FBO: Bye-bye, bye week season

Football Outsiders analyzes the 32 players with the most favorable matchups in Week 11 fantasy. Among them: Rashard Mendenhall, Pierre Thomas, Kurt Warner, Nate Washington and more. With bye week season over, you'd better be ready to get value.

Story | Conversation | November 20, 2009

The one and onlys

From the November 30, 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine: an investigation of the most irreaplaceable players in the NFL -- among them Leon Hall, Ryan Clady, DeMarcus Ware and Andre Johnson.

Story | Conversation | November 18, 2009

The Pro Bowl drama begins

...McKinnie (137,844), guard Steve Hutchinson (145,279), defensive end Jared Allen (212,605), nose tackle Pat Williams (135,669), kick returner Percy Harvin (143,880), placekicker Ryan Longwell (68,197), and special teamer...

Quick look at early Pro Bowl balloting

...NFC kickoff returners. The Cardinals' Darnell Dockett ranks fourth among NFC defensive tackles behind the Vikings' Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and the Redskins' Albert Haynesworth. The Rams' Jackson should rank higher among running...

Midseason Report: Vikings

...been interesting to see the Vikings ration the playing time of 37-year-old nose tackle Pat Williams. Safety Tyrell Johnson has been mostly invisible after replacing the departed Darren Sharper in the starting...

Eagles lose Hobbs, Hanson

The Eagles were dealt a pair of losses in the defensive backfield Wednesday, as cornerback Joselio Hanson was suspended four games for the use of a banned substance and Ellis Hobbs was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

NFL lawyers on a losing streak

The NFL's drug-testing program is massive, random and strict, or so they say. But it's also failing in court, thanks to Will Smith and others.

Two Vikings among defensive stalwarts

Midway through the 2009 season, who are the league's best players on defense? Len Pasquarelli shares his selections.

10 Spot: Awards for now -- and later

Adam Schefter takes a look at who has been and could become some of football's top performers in 2009.

Chat wrap: Rte. 29 to ex post facto

...answer set off a pretty lively discussion by chat standards, about whether Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams would fall under, or be exempt from, any law Congress might pass that closes the...

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 14: Defensive tackles Kevin Williams #93 and Pat Williams #94 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrate a fumble recovery against the Chicago Bears at...

Goodell asks for Congress' help

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked Congress on Tuesday to intervene with drug program legislation and found at least one powerful ally.

Loophole leads Vikes' case to Congress

Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams found a loophole in the NFL's drug policy and wriggled their case through it all the way to Congress.

Goodell to seek change in labor law

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell plans to ask Congress for legislation that would protect collective bargaining agreements from state law challenges, like the one that led to blocking of the suspensions of two players who used banned substances.

Halftime: Vikings 17, Packers 3

...Vikings defensive end Jared Allen blew past Packers left tackle T.J. Lang, and nose tackle Pat Williams threw aside Packers center Scott Wells. The bottom line is the Packers finished the half with...