Will H1N1 paly a role in the 2009 championship
race

Or worse, derail the season? This a bit extreme but Stillman College canceled its home football opener against Clark Atlanta because 37 players had symptoms of swine flu.

For the record, if you have flu like symtoms, it's swine flu. That is the only flu going around right now, and seasonal flu is still a couple months away.

Flu or flu-like symptoms have hit programs at Tulane, Duke, Alabama, Louisiana Tech, South Florida, SMU, LSU, Florida, Georgia, Washington State and Wisconsin. Arkansas, the only NCAA team with a porcine nickname, remains ironically immune.

One of the hardest-hit programs is at Mississippi, where nearly two dozen players have been diagnosed with some stage of the flu.

Fresno State is taking precautionary measures to come back home with a win, not the swine flu. That said, the flu shots available now are for the seasonal flu. Shots for the Swine flu will not be available for another month.

Fresno State plays Boise State next week, so a transfer of swine flu could not come at a worse time in their season.
It is likely that every program will fight a bout of flu at some point this season, and once its done it should be done. The question will be who gets hit during the most critical games?

So far no games have been canceled this week, a trend we all hope will continue.

View the original post or comment on Will H1N1 paly a role in the 2009 championship race?...

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Revelations! On the eve of war, John quotes Sun
Tzu.

It is the eve of war with the Jaguars NFL season about to start. I am a warrior by nature and feel like Caesar as he gave his command to his troops "Come back carrying your shield or being carried on it". That is how I view life, win and reap the spoils, lose and you are never forgiven, ever. The problem is I know this isn't right and that is what makes my friendship with John so valuable. He sees things through his soul. When I see a statue of Jesus with the large heart on the exterior, I think of John. He knows the real truth. I texted him last week and here is the transcript.

Terry - John, help me get in the right frame of mind for the season.

John - To forgive and forget is how we should live.
John - But if we refuse to forget, did we ever truly forgive?

Terry - ????

John - I am beginning to forget last year.

Terry - You are?

John - That is what you wrote! Let it sink in and call me later in the week.

As usual, I wanted to call him and ask the answer but I knew he wouldn't tell me, so I had to figure it out. I went through my recent articles and found that sentence at the end of the post after the Eagles game titled "I think I am in love". I let the thought roll around in my head.

When I realized what he meant, I was embarrassed. I held Jack Del Rio responsible for last season. I blamed Jack and Shack, and the entire team. The Miami preseason game reminded me of last year and I reviled against it. I wanted Jack gone by half time and the specter of last year still defined how I looked at this season. But does Eben Britton remember last year? Does Derek Cox or Sean Considine or Tra Thomas or Torry Holt? No they don't, they just want to play football. For me to be in the right frame of mind for this year, I had to not just forgive last year, I had to forget last year. I let that thought sink in for a few days.

When I let go of it and I mean really let go, I was happy and excited for this year. This is a new year, a new team, and they are ready to play. I was now ready to call John, which I did and explained what I realized.

"Now we can talk and maybe you can write again" he said. "So if I drop the baggage John, what should I watch for?" I asked. "In simple terms, watch for these things" he said.

Receivers dropping passes; last year they dropped a lot of ball, if they hang on to them this year, it isn't last year. Pay attention to the QB to receiver connection developing.

Running the ball; if they can run the ball this year, it isn't last year. Eben Britton won his job not for pass blocking but for run blocking. John reminded me of the play against the Redskins when Rashad Jennings got 8 yards and set up the Walker touchdown pass. He ran behind Britton who opened a monster hole. Watch the running game develop.

Defense yards allowed: John reminded me that teams that hold the opponent to 300 yards or less go to the playoffs. Follow the progress of the team in yards allowed. See how they adjust week to week.

"It won't be perfect he said, but watch those three things and you will see the big picture". "Remember this" he continued, "The Titans watched Adam Vinatieri kick a 46 yard field goal at 2 below zero to keep them out of the Super Bowl in 2003". "Then, with the same team the next year they went 5-11 and then 4-12" he said. "Rebuilding may not be a one year thing".

"So how do I keep calm like you" I asked. "Buddha said suffering comes from two places" he replied. "First, you aren't getting something you want, or second, you are getting something you don't want" he finished. "So, how does that translate to me?" I asked. "Simple", he said, "It is your expectations that create your suffering". "Buddha said everything is in harmony except your view" he said.

So this is too simple and I felt like he had more to offer.  "John, I really expected something deeper from you" I said.  "I want a real definitive road map on how to evaluate the game I am watching and the season". I demanded. "Look, if you are a warrior, then watch the game as if you are Sun Tzu" he said. OK, now I am confused which means he is telling me something real. "A little help?" I asked with a question in my voice. "In the "Art of War", Sun Tzu said these were the seven critical factors that determine victory" he replied. "Watch the game with these thoughts in mind" he said:

Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law? In football this means will the players follow the coach without question. Are they really "all in". Dissention on the team leads to failure. This is why Terrell Owens is not a welcome figure.

Which of the two generals has most ability? Are we being out coached? Jeff Fisher seems to have our number, but he can't beat San Diego. See if the loss or win was because of coaching.

With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth? Home field advantage is sometimes true, weather conditions can make or break a team, or just blind luck determines the outcome. A team at home for two weeks facing a team travelling coast to coast has an advantage. Decide if somehow conditions made the difference.

On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? Did they win or did we lose? Did we play smart football? Who was ready to play the game and disciplined enough to get the job done. Who had the least penalties? Who stood strong when things were falling apart? In 2007, the Jaguars held Larry Johnson to something like 10 yards rushing and he began yelling at his offensive line during the game.  The Jaguars had it in the bag as soon as that happened.

Which army is stronger? In football, this is primarily in the trenches. Are we getting beat because we can't measure up, or are we dominating the other team and they are scrambling for an answer?

On which side are officers and men more highly trained? Peyton Manning has skills that few match. Arizona has Larry Fitzgerald. On some teams, the skill and training have been highly honed. Watch for how we are developing and how developed the other team is.

In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment? In football, this means are we playing the best players. Do you earn your way on to the game or are some players treated special? Kerry Collins starting over Vince Young is the best example of this. If David is having a bad day, will Luke come in? If Troy has a bad day of the drops, will Nate Hughes come in for him? Will Derek Cox play whether he gets beat or not? Watch for this in the team.

"Remember Terry, it is for your ENJOYMENT they play" he said and with that he hung up. Wow, he really delivered the road map on how to watch the game and the season just as I asked. I could use my logic instead of emotion to see the game. So all of you already know what John said, you have been saying this to me for months, I just needed more time. Forget last year, most of this new team doesn't have any knowledge of it anyway. Watch the team develop. Learn the game at a deeper level. Watch the game from Sun Tzu's seven critical elements. Evaluate based on progress as Zoltan said.

I am now ready for the Colts game and the season, thank you John.

 - Terry O'Brien

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Here's NFL spokesman Greg Aiello's statement to
Pro Football Talk on the Williams Wall ruling. This...

video details and more

Here's NFL spokesman Greg Aiello's statement to Pro Football Talk on the Williams Wall ruling. This video, I believe, is an appropriate one.

"The real losers today are the players on 31 other clubs who no longer live under the same rules as players on the Minnesota Vikings -- a result of the NFL Players Association's failure to stand behind the program it negotiated with the league, and for which it has properly claimed credit with fans and before Congress. The most respected program in sports has been put in jeopardy by the NFL union's silence and today's ruling."

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Here's NFL spokesman Greg Aiello's statement to
Pro Football Talk on the Williams Wall ruling. I...

video details and more

Here's NFL spokesman Greg Aiello's statement to Pro Football Talk on the Williams Wall ruling. I have found a brief video to represent the league's whiny response.

"The real losers today are the players on 31 other clubs who no longer live under the same rules as players on the Minnesota Vikings -- a result of the NFL Players Association's failure to stand behind the program it negotiated with the league, and for which it has properly claimed credit with fans and before Congress. The most respected program in sports has been put in jeopardy by the NFL union's silence and today's ruling."

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Dominos Pizza

Is it a Tuesday? are you hungry now? so what do you do?… Good news! It is 2 for Tuesday every[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.football-highlights.net/news/dominos-pizza/532/

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Taking the Ticket Sales Problem to the Streets!!

Taking the Ticket Sales Problem to the Streets!!

Now this is what I am talking about! Forget politics... Get on the street to support ticket sales!

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Pat and Kevin Williams Will Play All of 2009

by Jim Mone - AP

We at the Daily Norseman take no responsibility for what these two gentlemen might do to opposing quarterbacks or running backs after the crap they've had to put up with this off-season. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

View full size photo uploaded September 11, 2009

The WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHmbulences are being dispatched to Chicago and Green Bay as we speak.

Yes, this afternoon the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit made the ruling that the National Football League could not suspend Vikings' defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams for violating the league's substance abuse policy.  While the whole 35-page ruling makes for some decent reading, the nub of it is that the court determined that the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn't overrule the rights of employees in the state of Minnesota.  Minnesota has some of the strictest labor laws in the nation, and if not for those laws, it's possible that they may have already been suspended.

The news, unfortunately, is not as good for Charles Grant and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints.  Louisiana has no such law like the one that protects Minnesota employees, and as a result their suspensions are still valid and will likely start being served in Week 2.

But let's take a closer look at the Minnesota side of the case. . .mainly about how it's been viewed by a lot of folks thus far.

The biggest whine I've heard from folks that are calling for Pat and Kevin Williams to be drawn and quartered is that they should have to face their suspensions "like men."  I don't really know what sort of garbage that is, but the fact that the Williams Wall looked at a league that was attempting to screw them over and say, "Nope, not this time" frankly makes me proud to be a fan of both guys.  As we've detailed numerous times on this site, the league was attempting to nail Pat and Kevin Williams for taking bumetanide that a supplement they had been taking. . .a supplement that the NFL had not explicitly deemed as illegal. . .in order to cut weight.  The makers of StarCaps, the supplement in question, put the bumetanide into the pills without putting it on the label, and subsequently got themselves into relatively deep fecal matter with the Food and Drug Administration as a result.  See, bumetanide is generally available by prescription only, and I guess the makers of StarCaps couldn't really come up with a feasible excuse for putting it into a substance that was readily available over the counter.

(Well, used to be available over the counter, anyway. . .it doesn't appear that StarCaps is available anywhere any more at this point.)

But the NFL and Roger Goodell, having never been wrong about anything in the course of history, didn't want to hear anything about it.  Never mind the fact that the NFL apparently knew that StarCaps contained the illegal substance and didn't bother to actually let anybody know.  After the Korey Stringer incident, for the NFL to not tell teams that a substance contains a diuretic for the sole purpose of being able to scream "GOTCHA" at people that might take it is ignorant at best. . .and could have been deadly at worst.  The NFL should consider themselves fortunate that this is all they have to deal with and not a REAL inconvenience like. . .I don't know. . .a wrongful death lawsuit or something.

Which moves us on to the legal process itself.  The original ruling in this case was handed down by District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson.  Now, a lot of people seemed to have had a problem with this, because by all accounts Magnuson is a life long fan of the Minnesota Vikings (as well as the Minnesota Twins), having grown up in South Dakota and spending his entire legal career in Minnesota.  The word has even gone around that Magnuson is a Vikings' season ticket holder.  All fine and dandy, mind you, and if you're wearing a tin foil hat or are afraid that there are black helicopters circling your house, it might even make sense.  However. . .let me ask you one teeny, tiny, minor little question:

Do you honestly think for one second that a man that has been in the legal profession for over 45 years, has busted his tail for all those years to achieve the status he currently has, and currently has a wonderful job with a great pension attached. . .is going to even contemplate throwing all of that away OVER A FOOTBALL TEAM?

Because if you do, here's my advice:

1) Stand up out of your chair
2) Grab your earlobes
3) Pull downwards until you hear a loud popping noise.

There. . .you've finally managed to dislodge your head from your ass.  Congratulations.

Since many of the people that want to whine and complain about Judge Magnuson being a "homer" can't differentiate between legal briefs and boxer briefs, that minor little detail probably won't matter to them.  So, that moves us on to the Court of Appeals that I mentioned at the beginning.  The three judges on the panel that issued the Williams Wall ruling?

The Honorable Diana E. Murphy, Minneapolis, MN (HOLY CRAP, ANOTHER VIKINGS HOMER!!)
The Honorable Duane Benton, Kansas City, MO (Well. . .ummmm. . .hey, he could be a Viking fan!)
The Honorable Bobby E. Shepard, Benton, AR (Damn. . .this whole "homer judge" thing is losing a lot of steam)

I would put the odds of all three of these judges being Vikings' season ticket holders or "Vikings homers" at somewhere between slim and none. . .and I believe I just heard Slim say "Check, please!"

So, if you actually believe this cockamaime theory about how the Williams Wall got favorable rulings from homer judges. . .please feel free to point out where, as it applies to the laws of the state of Minnesota, Judge Magnuson or any of the Appeals Court judges did anything illegal or incorrect.  We'll be listening.

In the meantime, the best run defense in the NFL is going to have its core all year, and probably beyond.  And there's not a damn thing that anybody can do about it.

Bring on the Browns, and bring on the 2009 NFL season!

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Niners Nation sits down with Bodog.com Sportsbook
Manager Richard Gardner

Earlier this week I posted the various odds that Bodog.com had developed for the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC West.  MontanaPass had a great question asking about the origination of these odds.  Well, thanks to Jimmy Shapiro over at Bodog, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to email some questions related to these odds.  Jimmy set up an email interview with Richard Gardner, Bodog's Sportsbook Manager.  Before we get into the Q&A, here's a rundown about Mr. Gardner.

As Bodog put it, Gardner works with book managers behind the scenes with reams of mind-numbing statistics and complicated mathematical calculations, carefully crafting Bodog’s most generous offering of diverse sports betting lines.  From NFL odds to MLB match-up propositions; from PGA head-to-head betting and everything in between, Gardner is widely considered to be one of the sports betting industry’s best bets.  Gardner knows the Bodog business model inside and out – having helped to develop several hugely successful creative marketing campaigns, as well as numerous customer service policies and procedures that are still in place today.

Gardner’s been known to sink his teeth into books about statistical theories and he does on occasion enjoy downing the occasional single malt with this book making buddies.  It should, however, go without saying that Gardner has played an integral role in making Bodog the biggest online sportsbook in North America – and why it has quickly become a mainstay and go-to-source for North American sports media.

After the jump, Richard answers our questions about the odds surrounding the 49ers and the rest of the NFL...

Fooch: How do you develop your odds?  In particular, could you give us an idea of the differences in developing odds to win the Super Bowl, weekly game odds and then individual player proposition odds?

CG: The odds to win the Super Bowl are created the day after the previous Super Bowl so with those odds there is a little more guess work involved.  With out the schedule being released we look at where a team finishes to take a guess at strength of schedule and then factor in how they did the season that just completed, whether the momentum was moving up or down, and how bettors have liked the team down the stretch.  We will also make a guess of possible player movement, but this is only a small consideration.  We then combine these factors to come up with the odds, and once the odds are up we let bettors dictate through there bets which way to move the odds.

For a weekly line we will look at any recent match ups between the teams, how the teams match up in key areas as well as looking at previous betting trends on the two teams.  For week 1 lines we will look a little at pre-season play, but this not as useful as we would like.

For individual player projections we generally look at how a player has done over the last three seasons and any changes to personnel that will help or hinder them in their performance.  In addition we will analyze any coaching and philosophical changes for the organization, and then take in to consideration bettor psychology as the final ingredient for compiling the lines.

Fooch: In conjunction with the above question, statistical analysis has taken a big step forward in sports with the development of sites like Baseball Prospectus and Football Outsiders, among many others.  In developing your odds, do you look into some of these alternative analysis options?  Or do you stick to more traditional cues?

CG: We look at a number of analytical sources both the weekly lines as well as player projections.  With the advent of more information available to the public we like to look at a wide variety of sources, although for the final line we do favor some traditional analysis.

Fooch: It's easy to pick the Patriots to go to the Super Bowl.  At the same time we always hear about sleepers each season.  Is there a particular team getting a lot of action that might surprise people?

CG: One team in the NFC that is getting a lot of sleeper love right now would be the Seattle Seahawks.  I think that people are looking at the NFC West as a winnable division and seeing the Seahawks as this years Cardinals.  In the AFC a lot of people have been betting the Cincinnati Bengals, but I do not see that one myself.

Fooch: Do you think the market of a particular team affects whether more money comes in on them either in proposition bets or weekly game bets?  For the NFL, do the NYC teams and the Cowboys see more action than other teams?

CG: I think there will always be teams (like the ones that you mention) which will draw extra handle, but more important than how big a fan base are how many games a team is winning and how great is an offense.  Bettors love to bet on the teams that score a lot of points so from that standpoint the Patriots and Saints the last couple years have been heavily bet on.

Fooch: Your NFC West odds would indicate a finish of Arizona, Seattle, SF and St. Louis.  Based on your odds (and the lack of respect for the NFC West in general) would you say it's probably a tough call on who will finish where (aside from the Rams in last)?

RG: I would agree with that although bettors have created a little separation between for the Cards and Seahawks from the 49ers in their minds. I think the Crabtree situation has cast the 49ers in a negative light not having their first round pick on the team to help out where as the Seahawks have Aaron Curry and were able to address their biggest need in signing T J Houshmandzadeh.  The Rams are definitely seen as the bottom feeder in this division.

Fooch: Any thoughts on placing odds for when Crabtree signs with the 49ers?  Given how much this holdout would seem to affect his performance, at some point do you take him off the board, or at least broaden his odds for rookie of the year?

RG: With the advent of twitter and with inside reporters like Terrell Owens breaking all the good stories we have not looked at running when will Michael Crabtree sign, because there is the risk it could be available before it becomes public information.  We have made adjustments to Michael Crabtree and have moved him to 75/1 to win ROY as he really has no chance at being relevant this season.

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49ers-Cardinals: Final Injury Report

The final injury report for the week was just sent out and the 49ers don't have any surprises.  However, the Cardinals could be in an interesting situation.  Anquan Boldin is listed as questionable and appears to be a game-time decision.  Rotoworld had an interesting quotation from Boldin in which he said he'd "rather sit out game one as opposed to sitting out four or five other(s)."  Also, John Clayton reported on NFL Live today that Boldin probably wouldn't play on Sunday.

Personally, I won't believe any of this until I see it on Sunday.  Questionable on the injury report is often the ultimate in BS.  I've seen times where a player will spend a good chunk of the season as "questionable," but still play every single week.  It'd be nice to not have to face him, but I'm not holding my breath at this point.

49ers
Out
LB Ahmad Brooks - Knee
WR Brandon Jones - Shoulder

Cardinals
Questionable
WR Anquan Boldin - Hamstring
WR Early Doucet - Ribs
QB Brian St. Pierre - Back

Probable
WR Sean Morey - Ribs
WR Steve Breaston - Knee
S Matt Ware - Shoulder

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Week 1: Friday Injury Report, News

Not surprises on the Colts side today. Sanders (knee), Silva (abdomen) and Santi (ankle) missed practice again are have been ruled out for Sunday. Fili Moala sat out a second day of practice with a knee issue. He is listed as questionable. Jennings was back after being rested Thursday, while Marlin Jackson got today off for rest.

Out: Bob Sanders, Jamie Silva, Tom Santi

Questionable: Fili Moala (missed Thursday and Friday practice)

Colts.com link

On the Jags side Thomas (back) and Landri (knee) were limited in practice. Both are listed as probable. Zach Miller (the lesser) missed a 3rd practice this week and has been ruled out due to a knee injury.

Out: Zach Miller

Probable: Tra Thomas, Derek Landri

Jaguars.com link

Phil B expects Fili Moala to sit, but doubts he'll see significant time even if he suits up.

John Oesher reports that Antonio Johnson, Daniel Muir and Eric Foster is the Colts likely defensive tackle rotation for Sunday, according to Coach Caldwell.

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