nfl

Football Fridays – Frustrated Tom Brady and Week 2 Matchups

Well, Geno Smith and the Jets’ one game winning streak has been broken! Most of us were in suspense regarding the game: Who would win?

Yeah, right.

Despite the gutting of the Patriots’ offense by free agency, injuries and (alleged) murder, the Jets suffered from poor performance on both sides of the ball.

I am not a Pats “fan” per se. I admire their work ethic and the coaching of Belichick, but I simply cannot abide a team that uses cheating tactics to win. Don’t they have enough film to study?

On the other hand, I am not a Jets’ fan, nor am I a fan of Geno Smith. So when it comes to these two teams, I go with the more mature QB.

That being said, the game was sloppy on both sides. Dropped passeds turnovers (not the tasty kind) and interceptions made the game a disappointment to watch. I expect more from Tom Brady, though I understand that he’s working with super-brand new players. But Tom showed his frustration, yelling on the sidelines about his immature receivers.

Either way, the Pats won and Tom Brady didn’t put up many fantasy points.

Let’s take a look at this weekend’s matchups:

Weekend Matchups –

(note…I only comment on the games that will probably be shown in the New York metro area. Your mileage may vary.)

Chargers at Eagles

The Chargers like to give away games and the Eagles seem like they are on a serious mission. With the addition of coach Chip Kelly, the Iggles are a team to be reckoned with. I pick the Eagles.

Saints at Buccaneers

Drew BREES! As a former New Orleans resident, I like Drew Brees. As a current New Jersey resident, I do not like former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. But I do like former Tampa Buccaneer, Warren Sapp. Hmmmmm. I pick the Saints.

Redskins at Packers

I am neutral on the strength of both these teams, but I like RGIII much better than Aaron Rodgers. Despite my affection for the running quarterback, I have to pick the Packers.

49ers at Seahawks

I laughed this morning when the fellas on WFAN reported that someone on the 49ners called the Seahawks, the “Shehawks”. Juvenile? Yes. Fun? Most definitely. This will be a hard fought game between two tough teams. I can’t even venture to pick a winner.

The Manning Bowl – Broncos at Giants

What else can be said about this matchup? I don’t do point spreads and stuff like that, but let it be said that Peyton has won every Manning bowl so far. In addition, the Giants defense isn’t what it used to be – but the Broncos offense is hot! Either way, it should be a good game to watch.

Let it also be said that the Eli does have two championship rings to Peyton’s one.

Who’s your team? Who’s your player? Comment and let me know!

Football Fridays – Running Backs

Running backs, also known as halfback or fullbacks (this depends on the size of the player), is sometimes the most visible player on the field. Overall, they also may have the best physique (read: hot bods) in the NFL. Wide receivers are a close second.

From the Free Online Dictionary:

running back
n. Football

An offensive back, such as a fullback or halfback, who has the responsibility of advancing the ball by running with it on plays from the line of scrimmage.

Whenever you see the quarterback hand off the football, it’s usually to a running back. If you polled a hundred football fans and asked which was the sexiest position on the team, excluding the quarterback, I reckon most would say the running back. Good running backs are hard to come by and they wear themselves out quickly on the field. The position is a taxing one because it is the most prone to taking powerful hits in addition to the wear and tear on the body, especially the knees.

However, running backs are the ones that usually provide the most exciting plays on the field.

Emmitt Smith, of recent “Dancing with the Stars” fame was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,400 in five consecutive seasons. He holds the NFL record in career rushing yards with 18,355, breaking a record held by Walter “Sweetness” Payton of Chicago Bears fame.

Adrian “All Day”, “Purple Jesus”, Peterson is a running back for the Minnesota Vikings, hence the moniker “Purple Jesus” because those legs have saved the Vikings a time or two. In his first pro season, he set an NFL record for most rushing yards (296) in a single game.

Peterson is what we think of as a running back. His lean physique and fast legs give him the ability to weave and move through the defenders on the field, taking off like a rocket when the coast is clear.

Stats: Height: 6 ft 1 in Weight: 217 lb

Peyton Hillis

If you like your running backs with a side order of grits and cowboy hats, Peyton Hillis is your man. From Conway, Arkansas, this Razorback running back honed his skills at the University of Arkansas beside Felix Jones (of the Dallas Cowboys). Pulling pickup trucks is a part of his workout routine.

Due to his weight (250 lbs on a 6’2″ frame) Hillis is more fullback than traditional running back. A fullback can either block for the faster, more agile running back or he can rush through the defense, using his weight to make short yard plays. Fullbacks don’t gain much yardage during games, so aren’t very good for fantasy football points (I learned this lesson last year, sadly.) Hilis is good-looking, but doesn’t give much points on the fantasy board.

Hillis has played for the Denver Broncos (227 overall pick in the draft), the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs. And, interestingly if my sources are right, he is the only white running He is currently a free agent (which is a nice way of saying he’s “NFL unemployed“). He was also the cover boy for Madden NFL 12.

Stats: Height: 6 ft 2 in Weight: 250 lb

Arian Foster

Considered to be one of the best running backs in the NFL, Arian Foster is one of the driving forces behind the Houston Texans’ offense. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Texans in 2009, Foster made his debut against the Tennessee Titans as a member of special teams. He scored his first NFL touchdown against the Miami Dolphins (of course). His first career start was against the New England Patriots where he rushed for 119 yards and scored two touchdowns.

In a 2010 start against the Indianapolis Colts (and Peyton Manning) he broke the record for the most rushing yards by a Houston Texans in a single game in addition to securing the most rushing yards given up to a single player by the Colts.

Stats: 6 ft 1 in, 228 lb

Ray Rice

Rice hails from my home state of New Jersey – a graduate of Rutgers University where he was the starting tailback during his freshman year. A current Baltimore Ravens (drafted 55th overall), Rice earned his first Super Bowl ring against the San Francisco earlier this year. In a 2010 wildcard playoff game against the love-to-hate New England Patriots, Rice scored an 83 yard touchdown on the first offensive play, the longest play for the Raves that season, the longest rush of hi NFL career and the second longest rush in NFL post-season history. The longest rush record in the post season is held by Fred Taylor at 90 yards.

Stats: Height: 5 ft 8 in Weight: 212 lb

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There’s your crash course on running backs. Now that you know the positions (if you didn’t know before) which running back is going to smash records this year? Peterson came close, just nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,106 rushing yards during the regular season.

Football Friday – Wide Receivers

After I watched a few football games with my husband, I decided that I wasn’t going to solely depend on his knowledge and seek out some information on my own. Plus, asking a ton of questions during the game can cause you to miss a lot of action.

So, for my readers who love the game, but don’t quite get it, Fridays are the day for you. It’ll be short, it’ll be sweet and hopefully it’ll help you understand and enjoy the game better. Yes, we love the spandex and the occasional flash of flat abdomen (I’m looking at you Eric Decker), but knowledge will continue to be power.

Let’s get started.

Wide receivers

Short and simple – these are the players that run downfield, away from the quarterback and catch “the long ball”. That’s my definition.

From about.com

Definition: An offensive player who lines up on or near the line of scrimmage, but split to the outside. His primary job is to catch passes from the quarterback.

Also Known As: receiver, wideout, split end, flanker

Easy peasy. The player who (usually) catches the ball thrown by the quarterback.

Note that the receivers who get the most press and exposure are those that play with a quarterback who is known for passing and who is also known for winning. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Matt Stafford, Eli Manning…these quarterbacks throw to “known” wide receivers.

This all depends on what region of the country you’re from. I’m from the Nawth-East, so these are the teams that are highlights.

Though I watch Eagles games, I cannot name their wide receiver off the top of my head. Vick is a running quarterback and only throws when he can’t run it out.

Wide receiver news – Long time Tom Brady target Wes Welker is now playing for Brady’s top NFL “rival” Peyton Manning. It will be fun to see the two teams come together in Week 13. I wonder if Welker is letting Manning in on any Brady secrets?

Now for the fun part. “Famous” wide receivers.

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Stats:

Danny Amendola : 5’11” , 188 lbs

Wes Welker: 5′ 9″, 185 lb s

Calvin Johnson: 6′ 5″, 236 lbs

Victor Cruz: 6′ 0″, 204 lbs

Eric Decker: 6′ 3″, 218 lbs

Who’s your team’s wide receiver? Who’s your favorite out of my picks? Comment below!