Check out Walter Payton’s 75-yard reception.

It’s been a great week at the RSP blog. Chad Spann not only provided great information for an enlightening interview series about his training camp experience with Indianapolis, but he’s now a part of the Buccaneers practice squad and in London for the team’s match up with the Chicago Bears. Jay Cutler gave us a rare, “take this job and shove it,” moment on Sunday night. And Jene Bramel writes a fantastic piece where he dissects a play from an angle that gives us a different conclusion than what television commentators saw at first glance.

The only downer was Skype failing me when I was going to deliver my “And Justice For All” defense parody of John Beck on The Audible Roundtable. Google Phone, we’re pals for now. Don’t let me down…

If you’re new to this blog, thank you for checking out the digs. Even more thanks if you liked enough of what you’ve seen to subscribe.

The reasons I provide this content are simple.  I love to write about football and this blog will hopefully give you a taste of the research and analysis (and occasional humor) that goes into my publication The Rookie Scouting Portfolio. This is my seventh year studying film for this online publication (available every April 1 – and that’s no joke!) devoted to the film analysis of NFL prospects at the offensive skill positions. Those who purchase the RSP can tell you what it means to them. And I recommend you see for yourself by at least checking out the samples of the player analysis I provide in the back of each publication to show the work that goes into my rankings and analysis.

If you are already a regular Rookie Scouting Portfolio subscriber thank you, and please cast your vote for the organization you would like to see me donate 10 percent of every 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio purchase. This publication isn’t making me wealthy (though I won’t object if it does), but I believe in giving back to the world. I used to do a lot of community work as a youth, but as an adult I’ve gravitated to jobs where I work a lot of hours. Donating a percentage of whatever money I earn from this publication is a nice way to at least feel like I’m doing something constructive for others that could use an opportunity in life.

Fridays, I like to provide my recommendations of work I’ve read that I group into categories. Generally the three categories are football, fantasy football, and non-football. Then I’ll throw in a little music from time to time. Let’s get to it.

Non-Football

If you aren’t checking out TED at least once a month try to make it a priority. All you need is 10-20 minutes. It’s continuing education at its finest on any subject you can imagine.

Justin Hall-Tipping: Freeing energy from the grid – What would happen if we could generate power from our windowpanes? In this moving talk, entrepreneur Justin Hall-Tipping shows the materials that could make that possible, and how questioning our notion of ‘normal’ can lead to extraordinary breakthroughs.

Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar – On any given day we’re lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lie can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows the manners and “hotspots” used by those trained to recognize deception — and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving.

Books

Creating the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka – My wife Alicia is an interior decorator/designer who does all of her own labor with the exception of electrical and some plumbing. She loves this book, but I find I’m looking through it more than she does. Cool homes, interesting concepts.

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Throwdown – This is a new site in BETA testing that is working well. The concept is quick, one-on-one weekly matches with drafts that can be done in 5-10 minutes or over the course of the week. Team Defense or IDP available. Addictive. Challenge me there using my email thegutcheck@gmail.com

Offensive Sleepers  – Bob Henry is an O.G. when it comes to fantasy football analysis. If you don’t know anything about him, read here. One of the good reads at Footballguys.com is his weekly sleepers column. Check it out.

Passing/Rushing Match ups – Mark Wimer and Joe Bryant put together this terrific feature, which provides a great launching point for deciding who to start-sit each week.

Music

If you haven’t heard of Tom Harrell read this great Esquire piece. If you haven’t heard Tom Harrell check this out. He’s the trumpeter with glasses and the gray facial hair.