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(Matthew Polly is our resident big shot book writer, and his new book Tapped Out is being released on November 17th. So close yet so far! For now enjoy his review of another MMA book, Big John McCarthy's "Let's Get It On")

Hopefully, the return of ?Big? John McCarthy as a referee for UFC on Fox 1 marks the official end of his banishment from the Octagon and his permanent return to his rightful place as the best referee in the sport. It is certainly a position he has earned. McCarthy has been part of MMA since before UFC 1 and inside the cage since UFC 2. He is responsible for most of the early rules, helping turn spectacle into sport. Shit, he coined the term ?mixed martial arts.?

But then he did the unforgivable. He quit the UFC and joined the Fight Network?a Rebel Alliance outpost in the remote, frozen tundra known as Canada. Even worse as a pundit and commentator, he expressed his views, suggesting that Dana White plays fast and loose with the truth and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has a tendency to hire (boxing) referees who are unqualified for MMA matches. After the Fight Network collapsed, he tried to get his old job back but was treated like a pariah by the NSAC and Dana White, who doesn?t seem to realize that being called a liar is a badge of honor for a fight promoter.

While in exile, Big John followed a time-honored tradition and wrote his memoir with the help of skilled MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, who knows a little about what it?s like to be on Dana?s bad side. The book has something for everyone. For hardcore fans, Big John recounts in detail his life as a referee and as a Los Angeles police officer. For TUF noobs, he provides a very, very extensive refresher course on the history of MMA, going into such detail that by page 226 he was still describing UFC 14 and I began to worry that this 418 page book was only the first in a trilogy.

By the end of the book, it is impossible not to like Big John. Sure, he might be a little short-tempered and rough around the edges, but he is fundamentally a good man. He loves his wife, his kids, and his parents. He believes in fairness, impartiality, loyalty, and trust. And he is self-critical, spending nearly as much time writing about his few mistakes in the cage as he does his many, many successes.

Which raises the question: Can a good man write a good memoir? The most entertaining memoirs tend to be written by chatty, catty, gossipy, vindictive, self-centered narcissits (see Donald Rumsfeld). Since the very beginnings of MMA, McCarthy has had the best seat in the house and clearly knows where all the bodies are buried. But if you are looking for dirt, read Dana?s mother?s screed, because Big John ain?t talking.

(More after the jump)

Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/book-club-big-john-mccarthy-let%E2%80%99s-get-it-on

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, Videos

The MMA Hour returns on Monday with another two-hour live show. Here's who will be stopping by:

* UFC 138 headliner Chris Leben will preview his fight against Mark Munoz.

* Matt Mitrione will discuss what went wrong in his loss to Cheick Kongo on Saturday night.

* Brad Pickett will talk about his UFC 138 co-main event fight against Renan Barao.

* Carlos Condit's manager Malki Kawa will explain why Condit chose to give up his title shot to Nick Diaz.

* Jason Hehir, the producer of UFC on FOX Primetime, will talk about the critically-acclaimed show.

Plus, we'll discuss all the news coming out UFC 137 and we want to hear from you. So, give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714.

*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.

Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

(Editor's note: The show is now over but the video should be back up Tuesday or Wednesday).

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/31/the-mma-hour-with-chris-leben-brad-pickett-malki-kawa/

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What started out as a very uplifting upset in the making Sunday turned into just the latest demoralizing disaster for a Cardinals team going nowhere fast. That they managed to blow a 21-point second-quarter lead and gained only 56 yards in the second half was bad enough. Making matters much worse were the primary culprits in their sixth straight loss — former Cardinals star WR Anquan Boldin on offense and, on defense, former Arizona State star Terrell Suggs, who many in the desert believe should have been a no-brainer No. 1 pick by the Cardinals back in 2003.

Boldin (seven catches for 145 yards) was flat-out unstoppable in the second half, making the Cardinals' CB trio of A.J. Jefferson, Patrick Peterson and Richard Marshall look silly on the way to setting up three short TD runs by Ray Rice. Suggs, meanwhile, made Cardinals OTs Levi Brown and Brandon Keith look equally silly while registering 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and two hits on Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb, who limped off the field at the end of the day with a reported case of turf toe.

The PFW spin

Could it get any worse for these Cardinals? Tune in next Sunday, when they begin their November schedule with a home game against the suddenly rejuvenated Rams, fresh off arguably the biggest upset victory in the NFL so far this season over the Saints.

The way things are going, the Cardinals are looking more and more like a potential candidate for the top pick in the 2012 draft. In most observers' eyes, that top pick shapes up as Stanford QB Andrew Luck. But with the Cardinals apparently committed to Kolb, who continues to struggle mightily, a different alternative would seem likely.

In the meantime, look for the Cardinals to keep tweaking their lineup, for better or worse. It's a good bet young OLBs O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho, who each had a sack and a forced fumble against the Ravens, will get a lot more playing time at the expense of veterans Joey Porter and Clark Haggans. Jefferson, who failed miserably in his attempts to cover Boldin, could be on his way to being replaced in the starting lineup by Marshall, who at least has more experience. Keith, who has been a turnstile more often than not the first half of the season, was replaced by Jeremy Bridges in the fourth quarter — a move that many close observers suspect might become permanent.

Beyond that, there doesn't seem to be any remedy for the major meltdown in the desert. Forget the fact that RB Beanie Wells showed considerable gumption while operating on a knee Sunday that obviously wasn't 100 percent. Same goes for the fact that four of the Cardinals' losses have been by four points or fewer.

Short of one of the all-time great turnarounds in NFL history, this season already looks like a lost cause for the Cardinals with a little more than half of their games remaining.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/31/cardinals-go-from-bad-to-worse-after-latest-meltdo

Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers anderson silva best mma bj penn

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News

Malki Kawa had a bad feeling when he heard his phone ring and looked at the caller ID. It was then that he realized UFC president Dana White was on the other line. UFC 137 had just ended 30 minutes earlier, and it was already after midnight on the east coast. It was not a time for mindless chit-chat. It was a time for serious business.

As is his style, White cut to the chase. Georges St-Pierre no longer wanted to fight Kawa's client Carlos Condit next. Instead, the UFC welterweight champ wanted to fight Nick Diaz, the winner of UFC 137's main event. We all now know the outcome. St-Pierre got the fight he wanted, and he'll be fighting Diaz in early February. Condit? He wasn't too happy, and he didn't exactly "step aside" as White told the media at the post-fight press conference.

"I could understand them coming to us like that," Kawa said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "The issue with the whole 'he decided to step aside,' obviously, that wasn't the case. There was no just stepping aside. There was a little bit more than that. It's going to take more than that. I think we're way more upset with Georges and the way Georges handled it than we are with the way Dana presented it or anything like that."

Everything changed in the moments after UFC 137. Diaz got the ball rolling by saying St-Pierre was scared and by questioning his injury just after his main event win. According to White, St-Pierre then "flipped out" and demanded that he bypass Condit and face Diaz next.

But as Kawa pointed out, Diaz had previously called out St-Pierre after he was originally replaced with Condit, and St-Pierre never responded. In addition to that, St-Pierre had gone on record saying that believed Condit presented the tougher challenge.

"I don't know if the emotions of the moment got to him, and he just decided to do that," Kawa said. "It's kind of un-Georges-like."

Kawa said that he and Condit didn't step aside as graciously as it sounded, describing the ordeal as "gut-wrenching."

"[Carlos'] words were, 'My heart hurts,'" he said.

But ultimately, Kawa said that they are "company men" who made the move that the promotion wanted. He also suggested that there was some financial reward for bowing out.

"Dana always does the right thing and in this case, he'll do the right thing again," he said.

Kawa said he tried to keep things in perspective by noting that he originally got Condit moved into the title slot with some hustle of his own, and that sometimes, that sort of thing works against you. He even candidly admitted that if he was Diaz's manager, he would have lobbied for the fight, too.

"Are we pissed off about it? Absolutely," he said. "But it's not like I've never been on other end of stick where I put one of my fighters ahead of someone else and another guy got shafted or screwed over. It's just business, it's not personal. It's nothing personal with Georges. Are we upset with him? Absolutely."

Meanwhile, Condit has every intention of fighting again instead of waiting to take on the St-Pierre vs. Diaz winner. Kawa said the UFC has thrown out some possibilities, but that nothing has been decided upon. The biggest factor is that it has to be someone that Condit can gain something from in fighting, mentioning Josh Koscheck and Jake Ellenberger as possibilities.

"It's more about whoever brings the most to the table," he said. "We want to make it a big-money fight. Whoever that is. Make it a big-money fight. A No. 1 contender, possibly make it a five-rounder if we could. And somebody who win, lose, or draw, we can take something from it."

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/31/manager-carlos-condit-mad-at-georges-st-pierre-not-ufc-for-lo/

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Filed under: UFC, News

LAS VEGAS -- Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic didn't get the sweet swan song he had hoped for, but the heavyweight striker did accomplish one of his goals, closing out his career with a crowd-pleaser at UFC 137.

Cro Cop ultimately fell to Roy Nelson in a third-round TKO. The Croatian had his moments in the fight, flooring Nelson briefly in the second round and keeping it competitive, with all three cageside judges having the bout tied 19-19 heading into the final frame. Nelson took over in the third and finished him with strikes 90 seconds in. Still, the 10,313 fans in attendance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center saw enough heart in Cro Cop's performance to send him off with a standing ovation.

More Coverage: UFC 137 Results | UFC 137 Post-Fight Press Conference

"Cro Cop's been a good guy since day we signed him," UFC president Dana White said. "Again, the guy is a warrior and legend, and done tons of great things in the sport. I know he's very disappointed in his run in the UFC. But I said it to you guys at the press conference before. I'm 42. At 38, to still be fighting with guys a lot younger, faster and more explosive than you, he came out and did what he said he was going to do. At the press conference he said, 'I'm going to give you guys a fight. Whether I win or I lose, it won't be a boring fight like the Frank Mir was. And it was not."

Cro Cop tried to leave the cage shortly after losing, but was asked to stay for a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. In a classy move, he thanked the promotion for treating him "like a king" and apologized for his inability to bring the same magic to the octagon that he had in the PRIDE ring earlier in his career.

Upset at the outcome of the fight, did not attend the post-fight press conference, however.

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Nelson, who snapped a two-fight losing streak with the victory, credited the veteran's performance and skill.

"He came to bang and he came to throw," said Nelson (16-6). "He's one of those guys who can still fight. He hits hard, he's very competitive. It's one of those fights that for me, I wanted to make sure I was the guy to go out there and win. It feels good to be back in the 'W.'"

Cro Cop, once considered the most fearsome striker in the heavyweight division, closed out his career losing each of his last three fights by stoppage.

He went just 4-6 in his 10-fight run in the octagon, but retires with a record of 27-10-2 with 1 no contest. In the end, fans won't necessarily remember the numbers. What they will remember for sure are his devastating high kicks which led to many of his 20 knockout finishes, and led him to coin the phrase, "right leg, hospital, left leg, cemetery."

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/30/mirko-cro-cop-goes-out-with-grace-and-fan-adulation-but-no-victor/

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Christian Ponder, Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin all played big roles in the Vikings' 24-21 win over the Panthers in Charlotte, but you have to give the defense some mention, too. It created two big turnovers in the first half and then made enough big plays down the stretch to help the team earn the victory. The defense might be crippled by injuries, but it did what it could on Sunday.

The PFW Spin

The defense made a big early statement. How early? First-play-of-the-game early. E.J. Henderson came on a blitz and knocked the ball out of the strong hands of Panthers QB Cam Newton, which was recovered by Jared Allen. That turnover set up the Vikings' first touchdown after Ryan Longwell had missed a FG attempt the series before.

After the Vikings trailed 14-7, Harvin lost a fumble deep in Panthers territory and Newton and Co. drove near midfield, looking to make it a two-score lead before halftime. But Allen put a textbook pass-rush move on Panthers OLT Jordan Gross, beating him upfield on straight speed, and made a smart move going for the strip and not the kill shot. Not only is Newton too big to bring down with a one-arm tackle, but he also was cocking back the throw and leaving the ball exposed to Allen for sack No. 12½. Chad Greenway fell on the loose ball to give possession to the Vikings.

Although the defense didn't have a great first half, allowing 232 yards and 15 first downs, it made enough big plays to keep the team in it. In the second half, after the Panthers drove the field and took the lead again on their first drive of the third quarter, the Vikings once more tightened up. They forced three consecutive three-and-outs and pressured Newton well.

After Ponder directed the Vikings to a 24-21 lead on an impressive drive, it was Newton's chance. He rolled the Panthers down the field as the Vikings gave up big plays, including a 44-yard gain on 4th-and-15 — a play in which CB Cedric Griffin didn't sink enough and S Tyrell Johnson was playing far too deep.

But the "D" made some nice plays throughout the course of the game and held on at the end. Sure, a questionable holding call on Steve Smith on Newton's red-zone scramble and a shocking FG miss from 31 yards out by Olindo Mare helped as well.

Was it a perfect performance by Fred Pagac's defense? No. But it was a good effort by a banged-up secondary to hang in there despite the Panthers' impressive offensive talent. The Vikings' defensive line set the tone early and helped carry it through for most of the contest to victory.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/31/vikings-defense-makes-enough-plays-in-win

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Source: http://www.mmaforreal.com/2011/2/3/1972957/ufc-officially-announces-fights-for-mays-ufc-130

Mike McCormack Frank Gatski Ozzie Newsome Joe DeLamielleure Gene Hickerson Joshua Cribbs

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Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/ufc-137-chat-is-up

Frank Gatski Ozzie Newsome Joe DeLamielleure Gene Hickerson Joshua Cribbs USC Trojans football

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I'm getting a little bit sick of the international game of musical chairs going on regarding foreign TUFs. Every week it seems like there's a new country getting it's own TUF, and a new schedule for when they're going to happen. Whatever. I'm just 'reporting' this crap. Now it sounds like the first people getting an exotic Ultimate Fighter season will be ... Brazil!

The UFC has finally, officially signed a deal to produce its first international edition of The Ultimate Fighter.

And despite UFC president Dana White's past statements that it would probably take place in either Canada or The Philippines, it will instead take place in Brazil.

"It's a done deal," White said on Thursday afternoon.

White said the UFC had signed a deal to produce and air the series in Brazil, though he did not yet know exactly where it would take place. But the series is also likely to air in the U.S. Under the promotion's new FOX deal, White said there are ongoing discussions, and that the show is likely to air on FUEL.

"Let me tell you what, if you're a UFC fan, you want FUEL," he said. "FUEL's going to be loaded with all kinds of UFC programming including live fights, and live fights from other countries."

Translation: FUEL will be the dumping ground for all the strange UFC odds and ends. Not that I'm complaining. I look forward to 3pm showings of UK fight nights and the subtitled shenanigans of foreign TUFs. The great thing about FUEL is no one gives a shit about the Jay Mohr debating show or surfing garbage they have on there right now so everything from foreign events to press conferences are a major step up.

I'm not all that surprised that Brazil seems to be ending up first in line for their own TUF. After the media bonanza and amazing response to UFC RIO, you'd have to be more brain damaged than your average TV exec to turn down an opportunity to broadcast a UFC reality series. Now we can go ahead and start speculating about who's gonna coach the teams. I vote for Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. The fight would probably be a slaughter, but I think Wand's life is a small price to pay for a solid first season of EL LUTADOR ULTIMO!!!!!

Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/tuf-brazil-is-good-to-go

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Source: http://www.mmaforreal.com/2011/2/5/1976284/lights-out-radio-presented-by-mmaforreal-com-episode-280-ufc-126

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The UFC's commentary team just gained a member. Enter Jon Anik, former host of ESPN's MMA Live. He'll be the second string Goldberg for the UFC's FX and Fuel programming.

"One of the guys that I have been aggressively been going after came from ESPN. I have a lot of respect for him, what he's done, not only there, but as far as mixed martial arts goes. I finall got this deal done and I'm proud to announce here today we've come to a deal with Jon Anik," White said at today's UFC 137 pre-fight press conference. "Jon Anik will start with the UFC in January as soon as we launch on Fox."

Anik also appeared at the presser and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, as well as excitement to join a staff with which he is supremely impressed.

"I believe the UFC is as strong a brand as there is in professional sports, but what really drew me to this organization were the people behind it," Anik said today. "I think as strong as this organization is, it's the people behind it. This is a machine, it's a well-oiled machine. I just hope that I don't get in the way. I'm very excited to get started. My first day is Saturday, I'll be there at UFC 137. This is where I wanted to be. If I was leaving ESPN there was one destination, it was the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It's a dream come true and I'm happy to be here."

It seems like a dream come true for many MMA fans as well, who seem pretty happy with the choice. Sure, any announcement like this that doesn't involve Gus Johnson or Stephan Bonnar is cause for celebration. But people genuinely like Anik and respect the fact that he actually knows what the fuck he's talking about - always a plus but for some reason not always a requirement in this sport.

Just ask Mike Goldberg, who coasted on an impressively limited amount of MMA knowledge for over a decade. He's better now, but back in the day every move and technique was like a newly discovered toy. Do you remember how bad it was after he learned what a teep was? Dude wouldn't shut up about that shit for like six months. And don't get me started on his broken record routine. Every event ... is virtually i-dentical!

Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/the-ufc-is-building-another-commentary-team

Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins New York Jets New England Patriots Denver Broncos Arizona Cardinals

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By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Frank Gore ran for both 125-plus yards and a touchdown in a fourth straight game, Michael Crabtree made his first TD reception of the season, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cleveland Browns 20-10 on Sunday.

Alex Smith completed 15 of 24 passes for 177 yards, leading the NFC West-leading 49ers (6-1) to their fifth consecutive victory since an overtime loss to the Cowboys in Week 2.

For Colt McCoy and the Browns, it's 0-for the Bay Area. They lost two weeks ago in Oakland, then flopped across San Francisco Bay at Candlestick Park.

Gore already had 103 yards on 19 carries by halftime, then got the other 7 he needed to pass Roger Craig and move into second place on the franchise rushing list with 7,089. Gore wound up with 134 yards on 31 carries.

Game stats

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/30/gore-49ers-too-much-for-browns

Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints

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Updated Oct. 30, 2011 @ 3:31 p.m. ET

Byes: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, Buccaneers

Here are our fantasy rankings for wide receivers:

Mike Wallace, Steelers vs. Patriots
Wes Welker, Patriots at Steelers
Steve Smith, Panthers vs. Vikings
Calvin Johnson, Lions at Broncos
Hakeem Nicks, Giants vs. Dolphins
Marques Colston, Saints at Rams
A.J. Green, Bengals at Seahawks
Vincent Jackson, Chargers at Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs vs. Chargers
Anquan Boldin, Ravens vs. Cardinals
Stevie Johnson, Bills vs. Redskins
Miles Austin, Cowboys at Eagles
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals at Ravens
Jeremy Maclin, Eagles vs. Cowboys
DeSean Jackson, Eagles vs. Cowboys
Dez Bryant, Cowboys at Eagles
Brandon Marshall, Dolphins at Giants
Mario Manningham, Giants vs. Dolphins
Pierre Garcon, Colts at Titans
Antonio Brown, Steelers vs. Patriots
Brandon Lloyd, Rams vs. Saints
Deion Branch, Patriots at Steelers
Michael Crabtree, 49ers vs. Browns
Reggie Wayne, Colts at Titans
Sidney Rice, Seahawks vs. Bengals
Steve Breaston, Chiefs vs. Chargers
Victor Cruz, Giants vs. Dolphins
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos vs. Lions
Robert Meachem, Saints at Rams
David Nelson, Bills vs. Redskins
Percy Harvin, Vikings at Panthers — INJ (ACTIVE)
Eric Decker, Broncos vs. Lions
Jerome Simpson, Bengals at Seahawks
Torrey Smith, Ravens vs. Cardinals
Jabar Gaffney, Redskins at Bills
Lance Moore, Saints at Rams
Nate Washington, Titans vs. Colts
Greg Little, Browns at 49ers
Jason Avant, Eagles vs. Cowboys
Michael Jenkins, Vikings at Panthers
Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers vs. Patriots
Braylon Edwards, 49ers vs. Browns — INJ, UP (ACTIVE)
Davone Bess, Dolphins at Giants
Nate Burleson, Lions at Broncos
Josh Cribbs, Browns at 49ers
Kevin Walter, Texans vs. Jaguars
Jacoby Jones, Texans vs. Jaguars
Doug Baldwin, Seahawks vs. Bengals
Devery Henderson, Saints at Rams
Jason Hill, Jaguars at Texans
Chad Ochocinco, Patriots at Steelers
Mike Thomas, Jaguars at Texans
Brandon LaFell, Panthers vs. Vikings
Eddie Royal, Broncos vs. Lions
Anthony Armstrong, Redskins at Bills
Derrick Mason, Texans vs. Jaguars
Brian Hartline, Dolphins at Giants
Malcom Floyd, Chargers at Chiefs — INJ, DOWN
Devin Aromashodu, Vikings at Panthers
Legedu Naanee, Panthers vs. Vikings
Damian Williams, Titans vs. Colts — UP
Laurent Robinson, Cowboys at Eagles
Patrick Crayton, Chargers at Chiefs — UP
Brandon Gibson, Rams vs. Saints
Titus Young, Lions at Broncos
Naaman Roosevelt, Bills vs. Redskins
Andre Roberts, Cardinals at Ravens — UP
Donnie Avery, Titans vs. Colts
Lavelle Hawkins, Titans vs. Colts — DOWN
Greg Salas, Rams vs. Saints
Mike Williams, Seahawks vs. Bengals
Ben Obomanu, Seahawks vs. Bengals
Austin Collie, Colts at Titans
Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars at Texans
Ted Ginn, 49ers vs. Browns
Andre Caldwell, Bengals at Seahawks
Terrence Austin, Redskins at Bills
Jon Baldwin, Chiefs vs. Chargers
Niles Paul, Redskins at Bills
Kyle Williams, 49ers vs. Browns
Kevin Ogletree, Cowboys at Eagles
Hines Ward, Steelers vs. Patriots — INJ (INACTIVE)
Danario Alexander, Rams vs. Saints — INJ (INACTIVE)
Early Doucet, Cardinals at Ravens — INJ, DOWN

Not listed: Santana Moss, Redskins; Donald Jones, Bills; Andre Johnson, Texans; Lee Evans, Ravens; Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns; Mark Clayton, Rams

The above player rankings are based on expectations for this week only, not for the entire season, taking into account this week's specific matchups and injuries. The initial rankings are compiled before the release of the NFL's early injury report and are updated Thursday to reflect the status of each player.

We base our rankings on the following scoring system: For skill-position players, one point for every 10 rushing/receiving yards, one point for every 30 passing yards, six points for a TD run or catch, four points for a TD pass, two points for a two-point conversion run or catch, two points for a two-point conversion pass. For kickers, three points for FGs of 18-39 yards, four points for FGs of 40-49 yards, and five points for FGs of 50-plus yards. Defensive rankings are based primarily on points allowed, yardage allowed and sack potential.

Glossary of notations

INJ — player has an injury that may affect productivity or availability.
ILL — player has an illness that may affect productivity or availability.
UP — player was moved up on draft board after original posting.
DOWN — player was moved down on draft board after original posting.
Not listed — player is temporarily sidelined due to injury or suspension but otherwise would be ranked.
ACTIVE — on game day, player has been designated active (posted shortly before kickoff, when available).
INACTIVE — on game day, player has been designated inactive (posted shortly before kickoff, when available).

Players and/or notations added after the original posting are shown in boldface.

Note: Remember to check back for late-week and weekend updates, as well as game inactives (when available) in the 90 minutes preceding the 1 p.m. Sunday kickoffs. You'll also find regular updates in our live fantasy injury reports on Sundays.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/30/week-eight-wr-rankings-2

Lou Groza Dante Lavelli Len Ford Bill Willis Bobby Mitchell Paul Warfield

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Videos

LAS VEGAS - Donald Cerrone faced the media after his win at UFC 137. Cerrone discusses if he would fight teammate Clay Guida if he beats Ben Henderson, if he still wants to fight Nam Phan, his "stripper and gambling problems" and much more.

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/30/donald-cerrone-would-like-to-fight-again-this-year/

Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars

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Source: http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2011/10/30/2525897/eric-allen-and-jim-johnson-honor-roll-induction-halftime-ceremony

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Source: http://www.mmaforreal.com/2011/2/3/1973284/lights-out-radio-presented-by-mmaforreal-com-episode-279-ufc-126

Bobby Mitchell Paul Warfield Mike McCormack Frank Gatski Ozzie Newsome Joe DeLamielleure

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Source: http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2011/10/30/2525300/nfl-week-8-late-games-union-open-thread

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AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

NEW ENGLAND - Reserve/injured: CB Ras-I Dowling (leg). Activated: DE Brandon Deaderick (from reserve/physically unable to perform); RB Kevin Faulk (from reserve/physically unable to perform).

PITTSBURGH - Roster addition: LB Mortty Ivy (from Steelers practice squad). Placed on waivers: DE Corbin Bryant.

SAN DIEGO - Practice-squad addition: QB Drew Willy. Practice-squad deletion: OT Eric Young.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

DALLAS - Activated: LB Bruce Carter (from reserve/non-football injury). Placed on waivers: RB Tashard Choice (injured/shoulder).

NEW ORLEANS - Activated: RB Chris Ivory (from reserve/physically unable to perform). Practice-squad addition: QB Sean Canfield. Placed on waivers: TE Tory Humphrey. Practice-squad deletion: WR Andy Tanner.

ST. LOUIS - Reserve/injured: S Brian Jackson (knee). Activated: CB Marquis Johnson (from reserve/physically unable to perform).

SEATTLE - Activated: S Roy Lewis (from reserve/physically unable to perform).

WASHINGTON - Roster addition: CB Brandyn Thompson (from Redskins practice squad). Placed on waivers: C Jonathan Compas.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/30/nfl-transactions-for-october-29-2011

New England Patriots Denver Broncos Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks

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Source: http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2011/10/30/2524224/south-carolina-14-tennessee-3-on-and-on-and-on

Houston Texans Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints

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The NFL confirmed it is looking into the concussion suffered by Chargers OG Kris Dielman in last Sunday's loss to the Jets. Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure at the end of the team's charter flight back to San Diego.

According to The Associated Press, NFL VP Brian McCarthy said the league is reviewing the injury with the team, medical staff and NFLPA.

Dielman suffered the concussion with about 12 minutes left in the game. He finished the game, and the team announced the injury before it left New York.

Dielman, a four-time Pro Bowler, has been cleared of long-term complications after the seizure.

"Everything was handled extremely well," said head coach Norv Turner. "All the proper precautions were taken. Kris was evaluated when we landed, and all the tests were excellent. We're fortunate, he's fortunate and we're moving on."

Dielman has not taken the league's official concussion test and hasn't been cleared to play. He is expected to miss at least two games. The league is very strict when it comes to monitoring head injuries, considering the long-term health implications that have come to light recently.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/29/nfl-reviewing-how-chargers-handled-dielmans-concus

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The Steelers signed LB Mortty Ivy from their practice squad and waived rookie DE Corbin Bryant.

Ivy was an undrafted free agent originally signed by the Panthers in 2009. He has not played in an NFL game.

Bryant, an undrafted rookie out of Northwestern, was signed off the practice squad before last week's game against the Cardinals. He was active but did not record any stats.

The way we see it

The Steelers likely want an extra linebacker for their Week Eight game against the pass-happy Patriots, which would explain the move.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/29/steelers-sign-lb-ivy-from-practice-squad

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Videos

LAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with Ramsey Nijem after his first UFC win at UFC 137. Nijem says why he's disappointed with Bruce Buffer for not using his "stripper" nickname, what Danny Downes handed him at weigh-ins and why he wasn't able to finish him.

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/30/ramsey-nijem-disappointed-with-bruce-buffer-at-ufc-137/

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Source: http://www.mmaforreal.com/2011/2/4/1975542/the-mma-for-real-farewell-thread

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Videos

LAS VEGAS - Bart Palaszewski faced the media after his first-round knockout win at UFC 137. Palaszewski talked about if he was surprised Tyson Griffin missed weight at UFC 137, if he was going for a knockout, his weight cut and the emotions he faced in his UFC debut.

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/30/bart-palaszewski-i-knew-i-could-put-tyson-griffin-away/

Pittsburgh Panthers Florida State Seminoles Miami Hurricanes Georgia Bulldogs Texas A&M Aggies Arkansas Razorbacks

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Source: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/30/2524174/ufc-137-results-nick-diaz-starches-bj-penn-to-a-decision-in-a-foty

North Carolina Tar Heels Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Arizona Wildcats Houston Cougars California Golden Bears Texas Longhorns

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Source: http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2011/10/29/2522557/tennessee-south-carolina-guessing-game

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Source: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/29/2523890/ufc-137-results-donald-cerrone-forces-dennis-siver-to-submit

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Source: http://www.stampedeblue.com/2011/10/25/2514237/so-much-for-keep-calm-and-kerry-on-collins-to-i-r

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The UFC's commentary team just gained a member. Enter Jon Anik, former host of ESPN's MMA Live. He'll be the second string Goldberg for the UFC's FX and Fuel programming.

"One of the guys that I have been aggressively been going after came from ESPN. I have a lot of respect for him, what he's done, not only there, but as far as mixed martial arts goes. I finall got this deal done and I'm proud to announce here today we've come to a deal with Jon Anik," White said at today's UFC 137 pre-fight press conference. "Jon Anik will start with the UFC in January as soon as we launch on Fox."

Anik also appeared at the presser and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, as well as excitement to join a staff with which he is supremely impressed.

"I believe the UFC is as strong a brand as there is in professional sports, but what really drew me to this organization were the people behind it," Anik said today. "I think as strong as this organization is, it's the people behind it. This is a machine, it's a well-oiled machine. I just hope that I don't get in the way. I'm very excited to get started. My first day is Saturday, I'll be there at UFC 137. This is where I wanted to be. If I was leaving ESPN there was one destination, it was the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It's a dream come true and I'm happy to be here."

It seems like a dream come true for many MMA fans as well, who seem pretty happy with the choice. Sure, any announcement like this that doesn't involve Gus Johnson or Stephan Bonnar is cause for celebration. But people genuinely like Anik and respect the fact that he actually knows what the fuck he's talking about - always a plus but for some reason not always a requirement in this sport.

Just ask Mike Goldberg, who coasted on an impressively limited amount of MMA knowledge for over a decade. He's better now, but back in the day every move and technique was like a newly discovered toy. Do you remember how bad it was after he learned what a teep was? Dude wouldn't shut up about that shit for like six months. And don't get me started on his broken record routine. Every event ... is virtually i-dentical!

Source: http://www.fightlinker.com/the-ufc-is-building-another-commentary-team

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Source: http://www.mmaforreal.com/2011/2/2/1970764/watch-ufc-president-dana-whites-first-ufc-126-video-blog

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Filed under: Japan

The Deep cage returned to Tokyo on Saturday night for Deep Cage Impact 2011 in Tokyo, a mammoth 23-fight two-part event at Differ Ariake.

In the first of the evening's two main events, former Deep lightweight champion Katsunori Kikuno scored a superb counter reverse punch KO over Korean slugger Kwang Hee Lee following an unfortunately sub-par performance. The karate-stylist continues to abandon the style that secured him a Deep title and his former status as Japan's top prospect.

In the second main event, relatively unknown Korean prospect Doo Ho Choi thoroughly trounced stiff opposition in former Deep lightweight champion Nobuhiro Obiya. Choi, who aside from an undercard bout in Sengoku has only featured in much smaller events, destroyed the legs and face of Obiya with laser guided strikes before finishing the fight with a flying knee only 15-seconds into the final round. Choi came into the bout as a late replacement for the injured Won Sik Park but turned in one of the most impressive performances of the year in Japan.

Also among the winners for Deep's return to the cage: UFC and Pride veteran Ryo Chonan, Deep light-heavyweight champ Yoshuyuki Nakanishi, Sengoku Featherweight GP finalist Kazunori Yokota and Amanda Lucas, daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas.

Former Deep lightweight champion Katsunori Kikuno got back on the winner's list after recently losing his strap to Mizuto Hirota, but he has still not learned from past mistakes. The karate-stylist once again employed his no-defense counter punch style, continuing to abandon the hourglass karate stance and crescent kick that brought him so much success in DREAM and Deep.

The finish came for Kikuno late in the first, landing three beautiful counter reverse punches to drop an over-matched Kwang Hee Lee but by the end of the short bout, Kikuno was badly cut above the eye and had taken a plethora of heavy blows cleanly on the jaw. Kikuno should have easily handled his foe but his choice to employ this simply insane style made things much more difficult for him. Desipte the the win, one of Japan's brightest stars continues to fade and it is hard to see Kikuno reaching the upper echelons again while fighting like this.

We knew that Korean featherweight Doo Ho Choi was good, we just didn't realize how good. Up until this point Nobuhiro Obiya had proven impossible to finish with even Gilbert Melendez and Katsunori Kikuno unable to put the hardy slugger away.

Choi absolutely decimated the former lightweight kingpin though, the entire audience wincing in sympathy with every cutting low kick, perfectly placed punch and finally the fight-ending flying knee. The entirely one sided 10-minute and 15-second affair certainly ranks among the most impressive performances of the year in Japanese MMA.

UFC and Pride veteran Ryo Chonan battled through exhaustion to take a hard fought decision over kickboxing convert Naoki Samukawa. Chonan dominated proceedings early, using his significant cage experience to pin the J-Network, M-1 and WKO champion down and batter him with elbows and soccer kicks. Samakawa became more accustomed to the cage in the second, avoiding significant damage and in the final period, traded blows with a spent Chonan to take the round. Samukawa's efforts to sway the judges came too late however and all three judges ruled in favor of Chonan.

Deep light-heavyweight champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi steamrolled AACC wrestler Yusuke Masuda, brutalizing Masuda with punches, knees and finishing the job with three sickening soccer kicks to the head midway through the second. This marks the second consecutive bout that Nakanishi has finished with devastating soccer kicks.

The bout got off to an unfortunate start, but former Sengoku star and former Deep ace Kazunori Yokota brought the highlight ending as he pounded and soccer kicked Katsuya Toida into a corner stoppage only 25-seconds into round two.

Only 10-seconds into the featherweight contest Yokota landed a brutal kick below the belt, Toida taking a full five minutes to recover before the bout was restarted. After receiving a yellow card for his misplaced kick Yokota wasted no time, chasing Toida with strikes and at one point coming close with a surprising kimura. In the second stanza, Yokota turned up the heat, dropping the grappler with a punch and then finnishing the tob with a torrent of punches and a soccer kick.

In a thrilling battle of armbar experts, Daisuke Nakamura's blindingly fast hitman-style jab softened up judoka Chang Hyun "Armbar" Kim, leading to predictable armbar finish midway through the last stanza.

In the first period, Nakamura and Kim proved to relatively even on the canvas, Nakamura having an advantage but Kim being good enough to avoid armbar, toe hold and knee bar attempts. Nakamura dramatically swung the bout in his favor in the second though, grinding Kim's face up with his jab and right straights. With Kim a bloody mess going in to the final round, Nakamura had a much easier time securing the fight-ending armbar.

Earlier in the evening, Amanda Lucas, daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas, picked up her second win in Deep for the year, submitting an over-matched Hari with a rear naked choke late in round one. Despite her relative lack of experience in MMA, Lucas is bringing plenty of attention to Deep in Japan, earlier this month featuring on a prime time comedy show where she grappled with comedians.

Deep Cage Impact 2011 in Tokyo - Oct. 29, 2011 at Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Japan
1st Round
Katsunori Kikuno def. Kwang Hee Lee by TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 4:59
Kazunori Yokota def. Katsuya Toida by TKO (Soccer Kicks and Punches) - Round 2, 0:25
Daisuke Nakamura def. Chang Hyun Kim by Submission (Armbar) - Round 3, 3:19
Shoji Maruyama def. Yusuke Kagiyama by Unanimous Decision
Tomohiko Hori vs. Yoshiki Harada - Unanimous Draw
Amanda Lucas def. Mika Harigai by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) - Round 1, 4:32
Hideto Tatsumi def. Kenji Nagai by TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 2:13
Juri Ohara def. Luiz Andrade I by TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 4:27
Hirotaka Miyakawa def. Sakae Kasuya by KO (Punch) - Round 1, 2:52
Hideto Kondo def. Yutaka Kobayashi by Submission (Guillotine Choke) - Round 2, 0:55
Shun Yoshioka def. Makoto Sato by TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 4:25

2nd Round

Doo Ho Choi def. Nobuhiro Obiya KO (Flying Knee) - Round 3, 0:15

Ryo Chonan def. Naoki Samukawa Unanimous Decision

Hiroshi Nakamura def. Yoshiro Maeda by Majority Decision

Yuya Shirai def. Yoshitomo Watanabe by Unanimous Decision

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi def. Yusuke Masuda by TKO (Soccer Kicks) - Round 2, 0:33

Shunsuke Inoue def. Bernard Ackah by TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 2:30

Ken Hasegawa def. Seigo Mizuguchi by Unanimous Decision

Hirohide Fujinuma def. Atsushi Yamada by Unanimous Decision

Yusuke Sakashita def. Hiroki Sato by Majority Decision

Yuki Niimura def. Shuji Morikawa by TKO (Stomps) - Round 1, 1:45

Masato Kobayashi vs. Takashige Hirukawa - Majority Draw

Munehiro Kin def. Wataru Sasaki by Unanimous Decision

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/29/doo-ho-choi-obliterates-nobuhiro-obiya-katsunori-kikuno-continu/

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, UFC on FOX

LAS VEGAS -- Up until now, it's been assumed that the winner of UFC on Fox 1's co-main event will be the next man up to face current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

But that's no guarantee.

UFC president Dana White told MMA Fighting that on the heels of Edgar's stirring comeback knockout win over Gray Maynard, he's yet to determine the champion's next challenge.

Asked whether it was a sure thing that the Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson winner would earn a chance to fight for the belt, White initially said no.

But that's not necessarily his final answer. Moments later, he clarified his thoughts, saying that his unrelenting schedule hasn't afforded him the opportunity to sit down, examine the situation and make a decision.

"I don't know. I have no idea," he said. "We're going to have to see what happens. I haven't even thought about it. You have to understand, the only thing I'm thinking about now is FOX. I've just got to get past this event. Everything else is taking a back seat. All the other s--- will work itself out."

After a decision win over Anthony Pettis, Guida (29-11) is currently riding a four-fight win streak while Henderson (14-2) has won seven of his eight fights under the Zuffa banner, most recently dominating Jim Miller en route to a decision at UFC Live: Lytle vs. Hardy.

Despite the possible importance of the bout, the Guida-Henderson bout will not be televised, airing on Facebook.com and FOX.com.

Still, the Guida-Henderson winner seems like the most likely option for Edgar. Other possibilities include the Donald Cerrone-Dennis Siver winner from Saturday night, or Gilbert Melendez if he is brought over from Strikeforce. Both Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard recently had win streaks snapped that likely removed them from the conversation.

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/10/28/no-guaranteed-title-shot-for-clay-guida-ben-henderson-winner/

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The Lions have signed SS Chris Harris off waivers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran defensive back was released by the Bears on Thursday. S Vincent Fuller was put on I.R. to create a roster spot for Harris.

Harris was let go from Chicago partially because of his play against Detroit. In the teams' Week Five meeting, Harris was at fault for a pair of long touchdowns by the Lions. This resulted in his benching by head coach Lovie Smith, and though he regained his starting job in Week Seven, Harris was released by the team during its bye week.

Part of the reason, it was believed, that Harris struggled vs. the Lions earlier in the year was because of a hamstring injury. The safety told a Chicago radio station on Thursday following his release that he was 100 percent healthy and able to contribute to a new team immediately.

The Lions have talent at the safety position in Louis Delmas and Amari Spievey, but lack much experience or depth.

The Lions travel to Chicago on Nov. 13 in what should be a very interesting reunion between Harris and his former teammates.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/28/ex-bears-s-harris-claimed-by-lions

Washington Redskins New York Jets New England Patriots Denver Broncos Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs

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Here's a key matchup to watch in the Week Eight game between the Patriots and Steelers:

Patriots running game vs. Steelers run defense

This is not the Pittsburgh "D" of last season. The run defense has some holes thanks to injuries along the defensive line and the fact that it's an aging group. It has been picked up by the league's top-ranked passing defense, but the Patriots will prefer to stay somewhat balanced in their attack on Sunday.

The Steelers are allowing 107.1 rushing yards per game, nearly 45 yards per game more than last season. Considering Tom Brady's success against Pittsburgh in the past, the Steelers will be extra focused on stopping the pass, which could open up some holes for BenJarvus Green-Ellis and New England's backs.

The Patriots' running game was a problem in the first three games of the season but improved starting in Week Four, culminating in a big effort against the Jets, when Green-Ellis rushed for 136 yards. The bye week should have given Danny Woodhead extra time to return to 100 percent and rookie Stevan Ridley an extra week to get more familiar with the offense.

The Patriots' offensive line has been paving big holes for the run game, and they did have some success against Pittsburgh last season, as Green-Ellis rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries (4.8-yard average).

An effective run game really would put the Steelers on their heels, as they know how lethal Brady can be against their secondary. If the front seven can bottle up Green-Ellis, though, and put Brady in obvious passing downs, that's where the Steelers can gain an edge.

The Steelers are without DE Aaron Smith for the rest of the season, but it appears they will get NT Casey Hampton back for Sunday, and he might have an advantage over Patriots C Dan Connolly in any one-on-one matchups, so look for OGs Brian Waters and Logan Mankins to add extra help.

If ORT Sebastian Vollmer returns to a starting role, look for rookie OT Nate Solder to come on as an extra blocker in certain running situations. Solder impressed with his run blocking and the Patriots have been using an extra tight end to open up holes.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/28/patriots-steelers-matchup-of-the-day-friday-2

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The last time the Chargers didn't like the play of a former first-round cornerback, they traded Antonio Cromartie to the Jets. While it doesn't seem like the team will go to those extremes with RCB Antoine Cason quite yet, we hear there is a strong chance the fourth-year pro will lose his starting job because of a lack of production.

Cason was beaten for three touchdowns in Week Seven by Jets WR Plaxico Burress and has been struggling all season long in jamming opposing receivers at the line of scrimmage. Though the issues are seen as fixable, the team is very high on second-round rookie Marcus Gilchrist and could move him into the starting lineup in Cason's place. Cason then would become the nickel corner. Gilchrist, a former safety, is a more physical player and could be a better fit against strong receivers outside.

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Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/28/casons-struggles-could-lead-to-benching

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Let's stay away from the major players for this week's Start or sit feature and focus on second-tier players — the ones we struggle to fill in at our flex positions or final receiver slot.

Week Eight brings following teams on byes: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Jets, Raiders, Buccaneers. That means you lose RBs Michael Turner and Matt Forté, WRs Greg Jennings, Plaxico Burress and Darrius Heyward-Bey and TE Jermichael Finley.

Start

QB Eli Manning, Giants (vs. Dolphins)
Though shut out in the touchdown department against the Bills in Week Six, Manning still threw for nearly 300 yards, and in Weeks 2-5 he had 11 TDs, or 2.75 per game. Combined that knowledge with the fact that the Dolphins are allowing 223 passing yards and 1.67 offensive TDs per game over their last three, and it makes this a solid matchup for him. He's a No. 1 fantasy QB that owners need to start.

RB Pierre Thomas, Saints (at Rams)
Mark Ingram (heel) is unlikely to play, leaving most of the rushing duties to Thomas and Darren Sproles. Sproles is the speedy receiving back, so Thomas will get most of Ingram's rushing attempts with recently activated Chris Ivory seeing a few plays. The Rams are allowing 215.3 offensive yards and one TD per game over the last three to opposing backs. Start Thomas.

RB Delone Carter, Colts (at Titans)
Joseph Addai (hamstring) hasn't practiced this week but is not ruled out. Carter played well last week, with 10-89-1 rushing and will see more touches this week. He's facing a Titans team that's struggling since starting the season hot. Over the last three games, they're allowing 223 offensive yards and 1.3 TDs per game to opposing backs. Carter could have his best day as a pro this week. Start him.

WR Deion Branch, Patriots (at Steelers)
Branch has a two-game average of 6.5 targets for five receptions, 71.5 yards and 0.5 TDs but he has been inconsistent this season. He had 7-71-0 receiving against the Steelers last year and with the offense playing at such a high level, he has another opportunity for a solid game. This will be a tough game, as the Steelers are allowing only 103.3 yards and 0.57 TDs to opposing wide receivers this season, but the Patriots are too good offensively and Branch's history dictates a start.

WR Nate Washington, Titans (vs. Colts)
Washington has been regressing since Week Three, with a season-low three targets for 1-10-0 last week. However, the Colts are allowing opposing wide receivers 189.8 yards and two TDs per game over their last four. Washington's slowing down but should get on track this week. Start him.

WR Torrey Smith, Ravens (vs. Cardinals)
Smith will get another start with Lee Evans (ankle) still out. It has been a reality check for the rookie since exploding onto the scene in Week Three. Since then, he hasn't seen the endzone and only had 3-32-0 receiving last week. The Cardinals could be his best opportunity to rebound. They're allowing 227 yards and one TD per game over their last three to opposing receivers. This is the week Smith can get back on track. Start him.

TE Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (at Seahawks)
Gresham might have some ups and downs with yardage but he has two touchdowns over the past three games and is averaging 6.83 targets for 4.17 catches on the season, so he's seeing looks and converting them. The Seahawks are allowing 66.7 yards and 0.67 TDs per game to the position. Gresham makes for a solid start.

Sit

QB Philip Rivers, Chargers (at Chiefs)
Rivers isn't playing well and he's a matchup play whether we want to admit it or not. He has a two-game average of 214.5 yards, one TD with 1.5 interceptions and he was shut out of the endzone in Week Three against Kansas City. The Chiefs are allowing 218.7 yards and 1.3 TDs to opposing quarterbacks over their last three games. Start Rivers if you must, but sit him if you can.

RB Mike Tolbert, Chargers (at Chiefs)
The Chiefs are playing solid defense and are allowing only 118.7 offensive yards and 0.3 TDs per game over the last three to opposing backs. Tolbert's not a horrific play based on his versatility but Ryan Mathews has taken over the featured-back role and the Chiefs held Tolbert to 43 offensive yards in Week Three. If you can, sit him.

RB Peyton Hills, Browns (at 49ers)
If Hillis (hamstring) plays, he will share time with Montario Hardesty, and there's the possibility he doesn't play or Hardesty sees just as many, if not more, touches. The Browns have too many questions in the backfield this week. To compound it for fantasy owners, the 49ers are allowing only 58 rushing yards per game to opposing backs over the last three games. They are allowing 53.7 yards receiving, so there are some positives if forced to play Hardesty but if you can, sit him.

WR Michael Jenkins, Vikings (at Panthers)
Sitting Jenkins isn't a situation of facing a tough defense as much as a bad run defense. The Vikings probably will lean on RB Adrian Peterson to protect rookie QB Christian Ponder. The Panthers are allowing only 112.5 yards and zero TDs to WRs over their last four. Though it's a product of teams running against them, it's another reason to sit Jenkins.

WR Early Doucet, Cardinals (at Ravens)
Doucet is enjoying a two-game run of 10.5 targets for 6.5 catches, 61 yards and 0.5 TDs. This week, he's facing a Ravens team that's allowing only 113 yards and 0.3 TDs per game to WRs over the past three contests. Sit him.

WR Brandon Gibson, Rams (vs. Saints)
Danario Alexander (hamstring) hasn't practiced yet this week but believes he will play. Look for Gibson to start but with backup QB A.J. Feeley also starting and Gibson not capitalizing as a starter earlier in the season, I don't expect better results. If Alexander can play as he says he can, that also will limit Gibson's targets. The Saints are allowing 150.8 yards and 0.75 TDs per game over their last four to opposing receivers, so it's not a great matchup as it is. Sit him.

TE Jake Ballard, Giants
Ballard has had a nice three-game run, with 3.7 receptions for 62 yards and 0.67 TDs per game. He's facing a Dolphins team that's allowing only 35.7 yards and 0.3 TDs per game to tight ends. Ballard's improving and under the radar but this week he's best left on your bench.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/28/start-or-sit-week-eight-3

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