This NFL season will be remembered for many things.  The Patriots have gone undefeated and if they win the Super Bowl this season will be remembered as one of the most incredible in the league’s history.  There is much to talk about; Brett Favre, at 38, is playing like he is 28 and leading the Packers to a division title and probably a run to the NFC title game.  Tom Brady has broken Peyton Manning’s single season touchdown record while having the most impressive statistical season of his already hall-of-fame career.  Devin Hester has proven that last year was not a fluke by shredding kick coverages like Sandy Berger shredding top secret documents from the National Archives.  But one of the most interesting stories has to be the fact that Terrell Owens and Randy Moss are getting more attention for what they are doing on the field rather than off the field.  Both are behaving very well (by comparison) and doing most of their talking on the field rather than off.  The press has been so desperate to find a misstep that they stretched the non-story of Owens’ (obvious joke) comments regarding Romo’s ‘girl jinx’ into a two day story.  Why is this?  No doubt in part it is because each of their teams are doing well and, of course, they are getting the ball.  But, that does not entirely explain their ‘good’ behavior.  I attribute their behavior to something I call “The Jordan Factor.”

Even casual fans of the NBA are aware of the second three-peat of the Michael Jordan led Bulls that featured one of the craziest characters in league history, Dennis Rodman.  Dennis Rodman was a key part of the second title run by the Bulls by being the ultimate roll player in support of Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan.  However, his previous stop with the San Antonio Spurs was not the same success even though the Spurs were led by a legitimate star of their own, David Robinson.  Rodman acted up in San Antonio until they finally ran him out of town.  Unlike in Chicago, his antics were frequent and were detrimental to the team.  Rodman never respected David Robinson and, as a result, never acted liked he cared about the team.  Things changed when he went to Chicago and now had to answer to Michael Jordan.  Rodman clearly respected Jordan and other key players on the team because they were already proven winners.  He was far from perfect, but he showed up and played hard every game and didn’t snipe at his teammates.  He was happy to go out every night, play defense and grab 18 boards and help the team win.  Rodman needed a proven superstar and proven performer to help keep him in line.  No coach was going to do that, it needed to be a teammate.

Randy Moss and Terrell Owens have similar situations for them in this season.  This theory holds truer with Moss and Brady than it does with Owens and Romo, but the Randy Moss situation has really been amazing.  Anyone who has followed Moss’ career knows that he would take plays off when he knew the ball was not going to him and was a ghost when asked to block on running plays.  Not so in New England.  Not only has Moss set a new season record for touchdown receptions, but he is also saying all the right things and doing the dirty little jobs on the field that he never would before.  I have actually witnessed Moss throwing a block on a running play.  More than once.  I have heard him say in interviews that team goals are more important than personal achievements.  Yeah, that was Randy Moss that said that.  Owens has also been on good behavior but probably not for the same reasons.  For Owens, I believe it has more to do with the fact that he does not have to fight with Romo for the biggest ego on the team.  Romo defers to Owens and does not fight with him for the spotlight.  Plus, the Cowboys are winning and Romo has made it clear that Owens is his number 1 target.  That makes Terrell a very happy boy.

Conclusion?  First and foremost, winning tends to cure all ills.  But, even more important, you either need a proven superstar to supplant the ego of the malcontent or you need a superstar who will not fight for the spotlight and play to the ego of the tough personality.  Either way, it has created winning seasons and the two best records  in their respective conferences.

Boy, these playoffs are going to be fun!!!