Ten For Tuesday: Fantasy Football RBs July 31, 2007
Posted by Matt in Football, sports.Tags: fantasy football, NFL, running backs
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Originally posted 7/31/07
Last week we looked at my top ten QB picks, so this week I will attempt to choose the best of the most important fantasy position – my top ten RBs.
Honorable Mention:
Laurence Maroney (NE) – After an impressive rookie campaign in 2006 (939 total yards, 7 TDs), Maroney is poised to take a big leap forward as the Pat’s sole back. But, with the bolstering of New Englands receiving corps over the offseason, I worry that they might become a more pass oriented offense, leaving Maroney with good, but not superstar, numbers.
Reggie Bush (NO) – Another second year player who made a huge splash as a rookie (1,309 total yards, 8 TDs), Bush teamed with veteran Deuce McAllister to form perhaps the best RB tandem in the league. McAllister, though, is still a very capable back that is still in his prime, so Bush will never fully be able to take the spotlight as long as he is there.
10. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jax) – I know that Jones-Drew will be splitting time with Fred Taylor this season again, but, given the fact that Taylor if 31 years old and has the durability of a china doll, Jones-Drew should get plenty of carries, especially at the goal line.
9. Rudi Johnson (Cin) – Over the last three years, few backs have been as consistent as Johnson, averaging over 1,400 yards and 12 TDs per season. As he once again steps behind a good line in a high-octane offense, I would expect him to put up excellent numbers.
8. Sean Alexander (Sea) – Last year no one would have dared to rank Alexander outside of the top five, but, with his 30th birthday approaching next month and after a year in which he missed half of the games due to injury, his pick is not quite as attractive as it once was. If Alexander is able to recapture the fire he had in ‘05, look out!
7. Willie Parker (Pit) – I’ll admit to not being sold on Parker after the Steelers’ Super Bowl campaign of 2005, but last year he completely proved me wrong with over 1,700 total yards and 16 TDs. Expect more excellent play again this season as Pitt moves beyond the Cowher era.
6. Brian Westbrook (Phi) – The epitome of a dual-threat back, Westbrook’s 1,916 total yards and 11 TDs in 2006, catapulted him up the list of desirable RBs. With another year of mediocre Eagle receivers, look for Donovan McNabb to continue to utilize his gifted running back whenever possible.
5. Joseph Addai (Ind) – With one of the best O-lines around, Dominic Rhodes out of town, and a 1,000 yard rookie season under his belt, look for Addai to continue to improve for the Super Bowl champs. My prediction: 1,800 total yards, 14 TDs.
4. Frank Gore (SF) – Gore recently made the prediction that he would eclipse Eric Dickerson’s season record 2,105 rushing yards and with San Francisco’s continued ascent, it may not be too far out of the question, but don’t expect it this year. My prediction: 2,300 total yards, 12 TDs.
3. Larry Johnson (KC): Over the past two seasons, Johnson has racked up almost 4,300 total yards and 44 TDs and, with the Chief’s hope for the future in second year QB Brodie Croyle, look for LJ to again shoulder the load. Considering that he has carried the ball over 750 times in the last two seasons combined, the Chiefs need to lighten the load or else his career will be far shorter than it should be. My prediction: 2,200 total yards, 18 TDs.
2. Steven Jackson (StL) – After gaining over 2,300 total yards and scoring 16 TDs in 2006, the 24-year-old Jackson quickly became one of the elite backs in the league. Look for him to continue to improve for the offensive-minded Rams again this season. My prediction: 2,400 total yards and 19 TDs.
1. Landanian Tomlinson (SD) – Seriously, if you have the first pick in your fantasy draft and you don’t pick this guy, then you have no business playing. Last season alone, Tomlinson racked up over 2,300 total yards and 31 TDs. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, look for him again to run roughshod over the entire NFL. My prediction: 2,300 total yards, 23 TDs.
So there you have it. Thoughts? Condemnations?
Doctor, Doctor Give Me the News July 29, 2007
Posted by Matt in Uncategorized.Tags: doctor, health care, insurance, money
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Originally Posted 7/29/07
In the last few days, we received the three separate bills for Bekah’s 15 minute procedure to have tubes placed in her ear canal and to have those pesky adenoids removed. First of all, we obtained the fee from the surgeon with amounted to $1,600. Next came the anesthesiologist’s bill for over $400. Then lastly the invoice from the hospital arrived, which added up to a whopping $2,500. So, altogether this short action to improve the quality of life for our 2 year old came to the sum of over $4,500. Now, the good news is that at this time we have great health insurance and our part of the expenses “only” come out to around $700. With another, slightly more extensive surgery, on the near horizon for our other daughter, Rachel, I’m sure that the total of the medical bills owed after insurance by our little family will be at least $1,500. While this would normally be quite a hardship for us, the fact that a neighbor committed vehicular homicide against one of our crape myrtles and then was forced to pay the $1,600 that the 15 year old tree was appraised at came in especially handy.
But this caused me to ponder a bit more on the cost of health care cost in this country. Those people, like us, who are blessed with excellent insurance have little to worry about when it comes to health care. Also, the poorest among us, though they may not always get the best care, they are able to be covered by programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
It’s the ones in the middle who suffer, those who have health insurance that lacks the coverage that may be needed. Though it may be helpful in the case of a catastrophic illness or accident, other unforeseen medical problems are left completely up to the afflicted – which will most likely leave them penniless. We know a little about poor insurance, high costs, and the consequential problems caused by them.
When I finished my undergraduate work back in 2000 and was still living in a delusional world in which the field of education loomed largely in my future, I took a position teaching at a poor, city school that only paid slightly over $20,000 a year and offered an insurance plan that left a lot to be desired. During a much longer seeming year-long tenure at my next stop on the educational employment carousel, my compensation increased a bit, but our insurance coverage was still left lacking. These two years nearly brought us, a young couple just out of college, to the brink of financial disaster mainly due to unforeseen medical costs. During this time, D severly injured her back and we quickly added up $5,000 in medical bills to pay for the steroid shots prescribed by her doctor. Then, soon after that, she was told at the age of 24 that she sorely needed braces and had probably needed them for years prior, so that swiftly added another $5,000 to the amount owed (dental insurances will generally not pay for braces after the age of 18). Then, not long after that debacle, I was feverishly searching for work and,in a very surprising turn of events, we discovered that D was pregnant with Rachel.
So, naturally, we were more strapped for cash than we had ever and hopefully will ever be again. But, the good news today is that, through new higher-paying employment, we have begun to finally dig ourselves out of that deep hole that we were thrust into years ago. We’ve still got a lot of debt built up from these earlier medical misfortunes and from later periods of unemployment as I tried to find a career path in life, but we can see the light today and perhaps someday in the near future we will finally be free of these chains that still bind us.
But not everybody is able to shrug off the albatross of debt placed upon them by unscrupulous people in high places who wield their scepter of power with an unrelenting tyranny – crushing those poor souls unable to pay the rapidly escalating price of health. Maybe Michael Moore isn’t so far off base after all…
Ten for Tuesday: Fantasy Football QBs July 24, 2007
Posted by Matt in Uncategorized.Tags: fantasy football, NFL, quarterbacks
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Originally posted 7/24/07
With football season just over a month away (Hallelujah!), it’s time for this statistics nerd to start scrutinizing the participants in perhaps this greatest of American sports. This week we will look at my top ten QBs.
Honorable Mention: Matt Leinart (AZ) – If his offensive line can occasionally show up, the great receiving duo of Anguan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald could easily vault Leinart onto the list.
10. Jay Cutler (Den) – I really like this former Commodore’s chances to shine this year behind a great offensive line and aided by receivers like Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall, and the venerable Rod Smith.
9. Jon Kitna (Det) – Yeah, I know he’s going to be 35 in Sept. and I know the Lions’ offensive line is less effective than a wall of cardboard cutouts, but with high-flying offensive mastermind Mike Martz, outstanding rookie WR Calvin Johnson and the unbelievable Roy Williams, Kitna should put up some great numbers – especially if he can keep the interceptions to a minimum.
8. Tony Romo (Dal) – After an excellent rookie season, Romo single-handedly served up a playoff loss due to his bungling work as a holder for what would have been the game-winning field goal. The combination of Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn and a stable of capable running backs should guide him to success again this season.
7. Philip Rivers (SD) – Even with a nondescript receiving corps (besides TE Antonio Gates), the Chargers’ excellent offensive line should give Rivers’ plenty of chances to duplicate and perhaps even surpass his totals from last season. It also doesn’t hurt to have the best running back in the world to take some of the pressure off him.
6. Donovan McNabb (Phi) – He’s missed 13 games over the last two seasons, but, when he has played, McNabb has proven to be one of the league’s best. If the Eagles’ exceptional offensive line can help him stay healthy, along with perhaps the best dual-threat back in the league in Bryant Westbrook and the addition of WR Kevin Curtis, this could be a great season for he and the Eagles.
5. Marc Bulger (StL) – Ever since he took over the Rams’ starting job from Kurt Warner, Bulger has consistently put up good numbers, but his interception totals have always been a burden that seemed to follow along with the high yardage and TDs. Last season, though, with 24 TDs vs. only 8 Ints, it seems like he finally solved the problem.
4. Drew Brees (NO) – Just a few short years ago, Brees was considered just another high-profile bust at QB who threw far too many interceptions and wasn’t connecting with the pro game. Then, three seasons ago, the tide turned and over the next three years he became one of the few truly elite signal callers in the league.
3. Tom Brady (NE) – He already has three Super Bowl rings and several Pro Bowls under his belt, but this season offers a promise that he’s never experienced in his career – an excellent receiving corp. The additions of WRsRandy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Welker have suddenly turned Brady into not just a consistent winner, but now a fantasy stud at QB.
2. Carson Palmer (Cin) – As a number one draft pick thrust into the starting role for the struggling Bengals back in 2004, Palmer struggled greatly adapting to the pro system. By the end of his second year, he was one of the best QBs in recent memory. A supporting cast consisting of RB Rudi Johnson and WRs Charles Johnson and TJ Houshmanzadeh, help, along with his own superlative skills, to push him into the upper echelon of players today.
1. Peyton Manning (Ind) – Who else would be number one? Not only has this former number one draft pick proven to be one of the greatest technical players ever to play the game, but he now has a Super Bowl trophy to adorn his home. If Marvin Harrison can continue to play effectively at age 35 and Reggie Wayne continues along the road to superstardom, Manning will again put up stellar numbers.
So, what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Who should be on the list that isn’t here?
Return to Paradise City July 23, 2007
Posted by Matt in Uncategorized.Tags: Appetite for Destruction, guns n roses, innocence lost, music
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Originally Posted 7/23/07
Over the weekend I had the need to drive across town for one reason or another, but, like any car ride that necessitates more than 5 minutes of my day, I had to pick out some musical accompaniment for the short trip. Soon I came upon a CD that I had most likely not listened to in years, an album that whose cassette copy I had treasured as a young adolescent looking to make heads or tails of the fast approaching teenage world – Guns N’ Roses’ classic Appetite for Destruction.
I held the silver disc in my hands for just a moment, realizing that this quintessential piece of rock history was now 20 years old, and reflected a bit on the profound influence that music can have on young ears – most notably in this instance, mine. I remember, as a ten year old boy in a little rural Arkansas town, first coming into contact with this magical 1980’s musical bedrock through a friend who most likely had cable television, and by extension MTV, a luxury that those of us living beyond where the pavement ends didn’t have.
Hearing those first, lonely, reverberated notes emanating from Slash’s guitar as they quickly accelerated and were soon entwined with the unearthly howl of Axl Rose in what may have been the greatest opening since Black Dog’s “Hey, Hey Mama” on Zep 4, opened my eyes, ears, and mind to a new and different world. No longer would Oak Ridge Boys records suffice in this new musical world of debauchery and excess – something new, something primal had awakened.
As a kid who had never been privy to much profanity before, the raunchy lyrics of tunes like, “It’s So Easy,” shocked by senses to an extent that they never had been before. The guitar infused tales of sex and drugs jolted this small town guy, leaving me amazed and bewildered at this previously unheard crassness but hungry for more.
A part of my innocence was lost that day….
But, on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, as I turned the volume up and sang aloud to the great “Paradise City,” I’m not complaining.
