The "Colt" Treatment

Indianapolis Colts' QB Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning was drafted with the #1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, after many they should've went with Ryan Leaf, who displayed a stronger arm at Washington State. The San Diego Chargers proceeded to take Leaf with the very next pick, and the rest became history. While Leaf was always fighting with the media and sometimes himself, Manning established himself as a franchise savior and a sure Hall-of-Famer.

So why is Jim Irsay all of a sudden treating Manning like he hasn't meant anything to the franchise? Manning missed the entire 2011 season after getting a third neck surgical procedure in a 19-month span. No one knows for sure whether Manning will be able to return and continue his NFL career, but the way Irsay is running his mouth shows utter and complete disrespect to the guy who literally saved his franchise.

The Irsay family moved the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984 in the middle of the night, not giving anyone warning. Anytime the Colts play the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, they are constantly reminded of the organization that turned their back on the city that night. Since the Colts moved the team to Indianapolis, there wasn't much buzz from the people in the state of Indiana either.

Events like the Indy's 500, and Bob Knight's Indiana Hoosiers were the talk of the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. In 1987, the Indiana Pacers drafted Reggie Miller, and he was able to lift the Pacers to prominence as well. The Colts were not talked about at all. A lot of poor seasons and high draft picks without any good results in return left the Colts as a doormat franchise.

Bill Polian once said that he visited Manning for a private workout, and Manning told him if he didn't draft him with the first overall pick, he would make the Colts pay for the next 15 years. That was enough for Polian to choose Manning over Leaf, and it turned out to be the best decision an NFL executive has ever made. Manning led the Colts to a 3-13 record in his first season, and it appeared there wasn't going to be much change for the franchise.

The very next season, Manning threw for 4,000 yards for the first of many tremendous seasons, and the Colts won the AFC East division with a 13-3 record, and earned a first-round bye. Other than the 2001 season, in which coach Jim Mora infamously made his playoff rant, Manning led the Colts to the playoffs in every season, gaining 4,000 yards in each season as well.

Overall, Manning has won four MVP awards and has thrown for over 54,000 yards in his career. In 2006, Manning led the Colts to a Super Bowl victory, winning the Divisional Round in Baltimore and overcoming a Patriots team that has beaten them in the playoffs twice before. Manning took them to another Super Bowl in 2009 and was favored in that Super Bowl when they were upset by the New Orleans Saints.

As we saw with the Colts this year, they were atrocious without Manning. Manning had a consecutive starts streak that went over 200 games before it was ruined the first game of the 2011 season. It was clear that Manning meant everything to that franchise, as they were embarrassed in a 2-14 season without him. Manning probably should've won his fifth MVP award just for showing his value in his absence.

With all of this being said, how can Irsay talk about Manning injury situation in the media and on Twitter as if Manning hasn't done much for the franchise? Irsay says the Colts' brand is bigger than anyone, but the fact is Manning is way bigger than the Colts. He made the Colts. There wouldn't be a new stadium in Indianapolis without Manning. There wouldn't be a Super Bowl in a city like Indianapolis without Manning. The Colts were able to vault past the Indiana Hoosiers, Indiana Pacers and the Indy 500 race only because of Manning. Before Irsay's opens his mouth even more, he should think about all of that.

Being A Goat

Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kyle Williams

Scott Norwood can relate to this as much as Billy Cundiff of the Baltimore Ravens and Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers can. Norwood was the Buffalo Bills kicker in Super Bowl XXV who missed a 46-yard field goal wide right to give the New York Giants the championship. Being the reason your team does not win the championship has to be the worst feeling in the world. Norwood's career ended after that kick, when the Bills signed Steve Christie and cut Norwood. Norwood was not picked up by another team, thus ending his NFL career.

Only time will tell what happens to Cundiff and Williams, but they picked the wrong time to have a bad game. In Cundiff's case, there's probably more blame to go around. Moments earlier, Joe Flacco threw an excellent back-shoulder throw to Lee Evans and Evans had it momentarily. That was until rookie defensive back Sterling Moore slapped the ball out of his hands, preventing a heart-breaking moment for the Patriots' defense. 

On the offensive possession before, the Ravens had a chance to kick a field goal to tie the game then. Instead, they decided to go for it on 4th and 6, and failed. The Ravens also played the New England Patriots very well, holding Tom Brady without a touchdown pass. But it was the "law firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis with a rushing touchdown and providing quality yards to help them get back to the Super Bowl.

In Williams' case, his two fumbles gave the New York Giants excellent field position, at the worst times possible. The first fumble never reached his hands. It grazed his knee and Devin Thomas did a great job of simply being alert and realizing the ball touching his knee. The Giants struggled in the second half moving the ball, and a short field helped them out as they got another touchdown, taking the lead back.

The second fumble was more conventional, with Williams trying to make a move and having the ball stripped by rookie Jacquian Williams. Once again, Thomas reacted quickly and jumped on the football, putting the Giants in scoring position to lock their berth to the Super Bowl. Again, there are many other factors to blame as well. 

The 49ers offense did absolutely nothing outside of the two big touchdown plays to Vernon Davis. Alex Smith simply couldn't find any of his receivers open, and the pass rush of the Giants did not allow him much time either. Their running game didn't control the clock the way they wanted it to as well. The 49ers only had one third down conversion, which happened to be the last play in regulation with the game sure to be headed into overtime.

The 49ers defense were pretty stingy themselves, but Manning had several clutch throws on third down. Also, Manning never lost his cool or composure after being sacked six times and hit 20 times. The 49ers held the Giants' running game in check as well, so the Giants benefited from those costly turnovers. The 49ers only had 10 turnovers in 16 regular season games.

Although Cundiff and Williams are not responsible for the other 59+ minutes of the game, they indeed cost their team an opportunity to go to the Super Bowl. It does not matter what happened before. If Cundiff makes that kick, it's overtime, and who knows what happens at that point. If Evans makes that catch, the Ravens are in the Super Bowl. If Williams did not fumble those two occurrences, the Giants don't score those 10 points easily. They'll have to deal with this until they get back to training camp, so it'll be a long and lonely one.

Still About Football

New Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin

It has been confirmed by the NFL Network and other sources that Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has accepted an offer to become the next head coach for the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins fired Tony Sparano in the middle of the season, and former Temple alum Todd Bowles took over as head coach. The Dolphins certainly improved from their woeful start to the season, where they didn't have a win deep into October.

Philbin now has an early offseason because the Packers lost to the New York Giants in an upset in the Divisional game. Philbin had been interviewing for other openings as well, but now that the Packers are eliminated, he focused on taking the best opportunity possible, which clearly was the Dolphins. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be an enticing job as well, the Buccaneers still seem to lack talent, even though they seem to have a lot of young, promising players.

Philbin, however, is still enduring a family tragedy with the death of his son Michael Philbin. So one may ask; how are you still able to negotiate for a head coaching position while still grieving the loss of your son? I asked myself how in the world he was able to coach this past Sunday's game while burying his son the day before. I questioned his judgment for that, but I, like many others, don't really know how he's coping with it because that obviously won't be reported.

I'm pretty sure the Philbin family is still grieving this tragic loss to a young man who had a whole life ahead of him to live. However, there comes a time where life goes on as well. A good opportunity presented itself for Philbin. He took it! He will probably think of Michael in almost everything he does, and ask for a little strength from above to conquer his new challenge; righting the Miami Dolphins.

Another Coach Firing

Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell was the latest to go.

Jim Caldwell became the latest casualty of a pretty busy offseason for teams who haven't made the playoffs this season. After an awful 2-14 season in which their best player missed the entire season, the Indianapolis Colts fired Caldwell. In Caldwell's first season, the Colts went 14-2 and went to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New Orleans Saints. The next season, they went 10-6 and won the AFC South again, but were eliminated at home in the opening round by the New York Jets.

While this firing looks like management is cleaning house, another message should be deeply sent to other coaches around the league. Just because you have a player or players that can carry you to a championship level, that doesn't mean anyone can coach the team. Clearly, once Peyton Manning was lost, the whole season was lost before it even started. It certainly appeared Caldwell wasn't a good coach even when Manning was getting them to the playoffs.

Now that we've seen him without Manning, we know that he doesn't deserve to be an NFL head coach at all. Caldwell had a calm demeanor on the sideline, just like his predecessor Tony Dungy. However, Dungy came to the organization in 2002 and brought defense. After his arrival, the Colts' defense improved, and Dungy and Manning finally got the championship they coveted for so long. The only reason Caldwell got the job was because Dungy named him the successor.

Caldwell was the quarterback's coach for the last several years of Dungy's tenure before he became the head coach. He didn't have much to offer, because Manning is already an elite quarterback. They didn't pay attention to the other areas that needed to be addressed, most notably the defense. It was inevitable that Caldwell had to go because we now see how bad he is when Manning isn't around. The Colts need a defensive coach who can let Manning run the offense if he sticks around, while the defensive coach takes care of the defense.

Another coach who is a catastrophe away from losing his job is Mike Tomlin. Tomlin came in after Bill Cowher retired in 2007. Tomlin didn't even change the staff, because it was already so good. Tomlin's specialty is defense, but with Dick Lebeau being respected in the locker room and already doing a great job with the defense, Tomlin kept him.

With the offense being run by Bruce Arians, Tomlin was left to be simply a motivator. He has been given a ton of credit for motivating his guys, but the fact of the matter is he was given a great team. There was no motivation needed for players like Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Hines Ward, Ryan Clark and others who are veterans. The offense is being managed by Ben Roethlisberger and the defense is doing a great job.

However, once the defense plays ineffective, that team is done. The 2009 season, the year after they won the Super Bowl, they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs because of poor defense and poor special teams. This was something Tomlin did not work on with his team. When the Steelers lost in the Wild Card round to the Denver Broncos, Lebeau's defensive strategy obviously didn't work, but Tomlin wasn't able to make any adjustments to the offensive or defensive sides of the ball.

If Tomlin were to coach the Cleveland Browns, for instance, he would've been fired in no more than three years. Most of the head coaches who were fired this offseason weren't even on their respective teams for more than three years. The Jacksonville Jaguars just hired Mike Mularkey, and three years down the line, he'll probably be fired.

Coaching searches should be thought out long and well. When the New York Giants fired Jim Fassel, they immediately sought Tom Coughlin, who coached the expansion Jaguars to two AFC Championship appearances. Coughlin's hard-nosed stance with players obviously fit in with what Ernie Accorsi, the Tisch and the Mara family were looking for. Almost a decade later, Coughlin is still with the Giants and trying to lead them to a second Super Bowl appearance and victory.

When Bill Belichick left the New York Jets, and took the New England Patriots head coaching job the next day, it was because the Kraft family knew what they wanted in their next head coach. While it did help that Tom Brady turned into a sensational quarterback, it was Belichick's job managing the defense that helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls. When you're looking for your next head coach, look at the worst possible scenario, and look for the right fit. Hopefully the Colts will do that in their next head coach.

Why Hate Eli?

New York Giants QB Eli Manning.

Earlier this week on ESPN2's First Take, both Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless said that Eli Manning will cement his standing as an elite quarterback if he can win in Green Bay for the Divisional Round. Now, there are many articles and blogs stating that Manning has now cemented his status as an elite quarterback. Did it really take one game for Eli Manning to establish himself as elite?

Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers has always been labeled in the elite company of quarterbacks, yet all he has done throughout his career is manage the offense while the defense won them football games. When it came to the most important playoff games, Roethlisberger has played poorly. In the AFC Divisional Round against the New York Jets in 2004, the Steelers were lucky Jets' kicker Doug Brien missed two field goals he should've made. Roethlisberger had an interception returned for a touchdown and played awfully despite the win.

The very next week, in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, the Patriots were not letting the Steelers off the hook with his poor play. They dominated easily in Pittsburgh as they went on to win their third Super Bowl in four seasons two weeks later. The next year, in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, he played arguably the worst game for a quarterback in the Super Bowl in a winning effort. Lastly, in last year's AFC Championship Game against the Jets, he probably had the worst performance of any quarterback in a winning effort as well.

Yet, Roethlisberger is always rated above Manning because of the team's success. The Steelers have far and beyond the much better defense. Manning had an elite season in 2009, but it was the Giants' defense who set an NFL record by giving up 40 points five times that season that cost them a playoff birth late in the season. Last season, it was the defense who couldn't hold a 31-10 fourth quarter lead that cost them an NFC East crown and a playoff birth. Who's fault is that?

Manning did throw a league-high 25 interceptions last season. However, about ten of them went through receivers hands, as the Giants' wide receivers led the league in drops. Also, Drew Brees threw 22 interceptions last year, yet he was still placed in the elite category. As a matter of fact, Manning did exactly what Brees did last year; at least 30 touchdowns, at least 20 interceptions, and at least 4,000 passing yards. Yet, the Giants lose because Manning turned the ball over a ton.

Manning almost had 5,000 passing yards en route to another great season, and an NFL record 15 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Yet, people criticized the decision to put Manning ahead of Matthew Stafford in the Pro Bowl. How disrespected is Manning? In last year's list of Top 100 NFL players of 2011, Manning didn't even crack the list. Quarterbacks who cracked the list include Donovan McNabb, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman.

It's not time to put Eli Manning in the top 5 quarterback's list. Manning was already top 5 for a couple of seasons now. Since his first Super Bowl win, Manning has been nothing short of fantastic. For the New York Giants franchise, this is the best stretch of success they have ever seen. Since Manning became the full-time starter at the start of the 2005 season, the Giants have not had a losing record. Then again, it was the defense who's responsible!

Coaches In Waiting?

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano

Former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley

Earlier this week, the New York Jets announced that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer would not return at the position next season. The same day, sources revealed that Tony Sparano, former Miami Dolphins head coach, would be hired as the new offensive coordinator. The next day, it was revealed that Todd Haley, former Kansas City Chiefs head coach, would be joining the staff as well as an offensive assistant.

The headlines for the Jets this week, however, wasn't the hiring of both individuals. It was the blasting of Mark Sanchez by several anonymous players on the team. This is only continuing the friction that first appeared during the final game of the season, when Santonio Holmes was benched during the last two minutes of the game because of his attitude. The saga continued when Rex Ryan told reporters he didn't have the "pulse" of the team.

Backup quarterback Greg McElroy made it a whole lot worse with his comments on an Alabama radio station. His comments about the selfish behavior in the locker room inflamed the situation to a high point. For the optimists, the move to make Sparano the offensive coordinator is a good move because he loves to run the football. However, with Haley in the fold now, he might encourage Sparano to throw the football more.

While that is one situation, the other scenario is very interesting. With two head coach quality guys running the offense, many will wonder whether Rex Ryan's job is officially on the line. Ryan has had three quality seasons so far, taking the Jets to the AFC Championship Game twice. However, his bold statements and failure to deliver that long-awaited Super Bowl he always talks about may have the Jets' brass tired of his antics.

This upcoming season will be different, yet very interesting. If the Jets struggle, will Ryan be replaced by one of them? What happens if Sanchez and the offense struggles again? Who takes the blame? The Jets will be looking to get back to where they were the previous two seasons, but we'll see if Ryan can survive the 2012 season.

A Clean Slate

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson was fired.

At the conclusion of the 2011 NFL regular season, there were several coaches who jobs were definitely on the line. Initially, it didn't appear Hue Jackson of the Oakland Raiders was one of them. After the Raiders hired Reggie McKenzie to be their new general manager, he immediately went to work, firing Jackson after just one season. While the Raiders finished at 8-8, they were very undisciplined, setting an NFL record for most penalties in an NFL season.

Jackson took over a team that finished 8-8, largely due to the addition of Jason Campbell at quarterback. He did split time with Bruce Gradkowski because of inconsistent play, as they succeeded in getting their first .500 or better record since 2002. Jackson was hired as the offensive coordinator that season, and when Tom Cable was let go in the offseason, Jackson was promoted to head coach.

The Raiders looked good early, jumping out to a 4-2 record and looking as if they were going to compete with the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West crown. However, once Jason Campbell got hurt against the Cleveland Browns, it sort of went south from there. Shortly after, the Raiders acquired Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals for a number of draft picks. Jackson showed a ton of confidence in Palmer, especially since they were together in Cincinnati and at USC, where Palmer went to college.

All of a sudden, Campbell was thrown to the side while Palmer was getting a lot of praise from Jackson. People questioned Jackson's thinking, and rightfully so. Palmer did not turn out to improve the Raiders, and he threw a number of interceptions in a brief season. With a chance to win the division during the last game of the season, the Raiders didn't play with the energy needed in order to win the game, a home game against the Chargers. The Denver Broncos ended up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, so if the Raiders had beat the Chargers, the Raiders would've been division winners.

Ultimately, the decision to give up so many draft picks to the Bengals to acquire Palmer may have been the reason McKenzie decided to rid the team of Jackson. This was a huge gamble, and it's safe to say it doesn't look like it will pay off. Other than that move, Jackson had this team headed in the right direction. Jackson should not have been fired because the players were certainly responding to him, especially during the tough times during the season.

Owner and general manager Al Davis died during the season, and then Campbell ended up breaking his collarbone not too long after. Had Campbell been the starter for the entire season, the Raiders most likely would've won the division. Darren McFadden also battled through injuries all season, and that was at a point where he was the leading rusher in the league. Despite all of that, the Raiders were still a team capable of beating most teams on any given Sunday.

It'll be interesting to see who McKenzie replaces Jackson with. The Raiders also informed the rest of the coaches left over that they will not be retained, essentially starting anew. McKenzie, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, may bring pieces from them over to the Black Hole to get the team on a winning track. Only time will tell how successful this move turns out to be.

Family Matters

Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin

Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has a big issue, a week before the Packers face the New York Giants next week in the Divisional Round. Philbin's 21-year-old son Michael was reported missing Sunday evening. The Associated Press say that Michael Philbin was last seen at 2am Sunday morning, when he was visiting friends in Oshkosh, WI, about 50 miles south of Green Bay. Michael Philbin was sentenced to six months in jail in 2009 for sexual assault and battery.

Last season, Baltimore Ravens' safety Ed Reed had a family issue to deal with as well, when his brother Brian Reed jumped into the Mississippi River and disappeared after he was running from police. Authorities called off the search after a couple of days, never finding his body. Reed still played the Wild Card Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a game they eventually won on the road.

While many people applauded Reed for playing the game with a heavy heart, I think it's absurd to do something of that nature. In what universe do you still report to work after your brother dies, and has the entire family grieving and in an emotional state? Reed should not have cared about the fact that it was the playoffs. He owes the Baltimore Ravens nothing at this point. He has given his time and a high level of production throughout his long career.

I know the Ravens did not pressure Reed into playing, but Reed played only because it was the playoffs. It does not matter the magnitude of the game, because you will never get your brother back. Football will still be around if you're healthy enough to continue playing. Time and time again, people say that family comes before anything and everything. Reed did not exemplify that belief.

If Reed were a television anchor, would Reed take time off to be with his family? Absolutely, no question about it. Being a television anchor is an occupation most people love, but it doesn't come with the millions that a football player receives. Ed Reed gave the speech most athletes give when dealt with this kind of situation. He told reporters he knows his brother would've wanted him to play. Now if I were to die, I would want ALL of my loved ones to be mourning together.

This is obviously a tough situation for Joe Philbin because it's his son. Everyone who knows Joe and Michael are praying for his safe return. God forbid, if the end result isn't good, I certainly hope Joe Philbin will make the right decision for not only himself and the Packers organization, but his family.

Patriots To Hire McDaniels

Former St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is heading back to New England.

Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Patriots put up ridiculous offensive numbers, led by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. That season, Brady threw an NFL record 50 touchdown passes, and Randy Moss caught an NFL record 23 touchdown passes. The Patriots were constantly putting up 40+ points every game, usually in a blowout effort. This all culminated in the Patriots being the first team to go the entire regular season undefeated since the 1972 Dolphins.

That season did not end all too well, as the Patriots lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. However, that season with McDaniels leading the offense was record-breaking and simply fun to watch. Unfortunately, Brady was lost to a torn ACL for the whole season during their home opener against the Chiefs. Although the Patriots went 11-5, they failed to make the playoffs. McDaniels left the following offseason to take the head coaching position with the Broncos, one that did not work out so well.

McDaniels was fired in the middle of the 2010 season, struggling mightily after getting off to a hot start in his first several games as the coach. This past season, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Rams, and that did not work out so well either. However, McDaniels is being hired by the Patriots again, after current offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien took the head coaching position at Penn State. Even better for McDaniels, he is allowed to start contributing as an offensive assistant right away.

This essentially means McDaniels went from the worst situation and the worst team in football with the Rams, to the best team in the AFC with the Patriots, in the same season. I don't know if McDaniels can ask for more. The real problem for the rest of the league is that McDaniels is back with Brady. The Patriots offense was clicking at the beginning of the year, especially against the Dolphins in the season opener.

With McDaniels in the fold, the Patriots could be approaching another one of those 2007 record-breaking seasons again. The only thing holding them back right now is their defense. It is very young right now, but it has been ranked near the bottom in most defensive categories. Maybe that will change next season. No one really knows, but we can expect the offense to be firing passes all over the field again next season.

Plaxico And The Other NY Team



New York Jets WR Plaxico Burress.



Immediately following Plaxico Burress' release from prison, he was seen embracing agent Drew Rosenhaus in a Philadelphia Phillies hat. Many Eagles' fans saw that as a sign that Burress may potentially sign with the Eagles. They had all the reason to believe so. Burress and Michael Vick grew up in Virginia playing against each other in high school. Burress eventually signed with the New York Jets, after coach Rex Ryan did everything possible to get him there.

Once he was able to start meeting with teams, Burress met with his two former teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. Signing with the Steelers would've been a great idea. They get consistent quarterback play from Ben Roethlisberger. While they do have younger and faster receivers in Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, Burress and Hines Ward are guys who can work with Roethlisberger when things break down in the pocket.

During Roethlisberger's rookie season, Burress was his favorite receiver. Time and time again, when Roethlisberger needed a guy to make a play, it wasn't Hines Ward, it was Burress. That was short-lived however because Burress got injured and some questioned his toughness late in a season where the Steelers went 15-1. Burress would sign with the Giants afterward, and Roethlisberger would go on to complain about the lack of a big receiver on the team.

Burress then proceeded to help another young quarterback in Eli Manning. Manning and Roethlisberger were drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Manning's first full season as a starter was the 2005 season, and the Giants getting Burress via free agency helped the Giants to an 11-5 record and a NFC East title. All four of Burress' seasons with the Giants resulted in a playoff birth, and he was the recipient of the game-winning pass in Super Bowl XLII.

After Burress shot himself and knocked himself out for the rest of the season, the Giants sputtered down the stretch. They eventually lost to the Eagles at home in the Divisional Round after having home-field advantage throughout. Then Burress was cut in the offseason and the Giants didn't make the playoffs the next two seasons.

With that being said, a ton of people believed Manning needed Burress. That was no longer the case. During the 2009 season, Manning had the best year of his career to date, throwing over 4,000 yards with close to 30 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions. The following season, Manning threw over 4,000 yards again, but threw a career-high 25 interceptions. That number was misleading because the Giants' receivers were terrible at moments in hauling in passes. A lot of passes through the hands of the receivers ended up in the hands of the defense.

When Burress was sifting through his options, it was a no-brainer for me. The Giants should not entertain the thought of signing this guy. The Giants' offense had already evolved to the point where it's become kind of a home-run hitter offense. The Giants were attacking defenses more, throwing down the field to the young receivers. Burress would not have fit in at all. That decision turned out to be the best for the Giants.

The Giants didn't make the playoffs in 2009 because their defense allowed the opponents at least 40 points in five different games. In the 2010 season, the Giants had a chance to win the division. Up 31-10 in the fourth quarter, the Giants' defense blew the game agains the Eagles and it cost them a playoff spot. Both of those aren't Eli Manning's fault at all. As a matter of fact, Manning never has had a losing record in any season as the full-time starter of the Giants.

Burress signs with the Jets and that didn't turn out so well. Surprisingly, Burress kept himself composed. Santonio Holmes certainly didn't. Mark Sanchez was awful at certain stretches, including that final game against the Dolphins. Meanwhile, Manning was carving up the league to almost 5,000 yards passing and a NFL record 15 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Six of the nine Giants' wins this year were come-from-behind victories.

Manning doesn't get the respect he deserves as an elite quarterback in this league. He's the guy directly responsible for the Giants success since he became the starter, not Burress. With his heroic performance this season after stating on radio that he considers himself an elite quarterback, Giants' fans are glad to have this guy on board, and glad to see Burress and the Jets fail.

Manning's Injury Indeed Costs Polian Job

Former Colts vice chairman Bill Polian.

The Indianapolis Colts decided to fire general manager Chris Polian and his father, vice chairman Bill Polian after a 2-14 season that was marred by Peyton Manning's season-long neck injury. Polian said in an interview with the Associated Press that he believes Manning's injury ultimately cost him his job. He went on to say that he failed at coming up with an adequate solution at the quarterback position in the event Manning were to be missing for a substantial amount of time.

Polian is certainly correct in his assertion. To put things into perspective, there has been talk that Jim Caldwell's job is on the line. Would his job be on the line if Manning played the entire season and won the AFC South with an 11-5 record? Most likely not, but his job is on the line now because he was put in a position where the leader of the team on the playing field was injured. The Colts didn't have a backup quarterback capable of keeping them in contention, and the season turned into an embarrassment.

What team actually has a backup quarterback capable of doing what Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky were asked to do? If you took a look at every playoff team, the only quarterback you could say keep their team in contention is Matt Flynn with the Packers. Of course, all of that talk is premature because we've only seen him in two games. However, in those two games, he was absolutely stellar.

Obviously, Manning proved how valuable he is and proved those four MVP's were well deserved. However, if Jim Irsay is going to let a season like this cloud his mind into making these kind of decisions, then he's making a big mistake. Bill Polian was successful in building a Buffalo Bills team that made four consecutive appearances in the Super Bowl, and were a missed field goal away from winning the first one. He built a losing team in the Colts into a decade-long contender, winning the Super Bowl in 2006.

If Irsay can't see that the Polians are best for the team going forward, then I hope Irsay has someone better in mind. Bill Polian can still contribute a great deal on another NFL franchise. For all of the teams who need a general manager or an executive to make great football moves, contact Bill Polian.

Norv Turner, Andy Reid Keep Jobs

San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

The San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles have announced that Norv Turner and Andy Reid will respectively keep their jobs as head coach. Turner and Reid were both put on the hot seat after their respective teams failed to live up to expectations that were placed on them going into the season. Reid will continue to be the longest tenured head coach in the league, starting in 1999.

The Chargers were expected to win the AFC West this season after finishing 8-8 last season. The Chiefs surprised everyone by winning the division, while the Chargers were unable to fully recover from yet another slow start. This year, it was the complete opposite. The Chargers headed into their Week 7 matchup with the Jets at 4-1 and leading the division. It appeared as if they would run away with the division. However, the Chargers lost six straight and fell out of contention for the AFC West crown. It was widely expected that Turner would be fired for greatly underachieving with this team, but luckily for him, he was given another chance.

The Eagles came into this season after having the best offseason of any team in the league. They were able to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, and Vince Young. They also acquired Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie from the Cardinals via trade. While everything was looking great in the City of Brotherly Love, they got off to a 1-4 start after losing to the Bills. The "Dream Team" label that was started by Young was quickly pushed away by Michael Vick and the players. The Eagles had a chance to turn things around after their victory in Maryland against the Redskins.

The Eagles had three straight home games, against the Cowboys, Bears and Cardinals. Instead, after easily dominating the Cowboys, they lost to the Bears and Cardinals and it was widely believed that it was over at that point. Many fans began calling for Reid's head, and Juan Castillo was in trouble as well. The Eagles were still in it up until Christmas Eve, but were eliminated once the Giants beat the Jets.

When firing someone, the question becomes; who will become the new head coach and are they better than the previous one? I definitely believed Norv Turner was on his way out, and there are definitely better coaches out there to replace him with. As for Andy Reid, he's been the one constant in possibly the best stretch of Eagle football in franchise history. I am not sure they are able to replace him with a better coach. Andy Reid deserves to be the coach of the Eagles for as long as possible because he will keep the Eagles in playoff contention or close to it every year.

Expectations will be great again for the Chargers and the Eagles. If they don't deliver again, both coaches will be sure to be on their way out. This is Turner's second chance, while Reid has had plenty of close calls.

NFL Playoffs Preview

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees

New York Giants QB Eli Manning

Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow

Cincinnati vs. Houston

This is one of the most unpredictable games in recent memory for the NFL playoffs. The Bengals are coming into this game with a rookie quarterback and a rookie wide receiver, which seems almost impossible. Before the regular season started, some people had this team as the worst team in the league. Many had them finishing last in the division, below the Browns, Ravens and Steelers. It is clear to say the Bengals were the surprise of the NFL, and if it wasn't for Jim Harbaugh's great coaching job with the 49ers this year, Marvin Lewis is probably a front-runner to win the Coach of the Year.

The Texans are also coming into this game with a rookie quarterback, but with experienced receivers in Jacoby Jones and All-Pro Andre Johnson. The Texans are also playing well defensively under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. However, the Texans have lost their last three games, including to the Colts who only had one win at that point. T.J. Yates injured his shoulder in the final game against the Titans, and he'll most likely have to play nursing that shoulder injury.

The Bengals are probably happy to get the Texans, since they're one of the teams struggling heading into the playoffs. However, this may be a blessing for the Texans as well, since the Bengals aren't that dangerous of a team to begin with. Yates loves to go with play-action roll outs, and the Texans should continue to utilize that since it's such a safe play. This isn't a good way for either team to be going into the playoffs, but the Texans are the home team, so they get the edge.

Cincinnati 20 Houston 23

Detroit vs. New Orleans

These two teams played in the Mercedes Benz Superdome back on December 4, and Drew Brees threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-17 victory. The week before, the Saints completely dominated the Giants and the Saints ended the regular season a perfect 8-0 at the Superdome. While the Lions have had a very good season, this Lions season almost reminds me of the 2010 season the Buccaneers had.

The Buccaneers finished 10-6 last year as well, and didn't make the playoffs along with the 10-6 Giants because the Packers overtook both of them for the final playoff spot. With that 10-6 season, there were high expectations coming into this season for the Buccaneers, and with a harder schedule, they failed. The Lions benefited from an easy schedule en route to a 5-0 start, but then proceeded to lose six of their last 11 games, mostly to good teams.

While the Lions story may be heartwarming, I believe the Saints will be even better than the first matchup a month earlier. Simply put, the Saints cannot be stopped when playing on their home turf.

Detroit 10 New Orleans 38

Atlanta vs. New York Giants

This is an interesting matchup of teams who play a similar style of offense. While the Falcons have thrown the ball with Matt Ryan more this year than ever before, they still like to rely on their run game to keep the offense moving. The Giants have been that way throughout Eli Manning's tenure as quarterback, but it hasn't quite worked out the way they wanted it to work out this year. The Giants were dead last in rushing yards as a team this year, which meant Eli Manning had to carry a heavier load.

Boy did Manning do a great job of doing so. Manning almost threw for 5,000 yards, and has led the Giants to multiple comeback victories through the air. Manning also set an NFL record with 15 4th quarter touchdowns this season, eclipsing his brother Peyton. The Giants are riding high heading into the playoffs with victories over their city rivals and their division rivals in consecutive weeks to win the division. The Falcons easily dispatched the Buccaneers the final game of the season, but was easily dispatched a week before in New Orleans.

The Giants should be thrilled to get the Falcons at home instead of getting the Lions. While the Falcons have been explosive, the Falcons haven't been anything special. The Falcons play indoors, and Matt Ryan's two playoff games have been indoors. Now he gets the windy Meadowlands, which Eli Manning continues to struggle with himself. Familiarity with the wintry conditions will favor the Giants.

Atlanta 17 New York Giants 30

Pittsburgh vs. Denver

This game looks so easy to predict, but not so fast. The Broncos are probably the worst team in the playoffs, backing their way into the playoffs with some bad losses. The Steelers are the defending AFC champion, but aren't necessarily heading into the playoffs on a good note either. It was just revealed that Rashard Mendenhall tore his ACL in the final game against the Browns, eliminating him from the playoffs. Ben Roethlisberger also had a gruesome-looking ankle injury a month earlier against the Browns, and he has not quite bounced back from that yet.

For the Broncos to do anything offensively, they have to figure out a way to get the receivers open. Tim Tebow isn't your average quarterback. Simply put, he will not throw the ball to a receiver unless he is wide open. Tebow's accuracy is probably the worst in the league, so any throw into traffic is in danger of being picked off. Teams are starting to play the read-option schemes much better now, so Tebow will have to throw like he's never done before in order to win the game.

The Steelers will most likely not have Ryan Clark play, as his sickle cell trait almost cost him his life years ago in the high altitude in Denver. In the last two games in Denver, Clark did not play. While Clark is an important part of the defense, he isn't the most important. The defensive line and the linebackers will get after Tebow, and any throws Tebow makes will be in danger of being intercepted by Troy Polamalu or Ike Taylor.

Pittsburgh 17 Denver 10