With Falcons coach Jim Mora alerady taking heat over the whole Vick issue from last weekend that still has fantasy football coaches steaming, we now learn of another undisclosed injury issue. This time within the ranks of Winter Park.

Are NFL Coaches catching some sort of "mind-game" virus?

In this case, it is now being reported that Nate Burleson might miss Sunday's game with a previously undisclosed shoulder injury.

Where the hell did that come from? I mean, the man hasn't practiced in a couple of weeks now. Did he slip in the shower? Couldn't have come from shoveling snow since we've yet to see a flake yet in the Twin Cities.

So, let's review the list of other undisclosed dirt laundry only now making light of day after a 1-3 start. Perhaps because fans have been saying to Tice and company, "you've got some 'splaining to do", as Desi Arnaz use to say to Lucy.

Only, we are not fools and we know injuries are only the tip of the bad team iceberg.

Poutin' Daunte Culpepper (listen to Podcast Nineteen for further comment) only just informed everyone of his sprained medial collateral ligament and bursitis in his right knee after tossing up a league leading ten interceptions and abysmal 67.2 QB rating. My sources say he isn't even making it through an entire practice currently.

I can certainly understand the need for NFL coaches to not let the opposition know the extent of a players injury the week before a game. But to not even acknowledge an injury, or list it on a report...as was the case with Culpepper..smacks of concealment. Expect the NFL to keep Tice on the radar for possible fines. Tice, along with Mora and the King of NFL Concealment, Denver's Mike Shanahan, will need to be more open about injury disclosure in the coming weeks.

Fantasy Football & Pick 'Em

I lost to the numero uno team in the league, but I made a game of it. In fact, my score would have won three of the other four games. I now stand at 2-3, but have scored the second most points in the ten team league. My bad luck has been my oppenents have been riding lucky streaks wherein one player has a career week!

I was also hurt by several players being on bye and missed Tiki Barber for sure. But it was a good showing nonetheless and I'm still confident I can have a great run. Here's how last week panned out for me:

QB Carson Palmer 14
RB Shaun Alexander 16
RB Ronnie Brown 3
WR Torry Holt 12
TE Ernie Conwell 2
PK Neil Rackers 8
Def Bengals, Team Defense 0

In the VU Pick 'Em League, Cuyahoga Riverdawgs (Coworker Jim of Ohio) is continues to dominate the league. He is having a great fantasy year, as he's the number one team currently in the aforementioned fantasy league. The standings afer Week Five:

1 cuyahoga riverdawgs
2 The Wizzinator
3 Straight Cash Homies
4 C.J.'s pix
5 MC²
6 SDunn
7 Bubbling Farts
8 Purple Haze
9 Ron Burgundy
10 SBG's Fightin' Eelpout
11 Ragnar
12 hawgdawg
12 paviking
12 Big Dogs
12 Pogo
16 Mr. Cheer Or Die
17 Gopher2
18 Wisconsin Vikes?
19 Phillyvike
20 Smooth Jimmy Apollo
21 FITZ
22 Oracle of Cheese
23 Sheldon Shakers
24 Krayzie's Kings
25 VikingGuyKY
26 Goose's Glory
27 PurplePeopleEaters
28 Bemidjigal

Coming Podcasts

Coming yet this week will be podcasts with KSTP's sports director, Rod Simon, who hosts two shows weekly with Mike Tice. We should learn, firsthand, what the mindset of Tice is at the moment...not to mention the team!

And also, I'll be speaking to fellow Class of 1999 Visa Hall of Fans member and Chicago Bears fan Don "Bearman" Wachter.

Posted by maasx003 at October 12, 2005 06:34 AM | TrackBack