Olympic Tennis Rundown

With the tennis part of the Olympics over, a tear will not streaming from eye as it is a proud time to be British.

Andy Murray definitely stole the show this week with a dramatic gold medal win in the Men's event while Serena Williams backed up her recent Wimbledon title to storm to the gold medal yesterday.

S. Williams partnered her sister to claim another gold on the women's doubles while another American pair of sibling, Bob and Mike Bryan, took the gold in the Men's doubles. The mixed doubles almost saw another British gold medal but the Belrussian pair of Miryni and Azarenka squeaked it out in the third.

Home Advantage too much for World No. #1

The Gold medal match-up saw Britain's very own Andrew Murray to take on Swizerland's Roger Federer. Federer seemed a little out of sorts after his 4 hour and 27 minute win over Juan Martin Del Potro on friday. The Brit managed to win in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

"It's number one for me- the biggest win of my life," said Murray. He also commented that, "this was the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final." I am sure we all remember the tears streaming down the World No. #4's face as the loss in the Wimbledon final kicked in.

Great Britain has not won a gold medal since 1920.

Total Domination from Serena

Serena Williams deserved nothing but Gold for her performance. She dropped only one game in dismissing World No. #1, Maria Sharapova yesterday.

Her 24 winners which included 10 aces are just a few stats that typified this match. Sharapova only hit 10 unforced but was unable to take advantage of the she two break points she earned.

Williams started the way she wanted to finish winning the first nine games.

Serena then partner her sister to bring home a second tennis gold medal for the USA. The 2008 Gold Medal winners won 6-4, 6-4 against the Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka.

Top Seeds Clinch Other Events

The Men's doubles saw another American pair win gold. The Bryan brothers came through a tough final against the French to claim victory. Their 6-4, 7-6 victory was splendid considering Jo Tsonga and Michael Llodra are very dangerous on the grass.

The mixed doubles was another very exciting match. The British duo of Andy Murray and Laura Robson were taking on the top seeds, Belarus. Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi were came out very slowly as the Brits took a 4-0 lead and soon became the first set 6-2.

The Belarussians took very little time to reply as they forced a Champion's tiebreak after taking the second set 6-3.

The third set tiebreak was very tight. From 5-5, to 6-6 it could have gone either way. However, the Belarussians managed to steal a mini break and Mirnyi held both serving points to go up 9-6.

Despite Robson's best efforts after holding both of her serves, Azarenka served out the match. Great Gold for Belarus and lets not forget a day to remember for Andy Murray.

The Olympic's tennis event was nothing but brilliant this year. Wimbledon did a great job of hosting the top players and we saw many records breaking.

Keep it here for the US Open series and the US Open itself coming up. It is a great time to love some tennis.

Here we go AGAIN!

Watching the Olympics tennis on television has been amazing. Today has certainly hit dangerous levels of awesomeness. Yes I can now say awesomeness because I am back in America. With matches that seem to be going and going and going and going. We have finally got our gold medal match-up and low and behold it, its a repeat of the Wimbledon final.

Fantastic Federer and Marvellous Murray

Andy Murray ousted Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-5 just after Federer created yet more history and beat Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in the longest Olympics match in its history. Federer's amazing win is a mere testimony to truly how confident he feels these days. The World No. #1 looked a little edgy after breaking serve at 12-12 only to be broken to love immediately back. The Swiss Maestro managed to edge Del Po despite being up 0-40 a few games before. Federer hit an incredible 64 winners which included 24 aces. Murray gave a very impressive performance to beat Djokovic. The former World No. #1 did not play a bad match but Murray just managed to step it up each set when up 6-5. The 'Serbanator' seemed to be in the match the whole time but was outclassed in my opinion.

Too soon?

A repeat of the Wimbledon final just one month after it all ended in tears for Murray might be too soon. However, here are a few reasons to be optimistic.

1. This is only a three set match

Murray has a good record against Fed just over three sets. Despite the big occasions always going Roger's way, this affair being only three sets has to be a positive.

2. Federer has to be exhausted

Federer has just played the longest match in Olympic history. He has to be tired physically and mentally. If Murray can make him dig deep again, the Swiss might not have anything left.

3. Murray's performance at Wimbie started off GREAT!

Lets not forget that Murray won the first set and really should have won the second set back in July. His tactics of attacking to the Fed forehand was working effectively; especially when finishing the points. I think Murray has a better shot than he did a month ago despite the win. Murray could see De Ja Vu and that will affect his performance but he is tough and his confidence has never been higher. This will be a great Gold Medal match-up.

Super Sunday at Wimbledon

The Sunday before Wimbledon has never meant anything for me. My day was pretty well planned out with seeing my old coach at Wimbledon and then watching England play Italy. Despite what England did, (I wont repeat it again), my old coach managed to get me a player's pass for the whole championships. This player's pass allowed me to go anywhere so join me on my tour behind the greatest tennis tournament in the world.

Rolling like a Big Shot

Sunday's day turned from a simple lunch to living up with some big shots. As well as brushing past Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer; I managed to have a little conversation with Patrick Rafter. Being inside the player's bit at the practise courts allowed me to really see how players warm-up and prepare. Most players were loosening up for the next, however Nadal was perfecting his grass-court game for three hours against Feliciano Lopez and Kevin Anderson. It was amazing to see him be so focused on meticulous about everything compared to Djokovic and Murray who were more relaxed. The difference between the top players and how they prepare has always been intriguing. What was then even funnier was the player's eatery. I grabbed some pasta which I got to design myself. Robin Haase actually asked for the same thing which was put a little pride into my lunch-choosing ability. I walked past a table of Janko Tipsarevic, Milos Raonic and Jarkko Niemenen where 'Tipsy' was ripping Niemenen apart for being Finish. It was just a bit of banter but great to see. My day ended with a great conversation on the balcony in regards to performance coaching from my old coach, who coaches Jamie Lee Hampton among others.

Tuesday: Time for the Test

With my player's pass on my chest and some blue tape all over my left shoulder (damaged cartilage a few weeks ago); I was ready to brace the crowds of SW 19.

Tuesday boded some good matches on the order of play. I managed to sit and watch Jesse Levine on an outside court. He managed to beat Karol Beck in four sets. There is something about watching two people on the outside courts battle it out for money and ranking points that really gives out the grand slam spirit. It is all good watching Nadal win in straight sets but the hard work, sweat and tears are always found on the outside courts. Great to watch. After that match, I decided to grab some lunch and go to the practise courts. I was treated at the practise courts with Murray warming up with Jamie Baker, David Ferrer, Gasquet and Tsonga hitting. The two hour stint I spent there was capped off by watching Novak Djokovic and Giles Simon play some practise points. From there I went on a little British hunt. Watching the Brits almost make it at Wimbledon seems to be a tradition. However, Johanna Konta showed great fight to push Christina McHale deep into the third set before only just losing. I then moved on to Court 14 to see James Ward. Ward was having a topsy turvy match. After losing the first set to Pablo Andujar, he won the second 6-0, lost the third and claimed the fourth 6-3. The final set started badly as he lost his serve early but claimed a break back before showing some good self-belief and managed to win. He will be rewarded with a match against Mardy Fish on Thursday. What started out as a great day ended in rain, of course. However, it was great to see everything and hang around some top players. Amazing to see how well they cope with losing, I have to strangely admit that. All photos were taken by myself. To keep hear any more comments from myself, follow me at twitter

Robson and Watson fly British Flag in Eastbourne

Eastbourne, SUSSEX- The AEGON International Open in Eastbourne has seen some big seeds fall and yet the Brits fly high.

Contenders Curse!

The day started with top seed, Agnieszka Radwanska, losing 6-2, 6-4 to the talented Bulgarian, Tsvetlana Radwanska. Petra Kvitova followed suit as she was also beaten very comfortably in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, by fellow left hander, Ekaterine Makarova. Next up saw Carolina Wozniacki take on the American Christine Mchale. The Dane had a dreadful start as she only managed to claim one game and lost the first 6-1 in only 35 minutes. Despite squandering a break of serve lead and then a 6-2 lead in the second set tiebreak, she managed to close the breaker 9-7. Mchale did not seemed phased though and broke early to claim a great win.

Brits show Composure

It then looked towards the British interest and with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson in action, we were all licking our lips at the opportunity to watch them both on court 2. Robson was up first. After doing a great job of qualifying, she came up against 49th-ranked, Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez. The Spaniard had a very interesting style of game and quickly established her tactics of coming forward and slicing her forehand. Sanchez's experience claimed her the first set as Robson became frustrated and made too many errors. However, a quick turn around in the second saw Robson, "keep her at the back." This allowed the Brits' power ground shows to dominate. She claimed the second set 6-2 and up 4-1 Sanchez called on her coach but there was nothing she could do to stop Robson. She wrapped up the match with a 6-2 effort and left the court with a big smile. Heather Watson managed to claim a wildcard for the event and she meets Greta Ann, a Hungarian qualifier, in the first round. Watson managed to claim a break in both sets and eased to victory 6-4, 6-4.

Querrey retires Early

The pick of the first round Men's matches has to have been Roddick and Querrey's match up. Both men had different pathes at Queens with Roddick's early exit while Querrey went to the semis. The match begun very slowly for Querrey. The much expected upset did not even have time to appear as Querrey retired at 5-2 down due to back issues. Roddick, who is craving match practice just before Wimbledon, quickly made his way to the practice court afterwards to help him. He will play Jeremy Chardy next. In other news, Kohlschreiber, Istomin, Darcis and Lu all progressed.

Thomas bites the hand that fed him

Demaryius Thomas has recently explained on a SportsRadioInterviews.com that he is happy to see Peyton Manning come in due to Tebow's poor play. Interesting considering Tebow at quarterback doubles his statistics in one season.

Tim Tebow was not necessarily the best quarterback to ever play in the NFL, we all know that. However, he did some incredible things with the Bronco's last season even though you do have to give credit to their amazing defence.

Thomas, who has a lot to be thankful of Tebow in my opinion, also extended a group opinion that,

"Everything on ESPN was all about Tim... That bothered some players too."

I think Thomas forgets that without Tebow he was not a relevant wide receiver.

Tebow- Thomas... Big Play Potential

I will be the first person to agree that Tebow threw some serious melons in his days at Denver. The ball was not clean and he did miss some open receivers. However, when you look at Kyle Orton and what he brings to the table, you have a decent quarterback. Thomas was not getting the ball last season under Orton, Tebow comes in and gives Thomas some plays to remember. Obviously, Thomas was not criticising Tebow when he threw him a 80 yard bomb to beat the Steelers in the post season.

The man from Georgia Tech has a very big mouth. His 2010 stats sit at around 280 yards and 2 TDs whereas in 2011 he went to 551 yeards and 4 touchdowns. Thomas was injured for a part of the season but without Tebow he was irrelevant on this offense.

Thomas should shut up personally. He was not a factor before Tebow, he might not be a factor afterwards. In all fairness, if I was Peyton Manning then I would not be happy with a WR criticising an old QB. Manning might develop a better relationship with Eric Decker, which seems to be a better option in terms of speed and hands.

Thomas seemed to forget that he is not a Top 10 NFL receiver yet. He has no right to criticise the man who put him on ESPN and he needs to be quiet.

Tebow not in control of ESPN

As for his ESPN comments. First off, I do not think Thomas' team-mates would appreciate his grouping that people were mad at everything being about Tebow. Tim fully noted in interviews consistently that he thanked his defence for being awesome. Anyone who knows anything about football knows that Denver's success was due to the stout defence and Tebow's success was also about a good running game. For Thomas to speak for the whole Denver squad when he is still very young in this league seems very arrogant.

As for Tebow being all over ESPN, who's fought was that. Tebow did not ask to be glorified nor was he glorified all the time. He took a lot of stick on ESPN as well as praise. People were always talking about him not being long-term. Not the kind of stuff you want to hear if your taking a team to the play-offs. Tebow did not crave attention.

Thomas is blaming Tebow for things he cannot control and should realise that he was nothing if Tebow was not there. Tebow made Thomas and it would not surprise me to see Manning and Decker link up together. All I know is that I will not draft Thomas in Fantasy Football with comments like that.

My Man Skip Bayless says it all.

Manning chooses Denver while Seattle snap up Matt Flynn

After a lot of discussion, it seems the top two quarterbacks on the free-agency market have finally been signed. Peyton Manning signed for Denver yesterday while Matt Flynn decided to move to the west coast and became a Seahawk.

NFL's worst conferences get boasts

The addition of these new quarterbacks into the AFC West and NFC West were definitely tactical decisions. These two conferences are easily the weakest in their own divisions.

Elway and Fox get their traditional quarterback

From Day One of Tim Tebow's career it has been clear that the important men in Denver have always a typical quarterback; strange coming from Elway who was himself a quarterback kind of like Tebow.

Although what Tebow does in response is unsure, a man who took a very poor team into the semi-finals of the AFC, I am sure he will find a role and the rumour is that Jacksonville are already interested. I still think that Manning should have gone to Tennessee but he has guaranteed himself a play-off place after going into a weak division.

Manning's signing comes after a lot of speculation. Although contract negotiations have not been agreed, it seems that a 5-year, $95 million deal. Very expensive for someone who might end his career after one big hit.

Most Broncos fans will be ecstatic by this signing, however I would still be unsure due to his physical situation.

Flynn will need to be a 'Seahawk' to be successful

It was no stranger to see Tavarris Jackson on the the medical list week after week in Seattle. If your wondering why then just watch a game to see a poor offensive line.

Flynn's decision to take the deal in Seattle is a strange one. I hope he is good at handling pressure because he will be chased consistency in his first few games to see if he can handle a starting position in the NFL.

Although his conference is also very weak, Flynn's success might be measured by his offensive line rather his ability which is a shame. He does however have an inspired Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and players like Sidney Rice and Zach Miller to throw the ball to; he definitely has a chance.

Flynn signed a three-year deal worth $26 million with $10 million being guaranteed. Flynn was easily the second best option after Peyton Manning and the Seahawks have made a good acquisition. Hopefully he is the man that Seattle have needed for a long and allows them to focus on their offensive line in the draft.

It is great to see two 'weaker' teams sign these big players. I am probably over-critical of Manning but its not because I am not a fan, I do not buy into his physical condition after signing that huge contract with the Colts and then not playing all season long.

Only time will tell.

Big Free Agency Moves in NFL so far....

Some of the biggest moves of this off-season have not always been the signings but mostly the releases. The salary cap change is making teams re-arrange their big contracts leaving some big names out there as free agents.

Colts re-build might take a few years at this rate

The Indianapolis Colts have pledged to re-build their team ever since they agreed to let Manning go. Although they will bring in Andrew Luck in the draft, they are certainly not offering too much help for the rookie.

The Colts have already released Dallas Clark, Curtis Painter, Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett and Melvin Bullit. They are even shopping Dwight Freeney as well. If I am Andrew Luck, I am not a happy person. I guess it means they will have to do some great things in the draft; especially defensively as they couldn't stop a high school team from scoring last year.

The Oakland Raiders have gone nuts in my opinion. After the new general manager fired Hue Jackson and hired a very inexperienced defensive co-ordinator as the head coach, Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie continue to release starters from last year. Oakland's defensive was very poor in 2011-2012 and very little options with a large wage bill and few picks in the draft. So their decision to get rid of both starting corner-backs and key linebacker, Kameron Wimbley, is a scary thought. Although Dennis Allen is a defensive man, I hope he knows what he is doing. Today they signed two experience players in the figure of corner-back Ron Bartell and guard Brisiel. Bartell could not even make the St. Louis Rams defensive backs; not a good thing.

Kansas City have snapped up Stanford Routt and Kevin Boss already.

Wide Receivers make BIGGEST Deals so Far

After Detroit made Calvin 'Megatron' Johnson the moist expensive NFL player ever (he signed for 132 million), it seems that it sparked off a wide receiver fury.

Chicago's signing of Brandon Marshall puts him and Cutler back together again. Marshall had one good season in Miami when Matt Moore took over. He should return to form with a gun slinger back on his side. 49ers did a great job of acquiring Mario Manningham in my opinion. It is exactly what Alex Smith needs after a great year. A shame that he might get shafted for Peyton Manning after taking his teams to the semi-final of the Super Bowl.

The Patriots have also made some nice moves, stocking up on wide receivers. In a strange move, Bill Bellichek signed Anthony Gonzalez from the Colts. Gonzalez has not played a game due to injury for some time. They also signed a big wide receiver in Brandon Lloyd; something that everybody demanded that Brady lacked in his Super Bowl loss. Lloyd once again gets to join his BFF, Josh McDaniels.


Overall, the moves this off-season look exciting. There are a lot of great players on the market so do not miss a thing and keep your eyes here as I will dissect most of the moves until the draft.

Lets do a little NFL Predictions for Week 13 Shall we?

So this is it. After choosing not to go out on Saturday night and watching the SEC Championship game between Georgia and LSU, I thought I would take my hand at predicting every match coming up.

I know I missed the Thursday game. Probably luckily I did because, as you can read under fantasy football section, I thought Vince Young would have a nice day and yet he threw four interceptions. He still ended up with 7 points which shows that he has fantasy potential.

Anyway, here are my predictions. Purely based on winning and losing. Let me know what you think.

Carolina versus Tampa Bay- We are not starting off easy folks. Two teams that defences are poor and should allow for a lot of running the ball. The Bucs (4-7) have not won for 5 games while Carolina are 3-8 and coming off a win against the Colts. Although I enjoy Newton, I think Tampa Bay have enough to win being at home and having LaGarrette Blount on their team.

Cincinnati versus Pittsburgh- The Steelers have too much at home. Although rookies Dalton and Green are having brilliant seasons, they have never seen anything like this before. Expect a Steelers' win but the Bengals will fight and it could be tighter than expected.

Atlanta versus Houston- If Matt Schuab was playing then I would give it straight to the Texans. However, Matt Ryan and the Falcons are showing some serious class. With only one bad loss this year and not having lost on the road since week 4, you have to say Falcons will win. T.J. Yates under centre should be successful but he also will be afraid and nervous; especially with the Falcons being 2nd best team in limiting running backs.

New York Jets versus Washington- Although Rex Grossman has offered the Redskins a new life this season, Darrelle Revis and Cromartie as corner backs has to worry Rex. He has limited recieving options and it will allow the line backers to focus upon stoping Roy Helu Jr. Even with an inconsistent Jets' offence, the Jets win.

Indianapolis versus New England- NOT EVEN WORTH DISCUSSING. PATRIOTS WIN


Oakland at Miami- Well this pits my team (Raiders) against a team that a few of my friends support so I'm going to give logical information and then personally say OAKLAND WILL WIN. Raiders run the ball well, the Dolphins stop the run well. Dolphins have a poor pass defense, Raiders have limited receivers. The Dolphins offence is a on a roll and doing well while the Raiders defence had a huge game last week. I am saying Oakland wins purely based on my feelings rather than logic, sorry has to be done. Go Raiders.

Denver versus Minnesota- Adrian Peterson is out. I like Ponder as a QB and what he is doing. However, the Broncos are playing awesome and really have Tebow playing the way he did in college. With a great running game and a strong defence, Denver Wins.


Tennessee at Buffalo- What can you say about this game. The match-up of two teams that looked to have great seasons and yet have struggled. The Bills' defence is in such disarray that you have to think that players like Chris Johnson, Nate Washington and Damien Williams will be enough for the Titans to win. However, Buffalo are good at home and looked a little better last week. Titans win due to a better defence.

Kansas City visit Chicago- Even with Hanie at QB, Chicago wins. Matt Forte will have a nice day against a poor Chiefs run defence (26th). Kyle Orton at QB might look like a save but I do not see it, sorry Chiefs fans.

Baltimore at Cleveland- The Ravens should win. I mean they are clearly the better team. Then again the Ravens lost to Jacksonville and Tennessee so it should be a comfortable Ravens win. If they lose their concentration, give the ball to Ray Rice like 4 times again, then expect the unexpected but logically the Ravens  have a lot more than the Browns.


Dallas versus Arizona- Cowboys win. Romo should take this defence apart and with DeMarco Murray running the ball so well, too much fire power. The return of Kevin Kolb will help the Cardinals, but not enough I am afraid.


Green Bay at New York Giants- Nothing seems to be able to stop Aaron Rodgers right now. Even with no running game, I do not see Eli Manning being able to do enough to win; especially after seeing what Drew Brees did to this defence on MNF. Green Bay wins again.


St. Louis at San Francisco- 49ers are on fire this season. Alex Smith and Frank Gore on top of a great defence will equal another win for Jim Harbaugh's impressive first season. St. Louis cannot compete at their level, maybe next year. 49ers win.


Detroit at New Orleans- After seeing what Drew Brees can do on Monday Night Football, you have to start to take the Saints serious. Even if their defence is not playing as great, that amazing win will allow confidence to flow strongly through the veins of each Saints player. Detroit have a hurt Kevin Smith and a suspended Suh, Megatron should have a huge game through. Saints win.


San Diego at Jacksonville- Two teams that are having problems. The Jags have no Head Coach while Norv Turner's job looks a little shaky as well. I think the Chargers will win this. However, expect a high dossage of MJD and him to easily top 100 yards rushing. 


That is what I think for this week. Check back on Wednesday for a review of Week 13 and we will see if I am right. Good luck to everyone on fantasy football.

Thursday Night Football is Back! Fantasy Sleepers for Week 10

Week 10 brings around Thursday night football. Nothing more glorious than having to give another whole night to an NFL game. With Oakland playing San Diego we should expect a nice offensive battle. My fantasy football article this week has been a little rushed due the early game but definitely worth a look if you are struggling.

I myself am really in need of a flex performer and with people like Jonathan Stewart, Mark Ingram, Jackie Battle and Chris Ogbonnaya. I have no idea who I am starting as of now, all I do know is that Ingram will be probably be rested due to the Saints' bye week and Chris Ivory back. Battle has been so disappointing that I might drop him on principal, Stewart is a complete lottery with Cam Netwon being able to run the ball better than both Caroline running backs in the red zone and Ogbonnaya did not have a nice start last week but the Browns have no other choices it seems.

Hope this helps.

Carson Palmer (OAK): Last week we saw something very special from Palmer; he threw the ball a ton (332 yards) with 3 touchdowns (but also 3 interceptions). The interceptions will slowly fade away in my opinion. He is throwing the ball to Ford and Moore who have good hands and some serious speed. The reason I like Palmer more this week is because the battle between San Diego is going to be a shoot out. The Chargers' defence is currently ranked 7th against fantasy running backs and only 21st against the pass. Expect Palmer to throw and the more time he gets the better he will become.

Chris Ogbonnaya (CLE)/ Jackie Battle (KCC): I know I have just moaned about these two above in my introduction but this is what you have to remember. The Browns are a run first offence, McCoy is a much better game manager and I hope that the Browns give Ogbonnaya another chance to give it a go and against a weak Rams run defence, expect some work. Also, the only other guy the Browns have is very old. With Battle you have to look at it like this. The Denver run defence is not bad (ranked 15th) but they do give up points to running backs. Champ Bailey has and will shut down Dwayne Bowe again and the Chiefs have no one else to run the ball. Battle will not do brilliantly but you could do worse.

Denarius Moore (OAK): To add to Palmer's reasons, he saw 12 targets last week. This rookie has big play ability and safe hands. Palmer will throw the ball and lots of targets means Palmer likes this. You should also take into account that with Heyward-Bey missing (not sure why) so many snaps that no one else will line up along side Jacoby Ford. Moore has safe hands and he has an opportunity once again to cement himself in an offence that will pass a lot.

Torrey Smith (BAL): Smith obviously had a huge catch last week at the end of the game for a touchdown, trust earned? Not completely but remember Flacco likes to go deeper. No one is faster than Smith and with a very poor Seattle secondary, expect at least one long break away touchdown, maybe even two.

Laurent Robinson (DAL): Everyone take a look at the man who is taking out from Miles Austin. Robinson has had 5 catches in the past two games. Dez Bryant will get all of the attention from the Bills, that is not saying much I am afraid. I do not see Robinson having a huge game but Dallas do like to pass the ball in the end zone and with the rookie Murray running the ball so well, Buffalo's defence will have to key on Murray and Bryant so Robinson should be open.

Marcedes Lewis (JAC): Soon Gabbert has to realise that he has an incredibly talented tight end. Although they will not throw the ball much due to MJD, Gabbert might start feeling confident in a lovely match up with the horrendous Colts. I think Gabbert and Lewis could connect this week.

Jake Ballard (NYG): Come on people. This is a guy who you need on your bench at least. He is getting a lot of red-zone targets in a strong pass first offence. With Nicks a little shaken up, Ballard is getting a lot of looks. In the past 5 games he has had 3 touchdowns and averages nearly four receptions a game. PICK HIM UP!

Rams D/ST: I know what you are thinking, not the Rams. But, a match up against the against Cleveland is a beautiful one. The Browns struggle to run the ball and struggle to pass the ball. Even if McCoy does not throw many interceptions, Ogbonnaya may fumble again and the Browns have given up double digit fantasy points to  opposing defences for the past 5 weeks.

I hope this helps. There maybe be some contradictions written here, welcome the way my brain works. For some strange reason I think Reggie Wayne will have a nice day on Sunday, no reason for it.
Good luck.

Paris Surface Slow: Give us back our Fast Surfaces ATP

So I woke up a little tired this morning. After some reading, prayer and abdominal work out I realised that it was the start of the last Masters' event. Paris Indoors. Known for its crazy Parisian crowd, strange results and this year the added pressure/excitement with three qualification spots still available was going to make it the best ever. While watching the first match between Youzhny and Kohlschreiber I noticed the ball sitting up. It was then it hit me, the surface was slow.

What has tennis become? Wimbledon is the second slowest grand slam. The grass season is as small and insignificant as it can be and now Paris Indoors is slow? The Masters event where the big serves and big ground strokes are now replaced with players like Milos Raonic kicking his first serve and grinding out rallies. What has happened tennis fans? Why do we crave more and more rallies?

The ATP Tour is full of tournaments for rallying. Full of slow clay courts, slow hard courts and now slow grass courts. I always thought that at least we had the few indoor tournaments at the end of the year that had some speed. Some excitement. Some power. Now they have taken that from me. Its time for a change people.

If we want rivalries such as Sampras vs Agassi or Federer vs Nadal to exist and flourish then we should have change in surface speeds. The best player in the world was usually someone who could play on a multiple of surfaces. When all the surfaces playing similarly then we are not truly testing the full extent of the talents of these players.

So why have quicker surfaces? The thing with quicker surfaces is that the points are shorter. Players hit more winners, they get to the net more and their talent really shows through. I am not against defensive-minded players or their style; in fact I think they add a lot to the game. But when surfaces become slower they take away from the "defenders" ability to be fully tested when they have to defend on a fast surface. Give the people back our fast surfaces ATP. If the event at London has slow courts then I might cry.

Anybody disagree?

Tebowing- is it light hearted or down right offensive?

The term "Tewbowing" means to go on one knee and pray; usually it is used in a celebratory way when Tebow did it (and has done it since High School) for when he scored a touchdown. However, recent mocking of the celebratory act has caused a lot of concern.

Before we really enter the issues behind this, lets look at the facts. First of all, Tim Tebow was not the first person to pray on one knee as a celebration. It has been around the NFL for years and been popular for a long time. Secondly, Tebow has been doing this since his High School days, it is not a new thing but has gone national recently due to Tebow suddenly starting. Lastly, Tim Tebow explained that he was not offended by the Stephen Tulloch's mock celebration when he sacked Tebow. Now let the controversy begin.

Tim Tebow has always been very proud of his Christian faith. Whether it is praying on the field, saying it in press conferences or wearing a Bible verse on his face paint. he is very proud of his faith. For that you have to respect him. This is why. He is not fake about it. The amount of people I have seen make the crucifix on his chest before a punt return or point up to the sky when he has scored a goal and yet does not follow Christianity the way he or she should. I actually use to make a crucifix on my chest at the start of each tennis match; this was only for luck as I was not a Christian at that time. So respect him dedicated and true to his faith. Secondly, Tebow's faith makes him stand out as a professional athlete because it has led him to be such a nice guy and helping a lot with charity. I hear some people annoyed that he is promoting it everywhere. First off, he is not preaching at people but showing his faith and people who get annoyed at that are being annoyed for the wrong reasons. Tebow does so much charity work and is an excellent role models for children. Sports writers and presenters are mad at Tebow showing his faith yet it has made him a good person. Makes no sense to me. Respect the man for being dedicated to what he says, backing up his actions and ultimately living a self-less lifestyle.

Now, when it comes to mocking Tebow's celebration, you find a very thin line. As ESPN already discussed, the Lions' players who mocked Tebow were only doing it to mock Tebow not God. People have explained that if he did not want it mocked then he should have done it. To those people I say that you are bias because when something as important as religion means so much to someone, then you should steer clear of it. "Give everything to the glory of God" is what the Bible says, Tebow is doing that. He is doing it in a harmless and humble way. This is the fine line. Even if the players are only mocking Tebow, it does not look that way to other people.

Lets look at the outer consequences of the mocking. I am sure that some people playing football would mock the celebration. But, is there a deeper meaning to it? Some children sitting at home could see that mocking Christian practises is normal. This leads to less seriousness taken about religion and lets be honest, if you are not serious about your purpose on this Earth then you probably should look into that. Taking this from a Christian point of view, I may sound bias. But certain things should not be mocked and religion is at the top of my list in my opinion. However, it isn't in the world's opinion and religion is mocked all the time. When people see top athletes doing it then it only promotes it to increase. After all, is being a Christian such a bad thing?

Lastly, if Christianity is what makes Tim Tebow such a good person off the field then why should it be mocked? Why are sports writers angry at someone who does great things for the world? He is not forcing his religion on anyone, you do have to read the Bible verses put on his face or be bothered by his celebrations, yet people choose to condemn someone for something that is only benefiting the world. Whether you are a Christian or not, I am sure we would all agree that Tebow's reputation is something that we would want more professional athletes to have rather than the stereotypical arrogant, spoilt and selfish fasard that exists today. You yourself can choose whether you make a connection between Tebow's good character and his beliefs, but think about the affect it has on children and their upbringing and that mocking something that makes a person do more for the less fortunate is wrong.

If Tebow had been Jewish or Muslim then it would be a complete uproar of commotion. The reason it has not been as big of a deal is because people seem to mock Christian practices all too often. When you think about it from this point of view, you see more of the destruction of the mocking. Before you make an opinion about this subject, think whether you want Tebow's life to be taken seriously or mocked. If his good nature and giving spirit is something you respect, then respect the thing that makes him a good person.

Fantasy Football: Time to talk "Bench"

With week 9 approaching it has probably hit you that you are now half way through your fantasy football season. From now on every place on your roster is important; especially the bench.

Today I would like to discuss a few players that are bothering you; whether its picking them up, dropping them, trading them or leaving them on your bench. I hope to provide some help for these important decisions.

Your bench is now more important than ever. As we have seen, even the best players can have poor fantasy football days. So, the reason these positions start becoming more important is because a good or a bad match up can be the difference between scoring an extra 10 points a week; for some leagues points for is the tiebreaker. Sit back and if your player is mentioned, think about his role on your team.

Quarterbacks
Colt McCoy(CLE) Verdict: Trade or Drop him
I very much doubt you will be able to trade anyone on the Browns' offence right now. McCoy was doing very well up until week 6. He hit mid-teen points total consistently. However, with the lack of a running-game, defences have been able to stop McCoy from throwing the ball. With two meetings with Baltimore and Pittsburgh still left, get rid of McCoy.
Carson Palmer(OAK) Verdict: Bench him for now.
We have not seen what Palmer can do at Oakland. Hue Jackson seems very confident that Palmer can do something special and with the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh you should be optimistic. After all, with a running game as good as Oakland's; receivers should be open more often. Heyward-Bey can stretch the field and Boss and 'The Housh' have possession potential. Keep him on your bench for the next two weeks and then decide whether to dump him or not. I think he can do a job but then again I am bias.

Running-Backs
Ryan Torrain(WAS): Verdict: Trade Him
He is a starting running back for an NFL team. His value is no stronger than it is now. TRADE HIM. I do not see Torrain doing anything special. In fact, unless you have Fred Davis I would look to get rid of all redskins' players. His next four matches are against the 1st (SF), 4th (MIA & DAL) and 7th (SEA). Trade him and try to get something for him.
Knowshon Moreno(DEN): Verdict: Drop Him
Moreno started last week. He had 14 carries for 69 yards. Moreno would be a great asset receiver out of the back field; yet John Fox keeps making Tebow throw the ball deep. Moreno gets hurt often  and the Broncos offence looks horrible. Also, remember that anything in the red zone Tebow will probably run in himself. To me, he is not worth a place on your bench because McGahee will be back soon and then he will go back to being useless. If you want to keep him until McGahee is back then I would understand.
Peyton Hillis(CLE): Verdict:Bench Him
I know what your thinking, he is hurt and has been for a long time. Yes, Hillis does have hamstring issues. Yes, he has not be a fantasy football star this season. However, I am betting that you took him high in your draft. You should also look at the fact that without Hillis the Browns have been horrible. My main reason not to drop him is this: if there is anybody who could come back to bite you, its Hillis. If your in the deciding match to go into the playoffs and you are against Cleveland's star player, you and I both would swallow slowly and loudly. Leave him on your bench.

Wide Receivers
Mike Williams (TB): Verdict: Trade Him
Does anyone remember last season when Mike Tomlin said he wanted to make Mike Wallace into a possession receiver. Not smart. This is exactly what has happened to Mike Williams. The Tampa Bay, rookie sensation of last year has changed. He has not had one 100 yard game and only had 1 touchdown. Unless the Bucs finally decide to use this champion in the red zone and stretch the field, he is merely a possession guy and not one that seems to be making catches in the red zone. What is worse is that Blount looks to be healthy again. I say trade him or trade him soon.
Plaxico Burress(NYJ): Verdict: Bench Him
Anyone who has just caught 3 touchdowns should be kept in your bench. Sanchez will need a huge target like Plaxico and the more he becomes a part of this offence, the more he will make a difference. His lack of yards is an issue, this is why he should be kept on your bench.
Eric Decker (DEN): Verdict: Trade him
If John Fox believes Tim Tebow will ever be a good pocket passer then he is nuts. Simple fact. I like Tebow, such a great guy but his recent form shows he is not an NFL QB. He could be the best wild cat QB in the game but that is to be seen. Decker is Denver's best receiver. Fact. However, a receiver is only as good as the man throwing him the ball (look at Brandon Marshall).

Tight Ends
Jared Cook(TEN): Verdict: Drop Him
Drop him with confidence. This guy has had a poor season considering his hype. He has had one game above 2 receptions, two games above 50 yards and only 2 touchdowns. With all of Tennessee's offensive problems with CJ2K not being able to run the ball and Kenny Britt hurt, we are all waiting for Cook to become a factor. Waiting, waiting and waiting. Don't wait until the end of the season.
Scott Chandler (BUF): Verdict: Bench or Trade Him
Oh Scott Chandler. Why is he always projected so lowly each week? because he is too much of a gamble to start. Look at the facts. He has only one game with more than 2 receptions. He has one game above 50 yards, (this was week1). He does have boom ability and his two games with two touchdowns are appealing. If you badly need a tight end then put him on your bench. If you have a legitimate tight end like Jermichael Finley, Jimmy Graham, Owen Daniels or a Patriots tight end then I say get rid of him.

Defences/ Special Teams
This section is done differently. Here we will discuss which defences should be chucked and which must be owned. You do not want to necessarily waste a bench spot with a defence.
Tennessee Titans: Verdict: Drop them
Yes, I have this defence on my roster for one of my leagues. I think that this defence could be a lot better than it seems especially with Cortland Finnegan. However, the Titans have been so erratic recently. They still have to play the Bills, Saints, Panthers, Falcons and the Bengals. These teams are offensively good and like to score points with few mistakes. Do not rely on the Titans.
Philadelphia Eagles: Verdict: Keep Them
The Eagles have had a slow start. They are not great at stopping the run. However, they have great punter returners in Desean Jackson and their pass defence looked legitimate against Dallas. Have faith in the Eagles, I believe they will pay off drafting them quite highly.
Cincinnati Bengals: Verdict: Keep Them, Pick them up
I am very surprised to see the Bengals only owned in 67% of leagues. The Bengals D has scored four touchdowns in the past three games. They have had double-figured scores for 4/8 weeks. Although they have to play Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice; they do get games against the Browns, Rams and Cardinals. This defence is better than people give them credit for and I wish I had them.
Kansas City Chiefs: Verdict: Maybe pick them up?
If you do want two defences. If you hold a defence like the Saints or Giants, then the Chiefs are a good pick up. Watching them against the Chargers we saw them stop the run and finally put some pressure on Phillip Rivers. Rivers still blew this defence for over 350 yards but in the right match up, they are worth a start in my opinion.

I hope this insight helps. Please seriously start looking at your bench and what positions you truly need. The waiver wire will become hotter and hotter as the season starts to end. Think about who your waiting on and good luck.

Chiefs and Chargers battle in NFC West Rivalry Match up on MNF

Monday Night Football will be treated to an NFC West rivalry match-up as the San Diego Chargers (4-2) visit the improving Kansas City Chiefs (3-3). The Chiefs will be looking to avenge a loss to the Chargers back in week 3.

Both teams have had completely different starts to the season. San Diego  find themselves on top of the NFC West after an inconsistent start, while the Chiefs have turned their season around after losing two key players in Jamal Charles and Eric Berry to find themselves riding a three game win streak.

The Chiefs’ recent victories have been due to more consistency from quarter back, Matt Cassel. Since the three losses, Cassel has a touchdown to interception ratio of 5-2, yet in the first three games he was 3-6. Cassel’s decision making has improved and his leadership skills are more evident. The former Patriot has also developed a strong relationship with free agent acquisition, Steve Breaston. Breaston has done a great job of establishing himself as the #2 wide receiver, alongside Dwayne Bowe. Cassel will have to rely upon Breaston due to a limited running game.

The San Diego Chargers on the other hand have a good start and are coming off a bye week. Phillip Rivers had led his team to a 4-2 start, however costly interceptions have stunned many around the league.

Phillip Rivers has already thrown seven interceptions in only six games; this includes two big interceptions two weeks ago against the New York Jets where the Chargers squandered a 21-10 lead. On top of River’s mistakes, Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert have combined for three fumbles.

THOUGHTS

 The bye week for San Diego came at the perfect time following the tough loss to the Jets. The Chargers have many key injuries so an extra week off will help heal some of those. Rivers will also have spent the week studying film and be raring to go and improve himself. He knows that if he can find his rhythm then he is one of the best quarter backs in the game.

San Diego still has a lot of players hurt. Antonio Gates and Ryan Matthews are probable, Malcolm Floyd is questionable and Matthew Tolbert is doubtful. This is a big problem for San Diego, mostly because it will allow Kansas City to focus purely on Vincent Jackson. In saying that though, Kansas City do not have anyone who can keep V-Jax quiet for the whole game so be sure to see Rivers and Jackson link up vertically a few times.

Kansas City will need to run the ball effectively. The Kansas City back field is littered with ineffective runners, however the emergence of Jackie Battle in the past two games has given them some life. Battle over the past two games is averaging over 5.5 yards per carry, the Chargers are 21^st against the run. If Cassel, Bow and Breaston want to be effective then the Chiefs are going to have to use Battle effectively to keep San Diego guessing. If the Chiefs can make the Chargers wary of the run then they have a real shot to pull of the upset.

This match-up presents a good chance for both sets of fans. This will be an opportunity for fans to really see if Kansas City has turned a corner or that their three victories were due to poor opponents. San Diego fans will be interested to see how the bye week has helped Rivers; they will be hoping to see Rivers on target even if injuries plague the Charger’s offense. Unless the Chiefs can run the ball well, I see the Chargers winning by at least a touchdown.

By Christopher Doerr

Week * Fantasy Football- Bye Week Replacements

With the Raiders, Packers, Jets, Falcons, Buccaneers and Bears on a bye week. You might be seeing some gaps in your fantasy football team. If you are, here are a few people to consider.

QB: John Beck (WAS)- The Redskins did lose their best receiver and their starting running back. This all ends up in favour for playing John Beck this week. After two starts, he is averaging over 14 points per game. Remember also that he has a rushing touchdown in both games and played against much better defences than the Bills have to offer. After all, the Bills are ranked 30th in both run and pass defence. Mike Shanahan might run the ball often though. Partly because they will want to keep the Bills' offence off the field and partly because they have lost a key member of their passing attack. The reason I like Beck is this. The running game will set up some play-action. The man taking Santana Moss' place is Anthony Armstrong. Armstrong has some serious speed and is likely to go deep down field often, Beck has a very strong arm- simple. I like Beck on Sunday. He is owned in only 4.5% of leagues.

QB:  Christian Ponder (MIN)- The rookie did very well last week. Having over 200 yards in your first start against the unbeaten Super Bowl Champs is impressive. Now the Panthers are terrible at stopping the run so expect a huge dose of AP. The Panthers will focus on trying to shut Adrian Peterson down, however they will not succeed. Even so, Ponder will get opportunities to play-action and his receivers should be open for big gains. He is owned in only 12% of leagues.

RB: Delone Carter (IND)- I know what your thinking, I am not touching the Colts offence. I agree with you. However, Carter had a great day last week against the Saints averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Carter is the goal line back as of now and the only promising thing coming out of the Colts. This is the spin, Curtis Painter is not doing well because he is being constantly pressured. This means that the Colts will want to run the ball more to take the pressure off of Painter. The Titans are 24th against the run and gave up over 200 yards to each of the Texans' running backs. Carter may not be quite as good as Ben Tate, but expect similar results. He is only owned in 30% of leagues and if your missing big players like Forte, McFadden or Turner then Carter is not a bad option.


WR: Antonio Brown (PIT)- Brown recently had a huge game and caught 7 catches for 102 yards but he was targeted a team-high 9 times. With Hines Ward hurt, Brown could become the new possession receiver that Roethlisberger needs. Mike Wallace will always be the deep threat. However, Wallace's recent touchdown catches have been long ones usually. Heath Miller will be needed to stop Big Ben from getting hurt, so Brown could become a big target which I believe could end up with Brown in the end zone. Roethlisberger has really been favouring the pass recently and the Patriots' pass defence will be completely focused upon Wallace, Brown is in store for a potential huge game. With all the Packer's receivers and the likes of Roddy White and Santonio Holmes on a bye, Brown is only owned in 17% of leagues. Worth a shout.

WR: Demaryius Thomas (DEN)- The reason I have chosen Thomas here is because he was targeted 10 times by Tebow last week and I have chosen him in my team. Yes he is very risky but 10 targets and he caught a great dramatic catch last week. Tebow will have confidence in him. You could do a lot worse than Thomas this week and he is owned only in 13% of leagues.

TE: Jake Ballard (NYG)- Now here is an exciting prospect. The Giants have replaced Kevin Boss with Jake Ballard. In the last three games Ballard has had 12 targets, 11 catches, 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. Eli Manning is always going to throw the ball and Miami's pass defence is 2nd worse against tight ends. It only takes one pass and he is in the end zone. Best of all he is owned in 7% of leagues. I actually think that Ballard could develop into a star for the rest of the season so think about it.

D/ST: Cincinnati Bengals/ New York Giants - With the Bears and Jets out, the Cowboys and Eagles playing each other, a pick-up defence is badly needed. The Bengals (owned in 59 %) are definitely your best fill ins. They play against a poor Seattle offence that could barely claw together 150 yards of offence last week; even if Tavarris Jackson is back, do not be concerned. The New York Giants have Justin Tuck back and are playing Matt Moore. the Dolphin's offensive line is struggling and they will continue to struggle against the Giants viscious front 4. The points potential for both defences are brilliant. Expect either one to give you a nice match-up.

Good luck and I feel confident about this week's tips. If you have any questions or would like an opinion on who to place, feel free to comment and I will answer as many as possible. Follow me on Twitter during the game for updates on my fantasy picks and comments.

Is it time for Munchak to blame Chris Johnson?

Chris Johnson's first three seasons have ranked him fourth all time among running backs with the most yards. In each of those three years he averaged five yards per carry. In the recent off-season, CJ2K waited out for a big contract that he felt like he deserved.

The season started slow for CJ2K. He had missed the whole of the pre-season and was carefully given more and more touches. After all, spending 56 million dollars on a player you want to keep him healthy. However in the recent game against the Texans, Johnson averaged 1.8 yard per carry and was out-performed by his backup. Johnson has rushed for 268 yards and a touchdown. Not quite quality worth 50 million.

Johnson's struggles have been blamed on the offensive line, lack of communication and even poor play calling. No one has blamed him. Is it time for Johnson to take responsibility? In my opinion, definitely.

The Titan's running-back commented after the game that, "I won't say that I'm the issue." Amazing. The man who wants a new contract and wont turn up to training camp. His greed has excelled his legs. Getting that huge pay off has led to arrogance and too much comfort.

Watching Johnson play you do not quite see that burst of speed, that claw for the extra yards that we use to. Ultimately I do not see the confidence in him. It would be nice to say that his lack of performance is because defences are focused in the run due to no passing game. But, Matt Hasselbeck has provided a new spark to the Titan's passing game and logically should open up lanes for Johnson. Even Nate Washington has become a big receiver after Kenny Britt went on IR.

I think it is time for Munchak to stop making excuses and covering Johnson's behind. Munchak responded to Johnson's comments on Sunday by saying, "I don't think he meant to say that he has stepped back and it's everyone else's problems." Did he not hear Johnson's comments? It is exactly what he said. Johnson was selfish when he held out for big money, selfish when he made negative comments on Twitter about the Titan's fans, and now he is selfish when there is a clearly an issue that he himself should own up to.

I would even go as far as to say that the reason the Titan's have not recently thrown the ball well is because teams are not worried about the run. Munchak has no choice but to stick by his multi-million dollar prized running back, but dropping him for a quarter or a game could help.

I do not buy into the idea that Johnson just wants money. He is an athlete. What he needs is a challenge. He needs to know that he is not guaranteed a starting place until he can handle it. Munchak would be doing everyone a favour by giving Javon Ringer the start or even split carries with CJ2K. It would also allow the fans to see Johnson fighting for his place back. The fans would be back on his side and the whole issue, whats wrong with CJ, would be over and Titans could potentially be play-off bound if they sort out this issue.

Fantasy Football Potential Explosions

Wow what a week. Carson Palmer finally gets the trade he wants and arrived at Oakland. Jerome Harrison was on his way to Philadelphia and then suddenly found out he had a brain tumour. He has recently had surgery and my prayers are with him and his family. Josh McDaniels has convinced the Rams that Brandon Lloyd will help Sam Bradford while Mike Sims-Walker returns to Jacksonville.

Most notably the Carson Palmer move was huge. I have had a lot of people tell me that they paid too much for him. Many people have also told me that Palmer is "not that much of an upgrade from Jason Campbell." So, people agree that it is an upgrade. As an Oakland fan I remain positive and this is why. Palmer took a big pay cut to join the Raiders. Nothing shows commitment like a pay cut in my opinion. The second reason I like this trade is that Palmer and Head Coach Hue Jackson have worked together in the past. This should lead to a settling in quicker. The last reason to stay positive is that Palmer brings experience to the Raiders' shaky pass offence. Not sure Oakland Coliseum knows what that looks like. Overall, you have a guy who will want to prove himself to everyone and has a familiar friend as a Head Coach. Expect big things this season.

Palmer could cost Jackson his next two first round picks. That is a lot for a 21-year-old. The only positive about is that Coach Jackson is clearly happy with his team for the next few years. He is 4-2 as a Head Coach and we should all trust him. We should also be very happy to see that a Raiders' Head Coach is in charge of the team. He has control. Palmer trade proved it.

Last week's explosion article seemed to do all right. I'll be the first to admit that I did not see the response I wanted from Delone Carter or Delanie Walker. I was very disappointed with Greg Little as well. I would like to apologise for the Viking's defence decision. That was awful, I do not know what I was thinking. I was happy to see McCoy and Dalton do well, although I think they will consistent for the rest of the season.

Here are this week's explosion or implosion fantasy hopefuls.

QB: Curtis Painter (IND)- He hates pressure. The Saints like to blitz. Bad match up? Maybe. Painter is not be doing that bad. He is averaging over 15 points since starting and has thrown 5 touchdowns to only 1 interception and 1 fumble. The Saints defence has been very poor against the pass. Painter is improving and will certainly have to throw on Sunday. Expect 250+ yards and at least 1 TD.

RB: Jackie Battle (KC)- Finally we get to see what all the commotion is all about. Battle did some great things before the Chiefs got a bye week. I hope for his sake and Chief fans that he gets to start and gets 20 carries. The reason he is on this list is because Oakland is not great against the run and they will have to cover Dwayne Bowe on every play. Also, Richard Seymour will be busting through the KC front line so expect dump off passes to add to rushing yards. Expect Battle to beat out Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster and have more than 60 yards with another 20 receiving,  with at least 1 TD.

RB: Mark Ingram (NO)- Ingram has been getting more carries than Pierre Thomas. He has a TD in 3 of the last 4 matches. He is the goal line back and Head Coach Sean Payton will want him to gain some confidence for the play-offs. The main reason that I like Ingram is that the Saints will use this game to get their run offence moving again. They need a running game and the Colts are horrible at defending the run, expect something big from the former Heisman Trophy winner.

WR: Brandon Lloyd (STL)- He is back under Josh McDaniels. Expect him to have the ball thrown to him at least 10 times.  McDaniels-Lloyd-Bradford. Expect a lot of throwing the ball and at least one of them ending in the end zone followed by a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct as McDaniels and Lloyd can re-unite in a fairy-tale hug.

WR: Percy Harvin (MIN)- . Ponder will throw, he likes to throw to Harvin, Harvin has big game. Simple explanation. Sounds effective right? Lets hope so. Harvin is not always on the field and he will probably be covered by Charles Woodson. So, where is the upside? PONDER HAS TO THROW. He has to. The Packers will stop Peterson on every play. Lets just hope that Ponder has enough time to get Harvin the ball before Clay Matthews "welcomes" the rookie to the NFL. Good luck with that one Christian.

TE: Jeremy Shockey (CAR)- Greg Olsen has turf toe. It is not that bad but having two decent tight ends means when one is hurt the other can step in easily. I think Riviera might keep the healthier tight end in the game for longer. As Steve Smith keeps getting double coveraged, defences will be concerned with Cam Newton's running ability in the red zone; so expect Shockey and Olsen to be open. Shockey should be on the field more, Law of averages, Shockey shows potential.

D/ST: Raiders (OAK)- Oakland are playing against an offence that does not really know its own style. They lost their best player and have struggled to switch to a pass-offence. Jackie Battle has emerged as a good option to run the ball as T.Jones and McCluster has wasted opportunities. The Raiders have to cover Dwayne Bowe on every play. I see enough Richard Seymour to have Cassell worried and Rolando McClain stopping Cassell from checking the ball down . Remember, Jacoby Ford is back to full speed and so dangerous on returns. All sounds positive to me.

Good luck!

FIRST EVER FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATE

After reacting a little too harshly to Brandon Marshall's comments I have finally got rid of him. In fact, I have never been a big fan of Marshall and having in my fantasy league was a bit of an annoyance. I managed to get Mark Ingram and I have a few receivers on the bench to help partner Mike Wallace and hopefully bring me success.

This will become a weekly thing. I will offer some advice and comments on different areas of Fantasy Football. For the first week I wanted to start off with a BANG. Today is all about Big-Play Sleepers. Now, before you ridicule me if it does not work I want to offer some advice. First off, these players I offer are either going to have huge games or not do a lot. It really is a coin flip. After all, they are the toughest players to pick. I am always up for comments and questioning so please feel free to leave them at any time.

Explode or Implode Week 5

QUARTERBACKS

Colt McCoy (CLE): Colt McCoy has been slowly improving in my opinion. He finally he has two big play options with Mohamed Massaqoui and Greg Little against an inexepereinced Raiders secondary who will focus a lot on TE Benjamin Watson. McCoy recently threw for 350 yards against a good Titan's defence. The Raiders have a weak secondary and McCoy should be able to have a couple of TDs with over 300 yards. Be wary though, the Browns might take their best player (Peyton Hillis) and run the ball all day long.

Andy Dalton (CIN): Any quarterback against the Colts D should be a considering to have a huge game. Dalton and AJ Green have been connecting very well and Dalton uses his soon to be start tight end, Jermaine Gresham, near to drop the ball off to. He has a similar upside to McCoy with the same problems. To beat the Colts you have the run the ball hard and Benson could have a big day. In saying that though, Matt Cassel just had a huge day against the Colts last week, just saying.

RUNNING BACKS


Daniel Thomas (MIA): Miami have a new quarterback. Thomas has done a great job of showing some talent in both week 2 and 3 against much better run defences than the Jets, who are strangely ranked 26th against the run. The Dolphins have a great offensive line and will make space for Thomas to show his speed. However, there are two reasons that make me nervous about this play. 1. The Jets defence might suddenly man up and focus on stopping the run because Matt Moore backed up an ineffective Chad Henne. 2. The Jets might go two touchdowns up very quick and Miami will have to abandon the run and throw the ball. I do not see this happening as of now but be wary.

Delone Carter (IND): I like this guy. He could have a huge game for two reasons. Carter will start because Donald Brown has not been good or lived up to his hype to constantly take over from Addai. The second reason is that the Colts offence will really have to mix up their plays so that Painter can throw the ball. The Bengals defence will be a challenge for Curtis Painter and they will need to run. Another issue you have to worry about is that the Colts' offensive line is very poor. Another problem is that Carter and Brown might possibly split carries for a bit. If one of them falters or the Colts start losing by a lot then good bye running the ball.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Greg Little (CLE): He has been been named the starter across from Massaqoui. The Raiders are 29th against the pass and will focus upon Massaqoui or B. Watson if they can stop the run. Either way, Greg Little will be open. Little is big and improving. The Colts will want to see what Little can do. Similar to McCoy, you have to worry about the Browns running the ball all day long.

Kevin Walter/ Jacoby Jones (HOU): One of these wide receivers has to have a big day. The Ravens will try to stop Foster and both of the Tight Ends that had huge games last week. Jones had 11 targets while Walter had the huge game. The Ravens have a great defence, especially against the run so expect Matt Schuab to have to pass the ball and one of these guys to have a huge game. If I had to choose I would say Jones will have a big day. I know he did nothing last week but 11 targets is a lot and if he could catch just half of those then he would have had a huge day.

TIGHT END


Delanie Walker (SF): Alex Smith needs to use both his tight ends again. Smith's wide receivers this week are probably the two most disappointting players in the current NFL. Crabtree has an opportunity to be the No. 1 receiver but Smith does need seem to trust him. Ted Ginn has incredible speed but struggles to catch so expect them to send him long a few times. Detroit ranked 21st against defending tight ends and will double coverage Vernon Davis as much as possible. You also have to think that play-action on a two tight-end set will be the best way to fake the run, hence Walker will be open quite often I believe. However, the only down side is that the 49ers lean on Frank Gore (as expected) and the run fakes might leave Crabtree or Ginn open. Be wary but also be excited if you really need a tight end.


Defence and Special Teams


Vikings (MIN): Think about it. Vikings defensive line is strong and the Bears are nearly as bad as the Seahawks in stopping their QB from being sacked. Their upside really comes from sacking Jay Cutler. However, they will need to prove that they can stop the Matt Forte which is not an easy job. This really is scrapping the barrel. I got burned earlier for using the Vikes a few weeks ago. But, they have confidence from last week and it will be low scoring (I hope) so take a second look.

Like I said before, these are explode or implode. If they get 0 points then I apologise. If you are in a small league then you probably wont look at any of these. If you are in deeper league (as I am) then you may want really consider playing Greg Little (even though I'm an Oakland fan and have Heyward-bey and Crabtree on the bench).

Good luck everybody

Brandon Marshall what are you thinking?

New York Jets Head Coach, Rex Ryan,  hopes that Marshall will get chucked out. Tony Sparano explains that Marshall was "50-percent kidding."

Brandon Marshall came out with some very interesting comments earlier this week. He was "fired up" about the fierce AFC East with the NY Jets on MNF. So fired up that he would probably get into a fight he said. Interesting display of mind games.

The Jets, Rex Ryan, renouned for his own comments of confidence, hopes that Marshall does get thrown out. Easy response to make considering that Marshall is Miami's only offensive weapon.

Dolphin's Head Coach has tried to calm down Marshall's comments explaining that they were a joke. "I know one thing about that guy: He's not going to do anything to hurt this football team." Lets think about this for a second.

So the Dolphins are 0-4. They have a new quarterback and a rookie running back. Their defence is arguably the worst in the league and their Head Coach is experiencing more heat than a baked potato. Lets just say that the Dolphins are struggling. When a team is struggling do you really want to anger one of the best defences in the league? Especially a defence that relies on physical presence and big hit-ability.

So really, Marshall has hurt his team-mates. Some might argue that he is showing passion. Some might say he is diverting the pressure onto himself. Whichever one you think it is, he is adding heat to an already fierce rivalry match up on MNF. Not smart.

I have had enough of Marshall. After his comments I finally reach my end with the guy and traded him in my Fantasy Football League. Say what you want, I do not regret this (unless he now has 100+ yards every game which I doubt). Marshall mouth seems to do a lot of talking. Didn't he say he was going to play in the NBA last year? Marshall is wasting his talents at Miami and its his own fault.

The Miami Dolphins corporation has enough to worry about. New quarterback, possibly a new coach and they need a brand new defence. Marshall has definitely hurt his defence and unless he has a multiple touchdown game, I would not forgive him.

Nadal LOSES, Murray WINS, Ferrer guarantees place in London

Rafael Nadal has been beaten in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, 7-6, 6-3 by 15th seed Florian Mayer. Murray's quality too good for Wawrinka and Ferrer qualifies for the end of season championships.

The World No. 2 had previously commented in a press conference that "Rafa 2010 had something more special than Rafa 2001, especially in tough situations." He was not lying to us. I respect his honesty. Rafa of 2010 would not have lost to Florian Mayer today.

Mayer's big serve and strong mental composure seemed too much for the top seed. Nadalsaved a few set points at 4-5 and used the momentum to gain a 4-2 lead in the first set tie-break. However, Mayer saw his opportunity and took it. He won the next 5 out of 6 points to take the first set in just over an hour. Mayer broke in the seventh game of the second set and kept his nerve to finish out a fantastic win.

"For sure it is the biggest win of my career. I cannot actually believe it," said the German. "But the tournament goes on tomorrow so I have to stay focused for the rest of the week." Mayer believes his success could be due to some extra off court work. "I just am maybe a little bit fitter mentally and physically."

The World No. 23 and 15th seed at Shanghai is having his best year. Last month he won his first ATP title in Bucharest and reached a career high ranking of 18 back in June.

Andy Murray inconsistently beat Stanislaw Wawrinka today in three sets. Murray, who went two breaks up at the start of the match, eventually won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to face qualifier Matthew Ebden in the quarter finals.

This whole match was very strange. As soon as the commentators explained that Murray had been calm mentally he got very angry. Commentators curse. However, Murray still won against a dangerous opponent on a day when a couple of big seeds lost.

It was not the best performance. Even the most in-form players can have play badly. "It was just my timing that was a bit off," said Murray in his post match press conference. The Scot was chipping returns and allowed Wawrinka to dominate the rallies in the second set.

"I got myself pumped up right at the beginning of the third set," said Murray. "I started dictating a lot of points with my forehand and trying to get the first strike in 'cause the court is playing very fast." Murray did enough to win and that is what all counts in his bid to move up to No. 3 in the world rankings.

In other news, David Ferrer's victory over fellow countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero has guaranteed his place in the end of season championships. Ferrer did this hard way by saving three match points against an in-formed, dangerous opponent. Ferrer will next play Andy Roddick, the man who beat him in this year's US Open. Roddick had an impressive, disciplined, straight sets victory over 10th seeded Nicolas Almagro.

Updates Coming

NFL: Week 5 Review will be up soon. Also, BRAND NEW FANTASY FOOTBALL DISCUSSION ARTICLE WILL BE WRITTEN. DON'T MISS IT
ATP: RACE FOR A PLACE IN LONDON: SHANGHAI MASTERS UPDATES WILL RELATE THE CHASING PACK. ENJOY THEM
Filmer's Film Review: Still awaiting on Alastair Filmer's first film review on Warrior- its worth the wait
Evangelical: NEW POST WILL BE ON THE PAGE VERY SOON DISCUSSING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A CHRISTIAN. WILL BE UP VERY SOON I PROMISE