What's this? A Super Bowl post in late July? You got it. I know the races are heating up in baseball and the trade deadline just passed, but when I come up with an idea for a post I have to run with it while I'm inspired.

Few men have received the honor of being in the winning team's starting Super Bowl lineup. Many who have can rightfully be considered among the greatest players in NFL history, but what about the other end of the spectrum? If you were to rank all the players in that category someone would have to show up at the bottom. Who are some of these players though? I got curious and decided to find out for myself. Now that my research is complete, I can officially release my All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team (just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?).

It was fairly easy to choose offensive players. Quarterbacks, running backs and receivers have the most complete statistics kept for them, so determining the weakest player wasn't too hard. My criteria for tight ends were slightly different, as there have been a few tight ends who started the Super Bowl primarily as blockers in a two-tight end formation. I decided to consider those players "H-backs" rather than true tight ends, because their role in the offense didn't reflect the spirit of this list. Offensive linemen and defensive players are harder to evaluate by numbers alone, so the main things I looked at were length of career, years as a starter and number of Pro Bowls. Things like sacks and interceptions are also factored in for the defensive players. Even though they don't technically "start" the game I included kickers and punters too. Since the numbers at those positions have changed significantly over the years I had to use league averages to evaluate them. Of course, I also tried to find any additional information I could to determine if a player may have been better or worse than the numbers suggest.

You might ask what the point of this list is. Am I just trying to tear down these guys? Far from it! Many of the players on this list had productive careers and played their roles well despite not being great individual talents. The beauty of team sports is that they allow athletes of all different skill sets and ability levels to work in harmony together for a common goal. My purpose here is to celebrate the little guys. They may not have been stars, but their teams might not have won without them. People should know who they are.

Now that that's been said, let's have a look at the roster.

Offense

Quarterback: Trent Dilfer, 2000 Baltimore Ravens

When the question of "worst quarterback to win a Super Bowl" arises Dilfer is the first name most people think of. When I went to check the numbers I found out that Chase Stuart from pro-football-reference.com already did the math for me. Perhaps not surprisingly, he came up with Dilfer as having had the worst career of any Super Bowl-winning QB. When someone who devised an advanced statistic for figuring out an approximate career value for NFL players says Dilfer was the worst and popular opinion backs him up I think it's safe to give ol' Trent this spot.

Dilfer was originally taken by the Buccaneers with the 6th overall pick in the 1994 Draft. Like most young quarterbacks, it took a few years of growing pains before he finally found his NFL footing. In 1997 he led the Bucs to their first Playoff appearance in 15 seasons and earned himself a Pro Bowl selection. A broken collarbone in 1999 ended his season, and he could only watch as the Buccaneers made it to the NFC Championship Game behind rookie quarterback Shaun King. Tampa Bay let him go to the Ravens as a free agent that offseason. In his only year in Baltimore he took over as starter mid-season and rode the Ravens' incredible defense to a Super Bowl win while leading a conservative-but-adequate offense.

Dilfer's later stops included Seattle, Cleveland and San Francisco. Though he never became the franchise quarterback he was expected to be, he managed to be an effective "caretaker" during his 14 years as both a backup and a starter. He retired earlier this month with career numbers of 20,518 passing yards, 113 touchdown passes, 129 interceptions and a 55.5 completion percentage. Upon his retirement he joined ESPN as an NFL analyst.

Tailback: Timmy Smith, 1987 Washington Redskins

Smith rushed for only 126 yards in seven games during his rookie year, but an injury to George Rogers earned him the starting nod when the Redskins made it to the Super Bowl. On a night when everything went right for Washington, Smith set a still-standing Super Bowl record with 204 rushing yards. In one evening the youngster went from obscurity to the limelight. With the opportunity to be a starter next year, he allowed himself to become overweight and rushed for only 470 yards in 14 games. The Redskins cut ties with him during the 1989 offseason and he failed to make the Chargers' roster that same year.

He attempted a comeback with the Cowboys in 1990, but he was waived after only one game. He finished his career with 602 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per rushing attempt over three seasons. He recently served a two-year jail sentence for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Fullback: Tom Nowatzke, 1970 Baltimore Colts

Nowatzke didn't have much speed, but he was a tough, reliable power runner. An All-American at Indiana, he was drafted in the first round of both the AFL and NFL Drafts in 1965 and opted to sign with the Lions. He didn't become a regular until his second year, but he led that 1966 team in rushing yards and was second in receptions. Nowatzke's playing time decreased over the next few seasons, mainly due to the emergence of speedier backs like Mel Farr. In 1969 the Lions attempted to move Nowatzke to linebacker, but he sustained a neck injury in training camp that limited him to special teams duty most of the year. In next season's training camp the Lions waived him.

The Colts immediately picked up Nowatzke, and Baltimore's grind-it-out running game was perfect for his style. He worked his way into the starting lineup and led all Colt running backs with 3.4 yards per attempt that year. He later delivered a heroic Super Bowl moment when he scored the game-tying touchdown halfway through the 4th Quarter. The Colts would go on to win. Nowatzke's role would be diminished over the next two seasons, and he played his last NFL game in 1972. Over eight seasons he played in 96 games, with totals of 1,249 rushing yards and 605 receiving yards.

Left Wide Receiver: Alvin Garrett, 1982 Washington Redskins

Garrett was a small guy, standing only 5'7" and weighing only 178 lbs. He started his career with the Giants in 1980 and was primarily used as a return man. He was waived by the Giants and picked up by the Redskins during the 1981 season. In Washington he teamed with fellow sub-6-footers Charlie Brown and Virgil Seay to form a receiving corps known as the "Smurfs". Garrett was pressed into starting duty when star wide receiver Art Monk went down with an injury before the Playoffs. Though he had caught only six passes in his entire career up to that point, Garrett surprised everyone by scoring three touchdowns on 110 yards in the first round against the Lions. His solid play continued for the rest of the Playoffs as the Redskins eventually captured the Lombardi Trophy.

Garrett was the center of controversy next season when Howard Cosell referred to Garrett, who is black, as a "little ####" during a "Monday Night Football" telecast. Cosell said he meant it in an affectionate way, and Garrett himself said he wasn't offended by it, but the remark stuck with Cosell for the rest of his life.

Garrett never played again after sustaining an ankle injury in 1984. His five-year career totals were 412 receiving yards, two touchdowns, 12.9 yards per reception, 8.0 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kick return.

Right Wide Receiver: Stacy Robinson, 1986 New York Giants

Speedy Division II star Robinson missed most of his rookie year because of a broken hand, but he started most of his sophomore season, when he had a career-best 494 receiving yards. That year was 1986, when the Giants won their first Super Bowl. Robinson didn't have any receptions in the Divisional Playoff or NFC Championship Games, but he led the Giants with 62 receiving yards in the Super Bowl. He began the next season as a starter but went down with an injury after five games. The next three seasons would be a roller coaster ride, as the Giants waived him in training camp and re-signed him mid-season due to an injured receiver each time.

Robinson won a second Super Bowl ring with the Giants as a reserve on the 1990 team. He retired after that rather than go through the revolving door again. He finished his six-year career with 48 receptions for 749 yards in 43 games, 14 of which he started. Since 1995 he has served as the NFL Player Association's Director of Player Development.

Tight End: John Frank, 1988 San Francisco 49ers

Frank started his career in 1984 playing behind star tight end Russ Francis. He was impressive on special teams his rookie year and earned a reputation for aggressive blocking and all-around toughness. The 49ers groomed him to become their eventual starter, but he struggled with inconsistency and a tendency to draw penalties for his first few years. Halfway through the 1987 season Francis was waived and Frank finally got his chance to shine.

In April 1989, fresh off a Super Bowl win and at the peak of his production, Frank announced his retirement from the NFL after five years to focus on medical school. His career numbers include 662 receiving yards and 10.2 yards per reception. He earned his medical degree from Ohio State in 1992 and is currently a cosmetic surgeon.

Left Tackle: Dan Audick, 1981 San Francisco 49ers

Audick was a guard who played for both the Cardinals and Chargers before the 49ers acquired him in the 1981 preseason. Because of a hole at left tackle, Audick started all 16 games there in 1981. Audick wasn't a long-term solution due to his lack of size, but he gave it a strong effort and helped the upstart 49ers win the Super Bowl. He lost his starting job next season, and in 1983 he returned to the Cardinals, where he spent the last two years of his career.

Over eight NFL seasons Audick played in 76 games, starting 33 of them. After football Audick returned to school, receiving an MBA from San Diego State in 1986, a Master's in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 1996 and a Doctorate of Education in Human Performance from USC in 2004.

Left Guard: Russ Hochstein, 2003 New England Patriots

Hochstein was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2001, but he spent his would-be rookie year on injured reserve and only played one game for them in 2002 before being waived. In 2003 he made the Patriots' roster as a full-time backup and moved into the starting lineup during the Playoffs after an injury to Damien Woody. He stayed there all the way through the Patriots' Super Bowl victory and would get a second Super Bowl ring when the Patriots repeated next year.

Though Hochstein has never been a full-time starter, he has proved to be a valuable and versatile reserve for the Patriots over the years. He has lined up at fullback, tight end and every offensive line position in addition to contributing on special teams. In 2005 he gained notoriety as one of the five "metaphors" in a national Visa commercial with his famous line "Why can't I be the director?" Through six seasons so far he's played in 77 games and started 18 of them.

Center: Mike Gruttadauria, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Undrafted out of college and cut by the Cowboys in the 1995 preseason, the undersized Gruttadauria beat out veteran center Bern Brostek for the Rams' starting job in 1996. Brostek reclaimed his starting center spot when Gruttadauria was injured early in the season, but Gruttadauria would start on and off (while still battling injuries) the next few years, earning the job permanently in time for the Rams' surprising 1999 season. The Cardinals signed him to a four-year deal the offseason after that, and his injury struggles would continue in Arizona. His first season in the desert ended after eight games due to a career-threatening neck injury, but Gruttadauria fought back to start 15 games next year. After another injury-shortened season in 2002 the Cardinals released Gruttadauria, closing the book on his career.

Gruttadauria was blessed with exceptional artistic abilities and has devoted his post-football career to sculpting. Overall, he played 81 NFL games in seven seasons, starting 67 of them.

Right Guard: Bruce Collie, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Collie was one of two 49er draft picks to make the team in 1985, the other being Jerry Rice. He was versatile enough to play both tackle and guard, but he constantly had to compete for a starting spot with San Francisco. In 1989 he started a career-high 15 games and the 49ers won the Super Bowl, but he was waived during the next preseason. The Eagles picked him up and he saw time mostly as a backup during his first year with Philadelphia. He moved into the starting lineup for his second year in Philly, but a knee injury would end his season after only five games and signal the end of his career.

Collie was praised for his dedication to weight training while with the 49ers, but he later revealed that he'd used steroids since college. In 1990 he made the decision to stop the partying and drug use that had been a big part of his lifestyle and became a Christian. Today he works in the construction business and as a speaker for former NFL player Bill Glass' Champions For Life ministry. Over his seven-year career he played in 91 games, starting 40.

Right Tackle: Greg Robinson-Randall, 2001 New England Patriots

Robinson-Randall was a training camp surprise at right tackle his rookie year. He appeared to have earned the starting job going into the season opener, but it was given to veteran Grant Williams at the eleventh hour. Robinson-Randall started getting more playing time in December when New England was out of the race, and next season he started all 16 games as the Patriots won their first Super Bowl. He was starting to look like a fixture on the line, but a failed conditioning test lost him his starting job in training camp next year. In November 2002 Robinson-Randall officially dropped the "Robinson" from his name and became simply "Greg Randall". The Patriots traded Randall to the Texans in the 2003 offseason, where he started all 16 games his only year there.

Randall had tryouts with the 49ers, Rams and Browns over the next few years, but he never got into a regular-season game for any of them. In 2006 he failed to make the roster of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He started 39 of the 51 games he played during his four-year NFL career.


Defense

Left Defensive End: Mat Mendenhall, 1982 Washington Redskins

Mendenhall was drafted by the Redskins in 1980 but spent his rookie year on injured reserve with intestinal problems. He finally made his NFL debut the next year, but injuries limited his effectiveness. He started every game for the Redskins during their Super Bowl-winning season of 1982, but he only played on rushing downs.

In training camp next year Mendenhall found out that he'd lost his starting job to a youngster named Todd Liebenstein. Upon hearing the news Mendenhall walked out of camp and didn't play at all in 1983. He attempted to come back in 1984, but in training camp he was lost for the season because of bone chips in his elbow. Three weeks after being placed on injured reserve he was charged with drunken driving. He never played in the NFL again.

Mendenhall finished his career with one official sack in 23 games, 20 of which he started.

Left Defensive Tackle: Brandon Mitchell, 2001 New England Patriots

The Patriots drafted Mitchell as a defensive end for his quickness and potential as a pash-rusher. He became a starter in his third NFL season, but after the first four years of his career many considered him a disappointment. In 2001 he was moved to defensive tackle, where he succeeded as a run stopper and helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Mitchell signed with the Seahawks in the offseason hoping to play defensive end again. His first year in Seattle was plagued by injuries, but he started six games his second year and served as a versatile backup his third.

The Seahawks let Mitchell go after the 2004 season, and his career ended when he failed to make the Falcons' roster in training camp next year. He played 96 NFL games over eight years, starting 45 of them and accumulating 11 sacks.

Right Defensive Tackle: Bob Heinz, 1972, 1973 Miami Dolphins

Heinz earned a full-time starter's job in the middle of his third NFL season, 1971. The Dolphins would make it to their first Super Bowl (and lose) that same season, but Heinz would start in the big game twice more when the Dolphins won Super Bowls the following two years. Though Heinz was the most obscure of the Dolphins' defensive linemen, there are a few odds and ends he's known for. For instance, Heinz was the player replaced by Bob Matheson when the Dolphins went to their famous "53" defense, which in modern terms would be the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 formation. More humorously, before Garo Yepremian's now-famous pass attempt in Super Bowl VII the failed kick actually bounced off Heinz' helmet rather than being blocked by a defender, as is commonly believed.

Heinz' last year as a full-time starter was 1974. He lost all of 1975 to injury, then spent two subsequent years with Miami as a backup. He played two games for the Redskins in 1978, his ninth and final NFL season. He started 55 of his 111 career games, recording 10.5 unofficial sacks.

Right Defensive End: Dave Browning, 1980 Oakland Raiders

Browning was a speed-rushing defensive end drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 1978. He started seven games his rookie year, then started every Raider game for the next three seasons, including the Raiders' Super Bowl XV victory. He began 1982 in his usual spot, but he lost his job mid-season to a second-year player named Howie Long. The Raiders traded him to the Buccaneers in the offseason, where he was cut after a month and picked up by the Patriots, for whom he played only one year. He spent his last two seasons in pro football playing for the USFL's Oakland Invaders.

Overall, Browning played 77 NFL games in six seasons, starting 59 of them and registering three official sacks.

Left Linebacker: Reggie Torbor, 2007 New York Giants

I tried to give our most recent champions the benefit of the doubt, since many of them are young and still establishing themselves in the NFL. After four seasons though, I think it's safe to say that Torbor probably won't finish his career as one of the greats.

Torbor was drafted by the Giants for his athleticism and pass-rushing skills, and he was versatile enough to play both defensive end and linebacker. Some expected him to develop into a full-time starter, but he was used mainly as a situational player and special-teamer during his time in New York. He moved into the starting lineup when Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka was injured during the 2007 season. Though he wasn't outstanding, he filled in admirably during the Giants' run to the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

In March 2008 Torbor signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins. He is once again expected to compete for a starting job. In his 62 career games so far, he has started 18 and recorded five sacks.

Middle Linebacker: Ron Cox, 1996 Green Bay Packers

Cox was an outside linebacker drafted by the Bears in 1990 for his pass-rushing ability. He showed promise early on, but after several trials in the starting lineup he failed to stick there. In 1995 he finally held onto the starting job, but the Bears decided to let him go to the Packers as a free agent in the offseason. The Packers wanted Cox to fill their hole at middle linebacker, a position he was unfamiliar with. His play there in training camp didn't warrant the starting job, so the Packers moved veteran outside linebacker George Koonce into the middle. Cox backed him up all year, and when Koonce was injured in the Playoffs he filled in ably enough to help Green Bay win the Super Bowl.

The Packers released Cox after that season, and he returned to Chicago to play one final year before being released again. He finished his eight-year career with eight sacks in 113 games, 35 of which he started.

Right Linebacker: Loren Toews, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Yes, a member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense actually made this list. I wasn't expecting it, but right linebacker was a surprisingly strong position.

Toews was an eighth-round draft pick by the Steelers of whom not much was expected, but he made the team with his surprising play in training camp. He was stuck behind seven-time Pro Bowler Andy Russell at right linebacker for his first few years, but he contributed with solid play as a backup and special teamer. Toews made it into the starting lineup after Russell retired, but two years later he lost his starting job to share time with Robin Cole. In 1982 the Steelers switched to a 3-4 defense which allowed Toews to return to the starting lineup full-time as the left inside linebacker. He played there his last two seasons before retiring.

He finished his career with 2.5 official sacks, four interceptions and 149 games played in 11 seasons.

Free Safety: Herb Welch, 1986 New York Giants

Welch was picked in the 12th and final round of the 1985 NFL Draft, but he managed to make the Giants as a versatile backup. He took over as starting free safety near the end of his second year when Terry Kinard went down with an injury, and he held the spot all the way to the Super Bowl. He returned to backup duty next year, but he missed the entire 1988 season with a knee injury. After the Giants waived him he spent his last three NFL seasons with the Redskins and Lions, and he played for the World League of American Football's Sacramento Surge and Barcelona Dragons in 1992.

In six NFL seasons Welch played in 79 games, starting eight and making seven interceptions.

Strong Safety: Billy Jenkins, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Jenkins joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and his strong play on special teams garnered him attention as a rookie. He started at strong safety the next two years, where he was known for his hard hitting, run-stopping and blitzing. The biggest knock on him was weak coverage skills. The Broncos traded for Jenkins the offseason after the Rams' Super Bowl victory and signed him to a seven-year deal, but he could only hold a starting job for one year. In October 2001 the Broncos waived him, and he had stops in Green Bay and Buffalo before his career ended after the 2002 season.

Jenkins played in 91 games over six seasons, starting 48. He finished with eight career interceptions and four career sacks.

Incidentally, I found out in the course of my research that Jenkins and Trent Dilfer had a small feud back in their playing days. Jenkins led several Ram players in taunting the Buccaneers' bench after the 1999 NFC Championship Game, and Dilfer, then a Buc, was involved in the ensuing row. In next year's Playoffs Jenkins (by then a Bronco) was fined $7500 for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Dilfer (by then a Raven). If they were teammates someone might have to keep them separated.

Left Cornerback: Elvis Patterson, 1986 New York Giants

Patterson was an undrafted rookie with the Giants in 1984 when Bill Parcells gave him the nickname "Toast" due to his tendency to get burned on big plays. Despite its unflattering origins, Patterson embraced the nickname because it could be interpreted as "toast of the town" if he played well. In his second season he replaced All-Pro holdout Mark Haynes as the starting left cornerback and led the team with six interceptions. He was challenged by rookie Mark Collins next year, but he kept his starting job when Collins was injured late in the season and ended up making the only interception in that year's Super Bowl. The Giants waived him one game into the 1987 season (allegedly because he spent too much time partying) and he later signed with the Chargers as a replacement player during the strike. He kept the starting job that year after the union players returned.

Patterson signed with the Raiders in 1990 and became a star on special teams. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 1991, but he almost didn't return the next year after he bodyslammed assistant coach Jack Stanton in training camp. Head coach Art Shell gave him a second chance, but Patterson's continued behavioral problems eventually got him traded to the Cowboys in the middle of the 1993 season. After he won his second Super Bowl ring that year the Cowboys opted not to re-sign him, and he never played in the NFL again.

Patterson finished his ten-year career with 12 interceptions in 151 games, 44 of which he started.

Right Cornerback: Dwayne O'Steen, 1980 Oakland Raiders

O'Steen began his NFL career with the Rams in 1978. He started 12 games for them in 1979 because of injuries to regular cornerbacks Rod Perry and Pat Thomas, but by the time the Playoffs came around he was back on the bench. The Rams made it to their only Super Bowl of the 1970's that season, eventually losing to the powerhouse Steelers. The Raiders picked him up off the scrap heap that offseason, and he took over as a starter in November when former All-Pro cornerback Monte Jackson struggled. The Raiders would become the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl that year. O'Steen went through his own struggles next season, which cost him his starting job and returned it to Jackson.

He bounced around to the Colts, Buccaneers and Packers his last three seasons, mostly playing as a backup and special teamer. In seven NFL seasons O'Steen played 77 games, starting 26 of them and recording eight interceptions. He passed away in 2001.


Special Teams

Kicker: Mike Cofer, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers had some great teams in the 80's, but those back-to-back Super Bowl winners at the end of the decade didn't excel in the special teams category. The misfortune they had to play in windy Candlestick Park surely didn't help their cause.

After being cut as a Saints replacement player during the 1987 strike, Cofer beat out longtime 49ers kicker Ray Wersching in 1988's training camp. He had the best year of his career in 1989, making 80.6% of his field goals and being named to the Pro Bowl. He would struggle the rest of his four seasons in San Francisco before finally being let go after the 1993 season. His final NFL gig was in 1995 with the Colts, who cut him after four games.

He finished his career having made 66.2% of his field goals and 97.1% of his extra point attempts in eight seasons. His career record for most extra points in Super Bowl play was broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2005, and he still shares the record for most in one game with seven. After football he had some moderate success as a NASCAR driver.

Punter: Barry Helton, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Like Cofer, Helton had to replace a veteran, Max Runager, his first year in San Francisco. Runager originally opened the 1988 season as the 49ers' punter when Helton struggled under the pressure of training camp, but after an unimpressive showing in Week 1 the 49ers waived Runager and gave Helton the job. Helton performed sufficiently his first two years, but he struggled greatly in 1990. The 49ers kept him on the inactive roster in 1991 before releasing him in October. He caught on briefly with the Rams that season and his career ended when they cut him in training camp next year.

In four seasons Helton punted 213 times for 8,285 yards, an average of 38.9. 52 of his punts landed inside the 20, 21 were touchbacks, 116 were returned and four were blocked. His career net yardage was 31.3. He's still fairly well-known today in his native Colorado. He was the first of four straight University of Colorado punters to be named All-American, with Keith English, Tom Rouen and Mitch Berger following him. In 1995 the Big Eight Conference named him to their all-time team.


Closing Statement

While most of these players currently live in infamy or obscurity, no one can ever take away the special distinction they each hold. It's hard to make it in the NFL, but these guys were just good (or in some cases lucky) enough to have the experience every football player dreams about. They may not ever be immortalized in Canton, but they'll always have a spot on the first All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team. Here's to them.


A special shout-out to my resources:

Pro-Football-Reference.com
The Football Database
San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone? By Matt Maiocco
Google News
Pro Football Researchers Association

If every week is like this one, then I'm already not looking forward to the rest of the NFL season. Like most fans, there are teams I like and teams I hate. It seems that this week all the teams I hate decided to win and all the ones I like decided to lose. Let's look at the results:

Chiefs 13, Vikings 10. OK, this one's not too bad. I don't really care about the Chiefs, and the Vikings are in the Bears' division, so I guess I'm happy here. Result: Good

Buccaneers 24, Rams 3. I don't really care about either of these teams. Result: Neutral

Steelers 37, 49ers 16. I hate the Steelers. Result: Bad

Eagles 56, Lions 21. While I kind of like the Eagles, I was rooting for the Lions in this game. Yeah, they're in the Bears' division, but they have an underdog appeal that I can't help but appreciate. Still, this does help my team in some way, so I'll say... Result: Neutral

Colts 30, Texans 24. I'm pulling for both teams this year. One of them had to lose. Result: Neutral

Packers 31, Chargers 24. I hate the Packers. I like the Chargers. The Packers are now in sole possession of first place. The Chargers' firing of Marty Schottenheimer looks more stupid every day. Result: Bad

Patriots 38, Bills 7. I despise the Patriots. They're evil. Result: Bad

Jets 31, Dolphins 28. I don't really like either of these teams, nor do I completely hate either one. Eh, whatever. Result: Neutral

Ravens 26, Cardinals 23. I don't really like the Ravens, but I'm not one of the many people who roots for the Cardinals on the side either. Still, one team has a lot more underdog appeal than the other. I guess I'll have to go with... Result: Bad

Seahawks 24, Bengals 21. Again, I don't really care about this matchup. Result: Neutral

Raiders 26, Browns 24. The Browns are one of those constant underdogs that I usually pull for. The Raiders are the team everyone loves to hate. Result: Bad

Jaguars 23, Broncos 14. The Broncos are another team I root for on the side, and I don't really care much about the Jaguars. Result: Bad

Panthers 27, Falcons 20. Another one of these... Result: Neutral

Giants 24, Redskins 17. I hate the Giants. I like the Redskins. Result: Bad

Cowboys 34, Bears 10. I'm a Bears fan, and I'm not too fond of the Cowboys. Result: Bad

Titans 31, Saints 14. OK, this was good. I like the Titans, and I'm over the whole Saints lovefest. Result: Good

To sum it all up, I thought this week had 2 "good" results, 6 "neutral" results, and 8 "bad" results. If there aren't some better weeks ahead, I'll be looking forward to the 2008 baseball season sooner than usual.

As a Chicago Bears fan I'd figured for years that it'd be a while before I ever saw my team play in the Super Bowl. I was too young to follow the legendary 1985 season, and in most of the time I've been old enough to follow them their level of play has fallen somewhere between mediocre and bad. The odds would say that one of these years they had to become a serious contender again though, right? Well, that year finally came. In 2006 I got the experience of following my team from Week 1 all the way to the biggest game of them all. I was disappointed by the final result, but I'm thankful that it was a heck of a ride and that I got to be a part of it as a fan.

Some people want to place the blame for this loss on Rex Grossman. While he didn't have the best game of his career, he was hardly the horrible Rex that we've seen in other games this year. I don't blame him for the loss, because the Colts simply outplayed us in every way. With some losses there's something people can pull out as an excuse, like injuries, officiating or weather. Two of those may have been a factor in this game, but you'd be stretching to say the Bears lost a game they should have won. Since the Bears were doubted all year and were the underdog going up against the Colts, I'm proud of them just for staying in the game up until the last quarter.

I was quick to congratulate the Colts once the game ended. Congratulations to Tony Dungy for showing the world that a nice guy can finish first. For years we've seen football coaches as being tough-guy authoritarians, but Tony Dungy isn't like that. His players love him. They play hard not because they don't want to incur his wrath, but because they want to make him proud. Some critics have called him a coach who couldn't win the big one, but he proved once and for all that he's one of the best coaches in the game today. Unless you have no heart I don't see how you couldn't be happy for a guy like that.

I'm also happy for Peyton Manning. There are plenty of people who hate Manning. I could probably be one of them if I wanted to be. You could say he's a spoiled kid, you could say you're sick of all his commercials, but you couldn't honestly say that he isn't one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. We've heard about how he was the Dan Marino of our era, but now he has the championship many predicted he'd never win. I'm glad that we won't have to debate his greatness in the future because he never won a Super Bowl. Congratulations, Peyton.

Many people have pointed out that Manning's play hasn't been up to its usual level in the postseason, so the rest of the team certainly deserves credit for stepping up their game. Congratulations to the defense for stopping the run after doing so poorly in that area during the regular season. Congratulations to the receivers for making big catches when the team needed them. Congratulations to the defensive backs for coming up with interceptions that shifted the momentum. They frustrated me, but I'll give credit where it's due.

I was also proud of Lovie Smith for showing class in his post-game statements to reporters about the loss. He gave the Colts credit for playing a better game, showed pride in the fact that his team had gotten to their current level and looked forward to next year. No, it wasn't groundbreaking, but he said the best thing he possibly could've under the circumstances. I'm glad we have him as our coach.

I hope the Bears win it next season. However, the way things have gone these past two years I'm inclined to predict the Chargers. Let's take a look at the two most recent champions.

The 2004 Steelers had a dominant 15-1 season but lost in the AFC Championship game. In 2005 they had a streaky 11-5 season, but they got hot just before the Playoffs and carried it all the way to a Super Bowl victory.

The 2005 Colts started 13-0 and finished 14-2 but lost in the Divisional Playoffs. In 2006 they started 9-0 but were inconsistent in the second half, finishing 12-4. They got it together in the Playoffs though, and ended up winning the Super Bowl.

Which team dominated the regular season this year only to lose in the Playoffs? The San Diego Chargers. The similarity breaks down because the Steelers and Colts both were eliminated by the eventual champions while the Chargers weren't, but I won't be surprised if the 2007 Chargers have a very-good-but-not-great year and then get hot in the Playoffs and carry home the Lombardi Trophy.

Even though I would've loved for the Bears to stay undefeated in Super Bowl play, if you're going to lose you might as well lose to a worthy opponent. The Colts were certainly that, and they played like it on Sunday. Congratulations Colts, and better luck next year to my Bears.

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?