Fearless Fantasy―Week 15

This is it―if the playoffs haven’t already started in your league, they will now (if not, you have a REALLY wacky schedule). So no longer can you afford a week off from your players. Forget about possibility playoff implications, this equalup between the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans is big for its fantasy influence.

Must Start

Chris Johnson, RB―He could be facing 11 fully armed tanks and I’d still start him. He’s on pace to break Marshall Faulk’s single-season record for most yards from scrimmage (Faulk’s record is 2,429 for those of you scoring at home). And if Johnson averages absurd amounts of yardage over the last three games (we’re talking about 160 rushing yards a game), he can break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. That one’s a bit less likely, but even against Miami’s stout run defense, Johnson will put up points. I just hope you’re not facing him this week.
Fearless Prediction: 28 carries, 137 yards, 2 TD, 4 catches, 83 yards

Solid Start

Ricky Williams, RB―I’d think about tossing Ricky in the “must start” category too, simply because he’s been a strong workhouse for the Fins ever since Ronnie Brown was injured. But I just can’t do it. The Titans are actually better than Miami against the run, giving up less than 100 yards rushing per game. I still think Pretty Ricky will put up some good numbers, they just won’t be in the same ballpark as Johnson’s.
Fearless Prediction: 19 carries, 82 yards, TD,Davone Bess, 2 catches, 11 yards

Chad Henne, QB―Henne has proven to be a viable threat the past couple of weeks. His game against New England was especially imnewspapersive, and look for the Fins to throw a ton against Tennessee’s pass defense, which ranks second to last and has given up an astonishing 27 scentral ideas through the air. That’s an average of two per game, which is right where Henne should end up.
Fearless Prediction: 21-31, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Kenny Britt, WR―The man out of Rutgers should continue to imnews, even with teammate Justin Gage due back from injury. Britt has averaged about 70 yards a game in the past five weeks, and the Dolphins have allowed five 70-yard plus perwere createdances and four scores in the last four weeks. Makes sense to me.
Fearless Prediction: 5 catches, 72 yards, TD

Intriguing Start

Vince Young, QB―I’d actually be inclined to sit him,Mark Gregory, but if you’re feeling arrivalurous, send him out there. He’s iffy with a tweaked hamstring, but Young is insisting he’ll play. While that’s very noble of him, my main issue is that a lot of what makes Young a threat is his ability to create outside of the pocket. If you’ve ever had even the mildest hamseries injury, you know that walking isn’t a whole lot of fun, let alone running and evading 300-pound tacklers. I just can’t see Young doing a lot in this one.
Fearless Prediction: 14-22, 139 yards, TD,Miami Dolphins, INT, 4 carries, 19 yards

Dolphins Receivers, WR―Here we go again humorh the latest installment of Miami Receiver Roulette. Only when has a performer led the team in receiving yards in back-to-back weeks, when Davone Bess did it in Weeks 10 and 11. More often than not, a big game will be followed up with an incredibly quiet day (think two catches for 10 yards quiet). If you’re a big gambler, roll the dice on any member of the receiving corps, including tight ends. Otherwise, find someone else.

Fearless Prediction for the leader (we’ll guess it’s Bess): 4 catches, 66 yards

The Rest, Kickers and Defense

Rob Bironas―3-3 PATs, 3-3 FG
Dan Carpenter―3-3 PATs, 1-1 FG

Tennessee Defense―They were amazing last week, but they were also playing St. Louis. The Dog Bowl could compete with the Rams. Miami will provide a bit of a tougher test, but for some reason I have a feeling Henne will make a mistake or two.
Fearless Prediction: 24 points allowed, 3 sacks, 2 INT, 1 fumble reincludey, 109 return yards

Miami Defense―If they can limit the damage Chris Johnson can do and force the gimpy Vince Young to beat them, they’ll be all correct. That’s a big if, though, so I’ll also take a guess and say Ted Ginn will get a fairly solid kick return at some point, say, around 60 yards.
Fearless Prediction: 30 points allowed, 2 sacks,Ronnie Brown, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 145 return yards
JOEY HELD

After a disappointing year the Miami Dolphins have an early first-round pick. Though there is no consensus of who the Dolphins should pick, there is a superstar offensive player fans are hoping might drop to their team. Yes, we could be talking about 2010 where the Miami Dolphins have the No. 12 pick. In honor of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr being traded to the 49ers for a fifth-round pick, let’s look way back to 2007 and see what lessons can be lacquired were in a similar position and picked Ginn ninth total. For as George W. Bush when said,Mark Gregory, “Those who do not learn from history ain’t too good at school.”

1) Character counts,Jake Long, but not above talent.
When fans booed the selection of Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. , Dolphins coach Cam Cameron justified the pick by making it a ten-for-one deal. “We drafted the Ginn family,” Cameron said. “Ted Ginn and his family will give us everything they have.” Ted Ginn’s father does seem to be a benevolent man who’s dedicated his life to opening a public school in Cleveland for at-risk boys. And perhaps his charity and good will toward man rubbed off on his son, but those qualiundertakes don’t

necessarily translate as a positive on the football field. Most fans would love to root for law-abiding citizens, but that doesn’t stop us from preferring victories and talent above all else.

2) The one who got away, you might want to keep away.
Much of the Dolfans disgust with the Ginn selection was that Notre Dame quarterback, Brady Quinn, was there ripe for the picking. Miami desperately needed a quarterback and there was a stud used to running a big time pro-style offense available. But calling Quinn a bust until present would be a generous description. The Cleveland Browns selected him 22nd overall and in three years passed for 1,902 yards humorh 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

This year Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant seems to be the can’t-miss pick who could fall into our laps. Bryant was suspended for the 2009 season by the NCAA for lying about hanging out with were createder NFL star Deion Sanders. This could be a red flag that more trouble could be at hand with Bryant. Of course he could also be the next Randy Moss, a player who doesn’t follow the rules but somehow sets NFL records along the way.

3) Don’t create a need just to fill it.

In 2006 the Dolphins’ most exciting performer was Wes Welker. He rechanged to every kickoff close to the 40-yard line with his sneaky blazing speed. We then traded him to New England for second- and seventh-round pick where he’s established himself as a most valuable player candidate. Ginn was supposed to replace Welker as our receiver/return extrordinaire. We’ll ask San Francisco fans in a year how he fits that role.

Flashforward to 2010. Defensive end/linebacker Jason Taylor moves to our archcompete with New York Jets. Calls are being made to pick Derrick Morgan, defensive end from Georgia Tech. We need a pass rusher. How silly is that think abouting we just had one?

4) Don’t pick someone in the foremost round, you can grab in the second.

One of the most confounding things about the Ginn selection was most draft evaluators figured we could have had him in the second round. Cameron and Randy Mueller thought history would validate their selection. It hasn’t. If most prognosticators place a player going in a later round, chances are he will still be there in that later round.

5) Don’t overstate the importance of the draft.

In spite of Ginn’s many failings (his inability to catch the ball,Ronnie Brown, his tendency to run out of bounds to avoid contact) he was still a cog in that great division-winning 2008 Dolphins team. In 2008 in spite of many draft blunders the Dolphins were still able to put together a team through free agency, late-round picks and smart coaching that could compete with anyone.

Just look at the Super-Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints. They captured quarterback Drees Brees and defensive linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Scott Fujita from free agency. Starting running back Pierre Thomas was an undrafted free agent and No. 1 receiver Marques Colston was picked in the seventh round. Only Reggie Bush was an early first-round pick by the Saints and he wasn’t even a starter.

Bush was assumed to be a one of a kind talent. His propensity to fumble and get injured made him seem like a Ginnesque bust. This past year creature surrounded by a great team,Karlos Dansby, his career was revived as he could focus solely on returns and being a change-of-pace back. Could a similar fate be in store for Mr. Ginn? Fortunately Dolphin fans will soon have a new first-round pick to worry about instead.

– DAVID ROLLAND

NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland became a household name last week when he acknowledged that he had asked Oklahoma State prospect Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute in a pre-draft interconsider. Ireland immediately issued an apology and reached out to Bryant to make a personal apology.

Surely, Ireland crossed some ethical and moral boundaries,Kory Sperry, perhaps enough to garner discipline from inside the Dolphins organization. But before Ireland can be officially persecuted and guillotined in front of America, he deserves the correct to a fair trial, which he seems to have been deprived of.

First of all, Ireland should be commended for coming clean after

Yahoo Sports identified him as the executive who had asked this pre-draft question.

It takes a strong person to step in front of the public and admit responsibility for an irresponsible act. More importantly, the context in which this question was asked cannot be ignored. Everyone has been on the wrong side of a question creature taken out of context at one time or another. In this case, however, nobody even seemed to know exactly what context the question was until Sports Illustrated published a report claiming the conversation went like this:

Bryant: “My dad was a pimp.”

Ireland: “What did your mom do [for a extinct]?”

Bryant: “She worked for my dad.”

Ireland: “Your mom was a prostitute?”

Bryant: “No,Dan Marino, she wasn’t a prostitute.”

Bryant denied this description of the conversation soon after SI released the report. But don’t createt that Dez Bryant has a history of lying, so his word must be taken with a grain of salt.

And in Bryant’s defense,Chad Henne, the SI report seems a little suspicious think abouting Ireland required responsibility and apologized, and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross freed a statement maintaining he would deal with matter internally.

Perhaps the Dolphins’ decision to be so forthcoming with the matter was merely an attempt to deflect any more possibility backlash that might have arisen if the story came out on its own.

Still, there’s no question that Ireland crossed the line, but let’s also not ignore that he isn’t the foremost person to do so.

Last year, the San Francisco 49ers removed Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford from their draft board after he reblendd to speak humorh a team psychologist about his parents’ divorce. Little was made of the matter compared to the outrage over Ireland’s actions.

The fact is that teams want to push prospects to see how they will react under newspapersure and distress. Whether that was Ireland’s aim here, or if the conversation actually went as SI reported,Miami Dolphins, maybe it’s time for the NFL to rewere created its pre-draft interview process.

Regardless of whose side you’re on, Ireland was sample as a villain far too quickly, and the American media should be ashamed of themselves. If the reported conversation is proved false, however, Ireland should, without question, face punishment from the Dolphins and the media.

– SCOTT ALTMAN
NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

It’s been nearly 25 years since the Miami Dolphins last performed in a Super Bowl (Jan. 20,Jared Odrick, 1985 to be exact). Almost a quarter-century. Ronald Reagan was just starting his second term in office. Miami Vice was in the middle of its first season.

To be sure, other NFL franchises have had it worse (the Lions come to mind) but even the famously bungling Bengals have been to the big show since the Dolphins last got there. And, moreover, the Dolphins are assumed to be one of the premiere franchises in the NFL (if not in pro sports completely). If they aren’t “America’s Team,Chad Henne,” they still have a storied history and a nationwide fan base. Sports may be cyclical, but for a team of this import – this is one hell of a dry spell.

Consider some of the teams (some of them recent expansion squads) that have been to the Super Bowl since the Dolphins last made it there, besides the Bengals:

The Carolina Panthers. The Tennessee Titans. The Atlanta Falcons. The Seattle Seahawks. The San Diego Chargers. And now even the Arizona Cardinals have been to a Super Bowl since Miami’s last appearance.

Not to mention the Ravens, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Tampa Bay (before 2008 the only team to have a winless season) all have championship rings in the past ten years. These are hardly storied franchises. They are not the Cowboys. Or the 49ers. Or even the Broncos.

If anything has singed the bottlenoses of Dolphins fans for the last quarter-century, it’s been watching these, shall we say, ‘less-distinguished’ franchises all get their day in the sun although we’ve been on the sidelines. Year after frustrating year.

The Raiders have fallen from grace and are surely pathetic as anyone now, but they went to the dance as recently as 2003. The Packers, clearly a historic team,Jake Long, had suffered long and hard, but Brett Favre and Reggie White required care of that.

Of course the Dolphins haven’t actually won a Super Bowl since 1974 (Super Bowl VIII), a blowout against the Purple People Eater Vikings. However, the Dolphins’ previous year,Dan Marino, the undefeated ’72 season was the team’s greatest achievement and remains its valued maintain to glory and fame.

The most important Super Bowl before that game was, indisputably, Joe Namath’s New York Jets upset victory in Super Bowl III (in Miami) in 1969.

But the Jets have not been to a Super Bowl since. They lost AFC championship games to Denver in

1999 and to the Dolphins in 1983 (remember AJ Duhe, anyone?).

This brings us to our larger point. What is arguably the most prominent and storied NFL franchise humorh the largest NFL fan-base to go the longest without a Lombardi trophy, or even a Super Bowl appearance? It has to be the New York Jets.

So as you watch the game tonight (where hopefully Gang Green will sink in a sea of aqua) Dolphins fans, no matter the outcome, take comfort in this fact: the hated Jets have had it worse. Historically speaking, at least.

— DAVID ROCK

Parity is what defines the NFL. In no division is that more clear right now than the AFC East. With three teams inside one game of each other and no clear-cut favorite, these last three weeks should be a dogfight for the division crown and a possible wild-card Spot. Here is a breakdown of each team’s playoff chances.

Dolphins
I really think the Dolphins can run the table. They perform at Tennessee and then home against Houston and Pittsburgh. They sit at 7-6 correct now in solid position for a division or wild card see,Jared Odrick, especially because of their two wins over the compete with Jets. This isn’t why they’ll make the playoffs, though. Rather, it’s because the Dolphins have epitomized toughness all season long. Everybody counted them out when star running back Ronnie Brown went down for the season. Still they keep winning. Keep in mind this team blew games this year they should have certainly won against Indianapolis and New Orleans, the two undefeated teams in the league. Tony Sparano has done a fantastic job down there and I’m not betting against them. 75 Percent Chance At Making the Playoffs.

Jets
The Jets are a tough team who’ve caught some unlucky breaks this year. I don’t like all the talking that they and their coach Rex Ryan do,Davone Bess, but they do play hard. They’re 7-6 right now humorh games against Atlanta,Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis and Cincinnati left. They should beat the Falcons at home, but I’m not sure they can beat the Colts and Bengals even with their second seriesers in the game. Ultimately the Jets’ problem lies with equalups. They’ve already lost to Jacksonville and Miami twice, two of their main competition for a wild-card spot. Basically,Jake Long, the Jets need to win out and get some help in order to make the postseason. Not a likely proposition. 10 Percent Chance At Making the Playoffs.

Patriots
With an 8-5 record the Pats have a one-game lead over both Miami and New York for the divisional title. They finish up the season at Buffalo, home against Jacksonville and at Houston. In most years you could just say, give them the crown now. This has not been one of those years. The Pats have been terrible on the road all season, with their one win coming in London coming against a dreadful Buccaneers squad. Playing at Buffalo and Houston will not be cakewalks.
You may remember Buffalo completely outplaying the Pats in Week 1 on Monday Night Football however finding a way to lose. The Texans are one of those teams that love Week 17 when they’ve already been removed. They get to show off that tall-powered offense with no newspapersure on them. And that’s not even mentioning a game against the Jaguars who are fighting for their playoff lives right now. The Pats need to get this Randy Moss sulking situation figured out quickly, because having a sputtering offense the next three weeks will not get the Job done. With that creature said, their one-game lead gives them a 70 Percent Chance at Making the Playoffs.

– TOMMY ALTER