An absolutely bizarre interview on the NFL Today before the Ravens and Titans got underway, with Adam Jones and his lawyer talking about the accusations that he hired someone to shoot a couple of guys he came across in Atlanta, which wound up probably getting him cut by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week. Jones said he's planning to sue ESPN, but for now....just an utterly surreal interview with him and James Brown, in which he admits his like of strip clubs (but who doesn't?) and a belief that the Cowboys will re-sign him (that seems a little pipe-dreamish.)

After learning that Joey Sunshine was going to be on Inside the NFL yesterday, you just knew I would have something on him today. About halfway through the show the panel was discussing the Titans when Theismann dropped a bombshell on the group. He predicted that the Titans would go undefeated.

Now I know what you're thinking. There's no way in hell they can win the rest of the eight games on their schedule. Well, our friend Joe actually made a pretty good case for the team....

It's obviously highly unlikely, but based on his analysis there, I guess it's possible. Their schedule is really favorable, and anything can happen in those last two weeks. I still don't think it's happening, but at least Theismann knows what he's talking about these days. Unlike Cris Collinsworth, who at one point said he wanted the NFL to shrink the size of balls so more players could be QBs, and his reasoning was because backup quarterback have been so terrible this year.

Yep, Kerry Collins, Gus Frerotte, Jeff Garcia, Kurt Warner, Matt Cassel and Byron Leftwich have all been awful this season. I'll give him Brad Johnson, and whoever Kansas City is currently starting, but other than that he's way off with that line of thinking.

Just a quick note that I wanted to pass along here, but Joe Theismann will be with the Inside the NFL crew on Showtime tonight, instead of Warren Sapp. Sapp will be on the Dancing With The Stars set tonight in some sort of team, battle royale event that I know nothing about. So in his stead, Showtime decided to bring in Theismann to fill the vacancy.

I think Theismann is much better in these formats, rather than live games, so if you're tuning in and looking for him to flub through the show, you might be disappointed. Joseph will be on at 9pm with JB, Phil and Cris, so check it out if you're so inclined. The topics will be The Colts and Patriots, as well as how the Packers are faring without Brett Favre....you know....new stuff!

Oh and Kenny Mayne will also be on Jimmy Kimmel Live as well.

Inside The NFL (Showtime Sports)

James Brown took the time to answer a few questions during a Washington Post chat today. Some of the answers in regards to the pregame shows he has worked for were pretty interesting. He was asked some tough questions about the differences between the two rival networks, but the former FOX and now CBS Host, had some good responses....

Q: It seems these days that just about all the NFL gameday programs have really ramped up their "production values" and have become in your face, loud, quick paced product. Despite this overall trend, CBS has struck me as being more restrained, perhaps the thinking man's gameday program.

Did you notice such a difference when you left FOX and joined CBS?

James Brown: Yes, I noticed that CBS, to use your words, was more restrained, and I hear that concern loud and clear in terms of broadcast maybe being "in your face." Hopefully we can as broadcasters temper that with an upbeat, energetic presentation that's not so "in your face," because the viewers are very mature, knowledgable, savvy football fans who don't need to be yelled at. In all honesty, one of the complaints about the CBS show is that some find us by comparison to be boring, and too conservative. Taht was the concern and reputation I heard when I left fox for CBS. Hopefully we have stepped up the excitement without engaging in bufoonery, presenting solid football information in a humorous or interesting fashion. We aren't talking financial crisis, world wars, etc. -- we want to make it fun.

Q: JB what ultimately led to you leaving the Fox pregame show for CBS? Was it the fact that the CBS show is done in New York?

James Brown: It was an exceedingly difficult decision leaving the No. 1 pregame show and people who were more than just colleagues, they were friends. But on balance, the opportunity presented at CBS was too good to pass up. The opportunity to do a range of things is why I pursued the opportunity at CBS.

The great thing about all the pregame shows is certainly the variety that they provide, and while I miss JB on FOX, I think he's a much better fit for CBS. I'm also surprised that he didn't try and skate around the differences between FOX and CBS, and I highly approve of the use of a word like bufoonery when describing them.

James Brown Talks NFL, Sports Broadcasting (Washington Post)

One of the things I always looking forward to when new ex-players and coaches become a member of the media, is whether they give easy/cupcake answers to questions, or if they actually give honest and sometimes difficult responses. Most people won't say anything about former teams and teammates, but with Warren Sapp we knew it was just a matter of time, and Lane Kiffin's firing gave him the perfect opportunity.

Sapp just laid into the Raiders' entire organization this past Wednesday on Inside the NFL, and the comments were so strong that ESPN even picked up the story....

"[Davis] is the common equation," Sapp said on "Inside the NFL." "You take him out, put him at home watching film or whatever he is doing -- you have a functioning football organization. But once he comes over the top, he goes and starts moving it around.

"Al Davis knows football -- it's just '60s and '70s football. That's what it is. He's thinking that Cliff Branch is outside and [Jim] Plunkett is dropping back and you can throw it 80 yards down the field -- deep ball, deep ball, deep ball."

Sapp even said that Davis would call in plays when Sapp was playing for the Raiders.

"I remember the first two weeks I was there, we played a preseason game. Somebody came up one time and said, 'We're going deep right here, dog.' I said, how do you know? He said, 'The phone just rang.'

"All the preparation that goes into a week of work is there, the practicing that you have to put in order to do these things, sometimes [Al Davis] messed with that part of it and that's what kills you," Sapp said on "Inside the NFL."

I thought I had the video, but for some reason it didn't save (I'll keep trying to look for it though). Either way, you get the idea. It was a pretty eye-opening segment and a refreshing change from the usual run-of-the-mill responses you get from ex-players. Warren Sapp still has some work to do on the show, but as long as he keeps up this level of honesty, I think more and more people will start to tune in.

Update: And here's your video....

Sapp says Kiffin treated unfairly, blames Davis for Raiders' mess (ESPN)

I mentioned yesterday that there were going to be some guests stopping by for the first episode of Inside The NFL on Showtime. Roger Goodell was boring (as expected) and Deacon Jones was entertaining (as expected), but it was DWTS's Kym Johnson that stole the show. Well, she wasn't that exciting, but her appearance gave us our first look at Warren Sapp's new moves....

Forget Warren, get Collinsworth on that show. He just swooped in and went to town with Kym Johnson. As far as the show went, it really didn't vary much from its predecessor. There were a few old elements that were missing (a handful of people emailed about the "Beat The Pros" segment from HBO), but for the most part it was on par with HBO's version. I enjoyed all four during the program, but there were a few annoying jester-like moments from Sapp. It wasn't anything that would cause you to change the channel, but hopefully he tones it down.

Oh and please Showtime, please don't try to promote Dancing With The Stars. Occasionally is fine, but every week would get old quick.

Inside The NFL Debuts On Showtime Tonight With A Few Special Guests (Awful Announcing)

Showtime seems to be all-in on promoting its version of the Inside The NFL with Warren Sapp and will feature multiple segments with the ex-defensive end when it debuts tonight on Showtime. The program will also have three special guests according to Market Watch....

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones and Dancing With The Stars professional Kym Johnson are among the special guests for the premiere episode of INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME this Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Jones, one of the most feared defenders of the 1970's, will face off with INSIDE THE NFL analyst and latter day counterpart Warren Sapp in a segment entitled "Debate '08." In the spirit of this election year, Jones and Sapp will debate their respective era's gridiron greatness.

Johnson, a Dancing With The Stars veteran who is currently in rehearsal as Sapp's dance partner for this season, will be on the set of INSIDE THE NFL.

I'm still amazed that so many people watch DWTS, but Showtime couldn't have hoped for better timing in Sapp's appearance on the program. The show always had its diehard fans, so it will be interesting to see if Showtime tries to appease to them, or tries to take it in a new direction.

Also, if you look at the promo photo above it appears as Showtime is already billing Warren Sapp as the court jester of the quartet. I don't think I've ever seen JB with a mean look on his face and he's actually scaring me a little bit. I'll be watching tonight and will have reactions and video tomorrow.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Kym Johnson and Deacon Jones on Tap for Debut Episode of Inside the NFL on Showtime (Market Watch)

Showtime has named it's panelists and according to USA Today the only hold over from the HBO edition is Cris Collinsworth....

Longtime Inside analyst Cris Collinsworth, also an NBC and NFL Network analyst, will return. The weekly show, McManus says, might have a fourth analyst or "rotate that seat among recently retired and current players."

Meaning, longtime Inside analyst Dan Marino is out. McManus says Marino will continue as a "key mainstay" in CBS' NFL studio — and did a "terrific job" on HBO, but "we didn't want to just have CBS people. And we wanted a link to the HBO show. It was a tough one, in respect to Dan, to go with Cris."

I've never been the hugest fan of Dan Marino but it's still going to be tough to have the show with out him. Your other parties involved are James Brown taking over hosting duties from Costas and Phil Simms. There is no word on a fourth as of yet but the early word is that they will keep the fourth seat open for current NFL players and retired ones with attachment to the stories they are discussing.

Showtime goes with experience for 'Inside the NFL' lineup (USA Today)

I missed this yesterday, but it is absolutely hilarious. Dan Marino obviously doesn't know how to turn off his cellphone when on live television.....

Ha, Boomer actually looks pissed. I can understand once, but letting it right three times? Come on Daniel.

(Many thanks to MM for the better quality video)

This just completely threw me for a loop yesterday. I knew Gus Johnson had done some coverage for Women's College Basketball (which he did Saturday) but now CBS has Bill Cowher working overtime and providing insight for the Sport...

There's nothing really wrong with using him for extra coverage considering his wife was a professional BBall player and his daughter plays for Princeton, but the timing was pretty odd. This clip aired about 5 minutes before the NFL Today Pregame Show.

Cowher wasn't on set at first so the group had Charlie Casserly there to fill in. By the time he was on camera CBS had the rare and pointless 6-man desk. They couldn't even move their arms.

You may remember a little item a few weeks back about an announcing Boot Camp for NFL Players.....well it took place this past weekend, and the results are better than anything I could have imagined.

Twenty players were chosen out of thirty based on essays and video submissions (seriously, I need those videotapes). The chosen twenty players started out doing a voice over on a Peyton Manning highlight, moved on to a class about preparation (more on this in a second), and finished up in-studio with James Brown.

Sounds like a blast actually. What can I do to get in on this? My favorite part of the whole story has to be this little nugget though....

The group was ushered to a class about show preparation, where the NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger and the Fox analyst Brian Baldinger stressed the advantage that players had over anyone else hoping to become an on-air talent covering football: they play the game, and they can provide in-depth analysis that others cannot.

Hahahahahahaha. Whooooo. Need....to....breath.....hahahahahaha. Alright, whew. I'm better. Thanks so much for that New York Times. I owe you for that one.

Do you know how much money I would pay to have Baldy say that to my face? That's the funniest damn thing I've read in quite some time. But wait....it gets better....

One by one, they entered the studio and sat behind the desk alongside the CBS studio host James Brown. With the cameras on and producers spinning it all into a glossy television segment from a nearby control room, Brown led each player into a discussion of Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, who was involved in a fight in Las Vegas this off-season and swept into the N.F.L. commissioner’s new personal-conduct counseling program.

It made for fascinating backstage theater, since Porter was standing in the control room. No one blasted Porter, but it struck a common theme of the sessions — how to criticize a player, especially a former teammate or current friend.

How hilarious would it be if you were telling Joey Porter to get his life in order, and he just rolled up on you on the set.

BEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! God I could read this over and over all day long.

N.F.L. Program Gives New Meaning to a Set Formation (NY Times)

P.S.- How is this NOT a reality show??? Come on NFL!!!

Not to pile on here, and go into overkill on the whole Gus Johnson thing, but did anyone stay awake during JB and Elmore's games this weekend? They made an 8 point Florida/Oregon game feel like shuffle board at my grandmother's retirement home. Here are a couple of notes.....

1. From RUTS......"Len Elmore is awfully fond of the phrase "penetrate and kick". Seriously, in the two games I saw them do....I heard that probably 40 times. I understand that coming up with new terms is hard, but give it a shot Lenny.
2. From Grimey.....By the way, I think about the possibility of Gus Johnson calling this game, and I cry on the inside. Tell me about it.
3. From Grimey.....JB already tried to say that Butler's Eric Green was Sidney Green's kid (it's Taurean Green from Florida). Ugh.
4. Calling a game with a voice devoid of any emotion should not be allowed ever. In the history of Announcers have the great ones ever not been excited at some point? (See: Marv Albert)
5. Great post from Quick Slants on JB and Elmore slowing down the earth's rotation.

If you actually enjoyed them on any broadcast please let me know. Personally, I thought they were awful. I know JB had it in his contract to do these games, but couldn't you have waited until he did more than 1 game in the regular season?

So if you haven't heard.....Gus Johnson is done for the tourney. Sad day for us "true" fans of the sport. I really can't understand why he continues to be buried by CBS. Whether it's Basketball, Football, or hell....even Canadian Football games on ESPN 2.....Gus has always been considered JV.

According to his CBS Bio....he's been doing College Basketball on CBS for 11 Years. 11 Years People! And he's just now becoming a household name? 99.9% of the people that emailed/commented over the past weekend sent nothing but praise for Gus Johnson. We're the fans here......shouldn't WE know who we like more than anyone else? It just blows my mind.

Nothing against James Brown and Lenny Elmore, but I like my March Madness with a little.....I dunno??? Madness maybe? Old stories about playing against the Princeton offense are tolerable for about a quarter, but I don't need 20+ flashbacks in a game.

For once I wish CBS would listen to the people who actually watch the games, and not just go with the "Good Ole Boy" system.

Gus Johnson's call from the Ohio State-Xavier Game. This should be evidence enough....HA-HA!

Anyway, here are your pairings. Lottery winners.....Fans of Memphis, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Tennessee....

Thursday:

San Jose- 7:10 Tip- Kansas/Southern Illinois- Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
San Antonio- 7:27 Tip- Memphis/Texas A&M- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
San Jose- 9:30 Tip- UCLA/Pittsburgh- Dick Enberg/Jay Bilas
San Antonio- 9:45 Tip- Ohio State/Tennessee- Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery

Friday:

St. Louis- 7:10 Tip- Florida/Butler- James Brown/Len Elmore
East Rutherford- 7:27 Tip- Georgetown/Vanderbilt- Jim Nantz/Billy Packer
St. Louis- 9:30 Tip- UNLV/Oregon- James Brown/Len Elmore
East Rutherford- 9:45 Tip- UNC/USC- Jim Nantz/Billy Packer

The Slipper Still Fits (The Hog Blogger)
Great Moments in Gus Johnson History (Cub Dumb)
Gus Johnson Was The Star.... (Mister Irrelevant)
A Plea to CBS (Complete Sports)

There's a bit of an AA announcement in that Mister Irrelevant article......who can find it?

Last post before the weekend. AA has just learned that James Brown, host of NFL Today on CBS, will announce his first college game since 1994. He will be calling the UCONN-G'TOWN game this Saturday.

For the life of me I can't remember him ever doing a game. Either way I'm still going to play the JB Drinking Game.....take a shot everytime he says the word "indeed".

So we're on to the grading today, and after that two-hour debacle of a quotes post I'm going to mail this one in a bit. I "blew my load" a tad so we're going to the.....Lighting Round!

James Brown:

The quintessential host. He does everything right, but he has the tendency to use the same words over and over again. Try this for one broadcast. Drink every time he says the word "indeed"....I counted them one time and I got to 26. I was hammered by that point, so it could have been more. Love JB though....he's the perfect ringleader. He takes the fat jokes in stride and just has fun...plus he's got jesus on his side.

Grade: A-



Dan Marino:

He's apparently psychotic, but I would be too if I took the "he never won a Super Bowl" jokes for 6 hours a day for an entire season. He strikes me as a bit too serious though, which gets to be kind of annoying after awhile. At least Boomer can put on a Belichick costume and get a laugh.

Grade: C+



Boomer Esiason:

I like Boomer.....don't know what it is about him though. He gets a little too demonstrative at times, but I think that's only because a little Marino is rubbing off on him (eww...you have a dirty mind).

Grade: B+



F'ing Shannon Sharpe:

I hate him so much. He's not funny and he overacts like a champ (that "I'm going to the Super Bowl" crap was just too much). He is one of the culprits perpetuating the stupid laugh fests that have plagued the pregame shows as of late. He laughs at his own jokes, and you can't understand what he says. When he does the highlights he is about four games behind.

Grade: "You fucking passed the test, but barely. You know what you got? F+. *click*"

Your 2007 Highlights and Lowlights.....well mostly Lowlights......

Week 1:

• "I fully expect Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman to get off to a good start this week. Grossman has been criticized by those in the media who would like to create a quarterback controversy in Chicago, but his talent – and the talent around him – will be enough to prevent that from happening."- Phil Simms
• Shannon Sharpe: When you left you were a 42 Long. Now what are you, 48 Regular? James Brown: At least it’s all natural.
• "I've got to believe that Seattle is going to go back to the Super Bowl. Look at their schedule. They've got the coach, the quarterback, the running back, and they added Julian Peterson. That team looks like they're set to get back to Miami."- Boomer Esiason
• "I was on a round table discussion with Jerry Jones and he said the one thing that led to the T.O. demise in San Francisco and Philly was money. He gave him $10 million the first year and $25 million over the three years. T.O. got what he wanted. It was the money. I don’t think T.O. is going to have a problem. They will get along the entire season."- Shannon Sharpe
  
• "Deion Branch doesn’t want advice. He wants the cheese."- Shannon Sharpe
• SUPER BOWL XLI PICKS: BOOMER ESIASON: New England vs. Seattle, SHANNON SHARPE: Denver vs. Carolina, DAN MARINO: Pittsburgh vs. Carolina

Week 2:

• "Jake “The Mistake” is a terrible name to give to any quarterback. Now let’s see, Jake Plummer last year leads the Broncos to the A.F.C. Championship game. They go 13-3. “Jake the Mistake” throws only seven interceptions the whole year, 18 touchdowns. If any other quarterback in the NFL did that last year, he would not be talked about in this way."- Phil Simms
• "I think that Denver Broncos fans want to see more out of their quarterback position. They want to see John Elway. They want to see a guy throwing the ball down the field and not throwing interceptions in the big games. I know he has a rookie behind him so I don’t expect him to be benched."- Boomer Esiason
• James Brown: How long before Tony Romo takes over? Marino: Until they’re out of the playoffs or unless Drew Bledsoe falls on his face, you go with a guy with the best chance to win and that’s Drew Bledsoe. When you think about him, last year every time he lost game he came back, won and had a good game. Get off Drew Bledsoe.
• "Peyton Manning is definitely going to miss Edgerrin James."- Rich Gannon

Week 3:

• James Brown: Dan and Shannon picked Carolina to go to the Super Bowl. Are the Panthers overrated, Boomer?

  Boomer Esiason: I think Dan and Shannon are overrated. I picked Seattle because I know what I'm talking about. Carolina was the chalk pick because everybody goes back to the way that they finished last year and that's the wrong thing to do.

• "Back then, personally, I would have taken Eli Manning. Today, I would take Eli Manning."- Charlie Casserly (and you wonder why you don't have a job?)

Week 4:

• "We know for sure that there is one gunslinger. And with the way Chad Pennington has started on the other side by throwing the ball all over the stadium, my initial reaction is that, yes we’re looking at two gunslinging quarterbacks in this game"- Dan Dierdorf
• "I had a chance to talk to my son last night, and he wants to thank everybody for the cards, the phone calls, the flowers. All those feelings really help a guy in his situation. They’re helping him recover. He did come home from the hospital yesterday, so he's happy about that. He's sitting on the couch today watching the pre-game show. I don't know how happy that's going to make him, but he's looking forward to getting well."- Phil Simms
• "I am amazed at the tremendous fascination there is with covering Terrell Owens' every move. He's obviously a marvelously gifted athlete who just as obviously has some issues. We might never know what really happened there in Dallas but I do hope that T.O. gets whatever help he needs. And I also hope we won't allow ourselves to be held hostage to a story that was raised to the level of a national crisis."- JB

Week 5:

• Simms: Well first off, maybe Brett Favre should quit listening to the radio. I'll just say this, I think he's playing well so far this year. And, I believe he will break Dan Marino’s record. Dan Marino: And I can't believe Brett Favre doesn't have anything better to do in his life than to listen to Phil Simms on the radio.
• "Little T Learns to Share” on what his next book should be - How about, “Little T Learns How to Con Billionaire NFL Owners.”…I can’t wait for the book tour…It is amazing to me the world we live in."- Bommer Esiason

Week 6:

• "The Oakland Raiders, the Tennessee Titans or the Detroit Lions, all in the same bunch. All three needed quarterbacks. I know Tennessee took Vince Young, but I do think Matt Leinart is going to end up being a better professional."- Boomer Esiason
• "The Bears are one of the few teams I’ve seen in quite a few years that can have breaks go against them, be emotionally out of it, play not even close to an “A” game, and they’re still going to win. For a team to beat the Bears this year, it will have to play its best and get a few breaks along the way."- Phil Simms
• "If the Bears are the class of the NFC, that begs the question as to who is the second-best choice. This is where things get more difficult. St. Louis might be my surprising second choice. The Rams offense has been excellent with Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Kevin Curtis and Steven Jackson."- Shannon Sharpe

Week 7:

• "The Falcons do some unique things with Michael Vick at quarterback, and it’s no surprise that they capitalize on his strength as a runner"- Phil Simms
• "The guy that is developing into ‘fun television’ is JP Losman. The guy has a little Fran Tarkenton in him. He runs around back there and is quick on his feet. He’s not Michael Vick. Vick looks to run downfield. Losman looks to run around to buy time to throw. He is as elusive and as quick a guy running around at the quarterback position that I’ve seen in a long time."- Dan Dierdorf

Week 8:

• "I don’t care what you think of Michael Vick – whether you think he’s being mistreated or misused, or just think he’s not that good, whatever. He can play for my team any day"- Phil Simms
• "When I look at tricks, I look at Michael Vick."- Dan Marino
• "I asked Ben if he had any reservations about taking a hit in this game, his response was, ‘After being hit by a car this summer, it’s all relative.’"- Rich Gannon

Week 9:

• "I agree with Rich in the sense of Eli Manning because he has the perfect personality for the New York Giants team"- Dan Marino
• "There is still an awful lot of talk in New York, Chad Pennington hooking up with Chris Baker"- James Brown
• They should have fined him $5,000 for that dance and $10,000 for that mohawk he had going on for the first six weeks of the season. You can't dance any more until you get two touchdowns and win a game.- Shannon Sharpe

Week 10:

ON CHANGING SUPER BOWL PICKS FROM BEGINNING OF YEAR

Dan Marino (Carolina-Pittsburgh): Carolina still has a chance because in the NFC there are a lot of teams that are 4-4. If you let me change (AFC pick), maybe I’ll take Indy.

Shannon Sharpe (Carolina-Denver): I’m not changing. I still like the Broncos because in the last two weeks Jake Plummer has done a better job of taking care of the football and they are still formidable…Carolina is still in the thick of things…I’m sticking with Carolina and I’m definitely staying with the Broncos Nation.

Boomer Esiason (Seattle-New England): I’m going to ride Tom Brady all the way down to Miami. I am not changing, especially when you look at their schedule. As the season goes on, their schedule is one of the easiest in the AFC. So, I expect that they will win the AFC East. They will have to go on the road to win a couple of tough playoff games, but I think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick can do that. As far as Seattle is concerned, they may lose today against St. Louis, but a look at their schedule - they’ll get Hasselbeck and Alexander back - I am not jumping off that train just yet either.

• "A lot of blame has been placed on Michael Vick, but his wide receivers are just downright horrible. With all these dropped passes, Michael Vick, I suggest you file a missing person’s report on their hand"- Shannon Sharpe
• "I know drops are subjective, but to whip out my calculations, sometimes I use scratch paper, sometimes my head and sometimes a calculator, he has between 8-10 dropped passes."- Shannon Sharpe

Week 11:

• "Randy Moss is not a leader. He doesn't deserve to be the captain of the Oakland Raiders. He's the one who said he wanted to be traded. He's not happy. His effort is lacking. That's a disgrace to the uniform. I don't care what uniform you have on."- Boomer Esiason

Week 12:

• "The first change I would make would be to tell Arthur Blank to stay up in the booth. You barely know the difference between a screen porch and a screen play. And you only know about a screen porch because you worked at Home Depot. Stay up in the booth and let Jim Mora do his job. Second of all, no, I don't think they're going to make the playoffs."- Shannon Sharpe
• It may look like one of those old games between Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason - whichever quarterback has the ball in his hands at the end - he's going to get a chance to throw that winning interception.- Steve Tasker (on the HOU-NYJ game)

Week 13:

• "If you're a Cincinnati Bengal, you take care of business, everything is right in front of you. If they go 3-1 at the end of the year, they'll get a wild card."- Dan Marino
• "I think you stay with Rex Grossman. He's a young quarterback. He has made mistakes. Early he played really well. He was getting a lot of support from his running game when he was playing well earlier in the year. Yes, the last six games he has the turnovers and mistakes. This is a guy that can win for you and get them to the Super Bowl"- Dan Marino

Week 14:

• "If he doesn't improve his play, he's going to be on the bench and Brian Griese is going to be the next quarterback of the Chicago Bears."- Charlie Casserly
• "I have to disagree with you. What I saw was a jittery, deer-in-the-headlights quarterback-type back there. I think Mike Shanahan is playing with fire here. They're with seven wins right now in the AFC. They have a chance to get to the playoffs. By removing Jake Plummer, you take that out of the equation right now. I think this is a big mistake."- Boomer Esiason
• "Absolutely not. To be successful in the postseason, you have to be able to stop the run. And right now the Colts' defense cannot do that…They're giving up over five yards a rush. It's not good. They have to get it straightened out if they have any aspirations of playing in Miami in February."- Rich Gannon
• "If anybody can do it, it could be Peyton Manning because he'd have to play perfect. He's capable of doing that. [They are] a team that can't stop the run…They have a drug problem. They're getting drug up one side of the field and drug back down the other. That is a real problem. You can’t do that in the playoffs, so, I say no."- Dan Marino

Week 15:

• "Spitting in the face of DeAngelo Hall, and let me preface this by saying Congress is not in session, but they would have had to call an emergency session and pass special legislation to get me off T.O. if he had done that to me. T.O., you being from the South, I myself am from the South, you know that's one of the greatest taboos that you do not do to another man. And for you to be smug with a cavalier attitude in saying you’re sorry… Don't apologize to the public. Don’t apologize to us at these desks."- Shannon Sharpe
• "At least we know he's an equal opportunity offender. He will offend anybody: his own teammates, his own coaches, his owners. He will sabotage a particular season or franchise, and this time, now he goes across the line and spits in the face of an opposing player."- Boomer Esiason
• "Home Depot does not sell enough nails and plywood to fix what's wrong them. Even with Ed Reed pushing the umpire into the running back, they still couldn't stop the run. Indy, you're in trouble and no team has ever gone to the Super Bowl lower than 20th in run defense. You need to get it fixed and I don't see how you can get it done with the personnel you have."- Shannon Sharpe
• "He will be fine. He will be fine. Trust me. There are a lot of happy women out there now that Tom Brady is a single man, I can assure you that."- Shannon Sharpe

Week 16.......Stangely missing from the archives. Did something happen that week that I missed?

Week 17:

• It hasn't changed. I thought it was going to be the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos...So Denver is going to go play New England in a rematch of last year's playoff game and the Jets will go to Indianapolis in their opening playoff game. So, the Jets and Denver make it in.- Boomer Esiason
• I do agree with you, Phil, of how great Peyton Manning is...but he's not going to the Super Bowl. This team is severely flawed. You cannot win a Super Bowl with a running defense like the Indianapolis Colts have. Dan Marino lived through this in Miami and now Peyton Manning is living through it in Indianapolis- Boomer Esiason
• All right. Let's start with Tony Romo. He's 1-2 in his last three games. He's gone from Jessica Simpson to Carrie Underwood, so he's not winning the Super Bowl.- Boomer Esiason
• "Michael Vick, I'm going to keep it real. You guys are not that talented. And talent alone does not win football games. The team that plays the best together on that particular Sunday, that's the team. You make no one around you better. You are a better football player. You run the football. You got 1,000 yards. You're so proud of that, but that's like LaDainian Tomlinson saying I lead all in running back passes. That's what you're there for to run the football. You're there to distribute the football and make that team better - and you have not done that."- Shannon Sharpe

Playoffs!??!?! Playoffs?

• Boomer Esiason wearing a Bill Belichick-like hooded sweatshirt on who he thinks will win: "You know I'm sticking with it, JB. This man has a Ph.D. in NFL coaching. Other coaches that he plays against make mistakes. He never makes a mistake. Plus he has Tom Brady. In order for the Indianapolis Colts to win this game, they've got to get some of that confidence back that they're missing on offense. But I don't think that's going to happen."
• Eli Manning knows no matter what happens, he’s going to be the starting quarterback for the New York Giants next year. Tom Coughlin knows if they lose this ballgame, there’s a great chance that he's not going to be coach of the New York Giants next year. That’s a lot of pressure.- Shannon Sharpe
• If I’m Lovie Smith, he doesn't make it to the playoff game. He's on the bench and Brian Griese is in.- Shannon Sharpe
• Marino: You never tell anybody you're not giving 100%. Even if you don’t feel it, don't tell anybody. Boomer: He's the Paris Hilton of NFL quarterbacks. (On Rextasy)

Well I'm glad you made it to the bottom of the list. You better have read every single one because I spent two hours on this damn post!!!!!