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 slobber 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 Homos, 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.
Prospect