On the Rise: These Fantasy Players are About To Heat Up

Big-time players make big-time plays.

There are always a few surprise performances each week in the world of fantasy football (running back Quinton Ganther went for 93 total yards and two touchdowns Sunday), but the horses that got you to the postseason showed up in full force for the first weekend of the playoffs.

Wide receivers Andre Johnson (11-193-2 TDs), Brandon Marshall (21-200-2), and DeSean Jackson (6-178-1), and running backs Ray Rice (219 total yards, 1 TD), Chris Johnson (186 total yards, 3 TDs), and Ryan Grant (20-137-2) put your teams on their backs as they lit up opposing defenses for some of the most impressive fantasy performances of the season.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Chris Johnson continues to make a case for the MVP award. The Titans’ second-year running back has now scored 10 touchdowns in his last seven contests and is averaging an eye-popping 155.1 total yards per game.

As a side note, former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk’s record for total yards in a season (2,429 in 1999) is within striking distance. Johnson needs to pick up just 413 yards in three games (137.6 yards/game) to set the record.

Will he do it? Keep in mind, Johnson closes out his 2009 campaign against the Dolphins and Chargers and a road game against the Seahawks.

In addition, quarterbacks Drew Brees (298 yards, 3 TDs), Peyton Manning (220 yards, 4 TDs), Matt Schaub (365 yards, 2 TDs), and Donovan McNabb (275 yards, 2 TDs) continued to make a case for why fantasy owners should seriously consider drafting a quality QB in the first three rounds.

 

                                TD passes per game    Games without TD pass

Drew Brees                               2.4                         2

Peyton Manning                         2.2                         1

Aaron Rodgers                           1.9                         1

Matt Schaub                             1.8                         2

Philip Rivers                              1.6                          1

 

It’s tough to argue with rock-solid consistency and production on a weekly basis. These five quarterbacks are most likely dominating the playoff rosters in fantasy football leagues right now.

 

How about some love for the tight ends?

Ken Daube of ESPN and I squared off in the first round of the NFP Fantasy Experts League this weekend , and our showdown featured a war at the tight end position.

Daube’s boy Dallas Clark had me draining the life out of my iPhone on my way to the Meadowlands yesterday as I was constantly checking to see if the Colts had called off the wolves.

Five catches for 43 yards and three touchdowns later, Clark decided to call it a day.

However, waiver-wire special Fred Davis kept me alive at 4 p.m. eastern with a gem of his own, as the former USC Trojan hauled in three passes for 50 yards and two scores.

You can check out what’s going on in the Experts League by clicking here .

In addition to Clark and Davis, Eagles tight end Brent Celek (5-64-1) and Giants tight end Kevin Boss (7-70-1) posted solid fantasy outings, as we predicted they would last Thursday.

 

MBP Award (Most Beastly Performance)

Brandon Marshall—Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos

You could make a legitimate case for Chris Johnson as the Week 14 MBP, but any time a guy sees 28 targets and hauls in an NFL-record 21 receptions, he’s going to end up as my top guy for the week.

In a losing effort, Marshall turned in a performance for the ages as the wideout caught a staggering 21 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos’ 28-16 loss at Indy.

Three weeks from now, nobody is going to be talking about this loss. But we will ALWAYS talk about Marshall’s performance.

Isn’t it also time to start talking about a new contract?

 

We’re changing it up this week

Rather than our usual Monday stock watch article, let’s take a look at which players are poised to explode and which are destined for doom over the final three weeks of the season.

Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate the average number of fantasy points the opposing defense is giving up to that position per week and the corresponding rank based on all 32 teams.

 

Quarterbacks on the rise

Aaron Rodgers—Green Bay Packers: Week 15 at Pittsburgh (15.6, 7th), Week 16 vs. Seattle (19.9, 29th), Week 17 at Arizona (18.9, 25th).

Analysis: Despite a tough Week 15 matchup against the Steelers, Rodgers closes out 2009 with games against Seattle and Arizona. Remember, if safety Troy Polamalu is out for Week 15, that matchup gets much friendlier.

 

Matt Schaub—Houston Texans: Week 15 at St. Louis (18.8, 24th), Week 16 at Miami (19.5, 28th), Week 17 vs. New England (17.1, 14th).

Analysis: Schaub looks to be the top fantasy quarterback heading down the stretch for owners in leagues that play their championship game in Week 16. St. Louis and Miami rank in the bottom 10 in points allowed to opposing fantasy quarterbacks.

 

Alex Smith—San Francisco 49ers: Week 15 at Philadelphia (17.9, 17th), Week 16 vs. Detroit (23.1, 32nd), Week 17 at St. Louis (18.8, 24th).

Analysis: If Smith can post some decent numbers against the Eagles next Sunday, look for him to keep the momentum rolling as he gets a crack at both Detroit and St. Louis at the end of the year.

 

Quarterbacks falling

Carson Palmer—Cincinnati Bengals: Week 15 at San Diego (16.1, 9th), Week 16 vs. Kansas City (19.2, 27th), Week 17 at New York Jets (10.9, 1st).

Analysis: Two top 10 matchups to close out the year for a quarterback who’s been struggling to find the end zone is not a good sign. The only ray of hope here is Week 16 when Palmer gets a chance to light up Kansas City.

 

Tony Romo—Dallas Cowboys: Week 15 at New Orleans (14.8, 6th), Week 16 at Washington (14.5, 5th), Week 17 vs. Philadelphia (17.9, 17th).

Analysis: Yikes. Good luck with that, Romo.

 

Matt Ryan/Chris Redman—Atlanta Falcons: Week 15 at New York Jets (10.9, 1st), Week 16 vs. Buffalo (12.1, 2nd), Week 17 at Tampa Bay (18.4, 12th).

Analysis: The only appealing matchup here takes place in Week 17, when many owners are busy celebrating the trophy they won the previous week.

 

Running backs on the rise

Knowshon Moreno—Denver Broncos: Week 15 vs. Oakland (25.5, 30th), Week 16 at Philadelphia (17.7, 14th), Week 17 vs. Kansas City (24.0, 27th).

Analysis: The Eagles could pose a problem in Week 16, but if that’s the toughest defense Moreno owners have to worry about, I’d say you’re in good shape.

 

Tim Hightower/Beanie Wells—Arizona Cardinals: Week 15 at Detroit (24.4, 28th), Week 16 vs. St. Louis (25.5, 29th), Week 17 vs. Green Bay (13.3, 3rd).

Analysis: A Week 17 date with the Green Bay Packers will mean Wells and Hightower are headed to your bench, but favorable showdowns with Detroit and St. Louis make it well worth it.

 

Jerome Harrison/Chris Jennings—Cleveland Browns: Week 15 at Kansas City (24.0, 27th), Week 16 vs. Oakland (25.5, 30th), Week 17 vs. Jacksonville (16.3, 7th).

Analysis: After his performance in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, look for former CFL running back Chris Jennings to start assuming more of the workload. He’s an excellent waiver-wire addition you should be targeting this week.

 

Running backs falling

Matt Forte—Chicago Bears: Week 15 at Baltimore (14.9, 4th), Week 16 vs. Minnesota (12.2, 1st), Week 17 at Detroit (24.4, 28th).

Analysis: Forte is making a strong case for bust of the year, so owners shouldn’t hesitate to bench him during his Week 15 and 16 matchups. Week 17 against Detroit is a solid play, but many owners will have wrapped up their seasons by that point.

 

Rashard Mendenhall—Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 15 vs. Green Bay (13.3, 3rd), Week 16 vs. Baltimore (14.9, 4th), Week 17 at Miami (17.5, 12th).

Analysis: He’ll see touches, but Mendenhall owners can’t feel confident about three games against three of the NFL’s top 12 fantasy run defenses.

 

LaDainian Tomlinson—San Diego Chargers: Week 15 vs. Cincinnati (15.9, 5th), Week 16 at Tennessee (18.8, 19th), Week 17 vs. Washington (16.1, 6th).

Analysis: With nine rushing touchdowns in his last seven games, it will be tough for LT owners to consider sending their first-round pick to the bench. Outside of the tough remaining schedule, keep in mind that Tomlinson is averaging just 57.3 rushing yards per game over his past six outings.

 

Wide receivers on the rise

Nate Burleson—Seattle Seahawks: Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay (22.7, 27th), Week 16 at Green Bay (19.1, 13th), Week 17 vs. Tennessee (27.2, 32nd).

Analysis: Two home games against soft fantasy pass defenses make Burleson an excellent WR2/WR3 option in Weeks 15 and 17. But be very cautious about his Week 16 game at Green Bay. Cornerback Charles Woodson will make life very difficult for Burleson.

 

Antonio Bryant—Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 15 at Seattle (26.4, 31st), Week 16 at New Orleans (21.6, 24th), Week 17 vs. Atlanta (20.4, 19th).

Analysis: Take three good matchups, throw in some garbage-time numbers, and you get a reliable fantasy wideout for the home stretch.

 

Donald Driver/Greg Jennings—Green Bay Packers: Week 15 at Pittsburgh (20.8, 22nd), Week 16 vs. Seattle (26.4, 31st), Week 17 at Arizona (23.0, 28th).

Analysis: No wide receiver has a better remaining schedule than Driver and Jennings. In addition, they’ll be playing for the rights to the first wild-card spot, so there’s virtually no chance of them sitting out the final game(s).

 

Wide receivers falling

Roddy White—Atlanta Falcons: Week 15 at New York Jets (12.6, 1st), Week 16 vs. Buffalo (14.1, 31st), Week 17 at Tampa Bay (22.4, 27th).

Analysis: A Week 15 date with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis spells disaster for fantasy owners.

 

Chris Chambers—Kansas City Chiefs: Week 15 vs. Cleveland (18.4, 8th), Week 16 at Cincinnati (16.5, 5th), Week 17 at Denver (16.4, 4th).

Analysis: Chambers was a fun story for a few weeks, but fantasy owners need to look for more reliability during the playoffs. His upcoming schedule is a disaster, and a Week 17 meeting with Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey means you must leave him on the bench.

 

Chad Ochocinco—Cincinnati Bengals: Week 15 at San Diego (18.7, 9th), Week 16 vs. Kansas City (21.7, 25th), Week 17 at New York Jets (12.6, 1st).

Analysis: Consider Ocho a solid play in Week 16 but a risky start anytime else. Week 17 features a matchup with Revis, so owners should already be thinking about another option.

 

Tight end quick hitters

Tight ends on the rise

1. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
2. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints
3. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings

Tight ends falling

1. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
3. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

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NFL’s Changes in Post-Concussion Treatment a “Headache” for Players

In Tennessee, Arizona Cardinals’ backup quarterback Matt Leinart faced off against a Tennessee Titans squad led by his college nemesis Vince Young, and lost.

In Baltimore, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Dennis Dixon, who had previously completed a grand total of one pass in the NFL, met “Joe Cool” Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in primetime and lost.

Why is this an issue worthy of writing about, you ask?

Both Leinart and Dixon found out they were starting after Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger found out Saturday that they were scratched due to post-concussion symptoms that prevented them from playing.

Warner woke up Saturday morning with dizziness and fuzzy vision, and Roethlisberger was complaining about headaches. Once the coaching staffs of each team found out, it was over. Warner didn’t even dress; Big Ben was relegated to third-string emergency status.

Enter Leinart and Dixon, neither of which had any idea they would be starters, and therefore had no preparation for the games they were about to play in.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I am neither advocating that either starter should have been in the game, nor am I stating beyond a shadow of a doubt that the games would have ended any differently if they had. I am also not implying that Leinart or Dixon would have fared any better had they been given opportunity to get more reps in practice.

They are backups for a reason, after all.

What I am saying is this: the NFL’s increased—might I add long overdue—attention towards and impending changes to their treatment of players exhibiting post-concussion symptoms is something that teams are going to have to prepare better for.

There is nothing that can substitute for the speed and stress of a game, but getting time with the first team in practice is crucial to the game plan. In Dixon’s case, for example, Pittsburgh could have thrown in a few more wrinkles that would allow him to utilize his skill set better.

It also would have given him more opportunity to get his reads down, and he might not have thrown a pick to a big, slow, lumbering defensive end who dropped off in zone coverage in overtime.

In Leinart’s case, he could have used the week to get his timing down and might have been able to connect on more of his longer pass attempts.

But one thing is certain: the rest of the offense for both teams would have been prepared for the decision and any adjustments that needed to be made could have been handled in practice instead of the locker room just prior to the game. 

Concussions have long been a little-talked-about issue, the 500-pound gorilla in the living room that no one wanted to acknowledge. Players have played with their bells rung for years, and none of them thought twice about “shaking off the cobwebs” and getting back in the game.

But thanks to advances in technology, as well as a better understanding of the workings of the human brain, the issue isn’t quite as taboo as it once was. Players are monitored closely following concussions, and if they can’t pass the battery of post-concussion tests, they sit. Period.

The players don’t like it too much, but it looks like they are going to have to live with it. The onus is now on the coaches to ensure that when a player suffers a concussion in a game, they know and understand that there are going to be changes in how it is handled. Backups are going to have to be ready to go and coaching staffs are going to have to make sure they get the preparation necessary.

In short, everyone is going to have to suck it up and live with the changes.

Ironically, that’s just what the new treatment of concussions will allow them to do down the road.

Live with it.

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College Football Players Who Would Look Good in a Cleveland Browns Uniform in the 2010 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns have had a very bad decade of draft picks since their rebirth in 1999.

Notables like Courtney Brown and Gerrard Warren are only a few of the names of the players the Browns have selected over much more productive All-Pro players.

Once again in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Browns past over several future All-Pro players the likes of Clay Matthews III and Rey Maualuga.

With the college football regular season coming to a close, the following are several players that would look very good in the orange and brown and hopefully Browns management will take a long hard look at these guys so if they have a chance to draft them, then they will not pass them by too.

In no particular order, here are this journalist’s opinion on one player per each position of need for the Browns.

Begin Slideshow

Driver, Woodson Two Players to Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

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Five NFL Players Who Should Be in Their First Pro Bowls This Season: AFC Offense

Yesterday I wrote an article on five NFC offensive players that should be in their first Pro Bowl this season and mentioned that I would also do one on the AFC offense, AFC defense and an NFC defense article, Here is the one for the AFC offense.

The Pro Bowl is a very important memroble achievement in an NFL player’s career. In a NFL player’s first Pro Bowl it is an unknown thing for the player and it is great to see that such first time Pro Bowler play well.

I feel these five guys should be in their first Pro Bowl this season and I bet most of you do also. All readers of this article, Please vote these players on your AFC Pro Bowl ballot the players are very deserving and some of the best players in the NFL at there respective position.

Even if these such players do not make it in to their first Pro Bowl this season I expect to see them in one in the near future. Without further ado, Here are five AFC offensive players that should be in their first Pro Bowl this season.

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Five NFL Players Who Should Be In Their First Pro Bowl This Season: NFC Offense Edition

Every NFL season at the Pro Bowl the NFL’s best come to play. You get to see things like Peyton throwing to Moss or Brees to Fitzgerald.

The Pro Bowl is a game of the elite even though the game does not count it symbolizes that the players in it are one the best in their conference at their position.

This season I believe the NFC offense will have many first time Pro Bowlers may it be a QB, RB or WR. These players have stood out this season and people have taken notice and deserve to be in the Pro Bowl.

All readers of this article vote these players on your ballot on NFL.com they are deserving of your vote ,they have played as one of the best in the NFL at their respective position.

Even if these five players do not make it to the Pro Bowl this season I expect to see them in there in the near future. There will be a NFC defense, AFC offense, and AFC defense dition in the near future.

Begin Slideshow

Oakland Raiders: Seven Games to Find Seven Players

The season is not over for the Raiders. They are not going to feature in the playoffs in January, but this was very unlikely anyway going into the season.

Despite recording more losses than any other team since their Super Bowl loss in 2003, and despite being on target to register another double-digit loss this year, all is not lost in 2009 for the Silver and Black.

Oakland has some key players around which to build a team that will once again challenge for honors.

Shane Lechler (P), Richard Seymour (DE) and Nnamdi Asomugha (CB) are all elite players, great role models and leaders.

Robert Gallery (OG), Thomas Howard (LB) and Sebastian Janikowski (K) are stand-out players who would be considered for the Pro Bowl if they played on winning teams.

The Raiders also have a good number of promising young players who are really growing: Mario Henderson (OT), Zach Miller (TE), Michael Bush (RB), Matt Shaughnessy (DE), Tyvon Branch (S), Chaz Schilens (WR) and Michael Huff (S) all have bright futures ahead of them.

There are also a number of steady pro players on the roster who are happy to roll their sleeves up and do a job: Cooper Carlisle (OG), Justin Fargas (RB), Chris Johnson (CB), Tommy Kelly (DT), Kirk Morrison (LB), Jon Condo (LS), and Greg Ellis (DE)

This means that the Raiders have around 20 players (and up-to 18 starters) who would not be out of place on a championship team. However, Oakland has far too many question marks against the other 33 members of the roster.

The remaining seven games of the 2009 season will tell us much more about the under-performing players. Some of these will need to be replaced, through free-agency and the draft, whilst the ones with potential will stand-up and be counted.

The seven remaining starting positions are all up for grabs and if the Raiders can engender the correct culture, with a willingness to improve, the last seven games should be very interesting indeed.

The seven jobs in question are:

QB: JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye all have losing records and poor career ratings. The Raiders will not be winners unless they can resolve this problem position.

Al Davis has invested so much money in Russell, but if he cannot break back into the starter’s role, the Silver and Black need a plan B.

WR: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jonathan Holland, Nick Miller, and Javon Walker are all dropping too many balls. Somebody from this group needs to put their hand(s) up.

FB: Luke Lawton and Gary Russell offer different things to the team, but can one of them be the lead-blocker the Raiders need?

RT: Cornell Green, Khalif Barnes, Erik Pears and even Langston Walker have been tried but too many penalties and too many sacks mean Oakland is still looking for the answer.

C: Samson Satele has shown glimpses of the ability that led the Raiders to trade for him, without being consistent enough yet to be a leader. Chris Morris adds depth to the roster but cannot be considered a regular starter.

DT: The Raiders need a monster NT to tie up blocks in the middle of the defensive line, allowing Seymour, Kelly and Shaughnessy/Ellis to wreak havoc in opposition backfields.

Gerard Warren can be effective and Desmond Bryant may develop given time but an Albert Haynesworth or Haloti Ngata type of player could make the Raiders a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball.

LB: Howard is a lock on the weak side and Kirk Morrison has the skills to move over and play the Sam position, but Oakland could use a dominating MLB. Ricky Brown is not the answer and the other LBs on the roster are currently more special teams players.

Seven games, seven positions: buckle up and enjoy the show.

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Come to Think of It: Top Ten Chicago Bears Players of All-Time

 

The Bears have a long and storied tradition, steeped in great players, mostly on the defensive side of the ball, though we have perhaps the best running back of all-time.

In fact, the Bears have retired the most uniform numbers of any NFL team.

Meanwhile, I guarantee you that a Chicago sports fan has a more difficult time limiting the best Bears to only 10 than in any other sport. Cubs, Sox, and Bulls are much easier to come up with. The Blackhawks would be a struggle too, but not as challenging as picking the top Bears.

I am sure to have left someone off the list who you, the Bears fan, feels is more worthy than someone I did include. Such is life and debate is what makes this site so great.

Heck, I left 13 HOF’ers off of my list!

So have at it, Bears fans, feel free to tell me where you disagree. But remember, it’s only my opinion. And opinions are like baring your soul to the world: everyone may not like what they see.

So, in no particular order…

 

Sid Luckman

During his 12 seasons with the Bears he led them to four NFL championships. Luckman was the first modern T-formation quarterback and is considered the greatest long range passer of his time. He was the league’s MVP in 1943.

It’s pretty sad that he is the only great QB in Bears history.

Walter Payton

Wow, what can you say about “Sweetness” that hasn’t already been said or written?

Walter held the league’s record for most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, and many other categories when he retired. In addition to being perhaps the greatest running back, he was simply one of the greatest football players of all-time.

He was extremely strong and durable, which made it even tougher to swallow when a rare liver disease took his life at such a young age.

Dan Hampton

“Danimal” played at a Hall of Fame caliber for 12 seasons, despite having to endure 10 knee surgeries.

During Hampton’s tenure with the Bears (1979-90), the Bears defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards, the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest total yards, the fewest points, and inflicted the most sacks.

Dick Butkus

Butkus was simply one of the meanest, fiercest, toughest competitors to ever play the game of football. He was arguably the greatest linebacker in NFL history.

Butkus recovered 25 fumbles in his career, an NFL record at the time of his retirement. He regularly led the Bears in tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries throughout his career.

Gale Sayers

“The Kansas Comet” averaged five yards per carry for his career. One of the most spectacular and elusive runners in football history, knee injuries shortened his great career.

A prolific kick and punt returner, Sayers still holds the NFL’s highest career kickoff return average (30.56) and is tied for most career touchdown returns.

Mike Ditka

“Iron Mike” Ditka may be better known as “Da Coach” of the Super Bowl Bears team of 1985, but he was a Hall of Fame tight end well before that.

Although he was a fierce blocker, Ditka transformed the tight end position to an effective offensive weapon as he appeared in the Pro Bowl every season with the Bears. Ditka was the first tight end elected to the HOF.

Did you know that Ditka’s last name was originally Dyczko?

Bronko Nagurski

Nagurski played a long time ago, back in the leather helmet days, when players often played on both sides of the ball. He was also the biggest running back of his time at 6’2” and 235 lbs.

A standout defensive lineman as well, he is the only player in history to be elected to the Pro Bowl at three different non-kicking positions. He was one of the charter members of the Hall of Fame.

Nagurski was also a professional wrestler during his football career. Did you know that his given first name was Bronislau?

Bulldog Turner

Clyde “Bulldog” Turner was a prolific center and linebacker who played on four championship teams.

While it’s hard to rate players from different eras, Nagurski was an eight time All Pro selection, is a member of the HOF, and the Bears retired his number.  That’s good enough for me.

Red Grange

Another charter member of the HOF, “The Galloping Ghost” was not only a great football player, he started his own league following a dispute with the Bears following his first season. The league lasted only one season and Grange returned to the Bears the next season.

In 2008, he was named the greatest college football player of all time by ESPN .

Speaking of the four letter, the following is a great quote from a story told by the obnoxious Chris Berman:

“I was interviewing George Halas and I asked him who is the greatest running back you ever saw. And he said, ‘That would be Red Grange.’ And I asked him if Grange was playing today, how many yards do you think he’d gain. And he said, ‘About 750, maybe 800 yards.’ And I said, ‘Well, 800 yards is just okay.’ He sat up in his chair and he said, ‘Son, you must remember one thing. Red Grange is 75 years old.”

Doug Atkins

At 6’8”, Atkins was one of the most feared defensive players ever, being enshrined in the Hall of Fame and as the leader of a devastating Bears defensive unit.

Atkins played 17 seasons in the NFL despite a variety of injuries, and was one of the meanest players ever. He was a starter in the Pro Bowl in eight of his last nine years with the team.

 

Honorable mention:

Mike Singletary

 

George Blanda

Dan Fortmann

Joe Stydahar

Bill George

George Trafton

George Musso

George McAfee

George Connor

Link Lyman

Bill Hewitt

Stan Jones

Ed Healey

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The Most Underrated Players on the Teams who won’t make the Playoffs

This picture is not of Deangelo Williams, in fact, this is a picture of Jarius Byrd taking down the Pro Bowl running back. A rookie from Oregon, he currently has more interceptions than he has starts, (7 starts to 8 interceptions.) There are many unheralded players like Jarius who are having excellent years, but who aren’t getting any publicity because they’re playing for teams that are surrounded with disappointment. These are the teams who won’t make the playoffs, (I determined the teams who won’t make the playoffs are those with currently 3 or less wins.) These are the ten Most Underrated Players on the ten teams not going to the playoffs.

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Memo To The NFL: Fines Do Not Hurt Players, Suspensions Hurt Players

If there is one thing I believe the league and commissioner Roger Goodell are doing wrong, it’s the fining of players.

It absolutely baffles me that you believe a fine of say, $10,000 actually means anything to a player who’s game check is probably $200,000 plus.

Not to mention, the fine to the “employee” of the league and the team is tax deductible.

It’s a write off for any professional athlete, actually.

Now yes, they may be without that money for a while, but ultimately it does not concern them—obviously.  If it did, they would probably no longer do whatever earned them the fine in the first place, for fear of the repercussions! 

But in today’s NFL and in other pro sports, this is sadly not the case.

Lets a take a look at an example of just what I mean here in the NFL. Now, obviously the easiest target/example will be Chad Ochoinco (Johnson).

Mr. Ochocinco was recently fined $20,000 by the league for his attempted “bribe” of an official to get a call to go his team’s way.

Now, even if Ochocinco’s intentions were playful and a joke, the NFL is not going to sit idly by and let anyone believe for second, jokingly or not, that an official can be bought or bribed by players to affect the outcome of the game.

Now I know it was all in fun and I actually laughed too when I saw it, but the fact remains I knew a big fine was coming.

I honestly thought the $20,000 was a bit low for something the league considered such an outrage, but that’s what he got.

Now after giving an example of what I am talking about here in this piece as far as fines go, let’s get back to my original point of fines not hurting professional athletes.

The only sure fire way to hurt a professional athlete is very simple and it holds true to anyone really.

Suspend them without pay—period.

If you suspend an athlete without pay, he is now being held accountable for his actions more than any tax deductible fine is going to hurt them or deter them from doing that action.

Professional athletes make their money by playing the games they are getting paid to play. You take the chance to play away from them, you then hit them where it hurts the most, in their wallets.

And not in a tax deductible fine way.  No, this is a you don’t get paid way. Much worse to anyone that is trying to make a living wouldn’t you agree?

If the NFL and other leagues would take the initiative and suspend players without pay it would most definitely deter them from committing that act again. As they would know it could possibly mean not receiving their paycheck in their next game(s).

Not to mention, it could also hinder them from reaching a certain statistical point in which bonuses kick in from their contracts.

A very stiff punishment maybe, but not when you take into consideration some of the things that have occurred on the field recently and in the past that have injured players or made the NFL out to be something they do not want to be.

It’s a very simple solution to me for the NFL. If you want to truly control the flamboyant end zone celebrations and all the cheap shots that happen. All you need to do is set the bar saying you WILL suspend that player if found guilty of the infraction and will do so from that point on.

No player in any league actually plays for the team they are on anyway; they play for the only true team they know—themselves.

There may be no “I” in team, but there is also no “we” either.

They are looking out for number one and number one only.

You take something away from them, the next time they are in that same or similar situation, they will re-think it before it happens and most likely will not continue with the infraction then, or in the future.

Now, yes, of course, you will still see helmet to helmet hits, personal fouls etc. But, I believe if the league were to set a precedent early on about this policy, you would see a decline in penalties of that nature.

If you want to control professional athletes, hit them where it hurts them the most—in their wallets.

 

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