text:
In that same vein, I hope to apply that same kind of pressure
to the owners in all of my leagues by beating my opponents to
the punch in regards to personnel moves. Sometimes, reaching a
conclusion about a player too quickly is much like trying to blitz
Peyton Manning – dangerous and painful. However, coming
to a correct conclusion two weeks or two minutes quicker than
your opponents is considered foresight. Fantasy owners can be
a uneasy lot, knowing that one two-or-three-game losing streak
can wreak irreparable damage to his/her team's chances to
make a visit to the fantasy postseason. But just as it is in the
NFL and in life, it's hard to land the big prize by playing
scared. Thus, I will strive each week to help each of you become
a smart blitzer, so to speak.
For those
of you who checked out the column last week, you already know
I've decided to spend the last two weeks of the fantasy regular
season on trying to provide each of my readers with some idea
of where all of the league's usable fantasy running backs stand
for the remainder of the season. For all the good people who didn't
read the first part of this column last week (shame on you, by
the way), I covered the first 16 teams in alphabetical order last
week and will cover the other half of the league this week. Long
story short, I've chosen to dissect each team RB situation into
four parts: what we knew before the season (Past), what we know
now (Present), what it all means going forward (Future) and what
"fantasy class" owners should expect each RB's production
to fall in for the remainder of the season (Fantasy role for the
remainder of the season).
Miami Dolphins
Past: Ronnie
Brown and Ricky
Williams entered the season in a pretty even RBBC. The problem
was, very few fantasy owners knew this and - for the ones that
did - even less anticipated any lengthy contribution from the
32-year-old Williams. HC Tony Sparano made several mentions throughout
the summer about how Brown was in the best shape of his career,
so with Brown at age 27 and in his second year following ACL surgery,
the outlook appeared rosy for Brown to eventually fight off Williams
and dominate the touches on a team highly committed to running
the ball.
Did you get that memo Ricky?
Minnesota Vikings
After some early-season passing game contributions from Chester
Taylor, Adrian
Peterson has almost made his third-down complement an afterthought.
Peterson has already eclipsed his career high in receptions and
is one TD away from matching his career-high in rushing scores.
Along with Maurice Jones-Drew and a few other RBs that we will
get to later, Peterson is one of the handful plug-and-play RBs
in fantasy.
New England Patriots
Past: Annually one of the league's most unpredictable backfields
for fantasy owners, the Patriots appeared to have four RBs who
could each make small contributions when the season started. Fred
Taylor looked to have the upper hand over Laurence Maroney for
early-down carries while Kevin Faulk would continue his role as
one of the league's best third-down RBs. Sammy Morris was a wildcard
at first, but the Patriots cleared things up with him early on
in the season by using him mostly as a fullback.
Present: Taylor jumped out early on the competition, highlighted
by a rare 100-yard rushing performance by a Patriot RB in Week
3 vs. Atlanta. Of course, wouldn't you know that after the 33-year-old
had almost dropped his "Fragile Fred" tag from his days
with the Jaguars, he would fall victim to an ankle injury the
next week? This led to the ascension of Morris, who gave his owners
an unexpected two-week contribution before he was lost to a knee
injury. This sequence of events led the Pats to Maroney, who has
promptly shed his own labels of being "soft" and "fragile"
to score in six straight contests and emerge as the closest thing
to a feature back New England has enjoyed since Corey Dillon was
acquired several years ago. While Taylor remains out, he has not
been put on IR yet and Morris saw action for the first time in
Week 12. Faulk has remained in his usual role.
Future: Any veteran owner who has been invested in the Patriots�
backfield during the Bill Belichick era knows that nothing is
set in stone here. If Belichick has options to go to, he won't
hesitate to use them. It's safe to assume that if Maroney were
to have a two-fumble game in the near future, he would quickly
go from the penthouse to the outhouse with Morris likely being
the beneficiary. (Keep in mind that while Maroney is easily playing
his best football since his rookie year, he has fumbled in three
straight games.) In other words, Maroney's grasp on the lead-back
role may be only as firm as his ball-handling over the final few
weeks of the regular season.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Maroney (RB2 in
PPR and non-PPR), Morris (RB4 in both formats), Faulk (RB4 in
both formats)
New Orleans Saints
Past: All throughout the summer,
Pierre Thomas
was skyrocketing up fantasy draft cheatsheets. In an explosive
offense and with Deuce
McAllister no longer a threat, it was only a matter of time
before the undrafted RB from Illinois would become the next big
thing. After all, Reggie
Bush had his shot at a bigger workload and didn't exactly
thrive in that role. However, a seemingly innocent preseason knee
sprain that was only supposed to sideline Thomas for about a week
kept him away from game action until Week 3 of the regular season,
opening the door wide open for Mike
Bell to become a factor.
Present: Of course, Bell promptly opened the door right back for
Thomas by sitting out three weeks with a knee sprain of his own.
Needless to say, this backfield situation hasn't exactly played
out like fantasy owners expected in the preseason. Right now,
Thomas is the safest play of the three Saints backs because he
is a: 1) more natural and durable runner than Bush and 2) a better
receiver than Bell.
Future: In most situations, the aforementioned description would
be that of a surefire fantasy starter and unquestioned lead back.
But in the Saints' offensive attack, Bush continues to a viable
play in PPR leagues despite his lack of touches because he always
seems to be put into favorable scoring positions - for his real
team as well as his fantasy owners - while Bell is worth a play
if/when New Orleans jumps out on its competition early on as he
is the team's "closer". Thus, it appears the combination
of having too many mouths to feed and the aggressive nature of
the Saints' offense will keep Thomas from becoming a huge weekly
contributor for fantasy owners. However, the very reason that
he won't be a weekly standout is the same reason he will be consistent
- there is no way a defense can play against the New Orleans�
offense and key on only or two players.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Thomas (RB2 in PPR
and non-PPR), Bell (RB3 in non-PPR, RB4 in PPR), Bush (RB4 in
non-PPR, RB3 in PPR)
New York Giants
Past: Coming off a season in
which Giants RBs accounted for 2,998 total yards and 20 total
TDs, great things were expected from this backfield. Ahmad Bradshaw
was expected to step up into the role Derrick Ward so capably
manned in 2008 while Danny Ware filled in Bradshaw's old spot.
After scoring 15 TDs and crossing the 1,000-yard in just 13 games,
Brandon Jacobs was a virtual lock for another 10-TD campaign.
The only thing keeping Jacobs from being a sure-fire first-rounder
in 2009 was his propensity to get hurt and miss a few games.
What's happened to the Giants running game?
Present: If there was a RB
situation that completely went off script this season than the
Giants this season, I have no idea who else would be in the running.
Bradshaw and Ware have dealt with injuries all season long while
Jacobs has yet to miss a game. The schedule, which included four
games each against the run defense-challenged divisions of AFC
West and NFC South, figured to be easier than last season's slate
against the AFC North and NFC West. And with one of the league's
best run-blocking units (FB Madison
Hedgecock included) intact from last season and the offensive
line sporting a single game missed along its front five (RT Kareem
McKenzie sat out Week 7 vs. Arizona), it is a complete mystery
as to how or why New York has only seen a RB go over the 100-yard
mark twice and may not even get a single RB over 1,000 yards this
season. What we do know is Jacobs spent the first half of the
season running very tentative while Bradshaw's injuries have curtailed
his production of late. The Giants' defense has suffered a number
of injuries - which has forced the team to pass the ball a bit
more - but more than anything, New York doesn't look like it believes
it is a running team anymore.
Future: The good news is that
with 34 carries (and 40 total touches) over the last three weeks,
Jacobs should be plenty fresh down the stretch. The bad news is
that New York faces all three divisional foes over the next three
weeks - all good run defenses - so this team just may not find
its identity again this season. It's hard to understand how a
team so proficient at running the ball last season fell off the
map so quickly, but with its lackluster performance vs. Denver,
I don't expect the Giants to find the answers they are looking
for this year. It may cause Jacobs & Co. to slip in fantasy
drafts next fall, but for 2008, Jacobs or Bradshaw cannot be considered
automatic starts anymore.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the
season: Jacobs (RB3 in PPR and non-PPR), Bradshaw (RB3
in both formats, when healthy), Ware (RB4 in both formats, with
potential to move up to RB3 in PPR if Bradshaw cannot get healthy)
New York Jets
Past: The 2009 Jets appeared ready to emulate the 2008 Ravens
- mostly by design as new HC Rex Ryan felt the run-heavy approach
his former team took would work well with a similarly talented
stable of RBs and a rookie QB. Rookie Shonn Greene was injured
early in the preseason, setting him behind the rest of the Jets
RBs in his quest to secure the "closer" role Ryan had
in mind for him on Draft Day. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington
were slated to split carries in the beginning, but it seemed only
a matter of time before the electric Washington would overtake
the 31-year-old Jones. In fact, Jones' demise seemed to be such
a sure thing that it was only a question of when � not if
- Greene would overtake him in the lineup. As a result, the veteran
spent a fair amount of the offseason wondering if he was on the
trade block.
Present: Jones and Washington pretty much split the backfield
work right down the middle, up until Week 7 when Washington suffered
a gruesome double open fracture to his right leg on his first
carry vs. Oakland. The injury should have allowed for Greene to
move right into a split role with Jones, but a fumble in the rookie�s
next game - and ineptitude as a receiver - landed the rookie into
a strict relief role behind Jones.
Future: There's little reason to believe the current setup is
going to change anytime soon, barring an injury to Jones. The
Jets aren't good enough on offense to jump out to huge leads in
order to allow Greene to see regular work, so expect Jones to
extend his six-game streak of seeing at least 21 carries. Jones
isn�t contributing much as a receiver, but he has yet to
fumble - which means as much as anything to a defensive-oriented
coach such as Ryan. While he may see a slight decrease in carries
as the Jets are on short rest in Week 13, his next three matchups
(Bills, Bucs, Falcons) bode very well for him. However, the Colts
loom in Week 16, which may be good or bad depending on whether
or not Indianapolis has already clinched home field.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Jones (RB1 in PPR
and non-PPR), Greene (RB4 in both formats)
Oakland Raiders
Past: A top-10 rushing team
a season ago, optimism was somewhat high for that part of the
offense after HC Tom Cable declared Darren
McFadden the starter late in the preseason. That hope quickly
dissipated once teams realized QB JaMarcus Russell had actually
regressed as a signal-caller and did not need to honor any part
of the passing game, even TE Zach Miller . McFadden and LG Robert
Gallery (two of the more important cogs in the Raiders' run game)
succumbed to injuries early on, essentially flatlining the slight
pulse the Oakland offense had before the injuries.
Present: With QB Bruce Gradkowski
under center, teams now have to at least some part of the passing
game. Justin
Fargas, a coaches' favorite, used McFadden's absence to move
up the RB ranks in Oakland by outperforming Michael
Bush and give the team some semblance of an offensive threat.
With Gallery and McFadden back and healthy, Oakland is just now
getting a chance to see what it has to work with...finally.
Future: There's a reason why teams like the Raiders rarely compete
with the elite teams of the league. They draft poorly more often
than not and when they do get an athlete that is also a decent
football player, they take too long in adapting their offense
to cater to his talents. The jury is still out on McFadden as
a RB - and his ability to stay healthy - but the second-year pro
made his name as an all-around talent (rushing, receiving and
passing). I obviously don't endorse a full-time move to QB, but
as someone who helped the "Wildcat" become a trendy
offensive attack, how can someone with this much talent be confined
to sharing carries with Fargas? Thanksgiving Day marked the first
time I actually saw the Raiders line up McFadden multiple times
out wide. As a result, I'm interested to see how this plays out
the rest of the season, but the Cowboys� game may have been
the first of many steps for the Raiders offense in which they
try to identify mismatches for McFadden. It's a lot to ask for
from the Raiders� offense, but I have to believe at some
point some coach on their staff realizes it is all right to be
creative with McFadden.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Fargas (RB3 in non-PPR,
RB4 in PPR), McFadden (RB3 in both formats), Bush (RB4 at best
until Fargas and/or McFadden gets injured)
Philadelphia Eagles
Past: There didn't appear to
be much doubt about a few things in the Eagles' backfield at the
beginning of the season. Brian
Westbrook would start and be insanely productive for the 10-12
games he could stay healthy. Unlike previous years when Correll
Buckhalter was all that Philadelphia had in reserve, the Eagles
protected themselves with a second-round draft selection of LeSean
McCoy, who hypothetically would assume Westbrook's role whenever
the veteran needed to sit out. Leonard
Weaver was signed with the hope he could address the Eagles'
annual struggles in short yardage and the red zone.
Present: It took all of two weeks into the regular season for
Westbrook to miss a game due to an ankle injury, allowing McCoy
to show his wares in a Week 3 blowout win over Kansas City. Westbrook
used his two weeks off to get himself right for Week 5 and gave
his owners a vintage 141-total-yard performance in a Week 6 loss
to the Raiders. However, his season took a turn for the worse
when he suffered a concussion the next week vs. the Redskins.
The Eagles did well to hold Westbrook out two full weeks after
the incident, but another blow to the head left in Week 10 vs.
the Chargers has left his season in doubt. In his absence, McCoy
has shown himself to be a fine replacement for Westbrook, but
it is obvious the Eagles are leery about trusting him with too
much. Whether HC Andy Reid is concerned about overworking the
rookie or worried that McCoy can't be trusted in blitz pickup/short
yardage (or a combination of both), he is merely just the lead
back for the Eagles right now, not the feature back that some
owners anticipated he might be in the preseason whenever Westbrook
was forced to miss a game.
Future: Westbrook's status is still very much up in the air, but
the general consensus seems to be that he is out through at least
Week 14. There also seems to be a fair amount of belief that he
has played his last game as an Eagle. Considering his injury history,
age and contract status, it is a definite possibility. However,
regarding his status, the fact of the matter is that we simply
do not know; not enough is known about concussions to call a Grade
1 concussion a two-week injury for every player or a Grade 3 concussion
a season-ending injury for every player. As for McCoy, the Eagles
have allowed him to hit the 20-touch mark in each of the past
two weeks, so while Philadelphia doesn't quite see him as an every-down
back quite yet, he should be starting for most fantasy teams for
as long as Westbrook remains out.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: McCoy (RB2 in PPR
and non-PPR as long as Westbrook remains out; if Westbrook returns,
he becomes a RB3 in both formats), Westbrook (RB3 in both formats,
assuming he even returns)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Past: Long one of fantasy football's
best places to look for a dependable RB, Pittsburgh was not drawing
a lot of attention from owners this summer. While the reports
of Willie
Parker looking as fast as he did in his heyday sounded good,
something didn't quite feel right about that. Additionally, there
was very little reason to believe in Parker considering how porous
the Steelers' running game was in 2008, mostly due to an inexperienced
offensive line (in terms of playing together as a unit). Second-year
RB Rashard
Mendenhall was quickly headed down the path of being a draft
bust after a rookie season which was cut short by injury and a
supposed unwillingness to �pay the price� to be a pro runner.
This came one season after his OC, Bruce Arians, compared him
favorably to a rookie he coached as a Colts assistant years ago,
Edgerrin James.
Present: A funny thing happened on the Steelers' defense of their
Super Bowl title. Parker suffered the dreaded turf toe injury
following his best performance of the season in Week 3 vs. the
Bengals - a game in which Mendenhall was deactivated for failing
to pay attention to detail in practice among other things. This
opened the door for the second-year back to prove to his team
he was worth a first-round pick in 2008...and prove it he did.
Even though the biggest revelation of the Steelers' running game
- one that has seemingly went completely unnoticed by all the
football analysts - was the turnaround the offensive line made
in the Week 3 game vs. the Bengals, Mendenhall exploited the gaping
holes his line gave him vs. the Chargers in Week 4, running with
more determination than ever and stealing the starting job away
from Parker in the process.
Future: After landing in the doghouse early in the season, Mendenhall
has quickly built up a lot of good will with his coaches and fantasy
owners. Amazingly, he hasn't scored a rushing TD over his last
five games, but is contributing in the passing game more than
people realize and running with the same authority that he did
against San Diego. It's too early to say where he should go in
fantasy drafts next season, but it is very likely that Pittsburgh
will cut ties with Parker in the offseason and let Mendenhall
and Mewelde Moore assume the vast majority of touches in its backfield
going forward, with Mendenhall obviously serving as the featured
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Mendenhall (RB1
in non-PPR and PPR), Parker (RB4 in both formats), Moore (RB4
in both formats)
San Diego Chargers
Past: After a long offseason
of will they/won't they with LaDainian
Tomlinson, the Chargers elected to hold onto to the best RB
in franchise history for at least one more season while placing
the franchise tag on his backup, Darren
Sproles. Shortly after Tomlinson was assured he would remain
a Charger, HC Norv Turner stated that Tomlinson was looking as
good as he had in some time and predicted 320 carries for him.
While it was unclear how Sproles would be used, it was pretty
obvious that he was looking at an expanded role, merely given
the fact he was making in excess of $6.6 M this season. Considering
how often Tomlinson was falling victim to injury, it was a smart
investment, albeit a very pricey one.
Present: It took only about a handful of carries for the investment
in Sproles to look like a good decision for the Chargers. After
making a fair fantasy contribution in Week 1, LT missed the next
two weeks with a sprained ankle, which only fanned the flames
suggesting that LT had �lost a step� and was �injury-prone�.
Since LT returned in Week 4, Sproles has seen his on-field contributions
cut drastically while Tomlinson has rediscovered a portion of
the fantasy production he used to provide his fantasy owners after
scoring seven times over the last five contests. While he isn't
as young and elusive as he used to be, Tomlinson is still quicker
than most RBs his age but is still wrongfully shouldering more
blame for the Chargers' running game woes than he should. When
two backs of the caliber of Tomlinson and Sproles are both being
held well below the league YPC average, it says volumes about
how poor the run-blocking is, even though it has improved in recent
weeks. LT's 3.4 season YPC is actually a bit better than Sproles'
3.3 YPC, which is surprising when one considers how often Sproles
is pronounced as the better RB at this point of both of their
Future: The improvement the
Chargers' offensive line has made in recent weeks has helped salvage
LT's fantasy value somewhat, even if his numbers aren't as eye-popping
as they used to be. However, that could change for the fantasy
playoffs, when San Diego faces some tough defenses in the Cowboys
(Week 14), Bengals (Week 15) and Titans (Week 16). Looking forward
to 2010, it's conceivable the Chargers could allow both LT and
Sproles to hit the market. If that scenario plays out, it would
be a shame for a team that once employed an in-his-prime LT, Michael
Turner and Sproles. One has to question how San Diego has allowed
so much talent (Drew Brees comes to mind, Shawne Merriman may
leave in the offseason as well) to leave without getting anything
but compensatory draft picks in return.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Tomlinson (RB2 in
non-PPR and PPR), Sproles (RB3 in both formats)
San Francisco
Despite a strong preseason showing from rookie Glen
Coffee, there was never any real doubt that Frank
Gore would carry the full load as long as he was healthy.
The one interesting event that has transpired in this backfield
- besides Coffee filling for Gore for a two-week stretch early
in the season - is how the offense has morphed under QB Alex Smith
and how that has affected the way Gore is touching the ball. Since
Smith took over for Shaun Hill midway through Week 7, Gore has
topped 16 carries just once. However, two seven-catch games over
the last four contests has salvaged his value - especially in
PPR leagues - and has allowed the veteran to receive 22 or more
touches in three of the last four contests. Gore has a good shot
at producing monster numbers in two more games, especially Week
16 vs. Detroit. Seattle (in Week 13) also looms as a potential
blow-up game, but it should be noted the Seahawks have long been
a much better team - and defense - at home than on the road.
Seattle Seahawks
Past: Early on in the offseason,
Julius Jones
appeared to be in the same neighborhood as Cedric Benson - lower-tier
RBs who had little to no competition for touches. As any veteran
fantasy owner knows, one of the most critical aspects of determining
whether a player can have a breakout-type of season is first identifying
those players who have 20-touch/game capability. The situation
started looking even better for Jones when the team released goal-line
specialist T.J.
Duckett in the preseason. Of course, that optimism was short-lived
when the Seahawks elected to hand Duckett�s old role over to Edgerrin
James, a confusing decision for a player (James) who had long
been regarded as a weak short-yardage runner. Lo and behold, James
was released prior to Week 8.
Present: Jones made his owners feel pretty good about themselves
through three games, scoring in each contest while also contributing
in the passing game. Then, the wheels started falling off as the
competition got a bit tougher and the offensive line crumbled.
Naturally, Jones started running less confidently and the team
started showing less confidence in him as a result. (Excluding
his 5.0 YPC in Week 10 on just two carries, Jones hasn't topped
3.7 YPC since Week 3. In fact, he has been held under 3.0 YPC
in four of his last six games.) While the lung bruise that he
suffered in Week 10 was obviously very painful for Jones, the
injury gave Justin Forsett - formerly thought of as merely a third-down
back � a chance to shine. All Forsett has done since is
score in each of his three games and eclipse the 100-yard mark
twice as the primary ball-carrier. In the one game he didn't rush
for over 100 yards, he gave his owners eight catches for 80 yards.
Future: The Seahawks' RB situation has been a headache for owners
who invested in any one of their backs, but the emergence of Forsett
may be helping to clear things up a bit. HC Jim Mora insists that
Jones' job will be waiting for him when he returns, but also notes
that Forsett has earned more playing time. So while Jones may
still have a starting job, it is going to get harder and harder
for the coaching staff to ignore that Forsett is averaging a full
2.0 YPC more than Jones and is the bigger-play threat of the two
backs. It's actually hard to imagine a scenario at this point
where Jones is more valuable than Forsett and with the Seahawks
quickly headed toward another losing season; Mora may be inclined
to see if Forsett is feature-back material.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Forsett (RB2 in
non-PPR and PPR as long as Jones is out; RB3 in non-PPR and RB2
in PPR when he returns), Jones (RB3 in both formats)
St. Louis Rams
Rams' RBs have combined for 1,541 total yards and four TDs -
Steven Jackson has accounted for 1,378 total yards and all of
the scores, an amazing 89% of the team�s overall production.
For my money, there isn't a player in the league who is doing
more with less than Jackson. Some RBs dominate with power, others
dominate with speed and still others dominate in the passing game
- but no other back in the league blends all three characteristics
as well as Jackson. Thanks to an offseason regimen that prepared
him for this season, Jackson is averaging a career-best 4.7 YPC
(since becoming the full-time starter) and has managed to stay
healthy this deep into a season for the first time in three years.
Jackson has been a consistent fantasy force despite a lack of
TDs in 2009, but assuming he remains committed to taking care
of himself in the offseason, he could easily emerge as fantasy's
MVP in 2010 if the Rams continue taking the necessary steps towards
Tampa Bay Bucs
Past: This had the potential
to be one of those rare backfields where everyone's role was cut
and dried. Derrick
Ward, the Bucs' big free agent signing, was supposed to be
the lead back with Earnest
Graham serving as his short-yardage complement. Naturally,
HC Raheem Morris and OC Greg Olsen didn't see things that way
after Cadillac
Williams crashed the party midway through the preseason, prompting
the Bucs' coaches to order a 2-2-1 split of the backfield work
with Williams being named the starter. This arrangement, of course,
did not last long as Graham was needed at fullback while Ward
complemented Williams.
Present: Currently the third-least productive fantasy backfield
in PPR leagues, the Bucs have been a mess for most of the season.
They have been true to their committee approach, even if it isn't
the one that Morris pitched us at the beginning of the season.
Williams looked to be running away with lead-back duties midway
through the season, but Tampa Bay has seen Graham and Ward each
lead the team in fantasy points once over the last four weeks.
Still, Williams has accounted for five of the team's seven RB
scores, so he remains a better fantasy bet each week than either
one of his teammates.
Future: There is no reason to
expect things to change in Tampa. Williams is the only player
to see more than 14 touches in a single game and is really the
only RB that should warrant any starting consideration from owners
- and even that is a stretch. The remaining schedule isn't overly
daunting, but the Bucs' running game has been a disappointment
for much of the season. After putting up a respectable top-half
showing in 2008 behind a young and talented offensive line, the
preseason dismissal of OC Jeff Jagodzinski undermined the entire
offensive operation this season. So while the contract extension
of Olsen in November serves as a way to provide rookie QB Josh
Freeman with some sort of stability, it hardly inspires a great
deal of confidence for the future of this offense has a whole.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Williams (RB3 in
non-PPR and PPR), Ward (RB4 in both formats)
Tennessee Titans
"Every Fantasy Owner's Dream"
Chris Johnson
got the offseason buzz going when he decided that he was going
solo. Rather than being known as an equal partner in Tennessee's
"Smash-and-Dash" like he was in 2008, he decided he would become
"Every Coach's Dream" in 2009. With the way things are going right
now, he may want to consider changing his nickname to "Every Fantasy
Owner's Dream". While Vince Young is rightfully receiving a large
share of the credit for the Titans' turnaround, the true reason
for Tennessee's recent play has been the complete shift in offensive
philosophy (centered on Johnson and the running game as opposed
to the more balanced attack the Titans were striving for with
Kerry Collins) and the health of the defense. While Johnson had
nothing to do with the latter, the Titans' move to Young forced
Tennessee to scale back the passing game initially and remember
what led them to their dominance last season. Since the change
at QB and philosophy, Johnson has seen at least 21 touches in
every game. More telling, however, is that Johnson has recorded
at least 26 touches in four of those five games while LenDale
White has seen his carries dwindle from 13 to 4 to 3 to 2
all the way down to zero last week when he was deactivated for
showing up late for a walk-through. Needless to say, White is
being phased out and, while he may see a token carry or two down
by the goal line, this is clearly Johnson�s show now and he may
end up being this season's fantasy MVP, if not the league MVP.
His remaining schedule is by no means soft as the Colts visit
the Titans in Week 13, but the Rams, Dolphins and Chargers have
all given huge games to running backs and running games much less
potent than Johnson and the Titans.
Washington Redskins
Past: As feature backs go in the preseason, Clinton Portis was
right there with Cedric Benson and Julius Jones - players every
owner knew would get the lion's share of their backfield's touches
but players who we figured would let us down more often than they
would help us. It didn't help that Portis was seemingly battling
injuries from the very start of the season. Further driving down
his stock was the announcement that Ladell Betts would take most
of the third-down work in an effort to preserve Portis.
Present: Already entering the season behind a questionable offensive
line, Portis somehow managed to post nearly 4.0 YPC and served
his owners as a low-end RB2, mostly because he saw many of the
team's carries early on. But Portis' injuries continued to dog
him and, little by little, the supporting cast around him fell
apart until he too was lost indefinitely due to a concussion in
Week 9. Betts performed well in relief in Week 9 and even keyed
a surprising win over the Broncos in Week 10 with another solid
performance, conjuring up images of his amazing second-half run
in 2006. However, the optimism was short-lived as Betts blew out
the ACL and MCL in his left knee in Week 11.
Future: The injuries to Portis and Betts have forced the Redskins
to turn to career special-teamer Rock Cartwright, who was being
worked in sporadically with Betts in Portis' absence. While owners
are often hesitant - for good reason - about chasing after a team's
third-string RB for their fantasy team, Cartwright is a capable
NFL RB and has been a third-stringer for most of his career because
the Redskins have generally been pretty strong at his position
over the years. It should be noted, however, that Washington's
line isn't any better now than it was when Portis was in the lineup,
so Cartwright remains a desperate play at best in fantasy.
Fantasy role for the remainder of the season: Portis (RB3 in non-PPR
and PPR, if/when he returns), Cartwright (RB3 in both formats
as long as Portis is out)
e-mail me with any questions/comments.
Copyright © 1998-2019 FFToday.com. All rights reserved.
FFToday.com is a member of the Fantasy Sports
Trade Association.
Partner of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties.


text:
Used Car - 2013 Dodge Dart SXT in Maryville, Tn
Please Call For Price
About This 2013 Dodge Dart SXT
Vehicle Location:
Maryville, Tn
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Exterior Color:
Stock Number:
Fuel Economy Estimates
City MPG
Highway MPG
Combined MPG: 30 - Efficient 30+ MPG
Estimated Monthly Fuel Cost: $74.17*
*Based on $1.78 per gallon and 15k miles per year.
Actual costs may vary.
Actual costs may vary.
Send This Vehicle To Your Smartphone
Seller's Description and Comments:
Located at Stat Financial, Inc. in Maryville, Tn. Call Stat Financial, Inc. today at 865-977-1202 for more information about this vehicle.
Vehicle Options:
- Abs Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- Am/fm Radio
- Automatic Headlights
- Cargo Area Tiedowns
- Cd Player
- Daytime Running Lights
- Driver Airbag
- Electronic Brake Assistance
- Front Air Dam
- Front Side Airbag
- Interval Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Passenger Airbag
- Power Adjustable Exterior Mirror
- Power Door Locks
- Power Windows
- Rear Window Defogger
- Second Row Folding Seat
- Second Row Side Airbag
- Side Head Curtain Airbag
- Tachometer
- Telescopic Steering Column
- Tilt Steering
- Tilt Steering Column
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Traction Control
- Trunk Anti-trap Device
- Vehicle Anti-theft
- Vehicle Stability Control System
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2013 Dodge Dart ReviewThis car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale.
An old name for a nifty new package with a hint of Italian spice.
If you're old enough to remember the Carter administration, the name may be familiar but that means you're beyond the target demographics for the Dart revival. A fixture at the entry end of the Dodge lineup from 1960 through 1976, the Dart was discontinued in 1977 and its badge went into mothballs, forgotten, but obviously not gone. Now it's been resuscitated, and affixed to this all-new line of compact sedans.
So the name is the same, and the new 2013 Dodge Dart occupies the same position in the Dodge passenger car hierarchy as the original. But the similarities end right there. The first car to incorporate engineering elements from corporate parent Fiat, the revival Dart is a contemporary front-drive compact facing a considerably stronger competitive environment than its 20th century namesake. Does it have the chops to be a compelling alternative to the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Nissan Sentra, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, and VW Jetta?
The answer is a definite maybe. Its styling is crisp, if not exactly head-turning, the structure is solid, the engineering credentials look good, and the number of equipment and trim choices exceptional.
Like other cars in the compact class, the Dart is aimed at young adults, primarily in their early to mid-20s, many of them married, many of them with young kids. The Dart makes a good case for itself with young parental types, thanks to an exceptionally roomy interior by compact sedan standards, and a respectable complement of standard safety features.
Basics. The Dodge Dart is as all-new as all-new gets in today's car business. Although fundamental elements of its unitbody foundations were adapted from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the snappy Italian hatchback, they've been stretched to accommodate the sedan body style: longer wheelbase, longer overall, wider track, wider body. The dimensional expansions are accompanied by structural enhancements; 68 percent of the bodyshell is composed of high-strength steel, according to the Dart development team, yielding a chassis that feels exceptionally solid.
Just as important, the Dart presents one of the broadest range of choices in its class: five trim levels, contemporary safety features, a dozen exterior colors, 14 interior trim variations, six different wheel designs ranging from 16 to 18 inches, four different grille treatments, three different four-cylinder engines (160-horsepower 2.0 liter, 160-horsepower 1.4-liter turbo, 184-horsepower 2.4-liter, limited to the R/T model), three different transmissions (6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 6-speed dual clutch automatic).
The Dart has a strong made-in-America story. Though some of the engines incorporate the innovative Multi-Air induction technology pioneered by Fiat, Chrysler's corporate parent, all three engines are assembled at Chrysler's Dundee, Michigan plant, and final vehicle assembly is at Chrysler's factory in Belvidere, Illinois.
Most important, the Dart stacks up well in today's two most critical considerations: MPG and MSRP. EPA fuel economy estimates range up to 41 mpg on the highway (for the yet-to-be-seen Aero model). Suggested retail pricing for the five trim levels opens at $15,995 and climbs to $19,995 for the Limited model. The sporty R/T version carries a $22,495 base price.
Demerits: just one. For all the emphasis on the weight-saving benefits of high-strength steel, the Darts are a little pudgy by compact standards. Listed curb weights start at 3186 pounds for a Dart 2.0-liter with manual gearbox and go as high as 3348 pounds for a model equipped with the 2.4-liter engine and automatic transmission.
It might also be noted that the wide array of models and trim packages could pose an assembly quality challenge for the Belvidere factory. But the cars presented at the Dart's press preview measured up well in this regard.
The Dodge Dart SE ($15,995) comes standard with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, four-speaker AM/FM radio, power windows, and a 12-volt outlet.
The Dart SXT ($17,995) upgrades with premium cloth seats and door panels, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, body-color power mirrors and locks, six-speaker audio system, front center console/sliding armrest, rear seat armrest, split folding rear seat.
Dart Rallye ($18,995) gets upgraded cloth seats with accent stripes, trip computer, vehicle information center, fog lamps, cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, painted 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and dual clutch automatic transmission are optional.
Dart Limited ($19,995) includes upgraded interior cloth, door and seatback pockets, overhead console, front passenger under-seat storage, illuminated front cup holders, vanity mirrors, premium instrument panel with contrast stitching, thin film transistor instrument cluster, LED interior lighting, power adjustable driver's seat, heated power mirrors, active grille shutters, 8.4-inch Uconnect touch screen.
Dart R/T ($22,495) includes most Limited standard features plus 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, sport suspension tuning, heated leather sport seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, 184-horsepower 2.4-liter engine.
Safety features on all Dodge Darts includes 10 airbags, ABS with brake lock differential, stability control, traction control.
The Dodge Dart looks athletic, with the skin tightly wrapped around the wheels, and a hint of Coke bottle contours: wider at the front and rear axles, slimmer between. A hint of forward-leaning rake, plus modest front and rear overhangs, suggests sportiness. The styling doesn't provoke many double-takes, however.
The design team took great pains with aerodynamics. The shape evolved through extensive wind tunnel time, and thoughtful details include active grille shutters that close to restrict radiator airflow when cooling air isn't needed, to reduce aerodynamic drag. The underbody is fully enclosed, and a rear diffuser manages underbody airflow to enhance stability.
The net of all the aero attention is a praiseworthy drag coefficient of 0.285, enhancing fuel economy and also helping to minimize wind noise.
Dodge signature elements for its latest offering are a new interpretation of the division's crosshair grille, and a taillamp treatment, adapted from the Dodge Challenger, that spreads across the entire rear end, incorporating 152 LEDs.
One other exterior note, that relates to the interior. At 183.9 inches long, 72.0 inches wide, and 57.7 inches tall the new Dart is one of the biggest of the current compact crop, and the designers have put those dimensions to work inside, creating one of the roomiest interiors (over 97 cubic feet) in this class. The 13.1-cubic foot trunk can be expanded by folding the rear seatbacks forward. In the base model the seatback is one piece. In other trim levels it's a split-folding setup.
Roominess is always a plus in a family sedan, but it's much more compelling when it's nicely appointed. Here, too, the Dart scores well. Nothing inside these new cars looks cheap, even in the most basic model, and soft-touch surfaces abound, dashboard, door panels, center console and elsewhere.
The basic cloth upholstery is attractive and looks durable, denim inserts are offered in the SXT trim level, and leather is an option in the top-of-the line Limited model. The seats are long-haul comfortable, with enough lateral support to feel sporty. Like all sedans, the cabin is rated for five, and like all of them the center rear position will accommodate an adult occupant about as far as the end of the driveway before complaints begin to fill the air. There's not enough shoulder room for three adults in the back seat, but it's okay for two adults for short distances.
Thoughtful storage touches: a glovebox big enough to swallow a laptop computer, and a bin under the right front passenger seat, accessed by folding the seat cushion forward.
As we expect of new cars today, there are plenty of optional electronic goodies. Foremost on this list is an 8.4-inch touch-screen display, dominating the center dash of the higher trim levels (not available on the base Dart). A nav system is offered for the Limited model, as well as a configurable electronic instrument package and an LED-powered light pipe surround for the entire instrument panel, which some may like, while others may find a bit garish.
Like other carmakers, Chrysler has taken notice of the success of Ford's Sync infotainment system and responded with one of its own, called U-connect. As expected, there's good audio, upgrade audio, satellite radio, and connections for MP3, your iPod, Pandora, or what have you.
Driving Impression
Chrysler calls the Dart's two naturally aspirated engines Tigershark. This appellation is a little difficult to fathom with the basic 2.0-liter version, which doesn't feel very tigerish, particularly mated with the optional 6-speed automatic transmission. This was our primary test sample, and the combination that will probably make up the biggest percentage of Dart orders: 2.0-liter engine, 6-speed automatic, in the SXT trim level.
So equipped, the Dart is a rather ho-hum performer off the line, with so-so throttle response and some reluctance for the transmission to kick down a gear or two in passing situations. The Fiat-sourced 6-speed manual improves performance slightly, as well as the fun-to-drive index, and generates EPA fuel economy ratings of 27/39 mpg City/Highway.
The 1.4-liter turbo engine, shared with the Fiat 500 Abarth, delivers a little more verve. Its 160-horsepower rating is the same as that of the 2.0-liter, but it generates more torque, 184 pound-feet versus 148. The trick with this engine is keeping it in the sweet spot of its torque band, from 2500 to 4000 rpm. Otherwise, the engine bogs.
Although we have yet to drive it, the 2.4-liter R/T version, slated for showrooms in the third quarter of 2012, should be distinctly livelier, and will also feature sportier suspension tuning.
However, suspension tuning in the mainstream Darts is far from whipped cream. The chassis engineers admit they Americanized the suspension specs from those employed in the Alfa Giulietta, which translates as softened. But softened doesn't mean mushy. There's more body roll than you'd experience in the Alfa, but the Dart's responses are still eager, enhanced by one of the best electric power steering systems in this class: accurate, tactile, and nicely weighted.
We should also note that ride quality, the objective of the Americanization, is excellent. Firm enough to retain a strong suggestion of Euro feel, supple enough to take the hard edge of sharp bumps and warty pavement.
A little more power, or a little less curb weight, or both, would make the 2.0-liter Dart a little more entertaining, but even so the fun-to-drive index is well above average. The engineers also get high marks for quiet operation. A little road noise finds its way through the suspension, depending on pavement composition, but wind noise is nil, thanks to the aero refinements.
The Dodge Dart proves that Chrysler hasn't lost its design mojo, and that Fiat's stewardship is a positive arrangement. Attractive, roomy, comfortable, and handsomely turned out within, it also has an exceptionally solid feel, with above average road manners. Attractive pricing and an array of optional goodies make the Dart a compelling choice among sport compacts.
Tony Swan filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drives of Dodge Dart models near Austin, Texas.
Model Lineup
Dodge Dart SE ($15,995); SXT ($17,995); Rallye ($18,995); Limited ($19,995); R/T ($22,495).
Assembled In
Belvidere, Illinois.
Options As Tested
Premium Group, Uconnect infotainment system with 8.4-inch touch screen; Garmin navigation system; voice command; satellite radio; Sirius travel link; Nappa leather seats.
Model Tested
Dodge Dart Limited ($19,995).The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart takes the performance attributes of its Italian cousin, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and infuses it with Dodge design. The front is styled with the unmistakable Dodge split crosshair grille while the rear features an available Charger-inspired"racetrack" full-width taillamp design with 152 indirect glow LEDs. Loaded with innovative technology, class-leading safety features and clever functionality, the Dart sets a new standard in the compact car segment by offering a high level of personalization, roominess, style and fun-to-drive dynamics. The Dart is available in three trims: SE, SXT and Limited. The Rallye Package is built off of the SXT trim. The R/T trim will be available later in the model year. The standard engine for the SE, SXT and Limited is a 160 horsepower Tigershark 2.0-liter engine combined with a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 6 -speed automatic transmission. A 160 horsepower MultiAir Intercooled Turbo 1.4-liter engine with standard six-speed manual or optional six-speed dual dry clutch (DDCT) transmission (available 3rd quarter 2012) features more torque and is available on SXT and Limited trims. Standard equipment on the SE includes four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, brake assist, brake-lock differential, traction control, electronic stability control with roll mitigation, hill-start assist, ten airbags, a reactive head-restraint system, power windows and projector headlights. The SXT adds power mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, 60-40 rear seats with pass-through, premium cloth seats, front and rear carpet mats, and air conditioning. The Rallye Package includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, body-color crosshair grille with unique black surround, dual chrome exhaust tips, fog lights and unique premium cloth seat trim with accents. The Limited trim features 17-inch aluminum wheels, heated exterior mirrors, chrome crosshair grill with body-color surround, fog lights, power driver's seat, front passenger in-seat cushion storage, cruise control, Uconnect Touch 8.4 touchscreen CD/MP3 stereo, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, ParkView rear backup camera, a 7-inch TFT customizable instrument cluster display and ambient lighting. Available equipment includes high-intensity discharge remote headlamps; remote start system; proximity keyless entry; Keyless Enter-N-Go push-button start; rain-sensitive wipers; SmartBeam auto-dimming headlamps; ParkSense rear park assist system; blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection system; active grille shutters; underbody aerodynamic treatment, leather seat trim; heated front seats; front passenger in-seat cushion storage; express open/close sunroof; heated steering wheel; dual-zone automatic temperature control; SiriusXM satellite radio; 506-watt Alpine sound system; and a Uconnect Touch 8.4N CD/MP3/Navigation Multimedia Center.
2215 E. Lamar Alex. Pkwy.
Maryville, Tn. 37804
Email This Seller

subset: commoncrawl


text:
First Opening Day start is old hat for MadBum
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If you know anything at all about Madison Bumgarner, you know that stage fright won't be an issue for him when he confronts the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Field, though it'll be his first career Opening Day start.
Bumgarner quickly displayed a flair for the dramatic as a professional. He made the most of his first Cactus League start in 2009, blanking the Dodgers on one hit through three innings and striking out Manny Ramirez on three pitches in the process.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If you know anything at all about Madison Bumgarner, you know that stage fright won't be an issue for him when he confronts the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Field, though it'll be his first career Opening Day start.
Bumgarner quickly displayed a flair for the dramatic as a professional. He made the most of his first Cactus League start in 2009, blanking the Dodgers on one hit through three innings and striking out Manny Ramirez on three pitches in the process.
The rookie performed like a veteran in the 2010 postseason, compiling a 2-0 record with a 2.18 ERA in four starts. He not only won the Game 4 clincher of the Division Series against Atlanta, but he also worked eight shutout innings in Game 4 of the World Series at Texas, leaving the Giants one victory from the franchise's first Fall Classic title in San Francisco. Moreover, Bumgarner logged seven shutout innings in a Game 2 win over Detroit in the 2012 World Series.
So given Bumgarner's extensive and successful experience on big stages, pitching a season opener shouldn't faze him.
"You want to get the season started on the right note, but it's not any different from any other game," said Bumgarner, 24. "Same mentality as always. It's just more of an honor to get to do it."
The Giants feel lucky to have Bumgarner to summon. He's the youngest member of San Francisco's starting rotation, and yet he has become he most consistent. Of his 31 outings last year, 22 were quality starts (performances lasting at least six innings with three earned runs or fewer allowed). He ended the season with a stretch of 19 consecutive starts in which he yielded three earned runs or less. He ranked third in the NL in opponents' batting average (.203), fifth in ERA (2.77) and tied for seventh in strikeouts (199).
Don't judge Bumgarner by looks alone. You see a big (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) country boy (residence: Lenoir, N.C.) and you might assume that he gets by just on brute strength. You'd be wrong. Bumgarner studies and tries to refine the subtleties of his game.
"He wants to get better and do things differently to make himself better, and I think it's showing up and it's great for him," fellow starter Ryan Vogelsong said. "He works hard on his delivery. I look forward to him having another great year."
To have that great year, some pitchers dwell on statistics in an attempt to find standards to match. Not Bumgarner. He said that after last season, which resulted in a 13-9 record and that career-best 2.77 ERA, he reviewed his statistics and ... that was all.
"I kind of went through, seeing where they were all at, and that was kind of it, really," he said. "I didn't think about it a lot more after that because you have to start preparing for a new year. What you did last year really doesn't matter now."
That inexhaustible drive almost guarantees that Bumgarner will continue to excel.
"It's always, 'Try to do better,' " Vogelsong said. "You always want to do better the next year. That's what drives us. You have a bad year, you want to do better. You have a good year, you want to do better. You can tell he wants to keep improving. He's not a guy who's going to rest on what he's done. That's one thing he's got in his corner already. He wants to be a better pitcher."
From the beginning, retiring the formidable Ramirez on strikes wasn't enough for Bumgarner. He needed more, such as the team-oriented triumphs he helped seal with his individual success.
"To watch him being the 'young gunslinger' that he came up as -- he came out swinging and winging it out," Giants closer Sergio Romo said. "The guy hasn't backed off from anything. He's confident, he's strong, he's getting better. He's figured himself out. He has become more of a complete pitcher. If I remember correctly, I think the rap on him when he first got drafted was that he was more of a thrower than a pitcher, although he came out of high school. It's hard to say you're a complete pitcher out of high school. But you cannot say that about that young man anymore."
Anybody trying to project the heights to which Bumgarner might soar can let the imagination roam.
"I don't think you can put limits on him right now," Vogelsong said. "It seems to me that he's going to be able to do what he wants to do. I think if you're him, that has to be exciting. It's definitely something I would have liked to have at 24."
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, and follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat.


text:
2011 NFL Draft: If James Williamson was in Charge of the Cowboys…
To readers of Lone Star Struck: I'm sorry that I have not been here in a while. I've been swamped with school, and I knew that Kelly and the other writers have things covered mostly, so the breaking news pieces aren't needed from me.
However, I needed to give my thoughts about the draft that is just tomorrow. Here is what I would do.
Everyone has a opinion. Everyone has an idea of what they would do if they were in charge. Many may have similar notions as others, but each one is somehow unique when it comes to detail.
Well, lets assume that I'm in charge of the Cowboys draft for one day. Lets pause momentarily while I laugh maniacally for several seconds.
Okay, now for some serious business.
I've been talking to a buddy of mine named J.D. He's one of the most brilliant sports minds I've ever encountered, and we routinely text each other about sports, mainly our favorite football team, the Cowboys. But, we can talk about the draft or other players or even other teams.
So, today I was on the elliptical at the Fitness Zone when I get a text from good ole J.D. Well, I have ten minutes left to burn some calories on the machine, so I finished my workout, then walked over to the treadmill for a small walk and checked the message.
After the usual talking about Ryan Mallett, Blaine Gabbert and even a mention of previous drafts, the Cowboys pick came up, and J.D. and I both agreed that Dallas needs to trade the pick.
We also agreed on what players that he and I liked the most. We are both high on Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson, Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey, and Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castanzo. Despite rumors that Dallas wants University of Southern California offensive tackle, Tyron Smith, J.D. and I are not high on him.
So, as we are texting, and I'm on the treadmill, a lightbulb the size of the sun turns on over my head, and I relay my idea to J.D.
Since the Cowboys have the ninth overall pick, they are in a prime position to draft a quarterback in a quarterback rich draft. And not just quarterback, but also a position for Nebraska defensive back Prince Amakamura and Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.
Teams with mid-first round draft choices would love to move up and draft a player they believe will not fall to them, so that makes Dallas a prime candidate for a big trade. Dallas does not have a giant need that can be addressed at just the ninth pick, so not only COULD they move back a few spots and get more draft picks in exchange for a trade, but they actually SHOULD do that.
Before I go further, let me give you a key part of the draft order real quick, so that you can follow along with my points.
9: Dallas Cowboys
10: Washington Redskins
11: Houston Texans
12: Minnesota Vikings
13: Detroit Lions
14: St. Louis Rams
15: Miami Dolphins
16: Jacksonville Jaguars
17: New England Patriots (Originally Oakland Raiders)
18: San Diego Chargers
19: New York Giants
I'm telling J.D. that a lot of quarterbacks like Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett or even Blaine Gabbert could/will be there at the ninth pick, and there is something that every football fan needs to know about the draft, so listen up.
Teams that need quarterbacks tend to reach for quarterbacks. By reach, I mean they either draft a quarterback with a too high draft selection or they trade up to grab a quarterback and pay a king's ransom for the rookie signal caller.
Dallas has one of the premier draft picks, and they also are ahead of the Redskins who have the 10th overall pick. The Redskins are likely to draft a quarterback, so a trade with a quarterback-needy team for the ninth overall pick and maybe some more picks, like a second round pick for 2011 or a first rounder from 2012 is very reasonable.
There are three teams that I would definitely consider trading with. The Minnesota Vikings at 12, the Miami Dolphins at 15, and the Jacksonville Jaguars at 16. Any other team past the Chargers pick at 18 is a no because as you can see the New York Giants possess the 19th pick.
The New York Giants most glaring needs are offensive tackle and offensive guard. The whole point of Dallas trading the ninth pick is to get some more picks while still getting the player they desire, which if I'm running the draft, is either Anthony Castanzo or Mike Pouncey. Those two guys will not last past the Giants at 19, so any team past the Giants is out.
J.D. and I both think the Cowboys should pick up the phones and call the Jaguars, Dolphins, and Vikings and let them know that if they want a guarantee that they'll get the quarterback they want, and not the guy that the Redskins passed up, they'll have to pay the right price. I'd definitely secure their 2011 first round pick, 2011 second round pick, and maybe even a 2012 first round pick.
The Minnesota Vikings have a talented team, but have made some bad decisions. They did not draft a quarterback to learn from Brett Favre, so they were expecting to be the champions and worry about the quarterback issue when Favre finally retired.
Well, their lotto scratch-off ticket did not earn them the top prize or any prize. The Vikings now have needs at an aging offensive line, a weak secondary, and a quarterback. They are not as high on Joe Webb as they'd like to be, so now there is a thought of them trading for Donovan McNabb from the Redskins.
However, since they don't know if they can get McNabb due to the lockout, the Vikings will probably reach for a quarterback, making them prime candidates to trade with Dallas.
I'd definitely squeeze the Vikings like I'd squeeze an orange for juice. They would be more than willing to pay a very high price to get a chance to draft a quarterback before the Redskins.
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, that's for certain.
Next, the Miami Dolphins are being coy about wanting Ryan Mallett. Ryan Mallett has character issues building up, but the Dolphins took a chance on Dan Marino in 1983 when there was a huge rumor that he had tested positive for drugs. The test results had been kept hidden from the public, so Marino fell to the Dolphins 27th pick.
I think the Dolphins see themselves as being a legitimate quarterback away from being a real Super Bowl contender, and they are not wrong. The only needs they have are quarterback and running back. Mark Ingram is probably not worth the 15th overall pick, and they can attempt at free agency to secure Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown or replace them.
Also, before any Dolphin faithful announce to the world that Chad Henne is "the guy", may I remind them that "the guy" is not doing his job right or else they wouldn't have been 7-9.
Ryan Mallett, however, may not slip past the Washington Redskins or the Minnesota Vikings. I've been torn on this kid myself, and I used to think he'd be a bad choice, but recently, I've found myself wondering if Dallas should take him. I like how he was honest about making mistakes in the past and is willing to change. That's a sign of maturity and change.
If he becomes even 1/4th of what Marino was, the Dolphins are in the playoffs.
Lastly, the Jaguars are a team that doesn't need a quarterback "immediately," but David Garrard is 34, and why not draft a good quarterback that can replace Garrard in a few years?
I think the Jaguars will be hesitant to make the deal because they'll probably want a guy that will fall to them, but if Jerry can use his Texas charm on them and make them see that Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett is an amazing prospect, then they may take the bait.
From there, the Cowboys simply just make the teams sweat a little bit and keep the auction going. Whoever gives up the most gets the ninth overall draft choice, and the quarterback they want.
As I was working that through my mind on the treadmill, another thought, well actually it was a text from J.D., hit me. Not only do teams want quarterbacks, but the ninth pick also could secure other skill players, namely Prince Amakamura and Julio Jones should they fall.
After discussing with J.D., we came to the conclusion that there are four other teams that might want to trade up for the ninth overall pick should either Julio Jones or Prince Amakamura fall. Beside Minnesota, the Detroit Lions also have a need for a cornerback like Amakamura, and there is no way that Amakamura falls past the Houston Texans at 12. The Texans had the worst pass defense to possibly ever grace a football field. You can guarantee that Amakamura is not dropping past them.
The Detroit Lions are definitely a team that is on the verge of actually contending, and Amakamura could definitely help out there. So, if Detroit is willing to fork over enough, they can get the ninth pick and a possible shutdown corner. They definitely need one after ranking 16th in passing yards allowed.
Now, the likelihood of that happening is small because teams don't generally reach for cornerbacks, but quarterbacks and wide receivers? Much more likely.
Which brings us to the idea that if Julio Jones falls to the Cowboys, the Redskins are also a prime target for him to go to with their best receiver, Santana Moss, hitting free agency whenever free agency occurs. Julio Jones is a very highly touted receiver, so teams that want that big wideout will definitely want to trade up to secure him.
The teams that need a receiver are: the St. Louis Rams at 14, the New England Patriots at 17, and the San Diego Chargers at 18.
The Rams have the biggest need for receiver out of them all. Their two top receivers had season-ending injuries last year, and Sam Bradford needs a real legitimate target to have besides Danny Amendola. The Rams may be willing to exchange a great deal for Julio Jones.
The Patriots are the ideal trading mate. They have so many draft picks that it is ridiculous. They have the 17th and 28th overall picks, and they have the 33rd overall pick, which is the top pick of the second round. If you want an ideal partner, it is them. I'd love to have those three picks. However, the Patriots have those picks because they are shrewd rather than stupid.
J.D. believes that Belichick would want a chance to draft a big play wideout in Julio Jones because they traded Randy Moss and nobody else stretches the field like him.
J.D., I have to disagree man. I just don't believe that Belichick will want to trade all that or even part of that for Julio Jones. I wish he would, but I doubt the Patriots trade up when they've tried to trade down.
However, I'd still give Belichick a call and see if I don't get a "No thank you" from him. Getting the 17th, 28th, and 33rd picks would be a huge acquisition. Heck, even getting the 17th and 33rd would be huge for Dallas.
Lastly, the San Diego Chargers are a team that had special teams mishaps cost them the playoffs. The 2010 Chargers are a perfect example forever of how special teams impacts the game. They were second in scoring offense and 10th in scoring defense. With numbers like that, they should've made the playoffs and maybe even the Super Bowl, but they lost at least three or four games due to horrible special teams.
Instead of being 12-4 or 13-3, they were a 9-7 failure.
Now, the Chargers do need a real receiver for Philip Rivers. Vincent Jackson is still franchised, but he may hold out again, and A.J. Smith is like a bulldog with a bone in his mouth. He is not going to sway from his stance. Jackson will either not play or he'll play on Smith's terms.
That's part of the reason why I highly doubt Dallas will squeeze the Chargers of anything. Not only are they already an elite team without a top wideout and since A.J. Smith is one of the most stubborn people you would meet in any walk of life, I have doubts as to the abilities of not just Jerry Jones, but anyone, to get that guy to budge.
He's the guy who drafted Eli Manning when Eli Manning did not want to play for San Diego, and he held Manning in his grasp until the New York Giants traded Philip Rivers, a 2005 first round pick that became Shawn Merriman, a 2004 third round pick that was used to get Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding, and a 2004 fifth round pick that eventually was traded to Tampa Bay for Roman Oben who was a very good left tackle for the Chargers for about two years.
So, if Smith can gut the Giants when he was in a lose-type of a situation by drafting somebody who had publicly said that he did not want to play for the Chargers, then I don't think even Jerry Jones could get that guy in a bad deal.
That's what the Cowboys would do if I were in charge. Will they do it? It is possible, but is it probable? That remains to be seen.
Why should Dallas do this though? Can't they just draft whomever they want at the ninth overall spot and not worry themselves with trades?
They could do that, but it would not be prudent. They need more picks people. It is the sixth rounders at the end of the day who put you over the top. They could get a few more picks for more players and more talent and still come out with the player that they want in the end.
Also, there is one more side. Rookie players are paid on a ratio to where they are drafted. If Dallas drafts a top 10 player, he'll want top 10 player money, but if he's draft 15th or 16th overall, he can only ask for top 20 player money.
Not only can Dallas get more talent, but they can save themselves money by trading down.
I won't guarantee Dallas does trade, but I will say that I'll be surprised if the commissioner announces Dallas's pick at the number nine spot.
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Multiple DUI Offenses in Desert Hot Springs
Multiple DUI charges and convictions result in greater penalties than a first time DUI offense. If you've already been through the DUI process you know that it is important to retain the services of a seasoned criminal defense attorney. With the help of a Multiple DUI offenses in Desert Hot Springs criminal defense attorney, John P. Dolan, you may be able to have your charges greatly reduced or you acquitted.
It is imperative that you act quickly, you may be feeling the fallout of your DUI offense already, such as suspended driving privileges. At Dolan Law Offices we are proud to assist you in defending your rights and freedoms and can ensure that you are actively defended against harsh penalties and unfair treatments.
Multiple DUI Penalties
- Jail or prison sentence
- Steep fines
- Suspension or revocation of your drivers' license
- Probation
- Community service
- Increased auto insurance premium
- Your vehicle may be impounded
- DUI arrest, charges and conviction on your legal public record
- You may also be labeled as a habitual offender for 3 years following your conviction
A first offense could incur up to $1,000 in fines and six months of imprisonment, not to mention a six month license suspension. California also escalates penalties for multiple DUI offenses in Desert Hot Springs if they are committed within a certain time frame.
If a second DUI conviction occurs within 10 years of a first offense, imprisonment could last up to a year, the fine rises to a maximum of $5,000, and the offender's license will be suspended for one year. A third or subsequent offense within 10 years of the first conviction is a felony under California law. The penalties are imprisonment for two , three or four years, up to $5,000 in fines, and a five year license suspension.
A Commitment to Clients
John Patrick Dolan truly cares about the well-being of his clients. Read about his dedication. We know the system and the process. Speak directly to John Patrick Dolan to start the process of Multiple DUI Offenses in Desert Hot Springs. Fill out a case evaluation form today and request your free consultation today. If you have been detained, call us we will go to you wherever you are.


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- Home
- Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises
- Celebrity Constellation Celebrity Constellation
- French Riviera and Mediterranean Cruise French Riviera and Mediterranean Cruise
$1696total per person Show cabin types
Interior StateroomFeatures two convertible lower beds Large sitting area Some with sofa bed and one upper bed ...
$3342total per person Show cabin types
Ocean View StateroomFeatures two convertible lower beds Floor-to-ceiling glass doors and large sitting area Some with...
$4145total per person Show cabin types
Deluxe VerandaFeatures two convertible lower beds Private balcony Some with sofa bed and one upper bed ...
$4363total per person Show cabin types
Concierge ClassSpacious accommodations complete with special privileges like priority check-in, personalized Concierge service,...
$4968total per person Show cabin types
Sky SuiteFeatures floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors* Two lower beds convertible to queen-size Sitting...
$6356total per person Show cabin types
Celebrity SuiteFeatures two lower beds convertible to queen-size Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows Separate living...
Concierge Class
Spacious accommodations complete with special privileges like priority check-in, personalized Concierge service, priority seating time preferences in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, upgraded room service menu, evening hors d'oeuvres, plush Frette® bathrobes and verandas with lounge seating.
Stateroom: 191 sq. ft. Veranda: 42 sq. ft.
Concierge Class Staterooms Include:
- Priority check-in
- Express luggage delivery
- Personalized Concierge service
- Priority disembarkation based on your travel needs
- Complimentary shoeshine service
- Access to the exclusive Concierge Class Pre-departure Lounge
- Main and specialty restaurant seating time preferences
- Expanded room service menu
- Welcome Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine with a commemorative label featuring exclusive art work from the ArtCenter/South Florida artists
- Pillow menu to suit your sleeping preferences
- Daily delivery of Afternoon Savories
- Plush Frette® bathrobes
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh flowers
- Custom-blended bath amenities
- Personalized stationery
- Use of binoculars and golf umbrella
- Oversized 100% cotton bath towels
- Extra handheld hair dryer
- Celebrity tote bag
Stateroom features
- Hansgrohe® massaging showerhead
All staterooms include:
- Our signature friendly, personalized service with a guest to staff ratio of nearly 2:1
- Twice daily service (makeup and turndown)
- Daily ice service in stainless steel ice buckets
- 24 hour complimentary room service
- Robe
- Complimentary tote bag
- Custom blended bath products (shampoo, conditioner and lotion), shower cap, cotton balls and cotton swabs
- Water/wine glasses
- Celebrity eXhale™ bedding featuring custom premium mattresses, plush duvets and pillows, and 100% pure Egyptian cotton linens
- Hair dryer
Stateroom features
- Private mini-bar*
- Interactive Samsung flat-screen television system to view and select shore excursions, order room service, and watch movies*
- Private safe
- Dual voltage 110/220AC outlets
*Additional charges apply.
Note: Staterooms 8047, 8048, 8049, 8050, 8051, 8052, 8053, 8054, 9040, 9042, 9044, 9045, 9046, 9047 and 9049 have partially obstructed views.
Staterooms 8102, 8108, 9094 and 9100 have smaller verandas that are semi-private.
Sky Suite
- Features floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors*
- Two lower beds convertible to queen-size
- Sitting area, some with sofa bed and lounge chair
- Entertainment center with TV and VCR.
- Stateroom 251 sq ft and balcny 57 sq ft
*Sky Suites 6145 & 6146 feature standard balcony doors. Some Sky Suites are wheelchair accessible.
Celebrity Suite
- Features two lower beds convertible to queen-size
- Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows
- Separate living room with dining and sitting area
- Two entertainment centers with plasma-screen TVs and DVD
- Walk-in closet with vanity table, bath including whirlpool tub and glass-enclosed sitting area (connecting door to adjacent suite)
- Stateroom is 467 sq ft (no balcony)
Multiple Decks
Interior Stateroom - Category 9
Continental Deck
Ocean View - Category 8
Continental Deck
Ocean View - Category 7
Plaza Deck
Ocean View - Category 6
Penthouse Deck
Ocean View - Category 5
Multiple Decks
Deluxe Veranda - Category 2C
Multiple Decks
Deluxe Veranda - Category 2B
Multiple Decks
Concierge Class - Category C3
Panorama Deck
Concierge Class - Category C2
Multiple Decks
Concierge Class - Category C1
Multiple Decks
Sky Suite - Category S2
Multiple Decks
Sky Suite - Category S1
Multiple Decks
Celebrity Suite - Category CS
Please note: All prices featured are per person (unless otherwise stated), and include non commission fares (taxes, fees and port expenses). Prices and availability are subject to change due to changes made by the Cruise Companies. Prices quoted are based on payments made via bank transfer. Visa and Mastercard payments incur a 1.5% transaction fee.
Day 1Civitavecchia (Rome) Depart: Thu, May 2, 2019 @ 17:00
Day 2Florence and Pisa (Livorno)
Arrive: Fri, May 3, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Fri, May 3, 2019 @ 22:00
Day 3Portofino
Arrive: Sat, May 4, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Sat, May 4, 2019 @ 20:00
Day 4At Sea
Sun, May 5, 2019
Day 5Nice
Arrive: Mon, May 6, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Mon, May 6, 2019 @ 18:00
Day 6Toulon (Provence)
Arrive: Tue, May 7, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Tue, May 7, 2019 @ 18:00
Day 7Sete
Arrive: Wed, May 8, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Wed, May 8, 2019 @ 21:00
Day 8At Sea
Thu, May 9, 2019
Day 9Valencia
Arrive: Fri, May 10, 2019 @ 07:00
Depart: Fri, May 10, 2019 @ 21:00
Day 10Palma De Mallorca
Arrive: Sat, May 11, 2019 @ 09:00
Depart: Sat, May 11, 2019 @ 18:00
Day 11Barcelona Arrive: Sun, May 12, 2019 @ 06:00
Onboard experience
Casual Dining Restaurant
Enjoy the same world-class cuisine Celebrity is known for in a more relaxed environment. You'll find yourself going back for more - but remember to save room for dessert. You'll find delectable treats you won't want to miss.
Cova Café
A latte and a flaky croissant in the Cova Café is a great way to start the day. Discuss your day's adventures over an afternoon expresso and sweet temptations or listen to classical music over a late night cordial.
- A bygone era comes to life in the Ocean Liners Restaurant. Reminiscent of the grand days of transatlantic cruising, Constellation's specialty restaurant boasts décor that pays homage to the Ile de France, famed for its innovative sense of European style.
- While the piano music softly plays, dinner companions enjoy world-class dining and the spectacular views from their table. The award-winning cuisine is always prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Sports and Spa
- In the serene environment of this world-class spa, you can enjoy treatments including Thalassotherapy seawater baths and Rasul body care, featuring medicinal muds and an herbal steambath.
Stage Shows
- The stage comes alive in the state-of-the-art theater with dazzling special effects and Broadway-style productions
- The Cinema offers a comfortable place for watching movies and is also ideal for business conferences. The centre's advanced capabilities include multi-lingual translation using a wireless transmitter and headsets, interactive audience keypads and multi-media audio/visual systems.
- In the fitness center you can meet with a personal trainer, take a fitness class, try resistance swimming pool or challenge yourself on the state-of-the-art exercise equipment.
- With Lady Luck by your side, spin the roulette wheel or play the slot machines in tastefully decorated casino.
- The stunning foyer greets you with a spectacular onyx staircase, marble floors and the first panoramic ocean-view glass elevators at sea.
Bars and Lounges
- Adorned in mellow sophistication, Michael's Club is the perfect place to order your favorite cocktail and let yourself be entertained by the relaxing sounds of a baby grand piano.
- A collage of colorful light and pulsating sound, Reflections Lounge is the ideal place to dance the night away.
- The ideal meeting place, Rendez-Vous Lounge offers guests quiet niches and plush, comfortable seating. The lounges above overlook the Rendez-Vous dance floor stage.
- In the mood for a bit of bubbly? Then Champagne Bar is sure to have a vintage that satisfies. Maybe you prefer the perfect martini. If that's the case, then Celebrity's Martini Bar provides a sophisticated setting that lives up to the name of its signature cocktail.
- Accompanied by the calming strains of new age music, enjoy the warmth of a relaxing steam or treat your skin to the solitude found in a private sauna.
- Whether you desire a glimpse into the art of flower arrangement, a glorious memento for a loved one, or just some magnolia-scented solitude, the Conservatory-featuring the designs of Emilio Robba - is the perfect place to soak-in nature at its most beautiful.
- Spend the day by the Seaside Pool. Relax with a book, or have a bite at the grill. Enjoy the serenade of the music from the bandstand and dance your heart away on the dance floor. For a refresher, take a dip in the pool or rejuvenate in the whirlpool.
Kids Club
- Open to children ages 3-17, and supervised by fully trained youth camp staff, Shipmates Fun Factory offers plenty of games to play and activities to take part in.
Ship info
From stem to stern and on every one of her 11 decks, she radiates the elegance and ambience one would find in a grand hotel. Constellation, the newest of the Millennium-class ships, boasts outstanding amenities, accommodations and services, all presented with the utmost taste and the inimitable Celebrity style. When you cruise on Constellation you are sure to desire everything and want for nothing.
- Vessel: Celebrity Constellation
- Year: 2002
- Beam: 105
- Cruising speed: 24
- Bars/Lounges: 7
- Crew: 999
- Gym: Speacial classes available
- Kids Club: For 4 different age groups
- Onboard Currency: US Dollars
- Passenger Capacity: 2,034
- Show Lounge: Daily Shows
- Vessel: 2
- Whirlpool Spas: 6
- 24-Hour Room Service
- All Main Meals Included
- Art Auctions
- Basketball Court
- Casino
- Dance Classes
- Duty Free Shopping
- Florist
- Internet Facilities
- Jogging Track
- Library
- Live Music
- Security Safe in Cabin
Celebrity Constellation - Deck Plans
Cruise reviews
2 passengers have reviewed this ship
Cruise code: CS10M193
Book Oceanview or higher to choose 2: Classic Beverage Package, WiFi or $400 Onboard Credit or another $300 Onboard credit. Suites receive all FOUR! Valid on first 2 passengers on selected fares.
- Private ensuite
- TV for in-cabin entertainment
- In cabin safe
- All main meals onboard
- Musical stage shows and entertainment
- Special guest entertainers
- Latest release movies (in cabin and on big screen)
- Choice of Bars and Lounges
- Fully supervised children's programs for ages 3 to 17 years
Terms and conditions for this cruise
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Did you know?
Most cabins accommodate up to 4 guests. You might need several cabins.
No worries!
We can still help you.
- You will need to complete this booking first. Enquire now and proceed to the final steps.
- Once done, we will offer you a way to come back and book the next cabin.
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2008 Mitsubishi Gallant Used Parts Used Mitsubishi Parts
PARTING OUT 2008 Mitsubishi Gallant
Parting out a 2008 Mitsubishi Gallant. This 2008 Mitsubishi Gallant parts car has many good used auto parts left on it. At Eskimo Auto & Truck Parts, we part out many Mitsubishi Gallant cars annually. We sell the used car and truck parts to walk-in retail customers, Repair Shops, Body Shops, Insurance companies, and online. We can also Ship Mitsubishi Gallant Parts to your door anywhere in World just call for details and a shipping quote. Every Mitsubishi Gallant part we sell comes with a standard 90 Day warranty. Please ask a sales person if you would like to purchase any additional warranty.
All parts pass a quality control process to ensure you receive a good reliable part. Shop at Eskimo Auto and Truck parts to find Amazing deal on 2008 Mitsubishi Gallant Parts. Finding a replacement OEM Mitsubishi Gallant part can be a real problem, but here at Eskimo Auto and Truck we've made it easy for you to get the right OEM Mitsubishi Gallant part when you need it at the best cost. Save up to 80% of OEM pricing. We are here to save you money. We also sell NEW Mechanical and body Mitsubishi Gallant parts just call for details.
At Eskimo Auto and Truck parts we also offer a Parts Locating service. If we don't have it we will source one out for you from our massive North America wide auto parts network let us do the work for you. Shop with us today and save big bucks on parts for your 2008 Mitsubishi Gallant! Please feel free to call us at 780-473-2424 if you need any auto parts that do not show up on our web site. We have new auto salvage arriving on a daily basis. Let the team at Eskimo Auto & Truck Parts do the work for you.


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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After the United States invasion of Cambodia and the death of Kent State University students in May of 1970, it was not on college and university campuses alone that anti-Vietnam War protest could be found. While college students struck against the war, students and school officials at the high school in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, a small mill town in the Pioneer Valley, organized a teach-in to hear both critics and defenders of the Vietnam War. The interest of high school students is perhaps not surprising since young male graduates could be drafted into the military at age 18. University of Massachusetts faculty members were the speakers at the teach-in. Asserting that Congress should take back the war powers that it granted to the President with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Dr. Charles Burke said that "he was in favor of a government amendment that will prevent money from being appropriated for troop movement in Cambodia after a certain date and the same in Vietnam after 1970 without a declaration of war by Congress." Other speakers at the teach-in defended the invasion of Cambodia.
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"Communication Trouble" editorial in The Greenfield Recorder-Gazette newspaper
"War Protest Keeps New England College Campuses in Ferment" article in The Greenfield Recorder newspaper
"Students Trying to Convert Congressmen" article in The Greenfield Recorder newspaper
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Fantastic Fulbright
Dr. Cecille Arquette is on a Fulbright experience in Chile. Her husband, Steve and son Joel accompanied her on the venture.
By Matt Hawkins
June 3, 2014
Dr. Cecile Arquette's search for a Fulbright teaching destination took her to one of the places she hadn't yet visited — South America. Arquette and her family are in the midst of a five-month teaching experience at Chile's Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV).
Arquette, a veteran traveler with time in Africa, Central America and all over the U.S., brought her husband Steve and son Joel along for a family experience in cultural immersion.
"Having the support of Steve and being able to see how much Joel is enjoying his time in a Spanish-speaking school has enhanced my time here," Arquette said. "One thing I know about traveling and living abroad is when you are alone, it isn't as much fun."
She quickly adapted to structural differences in Chilean higher education. For example, students take upwards of 24 credit hours a semester, with courses sometimes in session seven hours a week. This is the case for her Advanced English class for pre-service teachers, which meets 5 times a week for 90 minutes each class session.
One difference she noticed is how the early-semester frenzy to arrange classes was more chaotic than at home.
"Things at the beginning of the semester were much less organized then at Bradley," she said. "The first week saw students stretched down the hall trying to get into classes, or get permission to take two that meet at the same time. This is normal here, when students need two different classes that are offered at the same time."
Once she settled in, she found students and faculty to be eager to help her learn about their culture, and wanted to know more about the US.
"I have such a lovely group of students," Arquette said. "Something I appreciate is that they are really happy to have a native English speaker teaching them English."
Faculty colleagues have given her some new ideas for her teaching and opened the door for future research collaboration. "It has been fascinating working with the English teachers here," Arquette said. "I've picked up different classroom methods, assessments and grading ideas that I could use at BU."
One of the ideas she got from a colleague at PUCV was to begin an online exchange between her Chilean students and a class led by Dr. Helja Antola-Crowe at Bradley. Arquette is hoping to be able to replicate this when she gets back, with her own BU students talking with PUCV students in the future.
Outside of the office, Arquette has found that daily life has many cultural lessons to teach her. She and her family have taken advantage of learning in museums, at markets and even the local transportation system. Recently, they were able to tour the president´s home in Viña del Mar on Heritage Day, a yearly event in which access to buildings that are usually closed to the general public is allowed.
"Culture to me is mostly about learning from other people — those I work with, my students and people on the street or in a market or in a taxi," Arquette said. "Discussions and chance encounters have helped me understand so much more than if I had only read about Chile."
The family also has had brushes with some national disasters that have been in the international news this spring, including the terrible fire in Valparaíso and a tsunami warning in the aftermath of an 8.2 earthquake that occurred in the north of Chile. When the warning was issued, Arquette, her family and neighbors on the lower floors for her 25-story high-rise, moved to the top of their apartment building until authorities determined the tsunami swell wouldn't go inland.
"One of the things we have learned about life in Chile is that this is a country where people pull together," she said. "Here, earthquakes are common, and because of the five-year drought, fire is also common. During the fire in Valparaíso, smoke was visible from our apartment, and PUCV closed for a week so the students could help in recovery efforts."
To follow the family's experience, look at Dr. Arquette's blog, A Year With Two Summers and her husband Steve's blog, Peoria Tech Blog.
Arquette's venture is one of several recent Fulbright awards for faculty and students. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Bradley sixth nationally among universities of its type for producing Fulbright students in 2013-14.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.


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Resurgence Slow Sunday
Welcome to the Resurgence Slow Sunday initiative.
Resurgence & Ecologist magazine speaks to those seeking a balanced and peaceful lifestyle. Even before the digital age of high-speed communication and just-in-time deliveries, Mahatma Gandhi warned us against the pitfalls of living full throttle when he said, "there is more to life than increasing its speed". For this reason we set up the Slow Sunday initiative-the antidote to hectic modern life. The first Resurgence Slow Sunday took place on 27 Jul 2008 and celebrated baking bread.
Slow Sunday is a day of reflection and reconnection. The aim is to re-establish Sunday as a special day during which we engage with our family, friends and local community. On Slow Sunday we invite you to take part in simple actions that symbolise a rejection of commercialism, a passion for the planet and a desire for change. The more people who join in and embrace the ethos of Slow Sunday, the greater the impact, so invite your friends, neighbours and local community to take part in a Slow Sunday celebration.
More Information about Slow Sunday
Slow Sunday Initiatives
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate Slow Sunday:
- Slow Money
- 10:10:10
- Leisurely Youth
- A Healthy Pace
- Healthy meals from unhurried veg!
- Gift satisfaction...
- Treat yourself to creativity...
- Spend a day without using any fossil fuels
- New Year's Resolutions to serve the planet
- Let's Feast
- Baking Bread
Help Promote Slow Sundays
We would like more people to be involved in our Slow Sunday celebrations. If you think more people should join in to save the planet why not send a press release to your local newspaper or radio station to tell them what you're doing and why you're doing it? Here's a template press release for you to use.
For more information on the ideas that inspired Slow Sunday, see the following articles by Resurgence & Ecologist Editor, Satish Kumar:
Green Sunday • Responding to the climate change crisis by keeping one day a week for the Earth.
Environmental Narratives • Schumacher's ideas inspired a movement that now brings together leading environmental organisations, activists and thinkers.
The Gandhian Trinity • A template for ecology, peace and social justice.
Connecting with other readers
We invite you to share your ideas and experiences with other Resurgence & Ecologist readers.
We have set up a new Resurgence page on Facebook.
You can also follow Resurgence on Twitter.


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Sometimes, just a name is enough to make me buy. In this case, the name was Kiss Me's Heavy Rotation Lip Gloss and Concealer – what can be better than a Heavy Rotation?
Kiss Melooks pretty hot – the Kiss Me brand is especially well known for the Heroine Make range (with the blonde princess cartoon character) – I LOVE their eyelash curler (which took 2 days for me to lose).
I ordered the lipgloss in Caramel and Lip Concealer. I own a few lip concealers (Canmake, Guerlain's lip lift which kind of works like a concealer and Beautymaker) but generally find them too greasy and pointless.
The gloss comes in 4 shades, I got 04 in Caramel which looked like the darkest.
The back has an open – close mechanism that you twist to use.
It comes in a squeezy bottle with a brush end. ALL lipglosses should be packaged like THIS. Seriously.
For one thing its nice and compact. Its break proof. The fact that its the very soft plastic means you can squeeze out every drop. The open/close mechanism means no leaks. The brush applicator is far more precise than a sponge applicator – its a brush! I get really nice applications with this.
The lip concealer is a nude beige skin tone:
I like this one a lot – its not too dry and not too greasy (I can't put a colour or gloss over something that's already greasy!)
I wouldn't wear it alone unless I was going for a corpse bride look. No…this is good for toning down lip colours or under a bright colour or a gloss.
The lip gloss looks like an ugly warm brown but on the lips it is far lighter and has a warm, honey edge. This photo shows the concealer AND gloss on top:
I really like this range, I do – I found my items on eBay but its quite hard to get hold of. I will keep my eye out on eBay for more goodies cos this range is lovely!


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0 Members and 1 Lonely Barbarian are spying on this topic.
Has this advice arrived too late? Have the PCs hit Hellgate yet? And if they have, did the die?
If it's hell, why not loosely base some districts off the 7 deadly sins.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've seen both versions of the movie, so I decided it was about time I read the book. I'm enjoying it so far, but it's much longer than the YA I'm used to.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday yesterday. In honor of the occasion, here are some quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.:
"I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls."
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."
"Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others."
"Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude."
"No person has the right to rain on your dreams."
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way"
What an amazing man! Have a great week, everyone!


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The "archive" working group of ten representatives of various tracing services in Germany, the Federal Archive and the Federal Ministry of the Interior met in mid-September to hold a one-day conference at the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolsen. Their exchange of opinions focused on archiving and...learn more
Veroniki Finitsi has been investigating the fate of prisoners from Greece in the archives of the International Tracing Service (ITS) at Bad Arolsen. Making more complete or exact the data available on the approximately 400 men deported from Heracleon/Crete at the time is the main focus of her scholarly research. "This...learn more
Holocaust survivor Adam (Adolek) Kohn became famous overnight thanks to one video showing him and his family dancing to the song "I will survive" in front of the entrance of Concentration Camp Auschwitz. His action met with a most varied response worldwide ranging from total rejection to utter enthusiasm. The ITS, in...learn more
To get an idea of the documents' collections kept in the ITS archives and the organization's activities, founding Director Marcello Pezzetti and his assistant Sara Berger from the Museo della Shoah (Shoah Museum) in Rome were paying a one-day visit to the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolsen in...learn more
Stephan Janker of the Episcopal Ordinariate in Rottenburg am Neckar recently spent a week at the International Tracing Service (ITS) researching the deportation of Sinti and Roma from Baden-Württemberg to the concentration camp Auschwitz. "I´m more interested in the 'why' than the 'wherefore'. My intention is to give...learn more
Waclaw Rubinstein had survived the Holocaust. The thing he longed most for after the Second World War had come to an end finally was a new home. To make this wish come true, he pinned his hopes on the International Refugee Organization that in fact helped and gave him the status of a displaced person (DP)....learn more
Odile Welfelé, Christian Oppetit, Vincent Bouat and Michel Kerbellec from the French National Archives paid a three-day information visit to the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolsen. The National Archives will presumably be the recipient of a copy of the ITS documents next year. The French archivists...learn more
Victims of the Salzgitter-Drütte satellite camp have been the focus of the recent research conducted by Elke Zacharias and Meike Weth. This week at the archive of the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen, the two historians thoroughly examined the documents on the first 50 prisoners who had been transported...learn more
Professor Rainer Hering, Head of the State Archives of Schleswig-Holstein, visited the International Tracing Service (ITS) for one day in mid-July. He wanted to see the latest developments of the archive for himself. On 8 October 2010, he will be taking part in a round table discussion entitled "Open at Last: The...learn more
This week Wadim, Sergej and Valentina Martens traveled 1725 km from Kiev, Ukraine to Bad Arolsen, Germany. They made the trip for one reason: to personally thank the International Tracing Service (ITS) staff for reuniting their family with relatives in Australia. "A letter or postcard would not have been...learn more