The 1985 Chicago Bears Were Truly Amazing

The 1985 Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears were an amazing group of players that performed at a very high level of excellence. Some of the key players on the team are well known names, even today: Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Willie Gault, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, William "Refrigerator" Perry, and more. But, this team was more than the star players on the roster, coached by Mike Ditka, the Bears also featured quality role players like Dennis McKinnon, Gary Fencik, Matt Suhey, Dennis Gentry, Kevin Butler, Jay Hilgenberg, Steve McMichael, Otis Wilson, Wilber Marshall, and more.

Some interesting facts about the Super Bowl Champion 1985 Chicago Bears:

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  Regular season record: 15-1
  
  
  

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  Combined score of all three playoff games: 91-10
  
  
  

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  Individual Awards: Walter Payton (Offensive Player of the Year), Mike Singletary (Defensive Player of the Year), Mike Ditka (Coach of the Year)
  
  
  

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  The defense allowed a paltry 11.5 points per game throughout the regular season, then 3.3 points per game in the postseason.
  
  
  

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  In the Super Bowl, the Bears defense allowed the Patriots offense to only gain positive yardage on 4 of the 21 plays they ran during the first half, in fact the Patriots total yardage gained in the first half was negative 19 yards.
  
  
  

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  During the Super Bowl, the Bears held the Patriots starting running backs Craig James and Tony Franklin to minimal yards. James rushed the ball 5 times for 1 yard with 1 fumble, while Franklin gained 4 yards on 3 carries.
  
  
  

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  The Bears scored every way possible during their Super Bowl victory: Touchdown, Extra Point, Field Goal, and Safety (there was no two point conversion at this time).
  
  
  

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  In the 15 wins by the 1985 Bears, only four games were decided by less than ten points.
  
  
  

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  The 1985 Bears defense was the third highest rated defense against the pass and the #1 defense against the run.
  
  
  

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  The 1985 Bears sent nine players to the Pro Bowl, including five defensive players.
  
  
  

The 1985 Chicago Bears were an amazing team that performed at an amazing level for one season. The Bears would not return to this level of dominance, but the 1985 team will go down in history as one of the best - if not, the best - ever.

http://iqfb.com combines its passion for football with its love of trivia to bring you tons of "Hey, I didn't know that" type of information. IQFB.com - Get Football Smart!

The Top 10 Greatest Running Backs of All Time

Everybody has there favorite running backs of all time, but here is my list of the top 10 greatest running backs of all time:

10) Eric Dickerson - Nobody was prettier to watch. If you watched the Los Angeles Rams in the 80s, it looked like a bunch of elephants chasing a gazelle.

9) Bo Jackson - Boy, what could have been. If the criteria for the greatest running back of all time was just sheer physical attributes it wouldn't even be close. This man was a freak of nature. It looked like somebody built him in Frankenstein-like experiment. It's a shame that an injury destroyed his career.

8) Gale Sayers - No NFL player had a more memorable career by playing less games. He scored a then record 22 touchdowns in his rookie year. Without the possible exception of Barry Sanders, he was the most dangerous player in the open field in the history of the NFL.

7) Earl Campbell - No other player has exerted more pain on the opposing defense than Earl Campbell. Legs as thick as redwood trees, every tackle was on him was going to be an ordeal.

6) Emmitt Smith - All time NFL leading rusher. What more needs to be said?

5) Ladanian Tomlinson - Has been breaking records ever since he entered the league. He is a touchdown machine. In the 2006 season, he scored more touchdowns than some entire teams scored for that year. If he can keep this kind of pace, he might break every rushing record in existence.

4) Marshall Faulk - Part of the greatest show on turf. Such an amazing football player, that if he played Wide Receiver, he'd probably still be going to the Hall of Fame. By far, no other running back has been such a weapon in the passing game.

3) Jim Brown - Revolutionized the position. A man among boys. Regarded by many as the not only the greatest running back of all time, but the greatest football player of all time.

2) Walter Payton - Not blessed with blazing speed or great physical strength. He was THE blue collar running back. He typified the character of Chicago.

1) Barry Sanders - Nobody has done more in a career with less help than Barry Sanders. His open field moves were something akin to a video game. Sanders played for some truly horrible Detroit Lions teams. He played with weak quarterbacks, paper thin offensive lines, and yet he managed to go over 1,000 yards for every single year of his career.

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Quarterback Drills

I was talking with a Major college football recruiter and I asked him what they look for in a High School Quarterback. He stated 4 things! The first thing they look for in a quarterback is mental and physical toughness. The second thing they look for is the QB footwork. The third thing they look for is Vision. And lastly is the arm strength to make all of the quarterback throws. If a quarterback has those four of these abilities then you might just get a football scholarship!

A lot of mental toughness comes with football classroom work. One of the most underrated phases of quarterback training is in the football film room and the chalkboard. Most teams give the quarterback scouting reports that the coaches will review with them. Many teams after reviewing scouting reports have the quarterbacks write down the different passing plans. Such as the goal line package, the 2 minute offense package, the 3rd down package. the no huddle package if you have one, the first down passing package. From this list you will usually have 2-4 plays picked and reviewed.

So as you can see a Quarterback must spend some time learning how to read defenses! I see that there are now quarterback training websites that sell Quarterback How To Read Defenses DVDs. I strongly suggest any serious QB get them!

Quarterback footwork can be developed in many ways. Jumping rope, Jumping Benches and Boxes. Playing soccer, playing tennis, playing basketball, ladder drills, hurdle drills. Again there are some great low cost football training dvds out there you can buy on the internet. Just search quarterback training dvds or football training dvds.

Nest is vision, this is skill all great quarterbacks must have. You must be able to read defenses, find the open reciever and make the throw! The first part of reading defenses is identifying the pass coverage. Is it cover 2, cover 3, Man to man, Zone, or a combination type pass defense, or is a blitz coming? Again all qbs must put some time in the classroom study film and learning to read defenses!

Lastly, all quarterbacks at the higher levels have a strong enough arm to make all of the passing throws in a passing tree. The typical routes include a quick out, quick slant or quick hitch.

The passing tree includes 3 step drops, The typical routes include a quick out, quick slant or quick hitch. 5 step drops, with typical routes are curl, out, in. And 7 step drop or shotgun, with typical routes being the deep in, deep out, comeback, post and go route.

This passing tree and the throws used are the bread and butter used by all college and NFL coaches or scouts. If you want to play quarterback you must learn these throws. You can attend a quarterback camp or again there are some great low cost quarterback passing drills dvd that you can buy on the internet to see more detailed quarterback drills.

Todd Krueger is a former 8th round draft pick in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills and also played with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL. He runs a football coaching website at http://www.footballtools.com and offers football coaching products such as NFL Football Playbooks, Youth Football Practice DVDs, Quarterback Training DVDs, Football Scouting Software, Football Playbook Software, Free Quarterback Drills, Football Special Teams DVDs, Football Workout DVDs, Football Practice DVDs, and a free football newsletter at http://www.footballtools.com and http://www.playqb.com

Trick Football Plays

Trick football plays are fun to watch. They aren't attempted very often but when they are every fan watching the game feels their level of excitement rise. The potential for the play to have a great or a disastrous outcome just adds to the excitement.

Trick football plays are any play that seems like one thing is going to happen and then something else that's totally out of the ordinary actually happens. Many trick plays involve someone other than the quarterback throwing the ball.

Often on trick plays, the running back or a wide receiver will throw the football. Of course this is a trick because usually a running back will either get a handoff and run or will catch the ball and run with it. A wide receiver will usually catch and run with the ball. So, when a running back and a receiver throw the ball it's a trick play.

One of the trick football plays that involve a running back is a play that looks like a sweep but is actually a passing play. For this trick play the ball is handed or pitched to a running back. The running back then sweeps right or left faking like he's going to run the ball. However, before he turns up field and runs the ball, he stops and tries to throw the ball downfield to a tight end or a wide receiver. Occasionally the running back may even try to throw the ball to another running back or a quarterback.

This play will work if the defense thinks it's a run and fails to cover the players going out for a pass. However, the play could quickly turn bad if one of two things happen: If the defense gets to the running back and sacks him or if the defense covers the receivers but the running back throws the ball anyway. There is also the chance that the running back, who isn't used to throwing the ball, throws a horrible pass that gets intercepted.

The same problems exist when a wide receiver is asked to throw the ball. The receiver could get tackled behind the line of scrimmage or throw an interception. However, the same possible rewards can be achieved too. The wide receiver could throw a touchdown.

There are a couple different trick football plays that involve the wide receiver throwing the ball. One play involves the wide receiver coming in motion and then receiving a handoff or a pitch from the quarterback. Another play involves throwing the ball back to the wide receiver. The final trick play has the ball getting to the wide receiver by it being handed first to a running back and then to the wide receiver.

Trick football plays are great for the game of football. Just when a team seems to be getting too predictable, they can run one of many trick football plays and suddenly lose the too predictable tag. Some of the best trick football plays involve either a running back or a wide receiver throwing the ball downfield.

Coach Tucker is dedicated to seeing his teams succeed in the classroom and on the football field. He shares his love of the game (along with drills and plays) for free on this blog:

http://www.football-tutorials.com/

Football Recruiting 101 - Ten Questions

When speaking with college coaches you need to be prepared to ask questions to gather the information you need to get a better idea if that school and football program is a good fit for you. Remember it is a two way street, as the coach is checking you out, you are checking things out at the same time.

The coach will be impressed that you did your homework when your asking questions. Asking questions is all a part of the recruiting process. There are lots of questions that you can ask coaches that would never think of without getting some guidance. Get a copy of the "Guide For The College Bound Student-athlete" from the NCAA. To stimulate thought for you I have listed ten very good questions below.

1) How many other student-athletes are seriously recruiting at my position?

2) What has the team record been the past few seasons?

2) What are the strength and conditioning requirements each year?

4) When does your contract expire?

5) Describe the typical day for a student-athlete?

6) How is the support of the local community? What is there to do with some spare time?

7) What types of financial aid are typically available for student-athletes like me?

8) If I'm injured, what happens to my financial aid?

9) What's the best way to stay in touch with you?

10) What's the next step? What should "we" do from here?

I hope this short list of questions help. Keep in mind that you are competing against thousands of other athletes and you need every edge that you can get. By asking questions a college coach will sense your interest. College coaches want to know that you are interested in their programs.

Authored by: Tony Passarella - Sports Recruiting Coach

I am a very experienced recruiting coach and have matched countless athletes to colleges getting them thousands of dollars toward their education. You need a system that will give you massive exposure presenting you to college coaches in a professional manner. We have that system in place for you. I invite you to take a tour of my recruiting sports page.

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Collecting Dallas Cowboys Football Cards

Card manufacturers were producing trading cards long before the Dallas Cowboys joined the NFL in 1960. In the 1950's Topps began packaging their signature product, bubblegum, with baseball and football cards. From there, as football grew in popularity, players could find their likeness on items such as milk cartons, soft drink caps, cereal boxes and plastic cups. The emergence of the AFL in 1960 allowed Topps competitors, beginning with Fleer, to make inroads in the business. The 1961 Fleer set featured both leagues, and then they focused on the AFL alone. Philadelphia Gum secured the NFL rights for 1964, forcing Topps to go for the AFL which left Fleer with no product in either baseball or football. Philadelphia Gum produced football card sets featuring Cowboys from 1964 through 1967. In 1982 Topps was licensed by NFL Properties for the first time. Previously, team logos on helmets were removed by airbrush. In the 70's Fleer rejoined the ranks by producing sets of cards called Fleer Team Action and FTA Stickers. They focused on NFL teams not individual players and were able to use team logos. The "card explosion" started around 1989 with new companies joining the fold like Pro Set and Score. By 1992 there were more than 30 brands of football cards. It was a new era for the hobby. You could all but forget about collecting all the cards of your favorite team, but now focus on a favorite player or two. Just to put it all in perspective - with all the parallel, inserts, and variations - in 1995 there were over 250 different cards produced of Troy Aikman.

The Cowboys were an expansion team in 1960. Their first roster was created by choosing 36 players from the 12 existing franchises (three per team). In the first set of cards featuring Dallas Cowboys players, 1960 Topps, all the players were pictured in the uniforms of the teams they departed. The next year they took part in the NFL draft and acquired Bob Lilly with their first ever draft pick. There have been many outstanding players through the years that have donned the blue star on their helmet, several of which are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Only one man held the position of head coach for the first 29 years of the organization - Tom Landry. Coach Landry led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl titles, five NFC Championships, 13 NFC East titles, 18 trips to the playoffs and 20 winning seasons.

There were no plastic holders or sleeves to keep your cards from harms way in the early years. They were rubber banded together and tossed in shoe boxes and the stickers were stuck onto school notebooks or bike fenders. Cards were flipped and traded with your buddies and even thumb tacked or taped on bulletin boards. All these things lend to the value of the cards today. If you were lucky enough to have kept very good care of your cards when you were younger, and your mother didn't toss that shoebox in the attic out with the trash, you could already have a good start to your collection. Now with all the top-loaders, sorting boxes, screw downs and nine-slot binder pages available to the collector, it's much easier to take care of those gems. That is why I consider 1960 - 1990 the vintage years. Those older cards can sometimes be very difficult to find in great condition. That is not to say that the cards manufactured after 1990 have no value or collectible appeal. They just won't be as scarce or hard to find in great condition twenty or even fifty years from now. I encourage you to collect beyond 1990 and on. It's a whole new hobby now with more resources to fill your checklists like the internet and card shows.

The Dallas Cowboys Complete Football Card Guide - Vol 3

A beautifully illustrated 226 page, full-color guide, provides the Dallas Cowboy collector with information on over 6000 different sets from 1960 to 2006.

http://www.thecowboysguide.com/

NFL Network Broadcasts Live NFL Games on Satellite Only

The 2007 NFL season has been one of the most exciting in history. From the battle of the undefeated New England Patriots and last year's Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts to the troubles of Atlanta Falcon quarterback Mike Vick, fans always have something to talk about at the water cooler. The game between the Patriots and the Colts was the most watched game in 20 years, according to Nielsen Media Research.

But the biggest news in football has not dealt with any player or team but the NFL network, which has yet to be embraced by cable and is now only available by satellite. Fans are so upset, but websites have been set up to keep fans up to date on the squabbles between cable providers and the network. One of the issues deals with apartments and condominiums that have exclusive deals with cable providers. These deals are taking away the choice from many consumers who want to switch to a satellite television provider to get the NFL network (and other choice programming provided by satellite services).

Some of the arguments posted on the website include that cable companies stifle competition and have double standards. This is one of the "points" made on the website: "Cable has a double standard when it comes to sports channels. Channels they own, like Versus and the Golf Channel are included in the basic lineup. Independent channels like NFL Network get left out in the cold. This is unfair and anti-consumer. Consumer interest should decide what channels get carried - not inside deals among cable companies."

What does the NFL Network provide that has fans begging for it? Here is a sampling:

o Eight regular season prime time NFL games on Thursday and Saturday nights

o Fifty-two NFL preseason games 98 NFL game replays - five a week each week throughout the season

o NFL classic games in their original broadcast form

o Past Super Bowls in their entirety

o Live week-long Super Bowl coverage from the host city

o Live week-long Pro Bowl coverage

o Live NFL Draft coverage, plus the most extensive access leading up to the draft.

o Exclusive live NFL Scouting Combine coverage, the annual job interview process for incoming NFL hopefuls

o Exclusive mini-camp and training camp specials

The controversy is not expected to end soon. As the regular season ends and playoffs begin, more NFL fans are expected to lobby the Federal Communications Commission about the issue.

The controversy over the NFL network is just one more reason that cable subscribers are leaving their providers and ordering satellite TV. For example, DirecTV not only offers the NFL Network, but also offers the network in high definition. They are also the only provider of the NFL Sunday Ticket which provides out of market coverage to relocated fans.

Whitney Alen is a Direct TV expert and has over 10 years experience in the satellite tv industry.

The English Premiership, The Best Football League In The World

The English Premiership football league has just commenced a new season and already football fans from all over the world have been treated to a feast of exciting games. There really is no comparison in the quality of this division compared to other leagues from around the world, the premiership truly is the best.

Just looking at the Italian premier is a good example, this country boasts some of the top footballers from around the world but the games are just so boring to watch. Channel four from the UK used to air a match every week on a Sunday from this league but it has now been taken off our screens due to a lack of viewers, that says it all.

Just last season, on the final game of the Italian league, one particular team were having to win their last home game to avoid being relegated. The problem they had was the fact that they were playing the champions, Inter Milan. This would normally be a virtually guaranteed away win but for some reason the bookmakers were offering nine to one on a Milan victory. These odds looked very generous but very few people put money on Milan to win. It was no surprise to hear that Milan had lost the game by two goals to nil, that is the Italian league for you!

Boring is something you could not describe the majority of games from the English premier league, a better description would be fast and furious. Even the most ardent of Liverpool supporters would agree that you can not beat watching Manchester United when they are in full flight, players like Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney are just exceptional talents.

I actually support Birmingham City, this is a team that will be happy to avoid relegation this season as they have just been promoted from the championship.

I would advise any football supporter from around the world to regularly watch the matches from the English premiership as you will not be disappointed.

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The First Football Training Session

Like a kids first day at school, the first day of football training could be quite daunting for the kid. They will be meeting new players, the coach will be new to them and also it may well be the first time they have actually played football. So it very important as a coach that the introductions are made quite early and the kid feels part of the team as early as you can. As most of the surroundings will be very unfamiliar to them and they will be eager to take in new instructions and learn new skills. Therefore it is best not to leave them hanging around the touch line, and get them into the training as quickly as possible.

We all sort of know the feeling when we go to a party with a friend and the friend knows everyone but you don't know anyone. It takes a little time to adjust as even the conversations going on may be unfamiliar to you as the other parties will all know each other and have their own circle of friends. Now a new kid who joins a new football training session for the first time would probably feel in a very similar way. So get them introduced to all the other kid as soon as possible and get them straight into the training so they don't feel like they are the lemon at the party.

The first job is to formally introduce yourself and any assistant coaches if you have already selected them. A school teacher would not give a reading test to a school student on the first day without first introducing themselves and the same goes for a football coach.

Try and gather your team in a quiet place where they can hear you properly. If you are in a place where there is another game going on behind you then the kids will probably be more interested in the game instead of you, so make sure you choose a spot where they can hear you properly and you can get a few pointers across before the training starts.

Check for things like where the sun is shining before you talk to them. The last thing you want is the sun glaring into their eyes, so all they see is a silhouette of you as they are squinting at the sun. Also if your kids are under 8years old it would be a good idea to kneel down to their level so they don't have to talk up to you. Get all these things right and you will off to a good start with your first football training session.

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Mini Football Helmets

NFL football and college football continue to grow and are now dominating the sports scene world wide. Probably the most recognizable piece of a football player's equipment has always been the football helmets that they wear with the team logo proudly displayed. The helmets have been an object of desire for sports fans for years and the business of selling those replica helmets has been booming through many dealers on the internet. Whether you want to support your favorite team or want to collect them all can bring the game into your home.

The Mini Football Helmets are a fantastic item for the fan that either can not afford the full size helmet or doesn't have the room. Many places are even offering NFL mini helmets signed by their favorite player and mounted and displayed in a protective cased if the owner desires. The college football mini helmets are offered for all all college football teams teams and are an amazing replica of the helmets you see on the players on Saturday afternoon.

The mini football helmet can be a fantastic Christmas, Father's Day, or Birthday present for collectors and non-collectors alike. They can be added to the existing collection of memorabilia of your favorite teams. We all have a party for that big game. Why not put a mini football helmet on the snack table to really show your support. At tailgate parties you will be the envy of the other tailgaters when you display the actual helmets of the two teams who will be playing.

Chris Bishop is a football enthusiast who loves all things football and is a new internet blogger.

Mini Football Helmets

Mini Football Helmets

College Football Withdrawal - A Guide to Recognizing and Recovering From Football Dependency

College Football's season ending 'hurrah' that is bowl week heralds the conclusion of the 2008 season. For the more balanced among us, this signals the start of a new year and the chance to focus on surviving winter and to enjoy not having to cut the grass. For others, this time of year marks a merciful and justified end to more than four months of yelling, beer swilling, nacho loading and relationship damaging behavior.

2008 was notable for many formerly losing programs. Vanderbilt defeated Boston College 16-14 in the Music City Bowl on New Year's Eve. This was Vanderbilt's first bowl win since the Dwight Eisenhower Presidency and came over #24 Boston College. Not since Howdy Doody ruled Saturdays has Vanderbilt produced a post season victory. Vandy is now able to provide proof that the school indeed has a football program. Coming out of the cold after 53 years will provide enough fuel to keep the Commodore faithful happy through the offseason.

2008 saw many milestones achieved. It also saw some horrific collapses. Several formerly strong programs that expected to win, took a nosedive into the black hole of bowl in ineligibility. The Wolverines of mighty Michigan found out what life has been like for their Big-10 brethren at Indiana this year, as there was no bowl trip to a warm climate to salve the discomfort of a Michigan winter. Several programs that expected to be generating heat in the compost bin, didn't fail to disappoint. Perennial doormats of the west, New Mexico State and Idaho managed to field teams that performed expectedly abysmally. The big surprise this year was former Pac-10 power program Washington. The team smelled like wet dogs as they competed with cross state rival Washington State to solidly anchor the worst group of 2008 football programs.

How do Husky fans survive the offseason? The obligatory firing of the old coach and replacement with poor Steve Sarkisian from USC will provide a few weeks of hope, but in the end, reality will set in just like the Puget Sound fog. The one bright spot is that expectations for Husky football are now set so low, that even a single win over a Division II school would qualify as a step in the right direction. UW is now trying to schedule Western Kentucky and Murray State just as soon as possible. But the purple dogs would be wise to remember Michigan scheduling Appalachian State at home some years ago. The maize and blue's gagging in that game started the program spiraling into the septic tank. But well... if you are UW, there just isn't much further to fall, so you may as well try and outbid Indiana and Nebraska to get Murray State to show up on your field.

How did we as a society get to a point where our daily happiness is dependent on how the alma mater did on the field? This question justifies some exploration as a good chunk of the autumn economy is driven by young, t-shirt clad alumni putting pizza, nachos and beer on their new American Express cards.

College football afternoons call to mind a time of hope and anticipation for university alumni. That time of being young and able to scope out the coeds with impunity is for many, the best and most hopeful time of their young lives. Many alumni get out into the world and before they realize it, find themselves with a mortgage, a wife and two great but loud kids. They wistfully look back on the feeling of exhilaration and optimism when they let themselves believe that Tammy C. from Accounting 101 might really go out with 'em. For young alums the challenge is then to recreate those great feelings of exhilaration and optimism while encumbered by a real job.

University administrators take great advantage of this. Inviting alumni to fund raising events where they can mingle with students, alums and cheerleaders stirs just enough of that old college excitement that alumni are soon parted with significant sums of their money. When this occurs, a dysfunctional bond is created between alum and institution. Winning on the field becomes a validation of that relationship. And validation is important when going home to the wife to explain why one just contributed $500 to the University Therapy (read 'Hot Tub') fund.

Once the alumni and university relationship is firmly established, a dependency is created. Dependency like substance abuse gradually demands increasing contributions of attention and resources until a breaking point is reached. This breaking point typically occurs at the end of the football season when the credit card bills arrive and the wife is threatening to take the two loud kids and move to her cousin's place near South Beach.

It should be noted that these dependencies are created in winning as well as losing environments. In winning environments however, there are more alumni to shoulder the burdens of keeping the players in hot tubs and nice cars. For rebuilding or losing programs, these dependencies really threaten financial health, family well being and all manner of relationships. So, before one has to endure news that his former wife is dating Rodrigo from the South Florida Modeling Agency, immediate action is required. Fortunately, science has provided us with at least two tactics that work.

Replacement

Replacing the substance at the core of the dependency is a common strategy. Frequently, an over dedicated alum turns his attention to the basketball program. The general strategy is to decrease the dependency though gradual reduction of the substituted environment.

Unfortunately, an indoor sport doesn't allow for nearly enough seating to bring enough alumni and cheerleaders together to generate the same level of interest and excitement that a big outdoor venue provides, so using basketball to replace football as an area of interest frequently fails.

The big risk to the replacement strategy occurs when a basketball program actually gets exciting. This creates yet another dependency that one has to wait until baseball season to cure. By this time, the ex-wife and Rodrigo will be a sipping Champaign in a hot tub of their own.

Should the replacement strategy be chosen, the author recommends hockey. Even at a professional level, hockey is fast enough to allow the viewer to forget about gawking at college aged coeds. And almost no one has hockey cheerleaders.

Many wives may be prevented from achieving the status of ex-wives by including them in the replacement area of interest. Replacement interests need not be sports related. Especially if one's wife has participated to any degree in the football season, the recovering fan will need to consider all options for replacement - just to be fair. These areas may include opera, classical music and other artistic disciplines far removed from anything resembling a sweat sock.

Rebound

The term 'rebound' is a more clever way of saying quitting 'cold turkey.' After a period of time removed from the dependency, the fan will simply rebound to something resembling normalcy. Rebound depression is a natural consequence here, but... depression is better than sending off alimony checks to South Florida. The central tenant of the Rebound strategy is to tough it out, read the updates on what ridiculous statements the new coach makes, and watch as the best recruits in your area commit to USC. And just deal with it.

The more difficult part of this strategy comes when trying to talk the wife into unpacking the UHaul and telling her with a straight face that you will never again drop $400 to pick up the bar tab for the senior members of the Pom squad. Should the alum be successful in coaxing the wife into the house, he must actually make conversation about something meaningful - like life, love, finances and try to find areas of common interest.

These areas of common interest then overlap with the Replacement tactic as some of these conversations will require actual commitment and follow through. Attending an opera really isn't the point of this. Should you get into a situation where you are committed to participate in something your very significant other is interested in, remember that you must actually 'participate.' When your wife attended a football game with you, she probably didn't just sit there when your team scored. Now when the fat lady sings, you don't stand up and do the wave, but you get the point. One must invest the effort to learn who Pavarotti was and what really distinguished him from John Mayer.

Joint Recovery

Occasionally, husband and wife teams will experience the same withdrawal and depression problems together. While it may appear to be an advantage to share a dedication to a particular football program, joint recoveries from football withdrawal are frequently more than twice the work. They are certainly almost twice as expensive. Since both parties to the relationship are involved in the problem, there is no one available with a strong connection to reality to set the baselines for expected behavior.

Connecting to reality is then the central part of a joint recovery. Reality consists of things like cleaning the house, paying the bills and shoveling snow. Sharing in these tasks is not something anyone would naturally give up Sports Center to do. However, the recovery requires tasks and chores to be shared. It also requires the couple to investigate what other areas of interest the relationship might pursue. These might include things like biking, hiking, dog walking - usually something ending in "ing" would work. This again implies action and participation. The exception to this rule - for reasons that should be obvious - would be the addition of (new or more) kids to the relationship.

Concluding the 2008 football season is best done in some form of ritual. Something like taking the Christmas lights down or finally throwing out some salt on that driveway ice patch might help you get it into your head that it is winter outside. Football will have to wait until the spring game. And when the spring game does roll around, for God's sake, don't pay for a ticket to see it. Just let it go by and take the wife to a nice dinner. Otherwise, she and Rodrigo will soon be drinking rum and chomping calamari under a palm tree.

For more wit and wisdom, please visit the Sage's website at: http://firstworst.com

Football Center Position - Four Golden Tips in Improving Your Game

The center fielder in the game of football is overlooked as an important character, and yet this position leads the offensive linemen in energy and plays. The center's biggest responsibilities include hiking the ball to the quarterback, and blocking the defense. This articles purpose is to bring out four ways that you can improve your game as a football center. First, understand the importance of your position. Second, increase your endurance with running drills. Third, increase your strength with weight lifting. Fourth, learn and master the playbook plays.

The importance of a football center position

In many cases it is just as important to remember your importance on the field as it is to practice your position. The centers role is vital in starting the play correctly with a good snap. Though rare, a bad snap can totally ruin the chances of a well executed play. Make sure that you are communicating with the quarterback about the snap. Is is a hand off or a NFL snap? Also, once the play begins you are the for runner in blocking the defense and opening routes for the running back. A good center ensures good starts and great blocks. A bad center can cause a loss of yards, fumbles, and quarterback sacks.

Increase your endurance with running drills

Endurance is the name of the game when it comes to football, and running will help you endurance grow. Running drills will help you gain stamina so that you will be able to play to your full extent throughout the game. Even with all of these benefits you will notice that most of the complaints in practice come from running drills. Just remember that in the end it is the fastest that win games. Running has a final help to your team, and that is learning how to push beyond your limits, you will be surprised how often that happens in football, and in life!

Increase your strength with weight lifting

Lifting weights is a fundamental requirement to improve your football skills. Not only will it add muscle to your body and increase your strength, it will also help you to increase your maximum power. Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass. This exertion will help you as a football player to execute your skills on the field with speed and force. We highly recommend working with a personal trainer when weightlifting to insure that you are doing it properly, and to help you design a program that will fit your position.

Learn and master the playbook plays

Every football team will have certain plays. It will be essential to learn your part in that play to benefit yourself, and the whole team. Because football plays can be intricate, it is important that you understand and follow the coaches instructions. A lot of habits can form in the first couple of practice plays, for this sake it is a good idea to take them slow at the start. Practice is a great time to get some extra help, so if you are struggling with a certain play remember that your coaches are their to help you master the techniques. Always, always ask for the help that you need. Are you done with the play after practice? No way! the best thing that you can do after practice is visualize your plays. Sleep on them, and you will learn them twice as fast.

Conclusion

As you apply these four tips into your position as football center you will find that you have a greater passion for the position, increased strength and endurance, and a well thought plan of action. In the end it is a team that achieves victory, and that team is made up of several positions doing what they do best.

ChargersProShop.com is the official online store for the San Diego Chargers and their Chargers Jerseys. Its products include jerseys, authentic game worn merchandise, Chargers Shirt, Hats, and More! Shop Now!

Football Training 101 - Eating During Football Camp

Welcome to Football Training 101 - An introductory course into all things football and football training.

When I say basics, I don't mean boring...I mean basics as in, "if you skip this stuff, you'll fail."
But, some of you will notice that I often write football training articles for the intermediate or advanced player. So, why the need for Football Training 101? Why not more advanced courses? Well....

I'm a pretty peaceful guy when I'm not on the field or in the weight room. I'm actually a Buddhist and am about as non-violent as one can get. But....sometimes I read things that make me want to punch a hole through an oak tree.

Like what, you ask? Good question.

Yesterday I was reading through a weight training forum and one of the sections covers football training.

One of the guys there asked the following simple question:

"What should I eat while in Football training camp? We usually do 3-a-days."

That's actually a great question. Some of the answers he got, however, were total bullshit. Mostly the replies were from other players with user names like "Football_killer" or "Hit-master_flex69."

The answer that got me crazy listed some of the following foods:

o Granola Bars
o Sandwhiches
o Sun Chips

What. The. Hell.

...At what point did eating friggin Sun Chips (these are potato chips for those who don't know) become part of a diet that would fuel your intense football training workouts?
And, now we are talking football training camp! This isn't just some workout where you can just crash right after and have 20hrs to rest.

No.

You have to drag your rear out of bed 90mins later and go practice again. In the heat. In the humidity. In full pads. With 40 guys who want nothing more than to take your pretty little head off to impress the coaches.

Eating garbage will cause you to play like garbage. And, with each increase in playing ability, comes the need for even better nutrition. If you think just because you survived your freshman football season eating sun chips that you'll do the same your senior year...or, worse yet, during college football training camp, you're in for a huge suprise.

You are going to go through hell in football camp.

o Usually 3 practices per day.
o Some conditioning workouts.
o And, if you're lucky only a few strength training workouts.
o Oh, and film sessions, scrimmages, fighting for your job, working in sweltering summer heat, and sleeping on either a crappy air mattress or on some horrible bunk bed.

You need to give your body the proper fuel to not only survive but thrive at camp. You need to focus your meals on these:

Protein Foods:
o Eggs
o Chicken
o Fish (salmon, tuna, and herring are the easiest)
o Beef
o Pork
o Protein powders (excellent for after practice or weight training workouts, and right before bed

Clean Carbs:
o Oatmeal
o Yams
o Fruit (high water and potassium content will help fight dehydration)
o Vegetables (same benifits as fruit, plus fiber, vitamins and minerals)
o Healthy fats like fish oil and olive oil (to prevent inflammation cause by the intense football practices and workouts
o Water - at LEAST 1.5 gallons per day. Unless you want cramps to send you to the bench crying,

I suggest you drink as much water as you can. Yes, even if you "hate water" you have to drink it.
Notice I left out bread! It's just sugar in loaf form. Bread and pasta will not give you some kind of super energy. They'll just leave your blood sugar crashing all over the place!

Everything Else:
o Sea Salt (add a pinch to your water jug. A PINCH! Any more and you'll throw up)
o Vitamin and mineral supplement.

Focus on these foods, eat at least 5 times per day and drink water like it's your job! Stretch between sessions and for God's sake, go to sleep in your down time. If I can give you guys one tip that will guarantee you success it's that.

I was far from a gifted athlete. At my first camp I was 12 and playing with the varsity. One of the best players on the team gave me a piece of advice that I never forgot. Someone commented that he was as good as he was because he was gifted. But, he told me differently:

"See, when these fools are running around, playing games, talking shit between practices, I go to sleep. By day 3, they are out of gas and I look like a machine. It's because they've lost a ton of sleep and I'm rested. That's why I'm good...I work like an animal, then sleep like one."

The next season I was fighting for a starting job. Guess what I did right after each practice...yup, slept as much as a possible could. The guys I was going against were out fooling around. Guess who started that year and every year after?

To get Free Football Training Reports please visit Explosive Football Training and Explosive Football Training Program.

Steven Morris is a Personal Trainer and Strength Coach in the Philadelphia and South Jersey areas and owner of Explosive Football Training. He has been lifting weights for over 15 years and has been helping people achieve their fitness and strength goals for over a decade.

Football - Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City, MO is the home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs football team. With a capacity of over 79,000 seats, Arrowhead Stadium is the place to be during the fall in Kansas City. How did the Kansas City Chiefs football team get its start? Here are some interesting background facts on this popular team.

The Kansas City Chiefs actually began as the Dallas Texans of the AFL. Owner Lamar Hunt later moved the Texans to Kansas City in 1963. The Dallas Cowboys were already in Dallas and the area just couldn't support a second professional football team. After moving the team to Kansas City, Mr. Hunt was looking for a new name for the team. The mayor at the time the Chiefs moved to Kansas City was nicknamed "Chief". Lamar Hunt took the nickname and renamed the Texans, the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have been a successful franchise over the years. They have made the playoffs 14 times. In 1967, the Kansas City Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers in the very first Super Bowl. Even though they lost the game 35-10, the Chiefs are proud to have been a part of history. Later, in 1970, the Chiefs again reached the Super Bowl and this time they defeated the Minnesota Vikings to become the world champions. That was the last time the Kansas City Chiefs have been to football's Super Bowl.

Over the years the Chiefs have had many Hall of Fame players on their roster. Here are just a few of the many great players to play football in a Kansas City uniform:

o Len Dawson

o Joe Montana

o Marcus Allen

o Willie Lanier

o Buck Buchanan

o Bobby Bell

o Jan Stenerud

o Hank Stram

o Mike Webster

The Kansas City Chiefs have also had their own list of tragedies such as the death of Derrick Thomas in 2000 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Among others, there was the sudden drowning of Joe Delaney, who tried to save 3 teenagers from drowning in an LA lake.

The players, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs football organization, do a lot more than just play football on Sunday's during the fall. They are constantly giving their time for charitable causes throughout the Kansas City area year round. In 2004 the Chiefs help raise over $14 million for various charities in the area. In addition, many of the Chiefs players also assist in charities of their own choosing.

The Chiefs have been playing their games since 1972 in Arrowhead Stadium, which is considered to be one of the best stadiums in the National Football League. Opposing players agree that it is one of the toughest places to play a football game in. The noise created by the fans is deafening to their opponents. In addition, some of the best tailgating parties and food can be found in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs fans show their support during the season and throughout the year by proudly wearing the red and white colors of the team. During home football games, Arrowhead Stadium becomes a sea or red. The Chiefs have a great organization, with great fans. They will be near the top of the league for years to come.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Football [http://football-guides.com/]

Watch Football On Satellite

To watch football on satellite is becoming more popular today with more and more families for a few reasons. The telephone and cable companies are having trouble keeping up with the demand of the house building market and in quite a few places the only form of TV that is available is through a satellite dish companies like Direct TV, which many are thankful for.

The NFL, which is short for National Football League, was introduced in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association but soon changed to the NFL in 1922. The NFL is constructed of 32 teams and typically has a season that runs from September through January with a Championship game at the end, usually the end of January or the first of February. The first Championship Game was played in 1933 but at the end of the 1958 season "The Greatest Game Ever Played" slogan was formed and NFL Football became the most watched sporting event.

There are many games that are played throughout the year that will peak the interest of many NFL football fans including the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game that is played at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, the International Series Game in London, Pro Bowl, AFC and NFC Championship Games, Playoff Games, and ending the season with the Sup Bowl game in the designated city of choice for the year.

In April the NFL Football Draft takes place in New York City, New York where many NFL bound hopefuls make their journey in hopes to be signed by a team that they would have the ability to play for in the NFL and continue their football career. Have you ever thought about where the 32 NFL teams are located in the United States? Most of them are located in the Eastern part of the US with 17 teams in the Eastern Time Zone and 9 in the Central Time Zone.

Benny Chikayasu

http://nflfootballonline.blogspot.com

NFL Underdog System

One of the more popular options when betting sports, especially NFL football is using the over/under option. This option allows you to place money on what the result of the total points scored for an NFL game will be.

For example, if the Over/Under for Dallas against New York is 48 then between the two teams their total score added together would have to go over or under that amount. If the total reaches exactly 48, it's known as a push, and you'll get the money you risked back.

Here are a few tips on ways to decide whether you want to take the over or the under in a game. Look at the history of each team playing. Examine their last five games and the last five times that they've played each other. If the total consistently goes over in both - it's a safer bet to take the over. With football, weather plays an important role in the over/under, as well. Are the teams playing outdoors? In a dome? Is it a warm or cold climate? All of these factors can affect how much or little a team scores. Also, be sure to watch for injuries. If a key offensive player, such as a quarterback is injured, don't expect a team to score as much as they normally do. Or if a key defensive player is injured, you may expect the other team to score more.

Often times the over/under is a safer way to bet on football games - especially if a clear winner does not seem obvious. The over/under will often follow trends more accurately than when you are betting against the spread.

To follow favorites.

Ohio State/Iowa Saturday Night College Football

The Biggest matchup in college football this Saturday takes place in Iowa City as the number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes take on the thirteenth ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes head into this one as seven-point underdogs, but I can assure you that this won't be a gimme game for the Buckeyes. The last time the Buckeyes were in Iowa City two years ago, the Hawkeyes handed Ohio State its worst loss under coach Jim Tressel and by loss I mean a 33-7 massacre. That was the only game in which the Buckeyes have lost by more than two touchdowns under Tressel.

I have to acknowledge that Iowa has one of the best home field advantages in the country winning 32 of its last 35 games, but the last time Iowa and Ohio State met at Kinnick Stadium Troy Smith wasn't the starter. Smith was Justin Zwick's backup. He came in to replace Zwick in that game against the Hawkeyes and completed eight of 12 passes and threw Ohio State's only touchdown. He started the very next game and is 19-3 as the Buckeyes' starter since.

Iowa is going to have a tough time with Smith. They've been very vulnerable when facing elusive quarterbacks. We saw this when they played against Iowa state as Brett Meyer kept the Hawkeyes off balance the entire first half. One thing you're going to want to keep in mind is that the Hawkeyes are yet to show anything offensively. They have been playing very vanilla football which hasn't allowed Ohio State to assemble a strong scouting report. Former Big 10 Player of the Year, quarterback Drew Tate, was banged up in the early going, but he's completely healthy going into Saturday's matchup. It's going to take a huge performance from him for the Hawkeyes to prevail. As Drew Tate goes, the Hawkeyes go. It sounds like a Chinese proverb, but it has proven to be true. However, in Saturday's matchup, Iowa's defense will be every bit as important to its teams success as Tate's right arm.

One thing that you can't see on paper is Iowa's home field advantage. It will be the biggest factor in favor of the Hawks in this one. When you consider the fact that Ohio State struggles in Big 10 openers and in night games, my small lean is on Iowa. The Hawkeyes have a chance to do something extraordinary in knocking off the number one ranked Buckeyes Saturday. They may fall short, but I think they'll keep this one within a touchdown.

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

How Can I Watch NFL Online Streaming?

Did you ever wonder whether you can watch NFL online streaming? Watching NFL football online is perhaps the best alternative if you do not want to pay for NFL network or you live outside North America. Beside it can also be more convenient sometimes.

If you are looking for the best information, news, highlight videos, or player starts, you can find it easily on the net. You can simply go to the official NFL website. However, you can not find any live games aired on the website. OK, do not mention the live games, you probably can not even watch the replayed matches.

If we were in the past, let say five years ago, you definitely would have to give up and pay to watch NFL games. It is different now since the internet technology grows so fast that today it enables you to watch videos online streaming.

Today Any NFL fans, who want to watch games via online streaming, can fulfill their desire. There are many PC satellite TV software programs available on the net. Watching over 180 games in high definition graphics is not impossible.

I know that it is not so comfortable to the ears when you heard that you have to pay for such software. Free sounds better but it may not be better in quality. People often think that it is not worth it as they have to pay. Often as well they change their mind after checking out what the offer is about.

When I was at work a year ago I downloaded this software because I had no choice at that time, I wanted to watch my favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action. I thought it was a scam, fortunately it works very well. I knew it was impulse, but I think I was lucky because I knew that there were many fake software programs out there created only to get people into buying with the excessive hype.

If you want to watch NFL on your PC/laptop and do not want to end up buying fake software, visit http://www.pcsatellitetv.quality-products-review.com/watchnflonline.html to watch NFL online streaming.

NFL 2006: Miami Dolphins

Nick Saban begins year number two with fresh faces and a new offensive coordinator in Mike Mularkey. The former Bills coach takes over for the departed Scott Linehan, the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams. Optimism reigns supreme in Miami as Saban turned a 3-13 team the year before into a 9-7 one last season. With a veteran cast returning, along with key free agent pickups, many feel the Dolphins are legitimate playoff contenders in 2006.

Offense: The biggest acquisition of the off season was grabbing Daunte Culpepper from the Minnesota Vikings. Gone is Gus Frerotte, who did a respectable job as the starter last season and in comes Culpepper. There's no question when he's healthy, Culpepper is one of the best in the game. But a devastating knee injury, where he suffered damage to three ligaments, may keep him off the field on opening day.

To correct that problem the Dolphins made a trade for Joey Harrington (2,021 yards, 12 touchdowns), who wore out his welcome in Detroit. The former number two overall selection hasn't lived up to his draft status, but could be reborn with Saban in Miami. Either way, he'll be an adequate backup and an upgrade over Sage Rosenfels.

Ricky Williams was suspended again so he took his papers and bong to Canada for a year. No matter, second year man Ronnie Brown will be handed the reigns of the feature back role and should do well. The Auburn standout rushed for 907 yards and four scores splitting time with Ricky last season. Travis Minor will be his principle backup. Fred Beasley didn't leave his heart in San Francisco and will help Brown immensely at fullback. Beasley has decent hands and is a solid blocker.

The Dolphins have two good starters, but not much depth after that at the wide receiver position. Chris Chambers (82-1,118-11) had a breakout year last season and Marty Booker is a solid number two guy. Behind them rookies Derek Hagan and Devin Aromashodu will be asked to play key roles.

Randy McMichael is one of the best receiving tight ends in the game and proved it again last season with 60 receptions and five TDs. Justin Peele was brought in from San Diego to be a blocker in running situations.

There is plenty of competition on the offensive line and it's here where the most spirited battles will take place. Rex Hadnot is the incumbent center, but Seth McKinney returns from injury and will challenge. Free agent signee Bennie Anderson (Bills) will team with returner Jeno James at guard, but McKinney could land here as well. Vernon Carey and Damion McIntosh return at tackle but free agents L.J. Shelton (Browns) and Mike Pearson (Jaguars) are in the mix as well.

Defense: This is an aging defense even with Junior Seau gone, particularly on the line. Ageless wonder Jason Taylor (12 sacks) and Kevin Carter (six sacks) return at defensive end, but look out for high energy Matt Roth to get even more playing time in 2006. Vonnie Holliday (five sacks) and Keith Traylor man the tackle spots with Jeff Zgonina providing adequate backup. Manuel Wright and rookie Rodrique Wright provide youthful legs.

Zach Thomas continues to defy father time and looks to put up another outstanding season on the boards. Thomas led the team with 166 tackles from his middle linebacker slot and shows no signs of slowing down. On the outside, emerging star Channing Crowder (90 tackles) could have a break out year and Donnie Spragan is solid if not spectacular. Eddie Moore is a quality backup.

The secondary is in a state of flux after a turbulent off season. Gone are safety Lance Shulters and corners Sam Madison and Reggie Howard. Travis Daniels will man one corner spot while free agent signees Will Allen (Giants), Renaldo Hill (Raiders) and Andre Goodman (Lions) will compete for the other. Tavaris Tillman returns at strong safety, while Yeremiah Bell and number one draft pick, Jason Allen, will battle for the free safety spot.

Special Teams: Olindo Mare had another great season, scoring 108 points on 25-30 field goals and 33-33 on extra points. You can't find many better or more consistent then him. Donnie Jones looks to improve on his solid 43.5 yards per punt last season and Wes Welker is an exciting return man (22.6 KR; 9.1 PR).

Outlook: Nick Saban is one of the best young coaches in the business and he'll have the Dolphins fighting for a playoff spot. The Culpepper injury situation, coupled with an aging defense and instability in the secondary will keep them from catching New England in the division.

Prediction: Saban has picked Miami out of the cellar and restored confidence in the fans, the city and the team. The Dolphins are still a couple of pieces away from being a serious contender, but a wild card berth is not out of the question in 2006. Miami finishes 9-7 or 10-6.

Brian Carson is a writer and sports fanatic who, along with a select group of coaches has created the ultimate multimedia guide to coaching youth football at http://www.pigskinplaybooks.com To read more football articles go to http://carcorner.blogspot.com/

3 Cool Photoshop Projects for New Dads

As a new Dad, you're going to be taking a lot of pictures. You could play around with Photoshop's filters and effects. I did that but I found them unsatisfying because:

* too easy, too quick.

* anyone can do it, and they can see how you did it. So it's not very impressive.

* maybe because so little effort is involved, there is a lack of heart or soul in the final image.

The following three projects will take a little time and effort (not a alot). And they are not too difficult. So if you're ready to turn your ordinary photos into eye-poppin' works of art, follow me.

1. Turn your picture into a comic.

Where I got the idea: There is a software app, Comic Life (for Mac only, I believe), that does it for you. But I used a free tutorial, I found here. It took a couple of tries to follow all the instructions. You can see the result above: a comic postcard of my daughter, lounging on the couch, watching Sesame Street on TV.

2. Composites

There is that Michael Keaton movie, Multipicity, where he clones himself many times. You're going to do the same, except in 2-D computer screen.

Where I Got the Idea: On Flickr, Donald Andrew Agarrat's Composites 2004, first inspired me to do my own. He gave a very basic tutorial (use tripod, layer mask, small brush tool for details), which was enough for me. There's even a whole Flickr group just on Composites (that also has cool collages) with a forum and tutorials.

Here's my little girl playing in the sandbox at the park.

3. Favorite Toy Goes in the Picture

Once you've mastered the Composite technique, you're ready for next level of photo manipulation -- putting your child or child's favorite toy into the action.

Where I got the idea: my little girl loves reading Curious George Rides A Bike, and her favorite stuffed animal, Monkey Pie, looks a little bit like George. So...

Now I know what you're thinking: Between changing diapers and work and not getting any sleep, how did you ever find the time for Photoshop? Hey, my wife asks the same thing. I do remember the NBA Playoffs were over and the NFL season had not started yet, so what is a guy to do?

Happy photo-doctoring!

J. Lee has been writing for http://mysearchformeaning-money.blogspot.com/ since July 2006.