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Sitting like a zombie here at work—before we even get started—I'd like everybody to join this club: It's the "I think the Superbowl Should be played on Saturday Facebook club. Please, for god's sake, please tell the NFL we'd like to sleep late the day after the Super bowl.


OK, now to the patting myself on the back portion of this entry. And please, did I not call this game?

But if the Saints blitz Manning, it may not necessarily be to sack him—but to rush his decision-making, and allow the Saints' secondary to try to jump Manning's route....So what Gregg Williams will do, is probably, send his different blitz packages and get his secondary to study where Manning normally goes when he sees a blitz coming. And try to jump those routes. New Orleans knows it can't completely stop Peyton Manning. So, the best plan would be to try to force a couple of mistakes.

So, yay me! And great game, New Orleans. Great planning, great execution.


I know its been said before: But wow. What a great and gutsy call on that onside kick, Sean Payton. But hey man. Are you lucky the Saints go the ball back. Because if they didn't. And you put Peyton manning on your own 42 yard line to start the second half, the city of New Orleans would have crucified you.



Mariners signing Eric Bedard is a great move. With King Felix, Cliff Lee and now, a healthy Eric Bedard, Seatle now has three number 1s in their rotation, and have to be considered as the best staff in baseball.

Someone answer how vacating victories punishes a program at all? Florida State still had a beast of a recruting class. No one really cars because no one got punished. And wasn't it just a few weeks ago when the media was having its "We Love Bobby Bowden party." Wasn't this huge scandal on his watch?


Boy the Celtics sure got old fast.


Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum recently said he plans to tender Kellen Clemens this offseason when he becomes a restricted free agent. One question, Mike.....Why?


I don't know who I'd pity more if Kevin Kold gets traded to the Browns: Brady Quinn, who would have to be considered a 1st round bust, or Kevin Kolb, because he has to play in Cleveland.


I know that practically their entire team went to the NBA draft, but did you really except the Tar Heels to be 13-10 in February, and 2-6 in ACC play?




The World's most dangerous newspaper, the New York Post wrote a good article on the Mets yesterday. where they quoted one agent asking the salient question: "How can you have that payroll and still not have a starting catcher or first baseman, a second baseman you hate and no legitimate starters after Johan?”


Even though he's rumored to go everywhere, I still think Julius Peppers to the Patriots makes the most sense for both clubs. New England has an extra first round pick next year from the Richard Seymour trade, and Peppers fills a Grand Caynon sized pas-rushing hole on the Patriots defense.


And finally, for most embarrassing moment in winter sports this year....well, just watch.

The Super Prognostication

When the AFC and NFC Championships were settled and it was clear that New Orleans and Indianapolis were going to the Super Bowl, I was sure: "No bout adoubt it. The Colts are gonna win."

To borrow a term from football, "After further review...."

Friday Five

Sorry for the lack of updates, been really busy this week.


1. USC's Lane Kiffin just got a committment from a 13-year old QB. Is it wrong to get a committment from someone so young?

2. Where does the never-ending off-season of Johnny Damon end? Tigers? Yankees? Someone else?

3. What's the worst contract in sports right now. how about the worst contract ever?

4. Who has the better day at the Super Bowl: Drew Brees or Peyton Manning?


5. With the NFL draft coming up, we have to ask the question: What's the best name you've ever heard on the NFL draft.

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Congrats Roger. Apparently my poll question is answered. Still the best.


Wait...what? T.O. promoting himself and ripping all his former QBs? It can't be!!!! Oh, but it is.


With the draft coming, the entire Draftnik world is projecting what teams are going to take in the draft. One question: Why does everybody seem to want to replace Todd Heap? Dude had 53 catches, which yes, isn't blowing anybody away, but that's with a young, injured and erratic QB. And 53 is more than John Carlson, whom everybody seems to be raving about, Jeremy Shockey, who, yes, played only 13 games, only caught 48 catches. And that is with Drew Brees throwing him the ball. Not saying Heap is a Hall of Famer, just saying I think the Ravens have bigger issues than a fairly decent tight end. Like maybe drafting a wide receiver. Or 3.


Was extremely surprised that the Jets only came in 11th in Bill Simmons' "Cursed Franchises." I mean, AJ Duhe anyone? 1986? Up 10-0 against the Broncos in the 1998 AFC Championship and Vinnie Interceptaverde hands them in game? 11th? Psshaw. Try 3rd.


This website ranked the top 25 college programs of the decade. And....I'm sorry, Michigan fans. Any team that loses to Appalachian State is automatically disqualified from being in the top 25.


God I would hate to see Wang in a Met uniform. It just wouldn't be right.


They are already debating the Josh Beckett free agency countdown up in Beantown. Well, if history is any judge, Beckett will have a down year this year and that will allow Boston to let him walk. Since 2005, Beckett has alternated great years (2005: 3.38 ERA, 2007: 3.27 ERA, 2009, 3.86 ERA) with down, injury-plagued ones (2006: 5.01 ERA, 2008: injury plagued 4.03 ERA, and bombed in postseason with 8.94 ERA and 7 HRs in 14 IP). If he does tank this year, expect Boston to let him go and go with Lackey and Lester as their 1-2.


Tampa Bay Buc GM Mark Dominik says of fledgling head coach Raheem Morris: "I was really impressed with how Raheem continued to grow in that role." (Translation: He was in way over his head.). "I think people did, even outside of our organization, when he got to interview with another club (the Broncos) for their head-coaching job, so it wasn't something that we just saw internally. It was something people saw externally, as well." (If he bombs out, it wouldn't be my fault. Other people though he would be a good coach as besides me.) "I felt like he really blossomed into an even better coach with even more responsibility, which says a lot about Raheem and, I think, what his future can be." (Cowher turned me down. Morris better shape up this season or else.)


Don't be surprised if North-South game MVP Brandon Graham ends up as the first round pick of the New England Patriots. Graham showed that he can rush the passer as well as anybody coming out of college, with 2 sacks, a forced fumble as he set up permanent residency in the South backfield all game. The Patriots need pass rushers desperatly, and Graham projects out to a 3-4 end. Coming from Michigan wouldn't hurt either, as the Patriots already have 2 Michigan LBs on their roster. Not to mention Tom Brady.




And finally....the first basketball game ever to be played on ice will take place in New York City's Central Park on February 9th. Wow, cool. Who's playing? Well, the hometown favorites will be the Harlem Globetrotters and they will be playing their arch-nemesis, the Washington Generals. And as we know the record between these 2 mortal enemies is something like 12,418 wins for the Globetrotters against 0 wins for the Generals. But who knows, as Krusty the Clown once siad when he bet on the Generals...."They are due!"!

He Showed Them All: Kurt Warner And The American Dream

Perhaps nowhere else but in sports is the American Dream so perfectly embodied. Perhaps nowhere else in this country are the incarnations of our truest desires and personal achievements so on display.

Friday Five

1. Will Michael Vick be a starting QB next year. if so, where?

2. With number 1's dropping like drunk flies, who's the best team in college basketball?

3. Do you agree with my long-held belief that the Super Bowl should be played on Saturday night?

4. With the Winter Olympics starting soon, which winter sport do you enjoy the most and why?

5. Do you watch the Pro Bowl? Why?

Bonus Question!!!!!
Do you read Jason Whitlock on Foxsports.com? Do you like him?

Perception Is Reality: Why The Myth Of Manning's Playoff Failures Isn't True

Jason Whitlock, a sometimes reporter for Foxsports.com and most-time shill for his particular loves in life (Donovan McNabb, Jeff George, Younger Women, preferably strippers), last week wrote a column about Peyton Manning. The gist is that Manning needs to win another Super Bowl or he won't retire as "the greatest quarterback of all time."

He admits that by the time Manning retires he will own every meaningful QB record in NFL history. He admits that yes, Manning is the only person to ever win 4 MVPs in NFL history. And yes, Manning has already won a Super Bowl.