This Tebow thing has got to stop

Can we please pump the breaks on the run away car that is the love affair with the prophet formally known as Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow?

His accomplishments on the field (2 National Championships, 1 Heisman, 110 total TD's) are undeniable, but things have officially gone too far.

Earlier last week, Urban Meyer had a plaque engraved with the so called speech Tebow gave after last year's 31-30 home loss to Ole Miss placed outside the front entrance of the Gators' new football complex.

(I can see the t-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, wall posters, coasters and other nick nacks being ordered by the campus bookstore right now.)

I have nothing against Tim Tebow, but this is going to turn the public lip lock the media is currently having with him into a full blow and unprotected orgy. It's bad enough FOX dedicated part of its coverage during the BCS National Championship Game to showing and telling us how spending 15 minutes in the presence of Tebow can "make your life better".  Now Urban Meyer has gone and put Tebow's "speech" on display as if it was the Gators' version of the Ten Commandments.

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Is there anthing in "The Promise" that hasn't been said before? I'm sure somebody stood up in Ohio State's lockeroom and said something to the effect of what Tebow said after the Buckeyes got buswacked by USC last season. I'd be willing to bet a nice chunk of change somebody made a similar proclamation in USC's lockeroom after they finished sleepwalking their way to a 27-21 loss at Oregon State nearly two weeks later. I was in the post game news conference after Oklahoma lost to what at the time was an underrated Texas squad and I sure do remember Bob Stoops or Sam Bradford saying the basically the same things Tebow did as they were answering questions. (That same Oklahoma team destroyed everybody the rest of the season on their way to the BCS National Title Game.)

To be honest, Tebow didn't say anything special. It was just deemed special by everybody because Tim Tebow said it. I know Tebow is the unquestioned leader of the Gators but was "The Promise" really worthy of being etched in stone and mounted as if it came from the big man upstairs?

"The Promise" wasn't more monumental or influential than Bo Schembechler's "The Team". It definitely wasn't as anger filled as Kellen Winslow's "I'm a soldier!" rant, and when it comes to sheer entertainment value, it pales in comparison to Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy and the YouTube sensation, "I'm a man! I'm 40!" tirade.

In this day and age where every coach preaches the word "TEAM" at nausea and the importance of not having any single player feel as thought they are above the rest of their teammates, isn't it funny Meyer, a noted acquaintance of Bill Belichick, has all but put Tebow on a pedestal above and beyond his teammates?

Again, Tebow's accomplishments on the field speak for themselves. However, the mounting of his post game comments after the Ole Miss loss is just too much. 

We already have to see the countless pieces on Tebow and his dedication to missionary work over seas. (Why don't the players at BYU get the same recognition?) Now we're going to be forced to sit through a season full of pieces dedicated to the "man love" between Tebow and Urban Meyer like the one ESPN just ran this past weekend for their weekly addition of Sunday Conversation.

With virtually everybody but Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy coming back, the Gators are probably going to start the season ranked at or near the top of every pre season poll. 

(Cue the soundbites of Urban Meyer with that stern look on his face as he talks about competing and going after another title.) 

With that said, it's a given ESPN and CBS will spend more than their fair share of time talking to the quarterback of the defending national champs.

If the hoards of media that will undoubtedly flock to the swamp ask questions about the upcoming season and the death march that is the SEC, that's fine. I'm just not sure though if myself or any other college football fan outside of Gainsville has the stomach to watch a season full of interviews dedicated to "The Promise".

Urban Meyer is a great coach, but this latest act in the name of Tebow is going to move his quarterback out of the realm of cult hero and into a category for which I have no name for yet. 

I'm a former college football player myself who's had the dubious experience of being in lockeroom after an unexpected and heartbreaking loss. Trust me people, I've seen a lot of guys make the same pledge Tebow made and nobody on the coaching staff, let alone the head coach, thought is worthy of being mounted on the front entrance of the football complex.

Urban Meyer has done a lot in his short time as the head man at Florida. He's won a couple of National Titles. He's produced a couple of first round draft picks in Reggie Nelson and Derrick Harvey. (It'll be three after some team in the middle to late part of the first round puts Harvin's name on the card they hand to Roger Goodell on April 25th.) He's even managed to draw the ire of new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin for blowing up a recruits cell phone while he was visiting in Knoxville.

I'm sorry, but it's impossible to do a story nowadays about anything related to the Gators without mentioning Lane Kiffin.

All that said though, the mounting of "The Promise" is just a little too much much mustard on the hot dog. It's too much salt on the french fries. To put a spin on Denzel Washington's line in Remember the Titans, Urban Meyer has over cooked the Tebow grits.

To put the top back on the can of worms this will ultimately turn into, I'll leave you with this.

"I'm not sure how the Gators will do this season, but I promise you one thing. A lot of ill humored signs and off colored chants will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire conference get booed as much as Tim Tebow will get booed this coming season. You will never see a player be supported by his team as much as Tim Tebow will be supported by his team this coming season. You will never see a team thrive off getting booed as much as the Gators will thrive off getting booed this season. God Bless."

The million dollar quetions for Friday night's game

South

Oklahoma vs. Syracuse

*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can Syracuse's big men make him work on the defensive end?

*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can the Sooner's guards make enough shots from deep to offset Syracuse's 2-3 zone?

*Can Oklahoma keep Johnny Flynn out of the paint?

North Carolina vs. Gonzaga

*Can Gonzaga's backcourt slow down Ty Lawson?

*Can Josh Heytvelt take advantage of Tyler Hansbrough in the paint?

*What happens to Carolina when Gonzaga refuses to go away?

Midwest

Louisville vs. Arizona

*Can Arizona's big three (Nic Wise, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger) keep this hot streak going?

*Will Louisville's depth and athleticism eventually overwhelm Arizona?

*Does Jordan Hill guard Earl Clark or Samardo Samuels?

*Can Nic Wise handle Louisville's pressure for 40 minutes?

Michigan St. vs. Kansas

*Can Michigan St. beat the same team twice in the same season?

*Can Cole Aldrich outlast the wave of players Tom Izzo will send at him?

*Who wins the match up between Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas?

*What under the radar player will come out of nowhere to be tonight's J.T. Tiller?

My reaction from the games on Thursday night

What a night!

UConn toyed with Purdue just for kicks and giggles. Pittsburgh and Xavier went down to the wire just like I said they would. Mike Anderson and Missouri brought life back to the phrase "40 minutes of hell", and Villanova exposed Duke for the frauds they truly are.

Pitt 60 vs. Xavier 55

Pitt looks like they have been sleep walking the whole tournament, but I just think this is the way they play. When they need to get a stop, DeJuan Blair makes a deflection on a pick and roll that turns into a layup. When they need a bucket, Levance Fields hits 3 pointers from mid court. When they miss a shot, DeJuan Blair and Sam Young crash the offensive boards.

They're like the old man you see on television who's lived through multiple hurricanes in the same house without a scratch. Quite frankly, there is no such thing as a Terror Dome for the Panthers because they live in the Terror Dome.

UConn 72 , Purdue 60

Purdue had a great year, but watching them against UConn was like watching a house cat play with a dying rat for its own amusement before deciding to put the rodent out of its misery.

Missouri 102 , Memphis 91

Who turned the clock back to the mid 90's? When did Nolan Richardson's Razorbacks start wearing that mystery shade of gold? Those were the questions that came to mind as I watched Mike Anderson's underrated Missouri squad go after the vaunted Memphis Tigers for 40 minutes.

Missouri didn't sneak up on Memphis people. They beat Memphis at their own game. It's been a long time since one of John Calipari's teams have been put on their heels for an extended period of time, but that's just what Missouri did to them. Granted, Memphis showed how talented they are by staging a comeback to get back to within six points, but they were out of gas by that point.

Villanova 77 , Duke 54

Can we please stop letting Dick Vitale throw ridiculous amounts of gas on the Blue Devils every year as possible title contenders. Duke isn't quite as overrated as Notre Dame is in football, but their image is growing bigger in the Golden Domers' rear view mirror by the second.

It's funny what happens to the Blue Devils every year when the officials aren't calling charges on obvious flops. It's amazing to see what happens to them when they play against teams with real athletes in the post. You saw the game just like I did. They were no match for Villanova! Texas, for all of their faults, would have put up a better showing than Duke.

I know there's a Duke fan out there saying things aren't that bad, but it's pretty hard to make that argument when you realize Thursday's loss was the most lopsided for Duke in the tournament since UNLV was beating their heads in during that horror movie known as the 1990 National Championship Game.

What part of rebounding and post presence does Coach K not understand? Duke will never be a threat to do anything serious in the tournament again until they get a guy who can actually control the paint. If you're a Duke fan, you should start writing letters to Coach K right now telling him how the Josh McRoberts, the Shavlik Randolphs and the Brian Zoubeks of the world will no longer fly in Durham.

If the recruiting doesn't change and they don't get a better big man coach than "Wojo", (Yes, that Wojo!) all they can do is call Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer to see if they're interested in using the rest of their eligibility.

My thoughts on what's going to happen today in the Sweet 16

Just a week ago, there were 64 teams with a chance to win the National Championship. Now there are 16. By the end of tonight there will be just 12. So who's still going to have a chance at being the team on CBS's "One shinning moment"? Here are my thoughts on tonight's match ups in the East and West regional semi finals.

East

Pittsburgh vs Xavier: I know the Musketeers have a talented roster that undoubtedly will cause problems for Pitt. However, everybody knows that guards win in the tournament and I don't know if they have anybody who can slow down Levance Fields enough to disrupt the Panthers' offense. Xavier will send multiple players at DeJuan Blair, but just as he did against Oklahoma St., Blair will find a way to get on track down the stretch. I know they've been living on the edge lately, but the real Panthers will finally show up as they pull out a thriller and finally get to the Elite Eight

Duke vs Villanova: Simply put, I think the Blue Devils could be in trouble against the Wildcats. Duke and Villanova play similar styles, but Villanova clearly has the better personnel. If I'm Jay Wright, I tell Scottie Reynolds and the rest of my super athletic guards to attack the Blue Devils man to man pressure all night until Coach K uses all of his timeouts out of sheer frustration. I tell Dante Cunningham to crash the boards like a mad man because Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas can't stop him. If Coach K puts Greg Paulus in the game, I would spread the floor and tell the guy who's being guarded by Paulus to go to the rack every possession until Coach K has to take him back out of the game. Duke will probably hit enough 3's to make things interesting, but I think Villanova has too much athleticism for Duke to stay with them for a full 40 minutes.

Keep in mind this is all based on the notion the officiating doesn't mysteriously lean in the favor of the Blue Devils. Call me a "Duke Hater" all you want, but it's become painfully obvious the Blue Devils have been the beneficiary of some "questionable" calls the past few years.

West

UConn vs Purdue: If you designed the perfect team to beat UConn it would look absolutely nothing like Purdue. Matt Painter has quietly restored the Boilers Makers to where they once were in the Big 10, but UConn is the type of team the Boilers have yet to come across this season. I love Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, and E'Twaun Moore. I just like Hasheem Thabeet, A.J. Price, Jeff Adrien and the human pogo stick known as Stanley Robinson a lot more.

Last week Jim Calhoun missed the first game of the tournament due to dehydration. What was the result? Tennessee Chattanooga found themselves on the business end of a 103-47 pasting at the hand of the Huskies. Purdue isn't Chattanooga, but the last thing they needed to happen was another incident to come up that will ultimately bring the Huskies closer together and make them want to give Jim Calhoun another championship that much more.

I hate to break it to you Purdue fans but you better enjoy your trip to the valley of home foreclosures because it's going to a short one.

Memphis vs Missouri: Who's going to break first? Can Tyreke Evans handle the relentless pressure Missouri will bring at him? Can Missouri keep Memphis off the offensive boards?

I know Missouri was left for dead after Quin Snyder was finished running the program into the ground, but Mike Anderson has brought respectability back to the university's basketball program. That said, it's hard to believe Missouri has faced the caliber of talent they will against Memphis. The Tigers aren't quite as explosive on offense as they were last year with Derrick Rose at the point and Chris Douglas-Roberts slashing from the wing, but they have more than made up for it with their play on the defensive end. (They're allowing just 57 points a game)

Missouri is a good team, but I'm not sure how they will handle Memphis' duo of Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier in the paint. They'll to try to use their full court pressure to wear down Memphis, but that might play right into the Tigers' hands. If Memphis can keep sharp shooter Kim English from going crazy from 3 point range and cut down on the big plays DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons make for Mizzou, the Tigers depth and over grown back court should have them playing against UConn in the Elite Eight for a shot at their second straight Final Four.

Friday in the NCAA Tournament: Let the brackets begin to burn

It was bound to happen people. After the first day of the tournament went off without any major upsets, you had to know Friday would make up for it in a big way.

*Is there a more talented team that shoots more untimely 3 pointers than Tennessee? Can they please get a true point guard who can get them organized in clutch situations?

*Quiet as kept, Byron Eaton has finally come into his own and started to live up to the expectations he had coming out of high school. Imagine how good Oklahoma St. would be if Gerald Green would have decided to come to Stillwater instead jumping to the NBA. (Imagine where Gerald Green's career would be if he had gone to Oklahoma St.)

*I don't see them beating Missouri on Sunday, but I dare somebody to find a team with more guts than Marquette.

*Beware of the Kansas Jayhawks. Yes, Sherron Collins went off for 32, but they're going to be trouble if they keep getting 23 and 13 from Cole Aldrich on a consistent basis.

*Who is Ben Woodside? He's the guy who just dropped 37 on Kansas.

*DeJuan Blair (27 pts, 16 rebs) channeled his inner Corliss Williamson against ETSU.

*World say hello to Dayton's Chris Wright. Chris Wright say hello to the world.

*Morehead St had no chance once Andre McGee decided to stop letting them get the ball past half court.

*Like a lot of people, I didn't think Arizona deserved to be in the tournament, but I sure did pick them to beat Utah though. Now they're a win over Cleveland St. away from being in the Sweet 16.

* "Strike first! Strike hard! No Mercy!" That's what I thought every time I saw the scores and highlights of Cleveland St taking apart Wake Forest.

*Xavier just has too many veterans to not be around next weekend.

*USC 72- Boston College 55: NBA caliber athletes against a bunch of guys who look like leasing agents is bound to get ugly

*Siena 74- Ohio st. 72 2OT: If you keep letting guys shoot uncontested 3's they will eventually knock them down

*Wisconsin 61-Florida St. 59: How in the world did those cheese heads pull that off?

*The Pac-10 is 5-1 and the ACC is 3-4. He who laughs last laughs the loudest!

*Michigan St actually broke the 70 point barrier.

*Good to hear that Jim Calhoun is doing better.

Initial thoughts on Thursday night's games

There weren't many upsets tonight, but things are shaping up for a great weekend of games if this pattern holds up on Friday. That said, here are some of my thoughts on Thursday night's games.

*Apparently Minnesota didn't get the scouting report on UT's A.J. Abrams. (8 for 15 on 3 pointers on his way to 26 points) Call me crazy, but I think it would be smart for somebody to find him in transition and put a hand in his face!

*Leave it to Villanova, the team who lives and dies with guard play, to struggle with American University. ( A team that lives and dies with guard play)

*I will never trust the Clemson Tigers again! There ability to continually waist their considerable athleticism is starting to mirror the university's underachieving football team.

*Is it just me or did every player from Gonzaga try to posterize somebody from Akron tonight? The game was a potential upset in the making and suddenly morphed into a low budget dunk contest with the Zips serving as human props.

*I wish Western Kentucky would have executed better down the stretch so I didn't have to sweat during the final minute of their game.

*Did the guy from Morgan St. really just throw Blake Griffin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes?

*Memo to UCLA: Since nobody else seems interested in scoring in the clutch, just give the ball to Jrue Holliday and get out of the way!

*VCU's Eric Maynor is one of the smartest players I've seen in a long time.

*VCU's Larry Sanders is a freak of nature! What laboratory did Anthony Grant get him from?

*I'm happy to hear that UConn's Jim Calhoun is going to be alright.

*Friday will be a big day for the office pools. There are a lot of "swing" games that could go a long way in determining who still has a chance at winning the pot.

Thank you Roburt Sallie!

I know Memphis just held off a tough Cal St. Northridge team, but I didn't realize it was a one man show until I checked the box score.

Roburt Sallie (Who?) knocked down 10 of 15 from behind the line on his way to 35 points

Thank you Roburt for saving my bracket.

I hope that's how your name is spelled by the way.

Reaction from the morning session of the tournament

Butler's Matt Howard has some McHale like footwork in the post.

*If Ty Lawson doesn't play on Saturday (I'd be shocked if he doesn't!), LSU's athleticism might simultaneously destroy brackets around the country and trigger a mass suicide in Greensboro.

*Where was this Texas A&M team hiding at all season? I know everybody has UConn playing Memphis in the Elite Eight, but the Aggies have all the necessary tools to beat the Huskies.

*Speaking of the Huskies, I sure hope everything is alright with Jim Calhoun.

*Thank you Memphis for finally getting it together down the stretch! I think everybody who filled out a bracket, myself included, was on the verge of having a massive stroke when you guys were trailing with less than 10 minutes to play.

My Final Four

With all the top seeds advancing, this will be one of the most entertaining second weekends of the tournament in recent memory. When all is said and done though, these four teams will be in the "Motor City" for the first weekend in April.

*Midwest

Louisville- They will eventually expose the youth of the super athletic Demon Deacons and take care of the overachieving Jayhawks in the Elite Eight. I just hope Pitino brings that all white suit to Detroit.

*West

Memphis- they have a few more horses to run with than Missouri does and they're size on the perimeter is the perfect answer for a UConn team that still hasn't recovered from losing Jerome Dyson. Look for Pierre Henderson-Niles to play the poor man's version of DeJuan Blair against Hasheem Thabeet while Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier go crazy.

*East

Pittsburgh- They're a little too physical for Xavier and Villanova just doesn't have enough in the front court to stay with them for 40 minutes. Just like Kansas got over the hump last year and finally got to the Final Four, you've got to figure the Panthers are going to be there.

*South

North Carolina- Of course the fate of the Tar Heels rests on the big toe of Ty Lawson, but he's gotta play at some point. If he can't drive the car for the college basketball's version of the Phoenix Suns, look for Syracuse to bring a little more of that Big East flavor to Detroit.

My picks for the NCAA Tournament

Here it is people. I'm not saying I'm 100% right, but I think I'm pretty close.

My Sweet 16

*Midwest
Louisville- playing the best of anybody in the country right now

Wake Forest- might be young, but I can't see a team with so much talent going out the 1st weekend

Kansas- something tells me West Virginia is going to knock them out, but maybe Sherron Collins saves the day

Michigan St.- I don't trust the Big 10 much these days, but there's no excuse for the Spartans not to be playing in the second weekend of this tournament

*West
UConn- the Aggies will scare the hell out of the Huskies in the 2nd round, but they'll be in Glendale

Purdue- the only team in the Big 10 that's trustworthy

Missouri- somehow DeMarre Carroll and company will pull out a thriller over Marquette

Memphis- Maryland's guards are going to struggle against the Tigers super sized back court

*East
Pittsburgh- just a little too consistent for a scrappy Tennessee

Xavier- experienced group will find a way to weather the storm that is Tony Douglas

Villanova- tournament dark horse will keep the Bruins from going to their fourth straight Final Four

Duke- I don't like them at all, but the bracket is set up quite nicely for Dick Vitale's secret employer

*South
North Carolina- Ty Lawson saves the day just before Butler ends the 'Heels season

Gonzaga- nobody is paying attention to them, but I can't wait to see how many problems Josh Heytvelt causes in the post for "Psycho T" (Hansbrough)

Syracuse- they just keep playing

Clemson- helter skelter style of play causes just enough problems for OU's guards as the Tigers athletic front court holds Blake Griffin to only 20 and 10 in what should be the last game he plays without getting a paycheck

Players to watch in the tournament

Every year March Madness turns into a personal playground for a group of players as they lead their teams on deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Some of these guys are already on your must watch list while others are about to go from anonymity to all star status. Whatever the case, these players are definitely going to have an impact on what happens over the next three weeks.

*Tony Douglas/G Florida St.: you might not have heard of him yet, but everybody will see the headache he's been for the coaches in the ACC by the time this tournament is over

*Johnny Flynn/G Syracuse: fearless leader of a sneaky Syracuse team that won MOP of the Big East Tournament

*Earl Clark/F Louisville: no player in the tournament can cause the mismatch problems that this versatile 6-9 player does

*Tyler Smith/F Tennessee: the catalyst for the Vols is the smaller version (6-7) of Clark with just a little less range from deep

*Eric Maynor/G VCU: Greg Paulus and Duke fans are still probably having nightmares of him after he engineered a first round upset of the Blue Devils two years ago

DeMarre Carroll/F Missouri: do it all player just seems to be everywhere on the court at the same time

Eric Devendorf/G Syracuse: one of my personal favorites. deadly from 3 pt range and has the nasty attitude that makes you hate him if he's not on your team

Willie Warren/G Oklahoma: everybody knows about Blake Griffin, but wait until you get a load of this brash freshman who once went after Kobe (yes, that Kobe!) at a summer camp

Teams you don't want to see in your bracket

Some teams have a certain pedigree behind their name that is self explanatory. Others are on the verge of becoming national programs. Whether they are #1 seeds or mid majors who didn't play on TV until their conference tournaments, these are some teams that you don't want to see in your part of the bracket if you plan on making a run to the Final 4.

*Memphis: scary athletic team is allowing just 57 points a game

*Pittsburgh: physical style of play is the equivalent of watching a high octane wishbone football team on a basketball court

*Wake Forest: young, energetic and ultra athletic team is going to cause problems for somebody

*Xavier: veteran team has seen it all in the tournament

*Syracuse: they've had a little too much gas put on them for my taste, but beware of a team with the guts to win a 6OT game

*Missouri: helter skelter style of play isn't pretty to watch, but they are going to be trouble for somebody

*Arizona St: 1-2 punch of Harden and Pendergraph plus 3pt shooting of Glasser could be dangerous

*Tennessee: If the athletic group that hits from deep to set up their press shows up, watch out.

*Clemson: The east coast version of Missouri with probably a little more athleticism in the front court

Let the madness begin!

It's that time of year everybody. College kids are on Spring Break. People are still trying to recover from celebrating St. Patrick's Day. The weather is getting better and the most entertaining three week period in sports is about to unfold right before our eyes.

It's the NCAA Tournament people.

It's Cinderella stories. It's buzzer beaters. It's unknown players making a name for themselves on the national stage. It's heartbreak for 64 teams and it's "One Shining Moment" for the one left standing.

Who's going to be the first #1 seed to get clipped? How many of those #12 seeds will jump up to beat a #5 seed? What player will introduce himself to mainstream America and the NBA Scouts? What team will go from afterthought to Final 4 contenders?

The truth is I don't know the answers to any of those questions and neither do those experts you've seen on TV the past couple of days do either.

However, there are some aspects of the tournament to think about before you make your official entry into the office pool.

To find out what they are, just read the next entry.

T.O. to Buffalo! Could be interesting.

What? Yeah right!

That was my initial reaction when the news broke that Terrell Owens was going to the Buffalo Bills. A lot of people thought Drew Rosenhaus was crazy last week when he said there were multiple teams interested in his mercurial client, but it looks like Rosenhaus and Owens are having the last laugh. Again.

That said, allow me to channel my inner Rosenhaus and answer your "Next Question".

Why would T.O. go to Buffalo? (The wings of course!) In all seriousness, the Bills were probably the best looking fringe team who was willing to take a chance on T.O. Early speculation had the Raiders being one of the possible landing spots for T.O. Get real! T.O. might have been desperate to find another place to play, but even he is savvy enough to realize the Raiders will forever be stuck in football purgatory as long as Al Davis is calling the shots. A return to San Francisco was also being floated around after 49ers GM Scot McCloughan used the phrase, "We don't close any doors." when asked about the possible return of Owens to the other side of the Bay. As much as I think Owens liked living in San Francisco, he probably took one look at the 49ers quarterback situation and said, "Hell No!"

The bottom line for Owens is this one year deal was probably the best he could get after getting cut by an owner who loved him despite his glaring issues. Unless he was willing to catch passes from an ultra young JaMarcus Russell in Oakland or play second fiddle to Frank Gore in San Francisco, Buffalo was his best bet.

"Next Question"

Why would the Bills sign a player who is everything they aren't? (Flashy, outspoken and camera hungry) Desperate times call for desperate measures and the Buffalo Bills definitely qualify as desperate. Can you remember the last time they were in the playoffs? Does the term "Music City Miracle" ring a bell?

At a frisky 90 years of age, Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Jr. has said on many occasions, "I ain't getting any younger." That alone should tell you how hungry he is to get his franchise back to some resemblance of the glory years they had in the previous decade. Does he think they should be challenging for a Super Bowl right now? Probably not. The Patriots aside though, I imagine he sees no reason why his team hasn't made the playoffs since the end of the last millennium.

T.O. for all of his faults, is still a very productive player. I know some of the fans in Western New York are a little shocked at why their beloved owner made this move, but they've got to be happy about getting some help in the passing game for up and coming quarterback Trent Edwards and speed merchant Lee Evans. At the worst, he'll give an added boost to tickets sales and provide some relief for the soon to be suspended Marshawn Lynch and the Bills running game.

Even though Wilson is 90, he proved he's still got it by signing Owens to a one year deal. Yes, Owens does have a history of tearing apart teams and lockerooms, but if you're Wilson and you've decided to get in bed with the devil, the least you can do is sleep with a fire proof blanket.

"Next Question"

How will T.O.'s one year in Buffalo end? Nobody knows the answer to that question. He could catch 70 passes for more than 1,000 yards with double digit touchdowns. He could go into a tirade on the sideline after Trent Edwards throws an interception against the complex defenses of Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick in the 4th quarter. He could turn into a great teammate and help a young core of offensive players get to the next level. He could see the mild mannered and church mouse quiet Dick Juron as an easy mark to pull the same things he pulled in his previous stops.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure.

T.O. in Buffalo could be very interesting.

It's time for the Mavs to start over

Sorry Mavs fans, but it's time to blow it up and start over. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you, but it's been clear for a while now the Mavs window as a legitimate championship contender is closed. When I say closed I'm not talking about the sign on the front door of your favorite hole in the wall that reads, "Closed for lunch, be back in 30 minutes." I mean closed like the doors to Texas Stadium closed. I know Rick Carlisle probably sold Mark Cuban on the notion the Mavs were still a championship caliber team, but after 62 games worth of inconsistency, even Carlisle has to know this team is looking a third straight first round playoff exit square in the face.

And that's if they make the playoffs!

Winning in the playoffs is simple. The teams that control the paint and have a guy who can create with the shot clock running out usually do well in May and June. Throw in timely bench play, a wealth of mental toughness and some physicality that is normally seen on the gridiron and you can pretty much identify the teams that have a legitimate shot at taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

The Mavericks do not fit this description.

Can they control the paint? I doubt even the most loyal Maverick fan can make that argument seeing as how Erick Dampier shows up once every four or five games. Jason Kidd, for all of the great basketball plays he makes, struggles to keep guards like Tony Parker, Deron Williams and Chris Paul out of the lane on a consistent basis.

Do they have a guy who can create at the end of a possession? Sure they do, but he's the second option and has a nasty habit of disappearing in the 4th quarter. We know Dirk Nowitzki can shoot with anybody on the planet, but the "Big German" relies more on predictable pick and rolls and timely passes from Kidd to score his points more that he does the ability to beat guys off the dribble.

Do they get timely bench play? Sometimes. Jason Terry was on his way to being 6th man of the year before he broke a bone in his hand. Brandon Bass looks the part, but he has stretches where he turns into the invisible man. J.J. Barea has come out of nowhere this season, but will anybody really take him serious in the playoffs until he actually does something. I love how journeyman James Singleton plays, but how much time will he really get to leave his stamp on the game as long as Erick Dampier and that ridiculous contract are on the roster.

Other than beating the Spurs on the road in Western Conference Finals three years ago, has there ever been a time when the adjectives physically and mentally tough were used to describe the Mavericks?

I thought not.

After Dwayne Wade turned the 2006 NBA Finals into his personal playground the Mavs were mentally shook. After former coach Don Nelson and Baron Davis cast the Mavericks as helpless victims in a gruesome horror film disguised as a playoff series a year later, this group of Mavs was permanently scarred. Throw in the coming out party Chris Paul threw at the Mavericks expense in last year's playoffs and they are on the verge of joining the Sooners and Buckeyes in the same therapy sessions for post season failures.

The bottom line is the Mavs are no longer contenders in the meat grinder that is the Western Conference. Dirk is nearing the end of his prime. Josh Howard can be one of the better swingman in the league, but nobody knows where he is mentally on a consistent basis. Jason Kidd, as good as he still is, can't play forever. There hasn't been a legitimate scoring threat at shooting guard since Michael Finley headed south on I-35 and Erick Dampier is stealing money every time he steps on the court. (11.5 million for 5 points and 7 boards a game!)

I know Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson keep telling fans they can compete for a title, but who are they fooling? Every Maverick fan (along with Cuban) should have seen the writing on the wall the minute Donnie Nelson said he didn't want to coach the very team he helped to put together. Would you trust an architect who won't sleep in the very house he sketched the blueprints for?

I thought not.

The Mavs better do something if they plan on being more than just a 45 win team every year. Trade Dirk to a bottom feeder for their lotery pick if you must. Package some of your secondary players to get somebody in here to help Dirk if you can, but do something before you turn into the Sacarmento Kings.

One of my high school coaches used to tell me, "You gotta know when to hold 'em and you gotta know when to fold 'em!"

Hopefully, for the sake of Mavs fans, Cuban and Carlisle realize they need to do the latter of the two sooner rather than later.

Throwing out T.O. helps, but the Cowboys house still needs plenty of cleaning up

The inevitable happened just before midnight this morning when the news broke that the Cowboys were going to release the enigmatic Terrell Owens. While the release of T.O. will cut down on the some of the circus atmosphere that is Wednesday afternoon at Valley Ranch, everybody associated with the Cowboys (fans and local media included) should realize they still have major problems to fix that Owens had nothing to do with.

When it comes to production, there aren't many receivers who can sit at the same table with Owens. Say what you want about his creative end zone celebrations and emotional outbursts, the guy scores touchdowns. Even this past season when he endured the water pistol arm of Brad Johnson for three games and a turnover prone Tony Romo, Owens still managed to catch a 1,000 yards worth of passes and 10 TD's.

That said, it probably was time for a divorce between Owens and the Cowboys. However it should be interesting to see what happens when the other glaring issues this team has pop up and Owens isn't around for everybody to dog pile on anymore.

At last check, Terrell Owens has been a wide receiver every year of his Hall of Fame worthy career. He has not been a general manager/owner who thinks it's more important to have his team constantly in the spotlight that it is to make sure they have a head coach who every player respects.

At last check, Terrell Owens must depend on a quarterback to get him the ball when he's open. He is not the reason the team's wreckless quarterback throws weather balloons to Ed Reed right before halftime of a must win game and then shruggs it off as if nothing is wrong with air mailing passes down the field when the best defensive return man since Deion Sanders is laying in wait. He is not the same over philosophical quarterback thinks getting worked by the Philadelphia Eagles 44-6 in a defacto playoff game is ok. He is not the quarterback who continues to hold the ball too long. He is not the quarterback who decided to openly criticize the very offensive coordinator that helped to get him more than 30 million in guaranteed money the year before.

Terrell Owens wore #81 during his three year stint with the Cowboys. He did not line up at safety and miss tackles on obvious running downs that turn in to 70 yard touchdown runs for running backs who haven't run that far since they were in college. He is not the safety that tried to tackle a 260 pound running back around the shirt collar when the team is trying to get the ball back in the same must win game.

Terrell Owens is not the safety who came into the league like a man possessed and flamed out of Dallas because he lacked foot speed and the ability to effectively play in space. Terrell Owens is not the talented rookie cornerback who refused to tackle a Giants running back as he waltzed into the end zone.

Terrell Owens is not the head coach who fines players a measley $100 dollars for missing treatment sessions. Terrell Owens is not the newly acquired receiver from football's version of Siberia who doesn't run precise routes. Terrell Owens is not in charge of special teams units that allow game winning blocked punts and fake field goals for crucial 1st downs.

Before you think I'm siding with T.O., let me be clear that I do not agree with everything he did in Big D. Just like a pitcher in baseball, you don't mess with the quarterback's psyche the way he did when he was campaigning for the offense to run through him. You don't openly tell the media you were more concerned about your birthday party than you were about Bill Parcells' speech to the team about seezing the oppurtunity to win a Super Bowl.

Terrell Owens along with the rest of the Cowboys organization all share in the blame as to why a team that is widely regarded as one of the league's most talented didn't produce a playoff win in his three years wearing the star on his helmet. Howver, for the sake of Cowboy fans, I hope all of those voices that were in Jerry's ear realize there's a lot more cleaning up to do at Valley Ranch.

Show me the money!

"Who says we're in a recession?" That's probably what players like Albert Haynesworth and Bart Scott were thinking to themselves after teams around the league were finished throwing contracts with seven and eight figure bonuses at them. While this wasn't the feeding frenzy fans usually see at the start of the free agency period, there are some players around the league who definitely moved into new tax brackets with a couple strokes of the pen. The following were my initial thoughts on some of the signings we've seen so far and what those associated with them were probably thinking.

*Albert Haynesworth- 7 years/$100 million (41 guaranteed) with the Redskins
My first thought: "Daaaaamn!" If Daniel Snyder gave "Phat Albert" QB money, how much will Jerry Jones give to DeMarcus Ware? How much money will some mystery team (the Patriots) have to dish out to get Julius Peppers out of Carolina?
What Daniel Snyder said: "This building through the draft thing sucks! I'm going back to trying to buy a Super Bowl!"

*Bart Scott- 6 years/$48 million (22 guaranteed) with the New York Jets
My first thought: The neighborhood just got tougher!
What Rex Ryan said: "Now I have an enforcer to start my defense with. If I can get Jim Leonhard to come here, we can start calling ourselves the North Baltimore Jets. Maybe Bart can help me flip the switch in Vernon Gholston."

* Chris Canty- 6 years/$42 million (17.25 guaranteed) with the New York Giants
My first thought: Timing is everything!
What Chris Canty said: "I'm leaving a team with a receiver known for tearing up locker rooms for a team with a receiver who misses meeting and shoots himself. Is it possible to play football without receivers?"

*Matt Cassel- franchised by the Patriots, traded to the Chiefs along with Mike Vrabel
My first thought: Matt Cassel is a winner at the game of life!
What Cassel said: " "It's not where you start. It's where you finish!"

* Brian Dawkins- 5 years/$17 million (9 guaranteed) with the Denver Broncos
My first thought: He's going where? Do the Eagles just refuse to pay anybody who's helped to get them where they are today? Did Andy Reid and the rest of the Eagles' management tell Donovan McNabb they weren't planning on bringing back the leader of their defense in that meeting they had last week?
What Dawkins said: "Somebody tell Kevin Kolb to get ready because Donovan's not going to like this!"

*Dan Orlovsky- 3 years/$9.5 million (2.4 million bonus) with the Houston Texans
My first thought: How in the world did the guy who ran out of the back of the end zone get that kind of money?
What Orlovsky said: "Somebody has to come in and blow the game when Matt Schaub gets hurt."

*Fred Taylor- cut by Jacksonville, signed with New England (terms undisclosed)
My first thought: Did Jacksonville have to cut him? Couldn't they have traded him to somebody other than Bill Belichik. I'm sure Tom Brady will be sending every member of the Jaguars organization a Christmas card this year.
What Bill Belichik said: "If you guys thought I worked wonders with Corey Dillon, wait till you see what I can do with this guy."

*T.J. Houshmandzadeh- 5 years/$40 million (15 guaranteed) with the Seattle Seahawks
My first thought: Did anybody really think he was coming back to Cincy?
What T.J. said: "Sorry Carson and Ocho Cinco, but the Seahawks have a better chance of beating the Cardinals than you guys have of beating the Steelers and the Ravens."

Talk about character all you want when it comes to Vick, it's about wins in the NFL

The argument was recently brought to me that Michael Vick shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL again because he has "bad character".

Before I get into why Vick should be allowed to resume his career at some point, let me be clear that in no way do I agree with what he did. Anybody who thinks the violent manner in which those dogs were killed is less than horrifying probably needs therapy because there's no excuse for what took place on that property in Virginia.

Now that we're all clear, allow me to address the issue of bad character.

Say what you want about Michael Vick, but the notion that he shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL again because he has bad character is borderline moronic. If you're one of those people who truly feel what Vick did warrants a lifetime ban that's fine, but where were you at when Leonard Little killed somebody because he was driving drunk? Where were you at when he got arrested for drunk driving six years later?

If it's about character you better take the alcoholic, wife beating and skirt chasing legend know as Mickey Mantle out of Cooperstown right? If it's about character, somebody should have stripped A-Rod of his pen stripes the second he started lying to Katie Couric. The Dallas Cowboys should have those three Super Bowls they won in the 90's taken away if it's all about athletes having bad character.

What Vick did is inexcusable. However, all of those PETA protesters and anybody else who will claim to be appauled by his return better get ready because it's going to happen at some point. Trust me people, unless Vick figures out another way to generate a six or seven figure salary before he gets out this summer, you will see him in a helmet and shoulder pads again.

The only thing in the NFL that matters is winning. (And money!) That's why the Patriots signed a supposed malcontent in Corey Dillon to help them win their last Super Bowl. Winning is why Bill Belichick traded for Randy "I play when I want to play" Moss in 2007. Winning is why the Tennessee Titans drafted Pacman Jones out of West Virginia despite his multiple run-ins with the law. Winning (and arrogance) is why Jerry Jones gave Pacman a second chance with the Dallas Cowboys. Winning is why the defending world champion Boston Celtics just signed Stephon Marbury.

I hate to break it to you, but the recent front professional sports teams are putting on about wanting guys with good character is a bit of a farce. Would they like to have a team full of choir boys? Probably so. In reality though, the only thing GM's, owners and coaches want is a guy who will produce on the field, not blow up the locker room and avoid doing something or some things that can't be covered up by a high dollar public relations department.

So far, the Vikings and the 49ers are the only teams to publicly express a possible interest in Vick if and when he gets re-instated to the NFL. You're crazy if you think they'll be the only teams to call once Roger "The Hammer" Goodell decides to give Vick his cleats back.

Every year teams in the NFL flounder in mediocrity because they don't have a guy under center who can manage a game, let alone make enough plays to win one. Think the Detroit Lions could've used Vick last season when Dan Orlovsky was running out the back of the end zone? I bet Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. would loved to have been catching deep balls from Vick instead of whoever it was playing quarterback for the Browns at the end of last year. How much easier would life be for Adrian Peterson if defenses actually had to respect the Vikings passing game?

A wise man once said, "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing!"

Vick, for every stigma and label that will forever be attached to his name, is a winner. (31-19-1 as a starter) The only question remaining is how long Roger Goodell will keep Vick out of his league before he realizes there are plenty of guys in uniform with bad character.