Ricky's back and so am I for yet another MNF live-blog. Hopefully the Dolphins can keep this game as interesting as the Eagles did last night, and that I'm not stuck with another yawner. See you back here around 8pm.

Chris Berman starts my night off with a Dolphins playing in the rain comment that completely confused me. Stu Scott is also noticeably absent from the pregame....Sal Pal is sitting in his seat next to Steve Young and Emmitt Smith.

Speaking of Emmitt, he actually had good insight when talking about Ricky Williams and the relationship with his teammates. I'm surprised.

Jaws tells us that the crappy field might actually help the Dolphins because of their power running game. Completely different than Berman saying that the Dolphins had an advantage because they are water-based creatures.

"Why is he even on the team? I can't trust him as a teammate."- Keyshawn Johnson

The ex-players do not seem to like Ricky one bit. Good for them for voicing their opinions.

"And of course Keyshaun, you were a helluva teammate right?"- Mookie

Good point.

Yes, the game is officially delayed! Wonderful. Lightning again. Big Ben is pretty jittery around the lightning bolts....well that and Caddys.

9pm is our starting time folks. Hope you can stick around for at least a few.

Wow, great insight by Bill Parcells on how he would handle the weather if he was coaching the game. He said if his team won the toss he'd kickoff because they'd want to play on the other team's side of the field.

"If there are any mistakes they'll happen on their end and if we make a mistake, they'll have to go the whole field."- Bill Parcells

Alright here we go folks....just before the game I'd like to throw up this photo of the baddest mother in the league, a person who's currently fighting for his life. As of last word Sean Taylor is responsive and out of surgery. I thought it was odd that they didn't really mention this during Monday Countdown, but they have their sights set on another crappy game. Get well Sean....I hope that we get to see this again someday....

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We're getting underway shortly and Seal is our music release of the night. Ugh.

Tafoya takes us through Ricky Williams troubles and his stint in a Psych Ward. Suzy then gives us another report on the field. We get it....it's not good.

Here's the kickoff, Steelers receive and he's taken down....uh, somewhere on the field....there's no numbers and simple addition and subtraction is too tough for the likes of me.

Parker for nothing, and Tony makes a Golf joke. Good start. Big Ben tries a pass and you can see he's not pleased with the conditions. Incomplete. Well lookie here.....a completion to Ward on third and long, and the Steelers are moving!

Wilson gets another pass, and now that I'm thinking about it didn't the Steelers destroy the Ravens in the rain early in the season. I think the actually enjoy this.

The rumor on Stu Scott's absence.....An Appendectomy

If that's the case....best wished to Stu as well.

Joey Porter gets a pick and we here a terrible song from Seal. It's good Joey's finally earning his paycheck. BEEYAH!

Chapman gets zero yards after a penalty, and I'm pretty sure the Dolphins aren't getting a first down.

"I know, you know, you love me."- Joey Porter mouthing some trash to the Steelers.

Miami punts....and that ball is not going anywhere. It hit the turf and just stuck in the mud.

Willie Parker picks up a first and the Steelers are near midfield....I think.

"Joey Porter is a Sports Writers Dream because he never shuts up."- Tony Kornheiser

First down Steelers and they move into Dolphins territory. Uh oh....Ben fumbles! But recovers all the way back near midfield. Good rush by the 'Phins. A screen to Ward loses yards and a shuffle pass to the Deuce of Davenport for nothing leads to a Steelers punt. Fair catch by Ginn at the fifteen.

"Ricky? I've waited 22 months."- Tony Kornheiser

Here he is! 3rd down and 4.....and the handoff to Williams nets him some boos but a first down as well. Amazing. 2nd carry he gets knocked down after a yard. Tony goes into the same speech he had in pregame about #34...

"He went on television and said he liked to smoke pot. Well there are rules against that in this league."- Tony Kornheiser

Umm there's that, and the fact that it's ILLEGAL!!!

Dude that guy in the Jesus outfit with the sign that says "Have Faith in the Steelers" is weirding me out. Can we ban him or something.

Hey, I get the Pats on the live-blog next week! Great!!! I don't look ahead folks....one game at a time.

Good analysis by Jaws to tell us that the sloppy field is slowing down Jason Taylor. I'm sure my Grandmother couldn't have figured that one out.

Ben Rothelisberger is pleading to his coach to go for it, and here comes a 4th and 1.....

NOTHING! Miami just dominated the line on that one.

"I just thought it should be known that I'm following this game during a Data Analysis class, think Stats on steroids, and this running diary is actually boring me more than the class. I don't blame you guys though, I know you're trying your best. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna stick my knife in a socket and hope God understands why I did what I did."- Anon

Don't know what to tell you my friend. This game is dreadful. No one's moving the ball and Tony won't shut up about Ricky.

"Dig deep with that knife, my friend"- Statue Left

Ouch....let's play nice.

The Dolphins run with Williams and pick up a good gain, but decide to run a reverse to Ginn for some reason....loss of a few.

Ricky Williams Fumbles!!!! Flag on the field, Ricky was blasted by Farrior and his arm is hurting. The flags are both holding calls on the Dolphins and the Steelers get it at midfield.

And you thought his teammates hated him before.

"Rex Hadnot watched this team this season."- Mookie

Hahahaha....hilarious. Hadnot actually introduced the Dolphins' line as the most improved in the league for those of you in stats class. Riiiight.

"Into the hole comes Parker."- Mike Tirico

Ew.

"He got his hand on twelve balls, that's one of the best in the national football league."- Ron Jaworski on Safety Will Allen (Via Heath)

Hines Ward picks up a huge gain, but of course it's called back because of a penalty. God this is dreadful. 3rd and 17 screen goes to Davis and picks up about 9....that'll be yet another punt. Ginn with the fair catch again, this time at the nine.

This game is just pointless at this umm....point. Ricky Williams is going to the locker room and all angles that ESPN had are out the window. Please get to halftime quick. Timeout Miami....dammit.

"Has Tony ever admitted to smoking pot?"- John

Don't think so, but who hasn't smoked pot? Oh that's right, according to my Anon readers...no one.

Beck had a receiver and a nice throw is of course dropped. Dolphins punt. Holy shit....Rossum's gonna return one for a score!!!! No! Tackled by the punter at the 50. This thing is going to be a scoreless tie.

I'm pretty sure I just heard Mike Tirico call Demarcus Nelson, Jamarcus Russell during a College Basketball promo.

Completion for a first, and Parker picks up another nine. 3rd and short for the Steelers....first down to Hines Ward. Wait, offensive pass interference on Heath Miller negates that. That was sketchy at best. 3rd and 11. Sack. Big Ben waited about 40 minutes to throw that ball. Hey....a punt! Another Ginn fair catch and there's 2 minutes left.

Wow Beck gets a nice pickup and are actually driving. Wait, check that....Miami's not calling a timeout. What the hell? YOU'RE 0-10!!!!! Go for it. Fuck this game....

0-0 at halftime

"Is this game as bad at stat-tracker makes it seem?"- Anon

Worse. See you all in a new thread.

This is the Manitoba Bison's Matt Henry reeling off an impressive run in the Vanier Cup. The Cup is basically the BCS of Canada and Henry was a huge part of the Bison's win Saturday.

Too bad he couldn't finish the game after his leg did not finish this play the way it started.....

I don't know if this is a joke or what, but if you head to ESPN.com's "Expert" Power Rankings you find some curious picks from our friend and yours Shrutebag (second column....click for larger).


Umm, USC? Really??? The team that has two losses with one of them being to Stanford? Riiiight. Good work there champ. And I thought College Football was his specialty. What a joke.

2007 Power 16 - Week 14 (ESPN.com)

(Thanks to Fred for the link.)

FOX came out with their Announcing pairings for the BCS games today, and basically nothing's different from last year's teams. It really bugs me that FOX has the BCS in the first place because they're just throwing people out there who haven't called a College Football game all season, and Barry Alvarez could challenge Bryant Gumbel for the World's Most Boring Commentator, but anyway here they are....

Orange Bowl: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Barry Alvarez
Fiesta Bowl: Matt Vasgersian, Pat Haden and Terry Donahue
Sugar Bowl: Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis
BCS Championship: Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis

FOX gets 4 of the 5 BCS contests with ABC getting the 5th, and that is almost certainly going to be covered by Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit.

Below are a few of the highlights from FOX's BCS Games last year and hopefully they can improve on what was a terrible Bowl Season for the network. The production was awful as they had mics cutting in and out, and the only good team from last year (Kenny Albert, Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long) won't be back. I laid into Charles Davis pretty hard last season, but he's been pretty good on the BCS Show they have on FOX after the NFL Games on Sundays. Hopefully they can do better this go around.

"Oh yes indeedy....Jack Bauer would be most pleased by this Florida effort."- Thom Brennaman
"It feels so good. And he doesn't mind flash dancing out of there."- Charles Davis
"Are the Gators just going to win everything this year? Football, Basketball.....Dancing with the Stars?"- Charles Davis

Update: For those of you wanting background on the "Mangina" moniker for Davis you can head here.....

BCS National Championship Live-Blog: Florida/OSU- 3rd Quarter (Awful Announcing)

(Usually) Everyday I'll throw out a photo from the AP or one of the bigger sites and you provide the caption. Hilarity ensues. I'm also adding a handful of links at the bottom of the page that you should check out each day.

Friday's Winners....

"So thats what happened to tina youthers."- Hyatt

"Dennis Dixon is #1 in her heart, #4,652 on her bedpost."- Anon

Dennis Dixon: "Haha yah lemme see Tebow get a girl like THAT!...wait...he already did?...SHE HAD PEARLS!...damn well atleast well have an easy time with Arizona tonight..."- GusJohnsonForGod (That girl rears her head again)

"I wonder if her daughter is busy with Pat White right now."- Tom
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Are you funny enough to create a caption for this photo of the Candian Football League Champion Saskatchewan Rough Riders hoisting the Grey Cup?

Daily Links:

Tim Tebow Is The Definition Of System QB (NOIS)
A Quick NHL Week In Review (Going Five Hole)
What Happens To All Of Those Used Terrible Towels? (The Sports Hernia)
The Dirtiest Moments In Sports (Hygenie)
Worst College Football Game Ever (Rumors and Rants)
Can We Get Oklahoma To Throw The Game Please? (Ballsiest)
Athlete Figurines Dropping A Deuce Are Always Funny (100% Injury Rate)
A Nice Recap Of All The CBB Tourneys Over The Weekend (Storming The Floor)
Recasting The Wire with Sports Personalities (Food Court Lunch)
Renaming The Bears The Chicago Hesters (Tickets of America)

Lastly, my thoughts and prayers are with Sean Taylor and his family. The latest from Comcast Sportsnet has him out of surgery and in somewhat stable condition. Obviously these things can go either way, but hopefully this is the first step towards recovery...

Redskins' Sean Taylor in Critical Condition (Fanhouse)

There weren't many changes at the top after this week, but Andre Ware made a huge push to get into the Top 10. One week to go for the regular season crown folks, and we'll move onto Bowl Season where anything can happen. Thanks to everyone who sent quotes in for Week Thirteen!

The Pam Ward Chronicles Week Thirteen

10. "Foster runs it outside down the sideline and is bumped out of bounds and will stop the clock. Well, the clock's not running. Oh, we're in overtime."- Craig Bolerjack (Via Willmott)

9. “That rear end is up in the air he’s ready to go hunt.”- Chris Spielman

8. "Florida State has a chance to win this game by outscoring the Gators."- Lee Corso

7. "And that's Miami's first first down of the season."- Pam Ward (Via Tom)

6. "This is his last home game here at home."- Andre Ware on UVA's Chris Long (Via Bruce)

5. "If you're going to underthrow the ball, you have to do it short."- Ed Cunningham (Via Anon)

4."The thing you have to realize is that these teams are in un-chartered waters."- Kirk Herbstreit

3. "We were wondering what you were giving him for after the game. You know my partner over here, he....."- Bob Griese
"I thought you were giving him a bud."- Paul Maguire

(Alchohol or Weed....it's still pretty funny.)

2. “USC is a cinch to go to one of the three remaining BCS Bowl Games....maybe the Fiestus Bowl. That would be the likely suspect.”- David Norrie

1. "...and it winds up being Vince Hall coming in the face of Peter Lalich..."- Andre Ware (Via ZHR)

Nasty.
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Here are the standings after Thirteen weeks........

1. Gary Danielson (50)
2. Brad Nessler (49)
3. Chris Spielman (44)
4. Mike Patrick (43)
5. Pam Ward (37)
6. Andre Ware (31), Lee Corso (31)
8. Paul Maguire (27)
9. Dave Pasch (26)
10. Bob Griese (23)

Others Receiving Votes: Brent Musburger (21), Kirk Herbstreit (20), Verne Lundquist (20)Pat Haden (19), Tim Brandt (16), Ray Bentley (16), Mark Jones (16), Ed Cunningham (14), Bill Curry (13), Craig James (11.5), Erin Andrews (11), , Dave Lapham (10), Gerry Dinardo (9), Dave Lamont (9), David Norrie (9), Lou Holtz (9), Tom Hart (8), Todd Blackledge (7), Mellissa Knowles (7), Thom Brennaman (7), Sean McDonough (7), John Saunders (6), Quint Kessenich (6), Holly Rowe (5), Desmond Howard (5), Charles Arbuckle (5), Mike Tirico (4), Dan Fouts (4), Doug Flutie (3.5), Jim Donnan (3), Eric Collins (2), Jim Kelly (1), Craig Bolerjack (1)