iamshack

I think Fox has the Panthers + 35 in this game. That's the way he's coached.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:41 PM) He got 130yds passing vs the Bears last week and ran for 40yds with a TD. Oh I know, I'm just saying that's a good 22 points or so if he puts up the numbers you suggested he might earlier. John Fox, do you even want to try to put up a fight here?

Jimmy Clausen is about as immobile a qb as I have ever seen.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 10:15 PM) That's a lame excuse. A good farm is as much about depth as it is star power. Well don't confuse this as me saying we have a good farm system. But the fact that when you hit immediately on draft picks you don't get consideration in terms of your success drafting is just silly.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 08:58 PM) If he throws just one TD, gets 130yds passing and runs for 50 yards with a TD, he'd get twice the points of an average flex player. That doesn't sound like bad numbers for a qb either.

But see, it doesn't hurt that Sale and Beckham are already producing in the Big Leagues! That is the entire point of the draft! I could give a s*** about this stuff. Why not just have a ranking of draft picks contributions to the MLB club? That seems far more relevant to me.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:57 PM) OK, after this last 2:00, maybe not... It just does not really appear as though Carolina is capable of scoring touchdowns. They started off well, putting a few drives together, but just acted way too conservatively for a 2-12 team. Call some trick plays, take some risks, don't punt on the Steelers 32 yard line! Going to need a defensive td and a big play for a td out of the offense to have any chance of covering here.

Well, looks like Balta might get me again Going to need some fluke plays for Carolina to cover in this mess.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:17 PM) Carolina is James Stewart and a college team. Yikes. This could get ugly. Steve Smith is a whiny little girl. Catch the ball.

Oh my..I'm going to have to drink during this...

More horrible announcing from Theismann and Millen. They had absolutely no clue that the Steeler receiver did not control the ball on that td. They looked at the replay 5 times and I am screaming at the tv like an idiot that he dropped the ball and they simply never even considered that possibility. Complete and utter incompetency.

Ooh, Heath Miller is back. I was not aware of that. The Panthers drive down to the Steeler 32 and punt on a 4th and 5. Seriously, John Fox? You're 2-12. And you're going to punt on 4th and 5 from the 32?

Line coming down to 14 almost across the board on the game tonight. Went and bet the game a bit early because I was afraid of that happening. I like it a lot more at 14.5 than 14, for obvious reasons.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 04:49 PM) I don't see much wrong with taking the Raiders to cover, but beating them outright...eh. The Colts porous run defense has had a lot less to do with their losses than turnovers. Well, it seems odd that you can like the Raiders to cover 3 but not see them winning outright? As for the Colts' turnovers, their pathetic run defense has a ton to do with their losses! Part of the reason Manning has thrown more this season than in any other season in his career is because they have been behind so often, and that has led to turnovers. Obviously it has a lot to do with so many of his weapons being out, but if they had a run defense worth a crap, they would be able to stay in games longer and not be forced to throw so much.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 05:37 PM) He's still MILES better than Brown, Hart, or James. Still on the Raiders.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Dec 16, 2010 -> 12:35 AM) Got through the bartending gig last night, and it went superbly. I honestly have never made drinks for more than maybe 10 people at a time at casual parties, so I was nervous about keeping 50 or so people lubricated. Cheating and having beer, wine, champagne, and a crock of hot buttered rum (it dipped down to about 28 degrees) at self-serve stations helped a lot and I only had to deal with mixed drinks. The six cocktail special event menu went over well and I also managed to spin up four of the six cocktails that didn't make the cut. The bellini and my two original cocktails (Perfect Pear and Podgy and Jasper rum punch) were the most populat drinks, followed by the Trinidandy Zaya daiquiri and the St. Germaine champagne cocktail. A few adventurous types braved the egg white-containing Hawaii Cocktail, although at the end of the night many more people were happily sipping fresh eggnog with rum, brandy, cream and fresh whole eggs direct from the hostess' hen house. When I was busy I was thankful for the easy drink crowd that just wanted neat scotch or bourbon and soda or vodka tonics, etc. For the most part I kept up with a steady stream of orders for 5 hours. Being a private party I didn't have to worry about ringing up customers, and I think that would actually be the biggest pain in the butt as a professional bartender. I got a lot of compliments on the cocktails. Most gratifying was having several guests, including bar and restaurant staffers, ask how long I'd been bartending. About halfway through the night I was joined by a very charming woman who decided to jump in and barback for me. She was engrossed by every detail of the cocktail construction and by the end of the night she had graduated to shaking up and serving a couple of drinks on her own with just a bit of sideline coaching from me. After the party wound down a couple of her friends told me that she was normally pretty reserved and uptight (she works in finance) and they had never seen her cut loose like that before, so that was pretty cool. I also got a nice bottle of Pamperno Anniversario anejo rum from the hostess as a token of her appreciation, which is much appreciated. All in all, a very fun experience. Jim, that is wonderful! I think you should move back to Chicago and bartend in the viagra triangle. You could probably make a very good living charming the pants off the rich women...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 05:27 PM) He doesn't need to be as much of a "force" as he would need to just fill that checkdown receiver role. I guess what I should say is he doesn't scare me at all. I'm still on the Raiders or laying off it...definitely not betting the Colts. I've been fading them for weeks and weeks now...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 05:20 PM) The Colts could have Addai back this weekent though, that could really make a difference. Yeah, I suppose that will help them....although Addai hasn't been all that much of a force in the last 2-3 years... I don't think it would change my outlook.

QUOTE (Chi Town Sox @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 04:31 PM) I know this is a fantasy playoff question but figured I'd get the quickest input here, got a little dilemma my lineup as it is now RB-Turner (not moving) RB-Mendenhall (not moving) RB/WR - LT WR-Vincent Jackson (not moving) WR-Mike Wallace (not moving) WR-Sidney Rice on my bench currently that can fill the RB/WR slot - Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith (Carolina), Percy Harvin I was 13-2 this year and this is the first round of the playoffs and now have a pretty good sized dilemma with some injuries going on. Do I go with the hot hand in Stewart against the best Run D in the league while there may be a good chance that they will be throwing all game from behind? If that might happen, should I plug in Steve Smith in place of Sidney Rice, since him and Percy Harvin may be catching Joe Webb throws (but with a chance that Favre may be back AGAIN, I'd have to play one of them), or should I stick with LT (who I have not played in forever because of obvious fantasy reasons) who may be taking alot of dumpoffs with from whoever is playing QB (Brunell or a hurt Sanchez)? I don't know why but I just cannot get LT out of my head even though he's been on my bench the second half of the year. Any suggestions? Or I can just eat the $5 and pick up a Tashard Choice, Michael Bush or a Rashad Jennings (if MJD can't go) I think Stewart will do decently tonight actually, and I also think Steve Smith catches a td tonight. Of the two Vikings receivers, I like Harvin a lot more, because I think the Vikings will set up easier throws for Webb, and that includes short screens that Harvin should be able to make runs after the catch on (such as he did against the Bears), and Philly's defense has been terrible as of late. As for Choice, he should do pretty well against a terrible Arizona run defense.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 04:05 PM) Shack, what are the odds the Raiders pull off the upset at home vs a banged up Colts team? I think they have a pretty good chance. Somehow the Colts managed to shut down MoJo last week, but that was probably more due to them jumping out to a quick lead, and the Jags being able to move the ball through the air fairly easily. I expect McFadden to run all over the Colts, and the Colts to struggle a bit offensively again now that Austin Collie is out for the season. I wouldn't be at all surprised by a Raiders victory, although it is always difficult to bet against Peyton Manning, especially since he can smell the playoffs now. However, Asomgha should take Reggie Wayne out of the picture for the most part, and Garcon and Tamme have had cases of the dropski's all year long, especially Tamme, since he knows he is usually about to get blown up down the middle of the field on those seam routes Manning loves so much. I probably will bet the Raiders, like Knight said, and I sort of expect the Raiders to win outright. Although, as I said, it's just always a bit difficult to count Manning out. But the bottom line is, the Colts are very average this season, and without Collie, they are actually below-average.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 02:41 PM) I think this is a Steelers or no play pick tonight regarding the sides. I'm not confident in Carolina getting more than 10 points. If I took the game I would probably take the under. I could see a Pittsburgh winning a 24-7, 24-10 type game. You may be right....I guess I saw a very average NYJ offense put up some points last week against Pittsburgh, so I think the Panthers may be able to put up a few too...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 02:28 PM) I plan to take the wife out to dinner tonight then head home and enjoy the fact that I'm not yet out of whiskey, so who knows. Oh myyy!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 03:10 PM) To answer, no I didn't watch that game. Anywho, this is why I'm not a gambler. At least you've defended your position well. Well, to be honest, you certainly could be right. I don't usually bet games with huge spreads in the NFL because I usually like to have at least some level of trust in the team I am betting, and I also don't like laying more than 12 points, ever. However, after watching the Steelers struggle offensively lately, and with Polamalu out, and the fact that the public is always betting the Steelers and driving their line up, and it's the Thursday night game...well, you get my point We'll probably be back here tonight though with you posting "I have the incredible urge to say 'I told you so' again."

QUOTE (zenryan @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 03:02 PM) I'm surprised they are allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl. If I was OSU, I'd rather them miss this meaningless game and have them come back in time for the Big 10 opener. I wonder if the NCAA is making OSU pay for some of Auburn's "crime". Someone has to be made an example of and the NCAA probably doesnt want to ruin the BCS title game. I think they are afraid of ruining one of their beloved BCS bowl games. It would probably upset the hell out of the sponsors as well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 01:57 PM) The Steelers beat the Bengals 23-7 on the road 2 weeks ago (which would cover that spread). The struggled more against Baltimore and the Jets, but those are 2 actual good defenses. They didn't blow Buffalo out, but nobody's blowing buffalo out lately; they're playing too hard. Before that they dropped 35 on the Raiders, and put up 26 in a losing effort against the Pats, albiet with more health there. I think most teams would come out of a 3 game stretch at Baltimore, then home vs. Cinci (in Pittsburgh's weather) and home against the Jets (in Pittsburgh weather) thinking their offense was struggling a little. Did you watch the game against the Bengals, Balta? The Steelers defense had 2 pick 6's, one by Polamalu. I know they covered because I bet them that week. Their offense was terrible in the red zone, and their defense will likely not be anywhere near as dominant without Polamalu (or at least less-likely to score points). Btw, Cinci's secondary is absolutely horrific right now. They're basically signing guys off the street because of all the injuries they've had. There was no reason to be shut down by them.