Torry Holt claims ref used scoreboard to make call
Posted by Anthony Stalter (12/15/2008 @ 10:40 am)
St. Louis’ wide receiver Torry Holt is claiming that an official during the Rams’ 23-20 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday used the scoreboard to call an offensive pass interference penalty on him in the second half.
“He said he looked up in the Jumbotron and saw that I pushed off,” said Holt, who is in his 10th year with the Rams (2-12). “I told him I never extended my arm. It is one thing if you extended, because that is pass interference. But everything was in motion catching the football. I don’t even know if I had my hands on the guy.
“That was his explanation, and I told him it was a bad call.”
With the Rams leading 17-13 with 4:40 left in the third quarter, St. Louis took possession on its 20 and moved to the Seattle 46. On second down, Marc Bulger threw a strike down the right sideline that Holt caught at the 26 against cornerback Marcus Trufant.
The play was brought back on the penalty, pushing the Rams to their 44. St. Louis moved the ball to the Seattle 29 and settled for a field goal with 11:09 remaining. The Seahawks trailed only 20-13 and were still in the game.
“I was surprised,” Holt said of the key penalty. “I could understand if I did because I would take that, but I could not understand it. It was a big play for our team. It was something that we needed. We needed some energy, something to get us going.
“Torry made such a nice catch there. I think he did (push off),” Bulger said. “It wasn’t just one play that cost us this game.”
Here’s the thing, Bulger’s right. One play doesn’t make or break an entire game. The Rams were up 17-7 at one point and couldn’t put a bad Seahawks team away at home.
This season couldn’t end any faster for the Rams.
NFL Week 11 Primer
Posted by Anthony Stalter (11/16/2008 @ 10:00 am)
Sunday’s Best: Ravens (6-3) at Giants (8-1), 1:00 PM ET
Who would have thought this game would be the best matchup of the week with the Chargers playing the Steelers and Cowboys taking on the Redskins in the same weekend. The job first-year head coach John Harbaugh and his staff has done with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has been amazing and the rest of the Baltimore players have really bought into the new regime’s system. They’ll get their biggest challenge this season on Sunday, however, as no team outside of the Titans is playing better than the Giants right now. There are a couple of great matchups within this game, but none bigger than New York’s power running game vs. the stingy Baltimore run defense. One advantage the Giants have is that this will be the Ravens’ fifth road game in six weeks and they might start to wear down. Flacco will face a ton of pressure from a quick Giants’ front seven, but getting Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain going will help neutralize what New York does best defensively. This will be the most physical matchup of the weekend.
Upset Watch: Rams (2-7) at 49ers (2-7), 4:05 PM ET
Everyone is scrambling to be the first to predict the Jaguars to upset the Titans this weekend, but people have been waiting for Tennessee to fall for weeks and still they remain unbeaten. It’s hardly a huge upset to predict one 2-7 team will beat another, but after their strong showing on Monday night, football pundits might assume this game will be an easy victory for the Niners. While there’s nothing to like about the Rams following their abysmal performance last week against the Jets, this is a better team than what they’ve shown and San Fran is a bit dysfunctional right now after their debacle on Monday Night Football. Jim Haslett is still fighting for a head coaching job (as is Mike Singletary) and there’s no doubt he’ll have his team more prepared than they were last week in New York. Of course, a win for the Rams would mean that Marc Bulger has to get his head out of his ass and someone has to find Torry Holt. But as usual with my “Upset Watch”, I won’t predict an outright win for St. Louis, but I say they at least cover the 5.5-point spread.
Intriguing Matchup: Cowboys (5-4) at Redskins (6-3), 8:15 PM ET
Tony Romo will be back in action this week, but will he need a game or two to shake off the rust? Unfortunately for him, Dallas can’t afford to lose any more ground in a stacked NFC East. The Redskins are also fighting to keep pace in the division and will look to avenge their ugly loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. They’ll have to do it without Clinton Portis, however, as he currently is sidelined with a MCL injury. Jason Campbell has been solid this season, but he’ll need to make plays without Portis in the backfield. If the Cowboys are going to walk away with a win, they’ll do so because of a strong defensive effort – not the play of Romo.
Other Notable Games:
Titans (9-0) at Jaguars (4-5), 4:15 PM ET
As previously noted, everyone is waiting for the Titans to slip and this very well could be the weekend they do. But they don’t seem like the team that gets ahead of themselves and every one of their wins has been a dogfight. The Jaguars rebounded with an impressive win over the Lions last week, but let’s not forget that they lost to the Bengals and Browns in two games prior to that.
Bears (5-4) at Packers (4-5), 1:00 PM ET
This is a must win for both teams because the Vikings are right back in the division hunt again. If the Packers lose, they might be able to kiss the playoffs goodbye. Kyle Orton is expected to play for the Bears.
Vikings (5-4) at Bucs (6-3), 1:00 PM ET
We’ll find out a lot about Minnesota this Sunday and whether or not they’ve returned from the grave. A win over a solid Tampa team would go a long way in proving they’ve rebounded from earlier seasons struggles.
Broncos (5-4) at Falcons (6-3), 1:00 PM ET
The legend of Matt Ryan continues this week in the Georgia Dome. Ryan is 4-0 at home this year and will have plenty of opportunities to make big plays against a horrible Denver defense. But Jay Cutler as lit opposing defenses up this year and there could be a wild finish to this game in the making.
Posted in: Fantasy Football, NFL
Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Clinton Portis, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Eli Manning, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jason Campbell, Jay Cutler, Jim Haslett, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Kyle Orton, Le'Ron McClain, Marc Bulger, Matt Ryan, Mike Singletary, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, NFL Week 11, NFL Week 11 injuries, NFL Week 11 preview, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray Rice, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Tony Romo, Torry Holt, Washington Redskins, Willis McGahee

Start, Bench or Cut: Is it time to part ways with these guys?
Posted by John Paulsen (10/02/2008 @ 6:31 pm)
Now that we’re a quarter the way through the fantasy football season, some owners are wondering if it’s time to start benching their early round picks or if it’s appropriate to cut bait on a disappointing middle-round pick. Here is a list of 20 disappointing fantasy players, along with my take on their prospects over the next four games.
I’ve included the player’s Antsports ADP in parenthesis (for the month of August) along with their drafted and current rankings within their position.
1. Randy Moss (1.08)
Drafted: WR1
Currently: WR43
There’s no doubt that the loss of Tom Brady for the season has had a significant impact on Moss’ performance and prospects. He was a stud, but now there are owners who are (justifiably) starting to bench him for better options. He is averaging three catches for 24 yards and zero TD in the two games that Matt Cassel has started. The upcoming schedule (SF, SD, DEN and STL) looks pretty good from a matchup standpoint, and it seems like the bye week would be a good opportunity for Bill Belichick and Co. to figure out a way to use their most dynamic weapon. Unless you have a clearly better option, Moss is still worth starting.
VERDICT: START
2. Braylon Edwards (2.05)
Drafted: WR4
Currently: WR57
Edwards has looked out of it from the start, dropping a few balls against the Cowboys in Week 1. Through four games, he’s averaging 2.8 catches for 24 yards and 0.3 TD. He did catch a TD in Week 4 and his schedule gets a little easier over the next two weeks with the Giants and the Redskins, two teams that have allowed plenty of fantasy points to wideouts this season. Like Moss, unless you have a clearly better option, Edwards is still worth the start, though he’s on bye this week.
VERDICT: START
Read the rest after the jump...
Posted in: Fantasy Football, NFL
Tags: Andre Johnson, Braylon Edwards, Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Chester Taylor, fantasy football strategy, Jeremy Shockey, Joey Galloway, Laurence Maroney, Marc Bulger, Marvin Harrison, Matt Hasselbeck, Randy Moss, Roy Williams, Ryan Grant, Selvin Young, Todd Heap, Torry Holt, Vernon Davis, Willis McGahee

Fantasy Football Podcast #5 (10/2/08)
Posted by John Paulsen (10/02/2008 @ 5:55 am)
Listen in as Anthony Stalter and I discuss the Al Davis/Monte Kiffin debacle, the emergence of Lance Moore, the Baltimore running game, Carson Palmer’s elbow and the Redskins/Eagles battle, among other topics.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
(In honor of the Davis/Kiffin feud, the opening music is The Dandy Warhols’ “We Used to Be Friends,” which also served as the theme song to brilliant-but-cancelled television show, “Veronica Mars.”)
Posted in: Fantasy Football, NFL, Podcasts
Tags: Al Davis, Al Davis fires Lane Kiffin, Al Davis vs. Lane Kiffen, Anquan Boldin, Carson Palmer, fantasy football sleepers, fantasy football strategy, La'Ron McClain, Lance Moore, Lane Kiffin, Marc Bulger, Redskins vs. Eagles, Scott Linehan fired, Steve Breaston, Torry Holt, Willis McGahee

Top 10 Active NFL Receiving TD Leaders
Posted by Mike Farley (09/27/2008 @ 9:25 am)
You fantasy geeks can appreciate touchdowns almost more than the players who score them. So here is a list you might be able to use ….the active leaders in receiving TDs. Some of these players are nearing the twilight of their careers, but a lot of them are still putting up numbers….
1. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys (132)—As great as TO has been when he’s not hogging headlines off the field, his best years were in San Francisco. Consider 2001, when TO caught 93 passes for 1412 yards and a career high 16 touchdowns. He was also averaging 109 yards per game in 2005 for Philly when he was suspended and then benched by Andy Reid after seven games for disparaging remarks about teammates.
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots (125)—Yes, Randy Moss had some great years in Minnesota, including 111 catches for 1632 yards in 2003. But nothing tops 23 TDs, an NFL record, in 2007. Except maybe a Super Bowl ring…oops, was that out loud?
3. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts (124)—Harrison has been one of the most consistent receivers over the course of his career. And he holds the record for receptions in a single season with 143, in 2002. But 2007’s injury aside, Harrison’s numbers have slipped a little ever since Reggie Wayne started lining up on the other side of Peyton Manning.
4. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers (85)—He was the main receiver for Kurt Warner in the Greatest Show on Turf…and now he’s reunited with offensive coordinator Mike Martz at the age of 36 in San Francisco. I wouldn’t bet against the old man reaching 100 TDs maybe next season.
5. Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (77)—This guy is 37 and still beating defenders to the ball. Good for him.
6. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams (72)—Torry Holt formed one of the best 1-2 punches at receiver along with Isaac Bruce in St. Louis, and then became the main man for a few seasons. He’s still the main man, but on a very bad Rams team.
7. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers (68)—Have you ever seen a guy smile as he’s being tackled the way Ward is? That, and the guy is a hell of a football player.
8. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs (67)—Gonzalez is the only tight end on here, and he’s on here because his career numbers rival that of any great wide receiver. But like Holt, he plays on a very bad team in 2008.
9. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers (56)—Muhammad made the Pro Bowl twice and played on a Super Bowl with the Panthers, then went to Chicago for a year, which is the equivalent of a barbecue chef being sent to cook in a vegan restaurant. So here he is, back in Carolina, catching passes from Jake Delhomme again.
10. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants (52)—This guy’s career has blossomed in New York, as he has become Eli Manning’s favorite target. But his suspension for missing practice is eerily familiar for those who followed Burress’ career in Pittsburgh.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Posted in: Fantasy Football, NFL
Tags: Active Receiving Leaders, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Fantasy Football, Hines Ward, Indianapolis Colts, Isaac Bruce, Joey Galloway, Kansas City Chiefs., Marvin Harrison, Muhsin Muhammad, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Receiving Leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Plaxico Burress, Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Terrell Owens, Tony Gonzalez, Torry Holt

Seahawks light up winless Rams 37-13
Posted by Anthony Stalter (09/21/2008 @ 7:46 pm)
The Seattle Seahawks rebounded from their 33-30 overtime loss last week to beat NFC West rival St. Louis 37-13 on Sunday.
It was over when…
T.J. Duckett scored on a 1-yard run with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter. The touchdown capped a 15-play, 86-yard drive to give the Seahawks a 21-point lead.
Game ball
Running back Julius Jones’ 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Seahawks a 17-0 lead. Jones finished with 140 yards rushing.
Key stat
The Seahawks rushed for 240 yards, while holding The Rams to just 65 yards on the ground.
Noteworthy
Seahawks running back Duckett had his first two-touchdown rushing day in four years. … St. Louis lost for the 16th time in 19 games, and have lost seven consecutive games to Seattle. … The Seahawks avoided starting 0-3 for the first time since 2002.
I know it was against the Rams’ defense, but how good did Julius Jones (22 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD) look? Maurice Morris’s injury has opened the door for Jones to be the feature back and he hasn’t disappointed. Amazing how productive Mike Holmgren’s offense can be with a running game. Matt Hasselbeck even looked good for the first time this season, completing 12 of 20 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown.
There isn’t much you can say about the Rams. They easily rival the Chiefs as the worst team in the NFL and at least KC has an excuse as to why they’re so bad; Tyler Thigpen is starting at quarterback for Larry Johnson’s sake. St. Louis is this bad with a healthy Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson and Torry Holt. Amazing.
Posted in: Fantasy Football, NFL
Tags: Julius Jones, Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck, NFL Week 3, NFL Week 3 recaps, Seahawks 37 Rams 13, Seahawks beat Rams, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Steven Jackson, Torry Holt

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