I forgot to watch the debut of NBC's "Parks and Recreation" last night, and in doing so, I missed a Bob Knight appearance on the show. Well sort of. Mouthpiece Sports has the video of one of the P&R employees using a Knight poster for inspiration....

I would pay good money for that thing. Anyone know where to get one?

Purple camo, beads, and face paint. Baltimore Ravens die-hards: quite possibly the most backward-looking group in terms of football gear fashion since the denizens of the Black Hole in Oakland.

Your late games, in a few sentences or less each:

• The Steelers have been absolutely woeful on offense in this defensive battle. Dallas has been good enough, despite two Tony Romo INTs, to get Romo and T.O. to hook up for a score and two Nick Folk FGs for a 13-3 lead. However, the 4th quarter is barely underway, and Pittsburgh is well into Dallas territory....and the Steelers just got stuffed on fourth and goal.
  
• Upset Alert of the Day: the Seahawks are up by five on the Patriots thanks to....Seneca Wallace? Yes, apparently, the Iowa State product has thrown for 200+ yards and 3 TDs so far (2 to former Pat Deion Branch) while subbing for Matt Hasselback, who's getting old and his back is flaring up again....whoops, now NE's back in the lead as Sammy Morris burrows into the end zone.
  
• Brett Favre is probably having plenty of fun out there, but he just got picked by Walt Harris of the 49ers, meaning San Francisco is still 10 points up with less than 2 minutes to play. Shaun Hill has thrown 2 TDs (three, really, if you consider that one of them was recovered by Joe Staley after the receiver fumbled in the end zone).
• Miami just waxed Buffalo north of the border 16-3 on a fitting ending: J.P. Losman got sacked, fumbled, and the Dolphins recovered. Chad Pennington threw one TD to Anthony Fassano and the rest was field goals.
• Denver is holding on by a touchdown at home against KC after coming back from 10 points down. Credit that to the Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall Show, as the two have hooked up for two scores on the day.
• The Cardinals need to kill four minutes up 27-10 on the Rams. Anquan Boldin hits the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the fourth season as a Cardinal.....and it's now 34-10 after another defensive touchdown; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie just pick-sixed Marc Bulger.

Document the usual atrocities of the Sunday Night crew, and we'll kick this thing off at 8:10 or so.

I missed Michael Strahan's performance on "Chuck" the other night, but lucky for us, First Cuts got a hold of some of the videos. Here's a little background and a clip that came near the end of Monday's show....

The clip above is one of the final scenes from last night's episode of Chuck, Episode 203 -- "Chuck Versus The Break-Up," where Strahan plays Mitt, leader of the meatheads from the Mighty Jocks sporting goods store in the same strip mall as the fictional Buy More electronics store where Chuck and many of the other main characters work.

I think it's safe to say that I didn't think I'd ever see Michael Strahan being beat up by an attractive Asian girl, while Heart is playing in the background. First Cuts has some more clips, and while I have no idea what the show Chuck is about, they're really not that bad. First Cuts has more so be sure to check them out if you have a few seconds.

Watch Michael Strahan On NBC's 'Chuck' (First Cuts)

More Pey-Pey to bring us back, as the Colts are down at the half -- to all our surprise, really. The Colts' offense looks stunted right now -- there is some inevitable truism about not getting snaps in the pre-season for Peyton and the first team.

Based on what I've heard on NBC tonight, I'm assuming when Brady goes on IR he'll take over the uniform patch and field adornment from Gene Upshaw. - Anon

I don't care who you are. That's just funny.

You think next week Chris Berman will call Cassle "Matt 'Harold and Kumar go to White Cassle'"? - Anon

Don't give Berman any ideas, although the majority of his references are from the 70s or 80s.

What the fuck was that? Devin Hester caught the kickoff in the end zone, and it looked like he was going to stay in, but then he snuck out and got WHACKED by Melvin Bullet (that is an all-time GREAT NAME, by the way) at the 7. Lovie Smith looks like he's been sucking on a lemon after that move by Hester. A quick three and out follows, and Maynard is going to give the ball to the Colts in good field position.

The Bears are not helping themselves with false starts on the punt.

Punt's brought back to the Indy 47.

"That's the Boogie Burger. You have one, then you go over to the [corporate name] Shopping Center and buy some new pants." - AM
"Two pairs of new pants." - JM

Manning hits Reggie Wayne for a first down in Bears territory, and I've just lost my fantasy match-up this week with Dallas Clark not coming back.

Charles Tillman gets flagged for illegal contact on a bomb Peyton was aiming for Marvin Harrison. 1st and 10 at the Chicago 32.

"If he's angry and he gets fast, this is the time to use [Harrison]." - JM

Can someone translate what the fuck this actually means? I don't think anyone has seen Marvin Harrison emote on the field for his entire career. He is the Gargoyle of wide receivers. Joseph Addai gets a first down and goal for the Colts. Screen to Wayne, bad block by Gonzalez. Manning to Wayne in the back of the end zone, TOUCHDOWN.

Kick is good, 15-13, Bears.

Hester gets run off out of bounds at about the mid-20s on the kickoff. Kevin Jones gets six yards on his carry. and grabs 2 more on the next one. Orton to Olsen for a third down conversion.

A 2nd down pass to Forte gets nine yards, then Forte grabs another first down with a rush.

"There's nothing about Matt Forte that looks like a rookie." - JM

I know what he means, but it still sounds kind of funny. Forte looks like he didn't get that first down on the carry right there -- but, that is a very small piece that got it, and they'll get the chains moving. After a couple of short running plays, Orton loses the ball while dropping back, but recovers -- problem is, they're out of Gould's range now. Punt time on 4th and 6. Fair catch at the 16.

NBC uses Green Day's "Warning" for bump music.

This always amuses me about ads for erection pills: "Don't take [insert pill here] if you aren't healthy enough for sexual activity." If you ever got the diagnosis of not being healthy enough for that, wouldn't you just consider killing yourself at some point? (I don't mean to say you would go through with it, but y'know...)

Anyway, Manning tries a checkdown and it's incomplete on first down.

Peyton, Andrea's waaaaatching yooooooou.....

Manning to Harrison.....but it's a fumble caused by Charles Tillman, and Lance Briggs picks it up and takes it to the house for the TOUCHDOWN.

Dungy's gonna challenge it.

"On a wing and prayer, he throws the flag. Probably a prayer." - AM.

"The biggest problem he has is the stiffness." -Andrea Kramer (via Brian)

(Giggles like a schoolgirl.)

Call stands, for obvious reasons. Harrison had the ball and both feet down; that wasn't even close to being overturned. Gould's kick is up and good, 22-13, Chicago.

No Dane Cook, you may NOT make any more movies! Bad! - jfreak

Worth asking: how do you sell a movie like that to bigwigs? "Oh, we're gonna cast Dane Cook, the Pie guy, and Kate Hudson, who's really still coasting off of the over-rated Almost Famous. Whaddaya think?" "I'll sign off on that!"

On one of my frequent scannings of the cable guide, I found a bizarre little action flick that had Dane Cook starring alongside Dennis Rodman in the late 90s. I can't remember the name of it, and I think you and I are both better off if I don't recall it.

Good return by Indy, but there are flags that mean block in the back. Manning hits Wayne for some yardage.

"He's lettin' the Bears off the hook; he's lettin' em blitz too much." - JM

Could it be that the Bears' defense might be better than Peyton and his O-line, guys? I mean, it can't be that Peyton's not totally 100 percent (although that helps). Give the Bears more credit, guys.

Guys, that was a tough catch. If anything, Peyton kind of overthrew that ball to Marvin. Manning has to call another time out, and they've only got one left with another quarter left to go. Addai converts the 3rd and 1 at the Indy 40, and we're 45 minutes in.

"Even his enemies list him as their emergency contact number." I love the Dos Equis ads, although the beer is essentially Mexican Budweiser.

Manning goes deep for Wayne, but he can't land inbounds. Do the Colts have enough patches on their uniforms? With the stadium patch and the Upshaw patch, it's crowded. Peyton's captain's "C" is even higher; he looks like an erstwhile Boy Scout.

Manning hits Wayne at a bit more manageable area. Addai catches the 3rd down play, but is short.

When I imagine Roger Goodell making decisions in his office, I imagine he sounds like John C. McGinley in those Miller Lite ads. "It's funny faux pas, not funny ha-ha." (Why I imagine this is another matter.)

Bears are psyched, as the Colts go for it on 4th and 2 and get stuffed at midfield. Chicago is moving it in Indy territory with some ease, as Orton calls time out on 2nd and 2.

Apparently your Dane Cook/Dennis Rodman flick is called "Simon Sez," from 1999. I'd never heard of it, but it's got a stellar 2.2/10 rating on IMDb, good enough for the 62nd-worst rating of all time! - Jay

MST3K would have had a field day with that movie.

"They have out-physicaled the Colts tonight." - John Madden (via Anon)

From the Department of Made-Up Phrases.

Al referenced his drunken photos and the Neckbeard! Orton then gets Rexy on us on 3rd and 1, hitting Desmond Clark for 36 yards. 1st and goal on the 2.

Fullback Jason McKie piles in for the TOUCHDOWN!

Gould's PAT is good, 29-13, Chicago.

Courtney Roby gets beat up again on the kickoff return. That was a glorious replay of Manning Face that NBC showed before going to break.

I think those patches might be 25th anniversary, not stadium. I cannot say for certain, though. - jfreak

Has it really been 25 years since Irsay's Midnight Move? Wow.

I dont think there is a person in Chicago between the age of 20-27 that doesnt have a drunk Kyle Orton story. - Brian

Wouldn't shock me too much. Drunk Kyle Orton has become an erstwhile sort of legend, one that polite media don't really want to acknowledge too much.

"Key 3rd down for the Colts here." - AM

Really, aren't all third downs key? Essentially, converting those is the key to succeeding in football. Some are more so than others because of timing and being behind, but I have a hard time thinking of a non-key third down play. Anyway, Gonzalez catches the pass, first down. Jacob Tamme, filling in for Clark, gets one. Marvin Harrison gets a couple yards on the short pass -- but, ineligible man downfield on the Colts.

Two uses of "erstwhile" tonight? You are one erudite fucker. - Jay

I like my $10 words. Alex Brown takes Manning down for the sack.

Forgive my ignorance, but what does the Neckbeard refernce mean ? - JG

Please observe the photo below in the first half thread and Deadspin's Kyle Orton category.

Fourth down, and the Colts are probably going for it -- incomplete pass, and the Bears get it back and will look to ice this one.

"Orton with efficient numbers...."- AM. Translation: less than spectacular passing yardage, only one TD pass (right, or does he even have a TD pass?), basically, has not fucked it up for the Bears.

Oh goody, the graphic bar at the bottom is back after a short hiatus!

The Colts need a priceless pep talk. - SSReporters

"Alex Brown came from the backside of Peyton Manning." -JM (via Anon)

I'm laughing like the 12-year old that I really am. We can safely say this game is over as the Bears try to run out the clock, and question whether the Neckbeard is truly the One True Quarterback for the Bears or if the Colts just played really flat.

And the Colts are going to run it out with some meaningless plays, as the AFC South -- which I think is the best division in the conference -- has three of its four teams lose today. Tennessee is the only team in the division to win (well, by beating a division rival.)

Anyway, it's gonna wrap up 29-13, Chicago. Thanks for sticking around, and I'll see you next week for Steelers-Browns. Drop by Signal to Noise some time, won't you?

Like I would start this live-blog without a picture of Kyle Orton drunk. That's just how we roll. Got it? You may also start your Peyton Puffery meter from Al and John now; we will go with an over/under of 12 obvious on-air BJs. I will also be praising the elder Manning if he makes a habit of throwing it to Dallas Clark tonight, say, on the order of two or three touchdowns, because I'm 20+ down to The Starter Wife in the Channel 4 News League.

You know how this works. I take the best of your comments and post them throughout.

The NBC desk is now HUGE. It's still not big enough to fit all four of those egos up there. Not that I don't like Patrick, Olbermann, and Collinsworth, but it's too damn much. (Bob Costas can go somewhere cramped and smelly as far as I'm concerned.)

Faith Hill's grown on me as far as a theme. Dumb and cheesy, but a better dumb and cheesy than the other networks.

John's inflated a little over the offseason -- he looks weightier than he does in the Madden ads where he's ridiculing video gamers who throw Hail Marys on 4th down.

The Sunday Night Football Cookbook? Um, no. I'm sure some of us out there can make better recipes on our own or know someone who can. But, if someone buys it, let us know if there's a turducken recipe in it.

Do we really care if Danica Patrick finished 10th in some Indy race?

Robbie Gould kicks off to Courtney Roby, who bobbles and then gets it to the 30 for a start. Here comes Pey-Pey. Incomplete dump-off to Robinson on first down. Pitch to Joseph Addai, hits the outside for 5 yards. Lance Briggs already knocked up and on the sideline. Peyton to Anthony Gonzalez for a first down.

Addai gets whacked while rushing on the next first down, loses three. 2nd down pass gets knocked down. 3rd and 13, and Gonzalez should have caught that. Punt team coming on, and I don't believe Dungy is dumb, so he's not gonna kick to Devin Hester -- wait, what? Hester got tripped up at the 30, thankfully, as Hunter Smith kind of botched the kick order.

"They can either come in that position..." - John Madden (via Gangsta D)

That's just nasty. Here comes the Neckbeard...and it's a botched play with a false start. Your 2008 Chicago Bears. Excuse me, an illegal snap. Matt Forte gets 2 yards, then six more on the 2nd down play. 3rd and 8 results in a deflection, and we get a three and out. We'll probably be seeing a lot of that from the Bears' offense.

Maynard's punt bounces all the way to the Indy 19.

Bud Light Lime: If the shitty taste wasn't bad enough for you, we're going to mask it up with artificial lime flavor! Addai goes for 4 yards on 1st. Manning tosses to Marvin Harrison near the sideline for a first down, and goes back to Marvin once again across midfield.

Addai for a couple more, and Madden talked about possible problems with Peyton's footwork. I trust John did not see his acting work; he's got good moves. Manning hails one up to Dallas Clark, and we're gonna get a PI flag or a roughing the passer flag -- it's roughing on Urlacher, and I hate calls that are that close. If you're going to call that a split-second after the QB throws, put the quarterbacks in red "no contact" jerseys or a dress.

Manning goes to Gonzalez on the next play and it's another first. After an incompletion, Addai goes around to the left side and grabs about 12 for a first and goal. Manning doesn't like the set-up, and he calls time out. Tommie Harris comes up and stuffs Addai for a five-yard loss.

"If the Colts can get their running game going with Peyton Manning and the passing game, they are just about unbeatable." - John Madden (via SSReporters)

This is what passes for analysis these days. Fascinating, huh? And Peyton has to blow yet another time out. He's out of rhythm with his line. 3rd and goal turns into even more difficult, as they get called for a false start and are now at the 16.

OK, now this is really bad. The Colts do not get called for delay of game. EVER. The third down pass is incomplete, and Adam Vinatieri is coming on to kick a field goal.

Kick is good, 3-0, Colts -- but that's not looking good if Indy's gonna play like that.

If you'd like a short game break and would like some schadenfreude, here's video of that Tom Brady hit from earlier today:



Ouch.

Andrea Kremer tells us about Lucas Oil Stadium's retractable roof, and I can only think about the millions it cost and how much of it is taxpayer-funded. The kickoff is handled by a non-Hester, since it's a squibber, and the Bears start at about the 30. Orton's 2nd down pass gets tipped, and while John and Al are talking about Orton somehow getting a starting job again -- oh, shit....Matt Forte just busted it 50 yards for the touchdown! Nice run.

Gould's kick is good, 7-3, Bears.

Courtney Roby flubs the kickoff, but the ref says he was down on the kickoff. Can Lovie Smith review that or is that just a ref's judgment call? Apparently you can, and Smith is going to.

No Andrea Kramer, you are not allowed to call my beautiful new stadium, "the Luke." Get out of my sight. - jfreak

Aw, you know every media member has to come up with a catchy name for a stadium!

Tony Romo gives the dumbest smile ever at the end of that Lemon Pepsi commercial. Why can't they show Brian Dawkins hitting him hard at the end?

Romo may have doubled his size but his dick remains as tiny as the pepsi bottle. - Anon

+1, sir.

The play stands as called. Manning to Clark for 7 or 8 due to poor tackling by the Bears. Addai stretches for a first down. Next pass is too high for Reggie Wayne. Wayne took a hit from Charles Tillman trying to catch the third down pass, and Hunter Smith will be on his way out again.

Punt is downed by the Colts at their own 17.

Referring to the graphic about leading passer, rusher, and receiver -- when all three of them kind of suck (save Berrian, but who would throw to him?), you can't blame an organization for getting rid of them. Forte gets 9 yards on the carry and you might have the right to start asking questions early about the Colts' defense. Usually Bob Sanders is there and able to help with run stuffing.

Orton to Hester for eight or nine, and one more tackle missed and he'd have been free for 20. Forte busts through for six or seven and a first -- and Bob Sanders pretty much saved a touchdown. First quarter's over.

Is Neckbeard going to complete pass in the first half? Odds? - Anon

Anon, already done, and he's smart if he's just going to go for checkdown-type stuff. No reason to pull a Sex Cannon if Forte's gonna run like that all night. Orton to Rashied Davis.

And John and Al are already onto the Brady injury -- rumors that they're going to bring in Chris Simms for a tryout. Opinions on this? Anyone's better than Matt Cassel, obviously.

A draw fails on 3rd and 5, and Maynard kicks it away, it's fair caught at the 18. Dishwalla's "Counting Blue Cars" for the bump? Are they from that area? I've not heard that song in a long, long time (and that may be a good thing.)

Regarding Brady's Knee:

Yahoo! Sports and PFT are saying the ACL is torn, and Adam SChefter of NFLN reported around 8:30 that the MCL is torn also.

Just passing along the info. - JG

That's painful. How many of you just got screwed in your fantasy league because of Brady's injury?

You still have Favra's dick to suck Madden, don't be too downtrodden. - jfreak

You think Madden's out of sorts? Peter King is crying in the corner of the studio right now. Manning hits Wayne for 18 yards and a first. Crap, crap, crap -- Dallas Clark is out with an injury; Manning hits Harrison in Bears territory. Gonzalez catches a pass and gets nice yardage post-catch by spinning towards the sideline.

Reunite the Culpepper & Moss! - Anon

I am so in favor of this, you have no idea. Manning hurls one to Wayne, but he can't quite lay out for it in the end zone. Peyton gets another pass tipped. 3rd and 10 is a swingout to Dominic Rhodes, but that's going to be short, and here comes Vinatieri again.

Dr. John Madden, evaluating just how much weight Peyton's lost.

FG kick is good, 7-6, Bears.

"That suit not fitting him the way it normally would, see him walking out..."- AM
"I've known Peyton Manning for a long time, and that's not the confident Peyton we're used to seeing." - JM

Danyel Manning brings the kickoff up to the 34. Forte up to the 37. Now, could you imagine if Chicago actually invested in a decent quarterback with their field position average, since no one wants to kick to Hester, they wind up being the benefit of squibs? Hell, they might actually get back to the Super Bowl. But, the Halas family is ridiculously cheap.

Bob Sanders just smacked up Forte and he's sitting on the sidelines. Time out, Chicago.

Think the Manning parents rode out on the Madden Cruiser ? - JG

Not high class enough for Archie and Olivia. Besides, Madden probably never shuts up. He's that dude you remember from the road trips you took during college who got baked in the backseat, ate all the time, and never, ever shut up. Had to talk about something all the time.

Clearly Manning is distracted with his important doubles match against the Williams brothers in the oreo cookie league of double stuffed whatever. - SSReporters

Hah!

"That's [Forte's] welcome to the NFL moment, huh?" - AM

Orton throws into double coverage for Desmond Clark while getting hit. Oddly Rexy of him.

It seems wrong that Dwight Freeney is rocking a Yankees hat in his profile picture. Not because of the team, but because he's wearing a hat. I didn't think that was allowed, but I'm not gonna be the guy to tell Dwight Freeney he can't wear a cap.

I would fire an RPG at Frank Caliendo through my TV if I could. Clark on the bike, Hayden poked in the eye, and Orton hits Clark over the middle for 19.

"This crowd has not been a problem for the Bears offense." - AM

The Colts' staff forgot to move the crowd noise tapes when they moved stuff out of the RCA Dome.

Kelvin Hayden should have had that pick. That was a high, rushed throw by Orton (thanks to Freeney), and that was a turnover waiting to happen. 3rd and 13.

Kyle Orton scampering downfield for yardage is really not a pretty thing to watch, and neither was the hit. Robbie Gould from 41 yards is good. 10-6, Chicago.

"It makes the RCA Dome look like a pimple!" - AM, on Lucas Oil Stadium

Gould kicks off to Roby, who gets out to the 21 -- but it's coming back, flags on kickoffs are almost always on the receiving team. Block in the back, Manning will start at his own 11. Marcus Harrison just put Peyton on the ground back at the 1 yard line. Handoff to the RB -- and Ogunleye tackles him in the end zone for a SAFETY. 12-6, Chicago.

Indy's challenging it, but I'm with our boys in the booth -- this didn't get out far enough. Call stands, and the Colts will punt it back to the Bears. Hester picks it up and takes it out to the 38. Offensive holding drives 'em back to the 28. 1st and 20 for Forte ain't much -- but Orton hits Brandon Lloyd to move the sticks. (Yes, that Brandon Lloyd, the one whom Redskins fans cannot say the name of without adding a choice swear word in the middle somewhere.)

Two minute warning is here.

Madden : You cant tell its a stadium from the outside.

Except for the giant lettering on the outside saying it is. Al and John must have hit happy hour before the game. - JG

Any reports of Brent Musberger tailing along for that one?

The Bears get a first down from an encroachment penalty, then Orton gets about 600 pounds of muscle falling on him as he's sacked. Forte cracks the 100 yard mark with that three yard gain.

Orton hits Greg Olsen on third and 15, and now using that last time out looks really bad, because they're forced to kick for the points rather than take a shot at the end zone. 25-yarder for Gould, and it's good. 15-6, Bears, and that's the half. Shoot the shit about the halftime show in the comments, and I'll be back in a few with our second half post.

Hiya, everyone. S2N here, back with you for another wonderful NFL season. Consider this your pre-game open thread for the pre-game show (now with Dan Patrick!) and feel free to add your gripes about the day in play.

See you in an hour when kickoff starts. I'm gonna get re-adjusted to using Blogger again.

Good lord. I'm seriously not trying to make this Strahan Central, but his agent is doing a hell of a job to make sure it happens. Via TSB via the Star Ledger now comes the breaking news that Mikey is going to appear on an episode of the NBC series Chuck....

Last week in Burbank, Ca., Strahan filmed a guest spot for NBC TV show "Chuck," playing Mitt, the manager of the Mighty Jock sporting goods store in the mall where geeky main character Chuck Bartowski works.

"When the cameras rolled, Michael was really, really funny," said Josh Schwartz, the show's creator and executive producer. "Everyone on the set was completely blown away. Broadcasting or acting, he's got a future."

In the episode, which will air Oct. 20, Mitt and his staff take over the home theater of the Buy More electronics store at lunchtime, playing Madden and leaving behind a mess of wrappers and food. Morgan, Chuck's best friend and co-worker at Buy More, has to confront Mitt, resulting in a showdown scene ala 80s film "Three O'Clock High."

Strahan's agent is seriously working a ton of overtime these days. Next thing we know he's going to show up on the CBS Evening News. Also, I've seen every single 80s movie and have never heard of Three O'Clock High until this very moment.

Strahan To Appear On NBC's Chuck (The Sporting Blog)
Strahan films cameo on NBC's "Chuck" (The Star Ledger)

(posted by One More Dying Quail)

From HD Sports Guide:

NBC will broadcast the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes Saturday.
Coverage starts at 4:30, giving betters plenty of time to place a wager before
the 6:15 post time. NBC will broadcast all the race plus all of the pre-race
coverage in full 1080i high definition.

Apparently, the possibility of a conflict exists between Game Five of the NHL's Western Conference Finals and the start of NBC's pre-race coverage. The only affiliates that will carry the game on NBC past 4:30 are those in Detroit and Dallas. Others will have to switch to Versus, and some will lose the game altogether.

I seem to remember something like this happening in the past. Am I imagining that or were the NHL playoffs preempted at some point?

Now, my predictions (or more accurately, my completely random guesses - although I DID correctly name Eight Belles as the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby):

1. Big Brown (1-2 odds) - Like many people, I'd really like to see a Triple Crown winner.
2. Giant Moon (30-1)
3. Gayego (8-1)

A good number of people chimed in after the Derby in regards to Eight Belles and I wanted to share my thoughts in this spot. Overall, I thought NBC's coverage of the Derby was pretty good throughout the afternoon. Sure the Billy Bush stuff was a little dumb, and just like I did with FOX I question their use of the word "star", but overall I thought the network's coverage balanced both the fun of the Derby and the coverage of the race itself. Sadly, everything today boils down to how NBC handled the death of the second place finisher Eight Belles.

The question that everyone seems to be asking today is whether the horse's collapse and subsequent death should have been televised and covered more closely. NY Times' writer Richard Sandomir even went so far as to say that NBC wasn't prepared to cover the death and was scrambling to get anything to air. Having only eight cameras solely focused on specific horses (none on Eight Belles) might have aided in that line of thinking, but in the end I think we're all better off. According to NBC Producer Sam Flood's interview with USA Today the horse was "writhing" and the injury was "gruesome". If things were happening they way Flood described them then there's not a chance I would have ever wanted to see that. The reality is that families and children watch the Derby with regularity (I grew up watching it every year) and NBC made the correct call. I thought the varying emotions of those in the winner's circle and the reporting on Eight Belles provided enough of a story.

When death is involved, whether it be animal or human, I think we're all better off just getting reports from the people on-site rather than seeing the images on the screen. Of course that's just one man's opinion, feel free to leave yours in the comments.

Ben Roethlisberger was on Carson Daly's Talk Show last night, and it was surprisingly entertaining. Special thanks to reader Save the Steagles who reminded me this was on last night (and sent me the Simmons tape). Being a Redhawk.....I hope she enjoys a dreamy Big Ben talking about: Motorcycles, the Super Bowl, dating, getting knocked out, Jerome Bettis, coaching changes, appendicitis, and Jessica Alba.

(FYI-I solved the volume problem, but can't solve the darkness problem (Dahkness!!). Oh well right....F-me.)



I love Carson's botch of which Championship Ben attended, and the Shawn Marion shooting contest. The fact that he was on with Fall Out Boy just makes it THAT much better.

(Musical Links and Live-blog scheduling later today)

So my prediction/guess yesterday (or I just read a report or something) that he is going to NBC looks to be coming true. Barber has notified both ABC and FOX, and has told them that he is leaning towards the peacock.

The wide-ranging deal would have Barber signed to both NBC News and NBC Sports to contribute as a host, journalist and football analyst for properties such as "Today" and "Dateline" as well as net's football coverage.

Sources said the Barber expects to sign a deal after his last appearance as a professional football player at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Feb. 10.

Barber's deal is unusual for both its size (more than $3 million a year over four years) and because he wants to work as a journalist, not just a football analyst.

At this point it doesn't matter where he goes.....he's played this perfectly. I'm surprised Drew Rosenhaus isn't his agent and making phone calls to ESPN saying, "You don't want to lost Tiki! I'm looking at him right now.....he's signing a 10 year 129 million dollar deal!!! What? Okay you're upping it to 150....hold on."

You can pretty much bank on seeing Tiki on NBC sometime in the near future.

NBC Carries Tiki Barber Torch (Variety)

Well it seems as likely as anything else at this point. Yesterday NBC cut the Soap Opera Passions (RIP Timmy) to add an extra hour to the Today Show, and now it appears that they are courting Tiki to join the show.

Who will be front and center during the fourth hour has yet to be determined but Capus confirmed that the network has reached out to retired New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, who has proven himself an adept broadcaster through appearances on Fox News Channel and ESPN.

"We'd love to have him," said Capus. "He's obviously enormously talented."

Apparently the new Fourth Hour will look a lot like the Third Hour and be much lighter. I of course never watch the Today Show, so I have no idea how this will play out. NBC seems to have the desire and funds to attract Tiki. With Tony back in the MNF booth it looks like this might be the direction he's heading.

One More Hour in 'Today' (New York Daily News)