NHL Preview 2009-2010 Season

I am sorry for being a little bit late on this one. The life was been hetic lately with alot of news.

No hockey fans, I do not diss the puck like everyone else! I promise you, especially with three local teams on all year, and the NHL Open Ice Package ready to go.

The NHL finally got some TV Ratings last season, as the Penguins/Capitals clash, and the eventual Stanley Cup Finals between the winning Pens and the Red Wings got the general public back into watching. As the league is trying to generate some momentum off of that, here are some of the questions leading into the new season.

The Top Ten Storylines for the 2009-2010 NHL Season:

1. Can the Penguins repeat?

The young core is set and will be intact for a long time, consisting of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury. Although they took a big hit on the blueline, losing Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill, the Pens also have veterans that are now willing to take less money to play with this core. Bill Guerin took a paycut to remain in the fold in Pittsburgh.

The real question is, can the Pens be more consistent than last season? If they cannot, they will need to catch fire at the same exact time as they need last season.

2. How much will the Olympics effect teams?

Most teams will be well represented with players from their rosters playing for their National Teams. Some teams will be heavily represent,  like the Red Wings, Capitals, Sharks, and Flyers. These teams will not have the luxury of having a break that could be well needed rest.

No team will be effected more by the Olympics than the Vancouver Canucks. Since the Games are being held in Vancouver, the Canucks will have a very lengthy road trip that could spell out diaster for the franchise. If are in a bad funk going into that road trip, they might even miss the playoffs.

3. Just how good is Alexander Ovechkin?

There is no real answer for this. The sky is really the limit. Ovy is just about the complete package. He has an excellent playmaking Center that he is lined with in Nicklas Backstrom. He has a lethal shot, skates like the wind, and unlike most Euro players, he hits like a freight train. Expect 60 goals and 110 points again, like always. If Ovy decides to play with a chip on his shoulder, he is the guy that could possibly catch Wayne Gretzky's goals records for both the season and career.

4. Did the San Jose Sharks finally acquire the missing piece?

Sniper Dany Heatley basically bitched and whined his way out of Ottawa this offseason. He has now landed on a team that can never get over the playoff hump. It is now time to put the pacifier back in your mouth, be quiet, and produce. He should see plenty of goals with Joe Thorton dishing him the puck all season.

This has to be the year for the Sharks. Patrick Marleau is a UFA at season's end, and alot of the good young players will soon be due for hefty pay raises. They are hoping Heatley is the guy that will not disappear in the postseason. That has been a bit of a problem the past few seasons in the Bay Area.

5. Pronger in Philly is understandable, but Ray Emery?

When the Flyers made a draft night deal to acquire physical Defensemen Chris Pronger from Anaheim, it was a move that made a bold statement that they want to win now. Pronger will clear the crease for the Flyers goaltenders.

That is the thing. The Flyers Stanley Cup hopes are on the shoulders of a guy that did not even play in the NHL last season. Ray Emery was basically banished to the Russian League the past couple of seasons. Now, he is back, but is Emery really up to this pressure? Remember, it is Philly, where the media and fanbase eat athletes in situations like these.

6. Did the window finally close on the Red Wings?

Hockeytown took a hit this offseason. The Red Wings lost alot of scoring when Marian Hossa, Mikel Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, and Tomas Kopecky left the team via Free Agency or bolted overseas. The Wings are relying on kids, Ville Leino, Darren Helm, and others, along with reclammation project Todd Bertuzzi.

Nicklas Lidstrom is turning 40. The goaltending is not exactly top notch. This is the season that the Wings still make the playoffs, but not at the dominanting level they have done it in for the past decade.

7. Welcome back Coach

The New Jeresy Devils brought back former Head Coach and Stanley Cup winner Jacques Lemaire to lead the team behind the bench. The question now is, do the Devils have the personnel that Lemaire requires to play his defensive style of play?

Well, the Devils were more of a scoring team last season, led by superstar in the making Zach Parise. To be at their most effective, Lemaire is going to have to find a median between the two. Marty Brodeur back healthy for a full season will help reguardless of the style of play.

8. The Rebuild/Reloading of Brian Burke in Toronto

GM  Brian Burke said he needed to do two things in the offseason. First, was to get more tough and physical. The Maple Leafs got rough up last season, and it was not going to happen two years in a row. So Burke went out in Free Agency and signed D Mike Komisarek and Franny Beauchemim, and RW goon Colton Orr. I do not think many teams will want to mess with the Leafs this year.

Burke's second endeavor was to find a goal scorer, and one that will be a permanent fixture in Toronto for years to come. Burke had one target in mind the entire time, and that was former Bruin Phil Kessel.

Burke was rumored to try and trade for Kessel at the draft and it fizzled out. Two months later, Burke went very proactive, and dealt a boatload of draft picks for the 21 year old sniper. Kessel was immediately signed long term.

Burke accomplished what he wanted in the offseason, now will it be enough to make it back into the playoffs this season?

9. The Rookies

This year's Entry Draft had a Top 3 that could one day rival any other drafts. The New York Islanders selected the well known talent of  C John Tavares. The Tampa Bay Lightning immediately snatched up huge D Victor Hedman. Last, the Colorado Avalanche selected all around great talent C Matt Duchsene.

All three have made the Opening Night rosters, and will most likely remain on the club the entire season.

The Islanders hope they finally got the new face of their struggling franchise in Tavares, who Islander fans hope can score goals like former legend Mike Bossy.

Hedman is the type of Defensemen that front offices drool over. Hedman is 6'6", he can skate, and has a bomb of a slapshot. The Lightning envision that he could become their anchor on the blueline in the mold of another Defensemen that should be playing power foward somewhere, Zdeno Chara.

Duchsene is the guy of the three that can become the all-around, gritty two way foward that can one day wear the "C" for a team. Some even questioned if Duchsene should of went 1st overall in the draft over Tavares.

Other rookies to watch out for this 09-10 season is the Flyers LW James vanRiemsdyk, Thrashers C Evander Kane, Blue Jackets LW Nitika Filatov, Red Wings F Ville Leino and Justin Abdelkader, Rangers D Michael Del Zotto, Panthers D Dmitri Kulikov, and Leafs G Jonas Guastavsson.

10. What will happen to the Phoenix Coyotes?

With ownership up in the air, this offseason has been utter chaos for the Coyotes. Canadian tycoon Jim Balsillie offered to buy the Coyotes and relocate them back into Canada, where they first came from. With the NHL rejecting his offer, and now Wayne Gretzky resigning from being behind the bench, the Coyotes are sort of a lame duck this season.

Do you really think the fans want to go cheer on a team that most likely will not be there in 2010-11? How are the players going to react to being in limbo? Yotes Captain Shane Doan takes offense to being overlooked by this, but how do they overcome this mess?

Predictions: (Playoff Seed in parenthesis)

East                                                                                    

Atlantic Divison                                                                    

1. Philadelphia Flyers (1)

2. Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

3. New York Rangers (7)

4. New Jeresy Devils

5. New York Islanders

Northeast

1. Boston Bruins (3)

2. Buffalo Sabres (6)

3. Montreal Canadiens

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

5. Ottawa Senators

Southeast

1. Washington Capitals (2)

2. Carolina Hurricanes (5)

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (8)

4. Florida Panthers

5. Atlanta Thrashers

West

Central

1. Chicago Blackhawks (3)

2. St. Louis Blues (4)
3. Columbus Blue Jackets (5)
4. Detroit Red Wings (7)
5. Nashville Predators

Northwest

1. Calgary Flames (2)
2. Vancouver Canucks (8)
3. Minnesota Wild

4. Edmonton Oilers

5. Colorado Avalanche

Pacific

1. San Jose Sharks (1)

2. Anaheim Ducks (6)
3. Los Angeles Kings
4. Dallas Stars
5. Phoenix Coyotes

Stanley Cup Finals : Calgary Flames over Philadelphia Flyers in 6 games.

NFL Week 4 Picks

Last week in this column, I asked for the repeat 12-4 record in the picks. I almost got there, as we went 11-5 in Week 3. Let's not cry over spilled milk. The overall record is now 32-15 for the season.

We have seen the good (Ravens, Giants), the surprising (Jets, Broncos), and the ugly (Raiders, Chiefs). I have to make an entirely new category for the Browns and Rams. I think we will just call those two teams FUBAR. If you do not know what FUBAR means, just look it up, you will be in total agreement with yours truly.

Now, onto the picks:

Houston Texans 24, Oakland Raiders 10 - The Texans, with all that talent on offense, is disappointing to almost tears. Last week, Gary Kubiak should of been shot for taking out RB Steve Slaton for the goal line carries and inserting Chris Brown. Slaton was running rough-shot over the Jags. Boom, fumble, Jags ball, Texans lose. Let's see you try that maneuver again Einstein. In a shocking development, Jamarcus Russell will complete 45% of his passes this game, but its not enough. Why am I not surprised?

Tennessee Titans 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 9 - The Titans are the best 0-3 football I have seen in a long time. RB Chris Johnson is worth the price of admission, tune in your TV to watch this talent. Oh, thats right, this game will probably be blacked out. Maybe Jack Del Rio and David Gerrard should be worried about filling out that stadium than a petty radio show.

Baltimore Ravens 27, New England Patriots 20 - Tough to pick against the Pats at home, especially after how good they looked last week against the Falcons. I just think the Ravens are on a mission, and they will go after Tom Brady. No middle finger 4th quarter bombs for Joe Flacco in this game.

Cincinnati Bengals 31, Cleveland Browns 9 - The Bengals are pretty good. The Browns are Fubar. Eric Mangini just fined me for saying that.

New York Giants 34, Kansas City Chiefs 10 - Even SI.com's Peter King looked at the Vegas Line of this game and said they messed up. Remember Mike Tyson's Punchout for Nintendo? Well, the Chiefs are Glass Joe, the awful mess you fight initially. Well, the Chiefs are not fighting Little Mac, they are fighting Super Macho Man. Hide the children from this massacre.

Sidenote: How funny is the resemblance of Glass Joe, to Owen Wilson? Great call by Danjewish. Read the Casting Call for Mike Tyson's Punchout. It is a riot.

Chicago Bears 23, Detroit Lions 20 - I really wanted to have the stones to call this upset, but I finally see Matt Forte going for 100 and 2 TD's. The Lions can move the ball this season. Matthew Stafford is going to be all right.

By the way, Calvin Johnson's nickname of Megatron is definitely top 5 in sports. I can only think of Pablo Sandoval's Kung Fu Panda and Kobe Bryant being The Black Mamba that top it.

Washington Redskins 21, Tampa Bay Bucs 10 - The Bucs are about three weeks away from being fubar as well. They get a pass because at least the Bucs have a plan. Well, I dunno what it is, but I am sure they do have one. If the Redskins lose this game, Jim Zorn should just pack his bags and walk into the sunset. By the way, Ground Control to Clinton Portis, are you alive?

Indianapolis Colts 27, Seattle Seahawks 20 - For some strange reason, I do not think the Colts are going to run the Hawks out of the stadium. Seattle showed me a lot of grit in that loss to the Bears last week. If you are still alive in a Knock Out Pool, take the Giants, be very weary of this one. Of course, I am not going to pick against Peyton Manning at home though.

New Orleans Saints 23, New York Jets 16 - I originally had the Jets winning this in an upset, but then the news broke wind that CB's Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland are out for the game. Down your 2nd and 3rd CB's against Drew Brees is not a good combination.

Buffalo Bills 16, Miami Dolphins 13 - I rather watch paint dry off my walls than sit down and watch this game for three hours. Trent Edwards is horrible. I hope the media finally stops giving excuses for this victim. Miami is breaking in a new QB. Yawwwwwwwwwwwwn!

San Francisco 49ers 23, St. Louis Rams 13- Tough kick to the chops for the 49ers last week, but they proved to everyone that they are legit. No Frank Gore, no problem, you are playing a team that has not won since Napoleon was a cadet. I feel bad for Steven Jackson. He will probably see nine-man fronts all day.

Dallas Cowboys 24, Denver Broncos 16 - Ok Denver and Mini-Belichick, prove it to me against a decent team. I do not think Kyle Orton plays a mistake-free game this time. Demarcus Ware finally gets his first sack of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers 19, San Diego Chargers 10 - The Bolts OLine is too banged up for this Steeler pass rush to not salivate. The Steelers should feel desperation right now, and they will come through. They hold the fort and Troy Polamalu is close to returning.

Monday Night game will come in the Weekend Wrap Up article on Monday morning, along with the belated NHL Season Preview.

College Football Picks

After last week, where the Polls were more volitale than the Nasdaq last year, the college football season is turning into an unpredictable season.

Who would have thought after Oregon got embarrassed by Boise St. opening night, that they would destroy Cal. and beat Utah?

Miami climbing the mountain, then freefalling off of it last week?

Two Non-BCS teams with legit shots at being in the Title Game in Boise St. and TCU.

USC walking on air in the polls for no reason. Ok, so that one is easy predictable. Sue me.

Few good games this week, more than likely a few more surprises in the bag as well. Let's take a gander at them:

Penn St. 27, Illinois 6 - No way Penn St. loses to games in a row. JoePa and team will want to put a hurting on someone, and Illinois is the perfect patsy for that. There is no Fight in the Illini anymore.

South Florida 23, Syracuse 12 - This could be such a trap game for South Florida. After beating Florida St., and the offensive machine called Cincinnati next week, this does fit the bill. There is just no way I see Syracuse pulling this off. QB Greg Paulus has not seen a defense like this since Villanova in the Basketball NCAA tournament.

Tennessee 20, Auburn 17 - No one has been able to stop Auburn's new wild offensive explosion, averaging 45 a clip. I just really like this Tennessee defense. They have the right personnel and coaching in Monty Kiffin. Big day at Rocky Top.

Stanford 23, UCLA 17 - UCLA is such an enigma. Stanford is the model of consistency on both sides of the ball this season. Jim Harbaugh has done a solid job with this program.

Michigan St. 34, Michigan 31 - UPSET SPECIAL! Michigan looked stale last week against Indiana, and Michigan St. does not want to lose to both Notre Dame and Michigan in the same season. Freshman QB Tate Forcier gets his first taste of a hostile crowd, and defeat.

Houston 52, UTEP 21 - I just love watching this Houston offense. They are so unpredictable and exciting. UTEP got buried last week by Texas, expect more of the same.

Arkansas 45, Texas A&M 41 - Arkanasas got throttled last week by Alabama. I do not expect the Razorbacks to be shut down again. The Aggies are putting points on the board as well. Shootout Central, here we come.

Notre Dame 31, Washington 24 - In a game that might possibly have the two best NFL QB prospects in it, I expect Jimmy Clausen and Jake Locker to put on a show. Somehow, Notre Dame, Clausen, and all of his playmakers pull this one out late in the 4th.

USC 31, California 17 - I had Cal winning this game at the same time last week. Then, they went to Oregon and got taken like a young boy in a San Francisco Bath House. USC is banged up, and we wish the best, and a speedy recovery for RB Stafon Johnson, but the Camp Carroll does have an unlimited amount of talent. Sets up the USC-Oregon game for the Rose Bowl. RB Jahvid Best only had 30 yards rushing year against Trojans. Not a good sign.

Oklahoma 28, Miami 17 - I really want to pick the Hurricanes here. I just do not see them scoring enough against this great Oklahoma defense. Virginia Tech last week gave the blueprint on how to beat the Canes. The Sooners just follow it, with or without Sam Bradford.

Georgia 37, LSU 31 - UPSET SPECIAL #2! This game last year was a shootout, with no defense in it. Georgia has not played defense this season since the first game against Oklahoma St., but WR AJ Green is going nuts. LSU should not be ranked 4th. When in doubt though, take the home team. I just hope they do not move up USC to 4th ahead of Boise St. after this game.

Last Week: 7-4     Season: 24-18

Inheriting a New NBA team.

I grew up a New York Knicks fan. I remember the glory days of Patrick Ewing's drop step drive into the paint, Charles Oakley grabbing every rebound in sight, and Pat Riley's hardcore, do not  f*ck with us defense.

But over the past few years, I have come to realize something. I was a Patrick Ewing fan first and foremost before the Knicks.

And when the Knicks sent Ewing packing like he was cheap suit to Seattle years ago, the paint started to chip off my love for the Knicks. The past decade has not helped either.

James Dolan, Scott Layden, and Isiah Thomas have made it unbearable for any Knick fan.

Dolan is the definition of Trust Fund Baby, that is handed a business and buries it into the ground. Ironically, Dolan hand picked Isiah Thomas, after he put a basketball league into bankruptcy!

Layden, made the Ewing deal, that brought over Glenn Rice, but he forgot to acquire his knees in the deal as well. We would also like to mention the following , Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Othella Harrington, the Allan Houston 100 million dollar contract (top 20 worst sports contracts ever), and the Antonio Mcdyess trade, that Layden took Nene 7th overall, and passed on Amare Stoudamire. Lastly, the following seasons top 10 pick... Michael Sweetney anyone?

Should we even mention Isiah's resume? At least he could decently draft, but thats when he did not deal the picks for Eddy Curry. Isiah was also only one of 3 stupid, crazy GM's (the others would be Elgin Baylors corpse, and Laker booster Chris Wallace) to take on Zach Randolph, his contract, and eating habits, not to mention the soap operas he had with Larry Brown, and Anucha Browne. By the way, did I even mention Stephon Marbury?

I have tried to stick with this franchise, but more and more, I have come to the realization that it was not the Blue, White, and Orange I was a fan of. I grew up in an era that the Knicks had a superstar that gave it his all, even if it never materialized into a title.

So, I am offically jumping off the wagon. I do not care if present GM Donnie Walsh is potentially getting Lebron James or not. I want to be a fan of a basketball team again. I have three candidates to choose from, none of them are playoff teams, so I am not trying to ride the wave of another franchise's success.

1) Minnesota T-Wolves

Why?- It is not a perfect franchise by any means, but it has a solid young nucleus that you can root for. Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, and most of all, rookie Point Guard Johnny Flynn.

Now, does the Ricky Rubio Saga scare me off? Not exactly. They will get good value for a guy that cannot even shave yet, but is in a Gillette commerical.

The new GM, David Khan does terrify me. He could easily become Layden/Isiah Redux 2.0.

Flynn is the kicker. I love and watch Big East Basketball, and you have to root for a smallish Point Guard that can run like a deer, jump out of the gym ( see Youtube video of Flynn dunking on Rutgers Mike Rosario), and is as tough as nails. I think he is going to be Aaron Brooks with flash and some attitude.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Why?- You would think the main reason is Kevin Durant right? Wrong

I love how this franchise is ran. GM Sam Presti is the textbook definition of a guy that told managment that if you are patient with me, I will make a potential dynasty. All he did for a few years was dump contracts, and collect draft picks.

Now, Presti has a fantastic young core (Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden), along with several good role players on the roster. Oh, did I mention that the Thunder will have at the most, 40 million on the books for the 2010-2011 Free Agent Sweepstakes?

That is around 18 million under the cap. Lebron? Bosh? These guys would not be interested in playing with this group?

He is not the main reason, but Durant is a huge reason. Guy is a machine. He is going to win several scoring titles, but the thing that got me about him was 2 things. One, hes a gym rat, and has that MJ/Kobe mentality that he can score 55 in a game, and think he could do more. The second thing was when I heard that he went to Las Vegas for the Rookie League, sat on the bench with his future and potential teammates, and cheered them on. This is the type of heart and soul leader I grew up loving in Ewing.

and finally, and hear me out on this one...

3) Los Angeles Clippers

Why? - I know, Donald Sterling and that Front Office make James Dolan look like Red Auerbach, but there is plenty to like here.

1.- Two young future All-Stars in Eric Gordon and #1 overall pick Blake Griffin.

2.- How can you dislike Baron Davis? Serously.

3.- I am a sucker for the real, true underdog.

4.- Including picking up Mardy Collins option (Who is a stiff.) The Clippers only have 36 million in salaries for 10-11. That is without even taking into consideration the Clips trying to pawn off Chris Kaman's goofy mind and contract, and possibly resigning Marcus Camby.

5- Lebron should be a real possiblilty here. I know Bill Simmons brought this up first, but it really does make sense. Lebron has two potential All Stars, plus another Lottery Pick from this upcoming season to grow old with. Something the Cavs could never offer him. The Cavs also could not offer him the spotlight of actually making a LA market team viable again, and creating a Clippers-Lakers rivalry that The Hebrew Godfather (David Stern) is salavating over.

I know how I have thought this out, now I would like to know your input on it. Clippers? Thunder? T-Wolves? Stay with the Knicks? I have put up a voting poll to see what team I will inherit into SportsTown, and I will gladly take any emails @ TheSportsTown@gmail.com , or dicsuss it on Twitter(TheSportsTown) .

Quick thought about Rick Porcello

I am watching the Twins/Tigers game right now, and saw a kid that should be a Junior in College pitch in a virtual playoff game.

Rick Porcello may or may not win AL Rookie of the Year (If I had a vote, it would be for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.), but he may just be the most impressive rookie.

What did the 20 year old kid do in the biggest game of his career? 6.1 Innings, 1 Run, 7 Hits, 1 Walk.

He will not win the game, leaving the game with the scored tied at 1, but asking a 20 year old to pitch in a game like this, when most 20 year olds are only worried about what party they are going to on Friday Night, is alot. Porcello kept the Tigers in the game, and in a position to win the game.

Porcello might be 20, but he pitched like a veteran today.

I am confident that there will be a lot more of this to come with the youngster.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I was thinking of an opening to start this article, but I could not think of anything better than to continue on the last thing I wrote about in the previous article.

I wished American Heavyweight Chris Arreola good luck in his title fight against Vitali Klitschko. I am a massive boxing fan, but I never seriously thought that Arreola was this country's great big hope in returning to Heavyweight glory. Then, I was watching on HBO, and I heard in a segment about Arreola, that HBO's Larry Merchant called Arreola "The best American Heavyweight prospect since Riddick Bowe.".

Yes, when I heard it, I thought the same thing. This old man finally really lost his marbles, and that Merchant basically gave Arreola the perverbial Kiss of Death.

Merchant did exactly that. Arreola, coming into the fight in better shape than the usual walking torilla machine, was flat out embarassed by the older, more polished Klitschko. It was actually more one-sided than the Mayweather-Marquez fight HBO showed before this live fight. Somehow, HBO's unoffical judge gave one round to Arreola. He must of been having drinks with Merchant all night long to think that.

If this is supposedly the best this country has to offer in over 15 years, will we ever see another great U.S. Heavyweight?

Baseball Thoughts:

-Congrats to the New York Yankees, and their fans for wrapping up the AL East by waterboarding their rival Red Sox this weekend. Now ironically, you have to root for the Red Sox to beat the Angels, who just have your number since early on in the Torre administration. The enemy of my emeny is my frien. Even Shakespeare would be proud of this.

-Zach Greinke wrapped up the AL CY with win #16 and those sick stats. CC Sabathia was just too little, too late, even though he has been awesome the last 6 weeks.

College Football Thoughts:

-We all know that the College Football Polls are as straight and legit as Al Capone's business ledgers. I mean, personally, I knew everyone the week before was overhyping Miami in the polls. I thought that was bad, but this week might be the worst ever. USC going up five spots by beating a bad Washington St. team at home? LSU going up to #4 after almost getting upsetted by Mississippi St.? I actually rather have the hands of the National Title in the computers if this is the crap that will continue to go on.

-At least we found out the serious pretenders in this college season early. That goes to you California, Penn St., and Mississippi. I will not put Miami in that mix. I give The U alot of props for playing that schedule.

-I really do believe Alabama is better than Florida this time around. Round 2 of the new annual SEC Title war is going to be one of the five best football games this year, NFL included.

-USC went to #5 in the polls somehow while I wrote this article...

NFL Thoughts:

-Whoever reads this blog, knows how sick I must of been watching Favre toss that game winning TD pass and basically being carried off the field like Scott Howard after hitting those two game winning free throws in Teen Wolf. Although, even I have to admit, what a pass.

-I wonder if the city of Detroit was more excited about the Lions finally winning a game than about the Tigers in the middle of a divison race. Congrats to the Lions for finally reeling off a W, and good luck to the Tigers. That city needs all the excitement it can muster nowadays.

-I do not know which game was a bigger mismatch. Cleveland-Baltimore, or NY Giants-Tampa Bay. Two rare examples of men playing against boys. Giants just stomped a mudhole into the Bucs, and put up a convincing shutout without their best defensive player in Justin Tuck. Baltimore even threw the Eff-You Bomb in the 4th quarter for a 70+ yard TD. Mangini must of fined his CB for using a fire extinugisher on himself after getting burnt...

-Peyton Manning is a football God. There is much else to say about him. Chris Collinsworth on the Sunday Night game showed and explained how Manning at the line delays until he sees the defense bite on their blitzing, and calls the audibles/hot routes from there. That is why Collingsworth is the best analyst in the game.

Now Chris, please explain to me how Jim Zorn will still have a job this week?

-I cannot wait for the Jets-Saints game next week. The Unstoppable Force against the Immovable Object. Brees against Sanchez, who is becoming the most popular athlete in NYC this side of Derek Jeter and fast. The matchup I really want to see is Saints tall, physical WR Marques Coltson, who might have a chip on his shoulder still from playing at Hofstra, where the Jets use to practice, and being overlooked by them, against Darrelle "Island" Revis.

-I actually Tweeted ESPN guru Adam Schefter if he thought Revis was the early frontrunner for NFL Def. Player of the Year. He immediately replied to me by saying, "So far, hard to think of anyone else more deserving." High praise for a Cornerback.

Monday Night Pick for tonight.

I am in the minority if thinking that the Panthers are not completely done. I think they will play hard in this game. I just do not think it will be enough. Tony Romo puts up a big game, and makes less mistakes than Jake Delhomme. Dallas Cowboys 34, Carolina Panthers 24.