I seem to recall a controversy in the New York Football Giants camp over the draconian discipline imposed by that ogre of a coach, Tom Coughlin.   Reportedly a stern taskmaster, "Colonel Coughlin" had a near mutiny on his hands in 2006 when the team was still saddled with the salt and pepper narcissists, Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber.  Well, lo and behold, the Giants subracted two pukes and ended up with a Superbowl Trophy.   So why does purported tough-guy Coughlin put up with the childish antics of Plaxico Burress?  I'm sure there is clause in his contract about "conduct unbecoming" and you can't get more unbecoming than the arrogant, lazy, selfish Burress.   I don't mean to sugar-coat it, but the team seems to be doing just fine without Mr. Family Man.   The guy has the work ethic of Allen Iverson, the grating personality of Rosie O'Donnell and the IQ of a field marker.  Trade him to Dallas, the new graveyard of the malcontents since Al Davis has turned Oakland into Bizarro World.  Man up, Coughlin!  This drama-queen is going to upset your applecart and there is no upside left in Plaxicoland.

Big Sunday night game in San Diego, with the Bradyless Bunch pitted against San Diego's marvelous Norvelettes.  How do you root for anybody in this one?  Belichik's passive-agressive arrogance is exceeded only by LT's lack of heart and Phillip Rivers' punk whining.  The noise should be excrutiating as two bandwagons full of frontrunning wannabes clash in the devolution of all of their hopes and dreams.  We can certainly all rejoice in the fact that somebody's gotta lose.  Just hope they beat each other up in the process.

Sage Rosenfels has filed the necessary paperwork to have his name changed to "Parsley."  Or was it "Rosemary?"  Was there a bigger bonehead play last week than Rosenfels failure to slide for the first down with less than 5 minutes to play and a 17 point lead on Indy's Colts?  Instead, Sage went airborne, got helicoptered and stripped with Gary Brackett steamrolling 68 yards for a Colts TD.  Of course, the Colts got two more turnovers and scores in less than 2 minutes and are at least back in the hunt.  If by some miracle the Colts make it to the Superbowl, they should vote Rosenfels a share of their loot.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing Howie Long and the Fox boys #### all over the NFC "Beast from the East."   This division is certainly over-hyped and completely over-rated.  Philly has lost their way as Donovan McNabb teams generally do.  The Giants look terrific but they have that Plaxicorian cancer to remove.  And Dallas?  Despite the hysterical enthusiasm of Romo's ####, this is a team destined for the trash bin once the wheels come the rest of the way off.  Jerry Jones is still trying to get Pacman Jones fitted for a leash as his penchant for strip clubs hasn't waned and his body keeps rejecting  the ginko biloba brainfeed patch the team trainer prescribed.  T.O. is just getting wound up on his "All About Me" tear, insisting that he is being under-utilized.   That leaves us with Washington, who Jimmy Johnson insisted was a joke early this season, impugning the selection of Jim Zorn as head coach.  They might as well have a bye this week, hosting the hapless Rams, but like the rest of the NFC East, there will only be heartbreak come season's end, for everyone but the G'ints.

When its all said and done this season, the AFC South will produce the AFC Champion.  The Titans continue to look rock solid, especially considering the fact that they now apparently have a referee on their team.   When you are playing solid defense and can get the ref to hand your team a bogus roughing the passer penalty when you really need it, things begin to seem pretty bright.  Even with a retrograde QB replacing a wishbone QB.  It appears the Titans will probably lose to the Jags in their rematch, and to the Colts at least once and possibly twice.  The Steelers and the Bears seem like possible losses as well.  12-5 looks doable and that should get the number 1 seed in the AFC.   Houston's gift-victory to Indianapolis should give them the momentum they need to settle down and roll.  To succeed Indy needs to start fast and force the other team to throw the ball.  With Manning rusty from zero pre-season practice and a dinged-up rookie OL, the Colts have limped their way to 2-2.  They should at least split with the Titans, and will probably split their much tougher schedule with the Chargers/Patriots/Steelers and Ravens.  11-6 looks likely for the Colts, despite their wobbly start, and  I would look for the Titans and Colts in the AFC championship if the splits fall right.

That all Manning Superbowl remains a distinct possibility, but not without Bob Sanders healing up and Plaxico shuffled off to the drama/diva boneyard. 

Degenerate gamblers will look back upon 2007 as a Golden Year for NFL picking.  Not since 1985 when the Giants, 49er's and yes, da Bears ran rough-shod over the meager competition have bettors had such a decided advantage.   When the disparity between the upper echelon teams and the scrubs is greatest, the opportunities for Harry the Horse and Good Time Charlie progresse in an almost Malthusian check on the bookies fortunes.  This year will go down as one for the ages:  the Patriots were a lock for 3/4 of the season, and the Dolphins were too, although they were a lock to lose and not cover.  If you hung with the Packers and Cowboys at the beginning of the year and bet against the 49er's, Jets, and Detroit in the 2nd half of the season, you can probably skip your coupon clipping this winter.

  The wise player should be able to sail through the playoffs pocketing profits as the line-up includes only a handful of solid clubs and a gaggle of pretenders just eking out one more paycheck before they get bounced.  It's one and out for the teams that wobbled into their berths.  Here is your primer to bookie wallet extraction this playoff season:

  Tennessee at San Diego -9:  Despite the fact that the genuises in San Diego passed on Drew Brees to keep Phillip (Wounded Duck) Rivers, the Chargers have righted the ship and stopped taking on water.   While we're not high on the Chargers at all this season, what with the team chemistry of the Soviet Politburo and a head coach in his last job in pro football, the Titans are a wasted draft choice or two away from being unable to score a touchdown in the playoffs.  I know you Titan fans think Vince Young is the greatest thing since Michael Vick: well so do I.  He has no more business being an NFL quarterback than. say, Kerry Collins.  14 touchdowns and 30 interceptions?   Jeff Fischer is probably on his knees at night praying for Young to beg off this one, so Collins can ride to the rescue as he did against the Colts in meaningless game 16.   The Titans lost at home to the Chargers 23-17 in overtime early in December, but won't be able to exact revenge as they are nearly incapable of scoring.  San Diego 29-Tennessee 7.

  Jacksonville at Pittsburgh +1.5:   There must be tons of  latent, automatic Steeler money out there for the handicappers to make the Jags such a short favorite.   The Jaguars literally beat the snot out of the Steelers in Pittsburgh on December 16, outgaining them 421 yards to 217.  The Jaguars are actually the NEW Steelers, usurping the old Steel Curtain's reputation for physical football characterized by a hard-hitting defense and a powerful running attack.   And David Garrard is no-Big Ben: he protects the football a lot better.   Wise bettors know that football is a game of emotion and Jack Del Rio will have the Jags sky high for this one.  I have a feeling Pittsburgh's heart won't be in it after the first few pops.    Get a 2nd mortgage on the house and put it all on the Jags:  Jacksonville 27 -Pittsburgh 10.

 And in the lightweight division:

  New York Giants at Tampa Bay-3:  Tom Coughlin and his struggling Giants deserve our heartfelt thanks for the determined effort they  put up against the Patriots in week 16.  We are sorry they lost, but the Pats won't be playing in the Super Bowl and that will be the sweetest of desserts.   Looks like Eli has his game on again with Plaxico back, but the absence of Jeremy Shockey will hurt against this solid Bucs defense.  (Now when I say solid, I mean NFC solid.  On October 7 against the Colts, the Bucs got ripped 33-14 and the Colts played without Joseph Addai and Marvin Harrison, among others. Just ask Jon Gruden about how the Colt's offense toyed with his defense:  ergo the "lightweight" moniker.)  I like Eli, but he's certainly no Peyton and the Bucs should fool him with the Cover 2 and intercept several of his offerings.   Garcia is a good ball-control quarterback, albeit a 2nd tier one, and he will protect the ball enough to get Tampa to the next level.  Tampa 22-New York 19.  Looks like the books got this one pegged on the nose.  Better pass on it. 

  Washingon at Seattle -3:  Wow! Talk about your marquis match-ups!  I know America can't wait to watch Tod Collins battle Seneca Wallace this week.  Or will Hasselback be fit to play?  Does that make it any more interesting?   Washinton has all the feel-good press and a bit of momentum going in to this meaningless tune-up for the victor's destruction at the hands of the Cowboys or Packers.   Unless your Lunesta has run short, I suggest you pass on this sleep inducer.   The word "under" comes to mind for both teams:  Under-achieving, under-performing and under-interesting for starters.   Find the over/under number from your local book and ride the under on a short play:  Washington 16-Seattle 14.

Tune in next week when it really starts to get interesting.  The Jaguars will be opening  a 30 gallon drum of whup-#### in Foxborough and I will be glad to walk you though it!