Just being a fan today...

So I'm trapped at my mother's house today without my usual tools I use to wander around the web for NFL Jabber. Oh I could still do it, I really just don't feel like it. Instead I have decided to just be a sports fan today and browse around some of my favorite sites. Which leads me back here to The Bloghouse because I feel I have to share.

A couple of things I wanted to share are Sports by Brooks new girl, Teressa. Yep, that's both of them...Click on the link to see Teressa and here reasons.

Elsewhere on the net...Kissing Suzy Kolber does a fine literary piece on Sarah Shahi (with hot video) and the new Dolphins cheerleader, Ashley White...yummy.


Sara Shahi

Could you imagine the response from the Browns fans if Derek Anderson started the season as the QB? Michael David Smith discusses that being likely in The Fanhouse. (Straying from today's chick theme now...)

Mixing football and females... I stumbled across an interesting concept this week. A Librarian that loves fantasy football...and takes the time to blog about it. Stop in and check out the Fantasy Football Librarian.

The ProFootballTalk.com Turd Watch is celebrating 28 days without an arrest...the record keeps climbing. The Jax Jags are still holding a solid lead with 41 points.

tag: nfl, football, pro football talk, pfw, turd, alert, babes, browns, fantasy, fanhouse, kissing suzy kolber, ksk, sports by brooks, sara shahi, video, ashley white, cheerleader, dolphins, turd alert

Fantasy Football-The Movie

This is a little dated but funny nonetheless. Anyone that has played the game for sometime should get some chuckles out of thee videos...

tag: nfl, football, sports, fantasy football, video, comedy

Draft Focus/Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson
WR, Georgia Tech
6-4, 239
40-4.33 (with borrowed shoes)

Calvin Johnson is one of those guys that seems to have everything an NFL scout and team are looking for. Size, speed, and a guy that isn't going to get in the paper for the wrong reasons. In three years at Georgia Tech he racked up 28 TD's and 2927 yards (both school records). he made All-American two out of the three years and gained a Biletnikoff award and ACC player of the year in 2006. although in a losing effort, he capped off his career with nine grabs for 186 yards and a couple of TD's in the Toyota Gator Bowl. He amazed scouts at the combine with a 4.33 with borrowed shoes (he originally said he wouldn't be running), an 11 foot standing broad jump and a vertical leap of 43 inches.

Zero character issues. Describes himself as a cross of Randy Moss and Terrell Owens with Marvin Harrison's demeanor. A big guy and fast. Can leap tall buildings and has great hands. Great blocker and a team player. Can create great separation. Some scouts have said he is the best WR prospect they have ever seen. Highly touted as the best player in the 2007 draft.

Little on the downside with this guy and that is why his stock is soaring. Could be scary to see what happens with a consistent QB. Has had some dropped balls that he shouldn't have dropped but he is young and can be coached. Does not always play at top speed.

Johnson has been compared by many to Arizona WR, Larry Fitzgerald.

Some thoughts on Johnson...

"I think character isprobably one of the biggest contributors to that," Tech coach ChanGailey said. "There are a lot of talented guys, but the character that
he possesses moves him to the top of the list."

Said one regional scout from an AFC franchise:

"For a guy that size to
do the things that he does, and to make it all look so easy ... is
amazing."

“He needed a pair of gloves. That’s all he needed was a pair of gloves,” said Tom Shaw, an NFL performance trainer working with several players in preparation for the NFL Combine. “Nike sent him a box of three gloves and he was in heaven. “He’s going to shock some people, but then again Reggie Bush shocked some people and he fell to No. 2. The word is, everyone’s saying that Tampa Bay is going to take Calvin. Calvin Johnson is the best player, football player, person, athlete, dedicated ...He’s definitely in the top three.”

Who wants Calvin Johnson? Just about everyone. Needs of teams will play a role. He could go as high as #1 to the Raiders but as of now the Raiders are in desperate need of a QB. It is possible the Raiders could take Johnson and still address QB in the 2nd round with Drew Stanton. The is also alot of talk about the possibility of the Raiders making a move for David Carr which would open things up. If Johnson makes it past the Raiders, the Lions would not miss on the Wr selection this time if they pulled the trigger. Johnson should not fall past the Bucs at #4.

Fantasy Outlook: WR rarely make a fantasy impact in their rookie season. The team that lands Johnson in the draft will determine his fantasy draft spot. He will go higher than most rookie WR's usually do in re-draft leagues. In deeper Dynasty/Keeper leagues he could be the first rookie taken.

TINO's Bloghouse
tag: nfl, draft, football, sports, fantasy football, raiders, buccaneers, lions, georgia tech, ncaa, acc, pro day, prospect, college, calvin johnson

Draft Focus/JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell
QB, LSU
6-6, 263 (varies on where you see it)
40-Did not run at the combine. 4.8 at LSU Pro Day



JaMarcus Russell is a huge QB that has shined since getting the starting job at LSU. 25-4 record as a starter. He has a 61.9% completion percentage with 52 TD's to 21 INT's. In the 2007 Sugar Bowl he led the Tigers to a 41-14 win over Notre Dame and his draft nemesis Brady Quinn. His performance made him the Sugar Bowl MVP. Russell could have set his draft fate in stone with his dominating Pro Day performance.

Russell is what you can call a beast. He is big, strong and hard to bring down. He can take a hit and still make the throw. Has great body control. He is athletic and can run as needed. Even on the move he is looking down field for the big play and will go underneath if the play is there rather than run. He is very intelligent and has shown he can be a leader in tight situations. Can rocket the ball down field with a flick of the wrist. Russell could have set his draft fate in stone with his dominating Pro Day performance. He dropped nine pounds from his combine weight to his Pro Day scale hop. Character issues are not a problem, in fact he made national news helping after Hurricane Katrina.

Weight seems to be a cause for concern for some scouts. He is still considered a bit raw. His accuracy can use improvement and he tends to force the ball with over confidence. Work ethic and the will to win have been questioned.

The biggest comparison is to Daunte Culpepper. Some think that Randy Moss made Culpepper as a QB and he may just get to have the chance to help Russell shine. At this point the magic 8 ball would say, "All signs point to yes," as far as if the Raiders are going to take Russell with the #1 overall next month. It certainly is not a slam dunk though as WR Calvin Johnson's stock is rising rapidly.

Some quotes from Raiders Coach, Lane Kiffin after his Pro Day workout.

"Being away from these receivers and to come back and throw as well as he did shows who he is," Kiffin said."He was 265 at the combine," Kiffin said. "Dropping nine pounds knowingthis was a big day shows his commitment and shows that his mind's in the right place."

On Russell saying he could have done better in some spots...

"Obviously, there's always a lot of room for improvement," Kiffin said. "That's what you want to hear a quarterback say, too."

If the Raiders did by chance take a pass on him, there are plenty of other teams that would love to have him. The Lions, Dolphins, Vikings, and Browns are said to be in the market for a franchise QB if the right guy is there at their pick.

Fantasy Outlook: For 2007 things are bleak if he lands with the Raiders. At the most he may be a bye week filler or injury replacement. Will likely go late or undrafted in re-draft leagues. In Dynasty and Keeper Leagues Russell will be sought after. Depending on where he lands will determine how soon and how much he will produce.

TINO's Bloghouse
tag: nfl, draft, sports, football, ncaa, lsu, raiders, lions, browns, vikings, fantasy football, jamarcus russell

A Year In Fantasy Land/Quest to Repeat Pt. 1

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*This is the first installment in a series of articles that will chronicle my fantasy football season in the hopes of a repeat Championship.

I was with my brother at The Arena in East Dubuque, Ill watching the Saints demolish the Giants. I looked over at another TV and see Steven Jackson just ran in the winning score in overtime over the Washington Redskins. Jackson put up 252 total yards with a couple of TD's. That was good for 38.2 points in the first TUDL Championship game. It was time to make the call. Rich had to hear about this...now.

My championship run was unlikely the way the season ended. I lost two in a row to end the season and fell out of the top spot in my division. I would end up with the 4th seed in a wildcard spot. I could not have had much better opponents in the playoffs. Rivalries make it sweet.

Round One
In the first round I put away "Football Joe." Our rivalry is not a long one, this was our first year playing together and Joe is one of those guys that make our game fun. Always ribbing and talking the smack without crossing the line. Score 201-190.4. A win for me.

Round Two
I have owned my friend Byron in many leagues over the years. I think his wife could cheat on him the same Sunday we play each other and he would be more bothered by the fact that I just beat him again. Score 214.3 to 145.9. A win for me, a night of Byron's wife trying to get him to get out of the fetal position on the living room floor and come to bed.

Championship Game
Rich and I go back to the 2nd grade. My fantasy nemesis and I have been playing each other for years. I have said the last couple of years that I liked him better when he didn't know anything. He has really raised his fantasy football game. Not enough however as my Round Rock Bullz put him away, 220.9 to 147.1. Being able to make that phone call was like raising the Lombardi. I couldn't have asked for a better person to be pitted against and rub his face into a muddy fantasy football field.

That brings us to the present. I was thinking recently about how it would be kind of fun to chronicle a year of fantasy football. What better time than following a title run? Hey, I have a platform to do that right here! If I succeed in winning another title I will have a link to email everyone in the league for years to come as well.

I'm a fantasy football junkie. My wife calls herself a football widow and I would agree. In the time we have been together it has gotten worse (for her, better for me) . It was only a matter of time before I was in fantasy leagues that went year round. The league, TINO Ultimate Dynasty League is a year round dynasty league (hence the name) that uses Individual Defensive Players as well as the common offensive lineup. Twelve teams with a good group of owners. The most competitive league I think I have ever been in.

The offseason is broke down into various stages. There are a couple free agent bids before Restricted Free Agency in April, then the rookie draft in early May. Of course there are trades and offers along the way and will have to post some thoughts after the fact as to not give away the winning formula to my foes. Come back and join me...

Next up...Two waves of free agency and trades before rookie draft prep.

TINO's Bloghouse
tag: nfl, fantasy football

TINO's Friggen Football Links

A links page has been added to TINO. Tons of football links and NFL Mock Draft links are now at your disposal. CLICK HERE to check them out.

Welcome to the Bloghouse!

Come on in! This is the first post here for the new Bloghouse. Let me introduce myself. I'm Lee and what I do here is take a look around the world of football to see what's happening, what makes me laugh and what ticks me off.

The Bloghouse turned a year-old this week but this is the first post here. to check out some of the old Bloghouse content, CLICK HERE.

There is no guy named Tino. That is short for There is No Offseason, our Football Fansite. The site just turned a year old (as you can see with the young ladies on the below). We are in the process of revamping the home page so if you check it out look past that please.

Things you will find at TINO...
***A group of knowledgeable guys who love the game.
***The Forums. Forums are free so just sign up! Of course this covers football but you will also just have guys hanging out talking about whatever comes to mind. We nominate and vote for the TINO Cheerleader of the Year and currently have the 2007 Tournament of Babes voting going on. If interested you can jump in on these at anytime.
***The Bloghouse: A daily (when possible) blog where we take a look at what is going on around the football world and pass it on to you. Filled with football related links.
*** The Sports Bar Directory: Ever travel and not know where to go to catch the game? Our vision is to compile a list of Sports Bars that can help the rabid fan out. As you know, we live in a big country so it's a huge help to have people submit their favorite places.
***Fantasy Games. We currently run a Re-Draft, Dynasty, Dynasty with IDP's Fantasy football leagues based at TINO. We are forming a Auction/Keeper league as you read this so if your interested look for the Auction/Keeper forum in the message boards. For the "offseason" we have our first year of Fantasy NASCAR running to pass the time. We will have a NCAA BB Bracket. During the season we also have NFL Pick'em, NCAA Pick'em, and an NFL Survivor game.


So stick around and enjoy your stay at TINO!