A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
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Update: Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that the Minnesota Vikings will sign WR Hank Baskett. Baskett was released by the Eagles earlier this week.
Fantasy Impact: The Vikings currently have 3 healthy receivers, so bringing in another wide-out was out of necessity. Baskett likely won't see the field much as he is more of an insurance policy than anything else. If the Vikings trade for Vincent Jackson then Baskett will have little value as a receiver on the roster.
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Update: The NFL has suspended Houston Texans LT Duane Brown for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the AP reports. Brown will not appeal the suspension and has apologized to the organization and its fans.
Fantasy Impact: As a left tackle, Brown is a very important offensive lineman because he protects Matt Schaub's blind-side. He has played well in the 2 games so far this season and was able to contain Dwight Freeney in Week 1. Rashad Butler will replace Brown in the starting lineup.
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Update: The NFL has suspended Houston Texans LT Duane Brown for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the AP reports. Brown will not appeal the suspension and has apologized to the organization and its fans.
Fantasy Impact: As a left tackle, Brown is a very important offensive lineman because he protects Matt Schaub's blind-side. He has played well in the 2 games so far this season and was able to contain Dwight Freeney in Week 1. Rashad Butler will replace Brown in the starting lineup.
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Update: The NFL has suspended Houston Texans LT Duane Brown for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the AP reports. Brown will not appeal the suspension and has apologized to the organization and its fans.
Fantasy Impact: As a left tackle, Brown is a very important offensive lineman because he protects Matt Schaub's blind-side. He has played well in the 2 games so far this season and was able to contain Dwight Freeney in Week 1. Rashad Butler will replace Brown in the starting lineup.
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Update: The New England Patriots have lost RB Kevin Faulk for the season to a torn ACL, the AP reports. Faulk tore the ACL in his right knee this past Sunday against the Jets.
Fantasy Impact: Although Faulk is not a great player in fantasy, he is a very important player in the Patriots offense. Not only is he one of the league's most reliable 3rd down backs, he is a great block, pass catcher, and runner of the ball. He is also a very solid punt returner. The Patriots will have a heard time replacing Faulk.
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Update: The New England Patriots have lost RB Kevin Faulk for the season to a torn ACL, the AP reports. Faulk tore the ACL in his right knee this past Sunday against the Jets.
Fantasy Impact: Although Faulk is not a great player in fantasy, he is a very important player in the Patriots offense. Not only is he one of the league's most reliable 3rd down backs, he is a great block, pass catcher, and runner of the ball. He is also a very solid punt returner. The Patriots will have a heard time replacing Faulk.
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Update: The Washington Redskins have release RB Larry Johnson, NFL.com reports. Johnson was brought in this off-season, but has been used very little through 2 games, so this isn't too surprising.
Fantasy Impact: Through 2 games, Johnson had just 2 yards on 5 carries. This move doesn't exactly make Clinton Portis a better option in fantasy simply because he was already the featured back in Washington. Portis should still get the majority of the carries, but the touches that Johnson received may go to Keiland Williams.
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Update: The Washington Redskins have release RB Larry Johnson, NFL.com reports. Johnson was brought in this off-season, but has been used very little through 2 games, so this isn't too surprising.
Fantasy Impact: Through 2 games, Johnson had just 2 yards on 5 carries. This move doesn't exactly make Clinton Portis a better option in fantasy simply because he was already the featured back in Washington. Portis should still get the majority of the carries, but the touches that Johnson received may go to Keiland Williams.
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Update: Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports that Green Bay Packers RB Brandon Jackson should not expect to receive 20 carries a game with Ryan Grant out for the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy said the he thinks Jackson is valuable on 3rd down, and added that he doesn't think Jackson's body could handle all of those carries. Jackson has missed 11 games over the last 3 seasons.
Fantasy Impact: Jackson was s sexy pickup when Grant went down with an ankle injury because many felt that Jackson would be the primary back in Green Bay. In Week 2 Jackson received 11 carries, and John Kuhn got 9 carries. Playing Jackson as a 3rd RB or in the flex spot might be a good idea, but knowing he won't get 20 touches a game, expectations shouldn't be too high.
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Update: Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times reports that Baltimore Ravens LB Tavares Gooden will likely miss 4-6 weeks with a separated shoulder. Gooden sustained the injury in the team's loss this past weekend against the Bengals while covering a punt.
Fantasy Impact: While Gooden doesn't start, he plays an important role for the Ravens defense. He is usually on the field on third down in pass coverage, so the Ravens will have to find someone else to play that role.
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Update: Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that the New Orleans Saints have worked out RB Ladell Betts. The Saints cut Betts on September 3, but with Reggie Bush injured, the team needs more depth at the position.
Fantasy Impact: Betts would not receive enough carries to be a worthy play in fantasy. Pierre Thomas is going to get the bulk of the touches now with Bush out, so Thomas' value will see an increase.
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Many factors play a role in an NFL quarterback earning elite status. One of the most important qualities is accuracy.
“I think accuracy is the single most important trait to the success of a quarterback,” says former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel (1960-1989) and NFL.com senior analyst GIL BRANDT. “That’s the first thing that is looked at when you are evaluating a quarterback.”
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Could the White Sox disappointing September swoon be the swan song for Ozzie Guillen in Chicago? Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted an article this morning indicating that the possibility is very real, with Ozzie’s potential 2011 destination being the Florida Marlins.
And, of course, it will all likely come down to money and contracts. What doesn’t?
Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com| Tweet | Email Post
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Over the past few months, since he uttered the infamous and now ubiquitous words “I’m taking my talents to South Beach”, the popularity of LeBron James has plummeted. He went from being one of the most revered athletes in the country, and one synonymous with the city he lived and worked in, to the subject of scorn and vitriol from sports fans across the country.
Why? LeBron didn’t kill dogs, didn’t hit a woman, didn’t drive drunk, and didn’t do any of the other multitudes of egregious things that we see professional athletes do.
No, the truth is he actually did something worse…at least when it comes to public opinion in America. LeBron proved himself to be a hypocrite. His image has tanked as a result.
Admittedly, I am closer to the LeBron situation than most people. In fact, I would argue that besides true Cleveland fans — and we’ll get to this in a second — there is no one that is closer to the issue than myself.
Jon Washburn @The_Dr_Twitch| Tweet | Email Post
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Update 9/22: All spreads have been posted and all picks are in.
Week 2 was not quite as fruitful as Week 1. After a 10-4-2 week against the spread in Week 1, I fell to 8-7-1 (thanks to astutely having the Niners at +5.5).
So for the season I am now 18-11-3. Not bad. I’d take that over a full season. But that doesn’t mean I’m happy with a barely .500 week. It’s time to get back into a double digits this week.
Point spreads, over-unders, and picks below.
Email the author of this post: jerod@midwestsportsfans.com
