The Mac Bros. Fantasy Football Forecast

Fantasy Football Preview: Tom Brady or Drew Brees?

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:13:00 +0000

After countless hours of research and more mock fantasy football drafts than we care to account for; it's obvious that “experts” and novices alike view Drew Brees as the overwhelming favorite to be 2009’s top fantasy football QB. It's easy to comprehend at first glance, considering Brees’ lofty numbers in 2008.

Sure, we understand the concern for Brady’s health. We also get the concept that basically missing the entire 2008 season leaves some doubt as to whether or not Brady still has the tools to be an elite fantasy QB. The fact of the matter is, however, that many great QB’s have rebounded strongly after the exact same injury. To name a few examples in recent years, there's Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, and Phillip Rivers, who had his best season ever returning from ACL surgery last year; and even Drew Brees himself tore his ACL as a junior in high school.

It isn’t like we're talking about a RB or WR who typically struggles to return to form after knee ligament tears. We are dealing with a pocket QB; a pocket QB that was never exactly known for his running abilities in the first place. By all accounts Brady has made a miraculous recovery. While there will almost certainly be some rust to knock off early in the season, Brady should return to form fairly quickly. It may not be 2007 Tom Brady form, but we doubt anyone can expect superhuman numbers like that to be put up by an NFL signal caller ever again.

We get that Drew Brees had a great 2008 season and we certainly consider him a top flight fantasy QB, but from a potential standpoint, Brady still has the edge, and here's why:

Considering the vast majority of fantasy football leagues are played head-to-head on a week-to-week basis, the name of the game is consistency. At season's end a QB can amass huge stats, but it's what he does on a weekly basis that really matters. For example, if Brees throws for 400 yards and 5 TD’s in a given week, you are probably going to win your head to head match up that particular week, but going into the following week, those stats are of no help whatsoever. Point being, that many of you may be shocked to know that while Drew Brees was spectacular in his 8 home games in 2008, throwing 23 TD passes with only 5 interceptions; he was the exact opposite in his 8 road appearances throwing for only 11 TD’s with 12 picks. That's 8 weeks of sub par QB play, not exactly the kind of consistency you are looking for from a so called #1 ranked fantasy QB.

Tom Brady, however, will be a more consistent QB in 2009 and the odds of Brady re-injuring his knee are really no greater than Brees suffering a season ending injury himself. At last check, Brady’s golden arm and decision making skills are no different than they were during his record setting 2007 campaign.

We aren’t saying that Drew Brees is going to be a bust. In fact, if Marques Colston remains healthy; Brees should exceed his 2008 numbers. We just feel that too many so-called experts look at the big picture and assume Brees is the better and safer option. The truth is that Brady is getting a bad rap over a fairly common injury, an injury that Brees himself has suffered.

Another valid case to be made for Brady as the top 2009 fantasy QB is that everything that he had in place in New England in 2007 is still in place in 2009, and then some. Bill Belichick is still running the show. Randy Moss and Wes Welker should be as solid as ever, and Brady will have a stable of talented running backs at his disposal. In fact, Brady probably has more talent surrounding him for 2009 than he had during his miraculous run in ’07. If you were burnt by drafting Brady last season, we can completely understand why you would be sour on him this year, and Brees is an excellent alternative, but if you want the best QB for your fantasy roster in 2009, no one will outshine Brady, and you will likely get him at a steal in rounds 2-4 of most drafts.

FINAL ANSWER: Tom Brady

Former NFL QB Steve McNair Shot Dead

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:18:00 +0000

1973-2009

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

The incident happened at 2nd South & Lea Ave. Police said it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead.

A law enforcement source close to the investigation said the woman is McNair's girlfriend and that the residence is her condominium in downtown Nashville.

McNair played 13 seasons in the NFL before retiring in April 2008.

He played college football at Alcorn State and was drafted by the Houston Oilers, third overall, in the 1995 NFL Draft.

McNair played 11 seasons with the Titans franchise, leading the team to the Super Bowl in 1999.

He played his final two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was the co-MVP of the league in 2003, sharing the award with Peyton Manning.

He was 36 years old.

Fantasy Football Links: Happy 4th!

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Some people celebrate the July 4th weekend with fireworks. We, however, like to shoot off fantasy football links to keep you informed on the upcoming season. God bless America! And don't forget to sign up for our free Fantasy Football Draft Guide, coming July 19.

Fantasy Football Research: Ranking the Top 15 Offensive Lines

Fantasy Football Risk or Reward: Weighing Injuries and Value

Fantasy Football: Around the League

Real Fantasy Football: (Lingerie Football League)

The Top 10 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Yahoo! To Offer Free Live Fantasy Football Scoring (It's about time!)

So Where Are the NFL Training Camps?

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:40:00 +0000

If you've ever wondered exactly where all the NFL training camps are located, and when players have to report to camp, wonder no more. Here's a quick guide to them all.

(Click image to enlarge.)

Fantasy Football Preview: T.J. Houshmandzadeh

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:07:00 +0000

In spite of his 92 receptions and 904 receiving yards, the vast majority in the fantasy football community considered T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s 2008 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals to be a flop. The reason being that Houshmandzadeh’s TD total dropped from an impressive 12 in ’07 to a less than productive 4 in '08. The main culprit being the loss of star QB Carson Palmer to a season-ending shoulder injury and a lack of red zone chemistry with mediocre backup signal caller Ryan Fitzpatrick. The absence of a solid running game also crippled the Bengals passing game severely. If you were fortunate enough to be in a points per reception league, Housh proved to be somewhat valuable, but in most leagues where finding pay dirt is the name of the game, he fell well short of expectations.

In 2009, the 31-year-old veteran wide out finds himself in new surroundings in Seattle after spending his entire 8 season career in Cincinnati. While the challenges of this transition will be plenty including a new town, a new head coach in Jim Mora, a new QB in Matt Hasselbeck and a new West Coast offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, Houshmandzadeh looks to regain his top flight fantasy status with the Seahawks. Probably the biggest adjustment Houshmandzadeh will face in Seattle will be comprehending the nuances of Greg Knapp’s West Coast offense. This offense will be different from the one Houshmandzadeh was so successful with in Cinci, both in philosophy and terminology. When most people think of the West Coast scheme, they immediately think pass heavy offense. In all actuality, the West Coast offense was designed to open up the running attack. While most offenses use the run to open up the passing game, the West Coast offense is the exact opposite, using a pass first philosophy to open up the run. So long story longer, this offense will be vastly different from the pass happy scheme using multiple receiver sets you have grown accustomed to seeing the last few years in Seattle under former head coach Mike Holmgren.

Don’t get us wrong, we still expect Seattle to throw the ball early and often this season, especially with their lack of talent at RB, and a great wide receiver like Houshmandzadeh can flourish in this offense. In fact, the best wide receiver in the history of the NFL, Jerry Rice, owes much of the credit for his success to Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense. The good news is that Houshmandzadeh has been quick to pick up on the new offense, and by all accounts, the chemistry between himself and QB Matt Hasselbeck has been outstanding in mini camp, especially in red zone drills.

While we don’t anticipate Houshmandzadeh to put up monster reception and yardage totals in Seattle, he should be in the ballpark of last season’s totals. We do, however, expect to see his TD total to rise significantly from last season.

There is little doubt that he will be the go to guy in the red zone in the Seahawks revamped passing attack. Another great thing about Houshmandzadeh in terms of fantasy appeal is his ability to play through nagging injuries and play well. He also isn’t a guy that tends give less effort in a non contract year. He is a blue collar type receiver that isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done. That said, we don’t foresee Housh as an elite WR1 candidate in fantasy drafts, but he is about as solid a WR2 candidate as you will find for your fantasy roster in 2009.

For more information on T.J. Houshmandzadeh and over 200 other NFL fantasy draft prospects, be sure to sign up for the Mac Bros fantasy football draft kit which will be released mid-July. After all, it’s free, so be sure to get on board with the best fantasy football draft analysis on the net and bring home the hardware in your league!

T.O. Gets a Taste of His Own Medicine

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Supermodel Joanna Krupa and Terrell Owens are teamed up on ABC's "The Superstars." Apparently T.O. must really suck at it.

Fantasy Football Preview: Matt Cassel

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:37:00 +0000

When it comes to expectations for fantasy football QBs during the ’09 season, arguably no signal caller is more uncertain than Matt Cassel. While Cassel displayed glimpses of greatness in a loaded and well coached New England offense, he now finds himself in dreaded Kansas City under rookie head coach Todd Haley (offensive coordinator in Arizona last season).

According to reports from mini camp, Cassel appears to be more than up for the challenge and should snag the starting job from Tyler Thigpen who had a solid ’08 campaign in his own right. The question is, will he have the tools at his disposal necessary to make the transition to Kansas City a successful one?

In terms of fantasy value, the jury is still very much out, but we will do our best to shed some light on the subject with the facts we currently have.

First and foremost, we all know that the Chiefs are not exactly stacked on either side of the ball and the loss of stud tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons probably won’t help matters. The good news is that the cupboard isn’t completely bare and there are some potential playmakers to work with in this offense. Cassel’s top weapon of choice is likely to be WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe has emerged into a solid receiving threat and playmaker, however, the departure of Gonzalez will surely bring plenty of extra attention his way from opposing secondaries. The Chiefs hope to alleviate some of the heat on Bowe with speedy wideout Mark Bradley and newly acquired possession receiver Bobby Engram (formerly with the Seahawks). Although Bradley spent a good portion of last season on the sidelines with injuries, he proved to be more than capable when healthy, and Engram could be the perfect compliment for this offense out of the slot; a position he had great success at in Seattle in a similar offensive scheme. If he can return to form, stay out of trouble, and stay healthy, Larry Johnson could also play a bigger role as a receiver out of the backfield this season and also aid in opening up the passing attack in general if successful running the ball.

The bigger question with regard to Cassel could be coaching. A first year head coach in Todd Haley with a brand new offensive system could create some stumbling blocks for Cassel. Fortunately, Cassel is very much a student of the game and the offensive system in question has a proven track record of success. It should be very similar to the system Haley was in charge of last season in Arizona, and we all know the positive results it yielded for Kurt Warner and the Cardinals alike. It is a system that relies heavily on the passing game and should benefit Cassel’s fantasy value tremendously if things click, but that's a big if. Unfortunately, there is a big difference between running an offense and being a head coach. While Todd Haley has a proven track record as an assistant coach in Chicago, Dallas, and most recently as OC in Arizona, he has absolutely no head coaching experience to speak of. On top of that, Haley surely lacks the knowledge and experience of a Bill Belichick, who was very much responsible for Cassel’s success and maturation last season in New England.

On paper, there is promise, but there are so many different elements that go into making a QB successful in the NFL, and frankly, we won’t truly know if the right dynamics and chemistry exist in Kansas City for Cassel to make a major fantasy splash until he hits the field in week 1.

In our opinion, this season could go either way for Cassel. Surely, he will hit some rough patches and a huge fantasy flop is not entirely out of the question, but there is also the potential for a lot of success in this offensive system. Cassel should be considered a high risk/high reward prospect for your fantasy draft.

For more info on Matt Cassel and over 200 other NFL fantasy football prospects, be sure to sign up for the Mac Bros free fantasy football draft kit which will be released mid-July. In the immortal words of Bluto from Animal House, it don’t cost nothin’, so be sure to get on board with the best fantasy football draft analysis on the net and dominate your league.

Giants Train Leaves Without Plaxico

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Stallworth Pleads Guilty

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:45:00 +0000

2009 Fantasy Football...Who's With Us?!!!

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:42:00 +0000

We've rested up and we're ready for the 2009 fantasy football season to begin. Our goal once again is to provide the best fantasy football rankings possible. So whether you're readying for your Yahoo fantasy football, ESPN fantasy football or FOX fantasy football league, we welcome you to use our site as a free resource. (Even Billy May s would charge you nearly 20 bucks for this stuff, but not us. It is free.)

This year, we'll again start off the season by offering our free draft kit, complete with our Top 200+ fantasy football players for the 2009 NFL season. In addition, the draft kit includes an in-depth breakdown and preview of each player ranked by position, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense, and kicker. All you have to do is sign up and we'll send it to you.

Don't forget that once the season officially begins we'll help you dominate your league with our weekly rankings so you'll know who to start and who to bench on your team.

Now let's get excited and ready for some fantasy football. Who's with us?!!!

Start Marking Your Calendar: 2009-10 NFL Dates

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:51:00 +0000

The 2009-10 NFL Calendar has been released. This is your cue to start planning your sick days at work. Here's the rundown.

July 16—Supplemental Draft

Late-July—Training camps open.

August 9—Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio (Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans).

August 13-17—First preseason weekend.

September 1—Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

September 5—Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

September 10-14—Kickoff 2009 Weekend.

October 12-13—NFL Fall Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts.

October 20—Trading deadline.

October 25—International Series, London, England (New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

2010

January 3—Regular season ends.

January 9-10—Wild Card Playoffs.

January 16-17—Divisional Playoffs.

January 24—Conference Championships.

January 31—AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, South Florida (ESPN).

February 7—Super Bowl XLIV, South Florida (CBS).

February 24–March 2—NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 5—Free agency begins.

March 21-24—NFL Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

Early-May—NFL Draft, New York City.

May 24-26—NFL Spring Meeting, Dallas, Texas.

NFL's Primetime Kickoff Weekend & Turkey Day Games Announced

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:02:00 +0000

It's never too early to start planning for football season. The NFL announced its 2009 Kickoff Weekend primetime television schedule and the Thanksgiving Day national TV tripleheader.

Impress your buddies with this bit of trivia: On Monday night, Sept. 14, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader that will be part of the NFL’s celebration of the 50th anniversary season of the American Football League. The four clubs competing that night began playing in the inaugural 1960 AFL season.

KICKOFF WEEKEND
DATE	DAY	OPPONENTS	NETWORK	TIME (ET)

Sept. 10	Thursday	Tenn. at Pittsburgh	NBC	8:30 PM
Sept. 13	Sunday	Chicago at Green Bay	NBC	8:30 PM
Sept.14	Monday	Buffalo at New England	ESPN	7:00 PM
		San Diego at Oakland	ESPN	10:15 PM

TURKEY DAY
DATE	DAY	OPPONENTS	NETWORK	TIME (ET)
Nov. 26	Thursday	Green Bay at Detroit	FOX	12:30 PM
		Oakland at Dallas	CBS	4:15 PM
		New York Giants at Denver	NFL Network	8:20 PM

AFC Spring News Round-up

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:50:00 +0000

BALTIMORE: All-Star linebacker RAY LEWIS will enter his 14th season with the Ravens after recently signing a multi-year contract. The deal will essentially keep Lewis in Baltimore for his career. “To be with the same team with the same fans for an entire career, that doesn’t happen in the NFL,” says Lewis. “I don’t think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career."

BUFFALO: Bills newcomer TERRELL OWENS will receive the Young Champions Award at the sixth annual National Alzheimer’s Association Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on March 25. The veteran receiver will be recognized for his commitment to the Alzheimer’s cause through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy……Bills starting right guard BRAD BUTLER visited several U.S. military bases in Afghanistan earlier this offseason. Butler was inspired to visit the troops through his family’s deep military ties. “My one grandfather was a Marine and my other grandfather was in the Army,” says Butler. “My great uncle fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was a tank operator. I grew up hearing stories about the war. It showed me how selfless somebody could be to have so much respect for your country that you put it ahead of yourself.”

CINCINNATI: Linebacker DHANI JONES has ventured from the world of professional football into reality television. Known as a “renaissance man,” Jones recently kicked off his show, Dhani Tackles The Globe, on the Travel Channel. In each episode, the 6-1, 240-pound linebacker competes in a variety of sports around the world. “That's the beauty of it,” says Jones. “Not only do I get to experience the culture and the people, but for eight days, everywhere, I get to practice a sport before getting into competition. It's cross training.”

CLEVELAND: After beginning his NFL career as a ball boy in 1994 with the Browns, ERIC MANGINI returns to Cleveland as head coach. “I couldn’t be happier to come home to Cleveland,” says Mangini. “I’m excited about getting to work and moving forward.”……Browns quarterback BRADY QUINN enrolled in the NFL’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program. Quinn, who participated in the Kellogg School of Management program at Northwestern University, learned valuable lessons through the program, which prepares NFL players for their post-playing business careers. “We watched a clip of President Obama’s address and then talked about things that would stimulate our economy,” says Quinn. “One of the biggest things I learned is it's all up to us, the citizens of the U.S. It starts with creative, innovative ideas to help create jobs. I feel it’s a little on my back too to start something up, to help people out who don’t have jobs. I think down the road I see some entrepreneurial things in my future."

DENVER: Broncos 32-year-old head coach JOSH MC DANIELS takes over the reigns in Denver after winning three Super Bowl titles in New England as an assistant. “When the job came open, certainly it was something I had to look at very seriously – it’s a great place with a great history and a great tradition,” says McDaniels……The Broncos have taken an aggressive approach this offseason in free agency led by the acquisition of safety BRIAN DAWKINS, known around the league for his passionate play and leadership qualities. Dawkins will join All-Star cornerback CHAMP BAILEY to form a formidable Broncos secondary.

HOUSTON: The defensive side of the ball has been a focus for the Texans this offseason. In January, head coach GARY KUBIAK named FRANK BUSH defensive coordinator. Bush has spent more than 20 years in the NFL as a player, scout and assistant coach. Bush will have an additional weapon in free agent defensive end ANTONIO SMITH from Arizona, who will line up opposite Pro Bowl defensive end MARIO WILLIAMS. “I know that what I can bring to the table will help the people around me,” says Smith. “I’m going to play my heart out for them, and once they see how much I give for my teammates, I think we can feed off each other.”

INDIANAPOLIS: In an effort to empower people around the state of Indiana to create change and engage in random acts of kindness in the community, the Colts launched the “Help A Hoosier Campaign.” “The campaign is simply a way for Hoosiers to help each other at a time when we all need a helping and positive hand up,” says Colts Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing TOM ZUPANCIC. The campaign kicked off on March 20 with a canned food drive in Indianapolis and marked the start of a state-wide food collection campaign. “This is a tough time for America. But together, with everyone doing a little bit on a local level, we can overcome any challenge,” says Colts Senior Vice President PETE WARD.

JACKSONVILLE: Quarterback DAVID GARRARD will serve as the Honorary Chair of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation “Take Steps Walk” on May 14. The two-mile walk will raise awareness and funds for the foundation. Garrard suffered from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis prior to the 2004 season before consulting a doctor and beginning a treatment program……Free agent acquisition TRA THOMAS from the Eagles will protect Garrard’s blind side at left tackle in 2009. The DeLand, Fla. native enters his 12th year in the NFL and is coming off a season in which he allowed only two regular-season sacks. “The signing worked out big for me,” says Thomas. “Once I visited here, I knew this was a perfect fit for me.”

KANSAS CITY: The NFL’s youngest team on kickoff weekend last year will be led by new general manager SCOTT PIOLI and head coach TODD HALEY. One of Pioli’s first key transactions was trading for quarterback MATT CASSEL from the Patriots. “I have a great relationship with Scott Pioli,” says Cassel. “He was one of my biggest supporters throughout the year. He was always very encouraging and anytime I needed some advice, I’d usually go to him as one of the guys who was always willing to open his office door.”……Linebacker DERRICK JOHNSON lost his father in December 2007 to diabetes. Recently, Johnson served as a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) at a Kansas City elementary school. Johnson discussed the benefits of eating right and exercising to help avoid high-blood pressure and diabetes, which can lead to kidney disease.

MIAMI: In his new role as the Dolphins majority owner, STEPHEN ROSS co-chaired the first Fin Cup Pro-Am, which kicked off the The Honda Golf Classic. Ross and second-year quarterback CHAD HENNE hit the links with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO. Proceeds of the event benefited local and national youth charities……Head coach TONY SPARANO recently took a brief recess from draft preparations. The West Haven, Conn. native, who pitched and played shortstop as a youngster, recently threw out the first pitch for a New York Mets spring training game. “I grew up a Mets fan, so it was nice to be there and involved in that atmosphere,” says Sparano. “I was more nervous heading out to the mound than I have ever been heading out to the (football) field.”

NEW ENGLAND: Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY is focused on making a full recovery from a knee injury he suffered last season, but that has not slowed his community involvement. Brady donated 1,000 laptops to “One Laptop per Child” to be distributed to children by organizations in 31 participating countries and Boys and Girls Clubs in each of the six New England states. “I've been blessed with many opportunities to have traveled around the world. I've been to Africa, been to some impoverished places around the world, and to give children the hope and the opportunity to learn and to expand their vision of the world is extremely important,” says Brady.

NEW YORK: In an effort to fight hunger in the New York metropolitan area, Pro Bowlers NICK MANGOLD, DARRELLE REVIS and LEON WASHINGTON will be on hand for the seventh annual New York Jets Taste of the NFL on May 5. Guests will have the chance to mingle with the players and taste food from a variety of New York City restaurants. “I’ve had a blast in the past,” says Mangold of the event. “The people there are great and the atmosphere is fun. It’s a great night out where you get to enjoy some of the fantastic food of the New York area and you get to mingle a little bit with a whole bunch of different people and it’s for a great cause. You add those three together and you’ve got a pretty good mixture.” Proceeds of the event will benefit the New York Jets Foundation.

OAKLAND: The Raiders officially named TOM CABLE their 17th head coach in franchise history last month and re-signed All-Star cornerback NNAMDI ASOMUGHA to a long-term deal this offseason. Asomugha is regarded as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks and is held in the same class off the field for his philanthropic efforts. For the third consecutive year, Asomugha will organize an all-expense-paid college tour for aspiring students. This year the group will descend on New York City on April 15-19 for visits to Columbia University, Fordham University, The Julliard School and New York University. “I've always felt that I'm successful for a reason,” says Asomugha. “So I can help, whether that's one individual or a group of people.”

PITTSBURGH: The honors are still pouring in for the Super Bowl XLIII Champions. On St. Patrick’s Day, Steelers owner DAN ROONEY was selected by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to Ireland. Obama says that he has confidence that Rooney and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “will ensure America's continued close and unique partnership with Ireland in the years ahead.”….Texas native CASEY HAMPTON will be honored in his hometown of Galveston with a benefit dinner on March 27 for helping the Steelers capture a Super Bowl title. Proceeds of the event will support Hurricane Ike relief efforts. The next day Hampton will have his jersey retired at Ball High School.

SAN DIEGO: Cornerback CLETIS GORDON, linebacker SHAUN PHILLIPS and defensive tackle JAMAL WILLIAMS recently welcomed home 4,000 Marines who returned from oversees deployment. “Whenever we can show some love to the troops and let them know how much we appreciate what they do, it’s something I’m glad to be a part of,” says Phillips. “It was a special day and I had fun being there.” The threesome enjoyed their afternoon by signing autographs and posing for pictures with the Marines at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. “It’s humbling,” says Gordon. “You’ve got these guys that are younger than me telling me about things they went through in Iraq and Afghanistan. It makes you appreciate them even more.”

TENNESSEE: Starting April 13, Titans players will hit the road for Titans Caravan XII. The journey around Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama will make numerous school and public stops. Players will speak to youth about the importance of getting 60 minutes of physical activity a day as part of NFL PLAY 60 and greet fans along the way by signing autographs and posing for pictures……Pro Bowl cornerback CORTLAND FINNEGAN will host his second annual Karaoke For A Cure event on April 1 in Nashville. Proceeds will benefit the 2009 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Man and Woman of the Year Campaign. For each tackle he made last season, Finnegan donated $50 to LLS and the Special Olympics.

NFC Spring News Round-up

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:56:00 +0000

ATLANTA: Third-year fullback JASON SNELLING, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 15, is raising awareness of the disease by speaking publicly and delivering the message that with proper medical care and medication, it doesn’t have to control their lives. “I realized that by me speaking about it, it would shine a light on the misunderstood condition which is epilepsy,” says Snelling. “I also knew it would help other kids who develop epilepsy or find out at a young age that they have it like I did. I can show them that they can do all the things they aspire to do without having to worry about the seizures and just dealing with the problem on a day-to-day basis.” Snelling is taking part in the National Walk for Epilepsy on March 28 in Washington, DC and has started a team, fittingly named “Rush to Support Epilepsy.” He hopes to help raise money for epilepsy programs to search for a cure.

CAROLINA: Three Panthers – linebacker THOMAS DAVIS, wide receiver KENNETH MOORE and guard TRAVELLE WHARTON – helped commemorate Read Across America Day by reading to students at First Ward Elementary School in Charlotte. “It felt great to come here, help these kids out and show them that there are things they can do to lead them to bigger things,” said Moore. “It means a lot to be able to show the kids that we care about them.” After reading to the students and emphasizing the importance of getting a good education, the Panthers donated autographed copies of Dr. Seuss books as well as six volumes of the Harry Potter series to the school’s library.

CHICAGO: On April 7, Bears cornerback CHARLES TILLMAN will be honored at Maryville Academy as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. The prestigious award is given to one player on each of the 32 NFL teams who best exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage and serves as an inspiration in the locker room. Tillman was chosen by his teammates for symbolizing professionalism, great strength and dedication. During 2008, his infant daughter Tiana was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy and needed a heart transplant to survive. “When I look at her, I see a miracle,” says Tillman. After the experience, he changed the focus of his foundation, the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation, to improving the lives of critically and chronically ill children by providing daily support and life-changing experiences.

DALLAS: The 2009 NFL season will see the opening of a new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington. The stadium, which will be finished this offseason, will seat approximately 80,000 but can expand up to 100,000 for major events such as Super Bowl XLV, which will be held there in 2011. The stadium will also feature a retractable roof, which will incorporate some of the historical features of Texas Stadium, and a video board – measuring 180 feet in length and 50 feet in height – that will be suspended 110 feet directly over the field, the largest video board installation in the world. “The challenge for us with this new stadium was to innovate, but at the same time never forget to acknowledge tradition,” says Cowboys owner and president JERRY JONES. “This new stadium embodies the spirit of the Dallas Cowboys. What we have designed is a building we believe is both architecturally significant and also reflects the emotion and competition that goes on inside.”

DETROIT: Members of the Lions took time this offseason to visit pediatric patients at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Among the players in attendance were kicker JASON HANSON, linebacker ALEX LEWIS, cornerback KEITH SMITH and quarterback DREW STANTON. The players made personal visits with the children, signing autographs, taking photographs, telling stories and making friends. In addition, the team recently announced that Detroit Lions Charities has awarded 87 grants totaling nearly $400,000 to non-profit agencies in 2008-09. This year’s awards bring Detroit Lions Charities’ total donations to more than $5.2 million in its 19-year history. “We are pleased to once again assist a number of outstanding charitable organizations that are making an impact in our community,” says Lions vice chairman WILLIAM CLAY FORD, JR. “It is an honor to partner with these organizations that mean so much to so many.”

GREEN BAY: During the Packers annual Fan Fest, assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach WINSTON MOSS educated several hundred fans about the team’s new 3-4 defense as part of his “Defense 101” session. Held in the Lambeau Field Atrium, Moss showed fans the basics of the new defensive scheme the team will employ in 2009, highlighting two positions that are critical to the scheme’s success – the nose tackle and the outside linebackers. Moss used a slide and video presentation to illustrate the 3-4 and then answered questions from fans. “We didn’t rise to the occasion last year as a team,” Moss told those in attendance, “but we’re going to have answers and we’re going to be able to respond to adversity.”

MINNESOTA: Pro Bowl defensive end JARED ALLEN joined New York Giants linebacker Danny Clark, Arizona Cardinals All-Star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and St. Louis Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon on a weeklong NFL-USO tour to U.S. military bases in Iraq and Kuwait, continuing the NFL’s legacy of more than 40 years of sending players overseas to visit with troops. “It was one of the best experiences of my life,” says Allen, whose youngest brother, Ronald Jr. recently enlisted in the Marine Corps. “It’s something I’ll never forget. We as players probably get more out of this than the soldiers.” Allen told the troops that the experience would help him as he prepares for the 2009 NFL season. “I’m going to think of all of you when I’m in training camp this summer and struggling to get through a tough drill. The sacrifices that you make are so much greater than anything we do. And the work that you put in and the discipline that you show is off the charts.”

NEW ORLEANS: The Field of Dreams project at Carver High School, a determined effort to restore sports facilities in the Ninth Ward, received a $200,000 grant from the New Orleans Saints as part of the NFL’s Grassroots Program. The grant will help reach a goal for a synthetic turf football field and a running track at the 65-acre Carver campus, which suffered major damage during Hurricane Katrina. “The opportunity for our youth to participate in football and other sports has always been very important to our family and the entire Saints organization,” says Saints owner and executive vice president RITA BENSON LE BLANC. “We’re proud to support this project that will continue the recovery of the Upper Ninth Ward while providing yet another world-class field in which our local high school athletes may compete.”

NEW YORK: March 10 was MANNING Day in Mississippi as state legislators honored the family at the Capitol. The Senate passed resolutions honoring the family and spent time with the two Mannings in attendance – father Archie and youngest son ELI – during a reception. Both Archie and Eli were All-American quarterbacks at Ole Miss. The Mannings received standing ovations and Eli was congratulated for his recent move to Oxford. “This is what adults ought to be like and what all kids ought to aspire to,” said Representative David Norquist. Archie and Eli were each presented with a framed copy of the Senate resolution, although Eli’s was twice the size of his father’s. “I guess I had better stats because mine’s a little bigger than dad’s,” quipped Eli.

PHILADELPHIA: In celebration of Black History Month, wide receiver JASON AVANT took 20 students from William Dick School to tour the America I am: The African Imprint exhibit at the National Constitution Center. The exhibit covered nearly 500 years of African American history and included artifacts from different periods of America’s history such as Malcolm X’s journal and a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. “It’s an opportunity to learn about past events and hear about what our ancestors went through in order for us to stand here today so that we can be free, liberated and have the opportunities to become what we want to become,” says Avant. “It’s important to learn your history and know where you came from.”

ST. LOUIS: Linebacker CHRIS DRAFT and the Chris Draft Family Foundation brought the Missouri Asthma Team, a coalition of individuals and agencies who seek to promote awareness and education, together for a special day of events to support the American Lung Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of St. Louis. “As a team, we will not accept where we are,” says Draft, who is a 12-year NFL veteran living with asthma. “We will work together with the Missouri Asthma Team to tackle asthma and lung disease across the state.” The Chris Draft Family Foundation, which was established in 2006, stresses the importance of education, healthy lifestyles, character development, personal responsibility, self-discipline and physical fitness.

SAN FRANCISCO: Tight end VERNON DAVIS spent National Health-through-Fitness Day in meetings with members of Congress lobbying for assistance to fight the increasing issue of obesity in America. Davis, along with other athletes and celebrities and the Sports Goods Manufacturers Association, met with U.S. Representatives, Senators and key Congressional aides to propose programs that will enable our society to be more physically active and address the increasing problem of obesity. “I understand the severity of this issue,” says Davis. “I think the programs will help and the more you can do, the better. We need more physical education classes to get these kids going because they are not as physically active these days.”

SEATTLE: Cornerback JOSH WILSON spent Super Bowl Sunday watching Super Bowl XLIII in Kuwait with 500 members of the U.S. military. “There’s a huge time difference, so we were watching the game at 3:00 in the morning,” says Wilson. “The troops were great, we had fun.” Wilson traveled to Kuwait and Iraq as part of the Pro Sports Super Sunday Tour. “I have a greater appreciation than ever for the men and women serving in the military,” says Wilson. “At first I hesitated about taking the trip, but now I’m glad I went. It was my first time out of the United States. I’m thankful for the nation we live in. We have freedoms that a lot of other nations don’t have. Our military takes good care of us.”

TAMPA BAY: In January, the Buccaneers named RAHEEM MORRIS the team’s new head coach, becoming the youngest head coach in the NFL. Recently, Morris addressed a packed auditorium of ninth and 10th grade students at Middleton High School about the importance of academics. Speaking on the eve of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), a required statewide test for all public school students in grades 3-11, Morris encouraged the students with motivational messages. “Any time you get a chance to help today’s youth and point out the importance of an education, that’s great for our community,” says Morris. “We’re just trying to develop more positive people, and that’s important to all of us. We’re tested every day, and right now these students are going through the FCATs. I’m facing the biggest test I’ve had in my life to this point, and it’s great. It’s a challenge for all of us. It’s a challenge for them just like it’s a challenge for me. The thing that you learn from these situations is that you go into them every day with a level head and you make them make sense for you.”

WASHINGTON: Cornerbacks DE ANGELO HALL and FRED SMOOT were among a group of NFL players that led nearly 100 schoolchildren in a series of fitness activities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s initiative to encourage kids to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. “Nowadays, kids aren’t out playing in the streets and hanging out and having a good time,” says Hall. “They’re sitting in front of video games and eating a lot of fast food. Even my own kids, I’m trying to get them away from that too.” The Redskins players, joined by Falcons owner Arthur Blank and five Baltimore Ravens, teamed up with members of Congress and representatives from the American Heart Association and National Association for Sport and Physical Education to support the passage of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act, legislation that would support quality physical education for all public school children through grade 12 and ensure that they receive important health and nutritional information.

Terrell Owens Ready to Piss Off Buffalo

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Terrell Owens has signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. Two questions: How long before he pisses off everyone on the team? And who do you think is happier, TO, TO's agent or Cowboys TE Jason Witten?

More NFL Signing & Re-Signings

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:25:00 +0000

Get ready fantasy football fans, this season is going to have a lot of players on new teams, and we've got an up-to-date list for you. Well, it's up to date as of March 3.

37 UNRESTRICTED free agents have signed with a NEW team:

TEAM	PLAYER	FORMER TEAM	DATE REPORTED
Baltimore Ravens	CB Dominique Foxworth	Atlanta	2/27
Buffalo Bills	QB Ryan Fitzpatrick	Cincinnati	2/28
	C Geoff Hangartner	Carolina	3/2
Chicago Bears	T Frank Omiyale	Carolina	2/28
Dallas Cowboys	LB Keith Brooking	Atlanta	3/2
Denver Broncos	RB Correll Buckhalter	Philadelphia	2/28
	LB Andra Davis	Cleveland	2/28
	S Brian Dawkins	Philadelphia	3/2
	NT Ronald Fields	San Francisco	3/3
	WR Jabar Gaffney	New England	2/28
	CB Andre’ Goodman	Miami	3/3
	CB Renaldo Hill	Miami	2/28
	LS Lonie Paxson	New England	2/28
	DT Darrell Reid	Indianapolis	2/28
Detroit Lions	WR Bryant Johnson	San Francisco	3/2
	CB Eric King	Tennessee	2/28
	RB Maurice Morris	Seattle	2/28
Houston Texans	QB Dan Orlovsky	Detroit	3/2
	DE Antonio Smith	Arizona	3/2
Jacksonville Jaguars	S Sean Considine	Philadelphia	2/28
Miami Dolphins	G Joe Berger	Dallas	2/27
	C Jake Grove	Oakland	3/3
New York Giants	DT Rocky Bernard	Seattle	3/2
	LB Michael Boley	Atlanta	2/28
	DE Chris Canty	Dallas	3/2
New York Jets	LB Bart Scott	Baltimore	2/28
	S Jim Leonhard	Baltimore	3/3
Philadelphia Eagles	T Stacey Andrews	Cincinnati	2/28
St. Louis Rams	C Jason Brown	Baltimore	3/2
San Francisco 49ers	WR Brandon Jones	Tennessee	2/28
	RB Moran Norris	Detroit	3/3
Seattle Seahawks	DT Colin Cole	Green Bay	3/2
	WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh	Cincinnati	3/3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	RB Derrick Ward	NY Giants	3/3
Tennessee Titans	DT Jovan Haye	Tampa Bay	3/3
	WR Nate Washington	Pittsburgh	3/3
Washington Redskins	DT Albert Haynesworth	Tennessee	2/28

25 UNRESTRICTED free agents have re-signed with their OLD team:

TEAM	PLAYER	DATE REPORTED
Arizona Cardinals	P Ben Graham	3/2
	QB Brian St. Pierre	3/2
Atlanta Falcons	LB Tony Gilbert	2/27
	DT Jason Jefferson	3/3
	LB Coy Wire	2/27
Buffalo Bills	RB Corey McIntyre	3/3
Cincinnati Bengals	LB Darryl Blackstock	3/2
Houston Texans	C Chris White	2/27
	S Eugene Wilson	2/27
Indianapolis Colts	C Jeff Saturday	2/27
Jacksonville Jaguars	C Brad Meester	2/27
	CB Scott Starks	2/27
Miami Dolphins	S Yeremiah Bell	2/27
Minnesota Vikings	TE Jim Kleinsasser	2/28
New England Patriots	G Russ Hochstein	3/2
New Orleans Saints	T Jon Stinchcomb	3/3
	LB Jonathan Vilma	3/3
New York Jets	RB Tony Richardson	3/3
Oakland Raiders	G Cooper Carlisle	3/3
	LB Isiah Ekejiube	3/3
	TE Tony Stewart	3/3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	S Will Allen	3/3
	WR Michael Clayton	3/2
Tennessee Titans	QB Kerry Collins	2/28
	S Vincent Fuller	3/2

Haynesworth Ready to "Kick Butt" in Washington

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:04:00 +0000

NFL Free Agency: You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Here it is, everything you could possibly want to know about NFL Free Agency...and more.

Q. When can players start being signed in the 2009 free agency signing period?

A. Beginning at 12:01 AM ET on Friday, February 27.

Q. What are the categories of free agency?

A. Players are either "restricted" or "unrestricted" free agents. Within the categories are also "transition" and "franchise" players.

Q. What is the time period for free agency signings this year?

A. For restricted free agents, from February 27 to April 17; for unrestricted free agents, from February 27 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later); and for franchise players, from February 27 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 17).

Q. What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?

A. Players become restricted free agents when they complete three accrued seasons and their contract expires. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons with an expired contract.

Q. What constitutes an "accrued season?"

A. Six or more regular-season games on a club's active/inactive, reserved-injured or "physically unable to perform" lists.

Q. Other than accrued seasons, what determines a restricted free agent?

A. He has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 17. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the "right of first refusal." If the old club does not match the offer, it can possibly receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed, the player’s rights revert exclusively to his old club after April 17.

Q. What determines an unrestricted free agent?

A. A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). On July 23, his rights revert to his old club if it made a "tender" offer (110 percent of last year's salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 17) to sign him. If he does not sign by November 17, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

Q. What determines a transition player?

A. A club can designate one transition player (or one franchise player) in any given year. The player’s club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

Q. What determines a franchise player?

A. A club can designate one franchise player (or one transition player) in any given year. The salary level offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is. An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of April 17, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season -- whichever of the three is greater. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.

Q. Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player? If so, can it then use them on other players?

A. A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designations and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent either immediately or when his contract expires. The club cannot name a new franchise or transition player that year. It can name a new franchise or transition player the next year.

Q. What is the salary cap for 2009?

A. The salary cap is $123 million per club.

NFL Franchise Players Announced

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:46:00 +0000

Franchise player designations were announced today for the 2009 NFL free agency signing period that begins on Feb. 27.

A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents.

The salary offer by a player’s club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive.

An “exclusive” franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of April 17, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season – whichever of the three is greater.

There are no exclusive franchise player designations this year.

If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for franchise players to sign with new clubs is February 27 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (Nov. 17).

A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater.

A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.

There are no transition player designations this year.

2009 FRANCHISE PLAYERS

CLUB	PLAYER	POSITION
Arizona	Karlos Dansby	LB
Atlanta	Michael Koenen	P
Baltimore	Terrell Suggs	LB
Carolina	Julius Peppers	DE
Cincinnati	Shayne Graham	K
Houston	Dunta Robinson	DB
New England	Matt Cassel	QB
New York Giants	Brandon Jacobs	RB
Pittsburgh	Max Starks	T
San Diego	Darren Sproles	RB
St. Louis	Oshiomogho Atogwe	DB
Seattle	Leroy Hill	LB
Tampa Bay	Antonio Bryant	WR
Tennessee	Bo Scaife	TE

2009 NFL Calendar

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:58:00 +0000

In case you're wondering about key dates for the 2009 NFL season, we put together this handy-dandy NFL calendar. Learn it, know it, live it.



February 1	Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa Bay, Florida (NBC).

February 8	AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii (NBC).

February 18-24	NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

February 19	Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.

February 26	Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.

February 26	Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.

February 27	Veteran free agency signing period begins.

February 27	Trading period begins.

March 22-25	NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, California.

April 17	Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 24	Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 25-26	NFL Draft, New York City.

May 18-20	NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

June 1	Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.

June 1	Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

June 15	Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year’s salary.

June 28-July 1	NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Mid-July	Training camps open.

July 22	Signing period ends at 4:00 PM ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.

August 9	Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.

August 13-17	First preseason weekend.

September 1	Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

September 5	Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

September 10-14	Kickoff 2009 Weekend.

6 Named to Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson, and defensive back Rod Woodson will make up the Class of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.

The six-man class was elected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee who met today in Tampa, Florida. The newes`t members of the Hall were selected from a list of 17 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.

Hayes, a gold medalist track star in the 1964 Summer Olympics, combined his world class speed with great hands. “Bullet Bob,” a three-time All-Pro pick, caught 371 career passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns.

McDaniel was named All-Pro nine straight seasons and voted to a record 12 consecutive AFC-NFC Pro Bowls during his 14-season career with the Minnesota Vikings (1988-1999) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-01).

Smith, the first overall pick in the 1985 draft by the Buffalo Bills, is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200 career sacks. A member of both the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s, Smith was named first-team All-Pro nine times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls.

Thomas amassed more sacks during the 1990s than any other player. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, named All-NFL three times, and was All-AFC seven times in an eight-year stretch.

Wilson founded the Buffalo Bills in 1959 and has watched his team win back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s and become the only team ever to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls. He was an integral part of the AFL’s success and has also served on a number of important NFL committees over the years.

Woodson, a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994 and selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, intercepted 71 passes which he returned for an NFL record 1,483 yards and a record 12 touchdowns. He was named All-Pro six times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls.

The 2009 class will increase to 253 the number of all-time greats permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Enshrinement of the Class of 2009 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Enshrinement Ceremony will be televised live by both ESPN and the NFL Network.

The annual NFL Hall of Fame Game will be played on Sunday, August 9, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. and broadcast live by NBC. Teams have not yet been announced.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is a multi-day celebration of the enshrinement of the newest Hall of Fame Class. Held in Canton each year, the festival includes 15 special public events and culminates with the Enshrinement Ceremony and NFL Hall of Fame Game. Two other major events are the Enshrinees Dinner (Friday, Aug. 7), and the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable (Sunday, Aug. 9).

It's at the Enshrinees Dinner where each member of the Class of 2009 will be presented his gold Pro Football Hall of Fame Jacket. At the GameDay Roundtable, the members of the Class of 2009 will be featured center stage to share memories of the game and their personal feelings about being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Individual enshrinement tickets and Festival Fan Packages are on sale now. Ticket information can be found on the Hall of Fame’s website at Profootballhof.com.

Blatant Self Promotion: Fantasy Football 2009 Widget

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Sometimes we have bad ideas—the time we got a pet skunk (seriously); sometimes we have great ideas—the creation of a widget for the Mac Bros. Fantasy Football website.

To date, it's become (cough, cough) one of the most popular fantasy football widgets on Widgetbox.

It offers headlines directly from our posts during the 2009 season to help you stay up to date on all we have to offer, including our fantasy football draft choices, weekly (start/sit) rankings, and breaking news. It's great for fantasy football websites and personal blogs. And, well, it's free. Just click on the "Get Widget" button, grab the code and install on your site.

46 Granted Special Eligibility for NFL Draft

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:12:00 +0000

The NFL announced today the names of 46 players who have been granted special eligibility for the 2009 NFL Draft on April 25-26.

Each of the 46 players met the league’s three-year eligibility rule and each submitted a written application in which he renounced his remaining college football eligibility. The deadline for receiving applications was January 15.

In 2008, 53 players were granted special eligibility for the draft.

The players declared eligible are:

Player	Pos.	College
Allen, Asher	DB	Georgia
Britt, Kenny	WR	Rutgers
Britton, Eben	T	Arizona
Brown, Donald	RB	Connecticut
Brown, Everette	DE	Florida State
Butler, Carson	TE	Michigan
Byrd, Jairus	DB	Oregon
Casey, James	TE	Rice
Childs, Jeremy	WR	Boise State
Coffee, Glen	RB	Alabama
Cook, Emanuel	DB	South Carolina
Cook, Jared	TE	South Carolina
Crabtree, Michael	WR	Texas Tech
Davie, Andrew	TE	Arkansas
Davis, Nate	QB	Ball State
Davis, Vontae	DB	Illinois
Evans, Maurice	DE	Penn State
Freeman, Josh	QB	Kansas State
Goodson, Mike	RB	Texas A&M
Greene, Shonn	RB	Iowa
Hartline, Brian	WR	Ohio State
Harvin, Percy	WR	Florida
Heyward-Bey, Darrius	WR	Maryland
Hill, P.J.	RB	Wisconsin
Isdaner, Greg	G	West Virginia
Jean-Francois, Ricky	DT	Louisiana State
Maclin, Jeremy	WR	Missouri
Marks, Sen’Derrick	DT	Auburn
Maybin, Aaron	DE	Penn State
McCoy, LeSean	RB	Pittsburgh
Means, Andrew	WR	Indiana
Moore, D.J.	DB	Vanderbilt
Moreno, Knowshon	RB	Georgia
Morrah, Cameron	TE	California
Munnerlyn, Captain	DB	South Carolina
Nicks, Hakeem	WR	North Carolina
Ogletree, Kevin	WR	Virginia
Powers, Jerraud	DB	Auburn
Quinn, Richard	TE	North Carolina
Sanchez, Mark	QB	Southern California
Smith, Andre	T	Alabama
Smith, Sean	DB	Utah
Stafford, Matt	QB	Georgia
Washington, Donald	DB	Ohio State
Wells, Chris	RB	Ohio State
Williams, Brandon	DE	Texas Tech

Ouch! Broncos Fire Shanahan

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:54:00 +0000

He was known as a genius, a mastermind and, yes, a Super Bowl champion. Shockingly, though, Mike Shanahan has a new title: unemployed coach.

Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.

(From AP)

Peyton Talks About His Struggles in '08

themacbros@yahoo.com (The Mac Bros.) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Peyton Manning talks to ESPN about his struggles coming back from knee surgery, the Colts' run to get to the playoffs and the possibility of playing Eli Manning in the Super Bowl. We thought you'd enjoy it.