FINALLY, the Eagles have come back to Fantasy Football...
by Pete Butcher | August 25th 2011
The English Eagles are my own little fantasy football team that 'competes' in a local Sheffield Fantasy Football League named the MFL. Last year i took a year out from fantasy football to try and concentrate on the finer points of the NFL without 'supporting' certain players just because they are in my fantasy squad. Seriously, i am a Seattle Seahawks fan, that is until one of my fantasy players is lining up against them. At this point i want the Seahawks to get trounced. Luckily for me this happens on a regular basis anyway.
So this season is the return of the English Eagles to fantasy football, and tonight is my first draft night in two years. As a result id like to share with you my ideas as to are the top draft picks this year in the NFL. In a yahoo big board style id like to point out this is not advice (wouldnt want to contradict my own article below), but a tool that you can use if you so wish. This is the English Eagles draft sheet for 2011/12.
For the thirdandlong big board please click here
Take my advice, dont listen to expert advice..
by Pete Butcher | August 20th 2011
Its ok, im no expert, but during my time as a down trodden fantasy player, or 'coach', i have been stung more than once by so-called 'expert' advice. This advice falls generally falls into 2 categories,
1. The NO S**T SHERLOCK category
2. The COMPLETE S**T category
Each category is self explanatory and during YOUR time managing and drafting the team YOU will have come across both. Fantasy Football is frustrating yet simple, pick the players YOU believe will bring you glory, pick the players who YOU feel are the best available in YOUR draft in that particualr round. Reviewing schedule strengths, handcuffing players, etc etc are just steps too far (these fall into the COMPLETE S**T category). They are printed by sites desperate for your visit, by 'experts' who are craving your attention, but truth be told they will take the best player, in their opinion, available at that time in their draft regardless of the advice they have been spouting.
NFL.coms Michael Fabiano is probably the leading fantasy expert - he is at least the most well known. When it comes to knowledge about the NFL this guy knows his business. Would i take his fantasy advice? Would i allow him to influence my draft. Hell no! Lets take his most recent advice...its strangely familiar as it covers the two areas in which we identified earlier as COMPLETE S**T - schedules and handcuffing...
"Last season, NFL.com introduced a new tool to help fantasy owners in their quest for a league title -- the fantasy points allowed (FPA) ratings. These ratings are based on the strength of a player's schedule using the average fantasy points their opponents allowed against the six major fantasy positions the previous season. For example, the Denver Broncos allowed an average of 24 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2010. As a result, any runner that faces the Broncos in 2011 was rewarded 24 points. Jamaal Charles, who faces them twice as a divisional opponent, is rewarded a combined 48 points. The larger the overall point total, the easier the schedule"
Now on the front of it this looks like a useful tool. Until you look at the overall rankings... 
TOP is Michael Turner, which would be fine but huge questions remain over his fitness, with reports saying he has visibly 'lost his burst'. When it comes to decision making its far easier to look at the facts, Turner is reported to be struggling since his injury, this is a far more important consideration than whether his schedule looks 'easy'.
In 2nd is Chris Johnson, who currently is holding out in Tennesee. I recall Larry Johnson doing the same in Kansas, missing the first few weeks of the season and then being utter garbage when he did play (Im not bitter, he just cost me the league title that season, thats all - he was ranked top 5 by fantasy experts, his schedule was favourable - i went against my better judgement as surely the judgement of fantasy experts would be better. Wrong!). You have to look way down the list to number 15 for Jamaal Charles and 18th for Arian Foster. The problem with this advice is it could lead you astray, leading you to overlook Charles and Foster due to their less favourable matchups, thinking you are making an informed decision when infact your picking a dud with an easy schedule. Im not saying its a total waste of time, however this tool should only be used to help you decide between players who on terms of ability who just cant seperate. To suggest you should be picking Felix Jones above Arian Foster because his schedule is easier is foolhardy. Im sure Fabiano isnt suggesting that you should, however he doesn't make that obvious, and as a result this would confuse the newer less experienced player.
"Running backs will continue to litter the first and second rounds of fantasy drafts, but the position isn't as valuable as it's been in the past. In a time when backfield committees are more prominent than ever, it's become more difficult to gauge who will see carries on a week-to-week basis. As a result, it's more important than ever to know which runners are slated to start, who'll see the lion's share of the carries, and who will serve fantasy owners best as potential handcuffs (insuring your top runners). Here's our look at the backfield situations for all 32 teams."
Absolute rubbish. In every single year i have played fantasy i have never ever seen handcuffing as a tactic lead anyone to a title. All it leads to is other teams 'stealing' other teams back ups in the hope that they will have a huge bargaining chip for trades later in the season. If this is you, get a life!
What is important to note is these 'expert' writers are contracted to write a minimum number of words and articles a week. When writing about the same subject that is difficult to do and so they peddle alot of useless and pointless 'advice' that is at times contradictory and down right confusing. Im not saying dont read their stuff, at times they have interesting points of views that can nudge you in the right direction, however taking their advice verbatum will leave you tied in knots with a team that is not your own, but that of an expert advice columnist that who has no interest in what your team actually acheives come the end of your season.
American Football ... In England? Behave yourself
by Pete Butcher | August 20th 2011
With the games at Wembley continuing to sell out the NFL have been generous enough (or seen the financial benefit) to continue sending 
regular season games over here. This season rather disappointingly will see the Tampa Bay Bucchaneers against the Chicage Bears. Whilst there is a tinge of disappointment with the NFLs decision to send 1 defensively minded team, and 1 team who we have already seen there are still strong signs that indicate the NFL is fit and growing in the UK. Brits playing the strange american sport are also growing in numbers, sparking puzzled looks from passers by who wonder why these rugby players seem to believe they can pass the ball forwards.
On the recent pilgrimmage to Wembley in 2010 however parks all over London filled with men and women alike sporting faded NFL jerseys as they lined up for a bit of a scrimmage. For proof (or to just a look at some idiots trying to play football) please read on...
Welcome back to thirdandlong, Cheerleaders to celebrate? Yes please...
by Pete Butcher | August 20th 2011
thirdandlong would like to welcome you back after our year long absense from your screens. Now thirdandlong has always had an affiliation with beautiful women. The TNL Fantasy Cheerleader squad was one of the most visited pages on the website. As the old adage says, sex sells. In the previous version of the website the fantasy cheerleader squad was graced by such hotties as Megan Fox and Elisha Cuthbert - not at one point did an actual cheerleader make the squad.
Now i like hot cheerleaders, but i also like sexy celebrities, but which one is better? In the words of Harry Hill, theres only one way to find out...
FIIIGGGGGGGGGGGHT!!!
This season on a weekly basis there will be not one BUT two fantasy cheerleader squads. The first one will be a celebrity only squad, with the second one being a cheerleader only squad. At the end of the season a vote will be cast where you the lucky viewer will be able to vote for your favorite squad.
Let battle commence.