BC Downs NU, 2-0

Steve and Joe Whitney celebrate an Eagles goal.

Feeling pretty good about myself tonight. Why? Because both BC and NU have lived up to my expectations so far. Northeastern has dropped two in a row to HockeyEast opponents and Boston College is undefeated.

Overall, I'm not too upset with the Northeastern performance. Shots were dead even at 35 and BC didn't net a goal until the third period. Steve Whitney put up the game-winning goal against Chris Rawlings, who turned aside all but two shots. It was assisted by Joe Whitney and Jimmy Hayes. Brian Gibbons added an empty net tally to seal the deal, assisted by Phillip Samuelsson.

Why I'm happy: NU put up a good fight. They threw a lot of shots on net and Rawlings played very well. Also, Gibbons, Whitney, and Whitney were all in my write-up about BC. Glad to see them putting some truth behind my predictions.

Why I'm upset: Vrolyk and Tuckerman didn't even suit up. If I'm going to be a valuable part of the UB staff, then Greg Cronin needs to help me out. To add to this, Northeastern dropped their opener in Providence. To be fair though, it was also a close game.

Woah! Look, a Football!

Seriously, that's my only reaction to this video. This must have been what the Texas Tech players were thinking. Holy smokes! A football! What should we do? And before they got a chance to answer that question, boom! Terrance Ganaway of Baylor is bringing it back to the house like it's no big deal. I don't follow Texas Tech, so I truly don't know whether this is their first-string special teams unit or their ninth-string special teams unit. I also don't know why their coach tried pulling a Sean Payton with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Or why their kicker put like 1 newton of force on that kick. There are a lot of things that I don't understand about this play. Fortunately for the Red Raiders, they held on to defeat Baylor in a 45-38 shootout. If they hadn't, they may have been looking at an unpleasant practice session on Monday.

Too Little, Too Late

I briefly flashed back to my senior year of high school, lacing up the skates in front of the small but dedicated crowd that filled the rink. I remember getting pumped up for big games, season openers, rivalry matchups. And this afternoon, I thought to myself -- we could've knocked off the team that I'm watching right now.

I'm clearly exaggerating a bit, but the Boston Bruins were nothing short of pathetic to open their 2010-11 campaign. They weren't getting pressure offensively and their defense was collapsing play after play. After three breakaways, several more point-black chances, and killing off a few penalties, the Phoenix Coyotes found themselves dominating Boston and taking a 4-0 lead to the locker room after two.

And then there was light. A few rays of hope shined through what was an abysmal start to the season for the B's. They peppered the Phoenix goal and had some high-percentage scoring chances. Newcomer Nathan Horton notched two goals to make it just a two-goal game with over half a period to go. Blake Wheeler had a great chance to slice that deficit in half with plenty of time remaining, but his slot wrister was turned aside by Ilya Bryzgalov, who had a phenomenal day between the pipes for the 'Yotes. After tacking on an empty-netter, Phoenix wrote a 5-2 victory into the books.

Tuukka Rask played a solid game for the Bruins, being relied on for several huge stops, including two breakaway saves. The goals that he did give up were, for the most part, past his control. Defensively, the Bruins looked very shaky -- a stark contrast to their ultra-defensive team last season that earned a playoff spot despite being the second-worst goal-scoring team in the NHL. It really just looked like it took the B's 40 minutes to get their feet wet. The third period was promising, so hopefully they can carry that over into tomorrow. They'll be right back to work at 10 AM ET -- 4:00 PM in Prague -- in an effort to earn a split against Phoenix in this opening two-game journey.

Missing the Good Old Days

I'm sitting here in front of my television and I'm watching former Red Sox fan-favorite Bronson Arroyo pitch in a playoff game against the Philadelphia Phillies. I saw Roy Halladay fire a no-hitter and Tim Lincecum deal his way to a 2-hit shutout. Big home runs and intense situations, all on the diamond and under the beautiful October sky. And I'm envious of all the fans in Tampa, Texas, Minnesota, Philly, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and San Francisco (not so much New York, because I would never want to be a New York fan... ever). Why? Because they're watching meaningful baseball in conjunction with football, hockey, and basketball. Everything is in harmony, and I absolutely miss those days here in Beantown.

Aside from a couple of long-shot possibilities that arose against the Yankees in the final few weeks of the season, we got the smallest dose of meaningful baseball that we have in quite some time this season. After watching that ESPN documentary, 4 Days in October, I was really overcome with an incredible sense of nostalgia. I miss those days. I miss that team. And despite all those posts I made this year defending my beloved Red Sox, I do have to admit -- the golden days have passed. For now, anyway.

Hop in your time machine and go back to those days. I used to work my schedule around getting to see Pedro Martinez pitch (I even did the same when he was with the Phillies) or see Manny Ramirez take an at bat. Pregame shows and interviews were just as entertaining as the ball game itself with our old group of "idiots" that doubled up as players and entertainers night in and night out. The chorus of Sweet Caroline being sung loud and proud from the Fenway faithful actually did instill magic into the stadium. I would be anxiously waiting all week for a weekend series with the New York Yankees and fully expected bad blood and tempers flaring.

Return to the present. Forget working my schedule around it, I hardly know the team's schedule week by week. There literally are no players that I absolutely love to watch. If a game starts at 7, there's no chance I'm tuning in for the pregame at 6 to watch the Batter's Box or whatever other tricks NESN has up their sleeves. Sweet Caroline is still a tradition, but where has the magic gone? Elsewhere, that's all I know for sure. And when it comes down to a weekend series with the arch rival New York Yankees, I don't even find myself hesitating to watch the Dolphins and Jets on Sunday Night Football instead. The rivalry has lost its steam. The team has lost its magic. The fans have lost their excitement.

And here I am, still sitting in front of the TV. As I watch, I know that for one fan base, there will be a player -- or several players -- who bring eternal gratification. A Dave Roberts will be reborn in the hearts of one team's faithful followers. A generation of teenagers will have a memorable break from school as they attend a championship parade. Joe Buck will say one line -- just one simple, elementary line of commentary -- that will be etched in the souls of millions forever. Millions from one of eight cities remaining. Boston? Absent from that list. I miss the old days, and I dearly hope they return before long.

NHL Season Officially Underway!

The NHL season is official underway! Last night marked a historic day in 2010 ... the first fight of the '10-'11 hockey season! It started a little under six minutes into the "Battle of Alberta," between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. The Flame's Stefan Meyer won the bout, the only win that Calgary would see on Thursday. Appropriately, this was the only game with fights and did not disappoint with four brawls total. Ironically, that's how many goals the Oilers put up against former standout Mikka Kiprusoff.

Hands Full of Something

Yeah, Brett certainly has his hands full of something. When questioned, Favre only responded, "I've got my hands full with the Jets." I think he forgot a word on the end of that comment: cheerleaders. I think Brett needs to save his testosterone for the game so he can bring up that 60.4 passer rating.

How is this relevant to Boston sports, you ask? Well, Randy Moss will be making his first start back in a Vikings uni. Hopefully he doesn't run over any traffic cops in New York.

Bruins Sign Bergy

With the Boston Bruins' season just a day away, there's more than just the opener in Prague to be excited about. GM Peter Chiarelli has finally dotted the i's and crossed the t's on Boston's contract extension with center Patrice Bergeron. The deal is reportedly worth a total of $15 million and will keep Bergy here through the 2013-14 season.

It's a relief for the B's to not only extend arguably their top centerman (and future captain if Zdeno Chara departs) but also to do so in an affordable fashion. If the reported specifications of the deal are correct, Bergeron's salary cap hit should be just about the same as it has been for the past few years. Any Bruins fan can speak to the quality of his all-around game -- three-zone players like Bergeron don't come around often when you're talking about first and second line players.

After tallying 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points last season -- tied for the team lead with fellow center David Krejci -- Bergeron will look to keep improving and hopefully have a true breakout season now that he's more heavily surrounded by scoring talent. Newcomers Tyler Seguin and Nathan Horton are both candidates to be wingers on a line centered by Bergy, as well as other promising young talents. Mark Recchi is likely to occupy one wing, though, as he and Bergeron have developed pretty good chemistry playing together over the past year.

The Bruins drop the puck on their 2010-11 campaign tomorrow at noon from Prague in the Czech Republic. They will face the Phoenix Coyotes, who finished 4th in the Western Conference last season. Get ready, Bruins fans. The painful waiting period that has festered in our wounds since Game 7 is finally over. Let's play some hockey.

Josh the Intern's HockeyEast Preview

First off, I'm the new intern here at UB. I have a wide variety of skills including, but not limited to, harnessing teams of oxen, hand-milking cows, and writing thank-you notes. I also have a strong interest in Boston sports, particularly college hockey and the Patriots. I'm happy to be servicing you.

At the end of last season, only four teams from HockeyEast made it into the USCHO Poll's Top 20. BC, Maine, UNH, and BU came in at #1, #7, #10, and #14, respectively. This intern asks, will these teams stand up to the hype?

Boston College - Last year's HockeyEast champions, Boston College is obviously looking to repeat. The Eagles will return leading-scorer Cam Atkinson, as well as both Joe Whitney and Brian Gibbons. Rounding out the veterans is senior goaltender John Muse.
Players to Watch: Chris Kreider (F) and Steven Whitney (F)

Boston University - BU lost some quality talent, including four of its five top scorers. Junior Chris Connolly and defensemen David Warsofsky are looking to lead BU to a winning season. Like BC, the Terriers will also be returning their starting goaltender Kieran Millan.
Players to Watch: Alex Chiasson (D) and Max Nicastro (F)

UNH - After losing All-Americans Bobby Butler and Brian Foster, the Wildcats will need some big contributions from forwards Paul Thompson and Phil DeSimone. Most of all, All-American Blake Kessel will need to step up and become a huge leader as a junior. Also look out for returning players Mike Beck (Sr), Matt Campanale (Sr), and goalie Matt DiGirolamo (Jr).
Players to Watch: Brett Kostolansky (D) and Dalton Speelman (F)

Maine - The Black Bears return a steady list of eight upperclassmen, including last year's HockeyEast leading scorer and All-American Gustav Nyquist. Maine also lost their #1 and #2 goalies, leaving the job up for grabs, most likely to Shawn Sirman.
Players to Watch: Ryan Hegarty (D) and Adam Shemansky (F)

Northeastern - Although the Huskies lost #2 scorer Kyle Kraemer, they return Wade MacLeod and captain Tyler McNeely, as well as both sophomore goaltenders Chris Rawlings and Brian Mountain. Sophomore Garrett Vermeersch should also be a strong factor.
Players to Watch: Alex Tuckerman (F) and Robbie Vrolyk (F)

Elsewhere around the league, look out for Rookie of the year Stephane Da Costa to lead Merrimack through a strong season.
Player to Watch: Sebastian Stalberg (Sophomore Forward, Vermont)

Final Standings:
1. Boston College
2. UNH
3. Maine
4. Boston University
5. Vermont
6. Northeastern
7. UMass
8. Merrimack
9. Umass Lowell
10. Providence

Fantasy Notes: Week 5

Alright, we're changing things up again. Tediously picking out 30 players each week is too time-consuming for me and a good portion of it is useless. So I'm thinking I'll just speak my mind a bit. Random comments about the week, guys who will perform and who won't perform. Sleepers and busts. And here's the most important part. I need your questions. Don't know who to start? Leave a comment. Please. Send an email. Listen to the Beantown Breakdown radio show and call in or send in questions. I don't care. But I know you fantasy football players have tough decisions now that bye weeks have started. So why not ask for an extra opinion? Can't hurt, right? As added incentive, I'm succeeding this year in my fantasy league (first place). I'm here to help you!

Palmer, Garrard, and Kolb are Solid Spot Starters This Week.
If your quarterback has a bye week, like mine does, you're likely turning to the waiver wire for a spot-starter. Either that or you are turning to your backup QB, but for some of us (Mike Vick owners, cough cough) our backup isn't serviceable right now. So the waiver wire is the spot, and these are the picks. In 20% of fantasy leagues, Carson Palmer is available. If your league is one of those and you're one of these people, go with him. He's coming off a monster week in which T.O finally played up to his ego. The Bengals just might start snowballing their successes here against a Buccaneers team that really hasn't faced a QB with Palmer's ability thus far. If he's not there, though, I like David Garrard as a backup selection. Garrard is available in nearly 70% of leagues out there, and he's facing a dreadful Buffalo team. After getting torched by the run last week, all of the Bills' defensive resources will go toward stopping MJD. I think Garrard's good for a couple of scores. Finally, Kevin Kolb is actually still out there in about 40% of fantasy leagues. He's the starter this week, folks. He was the Eagles' starter at the beginning of the season. He's worth a shot if you've got nothing better. Go for him. Still, if these guys are all gone, start looking toward the likes of Sam Bradford, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Shaun Hill.

Don't Wait Till Next Week. Sign Brandon Tate.
Take my advice on this one. If you have extra room on your roster, a guy who you really can afford to drop, pick up Brandon Tate. I don't care that the Patriots have a bye week. Like I said, do it if you have room to do it. He's no longer just a superficial option with an occasional kick return threat. He's New England's #1 folks. Welker is still a slot receiver, making him a #2. Tate is our top wideout. He's replacing Moss. The difference is, Tate will give 110% every play and Tate still has to earn his way to the top. He's an extremely talented and explosive young talent. He still will get you an occasional kick return TD. His already decent numbers will spike dramatically with the departure of Randy Moss. And hey -- since when is Tom Brady's #1 wideout a fantasy non-factor? I'm just telling you, I'd snatch him up before the others catch on. I think he's got serious sleeper potential moving forward.

CJ Spiller or Fred Jackson Will Emerge; Grab Lynch, Too.
The Bills entered this season with that 3-headed backfield. After this week's Marshawn Lynch trade to Seattle, Buffalo has just Jackson and Spiller remaining. All three of these guys have gone up in my book. Spiller has given new hope to all the owners who took chances on him. Fred Jackson now has a legitimate shot to seize the #1 spot like he did last season. And Marshawn Lynch will get a fresh start in Seattle. Most analysts believe the Seahawks have never really wanted Justin Forsett to be their feature back. To me, Forsett has never been a real safe play. Lynch will have every opportunity to kick-start his career under Pete Carroll. If you're looking to take a stab at a running back sleeper moving forward, grab Lynch. If you've got one of Buffalo's backs, I would suggest holding out hope until this week passes by.

This Might be the Week for Mathews, Rice, and Wells.
Ryan Mathews has been a huge disappointment this season for owners who reached out to get him, but I think that disappointment ends this week. He figures to be basically back to full health, and he gets an Oakland defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing RBs in the NFL. The Chargers figure to be winning this game, even though divisional games can always be unpredictable. Expect them to run the ball and expect Mathews to finally put up a respectable number. Ray Rice, meanwhile, has been an even bigger disappointment. ESPN projects Rice for a mere 6-point performance, probably because Denver is the 2nd best in the NFL at limiting opposing fantasy backs. I'm not a buyer. Denver has only faced RBs of Rice's caliber twice this year, and both guys -- MJD and CJ -- broke 100 yards on the ground. I think this is the week Ray Rice plays like the Ray Rice we saw last season. And finally -- I don't really know why -- but I have a good feeling about Beanie Wells this week. The Cardinals have a pee-wee level passing attack, but Max Hall showed some bright spots last week. If they can get anything going through the air, Wells should be able to get going on the ground. He's real talented, and that Saints defense hasn't proven they can stop anyone on the ground anyway.

Danny Amendola May be Worth a Look.
I mean, don't take this the wrong way. I'm hardly even calling Amendola a good fantasy option yet. But in deeper leagues, why not take a stab at him? He's available in 94% of leagues right now. So basically you can get him anywhere. He made a stellar one-handed catch in the game last week, which is nothing to write home to your fantasy Gods about. But Sam Bradford has consistently targeted him this season, and against the lowly Lions this week, I don't see any reason why he can't haul one in for a score -- or at least be productive otherwise.

Moss? Immediate Impact.
Lots of people out there are thinking it's going to take time before Moss is a viable option out there in Minnesota. I'm not so sure about that one. We learned in New England how effective Randy can be when he's just straight up running down the field as fast as he can, throwing his arm up, and having his QB let it fly. That's basically what Brett Favre loves to do, even if he throws 47 thousand interceptions in the process. Moss found pay dirt last time he faced Revis and the Jets, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him do it again. If you're a Moss owner, I wouldn't be shying away from starting him.


There's some fantasy thoughts for you. That was a lot easier for me to write, anyway. It probably took just as long. But going through and getting precisely 5 players here, 5 players there ... doesn't it seem a bit monotonous? Like I said, though, speak your mind. Ask me questions. If you're torn between players, I'll help you decide. That's what this website is for when it comes to fantasy football. Helping you win your games. So fire away, folks. Fire away.

Seriously Madden?

I really like Madden '11.But the seven or so injuries a game per team is getting a little out of hand. Football is a tough sport, we all know that. But when I lose my quarterback, halfback, and half of my linebackers in one game, I think it's time for a change. There are NEVER this many injuries in real life, so why all the injuries in the game?

Get Ready for the Beantown Breakdown

It's that time of the week again -- Thursday nights at 9 PM, you all should be tuning in to the Beantown Breakdown radio show with Derek Robinson & John Griffin. We'll be breaking down everything that's going on in the Boston sports world this week, as well as other relevant sports stories around the country. I know a lot of you are looking for fantasy football advice, so here's your chance to get your questions talked about on the radio. Send us your questions and thoughts -- about anything sports -- and we'll discuss them tonight on the Beantown Breakdown.

Rettig Back on Practice Field

Chase Rettig sprained his ankle early in his NCAA debut vs. Notre Dame.

Doesn't the kid just look like a Matt Ryan in the making?

The Eagles were forced to wait on watching the development of freshman quarterback Chase Rettig after he sprained his ankle in last Saturday's disappointing loss to rival Notre Dame. Initial reports had Rettig potentially missing the remainder of the season with the injury, but news this morning is looking quite a bit more optimistic. After practicing with a protective boot on his ankle yesterday, the frosh took the field today and was walking without the aide of that boot. While it may not be a sign that he'll return for this weekend's NC State game, it's certainly good news for BC fans.

Although the final score line didn't look pretty, Rettig was impressive once he settled into last weekend's game against the Fighting Irish. On his first three possessions of his NCAA career, the youngster suffered three-and-outs every time. After that, though, he managed to connect on a 58-yard touchdown strike and then drive his team into field goal range on the following possession. That was his last drive before injuring his ankle. The signs were all very promising, and Eagles fans have to be excited for whenever he's able to get back into the huddle.

Assuming Rettig does need a little more time to recover, Mike Marscovetra is expected to be the BC starter this Saturday against NC State. It's the first road game of the season for the Eagles, who are desperately in need of a victory after dropping two straight contests and accruing an 0-1 ACC record.

No More Moss: Pats Better or Worse?

It's all but official now. What you've been reading on Facebook statuses and Twitter posts seems to be confirmed by several NFL sources this morning. Randy Moss is headed back to his roots. The New England Patriots have reportedly dealt the all-pro wide receiver to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the Vikes' 3rd round pick in this year's draft. It's a shocker on paper, but the question is -- are the Pats better off?

The fantasy football side of my mind says no. Of course not. You don't lose a touchdown champion like Moss without taking a serious hit to your team. The offense carries this team, and losing Moss might be a serious detriment to that offense. But everything else about me -- my heart and my real-life football mind -- tells me that the Patriots are better off without him.

Let's look at common denominators. How did the Patriots win their Super Bowls? Did we have any stud receivers grubbing post-game press conferences for attention? Did we have anyone breaking the touchdown record in a single season? Was Brady forcing the ball downfield into coverage simply because he had a receiver who might be able to go get it? None of the above, if you were wondering. We relied on defense, special teams, role players, and Tom Brady being a winning quarterback -- not a fantasy superstar. Maybe just a little bit like the type of game we saw on Monday Night. And Moss? Zero catches in that contest.

Look, I'm not trying to say Moss is useless in this offense. I mean, we might even put up less points than before now. But the loss of Moss will force this team to continue doing those things we saw this week. Running the football. Brady spreading the ball around to each and every receiver at his disposal. Field position. Using our tight ends effectively. Strong defense. Special teams. It's all part of the transition back to the "Patriots football" that we grew to know and love. During our glory days, Tom Brady made no-name receivers into big name receivers. Making big-name receivers into appreciated superstars isn't what wins championships. Plain and simple.

Since acquiring Moss in 2007, I truly feel that Brady has been a less efficient quarterback when it comes to the clutch situations. I know it sounds preposterous -- Brady had the single best season in the history of NFL quarterbacks. I understand that. But when it has come down to crunch time, who does he turn to? In the past, it was the David Pattens and the Troy Browns of the world. He could hit Christian Fauria or David Givens. He could hit whoever was open. In my view, Brady has developed a tendency, with Moss at his disposal, to stop looking for the open guy. Just fire it up to Moss.  It worked so well in '07, why not keep trying it? It has made him a less efficient quarterback. And let's be honest, folks. When we were putting rings on our fingers, efficiency just may have been the single most important aspect of the quarterback position.

There will be plenty of haters out there, but I've always trusted Bill Belichick. I probably always will. This trade now gives us 8 draft picks in the first 4 rounds of this year's draft. 2 picks in each round. Not only might that be plenty to further solidify this defense, but we just might be able to pick up that franchise running back we've been lacking for so long.

It was fun being the best statistical offense in league history, but I'm through with that. I'm ready to win Super Bowls again.

Pats Smash Dolphins, 41-14

Just when you thought I was crazy for starting Danny Woodhead over Brandon Marshall, what happens? It was all going right for the Patriots in their huge 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins last night from Sun Life Stadium.

Wait.. a road win? We must not be talking about the same Patriots. Becuase New England -- despite being an 8-0 home team last season -- was just a 2-6 road team, and one of those wins came in London against the Bucs (which, let's be honest, doesn't even count as a road game). And then they lost to the Jets in week two on the road. And now they had to face a tough Miami team that always gives them trouble. But trends always end at some point, and the Pats just might have ended theirs.

It was a fabulous all-around win with production from a number of different guys. The Monday Night Football broadcast team tagged it a "special teams fiesta." Patrick Chung blocked two kicks and had a pick-6, accounting for most of the spark. Kyle Arrington returned Chung's blocked field goal for a touchdown. Brandon Tate brought back the second half kickoff (for the second time this year) for a touchdown. Rob Ninkovich had two picks and a sack. Tom Brady only threw one touchdown, Danny Woodhead on the receiving end of it. BenJarvus Green-Ellis scurried in for their only rushing touchdown. Noticing a different type of trend here?

Randy Moss had no catches. Brady barely surpassed 150 yards and tossed just the one score. It was all the lesser names on this team that stepped up. Hopefully they all gained confidence. This was a hell of a statement game from the Patriots. If you watched the game -- and, in particular, the post game coverage -- you just got a phenomenal vibe from this team. Bill Belichick went down the line and slammed his hand on every player's shoulder pads. 3-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady came running off the field with 40 seconds remaining, screaming and chest-bumping and pumping his fist like the AFC Championship was theirs. You saw unparalleled emotion from a Week 4 victory. As a Patriots fan, you have to love it. Doesn't it remind you of those glory days? Ground game, defense, special teams, and emotion?

Maybe it's a transition, maybe it was just an anomaly. Personally, I'd rather see their bye week come at some other time. On the flip side, though, the new-found confidence will get to fester in these young Patriots players for an extra week. Don't forget about the guys like Devin McCourty, too -- Brandon Marshall was completely shut down last night. In every way, this defense picked up a load of confidence. Hopefully they can build on that for the remainder of the season. They're going to need it.

For Tom Brady, he became the fastest quarterback to ever reach 100 wins. I'll rant about this several times (as I have in the past), so I won't get into too much detail. But this is just another piece of evidence that reassures the simple fact that Tom Brady is the best quarterback to ever play the game. Spare me your Peyton Manning comments. We'll debate this at another time, maybe when Peyton is on the couch having lost his division to the Texans.

PS -- You heard it here first, the Twins will sweep the Yankees.

Danny Woodhead Set to Dominate

You should know that I'm only half-joking when I write a title like this. I know there's a very slim probability that Danny Woodhead dominates tonight for the Patriots in their Monday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins. But doesn't karma factor in somewhere? Because listen. I've already won my fantasy football matchup (unless I get -27 points tonight) and I have Brandon Marshall locked and loaded to just make this week a full-out massacre. But out of respect for my opponent and respect for the New England Patriots, I have opted to remove Marshall from my lineup and go with the slightly less touted Danny Woodhead.
To clarify, Woodhead is owned in 0.6% of fantasy football leagues. He is being started in 0.2%. That's quite a small number, but I bet they're all doing the same thing I am. My opponent opened my eyes to the fact that I'll just feel ashamed getting irrelevant points against my Patriots. I've already won. Sure, I can accumulate a bigger lead in the overall points race (because there are a few people gaining rapidly on me, and that could very well be a decisive tie-breaker come playoff seeding) but it's whatever dude. Here's why I honestly have no problem starting Danny Woodhead anyway. It will be fun to watch. And betteryet, look at our running back depth chart! Maroney is gone and Taylor has been ruled out of tonight's game. BenJarvus Green-Ellis looks to be our de facto #1 right now. If Maroney and Taylor couldn't garner a majority of the carries while they were #1, what makes you think the Law Firm can? Sammy Morris and Danny Woodhead are sure to get a few looks tonight. Plus, Woodhead is a receiver too. There's a perfectly good possibility he gets some touches. Zero points is fine with me, so anything he gets is a nice bonus. If I end up losing a playoff spot by the end of the season because of one Brandon Marshall performance missed, then I don't deserve to make the playoffs anyway. That's my view. So let's do this Danny. Let's step up big tonight and show the world why I was the first person in the history of the world to start you over Brandon Marshall. You'll come up big, and so will McCourty. He'll shut down Marshall. Tonight is the statement that reminds the whole NFL that the Patriots are still an elite team. 
(Either that or it's the official press release that we're no longer an elite team.)

Week 4 NFL Winners

Well, I had to wake up today and continue to wipe my tears from last night's Holy War. Some of you may have seen my appearance on national television, as I have included down below. But that was literally the only good thing about that game. Chase Rettig got the start as a freshman and he looked like he was settling in after a 58-yard touchdown pass, but then he got hurt. Marscovetra came in and did nothing as usual. All-around pain. It's not our year, but if nothing else, we saw a glimpse of hope from our freshman. Anyway, let's get to the NFL picks before I bore you to death with tales of a losing NCAA squad. Get your popcorn ready, I'm bouncing back strong this week.

49ers 27, Falcons 20 -- [UPSET]

Jets 19, Bills 16

Bengals 21, Browns 10

Packers 31, Lions 14

Titans 28, Broncos 17

Seahawks 20, Rams 17

Saints 33, Panthers 20

Texans 30, Raiders 17

Colts 24, Jaguars 14

Eagles 31, Redskins 27

Chargers 28, Cardinals 10

Bears 14, Giants 13

Patriots 30, Dolphins 27