NFL Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers was founded in 1933 by Art Rooney. It is a professional football team. It is included in the Central Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). Under the realignment plan of the league which took affect in 2002, the Steelers play in the North Division of AFC.

It was named after the National League baseball team of Pittsburgh. In 1938 the star runner back, Byron White, who was nicknamed Whizzer owing to his speed, was signed by Rooney. But despite the new addition the team only managed two victories. Originally named the Pirates, the team was renamed owing to their losses in 1940. They managed only three record wins during 1942-1949.
Their uniform is black and gold colored. The team got its name from the Pittsburgh factories that are in Pittsburgh's and where the team played its initial matches and moved to a new stadium in 2001. They were the first team to record four consecutive victories in Super Bowls in the 70's. The team was headed by Coach Chuck Noll, and included several star players.

Their defense was nick named as the Steel Curtain owing to their powerful defense abilities. Some of the star players of that time included Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell and Joe Greene and White. They were members of the defense that was rated as the top for three straight seasons during 1974-1976. They won the 1974 and 1975 season's playoffs and the Super Bowls in the following seasons. Three years later in an electrifying match against the Cowboys they won, 35-31 in the Super Bowl. The Steeler's had a strong lead after Bradshaw's four touchdown passes in the closing minutes of the match.

The Dallas quarterback made a few touchdowns before Pittsburghs recovered and marked a victory. They earned their fourth title ever in 1980 after they defeated Los Angeles Rams at a score of 31-19. It was a last Super Bowl appearance for the team under Noll, who led them to two more division titles in the 12 seasons that followed. He retired in 1991 with a career best of 209 victories, which put him in the fourth spot in the history of NFL.

After the sad demise of Art Rooney in 1988, who had owned the club for over 50 years, his son Daniel Rooney became the acting franchise president. At That time Bill Cowher, who was a former linebacker for NFL was appointed the head coach for the Pittsburgh in 1992. He made them a solid team in the early 1990s and led them to three consecutive division victories from 1994-1996. The Steelers played in the Super Bowl post 1995 against the Cowboys but lost 27-17. They emerged victorious in the1996 season playoffs in the AFC Central Division against opponents Indianapolis Colts at 42-14, but lost out to New England Patriots at 28-3 in the following game.

Read more information about Pittsburgh Steelers and get discounted Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets.

Natasha is the lover of concerts and theater shows. She works for OnlineTicketSpot (http://www.onlineticketspot.com) and also managing SportsTicketsGuide (http://www.sportsticketsguide.com)

NFL 2010 Lines - Who Has Better Chances?

Every year, as the National Football League draws nearer and nearer to the opening date, many newsletters and predictions goes out to public for the sake of the football enthusiasts and the Americans who thoroughly enjoy betting and rooting for their favorite Football League teams. The NFL 2010 lines is a data anticipated by the people, in which such lines are described as rankings taken from the past seasons basing it on each unit's ability on used on the game, be it offensive or defensive. With such line up, people are able to make deductions and predictions on who will probably do well in the coming 2010 season.

As compiled and created by the sports analysts, the latest NFL 2010 lines was presented to provide an overview on who will probably have a disadvantage on the game. One famous rankings list available to everyone right now is the 2010 ranking based on the offensive line. This provides information on who are the teams who are aggressive in attacking and has high average of making points for the past seasons.

Among thirty two teams participating in the 2010 National Football League, the top three batters in the offensive line are the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and the Tennessee Titans. Ranking of the three teams are based on the unit or team's ability to both pass block and run.

In 2007, the New York Jets experienced downfall by its constant losses but in the last two years after which, managed to make a good come back worthy of the top slot. This team always manages to make it in playoffs and be one of the top groups, such as being in a championship, managing to appear as a Wild Card, and most often making it to the Divisional.

New Orleans is another team that shows exemplary line up in the offensive field. They experienced the winning era in 1985, and since then showed off their skills by constantly winning every matches despite the conditions given.

The third team, the Tennessee Titans, just like the New York Jets, shows you good to best records in their playoffs. Often showing up as a Wild Card, they almost always make it to the divisions and championships, giving enough satisfaction and thrill to their fans and supporters. In fact, even back to the year when the team was first formed, the Tennessee Titans experienced one championship game after another that is definitely worth noting for.

NFL Lines gives you a clean data on who you should look out for and who would prove their advantages for the coming season. Now that 2010 National Football League is coming, find some time to study and learn these lines that will surely provide you advantage. These systems and analyses will not only give you a heads up on what you should look forward to, but also a guide that will help you in selecting which team you should actually root for, and as you place your wage on them, you will most certainly feel that there is a higher chance of winning than anywhere else.

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Football Rookie Cards

Football rookie cards, I collect them and I analyze them. I not only analyze NFL Drafts, but I back them up with football sports cards. Yes, I put my money right where my mouth is, or in the general vicinity anyway.

With football rookie cards, I just happen to guess correctly most of the time, and oh yeah, I am not on TV and you don't know who I am. Other than, that is who I am. I have seriously analyzed this 2007 NFL Draft to the point that I no longer care that Brady Quinn is getting his first NFL start this sunday for the Cleveland Browns. I also do not care how ineffective JaMarcus Russell has been over there on the west coast with the Oakland Raiders. In fact I give the quarterbacks a modest "C-" for last years draft, in fact if they had come out in the 2006 NFL draft, I doubt seriously that they would have been the 5th or 6th quarterbacks taken that year. Most of the other NFL positions have carried these two duds thus far!

I will say this Brady Quinn will enjoy less success than JaMarcus Russell and he will do it quicker. If it were not for Adrian Peterson, and the phenomenal season he had last year, (his rookie season) the running back core from last years draft would get a "C" from me, because of him I give them a "B". I must say that Adrian Peterson was a stud in the hobby last year and should probably get some kick back from the Football sports trading card companies for carrying them last year. Adrian Peterson had one company exclusive for cover exposure and it was with the Playoff products, but the rest should thank him as well. They knew what they were doing over there at Playoff.

I just hate giving the defensive players props, are they needed heck yes and how...but they just have no hobby interest, I pass on the defensive football rookie cards, other than merely for the completion of sets. Let me prove my point to you this way, lets take the three I believe were the best at stepping into the NFL and making an impact asap. Laron Landry, Paul Posluszny, and Gaines Adams, three studs none the less but there is just not that much interest in these players from the hobby standpoint. Profit wise, every time I get a defensive players gem card, meaning low numbered autograph or other type of hard to pull sports card, I just shake my head. To be honest, I would rather have a punter or place kicker's autograph.

Overall the 2007 NFL Football product is one you can wait to purchase, I would say maybe another year or two even, and for sure after the season ends. It will take that long for the Oakland Raiders to be competitive anyway. Go offense!!!

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Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have often been referred to as "America's Team" and it's pretty easy to see why. They clearly have the most number of fans among all NFL teams, thanks to their storied history and their phalanx of great players.

The Cowboys, who currently play in the suburb of Irving in Dallas, Texas, have the most Super Bowl appearances with eight. They also hold the record for the most Super Bowl championships in the NFL with five, a record that they share with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers. Before the NFL and AFL merged, the Cowboys reached the NFL championship game twice.

Dallas also became the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in four years. The only other team to achieve this feat are the New England Patriots. In addition, the Cowboys have also made it to the NFL playoffs the most times among all teams, a total of 27 times as of 2004. In that span, they have also won 32 of 54 postseason games. Those 54 games are also an NFL record for most playoffs games played.

They also hold the NFL records for the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons with 20, which they set from 1966 to 1985, as well as the longest streaks of winning seasons with at least 10 games, which stands at 24.
Clearly, the Cowboys are one of the winningest and most successful NFL teams in league history.

Obviously, success on the field has also translated into success in terms on earnings and profitability. The prestigious Forbes magazine estimates that the Cowboys are worth about $1.1 billion, a level that makes them among the most financially valuable football teams as well as professional teams in any sport in North America.

The Cowboys started out as an expansion team in the NFL in the 1960 season and they've certainly come a long way since. By 2009, the Cowboys will be moving into a brand new stadium in Arlington.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Football, Recreation, and Travel [http://thetravelinglifestyle.com/]

2010 NFL Season Preview - NFC

Here's a breakdown of every NFC team, including prediction standings by division.

NFC East

Washington Redskins (5-11) The Mike Shanahan regime has seemingly injected new life into an ailing franchise, but a tough schedule and a shortage of playmakers will hurt Donovan McNabb's chances of reaching the playoffs with his former division rivals. One question remains unanswered: will the $100 million man finally prove his worth?

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Life without McNabb will be hard to swallow if Philly doesn't win right away. Kevin Kolb will be effective given the number of weapons he has, but the Eagles may suffer a letdown in their RB production from LeSean McCoy compared to pre-concussed Brian Westbrook.

New York Giants (10-6) The Giants are my NFC wildcard pick. They've bulked up with veteran leadership in key spots (i.e. Keith Bulluck, Shawn Andrews), and the receiving corps is looking better than ever. If Ahmad Bradshaw can fully embrace the starting RB role, they'll be tough to stop with Eli and his newly adjusted helmet.

Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Dallas has looked woeful this preseason, but then again.. it's preseason. They'll pick it up with their run-by-commitee ground attack, but ultimately it'll be their defense that gets them back to the playoffs.

NFC North

Detroit Lions (7-9) One of the league's brightest teams will look to give teams a run for their money. It will be crucial for Matthew Stafford to get into a rhythm with his O-line, his RBs (i.e. Jahvid Best), and his receiving corps, namely Calvin Johnson and newcomer Nate Burleson.

Chicago Bears (8-8) Hiring Mike Martz was definitely a step in the right direction for Jay Cutler's development. Brian Urlacher and the defense will look to bounce back, as will Matt Forte from his sophomore slump. A playoff berth could mean job security for Lovie Smith, so this could get interesting.

Minnesota Vikings (9-7) Surprise, surprise: training camp ends and Papa Favre shows up. But the dinosaur won't be able to recreate last year's magic without Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin in full-capacity. Inevitably, the weight falls on Adrian Peterson's shoulders.  

Green Bay Packers (11-5) Aaron Rodgers is quickly becoming the Peyton Manning of the NFC, and with Ryan Grant in the backfield and a top 5 defense, the sky is the limit for this group. Watch out for 3rd year TE Jermichael Finley to step it up a notch and become a redzone regular for Rodgers.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) Every dark cloud has a silver Cadillac.

Carolina Panthers (6-10) Running and defense have always been John Fox staples. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart fill handle the running, but the defense could be suspect. Matt Moore has yet to prove himself, but how tough can it be to match Jake Delhomme's disgraceful performance.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) Matt Ryan will return from his sophomore campaign with a newfound confidence. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez will both have a hand in that, and a potent ground game should take the pressure off of him. The Falcons are my other NFC Wild Card pick.

New Orleans Saints (12-4) Not much has changed except that there's a huge X on New Orleans' back (as in XLIV). But if any coach is up for the challenge, it's Sean Payton and his gutsy playcalling. The defense was not as physical as other teams, but they'll have to be opportunistic with turnovers in order to get back to the Promised Land (a.k.a. The House That Jerry Jones Built).

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (4-12) With Steve Spagnuolo's defense more firmly intact, I'm giving last season's 1-win wonder 3 more wins in the NFL's weakest division.

Seattle Seahawks (6-10) Pete Carroll gets another crack at the pros with America's forgotten team. Leon Washington and Justin Forsett could put Seattle's running game back on the map, but the defense needs to find more ways to apply pressure.

Arizona Cardinals (7-9) With the ongoing QB crisis in effect, Ken Whisenhunt might have to seriously reevaluate his team's identity. This could mean more touches for Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, opening up the passing game for the Cardinals. Now all they need is a QB.

San Francisco 49ers (10-6) This could be the first time San Fran wins the division since the T.O. administration. Aside from enjoying an easy schedule, the Niners are a complete team- Frank Gore owns the backfield, Alex Smith is coming into his own, and the defense is taking on the persona of the mad man that is Mike Singletary.

Asaf Winer is a sports journalist who freelances for sports predictions websites. He is considered a sports expert in football predictions and posts his free NFL predictions in many online forums. You can see his weekly NFL picks at http://www.Superpredictors.com, where last year he was ranked the top predictor for the 2009-2010 NFL season.

Ness Notes (Jan 16)

EIGHT of the NFL's 11 playoff games are in the books and what have we learned? Home teams are just 3-5 SU and ATS, with all eight SU winners of the games, also covering the pointspread. The closest any SU winner came to NOT covering the pointspread was Seattle (closed as a 9 1/2-point favorite), in its 20-10 win over Washington this past Saturday.

Over/under bettors have seen SIX of the eight games go under the total, with the highest-scoring game being the one with the lowest-posted total (naturally!). That would be Carolina's 29-21 win over Chicago yesterday, a game which saw its total close at 31.

My free play for Monday is in college hoops, taking Kansas over Missouri at 7:00 ET. I have just a SINGLE play on Monday and that's my 10* Western Conference TV Game of the Month, featuring the game between the SA Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Playoff Musings

Maybe defense doesn't win championships? The Bears owned the league's best-scoring defense in the regular season, allowing 12.6 PPG. In fact, they had allowed just 61 points in their eight home games (just 31 points over their last six!), the lowest point total of any team since the NFL went to a 16-game season back in 17978. However, the Panthers 'ripped' the Bears for 29 points and 434 yards on Sunday.

The Colts owned the league's second-best scoring defense at 15.4 PPG but allowed the Steelers to go 84 yards in 10 plays on their first drive of the game and then 72 yards on seven plays in their second drive, giving Pittsburgh a 14-0 lead which set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Turnovers did in the defending champs, as New England was guilty of FIVE turnovers on Saturday night, leading to 24 points by the Broncos. In New England's previous 10 playoff games (all wins), the Pats had committed just SIX turnovers.

Interestingly though, the other three games this weekend were NOT decided by turnovers, as Washington, Indy and Chicago combined for just two giveaways while forcing SIX takeaways. That's not the norm though, as in the wildcard round, the four winning teams won the turnover 'battle', 12-1!

While passing attacks may be more "sexy", the rule of thumb for winning in the NFL is run the ball better and more often than your opponent. All eight playoff winners have out-rushed their opponents, as well as had more rushing attempts during the game

Rex Grossman was the fifth and final QB to make his NFL playoff debut in this year's postseason. With Chicago's 29-21 loss to Carolina, that makes playoff 'virgins' 0-5 SU and ATS in this year's postseason. However, Cincinnati's Carson Palmer deserves a mulligan, as he was injured and lost for the game on the Bengals' second offensive play.

Speaking of QBs, was there a more pathetic site than Peyton Manning in his post-game press conference saying he wanted to be a good teammate, then 'ripping' his teammates. Peyton surely doesn't deserve all the blame for Indy's loss but how does he explain away his 3-6 career mark in the postseason? In comparison, Carolina's Jake Delhomme, is 5-1 in his six career playoff starts, with a TD-to-interception ratio of 10-2!

The championship games are set for next Sunday with Pittsburgh at Denver (Broncos are 3 1/2-point favorites with a total of 41) and Carolina at Seattle (Seahawks are 4 1/2-point favorites with a total of 43 1/2). Pittsburgh is the first No. 6 to advance to a conference title game since the league expanded to its current playoff format in 1990. Ten other No. 6 seeds had tried, including Washington this year, before the Steelers broke through. As for the Broncos, Denver is 12-2 in its playoff history at home, compared to a 3-8 record on the road.

Carolina has now won four straight playoff games on the road (tying an NFL record) and will face a Seattle team which just ended a 21-year drought between playoff wins by beating the Redskins on Saturday. This will be just the second conference championship game for Seattle in its 30-year history (lost the '83 AFC title game to the LA Raiders 30-14) and its first-ever at home. The Panthers, in the league since just 1995, will be making their third NFC title-game appearance.

The NBA features a 12-game schedule on Martin Luther King Day, beginning with games tipping at 1:05 ET. TNT has a great doubleheader, with the Spurs taking on the Grizzlies at 8:05 ET and then the Heat at the Lakers at 10:35 ET.

Memphis is the league's top defensive team allowing 86.7 PPG and San Antonio ranks second at 88.8 PPG. These teams just met Saturday night in San Antonio with the Spurs winning 80-79. However, using the Carolina/Chicago "theory", the final will probably come 110-109. San Antonio is favored by 1 1/2-points with a total of 169. It's Shaq vs Kobe in the nightcap, for the fourth time since they 'split'. Miami's won the three previous meetings but LA's covered two of the three. The Heat are favored by 3 1/2-points with a total of 204.

Tonight's college basketball schedule features a 15-game card, including a tripleheader on ESPN. Kansas, which lost Saturday to Kansas St for the first time in 32 meetings, is at Missouri at 7:00 ET. The Jayhawks are favored by 2 1/2-points with a total of 129.

Connecticut (14-1) is at Syracuse (15-2) at 9:00 ET, where the Huskies are a 1 1/2-point choice, even though Syracuse is on a 12-game winning streak (total is 148 1/2). At midnight ET, Gonzaga hosts Loyola-Marymount, as the Bulldogs look to extend their home winning streak to 32 straight games. Led by the nation's leading scorer, Adam Morrison (28.2 PPG), Gonzaga is favored by 18 points with a total of 155.

Larry Ness is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at [http://www.procappers.com/Larry_Ness.htm]

Cheap NFL Jerseys

Every NFL fan has a favorite player. Someone that they admire, look up to, and wish they could even be. Well, while your chances of being your favorite football player may be long gone, that doesn't mean that you can't dress like them and represent them everywhere you go. That is exactly why cheap NFL jerseys are perfect for the NFL football fan whether youth or adult. Nothing says fan like wearing somebody's clothing, know what I mean? So if you are looking for discount apparel and uniforms for your favorite player or team, you have come to the right place.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular official cheap NFL jerseys for sale at absolutely fantastic prices.

The Adrian Peterson jersey of the Minnesota Vikings is one of the most popular uniforms there are. This is a replica youth jersey that features the logo and colors or the Vikings along with Adrian's number and name. Or you can have this uniform personalized and customized with your own number and name printed on it if you would like.

This replica uniform is made of heavy-duty polyester mesh that can be machine washed with no problem. Its fabric is made to resist tearing, ripping, and staining. It also has a reinforced neck to reduce stretching. As we know, football fans tend to play football, and they want to do it in their favorite player's apparel, so this clothing is made to ensure a lot of stress. Of course, this cheap NFL jersey is officially licensed by the NFL. By the way, customers who bought this NFL clothing were happy with the customer service and quick delivery. And they said the uniforms look 100% authentic.

One of the most popular cheap NFL jerseys ever is the Peyton Manning uniform and the Indianapolis Colts. This is a blue replica Reebok jersey with the #18 and the Manning name on the back. This apparel is also made of heavy-duty polyester to withstand the rough housing of the youths and adults that wear it. It has a reinforced v-beck with the NFL football emblem at the bottom of V. The split drop tail replicates the authentic, official NFL jersey perfectly. The Reebock logo is printed on each sleeve to add to the authenticity of this clothing. Of course, this uniform is official and licensed by the National Football League.

You can purchase this uniform anywhere from $70 - $80. Everyone that has bought and reviewed this jersey gave it a 5-star review. They say that jersey looked just like it did on the Internet, and that the company was a pleasure to deal with. This is a perfect gift for anyone young or old, youth or adult.

For only $55, you can own of the most popular football uniforms on the market today. That is the jersey of Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The polyester mesh of this uniform along with the detailed stitch work makes it seem like this is much more than a replica jersey - it seems like it is completely authentic.

You can get this Steelers apparel personalized and customized with your own name and number if you would like, or you can leave it with Roethlisberger's name and number on it. Either way, you won't be disappointed as this is one of the best cheap NFL jerseys available. Oh yeah, it is machine washable as well which means that you can keep it clean and looking brand-spanking new.

Want to go old school and but some throwback NFL uniforms? No problem - we have everything you need including authentic jerseys right here. Throwback legends such as Walter Payton, Lawrence Taylor, John Elway, Joe Montana, Walter Payton - you can get all of these throwback uniforms and more ranging from $60 - $150. Of course, you are going to get the embroidered NFL shield, the throwback looking jerseys with the player's name and number on it, and these are all officially licensed by the NFL.

Sizes of these throwbacks uniforms will start at small and go to 5X large. With 8 different sizes, you won't have any problem at all finding exactly what you are looking for. These jerseys are actually called replithentic jerseys. Of course, it is replica clothing for youth and adults to enjoy, but they seem so real and official that you would swear they were all 100% authentic apparel. Most of these throwback uniforms cannot be personalized and customized with your name.

And don't think this is all of your choices for cheap NFL jerseys. There are a ton more players whose uniforms you can buy. With many of them, you have the option of getting your player's name and number on them, or you can personalize and customize them with you own name and number. We are talking players like Tony Romo, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Braylon Edwards, Ricky Williams, Joe Flacco, and Tom Brady just to name a few.

Most of these cheap NFL jerseys are made by Reebok, one of the most trusted makers of football apparel. Reebok was actually begun in 1890 in England by a man who added spikes to shoes so athletes could run faster and quicker. Athletes such as Allen Iverson, Peyton Manning, Yao Ming, and Josh Beckett currently wear Reebok apparel and shoes.

Learn more about where to find the best Cheap NFL Jerseys online at my website http://cheapnfljerseys.org.

Arizona Cardinals - The Biggest Loser in NFL History

In their nine decades of playing football, the Arizona Cardinals have lost a total of 664 games, 57% of all the games they have played. Since 1947, they have won only one playoff game, and since 1984, had only one winning season. In 86 years, they have won over ten games five times compared to the Philadelphia Eagles, England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts, which have all won over ten games, at least five times in the past seven years.

The Oldest American Football Club

The Cardinals is the oldest American football club, originally formed in 1989 and was then named the Morgan Athletic Club, based in Chicago. The team was then called the Racine Normals (because they were located in Chicago's Racine Avenue) and was later changed to the Racine Cardinals. It was then that they started wearing dark red uniforms which were taken from the football college team, the Chicago Maroons. It was in 1920 that the Cardinals officially became a member of the NFL and was renamed the Chicago Cardinals. During World War II, in 1944, the Cardinals merged temporarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and were thus referred to as the Card-Pitt team, just for one season. In 1960, the Cardinals then moved to St. Louis Missouri and became the St. Louis Cardinals. They earned the moniker "The Big Red" due to a series of success in the 1970s. After failing to acquire a stadium in St. Louis solely for football, the Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988 and were named the Phoenix Cardinals. By 1994, it was officially known as the Arizona Cardinals. Today, they are based in Glendale Arizona in the outskirts of Phoenix and are members of the National Football Conference, Western Division and the National Football League (NFL). In 2006, all home games of the Cardinals were played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, instead of the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe where they played at for 17 years.

No Super Bowl for the Cardinals

The Cardinals is one of six NFL teams who never made it to the Super Bowl including the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Browns, the New Orleans Saints, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team's only NFL championship game was in 1947, two decades before the Super Bowl was instituted. The other championship was in 1925, eight easy before NFL held championship games. Since 1947, the Cardinals have qualified only five times for the playoffs and won only one playoff game, a poor record shared only by one other team, the Detroit Lions.

Cardinals' Big Turnaround

In recent years, however, the Cardinals is looking at a major overhaul and makeover with the son's owner Michael Bidwill taking over the team in lieu of his father, William V. Bidwill. Michael took over as president and has recently invested on a new stadium, a marketing staff, and a larger share of revenues. Just last year, 2007, the Cardinals saw an increase of 20% revenue, to $189 million. The team is not worth $888 million, a 13% increase from the year before. Today, they are attracting better players and spending on equipment and training.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on sports fan gifts. Many articles are related to mlb shop and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village.

Taking a Cruise? You Can Stay Connected With Satellite Internet!

Image : http://www.flickr.com

It's cruise season again. Everyone north of the Mason-Dixon Line wants a warm vacation in January, and taking a cruise is the perfect way to get away from cold, rain and snow. Relaxing poolside in the middle of the ocean is quite the experience.

It used to be that we had to wait until we got home to send our vacation photos to family and friends. Now, with satellite Internet available out on the deep blue sea, we can send our digital photos instantly via email from anywhere.

A cruise ship is a community, and each guest is welcomed like a good friend. Internet cafes on cruise ships are commonplace now, and you can sit down with a good cup of coffee and connect via satellite Internet, just like at home. High-speed Internet via satellite can connect you to friends and family at home instantly.

Use the high-speed satellite Internet connection aboard your cruise ship to access all the information about each stop along the way. You can know what to visit, the best places to eat, and where to find shopping bargains before you even dock. There are many out-of-the-way destinations at each port, and you can find all of the little craft markets to buy the really unique gifts for your loved ones.

Find out the weather conditions instantly through the satellite Internet connection. Radar weather technology works everywhere, and you can pinpoint your ship in the middle of the ocean to see all the weather that's going to come.

How about a little "terrestrial" entertainment while you're cruising on the water? The high-speed satellite Internet connection available aboard the cruise ship gives you everything you get at home: movies, Internet games, fun websites, and music options. Everything you have at home, you'll have while on a cruise.

Sometimes it's hard to take a full vacation for ten days, because work needs you during that time. Relax, because you can check your email and business operations via satellite Internet.

You'll enjoy your vacation more knowing you can be in instant touch with what's going on in your business. You'll also be more likely to take a working vacation, which is an incredible way to relax without letting your business take a vacation!

Since most television programs and live broadcasts are already beamed to our television sets via satellite, cruise ships can access those broadcasts and treat their guests to regular programming. A satellite dish set anywhere on earth, even steaming across the water, can capture satellite signals and send them to television sets. You can sit back and relax on your vacation, and still watch the NFL playoff games on TV.

So, snap all the digital photos your camera will hold this vacation, and upload them by email or to a social networking page using high-speed satellite Internet. Your friends will be jealous right away, and you won't forget a single story.

Keep working if you want to, so your business keeps chugging along while you take a break. Satellite Internet communication brings another great dimension to our connected lives.

As America's leading satellite internet service provider, HughesNet delivers broadband speeds up to 50x faster than dial-up. HughesNet internet service is available anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and with lease options and free standard installation, getting started is easy and affordable.

Football Playoffs

Football Playoffs season is full of entertainment. This is the time in the year when things start getting hot on NFL football. Teams are training hard their strategy and people will start to get more relax and enthusiastic.

During football playoffs the betting activity also increases. Offshore Sportsbook start getting a rain of calls and with the great number of bets made sportsbooks gain some good profits. Football playoffs is a great time for football fans and betting companies. There are some factors that must be considered during football playoffs.

There are some basic trends that can help us when betting in football playoffs. Home teams are usually very strong straight up, winning at over 70 percent of the time. Against the spread they hold their own as well hitting at near 60 percent. Home teams that get the first round bye are also solid bets winning at over 62 percent of the time against the spread. Double-digit favorites are also a good bet in NFL football playoffs as they come in at over 65 percent of the time. Usually during the regular season it is a decent idea to bet against the public but that does not always hold true in NFL football playoffs since the favorites do pretty well against the spread. One trend that works well during the regular season and also holds true for football playoffs is that the winning team usually covers the spread. What this means to us is that if we like the underdog we should also seriously consider betting the money line as well.

These are some valuable tips you should remember when betting on the NFL football playoffs. First, insist on yourself on the possibilities of betting for the home team. Second, consider the possibilities of the favorite team winning. Third, if we like the underdog then playing them on the money line is usually a good bet as well. What about totals in the NFL football playoffs? Usually when the football playoffs roll around the defenses tighten up and games tend to be lower scoring. The Super Bowl is a notable exception to that rule, as the teams tend to score higher.

An important factor to watch out for in football playoffs is weather. Since these games are often played in cold weather cities during the winter, football playoffs can be greatly affected by it. Always remember to check the latest weather and take that into consideration when betting any total.

Injuries always seem to pile up as the season wears on and can be a factor in the football playoffs. Be sure and check on the latest injury reports before making your football playoff wager. Line movement is another area to check before you make your bet. I always want to be aware of any late line movement in a football playoffs game because very often it is correct.

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Chicago Bears - Looking Deep For a Championship Line-Up in 2009

The perennial loyalty of the Chicago Bears fans is evident in the support they provide this professional football team during each season. The famous navy blue, orange and white colors of the Bears uniforms never fails to elicit cheers and applause from anxious spectators who come to support their favorite team from the stands. Many of these moments are when snow and ice are pelting the entire town, and temperatures are plummeting, but inside Soldier Field thousands of fans know the excitement will be hot. The desire to see the sports action in person creates a huge demand for Chicago Bears tickets, and this is one team that never fails to impress the crowd by delivering outstanding performances. Fans of this team are so serious about their Chicago Bears tickets that many include their seats in their wills to ensure that family or friends can continue to enjoy the football action in coming years.

Looking Back at a Storied Dynasty

This team is the big draw for the famous Soldier Field in Chicago and competition for good seats is almost as fierce as the competition on the playing field. The Bears have a total of 9 NFL crowns and only the Packers have a higher count. Dedicated fans will happily share the history of this team's dominance during the 1930's and 1940's. They will also tell you about George Halas, who was one of the founders of the NFL and served as head coach. Halas amassed an amazing 324 career wins in the 30 years he was head coach for the Bears.

The professional Bears franchise began as the "Decatur Staleys." A. E. Staley of the Staley Starch Company was the owner and started the team in 1920. George Halas was his choice to lead the team and Halas pulled triple duty by organizing the players, coaching, and playing on the team.

Shortly after he was hired, Halas and leaders from 11 additional teams organized the American Professional Football Association, which eventually became the modern NFL. The first title was won by this team in 1921, and the name was changed to the Chicago Bears. They went on to record eight consecutive winning seasons from 1921 to 1928. The rosters from these early years included stars like, Red Grange and George Trafton. It is a sure bet that all of the Chicago Bears tickets were being sold when the team recorded 18 consecutive wins during 1933 and 1934. The 1940's saw the mighty Chicago juggernaut destroy Washington's team with a 73-0 score and the Bears recorded another undefeated year in 1942.

Chicago is rightfully proud of the many Football Hall of Fame players that were once on the Bears rosters. Some of the most famous names include the legendary Red Grange, Sid Luckman and Bronko Nagurski, Dick Butkus and the great Gayle Sayers. One Hall of Fame player, Mike Ditka, also became one of the top Chicago Bears coaches.

Bears Should Look Fine in 2009

Although 2009 was not the year for the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl, the new season has fans already lining up to grab as many Chicago Bears tickets as possible. This team has made great games an expected and anticipated event. Many of the present roster standouts will be back and Chicago has let it become public knowledge that they have deep pockets for the 2009 free agent signing period, which begins the late February.

In the NFL kingdom it has been "cash" that has always ruled the day and the Bears organization has millions to spend to get the cream of the crop. One player possibility could be Simeon Rice and some others include Julius Peppers, Chris Sims, and Terrell Suggs. A name not to expect in the Bears fall line-up is that of Bengals free agent, TJ Houshmandzadeh. He could definitely bring some game but the cost and terms is not something that appeals to the Chicago management at this time. No matter what stellar names come up on this year's roster you can be assured that the Chicago Bears will be out of hibernation and will have the "Bear Attack" in full gear to the delight of spectators at every game.

By Matt Ryan, sponsored by StubPass.com - StubPass sells Chicago Bears Tickets, sports tickets, Football Tickets, theater tickets, concert tickets and more to just about any event in the world.

NFL Week 8 Best Bets First Look

*****BEST BET*****BEARS 5 Lions: Interesting divisional game here as the Bears go home to take on the Lions. Detroit won first meeting and covered with a huge fourth quarter and have played the Lions tough. Bears playing their best ball of the season lately and they have type of defense that could give Jon Kitna fits.

******Browns 3 RAMS: We have determined this game to be a BEST BET based on some nice data that certainly leans in one direction. Browns playing better than many expected and Ram are horrendous. St. Louis is home underdog however and this is a winnable game for them to get on the board. One side has a 51-14-1 ATS situation favoring them here.

Colts 6.5 PANTHERS: Carolina has been great getting points over the years and the Colts continue to roll.

PATRIOTS 16 Redskins: Another 16 point spread for NE who are 3-0 ATS when faced against that number. Redskins have great defense to stay in this one though.

Saints 3 49ERS: Home underdog here as 'Niners will get back QB Alex Smith and have a good chance to stop their losing streak. Saints playing good however and could be on verge of extended run since they have a ton of talent.

Giants 9 DOLPHINS: Game will be played in London and Dolphins have lost star RB Ronnie Brown for the season. Giants are prone to playing down to the level of competition however.

*******BEST BET****JETS 3 Bills: Another game that has BEST BET look after reviewing stat that favors one side with a 41-9-1 ATS record.

Eagles 1 VIKINGS: Surprised to see Eagles favored on the road but they have much more talent than Minnesota. Vikings are a live home underdog however and they could surprise.

Steelers 3.5 BENGALS: Another home underdog here as the Bengals will go against tough Steelers. These teams have a long history of playing close games but the Steelers are due to bounce back after a tough loss.

BUCCANEERS 4.5 Jaguars: Interesting game as Jags QB David Garrad is questionable. Buc's can't score however and this could be a tough defensive battle.

******BEST BET****TITANS 7.5 Raiders: Titans will get QB Vince Young back and that should allow them to win this bout. The Titans haven't been great as a favorite however but the Raiders have been bad on the road. One side has a 45-10 ATS record.

BRONCOS 3 Packers: Very tough game to forecast as both teams have holes that could crop up at any point. Packers have had some big road wins this year but the Broncos are always tough at home on MNF.

Cofounder of http://www.yourwinningpicks.com/ in our tenth year of supplying sports handicapping and fantasy sports information.

About Super Bowl 42 - Here's a Different Slant on the Giants' Upset Win to Become World Champs

There is a reason why the winner of the Super Bowl earns the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a symbol of excellence in the football world. Lombardi encouraged his Green Bay Packer players to pursue perfection so they might catch excellence.

As it turns out, Lombardi and his players caught a lot more than 5 National Football League titles and the first 2 Super Bowl titles. They developed a bond among themselves that lasted a lifetime for those who have passed on, and still survives for those who continue the memory of Lombardi's great leadership and their great work ethic.

Perhaps some years from now the New York Giants will experience that same kind of bond that comes with such a great triumph as their conquest of the New England Patriots and the NFL world this year.

There is no way the Giants could have lived and played through the last 5 weeks of their season without becoming "one" with a purpose bigger than the odds they faced.

New York started by traveling to Tampa Bay and defeating the NFL's second-ranked defense on the Buccaneers home turf. Then the Giants traveled to Dallas to upset the Cowboys on their home field, becoming the first team to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NFL playoffs.

New York then played through a wind chill factor of 23 degrees in Green Bay to turn back the Packers and win the National Football Conference championship, earning the right to play the Patriots in Super Bowl 42. After upsetting New England 17-14 they walked away with the Lombardi Trophy and became the first NFC wild-card team to do so.

Perhaps Vince Lombardi said it best: "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?" Lombardi was a winner and now the Giants are too.

New England, which won Super Bowl 36, Super Bowl 38 and Super Bowl 39, will now be remembered as the team that was the first to go 18-0 and then lose in Super Bowl 42 to the Giants. Coach Bill Belichick's jaws were so wired after the defeat he barely uttered 10 words.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only undefeated NFL team in its 88-year history with their 17-0 record and Super Bowl 7 victory over the Washington Redskins, 14-7.

Embedded in the hard-drive of my mind 40 years from now (assuming I live to be 103) will be two memories:

1) Eli Manning, seemingly surrounded by Patriot rushers, breaking away like a magician from the grasp of an arm not strong enough to rip off his jersey, coming clear in desperation to heave an arcing pass down the field and a heretofore nobody named David Tyree leaping upward over rivals to catch the ball over his head, falling backward, and hanging on even though he was viciously hit in his arm on the way down by Patriot safety Rodney Harrison in an attempt to knock the ball free.

Tyree's 32-yard catch against all odds on 3rd-and-15 with 1:15 left on New York's game-winning drive has to be one of the greatest catches in the history of championship football at any level. Incredible is a weak description of just how good his catch and hold was. He will likely never have such a great moment if he plays another 15 years in the NFL.

Almost forgotten in all of this is just how close Manning was to being sacked and the Patriots going on to preserve their then 4-point lead and possible victory.

New England's great run to an 18-0 mark now becomes a lot less with their Super Bowl loss to the Giants. It is too bad for the Patriots; the Giants could not be happier.

2) Manning's 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left happened because 6-foot-5, 232-pound Plaxico Burress was left isolated one-on-one with 5-foot-9, 195-pound cornerback Ellis Hobbs. Hobbs was at least 2 steps behind Burress and in no position to even contest for the ball, which would probably have been useless anyway with Plaxico's tremendous leaping ability, kind of like 5-foot-9 me going one-on-one against Michael Jordan.

Do not blame Hobbs for the loss. Patriot quarterback Tom Brady, who had the snot beat out of him from taking hits all afternoon by the Giants' much faster defensive rushers, did his usual come-from-behind last minute drive to give New England back the lead, 14-10.

Even linebacker Teddy Bruschi, the heart of the Pats defense, had embraced fellow backer Junior Seau on the sideline after the Pats went ahead and prior to the fateful drive, acknowledging that Seau was about to earn his first, long-awaited Super Bowl ring. Somebody forgot to stop Eli Manning and the Giants during the last 2 minutes of the game.

Burress, who had predicted a Giant victory amid the laughs and derisive remarks of almost everyone, caught the winning TD pass. He is a Michigan State University product just like myself. I could not be happier for Plaxico. It pains me to acknowledge that Plaxico was born 11 years AFTER I graduated from MSU.

Last fall I made up my mind to cover college football in my blog and did not even attempt to cover or comment on the NFL. It has now proved to be an excellent decision. I cannot imagine following the New England Patriots all year, fawning over their perfect record run, and being so let down in the Super Bowl.

All hail to the Giants, well, at least until the first NFL kickoff next season, then it will be go Seattle Seahawks for me. What was the name of that almost perfect team? I seem to have already forgotten.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley's Blog Publishes Original Articles with Analysis and Commentary on 5 Subjects: Sports, Movie Reviews, Lessons in Life, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing. My intention is to inform, educate, delight and motivate you the reader.

Read my other articles on football, including "Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi During Football's Annual Bowl Season", "Famous Quotes by Knute Rockne During Football's Annual Bowl Season", "Famous Quotes by Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season", "How to Predict When Teams Are Overrated and Due for an Unexpected Loss", "The Sagarin Ratings: What They Are, How to Read Them and What to Do With Them" and my 14 consecutive weekly wrap-up articles on the 2007 College Football Season as well as wrap-up articles on all 32 College Bowl Games.

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

Are You A Leader Or A Manager?

First of all, I want to define both. Simply put, leadership is iNFLuence. This is the best definition of leadership I have ever heard. It comes from John Maxwell's book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership."

A portion of management is leadership, but management also involves planning, coordinating, controlling and organizing resources. This definition comes from an online article, which you can check out for yourself at managementhelp.org/mgmnt/defntion.htm

Now, I want to reveal to you the differences between a manager and a leader. The manager administers, the leader innovates. The manager is a copy: the leader is an original. The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader inspires trust. The manager has a short-range view, the leader has a long-range perspective. The manager asks how and when, the leader asks what and why? The manager has an eye always on the bottom line: the leader has an eye on the horizon. The manger initiates, the leader originates. the manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. The manger is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person. The manger does thing right, and the leader does the right thing.

The above paragraph comes from the online article, "Leadership in the Workplace," by Brooke Sheldon. You can see the entire articles by visiting txla.org/pubs/tlj75_4/work.html

Let me give you an example of how leadership and management work. I'll put this into football terms. The manager would be the coach, and the leaders would be the quarterback, the veterans of the team and the team captains. Every NFL team has talented players, but why do some teams make the playoffs and most don't? It boils down to the right mix of management and leadership.

As a coach (manager), you have to know which players to play and when. Another facet of coaching (managing) is knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your players (employees), focusing on those strengths and correcting the weaknesses.

The key players (leaders) of the team need to lead by exceptional example. The key players (leaders) need to inspire, iNFLuence, affirm, assist etc.

The football team scenario is a good example of how a business should run. An NFL team is a business. The team has a President/CEO, board of directors, managers and players. A corporation has the same structure, but the players are the employees.

If your business is lagging, you need a change. Management needs to be more effective. Leadership either needs to change or leaders need to be raised up. Hope this articles helps make 2008 a much better year than 2007.

Mike Bova is the Madison County Advertising Director & Business Columnist for Eagle Newspapers in Syracuse, NY. Mike owns several websites including http://www.upstateshopping.com The Upstate New York Shopping And Business Directory. Mike has spoken in front of many business groups, shattered a lot of sales records, conducted several sales training seminars and trains corporate sales staffs how to sell more. Mike is launching his own site soon.

Fitness Centers - A Road to Healthy Living

Sticking to a workout plan can be a difficult task but it usually helps the new, enthusiastic and blooming fitness conscious people to build a good foundation of power and endurance. The initial phase usually seems to be scary but it's not as bad as it seems to be. You can always start off without any equipment at all. Customized boot camp programs at fitness centers are a wonderful way towards the "Super Fit Goal."

Having a strong build and flaunting it with pride can be thrilling like playing for hours together during your childhood was. You can get your heart pumping and blood pounding by starting off with a jumping rope. Warming up is a very important criteria in any kind of exercise or sport if you are looking out for long lasting results. Jumping rope within a set time limit and doing a fixed number of jumps within the time frame warms up your body just right to move ahead in the workout regime.

People who are new to this world of workouts have this preconceived notion that conventional pushups are the only effective ways to work the abdominals and arms. Here they discover that there really are other alternatives and upbeat ways to do the same task. One can reap maximum benefits by raising their feet while doing pushups. This method is much more efficient than the conventional one. A collapsed tree trunk or a sturdy boulder for outdoor exercise and a stool or a box for indoor ones can be a few other alternatives.

Having a good, positive and motivational partner during such sessions will work wonders on your spirit especially when the going gets tougher. Using a medicine ball for building muscle is one such method wherein working as a team is fun. In this one partner lies on the ground with the arms outstretched and catches the ball dropped by the other team mate before throwing it back.

With the growing boom of fitness and healthy living, membership fees have increased a great deal and this is often used as an excuse for being deprived of a quality workout. However this problem can be solved by using substitutes from our day-to-day lives that are easily available rather than hunting for proper equipments. Using doorframes, low sturdy branches and monkey bars at parks are all you need for pull-ups.

Instead of performing these drills in singles, a regular regimen consisting of a combination of exercises such as brisk walking, running and the above mentioned methods clubbed in a defined time frame works better. Using some creativity and offbeat ideas and planning out a good regimen as per your need can help you have a gala time with your teammate.

So instead of the conventional exercises with heavy equipments and a typical gym environment, you have other options to consider for staying fit and healthy forever.

If you are looking for fitness centers New Orleans based gyms offer a personal training program that includes instructions, nutritional training and other motivational training that are packed with fun and energizing activity. To know more, visit http://www.nolabootcamp.com

The Route Of Jean Lafitte

This is definitely a different type of adventure than a wildlife cruise, unless you consider Cajuns wild! This trip begins or ends in New Orleans and cruises the intercoastal waterway along the Louisiana and Texas coastlines. This cruise takes you to an area that still has many of it's old customs and fishermen.

Experience Cajun cooking, Texas hospitality and Mexican fun all on one trip. Start (or end) in New Orleans with a couple of days to explore. Meet Cajun trappers and fishermen, learn about their history and culture. Cruise the beautiful inland sea waters between New Orleans and Galveston Island, Texas. Then you can take a short trip to Matamoros Mexico. This will be a relaxing but fun time.

This trip is a cruise aboard a well equipped river barge with comfortable rooms and lots of deck space. The dinner dress is casual, jackets and ties are not necessary.

Scheduled shore activities and tipping are included in your cruise.

In New Orleans you can see the French Quarter the night before departing. Then you will receive a tour of Bay Wallace, one of the biggest swamps in Louisiana. This is a nature and scenic trip you will not forget.

After departing from New Orleans and Louisiana you will go to Acadiana and enjoy some cajun cooking and fun.

Then it is on to Port Arthur Texas and and Galveston Island. Your final stop as you do the Texas coast will be a trip to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico.

This is a much shorter entry than normal, but I will pick a major adventure for next week.

Brian is also the author of Free Cruise Book at [http://www.freecruisebook.com] Brian has traveled to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Alaska and the Caribbean. You can reach Brian at brian@freecruisebook.com

Green Bay Packers 2010 Strength of Schedule, Futures, Odds and Predictions

The '09 season has to be considered pretty successful for the Packers, as they won five more games than in 2008 (Aaron Rodgers' first year as the starting QB) and earned a playoff spot before their defense was gutted by Kurt Warner in the Wild-Card round against the Arizona Cardinals.

That game did show what Green Bay really has in store for 2010 and what could be a big concern. On the bright side, Rodgers was nearly as good as Warner in that game and Rodgers emerged as a Top 5 quarterback during the regular season, ranking fourth in the NFL in yards (4,434), rating (103.2), touchdown passes (seven) and with the fewest interceptions (seven) of any quarterback with at least 200 attempts. Pretty much all of Rodgers' weapons from last year are back although 35-year-old No. 2 WR Donald Driver might be slowing down as he tailed off in a big way at the end of last season.

Warner went balistic on the Green Bay secondary, especially with Al Harris hurt. Charles Woodson and Harris, one of the best tandems in the NFL for years, are both getting up there in age with Woodson turning 34 this season and Harris during 36. I'm probably picking too much on Woodson considering he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and had nine picks and three TDs. Plus he reportedly re-dedicated himself this offseason. Harris, however, is coming off major knee surgery that ended his 2009 season early.

That Green Bay defense will be down two key players this season as Aaron Kampman, a two-time Pro Bowler, is now in Jacksonville (he also suffered a season-ending injury in November last season) and Johnny Jolly was suspended without pay for 2010 after violating the league's substance abuse policy. Although if there's one area the Pack can withstand a few hits, it's probably on the defensive line.

The oddsmakers have Green Bay's wins total at 9.5 for NFL season win totals. What's the best bet there? Let's check the 2010 Green Bay Packers schedule (all times Eastern):

Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Monday, Sep. 27, at Chicago, 8:30 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Minnesota, 8:20 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Dallas, 8:20 PM
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, San Francisco, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at New England, 8:20 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, NY Giants, 4:15 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Chicago, 1:00 PM

This schedule ranks as the 22nd hardest in the NFL with an opponents' 2009 cumulative winning percentage of.488 (125-131).

Checking the football betting lines for the first six games, there's really no reason Green Bay should be any worse than 4-2. The Pack get the benefit of being the first opponent of new Eagles starter Kevin Kolb (that game is currently a 'pick'em'), and nobody knows who the quarterback of the Bills will be. The Packers swept the Bears last season by nearly identical scores (21-14 and 21-15), and that matchup will be in prime time for the fifth straight season with the first meeting between the two being No. 180 in the all-time series. This is the 18th consecutive season the Packers have appeared on "Monday Night Football," the NFC's longest streak.

The Pack better be no worse than 4-2 because they could easily fall into a three-game skid (albeit unlikely) entering the bye week with games against Super Bowl contenders in the Vikings, Jets and Cowboys. Of course, that Minnesota game will be Brett Favre's second-ever game as a visitor at Lambeau. He led the Vikings to a 30-23 win over Green Bay in a Monday night game at Minnesota last season and then a 38-28 win at Lambeau.

Green Bay has the benefit of an extra week to prepare for the rematch with Minnesota (the Vikes aren't off the same week) in a game that could well determine the NFC North. Week 10 is the latest a team can have a bye, by the way, and it's the latest the Pack have ever had theirs. Four road games in five weeks is pretty rare, but Green Bay is 18-11 overall on the road under Mike McCarthy from Nov. 15 and beyond. Then the Packers finish with back-to-back home games for only the second time since 1923. Since 1998, the Packers have finished the season against the Bears three times, all of them victories in Chicago.

NFL Handicapping makes this look like a 10-6-type schedule for Green Bay, which may or may not be enough to win the NFC North (I predicted 10-6 for Minnesota as well), but it should be enough for a return trip to the playoffs. Green Bay is currently a slight favorite (+125) over the Vikings to win the North and +650 to win the NFC (tied with Minnesota behind New Orleans and Dallas).

Doc Moseman is one of the pioneers of college football and the NFL Handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to-the-minute NFL Odds and his famous winning college football and NFL picks.

NFL Preview - Brett Favre May Be a New York Jet, But He is Hardly a Jet "All the Way"

After playing 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and then being faced with riding the bench in favor of a lesser light (backup "rookie" quarterback Aaron Rogers), Brett Favre chose to do what he does best, act like a winner about to win again.

Favre (pronounced Farve) forced Green Bay to trade him, and he ended up as a New York Jet. Favre was "family" in Green Bay, a small metro-market town compared to the glare and lights of the Big Apple. In New York, Favre will be roasted, toasted and filleted by the media pundits and fans, who are not patient and not happy most of the time.

As a Green Bay Packer stockholder, I did not agree with the management decision to let Favre go. I understand that Favre will not play at his normal level forever, and that Aaron Rogers has spent 4 years as Favre's backup (I hope Rogers was paying attention).

However, Favre is a gamer. He passes the test on every measurement you cannot make-courage, heart, determination, inventiveness and guts. Moreover, he owns nearly every NFL career record you can measure that is worth talking about-most touchdown passes (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758), yards gained (61,655), QB wins (160) and consecutive starts (275 including playoffs). Yes, he is durable.

Did I mention that he is a 9-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL's only 3-time Associated Press Most Valuable Player? There are probably 100 more impressive things that could be said about Favre, all of which left Green Bay's management and coach unimpressed and still looking at Aaron Rogers. Is it possible that they simply did not like Favre?

Green Bay's loss is the New York Jets gain. Favre's new Jets jersey went on sale the day after he signed a one-year contract for $12 million, approximately the same amount he would have received in Green Bay. Once Favre was a Jet, his new jersey began selling at a record pace--3 shirts every two minutes.

You may not know that Favre's No. 4 Green Bay Packer jersey is the best-selling jersey in NFL history. The arrival of Favre will help the Jets convince season ticket holders to pony up $300 million in seat-license revenue in connection with their move to a new stadium.

New York is on the rise. The Jets dropped $140 million revamping their roster after last season's poor 4-12 showing, they dropped another $75 million on a state-of-the-art practice facility in New Jersey, and look to build a $1.6 billion new stadium.

So how will Favre do as a Jet? He is not the first current or future Hall of Fame quarterback to switch teams at the end of his career. Broadway Joe Namath went from the New York Jets to the Los Angeles Rams, and Joe Montana went from the San Francisco 49ers to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Namath made no impact in Los Angeles, but Montana was huge in Kansas City. He led the Chiefs to an 11-5 record and the playoffs his first year. Montana led a 27-24 come-from-behind victory over the Steelers in the AFC wild card game, and led the Chiefs past Houston 28-20 on the road. Kansas City ended up in the AFC championship game but lost to Buffalo 30-13.

A year later the Chiefs were playoff bound for the 5th straight year after compiling a 9-7 mark, only to be eliminated by the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in their first playoff game. I think Favre will do well as long as he is healthy. Everyone loves a winner, and Favre is a winner.

Whatever happens, Favre will not take New York like the stage play "West Side Story", wherein the song proclaims "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dying day."

In Favre's case, I think not. His 16 seasons in Green Bay has made him a living legend. He will go into the NFL Hall of Fame as a Packer, not as a Jet.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Read my complete 2008 NCAA March Madness coverage, including:

"First 2 Rounds in 2008 NCAA Tournament Produce 1 Major Upset in Every 6 Games"

"The Final 4 for the 2008 NCAA Tournament: North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA and Kansas"

"For Kansas Coach Bill Self, the Long Wait Is Over as His Jayhawks Outlast Memphis"

Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

Baseball Memorabilia and Sports Collectibles

When you think of baseball memorabilia and sports collectibles, do you think of baseball cards or do you think of the signed jerseys, the throwback jerseys, jackets, hats, helmets, the pictures, and hero posters? Well, there are many ways to show your support by collecting items of your favorite team or player.

People collect for other sports as well, such as baseball, NASCAR, basketball, football, golf. Some items that are found to be fun to collect are die cast models, Bobble Heads, Hero Posters and the newest items are The Fat Heads items. These are life-like, life-sized replicas of sports heroes that can be safely stuck to your wall. With all of the things you can collect, it is no wonder that some are confused as to where to start or how to start collecting sports memorabilia and sports collectibles. Collecting any sports memorabilia or sports collectibles is a very personal hobby that has value based more on the individuals likes and passions as much as the success of the individual player or team.

For those of us who want to buy that special someone something unique related to their favorite NASCAR driver, basketball, baseball, football or golf player, team, or sport, what do you look for? If they are into baseball memorabilia, you might want to consider the St Louis Cardinals. They not only won the World Series in 2006 but they also have some of the all time greats like Alber Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Yadier Molina. On the other hand, maybe they are into NASCAR. Then you have Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and the reigning champion Jimmy Johnson. Maybe your sports fanatic is a woman. Well, she may like Danica Patrick who has taken Indy Racing Leagues by storm. We cannot forget the late and great Dale Earnhardt Sr. whose collectibles have not only doubled but tripled since his death and seem to be growing in value even more each year. As with many great painters like Picasso, Earnhardt fans refuse to allow his dream and legacy to die.

When it comes to NASCAR, you might want to not only look into the cars, but Plush Bears designed after the driver, year books and autobiographies, key chains and lighters, plates, glasses, clocks and more for your home. You will even find out that baseball memorabilia and sports collectibles have spread into the Christmas decorations with entire villages and decorations for the tree to the roof of your sports fan's home.

However, there are other great sports stars as well, including sports greats like Ben Roethlisberger, Shaquille O'Neil, and Nomar Garciaparra. Moreover, let us not forget the ever-resounding Michael Jordan. When throwback jerseys were mentioned, you may or may not have realized how much these have iNFLuenced sports memorabilia, but in 1980, when the NBA, MLB, and NFL began selling both new and the ones used in games, it pushed the collectors to wanting even more.

The die cast scene has changed as well. Fire trucks were a hot item at one time, but they have revolved back to the older muscle cars and the newer hotrod collectibles. Then we have the over all baseball memorabilia and sports collectors who grab anything from a picture of Tiger Woods to Los Angeles Lakers for basketball, or the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL Super Bowl Champions. Even the seven-time champion of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, has a strong following for memorabilia and sports collectibles.

When it comes to the value of the items you collect, remember that the more famous the star, the more expensive the baseball memorabilia and sports collectible items will be. If the item can be verified as authentic in some way, that really adds to the value. Make sure you keep any items related to your sports collectible or sports memorabilia. These would include the original box, any correspondence or signatures, receipts, etc. These will all help to make the item more valuable and collectible.

Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.

http://CollectibleSport.com

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New England Patriots

The "Pats" are the darling professional football team of sports fans in the Greater Boston area. They used to be called the Boston Patriots but the owners changed the name in 1971 after they moved the team to Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Pats have been around since 1959 when Bostonian Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing then AFL. The area fans were allowed to submit name suggestions for the new team the most popular choice was the one that Sullivan finally selected - The "Boston Patriots".

For the longest time the Pats never had a regular home stadium. They used Nickerson field, Fenway Park, Harvard Stadium, and Alumni Stadium when they were part of the AFL. They did have a winning season in 1963 and played against the San Diego Chargers and lost 51-10. They didn't make any post-season appearances again for another 13 years.

In 1970, the NFL and AFL merged and the Pats were placed in the AFC East division, where they still are today. It was the following year that they moved to their new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which was their home for the next 30 years. The 70's weren't all bad years. They made the playoffs in 1976 and in 1978 but they lost both playoff games.

In 1985 the Patriots made it to the playoffs again and made it all the way to the Super Bowl XX which they lost to the Chicago Bears with a score of 46-10. They made the playoffs again the next year and lost in the first round and it would not be for another eight years before they made the playoffs again.

The team has had several owners. First by the Sullivan family and then by Victor Kiam and then James Orthwein in 1992, who sold the team 2 years later to the current owner Robert Kraft. Bill Parcells was hired in 1993 and drastic changes were made to the Patriots uniforms. Their colors were changed from the traditional white and red to silver and blue. At the same time, they got a new logo. Parcells took the Pats to two playoff berths, including the Super bowl XXXI. They lost that one to the Green Bay Packers with a score of 35-21. Parcells's successor, Bill Belichick, also took the team to the playoffs for two times. Bill Belichick was hired in 2000 and the team got their new home stadium in 2002, the Gillette Stadium. The team went to three out of four super bowls under the direction of Belichick and finished the 2007 regular season with a perfect record of 16-0. Not bad for the team. By finishing the 2007 with such a perfect record, they became only the fourth team in league history to go undefeated in regular play and the only one since the NFL expanded its regular season the a 16 game schedule.

The Pats have their share of famous football players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There is John Hannah, who was elected in 1991. He was with the Pats from 1973-85. Then there was Mike Haynes, elected in 1997. He was with the Patriots from 1976-1982. Andre Tippett and Niche Buoniconti were elected in 2008 and 2001 respectively and each was with the team from 1982-93 and 1962-68.

Several team members have had their numbers retired. No easy feat there. They are #20 Gino Cappelletti, #40 Mike Haynes, #57 Steve Nelson, #73 John Hannah, #78 Bruce Armstrong,# 79 Jim Lee Hunt, #89 Bob Dee.

The New England Patriots have their own team hall of fame that was established in 1991. They have 13 former team players enshrined that were there between 1991 and 2001 and in 2007 another three were selected.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching NFL football on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the NFL and the New England Patriots. Check out his New England Patriots Lamp or his Green Bay Packers Lamp.

NFL Predictions 2010

NFC North Champion: Minnesota Vikings - If Brett Favre comes back, which I believe he will, the Vikings will once again be the best team in the North. Adrian Peterson, who is perhaps the best running back in the NFC, will join Favre in the backfield as the focal points of one of the most balanced attacks in football. And wild and crazy Jared Allen leads one of the premier defenses in the NFC. Green Bay will contend as well, but the Packers haven't shown they can stop elite quarterbacks from picking them apart. Favre torched them twice last season. Big Ben Roethlisberger had his turn. And so did Kurt Warner in the playoffs.

NFC East Champion: Dallas Cowboys - Winning their first playoff game in 13 seasons does a lot for the confidence of the Cowboys as they enter the 2010 season. Led by Tony Romo on offense and DeMarcus Ware on defense, Dallas appears ready to contend for a trip to the Super Bowl. They wouldn't have to go far this season with the biggest game of the year scheduled to be played right at home in Jerry World.

NFC West Champion: San Francisco 49ers - Kurt Warner's retirement likely opens the door for another team to emerge as West champs. With star running back Frank Gore and star linebacker Patrick Willis leading the charge, the 49ers look like a promising pick. The key will be the play of quarterback Alex Smith. If he can do a good job of taking care of the football and managing the game, I like San Francisco's chances.

NFC South Champion: New Orleans Saints - Since realignment took place back in 2002, no team has won consecutive division titles in the NFC South. I expect that to change with the defending Super Bowl champion Saints this season. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints have an excellent opportunity to be the most explosive offensive team in the NFL again. A big play defense brings back the majority of its key performers, including Darren Sharper, who came up with nine interceptions last season.

AFC North Champion: Baltimore Ravens - I believe Cincy slightly overachieved last season, and Pittsburgh will have to deal with Ben Roethlisberger's suspension. Led by Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, the Ravens appear ready to bring their offense to elite status. The defensive side of the football has been Baltimore's staple, and 2009 was no exception when the Ravens allowed only 16.3 points per game.

AFC East Champion: New York Jets - Teams that can run the football and play defense are going to win a lot of football games. The Jets led the NFL is rushing offense and they were the No. 1 ranked defensive teams in the league last season, and it took them to the AFC title game. With some key additions, the defense could be even better in 2010. The offense figures to improve as well now that Mark Sanchez has a year of experience under his belt.

AFC West Champion: San Diego Chargers - The Bolts have rattled off four straight division titles, and it would be a big upset if they didn't make it five in a row. Led by Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers, the offense will be tough to tame. The defense will have the potential to be better if outside linebacker Shawne Merriman can return to his pre-knee injury form. If that is the case, the Chargers may finally be ready to make a Super Bowl trip.

AFC South Champion: Indianapolis Colts - Since Peyton Manning arrived in Indy, all the Colts have done is win. Nothing will change in 2010 as Manning and company show up hungry after falling short in the Super Bowl. If Bobby Sanders can stay healthy this season, the Colts will have an even better shot at getting back to the big game.

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Memorable Matchups Highlight NFL's 2008 Schedule

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The NFL's 2007 season ended with the New York Giants on top for their first Super Bowl victory since 1991, capping off a tremendously entertaining season that featured more twists and turns than a NASCAR race. When the 2008 pro football schedule was announced on April 15th, NFL fans around the country immediately began anticipating what could be one of the most exciting seasons in NFL history.

The Stories

Once the new season kicks off on Thursday, September 4th, numerous questions about a number of storylines will be asked, such as:

- Can the New York Giants recapture the spirit from their miracle season and join the New England Patriots as the second team to repeat as Super Bowl champs this decade?
- Will the New England Patriots make another run at an undefeated season?
- Can the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning bounce back and win the AFC?
- Will Tony Romo mature into the next great NFL quarterback and take the Dallas Cowboys back to the glory days of the 1990s?
- Can Brett Favre rejuvenate the once proud New York Jets franchise?

The Games

Although loyal fans have already made plans for where they'll be for each of their favorite team's sixteen games, hardcore and casual fans alike should circle their calendars for these marquee match ups from the upcoming pro football schedule:

- New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins, September 7th: Brett Favre's Jets debut. Favre will be pumped up to prove to the Green Bay Packers that he still has an MVP year left in him.
- Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs, September 14th: Neither team is expected to challenge the Chargers in the AFC West, but when these two bitter rivals play each other, records are tossed aside.
- New England Patriots vs. San Diego Chargers, October 12th: This battle features two NFL powerhouses that could be a preview of January's AFC championship game. Tom Brady and Randy Moss versus LaDainian Tomlinson.
- San Diego Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints, October 26th: The NFL goes to Wembley Stadium in London, where the United Kingdom will get a first-hand look at emerging star, Reggie Bush.
- Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, November 2nd: The 2008 Super Bowl winner takes on one of the leading contenders for the 2009 title in an NFC East battle. The big question: will Jessica Simpson be there, too?
- Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, December 28th: This Week 17 game could decide the AFC North and have major playoff implications.

These must-see games and many others will showcase some of the most exciting football the NFL has to offer. And once the season ends with the crowning of the Super Bowl champion on February 1st, 2009, NFL fans will begin looking toward the announcement of the next pro football schedule.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about memorable matchups highlight NFLs 2008 schedule, please visit The Football Guide for current articles and discussions.

You'll Never Break Me - You Don't Have the Guts

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Have you ever watched professional sports? Have you ever watched the football playoffs in the NFL, World Cup soccer, or the NBA playoffs? You can feel the intensity of the athletes and players, they are there for one thing and that thing is to win. They are not there for their health - they are not there to go home empty-handed. They know who they are - they are the best in the world at what they do. We as fans admire and love them for their ultimate intensity and human spirit.

Perhaps we identify with them in their battle and on the field or court. Maybe it's like watching the movie Rocky, and we relate them to our own lives; the game like a symbol or an analogy of life itself. They say "when the going gets tough, the tough get going," and all of us like to think that we are tough, we are ready, we are prepared, and we can go the distance. In life you have no choice, you either perform and adapt, or you die.

It doesn't matter if you are running a business, or you are an employee. It doesn't matter if you're going to college, trying to make ends meet, or if you are a single mother raising your children alone. Sometimes you just have to get tough and refuse to surrender, you must fight against mediocrity in your life, and rise to the occasion. Winston Churchill was absolutely correct when he said;

"Never, ever, ever, ever give up... ever!"

I don't know about you, but in my life I don't do defeat, because that's just not who I am. I'd like to think there were others like me out there, but in our society, I see so few. I see the downtrodden, the people who gave up, people who bitch and moan and complain about everything.

Sometimes I just want to turn that noise off, I am not one with that group of people - I am an American. I come from a long line of Americans who care, who will go the distance, and we have built this great nation; and yes contrary to popular "political correctness" it is great - this is a Great Country and I am not ashamed to say it, and neither should you.

And when you are victorious in your life, when you have achieved something, when you have stood in the line of fire, and the battle of life, and you refuse to give up because you have the perseverance and commitment to do it, then you will know. It is okay to have an earned ego and sometimes you have to look in your mirror, look straight into your eyes, and tell the world;

"You will never break me, you don't have the balls, I will never give up, I will never quit, I cannot be defeated, because that's who I am!"

If you are going to a job interview, if you are involved in a political contest, if you run a small business in this economy, if you are going to take your finals in school, or if you have a sports event where you must perform for yourself and for your team - then I want you to repeat those words above in your mirror and I want you to say them, and believe them. And if you do that, I will see you in the winner's circle, because that's what I'm about and that's where I'm going! Dear World, you'll never break me, because you don't have the balls!

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in a concrete attitude in life; http://www.concretewashguys.com/biopage.shtml.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

Miami Dolphins Look Great With Chad Henne

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The Miami Dolphins were the surprise football team of the 2008 NFL regular season. After going 1-15 in 2007, they were literally the joke of the NFL and no one expected much more out of the team entering 2008. At the last minute, the Dolphins decided to sign Chad Pennington, a quarterback who had been released from the Jets just days before.

No one expected much out of Pennington, and neither did the Jets. Somehow, Pennington led the Dolphins to an AFC division championship in 2008, bringing the Dolphins into the playoffs to the surprise of many.

Things looked promising for 2009, until the Dolphins lost their first three games. Things looked even worse, when during their third game, the team lost Pennington for the season.

Young and inexperienced second year QB Chad Henne was called upon to lead the team, which didn't really bode well for the Dolphins' chances.

Somehow, the Dolphins have won their last two games, and Henne was brilliant in his week 5 matchup vs. the New York Jets.

After week 3, the Dolphins looked like a hopeless team with an 0-3 record, having been 3 games behind the first place Jets. Suddenly, the Dolphins are now 2-3 and the Jets are 3-2, with the Dolphins only one game behind the Jets now.

It's a very long football season, and the Dolphins are well within the game. Chad Henne is a skilled quarterback who seems to look better every week. Maybe he'll surprise the NFL world like Pennington did last season.

On another note, I'm an expert when it comes to choosing a floor cushion and large floor pillows.

Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts

We've done comparisons to Dan Marino and Tom Brady the past weeks, we've praised their efforts in and out of the field and while analyzing them, we have also mentioned Peyton Manning in a 2-3 brief sentence; so now, let's focus on Peyton Manning. Again, we will try to concentrate on Peyton Manning only, so pardon us if by chance we mention someone else on the way.

Our beloved Manning has been to 7 Pro Bowls, including 6 straight from 2002 to 2007, he owns two MVP awards in 03-04, and he also has many awards and honors that could fill several NFL history books. Now, how much does this matter for us writers and you fans? Are we wondering what he had done to deserve such luck?

For years, Peyton had tried without success to win the game, the big game! Tom Brady had already won three Super Bowls, wounding Manning and the Colts multiple times in the process. After years of getting to the postseason, but disappointing, many started to wonder if Manning would ever once finish what Brady had done 3 times already.

In our stat book, he broke the mark for passing touchdowns, passer rating and consecutive games with at least four touchdown passes in a single season in 2004, but none of that seemed to matter to those in most NFL limits (in particular fans)...until he lifted the Lombardi Trophy.

In the early months of 2007, Peyton Manning led the Colts to Super Bowl XLI vs. the Chicago Bears. During the game, Chicago's Devin Hester returned the early kickoff 92 yards into the touchdown zone; Manning without delay, threw an interception on the Colts' opening offensive series. For those who witnessed that play and the game, on the sidelines, it appeared that fear started to grasp the quarterback's shoulder pads. For those who know the game, this play has always been avoided on any type of division football, especially pro.

So, for sports fans, article writers and critics, Manning was missing yet another break for prominence. Why does Manning always suffocate in big situations? Was he going to blow his chance like all the years before, was this a plan or strategy?

As soon as he threw the pick, Manning saw his mistake and immediately responded with a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne after Chicago's secondary lost the receiver in coverage. The game seemed close through on both sides and the final score could have been much inferior, but again Manning put in a brilliant 25 of 38 for 247 yards, two touchdown passer performance in the Colts' 29-17 victory. Manning was named MVP for the game, but even better was the overseen Super Bowl curse he got off his back.

The big and deserved smile could not be better and after such a long time of being battered by the critics, the Patriots and even fans, Peyton Manning was at last a Super Bowl champion.

They say you can loose a single battle, but nobody can take the honor away and for Peyton Manning, going into combat for the 08-09 campaign, he will be aiming up this time and things will look achievable, from a positive point of view.

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer, currently writing reviews on the NFL Season 2008-09 for the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.