Matt Stafford May Skip Combine; Draft Prospects Should Attend Combine www.associatedcontent.com/article/1483634/stafford_may_skip_combine_nfl_prospects.html?cat=49
Letter to Roger Goodell From NFL Fan Regarding Michael Vick’s Possible Reinstatement
Dear Roger Goodell,
I am writing to you about Michael Vick, and the possibility of him playing professional football for the NFL in the future. It is my understanding that you are considering reinstating Michael Vick to the NFL following his release from prison. I strongly urge you to ban Michael Vick from the NFL- PERMANENTLY! NFL players are our Nations heroes, with millions of children watching games and aspiring to be just like their favorite players. Please consider the message that you will be sending to our nations youth! Michael Vick had his opportunity to live the good life, but he threw it away quite carelessly. It is time to let some new talent into the game, rather than letting him return. I am a huge football fan, and watching rookies like Felix Jones walk onto the field is a testiment to the fact that there is more than enough talent out there, just waiting to be discovered. If you do reinstate Michael Vick to the NFL, I will boycott the NFL and all of their
sponsors, and urge everyone I can to do the same. I have started a petition to submit to you when the time is right. But I can tell you that in just 2 weeks, It has generated more than 4000 signatures of people that are willing to do the same. I can assure you that I will not stop with this petition, and will be at the frontlines protesting every game he will ever play in, and I guarantee that there will be tens of thousands of people there with me. Instead of reinstating him and marking the NFL with this awful stigma, think of all of the fans that you will be driving away from football. Please please please think of the fans!!!
Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Goodell.
Sincerely,
Caroline Bishop
NFL Wilcard Weekend Playoff Predictions 2008 Picks
Read the Full article here- Wildcard Weekend Playoff Prediction 2008 Picks by Michael Luchies
Atlanta (-2) vs. Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals may have the best wide receiving core ever assembled. Fitzgerald, Breaston, and Boldin make up the most dangerous trio in years if not ever. The problem for the Cardinals lies in their inconsistent running game. The Cardinals are dead last in rushing yards per game at only 73 yards per game. The Falcons do not share the same problem. Michael Turner and the rest of the Falcons average 152 rushing yards per game, which is 2nd overall in the NFL. The surprising Falcons have been led by Michael Turner, rookie QB Matt Ryan, and Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White. The Cardinals are 16th in rushing defense and will need a fantastic performance to stop the Falcons rushing attack.
Prediction: Even in Arizona, the Falcons balanced attack will outlast the Cardinals one sided offense. Since the Falcons don’t need to worry about the running attack, they will focus on Kurt Warner and be able to create pressure in the pocket. Expect the Falcons to play an overall solid game and defeat the Arizona Cardinals. Atlanta 31, Arizona 24.
Free 2008 Music City Bowl Tickets. Vanderbilt vs. Boston College
The Music City Bowl has increasingly been one of the hottest bowl tickets to get over the last few years. This years game will follow suit. Nashville is a prime location for sporting events and a great place to spend your New Years Eve. Stubs4Sale.com is having a giveaway for two tickets to the game on December 31st. The Vanderbilt Commodores will face off against the Boston College Eagles.
Entires must be made through a Youtube.com video. The video does not have to be more than 15 seconds long. The winner will be the fan that best displays “Why do you want to go to the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl” through a Youtube video entry. The video must be titled Stubs4Sale.com Music City Bowl ticket entry. The more creative and original, the better chance you have of winning. Here is your chance Vanderbilt fans, win two completely free tickets to the game!
The winner will be chosen on December 21st. The winner will receive two Row A tickets in the 3rd deck of LP Field. The game is sure to sell out so here is your chance for free tickets, no purchase neccessary.
Visit Stubs4Sale.com, or email Stubs4Sale@yahoo.com for any other details or questions about this contest. Videos can be submitted until December 20th at 11 pm EST.
Detroit Lions Christmas Wish List
Read Detroit Lions Christmas Wish List by Michael Luchies here
It’s that time of the year where everyone is constructing their Christmas wish lists, buying gifts, and thinking about spending the Holidays with family. When thinking about the Holidays it’s always important to think of those who are in need other than those who have everything. Who is in need more than the poor unfortunate Detroit Lions? The Lions are on their way to become the first ever NFL team with a 0-16 season. The state of the Lions is even worse than the Michigan economy, which is not an easy task. Here are several items on the Detroit Lions 2008 Christmas wish list;
A W
Too many L’s and not one W. The Detroit Lions really want a win for Christmas. A 0-16 season will make history, but not the history that the Detroit Lions want. A win would help the Lions spare a little extra embarrassment. Nothing can turn around the Detroit Lions 2008 season, but a win would feel like a Super Bowl victory at this point. The Lions have to attempt to not finish last in the NFL, but it’s going to take a lot at this point to avoid paying out extra millions for the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Fan Support
This is one thing on the Lions Christmas list that they won’t get this year. There are a select few die hard fans who will not give up their support under any circumstance, but most fans are fed up with the current state of the Lions. The Lions have not won a playoff game in 17 years, have not been to the playoffs in 9 years, and have only 31 wins in 8 seasons including this year. A fan base will only support a losing team for a certain period. After countless disappointing seasons, draft picks, and coaches, how are there any poor Lions fans left?
Heart, Brains, & Courage
The poor Lions don’t have heart, brains, or courage. At this point I think the Lions want to click their heels together and go home for the year. As defensive player Sean Cody stated “we don’t know how to win”. You have got to want it. You play hard on every play, play smart, and never give up, that’s how you win. The Lions are in desperate need of a heart, brains, and courage before the end of the season.
Fantasy Football Changes Needed; NFL Fantasy Format Updates
Read Fantasy Football Changes Needed; NFL Fantasy Format Updates by Michael Luchies here
Injuries, upsets, unpredictable games, suspensions, and fines all add to the excitement and unpredictability of fantasy football. It seems like fantasy football is getting more and more complicated every year. Many teams have had drastic changes to their starting lineups throughout the season. Among the players who have come out of nowhere this season include; Tim Hightower, Cedric Benson, the five running backs for the Broncos, Tyler Thigpen, Kolby Smith, Matt Cassel, Ryan Fitzpatrick etc. There is no possible way to predict some of these changes but there are other problems that fantasy football should address. Here are several issues with fantasy football and solutions to make the game more enjoyable;
Increased Running Back Positions Due to the 2+Back System; Over the last 10 years the emergence of the two back system has spread throughout the league. The Giants, Vikings, Lions, Raiders, Cardinals, Jets, Saints, Panthers, Jaguars, Falcons, Buccaneers, and several other teams all use multiple back systems. This is a trend that will not go away. NFL running backs have very short life spans in the NFL and teams are wising up to this fact. Splitting time between backs not only throws the defense off but also keeps both running backs fresh. Soon nearly all teams will have a viable 2nd string back that will get carries every game. This was not the case in the 90’s. Emmit Smith, Barry Sanders, and other all star backs never had a change of pace back that you could mention (besides decent fullbacks). There needs to be an extra running back spot to accommodate this new trend.
Short Term DL Spot:Many fantasy football owners are forced to drop an all-star player who is injured just so they can have a full team of starters for a week. Fantasy football needs a short term disabled list spot where when a player is “doubtful” or “out”, the player can be placed on the DL and another player can be picked up in their place for that week. The change would solve this problem and make many fantasy owners happier players.
NFL Driving Fans Away; Officiating and Management Frustrating Fans- Michael Luchies
NFL Driving Fans Away by Michael Luchies. Read the Entire Article Here
More than ever fans are being driven away from the NFL. This trend cannot be attributed to one factor, but many. The economy, bad officiating, new rules, ticket prices, the economy, and other factors all lead to the NFL losing fans. The NFL is still America’s biggest sport, but for how long if things get worse? Here are many of the contributing issues that have NFL fans saying “no thanks.”
Bad Officiating
Has there ever been a year with more blown calls than this year? We are seeing more and more calls that greatly affect the outcome of the game. The catch is that these calls are happening even in an era where instant replay is present. Let’s look at the Hochuli call in the Chargers/Broncos game. Jay Cutler was attempting to throw the ball when the ball slipped out of his hand prior to his arm moving forward.
The ball came out of his hand, landed behind him, and was recovered by the Chargers who had the lead and would have had the game sealed. Because of Ed Hochuli blowing the play dead, the Broncos kept the ball, scored and went on to win the game. The fault of this is not Hochuli who is a great referee and simply blew his whistle early; it is the NFL’s fault for not being able to change a call that was blown dead when needed. It was obvious to everyone at the game and watching the game on television that the play resulted in a fumble.
The NFL should have been able to reverse the call even though the whistle was blown. The allowance of these calls turns fans off of the game and even brings up conversations of conspiracy (which I believe to be false). Instant replay has also yielded changed calls in the wrong direction, such as the call made in the Steelers Chargers game that cost many sports bettor’s money.
The NFL isn’t and shouldn’t be concerned about betting trends, but because most of the action was on the Steelers to cover the spread, and the call changed the result in favor of “the house” many more fans are screaming conspiracy. These two calls are just the beginning of blown officiating calls that have occurred this year and contribute to fans being fed up with the NFL.
“Unruly fan rule”Read the rest here
Things Detroit Lions Fans Can be Thankful For This Thanksgiving- Michael Luchies
Things Detroit Lions Fans Can be Thankful For This Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving Lions fans. We really need something to be thankful for so here is my list of things Detroit Lions fans can be thanful for this Thanksgiving
The Season is Almost over
Soon Lions fans will be able to begin to forget 2008 and start building false hopes for 2009. After the first ten games of the season they still have the same amount of wins before the season started (0). Thankfully this dreaded 4 months of torture that is called a “season” is almost over. Thanks for coming fast 2009.
Detroit Lions Blacked Out; 97.1 The Ticket Gains Listeners
Detroit Lions Blacked Out; 97.1 The Ticket Gains
Listeners by Michael Luchies
For the second straight home game for the Detroit Lions, the stadium was under capacity. The NFL has a blackout policy that limits the area where an NFL game can be shown on television if the game is not sold out. Because of this rule the Detroit Lions have been “blacked out” of Detroit and neighboring cities. This rule severely hurts the television networks that broadcast the games to Detroit area homes. But where one party looses another gains.
Detroit radio networks have benefited from the Lions failure to continue to sell out games. Die hard Lions fans and more importantly fans of the teams who are assured victory when the play the Lions, are tuning in to radio stations such as 97.1 The Ticket. Read the rest of the article by Stubs4sale.com owner Michael Luchies here
NFL Week 10 Spread Locks; Betting Predictions
NFL Week 10 Spread Locks; Betting Predictions by Michael Luchies
Week 10 NFL locks:
Tennessee Titans -3 vs. Chicago Bears
Did the Bears just not nearly lose to the Lions in Chicago last week? Rex Grossman is once again the Bears QB and will be the same old Rex. The Titans are still undefeated and should take care of business on sunday. Rex Grossman has a world of hurt coming as the Titans boast the best defense in the NFL. Look for an ugly game overall, and for the Titans to take care of business by more than 3. Titans 24-13.
St. Louis Rams +8.5 vs. New York Jets
Steven Jackson struggled last week against the Cardinals after his first week back from injury. Jackson should be ready have a decent game out of the backfield this sunday against the Jets. After a loss to the Raiders the Jets came back a week later to have a comeback victory against the Chiefs and then beat the Bills last week. Favre has looked shaky over the last couple weeks and should give a gift or two to the Rams defense. Expect a tight game here that Jets barely pull out. 24-20 Jets, Rams cover
Green Bay Packers +2.5 vs. Minnesota Vikings
