WR Mason misses practice again

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Update: CBSsports.com is reporting that Baltimore Ravens WR Derrick Mason missed practice again Thursday for the second straight day with ankle injury. His status for next week against the New Orleans Saints is uncertain.

Fantasy Impact: Mason has been hot in his last few weeks, scoring five touchdowns in the past six games. As defenses are paying more attention to WR Anquan Boldin, Mason has been able to break out and put up numbers. If healthy, he should be considered a number two or three receiver in terms of fantasy.



WR Harvin back at practice

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Update: CBSsports.com is reporting that Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin is finally back at practice after missing some time with migraine headaches. Harvin has been battling the migraines all season and has missed the past two games.

Fantasy Impact: If everything goes smooth, Harvin should be back on the field next week. However, he shouldn't be started due to the Vikings quarterback situation. Sit him this week.



WR Harvin back at practice

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Update: CBSsports.com is reporting that Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin is finally back at practice after missing some time with migraine headaches. Harvin has been battling the migraines all season and has missed the past two games.

Fantasy Impact: If everything goes smooth, Harvin should be back on the field next week. However, he shouldn't be started due to the Vikings quarterback situation. Sit him this week.



AP sits out practice

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Update: CBSsports.com is reporting that Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson sat out practice Thursday with an ankle injury. He sustained the injury in week 13 but hasn't missed any playing time. His status for next week is uncertain.

Fantasy Impact: Peterson will most likely play next week, but he will be ging up against the number two rush defense in the NFL on Monday. Fantasy owners with a different running back with a better matchup may be wise to start them since he only managed to post 26 yards last week against the New York Giants on the injured ankle.



Favre not close to returning

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Update: CBSsports.com is reporting that Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre still isn't close to returning to action. He spoke with the media on Thursday and said that he still has numbness in his hand and that he is nowhere close to ready to playing.

Fantasy Impact: The Vikings quarterbacks are all banged up right now. Favre is the best chance they have to win but it looks like his age is finally catching up with him. He has no fantasy value at this point since he hasn't been playing well at all this year.



The NBA Morning After: Embrace the Heartbreak Edition

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The Morning After is a look at the night that was in the NBA along with other NBA-related fodder.


When Amare Stoudemire’s nullified game-winner ripped the net in Madison Square Garden, ending an exhilarating 48 minutes wherein the Knicks for the most part exhibited confident, manic-by-design basketball, there was hardly enough time to process what we’d just seen before we had to acknowledge that yes, the New York Knicks are once again a team worth paying attention to.

And they clearly are, and that is a good thing. When everything is flowing as effortlessly as it was for much of last night, they will push the elite teams in this league. With D’Antoni as coach, they’ve had a system ready and waiting. It wasn’t until this season, and the additions of Stoudemire, Felton and Fields that the blueprint and pieces have been so in-sync, rather than rubbing against one another like sandpaper. So yes, there is finally an upside for the New York Knicks, a reason to get excited, one that isn’t five years down the road. For a rebuilding team, that is arriving.

Last year, on a smaller market scale, the Milwaukee Bucks arrived. We Feared the Deer and watched as John Salmons became the consistent wing scorer they needed. We watched as they pushed forward after the devastating Bogut injury and took an apathetic Atlanta Hawks team to the brink in the playoffs. Safe to say, any expectations of Milwaukee last year were far surpassed, because there probably weren’t any.

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Desean Jackson says he’ll play Sunday

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Update: Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Eagles WR Desean Jackson says he is definitely playing in this Sunday's showdown for 1st place in the NFC East with the NY Giants. He did not say whether or not he would practice today however.

Fantasy Impact: Jackson sprained his left foot in last week's win over the Cowboys. Jackson had only a few catches, but made the most of them racking in 210 yards and a TD. Jackson did not practice yesterday, but should be in your lineups this weekend if he said he will play.



Vikings expected to place Jackson on IR

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Update: Profootballtalk.com is reporting that the Vikings are expected to place QB Tavaris Jackson on IR, ending his season. Jackson suffered a turf toe injury in last weekend's start and had to be taken out of the game at one point.

Fantasy Impact: Patrick Ramsey has been signed as a backup option at the position as it looks like rookie Joe Webb will start. Jackson had his only start of the season cut short because of his injury. It will be an interesting offseason for Jackson as the Vikings go into it with a gaping hole at the QB position if Favre's career is over.



Gates listed as doubtful

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Update: Rotoworld.com is reporting that Chargers TE Antonio Gates is officially listed as doubtful for tonight's game against San Francisco. Gates did not practice yesterday with his usual foot/toe injuries he's been suffering through the entire season.

Fantasy Impact: Backup TE Randy McMichael will get the start no matter what tonight and is a viable plan B with Gates being out. Every week Gates' status has been up in the air, but this week looks bleak. "'I always hold out hope with Antonio, but at some point you have to be realistic,' said coach Norv Turner after Gates failed to practice on Wednesday."



Colt McCoy named starter for season

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Update: Rotoworld.com is reporting that Browns coach Eric Mangini has named Colt McCoy the starting QB for the rest of the season. McCoy has missed the past three weeks with a high ankle sprain. He took over the starting role back in week 6.

Fantasy Impact: The Browns are running out of options at QB. McCoy won't be 100%, but he will probably give the team the best chance of winning the game against the Bengals. The Bengals have had a miserable season this year. Expect the Browns to go with the run as usual and run the offense through Peyton Hillis.



Vikings looking to start rookie at QB

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Update: Rotoworld.com is reporting that the Vikings are looking more likely to start rookie Joe Webb this weekend at Quarterback. Brett Favre, who's games started streak ended last week, might not ever play again. And Tavaris Jackson has a turf toe injury and he's very questionable this week.

Fantasy Impact: Joe Webb has been battling a hamstring injury for the past couple weeks, but should be ready in case he would have to start Monday Night. Webb, a 6th round pick from UAB, was a WR in college. In some fantasy leagues his is listed as a WR, so Webb may have some value this week as a WR if he starts.



Vikings looking to start rookie at QB

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Update: Rotoworld.com is reporting that the Vikings are looking more likely to start rookie Joe Webb this weekend at Quarterback. Brett Favre, who's games started streak ended last week, might not ever play again. And Tavaris Jackson has a turf toe injury and he's very questionable this week.

Fantasy Impact: Joe Webb has been battling a hamstring injury for the past couple weeks, but should be ready in case he would have to start Monday Night. Webb, a 6th round pick from UAB, was a WR in college. In some fantasy leagues his is listed as a WR, so Webb may have some value this week as a WR if he starts.



Video: Spectacular marching band formation of a ball being kicked

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hawaii-marching-band-formation-kicking-ball

The Hawaii marching band wins the award for Most Excellent Marching Band Formation of the Year. I say this without having seen very many other marching band formations, but I have a hard time believing there is one cooler than this out there. (And if so, please post a link below.)

This video was posted on December 13th, so I assume this happened relatively recently. I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Just watch it. It’s cool.

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



NFL Week 15 Injury Updates

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I typically post the weekly injury update post on Friday mornings, but it occurred to me that it might be more useful on Thursday since many of us have lineup decisions to make before tonight’s game. So while I have one less day of information, at least I can highlight what we do know as of this morning and where the uncertainties in your lineup currently lie.

Make sure to also check out the Week 15 start ‘em, sit ‘em picks, the Week 15 rankings, and the Week 15 waiver wire sleeper picks. And we’ll be here Sunday morning for our weekly live chat, as always.

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



An American Legend passes away

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Bob_Feller_June_1947

The world has lost a great man. “The Ace of the Greatest Generation,” Bob Feller, died Wednesday night after bouts with leukemia and pneumonia.

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