I'm bored at work and I left my flash drive at home so I figured I'll do the other 2 AFC Division champions.  First with the reigning Super Bowl Champions...The Indianapolis Colts

2006 Record:  12-4 1st AFC South
Defeated Chicago in Super Bowl XLI

Offense:  Spread
Quarterback:  Peyton Manning
I loved the guy in college and I started rooting for the Colts because of him(until they switched the divisions around in 2002).  Peyton finally won the big one that had eluded him up until that point.  He's the best quarterback the Colts have had since Johnny U.  Grade:  5 out of 5

Running Back:  Joseph Addai
After having a 2 back rotation last season with Dominic Rhodes, Joseph Addai had one hell of a year, capped off by the game winning TD against the Patriots.  Look for Addai to be a clone of Edgerrin James in this offense.  Grade:  4 out of 5

Wide Receivers:  Key Player-Reggie Wayne
I know some people will think I'm a Marvin Harrison hater because I think Reggie Wayne is a better WR.  Marvin has become the 2nd WR on the team because he is a better route runner.  Wayne is the deep threat that makes it possible for Marvin and 1st Round pick Anthony Gonzalez and TE Dallas Clark to roam freely in the middle.  Grade:  5 out of 5

Offensive Line:  Key Player-C Jeff Saturday
In a hurry up offense, he is the captain of the line.  He does all of the blocking assignments at the line and he is always on top of his game.  Ryan Diem and Tarik Glenn are dominate as well.  Grade:  4.5 out of 5

Defense:  4-3 Cover 2
Defensive Line:  Key Player-DE Dwight Freeney
Freeney is the pressure end in this defense, which relies on the line to pressure the quarterback.  Robert Mathis and Anthony "Booger" McFarland also pressure the line as well.  Grade:  3.5 out of 5

Linebacker:  Key Player-OLB Rob Morris
Gary Brackett replaced him in 2005 as the middle linebacker, but Morris is now the starting OLB in this cover 2 scheme.  He is good against the run. Grade:  3 out of 5

Cornerback:  Key Player-Marlin Jackson
I think the corners of Jackson and Kelvin Hayden(who sealed the Super Bowl win with a pick) are here to stay as a great pair of corners.  Both are good one-on-one corders and both have the ability to shut down the opponents passing games.  Grade:  4.5 out of 5

Safety:  Key Player-Bob Sanders
Bob Sanders is a great hitter who really helped this defense transform late in the season after he returned from injury.  If he stays healthy, the sky is the limit for this defense.  Grade:  4.5 out of 5

Special Teams
K:  Adam Vinatieri
P:  Hunter Smith
One is the best clutch kicker of all-time, the other is one hell of a punter.  Grade:  5 out of 5

Overview
The Colts will make it to the playoffs, but their reign as world champs will end with a loss to the Chargers.

This is the only thing I hate about the NFL......Why release 7 games 1 month in advance of the rest of the schedule?  The NFL normally is gearing up for the draft and there are a lot of trades and free agent signings going on, but why do the teaser.  It would be one thing if they released the prime time schedule for the season early.....but week 1 prime time games and the Thanksgiving schedule?  Anyway, here it is

Week 1
Thursday Night: Saints at Colts (NBC)
Sunday: Bears at Chargers (FOX)
Sunday Night: Giants at Cowboys (NBC)
Monday Night: Ravens at Bengals and Cardinals at 49ers (ESPN doubleheader)

Thanksgiving
Packers at Lions (FOX)
Jets at Cowboys (CBS)
Colts at Falcons (NFL Network)

Out of these 8 games, only a few interest me right now.....The Saints and Colts is a great matchup to open the season and the Bears-Chargers game will be good as well, but the rest of them?  The Cowboys are not the draw they were last season b/c "The Tuna" is gone and the Cardinals-49ers game could be interesting, but only because both teams could contend for the NFC West title.  Damn you NFL....RELEASE THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE!!!!!!

Today, Marshall Faulk officially retired from the NFL.  He will be remembered, at least in St. Louis, as the key piece that started "The Greatest Show on Turf" years for the Rams.  He finished 9th on the NFL all-time rushing list.  My question is.....Is Marshall Faulk a hall of famer and where would he rank among the greatest running backs of all time.

For me, he changed the position forever.  Never before did you see a running back catch between 50 and 70 passes for a season.  He reminded me of Barry Sanders, with a little bit of Walter Payton mixed in.  However, I don't think I could put him in my top 5 running backs of all time.  Here's the list

1.  Jim Brown-he didn't even play football until College and he left the game as the best
2.  Walter Payton-the guy could make people miss and could run them over
3.  Barry Sanders-I wish he could have played for the Dolphins...then Dan Marino might have a ring
4.  Earl Campbell-This man could rumble and run over people. 
5.  Emmitt Smith-he ran through the big holes opened for him, but he was the key member of that offense

What do you guys think about Marshall......

I figured since I haven't seen a lot of these types of lists, I should post one so everyone could have fun with it.  I know that it is hard to distinguish a list of all time quarterbacks because we have some great quarterbacks and there are too many criteria that can be used.  If you go by Super Bowl rings, you have a few that have dominated.  If you look at pure stats, it's Dan Marino's to lose.  I like to view things from every angle and I think this is the best list I could put together

1.  Joe Montana, San Francisco-Kansas City:  From the "Chicken Noodle Soup" Cotton Bowl against Houston to "The Catch" to 4 Super Bowl rings, I feel that Joe Montana is the best QB ever.  Sure, he didn't put up the stats that Marino or Elway did, but he is what a quarterback should be.  He lived in the clutch and always could get the ball to his playmakers.  Once again, he had probably the premier WR tandem of the 80's in John Taylor and Jerry Rice and a decent running back in Roger Craig, but he still managed the game as well as anyone.

2.  John Elway, Denver:  Speaking of clutch, this man seemed to have 4th quarter comebacks memorized.  Get the ball in their end of the field with 2 or 3 minutes to go and march down and get a touchdown.  Elway would have been remembered as a hall of famer even if he didn't get his 2 Super Bowl rings, but that made him my #2.  I wonder if Marty Schottenheimer still has flashbacks from the drive?

3.  Dan Marino, Miami:  If the Dolphins would have gotten a running back, Dan would have had his ring.  He played the game like a pro all the time and I loved watching him throw the deep ball.  My lasting memory of Marino was the fake spike play against the Jets on Monday Night Football.

4.  Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh:  4 Super Bowl rings for the kid from the Bayou.  Terry had a great team around him, but he was the catalyst of the offense.  He was gutty and wouldn't allow his team to lose in the big game.  If you have any doubts about this, ask Roger Staubach about Bradshaw.

5.  Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts-San Diego:  Johnny U was a kid from the rough streets of Pittsburgh that had to go to the University of Louisville to get a shot at starting in college.  After he was drafted by the Colts, his legacy began.  In what was known as the greatest game ever played, he led his Colts to the game winning score against the Giants in the Polo Grounds to win the 1958 NFL Championship.  He won a Super Bowl and played in another.  I think his legacy will always be in the back of every scrappy quarterback and every quarterback that wears the Colts jersey(ask Peyton Manning about that)

Well, here's the top 5.  I know I left out Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and many others so let's have fun talkin about it.

I love doing some obscure posts, but I think this might get some play.  I've been to a lot of places to watch sports, but some of the ones that I will have listed are from others opinions as well.  Here's the list, enjoy

Top MLB Stadiums(AL)
I have to admit that my favorite moment in an AL stadium happened in 2004 when I watched the Cardinals play the Royals at Kaufmann Stadium in K.C. 
Rankings
1.  Fenway Park-Boston:  I haven't been here yet, but I have heard from friends that it is the place to go.  I'm hopefully going there this season.
2.  Jacobs Field-Cleveland:  Watching a game here was a great experience.  It's always fun to go watch a game between 2 teams that are in the playoff hunt.  Plus, I got to see Mike Mussina pitch for the Yankees against a good lineup for the Indians in August 2005(1 game)
3.  Kaufmann Stadium-Kansas City:  The example above was the best experience, but I also saw the Royals beat the Red Sox last August(2 games).

Top MLB Stadiums(NL)
If anyone thinks that this list is biased, you are dead wrong.
Rankings
1.  Wrigley Field-Chicago:  Now I've been there for a Cards-Cubs game on Labor Day 2003, that's right the time we lost 4 of 5 and the Cubs won the division, but I think I enjoyed watching a game that didn't involve the Cardinals up there.  Watching the Astros play the Cubs was a great time and I just love Wrigleyville, maybe it's the Irish blood in me(2 games).
2.  Busch Stadium-St. Louis(past):  Sure I like the new stadium, but I grew up in the Old Busch Stadium and watched so many great games there.  I would go there every opening day just to watch Ozzie Smith do his backflip.  I watched guys like Ozzie, Willie, Pags, Big Mac, Tewks, Lee Arthur Smith, Eck, and many other greats play at the greatest cookie cutter.  One of my cherished items in my sports memoribilia is a rock from the rubble of the old Busch Stadium.(over 100 games)
3.  Veterans Stadium-Philadelphia:  My friend Ryan saw a game there during its last season and he said that it was more enjoyable than going to Yankee Stadium so I'll have to put it up here.

Top College Football Stadiums
Now I've been to a few of these and hopefully will be going to more in the future.
Rankings
1.  Kyle Field-Texas A&M:  I was told how awesome the 12th Man was from a LONGHORNS fan so that's why it's ranked at #1.  The comradery and the uniqueness of the Aggies are a specticle.
2.  Neyland Stadium-Tennessee:  When I watched the Power T form and the Vols run out onto the field, it brought tears to my eyes.  I've been to some games, but this was my first Vols game.  Driving in from Memphis that morning and seeing the home opener of the 2004 season was probably the greatest sports moment I've ever had.(1 game)
3.  Beaver Stadium-Penn State:  WE ARE....PENN STATE.  Seeing the scenary around State College and hearing that chant sent chills down my spine.  I love the fact that the Nittney Lions are in the Big 10 because that means if and when I buy Illinois season tickets, I can go there every other year

Top NFL Stadiums
Being in St. Louis, I've seen the Greatest Show on Turf play and I've actually talked with some of the players of that team.  However, I think watching football in a dome sucks.
Rankings
1.  Soldier Field-Chicago:  Da Bears in the freezing cold of the Windy City is a sight, even for a non-Bears fan.
2.  Giants Stadium-New York:  The fans are rude, crude, and socially unacceptable and I love it!
3.  Arrowhead Stadium-Kansas City:  The Chiefs are like a religion to these people.

Top College Basketball Arenas
Now my top three will be from arenas I've only been to, but I'll have a list of the ones I want to go to.
Rankings(one's I've been to)
1.  Rupp Arena-Kentucky:  The only thing that would make Rupp even better is if it was on campus.  The Blue and White was a great place to see a game at.(1 game)
2.  Hearnes Center-Missouri:  I sat and watched a Big Monday game between Mizzou and Syracuse in 2004 from a classroom in the corner of the Hearnes Center and I loved the feel of "The Barn".  It's a shame they opened up the new Mizzou Arena b/c it's not the same(1 game)
3.  SIU Arena-Southern Illinois:  Its a miniature Assembly Hall that seats around 8,500.  There isn't a bad seat in the house and the fans are great.(1 game)
Rankings(one's I haven't been to)
1.  Assembly Hall-Illinois:  Maybe its because I'm an Illini at heart, but I just want to see one game there before I die
2.  Cameron Indoor Stadium-Duke:  How can you not want to see a game at Duke if you're a college basketball fan?  I mean, it's Duke!
3.  Pauley Pavilion-UCLA:  The history of the Bruins, from John Wooden to BIll Walton to Lew Alcinder, is alive in that place.

here are my lists, let me know what you think