SPORTS
3B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
FANTASY FOOTBALL
Injuries define first week
Patriots' QB Brady out for season; several rookies emerge
Here's how the weekend action in the NFL will affect your fantasy rosters in the upcoming weeks.
BEANTOWN BLOWOUT
We can thank Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss for the foot-in-mouth moment of the weekend.
The biggest news came out of New England when the Patriots lost quarterback Tom Brady for the season. A handful of fantasy owners are now kicking themselves for reaching to take Brady as high as they did.
After the game, Moss accused Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard of making a dirty play that caused Brady's injury and said he had never been a dirty player himself. Accusations aside, the Patriots will most likely shift focus to rely on the running game in the next few weeks as backup quarterback Matt Cassel gets acclimated as the starter.
RETURN OF THE MAC
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb was in prime form against St. Louis on Sunday. McNabb has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but he looked as if had reverted to his Super Bowl form in the opening game of the season.
Two years ago McNabb was on track for the best year of his career and was anchoring fantasy rosters. If McNabb can play half as well next Monday against the Cowboys, he may prove he can be the No. 1
quarterback in fantasy football.
SCORELESS IN SEATTLE
Seattle has won the NFC West the past few years by default, it seems, because the rest of the competition in the division has been sub-par. The Seahawks looked like they were sub-par competition Sunday, though, after getting stomped by the Bills 34-10.
Matt Hasselbeck's performance was poor, and injuries to Nate Burleson, who is out for the season, and Maurice Morris will slow the offense even further in the upcoming weeks.
The defense was in the middle of the pack last season but looked awful against a Bills offense that was 30th in total yardage a year ago. Seattle has a lot of issues to deal with in the next few weeks of the season.
A NICE FORTE
Chicago running back Matt Forte's stock rose rapidly as the NFL Draft approached last April. The Bears, after letting Thomas Jones get away last season and seeing Cedric Benson struggle, didn't waste any time grabbing Forte in the second round.
Forte earned the starting
spotting on Chicago's roster and showed his big play potential against a tough Indianapolis team in the first game of the season. Forte gained more than 100 rushing yards and had a 50-yard touchdown run. In smaller leagues of eight or fewer teams, Forte may still be available, so you should pick him up while you can.
ROOKIE WIDEOUTS
A few unexpected rookie receivers had huge effects on their respective offenses. The Redskins took a lot of receivers in the draft, the Steelers took Limas Sweed and the Bills took James Hardy, but none of those players had the impact that DeSean Jackson and Eddie Royal had in their first games.
Jackson started for the Eagles because of injury problems in the receiving corps and made the most of his time. Jackson finished the game with six catches for 106 yards.
But Royal was the more impressive performer, and the Broncos rookie made the most of his starting time while fellow Denver receiver Brandon Marshall was serving a one-game suspension. Denver quarterback Jay Cutler used Royal as his primary target, and Royal ended the game with nine catches for 146 yards and one touchdown.
Jackson and Royal are players to watch — and potentially add to your fantasy roster as the season goes on.
Edited by Scott Toland
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb scrambles for yardage against the St. Louis Rams during the third quarter of the Eagles' game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 38-3. With the New England Patriots Tom Brady sidelined, McNabb may emerge as the top fantasy quarterback.
COURTS
Jury selection process continues for O.J. Simpson trial
ASSOCIATED PRESS
At first, she said she could. But, Then the judge addressed her
LAS VEGAS — With other prospective jurors listening, a woman lectured O.J. Simpson on his behavior as a celebrity Tuesday and declared, "I felt he got away with murder."
Like others questioned for service in Simpson's robbery-kidnap trial, the woman said she would try to be fair. But she became increasingly adamant, disclosing the disenchment of someone familiar with Simpson's triumphs and disappointed in his fall from glory.
"I'm very opinionated," said the woman. "I don't have any problem giving my opinion and sticking to it."
"I have seven brothers," she said. "Mr. Simpson has been around my life. He's always been there. I don't know what team he played for but I know about the Heisman Trophy. I'm from Southern California. My husband loved him."
"I think he chose to be a celebrity," she said. "He chose to put himself in the public eye. Everyone is aware of it. He should be a little more self-conscious of his actions. It's different than it would be for me."
The exchanges on the second day of jury selection showed the enduring influence of Simpson's 1995 acquittal on charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman.
Looking at Simpson, she said she thinks celebrities need to watch their behavior in public.
Since Monday, 20 of 248 prospective jurors have been dismissed for various reasons.
Under questioning by District Attorney David Roger, the prospective juror recalled Simpson's impact on her life.
Simpson, the 61-year-old former University of Southern California and pro football star is now accused, along with codedefendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, of kidnapping, armed robbery and several other crimes for allegedly stealing items from two sports memorabilia dealers in a confrontation in a hotel room last year. They have pleaded not guilty.
Asked whether she was going to treat the case differently because of Simpson's past, the woman said, "I think as far as the first trial, I felt he got away with murder."
Roger asked if she could put aside those feelings and judge the current case on its own terms.
At first, she questioned by defense attorney Gabriel Grasso, she said, "I can't be 100 percent sure."
He asked to remove the juror and Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass allowed Roger to try to retain the woman
"I think he chose to be a celebrity. He chose to put himself in the public eye. ... He should be a little more self-conscious of his actions."
Prospective O.J. Simpson juror
woman said, prompting a dismissal.
"You said you hope your personal feelings don't interfere," the judge said. "Is there some smidgen in the back of your mind that you think that it might?"
"There's a smidgen" the
Simpson's murder trial, but insisted, "His past has nothing to do with this case."
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sitting behind him at a football game. Another woman said she had expected a guilty verdict in