The Final State of All the Babies

CHAMPION!

Tom Brady's Babies won the Going Deep Championship by a score of 72 to 72 over The Smithereens. Steve Smith led the team in scoring in the championship round and Drew Brees led the team in scoring for the season. Congrats once again to Tom Brady's Babies on a terrific Fantasy football Season. Hope to see you all next year!  Yes indeed my dear readers, this was the headline on my Dad's league page this morning.  Your very own Tom Brady's Babies won!!!!!!! I'm going to take a minute to gloat.  I kind of rock.  I beat my own Dad, who made it to the playoffs this year and lost in the first round and who has won his leagues the last two years.  And I beat a whole bunch of random boys.  I didn't know any of these people, it was a public league, but I was pretty sure they were all men.  I'm proud of myself.  The last day was utterly torturous.  The Eagles happened to be playing the Saints so I didn't particularly want the Saints to win, but I was expecting my boys Brees and Colston to put up their usual monster numbers.  A couple hours later the game is over, the Eagles had won, and Drew Brees hadn't thrown a touchdown pass in the entire game.  Colston had left the game in the first half with some strange injury (apparently he was coughing up blood...not good).  So at this point I think I am toast.  My savior was Steve Smith, who I had stopped even playing every week because of Carolina's painful quarterback situation.  Low and behold Smith had basically his best game of the season and caught for over 100 yards.   Luckily, I watched excitedly as most of my opponents players punked out on him as well.  Plaxico Burress laid a goose egg, as did his tight end Heath Miller.  That was helpful.  Ryan Grant was the only bit of light from that horrible Packers game and was my only other single player to get me double-digit points.  Going into the afternoon games I was ahead by only about 3 points, with both of us still having significant players left to play.  I began to panic when Kurt Warner's numbers kept growing.  This guy had switched last minute from Favre to Warner and boy was that the right decision.  If only I'd gone with my gut and put Marshawn Lynch in over Earnest Graham.  When the night game began I was a few points behind, with his team completely done and only Chris Cooley left for me.  I was sure Cooley could lock it up for me, he'd been awesome all season.  Early in the first half he catches a 33 yard touchdown pass and that ties the game 72-72.  All I need is for Cooley to get 7 more receiving yards and I've got it, but for some reason I decide to not watch the game.  A little while later my dad appears from his bedroom screaming, "Lisa oh my god!"  What what??  Cooley drops a 2-point conversion pass in the end zone.  That would have won it for me.  The Redskins lead by double digits in the second half and I know I am through - there is no way they are going to do anything but run the ball the rest of the half.  The game ends and we're left with the same score - tied.   I try in vain to find the rules on a tied championship game.  Are we co-champs (unacceptable), or is there a tie-breaker?  I check the standings.  I'd beaten him in the regular season, so I've got that tie-breaker.  I also had more total points than him - there's the second possible tie-breaker.  I've won!!!! Now you might be asking, what about the Boys' league game?  What happened there?  Well, it was over before it began.  My main man Willie Parker broke his stupid leg in the first quarter at St. Louis on freaking Thursday night!  There is no way to win a championship with only production from one running back. Not only did Willie not get me anything, he left me with a lovely NEGATIVE .10 POINTS.  Thanks, Will.  So I basically gave it up there.  I got spanked, particularly after my second running back, Willis Mcgahee, also decided to get hurt in his game and leave quickly.  It was so disappointing - these guys were two of the top running backs in the entire NFL the whole season!  They got me to the end and then they lost it for me.  Poetic, isn't it?  I admit, though, I think I'm happy to not have won that league.  I fear what would have happened to me when I got back to LA and the Boys realized they'd created a monster.  I'd have probably come back to many "sarcastic" barbs, and I wouldn't have been given an ounce of room to gloat.  I'd get upset and then the Boys would try to tell me that they weren't really being serious and I shouldn't be so sensitive, and I'd say fine, even though I wouldn't really believe that they weren't.  I'm plenty proud of a second and a first! I'm a bit sad that its over.  Fantasy football was such a nice little side distraction for a few months.  And it inspired this blog (yay)!   This Week's Favorite Things About the NFL 1.  Philadelphia is pretty amazing.  I've been at home this week and the press is pretty hypocritical (though I know I am about to hear crap for this).  All season they are calling for Reid and McNabb's heads, and suddenly a couple wins have everyone talking about how great they are. Suddenly the same people who wanted Reid to quit mid-season are talking about how much of a stand up guy he is.  Interesting. 2.  You knew I wouldn't go a week without talking about the Patriots.  First team to ever go 15-0 consecutively!  Saturday is it!  Not only could they be the first team to go 16-0, Tom and Randy Moss could both break their respective positions' touchdown records.  I can't wait!!! 3.  I really hate the Redskins and would rather them not get into the playoffs, but the Todd Collins story is one of those that I just love.  The guy has ten full years pass since his last start and wins every game he plays.  Now the Redskins only have a second-string Cowboys team in the way of their playoff hopes.  Its just incredible that things like that can happen in this league.  People can step up out of nowhere. 4.  While it was very disappointing to see Cleveland beat themselves into a hole at the worst possible moment, I was a little happy to see the Bengals finally step up and win an important game.  They have nothing to play for but they didn't just roll over to their division rivals.  Maybe its a glimmer of hope for next year from the one of the league's most disappointing teams this season.   5.  I know I go on and on about Brett Favre but there was a really adorable article about Favre and Greg Jennings on ESPN.com this week, discussing their relationship.  For those more sentimental fans, like me, its a good read. Random Thought of the Week You know what I really don't care about?  College bowl games.  I know they are tradition, and maybe I just can't get into it because I didn't go to a school with a football team (a fact that our Boston College rivals loved to constantly point out to us, yet I never really understood why, that's not really an insult).  But they just seem so pointless.  Half the kids get suspended after their semester grades come out and suddenly we're supposed to be shocked that they didn't really study.  Then the majority of the teams play meaningless games with titles like the Papajohns.com Bowl, or the San Diego Credit Union Bowl.  I guess the BCS bowls are supposed to have meaning but I'm really not sure what that is beyond the national championship.  I like Ohio State so I guess I'll watch that game but otherwise, I could not be more bored by a sport right now.  Well, I guess except the NBA.  I won't be rolling this blog over to basketball anytime soon. I hope you all had wonderful Christmases and Hannukahs!  See you next week!

It Is So Very On

I can't quite believe I did it...but I did it! I am officially in the championship game in not one, but both of my fantasy leagues. I'm actually pretty surprised at myself but I don't know why. I have two things going for me that help you win in fantasy - a lot of downtime to fiddle with my lineup and the fact that during said downtime I watch and read a whole lot of ESPN. Basically I just pay attention. But I'm not going to start the horn-tooting quite yet. I want to WIN. I have to win at least one league. So we're starting with the State of the Babies (quite good).

I don't think the Boys are surprised that I have gotten this far but I think all of the sudden the alarm bells are going off that I could realistically win. I honestly don't think I will beat my opponent, Silence of the Rams. He's been dominant the entire season and never fell from the first seed (though in support of myself, I never fell from the two spot either). He's got LT so that makes him dangerous no matter what. Right now the league matchup function projects him beating me by only about 10 points, so it could be anyone's game. Its probably good for me that we'll all be apart this weekend for the championship battle, everyone in their respective home towns for the holidays. I am not sure what the reaction will be if I do win. I hope they'll talk to me afterward.

In my Dad's league, I am playing some team called the Smithereens, who I must take down because he's the one who beat my dad this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs. I had so wished for a family matchup, particularly since we'll be watching together this weekend, but alas it didn't work out as planned. So now I must win one for the family. My dad has a pretty impressive record though - championships two years in a row and a first seed playoff berth the third. This is the game I think I can really pull off. This guy scored 79 points total last week...I scored 141. The Smiths have some players capable of breaking out though (Favre, Addai, Burress, McGahee), and he's got a couple favorable matchups. But I do too and if my team can keep rolling like it has been then I can pull off the win. Its been a strange season with that team...my running backs are Ryan Grant and Earnest Graham - two guys I had never even heard off at the beginning of the season and who are now having regular 100 yard games and most weeks are scoring at least one touchdown.

And now, in a very special guest blogging appearance, my very own Dad! He'd just like to revel and share in my awesomeness. Trust me, you'll notice family resemblance quickly as he shares his weekly highlights.

I am delighted to make a guest appearance in Lisa’s Blog.

I must congratulate her on her stellar debut performance in Fantasy Football. Regardless of the outcome of this week’s championship games, she has done a great job. I can assure you as her father that she knew almost nothing about the NFL until she started following the Patriots in college, despite cheering for the Patriots in high school. To be this savvy and successful is a great accomplishment, even though you only get bragging rights out of it. Seeing your child succeed in something is the best thing for a parent. Those of you who are not parents yet will understand someday. So well done Sasa. Ask her what that means.

And now for some random thoughts on the NFL and Week 15:

- I am now seriously rooting for the Packers. One reason is Lisa’s Grandfather, a cheesehead who has stayed loyal despite not living in Wisconsin since the Korean War. The other reason is that they will hopefully defeat the hated Cowboys in the NFC Championship.

- Where does one start in talking about the Cowgirls? There is the whining T.O., there is Jessica Simpson, there is Wade Phillips standing on the sidelines with no one paying attention to him because they know that Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones run the team. There is Romo, who despite doing a good job is not the second coming of Brett Favre yet. And, of course there is the whole America’s Team thing.

- Jessica Simpson, please. It is a football game, not E! News. It was a very good game so we did not need to see her on a regular basis. I love watching sports and do not need the extra crap that the networks bring in. I think most people agree with me on this. Just show us the game.

- One other thing about the Cowboys. Can they keep Roy Williams in the lineup forever? He is good for a personal foul every game and he cannot cover to save his life. Glad to see that he is being suspended. What a fraud.

- Unstoppable- Eli Manning. Have you seen his ad? I would say he was Citizen’s spokesperson but he does not speak in the ad. He really is getting worse. Again, the downside of their slide (they are at Buffalo and home against New England and could fall out of the playoffs) is that Coughlin would be fired. We need him in the NFC East. Coughlin could make people like Bobby Petrino.

- Finally, the Eagles. It has been a sad year for them. If they catch a punt in Green Bay and stop Brian Griese from going 97 yards in less than two minutes with no timeouts, they are in the playoffs. I have to blame the coach for this. He is a fine fellow (let’s not talk about his parenting skills, something I know about- see Lisa and Betsy) but a real stubborn guy. The team has no top rate receivers, poor return game and does not draft well. Please, Andy, get in a personnel guy and concentrate on the game. Also, look at the films. When you run well, you win. Stop calling passes on third and 1 or 2nd and 3 in field goal range late in the fourth quarter down by 3 with AJ at the helm. With the right play call there, you Patriot lovers might be looking at 18-1.

I'm not sure if you could tell but my dad really hates the Cowboys. I thought for a second, oh no, what if by some crazy chance the Cowboys beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl? What would I do? My life would be over, how could I ever watch football again? The thought is just too frightening. I am also so glad someone brought up those ridiculous Eli Manning watch ads...dear lord, what on earth would make you hire Eli Manning for an ad whose theme is being unstoppable? I know he's a lot cheaper than Peyton but its not even close! There is no way and no how Eli is unstoppable. It makes you wonder if those ad execs ever watched him play a game.
Also today was the Pro Bowl lineup announcements. Honestly not very much to comment on. People are apt to be up in arms about Fred Taylor yet again not making the team (or I guess as an alternate). But really, how do you argue against the 3 running backs - LT, Willie Parker, and Joseph Addai. I am however quite happy that Brian Westbrook finally made the roster, because it would be a travesty if he didn't. He's a top 5 back this year. I'm also a bit surprised that Drew Brees didn't get the third NFC quarterback spot but I guess the Saints just haven't been consistent enough. The Cowboys managed to squeak in a league-high 11 players, which I guess in the NFC isn't surprising, though its nauseating. I guess they're still popular or whatever and people vote for players they know, sometimes regardless of stats.

I know I promised my NFC Playoff Preview this week but in light of my guest I am pushing that to next week. By then most of it should be wrapped up. I can only hope that by this time next week, the Giants will have lost their previously-almost-guaranteed playoff spot. I would LOVE that. At least if the Saints got in instead we'd have a game in the first round, instead of wasting our time watching yet another Giants one and done playoff embarrassment. And with any luck, Tony Romo's thumb boo-boo will provide the Cowboys a one-way ticket to Lambeau Field in January. Here's hoping!

Random Thought of the Week

You heard it here first (ok well courtesy of Perez Hilton) but Britney Spears' younger 16 year old sister is pregnant!!! Can you even believe this? Well yes of course we can because we can now be more sure than ever that the Spears' are pure trash. This girl stars in her own Nickelodeon series that is the most watched show on the network. Way to screw that up. Have these girls never heard of the birth control pill? My lord! What a royal idiot.

That's all for this week. I wish all my friends and family a wonderful holiday and a relaxing vacation (if you are taking one). I'll be traveling back to Pennsylvania tomorrow for about 10 days. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

AFC Playoff Preview

How can you not be in love with this man...he's too perfect. Earlier this week he'd made this comment in response to Steeler's safety Anthony Smith's "guarantee" of a Pittsburgh win:


"Well done is always better than well said. That's been the motto of this team.''


Peter King, who everyone knows my favorite NFL writer, admired Tom just as much as I did in making such a profound comment in reaction to something that could have caused other players to be pretty upset. So he asked him where he got it from, and this was his answer:

"Ben Franklin said that. I learn from where we all have, my dad!"


The man quotes Ben Franklin. I could just fall over from love.


I won't go on too much about this weekend's game. I think the game has said all that is needed to be said itself. I really feared the worst, because the Steelers are basically the better versions of the Eagles and Ravens. But I should not have feared, because Belichick knew exactly what to do with the team to get them back in the right place. A little anger and a little rest were all they needed. Now Tommy is five touchdown passes in three games away from breaking that record. Randy Moss is only four touchdowns in three games away from breaking Jerry Rice's record of 22 receiving TDs in a season - a record that has been previously thought to be untouchable. The amazing part is that I will be more surprised if they don't make these records than if they both do.


I am skipping over the State of the Babies section this week because it was an unimportant week in fantasy. Playoffs begin next week and both of my leagues are locked up already. I will be the number two seed in the Boy's league and I am not sure about the other one, but I think I will be three. The only thing I care to point out is that the first place Boy decided this week to "rest his starter" and still beat the piss out of his opponent with Kellen Clemens. That was pretty funny.

Instead, I'm going to do my first annual Playoff Preview, starting with the AFC!


Currently, the AFC playoff picture looks like this:


1. New England Patriots (13-0, AFC East, home-field, and 1st round bye already locked)

The only question is undefeated or not!

2. Indianapolis Colts (11-2, playoff berth locked, should win AFC South this week)

Barring a total collapse the next few weeks and massive Jacksonville surge, the Colts will tie up the other 1st round bye. And considering their rout of Baltimore this week, we should all be slightly scared of them.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4, should win AFC North)

The Steelers lucked out in that they've swept their division games against the Browns, who are just a game back. They have another very tough game against Jacksonville next week. They need to win that and keep those pesky Jags away from them in the playoffs.

4. San Diego Chargers (8-5, should win AFC West this week)

Scaring the crap out of their fans weekly. They've gotten some lucky breaks and managed to pretty much secure the West. The rest of the division has faltered and that has certainly helped because this team can be lucky to be called mediocre. If they can run the table, they have an outside chance of moving to the 3rd seed. They should hope so, because I don't think the Jags would be a very good matchup for them.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

The Jags have all but locked up this first Wild Card seed. They shouldn't even need to win at Pittsburgh next week to do it, considering how easy their last two games are. I tell you - I wouldn't want to have to play them in the first round.

6. Cleveland Browns (8-5)

Well, well, well. Cleveland - what are you doing here? Next week's game at Buffalo will be key, but their other two games are also very winnable (at Cincinnati, SF). I think if they can take 2 out of 3 they will remain in the 6th spot. Buffalo is the next team below them and they have a tough ending schedule.

I really like what is going on in Buffalo these days but I think they are too young and too banged up to move above the Browns. They also have a much harder schedule, facing Cleveland, Philly, and the Giants in the last three weeks.


So this means that the first round games would be Cleveland at Pittsburgh and Jacksonville at San Diego. Pittsburgh beats Cleveland in a close one, where the Browns make it a game but aren't able to close it up. They are young and this will be the first postseason game for almost the entire team. They won't be quite ready. Jacksonville beats San Diego on the road. Don't they always say that defense and a good running game wins in the playoffs? Jacksonville is about as good on both of those fronts as a team can be. San Diego (possibly lacking Shawne Merriman and Lorenzo Neal - huge losses for them) won't be able to take away the Jags run game. San Diego loses again in the playoffs, at home.


That makes round two Pittsburgh at Indy, and Jacksonville at New England. From what we saw of Pittsburgh this weekend, I think Indy will pick them apart, especially at the RCA Dome where they have a massive home field advantage. New England beats Jacksonville because well, they just do. Though admittedly I don't think it will be an easy win. I predict the Pats giving up a lot of yardage, but outscoring the Jags with their incredible passing game. The Jags receivers aren't good enough for them to be able to outscore the Pats.

Of course that brings us right back to yet another Indy at New England AFC Championship game. The Pats win in a for-real shootout (not the same battle as their regular season game, due to the Colts defensive injuries).

Come on, did you really think this would lead to anything but the Pats going to the Super Bowl? NFC next week!



This Week's Favorite Things in the NFL:

1. The crowd at Gillette Stadium chanted "Guarantee!" at the end of the game last weekend. I love it! They say the crowd there has gotten complacent, so it makes me happy to hear them stay in it like that.

2. I'm officially kind of into the Vikings. They can still win even when Adrian Peterson gets 3 whole yards? That's what I call a turnaround. Say what you will about the parity issues in this league, but I love the fact that teams can come out of nowhere.

3. The Bears are going to start Kyle Orton next week, the guy who started the season as the number 3 on the depth chart. Then Rex Grossman comes out and says he'd love to be back with the Bears next year. Sweetie...its over. You were benched, for a guy who is almost 10 years older than you, then lose the job yet again (ok fine he's hurt but its clearly not that bad). Just move on, with the utter lack of decent quarterback play this year, some team will take a gamble on you.

4. Through all the turmoil this year, I still really like Drew Brees, a lot. I just watched that ESPN commercial where he can't get through the security gate on his Mardi Gras float and he's really funny. And if you watched any of the horrible MNF game yesterday, you saw his absolutely sick performance. Accurate is an understatement. And he happens to be one of my fantasy QBs :)


Random Thought of the Week

On the complete opposite end of football, I think I am officially over The Hills (its an MTV show for anyone who doesn't know). They made this huge deal over the finale episode last night, only to have nothing remotely surprising or interesting happen. Oooh Lauren goes to Paris for what, 2 weeks? Then they make another huge deal about Lauren revealing some kind of "secret" after the show, and the secret turns out to be that they are doing more episodes. Um, lame.

This Week in Review

What a fun week! Don't you love having three days of football games in one week? Considering the utter wasteland that television is right now, it certainly helps to add a day on. It was an action packed week, so lets take a look at the highlights through the week...

THURSDAY

Ooh boy, I was excited for this one. Packers at Cowboys - the Sheriff versus the young gun (GRRR Romo). I didn't truly believe that the Packers could win this one on the road but an NFC Championship game at freezing cold Lambeau Field sure did sound like an exciting way to end the season, and would hopefully set up my ideal Super Bowl - a 1996 rematch of Patriots versus Packers. Alas, it did not quite go that way. Brett Favre got HURT. It was painful to watch him on the sidelines. His eyes were hollow and at times he couldn't even put his helmet down. One look into those eyes and you understood why this man cannot retire - he does not know what to do with himself when he isn't playing football. Aaron Rodgers came for Favre and surprised everyone who witnessed his half of a game played last year, where he looked like crap and went on to break his leg instead of assuring Packer Nation that he was the heir apparent. The kid played well and I am no longer completely concerned that the Packers will be flushed down the toilet when the Sheriff does eventually retire. He has to sometime, right? I think? Read his profile for SI's Sportsman of the Year, its fascinating.

SUNDAY

I was up late on Saturday night for a friend's birthday party but I thought, hey, I'll still set that alarm for 9:55am, and I'll lay in bed and watch the Eagles. This should be a good game, right? The Eagles played well against the Patriots, there was some hope if they could do it again and pull out a win, right? That would be a big old no. I definitely should have stayed asleep. I think its safe to say that Philadelphia's one-week love affair with AJ Feeley is officially over. When you stare down your receivers and throw continually into triple-coverage, that ball will be picked off. Multiple times. And with those picks goes the Eagles playoff hopes. The game was flat-out ugly, not helped by the vicious sleet and wind, and the play-calling was horrendous. I said to one of my friends earlier this week that Seattle had a speedy secondary, and they'd need to run the ball a lot to get anything done. Yet again, the Eagles insist on throwing entirely too much when they have one of the best runners in the game, Brian Westbrook. A couple of the Boys came up with a theory that Westbrook isn't taken seriously because Brian is too wimpy of a name for a running back. Maybe he should change it to Bryondo or something.

MONDAY

I knew I put that dang bracelet on for a reason. Something pulled me to my little silver jewelry box and I took out my little leather Brady bracelet (the leather looks like a football - its adorable) and put it on before I left my house to watch the game on Monday night. I was actually nervous not wearing my jersey. Last week I hadn't worn it for the first half, and after I left my location and went home, I put it on again just to try to change the cosmic vibes. And it did work (well, I think AJ Feeley just made a crappy play but still). Somehow we kept those cosmic vibes and some way, some how, remain undefeated, a proud 12-0! I know I sound like a greedy fan to say this but, the Pats didn't look good. They looked like crap actually. Randy Moss had 34 yards. We gave up 166 rushing yards because we could not tackle at all. The offensive line struggled and Brady got sacked several times. My friends and I prepared ourselves mentally to lose. We started talking about how it meant nothing to have one loss and that it wouldn't change our playoff stature. And then came the stupidest time out on the planet.

As a very special addition this week, I have a guest-blogger! My friend Lauren can continue on to tell us about this game, as she was in attendance. She's a Raven's fan, but we'll forgive her this once.

Tommy Can You Hear Me? Tommy Can You See Me?

For those of you who don’t know me – I’m Lisa’s good friend from college. I like to think that her passion for football started when she attended my Super Bowl party freshman year in which the Ravens played the Giants. Being from Baltimore, I have been a true Ravens fan through and through…Lisa saw me that day in probably one of my most intense moments… let’s just say I am a passionate fan. While I don’t think it’s appropriate to give myself full credit for Lisa’s love of football, I like to think I had something to do with it. So, thank you Lisa for letting me be your first guest blogger.

That said. I have to admit that this season for me has been all about the Patriots. Yes, I am admitting to being a fair weather fan or more accurately, fair weather Tom Brady fan. (I also just love how cute Tom Brady and Randy Moss are together. Boy love. Gotta love it). When my Dad told me I was invited to the Ravens/Pats game (he’s a season ticket Ravens holder) I looked at it as an opportunity to meet my future husband (the child out of wedlock – just a blip on the radar, of course).

Nothing was going to stop me from going to that game. Not 50 mph winds. Not a cold. Nothing was going to keep me in the way of my Tommy…except maybe the Ravens. At the start of the game, I informed those around me that I would be making my love for Tommy known throughout the game – the cheer I came up with is the title of this entry.

Something got in the way. The Ravens decided to show up.

We had planned to leave the game at halftime – expecting the score to be 20 – 0. Now mind you, all throughout the game deep down I knew it was going to be a heartbreaker, but part of me started to think could
the impossible really be possible? Emmitt Smith had said yes on Monday NFL Countdown… maybe he was right.

WRONG.

We forgot I think… us Ravens fans… that Brian Billick is our coach.

Now, I know defensive coordinator Rex Ryan called the time out. I know we had a lot of stupid penalties (and have the most in the NFL), but in my opinion Brian Billick is the worst coach out there:

Time Management: Do I really need to elaborate on this?
Play Calling: Do I really need to elaborate on this?
Stupidity: Do I really need to elaborate on this?

The truth is if the Ravens are going to get me to leave my Tommy for good – and move on, they are going to have to let Billick go…We all Know Kyle Boller isn’t the best, but he certainly is hot… and let’s face it, he doesn’t have a child…at least that we know of.

With all that said, I would like to congratulate MY Ravens on a hard-earned effort. You fell just short of knocking off one of the best teams – and quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Wow, I feel for ya girl. And you should be proud of the first 55 minutes that the Ravens played. You definitely managed to scare the beejesus out of us Pats fans.

Can't you see why Lauren and I are friends?



The State of the Babies

I'm just going to gloat for a minute. I have to. I told everyone at the beginning of the season that I'd be good at fantasy football. Well, I AM GOOD AT FANTASY FOOTBALL. I sit at a computer and answer phones all day. I have plenty of time to be updated on everything happening in the NFL. I drafted well, I made some good pickups throughout the season and now I have made the playoffs in both of my leagues! Wooooohoooooooooooo!

Ok so now that the gloating is over, I will admit that I lost both my games this week. Oops. I was playing the number one team in the Boys' league this weekend and I was pretty sure that I'd actually win up until yesterday. This team had LT, who scored him over 30 points, but I'd gotten almost as many from Peyton. Going into Sunday night, I still had both of my running backs (Willie Parker and Willis McGahee) to play as well as the New England defense. My opposition had one player left - Ravens receiver Derrick Mason. Do you see where I am going with this? Both of us thought that Mason would do nothing, and my remaining players would each get me a bunch of points. Well as we know, it didn't quite go that way. The Ravens are just cramping my style this week.

I also lost in my Dad's league, again to someone who had LT. I just had to be playing both of these teams in the week he finally breaks out, huh. I was sure I would win, so it was a big letdown. I thought I was doomed when I got to the point where I had to start Ryan Grant and Earnest Graham, but they've been great. Ryan Grant has had a touchdown every week I've played him. Receiver was my issue yet again. I chose to not start Kevin Curtis this week and of course he had over 100 yards. Colston has been hot and he had one catch (granted it was a pretty awesome catch). Still though, I'm going to be a division winner and will get into the playoffs. My dad is winning the entire league at 9-2. He's won his leagues the last two years as well. I can't argue - he's the man.

Now if only we can make a last surge in our Family Pick-em League.


This Week's Favorite Things in the NFL:

1. Brian Billick's kisses. Please tell me you all saw this moment. Rodney Harrison makes a clutch defensive play almost directly in front of where Billick is standing on the sideline. Turns right to him afterward and says something in his face. As he turns away, Billick, so smug, looks right at him and blows him a single kiss. Then moves his mouthpiece away and gives him two more. Priceless.

2. Tom Brady's postgame interviews. Whew, man does NOT like to play badly. He was downright salty and smartass to the reporters. You could tell he was mad at himself more than anyone else out there, but not exactly beaming with pride toward his teammates. Ok, am I the only one who things the anger was kinda hot? Anyone?

3. Adrian Peterson (the good one) is unreal. Just unreal. He's also just kind of adorable, he's this beast but he's a baby.

Random Thought of the Week

STRIKE. END. PLEASE.

This Stupid Game

For months, I dreaded the game between the Eagles and the Patriots that took place this last Sunday. I dreaded what it would do to my friends - most them incredibly die-hard Patriots fans and a few of them die-hard Eagles fans. I had long ago told them that my initial plan was to watch this game at home, alone. I didn't want to get involved on either side and I didn't want to be there to see the carnage. I was also a bit torn about who to really root for and I didn't want to get crap from either side as to what to do. Of course this was long ago when the schedule was announced and we thought that the Eagles would be having a better season. Because the spread was so big and the Eagles weren't even starting their first string quarterback, I figured it would probably be ok to go to my friends' place anyway.

My fellow Pats fans decided to watch it on their own, which in the end proved to be a wise choice. I went with my gut and chose to just blatantly root for the Patriots, and turned out basically to be on my own while my Eagles fan friends happily FREAKED OUT at what their team could do. I was happy that the Eagles did put up a fight, they at least got some dignity out of it and a bit of hope for the season - I wish them well always though I'm glad they lost. I literally got up and left as things got tighter. I didn't want to put myself in a position to say or do something stupid. I just know that it would have gotten ugly if everyone was in the same room. It sounds a little ridiculous that I was so stressed while watching this game but come over once to watch a game with my friends and you'll get it. They're all, well, lets use the word passionate. We also had a couple guests over that I don't know so well, and I really preferred not to embarrass myself. The game was definitely a scare for the Patriots but I expected that would come at some point. It is just not possible to be blowing out teams for 12 straight weeks in the league as it is right now. Any team can turn it on at any time. People still seem to think that the Pats can remain undefeated and I think its possible. I am sort of glad that this Eagles game was a bit tougher than we all thought, because it makes the Pats realize that they cannot get too comfortable. Every team has at least one game where they just aren't "on" and I'd rather this game come now than later.

Again, kudos to the Eagles for a great performance. It certainly will be interesting to see what happens to this team in the offseason. I am not sure I am ready for an Eagles team quarterbacked by AJ Feeley.

For those of you wondering, the Turkey Bowl was quite a game. My team, the Booschmasters, lost to the Rats, but it was a close game. At least we all got some exercise before our massive meal. I caught one ball and therefore am happy with my performance. It doesn't take much.


The State of the Babies

I am playoff-bound baby! I have proudly clinched a playoff berth in the Boys' league, even though I lost this week. My team did pretty well but the team I was playing had Chad Johnson and the finally awoken Frank Gore and that was just too many points to overcome. Each of them had about 30 points, which is ridiculous. This week Andre Johnson didn't come through like he has in past games but hopefully that is only one game.

I also killed it in my Dad's league. I had a magical weekend where every player I put in except one, Steve Smith, got a touchdown. Brees had three passing TDs and one rushing TD. My kicker made three field goals and four extra points. I dropped the Titans waning defense (stupid Albert Haynesworth!) and picked up the best option I could find, which was the Bucs. Well that paid off in the form of 20 points including two sacks and two interceptions. All in all I hit my highest point total yet this year and I think I will also make the playoffs in that league. So should my dad, maybe even as the top seed. Wow, how mad do you think these dudes will be if the championship is me versus my dad? How cool would that be?? I'd be at home during that time so we'd be able to sit there all day and goof on each other. If we can pull that off it would be incredible.


This Week's Favorite Things About the NFL:

1. Devin Hester is pretty nuts. Nuts is the only way to describe him. The all-time record for combined punt and kickoff returns is 13 and its through 200 and some games. Hester now has 11 through two seasons. Not even 30 games.

2. Having at least one good game on Thanksgiving. Packers at Lions was actually pretty entertaining to watch while I made my stuffing and attempted to cut two large butternut squash. Have you ever tried to do that? It was impossible! I tried to buy pre-cut but it was $7!

3. Ricky...oh wait, he got hurt, already.

4. Eli Manning flat out regresses with Peyton watching from above. Having played on Thursday, the older Manning brother takes the trip to New York to watch baby bro play and baby bro throws 4 interceptions. The Giants get blown out. Its going to be quite interesting to see what happens in the NFC playoff picture. It is one hot mess right now.


Random Thought of the Week

I am incredibly saddened by the death of the Redskin's Sean Taylor. What an immensely tragic story. There has been far too much violence associated with the league this year, and I hope that maybe the death of a very talented colleague can make some of these players realize that they need to watch themselves more carefully.

The Turkey Bowl

Someone asked me yesterday if I too was on a writing strike since I didn't post last week. I'm not at all, it just happened to be an uninteresting week, and really why make you read something completely boring. Anyway, we're back in business this lovely Thanksgiving week. Thanksgiving day will feature two completely lame games: Indy-Atlanta, which I'm sure everyone thought would be awesome when it was going to be Michael Vick playing...now he's spending his holiday in jail...how sad, and Dallas-Jets, which is just lame because the Jets will literally get stomped. The only good game is Green Bay at Detroit, and we all know I am there for any game featuring this year's Brett Favre. Plus Detroit is actually, well somewhat, good this year. That will be fun to watch while I make my Grandma's stuffing and prepare for our annual Turkey Bowl game.

My friends and I will be preparing our third Thanksgiving on our own this year. Really I have been in Los Angeles for four of them but the first one was a bit different. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Its based around eating - what is not to like? We've made a lot of effort over the years to make our day as fun and homey as possible, so that no one gets too sad that they aren't at home with their families. Everyone cooks the dish that is the most traditional for their families and in the afternoon we play a football game. This football game has gone back and forth between really fun and excrutiating. Lets just say that some people in our group take it much more serious than others. Some people in our group are rather athletic, and some leave something to be desired in that area (you will be shocked, shocked! to hear that one of those people is me). It all starts out fun until there are one too many dropped balls and people start getting frustrated. Last year it seemed that we couldn't get anyone to move ahead and actually win the game, and finally everyone got so tired and bored that we called it a tie. The highlight of the game for me was when my team was driving and I ran straight up to my largest friend, who is well over 6 feet, and just threw my whole body at him to attempt to block him. He was in such shock that I had the balls to go at him that he just stood there staring at me. That's as good a block as any for me - he didn't get to that ball! We have a real trophy and everything that goes to the MVP. Its all very Friends (though I know the boys hate when I say that). We go back and retreat to our own corners to shower and bring over the last of the food, and by time we get back to the homestead the glow of what we are about to eat takes over and everyone is happy again. In the end, I'd really rather cook and watch parades and NFL games all day, but I play anyway. Or try to, at least.

NFL Things I Am Thankful For:

1. The Pats are 10-0 baby! Statistic - only 9 teams have ever gone 10-0 and 5 of them have won the Super Bowl. Interesting. I was one of these people who thought, yeah sure, Buffalo at home will at least give us a bit of a game. Maybe if they'd had Marshawn Lynch in but boy was I wrong. Next week they will play the Eagles at home, which before the season I had thought would be so stressful to me as a fan of both teams, I'd told everyone I was probably going to watch the game at home alone and refuse to answer my phone. But that was when I believed the Eagles were in contention...and we've seen how that's going. At this point we're aiming more for them to just not get embarrassed. Apparently the Eagles are 22 point underdogs. Jeez.

2. Pittsburgh lost to the JETS. Hahahahahahhahahhahahahahaha. Beatable.

3. The Colts almost lost to the Chiefs, at home. Adam Vinatieri misses 4 field goals in 2 games. HAHAHAHAHA. I like Adam a lot, he still means something to us Pats fans, but don't you feel just a little bit vindicated?

4. Tom Brady (of course) and his new pal Randy Moss. Both are close to breaking all-time season records for touchdowns. I want them both!

5. Brett Favre and Vinny Testiverde started against each other last week, resulting in the oldest QB combination ever. I believe it was 81.


The State of the Babies

I'm pretty happy with the state of the teams right now. In the Boys league I am still in second place and I think I can keep a hold on it for now. I'll definitely make the playoffs, as I also will in my Dad's league, where I am leading my division and I'm pretty sure I'm ranked about 5th overall. The Boys' league Babies absolutely crushed my opponent this week. I took a chance and put Andre Johnson back into my lineup because in the first few games he played before getting hurt, he was amazing. It paid off big time and he got me 18 points! I hope he can stay healthy the rest of the year. That helps my receiving corps so massively, who had been solid but not spectacular. I'd usually been playing Brandon Marshall, Donald Driver, and Reggie Wayne. Now I can interchange Driver and Marshall. Someone also dropped DeMeco Ryans, who I grabbed immediately, and has been just the right addition to my defense.

I also got Deion Branch back in my Dad's league but that didn't pay back the same dividends as Johnson did. But with Seattle passing as much as they are, I have to believe that once he's back in the swing of things that Branch will produce better. Now I am a bit concerned about my running back situation though. Larry Johnson and Marshawn Lynch both got hurt and didn't play, so I'd picked up Ryan Grant and also played Brandon Jacobs. However, both of them also got hurt in their games last week and now I am very thin at the position. Grant appears to be planning to play on Thursday, but Jacobs isn't as optimistic. I stole back Earnest Graham this morning but I don't know how much that will help. I just have to hope one of them gets healthy enough to return. My dad is also going to make the playoffs, so I better have my team in tip-top shape!

Random Thought of the Week

It really is the little things in life that can make you so happy. For me one of those is Gingerbread lattes arriving at Starbucks. You can only get them for a few months of the year but they are my favorite coffee drinks ever. Today I stopped at my first ever drive through Starbucks to get one. It was so cool! Really fast and easy. Just a nice way to start a morning.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I am thankful for all of you :)

Whaaaaa?

I don't believe it. Hours upon hours later, I still don't believe it. Did that game happen? Was it real? Did we really WIN? I'm told we did but I'm still in shock. The Pats-Colts matchup was one of the most emotional and insane experiences I have had in a long time. How?? How, Bill, how did you do it? Sunday was a roller coaster. I'd spent all week telling myself this game really didn't matter in the end. We'd still win our division with a loss, even several, and we could still even get home-field advantage in the playoffs with the right combination of events. One loss to Indy wouldn't cost us a Super Bowl. But when the game rolled around, all sense of logic went completely out of the window. Right around the end of the first half, the Boys and I had to stop ourselves for a moment. We realized that we'd never had to experience this feeling this season. The feeling of losing a game. The feeling of watching your team make, gasp!, mistakes. Coming down to earth, we laughed at how silly that concept was - how could we honestly think that we'd never have a game like this? However, as soon as the game started up again, I could barely watch. Luckily we were grilling and I could distract myself by helping to set up lunch. I needed to back up a bit. We were going to lose.


Then miraculously, the Pats started to come together. "Just throw the ball to Moss," one of the Boys kept saying over and over. And they did. And...it worked. A succession of passes to Moss, including one of the most incredible one-handed catches I have ever seen, got us down into scoring position and tightened up the score. The defense massively stepped up and forced the high-powered Indy offense to punt late in the game to get the ball back. Following another nasty bomb to Stallworth, Kevin Faulk punches it in. We're just about at two minutes left, but I fully believe that Manning can produce a score in that time, even with no timeouts. He takes the snap and out comes Jarvis Green (who isn't even a full-time starter always by the way), who sacks Manning and forces him to fumble, which we're later told is Manning's first fumble in the RCA Dome since 2005. We've got the ball and all Tommy has to do is kneel. We've won. We've won? It all went so fast. We won.


I'll hand it to the Colts - they are damn good. I think we could play them 10 times and at least 5 of those times they would win. Their defense is head and shoulders above any level its been in the current rivalry era. I honestly don't know what will happen if and when the teams meet again in what everyone expects to be the AFC Championship game. I certainly don't feel 100% sure that the Pats would win. The only thing that has changed now is that the Colts have one loss and Pats have none, and probably will get home-field for the next game. Important yes, but not a guarantee by any means. This win will of course, bump up the excitement of the possibility of going 16-0. Realistically, I am not one that believes this will happen, as much as I'd like it to. Though our most difficult test has been passed, anything can happen. We still play the Steelers and each of our division teams again. Any team can and does have bad days in the NFL and that can happen to us too. My guess? We drop one totally stupid game late in the season and end up 15-1.


Other teams did play this weekend, though I'm not sure anyone remembers, and one of them was my other favorite team, the Eagles. Watching them play last night made me remember why I am neglecting them....they stink. They just stink. They look distracted and completely lack chemistry. McNabb seems constantly nervous in the pocket and is taking too long to release the ball. They don't show the receivers on TV enough so I can't tell if this is his fault or if the problems is that his receivers can't get open. But he seems to just run away all of the time. The big Eagles story this week was Andy Reid's kids getting in trouble and a judge calling their home a "drug emporium." Now I like Andy Reid, I do. I think he's given Philadelphia nine great years and has been ultimately incredibly successful in a very hard division. However, I find it hard to believe that he can or should continue to coach this team. The team hasn't gelled and you can't blame that on anyone but the coach. The team had a pathetic offseason that didn't do anything to enhance the team. Bottom line is that as good as a coach as Reid is, I don't want him if he can't give the team 100% and its clear that he can't. Nor should he. In talking with my mom this week, she as a parent said that as tragic as this situation is, she can't help but feel like the Reid's parenting is to blame, and I agree. To have so many drugs and guns in your own home means that you aren't looking. They have younger kids in that house! To have your kids regularly traveling to the poorest and most dangerous part of a city to deal drugs means you aren't watching them. These kids are crying out for help and instead their father is running back to his team. It is just incredibly sad to watch.



On to happier things, my Favorite Things About the NFL:


1. Adrian Peterson sets the single-game rushing record. What a kid. I saw his post-game interviews and he was so humble, I was touched. We need more of him in this league.


2. Brett Favre (clearly a Favorite Things mainstay) joins Tom Brady and Peyton Manning on the 31 Teams Beat list, after another stunning game in one of the hardest stadiums to play in, Kansas City. The Pack is fo' real!


3. Cleveland and Buffalo. Two teams I am utterly enjoying right now. Cleveland is 5-3! This is a team that we thought might fire their coach mid-season. Buffalo was left for dead after being ravaged with injuries and are now 4-4. I think they'll give the Patriots a bit (only a bit) of a game when they play in 2 weeks. By the way, the best part? Brady Quinn won't play a down this year.

The State of the Babies

Ok, first thing, my big fantasy pet peeve - don't join a league if you don't want to keep up with it! The league I am in with my dad is a public league, and I won this week by playing against a guy who was starting Matt Leinart. Clearly he hasn't touched his lineup in ages. But then again, I got a win and am now tied for the lead in my division, which is always a good thing. I think I could have beaten almost anyone in the league anyway because Drew Brees had just a sick day (445 yards passing!) and a lot of them were to my man Marques Colston. Marshawn Lynch also had a high scoring day, and the Titans defense I picked up is going to definitely remain my starter. They didn't exactly have a challenge against the pathetic Panthers but they are a hard-hitting team. Going back to the Panthers, I think I might be considering sitting Steve Smith next weekend. I feel strange doing that, considering he's supposed to be a top 5 receiver, but with David Carr throwing to him, I don't know what else to do. I was completely right about Carr - he sucks no matter what city he's in. He might go down as one of the all-time draft busts. My other options are Dwayne Bowe, Kevin Curtis, and maybe Deion Branch. He'd been having a great season until he got hurt, but I am beginning to hear that he might be coming back soon.

Speaking of injured receivers, I really want Andre Johnson to come back. He'd been my star in the Boys' league and my receiving core has never recovered. Everyone I have has been adequate but not quite good enough to secure me weekly wins. This week I lost to Jon Kitna's Rabies, and pretty badly at that. Granted this team had Randy Moss, Derek Anderson, and I couldn't keep up. Peyton was average, my receivers were average, and I played Tony Scheffler at tight end while Jeremy Shockey was on bye and Denver got just slaughtered. Oh well, you can't win them all. I'm still somehow in second place but if I don't win again this week then I am in major danger of beginning to fall in the standings. A couple teams in the league are surging and I have to be able to hold steady. Come back Andre...

Random Thought of the Week

As I am sure many of you have seen or are experiencing, the film and TV writers have gone on strike. Folks, its not a good time in Hollywood. Everyone is angry and doesn't see a quick end in sight. My office is actually getting picketed. It is a very strange, depressing, and confusing experience to work in an office that is being protested. Personally, I'm angry at the situation. I'm watching people like Tina Fey go on strike. Do you have any idea how much money Tina Fey makes? A good friend of mine (and blog reader -wooo!) is from Detroit and comes from a GM family. She told me yesterday how her grandfather was part of the "sitdown strike" at GM many years ago. They were fighting for basic labor rights, i.e. to be able to receive livable wages, basic health care, and general safety in the factories. They were striking to not DIE at their jobs. Now decades later, people are using the union concept to turn their millions into more millions, ironically stepping on the little people to get it. People like me who will be paid less during a strike, or the production assistants on shows that will get shut down, just in time for the holidays. Everyone should be paid fairly for what they do, but I wish there could be a little more perspective on these issues from both ends.

I'll be pretty bored until the strike ends...maybe that means more posts...see you next time!