2009 fantasy recap, week #10

Monday was the anniversary of not one but two recent Eagles tie games: their 1997 debacle against the Ravens (10-10) and their 2008 debacle against the Bengals (13-13). Here’s how some of the Philadelphia team celebrated the joyous occasion:

Brent Celek – Hung out downtown and tied people’s shoes for free.

Andy Reid – Ate an equal number of cheesesteaks and hoagies.

Reggie Brown – Wore a tie to practice. No one noticed, because they were surprised he was still on the team.

LeSean McCoy – Dined out at a Thai restaurant (merely a coincidence, though).

David Akers – Spit on the ground in disgust.

Donovan McNabb – He’s still waiting for the second overtime period.

QB: Peyton Manning, 33.08 pts – started by Paul
RB: Chris Johnson, 40.87 pts – started by NewMike
WR: Randy Moss, 32.93 pts – started by me
TE: Brent Celek, 15.13 pts – started by Ant
K: Connor Barth, 17.00 pts – sitting on the wire
DEF: Baltimore, 29.00 pts – started by Bobert
D: Charles Woodson, 12.50 pts – started by Heidi

I’ve never heard of Connor Barth either. He plays for the Bucs as of two weeks ago, and kicked three 50-plus-yard field goals on Sunday, tying an NFL record. Earlier this year he was beaten out for the Chiefs’ starting job by Ryan Succop, then beaten out by Dan Carpenter for the Miami starting job. I’ve never heard of them either.

Regardless, NewMike is starting to run away with this. I’m beginning to rethink the rules about letting new people in.

Here’s why Patriots coach Bill Belichick is an idiot.

On Sunday night, with his team leading by six points late in the final quarter but facing a 4th and 2 on their own 28 yard line, the genius coach opted to go for it instead of punting. If he converted, the Patriots could run out the clock and win the game. They didn’t, and the Colts had a short field with which to score the game winning TD less than two minutes later.

That’s not why he’s an idiot.

He’s an idiot because, facing a 4th and 2, Belichick called a passing play. Yes, the Patsies are a great passing team. Yes, their run game has some issues. But if you can’t pound the ball forward six feet in that situation, you should be punting the ball.

Here’s a breakdown of how teams have fared going for it on 4th-and-1 or 4th-and-2 over the last two weeks:

** Run plays: 9 conversions in 17 attempts (53 percent)
** Pass plays: 2 conversions in 11 attempts (18 percent)

For the record, only one of those short-to-go pass attempts came in the last two minutes of the game, so time wasn’t an urgent factor.

Memo to Andy Reid and the rest of the coaches in the NFL – Running plays count too. Try using them more.

Backup QB edition

3rd place: Bruce Gradkowski, -1.26 pts – sitting on the wire
2nd place: Chris Simms, -1.48 pts – sitting on the wire
1st place: Ryan Fitzpatrick, -1.76 pts – sitting on the wire

Not surprisingly, all three of these teams that were forced to use their backups for a while on Sunday (the Raiders, Broncos and Bills, respectively) lost their games. Fitzpatrick even managed to post a perfect 0.00 QB rating on Sunday (2 for 7, 6 yds, 1 INT), which made Simms’ 7.9 rating look impressive in comparison.

What is surprising is that Bears QB Jay Cutler didn’t make the list, despite his five INTs last Thursday night. Here’s hoping he’s got another one of those days queued up next week, when the Iggles come to town.

On Sunday, as I searched for the Eagles broadcast on satellite radio (my first mistake), I stumbled across the end of the Dolphins/Bucs game. Just as Ricky Williams broke free for a 27-yard run to set up the game-winning field goal, Miami radio announcer Jim Mandich let loose with this analysis:

We are on the brink of an impossible dream! The barn door is open and I see the pasture out there, screaming ‘Take me! Take me!’

The irony of the situation was that Miami’s field goal attempt was blocked by a cow that came roaming through the stadium at the last second. Tough break.

The Buffalo Bills, just nine games into a miserable season and just two days after "star" wide receiver Terrell Owens threw a fit on the sidelines during Sunday's loss, fired coach Dick Jauron on Tuesday, leaving the team in complete disarray.

I, for one, am completely stunned. I really though T.O.'s leadership would help turn that organization around.

Even when the Cowboys aren’t participating in illegal activities they’re still involved in morally questionable ones. Take for example, Junior Siavii. He’s only been with the team a few months, but already his true nature is shining through in his name:

Dallas Nose Tackle Junior S. Siavii
-- Alas, lad! I injure violins, eat socks --

Disgusting. Simply disgusting.

Click on the standings to make them bigger.

It’s not all bad news in this week’s standings – just look at who has come creeping up the charts. And there are still six teams within 200 pts of first place, so anything is possible …

… except Neal winning. There’s no way that can happen.

** Dad dropped to 11 back in the weekly picks. But he helped me install a new bathroom sink, and he correctly called the Dallas upset loss this week, so I won’t pick on him this week.

** Fare thee well, Eric “Triple Play” Bruntlett. If you, Brett Myers and Pat Burrell all end up on the same team, I’ll root for you a little.

** We’ve had our first trade of the season this weekend – Just a reminder that you only have a few more weeks before the trade deadline expires, so if you can find a way to get Adrian Peterson off of Neal’s bench, now is the time.

** We’re also done with the bye weeks (mercifully) but don’t forget that we do have Thursday games from here on out, so adjust your rosters accordingly. This week it’s Miami vs. Carolina, which is probably a big deal for some expatriate living between the two regions in the Bahamas, but not for anyone else.