I HOPE THIS IS COHERENT

I have not posted for about a week, here's why. I had major hernia surgery scheduled originally for this past Friday and it got moved up to Wednesday. Now it is done, I am out and under the influence of hydrocodone (vicodin) which is why i hope this makes sense. That said, I don't know how anyone could get hooked on this stuff. It does help with the pain but I don't feel blasted.
I do not recommend a hernia of any size, especially a big one like mine that required a 6-8 inch incision. Basically, cutting through stomach muscle is very painful.
That leads me to address someone I hate. About a year before proclaiming our health care system the best in the world (I think our doctors and nurses are) Glenn Beck had surgery. I think it was an appemdectomy. At that point the gigantic idiot and massive wimp did a series of home reports crying about the pain he was in and how badly he was treated. He stated our medical system was the worst in the world. Just judge for yourself.

SORRY

NEW YORK JETS 21 @ Indianapolis 17
It's the year of the Favre
MINNESOTA 38 @ New Orleans 21

THIS WEEKS PICKS

Just not feeling good about football this week. I fear the worst, most evil, Super Bowl matchup may be about to happen.
Somehow Peyton Manning will be stymied by the Jets d and/or the Colts defense won't be able to stop New York's ground game, setting up play action passing.
NEW YORK JETS 21 @ Indianapo

THE OBVIOUS PASSING GAME

Part of what killed me about the play calling in the Cowboys loss to Minnesota was the way the passing attack was handled. I don't recall any play action out of the power I. This formation was the set that was producing success in the running game. And it was the inside running game that had been having the most success, with the exception of a couple of misdirection pitch outs. Play action passing works the best when it is done from the formation that has the inside game working because it works to stop penetration by defensive ends.
Minnesota was the wrong team for 1st and 2nd down shotgun formations. The draw/delay game never got going and the passing game became telegraphed.
Why does this team use so little under center single back. This team over relies on 2 formations and a few exotic sets that apparently have too few plays to be effective.
If the Cowboys plan on keeping Garrett he needs to be less predictable. He keeps letting himself get painted into a box.

I BLAME JASON GARRETT

For starters, every time he got inside the Vikings 30 yard line Garrett he would call something stupid and/or predictable. Primarily the stupid pitchout to Barber that lost 7 yards and ended the drive that was the last real chance the Cowboys had. You can't do that against that defense with your slowest back. It might have worked with Jones, but you have to consider that the defensive end on that side was having his best game of the year against a limited Colombo.
It also looked like Garrett would get to the 30 and start playing for field goals. Teams that play for field goals don't win games against teams playing for touchdowns. There is a reason Nick Lowery and Morten Andersen never won a Super Bowl. The teams they played for relied too much on them for points. And Suisham stinks.
As it was it was get to the 30 and get cute becuase you cold still get a field goal. Apparently the Princeton education makes you so much smarter than everyone else. Didn't look like it to me.

BOYCOTT

If, like me, you are tired of all of ESPN's 24 hour sports networks talking only about Brett Favre, which is exactly what is about to happen, then you will join me in boycotting all ESPN networks until at least 1 month after the Super Bowl. I nearly dropped ESPN earlier because everything was either only Yankees or Tim Tebow. Thankfully this offseason, unlike last, I haven't heard much about the Evil Empire. After the loss to Alabama the Tebow talk ceased.
Sadly and especially due to Jason Garrett folding in fear to the Vikings, it's gonna be all Favre all the time on ESPN.
BOYCOTT ESPN UNTIL THEY BECOME A NATIONAL SPORTS NETWORK AND COVER THE ENTIRE SPORTS LANDSCAPE AND NOT JUST BRETT FAVRE!

MY APOLOGIES TO DIRK

First let me congratulate my all time favorite Maverick, Dirk Nowitzki. Major kudos on reaching 20,000 points and everything you have done to lead this franchise out of the NBA basement. But now I must apologize with some truth.
After Dirk reached his milestone, ESPN SportsNation asked if he was the best foreign born player in NBA history. I'm sorry, he isn't. The best ever player born outside the USA was born in Lagos, Nigeria and is name is Hakeem Olajuwon. 3 finals appearances with 2 championships, 2 finals MVP's, 1 league MVP, several defensive player of the year's, nearly every year an all star and 1st, 2nd or 3rd team all NBA and the same for all defensive team and top that off with a quadruple double. And that doesn't include college all America's and 3 final 4 appearrances, twice in the championship game.
Dirk is the greatest Maverick ever, but for 20 years we all got to share in the most wonderful dream.

DALLAS AT MINNESOTA

The Minnesota Vikings do not have any victories that are as impressive as 3 of the last 4 Dallas Cowboys wins. I don't understand why some of the national media are now writing off the last 2 wins over the Eagles. This after their annual season long love affair with Philadelphia. Somehow with these guys the Cowboys aren't allowed to beat a good team. Losing to the Cowboys means you aren't a ggod team.
Yeah, right. Dallas dominated the Eagles for 2 games. The Cowboys have a shut down defense that allows the offense to go on scoring sprees that suddenly put teams down by 2 or 3 scores. That defense also likes to play with it's food. They give a little and then pounce.
Minnesota hasn't seen a rushing attack, offensive line or complete defense like this. And they appear to have some offensive line problems.
The only thing that can beat the Cowboys is making mistakes and excessive, drive killing penalties.
DALLAS 31 MINNESOTA 20
Hey Brett, get ready to taste it!!!

NEW YORK JETS AT SAN DIEGO

Rex Ryan has proclaimed the Jets favorite to win the Super Bowl. All parents think their kids are better than other kids. It wouldn't be the most shocking developement for the Jets to win. I just can't see it. I see the superior talent of the Chargers eventually wearing down the Jets defense. I see the Jets only scoring to be a result of what their defense does, either scoring outright or giving good field defense. The Jets will not be able to drive more than half the field on the Chargers.
New York Jets 10 SAN DIEGO 21

BALTIMORE AT INDIANAPOLIS

The team least likely to be hurt by resting players followed by a bye week is the Indianapolis Colts. They are a veteran, but not old, team. That type of team is professional enough to be able to flip a switch.
Baltimore's defense has been hit and miss all year. They gave up 24 to the Chiefs to start the year. And they are old. I think the Ravens looked better than they are last week because the Patriots played uninspired and are old or too young at several key positions. Baltimore does not have a good enough, or complete enough, offense to stay in this game with the Colts. If Baltimore plays inspired 'd' and Indianapolis is rusty, the Ravens could win. Not bloody likely! Baltimore 17 INDIANAPOLIS 29

ARIZONA AT NEW ORLEANS

I believe we have another year that will show early success loses to momentum in the playoffs. This does not bode well for the Saints. Especially if they continue to abandone or be taken out of their ground game.
New Orleans' saving grace may be the fact that Arizona has huge holes in their secondary. The Cardinal's pass rush, their front 7 in general, will dictate how this game goes. If they can consistently get pressure on Drew Brees they win. If the Saints can protect Brees they lose. I don't believe the Saints defense can get to Kurt Warner, who is consistently brilliant in the playoffs.
Upset: ARIZONA 38 New Orleans 35.

BYE BYE BIRDY

Final score Dallas Cowboys 78 Philadelphia Eagles 30. Dallas 3 Philly 0. But it's so impossibly hard to beat a team 3 times in a season. The Eagles were sand bagging, holding back something to not show in the playoffs. Did they forget to show it last night? Maybe they are saving it til next year. If you were wondering, I don't like Philadelpia or their fans.
After a decade of Andy Reid's pass happy play calling you would think Eagles management would get it. You have to have some ability to control the ball and grind down the field. Whether it is running or short passing. If your whole offense is predicated on a few quick strike long plays each game, you won't beat good defenses. They will take those away and turn your team desperate.
The crap storm on Philly radio and in other media should be epic. They will call for McNabb's head, get a running back, better defensive coaching and on and on. I believe Andy Reid is their problem but no one in Phladelphia will say it.

PHILADELPHIA AT DALLAS

There is a reason a team beats another twice in one season. There is a reason the teams that are 2-0 against another team are 12-7 in the third game. The team with 2 wins is better.
DeSean Jackson can talk all he wants. The Eagles sent him on an end around in the first sereies last week and he got hit. It just looked like a regular tackle but was apparently enough to take him out of the game. Likewise, Jeremy Macklin was touched up a little on an early pass route and he was done. You all saw the replay of the last pass thrown Macklin's way. He never looked at the ball, he only looked at Ken Hamlin.
The Eagles won't be able to stop the Cowboys on the ground. That will open up the Dallas passing attack. Don't be surprised if Roy E. Williams has a good game.
The Dallas secondary will be able to cover the Eagles recievers and this will cause McNabb to get hit. Westbrook's concussion will have him running gingerly.
Dallas will win 31-17.

GREEN BAY @ ARIZONA

I will not go into what if's about the BCS.
Barring an injury, the packers will not see Matt Leinart. That's not good for the Packers. Arizona knew any result to last week's game would still have Green Bay coming back to the desert. This was a good time to keep your starting QB on the bench. The Cardinals win 30-21.

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

I was at the 1973 Cotton Bowl when a favored Alabama team lost to Texas. Bama was up 13-3 at the half but had some key turnovers, one in the end zone, and lost 17-13.
I don't expect the Horns to be down 10 at half time. More like 14-10. I think the Tide will look good in the 1st half.
I think Texas will make adjustments at halftime which will stymie the Bama running attack. When the Tide is forced to pass the Texas defense will take over.
Texas will get a big return, a big turnover and a big play on offense and win 20-14.

BALTIMORE @ NEW ENGLAND

Much like the Jets, the Ravens should feel fortunate for the gifts they have recieved this year. They played San Diego before the Chargers got it together. They got Pittsburgh with it's 3rd string qb. These 2 wins are why the Ravens are in the playoffs..
The league, especially the AFC, has read the book on Joe Flacco. The Ravens recievers are OK at best. The defense is old, especially at key positions.
Not much to say about the Patriots. For this game the Wes Welker injury won't matter. New England is young at recieving positions that may have to be covered by old Ravens..
Baltimore will struggle to stay close and New England will post a 27-17 win that won't look that close.

NEW YORK JETS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS

Christmas and the holidays are over. I wonder if the Jets know this. They just got 2 gifts from 2 teams that had nothing to play for, although I don't think Indy should have approached it the way they did.
The Bengals did the right thing. Obviously vanilla game plan, starters resting and the like. The only thing that could come back to hurt Cincinnati is not eliminating a team when they had the chance. It shouldn't.
The Jets just aren't good enough to capitalize on the stops they will get against the Bengals. With Cedric Benson back and a true aggresive defensive game plan the Bengals will win 21-13 and it won't seem that close.

NFL REGULAR SEASON REVIEW

Picks: last week 9-7 overall 154-86 .642. My goal was .667. Never had a week lower than 8-8.
Early in the season, not long after starting SlagWorld, I said there could be 10 teams with 5 wins or less. There were 8 and 1 with 6.
At the same time I said it would take 11 wins to get into the playoffs. In the NFC it took 10 and 9 in the AFC. Both predictions were wildly affected by wildly inconsistent play by these 'professional' athletes and coaches, mainly in the AFC.
I said the Giants were not as good as the news media said. But let's face it, ESPN is basically a New York sports station designed to give news about New York sports to people that moved out of New York.

THE CUNNING OF THE BCS MACHINE

Last night in the Sugar Bowl was exactly what I feared and showed how devious the BCS is. I did pick Florida to win, but not blow out Cincinnati. The BCS and its supporters will use that game as an argument against a playoff, saying the small conferences just don't belong. Although this doesn't seem to be a problem in basketball.
Apparently Marshall making the final 4 scared the hell out of the BCS, not to mention recent bowl successes of small conference teams. Why else would they match TCU with Boise St. Imagine the horror of 2 small conference teams beating their BCS conference opponents.
In my mind TCU would have been a lock to beat all BCS bowl teams not named Texas, Alabama or Florida. I also don't think those 3 would have been a lock to beat TCU. I think TCU, at the least, is in they game against them until the final gun.
I wouldn't make Boise St a lock against any other BCS bowl team, but I wouldn't dismiss them either.

NFL WEEK 17 PICKS

INDIANAPOLIS 17 @ Buffalo 10 (Bills unable to beat a team that won't even try)
JACKSONVILLE 20 @ Cleveland 13
CHICAGO 27 @ Detroit 9 (Lions still 15 to 30 years from being a contender)
SAN FRANCISCO 20 @ St Louis 6 (Rams would lose to any CFB bowl team)
PITTSBURGH 23 @ Miami 16 (Steelers shouldn't complain about other teams laying down they should have beaten Clevaland, Oakland)
NEW YORK GIANTS 27 @ Minnesota 20 (Vikings having best schism since Catholic church)
ATLANTA 30 @ Tampa Bay 17
NEW ORLEANS 32 @ Carolina 25 (but it won't look good)
NEW ENGLAND 28 @ Houston 21 (again with the Texans)
Philadelphia 17 @ DALLAS 28 (revenge is a dish best served in Jerry World)
Kansas City 13 @ DENVER 17
Baltimore 20 @ OAKLAND 21
GREEN BAY 29 @ Arizona 21
Washington 6 @ SAN DIEGO 24 (with their scout team)
TENNESSEE 32 @ Seattle 13
Cincinnati 17 @ NEW YORK JETS 20
Yes, there will be playoff picks!