News Desk

Iron Bowl:  A little late with this post, but Alabama fired the part-time PA announcer who decided to play some songs directed at Auburn quarterback Cam Newton during the Iron Bowl pregame.  Get a life - this guy is probably a douche anyway.  (ESPN)

He Gone:  Former Kentucky Wildcat DeMarcus Cousins was asked to leave practice early by coach Paul Westphal.  He didn't foul out, as you might have guessed (he averages 4.2 fouls per game).  Reasons for the dismissal were not given. (SacBee)

Tulo's Town:  The Rockies locked in their SS.  The SS, however, may have left a lot of money on the table after agreeing to a 7 year, $134 million extension through 2020 season.  That's almost $20 million a year - for a team with an $80 million payroll.  He better put some asses in the seats and some beers in those peoples' hands.  (Denver Post)

Dolphins Won the Game; Raiders Fan Won the Fight:  After Jacoby Ford ran the opening kickoff back 101 yards for a touchdown, not much went right for the Silver and Black.  I ran across this video on the internet of a mouthy Dolphins fan running his yap.  The Raiders fan who TKO'd him?  The biggest dude in the video.  FF to the 1:30 mark and wait about 4 seconds - but don't blink, or you'll miss the Dolphins fan getting laid out.

Numbers Game - #9

The Splendid Splinter and best hitter to ever play Ted Williams

Mr. 61 Roger Maris

The late, great Steve "Air" McNair

Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe

My sinful Raiders reference, Punter Shane Lechler

Numbers Game - #8

Iron Horse 2 Cal Ripken Jr.

"It's like deja vu all over again" Yogi Berra

San Francisco 49ers great Steve Young

New kid on the block Alex Ovechkin

Threepeat #8 Kobe Bryant

Bravo NFL, Bravo

I commend Roger Goodell for not suspending Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan, but rather fining them the league mandated $25,000.  Problem is, Johnson (who was in a scuffle last season) has a great rep in the NFL.  Finnegan has been fined three times - this season!  The reason he wasn't suspended may be because he didn't throw any punches - he was too busy getting blasted by AJ.

I am fine with what was done, but this bully act CF plays is getting old.  The Titans got pushed around Sunday for the entire 60 minutes.  They got embarrassed.  Their defense got shredded (albeit moderately).

They were outgained 346 yards to 162 yards.  158 yards passing (2 sacks for 20 yards) for Matt Schaub (two TD's - one to AJ).  188 yards on the ground (on 39 carries).

CF, quit your instigating B.S. and start playing defense.  You team's lost four straight games.  Your defense lets up 360 yards per game (250 per game through the air).  He's lucky he's on the defensive side of the ball, otherwise he'd be a dead duck going over the middle.

Numbers Game - #7

Yet another Yankee, Mickey Mantle

Broncos all-time tough QB John Elway

LSU and Utah Jazz Guard "Pistol" Pete Maravich

Duke 2010 Championship Rings

2010 NCAA Champion DUKE University rings - pretty sweet.

Numbers Game - #6

Dr. J Julius Erving

Cardinals HOF'er Stan "The Man" Musial

How can I leave off Steelers QB Bubby Brister?

Steve Johnson's Message to God

I actually do feel bad for this guy for dropping that pass in the end-zone that would have beaten the Steelers.  He had a bad, bad day - 5 drops or something like that.

Here's what he tweeted after the game:

 

You'll get more chances.

Numbers Game - #5

The Yankee Clipper Joe DiMaggio

Sweet Swinging George Brett

Eagles version of Donovan McNabb

Former Longhorn and current Pacers Guard T.J. Ford

Numbers Game - #4

The Iron Horse Lou Gehrig

Carolina Panthers Kicker John Kasay

Former Fab-5'er Chris Webber

Numbers Game - #3

"The Babe" George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr.

Numbers Game - #2

Yankees SS and Captain (for now) Derek Jeter

Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan

LA Lakers Guard Derek Fisher

Numbers Game - #1

Houston Oilers QB Warren Moon

Yankees Manager Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr.

"The Wizard" Ozzie Smith

Numbers Game - #0

Criminal Gilbert Arenas

OF/1B Al Oliver (needed an Expos reference)

Andre Johnson = Beast

Courtland Finnegan is a dirty player.  That's been said time and time again.

Check out the video:


Finnegan throws both hands directly into Johnson's facemask.  A.J. is a quiet guy, but something leads me to believe this douche Finnegan was doing this type stuff all game.

Football fights, baseball fights, hockey fights - all these used to be the norm back in the day when competitors competed.

Johnson, sadly, will probably be suspended for a while.  Finnegan, the instigator, will probably get less.

Best part was that after Johnson threw a few haymakers (and connected), Finnegan got up clapping.  Piece of shit.

MJ Poops on The Decision Maker

HA!

Z-Pack Dancing at Wedding

Every time I watch them play (three times a year at most), Nationals third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman looks like a real serious, straight forward dude.  Here he was, at a friends wedding and part of the bridal party. 

FF to about the 1:50 mark and you'll get a little different view of the Z-Pack:



Well played!

Derek Jeter wants what!!?!??!

According to the ticker on the bottom of ESPN, Jeter's agent wants a 4 or 5 year deal worth around $23 to $24 million a year? 

He made $22.6 million last season - he thinks he's better than he was last year (when he hit .270)?  Give me a break.  Take 4 years, $80 million and shut up.  Or take a walk.  I will still be a Yankee fan.

I was speaking to a guy in my building, he says they need to sign him.  He takes his kids there to see Derek Jeter.  Good point, however, I go to enjoy a baseball game - not see an aging shortstop.

If that is really what he wants per year, he needs to take a good hard look in the mirror - he is NOT worth that price tag.  No one is.  Take a walk you greedy prick.  You get paid for what you do - and the Yankees have always done business that way.  The Yankees will still sell tickets, concessions, apparel without Derek Jeter on the roster.  Guaranteed.

The Yankees aren't afraid to spend on aging talent - FACT.
A-Rod is not worth his salary - FACT.
Jeter is not worth $23 million a year he's asking for - FACT!

Tracking the ACC - Week 2

Boston this weekend was great, as it typically is (besides the accents).  Went for a camp, celebrated one year of wedded bliss with the wife, left Nathan with my parents in Long Island.  It was good to get away for a few days.  Back to the grind, women's hoops tonight - Manhattan vs. Columbia.  7:00pm tip.

Team by team breakdown of what's what in the ACC the past few days.

(1)Duke - beat a feisty Marquette team last night behind a career night from sophomore Mason Plumlee.  They play (4)Kansas State tonight in what's shaping up to be the premier matchup of the early NCAA season.  Last Friday, they pumped Colgate.  4-0.  Test tonight at 10:30pm.

FSU - beat FIU by 23 last Thursday.  Mercer and (10)Florida this week.  4-0 start with a chance to go 6-0 with a quality win over the Gators.

Clemson - lost at Old Dominion, a bad loss, 61-60 on Sunday.  Bounced back Monday with a win over a much maligned Seton Hall team.  South Carolina St. this week.  5-1 is within reach.

NC State - defeated George Mason to go 3-0, then got smushed at Georgetown.  Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday in what hopes to be a bounce back game and tune-up for Wisconsin.

Georgia Tech - Took care of the Northern NY schools, Albany and Niagara.  UTEP the day after Turkey Day.  3-1 with a bad loss to Kennesaw St.

VA Tech - 2-1 after an ass-kicking of UNC-Greensboro - after getting thrashed by Kansas St.

BC - beat in state rival Holy Cross - Texas A&M on Thanksgiving Day.  Respectable at 2-1 - the loss was to Yale.

Maryland - 3-2 with both losses coming to top-15 teams - (5)Pitt and (13)Illinois - a tough test early on, will certainly help them later on.  Delaware St. and Elon are next to help them get back on track.

(25)UNC - 2-0 going in to this week, dropped games to the Gophers and the Commodores.  2-2, not a Top 25 team in my book, but who am I?  UNC-Asheville is next - they'll feel the Wrath of Roy.

Miami (FL) - 2-2 with losses to (19)Memphis and Rutgers.  Louisiana's McNeese St. is next, then Florida Gulf Coast.  Good opportunity to get to 4-2.

Virginia - never known as a basketball power, 2-2 isn't bad considering their schedule (William & Mary, Stanford, (17)Washington) - Oklahoma and (15)Minnesota don't let them rest before opening the ACC season with the Hokies.

Wake Forest - they should hold a wake for this team - losses to Stetson, VCU, and Winthrop.  2-3 and they're the only ACC school below .500.  MAAC foe Marist is on deck, then Big Ten middler Iowa.  We'll see how it goes.

The men's Jaspers hoopsters just got to Orlando - Wisconsin on Thursday.  The Badgers are coming off a tough loss at UNLV.  I think it may be on ESPN2, but chances are football will be the staple on the television that day. 

Later fools.

#8 UNC Get Gopher'ed

Minnesota 72 - #8 UNC 67. 

Tough loss for the ACC.  Oh well.  I'm over it.

Duke is playing a cupcake - Colgate.  52 point victory over the Patriot League's Colgate.  Good warm-up.

Going to bed.  Long Island at 7am, Bronx at 11am, Boston at 9pm.  Travelling hillbillies.

Happy Birthday's

James A. Garfield

The 20th President of the United States of America, James Abram Garfield would have turned 179 today.  He was assassinated walking through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad.  He was in office for just over 6 months before he died, courtesy of a bullet fired by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2nd.  He died in office on September 19, 1881. 

Guiteau was a smug S.O.B. all the way to the end.  He loved being in the public's eye, waving and smiling all the way to his execution.  The reason he shot the President... ...he thought he should be given a government job.

Guiteau was mentioned in the song "Mr. Garfield" by Johnny Cash.

A few factoids about James A. Garfield:
1. He was the first left handed president

2. He juggled Indian clubs to build his  muscles
3. He graduated from Williams College
4. He learned to read at 3 years-old

5. He was 6 feet tall

Rest in peace, Mr. President.

Indian clubs

Tracking the ACC

As you may or may not know, I am a huge Duke fan.  I have been since I was little, and for some reason, the thing that turned me on to them was when my father's boss at the time went down to Durham and got me a hat from the bookstore, brought it back to me in a Duke plastic bag.  Not quite sure how that translated into me being a Duke fan, but that's the story.

Here's a look at the Preseason ACC Basketball Media Poll.

Fortunately, they've been on television both games so far (a 97-60 thumping of Princeton and a 79-45 beat down of Miami (OH)).  The ACC is having a decent start to the season, however, my hopes for a 2nd straight National Title from Duke are premature and tempered.  The ACC has a cumulative record of 20-5.

Georgia Tech got pumped by Kennesaw State (they're from Georgia) for their only loss.
 Miami (FL) lost one at #19 Memphis (not an easy game)
#22 Virginia Tech lost at #3 Kansas State.
Abysmal Wake Forest has two losses - Stetson and VCU.
Maryland (3-0) and Florida State (3-0) haven't played a team with a pulse yet.
Clemson and Virginia, both 2-0, are the same.
#8 UNC, NC State, and Boston College (all 1-0) have played cupcakes as well.
#1 Duke hasn't had too tough a road either (Princeton is the Ivy Preseason favorite)

Duke hosts Colgate tomorrow night, on television I'm guessing.  Time for lunch.  Be back.

Picking up where I left off yesterday - Boston College was stunned at home by the Ivy League's Yale (Preseason #5 in Ivy) 75-67.  #8 UNC pummeled Long Island's own Hofstra by 44.  #5 Pittsburgh, of the BEast took down Maryland 79-70 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.  Florida State handled in-state "rival" Florida International; NC State beat East Carolina by 20; Stanford destroyed Virginia by three touchdowns, 81-60.

After yesterday's games (3-3), the ACC's record stands at 23-8.  Respectable, minus the bad, bad losses to Kennesaw State and Stetson (VCU was picked third in the CAA Preseason Poll).

There's another seven games on the slate tonight - LBSU vs. Clemson down in St. Thomas; George Mason vs. NC State in Charleston; #13 Illinois vs. Maryland at the Garden; NC Central at Miami (FL); Minnesota vs. #8 UNC in Puerto Rico; MAAC school Niagara travels to Georgia Tech; and finally #1 DUKE hosting Colgate.

Not sure of the television broadcasts, but I will be here at the Draddy for the Albany/Manhattan Women's hoops game.  Duke is probably on, but I will be relegated to tracking in on my phone and/or getting text updates from Johnny Holzer.

Game on!

Banner Day

An article that went up earlier this year after a road trip of NYC college hoops.  Give it a read while I hang 8 more banners here in the Draddy.

Draddy Gymnasium nymag article
 

AFC West

After the thrashing the Broncos laid on the Chiefs, the OAKLAND RAIDERS are in 1st Place in the AFC West.

Goodnight and travel well.

College Football (& Baseball) Saturday

We had our first prospect clinic down at Gaelic Park - it went well.  Got a little cold once that sun went down but for most of the day it was a great day here in the Bronx.

On to football.  I was going to go without a post today, but there was one game (OK, two) that really opened my eyes.  One I am watching as I type, the other I saw on the ESPN ticker.

We'll start with the one currently airing on Versus - #1 Oregon at Cal.  8-7 at the half, Oregon has been held in check (only 155 yards of offense).  If I'd never seen Oregon play, I'd wonder how the hell they are #1 in the country, but they're athletic, they play fast, play smart, and play hard.  Not to mention they're #1 in different uniform combinations.  The one thing that is driving me nuts is this "Oregon Time Between Plays" clock they keep putting up on the bottom right hand corner.  They're blabbing about the offense and how fast they work, but the few times I've seen them put it up, it takes them anywhere from :26 to :35 seconds in between plays.  That, my friends, is called a "play clock".  Oregon has to come out better in the second half, and I'm sure they will.  If not for a 2-point conversion on their punt return TD, they'd be tied.  Staying tuned.

The next one is mind-blowing.  Mind. Blowing.  Let me preface - Indiana is a basketball school.  #6 Wisconsin is a football school (although their hoopsters aren't bad - receiving votes for Top25).  83-20.  Football score.  Let me repeat.  83-20.  I am having a hard time remembering the last time a Division I school scored 80 points.  They scored 10 offensive touchdowns.  They scored one defensive touchdown.  Their kicker was 2-2 on FG's and kicked 11 extra points.  No receiver had more than 3 catches or 79 yards.  Their two running backs (their best running back John Clay was out for the game) ran for 167 yards and 3 TD and 144 and 2 TD.  They did not punt the ball away.  Their QB's were 17-21 combined for 260 yards.  598 yards of total offense to go with 30 first downs.  83-20.  I'm mystified.  They only had the ball for 32:27 (math time - 32 minutes divided by12 offensive drives = approximately 2:40 per drive).

WOW.

Notre Dame wound up beating #14 Utah - shows you what I know.

Hanging with the Nater, Linds is away with the girls.  She'll be back tomorrow.  Wooooooooo!

83 to 20.  Are you kidding me?

Yankee Stadium

The new Yankee Stadium will host college football - Army vs. Notre Dame - next Saturday, November 20th.  Looks great.

Breakdown of the past seven season (excluding this 2010 season):
2009 - 6-6
2008 - 6-6 - beat Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl 49-21
2007 - 3-9
2006 - 10-2 - got crushed by LSU 41-14 in Sugar Bowl
2005 - 9-2 - got beat 34-20 by Ohio St. in the Fiesta Bowl
2004 - 6-5
2003 - 5-7

That's a 45-37 mark in the regular season for the previous seven seasons - a .550 winning percentage.  They've lost 9 of their past 10 bowl appearances. 

Notre Dame is similar to the Yankees in that everyone loves to hate them (I hate ND and love the Yankees).  They are always on national television.  They haven't really been relevant on the national scene since their 10-2 campaign in 2006.    Brian Kelly did a great job at Cincinnati, but I'm not quite sure why he's struggling so much at ND.  (Side Note:  I think he should have claimed some responsibility for 20 year-old Declan Sullivan falling off the scissor lift in miserable conditions). 

In any event, I hope the Black Knights beat the Irish - just like Navy and Tulsa.  They have a stiff test this week at home against #15 Utah (who will be angry (for Mormon's) after their BCS hopes were destroyed by TCU).

Time for lunch. 

Color Crazy

Clinton Portis - Wearing a Phillies cap to your home field (Washington DC's FedEx Field) the same week you're playing the hated Eagles?  What in the hell are you thinking?  Oh wait, it matched his red hoodie.  Now I get it.  LeBron used to wear his Yankees cap when he played in Cleveland, but there's no rivalry there.  In the NFL, every team in it's division hates one another's city.  I hope the Birds remind you who's hat you wore Monday night when they ... oh wait, you probably won't even play.  Must we remind him that they already beat his Skins once, which directly correlates to them trailing the Eagles by a game in the standings?

Coy Sheppard - Kicked off his HS football team (in Mississippi) for wearing pink cleats?  The coaches said it had nothing to do with the cleats and all to do with the fact that this kid - a placekicker - was insubordinate.  Who gives a shit?  Kids nowadays mimic what they see on TV, and October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Unless every kid on that team wears the same kind of cleats, I don't see anything wrong with this.  Especially given the fact that they were a gift from his grandmother, a breast cancer survivor.  The superintendent has the coaches back, too.  Are you kidding me?  Freedom of expression.  The kicker is that this kid banked on football counting towards his graduation requirement.  We'll see what happens.

Oakland A's - Scheduling a DH on purpose?  Awesome!!  They'll play the Angels twice on July 16.  I hope they wear the yellow socks.  (had to get a color in there)

NY Islanders - Once upon a time, they were 4-3.  Before losing eight straight.  I've seen two concerts at the Coliseum in the past several weeks, both of which are waaaaaay better than the product the Islanders are putting out there.  Just move the team.  They were great in the early 80's but that's it.  Give another city a chance to have a hockey franchise.  Sorry, just was looking through my drawers this morning and say my navy blue islanders long sleeved shirt.  Not wearing it until they're over .500.  Might be a while.

Oh yeah, and the Celtics are pumping the Heat to the tune of 72-52 with 8:25 left in the third.

RAIDER NATION is alive and well.  Bye week for the Silver & Black before heading to Pittsburgh to take on the always tough Steelers.  We'll see how good they really are.  I figure they'll lose, but let's keep it a game.

Happy Veteran's Day

Thanks to all - past and present - who have helped keep this country safe and free.  Thank you all.

Phone Prank

Have you ever gotten the urge to prank call someone?  If you have, then you've had the urge I just did.

While having a conversation with a co-worker (we'll call him Steve D), the baseball coaches were asking him to put a clinic they're having up on the website (we'll call it gojaspers.com).  Steve was explaining his busy day (we'll call it work) and how he hasn't had a chance to sit down and get work done yet.  Head coach (we'll call him Kev) was busting Steve's stones a little about getting this thing up on the web.  Steve was getting noticeably agitated with our banter, so we left.

I (Ryan) took matters in to my own hands and had a little fun with the situation on my walk back to my office (we'll call it a dungeon).  I stopped by the Assistant AD's office (we'll call her Deb), called Steve and was greeted with "Hey Deb," which prompted me to ask if he had posted it yet - :45 seconds after I left his office.

The next stop was the Compliance office.  I had my wife (we'll call her Mrs. D) call and ask.  She laughed, and I moved on.

Third and final stop was the secretary's office (we'll call her Paper).  I had her call - but first she needed to put on her headset to complete said call.  She conveyed Steve's message - "Tell your friends it's not going up until Friday".

That was the final stop before I got back to my office.  When I did, I called the operator, asked for Joe Brackets, and was connected to him.  He laughed and appreciated the jovial mood I was in.  I hope the same can be said for Steve D.

KC Chiefs McCluster Rap

Funny that he did this - albeit a while ago - but it makes sense.  And his Chiefs are in first place in the AFC West.  He only has 1 TD.  Either way.

Fat America

Per usual to start my work day, I check the internet looking for interesting stories.  I found one that was quite disturbing, and almost made me throw up in my mouth.

Burger King now offers up a Burger King NY Pizza Burger at some of their "Whopper Bars" in certain cities.  In essence, it's a burger with cheese, bacon, and a bun - and based on the small image, it's roughly four times the size of a standard burger.

Looking at the health specs, now that's what made me want to puke.  2,530 Calories.  144g of Fat.  3,780g of Sodium.  Instead of this heart-attack waiting to happen, you can save your money.  Make a burger at home and add some black beans to get more out of a pound of meat.

Who the hell wants to go to Burger King and sit there for an hour trying to devour this monstrosity?  Not me.

Eat healthy today, grab an apple.  Later homes.

Post Baseball Blues

Trying so very hard to dig up some news in the baseball world now that the season is over (97 days til Pitchers & Catchers report).  I'll admit, pouring over the internet finding Brian Wilson interviews will never get old.  I watch the Jim Rome interview at least three times a week.  He was on Leno the other night, basically a lot of the same material he covered with Rome (except that The Machine made an appearance).  The CheapSeats interviews are always a treat, you can find those all over You Tube.

Chief Wahoo makes an appearance on all four Indians uniforms this coming season.  I love the throwback grays.

Derek Jeter somehow won a Gold Glove this year.  To all the haters out there who think he's lost a step (which he has) and has nothing left in the tank (.270 BA in 2010), sorry.  He had the best fielding percentage (.989) in the American League.  Here's the breakdown among AL shortstops:  seventh highest amount of chances (553), third in double plays turned (94), committed the fewest errors (6), fourth highest in innings played (1304), and was second in games played (151).  So you can sip on those numbers for a bit and let me know if you still think it's a joke that he won.  I think they got it right.

Joe Miller and Joe Morgan are OUT as ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analysts - this one was a long time coming. 

The other night on "Undercover Boss", Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts was in the spotlight.  He sold hot dogs, changes the scores in the board at Wrigley, cleaned restrooms (where he was asked to leave), helped park cars (where his cover was almost blown), and was a part of the grounds crew.  It was awesome to see a man in his position with his type of money do something of this magnitude.  The five people he worked under were all under-appreciated in their field of work - in fact, the bathroom attendant was the same guy who flips the scores.  Each and every one of them got a well-deserved "gift" when all was said and done.  Bathroom/Scoreboard guy was given his wish - a staff family appreciation day and swimming lessons for his daughter (by Northwestern's swim coach).  Hot Dog vendor was given a plaque on the wall and a $1,000 gift.  Parking Lot attendant was told that the Cubs are going to pay for his classes to get his ESL degree.  The field maintenance guy was given a paid internship with the Cubs marketing department.  Why, I ask, can't something like this hap

Publish Post

pen to me?

The Giants decided not to pick up the option on World Series MVP Edgar Rentaria.  This was the case with the Yankees last year with 2009 WS MVP Hideki Matsui.  There is something to be said about having veteran guys help lead your team to a World Series - get rid of them.

I am sitting here for an exhibition basketball game - we're playing a Division II school and are losing.  1:00 left in regulation, so I gotta get on the ball and get this clean-up underway.

Much love!

Another Boston Celtics Calamity

K.G. calls Charlie V a "cancer patient" - trash talking is certainly something that's gone on in all of sports for decades, but this one just crossed the line.  Read the article, you'll see what a dickhead K.G. is.  And as far as Villanueva's tweet about getting Garnett into a ring and exposing him - I bet he would.  Granted, Villanueva looks a little different (he has alopecia universalis - no hair on his head or eyebrows) but that's uncalled for.

K.G. thinks he's a real bully - I'm sure Mauldin, SC is just as tough a place to grow up in as Queens, New York.  New York City basketball has always been a matter of survival of the fittest (read: toughest).

Let's do a city by city comparison based on the information Wikipedia offers.

Mauldin, SC - 8.6 square miles - 15,224 people (circa 2000) - 74.25% White, 20.82% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.24% Asian - median income per household of $51,657 - notable natives are K.G. and Orlando Jones (the 7Up guy)

Queens, NY - 109.24 square miles - 2.229 million people (circa 2000) - 44.1% White, 20% African American, 17.6% Asian - median income per household of $37,439 - notable natives include John Gotti, 50 Cent, Rodney Dangerfield, Run DMC, Johnny Ramone, Donald Trump, and John McEnroe.

Charlie V would wreck you K.G.  Shut your mouth, keep cancer out of your trash-talking lexicon, and just play the game.

Just another example of the renegade NBA not patrolling it's players.  Stay hot.

World Series Champion San Francisco Giants

Brian Wilson/Tim Lincecum Interview:

NFL Fright Fest

Yesterday was quite an eventful day in the NFL with plenty of stories to go around.  Here's a brief recap for those of you who spent entirely too much time trick-or-treating.

Buf @ KC - The Chiefs needed every one of Jamaal Charles' 177 yards on the ground (along with 61 receiving) to eek past the bumbling, stumbling, (not) fumbling Bills 13-10 in OT.  13-10 KC.

Car @ StL - Break up the Rams!  Behind the strength of their defense (4 turnovers), the Rams held the listless Panthers (201 total yards) to 14 first downs and 25 yards on the ground.  Tough to win when you're that one-dimensional - ask the Cowboys.  20-10 St. Louis.

Den @ SF (in London) - Another dud for the Brits.  3-0 SF at the half, this one turned into a fun one with 30 points scored in the 4th quarter alone.  San Francisco got their 2nd win of the year 24-16 over the Broncos.  Kyle Orton had his typical Sunday afternoon, dropping back 40 times and amassing 369 yards (265 Euro yards).  Denver scored the first 10 points of the 2nd half, but not before the 9ers scored two TD's in just under four minutes to seal it.  24-16 SF.

Was @ Det - Stafford to Johnson was the M.O. of this one - 9 catches, 101 yards, 3 TD for Megatron.  Washington's ineptness on 3rd down (2-14) didn't help any.  37-25 Detroit.

GB @ NYJ - Shutout for the first time at home since 2006, the Jets offense looked out of sorts all day.  The Packers kept them in the game by looking just as bad, but when all was said and done, Dirty Sanchez couldn't lead Gang Green to victory.  The Jets moved the ball well - 360 yards to 237 for GB - but their three turnovers told this story.  The best team in the league puts up more than a goose-egg.  9-0 GB.

Mia @ Cin - The Dan Carpenter Show rolled in to Cincinnati and poured in 5 FG's (38, 42, 24, 54, 31) and an XP.  T.O. caught two TD passes but got no help from the rest of the Bungles.  22-14 Miami.

Jax @ Dal - The Cowgirl Show fell to a pathetic 1-6 as Jacksonville dominated this one beginning to end.  Kitna isn't the answer.  Romo isn't the answer.  Good to see MB3 finally came alive and scored a TD.  Garrard stole the show (260 yards, 4 TD, 1 rushing TD).  Wade Phillips needs to be out in Big D.  35-17 Jacksonville rolls!

Ten @ SD - The Bolts looked like a team with a chip on their shoulder after the Titans went up early.  San Diego scored 26 of the final 32 points in this one and the Chargers D held CJ2K in check (59 yards rushing).  When a team is dependant on VY or Kerry Collins, things aren't looking good.  Perhaps SD is starting their run to the top?  Stay tuned.  33-25 Chargers.

TB @ Ari - A high octane scoring game, these Bucs are for real.  Improving to 5-2 and accumulating over 400 yards of offense, the boring, ho-hum TB team is on the radar as a legit contender.  They have Josh Freeman (287 yards, 1 TD) who doesn't make mistakes, a running game that can pound the ball, and an opportune defense that can tack points on the board.  Follow the Bucs.  38-35 TB.

Min @ NE - I watched simply because I was hoping Favre got his clock cleaned - and he did.  Leaving bloodied and battered, the Patriots went on for a 28-18 win.  Danny Woodhead took a misdirect snap in for a TD in the first quarter, All-Day AP was held under 100 yards (92 to be exact) and the Law Firm of BenJarvis Green-Ellis ran wild (112 yards, 2 TD).  28-18 Patriots.

Sea @ Oak - Silver and Black is baaaaaaaack!!  The Raiders poured it on yesterday to bring them to .500.  4 and 4.  Come on!!  545 yards of offense?  310 yards passing for Jason Campbell?  Another 100-yard game (111 yards) for Run DMC?  A defense that held an opponent to under 200 yards of offense (162 yards for Seattle)?  Could these Raiders be dumb enough to believe they're a good team?  It sure looks like it.  Cable has these guys believing in themselves.  Halloween game in Oakland - you better believe the Black Hole was ready to rock and roll for this one.  Huge game next week in Kansas City at 4:15 EST.  33-3 RAIDER NATION!

Pit @ NO - A ho-hum game for most of the night, the defenses were good, the offenses not so good.  The Saints did a little more and came out on top.  The Saints are a pass-first, pass-second team with zero ground game (= trouble).  The Steelers just seemed out of sorts last night.  They're still a top-3 team in the AFC and a top-5 in the NFL.  20-10 Saints.

Hou @ Ind - Looking like a good one in the making tonight - Indy looking for revenge from their season opening loss in Houston.  Addai and Clark are out but I'm sure Peyton and Co. will find new ways to move the ball.  Should be entertaining to say the least. 

Thanks for reading and I hope the week is starting off well and continues to get better.