Midseason Fantasy Football Review
The NFL's Worst Football Players Wholesale Jerseys Are Still the Country's Best
So before I begin the discussion of the NFL's worst players this year let's be honest. Even the NFL's worst players are better than 99% of the population. Think about it, there are over 300 division schools with an estimated 80 college football players each; this equals approximately 24,000 NFL wannabe's. By the time these athletes reach the NFL only 1700 end up on an NFL team! These are some of the elite of the elite athletes in the world.
Any quarterback can be compared to the lead singer of a band. Even though there are other members, the mistakes and failures of the lead singer are the first things people see. Of course you can't blame everything on the QB since the coach is the one calling the plays, but in the heat of the game trust me, you'll watch the QB screw up and you'll blame him immediately. Also you may notice in this list of this season's worst NFL players I don't hate on the rookies. Players like Mark Sanchez are still learning the ropes and referring to someone like him as the "NFL's worst" is premature.
Boo! Hiss! Fantasy Football Let Downs!
Jamarcus Russell QB Oakland Raiders
Russell has never been really, truly impressive. There are a lot of stats and data to back up why he has been called an "NFL bust", but the biggest reason he is one of the NFL's worst is his boring, unenthusiastic attitude. He makes football seem like a mundane job, he doesn't appear fully invested. It's hard to inspire passion in your fans when you continue to play without it.
2 Peas in a Pod: Kerry Collins and Vince Cheap Jerseys Young QBS Tennessee Titans
These two teammates I put together because it appears the fate of one affects the fate of the other. First, Kerry Collins sucks. 2009 so far is one of the worst seasons of his career. There is no reason he isn't throwing balls regularly to Britt and Cook. When it comes to Vince Young I'm worried; any time you have to bench someone like Kerry Collins for Vince Young you are in trouble. QBs must be really smart. Their intelligence is what makes them exceptional. They have to memorize 80 plays and strategize in mere seconds on the field. They must also be leaders. In my opinion, Young does not score high on the intelligence scale so I'm not sure if he is better or worse than Collins this season.
Fantasy Football's Worst Defense
Continuing the trend of the last four years, this season the Houston Texans are dead last in total defense and deserving of recognition as part of the NFL's worst. The Texans defense is made up of inexperienced players, except for Zgonina. This makes it harder for them to work together as a team. Stradley argues these are the reasons the Texans are the NFL's worst defense. Is there hope for the future? Maybe, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
NFL Draft Discussions
Arizona Cardinals"The cards don't have that many holes. Their defense played fairly well at times last year. They lack another solid DT and a corner and they should be good. On offense, they obviously need a RB. Emmitt has retired and I'm not sold on marcel shipp either. He can be a 3rd down back, but a guy like Ronnie Brown would help them tremendously. " DolFanDeluce
Atlanta Falcons"I think we should maybe trade up to get either Braylon or Mike Williams. Let's face it, Peerless is not a 1 receiver. Or it would be good to get David Pollack, Erasmus James, or that Roth guy from Iowa." gdawgs444
Baltimore Ravens"I don't know how they could go any direction but wide receiver in the first round. They've needed a threat at wide out on the offense for the last couple of years and fail to pick one up each year." PSYCHoWARD86
Buffalo Bills"I think that our first pick should be on the line. If Jennings leaves than a future LT, but if not I'd go for interior line help. I like C Ben Wilkerson and OG David Baas. BillsRockSOMUCH
Carolina Panthers"There is no doubt in my mind we will draft the first offensive linemen available. And offensive lineman second round. And we also need secondary help. I'm guessing Rodney Peete or Ricky Prohel will retire. So maybe later that area." Panthersguy
Chicago Bears"The only position we should consider in the draft 49ersofficialnflauthentic.com/authentic-marcus-martin-jersey.html on offense is a WR, if we could get a Braylon Edwards or one of the top two WRs, then it's worth it. Imagine the Bears if they had a Roy Williams, a Larry Fitz, an Andre Johnson, they'd be a lot better off." Ditka4President
Cincinnati Bengals"A DT would be good, so I'm hoping for Antaaj Hawthorne, Rodrique Wright, or Travis Johnson. Could the Bengals set a record for Johnsons on one pro sports team or what?" TommyD71
Cleveland Browns"We have four possible picks at No. 3: Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Johnson, and Pac Man Jones. The guy I want the most? Jones. If he runs a 4.2 like everyone is saying he will at the notoriously slow turf of the RCA dome we will have one hell of a cornerback." RaulDuke
Dallas Cowboys"If the Cowboys decided to stay with the 4 3 and drafted accordingly, I wouldn't mind seeing Derrick Johnson at pick 1a and Justin Tuck with 1b. They could then add guys in FA like Ferguson at DT, Smith at FS, and Henry at CB." jnb01
Denver Broncos"I think that we will go for a DT or DE, we need to get Brandon Thomas Womens Jersey someone on QBs consistently. We have an okay defensiveline, but we don't get enough pressure to help out the rest of our defense." OrangeBlueFever
Detroit Lions"Derrick Johnson would be one of the few guys that I would pick at 10. He would get you a turnover a game with that punch on the ball he has and I don't think Boss Baily will be around for more than a couple of years more." Russia5
Green Bay Packers"So I guess everyone has just forgotten how bad our secondary was last year. We forget all the holding calls by 28. The many missed assignments by 24. And who could forget the spanking that 26 and 27 recieved when we played the Colts. People we need new corners. Carrol is not going to develop into anything but a headache." keyj0384
Houston Texans"Houston hardly ever drafts BPA. They 99% of the time will draft the player they need more, even if its a few picks to high. They know what they need and go out and get it. Second, they like to draft 'tweeners' and projects if you will." MacDaddyB88
Indianapolis Colts"In my perspective, the defense really needs to toughen up all around and stop the run however they also need a corner that is adept in www.49ersofficialnflauthentic.com/authentic-marcus-martin-jersey.html run support as well as coverage." mnntater
Jacksonville Jaguars"I think Heath Miller would be a good pick at 21 and a great pick if we can trade down and still get him. The guy seems to be very well rounded and would add a great dimension to our offense." Tintin38
Kansas City Chiefs"If we can pick www.49ersofficialnflauthentic.com/authentic-brandon-thomas-jersey.html up a corner is free agency that would be awesome especially if it was Smoot or Woodson, but if they can't then they need anyone other then Bartee or McCleon and need to get Webster or Jackson who both have some good potential and are far superior in speed and coverage skills than what we have now." Copedawgk
Miami Dolphins"Our offense stunk like the south end of a north bound mule. That's what we will have to address in the draft. We could get a RB in FA, but if that doesn't happen we should go for Cedric Benson at No. 2." DolFanDeluce
Minnesota Vikings"The thing that worries me is that our o line is better at pass blocking than run blocking. Since we will se more normal coverages and eight man fronts, I'm not sure if our running game will be effective. We still need to get a WR (Mike Williams or Braylon Edwards) that can keep defenses honest" Shalomhotep
New England Patriots"How about Linebacker? The Patriots need young linebackers before the 30 and 32 year olds become 34 and 35, and on the verge of retirement. They're all the same age, and will likely retire at similar times. Phifer is likely to retire this year. " BJ2727
New Orleans Saints"No way on wide receiver in the first. We already have Horn and Stallworth is coming along, injuries have really slowed him but he stepped up towards the end of the year. AND we drafted Henderson second round last year so no on that." Saintswhodi
New York Giants"I think they will go O Line, DE, or WR. Toomer and Hilliard have failed to have much of an impact on this season, the O Line might be the worst in the league, and Strahan is getting older, which makes DE a need." NDKALU
New York Jets"The Jets front seven are arguably the best in the NFL but with the worst defensive backfield, they can not win games. The Jets need to draft a corner in both the first and second rounds." karlyt10
Oakland Raiders"Alright, alright, so it is more than apparent that many of us are divided in our opinions about the Raiders trading for Randy Moss, but let's all face it, what's done is done. Now what? How do we cope with the loss of our number one pick? What about our need for a feature RB? How about defensively, what will we do to fill our holes there?" Airdog2003
Philadelphia Eagles"I agree with you wholeheartedly about DT and OL in the first round being major needs with Runyon, Thomas, and Mayberry all over 30. The Eagles need youth on the O Line." Buzzsaw141
Pittsburgh Steelers"What the steelers really need is a big play tight end that can open up the middle and go deep. We could get Bubba Franks but that's not likely knowing the steelers so the other option is the draft." SteelersAndUcFan
San Diego Chargers"I highly doubt Brees or Rivers will be traded this year. We will probably have a couple of FA pick ups but nothing huge. Hopefully a cb like Gary Baxter will end up in our hands at least. In the draft it all depends upon who falls at 12 and 28. wide receiver, cornerback, free safety, defensive end, and even linebacker are all possibilities." RyanFitz1604
San Francisco 49ers"We have the No. 1 pick in the draft, which doesn't happen very often. We have two QBs that fit the West Coast Offense (in the draft). General rule of thumb. if you don't have a franchise QB then you don't pass on one!" GreyWolf447
Seattle Seahawks"What we need more than another player is confidence. Confidence in each player to do his job. Rhodes' lack of confidence (some of it merited) in a lot of the players caused him to call some awful coverages, and poor adjustments because he was afraid of how those guys would get exposed. Which caused other players to be exposed. It was like a snowball. " Raolyn13
St. Louis Rams"The Rams have to go defense IMO. Defensive line and secondary are large needs. Aneas Williams is getting so old hes getting his AARP card mailed out soon." Johosophat
Long wait for Notre Dame's Tuitt Jimmie Ward Youth Jersey
With each second round pick that clicked off early Friday night, the perplexing NFL Draft slides of former Notre Dame defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix grew a little deeper and a little darker.
For Tuitt, the emotional, bumpy and protracted ride ended at pick No. 46, 14 selections into round two, when the Pittsburgh Steelers snatched the 6 foot 5, 300 pounder off the board as the fifth defensive end.
"All I know is I believe that everything happens for a reason," Tuitt said in a conference call, shortly after wiping away tears of presumed joy. "It was meant for me to come to the Steelers."
Former Irish and Steelers QB Terry Jimmie Ward Womens Jersey Hanratty (father of current Irish offensive guard Conor Hanratty) made the guest announcement of the pick on ESPN.
Troy Niklas at No. 52 in round 2 to Arizona, then Nix at 83 in round 3 to Houston followed. Offensive guard Chris Watt was the final Irish player taken Friday night, 89th to the San Diego Chargers, before day 2 came to a close.
Teammate Zack Martin was the first ND player selected in the 79th annual draft. Dallas took the offensive lineman Thursday night with pick No. 16. The five players selected in rounds 1 3 was two short of matching the largest showing by Notre Dame in the top thrree rounds in draft history, still held by the 1994 draft class.
Rounds 4 7 of the three day, seven round, 256 player second guess fest unfolds Saturday starting at noon EDT (ESPN, NFL Network). Four more ND players, and as many as six, could swell the Irish draft contingent to its largest total since 10 ND draftees were taken in 1994.
Tuitt, at pick No. 46, becomes the highest drafted ND defensive lineman since Renaldo Wynn went 21st to Jacksonville in 1997, edging Trevor Laws (47th to Philadelphia in 2008) by a single spot. But in January, when Tuitt cannonballed into the NFL Draft pool as a junior, as one of a record 102 early entries, the 2012 second team All American seemed like a sure fire first rounder.
So did Nix, one of four ND underclassmen in the draft mix, but the only one who will secure a degree before he leaves for mini camp.
Tuitt, who lost 30 pounds during his pre draft prep, had to deal with a Jones fracture (a break in the foot near the baby toe) that was uncovered at the NFL Combine in late February and prompted combine officials to limit him only to do the bench press among the physical testing in Indianapolis.
The Monroe, Ga., product and Miami native was scratched against his will in the running drills, for liability reasons, but less than a week later, his agent set up a Pro Day at the Lovett School in the Atlanta area. Days later he underwent surgery on his left foot.
It was in Atlanta where Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell was won over by the lighter, swifter Tuitt.
"I think we got a really good football player," Mitchell said of the 35th ND player all time to be drafted by Pittsburgh but the first since wide receiver and fifth rounder Malcolm Johnson in 1999.
"We feel like we got a steal in the second round with our pick. . If http://www.49ersofficialnflauthentic.com/authentic-carlos-hyde-jersey.html you look at him during his sophomore year, this guy was probably one of the best defensive linemen in college."
But the incongruence between the 2012 film and the 2013 production of both Tuitt and Nix separated the 2013 preseason first team All Americans from their seemingly unshakable first round destinies Nix dramatically so.
How much was injuries? How much was scheme? How much was living on their 2012 reputations? In the end, teams had to believe their best football was ahead of them, that 2013 was the anomaly and not 2012 if they were going to remain first rounders.
"They both played better two years ago," ESPN NFL analyst and former Super Bowl winning head coach Jon Gruden said in the days leading up to the draft. "I think that's clear to everybody. They both played a lot lighter two years ago. I think that's clear to everybody. And I think it's a mystery to everyone why they were heavier this year. I think those are three things that are clear in regards to Nix and Tuitt."
The 6 6, 270 pound Niklas, meanwhile, went right about where he was projected. The caveat on the three and out junior was that he's only played the tight end position for two years, and a pre draft injury kept him from ever running a 40 yard dash for scouts.
But Arizona made him the 12th tight end in school history to be taken in the first or second round and the fifth straight Irish starting tight end to get chosen in the top two rounds.
He'll team up in Arizona with ND's all time leading receiver Michael Floyd, a first round pick in the 2011 draft; former ND running back Robert Hughes and one of those Irish tight end standouts, John Carlson. The seventh year veteran was a second round pick by Seattle in 2008.
"He's a guy that in our mind has just started to scratch the surface on what he can become," Arizona general manager Steve Keim said of Niklas. "At 6 6, 270 pounds, he has a tremendous physique, great size, athleticism, and the upside is really scary when we look at the package.
"He is a guy that is a good player right now, and when you see the potential on tape, it excites you. He was a guy that (head coach) Bruce (Arians) and I have focused on for quite some time now. We were www.49ersofficialnflauthentic.com/authentic-carlos-hyde-jersey.html really relieved that he was still there for us at 52."
When asked how close Niklas is to being able to play a significant role for the Cardinals, Arians responded: "How long does it take to get on an airplane?"
Arians added that had Niklas chosen to stay in school, he likely would have been a top 10 pick overall in the 2015 draft.
"I just kind of had a good feeling," Niklas said of his early departure. "Everything looked bright, so I just went ahead and came out. It wasn't an easy thing. That's for sure, but I'm hoping that it will pay off here in a couple years."
For Nix, it wasn't about whether 2014 could have seasoned him more for the pro game. It was about the fall off in 2013.
"He'll probably come into the league with a chip on his shoulder," ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay said Friday during ESPN's telecast. "But he can't be the slow, out of condition player he was a year ago, because he won't last in this league if he is."
How to become an NFL referee
If there's a lesson to be learned from the recent NFL replacement referee debacle, it's this: Officials in the four major sports leagues are an elite bunch with difficult jobs. But what does it take to reach the top of the officiating game?
Referees go through many of the same selection stages as athletes. And their odds of making it to the top? "Minuscule," says Barry Mano, a former Division I college basketball referee. Mr. Mano is founder of the National Association of Sports Officials. "You have 121 people [working in the National Football League] right now. You have on the order of 70,000 football officials working high school and above."
That puts a ref's chance of making it to the NFL at 0.17 percent. In baseball, roughly 40 of the 300 students who enroll in umpire schools every year get called up to work in the minors. From there, about 2 percent will become one of the Austin Seferian-Jenkins Jersey 68 umpires working in the majors, according to former Major League Baseball umpire Justin Klemm, who now serves as executive director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corps, a Florida based minor league subsidiary for training umpires.
RECOMMENDED: Five worst labor disputes in sports Mike Evans Jersey
Because of the time and experience required, an elite official gets in the game early, usually as a side gig for youth sports or junior high school games. For Mano, who started officiating in high school, it was a family thing: His father was also a basketball ref, and his older brother went on to officiate in the National Basketball Association. "I was getting paid 20 bucks per game to tell people what to do," he laughs. "It took me 12 years to get to the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association]," where he made $400 per game.
Mr. Klemm says the timeline for a baseball umpire is roughly the same as that of a football ref: Begin at 22 or 23, and "if you're good enough, [you]will Austin Seferian-Jenkins Youth Jersey work your first MLB game in your early 30s."
Mano estimates that the NFL replacement refs, who were culled from the high school and small college leagues, came from gigs making $150 to $200 per game. Baseball umpires can make anywhere between $100 per game and $1,000 per series officiating college baseball. It's nowhere near the $90,000 to $300,000 made in the majors, but the travel demands are fewer, and even high school and college refereeing can make for a rewarding side gig.
As with athletes, it takes notice from a scout to pull an official up through the ranks. "It's a huge supply for a limited demand," http://www.officialbuccaneersnflauthentic.com/authentic-mike-evans-jersey.html Mano says. There are extensive character interviews, rigorous physical and psychological testing, and, at the highest levels, "a background check that would take your breath away."
At the top, life is a parade of travel, study, training camps, and physical conditioning. Though the NFL season only lasts five to six months, "part time" refs' obligations take up about 10 months. Baseball umps who are full time MLB employees find themselves on the road for months at a time. Famed NFL ref Ed Hochuli is a partner at a Phoenix law firm; Mike Carey, head referee in Super Bowl XLII, owns a snow sports equipment company. Others are tax consultants, lobbyists, and restaurant owners.
They have something in common. "These are risk takers," says Mano, "with the flexibility of schedule to put the time in." The training and courage to make a quick decision and stand by it sorts out the superstar referees from the rest.
FiOS Growth Makes Zach Fulton Jersey This Telecom A Strong Buy
Verizon (VZ) recently launched online access to the NFL Network. Verizon's FiOS service, apart from increasing the company's wire line revenues, has allowed the mobile giant to trade at multiples that are beneficial to its shareholders. The growth stories surrounding the FiOS network justify Verizon's price multiples.
Verizon had a total of 5.3 million FiOS Internet and 4.6 million FiOS Video connections at the end of the third quarter, representing year over year increases of 14.4% and 15.4%, respectively. FiOS internet penetration was 37% at the end of the third quarter of 2012, compared with 34.6% at the end of the third quarter of 2011. FiOS Video penetration was 32.9% in the third quarter of 2012, compared with 30.6% for 2011. FiOS continued to drive wire line revenues, which rose 46% year over year in consumer revenues, the highest in a decade. Consumer ARPU (average revenue per user) was up 10.3% year over year, to $103.86.
FiOS TV provides customers with multi screen access to a number of networks that feature everything from sports and news to movies and children programming. Customers have anytime, anywhere access to the networks of Zach Fulton Womens Jersey their choice, giving them a truly borderless lifestyle. The network means they never have to miss their favorite programming anymore.
To enhance the FiOS service, Verizon launched several networks, including the deployment of next generation routing equipment to meet growth demands and improve scalability. The company also launched a long term core network architecture project for a label switching backbone Aaron Murray Jersey platform supporting current and future service demands. Verizon continued building its network of the future by deploying a 100 G technology throughout the United States cloud and video distribution applications. On its long haul network, it connected major metropolitan areas with the new generation 100 G technology
In third quarter 2012, Verizon's total operating revenues were $29.0 billion on a consolidated basis, an increase of 3.9% compared with third quarter 2011. ARPU for FiOS customers was more than $150. FiOS services produced 66% of consumer wire line revenues in third quarter 2012. About two thirds of FiOS consumer customers purchased a "triple play" of phone, internet, and video services.
Verizon reported 56 cents in diluted earnings per share, compared with 49 cents per share same period in 2011, a 14.3% increase. Verizon added 136,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 119,000 net new FiOS Video connections in third quarter 2012. consumer wire line revenues in 10 years. We are confident that we have the right plans in place to meet these challenges while improving the long term profitability in both Consumer and Enterprise," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO during the conference call on the report.
The online access to NFL programming also allows users to make every touchdown for every game on Sunday during the regular season. "Watching the NFL network will ensure customers never have to miss their NFL programming again," said Terry Denson, vice president of Verizon's content strategy and acquisition division.
If we list some of Verizon's attempt to improve its FiOS network, we find there have been many. They include the deal with NFL, the deployment of next generation routing equipment, the launch of long term core network architecture, expansion of the next generation routing equipment, the connection to the Europe/India submarine system, and others.
If Verizon's FiOS initiative is seen against the backdrop of http://www.chiefsnflofficialauthentic.com/authentic-aaron-murray-jersey.html third quarter and year on year financial statements, it is clear that Verizon has been consistently improved in comparison to the previous year. And in addition to that, wire line revenues have increased, so it can be said that Verizon is operating at an optimum level.
How is Verizon performing compared to its competitors? With earnings per share of 1.08, compared to 0.76 for AT, 1.44 for Sprint Nextel
, 1.05 for CenturyLink (CTL), and 0.37 for industry average, and a gross margin of 0.60%, compared to 0.55% for AT 0.41% for Sprint, and 0.53% for Windstream (WIN), Verizon is performing well comparatively. However, Verizon has the advantage of being the biggest player in this niche. Looking at the successive attempts to boost the FiOS network and the clearly improving numbers, I believe Verizon is a strong investment now.
Source: Verizon: FiOS Growth Makes This Telecom A Strong Buy
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More.)
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