Anyone watching Sunday's tilt between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals saw some truly bizarre happenings, from the opening kick off return for a TD to a game sealing punt block for a TD in OT.  Yet one thing that stuck with me was how asinine the tuck rule is and I'll explain why.

Late in the 2nd quarter with Dallas backed up in their own end and trailing by seven, the Cardinals got to Tony Romo in the endzone and what at the very least should've been a safety and at most a fumble recovery for a TD to make it a 14-0 game instead was overruled because Romo "tucked" the ball in.  This in my mind sets a poor precedent, essentially telling QB's if you're in such a situation, just act as though you're tucking the ball away as to avoid a safety, TD or change of possession. 

 If I'm the NFL competition committee I would seriously look into changing this rule, that if you're the quarterback and the intention is to tuck the ball away while in the endzone while in the grasp of a defender, that the result of the play is a safety.

 In another observation from this game did anyone else smile a little bit when Ken Whisenhunt called a time out and got burned on the final field goal kick to send the game to OT?  Have to love it when these coaches get to thinking they're so cute. 

Actually Whisenhunt with two time outs remaining would've looked like a genius had he called time out before the Cowboys clocked the ball, given one of his defenders was hurt and couldn't get back across the line of scrimmage.  Hence the Cowboys would've been forced to kick a 57 yarder rather than the 52 from having the five yard offside penalty tacked on, enabling Nick Folk to boot the game tying score. 

 Considering that the Cowboys appropriately played the Cardinals, is it fair to say they aren't who many "thought they were?"

I hope the censors don't catch this one because ESPN has become the worst four-letter word in sports.  If Wayne Gretzky called the Disney owned company a "mickey mouse" organization, you'd never know about it because let's face it they never cover hockey.  What was once the great "Big Show" with the likes of Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick has turned into a "Big Soap Opera," so much so that Vince McMahon should sue for copyright infringement. 

Here is a bevy of reasons why I cannot stand ESPN:

1.) Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre.  Oh sure they've done this before with Michael Jordan and Roger Clemens, but I don't need to hear  from everyone from Chris Mortensen to Joe Beercan from Madison, Wisconsin on every single angle possible.  Here's something that takes ten seconds boys and girls, if he's not playing he's retired, if he's playing, he's playing, just let me know that and I'm fine ok.

2.) Gimmicks.  What do I mean by gimmicks?  Does "Title Town" come to mind?  How about "Who's Now?"  Remember what a doozie that one was?

3.) The so-called "experts."  You know the self-aggrandizing ex-jocks and or execs. who think that since they played the game that they know everything and that you're too stupid to know anything because you never played the game.  Steve Phillips has to be the worst, John Kruk is pretty awful and Sean Salisbury a scrub quarterback and self-proclaimed know-it-all, Mel Kiper Jr. and I can keep going on and on and on. 

4.) The Rush Limbaugh wannabees.  In fact ESPN even went so far as to hire Rush awhile back, while I don't agree ideologically with Mr. Limbaugh, he at least is an expert at his craft.  However a lot of these personalities on ESPN are trying to be edgy and opinionated and in your face just for the sake doing it.  Names that come to mind are Stephen A. "everything I have to say is important," Jemele "racist" Hill, Skip "clueless" Bayless, etc.

5.) Virtually no hockey highlights.  I understand you don't cover the sport ESPN, but show me some highlights.

6.) Same old story, same old song and dance.  Favre, T.O., Barry Bonds, A-Rod, Manny, Spygate, Steroids.  Can a man get some sports highlights please?

7.) Poker all the time, even on ESPN Classic.  Remember when ESPN Classic (formerly classic sports) used to actually show classic games and events?

8.) They even managed to ruin ESPN News!  I used to flip over there to get away from the garbage, apparently someone found out because I can't escape it there either.

9.) Kobe and Shaq soap opera.  Fine so the Shaq rapping video was funny, but I don't need 20 minutes of analysis on it.  Heck as a Celtics fan it almost cost me a championship, because Paul Pierce almost blew out his knee slipping on all of that drool they were foistering on Kobe.

10.) ESPN2 has become irrelevant.

11.) ESPN original entertainment.  Memo to ESPN, you are not HBO and you never will be.

12.) Showing 20 minutes of NFL Live in June instead of an hour of Baseball Tonight.

13.) My wish segments.  Great captivating stories, very well done packages, but does it belong on an "all sports network?"

14.) Firing Harold Reynolds over nothing.  He must've been too good and too knowledgeable for that network. 

15.) The Outdoor Games.  Stop trying to force people to like stuff and stop pretending that they actually do or care.

16.) Fake news conferences, especially using that fake baseball GM Steve Phillips.

17.) ESPN deportes on SportsCenter.  If ESPN deportes was so great, I'd be watching it right now.  But oh yeah funny thing is, I never do!

18.) The fact that they still cover the WNBA as if someone other than lesbians are still watching.

19.) Their eye candy isn't hot enough to be that stupid.  If you're going to have attractive people on that don't know what they're talking about that's fine, just make sure that they can at least hack it in the SI Swimsuit Issue ok? 

20.) Disney owns them and Disney is evil, need I say more?

Week 17 NFL Picks (Last week 10-6, overall season record 149-90).

Patriots over Giants: Pats and their fans and fans of NFL history are the only one's who should remotely care about this one.  Memo to Giants, rest your best.  For a game that should be a glorified exhibition, I don't blame Giants fans for selling their tickets to Pats fans, besides maybe the road atmosphere will help them, you know the same way it helped them when they played a road game against the New Orleans Saints at the Meadowlands.

Eagles over Bills: Both teams fighting extremely hard down the stretch, both victims of the injury bug, some last minute heartbreak and just plain ran out of schedule.

Seahawks over Falcons: Seattle doesn't have to try but Atlanta never does.

Bears over Saints: Yes the Bears are done but they enjoy playing spoiler.  Saints are still alive but really their season ended last week.

Browns over 49ers: Wouldn't shock me if the Niners won considering how they've played of late.  Browns have to be sick to their stomach's, but then again typical choke-job by Cleveland.

Lions over Packers: Logic says the Pack no matter what, but I have a feeling Detroit really wants that 8-8 record.

Texans over Jaguars: Another pick that emphasizes which team will play hard and which team doesn't even have to show up.

Panthers over Buccaneers: I'll give the Bucs the benefit of the doubt in resting their guys but are they showing their true colors of being an inflated team in a bad division?

Dolphins over Bengals: That's right make it two for the Fins, with Tuna hovering above them.

Chiefs over Jets: Chiefs at least look like they have some life, while the Jets are playing more conservative than Ronald Reagan.

Steelers over Ravens: Big Ben will likely rest but the Ravens are just pathetic.

Redskins over Cowboys: Washington should've beaten Dallas in Big-D and Todd Collins and company should prevail this week against a Cowboys team that will just plain take a nap.  Think there'll be some upset Saints and Vikings fans?

Cardinals over Rams: OK terrific!

Vikings over Broncos: The Vikings eyes may have been bigger than their stomach's would allow and they could be kicking themselves as much as Cleveland when all is said and done.  Is Mike Shanahan the most teflon coach in the NFL?

Chargers over Raiders: Chargers are playing like they want the three seed and may well get it.

Titans over Colts: Assuming they've won by this point, Cleveland fans will cringe at the mention of Jim Sorgi.  The Titans usually find a way to win, but their game last week was absolutely ugly.

Week 16 NFL Picks (Last week 8-8, overall season record 139-84).   

Steelers over Rams: Steelers look sluggish and if they don't pick it up soon the AFC North could go to the Dawg Pound.

Cowboys over Panthers: Hmmm a "new and changed T.O." huh?  Lose a game and guess who pipes up, about Jessica Simpson of all people?  Will John Fox end up coaching in Miami next season?  Of course Randy Moss hasn't made a peep with the Pats because, well they haven't lost yet.

Giants over Bills: My better instincts tell me to pick the Bills, even though they're out of it.  But the Giants seem to play better when everybody writes them off and have been markedly better on the road this season, though with Jeremy Shockey out, Orchard Park will be no picnic for Eli Manning.

Packers over Bears: The Pack has learned from their loss in Dallas and the Bears just don't have the horses anymore to get it done.

Browns over Bengals: The last time these two met they combined for 96 points.

Chiefs over Lions: Both of these teams just look so beat.

Colts over Texans: Colts look to wrap up the two seed and the Texans look like they'll be competing tor a Wild Card spot... next year.

Jaguars over Raiders: Fun game... or not.

Saints over Eagles: Eagles are out of it, usually the Saints would lose this kind of game but Drew Brees has gotten back on track with some big games of late.

Cardinals over Falcons: This game is well, not even for the birds.

Buccaneers over 49ers: Both teams have QB's that used to play for the other team... after that I got nothin'.

Patriots over Dolphins: This just in, Bill Parcells signs on with Buffalo after they name the team after him!

Seahawks over Ravens: Yawn.

Titans over Jets: Ask me do I care, Titans say yes.

Vikings over Redskins: If this game were in Washington I might feel different.  Vikes have won the last four in this series, including last year 19-16.

Chargers over Broncos: I often wonder how good San Diego really could be if they had a competent coach.

Week 6 NFL Picks (Last week 8-6, overall season record 45-31). 

Bengals over Chiefs: Can't trust the Chiefs even at home, hopefully for the Bengals they figured some stuff out during the bye week.

Texans over Jaguars: Usually I'd pick the Jags at home where they are very tough, however they really haven't played anybody yet.  The Texans will be getting Andre Johnson back, so look out.

Browns over Dolphins: Could the Dolphins become the only franchise to have an undefeated season and a winless season?  Meanwhile the Browns have continued to play much better than expected. 

Redskins over Packers: You didn't think the Packers would stay that hot or undefeated for that long did you?  Washington is solid, could easily be undefeated and rebounded quite nicely last week.

Ravens over Rams: Just a putrid matchup.

Bears over Vikings: Even though the Vikings are coming off a bye and usually play well at Soldier Field, I'll give the Bears the benefit of the doubt in this one, coming off a big win against Green Bay.

Eagles over Jets: Two teams that had nice stories to their season's last year, both look completely lost this time around.

Titans over Buccaneers: Usually I'd take the Bucs at home but once again all Vince Young does is win football games.  That and the Titans are 2-0 already against the NFC South, which is exactly the same record the Bucs have against their own division.

Cardinals over Panthers: Kurt Warner vs. Vinny Testaverde, what is this 1998-99?  What Steve DeBerg and Dave Kreig weren't available?  Both teams are in first place somehow.

Patriots over Cowboys: Did you see how the Bills essentially manhandled the Cowboys on Monday Night?  Imagine if they had a competent veteran QB and coach.  New England does and they have a pretty solid defense as well.  Dallas is still a playoff caliber team, but remember this is Wade Phillips we're talking about here.

Raiders over Chargers: The first place Raiders always seem to give the Chargers hell, whether at home or away.  Good signs from the Chargers last week, though I'm not too impressed with Denver, whom Oakland should've beat.

Seahawks over Saints: Inconsistency loves company.  I should've known before the season started, the Saints are always going to be the Saints no matter what.  Seattle, like last week I'm on them again, hopefully I don't get burned again.

Giants over Falcons: Seemst to me last season the Giants bowled over the Falcons.  No fluke backup QB's will knock off the Giants anymore, Jacobs and Ward are just too much.

For the start of the Jerry Reese era as the GM of the New York Giants, one thing is clear: "We don't want you if you don't want to be here."  This became evidently clear when the Giants decided not to bend over backwards in trying to convince Tiki Barber to comeback, even if that meant firing coach Tom Coughlin in the process.  They appear to be sending the same message to Michael Strahan, that they're not afraid to sign Simeon Rice or hand the DE spot to youngster Justin Tuck. 

This is all somewhat reminiscent of the Dan Reeves era when the old guard of Bill Parcells Giants was shown the door and there were contract disputes with QB Phil Simms amongst others.  However, these Giants aren't nearly in as bad of shape as those Giants talent wise.

Perhaps now the message has been sent, that virtually everyone is expendible.  That of course could usher in the possibilty that Coughlin has more backing that originally thought and that a youth movement would work more to Coughlin's advantage.  To Coughlin's credit he is a very sound technical coach, however his handling of players and drill sargent mentality has made for a team that comes out as gang-busters but wears down and fades late due to injuries. 

Given that Reese has cut a lot of dead weight in Carlos Emmons, Luke Petitgout and LaVar Arrington, would it really suprise anyone if Strahan was given the "Bernie Williams treatment?"  After all, despite having a Pro-Bowl season in 2005 with 81 tackles and 11.5 sacks, Strahan has missed 15 games due to injury over the last three seasons. 

If healthy Strahan still has the talent and his leadership would be a plus to a relatively young defense.  However if he wants L.T.'s sack record, like his old coach Jim Fassel once said, "the chips are on the table," if Strahan wants in, he's in, if he wants out the Giants will call his bluff.