "backup" quarterbacks from the same draft class started this game and the higher drafted player ended it in spectacular fashion. What a great game-winning drive from Young. Ninety-nine yards? Are you kidding me?

2. Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh

Dennis Dixon put in a good performance for never starting an NFL in his life, but it's the mistakes a player is remembered for. Dixon's pick in OT gave the Ravens the win.

Ray Rice making big plays down the stretch had something to do with Baltimore's win as well. The little man is the best running back in the fourth quarter I've seen all season long. Just think, he was the third-stringer last season.

3. Houston vs. Indianapolis

This was a great game until Schaub threw the six-point interception late in the fourth. Any game where we see Peyton Manning take over like he did is awesome to watch.

Manning rarely plays two bad halves, and he sure looked like a different guy in the second half of that game than in the first half.

4. Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay

The Falcons met some unpleasant road blocks at home against the Bucs when Matt Ryan left the game early and Michael Turner re-injured himself. Josh Freeman played the best game of his young career as well (his career is off to a very good start, by the way).

All things pointed to an upset by the Bucs, yet Chris Redman led Atlanta down the field and found Roddy White with about a half minute to go for the go-ahead score. Must be depressing to be a Bucs fan this year.

5. Philadelphia vs. Washington

Have to admit, I did watch a second of this game, but who would. Washington is the most boring team to watch in the NFL year after year, and I find Philly boring as well for some reason.

Maybe it's because the broadcast shows Andy Reid seemingly more than any other coach in the NFL. Kinda weird. Good game, though. Philly didn't impress anybody with a three-point victory against the 'Skins at home.

Five Things to Watch for Next Week

1. Tennessee's five-game win streak is on the line in Indy against the undefeated Colts. Should be one heck of a game.

2. Will the concussed quarterbacks come back this week? The Cardinals really need Warner if they can hope to beat the Vikings. The Steelers would be wise to sit Big Ben one more week since they play the hapless Raiders, but if either still can't go it will be a big turn for their team's season.

3. Green Bay-Baltimore on Monday Night Football should separate one of those teams as being good and one as mediocre. My money's on the Ravens.

4. Can Terrell Owens keep up his outstanding play? He's playing like a No. 1 right now. Bad news T.O., you've got Darrelle Revis this week.

5. Will Chicago blow out a bad Rams team? If Cutler throws a pair or more of picks in this game, it's time to stop calling him a franchise quarterback already. It's one of my very outspoken opinions that Cutler just isn't built to be a successful quarterback. Maybe not physically, but mentally. The kid isn't a good decision maker, on and off the field. Sure, Tim Lincecum has a good arm too, it doesn't mean he's a good quarterback.

End of the Year...If I Had to Pick

MVP: Peyton Manning

Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson

Defensive Player of the Year: Jered Allen

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing

Comeback Player of the Year: Tom Brady

Coach of the Year: Jim Caldwell

AFC Divisional Champions (in seed order): Indianapolis, San Diego, New England, Cincinnati

AFC Wild Cards: Baltimore, Pittsburgh

NFC Divisional Champions: New Orleans, Minnesota, Arizona, Philadelphia

NFC Wild Cards: Green Bay, Dallas

AFC Champion: San Diego

NFC Champion: Minnesota

Super Bowl Champion (MVP): Minnesota (Peterson)

Thursday Game Prediction: New York Jets 20 (-3.5), Buffalo 13

Hope you guys enjoyed.

-A.T.

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

2009 NFL Season – Week 13 Rankings

Lloyd Vance — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:22:52 -0500

The New Orleans Saints led by their O-line (pictured OG Jahri Evans) thumped the New England Patriots, and now they are No. 1 in this week’s Power Rankings

With their comeback win over the Houston Texans in Week 12, the Indianapolis Colts clinched the AFC South crown, so now there are only 11 coveted NFL playoff berths left. In the next five weeks, we can expect the remaining 25 NFL teams with records ranging from 11-0 to 4-7 to continue to self-separate into “Contenders” and “Pretenders.”

The upcoming NFL schedule has some great match-ups that will surely make it easier to see which teams will survive the league’s regular season championship rounds (December and early January) to make the playoffs, so buckle up as the 2009 NFL regular season is almost ready to land.

A common trend that I will be interested in is the number of new teams making the playoffs after missing them the prior year. In 2008, for the 13th consecutive NFL season, five or more teams qualified for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the year before (Arizona, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Minnesota, Miami, and Carolina).

This year the Bengals, Saints, Cowboys, Patriots, Packers, Broncos, and Jaguars are all strong contenders to make the playoffs after missing out on them in 2008.

In looking at the current NFL standings, here’s the breakdown:

The “Elite”

Saints (11-0), Colts (11-0), Vikings (10-1), Bengals (8-3), Cowboys (8-3), and Chargers (8-3); “Stuck in the Middle” teams, who are caught in the NFL’s parity-filled middle and need to either join the playoff hunt or fall back—Cardinals (7-4), Patriots (7-4), Broncos (7-4), Eagles (7-4), Packers (7-4), Giants (6-5), Steelers (6-5), Jaguars (6-5), Ravens (6-5), Falcons (6-5), Dolphins (5-6), Texans (5-6), Jets (5-6), Titans (5-6), and Niners (5-6)

The “Pretenders”, who are trying to avoid their 8^th loss which means they have joined the league’s bottom rung

Panthers (4-7), Bears (4-7), Bills (4-7), and Seahawks (4-7); and lastly the “Ugly” (See you at the 2010 NFL Draft)—Redskins (3-8), Raiders (3-8), Chiefs (3-8), Lions (2-9), Browns (1-10), Rams (1-10), and Buccaneers (1-10)

Now on to the rankings for this week.

1. Saints (11-0) —Wow, after their Monday Night Football dismantling of the Patriots, there is no denying Sean Payton’s team the top spot any longer. The Saints are explosive on offense, defense, and special teams, plus their quarterback, Drew Brees, is putting up some unbelievable stats.

New Orleans will look to continue their franchise best start and try to avoid a letdown as they travel to the nation’s capital for a game against the dangerous Redskins.

2. Colts (11-0) —Jim Caldwell’s team pulled out another “W” in a very close game against the Texans, but the Saints were more impressive. The Colts are now AFC South champs, and you have to wonder, if they lock up home field in the AFC, will they start “resting” some veterans?

In a clash of two miraculous streaks, the Colts will host the hard-charging Tennessee Titans (winners of five straight) and team-first QB Vince Young.

3. Vikings (10-1) —If the Saints were not around, everyone would be talking about comeback QB Brett Favre and the scary good Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t even close as Favre almost put up career numbers in a rout of the Chicago Bears and their inconsistent quarterback, Jay Cutler.

Next up is a Sunday Night Football “flexed” game as the Vikes travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals in a potential playoff preview game.

4. Chargers (8-3) —The Bolts have now won six games in a row after throttling the KC Chiefs in Week 12. Surprisingly, the Chargers continue to fly under the NFL’s mainstream radar despite a MVP-type season from QB Philip Rivers.

Head coach Norv Turner’s squad continues their tour of the NFL’s underbelly as they travel to Cleveland to face the one-win Browns.

5. Bengals (8-3) —Marvin Lewis’ team rebounded from a bad road loss to the Oakland Raiders by thumping the Cleveland Browns to finish a perfect 6-0 in AFC North divisional games.

Another NFL cupcake awaits as the Bengals will gladly host the one-win Detroit Lions.

6. Cowboys (8-3) —As usual the ‘Boys rolled on Thanksgiving, this time beating up the hapless Oakland Raiders on national television.

In an NFC East grudge match, the Meadowlands will be rocking as the struggling New York Giants host the Cowboys with their season on the line.

7. Eagles (7-4) —The Birds made it two ugly wins in a row, as they outlasted the reeling and injured Washington Redskins in a knock-down-drag-out NFC East battle.

Hoping to continue their usual November/December playoff push (two-game winning streak), the Birds will travel to the Georgia Dome to face a very injured Falcons’ squad.

8. Packers (7-4) —While probably trying in vain to catch the red-hot Minnesota Vikings in the standings, the Pack continues to put themselves in playoff contention. The Packers dominated the terrible Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

In a great matchup of two teams looking to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt, the Baltimore Ravens led by future Hall of Famer LB Ray Lewis will look to get a tough road win at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football.

9. Broncos (7-4) —It was pass the gravy time as the Broncos feasted on the reeling NY Giants on Thanksgiving.

Denver hopes to stay on the heels of the surging San Diego Chargers, but they cannot look past the host Kansas Chiefs, who are playing better since jettisoning malcontent Larry Johnson.

10. Patriots (7-4) —The Pats looked old and confused as they had no answer for the high-octane, undefeated Saints on Monday Night Football.

Looking to rebound from an embarrassing national TV loss, the Patriots and QB Tom Brady will look to jump all over the host Miami Dolphins in a key AFC East matchup.

11. Cardinals (7-4) —Even without starting QB Kurt Warner (concussion), the Cardinals were seconds away from a huge inter-conference win, but it was V.Y. to the rescue for the Titans in a thriller.

In a game that was “flexed” by NBC to Sunday Night Football, the Cardinals hope to get Warner back and match the offensive firepower of the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

12. Steelers (6-5) —P-Burgh had another tough loss in Week 12—their third in a row—this time to the hated Baltimore Ravens in overtime.

Head coach Mike Tomlin’s team should be prepared this week, and you have to feel sorry for the visiting Oakland Raiders, who are looking like a potential homecoming tomato can.

13. Jaguars (6-5) —Just when you want to move Jack Del Rio’s team higher in the rankings, they lay another stinker. This time it was the San Francisco 49ers who laid the smack down on the up-and-down Jags.

In a game that is sure to have a playoff feel, the Jaguars will travel to Houston for a “loser leaves town” match with the equally desperate Texans.

14. Falcons (6-5) —Mike Smith’s team showed their toughness—lost QB Matt Ryan (toe) and RB Michael Turner (ankle)—in a win over the scrappy Tampa Bay Bucs.

In a huge game that will definitely have NFC playoff implications, the Falcons will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Georgia Dome with backup QB Chris Redmon making the start.

15. Giants (6-5) —The G-Men continued to fall further behind the Eagles and Cowboys in the NFC East race, as they were soundly thumped by the Denver Broncos on Thanksgiving.

With QB Eli Manning trying to gut it out (foot injury), the Giants will look to save their season as they host the NFC East division leading Dallas Cowboys.

16. Ravens (6-5) —Baltimore continues to show their toughness, as this past week they beat the Steelers in overtime on Sunday Night Football.

With no room for error, the Ravens will travel to Lambeau to face the surging Packers on Monday Night Football.

17. Titans (5-6) —Titans QB Vince Young outdueled Matt Leinart again as he answered his critics with an incredible last second win over the Cardinals. With their season on the line, the Titans will look to stop record setting QB Peyton Manning and the host Indianapolis Colts in a huge AFC South game.

18. Texans (5-6) —It looks like the inconsistent Texans are headed toward another 8-8 season which could spell curtains for head coach Gary Kubiak.

The Colts came back from a 17-0 deficit to send the Texans to a tough home defeat.

If the Texans want to save their season and possibly their head coach’s job, they will need to take care of business in Jacksonville in an AFC South survival game against the Jaguars.

19. Jets (5-6) —The J-E-T-S, led by CB Darrell Revis, shutdown the pitiful Carolina Panthers as rookie QB Mark Sanchez outplayed struggling Panthers QB Jake Delhomme.

In an NFL Network Thursday Night special, head coach Rex Ryan will need his team to take care of business against the equally desperate Buffalo Bills.

20. 49ers (5-6) —The Niners continued their climb back to .500 as they beat-up on the inconsistent Jacksonville Jaguars.

If Niners head coach Mike Singletary’s team wants to climb all the way into playoff contention, they will have to avoid a letdown in Seattle against the Seahawks.

21. Dolphins (5-6) —Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens got his revenge on Miami Dolphins czar Bill Parcells as the Bills led by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick dominated the Dolphins.

If the ‘Phins are going to show the NFL that they belong in the playoffs, they will need to defend their home turf against the angry New England Patriots.

22. Seahawks (4-7) —The Hawks finally found someone that they could beat-up on, and the one-win Rams were the willing victims.

In an NFC West statement game, the Seahawks will host the Niners in a game that will end someone’s season.

23. Bills (4-7) —Despite the best efforts of the NFL’s new fantasy football combo, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WR Terrell Owens, the Bills came up short to Jacksonville in Perry Fewell’s head coaching debut.

In the annual AFC East grudge match, the Bills will host the surging Dolphins and new Wildcat/former Toronto Argonaut RB Ricky Williams.

24. Panthers (4-7) —It looks like Panthers head coach John Fox is going to go down with struggling QB Jake Delhomme. The NY Jets capitalized on many Panthers’ mistakes to produce an easy win.

With their season on the line, the Panthers will host the 1-win Bucs in an NFC South basement special.

25. Bears (4-7) —When the Bears traded for Jay Cutler, they thought they had the missing piece to competing with the Vikings for the top of the NFC North…Man, were they wrong. Cutler struggled again as Minnesota and 40-year-old QB Brett Favre picked the Bears apart.

In a game they have to win to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive, the Bears will host the one-win St. Louis Rams in a must-win sitiuation.

26. Chiefs (3-8) —KC had no answer for the surging Chargers, who won going away.

With their season basically over, the Chiefs will now try to play spoiler as they host the Denver Broncos, who are in the thick of the AFC West race.

27. Redskins (3-8) —The injured ‘Skins and beleaguered head coach Jim Zorn couldn’t even capitalize on the sloppy Philadelphia Eagles mistakes in a loss that basically ended their season.

After the Saints huge win over the Patriots, could they be primed for a letdown game against the Redskins? Probably not.

28. Raiders (3-8) —Al Davis’ boys served as the turkeys for Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving day.

The season can’t end any faster for embattled head coach Tom Cable’s team, and I am sure it will get even worse as the Raiders play the angry Steelers in Pittsburgh.

29. Lions (2-9) —Once again the Lions were stuffed and cooked on Thanksgiving, this time by the surging Green Bay Packers. The road to the NFL Draft got even more tough for the Lions as they face the host Bengals, who want to keep their lead in the AFC North.

30. Browns (1-10) —QB Brady Quinn struggled badly as the Browns were spanked by the Bengals as they lost “The Battle for Ohio” badly.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini is on the hot seat after only 11 games, and it may get even worse as the surging San Diego Chargers come to town.

31. Rams (1-10) —If nothing else, Steve Spagnuolo’s team will fight till the end. Unfortunately, for the scrappy Rams, the Seahawks had too many offensive weapons in their lopsided win.

Look for the Rams to hand the ball off to powerback Steven Jackson when they travel to Chicago to face the inconsistent Bears.

32. Buccaneers (1-10) – The Bucs are young, but improving, and it showed in their effort against the Atlanta Falcons last week.

In a battle for the NFC South basement, the still hopeful Carolina Panthers will need to keep an eye on emerging rookie QB Josh Freeman.

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Read more Rankings/List news on BleacherReport.com

The All-Oak Hill Academy Basketball Team

Courtzide Seatz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:15:51 -0500

Some prep schools are renowned for academic excellence, feeding universities with bright, well prepared, intellectual students. These institutions are highly respected for their positive influence on their pupils, providing them with the all of the necessary tools to become highly successful adults. While Oak Hill Academy in Virginia is certainly one of these elite schools and offers a rigorous curriculum, it is more well-known for its boys’ basketball program. Players with ambitions of being recruited by top-flight college programs often transfer to Oak Hill Academy for their final years of high school in hopes of being discovered. It is renowned for outputting high quality athletes and provides them with the national exposure needed to be discovered by the NCAA’s top programs. Throughout the years, Oak Hill Academy has seen many notable alumni walk down its halls, and has educated some of the most well known NBA players in the last 20 years. Some noteworthy graduates include: - Ron Mercer - Jeff McInnis - Stephen Jackson - Rajon Rondo - Michael Beasley - Ty Lawson - Brandon Jennings As impressive as this list is, I believe there are five better players that should comprise the All Oak Hill Academy Team.

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Bleacher Report's All-Big 12 Team Features Names Familiar To Missouri Fans

Ryan Faller — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:31:14 -0500

'Tis the season for postseason accolades.

As the college football regular season comes to a close and teams await their bowl invitations, it's merely customary to roll out the recognition for those who have performed so brilliantly at their respective positions. And in the Big 12, which will likely only send one participant to a BCS game to cap an otherwise unpredictable season, there's plenty of praise to be had.

Without further ado, here's my Bleacher Report First Team All-Big 12 ballot for 2009:

Offense

QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

The numbers (3,696 combined yards, 27 TDs) are there, but McCoy likely solidified this spot, as well as a Heisman Trophy, with his consistent leadership and graceful piloting of arguably the nation's best team—both of which are becoming of college football's winningest quarterback.

RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The former Florida recruit turned junior college transfer nearly single-handedly pioneered the resurgence in Manhattan, as his 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground highlighted the nation's 31st-ranked ground attack and was crucial to the Wildcats' surprise ascension in the Big 12 North.

RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma State)

The senior from Angleton, Texas, was a driving force for Pokes' offense when his fellow playmakers were dropping like flies, rushing for 1,177 yards and 11 scores to nearly match his output from the previous three seasons combined and soften the blow of the absences of starting running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver/return man Dez Bryant.

FB Bryant Ward (Oklahoma State)

If you insist on honoring a player from this antiquated position, let's go with someone who played a significant role on a team that featured one of the nation's most-feared running games. A key cog in the Cowboys' 21st-ranked rushing attack, the 5'11", 233-pound Ward also shined in Oklahoma State's pass-protection schemes, which surrendered only nine sacks all season.

WR Jordan Shipley (Texas)

Let's not discount all the skill and impact he brings to the Texas return game, but Shipley makes his living at the wide receiver position, where he caught 80-plus balls for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season. And it's not only his talent that makes him a threat on every play. Shipley seems to share some kind of creepy ESP-like connection with quarterback—and roommate—Colt McCoy that makes the Longhorn offense one of the country's best.

WR Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Not much to say here, other than the fact Alexander was hands-down the NCAA's most potent receiving option the second half of the season. In his final five games, the senior racked up 943 yards (188.6 per game) and eight touchdowns en route to shattering MU's single-season receiving mark of 1,260, which was set by Jeremy Maclin in 2008, by nearly 400 yards.

Alexander's absence from the list of candidates for the Biletnikoff Award should go down as one of college football's all-time biggest snubs.

WR Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas)

Kansas fans may have seen the last of Briscoe, but you could argue to the death that he gave the faithful in Lawrence two of the best receiving seasons in school history. After posting more than 1,400 yards in 2008, Briscoe nearly outdid himself this season, totaling 1,337 on 84 receptions. And Briscoe, a junior who is heavily considering entering the 2010 NFL draft, potentially ended his career at KU in style, catching 14 passes for a career-high 242 yards in the season finale versus Missouri.

TE Riar Greer (Colorado)

One of the few glimmers of hope amid a tumultuous season in Boulder, Greer enjoyed what was easily the most productive year of his career. Finishing the season with 36 catches for 402 yards and four scores, Greer lead all Big 12 tight ends in receiving yards, receptions, and yards per game, and tied for the conference lead in touchdowns.

OL Nick Stringer (Kansas State)

Veteran KSU left tackle served as the lone senior on an offensive line that helped the program obtain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2006.

OL Adam Ulatoski (Texas)

Three-year starter and former two-time All-Big 12 selection started all 12 games at left tackle in 2009 and was entrusted with protecting quarterback Colt McCoy's blind side.

OL Brandon Carter (Texas Tech)

Mammoth right guard backed up preseason All-American hype as one of the key elements of the Red Raiders running game, which amassed 22 touchdowns, the fifth-best total in Lubbock since 1990.

OL Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

Versatile senior lineman provided leadership and stability to young and inexperienced OU offensive line, starting all but one game at left tackle.

OL Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Arguably the nation's most talented offensive lineman, Okung helped the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in rushing for the fourth season in a row and did not surrender a sack all season long from his left tackle position.

PK Grant Ressel (Missouri)

Easy call here. Given the unenviable task of succeeding Jeff Wolfert, the most accurate placekicker in NCAA history, Ressel drilled 24 of 25 field goals to lead the nation in accuracy. The Lou Groza semifinalist also made all 38 of his extra points.

KR/PR Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

Any time a player returns four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season, the competition is non-existent.

Defense

DL Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

The 6'4", 300-pound tackle epitomized the toughness and grit of Nebraska's defensive unit, which ranked as the third-best in all of college football, surrendering just 11 points a game. A unanimous selection, Suh led the Huskers with 70 tackles, including 7.5 sacks.

DL Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)

Though slightly less praised than Suh, McCoy once again made a name for himself as a disruptive force in the middle of the OU defense. A junior, McCoy started all 12 games in 2009 to boost his streak to a team-high 39, and tallied 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

DL Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Playing a number of roles for the Aggie defense, Miller excelled mostly as a pass-rushing specialist, posting 17 sacks to lead the nation. Just three sacks shy of the school record, the junior defender, who plays the defensive end/linebacker hybrid position, also forced a team-high four fumbles and defended five passes.

DL Jared Crick (Nebraska)

Partnering with Suh along the Nebraska defensive line, Crick benefited from the extra attention his All-American teammate received from opposing offenses. In 12 games, the sophomore registered a team-high nine sacks to give the Huskers one of the most effective one-two punches at defensive tackle in the country.

DL Brandon Sharpe (Texas Tech)

The senior defensive end and first-year starter recorded 15 of Tech's school-record 40 sacks to finish second in the nation. Sharpe was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice this season.

LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)

The undisputed heart and soul of the Mizzou defense, Weatherspoon continued to refine his reputation as one of the Big 12's premiere linebackers. A senior, Weatherspoon finished the regular season with 104 tackles, marking the third consecutive season he has eclipsed the century mark.

LB Jesse Smith (Iowa State)

The understated Smith was one of the conference's top defensive players. The leading tackler in the Big 12, Smith tallied nearly 70 percent (91) of his 128 total tackles in conference games to lead a Cyclone defense that aided Iowa State in earning bowl eligibility for the first time in four seasons.

LB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma)

The sophomore linebacker proved his impressive freshman campaign was no fluke. Named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2008, Lewis finished the 2009 regular season with a team-high 100 tackles to headline an OU defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring average, rushing yards allowed, and total yards allowed.

DB Earl Thomas (Texas)

Presumably the frontrunner for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the country's top defensive back, this sophomore safety is as good as it gets. Not only does Thomas quarterback the Texas secondary, but he finished the regular season second on the team in tackles (66) and ranks second nationally with eight interceptions.

DB Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State)

An ultra-athletic and ballhawking corner, Cox is arguably OSU's best defender, but he provides further value as a dangerous return man. In 11 games this season, Cox averaged 20.9 yards per kickoff and returned one punt for a touchdown.

DB Brian Jackson (Oklahoma)

A second-year member of the OU secondary, Jackson experienced unprecedented success all across the board in 2009. And though many will clamor for Dominique Franks in this slot, Jackson had more tackles (47), interceptions (4), and pass breakups (8) than his senior teammate, as well as lead the Sooners in the latter two categories.

DB Jordan Lake (Baylor)

There's probably more electrifying and overall athletic defensive backs in the Big 12 than Lake that got left off this list, but few are more active than the Bears' free safety. Lake was Baylor's second-leading tackler behind linebacker Joe Pawelek, but he averaged nine tackles per game in Big 12 play, second most in the conference.

DB Larry Asante (Nebraska)

Often lost in the shuffle on a defense loaded with stars up front, Asante enjoyed a stellar senior season as the unsung leader of the Nebraska defensive backfield. Asante tied for the team lead with 70 tackles and also nabbed two interceptions.

P Tress Way (Oklahoma)

My initial instinct was to go with Missouri's Jake Harry, especially after his barrage of punts that found their way inside the 20 against Kansas, but Way gets the nod. Not only did Way churn out the conference's biggest punt this season (74 yards), but his average of 45.5 was nearly two full yards more than the next closest player, Derek Epperson of Baylor.

Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year : Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Alexander's gaudy numbers (107 rec., 1,644 yards, 13 TDs) win out over those of Colt McCoy

Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

Close call between Suh and Earl Thomas, but Suh was consistently the conference's most intimidating defensive presence

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)

The guy came out of nowhere to lead the conference in rushing yards

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: David Sims (Iowa State)

The former Oklahoma DB signee has flourished after arriving in Ames on the heels of a successful stint in junior college

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Sure-fire NFL first round pick often looked like a man among boys as the anchor of the OSU offensive line

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ndamukong Suh

No explanation necessary

Offensive Freshman of the Year: Christine Michael (Texas A&M)

Why he only started three games is beyond me, but his team-leading 767 rushing yards suggest superstardom isn't far off

Defensive Freshman of the Year: Aldon Smith (Missouri)

Stated his case by tying MU's single-season record with 11 sacks and leading all freshman in the nation with his 18.5 tackles for loss

Special Teams Player of the Year: Brandon Banks (Kansas State)

No player was more explosive or feared on kickoff and punt returns

Coach of the Year: Paul Rhoads (Iowa State)

Because a program like Texas is expected to do great things, Mack Brown makes absolutely no sense here. Meanwhile, Rhoads has made football at Iowa State relevant again, and his fundamental approach to the game has the Cyclones bowling one season after the program endured a 2-10 debacle.

Follow more of my college football articles at Examiner.com .

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Irish 40 in 40: Players Post-Season Review

Eric Murtaugh — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:16:30 -0500

Before the 2009 season I took a look at the top 40 influential players for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Now, here is a review of that list:

1. Armando Allen (Jr. RB)—Frustrating season for Notre Dame’s starting tailback, as multiple injuries kept him out of the lineup in key games and moments. With Allen in the backfield, the Irish offense was more dynamic. Hopefully he can put together a strong senior season and carry the burden with Clausen and Tate likely gone.

2. Jimmy Clausen (Jr. QB)—Just an amazing season for Clausen, especially considering his lingering toe injury. Not much else to say. It would be nice to see one more year from him in South Bend.

3. Brian Smith (Jr. LB)—Not a good season for Smith this year as he struggled in his spot at middle linebacker. He barks a big game but often times doesn’t back it up. With a new coach, he may find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to playing time.

4. Ethan Johnson (So. DT)—A frustrating season for Johnson as he was moved inside to tackle when he is more suited to play at end. Clearly a talented defender, he led the team with four sacks and will continue to grow and improve his game. He needs to improve his run stopping abilities in the off season.

5. Nick Tausch (Fr. K)—Before losing his starting spot due to injury, Tausch brought much needed consistency to the kicking game in 2009, even setting the school record for consecutive field goals made. One of the bright spots for the future.

6. Sam Young (Sr. OL)—If there is one thing that sums up Young, it is that he is inconsistent. He can dominate at times but lacks the ability to put together all the tools a lineman needs throughout a game. Numerous penalties this year really set the team back as well.

7. Harrison Smith (Jr. LB/S)—Struggled mightily at safety for most of the season before switching back to linebacker to finish the year. Smith is at his best when he is attacking at the line of scrimmage, but lacks speed and smarts in the open field. With a new coaching staff in place, he may not be starting in 2010.

8. Golden Tate (Jr. WR)—Perhaps the finest season for any Notre Dame skilled position player? Tate amazed even his biggest supporters this year with his play making ability. A combination of Steve Smith and Hines Ward, he is impossible to tackle one on one. If he returns to school next season, he could be a Heisman favorite.

9. Paul Duncan (Sr. OL)—The fifth year senior had a poor season in 2009 and was continually beaten by smaller defensive ends with speed coming off the edge. The Irish need a better effort from his replacement in 2010.

10. Kyle Rudolph (So. TE)—A bit of an up and down year for Rudolph who took a small step back from his sensational freshman campaign. Still a work in progress with his blocking, Rudolph is among the best tight ends in the country and will be a huge factor next year.

11. Darrin Walls (Sr. CB)—It was a tough year for Walls, who was continually abused by opponents. He doesn’t seem to be the same player since leaving school in 2008. Although a major disappointment this season, he can apply for an extra year of eligibility.

12. Michael Floyd (So. WR)—Despite missing nearly half the season, Floyd still racked up 44 receptions for 795 yards and nine touchdowns. Clearly a thoroughbred receiver with big game play making ability, Floyd is the real deal.

13. Trevor Robinson (So OL)—The youngest member of the starting offensive line had a pretty good year and will be one of the leaders of the team next year. Teaming up with Sam Young on the right side, Robinson was able to blow open numerous holes for the running game.

14. Kapron Lewis-Moore (So. DE)—Had his moments this year, but lacked consistency. Still a very young and raw pass rusher, Lewis-Moore needs to work on his run stopping and tackling. He will be pushed to keep his starting spot in 2010.

15. Ian Williams (Jr. DT)—Williams played pretty well on a defensive line that showed some improvement in 2009. He is more adept at stopping the run than getting pressure on the quarterback and will be a presence on next year’s squad.

16. Robert Blanton (So. CB)—After a surprisingly strong freshman season, Blanton seemed to take a step backwards this year. He has good speed and footwork, but struggled to make plays on the ball and missed many tackles. Blanton will have to step up his game next year as he becomes an upperclassman.

17. Darius Fleming (So. LB/DE)—Maybe the most devastating pass rusher on the defense, Fleming has really come on strong in 2009. He led the team in tackled for loss (12) and will be a key to the team’s success next year. The future is very bright.

18. Eric Olsen (Sr. OL)—A passionate and scrappy lineman, Olsen played pretty well in 2009 but like the rest of the lineman, had trouble with consistency and penalties. He shows toughness and strength that has been lacking on the offensive line in recent years. May be eligible for another year in 2010.

19. Duval Kamara (Jr. WR)—After a tremendous freshman campaign, Kamara has struggled to return to form. He showed a lot of grit and toughness this year however, and is a dependable possession receiver finishing with 23 receptions for 281 yards and one touchdown.

20. Kyle McCarthy (Sr. S)—Fifth year senior came up with numerous big plays this year and was the defenses most dependable player. McCarthy is a strong tackler but lacked the speed and coverage ability necessary for a safety. His absence will be a big hole in the defense in 2010.

21. Toryan Smith (Sr. LB)—A big run stopper in the middle, Smith began the season as a starter but eventually gave way to younger talent. A serviceable player, Smith does not have the speed necessary to play on every down. Toryan’s leadership will be missed.

22. Christ Stewart (Sr. OL)—Perhaps the most consistent member of the offensive line, Stewart has turned into a solid blocker up front. Despite his enormous size he shows good agility and finesse. He is eligible for another year in 2010.

23. Kerry Neal (Jr. DE)—Quality veteran backup who contributed 25 tackles and three tackles for loss. Had some problems with consistency but made some big plays in key moments this year. Neal will be a key senior leader next year.

24. Hafis Williams (So. DT)—Did not see significant action in 2009.

25. Manti Te’o (Fr. LB)—The sensational freshman recruit was one of the few bright spots on the defense and has already staked his claim as the team’s best defender. He still struggles in pass coverage but he showed tremendous playmaking ability at the line of scrimmage. Will he be leaving for a mission soon?

26. Robert Hughes (Jr. RB)—A solid backup runner, Hughes had his moments this year where he ran powerfully, picked up good yardage and also was a decent option in the passing game. With a lack of speed and play making ability to go along with a crowded backfield, it is almost certain Hughes will move to fullback as a senior.

27. Scott Smith (Sr. LB)—Voted a team captain for 2009, Smith is a really good depiction of the Irish defense: good leader and hard worker, but someone who lacks athletic and play making ability. He filled in admirably when he was called upon registering 21 tackles.

28. Dayne Crist (So. QB)—Before suffering a season ending knee injury, Crist was slowly developing into a solid quarterback. Still a bit raw, he has a strong arm and good athleticism which were both on display this year. A lot of expectations will fall upon his shoulders next year if he becomes the starter and he will need to work on his accuracy and decision making.

29. Raeshon McNeil (Sr. CB)—Like most of the secondary, McNeil underachieved and was not able to make many plays during the season. The corners needed stronger play from the upperclassmen and McNeil was not able to bring that in 2009.

30. Steve Filer (So. LB)—Curiously underused, Filer is a special athlete who played well during the regular season. There is a lot of upside to this young player and with a new coaching staff he could be a starter at linebacker in 2010.

31. James Aldridge (Sr. FB)—At one time a promising five star recruit, Aldridge just could not battle through injuries in his final year. He finished the regular season with just seven games played and seven carries.

32. Dan Wenger (Sr. OL)—Unseated from his starting position at center to begin the season, Wenger was a backup at various positions and played generally poorly. With one year of eligibility left, he will be looking to reassert himself as a starter in 2010.

33. Morrice Richardson (Sr. DE)—Unable to beat anyone out for playing time, Richardson spent his last year without making an impact finishing with one tackle in two games played.

34. Robby Parris (Sr. WR)—Turning into the best third option at wide out, Parris finished the year with 25 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown. A true possession receiver, Parris was not explosive enough but made some crucial first down grabs in his final season at Notre Dame.

35. John Goodman (So. WR)—It took a while for him to see the field this year, but he had his moments both receiving and out of the wildcat formation. A talented possession receiver, Goodman will undoubtedly continue to fight for playing time at the crowded receiver position.

36. Eric Maust (Sr. P)—Wildly inconsistent, Maust had a very sub-par year for the Irish and constantly left Notre Dame with bad field position. Unable to hold down his starting spot, he was replaced late in the season and has no eligibility left.

37. Tyler Stockton (Fr. DT)—Did not see the field this year as the coaching staff relied heavily on the defensive tackle starters. With some weight gain, Stockton could be a welcome addition to the 2010 defense.

38. Mike Anello (Sr. ST)—An unfortunate quiet season for the special teams extraordinaire. Anello was a terrific story and his presence and heart on the team will be missed.

39. Gary Gray (Jr. CB)—All in all probably the most consistent and strongest tackling corner on the season. Started the year used sparingly, but will be a favorite to start next year.

40. Zeke Motta (Fr. LB/S)—Did a nice job in limited action this year, totaling 12 tackles while playing on special teams and mop-up duty at linebacker. Motta should be one of the front runners to start at safety next year.

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The Decade in Sports: The Greatest Players, Coaches, of the Decade

Jamie Ellis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:01:01 -0500

The first decade of the new millennium is coming to a close and another chapter in the history of sports has been written. But how will this decade be remembered? Who were the defining teams, players, and coaches that shaped the sports landscape for the first part of this century? Here is a list of the defining sports entities in the NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL, College Basketball, College Football, Tennis, and Golf.

NBA

Player of the Decade

Shaquille O’Neal —For the first half of the decade, there was no player in professional basketball that was able to dominate like Shaq. O’Neal won the first MVP award of the decade in 2000, and was the MVP of the first three Finals. He took home another championship with the Miami Heat in 2006 and gave his career one last jump start winning All-Star Game MVP in 2009. How Shaq only won one MVP is still a mystery.

Honorable Mention: Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash

Coach of the Decade

Phil Jackson —Jackson spent this decade right where he left the last one off: on top. Phil was able to meld the incredible talents of Shaq and Kobe into the decade’s first dynasty. After that relationship split up, Phil took some time off only to reemerge and bring a new Lakers team to glory and mold Kobe into the great player he is today. He finished this decade with four championships and two other appearances in the Finals.

Honorable Mention: Greg Popovich, Jerry Sloan

Team of the Decade

Los Angeles Lakers — In a decade in which two teams shared seven of the 10 championships, there still could only be one logical choice. The Lakers won the first three championships, missed the Playoffs only once, and finished the decade on top. That coupled with two other Western Conference Championships, and the Lakers could be considered the team of the decade in any sport.

Honorable Mention: San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons

MLB

Player of the Decade

Albert Pujols — Pujols wasn't even in the Major Leagues to start this decade, yet he still managed to quickly become the sport’s most dominating hitter. After running away with the Rookie of the Year award in 2001, Pujols went on to win three MVPs and a World Series. If that weren’t enough, he also finished in the top five in MVP voting eight of the nine years he’s been in the league, finishing the decade batting .334 with 366 home runs.

Honorable Mention: Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera

Manager of the Decade

Joe Torre —Torre could easily have been considered the manager of the last decade as well. He won the first World Series of the decade and appeared in two others. Although only one championship in eight years is considered a failure by some with the Yankees, his streak of making the playoffs every year of this decade—with two different franchises—is simply remarkable.

Honorable Mention: Tony LaRussa, Terry Francona, Charlie Manuel

Team of the Decade

New York Yankees —The Yankees expect to win the World Series every year. They spend the most money and get the most attention, and sometimes that attention is deserved. The Yankees book ended the decade with championships in 2000 and 2009, and also won two more pennants while missing the playoffs only once.

Honorable Mention: Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies

NFL

Player of the Decade

Peyton Manning — Manning won three MVPs during the decade (tied for most ever), and could be looking at his fourth this year. He threw for at least 4,000 yards in eight of nine seasons and is on his way to a ninth this year as well. All this while not missing a start the entire decade. He has only won one Super Bowl to date, but that’s already more than Dan Marino and Dan Fouts combined.

Honorable Mention: Tom Brady, Ladanian Tomlinson

Coach of the Decade

Bill Belichick —Before this decade began, a Bill Belichick coached team had never won more than 11 games in a season. In this decade Belichick took the Patriots to a 12 win season, two 14 win seasons, and the memorable 16-0 season of 2007. He also matched his previous best 11 twice while winning three Super Bowls and appearing in another.

Honorable Mention: Tony Dungy, Andy Reid, Jeff Fisher

Team of the Decade

New England Patriots —The Patriots memorable Cinderella run to a Super Bowl championship in 2001 appeared to be a fluke when the team failed to reach the playoffs the following year. But the Patriots rebounded around its curmudgeonly coach and poster-boy quarterback to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004. The undefeated season of 2007 ended in disappointment, yet the achievement is still remarkable. The Patriots defined success in the NFL in the 2000s.

Honorable Mention: Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers

College Basketball

Player of the Decade

Tyler Hansbrough —Hansbrough played all four years for North Carolina, winning Freshman of the Year in 2006 and National Player of the Year in 2008. Hansbrough validated his decision to stay in school his senior year by finally winning his elusive National Championship. The Tar Heel also finished his career as the ACC’s all-time leading scorer and had his number retired by the legendary program.

Honorable Mention: J.J. Reddick, Jay Williams, Candace Parker

Coach of the Decade

Roy Williams —Amazingly, Roy Williams has already reached 600 wins in his head coaching career. Williams reached a remarkable five Final Fours in the decade coaching the Kansas Jayhawks and North Carolina Tar Heels. Williams was an Hakeem Warrick block away from a National Championship with the Jayhawks in 2003 before winning two championships only three seasons apart with two entirely different rosters with the Tar Heels.

Honorable Mention: Tom Izzo, Mike Krzyzewski,

Team of the Decade

North Carolina Tar Heels —One could easily make the case that the Michigan State Spartans were the best team of this decade, making four appearances in the Final Four. The Tar Heels’ are remembered largely for missing the NCAA Tournament two years in a row to begin the decade. However, the Heels made four Final Fours of their own under two different coaches, winning National Championships in 2005 and 2009. The disaster that was Matt Doherty is now in the distant past as North Carolina wrapped up yet another successful decade of college basketball.

Honorable Mention: Michigan State Spartans , Florida Gators, Connecticut Huskies

College Football

Player of the Decade

Tim Tebow —Football’s golden god hasn’t even finished his collegiate career and already he’s being touted as one of the best college football players of all time. He was a part of one National Championship team, led his team to another, won the Heisman Trophy as a Sophomore and will finish his career as a three-time Heisman finalist, possible two-time winner and has a great chance of winning a third National Championship. During this time, Tebow also broke Herschel Walker’s SEC record for rushing touchdowns. No matter how this season finishes, Tebow has secured his place in the college football history books.

Honorable Mention: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Paul Posluszny

Coach of the Decade

Urban Meyer — Meyer coached three different programs in the decade, won BCS Bowl games with two different teams, and won two National Championships with two different starting quarterbacks. Meyer brought the Utah program to national respectability before making Florida one of the more dominant programs of the decade. Meyer hasn’t finished writing his story as the Gators haven’t lost a game in the 2009 season at the time of this writing. He could well be on his way to a third championship in the early days of the next decade.

Honorable Mention: Pete Carroll, Jim Tressel, Nick Saban

Team of the Decade

Southern California — Despite the Florida Gators’ success to close out the decade, USC was the dominant team throughout. The Trojans won two consecutive National Championships, narrowly losing a third. The program produced three Heisman Trophy winners, 14 first round draft picks, and finished in the top five in both the AP and USA Today polls eight times.

Honorable Mention: Florida Gators, LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes

Tennis

Player of the Decade

Roger Federer — Federer’s remarkable decade is beyond compare in the history of tennis. Not only did he win more major tournaments than anyone else this decade, he won more than any player in any decade or any career. Federer’s run of 15 major championships between 2003 and 2009 also included a record run of 22 consecutive majors in which he at least reached the semi-finals. Federer became just the sixth player in history to win every major in his career and reached the finals of five more. Federer’s record breaking career is far from over and the consistency and efficiency in which he racked up achievements leaves many tennis experts lauding him as the best of all time.

Honorable Mention: Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams

Golf

Player of the Decade

Tiger Woods —Tiger Woods failed to win a major in 2009, a feat so out of the ordinary it generated headlines across the country. Twelve of Tiger’s 14 major championships came in this decade, along with being named PGA Player of the Year seven times. Woods has established himself as the best golfer of his generation and perhaps the best of all time. His courageous performance against Rocco Mediate in a playoff round at the 2008 U.S. Open was merely a footnote in Tiger’s incredible growing legacy.

Honorable Mention: Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington

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Tiger Woods And The 25 Worst Transgressions Ever

Matt King — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:59:17 -0500

It's offical. With the revealing of a voicemail of Tiger calling Jaimee Grubbs in a panic because his wife was suspicious of him having an affair, then Tiger releasing a statement apologizing for his actions, what started as tabloid fodder has become truth. Tiger had an affair. Now it seems like there may even be multiple women involved in the life of Nike's cash cow. The man who was once considered one of the most boring superstars in history has blown up the internet in a way we haven't since since Michael Jackson died. Tiger certainly isn't the first celebrity to do something wrong by a long shot, but where does his trangressions (cheating on his wife, possibly with multiple women, possibly covering up domestic abuse from his wife) put Tiger in history's eyes? Judge for yourself. Here are The 25 Worst Transgressions Ever.

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Kirk Ferentz: 10 Early Bowl Season Gifts for Iowa

J.A. Allen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:26:35 -0500

In 2009 Santa dropped in early and often to visit Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz, leaving 10 pre-season bowl gifts under the nationally-ranked Hawkeye tree. As Ferentz eagerly opened each one, the gold-gilded invitation kept under lock and key offering a special trip to a warm climate, loomed larger and larger as bowl season moved closer and closer...

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East Carolina's All-Time Greatest Coaches

Allen Lopp — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:48:56 -0500

East Carolina University is located in the city of Greenville, North Carolina and the football team was founded in 1932 when the university was know as teacher training school. East Carolina plays at Dowdy-Fricklen Staduim and on Bagwell Field, but they didn't always play there from the years 1942 and before they played at College Staduim located on the main stadium. The coaches and administrative support is located in the Ward Sports Medicine Building, which is located adjacent to the stadium. Strength and conditioning for the players occurs in the Murphy Center, which is located in the west end zone of Dowdy-Ficklen. The Pirates scrimmages at adjoining practice facilities named the Cliff Moore Practice Facility. East Carolina's main rivials are NC State, UNC, and Southern Mississippi, some of the other notable rivials are West Virigina and Virigina Tech. Some of the the retired numbers are 29 and 36 which belongs to James Speight and Roger Thrift.

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2009 Major League Baseball Dream Team

James Rohricht — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:32:40 -0500

Yes, I realize that it is, in fact December. 2010 Opening Day is 124 days away and it seems like a lot longer. To hold me over until then, I will immerse myself in stats and projections and envy Matthew Berry's awesomeness. This list is basically a collection of the best and brightest players of the 2009 regular season. Enjoy.

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