Champions League football returns and we get a chance to secure top spot in the group with a good result tomorrow. The visitors have a good squad and are capable of putting up a fight, but there is no real danger as long as our players can get their focus and desire right. Not an easy thing as we have seen quite often in the recent past.

Standard need a result. Hopefully, this will lead to an open game and any starting eleven we put out should be good enough to get three points. I felt the same way before the Sunderland game as well, so, fingers crossed, this one won’t be another self destruct performance.

I think this game comes at a good time. Our home record is perfect and quite imposing. We can add another good result to that before the big game at the weekend. However, the best aspect of this fixture is that it gives our players one more game to get the understanding right. It also gives Arsene a chance to give some game time to the likes of Walcott, Denilson and Vela.

I am not sure whether AW will select his team keeping an eye on the Chelsea game. This is the first time this season when I can’t predict even half the starting eleven. Will Gibbs come back into the starting line up? Will Denilson be given a start? Will Arshavin come into the team? If so, will he come in place of Rosicky or Nasri? Will Nasri move into the midfield? Will Sagna get a rest? Will Walcott get a start? There are too many questions and I haven’t a clue about the manager’s thoughts.

Personally, I would like to see Walcott get a good run out. He offers us a different dimension with his pace. Nasri in the midfield with Arshavin and Walcott on the wings looks like a balanced option. Gibbs and Eboue might come in at the back. A big half time lead can then give us the chance to give Denilson and Vela some minutes.

My best guess starting line up is,

Almunia; Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Cesc, Song, Nasri; Walcott, Eduardo, Arshavin

Frankly, all I care for is that the players show they really want to win. If they do that, another 4-1 to the Arsenal is on the cards (funny how I hardly think of clean sheets these days!)

先日18日に行われた2010年ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）の欧州予選プレーオフ、フランス対アイルランドの第2戦で、フランスが延長戦の末、ティエリ・アンリのハンドで得たゴールで1−1の引き分け、ワールドカップ行きのチケットを手に入れた件で、「正義感の強い」イギリスメディアは連日大騒ぎだ。スポーツ欄だけではなく、ニュース欄でも大きく取り上げている。このハンドはビデオで見ても明らかにハンドなのに、レフェリーが見逃した。アイルランドサッカー協会（IFA）は国際サッカー連盟（FIFA）に抗議、再試合を申請したが、FIFAは却下、フランスサッカー連盟（FFF）も拒否した。全て予想された結果だ。アイルランドも勝ち目なしと、早々に諦めたようだ。試合の後、インタビューを受けたフランス人ジャーナリストは、ワールドカップでは大きなお金が動くし経済効果も大きいので、FFFは絶対再試合を受け入れないと断言していた。その通りだった。これが逆の立場だったら、どうなっていただろうと思う。

当のアンリはハンドは認めてるけど、審判の責任だからと謝ってないし、「再試合がフェア」と言ってるけど、それもFIFAが再試合拒否の裁定を出してからだ。代表辞退も考えたらしいけど、結局辞めないし。自分のイメージ挽回のために、口先だけで適当に言い逃れて、ほとぼりが冷めるのを待ってるんだろう。

八百長とまでは言わないけれど、都合のいい結果を正そうとしない、その後のFIFAの対応が、やはりスポーツも所詮ビジネス、影響力のあるサッカー強国に有利な世界なのねと思わせる一件だ。The Sunday TImesで、興味深い「陰謀説」記事を見つけた。元フランス代表のミシェル・プラティニ欧州サッカー連盟の会長の手引きによって、今回のプレーオフは、強国に有利になるように、くじ引きではなく、世界ランキングの高い国と弱い国が当たるシード方式を採用したと言われている。強国に有利になるようにしているのには、高額のテレビ契約料やスポンサーの思惑も絡んでいるのかもしれない。また、プラティニ会長もFIFAのジョセフ・ゼップ・ブラッター会長も、ビデオ判定導入には何故か消極的だ。確かに、偶然にしては、なんだかうさんくさい。

フランスとイギリスのメディアの論調の違いも面白い。フランスは自国チームのふがいなさを酷評しつつも、FIFAやFFFの決定には異議はないようだ。かたやイギリスメディアは、「Cheat（いかさま）」「Fallen Idol（堕ちたアイドル）」等と手厳しい。これはアングロサクソンとラテンの価値観の違いか。ルールや公正さを重視するアングロサクソンに比べ、ラテン人は自分が良ければ全て良し、「運も実力のうち」「神様の思し召し」「ラッキー♪」ってなものだろう。

またイングランド人には、この1件が、1986年ワールドカップ準々決勝で、マラドーナの「神の手」ゴールで、アルゼンチンに敗れた悪夢を思い起こさせる。自国のことでないのにこの大騒ぎは、このことも多いに関係してるのだろう。

フランスは対戦相手が、多少なりとも自制心のあるアイルランドで良かったと胸を撫で下ろしてるだろう。これがエジプトやアルジェリアが相手だと大変なことになっていたかもしれない。サッカーの世界での権力のなさでワールドカップ行きを逃した、アイルランドチームが本当に気の毒。

There has been a huge media frenzy in UK about the Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand Of God’ during Ireland vs France World Cup 2010 play-off on November 18th and it’s aftermath: since France won a ticket to South Africa with 1-1, thanks to Henry’s ‘cheating’ act. UK media with “strong sense of mission to pursue justice” have been putting up big articles about  this incident, not only in sports sections but also in general sections, everyday since then. You can see clearly that it was handball, but the referee missed to see this crucial foul or chance to correct the mistake. Irish Football Association (IFA) demanded a rematch, but FIFA and the French Football Federation (FFF) said ‘NO’ – but it is all expected. IFA seems to give up already because they know that it is a fight they will never win. After the game, a French journalist who was interviewed by BBC said that FFF would never accept a replay, because big money and industries involved and economic effect would be enormous. He was right. But what it would happen, if France lost with Irish footballer’s  handball – would FIFA give the same judgement?

Henry admitted his handball but never say sorry. He said that replay would be fair for Ireland but AFTER FIFA and FFF refused a rematch. It was reported that he considered quitting “Les Bleus” but he decided to stay anyway – all talks doesn’t convince me if he is truly remorseful, but I believe he is saying whatever to repair his image and just waiting for everyone to forget about his ‘mistake’

I don’t call it setup, but FIFA and FFF’s reluctance  to correct their convenient result is truly disappointing, and now I strengthen my belief that soccer is just another business, and always a stronger with bigger political power wins – fair play is a mere myth for important games like this. I read an interesting article by the Sunday Times “Conspiracy or coque up?” The play-offs were seeded on the basis of world rankings in favour of the bigger nations, and it was reported that the proposal to introduce seeding had come from UEFA (president is former French player Michel Platini). Why? Could it be related to the advance long-term television contracts, or the influence by one of a big sponsor which will possibly gain huge profit if France win? For some reason, Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter are said to be reluctant to introduce video technology, which can bring fairer judgement – why? Maybe a coincidence, but all these things sound pretty dubious.

Also it is very interesting to see the different stances between British and French media. Though French media criticizes their team done terrible in the game but they don’t attack the FIFA and the FFF of their judgement. On the other hand, British media is harsh on Henry as ‘cheat’ or “fallen idol,’ as well as on the FIFA. Probably this is due to the difference in Anglo-Saxons and Latins mentality: in compare to Anglo-Saxons’ values in fairness and justice, Latins would just think, “luck is also a part of his ability” “miracle” “godsend” – they would never criticize someone who give them a jackpot, even though from a devil.

In addition, for English, this incident reminds them of the nightmarish Hand of God goal, scored by footballer Diego Maradona during the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter final Argentina vs England – probably it explains why British media is so obsessed with this incident which is not related to their own team.

French must be happy that the opponent was Ireland – if it was Egypt or Algeria, it would be a huge riot!

I am extremely sorry for Ireland who lost a chance to go to World Cup, due to a lack of political power in football world, rather than their lack of ability. Shame on Henry, shame on France, and shame on FIFA!

The Hobby is filled with a ton of strange and unusually cards you normally wouldn’t expect to find in a pack.  With so many products based around historical figures and events, it shouldn’t surprise you that Thanksgiving has found its way into people’s collections.  Upper Deck and Panini (Donruss at the time) steal the show when it comes to Thanksgiving themed trading cards.  Most of them aren’t worth very much, but to player/set collectors they could possible fill that hole which has been in their collection for years.

From 2006 to 2008, Donruss printed base cards of their popular football products containing their Thanksgiving logo slapped on the front.  There were a few ways you could obtain these.  In 2006, Beckett inserted some of them into issues of Beckett Football Card Monthly.  You could also get team sets if you attended the football game that was playing that Thanksgiving Day.  Finally, Donruss inserted some of them in packs of their football cards that year.  From 2007 to 2008 you could get them at the stadium on Thanksgiving Day or pull them from packs.  Some of these cards contain rookies of popular (at the time they were popular) players such as Reggie Bush, Marshawn Lynch, and Jamarcus Russell.

This year’s Upper Deck A Piece of History probably contains Thanksgiving’s two best cards in existence.  The one above features the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth and the one below could basically be considered Thanksgiving Day’s rookie card.  Scholars have debated for years when and where Thanksgiving originally started, but most have agreed upon the year 1621 at the Plymouth Plantation.  Its a topic that could be discussed by historians way into the night much like the topic of when and where someone picked up a stick and said lets play baseball.  I’m sure if pieces of the Mayflower were available for sale, Upper Deck would be all over them to insert into the next version of A Piece of History.

Michael McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears, has a lifetime of experience working with Ethiopians… From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: english football team. For a different topic see here. The blog is also related to: english football live.

In my three years of blogging, the post that received the most hits was one on cock fighting.  In fact, it was getting so much traffic that I removed it from my blog.  Thinking about reposting it after reading Malcolm Gladwell’s article comparing football and dogfighting. Gladwell’s article is a disturbing one–partly because I likely will still watch football along with the other millions around the world.  Gladwell interacts here with reader responses to his football article and I get the sense that a solution is far on the horizon.  Gladwell’s article is disturbing on a number of levels for me–many may not want to read his descriptions of the injuries that happen to dogs and football players–often after an initial injury.   What bothers me is that so many react emotionally to the trauma and abuse that happens to the dogs but could seemingly care less what happens to the football warriors.

But, what is truly stomach turning is Gladwell’s description of “Gameness.” Gameness for dogs is a “desire to please an owner at any expense to itself.” “In a fighting dog, the quality that is prized above all others is the willingness to persevere, even in the face of injury and pain.”

Interesting article in today’s Chicago Sun Times talking about the idea of Notre Dame joining the Big Ten.  I have long been a supporter of ND giving up Independent status and joining a conference.  I know they are linked to the Big East in all other sports besides football right now but geographically and scheduling-wise, it would make the most sense for them to join the Big Ten.  The fact that the faculty senate wanted to do this when ND almost joined the Big Ten is reason enough to revisit the issue.  Notre Dame values its education over everything else, right?  So why didn’t they join the Big Ten before?  Well my friends, like everything else in the world, it all comes down to $$$.

So I will now make the case about why joining the Big Ten would end up making ND money:

• NBC Contract – Worth about $10 million/year through 2015
• Big Ten ABC/ESPN Contract – $16 million/team
  • ND joining the Big Ten would almost certainly mean that this contract could be renegotiated and get each school a few more million/year
  • As it stands now – +$6 million/year

• The bowl payout for BCS games will be the same because ND now gets paid what other teams in conferences get paid for BCS appearances but they will have more than one chance to get into the BCS – by winning the Big Ten and through an at-large bid
• The Big Ten also is contract with the Outback and Capital One bowls which payout over $3 and $4 million respectively

• According to a report from last year, Notre Dame had the 14^th highest revenue generating athletic department in the country – do you know who 4 of the 14 teams ahead of them were?  Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Penn State – They are all ‘national’ brands and are in conferences

So if it all comes down to money, ND would stand to make more money in its TV contract per year and also have more chances to get into big time bowls every year.

Although Notre Dame has a national following, it would give the future coach another selling point in recruiting.  In addition years of wallowing in mediocrity has hurt that fan base – entry into the Big Ten will no doubt energize the fan base – although it may anger old-timers who long for the good old days.  I have a news flash for those people, the Gipper, Rockne, and the Four Horsemen aren’t coming through that door!  It is time for ND to enter the 21^st century.  That is, if they want to be a relevant college football program.  If they want to go the way of Navy, Army, etc…then by all means stay independent and keep Weis while you’re at it!

Think about the possible setup of ND joining the Big Ten:

Division One

Ohio State

Michigan

Iowa

Michigan State

Northwestern

Indiana

Division Two

Penn State

Notre Dame

Wisconsin

Illinois

Minnesota

Purdue

There would be three marquee teams in each division and allow for rivals like Michigan/Michigan State/Ohio State and Notre Dame/Purdue to continue to play each other every year.  There would be something in the scheduling that still allowed ND to play Michigan at least every other year.  This would also allow for a Big Ten Championship game to be created like the ACC, Big East, Big 12, and the SEC now do.

It is a win-win for both the Big Ten and ND.  I am not saying that ND cannot succeed with the right coach as an independent, but there is a reason there are only 3 FBS teams that are still independents (ND, Army, and Navy) – that reason is the almighty dollar.

Matchday 5 Fixtures

Group E

Debrecin – Liverpool

Fiorentina – Lyon

Group F

Rubin Kazan – Dynamo Kyiev

Barcelona – Inter

Group G

Rangers – VFB Stuttgart

Unirea – Sevilla

Group H

AZ Alkmaar – Olympiacos

Arsenal – Standard

The football fortunes of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan have waned the last few years, so the Wall Street Journal suggests Dan Welch’s and Elaine Ellis’ worst nightmare: The Notre Michigan Irish Wolverines.

فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه الرومانسىافلام لك تحميل من

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى – سعد الصغير 2009
تحمل وتنزيل فديو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى انا بيه ورومانسى

لمشاهدة وتحميل الفديو, فيديو كليب …

شاهد فديو, فيديو كليب اغنية سعد الصغير انا بيه ورومانسى من فلم, فيلم البيه رومانسى
يو, فيديو كليب سعد الصغير من فلم, فيلم البية الرومانسى – انا بيه ورومانسى

اضغط هنا لمشاهدة الكليب

|اغانى|فديو, فيديو كليب|مقطع|هدف|مسلسل|اعلان|فلم, فيلم|برنامج|حلقة|شاهد|مشاهدة|اون لاين|سرعة عالية |بدون
تحميل|اغانى|عربى|اجنبى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري|البوم|
2009|سينجل|نغمات|تنزيل|نزل|شعبي|راب|حمل|موسيقى|MP3, mp3, ام بي ثري

|افراح|فديو, فيديو كليب|راديو||اون لاين|بدون تحميل|مجانا|بدون اشتراك|2010

Father's & Kids Experience

At a recent Colts Father’s & Kids Experience, I had the pleasure of talking to over 2,000 men and children about the importance of excercise and nutrition.  According to a recent study, our children’s life expectancy is shorter than our (as their parents)!

The steady rise to childhood obesity today has motivated many organizations to increase the activity of children and youth across America.  Gone are the days of waking up and playing outside until the street light comes on.  We are in an era of video games, and internet that captivates the time of our youth.

Even the NFL has gotten into the act with NFL Play 60.  The NFL’s effort to get kids active through simple drills for 60 minutes of activity every day.  Did you know that even Bill Gates doesn’t let his kids watch more than 45 minutes of TV a day!  That’s one episode of Hannah Montana, and half of Jonas’ Brothers and that’s it!

Here are some helpful tips that we gave the dad’s at our All Pro Dad event to get your family up and out of the house:

• Include your kids in your workout! That’s assuming you do workout! If you are not physically active, it’s important to start.  Not only is it a great opportunity for you to stay in shape, but it also allows you to spend time with your children.  You can now create a habit in your household of healthy physical activity that everyone can enjoy.
• Give Activity Rewards instead of Food Rewards! The next time your child gets a good grade on their report card, or does something that makes you proud, reward them with their favorite thing to do outside.  Let them skateboard, go for a family bike ride, or have a fun game of flag football.  This is far better for your family than rewarding them with a fattening burger and milkshake and their favorite restaurant.
• Find out what your child’s favorite game to play outside! Everyone has a favorite thing to do outside.  Ask your kids what they love to do, and make a great memory with them by getting outside and playing with them.

These three simple tips can be the difference between a healthy lifestyle, or being another statistic.

Este sin embargo, una vez mas, fué mucho mas trepidante. Una vez mas, futbol inglés en estado puro.

Y eso que este no es el mismo United de hace dos años, le falta algo mas de punch, de velocidad en los últimos metros, sigue tratando muy bien el balón, dominando los partidos, defendiendo bien pero…..no se, algo falta, está como algo mas lento y adelante se muestra fallón y con menos profundidad.

El Everton dió la cara y hasta que recibió el primer gol, con menos técnica, un futbol mas directo, mas arcaico pero agresivo y sin dar un balón por perdido, resistió bien, pero en cuanto cayó el primero el partido se convirtió en algo plácido para el United.

El resultado pudo incluso ser mas amplio, pero insisto, este United tiene una marcha menos que el de otras temporadas y, desde luego, no lo esperaba ya que jugadores tiene y además con lo que cobró por el…pero si, se nota la falta de Cristiano Ronaldo, este le daba otro aire, otra velocidad, mas profundidad.

Mención aparte merece Owen que desperdició claras ocasiones de gol lo que le pone muy dificil, ya que tuvo la titularidad ante la falta de Berbatov, el llegar al mundial, ha desperdiciado una gran oportunidad y a veces estorbó a su propio equipo.

Lo peor es que mucho me temo que el Chelsea camina muy firme este año.

LA JORNADA

CLASIFICACIÓN

until Turkey day.   I am so ready for the 3 F’s:

Food……Football…… Family

Not only do we we get a chance to spending time with our families and eat some great good but we also get a chance to watch some great football games. *I mean, I hope*

I need to work on the things that I am thankful for.   I am sure that I have many things.

Check back on Thursday to see what I am thankful for.

*Always & Forever Smiling*

More Free winners! It will be a busy weekend , LOTS of BIG time games this weekend- its one of the BEST weekends to bet football- last year I cashed a bunch–and this week I already bet one game wher the linemaker made a mistake..in fact SEVERAL big money bettors like me jumped on this line Monday..before they moved the number…Also More BIG $ bets in Basketball- so far this season HOOPS bets are 39-14-2 ATS.. and if your not on the list yet, then get on it before it fills up.

Still room on the Basketball list for “09/10,- if u get on in before Nov 30, you get the  rest OF DEC Football bets I make FREE. Including the EARLY big money bets I make for T-day weekend…

FREE picks,  18-8-2 since Aug 1, and 55-24-2 since June 1. Get free picks on the radio shows or podcasts I do this week , or  follow me on Twitter.  However IF you are  SERIOUS bettor and want the best bets- CALL me – yes on the phone or email  at MyFootballJesus@Yahoo.com, if overseas

Happy Monday! I am very stoked that it is a 3 day week!

I recently came across a Web site that sells shirts with this saying, and I felt compelled to share it with you -

After a GREAT game on Saturday, I can’t think of a time when I was more proud to be a Duck. Watch the highlights here.

Check out this Web site for more great Oregon shirts.

Junior tailback John Griffin was named first-team All-CAA Football and senior offensive lineman Kevin Newhall was named second-team All-CAA Football when the conference announced its end-of-season awards on Monday.

Griffin finished the season as the CAA’s leading rusher with 1,009 yards. The Westminster native became just the fifth rusher in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single-season.

Newhall started every game in his four years at Northeastern and was the anchorman of an offensive line that helped Griffin rush for 1,000+ yards.

—

Senior kicker Mat Johnson was named CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday morning. Johnson had a career day in the Huskies’ final football game ever, a 33-27 win over Rhode Island, as he sc0red a career-high 15 points (career-high four field goals and three PATs). He kicked a pair of 42-yard field goals, which tied a career-long. Johnson ended the season a perfect 6-for-6 in field goals and 22-for-22 in PATs, while ending his career as the ninth all-time leading scorer in Northeastern history.

Oh Thierry Henry, what did you have to go and do that for? You, of all people. Despite being a life-long Spurs supporter, I have always been a great fan of yours; you were one of those rare and special footballers it was always such a pleasure to watch, no matter which team you played for. One of those players who, despite all the greed and arrogance in modern football, made me remember why I fell in love with the Beautiful Game in the first place.

But then, in a crucial World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland last week, you did a Maradona, and the poor old Republic unfairly went crashing out after neither referee nor linesmen spotted your blatant handball. And blatant it was too. Quite ridiculously so. You even compounded the offence with your comments after the game: “It was necessary to exploit what was exploitable”, you said, as if that somehow justified what was, without question, cheating. How could you?

However, Henry’s out-of-character double handball is not the first instance of blatant cheating in sport this year. In some cases, this cheating has just been childishly sad, as with the deliberate F1 crashes, while in others it has veered towards out-and-out fraud, as with the outrageous and notorious Harlequins ‘Bloodgate’ incident (and what with Quins being the rugby union side I support, this scandal made me particularly angry), and the recent Champions League match fixing arrests.

It is difficult to know how to remedy such examples of dishonesty, because if sportsmen and women – as with pretty much anyone else in any walk of life, unfortunately – think that there is the slightest possibility they might get away with it, they’ll try to do just that.

But with situations like that of Thierry Henry last week, there is a solution. It’s just that the footballing authorities, as usual, aren’t interested in it, despite the fact that it has been proven to work in other sports. FIFA and UEFA have their collective fingers in their collective ears, and are loudly singing “LA LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU” at anyone who mentions it. And they’ve been doing this for years now.

The solution is really quite obvious, to me, anyway: use video technology. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy-schmancy, but had there been even basic video technology in place last week, the on-pitch referee could have quite simply stopped the game (and stopped the clock) when the Irish players protested, then asked the video referee to have a quick look at the incident. It would have taken a matter of moments to reach a decision before the goal was given or not, as the case may be.

There are those who would argue that introducing video refs into football would disrupt the flow of the game. I can understand their concern to an extent, but they’re wrong. Yes, football is a fast game, a game of movement, but video refereeing needn’t disrupt that. For a start, the vast majority of the incidents it would be used for would be goal-related, or foul-related, when the game stops anyway. No flow to stop there.

And it has been proven that video refereeing does not disrupt the flow of one of the fastest games around. Rugby League has used the video ref system for some years now, and it works. If you’ve ever been to a Rugby League game, you’ll have seen the system in action, and you’ll know that it takes just moments for the video ref to make a decision and communicate it to the referee on the pitch. In fact, the fans’ brief, breathless wait for the decision to be made and to flash up on the scoreboard is actually half the fun of it – I can see that going down a storm in football.

And it must also be pointed out that the same system works well in Rugby Union, a slower game with more natural stops and starts than football or Rugby League, and a game with a strong sense of tradition which is less accepting of change than many other sports. If the RU authorities can happily accept the video referee system, why can’t the football authorities?

It’s not as if cost is the issue either. Football is one of the richest sports in the world, and European football is particularly wealthy. The initial investment in the necessary video technology and training for referees would be easily affordable, but it’s not about that, is it? This is all about vested interests, about what the authorities want – not what’s good for the game.

This is all about the outdated attitudes of those who run football, and their arrogant belief that they are right and that they know best. This is all about a bunch of old men (and yes, they are old, and yes, they are all men) who don’t seem to get the value that technology could bring to the game, who don’t seem to get that technology could help prevent the kind of scandals and controversies (like last week’s Henry incident) which go a long way to adding to the dreadful reputation football already has. And maybe that’s in their interests? Or not…

[Crossposted here.]

NFL.com

Since the first two games of the season, the Cowboys defense has been pretty solid and they seem to get better each game, only giving up 20 points or more three times in that span, the most being 21 points.

Right now, before the Monday night game, if you look at the defensive ranks, the Cowboys are the 16th best defense. Most people will look at that and say that the Cowboys defense is mediocre, middle of the pack.

If you do not know, the NFL ranks offenses and defenses based on average yards per game. Therefore, looking at those ratings are well, overrated.

To get a real read on an offense or defense, you must look at the other major team stat. That is points.

The Cowboys defense is ranked 5th in the league in points, giving up 17.5 points per game. That is a more telling stat. You can give up yards to or passed the 50, but if you clamp down before a team gets into field goal range or stop them from scoring a touchdown, you are doing something right.

On Sunday, the Cowboys defense was tested again in a clutch situation that they had failed at all season long. That is stopping a team from getting a game winning or game tying score near the end of the fourth quarter.

In week 2 against the Giants, the defense could not stop the Giants from getting into field goal range in which they did to beat the Cowboys 33-31.

In week 4 in Denver, the Cowboys gave up a big touchdown to Brandon Marshall, although the pass was in the only place where Marshall could catch it since Terence Newman had nearly perfect coverage. The touchdown gave the Broncos a 17-10 lead, which ended up being the final after the offense could not tie the game.

In week 5 in Kansas City, the defense gave up a touchdown for the Chiefs to tie the game at 20-20 to force overtime.

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But faced with a similar situation against the Redskins, Anthony Spencer picked off a tipped pass to give the Cowboys the win.

Part of the reason for the success on defense is from the great value the team picked up in three free agents who have become keys on defense.

They signed a little known safety from the Jacksonville Jaguars in Gerald Sensabaugh who became the starting strong safety and he has played very well. He can cover and he is breaking up passes. It has been awhile since the Cowboys have had a strong safety making plays and not giving up plays.

Then we have defensive end Igor Olshansky from the San Diego Chargers to fill a big hole left by Chris Canty, who signed with the New York Giants. I think all of us have almost forgotten that Canty left, that is how well Olshansky has filled in.

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Finally, probably the best pickup was linebacker Keith Brooking from the Atlanta Falcons. This guy is a beast at 34 years old. Not only has his ferocious play influenced the entire team, but his leadership and passion as well.

The Cowboys have been looking for a middle linebacker to play alongside Bradie James since they switched to the 3-4 defense in 2005 and they finally found one.

All three of these players have vastly contributed to the success of this defense.

Probably the breakout player of the year for the Cowboys defense this year is Mike Jenkins. He was the first round pick in the 2008 draft who many thought was the second best cornerback on the team from that draft. That being Orlando Scandrick.

Scandrick and Jenkins battled for the number one spot in training camp and preseason with both of them trading starts for the first three games of the season before Jenkins became the every game starter.

Making Jenkins the starter was the best decision and it is working out flawlessly. He may possibly be the best cornerback on the team. His confidence is sky high and he is not giving much up.

Jenkins was almost considered a soft player after it looked like he willingly avoided making a tackle in a game against the Giants last season.

If anyone believed he was a soft player then, look again. He loves bumping receivers and he hits hard.

With all of the successes of this defense, they could still get better.

There are two aspects of the defense that could improve.

One of them is a better pass rush or maybe I should say a better blitz. It seems like every time the Cowboys bring a lot of heat, they are picked up immediately or the opposing offensive line keeps bouncing them around so they cannot reach the quarterback.

The Cowboys still have a decent pass rush, picking up 25 sacks, tied for 8th in the league, but there is still room to improve.

The other part to work on and more importantly is forcing more turnovers. The Cowboys currently have a -4 turnover differential and they only have 7 picks on the season.

If the Cowboys could improve on forcing more turnovers, this defense could be dominant.

But as long as the Cowboys keep this current defensive play up, they will be hard to break through from here on out.

A man took his girlfriend’s pit bull puppy for a walk Sunday, minutes before the Steeler’s game was to begin. Unfortunately for the puppy this man,William Woodson, of Bridgeville, was a Steelers fan. The dog was “uncooperative” on this walk prompting the man to hurry things along by kicking it down the road. Dogs can pick up on people’s moods pretty easily so it’s no wonder the puppy didn’t want to go on a walk with him. An upset Michael Vick* was reached for comment. He stated “The situation with the pit bull in Pennsylvania greatly troubles me. You’re supposed to kill the dog after you fight them. That’s the only way to get your money’s worth.”

*Michael Vick was not really reached for comment. That’s a joke.