WWSC: Open Letter to Cubs Management

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[Editor's Note: What follows is the fourth edition of a new series of regular posts that you will start to see here on MSF called Wendell Willkie's Spam Cleansing (WWSC for short).

Throughout the day I participate in email conversations with friends about hot sports topics. One of my friends in particular is very active in these conversations. This is that friend.]

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Dear Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella,

Clearly it is easier identifying a quality OF who actually has an IMPACT on the lineup than a 2B.  With this in mind, please convince the “me first” and overpaid Alfonso Soriano to move back to his old position– 2B!!  While it is cute to trot out offensively impotent two-baggers like Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles, it is painful watching someone play 74 games and have a .224 OBP like Miles did last season.

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Broncos Likely to Sign DC Pees

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Update: Mike Klis of The Denver Post reports that the Denver Broncos, who released Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan on Monday, will be looking to and are expected to sign former New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees.

Fantasy Impact: Nolan and Josh McDaniels, the Head Coach for Denver realized at the end of the season they had very different play calling styles and were best off parting ways after just one season.



Cribbs Named to AP All Pro Team

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Update: Zac Jackson of ClevelandBrowns.com reports that Cleveland Browns return specialist Joshua Cribbs has been voted to the Associated Press NFL All Pro First Team.

Fantasy Impact: Along with Cribbs selection was teammate OT Joe Thomas, both of whom have been recognized for great seasons despite their teams 5-11 season.



Turner Re Signs with Chargers

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Update: Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports The San Diego Chargers have re signed Head Coach Norv Turner to a 3 year contract extension keeping him with the club through the 2013 season, financial terms were not disclosed however.

Fantasy Impact: Turner has been praised this season for what he has helped the club accomplish (15-2 record, 11 straight wins). The San Diego fans will likely be rejoicing at the news he will be back for another 3 seasons.



Ranking the 4 Possible Super Bowl Matchups

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I thought there was a chance that we would have three close, competitive games and one boring blowout last weekend during the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. I thought the games between the Saints-Cardinals, Cowboys-Vikings, and Colts-Ravens would all come down to the final quarter. The Chargers-Jets game I was pretty sure would be an easy victory for San Diego.

Hmm…yeah, about that…

I tell you this in an effort to be up front about the fact that while I was pretty accurate at predicting things during the regular season (57% against the spread), my radar has been way off for the playoffs (2-6 record).

Still, that is not going to stop me from trying, and I have already submitted my Conference Championship Sunday picks: Colts to win and cover, Vikings to cover and probably win. This would give us a Super Bowl matchup between the Colts and Vikings that would be quite compelling.

But how compelling would an Indy-Minnesota (aka Favre-Manning, let’s be honest) matchup be in relation to the other three possible Super Bowl matchups?

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Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com



Greene Hot In Postseason

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UPDATE: Ohm Youngmisuk of The New York Daily News reports that for the second straight week, New York Jets rookie RB Shonn Greene ran for over 100 yards, while Jets RB Thomas Jones picked up key yards when the Jets needed them. They'll try to make that formula work again next week in Indianapolis and run their way to the Super Bowl.

FANTASY IMPACT: Greene has come up huge in the Jets two playoff games, racking up 263 yards and two touchdowns. He has been a great compliment to Jones who has become the Jets short yardage specialist in the postseason. Greene will look to make this Sunday three straight 100-yard games when he faces the Colts for the AFC championship.



Another Chapter of Verbal (Diddly) Poo Added to the Jim Mora Litany

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As we head into what promises to be a fascinating Conference Championship Sunday, I can’t help but reflect on the funniest greatest moments in the illustrious YouTube NFL coaching career of Jim Mora.

Wait…what?

That’s right folks, Jim Mora is a name that you might hear more than once this weekend, and I’m not talking about the dude recently canned by the Seahawks. I’m talking about his infamous dad.

Jim Mora Sr. is a head coaching alumnus of both the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, two offensive-minded teams playing home games who could very well be on a crash course for the Super Bowl.

He is also the most unintentionally hilarious head coach in the history of the NFL, and this is Midwest Sports Fans’ ode to the incomparable Jim Mora, inspired by the unearthing of yet another f–king terrific video featuring a Mora rant.

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Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com



Garcon Focused Through Adversity

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UPDATE: Mike Chappell of IndyStar.com reports Indianapolis Colts’ WR Pierre Garcon capped a trying week by trying as hard as he could to chase down Ed Reed. Mission accomplished. The Indianapolis Colts' second-year wide receiver contributed five receptions for 34 yards and a critical chase-and-strip of the Ravens' opportunistic safety following an interception to a 20-3 AFC divisional playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

FANTASY IMPACT: New York Jets DB Darrell Revis will have the honor of covering Colts number one WR Reggie Wayne in the AFC Championship game. That matchup should create more opportunities for Garcon and the other Colt WR’s. You should also remember that Colts’ QB Peyton Manning loves to share the ball. He had three or more touchdown passes to five different receivers during the regular season.



AFC Title Game Preview: Colts-Jets Spread, Pick, and Analysis

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The AFC championship game treats us to that unavoidable cliché: David versus Goliath.

The New York Jets continue to defy expectations, having knocked off division champions on the road and consecutive weeks. With a rookie quarterback, a rookie head coach, and a rookie running back getting significant carries, the Jets have still found their way to the AFC Championship Game.

But the question now is whether their smashmouth style can trump the Colts’ silky-smooth offense at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend? We know that Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Darrelle Revis and Co., will not be intimidated. We also know that they will be facing one of the most efficient passing games in NFL history on the road.

Let’s look closer look at this weekend’s Colts-Jets AFC Championship Game.

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Colts Run Game Looks For Boost

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UPDATE: Phil Richards of IndyStar.com reports, With their defense swarming like killer bees Saturday night, the Colts limited Rice to 67 yards on 13 rushes while beating the Ravens 20-3 in an AFC divisional playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium. But the Colts gained only 42 yards on 25 rushes. That's the second-lowest postseason total in Colts history. Only a 41-yard day at Pittsburgh in a 1996 wild-card game was worse.

FANTASY IMPACT: After giving up 189 yards to Cincinatti Bengals RB Cedric Benson, the New York Jets shut down San Diego Chargers RB’s LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, holding them to just 57 yards. Colts RB’s Joseph Addai and Donald Brown will have their work cut out for them in the AFC championship game, but could learn from Benson’s performance in the wild-card round, where he averaged eight yards per carry.



Sanchez Poised in Playoffs

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UPDATE: According to Gary Myers of The New York Daily News, The moment never seemed too big for New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez Sunday. He got off to a rough start, but maintained his poise. Now he's so close to getting the Jets to where they haven't been in 41 years. "You judge quarterbacks on wins and losses most of the time," Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan said. "We look at Mark now that he's not a rookie anymore. This is postseason action and he's just our quarterback. He made some big-time throws in there."

FANTASY IMPACT: Sanchez proved he could handle the pressure of the playoffs Sunday against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC divisional round. He came up huge late in the fourth quarter, showing his poise when he made a tough throw to TE Dustin Keller for a TD in the back of the end zone after scrambling. His ability to make plays on the run will help him against DL Dwight Freeney and the Indianapolis Colts pass rush in the
AFC Championship game.



Dolphins to Interview Nolan

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UPDATE: Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald reports that the Miami Dolphins plan to interview former Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan. Throughout his career, Nolan has been a 3-4 guy. He's been an attacking kind of guy. His defenses have been very good. He instantly becomes a possible defensive coordinator candidate for the Dolphins.

FANTASY IMPACT: Nolan has a great resume and tons of experience.  He is a defensive minded coach like his father Dick Nolan, former Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers.  Nolan turned a horrible defense into one of the NFL’s best this season in Denver. He should be a great fit for the Dolphins who finished twenty-second in total defense and twenty-fourth in passing defense this season.



Tomlinson will play in 2010

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Update:  Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune is reporting via his Twitter page that Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson stated that he intends to play in 2010.

Fantasy Impact: Tomlinson was hoping to have a comeback season, but it didn't happen.  He is clearly no longer a No. 1 back, but should the Chargers cut ties with him, he should land a role with another team.



Britt arrested in New Jersey

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Update: The Bergen Record is reporting that Titans rookie wideout Kenny Britt was arrested in New Jersey this past Friday after being stopped for a traffic violation and the subsequent discovery that he had three outstanding traffic warrants.  Reports are that Britt's warrants totaled $865.

Fantasy Impact: Britt learned a valuable lesson on this one, but don't expect this to impact his status.  It should all be swept under the rug as there are juicer stories out there right now.

 



Westbrook in limbo

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Update: Pro Football Talk is reporting that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook seems likely to retire from the NFL at some point this offseason.  Westbrook has battled a rash of injuries this past season which forced him to miss ample time.

Fantasy Impact:  We have a hard time agreeing with the folks over at Pro Football Talk.  Westbrook will almost certainly be cut by the Eagles, as they will not pay his $7.25 million dollar contract for next year, but some team will be willing to take a shot on the versatile running back, and he still wants to play.  Stay tuned for more on this.