Tedy Bruschi will always be a true Patriot

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Players in any sport come and go. They burst onto the scene, some play over 10 years while other fizzle out faster than a tiki torch on a blustery day.

But some also leave a lasting impression about what's right in sports. New England Patriots inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who announced his retirement today, was that type of player.

While Bruschi, who played in the NFL for 13 seasons, didn't really ever wow you with his overall stats (although that 2004 Super Bowl season when he went to his first and only Pro Bowl after making 128 tackles was as good as it gets), he was that rare player that always made his teammates better, he was classy on and off the field and he was a guy that seemed like all of us -- a regular, hard-working guy.

But Bruschi was so much more.

He had a heart of a champion and was a three-time world champion with the Pats -- the only team he ever played for which is extremely rare in today's sports world.

His story even was played off the football field, as Bruschi had a stroke shortly after the 2005 Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.

To no one's surprise, Bruschi beat the odds and returned to the game he loved. We, as fans, loved him too, and it was a special time to see good old No. 54 back in the middle cracking heads with the opponent.

Yes, Bruschi's skills as a linebacker had been diminishing for the last few years, but it happens to everyone. He's 36 now, he reached the ultimate level of play individually and as a team, and it's only second nature to start tailing off. 

But I'll always remember the young-at-heart Bruschi playing with passion, desire and a will to win -- all with a team-first mentality. For a player to be involved in such a tough guy's sport, it wasn't out of the norm to see Bruschi smiling on the field and helping someone up after he drove them into the ground. That was Tedy. He had an unquestioned love of the game that rubbed off on his teammates and it found its way into my home. 

He was damn good, don't let anyone else tell you differently.

Tedy, you've done a great job being a role model by how you've conducted yourself on and off the field. You're what's right about sports today. 

Good luck in the next phase of your life with your children and wife, and thanks for all the great memories in that Patriots uniform. You'll never be forgotten.

You're a true Patriot.

Still want Brady playing in the preseason?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Are you happy now?

Our fans here at Fan Fanatic Sports, based on the recent poll of "If you were Bill Belichick, would you let Tom Brady play in preseason games?", no doubt wanted Brady to play in preseason games, and I'm willing to bet they've changed their tune now.

Especially after watching Brady jog off the field late in the second quarter of last night's preseason game --a meaningless exhibition game -- against the Washington Redskins.

Tell me you're not a little scared right now? You should be, too. A mammoth defensive lineman, Albert Haynesworth, planted his gigantic frame all over Brady and powered him into the ground. Look at the replays, Brady's right shoulder didn't look very good on that hit. I bet he'll get X-rays and an MRI, and he better be OK.

My point in a previous blog was that the preseason is a joke, it's meaningless and only bad things happen. The preseason jinx struck again -- this time with Brady getting injured.

Initially, it appears like he'll be OK -- the Pats are calling it a sore right shoulder -- but those tests better come back negative or you can kiss this season goodbye Patriots fans.

I've got that knot in my stomach again. It was there last season in the first game against the Chiefs (that's when Brady tore his knee apart and missed the rest of the season).

Maybe I'm just a worry-wart? If so, then oh well.

When you see your prized player get injured in a preseason game, it makes you wonder why these stars are even in the game.

I know the drill -- they need to get game ready for the regular season ... blah, blah, blah. If you're an NFL fan, you've heard the same lip service before.

Bottom line is I'd rather have Brady a little rusty in the regular season, than watch him play a lot in the preseason and get injured.

Well, guess what Pats fan, Brady got injured. We'll never know the severity of the injury because the Patriots will never tell us, but one thing is for sure: Brady got hurt and it could have been avoided.

Blame who you want, but the bottom line is Brady shouldn't have even been in uniform. He gets plenty of reps in practice, albeit no live game action, but that is what the regular season is for.

I'd forgive Brady if he chucked a pick or two early in the regular season because he might have been rusty because he didn't play in the preseason.  But at least I'd have that option, instead of him working off the rust in the preseason, then he gets hurt and there goes our championship hopes.

Players don't like the preseason and think it should be a lot shorter. Boy, I wonder why?

Still want Brady playing in the preaseason? Glad you're on board now!

Sanchez should be worried about facing the Patriots

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Patriots fans should be smiling everywhere.

Why? Well, the hated New York Jets have decided to go with a rookie as their starting quarterback after naming former University of Southern California star Mark Sanchez the No. 1 guy.

Who's really afraid of a rookie QB? It's going to be fun pounding the Jets twice in the regular season and watching them scuffle on offense.

Rookie QBs and NFL defenses don't mix. NFL defenses can be extremely complex, just like the Patriots under coach Bill Belichick, and they also expose rookies.

And you can bank on it happening again this season.

If you watched the Jets' last preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens -- one of the most confusing defenses in the league -- you saw Sanchez dazed and confused, never really knowing where the next blitzer was going to come from. It's all about confusion and deception with defenses, masking coverages and making the QBs really question what is going on. And it works like a well-oiled machine against inexperienced QBs that are just hoping to not screw up too much.

The Jets know they'll take their lumps offensively with Sanchez, perhaps electing to protect him by pounding away with the running game, but rookie QBs all need to go through growing pains.

Luckily, the Patriots can play a huge part in welcoming Sanchez into the NFL.

Boy, playing the Jets should be a lot of fun. 

How do you think that Fireman Fool in the Jets cheering section, leading that stupid cheer of "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" is going to react after watching Sanchez throw pick after pick for an entire season?

Remember: it's always better to hand out the lumps instead of absorbing them.

We'll be seeing you on the field Sanchez. FYI, expect the unexpected against a Belichick defense.

This is going to be fun!

Sox have pitcher to thank for win, but it aint Buchholz

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

With two outs and his team up by three, it was Jose Contreras that sparked the Red Sox offense with a botched play on a slow roller that should have ended the inning and a bases-full threat.

These are the kind of breaks the Red Sox haven't gotten much lately and when they have gotten them, they haven't taken advantage.

But Monday night, the Red Sox offense looked like the offense they expected to have when they acquired Victor Martinez. Instead of squandering a bases-loaded situation, the Sox blasted Contreras right out of the game with six runs in the third. Then they added two more in the fourth to take a 7-4 lead.

That should have been enough. For most pitchers, it would have been.

Enter Clay Buchholz, the unpredictable.

After three solid - though not stelar - outings prior, Buchholz failed to get out of the fifth inning for the third time in eight starts this season, giving up a big fly to maybe the most underrated first baseman in the league, Paul Konerko to tie the game back up.

But in fine fashion, the Red Sox' offense was relentless, something it hasn't been very often this season, despite the talent level. At best, they have been inconsistent. Is it finally coming together? Boston had 13 hits - seven for extra bases. Yes, it did take an error to prevent yet another squander, but the big thing is the Red Sox were able to capitalize on the blunder for more than just a run or two.

With the pitching staff in such a state of flux, the offense will have to take every opportunity it can get in order to stay in games. Maybe Monday night was a sign of things to come.

Reynolds proving what a snub he was

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Every year the All-Star Game has one or two snubs, or players who deserved to be in, but were left out, whether it be because of lack of room, idiotic fan voting or a mixture of the two.

One of my favorite snubs this year has been Mark Reynolds, who had made a case for being the starting third baseman with his bat this spring and early summer, but ended up being forced to hope to be the last player voted in as part of the ridiculous final vote system Major League baseball has set up. Reynolds lost out to Shane Victorino - who needed to go door to door campaigning for votes and have radio stations have contests to see who could click his name the most in a 62-hour period to win the "honor" - and also came in behind Pablo Sandoval.

Now Reynolds is showing the baseball world how wrong they were to overlook him. Even with his team falling apart around him, Reynolds has still been one of the best power hitters in the game this season.

The one knock everyone pointed to in terms of Reynolds' game is his strikeouts. He was the first major leaguer in history to strike out 200 times and is on pace to do it again. However, he hits the ball often enough - and when he does, he does bad things to it - that the question has to be raised: Is it really that big of a deal? After all, Ryan Howard twice had 199 strikeouts and was an All Star and was actually considered for MVP both of those years. One of those seasons, he had those 199 in just 144 games. In his MVP season, he had over 180 K's. Bobby Bonds held the major league record for strikeouts for a long time and some, including Willie Mays, make the argument he should be in the Hall of Fame.

But forgetting all that, the bottom line is strikeouts or no strikeouts, Reynolds produces. Let's review. He's batting .281 with a .371 on base pecentage, both very respectable. His slugging percentage of .593 is third in the National League and his OPS is .964, which ranks fifth. He's second in the league in home runs with 48, just two behind the immortal Albert Pujols. His 84 RBI are eighth in the league and he's scored the sixth-most runs in the league, sitting at 81. Oh, he's also stolen 21 bases, which is good for ninth.

When a guy is hitting .281 and is on pace for 50 homers and 110 RBI with Miguel Montero batting behind you, he is raking. And since his All-Star snub, Reynolds seems to be a man on a mission. Since the break, Reynolds is batting at a .339 clip and leads the league in homers with 14 and his slugging percentage leads national league regulars at .732. Yep, that's a better SLG than every national league player that took part in the Midsummer Classic, including Albert Pujols.

You can't even use the excuse that he's getting aided by the warm Arizona air, because he's batting almost 15 points better on the road.

I hate to say I told you so, but Reynolds is shaping up to be the real deal. Hopefully next year fans will pay attention.

Fantasy football dreaming

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So what's your dream team in fantasy football?

If you could pick an entire starting lineup -- quarterback, 2 running backs, 3 wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one team defense -- who would you pick and why?

Well, it's my turn to turn my cast on big-game winners into a fantasy football championship. Do you think this team would compete, more like compete at a very high level week in and week out? We all know how important consistency is in fantasy football.

Here's my championship club:

QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady -- Are you really surprised? I'll spit at the next person who says his knee injury is a concern entering the season. He's fine. He might be a tad rusty early so only expect maybe 280 yards a game and a few scores, but when that rust is completely gone, look out. Brady has the best cast around him -- Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor, ect. -- plus we all know how the Patriots like to expose secondaries. Expect -- more like bank -- on an MVP-type season. If you made a case for Drew Brees here, I wouldn't argue.

RUNNING BACKS

Adrian Peterson -- In a new wave of running back by committee approaches, you know in Minnesota who's going to get the ball early and often. AP is a beast, no doubt. He's averaged 12 TDs and 1,551 yards in his two years in the league, so Year 3 should be even better. Image if he only factored into the passing game (40 catches in 2 years)?

Matt Forte -- The second-year back in Chicago is a fantasy superstar since he can run like the wind and he's got glue on his hands in the passing game. Forte had 1,238 yards receiving and 63 catches for 477 yards as a rookie. Can you say stud?

WIDE RECEIVERS

Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Andre Johnson -- All three star wide receivers have the same thing in common -- they have the ability to score from anywhere on the field, plus they are clearly the No. 1 options on their respective teams. Fitzgerald keeps improving (12 TDs last year and up from 10 in 2007), Moss has a mojo with Brady (23 TDs in 2007, 11 last year with Matt Cassel at the helm) and Johnson (115 receptions, 1,575 yards, 8 TDs) should be a household name. If I had all three of them, no one could touch me at the position.

TIGHT END

Tony Gonzalez -- Please look past the fact that I met Gonzalez years ago at a New England Patriots game and I've got many autographs from him, bottom line is he keeps getting his numbers. Still, at the age of 33, he's the most productive guy on the block (some say Jason Witten, I say Touchdown Tony). Don't be afraid that he's now on the Falcons, he still will post top-of-the-line numbers. Over 1,000 yards the last two years ...that's just sick, considering he's a tight end.

KICKER

Stephen Gostkowski -- Kickers are so hard to predict, but the Patriots kicker has been a nice treat in fantasy circles for two straight years with 135-plus points in each of those years (137 in 2007 and 148 in 2008). He may blast a lot of PATs, but he'll always be scoring points because of how good the Patriots' offense is. But there are plenty of other guys that can do the job, too.

DEFENSE

Steelers -- I guess you have to go with the defending Super Bowl champs? This in another crap-shoot position where plenty of teams deserve to be recognized. But The Steelers attack, attack and attack some more. They had 51 sacks last year, 20 INTs, 22 fumble recoveries, one TD off of a fumble and 2 INT touchdowns. It all equals friendly fantasy points. Ravens, Eagles, Giants and Vikings are also good picks that should be highly productive.

Beckett gets bombed again

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Another outing like that and Josh Beckett will have pitched his way right out of Cy Young contention.

In fact, over his last two starts, Beckett has looked less like the ace and more like the shell-shocked National League pitcher who came to the Red Sox in 2006.

Before getting rocked in back-to-back outings, Beckett had won eight of his previous thirteen starts dating back to the beginning of June. Over that span he posted a 2.10 ERA and gave up six home runs. Fast forward to his last two outings against Toronto and tonight's debacle against the Yankees. Over those two games alone, Beckett allowed eight home runs and saw his season ERA rise just a shade under half a run.

This is not the time for Beckett to be imploding. Or is it?

Over his career, there is only one month that has been a losing one for Beckett and we just happen to be smack dab in the middle of that month. Going into tonight's game, Beckett had a career record of 14-15 with an ERA over 4.00 and historically, his K/BB ratio takes a dive.

But fear not, Sox fans, for we know more than any that Josh Beckett is no burnout. In fact, in September, he boasts a career 18-8 record and a 2.86 ERA, a 1.32 run difference from month to month. The division is all but decided and was before this series with the Yankees ever came to pass. But do not forget that there is still a month of meaningful baseball left to be played. Thanks to the loss tonight, the Texas Rangers are breathing down the Red Sox' necks at just a game back and Tampa Bay is making a play at the Wild Card after taking two of three from those Rangers.

While the Red Sox don't face Texas at all and will require help keeping them at bay, Boston has two upcoming series in September against the Rays. If the rotation continues in the pattern it should, Beckett will take his good September numbers and his solid numbers against the Rays (6-4, 3.63 ERA, 98 K in 84.1 innings) into what could be some critical games.

You always want your ace to be on, but this is especially the time when you need him to come up big. He failed to do it tonight, but history suggests he could be up to rebound in a big way.

We can only hope.

Tough Titan: Durand not hurting his chances of making the team

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Two NFL preseason games down, three more to go.

That's the life of rookie 7th-round pick Ryan Durand, an offensive guard who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans.

"I'm really not looking at the big picture," said Durand, who played his college ball at Syracuse University. "I'm just trying to improve every day."

So does he think he'll make the Titans' roster?

"It's so hard to tell," he said. "There's three weeks left and three preseason games. There's still a lot of football to play."

Durand has done nothing to hurt his chances of wearing a Titans uniform to start the regular season.

After a very good showing against the Buffalo Bills in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, he and his teammates enjoyed their first home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Durand played the entire second half, protecting quarterbacks Vince Young and Patrick Ramsey.

"I think I did good," Durand said. "I did my assignments. I think I played well, but not everything was perfect."

Durand enjoyed playing in front of the home fans, too.

"It was great, it was a great atmosphere," he said.

Now the Titans travel to Dallas on Friday where the Cowboys will officially unveil their new state-of-the-art stadium.

"It's the first game in the new stadium so that's going to be exciting," Durand said. "I'm expecting a great atmosphere."

Durand has grown accustomed to the demands of the NFL already.

"There's more time involved now," he said. "It's strickly football now. There's more demand on you. They don't show you stuff three or four times, they expect you to know it after the first couple of times."

Durand's mindset hasn't changed.

"Mentally, I look at it like it's a great opportunity," he said. "I'm taking the challenges as they come."

So what are the Titans, as an organization, all about?

"We're a competitive team that likes to win and works hard," Durand said. "We're a blue-collar, hard-working team that practices hard and plays hard."

That's why Durand has fit in so well.

(PHOTO COURTESY/ Tennessee Titans)

College Hockey: BU vs. BC at Fenway!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Do you want another chance to see an outdoor game at Fenway Park this coming January? Well that's just what you're going to get. On Friday, January 8th, at 8 pm, The Boston University Terriers will be facing off against the Boston College Eagles. Why spend the money to see the Bruins/Flyers game when you can check out a much better rivalry a week after the NHL's Winter Classic. You will have a much better chance at getting tickets for this game, at a much lower price, than the Winter Classic.

Why would you choose this game over the Bruins? This is THE BEST rivalry in all of College Hockey. This is the Red Sox/Yankees of College Hockey. These two teams are also the last two National Champions, and still have great programs that will put them in the national mix again this season. Boston is a great hockey town, so this should be another sell out for Fenway Park. There will be many Bruins fans left looking for tickets to an outdoor game that will go, there are the many BU & BC fans, and there will be a ton of general hockey fans who will throw on his or her parka, hat and gloves to watch in the icy cold January weather.

There will be a Thursday morning press conference at Fenway Park to formally announce the game. Make sure to stay tuned to Fan Fanatic Sports for great College Hockey coverage throughout the season.

Current draft system is no good for baseball

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The kid has never thrown a pitch in professional baseball, and yet he's guaranteed to make enough money that he could never throw one at all and be financially stable for the rest of his life.

It's not Stephen Strasburg's fault, even though he put his pen on the dotted line of a record-breaking $15.1 million contract. It's not Scott Boras' fault for negotiating the best contract he could for his client. All he's doing is using what the current system is giving him.

And it's certainly not the Washington Nationals' fault. The Nationals were put in a terrible position. Sure, it's a position they put themselves in by being the worst team in baseball. But they shouldn't be held captive by that fact. Some say that if Washington had doubts about their ability to sign Strasburg, they shouldn't have drafted him. But if they did not draft him, they would be criticized for not choosing the best player and not being committed to winning. And in drafting him, they were pretty much forced to sign him or suffer the exact same reaction as if they never drafted him at all.

They had to sign a ridiculous contract for a pitcher- granted, with loads of potential - who may or may not ever see their major league facility. They did what they had to do with the pick because they couldn't do anything else with it. Major League Baseball does not allow draft picks to be traded. If you're the first pick, you have to be ready to give a boatload of money to a player who statistically speaking doesn't have much of a shot of ever living up to its potential and hype.

This isn't like football or basketball where draft picks make immediate impact in the league. It takes years sometimes for these guys to develop into the players we see on Major League diamonds, if they do at all. How valuable Strasburg really is to the Nationals will not be decided this year and maybe not even next year. Even if he does reach the majors, the return on his club's investment could be obscenely limited, as his best years could come after his four-year contract has expired and he's left Washington for bigger dollars he'd be able to get elsewhere.

Baseball needs to allow teams to do with picks what they wish. If the Nationals can sacrifice a gamble on a very good prospect to get someone closer to major league ready or a couple of lower picks to save money that they can use on the free agent market, then why should they not be able to if that's what they think the team needs?

Until this happens, small market teams will continue to be forced into this perilous situation. And how much better are they getting by it?

Are you scared of Brady playing in preseason games?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

If you were the head coach of the New England Patriots, would you play superstar quarterback Tom Brady in preseason games?

Sure, why not. 

But wait.

I'm starting to get that nervous feeling in my gut that the all-everything franchise quarterback could be in serious danger if he suits up and plays in these final three preseason games.

Call me crazy, I know, but I'm starting not to like it.

One game was fine against the Eagles. Brady's surgically repaired knee looks good, he held up under pressure, moved perfectly fine in the pocket, made his reads and got rid of the football with accuracy and heat on the ball.

All systems go in my book.

But I don't really think he's got anything else to prove in the preseason.

I know he wants to shake off all the rust since he sat out all of last year after his season ended in the first game against Kansas City. 

But I'm nervous to see him slinging it in preseason games, aren't you?

I know he's going to get hit many times during the regular season and he's probably going to get hit on the knee a few times (fingers crossed that it holds up), but I'd rather that happen when games actually matter instead of the preseason.

I'd like to think Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champion and a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires, isn't playing in the preseason to secure his spot as the No. 1 quarterback on the team. The team, especially the receivers and tight ends, have a lot to gain with Brady under center. Brady can gain a lot, too, especially the mental aspect of coming back from serious injury (he should know he's ready to play now, though). He also does get his chance to see live game action, get the speed of the game down pat again and work on his timing, his reads and everything else that goes into being the best signal-caller in the NFL.

But I'm perfectly fine with Brady working his tail off in practice, holding the clipboard on the sidelines in the last three preseason games and getting ready for the first game of the season -- a Monday Night showdown against Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills.

Call me crazy, but I'm just nervous seeing No. 12 in meaningless preseason games.

Can the Big East prove it's more than just a basketball conference?

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(Note: As the college football season approaches, I will be breaking down the following conferences: The Big XII, the PAC-10, the WAC and the Big East. This week I tackle the Big East in the last preview of this segment. If you haven't already, check out the past previews.)

It's a conference that has been craving legitimacy for, oh, going on five years?

Since its two best programs decided to jump ship, followed a year later by Boston College, the Big East has been toiling in mediocrity. Could this be the season the Big East steps it up and proves they can be heavy hitters in college football? Not likely, as there doesn't even appear to be anything that could be considered a dominant team.

West Virginia has to be considered the favorite this season, even with the loss of quarterback Pat White. What was a very young defense last year is a year more experienced. For most it's a cliche, but for the Mountaineers, you have to consider the 2008 experience to be some of the best you can have. The defense gave up just 17 points a game, which ranked 11th in the nation. The problem for West Virginia is even with Pat White, the offense was still 73rd in the nation in scoring offense and now must do so with Jarrett Brown, a senior quarterback who has thrown 110 passes in his career and no offensive line in front of him. Behind him is Noel Devine, who brings experience to the backfield, but again, with a weak line in front of him, you have to wonder how far this offense can go.

Pittsburgh is looking to turn a corner this season, but they just might take a step back. 2008 was a major improvement, but the main reason for that success (LeSean McCoy) is now getting ready to suit up on Sundays. Without anything resembling a running back they can lean on this season Brian Stull will have to vastly improve his passing and cut way down on mistakes. The strength on this team, like West Virginia, lies in the defense. While not outstanding, the defense was more than solid and the defensive line figures to be very talented at getting to the quarterback.

South Florida could be the team to watch in the conference. Matt Grothe has turned into probably the best quarterback in the conference and he has a plethora of options to throw to. But the offense around him needs to help out, especially in the backfield. I'm always wary of teams whose quarterbacks are their leading rushers. Mike Ford has to step up and provide another look for the offense or this team runs the serious risk of getting its quarterback killed. If that happens, say goodnight.

Do NOT expect Cincinnati to repeat its success from last season, which included the Big East championship and a trip to the Orange Bowl. This is not the same team. Quarterback Tony Pike and receiver Marshawn Gilyard figure to be a standouts and the offense should once again be solid. The defense, however, is a problem. The Bearcats have to replace all but two of its starters from last year and are switching formations to the 3-4 to accommodate their talent. It's never god when a team has to alter its game plan to make up for the fact it didn't recruit well enough to make its system work.

Connecticut is another team you should expect to fall off the table. Calling themselves the fastest rising programs in college football history, the Huskies are in line for a rude awakening this year. Donald Brown was this team's entire offense and he is long gone. Even with college football's leading rusher, UConn ranked 65th in scoring offense and 63rd in total offensive yards. That doesn't speak volumes for the passing game. They only threw five touchdown passes all season last year. Defense will be the name of the game for the Huskies, who ranked in the top-25 in both yards allowed (6th) and points allowed (22). But even that unit doesn't figure to be as good with the loss of guys like Darius Butler and Cody Brown.

Prediction: West Virginia is the only team in the conference with nine wins and takes the conference title.

Projected Big East Standings
1. West Virginia
2. South Florida
3. Pittsburgh
4. Rutgers
5. Cincinnati
6. Connecticut
7. Louisville
8. Syracuse

Does Boston have the arms to make the playoffs?

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's really sad to see.

The team that was said of have one of the best pitching staffs in the game heading into the season is now relying on Clay Buchholz and Junichi Tazawa to get into the playoffs.

Remember when nothing made you more confident than to look at the Red Sox' rotation heading into a pivotal series? It seems a million years ago. Brad Penny didn't look so bad when he was your fifth starter. Now he's your third and lo and behold, the Red Sox are being left in the dust in the AL East and now trail in the Wild Card race.

Josh Beckett and Jon Lester have been all that you would expect them to be. Beckett has to be one of the favorites for the Cy Young award, especially with his current tear. He's 7-1 in his last 10 starts with a 1.93 ERA. Clearly he has done everything you could ask of your ace. Lester, likewise, has looked more than solid. He hasn't earned a decision in his last four starts, but has only allowed nine runs in 24.6 innings (3.29 ERA) in that span.

But Penny has been simply atrocious basically since the All-Star break. He's won just one of his six starts and dropped four with an ERA north of 6.50 after making Theo Epstein look like a genius over the first half of the season, especially when June rolled along. Perhaps the whiplash is getting to him, as he's allowed seven post-All-Star homers after giving up just 10 taters in 17 starts to begin the year.

Buchholz has done nothing to give Sox fans a warm and fuzzy feeling. He's learning the hard way once again that there's a major difference between AAA hitters and major league ones. Yes, he's been left out to dry in his last two starts by zero run support, but he's very lucky he hasn't gotten blown up with that 20/19 K/BB ratio. In fact, he's failed to strike out more batters than he's walked in each of his last three outings.

Tazawa has been placed in one tough position after another. Ok, go hold off the Yankees in extra innings in your first big-league appearance. Ok, go beat the Tigers on the road. Ok, help us hold the lead in the Wild Card against Texas. The kid has 20 professional appearances before being called up and while people have raved about his talent (though he has been overshadowed by Buchholz and Michael Bowden), he's still a green 23-year-old. Expect a lot more where today's outing came from against quality opponents (5 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 3BB, 0K).

Is this team and its postseason hopes fading away as its pitching staff falls apart? John Smoltz was an epic failure. You can't blame the organization for taking a gamble on a future Hall-of-Famer, but you can question their decision not to hold him out for longer, even when he complained. Anyone counting on Daisuke Matsuzaka needs to step away from the pipe and head to their nearest N.A. meeting. It seems ridiculous to say, but at this point, the Red Sox desperately need Tim Wakefield and unfortunately, he's still limping around.

Two pitchers does not a rotation make and at this point, that is what the Red Sox have to work with.

Vick given a second chance and I'm on board, too

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Michael Vick is now a Philadelphia Eagle!

I know everyone was jumping for joy, right?

Who cares either way, if he signed or not, I say.

But what I have a problem with is how every armchair quarterback is bashing Vick because that's what society says we should do to him. We all know he did a bad thing with the dogfighting ring he spearheaded. I get it. He paid the ultimate price, too, considering he was in federal prison.

But that's still not good enough to all the judge and the jury members around the nation.

They want Vick to be jobless, a bum with a bottle of Mad Dog on the side of the street, and it probably wouldn't matter if he was executed, either. 

I think it's a complete joke.

Most people deserve second chances to correct the mistakes they made -- well, not rapists, murderers, child molesters, ect. (you get the picture) -- but Vick was in the dogfighting business. Go on the Internet and see how popular dogfighting is, you'll be amazed.

I'm not saying it's right, at all. No animal should be treated that way; I think we can all agree on it.

But give Vick another chance. He's got a right to work and football is what he knows. Let's really see what type of person he is after taking a major paycut (he once did sign a $100 million contact and had to settle for $1.6 million this season with an option for $5.2 million next season with the Eagles).

Has he changed? Will he become a role model once again? He's got the platform to do good and correct the bad that he's done.

Not to mention, on the field, he's still tremendous talent and an entertainer. He'll back up Donovan McNabb -- the clear-cut starter with Philly -- and may play in some sort of Wildcat package or wide receiver.

Either way, Vick is a show. Admit it, you'll tune in to see him in a Philly uniform and to see if he'll step on the field in some sort of capacity.

Vick, who still must serve a six-game suspension with the NFL and can only practice and play in the final two preseason games -- has a lot more to do before he can be believed that he's rehabilitated. 

But give him a shot, the Eagles did.

SEC: Five storylines to watch

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

You call it tabloid fodder. I call it just another week in the Southeastern Conference.

Week after week, there is no football drama from top to bottom quite as consistent as the SEC. Only in the SEC can you hold a Media Day that lasts 72 hours, and the two top stories coming out are whether its top quarterback is a virgin, and that somebody had the galls not to vote said quarterback as first team All-Conference.

This stuff just doesn't happen anywhere else. Mr. Brady, are you a virgin? "Next question. Get this a-hole outta here." In what other league do you have mid-season firings of coordinators? How outrageous do you think your recruiting stories are? How many supporters fall on your every word?

Some call it trivial gossip, of Us Weekly proportions. You probably call it obnoxious.

I call it a modern-day Othello.

And I love it.

Anyways, here are the top storylines to watch for the 2009 season...

Kiffin vs. Meyer I: Badd Blood!
Sold Out at The Swamp, 9-19-09!

In about as much time as it takes to bake a potato, Lane Kiffin made himself the most polarizing figure in the south upon his hiring at Tennessee, dethroning even Jimmy Hart as the new Mouth Of The South (OK, let's be fair, the throne was vacated after he died). You've probably heard the stories a million times by now -- Kiffin said this, Kiffin said that, Kiffin accused Urban Meyer of recruiting violations that were nonexistent -- and some of you probably think he's been acting a wee bit childish.

Don't be fooled, it's all very deliberate and calculated. Kiffin knows exactly what he's doing. The Vols had grown stagnant under Phil Fulmer, to the point where his national championship could no longer give him a buffer. Two losing seasons in four years is unacceptable to the people of Knoxville; even worse, the Vols were losing in-state recruits to Vanderbilt and Memphis.

The Vols are going to be very competitive. They have the top freshman running back, and Eric Berry is arguably one of the two best safeties in the country (along with USC's Taylor Mays). When they enter The Swamp on Sept. 19, they're going to be scorned relentlessly. But that's just what Kiffin wants. Rivalries are always so much better when one guy is playing the villain role.

I think Florida has too much speed for the Vols to box up; should be a win for the Gators along the lines of a 28-17, something in that range. But a point will be made -- Tennessee is back, baby, and here to stay.

Gator bait if you're not a Gator? In Kiffin's book, anyone who's not a Volunteer is Public Enemy No. 1.

Jevan Snead: trendy hype or the real deal?

We've seen many a college quarterback who ends the season on a high note get puffed up with praise and prose from all around (see: Stafford, Matthew). The tricky part comes in separating the hype from the substance.

This year's case study will be Ole Miss's Jevan Snead, who has thrived in the starting role for the Rebels since his transfer from Texas. Many of the national pundits put focus on the Heisman hype behind Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, with Snead and Cal running back Jahvid Best the two most common dark horses.

Of the four quarterbacks mentioned, Snead might honestly have the highest ceiling for NFL potential. He has tremendous throwing mechanics, a quick release and that certain cool swagger under pressure. You can go ahead and say he's the best quarterbacking prospect since Eli Manning, but can you honestly name one quarterback they've had since?

The question lies in whether the Rebels live up to the hype. Houston Nutt-coached teams always have skilled backfields -- this goes back to his days as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Hart Lee Dykes). With the loss of Michael Oher to the Draft, can the Rebels fill some big holes in the trenches?

Sputtering Spurrier

Much like Arkansas, Missouri, or Texas A&M, it's very tough bringing South Carolina to the top of its division. Steve Spurrier has tried taking on the task nobly, and while he's has spurts of success, it hasn't been nearly consistent enough to warrant national attention.

This could be the year the Gamecocks bottom out. Other than linebacker Eric Norwood, there isn't really any other dynamic playmaker on the field. Couple that with the resurgence of Tennessee and two programs on the rise in Vanderbilt and Kentucky, and you could have the Gamecocks sitting at the dead bottom of the SEC East.

Does it warrant a hot seat for the Ol Ball Coach? Jury's still out. Before Lou Holtz took over over, the Gamecocks hadn't had a winning season since the 1980's, and they're historically a team that teeters around the .500 mark -- this goes back to their ACC days.

Expectations, with that in mind, ought to be lower. But this is the SEC, after all. The only thing low in this conference is your pad level.

Don't sleep on Agent Twenty-Eight

Is Javier Arenas related to Gilbert or not? Wikipedia seems to think so, but the Alabama official website mentions nothing of the sort. Either way, he may not be a tenth as quirky as the Halo-loving Washington Wizards point guard, but the athletic ability does not fall far from the tree.

With all the talk about Tim Tebow this, Tim Tebow that, oh-my-he's-got-another-Percy-Harvin-with-him, don't overlook the skill set of this electric Crimson Tide return man. He is the school's all-time leading punt returner, has six career return touchdowns, and even plays a little cornerback, too.

Pencil him in for an All-America selection. Playboy already has.

Mark Richt...on the hot seat?

If you take Paul Finebaum's hackjobs for gospel, then yes. Or maybe. Well, he could be, you never know. Nothing is ever made clear with Finebaum.

Hard to believe that a coach who has gone 82-22 in eight seasons, including a 6-2 mark in bowls, in one of the nation's toughest divisions, is on the hot seat. But the grumblings have begun. Look, just because you don't win a national title does not mean you are a terrible coach. The Dawgs have lost more than three games just once, in 2006, which was supposed to be a down year.

Let's quash this drivel before it starts. But if the Dawgs lose to Tennessee, expect more grumblings.

Predicted Order of Finish

East
Florida (12-0, 8-0)
Georgia (10-2, 6-2)
Tennessee (7-5, 5-3)
Kentucky (6-6, 2-6)
Vanderbilt (5-7, 2-6)
South Carolina (4-8, 1-7)

West
Alabama (11-1, 7-1)
Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1)
LSU (9-3, 5-3)
Arkansas (7-5, 4-4)
Mississippi St. (6-6, 4-4)
Auburn (6-6, 2-6)

SEC Championship Game: Florida 17, Alabama 10

Youkilis gets punked by a rookie

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't go picking on a rookie, Kevin Youkilis.

Did you see last night Boston Red Sox third/first baseman Youkilis charging the mound against Detroit rookie right-hander Rick Porcello? If not, take a look at it.

How funny was it to see Youkilis -- a player even Red Sox fans don't really like because he comes off like a cry baby most of the time -- charge the mound?

Well, if you're going to charge the mound and know you're going to get ejected and suspended for that action, you might as well get your money's worth by landing a flush haymaker or drop-kick, or something to inflict damage to your opponent. Right?

Not Youkilis. He charges the mound like a bad out of hell, and Porcello retreats backward like a timid field mouse.

But wait, Porcello stands up like a man at the last second, dodges a helmet thrown by Youk, and chucks him to the ground like a rag doll and lands on him while a sea of Red Sox and Tigers converge on the bench-clearing brawl.

Advantage, rookie for the textbook takedown.

I don't care if the pitch was intentional or not, if you charge the mound you better mean it. Youkilis lost the fight, no doubt, but either way it was worth the price of admission.

The Sox have recovered from that four-game sweep to the Yankees and obviously aren't going down in the AL East without a fight.

I don't think the UFC will be calling Youk any time soon, however.

So much for a rejuvinated offense

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sport Staff

Yes, Sox fans. It was as ugly as it seemed.

In the six-game embarasment that was the Red Sox' last road trip, they found pretty much every concievable way to lose a ballgame.

But in pretty much all of them, there was one common theme - an extreme lack off offense. And as bad as it looked, when you mull over the numbers, it's enough to make a grown man cry.

Let's start with the basics. The Red Sox managed to score a whopping 16 runs on 39 hits over the six-game stretch. Now remember that two of those games went into extras, so in reality, Boston scored 16 runs in 64 innings. Average that out and the Red Sox scored once every four innings. You can't win ballgames that way. Not against good teams.

Who can you blame? How about everybody? As a team, the Red Sox batted a dismal .176, accumulating just 39 hits in 222 at bats. At the top of the order, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia were unproductive. The leadoff hittter batted .233, while the former MVP was just a shade better at .240. But wait, it gets worse. Here's a list of the Red Sox' key players who laid eggs in the pivotal series.

Victor Martinez: 6-for-26 (.231)
Kevin Youkilis: 5-for-23 (.217)
J.D. Drew: 4-for-19 (.210)
Mike Lowell: 2-for-13 (.154)
David Ortiz: 1-for-18 (.056)
Jason Varitek: 1-for-19 (.053)

Jason Bay was absent for most of the week because of a re-aggravated hamstring injury, but he went 2-for-8, extending his horrible post-All-Star slump. He's now batting .204 since the Midsummer Classic. (In the process, he's become a statistical enigma of sorts. He is slugging just .296, but stil has an on-base percentage of .377 in that time.)

The road trip was one of the worst stretches of offense in Red Sox history, including a scoreless streak of 31 straight innings. At least they avoided getting shut out in back-to-back-to-back games for the first time since 1981.

Say what you will about John Smoltz. The rest of the starting pitching in either series was good enough that they could have won. Jon Lester was superb in both of his starts. Josh Beckett was dominant through seven innings in his start against the Yankees. Clay Buchholz was less than spectacular, but still wriggled his way through six inning to put the Red Sox into a decent position in game three of the Yankees series. Brad Penny did not pitch well, but five runs is not exactly disastrous.

Some could point to the bullpen being the problem, having been tagged with the loss in three of the six games and some of the blame could be placed on it, but consider how much they have had to pitch over those last six games and it's not hard to see that they miss having a long man like Justin Masterson (though I doubt anyone would be willing to hand Victor Martinez back). And had the Red Sox been able to muster anything more than nine hits in the combined 28 innings of the two extra-inning games they played, maybe, just maybe those games could have been a lot shorter.

You have to also tip your cap to the opposing pitchers, especially the Yankees, but some of the blame has to fall on what was supposed to be one of the better, most balanced lineups in baseball. Now the Red Sox sit at a .262 batting average as a team, planting them behind the Seattle Mariners in that department. That's just not going to do it for a team that wants to hold onto its postseason dreams.

Stick a fork in the Red Sox?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So have you given up hope?

If you're a Red Sox fan, today is an official day of mourning. 

But you've got to get back up, brush yourself off and immediately get back to work.

Do you think the season is over?

While it never looks good to be back 6 1/2 games in the American League East -- to the archrival New York Yankees no less -- don't for one second think the season is over.

Boston can get hot at any time, especially with a lineup that features Victor Martinez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Bay (he needs to start hitting again), and everyone knows it.

Big deal. The Yankees just swept the four-game series in the Bronx. It's only August and there's more than a month of baseball left. The Sox have the pitching to get right back in the race, but the offense needs to start hitting, and some clutch hits are going to be necessary.

Keep the faith, Nation. 

There's a lot of baseball left to be played -- 52 more and six against the Yanks. Plus, you don't actually think that the Red Sox will be ice cold for the rest of the year and Yankees will stay hot for that long do you?

So Red Sox Nation, do you think your hometown team is cooked or do they have a chance to win the East or at least get that Wild Card berth?

Fantasy Football: Defenses are important, but don't break the bank

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Defenses, you want an elite one and might be in a tough situation all season if you don't have at least a decent one.

But just when you think a team defense is going to pay off big time, that can't-miss unit gets decimated by injuries and then you're left getting a couple points per week. 

It happens more than you think, too.

So while top-notch scoring defenses -- and they don't have to equate to real life top defenses based on statistics-- are extremely valuable, they are like kickers in fantasy football. 

There are going to be values across the board, and you don't always have the jump and pay good money or draft too high to land the top squads based on projections.

But don't for one second think defenses aren't important. Remember, there are a lot of points to be had with sacks, interceptions, safeties, touchdowns, blocked kicks, special teams TDs. A high scoring output from time to time can make up for some iffy weeks by your stud players who produced like duds.

THE TOP 20

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The defending Super Bowl champs, backed by James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, know how to rack up the points. The Steelers attacked the QB with 51 sacks, 20 INTs and 22 fumble recoveries. They even scored three touchdowns. The are solid all around and the pressure they put on opposing QBs always gives you solid points week to week.

2. Baltimore Ravens

The triple threat of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs are a scary bunch, and this a team that thrives on turnovers. While the Ravens only had 34 sacks, they did register 26 INTs, 23 fumbles and scored six touchdowns (5 INTs for TDs). They'll continue to produce and don't be afraid the land a top scoring unit.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Pressure, pressure and more pressure. That's the philosophy of the Eagles. They sack the QB (48 last year) and get turnovers (15 INTs, 15 fumbles), and know how to score (7 combined, including special teams). DeSean Jackson also makes the Eagles dangerous on special teams.

4. Minnesota Vikings

You don't think the Vikings are very good on defense based on their mediocre record, but they can produce in fantasy. Last year the Vikings had 12 INTs and 25 fumbles, while scoring twice on fumbles, and nailing the QB 45 times. With rookie Percy Harvin in the mix, expect the special teams points to also help out. Considering how well the Vikings play the run, it's not surprising that teams have to throw and that's when mistakes are made and fantasy points are awarded.

5. San Diego Chargers

Without Shawne Merriman, the Chargers were trash last season (28 sacks), but with him back and playmaker Darren Sproles creating problems on kickoff an punt returns, expect the Chargers to be back among the best in the league. Don't sleep on this unit because they've got playmakers all over the field.

6. New York Giants

There's always a sack party going on in New York. The Giants front is unstoppable at times and it's a reason why they got 42 sacks in 2008, along with the defense getting 17 INTs and 18 fumbles. Remember, end Osi Umenyiora returns from injury and that defense gets that much better. 

7. New York Jets

As much as I hate to say it, the Jets defense is pretty solid, and gets a major boost with defensive wizard, Coach Ryan, now on board. The Jets had 43 takeaways last year and 41 sacks. They also had six total scores. Oh, ya, don't forget electrifying specials teams man Leon Washington on kickoffs and punts. he makes this group that much better.

8. Tennessee Titans

Albert Haynesworth might be gone, but coach Jeff Fisher always has his defense jacked up and ready to play. Plus, they work as a team and the numbers don't lie. The Titans had 44 sacks and 20 INTs and 19 fumbles last season, including 3 touchdowns from INTs. They may not be as dominant up front with the loss of stud Haynesworth, but they are deep and talented enough to be happy you landed them on draft.

9. Dallas Cowboys

Can you believe the Cowboys had 59 sacks last year and were considered a bust? While they had 27 fumbles, they only got 8 picks and two total TDs. If they can get more consistent in the secondary and get turnovers, then watch out. Because of special teams, Felix Jones is an explosive young player that can give you a quick six points with a kickoff return. They've got enough talent to not be a bust this year.

10. Chicago Bears

Chicago knows how to score on defense and special teams (1 kickoff return, 3 fumble return TDs, 1 INT TD), but they can't get to the quarterback (only 28 sacks). Devin Hester is money on special teams, and Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs spearhead the defense. But if the Bears can get more sacks this year, they could get back to elite status.

11. Green Bay Packers

12. Carolina Panthers

13. New England Patriots

14. Washington Redskins

15. Indianapolis Colts

16. Miami Dolphins

17. Arizona Cardinals

18. Seattle Seahawks

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WATCH OUT FOR

Seattle Seahawks

Atlanta Falcons

BE WARY OF

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jacksonville Jaguars

TAKE A FLYER

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

Gostkowski a foot ahead of the competition at Kicker

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Come on, let's be honest. Do you really care about the rankings for kickers in fantasy football? You should certainly not spend a lot of money on a kicker, but depending on the league you play in they can be very, very valuable. Personally, I like to wait until the end of my draft and get the best available.

The Top 20:

1. Stephen Gostkowski - Patriots

He's one of the most reliable kickers in the game now and plays for the most explosive offense in the NFL. All of that adds up to points, points, and more points. He had a great season two years ago when Brady and Moss went off and will do the same this season.

2. David Akers - Eagles

Akers had a resurgence last season as he was the 2nd highest fantasy kicker behind Gostkowski. He also plays on a team with a very good offense. Look for him to continue putting up numbers for the Eagles.

3. Ryan Longwell - Vikings

I always feel better when a kicker plays half of his games in a dome, and that's exactly what Longwell does. He had a very good season in 08', hitting 6 field goals of 50+ yards, and 6 from 40-49. Right there that's a lot of points. The Vikings should be better on offense this year, but can still stall out to allow a lot of long range trys.

4. Mason Crosby - Packers

I don't know why, but I'm a big fan of Crosby. Maybe it has something to do with him being a good kicker in a tough climate like Green Bay. I guess I feel the same way about Robbie Gould. Either way, I think Aaron Rodgers is going to go off this season, so Crosby will be putting up more points as well.

5. Jason Elam - Falcons

Remember what I said about kickers in a dome. Elam's leg is not as strong as it used to be, but the move inside has certainly helped. He had a career high 93.5 field goal percentage last year. He only tried two kicks from beyond 50 yards, but was 10-10 on kicks from 40-49. He also had 42 pats.

6. Rob Bironas - Titans

Bironas had 15 field goals from 40-49 yards last season. That's amazing, and creates a lot of points. Despite a very good running game, the Titans still don't move the ball well enough through the air. What does that mean? Lots and lots of field goal attempts.

7. Nate Kaeding - Chargers

I have never been a fan of Kaeding. Maybe it has something to do with my hatred for all things San Diego Chargers. Regardless of what I think, Nate is a solid NFL kicker. He struggled last year with a 84.7%, but had 127 points, which were his 2nd highest in his career. I look for him to bounce back this season.

8. Neil Rackers - Cardinals

With the exception of one season (2005-2006) he's never been the most accurate kicker, which drives down his fantasy value. He did have a solid season hitting 89.6% last year and I look for him to continue that as well as scoring points for the Cardinals.

9. Nick Folk - Cowboys

How good will the offense be without TO? Who knows, and who really cares. If the offense can't move the ball as well, than bring in the kicker. I doubt he'll match his 132 points from his rookie season, but could come close. He struggled a bit last year and still scored 112.

10. Robbie Gould - Bears

Robbie Gould was one of the biggest pickups for me back in 2006-07 when he scored 143 points for the Bears and burst onto the scene. It's not easy kicking in the Windy City, and Gould has done a fantastic job. He will not hit you a 50 yard field goal, or even attempt one, but is solid throughout the rest of his game.

11. John Kasey - Panthers

12. Garrett Hartley - Saints

13. Shayne Graham - Bengals

14. Kris Brown - Texans

15. Matt Prater - Broncos

16. Joe Nedney - 49ers

17. Josh Brown - Rams

18. Lawrence Tynes - Giants

19. Rian Lindell - Bills

20. Josh Scobee - Jaguars

Watch Out For:

Garret Hartley

Jason Hanson

Phil Dawson

Be Wary Of:

Adam Vinatieri

Jay Feely

Jeff Reed

Take a Flyer On:

Dan Carpenter

Graham Gano

Sebastian Janikowski

(Stay tuned for Defense rankings tomorrow by Chad Garner)

A-Bomb by A-Rod ends it in the 15th

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ho hum, it was just another marathon (5:33) game between the Yankees and Red Sox. Not really, at least for the Sox. Did you stay up and watch the entire game? This one was a big loss for the Red Sox for several reasons. The Sox are now 4.5 games behind the Yankees and 4 in the loss column. The Sox desperately needed to win this game and not waste a very nice pitching performance by Josh Beckett. a 15 inning game was the last thing a tired Boston bullpen needed with two more games to play in this pivotal series.

By no means is the season over for the Boston Red Sox, but they are in a serious slide right now. Their timely hitting has been so god awful, especially over the past two games in the Bronx. I now AJ Burnett was dealing last night, but he also walked 6 batters. You'd think a team would be able to play a little small ball and try to manufacture a run, but that's just not what the Red Sox do. The positive from this game is how well the bullpen did pitch, with the exception of Junichi Tazawa's big league debut. I will not blame him though because it can't be easy to make your debut in an extra inning game, in the biggest rivalry in baseball, in Yankee Stadium. I will wit hold judgement until I see him pitch again.

After losing the first two games of the season, the Red Sox now must take the remaining two games of the series.

Fantasy Football: Strong picks for top 4 TE's

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The tight end position has been oftentimes overlooked, but not here. If you can land one of the top tight end targets in the draft -- but don't reach in straight drafts -- it's just like having another top-of-the-line wide receiver, production-wise, on your club. These top pick tight ends can even win you a week if they blow up for multiple scores and over 100 yards receiving. 

While the tight end class if pretty deep, it does feature four outstanding players that head the class and guys that are can't miss pass-catchers.

If you get one of the top four, your championship chances go up that much more. Take a look at the Fan Fanatic Sports top 20 at the tight end position.

TOP 20

1. Tony Gonzalez -- Falcons

Eventual Hall of Famer Gonzalez finally got his wish to play for a contender when he was traded to Atlanta from Kansas City. Gonzalez is an absolute beast in the passing game, averaging 89 catches, 1,043 yards and 7 touchdowns in the last three years. Last year, he was the lone bright spot for the Chiefs with 1,058 yards, 96 receptions and 10 TDs. Gonzalez might not catch as many passes this season with the Falcons because of how many weapons they have, but there's not questioning that second-year QB Matt Ryan will now another go-to target in Gonzalez. He might be 33 and that might scare owners away, thinking he's going to decline, but Touchdown Tony just keeps getting better. He's the safest TE pick you can make.

2. Jason Witten -- Cowboys

Dallas QB just loves throwing the ball to Witten, even forcing it in when there's no room to fit a quarter. But that connection has shown chemistry and in fantasy football, that equals production and confidence. Witten had a down year with 81 catches for 952 yards and 4 TDs -- still a highly-productive year in my book. Remember Romo missed time last year and Witten was bruised and battered, so with better health expect the numbers to rise. But without Terrell Owens on the outside to take pressure off of Witten being double-covered, could Witten be a marked man this season? He's so talented, but I'm a little concerned that Dallas' wideouts won't be good enough to keep the heat off of Witten. I'd still draft him high, however.

3. Antonio Gates -- Chargers

Gates is sooooo good, but his numbers dipped last year (60 receptions, 704 yards, 8 TDs), and that should be a minor concern. Notice I said, minor, because even if Gates puts up those numbers again, you can't be upset at all. Gates, who scored nine touchdowns in 2006 and 07, is still a can't-miss TE on draft day. Plus the Chargers just love slinging the ball with Phillip Rivers, and we know he's got mojo with Gates. Fantasy bonus!!!

4. Dallas Clark -- Colts

Speaking of another TE that's got chemistry with his QB, that's Clark. The 6-foot-3, 252-pounder former first-round pick had a monster year in 2008 with 77 catches for 848 yards and 6 TDs. He found the end zone 11 times in 207. Besides WR Reggie Wayne, Clark is a constant threat to score, especially in the red zone. And with Marvin Harrison now gone, expect Clark to get even more looks, considering Peyton Manning has the utmost confidence in his tight end. Clark is the fourth and final top-tier TE to get on draft day.

5. Kellen Winslow -- Buccaneers

Winslow is a soldier, well, that's what he says. He's show flashes of brilliance (1,106 yards, 5 TDs in 2007 with the Browns), but Winslow just needs to shut his pie hole and play ball because he gushes with untapped potential. My question is: Why did the Browns trade him away if he's so good? Anyway, Winslow gets a new address and new start with Tampa Bay. The Bucs have issues as QB, but Winslow is a great check-down guy, and he could haul in over 80 passes if those QBs just get him the darn ball. Winslow has the talent, but the Bucs do not. He might just have to get his numbers during garbage time. Fantasy owners don't care, either, they only care about the points.

6. Greg Olsen -- Bears

Olsen has to be thankful that he's now got a quarterback that he knows will fire around the rock like a high schooler toying with middle school players. Jay Cutler is not at the helm and he's as reckless with the ball as Brett Favre, but we all know Cutler loves to throw the fastball and often. Olsen could be in for a gigantic year, considering he had a decent season in 2008(574 yards, 5 TDs) with Kyle Orton playing don't-make-a-mistake-football. Olsen should be on your rader, he could be a nice pick that produces big time in his third year in the NFL.

7. Chris Cooley -- Redskins

Cooly had a great year with 83 catches and 849 yards, but it was also lousy considering he only caught one TD pass. What? Yes, one TD. That's just not acceptable. Isn't this the same Cooley that had 8 TDs in 2007 and 6 in 2006? Yup, same guy. Don't think Cooley is in store for another one-TD season, he's just too talented not to score at least 5 times. But what should bother everyone is the QB in Jason Campbell. If he shows improvement, the Washington offense shouldn't have a problem with scoring points, and that means more fantasy production across the board.

8. Owen Daniels -- Texans

Isn't it amazing that some owners still don't know who Daniels is? I know he plays for the Texans and there's not too much to write home away with them, but this guy is good. While he's not flashy, he's still worthy of a starting spot on a roster, he's no fantasy backup in my book. Daniels had 70 catches for 862 yards and 2 TDs last year. We'd like to see the TDs rise (he had 5 in 2006), but he's still a guy that people will sleep on on draft day. Don't be that guy!

9. John Carlson -- Seahawks

It was a down season for Seattle, but don't blame Carlson for it. The rookie had 55 catches for 627 yards and 5 TDs, pretty impressive for the Notre Dame product. Carlson prospered since Seattle's WR corp was banged up, so temper expectations slightly with improved health for the weapons on the outside. 

10. Jeremy Shockey -- Saints

J-Shock missed four games with various leg injuries, but he still managed to haul in 50 passes for 483 yards, but he didn't score. In New Orleans' offense, the balls do fly around but everyone enjoys a piece of the piece. In fantasy world, that means no one really has unbelievable stats. Shockey, when healthy, is still a threat, but he's not option No. 1 or even No. 2 in the Saints offense. But if he can rise up in the red zone, Shockey can make owners smile with 5-plus TDs. He'll come cheap on draft day, and the payout might be well worth it.

11. Visanthe Shiancoe -- Vikings

12. Zach Miller -- Raiders

13. Dustin Keller -- Jets

14. Heath Miller -- Steelers

15. Tony Scheffler -- Broncos

16. Bo Scaife -- Titans

17. Vernon Davis -- 49ers

18. Kevin Boss -- Giants

19. Brent Celek -- Eagles

20. Todd Heap -- Ravens

WATCH OUT FOR

Greg Olsen -- Bears

Chris Cooley -- Redskins

Owen Daniels -- Texans

Vernon Davis -- 49ers

BE WARY OF

Anthony Fassano -- Dolphins

Randy McMichael -- Rams

Benjamin Watson -- Patriots

Brent Celek -- Eagles

WORTH A FLYER

Todd Heap -- Ravens

Brandon Pittigrew -- Lions

Martellus Bennett -- Cowboys

Chase Coffman -- Bengals

(Coming tomorrow: Kicker rankings by Jim Ingram)

Pats bolster D with Burgess

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hello Derrick Burgess, and welcome to your best shot for a Super Bowl Ring. The Pats got exactly what they need yesterday when they traded "undisclosed draft picks" for DE Derrick Burgess of the Oakland Raiders. Will he play defensive end? No, he most likely will not. He will, however, be a good pass rusher from the outside linebacker position and add depth to the front 7.

While he doesn't add youth to the defense, he does add the experience and versatility that Bill Belichick loves from any player on his roster. It should also help that he's going to be heavily motivated and rejuvenated playing for a winning organization and the Super Bowl favorite New England Patriots. Burgess has spent the past four seasons in futility out in Oakland and returns to a winning franchise for the first time since leaving the Eagles in 2005.

Now don't get me wrong. He's not going to be amazing, but he is a better option at this point than both Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable or Tully Banta-Cain. I like Woods, but he's not a starter in my mind. I am intrigued by Crable, but needs to stay healthy and really doesn't have any experience. Tully Banta-Cain should be worried about being cut at this point with the addition of Burgess. Burgess does add proven pass rushing ability to a position they sorely need it from. Adalius Thomas is still a very good player as long as he's healthy.

This move does make me feel better about the defense though. The defensive secondary doesn't bother me so much because I think the front 7 will be very good and allow the secondary to mask some of their weaknesses. I guess we'll start to see next week when they Pats open up the preseason.

Pedroia's plunking could be just the spark

By Jorge Bannister
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Unknot those panties about at least one thing, Red Sox Nation. Dustin Pedroia getting hit on the shoulder in the eighth inning by Mark Melancon was not intentional. Trust me.

The New York Yankees were already up, 13-4. It doesn’t matter that Pedroia had hit a home run earlier in the game. The Yankees were up, 13-4. It doesn’t matter that Melancon threw a pitch over Pedroia’s head. The Yankees were up, 13-4. Note that Melancon struggled after Pedroia, too, throwing a 57 foot fastball to Victor Martinez. And, please, don’t forget, the Yankees were up, 13-4.

I can understand Pedroia’s reaction to the whole situation. He hit a homer earlier in the game and a pitch earlier in the at-bat flew high over his head. He then got plunked high on his left bicep.

I give major credit to Jorge Posada for walking Pedroia down the first-base line to keep him in check. The view inside the Red Sox dugout didn’t look too friendly when NESN scanned — especially the sour look on Kevin Youkilis’ face. (Or, maybe he was just upset he was pulled for a defensive replacement late in the game. He was, after all, playing left field.)

Let’s remember one thing, though. Say it with me, now, “The Yankees were up, 13-4.”

I was surrounded by Red Sox fans when the incident happened, and someone said, “It’ll be interesting to see who the Sox hit.”

Really? Because, home-plate umpire Derryl Cousins had warned both dugouts immediately after the hit by pitch.

No way was anyone going to get tossed in a 13-4 game and risk Terry Francona getting tossed and, subsequently, fined by Major League Baseball.

Obviously, Josh Beckett is going to handle things tonight. The only question is, who is he going to hit?

Derek Jeter seems logical. He’s the same spark-plug for that team that Pedroia is for the Red Sox. However, even with warnings handed out, A.J. Burnett would certainly hit someone in return. No way would he let someone hit the captain without retaliating, right?

This is when things will get interesting.

The Red Sox need a spark — badly.

Question is, can Chad Fairchild — tonight's home-plate umpire — justify throwing out Beckett after the inevitable hit by pitch? If so, Tito would certainly get tossed, too.

That would certainly be just the spark the Red Sox need.

Tough Titan: Training Camping in Tennessee

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Ryan Durand is smacking helmets with the defense, studying his playbook inside and out and trying to do what is expected of him with the Tennessee Titans.

Yes, that's Training Camp at its finest, especially for a rookie 7th-round draft pick.

Durand, who played at Syracuse University, is right in the heat of the battle with the rest of the Titans in a long and grueling camp.

But the No. 1 goal is to stick with the big club.

That's Durand's only focus right now.

"My mindset is to go and practice as hard as I can," said Durand in a telephone interview late Wednesday night. "With the opportunities I get, I've got to show the coaches I have what it takes."

It's quite a long day -- every day -- when Training Camp starts. According to Durand, he wakes up around 7 a.m., he's in the weight room by 8 and it's all football for the rest of the day with various meetings, practices -- and lunch and dinner breaks in between -- and then the day ends around 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. 

"It's a lot of stuff, but it hasn't been that bad," said Durand, who is practicing at both left and right guard. "We do have four weeks left so they're not trying to dump the entire playbook on us right now."

Durand and rest of the Titans who have under four years of service in the league are mandated to stay in the team hotel in Nashville, which is two miles from the complex, for the entire camp. 

So what does he do during his down time?

"I look at my playbook a little bit and I try to relax," Durand said. "I talk to family members, friends and my girlfriend."

Durand will get his first taste of the National Football League when the Titans play their first preseason game this Sunday at 8 p.m. on NBC against the Buffalo Bills in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

"It's going to be very neat," Durand said. "It'll probably  be a breath of fresh air considering how intense our practices are."

Durand and the rest of the Titans will also visit the Hall of Fame, which will be inducting the 2009 class of Bob Hayes, Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas and Ralph Wilson on Saturday.

"I'm going to try to take it all in," said Durand about his visit inside the HOF. "I realize how special it is; It'll give me motivation, I guess."

Not that Durand needs any added motivation.

Fantasy Football: Larry Fitzgerald on top at reciever

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

We move on to wide receiver spot this morning. If you play in a league where you get points per reception, than the wide receiver position is at least as important as the running back, if not more so. The main league I play in adding reception points last year, and people learned quickly how valuable certain receivers are.

The Top 20:

1. Larry Fitzgerald - Cardinals

Big Fitz is the most complete wide receiver in the NFL. 96 catches, 1400+ yards and 12 touchdowns is about a normal year for Larry, but he did set all sorts of records in the playoffs. It also helps to have Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston on the same field to help reduce single coverage. He should put up another solid year.

2. Andre Johnson - Texans

Did you realize that he led the NFL in catches (115) and and receiving yards (1,575) last season? If you know football, than yes, but if you're just a casual fan that plays fantasy football you need to take notice. He's the go to guy on that team and finally put together a complete fantasy season for the first time. I'm sure having a legitimate receiver, like Kevin Walter, on the others side has helped.

3. Randy Moss - Patriots

A lot of people have Calvin Johnson at #3, but the return of Tom Brady increases Moss's value and production this season. Wes Welker will certainly get his balls, and so will Joey Galloway, but it's been shown that Brady loves to stretch the field with Moss. Look for him to get 15+ td's and 1,200 yards.

4. Calvin Johnson - Lions

I did not put him at #4 because of his quarterback situation. The third year receiver has clearly shown it doesn't matter who's throwing the ball to him. After struggling in his rookie season, he burst out with a 1,300 yard season with 12 touchdowns. He may not increase much on those numbers, but look for him to grab more than 78 receptions. If you play in a reception league, this alone will increase his value

5. Steve Smith - Panthers

Despite missing two games last season, Smith still put up 1,421 yards on 78 catches. If he plays 116 games, and averages 5.5 catches per game like last year, he should get his total up to 89 catches. That could get him over the 1,600 yard mark for the season. Hopefully Jake Delhomme's arm can hold up and can consistently feed him the ball.

6. Roddy White - Falcons

Rowdy Roddy will continue his improvement this season along with Matt Ryan. The two have had great chemistry from the get go, so White should improve on his touchdowns this season after getting 7 in 08'. He's shown improvement in each of his first four years, but it'll be hard to improve on 88 catches and 1,300 yards.

7. Greg Jennings - Packers

If you read my QB ratings then you know I think Aaron Rodgers is going to have a huge year. The same should hold true for Jennings. He's clearly Rodgers favorite target after amassing 80 catches, 1,292 yards and 9 touchdowns. I expect him to at least hold those numbers making him a top 10 fantasy wide receiver.

8. Anquan Boldin - Cardinals

It's hard to imagine one team having two receivers in the top 10, but the Cardinals had it last year, and they'll have it this year as well. After a hot start, Boldin missed 4 games and still had 89 catches, 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's about as motivated as a player could be to put up even better numbers this year, and Kurt Warner has never had a problem spreading the love.

9. Brandon Marshall - Broncos

Speaking of players who have motivation to put up another great season, Marshall is an incredibly talented player who just needs to keep his head straight. I actually think Kyle Orton will play pretty well this season, and Marshall and Eddy Royal will certainly help him out. He's missing some practice time right now, but expect him to be good to go by week 1.

10. TJ Houshmandzedah - Seahawks

Now that TJ is the undisputed #1 receiver on his team, watch out for a big season from him. Matt Hasselback is healthy and must be salivating to throw the ball to a receiver that can actually catch the ball and stay healthy (we hope). While he did catch 94 balls last year, he had a down year in yards (904) and touchdowns (4). Look for drastic increases this season.

11. Reggie Wayne - Colts

12. Marques Colston - Saints

13. Vincent Jackson - Chargers

14. Dwayne Bowe - Chiefs

15. Wes Welker - Patriots

16. Terrell Owens - Bills

17. Roy Williams - Cowboys

18. Braylon Edwards - Browns

19. Lee Evans - Bills

20. Chad Ochocinco - Bengals

Watch Out For:

Kevin Walter

Earl Bennett

Donnie Avery

Torry Holt

Be Wary Of:

Antonio Bryant

Michael Crabtree

Roy Williams

Worth a Flyer:

Deion Branch

Devin Hester

Josh Morgan

(Stay tuned for the Tight End rankings tomorrow by Chad Garner)

Boston College: The biggest inferiority complex in college sports

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

In dating a so-called Superfan, who was also a member of the Boston College marching and pep bands, I have come to learn one very real fact: the Eagles only truly hate teams that are better than they are. All of the so-called "rivalries" the school has in its major sports, whether it be football, basketball or hockey, are mostly one-sided, based more on envy than anything.

To ask a Superfan about one of their rivals is to learn that every team the Eagles have a rivalry with sucks, despite what any number of national championships or any other statistics might lead you to believe. Boston College is the greatest athletic program to grace God's green earth. Everyone else should be insanely jealous and Superfans just can't figure out why no one actually is.

Well, here it is, spelled out plain and simple for all you Boston College fans. In the great scheme of things, you really aren't that good now and you really have very little history of ever being very good.

Let's start with football.

Boston College fans want you to think that the series with Notre Dame is an age-old tradition dating back to the early days of college football which they have dominated for the past decade. In truth, in the eyes of Golden Domers, Boston College takes a back seat to USC, Michigan, Michigan State and some would even argue Navy. In reality, the "Holy War" series has only lasted 18 games and the only thing that makes it truly notable is the fact that these are the two only Catholic universities playing Division 1 football at the bowl championship level. The two teams first met in 1975, but did not play each other regularly until the 1990's. Even the Eagles' series with Notre Dame hockey has a greater history in terms of games played and longevity. It's true that from 2000-2008, the Eagles have held a 6-1 advantage, but even with that, the series is still tied, 9-9.

Eagles fans like to point to their recent head-to-head dominance as evidence that Boston College is a better program than Notre Dame, overlooking the fact that Notre Dame holds 11 national championships (or 13, depending on who you ask) to Boston College's zero. For those keeping score, no team has as many national titles as the Fighting Irish.

Boston College also likes to mention recent bowl success over the last decade, but since the BCS's inception in the 1998-1999 season, the Irish have been to three BCS bowls, something Boston College has never done. They have gone to distinguished bowls such as the Meineke Car Care Bowl, MPC Computers Bowl and the Continental Tire Bowl, however.

Notre Dame boasts 178 All-Americans to Boston College's 10 and seven Heisman Trophy winners to the Eagles' Doug Flutie. Ten Irish have gone on to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Two Eagles have that distinction.

Notre Dame football has only had 11 losing seasons in 102 years. Boston College football has had 23 in 74 years, over 30 percent. Bottom line, a nine-win season at Boston College is considered a success. A nine-win season at Notre Dame is a disappointment.

In hockey, the Superfan's obsession with Boston University can at least be legitmized by the two teams' close proximity. Both even share the same branch of the Green Line. Because of this, the rivalry actually has longevity. But that's about where the conversation ends.

While the half-full student section at Conte Forum likes to chant "Sucks to BU," nothing could be further from the truth. First off, in head-to-head play, the Terriers lead the all-time series 123-106-17. Boston College holds the edge in Hockey East tournament and regular season titles, but seeing as both teams played in the ECAC beforehand, BU holds more combined titles. In all, the Terriers have won 14 regular-season league titles to BC's 11, while winning 12 conference tournaments to the Eagles' 10.

Boston University has also dominated the bragging rights in Boston, having won the Beanpot 29 times. That's right. BU has won more Beanpot finals than Boston College has participated in.

But with all that, the most striking number is this: BU also holds the edge where it counts the most, having won five national championships, while Boston College has only won three.

The most pathetic "rivalries" of them all might fall in the realm of basketball, however. The Eagles don't have any real heated rivalries with any out-of-conference teams. UMass is a fabricated series without much conscequence and Notre Dame holds some sentimentality because of BC's Big East days and the simple fact that it's a team from South Bend.

But at this point, Superfans concentrate most of their hatred on natural in-conference "rivals" with whom they really have no business being in the same conversation.

With three national championships, Duke has as many titles as Boston College has Elite Eight appearances. Boston College has never advanced past that point, something Duke has done 14 times. The Blue Devils have won 21 conference tournament titles as well as 21 regular season titles, compared to BC's three and four, respectively. And yes, those numbers for BC are combined between both the Big East and the ACC.

As if that wasn't good enough, Superfans also like to spit venom at North Carolina, who surpasses Duke in the number of national championships (5), final four appearances (22), conference tournament championships (25) and regular-season titles (34).

So can these really be considered rivalries or sad expressions of feelings of inadequacy. There are plenty of good - but not great - athletic programs all around the country and most of them realize exactly what they are. Why is it that Boston College fans can't figure it out?