THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
FRIDAY DECEMBER 5, 2008
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008
SPORTS
5B
FANTASY FOOTBALL
Playoff brings impressive players for starting lineup
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH kbreckunitch@kansan.com
GUS FREROTTE, QB,
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The playoffs are most likely either starting or one week away in your fantasy league. Now is the time to be acutely aware of your players' matchups because they could be essential in your team's playoff performance. Here are some guys with favorable matchups that could be a big benefit on your fantasy roster.
Yes, Minnesota relies heavily on its rush offense and defense to win games. Although, since the Vikings made Frerotte the starter, there has been a little more depth with the passing offense. He has shown it at times, like last Sunday's 99-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Bernard Berrian. This week, Frerotte may need to borrow running back Adrian Peterson's nickname, "All Day," because he should be the one giving the Detroit Lions fits throughout the game. The Lions boast the second worst defense in the NFL, so it should be a good day for Frerotte and the rest of the Vikings.
MARK CLAYTON, WR
BALTIMORE RAVENS
The more comfortable rookie quarterback Joe Flacco gets in Baltimore, the bigger plus it is for his receivers. Clayton in particular has started to improve his game. He had two of his three touchdown receptions on the season
in the last two games. He also caught five passes for 164 yards last Sunday. Fellow wide receiver Derrick Mason takes some heat off Clayton, which could lead to a big day on Sunday.
KEVIN FAULK, RB, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Faulk is probably the most solid option in the New England backfield right now. The Patriots have had numerous injury problems, but Faulk has been there throughout the season and has performed well. Right now, he is the leading rusher for New England and is on pace to eclipse 1,000 total yards from scrimmage on the season. Faulk is a viable option in the run and pass game, which makes him double scoring threat. Add the fact that New England is playing Seattle, and that should easily make Faulk your go-to addition at running back.
OAKLAND DEFENSE
Oakland has been inconsistent at best on defense this year. Expect a high point from them this weekend though. Oakland plays San Diego, a team that has been extremely inconsistent on offense, so naturally something has to give. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers is mistake prone, and Oakland's strength is its secondary. If the Raiders can hold San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson just under 100 yards, it should be a good day for the Oakland defense.
Edited bv Brieun Scott
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte pitches to a running back during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sunday, in Jacksonville, Fla.
NFL
Pierce to discuss Burress shooting with NYPD
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce looks around during practice at the Giants practice field in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday Pierce, who was with teammate Plaxico Burress when Burress accidentally shot himself in a New York nightclub last weekend, has not talked to police about his involvement after the incident.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Antonio Pierce and the doctor who treated his New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress after he accidentally shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub will talk to investigators Friday.
Pierce and Dr. Josyann Abisab willbeaccompaniedbytheirlawyers when they meet with the authorities, NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Paul Browne said. It is unclear when and where the parties will meet.
The authorities are especially interested in why neither Pierce, who drove Burress to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nor Abisaab called police to report the shooting early Saturday. Abisaab has since been suspended for not reporting the gunshot injury, as required by law.
Police are trying to determine whether Pierce tried to cover up the shooting. They say Pierce returned to New Jersey with Burress' gun in the glove compartment of his black Cadillac Escalade, and investigators have impounded the SUV to search it for any blood or gun residue.
Pierce's attorney said Pierce was caught off guard early Saturday when Burress somehow fumbled his gun — .40-caliber Glock — in the VIP section of a Manhattan nightclub and it discharged, hitting his right thigh.
"He had no idea Plaxico had a weapon," attorney Michael Bachner said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
And Bachner stressed the linebacker would cooperate with authorities and testify before a Manhattan grand jury about the incident if asked to testify, which has yet to happen.
"Antonio has always taken a position that he will be cooperative in the investigation with
law enforcement," Bachner said. "Should Antonio be subpoenaed to the grand jury, and we have no idea that is going to happen, but if he is, he is going to abide by his obligations as a citizen."
Bachner did not immediately return a telephone message Thursday evening, seeking comment on Pierce's meeting with investigators.
Pierce was in no mood to discuss the shooting incident after practice at Giants Stadium.
Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. He insisted he won't be distracted with the Giants (11-1) on the verge of clinching the NFC East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
"This is a big weekend for us," he said. "This a weekend that we can obviously clinch the NFC East, becoming champions of something, one of our main and most focused goals is to win our division and we have that opportunity this week."
Clad in a sweat-soaked gray pullover, the linebacker walked up to the wooden lectern, clenched the sides with gloved hands and spoke mostly about the Giants' game on
Being *under* the microscope isn't a problem, either, he added.
"I am about as focused as I could be;" Pierce said. "When distractions come up, you turn a
The police, too, refuse to be distracted. They're eager to learn why it took so long for them to learn of the shooting.
negative into a positive and that is my option"
Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said Thursday the team alerted NFL security about the shooting, leaving the league to alert police. The NFL said its security department then did contact police.
Police said the NFL called a detective squad in upper Manhattan between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday — not to report the shooting but to seek information on whether any 911 calls were made and whether Burress had been admitted to a hospital.
But police say the NFL was not forthcoming about the shooting.
The highest-ranking member of the police department called was a lieutenant, called at home around 12:20 p.m. Saturday, police said. By then, police were canvassing area hospitals — acting on media reports. Burress had already been discharged.
"The information we were provided was rumored reports of the shooting of Plaxico Burrell being reported on ESPN and elsewhere, and not information provided by the NFL." Browne said.
Pierce's attorney said the 30-year-old took Burress to the hospital after the shooting.
However, Pierce did not try to cover it up by registering Burress under a false name, Bachner said.
"Other than bringing him to the hospital, he had no involvement in the administration process," he said.
FOOTBALL Kansas defensive line coach heads to K-State
After coaching at Kansas for just one season, defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements will leave to become the defensive ends coach at Kansas State, new K-State coach Bill Snyder announced on Thursday.
Clements, a 1999 graduate of Kansas State, was a part of 10 bowl games as both a player and coach while with the Wildcats and coached for seven seasons on Snyder's staff before coaching at San Diego State in 2006 and 2007
During his short tenure as defensive line coach at KU, Clements tutored All-Big 12 selections Caleb Blakesley and Jake Laptad.
It's unclear if Clements will remain to coach the bowl game.
— B.J. Rains
NFL Judge postpones NFL's doping suspensions
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.
Associated Press
Varieties of Cosmopolitanism & the Ideal of Global Justice
PHILOSOPHY LECTURE SERIES What Does a Liberal Society Owe the Disadvantaged?
Richard Arneson Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Dec. 5, Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union
Arneson's research is in moral and political philosophy, having published nearly 100 essays on topics in these areas including, most recently, "What Do We Owe to Distant Needy Strangers?," "What is Wrongful Discrimination?," "Desert and Equality" and "Moral Limits on the Demands of Beneficence." His recent work explores how a satisfactory account of personal responsibility might best be integrated into broadly egalitarian theories of social justice and it explores issues of global justice.
Co-sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences & IPSR
This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. 785-864-4798 hallcenter@ku.edu www.hallcenter.ku.edu
KU HALL CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES
The University of Kansas