Fire and Ice Sports Forum – Week of October 13, 2008 | Fantasy Football
As a tribute to our faithful MidwestSportsFans readers and blog posters, I am happy to announce our new roundtable discussion: The Fire and Ice Midwest Sports Forum. Our writers and editor are from different areas of the Midwest and have different views and thoughts each week into the sports world.
The Fire and Ice Midwest Sports Forum will allow us to express to our readers our thoughts on hot topics each week. Additionally, we encourage you to use the comments section to vote Fire or Ice for any of the subjects that you have a strong opinion on.
If you would like to see something added to the next week’s edition of Fire and Ice, email me at profootballinsight@live.com
This week’s targets are;
1. Rich Rodriguez
2. Peyton Manning
3. Cleveland Browns Offense
4. Michigan State
5. Titans
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Wade Phillips
8. Tony Romo
9. MidwestSportsFans.com
1. Rich Rodriguez-ON FIRE- Anytime that you can go to a team with 41 straight winning seasons 
and chuck their first in that time frame into the tank and get rave reviews from your athletic director, you are on fire! The truth here is simple. Rich Rod will win games, it just will not happen as long as he gets the dumb assed idea to throw Nick Sheridan into the lineup. That moron is good for an interception every other pass. Not that Steven Threet is doing any better. I am more than impressed with the Wolverines Defense this year, as they lost their core group to the NFL last year, and they are on the field more than the ref’s are. Sam Mcguffie has also had flashes of brilliance, but how can you run when the defense knows your the only one who can kill them on offense. The Wolverines have playmakers at the wide receiver position, but no one can throw them the rock. Rod was one player away from a successful season, his name is Terrell Pryor. Michigan must have a dual threat QB for this offense to be productive. Go Blue 2009!
2. Peyton Manning-ON FIRE- I usually do not get excited over one big game, but I will make an exception for Peyton. He torched the best defense in the NFL last week, and just lost two of his running backs for at least four weeks. This offense could just turn into the 2007 New England Patriots offense with an offense dominated by the pass play, and the Colts have the talent at the skill positions to do it. In the upcoming weeks, fantasy 
football owners must consider Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison must starts regardless of who or where they are playing. I even like Dominic Rhodes as a starter while Joseph Addai is out as the pass will make Rhodes look like a god when he gets his opportunities.
3. Cleveland Browns Offense-ICE- They should have scored like this all year long and not have waited until they faced the defending Super Bowl Champs. If they can put together the same type of performance against the Washington Redskins, I will change my position. Until then, prove it Brownies!
4. Michigan State-ON FIRE- I love their chances to jack the Buckeyes season up even more this weekend. I have not seen enough of Michigan State this year, but I did see that Ohio State has had another lousy schedule, minus USC, and I believe that MSU has a great shot at a win this weekend.
5. Titans-ON FIRE- This team is a carbon copy of the Super Bowl winning Ravens team. A great defense, great running backs and a quarterback that plays to not hurt his team. This is not the most talented team in the NFL, but until they lose, they are the team to beat.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers-ICE- Well, Danny Ferry said that he had to do more to keep Lebron happy, seeing were winless in the preseason, I don’t think the King is very excited to be a Cav at this point!
7. Wade Phillips-ON FIRE- No seriously, FIRED! Does this guy have a clue what is going on with his football team? Really, saying that he had no idea that Romo was throwing on his jacked up finger w
hen Jerry Jones is going public with it! This guy has no control over his team, the locker room or his waist line. If this guy does not win the Super Bowl, Jason Garrett will be the Cowboys 2009 Head Coach.
8. Tony Romo-ICE- Seriously, get some ice for your hand. You are not Brett Farve, do not listen to him when he told you to play. The only QB to put the ball on the ground more than him is Jon Kitna. So sit at home and rest your finger, maybe the fumblitis will go away too.
9. MidwestSportsFans.com-ON FIRE- How can you deny it? Predicting the Monday night win over the undefeated Giants, calling that the Browns season was not over on the bye, bringing you up to date information regarding Midwest Sports. We have given you advise on fantasy football, that if you had followed, you would have had an upper hand on your opponent. We will only get better at serving you, the fans, as time goes on. Send me your questions or comments.
Kurt Fraschetti
[tags]sports forum, midwest sports fans[/tags]
Tags: Cleveland Browns, Fantasy Football, fantasy football week 7, Michigan State, Michigan Wolverines, peyton manning, tony romo
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1. Rich Rodriguez – You list him as on fire??? Are you serious? Michigan is 2-4 and they just lost to Toledo. And Rodriguez’s offense looks like crap. I’ve said before that I think he’ll turn it around and win eventually, but as far as right now Rich Rodriguez is cold as ice!
2. Peyton Manning – Definitely hot, even with the revelation this week that he actually had two knee surgeries this offseason. It looks like the Colts O got back on track last week against Baltimore, which could be trouble for the rest of the AFC.
3. Cleveland Browns Offense – They were ice coming into Monday night, but they aren’t anymore. Derek Anderson is back in rhythm and Braylon Edwards is catching deep balls again. Remember, these guys were hurt for a good portion of the preseason and the entire offense still hasn’t played together. As they get healthy, and get Kellen Winslow back, we will start to see the explosive, ON FIRE, offense from the Browns that we saw last year on a consistent basis.
4. Michigan State – Javon Ringer is a badass. Mark Dantonio looks like an angry badass and scares me. But they’ll lose to That One Ohio State University Located in Columbus.
5. Titans – Remember the Titans?
Everywhere we go! (Everywhere we go!)
People wanna know! (People wanna know!)
Who our QB is! (Who our QB is!)
Soooo we tell them! (Soooo we tell them!)
It’s Kerry Collins! (It’s Kerry Collins!)
The former drunken lush! (The former drunken lush!)
And so we will lose! (And so we will lose!)
In the first round of the playoffs! (In the first round of the playoffs!)
Fire right now, ice once the calendar turns to 2009.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers – Danny Ferry’s last name = Ice
7. Wade Phillips – Yeah, I live in Dallas and this guy is definitely the most underappreciated coach ever to go 18-5 in his first 23 games (or something like that). But the reason is lack of discipline, which this Cowboy team needs sometimes. Ice.
8. Tony Romo – Dating a blonde bimbo, injured, seeming to lose some confidence and spirit. He’s ice right now. But I like Tony Romo, even though I hate the Cowboys, so I hope he gets his mojo back. Tony Romo reminds me of Brett Fun, now with the Jets. Romo is favre to watch play, at least he used to be when he acted like he was still having favre playing football.
9. MidwestSportsFans.com – It’s been a good 10 weeks so far, but I’ll leave that up to others to judge. I know this: getting to 1,000 visits a day happened because of all the great writers we’ve added over the past month, so you all are definitely FIRE.
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Kurt. You are dumb. Outside of your pointing out that Midwestsportsfans.com is on fire (which is true), you have made several errors in your post. I will point out the most blatant of errors.
2) Peyton Manning sucks goat-tits, and the Colts just might not make the playoffs.
3) The Cleveland Browns Offense didn’t “wait” to be good until last week, they “waited” until they had Ryan Tucker to beef up the offensive line, and Stallworth to start earning some of his $35 Million. With People blocking for Anderson, and ANYONE besides Syndric Steptoe to take some heat off of Edwards, the Brownies looked like a different team because they WERE a different team. And when they get Winslow and Jurevicius back they will look even better. Take it from me, the guy who made the Monday Night prediction.
4) Maybe its just because I don’t give a damn about the whole state of michigan, the whole state of michigan, the whole state of michigan…. but i dont think OSU can lose another game this year. Especially since Boeckman has kept his helmet off during the games. If for some reason MSU wins, it will only be because Javon Ringer is too STUPID to get in to OSU, where he wanted to go, and was heavily recruited.
5) Preseason games don’t mean anything. Not in football, not in basketball, not in any sport. Even 10 year old girls know that. The Cavs went to the NBA Finals 2 years ago, and would have gone again AGAIN last year if ABC hadn’t rigged a Lakers/Celtics Finals in an effort to make fans forget about…. crooked refs (ironically). Now, you take a team that good, and ADD Mo Williams, what makes you think they did ANYTHING but get better. This season will mark the first time KING JAMES has a teammate who averages 17+ point a game. Do you even watch regular season games? LeBron wanted Williams, got him, and is very excited to be a Cavalier and to win his first (of many) NBA Championships. For more on this, please make sure to read Nick Gerlach’s NBA preview, which should be posted any day now.
You were wrong about several other things, but i will leave the rest of the debunking up to our others writers….
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Jerod, I don’t think you caught onto my sarcasm. Any coach that can destroy a 40 plus year dynasty and still have the A.D.’s approval has to be on fire. And I have followed the Browns religiously for 25 years, and this team will be ICE until they can do what they did on Monday Night week in and week out. This team should have ran away with the division this year, but as always, the Browns play to the level of their opponent. I love the Titans song!
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You made great points Ryan, but I disagree with a few. First off, I took the Browns and the moneyline on Monday night, paying out +280 and have the betus slip to prove it. You must still have faith as a Cleveland fan that they will do something different than has happened in the past. Again, 25 years as an avid Cleveland sports fan tells me one thing, were screwed! I love the Mo Williams signing, but we have to play like winners to be winners. And if preseason does not mean anything, why do we have it. Your learning how to win and gel together starts in the preseason. We must win one before the King leaves, or we will never see a title, or maybe an NBA team again. The King did save this franchise as they were only drawing 3,000 to a game prior to the King, and in high school, the King sold the “Q” out every night he played there. The Colts will make the playoffs and I used to think that Jim Tressel was a genius until this year. I agree that Pryor gives the Buck’s their best chance to win, and Tressel did not get that versus USC. Your excuses for the Browns offense are a joke. Every team deals with injuries, and we have more than enough fire power to make some kind of plays prior to Stallworth. Did you like his perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Anderson that went through Stallworth’s 35 million dollar hands, I did. See you next week on Fire and Ice.
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Kurt, the sarcasm is noted. Although Bill Martin really has no choice but to have Rodriguez’s back.
Ryan, you begin your comment by claiming that Kurt is dumb…and then proceed to say that Peyton Manning “sucks goat tits.” Umm, as a Browns fan, I’m not sure you are really in any position to be saying that one of the best QBs of all-time sucks, especially since he is coming off a season-best performance that could have their offense back on track.
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Very tactful response Kurt…at some point we’re all going to have to get together for a Browns game. I can only imagine how entertaining that would be…
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I couldn’t agree more!
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i think mys sarcasm was lost on my Manning Comment, Kurt. For future reference, when i use words like “goat tits”, i am being silly. I was NOT kidding, however, about the Colts not making the playoffs. With the Jags and the Titans looking good every week, it will be tricky for them.
Kurt, the Colts looked like crap every week except last week (and hadnt won at home). The Browns ALSO looked like crap until last week. Why is one “fire” and the other “ice”? Dont say because manning was recovering from an injury, because he was healthy enough to play, whereas stallworth and tucker were not. I have been a browns fan for 28 years(thats right, i spray painted my shoes day-glo orange in ‘86,’87′ and ‘88), and have not lost the faith.
Cleveland will only lose another sports franchiZe if our fans become as pessimistic, cynical, apathetic, and complacent as you have clearly become.
As long as the fans stay optimistic , who knows what we can achieve.
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The GZA (Jim Tressel) is not a genius (which is a word that gets thrown around too much) but like I said he is The GZA. He is The man for The Ohio State University coaching job. The best there since Woody Hayes. EVERYONE would have called him a moron for starting a true freshman in his first game in California when the outcome would have been the same since Beanie Wells was out. Result meaning a loss.
This MSU game has me more nervous than Joe Pa coming to old Columbustown. But I think the Buckeyes will come out on top in a normally ugly fashion.
Also this crappy schedule statement about Ohio State should be reduced to crappy Big Ten schedule. I don’t think they will schedule anymore I-AA schools and only did games with Youngstown State after the 13th game was added by the NCAA (Tressel’s former place of work for 15 years). USC, Oklahoma, Miami, Virginia Tech and Tennessee are included on the long list of “home and home” match-ups already scheduled for the future. Hopefully the Big Ten will make the Rose Bowl competitive again.
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How can you say that Ohio State isn’t scheduling 1-AA teams anymore when you admit they are adding a Division III caliber school like Tennessee to their schedule?
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Kurt,
You asked me, “If preseason doesent mean anything, then why do we have it?”
First of all, If you think that the existence of preseason games if proof of importance, then you have a lot to learn about logic and rhetoric. The only reason i can think of, besides the obvios ($$$$$$$$), is that it gives players a chance to see who should start, how the team reacts when stop playing defense on themselves, etc. etc. etc.
You suggested that when a team loses all of its preseason games, that it is somehow ANY reflection on what happens in the regular season. One does not have to look to far for examples where this just is not so. The Colts (whom i have an eternally burning disdain for) in the last 5 years for instance, NEVER won a preseason game, and rarely lost a regular season game. The fact of the matter; is that preseason games, in any sport, dont mean a Jerod-damn thing. The fact that even the players know this, is a possibility of why they dont try to win. They simply dont have to.
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Okay, I’m trying to catch my breath here. First off, I’m not sure how Peyton Manning sucks goat tits, or how the Colts won’t make the playoffs. Manning is one of the best players to ever play quarterback, and is a future hall of famer. And as far as playoffs go, let me break down the AFC South for everyone.
Tennessee is a fluke, and if it wasn’t for their defense, Kerry Collins wouldn’t look all that good. He’s not thrown for more than 200 yards since starting, and if it wasn’t for rookie Chris Johnson, their offense would be as stagnant as it was with Young at the helm. It’s only a matter of time before Collins has to take a back seat so the “franchise” Vince Young can get back under center. I’m not saying they’re better off that way, it’s just the way things seem to go. You don’t draft a quarterback with the 3rd pick and let him sit behind a veteran alcoholic.
Jacksonville hasn’t looked like the team they were a year ago, and until last week’s victory over Denver, the Jag’s only two victories were a comeback win against an injury depleted Colts team, and an overtime victory against the Texans. Fred Taylor is finally showing signs of age and has not scored a touchdown all year, and their defense really misses Marcus Stroud. Their defense was one of the better units in the league last year, but this year sits at 16th statistically overall, and is 23rd against the pass.
Houston is well, Houston, and I don’t think I need to say anything about them competing for the division title.
The big matchup will be Week 8 on Monday night, when the Colts face the Titans. This will tell a lot as far as who will win this division and go on to the playoffs. And if the division is still up for grabs at the end of the season, the Colts play the Titans again in Week 17. The AFC WildCard spots will be as closely contested as I can remember, and right now the Colts, Jets, and Patriots are locked at 3-2, and the Chargers and Jags both sit at 3-3. How exciting is it going to be watching these teams battle it out for these spots? This is why we watch.
Secondly, I don’t ever want to hear Jim Tressel referred to as the GZA ever again! I love Wu Tang, and just seeing those two names in the same sentence sent chills down my spine. I’m not saying that Jim Tressel isn’t “doing his thang” right now, but I can’t stand to hear one of my favorite artist’s name slandered by being associated with Ohio State football. And as I hope you know, Wu Tang Clan ain’t nuttin to f*ck wit!
But while we’re having fun, if Jim Tressel is the GZA, is Rich Rodriguez the Ol Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.)?
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“Cleveland will only lose another sports franchiZe if our fans become as pessimistic, cynical, apathetic, and complacent as you have clearly become.
As long as the fans stay optimistic , who knows what we can achieve.”
– Ryan Russell
Love this! Great news sports fans! If you’re afraid your team might move on to greener pastures. Think Happy Thoughts. It has nothing to do with MONEY, it’s all about the power of positive thinking. Man, if only I would have known that in 1995. I could have changed the course of history.
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man….i got a lot of reading to do…longwinded here at MSF are we?
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EJ,
Are you really a Browns fan? You certainly dont act like one. Maybe you should root for the Colts. They’ll be gone soon after Peyton retires, and you can keep feeling sorry for yourself.
Let me guess, youre betting the farm on the Redskins this weekend?
p.s.
Who’s delusional now?
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On wade Phillips: there is not an ounce of leadership in dallas. emmit smith commented on it after the philly win, he asked TO who steps to make players accountable and create a winning environment and TO cited himself…they’re done if that’s the case….like i said, no playoffs in dallas, it’s gonna be a long winter. personally, i think brad stepping in will be a good move, unless romo insists which is silly considering he has an almost bye week against the rams….sit him, please. I like Romo, wiiten and marion, the rest of the boys can eat it.
Jerod: I can’t believe you are going after old rocky top like that…listen, the SEC is still to be respected and after fulmer is done the south will rise again….div III? let’s talk some indiana football, that’s division III.
As for Wu tang, i respect them more than tressel. although, tressel is an old dirty bastard….and he reallll gangsta, son. but OSU is definitely something to F*ck wit. they will get effed with this weekend.
As for the titans: I will enjoy that ride into the first week of the playoffs because their defense is on my fantasy team…but I agree as soon as kerry collins smells mint schnopps roasting on an open fire he’ll be hammered…and then albert haynesworth will be kicking at someone’s nose….long winter in Nashville
RichRod: not on fire, but getting there….Russell, you and I gotta tussle about the state of michigan because i am a firm believer in both of those teams capabilities (not the Blue’s performances this year, strictly potential).
Cleveland: the mistake by the mi-lake….well at least they didn’t make the mistake of starting brady quinn, they are a good football team. Once they find a rhythm in that passing game, they will be great. I wonder about the defense, though, because take a look at that schedule….whoa. easily the toughest second half out there
MSF on fire. and we don’t need no water, let the mutha effer burn!
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And the quote of the day so far goes to Kaner: “but I agree as soon as kerry collins smells mint schnopps roasting on an open fire he’ll be hammered”
Perhaps you missed my post last weekend about Phil Fulmer — I am a Tennessee fan, so my statement to KVB was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Tennessee obviously has the potential to be an SEC contender year in and year out, but unfortunately they are in the midst of their worst mini-era in the last 20 years. They aren’t even competitive in the East this year!
Peyton Manning is awesome, and while we can debate the loyalty of Colts fans or their potential once Manning retires, it’s hard to back up any statement that alleges he sucks goat balls. It’s funny to type goat balls though. Goat balls.
Goat balls.
Ryan, EJ — would you guys like to take it outside? Why all the in-fighting between Browns fans? We just won a huge game and have a chance to take a huge step forward. Let’s agree that the Browns sucked for three and a half games, but seem to be improving. The proof will be in the pudding this weekend goat balls and we’ll see where we stand after playing (beating) Washington. There is room for optimism and there is room for pragmatism — what there is not room for is a divided Browns nation!
Goat balls.
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I feel sorry for Cleveland sports after LeBron jumps ship for New Jersey, or Brooklyn, or whatever the damn Nets call themselves. He’s the only star to ever play there, unless you count Bernie Kosar.
The Browns are a team I always root for, but it’s like buying a lottery ticket. You sit and dream and think about what you’re gonna buy, but in the back of your mind you know it’ll never happen.
Also, Romo replaced the main man of fumbiltis, Drew Bledsoe. The dude’s been sacked more than your favorite box of Lucky Charms!
Tennessee being the most talented team in the league is a tough call. They’re playing pretty well, but they have nowhere near the talent of Baltimore’s Super Bowl team from a few years ago. They are similar in the fact that they both win with solid D and a good running game, and that couldn’t be a better combination for coach Jeff Fisher’s style, but they still have a lot to prove. If they win the AFC South and make the playoffs, anything can happen, but that will be a tough task. And as far as talent, looking at teams like the Chargers and Cowboys makes the Titans talent seem less obvious. Both have more talent, but as we all know, talent does not necessarily translate into wins. Tennessee is kind of a surprise team this year. They made the playoffs last year, but no one was expecting them to start 5-0. If they are the most talented team in the league, Jeff Fisher should have no problem turning that into a deep playoff run. We’ll see…
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Ryan.
You’re basically my favorite. I mean let’s wake up the county club a bit and throw it out there.
Great call on the giants. No doubt.
I would never bet against our beloved brownies. But I think you’re onto something. I have grown cynical over my past twenty plus years as a browns fan. Keep me honest. Keep reminding me why I am one. Kosar to Slaughter, Langhorne, and Brennan seems like a lifetime ago. But when I see those helmets…and catch the RTA from 151st in brook park and ride through the city. To exit at the mall and make that walk so the greatest place on earth it all comes back to me.
I was very disappointed by the teams 0-3 start.
But now we are 2-0.
Go Browns.
I still hurt when they lose so I’m not dead yet.
Jerods right.
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Country Club? Not sure i get what you mean.
I have played two rounds of golf with Brian Brennan at THE Country Club on Lander Rd. I was a guest of a friend, and the starter told us that he had a single golfer who was looking to play, and asked if we didnt mind if he stuck him with us. Lucky for us, that man was #86 himself. He was cooler than polar bear shit in the winter, and he hit his 3 wood about 30 yards past my driver on every hole. I think he shot a 76 to my gentleman’s 82. He also said that WebSTAR was a dickhead.
Am I really your favorite, or was there a HINT of sarcasm in that bold statement?
~RaHZeL
p.s.
Nothing could be finer
than a run by Earnest Byner
and a big Kevin Mac attack!
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Jerod,
Its was “goat-tits”, not “goat balls”.
But Goat balls is still very, very, funny.
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