The Dog that did it All

The Dog that did it All

An interesting graph has been circulating across the internet showing the “parity” of the NFL, and was credited to a mysterious “DanChan22″. It blew up on the internet last week, and has since been featured on Yahoo! Sports, Deadspin, and The Washington Post. Something about this graph struck a chord within my head and I knew I had to track him down and find out more. I finally found him on an internet message board and asked if he would be willing to answer a few questions, and he kindly agreed. His answers were quite shocking – This is his story.

The interview started off great. We exchanged pleasantries, and got all the formalities out of the way very quickly. I then proceeded to ask him a few questions regarding the nature of his graph and what gave him the idea. It was obvious he was holding something back. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more grand at work here. Finally he caved and revealed the truth. He had help. Help from his dog, Abagnale.

 

“He is the one with the gift. I think I’m just helping him realize it.”

 

Abagnale, or Abby as he is called by friends, is a fourteen year old Italian greyhound. A good dog, and friend by most account; but just a dog. That was of course until recently. The idea to make the NFL graph came into Daniels mind one day as an idea, maybe in a dream; but he found himself struggling to put it all together. He had an idea to print out all of the team names on cards to make it easier to organize, but this is where out story takes an unusual turn.

Daniel had the cards laid out on the floor and Abagnale started to sniff a particular one. At first Daniel just figured it was a dog being a dog, but quickly he realized that the card Abagnale picked fit in perfectly. So together the two of them worked on this project using that method for six hours a night for two weeks straight until it finally came together.
 

“I believe that all dogs go to heaven, and he must be close. So the lord in the sky is giving him (and me) one last gift.”

 
It’s hard to say exactly what gave Abagnale this ability all of a sudden, but Daniel thinks it’s one last gift that he and his friend may share together. It’s a sad realization that there comes a time when your best friend may pass on, but when you are able to spend time together in a way that seems magical it might soften the blow. Maybe that is what Abagnale is trying to pass along before he goes to Daniel; and Daniel to us.

 

” I think the NFL graph is really a metaphor for our lives as humans. We live in a circular world, and if we can just realize that there is a much parity in the human condition that there is in the NFL, we would all do a lot better. “

 
- Ryan Trowse

Merriman May Miss Opener

Update: San Diego Chargers LB Shawne Merriman may miss the team's regular season opener against the Chiefs, the AP reports. Merriman has been bothered by an Achilles' tendon injury, and will not play in the preseason finale.

Fantasy Impact: It is likely best for Merriman to sit out and Week 1 and get healthy, rather than to play with an injury and risk further hurting himself. Merriman is a prolific pass rusher and the team needs him to be healthy to do what he can at his best.

Haynesworth Might Not Play Week 1

Update: Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports that even though Washington Redskins DT/DE Albert Haynesworth will get a heavy workload this Thursday in the preseason finale, he may be inactive Week 1 versus the Dallas Cowboys. Haynesworth and head coach Mike Shanahan have not seen eye-to-eye this off-season, and this may be a way for the coach to show the player who is in charge.

Fantasy Impact: Whether you like Haynesworth or not, it is undeniable that he is an impact player. And without him, the chances of beating the Cowboys Week 1 are severely decreased. If priority number 1 for Shanahan is to win football games, then sitting Haynesworth is not in the best interest of the team.

Bryant Won’t Play On Thursday

Update: Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com reports that Dallas Cowboys rookie WR Dez Bryant will not play on Thursday. Bryant came back this week from an ankle injury and was expected to make his NFL debut in the preseason finale. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that none of the regulars will play. Fantasy Impact: It looks like Bryant's debut will be during the regular season opener. He should be nearly 100% by then, so he will be on the field for a significant amount of time. In fantasy, it likely would not be a great idea to start Bryant in week 1 because no one knows exactly how much he will play and what kind of chemistry he has with QB Tony Romo. But if he plays well, he could end up being a very solid fantasy WR this season.