The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

It's been a busy weekend in the sports realm. Will take a look what's happened.

The Good:

Team USA (both women and men) win the Gold, the women by a blowout and the men by a closer margin. Isn't this where USA Basketball should be? I mean didn't we create this sport? How can we not be the best in it?

Matt Ryan will start the season as the Atlanta Falcons starting QB. Did anyone doubt this when they drafted him. He's the Falcons only hope from an offensive standpoint. I think he's actually going to be decent for the Falcons this year. We'll see. Good luck Matt.

The Bad:

After a terrible performance (4-12 for 24 yards, 3 ints), Matt Leinart will start this year on the bench for the Cardinals. That is really going to suck, from a fantasy standpoint and probably for Leinart too. Leinart should be able to beat out a 60 year old Kurt Warner, but he can at least take solace that he'll be playing after any missed blitz pickup.

Carson Palmer gets a broken nose during an exhibition game. I doubt that he'll even miss any time, he's a gamer. He may end up being my fantasy QB this year.

The Ugly:

Osi Umenyiora and Jason Taylor both go down. Umenyiora out for the season with a torn MCL. Talk about a big loss. I mean this guy is one of the best DE in the game. He's young, fast, and strong. Add him and Justin Tuck and the Giants were going to be as formidable a tandem as you might have in the NFL. Paging Michael Strahan,....this is the Giants calling. We need you. Jason Taylor goes down and just sprains his knee, and he'll be out for about 2 weeks. Umenyiora's loss takes the Giants from contenders to not so contenders. Also add to the fact that Antonio Pierce isn't getting his money, and the Giants D, doesn't look as good.

Shawne Merriman has two torn ligaments in his knee and he still wants to pay. Shawne, get the surgeryand sit out the year. You will be doing what's best for you. Screw the Chargers, you're a piece of meat to them. If you play on that knee and mess up your long term productivity, they'll make you a salary cap casualty at any point. That's the life of an NFL player, Not For Long. The Chargers are a deep team and they maybe able to win it all, (gasp) without you.

Drew Carter (4th ACL injury) and Oren O'Neal of the Raiders both went down for the year against the Cardinals. The Raiders backup wide receivers have a total of 7 catches so I'm pretty sure Joe Horn won't be without work for long.