Giants Continue To Wait and See

It's a great time to be a mediocre athlete in professional sports. On the heels of a baseball offseason that heaped riches on back-end starting pitchers, the NFL free agency period has matched their absurdity. Deals in excess of $7 million a year are going to unproven offensive lineman, a cornerback who didn't even make this year's Pro Bowl became the richest defensive player in NFL history, and somehow the Redskins continue to be buyers on the market. The free agency period, just a week old, has been curious to say the least. From the Giants standpoint, one has to wonder why Jerry Reese continues to sit on his hands. On the record, there have been only two confirmed visits and one (Dominic Rhodes) has already signed with another team.

The only thing that Giants fans have learned about Reese is that he refuses to overpay. As a result, the Giants have lost K Jay Feely and almost said goodbye to Shaun O'Hara. Unfortunately, the market has been set by inflating players' values. Perhaps Reese should be commended for standing his ground, but I put this question out. Is it a bigger sin to overpay for talent or to not put your football team in a better position to win football games? I'd say the latter, and if he continues to let the roster dwindle, he's committing a far greater sin. With a long string of cuts and retirements, the Giants have been left with gaping holes that have yet to be remotely covered. In fairness, only a week has passed and there is plenty of time until training camp. Unfortunately, most of the talent worth having has been signed.

The most puzzling thing to me has been their focus on offense. The two visitors, Dominic Rhodes and Kevin Curtis, are skill position offensive players. A great way to improve the offense would be to field a defense that can get them on the field. Last year the defense couldn't stop a jay-vee team from converting a third down, which took away from offensive production. With two outside linebackers departed, and a third likely on his way out (Brandon Short), the Giants need to bring in some bodies. Cato June and Donnie Edwards have been prominent names on their radar, but it is also believed Ike Reese would like to make the Meadowlands his home. Reese is a solid special teams contributor and would give depth to the linebacking corps, but he's not the impact player the Giants need. As for getting the defense off the field on third downs? A lock down corner is necessary, but unfortunately unavailable unless the Broncos meet Dre Bly's trade demands. Even so, his likely landing spot is Washington. Many Giants fans have been on the Roderick Hood bandwagon, but it's tough to envision him as anything more than a nickel back. Departed GM Ernie Accorsi attempted to re-tool key areas (think Secondary) with second-tier players last season and it didn't work. It looks like Jerry Reese has been priced out of this market and doomed to repeat the shortcomings of his predecessor.

Jets Steal Jones

Michael Smith of ESPN is reporting that the Bears and Jets have reached an agreement that would send Thomas Jones to New York. The deal would also involve the teams swapping their second round picks. It's hard to rationalize this one from Chicago's standpoint. Jones had vocalized his displeasure with his contract and the Bears are notorious for being cheap. After the Super Bowl it became apparent he'd be available for trade, but this seems to be a steal for the Jets. Even so, they gave up a 1300 yard rusher to simply move up to the top of the second round. It's hard to imagine they couldn't have gotten a better package for Jones.

Now I'm certainly the furthest thing from a Jets sympathizer, but this is a brilliant move. They did not have to sacrifice any draft choices, and received a former top 10 selection in exchange for dropping 26 picks in the second round. Not only that, he's been incredibly productive for the past several seasons. If you throw in the extension they recently gave Jerrico Cotchery, the offense will be a force. Thomas Jones is the every down back they desperately needed, and it will allow Leon Washington to serve as the change of pace back. It will also take a lot of pressure off Chad Pennington, who amazingly continues to get the job done despite having no arm strength. The Jets got an absolute steal which should allow them to threaten the Patriots reign at the top of the AFC East.

Upon Further Review, Teams Making Moves

A couple of hours ago it seemed as though teams were in no hurry to upgrade. As the day has progressed, teams have started to announce some major signings. Leading the way have been a few offensive lineman cashing in to the tune of over 7 million per season. The Browns will pay OT Eric Steinbach $49.5 million over seven years, a package that is worth $500,000 more over the duration than the seven years the Bills locked up Derrick Dockery for. In Atlanta, the Falcons upgraded their backfield by agreeing to terms with FB Ovie Mughelli.

Reports are surfacing on profootballtalk.com that Nate Clements will become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. It is believed that the 49ERS have offered the former Bills conerback an eight year deal worth $80 million dollars. Elsewhere on the cornerback front, rumors are circulating that Fred Smoot will re-join the Washington Redskins. On a side note, how the hell are the Redskins always buyers in the market? They're the likely landing spot for top MLB free agent London Fletcher-Baker and in the running for others. While they have been unsuccessful in their past shopping sprees, it's still amazing they can afford to splurge every offseason. If both Smoot and Clements are indeed off the market, there's very little to get excited about with the remaining crop.

This means one of two things for the Giants. They can attempt the piece-meal solution to the secondary that Accorsi adopted with little success last season or hopefully turn their attention to other needs. If they do decide to bring in a few lesser pieces, there is a strong feeling that Eagles CB Roderick Hood would be an option. Personally, the Giants need to bring in a top notch corner whether it was a Clements type in free agency or an early draft pick. Trying to bring in a series of nickel-back types won't have the impact they need on the outsides. Free agent RB Dominic Rhodes was in town today, but a complimentary running back should be less of a priority than a LB or CB. Unlike other running backs, he's content being one part of a two pronged attack. That is a big plus considering how many egos the Giants currently have on their offense.

Free Agency Period Starts Slow

With a flurry of activity yesterday, people were anticipating active general managers during today's first day of free agency. Instead, not many signings were made. The biggest news of the day surrounds the potential retirement of Jake Plummer. After the Broncos announced they had reached a deal to send the veteran QB to Tampa Bay, Plummer responded by saying he'd rather retire than switch cities. If he had agreed to go, it would have marked the second big trade in consecutive days. The Lions and Broncos agreed to a deal yesterday that sent coveted cornerback Dre Bly to Denver. In exchange, the Lions received Tatum Bell, George Foster, and a late round draft pick.

Although no signings have been made, early indications are that the 49ERS will be the most aggressive shoppers. Reports have surfaced that they are leading candidates to land CB Nate Clements and LB Adalius Thomas, perhaps the two most sought after free agents. It is likely they will land at least one of the defensive standouts. The bigger news has been the massive league wide cuts. Yesterday the Steelers cut ties with LB Joey Porter and the Saints with Joe Horn. Teams around the league kept trimming their rosters today, which should strengthen a "weak" free agent class. Hopefully the activity will pick up in the next few days.

Lewis, Moulds headline NFL Cuts

Just two days before the beginning of the free agency period and on the eve of many March 1 signing bonuses, general managers are deciding which of their own players are worth retaining. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome felt that the price tag for the all-time leading rusher in franchise history was too steep. Although they announced intentions to try and re-sign him, Jamal Lewis could be suiting up for another team next season. The Ravens were not the only active team today. Long time WR standout Eric Moulds was sent packing by the Texans, along with two of his veteran teammates. Reports out of Minnesota indicate QB Brad Johnson will be leaving town and Miami QB Joey Harrington will no longer be soaking up the sun in South Beach.

If neither Harrington or Johnson anticipate winning starting jobs next year, they could fall on to the Giants radar. With only Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen backing up Eli Manning, Big Blue would love a veteran understudy. I expect them both to pursue opportunities that would enable them to start, but there don't appear to be many open battles. With the Giants interest in Willis McGahee, it's obvious that RB is a pressing need in Jerry Reese's mind. Since the Bills are unlikely to accept the 4th round pick the Giants are dangling for McGahee's services, they could take a long look at Lewis. The Baltimore RB runs with the same bruising style of current back Brandon Jacobs. Reese has said he'd prefer a back who could change the pace when Jacobs sat, but a RB of Lewis' talent would be hard to overlook.

Combine Goes Out In A Flash

After several days of weighing, prodding, and examining the talent pool for the 2007 NFL Draft, the anuual Scouting Combine comes to a close today. Judging by the early results, it's going out in style. Under today's microscope were the defensive backs and many have made an impression with their times in the 40 yard dash. Michigan's Leon Hall, who many felt needed to prove he had enough speed to man the outside, may have answered many of his critics with a time of 4.38 seconds. That time, paired with strong results in the vertical and broad jumps, should have seperated him as the first corner off the board. However, he may face stiff competition from workout warrior Chris Houston of Arkansas. The former Razorback clocked the fastest forty time at 4.32 and set the standard on the bench with an astonishing 27 reps. Giants fans should take note of that name.

With the Giants glaring need for a corner, today's showcase was extremely important. I have been wondering why many draftniks seem to dismiss the idea of the Giants drafting Jim Thorpe award winner Aaron Ross. He has good size, is great in run support, and has a record of making plays on the football field. In a "Moneyball"-esque philosophy, I've always been concerned with people who quickly dismiss what guys have accomplished on the field. With circuses such as the scouting combine, people get obsessed with measurables. Ross, formerly of the University of Texas, has an impressive track record. Even though his performance today seemed to be middle of the pack, it shouldn't be the final indicator of his projected draft status.

A full list of today's results can be seen here.

Giants Show Interest In McGahee

When Tiki Barber walked away from the Giants in January, the heir apparent to his position seemed to be backup Brandon Jacobs. He may face some stiff competition for RB 1 if Jerry Reese can strike a deal with Buffalo to acquire Willis McGahee. The Bills announced that their starting running back, who will be a free agent after the 2007 campaign, is up for grabs. They've been pursuing trading partners and the new Giants GM has voiced his interest. Despite his talent, it makes sense for the Bills to shop him. He's vocalized issues with Buffalo and they run a real risk of letting him depart next offseason with nothing to show for it.

As surprising as it may sound, I don't know how much sense it makes for the Giants to pursue McGahee. They have needs at several other positions and are sure to lose early round picks to acquire a player of his caliber. The Giants would also have to work out an extension with the young back, which would cost them cap room for a long time to come. It's also a bit surprising, given his injury prone past, that Reese would be so intrigued. Reese has cut ties with several veterans with red flags about their health. On the bright side, he is only 25 and has shown tremendous ability in this league. He'd instantly upgrade an offense in need of another weapon and take a lot of pressure off Eli Manning.

Bears Franchise Briggs

For all Giants fans who thought Lance Briggs would test free agency to sign with New York, the Bears gave everyone a definitive answer. The Bears have chosen to designate Briggs as their franchise player. As per the guidelines of using this designation, Briggs will receive a one year deal in line with the average of the five highest players at his position. He's the perfect fit in their Tampa 2 scheme and it is no surprise that Chicago brass exercised this option. They will use the next couple months to work on an extension or else Briggs could become available next offseason. Teams still can acquire Briggs, but it would cost several draft picks and the Bears unwillingness to match the offer.

So where do the Giants go from here? Many Giants fans speculated the recent roster moves to free up cap space would lead to Briggs landing in New York, but it would have shocked me if the Bears didn't lock him up. Honestly, while he's a fantastic player, the skill set of Adalius Thomas could be a better fit with new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. anyway. I'm relatively certain he will not become an option, but the Ravens are extremely cap strapped. It would be foolish for them not to at least franchise him, but there's a chance he could sneak through the cracks. If he becomes available, although the Giants are in desperate need of a playmaking corner, he should be their top priority.

Tiki Gears Up For Final NFL Game

The Pro Bowl doesn't traditionally attract a big television audience, but many New Yorkers will feel inclined to tune in for a bit tonight. Long time Giant great Tiki Barber will be suiting up for the final time before submitting his formal retirement papers when he returns from Hawaii. With Frank Gore set to start and Steven Jackson waiting in the wings, touches may be limited for Barber. That won't matter for Tiki. He's just happy to be playing in a third straight Pro Bowl with twin Ronde. To make things even better, he'll be coached by Sean Payton, a man he credits for elevating his career to new heights. Given the circumstances I expect Payton to involve Barber in some fun ways, but I expect Tiki to baske in all of the interview opportunities he'll have throughout the game.

Out of the four all-star competitions for major spots (yes, I loosely include hockey), the Pro Bowl is the only post-season game. In seasons past they used a clever advertising scheme "One last, final last, game' to try and rope in NFL enthusiasts for one last time before a long offseason, but there's little attention surrounding this year's game. CBS is telecasting on a Saturday as opposed to the traditional Sunday, and the game is having trouble attracting stars. Many of the competitors from last Sunday's Super Bowl have pulled out for a variety of reasons and even Golden Boy Tom Brady opted for a Pebble Beach Pro-AmGolf tournament then to fill in for the injured Philip Rivers. The NFL has benefitted from a wealth of attention to its offeason, so a lack of interest in it's all-star festivities has not hurt the sport. Following the draft has become as intense a passion to the fans as regular season play, so the "offseason" does not last quite as long. Once the final whistles blows tonight, expect Draft 2007 coverage to hit the accelerator.

Manning MVP But Ground Game Carries Colts to Championship

Super Bowl XLI will be remembered for Peyton Manning winning his first championship and Tony Dungy becoming the first African-American coach to hold the Lombardi trophy. Neither of that would have been possible without the superlative efforts of running backs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. While not as highly touted a duo as their Bears' counter-parts, Addai and Rhodes carved up the Chicago defense for nearly 200 rushing yards. Both contributed in a variety of ways with Rhodes contributing over 100 yards on the ground and Addai setting a Super Bowl record with 10 catches out of the backfield. Either would have been strong candidates for MVP, but it's hard to knock the voters for selecting Manning. After an early interception, Manning rebounded to go 25 of 38 for 247 yards with a touchdown and that lone pick. As long as he didn't hurt their chances to win, it was pretty obvious that number 18 would walk away with the top individual honor.

It's hard to wrap-up the Super Bowl with any thoughts that haven't been played over and over on ESPN, but a few things really stood out in this game. First, it's unbelieveable how long the Bears stayed in this game. Despite moving with relative ease down the field, the Colts did not score with the same efficiency they're accustomed to. Sure, some credit belongs to the Bears, but it seemed Tony Dungy didn't want to embarass his friend. Even clinging to only a 5 point lead early in to the fourth quarter, the Colts played closer to the vest than I've ever seen from them. They're usually full throttle for 60 minutes and would let Peyton fling it with multiple touchdown leads. I'm sure the conditions factored in, but Dungy's decision not to kick a field goal late raises suspicion.

The Tampa 2 defense that the Bears often run allows for underneath stuff that Manning and Addai took advantage of. It's typically provides a bend, but don't break defense which it did for most of the night. However, the coverage breakdown that lead to Reggie Wayne's early touchdown proved the Colts should have taken more shots. Chicago safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning, although good players, will get caught out of position. Even through the rain and the effective running tandem made it smart to keep it on the ground, it seemed the Colts never really stepped on the gas pedal. Maybe they never intended to, but this was certainly not a typical Indy win. That being said, since they didn't do it in their traditional ways, maybe this victory is even more impressive. They came in and roughed up a more physical team. Even though the Bears raced out to the lead, the Colts were the more dominant team throughout.

Finally, the Chicago Bears must be concerned with Rex Grossman's psyche after his fourth quarter collapse. Unfortunately for Rex, most people won't remember that he started off the game relatively effective. He didn't take unnecessary risks and even made a terrific throw on his touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. As the game progressed, Grossman started falling down a slippery slope. His footwork fell apart, leading to a pair of Colts sacks, and he got sloppy with the football under center. The two fourth quarter interceptions were poorly thrown balls, although the second seemed to be a result of a wet football. Bears managment has to determine whether he's their franchise quarterback or whether it's a need they might address in the draft. In fairness, this was his first full season as a starter and he guided this team to the ultimate game. He's a former first round pick and has the support of Lovie Smith. It doesn't seem that one quarter of poor play in the Super Bowl will weigh that heavily on the minds of Bears executives, but it's something to pay attention to in the offseason.

Super Bowl XLI Preview

Football fans have been inundated with Super Bowl coverage for two weeks and are more than ready for XLI to kickoff. All of the "experts" have thrown their hats in the ring and overwhelmingly feel Indianapolis will leave Miami with the Lombardi Trophy. Two thirds of ESPN.com experts support the Colts, with MVP honors going to Peyton Manning. They've been installed as 7 point favorites and many fans are rooting for Manning to silence his critics. The amount of love being thrown the Colts way is even a bit unsettling. However, with the improvements made this postseason on defense, the Colts should win this game.

The Bears Will Win If... they can control the clock. This matchup feels eerily reminiscent to Super Bowl XXV between the Giants and Bills. The Bills came in with a high powered offense against a stout Giants defense. Both the Bears and '90 Giants relied on tremendous linebacker play, a strong ground game fueled by a tandem of backs, and opportune plays in the passing game. If the Bears can implement the clock control offense the Giants employed in XXV to keep the high powered Colts offense on the sidelines, they have a terrific opportunity to win this game. Lovie Smith adopted the Tampa 2 from his days under Tony Dungy, so it's not going to catch them by surprise. The Colts operate under the same system, so their offense is used to practicing against it. However, Chicago's personnel makes it a lot more effective. A big key for the Colts this postseason has been TE Dallas Clark. With LB Brian Urlacher roaming the middle in the Tampa 2 scheme, the Bears have allowed only one TE (Pats Ben Watson) more than 40 receiving yards all season. Shutting down Clark (as well as backup TE's Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht) will be a big key in the game. They also need to get strong play from their inexperienced safeties. Chris Harris and Danieal Manning must not get caught up in all of Peyton's gesturing and false audible calls.

Offensively they need to run the football. First and foremost, it will help control the clock. Next, and almost equally as important, the Bears need to stay out of clear passing situations. The Colts are at their best when they can attack the QB and Rex Grossman is at his worst with pressure in his face. Indianapolis is undersized on defense, but extremely quick. They have had tackling issues all season, so Chicago should spread them out and force them to make open field tackles. The Colts secondary is a bit banged up with starters Nick Harper and Bob Sanders on the injury report this week. Grossman's greatest strength is throwing the deep ball and the Bears can't be afraid to let him wing a few downfield. A deep strike early could get Grossman's confidence up and really change the tide of the game.

An X-factor in this game could be return specialist Devin Hester, in both a good or bad way. Against the Seahawks in their first playoff game, Hester struggled with ball control. However, he set a new record for return touchdowns in a season during the regular season. He's an explosive playmaker who could swing field position in the Bears favor. Could have a similar impact on this game as Super Bowl XXXI MVP Desmond Howard.

MVP will be...Thomas Jones. They need to run the ball well and Jones gives them a better chance to win. Cedric Benson has stolen some carries, but Jones is a more polished back.
Sleeper MVP...Ricky Manning Jr. Anyone remember his 3 interceptions of Donovan McNabb to put the Panthers in the Super Bowl? A real ball hawk who could bait Manning in to a key turnover.

The Colts Will Win If... they take care of the football. All season long the Bears exceled by creating turnovers. With a rookie as their featured back, Joseph Addai needs to focus on keeping the ball protected. Although Manning makes great decisions and is extremely accurate, he will sometimes try to make a mistake trying to fit a ball in a tight space. He's turned the ball over several times this postseason after throwing only 9 interceptions in the regular season. The focus all week has been on the Colts vaunted stretch play. They must run it effectively to set up the play action. If Manning can trick the Bears in to reading the run, his TE's will be able to get open in the middle of the field. Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison has struggled this postseason, so the Colts should get #88 involved early and often. He's smart enough to take advantage of the inexperienced safeties of the Bears and could find holes in the defense.

Much has been made of their defensive struggles during the regular season, but the return of safety Bob Sanders has re-energized this unit. The Colts bring him in to the box to stuff the run and he also brings tremendous ball skills in pass defense. With Nick Harper a game time decision, expect Marlin Jackson to get more playing time. His interception of Tom Brady sent the Colts to XLI. A big key to this game will be the tackling of the Colts linebackers. Cato June, a pro bowler a season ago, struggled at times this season wrapping up ball carriers. This Colts team can not allow the Bears to continue drives with poor tackling. As mentioned earlier, the undersized defense is at its best when it can rush the passer. They have a tremendous set of rush ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. In sure passing downs, the front four is capable of bringing a lot of heat. Mid-season acquisition DT Anthony McFarland seems to finally be settled in the middle and has greatly boosted their ability to stop the run.

With all the attention being heaped on Bears KR Devin Hester, people overlook Terrence Wilkins. He's more than capable of a few big returns. The bigger story is Adam Vinatieri. Given a chance late in the game, the Colts know he will come up clutch. If the Colts play like they can, a field goal probably won't decide this game. His bigger impact could be how he kicks to Devin Hester. It'll be interesting to see if they give Hester a chance to burn them.

An X-Factor for the Colts will be Dallas Clark. If he can start getting behind Urlacher in the middle, the outsides will open up for Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. He leads the team in receptions this postseason, but his bigger impact on this game will be opening things up for the playmakers on the outside.

MVP will be... Peyton Manning. I hate going with the masses on this, but if he gives voters even the slightest reason to vote for him they will. Other players could have a bigger impact, potentially one of his receivers, but everyone is anxious to see Manning as the MVP.

MVP Sleeper... Cato June. A bulk of the responsibility for stopping the run will be on June's shoulders. He's also had an impact this season creating turnovers, including a multiple interception performance against Tom Brady.

Preview: With Steve Young aboard the ESPN Sunday Countdown Crew, the pundits in Bristol have beaten the "Peyton Manning getting the monkey off his back" angle to death for this game. Steve Young spent years getting beaten by the Cowboys, but once he got by them, he torched the Chargers for 6 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Now that Manning has gotten by Belichick and Brady, they all feel it's his time. It's hard to argue. The Bears defense has been phenomenal all season, but they're not as dominant as many would like you to believe. The losses of Safety Mike Brown and DT Tommie Harris have made this defense susceptible to giving up big chunks of yardage. They rely on turnovers, so if the Colts can protect the footballl, they'll be able to move down the field. If their defense can contain the tough Bears ground game and force Grossman in to obvious passing situations, rush ends Freeney and Mathis could have a field day. A late developing situation is the weather. It could be wet and messy on the field, which would definitely favor the Bears. However, and this may be my heart talking more than my head, I fully expect the Colts to walk away victorious.

Super Bowl XLI: Colts 31- Bears 21

Raiders Winning Race to the Bottom: Lane Kiffin becomes NFL's youngest coach

It's been a tumultuous several years for the Oakland Raiders. Their tail-spin begun after getting trounced by Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXVII, but the situation continues to get worse. Rumors are circulating that Owner Al Davis is losing his mind, former star Randy Moss is not even a shadow of his former self, and Art Shell inexplicably received a second chance to run this once proud organization to the ground. Very few coaching candidates were brave enough to seek their recent head coaching vacancy. And who could blame them? There are very few bright spots in Oakland. They have some talent on defense, but their offense couldn't score on a Pop Warner team. Quarterbacks Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter spent more time on their backs than inexpensive "escorts". One major selling point is that their on the clock with the first pick in the upcoming draft. With that in mind, Davis handed the keys to 31 year old former USC coordinator Lane Kiffin. The name should sound familiar. Kiffin's dad, Monte, runs the defense for coach Gruden in Tampa Bay. In his introductory post conference, the younger Kiffin promised to bring a "powerful" offense to Oakland. He knows a few things about powerful offense. He has spent the past six years working with Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans. Now that the Raiders have their guy, only one coaching vacancy remains. Kiffin is the youngest of the new head men, but none of the newly hired coaches are above the age of 45. A full list of the 2007 vacancies can be seen below:

TEAM	2006 COACH	2007 COACH	AGE OF NEW COACH
Arizona Cardinals	Dennis Green	Ken Whisenhunt	44
Atlanta Falcons	Jim Mora Jr	Bobby Petrino	45
Dallas Cowboys	Bill Parcells	??	??
Miami Dolphins	Nick Saban	Cam Cameron	45
Oakland Raiders	Art Shell	Lane Kiffin	31
Pittsburgh Steelers	Bill Cowher	Mike Tomlin	34

The average age of the new hires is slightly over 39 years. In comparison, the average coaching age around the league is over 50. It is interesting to evaluate age when examining NFL coaching positions because there is a very high turnover rate. Nearly three quarters of NFL coaches have been with their current team for three years or less. With young guys taking these jobs, it may be a sign of coaching stability for the future. It seems senseless to hire inexperienced coaches and not allow them a few years to put their stamp on the organization. Young leaders such as Kiffin and Tomlin should not be expected to create the instant turnaround enjoyed by Jets first year coach Eric Mangini. Hopefully all of these coaches will have ample opportunity to bring success to these underachieving franchises.

An Eighth makes Joseph Ninth Bengal Arrested

On a day where Miami police officers exonerated Falcons QB Michael Vick of alleged marijuana possession charges, Cincinnati Bengal CB Johnathan Joseph picked up the slack. The Bengals 2006 first round draft pick was arrested early Monday morning when the car he was riding in got pulled over. Joseph reportedly reached for his backpack when asked to get out of the car, prompting the officer to seize the bag. The backpack contained a small bag of marijuana nestled next to a video game.

Joseph played extensively as a rookie and garnered a vote for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. After an injury to veteran Deltha O'Neal, Joseph started the Bengals final seven games. While Marvin Lewis has helped resurrect this team from the ashes, the organization clearly paid a price for success. Following a successful 2005 season, the Bengals seemed to be in good position to repeat as AFC North champions. Instead, player arrests trumped victories 9 to 8 in the last nine months. Chris Henry lead the way with an astounding four arrests on a variety of misdemeanors, followed closely by fellow 2005 draftee Odell Thurman whose drunk driving chargers and failed drug tests cost him the 2006 season. Head coach Marvin Lewis has come under fire from several veterans who feel he needs to take stronger actions. The blame can not stop there. Eight of the nine players arrested this season have been drafted by the organization since 2003. Clearly the decision makers have been more concerned with taking Cincinnati out of the basement than drafting character guys. For some of these players their actions may be isolated and in no way a testament to their character. However, it is evident that several of these players do not deserve the opportunity to play football. In May, after the fourth arrest of Henry and the first for rookie AJ Nicholson, I cautioned on this blog that this could become a team epidemic. Several months later it has taken on Jailblazers proportions. The ironic part of this whole mess is the distractions prevented a talented team from performing up to their capabilities. Therefore the organization sacrificed character to win, yet could not even accomplish that goal. A message needs to be sent to these players by management. If they fail to, commissioner Goodell should hold the organization accountable and slap them with a fine.

Tuna Swims For New Waters

After weeks of "will he stay or will he go" questions, Bill Parcells has decided to step down as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The Bill Parcells four year plan didn't work in Dallas as it had in the past with the Giants and Patriots. He guided both of those franchises to the Super Bowl in his fourth year. His tenure with the Jets only lasted three years, so the theory had held its weight until the 2006 campaign in Dallas. With the emergence of Tony Romo around mid-season, prognosticators loaded up on the Cowboys bandwagon. However, a combination of late season struggles by the "next big quarterback" and a suspect defense tumbled big D out of first place in the NFC East. Romo's botched hold on a potential game winning field goal sent the 'Boys to a first round playoff exit.

Most NFL insiders are speculating that contractual issues led to his third retirement. While that is certainly feasible, many other problems were present. First of all, it is no secret that his relationship with "the player" was tenuous at best. It is being reported that Parcells often referred to T.O in coaches meetings as "his highness". The old school coach was often visibly irritated by Owens' charades. Furthermore, and this may just be optimism stemming from a division rival, Parcells' may not feel he has a true contender. Romo became a bit exposed as team's kept him in the pocket and he had trouble holding on to the football. There is a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but Romo may not be as good as advertised. No matter what the reasons, Parcells will not return to sidelines in 2007. With his track record of coming back from definite retirememts it is not unfathomable that Parcells will coach again one day. However, he's not getting any younger and may finally be ready to call it a career. His two championships with the New York Football Giants should be enough to earn him a spot in Canton.

Samardzija to focus on Baseball

You can take one name off Mel Kiper Jr's big board. Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to give up football in favor of a pitching career with the Chicago Cubs. It is being reported that Samardzija, the Cubs fifth round selection in the amateur draft a year ago, received a five year deal worth $8 million to focus on baseball. If recent history is any indication, this may have been a mistake. Former Michigan QB Drew Henson, once projected to be the top pick in the NFL draft, chose the Yankees riches instead of a football career. After a few disappointing seasons in the minors, he is trying to catch on in the NFL. Cubs phenoms Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have failed to stay healthy which could be a product of the farm system.

Many people were excited by the prospect of another two sport star. The 1990's enjoyed the varying successes of athletes such as Brian Jordan, Deion Sanders,and of course, Bo Jackson. Samardzija made a name for himself by making acrobatic catches seem easy and setting new records for the Fighting Irish. His big frame and tremendous hands could have made a huge difference in many teams' red zone offenses. He originally intended to give both sports a try, but it's hard to fault him for choosing one over the other. College baseball does not receive much publicity, but he's been oustanding as a pitcher for the Irish. In 50 career appearances he has a 21-6 record with a 3.82 earned run average. The Cubs will have him report to their class A affiliate, which is managed by hall of famer Ryne Sandberg. It seems that he's played his last down as a receiver, but we can all hold out hope he'll try to become the next two sport star down the road.

Apple Doesn't Fall From The Tree- Big Brother Mike in trouble

Marcus Vick heard all the critics. While he racked up misdemeanors, everyone asked "Why can't you be more like your big brother?" Apparently the two aren't so different after all. Just months after flipping off home town fans, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick could be facing further trouble stemming from an aiport incident allegedly involving marijuana. Flying from Miami to Atlanta, Vick was asked to hand over a bottle of water he was carrying due to a suspicious aroma. Against his will he handed the bottle over and was allowed to pass through security. It is reported that a security official retrieved the bottle from a trash can to further investigate. The police report, in regards to the bottle, stated the following.

"The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained 'a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana'. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright."

Vick is not the first athlete to be caught with drugs, and certainly will not be the last. The alarming thing is, why have that bottle on you at a commercial airport? Athletes too frequently believe they are above the law and take unnecessary risks. Not to condone drug use, but it's hard to believe they couldn't afford to just waste their remaining "stash" and purchase again in their next location. Their ego's lead them to believe they can get away with drug smuggling because they are larger than life. This particular case did not involve that, which makes it even more puzzling. If he merely carried a bottle that had marijuana residue, why not throw it out before you got to the airport? Was it a treasured water bottle bong that he and his friends created to smoke out of? It seems senseless that he would have kept the bottle unless he routinely used it to either smoke from or carry illegal substances in the hidden compartment. Either way, with all he stands to lose, the risk certainly outweighed the rewards.

In comparison to its steroid policy, the NFL is lenient against so-called "street drugs". Players are subjected to tests infrequently and the punishments lack severity. It almost seems like the league accepts that its players will participate in recreational drug use. Since it is not perceived that these drugs will enhance their performance on the field, owners and league officials cast a blind eye. The plight of Ricky Williams cast a light on recreational drug use, particularly marijuana, but a player needs to fail tests several times before penalties kick in.

This incident may have larger ramifications for Vick. With a new coach and many pundits questioning Vick's ability to lead a successful franchise, he's not guaranteed to be Atlanta's opening day starter. Lots of people are high on backup Matt Schaub and new head man Bobby Petrino could want to put his stamp on this franchise. Petrino has stated his offensive philosophy will be based around Vick, but the organization is clearly disturbed over this incident. If not for his league-high contract, Vick's starting quarterback position wouldn't be so solidified.

Lights Out- Pats Win, then mock Merriman

The Bill Belichick led New England Patriots refuse to conform to NFL parity theories. In the rampant free agency era, teams are not supposed to consistently win. Especially with the way the Patriots go about their business. Old veterans become cap casualties and no-name newbies come in and get the job done. With a 24-21 win at San Diego earlier today, the Patriots advance to the AFC Championship game for the 4th time in the last six years. While Tom Brady led the charge, new faces like Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney were difference makers. No catchy nickname has been bestowed upon these recent Pats, but they've certainly earned their place among NFL dynasties. Even in a game where Brady struggled, he managed to make plays when the team needed them. They received the fortuitous bounces even the great teams need, and one play may have sent the Chargers to their early offseason.

Clinging to an 8 point lead late in the fourth quarter, Chargers safety Marlon McCree picked off an errant Brady fourth down attempt. Take a knee, and the Chargers can ride their MVP to grind out the clock. Instead McCree tried to make a play and learned a little more about the Patriots mystique. Jack of all trades Patriots wideout Troy Brown stripped the ball and fellow receiver Reche Caldwell recovered to re-claim possession. The former Charger Caldwell would be on the receiving end of a Tom Brady touchdown a few plays later that brought the Pats back within two. Taking a page out of Boise State's playbook, a direct snap to Kevin Faulk tied the game at 21. If you've watched the Patriots under Tom Brady, you knew what would come next. Given a chance late in the game, Brady led the Patriots in to field goal range. The only difference was that rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski needed to convert, not Mr. Clutch Adam Vinatieri. Gostkowski connected for the decisive points, but left plenty of time for the Lightning Bolts. The Chargers drove to the Patriots 37, but a Nate Kaeding 54 yard field goal attempt fell short.

Despite some sloppy play, the excitement of the final period made this a memorable game. Unfortunately, the lasting images may have come from the postgame coverage. Cameras caught a frustrated LaDainian Tomlinson trying to get off the field, but apparently in a rift with several Patriots players. We would learn later his reactions stemmed from the Patriots celebrations. Speaking to the press after the game, Tomlinson had the following remarks:

"I would never react in that way. I was very upset," Tomlinson said. "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach."

Merriman has certainly earned a bulls-eye on his back since his failed drug test. Although it did not receive press at the time, Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel celebrated an earlier play with Merriman's trademark dance. We've seen this time and again with T.O mocking Ray Lewis, Hines Ward imitating Owens, and on several other occasions. The loss clearly just paid its toll on Tomlinson and it's understandable why he was so visibly upset. However, if you're going to call attention to yourself, you have to be prepared for this to happen. It's commendable that he stuck up for his teammate, but took it too far in calling Belichick classless. Tomlinson is undoubtedly one of the most professional men in the NFL, but this lapse in character will stick with him for a while.

Taylor sacks competition en route Defensive Player of The Year honors

Dolphins Defensive End Jason Taylor took a lesson from Florida coach Urban Meyer. If you complain about the competition, you could increase the chances of getting what you want. Although deserving of defensive player of the year honors, Taylor helped fuel the demise of Shawn Merriman's candidacy when he spoke out about the Chargers' star's supsension. Others spoke out in agreement, which certainly sparked debate whether a player who missed time due to punishment should be eligible for postseason awards. It is refreshing to see the voters hold players' accountable for breaking rules. Merriman, despite a league high 17 sacks in only 12 games, finished a distant third to Taylor and Broncos CB Champ Bailey.

Unfortunately, the story will be about Merriman's cheating more so than Taylor's fine season. Miami may have played well below expectations, but Taylor made plays all over the field. His 13 1/2 sacks were only a tiny portion of why he earned the award. Despite playing mostly as a down lineman, he recorded two interceptions which he returned for touchdowns. Taylor the turnover machine did not stop there. He forced ten fumbles, along with two recoveries. He essentially touched the ball more often than Dolphins receivers this season. Departed coach Nick Saban can only dream he gets to coach this kind of talent at Alabama.

Tomlinson runs away with MVP, Pennington voted best healer

Two more NFL awards were handed out today by the Associated Press and neither winner should come as much of a surprise. LaDainian Tomlinson's demolition of the record books made him the easy choice for MVP. As the best player on the NFL's best team, 44 of the 50 voters deemed this a no-brainer. His former teammate Drew Brees finished a distant second, while Peyton Manning garnered the remaining two votes. Everyone knows the stats: leading rusher in the NFL, new single season TD record, even threw a couple of touchdowns. However, it may be his ability to take opponents focus off rookie QB Philip Rivers that is most impressive. Going in to the season, many prognosticators felt that the Chargers would struggle with a first year starter at the helm. If teams simply stuffed the box and made Rivers beat them, there was no way the Chargers could win. Tomlinson's domination has not allowed any team to do that. Even without top notch receivers, he managed to open up the offense enough with his running to get a first year starting quarterback to the Pro Bowl. Tomlinson has made the much maligned "Marty-Ball" seem fun. Coach Schottenheimer even dubbed him the best RB ever. A few more seasons like 2006 and it will be very tough to argue against him. However, people need to stop calling him LT. We all know who that's reserved for.

More controversial was the choice of Chad Pennington. The Comeback Player of the Year award is a bit ambiguous. It's difficult to determine the most important criteria in selecting a winner. Did the candidate have to miss a full season? Is it the player who battled adversity to have the best season? The runners-up for the award, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer, only left in their final games of 2005. Yet the severity of their injuries and the overwhelming success they had this season made them legitimate candidates. However, as difficult as it is for me to say this, Chad Pennington truly deserved the award. After suffering rotator cuff injuries two years in a row, no one believed the "pre-injury Chad" would ever come back. The Jets acquired Patrick Ramsey and drafted Kellen Clemons as insurance policies. They were again expected to finish in the cellar of the AFC East and there was no way the lame-armed Pennington could recover from injuries that only made his right arm weaker. Yet inexplicably, this man brought that other team from the Meadowlands to a 10-6 record and the fifth seed in a very competitive AFC. Until the day he hangs them up I will question his ability to throw a football, but Pennington simply knows how to get the job done. His timing with his receivers is impeccable and he doesn't make many mistakes. He continually makes "arm strength" look like an overrated evaluation of a quarterback. It's only fitting that the kid from Marshall gets the Comeback Player of the Year in the weeks following the release of the movie that portrays one of the finest comebacks in sports history.

Liar, Liar...Saban Accepts Alabama Job

Ever wonder what $32 million dollars gets you? If your Alabama AD Mal Moore, a new acrobatic football coach who does a very nice 180. Just two weeks ago Nick Saban adamantly stated, "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach". Earlier this morning he made his decision to head to Tuscaloosa. Saban has been a widely sought after commodity for many years now. Dating back to his days at Michigan State he drew interest from the NFL, and that only grew stronger with his national championship as the head man at LSU. His two years in Miami have been sub-par, so Saban returns to the SEC with the Crimson Tide.

Following in the footsteps of Herm "I'm not coaching the Chiefs" Edwards, Saban managed to put his foot in his mouth in less than two weeks. It is a trend in coaching; sought after candidates who leave themselves no wiggle room. Look at the recent statements by Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. There's been speculation that Tom Coughlin's job is in jeopardy if the Giants lay an egg in Philadelphia. Weis, a Jersey native and former Giants employee, is rumored to be a favorite if the job becomes vacant. There's no doubt coaching for the Giants would be a dream come true, but instead has pledged his allegiance to his alma mater. In recent weeks he made it clear, "I'm only leaving if I'm dead or fired". All things considered, those probably are the only ways he leaves South Bend. But if it's not, he's got a whole lot of explaining to do.