Michigan Pushing Players Too Hard?

It's been a turbulent couple of years for the Michigan Wolverines that includes a coaching change, losses to Appalachian State and Toledo, the first losing season since 1967, and now allegations of players being pushed too hard by coach Rich Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has expectantly denied the reports saying that they are aware of the rules. You may know the rules, Rich, but that doesn't mean you follow them.

The NCAA has specific rules laid out on how much the players can practice and, more or less, be held away from the classroom.

The rules basically say that a during the offseason the players are allowed to spend eight hours on mandatory workouts. During the season, practice time can reach up to 20 hours a week under NCAA standards. Multiple players have said they exceeded those limits easily.

Numerous players from this year's team and last year's team has agreed that they were pushed too hard.

Maybe the biggest name was former wide receiver Toney Clemons who said in an ESPN interview that all the reports are true.

However, there are some former players who are saying they never noticed anything out of the ordinary.

Either way, this is another huge blow to a football program that has so much history and tradition. We are basically watching it crumble before our eyes.

Whether or not the allegations are true, this will hurt recruiting tremendously. The families of top named prospects won't be crazy about sending their kid to a school that has this kind of a reputation.

Many people say that all great powers must come to an end. Well, this could be the beginning of the end to the winningest football program in college football history.

Titans Preseason Assessment

The Titans have had their ups and downs so far this preseason. Under normal circumstances the preseason would be over for the Titans.

However, since they had the honor of playing in the Hall of Fame game the Titans still have one more preseason game remaining which will give them five total. Normally you only play four.

Right now the Titans record is 2-2, but that's really not that important. What is important is how the starters and the second stringers have looked so far.

Starting with the positives, both Jared Cook and Kenny Britt have looked excellent so far. What's even more promising is that both have gotten plenty of time playing against opposing team's starter. They both started in last night's game against the Browns.

Justin Gage looks like he's ready to be the number one wide receiver like last year. He's made some great catches so far this preseason, including a touchdown reception last night from Collins that was a little over thrown. Gage reached out and pulled it in while getting two feet down.

The running game on the other hand has not looked as promising. Chris Johnson has produced little and Lendale White had his first decent game last night when he rushed for 20 yards on only four carries. One bright spot for the running game has been rookie Javon Ringer who will hopefully end up being the third option at running back.

As for the quarterback position, it's been extremely streaky. We know starter Kerry Collins has a cannon for an arm, but he's had some questionable throws as well. As for Vince Young, he's shown slight improvement but has shown he's still prone to making the big mistakes that can lose games. You also can't forget that even though Young has made some impressive throws, a majority of his action has come against backups.

The defense has not looked good at all, especially at stopping the run. They've been so dominant at that in the past and hopefully things will get figured out before the opener in Pittsburgh.

As a team the Titans have shown glimpses of an AFC championship contender, but they still have a long way to go. The Titans better make up ground fast because the schedule is not forgiving at all this season.

Preseason Grade: C+

Key Preseason Stats

1. Kerry Collins: 30/44, 276 yards, 2 TD, 2 Int
2. Vince Young: 34/57, 377 yards, 3 TD, 3 Int
3. Chris Johnson: 22 carries, 54 yards
4. Javon Ringer: 17 carries, 100 yards
   

2009 NFL Preview: NFC

NFC East

Things just got a lot more interesting in the NFC East after last week's epic signing of Michael Vick. This acquisition puts the Eagles over the top as not only the top contender for the division crown, but also for the Super Bowl crown. Just by having Vick on the roster is going to give fits to opposing defensive coordinators who have to plan for him.

The only difference between the upcoming season for the Cowboys and last season is that snazzy new billion dollar stadium they have. Other than that, it will be another sub-par season for the Cowboys. The defense will keep the Giants in games but a ton of question linger with their weak group of wide receivers. The division race will be close early, but the Eagles will pull away as just the more balanced team.

NFC North

The NFC North is probably the most improved division in the NFL going into 2009. Both Jay Cutler and Brett Favre drastically improved their respective teams' offenses. The Packers already had a good offense, but their defense basically sealed the deal with their 6-10 season.

It's going to be a great division race that will go to Week 17 to determine a winner. The Vikings will edge out both the Packers and the Bears to take the division by one game, mostly thanks to their defense and "All Day" Adrian Peterson.

NFC South

The Falcons almost surprised everyone last season by coming up just short of winning the division on the backs of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. If Ryan can avoid the sophomore slump then the Falcons will take the NFC South without much of a fight. Ryan does avoid the slump and helps get the Falcons back on top.

The high octane offense of the Saints led by Drew Brees may stand in the Falcons' way. However, there's hardly a defense and not enough talent for the Saints to pull the division out.

The Panthers are a big question all around. The biggest question surrounds whether Jake Delhomme has passed his prime or not. The Bucs might be one of the worst teams in the NFC and they'll be lucky to win four games.

NFC West

No team may have an easier road to a division championship than the Arizona Cardinals. Three of the NFL's worst teams reside in the NFC East. The Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams will all be below average teams in 2009. Out of those, the Seahawks probably have the best chance. The Cardinals win this division and it will be all but official by Week 10.

NFC division winners: Eagles, Vikings, Falcons, and Cardinals
NFC wild card winners: Giants and Packers

2009 NFL Preview: AFC

AFC East

The AFC East ended up being one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL last season. A lot of that can be attributed to the Week 1 injury of Tom Brady. Well Tom Brady is back now and so are the Patriots. They finished 11-5 without Tom Brady and will improve on that mark in 2009.

This division got a lot more interesting now that Terrell Owens is member of the Bills. Unfortunately for the Bills, Owens isn't nearly enough to make this team better than 8-8. The Dolphins are the only team that will give the Patriots a challenge for the division, and they'll keep it close early on. In the end, the Patriots are just too stacked on both sides of the ball and they'll take the division crown.

AFC North

The AFC North is a lot more up for grabs than many other division in the NFL. Of course the Steelers and the Ravens will be the two primary teams that will compete for the division. However, don't sleep on the Bengals. If Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco can get back to the way they use to play then this team could be a spoiler down the stretch.

It's going to be a close division race, but I like the Ravens to sneak by at 12-4 over the Steelers. Joe Flacco proved last season that he's a rising star in this league. And we all know how good that defense is.

AFC South

Over the past few seasons the AFC South has been one of the better divisions from top to bottom. Expect it to be even more balanced this season. The Titans and the Colts will be in the mix as usual, but the Texans are a great wild card pick out of this division. The offense will be among the best in the NFL.

What may stand in the Titans way is their quarterback controversy. Both quarterbacks have their own issues at times and it will be interesting to see which one ends up having to lead this team. As of right now it's Kerry Collins. The Colts lost Marvin Harrison but still have a great offense and the Jaguars will once again be the weakest team in a tough division. The Titans end up taking this division with the Texans and Colts very close behind.

AFC West

We go from the toughest division to one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. The Chargers won't be even in the top five among AFC teams this season, but they'll still win their division in pretty convincing fashion. The only team I see even making this close is the Chiefs. The Broncos are a complete mess right now and the Raiders have an offense that's equivilent to a Division II football team.

AFC division winners: Patriots, Ravens, Titans, and Chargers
AFC wild card teams: Texans and Steelers

God Must Not Be a Mets Fan

For all the Mets fans out there, I really do feel for you. What a horrible year 2009 has been. Not to mention the horrific end to the 2008 season.

With all the injuries the Mets have endured, I'm not even sure the manager Jerry Manuel knows the names of half his roster anymore.

The latest disaster for the Mets happened after Johan Santana suffered a season ending elbow injury. The injury doesn't seem to be too serious, but the Mets are doing the right thing by getting Santana the surgery. This thing could get really nasty if Santana misses significant time next season.

There was a ton of buzz behind the Mets back in April, and some had them as a trendy World Series pick. Now the Nationals are the only team keeping them from being the laughing stock of the NL East. And quite frankly the Nationals have looked a whole lot better since the All-Star break.

The Mets hitting lineup has been impacted the most by injuries with at least six significant players currently on the disabled list.

Of course a lot of you probably can't forget the freak accident that happened to Luis Castillo a couple of weeks ago. Castillo couldn't even walk down the steps to dugout without injuring himself. He's back now and is one of the only Mets player that is doing anything good for that team.

Just hang in there Mets fans. You've definitely paid your dues the past couple of seasons while the NL East has gotten better and better ( except those poor Nationals).

Current Mets on the Disabled List

• Jose Reyes ( hamstring)
• Carlos Beltran ( knee)
• Carlos Delgado (hip, oblique)
• David Wright (concussion)
• Alex Cora (thumbs)
• Johan Santana (elbow)
• John Maine (shoulder)
• J.J. Putz (bone chips)
• Fernando Nieve (thigh)
  

Young Still the Future In Tennessee

At this time last year all the hype was around Vince Young. He was unquestionably the starter, but he was on a short leash with many fans.

We all know how that story ended since Vince Young is now the backup to the aging Kerry Collins. I still wouldn't rule out seeing Vince Young start sometime this season. Collins is getting old and hasn't looked sharp this preseason, and neither has the rest of the first-string offense.

On the other hand, Vince Young has shown that all those offseason workouts have paid off. I've seen improvement in his pocket presence and his accuracy. Even better, I see a guy who has that competitive spark back. He looks like he's ready to lead a team again.

The Titans have to be prepared to take a risk on Vince Young sooner or later. Why not sooner?

Collins is the safe option here because you know what you're going to get with him. He'll hit those short five-yard out routs. He'll nickle and dime the defense all the way down the field. However, don't ask this guy to convert a third-down if its more than five yards. He'll throw a pick or just throw it away.

Collins isn't a play-maker. He manages games. He does nothing more and sometimes does way less. We may snag the wild card if Collins is our starter the entire year, but we won't get past the first round.

The possibilities with Vince are so much greater. He finds ways to win games and we have already seen that in his first two seasons. The guy deserves a second chance. End of story.

Playoff Races Are Heating Up

It's getting to that time of year where the regular season turns into an all out sprint to the finish line in the MLB.

Every division is still very much up for the taking with the largest division lead being in the NL Central at eight games. The Cardinals will most likely continue to run away with that division because the Cubs and the Brewers just keep fading.

Perhaps one of the most exciting division race is the NL West, which everyone thought would be easily won by the Dodgers. The Giants and the Rockies beg to differ and they're currently in the midst of a four game series that concludes on Monday.

All three divisions in the AL are still very much up for grabs. The Rangers still have seven more games against the division leading Angels and they've had their number for most of the season.

It's still a mystery to me that the Tigers still have the division lead. They might be the most inconsistent team in baseball and it might come back to haunt them in the end. They only have a slim two and a half game lead over the White Sox. The Twins are also still within shouting distance.

And then you have the most stacked division in all of baseball; the AL East. The Yankees got deomolished last night by the Red Sox 14-1. Lucky for them they still have a six and a half game lead over their hated rivals.

Finally you got both wild card races, which are always close. Right now the Rockies lead the NL wild card race and the Red Sox lead the AL wild card race.

It's been a long, grueling, and boring summer in the sports world. That's putting it mildly. With football just weeks away and the baseball season heating up, I couldn't be happier to be a sports fan!

NL division leaders: Dodgers, Cardinals, and Phillies
NL Wild Card contenders: Rockies (leader), Giants, Braves, Marlins
AL division leaders: Yankees, Angels, and Tigers
AL Wild Card contenders: Red Sox (leader), Rangers, Rays, Mariners, White Sox

MLB Power Rankings: Week 18

1. Yankees (76-45): My world series preseason pick is really starting to put some distance between themselves and the Red Sox in the AL East. Another series with the Red Sox starts tonight.
Last week: 1


2. Phillies (69-49): Since the acquisition of Cliff Lee the Phillies have been nearly impossible to stop. And now the potent offense is really starting to take off. The Phillies have five players with 15 or more home runs this season. Talk about power. Last week: 4


3. Cardinals (70-53): The Phillies aren't the only ones making noise in the NL. The Cardinals just picked up John Smoltz this past week. He'll most likely do work in the bullpen and probably be effective pitching there. The hitting has gotten so much better since Matt Holliday joined the team. Last week: NR


4. Angels (73-46): The Angels have seven more meetings left with the Rangers which will prove whether they belong in the postseason. Right now their entire starting lineup is hitting close to .300. As a team their batting average is .290. Last week: 3


5. Red Sox (69-51): The number one oppenent for the Red Sox is no longer the Yankees, it's the Rangers. They're currently in the fight of their lives for the AL wild card. Boston has a slim one game lead as of right now.
Last week: 5




Almost In

Dodgers (72-50): For the first time since first losing Manny to suspension the Dodgers find themselves on the outside looking in on the power rankings. It's mainly thanks to the pitching staff that is really beaten up right now. They just signed Vincente Padilla from the Rangers to try to stop the bleeding.

Rockies (68-53): Forget about the Giants getting the NL wild card, or even the NL west. The Rockies are playing like a team on a mission to make the postseason. A monumental series with the Giants starts tonight. The season series is tied at four.

Dropped from the rankings: Dodgers (72-50)

Vandy Limping Through the Offseason

Vanderbilt's bright skies going into the 2009 season have gotten a little dimmer the past couple of weeks.

The first major setback was former Connecticut star wide receiver Terrence Jeffers being named ineligible due to academic reasons. Coach Bobby Johnson revealed this to the public about a week ago.

Reports say that some of Jeffers's college credits would not be accepted by Vanderbilt and that he would have to take other courses. Apparently, Jeffers was not willing to do the work in the classroom.

This is a huge blow to the very weak group of receivers that Vanderbilt has. Jeffers was going to provide good hands and nice size to a core of receivers that has less than 50 career reception collectively as a unit.

The Vandy receiving unit has already suffered one great blow that happened during spring drills when they lost Justin Wheeler to a knee injury. Wheeler's career at Vanderbilt is now over.

Another unfortunate injury occured to one of Vandy's strongest units, the defensive line.

Starting defensive end Steve Stone broke his right foot during practice and will now miss as much as six weeks. He'll probably miss at least the first three weeks of the regular season.

The Commodores will have to figure out a way to replace 42 tackles and five sacks from last season.

Injuries are part of the game and they happen a lot during these intense practices leading up to the opening game.

However, Vanderbilt has never been known as a deep team. A few more significant injuries, or losses in general, could send this hopeful team back to the SEC cellar that they have gotten so accustomed to over the past few decades.

2009 Projected Starting Offense

QB: Larry Smith
RB: Jared Hawkins
WR: John Cole
WR: Alex Washington
TE: Brandon Barden
OL: Reilly Lauer, Kyle Fischer, Bradley Vierling, Eric Hensley, Thomas Welch

Note: The entire offensive line has returning starters.

AL Contenders and Pretenders

We're now in what many baseball fans call the dog days of August in the MLB season. Teams are fighting for the playoff lives.

There are plenty of frauds out there, so be careful baseball fans. However, there are also some contenders that you definitely shouldn't sleep on.

AL Contenders

1. New York Yankees: As if you didn't already know, the Yankees are kind of a big deal this season. It's now been almost a decade since the Yankees won their last World Series, and that drought could come to an end this October. The starting pitching was the only thing holding this team back to start the season. That looks to be fixed and C.C Sabathia and A.J Burnett can mainly be thanked for that.

2. LA Angels: The Angels may be one of the most consistent team over the past decade outside of the Red Sox. They've got the second best record in the MLB since the All-Star break at 23-8. They beat the teams they are suppose to and play well against the good teams, too. Everyone except those pesky Rangers. These two teams still meet seven more times, and the Angels are still the better team.

3. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox have been in a tailspin since the All-Star break. Outside of Josh Beckett, the pitching staff has cooled off. Not to mention the bats have looked horrible as of late. There's still no reason to press the panic button, though. Top to bottom this is still one of the best lineups in baseball and they'll get it together and pull out the AL wild card and still be dangerous in the playoffs.

AL Pretenders

1. Tampa Bay Rays: I loved the cinderella story the Rays showed the sports world in 2008. Too bad there's not going to be a sequel. This team is just too streaky and the AL is just too solid this season, even outside of the AL East.

2. Detroit Tigers: Even if the Tigers do win their mediocre division, they're not going anywhere in the playoffs. In fact, they'll most likely be swept by either the Angels or the Red Sox. The Red Sox just got done slapping them around this past week winning three of four.

3. Texas Rangers: I really like what this team has done so far. They're almost like the Tampa Bay Rays of last season. However, it's not going to end anywhere close to a World Series berth. The lineup is just a little to0 inexperienced and they'll falter down the stretch. The Rangers will get their chance to win the division as they play the Angles seven more times to try to steal the AL West. Sadly enough, they'll fall just short.

Brett Un-Retires...Again

Just when you thought Brett Favre was finally going to sail gracefully into the sunset he once again pulls a 180 on the sports world.

It's only been a few weeks since Favre confirmed that he wouldn't return to play for the Vikings because he was worried about his body being able to sustain a full NFL season. I guess Favre's physical condition magically got better in a matter of weeks.

The rumor first broke out on Monday when a few anonymous Vikings players said that Favre was close to signing with the team. Now there are numerous reports confirming that Favre is expected to sign a deal anywhere between $10 to $12 million by the end of today.

As much as I am completely sick of hearing about Brett Favre's comeback, he probably couldn't have picked a better team to come back to.

Favre is coming back to a team that has a great run defense, the NFL's best running back in Adrian Peterson, and a very winnable division in the NFC North.

There is a very great chance that we'll see Brett Favre in the playoffs again. In fact, I'll make it a guarantee he returns to the playoffs as long as he avoids injury.

Even though Thomas Jones had a solid year for the Jets last season, he's still no Adrian Peterson. Favre will benefit greatly from having such a high caliber running back lining up behind him.

Favre is now going to have one of the best teams that's been around him in a long time. Even better than the Packers team that went to the NFC championship game just two seasons ago.

Not only did Favre choose the right team to come back to, but he also manipulated the system by skipping out on training camp.

By telling the media the white lie that his body couldn't make it through a full season, he bought himself some time to skip training camp.

Favre has been in the league for 18 years so the last thing he wanted to do was stay in a cramped up dorm room with a bunch of rookies and undrafted free agents.

This is where I think Favre has truly lost his heroic persona that he once had when he was a Packer.

As much as Favre himself probably doesn't need training camp, he could've used training camp as an opportunity for his teammates to become accustomed to their new quarterback.

I can only imagine how turbulent this has been for Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Most people probably can imagine, but somewhere in Green Bay right now Aaron Rogers is nodding his head saying, "Yep, I know how you guys feel".

Sanchez, Stafford Look Sharp in First Preseason Game

Both Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford have high expectations from their respective teams going into the 2009 season.

Sanchez is looking to turn an already decent team into a playoff team, while Matthew Stafford is looking to turn around a Lions franchise that is notorious for losing.

Sanchez came into his first preseason late in the first quarter, and it only took him one to show why the Jets moved up in the April draft to get him.

The first play from scrimmage for Sanchez ended up being a 48-yard completion to second year player David Clowney. The Jets ended that drive with a touchdown by Thomas Jones.

Not a bad outing for Sanchez who finished 3 for 4 with 88 yards passing in limited action.

As for Matthew Stafford, his first outing in the preseason wasn't perfect, but still solid overall.

Stafford got into the game in the 2nd quarter where his first drive stalled after two incompletions.

The first taste of failure in the NFL for Stafford came after a short pass was intercepted and taken the other way for a touchdown.

However, Stafford showed great resiliency by throwing a nice 25-yard touchdown pass on the next drive. Stafford will need plenty of resiliency if he's going to play for the Lions.

Vick is Going to the City of Brotherly Love

Michael Vick has a new home in Philadelphia, and most Philly natives aren't too thrilled about it.

Philadelphia is not at all a good fit for Vick. This city will rip him apart if he fails, and maybe even if he doesn't. Next to New York fans, Philadelphia fans are the hardest fans in all of sports to win over.

Obviously Vick will be the backup quarterback at most for this upcoming season with Donovan McNabb still at the helm. However, McNabb becomes a free agent in 2010. It could be possible that Vick is the future of Eagles football. Scary thought if you're an Eagles fan.

Vick reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Eagles. Under Vick's current suspension he is allowed to partcipate in team practices, he's just not allowed to participate in the actual games. After the sixth game of his suspension, Roger Goodell will re-evaluate the situation and most likely Vick will be cleared to play.

McNabb hasn't exactly had the cleanest bill of health over the past few seasons, so seeing Vick start a game this season is very possible.

The last time the Eagles experimented with a controversial character, it didn't go well in the end. Granted Vick has never been accused of being a bad teammate, but the public relations nightmare will probably be somewhat of a distraction this season.

At the press conference earlier today, we saw a Michael Vick that seemed truly remorseful and very thankful for his opportunity. Vick definitely deserves a second chance. Now he has to put this behind him and work towards getting back into football shape.

We'll most likely get our first look at Vick in football action in Week 3 of the preseason.

Vick's Career Stats

• 71 Passing TD's, 52 Interceptions
• 54% completion percentage
• 11,505 Passing yards
• 75.7 passer rating
• 3,859 rushing yards, 21 rush TD's
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 17

1. Yankees (71-43): The Yankees are now 20-6 since the All-Star break and have completely reversed spots in the division with the Red Sox. That eight-game losing streak to the Red Sox to start this season seems like ancient history now. Last week: 1


2. Dodgers (69-46): The division lead for the Dodgers is slowly shrinking as we go through the dog days of August. They just missed a three-game sweep of the Giants tonight. The Giants aren't the only ones chasing the Dodgers these days. Watch out for them Rockies, too. Last week: 2


3. Angels (68-44): The Angels have become one of the most consistent teams year in and year out in baseball. This year has proven no different as Angles continue to be good with both the bats and the pitching has gotten somewhat better. Last week: 5


4. Phillies (63-48): By far the best hitting team in the MLB is the Phillies, and they showed it Wednesday night against the Cubs. They lead the NL in both runs scored (573) and home runs (152). Last week: 4


5. Red Sox (65-48): The Red Sox have gradually been on a decline for quite some time now. They've been struggling to score runs and the pitching outside of Josh Beckett has only looked average at best. They're in a real dog fight for the AL wild card now with teams like the Rangers, Rays, and Mariners.
Last week: 3



Almost In

Cardinals (64-52): The Cardinals are one of those teams that don't always make things look pretty, but they continue to win the games that count. Matt Holliday has proven to be a great addition to the lineup. They still have a lot of work to do before they jump ahead of the Phillies or the Dodgers in the NL.

Giants (62-52): Even though the Giants are currently trailing the Rockies by a half game for the NL wildcard, they're still a better team. They have a starting rotation that can't be matched by anyone else in the majors. Good pitching usually beats good hitting.

Dropped from rankings: Cardinals (64-52)

History Not In Favor Of U.S. at Azteca Stadium

World Cup qualifying continues for the U.S. soccer team tomorrow at historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. So why do the Americans feel so much confidence going into tomorrow's matchup?

U.S. soccer has never won at Azteca Stadium putting up an 0-22-1 record overall. However, don't let that discourage you. The Americans have won nine of the last ten matches against Mexico, including a 2-0 victory in February in Columbus.

The last time we saw this particular group of guys represent U.S. soccer, they took Brazil to the brink before collapsing down the stretch to lose the Confederation Cup final.

There are many factors that make winning at Azteca Stadium so difficult. The stadim sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, the smog will make it diffcult to breathe, and the stadium holds more than 100,000 people. All those factors stand in the Americans way probably more so than the Mexican team itself.

There is a lot more pressure on the Mexicans. If they come up with anything less than a win, then their chances for qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be drastically decreased.

The Americans are on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. They could lose this game and still be in great shape for qualifying for the World Cup.

That still shouldn't take away the importance of this game. The Americans have already had a historical year after defeating Spain and almost defeating Brazil after leading by two goals at one point.

A first ever win at Azteca Stadium would build even more confidence for an American team that is finally starting to get some respect from the rest of world, including fellow Americans.

Titans Show Plenty of Flash in Preseason Win

There was nothing bland about Sunday night's Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

The game marked the beginning of the preseason and the Titans took the win 21-18. More importantly, the both the starting offense and defense looked sharp.

A fake punt that turned into a 40-yard touchdown run got the scoring started in the first quarter. Rookie punter A.J. Trapasso out of Ohio State did the honors.

Over the years Jeff Fisher has become notorious for pulling out trick plays, and this one might have been one of his best. The ironic thing is, we may never see it again. Fisher may have just pulled that out to give defenses something else they have to worry about when the Titans are next on the schedule.

The big looming question for Titans fans coming into this game was how Vince Young would look. Young has been very outspoken this offseason about his desire to start and his belief that he will be in the Hall of Fame one day. What better place to show that off than in Canton, Ohio?

Things definitely didn't get off on the right foot by throwing an ugly interception on his first drive. He looked more like the Vince Young we saw burying his face in his hands last September than a he did a future Hall of Famer.

He would bounce back somewhat by throwing a pretty fade pass to Paul Williams in the back of the endzone. Young would finish the day 5 for 10 with 39 yards passing.

All in all, the Titans looked great in the preseason opener. Just don't take too much from this win because sadly enough, it's only preseason.

Titans Remaining Preseason Schedule

8/15 Tampa Bay 7 pm
8/21 @ Dallas 7 pm
8/29 @ Cleveland 6:30 pm
9/3 Green Bay 7 pm

2009 Fantasy Football Preview: Defense/Special Teams

And now it has come down to your defense and special teams unit. This unit can make or break your team. If you have a bad defense, chances are you'll get negative points for that position. In other words, choose wisely.

Top Defense/ Special Teams Units

1. Tennessee Titans

Last season the Titans defense finished 2nd in the NFL in points allowed. On average they gave up just under 15 points a game. The Titans were also +14 in turnover differential. Kicker Rob Bironas has been one of the most accurate kickers in the game over the past couple of seasons. He rarely misses inside the 3o. Bironas had 15 field goals of 40 yards or longer. The return game is going to take a little bit of a hit after losing Chris Carr, but Jeff Fisher always seems to put together a good special teams unit.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

The defending Super Bowl champions had the top defense in 2008. They'll be one of the top defenses again this season. They're also extremely accurate at kicking the ball with Jeff Reed at the helm. Reed only missed four field goals last season. The return game isn't one of the Steelers' strong points. They spread out the returning duties last season. The top two returners from last season are no longer with the team, so it's unclear who will have that role in 2009.

3. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens defense is hands down one of the most consistent defenses in NFL history. I can't remember a season where they weren't dominant on the defensive side of the ball. Opposing offenses struggle to gain yards against the defense. In 2008 this defense combined for 34 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and 26 interceptions. They were behind the Titans and the Steelers in terms of points allowed, but no defense can match the Ravens in forced turnovers. Matt Stover returns as the kickers and he's usually pretty consistent. However, the Ravens were one of the worst in the league in kickoff return average. Don't put too much stock into that. They're still one of the best defensive/special teams units in the league.

Notables

Minnesota Vikings

The rush defense is one of the best in the NFL. The kicking game is led by veteran Ryan Longwell, which nailed six field goals in six attempts from 50 yards or more last season. There should be no shame in picking the Vikings.

Chicago Bears

In 2008 the Bears defense wasn't nearly as dominant as they were in recent years. However, they're still anchored by linebacker Brian Urlacher, and they also play in a climate they usually favors the defense towards the end of the season. You also can't forget that Devin Hester returns the kickoffs and he's always capable of taking one back for six.

Turn Around and Walk the Other Way!

Denver Broncos: They were horrible last season giving up almost 30 points a game, and they'll be horrible again this season.

Detroit Lions: Sadly enough the defense wasn't nearly as bad as the offense last season. That still doesn't mean it was good. The defense gave up at least 20 points in all but one game. To top it all off, they only recorded four interceptions as a unit.

2009 Fantasy Football Preview: Tight Ends

The tight end position is probably the least important position on your fantasy team. However, don't take this position lightly. Having a tight end contribute consistent points to your team can make-up for a down week for one of your other positions.

Top Fantasy Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez- Falcons

The Falcons offense has gotten a lot of love during my fantasy preview, and rightfully so. Tony Gonzalez has always put up good numbers. Even last season with Tyler Thigpen throwing him the ball he put up numbers. Now he's got Matt Ryan on his side and his numbers will continue to be one of the best in the league among tight ends. Odds are Gonzalez will be a vital part of your team.

2. Dallas Clark- Colts

The Colts' high octane pass offense has always contribute greatly to Dallas Clark's numbers. Some wide receivers would kill for Clark's numbers in 2008. He had six touchdowns with 848 yards. Not bad for a tight end. Having a guy like Dallas Clark on your fantasy team will be like having three wide receivers on your roster.

3. Jason Witten- Cowboys

Jason Witten is the true definition of an ironman. He always comes in ready to do battle and usually gets you at least 40 to 50 yards. The only downside is that he doesn't find the endzone much, but that will probably change now that Terrell Owens is out of the picture.

Notables

Jeromy Shockey-Saints

Shockey has his good weeks and his bad weeks. He's still a decent pick for your fantasy squad. He's always capable of breaking out and going for two touchdowns and 100 yards, or have no receptions at all. Take the risk and you may be rewarded.

Bo Scaife- Titans

Outside of Tennessee, many people don't know about Bo Scaife. He may not put up the eye-opening stats that some tight ends do, but he still plays in an offense that relies heavily on the tight end. Don't depend on him to carry your team, but he'll contribute solid numbers to your fantasy squad more times than not.

Vernon Davis- 49ers

This guy was brave enough to get on Mike Singletary's bad side last season, but hopefully he'll stay out of trouble this season. He's got a ton of athleticism and just needs a good quarterback to get him the ball. Again, don't rely on Vernon Davis to save your squad. If you are relying on the tight end position, odds are your team is in trouble regardless.

2009 Fantasy Football Preview: Wide Receivers

Now to the wide receiver position. This position is another crucial component to your fantasy team. If you have two average receivers, your team is probably going to be average, too. Trust me, it's been my weakest position year in and year out.

One thing I do know is touchdowns out-weigh a guy that gets a lot of yards but rarely scores. Make sure you pay attention to a guy's quarterback, too. A wide receiver is almost worthless if he doesn't have a quality quarterback getting him the ball.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers

1. Larry Fitzgerald- Cardinals

In case you haven't noticed, Fitzgerald is kind of a big deal. He's an absolute game-changer and most secondaries have trouble guarding him. He also has the luxury of playing against some secondaries in the AFC West that aren't really known for their pass defense, a la the Seahawks and the 49ers. Fitzgerald is part of an offense that relies almost completely on passing the ball, so take him for your first pick if you want a wide receiver.

2. Randy Moss- Patriots

Even with Matt Cassel getting him the ball Randy Moss went for over a 1,000 yards in 2008. Imagine how much higher that total would've been with Tom Brady running the show. We all thought that Moss's career may have peaked after he was with the Raiders and going nowhere. I was one of them and I was dead wrong. Moss has ressurected his career and his never showed more of a desire to play than he is right now. He's always a threat to be in the endzone at least one in a game and you know Tom Brady will look his way first more times than not.

3. Roddy White- Falcons

Another Atlanta Falcon makes the fantasy list. Many people got a steal in Roddy White last year. He came out of nowhere and caught for just a 100 yards less that Fitzgerald did. The only thing White lacks in is size which limits his redzone touchdowns a bit. He makes up for it with his speed which burns cornerbacks often. The Falcons are more balanced than the Cardinals are but they still rely heavily on the passing game. White will get you a lot of yards on a consistent basis and find the endzone enough to get you by.

Solid Picks

Andre Johnson- Texans

It was tough keeping Johnson out of the top list, but the quarterback situation in Houston isn't exactly what you would call great. You still can't rule him out of having another huge season even if I become quarterback of the Texans. He'll get you solid points on most weeks, but don't rule out a few weeks where the Texans' quarterback, most likely Matt Schaub, is throwing passes all over the place and no one is catching them. You'll most likely be safe, but buyer beware.

Reggie Wayne- Colts

The chemistry between a wide receiver and his quarterback is extremely important, and no one probably has more chemistry than Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning do. Marvin Harrison is gone so Wayne will probably get even more passes thrown his way, even though Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark will get their share as well. With Peyton Manning under center, you're always going to get your chances, and Reggie Wayne usually delivers.


Turn Around and Walk the Other Way!

Terrel Owens- Bills

I realize that Owens probably has the most talent in the game, but whether he utilizes it or not is a separate issue. Now he has Trent Edwards passing him the ball. Edwards is a solid quarterback, but he's more like a younger Kerry Collins. He manages games more than he does pile up the passing stats. Owens is also somewhat notorious for dropping passes and becoming a locker room cancer towards the end of the season. Stay away from him if possible. He'll just end up taking up roster space.

Santanio Holmes- Steelers

Most of us remember Santanio Holmes making one of the most spectacular touchdown catches in Super Bowl history last February. However, that doesn't mean Holmes is your best fantasy choice. Holmes rarely sees the endzone, and when he does, he usually doesn't have many yards to go along with it. Holmes only eclipsed the 100-yard mark once last season, and it was in the Super Bowl. Holmes is great athlete, just not the best fantasy player.

2009 Fantasy Football Preview: Running Backs

The running back position can make you one of the top scoring teams in your respective league, or leagues, if you choose wisely.

As many of you probably already know, running backs can get you points on the ground or through the air. That makes it all the more important that you choose a running back that can do more than just run the ball.

Top Fantasy Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson- Vikings

Adrian Peterson is probably the best running back in the NFL. In 2008 he rushed for over 100 yards ten times and rushed for more than 70 yards all but once. He also plays in a division that is relatively weak in rush defense excluding the Bears. His only minor downfall is that he rarely catches the ball out of the backfield.

2. Chris Johnson- Titans

Many people last year got a steal in Chris Johnson last season. Very few expected Johnson to have the year he did in 2008. You can definitely expect him to be good again this year. A running back in the Jeff Fisher system is always set up to have a good season fantasy wise. Chris Johnson plays in a offense that runs the ball like crazy and is heavily involved in passing the ball in the flats to the running back. We all know how dangerous Chris Johnson is in the open field with his blazing speed. Do yourself a favor and get this guy as your first pick if Peterson is off the board, which he probably will be.

3. Brian Westbrook- Eagles

Brian Westbrook has become a fantasy staple for many over the years. He is an all-purpose yard machine and has a great quarterback getting him the ball. You have to believe that by now Westbrook is McNabb's first choice when passing the ball. Some of the first time fantasy user may confused when they see that Westbrook's rushing stats but remember, receiving yards and touchdowns count too. He is a very viable first-round pick and you probably won't regret it later on.

Solid Picks

Michael Turner- Falcons

What a breakout of a season 2008 was for Michael Turner. Turner finally got out of the shadow of Ladanian Tomlinson and he capitalized with some great numbers. He may not have as good of a year as last season, but he'll still be a great second option for your fantasy team. He's an illusive runner who will get plenty of opportunities to rush against defensive packages that are guarding against the stellar passing game of the Falcons instead of the rushing attack. He does seem to be streaky at times so beware of that. Still a solid pick.

Matt Forte- Bears

The ground-and-pound offense that the Bears have will supply plenty of opportunities for Forte to get his fantasy points. In the cold months of November and December, the Bears will probably rely even more on the ground attack. He's also respectable at catching the ball out of the backfield. He had 477 yards receiving last season. The only risk here is if his rookie seaosn was a fluke. Most likely it wasn't.

Turn Around and Walk the Other Way!

Steven Jackson- Rams

As great as he was for me on my fantasy team in 2007, there is still no way I'm taking him this season. He was the only bright spot last season for the Rams, but this season will probably bit even more gloomy. We're talking about an offense that will be one of the worst in the league, especially at passing the ball. That makes rushing the ball that much more of a challenge. Jackson also had a fumbling problem in 2008 as he fumbled five times. It may be tempting, but just stay away.

Thomas Jones- Jets

Unexpectedly, Thomas Jones had a great year in 2008. A lot of that can be attributed to defenses be scared to death of what Brett Favre might do to them. Now defenses only have to worry about either a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez, or an average quarterback in Kellen Clemens. The production of Jones also dropped dramatically towards the end of the season, much like the rest of the Jets. Stay away from him unless there's nothing else left on the board.

2009 Fantasy Football Preview: Quarterbacks

The quarterback position may be one of the most overrated positions in fantasy football . As long as you have a solid quarterback who makes very few mistakes, this position will do good things for your team.

Top Fantasy Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady- Patriots

This is probably a pretty obvious selection here. Not only does Brady produce very efficient numbers, but he rarely commits turnovers. The only scary thing for drafting Brady is the fact that he's been out of the game for a year now. However, he's still worth the risk. Brady's touchdown to turnover ratio in 2007 was 50 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Enough said.

2. Peyton Manning- Colts

Speaking from experience, Peyton Manning had a down year in terms of fantasy football in 2008. He threw more interceptions and less touchdowns. With all that said, Peyton is still a great quarterback to have on your fantasy team. He plays his home games indoors and throws for a ton of yards. He also has a great group of receivers to throw to like Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, and Dallas Clark.

3. Matt Ryan- Falcons

Do not rest on Matt Ryan. He has a great offense at his disposal that will put up a ton of points. Roddy White is a huge deep threat, and Michael Turner also catches a lot of passes out of the backfield to add to Matt Ryan's fantasy value. Not to mention they added Tony Gonzalez to the roster which always is a red-zone threat. Look for Matt Ryan to be one of the top dogs in fantasy scoring.

Solid Picks

1. Aaron Rogers- Packers

Rogers got a bad rep in 2008 because of the Packers horrible defense that led to a 6-10 record. Many people may have forgotten that Rogers was extremely efficient for a first-year starter. He's very accurate and he is always capable of completing a deep pass down the field that can boost those fantasy scores. The only downfall is the climate Rogers has to play in towards the end of the season.


2. Drew Brees- Saints

Drew Brees is a high-risk, high-reward quarterback. As many people know, he threw for over 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. That translates to a lucrative amount of points in fantasy football. He also threw 17 interceptions which in most league deducts points. The positives still out-weigh the negatives with Brees. Very rarely will your fantasy team not put points on the board because Brees had an off day.

Turn Around and Walk the Other Way!

1. Kerry Collins- Titans

Even though Collins was surprisingly efficient last season, stay away from him as your fantasy quarterback. A good quarterback in real life isn't always a good quarterback in the fantasy world. Collins very rarely threw for over 200 yards in a game. He also rarely threw more than one touchdown in a single game. If that's not enough to keep you away, he's not very mobile and runs an offense that thrives off grounding and pounding the ball.

2. Joe Flacco- Ravens

It may be tempting to add Joe Flacco to your team since he looked so good in the playoffs last season. You still can't forget that he plays for a team that is thin at the receiver position. It's also very possible that Flacco could have a sophomore slump that so many other quarterbacks have gone through. Unless you are extremely desperate, stay away from Flacco.

Iverson Going Across the Pond?

Former NBA superstar Allen Iverson is finding free agency a little tough this offseason. Even teams like the Grizzlies don't seem to be interested.

The former MVP may not be getting offers from any team in the states, but an offer from a team out of Greece has reportedly presented Iverson with a two-year, $10 million deal.

It's very unlikely Iverson will get that kind of money from an NBA team, so now Iverson has a big decision to make. Go to Greece and be the #1 guy that he so desperately wants, or stay in the NBA and have a lesser role than he's use to.

Iverson may be one of the best scorers of my generation, but his glory days are long gone and Iverson just can't seem to accept that.

If Iverson does go to Greece, he'll definitely enjoy a fair amount of stardom. He'll also get plenty of opportunities to hurl up 30-plus shots a game like we saw him do when he played for the Sixers.

As great as all that sounds, this isn't Iverson's best move. Iverson has to learn to be the sixth man. Lamar Odom had to do that last season and it got him a ring.

By staying in the NBA and taking a smaller role, Iverson will leave himself the opportunity sail gracefully into the sunset as his career eventually comes to an end.

Age isn't too big of a factor here. He's only 34 which means he still has at least a solid three or four years in the league. Who knows what can happen during that time if Iverson can stop making everything about himself on the court.

There will still be plenty of chances for Iverson to resurrect his career and go out on a good note. He may not go out as the go-to guy that he once was, but Iverson has to learn to step aside and be the classy veteran that can help the NBA's future talent get better and better.

If Iverson can't learn to be the sixth man , I hope he likes pita bread.

Derrick Mason Decides to End Short Retirement

Brett Favre isn't the only guy in the news these days that can't make up his mind on whether to retire or not. Derrick Mason coudn't even make it through training camp before deciding to come out of retirement.

This is great news for the Ravens considering the wide receiver position is probably the weakest part of this team.

Since Derrick Mason joined the Ravens in 2005, the offense has gradually gotten better and better. We all know how good the defense has always been.

After Mason decided to retire on July 13, the Ravens immediately went from AFC North favorites to Wild Card hopefuls. Now that Mason is returning, you can't count this team out from making a Super Bowl run. They've got possibly one of the best defenses in the NFL and an offense that shouldn't be taken lightly either.

Joe Flacco proved last year that he's one of the up and coming quarterbacks in the league. Now that a veteran like Mason is returning, there's no telling where the Ravens may go in 2009.

Mason's Stats Since Joining the Ravens

2005 86 Rec, 1073 yards, 3 TD
2006 68 Rec, 750 yards, 2 TD
2007 103 Rec, 1087 yards, 5 TD
2008 80 Rec, 1037 yards, 5 TD