Aaron Hernandez (Knee) Looks Like He'll Play in Week 5; Get Him In Your Lineup

The New England Patriots tight end is listed as questionable, but looks good to go in Week 5

Aaron Hernandez looks like he'll be ready to play in week 5 against the Jets.

One half of the New England Patriots tight end tandem has missed the last two weeks with a sprained knee, but should be ready to suit up against the Jets in week 5.

COMMENTS

Frank Gore to Play Two-Thirds of Snaps; Hunter to Play One-Third Sunday

The San Francisco running back should get the majority of snaps in week 5

Frank Gore should get the majority of snaps on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers running back has been nursing an ankle injury, but it looks like he'll play through it this week against the Buccanneers.

According to San Fran beat writer, Gore is expected to get 2/3rds of the carries with capable back-up Kendall Hunter getting the rest.

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Rashard Mendenhall (Hamstring) A Game-Time Decision; Three Reasons You Should Sit Him Anyway

The Pittsburgh Steelers running back hasn't lived up to expectations in 2011

Rashard Mendenhall is a high draft pick playing like a late-round flyer in 2011.

The Pittsburgh Steelers running back was a late first or early second round pick in a lot of leagues, and he hasn't come close to being worth that high price this season.

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Al Davis, Raiders Owner Dies at Age 82

The controversial and enigmatic Oakland Raiders owner passes away

Al Davis, the always controversial and enigmatic owner of the Oakland Raiders passed away today, October 8th, 2011.

The cause of death is currently unknown, but the team site says they will issue a statement later today with more information.

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The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners Rivalry in Funny Photos

The Longhorns and Sooners battle it out on the football field today. Here, they battle it out in photos

The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners have a long and storied rivalry. And today they renew that rivalry on the football field. So, we thought we'd let them battle it out in photos and post some of the best images of signs and insults through the years. Because at the end of the day, everyone wins when someone spends the time to create a sign or shirt that mocks a bitter rival.

COMMENTS

Vincent Jackson (Hamstring) Expected To Play; Should Dominate

The Chargers wide receiver will perform much better than expected against the Denver Broncos

Vincent Jackson is a must play every week he's in the lineup. But you probably knew that.

This week, Jackson, who's been struggling with a hamstring and strained abdomen issues for the last few weeks, should be good to go, but his match-up against the Broncos' Champ Bailey has some owners worried.

They shouldn't be.

COMMENTS

Beanie Wells (Hamstring) Questionable, But Should Play This Sunday

The Cardinals running back is listed as questionable, but has shown no ill effects at practice this week

Beanie Wells has been a fantasy football star this season. When's he's in the lineup, that is.

While Beanie has performed much better expected than his position this season (he's averaging over 5 yards a carry and has found the end zone five times in three games), he's also been a headache for his owners.

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New York Yankees Turn Focus to Next Season

ALDS loss preludes uncertain offseason for AL East champs

— by Mark Ross

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Kansas Speedway

Photo by ASP, Inc.

by Matt Taliaferro and Nathan Rush

Race: Hollywood Casino 400
Location: Kansas City, Kan.
TV: ESPN (2:00 p.m. EST)
June Winner: Brad Keselowski

Specs: 1.5-mile tri-oval; Banking/Turns: 15°; Banking/Tri-Oval: 10.4°; Banking/Turns: 15°
Race Length: 400.5 miles/267 laps
Track Qualifying Record: 180.856 mph (Matt Kenseth, 2005)
Race Record: 138.077 mph (Greg Biffle, 2010)

From the Spotter’s Stand
Brian France is doubling down on Kansas Speedway, bringing a second Cup race to the 1.5-mile tri-oval in Kansas City, an annual late September or early October stop since 2001. And with a sparkling new casino, the hope by NASCAR and its track operating wing, International Speedway Corp., is that Kansas will draw in more fans despite its cookie-cutter configuration and penchant for aero-racing.

In June, Bard Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe rolled the dice in a high-stakes game of fuel strategy and hit the jackpot, outlasting Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Keselowski’s Penske Racing teammate, Kurt Busch, led a race-high 152 laps after starting on the pole. However, the fuel mileage wasn’t as kind to the Las Vegas native, and he slid to ninth at the finish.

Last year, Greg Biffle made winning at Kansas look like easy money, taking the checkers by 7.638 seconds ahead of 2008 winner Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and two-timer (2006, ’09) Tony Stewart. In his past four stops in K.C., Biffle has two wins and a pair of thirds.

Crew Chief’s Take
“As with many of the circuit’s 1.5- and 2-mile ovals, bump stops on the shocks play an important role at Kansas. A team must find an optimal setting for the bump stops or the car will be negatively affected by being too low — which drags the splitter and affects handling — or too high — which gets air under the car and results in a lack of front-end downforce. Kansas is a simple track, which means there are probably more teams that can win there than at most places.”

Fantasy Stall
Looking at Checkers: Kurt Busch sat on the pole and led 152 laps before fuel mileage bit him to the tune of a ninth-place finish.
Pretty Solid Pick: If Greg Biffle has a win in him this season, this is where he’ll get it.
Good Sleeper Pick: If it comes down to fuel mileage, Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't a bad pick.
Runs on Seven Cylinders: Not that he’d be on your squad anyway, but Joey Logano averages a 26.8-place finish here.
Insider Tip: Brad Keselowski won the June race here on fuel mileage. It’ll likely come down to that again.

Classic Moments at Kansas
Kansas Speedway has been the site of many oddball finishes, and with its traditional date in the Chase, it’s often had championship ramifications. The 2006 Banquet 400 is no different.

Jimmie Johnson has led 105 laps on the day and leads late when fuel mileage comes into play. Johnson surrenders the lead with four laps remaining to Tony Stewart, who runs out of gas on the backstretch of the final lap. However, with pit stops ongoing, Stewart has a nearly 20-second lead over Casey Mears and coasts the final half-lap to win with an empty fuel cell.

Johnson’s title hopes appear to take a fatal hit when he is caught speeding on pit road while coming in for a splash of gas and two tires. His 14th-place finish finds him 165 points out of the Chase lead. He rebounds, though, averaging a third-place finish over the final six races to win his first Cup.

COMMENTS

Oregon's LaMichael James Suffers Elbow Injury (Video)

LaMichael James suffered an elbow injury against California.

Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James suffered a rather nasty elbow injury in Thursday night's win over California. Before leaving with the injury, James posted his third-straight game of at least 200 rushing yards. The junior's final tally indicated 240 yards and one rushing touchdown against the Golden Bears.