Though I don't like any player staying out of the team but still everybody can't make into the team. You may call it luck or hard work or sheer excellence but these are some of the factors which decide inclusion or exclusion of players in the team. Besides this past performance of the player, current fitness and lot other factors too tend to decide the fate of the player. This year too some will make the cut and some will have to cool their heels on the benches. Given below are some of the players which could be avoided this season:

Clinton Portis
He went unnoticed last season and some believed that he still could contribute to the cause of the team. Age and injury seem to be catching up with him and he may no longer be considered as worthy.

Ladainian Tomlinson
In sports the moment you start touching the age of thirty your value seems to diminish even if you still have got that energy to keep on going. Ladainian Tomlinson is still a very classy guy and if used properly can be quite effective for the team but it seems that he is not in demand anymore.

Ronnie Brown
A talented guy but unfortunately has been ridden by injuries of late. In the last three years he has undergone two surgeries and that seems to have taken toll on him but he shouldn't be underestimated as on his day he can be a game changer.

Willis McGhee
This guy lost his job to Ray Rice and has seen lotta action around the goaline but this year doesn't seem to be for him.

Thomas Jones
He has witnessed some of the best years of his career and even though he seems to have a good fantasy value he may not be sought after as he was in the previous year though he could be a good pick around seven of the draft. Eventhough there is no dearth of talent but selecting a rookie at the moment could be risky. Thomas Jones will still command some fantasy football value but it may not remain the same forever.

No NFL in 2011??? This is impending if labor issues are not sorted out pretty soon. In case no deal is struck in next five weeks it could lead to similar situations as witnessed in 1987 and with no salary cap next season it would mean affluent teams such as New England Patriots and Washington Redskins will be able to spend more than teams such as Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars and forcing other teams to fork out more cash even if it means stifling themselves.

In case no deal is struck for 2010 it would mean no NFL in 2011. Also the chances of striking a deal before March or starting of new NFL season looks quite bleak and with players having stronger bonds than before it could mean a lockout situation. The problem as usual is money despite average franchise value of $1 billion and rising TV ratings.

In 2008 NFL owners opted out of the contract and even asked for givebacks from players which included reduction in salaries by nearly 20%. This would work out to $800 million as the overall NFL revenues have been estimated to be around $6.5 billion. Owners feel the agreement expiring next year is more advantageous for the players as they get sixty percent of the revenues which is used for deciding the salary cap.

They intend to achieve an economic system which would be appreciated even a decade later and a right structure could lead to better benefits and salaries for current and retired players. If nothing works out it could lead to similar situation of 1982 and 1987 when unions went on strike. Uncapped season has been unheard of since the time contract system was brought into effect with current free agency and salary cap systems.

This would mean a different system will come into play with no limit on high end or low end or spending of the teams. Each team will have a free hand but this does not mean that NFL salary structure go on the lines of baseball as competitive balance rules will be in effect during the uncapped years. Since there would be no minimum salary cap, small market franchises will not be required to spend like bigger teams rather they would only spend what their pockets can afford.

I feel as fans of the game in such situations the best thing would be to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

When college and professional football season comes to a close it is time of the year when the ritual of coach hiring and firing takes place and this year is certainly not different from the rest. Around 21 college football coaching changes have been witnessed until now and some of these decisions will bring good news for the teams whereas others will have to bite the dust.

It all started with Pete Carroll leaving USC and moving back to NFL. Most of us don't remember that Pete Carroll has previously coached in NFL and he was with the Jets and New England during the nineties and is even credited with the record of 33-31 which he achieved in five NFL seasons but never seemed comfortable in the pros. Later on he tasted success at USC where he was involved in two BCS National titles and compiled a 97-19 record in nine years. Carroll could have moved out of USC due to imminent NCAA sanctions but the money offered by Seattle was too good to be ignored. It is expected he could infuse new strength in Seattle by adding young players and give their teeth back to them. Though the gun may not be placed on his head immediately but he would be expected to bring some good results in another couple of years or so.

Lane Kiffin has now been given the task of taking over what Pete Carroll left and he even brings along his father Monte Kiffin and top recruiter Ed Orgeron with him but if you ask Tennessee Volunteer fan what they think about Kiffin there is always a chance that you might end up with hundred different answers. If we look at Kiffin's track record then he was just 5-15 in the NFL with The Raiders and this can be termed as total disaster. Questions are being raised on his abilities and some feel USC should have waited for some one better.

If you talk about Chan Gailey then he can be dubbed as Bill Fitch of football coaches and is said to have an impressive coaching resume and experience of head coach with Georgia, Troy, Samford, Tech and even in NFL with The Dallas Cowboys. Though he has wins under his belt and is a player's coach but Buffalo Bills need someone like Bill Cowher to take them out of the mess.
Even Notre Dame has hired Brian Kelly as its new football coach and he joins the team after having performed some kind of magic at Cincinnati achieving a career record of 34-6 in four years with the team. Notre Dame has made good decision by hiring Brian Kelly who would certainly perform a better job than Charlie Weis.

Coach hopping has just started so stayed tuned for some more action in the future on this front.

Fantasy sport has evolved over the past three decades and has now become a multi billion dollar business. The game is pretty simple - all you need to do is pick up a team of existing players from any sport and then compare the performance of your team depending on statistical analysis of real life games with that of your opponent who given an option might have chosen alternative players. This concept is known to remunerate the most passionate and knowledgeable participants and has turned out to be a keen attraction for fans looking to get closer to their favorite sport.

Fantasy sport needs to be taken seriously because of its economic footprint with around 26 million Americans playing some sort of fantasy sports league and has created an industry worth $1 billion per year. Even in the time of recession it is experiencing a double digit annual growth with the average amount expected to be spent by each player estimated to be around $500 per year. The rise of fantasy football highlights that fans are becoming more sophisticated.

From the statistic above it seems that the trend for more of knowledge and more of fantasy sports is not going to die anytime soon.

The NFL wildcard matches have already got over and it cropped up a few surprises and now all eyes are set on the last of the eights who would be fighting with their blood and sweat for the coveted Super Bowl XLIV.

In the AFC, Indianapolis, the Super Bowl hot favorites are expected to sail past Baltimore and even the second best team, the San Diego Chargers are not expected to face any hassles provided there are no upsets. For the matchups it would be hard to predict but the odds are heavily in favor of the home sides.

At Ladbrokes the odds are 5/2 for Indianapolis to take away the championship whereas 12/5 are the odds on Ravens for causing the mother of all upsets whereas William Hill betting odds for the Super Bowl winner are Indianapolis - 11/4, New Orleans - 7/2 and San Diego - 10/3.

If you ask me on whom I would like to place my bet, I would simply like my money to rest in my pocket.