Chad vs Jim: Week 16

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, we now have just two weeks left in the season. Fortunately for Chad, he picked up his first weekly win of the year last week. Entering week 16, Chad is now 112-78 and I have a record of 125-65 with a 13 game lead. Regardless of the standings between the two of us, we are still much better than the ESPN "experts" in picking games. Don't believe me? Go check their records on the World Wide Leader's site. Now onto this week. Chad and I have 5 games that are different, and the interesting thing is that all 5 games have playoff implications.

Chad vs Jim week 14 thursday night picks. Chad and I both pick the Steelers

Patriots not perfect; easy with the Super Bowl talk for now

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Nobody asks how you won, they ask if you won.

The only thing that matters is picking up victories, so even though the Patriots didn't play a solid game by any stretch of the imagination, the important thing is that they didn't get tagged with a loss.

Winning is so hard to come by in the NFL, but if anyone in Patriots Nation thinks this team is a shoe-in to go to the Super Bowl, they better not think that far ahead.

The Patriots had been on a great run with Tom Brady posting eye-popping numbers over the last month and the defense coming up with big plays, but last night's game against Green Bay had stinker written all over it.

Who thought this game was going to be a laugher because Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was out with a concussion and little-known Matt Flynn was the starter?

Well, the Patriots sure made the inexperienced quarterback look good, which they do from time to time (see Cleveland's Colt McCoy as an example).

Actually, just about everyone on the Packers looked good.

But the Patriots found a way to get the job done, even though the Pats should be thankful that Flynn completely blew it with his lack of clock management skills at the end when the Pack had a chance to win the ballgame.

We probably should have seen this coming, too, since the Pats have been decimated by injuries on the defensive line and the loss of inside linebacker Brandon Spikes gave the Packers a gigantic advantage in the running game.

But some old issues resurfaced -- not getting off the field on third down, the inability to stop the run or get pressure on the quarterback, and poor play-calling on offense -- which need to be corrected.

Give the Packers credit, however. They played good enough to win and probably should have, especially given the circumstances of having to start Flynn.

But the Pats proved again that they have that special something going on, with the ability to overcome adversity and produce when the game is on the line.

Those qualities can take you long way in the playoffs.

While it wasn't a vintage Patriots win, it was a victory nonetheless. It also gives Bill Belichick and his staff another reason to push the Pats even harder and demand excellence, knowing they simply aren't good enough to walk all over every opponent they face.

The Patriots are a darn good football team, obviously, but they are definitely beatable.

But it's a lot nicer to be able to correct mistakes when you're winning than if you were losing.

Week 15 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's been a good year for me to pick games straight up, and I am very happy with a 14 game lead over Chad with just 3 weeks to go in the season. I do not feel comfortable because my hot streak can only last so long, and all Chad needs to do is get a big week to get back in the game. We differ on 7 games this week, as you'll see below, so he can certainly chip away at that lead. For the season, Chad is 102-72 and I am 116-58. If you're interested to see how Chad and I stack up against the "Experts" from ESPN, go and look at their records. I think it's safe to say we easily go toe to toe with them, and often hammer them week to week.

Losing out on Lee hurts, doesn't kill Yankees 2011 season

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

To start off, I want full disclosure here. I am not a fan of either the Yankees or the Red Sox. The Yankees organization, and fans, can say what they want but losing out on Cliff Lee really hurts this team. Simmer down Red Sox fans because this does not sink, or kill, the Yankees 2011 season.

Why you ask? Well, the Yankees starting rotation is really not that far away from the solid rotation the Red Sox have. I'd certainly take Jon Lester and Clay Bucholtz over CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, but it's not like there that much better. The Sox top two starters combined for a 36-16 record with era's of 3.25 and 2.33. The Yanks top two went 39-15 with higher eras of 3.18 and 4.19. Josh Beckett and John Lackey sound great as your 3rd and 4th starters, but are there are so many questions about those two. Beckett has only had one really good year since coming to Boston, and Lackey showed he's very much a #4 starter last year. On the other side, Andy Pettite is a far more consistent performer as long as he's healthy. I also have no doubt he'll be back in pinstripes now. AJ Burnett was an unmitigated disaster last season, but realistically there's no way he's that bad again this season.

Now let's look at the positional players. Right now I'd say the catching position is a draw, but if one of these teams lands Russell Martin, then they have a slight advantage. Most people would call the first base position a draw, but I think Teixiera is still a better player. When you look at it, I think the Yankees also have an advantage at 2nd base with Cano, 3rd base with A-Rod and shortstop with Jeter. Crawford is a huge upgrade in the outfield, but do you really trust Jacoby Ellsbury, JD Drew and Mike Cameron? Ellsbury has great potential, but does he have the stones to get on the field? Nick Swisher is a better player in right, and I really think Curtis Granderson will have a breakout year if healthy.

What's next for the Yankees? I'm not sure. Brian Cashman has been reluctant to part with his best prospects the past few years. Much like Theo Epstein this offseason, losing out on Lee may put enough pressure on him to move some high level pieces to add the the rotation. I don't see the Yankees trading for Zack Grienke. If I'm the Yankees, I am seriously concerned with Grienke's mental history and his ability to cope with pitching in New York. I'm not convinced the Rays would trade Garza in the division.

Whatever comes next, I'm sure the entire baseball world will be on the edge of their seat.

Week 14 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's just about time Chad starts going against the grain to try and gain some ground now that he's 11 games back in the standings. Including this week, he has only 4 weeks left to make a real push to get back in the game. We're both doing pretty well overall as I have a record of 1014-54 and Chad is 93-65. If you look at the "experts" from many of the big boy websites, we're doing better than them. This week Chad and I differ on 7 games. Not too surprised on some of these though.

Take a look

Week 13 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

First off, there is a correction from Chad's picks for last week. He meant to pick the Texans instead of the Titans. Full disclosure here. What that really does is give me an 11 game lead instead of 12. Hopefully that doesn't come back to haunt me. Of course that means nothing this week as we differ on only 2 games. Not much ground to be made up here.

Week 13 Picks: Chad vs Jim Thursday Night Special

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Very quick blog here. We've finally got around to picking the Thursday night game. Chad and I are both picking:

Philadelphia Eagles

Make sure to check back Sunday morning for the rest of our week 13 picks.

The World According To Ingy!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome to my new weekly article that compiles my thoughts on the sports world, and some non-sports topics, from the week that was.

- First off, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. No presents, no religion, lots of great food and three NFL games. There is no better day on the calendar.

- The Bruins are scuffling right now. Don't worry too much though. Rask does need to start playing better soon. They'll get back on track. Of course, you can expect another little hiccup when Savard and Sturm come back as most of the lines will need to be reshuffled.

- I don't want to sound like a homer, but I don't see the Patriots losing to the Jets next Monday night. This is a different team than the past few years. They may be young, but they're a tough team that can be physical with anyone. The Steelers game showed that. This game is more important to the Patriots than it is to the Jets. There's virtually no way they can win the AFC East if they lose this game.

- I know Phillip Rivers is having a great passing season, but there's no way he deserves the MVP more than Tom Brady. Both quarterbacks have been playing, and throwing to, players you've never heard of before. You know what the difference is? The Patriots are 9-2 and the Chargers are 6-5.

- I am a huge fan of Derek Jeter, but he needs to accept that 3 year, $45 million dollar offer from the Yankees. There's no way another team offers him more. He's still a very good player, but his defense is going to make him a liability sooner rather than later. I would love to see him at third base for the Dodgers, but there's no way that happens.

- Speaking of the Dodgers, this is a tough time to be a fan of them. They've already made their "Big Splash" of the off-season by resigning Ted Lilly. Don't hold your breath for anything else really. The McCourt divorce fiasco is crippling that team. In a normal world, they'd spend the money to sign Carl Crawford because he'd be a perfect fit. His home runs might go down a bit in Dodger Stadium, but he'd hit 50+ double and 6+ triples easily.

- Speaking of disappointing off-seasons, it looks like it will be the 2nd consecutive one for the Boston Red Sox. Theo Epstein is one of the games most overrated general managers, and I see another off-season of b-level moves like last season. I don't see him having the stones to use some of his true bargaining chips to make a trade for Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder. He'd much rather wait a year and sign them as free agents. We all know he's excellent with free agent signings.

Well, that's all I have for this week.

Early thoughts on Patriots vs. Jets

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's the showdown everyone has been waiting for: Patriots vs. Jets.

And it's a game that is going to be broken down every which way from now until Monday Night's kickoff.

But here are a few quick-hitters from Fan Fanatic Sports.

1. Does anyone even remember when these two hated AFC East rivals squared off in Week 2? Well, we all know the Jets won, but amazingly enough, Jets QB Mark Sanchez won the battle with Tom Brady. The former USC overrated QB threw three TD passes and no INTs in a 28-14 win.

2. Tom Brady and Co. were awful in the first meeting with the Jets. Brady was a dismal 20-of-36 passing for 248 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. There's no way he can play worse, right? Is anyone expecting him to play subpar again?

3. LaDainian Tomlinson is back to being his old self -- as in old man. I've watched him over the last several weeks, and he's again lost that spring in his step. While he looked young and fresh early in the year, L.T. is having a hard time making a cut and getting to the outside.

4. Could the Patriots be playing any better with the Jets ready to come to town? The Pats have won 8 of their last 9, with the only stinker in the bunch being that terrible Cleveland loss.

5. After watching the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Detroit, Pats fans must still be worried about the defense. The Pats better tighten it up on 'D' vs. the Jets or they will dominate the time of possession, wear down New England and obviously have the best chance of winning.

6. Deion Branch vs. Darrelle Revis. I'll take Revis every day, including this Monday Night. Revis hasn't had the year he had last season (due to injuries and showing up late to camp because of contract issues) but he's still the best corner in the NFL, by far.

7. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is a loudmouth, but that's OK with me. I'm actually a fan; he's a darn good coach and he provides season-lasting soundbites.

8. You can't run on the Jets, so the Pats better not try to force the issue when spreading that defense out and throwing quick passes is the way to attack.

9. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are threats at the tight end position every time they're on the field. How many TE's in football can you say that about?

10. Can we please confuse and fluster Sanchez this time around? I love watching him self destruct -- and I'm even a USC fan -- when things aren't going his way.

Prediction: Not yet!

Week 12 Picks: Chad vs Jim Thanksgiving Day Games

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Chad and I had a nice start to week 12 going 3 for 3 on Thanksgiving. What that means, is I still have an 8 game lead. We both had good weeks in week 11, but I was able to add 2 games to my lead as I had a stellar 12-3 week. There's still a lot of time left for Chad to make a run, so no lead is safe, especially since we differ on a whopping 8 games this week. Now we need to see what happens.

Week 12 Picks: Chad vs Jim Thanksgiving Day Games

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hello all. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Fan Fanatic Sports. Very brief blog today as we're just going to send out our picks for the three games played on Thanksgiving.

Chad and I are picking the Patriots, Saints and Jets.

More to come on Sunday.

Enjoy Turkey Day!

Write it down: Patriots are SB contenders

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

No doubt the Patriots are legitimate Super Bowl contenders now. If you had any doubts before, after yesterday's victory over the Colts, you have to at least believe the Pats have a shot to play for another Vince Lombardi trophy.

Seriously, back-to-back games vs. Pittsburgh and Indianapolis and back-to-back wins? Trust in Belichick is back, but it's not like that's ever left this scribe.

The Patriots did exactly what I thought they'd do -- they made a real effort to pound the pigskin, which set up some great play-action looks by Tom Brady. The premier QB, who some had written off, simply doesn't miss open receivers.

And the added bonus that should have everyone gushing this morning is that the defense stepped up and created some crucial turnovers.

And it didn't get any bigger than James Sanders' game-sealing interception of Peyton Manning, who fired three INTs, on the final drive of the game. If Asante Samuel made the catch in the Super Bowl ... well, you get the point. Sanders actually made the big play when the game was on the line.

Just when we all were thinking the Pats were going to blow another lead to these scary Colts -- that's a darn good football team too, even with all those injuries -- the defense rises to the occasion.

These are the type of special ingredients that championship-type teams are made of. The biggest thing, however, is that this team is all about T-E-A-M, it's not about M-E. Doesn't it remind you of another former New England team that beat the Rams in the Super Bowl?

I'm not getting ahead of myself, but it's OK to have big goals. And I'm setting the bar real high on this team.

I know they have some weaknesses (I'd like to see the defense tighten up slightly with a better pass rush), but every team this year has issues.

They say chemistry goes a long way in determining the success of any team, and it's hard to argue that the Pats don't have a special type of mojo brewing. And that wasn't the case when Randy Moss was here (tears).

It always feels better when you're a contender and not a pretender.

Week 11 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Somehow I was still able to edge Chad, once again, last week. We both didn't have great weeks, I went 8-5 while Chad went 7-6, but look to rebound this week. We only differ on two games so unless Chad wins both, it looks like it'll be another draw type of week for the two of us. I was able to pick up a game last week, which extends my season lead by 6. I am now 67-44 and Chad is 61-50. Make sure to check on Thursday, as we will be posting our picks for the 3 Thanksgiving games.

Colts are still dangerous, especially with Manning at the helm

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Bring on the Indianapolis Colts.
Bring on Peyton Manning.
Should Patriots Nation being worried about the Colts? Especially after pounding the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Of course.
These Colts are still dangerous, even though they are completely banged up. But don't get me wrong, it's nice to be playing the Colts with some key guys out, including tight end Dallas Clark.
But Indy can still run with the big boys. Plus, the Pats have shown they can play and beat the best (see Steelers game) and play way, way down to the competition (see Cleveland Browns).
So what team will show up for the Patriots? Let's hope it's the team that isn't stuck in neutral in the first half and falls way behind. But I'm betting that's not going to happen.
I think we're in store for a great ballgame. Well, it's Tom Brady and Manning trading pass for pass. What's not to like about that matchup?
Chalk this one up to the defenses.
While it's not going to be a defensive battle -- expect both teams to move the football with relative ease (Colts through the air, and don't be surprised if the Pats try to pound away with the run to set up the deadly play-action game) -- the defensive guys will need to come up with some big plays.
I'm talking about a key interception, a huge third-down tackle to prevent a first down, a strip-sack, a fumble recovery. That's how you win football games, anyway.
But every time the Pats face Manning, I get a little nervous. This isn't the old Manning who was wetting his pants having to face a Bill Belichick defense. This is the television commercial comedian who has won a Super Bowl and isn't afraid to air out the ball. It's tough to outsmart Manning, too. He's Mr. Audible, whether what he's doing is for real or for show.
So, who will rise to the challenge on defense? They hold the key to this game.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Colts 24

So are you still doubting Tom Brady?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't doubt Tom Brady.

He's not washed up, not even close.

All those Brady haters out there who have been saying he's not the same quarterback he has been and his skills aren't at the elite level anymore, well what are you saying while drinking your Monday coffee?

Brady showed everyone -- even Patriot Nation doubters -- that he's still one of the elite QBs in the NFL.

While Brady doesn't have the weapons around him like Peyton Manning or Drew Brees, Brady is the best in the business at doing more with less.

And you know what, his weapons aren't chopped liver, either.

These guys are all solid pass-catchers. While they don't have the brand name like Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne or Larry Fitzgerald, they play as a unit under the team concept and always seem to produce.

They are put in positions to succeed and Brady makes sure they are rewarded for getting open.

Last night against Pittsburgh -- a team I thought would beat up the Pats -- Brady and Co. showed they have the makings of a championship-caliber team (or a team that could be knocked out of the playoffs in the first round if they play like they did against the Cleveland Browns). I'm not saying they aren't flawed, however, but it seems like every team this year has a weakness or two that can be exposed.

But with the way Brady was slinging the ball around in Pittsburgh, one has to wonder if there's more shows like this to come in the second half of the season.

Kudos to the offensive line for keeping Brady pretty much clean the whole game. And when Brady has that kind of time to sit back and survey the field, he can pick any secondary part.

And the Steelers got shredded last night, that's for sure.

Brady was 30-of-43 for 350 yards and three touchdowns. All those TD tosses went to rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski, who grew up a lot last night.

Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Alge Crumpler, Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Brandon Tate might not frighten many fans, but teams know they are to be taken seriously.

Give most of the QBs in this league those guys to work with and they fail, both the QB and the receivers. But with Brady at the helm, they are legit. Those aren't 1,000-yard pass-catchers, but they all get their share of balls. Brady never locks in on one target anyway, if someone is open that's who he throws it to. That's why he's always been a great QB, plus he makes everyone around him better.

I can't believe people have been doubting Brady anyway, but hopefully last night's game will make others realize that Brady is still the same old Brady, but with the flowing locks.

Word to the wise: Don't ever doubt Tom Brady.

Week 10 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

With the two of us disagreeing on 4 games last week, both teams had a chance to pull away or get back in the game. Unfortunately for Chad, we split, so we keep the 5 game difference. This week, we disagree on 3 games, so there will be at least a one game difference. Chad and I had solid 10-3 weeks in week 9, so we look to start a hot streak after mediocre results in week 7 & 8.

Impressive marks in college football

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Lost in the midst of the Cam Newton scandal at Auburn and the beatdown TCU laid on Utah last weekend is the fact that Hawaii absolutely dominated a pretty good team as well.

Hawaii came to the blue turf with a 7-2 record and a 5-0 league mark, averaging a shade over 39 points per game. What makes that even more impressive is the fact that Jeremiah Masoli was supposed to be their starting quarterback. For those who don't remember, Masoli was kicked off the team after getting caught stealing, graduated, then moved on to Ole Miss.

The Warriors were smothered by the Broncos and scored just seven points the entire game. They were shut out in the first half for the first time all season and had 196 yards of total offense.

With guys like Kellen Moore, Austin Pettis and Titus Young making the headlines by putting up somewhere around 50 points everytime they hit the field, it's easy to overlook the defense, but they are second in the nation in scoring defense behind TCU, second in run defense, ninth in pass defense and second in total defense behind the Horned Frogs.

The last big test for the defense and a chance to make a final statement for the BCS comes two weeks from now against No. 25 Nevada. Hawaii did hold them to 21 in the Wolfpack's only loss of the season, but Nevada is fourth in the nation in scoring with 42 points per contest. Will shutting down that team be enough to vault the Broncos over at least two other teams in the BCS standings? Most likely they'll still need some help.

Chris Maza is the owner of his own blog, Maza's Musings, and makes weekly contributions to Fan Fanatic Sports. Check out Maza's Musings for more sports insight and also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @Mazasmusings and 'like' him on Facebook.

Patriots better get their act together

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Are you still shaking your head after yesterday's disgusting Patriots game?

I am, but I'm also sort of chuckling.

Not because of the loss because those always sting, but in the way that it happened.

They got humiliated.

And people were starting to believe that this New England Patriots team was the best in the NFL?

What are they thinking this morning?

Yes, the Patriots are not as bad as they played, but they're also not as good as people think they are. They are somewhere in between, and that's not a bad thing, either.

Teams in the NFL do put up stinker games, but against Cleveland? Against the rat Eric Mangini? Shouldn't have happened.

Obviously, looking back on it now, the Pats took the Browns lightly. They played like it, too.

But those Browns played like it was their Super Bowl.

If you never watched a football game in your life, you would have thought that the Browns were the elite and the Patriots were a team at the bottom of the pack.

The Pats didn't do anything right. They were severely beaten in every phase of the game, including coaching.

But defensively, they just laid a major stink bomb.

Browns QB Colt McCoy is a rookie, but the Pats made him look like an All-Pro. They didn't put pressure on him, they couldn't contain him and they paid the ultimate price.

And while most of their attention was on stopping the run, the Pats couldn't do a darn thing against bruising back Peyton Hillis (184 yards, 2 TDs). Hillis, who would destroy a brick wall if he ran into it, made the Pats defense look like a Pop Warner team. He took their will away and completely punked them.

Well, the offense wasn't much better. How out of sync does Tom Brady and his cast of receivers and tight ends look? They are not on the same page and it's showing. Perhaps the one positive is that no-huddle offense, which they should have done earlier. They at least dictated tempo and actually moved the ball down the field. And one week after praising the Law Firm, I'm back to not being a fan. He didn't run hard and was a non-factor. Nine carries for 14 yards, not going to cut it. Perhaps this team should just drop back and pass (via the no-huddle) on every down?Use the short, 3-yard pass as a run. It's worked before, maybe go back to it on a full-time basis.

Any way you slice it, Mangini and his cast of former New England assistants completely outschemed mastermind Bill Belichick and his assistants. That'll eat at Bill for a long time ...and it should.

It was a total team collapse. This is the type of loss that can linger for weeks. And now the Pats enter the meat of their schedule -- at Steelers (Sunday night 8:20 p.m.), vs. Colts, at Lions (but don't automatically chalk that up in the win column) and vs. Jets -- for the next four weeks.

The Pats have a lot of work to do, obviously. Everyone -- coaches and players -- need to elevate their game and start putting a better product on the field on a consistent basis. If things don't change quickly, the AFC East division could slip away real quickly.

Week 9 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's week 9, pretty much the halfway point of the season, and I still have a 5 game lead over Chad. With so many games to be picked, that really means nothing. This week we differ on 4 games, so there's a chance I could run away with it, or Chad could get right back in.

Thomas is still the No. 1 goaltender

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Do I hear the "Tuukka" chants off in the distance?

Yup, I sure do.

And it's quickly catching on since Tim Thomas didn't play up to his usual shutout ways against Washington Friday night.

I'm a huge Tuukka Rask fan and I did want the Bruins to trade Thomas away in the offseason, but I'm still on board with Thomas starting right now.

Maybe next week I'll change my tune when Thomas is giving up 4-5 goals a game, but right now the veteran is the right choice to start between the pipes.

I mean, Thomas has been gigantic in net. There's no denying that, either. Any team in the NHL wishes they could have ridden Thomas while he was simply white hot.

Remember when Thomas had three shutouts in his last seven starts? Oh, how quickly we forget.

Now, fans are remembering him allowing three goals in a loss to the Caps Friday night and two vs. Buffalo on Nov. 3. Shame on Timmy for letting the fans down!

Yes, fans are starting to feel that Thomas is losing his mojo. Maybe he is? But I still say don't yank him just yet.

He's earned the right to be the starter -- for now -- and he shouldn't lose that No. 1 label because he's been human in the last two starts.

Do you believe in BenJarvus Green-Ellis?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I really enjoy watching running backs who run hard, have a little juke in their step and make the right reads by following their blocks and quickly racing to daylight.

I've never thought that New England running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been that type of back (although there's no questioning that he runs hard).

Green-Ellis was a pleasure to watch yesterday, however.

The young back gave the Patriots what they've been missing all season -- balance. He ran like a guy possessed, desperately trying to secure that starting running back spot.

And, at least for one game, he'g got to be the No. 1 guy in the backfield.

The Law Firm rushed for a career-high 112 yards and scored twice to lift the Pats over the Vikings.

In a game that featured Brett Favre and Randy Moss, Green-Ellis stole the show.

He grew up a lot yesterday.

Green-Ellis did look like a different running back. While he ran hard and physical, he also showed some burst by bouncing to the outside and made it hard for the secondary to run him down.

Perhaps this was his coming-out party? Could Green-Ellis be the key piece that really makes this offense go? He could be, considering the Pats are no longer a quick-strike offense without Moss taking the focus away from Wes Welker and Co.

But if Green-Ellis continues to re-charge a quiet rushing attack, this offense will be extremely hard to defend.

While it's no secret that I haven't been a big fan of Green-Ellis over the years, he really showed me a lot of positives. I'm not going to completely take the bait just yet, but it's a great start to making me be a believer.

Oregon, Auburn deserve title shot

Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hey, I know everyone wants the BCS to go up in smoke. I subscribe to the same notion.

But at the same time, I'm not going to say that another team should get screwed in order for it to happen. People seem to have gotten so caught up in their desire to see Boise State and TCU in the BCS title game that they've forgotten that a couple of good teams in front of them just might be championship caliber, too.

Oregon now sits at No. 1 after beating USC by three touchdowns. That's two convincing wins over ranked teams within their own conference this season that have helped them achieve an 8-0 record. Sure, they've got New Mexico and Portland State on their schedule, too, but they outscored those two by a count of 141-0. Isn't that the argument that fans are always making about Boise? They don't play the strongest schedule, but they throttle the teams they do play, then beat the ranked opponents that fall on their schedule?You can't have it one way and not the other.

Throw on top of that the fact that the Ducks have the most prolific offense in football, averaging a touchdown more a game than Boise with a tougher schedule, and you have to at least consider them one of the top teams in college football.

Auburn at No. 2 isn't quite as flashy, but is still as dangerous. The Tigers have beaten three ranked teams this season and have a very diverse offense led by a quarterback that just might be this year's Heisman winner. Not that winning trophies has anything to do with winning football games, but is illustrates the amount of talent Cam Newton has. People can say the SEC is overrated and in a lot of years they would be correct. This year is not one of those years, especially in the West division, where four of the five teams are ranked. Auburn has beaten two of them and also has beaten the best team in the East. They also beat Ole Miss at home, which anyone can tell you is not an easy feat.

So, yes, in the grand scheme of things, I would like to see the BCS die just like everyone else. However, if these two teams stay perfect, I don't see how you can deny them. They're just too good.

Chris Maza is the owner of his own blog, Maza's Musings, and makes weekly contributions to Fan Fanatic Sports. Check out Maza's Musings for more sports insight and also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @Mazasmusings and 'like' him on Facebook.

Week 8 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Another week, another win for Big Jim. I am now 42-30, a decent 12 games over .500. Chad, now 5 games behind in the season standings, is 37-35. As usual, there are only two games that differ between us. We obviously think along the same lines on most of these games. With the exception of one week, we've both been pretty good as there haven't been too many shockers in one given week.

Don't you feel bad for David Ortiz?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Those poor professional athletes have it so rough.

Especially, Boston's David Ortiz.

The man who is supercharged by the finest Mango Salsa money can buy (wink, wink), is still yapping about wanting to play for the Red Sox for more than one season.

Ortiz is "not comfortable" playing on a one-year deal.

Poor David Ortiz.

Ortiz would pocket $12.5 million if the Red Sox pick up his option for next season. I know, it's rough getting that much money.

While the average man would be doing cartwheels from Leominster to Boston if they got that much cash, Ortiz must think it's a slap in the face if he gets that money and it's only for a one-year deal.

Oh, poor David Ortiz.

Ortiz apparently doesn't like the media anymore, either. In baseball terms, he's got rabbit ears. Yes, he's reading everything that's written about him and watching all the telecasts on TV. And it's getting to him, all the negative stuff that's being said about him.

It's nice to know that Ortiz is human and has feelings, but that's life in professional sports. One day you're the hero, the next you're the goat. When you're going well everyone loves you, and when you're not, they say you're too old, slow, in decline, etc.

Again, poor David Ortiz.

In a struggling economy, $12.5 million might not seem like a lot to a bigger-than-life Boston sports figure, but how many fans are really feeling sorry for him?

You think Joe Smith from Marlborough, who lost his job two years ago and still hasn't found full-time work really cares that Ortiz is so upset that he might only get $12.5 million for one season? No way. Mr. Smith is more worried about trying piece together multiple part-time paychecks to provide for his family.

So, again, poor David Ortiz.

As much as I love professional sports, crying about money and length of contracts really makes me laugh. Seriously? Aren't there much more important things in life to worry about? Maybe Ortiz doesn't think so, but we all know his little dilemma is so low on the average fans priority list.

Everyone, all together: "Poor, David Ortiz!"

Real scary: Pats are waiting for you guys (Favre, Moss)

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Happy Halloween, Vikings.

When the Patriots host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday for a Halloween showdown in Foxboro, all eyes won't be on the Patriots. Those spooky eyes will be directly on Vikings QB Brett Favre and WR Randy Moss.

And you can bet the Patriots' defense will be looking to haunt those two guys.

If you're a Patriots fan, aren't you all jacked up for this Sunday's game?

And there's no doubt it's because of the story lines that Favre and Moss have created on their own.

Well, we know about Favre and his photography abilities, but now this "injury" is really creating a sideshow. And Favre has always like the attention directly on himself. Will he play, won't he play? Of course he's going to play, it's all about him. His ankle is messed up, I guess. But he might play? Well, it can't be that bad, right?

Pats fans want Favre to play anyway. Favre gives the Pats the best chance to win. Yes, I said it. Mr. Favre is an interception machine. He's so gutsy ...blah, blah, blah. He's a gunslinger who forces the ball into double- and triple-coverage a lot. So he's not that smart at protecting the ball, and that's been well documented over the years. You can bet your house that he'll throw one, two or even three picks the Patriots' way if he plays. And you'd like your chances if he did that, right?

And welcome home Randy Moss. You got your wish, and Bill Belichick traded you away. Hope you enjoy your new contact because that's all you really cared about anyway. I have no issues with you as the player, but when you were constantly yapping about wanting to get a new deal and taking away from the success of the team, you completely lost me and then I purposely lost my New England Patriots Randy Moss jersey.

But the Pats aren't afraid of you, either. Yes, you can still run the deep route with the best of them, but we know you get really frustrated with double-coverage. And the Pats will be doing that to you this Sunday. Plan on a cornerback playing bump-and-run, and then a safety over the top of you at all times. Do you think Belichick will let you beat him? Not a chance. The Pats will probably even let you go over the middle, but there will be a price to pay. And we all know you don't like to take hits over the middle. So what are you going to do Randy?

The Patriots are really looking forward to you guys enjoying Halloween New England style. And that means a helmet full of candy and a long trip back to Minnesota with another loss to your record.

Happy Halloween from Patriots Nation.

Superhero Cliff Lee is not a machine

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

He's no superhero.

Yes, I'm talking about the all-mighty golden arm Cliff Lee.

Hey, he's one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game, but even Mr. Lee can't put up goose eggs on the scoreboard all the time.

And Lee showed he's not bullet proof after last night's stinker on the grandest stage against the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the World Series.

Isn't Lee suppose to be an ace? He sure didn't deliver the goods for the Rangers -- like an ace should. Well, mind you, Giants ace Tim Lincecum didn't, either, but at least he kept his team in the game.

Lee choked, face it Lee lovers.

This is the same guy that came into the Series with a glossy 7-0 career record in the postseason. But he completely bombed. He was not an ace last night, he was a lost pitcher that couldn't make the proper adjustments to get hitters out.

Granted, Lee made both Tampa Bay and New York Yankees hitters look like Little Leaguers in the playoffs, but the Giants flipped the script and made the lefty look like a No. 5 starter, at best.

Look at Lee's pitching line: 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, BB, 7 K. Makes you sick, doesn't it? He also threw 104 pitches, so the Giants really worked him over and hit their pitches.

Yes, Lee is good, but maybe this is a message to the rest of the baseball fans out there that put Lee in this invincible category, that the lefty is not a machine and not automatic every time he touches the hill. He's a darn good pitcher, no doubt, but give credit to the Giants because they humbled Lee and the Rangers -- at least for one night.

I envision Lee bouncing back when he takes the ball for his next start, but what happens if the Giants light him up like a Christmas tree again?

(Cue cash register sound).

That noise you just heard is the cash register closing a bit for when Lee tries to chase down this magical 5-year, $100-150 million contract in the offseason.

Is he worth that much cash if he can't deliver the goods in the World Series?

Stay tuned.

Is this a trap game for Patriots?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I know, the Patriots are rolling. Fresh off a gigantic overtime win vs. my Super Bowl pick, Baltimore, the Pats now travel to San Diego.

And this should scare New England fans.

I know the Chargers haven't played well, but they are still dangerous.

Here's five questions I have entering today's showdown in San Diego.

1. Can Tom Brady have a "breakout" game?

-- I know he's Tom Brady and all, but he hasn't had that game yet that you just shake your head and say he's the best QB in the NFL (note: I'd still take Brady over Manning or Brees, any day of the week, however). It may happen today, however.

2. Will we see a commitment to the running game?

-- Not a chance. The Pats pass to set up the run. And with a cast of characters like BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead in the backfield, do you expect either guy to carry the load? No way.

3. Will Phillip Rivers torch the New England secondary?

-- I think Rivers will have a great day in the air, as long as TE Antonio Gates plays. If he doesn't, his security blanket is gone, and advantage Pats. Remember, this defense is still a work in progress, but they are making great strides. If the Pats get a good pass rush, the secondary will look just fine.

4. Is Deion Branch a go-to receiver?

-- No, he's not a legit No. 1 receiver, but the Pats don't need that. But he sure does have a great rapport with Brady. The Pats like solid receivers, being flashy is overrated in New England.

5. Who will win this game?

-- As much as my gut says trap game, I'm still picking the Patriots. Brady brings his A+ game today and lights up San Diego.

Prediction: Patriots 31, 24.

Week 7 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's Sunday morning, so that means it's time to unveil the FFS weekly NFL picks by Chad Garner and Jim Ingram. I am the current leader with a 3 game edge over Chad. So far I am 33-25 on the year as Chad is now 30-28. After a disastrous week 5, both of us rebounding in week 6 picking 10 out of 14 winners. Just like the past two weeks, there are only 2 picks that differ between the two of us.

Yankees playing like chumps, not champs

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's all over.

If you're a Yankees fan, I know that's how you feel.

The defending champion New York Yankees are getting worked over by the underdog Texas Rangers.

And if this series is any indication, the Rangers are a much better team. Yes, I said it. The Rangers are MUCH better. They are better on offense, defense and clearly have better starting pitching (bullpen, I'd give the edge to the Yanks).

Who expected this? If you're from Texas, I understand you'd pick your boys to win.

But it's mind-boggling to me that the Yanks are playing like a team that doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Is it possible for the whole team to be in a slump? (Andy Pettitte has delivered, but who else?).

I'm just baffled with this team. CC Sabathia, the workhorse, gets lit up in Game 1, Phil Hughes follows suit in Game 2 and before you know it, the Yanks are down, 2-1, in the series.

And now the weight of the world is on right-hander A.J. Burnett to deliver for New York in Game 4. Seriously? Who has confidence in this guy? Burnett isn't even confident in himself (well, that's the way he's pitched, anyway).

And offensively, they are a complete mess. Mark Teixeira is not a clutch postseason player (he proved that last year, too). Who is going to step up? Robinson Cano can't carry this entire offense.

Someone step up.

Curtis Granderson, can you hit a curveball? Nick Swisher, where's the power? Jorge Posada, if you see a fastball swing the bat (you take way too many good pitches). Derek Jeter, do your job and get on base and stop swinging at heaters at your eyes and breaking balls down and away. Brett Gardner, if you get on first base (walk, hit, hit batsman, catcher's interference) it's an automatic triple.

Bottom line is, Joe Girardi better shake up this stagnant lineup (put Lance Berkman in there will you?) and get a spark.

Play like champions, not chumps.

It's do-or-die now, if they Yanks don't win tonight at home, it's series over.

And then they better break out the check book to sign lefty Cliff Lee in the offseason.

Week 6 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, week 5 was pretty bad for the both of us, and anyone else except Las Vegas. This week should be a little more straight forward. Even after the terrible week, I have a 3 game lead over Chad, but with us picking every game it's easy to make up several games. Just like last week, there are only two differences in our picks. We definitely think too much alike.

Thought on the Patriots vs. Ravens

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here are 10 things I'm thinking about in anticipation of the New England vs. Baltimore game on Sunday in Foxboro.

1. Really, is there any way the Patriots can win this game?

Of course they can, but the Pats are going to have to play a near-flawless game to beat the Ravens (they are my Super Bowl pick this year, too). Obviously, easier said than done.

2. Give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for anyone, and I'm betting the Ravens are going to see some things the Pats haven't done yet this season. Bank on Joe Flacco making a mistake because he didn't see a particular coverage on film this year.

3. The fans will not be leaving this game early in the fourth quarter. Well, perhaps they may if it's a blowout. But if you can beat the traffic, why not? Brady should even understand that.

4. Tom Brady is going to have some trouble in the passing game. The Ravens ranked first in the NFL in third-down defense. Yes, they get off the field, while the New England defense ranks dead last. Brady and Co. will be frustrated at times in the this game.

5. Stop the run. I'm calling out the Patriots' front right now. If the Ravens keep picking up chunks of yardage on the ground, it's going to be a long game and the Ravens will just keep pounding the rock.

6. I'm not scared of Joe Flacco, but his weapons are pretty dangerous (Boldin, Housh, Heap, Mason, Rice). This game should come down to Flacco winning it.

7. Welcome back Deion Branch. Now do something on the field. If he's open, Brady will find him. But can he get open? I'm cautiously optimistic that Branch is a key piece to this offensive puzzle.

8. I just love the tight ends who can stretch a defense. The Pats have two great rookies in Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. They will be feared for many years.

9. I'm really concerned about the New England defense. Even if the Pats stop Ray Rice on the ground, Flacco is solid enough and has enough playmakers that can make it a long day for the Pats' secondary. Boy, that secondary is soft and inexperienced, anyway. They better tighten it up ...and fast.

10. Who will win? Yes, I'm a Patriots fan and I'd love to pick them, but I can't. The Ravens are a premier team in the AFC, and the Pats are a notch below. I think Baltimore is all-around a better team and they'll hold down Brady and force field goals. And we all know what happens when you kick field goals: You lose. Plus, New England's defense is a work in progress, and the Ravens' physical brand of football will wear down the Pats.

Prediction: Ravens win, 24-16

Week 5 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

As always, Chad and I only differ on a few games each week, and Week 5 is no different. As you'll see below, we differ on only two games this week. There is zero margin for either of us to win the week. As of right now, I have a 3 game lead on the season series as I'm 18-12 and Chad is an even 15-15.

A good replacement for Moss: Deion Branch

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, Randy Moss is gone, so it's time to start thinking about how this New England offense can recover and regroup.

And it could all start with the return of old friend, Deion Branch.

Remember, the same Branch that was a favorite weapon of Tom Brady from 2002-05.

But Branch was quickly traded away to Seattle over a nasty contact dispute.

But now, hopefully, the Seahawks can trade him back and for a lot less (hopefully it'll only cost a 5th-round pick, instead of how the Pats got a first-rounder from Seattle in 05).

Branch isn't a legit No. 1 receiver, but I would never expect him to post the numbers that Randy Moss did, either. But Branch is smart, he runs great routes, can help the younger players, is a security blanket for Brady and is good enough that teams must respect him on the outside and will hopefully not allow other teams to double-cover Wes Welker in the slot.

But perhaps his biggest plus is that he's a total team player. He knows how to play in a team concept and isn't worried about being the featured guy in this offense. He knows Brady spreads the ball around to the open receiver, too. He's not a full-blown diva, either.

See, these are some things that Randy Moss never understood. The sad part is, as good as Moss is as a receiver, he's simply too selfish and that's a major negative in New England.

So it could be a great addition for New England. Branch is not a 1,000-yard receiver (he did have 998 in 2005) but he could be in the right situation.

The Patriots need a proven veteran receiver on the outside to take some heat off of Welker. The young kids (Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price) aren't the answer right now, but the Super Bowl XXXIX MVP is. Make the right decision, and bring back Branch.

Can anyone in Hockey East stop Boston College?

Can Hockey East make it four in a row? With Boston College at the top, it's very possible.

As the college hockey season gets rolling today, the main question on the minds of anyone who follows Hockey East is whether or not Boston College can continue one of the most dominant stretches in college hockey history. Since 1998, they have made the tournament eleven times (98, 99, 00, 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10), been to the championship game six times (98, 00, 01, 06, 07, 08, 10) and won the whole thing twice (08, 10). Not a bad stretch.

What's more, you would be hard pressed to find a team that won a national championship that returns as many players as Boston College does this year. I'm not going to lay out a bunch of stats and returning players for you. Suffice it to say that just about every impact player is returning to that team. The Immensely talented Whitney brothers and the quiet, yet very effective Cam Atkinson figure to be the leaders of a team that is deep throughout.

It's saying something when Boston University coach says it's "obvious" that BC is the favorite in the league. And when Northeastern coach Greg Cronin predicts the cross-town rivals could win 40 games and calls the Eagles the "thoroughbred" of the conference, that speaks volumes.

To put Cronin's words in proper perspective, Maine won 42 games in 1993, setting an NCAA record. They went on to beat defending-champion Lake Superior, 5-4.

Maine has been a shadow of itself for the better part of this decade, but appear to be back on track behind the leadership of Gustav Nyquist, a Hobey Baker finalist who racked up 61 points in 39 games. After a rocky start, the Black Bears rebounded and made it all the way to the Hockey East championship game. But Maine needed to win the game in order to have enough of a resume to make the national tournament and failed to do so. Still, the 19-17-3 record indicated that things are on the upswing for Miane.

If there's one question surrounding Maine, it's goaltending. However, Maine only graduated one member of its blue line, which should make the job easier.

New Hampshire is the other team that probably has the most hope of unseating the Eagles. Last year's regular-season Hockey East champions have the second-longest active streak of tournament appearances with nine and could quite possibly have 10 after this season. As is the case with Maine, UNH is very green in goal. All-American Brian Foster played in 38 games last year, while this year's starter, Matt DiGiolamo saw just under 93 minutes all season. Still, he's getting rave reviews from coach Dick Umile, who noted while smaller than previous standouts Foster and former Hockey East Player of the Year Kevin Regan - both were 6-foot-2 - he is remarkably quick and athletic. The Wildcats also return five of their six defensemen, including All-American Blake Kessel.

UNH also is without its Hobey finalist from last year. Bobby Butler scored 29 goals and assisted 24 more for the Wildcats last season, but UNH is never short on scorers. Paul Thompson (19 goals), Mike Sislo (14 goals), Phil DiSimone (10) and Kessel (10) all return and who knows who else might pop up. Butler was not considered a top scorer for the team prior to last season.

BU always has to be in the Hockey East discussion, whether Boston College fans like it or not. After missing the postseason last year, Jack Parker's crew does have a lot of work to do. BU has just one senior on the roster surrounded by 17 freshman and sophomores. Perhaps that's what the Terriers need after the team looked very complacent the year after its championship run the year before.

Keiran Millan remains one of the best goaltenders in the conference and while he may never duplicate his outstanding freshman campaign, which included 28 wins and sub-2.00 goals against average, he will keep BU in most games.

Last year's upstart Merrimack, which almost bumped BU out of the Hockey East Tournament, bears watching in for no other reason than Stephane De Costa, the Warriors' phenom who scored 46 points in his rookie season.

Northeastern is looking to rebound and returns a lot of talent from a team that was left reeling after the departure of Hobey Baker finalist Brad Thiessen. Chris Rawlings eventually settled into the position and the team finished in the middle of the road in terms of team defense.

But the lack of a truly premier goaltender exposed some real offensive deficiencies for the Huskies, who were ninth in the league overall in scoring. Northeastern was just four points away from third place in Hockey East last year, but there was a severe logjam in the middle of the pack and despite being that close to home ice, Northeastern didn't go to the postseason at all, so it's hard to read just how good this team might be or might not be.

Overall, Hockey East does have question marks throughout, with the exception of Boston College, and should once again be the most competitive conference in college hockey.

Projected standings:
1. Boston College*
2. New Hampshire*
3. Maine*
4. Boston University
5. Northeastern
6. Merrimack
7. Vermont
8. UMass-Lowell
9. UMass-Amherst
10. Providence
* indicates NCAA tournament

Chris Maza is the owner of the Maza's Musings sports blog. Check out this post and others at http://mazasmusings.wordpress.com

Do you still Trust in Bill?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There's no crying in football, either.

I know Randy Moss is gone, but it's already time to turn the page. There's still 12 weeks of the regular season to play, so there's no time tear up about Moss being traded to the Vikings.

But what I'm more ticked about is the compensation that the Patriots got from Minnesota. A third-rounder for one of the best wide receivers of all-time? Seriously, a third-rounder? It doesn't add up based on Moss' resume and career stats, but I guess the Pats are lucky to even get that much.

Remember, Moss has been vocal about wanting to get paid (a contact extension) and then there's reports that Moss had words with coaches and he was a bad seed in the locker room. Should any of that really surprise us? Moss, despite boatloads of talent, has always been a problem child. So knowing that the Pats weren't going to re-sign Moss anyway, why would the Vikes actually give up their first-round pick in the 2011 draft?

So, although Moss has the talent to fetch at least a first-round pick, the Pats had no leverage to broker that rich of a deal. So a No. 3 might not be that bad after all considering the circumstances.

Just think, everyone was up in arms that Laurence Maroney was traded to the Broncos for a fourth-rounder. That deal actually looks good now, considering it was only a 3 for Moss.

After this latest blockbuster, do you still Trust in Bill?

Ingy Predicts: 2010 MLB Postseason

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ideally, I would give you a detailed description of my 2010 Post season predictions. Unfortunately, I have a day job that I need to attend to. Regardless, take a gander at who I predict to win the World Series.

Moss back to Vikings signals white flag for Patriots

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

OK, full disclosure here. I couldn't stand it when the Patriots traded for Randy Moss. Of course, I was 100% wrong, and I fully admit it. I've now come full circle, as I can't stand how the Patriots traded Randy Moss to the Vikings for a measly 3rd round draft pick. To me this signals the Patriots surrender to the 2010 season.

I don't care what you think of Randy Moss, but the one thing I know is he makes the Patriots a better team. Despite not catching a pass against the Dolphins on Monday night, he still was a key contributor to me. How did he contribute? Randy Moss forces opposing teams to use their best corner to cover him most, if not all, of the game. Now that the Patriots no longer have their deep threat, what will happen to the likes of Wes Welker & Aaron Hernandez? Brady targeted Brandon Tate 5 times, 4 of them for a reception, but Tate is not ready to take over as the Pats deep threat.

Now onto the compensation received for the future Hall of Fame receiver. a 3rd rounder? Terrible value in my opinion. It doesn't matter to me that he's a free agent after the season, or that he's a 33 year old receiver looking for a new 3 year deal. He's still one of, if not, the best deep threats in the game. A 3rd rounder when the Pats got a 4th rounder for Maroney, and the Bills got a 4th rounder for Marshawn Lynch? A 3rd round pick when the Vikings were clearly desperate to get a proven receiver for Brett Favre? Ridiculous. So what if the Patriots now have two 1st round, two 2nd round, two 3rd round and 2 4th round picks. Unless the Patriots package picks and Logan Mankins for a player this year, this deal makes absolutely no sense to me.

Once again, say what you want about Randy Moss. Listen to how the media dislikes the man. I'll take what his fellow players say about the man. Regardless of his relationship with Bill, he was a beloved teammate who will be sorely missed.

In case you haven't figured it out, I hate this deal. It just feels like another Deion Branch to me. What do you think?

Ingy's 2010 MLB Predictions Review

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, now that the 2010 MLB regular season is over, it's time to take a quick look back at who I predicted to win their divisions, and take the Wild Card spot. If you'd like to see the complete list of predictions, use the link to jump to the article:

Ingy's 2010 MLB Predictions

Now, here's to my review of what I predicted, and what actually happened:

As you can, see I did not do all that well. Make sure to check back Wednesday morning for the Playoff predictions.

Les Miles: Worst coach of a ranked team in football

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It must be maddening to be an LSU fan. It must be even worse being the person that writes Les Miles' paycheck.

Throughout his tenure with the Tigers, Miles has been scrutenized for his terrible calls and especially for his lack of ability to manage a clock. But to this point, he's been able to dodge bullets and hasn't given LSU any real, tangible reason to fire him.

After Saturday's gift win over Tennessee, Miles made another Matrix-like bullet-dodging move, thanks to an illegal substitution penalty on the Vols. For those of you who didn't see it, with about half a minute remaining in the game, LSU was stopped on the Tennessee two-yard line with no time outs. Miles sends players in for a late substitution and runs one final play, which ends up being a bad snap to the quarterback on a rushed play that ends the game. Only it didn't end the game. Tennessee, in response to LSU's substitutions, made subs of its own and ultimately puts more players on the field than it took off. That gave LSU one more chance, which they took into the end zone for a touchdown.

Miles' stupidity was trumped by the stupidity of another coach and as a result, LSU doesn't drop in the AP poll and actually gained a spot in the USA Today rankings.

But Miles' bosses have to be looking at him extremely skeptically. He's wriggled his way out of situation after situation that could have led to his termination, but this game is possibly the last straw. How many more times is LSU going to allow him to take his team to the brink? Even one loss in such an embarassing fashion could lead to the unemployment line.

Chris Maza is the owner of the Maza's Musings sports blog. Check out this post and others at http://mazasmusings.wordpress.com.

Week 4 Picks: Chad vs Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, I was lucky to win last week, but let's see what happens during week 4. Just like last week, we differ on just 3 games

Who cares about Red Sox-Yankees

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Red Sox vs. Yankees in the final regular season series of the year. Sounds good, right?

Wrong.

What a useless series.

And who would typically say that when these two hated rivals face off?

But there's simply nothing to play for. The Sox will not be heading to the playoffs, but the Yankees will.

The only thing New York has to play for is to win the AL East. Oh, yeah, and the top record in the American League.

But at what cost? Will the Yankees rest some guys, or go all out to simply win the Division? That's why Joe Girardi gets paid the big bucks.

After tonight's rainout, the Yanks-Sox will have a doubleheader on Saturday and finish up on Sunday.

But is anyone -- even the diehard fans -- going to sit glued in front of the TV to watch this meaningless series? If you are, get a hobby. And fast.

Let the playoffs begin. This 162-game regular season is such a grind, not to mention those four-plus hour Red S0x-Yankees game.

I may never say this again, but who cares about a Red Sox-Yankees series.

Nevada sure is fun to watch

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I'll be honest. Before Notre Dame played them in 2009, I hardly even knew that Nevada had a major college football team. Now I watch them every opportunity I can.
Sure, the Wolfpack play in the WAC - which would be a completely obscure football conference if not for Boise State - and they'll never play for a national title, but they are just such an exciting team to watch.
And now they're also a ranked team for the first time since 1948 after beating BYU.
Nevada is fifth in the nation in scoring offense with 44.8 points per game. Last year they ranked sixth in that category and the year before, they ranked 12th.
What's at the root of the Wolfpack's offensive success? A little offense called the pistol and a guy who would be in the thick of Heisman discussions if he played in a different conference - Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick is ranked 39th in the nation in passing with 231 yards per game. He's thrown seven touchdowns and just one interception. Not bad. But throw on top of that the fact that he's averaging almost 113 yards on the ground, which is 15th in the nation among all rushers, not just quarterbacks, and the fact he has more rushing touchdowns than Michigan's Denard Robinson and you've got a dynamic player there.
Oh, let's not forget that Nevada also has a running back that is ranked 14th in the nation in rushing and has added five touchdowns of his own.
The one thing holding Nevada back in the past has been its defense, which ranked 86th in scoring defense last year and honestly, that's what made their games that much more exciting. But this season, the Wolfpack is averaging less than 19 points allowed per game, an impressive improvement over last year.
Boise State is still by far the best team in the WAC, but Nov. 26 in Reno is one game I'm hoping finds its way onto the television schedule. It should be one to watch.

Chris Maza is the owner of the Maza's Musings blog. See this post and a host of other features on his page at http://mazasmusings.wordpress.com

Staff NFL picks: Jim Ingram vs. Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Staff Report

The showdown has been set. Staffers Jim Ingram and Chad Garner will go head-to-head every week to see who knows the most about football. It's a simple process: Pick each game, not vs. the spread, and see who has the best record at end of the season.

HERE ARE THE PICKS:

CHAD JIMMY

SF AT KC SF SF

DET AT MIN MIN MIN

BUF AT NE NE NE

ATL AT NO NO NO

TEN AT NYG NYG NYG

PIT AT TB PIT PIT

CIN AT CAR CIN CIN

CLE AT BAL BAL BAL

DAL AT HOU DAL DAL

WAS AT STL WAS WAS

PHI AT JAX PHI PHI

IND AT DEN IND IND

OAK AT ARZ OAK ARZ

SD AT SEA SD SEA

MIA AT NYJ NYJ MIA

MONDAY NIGHT

GB AT CHI GB GB

(record) (0-0) (0-0)

Faulk a giant loss for the Patriots

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Patriots absorbed a big loss in Sunday's game vs. the hated Jets. Third down specialist Kevin Faulk was injured in the game and it was found that he suffered an ACL tear to his knee.

Obviously, not good news for the Patriots.

Around the country, it may not seem like a big loss at all since Faulk isn't a great tailback or even a full-time starter.

But everyone here in Patriots Nation really knows how important Faulk was to the success of this team.

Faulk is that total team player that every coach hopes to have on his team. He didn't complain about not starting, he was great in the locker room, he helped the young guys and he produced every time he was allowed to touch the football.

On the field, Faulk was the secret weapon not many clubs have. On third down, you could bet Faulk was in the backfield or split out wide. Faulk was a great draw running back, but his best trait was catching the ball and picking up much-needed first downs. Didn't it seem like every time the Pats were in a third-and-long situation, Faulk got his paws on the pigskin and picked up a first down to keep a drive alive? Lets not forget about how great he was picking up blitzes and keeping Tom Brady clean from attacking defenders.

Basically, Faulk did it all from that running back slot. And since the Pats decided to trade away Laurence Maroney, they are left with aging Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and the Law Firm to carry the load. Yes, no one from that above list can do what Faulk did. The depth in the backfield isn't good, either, so expect to see Brady throw more passes. It' a big loss, no doubt about it.

Future Super Bowl Champs? Not Yet.

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I admit it. I bought into the hype that was the New York Jets. I actually thought that maybe Rex Ryan was right when he stated that the Jets were the future Super Bowl champs.

With all the talk, with all the player acquisitons such as Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, LT, and Antonio Cromartie, there was reason to beleive that he Jets were the real deal. Now it looks like they may a complete mess.

I normally don't like to read too much into one game, but Monday's loss to the Ravens was telling. It was a huge game for the Jets, and they fell flat on their face.

Opening a new stadium on national TV, against a top team like the Baltimore Ravens, you would have expected the Jets to be on top of their game. Instead they looked like pretenders instead of contenders.

Now the Jets get to face an angry Patriots team who had to sit around all off season hearing about how the Jets had passed them as the class of the AFC East. There now is a ton of pressure on the Jets this week. An 0-2 start, with both loses coming in the Meadowlands, could put Gang Green in an early season hole from which they cannot recover.

The problems for Jets start with QB Mark Sanchez. It almost looked like Jets did not have faith in their young QB. Maybe Tedy Bruschi was right about Sanchez being a front runner. Maybe he is not ready for prime time. After all, he was not even able to crack 80 yards passing. As good as the Ravens are on defense, there is no excuse for putting up those kind of numbers. The best you can say is that he did not turnover the football, but at some point he will have to make plays.

The entire offense looked inept, not just Sanchez. Shonne Greene looked terrible. The only time you heard Braylon Edwards name was for a penalty. And speaking of penalties, how about the Jets defense. All night long, the Jets bailed the Ravens out of 3rd and long with penalties. That shows a lack of discipline. All the talent in the world means nothing if there is a lack of focus and discipline. That all starts with the head coach. If Rex Ryan cannot display self discipline, then how can anyone on his team be expected to show discipline.

Maybe the critics were right about the whole Hard Knocks thing. Now an an angry Patriots team comes to town. You know the Patriots will be ready, and you now Tom Brady will not make mistakes. The Patriots defense may not have the talent of the Jets, but at least you know they will be well coached and not beat themselves with penalties. Can you say the same about the Jets after what we saw in week one? I don't think so. Expect the Jets to fall to 0-2.

It will be a fun week for New York sports radio, that much is certain.

I'm going to miss Maroney

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
While he never lived up to his first-round hype, I'm still going to miss Laurence Maroney.
I know I might be in the minority here, but there was just something about Maroney that had me rooting for him, even when other fans were kicking him down for not running hard enough, being too soft or dancing before he hit the hole.
I guess I liked his upside, he showed flashes of brilliance that always made me hope he'd do that all the time.
But when you're hurt, don't produce enough, etc., I guess that's when an organization has had enough.
For the Patriots, they had obviously given up hope that Maroney would produce on a full-time basis.
So, in the end, the Pats and Maroney parted ways. And go figure, Denver coach and former Pats assistant Josh McDaniels decided to trade for Maroney. See, I guess McDaniels must feel the same way as me that the running back still has enough potential to be a factor in this league.
Was this a good trade (getting a fourth-round for Maroney), or do you think the Pats hurt themselves as far as depth at the running back position? I think they are in big trouble if Fred Taylor goes down. Do you really trust Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk or the Law Firm to carry the load or even come close to being a featured back?
No way.
Expect Tom Brady to air it out even more now.

NFL Season Picks: Chad & Jim

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, technically the 2010 NFL season has already begun, but Chad and I wanted to make sure we got our predictions out prior to the first full day of the schedule. Despite the fact that Chad and I have different opinions on pretty much everything, we apparently seem to agree on what's going to happen this season. As you'll see below, we pick the exact same list of Division winners, as well as both the participants in the AFC & NFC Championship game, and even the Superbowl. We do, however, disagree on the outcome of that game. Well, enough of the build up, read below for our picks. Make sure to let us know what you think!

Durand makes the active roster for Titans

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There's no substitute for hard work.

A friend of Fan Fanatic Sports, Ryan Durand, is a perfect example of that.

The second-year Tennessee Titans guard, who spent all of his rookie season on the Titans' practice squad, officially made the 53-man roster in his second season.

Obviously, Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Durand on working hard and getting rewarded with a roster spot.

Durand, who played his high school football at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School (in Fitchburg, Mass.) and Syracuse University, is listed as the backup behind starter Jake Scott at right guard and the third-stringer at left guard.

The 6-foot-5, 301-pound Durand is an athletic offensive lineman and is known for his tremendous smarts on the gridiron.

Take a look at Durand's bio on the Titans' web site.

Here is the Titans' roster for 2010.

Again, congrats Ryan on a job well done.

Best of luck this season.

PHOTO CREDIT /TENNESSEE TITANS

Pierre Woods proves he's a class act

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Normally, the first reaction when someone gets cut from any team in any league is the player is upset.

Some will blast an organization in the media, others will avoid comment (which means they are ticked off) and some simply don't care because they know they'll get picked up by another team.

In the case of New England Patriots linebacker Pierre Woods, he should be praised for his professionalism after he was released by coach Bill Belichick.

Woods, a solid pro who did his job and was very productive on special teams and in certain cases as a fill-in linebacker, proved to me that he's a stand-up guy and one that actually appreciated the Patriots giving him a job years ago as an undrafted free agent.

Woods' fanfare isn't like the success story of a Kurt Warner (from stock boy, to Arena League to NFL MVP), but he's a guy that's all positive and no negative as far as attitude and willingness to be a total team player.

If you're not familiar with what Woods said about the Patriots organization, take a look here.

Woods appreciated the ride, respected the organization and obviously is leaving on very good terms, even though he was basically told that he wasn't good enough to be on the roster.

Woods could have easily blasted the organization, bad-mouthed players and the fans, but he took the high road. He showed his true character -- a class act on and off the field.

Wish there were more guys like that in the NFL and all of professional sports.

Take a hike Burgess

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Patriots made their final cuts today to get down to the mandatory 53-man roster limit.

And while there weren't many shockers as far as cuts -- not like Arizona releasing quarterback Matt Leinart -- the biggest name to get his walking papers was Derrick Burgess.

The outside linebacker, who was clearly a major bust last season and apparently considered retiring in the offseason, isn't going to be a big loss anyway.

Burgess was brought here to rush the quarterback, but his five sacks last year just didn't and aren't going to cut it. Burgess became a liability anyway, since teams this preseason continually ran to his side and he couldn't do a darn thing about it. Burgess couldn't stop the run and didn't seem to want to for that matter. I can see if he was so outstanding at sacking the QB that holding the edge on running plays wasn't a top priority, but Burgess proved he couldn't do either.

In the end, the Patriots coaching staff knew it was time to cut bait. It really says something about the player when one of the Pats' weaknesses is getting pressure on the QB, and a guy they cut has been known as a edge rusher his whole career.

Well, maybe now you can officially retire Burgess.

The other decent name to be cut by the Pats was Sam Aiken, the Patriots' special teams captain. Granted, Aiken has been a special teams star, but he simply doesn't offer enough (face it, he's not a good receiver) on offense to warrant a roster spot. I love guys that can play special teams and Aiken would get a spot if he was better than any other receiver on the team, but he's not. So, in the end, Aiken was let go but I know he won't be out of work for long.

Check out this link for the complete list of Patriots cuts.

Pats Notebook: Who is the running back in New England?

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Here are some quick thoughts about the New England Patriots and the upcoming season.
Preseason is a joke
Thank God the preseason is over. Really, does any player want to have to compete in four preseason games, which are also meaningless to the fans. Every preseason, players drop like flies due to season-ending injuries, and the Patriots felt that with the loss of top cornerback Leigh Bodden.
I want some Maroney
OK, I’m back to defending my man Laurence Maroney. It appears as though he won’t be the starting tailback this season (but he’s still listed as the starter on the depth chart on patriots.com, interesting), at least the numbers say so since he’s touched the ball very little and he hasn’t been starting. Listen, I like Fred Taylor (in his Jacksonville days) and SammyMorris is a nice complimentary back, and Kevin Faulk is the best third-down back in the league, but why is Maroney in the doghouse? Or is he? It seems like it, considering it’s a common theme every year under coach Bill Belichick anyway. Maroney is what he is: He’s not flashy, but he’s proven to be serviceable and effective when given the chance to succeed. Yes, I know he’s had fumbling issues in the past and he doesn’t hit the hole quite as hard as some fans would like to see, but he’s the best back in this group in New England and I’d like to see him get his touches to add a stabilizing force into this running game. I know it’s going to be by committee, but I honestly still believe that Maroney is the best back the Patriots have. I know, if you’re reading this, you think I’m crazy, but look past the jitterbug style Maroney has before he hits the hole because once he gets there he runs hard, puts his head down and tries to lower a boom on a defender. He’s not soft, I’m not buying that. He wasn’t soft in college and he isn’t soft here. What are the coaches looking for as their lead back, anyway? I guess that’s the better question.
More weapons for Brady
Second-round pick Rob Gronkowski, a tight end, appears to be the real deal. Yes, he’s a rookie and it’s natural that he’s going to make mistakes, but he’s a real threat in this passing game. Just watch how he operates and runs past defenders. It’s amazing. And, oh, watch him catch the football – with his hands, no body catches with Gronkowski. This kid is going to be real good. Rookie Aaron Hernandez, if he can stay healthy, also has sure hands and is another coverage nightmare for defenders.
Welker sure looks good
Wes Welker says he’s not 100 percent and doesn’t feel great yet, but from the naked eye I can’t tell that he’s coming off major knee surgery. Welker is a perfectionist and I respect that. Don’t worry about the knee, he’s going to be just fine …I hope.
The cornerback situation is a little concerning. That’s not based on talent, either, it’s more based on a lack of experience with rookie first-rounder Devin McCourty and second-year player Darius Butler. They’ve got the speed to keep up with the best receivers in the game, but they lack wisdom and that always shows against the savvy veterans in the league.
Double trouble
If you want the best duo of young, aggressive and talented inside linebackers with tremendous upside, the Pats have them with Jerod Mayo and rookie Brandon Spikes. Good luck running into the gut of the Patriots defense with those two brick walls. Tight ends getting behind those two for big plays in the passing game, well, that’s a totally different stories.
Great hair
Everyone has an opinion on Tom Brady’s hair, you either like it or want him to cut it off. For me, I don’t care, just don’t throw picks and keep chucking touchdowns. If he’s not vintage Brady, watch the wackos talk about how his long flowing locks are the reason for his so-so play.