Super Bowl XLVI Preview

3rd down and 5...

1:15 to go...

Fourth quarter...

Thousands of people's voices rise as one, drowning out the one voice that matters, that of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning as he barks out protection signals to his five personal protectors for what could be the most pivotal play of his young career.

The play is still clear in my mind. Even after four years, it has left its indelible mark on my consciousness. It marked the sum total of the wavering effort of eleven men. It was a heave, a prayer, a Hail Mary. It was a split second from being called an "in the grass" sack by referee Mike Carey.

But the play was allowed to unfold in front of the 60,000 plus crowd, united in their anticipation of what would happen next. 

Houdini had provided the assist to Manning, who duly obliged, tossing an ill-advised pass into the middle of the field in the general direction of wide receiver David Tyree.

The catch was made and it would forever be known as, in rather unoriginal fashion but poignantly, "The Helmet Catch". It was a moment of utter incredulity when you think about it. Tyree was barely a factor in the Giants passing attack and no longer plays for the team, yet his effort provided the spark the team needed to win it all after Michael Strahan's famous "One touchdown and we are world champions" speech on the sidelines.

In one play, it summed up what the National Football League is all about: intrigue, anticipation, excitement, joy, pain, endurance and a will to win.

Four years on, the New England Patriots and New York Giants will reprise their rivalry on the biggest stage of them all in the house that Peyton built. The Giants have risen from the ashes after an average start to the season, while the Patriots come into the game with the number one seed label but also with questions about their Thor-esque tight end Rob Gronkowski.

It marks the first Super Bowl that former Super Bowl MVP's at quarterback will face off against each other. The unflappable Eli Manning, who has been so consistent this season, is the kind of player who inspires confidence. You know he will give you his all. Tom Brady is no different - a fierce competitor for whom losing is a form of poison, he will be eager to cement his already-decorated legacy and add a fourth Lombardi to his trophy case. 

No matter the outcome, the Giants and Patriots are two deserving teams of this mantle and I have no doubt that they will represent the NFL in the right way with their play on the field on Sunday night.

I wonder as well whether there will be a play of the magnitude of Santonio Holmes' last minute touchdown catch, or a "Helmet Catch" moment. They say football games are decided by a handful of plays, and in a game that is as tight as this one on paper, I think it will turn out that way.

Christmas, betting and a wrap of the 2011 fantasy season

'Tis the season, as they say, and I'm happy to be enjoying it with my family and friends. Since returning from the UK I haven't yet had the chance to catch up with all of my friends, but I will get to that over the next eight to ten days.

Christmas was a low key affair, which is just the way I like it. No superfluous trinkets or over-the-top celebrations; just family and friends in close quarters having a good time. It is how it should be. Candlelit dinner was fantastic and I give all the kudos to my parents, who cooked a tempting spread of goodies.

Now, time for some life updates (brought to you byyyyy....)

I bet you...

I was on Facebook chat last week with a friend of mine. During the course of our conversation, the idea of betting on the spreads of NFL games came up. This friend of mine has an account on a betting website and often does what are known as accumulator bets on the games. The idea behind it is simple - pick the winners of a few games, adding the odds together and put on a fiver. The rewards one can reap are significant.

So I decided I'd give it a lash. Last week I placed a (far too optimistic) bet on fifteen of the NFL games. In other words, I went for glory. I have no regrets, but I feel that this week I am in a better position and instead of opting for the "home run", to coin a baseball phrase, I am instead going to be prudent in my approach and handpick four or five games. In fact, the friend I just mentioned in the previous paragraph will be coming over for the games, so we'll be able to keep a close eye on our bets as it all transpires. I'm really looking forward to it.

I enjoy the unpredictability of betting and the sheer thrill of it all. Pulling for a particular outcome in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, you'll strike gold and find that pot at the end of the rainbow. It is fun, exciting and filled with promise in the form of potential rewards.

My kind of town

I will have some money coming in soon and with it I am hoping to book a trip to see my beloved Carolina Panthers play the Chicago Bears in Chicago, IL, next season. The schedule is released in early April normally, so I will likely book it then to ensure good seats and a decent price. I'm really excited about it because my dad may be accompanying me. I would go alone if I had to, but I'd like to share it with someone.

Right now it's just an idea, but hopefully if I have a job by then I'll be able to partly fund it with that.

Fantasy Football Talk

Tune out now, all ye who are not fans of the greatest game on earth.

I've lost you all, haven't I? Well, for anyone who cares, here is the final update on my dynasty fantasy football teams and a little preview of what is to come in 2012.

League: Schnockered Dynasty

Team Name: The Sofa King Awesomes

Record: 5-9

It's the league that I just haven't been able to get over the top in. I'm confident that I can change that in 2012 though. There are many reasons for my optimism:

• A young roster that has been infused recently with talents like Denarius Moore and Percy Harvin
• Two first round picks in the upcoming rookie draft, both of which will be in the top 6
• Lost close games this season (3 games decided by 6 points or less) and finished in mid-table in terms of points scored
• Defeated the league champion, Oldguru, in Week 12

I've slowly but surely shaped this team into a form I think can be a perennial playoff contender. The two first round picks should turn into instant starters. As for the projected starting lineup in 2012:

QB - Matt Ryan

RB - Marshawn Lynch

RB - No. 1 pick

WR - Larry Fitzgerald

WR - Percy Harvin

WR - Denarius Moore

WR - Demaryius Thomas

TE - Jermaine Gresham

There is still plenty of work to be done, notably at the running back position. Overall, I like the direction of the team and once the depth can be enhanced I think I can compete for a playoff spot.

League: Black and Blue IDP Dynasty

Team Name: The Wet Bandits

Record: 10-2

Oh, what could have been! Everything looked rosy in this league until the final few weeks of the season. I was 10-2 going into the playoffs with a real chance at repeating as champion, until Matt Forte had to go and get injured. My RB depth beyond him was poor and I blame myself for that. I have young backs behind him (Shane Vereen, Taiwan Jones, Dion Lewis) but not enough veteran depth. Donald Brown gave me a fighting chance but he is no more than a RB3 on a good day. Add to that the fact that Jahvid Best went on IR earlier in the season and I found myself in a really tough spot.

Prior to the injury, Forte had been a 15 point player every week. Afterwards, I struggled to put together a backfield. That's why my offseason priority is getting better at RB.

The playoffs are now over and I leave this season humbled and hungry for more next year, with a return to championship glory on my mind. The team is set up to succeed for the next few years and I have confidence in my ability to pick the right players in the veteran and rookie drafts. I have to congratulate the champion Jaz, who simply whooped the competition on the way to a 9-0 postseason run in the round robin stage. I managed 8-1 last year, but 9-0 is impressive.

The projected starting line-up for 2012 is as follows, although decisions on cutting players and free agent acquisitions will change this:

QB Drew Brees

RB Matt Forte

RB ?

WR Steve Smith

WR Michael Crabtree

WR Antonio Brown

TE Jimmy Graham

TE Jason Witten

DE Justin Tuck (hope he returns to his former self)

DE Charles Johnson

DT ?

LB Navorro Bowman

LB Stephen Tulloch

LB Lance Briggs

LB ?

And we all know DB is something of a crapshoot...

League: FX3 IDP

Team Name: John Coffey's Miracles

Record: 10-3 (league champion)

I nervously checked my MFL app on my iPod Touch yesterday to find out the result of the championship game and I was overjoyed to find out that I had won the league. It is my only championship of the season, but it is a good one to win. I put up 223 points, enough to beat the highest scoring team in the league by 20 points or so. Aaron Rodgers' display on SNF - 5 TD passes - really helped my cause, but it was a team effort.

I feel really good about this league going forward. Thanks to a trade I made in the initial draft, I have the 1.03 pick in the rookie draft, meaning either Blackmon/Luck/Richardson will fall into my lap. I also have the 1.12, so I may trade up to 1.01 or make a trade for next year. At any rate, I'm thrilled with the win. It's not a money league, but it feels so gooooooood.

Projected starting lineup: I'm the champ! I don't need to worry about that kind of thing. :)

League: DG IDP

Team Name: Puntzilla's Barnstormers

Record: 12-1 (lost to eventual champion in playoffs by 0.4 pts, finished 3rd)

This one is going to sting for a while. Despite having the best record and scoring the most points by over 400 points, I failed to come up with the championship. It was my second playoff appearance in as many years and I just couldn't finish the job. Losing the semi-final by 0.4 pts was a heartbreaker, as Aldon Smith just couldn't come up with that extra assist or pass defensed to put me over the top.

On the bright side, my team is still intact with 'win now' players and I should be competing for the division title again next season. The league is going to be downsized a little bit, which I am all for. I think some of the teams have become too lackadaisical. Offseason needs include RB depth and DE depth.

Make no mistake - Puntzilla will be back stronger next year!

~ FIN ~

NFL storylines, life update, it's not THAT cold...

Chilly on the willy

If you take a stroll on the streets of Dublin today, you're in for a big surprise.

And before you jump the gun, it is not a teddy bear's picnic I refer to.

No, it is the absence of the gripping cold that crushed men's testicles like an ice claw last year. Everyone remembers that winter. 'The Big Freeze', survivors called it. As a survivor of the winter of unending snow flurries and countless days of nothingness, I prefer the term 'Frostomania'. It has that wrestling connotation to it, which is in keeping with the struggle we all had to endure.

Fast forward to the present and things could not be more different (channeling my inner Chandler Bing). Temperatures are toasty compared to 2010 and I'm quite pleased about that. Not chuffed by any means (as I hear a voice screaming outside my house in the distance - strange...), but pleased. I am, after all, only home for a few weeks as I am on my Christmas break from my masters studies in sports journalism in Lincoln, UK.

I am not going to lie - having those home comforts back has been refreshing. Dishwashers, double beds and family to name but a few (not necessarily in that order). Let's hope my immediate family don't read this.

The unfortunate thing is that I, along with my other journalism classmates, will be bogged down with work all throughout the break. Instead of cosy lounging by the open fire, I'll be reading about contempt of court and court reporting. It could be worse, I suppose. If there's one thing my three months of law study have taught me, it's that you have to know the law. Otherwise you'll fall at its feet like a fallen soldier begging for mercy from a more powerful adversary.

Pro Football

This season has been an absolute treat. Far away and in the distant past are memories of the one hundred-plus day lockout, replaced by well above average football games on a week to week basis. Despite reservations in the pre-season about a drop-off in the quality of the product, it has been one of the more memorable seasons for quite a while.

What it has offered is a number of storylines that fans have been able to sink their teeth into. Here are a few examples:

Tim Tebow

Two words that, when uttered, cause a certain pocket of fans to shudder to their very core. Two words that, when spoken in media circles, polarise opinions as much as any current player can. Two words that, when announcers say them, are usually accompanied by the words 'touchdown', 'God' or 'throwing motion'.

To an extent, I've had about enough of this Tebow thing. Then again, you can't help but be impressed by how he has revived this team that looked to be on life support under Kyle Orton's stewardship. The Broncos should be able to make the playoffs but they need to add some pieces to be a real contender in my opinion, notably depth at RB, DL depth and OL (if they want to build around a downhill rushing attack).

Aaron Rodgers and the near perfect season

The season that Aaron Rodgers is having cannot be described adequately by the English language, nor any language that exists. If you have watched him play this year, you know that you are witnessing one of the all-time great quarterbacks ply his trade. All I want to say is that it has been an absolute pleasure to watch him and I hope it lasts for many, many more years.

As for the chance this team has at the Super Bowl, it's a good one. I expect them to finish strong, be the #1 seed and probably face New Orleans or San Francisco. Both of those teams could give the Pack a run for their money, but I think we'll see the Cheeseheads representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Houston makes the playoffs... and it's about damn time!

That Houston made the playoffs is an achievement in itself, but to consider that they could be a top seed is - oh wait, they just lost to the Colts last night. That puts a spanner in the works! Be that as it may, the Texans are set up for success in the future. Additions like J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed and Johnathan Joseph have been tremendous and this aggressive defense has the personnel to be disruptive for a long time.

T.J. Yates' deficiencies are being exposed, but he is very competent throwing on the run and as long as Foster/Tate are humming as a tandem, he should be fine and might even win a playoff game.

***

That will do it for this entry, folks. It's NFL Saturday tomorrow, the first time I've ever experienced that. I'm looking forward to a great line-up of games, notably the New York derby.

Fantasy Football: My Dynasties Regular Season End

With thirteen weeks in the books, the fantasy football regular season has come to an end in most leagues. 2011 has been a phenomenal year for me in fantasy football land. I have enjoyed unprecedented success as you will read below. In a word, it's been fun. Now it's time for the serious stuff - the playoffs.

SCHNOCKERED DYNASTY

TEAM RECORD: 5-9

TEAM NAME: The Sofa King Awesomes

MOOD: Upbeat

I've had a tough time in this league. In its third year, the team has not yet reached the heights I envision for it. That is disappointing, but I am feeling more confident for the future. A trade I made recently - my Fred Jackson for Percy Harvin and Denarius Moore - has turned out to be a good deal for me. Harvin has been on fire the past few weeks. Jackson's season ended wit

h an injury only a we

ek after the trade. Denarius Moore is only at the tip of his vast potential. I have two

early first round picks in the rookie draft to play around with as well, but I will be looking to finish strong in the so-called "consolation playoffs". Depending on who I draft with my two 1st round rookie picks, I may go all out to win the title next year.

Top scorer: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta

Letdown player: Mark Ingram, RB, New Orlean

s

BLACK AND BLUE IDP DYNASTY

TEAM RECORD: 10-2

TEAM NAME: The Wet Bandits

MOOD: GOOD

In my second season in B+B - and as the current champion - I have accomplished what I set out to do in preseason and that is to make the playoffs. I have a ticket to the dance, the number one seed, no less. An injury to Matt Forte may hurt my chances significantly as my RB depth is not good at all. I may have to start Donald Brown and Maurice Morris in the playoffs. I am hoping that the rest of my team can prop me up, but it may be hard to reach the necessary points totals to get the title this year. I'm going to give it all I've got, of course.

Top scorer: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (375 points - 30 TD/11 INT)

Letdown player: Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit

FX3 IDP LEAGUE

TEAM RECORD: 10-3

TEAM NAME: John Coffey's Miracles

MOOD: Good

This is the first year in this league, a dynasty le

ague with shallower rosters, and I've enjoyed it. I finished on a six game winning streak after a so-so start. I enter the playoffs as the number two seed with a good chance to win the whole thing. There's no money on the line in this one, but I hope to get the championship in the inaugural season.

Top scorer: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay

Letdown player: Sidney Rice, WR, Seattle

DYNASTYGUYS IDP LEAGUE

TEAM RECORD: 12-1

TEAM NAME: PUNTZILLA'S BARNSTORMERS

MOOD: Excellent

This league has been awesome for me this year. I was hoping to complete a perfect regular season but my chances came undone near the end. No matter! I am the #1 seed and I have a heck of a chance to win the whole thing. I've scored bucket loads of points - 3839 to be precise - and have blown out many opponents. The loss of Matt Forte is a concern, but I have the cover to help me out. My first game of the playoffs is against the Dalton Demons, the #8 seed and a team with a 6-7 record. On paper I should win this, but it's no certainty. Last year I lost the eventual champion in the playoffs. This year, I plan to win it all.

Top scorer: Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota (299 points)

Letdown player: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona

***

That will do it until next week when I will give you an update on my progress (hopefully) in the playoffs.

A Look Back... at my New York trip

The following is an assignment for a course I am doing for my MA in Sports Journalism. The word count is 450, exactly in line with guidelines in the course handbook.

New York City, USA - December 2009

One of my fondest memories in life is the trip I took, along with my lifelong best friend

John Nash, to New York City in December 2009. At the age of 22, it marked the first

foray in

to the big bad world for me on a holiday without my parents, an achievement perhaps long overdue at that ripe age. The centrepiece of the trip was an American football game in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon, as my NFL team faced off against John’s NFL team. However, what the centrepiece didn’t offer was a chance to explore, to get our feet wet in the city that never sleeps.

And get our feet wet, we certainly did.

Leaving John F. Kennedy Airport at 11pm local time was supposed to be straightforward.

Locate a taxi, get in and drive the hour plus to our hotel which was across the Hudson River. A few raving taxi drivers later, we managed to find a trustworthy one whose prices were not

through the roof and we were on our way.

The Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel had a beautiful lobby that sprawled before us like a lavish feast when we arrived in the wee small hours of Sunday morning. After what we had coughed up for the hotel, we expected nothing less to be frank. The hotel receptionist was in a state of disbelief when we told him we had come all the way from Ireland to see the ball game. I think he said something like “that’s so cool”.

I don’t know about my travel compatriot, but I did not get much shut-eye that night. Feelings of excitement coursed through me – only hours from now, I would bear witness to the spectacle that is an American football game. When you’re as hardcore a fan of America’s game as I am, it was like Christmas – which,

incidentally, was two days prior – came again.

After fuelling up on hot chocolate from one of America’s most frequented coffee shops, Starbucks’, we travelled the short distance to the stadium. My smile grew with inverse proportionality to John’s frown as his team surrendered 41 points and lost the game.

Friendly rivalries aside, holidays like this produce moments that you always remember. Although it is difficult to pinpoint one, no moment summed up the holiday more aptly than the view from the top of the Rockefeller Center at night. A sea of shimmering lights lay before us like a blanket of diamonds. It was breathtaking.

From the blistering cold winds on the boat to Staten Island to the comedy club on West 55^th Street to the cheap pancakes, New York gave me an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Fantasy Football: My Dynasties More-Than-Halfway Update

You're very welcome back to my blog, centered mostly on the fortunes of my fantasy football teams. It's been a while since the last update. In fact, I'm pretty sure if my blog was a book, it would be lying in a dusty corner with spiders crawling in and out of its pages. At any rate, there is much to tell regarding said teams, so let us begin.

SCHNOCKERED DYNASTY

Team: The Sofa King Awesomes

Record: 3-6 (soon to be 3-7)

As my good friend John would say, 'oy vey'. It's an expression of exasperation, for those who don't know. This is my third year in this league. As my first dynasty league ever, I expected a bumpy ride. I've made some good draft choices who are coming to the fore - Vincent Brown and Emmanuel Sanders come to mind - but there have been too many missing pieces with this roster. Running

back production has been very steady this season with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch on board, but Mark Ingram (taken 1st overall) hasn't been the player I thought he would be thus far.

It's made for an up and down season of shattered hopes. The good thing is that I have two first round picks in

the upcoming rookie draft, both of which I hope to turn into starters for the long haul. I'll fight til the end.

FX3 IDP LEAGUE

Team: John Coffey's Miracles

Record: 6-3 (soon to be 7-3)

Ah yes, the sweet smell of victory fills my

nostrils. After a shaky start in this league, I've managed to come back strong. I'm a game back on my division's leader, but I'm hoping to claw back the lead and get a top seed in the playoffs. The stars of this team have been Desmond Bishop, Navorro Bowman and of course, 2011 league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers plays tonight on MNF against the Vikings, but I've already won this week's game.

It's the first year of this league but I like how the team has come together. I especially like my WR corps going forward - Holmes, Colston, Cobb, Denarius Moore, Lloyd, Moss and

Sidney Rice.

FOOTBALLGUYS IDP

Team: Larkin

Record: 3-6 (soon to be 4-6)

I've been on an unfortunate losing streak of four games as of late, but that streak is about to be broken. I've finally won one this week against Wimer, setting me up at 4-6 and a possible Seattle Seahawks-esque run at a wildcard spot. My division is littered with teams with 3-6 and 4-5 records, so I may be able to squeak in behind top dog Bloom (8-1) before the end. There's a cash prize at stake for the winner of this league, and pride as well. Gotta love pride.

I'm not expecting anything in this league in terms of playoff glory, but I think I have the players to pull off an upset next week against the Guru John Norton.

BLACK AND BLUE IDP DYNASTY

Team: The Wet Bandits

Record: 8-1 (soon to be 8-2)

Thinking about this team in the shower of all places today, I felt a little bad for losing two in a row. I started off so well. This could have been the undefeated team. Alas, I have to remember that I'm in a very strong position to retain my championship. Luckily for me, it's no harm no foul this week as the team behind me in the division couldn't get a win this week to keep pace. Only two games remain, so I can clinch that playoff spot with a win next week. I'll be looking to finish strong.

The stars of this team include: Drew Brees, Matt Forte (stud), Jimmy Graham, George Wilson.

DYNASTYGUYS IDP CHARTER LEAGUE

Team: Puntzilla's Barnstormers

Record: 9-0 (soon to be a PERFECT 10-0)

Can I do it? Can I complete a perfect season in fantasy football? The statistics seem to say yes. My all-play record in this league is a phenomenal 124-11, meaning if I had played every other team in every week, I would have only lost 11 games out of a possible 135. That's pretty crazy. I'm just glad to be in a position to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season and this time go further. I got eliminated by the eventual champion last year, but this year I'm looking to finish the job.

The top performers on this team are: Jared Allen, Jimmy Graham, Tony Romo.

Yep, I'm going for perfection. Three games to go, all in the division. I'm fired up.

Until next time, folks...