After a whirlwind tenth week, we have a ton of stuff to talk about folks, so let's dive right into the next episode of Third and Long. Listen here or on iTunes!
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Third and Long: Dolphin Vulgarity and the Week 10 Recap
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Footballistically Speaking: The Rut, the Hut, and the Pre-Post-International Break Triumvirate
Another exciting few weeks of soccer are under our belts, and we run down the lot of 'em. Listen here or on iTunes!
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Tuesday, November 4, 2014
NHL Stock Up/Stock Down: The First 8th of the Season!
Oh hi there.
So yeah, hockey everybody. This is the blog that goes with the podcast that we’ve yet to do yet this season. Jobs people. Jobs. Anyway, we’re just about 1/8 into the 2014-15 season so everything I’m about to write about could be irrelevant shortly. Here’s a short list of what’s good and...
Monday, November 3, 2014
Third and Long: The Midseason Fantasy Rundown
We've hit the midpoint, boys and girls, so we figured it's only appropriate to commemorate it with a special edition episode! Third and Long's hosts delve into the current fantasy football scoring leaders and give our input on trends, studs/duds, and potential big finishes. Listen here or on iTunes...
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Third and Long: The JETS, the MIKE, and the Week 7 Recap
We're joined by guest host and New York Jets columnist Jordan Pensabene (@jpens4real21) in our recap of a particularly hectic week of football, attacking the Percy Harvin trade, team trends, and the playoff picture very vaguely taking shape. Listen here or on iTunes!
#strugglefac...
Friday, October 24, 2014
Barclays Premier League Week 9 Predictions
Now that I'm over my (non-Ebola) sickness, it's time for another week of Premier League predictions! My mediocre record of 9-9-2 is sure to improve after this week and maybe I'll actually get a win with my Bet of the Week pick.
UPDATE MON 7:15 PM EST
Week 9 Record: 7-3-0 (3 Exact Wins)
Bet of the Week Record: 0-1-0
Season Record: 16-12-2
Season Bet of the Week Record: 0-2-1
West Ham vs. Manchester...
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Week 7 Fantasy Report: Ghosts of Football Yet to Come
Relatively speaking, this week sputtered by with little to-do. A few games went down to the wire and some interesting upsets caused mild tremors, but nothing registered much more than a burp on the figurative Richter scale. What we did see, over all else, was the growing emergence of young players in their respective positions. As is customary during midseason, rookies began hitting their strides,...
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Third and Long: Rivalries and the Week 5/6 Recap
We're back after a one-week hiatus (our bye week!) to take on some big rumblings around the league. Listen here or on iTunes! As a postscript, since I (Lucio) talk so much about the Browns' zone-blocking scheme, here's a fantastic article from SB Nation that breaks it all down: http://www.sbnation...
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Week 6 Fantasy Report: The Bug is Back
In hindsight, we as fantasy GMs have been spoiled for the past handful of weeks. Very few roster-crumbling injuries cropped up since the bloodshed of week two, and we may have become complacent in their absence. Unfortunately, it seems the injury bug has returned to feast anew. Cringe-worthy blows to many players over the weekend served as a sobering reminder to the sports world that the men who walk...
Friday, October 10, 2014
Footballistically Speaking: The International Break, Part Deux
Your brave hosts come back with another quick EPL recap before we venture off into another dark and mysterious international break. Listen here or on iTunes!
...
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Week 5 Fantasy Report: Brady Got Back
Another week glows in the rearview mirror, and we've all hopefully taken another step forward in our bids for fantasy godhood (sadly, I did not. Thanks, Cincinnati D/ST). You all know the drill by now, so let's jump right into the fray.
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Sunday, October 5, 2014
Third and Long: Oakland's Woes and the Week 4 Recap
Our quarter-pole recap has finally come! We touch on Oakland's problems so far, the fall of the great Tom Brady, and how the NFC East can turn it around for good. Listen here or on iTunes!
Spider, too; why banana...
Friday, October 3, 2014
Barclays Premier League Week 7 Predictions
After changing the format at which I grade my predictions, I'm now coming off a pretty good record from Week 6. I even had 2 exact score predictions! But this week I'm looking to do even better than 5-3-2. My goal is at least 6-2-2. Hopefully my bet of the week will be a win this week as well, since Chelsea ended up winning only 3-0 and my pick of over 3 was only a push. As usual, the bet of the week...
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The Bye Week Blues, Volume II
Phew, we made it through the first wave, boys and girls. Thankfully for us fantasy GMs, week four looks to have been one of the worst byes this season, potentially only topped by week nine (Atlanta, Tennessee, Buffalo, and most of the NFC North will be off that week ... it gives me chills). Hence, while we aren't out of the woods just yet, the underbrush has cleared for the time being. Last week,...
Monday, September 29, 2014
Week 4 Fantasy Report: Time Keeps On Slippin'
As I drove to the radio station I work for over the weekend, watching trees dot the skyline, it dawned to me that October has nearly arrived; the realization gave me pause. The seasons fly by every year, almost faster than the previous one, and this ride around is no different. Our long-form game of numbers and balls shaped like an egg has already hit its quarter-point, with four tireless weeks of...
Friday, September 26, 2014
Barclays Premier League Week 6 Predictions
This is the week I improve my record! Okay, probably not but there's always hope and you don't want to miss out on when I have a winning record for the week. Despite my 3-7 record, I actually didn't do too bad last time. For example, technically this was considered a loss, but I guessed a 3-2 Man City victory over Arsenal and it ended up being 2-2. Once again my favorite pick of the week will be in...
Week 3 Fantasy Report: Round 2
You can find my take here on this week's Third and Long Fantasy Report.
Week 3 Fantasy Report: Round 1 Recap
A few players I have to address after they were included in the Week 3 Fantasy Report by Lucio:
Toby Gerhart: I disagree with Lucio on Toby Gerhart getting any better with BLAKE BORTLES BLAKE BORTLES BLAKE BORTLES as the QB. Not this season. Yes, Toby may have more room to run...
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Third and Long: Week 3 and Trivia Madness
The triumphant return for week 3 is upon us! We touch on the league happenings, trend forming, and a crazy quiz show expy right smack in the middle. Listen here or on iTunes!
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Week 3 Fantasy Report: The Bye Weeks Are Coming, The Bye Weeks Are Coming
We're on the precipice, folks: the time of year that separates fantasy boys and girls from hulking muscly beasts of fake majesty. Bye weeks add a major layer of skill to roster construction and the waiver game, allowing the cream to separate from the chaff. I've penned a more extensive look at this week's bye replacements, which you can find below this article. For now, let's jump back into the usual...
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
The Bye Week Blues
Week four is upon us, the quarter-point of our ride through the season, and you're sitting pretty. Solid roster, winning record, able to navigate the injury carnage up to now without a scratch. However, the true test of fantasy skill is just beginning. The bye weeks approach, threatening all our painstakingly-crafted rosters and shiny division standings. I've decided to throw in a few of my opinions...
Monday, September 15, 2014
Week 2 Fantasy Report: Oh, The Humanity!
The second week of our favorite sport began on the heels of an absolutely dire period of days in the league. The Ray Rice saga had hit full-throttle, the NFLPA continued to give wishy-washy reports on the approaching drug policy rehaul, and we learned that our beloved bionic man Adrian Peterson beats the daylight out of his toddler like a goddamn neanderthal. Commish and the PR department would have...
Friday, September 12, 2014
Barclays Premier League Week 4 Predictions
Now that the international break (which is useless in my opinion since we just had the World Cup) is over I can dive into making some predictions for week 4. I'm also adding my favorite pick of the week into my weekly predictions now (Pick is written in red and bold). The analysis portion of these predictions will end up being relatively short due to the international break making me forget my instant...
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Third and Long: Todd Bradley and Week 1 Reactions
A wild first week of gridiron is behind us, folks, and we have a bunch of crap to fling about it, between Tom Terrific being not-so-much, to the divisional turnover record the NFC East will inevitably break. Listen to the episode here, and be sure to follow the feed to stay up-to-date on all our...
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Week 1 Fantasy Report: Cordarelle Patterson Hates Me
Wrapped in the gorgeous weather and sweltering temperatures that blanketed the northeast U.S., I spent the weekend in Boston visiting some college friends, many of whom I compete with in fantasy leagues. At 1 PM on Sunday, as our ragtag group huddled around the brunch table, a few of us let out a collective, contented sigh: our rosters had locked, and the fantasy season had truly begun. I'm still...
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
2014 NFL Season Preview: From AJ McCarron to Ziggy Hood
Third and Long is back, baby, and so is the NFL! Join us as we take on each division in the league with our predictions and opinions on the best and the worst. Plus, a quick preview of week one and what to expect going forward. Listen here!
Do you even lift, bro? Use this handy flowchart to find...
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Final Preseason Sleepers and Busts: From Rip van Winkle to Ryan Leaf, Part 2
Only a few precious days stand between us and the most glorious time of year, folks. Until our rosters matter once again, and luck clutches our fates in its wiry talons. The time for vigilance is now; push those desperation trades, scour the wire for gems, and keep tweaking those rankings. In time for...
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Final Preseason Sleepers and Busts: From Rip van Winkle to Ryan Leaf, Part 1
"ONLY SIX DAYS SIX HOURS AND EIGHTEEN MINUTES." - Alex Sappe, 08/29/14.
The preseason winds down once again, boys and girls, and our thirst for the gridiron has reached a fever pitch. Fake footballers are finalizing their rankings, scanning for the last bits of news to emerge from camp and roster cuts, and generally acting as degenerates so often tend to. More importantly, most depth chart battles...
Friday, August 29, 2014
Barclays Premier League Week 3 Predictions
I already quickly mentioned some of my Week 3 predictions during the latest edition of the Footballistically Speaking Podcast, but I wanted to finalize them and get them down on the site with some really quick analysis included.
Burnley vs Man United
Prediction: 1-1
Analysis: What is going on with Manchester United? Only two premier league games and one horrendous Capital One Cup game...
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Footballistically Speaking: Gabe Carimi, Instant Relegation, and the Week 1 & 2 Recap
With the first two weeks of Barclay's behind us, your fearless leaders Mike, Alex, and Lucio come in and give their insight. Turns out after only two weeks, champions and relegations can be declared. Listen on iTunes or here!
Chelsea looks dominant coming in. Will it last? (spoilers: no...
Monday, August 25, 2014
Preseason Trends and Exhibition Injury Pointlessness
Preseason football, more than any other organized sport, exists mostly as a risk-riddled cash grab. I love watching young hopefuls climb their respective depth charts and analyzing backup players, which ostensibly gives the preseason its purpose; but when coaches claim to force their starters to play in exhibition games as punishment, there's something very wrong with the practice. A rash of serious...
Monday, August 18, 2014
Arbitrage All-Stars, Volume 3.5 (ypc)
The last ADP column left me yearning for more. Value-shopping is a habit and I may be addicted, a thought that occurs as I choke down day-old "bread" because it was on clearance. As I had mentioned, lots of aRBitrage plays (see what I did there?) exist this year, potentially more so than in recent years due to a fairly widespread changing of the guard sweeping league backfields. Wear on previously-gold...
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Footballistically Speaking Episode 1: ZAMORA!, Undisclosed Fees, and the League Preview
After much built-up hype, Footballistically Speaking is underway with our preview of the English Premier League! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast feed (in the sidebar to the right of this post) if you want to keep up with the series throughout the season. We'll be putting out new episodes every other...
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Arbitrage All-Stars, Volume III
As the preseason enters its third week and drafts pick up steam, innumerable eyes are glued to the Twitterverse, slurping up data streams from all 32 camps. I count myself among the new-age zombies; I must have at least a dozen web alerts set for certain players and teams, to watch over depth chart battles and injury problems and generally exacerbate my anxiety. I'm already two drafts in, with one...
Monday, August 11, 2014
Arbitrage All-Stars, Volume II
After bathing in the colorful outer-space operatics of Guardians of the Galaxy twice this week, I was sorely tempted to title this next installment "Awesome Mix Volume 2." Alas, continuity binds me to convention. So, we return to the draft market study to run down another overvalued player, this time one from my favorite position, the tight end. Perfect specimens of the new, huge-athlete, high-flying...
Friday, August 8, 2014
Arbitrage All-Stars, Volume I
In perusing the completely unhealthy glut of fake football articles I read, I've come to understand the concept of arbitrage (credit to rotoviz.com for first planting the seed in my brain). In financing (i.e. the real world), arbitrage basically entails making a profit off of market inaccuracies. To us, though, arbitrage points out incongruence in player ADP (average draft position) and offers potential...
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Point, Counterpoint: A Treatise on Zac Stacy
Point, Counterpoint: A Treatise on Zac Stacy
Settle in, boys and girls. I have a tale to spin for you, about a young man's battles against pirates, miners, Nordic savages, and terrifying birds of prey... better known as Zac Stacy's upcoming NFL season. If you've already read Alex's article on...
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Article 3: Stacy, Can't You See You're Just Not The One For Me (til later)
Article 3: Stacy, Can't You See You're Just Not The One For Me (til later)
Why will Zac Stacy be a fantasy bust this year? First off, let me thank Lucio for sparking this debate for my latest article. In our league, he's keeping Zac Stacy in the 12th round (obviously totally acceptable for a player...
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Article 2: Packing it in?
Article 2: Packing it in?
There's more bad news for David Wilson. The New York Giants running back now may never play football again due to another neck injury, this time during training camp. After having a season ending injury, which originally was called spinal stenosis in 2013, Wilson was diagnosed...
Fantasy Football Special part 2: The Run on Kickers
The second half of our fake football special is ready for your welcoming earholes. Plus, we've uploaded the original cut of the episode, partly as a glimpse into how much we put into this special, and partly because I didn't want the audio to go to waste. Get part 2 here, and the original cut here!
The...
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Article 1: Long Suspensions, Long Deals, and the Possibility of Great Value
Article 1: Long Suspensions, Long Deals, and the Possibility of Great Value
YES!!!! ARTICLE #1!!!! What I'm planning on doing with these articles is talk about any recent sports news which I believe can be very important to our upcoming podcasts or could use a little analysis from myself or any of...
Fantasy Football Special: Nick Foles, the Blue Eyes White Dragon
It's D&D-for-sports-geeks season once again, and we're your dungeon masters! Alex (@AlexSappe) and Lucio (@TheThirdEsquire) slog through a 12-team, 15 round mock fantasy draft to give their opinions on player rankings, potential sleepers, and the landscape of the upcoming fantasy season. Get it...
The Offseason Sucks...
The Offseason Sucks...
It's still only July. The EPL regular season is still more than 2 weeks away. The NFL regular season is still more than a month away. The NHL regular season is still more than 2 months (AGHHJAGHJ) away. Worst of all, the summer months are starting to drag on.
All ESPN is giving us is LEBRON IS GONNA WEAR NUMBER 23!!!!!!!!! and a bunch of MLB highlights (which all look...
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Upcoming (and practically useless) Information
We're Official!
Now that we have our brand new website built by our own hosts, Lucio Leone and Alex Sappe, we'll be getting a constant stream of content posted here from now on. Get ready for...
Weekly! episodes of the Third and Long Podcast (NFL), hosted by Lucio Leone, Jesse Campbell, and...
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Episode 4: World Cup Knockout Special (featuring Bite Puns!)
Our fourth and final episode for our summer "inception" test series is through the pipes, boys and girls, and it's arguably our best yet. Join us as we discuss the World Cup's happenings thus far, as well as some in-depth analysis of the USMNT's place in the tournament and predictions for the knockouts!
Listen here or get it through our RSS feed he...
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Episode 3: Lord Stanley and Tan Jeans
Just in time for the Stanley Cup Final to begin, we discuss how the Rangers and Kings match up as they vie for the championship. Listen here!
Additionally, we got our RSS feed up! Look out for the show to be on iTunes short...