NINTH SEASON: WEEK SEVEN

Illness has struck the Staples' household this week.  The injury report would be full.  "Josiah Staples - OUT - respiratory infection, fever; Natalie Staples - QUESTIONABLE - respiratory infection; Gabriel Staples - PROBABLE - respiratory infection."  It is always rough when the kids are sick.  As a result, I haven't been able to put my usual stupidity into practice for the blog post.  I hope that you were able to survive without it.  At this late date, I'm not going to go into a whole big post.  There are a few things that I'm just going to put into one list.

• Boise State/TCU - Thanks to Missouri, things are going well.  LSU also finally got offed this past week, so the road was made a little easier.  I'm not too nervous about Auburn.  The SEC West is so tough that it is going to be a minor miracle to get out of there undefeated.  Honestly, the team that scares me the most is Oregon.  There doesn't seem to be anyone out there to stop their insane offense.  I'm hoping USC can do that this week.  The Gameday team will be in L.A., so if anything will get them worked up, that would be it.
• I've thought about if it would be better to have BSU play TCU or beat someone like Oregon.  I really am still convinced that we need to have those two nobodies play.  If a non-BCS team wins against a BCS team, the BCS will say, "See?  The system does work."  If the BCS team slaughters TCU then the BCS will say, "See?  The system works.  Non-BCS teams really can't compete."  The only way anything will change is if the BCS gets ticked off.  They don't care about outrage of the masses.  The only thing that will speak to the BCS is ratings and money.  That is why it has to be BSU vs. TCU.  (Not Utah.  It has to be TCU.)
• Recently, there have been several articles that echo what I wrote a couple of weeks back about how modern athletes are actually outgrowing the sport.  There really does seem to be a growing unease with thoughtful sports writers - not the ESPN talking mouthpieces for the league.  The NFL (and football in general) could be in some very real trouble.
• Gator Greats finally lost their perch at the top of the SFL this past week.  But, they can exact their revenge this week by taking out the new top ranked Ferrets.  Of course, with how things are going lately, it seems like everyone is just keeping the seat warm for Odious Repercussions.  They have been playing out of their minds the past few weeks.  

Sorry for the lame post.  Hopefully next week things will calm back down.  Also, I would still appreciate your prayers about the retreat center.  We actually are going up there again November 11-14 to meet with them and evaluate the property.  We should know something after that trip.  

NINTH SEASON: WEEK SIX

Well, the concussion issue finally has hit the boiling point, hasn't it?  There were six or seven vicious hits in the NFL, mostly helmet to helmet.  All of this on the same weekend as a Rutgers player getting paralyzed from a tackle.  So the NFL finally makes a real effort to protect its players.  They plan on starting suspensions for illegal helmet to helmet hits.  So it seems to be a serious effort.  Everyone should be happy, right?  Nope.  In something I didn't see happening at all, the players have revolted against the changes.  Brian Urlacher said the NFL should become a flag football league.  Heath Evans, fullback for the Saints, tweeted that he was worried about what they were doing to the league.  Ray Lewis, Joey Porter, Charles Tillman, Channing Crowder, Scott Fujita were among the list of players that ridiculed or questioned the new league policies.

Honestly, this reminds me of the legislation to force people to wear helmets on motorcycles.  I've seen a poster before that said, "The Helmet Law is to protect a brain to stupid to realize it needs protecting."  It seems the same way with the football players.  There is an overwhelming amount of evidence showing that head injuries lead to major lifelong problems.  Shortened life expectancy.  Memory loss.  Alzheimers.  Depression and suicide.  So now the people in charge are trying to take efforts to protect these players.  And the players are rebelling against it.  Are these the same players who are willing to shut down the league because they want better protection and security in their retirement?  They want medical coverage when they are older.  They want the NFL to pay for their knee replacements and back surgeries.  And, I'm pretty sure they also will want coverage for things like Alzheimers and brain injury - now that those things have been linked to playing football.  But they aren't willing to take protective measures to lessen those long term problems?

I really think that we have kind of hit a tipping point with football.  The players got bigger, faster, stronger.  They have outgrown the equipment and the rules of the game.  The thing is, they are at risk because the game can't support the new style of player.  We are at a point where something really bad is going to happen.  And the changes will be forced onto the whole sport - like when industry had to implement security measures decades ago.  Someone is going to die.  At that point, there is no hiding any more.  Changes will be forced down their throats.

NFL NOTES:

• I know I'm supposed to hate him, since he's on the Patriots and is married to a super model and dumped a really hot actress after knocking her up and he has girl hair.  But I really like Tom Brady.  I think he's a super quarterback.  I also like his willingness to be mouthy to other teams when necessary.  "They talk a lot for a team who has beaten us once in the last nine years."  He's mouthing off at the RAVENS?!?  I mean, this is a team whose captain killed a guy - allegedly.  That's just ballsy.  But it's obvious he has those - knocking up celebs all over the place.  ZING!
• Well, Heather's theory about the Gators/Jags proved wrong this week.  Both of them lost.  But, Tebow scored a touchdown, so maybe that pulled all the joy out of the fan base.
• I love it when "experts" are proven wrong.  Last week, everyone and their mother's hairdressers were saying Atlanta was the top team in the NFC.  Then they played the Eagles.  I heard hospitals in Bristol were overrun with people who broke their ankles and blew out their ACLs jumping off that bandwagon.  
• Going back to my football coach disposal guesses from a few weeks ago, I would like to place Dallas and San Diego on the definite list.  At least they have nice weather there.

COLLEGE NOTES:

• It is nice to see that I can still count on Ohio State to choke.  I got nervous there for a while, when the Buckeyes were making their charge.  I was watching the game with my father in law and two of Heather's uncles.  In the fourth quarter, the Wisconsin defense was running Pryor so ragged, we just kept saying, "An interception is coming.  He's getting hammered."  Sure enough, pick.  Wisconsin's offense looked amazing in that game. 
• I am constantly amazed at the fair weather mindset in Gainesville.  According to my calculations, this is a team that has won two national titles in the last five years.  They are having a bad year this year.  But to hear a lot of Gator fans, they are in the midst of a epic losing streak.  "FIRE THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR (who kept the team going when Urban was 'retired')!"  Some extreme people want Meyer fired.  What the what?  A little perspective here, people.  I know you aren't used to losing.  But look at Alabama, Oklahoma, Nebraska, FSU.  They've all gone through lulls.  If possible, UF fans are more annoying when they are losing.
• You have to give UCF some credit.  Two straight Wednesday night games on ESPN.  The amount of exposure they got in those two weeks is amazing.  That doesn't include stuff like the highlights the next day on the two million ESPN shows.  Pretty smart.  And they play on Friday coming up here, too.  Even better.  
• Let's look at the state of Florida teams again, shall we?   FSU 6-1, UCF 4-2, UM 4-2, UF 4-3, USF 3-3. And still no one cares about the rest. (FIU, FAU, FAMU are a combined 6-11.)   Yes, I did put that because UCF is ahead of everyone but FSU.  Hee hee.
• There seems to be a weeee bit of discrepancy between the SEC East and West this year, it seems.  The East is 19-20 combined.  The West is 32-8.  Just a smidgen of difference.
• Boise State/TCU Update:  You all doubt, but it's going to happen.  Get on board.  Ohio State and Nebraska were kind enough to take a dive this week.  So that cleared the road even more.  I know some of you are going to get nervous because the BCS rankings tossed the overrated Oklahoma up top.  But this is a marathon, not a sprint.  Give it time.  I posted a full length article on this (which I'm sure you already read).  The games that could help out this week is when Oklahoma loses to Missouri, when LSU and Auburn eliminate one or the other (I'm hoping Auburn loses because LSU is the worse team), and if UCLA could knock Oregon out.  
• In case you are wondering why I am so adamant about TCU/BSU and not Utah/BSU, here's why.  Utah joins the Pac-10 in a few years.  So, the argument could be, "Well, it wasn't an actual BCS team, but it is going to be one.  That's okay."  It needs to be two teams that have no shot at a BCS conference and who would obviously get run out of town in a bracket championship system.  Broncos & Froggys it is.  

SFL NOTES:

• No close games this past week.  Kind of surprising.  There seems to be a kind of separation going on in the league between the top half and the bottom.  Teams 1-4 (Gators, Ferrets, Odious, and Bus) have been riding pretty high lately.  The 3-3 teams are very inconsistent.  And then the bottom three are dropping like rocks.  
• The biggest game this weekend is Odious Repercussions and Gator Greats.  They are two of the strongest teams and seem destined to a mega-showdown.
• Ferrets are in their typical early season explosion of wins.  If the usual trend continue, they should rattle off another five or six wins and then tank right when the playoffs start.  
• Toss in the Towel.  Most accurate name ever.  

NINTH SEASON: WEEK FIVE

The whole Brett Favre Donger on Display Saga brings up quite a few points.  For those of you who don't know (I don't know how that is possible), Brett Favre is being accused of sending illicit text messages and pictures of his man handle to everyone's favorite FSU Cowgirl, Jenn Sterger, when she worked for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.  This story actually popped up in August over on the journalistic ethics impaired Deadspin.com.  They broke the news - against Sterger's wishes.  And apparently they found these texts and pictures somewhere and paid for them, even though Sterger did not agree.  (My guess is someone hacked her phone and sold the data to Deadspin.  I loathe Deadspin.)

Anywho, in the new NFL, any accusation of this sort will immediately be blown into a media circus and investigated.  It will probably result in a four week recuperation program for Favre right before the playoffs, priming him for another Super Bowl run thanks to the time to heal.  There are so many elements to this story, that it makes my head spin.

First, there is the pathological infatuation athletes have with their units.  How many of these guys will have to have their johnsons broadcast all over the interwebs before they learn?  Greg Oden, Chris Cooley, Santonio Holmes, Grady Sizemore.  The list goes on and on.  And apparently so do their genetic weaponry.  I guess that if I looked like I housed Snuffleupagus in my boxer briefs I would be more willing to flaunt it.  But I also believe in the whole "some things are best left to the imagination" mindset.  I never have understood mankind's immediate desire to get naked in front of technology.  "Oh, look a webcam.  Let me take off my clothes in front of it."  Athletes are usually bigger people in general, so it follows that their wangs would follow suit.  But that is one stat I don't want to know.  I'm good just knowing college, height, weight, game stats.  I don't want their ESPN profile to broadcast the size of their sausage.

Second, the issue of Jenn Sterger.  This is a woman whose entire career has been generated by her sexuality.  She was just another student at FSU until some pervy camerman focused on her heaving bosoms and cowboy hat.  And then Brett Musberger wiped the drool from his mouth and commented about red blooded males applying to FSU.  BAM.  So she showed up at games, created her own website, showed up at USF games (since she was from Tampa), started writing a blog on SI.com, posed half naked for FHM, posed nude for Playboy, got hired by the Jets as a game hostess, removed her implants, got hired by Versus network as eye candy for their sports show.  All of it was because of her boobs.  She would have just been another journalism student.  I will admit she is a good writer and has a good knowledge of sports.  But her breasts got her on the fast track.  Now she has a national sports show - doesn't do anything on it, but is on it.  So, what do we make of this?  She has spent her life exploiting her sexuality, and now she has to go through this inappropriate advances by Favre and subsequent public embarrassment due to that sexuality.  It really shows the double edged sword that is sexuality and media. You sell your body but don't realize your soul was sold in the deal.

Third, athletes are dirtbags.  Big Ben was the latest poster child for this thanks to his indiscretions and suspension.  Every time an athlete does this, we all get outraged about it and talk about how they don't respect anyone.  Favre's actions, to me, are far worse.  He is married.  He has kids are old enough to read all about this.  Shoot, his kids aren't that much younger than Sterger.  His wife went through cancer.  He's a grandfather.  And Favre has always portrayed himself as a family man.  But, call me old fashioned if you must, family men don't send pictures of their genitalia to other women.  It kind of goes against the whole definition of Family Man - unless you are a Mormon and are just out recruiting for a bigger family.  The problem is that these athletes from an early age are told they are the best.  They get whatever they want.  Colleges bend over backwards (sometimes literally) to get these guys there.  Boosters, agents, underlings.  Everyone around them tell them they are special.  They get tons of money thrown at them at an age when they aren't old enough to know how to handle it.  And there are always people willing to do anything to get into their world.  Women throw themselves at them.  And these athletes don't hear no often.  So they get to the point where they think they can do whatever they want - someone else will clean up the mess.  They don't budget their money.  They don't think forward to the future.  They don't value other people.  The rules don't apply to them - because they never have.  It's the same belief that celebrities like Lindsey Lohan, Casey Affleck, Paris Hilton, and old school Robert Downey Jr bought into.  It is a sad society when there is a group of people who are "above the law."  Once you've made that allowance, it is hard to take it back.  That is why the efforts to reign in athletes and celebs seem so futile and pathetic.  We are trying to erase decades of bad choices on OUR PART that has led to bad choices on their part.  We never should have worshipped these people.  It is never pretty when you try to undeify a god.

NFL QUICK HITS:

• I guess that there was more to Brett Favre's nickname "Gunslinger" than we thought.
• Is there a more dangerous position than NFL Quarterback?  I mean that on two fronts.  The first is obviously the injury one - as Aaron Rodgers is the latest high profile casualty.  Everyone targets you.  During plays, you get thrown around by giant freaks of nature like a rag doll.  I'm actually surprised we don't see more ugly QB injuries.  The other way I mean that comment, though, is danger for the team.  It seems like every week we see some team destroyed by their stupid quarterback.  We just seem to be in a cycle where there are more of these guys making dumb mistakes.  Delhomme, Carson Palmer, Todd Collins, Alex Smith.  It's a field day out there.  And, honestly, you have to put Favre in that category most of the time now.  It used to be that he would win you five extra games a year with his gutsy play, but cost you two.  This year it seems reversed.  Last night was the biggest example - he brought the team back due to his brilliance.  But, the reason they were in trouble in the first place was because of him.  And the reason they lost was because of him.  
• If you want to hear some amazing football analysis, watch or listen to Colin Cowherd's radio show (simulcast on ESPNU) on Monday mornings.  It certainly isn't to listen to him, because he is an inflated, entitled, egomaniacal d-bag.  But on Mondays, Trent Dilfer breaks down the Sunday games.  Yesterday I actually had the tv on something I wanted to watch when this segment came on.  I was riveted.  He is a BRILLIANT analyst.  Seems weird, since he was such a shaky QB.  But, he knew how to manage a game - so maybe that's why he's so good.  No clue.
• Dilfer talked about how you can tell how a team is going to end up by looking at them right now.  He said that the Giants are going to be really good this year because they buy into the team concept.  He said players give up highlight generating tackles and sacks to ensure stoppages.  When they go to tackle someone, they approach from a direction that ensures that even if the runner jukes them, he will just run into someone else.  They are more interested in stopping people than helping their own stats.
• He also said that the Packers, Vikings, and Cowboys are not going anywhere.  He said they are great fantasy teams because they put up stats.  But if you track them, you will see that most of their stats come in the first half, when they are ahead, or when there is no pressure on them.  When it gets later in the game, if they are behind, or if it is a tight game, they freeze up.  And you can also track their damaging mistakes - ones that take points off the board or generate points for the other team.  He went through Dallas' game on Sunday and showed that they lost like 21 points due to mistakes and allowed 10 for the other team!  Really awesome analysis.  
• Okay, I'll admit it.  The Saints look shaky.
• How in the world does Mike Singletary still have a job?  At least he has time to get his resume together.  Who else is going to get canned this year?  Mangini in Cleveland, Wade Philips in Dallas, Marvin Lewis in Cincy.  I think that you could see Norv Turner in SD and Kubiak in Houston fired if their teams continue to collapse.  Del Rio in Jax is on the hot seat - but they're so stupid they'll keep him if they finish 8-8.  I hope they clean house in Buffalo, but who knows.  This all may be a ploy to move the team.
• I can't figure out the Jaguars.  My wife came up with the best explanation - they have a deal with the Gators.  Only one of them can do well at a time.  There can't be too much happiness in North Florida.  She's right.  Sept 11/12 - The Gators played an uninspiring game in a victory over USF.  Jags beat Denver and Tebow.  Mutual dissatisfaction.  Sept 18/19 - Gators destroy Tennessee.  Jags get destroyed by Chargers.  Sept 25/26 - Gators annihilate Kentucky.  Jags gets annihilated by the Iggles.  Oct 2/3 - Gators get a giant tail kicking by Alabama.  Jags knock off giant Indy on last minute kicking.  Oct 9/10 - Gators get jacked by LSU & Refs.  Jags jack up Buffalo.  Weird.  We'll see the best test of this theory this weekend.  UF plays Mississippi State at home.  Jax plays Tennessee at home on Monday night.  
• Exactly half of the NFL is either 3-2, 2-2, or 2-3.  Parity.
• The entire AFC South is 3-2.  That is just wild.  They are like the ACC of the NFL.
• The Chargers have scored the most points in the NFL and have a +34 point differential.  Yet they are 2-3.  

COLLEGE QUICK HITS:

• So much happened this past week.  I'm not sure if it was because I was able to watch more games or what.  It just felt like a big week to me.
• That hysterical laughter you heard coming from Tallahassee was me after Alabama and Nick Satan lost.  Couldn't have happened to a jerkier person.  I have never been quiet about my loathing for Steve Spurrier, but he has really been supplanted by the new breed of coaches.  As obnoxious as the Ole Ball Coach is, he at least had loyalty and wasn't a completely self-absorbed megalomaniac.  Guys like Petrino, Saban, Calipari, Huggins, Rodriguez have some serious problems.  It's nice to see one of them get his comeuppance.  
• I hate Florida.  You all know this.  But that got jacked in that LSU game.  It was ridiculous.  First of all, that fake kick was a forward pass.  It was obvious.  The refs were just chicken.  If that had been a measurement for a first down, they would have jammed a business card in between the ball and the chain to make sure.  But on that play, they didn't even notice.  It may have only been a four inch pass, but it was forward.  Look at the replay again.  If you look at the holder, you can see he picks the ball up from the left side of the hashmark.  When the ball lands, it was on the right side of the hashmark.  Forward pass.  Game over.  And on the touchdown pass, he bobbled the ball.  I don't care what the announcers said about him changing hands.  The fact is the ball was not locked in place, it was moving.  And there have been hundreds of plays that were called "lack of possession" for less than that.  That all being said, there is one very important point that needs to be made.  I've heard coaches say it before.  "Don't play the game so the refs can decide it."  UF never should have let it get that far.  So they really don't have anyone to blame but themselves.
• LSU is freaking lucky.  That is two weeks in a row they lost and then ended up with a win.  There's two ways you can look at this.  First, there is the "team of destiny" option.  This is demonstrated by the Saints last year who should have lost several games and lucked into wins.  Sometimes a team just seems to luck into a perfect season.  Second, there is the "LSU is NOT that good" argument.  That would be that some week their luck will run out and they will get punched in the mouth.  I honestly believe it is option two.  The team is not 6-0 good.  They are going to get rocked at some point - my guess would be October 23 (Auburn) or November 6 (Alabama).
• Auburn is also stinking lucky.
• ACC Update - Wake Forest lost to Navy in the only non-conference matchup with a "quality" opponent.  No, I don't count Va Tech's victory over Eastern Michigan quality.  This week the only one close to mattering is East Carolina vs NC State.  Now the ACC is just beating each other up.
• New coach, same USF.  As Stickboy bemoaned on Facebook after Saturday's game. "I came back home tonight and saw the score - disappointed but not surprised.... we could beat 5 of the top 10 teams and still blow it against easy should be wins in the Big East."  Couldn't have said it better.  They have the reverse UCF disease.  
• Speaking of the USF/UCF rivalry - here's a bizarre read about former USF coach Jim Leavitt.  I always thought he was a Knight hater.  Maybe he's just jockeying for a job - I'd be okay with that.
• Another Facebook quote from Queen City Noles regarding the newly potent FSU. "I would like to personally thank the University of Oklahoma for lighting a fire under FSU's blessed assurance four weeks ago. Since that time the Seminoles have looked very, very good."  Yes, they have.
• Let's look at the state of the state of Florida.  FSU 5-1, UF 4-2, UM 3-2, UCF 3-2, USF 3-2.  And no one cares about the rest.  (FIU, FAU, FAMU are a combined 4-11.)  When was the last time FSU was on top of that list?  2005.  I certainly didn't expect that after Oklahoma.  
• BSU/TCU UPDATE:  This was a good week for my dream matchup.  Alabama lost.  Michigan lost.  And for good measure Arizona lost, although I never put too much weight on them.  Just like I am not worried about LSU.  They may jump into the top 10 thanks to the coach's bellyaching.  But they will lose.  So, now the teams standing in the way of awesomeness are Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Auburn.  This week looks positive for some movement too.  Ohio State/Wisconsin, Nebraska/Texas, Auburn/Arkansas.  I look for at least one of those teams losing.  It's happening people.  Get on board.

SFL QUICK HITS

• I do my best to not spend too much time on my own games.  I try to spread it around.  But this week, the game between Ferrets and Tebow Tosser deserves to be broken down.  After getting called out in this column last week for his many roster moves and lack of results, and then CALLING ME to whine about that assessment (just kidding - he didn't whine too long), Tebow Tosser came out to prove a point.  They had a solid game with some great performances.  The Giants/Texans game helped with huge scores by Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks.  By the time Sunday's games ended Tebow had a 62 point lead with Ferrets fielding four players on Monday night - Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Dustin Keller, and the Jets D.  The game was still within reach if Peterson went crazy.  But, the problem was that if the Vikings went buck wild on offense, the Jets would lose points on Defense.  What to do?  At halftime, it appeared lost for the Ferrets.  Harvin had 10 points, Peterson had 8, Keller had 1, and the Jets had 14.  Still behind by 29.  Well, the solution was Brett Favre.  He went crazy in the second half.  Two touchdowns to Harvin, plus 195 return yards for Percy.  BUT, Favre also was kind enough to throw interceptions - including one for a TD.  That meant that even though Peterson only got 10 points and Keller got 1, Harvin scored 38 and the Jets D had almost 23.  Ferrets win by 12.  Four straight for the Commish.  Unfortunate turn for Tosser.
• Getting called out in the newsletter does help some people, though.  Queen City Noles has reeled off two straight big wins - this week clipping Mean Green despite crazy performances by Tony Romo and Brandon Lloyd.  Don't look now, but Noles are part of the log jam at 3-2.  This week the square off with top ranked Gator Greats.  Can the surge continue?
• The Buffalo Bills went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s.  Sure they lost all four, but they went.  Crazy good organization.  Now, they are run by crazy people and are one of the worst franchises in the NFL.  Monkey is the SFL equivalent.  0-5 after yet another stomping by top ranked Gators.  -86 point differential.  How the mighty have fallen.
• Speaking of fallen, perennial cellar dweller Tampa Bay Rams have plummeted to earth like a meteorite after starting 2-0.  They are now in 8th place and have been outscored by 61 points.  They were no match for the run-n-shoot offense of Odious Repercussions this past week.  Next week they square off with 2nd place Ferret, so things don't look much better.
• Stickboy seems to be pulling a New Orleans Saints style swoon this year.  Their loss to Da Bus dropped them to 2-3.  Losing is never good.  Losing to a guy who started two players on a bye?  That is horrible.  Da Bus had the highest score this week, thanks to 30+ performances by Rivers and Malcolm Floyd.  Stickboy only had three players under 10 points.  Still added up to a loss.
• The trade deadline was placed later this year - not late enough to allow roster dumping, but later.  We've actually had four trades this year!  And there is a fifth awaiting league approval.  If you want to trade, talk to Odious Repercussions.  He loves them.  

QUICK UPDATE ON RETREAT CENTER:  For those of you who don't support the Defender Ministries cause on Facebook (Why don't you?  You a hater?), I just wanted to thank you for your prayers.  The meetings last weekend went very well.  Things are progressing.  We will be going back up November 11 to meet again and bring some building experts to help inspect the facility.  Things are positive.  We just need to see if this is something we can do first.  Thanks again!

NINTH SEASON: WEEK FOUR

The new 18 game schedule really is a strange concept.  I am not one of those people who thinks the NFL is so awesome that I just HAVE TO see more games.  I'm fine with 16.  I think the season is just the right length.  I hate how long the NBA and MLB and NHL seasons are.  The regular season is not that important.  Teams take it easy for weeks and then kick into high gear the last month, get into the playoffs, and then really worry about the playoffs.  We've seen it happen multiple times.  I don't want that to happen to the NFL.  Every game now is important.  The more games you add, the more diluted it gets.  I remember when the NCAA went to 12 (or 13) games.  Instead of one loss eliminating you, it is now that you can lose in the first month or so and still get into the picture.

The other thing I don't like is the concept that the owners can just tell players that they have to play more games and that's that.  They aren't planning on increasing pay or benefits.  That is one of the big sticking points now - how does the increase in games affect things like pension and retirement benefits?  I think of it this way - regardless of how much money these players make.  If you were to negotiate a contract to be a minister or teacher or whatever, you would expect those terms to be honored.  If things changed, they would need to be reflected.  I have never appreciated it at churches when they added duties and didn't change my income.  But imagine being told you had to work an extra 5 hours a week and not get paid for it.  That is basically what is happening to NFL players.  They have to work 12.5% longer each year under the same salary.  That reduces their contract values.  I would be hacked too.  The owners are going to see a huge bump in income when the extra two games start.  But the players won't see that until the cycle of contracts after that.  It doesn't seem right.

The injuries are inevitable, too.  We know it.  Longer seasons mean more injuries.  I would hate to see the end of the season become a war of attrition - which team has enough players to actually field a team. I think that the change would have to change up a lot of things.  If they are going to change this, go ahead and reshuffle the divisions and playoff structure.  Just introduce the NFL 2.0  I guess I'm just a traditionalist.

NFL QUICK HITS

• I am an idiot.  Most of you already knew this.  But when you go back and re-read my post from last week in light of this past weekend, it becomes startlingly clear.  Big stupid idjit.  I said Jacksonville sucked, then they beat the Colts.  I praised the Steelers and they lost.  I dogged the Browns and they won.  And Washington won.  I'm a moron.
• The Michael Vick Coronation Party has been indefinitely postponed.  
• How does Mike Singletary survive the season in San Fran?  That team is completely out of control.  They were winning that game and making Atlanta look bad doing it.  And then they disappeared.  Reading stuff about the 49ers, the most common description I see is "poorly coached."  That can't be good.  
• Randy Moss.  The Patriots traded a 4th Round pick to get him from Oakland in 2007.  Now they traded him to Minny for a 3rd Round pick.  Isn't that like paying $1500 for a car, putting 60,000 miles on it, and then selling it for $2000?  I don't question the move.  Moss becomes a problem after too long in one place.  It has happened everywhere.  The Pats are just smart enough to pull the trigger early.  Now they have two picks in each of the first four rounds this year - including Oakland's first round pick.  Colin Cowherd this week said, "Bellichick collects draft picks like old ladies collect cats."  Haha.  Who is anyone to question the Patriots, though?  They just win.  
• Just for giggles, let's see how my last place predictions are going.  Good on Buffalo, Cleveland, Oakland.  Technically, I'm right on Jax, but they are in a three way tie for last.  I'm dead wrong on all the NFC divisions.  In fact, all of my last place picks are in first, tied for first, or a half game out of first.  Year's still young, though.  
• Everyone is talking about how the Saints don't have it this year.  But they are 3-1.  Sure, they are winning ugly.  But didn't that happen last year, too?  I remember they eked out a bunch of close games last season.  Plus they still have games against Cleveland, Cincy, Carolina, St Louis, Arizona, and Seattle.  That's nine wins right there.  Not ready to give up them yet.
• Did you ever think that Chicago would be sad with the news that Jay Cutler is out for a game?  
• Bill Parcells apparently is back to his quest to work for every team in the NFL.  I think he'll end up on some team that desperately needs some direction - Cleveland, San Fran, Buffalo.  It would be interesting to see what he could do with Jacksonville. My worry is that the Jags will be just successful enough to keep things they way they are.  Yay to Mediocrity!!!

COLLEGE QUICK HITS

• Continuing proof I'm an idiot.  A couple of ACC teams started to look really good (Miami, FSU).  I trumpeted the potential Boise State/TCU title game and didn't even think about them getting jumped by Oklahoma or Oregon.  And then I ripped into UCF and they promptly went out and deee-stroyed UAB on national TV Wednesday night.  And, even though you guys didn't see this, I picked UGA and UF to win on Saturday.  Again, I'm a moron.
• Thank God there still is Boston College to lose to Notre Dame.  The ACC sucks again!!!
• Ordinarily a thrashing like what happened to UF would make me laugh.  But it happened to that snot faced weasel Nick Saban.  Florida looked outmatched from start to finish.  I was stunned.  UF doesn't get beat down like that very often.  I don't know if Alabama has been laying low for a few weeks or what.  But that was a world class butt kicking.  Makes me wonder where UF is going to end up this year.  They will probably go out and annihilate LSU this week to make up for it.
• We had a weird misstep watching football on Saturday.  We turned off the Tennessee/LSU game as soon as LSU wasted all the time and got sacked.  I had no idea that LSU won or anything weird happened until I read it on Facebook three hours later.  That was the most bizarre thing I had seen (or not seen).  The refs should have overlooked the penalty just because LSU was so stupid.  How in the world do you let that much time disappear?  I'm pretty sure that not even two blind pee wee league teams would let that happen.  And Tennessee?  THIRTEEN PLAYERS?!?  Maybe the coaching staff will realize it wasn't so smart to let tutors take all their players' math tests after all.
• How quickly things change.  I laughed my butt off when Texas lost to UCLA.  But I was furious they blew it against Oklahoma.  The Sooners don't have another ranked team on their schedule!  How is Boise State going to play for the title?  Stupid Mack Brown.  It didn't even seem like he was playing to win.  Some of his calls just looked like he was trying not to get beat too badly.
• I have certain goals each year.  Rarely do I want a team to lose every game.  I usually just want them to lose enough to get knocked out of the bowl picture.  This year, though, I have a different goal.  I want USC to go undefeated.  And then not be able to go to a bowl.  HAHAHAHA.  
• Auburn is a scary team.  I expect to get thank you notes from Kentucky this week after their unexpected victory.
• That Oregon/Stanford game was super weird.  In the first half, Stanford looked out of their mind good.  Oregon couldn't stop them with a concrete barricade.  But then they completely collapsed.  How do they come back from that?  They have to play USC this week.  Oregon was crazy good once they got their heads screwed on straight.  Makes me wonder which team was the real one - and if that first half version is going to show up at the wrong time.  (Or right time, if you are TCU and Boise State.)
• If Kansas State knocks off Nebraska, then I guess I really have to rethink UCF.  They almost beat NC State.  And they almost beat KState.  Both of those teams are better than expected this year.  So where does that put the Knights?  Probably the Liberty Bowl.  
• TCU/BOISE STATE:  For this thing to happen - and we all know it MUST - I figure that every other reasonable option must lose.  That means that the following teams must lose at some point: Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Auburn, and Michigan.  Yeah, Michigan.  You know voters are just waiting to stick them up there.  Now in a weekly feature, I will update the odds of awesomeness as these teams lose.  This week?  Definite possibilities.  Alabama/South Carolina, Michigan/Michigan State, Nebraska/KState.  We shall see.

SFL QUICK HITS

• Oh, we're not done.  Idiocy Part 3.  I failed on ALL THREE arenas.  I spent a whole item praising Gator Greats, who went out and lost . . . badly.  I trashed Queen City Noles and they won.  And my adulation of Tampa Bay Rams two weeks ago seems very misplaced.  The Defense rests - I'm a moron.
• Odious Repercussions had a monster game this past week.  Four players over 20 points.  Wrong week to be Tebow Tossers.  The crazy thing is that Odor Boys have 50 points more than any other team.  But they are 2-2 and in 4th place.  The reason?  They've given up the most points of any team in the league.  They are the New England Patriots!!!  Tebow Tossers can't be happy with their performance thus far.  They tinker with their lineup a lot, but they don't seem to hit on a successful option.  And they play the Ferrets this week.
• Speaking of the Ferrets, let's all say it together.  LUCKY!!!  Their performance would have lost them just about every game last week.  Fortunately they played Da Bus, whose game would have lost EVERY game.  The bye weeks made Ferret Boy change his lineup a lot, but the players he started instead didn't even play.  Da Bus, though, had six players with 5 points or less.  Pathetic game.  Too bad both teams couldn't lose.
• Gator Greats was out the minute Vick went out.  They probably still would have lost, because they caught Mean Green on freaky good week.  Well, that and the New England Defense.  38 points?!?  That is just ridiculous.  
• Poor Monkey.  He just can't seem to get off the goose egg.  Not feeling good about this week either. 
• This week, there is one of the weirder schedule things you will see.  Its like tournament pairings.  1 plays 10, 2 plays 9, 3 plays 8, 4 plays 7, and 5 plays 6.  I don't know if I've seen that happen league wide before.  

One other thing.  I know we are all competitors.  But we also are all brothers in Christ.  Can you please be praying this weekend for Defender Ministries?  We have a very important meeting up in Tennessee on Friday night.  There is a pastor retreat center up there that is looking for a new ministry to take over their facility.  Like, they are seriously looking to just hand it over to someone.  It fits some of what we are doing with pastoral ministry now.  Just be praying.  It isn't every day that someone talks about giving you 140 acres of land and five buildings...