Speaking of the Crown....

Hey, whassaaahhp!!!

I've finally recovered from The Super Bowl. Wow.




I'm still in shock and disbelief, to be honest. I was really going to try and enjoy this one...

That third quarter, I was dying. I'm not gonna lie, I thought it was game over. Miracle defensive effort. Fourth Quarter, Big Ben, with the ball, late in the game... Death. Death of the season. Nope. Our D really came through.



I took a little heat after the last post, where I said Blame Uncle Tedly and Mike McCarthy if we lose... and rightly so, I guess.

I was really trying to highlight that, as regular reader know, I got on the Aaron Rodgers bandwagon two years ago. I like Clay Matthews, I like AJ Hawk... I just felt that the players were good enough to win, if this coaching staff could rise above themselves, and really call a good game, on both sides of the ball, and especially on special teams.

Let's not kid ourselves, I've never been a Ted Thompson fan. He is no Ron Wolf. He did not go out and get us Reggie White and Brett Favre. I'm not gonna lie and say "Oh, I knew he could do it!!!" No, I never felt Thompson could do it.

Even now, many of the so-called experts you read will describe his methods as "unorthodox", "unconventional", "counter-intuitive", and more. But, we can't argue with the results.

Mike McCarthy, I tip my cap to the guy. He proved me wrong. For once, he didn't lay down and go ultra conservative with the game on the line. He coached to win. From the second he walked into Cowboys Stadium, he was there to win, or go down swinging, and our game plan reflected it, and it worked.

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think he had it in him. I'm over here quietly wiping the egg off my face. What a journey this guy has made. he was in the draft room with the 49ers as Offensive Coordinator, and he DIDN'T WANT Aaron Rodgers, who of course then free-fell down through the draft, until Tedly finally took him.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, Mike McCarthy, of all people, put the ball in Aaron Rodgers' hands and said "Go win us the biggest game of both our lives." And he did it.

I tip my cap to Mike McCarthy. Dude, you did it.

I tip my cap to Aaron Rodgers. From not being offered a scholarship at any college, to Junior college, to Cal, to then his draft day humiliation, and the whispers that he was a "system" QB with Tedford, to playing behind Brett Favre, to then taking over for the legend after an ugly divorce from the team.... Probably only Steve Young could grasp what Aaron Rodgers has been through. Forget the rest, just the taking over from the legend aspect, that's tough, and it never works out. The Denver Broncos are STILL looking for that John Elway replacement...

I said a few weeks ago to Ardita, "Heavy Lies the Crown". And it does. Our coaching staff is already being raided... If there was a CBA in place, our players would be disappearing too.

But for now, let's try to enjoy it. Let's just try.

It's been a great season. Now, it's on to Survivor, The Amazing Race, Top Shot... Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty:Black Ops... and waiting until spring.

Hello, StubHub??

"Hello, StubHub?? Yeah, this is Barry... Listen, I wanna return those Super Bowl Tickets... Yeah, I'm not going if The Bears aren't there. What's that? Customer Number? Hold on, lemme see here..."

Heh heh. Yes, well, the Bears will be at home. Lots of emotion around here. People I thought I knew, posting Packers hate on Facebook. People friending and un-friending people... what a mess. I told you it was going to be ugly.

This one dude, friend of mine, changes his avatar to a Bears Logo. I'm like, waaaa??? Just last summer, standing next to his epic barbeque grill, he tells me "I don't follow pro football, I don't have time, I just follow the Iowa Hawkeyes."

So I'm confused, obviously.... But then, of course, the obviousness hits me. Sorry about that. One could clearly be a Bears fan, and not be a fan of professional football, I get it now...

As long as the hate taps are open, enjoy this one:



Heh heh.

Anyways, this is it!! Super Bowl 45.



Yep. This is it. I'm trying to maintain control. Sometime Saturday, I'll probably start to lose my mind.

Of course, there's a blizzard raging outside. I was just thinking, in about 28 days, we'll have hope of surviving the winter. Ooops!!! Could be a long long long long 28 days. It always is. T.S. Elliot once said "April is the cruelest month..." He was wrong. February is the cruelest month.

Now, nothing would warm up February more than a Packers win.

I said I like their chances on a neutral field, and I still do.



What else can I say???



Go. Pack. Go.

And if we don't win, put the blame squarely where it belongs:

Center of the Universe..

Hey, what's up???

My last thought was, The Packers are going nowhere.

Apparently, we might be going somewhere. Much to my surprise.

I'm speaking to you from the Center of the Universe. Yes, Soldier Field, Chicago Illinois, is roughly 100 miles to the southeast my current location, in the Bunker of Ultimate Football. About 140 miles to the Northeast, Green Bay Wisconsin.

Let me clarify something for you: Packers Bears is a huge huge game when both teams are well under .500, in week 16, playing out the string at the end of a meaningless and pathetic season. And that's happened PLENTY of times, believe me.

So, I'm not sure how you express this verbally, how big this is. This game is going to scar a fan base for life, one way or another. This game will talked about, broken down, and analyzed frame by frame like the Zapruder film for the next 5 years.

We're about to watch it unfold. 26 hours from now, we will be witnesses to Armageddon. 1 fan base will remember these plays, talk about these plays, and remember the 38 hour out of control celebration bash that followed, including how much their attorney's fees were. The other fan base will need medication, psychotherapy, and more medication, to have any hope of living a normal life after this game.

Well, maybe not, but let me say this: if the winner of THIS game goes on to WIN the SUPER BOWL, this game will be immortalized in song, in print, on YouTube, and in the hearts and minds of their fan base, forever. The young people in your life, those 8-18 years old, handcuff them if you have to, take away their FaceTube and their Smartphone, and sit them down, and make them watch this game...

Anyways, I could sense this epic clash coming. I knew something was up when a gambling degenerate acquaintance layed this on me prior to the playoffs:

GDB (Gambling Degenerate Buddy): "I've locked and loaded the Seahawks HEAVY in this game" (Note: We're talking Rams at Seahawks here, Wild Card Playoffs)

Me: Seahawks?!?!?

GDB: "Yep. It's the only possible outcome. The Bears are the luckiest team in football. All the way back in week one, the Lions score the winning touchdown, and the refs take it away. Everyone who was watching a television set knew that was a touchdown. And on and on. So, the only logical conclusion is that Seattle wins, travels to Chicago for a playoff game."

Me: Hmmm....

--one week later--

GDB: "Packers are going to beat Atlanta"

Me: And you know this because...

GDB: "Because if Atlanta wins, the crazy lucky Bears have to go to Atlanta to play a team that is tough as nails at home for a Super Bowl berth. Having the Packers in Chicago would be the huge break they need. "

Me: Hmmm...

Now this week, he's backing off. He has the Bears and the points, but for a very small amount. If his theory holds, he should be on the Bears big time, but he's not.

It's Packers Bears. Anything could happen.

Offense: Advantage Packers

We have this:


Or this:


Enough said on that?? I thought so.

Defense: Tie

This:


Or This:


Special Teams: Advantage Bears

Here's your worst nightmare:


If your punter is trying to make a play on the electric Devin Hester, something has gone horribly wrong with your game plan....

How about those Patriots!! Whoops!! I think I want a Federal Investigation into that game, to find out who it was in those Patriots uniforms. What the Martz was that?!?!?

I'm not a Jets believer. At all. I'm not a Sanchez believer. He is not accurate, period. Against the Colts, they basically took the ball out of his hand in the second half.... I mean, if you can't throw well in Lucas Oil Stadium, indoors, Indianapolis, where CAN you throw??? Last week, same thing, handoffs and dink and dunk.

So, if you want a gambling tip, I'd say stay away from the Packers Bears, and load up on the Steelers. My only worry there is the Steelers O-Line is really banged up. Really banged up.

Final thought: Bears fan or Packers Fan, the best thing that ever happened is the Patriots lost. As a Packer fan, look, we beat the Jets in New York, and I'm not scared of the Steelers. The Patriots, I want no part of, in a Super Bowl. On a neutral field, we could handle the Steelers. Provided of course it's not going to be officiated the same way that Cardinals Super Bowl was two years ago... And the Jets would be a dream. Ohhh - Ver! Raaa - ted! (clap! clap! clapclapclap!!!) Packers-Jets. Ahhhh... I'm already having flashbacks to Cowboys-Bills, Super Bowl 27....

On that thought, enjoy the games!!!

Memories...

Meeeee - mories... From the caaahhh - ners of my mind... Tra la la la la la LAAAAH lal la laaaahhh...

Hey, what's up.

See if you remember THIS scene....



Of course you do. If you're a Packer Fan, you've spent hours in psychotherapy trying to get OVER that moment... And Ed Donatell's face is still on a milk carton somewhere.... (big hint for you there...) Answer later.

Yeah, well, it's time. I know it's time. I want to thank the fans for making this possible... I just have nothing else to give.

Sure, by next summer, I'll be itching to play again, but for now, lemme retire.

Anyways, The Season is over.

We have a champion.



Yes, Ardita is the champion. Passed Gregslo by in week 17. Heavy lies the crown, dude. Good luck with that. Next thing you know, you're in last place, wondering what happened.... But for now, wear it around the house, and enjoy.

Gregslo finished second. Nice job, after a couple years off.

And Erin07 finished on top of a VERY tight race for third. Nice job man. This guy complained to me all year about how tough these games were to figure out. So, one last time, you're complaining to the wrong guy, dude. I figured out nothing.

I seem to recall it being a running joke, saying "We're gonna learn a LOT about these two teams this week..." I didn't learn anything, I guess.

Highz, Smitty201, Elusive, and the Florida Boys were very very close to that third spot. I was joking about Erin07 spending the year in 7th... One pick. One. Really, the difference from 3rd to 7th.

Figured out that picture yet?? Of course, it is when the Eagles converted 4th and 26 against the Packers. Brutal. I still have nightmares.

Anyways, I always like to do this, to highlight how good some of you are at picking these games. Here's our pool, vs experts.

Accuscore 168-88

Erin07 166-90

Gregslo 165-91

Jason Cole 164-92
Elusive

Ardita
Highz 163-93
Ronfic

Florida Boys 162-94

Chris Mortensen 160-96
Les Carpenter

Mark Schlereth 158-98

Not too bad. Many of you are mixed in with the best pickers from various websites. So, congrats on that.

Well, we're probably left with this:



And this:



As our final memories of Brett Favre. Is that enough for you, Favre Hating Nation??

I prefer to remember Brett more like this:







We WERE going nowhere, before those guys showed up. And now we're going nowhere again. This season was the first in the last 4 that we started the season WITHOUT the youngest team in the NFL. Then we released Al Harris mideseason, and once again, we are the YOUNGEST team in the NFL.

The youngest team in the NFL has never won the Super Bowl.

Anyways, it was a great season. Enjoy!

Can you forward me this link???

Hey!

Well, first off, congrats have to go out to Erin07 for his week 16 win. Nice job man.

Well, the Packers won their way into the playoffs. I have to tip my cap to Ardita. He had the Packers for 5 today. A true blue Bears fan, taking the Pack. Lesson one in gambling, bet your head, not your heart.

Speaking of which, Brett Bielema got outcoached yesterday in the Rose Bowl. Ouch. Painful. The whole Big Ten got blasted yesterday. Not good.

Anyways, it appears that Bulldogs Rule has already locked this up. Nice job fellas. Congrats.

Ardita could overtake Gregslo for the season's championship. Hmmm.

I will finish the season in dead last. Unbelievable. But then, it's been a crazy year. Lotta changes, job dramas, other BS... From a certain perspective, I've changed jobs twice this year. I'm beat. Driving 128 miles a day... I could use a rest. Too much pressure. Trying to figure out Jacksonville/Houston week after week, forget it. I don't have the energy. My trainer is throwing in the towel.

I'm baffled the Bears played their starters all game. Baffled. Atlanta won. New Orleans lost. You're the number 2 seed. That will not change. Play your starters for a half, and sit them down.

Eagles lose to the Cowboys. Two losses in a row. In case you care, the Eagles will host the Packers next week. Eagles coming off two losses. Are they beatable?? There's already a story on PFT about how Andy Reid will have a quick hook. Vick will start, but any failures to properly read the 3-4, and Kolb will go in. Personally, I hope to God Kolb plays against us. Vick, you might recall, as a Falcon, ended the "forever" streak of the Packers never losing a playoff game in Lambeau Field...

Jason Garrett, ending the season at 5-3. There's already a rumor out there that Garrett will be named Head Coach. Wide Receivers Coach Ray Sherman allegedly will be interviewed for HC, to satisfy the "Rooney Rule", but the rumor is, he will be named Offensive Co-Ordinator under Garrett.

Mangini supposedly done in Cleveland. Sounded very downbeat in his post game presser.

Favre: "It's time. I know it's time." Whatever. Would anyone want him at this point???

If that was his "first" officially diagnosed concussion, how many concussions over the years do we suppose he played through?? In 20 years, how many times did they give him the smelling salts and throw him out there for the next possession?? Three? Five? Ten?

Again I ask, would anyone want him at this point???

Anyways, Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy both just picked the Packers next week against Philly. The further you are from these Packers, the better they look. They looked a little uninspired to me today, especially on offense. Brian Bulaga, several brutal penalties on our O-Line. Jennings a couple more easy drops today.

Our D, however, is really rising to the task. They played great.

Ravens at Chiefs. I've been thinking all year, I can't wait to bet against the Chiefs in the playoffs. I mean, if gambling were legal on the internet, that is. Cough cough, ahem. Anyway, I may have to take the Ravens in that one. Chiefs had a real shot today, and they folded.

And despite being 8-8, the rumor now is that Tom Cable, HC of the Raiders, will not be retained. I personally think they overachieved at 8-8, and the team is playing for him. Allegedly Al Davis feels they should have made the playoffs... Huh. Whatever, Al...

Record shattering Tom Brady has now gone 11 games without a pick. And Bill Belichek is the first coach in NFL History to have 4 14-win seasons on his resume. Patriots looked good, even without Welker and a bunch of other starters, who were declared inactive for the game. Who can forget Welker blowing out his knee in last year's season finale... Lesson learned.

I'll have a full end of season wrap up in a couple days. And checks will go out shortly.

Enjoy tonights game!!!

There arose such a clatter....

Hey!

Yeah, I'm still alive. Barely. Winter is sooo much fun. Why did I leave Florida??? Why did I leave Florida...

(trying to think of a reason....)

(still trying....)

Nevermind, let's just move on.

Week 14, Smitty201 crosses the goal line with the football!!!! Nice. Congrats on that. Smitty201 has been picking well all year, actually.

Week 15, The Big Headed Holy Rollers score their second win of the season! Nice. Congrats on that too, fellas.

Two weeks to go.

After two weeks, Erin07 was in 7th place for the season. He's in 7th place now. I must throw in an honorable mention though, he has picked 145 games correctly. More than anyone else in this pool.

I'm still in last, but I am within a couple points of Bulldogs Rule and Badgergil, and Sharpcheddar is in my sights... And yet, Badgergil has won 2 weeks, and Sharpcheddar 3. Hmmm. I'm just saying, don't pretend you don't see me closing the gap back here... I might end the season above last place.

Is it just me, or do these lines make no sense. Seriously, Detroit at Miami, Miami -3.5. Really. Hmmm, let's see, Detroit just went to Tampa and beat them, and Tampa is better than Miami. Also, Miami is 1-6 at home, and with this upcoming loss, they could finish their home schedule at 1-7. Really.

Then we move on to San Fran at St Louis. St Louis by 2.5 Insane. Why why why oh why do these 49ers get any respect at all from Vegas bookmakers??? Doesn't this line have to be St Louis by 5??? Really, this NFC West is just brutal. Maybe we need a rule that if you're not 8-8 or better, you don't go to the playoffs, no matter what. Scratch that division winner, and insert another wild card team.

San Diego by 7.5 over Cincy. Shouldn't that be San Diego by 21??? Is anyone out there still betting on Cincinnatti?? Really?? Why??

These games are brutal. Houston at Denver. Houston giving 2.5 points, on the road. Houston has no defense at all. Maybe Tim Tebow will go crazy all over that defense. Tebow isn't the next Phillip Rivers, but from what I've seen on YouTube, he's gonna be a decent backup / spot starter / wildcat guy / gadget QB for the next 14 years. He was okay. He'll be fine. Is he number one pick fine?? Ehhh, probably not. Would Denver fans like to crawl into a Hot Tub Time Machine and get a "do-over" on the last two years??? Ehhh, probably.

I'm slightly curious... Is Favre Hating Nation satisfied yet?? Your Boy, number 4, has been beaten down almost as bad as a dude can be beaten down. I guess he doesn't have a compound fracture in the Tibia yet, or a depressed skull fracture... He doesn't have a horrific Joe Thiesman style broken leg.... But he's been hit about as hard as a guy can be hit on a football field. You guys satisfied, or do you need to see more?? Just curious...

When are the tough questions going to start being asked about Mike McCarthy?? This is the end of year 5. No questions yet?

Mike Sherman's 1st 5 years: 53 and 27. 3 NFC North Titles. 2-4 in Postseason.
Mike McCarthy's 1st 5 years: 46 and 32. 1 NFC North Title. 1-2 in Postseason.

There seemed to be a feeling that Sherman wasn't getting it done. Do we feel that McCarthy is??

Really??

From my research staff, I find out that Mike Sherman is now in his 3rd year as the Head Coach at Texas A&M. After 2 losing seasons, He won himself a Big 12 South Title, and will face LSU in The AT&T Cotton Bowl, played in Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Texas, January 7th, 7PM, on Fox. It'd be fun to see Mike Sherman show Les Miles how it's done.

Nice to have a personal assistant and a staff to look this stuff up. I had no idea. If I had known, I might have took vacation to go to Cowboys Stadium...

Too late now. I guess I'll just have to suck it up and watch it on my 60 inch LCD... sigh.

Whoops, UConn just won their 89th straight game. Unreal. Tip of the Cap to Gino.

Anyways, don't you love those "holiday" letters you get, where people tell you how overly amazing their family is??? This one came in the mail the other day:

Dear Friends,

What a lucky break the CEO sent his personal jet to pick me up from Istanbul; there's plenty of room, since I have the entire aircraft to myself, to take out the laptop and write our annual holiday letter. Just let me ask the attendant for a better vintage of champagne, and I'll begin.

It's been another utterly hectic year for Chad and I and our remarkable children, yet nurturing and horizon-expanding. It's hard to know where the time goes. Well, a lot of it is spent in the car.

Rachel is in her senior year at Pinnacle-Upon-Hilltop Academy, and it seems just yesterday she was being pushed around in the stroller by our British nanny. Rachel placed first this fall in the state operatic arias competition. Chad was skeptical when I proposed hiring a live-in voice tutor on leave from the Lyric Opera, but it sure paid off! Rachel's girls' volleyball team lost in the semifinals owing to totally unfair officiating, but as I have told her, she must learn to overcome incredible hardship in life.

Now the Big Decision looms -- whether to take the early admission offer from Harvard or spend a year at Juilliard. Plus the whole back of her Mercedes is full of dance-company brochures as she tries to decide about the summer.

Nicholas is his same old self, juggling the karate lessons plus basketball, soccer, French horn, debate club, archaeology field trips, poetry-writing classes and his volunteer work. He just got the Yondan belt, which usually requires nine years of training after the Shodan belt, but prodigies can do it faster, especially if (not that I really believe this!) they are reincarnated deities.

Modeling for Gap cuts into Nick's schoolwork, but how could I deprive others of the chance to see him? His summer with Outward Bound in the Andes was a big thrill, especially when all the expert guides became disoriented and he had to lead the party out. But you probably read about that in the newspapers.

What can I say regarding our Emily? She's just been reclassified as EVVSUG&T -- "Extremely Very Very Super Ultra Gifted and Talented." The preschool retained a full-time teacher solely for her, to keep her challenged. Educational institutions are not allowed to discriminate against the gifted anymore, not like when I was young.

Yesterday Rachel sold her first still-life. It was shown at one of the leading galleries without the age of the artist disclosed. The buyers were thrilled when they learned!

Then there was the arrival of our purebred owczarek nizinny puppy. He's the little furry guy in the enclosed family holiday portrait by Annie Leibovitz. Because our family mission statement lists cultural diversity as a core value, we named him Mandela.

Chad continues to prosper and blossom. He works a few hours a day and spends the rest of the time supervising restoration of the house -- National Trust for Historic Preservation rules are quite strict. Corporate denial consulting is a perfect career niche for Chad. Fortune 500 companies call him all the time. There's a lot to deny, and Chad is good at it.

Me? Oh, I do this and that. I feel myself growing and flowering as a change agent. I yearn to empower the stakeholders. This year, I was promoted to COO and invited to the White House twice, but honestly, beading in the evening means just as much to me. I was sorry I had to let Carmen go on the same day I brought home my $14.6 million bonus, but she had broken a Flora Danica platter and I caught her making a personal call.

Chad and I got away for a week for a celebration of my promotion. We rented this quaint five-star villa on the Corsican coast. Just to ourselves -- we bought out all 40 rooms so it would be quiet and contemplative and we could ponder rising above materialism.

Our family looks to the New Year for rejuvenation and enrichment. Chad and I will be taking the children to Steamboat Springs over spring break, then in June I take the girls to Paris, Rome and Seville while Chad and Nicholas accompany Richard Gere to Tibet.

Then the kids are off to camps in Maine, and before we know it, we will be packing two cars to drive Rachel's things to college. And of course I don't count Davos or Sundance or all the routine excursions.

I hope your year has been as interesting as ours.

Love,
Jennifer, Chad, Rachel, Nicholas & Emily

Heh heh, okay, I got that from a Gregg Easterbrook column... Pretty funny though.

Anyways, Merry Christmas!! I sincerely hope everyone has a great, fun, and safe Holiday!!

Lucky 14

Well, week 13 is complete. Air Myles, with a real nice effort there. I thought I might have a chance. Sitting in a bar watching, I seemed to be doing well. My best finish of the year.

As I sit firmly in dead last for the season, I had to look back and remind myself that I did in fact win the season last year. Hmmm. Work is clearly driving me nuts, and I clearly don't have enough brain power left to make picks.

Anyway, do you want Season Tickets for The Packers next year?? Heh heh! Good luck!

No, seriously, check this out:



Yep. You could win a season's worth of Club Seats, which are indoors, which also means you could actually USE them. So, good luck with that, lottery gamblers!

Anyways, I have my 16 point pick in the jar once again. Along with VBS and Erin07, to be fair. We'll see if that leads to a victory.

I see Michael Wilbon is writing a column again. You probably know him from being a host on "Pardon The Interruption" with Korny Toneheiser. Or is it Tony Kornheiser?? Hard to keep track. Anyway, I like Wilbon, he's fine, but sometimes, these basketball people come out with an NFL opinion that just makes you say Huh???

Seriously, he states in his first article: "Peyton Manning is not the greatest QB to ever play... John Elway is."

Huh?? Whaaa??? Uhh, neither of those guys is even in the discussion. Sorry. My personal all-time QB List:

#1. Joe Montana. The greatest. Period. He worked a football field like the great masters worked in oils, or clay. Or like Robert Ludlum and James Michener worked a typewriter. 4 Super Bowls. 4 and 0. I still have the Sports Illustrated in my vault (okay, it's a box), it says "Joe Knows Super Bowls", it's a picture of Montana high fiving Guy McIntyre, one of his O-linemen.

Now there's really a gap, but I guess we need more on the list.

#2. Terry Bradshaw. In some ways, he suffers from Troy Aikman Syndrome, in that he played on deep good teams, and the winning might not have been all about him. But as a Cowboys fan, I never wanted to face Bradshaw. Never. He made plays when it mattered and he won big games.

#3. Troy Aikman. Loved the guy. He could make every throw, had a big arm, and was a great game manager. Was never a stats whore, and I think with the rise of Fantasy Football, he was never a great "fantasy" player, but he won big games, and came up big when it mattered.

#4. Steve Young. Really an amazing player. You never wanted to face him either. Played in Mighty Joe Montana's shadow, and the 49ers seemed awfully eager to begin the Steve Young Era. Which annoyed me for a few years, but in retrospect, he was really good, a dangerous player who could run and throw. Left Handed, hard to defend.

#5. Brett Favre. Yeah, his recent shenanigans have tarnished his legacy, to be sure. And this is from me, not a Favre hater. But really, in his prime, he was something else.

#6. Tom Brady. Was 17-0, and should have won that Super Bowl. If some idiot Giants player doesn't catch a miracle throw on the side of his helmet, Brady has authored the 18-0 season, has 4 Super Bowls, and goes to #2 on the list. If he wins the Super Bowl this year, he goes to number 2 on the list. We are watching history.

Honorable mentions: Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett, Roger Staubach, Jim Kelly, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner. You never left the room when these guys were on offense.

Honorable mentions (playing right now): Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers. These guys are probably hall of famers, assuming their careers continue without serious injuries or other problems.

Anyway, Urban Meier retired again. Relax, he'll be back next week. Is this some Favrian thing sweeping the sports world, this continually retiring??

Bill Simmons intimated in a podcast this week that "The blood of the Cardinals 2010 season is all over Kurt Warner."

Really? No, not really. Warner actually knows what the word "retire" means. Their O-line wasn't very good, they were making no moves to improve it, he took some huge shots late in 2009, probably played with a concussion... And decided to hang it up. So be it. Let's remember, he had to basically blackmail the Cardinals to give him a contract after 08... So now he's gone, and it's all his fault that they stink on ice?? It's his fault The Great Matt Leinart couldn't play, or wasn't given a chance?? Ahhh, put me down for "No, not his fault."

Okay, from The Vault. For you young people, the Greatest QB Ever to lace 'em up and play. I give you Joe Montana:



Alright, good luck this week. The final 4 games. This. Is. it.