February 2008 Archives

Just swapped email with former Pats, Jets and Chiefs corner Ty Law. He's not officially released until Monday so he can't make any visits or negotiations until then.

He's getting up there but should draw interest from better teams. Law wants to go to a contender at this point in his career and could well wind up back in New England.

The Dolphins were one of the busiest teams on the first day of free agency and made strides on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, they added the Jaguars leading receiver last year, Ernest Wilford (45 catches, 518 yards) and former former Niners guard Justin Smiley and backup tight end Sean Ryan.

Wilford's the best signing out of that bunch because, while he's not the fastest wideout on the block, he can go up and get the ball at 6-4, 223 pounds, is a hard worker and is pretty surehanded.

The Dolphins were close to adding Raiders quarterback Josh McCown but NFL Network reports that he's gone to the Bengals. That means John Beck remains the incumbent starter in Miami and Miami remains in the market.

It's kind of a head-scratcher to figure out why McCown would prefer to backup Carson Palmer in Cincy instead of competing with Beck.

Smiley, a former 49er, helps shore up the Dolphins porous offensive line but there's still much work to do up front. Ryan's a bit player at this point, a former Jet.  

Defensively, the Dolphins swung a deal with Dallas for space-eating Jason Ferguson, a 312-pound defensive tackle. He's 33 and has played in both Dallas and New York for Bill Parcells who - while Jeff Ireland is the personnel - likely pushed for that deal. Ferguson will be able to indoctrinate the Dolphins into the

Giants linebacker Reggie Torbor and Tennessee defensive tackle Randy Starks are also headed to Miami. Torbor was a part-time player in New York and finished the season with 39 tackles.

The biggest domino to fall could for the Dolphins could be linebacker Calvin Pace who did visit Miami but may still head to the Jets for a looksee.

Who's had the best offseason to date - other than Big Blue?

The Cleveland Browns. (Check out the Plain-Dealer blog here).

Last week, they re-signed running back Jamal Lewis. On Friday they got quarterback Derek Anderson locked up for three more years and swung a deal for Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams and another one for former Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. They also hosted former Patriots receiver Donte Stallworth and Tennessee defensive end Travis LaBoy.

The Raiders are trying to get Stallworth in for a visit this weekend so that's not a done deal by any means. LaBoy is also supposed to visit the Saints.

The Anderson signing is particularly big because A) he's pretty good and B) it means Brady Quinn gets a reasonable apprenticeship before being handed the reins of the offense.

As for Williams, there's some uncertainty as to whether the Browns sent a third-round pick to Green Bay or a second-rounder in exchange.

Either way, Cleveland's off to the best start in this free agent period.

We're 14 hours into the 2008 free agency period. As our buddy Dan Pompei from the Chicago Tribune noted, team decision makers agree the shelves are not stocked with franchise-altering players.

Why? It's because the number of players franchised (12) and the proliferation of teams with more cap room to spend since the CBA passed less than two years ago ($85 million to $116 million in 24 months) means teams had cash on hand to keep guys around.

So the guys who are free agents today - even if they are good players - are free agents because their former teams felt they either had a better guy on hand (Michael Turner, ex of the Chargers) or they had too rich an asking price for their services (Asante Samuel, soon-to-be Eagle).

Here are the 7 biggest developments in the first 14 hours.

1. Asante Samuel bound for Philly.

With a 4:30 eastern press conference scheduled, the ex-Patriots corner will be the biggest name to be locked down on the first day of free agency. For the Eagles, great get. You couple Samuel with Sheldon Brown on the outside, and Brian Dawkins at safety and you have a terrific secondary. Samuel NEEDS a good safety behind him in order for him to make the kind of plays on the ball that result in picks (he had 16 over the past two seasons). He'll get beat - less than Lito Sheppard - so Eagles fans can't think they have the next Champ Bailey. But overall, Samuel will win you more games than he'll help lose.

2. Jets Unloading Early 

 

Well, it's probably not the highest priority news for Patriots fans on the eve of free agency but special teams ace Larry Izzo isn't going anywhere.

Izzo, who'll be 34 in September, has agreed in principle to a deal to stay with the Patriots. The 5-10, 228-pounder is almost exclusively a special teams player although he has appeared in some goal line defenses for New England.

Izzo's entering his 13th year in the league which is fairly amazing since he went undrafted coming out of Rice in 1996.

The Patriots are also close to getting a deal done to keep another special teams specialist, Kelley Washington, in Foxboro.

Washington is a receiver by trade. Although he didn't have a catch for the Patriots in 2007, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder could be moving up the New England depth chart by osmosis.

The Patriots have already taken a pass on Donte Stallworth and receivers Jabar Gaffney and Randy Moss become free agents at 12:01 Friday morinng. That leaves Washington (when he signs), Chad Jackson and Wes Welker  as the Pats receiver corps.

I didn't figure it would take this long to get Moss locked up given both sides desire for him to be in New England for the foreseeable.

But Moss is a mercurial guy and, while talks continue the closer he gets to having the opportunity to hear other offers, the more hands will sweat in New England.

Sitting at home with the flu sucks. Aside from attending a meeting this morning, I've got no plans to go back outside today. Which is fine by me because I can't stand this weather anymore. Yes, that's right. I'm complaining. I turn on the TV this morning and it says: "With the windchill it feels like 7 degrees." 7. That's 73 degrees less then what I'd like.

So I'm home with Oprah, a box of tissues, my comfy couch and A LOT of extra time to peruse the internet. I haven't checked out this website in just short of forever. However, I'm glad I did today because I came across this hilarious article on The Onion. With the title: Canseco: 'Hey guys, who wants to come to my big steroid party this weekend?' I don't see a need to explain.

And in case you are wondering what Kelvin Sampson is up to, just go here to find out. The fact that it's completely made up is a small point. It makes perfect (fiction) sense.

That's my suggested headline for the New York Post next week ...

I hear he's also courting the Irish-American vote: O'bama!

And how about Hillary's "pillow" comment? More and more I'm looking at Hillary and seeing Tracey Flick ("Pick Flick!" from Election) 

Did you read that ESPN traded in Sean Salisbury for Cris Carter? My favorite aspect of this story is that Salisbury, in a statement, said that "it's time to expand into other opportunities in TV, radio, internet, publishing, movies ... " Movies???

Vanderbilt beat No. 1 Tennessee last night, which only reaffirms what my good friend and former editor at Sports Illustrated, Dick Friedman, has long said: "There's no such thing as a home team scoring an upset in college basketball."

Is it a "Greatest Highlight" if Chris Berman is narrating it? Doesn't anyone in Bristol have the cojones to tell him to simmer down, now?

The Ming Dynasty will have to wait another year to begin. I'm totally bummed about this. The NBA Western Conference playoffs is going to be so mind-blowingly entertaining this spring that I'm already considering phoning Clooney and telling him I can't make the shindig at Lake Como this year. I may even miss Cannes. I mean, it's just going to be that cool.

Kobe.

Nash.

Dirk.

Manu.

Eva Longoria.

Kirilenko, who nearly has as open a marriage as Tilda Swinton. And what the hell is up with that, by the way? She lives with both her husband and her boy toy, reportedly? I mean, has someone already written the Tilda Swinton biopic? And will Jodie Foster star in it?

Carmelodrama. Baron Davis' beard. Peja and C Paul.

Shaq. McGrady. Pau. Amare. Deron. AI. Duncan. Do you realize that seven of the last eight NBA MVPs (the lone exception being Kevin Garnett) will be participating in this spring's Western Conference playoffs? And by the way, can we please hand Kobe the MVP right now so that future generations will not have to wonder why the best player in the wake of Michael Jordan did not win an MVP award in his first dozen seasons? Future hoops scholars will wonder what was wrong with us.

According to this, Mr. Darren McFadden will be Daddy McFadden not once but twice this summer. So to the lucky team who takes the honor of drafting the Arkansas RB, it really will be a family event. (Travis Henry and McFadden can host family bbq's)

In non-sports news (unless you consider dancing a sport, in that case take out the non), this video will bring a smile to your face today (and through the rest of the boring work week.) Adorable.

Rockets fans are not going to be happy. Houston center Yao Ming is done for the season. They go and win 12 in a row and then this happens.

You're a Chicago Bears fan. So does this news make you smile or scream?

And I don't mean former Chicago Bear Bill Perry.

The NFL just emailed the 2008 League Calendar.

Sadly, no beefcake shots of Guns Hochuli but there's plenty of dates to circle.

Here you go. Oh, and scroll down for J-Dub's more interesting take on William Rhoden's piece in the NYT. Sorry to dump this on top of dat.

February 28 -- Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.
 
February 28 -- Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to

their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.
 
February 29 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins.

Yesterday in the New York Times, William C. Rhoden penned a column in which he took on one of the lowest-hanging pinatas in sport: The NCAA. The article was entitled "N.C.A.A. Isn't Allowing Athletes to Be Regular Students", and after you bend your mind around that stunning revelation, you may want to take a moment to read Mr. Rhoden's thoughts before we advance. Here they be.

Mr. Rhoden is correct. The NCAA does not allow athletes to be regular students. Because regular students must repay student loans.

The NCAA is often a cowardly and hypocritical organization. I will agree with Mr. Rhoden on that point. For example, why is it that one school can renege on an agreement to play another in a football game (especially after ESPN gets involved and dangles a tastier carrot before one of those schools) and the NCAA places no sanctions on that school? Or, even better, how come the NCAA turns its head as to where a departing coach locates the cash to pay his buyout to his former employer (could it be ... boosters???) but is dogged about penalizing a school when one of its student-athletes accepts $100 from a booster?

No, I am no fan of much of the NCAA's policies.

That said, Mr. Rhoden, in his article, seems to want it both ways.

"What if athletes want to leave?" Mr Rhoden writes. "Not so fast, the N.C.A.A. rules say. If a player wants to transfer to another Division I program, he must sit out a year."

Miffed at his treatment by The Baltimore Sun, ex-Ravens coach Brian Billick took to the radio yesterday for his first comments since being fired on Dec. 31.

But The Sun's Jamison Hensley was listening and reports that Billick's working on a book about the state of the NFL, just visited troops in Iraq and is looking at TV and radio opportunities.

Speaking about his dismissal by owner Steve Bisciotti, Billick said, "Once I saw the resolve in Steve's mind -- and he knows what he wants -- there was no use in going round and round. Steve has been a good partner and will be someone that I'll want to interact with going forward. I have no hesitation about that whatsoever."

Billick also acknowledged, "The instinct is to say I'm not done coaching."

Billick will be well-compensated by the Ravens in his football-idle 2008. The Sun reports he had three years left on his deal with between $15 and $18 million coming to him.

Anyone so brash as to compile some candidates for Billick's services if he does opt to return in 2009 would have to figure Cincinnati, Kansas City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Detroit and Philadelphia (if Andy Reid decides he's had enough) would be landing spots.

Defensive end Chris Long ran a 4.71 40 (unofficially) which is good for business given that he's 6-3 and 272 and already has one of the most impressive compilations of game tape from his time at the University of Virginia.

Long, the son of Fox Sports analyst Howie Long, doesn't figure to last past the top five. NFL Network draftnik Mike Mayock has Long and Matt Ryan neck-and-neck for the top prospect in the draft. He is the highest rated defensive end by just about everybody.

Oakland, the team his pappy played for, drafts fourth.

Now it's down to just a few workouts left for defensive linemen, linebackers, corners and safeties.

Access to players and decision-makers is going to be limited and I'm pulling up stakes to fly out of here shortly.

Meanwhile, working the halls outside the RCA Dome proper is agent Ronald Todd and his client Kevin Hoyng.

Hoyng, a college quarterback switching to free safety, didn't get the invite to Indy but, bless his soul, he came anyway just to get his name out.

Hoyng was actually a pretty good college quarterback at Dayton. He was named second-team All American in 2007 and set the Flyers record for passing yardage (7,862), completions (530), attempts (1,013) and total offense (9,565).

Great moments from Oscar night (brought to you by Diablo D'Cody Fagg):

1. George Clooney to Regis Philbin: "How did Notre Dame do today?"

We already knew you were the coolest kid in class, George, but making small talk about the Syracuse-Notre Dame game on the red carpet? You've taken it to a level that no one will be able to reach. When you said, "They were up at the half", it was almost enough to make me forget "One Fine Day." I was half-expecting you to say, "And that Harangodly! Hope he doesn't turn pro this summer!"

Also, how can we forget your rejoinder when Regis paid you that embarrassing compliment ("Everybody used to want to be Cary Grant, now they want to be George Clooney."). Your reply? "Well, that's because Cary Grant is dead. Nobody wants to be dead."

Obama-Clooney. You're telling me this wouldn't work? George, you are hereby appointed "Secretary of Suave".

2. Jon Stewart. Funny, funny man you are. Anyone who has ever even attempted to have something published saw the punchline from the "Vanity Fair" party joke coming all the way up LaBrea, but it was still funny. And the line about "Norbit" receiving a nomination -- "Too often the Academy only recognizes movies that are good" -- was sweet. Also, the Dennis Hopper riff ("I'm just mentioning you so that you know where you are") was good humor.

3. How many times did the camera pan to lovely Laura Linney (Laura, get yourself a role where you can actually look as good as you do in real life) and there was Viggo Mortenson seated directly behind her and you thought, What a nice couple they'd make.

Colts president Bill Polian took up a cause we banged the drum about last week, the prohibitive and spiraling cost of having the first overall pick.

"Trades are a unique thing in the first round anymore because of the cost of the top 10 picks financially," Polian said. "To take on that cost ... is almost counterintuitive.

"The draft was designed to either allow the weakest teams, based on record, to choose the best players, or if they chose not to take a particular player, to gather a bunch of picks to further accelerate their growth and competitiveness," he said. "That's now been skewed by the cost of the picks in the first round."

This is one of those genie is out of the bottle, horse is through the barn door situations, unfortunately. With looming CBA strife and bigger battles between players, agents and ownership possibly coming, this is not likely to become a front-line issue.

The most interesting comment I've heard and I've heard it twice from two different team officials ... Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long is one of the best college football players to come out in a generation.

* De'Cody Fagg, a wide receiver from Florida State, blew out his left knee on Sunday during quarterback/wide receiver drills. Fagg was carried off the field on a stretcher after getting hurt while attempting to tap his toes on the sideline to get both feet inbounds. This is a story we'll follow in the coming weeks since Fagg, who would have likely gone after Round 2, likely is done for the rest of the predraft season.

* Mario Manningham didn't have the disastrous Combine that Fagg did, but his 40 time of close to 4.6 on the clocks of some scouts has given the Michigan wideout something to work on for the next month leading up to his pro day.

* San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson ran a position-best 4.55 in the 40. And while his throwing was a little wild and his ball didn't spiral very well, he did have good presence and overall form on his throws. Overall, he didn't hurt himself.

* Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who needs to fight back from difficult Sugar Bowl and Senior Bowl performances and he made strides toward doing that Sunday by being the most accurate thrower of the quarterback crop.

* If you're going to rank quarterbacks by whether or not they "fit the suit," Delaware's Joe Flacco at 6-6, 230, leads that crop.

* Watch for Appalaichan State's Dexter Jackson to get a longer look from teams with visits to facilities. Jackson ran a 4.37 40 and really caught the ball well on Sunday. Working against him are his size (5-9, 178 pounds) and the fact there's not a lot of tape on him playing against top-tier competition during the season although he always has Michigan!

The 4.27 Darren McFadden ran was on a hand-timer. Talk about an itchy trigger finger, man.

Meanwhile, East Carolina running back Chris Johnson burned past even the hand time of McFadden, running a 4.24 to equal the fastest time run in the past 10 years. The fastest was, as we mentioned in our faulty McFadden post, a 4.24 by Rondel Melendez, a wide receiver from Eastern Kentucky.

Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden confirmed one thing today. He's fast. McFadden ripped off a 4.27 on his first effort.

That's the fastest recorded time in the 40 since 1999 according to NFLDraftScout.com.

Rondel Melendez, a wide receiver from Eastern Kentucky, ran a 4.24 in 1999.

That's Oscar face. I don't have too much to say about this year's Oscars, there being a disturbing absence of Helen Mirren in any of the categories. Let's all pray that at least she sashays down the red carpet and has a cougar-off with Julie Christie. Anyway, I have just a few comments:

... I am intrigued by the Best Supporting Actress category. Cate Blanchett is up for portraying Bob Dylan while Tilda Swinton is up for portraying Jodie Foster.

... Here's hoping that Daniel Day-Lewis collects a second Oscar and says, "Screw you, Hollyweird! I'm going back to my bucolic retreat to be a regular Joe again for the next 10 years, then I'll come back and win yet another Oscar. Without ever having had to play the game. Ha!"

... What if Diablo Cody wins for best original screenplay and her acceptance speech is boring and borderline inarticulate? Wouldn't that be ironic?

That's all I have to say about the Oscars, but our good friend Moose, who actually resides in Beverly Hills (although she'd tell you that it's the part on "the wrong side of Olympic"), does. Moose is in "the biz," though none of us are exactly sure what she does. She's also on my list of "Top Five Blonde Canadians" along with Sarah Chalke, Stacey Dales-Not-Schuman, Kerri Matchett, Martin Short (who's not blond) and Kinsey Packard (who's not Canadian ... but hey, it's my list). And yes, that makes six, but I'm all Jim Delany when it comes to naming Top 5 lists. You know?

Anyway, I've asked Moose to handicap the Oscars and here are her thoughts. She also included a prolix explanation on the difference between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing that is more effective than Ambien. I've saved it until the bottom, for those of you who truly are interested. And now, ladies and gents, here's Moose ...

Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan just completed a somewhat-lumbering 4.96 40-yard time. Given that he's not going to throw and has only his interviews and running to represent his work for the week, Ryan appeared disappointed with his time.

In a perfect world,  Joey Harrington and Charles Rogers would just be entrenched as starters for the Detroit Lions by now. Didn't work out that way. And that's part of the reason why the Lions annually have a top-10 selection. This year is an exception. They went 7-9 and select 15th.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli just finished talking and said, "I've got to have a starter. The first day, first two rounds, we need guys who will eventually be starters for you. Good starters. Guys you want to re-sign a year before they come up. You want to keep them for 8 to 10 years. That's when you get humming and you get really good continuity."

 

Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, who is viewed along with Louisville's Brian Brohm as the top quarterback prospect in this year's draft, just finished his press conference.

Opening his statements, Ryan noted that Atlanta won the coin flip for the third overall pick by calling tails, adding "tails never fails, huh."

Ryan measured in at 6-4 and 228 pounds. In his time at the podium he seemed very well-prepared. Almost too well-prepared. When asked about the possibility of joining the Falcons, Ryan elaborated on the great job he things owner Arthur Blank has done. My man Peter King from Sports Illustrated said he just talked to Ryan and he's a HUGE NFL fan so maybe he's up on ownership. To me, it raised a red flag as being a question he was prepped for.

Ryan said he'll run this week but he will not throw, opting instead to throw at his pro day at Boston College on March 18. Asked why he won't throw, Ryan said, "I want to portray to teams that will be looking at my skills an accurate representation of what my performance in a game would be like."

Asked about  the possibility of being the No. 1 overall pick, Ryan said, "It's exciting to be mentioned in that light but for me I just hope somebody gives me an opportunity to compete and help make an organization a winner. It doesn't matter what number pick that is just as long as somebody gives me a chance."

The Falcons won a three-way coin flip for the third overall pick. Atlanta, Oakland and the Chiefs all finished with 4-12 records last season.

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff called tails and tails it was.

"We were fortunate enough to win the coin toss with the Raiders and Chiefs, and I'm excited about the prospects of owning the third overall pick in this year's draft," said Dimitroff. "Selecting third in the draft sheds a totally different light on our draft possibilities and also eliminates some of the uncertainties that previously existed before today's coin toss."

Vikings coach Brad Childress remains supportive of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson despite the general perception that the 24-year-old is a weak spot on the Minnesota roster.

"He went 8-4 as a starter. I think a lot of teams would like that."

Childress was then asked if the Vikings would seek help at the position.

"Globally on our football team there's a bunch of different positions we're looking for help at. Sixty quarterbacks played in the NFL last year. Our guy missed four games. So you better have someone who's a viable candidate if your guy breaks his leg."

A few nuggets from Texans coach Gary Kubiak who's at the mike in the Indianapolis Convention Center.

(ON COACHING CHANGES INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF 28-YEAR OLD KYLE SHANAHAN AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

I don't think our system will change very much. Scheme will stay somewhat the same, if anything a little simpler.

(ON QUARTERBACK GROUP)

There are some fine players within that group starting with the young man from Boston College (Matt Ryan). There could be a lot of lead changes, so to speak, depending on what happens in the next few weeks.

(GAP CLOSING IN AFC SOUTH)
"I don't see them coming back to us. We have to go get 'em. It's a heckuva division but it all starts with the Colts."

I don't like this flurry of NBA trades at all. No sir. The Dallas Mavericks, for instance, had to pull Keith Van Horn out of retirement in order to complete a trade with the New Jersey Nets. Van Horn-of-Plenty will not play for the Nets -- he may not even need to travel to New Jersey -- he'll just collect more cash. In a related deal, Mark Cuban has also picked up the contracts of Joan Van Ark, Jerry Van Dyke and Lilly Von Schtupp, the latter of whom best summed up my feelings about the NBA trade deadline some 34 years ago in the film Blazing Saddles: "I'm tired of men always coming and going, and going and coming ..."

I mean, seriously, when did the NBA become the American League East? I just read yesterday that the Houston Rockets acquired Eric Gagne because they were afraid Denver would land him first. The entire league has become one magnificent key party, with no team seemingly satisifed to dance with the gal they brung.

Why did any of us bother to follow the NBA during the first half of its season -- oh wait a second, that's right: we didn't -- if all of the contending teams were going to undergo a personality makeover to rival that of Rob Lowe in the early 90s (Remember? Post-St. Elmo's Fire:  Rob Lowe's a pretty-boy himbo. Then, post-Wayne's World: Rob Lowe doesn't take himself too seriously! Yea! Let's turn him into Sam Seaborn!)? Okay, there's a lot to digest in that sentence; I'll wait here while you catch up.

Back with me? Good. Look at the Western Conference. In the past two weeks three of the top six teams have dramatically altered their team composition. The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in exchange for Marc Gasol (who knows, maybe Marc is the next Eli Manning?), the Suns got Shaq in exchange for Shawn Marion and the Mavs landed Jason Kidd in exchange for half the 214 area code. By the way, dirty pool on behalf of Gregg Popovich, purchasing courtside seats for Toni Braxton and Jimmy Jackson at American Airlines Arena for the remainder of the season. But I digress...

I know this is hopelessly old-fashioned of me, harking back to a time before the terms "starter wife" and "cougar" were invented, but why can't teams just resolve to improve with the players they have? The New Jersey Nets, in their first game after trading away Kidd, got a season-high 33 points from Vince Carter. Where had that effort been all season long? And, please, don't tell me that Jason Kidd, the human assist machine, inhibited Carter's game.

Buzzer Beater was on location this weekend in New Orleans. Here's a recap of the weekend including but not limited to Shaq, Magic, some "immaculate" fashion, what'd be different if the players were running things, some sweet dance moves and an atrocious dunk by yours truly (now affectionately known as Tiffizany). Enjoy.  

 

Over at SI.com, you can take a stroll down memory lane and look back at some of the best stories from the NFL combine. It's amazing what one good day can do to a guys draft status. It's also a great reminder of why it would be just as effective (if not cheaper) to use a magic 8-ball and take a guess.

Pop Quiz:
He entered the draft as a junior and did not have the benefit of postseason All Star Games. His draft grade was heavily reliant on the combine and he did not perform well. He was inaccurate with his passes throughout his workout and as a result became the third quarterback chosen in the '04 draft.

With Chad Pennington playing a backup role at the end of 2007 the Jets appear ready to move on to the respected but modest-armed veteran and move toward Kellen Clemens as their starter for the future.

But Jets coach Eric Mangini said Thursday that he's not moving on from Pennington.

"I feel very good about Chad Pennington and one of the things I like about him is he wants to be the starter. I want that from everyone. I don't want someone content to play on special teams or be the third receiver."

The trouble with that stance - and it may be only a public stance because Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum are smart enough to know this - is that Pennington could easily be a starter elsewhere in the NFL. And his presence in New York, if Clemens falters, is going to lead to incessant speculation that at any time Pennington could be back in charge of the offense. The Jets would be wise to move him.

Asked about precisely that, Mangini told me, "Chad's a member of the New York Jets and that's how we're proceeding. All (options) are talked about quite a bit and that's true with any player on our roster."

Mangini also fielded the dynamite stick that is Laveranues Coles with mild aplomb.

Coles recently alleged the Jets lied to him and strung him along about a contract extension for the past two years.

"Laveranues Coles and I have a very good relationship," said Mangini. "I sent him a text recently and I think he was shocked I knew how to text. I wanted to get his feedback on the season. He's one of the most impressive guys I've been around and I wanted to get feedback on the things he can do better and things I can do better."

Mangini said the texting fun came before Coles called the Jets liars.  

He had nothing of relevance to add when asked about Coles' allegations, saying instead that every team has contract squabbles.

Jets head coach Eric Mangini is scrolling through the offseason changes to the Jets coaching staff. Not surprisingly, he's enthused about all of them. The first mention he made was of offensive line coach Bill Callahan.

(FREE AGENCY)

"Any time you bring a player into the building you're trying to figure out how they're gonna fit not just on the field but in the locker room," said Mangini

(COPING WITH 2007)

"The season is unique. You don't start at 10-6. You don't start at 4-12. In 2007 I thought the players played hard throughout the whole year. The biggest lesson in the NFL is you never start where you finish."

Where: Dallas, Texas

What: Barack Obama Campaign/Rally

Who: Emmitt Smith

What's he say: well you'll have to watch it now won't you?

Why you should: Because Smith actually does something that will impress you. He speaks clearly, avoids making up words and gets Dallas all riled up. (Well the end gets a little choppy but on an overall scale, he keeps it together)

According to Emmitt, what do he and Barack have in common: "As a young man people told me I was too small and not fast enough to do the things that I wanted to do in terms of football. Well you know what, I did not allow them to keep me down. Barack Obama is not going to allow them to keep him down." And there you have it, simple as that.

Ok, John McCain you're up. Which future Hall of Famer is speaking at your next rally?

This is the first day of access here at the NFL Combine. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert just concluded a brief press conference and next up is Jets head coach Eric Mangini.

The setup here is unique.

A conference room which is about 40x100 with a staging in the middle for tv cameras.

At one end, the draftable players are stepping to the podium in a somewhat steady stream. At the other, there's another podium for front office cognoscenti.

We'll be updating throughout the day from both ends of the room.

Here my friends is a brilliant take on the now final (although not surprising) Jason Kidd deal. As is apparent after reading, retirement has never been so good to anyone, let alone Keith Van Horn.

From the website Cousins of Ron Mexico:

"That's the last time I ignore an e-mail regarding a bank in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. I just hope next time the Mavericks need to make an 8 player deal, they contact me."

Watched the entire Lakers-Suns game last night. A few thoughts:

1. Don't rush to judgment on the Shaq Experiment. There's no doubt that the Suns have entered a new era and that they're going to miss all the things that Shawn Marion can do that only a few other players in this league (Kobe, LeBron, KG) can. One stat you should check is Rebounds. Phoenix outrebounded LA, 46-33, and they grabbed nine more offensive boards (16 to 7) than the Lakers did. Then again, when you're allowin layup after layup to Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, the other team doesn't miss as many.

2. Boris Diaw, you are more and more becoming my least favorite Sun. I'm beginning to long for Pat Burke. There Steve Nash gives you a perfect feed in the second quarter for an uncontested layup. You take it to the hoop. Here comes Kobe Bryant from the weak side. Kobe Bryant who has the broken right pinky. You know he's only got one hand to block that dunk of yours. But you take it up weak and Kobe blocks your dunk. Huge play right there. Sometimes, Boris, you are soooooooooooooo French (which reminds me, there's a player at the NFL Combine this week named "Pierre Garcon". Pierre Garcon! "Morticia, you spoke French!").

3. The Lakers look extremely frisky. Difficult not to like their chances, and that's before you even factor in the late-season addition of Andrew Bynum. Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic, Vlad Radmanovic, Jordan Farmar and Derek Fisher are just lights-out gamers. You just know that Fisher will bury the three when it counts (ask San Antonio) and Gasol can take anyone one-on-one. And when you really, absolutely need a bucket, you have the dude who may very well retire as the leading scorer in NBA history. Did you see Kobe go one-on-one against Raja Bell just before halftime? Went right around him and slammed it home as if it were the All-Star Dunk Contest. The Lakers, in short, are a better team than the Suns. And with last night's win they technically moved ahead of Phoenix, since they now have identical records and LA took three of four from Phoenix this year.

The Oakland Raiders slapped corner Nnamdi Asomugha with the franchise tag on Wednesday. The fifth-year corner out of Cal was originally a first-round pick. Albert Haynesworth, the Titans defensive tackle who got my vote for AP's Defensive Player of the Year, also had it handed to him on Wednesday.

(Aside: I need to come up with another verb to describe application of the franchise tag. The old crutches - "slapped" "handed" "whacked"  "administered" - they still work but they are just too hackneyed (I could use another word for stale other than "hackneyed" too) to keep trotting out.

Asomugha had just one pick in 2007 after making eight in 2006 but that was traceable to the fact quarterbacks avoided him like Britney ducks common sense.

So far this offseason, Colts tight end Dallas Clark, Ravens linebacker (so they say) Terrell Suggs, Bengals tackle Stacy Andrews, Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen have all been franchised (seven players were franchised last season as well) and there's been little rancor among those who've had it ... levied?

Boxer Bernard Hopkins declined -- check that, out-and-out refused -- to apologize when asked this week about what the Associated Press calls the "racially tinged" remarks he made in December about another fighter, Britain's Joe Calzaghe. The two are due to fight in Las Vegas in April; they're on one of those pre-fight publicity tours just now.

"I will never let a white boy beat me. Never," Hopkins said in December, referring to Calzaghe, and it's a mystery why Hopkins has not been more forcefully challenged to apologize.

Because he should.

His remarks weren't merely "racially tinged."

Those comments are flat-out racist. And there is no place for that in a society that aspires to civility, decency and tolerance for everyone.

Winning streaks you should be cognizant of....

Memphis Tigers........25 games

Houston Rockets.......9 games

Barack Obama..........10 states

So I'm watching the CNBC yesterday morning, as I do every morning (Erin Brunette, where art thou this week?), and they're discussing Microsoft's proxy move on Yahoo (yes, this is a sports blog). So everyone, especially those who own Google, is supposed to be quaking at the thought of a Microsoft takeover of Yahoo. But then a bright young man who was a guest on the "Squawk Box" program, Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times, said something that assuaged my concerns. "Why does everyone think," asked Sorkin, who was quoting someone else whose name I cannot recall, "that when you mate two dogs you're going to get a pony?"

Exactly. As someone who was a Time Warner employee when AOL bought us in 1999, I seriously doubt that the Microsoft-Yahoo takeover will proceed smoothly. I remember sitting in a conference room with all of the other SI writers, listening as our intrepid publisher assured us that none of us would lose our jobs. How could we?, he asked. SI's too profitable and successful.

Six months later, four of us were laid off. Including the senior writer who'd specifically asked, "Are any of us going to lose our jobs?"

MUSIC, MOVIES AND TV, 2007

With the Oscars nearly upon us, it's time that I finally unburden myself (while burdening you) of a list I've had handy for a month or so now. The list is simply my favorite moments in music on film or television from 2007. Now, I didn't see every movie and certainly not every TV show (there are entire episodes of "Kyle XY" I've missed, for example), but this list represents the best moments in which music was incorporated into a show or film that I witnessed. I more than welcome anyone else's contributions to this list.

And with all that said, here goes...

What a wonderfully serendipitous late night of viewing on Monday. If you tuned in to ESPN, you could watch Gonzaga at San Diego. Simultaneously, one of HBO's channels was airing "Accepted", starring the lithesome Blake Lively (who appeared earlier in the evening on "Gossip Girl", as well). So, yeah, how could I not come up with the above header?

"Accepted" is a fine little film, a "Van Wilder" meets "Revenge of the Nerds" vehicle. Justin Long, who has been in both "Ed" and Drew Barrymore, played the loser-turned-maverick role perfectly. And then there was Lively, who is lovely and light. She's light and lively. Blake Lively reminds me of every other girl at Xavier High School, the sister school to mine back in Phoenix. I would write that she reminds me of every other girl at Xavier whom I knew, but I didn't know any of them.

Zach Thomas' and the Patriots went through their get acquainted meeting Monday and it went well enough for the Pats and Thomas' agent Drew Rosenhaus to talk dollars.

There's serious interest on both sides but Rosenhaus is too sharp to let the first suitor that buys his guy a drink leave the party with him (wait, that didn't come out right ... anyway).

The Saints and Cowboys are interested in Thomas still and it behooves the blockheaded one to hear what they have to say. New England has a good relationship with Rosenhaus as long as he doesn't get into the jerking-them-around stage so they'll wait as Drew does his Drew diligence.

The Moose is nearing the end of the line.

Today, the Bears jettisoned receiver Muhsin Muhammad. The 34-year-old had a 40-catch, 570-yard season in 2007 and while he wasn't helped by Chicago's forgettable quarterbacking triumvirate of Rex Grossman, Brian Griese and Kyle Orton, it's pretty likely Muhammad is heading toward the spare parts pile.

When players get to Muhammad's age teams are generally slow to bring them in until desperation sets in and their draft picks/younger players haven't suitably developed or injuries crop up. Which is cool for the older player because he now gets to work out at his own pace, doesn't have "voluntary" workouts to attend and can spend time with his family into July uninterrupted.

Hat doffage to young Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe for getting Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the record regarding the so-called Spygate controversy.

This is the first defense/explanation the Patriots have offered on both their taping history and on former video assistant Matt Walsh who purportedly has compromising materials collected during his time with the team which ended in January of 2003.

Five Quick Hit Reactions ...

1. Belichick's interpretation of the taping rule was obtuse. The part of the rule (which Reiss cites in his story) Belichick leaned on was that, as long as the team didn't use any video on the day it was taken the team was all set. But while the rule can be interpreted that way, the league went to lengths to clarify that on September 6, 2006, sending the memo to all 32 teams saying ..."Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."

I'm sure it's fun and interesting to be there in New Orleans.

But out here in Los Angeles I have yet, over this long holiday weekend, to hear one person talking about the NBA's All-Star gala.

Aren't these All-Star productions -- basketball, baseball, hockey and especially football -- way past the point of being relevant? Would somebody please tell me why we keep indulging in these things?

 

Check out my one-on-one with the newest member of the Suns:

Team East vs. Team West Practice: By the way things looked, I'd rather hang out with Team East. LeBron was making Dwyane laugh, Kevin was goofing around with everyone, Doc was cracking jokes on the microphone. They were giving a show to the fans that came out to watch. The West seemed asleep. Fans yelled for Carmelo and Allen but other then the screams, the West was pretty boring.

Allen Iverson might be the same size as me.

Jason Kidd to random reporter: "I'll be ok (with the trade) and wherever I go."
Tiff: "So you'll be at peace with whatever happens?"
Jason: "Yes."
Tiff: "Honest answer?"
Jason: "Yes, really it's the truth."

FELIX. Next time your down here (which you should plan a trip, this city is back) hit up this dive. Fancy? No. Fast service? Slow as they come. Location: Right on Bourbon Street. Touristy? Hardly. It's bare boned, the bartender is named Shock-A-Kon, you eat oysters right off the bar and if you're lucky you might get one tossed to you by the server. In short, it's awesome.

Sheraton Hotel is across from my hotel. It's where a slew of athletes are staying.

Finally, its stopped raining. A simple glance out the window onto Canal Street shows that the sunshine is out. What a nice replacement.

Getting ready to head over to the Convention Center. The East All-Star Practice begins in less then an hour followed by the West All-Stars taking the court. I'll let you know how it goes.

You watch the NBA on TV like me, right? How many times have you heard a broadcaster mention that "Kobe Bryant is the only player in the NBA with a no-trade clause in his contract?"

That may be true, but apparently his former Laker teammate, Devean George, can also halt a trade. I love everything about this Maverick mayhem with the Nets deal. First, George's ability to block the trade stems from some abstruse policy, known as the Bird Rule (after Larry, as opposed to Big...although Larry was big and had yellow hair, too...but we digress) pertaining to dudes with one-year contracts who finished the previous season with this same team.

In other words, the NBA is too lawyered up.

But wait! There's more. George's teammate, Jerry Stackhouse, quipped about how he'd be enjoying his 30-day vacation in New Jersey -- signifying that Mr. Stackhouse would become the first person in recorded history to spend four weeks vacationing in Jersey without having a summer share at the beach. See, there's another little recondite rule saying that you cannot trade a player, have the other team waive him, and then pick him up off waivers....well, at least not for 30 days. And Jerry was supposed to keep his yap zipped about that because apparently it's one of the NBA's (many) dirty little secrets, but he didn't.

It's all so delicious. I do hope that the trade goes through, and then after it does, I hope that Toni Braxton moves to Dallas -- if she isn't there already -- and that that entire soap opera begins anew.

At NBA Celebrity Game:

Scene: older woman sitting next to man. Might be her husband/boyfriend/best friend she has a crush on and he doesn't know it yet. They're looking at a group on the court. She's talking, he's drooling.

Heard: "I'm telling you, they're not women. They are high school girls out there with tons of make-up."

-------------

At Interview:

Scene: Me taking a picture with Shaq.

Heard: "Hope your boyfriend doesn't get mad."

-------------

NBA Celebrity Game:

Scene: Chris Tucker getting fouled.

Heard: "Whattt!?!"

Pitch Level: 9.2 (he did not like that call)

New Orleans and Katrina will forever by synonymous. But this weekend, the NBA squeezed right into the middle of that relationship. Yes, the All Star game is in N'awlins. However the game brought hope and reconstruction along with the rest of its stars. I'm in my hotel room and playing on NBA TV is a montage of players thoughts on the league and what it means to bring the game to this city and participate in NBA's All Star Day of Service.

I'm amazed by the extensive role community service has played in the festivities. 2500 people helped out. From Lebron to Kobe to Yao to Doc to even the Commish himself, the game's biggest names have traded basketballs for hammers to help restore this great city. And while what they can accomplish in a few hours won't fix everything, that's not the point.

Good morning, from N'awlins! After being delayed at LaGuardia and arriving in Atlanta an hour late last night, we (John my producer) and I missed our connecting flight. We laughed it off (because of course this would happen) and patiently waited to be told when we could board our next flight, assuming it would be a few hours later.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Let's just say after a 100 yard sprint, 550 bucks, frantic phone calls to our All Star Production Manager Laura Harrington and a one way ticket on another airline later, John was on his sweet way to The Big Easy. I was left to chill in ATL and hope that standby on an 8 am Friday morning flight would turn into a seat. I went to sleep with my fingers crossed that my luggage would survive hanging out in storage and eventually find its way to LA. As I was told, "There's no way to know if it will be on the flight. You'll just have to see when you get there." Sweet. Thankfully, I've got amazing friends in the area and we took advantage of the unexpected reunion.

What matters most, is I made that 8 am flight.

I arrived to New Orleans with my luggage.

And the NBA All Star Weekend is underway. Stay Tuned!

Every family has a lock and chain on the closet of secrets. Well, the family of Florida State University busted the chain, picked the lock and let the skeletons run wild.

Here's an article you should read. If you like that kind of stuff.

Here is the interview I did with Tito Ortiz and the response Dana White gave to Tito's comments:

It'd be nice if they both learned how to express their true feelings. Kidding aside, the fight on May 24, 2008 is something you don't want to miss. If you want more info on Tito, check out his website here.

Side dish: The sports world loves the question "What if..." There have been and will always be those moments that make any fan, athlete, or journalist stop and ask "What if..." Watch this interview with Michael Jordan from CNBC. Bet you the peeps over at Adidas lost some sleep running that question through their minds once or twice.

And finally.. a little Buzzer Beater action coming at ya!

Last week was crazy. And I blogged about it. All right here. Then as I went to click "Publish" my fingers pulled some teret syndrome move and erased the whole thing. There before me was a blank screen. "Fabulous." I thought to myself.

So finally I've had a moment to sit down... and yet I can't keep away from the TV. My eyes keep darting. My body leans closer and closer to hear the voices. Roger Clemens vs. Brian McNamee. This is the stuff you can't look away from. It's the accident on the highway. You want to drive by and get back to what you need to do that day and yet... it slows you down. You just have to see what happened, who was there, have they cleaned up, what part of this horrific scene am I going to catch?

What part of this ridiculous yet intoxicating mess will be unveiled today.

Thoughts so far:

Andy Pettite is in the worst spot out everyone. And he's the nicest one out of the entire report.

Is it actually possible to not recall so many conversations? According to Roger, either he has a very selective memory OR the guy needs to be checked for Alzheimers.

McNamee's hair is __________________.

If you were Roger, sitting that close to McNamee, how long before you jump over the middle man and punch him?

So I happen upon my good friend MoeCav as I'm scuffing up Columbus Ave. this afternoon in teen temperatures. We duck into the Celebrity Starbucks (Columbus & 67th) and I pose the following question to her: "What would be about the worst way to encounter your current favorite network TV star? Because I think I just did."

To clarify, I did write "current favorite network". Because Ricky Gervais would be my favorite on any channel. And my second favorite would be Lauren Graham, but her show (13 minutes to Gilmore Girls as I type this!) is only on in syndication. So my current favorite TV star, by virtue of him being the funniest character on my favorite non-cable program, would have to be Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) from How I Melt Your Mother .

"I don't know," MoeCav replied. "Tell me."

It happened like this. I'm at my gym. And when I'm at my gym, I love to do the swimming. And yes, I wear the Speedo. My friend Moose and my gal the Sports Bunny claim that I swim as an excuse to wear the Speedo, but I swear it's the other way around.

Anyway, I finish the swim. Enter the locker room, wearing nothing but the Speedo. And there, right in front of me, is NPH in a towel. And I'm thinking, SLAPBET! THE PLATINUM RULE! But, well, frequent readers of this blog know that my gym's locker room is like a Will & Grace fantasy land and that I've had underwear pilfered in these confines (the NYPD assures me they'll crack the caper soon). So I say nothing. Act cool and aloof. But, really, I just wanted to shout, "SLAPBET!" at the top of my lungs.

I did not watch the Grammys last night (nor was I at Jose Canseco's party, and I can prove it) but faithful Johntourager Tupelo did. She sends the following observations:

--Carrie Underwood is really cute. And I know I'm not a guy, but putting her in hot pants and trying to make her sexy is like trying to do the same thing with a puppy. Doesn't work and should raise the eyebrows of the appropriate authorities.

--Shouldn't there be some kind of time limit on Beatles' songs (remixes or otherwise) from being allowed to win Grammys? The soundtrack to 'Love' beat 'Once'?!? Why should anyone ever bother making original music again? And, this means we have to listen to Ringo try and pretend he was any kind of creative force. Ugh.

--Andy Williams and Tony Bennett shouldn't have been forced to leave the home for this. The teleprompter is totally confusing them. Soooo uncomfortable. And I bet they are pissed they are missing tapioca night and 'Cocoon 2'.

--Tina Turner is hot. And almost 70. I hate her. And so wish she would knock Beyonce off the stage.

--I have an ongoing issue with CBS...have you seen their promos for their lineup? Almost everyone BUT 'How I Met Your Mother'*. What? And why is no one else watching this show? What is wrong with you people?!?!?!?!?!?

**J-Dub blog by-laws normally prohibit the use of "How I Met Your Mother" when "How I Melt Your Mother" is available. We allowed it this time. But don't try it again, Tupelo.

I am officially horrified at modern country music. Brad Paisley is on stage, wearing more glitter than a drag queen at Pride, singing a song with the lyric 'I'd like to check you for ticks'. Oh. My. God.

--Kanye West is immensely talented. Truly. And immensely insufferable. TRULY.

My favorite gay blogger just wrote something I wish I had- he wondered how many more sports Will Ferrell will make a movie spoofing. He can only hope the next is the biathalon...and there is an onset accident. Heh.

--Vince Gill is officially my hero. Did you see? His award was presented by Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart, and he said, ' I just got presented an award by a Beatle. Can you say that Kanye?' I...LOVE...HIM!!!

--'Rhapsody in Blue' is totally boss. No snark here; it still enthralls me over 30 years after hearing it for the first time.

--Just in time for Black History Month...Martin Lawrence, Raven, and Jackee' in a movie with eye-rolling, finger-snapping, and more uncomfortable cliches galore! What, Cuba Gooding, Jr. wasn't available? I know Dr. King would be proud.

-- Is that Jerry Lee Lewis or is this 'Weekend at Bernies 3D'? I'm seriously not sure he's even alive.

Little Richard. I won't say anything, because I don't want to offend African-Americans, gays, drag queens, wig-wearers, molestache-wearers or Porter Waggoner (who evidently posthumously donated his suit.)

--Flight of the Conchords won Best Comedy Album! Now THAT was a speech I'd love to hear...Murray calling roll for the people he'd like to thank...'God? Is he present? Speak up!'

That's Tupelo, folks. She'll be here all week...

A couple updates on the Dana Jacobson entry below:

-- It was Tim Prister of "Irish Illustrated" who asked Charlie Weis the question about the "Mike & Mike" roast. I should have known. Prister always asks the most direct and insightful questions at CW pressers and I think it's because he operates on the simple basis of, "What do I want to know?" He never couches his question as to whether or not it will make Charlie uncomfortable, but just on whether there is an issue that needs further explanation. Prister does a great job.

(By the way, if you're looking for the ND writer who almost seems to delight in asking questions that will upset Charlie, it's my good friend Mike Rothstein of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. I swear every time Rothstein gets the microphone in his hand, Charlie begins to smirk.)

--By leading with the Bill Maher anecdote, I failed to specify my point properly. Commenter DQ inferred that I believed this was a case of reverse sexism. And I can see why he did. No, I just think it's more about hypocrisy and that is what Charlie was attempting to point out. Granted, Charlie is a much higher profile person than Dana Jacobson (whom I have met and who was extremely nice to me). DQ's most valid point, I believe, is that if this were a bigger name at ESPN, they might just be gone.

--Not that I expect them to, but the suits at ESPN might want to look in the mirror on this one. The next time a high-profile person screws up, and they will, will SportsCenter run that footage? Of course they will. But being the major player that it is in sports journalism, ESPN shapes how people feel about sports issues. Which is to say that if the Dana Jacobson tirade--which was YouTube'able for a bit--had played on SportsCenter, and then been debated about on "Rome Is Burning" and "Around the Horn" and "PTI" and even on "First and Ten", well, she might be working in Ogalalla, Neb., today.

But they didn't and so she isn't. But some athlete/coach/on-air person will say or do something that will get them in trouble in the future, even if the only recorded evidence of the event is via someone's camera phone. When that happens, and if ESPN runs the clip ad nauseum, well, aren't they just huge hypocrites? If you're going to devote two-plus hours of each broadcast day to bloviating, as ESPN and ESPN2 do, and yet you ignore when your own people make news, that ain't cool.

--For the record, I do not own a "Muck Fichigan" t-shirt. (Ms. Jacobson's alma mater, and hence the source for her comments).

--If you're at the "Lighten up, Francis" point of reading my comments on this, I understand. Dig, I don't think that Jacobson should have to lose her job and we all make mistakes. Certainly I do. Especially when I'm tipsy. I'm just a little surprised at how glossed over all of this was.

--

I was watching "Real Time With Bill Maher" on Friday evening. I don't always agree with Bill's points (and after I read how he treated Jim "Boo Yah" Cramer on his previous show, as recounted in the terrific tome "Confessions of a Street Addict", I like him less) but I love the debate that his show generates.

Anyway, Friday evening's panel consisted of three male guests: Bob Costas, who was excellent, Jonah Goldberg, and Matthew Dowd,whom I don't know much about. The topic was Hillary versus Barack (isn't it always these days?) and whether it's easier to elect a black president (though he's only 50% black) than a female president (though she's only 50% fem--oh, c'mon, you knew that joke was coming).

So Dowd says, in defense of Hillary, "Sexism is worse than racism in this country."

To which Maher, quickly, astutely and correctly countered, "Not if you're hot."

Which brings us to Dana Jacobson of ESPN. Yesterday Charlie Weis held a press conference at Notre Dame about issues beyond his recent signees. I don't know who asked the question of him, but I applaud the writer who did so. And, honestly, I didn't think for one moment that Weis would reply as candidly as he did. This was the exchange:

Q: I believe you were a participant in the roast for "Mike & Mike", and there was a situation involving one of the ESPN employees. If you could, offer your take on that situation, what transpired that night.

COACH WEIS: Are you referring to Dana (Jacobson)?

Q. Dana Jacobson, yes.

COACH WEIS: Well, I'll just say three things, okay. I was both personally and professionally offended by her comments. And if the situation were reversed, and that were me saying them, two things would have happened. I would have been the lead story on SportsCenter, and I would have been fired. But other than that, the University has issued an official response, and I think it's best to leave it at that.

Strong words. And true. As a Catholic and a Notre Dame alum, I don't want to see Jacobson fired. However, I would like a little less double-standardry to exist. Granted, the event was a "comedy" roast, though as we've seen through the years by watching the ESPYs, ESPN anchors should refine their comedy to snarky remarks while showing game highlights. And Jacobson, from all accounts, was loopity-loop-looped (or at least I hope she was).

But, as my good friend Marty once said, Catholicism and obesity are the last two accepted targets of bigotry. And I'm not even sure the latter is so much any more. Don Imus makes a joke, albeit a completely mean and unnecessary one, about the Rutgers' women's basketball team. And he gets canned. Mel Gibson says some horribly anti-Semitic things (while looped) and he becomes a pariah in Hollywood. Which is not to excuse what he said at all.

But Dana Jacobson, a relatively high-visibility on-air ESPN personality, says, "F___ Notre Dame! F___ Touchdown Jesus!", and ESPN barely reports it. And certainly the national media focused on it, and on Jacobson, far less than they did on Kelly Tilghman and the "lynch" comment.

I'm not in the business of measuring degress of bigotry. But I do know that writing or saying, "(Blank) (Said Race, Said Religion, Said Ethnic Group)" is probably going to get me fired. But then I'm a white male. And you know what? "F___ white males!"

(So yes, I'm the first AWM.)

Yes, ESPN suspended her for one week--which is the same amount of time they once allegedly suspended Neil Everett for stepping on Chris Berman's toes with the "He's with leather" quip (See? ESPN anchors ARE funny when they don't work blue and keep the joke related to a highlight). And yes, ESPN did report the story (briefly) on a "First Take" news update. But considering the reasons why former ESPN on-air personalities such as Brett Haber and Harold Reynolds were fired, it's a little inconsistent that Jacobson received such a free pass.

Luckily, we're Catholics. We forgive. So I imagine that some of the people whom Jacobson comes across in the hallways in Bristol, for example, Mike Golic and Lou Holtz, have accepted her apology and moved on. But Coach Weis is correct. Had he said anything even remotely close to that, in the same setting, every last commenter on Deadspin and The Big Lead and EDSBS would be riffing on what a fat jerk he is.

(Ironically enough, the Deadspin commenters, after first acknowledging how poorly Jacobson behaved, then did an about-face about some ultra-conservative Catholic leader using this episode to his advantage. It was as if they were just looking for an excuse not to have to side with Notre Dame or Weis on this one.)

Anyway, it was a bad episode for Jacobson. And perhaps the graceful thing for her to have done is to have resigned. In order to demonstrate how truly contrite she is. But I guess her job is more important to her than her integrity. And I wonder if she ever would have apologized had the video not been released.

The lesson. As my 8th grade math teacher Mike Gilligan once shared with us, "It only takes ten seconds to throw away a lifetime of honor." That's worth remembering. Especially in an age when most everyone owns a cell phone that can record video.

It's over. Good times, good times. My producer and I just finished a wrap up piece of our week at the Super Bowl. As exhausted as we are, looking back on all the footage we have, it's easy to realize how much fun this past week was. There is just nothing else like the Super Bowl.

All fun and no work? Don't kid yourself. I'm wiped out as I'm sure anyone who covered this event is but the opportunity to be here and experience this kind of action overrides any feeling of being burntout. When the video is up, watch the final piece. It gives you outtakes, a look back on the last 8 days, a couple of laughs and a great insight to all this week brings.

Time to catch a plane!! See ya...

There are no words to describe what the University of Phoenix Stadium was like last night. From the pure joy and excitement to the heartbreak and utter shock, there was no emotion left out of the equation.

Remember how I said I would go and explore? Well I did just that and found myself sitting with all the media up on one of the top levels, near the Giants endzone. I spent most of the third quarter up there with Gregg. It was an amazing view and it really allowed me to just sit back and see the enormity of it all. Yet a certain etiqutte comes along when sitting in those seats. You have a long bench that serves as a table for your computer, you furiously type, you are equipped with your own personal TV that can be programmed to the channel of your choice (with or without stats), and most importantly you don't cheer. For anything. I personally like to enjoy my games with a little yelling, clapping, jumping and hollering.

At about 9 minutes left to go in the 4th quarter, I raced back to the media bunker to grab my bags. There was no way I was going to watch any of it on TV. I missed Brady's drive down the field but walked back in with perfect timing. I was on the first level right next to Pats fans and watched as Brady worked the endzone and connected with Moss. They went crazy. The win was a breath away.

I decided to move with the game and continued to make my way down the field. I was right there with the Giants fans when Eli almost threw the ball into the hands of Asante Samuel. That is something Giants fans are all too familiar with but the crowd I was with didn't yell in disgust. They simply took a huge sigh of relief and waited for the next play. The play that not only changed the entire game but put Manning and David Tyree into Super Bowl highlights Hall of Fame. I was right there.

The fans jumped, hugged, high fived and screamed. Photos of randoms snapped away and necks twisted to see the replay. To be right there, on that side, with Giants fans when Plaxico Burress caught the game winning TD was unbelievable. To be right there when Brady got sacked (yet again) and to scream knowing what that one hit meant ... surreal.

As soon as the clock ticked to 1 second, I raced to get down on the field. The confetti was flying, people were hugging and jumping, Giants players were screaming. I walked out onto the field and looked up to see thousands of New Yorkers happy! (Think about that for a second.. kidding). Suddenly the familiar song that lights up any Big Apple heart blared out of the loud speaker.

"Start spreading the news... I'm leaving today. I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!"

Like I said above, there are no real words to describe what it was like in there. But there was a definite feeling. And I don't think anyone who experienced that emotion will ever forget it.

Watch post game video here.

How great was that, people? That was a Super Bowl that completely lived up to its billing.

FIve plays that you really, really, really should not forget from SB XLII:

5) The Giants' fourth down play on the final drive. Let's face it, every single New England Patriot will remember this game until the moment they die. It was a unique opportunity for the Pats, most likely a once-in-a-lifetime chance. And it all came down to one play late in the game. The Giants had fourth and a little less than a yard. If the Pats stop Brandon Jacobs, the game is over. Immortality. There was only a little more than a minute left. Jacobs scored.
4) Ashanti Samuel's missed interception on New York's final drive. It would have been a better than average play, but by no means superhuman. Samuel was worried about keeping his feet inbound as he leapt to catch Eli Manning's errant throw, but he let the ball slip through his fingertips. Just as New England allowed a perfect season to slip through theirs a few moments later.
3) Perhaps the most amazing play in Super Bowl history, Eli Manning's Houdini-like escape and David Tyree's catch. Either part of this play on its own would have been spectacular. Manning was just about in the grasp of not one but two Patriot pass rushers, and somehow he wiggled out of it--blindly backing up--then bought himself enough time to fling a jump ball to Tyree, who somehow brought it down with one hand, trapping the ball against his helmet. I'll watch that play for years and years and still just shake my head that Tyree never dropped that football. Simply an all-timer of a play. This is the play when all of the friends with whom I was watching the game began to think, the Giants may just win.
2) 3rd-and-11, on New York's final drive. Manning dumps it to rookie Steve Smith, who outside of this play had a bad game, along the right side. Smith fights for the first down to the 14 yard-line. That took atll the pressure off.
1) Alford's 2nd-down sack of Tom Brady on New England's last-gasp drive. That's when it truly sunk in for me. The Patriots--Tom Brady!--were going to lose.

Other observations...

--Mike Vrabel always seems to come up big in the big games for New England. I don't remember hearing Joe Buck and Troy Aikman mention the veteran linebacker's name tonight.
--Eli Manning was better than I ever believed he could be--not just tonight, but all postseason--but Big Blue's front four--Strahan, Pierce, Tuck, Ominyura (?)--was the MVP of this game. Not Manning.
--Wes Welker, an SB record-tying 11 catches. Was your Super Bowl party like mine? On that final drive were people yelling, "Somebody cover Wes Welker."
--My friend Bill wondered aloud if Gisele Bundchen should just be the Super Bowl trophy. Hey, why not?
--I missed the Tampa Bay game, but did see all three of the Giants other playoff games. You cannot overemphasize how vital it was that the Giants simply never beat themselves. Almost no turnovers, very few penalties. They didn't have a Pro Bowler on the roster--or maybe just one, I believe--but they played ideal team football.
--C'mon, Tiki. You must have just a little regret.
--It could do nothing but help Eli's growth this past two months that the two largest personalities on his offense--Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey--were no longer in the huddle. They may have been the two best offensive players on the Giants in recent seasons, but the chemistry of this offense was so much better without them.

--Mr. Petty played four songs, not three, it turns out. He did play two of the three I guessed, but then most of us would have guessed those. However, listening to all the ESPN talkers fall over themselves praising the Giants and ripping the Pats ("failure"...failure???), ESPN should have had Petty play "Change of Heart" on their postgame show.

--I just heard Chris Berman say, "Standing on a corner in Glendale, Arizona, and if you're a Giant fan, it's such a fine sight to see." When will someone put Boomer out of our misery?

Patriots get the ball at their 26.

Three time-outs and 29 seconds left.

That's forever for Tom Brady.

He throws deep for Welker. Not even close. Cornerback Aaron Ross of the Giants is the closest to the ball.

Second down, 25 seconds: Brady is sacked, thrown down hard at the 16 by Jay Alford. Another rookie.

New England takes its first time out.

Third and 20 at the 16, 19 seconds: Brady throws to Moss, all the way down at the Giants 15.. Corey Webster redeems himself, knocking the ball away.

New England takes its second time out.

Ten seconds. Fourth down, the season, perfection, everything on the line: Brady launches it, for Moss, deep down the left sideline. Incomplete.

The Giants take over at the New England 16.

There's actually time left on the clock but Bill Belichick sprints across the field in congratulations.

It takes some time to re-set everything. And then -- Eli Manning kneels, raises the ball in triumph, Lawrence Tynes hugs Tom Coughlin, the confetti sprays onto the field.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Super Bowl champions: the New York Giants.

Giants get the ball with 2:39 to go at their 17.

Eli Manning's time to answer Tom Brady.

And he does.

He finds Amani Toomer for 11.

Overshoots Plaxico Burress across the middle.

Throws a deep sideline pass for Burress. Not close.

Third and 10, 1:59 to go, ball at the New York 28.

Complete, to Toomer, for nine, inches shy of a first down.

Fourth down at the 37. Who you gonna call? Brandon Jacobs, 6-4, 264.

First down. 1:28 to go. Ball at the 39.

Manning scrambles for five, to the New York 44.

Time out, Giants, their first.

Second down pass for David Tyree goes to Asante Samuel. Who can't grab what would have been a game-ending interception.

Third down -- Manning somehow eludes the rush, throws high to Tyree down the middle, who someow catches the ball. Gain of 32, to the New England 24.

Manning is sacked by Adalius Thomas. Loss of one.

Giants use their final timeout with 51 seconds.

Second and 11 at the 25: incomplete left side, intended for Tyree.

Third down: complete to Steve Smith for 12 on the right sideline.

First down at the New England 13. Thirty-nine seconds to go.

And it's a touchdown, Manning to a side-oipen Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone.

Giants 17, Patriots 14. Thirty-five seconds to go.

It's crunch time. Time for Brady and the Pats to look like -- well, Brady and the Pats.

For the first time all game.

The Giants' defense, so stalwart, gives.

Five-yard Brady pass to Wes Welker, 10 to Randy Moss, Lawrence Maroney on a 9-yard run to the left, Brady to Welker for 13, to Kevin Faulk (somehow back in the game) for 4, to Welker for 10 (his 11th catch, tying a Super Bowl record), to Moss for 10, to Faulk for 12 and first and goal at the Giant 6-yard-line.

In all of that: one incomplete pass.

On first down, Moss is wide open on the left in the end zone. Brady throws wide.

Second and goal: Brady's pass for Welker knocked down by safety James Butler. Butler is slow getting up.

Third, and 2:45 to go: Corey Webster falls down. Moss is wide open. I could throw that pass.

Twelve plays, 80 yards, 5:12 off the clock.

2:42 to go, New England 14, New York 10.

If New England comes back to win this game, the Giants last three-and-out on which Eli Manning made a brilliant move to spin out of pressure then overshot Plaxico Burress on what would have been about a 13-yard gain will haunt them.

Giants defense forces a punt.

New York gets the ball back at its 29 with 9:20 to go.

Eli Manning, on second down, eludes the rush, spins to the left, sees Plaxico Burress wide open -- but can't time it right.

A third-down pass complete to Amani Toomer falls short of a first down. Giants get eight, need nine.

Missed opportunities on that drive.

Giants run the clock down to under eight minutes before Jeff Feagles punts. Patriots get the ball back at their 20.

7:54 to play. 10-7, New York.

My prediction of a complete and utter beatdown and a final of 48-17 Pats is going to be a little off.

First play of the fourth quarter, and what do you know? Eli Manning to rookie tight end Kevin Boss across the middle for 45 yards, to the New England 35.

Oh, Jeremy Shockey, out with a broken leg -- why have the Giants played so much better without you?

Third and four at the New England 12: Manning complete, again across the middle, this time to Steve Smith for 17 yards.

To the New England 12.

Ahmad Bradshaw bulls for 7. Up the middle.

And then: touchdown. Manning to David Tyree for 5 yards. Across the middle.

Anyone notice a trend there -- up the middle?

Six plays, 80 yards.

11:05 to go. New York 10, New England 7.

I like Wes Welker as the third quarter closes...or Justin Tuck.

This blog is focusing on the Giants during this game.

But allow me to recognize the brilliance of Wes Welker.

The Patriots backed up their 5, Welker adjusts in the air to reach back and grab a Tom Brady pass for 16 yards and a first down.

Three plays later, Brady to Welker again, this time for 19 yards, to the Giants' 49.

The drive ultimately stalls there at midfield, and we're going into the fourth: New England 7, New York 3.

The 10 points is the second-fewest Super Bowl point total through three quarters. The fewest: 9, in Super Bowl VIII, Pittsburgh leading Minnesota, 9-0, after three.

Giants throw deep, Manning for Burress, from midfield. Nope.

Drive stalls.

Pats take over on a punt from the 41-year-old Jeff Feagles -- I think his name has been formally changed after so many such references this week to "The 41-year-old Jeff Feagles" -- at their 10.

A false-start penalty on tight end Benjamin Watson pushes New England back to its 5.

If you're the Giant defense, do you start thinking -- we gotta score ourselves?

The Patriots just came up short on a drive that took 8:17 and the Giants take over.

For Bill Belichick to eschew the 48-yard field goal attempt in favor of going for it on fourth-and-13, the Pats really must have confidence they won't allow the Giants to score with such generous field position.

Meanwhile, Kevin Faulk has jogged to the locker room with an apparent hamstring injury.

Needing 13 on third down at the New York 42, the Giants miss a tackle on Kevin Faulk and the Pats get 14 to keep the drive alive.

Three plays later, third and 7 at the 25. Brady is sacked -- by Michael Strahan, back at the 31.

fourth and 13 -- Pats go for it. Brady throws into the end zone for Jabar Gaffney.

What a sequence.

Now the Giants take over. 6:43 to go in the third. New York ball at their 31. 7-3, New England.

The New York defense is dictating the flow of the game.

Can the New York offense get some points?

The Patriots just caught the Giants trying in vain to get off the field on a fourth-and-3 play, the Pats sniffed it out and got the challenge to extend their drive.

But now they face third-and-13 and the derring dooooo of Kevin Faulk results in a first down.

Wow

Patriots' first drive of the second half -- they move the ball to the Giant 44, then stall on third.

The Patriots punt, and the Giants appear poised to take over for the first time in the second half at their 14.

But New England coach Bill Belichick challenges, alleging there were 12 Giants on the field before the punt. Chase Blackburn had been hustling off. Did he get off in time?

Say what you will about Belichick. He is the consummate technician, seeking every -- and I mean, every -- advantage.

And now Belichick's challenge is upheld -- so it's first and 10, Patriots, on the New York 49.

Big swing. Maybe.

Dear mom,

Can you please go in my closet, look in the back and towards the bottom. Tom Petty is cool again. And I want my old cd's.

Loveyou,
Tiff

Randy Moss just made his second catch of the postseason, a key chain mover, but on the next play for the Patriots with less than 20 seconds left in the half, Justin Tuck came up with a big strip sack on the following play and the Giants recovered. The half ended with the Pats up 7-3 but it feels like the're down 17-7.

Late in the second quarter, and Randy Moss gets his first catch of the game on a great pattern. Gain of 18, to the New York 44. New England on the drive.

But on the very next play, Brady is sacked -- again by Justin Tuck, Tuck's second of the game -- and fumbles. Giants recover with 10 seconds left in the half.

Giants' defense for the half: three sacks of Brady and a forced fumble. Can't ask for more.

Five seconds to go. Giants at the New England 49.

Pats take a time out.

Manning fires a Hail Mary into the right corner of the end zone. Jump ball. No catch.

These two teams played a 38-35 game in Week 17? Now it's 7-3 at the half.

Key stat of the first half. Giants' time of possession totals 19:27, Pats' 10:33.

The Giants have a 2-to-1 edfe in time of possession.

Weird play: on third and four at the Patriots' 25, the Giants' driving -- Ahmad Bradshaw bats the ball after Adalius Thomas, coming off the blindside, sacks Manning and forces another Giant fumble.

Bradshaw looks like he is merely trying to bat the ball out of bounds -- but it goes forward, to Steve Smith, for an apparent first down.

Nope.

Ten-yard penalty.

The Giants can't covert after the penalty makes it third and 18 from the Patriots' 39, Smith slipping on his route.

So far in this first half, the Giants are dictating play. But trail by four.

New York has opportunities -- 17 plays so far in New England territory. But only three points.

Who sees the glass half full?

Who sees it half empty?

Today's attendance: 71,101.

The Giant defense, looking inspired, forces another three and out, including a second-down sack of Tom Brady by Kawika Mitchell.

And -- a third-down sack, by Justin Tuck, and New England's right guard, Stephen Neal, is slow getting up.

When was the last time Brady was sacked on consecutive plays?

Didn't someone say before this game that it might be key for the Giants to get pressure on Brady?

Patriots right guard Stephen Neal just hobbled to the sidelines after apparently getting his leg rolled up on a third-down sack of Brady.

Patriots go three and out after Eli Manning interception.

So if he's gonna throw a pick -- that one goes in the no-harm, no-foul category.

Then it gets ugly for New York.

First down: Manning is sacked for three yards.

Second: Ahmad Bradshaw fumbles. He recovers his own ball.

Third and 16: no one open, Manning throws it away.

That hardly looked like the team that put together that opening drive.

Midway through the second quarter, and here's the New York scorecard, hardly the recipe to win, especially against the New England Patriots: one interception, one fumble.

7-3, New England, 8:35 to play.

Since their opening drive that lasted 10 minutes and resulted in a field goal, the Giants have been held in check except for a questionable 38-yard reception by Amani Toomer on which Toomer pushed off but didn't get whistled for it.

Their last four plays were sack, fumble, incomplete and interception.

A third-down pass to Steve Smith ricocheted off his hands and into the arms of Ellis Hobbs who'd just been cracked in the mouth by Amani Toomer to snuff a Giants drive.

New York made some mistakes on that drive and this is the most vital possession right now.

On the brink of going three-and-out, Eli Manning flung a pass to Amani Toomer that Ellis Hobbs had lined up. But as Hobbs closed, Toomer fended Hobbs off with a shot to the facemask and made a terrific catch on the sidelines..

So what can the Giants do with their second drive?

Nothing.

The Giants appear poised to score after Manning finds Amani Toomer, for 38 yards, to the New England 19. Not that Toomer pushes off -- hands to the face of cornerback Ellis Hobbs and gets away with it -- or anything.

Three plays later, Manning throws an interception -- albeit a tipped ball, bobbled by Steve Smith, who was just coming out of his break. Smith could have caught that low fastball but doesn't and the ball bounces -- right to Hobbs, who runs it back to the New England 33.

That's Manning's first interception since Week 17 against New England, when he was picked off by -- Hobbs.

On the first play of the second quarter, Laurence Maroney tumbles into the end zone, capping a 12-play, 56-yard drive that puts New England up, 7-3.

Only two possessions in the first quarter. That ties a Super Bowl record.

The pace of the game is clearly what the Giants are after. New York's first drive, lasting 9:59, is the longest drive in Super Bowl history, it's announced.

Now, though: what can they do with their second drive?

Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce just committed a bad penalty on third-and-10 when he interfered with Ben Watson on a throw into the end zone. It was third-and-10 from the 17 when Pierce ran into Watson. And it led to the Laurence Maroney 1-yard plunge that makes it 7-3.

Hef is the man. No matter which way you cut it, you can't argue the success he has had in his life. Imagine the stories in his vault. He's tiny both in height and in frame. But that smile can light up a cave and that wit is sharp as ever.

The red carpet last night was one of the toughest I've had to deal with for a number of reasons. Crowded, unorganized, cold and mainly the week of long hours and not a lot of sleep weighing down. But you make new friends, grind it out and take a huge sigh of relief when it's over. All because you have to.

The Kevins from Entourage, Dillon and Connolly, were hilarious. Dillon brought his dad to the party... which for some could be considered an early Father's Day gift. The bunnies were... well bunnies. It was held at this ranch wayyyyyy out there in the middle of nowhere. Which is why i don't think it was saturated with celebs. There were definitely people there but one thing I've learned from this experience is if you want to throw a mad party, put it in prime location. The event itself was in a giant white tent. It had high platforms throughout with girls dancing like crazy. One girl was actually paid to sit in a giant martini glass and smile at the horny old men standing below her. (Hey, if you are trying to pay off those Christmas credit card bills... it is an option).

Playboy Party Video

I want to write more but Halftime is coming up ... and if Tom Petty has anything halfway close to what Prince did last year, I don't want to miss it.

The Giants had forced the Pats into third and 10 at the New York 17. Tom Brady throws into the end zone for tight end Benjamin Watson. Oops. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is flagged for all kinds of interference.

So, yeah, it'll be 3-0 at the end of one quarter in the history books.

But it's gonna be 7-3 here any moment unless the Giants rise up and pull a Week Three Washington-like goal-line stand.

Corner Randall Gay, listed as questionable, just came back to the bench with his left arm wrapped. He's still in uniform.

Eli Manning's first pass: complete, to Plaxico Burress, on third down, for 14.

His second pass, a flare to the left complete, to Madison Hedgecock, for 3.

Third: complete again, again on third down, to rookie Steve Smith out of USC, for another first down.

Manning's body language: relaxed and confident.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are powering through the New England defense, Jacobs running through Brandon Meriwether.

Kevin Boss, the tight end, drops -- no perfection for the Giants.

Manning tries from the New England 26 for Plaxico Burress in the end zone. Burress is double covered. Ellis Hobbs knocks it away.

If I'm the Giants -- I look more for Smith and let Burress serve increasingly as a decoy. It's clear even early the Pats are going to focus on Burress.

The drive stalls at the New England 14. Lawrence Tynes knocks through a 32-yard field goal.

Sixteen plays, 63 yards, 9:59 off the clock -- but only three points.

As the San Diego Chargers proved in the AFC championship game -- getting three points against these Patriots instead of touchdowns is a dangerous way to go.

New York burned 9:59 picked up four third downs and at the end of the 16-play drive got a field goal.

As impressive as that drive was, you need touchdowns to beat New Enbgland, not field goals.

and here comes a fourth...third-and-7...from the Patriots 26...nice conversion by Manning sidestepping a blitzing Eugene Wilson to get another conversion to Steve Smith.

New England's giving some confusing fronts to the Giants but Manning's now picked up a pair of third-and-longish to move the ball to the Patriots 48.

Randall Gay and Rodney Harrison were both shaken up on the most recent third down and Gay is headed to the locker room with what appears to be a forearm injury.

The Giants aged punter subscribed to the "tails never fails" mantra and got the coin toss right.

They will receive.

Giants call tails.

Tails it is.

As Tom Coughlin had said they would, the Giants will receive.

Pre-game stuff has been going on for a while now. You've been watching it I'm sure. We got a little excited reading the Deadspin website and the link they posted about our Maxim Party story. Suddenly I look up.

Jordin Sparks is singing an amazing version of the National Anthem. Everyone in the white tent is standing facing the mini tv's. Everyone except us.

We quickly rise. Look back and forth at each other. Our producer frowns and says: "You've gotta be kidding me." So much for going unnoticed.

61 degrees outside. Winds of 1 mph.

Nice to know.

And meaningless, here inside the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the roof is on.

Blue Angels' flyover shortly. On the video screen, alas.

As opposed to the theatrical productions normally seen at the start of each Super Bowl, 42's has been very low key.

There were no fireworks, flames rising, inflatable helmets, dimmed lights....none of it. The players merely ran through a line of raised flags.

They looked energetic and confident. Why not? Pressure is all on the Patriots.

Here's what I'm expecting to see out of the Giants today:

A lot of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw running the ball.

A hefty dose of screen passes and short slants.

Man-to-man defense.

Late lineup change: Cory Webster will start at right cornerback in place of Sam Madison.

(If you've seen Love Actually and remember the car scene with Hugh Grant and the octopus, the title just got a little bit cuter, no?)

Before I go on blogging about last night and the Playboy Party, Hugh Hefner and the amazing after party we hit up I must fill you in on events from today.

Ok, here's the deal. Getting to the stadium was about as easy as rolling up in a pinto to the White House and enjoying a five course dinner with GWB and the Mrs. To spare you the annoying pain we felt, let's just say that we met a fair share of cops, one who felt it necessary to run down a parked car and yell at a bus "Are you kidding me?", reached the open lot only to have to leave and hit up an ATM in order to pay 50 bucks for a parking spot and then hiked a short marathon to reach the stadium, only to have to keep walking (on dirt) to the other side and enter through the Media Entrance.

But whatever, We're here!!

Well kind of. Here's how I put it to Gregg over IM.

"we are in a far away location hidden from all the world tucked away in a white tent with mini tv's to watch the game"

Awesome. How SUPER of them to stash media away off to the side. Allegedly we get on the field after the fact which would be pretty cool. But for now it is basically a huge white tent with wireless internet and table after table. On the menu for today is a combination of America's finest: including hot dogs and fries and nachos (is that what you're eating?) and all the water and canned soda you can imagine. Unfortunately we waited to get in line and they are officially out of food.

Among the three of us, we do have one auxillary pass which gets us into the stadium. I for one plan on using it. I'm all about sneaking around this place. It's the Super Bowl. And this game is minutes away from getting started!!!

Word is the first song is "American Girl."

"Running Down a Dream": also reportedly on the list.

No criticism here of Petty, who's one of my favorites. But I gotta know: when will the NFL finally get Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to this thing?

The go-go girls out there right now during the pre-game routine by Alicia Keys -- they don't hold a candle to the go-go girls that rocked out last year with Prince.

Alicia Keys may be beautiful and talented. But a casual glance around the stands -- no one seems to be paying her, or the choreography, much attention.

My friend, Mike, one of my best and longest-tenured friends (we went to Northwestern together), is in section 133. Just visited with him. He says the best bet of the day is the over-under for how many times Peyton Manning is mentioned on today's Fox telecast of the game.

Not before or after.

During.

The line, according to Mike, and we present this information here merely for entertainment purposes, not of course for purposes of betting, which can be illegal in many jurisdictions: five-and-a-half.

How you get "half a mention" is one of life's mysteries.

GLENDALE, Arizona -The ongoing Patriots videotaping scandal is absolutely casting a pall over the historic accomplishment the Patriots seem poised to complete today.

The whole thing is horrendous for business. For the league in general and the Patriots in particular.

In September, after the Pats got pinched for taping the Jets, the rumor that New England taped the Rams walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI was circulating. It seemed hard to imagine since the Superdome was a virtual police state the night before the Super Bowl given what happened on September 11. Fully armed security personnel were positioned throughout the Superdome. Someone videotaped the Rams from the stands?

To what end? It's a walkthrough and a team picture.

The Patriots have denied the allegation forcefully. If they didn't do it, it's a shame the final step of their likely perfect season will be overshadow by a lie.

If they did do it yet issued a denial and then proof of the taping surfaces, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is going to have to be draconian with his punishments.

Well, not really.

I am completely, thoroughly agnostic about the outcome of today's game.

But by way of explanation: this blog will focus during the game itself on the New York football Giants. Those of you more interested in the Super Bowl through a Patriots' prism -- I would highly recommend you click on my good friend and colleague Tom Curran'sblog.

Curran is as good as they get in this business. And I'm not just saying that because he's sitting next to me in the press box.

It's true. No one knows the league, and especially the Patriots, like our man Curran.

The economic impact of Super Bowl XLII, according to one of the video boards in the lobby downtairs, is estimated at $9.5 billion.

Here's how:

Souvenir popcorn at the concession stands: $9.

Cheeseburger: $8. I waited 23 minutes for one cheeseburger.

Souvenir beer (just reporting the price, not drinking): $10.

GLENDALE, Arizona - Hey, what's shakin?

Hello from SB42. The roof of University of Phoenix Stadium is closed and the filtered light coming through the top gives the place kind of a hazy look.

So far players from both teams have worked out on the field in shorts and t-shirts. Nobody's come out yet in full pads.

The field is fairly empty now 90 minutes before kickoff.

There's been a significant amount of pregame press box chatter about the continuing Spygate controversy.

We'll give you our take on that in a few.

The fireworks spectacular is going through rehearsal on the field, the roof of the dome is closed and the security lines are already formidable.

As you approach this University of Phoenix Stadium, by the way, one of the first things you see set up in the west-side parking lots -- apparently as part of the NFL experience -- is a Ferris wheel.

I mean, what is the connection there? A Ferris wheel at the Super Bowl? Hello?

Here's the final pool report from the Patriots walk through from Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The atmosphere was more family picnic than Super Bowl preparation for New England on Saturday as the Patriots enjoyed a brief stop at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The team did not have a walk-through, as promised, instead spending a fun hour with family, interrupted only by a brief team photograph session.

"This is what we usually do," said coach Bill Belichick, who patiently posed for photographs with players and their families dressed in his signature grey sweatshirt with cut down sleeves along with a white visor. "The first year was a little different because of the short week. It was just a one-week Super Bowl. The last three, it’s been good. It gives the families a fun day."

Belichick said every player was present and accounted for on Saturday. He was asked for a final thought on the game.

"We’re playing a good team,’’ he said. "We’re as ready as we’re going to be. It’s time to go play."

Thoughts about that game taking place in what was previously the Valley of the Sun's least-talked about (and deservedly so) suburb:

Sitting Pat

--What if Brady gets hurt? I mean, sure, chances are minimal that Tom Brady will be knocked out of Sunday's game, but what if he is? The backup, Matt Cassell, has attempted 72 passes...not this season...not in the NFL...no, 72 passes since high school. That's it. That's one game for Colt Brennan.
Since graduating from Chatsworth (Calif.) High School, the 6-4 Cassell has been a career back-up. It's not his fault. At Southern Cal he played behind not one but two Heisman Trophy winners: Carson Palmer and then Matt Leinart. The 6-4 Cassell attempted 33 passes for the Trojans, completing 20. Now in his third season in New England, Cassell is the back-up to Brady, who may someday be remembered as the greatest QB in NFL history.
As a Pat Cassell has attempted 39 passes, completing 22. This season he threw two TD passes, the first he'd tossed since high school. Just how bizarre--and entertaining--would it be if the Pats' chances for the NFL's first 19-0 season come to rest on an inexperienced career sub who has thrown just two TDs in the past seven years. Considering that the man he'd be replacing averaged more than 3 TD passes per game this season?

DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT

My good buddy Randy and I love Tom Petty (even though I wish he weren't performing at halftime...and isn't it a coincidence that tix for his tour go on sale on Monday? Hmmm). Randy wrote earlier today wondering what three songs I see Petty playing at halftime Sunday. Here's his set list of probables--the songs he expects, as opposed to wants, to hear:

1) "I Wont' Back Down"
2) "Refugee"
3) "Learning To Fly"

Here's mine, in the order that he'll play them, and why:

1) "American Girl"
--You have to start with something up-tempo that Joe Buffalo Wings can recognize; so it's this or "Refugee"; I'd like to hear "The Waiting" in honor of all the commercials we have to wade through, but I don't think we'll get it; but they'll go with AG and Fox cameramen will thus have a reason to do close-ups of all the babes in the stands they've been leering at all first half anyway.
2) "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with Stevie Nicks
--Ms. Nicks is an Arizona native and I believe her good buddy will get her onstage to give her this moment. Plus, other halftime performers have used the duet tactic (Sting/Sheryl Crow) with great results
3) "Free Fallin'"
--the perfect closer

Maybe you are one of those wonderful people who wake up early, make some coffee and just can't wait to get the day started. You feel energized and ready to accomplish something amazing. It's the beginning of the day, the grass is still wet outside, and the sun is just peaking through your window. You love it.

Yeah, well that sounds lovely and all but I'm not really into that. I come from planet "Can I get just five more minutes?? Please let me stay tucked into my comfy bed and sleep a little teeny bit longer. Please. (shut eyes and roll over)"

Today however I had to come off Planet Sleep-A-Lot and get up at 5 am. Which is convenient considering I'd gone to bed at 3 am. But it was for a very important one-on-one. Safe to say when it comes to rest and sleep vs Tiki Barber, the big guy wins. Tiki, you want 6:45 am? You get 6:45 am.

We met in a sports store right next to the stadium in Glendale. He'd just finished doing a live shot for the Today Show. We jumped right into our conversation about the game, his feelings on Strahan, Toomer, the Pats, and how he's handling his former team playing in the big game. He's as well spoken as you would imagine, passionate about his new gig and a guy who loves football. After we finished up he took advantage of the location and shopped to get some gifts for his family. We waved goodbye and he was on his way. All right as the sun was rising over Phoenix.

During the ride home, I couldn't help but smile. Today, I was actually excited to be one of those wonderful people who enjoy getting it started earlay.

Check out the video!

MAXIM.

We'd gotten wind throughout the week from some doubters. There were people out there who thought the party made of legends, the event that consistently year in and year out has been the spot to be, wasn't going to cut it this year. We questioned if we should cover it. Maybe hit a different spot? Go somewhere else?

Man, I'm glad I don't listen to lame rumors. Here are some highlights from the red carpet:

John Elway. Man walks in and the entire carpet lights up. People are craning their heads to try and get a glimpse. He poses for pictures, he waves and then he walks. Right on by. Everyone. I say: "Hey John, can I ask you a couple of questions?" He smiles and says sure. Bingo. I got what everyone else wanted.

Kyle Boller. Ladies, if you haven't noticed this one, allow me to introduce you. Kyle, this is the ladies. Ladies, Tom Brady is taken, and this is a fine replacement. Emphasis on fine.

Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber. Sigh. There is a reason she's made millions off her looks. I think every jaw in Scottsdale dropped when she stepped onto the carpet. Girls still got it. Randy and his son love watching football together and dad is rooting for the Giants come Sunday.

Akon. Akon. Akon! The second I saw him, I got excited. For those of you who know me, you might recall that I devoted much time on my i-pod to the amazing song and lyrics of "Smack That". (I am laughing as I write that ridiculous statement but it's true, I love(d) it/him). So he comes over, I introduce myself and he says: "What's up Tiff." I respond by saying if he has a nickname for me, what is my nickname for him? He says: "You can call me Kon. We're T K." If that doesn't tell you we got along, take away the small fact that I got him to sing to me "Smack That". A personal serenade on the red carpet! Holla!

Santonio Holmes and McLovin, of Superbad fame. Yes, together. You think you find this pairing odd? Think about looking down the carpet and seeing those two together. I ask: "Normally when people attend these events, they bring a hot date. I see you two brought each other." They laughed and explained they just met at a party right before and came to Maxim together. When asked: "Who approached who?" that conversation led to a really funny back and forth between the two of them. I see those two lasting a long time.

Ryan Seacrest. Working it. We didn't talk idol. Rather he talked. About Tom Brady, the game, Brady, his duties for the Super Bowl and Brady. Not necessarily in that order.

I hate to even mention them. But I just remembered and I feel like the least I can give you is a picture of what happened. From there you can make your own assumption. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Are you confused? Maybe you're thinking who are they and at the same time it does ring a bell? He is the guy on The Hills. She is his girlfriend/fiance/ex/back-on-again girl on The Hills. Together, well they don't offer much except drama on the "reality" show. Pratt carried his personal video camera in one hand (to film her) and a boom box hoisted onto his shoulder with the other hand. And people question what his talent is?!

Also spoke with Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, Billy from Entourage, Jim McMahon, Vernon Davis, Evander Holyfield, Sanya Richards, etc.,

Working the carpet for Fox was Jillian Barberie and for Extra the great Mario "AC Slater" Lopez.

Tons of people were there and chose not to do interviews like P. Diddy, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Rick Fox, Jimmy Johnson, David Spade, Adrien Grenier, Tom Petty, Shannon Sharpe, Reggie Bush and all the Kardashians...

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but I'm on three hours of sleep. Barely.

Here's the video!

Here are a whole list of guys giving you their prediction on what will happen this Sunday!

Last night Gregg and I split up. He headed over to Madden Bowl and I took care of 50 Cent and the VitaminWater Party. Now to get to this party, you have to park in the back lot of a church and then be shuttled to the top of Camelback Mountain.

Girl, let me tell you. GORGEOUS doesn't even begin to describe. The "house" or mansion by my definition is located on top of a mountain with a scenic view of the entire Scottsdale area. As you walk in, the entire living room area is surrounded by glass windows and a wrap around porch area. Outside the view goes on and on with glimmering city lights, the outline of the jutting rock formations, and at one point fireworks were in the air. There is an infinity pool, an open fire, an upstairs, multiple bars.. basically you and I would have a field day in this place. Meanwhile it's some guys 'second' or 'Arizona' house or something like that.

50 Cent arrived and we got a little one on one time. You know I wasn't nervous to meet him more like just hoping that we got him in a good mood. He had to perform later that night, was being shuttled around and I'm sure it gets to the point where the guy just wants to hang out and not have to bother with any media. He was in a great mood and fun to talk with. Guy loves his Giants. He started explaining how there is a difference from where the Patriots come from and the "New Yarwkers". I asked him if you could tell Eli Manning one thing before the game what would it be? His face got all serious and he just looked me straight in the eye and said: "It's game time baby." Haha.. Trust me, Eli wouldn't throw a single interception with a look like that.

Watch the Ping Pong Party!

Donovan McNabb was up next. All you Eagles fans out there, don't worry, your boy is getting back to being healthy, strong and hungry for next season. After we talked some football we played some ping pong. Now why it was a ping pong party you ask? I have no idea. Someone tried to explain it to me and I just nodded my head. I do know that McNabb played with me for a loonnnggg time and we are mutually lacking some talent swinging a paddle. But what we can do is dance. Before I would hit the ball I (for whatever reason) started to dance to the music, it made him laugh and then he started swaying too. I think that's why we wound up playing for so long. At one point, he put his finger to his mouth, told me to give him the ball and then whacked it against my producer/camera guy's head. Haha.. little jokester.

Yesterday the 944 VILLAGE officially opened up and it kicked things off with a live broadcast on Spike TV of the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl. Obviously there is no ocean here so they piled in sand/dirt to make a field, dragged over a couple of bleachers and set up a giant music stage. Game on.

Watch the fun in the sun!

Michael Irvin and Shannon Sharpe served as the Host's of the show. Lance Briggs from the Chicago Bears and Michael Smith of ESPN were the refs. As for the "athletes" you got the blue team aka Sunday Ticket coached by Cardinals QB Matt Leinart and the white team aka Nascar Hotpass coached by Bengals WR Chad Johnson.

From the get go... the blue team was ready to roll. Doug Flutie, Rocket Ismail, Daryl Johnston, Carl Banks, Michael Clarke Duncan, Brody Jenner and the flashiest of them all Terry Crews. Terry was announced, ripped his shirt off and started making his pecks alternate going up and down. Crowd loved it.

Team White had some star power with Warren Moon, David Spade (who I'm pretty sure never played one down), Kendra Wilkinson (think Girls Next Door), Ickey Woods, Stacey Keibler and Pete Wentz and Andy Hurley from Fall Out Boy. Pam Anderson was supposed to be out there playing but according to a Boston reporter who was standing next to me, she was: "playing diva like always." Snap!

Chad Johnson got a little creative with his play-calling at one point. Had Warren Moon throw the ball into the end zone and out of nowhere Chad pops up and catches the ball. No rules against it, points for the white team. So Matt Leinart comes up with his own trick play, has Flutie run to the side, toss him the ball and then launches it down to the end zone. But Flutie's flag came off before he tossed the ball to Leinart. At the end of the day, it didn't matter because the Leinart and Co. dominated.

If there was an ultimate highlight reel from this game, Doug Flutie would be alllll over it. Michael Irvin told me after the game was over: "Did anyone tell Doug Flutie that he was old?" Guy was running everywhere, scrambling, blocking, spinning! Even caught a diving INT to end the game in the end zone, all barefoot.

Spoke to Carl Banks, Michael Irvin, Daryl Johnston, Doug Flutie, Terry Crews, Rocket Ismail, and Warren Moon after the game and got their predictions for this weekend. That story should be up sometime today.

If Boston wins the NBA Finals this spring, who will be the first to come out with a franchise retrospective entitled, "Boston Celtics: From Hondo to Rondo"?

Hey Now!