My Interpretation Of Week 14 Of The NFL

Bills 38 beat Miami 17 - See what a difference Trent Edwards is over J.P. Losman! It's like a brand new team. The Bills keep their playoff hopes alive while Miami continues towards the inevitable.

Cincinnati 19 beat St. Louis 10 - Rain pelted Brock Berlin's face as he settled in for his first regular-season snap in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams. He called signals in misty breaths, then got decked when he let go of a pass. Palmer and Berlin both played terrible, this was a meaningless game, and thats everything you need to know.

Dallas 28 beat Detroit 27 - Kitna's promise for 10 wins was a curse that may come back to haunt them. They could actually lose 10 games! Tony Romo played amazing again and connected with Witten and Barber enough times to climb back into the lead after trailing most of the game. I have nothing but awe and amazement for the way the Cowboys play and fight hard. The Patriots await them.

Green Bay 38 beat Oakland 7 - Favre started and with this win, the Packers clinched their division. Grant and the special teams helped Farve win this one. I'd like to say something supportive of Oakland, but that's impossible.

San Diego 23 Tennessee 17 - This was a nail biter to the end. After a frustratingly slow start, the Chargers were able to tie the game to send it to overtime. Tomlinson's overtime touchdown capped the Chargers comeback. Vince Young had a terrible game, but in his defense, he was hurt. Still, this knocks the Titans out of the Wild Card.

New York Giants 16 beat Philadelphia 13 - What happened here? I never expected this. The Giants survived a last minute drive to slip by the Eagles. With this win, the Giants solidified their Wild Card spot and ruined any chance the Eagles had for a second Wild Card. This win actually convinces me the Giants are at least a decent team now....but they'll still get slammed if they play the Packers or Cowboys.

Jacksonville 37 beat Carolina 6 - Blowout. Blowout. Blowout. The Jaguars solidified their spot for a Wild Card. Their defense dominated this game and Fred Taylor did an excellent job running the ball. The Panthers, however, were awful and I blame it on Testaverde. The Panthers need a future quarterback desperately.

Houston 28 beat Tampa Bay 14 - Sage Rosenfels threw for three touchdowns to lead the Texans (6-7) to an upset victory over the Tampa Bay Buccanners. He has won both games he's started in place of the injured Matt Schaub. I really underestimated Rosenfels and I think the Bucs did too. Garcia didn't start and that's why their 2 touchdowns came from their running game. The Bucs can afford to lose one anyway; that division provides less than a challenge. The Texans are still fighting for a Wild Card.

Minnesota 27 beat San Fransisco 7 - This is why the Vikings are such a dangerous team. The 49ers stopped Peterson. That's great....but Taylor ran all over them. They have 2 amazing threats in the backfield. The Vikings keep their winning streak alive and move into a deserving 6th place in the NFC.

Seattle 42 beat Arizona 21 - Hasselbeck's four touchdown passes helped the Seahawks clinch the NFC west title. This team's aerial attack continues to amaze me. Kurt Warner put up some great passing yards and touchdowns, but 5 interceptions is just too many mistakes for any aerial attack to survive. Everyone can't pull a Tony Romo.

Denver 41 beat Kansas City 7 - Jay Cutler must have read all the harsh, negative comments I said about him in a previous post and really wanted to prove me wrong. Cutler tossed a career high four touchdowns as the Broncos destroyed the Chiefs. So Cutler finally had a great game. Good for him.....now do that for 3 more games. I still don't believe in him or the Broncos.

Cleveland 24 beat New York Jets 18 - You have to hand it to the Jets. This poor team has nothing to play for except pride and they tried so very hard to beat the mighty Browns....and they almost did too. Fortunately for the Browns, Joe Jurevicius recovered 2 late onside kicks to stop the rallying Jets. However, the Browns were annoying me this game because I was finally able to watch this high-powered offense on tv....and they didn't play well.

New England 34 beat Pittsburgh 13 - ...and the conspiracy (oops I mean "perfect season") continues....

Indianapolis 37 is beating Baltimore 7 - This game has gone to the half. Boy was I wrong. Shame on me to go against my favorite team. I thought the Ravens were going to come out fired up after last week's controversial loss. Instead, the Ravens look as if they need Prozac. Their offense and defense is barely trying. I guess I would enter into a deep state of depression too after that loss last week. Manning and the Colts' defense is shredding them apart so badly its not even worth watching. This solidifies my point about when the Patriots games aren't nationally televised (like this week's game), they blow teams out. However, when they are televised, the games are kept close to keep them exciting in order to draw an audience in. The NFL loves the Patriots as a money making tool.

For Monday

New Orleans At Atlanta - What a boring Monday night game. Take the Saints and then go to bed.

Mayweather Knocks Out Hatton

Not surprisingly "Pretty Boy" Floyd beats Hatton to remain undefeated and unquestionably the best in the business. This was a very entertaining fight, but for me there was never a doubt as to who would come out on top. Mayweather overcame the crowd and his opponent with sheer talent and determination.

He had proven numerous times that he is the best pound for pound fighter in the business and is the best natural fighter since Roy Jones Jr. He connected at a much higher percentage rate than Hatton. Mayweather's defense was superb and kept Hatton guessing all night long.

The main problem I had with watching this fight was the announcing. What the heck was wrong with those guys? The fight was not as close as Howard Leatherman had it. He had Hatton ahead of Mayweather after the 6th round! I didn't understand it; I know they have to keep the audience but after paying $50 for the fight, I am not going to turn it off until it is over. They should call what they see and since Mayweather was clearly winning the fight that is what they should have reported.

However, Mayweather is still the best, and it may be the last time we get to see him in quite some time. He has continuously hinted at retirement. But we all know when a fighter talks about retirement never to listen. All it takes is the right dollar signs and Mayweather will be back in the ring.

And The Winner Of The Heisman Trophy Is......Tim Tebow

According to ESPN:

The Heisman Trophy has been handed out every year since 1935 and all the winners have been either juniors or seniors.

Florida sophomore Tim Tebow broke that trend and scored one for college football's underclassmen.

Off And Running

Florida QB Tim Tebow is the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in the 72 years of the award. Tebow's 22 rushing touchdowns are tied for the FBS record for rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback. (Air Force's Chase Harridge also had 22 in 2002.)

Most Rushing TDs in 2007
Bowl Subdivision QBs

QB, School	TDs
Tim Tebow, Florida	22
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan	17
Pat White, West Virginia	14

The charismatic and multitalented quarterback, who has already had a season like no other in major college football history, became the first sophomore to win the award on Saturday night.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, last year's Heisman runner-up, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel were the other finalists.

Conventional wisdom suggested Tebow's class status would have left him at a disadvantage against three upperclassmen, but Heisman voters have warmed to the idea of voting for underclassmen over the years.

"I'm still a college football player," Tebow said Friday to a gathering of reporters at a hotel in Manhattan. "It doesn't matter what year you are."

For decades, underclassmen were an afterthought at Heisman time.

After SMU sophomore tailback Doak Walker finished third in the Heisman voting in 1947, the next underclassmen to break the top three was Georgia's Herschel Walker, who finished third as a freshman in 1980 and second as a sophomore before winning it as a junior in '82.

During most of those 35 seasons, freshmen were ineligible to play.

"Sophomores in the past, such as a deserving Doak Walker in '47, for example, weren't given proper consideration because freshmen weren't eligible, and there was an obvious prejudice against youth," author and sports writer Dan Jenkins, who is the historian for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, wrote in an e-mail to the AP. "Better to vote for somebody who had done more to 'deserve' it rather than a one-season guy."

After Herschel Walker, it was another 10 years before an underclassman made a serious run at the Heisman. In 1992, San Diego State sophomore Marshall Faulk finished second to Miami quarterback Gino Torretta.

Since then, the combination of scholarship limitations in big-time college football and early departures to the NFL have given underclassmen more opportunities to play. As a result, more have become Heisman contenders.

"Sophomores today, having played as freshmen, are what juniors used to be," Jenkins wrote.

Michael Vick was a redshirt freshman for Virginia Tech in 1999, when he finished third. Florida quarterback Rex Grossman was the runner-up to Nebraska's Eric Crouch as a sophomore in 2001. Two years later, Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was a sophomore when he finished second to Oklahoma's Jason White.

Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson became the first freshman to be the Heisman runner-up in 2004 and last year McFadden was a sophomore when he finished second to Ohio State's Troy Smith.

Now here comes Tebow, already a folk hero in Gainesville, Fla., with a chance to become the third Florida Heisman winner, joining Steve Spurrier (1966) and Danny Wuerffel (1996), and do something no college football player has ever done -- for the second time this year.

Tebow visited New York for the first time with his parents and four siblings, including his sister, Christy Allen, who has been doing missionary work in Bangladesh and only found out Thursday she could make the trip.

Tebow exceeded the monumental expectations placed on him by adoring Gators fans in his first season as a starter. He became the first player to run for 20 touchdowns and throw 20 touchdown passes in the same season. He accounted for 51 TDs overall, including a Southeastern Conference-record 22 on the ground.

The 235-pound Tebow showed what he could do running the ball last season as a part-time player, complementing senior quarterback Chris Leak and helping Florida win the national title.

This season, in full control of Urban Meyer's spread offense, Tebow has left no doubt he's more than just a bruiser. Tebow is second in the country in passer rating (177.9), with 3,132 yards and 29 touchdown passes.

The Most Valuable Franchises In The NBA According To Forbes

Despite the struggles and antics of the New York Knicks on and off the court, they still remain the NBA's most valuable franchise for the third straight year, according to a list compiled by Forbes. The Knicks were valued at $604 million, up 3 percent from the previous year despite a spate of losing, an embarrassing defeat in a sexual harassment lawsuit, poor team chemistry, and continuing questions about the future of coach Isiah Thomas.

The NBA's marquee franchise also had a league-high $196 million in revenues for the 2006-07 season while topping the list with negative $42.2 million in operating income after going 33-49 and missing the playoffs.

A lot of the Knicks' success, money-wise, has to do with where they play. New York is the medulla oblongata of American culture and I am willing to bet that if the Knicks played anywhere else, people wouldn't waste their time and money watching this team. I would rank the circus as a slightly better tourist attraction, though the Knicks aren't far from that. The Knicks may have the most valuable franchise, but not the most valuable team

The Los Angeles Lakers decreased in value 2 percent, down to $560 from $568 million, but remained second on the list. I would suspect this is due to their recent lack of success and the other number of California teams available to watch. It can't be because of Kobe; he's probably the only reason why the Lakers draw in the money they do.

The Chicago Bulls were third with a value of $500 million and a league-best $59.3 million in operating income. Let's see how long this lasts with that amazing team of theirs who inexplainably can't win.

The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets rounded out the top five.

The Cleveland Cavailers showed the biggest jump in value among the top 10 teams, increasing 20 percent to $455 million. They jumped from 10th to seventh. I believe two words are responsible for that: Lebron James.

Injury News Around The NFL

We have some more fallen soldiers...

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger will not play this weekend after suffering a setback in his recovery from a concussion, the St. Louis Rams announced Saturday morning. The team also announced that Brock Berlin, who has never attempted a pass in a regular-season game, would start Sunday at Cincinnati.....and I picked the Rams to win? Cross that out now. Then again, probably one of the best defenses to try out a new QB on would be the Bengals defense.

New Orleans Saints tailback Reggie Bush will not require surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in his left knee, but the second-year veteran almost certainly will not play Monday night at Atlanta, and the former Heisman Trophy winner is likely to miss the rest of the season.

The Houston Texans placed Ahman Green on injured reserve Friday, ending the season for the player signed to be their featured running back. Green missed Houston's last three games with a left knee injury that's bothered him for months. He rushed for 260 yards on 70 carries this season, less than what the Texans expected when he signed a four-year, $23 million contract in March. What a bust.

Starting quarterback Jason Campbell sustained a potential season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of the Washington Redskins' game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, as the third-year veteran dislocated his left patella.

Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was listed as doubtful Friday -- but not out -- for New York's game against Cleveland with an injured right index finger that kept him on the sideline last week. Cotchery, who reportedly broke the finger in practice last Monday, hasn't been seen in the locker room or on the practice field during media availability since. The Jets' injury report listed Cotchery as limited in practice Friday after he didn't participate the previous two days.

Free safety Gibril Wilson will miss his second straight game and Pro Bowl linebacker Antonio Pierce will be a game-time decision for the New York Giants on Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. Rookie Michael Johnson will replace Wilson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury. Pierce sprained an ankle against Minnesota two weeks ago. He played last week against Chicago but the injury limited him in practice this week. Chase Blackburn would start if Pierce cannot play.

Despite quarterback Jeff Garcia's contention that he is sufficiently recovered from a back injury to return to the lineup, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden remains uncertain about who will start when his team meets the Houston Texans on Sunday in a game that could secure the NFC South title for the Buccaneers. Garcia practiced on a limited basis most of the week, then skipped the Friday walk-through session, muddying the quarterback picture a bit. The expectation of most players is that Garcia, who missed last week's victory at New Orleans, will start. But Gruden has adopted an uncharacteristically cautious stance on his quarterback, and insisted he won't make a decision between Garcia and Luke McCown until Sunday morning.w Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, Houston Texans, Ahman Green, Washington Redskins, Jason Campbell, Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets, New York Giants, Gibril Wilson, Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay

Brian Billick Still Loves Rodney Harrison

According to ESPN:

Brian Billick isn't a kiss-and-tell guy, so fans who watched the exchange between the Baltimore Ravens' coach and Rodney Harrison Monday night may never know exactly what the Patriots veteran strong safety said to provoke one of the funniest moments of the season.

Harrison

Billick

But league officials apparently have some idea.

Lost amid the $70,000 in fines levied against four Ravens players for their actions and comments during and after the Monday night loss to the Patriots -- including a fine of $25,000 for linebacker Bart Scott, who drew two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, and heaved an official's penalty flag into the stands -- was a fine of $5,000 levied against Harrison.

The 14-year veteran was cited by the NFL for taunting the Ravens following a fourth-quarter interception by Patriots free safety James Sanders on a deep pass by Kyle Boller that quashed a Baltimore scoring drive.

On Sanders' return to near-midfield, Harrison was blocking. When the play ended, he was near the Ravens sideline. Television cameras did not show Harrison saying anything, but they did catch the reaction from Billick, who sarcastically blew three kisses in the direction of the safety.

The replay of Billick was shown repeatedly in the days following the game.

"He said a few things about me, Kyle [Boller], and my team and I just want him to know first, we love you Rodney, and secondly you can kiss my back side," Billick said. "But, I don't take offense to what Rodney did and I hope he doesn't misinterpret my gestures, because he's not that good-looking a guy."

One of the most heavily sanctioned players in recent league history, Harrison has been fined more than a quarter-million dollars in his career. He also forfeited $470,588 of his $2 million base salary this season when he was suspended for the first four games of the year for a violation of the league's steroid and related-substances policy.

Shaquille O' Neal Adds More Fire To The Heat

In a season where the Miami Heat are on the complete opposite side of the winning spectrum with a 4-14 record, the last thing they need is for one of their star players to start mouthing off.

Well, now the Heat have to deal with the wrath of Shaq

Shaquille O'Neal once again is less than pleased with his role in the Miami Heat's offense and, once again, he let everyone know it.

After the Heat's 14th loss in 18 games to start the season, a 112-106 loss to Portland on Thursday night, O'Neal said his teammates need to feed him the ball more.

Several weeks ago, teammate Dwyane Wade called O'Neal out for not being motivated enough to turn his game around and shake Miami out of a lousy 1-8 start.

But, O'Neal said Thursday, his game is fine and the Heat would be better if they looked for him more often. "If I'm taking 20 shots a game, and I'm only making two, then you can say my production is going down," O'Neal said, "but I'm still shooting 60 or 65 percent from the field. So they've got to find better ways to get me the ball. It should be simple."

Maybe I just don't understand this quote, but if Shaq says he is taking 20 shots a game and he is only making 2....wouldn't that be a shooting percentage of 10%? Why would you want a player who says he is going to only make 10% of his shots?! Think before you talk Shaq. Then again, I'm just breaking his quote down using logic.

Shaq and Dwayne Wade are doing a decent job....its everybody around the Heat who are playing poorly and I don't think old fossil Shaq can be the difference maker for this team. Last year they started off poorly and made the playoffs, but with the East becoming better and better, their season can't be saved this year.

Through Thursday, O'Neal is shooting 59 percent from the floor while averaging 15 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Barry Bonds' Legacy And Future Is At Stake

Today begins what could possibly be one of the biggest sports related trials in history. It's hard to believe that while Bonds was on the field hitting homer after homer, the government was compiling document after document until they had enough of a reason to nail this guy. Its as if Bonds showed the government up and they weren't going to stand for it. They were absolutely determined to nail this guy and this shows one can not hide from the government; they will find you. Here is an article from ESPN answering any remaining questions one may have before Bonds's future is decided later.

When Barry Bonds walks into the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco on Friday, it will be only the beginning of an unpredictable legal odyssey. A few days after the fourth anniversary of his BALCO grand jury testimony, Bonds will surrender to U.S. marshals, go through the bureaucratic rigmarole of being arrested and later appear in court to enter a plea on four counts of perjury and one of obstructing justice.

Outside the courtroom and all over the United States, however, debate and speculation about his fate will rage as it has since he was pulled into the biggest steroid scandal in sports history. There are those who decry the government "witch hunt" and those who say Bonds is getting what he deserves, but there remain many unknowns about the facts of the case. Those will emerge in the coming weeks and months, but as the United States versus Barry Lamar Bonds begins, here are answers to some of the questions that have been batted about during the past few weeks. What is important to remember is that, like Bonds himself, we don't know what we don't know about the government's case.

Barry Bonds wasn't the only athlete to use steroids, so why are the feds going after only him?

The short answer is: They aren't. There are two false premises to that question: First, they aren't going after him for using steroids, they are going after him for allegedly lying about it before a federal grand jury. Bonds was charged with four counts of perjury and one of obstructing justice, not drug use. As with Martha Stewart and other high-profile defendants, the government seems determined to make an example of Bonds.

When Bonds testified before the BALCO grand jury in December 2003, he was given immunity from prosecution, meaning he could have spilled his guts about steroid use the way Jason Giambi did and not faced any punishment. The feds wanted Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte and Bonds' longtime friend and trainer Greg Anderson, not Bonds.

But Bonds testified he never knowingly took steroids or injected them. He said he thought "the cream" and "the clear" were benign substances, not two steroids designed to avoid detection. The government believed he was lying and soon began collecting evidence to prove its case.

Second, Bonds isn't their only target. Fallen track legend Marion Jones pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal investigators after she was targeted for prosecution. Her former coach Trevor Graham, the original BALCO whistle-blower, is awaiting trial on charges of obstructing a federal investigation, and former cyclist Tammy Thomas is awaiting trial on perjury charges.

Why did it take so long for the government to charge Bonds?

There has been considerable discussion about this, but really, the answer appears far less sinister than some would like to believe. Some have suggested the government must have found last-minute witnesses who convinced the U.S. attorney to seek charges or that the case involving former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski has played a role. But in interviews with sources familiar with the government's case, those don't appear to be issues at all.

First and foremost, the feds work slowly. The only clock was the statute of limitations, which is five years in a federal perjury case. The government had until December 2008 to bring charges.

Second, the athletes were not initially targets of the BALCO probe, which started in the summer of 2002 after local agencies were tipped off about the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to elite athletes, according to court records. Prosecutors first went after the dealers, ultimately indicting four men in 2004, and plea deals were not struck until 2005. Next, the focus shifted to any witnesses (athletes, coaches, trainers) the government believed had lied and essentially obstructed justice in the case. Bonds was on that list, but as mentioned above, he was not the only one.

Third, the case dragged for internal reasons. Among those, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, Kevin Ryan, was forced from office in February, creating uncertainty in the office. At the same time, then-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez came under fire and ultimately left his post, presenting an additional leadership vacuum.

Fourth, the feds had other cases to pursue. BALCO wasn't the only investigation based in the busy Northern District of California.

And while all of this was going on, the government was willing to take whatever time it needed to coax Anderson to testify about his client. Anderson refused, and he ultimately languished in jail for 413 days on contempt charges.

"There was nothing unusual about the timing," said Mark Corallo, a former Justice Department official with knowledge of the BALCO case.

How significant is it that the government says it has positive tests demonstrating Bonds used steroids?

It's hard to say, but it's possible it isn't significant at all. Certainly the government will need to prove Bonds actually used steroids to make its case, but there appears to be ample evidence of that in the form of documents, testimony, statements to federal investigators and even an audio recording in which Anderson discusses providing Bonds with a steroid designed to evade detection.

So, the focus on the importance of the positive tests and whether they could be problematic because of "chain-of-custody" issues seems to be a red herring. The case will not be about proving Bonds used, but rather about trying to prove he knew what he was using and that he injected some of the drugs, which he explicitly denied doing. If it turns out the government can prove Bonds was aware of the test results, that could be compelling evidence he knew what he was doing.

Is this case definitely going to trial?

There has been rampant speculation that because Bonds' criminal attorney Michael Rains has blasted the government repeatedly, there is no way Bonds will agree to a plea bargain. As Bonds looks to expand his legal team to include a veteran of the federal criminal justice system, however, he still hasn't seen the evidence against him. Whatever the government has probably will be turned over within the coming week as part of the discovery process. When that happens, Team Bonds might decide the evidence is overwhelming and he would be better off settling. Or Bonds and his team could decide the government's case is flimsy and worth fighting in court.

Whatever the case, however, Bonds is looking at a maximum of 30 months, not 30 years. Sentencing guidelines allow for 30 years, but that would apply to Bonds only if he had a long criminal history, which he does not.

Who are the witnesses?

First of all, sticking to the "we don't know what we don't know" guidelines, there might be witnesses in this case who have not been identified publicly, and sources close to the case have suggested that there are. But among the known witnesses in the case will be Arthur Ting, Bonds' personal physician; Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former girlfriend; and Steve Hoskins, a former friend and business partner of Bonds' who claims to have first-hand knowledge of Bonds' steroid use.

Former BALCO vice president James Valente, who pleaded guilty to his part in the steroid distribution scandal, also is expected to be called. In addition, the government is expected to call several players to testify, including former BALCO clients Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and Benito Santiago. At minimum, each player could be asked about his dealings with the lab and what he was told about the substances he took.

Battle of Backup Quarterbacks In The Bears-Redskins Game

This game was pretty boring, but the amount of injuries that added up were remarkable. Men were falling like soldiers on the battlefield. The starting QB from both teams were injured and never returned.

Only days removed from burying a teammate, and without the benefit of a full practice, the Washington Redskins managed to win thanks to a backup quarterback who last completed a pass in 2004.

Todd Collins came on for the injured Jason Campbell and threw for two touchdowns Thursday night, leading Washington to a 24-16 victory over the fading Chicago Bears that ended the Redskins' four-game losing streak.

In a rough-and-tumble game befitting two teams that entered on the very fringe of the playoff chase in the so-so NFC, both lost their starting quarterbacks in the first half. Campbell left for good with a dislocated left kneecap a few plays after hurting his throwing elbow, while Rex Grossman never returned from a left knee injury on Chicago's second possession.

Collins wound up 15-for-20 for 224 yards and his first two scores since 2002, when he played for Kansas City.

Griese was 21-for-45 for 295 yards and one TD, but he also raised his season interception total to 12 in seven appearances for the reigning NFC champion Bears (5-8).

The list of injuries doesn't just end with the two starting QBs. This list also includes running back Clinton Portis (stomach illness), right guard Randy Thomas (elbow) and cornerback Fred Smoot (cramps) of Washington, and defensive tackle Antonio Garay (ankle) of Chicago.

Also, Redskins tight end Chris Cooley left two plays before Campbell did, and limped off to the locker room at the same time his QB was driven there on a cart. Cooley, though, was able to return at the start of the second half, and Portis made it back on the field, too.

We Have Some Hot Heads In The NFL This Week

First, the issue of Terence Newman of the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman has been put on notice by the NFL after indicating his desire for revenge on Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna.

Posted on Newman's locker Thursday was a letter he received from the NFL after making comments about Kitna during a satellite radio interview. Newman refused comment to reporters when he walked through the locker room.

"Be advised that your comments will now compel us to carefully monitor your activities in this weekend's Cowboys-Lions game," read part of the letter signed by Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president for football operations. "As you know, flagrant fouls may subject a player not only to fines, but to suspension as well. So conduct yourself accordingly."

Kitna threw four touchdown passes in the regular-season finale in Dallas last year to end a 3-13 season for Detroit. In an interview the following week with a radio station in Seattle, where the Cowboys had to go for the playoffs, Kitna called out the Dallas defense, specifically linebacker Bradie James.

The Cowboys (11-1), who have already clinched another playoff spot this season, play at Detroit on Sunday. Kitna's bulletin-board remarks from January have been widely discussed.

While Newman hasn't spoken to local media this week, he issued what amounted to a warning for Kitna during an interview Tuesday on Sirius NFL Radio.

"Basically what it boils down to is you've got to watch what you say. Your mouth can't write checks that your [expletive] can't cash. That's what it comes down to," Newman said. "Everybody's going to see those quotes. He better just hope I don't blitz off the edge, because I've got 15, 25, 30 [thousand dollars], however much it would be for a fine. I've got that much for one fine. Revenge will be sweet definitely."

In the NFL letter to Newman, Anderson wrote those comments were 'thoughtless and irresponsible" and "contrary to all the NFL stands for."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he didn't know about the letter until Newman told him about it during practice Thursday.

So let me get this straight. First, the NFL cracks down on touchdown celebrations....and now trash talking is against the rules to? Not only that, players who trash talk will be scrutinized to the point where if they tackle someone they will be fined because its unclear whether the play who trash talked intended to hurt another player? This is all just trash talk among players and nothing more. I doubt Newman wants to kill Kitna, just get inside his head a little.

The trash talking continues.....

The New England Patriots have their own guarantee: They'd never guarantee a victory like Pittsburgh's Anthony Smith did.

Some of them can't even guarantee they'd recognize him.

"I know Aaron Smith," Patriots defensive end Ty Warren said Thursday. "I don't know Anthony Smith."

Aaron Smith is in his ninth season with the Steelers, a standout defensive end who made the 2005 Pro Bowl and will be pressuring Tom Brady on Sunday when the NFL's best team meets the league's top-rated defense.

Anthony Smith is a free safety in his second pro season and starting only because Ryan Clark's season ended in late October with an inflamed spleen that was removed last month.

He's also the guy who may be too sure of himself.

"We're going to win," he said Wednesday. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."

"I didn't know who he was until we started preparing for them," Brady said.

Again, more pointless trash talking among that Steelers player to hype the game up and give the media something to turn their heads to. The funny thing is that even if the Steelers do win this game, I doubt Smith's statement would have had any effect on the performance of the Steelers. Also, the Patriots and that coach of theirs do thrive on statements made against them like this. Not to mention this statement will make Smith look that much more silly when they lose. Unlike Kitna, some unknown player can't get into Tom Brady's head.........but perhaps some static or a little crowd noise can.

Jose Guillen And Jay Gibbons Are Next On MLB's Drug Policy List

Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Thursday for the first 15 days of next season for violating baseball's drug policy, an indication how the sport might treat any players named in the Mitchell steroids investigation. The pair were linked in media reports to the purchase of human growth hormone. So were Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis, but Major League Baseball decided there was "insufficient evidence" to determine they committed a doping violation.

Jose Guillen will not let this go without a fight. He told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas that his lawyers will appeal the sanction, but he will not comment further on the case. Guillen instructed the players' association to file a grievance, which would be decided by an arbitrator.

Jay Gibbons, on the other hand, will not challenge his penalty. He accepted responsibility and apologized. "I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bare sole responsibility for my decisions," the Baltimore outfielder said. "Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries."

As more and more steroid users are revealed, one wouldn't be surprised at this point to learn that these players are household names loved by many. One has to laugh at this point at the desperate search for these users. The MLB steroid search has become so extremely ridiculous that this scenario can be ranked right up there with the witch hunts, Spanish Inquisition, and the Communist scare that took place in history. Though I don't condone what Jay Gibbons did, I must say he seemed truly sorry and that was the most sincerest apology I have heard from a player who was caught taking steroids. Gibbons seems like a mild-mannered guy who was caught in a mistake. However, Jay Gibbon's healthy reason has to be the most comical reason I have heard from a player who was caught taking steroids. Isn't his excuse an oxymoron? If steroids are supposed to destroy the body in the long run, then wouldn't it seem pointless for one to take steroids to help him recover his body from injury?

Andruw Jones Signs A 2-Year Deal With The Dodgers

The Gold Glove center fielder Andruw Jones and the Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a $36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues. He will be playing under Joe Torre, who recently became the Dodgers manager.

Jones' $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston's Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million).

Adding Jones was the first major move for Los Angeles since Torre replaced Grady Little as manager on Nov. 1. Jones will get a chance to work with Don Mattingly, who followed Torre to the Dodgers and became hitting coach.

Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. But if he rebounds, he could give the Dodgers a desperately needed boost in the middle of the lineup. They desperately need power hitting - someone to hit the long ball and drive in multiple runs - and they think Jones can rebound and be the man to do it.

Andruw Jones is still one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, and up until 2007 -- when he allegedly played with a hyper-extended elbow -- was good for an OBP near .350 and 30-40 homers every year. He's also about to turn 31, so he's still in or close to his prime as a hitter. Jones is a .263 career hitter with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs.

The New York Mets' Interest in Johan Santana Is Resurfacing

With the winter meetings nearly over, the Minnesota Twins' ace remained on the market Wednesday night and the Mets hoped to get seriously involved in trade talks. The Mets, who insist they won't deal speedy shortstop Jose Reyes, were not considered major contenders -- but the Yankees said Tuesday they had stopped pursuing Santana, and Minnesota's negotiations with Boston seemed to have stalled.

The players the Mets are willing to trade for Santana remind me of the players the Tigers gave the Marlins in their trade. That is, a bunch of mostly unknown potential players. New York could offer a package that includes some combination of young pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey along with outfield prospects Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez.

At this point, the Twins are better off keeping Santana. After all, did they ever consider they need his pitching expertise as well? The Twins maintain they don't necessarily have to trade Santana. New general manager Bill Smith has said his first choice is to sign the pitcher to a contract extension, though it would probably be difficult for Minnesota to meet Santana's asking price.

Even if the Mets don't get Santana, they are still going after pitching. The Mets also are interested in Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard as well as Oakland's Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, who could come cheaper than Santana.

Great Game... I Told You So

Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I did say earlier today that everyone should watch the Lakers visit the Denver Nuggets. If you took my advice and watched it you were treated to one heck of a ball game.

Allen Iverson put on a display of basketball brilliance. He had 51 points and single handily kept his team in the game. Kobe showed once again, why he is the best player in the game. Watching the game I knew Kobe was going to get the ball with under a minute left, and every time the Lakers came down court he got the ball and he scored. The best players always have that quality. In the middle of the game I knew Iverson was going to shoot, but nobody could stop him. It was the same way with Kobe with a minute to go in the game.

At the end of the game it looked like Iverson just ran out of gas. I would argue there is no finer conditioned athelete in the world than Iverson, but even he gets tired at some point. He carried his team through the first 3 and a half quarters. On the other hand there was Kobe who was able to carry his team in the closing minutes and lead his team to victory.

I said earlier today that the spread had the Nuggets as 9 point favorites. I told you to play this game and pick the Lakers. If you listened you were correct. The Lakers came out victorious tonight. It was a great game that was tightly contested throughout. In the 4th I looked up and they were either tied or only separated by a couple of points. What a basketball game and what individual performances by Iverson and Kobe. It is great to see basketball played at this level.

Scott Niedermayer Returns To Help The Anaheim Ducks

Scott Niedermayer has made his official decision. The veteran defenseman and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner announced Wednesday he'll return to the Ducks after months of contemplating retirement and sitting out the first 28 games of the season.

Ducks general manager Brian Burke announced Niedermayer's decision at a news conference a half-hour before Wednesday night's game against the Buffalo Sabres.

The defending Stanley Cup champions are hoping Teemu Selanne will soon make the same decision as Niedermayer. Burke and the rest of the team's management said they were not disturbed that Niedermayer and Selanne took the time off. "He deserves that respect," Burke said of Niedermayer. "He's going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

The GM estimated Niedermayer would be ready play his first game in seven to 10 days.

Without Niedermayer and Selanne, the Ducks have been struggling. They got off to a slow start and were third in the Pacific Division with a 12-12-4 record heading into the game against Buffalo.

Niedermayer is certainly an established veteran to have on your squad. Niedermayer hoisted the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in June and won his first Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He previously won three Stanley Cup rings with the New Jersey Devils before coming to the Ducks in 2005, when he joined brother Rob in Anaheim.

Football Predictions For Week 14 Of The NFL

I want everyone to be aware of a few things going into this week: Though the New England Patriots will most likely go undefeated for the regular season after that come from behind win last week, there is still tons of drama for the Wild Card teams and anything can happen in the playoffs.

Thursday

Chicago At Washington - This is a game of literally two evenly matched teams at 5-7 who are both coming off tough losses. Though this is a coin toss game of 2 teams pursuing the Wild Card, Portis and Betts will run over the Bears' defense and the Redskins will get the win.

Sunday

Miami At Buffalo - After last week's loss to the Jets, I am never picking Miami until they give me a reason to.

St. Louis At Cincinnati - This is theoretically supposed to be a match of two extremely high powered offenses, but I haven't seen much offense from either team. St. Louis will win, however, because at least they have a somewhat consistent defense when compared to the Bengals. Also, the decision to start Bulger is leaning more and more towards a yes.

Dallas At Detroit - The Cowboys are the Lions' next rough game in what could be the hardest schedule in the NFL. This should theoretically be another high scoring game and I can see that happening with Dallas coming out on top.

Oakland At Green Bay - The Packers loss last week against the Cowboys was only a warm-up for the playoffs and a minor set back. They will trounce the Raiders even though Favre is still questionable to start.

San Diego At Tennessee - Interesting how these two teams both have identical records (7-5), but the Chargers own their division while the Titans are staying alive for a Wild Card. I just think the Chargers have finally come alive and LT is returning to meet the high expectations the media had for him. Therefore, Chargers win.

New York Giants At Philadelphia - This is a great division rivalry game with serious playoff implications. I would actually label this a coin toss game because Eli is streaky as usual which could cost the Giants the game, but the Eagles have also been streaky. However, the Eagles need this win badly and their defense will bring the pressure on Eli, forcing him to make stupid mistakes and lose the game. Also, McNabb thinks he's ready to play, not that he's much of a difference at this point from Feeley.

Carolina At Jacksonville - The Panthers stopped a five-game losing skid in Week 13 against the 49ers while the Jaguars lost a tough one at Indianapolis. I just can not find any reasons why the Panthers could win this game.

Tampa Bay At Houston - I can see the Texans upsetting the Bucs, but because Matt Schaub is still questionable, I'm going to have to take the Bucs in this one.

Minnesota At San Francisco - I think the question with the Vikings at this point is not whether they will win, but how many yards will Adrian Peterson have against the 49ers' horrible defense.

Arizona At Seattle - This is a huge game in the NFC West divisional race as we start the final quarter of the regular season. The Seahawks will be looking to get some revenge for their Week 2 loss in Arizona. Can the Cardinals match up with their injured secondary against the Seahawks' spread receiver packages? The Seahawks and Shaun Alexander just look so much more comfortable that I have to take them.

Kansas City At Denver - These teams have been doing so bad lately even the Bills have a better record than both of them. This is a divisional matchup between two rivals that know each other very well and don't like each other. The Broncos can't afford to lose another game if they have any ideas about making the playoffs. Both teams want to stop losing streaks; Denver has lost two straight, while the Chiefs have lost their last five. I don't understand why analysts scrutinize young quarterbacks like Rivers, Young, and Eli Manning so much, but I never hear them say bad things about Cutler. He's as streaky as Eli. I'm picking the Chiefs for a minor upset.

Cleveland At New York Jets - This may be closer than one would expect. Remember, the Browns don't have a great defense and the Jets can put points on the board. However, they would need to score a lot and that isn't going to happen. Browns will roll on them.

Pittsburgh At New England - I REALLY want to say Steelers, but the NFL and their referees prohibit me from doing so.

Indianapolis At Baltimore - How lovely of the NFL to put the Colts back on a night game. I thought it would be the Patriots every Sunday or Monday night. Unfortunately, I have bad news for the Colts. Since the Patriots are better than the Colts this year, and the Ravens played their hearts out to beat the Patriots but lost for whatever reason (fair or unfair).....Wouldn't you think they are going to play just as hard against the Colts to avenge that lost since they are extremely angry and fired up? If the Colts were playing any other team except the Patriots, I would pick them, but because they happen to be playing the Ravens at this particular time, I'm going to go against my favorite team and pick the Ravens (especially their defense) to win in the upset of the week. Also, the Ravens are at home...that's always a boost.

Monday

New Orleans At Atlanta - Atlanta doesn't give me any reason why I should pick them. I think they are ranked 29th in the power rankings. Just go with the Saints.

Who Should Win The College Heisman Trophy?

The five finalists who will be invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation will be announced on SportsCenter tonight at 6 ET, but here is a list of obvious choices now.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who could become the first underclassman to win the award emblematic of college football's best player, is expected to be among the five finalists. So is Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, who was the runner-up to Heisman winner Troy Smith of Ohio State in 2006.

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan has also been invited to the trophy presentation, said his coach, June Jones, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

According to Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, junior quarterback Chase Daniel is a finalist for Saturday's announcement. The Kansas City Star reported that Pinkel revealed the news in a conference call with the Mizzou Tiger Club of St. Louis.

Other possible candidates include quarterbacks Pat White of West Virginia, Dennis Dixon of Oregon, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, and running back Kevin Smith of Central Florida, who leads the nation in rushing and needs 181 yards to break Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season rushing record.

The links to the players' stats are all there so you can check them out yourself, but let me point out the obvious favorite, Tim Tebow. He deserves this award in my opinion. Tebow became the first player in NCAA history (and that's a long history) to run for at least 20 touchdowns (29) and pass for at least 20 touchdowns (22) in the same season. He eclipsed the school's single-season record for total offense with 3,970 yards, and he broke the Southeastern Conference's single-season record for rushing touchdowns.

My runner up choice would be Colt Brennan because he led Hawaii to an undefeated regular season and a BCS bowl bid and holds the single-season and career NCAA records for most touchdown passes. AND I still believe going undefeated (despite the strength of schedule) earns you the right to play in the big BCS Bowl. What more can you do?

Tonight: Lakers vs Nuggets on ESPN

I hope everyone gets a chance to see this game tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. How often is it that we get to see 3 of the greatest athletes compete on the same floor? We only get to see it 3-4 times a year now that Allen Iverson is on the Nuggets.

Allen Iverson is and has been one of the 5 best players in the league for a long time now. Here is a guy who barely stands 6 feet tall and carried his team, on his back, to the NBA Finals one year. Only to lose to to a guy who has been the best player in the league, unquestionably, for 4 years now; Kobe Bryant.

It's great when these two face off but now we get to up and coming superstar Carmelo Anthony. I shouldn't say 'Melo is up and coming, because he has arrived. He is already one of the top players in the NBA. He has a great jump shot and an incredibly fast first-step. If he can get his defense to the level that Iverson and Kobe play, he will be right up there with the elite in the league.

The last thing I want to point out about this game is the play of young center Andrew Bynum. Do not sleep on this young man. He is playing at a very high level, and still isn't old enough to drink alcohol. Here is a guy who plays the center the position the way it should be played. Back towards the basket, backing people down, blocking shots on defense, and catching alley-oop passes from his point guard.

So I encourage everyone tonight to sit in front of a TV, turn on ESPN, and enjoy a very exciting basketball game that invovles 2 first ballot Hall-of-Famers, 1 guy who is well on his way to being a Hall of Famer, and 1 guy who plays the center the position it should be played.

The line for this game is the Nuggets favored by 9 at home. Take the Lakers with this. The Nuggets may come out on top, but I don't see Kobe getting beat by 9 on national TV.

Roy Jones Jr. Highlights

Have you ever gone to ESPN.com to find out the latest on sports? Of course you have. That is exactly what I did today. I went there to see if Johan Santana had been traded. But instead I got this headline thrown in my face. Is "Pretty Boy" Flloyd Mayweather Jr. the greatest fighter pound for pound of all-time? As you may imagine I had to pull a "What The Hell Are They Talking About" moment. You know, the kind that makes you shake your head at the stupidity that some people have. This inspired me to think of who I thought is the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time. This person would need to have great hands, power, and speed. Naturally Ali comes to mind.

But I am a big hater of Muhammad Ali. I think most of his fights were fixed. Take the last bout between him and Joe Frazier. Ali could not even stand up to get out of his corner, but the Frazier camp threw in the towel, even though Joe Frazier said he wanted to go out for some more. But that should be trivial.

The best fighter in my mind is: Roy Jones Jr. Remember him in his prime? Nobody even came close to this man. The speed, the power, the natural talent to box. It was a thing of beauty. So here is a video of who I feel is the best pound-for-pound greatest fighter of all-time.

Lebron James Is A Real Difference Maker

Growing up during my generation of basketball, I had the luxury of watching the great Michael Jordan lead his team to six championships. Jordan not only was amazing to watch, but changed the face of basketball and attracted many new fans. Now, I understand Lebron James will never be Jordan and I also understand people are tired of hearing him be compared to Jordan or being called the next Jordan. Lebron James is who his name says he is. However, this man can provide for the younger generation of kids, who missed out on the MJ era and never witnessed him first-hand, an athlete to look up in the same style as Jordan.

Having said that, lets look at the Cavaliers at the moment. The Cleveland Cavilers have lost their last 4 games in a row. One can come up with as many excuses as he can, but the sole reason for their losing streak is the difference maker, Lebron James, has not been playing.

James missed his third straight game because of a sprained left index finger. He was hurt Wednesday in a loss to Detroit, when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as James began to shoot.

Their most recent loss was to the New Jersey Nets, in which Richard Jefferson scored a season high 36 points in their 100-79 blowout.

Unfortunatly, Brown wouldn't comment before the game on whether James' injury is taking longer to heal than first anticipated and I haven't heard any updates. However, one thing is clear, without this difference maker on the team the Cavs look lost at the moment.

The Cavaliers have lost four straight and are 0-3 without their superstar forward, falling to 9-10.

My Thoughts On The Worst Trade In Baseball

The title is a little vague, but my comments are following up on David's article below me. I couldn't believe this trade when I heard it. The Marlins are taking a HUGE risk in giving away what is ultimately their top players. What are they thinking? Actually, I hope they are thinking and have some kind of reasoning behind this? As it is, the Marlins have trouble bringing in attendance and getting fans to come to their games. By giving away their best players for (at the moment) unknown players, they are only going to lose attendance. In no way am I saying that these players can't flourish into all-stars, but the Marlins just gave away possibly their star attractions! Meanwhile, Merry Christmas to the Tigers! Yes, Willis has seen better days, but still, he is such a fired up, charismatic player he should boost the whole ball club and Cabrera is another power threat to add to that lineup of speed and power.

Blockbuster Deal Sends Willis/Cabrera to the Tigers

Yes I wrote that headline correct. In what can only be classified as a mega-deal; the Florida Marlins are sending Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers. In return the Tigers are going to send Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz, Dallas Trahern, and Burke Badenhop.

Now like most of you reading this, I have no idea who any of those players are. I guess this can only be classified as a great day for the Detroit Tigers. So much has been made about Johan Santana and the teams involved that this really surprised me.

Now I am not convinced that Dontrelle Willis is that great of a pitcher. Cabrera is an amazing hitter, but lacks on defense. The Tigers are going to be a great offensive team and they also have a deep pitching staff. They are going to be a very good team this year and they should be tough to deal with. Willis helps their team on paper, but as stated above I don't think he is that good of a pitcher. I think he is an average pitcher who should get knocked around by the talented teams in the AL.

Whatever the case may be, the Tigers have put themselves in the discussion with the elite teams in the AL. It is going to be hard to get around their lineup now with the addition of Cabrera.

The Refs Beat The Baltimore Ravens In A Loss To The New England Patriots

Perhaps if the Patriots beat the refs in the game against the Colts, the refs certainly beat the Ravens in giving the Patriots opportunity after opportunity until they finally scored. Before I get to that, lets talk about other aspects of this game.

First of all, this was the most exciting game of the year and whoever was watching this game can not deny that they were in awe at the edge of their couch gripping their beer can. It felt like a Super Bowl game.

The Patriots have blown away teams this year....but wait, they blew away bad teams. Notice when the Patriots have to play a good team or a team with something unique about them they struggle tremendously. They struggled against the Colts (good team), they struggled against the Eagles (Feeley knew how to pick apart that defense because of his history with the Patriots), and they struggled against the Ravens, who played smash mouth, in your face, hard-hitting football that the Patriots have not seen all year. In other words, the Patriots can certainly be beaten when they actually play good teams, but their terribly easy schedule permits that from happening.

I wish it was extremly windy every single time the Patriots play. Wind is Brady's weakness. He can not throw in the wind, as demonstrated during this game and that reduces the long ball threat to Moss. Since they don't have a solid running game, they become one dimensional and struggle when wind is present. Moss and Welker's numbers dropped tremendously this game because of Brady's lack of ability to throw long.

The Ravens defense stepped up tremendously. When the Patriots receivers actually caught the ball, they were hit extremly hard. Brady was sacked more times this game than ever. On offense, Willis McGahee is a hero. He had one of his best games ever and it came at the right time. So with all this said....why did the Ravens lose?

On the final drive, the Patriots faced numerous 4th down attempts. When they failed to complete the 4th down and they were going to turn the ball over, the refs threw a flag. In fact, the refs threw so many flags....they gave the Patriots 100 free yards! 100 FREE YARDS! THAT'S AN ENTIRE FIELD'S WORTH OF PENALTY YARDS! They basically kept throwing flags until Brady got that final touchdown to put them ahead. The drive on the television screen should have read 6th and 10. Its as if the refs saw the Patriots weren't going to score on their own....so they kept giving them free yards to help them.

This makes me so angry because I'm one of many people who are tired of hearing how good this cocky, arrogant Patriots team is. I admit, they are the best in the league, but they should have lost by now. They get calls their way or get very lucky.

AND if you think I'm frustrated, think how the Ravens feel. The did every possible thing they could on offense and defense against this amazing team, but the refs who have more power than them, kept throwing flags and stopped them from winning. The Ravens started fighting with the refs and one member of the Ravens even picked up that stupid yellow flag and threw it away as if to say what the hell? Enough already! How many first downs are you going to give this team!?
(I thought that was hysterical though. He picked up the ref's flag and threw it away. Can you blame the guy? The flag was on the field more times in the last minute of the game than it was in the ref's pocket)

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs on officiating: "Everybody is kind of cheering for them to go undefeated and break all the records. They called them the greatest offense on earth. So who knows? ... They made one more play than us and they got a little help. It's kind of the feeling of the 2001 tuck rule. It kind of feels like the tuck rule. That is the NFL for you, man. When they got a guy like that that is selling a lot of tickets, you want to keep him selling tickets."

Ravens receiver Derrick Mason on officiating: "I'm going to take it back to last game. San Diego. Quinn Sypniewski runs down the field, runs into one of their DBs, we catch the ball and they call offensive pass interference. OK. Great. This game, same thing happens. Randy Moss runs right into Samari Rolle. They call defensive pass interference. I don't understand that. One game it's called one way, the next game it's called another way. At the end, you have a phantom call. That's why it's hard to play and win a game when you are playing against more than just the best team in the NFL. It's kind of like that old Bulls team when they were running the tables. You were playing against Jordan, Pippen and the bunch and it was hard to beat them because everyone was on their side. That's the way it is now. You've got Brady and the bunch. It's hard to beat them when you're playing against them and extra people."

Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister on whether the NFL wants the Patriots to win: "They get a lot of calls. I'll say that. We've been watching film on them all week and I mean, they do get a lot of calls. As far as the NFL wanting them to win, you can't totally not think about it in those terms."

Oh well, there's always next week...but will they ever really lose?

Sure, Tom Brady threw the game winning touchdown, but this victory had little to do with Tom Brady or the Patriots. Analysts have to stop praising the Patriots and analyzing ways for other teams to beat them because that is simply not going to happen this season. Rather, analysts should start looking at the economic and marketing side to the NFL........

I think the NFL wants the Patriots to keep games close, but to win in the end no matter what it takes. Since controversy started about the Patriots running up the score, they haven't run up the score since. Think about it. Think how much money and attention the NFL is getting every week the Patriots get closer and closer to going undefeated. Marketing, broadcasting, commercialism, and ratings are all going up as people watch every week to see if the Patriots win or lose. I can say that if the Patriots would have lost tonight, I wouldn't have watched any more Patriots games and I bet neither would a majority of people because the games for the rest of the season wouldn't matter. As a result, ratings and commercialism would drop back down. What the Patriots are doing is great publicity for the NFL as they keep the ratings tremendously high as more and more people watch every week to see if they will win or lose.

Well, this game demonstrates that they will not lose this season and the refs and the NFL will make sure of that, so keep betting on the Patriots. Actually, I'm not as angry as I was when I first started writing this article because at least I have a better understanding as to why the Patriots keep winning.

For further proof to show that the refs were bias, look at the recent issue with cornerback Samari Rolle. The NFL is looking into an accusation made by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle that an official called him a "boy" during Monday's night's 27-24 loss to New England.

"In a game of this magnitude, you don't make these kinds of calls," Rolle said. "Let the players decide the outcome of the game. You can crown them champions now. I'm not taking anything away from them. They are a great team. They're not asking the refs to help them, but it's just an empty feeling."

Whether the Patriots are asking the refs to help them or not, the fact is they are getting the free help. One last issue I'd like to bring up: How many times have you seen Randy Moss push off a defender and then make a catch? The referees never call these things.

More Injury News: This Time Lions WR Roy Williams and Ravens QB Steve McNair

Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams is likely to miss the rest of the regular season because of a sprained knee. Lions coach Rod Marinelli announced Monday that Williams has a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and that he will miss "several weeks." With this loss, the whole Lions season is down the drain and Kitna's 10 wins remain as just meaningless words.

Also, Ravens QB Steve McNair is also out for the rest of the season. He was placed on injured reserve Monday afternoon, ending the quarterback's injury-plagued season with the Baltimore Ravens. I don't think he will have a future with this franchise after this season is over. Kyle Boller, the Ravens' first-round choice in the 2003 draft, will make his third straight start when Baltimore faces New England on "Monday Night Football", and he will remain in that role the rest of the season.

Don Imus Is Back On The Airwaves! Hooray!

According to ESPN:

Don Imus returned to the airwaves Monday eight months after he was fired for a racist and sexist remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team, introducing a new cast that included two black comedians.

During the show, Imus again apologized to the Rutgers basketball players and called the ensuing furor a "life-changing experience."

I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me.

-- Don Imus

"I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me," he said. "And no one else will say anything else on my program that will make anyone think that I didn't deserve a second chance."

Imus' lineup of guests featured two presidential hopefuls, Democrat Chris Dodd and Republican John McCain. As he did several times in the days after the episode, Imus condemned his controversial remark last spring and said he had learned his lesson.

"I didn't see any point in going on some sort of 'Larry King' tour to offer a bunch of lame excuses for making an essentially reprehensible remark about innocent people who did not deserve to be made fun of," he said Monday during his debut on WABC-AM.

Now, I never once listened to Don Imus before, so why am I so happy he is back on the air? Because he should have never been taken off the air to begin with. He made comments that were blown way out of proportion....and I think a lot of that has to do with who he was aiming the comments at. I mean, c'mon. Comedians make rude jokes about today's culture (whether its in politics, music, gender, etc...), but do you see any of them taking so much offense that they have to get the comedian who said it out of business? The comedian (who I don't even think is funny by the way) Frank Caliendo, for example, poked fun at Bill Clinton in one of the skits on his show. With the power Bill Clinton has, he could easily have Frank canned....but does he do it? NO, because its comedy and fun. Which leads me back to Rutgers. Those girls blew a semi-humorous comment out of proportion. The only difference between them and Bill Clinton is they don't have power. They needed power and it made them feel strong and pleased that they acquired the power to get a long-standing radio host off the air. In today's society, because of the melting pot we live in, everybody is so quick to take offense to the things other people say as an excuse to gain money and feel powerful. Therefore, there is a very thin line between joking and harassment, as was shown in the Don Imus case.

Woah, when did this blog make the shift from sports to issues of censorship? I'll try not to let it happen again.

The New York Giants Take A Huge Hit

An already struggling team in the second half of the season (though one may not recognize that by their undeserving 8-4 record), the New York Giants may lose their leading running back for the rest of the season. The New York Giants leading rusher, Derrick Ward, broke his leg Sunday against the Chicago bears and will be out indefinably.

Ward fractured his left fibula, the thinner of the two bones extending from the knee to the ankle, in the fourth quarter of New York's 21-16 come-from-behind victory. He rushed 24 times for a career-high 154 yards. The fourth-year player leads the Giants with 602 yards despite missing the previous four games due to ankle and groin injuries.

On the bright side, the Giants still have Brandon Jacobs. He was the opening day starter However, he too is also injured. He has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, but the Giants think he could replace Ward on Sunday at Philadelphia. Brandon Jacobs, just on his size alone, is a very tough running back to take down. He reminds me of a young Jerome Bettis when he was in his prime. However, not only is Jacobs unusually big for a running back position, he is also pretty fast as well. The Giants need to hang onto this guy because he will be their future running back for years to come.

The Latest Players Elected To The Baseball Hall Of Fame

Bowie Kuhn
• MLB Commissioner, 1969-1984
• Highlights of tenure included introduction of night baseball in World Series, introduction of free agency, addition of 6 MLB teams

Walter O'Malley
• Owner of Dodgers from 1944-1979 (until his death)
• Team won 4 World Series titles during his ownership
• Moved Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles after 1957 season
• Instrumental in expansion of baseball to West Coast
• Owner at Dodgers at time of baseball integration (Jackie Robinson)

Dick Williams
• Won 4 pennants, 2 World Series titles (1972, '73) in 21 years as a manager
• 1,571 wins (18th all-time), .520 winning pct. as manager
• Took 3 different franchises (Red Sox, Athletics, Padres) to World Series

Billy Southworth
• Won 4 pennants, 2 World Series titles (1942, '44) in 13 years as a manager
• .597 winning percentage, won 100-plus games in 3 straight seasons (1942-1944)
• Hit .297 in 13-year MLB career (1913-1929)

Barney Dreyfuss
• Owner, Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-1932, won 2 World Series titles)
• Also owned Louisville Colonels, a team contracted after the 1899 season
• Helped arrange for the first World Series (1903)

In the Runner Up positions:
Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey each missed induction by a single vote.

Andy Pettitte Pulled A Roger Clemens

Andy Pettitte will not retire. Rather, he will pitch for the New York Yankees in 2008. Andy Pettitte pulled a Roger Clemens by being indecisive whether he wanted to retire or not and saying he wanted to be close to his family

Pettitte had declined a $16 million option last month, saying he needed more time, and catcher Jorge Posada said last week that Pettitte was leaning toward retirement. The pitcher had said late in the season that it had become increasingly difficult to be away from his family during the season.

Pettitte was 15-9 with a 4.05 ERA this year in his return to the Yankees following three seasons with his hometown Houston Astros. He went 11-3 after the All-Star break and was New York's most effective starter during the first-round playoff loss to Cleveland, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 2.

New York had said it could wait until next month for Pettitte to make a decision. Cashman said the $16 million option Pettitte declined was a standing offer.

All of the Yankees' major free agents have now decided to return, with Pettitte following Posada, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and closer Mariano Rivera.

New York's projected rotation now includes Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, with Ian Kennedy in reserve. Wait a minute.....Joba as a starter? Is Joba ready for a starting position? What happens to their amazing bullpen if Joba becomes a starter. See, this is why the Yankees need Johan Santana so badly. If he becomes their ace, Joba can become their closer again. Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said Sunday his preference was to make the deal for Santana, which would give New York a stronger ace.

My Interpretation of Week 13 of the NFL

I just want to say how unexciting this week was for me. Other than the Packers-Cowboys game and the Jaguars-Colts game, nothing else excited me. Oh well, onto the games:

Dallas 37 beat Green Bay 27 - I already said what I thought about this game in a previous post. In a nutshell, Dallas has separated themselves from the rest of the NFC and my theory of a quarterback not having a lot of experience is thrown out the window.

Tennessee 28 beat Houston 20 - Just when I was ready to give up on Vince Young and the Titans, Young rallies to lead his team to victory and keep their hopes alive for a Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, Houston's season is done, but they made a better effort than I expected and in their process of rebuilding should be even stronger next year.

Indianapolis 28 beat Jacksonville 25 - OK. I want to meet the bright analysts who actually ranked the Jaguars ahead of the Colts in the power rankings! That implies that Garrard is better than Manning. Well, this victory, though a slim one, should answer any questions to which team is better. The Colts pretty much clinched their division with this victory, but the Jags are still in it for the Wild Card.

San Diego 24 beat Kansas City 10 - This was a no brainer. LT and the Chargers finally decided to charge their battery towards the end of the season. They have that division won. Keep an eye on them in the playoffs.

St. Louis 28 beat Atlanta 16 - I figured this would be a coin toss win, but too much Rams offense in this one gave them a victory. Always nice to see Stephen Jackson do well.

New York Jets 40 beat Miami 13 - And I actually picked Miami to get their first win. What was I thinking. However, I haven't seen the Jets play this good the whole season. Who knew? If last week's 3-0 loss to the Steelers was Miami's best shot to get their first win, this week was also a very good opportunity. Now I'm convinced never to pick Miami for the rest of the season.

Minnesota 42 beat Detroit 10 - Did Adrian Peterson have some kind of knee injury? You would never have been able to tell based on his performance this game. He is truly amazing. The Vikings deserve a Wild Card spot and keep an eye on them in the playoffs. Jackson has also been playing decent recently.

Seattle 28 beat Philadelphia 24 - This was a close game, but Feeley's 3 interceptions (especially when they were in position to win) cost the Eagles the game. I'm torn now. Do I want McNabb's inconsistency back or stick with Feeley who was never great to begin with? The Eagles have quarterback issues. Meanwhile, Seattle continues to hold their lead in their division over Arizona.

Buffalo 17 beat Washington 16 - This game upset me. I can't believe after Sean Taylor's death the NFL allowed the Bills to squeak by the Redskins by a point at the very end of the game. I figured out of respect the Redskins would win. I guess Buffalo still wants a Wild Card. Fat chance that is going to happen.

Carolina 31 beat San Fransisco 14 - Another no brainer. The most notable thing here is that Testaverde led the Panthers to their first home win of the season.

Oakland 34 beat Denver 20 - This was probably a surprise to many. Denver just loss any chance of winning their division and will not be in the playoffs since I can remember. Behind McCown's arm, the Raiders ended their 5 game skid to the Broncos.

Arizona 27 beat Browns 21 - This didn't surprise me too much as well. Though the Browns are a powerhouse offense, they simply made too many mistakes in this game and the Cardinals are not a team you want to be making mistakes to because they've been hot as of late.

New York Giants 21 beat Chicago 16 - Don't let the Giants 8-4 record fool you. The Bears squandered their lead in this game and Eli performed pretty bad like he always does. The Giants are a team who will get smacked in the first round by whoever they play.

Tampa Bay 27 beat New Orleans 23 - The Buccaneers, probably because of the poor division they play in, aren't talked about often. However, with a deserving 8-4 record (unlike the Giants who don't deserve to be 8-4), they are a force to reckon with.

Pittsburgh 17 is beating (at halftime) Cincinnati 7 - After a good start to the Bengals offense, they are down by 10 at half. I expect the Steelers to continue to roll all over them.

For Monday

New England Vs Baltimore - I find it funny how Belichick singled out Reed on the Ravens defense and flattered him so much. What he is doing is trying to mentally psyche that defense out. He is trying to make them think they are superior so it looks that much better when the Patriots run up the score and embarrass them. I hate you, Belichick. Sad thing is, that's what is going to happen.

Number 1 Seed Missouri And Number 2 Seed West Virginia Both Lose

In an already crazy season of improbable twists and turns, now this: No. 2 West Virginia is done in by unranked Pittsburgh, and No. 1 Missouri is blown away by Oklahoma. Taken from ESPN:

Rich Rodriguez could barely get the words out. He paused. He shook his head. He looked down at the table in front of him, as if searching for a way to describe how West Virginia let its chance at a national title slip away.

Eventually the Mountaineers' coach came up with this.

"It was just a nightmare," he said. "The whole thing was a nightmare."

In a season defined by upsets, the second-ranked Mountaineers became the latest to be felled by the curse of No. 2, falling to their fierce rival Pittsburgh 13-9 Saturday night.

A win away from playing for the national championship, the Mountaineers (10-2, 5-2 Big East) were expected to roll over rival Pittsburgh (5-7, 3-4) in the 100th Brackyard Brawl on their way to New Orleans for the Bowl Championship Series title game.

No way. Not in this unpredictable season, when nothing has gone according to plan and upsets have become so frequent the word itself has almost lost its meaning.

Pitt, which had lost four of the last five to West Virginia and allowed 45 points to the Mountaineers in each of the last two games in the series, celebrated the biggest victory of coach Dave Wannstedt's three lackluster seasons.

Meanwhile, bad news dawned on another team....

The top-ranked Tigers' BCS dreams died Saturday night at the hands -- and feet -- of the Sooners in the Big 12 title game.

No. 9 Oklahoma, a regular at Big 12 titles, showed Missouri what it takes to win one: defense and a bruising running game near the goal line.

Oklahoma rushed for three touchdowns, quarterback Sam Bradford threw for two more and the Sooners coolly captured their fifth Big 12 championship since 2000, upending the upstart Tigers 38-17 Saturday night in the Alamodome.

The Sooners are the first team in Big 12 history to win consecutive titles.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Oklahoma redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford said after his teammates hoisted their trophy. "It feels amazing."

Now that the Tigers are out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, the question is "Who's in?"

With No. 1 Missouri (11-2) and No. 2 West Virginia both losing Saturday, No. 3 Ohio State gets a boost into the Jan. 7 title game in New Orleans. Sunday's BCS rankings will decide what opponent gets an unexpected chance to play for the national championship.

My vote for the BCS bowl game....bring back the Ducks! Have them play Hawaii. Ohio State already had their shot for the #1 spot and blew it. I mean, c'mon Hawaii is undefeated! Why shouldn't they be in the championship game?

While the nation waits to see who gets into the overall championship game, I want to propose a simple idea I'm sure many have thought about already that would make this whole situation easier. Why not use a playoff system like they do in basketball to determine ONE championship game instead of having all these mini-bowls? Its unfair how a team can go unbeaten the whole season and still be ranked 11 and not be in the BCS bowl. I understand that strength of schedule has a lot to do with it, but still, a win is a win. That's like saying if the Patriots go undefeated this season, they should be ranked 5th because they played teams like the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins.

The Latest On The Santana Situation

The destination of ace left-hander pitcher Johan Santana is still unknown, but it can be assumed that the Twins have narrowed their selection down to two teams. The two teams are of course, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. To trade Santana, the Twins want (I'm only mentioning the big games):

From Boston: Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, Jacoby Ellsbury

From New York: Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes

This trade would be suitable for either team, but it would benefit the Yankees more. The Twins said they will first turn to Boston to trade and if for whatever reason they don't want to give up their guys, then they will turn towards the Yankees.

Poor Ellsbury. He just joined Boston in the last 2 months, wins a World Series, and then they ship him off. After returning from cancer, Boston wants to ship Lester off as well. But, can you imagine Santana in Boston? Between Johan Santana and Josh Beckett, that's already almost 40 wins. Throw in Curt Schilling and Dice-K, thats another 20-25 wins. Boston's pitching is already terrific and by adding Santana, he only makes it more incredible.

That's why the Yankees need Santana more. They've had pitching issues the entire season. Giving up Melky Cabrera would be sad, but Johnny Damon (who did very well in the playoffs) can be moved back to center. Can you imagine Johan Santana, Joba Chamberlain, and Mariano Rivera pitching in the same game? The Yankees would theoretically give up 1-2 runs a game and having an ace of such great skill would boost the whole ballclub and put people in the stands.