The Best of Eamon Dunphy

Here is a compilations of some of my favourite Eamon Dunphy rants. For those of you unfamiliar with the Dunph, this is one of Ireland's most controversial pundits - he's big-mouthed, opinionated and would argue with a lamp post if given the opportunity. Agree with him or not, Eamo is always great fun to listen to. Even though I disagree with Eamon a lot, I still find some of his rants hilarious. That's why I've compiled this list of excerpts so that you can see what the man himself is like. There are still a great many Dunphy classics that I could not find - but what is in this video is all I could squeeze into 10 minutes anyway. This is just a bit of fun, so don't go starting hateful arguments just because you disagree with what he said or he bashed your team. Personally, I think most of the stuff he says in this video is absolute rubbish - which is exactly why it's fitting for an Eamon Dunphy video! That said, I'll be deleting any hateful comments and misbehaviour by wind up merchants. You've been warned! Sit back and enjoy. Here's a list of classic Eamon Dunphy quotes. On Rio Ferdinand: "Ferdinand is a clown. He was a liability for the first goal and he is always a liability. It was Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink against Rio Ferdinand of Barclays Bank." "a tramp" On Fabio Cannavarro: "If Rio Ferdinand is worth £100000 a week, then this guy is worth €100 million . . . . . a day" On Luis Garcia: "They (Liverpool) should put Garcia where he belongs—in the dustbin." On ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBDlJEabiI&hl=en

Home Teams Coming Off a Bye - Is There a Fantasy Football Player Advantage?

We all think of the negatives around the bye week for fantasy football purposes, but could there be a huge positive? Is it possible that rested players coming off a bye outperform their average weekly output? This article will explore whether or not there is a real advantage to starting players coming off a bye week who are playing at home.

The thinking here is that the extra rest and the comforts of playing at home will lead to higher player performance. To explore this we looked at a sampling of players we consider "starter-worthy" from the 2008 season and compared their home team post bye week performance to their average numbers for the year. The results were very interesting; lets take a look at the major skill positions.

Quarterbacks coming off a bye and playing at home averaged 316 yards per game. Interestingly, that was only 42 yards more than the average weekly output of the players in the sample from the quarterback position. Rather than focus on the additional fantasy point (assuming 40 passing yards=1 pt) we keep our attention on the 316 yards per game average. What that tells us is that by starting a quarterback coming off a bye at home you are almost guaranteed a big yardage game. The scenario seems to minimize the chance of a below average performance. These quarterbacks also averaged close to two TDs per game, which again is another indicator of above average play.

Running backs coming off a bye and playing at home averaged 77 yards per game, which was 20 yards higher than the seasonal average of the other running backs included in the sample. That translates to an average additional output of 2 fantasy points (assuming 10 yards=1 fantasy point). While these results are not as convincing to us as the quarterback numbers, it does appear that you can get decent production out of running backs playing under the home team coming off bye week scenario. Despite the slight increase in rushing yards, we did not see an advantage in overall TD output from running backs in the sample. At the end of the day, the running back position still comes down to match-ups. If the match-up is right, we would slightly bump up a home team post bye week running back.

Finally, wide receivers coming off a bye and playing at home averaged 104 yards per game. That is 42 yards above the average weekly output of the sample, which came in at 61 yards per game. That extra output translates to a full 4 fantasy points per game (assuming 10 yards=1 pt). In addition, the 104 yards per game average is again a very strong indicator that your top receivers will play above their average at home coming off the bye. Wide receivers also saw a slight increase in average TDs versus their seasonal average, which we view as further confirmation of the benefit gained by playing WRs in the home team coming off a bye scenario.

This analysis indicates that the passing game seems to benefit most from the week off and the home field advantage. The numbers are very convincing from the quarterback and wide receiver positions. Running backs do not seem to benefit from the scenario as much and we would not recommend significantly bumping up their value in the home team post bye scenario. In summary, we think we are on to something here. Feel free to elevate quarterbacks and wide receivers who are playing at home and coming off the bye week.

BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com is a Fantasy Sports site intended to bring a scientific approach to player evaluation for fantasy baseball, football, basketball and now boxing! BCRT.com provides free news, statistics, and expert analysis of interesting trends which can give your fantasy team the competitive advantage it needs to crush your competition.

Read more at BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com Fantasy Football.

Washington Redskins - The Five Greatest NFL Teams in the History of Football

While a lot of people may contest and debate the five greatest NFL teams in the history of football as listed here, everyone will agree that these were awesome teams that deserve the honor and accolade one way or another.

1985 Chicago Bears

The 1985 Chicago Bears was a phenomenal team composed of a mismatched group with raw and exciting energy and interesting personalities. They were great and they knew it, recording their championship video, "The Super Bowl Shuffle" even before playoffs started. Led by the Mohawk-wearing quarterback Jim "Punky QB" McMahon and an impenetrable running and defense line, chief of them William "The Refrigerator" Perry, Super Bowl MVP defensive end Richard Dent, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Mike Singletary, the Bears finished the season with a 15-1 record and scored a total of 456 to 198 points. During the playoffs they won 21-0 against the giants and 24-0 against the rams for the NFC title. They won the Super Bowl, scoring 46-10 over the Patriots.

1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins is the only NFL team that ever had a "perfect season," with a season record of 17-0. This is also the reason why they are considered as the greatest NFL team of all time, particularly by the documentary America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, produced by the NFL Network. Their undefeated team was led by coach Don Shula and football greats such as Earl Morrall, Bob Griese, and Larry Csonka. They won all three playoff games and finally won the Super Bowl VII against the Redskins. Some argue however that the '72 Dolphins had the advantage of playing one of the easiest schedules in the history of modern NFL, and this when equally matched with the '85 Bears, they were no contender.

1962 Green Bay Packers

A dream team consisting of a list of football hall of famers including Paul Hornung, Max McGee, Jim Taylor, Boyd Dowler, and Vince Lombardi, the 1962 Green Bay Packers set a 13-1 record earning them a first place at the Western Conference. In the NFL Championship Game, they won 16-7 against the New York Giants, marking the Packers' 8th NFL Championship.

1991 Washington Redskins

The 1991 Washington Redskins topped the NFL in two important stats: the yards gained per pass and yards allowed per pass, with star player Mark Rypien averaging a whopping 8.5 yards per attempt, gaining a total of 1,340 yards on 70 receptions. The additional contributions of Redskins' Ricky Ervins and Earnest Byner with a combined 1,708 yards make their stats legendary. Even with a tough schedule, they were able to outscore their opponents 485-224.

1999 St. Louis Rams

One of the most exciting personalities in the 1999 season was then barely-known night-shift grocery-clerk and St. Louis Rams' star quarterback, Kurt Warner who led the Rams to a record of 13-3 in the regular-season. He was both NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP. The Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans in the Super Bowl XXXIV with a score of 23-16, and claimed their 1st NFL World Championship since 1951.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on authentic sports memorabilia. Many articles are related to pro baseball gear and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village.

How to Become an NFL Player Part 1

Becoming an NFL player was my dream since I was in junior high school, and I was one of the lucky few who actually made it all the way to the NFL. I have played for the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints, the Washington Redskins, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

My life in the NFL was a remarkable experience. However, getting to the NFL was very difficult. In this article I want to discuss a few of the mental hurdles a young athlete will go through if they want to make it all the way to the NFL.

My preparation for the NFL began in high school when I realized that I had a chance to play Division One football. I attended an outstanding high school program at Eisenhower High School in Lawton, OK where I played against a rival school (Lawton High School) that has produced NFL talent including Michael Minter of the Carolina Panthers, Will Shields of the Kansas City Chiefs, Daly Gardner of the Miami Dolphins, James Trapp of the Oakland Raiders, and Jamal Brown of the New Orleans Saints.

Playing against the top athletes in high school really helped to raise my game to be the best it could be. As an athlete, your preparation for the pros starts when you decide you want to be the best athlete you can be for you--not for your parents, not for your girlfriend, and not for your friends. To be an NFL player you must have a burning desire to play with the best and you must do everything you can physically and mentally to make yourself able to compete with the best.

But being a great athlete is only half of what it takes to make it to the pros. Developing your mental skills is just as important as developing your physical skills.

First, you cannot play football if you have bad grades. The real work for becoming an NFL player starts in the classroom. For me, the class room was difficult and I had to work very hard to keep my grades up. But I understood that if my grades were bad, I would be kicked off the high school team. And, if I was kicked off the high school team, I would not be able to play college football, and college football is a requirement for becoming a pro player. Because of that, I worked very hard to keep my grades up.

If you want to become an NFL player, you must take your class work seriously to give yourself an opportunity to play college football. Here is a secret most student athletes don't know. Colleges love smart athletes. By being both a great student and a great athlete, you greatly increase your chances of being recruited by a scout for a major college football team. Why you ask? Smart players make smart decisions on the football field and help win games. If you look at many of the greatest NFL players, many of them are not the best athletes. What they are, are the smartest athletes. When you play in the pros, the plays are very complex and you need to think very quickly. That is why it is so important to build your brain power just as much as your athletic skills. Accomplishing this is one of the first big steps towards becoming a pro player.

Another important part of being a pro player is how you present yourself as a person. Do you get along well with your fellow athletes and coaches? Are you a good member of your community? College and pro teams want cooperative team members, not spoiled athletes that cause problems, get into trouble, and are an embarrassment to the organization. An athlete that causes problems with his team members and gets into trouble with the law hurts a team. Problem players are quickly removed from competitive sports teams. Therefore, if you want to make it to the NFL, keep yourself out of trouble and be a model person.

In conclusion, being a great athlete is not enough to make it to the pros. You must work hard both on and off the field. Be a person that your team can count on and be proud of. If you do this, you will increase your chances of being recruited by a college scout and making it to the pros.

Martin Chase is a retired NFL player who has played with the Giants, the Saints, the Redskins, the Ravens, and the Jaguars. Martin now owns and manages a popular sports memorabilia website - http://www.mcsportsfan.com

Different Types of Fantasy Football Leagues

Interest in fantasy football is growing by leaps and bounds. If you are interested in owning a fantasy football team, one of the most important decisions you will need to make will be in regards to the type of league you should join. There are many different types of fantasy football leagues and it is important to make the right decision. Read on for tips to help you understand the different types of teams and decide which one is right for you.

The most popular type of leagues are the standard draft leagues. These types of leagues are begun with teams in which the players are selected in a serpentine style of draft. Lineups can then be selected by the owners on a weekly basis. This is usually based on the number of players per position as allowed by league rules. There are actually two different types of standard draft leagues. These are total points and head to head. The difference between the two is that with a head to head league each team is matched up against a different team each week. The team that receives the most points is recorded as the winning team. Teams with the best records at the end of the season play in playoff games at the end of the season in order for a final champion to be determined. With a total points league, wins and losses are not tracked. Instead, points are accumulated on a continual basis. Standings are then determined according to the total points of the teams. At the end of the regular season, the teams with the highest number of total points meet for playoff games.

The auction draft league can also be comprised of either a total points system or a head to head system. Unlike the standard draft league; however, the auction draft league utilizes owners who have an amount of money that is predetermined that they can bid on for players to complete their rosters.

With the dynasty league, players are on the same roster from one season to the next unless they are released or they are traded. Drafts are held for rookies only after the first season.

Keeper leagues combine some of the features between dynasty leagues and standard draft leagues. A draft is held before the beginning of every regular season in order for many of the players to be drafted; however, owners can keep a select number of players from the prior season.

IDP leagues use defensive players in an individual manner rather than in defensive units. This type of league can be a bit harder to organize for the owners because it means more thought will usually need to be given to filling the other positions.

A survivor leagues uses just about any kind of draft you wish; however, they most commonly use auction or standard style drafts. The main difference between this type of league and all of the other leagues is that each week one team is eliminated based on who scores the least number of points.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK soccer forum [http://footballtalk.org/forums] site, FootballTalk.org. Join the football forum [http://footballtalk.org] for free today and have your say!

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