The On Deck Circle

Archive for category Football

Will Your Mantasy Crush on Tom Brady Pay Off?

Aug 11

Posted by Blake Murphy in Blake Murphy, Football | No Comments

PhotobucketCan you feel it? One-way bromance is brewing in the air. Mantasy crushes are hatching. Borderline creepy proclamations are being made about the sexual dominance of…you guessed it, fantasy football players.

More than anyone else, I am guilty of wearing fantasy goggles when it comes to certain athletes. Whether it’s my inexplicable hope that Eric Hinske’s split stats will land him on the friendly side of a strict platoon at Yankee Stadium, my insistence that Byron Leftwich is a rosterable quarterback, or me drafting NHL players strictly for any personal connection to them, I am guilty of large scale mantasy crushing.

But while my fantasy man-crush guilt may be large in sheer numbers, I usually manage to stay free of the over-the-top variety. That is, I tend to trade in reality. Although certain players can sometimes hurt my fantasy decision making, I know where the line is and generally have a realistic vision of my guys – I know Leftwich isn’t really a good quarterback, that Hinske is a bench player, and that no matter how many good running backs I put around him, Tom Brady won’t adopt me and be my new dad.
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How I Made the Final Four

Feb 26

Posted by Blake Murphy in Baseball, Blake Murphy, Extra Content, Football, Hockey, NBA Ball, Outside Writing | No Comments

Remember how last week I was in the first leg of a sports debating tournament? (A refresher.) Well, devoid of a finished article and the motivation to hammer one out, I decide to copy and paste my debates from that event. I won my region and will participate in the Final Four sometime in the future. I’m not saying I debated well in any of these cases, and it was a poor format (it has since been revised for the remaining regions), but here they are.
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Peyton and Marvin; Where Do They Stand?

Feb 25

Posted by john-heymans in Football, John Heymans | No Comments

PhotobucketIt’s a sad day in Indianapolis today as the Colts have released one of the all-time great wide receivers in Marvin Harrison. Marvin has worn the Indianapolis white and blue since 1996 and has been one of the league’s best wideouts from then until now. Part of the reason Harrison has become one of the leagues superstars is due to the guy throwing him the passes. Peyton Manning was drafted first overall by the Colts in 1998 and he formed an immediate chemistry with Harrison.
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NFL Mock Draft

Feb 9

Posted by alex-snyder in Alex Snyder, Football | No Comments

matt stafford Pictures, Images and PhotosHere’s a quick and early look at who could be going where come April’s NFL draft.

1)DET- QB Matthew Stafford- The Lions have holes everywhere to fill but QB remains a #1 priority. A safer pick could be an OT, which they also need badly.

2)STL-OT Andre Smith- I could also see the Rams taking stud WR Crabtree with this pick but their RT position is treacherous right now and Orlando Pace ain’t getting any younger.

3)KC- OLB/DE Brian Orakpo- I can’t see the Chiefs taking a QB here because Tyler Thigpen showed he can put up some numbers and is still young. Orakpo is a stud pass rusher with great speed. His combine will determine where he goes.

4)SEA-WR Michael Crabtree- If he slips to the Seahawks at #4, they wont think twice about grabbing him. Absolute playmaker in the mold of Andre Johnson and some guy named Larry Fitzgerald.

5)CLE-RB Beanie Wells- A lot of people see them taking a LB with this pick but I think Beanie’s skill is going to be shown during the combine and the Browns will nab him with this pick. He’s a beast and CLE needs RB’s badly as Jamal is getting old.
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Matt Millen Owned – Video of the Day

Feb 3

Posted by Blake Murphy in Extra Content, Football | No Comments

Pay close attention to the scroll along the bottom of the screen. I believe the term the kids are using is Pwnd.

My NFL Season in Three Running Jokes

Jan 29

Posted by Blake Murphy in Blake Murphy, Football | No Comments

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Let’s all be honest with each other. There are three reasons we love football – our favorite team, our fantasy team, and gambling. But this season…man, I took a beating. The 2008 NFL season was the first in some time that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. It didn’t quite have me questioning my fandom, but it did make me question why I put up with 17 weeks of the boys at my house eating pizza and watching ball, without fail, without a Sunday off. Sure, it was fun, but there was never a win for me…no fantasy wins, no Jaguar successes, no gambling victories, not even a moral W here and there.
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That Wasn't Desean Jackson's First Time, He Did it in High School Too

Sep 17

Posted by Blake Murphy in Extra Content, Football | No Comments

For those of you that missed it last night here is the completely idiotic play by Desean Jackson:

Unbelievably he did nearly the same thing in High School but it was even more idiotic:
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Fantasy Football Focus – Wide Receivers

Aug 12

Posted by patrick-tye in Football, Pat Tye | No Comments

This article has been submitted by Patrick Tye.

Unlike picking quarterbacks and running backs, wide receivers can be difficult to draft because players at this position struggle to put up big numbers every week. In addition, we must also consider whether a WR’s team has a running game to keep defenses honest, an offensive line that will allow their quarterbacks enough time to make proper reads and of course, injuries. Despite all of these considerations however, the top wide receivers in the previous year remain near the top this season but there are some young wide outs on the rise who could make an impact on your draft this season.
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Fantasy Football Focus – Running Backs

Aug 8

Posted by patrick-tye in Football, Pat Tye | No Comments

This article has been submitted by Patrick Tye.

In fantasy football drafts, top running backs are chosen early and often. While running backs often offer the biggest opportunity to gain points in your draft, the risk of choosing a star running back is often difficult since injuries are usually a major factor. Except for Brain Westbrook, 4 of the consensus top 5 running backs missed significant time last season so it is important to choose a running back who not only puts up big numbers, but can stay healthy as well.
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The End of an Era: Favre Saga Ends with Trade to Aztecs

Aug 8

Posted by Trev Smith in Extra Content, Football | No Comments

On Wednesday evening, Fox Sports mistakenly reported that Brett Favre was traded, finally, to the New York Jets for a future draft pick. In truth, the Green Bay icon and Madden coverboy was shipped out of Wisconsin for another franchise quarterback in need of a home: Steamin’ Willie Beamen. Favre was traded for the former third-string quarterback of the Miami Sharks who became a starter after an injury to Jack Rooney and lead Miami to a memorable playoff run, after which he joined the Albuquerque Aztecs, an expansion franchise, whom he eventually lead to respectability. Several unnamed Green Bay insiders have pointed to Beamen’s spotted past and ability to cause tension among staff and teammates. To his credit though, Beamen has never strung along an entire franchise and fan-base for consecutive summers as Favre has…and he is clearly an upgrade over the unproven Aaron Rodgers. ”This is a game of inches,” Beaman said at a press conference, “and I will get the Packers those inches.” He added: “F— Brett Favre!”