SHARKS LOOK TO REBOUND AFTER PLAYOFF DISAPPOINTMENT

The San Jose Sharks had the best record in all of hockey last season, but that didn't mean much once the playoffs started. The President's Trophy winners were ousted in the first round by the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks four games to two. It was a bitter ending to what was a promising campaign for the Sharks, who compiled a record of 53-18-11 (117 points) and were the dominant team for much of the first half of the season.

San Jose certainly wasn't the best team in the second half of the season last year, but still managed to claim the top seed in the Western Conference. The organization hoped that the amount of talent they had would result in the franchise's first ever Stanley Cup. It was supposed to be their year. In the end, it ended in familiar fashion with an early exit from the playoffs.

Now the men in teal look to bounce back this season and make another run at a title. Their are some new faces and their were a few trades in the offseason that might have surprised some fans. Longtime Shark and fan favorite Jonathan Cheechoo and budding star Milan Michalek were traded to the Ottawa Senators. In return, San Jose received Dany Heatley, who is a great player but has had some trouble in the past. Heatley was involved in a car accident in 2003 that killed Atlanta Thrasher teammate Dan Snyder. Alcohol was involved but his blood-alcohol content was below the legal limit. He wanted to be traded from Ottawa and eventually got his wish.

The Sharks also traded Christian Ehroff to Vancouver. Erhoff had underachieved with San Jose, and the organization felt like it was time to move on. He is known for his lightning fast shot, but he was very inaccurate as a member of the Sharks.

Head coach Todd McLellan, who made his debut last season with San Jose, hopes that the players have learned from their postseason failures.

"We carry around the past with us. We as an organization know exactly what happened," said McLellan, who was an assistant coach with the Red Wings before coming to San Jose. "But if we're going to sit and keep our minds and hearts in that spot, we have no chance of going forward. We better carry that with us, but we better start looking ahead."

The Sharks return some familiar faces that need to get over that hump and at least advance far into the playoffs. Heatley will join Joe Thornton (25 g, 61 a, 86 pts) and veteran Patrick Marleau (38 g, 33 a, 71 pts) in what hopes to be a special year for San Jose. Goaltender Egveni Nabokov has been one of the best goalies in the league for several years, but McLellan admits that he will have to earn his starts this season. It's hard to believe that Nabokov wouldn't be the main man between the pipes and it would be a big surprise if that was the case. The organization also has a plethora of young talent and a lot of confidence that they will have a big impact.

The fans at the Shark Tank had plenty of reason to cheer last season, but they also have reason to be skeptical of this 2009-2010 squad. Anything short of a deep playoff run will be considered a failure, and rightfully so.

Shawn Marosek

WEEK 3 IN THE NATIONAL... FOOTBALL... LEAGUE

My picks for Week 3 in the NFL. Again, I have provided some football music for your enjoyment. I am going to try and make it a different theme each week. The beginning of this brings back memories for sure.

Last Week: 10-6

CHIEFS @ EAGLES

The Philadelphia Eagles have four quarterbacks on their roster, but it appears as though they are going with Kevin Kolb once again this weekend. Kolb threw for almost 400 yards in his first NFL start, but also threw three interceptions against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Donovan McNabb is still nursing a rib injury and newly acquired Jeff Garcia will be the third string quarterback this weekend. Michael Vick might see some plays in the wildcat formation in his first regular season action. The Chiefs are coming off another tough loss, this one to the Oakland Raiders by the score of 13-10. They had 300 more total yards than Oakland and still lost the game when JaMarcus Russell led the Raiders to a game-winning touchdown. This week, I believe the Eagles get back on track, despite not having their star quarterback available. Their defense didn't perform well last week, thanks to a high-flying Saints offense, but Philadelphia should have a better time of it this weekend.
My Prediction: Eagles 27 Chiefs 13

PACKERS @ RAMS

Another game for the Packers that many people think they should win easily. Last week, Green Bay was supposed to coast to an easy home win against the Cincinnati Bengals. It didn't turn out that way as the Packers lost 31-24. Their defense let them down and one would think they will rebound against the Rams. St. Louis only mustered seven points against the Redskins in a defeat last Sunday. They were shutout in Week 1 by the Seattle Seahawks. The offense is nowhere to be found, but maybe it can get itself back on track this weekend against the Packers. I know I picked the Packers to win big last weekend and it backfired on me, but I can't go against them here against St. Louis. My Prediction: Packers 24 Rams 20

49ERS @ VIKINGS

This is one of the more interesting matchups of Week 3. The surprising 2-0 49ers head to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre and the impressive Vikings. Mike Singletary has turned this team around for the time being and the players seem to be adapting to his style of coaching. The Vikings, behind Adrian Peterson have looked great the past two weekends. I know it was close against the Lions until the second half, but Peterson did his thing and led Minnesota to victory. This is going to be a great game only if San Francisco can contain Peterson, which is easier said than done. However, the Vikings prevail in the end. My Prediction: Vikings 20 49ers 7

TITANS @ JETS

The Jets are flying high after their Week 2 victory against the New England Patriots. Now they face off against an 0-2 Titans team that is better than their record might indicate. Two three point losses for Tennessee have been hard to swallow, but they need to come back and try and contain a blitz-filled Jets defense. The Jets will be missing two of their top cornerbacks in Donald Strickland and Lito Shephard, but that won't stop them from doing what has gotten them to this point. The Jets will be blitzing from all different directions and it's up to the Titans to protect their quarterback. Some teams this year will be able to figure out this defense. Will the Titans be the first to do so this season? My Prediction: Jets 20 Titans 17

FALCONS @ PATRIOTS

The New England Patriots were outplayed in the second half last week and beaten by the New York Jets, 16-9. Tom Brady has yet to find a rhythm, except for the last four minutes against the Buffalo Bills. He was pressured all day long by the Jets defense and looked like a below average quarterback on the field. Look for him to have a better game in Week 3, but that doesn't mean the Patriots will come out on top. This week, they take on another young quarterback in Matt Ryan, who has looked nothing short of brilliant the first two Sundays of the season. I believe he does it again and leads the Falcons to a 3-0 start. My Prediction:
Falcons 31 Patriots 21

JAGUARS @ TEXANS

Houston looked like a completely different team last week than they did in their season debut against the Jets. Matt Schaub passed for 357 yards and four touchdowns and wide receiver Andre Johnson got back on track with a monster afternoon. The Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-2 and need to get a win. I like their chances in this game, considering it is a division opponent who they know a lot about. Look for the Jaguars to get into the win column this week. It won't be easy though. My Prediction: Jaguars 17 Texans 14

GIANTS @ BUCCANEERS

Some may say this is a trap game for the Giants. I don't see it at all. I know they are banged up on the defensive side of the ball, including Justin Tuck, who was inexcusably tripped by Cowboys offensive lineman Flozel Adams Sunday night. Tampa Bay has looked good offensively the past two weeks, but I don't see it happening here. Eli Manning and the Giants come out with the win and stay undefeated on the season. My Prediction: Giants 24 Buccaneers 10

REDSKINS @ LIONS

Will the Lions get their first win since the 2007 season? The answer is yes. The Redskins looked terrible last week, even though they were winners against the St. Louis Rams. I have this gut feeling that the Lions break through and get the victory. I think the game will be close for the first three quarters, but quarterback Matthew Stafford will earn the first victory of his NFL career by having an impressive fourth quarter. My Prediction: Lions 31 Redskins 16

BROWNS @ RAVENS

The Browns might be the worst team in football. I know the Lions have not won a game in over a year and a half, but Cleveland looks pitiful on both sides of the ball. Eric Mangini inherited a bad team and it is going to be a long year. As for the Ravens, they look like a team to be reckoned with. Their defense has allowed 20-plus points in the first two games, but a big stop by Ray Lewis last Sunday secured the win for Baltimore against the San Diego Chargers. John Harbaugh has done a nice job with this team and second year quarterback Joe Flacco looks like the real deal. This game will be a laugher. My Prediction: Ravens 41 Browns 6

BEARS @ SEAHAWKS

The Bears are coming off a huge win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Seahawks didn't look great in their loss versus the 49ers. Matt Hasslebeck was injured in that game and it is still uncertain whether he will play in Week 3. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler played well against Pittsburgh and led them on a game-winning drive. The fans were all over him after his Week 1 performance, but his confidence might be back. Even though Seattle can be one of the loudest and toughest places to play, I think the Bears will be able to handle it.
My Prediction: Bears 21 Seahawks 13

SAINTS @ BILLS

The New Orleans offense has been off the charts early on this season and I expect it to be the same this weekend. The Bills are certainly tough to play at home, but Drew Brees and company should put up a lot of points once again. Trent Edwards will also have a good game behind center, meaning this game should be a shootout. Look for Terrell Owens to find the end zone for a second straight Sunday. He will also drop one or two. That's part of his game. Edwards and Brees will throw of over 300 yards, but New Orleans will score more points.
My Prediction: Saints 38 Bills 31

DOLPHINS @ CHARGERS

The Miami Dolphins dominated the time of possession against the Indianapolis Colts and still lost the game. Their defense allowed quick scores Monday night and now they face another talented offensive squad in the San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins played well last week offensively with Chad Pennington having a solid game. Philip Rivers and the Chargers are also coming off a tough loss to the Ravens. This team has so much talent, but can't seem to put it all together. This week, they should have a successful game on both sides of the ball.
My Prediction: Chargers 27 Dolphins 21

BRONCOS @ RAIDERS

The Broncos are looking to continue their winning ways against the Oakland Raiders, who notched their first victory of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. I was surprised by the Broncos performance against the Browns after they were lucky to beat the Bengals in Week 1. I like the way the Raiders have played the last two weeks, especially on defense. Their offense needs a bit of work, but JaMarcus Russell has shown the past two games that he can lead his team on a late fourth quarter drive to take the lead or even win the game. His numbers haven't been great at all, but his late game heroics have to mean something. I think the Raiders move to 2-1 on the season by defeating the Broncos.
My Prediction: Raiders 16 Broncos 14

STEELERS @ BENGALS

This AFC North battle might be closer than people think. The Bengals are coming off a very impressive win against the Packers, but Big Ben and the Steelers need to rebound after a tough defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears. Carson Palmer looked like the star quarterback he was supposed to be last weekend and needs that performance this Sunday against a much better defense. I think the fans of Cincinnati will be up for this game and make it hard on Rothlisberger at times. However, The Steelers quarterback will engineer another late game drive to win the game, something he is very accustomed to. My Prediction: Steelers 19 Bengals 17

COLTS @ CARDINALS

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner regained his form last weekend in record fashion, completing over 92 percent of his passes in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Look for more of the same this weekend against a Colts defense that struggled against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. The Colts are 2-0 and Peyton Manning looked great last weekend, putting up 27 points against the Dolphins. Despite having the ball for under 15 minutes, Indianapolis was able to strike quick and often. This game should be very high scoring and an entertaining Sunday night contest. My Prediction: Cardinals 34 Colts 31

PANTHERS @ COWBOYS

The panic has begun in Dallas and most of it surrounds quarterback Tony Romo. He was flat out terrible in the Cowboy's loss to the Giants Sunday night. He has even felt the heat from legends who have worn the Dallas uniform. The Panthers are a good team to face to get back on track. They have been completely outplayed in their first two games of the season. Jake Delhomme was better this past weekend than he was in Carolina's first game. However, he put up terrible numbers in that first game it wouldn't take much to improve on them. Demarcus Ware has not had a sack in awhile and he is usually known to dominate that statistic. Look for the Cowboy s defender to have a great game against the Panthers, who will struggle once again.
My Prediction: Cowboys 27 Panthers 7

Enjoy the games!

Shawn Marosek

JETS RATTLE BRADY AND MAKE STATEMENT TO PATS

For the first time since 2000, the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots at the Meadowlands. The revamped Rex Ryan defense had Tom Brady scrambling all day and held the vaunted Pats offense without a touchdown. Rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez, had a tremendous second half leading the Jets from a 9-3 deficit at the half to a 16-9 win. It was another all-around great effort that leaves the Jets 2-0 and in first place in the AFC East after two weeks.

Clearly, the Jets have bought into Rex Ryan's system. I have never seen the Jets have such a dominating defense. The aggressiveness is such a breath of fresh air from Jets defenses of yesteryear. I love the fact that there is a defender waiting to tackle the receiver immediately. I love the fact that they have allowed very little on the ground. And oh yeah! They have not allowed a touchdown against two very good offenses. Look at what Houston did against Tennessee yesterday. The Jets defense shutout that team and then they scored 34 points against a good Titans defense!

Granted the season is only two weeks old and offenses will have better days against our defense, but you cannot help not being excited about it as a Jets fan. Bart Scott, Kris Jenkins, Darrelle Revis, David Harris, and others have absolutely grown into big time players. The pass rush has been outstanding and remember they will get Calvin Pace back in two weeks to add to the attack. And what about the Jets not dropping back into the prevent defense for Brady's final drive? Keep doing what you have been doing all day. I loved that! Prevent defenses only prevent winning.

Mark Sanchez has been very solid as well. He was not allowed to do a whole lot in the first half yesterday, but the second half was a thing of beauty. He did not light up the stat sheet, but he engineered three scoring drives and was very smart in his decision making. The play before punting to the Pats for their final drive was very smart. Instead of forcing a pass somewhere down field, Sanchez wisely took a sack making Brady and company have to go 90 yards to tie the game. You make that decision when the defense is playing the way it is. Why throw something up or chance having the ball being stripped? If he makes a mistake there, the Pats would have started from midfield or better. It was a great decision on Sanchez's part. One Brett Favre wouldn't have made!

As far as Rex Ryan, I think the team has clearly bought into his attitude. Some players need to cool down with their talk, but I like the chemistry between the players and coaches. Ryan's phone call to the season ticket holders also worked. I have never heard the Meadowlands so loud for a prolonged amount of time. He asked the crowd to make things difficult and his request was granted. The crowd forced the Pats offense into four delay of games. Ryan made a great move giving the game ball to the crowd after the victory.

Now Jets fans have been disappointed more than most fans in the NFL. We have seen great starts turn into terrible finishes. Just look at last year. The Jets were flying at 8-3, and there was talk of an all-New York Super Bowl. Then it all fizzled so quickly. So obviously we need to be careful before proclaiming we have a championship level team, but we should also really enjoy the new attitude this team has. Looking at the schedule before the season started, I thought the Jets could be 0-5 against those tough opponents. So to be 2-0 is a major plus and we'll see where they go from here.

Pat Morgan

J! E! T! S! JETS! JETS! JETS!

WEEK 2 IN THE NATIONAL... FOOTBALL... LEAGUE

Here are my picks for Week 2 in the NFL. I stole the Sports Gerbil's idea and posted some music for you to enjoy while reading the picks. I am hoping to make this a weekly post throughout the season.

TEXANS @ TITANS

After a lackluster performance against the New York Jets in Week 1, the Texans look to notch their first victory of 2009. Tennessee also comes off a loss, but it could have gone either way against Pittsburgh. Many had high expectations for Houston this season, but last week didn't show us much. Yes, the Jets were dominant but the Texans still didn't look impressive. I expect Tennessee's defense to come up big this week and Kerry Collins should have a decent game behind center. For the Texans to have a chance, Andre Johnson will have to start getting involved in their offense. He was completely shut down by Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis last week and was a non-factor. Houston needs to get him the ball. However, I don't think they will get him the ball enough. My Prediction: Titans 17 Texans 13.

SAINTS @ EAGLES

The story of Donavan McNabb has changed quite a few times this week, but it appears as if he will not suit up for the Eagles this Sunday against the Saints. Kevin Kolb will be his replacement and we will have to wait until next week to see if Michael Vick will be at the helm for Philadelphia. As a result of McNabb's absence, that makes Brian Westbrook even more of a factor. This game will still be all about offense, but without McNabb, I don't see the Eagles keeping up with the high-powered offense of New Orleans. Drew Brees is coming off a six-touchdown performance and even though the Eagles defense is solid, they won't be able to contain the Saints passing attack. My Prediction: Saints 45 Eagles 31

CARDINALS @ JAGUARS

That high-powered Arizona offense that propelled them to a Super Bowl appearnace last season was obsolete in week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Their have been concerns ever since the start of preseason and it appears to be for good reason. The Jaguars have a defense that contained Peyton Manning and the Colts last Sunday and have a good chance of repeating a similar performance this weekend. I won't feel comfortable about the Cardinals offense until I see an impressive perofmance from Kurt Warner and company. However, I don't think the Jaguars will put up many points either, which means this game could be very similar to Jacksonville's 14-12 loss to the Colts. My Prediction: Cardinals 17 Jaguars 10

RAIDERS @ CHIEFS

The Raiders impressed a lot of people even though they were defeated by the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night. Their defense played very well and contained what was supposed to be one of the best offenses in the league. This team still has a long way to go, but I don't see why they couldn't pull out a win in Kansas City. Arrowhead Stadium is known to be one of the hardest places to win, but Kansas City hasn't been that good in awhile so that factor might not play as big a role anymore. The Chiefs played a pretty decent game against Baltimore in which the teams combined for a total of 62 points. Even though they came out on the losing end, it was still a better performance than most probably anticipated. This week I believe the Raiders' defense steps up again and leads Oakland to the victory. My Prediction: Raiders 23 Chiefs 13

BENGALS @ PACKERS

After watching how the Bengals lost against the Broncos, I don't give them a chance this weekend. The tipped ball to Brandon Stokely will still be in their heads when they take the field and the Packers will roll over Cincinnati. This team has been in disarray ever since Carson Palmer went down with a knee injury in their playoff loss to the Steelers a few years ago. This week, they take on a Packer team that I believe might win 11 games this season with their up and coming quarterback Aaron Rogers. He didn't play too well against the Chicago Bears, but did lead his team to a game winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining. I could see Rogers connecting with Greg Jennings quite a bit this weekend and the Packers coming out on top by a large margin. My Prediction: Packers 31 Bengals 7

PANTHERS @ FALCONS

Both of these teams looked like polar opposites during Week 1 of the season. The Panthers were embarrassed by the Eagles, much in large part to Jake Delhomme and his six turnovers. The Falcons dominated their game against the Miami Dolphins and only allowed a late meaningless touchdown. It's very easy to say here that the Falcons will handle the Panthers, but not so fast. I have a feeling Delhomme bounces back and Steve Smith has a big game. That's how it has been with this offense for quite awhile now. Delhomme is hit or miss, but if he can have a nice game this weekend, the Panthers will be victorious. My Prediction: Panthers 27 Falcons 21

RAMS @ REDSKINS

The Rams might be heading for another dismal 2-3 win season. They barely showed up in their shutout loss to Seattle and now they visit FedEx Field in Week 2. The Redskins were beaten last week by the Giants 27-21, but the game wasn't as close as the score might indicate. This season is Jason Campbell's last chance to prove to the fans and organization that he can be the leader of this team. He has a rocket for an arm, but hasn't been able to put it all together. This week he and the Redskins take the field for their home opener and should be successful against a terrible defensive team in St. Louis. Look for a lot of Clinton Portis early with Campbell not having to do to much to lead them to victory.
My Prediction: Redskins 24 Rams 10

PATRIOTS @ JETS

I consider this to be the game of the week. Maybe it is because I am a Jets fan, but the drama has already begun this week with plenty of trash talking stirring this rivalry. The Jets are confident and rightfully so after their dominant performance against the Texans in Week 1. I have never seen a Jets defense play as well as they did last Sunday, and they must bring that effort again if they are going to beat the Patriots. I do believe the Patriots will put up some points, but Mark Sanchez and the Jets should be able score as well against a New England defense that was exploited by the Buffalo Bills. My Prediction: Jets 24 Patriots 21

VIKINGS @ LIONS

I can't imagine this game being close at all. Adrian Peterson will run all over the hapless Lions defense just like he did last week against the Cleveland Browns. The Lions put up some points in Week 1, but it was against the Saints and they do not have an impressive defense either. Even though they scored 27 points, rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford still didn't look great. It will be the Peterson show again and Brett Favre will barely have to do anything for a second straight game. My Prediction: Vikings 38 Lions 13

BUCCANEERS @ BILLS

The Bills were very impressive against the Patriots until about four minutes remaining in the game. From then on, they looked like the team that hasn't had much success the last several seasons. It will be interesting to see how they respond against a Buccaneers team that isn't expected to win many games this season. I thought Tampa Bay played Dallas pretty tough for a good portion of their Week 1 matchup, but eventually faded later in the game. Both of these teams need a win desperately and I figure this to be a very close contest. Tampa Bay gave up too many big plays and blew a lot of coverage against the Cowboys. This is something the Bills should exploit, which means getting Terrell Owens and Lee Evans more involved in the offense. Owens made it clear this week that Trent Edwards needs to throw the ball down the field more. If he does that successfully, the Bills should come out on top.

My Prediction: Bills 20 Buccaneers 14

SEAHAWKS @ 49ERS

Both of these teams couldn't have asked for a better Week 1 result. Even though it was St. Louis, the Seahawks still dominated and Julius Jones had one of his best games as a professional. The 49ers pulled off the upset with a win against the reigning NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Mike Singletary had his team ready to play and maybe he will have more success this season as opposed to last. Seattle was awful last season, but many expect them to be improved this year and I happen to agree. San Francisco is coming off a high from last Sunday's win and I could see them having a letdown against the Seahawks. My Prediction: Seahawks 27 49ers 16

STEELERS @ BEARS

The Steelers showcased their top-notch defense last week against the Tennessee Titans, but suffered a big blow as Troy Polamalu was injured and will miss 3-6 weeks. However, I do not see this hampering the defense too much this weekend. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is coming off what might be his worst performance as a professional and he needs to rebound or he might never get the fans off his back. Acquired from the Broncos in the offseason, he is expected to do great things for this organization. If Week 1 is any indication of the rest of the season, it will be a long year for Cutler and the Bears. This game will be decided in the trenches as both teams have solid defenses, with the Steelers having the edge in that department.

My Prediction: Steelers 16 Bears 9

BROWNS @ BRONCOS

The Eric Mangini era has begun in Cleveland and it didn't get off to the start he had hoped for. After getting manhandled by Adrian Peterson and the Vikings in Week 1, the Browns look to bounce back against a team that was lucky to even win last Sunday. A crazy tipped ball that happened to land in the arms of Brandon Stokely resulted in the game-winning touchdown for Denver. They should have lost to the Bengals and their offense was obsolete up until that play. Brady Quinn will lead the Browns to their first victory of the season.

My Prediction: Browns 23 Broncos 14

RAVENS @ CHARGERS

This is going to be a great game. The Chargers offense didn't look too good against the Raiders Monday night, and the Ravens defense gave up 24 points to the Kansas City Chiefs. Without former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, it will be interesting to see if the defense that has always been a strong point for the Ravens will be the same this season. The Chargers might have the worst coach in the NFL in Norv Turner, which makes me a little suspect about this team as well. Ladainian Tomlinson is banged up, so look for Darren Sproles to handle a bulk of the load this Sunday. This is a tough game to choose and it could go either way. Will the Chargers offense or the Baltimore defense play a bigger role? Whichever one does will determine the winner. My Prediction: Ravens 24 Chargers 17

GIANTS @ COWBOYS

The Sunday night game this week features two teams from what many people consider to be the toughest division in football. The last time these two met was also on a Sunday night and the Cowboys got the best of the Giants that night. I really have no idea how good of a team the Cowboys really are. They do not have to deal with the drama of Terrell Owens anymore, which makes it easier for Tony Romo to do his job. He looked good in their win against the Buccanners, but this will be a real test against one of the best defensive units in the league. The Giants beat up on the Reskins last Sunday and led throughout the entire game. The defense forced turnovers and even had a touchdown of their own by Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defense will be up for the task again, but might give up a touchdown late similar to last week. Manning and the rest of the offensive side of the ball should have their way this Sunday.

My Prediction: Giants 30 Cowboys 20

COLTS @ DOLPHINS

The Dolphins are going to have a rough season. They won 11 games in 2008 and much of it was due to a very easy schedule. Three of the teams in the AFC East had winning records, which had a lot to do with the teams they had to play outside of their division. The Dolphins turned the ball over four times against the Falcons in Week 1 and that is something they rarely did last season. I could see this team only winning six or seven games this season. Also, the wildcat will not have as much of an effect this season for Miami. The Colts will be ready for that and whatever else the Dolphins have to offer. The offense for Indianapolis only managed 14 points against the Jaguars last Sunday, but Jacksonville always plays tough against Peyton Manning and the Colts. I look for Manning to be spot on this Monday night and the addition of wide receiver Hank Baskett should be a plus, considering they needed someone to fill the spot left by the injured Anthony Gonzalez. My Prediction: Colts 31 Dolphins 14

Enjoy the games!

Shawn Marosek

ATTENTION FOOTBALL (BUT ANY) SPORTSCASTERS: STOP BEING BIASED AND WISHY WASHY

Okay, so I know that this article isn't going to amount to much in terms of stopping the incessant annoying ways of football sportscasters (i.e. ESPN, Jim Nantz and his crew at CBS, and don't even get me started on the Fox pre and post-game show). However, I just want to share (and rant) my frustrations and turn offs about watching football.

Now, if you are a fan of the Patriots, Cowboys, or Giants fan, you probably disagree with me on what I am about to write. I'd like to point out that you are a fan (or bandwagon fan) of the most popular teams and these sportscasters are obviously fans as well, by portraying all of these teams in nothing but good light. However, if you are a fan like me, of a team that is constantly being put down (and it can be with good reason) or tossed aside for Brady/Favre updates that are unimportant and purely fanatical, then you might agree with my frustrations.

You already know that I am a Buffalo Bills fan (and yes, I still am one even after the tragedy from last night). And if you watched last night's Monday Night Football game, you will know what I am specifically talking about. Let me first start out with the pre-game predictions and banter. Obviously it wasn't stupid to choose the Patriots as the winning team, as they did win last night. But to say that the Buffalo Bills have no shot in winning and that the only reason people are watching is to see how well Brady performs? I didn't take any broadcasting courses during my stay at either undergraduate or graduate institutions, but aren't these sportscasters supposed to be somewhat neutral? (And forget about Fox in all forms of news casting on this one, because we all know how one-sided they can be.) I know there are less Bills fans in the world but that one hurt. And I loved how well the Bill's performed until the f*ckup that occurred with McKelvin in the fourth quarter with a little over 5 minutes left. I wanted the Bills to win, not only because I am a fan, but to shut up all of the sportscasters who were drooling over Brady's return. Even Boomer on ESPN chose the Patriots, and he's from Buffalo.

And it's not even just the pre-game talk but also what has been mentioned in the media about the Bills overall. Our society is one where we take in information as heard without really even thinking twice about whether it's true or not. So when the Bills actually do get any airtime, which is seldom, most of it is negative. Everyone was negative about the firing of the offensive coach who was replaced by Van Pelt. I heard some talk about how the Cowboys won and one reason for this was because T.O. wasn't there to annoy everyone and how he will be a hindrance on the Bills. Obviously Buffalo gets no love from anyone in the media industry, even after buying into a big name player.

Okay, so moving on to the actual game last night. I didn't really have a problem with any of the announcers beforehand, but the wishy washy: "Oh we're Patriots fans... wow Buffalo is doing well? Well, we're rooting for them now and how great they are... oh the Patriots are coming back? Well we had confidence in Tom Brady all along..." it gets really old really fast. I do have to say that these announcers did a MUCH better job than Jim Nantz and Phil Sims when they announced the season opener of the Bills and Patriots back in 2006. Last night's game consisted of positive feedback for both teams, and although it was a surprise on the Bill's end, they did deserve every compliment they received. After all of the heckling about the no huddle offense and how T.O. hates it and the whole team is in shambles, blah blah blah, Buffalo performed like a real professional football team and until the forth quarter fumble, I was damn proud to be a Bills fan. Back in 2006, Nantz and Simms started out talking about how spectacular Brady was in everything he did, even though he was sacked and threw at least one interception (if you don't believe me, go back and check). When the Bills were winning that game early on, Nantz and Simms were saying how the first game of the season doesn't really count and how this is a warm up, yadda yadda: basically saying that if the Bills win it's not a real game anyway. But of course the Bills ended in their usual heartbreak fashion, though the game was not as close as last night's, and then Nance and Simms were saying how magnificent Brady was and how winning this first game was a great accomplishment because it set the tone for the rest of the year. I don't care if you used to play for the Patriots (which I just learned last night that Nantz did), that is sh*tty sportscasting. What I want from you is to tell me what is going on, even though I can figure it out myself. Don't tell me how much you want to hit the sack with Tom Brady. Don't tell me how wonderful Coach Bellichik is for knowing how to cheat well. I want to hear about the game and, sure you can go over the really good plays from both teams, or even the really crappy ones. You can go over penalties because I want to see who got clubbed in the head and who plays dirty. You can even give your predictions, but I don't want a love fest for the other team.

Maybe I wouldn't feel this way if I was a fan of an always winning team. Maybe there should be specific Bills sportscasters that actually are biased for the Bills instead of against. And until the Bills get back to the days of four consecutive Super Bowls, they will probably never get the respect of all the sportscasters. But wouldn't it be nice if they could be a little more neutral and stop sucking up to certain people.

That and I just have to mention how I LOVED that the refs called a penalty on the Patriots for infringing on "The Brady rule." Bet you didn't think that was going to happen, huh?

Jaclyn Kahn

TGIF: THANK GOD IT'S FOOTBALL (SEASON)

Nothing much to say, but this video clip is priceless.

Can't wait to see this NFL movie!

MY FAVORITE MICHAEL JORDAN PERFORMANCE

Tonight, my childhood hero, Michael Jordan, will be inducted into the basketball hall of fame. I was clearly spoiled growing up with Jordan leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships. It's hard to believe it has been more than 11 years since the Bulls won their last title and Jordan left the team. I am hardly an NBA fan anymore, but I still look back at the 1990s in the NBA as being as good as any sport was in their Golden Age.

The video below is my favorite Jordan memory. With the 1997 NBA Finals tied at two, Jordan came down with some pretty bad food poisoning before Game 5 in Utah. Instead of mentally checking out of the game, Jordan had perhaps the most clutch performance of his career. I'll always remember the image of Scottie Pippen basically carrying Jordan off the court after he hit the decisive three pointer in the final seconds. There are many other moments that I cherish as well, but this is numero uno!



Pat Morgan

SPORTSGERBIL'S 2009 FEARLESS NFL PREDICTIONS

About the only good thing with the summer coming to an end each year is that it means the NFL is back! Between the Cubs being pitiful this year and the Jets drafting Mark Sanchez, I know I couldn't be more excited to get this season going. Well it all begins tomorrow night when the defending champion, Pittsburgh Steelers, play host to the Tennessee Titans. Then, we'll just have to find a way to get to Sunday (or Monday for Jaxster) to see our teams for the first time. Hit play on the video above for a little classic NFL music while reading the picks!

Below are my predictions for 2009 that are guaranteed to look really embarrassing after the season plays out. The number in parentheses are the official Vegas over/under numbers for each team. Instead of giving you wins and losses, I'll just be predicting whether they go over or under that number. (^Best Record, *Wildcard)

AFC East: ^New England (O 11.5), Miami (U 7), NY Jets (U 7), Buffalo (U 7.5)
AFC North: Pittsburgh (O 10.5), *Baltimore (O 8.5), Cleveland (U 6.5), Cincinnati (U 7)
AFC South: Indianapolis (O 10), *Houston (O 8.5), Tennessee (U 9), Jacksonville (U 8)
AFC West: San Diego (O 10), Oakland (U 5.5), Kansas City (U 6), Denver (U 6.5)

AFC Wildcard: San Diego over Houston, Indianapolis over Baltimore
AFC Divisional: New England over Indianapolis, Pittsburgh over San Diego
AFC Championship: New England over Pittsburgh

NFC East: Philadelphia (O 9.5), *NY Giants (O 10), Dallas (U 9.5), Washington (U 8)
NFC North: ^Green Bay (O 9), Chicago (U 9), Minnesota (U 9.5), Detroit (U 5)
NFC South: New Orleans (O 8.5), *Atlanta (O 9), Carolina (O 8.5), Tampa Bay (U 6.5)
NFC West: Arizona (O 8.5), Seattle (U 8), San Francisco (U 7), St. Louis (U 5.5)

NFC Wildcard: New Orleans over Atlanta, NY Giants over Arizona
NFC Divisional: NY Giants over Green Bay, Philadelphia over New Orleans
NFC Championship: Philadelphia over NY Giants

AFC Overrated: San Diego; Even though they'll coast home in the weak AFC West, I think people are crazy for picking them to win the Super Bowl. I would like to see them gel in the regular season and earn a high seed before I can put them on the elite level of teams. They are certainly talented, but they are being given too much praise.
NFC Overrated: Dallas; I have seen too many people pick this team to go to the playoffs. They are probably the third best team in perhaps the best overall division in football. Tony Romo doesn't have the weapons he used to and the defense isn't great. I smell an 8-8 season.
AFC Underrated: Indianapolis; Peyton Manning has gone from overrated to underrated in my eyes. He carried a mediocre Colts team to 12 wins last year. I think he will win the team another AFC South title. I also think people are overrating the retirement of Tony Dungy. He was a much better man than coach. This has always been Peyton's team, not Tony Dungy's, and it won't be Jim Caldwell's either.
NFC Underrated: Green Bay; The schedule is very favorable for the Packers to win 11+ games this year. I think Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the division. They have plenty of weapons on offense and a fairly decent defense. People are overrating the Vikings and Bears in my opinion. I think the Pack take home the NFC North and could do some damage in the playoffs.

MVP: Peyton Manning
Rookie of the Year: Mark Sanchez
Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy - Green Bay

Super Bowl XLIV Pick: Philadelphia 27, New England 24; I think the Eagles will finally get it done. They will certainly miss long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson who died this offseason, but I think they will be fired up to play well in his honor. He will be more missed over time than this year I think. Michael Vick should make the offense very unpredictable as well. I think this is a very balanced team that should eek out a Super Bowl against Tom Brady's Patriots.

VICK BETTER WITH KIDS THAN DOGS

And although the title is supposed to be funny, it's also very true. I have to commend Vick in what he's doing. After reading about his ten minute speech to freshmen at a Philly charter school, I really think that Vick believed in what he said. Here is a snippet of what he said:

“Growing up, I had dreams and I always wanted to have this great, lavish life and make it to the NFL, go and accomplish great things and leave a great legacy. That was my goal from a young kid,” Vick said. “My future was promising … at some point, I got sidetracked. I started listening to my friends and doing some things that were not ethical and not right.”

This was the main point of his speech to the Philly high school students: being negatively influenced by others, and I think it's a great point. (“I was influenced by so many people when I should have been a leader, not a follower.”) When the media is telling all of us, but especially children and young adults, what they should be doing, eating, saying, buying, etc., it can be hard to know what we should be doing. I think it's great that Vick talked about this and that he had experience with this, especially when it led him to go to jail. Although he may not have been a follower, or he may not be speaking from the heart, but I want to give Vick the benefit of the doubt.

I think everyone, especially children and young adults, are highly influenced by famous people, athletes included. I think that even the act of Vick talking about this issue and how he has gone through it will positively influence many. As long as Vick can acknowledge his problem and how to turn around and fix it, he will be a good role model for those who can see what happens when you choose the wrong path. I really hope that Vick can stay out of trouble. Do it for the kids.

Jaclyn Kahn

GIANTS NERVOUS ABOUT QB LEAK BEFORE SEASON BEGINS

Best opening line in an article: "What's pink, puffy and screams a lot when it's not whining? Right, it's Tom Coughlin!"

You may be asking yourself, well why is he so angry? Did another of his players shoot himself in a crowded club? No, this time, Coughlin, the coach of the New York Giants, is angry because the Washington Redskins recently acquired backup quarterback, Andre Woodson. Just after Woodson learned some Giants' plays, calls, and signals he was shipped over to the Redskins. This is what is making Coughlin see red. Lots and lots of red.

The thing that I don't quite understand is how Coughlin automatically thinks that the Redskins are trying to cheat and learn how they play. Of course if that was the case, then Washington has a brain since they are in the same division as the Giants, and this of course could help them when they play them all TWO times this season. Coughlin needs to relax. I think that he would be someone who would draft a player just to find out impertinent information so that he could get his team to the top. And if he really didn't want that to happen, then maybe he shouldn't have cut Woodson. Problem solved.

I find it funny that Coughlin is calling (or the media is having us believe he is calling) Woodson "Benedict Andre." The simple fact is that if you thought he had any talent at all, you would have kept him on the roster and wouldn't have let him go to any team that wanted him. And speaking of Benedict anyone, I can recall when the "god" QB on the Giants was signed to the San Diego Chargers and refused to play for them until he was traded to the New York Giants. So Benedict Andre doesn't even come across as the bad guy of the organization. He got cut. He went somewhere else. Get over it. Wait and see if the Redskins can beat you this season. IF they beat you all two times, maybe you could make a case for cheating, but it could also be the incredible overhype and under performing ape you call quarterback.

Jaclyn Kahn

CAN YOU GUESS THE MOST VALUABLE AND MOST WORTHLESS TEAMS IN THE NFL?

It might not come as a shock to you which team is the most valuable and which team is the most worthless. And these terms are talking about how much revenue the team has collected. So, let's have you guess which team is the most valuable.

No, it is not the Patriots.
No, it is not the Colts.
Obviously it is neither the Jets or the Bills.

The most valuable team is (drum roll please): The Dallas Cowboys, reaping a total of $1.65 BILLION dollars. I feel like I'm the guy from those lottery commercials. Again, I want to point out that this doesn't mean the Cowboys are the best performing team: as of now, they are currently ranked (offseason)14th in the league. So let's call them a step above mediocre.

Here are the rest of the top five most valuable teams, which was decided by Forbes. Notice where these teams are located, because I bet location has a lot to do with earnings.

2. Washington Redskins
3. New England Patriots
4. New York Giants
5. New York Jets

Okay, so now let's have you guess which team is the most worthless, and by worthless, not the crappiest team in the NFL but the one that earns the least amount of money.

No, it's not the Bills (you jerk!)
No, it's not the Lions, Tigers or Bears (oh my!)
And no, it's not the Rams either.

The most worthless team is... the Oakland Raiders, a team which is currently ranked as the third worst NFL team in the league. Has to make all other teams (except the Rams and Lions... and Bills) feel better.

So if your team hasn't been mentioned as the most worthless, you can breathe a sigh of relief that your team might not be heading anywhere, like the dumpster. However, if you are a fan of one of the bottom five teams (which I will list below), you may want to up how much you spend at the stadium or on your favorite team's merchandise, or find a new team to root for. Me? I've already found one (just in case).

28. Detroit Lions
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Atlanta Falcons
31. Minnesota Vikings (Note: This might change. Read "And Which Jersey Will You Buy?")

Jaclyn Kahn

SLOWNESS OF GAME EVEN BORES MLB OFFICIALS

One of the biggest knocks people have against baseball is the snail-like speed of the game. Unless you are at the game or it is genuinely exciting, it might be more appealing to take a hammer to your head then sit through an entire game. Apparently, MLB officials seem to agree. I found it really interesting when I found out that Boston Red Sox' closer, Jonathan Papelbon, was fined $5,000 for taking too long to throw his first pitch Friday night.

As goofy as this seemed when I first read the article, I think this is a good idea by MLB. Like the NYC honking law, I doubt this rule has ever been enforced, but I say start hampering down on players! Games last longer than they ever have, and most of the time they are not that fun. A typical Yankees or Red Sox game lasts over four hours! I like that MLB took a stand here. I think there are way too many pitchers that take their sweet time between pitches. Nothing drives me more crazy then when a pitcher shakes off the catcher three times then walks off the mound. Pitchers will say this timing rule will throw off their rhythm, but get used to it! After all, you are professional athletes!

I think if MLB is going to crack down on this rule, then it is only fair to impose fines against other players that take too much time to do something. Right now it appears that only pitchers can be fined, but how about expanding this to hitters as well. They are as much to blame for the length of games these days. A batter should not be allowed to step out of the batters' box after every pitch. Think about how much time would be saved if a batter didn't wonder around doing who knows what between pitches. I have personally perfected the art of running to the kitchen to pour a drink and returning to the TV before the next pitch is thrown. I heard Bud Seliq a couple years ago say there was an understanding between umpires and hitters about stepping out of the box. However, I've never seen an umpire get into it with a player about taking his time. Seliq says a lot of things, but we all know he is a joke of a commissioner.

I normally rip baseball for their decisions, as it is a horribly run league, but I'll give them credit for this. Thanks for finally thinking of the fans who do not want to watch games till all hours of the night. Unfortunately, I doubt any extensive time rules will pass through the Players' Union, and I am sure Papelbon will appeal and get his five grand back. That is how baseball works after all.

Pat Morgan

FUTURE LOCKOUT = DISTRESS FOR ALL

I just came across an article that has me riled up in more than one way. No it has nothing to do with Brady or Favre, or even Vick, at least not directly. No, the article is all about the idea of a 2011 lockout in the NFL. And no, the lockout won't be because of the football players' union who wants more money. According to this article on Yahoo! Sports, the owners of all 32 teams in the NFL will be the ones who cause this lockout.

First of all, I don't know what I would do with myself in the fall of 2011 if there was no football. I'm sure fans of hockey could tell me how much it stinks to not be able to see the sport of choice. I don't even know if there has ever been a strike in football, and I'm too lazy to go research that. Either way, I know that as a fan, I will be very disappointed if we have no football due to having issues renegotiating salaries.

Second, I am actually surprised it's not going to be a strike from the union. What bothers me is that owners and managers have been forking over big bucks for the players that they want. Salaries that might almost be comparable to baseball players. So in theory, if these owners didn't try to outbid one another for rookies and star players, there wouldn't be as much of an over-salaried player. Football players don't make as much as baseball players do, and there is a good reason why. Salary caps are there for a reason people, so stop paying big bucks for rookies you haven't even used yet! (cough cough Jets cough cough). Feeding the fire only causes more fire.

Next, if owners are going to have a lockout, then they are going to lose a crap load of money. Think of all of the accessories, jerseys, clothing, food, memorabilia, etc that will not be sold, and that is just at the stadium! I know that if my Bills aren't playing then I'm most likely not going to be buying t-shirts or jerseys or anything because there would be no reason to wear them (unless I have a make believe season in my head and the Bills are coming out as the number one team, although somehow they would be losing then too...) I understand that the owners wouldn't be shelling out as much cash to their players, but they wouldn't really be making any profit on anything, except for die hard fans that might buy some things for Christmas or something like that.

Most of the article is about how players should be more conservative with their money, especially since their is this fear about a lockout. Honestly, and this might be because I don't make the kind of money they do, but players should already know that they should be conservative with their money. Save some of it for Christ sake! I would think whether or not there is a lockout, players who burn through their big dollar paychecks are going to end up in financial trouble anyway. Understandably, once the money stops coming, there will be more of an issue of "poverty" and debt. I have to say (and I guess I am going back on my word about how this won't be about Vick) but he was in financial trouble and that didn't have anything to do with a lockout.

All in all, I think that a lockout sucks for everyone involved, but most importantly, for the fans. Both owners and players have to realize that the NFL is for the fans. All of the merchandise, all of the winning and losing, it's for the fans. Without it's fans, the NFL would be nothing like it is today. We are the ones who keep it running, and sometimes that is true in the financial sense. I think that owners and players and the unions should figure out some way for the players to continue to play, to not be selfish, and think of the fans.

Jaclyn Kahn

JUST SAY NO TO BRANDON MARSHALL!

The hot football topic the last couple days here in New York has been whether the Jets should trade for Pro Bowl wide receiver, Brandon Marshall. The Jets clearly could use a big time receiver in their offense, and Marshall would definitely give them just that as he has had over 100 catches in each of the last two seasons. However, his attitude in Denver lately combined with his troubled legal history has me hoping the Jets go in a different direction.

On paper the move would look great. The Jets really need to add another receiver at some point. Jerricho Cotchery is a really nice receiver, but he is not a #1. Marshall would give the Jets that weapon, but is it worth bringing in someone of his character for a couple high picks and David Harris? I say no!

It takes a lot of guts for me to admit to watching such a horrible show, but Woody Paige on Around the Horn made a great point about Marshall. He is really one legal offense from being suspended for a year under Roger Goodell's new behavioral policies. Yes, the Jets would not have to pay him if that happened, but they would not get those high draft picks back. I don't think it is smart to bring in a guy which such problems to any team, but especially a team located across the river from New York City. I would save those picks to get a good wide-out in the 2010 draft or in hopes that the Cardinals try and trade Anquan Boldin again.

Even if Marshall is a good citizen off the field, he has become a really headache on the field for the Broncos. He has been skipping practice, not flying with the team to preseason games, and even when he is around, he acts like such a child. It's been said that during practice he has batted down balls thrown in his direction if they were not thrown right. If the Jets got Marshall, I would root for good things obviously, but I rather not take the chance with him. If Brett Favre was still the quarterback, I would say maybe, but I rather not subject the rookie quarterback to his antics. A veteran could deal with it, but he could make life absolutely miserable for Mark Sanchez and possibly ruin his development.

Pat Morgan

P.S. I swear I don't ever watch Around the Horn! I was just really bored yesterday afternoon!

WRIGHT RETURNS AFTER BEING HIT IN THE HEAD

David Wright returned to the field last night just two weeks after being plunked in the head by a Matt Cain fastball. At the time, the New York Mets figured their star third baseman would be lost for the season like almost all their other stars. It certainly did not look good, but thankfully Wright avoided any major post concussion issues. I am not a Mets fan, but it is good to see any player who sustains such a serious blow to the head return to the field.

I realize the Mets season is lost and it really does not really matter in the standings that Wright has returned, but it is a big lift emotionally for a team that has seen everything go wrong this season. Maybe this should be the time when management names Wright their team captain. The Mets clearly need to re-tool many parts of their team, but making Wright the face of the franchise is the right move right now. He has had trouble hitting in the clutch, as Mets fans will be quick to point out, but he plays hard every night and hardly ever misses a game. Unless they get an unbelievable deal for him, they should want him as their captain.

I mentioned the Mets need to cut ties with some of their core. I think Jose Reyes should be the first one out the door. When things are going well he can be more valuable than Wright, but he has been way to inconsistent and weird lately. He just absolutely disappeared this season with an injury no one has given an exact answer to. I am sure Mets fans will be split on this issue. Believe me I know, as for some reason many Met fans have chosen me as someone to vent to about their team. Hello! 101 years since my team last won a title! Seriously though, trade Reyes, keep Wright, and your team will be much more stable for it.

Again, it was great to see Wright return to the field last night. Even if he's choosing to wear a helmet other players make fun of him for. Can you blame Wright for taking extra precaution after being drilled in the head though? I don't, but I like the reference Brian Costa, from the Star-Ledger, uses for Wright wearing that helmet. How dare he give me the raspberry?!?

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2009/09/david_wright_says_he_will_keep.html

Pat Morgan

AND WHICH JERSEY WILL YOU BUY?

Football season is upon us and it is important for us fans to be prepared in every way; this includes what we will be wearing.

This topic is particularly important to me because I am in need of a new football jersey. For those reader who didn't know by now (and how could you not?) that I am a Buffalo Bills fan (and when their season goes down the drain, I switch over to my NFC favorite, the Eagles). I have had a bit of jersey trouble these past few years. I currently own a Moulds jersey (not on the team anymore), a Spikes jersey (got injured soon after purchase and is no longer on the team), and a throwback Flutie jersey.

I want to keep up with the current team, and trends. I am considering buying a T.O. jersey because I like him now that he is a Bill and he might actually do the team some good once his sprained toe can heal itself. I also know, however, that T.O. will most likely not be on the Bills after this year, and since I have had bad luck in the past, I can but the jersey without having to worry whether or not he will on the team after this season. I would truly love to own a Jackson (Fast Freddy Jackson, number 22), but I don't want him to become hurt and then I have added another jersey to my collection of hurt and gone players.

Anyway, the point of this post is because there was an article on Yahoo! Sports (The Shutdown Corner) about the most popular jerseys of the upcoming football season, bought from April 1 to August 28.

Let's take a look at the whole Top 20.

1. Brett Favre, Vikings
2. Jay Cutler, Bears
3. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
4. Michael Vick, Eagles
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys
7. Mark Sanchez, Jets
8. Tom Brady, Patriots
9. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
10. Eli Manning, Giants
11. Terrell Owens, Bills
12. Peyton Manning, Colts
13. Hines Ward, Steelers
14. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
15. Jason Witten, Cowboys
16. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
17. Joe Flacco, Ravens
18. Matt Ryan, Falcons
19. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
20. Michael Crabtree, 49ers

So there is the list. I'm disappointed with Americans that Favre is number one. Are these people collecting Favre jerseys? Is there some guy who hopes he can decorate his basement with Favre paraphernalia from all three teams he has been on so far? Or are there some French people buying all of them up just to make our country look even worse? Who knows.

The only thing that makes the Favre sales okay is that it drives the sales down for Brady jerseys. Currently, at number 8, it doesn't seem that people are all that eager to be a bandwagon Patriots fan.

All of the Steelers jerseys being bought makes sense; why not own a jersey from the best team in the NFL, at least as of last season? However, there are a few surprises on that list, at least for me. I didn't realize Jay Cutler was so popular. And I understand that the Detriot Lions' fans are hurting in more than one way, but I can't understand how the number one draft pick, Stafford, didn't get many jersey sales.

So maybe I will decide to get a T.O. jersey, but I have time until I need to make a decision. In the meantime, it would be interesting to find out what are the ten least bought jerseys. I will do my research and get back to you. (But don't hold your breath)

Jaclyn Kahn