My Percy Harvin Blog

Defense

There comes a time in your fantasy draft when you have your starting QB, two or three RBs, three or four WRs, and possibly your Tight End taken care of. Adding depth is very important, but don't overlook the value of a top flight defense. The good thing about defenses are the elite ones don't tend to change from year to year despite injuries and turnover. Take the Giants for example. Who would have figured they would have an elite defense after Strahan retired and Osi went down? Yet, they did. Philly has had players come and go without missing a beat. Think about how long Pittsburgh and Baltimore have been elite fantasy defenses.

The top fantasy defenses based on Average Draft Position are:

Pittsburgh - 8th round
Baltimore & NY Giants - 9th round
Minnesota - 10th round

You can chose to wait until the 11th or 12 round, assuming there isn't a run on defenses, and land San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, NY Jets or Tennessee.

Don't worry if you miss out on one of the top D's. There are still great values to be had later like New England, Green Bay, Dallas, and Washington, but landing Pittsburgh D can be a difference maker. Some of the players going in the 8th round along with Pittsburgh D are Jamal Lewis, Julius Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Percy Harvin. Jamal and Julius have little upside. Ahmad and Julius have great potential, but can you really rely on them any given week? Meanwhile Pittsburgh is a plug and play. You don't have to worry about matchups. You just use them every week.

Kickers

Yesterday we discussed being bold and taking a top defense early. Since the top defenses don't tend to change from year-to-year, it's a calculated risk. Kickers, on the other hand, are much more of a crap shoot. In fact, since 2002 there have only been two Kickers to be in the top five in points in consecutive seasons.

Stephen Gostkowski is one of the back-to-back Kickers so he may be the exception, although his average draft position is the 11th round. I see no reason why New England's offense doesn't continue to score in bunches, but personally I would rather secure a top flight defense or provide depth to another key position. Of course, I am not opposed to ditching the Kicker position all together, but that's a topic for a different day. If you are drafting a Kicker based on last year, you'll probably miss the boat. Here's a look at the top five point scorers from 2002-2008.

2008
Stephen Gostkowski - 148
David Akers - 144
John Carney - 143
Matt Bryant - 131
John Kasay - 130

2007
Mason Crosby - 141
Stephen Gostkowski - 137
Rob Bironas - 133
Nick Folk - 131
Shayne Graham - 130

2006
Robbie Gould - 143
Nate Kaeding - 136
Jeff Wilkins - 131
Matt Stover - 121
Josh Scobee - 119

2005
Jay Feely -148
Neil Rackers - 140
Shayne Graham - 131
Lawrence Tynes - 125
Mike Vanderjagt - 121

2004
Adam Vinatieri - 141
Jason Elam - 129
Jeff Reed - 124
David Akers - 122
Shayne Graham - 122

2003
Jeff Wilkins - 163
Mike Vanderjagt - 157
Matt Stover - 134
John Kasay - 125
Gary Anderson - 123

2002
Jay Feely - 138
David Akers - 133
John Carney - 130
Martin Gramatica - 128
Sebastian Janikowski - 128
Ryan Longwell - 128

My advice is fill your roster with good depth at your key positions and grab a Kicker in the last round. Odds are you're going to drop your Kicker in your bye week anyway. Unless you have an extremely deep roster, you don't want to hold onto two Kickers at one time.

Ryan Lester

http://lesterslegends.com

Helping you win your fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey leagues.

At the present moment, the Florida Gators are the sure shot winners of the SEC with not a single team in sight who can match up to them.

There are of course the LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss. LSU and Alabama are the better teams of the lot but Ole Miss might have a breakout season this year. The chances aren't that great though for Ole Miss. Georgia is another team to watch out for with Mark Richt guiding them forth. However, it is highly unlikely that any of these teams would be able to get away with the title by defeating the Gators.

Hence, currently it is safe to predict that the Gators will win the trophy this time as well making it their second time in a row. What happens to the rest of rankings is actually what is interesting right now. Let's take a look at the Gators and the other two teams that at the top 3 for SEC this season.

Florida Gators - There's nothing much to say about this team except for how they completely dominated the conference. They completely routed Georgia, LSU and Alabama on their way to spectacularly defeating Oklahoma to win the national title. Those who think that this amazing performance cannot be repeated should think again. The entire 2009 team is the same as the 2008 time with Percy Harvin being the only exception. That means Tim Tebow is back at the quarterback position and all the starters, yes each and every one of them are returning this season. Only a sudden change can stop them now.

LSU Tigers - They are not going to be able to stand against the Gators but they are likely to win the West. Theirs is a team that has comparatively fewer weaknesses than the rest of the teams below them in the division. Their quarterback Jordan Jefferson has been a great last season and he could make 2009 a breakout season with the help of players like wideout Brandon LaFell and tailback Charles Scott he can really make things happen for the Tigers. The defensive portion of the team is quite good with Harry Coleman in the team still. Once they improve on their offense, they are very likely to go for the West title that is currently held by Alabama.

Alabama Crimson Tide - Everyone's completely in awe of Nick Saban right now and many believe that the Crimson Tide is going to be a great team from now till kingdom come. They are forgetting a major fact here. John Parker Wilson (Quarterback), Andre Smith (Offensive tackle) and Glen Coffee (tailback) have all left this season. These were the top performers of last year and Saban is to replace all three. Even though the man has been great at recruiting in recent time, it is uncertain whether Alabama will regain all of the lost force. They may win the SEC West title but they have to play much harder now.

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As great as the last 8 months of bragging about our national championship title have been, the time has finally come to move on. That's right Titletown, it is time to turn the page on the days of Chris Leak and Reggie Nelson and usher in a new era of Gator football. Don't despair Gator fans, there are still a few familiar faces from last year. Head coach Urban Meyer returns for his third year after posting a 22-4 record in his first two seasons leading the Gators, including an undefeated record in the Swamp. The ever-exciting Tim Tebow steps into the starting quarterback role determined to show that his arm can be as dangerous as his legs. The wide receiver corps also boasts a number of returning stars including Andre "Bubba" Caldwell, Percy Harvin, and Cornelius Ingram. The defense is a bit of a different story. The Gators return only 2 defensive starters from the 2006 squad.

So there will also be quite a bit of change. The many holes in the defense will be filled primarily by players from the last two recruiting classes (which were at or near the top of the national rankings by the way). Returning defensive end Derrick Harvey anchors the defensive line, but Meyer has said that as many as 6 freshman may compete for playing time there. The secondary is just as much of a concern after the departures of safety Reggie Nelson, and cornerbacks Ryan Smith and Reggie Lewis. Strong safety Tony Joiner returns for his senior year to lead the new group. Junior Markus Manson and sophomore Markihe Anderson are the leading candidates at cornerback and Kyle Jackson aims to fill the void left by Nelson.

Despite the many changes, expectations in Gainesville are still running pretty high. I've heard plenty of talk on campus of repeating as SEC champions, and even a little about Tebow and Harvin as potential Heisman candidates. Many sports commentators have said or written that these expectations are exaggerated and that this will be a rebuilding year for the Gators. They may be right, but aren't high hopes for your team what make the start of the season so exciting? I think so. Plus, nobody really knows what kind of season we are in store for. So how about giving the team a chance to show what they are made of before we judge them. If you need any help with that please talk to an Ohio State fan, as they were recently given a lesson in not underestimating the Gators. If that's not enough, here are 4 reasons why the Gators have the potential for another great year.

1. The Schedule

You have to like the Gators schedule this year. With the exception of the LSU game, all of our more difficult games are at home (Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida State). Again, the Gators are undefeated the last 2 years in the Swamp.

2. The offense

Playmakers abound with Tebow, Harvin, and Caldwell all returning. The offensive line is also fairly experienced.

3. The defense

Despite the changes on defense from last year, the Gators have plenty of talent and speed and if they can conquer their inexperience they have the potential to be good.

4. The coach

It is an undeniable fact that Urban Meyer is one of the premier head coaches in the country. He should be able to find a way to get the most out of the talented recruits he has brought in over the last 2 years.

- Tim aka T.laves

Author writes a weekly blog for the Gator's fan site at [http://www.Gatormaniacs.com]

If you aren't sure why Monday night's match up between the Vikings (-3.5) and Packers was the second most anticipated NFL match up this season, then the rock you've been living under is a dark, dark place full of shame and empty of Tivo. Take a moment and let it wash over you.

Let's be honest, this game has nothing to do about teams, and everything to do about Minnesota's newly acquired ring leader, Brett Favre, the long time Packer who faces his former team for the first time since his departure from Green Bay. After a roller coaster season with the Jets, and a rumor plagued off season regarding his return to football, Favre finally found Minnesota's offer too enticing to resist and joined a Vikings team that is going places.

Favre has it all. With a capable receiving core in Percy Harvin and Chester Taylor, an adoring fan base, and the best running back in football in Adrian Peterson (357 yards and 4 touchdowns in 3 games), Favre's Vikings appear to be the clear favorite to clinch the NFC North playoff spot. That is, unless Green bay has anything to say about it.

Green Bay enters Minneapolis on Monday back in stride after manhandling the over matched Rams 36-17 in St. Louis. While not completely over the hangover from a surprising 31-24 to the Bengals in week 2, quarterback Aaron Rodgers took command connecting on 13 of his 23 attempts for 269 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and just for good measure, rushing for a touchdown of his own. In his second full season at the helm of a Favreless Packer squad, Aaron Rodgers has accumulated 32 touchdowns on nearly 5000 passing yards through his first 19 games. While his production hasn't translated into as many wins as the Pack would hope for (8-11), this Green Bay team has a chip on its shoulder that could give them the edge they need heading into what could be a critical game in deciding who takes the NFC North crown.

Minnesota has had minimal resistance in getting out to its strong start. Handling the Browns and Lions as any competent team would, Favre... well... Favre'd the 49ers in week 3, throwing a last minute, 32 yard, perfect placement pass to Greg Lewis to move the Vikings into first place in the division. This is what we've all been waiting for: the new sheriff in town defending his honor against the organization that tried to send him out to pasture. If any team could march into the Metrodome and come out with a win it's the Green bay Packers. However, despite regaining their footing against a laughable Rams squad, look for Rodgers to spend most of the night on his back as his offensive line continues to struggle in protecting the pass, and ensuring a Vikings win.

Act one will go to Minnesota, but the question remains: How's it going to go in Lambeau? Stay tuned.

Final Score: 24 - 20 Vikings

Matt Sweet is an up and coming sports journalist who is directly collaborating with http://www.superpredictors.com

2008 represented a tremendous year for rookies in terms of fantasy football. I know because I rode 2 of them (Chris Johnson and Matt Forte) to a league championship. What will the draft class of 2009 have in store for fantasy owners come this fall? Personally, I don't believe that this years class is talented as last years but time will tell. The following represent my preliminary takes regarding the 2009 draft class:

--Matthew Stafford QB (DET)

What kind of pro QB will Stafford be? Will he be like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco or will his fate be more similar to Tim Couch or Joey Harrington? Fantasy owners likely won't have a chance to find out next season. Although Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he will keep an open mind in the battle for the top spot on the depth chart, more than likely Daunte Culpepper will be the starting QB for Detroit when they open the season against the Saints in the Superdome September, 13th. That scenario doesn't allow Stafford much of a chance to make an impact in fantasy circles. Moreover, it's hard to envision a scenario where he comes out and has any value as a rookie. Ryan and Flacco were both fifth-year seniors coming out of college and possessed much more maturity heading into the NFL than the underclassman Stafford does. Stafford's value will be limited to keeper and dynasty leagues on fantasy Draft Day.

--Knowshon Moreno RB (DEN)

Searching for 2009's top fantasy rookie? Well, look no further than Moreno. Moreno is by far the most talented running back in the 2009 class and I expect him to come right in and become the starter for the Broncos. Although, the Broncos did add several veteran RB's this past off season none of them have nearly the same talent as Moreno. I see Moreno as a No. 3 fantasy runner in 2009 with potential for more. However, because of the depth the Broncos have at the position, the former Bulldog is more likely to be seen as a viable flex starter in most drafts. Obviously, he's also a tremendous option in keeper and dynasty leagues.

--Chris "Beanie" Wells RB (AZ)

The Arizona Cardinals took the Ohio State power back with their first round selection, setting up an interesting depth chart battle this summer. Most pundits believe that Wells is the 2nd best RB prospect in the draft behind Moreno. Furthermore, Wells is a definite upgrade over Tim Hightower and I expect Wells to emerge atop the team's depth chart as a rookie leaving Hightower to serve as third-down back for the defending NFC champions. Whoever gets the goal line carries will obviously hold more fantasy value than the other but right now I see Wells as the better option in seasonal and keeper leagues. Both Wells and Moreno will have difficulty reaching the standards set by Johnson, Forte and Slaton from a year ago.

--Michael Crabtree WR (SF)

The Raiders loss is the 49ers gain. After the Raiders passed on Crabtree you know SF would eat him right up and they did. Crabtree was hailed as the top wideout in the draft, and he will undoubtedly have a chance to start as a rookie under coach Mike Singletary. The Niners are looking to be will a run-first team this year, however, so fantasy owners need to keep that in mind heading into 2009. Still, he'll still be worth a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal fantasy drafts and is quite capable of putting up some nice stats as a rookie.

--Percy Harvin WR/KR (MIN)

Percy Harvin still landed in the first round despite some "character" issues and will become a serious play maker for the Minnesota Vikings. Can you imagine the Vikings lining up Harvin and Peterson in the Wildcat? Harvin has immense speed and skills as a runner and receiver and I fully expect him to compete with Sidney Rice for the number 2 WR alongside Bernard Berrian. Due to his immense potential and explosiveness, Harvin will warrant a late-round flier in most fantasy drafts and surely will do some damage at some point for the Vikings. Moreover, Harvin instantly makes the Vikings DST even better than they were last year.

--Jeremy Maclin WR (PHI)

The Eagles finally gave Donovan McNabb some weapons. Maclin has immense speed and can stretch defenses in the vertical pass attack. Furthermore, he was an absolute steal where the Eagles got him. After watching an Eagle rookie WR make an impact last year there is nothing to say Maclin cannot do the same. Look for Maclin to be a late round pick this summer and I fully expect him to make some big plays for McNabb and the Eagles this fall.

--Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton OT (JAX)

Sure, offensive linemen aren't drafted in fantasy football, but that doesn't make them any less important to your team's success. Injuries absolutely decimated the Jaguars offensive line last season and was the predominant reason the team failed to make the playoffs after a very successful 2007 season. The Jags want to get back to Jag football so it was no surprise to see the team land both OT Eugene Monroe in Round 1 AND Eben Britton in round 2. The acquisition of both Monroe and Britton will only make Maurice Jones Drew more attractive in fantasy drafts. Look for MJD to be a top 5 pick this summer.

--Jason Smith OT (STL)

The addition Smith is a real positive for the value of RB Steven Jackson. Now it is up to Jackson to stay healthy and produce the numbers that fantasy owners have been yearning from him for years. With a new defensive minded head coach the Rams want to run the ball and feature Jackson in their backfield, and Smith's presence will be huge in making the ground attack effective. Furthermore, the Rams also added FB Mike Karney this off season. As I mentioned it is now all up to Jackson to achieve his potential. He will surely go in the first round again this year. Time will tell if he is worth it.

--Mark Sanchez QB (NYJ)

Mark Sanchez was the hottest name in the 2009 class in the days before the draft and after the Jets pursuit of Brett Favre last year it was no surprise that the Jets traded two draft picks and three players to move up and select him. Alth0ugh Sanchez has started a mere 16 games at the collegiate level, he could very well wind up starting for new coach Rex Ryan when the Jets open their season. In fact, Ryan has told the media that Sanchez will in fact compete for the top spot with Kellen Clemens. Personally, I don't see Sanchez making any noise this year as a rookie and would avoid him on draft day except in keeper and dynasty leagues.

--Kenny Britt WR (TN)

The Titans have been desperate for WR's in recent years and hope they have found their number 1 with Kenny Britt out of Rutgers. Coach Jeff Fisher told the media that he wants to get Britt onto the field as soon as possible, so don't be shocked to see him starting on opening day. The Titans also signed former Steeler Nate Washington this off season so it could be difficult for Britt to make a significant fantasy impact in what will remain a run-based offense with Chris Johnson and Lendale White. He is definitely a player to watch in the preseason, but more than likely won't have more than late-round value in seasonal formats.

--Darius Heyward-Bey WR (OAK)

Being a huge Raider fan I was upset but not at all shocked at this move. It is clear at this point that Al Davis values pure speed more than any other attribute. Was Jerry Rice fast? Is Larry Fitzgerald a burner? The answer to both of these questions is no but one was the best there ever was and one is the best presently. However, with no clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver on the Raiders roster, Heyward-Bey will warrant late-round consideration in seasonal fantasy drafts and will have ample balls thrown to him this fall. Time will tell how this all works out and Heyward-Bey and Crabtree will be forever linked.

--Donald Brown RB (IND)

Donald Brown will immediately be thrown into the mix with the Colts and that spells good news for fantasy owners who draft him this summer. I have never really been sold on Joseph Addai and I don't think the Colts are either. Although, new Head Coach Jim Caldwell told the media that Addai will remain the team's No. 1 back, owners should definitely expect a committee situation to evolve in Indy. Addai should receive more carries, but any kind of platoon hurts his value in both seasonal and keeper leagues. Addai is no more than a No. 2 back in fantasy circles. As for Brown, he'll be worth a middle- to late-round selection and is a must for anyone drafting Addai.

In summary, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact these and the entire 2009 rookie class will have on the 2009 NFL season. They have large shoes to fill on account of last year.

Cheers and Beers

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of Gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider/fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Visit today at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

Brett Favre has retired...again...or maybe not...

As of Tuesday morning it looked like Favre retiring was a definite. However, 24 hours later the Minnesota Vikings reportedly are offering Favre more money to comeback. So who knows where we stand at this point. There is one group that believes that #4 is off to a life of 'early bird specials'; that group is the online gambling outfits.

Shortly after the announcement came out Tuesday morning, the odds-makers got their calculators out and adjusted the Minnesota Vikings betting numbers for the 2010 NFL season.

Taking a glance at the Vikings pre and post retirement betting numbers, it is obvious that the bookies believe that Minnesota is a much better team with the future Hall of Famer under center, as opposed to Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson.

Here are some of the betting odds that changed drastically on Tuesday due to Favre's alleged retirement.

Vikings Total Regular Season Wins

Pre Favre Retirement: Over/Under 9.5 wins

Post Favre Retirement: Over/Under 8.5 wins

In 2008 with Gus Frerotte and Jackson splitting time, the Vikings tallied 10 regular season wins. However, they do have a difficult schedule this season as six of their ten non-divisional opponents made the playoffs last season. The over still seems to be the value bet even without Favre.

Vikings NFC North Odds

Pre Favre Retirement: +150

Post Favre Retirement: +280

Despite winning the NFC North last season and going 5-1 against divisional opponents, Minnesota wasn't favored to win the NFC North this season even before Tuesday; that honor goes to the Green Bay Packers.
Before it was announced that Favre is allegedly done, online sporsbooks listed Green Bay as the slight +120 favorite. After the odds-makers adjusted their numbers, they have the Pack as the overwhelming -160 favorite to win the North.

Vikings NFC Odds

Pre Favre Retirement: +600

Post Favre Retirement: +1000

Vikings Super Bowl Odds

Pre Favre Retirement: +1200

Post Favre Retirement: +2000

Is it really out of the realm of possibility to think that the Vikings can represent the NFC in the Super Bowl and possibly win the whole thing? Why can't they?

Whether Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson is calling the plays in the huddle for the Vikings in 2010, one thing is for sure, he'll be surrounded by plenty of talent.

Wide receiver Sidney Rice is coming off a breakout year in which he accumulated 1,312 yards to go along with eight touchdowns.

On the other side will be the 2009 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Percy Harvin. One of the NFL's most exciting players, Harvin is a threat to get into the end zone every time he touches the ball.

If both of the receivers are covered, Sage/Tarvaris will have tight end Visanthe Shiancoe to dump the ball off to. A tight end who likes to let it all hang out, Shiancoe caught 11 touchdowns last year.

Of course the Vikings won't have trouble running the ball as Adrian Peterson is one of the best in the business. Even with his fumbling issues in 2009, Peterson racked up 1,383 rushing yards and an NFL best 18 touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball the Vikings return a unit that ranked sixth in entire league in each of the last two years. Without a doubt, they are a Super Bowl quality defense.

Given Favre's history of false retirements, it is a little surprising that some sportsbooks already adjusted these odds instead of simply closing the odds like some of the competition. With Favre telling ESPN's Ed Werder Wednesday morning that if he is healthy, he will play it leads one to believe that there is definitely some betting value on all of the Minnesota Vikings' betting numbers listed above.

Eddie Aces is the managing partner of Oddsauthority.com. With almost a decade working in sports gambling industry, Eddie gives his readers an insiders perspective on how to wager and where to wager. Whether the reader is a betting novice or a seasoned pro, Oddsauthority.com has everything sports bettors need in order to beat the bookie.

It seems the trendy statistic in the NFL is the number of targets a player receives. Quite simply, it's the number of times the ball is thrown to a player. Obviously it's important that a player gets thrown to in order to put up numbers, but is it being over-hyped?

Here are the top 12 targeted WRs (Statistics as of 10/16/09):
Andre Johnson - 52
Nate Burleson - 49
Steve Smith (NYG) - 49
Randy Moss - 48
Reggie Wayne - 48
Chad Ochocinco - 46
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 45
Steve Smith (CAR) - 43
Santonio Holmes - 41
Calvin Johnson - 41
Wes Welker - 41
Hines Ward - 40

Now here are the top 12 fantasy WRs (non-PPR leagues):
Steve Smith (NYG) - 72.1
Reggie Wayne - 69.9
Andre Johnson - 67.7
Brandon Marshall - 54.8
Chad Ochocinco - 53.0
Nate Burleson - 53.0
Mario Manningham - 52.2
Miles Austin - 51.1
Roddy White - 50.9
Larry Fitzgerald - 50.0
Vincent Jackson - 49.3
Hines Ward - 49.0

Notice that five of the top targeted WRs don't show up.

The next four highest scoring WRs are DeSean Jackson, Mike Sims-Walker, Santana Moss, and Percy Harvin, which makes them the 13th-16th ranked fantasy WRs.

Jackson, Sims-Walker, and Harvin don't rank among the top 30 targeted WRs. Santana Moss is 22nd.

Steve Smith (CAR), Wes Welker, Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin, Justin Gage, Eddie Royal, Mark Clayton, Mushin Muhammad, Bryant Johnson, Bernard Berrian, Louis Murphy, and Patrick Crayton are among the top 30 targeted WRs yet they aren't among the top 30 fantasy scoring WRs. That's a staggering 40%.

While it is a useful statistic, do not put too much stock in it. The most important statistic for a WR is TDs. It is no coincidence that the top ten scoring WRs all have 3 or 4 TDs so far. Obviously a close second is yardage. That's where the scoring comes from.

PPR leagues add a point per reception, but I am vehemently opposed to PPR leagues. It overvalues possession receivers and short-changes deep threats. For the life of me I can not figure out why someone would agree that 3 catches for 15 yards should be more valuable than 1 30 yard catch. That's a different discussion for a different day.

The bottom line is use targets as a guide, but don't ignore the age old indicators of fantasy production.

Ryan Lester
http://lesterslegends.com

Helping you win your fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey leagues.

Most valuable Rookie

As the 2009-10 season winds down in the NFL we have several very talented rookies jockeying for the honor of being called respectfully the Offensive & Defensive "Rookie of the Year". When the season started I had Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings as the clear cut favorite for the award, I must admit I was a huge fan of his during his college days at the University of Florida. Percy Harvin is by far the most versatile of all NFL Rookies, he is able to catch & run the ball while lining up at multiple positions. There are other players that are also making an impact on their teams such as Lesean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles, who is 2nd among all rookies rushing the ball with 528 yards from scrimmage. Lesean McCoy also has recorded 27 receptions and 206 yards receiving which are the most among all 1st year running backs. Knowshon Moreno of the Denver Broncos is another player that has been very productive in his short NFL career as well, with his 688 yards rushing he has out ran all other first-year players so far at this point in the season. Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets has looked good at times as well as Matt Stafford of the Detroit Lions.

Now let's take a look at the potential "Defensive Rookie of the Year" Award nominees, there has been some good players, some so-so players & some have been a bust. But these handful of defensive players have made a huge impact not only on their respective teams, but to the NFL as well. Let's start our conversation off by talking about Brian Orakpo outside linebacker of the Washington Redskins, he has had a big year on a losing team but his 7 sacks leads all players in that category. Another player with potential to be very good for the long haul is outside linebacker Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers, he is currently 2nd among all rookies in sacks with 5. The former college teammate of Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing outside linebacker of the Houston Texans has also had a big of a year as any other rookie with his rookie leading 99 combined tackles. Brian is also 2nd among all first-year players with 3 interceptions as well. This next rookie isn't getting a lot of press but he has put up some very impressive stats quietly; I'm talking about Jarius Byrd free safety of the Buffalo Bills who leads all first-year players with 8 interceptions. And last but not least rounding out this fantastic bunch of defensive rookies is James Larenitis middle linebacker of the Saint Louis Rams, who has been very impressive on a bad team. James is 2nd among all rookies in combined tackles with 85 and he is also the leader amongst all rookies with 75 solo tackles.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin (Minn.) Dark horse: Lesean McCoy (Phila.)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing (Hou.) Dark horse: Brian Orakpo (Wash.)

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The last thing Brett Favre wants to hear is wide receiver woes for the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, that is what everyone is talking about. Who is Favre going to be throwing to this season?

It has been reported that Favre's favorite target, Pro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice, underwent surgery on his hip Monday in Vail Colorado. He injured his hip last season in the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints. He May miss up to half the season.

Many people have all asked the same question, why didn't Rice have the surgery during the off season? Viking Coach Brad Childers said that the team doctor and the other specialists told rice that the surgery was not needed, and that the injury could be taken care of with physical therapy. Other specialists told Rice to have the surgery during the off season. Obviously, Rice elected to have physical therapy and thought he would be ready for the season opener. Obviously, this was not the case.

Rice missed all of training camp and was on the unable to perform list.

According to Rice himself, the surgery went well. He stated that he has already undergone a few physical therapy sessions and can ride an exercise bike with assistance. He says he hopes to return before mid-season.

Recovery and rehabilitation for this kind of hip surgery typically takes around eight weeks.

Sidney Rice is entering his fourth year in the National Football League, coming off of a Pro-Bowl season in 2009. Last year Rice had 83 catches, 1312 yards, and 8 touchdowns.

It is quite an understatement to say that much of Favre's success last years came because of his corp. of wide receivers. Favre felt comfortable throwing to Rice because of his great ball handling skills and his ability to adjust to the ball down the field.

Needles to say Favre still has receivers, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and recently acquired Javon Walker. Everyone knows Percy Harvin is not 100 percent. Harvin has been recently hospitalized and has missed practices and pre-season games due to his battle with ongoing migraine headaches.

Vikings signed free agent Javon Walker who has played with Favre for three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Walker made the Pro-Bowl in 2004 but has suffered knee injuries since then.

Hopefully Rice will return to the Vikings before mid-season because undoubtedly Brett Favre has lost one of his biggest weapons.

~ MRM

Bob Molton - The Last Word In Sports

Please Visit The Last Word In Sports for current updated sports news.

This game features two exciting 2-0 teams and 2 of the top 3 rushers in the league so far. This will be Brett Favre's first home game in a Vikings uniform, so we can expect his 39-year old body to be hyped up to play.

49ers on Offense

San Francisco will look to pound the ball against Minnesota with Frank Gore, who is by far their offensive MVP. Gore has a great knack for finding open space and breaking for big gains, as seen last week against the Seahawks. Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye will dish out a bunch of different formations and blocking schemes to disguise certain running plays and give Gore an edge out of the backfield. But the Seahawks rush defense is a far cry from Minnesota's, who has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. Minnesota will have to dig deep and try to neutralize Gore in order to put pressure on QB Shaun Hill to make plays. Hill has been consistent, but he has only thrown one touchdown and hasn't had to go out and win a game yet. Not to mention that he'll be playing on the road against a solid pass rush led by Jared Allen, which ranks third in the league with seven sacks. Hill will have to use the services of veteran receiver Isaac Bruce and his dependable TE Vernon Davis, who will be tough for CB's Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin to bring down in the open field. Too bad Michael Crabtree is a no-show for San Francisco; they could've used him this week.

Vikings on Offense

Like San Francisco, the Vikings' offense relies on their stud RB, Adrian "All-Day" Peterson. Even with his hurt back, Peterson will be dangerous against the Niners. But San Francisco's rush defense has allowed only 53 yards per game and 0 rushing TDs in two games this season. So for Minnesota to get an early lead at home, they should go after the big plays. This means that Favre has to shake off his bent fingernail and bring back the old-school, aggressive Brett from Green Bay. And by old-school I don't mean he should take too many chances and throw interceptions, but he may have to break from his conservative role and look for rookie Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice for the long ball. This receiving corps is one of the fastest in the league and will pose a threat to the Niners secondary. When it comes down to match ups, the Vikings offense is complete and has too many weapons for San Francisco to handle. If the Vikings can get an early lead, Shaun Hill and the Niners will have a tough time playing from behind on the road.

Prediction

Minnesota                  27

San Francisco             20

Here are the next 3 winners of this year's 2007 college football bowl game results:

Capital One Bowl - Michigan Outlasts Florida, 41-35, as Lloyd Carr Wins His Last Game

If the Michigan Wolverines had wrapped it up and put it under the tree, outgoing coach Lloyd Carr could not have received a better Christmas gift from his players as they overcame 4 turnovers to turn back No. 9 Florida, 41-35, in the Capital One Bowl.

The longtime, popular Michigan coach announced his retirement after another loss to Ohio State in November. Had he not retired, he would probably have been asked to leave. Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez who bolted from his head coaching job at West Virginia to take over Michigan's storied football program.

The win was huge for Michigan's seniors as they won their first bowl game in 4 tries. Chad Henne threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns and Mike Hart pounded out 129 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Gators kept the game close thanks to Michigan's 4 turnovers and plenty of big plays by sophomore Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his speedy teammate Percy Harvin. Tebow was playing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand and was under constant blitz pressure yet was still 17-of-33 for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 57 yards and another score.

Harvin picked up 165 yards on 13 carries (12.6 yards per carry), scored once, and also caught 9 passes for another 77 yards and a second touchdown. In the end, it was not enough as Michigan won one for Carr.

The Gators failed to convert a 4th-down play at its 25-yard line and K. C. Lopata's 41-yard field goal put Michigan ahead 41-35 with only 2:21 remaining. Florida got another shot but Tebow threw 4 straight air balls. Both Michigan and Florida finished the season with 9-4 marks.

BCS Rose Bowl - Southern California Crushes Illinois, 49-17, to Make a Statement

Pete Carroll and his Southern Cal players still are thinking BCS national championship game, but the Trojans are going to have to wait another year for that to happen. They might have finished at 11-2, the same as Louisiana State that will play in the title game, but the Trojans lost at the wrong time to the wrong team-Stanford at home.

In a display of frustration and unrest, Southern Cal literally stomped Illinois 49-17 in the BCS Rose Bowl game to make a statement. Freshman tailback Joe "Where Do They Find These Guys?" McKnight ripped through the Illini defense for 170 yards (125 yards rushing and 45 yards receiving). McKnight's output was part of the Trojans' 633 yards of offense.

The output set a Rose Bowl record and the Trojans' 49 points tied the record. The blowout game gave Southern Cal 11 wins for an unprecedented 6th straight year. Illinois Coach Ron Zook still finished the year at 9-4, an unreal turnaround after a 2-19 record in his first two years at Illinois.

Do not be confused here, Illinois was a 13.5 point underdog going in. Remember that it was Illinois which dealt Ohio State its only loss, 28-21, and the Buckeyes will be facing LSU in the national championship game. Hats off to Zook and his players for an incredible year.

BCS Sugar Bowl - Hawaii's Unbeaten Streak Ends as Georgia Wins Easily, 41-10

Georgia's Bulldogs were hopping mad that they were not invited to play in the BCS national championship game, and Hawaii's Warriors were on the receiving end of their displeasure, losing 41-10 as their dream of a perfect season ended in the BCS Sugar Bowl.

Hawaii came into the game at 12-0, the only undefeated team among the NCAA's 119 Division 1A schools. They did it with coach June Jones' run-and-shoot offense that averaged 46+ points a game, the arm of junior quarterback Colt Brennan and some great receivers.

Brennan is the real deal. He has set more NCAA passing records than Carter has liver pills, but nothing seemed to impress Georgia, and especially Marcus Howard, who became the game's MVP as he had 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a tipped ball that teammate Dannell Ellerbe intercepted.

The truth is Georgia was simply too big, too fast and too strong for the Islanders this time around.

Howard and his defensive mates lived in Hawaii's backfield as Brennan was sacked 8 times, threw 3 interceptions and lost 2 fumbles, one of which Georgia recovered for a touchdown. Georgia's defensive line pushed Hawaii all over the field; Brennan was lucky to get out of New Orleans alive and well enough to be drafted for Sunday duty in the NFL.

"It was the fastest team I've probably ever seen," said Brennan. To be fair, they would not have been so fast in the Warrior offensive line had played better and given Brennan more protection so Hawaii's offense could be effective.

It was a good but difficult game for Hawaii to swallow, but the Warriors will live to fight another day. They had to know that their 12-0 record was against much weaker competition than every other BCS team faced. They had their way in the Western Athletic Conference, even taking down Boise State, which also lost its bowl game to lowly East Carolina 41-38. Even the Washington Huskies, who had a 21-point lead on Hawaii, could not beat the Warriors as their game ended with Hawaii on top.

The citizens of Hawaii fell in love with their Warriors and well they should have. Hawaii had a signature year. Other teams are now trying to steal June Jones away from Hawaii. It was worth the defeat when you know that Hawaii figures to make a $4 million payout for its appearance in the BCS Sugar Bowl. For a team whose recruiting budget was a paltry $50,000 a year, that is a lot of moola. Hawaii can now afford to recruit talent on the mainland.

June Jones has become an opportunity for some other teams. His run-and-shoot offense has resulted in a 76-41 record (64% win percentage) in 9 seasons, including this year's 12-1 mark and BCS bowl appearance. Jones took over a Hawaii team that was winless in 1998 and went 9-4 in his first season. Translation: You do not need to stay awake nights praying for Hawaii's success; the Warriors and doing just fine, thank you.

(Editor's Note: This is the 6th article of a series on the 2007 bowl game results.)

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

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The NFC and AFC Championship Games are nearing, and that means more fantasy football to devour at RotoPlay. And to help you assemble the most potent roster possible, here is this week's forecast.

(Note: The scoring for this contest covers just this week, as opposed to the other fantasy football playoff contests on RotoPlay, which run through the Super Bowl)

Player 1

1) Drew Brees: Brees blistered the Cardinals for nearly 250 passing yards and three touchdowns last week as New Orleans took a wrecking ball to Arizona's hopes of getting back to the Super Bowl. And despite how dominant the Vikings seemed last week against Dallas, their pass defense was not intimidating during the regular season. Minnesota was 19th in pass defense for the year, and 23rd in passing scores given up. If the Saints' offensive line can keep Brees upright, he could have a monster day.

2) Peyton Manning: In the regular season, the Jets gave up an average of 30 fewer passing yards per game than any other team in the league, and allowed six fewer touchdown passes than any other team. They've been good this postseason as well, picking off three passes and allowing only two touchdowns, but Manning is arguably the best quarterback ever, and he defies those statistics - well, at least to the point where we'll rank him second in this group.

3) Brett Favre: Favre enjoyed the first postseason four-touchdown game of his storied career last week, as the Vikings hammered the Cowboys in every which way. True, one of those was a semi-controversial toss in garbage time at the end of the fourth quarter, but it really only rankled some members of the Dallas Cowboys, and likely their fans (certainly, Favre's postseason fantasy football owners enjoyed it). Really, the only concern with Favre is that he reverts back to his old ways and starts slinging the ball around, especially because the Saints were third in the NFL in interceptions, and have a knack for creating key turnovers.

4) Mark Sanchez: For obvious reasons, Sanchez really shouldn't be considered as an option among the other stalwarts in this group.

Player 2

1) Adrian Peterson: Peterson ran for only 63 yards in Minnesota's blowout win over Dallas last week, continuing a trend that has seen him run for fewer than 100 yards in nine consecutive games. It should be noted, however, than he ran for at least 80 yards in four of those games, and has become an effective weapon as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, having caught at least three passes for at least 40 yards in four of his last five regular season games. The Saints are not particularly torrid in run defense, ranking 21st in the NFL in that statistic in the regular season, and allowed 6.7 yards per carry against the Cardinals last week. The optimist in you may just say he's due for a big game.

2) Pierre Thomas: Thomas overcame a rib injury and ran the ball 13 times for 52 yards against Arizona last week. He also caught four passes for 18 yards, and that's where his value comes into play, especially in this scoring format and against the formidable run defense of the Vikings, who were second in the NFL against the run this season and tied with the Packers for fewest rushing scores allowed.

3) Joseph Addai: Addai isn't a running back that will pile up huge numbers, but he does a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, he hasn't done enough for his postseason fantasy football owners, such as last week's 11-carry, 23-yard performance. Still, he found the end zone frequently this season (13 touchdowns), and he's also caught at least three passes in each of his last five games.

4) Thomas Jones: Though Jones remains the lead back for the Jets in theory, Shonn Greene has seemingly taken over that role in the postseason. Jones has run for only 75 yards on 29 carries with one score in the Jets' two playoff games, and he hasn't caught a single pass.

Player 3

1) Shonn Greene: As mentioned above, Greene has taken the lead for the Jets in the running game. He's had two fabulous outings, running for 135 yards and one touchdown against the Bengals, and 128 yards and one score against the Chargers. Indianapolis was just 24th in the league against the run during the regular season, and Greene had 95 yards against them in Week 16.

2) Reggie Bush: Bush had his best game of the season in terms of total yards last week against the Cardinals, running for 84 yards and one score on five carries, and catching four passes for 24 yards. Maybe it was because Kim Kardashian was in the building, but last week Bush also showed toughness while running the ball, something he hadn't shown much of previously. One of the things holding him back in this scoring format is that he doesn't get many carries, but he's still as explosive a player as a fantasy football owner could ask for.

3) Chester Taylor: Taylor had 23 yards rushing on four carries last week against the Cowboys, and 16 yards on two receptions. When he gets the opportunity, he can make plays, but he simply doesn't get the amount of overall opportunities that you're likely to see from the above options.

4) Donald Brown: Brown only ran the ball six times for 10 yards against the Ravens, though he did have two receptions for 15 yards. Still, the other options in this group are simply sounder than the rookie from UConn.

Player 4

1) Dallas Clark: Clark caught four passes for 57 yards against the Jets in Week 16 before being yanked from the game. In the Colts' win over the Ravens last week, he had seven receptions for 59 yards, marking the third time in four contests he caught exactly seven balls. With receptions so valuable in this scoring format, he's No. 1 in this group. And as good as the Jets are against the pass, Antonio Gates had eight catches for 93 yards in San Diego's loss to New York last week.

2) Sidney Rice: Rice was a monster in Minnesota's dismantling of the Cowboys, catching six passes, half of which went for touchdowns, and accumulating 142 receiving yards. It was his second straight game with six catches for over 100 yards with multiple touchdowns. He's clearly in sync with Brett Favre, and is an outstanding option for obvious reasons.

3) Marques Colston: Colston led his team with six receptions and 83 receiving yards last week against the Cardinals, and he also found the end zone. It was the third time in his last four games (with Week 17 being the exception) that Colston caught at least five passes for at least 75 yards. He's New Orleans' No. 1 target at wide receiver, and thus, an option worth seriously considering.

4) Reggie Wayne: Yes, Vincent Jackson had over 100 receiving yards last week even though Darrelle Revis was covering him, but in a fantasy football format where you have other very good options, we'd simply stay away from the best cornerback in the land.

Player 5

1) Percy Harvin: Harvin wasn't involved much in Minnesota's win over the Cowboys last week, catching only one pass for a single yard and running the ball three times for 23 yards, but you have to believe that will change. That outing was the first time Harvin was in single digits in receiving yards all season, and in what promises to be a high-scoring affair this week, you have to believe the rookie from Florida will be in the mix offensively for the Vikings.

2) Robert Meachem: Like Harvin, Meachem did not figure into his team's offense last week, failing to catch even one pass for the first time since Week 7. Yet also like Harvin, expect him to be a bigger part of his team's offense this week, though he ranks behind the rookie because he hasn't been as consistent throughout the course of the season as Harvin has.

3) Pierre Garcon: Garcon, who did not play against the Jets in Week 16 when New York visited Indy, had five receptions for just 34 yards last week against the Ravens. The Jets are No. 1 against the pass, and even with Darrelle Revis likely covering Reggie Wayne most of the day, Garcon will still have his work cut out for him.

4) Braylon Edwards: Sometimes Edwards has it, sometimes he does not, and last week's two-reception, 41-yard effort against the Chargers did little to inspire confidence that he'd show up this week against the Colts' solid pass defense.

Player 6

1) Jerricho Cotchery: Cotchery has put up solid numbers in the playoffs thus far, with nine receptions for 92 yards in two games, and over the course of the season he's shown himself to be the team's top pass-catching threat. And let's face it - the Jets will have to throw the ball at some point, especially if the Colts get out to an early lead, putting Cotchery, who had four catches for 45 yards against Indy in Week 16, in a position to contribute.

2) Austin Collie: Collie had big numbers against the Jets in their Week 16 match-up, with six catches for 94 yards. That comes with a caveat, however, in that the Colts had pulled most of their players, and Collie was left in, making him the No. 1 option. Still, the rookie has played well down the stretch, including last week when he caught four passes, including one for a touchdown, for 52 yards.

3) Devery Henderson: Henderson showed some of that big-play ability last week that was missing from his game so often during the regular season. He caught a 44-yard touchdown pass as part of a four-reception, 80-yard day, and as one of the Saints' top-three wideouts, has a chance to pick up plenty of fantasy points each week. However, he isn't as consistently on the other end of Drew Brees' passes as you might hope, and receptions are too important in this scoring system to ignore.

4) Bernard Berrian: Berrian is on the outside looking in during most of the Vikings' offensive possessions, and as such he caught only three passes for 32 yards last week. He hasn't caught more than three passes in any of his last four games, and hasn't scored in seven contests. Still, he does have a chance to show up if this game turns into a shootout, so don't completely discount him.

Player 7

1) Visanthe Shiancoe: Shiancoe has proven to be a touchdown machine all season, and figured into the scoring again last week, even though it was his only reception of the game and came at the end of the fourth quarter (upsetting the Cowboys, and linebacker Keith Brooking in particular). But the fact is, he's scored in three consecutive games, so even if he doesn't catch a lot of passes, counting on him to find the end zone is something you can do with confidence.

2) Jeremy Shockey: Shockey caught his first touchdown since Week 6 in New Orleans' playoff win over Arizona last week, and for the game hauled in three passes for 36 yards. However, during the game, he seemed to be favoring the toe injury that had sidelined him at the end of the regular season, which may have hampered his production. If you're confident he's healthy, by all means consider using him because he does give you the ability to pick up points with receptions that Shiancoe may not.

3) Dustin Keller: After scoring just twice in the regular season, Keller scored his second touchdown of the postseason last week against the Chargers. Though he picked up just 19 yards in the contest, he did so on three receptions, which is a solid total in this scoring system. But considering his struggles to find the end zone during the regular season, you have to wonder if he has it in him to score for the third straight game.

4) David Thomas: Thomas had a big role in the Saints' offense when the aforementioned Shockey went down, but with Shockey back in the saddle, Thomas' production waned. He didn't have a catch last week, and is probably not someone you want in your fantasy football lineup this week.

Kicker

1) Ryan Longwell: Longwell made both of his field goal tries last week, and in fact missed only two field goal attempts all season. Despite playing on the road, he'll still be inside a dome, which is a welcome location for all kickers.

2) Garrett Hartley: Hartley is one of those players that falls in the high risk/high reward category. He nailed his only field goal try last week and plays for a robust offense, but on the other hand, he missed most of the season with an injury and does not have much postseason experience, so there's no telling how he'll react.

3) Jay Feely: The Colts allowed more field goals from 40-49 yards than any other NFL team, and that means solid points in this scoring system. Also, the Jets do not carry a potent offense with them into this contest, so field goals could be the order of the day.

4) Matt Stover: During the regular season, the Jets allowed the fifth-fewest field goals in the league, and the fewest extra points. Furthermore, kickers have missed all five field goals attempted against them so far this postseason. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but Stover gets the bottom ranking anyway.

Defense

(Note: We won't rank the defenses, because which team you believe will win will have a lot to do with the defense you select).

- Indianapolis Colts: The Colts' defense isn't superb, but they are facing a Jets team that scored the fewest points among winning teams in each of the two playoff rounds, and have a decided advantage in that they play at home.

- New York Jets: The Jets are tempting, but the Colts have an outstanding offense, and will be difficult to beat at home. Still, if you think they'll upset the Colts, they belong in the top spot.

- New Orleans Saints: The Saints allowed just 14 points to the previously potent Arizona offense in New Orleans' 45-14 beat down last weekend. New Orleans wasn't an imposing defense throughout the season, but they got plenty of turnovers, a formula that worked last week and will likely need to take shape again this week.

- Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota devoured the Dallas offense in every way last week en route to destroying the Cowboys 34-3. The Vikings have a better defense than the Saints statistically, especially against the run, but the Saints are a legitimately great offense, and the home crowd will be thunderous, considering this will be the first time in their history that they'll host an NFC Championship game.

The NFL's regular season is over, but the fantasy football season continues. Hopefully your fantasy football team was successful this season, but if not, one more chance for redemption awaits you. And even if you tasted success, and won your league, the playoffs allow you one more opportunity for fantasy football glory. And to help you achieve that exaltation, here are our player rankings.

Player 1
1) Peyton Manning: Despite playing less than a full game in each of his final two contests, Manning was second in the NFL in completions, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns (tied with Brett Favre). All that and his team was working on an undefeated season before essentially forfeiting their final two games.

2) Drew Brees: Brees set the NFL record for single-season completion percentage and led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes despite sitting out Week 17. If you believe the Saints' late-season struggles were just a blip on the radar, Brees is an excellent option.

3) Philip Rivers: Rivers never seems to get mentioned when the top quarterbacks in the league are mentioned, but fantasy football enthusiasts know plenty about him. His 104.4 quarterback rating for the season was third in the league, and he was in the top-10 in both passing yards and touchdown throws.

4) Tony Romo: Romo had a great season, coming in third in the NFL in passing yards, and he happens to be playing his best football right now. Dallas is the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and many pundits like them to make a run at the Super Bowl.

5) Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers was fourth in passing yards, passing scores and quarterback rating for this season, so there's no doubt he is one of the best in the game. Green Bay is the fifth seed as well, which means it's unlikely they'd be playing any home games. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust candidate in this group.

6) Brett Favre: Favre had a remarkable year in every way, and he ended the regular season with a flourish. You have to wonder, however, if the Vikings will gear up the running game more in the playoffs than they did towards the end of the regular season.

Player 2
1) Kurt Warner: We all saw what Warner could do last season if he got hot in the playoffs, and despite the Cards getting waxed by the Packers last week, it didn't seem like they gave their full effort, did it?

2) Donovan McNabb: McNabb was worse than his pedestrian numbers (20-of-36, no touchdowns, no interceptions) indicated last week against the Cowboys, as he missed a number of open receivers. That and the fact that Philly is the No. 6 seed in the NFC will lead some to be pessimistic about him for a postseason fantasy football run, but remember that Philly had won six in a row, and McNabb has led his team on a number of deep playoff runs.

3) Tom Brady: While we certainly believe the Patriots can make an extended playoff run, Brady is dealing with a plethora of problems. First and foremost are his busted bones - he reportedly has three cracked ribs and a broken index finger on his right (throwing) hand. Not to mention the fact that Brady has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three of his last four games, and his leading pass-catcher, Wes Welker, tore up his knee and will miss the playoffs.

4) Joe Flacco: If you're looking for a sleeper candidate, Flacco may be your man. He doesn't put up huge numbers, but the Ravens have the running game and defense necessary to allow them to make an extended push in the playoffs, with Flacco doing enough to give you decent fantasy points along the way.

5) Carson Palmer: Really, Palmer and Mark Sanchez should be 6A and 6B, as neither is much of an option. Palmer was horrendous against the Jets last week, completing one of his 11 throws, for zero yards. New York is No. 1 in the NFL against the pass, but even if Cincy does beat them, Palmer won't give you much.

6) Mark Sanchez: Sanchez is the poorest passer among quarterbacks whose teams made it to the playoffs, and he should be treated as such here. Even a Super Bowl run for him may not produce equal numbers equal to two games from other quarterbacks in the playoffs.

Player 3
1) Adrian Peterson: Peterson led the NFL in rushing scores, and despite the fact he didn't have a 100-yard rushing game in the playoffs, his fantasy football value is beyond doubt, and there's reason to think that if the Vikings advance to the Super Bowl, he'll have a lot to do with it.

2) Ray Rice: Rice has huge value in this scoring format due to his pass-catching acumen, and if you believe that the Ravens can win at least one game, he may be worth choosing.

3) Joseph Addai: Addai doesn't rack up huge yards, but he was tied for ninth in the league with 10 rushing scores, catches the ball quite a bit, and also is on a team many think is the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

4) Thomas Jones: Jones has a tough go of it in the first round, against the Bengals' seventh-ranked run defense, and though he ran for two scores against them last week, he gained just 78 yards on 27 carries.

5) Ryan Grant: Grant is an excellent runner, and the Packers blew away the Cardinals last week, but his lack of receptions really hurts his value.

6) Cedric Benson: Benson will have to be most of the offense if Cincinnati is to advance in the postseason, but the Jets are a tough defense and there is no frame of reference for how he'll do against them because he sat out last week in their contest.

Player 4
1) LaDainian Tomlinson: Tomlinson has the advantage of being the lead back on a team that very well could wind up in the Super Bowl. Still, he had just one game with at least 75 rushing yards this season and two games with more than two receptions.

2) Pierre Thomas: Thomas had a bruised rib which was part of the reason he didn't suit up last week, but it's not a serious injury. He's a do-it-all back whose only question mark is how many carries he'll get.

3) Marion Barber: Barber had a solid season, though he carried the ball 20 times just once, and not more than 17 in any of his last six games. On a positive note, he did manage 91 yards last week against the Eagles.

4) Reggie Bush: Bush is more of a slot receiver than a running back, but the Saints clearly have the ability to make the Super Bowl, and he could catch enough passes to make him a worthwhile option.

5) Beanie Wells: Wells is now the lead back on a Cardinals team that we all know is dangerous considering what they did last season, and that was without a running game that Wells now provides them.

6) Brian Westbrook: Westbrook is a real wild card, and though we're not high on him due to what could be limited usage, if the Eagles wind up making a solid postseason run, Westbrook could be a big part of that, especially catching the ball.

Player 5
1) Felix Jones: Jones' explosiveness is what makes him an attractive option in this group. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry this season, tying Jamaal Charles for the highest average of any back with at least 100 carries. He also catches a decent amount of passes and received at least 10 carries in each of his last four games.

2) Darren Sproles: Speaking of explosive, Sproles fits right into that category, and he's also a very good receiver out of the backfield, but he doesn't receive the amount of carries Jones gets.

3) Chester Taylor: Taylor is a solid player who totes the rock between 5-10 times per game with 2-4 catches per. He could have good value if you think the Vikings are Super Bowl-bound.

4) Willis McGahee: We all saw what McGahee could do in Baltimore's last game of the season, and it may surprise you to know that he tied for fifth in the NFL with 12 touchdown runs.

5) Donald Brown: If the Colts weren't as good as they were, Brown would be last on this list, but he can pick up points based simply on the fact he may play more games. But he's clearly second fiddle to Joseph Addai, and has battled injuries all year.

6) Tim Hightower: Hightower received double-digit carries just once in his final five games, and he isn't explosive with the ball in his hands. What he does bring is potential fantasy points due to his ability to catch the ball.

Player 6
1) Dallas Clark: Clark was fifth in the NFL in receptions this season, tying teammate Reggie Wayne with 100 passes caught. He also tied Wayne for seventh in the league in touchdown grabs with 10, and is the most reliable pass-catching tight end in football.

2) Reggie Wayne: Wayne's numbers nearly mirrored Clark's in every way but receiving yards, where he picked up 158 more. Yet he's behind Clark due to his slow end to the year. He had fewer than 50 receiving yards in five of his final six games.

3) Sidney Rice: Rice broke out this season to place fourth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,312 on 83 receptions for a robust average of 15.8 yards per catch. But with receptions so valuable in this fantasy football scoring format, he ranks behind both Indy players.

4) Antonio Gates: Gates is one of the best pass-catching tight end in the game, and arguably number one. He ended the season on a great note, catching a touchdown in each of his final four contests.

5) Vincent Jackson: Jackson started hot, slowed down, then got hot again, racking up 100 yards in two of his final three games. His inconsistency is a concern, especially with so few games in the postseason to make his mark.

6) Marques Colston: There's nothing wrong with selecting Colston, it's just that the Saints have so many weapons, you never can tell who will be the player Drew Brees goes to in any specific game.

Player 7
1) Randy Moss: Moss tied for the league lead in touchdown catches with 13, and without Wes Welker, the onus to do big things in the New England passing game falls squarely on him.

2) Miles Austin: No receiver is currently playing better than Austin right now, who is physically dominating his opponents. He gained 90 or more receiving yards in five of his last six games, and wound up third in the league in that statistic.

3) Larry Fitzgerald: One of the players tied with Moss for the most touchdown catches in the NFL was Fitzgerald, though all things considered, he had a bit of a disappointing season, especially where receiving yards are concerned - he ranked 17th in the NFL with 1,092.

4) DeSean Jackson: Jackson is capable of pretty much anything, but he ended the season with two games of fewer than 50 receiving yards, and plays a Cowboys team that held him in check in Week 17.

5) Greg Jennings: Jennings' four touchdowns on the season was a huge disappointment to fantasy football owners across the land, though he still gained over 1,100 yards. But it's hard to ignore his lack of trips to the end zone and the fact that he caught fewer than 70 passes on the year.

6) Chad Ochocinco: Ochocinco will have to go up against Darrelle Revis in the Bengals' opening playoff game, and Revis, combined with a knee bruise, held Ochocinco to zero catches and zero yards in Week 17.

Player 8
1) Jason Witten: Witten's 94 catches this season were ninth in the NFL, though he only scored twice - once in Week 2, and again in Week 17 - against the very same Eagles team he'll be facing this week.

2) Brent Celek: Celek has become a trusted option for Donovan McNabb, and has proven that all season, but especially in the final weeks. He's the only one that didn't seem to have the dropsies in Week 17 against the Cowboys, a game in which he had seven receptions for 97 yards.

3) Percy Harvin: Harvin is a home run hitter who can find the end zone any time he touches the ball. He'll also run the ball at least once per game, giving him further value. By no means is he a bad option, it's just that he may not get as many looks as some other players in this group. Unless you think the Vikings are headed to the Super Bowl; then, by all means, insert him in your lineup.

4) Anquan Boldin: Boldin is suffering from injuries to both his knee and ankle, and may not suit up for Arizona's initial playoff game, so check his status before employing him in your fantasy football lineup.

5) Donald Driver: Driver had six receptions for 65 yards in Week 17 against Arizona, but he hasn't had a big game since Thanksgiving, and ended the season with fewer than 80 receiving yards in nine of his last 10 games

6) Derrick Mason: Mason is as reliable as they come, but Baltimore will win by running the ball, and their prospects for going deep into the playoffs seem remote.

Player 9
1) Julian Edelman: Edelman takes over the Wes Welker role in the New England offense, and that means big things in this scoring format. For example, in Week 17 he was targeted a whopping 15 times and came up with 10 catches for 103 yards.

2) Jermichael Finley: Finley is on his way to becoming one of the league's elite tight ends, and he finished the season with a bang, gaining 80 receiving yards or scoring a touchdown (or both) in each of his final five games.

3) Pierre Garcon: Garcon battled a hand injury late in the year that stunted what was seemingly excellent growth throughout the season. He was really playing well in the middle of the year before this injury caught up to him, and he can be effective on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

4) Robert Meachem: Meachem was extremely hot in the middle of the year, catching a touchdown in five straight games from Weeks 9-13. He's only scored once since then, however, and gained at least 70 yards just once in his final seven contests.

5) Jeremy Maclin: Maclin, Philly's first-round pick this year, has had a very good rookie season, but he's behind both Brent Celek and DeSean Jackson on the depth chart, and had fewer than 50 yards in both of his meetings with Dallas this season, the team the Eagles will face in the first round of the playoffs.

6) Jerricho Cotchery: The Jets pound the rock on the ground to win their games, and despite the fact that Cotchery and Mark Sanchez clearly have a solid chemistry, he's really not worth using.

Player 10
1) Devery Henderson: It's a gamble placing Henderson here, but one that could really pay off. He gained 804 yards this season on 51 receptions, and is always a threat to make one or two huge plays per game.

2) Bernard Berrian: Berrian had a highly disappointing season for his fantasy football owners, but he's on a Vikings team that isn't afraid to use all of their options, and one that could make a significant postseason run.

3) Jeremy Shockey: Shockey has been battling an injury, and hasn't caught a pass since Week 14. Still, it's possible he comes up with a solid postseason effort, because everyone on the Saints is capable of doing so considering how much they spread the ball around.

4) Braylon Edwards: Edwards gained less than 50 receiving yards in six of his final seven games, but he has the capability to deliver. Still, it's difficult to believe in him, especially considering the Jets are the lowest seed in the AFC, and win by running the ball and defense.

5) Roy Williams: If Williams gets the opportunity, he's shown he can make some things happen, but whether he does or not is anyone's guess. He's extremely frustrating to fantasy football owners, and can't be trusted, even if his talent says he can.

6) Steve Breaston: Breaston has ceded catches and yards to Early Doucet, so unless it's found out that Anquan Boldin's injury is a serious one, you should leave him be.

Player 11
1) Austin Collie: With Pierre Garcon out, Collie flourished, catching a touchdown in three consecutive games from Weeks 13-15. He also had nearly 100 yards in Week 16 and is a promising threat to, at the minimum, give you fantasy points with receptions, if not huge yards.

2) Malcolm Floyd: Floyd actually picked up 776 receiving yards on the season, which was more than players like Pierre Garcon, Jeremy Maclin and Robert Meachem. The problem was he did it on just 45 catches, which hurts in this scoring format, and he found the end zone only one time.

3) Patrick Crayton: Crayton is option three or four on the Dallas depth chart, depending on if Roy Williams actually shows up. But he had a big game against the Eagles in Week 17, and shouldn't be completely discounted because of his low spot on the pecking order.

4) James Jones: Jones did more than you might think by the Packers this season. He caught just 32 passes, but gained 440 yards, and more importantly, caught five touchdowns, which was one more than teammate Greg Jennings.

5) Todd Heap: Heap caught two touchdowns in each of his game during Week 15 and 16, and while that meant gold if you had the cajones to use him during your fantasy football playoffs, it was a rare feat for him, and he's just as likely to pick up 30 yards on two catches.

6) Dustin Keller: Keller is a middling option who didn't catch more than three passes or gain even 35 yards in any of his final five games.

Player 12
1) Nate Kaeding: Kaeding tied David Akers for the league lead in field goals, and was one of just two players who made 25 or more kicks to make at least 90 percent of his tries. He's the best kicker on a team with realistic Super Bowl expectations.

2) Ryan Longwell: Longwell has the benefit of kicking indoors until/if he reaches the Super Bowl, which is a nice bonus. He also plays on a high-scoring team and led the NFL in extra points made.

3) Garrett Hartley: Hartley only played five games this season, and though he was 9-for-11 in field goals, he only attempted one kick from 40 yards and beyond, and missed that kick. Still, he's on a team with a potent offense, and could be kicking in three games, which means plenty of points.

4) David Akers: As mentioned, Akers was tied for the league lead in field goals made. But he's on the sixth-seeded team in the NFC, and it may be difficult for the Eagles to advance deep into the postseason. Still, they very well could win a game or two, possibly making Akers a worthwhile selection.

5) Stephen Gostkowski: Gostkowski is on a team that can put up a lot of points, and has at least one home game, but his problem is long-distance kicking - he made only seven of his 11 kicks from 40 yards or beyond.

6) Jay Feely: Feely wasn't always accurate, making just over 83 percent of his field goal tries, but he was tied for third in the league in kicks made. Still, there are other options in this group that are better simply because they are on better teams.

7) Mason Crosby: Crosby made only 75 percent of his kicks this season, which is the worst percentage in this group. And he was only 6-of-13 from 40 yards or beyond.

8) Shaun Suisham: Suisham is a solid kicker, but he and Hartley are the only ones in this group not to have made a 50 yarder, and Suisham played nine more games than Hartley.

Player 13
1) Colts: The defensive group is the most subjective, and essentially boils down to which team you believe will go the furthest, thereby offering you the most opportunity to rack up points. For that reason, we've simply ranked the teams by their playoff seed.

2) Chargers:

3) Patriots:

4) Bengals:

5) Jets:

6) Ravens:

Player 14
1) Saints: The defensive group is the most subjective, and essentially boils down to which team you believe will go the furthest, thereby offering you the most opportunity to rack up points. For that reason, we've simply ranked the teams by their playoff seed.

2) Vikings:

3) Cowboys:

4) Cardinals:

5) Packers:

6) Eagles:

The professional football player widely known as Percy Harvin was actually born William Percival Harvin III in May of 1988 and adopted the nickname Percy as short for his middle name Percival at a young age. Harvin went onto garner national attention as a standout player for the University of Florida (UF) Gators football program where he was an offensive weapon that helped the college win two national championships. After being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in April of 2009 Percy has enjoyed the entirety of his pro football career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Minneapolis based Minnesota Vikings.

Long before becoming one of the favorite receiving targets for future hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre Percy grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia where he excelled in athletics at Landstown High School. In 2004 the Landstown Eagles, his school football team, won a Virginia state championship. Interestingly with a high school state championship in 2004 and college national championships in 2006 and 2008 Harvin nearly won championships at the high school, college, and professional levels in a five year span before the Vikings suffered an overtime loss that resulted in the team being knocked out of the NFL playoffs one game shy of reaching the Super Bowl. A little known fact is that years before even winning a high school football championship Percy was part of a Pop Warner football team at the age of 13 that actually won the Pop Warner National Championship.

At 5'11" Harvin has always been considered a bit undersized and has also always been considered one of the fastest players on the football field. Percy reportedly ran a 40 yard dash in 4.32 seconds as a freshman in high school. A 40 time at that speed would be considered one of the fastest even by NFL combine standards. In February of 2009 at the NFL Combine Harvin was timed in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.41 seconds.

As a track and field star Percy set five state track and field records and won state championships in the 200 meter dash, triple jump, long jump, 400 meter relay, and 100 meter dash. The success Harvin had on the track was unprecedented as no one in the state of Virginia had ever before won five state championships in a single track meet.

The unrivaled speed that Harvin demonstrated on the grid iron, track, and even the basketball court made him one of the most coveted high school recruits in the nation. In 2005 Percy was nationally recognized by respected football recruiting publications as being the top junior prospect in the country. Ultimately Harvin decided to play college football for the University of Florida over competing scholarship offers from perceived front runner Florida State University as well as the University of Miami, University of Southern California, and the University of Michigan.

Kim, the author of this article, does not know if Percy owns a pair of blue orange UF Gators slippers but considering the $14.5 million contract that he signed with the Minnesota Vikings on August 3, 2009 he can certainly afford a couple of pairs of comfortable University of Florida slippers.

Readers interested in getting their own orange, blue, or green Florida slippers are encouraged check out the links in the previous paragraph.

Urban Myer issued a gag order on his team for this weeks game, but make no mistake about it Florida was playing for more than the SEC east lead and a spot in the title game. They are playing for pride, And that has illuminated all game.

Tim Tebow's numbers may be down but he is a far better quarterback this year. Along side of Percy Harvin and that duo of running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Florida looks scary as Halloween, but for real.

And they lived up to every bit of it today against Goergia. Offensively, Tebow and Co. where just too good. Through land or air, they can do it all. Not to mention they can do it with every player. This whole team scores points. And they did today against the Dogs

Tim Tebow acounted for 5 touchdowns himself and Percy Harvin had two. 49-10 was the final score. A thrashing in which there were few gasps of life for the Bulldogs. Just good Gator football all night long.

Just like it usually is Gator fans would say. The Gators have won 18 out of the last 19. Last year the Dogs finally got one and they celebrated by stomping on the field in a celebration that actually drew a penalty!

Coach Urban Myer was quoted as saying it was wrong and that "its going to be a big deal" also that it "would be forever on the minds of our team" and he meant it. . . He taped pictures of the Dogs stomping on the field in there celebration in all there lockers , Made them do 188 push ups for the yards Moreno ran up on them every day in spring training. And in the weight room the players had to do 42 reps at each station, for all the points Georgia scored on them. This team remembered. . . Brandon Spikes Jaw rattling hit delivered early to Knowshon Moreno certainly set the tone for a night of redemption.

The way Florida is playing it will be very interesting to see who they meet in the title game. Alabama looks promising, but still have a few major obstacles to take on... LSU for 1, (you knew I was gonna say that) Auburn for 2. Tubberville has beaten them 6 times in a row. His team can play defense and they may finally be able to score points by the time they have to BEAT BAMA!

Either way it goes Florida is obviously playing superior football and who ever comes out of the west will have there hands full and there mothers hands full. Make no mistake about it. Urban Myer said it was going to be a big deal and it has been. Tim Tebow is fired up and in my opinion looking like the Heismann winner once again.

So I'm gonna go ahead and call it now Florida wins crown in 09... Probably to Penn State or some lesser conference opponent. I know a few southerner's who wouldn't mind seeing USC catch a beating. But who knows at this point. With the curse of the number 1 in the AP POLL always in effect. You never know.

B-Rad from the boot signing off

[http://www.bradfromtheboot.com]

I am going to make a prediction before the opening game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football. Most of the pundits have already announced that the Bears are a better team than the Packers because of the signing of Jay Cutler. I do not share their pessimism about the Packers.

In fact, most of the publications have placed the Packers behind the Bears and the Vikings in the race for the NFC North. This just goes to show you that most sports writers get caught up in the media hype and let it seriously affect their predictions. And there was plenty of hype surrounding the big trade involving Jay Cutler and all the soap operas with our darling ex-girlfriend of a quarterback, Brett Favre.

Needless to say, I do not agree with them. I have said this before and I will say it again, the only thing that can stop the Packers this season is injuries. If we can escape the season relatively unscathed, then I will be shocked if we do not win the NFC North and make all three other teams look really bad in the process. Look at the difference in the quality of wide receivers between the Packers and the rest of the three teams in our division. The only other decent one is Calvin Johnson, and Percy Harvin seems to have some talent as well.

You can take all the receivers from all three teams, pick the best five, and I would still probably pick our wide receiving core. Lets see here, that would probably have to be: Calvin Johnson, Percy Harvin, Devin Hester, Bernard Berrian, and Sydney Rice. Yup, I would still have to go with the Packers wide receivers.

I know that we are not so deep in all of the areas on our football team, but I do not care. If we can escape with relatively few injuries, we are going to kick the crap out of some teams this year. Period.

Adam Sorenson is the founder of PackerAuthority.com where you can go to get all the latest insider Packer secrets and updates as well as watch unlimited NFL highlight videos.

http://www.packerauthority.com

We are two weeks into the NFL season, and to put it mildly, the Super bowl is still anybody's game. So far we've seen some old hands make it rain, some fresh blood showing that they have what it takes to win, and some disappointments drafted in the first or second round. Fear not for your picks, we still have the bulk of the season ahead of us, and fantasy football leagues will have a lot more surprises. Here's a rundown of the best (and worst) of fantasy football news.

In Life and in Football, Experience Matters

The first few weeks have reminded us all why established players consistently rank as the top fantasy football players. Drew Brees holds the #1 Quarterback spot for on NFL.com. Now in his fourth year with the Saints, the man moves the ball quickly and confidently. There's no doubt that he was in control against Philadelphia, and he knows his assets (see Colston and Henderson). Tom Brady didn't perform as expected against the Jets, but by no means does that mean that he's lost his touch. My prediction is that he'll have a very strong season. Andre Johnson has never played better for the Houston Texans. And let's not forget about Tony Gonzalez, the first Tight End in NFL-history to accrue more than 11,000 yards. This man has fantasy football stud written all over him.

NFL Rookie Report

Some of the rookies and younger players are poised for a breakout season. Denver may have a new star quarterback on their hands with Kyle Orton. Now in his fifth year in the NFL, he's quick to the snap and his accuracy looks solid. Calvin Johnson is playing smart and skillfully for the Lions, but quarterback Matthew Stafford has a lot of work ahead of him. The Minnesota Vikings are in-the-pocket with newcomer Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson. Both Harvin and Peterson work well with Brett Favre, and the trio performed some notable power plays against the Browns and Lions. No doubt we'll be seeing more from them in the future. And for best in defense, look to the Baltimore Ravens. They shut down both Kansas City and San Diego with top-notch performances.

NFL Injury Updates

On the unfortunate side, let's talk about the injuries. Brian Urlacher is out for the season, which leaves Chicago with a lackluster defensive line. They've been rebuilding their defense for the past two years. Without Urlacher, it's going to take some seriously creative coaching to help them hold their own against the top teams. The Indianapolis Colts are feeling the same heat after losing Anthony Gonzalez. The other wide receivers on the roster are mediocre at best, which leaves their passing game in deep waters. And the Seattle Seahawks fare no better with their quarterback Matt Hassellbeck out with a broken rib. They expect him back on the field soon, but in the meantime, we'll probably see Seneca Williams starting. Finally, Cowboys running back Marion Barber suffered a painful quadriceps strain that's going to keep him on the bench for a minimum of two weeks.

All of these events early in the season will shape the eventual outcome of the Super Bowl, but what that outcome will be is anybody's guess. Be sure and stay updated on NFL player news each week so you can make sound, successful decisions when it comes to your fantasy leagues and teams this year.

An accomplished athlete in his high school days, Marcus Whittman is a sports writer freelancing for the fantasy football web site http://www.Stinkball.com Whittman enjoys watching live games and putting together a variety of fantasy sports teams each season.

When on patrol in a war zone and we are suddenly ambushed and outnumbered 10-to-1 and I have my choice of any player on the Florida and Oklahoma football teams, give me Tim Tebow. Any guy who believes in God and fights to his last breath is someone worthy of my trust.

Millions of television viewers found out during the BCS national championship game why Tim Tebow is the first choice of winners in any competition.

Tebow, Percy Harvin and a tenacious Florida Gator defense shut down an Oklahoma team that led the nation in scoring (51+ points a game) and was 3rd in both passing offense (349+ yards per game) and total offense (547+ yards per game) by limiting the Sooners to 14 points in a 24-14 victory for the national title Tuesday (1-8-09).

After a scoreless 1st quarter, Tebow found Louis Murphy for a 20-yard touchdown pass to end a 12-play, 86-yard drive as the 2nd quarter started. Not to be outdone, Oklahoma's quarterback Sam Bradford answered with a 6-yard TD pass to Jermaine Gresham on the Sooners' ensuing possession.

After Tebow was intercepted by Gerald McCoy and Oklahoma started a drive from the Florida 26-yard line, Chris Brown rushed twice for 24 yards, putting the Sooners on the 1-yard line on 3rd down. Then the Gator defense got plain nasty, stopping Brown for no gain and stopping him for a 2-yard loss when the Gators went for pay dirt rather than attempt a field goal.

The Florida goal-line stand with 5:20 left in the 1st half was classic and no mean feat. Brown had rushed for more than 1,100+ yards during the season and is no easy stop.

Oklahoma would launch another attack just before the half, driving 74 yards to the Florida 6-yard line before Bradford was intercepted with 3 seconds left when 3 Gator players would touch the ball in what looked like a tip drill before Major Wright hung on for the pick near the goal line. At the half it was 7-up.

With approximately 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Florida put together a 13-play, 74-yard drive that culminated with Percy Harvin scoring on a 2-yard run. Two possessions later, Oklahoma would answer with an 11-yard pass to Gresham, his second scoring catch from Bradford. Florida would answer immediately with a 27-yard field goal by Jonathan Phillips, giving the Gators a 17-14 edge. Bradford would be intercepted on the Sooners' next possession.

Then Tebow and his Florida offensive line would grind out an 11-play, 76-yard drive and take almost 7 minutes off the clock. Tebow was everywhere. He passed for 13 yards, ran for 1, passed for 16, passed for 29, passed for 4, passed for 9, ran for 3 and then charged the line and jump-passed to David Nelson for a 4-yard touchdown.

Oklahoma had the ball and 3 minutes left to erase a 10-point Florida lead. Bradford would throw 3 incompletions, the Gators would take the ball back and the Tebow would punish the Sooners by rushing 6 consecutive times. Oklahoma could not stop Tebow or Florida.

The Sooners' Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy this year (a fact not lost on Tim Tebow who won the Heisman last year), but Tebow outplayed Bradford in the championship game. It was not Bradford's best day and he looked really ineffective compared to Tebow's performance. When it counted, Tebow showed up and Bradford did not.

Percy Harvin was huge for Florida, gaining 122 yards on 9 carries (a 13.5 yard average per carry) that included a 52-yard dash that set up the Gators' go-ahead field goal in the 4th quarter.

The national title was Florida's 2nd in 3 years, giving it 2 BCS championships and making the Gators the only team with 2 BCS titles besides LSU, which won in the 2003 season and again last year. With Florida's 2 wins and LSU's 2 wins, Southeastern Conference teams have won 5 of the first 11 BCS national titles.

Oklahoma, which won the national title in 2000, has now lost its 3rd straight BCS championship game and 5th straight BCS bowl-game. The Sooners' set a modern record for scoring this year with 702 points and put up at least 60 points in its last 5 games, all of which did not mean squat in its face-off with Florida for the title. What do you want, records or titles?

Florida will be remembered forever for its achievement; Texas fans will have to celebrate the Sooners' scoring achievements with a private party.

"In the end, I will be glad to try again next year," said losing Sooner coach Bob Stoops. "If that's the biggest burden I have to bear in my life, I'm a pretty lucky guy."

"We're going to enjoy a big win (and a) national championship," said winning Gator coach Urban Meyer. "Let someone else worry about that," continued Meyer, referring to the fact that Utah, Southern California and Texas all thought that they should have played in the national championship game.

Florida finished the season at 13-1 with a national title; Oklahoma was 12-2.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
"2008 Independence Bowl - Louisiana Tech Tops Northern Illinois, Notches 7th Comeback Win of Season"
"2008 Champs Sports Bowl - Florida State Uses an MVP Punter & Heads Up Play to Rout Wisconsin, 42-13"
"2008 Meineke Bowl - Superstar Pat White Leads West Virginia Over North Carolina, 31-30"
"2008 Hawaii Bowl - Charlie Weis Era at Notre Dame Finally Arrives, Irish Speed Past Hawaii, 49-21"
"Final BCS Standings Show Why It's Better to Lose Early Than Late"
"So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?"

"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season"

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

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