A big ol' non-story

Really? We're all supposed to care and focus intently for two weeks on Thomas Brady's right foot? Just because he was seen with a walking boot on it the other day? it makes no sense and it's not even worth thinking about. He was obviously well enough to continue playing throughout the AFC championship game and he'll definitely be able to play on it in two weeks time in Glendale for the most important game of the year.

And, of course, nobody will be talking about his foot and if he's actually injured. This will only fuel speculation that really has no business taking up space in the paper or pages on the internet. A sprained ankle (which is what it is) is just a sprained ankle and even the slowest healers can fight off that annoyance in two weeks.

Out with old, in with the older.

So the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the cornerstone franchises of the weak NHL and seen as a running joke by those around the league, have finally fired their atrocious GM John Ferguson and have hired their former GM Cliff Fletcher. Firstly, after all of the horrible personnel moves and shaky decisions that Ferguson made while on the job, why wasn’t he fired sooner? Giving Jason Blake the kind of money he did ($20 million over five years) was idiotic since he was coming off a career year almost midway through his 30s. Trading away high draft picks in consecutive seasons for “starting” goalies was almost as dumb as signing both to contract extensions before they had proven themselves. Then there was the fact that he threw money at a group of players who, for guys that are called defenceman, don’t play defence quite well at all.

By hiring Fletcher again though, the Leafs are doing what they’ve always done wrong; they’re looking into the past. What they should do is look towards the future, hire someone with no ties to the organization and let him blow the whole team up. There isn’t a winner on the current Leafs roster and something has to be done about that. Blowing the team up and rebuilding from the ground up is necessary for any team who wants to succeed in a league with salary cap. As much as Leaf fans won’t like to hear it, this team is going to have to be bad for a little while longer before they escape the doldrums.

The Intern on: A Fallen Star

Sitting out the rest of the season to rest ‘is a prime option for me.’ Spoken like a true winner. So the Jermaine O’Neal chronicles continue. Must be nice to be the seventh highest paid player in the NBA at $19 million per season and elect to ‘rest’ your bruised knee for the remainder of the season. It clearly seems that JO is unhappy with his current situation in Indy. But in all honestly, who cares. This team has been irrelevant ever since Ron Artest single-handedly destroyed the once-proud franchise during the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills. In the past three seasons since that infamous night, JO has missed 90 games due to illness, injury and suspension. Jermaine O’Neal, once 6 time all-star and easily one of the top players in the NBA, is now treading in the abyss of Shawn Kemp-ville. If anything Isiah should make a move for him so he can be with all the other bad contracts. Intern Out.

Talk about heart

Criticize Philip Rivers all you want for his play against the Patriots on Sunday but when you're doing so, keep in mind that he was playing with a torn ACL for the entire game. That's right; many people would be screaming in pain with an injury like that but Rivers gutted out an entire game against the Patriots and if their red zone offence had clicked a bit better and hadn't settled for field goals, the Chargers might be taking on the Giants in XLII.

In fact, he actually went under the knife earlier in the week just to be able to play in Foxboro. That takes a lot of guts and when you figure in how much long-term, even career threatening, damage could've happened to him, you have to credit the kid's heart and desire to play the game.

Elsewhere, Tony Dungy is returning to coach the Colts next year. Since he's already enrolled his kids in school in the Tampa area, you have to wonder how much his head will be in the game next season. If the Colts get hit with injuries next year the way they were this past season, Dungy may not have the right mindset to guide his team the way he did. If he's not going to give 110% to Indianapolis, it might actually be better to step aside and let Jim Caldwell take over now instead of waiting for Dungy's exit.

XLII: Pats and Elisha?!?

For the third week in a row, Elisha Manning and the New York Giants faced a tough adversary on the road in the playoffs and won. I don't know if I'm more shocked or disappointed or both at the same time. It wasn't even as much as his effort as it was the effort of Plaxico Burris absolutely schooling Al Harris and the two-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw tearing up the Packers front seven.

And what a way for Lawrence Tynes to make up for his previous two missed field goals, especially the possible game-winner with time expiring in the fourth, by hitting the first ever 40+ yard field goal in Lambeau's history. He's severely lucky that Brett Favre gave the Giants the chance with that weak overtime interception.

I do know this though, I'm more sure that the Giants will lose their next game more than any of the previous three. The entire North American media scene is going to be criticizing his composure, softness and the dumb look always plastered on his face for two whole weeks. Not to mention how many references to his brother's past success and failures against the family rival, Tom Brady.

I tell you what: If the Packers' Atari Bigby keeps up his hard-hitting ways and continues playing the way he has been since late in the season, he'll become the next very good safety that everyone touts. He also has a great name.

The Chargers couldn't get it done in the red-zone against the undefeated* Patriots and it cost them dearly. Settling for four field goals when the could've driven home touchdowns is precisely what cost San Diego the game and a trip to the Super Bowl. It may have been because the Bolts were just too banged up or it may have been the outstanding work of New England's defence but that was the difference to the AFC Championship in my mind.

And how about Brady, who only had two incompletions last week against the Jaguars, tossing three interceptions yesterday? You have to give credit to the Chargers front-liners for actually putting pressure on Brady as well as the d-backs for their coverage which — while overmatched by the Patriots depth of weapons — did a good job containing the receivers. Quintin Jammer had a great game and deserves a lot of credit for San Diego's defensive effort.

Oh, and the early line (as set by Michael Roxborough) and my early pick for Super Bowl XLII: Patriots (-13.5) over Giants. What, you thought I would ever take Elisha?

This week: 0-2
The Playoffs: 3-4-1

The week before the bye week

With the Super Bowl around the corner, I don’t think I’ve ever been looking past the conference championships more. Unless something happens and there is an upset, this week is a forgone conclusion with the favourites easily defeating the feisty underdogs.

PATRIOTS (-14) over Chargers
 
There is way too much going against the Chargers in this one. Let’s make a list:
—LDT, Gates and Rivers are all injured and won’t be at 100% on Sunday.
—If Rivers and LDT can’t go, or even finish the game if they start it, you’re looking at Billy Volek and the unsensational Michael Turner trying to guide the Bolts’ offence.
—Norv Turner is facing off against Bill Belichick.
—A southern California team is playing in New England in January weather.
—The Patriots beat up on the Chargers when San Diego visited earlier this season.
—San Diego’s strength in pass rushing could be negated if the weather and field are bad enough.
—The Chargers are among the worst teams in the league in covering slot receivers while New England is one of the best teams at hitting them.
And if those aren’t reason enough, do you not think that everyone will want to see the Brett Favre vs. Tom Brady Super Bowl? Of course they do, even more so than a Patriots loss this week.
 
PACKERS (-7) over Giants

Do you honestly, deep in your heart, believe that Elisha Manning can win in Lambeau against the immortal Brett Favre? Well I certainly don't. The Giants' run has been nice but seriously, the Patriots need some competition in the Super Bowl and the Giants would not be able to provide that. Also, I really do not want to read any Brady vs. Manning stories for the next two weeks even if it means an unfathomable amount of pieces comparing Favre and Tom and their places in history.

Last week: 2-1-0
Playoffs: 3-2-1