New Orleans Saints

The NFL tournaments are something which whole America goes crazy for. NFL or the National Football League is the biggest and the professional American football league. This league was formed by eleven teams as American professional football association in 1920 and in 1922 the name of the league has changed to NFL. At present there are around thirty two professional teams from United States playing under this league.

There are many teams that play in NFL and the New Orleans saints is one of the most popular team among all football teams in NFL. This team is not new to the national football league history. The New Orleans saints tickets hit the market for the first time in the 1967 because The New Orleans saints team joined the NFL in the same year. This is the American professional team from New Orleans Louisiana. This team really got on a roll in the year 1990 and saints won their first division title in 1991 and challenged regularly for the playoffs throughout that decade. This team won their first playoff game in the year 2000. If you want to see sports and culture combined into one passionate environment then you should see a football game in New Orleans by using NFL tickets. The New Orleans Saints play their home games from the Louisiana superdome.

With the rise of this team, the demand for Saints tickets has also increased dramatically.

New Orleans Saints tickets will allow fans to see one of the most exciting games in the National Football League. One of the reasons why so many fans follow the New Orleans Saints game is because it's a game assured to be well fought and played hard. If the saints are known for one thing, it's for putting up an energetic fight on the field. They haven't been able to wrap up many big wins but they are known as spirited fighters and are recognized as a powerful challenger in NFL. The Saints' main rivals are the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Any face-off between these teams and them is always a treat to watch with the Saints always giving a good fight.

The Super Bowl is the annual football event that decides the champion among the teams of the NFL. The championship is always held in an American city. The winner of the American Football Conference plays against the winner of the National Football Conference. After the merger of the American Football League and the NFL, each side has won two championships each. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the reigners with six Super Bowl wins, just winning by one win over the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The New Orleans Saints have still to make a mark in the Super Bowl. But looking at the way the team is performing, they are sure going to hit the football soon!

Eric Drouant is author of this article on Saints Tickets.

Find more information about NFL here.

NFL Teams to Watch in 2010

So you're wondering what the best NFL teams in 2010 are? Well, the year 2009 was a fantastic one and it culminated in a Super Bowl that pitted two of the fiercest NFL offenses of the year. The Colts and Saints met up in a match that would be remembered for years to come. The champions, the New Orleans Saints, had risen from purgatory the previous year to become champions. Here are five teams that could make an impact this year.

New York Jets

The Jets surprised everyone last year by making it all the way to the AFC Championship with a rookie QB and a rookie head coach. The expectations will be high this year but the additions of future hall of famers LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor should keep things moving forward.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans ended the 2009 as one of the hottest NFL teams. If they can regain their 2008 defensive form, they can be a team to reckon with. RB Chris Johnson will be looking to build on his historic 2,000 season and CB Cortland Finnegan will try to become the shutdown corner by bringing a Darrelle Revis like impact.

Arizona Cardinals

Many expect to see a regression in a Cardinals team that is losing QB Kurt Warner to retirement. However, Matt Leinart should fill in perfectly in a role that he has been groomed for ever since the day he was drafted. In a weak NFC West division, the Cards should come out on top and be poised for a playoff run.

Green Bay Packers

By now, Packers fans hardly remember their old QB Brett Favre as Aaron Rodgers has evolved into a premier passer. He is currently one of the five best at his position. With an offense that is growing together under Coach McCarthy, look for the Packers to put up huge numbers this upcoming season.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have always had a stellar defense but 2009 saw them make major strides in their passing game under QB Joe Flacco. Throw in Pro Bowl WR Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals, and the Ravens have surprisingly become a feared passing attack. Look for a Ravens squad that regularly puts up 30+ a game.

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Bill Parcells - The Big Tuna In NFL Football

Bill Parcells aka "The Big Tuna" in football is regarded as one of the best NFL coaches of all-time. He has coached in 3 Super Bowl games in which he has a record of 1-2, two with the New York Giants and one with the New England Patriots. One of the two losses came after his kicked missed a 47 yard field goal as time expired.

Parcels is known for his ability to turnaround a struggling franchise. With the Giants it took him two seasons to coach them to a winning record and just one with the Patriots, New York Jets, and his current team the Dallas Cowboys. These were no backyard drill games, but some serious football. He was able to bring all of his teams to the playoffs within his first two seasons with a new team.

He is known as a hard-nosed coach who is able to get the best out of his players. Parcells has coached several "problem football players" such as Lawrence Taylor and Brian Cox. Also he has coached two loud mouth wide receivers on two different teams Terry Glen (New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys) and Keyshawn Johnson (New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys). This season he has a new challenge coaching Terrell Owens who has had several clashes with previous coaches and teammates, but knowing Parcells' history this should be no problem.

When with the New England Patriots football team, Parcels felt he was not involved enough in the team's personnel decisions. He made a famous quote, "They want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." With the Cowboys Parcells has brought in several football players from his former teams: quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Glenn, and Johnson, who has since left and joined the Carolina Panthers.

Football fans of Bill Parcells will be hoping his coaching techniques will bring them a Super Bowl team this season.

TK Healey chief editor for SurfTilYouDrop® a consumer based website focusing on As Seen On TV Products. Visit http://www.surftilyoudrop.com today and check out Backyard Drills with head coach Bill Parcells.

Nutrition and Football

For the general population, it is easy to sum up the key to good nutrition. One simply needs to consume a balance of nutrients from a variety of healthy foods to meet but not exceed daily calorie needs.

If you're a football player, however, that formula will only get you so far. Because of the need for immense strength, short bursts of power and the ability to recover from hard hits, football players require a more specialized nutrition plan to excel on the field.

This plan must work in concert with a strength and conditioning program to produce lean muscle mass. It must focus on finding the right fuel to prepare for and recover from practice and games. And it must take into account individual needs-a quarterback, for example, needs a different nutritional strategy than the center he lines up behind.

But before we get into many of the specifics behind fueling for football, it's important to first understand the basics. On the field, you need to know how to catch the ball before you can learn to run hitches, slants, curls, and post routes. In this chapter, we'll explain overall nutritional game plans for athletes, which will prepare you for understanding how it becomes specialized for certain positions and times of the year.

Food as Energy

To be successful as an athlete, your body must be continuously supplied with food energy, called calories. If calorie intake exceeds needs, you'll gain weight and body fat, which will make you feel heavy, play slower, and increase your risk for injury. If calorie intake does not meet demands, you won't be able to maintain your muscle mass and speed, and your recovery will be slow and incomplete.

The number of calories needed to maintain a certain weight varies greatly among individuals. For example, a 220-pound high school fullback who is still growing would need between 4,000 and 5,000 calories a day, in-season. His 45-year-old, 140-pound mom, whose only exercise is cheering loudly during football games, would need less than half her son's amount of calories.

There are four basic reasons why nutrition is important for athletes:
• As an energy source
• For building lean muscle mass
• To achieve ideal body composition
• To aid in staying healthy and reducing injuries.

As a serious athlete, you are asking your body to do a lot. Like a race car needs the correct type of fuel to maximize its effectiveness, so does an athlete. You need to understand and think about what you are putting in your body if you want it to reach optimal performance.

While for some athletes, talent can overcome less-than-ideal dietary composition for some time, it tends to catch up with everyone eventually. The risk for weight issues, injury, illness, and cramping are greater for those who do not meet and maintain adequate intake and stores. Energy from the right fuel also translates to staying strong throughout the entire season, which is what every coach wants to see, especially if the team has a playoff run.

Overall, there are three types of nutrients that give the body calories-carbohydrates, protein, and fat. These energy-giving nutrients can be found in varying amounts in foods. Essential nutrients that also help the body to use energy, but do not have calories, are called vitamins, minerals, and water. Let's take a closer look at how they all work together. According to the 2009 Position Statement of The American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada and The American College of Sports Medicine on Nutrition and Athletic Performance, athletes do not need a diet substantially different than percentages recommended for non-athletes. The dietary percentage ranges recommended are:

45-65% from carbohydrates
10-35% from protein
20-35% from fat

Those are pretty large ranges, and they do get more specific for football players based on time of year, training goals, and position played on the field. In addition, using ranges only goes so far in being effective. Ideally, players should calculate their carbohydrates, protein, and fat needs in grams, based on bodyweight.

Carbohydrates Are King

For all athletes, including football players, fueling should primarily come from carbohydrates. There is a longstanding myth that football athletes should bulk up by consuming lots of protein, but nothing is further from the truth. While small amounts of protein are essential, carbohydrates are recommended for fueling most of the training during practices and games for all positions.

Why are carbohydrates so important? All carbohydrates we consume are turned into glucose in our bodies, which resides in our cells. When we need energy, our bodies utilize the glucose in our cells to function. Glucose not used immediately is then stored in the liver and muscles and is called glycogen. When we need energy, and the glucose in our cells is depleted, the liver makes glucose from its glycogen stores.

But if there is nothing in the store, there is no energy. Without a diet high in carbohydrates, you end up running on empty-meaning you aren't running very well at all.

In addition, carbs are the main nutrient that helps our bodies recover after a tough workout. Especially during tough preseason workouts, a football player needs carbs continually to realize complete recovery. Without recovery, the hard work you're putting in does not translate to increased strength gains.

When athletes don't have enough carb stores in their bodies, they have glycogen depletion. The consequences are feeling flat, an inability to build muscle, and even depression. Ongoing depletion can also lead to overtraining syndrome.

An ideal dietary intake of carbohydrates for football players is 50 to 60 percent of total daily caloric intake. Therefore at each meal, about half to two-thirds of your plate should be filled with carbohydrates.

What are carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are composed of three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are created through a process called photosynthesis in which water, absorbed by plant's roots, donates hydrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide gas absorbed in leaves donates carbon and oxygen. Water and carbon dioxide combine to yield the major energy source for the body called glucose.

But not all carbs are created equal. One type is simple carbohydrates, which are broken down by the body quickly, and found in processed and refined sugars such as candy, table sugar, syrups, and soft drinks. No more than 10 percent of your calories should come from simple sugars because they are lower in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients (which help your body to use fuel, stay fit, recover faster and reduce the risk for injury and illness) than complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbs are our heroes. They take longer to break down and have more nutrients, such as fiber and vitamins. Fiber is key because it slows down the passage of food through the digestional tract and the release of sugar into the bloodstream. That leads to better blood sugar control and more even energy levels, as well as regularity of stools. For those athletes who want to lose weight, fiber provides a feeling of fullness. It also has a cholesterol lowering effect, for long-term health. Fiber is found in whole grain bread and cereals, fruits and vegetables, beans, oats, nuts (almonds, pistachios and others with the woody shell), popcorn, brown rice, potato skins, corn, and peas.

Protein for Power

While protein is not an athlete's primary fuel for training, it is a crucial part of the support system. It's equivalent to how essential it is to wear your pads and uniform-they offer protection, but don't play the game for you. Athletes should look to get 10 to 35 percent of calories from protein.

Protein is important for football players because it helps to build and repair muscle, helps the muscles contract and relax, builds ligaments and tendons that hold muscles and support bone, and assists with recovery by preventing muscle breakdown. Protein is also needed for building hormones like insulin that regulate blood sugar and the thyroid for metabolism, for supporting the immune system, and for regulating the digestion of food. Without adequate dietary protein, you run the risk of injury, illness, or just feeling run down. Protein also provides energy in times of extreme need when carbohydrate stores are depleted. This occurs when your total calorie expenditure is greater than your consumption and/or when your body is healing after injury.

Another important thing to know about protein is that you need it in small amounts throughout the day, especially if you are trying to increase muscle mass. A lot of busy athletes make the mistake of consuming all their protein at dinner, snacking on easy-to-grab and low-protein foods at other times of the day. It's important to make sure protein is a part of breakfast, lunch, and snack foods, too, because it helps to prevent muscle breakdown and promote muscle building.
It also helps keep you feeling fuller than if you just had carbohydrate-based meals and snacks alone.

Protein can be found in chicken, fish, turkey, red meat, eggs, cheese, milk, and soy products. These foods contain all the essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The best protein sources are low-fat, but that can be tricky to find. Meat and dairy often contain fat in large amounts. Therefore, look for lean cuts of meat and low-fat dairy products.

Fewer Fats

Most people know that fat is not a good thing in a diet. But it is not quite that simple. Football players do need some fat in their diets. In fact, as much as 35 percent is okay if the athlete is not overweight, although as little as 20 percent of one's diet is also fine.

Fat can be used as a long-term energy source-a stored form of calories when you run out of carbohydrates and protein. This is especially true for leaner athletes who burn a lot more calories or in preseason when training can more than double your calorie needs. But fat is a very inefficient source of fuel because it is used at a much slower rate by the muscles and cannot keep up the quick energy demands of high intensity training.

Fats are needed as a transporter of the fat soluble vitamins A, E, D, and K, which are essential for building muscles and the immune system, building red blood cells and healthy bones. Fats are also a provider of the essential fatty acids, the omega-3s and omega-6s required for brain function, healthy skin, normal blood pressure, blood clotting, and as an anti-inflammatory against aches and pains.

That's the good news. The bad news is that research suggests football players often consume more than the recommended percent of total calories. In fact, one study of college and pro football players found some players averaged 43 percent of calories from fat. When more fat is consumed than needed, it can lead to unnecessary weight gains and negative changes in body composition.

It also means the athlete is probably not eating enough carbohydrates and protein. For example, if an athlete eats a 1,000-calorie meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes swarming with butter, high-fat biscuits, and gravy, it will contain about 49 percent fat, 22 percent protein, and 29 percent carbs. If, instead, he eats a 1,000-calorie meal of grilled chicken breast with a low-fat BBQ sauce, oven-roasted potatoes, whole-wheat rolls, tossed green salad, and stir-fry vegetables, he'll be consuming 26 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and 54 percent carbs. So, with the same amount of calories, the athlete increases the ever-important carbohydrates in his diet.

The two major dietary fat groups are called unsaturated and saturated fats. The saturated fats are hard at room temperature. These fats have been shown to increase the unhealthy low-density lipoprotein blood cholesterol levels and compromise performance. Trans-fats, those you find in processed foods like some types of crackers, cookies, and margarines, are also saturated and can compromise performance and health.

It's much better to consume monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. This includes vegetable oils and fats found in fish, nuts, and avocados.

Vitamins & Minerals

If players follow the above guidelines of consuming primarily complex carbohydrates along with healthy forms of protein, vitamin and mineral needs are usually met. This is important because a lack of vitamins and minerals impact energy levels, recovery, inflammation, bone strength, and muscle contraction. Deficiencies in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium can cause cramping and muscle spasms.

While there are about 40 vitamins and minerals that we need daily to perform all healthy body functions, the ones most commonly seen in deficiency are Vitamins A, C, and D, and the minerals potassium, magnesium, and calcium. In addition, during puberty, young men need extra folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, and E.

The best way to meet vitamin and mineral needs is from whole foods. But the reality is that no one eats perfectly. Sometimes life gets in the way of eating your best. In this case, a daily vitamin supplement, fortified shake or bar can help you to meet your daily needs.

By Lisa Dorfman

Lisa Dorfman is the Director of Sports Nutrition & Performance in the Department of Sports Medicine at the University of Miami, as well as a personal nutritionist to several NFL players.

This article is an excerpt from the book Performance Nutrition for Football. This book, and many other coaching books and videos, are available here.

Nick Halling's NFL Super Bowl Blog

That might surprise you if you're a casual NFL gambler, but it shouldn't. The Packers are certainly the team in form, and the way they are playing right now, not only will they win the game on Sunday, they'll do it by easily covering the spread. They might even be playing well enough for you to be tempted to buy on the over/under, which looks a little high to me, given the quality of the two defenses on display. Right, that's the obvious stuff out of the way. Let's dig a little deeper and see if we can find a nugget or two to make it a happy Super Bowl.

The Packers thrive on big plays, but managed just two in week 17, a 20-yarder to Donald Driver, and a 46-yarder to Greg Jennings which helped set up that late game-winning touchdown. Things probably won't be too much different on Sunday. The Bears' Cover-2 base defense is built not to allow big plays, so while Rodgers is capable of putting up some decent yardage, it probably won't come easy. Green Bay's offense isn't the one the Bears saw in week 17. The Packers unveiled running back James Starks in the wild card game against Philadelphia to devastating effect. Starks didn't run nearly as effectively last week in Atlanta, and the Bears rank second overall against the run, so don't expect him to run riot at Soldier Field. What he does do, however, is bring a semblance of balance to the unit, something the Bears will have to take account of.

Check the line on running back James Starks for the Packers. It's going to be low because the Steelers are the top team in the NFL against the run. More worryingly for the Packers, the Starks bubble looks to have burst already. He exploded onto the scene in the playoff win against Philadelphia, but in two games since, against Atlanta and Chicago, he's averaged slightly less than three yards a carry. He'll struggle to match that against the Steelers. Even worse news for Starks backers is that he comes out of the game in goal-line situations, so I don't think he's worth a lick in terms of scoring a touchdown. You'd be better off with human bulldozer John Kuhn.

So that's the bad news. The good news for Green Bay is that you can move the ball against the Steelers through the air. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing at a very high level, and there are plenty of weapons at his disposal. Picking the hot receiver is always the tricky challenge when betting on the Packers. You know Rodgers will get his yards. It's just a question of who's getting on the end of his passes. I have a hunch that it will be the obvious suspect, Greg Jennings. The Pittsburgh scheme puts a lot of pressure on their corners and consequently they are often isolated in single coverage. Their best cover man is Ike Taylor, and I'd be surprised if they had Taylor covering Jennings at all times - although that strategy worked pretty well for Chicago, who used Charles Tillman in that way.

But the weak link is on the other side, and oft-burned Bryant McFadden. He's going to need help covering Jennings, and he might not get much. This, for me, is one of the key matchups of the whole game. McFadden on his own can't cope with Jennings, certainly not for pure speed, and probably not for his ability to work the creases in a zone. Will the Steelers give him some safety help? They tend not to. The other option would be to bring in an extra defensive back and play nickel. It's an interesting idea: being in nickel almost dares the other team to run on you. Would the Packers take that bait? How compromised would the Steelers' zone blitzing scheme be if they played a lot of nickel? The man who knows is Pittsburgh's defensive mastermind, Dick LeBeau, and if I had a bug in his office, I'd be cleaning up on Sporting Index myself. But I don't, so I'm going to play a hunch. I think he's going to play a lot of nickel to try and contain Rodgers and the passing game. Don't blame me if I'm wrong: LeBeau's the genius, not me!

The thing that really hurts the Steelers' chances is yet another injury to their offensive line. Center Maurkice Pouncey, their best lineman by a country mile, isn't going to make it after that bad ankle injury last time out. The Steelers are keeping their fingers crossed, but he has two hopes: slim and none, and Slim couldn't get a hotel reservation in Dallas last time I checked. That means that they will have four backups playing in the Big Game. They've won with a makeshift offensive line before, two years ago against the Cardinals, but Arizona didn't bring the kind of heat the Packers do. They run an almost identical defensive scheme as the Steelers, one based on creating mistakes and turnovers.

Already struggling at the tackle position, the interior of the line will now be compromised by Pouncey's absence. Replacement Doug Legursky is a battler, but he is not a prolific run blocker, which could be bad news if you think Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall is going to be the key to the game. It's also bad news for Ben Roethlisberger, who is going to be hit, hard and often. Big Ben takes sacks: that's part of his game. But the Packers have dedicated themselves this week to improving their tackling, to make sure that when they have the big man where they want him, they'll bring him down. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Ben is sacked six times. Perhaps even more if, as I suspect, the Steelers are chasing the game in the second half.

Given the pressure he will face, don't be surprised if Ben is forced into a lot of hot reads and checkdowns. You could do a lot worse than have tight end Heath Miller being Pittsburgh's leading receiver in terms of catches if not yards. If Ben gets time, however, watch out for Mike Wallace, who has the blazing speed to get behind the Green Bay secondary. One reception could give him more yards that five of Miller's.

I'm also thinking there's an early touchdown in this one. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy is a graduate of the West Coast school of offense, which means that the first 15 plays are often scripted in advance. Don't be surprised if their opening drive heralds points. That's also the best time to get to the Steelers defense too, as LeBeau likes to take a look at what an offense is doing it - and then proceed to stop them doing it.

I'm not sure if the Steelers will score early or not. Last time, they put together a 10-minute scoring drive on the first series against the Jets. The week before, against Baltimore, they didn't show up until the second half.

Whatever, that will be it for the NFL until September (and here's hoping that the threat of a player lockout ahead of next season goes away). I hope my musings have helped you make a few quid. Most of them have been based on sound logic rather than just gut feelings - but as you probably know, there's very little logical about American football at this level. Next season - assuming Sporting Index are still in business as I definitely haven't bankrupted them - I'll be looking to do even better. And yes, I say that every year........

Sporting Index is unique in that we are dedicated solely to providing sports spread betting. We are recognised as the world leader in its field, having captured approximately 70% of the UK's sports spread betting market. We pride ourselves on our innovation and try to lead the market whenever possible.

AFC East Pre Draft Analysis

AFC East:

This was a really interesting division for two reasons, the Pats impressive 14-2 regular season record and the freak parade that is the New York Jets. Rex has made this a rivalry whether the Pats wanted it to be one or not. Ryan NEVER stops talking. Even when he should just shut the hell up, he doesn't. These two should be right back in the middle of it next September. Another reason is that the two teams below them, the Dolphins and the Bills won't present a major challenge in the coming year. The Dolphins seem to languish around 500, mainly because they get schizophrenic play from their quarterback Chad Henne. The Bills on the other hand may have found some stability at quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

New England Patriots 14-2

The 2010 season wasn't supposed to be "the year" for the Pats. They were rebuilding their defense and after trading away Whiny Moss early in the season they had to change their offensive style to compliment their personnel. They ended up going 14-2 and trouncing many opponents along the way. If the Pats could have connected on what should have been somewhat easy touchdowns on their first two drives against the Jets in the playoffs, the season might have ended differently. The Pats are one of the best run organizations in football. They don't hold players past their prime and don't make it emotional. They are willing to trade almost anybody which is why they have two first round picks in next month NFL Draft.

Strengths:

1. An owner and coach that only know how to win.


2. One of the best coaches in the league, especially on the defensive side of the ball.


3. A first ballot hall of fame quarterback.


4. A young defense.


5. Two first round picks, six picks (6) in the first three rounds!

Weaknesses:

1. Two all-pro offensive lineman, Matt Light and Logan Mankins about to become free agents.


2. Defensive end. No pressure without William Seymour.


3. Linebacker. See defensive end.


4. Wide receiver. It seemed for a while the team didn't need Randy Moss. However, there was no go-to guy when the Pats really needed one in the playoffs.

Needs: See weaknesses above. Yes they have some concerns, especially if they were to lose both Light and Mankins, but the Pats are the best at salvaging careers and finding former stars that have a year left who can play a critical role for a season or two. Plus with their arsenal of picks they should be able to bolster their young defense, add a quality offensive lineman and find another wide out to keep Gisele, I mean Tom, happy.

New York Jets 11-5

Where do you start? Shhh, listen, Rex just predicted the Jets would win the 2013 and 2014 Super Bowl as well! The cocky head coach persona is fun and can work for a while, but pretty soon even the most victory starved Jets fans will want this team to get err done. I am shocked they made it to two straight AFC Championship games in a row with the perennial circus this team is. Lets look back at some of the distractions: Edwards - DUI, the Ryan's foot fetish video, tripping-gate, Sanchez and the 17 year old and Favre's wiener photos to name a few.

This team does have talent, specifically on the offensive side of the ball with an up and coming Mark Sanchez leading the team. There are challenges with a host of free agents to resign as well as Rex's predictions to live up to. Regardless they'll be worth keeping an eye on to see how this all shakes out.

Strengths:

1. A young franchise QB who shows maturity on the field, even when he doesn't off the field.


2. One of the best offensive lines in the league.


3. A ton of weapons on offense.


4. Darrelle Revis.

Weaknesses:

1. Three of their four wide outs, including starters Homes and Edwards, are free agents.


2. No pass rush.


3. Overrated defense that is prone to the big play.


4. Rex Ryan. He may get them to play, but I think this doesn't end well. It won't be this year, but down the road it won't be pretty. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Needs: The Jets should be able to retain their offense, including the wide outs to give them a real dynamic offense next year. The real strength is their offensive line. Even if Damien Woody isn't brought back they have Vladimir Ducasse how was selected high in the last draft and should be able to add some insurance this year as well. The key thing for the Jets is finding a way to get to the QB without blitzing which should help Revis and the rest of the secondary give up less big plays.

Miami Dolphins 7-9

Boring! How else would you describe this team? Does anybody care? I was a big Tony Sporano fan when he was in Dallas but he has been anything but impressive during his tenure as the Dolphins coach. This team is in complete disarray. Parcells puts his boy Jeff Ireland in charge, gets another one of his boys Sporano, to coach and them proceeds to quit or take a leave of absence, get stuck on the toilet, whatever, during the season. Wonder Boy, Ireland spends his days thinking of genius questions for incoming rookies like "Was your mom a hooker?" You can't make this stuff up. Then Sporano is fired. They go after Jim Harbaugh and he says, "thanks, but no thanks" and signs with the 49ER's so they have to crawl back to poor Sporano. On the field Chad Henne is doing his best Alex Smith impression by sucking the first 10-12 games and then looking good down the stretch so the team can't figure out whether they should fish (hardy -har-har) or cut bait.

Strengths:

1. Brandon Marshal is a stud trapped in Miami.


2. Jake Long is a franchise left tackle, assuming his shoulder is ok.


3. Yes only 2. This should tell you what I think of the Dolphins.

Weaknesses:

1. Dysfunction from top to bottom. Who's running this ship and why?


2. Quarterback. Henne is destined to be a backup.


3. Aside from Long the line is a mess.


4. Mediocrity. They seem like a team destined to hover between 6-10 & 9-7 for a long time.


5. Their division.

Needs: The Dolphins have a lot of needs and are without a #2 pick with the Marshal trade so they could be moving south on draft day. Do they take a QB in the first round? Not likely. Look for them to take another Chad Henne in round 2. This team needs a major shakeup. What a mess!

Buffalo Bills 4-12

Despite their record the Bills were a competitive team for most of the season, especially after Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as the starting quarterback. The two seasons ending blowouts put a little damper on an otherwise optimistic feel. Compare the Bills and the Dolphins. Obviously Miami has more talent, but which fan base should be more optimistic? I say the Bills because they have stability at quarterback and even though the jury is still out on Chan Gailey, at least there appears to be a game plan.

Strengths:

1. The #9 pick should give the Bills a stud on defense they sorely need.


2. Fitzpatrick put up very impressive numbers and should improve his overall play with a full offseason as the starter.


3. Depth at running back.


4. Stevie Johnson had a breakout season last year.

Weaknesses:

1. Defense. Starting with the sieve of a line and the strainer-like linebacker corps.


2. Playmakers. Aside from Johnson they are thin at wide out and need a playmaker at tight end.


3. Depth everywhere, aside from running back, is a problem.

Needs: I think there is reason for optimism in Buffalo. Keep in mind they still have 6 more months of winter ahead of them, but I think this team is on the upswing. Is Fitzpatrick the long term answer at QB or should they start grooming his eventual replacement? Interesting questions they will have to answer this offseason. First things first, fix the D!

Football NFL Draft

The Increasing Popularity of American Football

A couple decades back if you would happen to spark up a conversation with some random person who happened to be from another country about their favorite football team, most likely the first thought that would come to their mind would soccer for us Americans, also known as football around the world. Soccer is one of the world's most popular sports. No matter what distant land you may be in everyone loves and plays soccer, even countries like Iraq and Africa that seem to be constantly at war, with distant or neighboring countries or with poverty and starvation itself. But, in the past our American football has not been able to reach across these distant shores. Fortunately due to the ever increasing popularity of the sport more of our foreign friends around the world are beginning to take notice of the ever growing sport. Although the full contact sport is sometimes looked upon as brutal and barbaric from neighboring countries. The constant head to head action of the game is what can turn heads and catch the eye of said naysayers.

This is because football is like a living creature that is ever evolving into something that is faster and stronger more adapt, and slowly becoming a more efficient animal. By this I mean that with any game that deals with a lot of players all at once you are going to get many different players wall at once you are going to experience the many different emotions and attitudes of said players. This is because no matter how much you pay someone you can not change what kind of man "or woman"that person is. And after awhile of watching a game your own feelings somehow become wrapped up in the madness, the excitement, and the drama of the game. Before you know it you are wearing an NFL jersey and have thrown away your old sports bedding and replaced it with an NFL bedding set which you protect using duvet cover sets whenever company is around. That is why so many countries are beginning to support and recognize American football because of how it wraps you emotionally.

There is nothing better than coming home after a hard days work and relaxing on a beautiful bed set by le vele. Or do you just want to know more about duvet cover sets The beautiful vibrant colors mixed with the silk threading makes for a bed that welcomes you with arms wide open. So come to Multi Shop Stop to find duvet covers that will take your breath away

The Top QB-RB-WR Combos in the NFL For 2010

From Unitas-Ameche-Berry in the late 1950's and early 1960's to Bradshaw-Harris-Swann in the 1970's to Montana-Craig-Rice in the 1980's to Aikman-Smith-Irvin in the 1990's to Manning-James-Harrison in the 2000's, there has been a history of feared QB-RB-WR combos fueling gridiron success in the NFL. In today's NFL, with more wide-open offenses and running backs by committee, having a formidable set of "triplets" has become less integral but no less effective. Here is my list of the top QB-RB-WR combos in the league:

5. Atlanta Falcons (Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White) - The fact that the Falcons made this list speaks volumes about my belief that Matt Ryan will bounce back from an up-and-down campaign in 2009. I believe this kid has elite QB written all over him and will begin proving it in 2010. I also expect to see Michael Turner more resemble the runner we saw in 2008 than the injury-plagued back we saw last season. While Ryan and Turner suffered through disappointing seasons in 2009, Roddy White continued to emerge as one of the league's top wide receivers with 85 catches and a career best 11 touchdowns. Look for the Falcons offense to light it up in 2010.

4. Minnesota Vikings (Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice) - Obviously, this ranking depends a lot on Brett Favre's decision on whether to play or not in 2010. Let's just say, I have sneaky suspicion he'll show up sometime in August after the rigors of training camp are but a memory for his teammates. After doubting Favre's ability to defy age the past couple of seasons, I can find no reason to expect a sharp decline in his play this season. Despite a rather pedestrian end to his season - for my money - Adrian Peterson is still the best running back in the NFL. Vikings fans had been waiting on Sidney Rice to finally live up to some of his vast potential since being taken in the 2nd round in 2007. Well, they finally got what they were looking for as he blossomed with Favre as his quarterback - resulting in Pro Bowl season in 2009.

3. Dallas Cowboys (Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Miles Austin) - Miles Austin came out of nowhere last season to team with Romo and Barber to bring back memories of the original Cowboy Triplets (Aikman, Smith and Irvin). The Boys ranked #2 in the NFL in total yards last season and should once again have no problem moving the ball in 2010.

2. Indianapolis Colts (Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne) - The Colts have found themselves towards the top of this list each year since Edgerrin James teamed up with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison back in 1999. Eleven years later, a couple of the names have changed but the results have been the same. Joseph Addai took over for James in 2006 and Reggie Wayne moved out from under Marvin Harrison's shadow completely in 2009 as they, along with Manning, helped lead the Colts to a Super Bowl appearance last season.

1. Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Anquan Boldin) - I know this combo is unproven as a unit with Boldin yet to play a down for the Ravens, but I love the potential of these three in the 2010 NFL season. Flacco built on an impressive Rookie campaign in 2008 by passing for over 3600 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009. Ray Rice, also in his 2nd season last year, had over 2000 yards from scrimmage. If Boldin can quickly develop chemistry with Flacco, look for this group to put up some very impressive totals this season.

A. K. Leonard writes a Fantasy Sports Blog at http://www.h2hfantasysports.com with the latest in Head to Head Fantasy Sports news, tips, advice and recommendations.

Who Did Colts Legend Johnny Unitas Throw the Most Touchdown Passes to?

Johnny Unitas was one of the most highly thought of quarterbacks to have ever played the game. His memory is cherished and respected by players, coaches, and fans alike. He came into the league in 1956 and was a dominant player for more than 15 years. He played almost all of his career with the Baltimore Colts, except for one final season with the San Diego Chargers. Many football fans, both young and old, idolized the great Johnny U during his playing days.

The Colts teams that were helmed by Unitas were some of the best teams in the league during that period. The offense was very powerful, thanks not only to the quarterback, but also to the many other talented players there including Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, and John Mackey. From his first career touchdown pass thrown to Jim Mutscheller in 1956 to the last one thrown to Bob Thomas in San Diego in 1973, Unitas was nearly always one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Who caught the most touchdown passes though from this Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback?

It should come as no surprise to seasoned football fans, or better yet those who remember his playing days, that the player who caught more touchdown passes than anyone else was wide receiver Raymond Berry. His 63 touchdown receptions from Unitas are 20 more than the second place player on the list. Raymond Berry was one of his quarterback's favorite targets and he also had himself a Pro Football Hall of Fame career.

More Baltimore Colts trivia can be found at IQFB.com! You can even find out more about the other players who caught Johnny Unitas touchdown passes too! Use the knowledge found there to impress your friends, win bets, or even just for general information. Football trivia is popular with a lot of people whether they are fans of the NFL, USFL, Arena Football, Canadian Football, College Football, or any other level of the game. IQFB... Get Football Smart.

Philadelphia Eagles - Eagles Could Own 2009 Season

Lincoln Financial Field is the home turf for a football dynasty and for the fans that hold Philadelphia Eagles tickets. There are over 64,000 seats at this special stadium and during the height of football mania fans are packed in shoulder to shoulder cheering their heroes to victory. Last year the Eagles once again claimed their Division title and came within inches of a Super Bowl bid. The team has been NFL Eastern champs almost every year since 2000 and 2009 may be the year they spread their wings and fly. Already the demand is on pace to exceed ticket availability as fans anticipate an exceptional season.

Big Birds Walked Before they Learned to Fly

The history of the Eagles dates back to 1931 when the Frankford Yellow Jackets folded halfway into the season. This team was part of the NFL and after more than a year, the franchise was handed out for $2,500. The Eagles and the Yellow Jackets were never really considered to be the same team; however, almost no one from the earlier team was signed by the new franchise. The first outing was against the Giants of NY and the Eagles were properly trounced by a score of 56-0. Of course, the players who were on the roster during these early years were mostly former college students who only stayed for a few years. The Eagle's general manager, in 1935, proposed a yearly draft of college players to enable all of the NFL teams to be more competitive. Thus began the tradition of the team at the bottom getting to choose the first draft pick.

The remainder of the 1930's did not hold a lot of sparkle for the team and there were probably more than a few Philadelphia Eagles tickets that were used as bribes to attract an audience. Things began to turn around in the 1940's and the football players began to show that they really could deliver the goods when called upon. In 1943, the team merged with the Steelers because of WW II and the decreased rosters. This created the "Steagles" and Philadelphia claimed their 1st winning season after years of attempts. This arrangement only lasted for one season but in 1944, the Eagles won again in their own right and forged a championship run. The team was anchored by Coach Greasy Neale and a spectacular new draft pick, Steve Van Buren. For the Eagles, it was a bumpy ride through the 1950's but 1960 became a golden season that is still revered. The team won their 1st division title since 1944 and in doing so, presented Coach Vince Lombardi with his one and only championship defeat. The presence and dynamic growth of the team began to flourish under the leadership of the combined talents of coach Andy Reid and quarterback McNabb. The years since 2000 have been dominated almost exclusively by the soaring Eagles.

Checking Out the Stats

A look at the records for Philadelphia is proof of how successfully they have transformed their team into a respected contender.

- League Champions - 48, 49 and 60
- Conference Champions- 60, 80 and 03
- Division Champs- 47, 48, 49, 60, 78, 79, 80, 88, 01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 08
- 19 Playoff Appearances

Perfecting the Blueprint

The title of "Super Bowl Champs" has a nice ring to it, but the Philadelphia Eagles realize that they have some work ahead if they want to make a serious run for the gold ring. Philadelphia Eagles tickets are being snapped up quickly as fans eagerly wait for a new kick off day. The free agents and draft will definitely prove to be very helpful as the team digs in and uses this off-season time to put it all together and find a way to make it work. They have a couple of months to make their February free agent selections, and a healthy supply of 10 draft picks will definitely come in handy during April.

With QBs like McNabb, Kolb, and Feeley, the Eagles have plenty of skill and talent locked up for this all-important position and will probably look to add some playmakers and depth. There are plenty of returning players like Clemons, Darren Howard, Juqua Parker, Jackson, and Abiamiri, but fans are still anxious to see who Philadelphia is considering to add on to their roster. The early word making the rounds is that the team will be looking at players to move into tackle spots. Thomas and Runyan will become free agents and their return is highly suspect, especially with Runyan's recent surgery. Both players have been loyal and dependable team members for Philadelphia but situations and circumstances change and hard decisions are getting ready to be made. None of this undecided business is hampering the sale of Philadelphia Eagles tickets though, and the 2009 season is on track to be another sell out.

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

Linked and Blended Organizations - Strategies for Success

The current business environment has been bursting with organizational blendings; most noticeably, mergers & acquisitions. Early on, you must create a management structure that blends all linked locations into a single manageable entity. Also you will want to enjoy the strengths of your larger organization without losing responsiveness to your assimilated customer base and employees. To better focus on the opportunities rather than be bogged down with the challenges, use the ideas in this chapter to increase your chances of success.

Decide Synergistic Expectations

Be clear on what you are looking to have happen, resulting from your merger or acquisition. What end-results do you believe are possible? How do you intend to create the axiomatic equation of one plus one equals three? Listed are several areas to explore.

· Economies of scale for cost savings in procurement, management, manufacturing and distribution.

· Do you want to encourage entrepreneurship, initiative and risk taking on a local, regional, national or global level? Do you want collaboration among the units? Or do you want a traditionally hierarchical organization?

· How do you intend to create and deliver innovative value-added services?

· Will you take a broad marketing approach or focus on markets requiring distinctive competencies?

· How will you achieve continuous improvement?

· Will your new size and strength encourage you to pursue additional strategic acquisitions?

· What about staff considerations? How do you keep the employees that possess the intellectual knowledge and skills critical to success? Employees from both companies will be concerned about job security. Additional considerations will be to help surviving employees understand why they were selected to remain. Some of these surviving employees will have guilt issues to deal with. They could have issues with why certain employees were not kept on that they thought were doing a good job.

Communication is important here as executive search headhunters firms could be contacting your remaining employees. If they do not have an understanding of their value, they could be seduced into a new position elsewhere; leaving the merged company empty handed in some areas.

· What incentives and rewards will be put into place as motivation for retained employees?

· Even the name of your new merged organization is important. This will identify your marketplace position and inform all of your new identify. Create your new early in the process.

Inventory Internal Expectations from Each Organization

Inventory the expectations of employees, management and executives. Job security will most likely on the minds of middle management and workers. Executive compensation parity will also be an issue as will be control. When the deal is put together a battle starts for the mind's of the employees. You will have to sell the people in your blended organization on where it is going. While you want to paint the most positive picture possible, be cautious not to over-promise.

There is always a honeymoon or transitional period, make the best uses of it. Meet with counterparts from the other group(s). Be careful not to play ostrich, keep your head out of the sand so you can see incoming relationship bombardment and do something about it before it blows up in your face. Depending on the ownership and size of your new organization, you may also find it necessary to work the media before they start trashing the deal.

Inventory Core Competencies

Inventory the core competencies from each company. When products and services from each differ, but serve similar markets that's synergy. Yet, when products are similar but have different markets, which also can mean synergy. Have a strategic plan about how economies of scale will be achieved, through sales, through purchasing, or hopefully, both.

This is an area where cross-functional teams will help you to both identify strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the teams can be helpful in the daily fire fighting of unexpected blending issues and challenges. Find areas where economies of scale now become possible. This is the area for profitability increases through cost savings.

Inventory Cultures and Policies

Inventory the cultures and policies of each company. How is employee training and reward viewed? How are goals set and measured? Varying levels of formality (Silicon Valley to New York City) can prove to be an Achilles heel if not addressed. Also, words used by both organizations may have taken on different meanings. Each organization must give a little in the area of policy. Don't be married to the past and the, this is how we've always done it mentality. With DalmerChrysler, the German's beer breaks have been interesting for the Americans to accept. While the Germans have difficulty with the casual atmosphere of the Americans.

This can also be a good time to reevaluate your suppliers. In a merged situation, there is a good chance some suppliers will not make the new team. This can be an excellent opportunity to make some changes and/or negotiate a better total value package.

Circles of Interest

Decide where circles of interest, expectations and inventories from above overlap, and where they do not. Each person should get to know his or her counter parts in the other company. Rather than my way and your way, focus on what the culture's share in common. The common ground will exhibit the greatest possibility for the kind of synergies that make mergers valuable. The more the circles of interest from each organization overlap, the more reason each has to make the marriage work. This was an important problem worth taking notice with the failed merger of Price/Costco Warehouse stores in the mid-nineties.

When an executive integration team first met as part of DaimlerChrysler's merger, each member of the group received half of a stock certificate framed. Co-chairmen, Jurgen Schrempp and Robert Eaton told them that it was up to them to make the merger successful. They also told them that they would get the other half of the stock when the merger was a success. This is a great way to get the circles of interest among the factions to see the overlapping possibilities. Unfortunately, after a few years the German management learned that their style was not successful overseeing an American corporation with such an ingrained culture and sold Chrysler for a loss.

Uncover Road Blocks

Struggle is inevitable in any organizational blending. Uncover expected roadblocks to the blending process before you merge. Go back to the earlier chapter on Partnering Pitfalls, you will find that many of the issues will be the same.

Executives can see the world through different windows. With the failed 1993 Price Co. and Costco Wholesale Corp. merger, it was the ancillary issues of office buildings and mall development that they couldn't on that kept their focus off the core competencies and developing synergistic economies of scale. Bob Ortega, in his Wall Street Journal article said, "In an interview, Mr. Price said that he and Jim Sinegal, the former Costco chief executive who holds that position at the merged companies, 'have a lot of philosophical differences.' He declined to elaborate."

Information technology can be a deal breaker. If the computer systems do not fit, the merger may blunder. HMO, Harvard Pilgrim posted a $94 million operating loss for fiscal 1998. CFO magazine reported, "The deficit was unprecedented, forcing the resignations of CEO Allan I. Greenberg and CFO Thomas J. Brophy last May [1998]." While the merger that created Harvard Pilgrim was formed in 1995, by 1999 they still had not integrated their computer systems. A pre-merger claims-processing system that successfully handled half a million subscribers was expected post-merger to handle over twice that amount. Unfortunately, it couldn't.

Edward Teach, in the same article, reports, "One fast mover that lives up to its name is Fleet Financial Group, which considers its in-house integration abilities 'one of our strategic strengths,' says vice chairman and CFO Eugene M. McQuade. 'We devote mind-boggling resources to its capability.'

Those resources have been put to the test again and again, notably in the $3.7 billion merger with Shawmut National Corp. in 1995, the $3.6 billion merger with NatWest National Corp. in 1996, and now the $16 billion megamerger with BankBoston Corp. [1999]"

There are several additional areas of potential roadblocks, they include:

· Communication problems are not always readily apparent. Build a conduit for heavy communication flow, in all directions. Many of the problems that surface in mergers could have been avoided through an open channel of communication. Additionally, words and terms must be defined for the merged organization. The same word may have been used differently in both the previous organizations. This seemingly small point has been the root of many communication debacles.

In-person communications are best, the more face time, the better. When this is not possible, short written communications sent out frequently are better than long and infrequent ones. Plenty of town hall type meetings works well. Remember that communication must happen in all directions, not just from the top down.

· The not-invented-here mentality.

· Blaming everything on the merger, especially poor productivity can be commonplace.

· Technology compatibility in all areas of the newly blended organization.

Publish the Findings

Publish the above findings for all employees of both companies. Otherwise they will fill-in the blanks for themselves, usually with erroneous information. Factual merger information will go a long way to sooth fears and help all concerned understand the strategic plan and all the challenged in its implementation.

Unity verses Uniformity

Your desire to build unity rather than demand uniformity reveals your increased chances for successful culture merging. To help employees of both cultures become contributing members, a feeling of community needs to be built. This is done through:

1. Setting Perameters.

2. Focus on a common vision or master plan.

3. Empowering people and helping them to understand their accountability to one another.

4. Encourage social events that can be fun. This will be worth it=s weight in gold toward employees feelings of belonging.

5. Celebrate all early successes, no matter how small.

6. Recognition of both effort and achievement.

7. What you do not want is mindless drones simply doing what they are told. If so, where are the synergies? What was the value of the merger in the first place?

Emotional Ownership

Help everybody from entry-level employees to the staff in the executive suites to have a their own emotional ownership in the success of your recently merged organization. Your leadership must both support the change and lead the charge. Some points to consider:

· You will want to offer a common vision behind which all can rally.

· Look for areas that have alignment issues with the vision and go some quick surgery. Structures and processes must be in alignment with your new vision. Do not delay in making the changes you deem necessary.

· Identify early groups that are experiencing successes in areas that are aligned with the vision and make much noise in touting their commitment.

· Developing how-to road maps will go a long way in helping both organizations blend with the change.

· An important element in your road map is the conduit and mechanism you have developed for multi-direction communication.

· As you blend support functions such as general management, purchasing, information technology, manufacturing, distribution and marketing, Select new department leaders that exhibit strong alignment and act consistent with your new vision.

· Continue to drive the message of customer satisfaction and execute actions consistent with your message.

· Re-recruit early and continuously those key people you have identified as crucial to your success. These are the people you do not want to lose. Discover what you must do for them in order to keep them on board and have a strong sense of loyalty.

· There generally are two waves of deserters. The first happens very early, these are the people that are not interested in the newly merged organization. Second comes about a year down the road. These people are the ones that gave the merger a chance but now do not like the changes they see taking place.

· Create an organizational blending event.

DalmerChrysler made a celebration of the first day the newly merged organization's stock traded on the New York Exchange. They called it Day One. They gave all their over 420,000 employees a merger kit that contained a 44-page tabloid magazine featuring information and an overview of the new company. In the kit, employees also found their own commemorative Swatch watch bearing the new company name, DalmerChrysler.

Employees viewed satellite coverage of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange where Co-chairman Robert J. Eaton (from Chrysler) rang the opening bell. Day One activities also included flag-raising ceremonies, tree plantings, product displays and cross-cultural eating (American food on German facilities and German food in American facilities).

Allan Nahajewski, senior manager, communications programs says, "We realized that the first day of the company would be an emotional one for the employees, but this was an opportunity to capitalize on. Day One brought the results it was designed to produce. It's all a matter of making sure the respect for the previous cultures is strong and mutual, and you don't lose it when you're creating a new culture."

Co-chairman, Jurgen E. Schrempp said, I was overwhelmed by the positive reactions from employees. I heard from locations all over the world that Day One really enhanced the spirit of working together, of becoming a family."

Employees from both cultures will have a feeling of belonging if they are working toward a cause. This will help them to have the emotional ownership for which executives hope. Sure, it is much work, and it takes more than the above steps, opportunities abound. For those who are willing to be flexible and open to possibilities, being part of a newly merged organization can be the opportunity of a lifetime.

For a successful merger, Sandy Weill suggests:

· "Use shares, options and other methods for encouraging employee ownership to make everyone feel part of the new company.

· Be straightforward with people when making personnel decisions...It's very important to be honest and tell somebody your decision right off.

· Include spouses and keep them informed...It will create a family feeling...The more they know about strategy, what the company is doing and what it has set out to accomplish, the more support I think you get from the whole household."

Pritchett and Gilbreath, in their booklet titled Mergers, Growth in the Fast Lane say, "During the early months of merger integration, about the best you can do is to manage the blur--ride the waves, so to speak, instead of trying to be boss of the ocean. You can't avoid the rough water, so you might as well make the most of it. The ride may be wild and scary, but you sure can cover some miles.

Believe it or not, there is a blessing in all this. Several in fact. With things in such a state of flux, you have a window op opportunity during which you can do dramatic things. It's like having a license to make wholesale changes, to take actions that are long overdue."

You can buy the brick and mortar, but can you keep the employees? Brick and mortar is easily attainable. Throughout this chapter, employees have been mentioned. To realize the organizational blending benefits you desire--post blending employee retention is crucial.

Conflict Resolution

According to Robert House, a professor of organizational behavior at the Warton School for Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, "Almost 60 percent of mergers are disappointing due to poor post-merger communications within a company. There's a lot of power at stake, a lot of fear and confusion. Most organizations aren't as sensitive as they should be to the human dynamics of a merger situation"

As your merger progresses focus on cooperation rather than competition, continue to build on the areas of mutual agreement and remember that the behavior you reward will be repeated--positive or negative. The above ideas will help you deal with the inevitable conflicts that will occur in your organizational blending journey. Enjoy the ride.

Ed Rigsbee, CSP, for over two decades has frequently been referred to as the Renaissance Man. He helps business individuals and organizations of all sizes to grow their market through smart alliance relationships. He is the founder and executive director of a non-profit public charity. He frequently publishes articles and blogs on personal relationship development. He administers a Facebook group; Relationship Glue and a Linkedin group; Member ROI for Associations & Societies.

Ed has served as adjunct professor for two California universities and is the author of Developing Strategic Alliances, PartnerShift-How to Profit from the Partnering Trend, and The Art of Partnering. He has over 1,500 hard-copy published articles to his credit and is a regular keynote speaker at corporate and trade association conferences teaching North America how to access their Collaborative Advantage.

He shares his proprietary Member Value Process globally with trade associations and professional societies-the corner stone for grass roots member recruitment and retention campaigns.

Ed has been a professional member of the National Speakers Association since 1988 and received the coveted Certified Speaking Professional designation in 2000. He also holds membership at the American Society of Association Executives. For additional resources that will assist you, visit http://www.rigsbee.com/wow.htm