NFL fantasy football-Who to start, who to avoid, in Week 8

John McFarland THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

After showing up as doubtful on the official NFL injury report, Oakland's Randy Moss caught a touchdown pass. Torry Holt was listed as probable for the Rams, but he didn't play a down.

Those apparent oddities last week caused some fantasy football players to curse the inaccuracy of the NFL's injury listings.

But the real problem in each case more likely was fantasy players not paying close enough attention. Experienced players know the importance of carefully tracking every injury, from the NFL's first report Wednesday to the final league-mandated updates before kickoff.

Still, forecasting who will play can be tricky because there's wiggle room in the injury report definitions. A doubtful player still has a 25 percent chance of playing. A questionable player is 50-50. A probable player has a 75 percent chance of lining up. -NFL Football -

The nature of the injury is also a key. For example, if there's a hamstring or concussion involved, you might want to keep the guy on the bench until he proves he's back. (Just ask those of us stuck with the Saints' Joe Horn, an extended-stay guest in the questionable category.)

With all those variables -- plus some coaches being less than honest to confuse opponents -- the best bet is to simply stay glued to the tube for late injury news before kickoff. (The result is an odd scene now familiar to fantasyfootball widows: Grown men racing across the house in search of the phone or keyboard to change their lineups, mumbling something like, "I can't believe Jones is out.")

As you search for news on your nicked-up roster, here's a look at some players to start this week, some to bench, and a few long shots who might pan out:

Quarterbacks

A SAFE BET

It's hard to imagine Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb keeping up the big numbers with all his nagging injuries, no running game and 50-plus throws a game. But the Broncos are suspect against the pass, so keep riding him until he collapses. -NFL Football -

Tom Brady of New England could find some holes in Buffalo's once-stout defense and continue his odd streak: The Patriots are 3-0 when he throws for 300 yards, 0-3 when he doesn't.

San Diego's Drew Brees had 378 yards and two touchdowns in his last start against the Chiefs. He's had two touchdowns in each of his last four games against Kansas City.

Carolina's Jake Delhomme, on two weeks rest, should quickly remind the Vikings that this game isn't in a dome or against the Packers.

Tennessee's Steve McNair returns after resting his sore back and should put up good numbers while playing catch-up against Oakland. His receivers are hurt, but so is Oakland's secondary.

TAKE A SHOT

Chris Simms of Tampa Bay gets the perfect chance to shake off some rust at San Francisco, where they're handing out touchdowns at the door. The Niners have the league's worst defense and have allowed an NFL-high 15 touchdown passes. -NFL Football -

STEP AWAY

Please, in the name of Cade McNown, don't start these guys:

After laying an egg in Seattle while playing behind a shaky line, you have to wonder if the traditional late-season statistical nosedive has begun for Dallas' Drew Bledsoe.

Yes, Trent Dilfer is playing against the Texans, but keep in mind the big news in Cleveland this week was that he still had his job. -NFL Football -

Whoever's starting for the 49ers isn't even a good option under the garbage-time theory. (How bad are things when receivers fondly remember the Tim Rattay days?)

Running backs

ALL DAY LONG

It's safe to assume last week's 7-yard effort will be LaDainian Tomlinson's season low. In his previous four seasons with the Chargers, he bounced back from his season low with an average of 139 yards and a TD.

Sometimes the Giants' No. 21 run defense is lousy and sometimes it's the No. 31 pass defense. Let's go with the run, meaning a big day for Washington's Clinton Portis after his breakout three TDs last week. -NFL Football -

Find out if Carnell "Cadillac" Williams or Michael Pittman is going for Tampa Bay and quickly put the starter in against the 49ers. Errict Rhett or James Wilder could still shred this defense.

Domanick Davis could have a big day against Cleveland if the Texans stick to their strategy from the first half of last week: Pretending they don't have a quarterback. Davis had 85 yards and a TD by halftime, while David Carr threw five passes.

There's a rule somewhere that you have to start somebody against the Texans, so make it Reuben Droughns. Sure he hasn't scored yet, and Cleveland has gone without an offensive TD in three of four weeks, but it's the Texans. -NFL Football -

HE COULD FIND A SEAM

Remember Travis Henry? He's back with the Titans after serving his drug suspension, and Chris Brown has started getting hurt again.

RED FLAGS

Green Bay's Tony Fisher is starting and Cincinnati's run defense is generous, but the Packers can't block and won't run much when they're down by 28.

You're several weeks late if you're not already sitting Detroit's Kevin Jones. He doesn't have a 100-yard game, hasn't found the end zone in four of six games and faces a Bears defense that still hasn't allowed a TD rushing. -NFL Football -

This is your final warning: Stop playing Baltimore's Jamal Lewis until he actually does something.

Wide receivers

THROW HIM THE DARN BALL!

Chad Johnson missed out on his sixth TD in six games for the Bengals last week only because of a questionable call. He should make up for it against the Packers' mediocre pass defense.

Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith should enjoy some quality time with the Rams secondary. (Yes, that is a converted receiver back there for St. Louis.) -NFL Football -

It's Joey Galloway's turn to score on the 49ers. He's already having a surprisingly good and injury-free year for the Bucs, with four TDs in his last four games.

Az-Zahir Hakim of the Saints has become somewhat reliable in Horn's absence, averaging 98 yards the past three weeks. He faces a Miami defense that has vanished.

Green Bay's Antonio Chatman could have a good game, mostly because he's one of the few remaining receivers Brett Favre actually recognizes. -NFL Football -

MAYBE THROW HIM THE DARN BALL?

Carolina's Keary Colbert could be a good option against the Vikings. Minnesota will be double- and triple-teaming Steve Smith but giving up big plays elsewhere.

SHOW THEM THE DARN BENCH

Don't get all sentimental about Amani Toomer's game-winning touchdown for the Giants last week. It was just his second TD in his last 21 games.

However tempting the Patriots pass defense is, don't bank on Buffalo receivers getting TDs in consecutive weeks. -NFL Football -

Jeff Garcia is a good upgrade from Joey Harrington, but Detroit's receivers are learning he's no Scott Mitchell.

The Daily Herald

Steelers breathe sigh of relief
Roethlisberger's injury only minor, could play this week

By Alan Robinson
The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger not only doesn't have a serious knee injury, as the team initially feared Monday night in San Diego, he could play again as early as Sunday. - - - Football NFL - - -

After an eventful 24 hours in which the Steelers rallied to win 24-22 after blowing a 14-point lead, lost their star quarterback to what looked to be a frightful injury, and flew all night, coach Bill Cowher was more relieved than happy. And he was very happy.

Roethlisberger sustained a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise after being struck by Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo's helmet with 1:05 remaining in the game - but nothing else. No ligament tears, no tendon or cartilage damage, all of which the Steelers feared after Roethlisberger was removed from the field by a cart. - - - Football NFL - - -

"I think we'll all have a deep sigh of relief in regards to the diagnosis," Cowher said Tuesday after Roethlisberger had an MRI exam not long after getting off the plane from California. "I guess the dire situation we thought we had coming in here this morning doesn't appear to be that right now." - - - Football NFL - - -

When they left the field Monday night, some Steelers players were contemplating what it would be like if they needed to play weeks, if not months, without the quarterback who is 16-1 as an NFL starter.

Another cause for worry was that backup quarterback Tommy Maddox, the starter at the beginning of the 2004 season, sat out Monday with a calf injury that occurred Friday in practice.

But there was a favorable medical report on Maddox, too; instead of being out 3-4 weeks, he could be ready as soon as Sunday, too. Still, to protect themselves, the Steelers signed former Pitt and Carolina Panthers quarterback Rod Rutherford to their practice squad.

Despite the much better than expected medical news, it seems unlikely the Steelers (3-1) would rush back Roethlisberger to play Sunday against Jacksonville (3-2), especially after a short week of preparation. - - - Football NFL - - -

For now, Cowher said, "Charlie Batch is the starter by default until I see more. ... We'll see how the week progresses."

Batch, the Lions' starter from 1998-2001, has thrown only eight passes in four seasons since signing with his hometown Steelers, and the team debated whether to keep him at the end of training camp. But he secured his roster spot by throwing two touchdown passes in the final exhibition game against Carolina on Sept. 1, and Cowher is thankful the team kept a third veteran quarterback - something most NFL teams don't do. - - - Football NFL - - -

"It probably seemed a bit of a luxury," Cowher said. "But there's a lot to be said for having veteran guys who have lined up and won games in the National Football League, who have won playoff games."

Also undecided is whether running back Jerome Bettis or Willie Parker will start against the Jaguars. Parker has been held to 81 yards in two games since running for more than 100 yards in each of the first two games, and he was replaced for much of the second half Monday by Bettis.

Bettis, playing for the first time since injuring a calf during the third of the four preseason games, carried seven times in the 10 plays that led to Jeff Reed's decisive 40-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining. He finished with 54 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.

For now, 2004 starter Duce Staley appears out of the picture because of a training camp knee injury that, Cowher said, "May not be 100 percent all year." Bettis moved ahead of Staley on the depth chart during practice late last week. - - - Football NFL - - -

"Jerome Bettis, he gives you something," Cowher said. "He's a very special back. ... You see him running and jumping and jump-cutting, doing the things that he does."

The only Steelers player currently ruled out of Sunday's game is cornerback Ricardo Colclough (shoulder). - - - Football NFL - - -

Copyright 1995-2005. The Cincinnati Enquirer, a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper.

NFL: League hopes Mexico City game opens more doors abroad
The Associated Press

The National Football League could schedule more regular-season games outside the United States if the game in Mexico City on Sunday is a success, the league's chief operating officer says. The NFL official, Roger Goodell, expects Azteca Stadium to be sold out for a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals, the first regular-season game held outside the United States. If the game generates the interest and attention expected by the league, games could be headed to Asia and Europe. - Football -

"We want to hold or reserve judgment on that until we've been through this, but we know there's growing interest in playing regular-season games" outside the United States, Goodell said Tuesday in a conference call. Among the destinations to be considered are England, Japan, China and Canada, as well as another game in Mexico. - Football -

The league chose Mexico City for its first international regular-season game both because of its proximity and the sport's growing popularity in Mexico. Hispanics in the United States also cite football as their favorite sport, surpassing even soccer, according to the league. The NFL has played several exhibition games in foreign countries in the past two decades, including a preseason game between Indianapolis and Atlanta in Japan this year. Pats' Harrison out for season The New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison will miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his left knee, The Associated Press reported from Foxborough, Masschusetts. The Patriots placed Harrison on injured reserve Tuesday, and his agent, Steve Feldman, said the 32-year-old strong safety would have surgery in four to six weeks for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament. - Football -

Coach Bill Belichick did not disclose the extent of Harrison's injury after he went down in the first quarter of New England's 23-20 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday. But Harrison's teammates made it clear the injury was serious. "I went in at halftime and you could just tell that he was hurting," the free safety Eugene Wilson said after the game. "He had tears in his eyes because he loves the game so much and to go down and know that you might not be able to play, it hurts." Harrison, who had started every game since he arrived from San Diego in 2003, was hurt when the Pittsburgh wide receiver Cedrick Wilson hit his legs after being bumped by a New England player. - Football -

He was the Patriots' leading tackler the past two seasons and is the NFL's career leader in sacks by a defensive back. Harrison also has six interceptions in six playoff games with New England, including two in last season's 24-21 Super Bowl victory over Philadelphia. - Football -

Mexico, perfect teams highlight Week 4

It's Fútbol Americano in Mexico City! When the Arizona Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico (ESPN/ESPN Deportes, 8:30 p.m. ET), the game will be an NFL first -- the first time that a regular-season contest is played outside the United States.

Estadio Azteca is the venue in which the largest attendance in NFL history was recorded -- 112,376 fans on August 15, 1994 in a preseason game when Houston topped Dallas 6-0. The stadium has since been reconfigured and holds 85,000. American football has been played in Mexico since 1890 when a game was played in Xalapa, Veracruz. Mexico has the most NFL fans outside of the United States.

The historic game will be celebrated in many ways in the NFL this weekend. Every NFL player will wear a "Fútbol Americano" decal on his helmet. Special "Fútbol Americano" banners will be hung at all NFL stadiums. NFL Network will air themed programming leading up to the game. A first-ever NFL Spanish-language youth-football PSA featuring Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez and Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz will debut this weekend. And many teams are conducting Hispanic fan promotions during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept.15-Oct. 15).

NFL Hispanic factoid

The first Hispanic player to play in the NFL was fullback Lou Molinet, who appeared in nine games for the Frankford Yellowjackets in 1927 and scored one rushing touchdown. Molinet was born in Chaparra, Cuba.

Four clubs seek to stay spotless

Zeros in the loss column can mean zilch.

Especially this time of year, when most NFL clubs will reach only the quarter mark of their season. Being unbeaten -- as Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Washington are -- sure beats the alternative, but every player on those clubs is saying, "Hold on, let's not get carried away."

"Three games is nothing when you play a 16-game season," says quarterback Carson Palmer of the 3-0 Cincinnati Bengals. "It's great to have this start. But we still have a lot of games -- a lot of big games -- ahead of us."

The numbers prove Palmer right. In the past five seasons, 10 clubs began the year with at least 3-0 records yet did not reach the playoffs. The high-water mark in the equation came in 2002, when six of the seven teams to begin 3-0 failed to make the playoffs.

"It feels good, it feels real good," says tackle Kenyatta Walker of the 3-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "But I'm not patting myself on the back just yet."

There will be plenty of time for that. Meanwhile, there is Week 4 to contend with:

DETROIT LIONS (1-1) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-0)

Storyline: Motor City tries to slow down a Cadillac.

Lions defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will try to do what three teams have failed to accomplish this year -- slow down Bucs rookie RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. The first-round draft choice from Auburn leads the NFL in rushing (434 yards, the most ever in a rookie's first three games) and last Sunday, with an NFC season-high 158 yards, became the first rookie in history to start a career with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. "There are a lot of great backs that have come through this league," says Bucs CB Ronde Barber. "For him to outdistance them all in the first three games of his career, he should feel good about it."

Tampa Bay QB Brian Griese leads the NFC in completion percentage (66.2), but confronts a defense constructed to limit the long ball. The Lions allow the conference's fewest passing yards per game (159.5).

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-2) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-1)

Storyline: Tomlinson's hot, but the Pats may conjure up cure.

He was quiet in the Chargers' first two games (both losses), but last week, RB LaDainian Tomlinson ignited the Bolts by having a hand in four of their six touchdowns in a 45-23 triumph over the Giants. Tomlinson ran for an NFL season-high 192 yards and three TDs and added a 26-yard scoring pass.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, as usual, will devise some surprising scheme aimed at negating Tomlinson. The New England 3-4 linebacking crew of Willie McGinest, Chad Brown, Monty Beisel and Mike Vrabel (who played some safety last week) will have to immediately plug any holes that open when Tomlinson takes off. He averaged almost 10 yards per carry (9.1) in Week 3. You don't want him to reach the secondary.

For the game's two Big Ten quarterbacks, it's the rubber game. San Diego's Drew Brees (Purdue) topped New England's Tom Brady (Michigan) in 2002, 21-14. The two squared off for the first time in college in 1999, with Brady's Wolverines defeating Brees' Boilermakers 38-12.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-1) at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-0)

Storyline: Seattle power game vs. Washington's power "D."

Should be a rumbling FedExField ground game Sunday. The NFL's second leading rusher, Seattle's Shaun Alexander (357 yards), will show the East Coast what he's about when he goes against the league's No. 2 rush defense of the Redskins.

Alexander last week ran for four touchdowns against Arizona -- two in a 30-second span -- and 140 yards. He will confront a rushing defense that has not allowed a 100-yard game this year.

Redskins CB Shawn Springs knows how dangerous Alexander can be, having played with him in Seattle from 2000-03. "You can't let Shaun get started," says Springs. "He's the type of guy where you might get him a couple of times for a negative run and then he will bust one loose. You just have to stop him."

DENVER BRONCOS (2-1) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-1)

Storyline: Mr. Smith meets Mr. Smith.

And these old-timers can still be game-deciders. On Sunday, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith, in his 13th season, ran a slant-and-go pattern six minutes into overtime to make a game-deciding 36-yard TD catch in Jacksonville's win over the Jets. Then on Monday night, Denver's 11-year WR Rod Smith caught seven passes for 80 yards, passing 10,000 for his career.

"You want to keep going and get more," says Rod Smith, really speaking for Jimmy also. "Then I'm helping my team."

Denver's defensive front -- bulwarked by newcomers Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren -- will look to shut down Jags RB Fred Taylor, who ran a club-record 37 times on Sunday (for 98 yards). The Broncs did just that Monday, limiting Kansas City's Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson to a combined 74 yards.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-3) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-2) (Monday night, ABC, 9 p.m. ET)

Storyline: Call it the "Amnesia Bowl."

Both teams feel they are too good, and have too many good players, to have the records they have. Forget the past, they say. There's 13 more games to go. "You can't dwell on the past," says Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates. "You put the blinders on, get back to work, bring it closer and go play. It's too early."

Bates and his men will have to slow down perhaps the difference-maker in this game -- Panthers WR Steve Smith. Tied for the league lead with Keenan McCardell and Hines Ward with four receiving TDs, Smith -- sometimes lining up in the backfield -- tied a team record last Sunday for catches (11) and posted 170 yards -- highest in the league this season -- with three TDs.

The Monday night game comes 85 years to the day that the first games in NFL history were played -- on October 3, 1920.

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

Madden Goes Unopposed But Doesn't Drag Its Feet
All signs seem to indicate that Madden NFL 2006 is a monster, even by Madden standards

Although the criticism was expected, after EA snagged the exclusive NFL rights the dev team at Tiburon took it to heart and made sure the industry knew that the next Madden would get the treatment it and its fans deserved, competition or no. The hard work seems to be paying off, as Madden 06 is off to a very hot start. - Football Gambling -

Although official August numbers are not yet available, all signs seem to indicate that Madden NFL 2006 is a monster, even by Madden standards. EA released a statement just one week after 06's release, stating that the previous seven days represented "the biggest week one launch of a MaddenNFL Football game in the franchise's sixteen-year history."

The fact that EA's financial clout allowed them to snatch up exclusive rights to the NFL, NCAA, and Arena Football licenses certainly accounts for some of Madden's sharp increase in sales this fall, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Developer Tiburon didn't view 06 as an opportunity to take a year off despite no longer having any competition, and EA's marketing team seemed equally intent on growing sales, through the powerful "X days until Madden" ad campaign.

Welcome to Madden Country"People say that baseball is America's pastime, but not in the videogame world. For gamers, football is. Madden is," Electronic Gaming Monthly's News Editor Bryan Intihar told GameDAILY BIZ. - Football Gambling -

August NPD results will tell the full story, but according to EA's internal data, 1.7 million copies of Madden were sold in just one week. In 2004 EA released a similar press release one week after Madden launched, touting its record-breaking (at the time) sales of 1.35 million copies.

Yet in 2004, Madden was not the only football title on the market. Take-Two's NFL 2K series put significant pressure on EA Sports' flagship title with its high quality and $20 price point. NFL 2K5 sold 791,000 copies in its first month of availability, which seems to indicate that this year's week-one Madden sales hike of 350,000 copies is really nothing more than the franchise swallowing up sales that would have likely gone towardsNFL 2K6.

"I believe 2K, with its $20 price point, reintroduced many gamers to football videogames, who hadn't purchased one in years -- it widened the potential market. Now this fall those gamers are sticking around and crossing over to Madden," Intihar said. - Football Gambling -

Tiburon's Tough PositionMadden developer Tiburon fell under a lot of unfair fire after the NFL exclusivity was first announced in December. The conclusion reached by most message board denizens seemed reasonable enough -- no competition would lead to complacency, and a lowered amount of creativity/quality. Take-Two seemed to agree, stating that the deal does a "tremendous disservice to the consumers... by limiting their choices and curbing creativity" shortly after the deal was announced.

Although Tiburon was undoubtedly extremely pleased to hear that they and they alone had the rights to use NFL League assets and player likenesses, it wasn't a deal they were responsible for. 06's ambitious enhancements and additions to last year's Madden seemed to be aimed directly at those who insisted the company would "take a year off" thanks to the absence ofNFL 2K.

"From a critical point of view the best words to sum up Madden 2006 are 'surprisingly ambitious,'" Intihar said. "They took chances that people didn't expect, and really wanted to prove everyone wrong. Changing the passing game was massive. Tiburon brought out the media to see the game a month and a half early, to prove to everyone that they were not just taking the year off." - Football Gambling -

The Big Get BiggerWhile Tiburon has (rightly) been commended for continuing to innovate in significant ways despite this being the sixth Madden released for the current generation of consoles -- not to mention no longer having any competition -- most reviewers agreed that the developer might have bitten off a little more innovation than it could refine in just one year. 06's reviews were markedly lower than 05's.

At the end of the day, Madden 2006 is likely to significantly outsell Madden 2005, despite having a lower review average. Everyone involved with the product worked hard to prove this year thatNFL exclusivity wasn't going to ruin football gaming, but it's unlikely that any amount of negative attention would now be able to dent the franchise. - Football Gambling -

'NCAA Football' scores top marks

By Jim Scott

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Football fanatics have had a full month to enjoy "NCAA Football 2006," which retains all its charm and adds enough new features to topple "Madden NFL 2006" as the year's best football game.

An ambitious Race-for-the-Heisman mode stands out, simulating the quest for college football's most prestigious individual award. You create a player, give him a position and hit the practice field in spring drills in hopes of earning a scholarship from a top football school.

Once you pick a school, it's off to your dorm room, which serves as the game's interface in Heisman mode. That's where you check your stats, practice plays, check newspapers and track the Heisman Hype meter. As you progress through your career and become the big man on campus, the living conditions in your dorm improve, the fan mail increases and your girlfriend's picture on your desk gets upgraded as well.

While upgrading your girlfriend makes for comic relief, the ultimate goal is to win the Heisman Trophy. "NCAA Football 2006" does a brilliant job of simulating a Heisman race with weekly Heisman watch updates and newspaper stories. The build up and hype culminates in a satisfying Heisman Trophy ceremony at the end of season.

On the field, gameplay has been sped up. The defensive Hit Stick from "Madden NFL" is now available in the college game. On offense, the juke buttons are now mapped to the right analog stick along with a new shoulder charge move.

New Impact players are stars on offense and defense indicated by a solid white circle. Impact Player icons pulsate when the player is "in the zone." Players "in the zone" are given momentary attribute boosts to help them break tackles on offense or make devastating hits on defense.

Outstanding moves by Impact Players activate the Impact Cam. The camera momentarily zooms in on your player and rotates around him into slow motion to show off the move before pulling back out to the default angle and game speed. The Impact Cam instantly ups the wow factor in "NCAA Football 2006," especially when playing a human opponent.

EA Sports' Madden NFL series perennially garners the most acclaim and sales, but "NCAA Football 2006" has finally caught and passed its NFL counterpart. It's the best football game on the market - well worth the $49.99 retail price.

"NCAA Football 2006" is rated "E" for everyone and is available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

"NCAA Football 2006" - rated "E" for everyone - is available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

Snoop's Football League Sparks Controversy

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. - Snoop Dogg's new youth football league is a hot item in Southern California.
Two years ago, Snoop began coaching his son's team in the Orange County Junior All-American Football Conference, luring children from other squads with his star power. Players watched game video inside a school bus equipped with DVD players, TV screens and a booming sound system. - Football Gambling -
The rapper and sometime actor also made personal phone calls to draw in top talent, and last year his Rowland Raiders went undefeated en route to a league championship. They also went on to win the "Snooperbowl," held a day before the Super Bowl, and took home custom-made trophies donated by Tiffany & Co. for their effort. - Football Gambling -
Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, is taking things to the next level this year, creating his own Southern California league. He lowered fees for joining a team from $175 or more to $100, which covers the cost of cleats and pads. He also loosened residency requirements.
Children and some coaches have flocked to the eight-chapter Snoop Youth Football League, leaving supporters of old leagues dejected and wondering whether they were used.
"I'm mad at Coach Snoop," said 10-year-old Xavier Bernal, a player for the Rowland Raiders. "He was so cool; he told me to play my heart out and to play everything I've got. But now I just want to ask him, why did he take all our players?" - Football Gambling -
Nevertheless, a movie documenting the effort, and titled "Coach Snoop," is reported to be in the works. - Football Gambling -
"It's so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs," Snoop said. "We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics."

Associated Press

Mike Barber Joins College Football Hall of Fame this Weekend

South Bend, Ind. - Marshall University's Mike Barber will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Hall this weekend.Barber will become only the second player in school history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He joins Marshall legend Jackie Hunt who was enshrined last year.A two-time First Team All-America selection, Barber was named National Player of the Year in 1988 by the American Football Coaches Association. - Football Gambling -
The Thundering Herd’s first three-time First Team All-Conference pick, he led the nation in receiving while setting single-season conference records with 106 receptions and 1,757 yards in 1987.Barber, a native of Winfield, W.Va., still holds many school records. He is Marshall's career receiving yards leader (4,262), and is the school's all-time single season leader in receptions (106 in 1987) and receiving yards (1,757 in 1987). The Southern Conference’s all-time career leader in receptions (249) and receiving yards (4,262), Barber was voted Marshall’s Athlete of the Decade for the 1980s and is a member of the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame. Prior to graduation, Barber was selected in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Following a five-year professional football career, Barber has become a successful businessman in West Virginia. - Football Gambling -
A community minded individual, Barber maintains a very active role in local affairs while serving as a coach and member of the board of directors for Little League Baseball and youth basketball.This year's class, which also includes Kirk Baumgartner of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Leo Lewis of Lincoln, Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State, coach Roger Harring of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and coach Frosty Westering of Parsons, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during Enshrinement Ceremonies on Saturday. - Football Gambling -