End Zone (Week 7)

1. More likely a 16-0 Packers team or an 0-16 Rams, Colts or Dolphins?
KDC: First, I doubt an of these teams will have a "0" on one side of their records, but . . . I think it's most likely the Dolphins will go winless because: 1) they're easily the worst team in a strong division (6 losses right there, while the Rams have a decent shot to beat any team in their division; the Colts have a shot at beating Tennessee on pride alone); 2) no one seems to be in synch w/each other from coaches on down; 3) ownership seems disinclined to move before year's end. Low motivation, disunity, shallow talent pool... yeah, they could hit 0-16 this year. (Also, how come Bill Parcells isn't getting any heat for setting up this debacle several years ago? Then he bailed as it went bad... He's the GM version of Nick Saban. Hissss! )
Momo: This is good because recently we had the Pats go undefeated and Lions winless in the same season. I can see the Pack going undefeated but a lot of teams like to rest their starters instead of chasing history. The Colts have a real chance to be winless but I doubt it happens because Manning will come back and play. For argument sake I think the Rams could go winless and it could be because of their defense. Although they do play in the NFC West and they have games against Seattle and Arizona, they haven't shown any type of consistency on the offense or defensive side of the ball. The Rams lack playmakers o both side of the ball and that could spell danger for the rest of the season.



2. Fair that Jim Caldwell is on the hotseat for the Colts struggle?
KDC: I’m afraid so. Honestly, how could the loss of one player –even one as great as Peyton Manning—turn a Super Bowl team two years ago into 0-7? Caldwell mismanaged that Super Bowl, they struggled last year, & now we see the entire organization in flames. Everyone saw this lackluster play in the preseason but their only major move was to bring Kerry Collins in..? (Really?) I don’t think the Polians have any reason to keep their jobs either, as they don’t seem to have planned for any type of future. And where are the locker room leaders? This is like case study#1 in obliviousness at all levels.
Momo:What a difference two years makes. Think about this if the Colts win the Super Bowl two years ago then Caldwell has some extra time even with the loss of Manning this year to turn it around. Injuries have decimated this team but you can't use that as an excuse. The Colts have made some bad personnel choices that have put Caldwell in this position. I think maybe a change in defensive strategy might be warranted than at the head coaching spot. Although, Caldwell had a losing record as a coach at Wake Forest and that could get him out of Indy by next year if they keep this up.

3. My one big thought for this week:
KDC: Nothing said more to me about the dominance of football in our sports culture than last Saturday night, when Albert Pujols had a legendary night in the World Series. It was literally unequaled by anyone in the history of post-season baseball (& maybe in all of baseball’s 16,000+ game history). Still, most of the Saturday night sports coverage superceded Pujols to highlight the exciting end of a college football game between two programs nowhere close to the all-time greats. Yes, most major media and web sites decided Michigan State beating Wisconsin was more exciting than the best single performance in World Series baseball. The NFL is the reason why football reigns in North America today no matter what other sports achieve.
Momo: How well rookie quarterbacks are fairing so far in the league. Not sure if the lockout has anything to do with it or the college programs are preparing these guys better, but this rookie class of quarterbacks are holding their own so far. Cam Newton has been spectacular for Carolina. Andy Dalton has the Bengals contending for a playoff spot. Blaine Gabbert just knocked off the Ravens on Monday night, while Christian Ponder has shown flashes for the Vikings. The future looks bright for all these guys.


4. I’m struck by . . .
KDC: … how Denver’s Tim Tebow is being treated by the media as if the game is in a Tebow-only vacuum. Yeah his numbers weren’t pretty & he didn’t blossom until the last 3 minutes, but the Broncos traded away their best receiver to the Rams just last week. The Broncos staff created the lame game plan he followed. (& wasn’t John Fox fired for helping run the Carolina franchise into the ground?) The team is a joke. Tebow’s basically a rookie QB learning the position. His teammates obviously stuck with him. He won the game. But he’s still not the answer. What? He may not be the ultimate answer, but they’ve got to stop asking the wrong questions.
Momo: The fact that if the 49ers win two more games they will have clinched the NFC West. This is special because of where this team was last year and the years prior. The once proud franchise has seen some lean years with Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. Jim Harbaugh has lead aa resurgence and this is with small hands Alex Smith at quarterback. Harbaugh has turned the former first rounder into a efficient passer. The other part of this is how sad the NFC West is. None of the team besdes the Niners are any good.

2 Point Conversion (Week 9)

1. More surprising the Oklahoma loss or the way Wisconsin loss?
Momo: That Oklahoma beatdown was more surprising to me. OU had a 39 game unbeaten streak at home and got ran off the field by Tech. I don’t think too many people saw the Sooners getting beat like they did at home. Texas Tech just took it to OU and dominated them in every facet of the game. Just a shocking loss by a talented Sooner team. But we have seen many talented teams overlook good opponents before.
Droddy: I do not think anyone can dispute the chokelahoma loss was a much more of a surprise than Wisconsin losing to a good Spartan team. Nearly a 30 point favorite at home and not only lost, but were dominated for a good portion of the game. I am watching the replay and TX Tech owned the line of scrimmage a ton, it is amazing how many big games OK has been favored in only to lose in embarrassing fashion. When you look back over their recent run to an “elite” program, what have they really done other than win games against inferior opponents? After their one national title 10 years ago, they really haven’t accomplished much on the national level except for epic meltdowns.

2. Better chance of making the National title game Boise St. or Stanford?
Momo: Of course Droddy will say I’m siding with the little guy and say they don’t play real football but its Boise St. and it’s simply because of their schedule. The toughest game they have left is San Diego St. The Broncos are in a position to move up if Stanford and Oklahoma St. lose a game down the stretch. Stanford on the other hand has a tough games against USC and Oregon and if they survive that they still have to play a PAC-12 Championship game. That is too tough off a schedule to overcome and make it to the National Title game.
Droddy: Believe it or not, I like Boise St. and what they do and how they get it done. I love how they are able to be physical while spreading people out and how they ALWAYS have a very good defense that starts with aggressive linemen. They are able to take those 1-3 star kids (ones you never hear about) and put them in the right spots to make plays and creates stars. Although their recent QB (Moore) has appeared to bring them to new levels, this isn’t new…they are constantly putting accurate QBs out there that just make plays. That said, the game of college football is NOT a playoff…unfortunately. Meaning we use the BCS and the system it is not going to work for a team like Boise St …probably ever. People often make the mistake that this is a playoff from day one and if you lose, you are done…this is direct contrast to what the BCS actually does. The BCS is setup to look at the ENTIRE season and determine who is the MOST worthy of playing for the national title.The reason LSU is #1 right now in the BCS is not only due to human polls, but because of their schedule to date and how computers rate the body of work. This is also why the computers have crazy rankings for team throughout the year (seen LSU as low as 7) most of the formulas are reliant on an entire season to come out correctly, which the usually do. So at the end of the day, when people and computers look back over the whole season they both have a hard time justifying an undefeated Boise st. deserving it more than a one loss BCS conference team. This is also why I hope Boise St can find a conference to join or just drop down and play at a different level that determines their titles on the field.

With a stellar 3-1 weekend, I am now only one game back in out “Who You Got” game.Droddy is 11-5 and I am 10-6 for the year. Here’s our picks for this weekend matchups:
Mich St. vs. Nebraska
Momo: I'm going to cautiously take Nebraska. Simply because they are at home.
Droddy: Nebraska

Oklahoma vs. Kansas St.
Momo: Oklahoma in a revenge for the loss to Texas Tech
Droddy: Oklahoma

Stanford vs. USC
Momo: Stanford but it will be their toughest test to date. Their NCAA record of wins by 25 or more ends this weekend.
Droddy: Stanford

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
Momo: I'm going to take Georgia Tech in the upset.
Droddy: Clemson

Momo's Munchies

It's Tuesday so it Munchies time:

1. The way Wisconsin loss was heartbreaking for the Badgers, but the game was incredible. The downfall of Wisconsin was not playing a little tougher schedule and therefore I don't think they were preoared to play this game. the toughest team they played until Saturday was Nebraska. Also Russell Wilson Heisman chances faded away on that night.

2. Someone should have told Texas Tech that Oklahoma had a 39 game win streak home. The Red Raiders rolled the Sooners. I actually thought the score was wrong but flipped over and saw the destruction for myself.

3. Alabama will be in big trouble if they sleepwalk in the first half against LSU. The games I've seen of them the Tide have a lot oftrouble starting fast and putting teams away early.

4. LSU looks really dominant. The players better realize that they have a rare opportunity to do something great and the spotlight is on them. Doing drugs, getting in trouble with law is not putting the team first.

5. The losses of Oklahoma and Wisconsin cracks the door open for Boise St. in the title game. Doubt that will happen.

6. I know professional athletes are suppose to be good at their craft but Kyle Boller of the Raiders is not a good quarterback. On Sunday, he threw for 71 yards for his team and 67 yards to the Chiefs. At last he is married to a model because quarterbacking a pro team is not in his long-term future.

7. The Redskins quarterback situation is a mess. By not drafting a quarterback and grooming him to run their offense, Mike Shanahan is losing control over his team. The locker room for some strange reason believes in Rex Grossman while Shanahan loves John Beck. Neither guy is the answer and this once proud franchise with a great history is suffering.

8. Today's NFL feels like I'm being transferred back into the 80's and 90's. Back 20and 30 years ago, only a few teams dominated professional football. Now its the same teams in the conversation for a championship and its been like that for five and ten years. The gulf between good teams and bad teams that parity is not evident.

9. The Broncos brass really love putting Tebow in a now win situation. The funny thing is all this kid does is find a way to win.

End Zone (Week 6)

1. Thoughts on Carson Palmer possibly starting on Sunday after not playing all season.
KDC: He got what he wanted. Now let's see if he got what he wanted.
Momo: In this crazy world may have gotten the best of the deal. The raiders get a 31year-old quarterback with a bad knee, shoulder and elbow. That sounds like a winner right there. Add to that Palmer hasn't played all season and a semi decent receiving corp and the Raiders got a steal (hope you hear the sarcasm in my writing). Secretly the Bengals want the Raiders to do well because their draft pick improves if the Raiders go to the AFC Championship game. With that said, its no way I would start him on Sunday. Just tells you how bad Kyle Boller is.

2. Thoughts on Harbaugh and Schwartz min-scuffle
KDC: I don't think I've ever seen a coach slap another one so hard on the back as Harbaugh did Schwartz. I'm not sure I've ever seen a coach slap another on the back period. If he also, as Schwartz claimed, included an expletive, then Harbaugh needed to be fined. Schwartz however how much he was emotionally hurt by the broken streak, shouldn't have chased Harbaugh down like a moron. I mean, what was he going to accomplish by doing that? Nothing but trouble. Save it for a revenge game. You're likely to meet in the playoffs. Fine him too! (I know the NFL fined neither, but still.)
Momo: Probably the strangest handshake I have ever seen. Both guys are fiery individuals who's team feed off that fire. Neither guy looks good in the eyes of the public but Schwartz looks worse by running down another coach. These two teams will match again and "Shakegate" will play itself out on the field.

3. Think the Packers are too complacent?
KDC: Against the Rams. yes. But I doubt they'll be this way against real opponents. I doubt they'll go unbeaten (talking about it this early is plain stupid), even with a weak schedule, but they're continuing to make the plays that count and I expect that to continue.
Momo: There is a true danger here, especially after watching the end of the Rams game. The trouble that Green Bay could have is peaking so early and being defending champs that their focus could get loss and play to the level of competition. The top thing about being on top is trying to recreate the same passion when you are on the bottom. The leadership of this team better step up and remind everyone that they just can't turn it on when the lights are the brightest.

4. Better shot at the playoffs, Raiders or the Bengals?
KDC: The Raiders, even w/ the new QB because it's the organization showing the players they are determined to make the playoffs this year. Now what are you going to do. What the players have done is run up a great record against some strong opponents. I don't see that slowing down with their owner's death & their starting QB being injured & out. The Raiders have a mission & the talent to accomplish the mission. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the division, but will only predict a Wild Card spot behind San Diego.
Momo: Just because I said the Raiders got hosed doesn't mean I don't believe in the Bengals. The Bengals have a tough 5 defense and are doing amazing things with a rookie quarterback that everyone overlooked in the draft because he didn't go to a BCS conference. Andy Dalton is solid and has led the team to two comeback wins. With A.J. Green emerging as a real superstar there is something really special happening in the Queen City. Marvin Lewis should get a lot of credit for reinventing this team and having them in this position. Their schedule is a little tough because they have both the Steelers and Ravens twice but the rest of it is winnable.

2 Point Conversion (Week 8)

Its Friday so its time for another edition of the 2 Point Conversion:

1.Is the top ten of College football that much better than everyone else?
Momo: It seems that way. A quick glance of the top 2 5 and there is no one outside of the top 10 that has a legitimate shot at a championship. With people a little upset with the amount of undefeated teams, when study those teams undefeated in the top 25 only about 5 have a real shot at going undefeated. Teams like Clemson, Houston will lose a game in the next few weeks. There have not been any major upsets either.
Droddy:Excluding Boise St.,I would agree there is a big difference in the top 10 and the rest of the nation. I would even take it a step further and say LSU and Alabama are the 2 great teams this year while the rest of the top 10 are very good teams. There will be upsets and things will sort themselves out, just like most years.

2.Thoughts on Missouri going to the SEC:
Momo: This is a bad move for the football team. The Tigers have made great in-roads from being an also ran to a top tier team in the Big 12. The Tigers are making in- roads in the Texas recruiting base, not huge like 5-star players but enough to start churning first round picks and garnering top ranked recruiting class. The move to the SEC will not vault the Tigers into a top tier SEC team, if anything it will set their program back for years. The SEC competition is the best and Mizzou will have an extremely difficult time competing with the likes of LSU, Alabama and Florida for top recruits. I know the administration is afraid that the Big 12 is too shaky and may not survive but it really is the best fit for them.
Droddy: I think this is a good move by Missouri. They get to leave the unstable B12 and make more money while doing so. Assuming they put the money to good use, like building up the infrastructure their recruiting will get much better. They have natural recruiting bases in Kansas City and St. Louis and places like Chicago will not be a stretch for kids wanting to play in the SEC. Lets face it, Missouri was not a top tier B12 team and they certainly will not be in the SEC, but now they have something to sell in the Midwest that Oklahoma and Texas cant.

3.Is it fair to penalize Kellen Moore in the Heisman race because of the schedule he plays?
Momo: This happens every year to players outside of the major conferences. Their stats are looked upon as inferior because of the competition they play. You can make cases for past players outside of the BCS conferences in the past like Steve McNair, Randy Moss and Marshall Faulk. Moore play speaks for itself and he should be treated as a legitimate contender. Moore does not make the schedule and he does is play the games.
Droddy: Here we go again with the tears for poor ole Boise State! Here is another way to phrase the question, why should we penalize the Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson and Griffen’s of the world for not putting up Playstation like numbers because they actually play a schedule? Kellen Moore has played about 5 real teams over his ENTIRE career versus the other contenders that deal with that annually. Yes, I believe Moore is a GREAT player and should make the trip to New York, but the award is for big boy football which Boise does not know about. For every player that turned out to be great in the NFL from the non BCS conferences there are plenty that were busts and there will be many more – looking at you David Carr, David Klingler, and Andre Ware.

4.Droddy leads in our “Who You Got” competition by going 4-0 last week. Droddy is 9-3 and I’m 7-5. Here’s our picks for this weekends top games:

Okla. St. vs. Mizzou
Momo: This has trap game written all over it for the Cowboys. Mizzou is coming off a lack luster showing against K-State and need a win like this to make their season. I can’t go against the cowboys although it will be close because OK. St. defense is not that good.
Droddy: Im going out on a limb here – MO Tigers take this one. OK St has a suspect defense…again.

Auburn vs. LSU
Momo: LSU, even with a couple of starters out.
Droddy: LSU dominates. Better in every phase and at home. I think Auburn is even worse off now with the suspended Tigers – this just assures LSU will give AU their undivided attention.

Wisconsin vs. Mich St.
Momo: As much as I like Wisconsin, when you take a good look at who they played their toughest opponent has been Nebraska, otherwise the Badgers haven’t played anyone. I gotta go out on a limb and take Mich St. in an upset because of their defense.
Droddy: Stanford, but I think the Cardinal fans have to sweat this one out. Washington is much improved over years past.

Washington vs. Stanford
Momo: Andrew Luck and the Cardinal win another but this time not by 25.
Droddy: Wisconsin wins a close one.

Momo's Munchies

Some thoughts from this past college and pro football weekend:
1. Paging Ochocino, paging Ochocinco. Does anyone know where Chad (Johnson) Ochocino is? With the Patriots he has gone into a witness protection program. You would think he would flourish with Brady as the quarterback but that is not the case. Chad only has nine catches in six games. Not good enough for the former All-Pro.

2. Also, Albert Haynesworth has not made an impact at all with the Pats. If Big Albert is hurt then that's understandable but I don't think that's the case. Wonder if the Patriot potion is not working when it comes to Haynesworth or Chad. They both are underachieving.

3.Really don't understand why teams don't use this formula against Tom Brady. Rush him up the middle and make him leave the pocket. The Pats do a good job of taking care of his blind side and front side but up the middle is where you make Tom uncomfortable. Just ask the Giants, Packers, Ravens, Jets and Steelers. They consistently come up the middle and the Patriots can't handle it.

4.Prior to this year did anyone know that Darren McFadden (Pictured on the left) was still in the NFL? McFadden is now leading the league in rushing and showing all the ability that he showed at Arkansas. Coincidence you say?Nope. Its his contract year. Money is making him find the holes and hit them hard.

5.Carson Palmer to the Raiders is a good move for both. First the Bengals will get pretty good picks from the deal and with Dalton and A.J. Green in their future it will provide stability for a franchise that always has underachieved. From the Raiders standpoint, they get a quarterback that should make the receivers better. Palmer wanted out and wanted to go to the Bay Area and he should be happier there.

6. The NFL trade deadline is the earliest and sometimes the most boring. You know its a slow day when the headline is Rams trade for Brandon Llyod. Brandon who?

7. I know Michigan St. and Michigan are rivals but the Spartans linebacker William Gholston went a little far in his disgust for the Maize and Blue. The Spartans need to suspend him for the to punching incidents. No need for this in the game. Read and see it here: Michigan State Spartans Review Players Conduct

8. Really hope that LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. all stay undefeated until they play each other.

9. Still don't understand why the University of Missouri wants to go to the SEC. They are going to be above Vandy, Kentucky, Miss St. and Ole Miss but have fun on those trips to Baton Rouge, Bama and Florida. They will be routinely slaughtered.

10. In watching the Sunday night game I think we saw the end of Donovan McNabb in Minnesota. Barring injury, its Christian Ponder the rest of the way.

11.Finally here is an excerpt from MMQB by SI's Peter King. We can learn a lot from Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers on how to handle everyday situations in our life. It also shows why I have so much respect for Young and will always say he is underrated in people's eyes:
From Peter King's MMQB column at SI: Peter King
Give Steve Young an assist for how Aaron Rodgers handles the "F" word.

But I'm not sure he needs much help. You haven't heard all that much about the relationship between Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers, and both men probably like it that way. They are not everyday texting or calling friends, and I believe Rodgers would have handled the last six years of his landmine-turned-golden life pretty well without Young's occasional advice, because Rodgers was raised by parents with excellent perspective.

But Rodgers and Young do have one very important thing in common: They took over for all-time great quarterbacks, and the succession in both cases was not smooth. But Young learned enough in the awkward years aside Joe Montana, and then replacing him, to be a good sounding board for Rodgers, particularly in the rough times when a) it seemed like he'd never have a chance to play and b) mayhem swirled around the 2008 Brett Favre retirement/unretirement and distracted Rodgers and the Packers daily.

And when Rodgers would seek Young out, the advice would be the kind of sound stuff that hit a home run with Rodgers. Paraphrasing, this was the kind of counsel Young gave Rodgers over the years: Never, even to your mother, say something that makes you a victim. Human nature being what it is, you'll want people to know your side of the story, and you'll want them to know how hard it all is for you. But if you complain publicly even one time, you'll be a crybaby. That's how people will see you. And they'll remember.

Instead, if you just hold it in, and you just focus on football, it may take a few years, but respect will come back to you a hundred-fold. And when you begin to have success, people will look at you with tremendous respect because you didn't fall into the trap of complaining about your circumstances.

Is that exactly what happened or what? I mean, what tremendous advice. I was reminded of this last week when I had Rodgers on my SI podcast (a 34-minute talk you can hear on iTunes: or SI.com and, in prepping for the conversation, knew how fruitless it would be to talk about Brett Favre.

Rodgers doesn't take questions about his relationship with the man he took over for in 2008, because they basically have no relationship. I figured, why throw ice cubes on the conversation? If it came up in the conversation, so be it. And it did, sort of. I asked him what he thought he'd learned from Favre in his three years as his backup. There was a pause, and I thought he would say some version of no comment, but he said something educational. "I think his eye control,'' Rodgers said. "He was great with his eyes, moving defenders and throwing look-off passes all the time. If you watch film on other quarterbacks, there's not a lot of guys in the league who are consistently using their eyes to move players. I think it's a learned trait. It's something you have to work on. The top guys in the league are doing it just about every play. But that was something I watched, I saw, and I really tried to incorporate into my own game."

Interesting. But back to Young. I gained a lot of respect for him after the Super Bowl 17 seasons ago, when he threw six touchdown passes to crush the Chargers. In his suite a couple of hours after the game, one of his relatives or friends in the back of the room, with some giddiness, called out, "Joe Who?'' And Young, who could have said something to stick a dagger into Montana, instead said, "No, don't do that. Don't worry about that. That's the past. Let's talk about the future.''

Sounds like something his protégé would say.

End Zone (Week 5)

1.Has the NFL become too stats oriented?
KDC: You know, it's not that it's becoming too stats oriented, it's that the rule changes make comparing stats almost useless. Everyone is agog at Cam Newton's passing stats, but almost every QB's stats have people agog. So how do you compare those stats against previous years when they're almost average today? I mean, everyone focused on Tom Brady's 500+ yards against Miami in Game 1, but what about Chad Henne's 400+ yard stats against the Patriots in the same game? Between rusty defenses (which may be the real under-covered story of this early NFL season) and the rules changes, about the only stats that matter is the final score and a team's record. Worse, if this continues, then comparing stats for the Hall of Fame is going to be a nightmare because so many of the old barriers are demolished. It'd almost be like everyone running a 3 minute mile now. How do you qualify the greatness of Roger Bannister, et al then?
Momo:Its skewing that way a lot. I think the biggest reason is fantasy football. Fantasy leagues have exploded and now fans want to know every stat known to man about their players so they can set their rosters. Another facet is TV and by that I mean ESPN. They are trying to create a new stat by talking about a quarterback's ability to win along with the passer rating. Its all nonsense because in football what matters at the end of the day is wins and losses. Of course you want a guy who can make big plays on third down, but do numbers really play a role in blown coverage? I think not.

2.More surprising the Lions or the 49ers?
KDC: So Matt Stafford made this big deal about spanking the Patriots in the 3rd exhibition game & how they were due & I was like, "Oh that was so stupid. You're on the Lions." My bad. 5-0 is shocking on so many levels it's almost beyond comprehension. I think they've already won more games this year than in the past 3. So give credit to their D-line, their offensive skill players, and the coaching staff for acting like 0-16 didn't happen 3 years ago and sticking it to everyone they've faced. Worse, they look like they could be a power for years to come!
Momo: Its has to be the 49ers. I was so convinced that they were in the "Suck For Luck" sweepstakes, especially with Harbaugh at the helm. But instead of waiting for Andrew Luck, Harbaugh has made Alex Smith serviceable and instilled toughness (which is something I thought Singletary would do)into this bunch. The crazy part is their top 3 receivers are hurt and they are still winning. I didn't question the Harbaugh move to come to San Francisco but I was sure that it would take time for him to mold this team into his image. Captain Comeback is speeding up the process and making believers out of everyone in the NFL.

3.Jay Cutler said his psyche is being hurt by getting sacked so much, who's to blame for that?
KDC: In previous years, I'd say it was Cutler's fault, but let's be honest - he's being protected by paper. Whose psyche wouldn't be hurt by 300+ pound linemen burying you into the turf. You were hired because of a skillset you can't perform unless you're running for your life. I'm not a fan of Cutler's, but ya gotta feel for him this year.
Momo: This falls squarely on the shoulders of the GM of the Bears and Mike Martz. Jerry Angelo spent money on the defensive side of the ball and decided to leave Cutler protected by in-ept lineman and nameless receivers. Angelo has totally made Cutler fearful when he drops back to pass. Also Martz is at fault because of his refusal to run the football. When you have Matt Forte, a poor man's Marshall Faulk, use him like Faulk. The offense has to be catered to protect Cutler with short passes and dumbs off to Forte. Angelo and Martz could turn Jay Cutler into David Carr with the amount of hits he is taking.

4.Have you ever seen a player so polarizing as Tim Tebow?
KDC: I've seen jerks polarize people into love or hate crowds, but never a guy everyone likes/respects as a person who is seriously questioned on every skill level. The poor guy wasn't helped by being chosen with the Bronco's top pick, but the way he energized the Bronco's (again!) in last week's game against the Chargers should say something about his teammates vote (which seems to be unanimous). Shame on John Fox for not creating a "Tebow package" early on so that the Broncos could have more punch & give Tebow some touches just in case this scenario presented itself.
Momo: There have been guys who have led less than moral lifestyles and they are the ones who have been routinely praised by everyone. What makes Tebow so polarizing is that he wears his religion on his sleeves and right now doing that in this country can really divide people, even in sports. Analyst have picked apart his delivery and accuracy but everyone seems to forget that Tim Tebow is a winner and makes great decisions in crunch time. His teammates love him and the majority of fans love him. Tebow is a positive role model for young athletes and shouldn't be subjected to ridicule because of what he believes. Kurt Warner never had to deal with all this scrutiny and he does the same things that Tebow does. Its simply amazing. Just let the guy play football and see what you have.

5.Are defenses now so complex that it takes them longer to get in sync than offenses?
KDC: Yes! One reason every QB & RB is getting record numbers is because the defenses aren't working together. Either they can't tackle (Eagles), can't mesh (Bears) or can't close people down (Packers), not even counting those teams who lose blowout games (Steelers). Evidently the short off-season made it so much harder on defenses to trust each other that there's always someone open. I don't expect that to change for a few more games actually. Then we'll see how good these offenses really are.
Momo:I think defenses are not in a rhythm yet and as soon as the weather gets colder they will get right on track. A lot of the top defenses are older so maybe it taking players longer to get used to each other. A couple of the top defenses in the Bills and Bengals are playing really well because they are staying in their lanes and not doing too much. Maybe it is because they have a lot of new players and the systems are simplified but as each week progresses you can add more wrinkles and the players can get more comfortable.

2 point Conversion (Week 7)

1.Who is the best CFB team in Florida?
Momo: This is a tough one because the state of Florida used to have perennial top five teams in FSU, Miami and Florida but now they are all falling on hard times. FSU is ranked in the top 25 this year along with Florida but neither school is ready to challenge for a title. I think the most underrated and possibly the best team in Florida is USF. BJ Ryans is a star in the making and they play in the Big East. There only problem is that they lost to Pittsburgh.

Droddy: This probably has to be the toughest question to date…it’s like trying to decide who is the ugliest girl at the dance. The last time Miami, FL, and FSU were not in the top 25 was 1982! Since Momo is forcing me to answer, I have to go with the only team I have seen beat an SEC team – Florida. I know they were some of the worst teams in the SEC, but they won them in convincing fashion and I saw FSU and Miami lose to lower tier ACC teams. South Florida would have been a reasonable choice if an average Pitt team was not on the schedule. Florida still has top talent across the board and I think most teams would fall on their faces with Alabama and LSU back to back, especially with a back up QB.

2.Clemson won again, buying or selling them?
Momo: I will be the first to admit that I have picked Clemson and trusted them in other years and they have found ways to lose games to really bad teams, but maybe this year is different. Maybe Clemson is this year’s version of last year’s Auburn Tigers. They have a solid quarterback in Boyd and a game changer with their wide-out Sammy Watkins. They have a solid defense and Dabo Sweeney (pictured above) is a good coach. The only problem I see is their schedule, their toughest two games left are on the road against Georgia Tech and at South Carolina (actually South Carolina may not be tough if Garcia is the quarterback). I will buy Clemson until the Georgia Tech game.

Droddy: At this point, how could you sell Clemson? They just beat 3 top 25 teams in consecutive weeks - a first in the ACC. These things always seem to turn as soon as Clemson is the favorite and now their QB (Boyd) was hurt last week. They are not a national championship player this year, but when you are a program like Clemson it starts with the conference title. They are very good without question.

3. With the top teams being Oklahoma, Alabama, and LSU, are you taking one of them or the field for the National Championship?
Momo: The field because Bama and LSU will play one another and that will eliminate one of those teams and I still have Oklahoma losing to Oklahoma St. No one is talking about Stanford either and I know it’s because they are on the west coast. Stanford has one tough road game left against USC but they get Oregon at home. So the field is very much in play for me.

Droddy: LSU and Alabama should play twice this year – once in regular season and again in New Orleans for all the marbles. Color me unimpressed with Oklahoma – same team as they usually have…run up the score on the Big 12 then fall on their face when it counts. Let us not forget, Texas had a losing team last year and have less experience at QB this year and a new coaching staff. Texas has beaten: UCLA, Iowa St and BYU – this is Oklahoma’s BIG win so far? LSU and Alabama are the top teams and I would vote for Wisconsin over Oklahoma. If the Cardinal can beat Oregon then things may change.

4. SI just recently stated that the Alabama defense is the best of all time. Agree or disagree?

Momo: Sports Illustrated is way off base with this one. I think lately in sports we are so quick to anoint the NEXT or great players that we see now that we quickly forget about past players or teams. I can name at least 5 teams that had better defenses than this current Alabama team Did they forget about the 2001 Miami Hurricane team with about 6 first rounders? The statement was a little absurd for them to make.

Droddy: Sports Illustrated needs to stick with taking pictures and talking about professional sports. Alabama may not even have the best defense in their conference! Time will tell, but it is an absurd thought with wins over: Kent St, North Texas, Penn St, Vandy, Florida and Arkansas. Florida seemed to move the ball on Bama before Brantley’s injury – 190 yards passing in less than a half! This question can be reviewed once they’ve played some real teams, but SI has a habit of being wrong.

In our" Who You Got" game we are both tied with 5 correct and 3 incorrect:

Baylor vs. Texas A&M
Momo: Baylor wins this even though they are inconsistent. But A&M can’t hold a lead.

Droddy:Texas A&M – hard to pick the Aggies, but I think they will match up well against Baylor. They will have more playmakers on the field (especially defense) even though Baylor will have the best one in the game - Griffin.

Michigan vs. Michigan St.
Momo: This one is actually a tough one because Michigan is playing really well. The Spartans have a tough defense and can contain Denard Robinson but I think the Wolverines stay perfect.
Droddy: Michigan State’s defense will finally corral Robinson. Michigan is good, but they are not an undefeated team which should be proven Saturday.

Oregon vs. Arizona St.
Momo: Oregon even though LaMichael James isn’t playing.

Droddy: Oregon, but I do think this is a somewhat close game. Arizona State has a strong accurate quarterback and one of the best middle linebackers in the game. Oregon should eventually wear this team down in front of their home crowd.

Okla. St. vs. Texas
Momo: My sleeper Cowboys win again. Texas is too young.

Droddy: OK St all the way. Texas is barely an average team and I agree with Momo here – the Cowboys looks like a championship caliber team. The Boys should roll here.

Momo's Munchies

1.In article with Yahoo!Sports Colts owner Jim Irsay said if the Colts get the number 1 pick in the NFL Draft, he would consider taking Andrew Luck. Irsay says"Even if that means that guy sits for three or four years, you’d certainly think about taking him … you see what Green Bay did with [Brett] Favre and [Aaron] Rodgers and you’d like to be able to do the same thing.” I have one problem with that. Favre never embraced Rodgers and has gone out of his way to take shots at Aaron. Favre saw himself as immortal when it came to football, especially when throw in all the numbers and the "Ironman" streak. There is a difference between Favre and Manning, I think Peyton's neck injury has put a different view on how he sees himself. If Peyton isn't healthy enough to play, I don't think he would think twice about retiring. Peyton knows his future is secure although he did not schieve all that we wanted him or thought he could achieve. Peyton Manning would not treat Luck with the same disdain that Favre treated Rodgers. You can read the story here:Irsay says Colts would consider Luck.

2.South Carolina finally dismissed former starting quarterback Stephen Garcia. The guy almost single handily caused Steve Spurrier to pull his hair out. Spurrier is going to look back and think what if I made this move earlier, we could possibly be still undefeated.

3.Al Davis passed away this weekend and the Raiders got a dramatic win in Houston. I have bashed Davis in the past for his strange antics and revolving door of head coaches. But after reading a little bit about him, I have found he was a pioneer. Davis was the first owner to hire a Hispanic coach (Tom Flores) and African-American coach (Art Shell) into the NFL. Davis actually had the guts to do those things and it paved the way for Tony Dungy, Ray Rhodes, Mike Tomlin, Raheem Morris and Ron Rivera.

4.The Raiders come back win over the Texans really exposed how good the Raiders are and how the Texans are in serious trouble. With the Colts being awful, the stars are aligned for the Texans to win the division and make the playoffs. Instead they find ways to lose games they should win. Matt Schaub not running in the final touchdown but throwing an interception shows his inability to win a game. Now Williams out for the year, Schaub will be under more pressure. Houston you really do have a problem.

5.LeBron James tweeted John Clayton and asked when is the last day for the NFL to sign free agents. LeBron in the slot or on the outside against a safety or cornerback would be unstoppable. With the NBA lockout probably going into Next year, some team should give him a look. I doubt he is being serious but would love to see him play football.

6.Steve Young turned 50 today. He is one of my favorite quarterbacks of all-time. I don't think he gets enough recognition. Young was a game changer. He and Randall Cunnugham were Michael Vick before Vick came along. Plus he was a more accurate passer.

7.Is anyone paying attention to the Niners? They are 4-1 and that is a shock to me. (More on them later this week)

8.Mike Stoops got the ax from Arizona. The school showed him the door after losing to Oregon St. Its gotta be tough for the rest of the Stoops brothers when Bob keeps churning out winners at Oklahoma.

End Zone (Week 5)

1.Has Donovan McNabb hurt his Hall of Fame chances with his last two years?
KDC: Okay, w/out comparing stats against QBs already in the HOF, I had him on the HOF bubble. To me, the lackluster results in Washington last year and the pitiful periods he’s had at Minnesota already are the kind of performances that burst that bubble and get you into the Hall of Very Good. McNabb, by all accounts, is a wonderful guy, but he’s not a 40-year-old Favre whose final couple years will be dismissed as a guy playing for love and money and hanging onto glory. This is a guy who was supposed to seriously upgrade his teams, yet (at best) didn’t help them, while (at worst), actually hurt bad teams. That image lingers when it’s time to vote.
Momo:Yes he has. I love what Donovan stands for and what he has meant to the league but his last two years have really hurt his status as an elite quarterback. McNabb stature first was damaged by Shanahan by the benching in an early season game and now in Minnesota he can't bu a win. If Donovan had won a title it wouldn't look so bad because every qb has a down year every now and then but his last two years have been brutal. What McNabb's last two seasons have done is helped make a strong case for Kurt Warner entering the Hall of Fame.


2.Do you think Rex Ryan tough guy bravado will keep working if the Jets don’t win a championship in a year or two?
KDC: Those kind of guys usually burn their team and fans out over time. Even when they win. He’s done a wonderful job of revitalizing the organization, but if they continue to perform in such a punchless fashion on both sides of the ball (remember Tony Romo gift-wrapped their first win for them), then he’s made his timeline awfully short.
Momo:Rex's personality is playing well in New york but it is going to wear out pretty quickly,, especially if they don't win soon. I know the players love playing for him because Rex has their back and puts the onus all on him. He has definitely made the Jets relevant but I don't think he will be around long enough to reap all the benefits of his labor.

3.Sunday night Packers vs. Falcons, a bigger game for whom?
KDC: Matt Ryan’s been haunted ever since he got buried under a tidal wave of green & gold in the playoffs last year. They must win this game to prove they’re legit. Unfortunately, they beat the Packers last year in the regular season when the Pack didn’t have a running game, QB Aaron Rodgers fumbled the ball away at the goal line, and Tony Gonzales got a key first down on an incompletion (as replays showed). I see the Pack winning big.
Momo:This is all about Matt Ryan and the Falcons. Ryan is still having nightmares about the postseason game when Woodson and the Pack turned their season into a nightmare. Ryan has not been the same since the Packers ran all over him. He looks real uncomfortable in the pocket. The Falcons needs this more to prove to everyone that they are contenders.


4.Should a contender sign Terrell Owens, if healthy?
KDC: I’ve never been a TO fan. Certainly the ability was always there, but now that he’s on the backside of his career, it appears (assuming health) the antics have finally caught up to him & no one’s interested. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Momo: Owens can help a team but it would be really dangerous to bring him into a place where the team is young and contending. I'm not sure anyone is really interested in bringing all the drama into their franchise. My opinion is that T.O. does not play this year and could be done for good. Too much of a distraction even though he can contribute.

5.Thoughts on the Eagles slow start:
KDC: No one’s comfortable together yet. Plus, did they address their areas of biggest concern (O-line, linebackers, defensive backfield) in the offseason? Not especially (except for Asomugha as a corner). Now they’re paying for it when Michael Vick isn’t in there (and even when he is, like last week). There’s time to bounce back, but they should certainly be concerned.
Momo: Sometimes it takes a few games for talent to gel. The eagles have two problems:1.A defensive coordinator that used to be the offensive line coach (never a good thing) 2.Really young linebackers that are being taken advantage of and that is putting tons of pressure on the secondary. all the offseason moves have made the Eagles a target and they seem unsure on how to handle all the attention.Also ;m wondering where is Desean Jackson big plays. He has been really quiet for a guy in a contract year.

2 Point Conversion (Picks)

A shorten version of the Conversion this week. We are just posting the picks for this weekends best games. To recap, I'm up on Droddy by a game by going 3-1 last week, while he is 2-2. He wants revenge and I just want to stay ahead (braggin rights is so much fun:) Here are the picks:

Oklahoma vs. Texas
Momo: Oklahoma wins this game hands down. Texas is too young and not ready yet.
Droddy: OU, the class of the Big 12.

Auburn vs. Arkansas
Momo:I'm going to ride the hot hand of the Razorbacks. Arkansas isn't the greatest team in the SEC but is good enough to beat Auburn.
Droddy:Can't believe Arkansas cost me that game last week. They aren't a good team but they should get past Auburn.

Florida vs. LSU
Momo: Freshman quarterback versus one of the best defenses in cfb at home. Tigers and it won't be close.
Droddy: Tigers, even Brantley wouldn't have made a difference in this game.

Missouri vs. K-State
Momo: The Wildcats gave the Tigers trouble last year on the road but Mizzou came away with the win. This year will still be tough but I also think Tigers overcome the Wildcats. I think James Franklin's ability to run the ball and pass it wins the game. he needs to get Moe and the other receivers involved.
Droddy:K-State is going to beat Missouri because they can control the clock and keep the Tigers offense off the field.

Momo's Munchies

1.Sunday Night's Jets-Ravens was a classic defensive game even though 51 points were scored. There were three defensive touchdowns, which is almost unheard of. I wonder do officials officiate games differently when there are two top-notch defenses?
2.BTW-who looked worse Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez or Tony Romo?
3.Who knew sports was starting to get political. ESPN pulled the MNF intro because of comments made by Hank Williams, Jr. ESPN is bordering on censorship in my opinion.Right or wrong Williams is not an employee and can speak his mind. You can read the story here: ESPN pulls intro
4.Why in the world would Rob Ryan say that Calvin Johnson would barely make the Cowboys roster? Did he not have enough tape to see how dominant Johnson can be. It was really dumb not to double team him as well because Johnson destroys single coverage. Unless you have Revis or Deion Sanders, swallow your pride and double the man.
5.Really don't understand why people continue to kick to Devin Hester. He is the greatest return man of all-time. Bar none.
6. Wisconsin put a beatdown on Nebraska. Bo Pelini has to change their offense and find a quarterback who can throw. also Tom O'Brien has to be kicking himself for kicking current Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson to the curb.
7. Are their two better collegiate defenses better than LSU and Alabama? I think not