Adrian Peterson Suffers Career Altering Injury?

Adrian Peterson has been a force ever since his rookie year, a season which saw him set the record for most rushing yards in a game with 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers. In addition to being a hall of fame talent, he is a phenomenal person. I've had the pleasure of meeting him a few times at the NFL Experience, he's a genuinely kind person and one of my top five favorite players which is why it hurts so much to write this article. All Day has a long hard road to recovery ahead. Some people point to Brady and Welker's recoveries from similar injuries but the thing is that's a quarterback and a receiver, a runningback is a whole different world. Peterson's knee has to be 100%, what makes him so good is he has that strong knee and can run and cut and hammer people without hesitation. It's gonna take a while for his knee to be declared 100%, I've heard reports and I believe that he has a good shot at starting 2012 on the PUP list which would mean he'd at least miss the first six games of the season. When he does get back I think he'll be a shell of the back we've seen and it'll take a while before he has confidence in his knee again. This injury usually takes a season to fully get back to normal anyway, so accounting for that Peterson would be 28 at the start of the 2013 season. A lot of runningbacks with healthy knees begin to wear down around that age in the first place especially a runner that's taken as much of a pounding as AP has. If Adrian was younger I'd be more inclined to believe we could possibly see a full comeback but at the wrong side of 28 don't count on it. In fantasy I suggest avoiding him at all costs for the upcoming season. This is a sad thing as Peterson was a once in a generation runningback and a player you'd pay to see. Now we'll turn our eyes on the Vikings to see how much they believe in Gerhart and perhaps they'll even give Trent Richardson a look. I hope Peterson proves me wrong and comes back 100% but it looks more likely that we've seen the best of All Day. As with most good things they go by too fast but we all got to see greatness and greatness for however long or short it last stays with people and this will be a player we tell our grand kids about. Best of luck to Adrian Peterson (the best runningback of my generation).

- Michael Gibson

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS AND AWARDS

Playoff Predictions

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1st Round

1. Bulls OVER 8. 76ers

4. Magic OVER 5. Bucks

2. Heat OVER 7. Hawks

3. Celtics OVER 6. Knicks

2nd Round

1. Bulls OVER 4. Magic

2. Heat OVER 3. Celtics

Conference Finals

2. Heat OVER 1. Bulls

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1st Round

1. Thunder OVER 8. Blazers

4. Clippers OVER 5. Lakers

2. Mavericks OVER 7. Nuggets

3. Grizzlies OVER 6. Spurs

2nd Round

1. Thunder OVER 4. Clippers

3. Grizzlies OVER 2. Mavericks

Conference Finals

1. Thunder OVER 3. Grizzlies

NBA FINALS



Heat OVER Thunder in 6

NBA FINALS MVP: Dwayne Wade

POST SEASON AWARDS



All-NBA

First Team - F Durant F James C Howard G Paul G Wade

Second Team - F Griffin F Nowitzki C Gasol G Bryant G Rose

Third Team - F Anthony F Aldridge C Stoudemire G Curry G Westbrook

Regular Season MVP: Kevin Durant
Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving

- Phillip Bullock

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

Western Conference



1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2010-2011: Finished 55-27, fourth in West, lost in Western Conference Finals)

Key Additions: None

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Five:

PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durant
PF Serge Ibaka
C Kendrick Perkins

Starting center Kendrick Perkins arrived at training camp thirty pounds lighter and in the best shape of his career, symbolizing that the Thunder means business this year. Two-time defending scoring champion Kevin Durant should challenge for MVP, and his running mate Russell Westbrook is one of the most electrifying young guards in the league. During last year’s playoffs, these two had some trouble coexisting on offense, with Westbrook taking many of the shots Durant probably should have taken. However, part of this was due to Durant’s inability to get open in a position to score. When these two are struggling to carry the offense, the Thunder can rely on sixth man James Harden, a great playmaker on the pick and roll. Serge Ibaka, already a solid defender, appears poised for a breakout year. If the Thunder can show more consistency on offense, this may be the year it can win Oklahoma City its first championship.



2. Dallas Mavericks (2010-2011: Finished 57-25, third in West, won NBA Title)

Key Additions: SF/PF Lamar Odom, SG Vince Carter

Key Losses: C Tyson Chandler, PG J.J. Barea, SF Peja Stojakovic, SG DeShawn Stevenson

Projected Starting Five:

PG Jason Kidd
SG Vince Carter
SF Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Brendan Haywood

Don’t expect a championship hangover. The Mavs lost a couple of game-changers in J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler in the offseason, but added former All-Star Vince Carter and quality sixth man Lamar Odom to help make up some ground. If Carter plays within the offense and takes smart shots, he can fit in really well in Rick Carlisle’s pass happy offense. Even at age 38, Jason Kidd still has some gas left in the tank, and it helps to play with superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who should continue to be an offensive force for years to come. Jason Terry, another key reserve, is one of the best shooters in the game, and the vocal leader of the team. The Mavs should be one of the top teams in the league during the regular season, but the drop off at the center position from Tyson Chandler to Brendan Haywood will be a huge reason why they will not win another title.



3. Memphis Grizzlies (2010-2011: Finished 46-36, eight in West, lost in second round)

Key Addition: SG Josh Selby

Key Loss: SF Shane Battier

Projected Starting Five:

PG Mike Conley
SG Tony Allen
SF Rudy Gay
PF Zach Randolph
C Marc Gasol

Memphis shocked a lot of people by upsetting the number one seeded Spurs in last year’s playoffs, but it was no fluke; this is a team on the rise. Resigning Marc Gasol in the offseason was a great move, as he and double-double machine Zach Randolph form a dominant duo in the post. Rudy Gay, a stat-stuffer who missed the playoffs last year with a shoulder injury, returns and looks to live up to his All-Star potential. The key to the Grizzlies success last year was their stout defense, and they lost a great perimeter defender in Shane Battier. However, defensive specialist Tony Allen can guard the outside, while Gay blocks shots and Gasol and Randolph play strong interior defense. The Grizzlies will not sneak up on anyone this year, but are one of the scariest teams in the West.



4. Los Angeles Clippers (2010-2011, Finished 32-50, thirteenth in West)

Key Additions: PG Chris Paul, PG/SG Chauncey Billups, SF Caron Butler, PF Reggie Evans

Key Losses: SG Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman

Projected Starting Five:

PG Chris Paul
SG Chauncey Billups
SF Caron Butler
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan

The “Lob City” Clippers became instant contenders when they acquired superstar point guard Chris Paul in a blockbuster trade. Paul is the best pure point guard in the game, and his lob passes to high-flying Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan make the Clippers the League Pass team of the year. However, highlights will only carry the Clippers so far, and they have a long way to go as a team. Blake Griffin is already a great scorer and rebounder, but does not do much else. If he can improve his jump shot and become more of a defensive presence, the Clippers could be scary good. Newly acquired Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler will have plenty of open shots due to Paul and Griffin, and need to knock them down to keep the pressure off of the stars. Billups can be a great veteran leader on this team, but needs to stay within the offense and not always look for his own shot. Jordan is an up and coming player who will greatly benefit from Paul’s presence and be counted upon to protect the rim and grab rebounds, especially when Paul and Billups struggle guarding bigger guards. The sky is the limit for the new look Clippers.



5. Los Angeles Lakers (2010-2011, Finished 57-25, second in West, lost in second round)

Key Additions: SF Jason Kapono, PF Josh McRoberts, PF Troy Murphy

Key Losses: SF/PF Lamar Odom, SG Shannon Brown

Projected Starting Five:

PG Derek Fisher
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Devin Ebanks
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum

While the other Los Angeles team enjoyed an exciting offseason, the Lakers only got worse. It started with a questionable hire of head coach Mike Brown, and then trading away Lamar Odom without receiving much in return was not popular among Laker nation. Kobe Bryant is still one of the top players in the game, but at age 33, he does not scare other teams the way he used to. Pau Gasol went through some struggles in the playoffs, but looks to bounce back and is still one of the top big men in the game. Andrew Bynum will be asked to play more minutes than ever, but if his knee holds up, he is a dominant force in the paint. The Lakers hope second-year player Devin Ebanks can knock down shots and help Kobe with some perimeter scoring. There are still rumors of Dwight Howard or Steve Nash becoming a Laker in the near future, but the Lakers current core cannot lead them to another championship.



6. San Antonio Spurs (2010-2011, Finished 61-21, first in West, lost in first round)

Key Additions: SF Kawhi Leonard, PG TJ Ford, PG Cory Joseph

Key Losses: PG George Hill, PF/C Antonio McDyess

Projected Starting Five:

PG Tony Parker
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Tim Duncan
C DeJuan Blair

San Antonio returns all five starters from last year’s team which was the best regular season team in the West, but I don’t see head coach Gregg Popovich going all out this year to win another regular season crown. The Spurs will be glad to sacrifice a few wins to give Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili some extra rest, even some nights off. On these nights, look for defensive stud Kawhi Leonard and rookie guard Cory Joseph to get extended minutes along with the talented Tiago Splitter to prepare for the future. Still, the Spurs are one of the best structured teams in the league and will capture one of the final few playoff spots. In the offseason, San Antonio considered waiving Richard Jefferson, but ultimately decided to keep him, showing that they are still in it to win it. A well-rested Spurs team in the playoffs could still be a contender.



7. Denver Nuggets (2010-2011, Finished 50-32, fifth in West, lost in first
round)

Key Additions: PG Andre Miller, SG Rudy Fernandez, PF Kenneth Faried, SG/SF Jordan Hamilton

Key Losses: PG Raymond Felton, SG J.R. Smith, SF Wilson Chandler, PF Kenyon Martin

Projected Starting Five:

PG Ty Lawson
SG Arron Afflalo
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Nene
C Timofey Mozgov

Despite the fact that the Nuggets lack a superstar, they’ll be seen in the playoffs once again, probably in the 5-7 range. Resigning Arron Afflalo and Nene were both necessary moves as these guys are all about doing whatever it takes to win, even if they were slightly overpaid. With Kenyon Martin still overseas, the Nuggets lose a little toughness off of last year’s team, but they will still be able to score the ball after finishing as the most efficient offense in the league last year. Point guards Ty Lawson and Andre Miller complement each other well, with Lawson being the speedy fast break guy and Miller being more methodical. However, unless shooters Danilo Gallinari and Rudy Fernandez shoot lights out, I don’t see the Nuggets making much noise in the playoffs.



8. Portland Trail Blazers (2010-2011, Finished 48-34, sixth in West, lost in first round)

Key Additions: SG Jamal Crawford, C Kurt Thomas, PF Craig Smith, PG Raymond Felton

Key Losses: SG Rudy Fernandez, PG Andre Miller, SG Brandon Roy

Projected Starting Five:

PG Raymond Felton
SG Wesley Matthews
SF Gerald Wallace
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Marcus Camby

Not many coaches are better at dealing with adversity than Portland head coach Nate McMillan, who found out recently that key reserve Brandon Roy would be forced into retirement, and that talented center Greg Oden would miss yet another season due to injury. McMillan will make the most with what he has, which looks to be a pretty good defensive team. Gerald Wallace is all over the court grabbing rebounds and blocking shots, and Marcus Camby is still a rebounding machine. Raymond Felton will not be asked to be a primary scorer, but will need to get the ball to the Blazers best player, power forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge has the ability to take over games with his back to the basket scoring, and will be asked to carry the team this year. Jamal Crawford was a good pickup for the Trail Blazers and should provide instant offense off of the bench. Look for Portland to ride the best home court advantage in the NBA to its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.


9. Utah Jazz- Will battle for 8 seed, Frontcourt is set for future between Jefferson, Favors, Kanter, Millsapp. Need Miles, Bell, Hayward to make shots

10. Houston Rockets- In the running for 8 seed, Martin won’t blow you away but is efficient scorer, Scola is an underrated big man new coach Kevin McHale can work with. Still unhappy about denied trade because Stern never gave clear explanation

11. Phoenix Suns- Nash still has it, led untalented team to 40 wins last year,
won’t finish in cellar because its hard to see Nash, Grant Hill tanking for a better draft pick

12. Golden State Warriors- New coach Mark Jackson is good for Curry and Ellis, one of top backcourts in league, but is not an in-your-face type of coach, team will get killed on the glass

13. Sacramento Kings- not enough shots for Jimmer, Salmons, Evans and Thornton, but will get hot from outside some games, Jimmer could challenge for rookie of year, Cousins is beast in the making

14. New Orleans Hornets- Can’t replace Paul, also lost David West, need an owner to buy team from NBA, need players like Aminu and Landry to keep improving, Eric Gordon is best player but not great

15. Minnesota Timberwolves- Talented but Kevin Love is only consistent player, logjam at forward position, Rubio needs time to learn teammates tendencies, Beasley is an inefficient scorer who needs to make plays for others

- Phillip Bullock

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

Eastern Conference


1.Chicago Bulls (2010-2011: Finished 62-20, first in East, lost in Eastern Conference Finals)

Key Additions: SG Rip Hamilton, SG/SF Jimmy Butler

Key Losses: SG Keith Bogans, C Kurt Thomas

Projected Starting Five:

PG Derrick Rose
SG Rip Hamilton
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah

Reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the Bulls look to recapture the number one seed in the Eastern Conference after a solid offseason in which they signed free agent Rip Hamilton, a huge upgrade over former starter Keith Bogans at shooting guard. Hamilton, who averages 17.7 points per game for his career, will help shoulder the scoring load on offense so that Rose can focus more on running the offense and setting up his teammates like a true point guard. Power forward Carlos Boozer needs to step up on both sides of the ball after his subpar playoff performance and live up to his 5-year, $76 million contract. However, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are both solid starters and fit their roles well, playing standout defense on the team that ranked first in the league in defensive efficiency in 2010-2011. Omer Asik and Taj Gibson come off the bench to provide tough interior defense.



2. Miami Heat (2010-2011: Finished 58-24, second in East, lost in NBA Finals)
Key Additions: SF Shane Battier, PG Norris Cole

Key Losses: PG Mike Bibby, C Jamaal Magloire

Projected Starting Five:

PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joel Anthony

After a crushing loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals in which LeBron James failed to rise to the occasion, the Heat should be as hungry as any team in the league to win a title. LeBron and Dwyane Wade are 2 of the top 5 players in the world, so while defenses are preoccupied with them, look for Chris Bosh to have a hot start to the year. Norris Cole, a rookie point guard out of Cleveland State, should push Mario Chalmers for his starting spot, and newly acquired small forward Shane Battier is one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. The most talented team in the league has improved from last year, and maybe the only thing keeping them from a title is LeBron having another psychological meltdown.



3. Boston Celtics (2010-2011: Finished 56-26, third in East, lost in second round)

Key Additions: PF Brandon Bass, C Chris Wilcox

Key Losses: PF Glen Davis, PF Troy Murphy

Projected Starting Five:
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O’Neal

The Boston Three Party comes back for one final run at a title, but the chances are looking bleak. After having his name mentioned in trade rumors in the offseason, Rajon Rondo may be second guessing how the Celtics feel about him. However, look for him to get his head straight and do what he does best, which is passing to three future Hall of Famers, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. The Celtics recently found out small forward Jeff Green will miss the season, which hurts their depth more than anything. Boston will have some stretches this season when it seems that they are coasting, but will win enough games to get a decent seed in the playoffs. Brandon Bass, acquired in a trade for Glen Davis, is an upgrade at the backup power forward position and will get a lot of minutes so that Boston can rest their starters. The rigorous 66-game schedule will take a toll on the aging Celtics, but if they manage minutes correctly, they should be ready come playoff time.




4. Orlando Magic (2010-2011: Finished 52-30, fourth in East, lost in first round)

Key Additions: PF Glen Davis, SG Von Wafer

Key Losses: PF Brandon Bass, PG Gilbert Arenas

Projected Starting Five:

PG Jameer Nelson
SG Jason Richardson
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Glen Davis
C Dwight Howard

Orlando made it through the offseason without trading the best center in the league, Dwight Howard. Howard averaged 27 points and 15.5 rebounds against Atlanta in the playoffs last year, but could not get any help from his teammates, who shot 26 percent on three-pointers for the series. Jason Richardson, Jameer Nelson, and Hedo Turkoglu will need to make open shots to take the pressure off of Howard if the Magic hopes to advance deep into the playoffs. Trading for Glen Davis may have been a move to make Howard happy, but Davis is overhyped and is not a legitimate starter on a playoff team. There is a difference between a fan favorite and a good all-around player, and Davis does not stand out in any specific area on offense or defense. Orlando will also rely on reserves Ryan Anderson and Quentin Richardson to knock down open shots.




5. Milwaukee Bucks (2010-2011: Finished 35-47, ninth in East)

Key Additions: SG/SF Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF Stephen Jackson

Key Losses: SF Corey Maggette, SG John Salmons

Projected Starting Five:

PG Brandon Jennings
SG Stephen Jackson
SF Carlos Delfino
PF Drew Gooden
C Andrew Bogut

The Bucks came into 2010-2011 with high hopes of making noise in the playoffs, but unfortunately were bit hard by the injury bug. Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings missed a combined 36 games due to injury, and once they came back they never really had time to mesh. When healthy, Bogut is one of the best all-around centers in the game. He can dominate on offense with his back to the basket, and is a decent shot blocker on defense. Brandon Jennings hopes to return to his rookie form after suffering through a sophomore slump last year. He saw a significant decline in his field goal percentage, partially due to poor shot selection. The Bucks struggled shooting the ball last season, so they added Stephen Jackson and Mike Dunleavy. Jackson is a solid third option on offense, and should bolster the already stingy Bucks defense. After a disappointing season last year, the Bucks hope to bounce back and stay healthy, and should finish in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.



6. New York Knicks (Finished 42-40, sixth in east, lost in first round)

Key Additions: PG Baron Davis, C Tyson Chandler

Key Losses: PG Chauncey Billups, C Ronny Turiaf

Projected Starting Five:
PG Toney Douglas
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amar’e Stoudemire
C Tyson Chandler

New York has star power, but it is not ready to be a championship contender. Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire can score with anyone, but until they decide to put forth effort on defense, New York will not make it further than the second round of the playoffs. Head Coach Mike D’ Antoni has never had a center that can protect the rim, so the Knicks brought in Tyson Chandler, a key piece of the Mavericks title run. Chandler did a great job individually defending Chris Bosh in the Finals, and also defended the paint, making it harder for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to get to the rim. However, he can only do so much and it will take leadership from Anthony and Stoudemire for the Knicks to be a respectable defensive team. The Knicks picked up Baron Davis in free agency, who can be an impact player if he gels quickly with the team. The Knicks have the talent to beat any team in the league, but will underachieve until their stars are motivated to play defense.




7. Atlanta Hawks (Finished 44-38, fifth in East, lost in second round)

Key Additions: SF Tracy McGrady, PF Vladimir Radmanovic

Key Losses: SG Jamal Crawford, SF Damien Wilkins

Projected Starting Five:
PG Jeff Teague
SG Joe Johnson
SF Marvin Williams
PF Josh Smith
C Al Horford

The Hawks did not make any significant moves in the offseason, sticking with the same core they have been for several years. With the loss of Jamal Crawford, the Hawks have some offense to make up for, as they struggled at times last year with Crawford on the bench. Jeff Teague will need to build off of his breakout performance in last year’s playoffs, and newly signed Tracy McGrady will have the opportunity to come off of the bench for instant offense. Joe Johnson is the leader on this team, but needs to bounce back from a year in which he was somewhat inconsistent. Josh Smith is a very good player when he stays inside the three point line, and although Al Horford is out of position at center, he is one of the premier big men in the East. At times last year, the Hawks went through stretches in which they looked disinterested, but they showed that they have the potential to do some damage in the playoffs by defeating the Magic last year.



8. Philadelphia 76ers (2010-2011: Finished 41-41, seventh in East, lost in first round)

Key Addition: PF Nikola Vucevic

Key Loss: SG Jason Kapono

Projected Starting Five:
PG Jrue Holiday
SG Jodie Meeks
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Elton Brand
C Spencer Hawes

Doug Collins made strides with the 76ers in his first year as head coach, taking them from 23rd in defensive efficiency to 8th. Resigning top sixth man Thaddeus Young was a smart move, as he provides a spark off the bench along with Lou Williams and Evan Turner. Point guard Jrue Holiday is poised for a breakout year, and knows when to create for his teammates and when to score. Even at age 32, Elton Brand is still an efficient scorer. However, the 76ers best all around player is Andre Iguodala, who is a fine player but is not going to make them a championship contender. The 76ers should battle with the Pistons and Pacers for the eight seed in the East.

9. Indiana Pacers: Has good combination of young pieces and veterans, headed in the right direction, will push for the final playoff spot.

10. Detroit Pistons- New coach Lawrence Frank hopes to put the D back in Detroit, has talent but no clear best player, Greg Monroe only 21 years old rising star.

11. New Jersey Nets- Dwight Howard or bust, Deron Williams will win them some games they shouldn’t, lost second best player for months to injury (Brook Lopez).

12. Washington Wizards- John Wall has shown flashes of being a great point guard but has to put it together, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee need to be more of post presence.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson must become stars, should be improved from last year, need to draft well next year because no stars will come to Cleveland.

14. Charlotte Bobcats- Most young players just need experience (Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, Bismack Biyombo), Maggette is leader for now, headed in right direction.

15. Toronto Raptors- Front line does not scare anyone, will get killed on the glass, DeMar DeRozan is best player (problem), hoping Jonas Valanciunas is a franchise player. Yikes.


- Phillip Bullock

Colts Have UnLUCKy Win

The Colts upset the Texans and may have traded long term gain for short term satisfaction. Next week if the Colts continue their win streak against the Jaguars they will most likely lose their number one draft pick slot and along with it the chance to take the supposedly can't miss franchise quarterback Andrew Luck. So let's say the Colts beat the Jaguars next week which I'll take any quarterback over Gabbert so that's not hard to see.

What happens then, enter either the Rams or the Vikings (it'll be based on strength of schedule if they lose out). Both of these franchises supposedly have their quarterback of the future but faced with the prospect of picking Luck would they stick to their guns or trade their model in for the new Stanford version. As far as the Vikings I think it's almost a guarantee if they get the number one they'll take Luck and ship off Ponder for a 2nd or 3rd rounder whatever they can get for him. If it's the Rams though the situation gets a lot more interesting.

The Rams just selected Sam Bradford first overall in 2010 but may be holding that spot just two years later. Bradford took some major steps backward this year but do you trash him and start over just two years into the process? They'd be putting Luck in the same situation Bradford is in with no offensive line and little receiving help outside of Lloyd (if he stays). Add into the situation the Rams may have a new head coach and a new head coach always loves to get his guy in there and his quarterback which would have the Rams even more heavily considering Andrew Luck. If I'm the Rams GM I'm trading the pick though. Some NFL General Managers say the top pick this year could fetch as much as three 1st round picks in return especially in such a quarterback needy league. This would allow the Rams to jump start their rebuilding process and maybe even get a receiver like Justin Blackmon to help Sam Bradford grow as a quarterback. While some might say well why not take Luck and trade Bradford for picks, well after Bradford's play this year I'd say you'd be lucky to get more than a 1st round draft choice.

So who would trade up for the pick? Well that's a different article for a different day. All we know for now is that if the Colts win next week it's about to open a Pandora's box of options for draft day.

- Michael Gibson

NFL's Christmas

While it's two days before the real Christmas, the NFL Christmas (free agency) is a few months away and this year there will be a gift available aiken to that of turboman in Jingle All the Way.

A pair of multiple time pro bowlers that have played together for over a decade, won a Super Bowl together, and are one of the most prolific QB-WR combos of all time are possibly going to be hitting the market together. The combo is Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. Wayne is almost certainly going to be available while a lot of signs are pointing to a very realistic chance of Peyton being available as well. There is no historical precedence for this, it's very rare that a team allows its future Hall of Fame quarterback to leave the team but to also let his number one receiver move on, well that's never happened. A comparable situation would be when the 49ers traded Joe Montana to Kansas City if they would have included Jerry Rice in the deal. In a quarterback starved and pass happy league there is a deal to be had here that could immediately jump start a team's offense to top 10 level. While it's not a certainty that Peyton will be gone there is a real enough possibility that I think it's fair that we speculate a little bit here.

Assuming Peyton and Reggie wanted to play together and I'm thinking that's a pretty good assumption where could they wind up and how would it go? Here they are ordered by best fit.

1. 49ers - Currently with a mediocre Alex Smith at QB along with a less than superb receiving corps they are positioned at number two in the whole NFC. Sporting one of the top defenses in the whole league with a brilliant offensive minded head coach adding Peyton and Wayne could take this team to a whole different level. The offense would feature Peyton, a work horse runningback (who may be wearing down a bit but would still be on par with what the Colts have had recently) in Gore, Wayne, Crabtree, and a Dallas Clark type tight end in Vernon Davis. They'd also play in a weak NFC West that doesn't seem to be improving any time soon which would allow Peyton and Wayne to finish the next 3-4 years of their careers with almost guaranteed playoff trips. So 3-4 more chances to win a title with a stronger defense than they ever had in Indy. Peyton and Wayne to San Fran would be a win-win for both sides.

2. Jets - Mark Sanchez has not been making noticeable strides as a passer and may be the thing that is holding back the Jets from breaking through to a Super Bowl. It's a tough division but if they can get a ticket to the dance, Peyton with a Rex Ryan defense in the playoffs could give him a shot at a few more titles. If the Jets defense returns to form with a Peyton Manning led offense they could have a shot at being the best team in the league. Peyton throwing to Wayne, Holmes, Burress, and Keller would even be an improvement from previous receiving corps he's had(circa 2010 when he was throwing to Wayne, Collie, Tammie, and Garcon). Tom Moore his old offensive coordinator would also be there as an offensive consultant and would almost surely implement a system Manning was familiar with. Add in the fact we'd get to see two Peyton VS Brady games every year for the rest of Manning's career and this would be my favorite place to see him land.

3. Redskins - Perhaps the most likely scenario is Peyton heading to the nation's capital. This would be an okay fit, the Skins have a pretty good defense, a two time Super Bowl winning head coach (Mike Shannahan), an offense with a young pass catching back in Roy Helu, a great secondary receiver to Wayne in Santanna Moss, and an arguably top five tight end in Fred Davis. The only thing that makes this not such a great fit is the competition in the division. The Eagles have an electric offense and what should be a much stronger defense next year, the Cowboys have a pretty nice offense as well and a defense featuring Demarcus Ware, and finally the Giants offense is a top offense too and a defense that can really get after you, Peyton can just ask his friend Brady about that. Even with Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne the Redskins would still be in my opinion the fourth best team in that division.

4. Dolphins - Their owner would love to make a big splash like this, and with the Dolphins late season play they've played their way out of position to take a top passer. Peyton would have Reggie Bush who looks like he's having a bit of a career resurgence, then Wayne and Marshall as excellent receiving options, and a pretty strong defense. Again we'd also get the Brady-Manning Bowl twice every year. This is probably not the most ideal situation though as it'd be a tough path to the playoffs with both the Patriots and Jets to compete with.

5. Vikings - They've tried this before with an even older quarterback and it worked pretty well. I highly doubt they'd be willing to go this route again especially when they have what looks like their quarterback of the future in Christian Ponder but after a 2-14 season Frazier may get desperate enough. Peyton has never had a runningback like Peterson (Edge was good but obviously no Peterson) then add in Wayne and Harvin and that would be a very formidable offense. The only problem is he'd have an all too familiar defense as the Vikings are horrid against the pass. Also this is Rodgers division, the Lions are playoff caliber and just getting better, and the Bears are still good. I'd probably pass on entering that division.

6. Browns - Colt McCoy just doesn't have it, and the "Dawg Pound" is getting desperate for a winning season. This would be a tough sell for Peyton and Wayne. While the offense does have Hillis, who was great a season ago, they have little else (pun intended). The defense is okay but even with Peyton and Wayne running the offense I don't think they could compete with the Steelers, Ravens, or even the upstart Bengals.

7. Saints - While this would be a nice fit, I rank it so low because it has next to no chance of happening. If contract talks with Brees head south and things got messy, you couldn't write a better story than Archie's son coming back home to lead his father's old team. They have multiple weapons and on offensive genuis in Sean Payton, but this is never going to happen. No way the Saints will ever part with Brees not even for Peyton.

EDITOR'S NOTE: After last night's Colts' victory this whole article is getting close to being null and void. If the Colts move out of the one spot in the draft I see no way they'd let Peyton go anywhere, and while they may still draft a quarterback, it'll be someone like RGIII who could use some time to sit.

- Michael Gibson

RELAUNCHING DECEMBER 23rd

The Sports Bundle is relaunching December 23rd 2011. We jumped the gun originally not having writers lined up and committed but now we should be good to go.


Give The Sports Bundle a chance, all your sports in one place from a fans point of view, you won't be dissapointed.

Rags to Riches

Most fantasy owners can draft well in the early rounds but it's the mid to late rounds that separate a championship contender from an also ran. I don't understand playing it safe especially in the late rounds the owners that will pick a Donald Driver or a Hines Ward or another player that will give you WR3 or 4 stats but has very limited to no upside. Swing for the fences if you hit on one player like (Arian Foster 2010) it'll make up for the ones you miss on not to mention there's plenty of fill in players like Ward and Driver always available on waivers. In this article I'm going to tell you some players with low average draft positions that have major upside. As always this ADP data is from fantasyfootballcalculator.com and is based on a 12 team league.

Runningbacks

1. Ben Tate, Houston Texans (mid 11th round) - Foster already had minor surgery this offseason and any runningback is always a play away from ending up on the injury list. Most runners however don't have a back up as capable as Ben Tate. If Foster goes down I could see Ben Tate being a top 7 runningback per start. Houston is the perfect situation for him, Tate fits the zone blocking scheme perfectly. This guy is well worth taking a flier on from the 10th round on, even if you don't own Foster. If he gets the chance he'll explode.

2. Rashad Jennings, Jacksonville Jaguars (mid 11th round) - Jennings has shown to be a pretty capable runner when given the chance and MJD's knee may very well provide him with it. There have been reports that Rashad will definitely be more involved in the offense even with a healthy MJD but with the way MJD's knee is I wouldn't be surprised to see Jennings running the show at some point. With the QB situation in Jax being a little shaky I wouldn't expect more than top 15 numbers if Rashad is given the chance but if you can get a potential top 15 back in the 11th then you'd be crazy not to.

3. Roy Helu, Washington Redskins (early 11th round) - There's a lot of hype going around Tim Hightower (6th round) right now but that's way too early for me to blow a pick on a Mike Shannahan runningback. While Shannahan's system churned out great runningbacks in Denver you could never be too sure (post Terrel Davis years) who it was going to be. I think Helu has just as much chance to be the bell cow as Hightower and he can be had 5 rounds later.

4. Javon Ringer, Tennessee Titans (late 12th round) - With how serious CJ's hold out is I wouldn't be shocked to see Ringer getting some starts and behind Tennessee's line he could definitely be a HB2. That's excellent upside from a pick where some people are getting ready to select a defense.

5. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (early 8th round) - JStew has a ton of potential he's even ran for 1,000 yards behind D-Will. I think they will have an even split and you'll be able to count on Stewart to at least be a nice flex play and if DWill struggles with the injury bug Stewart could easily be a top 10 back.

Quarterbacks

1. Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions (early 8th round) - Stafford has the chance to be an elite QB in this offense. He's surrounded by a plethora of weapons and I could see him (if he stays healthy) throwing for at least 4k and 30+ touch downs. An 8th round pick that has potential to perform like a top 5 QB how could you pass that up?

2. Sam Bradford, St.Louis Rams (mid 9th round) - Josh McDaniels has done great things with a lot worse QB's (Cassel, Orton) now he's got a young premier talent. If Bradford had stronger receiving options I'd like him more but I think he definitely has top 10 potential.

3. Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals (mid 10th round) - Kurt Warner was able to revitalize his career throwing to Fitzgerald so this is the perfect way for Kolb to start his career. Kolb is a high end QB2 and could out produce many QB's going ahead of him.

Wide Receivers

1. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans (late 6th round) - There's not a ton of value plays at receiver but Britt definitely is one. He has a top receiving skill set and I'd much rather have him over Harvin, Manningham, Boldin who are going a round before. Sure Britt is a knuckle head and may face a suspension but he has the upside to be a top 10 receiver as soon as this season.

2. AJ Green, Cincinatti Bengals (mid 8th round) - This rookie receiver is NFL ready, the only problem is his QB may not be but how many times can you get a number one receiver for an NFL team in the 8th round especially with this skill set. His draft day counterpart Julio Jones is going in the 6th as the number two option on his team.

3. Greg Little, Cleveland Browns (early 12th round) - Little is a runningback turned receiver but he is in an offense that is perfect for his skill set and has a definite shot at being the number one option in this west coast offense. He's going around the same area as Deion Branch and Steve Breaston even though he has a much higher ceiling.

4. Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks (late 12th round) - A borderline fantasy starter in his first year back in the league last year and has the potential to follow that up this season. I wouldn't take him any earlier than this but if I can get him here I'd definitely take him especially before taking his teammate Sidney Rice in the 7th.

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (mid 7th round) - Tight End is littered with value plays but none have the jump off the page skill set that Jimmy Graham has. Jimmy could be huge in the redzone on a pass first Saints team that scores a lot.

2. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (early 7th round) - In Houston's electric offense now fully recovered from his ACL injury, he could definitely be a TE1.

3. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (mid 12th round) - Ridiculous value from a guy who may be the number one receiver in the Panthers' offense I think he'll be a top 10 tight end and he can be had the latest.

4. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars (early 9th round) - He finished as the number 2 tight end last year and he's going in the 9th what more is there to say.

5. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (late 9th round) - An absolute beast reports have said he has been uncoverable in Patriots' practices. If it wasn't for Aaron Hernandez he'd have even better value but late in the 9th round he is an excellent value for a number one tight end.

- Michael Gibson

Fantasy Football Top QB's

With a lot of fantasy drafts set to take place over these next two weeks The Sports Bundle will be posting their player rankings. The average draft position of these players is based on a 12 team standard league.

My Draft Strategy when it comes to QB's in 2011 is to wait. Target Peyton Manning with your 4th round draft choice and hope to nail that down but if you don't it's not the end of the world. I would then turn my attention to Schaub in the 5th who I think could spring himself into the elite QB's. If you miss out on both of these guys and their great ADP's I go into full on wait mode until I grab my combo of Matt Stafford (8th) and Kevin Kolb (10th). Stafford in that detroit offense has the outside chance to have an elite season. Kolb should be right around high QB2 value throwing to Fitzy and worst case scenario you alternate the two based on match ups. In the increasingly pass first NFL there is value to be had at the QB position if you had to I wouldn't be too depressed grabbing Fitzpatrick in the 14th! as my starter.

THE NAME OF THE GAME IS WAIT

1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (mid 1st round) - Vick is a dominant force in fantasy. No player has the potential to score as much as him week in and week out. The guy can make a bad fantasy team competitive and a good fantasy team dominant. He's the only QB I'd burn a 1st rounder. Huge injury risk but the upside is worth it.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (late 1st round) - What a year he had in 2010 leading title town to a Super Bowl XLV victory. He is in a premier passing offense and is a consistent high scorer every week and could definitely lead your fantasy team to a title. At his current ADP I'd have to pass though, Brady (2nd), Rivers (3rd), Brees (3rd), P.Manning (4th) should all give you similar stats and can be had way later. Rodgers is definitely the number 2 fantasy QB but with the value in later rounds I don't think I'd take him in the 1st.

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (mid 2nd round) - A stud that is coming off a career year in 2010 and getting a new weapon in Chad Ochocinco. He should provide more of the same this year. His 2nd round ADP is still a little much for me to spend on him when there are other options in the next few rounds that'll be right there with him in scoring.

4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (early 3rd round) - The strong aerial attack led by Rivers leads directly to big fantasy points. Insert Vincent Jackson and Rivers could be off the charts this year. If you can grab a stud HB in the 1st, a stud receiver in the 2nd, and then grab Rivers in the 3rd you'll be in a heck of a position to get that fantasy championship.

5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (mid 4th round) - This pick is for the risk taker with Manning's neck still needing nerves to regenerate he is hardly a sure thing. His ADP however makes it increasingly attractive to take him. This is a guy in a pass first pass 2nd pass 3rd offense and could be the number one fantasy QB in 2011. Oh yeah and he can be had a full 3 rounds later! Manning a stud back and two stud receivers at the end of round 4 has the potential to be a flat out dominant fantasy team. Manning is my guy to target in this years draft. Huge Injury Risk but can be the steal of the draft.

6. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (mid 3rd round) - In Sean Payton's offense Brees has been an elite fantasy QB year after year and I don't see that changing. While the Saints may be more prone to run in the redzone this year with the addition of Ingram that won't eat into Brees' numbers too much this is the last of the elite QB's.

7. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (late 5th round) - Houston's offense is easily one of the top in the league and with the emergence of Foster, Schaub should be able to pick defenses apart through the air.

8. Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions (mid 8th round) - Stafford has a monster arm and a ton of weapons including one of the NFL's premier receivers in Megatron. If he can stay healthy this kid could put up truly elite numbers think 4000 yards and 30+ touchdowns. He has unbelievably good draft day value and is a guy I would definitely target maybe even a round earlier than his ADP. You won't be sorry.

9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (early 6th round) - With a slowing Turner the Falcons will be more pass heavy than ever this year. Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Harry Douglas could yield big scoring for the 4th year QB.

10. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (mid 5th round) - Similar situation to Matt Ryan he has great weapons in Dez Austin and Witten but I don't think he can have a shot at being truly elite. I'm starting to think Dallas feels the same way.

11. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (early 8th round) - Like this kid a lot and think he can give you top 10 numbers but I don't think he has the elite upside of Stafford or Ryan this season.

12. Sam Bradford, St.Louis Rams (mid 9th round) - In Josh McDaniels' offense Bradford will put up huge numbers I just wish he had some better targets to throw to. Wouldn't hate to have him as my fantasy starter but would rather have him as a back up.

13. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (late 6th round) - Roethlisberger is a player I'd just avoid drafting. Sure he's gonna put up somewhere around top 12 numbers but with a late 6th round ADP and so much more value to be had in the later rounds count me out. Pittsburgh still loves to run and the chance of Roeth ever putting up elite fantasy numbers are slim to none.

14. Eli Manning, New York Giants (early 9th round) - Needs to cut down on the int's still waiting on him to take the next step but you could do a lot worse than having this guy as your starter. Hakeem Nicks' emergence gives Eli some serious upside he hasn't had in the past few seasons.

15. Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals (mid 10th round) - A high upside back up with Fitzgerald to throw to this guy will put up pretty big numbers. Worried about the Cards' offensive line though.

16. Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens (mid 10th round) - Lee Evans is supposed to be the much needed deep threat to get Flacco into high scoring fantasy totals. I don't see it Evans is on the down side of his career and Flacco will just stay average.

17. Ryan Fitzpatrick Buffalo Bills (early 14th round) - This guy can put up QB1 numbers and can be had when kickers and defenses are being picked. He is the last QB that I think has legitimate startability.

Cutler, Cassel, McNabb, Sanchez, Orton, McCoy are all about the same and I don't see any of them reaching QB1 status. Cutler (line is a mess) Cassel (run 1st offense) McNabb (lacks number one receiver new system) Sanchez (talent) Orton (John Fox offense) McCoy (talent, lacks weapons)

- Michael Gibson

Think I'll Go To Boston...

Here it is August 26th and the game's arguably most prolific runningback is still holding out. The Titans have reportedly offered to make him the highest paid halfback in the league but CJ wants top 5 playmaker money. In this regard it's hard to blame him as he is the NFL's best homerun hitter and one of the few backs to ever rush for 2,000 yards.

However I don't believe Tennessee is the team to pay him for a number of reasons. Whether the Titans want to admit it or not they are in the beginnings of a slight rebuild, Hasselbeck is an adaquate quarterback but he is there just to show the ropes to quarterback of the future Jake Locker. Locker, like most young QB's will struggle when finally thrust into the starting line up and Tennessee will most likely be a few years away from competing and CJ's shelf life may be hitting it's expiration date by then. While the argument can be made having Chris Johnson would make the transition easier for Locker, it's not worth investing that much money into the runningback position unless you're a strong competitor.

Insert the New England Patriots, a team in the exact opposite situation. The Pats feature a top 3 QB and one of the NFL's most potent passing offenses. They've had a busy offseason and appear to be going all in with the additions of Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth. Honestly this is a team that needs to go all in Brady is 34 years old and probably has 3-4 years of elite play left in him. It makes sense to be aggressive and try to capture as many Lombardi trophies as they can in that span. They are already a young team and have a stock pile of draft choices not to mention cap room so making a big Herschel Walker type deal wouldn't have the same "mortaging their future" effect as it would have on some teams. Not to mention a running threat like CJ added to that Pat's offense would bring them back to their more balanced attack they used to capture Super Bowls XXXVI XXXVIII and XXXIX. Defenses would have their handsful trying to figure out what facet of the offense to focus their attention on not to mention the dividends the added strength of the rushing attack would have in the playoffs.

So what's the solution? A trade of New Orleans' 1st rounder and New Englands' 1st rounder with a throw in of Green-Ellis or Vereen would be perfect for both sides. It gives New England the chance for one more dynastic run before the end of the Brady era and it allows the Titans to jump start their rebuilding process holding 3 1st round draft choices in the 2012 draft and putting them in position to be rising up right as Peyton Manning and the Colts' dominance are coming to a close in the AFC South. It makes too much sense..

but it'll never happen.


- Michael Gibson