Wildman

Someone pointed out this thread to me and I just wanted to say thanks. I still have a lot of respect for the work FFToday does. Mike Krueger has always had a sharp-looking site and there's some good writers (Antonio, Tony, Doug, etc.) and that MacGregor guy has some chops when he's not pushing out cool site-specific apps. All the best... M

Thank you It's just nice to be mentioned. There's a lot of good work out there...

I agree the system should be different, but I also agree that Williams caught fire too late and he was generally great against lesser defenses and not so good against stronger ones. The exception was the huge Bucs game and maybe the Packers contest.

I can see your point about average per carry due to the situational roles - it's a good argument I didn't think about.

I'll answer that first question - O.J. Simpson didn't look almighty from day one and he was an all-time great. I have to argue that Williams play has nothing to do with Jonathan Stewart. So you know, Stewart is my top back in my annual draft publication and D Will was my #2 back in 2006. Williams didn't play as well in 2006-2007 for several reasons. One of them was the lackluster offensive line compared to what they have now. Second, Williams tended to bounce too many plays outside and he's not as fast as Adrian Peterson nor as strong. Third, DeShaun Foster as top-shelf athleticism and hung onto the role for a bit long as Williams learned the ins and outs of the system. Fourth, part of learning those ins and outs was pass blocking something he didn't have to do much of as the Memphis offense. Williams is showing all of the things I saw from him in college, deceptive power, good vision, decent movement, and enough speed to break big plays. Sometimes a player takes a bit more time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the pro game. When your athleticism goes from being better than 99% of your competition (college football) to being on par with everyone else (NFL), it's easy to think too much. When you think rather than react, you slow down and make poor decisions. You stop playing naturally. This often makes you look like a dud early in your career. It's the reason why some great QBs look like crap to begin their careers. It's just more noticeable with QBs than it is with RBs because it happens less often with backs. It doesn't make Williams stupid for not catching on as quickly. It just meant he dwelled on it a bit too much. Jonathan Stewart is a going to be a stud, but that has nothing to do with Williams playing better. Derrick Ward doesn't make Brandon Jacobs better (or vice versa). Priest Holmes didn't make Larry Johnson great. Marion Barber didn't make Julius Jones a stud. Jerious Norwood is the same back since Michael Turner came to town. It's the offensive line and the success of the passing game that helps open holes for runners, not other running backs - unless they are lead blockers All that said, Adrian Peterson and DeAngelo Williams are both two of the better performing runners in the league. Both are capable of big plays because they can get yardage after contact. What separates them from each other is that Williams faces fewer 8-man fronts and his big runs tend to come after making one man miss or breaking one past the line of scrimmage. What he does is impressive - especially his vision and balance - but you seriously need to watch some Walter Payton highlights and then put on that Peterson youtube clip and watch how Peterson's skills and situation (no QB, decent line) resembles Payton. You may not like Jim Brown for whatever reason. But when the running back equivalent of Picasso says Peterson is at another level, you ought to at least try to see why he says that rather than write it off. Jim Brown has forgotten more about running the football than 2/3 of the backs in the NFL right now will ever know. I watch so much tape of these guys and I'll tell you that I was very appreciative of Williams and Stewart. Stewart earned my first perfect grade. Williams was labeled a franchise talent in my scoring system. The reason is they both did a lot of fundamental things very well. Peterson was labeled a franchise talent with a lower score, but I noted that Peterson's talents only come around once every 10-15 years. When you are a special talent, you sometimes do things "the wrong way" but get away with it because of your immense skills that more than compensate: Barry Sanders - he got stuffed as much if not more than most backs every year, but his lateral movement, open field vision, and balance were unheard of Jim Brown - upright runner, not much of pass blocker, and carried the ball too far from his body. His combo of speed-power-balance-and vision is among the best of all-time. Walter Payton - held the ball like a loaf of bread. Lost yardage going east-west too often. Might be the greatest all-around back ever. It really puzzles me when someone tries to argue Williams is as good a player as Peterson. In terms of numbers, they are absolutely right. But when you take away the quantitative evidence and look at it in a qualitative way, I don't understand how anyone could compare the two. Peterson's ability may not be much better when charting it mathematically in some fashion but everything has both a scientific and artistic element to it. Some things are judged more towards one or the other. In terms of production, Moz is right for this year. In terms of artistry, I hope he doesn't think the same thing, but that's his opinion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...e=snibbe/081031 My apologies if already posted, but didn't see in on the first page...

See below -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.nfl.com/halloffame/story?id=090...mp;confirm=true Preliminary list of nominees for class of 2009 First-year eligible nominees: RUNNING BACKS -- Larry Centers, Brian Mitchell (also KR/PR). Mitchell deserves consideration beyond the preliminary list because of his longevity and productivity as a returner. Centers was an excellent receiver, but never a great runner. TIGHT ENDS -- Shannon Sharpe, Frank Wycheck. Wycheck was underrated, but he's not a HOFer. Sharpe is definitely a HOFer and automatic finalist this year. OFFENSIVE TACKLE -- Lincoln Kennedy. No way. At his best, he was good but not a HOFer. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- John Randle (DE/DT), Bruce Smith (DE), Dana Stubblefield (DT). Randle is an automatic finalist. Great pass rusher. Smith is a surefire HOFer and automatic finalist this year. LINEBACKER -- Jessie Armstead.Terrific college player. Better than average NFL LB with some longevity, but not a HOFer. DEFENSIVE BACKS -- Darren Woodson (S), Rod Woodson (CB/S). Darren Woodson is like Jessie Armstead as a safety. Rod Woodson is in the class of Shannon Sharpe and Bruce Smith. Additional nominees: QUARTERBACKS -- Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Ken Stabler, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams. Ken Anderson was very underrated, but his results didn't reflect his skills. Esiason is a QB I'd love to have on my team, but he's no HOFer. Plunkett? HOF moment as SB-winning QB reviving his career, but not a HOF career. Phil Simms? Enough great moments in the post-season for finalist consideration. Stabler? Same as Simms. Theismann? Ran some very good offenses, maybe finalist consideration. Doug Williams? Great SB performance does not equal HOF enshrinment. RUNNING BACKS -- Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Terrell Davis, Greg Pruitt (also KR/PR), Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters. Anderson was wicked good early and above average late in his career, but not a HOFer. Tough runner and fun to watch though. Great guy to have on a team. Roger Craig is a finalist. His 1000/1000 seasons were a big deal and he was a big cog in a great offense. Terrell Davis is a finalist for his 2000-yard season and great production in a short time + 2 SBs. Greg Pruitt had HOF skills, but injuries derailed his potential. He was a less evolved combo of Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk in terms of skills. Not a finalist. Herschel Walker? Throw in the USFL career and he's a finalist and possibly a HOFer, otherwise no - a very good, but not quite great NFL career. Ricky Watters? Excellent RB, but at this point he's a finalist at best, if at all. WIDE RECEIVERS -- Cliff Branch, Harold Carmichael, *Cris Carter, Wes Chandler, Gary Clark, Isaac Curtis, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, Roy Green, Harold Jackson, Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, *Andre Reed, Sterling Sharpe. Branch was great in the Raiders offense and is why Al Davis has become a broken record in personnel/offensive philosophy, but a finalist at best. Carmichael was good, but not great. Carter is an automatic finalist. Chandler was as talented as any WR, but his production wasn't consistent enough. Maybe a finalist. Clark, good, but see Carmichael. Curtis, like Ken Anderson was underrated, but not a finalist. Ellard...wow, good player but up and down career. Maybe a finalist, but not in this group. Fryar had the skills, but not the career to go with it. Roy the Jet Stream Green was a two-way player before Deion and after Ironmen were no longer a common part of the game. Great deep threat, but not productive enough to be a finalist. Harold Jackson, Herman Moore, and Stanley Morgan were very good, but if Ellard doesn't get a finalist consideration, neither do they. Andre Reed earns it as does Sterling Sharpe who was like a mutant at the position at that time period. He changed the game with his physicality and speed. TIGHT ENDS -- Mark Bavaro, Todd Christensen, Ben Coates, Russ Francis, Brent Jones, Steve Jordan. Bavaro has HOF moments, but not the stats. Chirstensen has the stats for a brief time, but not long enough. Francis was a great player with injury issues and mismatched in offensive systems. Brent Jones was like Frank Wycheck, but in a better offense. Steve Jordan was a good football player, but not a HOFer OFFENSIVE LINEMEN -- Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Jim Covert (T), Randy Cross (G/C), Dave Dalby ©, Dermontti Dawson ©, Ray Donaldson ©, *Russ Grimm (G), Jay Hilgenberg ©, Kent Hill (G/T), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull ©, Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), *Bob Kuechenberg (G), Jim Lachey (T), Henry Lawrence (G/T), Mark May (G/T/C), *Randall McDaniel (G), Max Montoya (G), Marvin Powell (T), Steve Wisniewski (G). Boselli is a finalist despite short career. Brown was very good, but longevity is what earned him the consideration. Covert, Cross, Dalby, Donaldson, Hiilgenberg, Hill, Hinton, Hull, Lawrence, May, Montoya, and Powell were very good, but not sure they qualify as finalists right now. Many of them will earn a senior committee nod sometime down the line. McDaniel, Grimm, Dawson, Jacoby, Kenn, Kuechenberg, and Wisniewski really deserve finalist consideration and will get into the HOF one day, if not as a sr. pick. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- Ray Childress (DT/DE), *Richard Dent (DE), Chris Doleman (DE/LB), Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston (DE/DT), Charles Haley (DE/LB), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (DE), Cortez Kennedy (DT), Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT), Steve McMichael (DT/NT), Leslie O'Neal (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT), Art Still (DE). Dent, Doleman, Haley, and Jones deserve the most conisderation. McMichael maybe. LINEBACKERS -- Cornelius Bennett, Robert Brazile, Kevin Greene (LB/DE), Ken Harvey, Rickey Jackson, Tom Jackson, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Hardy Nickerson, Chris Spielman, Pat Swilling, Darryl Talley, *Derrick Thomas.Bennett? very good, not great. Brazile, same thing. Greene - great moments, but more hype than all around greatness. Rickey and Thom Jackson deserve more love than given. Clay Matthews is a finalist as is Mecklenburg and Sam Mills. Nickerson? Nah. Speilman, great college player and very good pro- maybe. Swilling - excellent moments but not a HOfer. TAlley maybe. Thomas...deserves way more love - helped change the game along with LT. DEFENSIVE BACKS -- Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Deron Cherry (S), Raymond Clayborn (CB), Kenny Easley (S), Lester Hayes (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), Ken Riley (CB), Eugene Robinson (S), Donnie Shell (S), Louis Wright (CB).Allen and Lewis were the best of this lot although Butler, Easley, Hayes, Shell, and Wright could easily be finalists PUNTERS/KICKERS -- Rich Camarillo (P), *Ray Guy (P), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P).Ray Guy deserves it. Roby was good for a long time. SPECIAL TEAMS/WIDE RECEIVER -- Steve Tasker.Should be a finalist and HOFer but won't get it unless the Sr. committee does it years from now. COACHES -- Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy.Coryell, Jimmy Johnson, and Reeves deserve finalisty consideration. CONTRIBUTORS -- Bud Adams, Gil Brandt, C.O. Brocato, Leo Carlin, Ed DeBartolo, Jr., Ben Dreith, Bob Harlan, Jerry Jones, Art Modell, Art Rooney, Jr., Ed Sabol, Steve Sabol, *Paul Tagliabue, Ralph Wilson, Jr., Ron Wolf, George Young. A ton of them deserve it but I go with Rooney or Wilson and I'llstick with Wilson because if it weren't for him or Lamar Hunt, the NFL wouldn't have been successful it its lean years. *On 2008 17 finalists list My top 17 in no order Derrick Thomas Shannon Sharpe Bruce Smith Rod Woodson Roger Craig Terrell Davis Cris Carter Andre Reed Sterling Sharpe Tony Boselli Russ Grimm Joe Jacoby Charles Haley Richard Dent Clay Matthews Ray Guy Jimmy Johnson The five I'd pick if I could pick five: Bruce Smith Rod Woodson Derrick Thomas Sterling Sharpe Tony Boselli

The 2008 Rookie Scouting Portfolio By Matt Waldman (a.k.a. The Gut Check) Now in its third year of publication, the RSP has established itself as a helpful, informative resource for both fantasy owners and draftniks alike: > Contains analysis to use as both a quick resource or a detailed reference encyclopedia for the incoming draft class > Overall positional rankings with a brief summary on each ranked player > Best players by major skill categories at their position > Overrated/Underrated by position > Projects at each position (players who have strong skills in one area but need extra development) > Adjusted RSP scores based on available combine/workout measurements > Rookie Draft Value Charts for 8, 10, and 12-team dynasty leagues > D.J. Nestrick will be doing a team draft needs section for '08 > At least 110 detailed game film analysis profiles of prospects from the offensive skill positions > Each analysis is scored on a specially designed form created to pinpoint the skills that truly matter to predict success/failure > The scoring system is highly intuitive in terms of the reader understanding the analysis method > Each checklist is performed on a single game and most of the top tier prospects have at least 2-3 checklists in the RSP, meaning you actually get significantly more than 110 profiles, but I just count the prospects not the checklists My takes on certain players can sometimes stand out from other draft analysts. Take for example this interview I did prior to last year's draft where I talk about my less than enthusiastic views of Brandon Jackson, Antonio Pittman and Robert Meachem while promoting the one rookie QB prospect (Trent Edwards) who wound up seeing extensive time as a starter and took his team to the brink of the playoffs - the same QB that Bill Walsh endorsed with a personal letter that wasn't reported in the media until the QB became the starter. You can find numerous sample checklists on this article page. Check the Rookie Impact Series for 2005, 2006, and 2007 and the previous Gut Check columns. As the RSP continues to gain success, I plan to add profiles for defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs within the next 2-3 seasons. Several customers have expressed interest in purchasing either (or both) the 2006 and 2007 RSP. If you would like to do so, contact me and I'll make arrangements to get them to you. Thanks for your support! Order here before April and save 55% There are 128 players evaluated for this draft class of skill positions: QBs]Bobby Reid John David Booty (2) Matt Ryan (2) Xavier Lee Matt Flynn Danny Ainge Joe Flacco Andre Woodson (2) Chad Henne (2) Brian Brohm (3) Blake Mitchell Alex Brink Dennis Dixon Sam Keller (2) Anthony Morelli Colt Brennan (2) Bret Meyer Paul Smith Kyle Wright Adam Tafralis RBs Rafael Little Peyton Hillis Tim Hightower Tony Temple (2) Lance Ball (2) Keon Lattimore Allen Patrick (2) Andre Callender Kevin Smith (3) Jalen Parmalee Jacob Hester (2) Mike Hart (2) Felix Jones (6) Darren McFadden (6) Rashard Mendenhall (3) Omar Cuff Xavier Omon (2) Albert Young (2) Jamaal Charles (2) Thomas Brown Kregg Lumpkin Chauncy Washington (2) Chris Markey (3) Tashard Choice (2) Matt Forte Alley Broussard Jehuu Caulcrick (2) Justin Forsett (2) George Stripling Rodney Kinlaw Chris Johnson Amir Pinnix Ryan Torain Cory Boyd Jonathan Stewart (2) Ben-Jarvis Green Brandon McAnderson (2) Dontrell Savage (2) John Randle Yvenson Bernard (2) Ray Rice (3) Peyton Hillis (one as an RB and one as a TE) Steve Slaton (3) WR Devin Thomas Danny Amendola Darrell Blackman Marcus Monk (3) William Franklin Brandon Breazell (2) Robert Jordan (2) Devon Bess (2) Ryan Grice-Mullen (2) Malcolm Kelly (2) Andre Caldwell (2) Anthony Russo Marcel Reece Mario Manningham (3) Paul Hubbard Adrian Arrington (2) Eddie Royal Kevin Challenger Steve Johnson(3) De'Cody Fagg Darius Reynaud (2) Josh Morgan Justin Harper Marcus Henry Dorien Bryant Earl Bennett (2) D.J. Hall (3) Limas Sweed (2) Adarius Bowman (2) Amarri Jackson Early Doucet (4) Jabari Arthur Terrell Golden Kerry Franks James Hardy Jason Rivers (3) Michael Bumpus Sammie Stroughter DeSean Jackson (3) Lavelle Hawkins (2) Keenan Burton (4) Harry Douglas (3) Mario Urrutia (3) Terrence Nunn Maurice Purify Todd Blythe Darnell Jenkins TE Corneilus Ingram (2) Brad Cottam Kellen Davis Jermichael Finley Joey Haynos Craig Stevens Joe Jon Finley Dustin Keller Chris Brown Fred Davis (3) Mike Peterson (2) Jacob Tamme (4) Kris Kasparek Mike Rucker (2) John Carlson Gary Barnidge Gabe Ratcliff Robbie Agnone Martellus Bennett

Good question and the answer should give you additional insight on the running back position in the NFL. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was a player several scouts/analysts felt had enough skill to make an NFL team. He's strong, straight ahead runner. But there are far more talented college running backs, with pro ability than there are spots on an NFL depth chart. Green-Ellis played on an Ole Miss team with some excellent offensive linemen - Michael Oher, the subject of a best-selling book, will likely be a top 15 pick this year at LT - but the blocking scheme was a very simple one. Green-Ellis was not a very creative runner and from what I saw, he never veered from the design of the blocking scheme. If that meant he gained 15 yards, awesome. If it meant he gained -2 yards when there was a gaping hole one quick cut away, so be it. Green-Ellis, Rueben Droughns, Ryan Grant, and late-round picks Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham are all examples of talented players who were a bit too raw to stick with a team. RB is probably the one position where it's always good to remember the backs not drafted who were once considered mid-to-late round picks, if not high round picks before an injury because they frequently develop into decent fantasy players even if it is for a short stretch. I think Ken Darby, now with the Rams, is a candidate to make this list one day. Same with Kregg Lumpkin and maybe even Darnell Savage with Kansas City.

Keep us posted and tell us who you've talked to...

Yep, it guaranteed there were no more undefeated teams in our league

This year, of course. Dynasty, it could wind up being a closer comparison.

Not a dirty play - a high effort play. Although Vrabel wasn't likely to catch Brown there is no guarantee Brown doesn't stumble, lose the ball, or come up lame at the end of the run and slow down significantly before he reaches the end zone. Plus, this is moot because Brown wasn't in the endzone, he was at the 25 yard line when Ricky dove for Vrabel. Just because the team didn't expect the Dolphins - namely Williams - to show that much effort to go full speed in the 4th QTR with a big lead and make a play that any coach would applaud him for doing tells you that they are simply upset about getting their butts whipped. BTW - if you don't believe what I just said about not being a dirty play, then just call it retaliation for what you see at :28 seconds of this highlight reel and you'll understand why Vrabel got what he got http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80affc67

His hate for VY way before this season blinded him to that fact. Though I have to say, it looks like he has a point about VY's prospects, now.

Exactly!

Everyone who writes in this industry is always looking for that potential "out of nowhere guy" for their readers. Lumpkin is one of those candidates. Right now, Brandon Jackson is the better player but if Lumpkin can stay healthy gain a bit more speed as he continues to be a few years removed from ACL surgery and gets more reps, he could be a starting quality back. People in the know like Lumpkin because he's a good pass protector, has excellent patience and vision, and runs hard downhill. Lumpkin has a legitimate chance to beat out Jackson in a season or two if he continues along the path he's taking with his performance. It's important to remember that if Packers people are talking about him to the media that they like his skills. It's a big deal that Lumpkin, who was an undrafted free agent rookie, beat out Morency, Herron, and Wynn for the final spot. That move states "Lumpkin has enough talent that we don't have to keep veterans who know our system and have proven they can function on the playing field if we use them in a situational manner." For a free agent rookie, that's why people are high on him.

Glad I only have Bruce, because Bryant Johnson is getting more of the targets. It's difficult to trust a player who has a high ypc average, but few targets. One suggestion is to view this matchup in the context of your roster. If the choice is for a 3rd or 4th WR spot and your other guys are high target players and you have a strong lineup overall, I'd go for the upside of Bruce. If your team has more upside guys with greater risk, go w/Johnson.

for the Titans D

They are limiting him for a reason. The main thrust of that reason is they no longer trust Jackson to make the best decisions for their offense. If we want to judge someone for making a mistake it is Childress putting his QB in a situation where he can't succeed and his team can't be its best while they have a better option sitting on the bench. This is pro football, not an elementary school class project where the training wheels are expected to be there for the protection of the participant. If the guy isn't improving after a reasonable amount of time, make the move and admit your mistake rather than keep the guy in there, aid to the losing cause, and remind everyone how bad your original decision was. Nothing like your head coach being in denial. If you watched McNabb, Cutler, Edwards, Palmer, or any decent QB, he made progress. He made mistakes, but not usually the same kinds of mistakes over and over. Coaches like Parcells, Gruden, and Jauron had no problem benching their QBs. Jack Del Rio waited two years too long to bench his starting QB. When they wait this long I believe they are worried more about themselves than their football team. Understandable motives, but not a winning approach.

Yeah, but as a reformed Browns fan, who once despised the Steelers I need some amount of satisfaction from knowing this stuff. Not that it matters, you did get Bettis from the Rams and the best QB in that draft that had Manning and Rivers. You also got the ultimate football player in Hines Ward. If a team could field 22 players with his mindset, it would be unstoppable.

When he's healthy, no doubt Berrian will benefit. Frerotte is the classic gunslinger who often had multiple TD and INT games in the same game. He'll wing it down field.

They'd offer a late round pick for John Beck who is a good fit for the WCO. A 4th or 5th round pick for Alex Smith who could be a decent WCO QB...AND then... A 3rd or 4th for Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch A 2nd or 3rd round pick for Garcia, who couldn't mess up this opportunity. A 2nd round or third round pick for Trent Green, which is a bit over priced, but he's a great veteran presence. Ditto with Mark Brunell. If you didn't get Beck or Smith, you then... ... offer a 1st round pick for Brady Quinn, who isn't the savior I believe others think, but he could develop into enough to make this team an annual contender and let him learn from a QB worth a darn Another option, fire Brad Childress for trying to look like a genius by picking a 5th round quality QB in round 2 and waste your team's window of opportunity for your ego and bring back Daunte Culpepper, who, might be less effective, but could do well with a running game like this one.

With all due respect to the Cowboys and Steelers, who certainly have been two of the better franchises since the modern era (70s), they were both the patsies of pro football for many years when other teams like the Giants, Eagles, Browns, Packers, Colts, Redskins, and Bears who helped pro football grow through some tough times. I guess Dallas may have been ok, but their predecessor, the Dallas Texans were pretty horrible most of the time. If you believe pro football started and ended in 1970, you are disrespecting the history of this game and the teams and owners that made this possible. (Just trying to humble those Steeler fans some...you guys seem pretend football didn't exist before 1970 when your teams were putrid waste ) Then again, how can you not like Pittsburgh unless you hate them for fielding tough teams, with tough guy players that adopt the city's mentality and your team can't match up in that respect.

Brown is a complementary WR in this corps, at best. His deep speed and big play ability after the catch is not on the same level of skill as Jackson. Hernia injuries take a long time to heal. I'm not confident Curtis will be a viable option until late in the season. When Steve Young says Jackson gives the Eagles a dimension they haven't had since T.O. left, I believe him. Young is one of the more cerebral QBs to play the game and if he likes Jackson, I'm buying.

I post this every year, but still worth mentioning: I make an improbable semifinals comeback thanks to O.J. McDuffie versus the 'Skins on Sunday Night and I have little-known, rookie RB Fred Lane (who I actually drafted late in a deep draft) facing the Cowboys on Monday night. If he scores 21 points, the equivalent of 120 rushing yards and a score, I win and go to the championship game. Lane gets 120 yards late in the 4th QTR as the team is driving for a score, riding him the entire way. They get to the 11-yard line and lane runs it to the 10-yard line for a first down. I can taste victory. They hand the ball off to Lane on first down and he's stuffed. I'm a little nervous, but 2nd down is a run down and they won't pull the play action fake. I'm right and they hand it to Lane again on second down, but no touchdown. Now I'm praying for them to hand him the ball an improbable third time in a row. And crazy enough as it seems, they pitch it to him but he's stopped at the goal line once again. Now it's 4th down, money on the line, and I'm having an inner monologue with myself that probably sounds like someone catching the spirit at one of those old southern churches. And as impossible as it seems, they hand it to Lane a fourth consecutive time! And once again he was stuffed. Fantasy season over. No championship appearance. Could be worse. Last year I won a championship by .1 point because of a Leigh Bodden-forced fumble for my team. I figure that kind of made up for this one and my first year playing where I had Ricky Watters, Terrell Davis, and Jerry Rice on the highest scoring team in my league only to watch my players get pulled in at half time due to the way we originally scheduled playoffs (they changed it the next year) and lose the game.