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Turkey (and Pasta for Pianow) Day Live Blog

It's supposed to be 83 degrees today here in Southern California. Our family is heading over to a non-sports fan's house for Thanksgiving today - it'll be interesting trying to maneuver to get the games on. I don't think they're DirecTV owners, either, so chances of hitting the NFL Network for the nightcap are pretty slim. What are your plans for the day?

My Thanksgiving day Fantasy Factor lineup:

QB - Rodgers
RB - Barber, Grant
WR - S. Smith, Jennings, Driver, Austin
TE - (Two entries) Pettigrew, Finley
K - Tynes
D - DAL

Comments

By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 9:12:00 AM		 Going to a house that doesn't have DirecTV on an NFL day is not an option. That's like not eating turkey on Thanksgiving!

I'm recovering from an illness, which is a good excuse to stay at home, on the couch, in front of the TV all day.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 9:19:00 AM		 This is the lineup I'd play: Rodgers, Jacobs, Barber, Jennings, Driver, Austin, Marshall, Finley, Folk, DAL.

Basically the same as yours, but I don't like playing Rodgers and Grant if you're trying to maximize your upside - I'd go Jacobs instead of Grant. And Marshall is more likely to have a big game than SSmith, I think.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 9:28:00 AM		 Stafford starting today. I'm really impressed with him.
This clip from last week (when he was miked up) is a must-see. http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/11/25/stafford-micd-up-for-memorable-finish/
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 9:29:00 AM		 I'm benching Calvin Johnson for Felix Jones in my long-standing home league today; hope I don't live to regret that decision.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 9:37:00 AM		 I can't stand the jock mentality of extolling the virtues of playing hurt. Troy Aikman of all people should be cautious in doing so.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 9:42:00 AM		 Hmmm ... Pettigrew hurt in the first quarter. This can't be good for the Lions.
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 10:01:00 AM		 Jeff is that Megatron TD enough to make you regret sitting him if it ends up being the only points he puts up today?
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 10:02:00 AM		 I ended up taking a chance on him. I started him over Manningham and Garcon.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 10:03:00 AM		 JTR: Yep, most definitely. The best part was that it was going on while we were having the "are you going to watch football all day" discussion.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 10:08:00 AM		 Does a WR have to be 5 yards open for Rodgers to throw him the ball?
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 10:30:00 AM		 A little behind on TiVo - pretty bad drop by Northcutt on 3rd down. It's not an easy catch for you or me, but for a professional wide receiver, that has to be made.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 10:31:00 AM		 Are you criticizing my hands, Jeff? I was unguardable in Wake Forest intramurals back in the day. =)
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 10:32:00 AM		 Nope, I'm criticizing your speed (and vertical).
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 10:53:00 AM		 Horrible second INT for Stafford - basically threw it up for grabs after the screen pass got blown up.
 
By: billgoofnow
On: 11/26/2009 10:54:00 AM		 oy - that near TD to finley woulda been 10 points of sweet gold for me...
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 11:17:00 AM		 That Rodgers to Finley TD would have been a +12-pt swing for me... At first look I thought Finley should have had it but a defender's hand (not sure of player) did get in there to disrupt the pass slightly. It was a well placed ball and if he had managed to hold on it would have been a great catch. In this day and age though, TEs are asked to make those catches regularly. I still think Finley will be elite someday.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 11:24:00 AM		 What are you looking at, Schwartz? That ball (Woodson INT) was nowhere near the ground.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 11:28:00 AM		 Aikman, mentions Woodson for Defensive Player of the Year, says "a few other players" are in the running, too, but doesn't say who. Horrible. If you're going to mention DPY, at least mention the other candidates.
 
By: Jacobdk
On: 11/26/2009 11:35:00 AM		 Kevin Smith is doing nothing to keep me from calling him Kevin Jones in my head.
 
By: Jacobdk
On: 11/26/2009 11:53:00 AM		 54 yard FG attempt there? Um...
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 11/26/2009 12:02:00 PM		 If Jim Schwartz doesn't realize this is four down territory, he's getting a Dick Jauron award.
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 11/26/2009 12:04:00 PM		 He just got it... What an idiot. GB is driving at will, you're down 20 in the fourth quarter, 4th and 3. You're 2-8. Why on earth would you punt?
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 11/26/2009 12:05:00 PM		 Why am I still watching this game? It's a beautiful day, and I'm heading back to the beach.
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 11/26/2009 12:14:00 PM		 How do you throw the ball out of the end zone on 4th down? I'm really going now.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 12:18:00 PM		 Liss gives up on a Lions cover right as a cover becomes possible.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 12:27:00 PM		 this is setting up for a horrible Lions backdoor cover.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 12:38:00 PM		 For all of the hype and "potential," Stafford and Johnson have NO chemistry. 12 targets, just 2 catches for 10 yards today. Yes, Woodson is good, but come on. They obviously need more practice time and, if they're smart, will spend the offseason working together.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 1:14:00 PM		 Mmm, that was great pasta. The Detroit turnovers made for a nice dessert.

Now to the TV, Phil Simms pumping up Bruce Gradkowski. Should be an interesting afternoon.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 1:15:00 PM		 Stafford and Johnson don't have chemistry, agreed. The long TD last week didn't show growth, it showed a blown Cleveland coverage. Timing reflects itself in the intermediate routes.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 1:16:00 PM		 The Raiders look silly in those uniforms, by the way.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 1:23:00 PM		 Man, I can't stand alternate jerseys.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 1:26:00 PM		 That scramble and then hit at the end of the scramble couldn't have been good for Romo's back.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 1:38:00 PM		 Played Vince Young over Tony Romo in the Yahoo F&F league. How would you guys have played it? First half answers, please ; )
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 1:47:00 PM		 Easy for me to say after a long run, but why doesn't Tashard Choice play more?
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 1:51:00 PM		 Hate to beg advice from you guys on the holiday but I have a tough decision... For my flex spot I have to choose between:

Danny Ware, Mario Manningham, Pierre Garcon and Reggie Bush

Word is the Ware will strictly be used as a third-down back in nickel situations. Doesn't sound like the chance for a whole lot of fantasy value. I'm leaning towards Manningham or Garcon. Anyone have a strong feeling about this? Thanks a lot in advance.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 2:03:00 PM		 I had VY two slots ahead of Romo in the Value Meter.

If you're a Cowboys fan, are you disgusted that you only have 3 points so far, or encouraged that you've hit for two big plays?
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 2:05:00 PM		 I initially had Bush ahead of Manningham; but with the impetus of having to make the decision today, I can see the case for going the other way.
 
By: Erickson
On: 11/26/2009 2:06:00 PM		 Ah ... sweet flex play justification!
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 2:15:00 PM		 As a Bradshaw (and not a Jacobs) owner I kept telling myself that Ware would simply be the new Bradshaw. Looks like Jacobs gets the huge bump. There is always an above average chance that Ware is pressed into duty because of a Jacobs injury or that he gets garbage time stats but I don't see that being enough of a reason to start him over Manningham, Bush or even Garcon. I'm thinking I should just bench both Ware and Manningham and then wait until Sunday to decide between Garcon and Bush.
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 2:16:00 PM		 I make the decision harder than it should be because this is my big money office league. I second guess myself in that league more than any other.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 2:43:00 PM		 The Cowboys are so lucky Roy Williams got hurt in Denver - it helped unearth the Miles Austin story. This probably wasn't going to happen without the Williams injury.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 2:47:00 PM		 Janikowski for a 70-yarder? Why not?
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 2:49:00 PM		 The Cowboys used Roy Williams to help defend the Hail Mary. They know he can knock a ball to the turf like no other.

Phil Simms did not have a good first half.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 3:12:00 PM		 As you're pondering the Giants and Broncos, here's Mike Salfino's excellent game preview at SNY.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 3:35:00 PM		 Looks like the Cowboys WR2 is having another good game, eh, Roy Williams?
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 3:39:00 PM		 Agree about Choice. He played well on one early drive a few games ago (against Philly, I think) and then never played again. He always seems to produce when he gets a chance.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 3:53:00 PM		 JTR, I'd play Manningham.

Scott, I'd play Romo. ;)
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 4:22:00 PM		 Raiders stupidly go for it on 4th down, give the cover a chance, but alas, it's the Raiders.
 
By: Scott Pianowski
On: 11/26/2009 4:50:00 PM		 I can see both sides of Oakland's fourth-down decision. On one hand you need 17, so that's three scores, but you're so close to the end zone, it might make sense to try to push for one of the sevens now. Either way, your winning chances are microscopically low.
 
By: Jacobdk
On: 11/26/2009 5:10:00 PM		 Yeah, I actually think going for the TD is the right decision. You need to give yourself a chance for a 50+ yard field goal to tie it. Detroit was in a similar situation and kicked the 22 yard FG.
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 5:20:00 PM		 Stopa, I'm putting my faith in you (and Manningham for that matter). Thanks for the advice and for being decisive for me.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 5:41:00 PM		 I wish I was right as often as I'm decisive. We'll see.
 
By: Kevin Payne
On: 11/26/2009 5:59:00 PM		 I didn't get to see the whole game, but why was Johnson and not Asomugha on Austin? Austin had 130 yards at half, do they really believe Roy Williams and all of his "I'm the #1 receiver" rhetoric?
 
By: Kevin Payne
On: 11/26/2009 6:01:00 PM		 Romo over VY.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:14:00 PM		 great camera work, showing McDaniels yelling at his team.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:15:00 PM		 It's like SP wrote about - the top CB just doesn't cover the top WR all over the field
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:19:00 PM		 I don't think Chris is having a Happy Thanksgiving.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:21:00 PM		 Wow, Marshall, that was awesome.
 
By: Kevin Payne
On: 11/26/2009 6:27:00 PM		 I think Salfino will be adjusting his 11-6 prediction.
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 6:31:00 PM		 Did anyone else catch that mother-F-bomb from McDaniels that slipped through onto the broadcast? I like his passion...

Also, Marshall is a freak of nature with that catch.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:34:00 PM		 Yes, JTR, that's what I was talking about when I said Mcdaniels was yelling at his team.
 
By: Kevin Payne
On: 11/26/2009 6:41:00 PM		 The Gmen gotta go max protect or move the pocket, Manning has no time to throw.
 
By: Mark Stopa
On: 11/26/2009 6:42:00 PM		 I'm sorry, JTR. Let's hope Manningham gets some garbage time goodies
 
By: Kevin Payne
On: 11/26/2009 6:48:00 PM		 It was conservative, but I like the playcalling here by the Broncos before half. You have a solid lead at home, get the ball first in the second half, don't risk a momentum swing by airing it out.
 
By: Chris Liss
On: 11/26/2009 8:30:00 PM		 Way to bring your "F" game Giants. Just let me know in advance next time, so I'm not bolting from my buddy's house on Thanksgiving to rush home so I can watch it on the NFL Network.
 
By: jtr5708
On: 11/26/2009 8:53:00 PM		 Stopa- I can't believe Manningham dropped a sure TD... No excuse for that. That garbage time TD would have made my day. If there were TV cameras in my house they would have caught a lot worse than McDaniels' motivational vulgarity that slipped through.
 

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