Toronto the Beautiful NFL city

We would love to be able to say that wouldn't we? The fact is we can't....and maybe won't ever.

The dream of having an NFL team in Toronto seemed to become ‘real’, when Rogers Communications Inc came to an agreement with Ralph Wilson, Owner Buffalo Bills, to acquire 8 games over a period of 5 years. The hope was that due to a number of factors (Ralph Wilson’s age, The City of Buffalo’s economy, the team’s financial viability, etc.), the team would eventually migrate north permanently.

3 and 5 year ticket packages were not cheap, but people were willing to pay with the expectation that they could be first in line to acquire Season’s Seats should the team ever come to Toronto.

Yet 3 years later, amid the perception that Rogers may have made a bad deal, the unfortunate death of the Company’s patriarch Ted, the Blue Jays dismal existence, and the Company’s renewed efforts towards cost efficiency the dream may be over.

But do the rumours of Rogers interest in acquiring a stake in MLSE (a deal that would include the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and the Air Canada Centre) bring hope that does at least want to remain involved in the NFL?

Let's put it this way, when Rhino Spiel met with someone inside Rogers close to the situation, the topic was too sensitive to discuss at length. Even off the record.

- Is the dream over?
- Any chance the deal could be extended?
- Would Rogers consider a partial ownership stake in the Buffalo Bills?

So there could be something here...or nothing at all. But for now, these questions will remain unanswered.


Favre's streak snapped

I know...297 consecutive starts...but enough already.

Yes, he's the NFL's 'Iron-Man'. Yes, he's had a hall-of-fame career (which begs the question: will he go into the Hall as a Packer or Viking?). Yes, he is one of the greatest players of all time.

But I'm a little tired of the Favre, and what he's gotten away with...

- 1996 Favre enters a substance abuse problem with an addiction to Vicodin (a Narcotic Analgesic...you know, the one Saints Head Coach Sean Payton was/is addicted to*) and to also be treated for Alcohol Abuse.

- Turned down $20M by the Packers to effectively stay home...instead opted to play for the Jets. Who does that?

- Jenn Sterger sex scandal: Why is the NFL dragging their feet on this one? Clearly they do not want to have to punish Favre.

- Don't forget about the other woman (Jets Massage Therapist) who came forward claiming that Brett harassed her during the Jets' 2008 Training Camp...she claimed he sent her racy texts and voice mails claiming 'bad intentions'.

If these things were on Terrell Owens' resume, would he receive the same treatment Brett has?


- Brett just strikes me as a selfish guy. I know it's hard to leave the game you love. But stop saying you're calling it quits, only to allow yourself to get dragged back for one more season. No doubt it's over now as this year has been a joke (both on and off the field). But everyone still pays homage to this guy like he's the be all and end all.

- Listen, he was a great player in his prime no doubt. But the NFL and the Media do not consistently separate the player from the man i.e. professional vs. personal life. So...why should you?

*[Why did the NFL sweep this Coach Payton's addiction under the rug? Even in the face of irrefutable evidence? Could it be because the NFL did not want to have to discipline an elite coach just coming off a Super Bowl victory?].

I dunno...I think it's kinda weak. Is it just me?

Tashard Choice asking for Mike Vick's autograph after losing to the Eagles. Tashard described it as an innocent gesture for his nephew. However, I perceived it differently...it looked to me like a sign of weakness that you don't show an opponent. In particular a division rival that you will face again in 3 weeks time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmLKwiKBU6A


Now why would you go and do that?

Sal Alosi, Strength & Conditioning coach for the NY Jets, tripping a Dolphins Special Teams player. How weak is that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgYXBpIYnvU


Endzone Dance of the Week

Mike Tolbert doin' the Dougie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuiYPPPRrcM

The new Mike Tolbert dance video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4sV1oMCglo

And of course how not to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTMFpoW1zTM


In case you missed it

Vikings Stadium collapse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2mBiy1FGE&feature=aso


Da Rhino recommends...

- Michael Kenneth Williams, known as Omar from 'The Wire', and Chalky White from another HBO series called 'Boardwalk Empire'. A solid actor whose facial scar is an almost physical symbol of how easily he elicits his duplicitous abilities.

'As for the lingering specter of Omar- people yell the name out to him on the street, call him by it in restaurants...Williams flashes that signature grin..."Are you kidding? It's a blessing man," he says. "If it wasn't for luck, they could be calling out 'inmate Number Three'."*

*Courtesy, Brett Martin, GQ Magazine.


- Peyton Manning, QB Indianapolis Colts. During an immediate post-game interview by Alex Flanagan, Peyton brilliantly handled questions about his blow-up on WR Blair White after he'd deflected a TD pass intended for teammate Reggie Wayne:

"You know, I appreciate NFL Network and the fact they have cameras everywhere...but just because you film it, doesn't mean we have to explain it". When pressed he said, "We all have open communication with each other...you have to have thick skin to be in our huddle...Blair will learn...he'll be an important part of our offense going down the stretch"

OUT

Still undefeated!

Bowe Knows

Dwayne Bowe has always been a good receiver. But this year, he's not only given life to the Chief's passing game, he may have also risen his game to elite status. Check it out:

- 2007 stats: 16 games, 70 recpts, 995 yds, 5 TDs

- 2008 stats: 16 games, 76 recpts, 1002 yds, 7 TDs

- 2009 stats: 11 games, 47 recpts, 589 yds, 4 TDs

- 2010 stats to date: 11 games, 58 recpts, 885 yds, 14 TDs

Through his first 4 games this year Bowe totalled 9 recpts, 152 yds, and 1 TD. Hardly deserving of elite status. But then something clicked and over the next 7 games Bowe has totalled 49 recpts, 733 yds, and 13 TDs...in only 2 games over that span did he score less than 2 TDs. Incredible numbers. Even more incredible considering that Matt Cassell would never be mistaken for Peyton Manning.

Cowboys Win!

A few of us went down to Dallas for last week's Thanksgiving game. We were hopeful for a Cowboys win but expected a loss at the hand of the Saints. Personally, I saw a 10-17 halftime score with the Saints winning 17-27 as the final...never really being in any danger. What we saw was a completely different game that the Cowboys were a Roy Williams fumble away from winning.

The big question after that game was whether Jason Garrett helped or hindered his chances of winning the coaching job in the loss.

Hindered: Dumb play calling and an inability to recognize mismatches created by New Orlean's passing schemes leads to a 0-17 start and ultimately the loss. Terence Newman lets Robert Meacham run right past him for a 55 yard gain? Roy Williams ignores the rules of basic ball security? Marion Barber consistently runs in between the tackles for a 1 yard gain on 1st and 10? Wow.

Helped: The defence steps up and the Cowboys don't roll over coming back from 0-17 to take the lead 27-23 with 4 minutes to play. If not for a lapse in ball security, the Cowboys win a shocker.

Even though they didn't beat the Saints, I think the Cowboys still won. They've won back their pride. That can only help Jason Garrett's chances of being the coach in 2011.

What do you think?

My Favourite Dog

Are you a betting man? Then you'll be interested in the following factoids courtesy of Steeler loyalist Lloyd Sison:

"...the bias towards dogs are [the] result of of the first seven weeks on the year where dogs won the majority of the games six weeks out of seven...and by a ratio [of] 2:1 and 3:1 in five of those six weeks. Since Week 7, it's been mostly back and forth between favs vs. dogs. I suspect that there will be a bias [towards] favs for the remainder of the season'.

"The last two weeks were particularly interesting in that Week 11 had a number of big spreads that dared you to take the points. In spite of the big spreads, favs wons 63% of the games. Week 12 had much smaller spreads that dared you to lay the points and the dogs won 62% of the games".

How many of you lost $$ on the Packers and Saints last week?

What will the upcoming weeks bring?

Cortland Fine-Again

Ok, so everyone knows that mild-mannered Andre Johnson beat the stuffing out of that scorch Cortland Fine-Again on Sunday. Well known as a dirty player, most of the fans (not to mention most NFL WRs) felt that the Cortland's thumping was warranted.

- September 2010 fined $5,000 for throwing NYG WR Steve Smith to the ground by his helmet.

- October 2010 fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness after hitting a helmet less Denver Broncos guard Chris Kuper.

These are but 2 of Cortland's fines this year alone. "Did I want it to escalate into that? Absolutely not," Finnegan said Monday on a Nashville radio show.

What did he think would happen when he yelled "Watch this" at the Texans sideline before proceeding to set things off by jabbing Andre in the neck and face mask? Damn right he wanted something to happen, he purposely wanted to push Andre over the edge.

And he still doesn't get it: "This is not hockey this is the NFL," Finnegan said Monday. "It's crazy to me to see people condoning this like I got what I deserved."

Exactly what did you deserve Fine-Again?

Touch Football Update

The Canes finished the regular season as the number two seed with a 7-1-2 record. After demolishing the Mudrunners in their first playoff game, the Canes went on to face number one seed Brick in the Division Final.

Down 0-26 at the half, the Canes did not fall apart proclaiming a new half and promising the comeback of the year. Owing much to their Championship pedigree, the Canes mounted a furious rally but unfortunately fell short losing by a final score of 24-37. Although the Canes would not repeat as Division Champs, they've proved themselves as the best team over the last two years with a 17-1-2 regular season record with a Division Title. Congratulations Hurricanes!

Bear Obsessions- Stunk last night (the score is not worth mentioning). No other way to put it. Currently 4-2 but played like they were 2-4. Have to do better than that man.

Newsflash!

Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison has been fined yet again by the league. I have to believe he just doesn't care about the NFL's edict. When will they start doling out suspensions? And are we dedicating this money to the poor? Sounds like a good idea to me.

Derek Anderson...

...was terrible Monday night. But an even worse performance came during the post-game interview. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIy5YZdKT8E

Even funnier was Jim Rome's comments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toiTrEDKqk0

Da Rhino Recommends:

- NFL Network's SoundFx show on Terrell Owens "UN-STOPPABLE!"

- 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Crazy

Random Shots (courtesy of Footballguys.com)

- Quarterback glitch in the Matrix as the Steelers get ready for the Ravens: Over the past 4 games, both Roethlisberger and Flacco have thrown for exactly 1,071 yards.

- ...Steeler's coach Mike Tomlin was bringing the comedy on Tuesday. Talking on NFL Sirius Radio about the fines James Harrison has received he said, "he's got two kids. That's some serious college schooling right there potentially for those kids 16, 18 years from now." He left out the part about Harrison's $51 Million contract.

- Stan Kroenke is the man behind the Denver-based sports empire that includes the Nuggets, Avalanche, and the MSL champion Rapids. He also owns the St. Louis Rams. Must have been weird for him to watch his Rams take down the Broncos in Denver.

The Comeback Kid

V for Vendetta

- Words cannot properly articulate Michael Vick's performance Monday night against the Redskins. So we won't even try. But what a statement this makes against the NFL and how only 1 team wanted to give him a chance. Andy Reid took a gamble, and now it's paying dividends. Let's look ahead to what could be the biggest game in Week 11: New Giants at Philadelphia.

- In the two full games before he was injured, Vick was 38/65 for 575 yds, and 5 PaTDs. The opponents? Detroit and Jacksonville- 17th and 29th against the pass respectively. Against the Colts it was a different story. Vick was 17/29 for 218 yards and 1 PaTD (with 74 yds rushing, 1 RuTD). Good by any standard, but the Colts could not run the football. Washington is also 31st against the pass with a 286 yd/avg/gm and 18 PaTDs allowed. To put it in perspective, it's like soft flesh vs. a Katana blade.

- The Giants will not be so easy. They come ready to run and pass (5th ranked rushing offense and 6th ranked passing offense), while the Eagles are 12th against the run and 16th against the pass respectively. After just receiving a wake-up call courtesy of the Cowboys, the G-Men can nigh afford to lose another division game. So they will be ready for war.

- Eagles will keep a slight advantage due to Vick's hot hand, and the fact that they're playing at home. But make no mistake, on Sunday we'll find how good the Eagles really are. Personally, I don't think they're an elite team yet. Don't be surprised if the Giants steal this one on the road with the help of some untimely turnovers.

Dead Man Walking

Marvin Lewis. His Bengals are dysfunctional and constantly appear pissed at each other. Did you notice that Palmer, Ocho, and Terrell weren't speaking to each other by the end of Sunday's game against the Colts? This team won their division last year, and was only supposed to get better. Instead, they won't even make the playoffs. Expect a new coach at the helm in 2011.

He's got legs...and he knows how to use them

Felix Jones takes a dump pass from Jon Kitna and takes it 71 yards for a House Call. But did you notice the convoy of Cowboys running with him? Did you notice who was in the lead and appeared every bit as fast as Felix? Yup, Roy Williams. He could have jogged it out and let Felix fend for himself , but instead he ran the length of the field and blocked all the way. Credit where it's due.

Interesting point...

....and I can't remember who raised it (Armando perhaps?). What the hell is going on with this Brett Favre and Jenn Sterger thing? Brett has admitted to the harassment, and Jenn has met with the NFL and provided 'materials'. Yet no one is talking about it. At all. Now if it had been say Terrell Owens, Commissioner Goodell would have already suspended him for 6-8 games. Maybe more. Do we have a double-standard in the NFL? Are they trying to protect a future hall of famer in his last season? Both?

"Why don't you give a little?" ('to the tune of 'The Glory of Love'- Casino Soundtrack)

Confusing wasn't it? How could Shanahan bench McNabb one week, and then the next he's getting an $88M contract with $40M guaranteed? Was there a war going on behind the scenes between Coach Shanahan and the Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder? Was this Snyder's way of putting his stake in the ground in support of McNabb? After all, what did they bring him over for? Was Shanahan a shell of his former self, now bowing down to an overbearing owner (see Wade Philips and Jerry Jones).

But alas, like me, you thought something was rotten in Denmark. This couldn't be...not the Shanahan we knew. No way Jose. Well, the real details of McNabb's contract have come out, courtesy of Adam Schefter (is he not the most connected guy you know?), and the Redskins have made it virtually impossible for McNabb to earn all of that cash. Read the article here http://nfl-facts-rumours.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/25881543 .

No wonder Shanahan wasn't panicking. No wonder when asked, all he said to the media was "that's football...the highest highs, and the lowest lows. It [giving McNabb a new deal] makes a big statement about what we think we can do in the second part of the season". Smart guy. Cause all that's really happened is he's shut up the media, at least for now, and given McNabb a meager carrot to chase for the last 8 weeks. The 'Skins will determine in the off-season whether McNabb returns depending on the available QBs, and what they can find in the draft.

The Brady 'Punch'

- Boy was Tom Brady ticked Sunday night when his team failed to convert a 3rd down. That guy went up a notch in my book. He went OFF on his team. Everyone. No holds barred. I was wincing at home. Man, what a verbal beat-down! Would you have seen that from my man Romo? I hate to say it, but no way. There's a lot of QBs that could learn from that.

TROY

Anyone paying attention to Troy Smith's reemergence in San Francisco? In two games he's thrown for 500+ yds with 2 Touches, no pics, and one RuTD. Not bad...and I think he'll only get better. Watch him in the pocket, he's got a quick 7 step drop, and is very mobile. He takes maybe a second too long to go through his progressions, but I think he'll only get better in that area. He throws a tight spiral, is not afraid to go downfield, and spreads the ball around. I like what I see.

The Niners have 7 games left with 4 of them against division opponents (Arizona x2, St. Louis, and Seattle). So believe it or not, they still have a chance to win that division. Could be enough to save Singletary's job if they do. Nah, even Troy Smith isn't that good.


Touch Football update:

- The Bear Obsessions showed character in a win last night against the Gunners. Down 0-13, they roared back and won 29-15. The revenge the Gunners were seeking will have to wait. Nice win.

- The Canes came out hard and fast against the Mudrunners and never looked back. Up 34-8 to start the 3rd quarter, they cruised to a 50-30 final. Next up, a showdown with BRICK. The two teams were responsible for each other's lone loss on the season. So it should be a classic. Buckle up!

Da Rhino Recommends:


- Parenthood (NBC, Tuesdays 10pm) follows the trials and tribulations of the very large, very colorful and imperfect Braverman family. Warm, engaging, and something you can watch with the wife. Get her hooked and get a break when it comes time to catching the game.

- FORD. Yeah, I said it. In October, the company announced that overall vehicle sales were up 64% from September of 2009. The 3 top vehicles were the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and the Lincoln MKT. The quality of these vehicles is reputed to be on par with the top Japanese Automakers. Have you seen the new Ford Edge Sport? A beautiful SUV. Nice job. Never thought I'd say it after owning a Ford back in the day (1988 Ford Escort GT...horrible, but my first car).

And he was so happy on my previous cover...

Are you for real?*

Who is Chad mad at? Palmer? T.O.? Marvin Lewis? I know he was frustrated over not getting the ball on Monday night, but c'mon man...how selfish can a guy be? I like the guy, but I think he really needs his girlfriend right now.

Funny enough, he's not the only Bengals WR that has cried in public (T.O. following playoff loss to the Giants,"..that's my quarterback")

Can you spare a Pennington, can you spare a dime?

How many times have you been asked to take on more at work without an increase to your salary? That apparently doesn't hold true for Chad Pennington. Now that he's been named the starter, Chad's salary has gone from $2.5M this year to $5.75M. Why? He had it in his contract. You can bet once this gets out, his agent will be fielding a lot of calls from players looking to hire him. Perhaps he can do the same for you? Of course! Give me $1000.00 and I'll give you his cell number.

Rowdy Roddy no more

Read an interesting article on Roddy White, and how he's turned his life and career around (find it here http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14275088/getting-off-knucklehead-path-saved-whites-career)

It really showed last night against the Ravens : 12 catches, 138 yards, and 2 Touches. What a stud!

Don't make me angry...*

- Dolphins LB Channing Crowder created quite a stir when he accused Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain of spitting in his face during Sunday's game.

"But he spit in my face. He spit in my face. That's some real ho sh**. ..Then they (the officials) said something about they let Karlos Dansby get away with a face mask the play before...who the f*** cares? A guy just spit in my face! I don't give a damn about Karlos Dansby pulling somebody's face mask. Like they didn't see Chad Henne get hit twice when he slid. Yeah, a little Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank."

Asked what the Anne Frank reference meant, Crowder said, "Who was that? Is that the blind girl? Helen Keller...I don't know who the f*** Anne Frank is. I'm mad right now. F*** it. I'm not as swift as I usually am."

Hilarious!

Le'Ron McClain had a classic response: "Nah, I didn't spit on him. That's crazy," McClain said. "That's not my game. I'm Le'Ron McClain, man. Le'Ron McClain don't spit on another player. But I will block you. Four quarters. That's a fact."

Even funnier! But yeah, he definitely spat on him. Video evidence backed up Crowder's claim.

Big Hit/ Big Hair*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jurF_NXRFgU

Beg, Borrow, and Steel

Someone recently asked me why Rhino Spiel never covers the Steelers; and it was a fair point. After all, the Spiel should be non-biased, treating all NFL teams as equals. So here goes:

• One of the most prolific, well-run Sports Franchises in the NFL. If not the world.



• 6 Superbowl victories. 7 AFC Championships. 19 Division Titles.



• 24 Individuals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



• Historical rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys (all-time series tied 15-15, these teams hold the record for the most times that two teams have met in the Superbowl (3...Steelers lead the series 2-1).



• 2 coaches that have left indelible marks on the football world- Chuck Knoll and Bill Cowher.



• Meanings of the Astroids on their logo? "Steel lightens your work, brightens your leisure, and widens your world". The Astroid colours represent the ingredients made in the steel making process: yellow for coal, red for iron ore, and blue for scrap steel.



• Original team name? Pittsburgh Pirates (1933).



• During WWII merged with the Philadelphia Eagles franchise (due to player shortages) to form the team Phil-Pitt Steagles.



• Recent rumours: 1. James Harrison brutally sacked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at NFL Headquarters 2 weeks ago (a la the Michael Strahan/ Donovan McNabb commercial) after receiving word of yet another fine- this time for a late hit on QB Drew Brees. At that point he figured 'what's another $100K?' After all, in 2009 he signed a 6 year, $51,000,000.00 contract. 2. Why is Jenn Sterger refusing to talk to the NFL about Brett Favre? Because the pictures were actually sent by Ben Roethlisberger. Shhhhhh...
  

Happy Steeler fan? Geesh... :)

Fantasy Football Update

D&G League: I keep hearing how in no way did it make sense for ABT to start Fitzpatrick against the Ravens (Week 7) . That he lucked out. But was it crazy? Or did he just do his research?

- In the 3 previous games, against the Pats, Jets, and Jags, Fitzpatrick was a combined 52/85, 595 yards, 7 TDs, and 2 ints.

- Over that same time span, the Baltimore passing D had given up 62 completions (103 attempts), 747 yards, and 3 Touches (3 ints).

- ABT can speak for himself, but you gotta figure if Fitzpatrick can come in and complete 60% of his passes and net an average of 250 yds and 2 TDs, it would be great opportunity to sit Henne (ABT's other active QB) who had a tough match-up vs. Pittsburgh.

- And to further prove the point, Matt Ryan, a good but not prolific passer, cranked out 32/50, with 316 yards and 3 Touches last night. The Baltimore passing D ain't "who we thought they were...if you wanna crown them, then...."

TonyNFL League: Goose/Nick get a decent start to the weekend with 35 points from Flacco. But, it would have been an even better start if they didn't leave Roddy White on the bench. Ouch. See the previous article on the Raven's passing D.

Everyone's focus needs to be on stopping Gabe and Rick. If the gap isn't closed over the next 3 weeks, it'll be "forever hold your peace". These wily vets are showing the rest of us how to make the most out of a roster. Are you going to let them give you the stiff arm?

Touch Football Update:

- The Bear Obsessions notched up another win against a younger, faster team Wednesday night. The D was a wall and the offense was productive enough to bring it home 20-7. I guess the old guys are no longer a secret. The next game against the Gunners should prove more challenging as they're playing well this season and will be looking to avenge a bad loss to the Obsessions a few seasons back.

- The Canes went at 50% and even flipped the O and D rosters last Saturday, and still netted a tie ( 26 apiece) against the Mudrunners in a meaningless game. However, those same teams will hook up for real this Saturday in a playoff game. The winner advances to the Championship. Will be fun, but won't be easy by any stretch. You think the Mudrunners weren't going half-speed as well?

*Courtesy Footballguys.com

OUT

At a Loss with Moss

Moss put on Ice in Minnesota

Acquired from the Patriots for a 3rd Round pick, the Vikings have waived Randy Moss after 3 games. I believe the Vikings are now on the hook for the remainder of Randy's 2010 salary ($3M+), and what did they get in return? 13 receptions, 174 yards, and 2 TDs. Nice.

Why make the move? It just doesn't seem to make sense.

- Are the Vikings upset over what Moss had to say during the Week 8 post-game interviews? Sure he implied strongly that he feels the Patriots are a better organization and that he's regretful of the move; however, it seems to me that at most the reaction should have been a chew out session, and a fine. Nothing more.

- Is this Brad Childress' attempt to regain control of the team? If that's the case, then Brett Favre should have been waived and not Moss. During the post-game, Childress was asked directly does he regret acquiring Randy Moss. His answer? "Not at present I don't...no". He said Moss' comments simply showed a fondness for a team he'd played for the last 3+ years. So how does it make sense that the next day we hear that Moss has been waived, and that Childress did so without consulting Owner Zygi Wilf and President Mark Wilf?

- Many players/coaches (Chris Gamble, Tom Walsh, Chris Harris, and Darelle Revis of note) have said that Moss doesn't always give 100% and often gives up on routes. Do I believe it? Sure. I've seen it. But if you're the Vikings you knew this already. It's something you considered before bringing him over. [In the words of Sterling Sharpe "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time...the Minnesota Vikings got fooled twice"]. The Vikings were looking for a martyr, when the sacrifice should have been Brett Favre. Did you hear Childress' explanation for letting Moss go? He said that he was a "programmatic non-fit". A what? Is that what you told the remaining players? Is that what you told the owners?

- Brett Favre: You had a lacerated jaw man! Why were you curled up in the fetal position? To me it looked like a man trying to garner sympathy as the ultimate warrior. A man trying to distract his detractors...and Moss paid the bill.

- Better for Moss, he landed with a good organization with a well respected, tenured, coach in Jeff Fisher who knows the x's and o's. He may only be a fill-in for an injured Kenny Britt. But he'll do for now. And Jeff will evaluate the situation and make a fair decision on whether he'll be a Titan next year.

McNabb benched for Rex Grossman?

Are you kidding me?

McNabb doesn't know the 2-min drill? McNabb is not in good enough shape to run the 2-min drill? (Excuse me? McNabb had a 36 yard run in the 2nd Q)

WOW. What a huge insult. Sure McNabb handled it well in front of the media, but make no mistake. This was not a vote of confidence...not game strategy. This is Mike Shanahan sending a big time message to McNabb and the rest of his team. I'm just not sure what the message was, other than to say, I'm not 100% satisfied. But aren't there other ways of telling him that? Like say, directly?

By now you know that the Shanahan's also brought in both Jamarcus Russell and JP Losman for a look-see on Tuesday. Did you know that Russell weighed in at 286 pds? Do you know what his playing weight with the Raiders was (when the entire NFL said he was overweight)? 265 pds. Nice. Look, I think that Mike Shanahan is now coming to understand why the Eagles were fine with letting McNabb go to a division rival. But don't tell me he isn't slightly embarrassed by the last few days' chain of events.

Henne destined for the HOF?

I've been hearing from Fin Fans that Chad Henne will be a future HOFer. So let's compare his 2009 (13 games started) and 2010 numbers (7 games thus far) to Joe Montana's 1980 (7 games started) and 1981 numbers (16 games):

1980 Montana- 176/273, 1795 yds, 64.5 comp%, 15 TDs, 9 Ints, 3.3 Int %

2009 Henne- 274/451, 2878 yds, 60.8 comp%, 12 TDs, 15 Ints, 3.1 Int%

1981 Montana- 311/488, 3565 yds, 63.7 comp%, 19 TDs, 12 Ints, 2.5 Int%

2010 Henne (7 games)- 154/243, 1669 yds, 63.4 comp%, 8 TDs, 7 Ints, 3.1 Int%

*In his 2nd year as a starter for the Dolphins, Henne's numbers look good when compared to Montana's 2nd starting year. However, it is definitely way too early to declare him a future HOFer. Let's wait and see Fin Fans.

C.J. Spiller is the man!

Well not exactly, let's revisit what I'd said about him back in April 2010:

"I personally didn't think he was the best back taken in Round One. In fact, I didn't even think he was the next best Back. I had both Ryan Mathews and Jahvid Best ahead of him. Why? The combine results were fairly even amongst the three, so for me it all boiled down to the game film. Ryan Mathews seemed quicker to the hole, showed better instincts in the field, and seemed harder to tackle than Spiller (although Spiller did seem like the better receiver out of the backfield). While Jahvid Best looks like he's going to be a devestating 3rd down Back. Give him half an inch too much and it's over- watch the film and you'll see what I'm saying".

The only thing I was wrong about was Jahvid Best being a 3rd down Back. He's a full-time back, and once he puts on some muscle and builds up his stamina and durability, he'll blow people away with how good he is. Take it to the bank.

Touch Football Update:

- Canes go to 7-1-1 with a 33-30 comeback win over the Twin Hawks. They game-planned to beat us with crossing routes and double slant patterns but were more lucky than good. We adjusted in time to stop their final drive and seal the win.

- Bear Obessessions take down the Wildcats to move to 1-1 on the young indoor season. Much better effort all around on both sides of the ball. The wildcats were left wondering how they could have lost to a bunch of out of shape Italianos. Wonder no more Wildcats. Wonder no more.

Da Rhino recommends:

- DVD: 'Get Him to the Greek'- A record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater. You'll chuckle your way through this daft, foul mouthed comedy starring Jonah Hill, and Russell Brand. Then you'll cancel your kid's music lessons and wash your own ears out with soap.

- TV: The Tudors (CBC, Tues 9pm)- The multiple Emmy Award-winning 16th-century prime-time soap is back for its fourth and final season, chronicling Henry VIII's turbulent last days as king. Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. If you're into English History, this will not disappoint.

OUT

Ok, listen to me now...

1. Week 7 had to be one of the craziest weeks that I've seen in a long time man. The following are just a few of the highlights:

- Kenny Britt, 225 yards, 3 TDs.

- Dez Bryant, Punt Ret TD, 2 rec TDs.

- NY Giants WR core: 21 recs, 249 yds, 4 TDs.

- DeAngelo Hall, 7 tackles, 4 pics, including a 92 yard pic 6 (and he's highly overrated...teams throw at Hall on purpose...geesh, Cutler made him look like the next coming of Deion Sanders).

- Ryan Fitzpatrick, 29 completions, 374 yards, 4 Touches. Stevie Johnson 8 rec, 158 yards, 1 Touch (Dal Bo was right about this kid). Lee Evans, 6 rec, 105 yards, 3 Touches. The Buffalo O deserves more credit...how could the D let the Ravens back into the game? Ouch.

- David Bowens (Inside LB, Cleveland Browns): 1 tackle, 2 pics, both for Touchdowns. Nice

- Raheem Morris called his Bucs, "the best team in the NFC". Look now, I know you're excited about your thrilling win over the Rams (in which you scored 4 FGs and a TD), but let's not get carried away.

- Carson Palmer, 412 yds, 3 Touches (just when I decide to bench him)

- Bengals WR core, 25 recs, 327 yds, 3 Touches.

- Roddy White, 11 rec, 200 yds, 2 Touches.

- Darren McFadden, 16 carries, 165 yds, 3 Touches. 1 rec TD.

- Favre admits to sending text messages but not lewd photos to Jenn Sterger. C'mon dude...

- Romo out 6-8 weeks with a broken clavicle. Cowboys dreams die hard.

2. Touch Football update:

- Bear Obsessions drop their first game to the Goodfellas, 24-8. In the process losing new player Anthony Veres to a torn achilles. After healing and rehab, Tony is looking to rejoin the team sometime next year.

- Toronto Hurricanes go to 6-1-1, with a 38-28 win over the Savages. Two games left in the season and then the playoffs await.

3. Near misses in Fantasy Football:

- D&G League:

• Kevlar leaves both Kenny Britt and Darren McFadden on the bench.




• UNB leaves Roddy White on the bench.




• Da Rhino leaves Carson Palmer on the bench.




• Black Bayou starts Tony Romo over Eli Manning.




• Patroose leaves Dez Bryant on the bench.




• The Cos leaves Hakeem Nicks on the bench.




• ABT starts Justin Forsett over Adrien Peterson.




• DaCartel has a great week, but leaves Bowe, Harvin, Williams, and McGahee on the bench.

- TonyNFL League:

• Brown Monster leaves Britt on the bench.




• Goose/Nick leave McFadden on the bench.




• Patrone leaves Nicks on the bench.




• Da Rhino leaves Turner on the Bench.

4. Cowboys: Down and Ouch

- Yes, I'd guaranteed a Cowboys win over the visiting Giants. No one is ribbing me this morning because that prediction was well on the way to being fulfilled when Romo went down in a heap. Although Gronkowski missed the block on NYG's LB Michael Boley, the injury could still have been avoided if Romo's arm was not pinned to his side. Now he's out 6-8 weeks with Kitna at the helm for the upcoming Jags, Packers, Giants, Lions, and Saints. Nice.

5. Da Rhino recommends:

• Boardwalk Empire (Sunday Nights, HBO)



• The Wire, Seasons 1-5 DVD Box Set (HBO)



• Avoiding the Cowboys in any Survivor Pool



• Take the Bear Obsessions to beat the Wildcats Wednesday night. Joey wouldn't let the team go 0-2 would he?


• Jerry Jones hire either Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden to lead the Boys in 2011. Time to let go Jerry. Put a real football man in complete control and watch the team blossom. Daniel Snyder learned that lesson. Why can't you?

OUT

Wanna be a baller?

"I'ma baller, I'ma 20-inch crawler

Blades on Impala, diamond rottweiller

Octane hauler, not a leader not follower...

Big ballin', smashin, makin my ends

Smokin big killa gettin high in the Benz..."

Thought I'd lead with a quote that could be attributed to any number of high-profile athletes in the big 4- Black OR White. Fact is, when you're young and makin' a ton, surrounded by beautiful women, the fancy things in life, and all your peers are rolling this way, it is very hard to be different. It takes a man of deep convictions to avoid, and even then it can be very difficult. Now there are extremes, such as making it rain with $40,ooo at a strip club, running over a guy on his way home from work, and beating your girl to within an inch of her life for example. But most professional athletes don't take it that far. But if that were you, at that age, with all of that in front of you, can you honestly say you'd behave any different? Sure, you say. It comes down to how you were raised, how you've been educated you say...your moral value system you say. Yes. Not condoning anything here, but there is a difference between guys who like to step out and have a good time, and numbnuts who are downright dangerous with that kind of power in their hands. Know the difference. Some of the guys that you're shaking your head at, like a disapproving parent, are getting a bad rap.

On the Cover:

Chad's girl is sweet looking you have to admit. You'd step out with her too if you were him. Speaking of stepping out, see Miles stepping out with Kim here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIK_TyOATiU

On to business....


1. First things first. Last time I was here I guaranteed a Cowboys victory over the Texans. I received a lot of emails ranging from polite disagreement, to laughing me off the planet. Funny, didn't hear anything after the game. But perhaps y'all were waiting to see how they'd do against the Titans? Well it was pathetic indeed. Down 3-17, they showed a bit of resolve knotting things up at 17. But then went on to screw up several opportunities to take the lead and win the game. At 1-3, things are very bad in Dallas. Jerry Jones hasn't said it yet, but believe me, jobs are definitely on the line now.

By the way, can anybody tell me why the Boys haven't gone to the Patriots to try and make a deal for Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Logan Mankins? Perhaps a straight-up trade for Tashard Choice (+ a late round pick if necessary). The Pats could use some youth in their RB core, and it's obvious the Boys need help protecting Romo (Titans had 6 sacks) and keeping the running lanes open.



2. Randy Moss to the Vikings for a 3rd round pick: When you're 3-1, leading the division, and he's been part of one of the most explosive QB-WR combinations in history? The Patriots brass has, uh, brass balls.


On the surface this does not look like a wise move. If Moss is unhappy, pull him into the office and reinforce team values. If he's part of the future of your team, sit down with his agent and begin new contract negotiations. But the brass did neither of those things. Instead, they floated him out to a team that they knew to be desperate for a WR and cut the ties. WOW. Makes you think that rumours of separate blow-ups between Moss and Brady and Moss and Belichick are true. Otherwise you grin and bear it, tuck a few more wins under your belt and trade him before the deadline.


Monster value for the Vikings. So what if Moss takes plays off- they're probably running plays! This guy in his sleep is better WR than 90% of the league at his position. If Sidney Rice comes back healthy, the Vikes have to be considered instant Superbowl favourites. Could get ugly a la the Vikings of 98'. [But hold on now...Favre emotional in the locker room due to Dong-Gate being a distraction in the locker room? Hmmm...smells like guilt to me].




But what of the Patriots? Can they really make due with Welker, Tate, Edelmen, and Hernandez? Listen, I think they can still move the ball. But their offense, in the absence of a real running and deep vertical game, becomes really predictable. As good as Brady is, dinks and dunks won't take the Pats to another Superbowl.


As if on queue, word comes now that the Patriots have traded a 4th round pick to the Seahawks for Deion Branch. Should have known. Belichick is Bob Krafty, and nobody's fool. Wouldn't surprise me if they were successful in acquiring Vincent Jackson as well.



3. So Max Hall started for the Cardinals this week. You've gotta figure Leinhart is chuckling wherever he is. He shouldn't be though. He's still not starting. So what if Hall isn't that good yet? So what if Arizona won the ball game without scoring an offensive TD. Leinhart would have found a way for them to lose it for sure.


4. Key injuries for the Packers coming out of Week 5 include Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Clay Matthews, and Nick Barnett. This team is good, but hasn't been blowing people away as expected. This will further test their character and signal whether they're truly ready to take the next step.

5. The immediate next step for the Packers happens to be the Dolphins on Sunday. Here's a team that has showed the potential but hasn't closed the deal over their last 2 games. I consulted a friend of mine who's a die-hard Fin fan and he demanded the firing of the Special Teams coach after the Patriots debacle. Guess what? It happened the next day. He also called Henne something unspeakable and said he hasn't got what it takes. Guess we'll see. In TonyNFL I have him as my QB #2 along with Brandon Marshall as my WR#1. I need them to deliver.




6. Fantasy Hindsight:


- Through 5 weeks Arian Foster is the #1 RB with 562 yds and 4 TDs...and I thought I was reaching when I grabbed him at the top of the 4th round. Not bad


- Hakeem Nicks has compiled 400+ yds and 6 TDs. I had both the intent and opportunity to grab him...but chickened out and took Steve Smith instead based his 2009 numbers. Now someone else is benefiting. Nice


- A lot of you stuck by Larry Fitz and drafted him in the 1st or 2nd round counting on both his ability, and the potential for a come-back year by Derek Anderson. The results? 300 yds and 2 TDs. In the company of such huge stars like Mark Clayton, Eddie Royal, Louis Murphy, Danny Amendola, Jabar Gaffney, and Roy Williams. You be the judge


- I took rookie Mike Williams as my 5th WR based on his performance in training camp, and projections to be the #1 WR, albeit on a bad team. So far the move has paid dividends as the kid has 238 yds and 3 Touches. Compare that to say a Wes Welker (217 yds and 3 Touches), or a Greg Jennings 183 yds and 3 Touches). Not bad


- Was thinking about taking Philip Rivers (1759 yds, 11 TDs, 4 pix) based on Strength of Schedule. But of course, I chickened out and took Matt Schaub (1233 yds, 7 TDs, 5 pix) based on his elite status and, of course, Andre Johnson. It may pan out. But right now Rivers is doing more with less.


- Speaking of doing more with less, take a look at Kyle Orton (1733 yds, 8 TDs, 3 pix).





7. Went out to run an errand for the wife, and of course, took longer than was required. Wife calls me and asks me where I am. Me being the smartass, I say "I went out to see the Gooma, heading back now". Without missing a beat the wife says "So soon? I knew you didn't last long but that's a new record". Nice.





8. Got around to seeing the movie 'Grown Ups' with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Steve Buscemi. This is a very poor movie. Half-way through, I was wondering 'What the hell am I doing here?' Do not see this movie.





9. See this one instead: Solitary Man. I caught it on a recommendation from ABT. Very good film. Michael Douglas has still got it.



OUT

I GOTTA...

...couple tings t' say

1. Reid makes the prudent move and names Vick the Eagles' starter for the foreseeable future. Who dares disputes this besides PETA? Vick has been playing at a high level and Kolb is unproven. Makes sense to me.

2. The Dallas Cowboys are 0-2. Fortunately for them, they've been 0-2 before and have gone on to win the Superbowl. Unfortunately for them, barring an incredible turnaround, I don't see it happening this year. Too much pressure with the Bowl game being played in their own backyard. Talented yes, but since when have you known Wade to field a mentally tough team? I know it's very early, but if the Boys go into their bye week at 0-3, the Cowher watch will be on. But it won't come to that. I personally guarantee a Cowboys victory. It'll be tough sledding. But they'll win.

3. Think I'm crazy do you? Hmmm. I seem to recall being laughed at when I guaranteed the Boys would beat the undefeated Saints on the road last year. The Boys will win and here's why:

- Boys will pound the ball. They've shown they can run in spurts, but they'll need a firm commitment in Week 3. Yes the Texans' run D has been staunch thus far, but how will they fare against the Cowboys big O-line? They'd had challenges protecting Romo, but they can and will open up the running lanes on Sunday.

- Houston is last in the league against the pass. If the boys can run successfully and keep the Texans honest, they'll get the right match-ups in the 2ndry. Picture this, Felix lined up in a single back set, Miles, Bryant, and Williams with Witten running underneath. Whom do you cover? Especially when Felix runs out into the flat? OR put a WR in motion and block down on a LB. The Boys will be able to run or pass out of that set and the Houston D will never know what's comin'.

- Look, the Texans will score when they have the ball. But if the Boys can play ball control, and protect the football, they'll win the ballgame. Put it in 3-INCH BOLD LETTERS

4. Someone explain to me why Thomas Jones is now the starter over Jamaal Charles. Somebody? Anybody?

5. Braylon Edwards: Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! Oh, man...hahahahahaha!!

6. Interesting fact: The 2001 St. Louis Rams go 14-2 losing to the Patriots in the Superbowl. Headcoach? Mike Martz. Defensive Co-ordinator? Lovie Smith. Fast forward to the 2010 Chicago Bears. Head Coach? Lovie Smith. Offensive Co-ordinator? Mike Martz. Can they pull it off again, 9 years later?

7. Random Shots (courtesy of Football Guys):

- WR Chad Ochocinco naturally has an opinion on the Albert Haynesworth situation. From his Twitter feed: "If i had 100 million dollar contract my last name would be changed to whatever team is paying me, announcer = chad bengal on the catch"

- Patriots guard Stephen Neal had this to say about Brady's car accident: "We can't protect him all the time."

- Jim Trotter and Peter King of Sports Illustrated had this great blurb on former Viking and now Bear Chester Taylor. "Chester Taylor is my new favorite player. I asked him why he signed w/Bears & he said, "the money, first and foremost." Why don't more players just say what we all know?

8. Indicted in 2009 on felony drug charges, where is Ryan Leaf now?

"Divorced, he spent time in rehab in British Columbia late last year, and now lives with his parents - although he's often away selling resort packages as the business development manager for a Canadian company.
When he's home, he might drive to a friend's ranch northeast of town to help move cattle, sweep out grain bins or harvest wheat. Other times he might head to a mountain river or lake to fish - a passion since his youth - or play golf or basketball. Some evenings he plays softball in a league"- Betsey Blaney AP

9. Did Brandon Jacobs accidentally toss his helmet into the stands? Nope. He intended to do that. He has a sour attitude and a sense of entitlement. Always has. Even when he was running behind Tiki who was clearly the superior back. Better check himself

OUT

10 THINGS I WANNA KNOW

So the hapless Bills [until proven otherwise] decided to start C.J. Spiller in week 1 and gained 6 total yards for their troubles. What did the blog say on April 28th?

"I personally didn't think he [Spiller] was the best back taken in Round One. In fact, I didn't even think he was the next best Back. I had both Ryan Mathews and Jahvid Best ahead of him. Why? The combine results were fairly even amongst the three, so for me it all boiled down to the game film. Ryan Mathews seemed quicker to the hole, showed better instincts in the field, and seemed harder to tackle than Spiller (although Spiller did seem like the better receiver out of the backfield). While Jahvid Best looks like he's going to be a devestating 3rd down Back. Give him half an inch too much and it's over- watch the film and you'll see what I'm saying".

Da Rhino knows.


But there are some things I don't. So here are 10 THINGS I WANNA KNOW as we get ready for Week 2 in the NFL:


1. Is Arian Foster for real?



2. Will the N.F.L. repeal what is now known as the 'Calvin Johnson' rule?



3. Will the Pack make a play for Marshawn Lynch? Or better yet, Tashard Choice?



4. Does V-Jack end up on the Vikings roster?



5. Did that female reporter (the one with the tight jeans and buttoned down blouse) deserve the 'treatment' she received in the Jets locker room? What did happen anyway? She filed a grievance right?


6. Did the Jets enjoy that slice of humble pie?



7. Is Anquan Boldin not the receiver you'd most want on your team?



8. Can Vick get back to fantasy gold status?


9. Is Percy Harvin a bust?

10. Not only does Matt Forte have gas left in the tank, it appears to be Premium Unleaded. Can Dallas keep this guy under wraps in Week 2?

WALL FLOWERS

Ok here we go...shameless plug for the wife...

Her day job consists of creating artwork for all the little people in the world (see her work at http://www.caribimbi.com/). However, she is also a muralist and loves a good challenge.

Recent work includes hockey jerseys (see inset), Iron Man, Captain America, Vintage Corvettes, and everything Italia.

Want to give back to your kid in a creative way? (bedroom, playroom)

Finally want to personalize your garage space? (you already have the mini-fridge and TV)

But don't have an artistic bone in your body? Good thing she does. Drop her a line at dpiotti@rogers.com. Her work is great and her prices more than reasonable.

Da Rhino

Se7en Things

1. Don Banks on Big Ben: "Can I just go on record and say I don't believe the Steelers were seriously considering a trade of the the suspended Ben Roethlisberger?Were they trying to make him believe they were, to make sure that they absolutely had his undivided attention at this point? You bet. And threatening a trade to the Raiders is the best way possible known to man to do that. Message sent, and I'm assuming message received". Here Here...I was in disbelief when Dal Bo told me that he'd heard the rumour...that would have been a terrible move for the Steelers if they'd followed through.

2. Quote from Peter King: "I'm a little skeptical of C.J. Spiller's ability to lug the rock 300x a year, because he never did it for Clemson..." I personally didn't think he was the best back taken in Round One. In fact, I didn't even think he was the next best Back. I had both Ryan Mathews and Jahvid Best ahead of him. Why? The combine results were fairly even amongst the three, so for me it all boiled down to the game film. Ryan Mathews seemed quicker to the hole, showed better instincts in the field, and seemed harder to tackle than Spiller (although Spiller did seem like the better receiver out of the backfield). While Jahvid Best looks like he's going to be a devestating 3rd down Back. Give him half an inch too much and it's over- watch the film and you'll see what I'm saying.

3. Word from Jason La Canfora regarding guaranteed contracts with no offset clause ( a la Pro Bowl Guard Alan Faneca): "...another prominent player released this season despite a massive guaranteed payment- Jake Delhomme, with nearly $14M guaranteed by the Panthers---also had a no offset clause in his contract, allowing him to make about $20M this season". Alright...for those who watched the Panthers' press conference announcing Delhomme's release- WHAT THE HECK WAS HE CRYING ABOUT?!

4. Like most people I thought Seattle made good moves in this year's draft. But I don't think Pete Carroll is a genius per se as the majority of those moves were prudent. These two players stand out for me: Earl Thomas and Golden Tate. You can expect these guys to make an immediate impact. Earl Thomas' ball-hawking skills remind me of Ed Reed. While Golden Tate plays like a Hines Ward/Steve Smith hybrid. I like him to catch 40-50 balls this year- maybe more.

5. Word is your boy Jarmarcus Russell is weighing in at 300 pounds (that's with a capital 3). Has anyone not told this guy that he's an inch away from being a total bust? If he gets cut by Oakland, he might not get another chance.

6. Was just thinking about my man Marion Barber (a.k.a. The Barbarian a.k.a. The Butcher from Barbersville). Is there anyway that he sees more carries than Felix Jones this year? The smart money says not a chance. He'll likely revert to his closer role in 2006 when he had 135 carries for 654 yards with 23 recepts for 196 yards. However, you can bet just like that year (14 TDs) he'll be a TD Beast at the goal-line. With that brutal schedule, the Boys will need all the help they can get so don't expect a trade here.

7. Yes you read it correctly- The Bills intend to keep both Trent 'Captain Checkdown' Edwards, and Marshawn 'The Inch' Lynch. Figured they'd keep Edwards after waiting to draft Levi Brown late. But they didn't do him any favours by not resigning T.O. As for Marshawn, why not package him up and trade down in the 4th round to grab WR Mike Williams? Marshawn's value is worth little or nothing now. He can probably be had for a cup of coffee and a "thank you very much...I hope we have better luck with him than you did". The other side of that coin says you keep him around as he gives you a serviceable back-up, and injury protection. Guess we'll see.

Se7en Things.

5 THINGS...

1. Alright, many of you know already that if you looked really really closely, you could spot Captain America's shield in Tony Stark's lab during one scene ("ok let's face it, you've caught me in worse position than this"- T.S.). Apparently in Iron Man 2, they'll be more suprises intended to set up the bond between the two characters. [Also, in one of the deleted scenes of The Incredible Hulk, if you look really really closely, you can spot Captain America's frozen body being loosed by Bruce Banner's alter-ego (quite by accident)]. Marvel is setting things up quite nicely. Why can't D.C. get their act together?

2. Tiger Woods will make his return to Golf at the upcoming Masters Tournament. A word from Mike Walker, Senior Editor, Golf Magazine:

“As a four-time champion, Tiger Woods has every right to resume his career at the Masters this April, but I wish he wouldn't... what's going to happen to the Masters when the Tiger circus comes to town? Get ready for souped-up security lines, paparazzi stakeouts at all entrances to the club (the Washington Road Starbucks is going to love this), and the ultimate "Where's Waldo?" as everybody tries to figure out where Woods is staying...”

Mike Walker might be right. A less auspicious return might have been wise. But like I said before, Tiger isn’t the only professional golfer with skeletons in the closet. Leave the guy alone. Personally I hope he opens up a can of ‘whoop-ass’ on the field and claims another Master’s Championship.

3. According to the Associated Press, Ben Roethlisberger (QB, Pittsburgh Steelers) “has yet to meet with Georgia authorities who are investigating a sexual assault allegation made against him by a 20-year-old college student”. Don’t think racial issues persist in this day and age? The alleged assault took place in Georgia. If the accused had been a big African American NFL player (Ben is 6’5” 240pds), he’d already be in Georgia State Prison serving a 20 year sentence. Believe that.

4. Was at a Ralph Lauren outlet store the other day...the cashier next to mine politely asked the customer she was serving (a young dude very interested in making sure that his pants sat below his buttocks), “...would you like to receive coupons by providing your email and address?”. The young man hesitated, then shrugged after completing what seemed like a mental check and then replied “alright...yeah...what do I gotta do?” To which the amused cashier (who had to look down at this point) replied “uh...provide your email and address”. Wow...where do you think education ranks on his totem pole?

5. Read an article in the NY Times about a group of men who were sexually abused as children by Priest Lawrence C. Murphy at a school for the deaf in Wisconsin.

“They used sign language, written affidavits and graphic gestures to show what exactly Father Murphy had done to them. But their reports fell on deaf ears of hearing people”.

Here’s the kicker, in 1996 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now known as Pope Benedict XVI) received letters about this case from an Archbishop in Milwaukee. The Vatican sat on the case until the priest died in 1998. It turns out that Father Murphy may have molested as many as 200 boys between 1950 and 1974. Even after he was first accused, he continued to lead youth retreats for another 24 years.

Listen, no man is perfect; therefore, it stands to reason that no church organization is perfect and not without sin in its proverbial ‘closet’. However, the number of cases of specifically Catholic priests abusing young boys is out of control...and has been for decades. At what point does the Vatican actually do something about this? Beyond of course a prayer read during Palm Sunday’s papal service asking God to help "the young and those who work to educate and protect them" (according to Vatican Radio, that statement was intended to “sum up the feelings of the church at this difficult time when it confronts the plague of paedophilia”). The plague? Try the Tsunami. To rub salt into the wound, the Pope got a little defensive on Palm Sunday as well in the face of a barrage of questions about his handling of sex abuse cases in the past. He said that faith in God leads one “towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion”. Wow...good come back. Try this one on for size:

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones...it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea”- Matthew 18:6

10 THINGS...plus one

1. Anyone interested in the new Captain America movie coming out in 2012? Here are some comments from the Director Joe Johnston [The Wolfman]:

“It's not going to be a Captain America that you expect...he's a super hero without any super powers...he can't fly, he can't see through walls...an every man who's been given this amazing gift...the pinnacle of human perfection...some great action sequences...and some incredible stuff that we've never seen before...at the heart of it, it's a story about this kid who all he wants to do is fit in...and he still doesn't fit in”

2. Port-Au-Prince: As a result of the earthquake, some 4,000 criminals are still on the loose. Hard to understand what that must be like here in prosperous North America right? Allow me to help you with that: The Pelican Bay Supermax prison in California holds exactly 4,000 inmates. The 277 million dollar prison is an international model of sensory deprivation and isolation where half of the occupants are locked in their cells 23 hours a day. Now imagine if an earthquake hit and freed all of these men. The most hardened, violent men roaming your community would wake you up now wouldn’t it? If you haven’t done so already, give to Haiti and help their people and government recover.

3. Brett Favre on retirement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqAWv2wCW8I&feature=related

4. Ok, so the Saints won...big deal. They outplayed the favoured Colts and brought new status to a city desperate for re-birth. Yada, yada, yada. I dunno...I’m a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing. I wasn’t leaping out of chair with joy (like when I thought the Cards were going to beat the Steelers last year). Yeah the Saints deserved it. But I re-watched the game only once and then promptly erased it from my PVR. Not interested...is it just me?

5. Just a few not so bold predictions:

Reggie Bush will be a Redskin next year.
Donte Stallworth will be a Redskin next year. (Ok, I was wrong about this one. But the Ravens would’ve been my next choice!)
Steve Breaston wants to be a starter. Could you see him in Cleveland or Baltimore?
Troy Smith to Miami?
Julius Peppers to Washington, Oakland, or New England.
Roy Williams, Sam Hurd, Alonzo Coleman and Pat Watkins to Denver. Brandon Marshall to Dallas (Jerry will do anything to give his Boys a SB home game next year).
Anquan Boldin to Da Bears.
Fast Willie Parker to Houston.
Is Joey Galloway finally done?
Antonio Bryant to Tennessee.
LenDale White or Chester Taylor to Washington.
Despite Mike Holmgren’s presence, the Browns will not win more than 4 games next season. Why? Mangini isn’t that great of a coach. And no one wants to play there.
The Jaguars will cut WR Torry Holt (ok, I cheated on that one)
The Bengals will sign WR Matt Jones (ok, I cheated on that one too...geesh)
We keep hearing about McNabb to the Vikings...I dunno...not sure I can really see that. If McNabb goes there he’ll just ruin that team with his inconsistency. Hmmm....hope he goes there then. Dallas has a road game there next year.

6. Congratulations to the D&G Football Playoff pool winners:
1st- Guido 316
2nd- Obsessions
3rd- Ivano!

7. Football is over...time to turn my full attention to the NBA. Check out these poster shots:
Corey Brewer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfb3pTm2Hw
Derrick Rose http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwarjipfn3s&feature=related
Dwayne Wade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWcI-0PKqAc&feature=related

8. I went to the Autoshow and checked out what’s to come. For me the two showstoppers were the new Audi R8 convertible, and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG . The Audi boasts an impressive 525hp with 390pds of torque. The Mercedes comes back with a V8 that produces 571hp and 479pds of torque. Both cars hit 0-100 km/h in < 4 seconds with a top speed of around 317 km/h. Nice.

9. I don’t know for certain, but I’m fairly confident that Shani Davis is the only brother competing in Vancouver. Naturally he won a gold medal in his event. That’s what brothers do. The Jamaican Bobsled team unfortunately failed to qualify. If they had, for sure they would’ve won gold as well. You know it...don’t pretend that you don’t.

10. Tiger Woods held his much-anticipated press conference today. Cameron Morfit had this to say in closing out his live blog of the event:

“The only thing we know is that Woods has been hiding under all that hubris some humility, which is somehow reassuring. I still don't understand the timing of the announcement, and the only thing I learned is that he might write off the entire 2010 season. That would be a shame for the fans, but for Woods, the golf has to come second. Good for him for somehow keeping it together emotionally, more or less, and good for him for being genuinely apologetic”.

Alright, now leave the boy alone please. There are at least 50 other dudes on the tour that have cheated on their wives...and probably 10 of them with Rachel Uchitel as well.

11. Huge Debate over who the best QB to ever play the game was/is. I look at it as best ever to play the position and not just win/loss stats as it’s a team game. Others focused on how they performed when it really counted i.e. playoff and Super Bowl appearances. Not everyone agreed with me, but here is my ranking:

o Joe Montana
o Peyton Manning
o Tom Brady
o Dan Marino
o Brett Favre
o John Elway

What’s yours?

10 THINGS...

1. Reggie Bush sucks. I told you. That guy is a bust-out! Now because I said that these will be his SB stats: 60 RuYds, 1 TD and 70 ReYds 1 TD. I hate that guy and so do you.

2. Peyton puts the 'Man' in Manning. That guy is a stud. For sure he carves up the Saints D. But the real question is will the Colts' D be able to slow down Drew Brees?

3. Nope. That's why we'll have a crazy shoot-out. Last team with the ball wins. But back to Peyton. I keep hearing people say that he can't be considered the best ever (Brady, Montana, Elway, Marino, etc.). But c'mon have you ever seen a field general of his caliber? Did those other guys necessarily make everyone around them better? (yes to Montana and Marino). Peyton has to be in the discussion of greatest ever to play the position. He's just too good.

4. Took in the Saints-Vikings game at the Brown Monster's (a.k.a. Brown Out, and one half of BrownFish). In attendance were Guido-316 (a.k.a the other half of BrownFish), Stanky Legg (winner of the 20th Anniv of TonyNFL), and the Patrone (a.k.a. one half of Patroose a.k.a Orange 'Patroose' Jones). Nice basement Brown-man! An elegantly appointed man-bar with deep woods and modern cupboards (tiled bar floor of course in case of spilled beverages [insert Guido can't hold his liquor comment here]). A wood floor complimented by dark wood shelving adorned with all manner of sports and jazz paraphernalia. It even came complete with a 'kids section' (no doubt a mandatory requirement from the wife). Great game, great company. And Patrone, Brown-man, Guido and Stanky are all right too.

5. I miss Football already.

6. Anyone catch the LeBron vs. Wade battle? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krCTmHSqdYg These boy have skills [insert Da Rhino wishes he was tall/skilled enough to play in the NBA comment here].

7. Ok, remember my last post about Hyundai and the 2 lesbo chicks? It apparently doesn't stop there my friends. Check out this banned Hyundai commercial from France! And if it's banned in Europe....http://www.girlskissingtube.com/video/9ii7N0Vdr-M/Banned-Commercials-Hyundai-video-commercial-from-france.html

8. D&G Fantasy Football rocks the house man!

9. Had this discussion at the Brown-man's house: Who do you take #1 next year in your fantasy draft? Chris Johnson, Drew Brees, or Aaron Rodgers?

10. Ok, yes I said that Reggie Bush is wack. Time to apologize. He's the one playing professional football. He's the one making millions of $$ every year. He's the one with Kim Kardashian. I'm the one writing '10 Things' to keep things interesting. But I still hate him.

OUT

10 THINGS...

1. Did anyone know that the great Cowboy DE Charles Haley (the only player in league history to own Five Super bowl rings) has a bipolar disorder? Haley’s on-field/off-field behaviour made for an interesting time at Valley Ranch during the Cowboy’s heyday in the early 90’s. Better now, he’s repaired his life and has things in order. Haley now wants to become a pass rush coach and feels he could show young players like DeMarcus Ware how to be even greater “"DeMarcus needs an inside move...he's just all outside speed. A pass rusher has three moves; inside, power rush and speed”. We congratulate Charles on his Hall of Fame nomination and wish him the best of luck.

2. Did you hear about this?
NEW YORK - A Bangladeshi taxi driver in New York City said he returned a lost purse containing more than $21,000 in cash and expensive jewelry because his mother always advised him to be honest.
Look, I know that we all love our mothers (right?), but would any of us give back $21K in found money? (Note that the jewelry was worth several thousand more on top of that). I’m still wrestling with this one.

3. Little known fact: When Sean Payton came to New Orleans and was looking for a quarterback, guess who his first choice was? Tony Romo. He offered Dallas a 2nd round pick for the then back-up knowing his potential from being his quarterbacks’ coach/offensive coordinator during his tenure with the Cowboys. If the deal had gone through Drew Brees would likely be a Dolphin today. I think Miami got the raw end of this one.

4. I’ve long been a big critic of Reggie Bush (wacker). I don’t feel he’s ever lived up to the hype of the big time player he was supposed to be coming into the league in 2006. Check out his career stats:
1940 RuYds, 17 TDs
1934 ReYds, 11 TDs
628 PrYds, 4 TDs
However, I will give credit where it’s due. He had himself a nice game against the Cardinals. But, let’s not forget that was against a team that gave up 90 points in two playoff games. Can he repeat a performance like that against the Vikings?

5. Don’t think so. The Vikings looked solid on both sides of the ball on Sunday. Think about it, they completely silenced the team that went into the Superdome and ended the Saints’ undefeated streak. At points the Cowboys looked inept against that Vikings pass rush. I expect a similar performance in the NFC Championship. Not saying the Vikings will win, but if Favre is in the zone, like he was against Dallas, they’ll be tough to beat.

6. The Bills hire Chan Gailey to be their next HC. I almost fell off my chair when I heard this one. I thought this guy was long dead man. And yes, I unfortunately do remember his tenure as the HC in Dallas- couldn’t wait for him to leave. But who knows, maybe he turns things around over there in Buffalo...stranger things have happened right?

7. Anyone still sounding off on the Colts for resting their starters over the final 2 games? Maybe a few, but that’ll all go away when they take down the upstart Jets and head to Miami for the Super bowl. This could be a great example of ‘Quality not Quantity’.

8. Anyone see that Hyundai commercial that they keep running during football games? The brunette sees the car and leaves a note with her lip imprint and phone# in the wiper blades. Then a blonde comes along and, with a sly smile, sticks the note in her purse and hops into the car. Geesh, where are we Europe? I know sex sells but this is getting ridiculous! Now lesbian sex fantasies sell cars?! Damn, I’m getting old man.

9. The D&G Playoff Pool is heating up as usual. Stanky has shaken a legg and taken over the top spot with The Cos right on his heels. But the target is still Obsessions a.k.a. Cologne Boy. He must be knocked out of the money. This guy is not going to collect two D&G cheques in one year if we can help it!

10. To the folks in Haiti...may God bless and keep you in this time of tribulation. D&G faithful, please give if you can. As difficult as things can get for us sometimes, we’re still better off than a lot of people in the world.

10 THINGS- WILD WEEKEND

1. So the Seahawks have hired Pete Carroll to replace recently fired HC Jim Mora. His salary is even purported to be $32.5 over x number of years. But before making it official, the Seahawks, in order to comply with the Rooney rule, interviewed Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. What a crock....such an insult. If you're not going to interview me as a serious candidate, don't interview me at all. This is what Roger Goodell had to say in their defense: "I can assure you they have complied with the rule with the information that I have. I mean, I've been in contact with them, so they've been in compliance. I can't give all the details, but they're in compliance." Whatever Roger...

2. One hell of a game between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. Best playoff game I've ever seen. I know we expected a shoot-out but a 51-45 over-time game?! WOW! Incredible performances by both the young sharpshooter Aaron Rodgers and the ageless general Kurt Warner. I wonder how many guys in the D&G Playoffs selected Karlos Dansby as their defensive player? Hmmmm...

3. All year I've written very honestly about the Dallas Cowboys. I've let them have it when they've played poorly, and dished it out on upper management. But I always said I believed in the team (go back and check!). Although I somehow knew they would go into New Orleans and beat the Saints, I didn't have as much faith that they'd defeat both the Redskins and Eagles on their way to the division title. And yes, I wasn't high on our chances of beating the Eagles for the 3rd time this season with so much on the line. But wow, these guys are for real. Can they go into Minnesota and beat the Vikings? Sure they can. I think they can beat anybody right now. Anybody. But will they? Dunno. The Cowboy faithful will wait and see with bated breath.

4. Remember my Nov 3rd blog update on the Titans? I said the following: "Well now that Vince Young is at the helm, I think the Titans win all of their remaining games and go on to represent the AFC in the Superbowl where they’ll spank the life out of the Saints 41-14". I was joking of course. But Vince Young and co. went 8-2 over their last 10 games! Almost made me look bad there...heck, I still look bad on that one. Good for you Jeff Fisher.

5. Remember my Nov 16th blog update on coaches that need to be fired? "[These are the ]Coaches that need to be fired before you finish reading this sentence: Dick Jauron, and Eric Mangini. Coaches that can wait until the end of the season: Tom Cable and Jim Zorn. Coaches that need to be hired next season: Cowher, Holmgren, and Shanahan". Dick Jauron? Check. Mangini? Barely survives. Cable? Could be this week. Zorn? Check. Cowher? Would he go to Jacksonville if Del Rio left? Holmgren? Now running the show in Cleveland. Shanahan? Will try and lead the Redskins back to respectability. I didn’t do to badly now did I?

6. What is all the hubub in Philly about trading away McNabb? Yes I know he's inconsistent, but he's only been the best QB in the history of the Eagles franchise. I know Philly is a tough town but this is ridiculous!

7. Rising stars in next year's fantasy draft?
- Jamaal Charles
-Miles Austin
-Ray Rice
-Felix Jones
-Cedric Benson
-Beanie Wells
-Sidney Rice
-Justin Forsett

...just to name a few. Who did I miss?

8. It's well known that Aaron Rodgers did not go #1 in the 2005 draft. Wanna know a few of the names that went ahead of him?
-Alex Smith
-Ronnie Brown
-Braylon Edwards
-Cedric Benson
-Cadillac Williams
-Pacman Jones
-Antrel Rolle
-DeMarcus Ware
-Shawne Merrian
-Marcus Spears
-Mark Clayton
-Matt Jones

Who went right after him? Jason Campbell.

Some good players went ahead of him, but all of the teams save perhaps Dallas and Miami, are scratching their heads right now.

9. The best WR ever
- Is it really Jerry Rice?
-If I look at skill, technique, consistency, longevity,stats, and overall contribution to the league it probably is Jerry. But I like Cris Carter a lot better for the money.

10. D&G Playoff pool!
- Can you believe that Obsessions a.k.a. Cologne Boy is in the lead after the Wild Card Weekend? C'mon guys...if you let him win the playoff pool (after just taking home the regular season Championship) you won't stop hearing about it until 2012. Build yourselves up and make a run man!