Note: I started writing this post before the firing of Scott Linehan, so there's no revisionist history going on here. Pretend you're reading this while all the coaches who started the season still had their jobs.

When the going gets tough, the head coach often goes to the unemployment line. As several teams have gotten off to starts that fall below their organization's expectations, we'll likely be seeing a few NFL coaches get the ax this season. Which coach is most deserving of immediate removal though? Let's look at the prime candidates:

Brad Childress, Minnesota. The Vikings entered this season with high hopes, but their record is 1-3. Childress has been criticized for running a conservative, predictable offense and poor communication and leadership skills. Childress is currently signed through 2010.

Romeo Crennel, Cleveland. After just missing the Playoffs last year the Browns were expecting to make it this year. Before this week's win over the lowly Bengals, they'd been off to an 0-3 start. The Browns' once-prolific offense hasn't scored more than 20 points this season, and Crennel has received criticism for his play-calling and his decision to start Derek Anderson over Brady Quinn. Crennel is currently signed through 2011.

Herman Edwards, Kansas City. The Chiefs are currently 1-3, with that one win an upset over the Broncos this week. The Chiefs were 4-12 last season. Edwards has been criticized for predictable game plans, poor clock management and his stubborn refusal to make Damon Huard the starting QB. Edwards is currently signed through 2009.

Lane Kiffin, Oakland. Kiffin is in his second year coaching the Raiders, and he has a 5-15 record to show for it. The Raiders made several big-name acquisitions in the offseason, and Al Davis was expecting to win immediately. Rumors have already circulated that Kiffin was going to be fired, and it didn't help his cause that the Raiders blew a 15-point lead to the Chargers this week. Kiffin is currently signed through 2009.

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati. When Lewis took over the Bengals in 2003 they were a perennial loser, but they've won at least seven games in each of his first five years at the helm. Since leading them to a long-awaited Playoff berth in 2005 the team has gone steadily downhill. Several players have run into off-field problems, and Lewis has been unhappy dealing with the distractions. Lewis is currently signed through 2010.

Scott Linehan, St. Louis. The Rams have gotten off to an 0-4 start following a 3-13 season. This is Linehan's third year as the Rams' coach, and several players have openly expressed dissatisfaction with his decision to bench Marc Bulger. The Rams have been outscored 147-43 in their first four games, and many are speculating that Linehan is already on his way out. Linehan is currently signed through 2009.

Rod Marinelli, Detroit. Marinelli is in his third year as the Lions' coach, and the team has gone 10-25 under his leadership. There was some early excitement last year when the Lions started 6-2, but it only led to a final record of 7-9. Marinelli is currently signed through 2009.

While all these coaches are on the hot seat, I think some deserve to keep their jobs for at least the remainder of the season. Let's look at their situations in reverse order of how much they deserve to be fired:

7. Marvin Lewis. Lewis isn't the problem in Cincinnati, owner Mike Brown is. Lewis has said publicly that he doesn't want to deal with problematic players, but Brown re-signed troubled receiver Chris Henry against Lewis' wishes. The Bengals cut several prominent veterans this offseason, didn't do enough to improve on defense, and were without Carson Palmer for their weakest opponent so far this season. Firing Lewis isn't the solution to any of the Bengals' problems.

6. Lane Kiffin. His situation is similar to Lewis'. Al Davis is the real problem with the Raiders, not Kiffin. It would seem unfair to fire Kiffin after only one and a quarter seasons, but he hasn't done much to distinguish himself, whereas Lewis has earned the benefit of the doubt.

5. Brad Childress. While the team hasn't lived up to expectations so far, they've also played a fairly tough schedule. Childress had the good sense to bench Tarvaris Jackson, and there's still enough time and talent on the roster for the Vikings to rebound.

4. Romeo Crennel. Crennel hasn't done much to help a bad situation, but like the Vikings, there's still time for the Browns to turn it around. If Cleveland's losing ways continue Crennel's seat will probably get a bit hotter.

3. Rod Marinelli. This season is already a lost cause for the Lions. Recently-fired GM Matt Millen bears more responsibility for the Lions' problems than Marinelli does, so firing Marinelli would only be a symbolic gesture to the Detroit players and fans.

2. Herman Edwards. Kansas City looked like one of the NFL's worst teams in the first three weeks, but when Damon Huard got a chance to play the entire game they gave the Broncos their first loss. If Edwards sticks with Huard for the rest of the season it may be enough for him to hold onto his job, even if he's clearly not taking the Chiefs anywhere. If he continues with his usual incompetence, he deserves to be shown the door before the end of the season.

1. Scott Linehan. Linehan has so much opposition from the fans and the players right now that he's in a no-win situation. The Rams have nothing to gain by keeping Linehan, so they may as well get the inevitable firing over with. Indications seem to be that Linehan will be fired this week, so it looks like the coach that most deserves it will in fact be the first.

Postscript: Congratulations, NFL executives. You got it right.

There's a buzz all over America, ever increasing in volume, reminding us that the NFL will be here soon. Right now the 2008 season is a clean slate and the possibilities are endless. Will your team make the NFL Playoffs this year? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they won't, and here's why:

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills. Their defense stinks, their offense stinks, and they only won seven games last year because of luck and good special teams play. There'll be frozen tears in Buffalo this winter.

Miami Dolphins. They were the worst team in the NFL last year and then they got rid of Jason Taylor. Perhaps this year they can achieve the goal that eluded them last year: an alldefeated season.

New England Patriots. It takes a lot of hard work to go undefeated during the regular season. Judging by their preseason the Patriots are still worn out both mentally and physically and age is starting to creep up on them. After being the victims of the biggest upset in Super Bowl history they're ready to be the biggest disappointment in regular season history.

New York Jets. Q: Why did the Packers want to get rid of Brett Favre? A: Because he's old and thinks the NFL revolves around him. The Jets were the only suckers who wanted to deal with his drama, and it will be the downfall of the kelly green. The Madden curse lives on!

AFC North:

Baltimore Ravens. They were awful last year and then Jonathan Ogden retired. With an aging defense and an inexperienced offensive line the Ravens have no chance of playing past December.

Cincinnati Bengals. They brought back problem child Chris Henry and their star receiver is forcing everyone to call him by the digits of his jersey number in Spanish. They'll be lucky if they get through a single down without some sort of distraction coming up.

Cleveland Browns. The Browns tried to improve their run defense with a tackle from Detroit, another team that was weak against the run. Real smart, boys. The Dawg Pound is going to be walking home with their tails between their legs an awful lot this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss of Alan Faneca is a huge blow to their offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker won't have the same success as last year without proper blocking. Better get used to losing to the Browns, Steeler fans.

AFC South:

Houston Texans. They may have had the best season in their short history last year, but they still finished in last place. Their division is just too stacked. The Texans' only hope for contention is realignment.

Jacksonville Jaguars. Matt Jones' very presence on the team is a distraction. He was arrested for cocaine possession in July and doesn't even know his team's playbook. The fact that they keep him around tells you that this organization doesn't care about winning. The mediocre season turned in by the Jaguars will only hasten their move to a new city.

Indianapolis Colts. Marvin Harrison won't be the same after last year's injury and the O-line will struggle early on without Jeff Saturday. By the time the Colts are all on the same page it'll be too late to think postseason. At least Peyton Manning has a dad he can talk to about it, since Archie was well-acquainted with missing the Playoffs.

Tennessee Titans. The Titans' offense depends too much on Vince Young. This will be his third NFL season, and teams are learning how to neutralize him. Once he's out of the equation the Titans will be out of the Playoff picture.

AFC West:

Denver Broncos. They let Jason Elam, one of the best kickers in the game, sign with the Falcons. Elam made the Broncos a pretty consistent team during his time in Denver, but without him they'll be struggling to win six games. The only thing in Denver thinner than the air is the Broncos' depth chart.

Kansas City Chiefs. Larry Johnson is nothing without Will Shields. Jared Allen is now playing in Minnesota. Tony Gonzalez is on the wrong side of 30. Their long snapper is French Canadian. The Chiefs are going to be terrible.

Oakland Raiders. Their owner is senile and they strengthened a weak defense by adding some overrated players. Commitment to excellence? Excuse me while I scoff.

San Diego Chargers. Their coach is Norv Turner. This team had the talent to win more than 11 games last year, but ol' Norv found a way for them to underachieve. The farther in the past Marty Schottenheimer gets the worse the Chargers will get. The only successful Bolt that will come out of 2008 is Usain.

NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys. Terrell Owens is like a time bomb. Sooner or later he always becomes a distraction that's too big for the rest of the team to overcome. With malcontents like Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson in the mix these Cowboys are on the verge of sel####estruction. America's Team might have to apply for a new country after they bring shame to this one.

New York Giants. Their defensive line was one of their biggest strengths and then they lost Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to injury. They got lucky last year, but without the pass rush it's not going to happen again. The 2008 Giants will have a lot in common with the 2006 Steelers.

Philadelphia Eagles. They have lots of talent, but it's not enough in this division. Brian Westbrook's numbers will suffer without Thomas Tapeh and Donovan McNabb's annual injury will keep the Eagles from soaring. The Philadelphia players might as well prepare to be booed now.

Washington Redskins. Last time Joe Gibbs left the Redskins it was seven years before they made another Playoff appearance. Jim Zorn will be this decade's Richie Petitbon.

NFC North:

Chicago Bears. Of all the quarterbacks on their roster they decided the best was a guy who'd completed 52% of his career passes. Their defense looks good on paper, but you know it's only a matter of time before half those guys get injured. Even Bill Swerski's Superfans don't think this team has a chance.

Detroit Lions. Matt Millen is still the general manager. That's all you need to know.

Green Bay Packers. Q: Why did the Packers want to get rid of Brett Favre? A: Because they're idiots. Aaron Rodgers will never be half the quarterback Favre was, and the Packers will get their comeuppance for disrespecting him when they flop this year. Remember Packer football between the Vince Lombardi and Ron Wolf eras? Yeah, it'll be kind of like that.

Minnesota Vikings. Tarvaris Jackson isn't much of a passer and Bryant McKinnie's suspension won't help matters. Adrian Peterson had a great rookie year, but without Tony Richardson blocking for him a sophomore slump is all but certain. Failure, thy color is purple.

NFC South:

Atlanta Falcons. This team is bad on both sides of the ball. Their starting quarterback is a rookie who wasn't very good in preseason. As long as Michael Vick is still on the Falcons' roster they'll be cursed by the spirits of his dead pit bulls.

Carolina Panthers. Every year it's the same old story. Everyone expects the Panthers to be good and they end up being mediocre. This year won't be any different. Last year it was Julius Peppers who mysteriously started playing poorly. Any bets on who it'll be this year?

New Orleans Saints. Their pass defense is one of the worst in the NFL, and their explosive offense isn't enough to offset it. If Jeremy Shockey's act wasn't appreciated in a city known for its rudeness it certainly won't be appreciated in laid-back bayou country. The Louisiana Superdome will be the only super thing related to the Saints.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have too many quarterbacks, their wide receivers are as old as dirt and Jon Gruden has a hard time putting together two straight winning seasons. A lot of things went right for the Buccaneers last year, but there's no way they'll have the same luck this year. Hopefully the Rays' incredible season will be enough for the residents of middle Florida.

NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals. Anquan Boldin isn't happy, and we all know that nothing kills an NFL team quicker than an unhappy wide receiver. We expect the Cardinals to surprise us every year, but it never happens. Losing is the Bidwill family's specialty.

San Francisco 49ers. They had the worst passing game in the NFL last year and think journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan will solve that problem? Sorry Niner fans, but the days of Eddie DeBartolo circumventing the salary cap are long gone.

Seattle Seahawks. They had Shaun Alexander and replaced him with...Julius Jones? Yeah, there's an upgrade. It's always a shame when a good offensive line goes to waste. The Seahawks have too many injuries and suspensions right now to think of contending this year. The city of Seattle needs something to be happy about after losing the Sonics, but this team won't be it.

St. Louis Rams. Marc Bulger is good when healthy, but that's virtually never these days. Trent Green is a solid backup, but the Rams have shown that they only make the Playoffs when he's on the bench or the injured list. Translation: The Rams are doomed.

To sum things up, Week 17 is the end of the line. When the Playoffs get here you're going to have to find someone new to root for. You'll begin to dread Sundays, because your team will find new ways to frustrate you each week. But hey, keep your head up. At least you'll be getting a good draft pick.

There's a buzz all over America, ever increasing in volume, reminding us that the NFL will be here soon. Right now the 2008 season is a clean slate and the possibilities are endless. Will your team make the NFL Playoffs this year? You bet they will, and here's why:

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills. After two straight 7-9 seasons this team is ready to get over the hump with a promising young quarterback and running back. Few sights in sports are as beautiful as Playoff football in the snow, and the Bills will make sure we see it this year.

Miami Dolphins. The last time Bill Parcells took over a 1-15 team they had a winning record in his first season. Now that the Tuna is more experienced and doesn't have the added stress of being head coach he can sit back, relax and make the Dolphins a Playoff team.

New England Patriots. They went undefeated last year and this year have an easier schedule. Making the Playoffs is the least they could do.

New York Jets. Two words: Brett Favre. Favre is the ultimate warrior, the greatest quarterback of all time and singlehandedly wins football games. He doesn't even need teammates. Heck, if anything, teammates hold him back. If he played by himself he'd win the Super Bowl every year. Don't believe me? Ask John Madden.

AFC North:

Baltimore Ravens. With Lorenzo Neal blocking for him Willis McGahee is going to run wild all over AFC North defenses. Throw in the good special teams and a defense full of veterans and you have yourself a team no one will want to play come January.

Cincinnati Bengals. Carson Palmer tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown last year. You know who else throws a lot of interceptions? Brett Favre. You know what Brett Favre does? Win. Fear the tiger!

Cleveland Browns. They have an incredible offense that'll only be better this year as they develop more chemistry. The Browns would've made the Playoffs last year if Tony Dungy hadn't rested his starters during the final week, so you can bet that they're hungry to get what they deserve this year. The Dawg Pound is going to be wagging their tails an awful lot this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers. Last year both their offense and defense were in the NFL's top 10, and they've kept most of the core together on both sides. The Steelers have this division so locked up they'd have to try pretty hard to lose it.

AFC South:

Houston Texans. With a promising young front seven, a solid passing game and Alex Gibbs helping coach their offensive line the Texans are ready to sneak up on everyone. It's been 15 years since Houston last fielded an NFL Playoff team, but this is the year that streak ends.

Jacksonville Jaguars. They have one of the most efficient offenses in football and two great running backs. They stayed with the Patriots for an entire half before losing last year in the Playoffs, and now the Jaguars are looking for a rematch. Since the Patriots aren't on their regular season schedule it'd have to come in the postseason. The question isn't whether there'll be one, but in which round.

Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy are back together for another year. Part of that duo's job description is "make the Playoffs," and so far they've gotten good employee evaluations each year they've been together. The Colts are going to cruise into the postseason like they always do.

Tennessee Titans. He led Texas to a championship in college and last year Vince Young led the Titans to the Playoffs. Not only is he a winner, but his team has improved. Alge Crumpler had his best years catching passes for a running quarterback and Jevon Kearse had his best years when he played in Tennessee previously. All that guarantees that the Titans' Playoff-qualifying ways will continue.

AFC West:

Denver Broncos. In Jay Cutler the Broncos have a starting quarterback with a single-digit uniform number. Who was the last one? None other than John Elway. Elway led the Broncos to the Playoffs in his second year as primary starter, and this will be Cutler's second year as primary starter. What does that mean? It means the Playoffs will be played a mile above sea level this year.

Kansas City Chiefs. First David Cook wins "American Idol". Then the Sonics move to Oklahoma City, making them the closest-based NBA team since the Kings called K.C. home. Then the Royals actually flirt with fourth place until August. Clearly this is an "up" year for Kansas City, and the Chiefs will continue that trend.

Oakland Raiders. Gibril Wilson. Javon Walker. DeAngelo Hall. Darren McFadden. All got long-term deals from the Raiders this offseason, all are good-to-great players. Commitment to excellence? You know it. The silver and black is legit and ready to intimidate opponents like in the old days.

San Diego Chargers. Does this team have a weakness? They have the best running back in the game, one of the top two tight ends in the game, a good quarterback, a great defense and solid wide receivers. Shoot, even their special teams are among the NFL's best. I doubt there's one person out there who could give a good reason why this team won't be playing in early 2009.

NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys. Their quarterback is dating Jessica Simpson. Does Jessica Simpson go out with guys who don't make the Playoffs? Didn't think so. America's Team practically has a Playoff spot locked up already.

New York Giants. They may have lost several starters, but no one thought they had a chance going into the Playoffs last year either. These Giants know how to win when it matters most, and Big Blue will keep the Big Apple smiling.

Philadelphia Eagles. They have not one, not two, but three good cornerbacks on this team. Their pass coverage is going to be sick. They're not too shabby against the run either, and with a decent offense the Eagles have their usual formula for success in place. This team will be so busy winning their division they won't notice the flying batteries.

Washington Redskins. In 1986 the Giants won their first Super Bowl. In 1987 the Redskins won it. In 1990 the Giants won their second Super Bowl. In 1991 the Redskins won it. Last year the Giants won their third Super Bowl. Seeing a pattern here?

NFC North:

Chicago Bears. They went with a proven winner at quarterback in Kyle Orton and got rid of a disappointing distraction in Cedric Benson. Throw in a healthy defense and the "Monsters of the Midway" moniker should be back in circulation by Playoff time.

Detroit Lions. Did you see their preseason record? 4-0, baby! Even though the Lions faded in the second half last year they're more focused on playing well all season this time. With four good wide receivers on the roster Jon Kitna's passes will find their way to the end zone like they had GPS navigation. Rod Marinelli will be the first Lions coach since Bobby Ross, another military man, to lead them to the Playoffs.

Green Bay Packers. They made it to the NFC Championship Game last year and then unloaded some dead weight by trading the King of Crucial Moment Picks. With a solid supporting cast the transition to Aaron Rodgers will be seamless. The Pack is back for real this time. Sport the curdled milk proudly, Wisconsinites!

Minnesota Vikings. Their killer rushing attack is the best in the NFL, they've added Bernard Berrian at wide receiver and both their lines are great. Their NFC North competitors all have questions, but the Vikings only have answers. For instance, Q: Are the Vikings a Playoff team this year? A: Ah, yeah.

NFC South:

Atlanta Falcons. Their quarterback is rookie Matt Ryan, who was drafted out of Boston College. As we all know, Boston is the city that produces champions in every sport and is the center of the entire universe according to their fans. Ryan and his New England mystique can't not lead the Falcons to the Playoffs.

Carolina Panthers. John Fox's job is on the line, so you know his players are going to play a little harder in order to save it. With a healthy Jake Delhomme back in the saddle and Julius Peppers ready to redeem himself after a poor 2007 the Panthers shouldn't have any problems running roughshod over the competition. Their coach will definitely be back next year.

New Orleans Saints. They had an incredible offense last year and added a former Pro Bowl tight end. They were decent against the run last year and added a former Pro Bowl middle linebacker. The Saints know what they're good at and stick with it. That type of commitment will get them into the Playoffs for sure.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They've got a Pro Bowl quarterback and a great defense. Doesn't that combination pretty much guarantee at least a Wild Card berth?

NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals. As part of the Bill Cowher coaching tree Ken Whisenhunt knows how to win. In his first year as an NFL head coach he led the Cardinals to a non-losing season for the first time since 1998. This year he leads them to double-digit victories for the first time since 1976. These Cardinals are young, exciting and Playoff-bound.

San Francisco 49ers. The 49er Faithful know that they root for the best NFL franchise ever. The 49ers know what it takes to win, and any move they make will eventually prove to be the right one. They already have arguably the best punter-kicker duo in the league, and with Frank Gore tearing it up out of the backfield no one will be arguing their title as best ever after this season.

Seattle Seahawks. They've made the Playoffs the last five years, and there's no reason to think they won't this year. With Mike Holmgren, Matt Hasselbeck, a good offensive line and a talented defense, no one else in their division can compare.

St. Louis Rams. Steven Jackson finally got the contract he wanted and Marc Bulger is finally back from injury. Those two guys combined with an average defense are enough to make the Rams a Playoff team. The Greatest Show on Turf Part II is ready and raring to go.

To sum things up, you're going to see your team play more than the usual 16 games this season. They'll be one of the twelve that gets a spot in that special tournament that ends at the Super Bowl. Sunday will be the most anticipated day of the week for the next four months, because you won't be able to wait for the next exciting moment your team has in store. Savor every minute, because it doesn't get any better than this.

With the New England Patriots sitting at 13-0 and two of their final three opponents among the NFL's worst teams, many people are starting to see an undefeated season as a foregone conclusion (I'm not one of those people, but that's another issue). There is already talk that this Patriots team might be the greatest of all time. It's not hard to understand, given the way they've dominated this season. They've even drawn comparisons to another team that's often in the discussion for the greatest of all time: the 1985 Chicago Bears. I'm a Bears fan who loves that 1985 team, but I'm willing to accept the idea that they may not be the greatest ever to play. Still, even if this year's Patriot team is better than them, I'll take those Bears any day, and not just because I'm a fan of the franchise.

Forget about the ability to win a football game for a minute. The reason I watch sports is because I want to be entertained by a compelling story. When I see a championship I want to be happy for the players and coaches who worked hard to get there and for the fans who supported them along the way. After all, we're not watching robots compete. We're watching people who've dedicated most of their lives to their sport. On a football level the 2007 Patriots might possibly have the edge, but on a human level the 1985 Bears win hands down.

I believe it was on this blog site where I saw someone accuse the city of Chicago of being obsessed with the '85 Bears. It's true that Chicagoans still embrace that team today. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and I remember hearing about the 1985 Bears all the time. When I was in high school kids would talk about that team and wear t-shirts of that team, even though we were all too young to have good memories of them. As Bears fans we were instilled with a sense of reverence for them.

The reason that team means so much is that for a generation of Chicagoans it was the first major sports championship they'd seen one of their teams win. The last one before it had been the Bears' 1963 NFL Championship, which preceded many of their births or memories. With the 1985 team they not only had a long-awaited champion, but a team that could legitimately be in the argument for the greatest of all time. They were the culmination of a building process that started when Mike Ditka took over as head coach, which is the main reason he's still a beloved figure in Chicago sports. Compare that to these Patriots. They've already won three Super Bowls this decade, and New Englanders have also seen two recent Red Sox World Series champions. These Patriots don't mean half as much to the regional fanbase they represent as those Bears did.

There was much more drama to what the Bears did than anything these Patriots have done. Sure, the Bears issued a few blowouts, but for the most part their games were close enough to be interesting, and many of them had special meaning. There was Week 3 where Jim McMahon came off the bench to lead them to victory over the Vikings. There was Week 6 against the 49ers where they avenged their loss in the previous year's NFC Championship Game and William Perry made his debut at fullback. There were two warlike victories over the Packers. There was the Week 11 rout of the Cowboys where the Bears defeated Ditka's mentor Tom Landry. There was also the Week 13 loss where the Dolphins defended their perfect 1972 season and the Bears got a wake-up call that they weren't invincible and needed to stay focused if they were going to win it all. Most Patriot games this year have been blowouts with few dramatic moments. If you were going to read a book about each of these two teams the Bears' story would keep you engrossed much more easily.

Then you have the teams' personalities. The Bears were no doubt a cocky bunch, but you know they were having fun. They were a young team, and after everything they touched seemingly turned to gold you almost couldn't blame them for developing a swagger. That swagger was best exemplified by "The Super Bowl Shuffle," a song and video the players did for charity. "The Super Bowl Shuffle" was recorded during the season, before they'd even won anything. It was an audacious thing to do, but they backed it up by winning the Super Bowl and it showed America that they were a fun-loving group of guys. The personality of the Patriots seems to be best exemplified by their coach, Bill Belichick. He's a dour man who's treating this season as his personal "screw you" to the rest of the league. The first week of the season he thumbed his nose at Roger Goodell by having a guy film his opponent's signals in plain view after all the NFL teams had been warned about that very thing. Since his questionable ethics were made public the Patriots have been accused of running up the score on many of the teams they've faced. Several Patriot players also have reputations for being dirty and classless. They don't seem to get any joy out of the game. They just want to deny every other team the Vince Lombardi Trophy. While the Bears were cocky but lovable, the Patriots are arrogant and offputting.

There's also mystique. Another reason that specific team is so special to Bears fans is because they were a one-time deal. They had the talent to return to the Super Bowl in subsequent years, but for whatever reason it never came together like it did in 1985. It would be 21 years before they made it back to the big game. That 1985 season seems magical, like a perfect few months where the Bears managed to do everything right. The Patriots have already established themselves as this decade's "dynasty" team. If they win the Super Bowl this year it'll just blend together with the others they won. True, if they go undefeated it might stand out a little more, but the fact that they assembled this team with big-name acquisitions and holdovers from past Super Bowl winners takes away that magical feeling.

If the Patriots win the Super Bowl this year they'll rightfully belong in any discussion of the greatest teams ever to play. They might even be a better team than the 1985 Bears. No matter how well the Patriots play football though, I'd rather see a team with the human elements of the Bears. They made an infinitely better story.

I was reading bgalella's blog entries about the worst NBA throwback jerseys (a must-read if you like old basketball uniforms and obscure NBA players) and I got to thinking about how many uniforms in sports today I don't really like. For some teams it's not so much that their current uniforms are terrible, just that their old ones were so much better. I feel that many of today's sports uniforms are either too dull or try too hard to look "modern." Sometimes it seems to be a combination of both. With that in mind, I've come up with a list of the top ten pro sports teams whose old uniforms I wouldn't mind seeing brought back. Because baseball, basketball and football are the only sports I follow very closely, those are the only ones that will be represented on this list. I've included photos for anyone who needs visual proof.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

When I think of the Steelers I think of a tough, blue-collar team. Their old uniforms reflected that.

Their current uniforms, however, replaced the old varsity block numbers with these skinny, rounded-edged, slightly slanted numerals. They don't look nearly as intimidating as the old ones did.

See what I mean?

9. Utah Jazz

I'll admit that those old uniforms with the J in "JAZZ" shaped like a musical note would probably look outdated in today's NBA, but what was so bad about the ones with the mountain in the background?

They weren't the best, but look at the ones they have now.

They're so...boring. They have no personality. I'd rather see the original with the musical note than these.

8. Houston Astros

Their current uniforms are OK, I suppose, but the Astros don't seem like a "pinstripe" team to me, if that makes any sense.

I thought the ones they had before looked good though.

I honestly don't know why they felt they needed to change these.

7. Minnesota Vikings

I'd always liked the Vikings' old uniforms.

They weren't spectacular, but they looked like you'd expect a traditional football uniform to look. For some reason they decided to "update" them.

Same basic design, but the rounder edges on the numbers and the white stripes on the sides and sleeves make them look more like the run-of-the-mill "modern" uniforms we're seeing more and more of these days. Their originals just looked better.

6. Denver Nuggets

Powder blue is not a tough-looking color, though some try to make it so.

Their previous uniforms seemed more appropriate for a bunch of guys representing the mile-high city. The N and S were big, while the "UGGET" in the middle was shaped like a mountain. Their colors weren't wimpy either.

I had a hard time finding a good photo of a player wearing this uniform. I guess when a team is perennially one of the worst in the NBA it tends not to get as much media coverage.

5. Buffalo Bills

The Bills had some classy uniforms back in the day. The colors were vibrant and the numbers were distinctive.

The ones they have now are too complex and the colors have been dulled.

How does a team actually look at this design and consider it an improvement?

4. San Diego Padres

I liked the Padres' uniforms in the 90's. The one with pinstripes and no numbers on the front is still the ultimate Padre uniform to me.

After wearing a butchered version of that uniform for a few years they changed to this thing they wear now:

Boooooring.

3. Houston Rockets

The Rockets' current uniforms have sort of an "Eastern" flavor, probably because one of their star players is from China.

While these current ones are better than the ones they had in the late 90's, they still don't compare to the ones they'd had for about 20 years before that.

Simple but effective. They changed them after winning the second of their back-to-back championships. They haven't won one since.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

I always loved the old Blue Jays uniforms. They had unique lettering, and that logo that combined a blue jay head, a baseball and a maple leaf was pretty cool.

Now they have uniforms that are just ordinary.

You never really appreciate a good uniform until it's gone.

Finally, the uniform I miss the most...

1. Sacramento Kings

I don't care what anyone says, those old Kings uniforms were awesome.

I even own a Mitch Richmond jersey in that design. Now their road uniforms have purple as the main color.

I know that purple is a "royal" color, which fits with the name of the team, but it just doesn't have the same edge. Neither does the lettering.

Yes, change is inevitable in life. That doesn't mean I have to like it. If any of these teams decided to go back to their old look you wouldn't hear me complain. Can you think of any uniforms that you wish were still being worn today?