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      I’m Just Saying: The Vikings have a home game in which the NFL is handing out free tickets so Lions fans can attend.

      December 13, 2010 /
      DETROIT - DECEMBER 12: People enter Ford Field prior to the start of the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 12, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Field will host the NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings on Monday December 13 after a blizzard dumped more than 20 inches of snow in parts of the Midwest causing the inflatable roof to collapse under the weight of snow at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Mall of America Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. . (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

      This is the second installment of my new column: “I’m Just Saying.” Peter King has a column (Monday Morning Quarterback), so it only makes sense that a well-respected sports blogger like myself has a column as well.

      What? I’m not well-respected? Who the hell is Anthony Stalter? Peter King is more established?

      What-ev.

      – So let me get this straight, the NFL moved the Giants-Vikings game to a NFC North city and is handing out free tickets? If I’m the Vikings, I’m pissed. Nice home game for Minnesota – think any Lion fans will get sauced up and attend the game for free just to root against the Vikings?

      – Of course, if the roof of the Metrodome weren’t made of paper mache, the Vikings wouldn’t have to worry about playing at Ford Field.

      – Does anyone else find it ironic that Sal Alosi’s job as the Jets’ head strength and conditioning coach is to help players get in shape and avoid injuries and he goes out and trips a Dolphins player…who gets injured? You stay classy, Sal Alosi.

      – I’m willing to bet that if the Patriots played all of their games in a blizzard, they would be 19-0 and will have beaten their opponents by a combined score of 855-17.

      – The Titans’ backdoor cover against the Colts on Thursday night was one of the worst backdoor covers in the history of backdoor covers. First of all, Indy was up 21-0 in the first half. So what should have been a blowout actually turned into a decent game because their defense is made of Charmin extra soft tissue paper. After they allowed Tennessee to crawl back in the second half, Peyton Manning had not one, but two chances to waste the clock and move the ball and he did neither. Then, with the Colts up by 10 in the final minutes of the game (they were favored by 3), Jeff Fisher trots out Rob Bironas for a field goal attempt but calls him back instead. He decides to put his offense back onto the field and Kerry Collins marches the Titans up the field for a touchdown on the final play of the game (a 4th down no less) and covers the spread. If Fisher were actually trying to win the game, he would have kicked the field goal and tried an onsides kick (he needed 10 points, after all). But because he was trying to screw bettors (which is the only logical explanation here), he decided to go for the touchdown and run the clock down to zero in the process. Final score: Colts 30, Titans 28. Thanks, Jeff.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Carmelo forcing his way to Knicks?

      December 13, 2010 /
      Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony (L) moves against the New York Knicks guard/forward Landry Fields during the first quarter at the Pepsi Center in Denver on November 16, 2010. UPI/Gary C. Caskey Photo via Newscom

      It became pretty clear once Carmelo Anthony declined to sign the Nuggets’ three-year extension that he wasn’t going to be in Denver next season. The question was when he would leave and where he would go.

      My position has always been that if Anthony went into the season as a Nugget, that it would be tough for new GM Masai Ujiri to trade him before the February deadline since it would essentially signal to the team’s fan base that he was giving up on the season at a point where they’ll probably be comfortably in the playoffs. Without a public statement from Carmelo indicating that he wanted a trade, the fan base could revolt.

      Now, as Chris Sheridan writes, Anthony is making his attentions clear, but he’s not going public…

      Carmelo Anthony has told the Denver Nuggets he will not sign the nearly $65 million contract extension he has been offered unless he is traded to the New York Knicks, a source told ESPN.com on Sunday.

      And while other franchises might be able to make better offers, Anthony will not agree to sign anywhere long-term unless he is dealt to New York, according to the source, who has been privy to private discussions between Anthony, his representatives and the Nuggets organization.

      So who is releasing this information? One would think that to be “privy to private discussions,” the source would have to be a part of Anthony’s camp or a member of the Nuggets. I don’t think that the team would leak this info unless they want to prepare the fan base for a less-than-fair-value trade. More likely, this is Carmelo greasing the wheels for a trade to the Big Apple by putting pressure on the organization to swing a deal.

      For what it’s worth, the Denver Post has sources that refuted Sheridan’s claims:

      A source told ESPN.com that Anthony will sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension only if he’s traded to the Knicks. But on Sunday afternoon, multiple sources refuted this alleged ultimatum to The Denver Post.

      The same piece has a quote from Ujiri that sums it up:

      “I have a special relationship with the kid. It’s been a joy. In your mind, you wish it was different, but the situation is what it is. Yes, I love (Melo) to death, and sometimes you wish it was different. But I have to do my job.”

      “…but the situation is what it is.”

      That pretty much says it all. It looks like ‘Melo will be a Knick (or maybe a Net) by the end of February.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Video of Jets’ strength coach tripping Dolphins player

      December 13, 2010 /

      I wrote about this incident in my six-pack of observations on the Dolphins-Jets game but as soon as I found the video I wanted to post it.

      This has to be one of the most unprofessional and classless moves I’ve seen in the NFL. This moron is the head strength and conditioning coach for a professional football team and he decides to sideswipe an unsuspecting player, who gets hurt in the process. So in essence, he helps the players avoid injuries throughout the week and then injuries an opposing player come Sundays. Well done, jackass.

      Since the incident, Sal Alosi has issued an apology (from ESPN.com):

      “I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment,” Alosi said in a statement. “My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for. I spoke to Coach [Tony] Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off. I have also apologized to Woody [Johnson], Mike [Tannenbaum] and Rex [Ryan]. I accept responsibility for my actions as well as any punishment that follows.”

      Thanks to Mark Sanchez and the rest of the Jets’ offense being just as embarrassing as Alosi’s decision-making, the Dolphins got the last laugh in the end. With their 10-6 win, they handed the Jets their second-straight loss and are now back above .500. It’s a long-shot, but Miami could still make the playoffs if they win out. They host the Lions and Bills over the next two weeks before going on the road to play the Patriots in Week 17. If New England has the top spot in the NFC wrapped up by then, they may rest starters and Miami could get a cheap win (just as the Jets did last year when they beat the Bengals’ backups in Week 17).

      It’s not unrealistic to think the Dolphins couldn’t finish 10-6 and make the playoffs.

      External Sports, NFL, Video

      Fantasy Fallout, Week 14: Where we have heroes…and we have goats

      December 13, 2010 /
      JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 12: Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders breaks the tackle of Sean Considine of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game at EverBank Field on December 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

      Ah, Week 14…

      In most leagues, this is the week where all the teams good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to get a bye duke it out in the first round of the playoffs. There’s generally no room for error due to the quality of the competition so every surprise performance and every disappointing outing is magnified.

      Here’s a look at a few heroes and a few goats from Sunday’s action.

      HEROES

      Darren McFadden
      In a must win game? How does 209 total yards and three TDs suit you? DMC went absolutely nuts against Jacksonville, scoring on a 67-yard pass, and runs of 51- and 36-yards. And believe it or not, the Jags were playing well enough of late for this to be considered a bad matchup. With the Broncos and Colts on deck at home over the next two weeks, McFadden is primed for a BIG finish.

      Tom Brady
      Deion Branch
      Last week, I had a 30-point lead with just Brady to go against a pretty good Jets defense and lost because Brady scored 32. This week, in another league, I figured Brady might have a mediocre game in wintry Chicago conditions in another bad matchup. Yeah…no…369 yards, two TDs. Nothing can stop Brady right now, not even a blizzard. As for Branch, do you think he’s happy being out of Seattle. The guy is on fire right now — he has four TDs in the last three weeks.

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      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

      Eagles beat Cowboys but Vick is still taking too many hits

      December 13, 2010 /
      ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

      Here are a six-pack of observations on the Eagles’ slim 30-27 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.

      1. Michael Vick is still taking too many shots.
      I don’t know who asked the question, but Cris Collinsworth relayed a comment by Vick that was interesting. Vick said that if he was defending himself, he would do what the Texans and Cowboys did the past two weeks: keep hitting him. Even he knows the best way to stop him is for the defense to deliver as many clean shots whether he’s in or out of the pocket. While he went on to complete 16 of his 26 pass attempts for 270 yards and two touchdowns, he threw two interceptions (one wasn’t his fault as the catchable pass went off his receiver’s hands and into the arms of a defender) and 151 of those 270 yards came on two plays (a 60-yard reception to DeSean Jackson on the first play of the game and a 91-yard touchdown to Jackson at the start of the fourth quarter). On a whole, Vick wasn’t spectacular and you have to wonder if the pounding he’s been taking is starting to add up. His sizzling numbers in the middle of the season were bound to drop, but he’s looking mortal with each passing week. Andy Reid did a better job of getting LeSean McCoy more involved on Sunday night. But he and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg still have work to do when it comes to figuring out a way to protect Vick.

      2. Jackson is electric but he needs to mature.
      DeSean Jackson once again showed how incredible a player he is by racking up 210 yards and one touchdown on just four catches. As previously mentioned, two of his catches went for 151 yards and the play he made in the fourth quarter on his 91-yard touchdown reception was thrilling. But once again, he flashed his immaturity. On the 91-yard touchdown, he stopped inches short of the goal line, put his back to the end zone and as defenders were closing in, he laid back with his arms outstretched and fell backwards into the end zone. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth debated whether or not he should have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct (he was), but it really doesn’t matter. The gesture was unnecessary and while I know the kid is just having fun, what’s the harm in racing into the end zone, flipping the ball to the ref and celebrating with your teammates sans the penalty? This is the third time since high school where he’s played around at the goal line and with the playoffs coming up, it would be nice to see DeSean kick this nasty habit. He’s such a good player; I would hate to see his antics at the goal line take away from his talent.

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      External Sports, NFL

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