Issue: Los Angeles Lakers SG Kobe Bryant calling out the front office regarding the Pau Gasol trade rumors

Quick – when I tell you a star player and his franchise’s front office are publicly exchanging words, who am I talking about?

Actually ... not this time.

Apparently, things are getting a little chippy between the Los Angeles Lakers – in particular, star SG Kobe Bryant – and GM Mitch Kupchak, regarding the status of PF Pau Gasol. As rumors continue to swirl about whether or not Gasol will be traded – the most lucrative of which has Gasol in a three-team deal that could potentially send Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard to Hollywood – the players are getting restless. Meanwhile, Kupchak is trying to field as many offers as he can, in order to maximize the talent of his Lakers.

But Bryant, in his compassion for a valued teammate, rushed to his defense, apparently tired of seeing the European big man jerked around in a “Will he stay or will he go” guessing game. He made it clear this past Sunday:

I talked to [Gasol] a little bit about it. It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all. If they’re going to do something, I wish they would just [expletive] do it. If they’re not going to do it, come out and say you’re not going to do it. This way he can be comfortable, he can go out, he can play and he can invest all of himself into the game.

Kupchak and the Lakers organization responded in kind the next day:

As general manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come. To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage. Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans.

Now, I realize that this is a sensitive situation. After all, at the end of the day, professional sports like the NBA are business, and Kupchak is just trying to see if he can get the best deal possible to improve the franchise. Bryant, himself, wants to win championships. This may be the only way they can improve a team whose championship window may be closing.

However, I think Bryant, despite essentially trying to tip his own GM’s hand at the possible detriment of his team, was in the right.

"Did you hear him? He said I was RIGHT!"

The Lakers are 20-12, and are looking like a shockingly marginal team under new head coach Mike Brown. They seem, at times, to be a ship without a rudder, in more ways than one. Not only is the team not sure where they are necessarily getting their leadership from, they don’t know who’s staying or who’s going – especially Pau. Despite reports that Kupchak doesn’t want to trade Gasol, the rumors continue to fly.

Bryant is stepping in, and saying enough is enough. Get something done, because sitting idly by and waiting for potential trade partners are not helping the team. Not only is Bryant trying to be proactive with his team, he’s showing intangible leadership qualities in A) demanding action from a seemingly stagnant front office, and B) defending a teammate he would like to see in a Lakers uniform for the long-term.

As a man who routinely roots against the Lakers, I really mean what I am about to say: Good on ya, Kobe.

Verdict:

- – - -

Issue: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III moving his Pro Day so it doesn’t conflict with Stanford QB Andrew Luck’s Pro Day

With the 2012 NFL Draft just two months away, the debate about who should go first overall to the Colts actually has some legs.

Who's No. 1?

While the consensus #1 pick has been, and continues to be, Stanford QB Andrew Luck, the case for Baylor QB, and Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III continues to build. At this point, the debate tends to center around Luck’s pro-ready skills and translatable talents vs. Griffin’s higher ceiling and wide array of intangibles.

Reports came out recently that, in preparation for the draft, Stanford and Baylor were both to have their Pro Days – in which the schools’ respective pro prospects would showcase their skills for NFL scouts – on the same day (March 22). Considering the wide proximity of the two schools (Palo Alto, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,800 miles apart), scouts would have had to make a choice about which player to watch: Luck or RG3?

Well, Griffin decided to take it out of their hands.

"I got your back, Drew."

In a show of good faith and fairness, Griffin moved up Baylor’s Pro Day to March 21, a day before Stanford’s Pro Day. While it solves the scheduling issue, some have implied that moving up the Pro Day was a de facto sign of weakness – catering to Andrew Luck as the man who should have priority to be scouted. It was even suggested that Griffin, as the Heisman winner, should have stubbornly stood his ground, showing scouts that he would refuse to cater to anyone, as a sign of strong character.

Forgive me, but I thought that a Pro Day wasn’t just about one athlete.

In making the decision to move Baylor’s Pro Day workouts back a day, it turns out as a win-win, not only for Luck and Griffin, but for the other prospects for both schools. Had he refused to move the Pro Day, engaging in a metaphoric game of Chicken between the two universities, it would have ended up hurting both schools’ prospects, as their chances of getting drafted would decrease. Griffin sacrificed his priority to the scouts for the good of the whole, which actually projects the kind of qualities a plethora of teams would want in a quarterback.

Having a Heisman Trophy doesn't hurt, either.

In any case, in moving back a day instead of forward, he and his Baylor Bears teammates actually did themselves a favor – they would be scouted first, before Luck and his Cardinal brethren. That can’t be all bad, right?

Verdict:

- – - -

Issue: Giants C Buster Posey instructed not to block home plate in the future by Manager Bruce Bochy

It was the event that many San Francisco Giants fans could point to as the catalyst of the derailment of their team’s campaign for a World Series repeat. And it started with a Marlin making a play for home plate.

While the Giants stayed afloat for most of the summer, in the months following C Buster Posey’s season-ending leg injury, they couldn’t hold on to their division lead, and eventually missed the postseason, at the hands of the eventual NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks. It was obvious that, even with bats like Pablo Sandoval and Carlos Beltran in the lineup, they missed Posey’s leadership and offensive presence.

Now, as Posey’s rehabilitation stint has gone as planned, Manager Bruce Bochy wants to make sure that his prized catcher’s presence on the field stays there, long-term. And he has done this by telling him what not to do.

Namely, by not blocking the plate.

I’ll take this out of Buster’s hands. As a manager, that’s my job. I certainly don’t want people to think he’s backing off on his own. It’s something we’ll work on with him this spring … I’ve already talked to Buster about this. There are ways to make the tag without putting yourself in jeopardy. I don’t want him to block the plate right now.

Now, as a self-professed Giants fan, one would think I would be completely on board with this – and, at first, I was. After all, they can’t go and run the risk of losing Posey – who many consider the Giants’ best offensive player – again to an injury like the one he suffered last year. It seems only logical for him to avoid that kind of situation.

"No, Buster -- NOOOOO!!!!!!!"

But, I ask you to take another look at the video above. First, Posey wasn’t exactly standing in front of the plate when he was tackled – if anything, he was standing to the side of the path Cousins could have taken to the plate. Secondly, the injury, on second glance, was something of a freak accident: Posey’s ankle, after impact, got caught in an awkward position on the ground. The way his ankle was caught just doesn’t happen on the regular, or you would have a lot more catchers on the DL.

Then, there is the awkward position Bochy put Posey in, for the sake of his players’ safety. He basically put up a white flag to the rest of the league, saying that our catcher will not be blocking the plate under any circumstances. Now, opposing base-runners will have the mental edge when dealing with a play at home plate: they now know Posey won’t be so aggressive in those situations. That’s a handcuffing, in terms of competitive disadvantage, if I’ve ever seen one.

"Uh ... Thanks, Boch ..."

Ultimately, Bochy not only looks like he is coddling a player at the expense of his team’s success, he is basing his decision on a “What if” that may never happen again, and, if it does, is an inevitable part of the game. I love you, man, because of what you did for the Giants, but come on – if you want to put Posey out of harm’s way, then move him to first base.

Verdict:

- – - -

Issue: Criticizing SI Swimsuit Cover Model Kate Upton … for her “chubbiness”

If you know who Kate Upton is, then you might think I was making this up.

In case you didn't know, THIS is Kate Upton.

But, apparently, this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model has sparked a bit of a controversy – not from the rumors of dating New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez, or her recent viral video of her doing the Dougie – but from something you wouldn’t assume she could possibly be criticized for:

Her curvy figure.

In the wake of the annual swimsuit issue’s release, reports had come out that a certain sect of the fashion industry had deemed Upton, the 19-year-old former equestrian and perceived attention-seeker – as “too chubby to be chic.”

I’m sorry, but …

WHAT?!

I will admit, I don’t know much about the fashion industry – though I doubt many in the sports world really does. At the same time, I do know what a slender, attractive young woman looks like. To say this …

… is tantamount to being fat, is the same as saying the 2011 Dallas Mavericks were an awful basketball team.

I don’t even know what else to say about this. Despite all of the controversy surrounding the girl, please don’t go so far as to call her chubby. If she is chubby, who in God’s name is thin in your world?

Chubbiness, I suppose like many things, is in the eye of the beholder. But, I guarantee you, in the eyes of much of society, “chubby” is one of the last things to describe Kate Upton.

Verdict:

- – - -

Oh, good Lord, I didn't mean THAT Love.

That’s right – today is Valentine’s Day. With that in mind, let us cast aside all of the lovey-dovey stereotypes and cynicism of the holiday itself, and focus on what’s really important: sports.

In the spirit of the occasion, allow me to fawn over the most current things I love, and have come to love, for Valentines Day:

San Diego State Men’s Basketball. Remember the Aztecs team that went 34-3, who ultimately took down the Jimmer and BYU in the MWC Tournament, and reached the Sweet 16, only to lose to eventual NCAA champ Connecticut? A lot of people thought that they had probably reached their peak, what with sophomore F Kawhi Leonard, along with four seniors, departing in 2011. Well, all thoughts of their downfall were greatly exaggerated. Thanks to good recruiting and the stability of head coach Steve Fisher, the Aztecs of 2011-2012 bolted to an 18-2 start, including an exciting win over then #12 UNLV.

Their impressive backcourt of Chase Tapley and Jamaal Franklin have picked up the scoring slack, combining for 32.2 points per game, and a team defense that has come up big for them in conference play. Currently at 20-4, only one loss came against an unranked squad (Colorado State), and if they continue a good showing, heading into the MWC tournament, they may wind up with a top-8 seed in the NCAAs. I have to show love to one of my alma maters – especially since they are doing so well after losing all five of their starters from last season.

Then there’s G Tim Shelton’s viral sensation “Aztec Motto”, which, personally, I love:

So, there you go.

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Despite heaping some of the blame on him for the NFC Championship game loss last month, it would take something huge for me to lose my love for the man that almost single-handedly turned the franchise around, after eight consecutive seasons of going .500 and under. After leaving Stanford last January for the friendly confines of Candlestick, he didn’t exactly get off to a great start: He declared incumbent QB Alex Smith as his starter, and drafted unheralded Missouri DE Aldon Smith with the 7th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Fast-forward to the end of 2011. Jim Harbaugh leads the 49ers to a 13-3 record and the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs, turns Alex Smith into a clutch QB – something most 49ers fans believed would never happen – and had one of the best defenses in the league. His expertise, as well as his sheer enthusiasm and pure belief in the team, perpetuated a winning atmosphere the 49ers hadn’t had in almost a decade, and it eventually led them to the NFC championship game. Bless you, Jim Harbaugh, for coming to San Francisco.

Knicks PG Jeremy Lin. Everyone loves an underdog story. Unless, depending on who you are, that underdog rhymes with “Grim Knee Row” – but I digress. PG Jeremy Lin seemingly came out of nowhere – and when I say “nowhere,” I mean “the NBDL” – to light up the league like no unheralded NBA player has in years. It isn’t hard to love this kid’s story, his recent success, and his humility through it all. It wasn’t long ago that Lin, a Harvard grad, was sleeping on his brother’s couch before he got news that he would be picked up by New York – mostly as a bench-warmer.

"Thanks, bro!"

After getting the starting PG slot when incumbent Chauncey Billups went down, Lin has galvanized a squad missing its two other superstars (Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony) to a 5-0 record, averaging 26.8 points per game, and setting records for most points in his first four NBA starts (114). With phrases like “All he does is Lin”, “Lin-sanity” and “Lin-possible is Nothing” cropping up like weeds, it literally took only days for the sporting world to become enthralled with Jeremy Lin. His out-of-nowhere success, his faith, and his story is why I love this guy. The fact that he is an Asian-American is rarely seen in a sport like professional basketball, and, no doubt, brings a sense of pride to the Asian-American community at large. I love it, and I hope to see his success continue.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao. Despite a fairly controversial decision against his arch-nemesis Juan-Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao remains one of the best boxers in the world. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise why I have this man’s back – he represents a source of pride to the Fil-Am community, and he gives back to his native Philippines whenever he can (like a good successful Filipino should).

Despite his media feud with the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and the constant doubt about an eventual superfight between the two boxers, Pacquiao is moving forward with a June 9 bout with Junior Welterweight champ Timothy Bradley. And, while Bradley poses, according to experts, a real threat to Pacquiao’s fighting style, I don’t doubt that he will have the ability to put him down like the scores of fighters before him.

"Who's Next?"

Tennis Star Novak Djokovic. It’s hard not to back the guy – after the reign of Federer and Nadal, “the Djoker” swooped in and asserted his dominance of the sport in the span of only a couple of years. Now, he finds himself still atop the tennis world, and after two five-set marathon matches to win the Australian Open against Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, he has definitely earned it.

If there’s one thing I didn’t like, it was the aftermath of his title match, involving his shirt, a 14-year-old girl, and an alleged “shirt thief”, and the ensuing dust-up that occurred. But, other than that, Djokovic should have a championship run that matches, if not surpasses, those of his Swiss and Spanish predecessors.

You're welcome, ladies.

Women’s Soccer Forward Alex Morgan. Many Women’s World Cup fans from this past summer may know the big names from the US team – Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, and Hope Solo, to name a few. But it was 22-year-old Alex Morgan who scored some of the biggest goals in the tournament. After their thrilling quarterfinal match against Brazil, for which Wambach “saved the USA’s life” to send it to an unbelievable PK victory, it was the relatively unknown Morgan who scored in the ensuing semifinal vs. France, and was involved in both of the US team’s goals in the final vs. Japan – scoring on one and assisting on the other.

Now, the youngest player on the US Women’s World Cup squad has gained a bit of a following, and after scoring two goals against New Zealand in an international friendly in Dallas this past weekend, she has definitely caught my attention. Then again, it isn’t difficult to notice a beauty such as she – especially after she reportedly will appear in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue.

In nothing but body paint.

You're welcome, gentlemen.

Giants Closer Brian Wilson. My love for this man probably doesn’t even need an explanation. His epic-ness is all the explanation I really need.  That, or his beard, which has become a pop culture phenomenon.

Epic.

But, the pitcher for the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants is more than his antics. Despite his struggles with injury this past year, he is still one of the most feared closers in the league, and armed with a ridiculous fastball and a near-unshakeable will to win, he should be able to come back and establish his dominance over opposing batters again in 2012.

In the meantime, enjoy his epic awesomeness.

ESPN’s Michelle Beadle. Readers, if you will just indulge me for one second …

Ah, Beadle. I have loved you since the first time I saw you on “SportsNation.” I try to catch it as much as I can, and I love the fact that you are unapologetic about your sports opinions. I listen to your Podcast all the time. And you are one of the hottest ladies I have ever seen.

Okay, this is getting weird.

"Seriously, dude, what are you doing?"

On a serious note, I really am a huge fan of Michelle Beadle. I realize I’m not alone on this, but I thought that, at least, on this Valentines Day, I would allow myself to express that here.

49ers WR Kyle Williams has received the bulk of the blame for the 49ers NFC title game loss - especially from pundit Dennis Miller. But does he really deserve it?

I hate to open fresh wounds – especially for a Niners Nation having to go through a Super Bowl media week fraught with the team that defeated them, in the New York Giants – but I felt that I needed to address this.

This is in regards to a recent rant by media pundit, and former Monday Night Football color man, Dennis Miller. He touched on the perceived debacle by embattled 49ers WR Kyle Williams, whose two muffed punt plays supposedly cost San Francisco the chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Despite the fact that his teammates, coaches, and even some of the media, insisted that it the loss couldn’t be pinned on one guy – especially a backup KR/PR that was thrust into a daunting responsibility in the biggest game of his young career – Miller seemed to pull no punches:

[Williams] said all of his teammates have come up to him and assured him he didn’t [cost them the game] … He undeniably cost [the 49ers] the game … I analyzed that game … when I look at it, I think, ‘Why did they lose?’ They lost only because of one person: Kyle Williams and his kick returning.

Now, granted – he was trying to make the much-broader, and much-informed, point that accountability, in general, is being replaced with “[faking] it in a feel-good society, where accountability is sort of verboten, and indeed frowned upon, because it unfairly pigeon-holes.” Personally, I get that. Accountability – taking responsibility for the mistakes you make – seems to always be in short supply, both personally and institutionally, in this society.

But, Dennis. No offense – this is probably why you couldn’t hack it on MNF.

Ooh. Burn.

The reason his teammates went to say to Williams that he didn’t cost them the game wasn’t some gloss-over in order to spare the feelings of a guy who didn’t know any better. The fact is, Williams knew – and still knows – he screwed up. His two fumbles led to ten points that ultimately helped the Giants win the game. No one – especially not his teammates, nor Coach Harbaugh – is trying to say that he didn’t do those things.

They were saying that the loss shouldn’t be pinned on him, and him alone.

It is so easy to sit back and say that it was Williams’ fault, because the mistakes that he made, which led to the Giants’ game-winning points, were so glaring. If he didn’t make those mistakes – especially the one in overtime – the Giants don’t get such easy opportunities to win. In hindsight, that cannot be disputed.

However, blaming Williams for the loss is no different than blaming Bill Buckner for the Red Sox losing in ’86, or Steve Bartman for the Cubs losing in ’03. When glaring mistakes are made, that lead to ultimate victory for the other team, people tend to point to the person who made those glaring mistakes, because it seems so tangible. Then, it’s easy to scapegoat that person – to the point where crazy people will launch death threats at said scapegoat.

But, one play, or one player, does not illustrate the entire reason a team loses. It’s always a combination of decisions, execution and circumstances that a team – not one player – loses a game. It isn’t a credo that sports teams wrap themselves around in order to diffuse blame from one particular player – it’s a reality that sports teams accept as truth.

Case in point: the 49ers offense – with the exception of their previous playoff game vs. New Orleans – was most successful on the ground throughout the entire regular season. They built themselves to be a ground-and-pound team that wore defenses down with their run game, allowing Alex Smith to make the kinds of throws that could win games. However, the 49ers, through the course of the game, slowly went away from running the ball on first down, seemingly by design.

By my count, the offense ran the ball fairly evenly on first down vs. passing (6 run plays vs. 3 pass plays on first down in the first half). They heavily relied on the run in the third quarter on first down (5 of 8 first down plays were run). Then, they abandoned the run game on first down, and passed on first down on 7 of 9 possessions in the fourth quarter and overtime. With an average of 5.4 yards per carry during the game, why did they go away from what they were best at?

Granted, the 49ers scored on two long pass plays to Vernon Davis. But, by the fourth quarter, one would think that the Giants defense had wised up to their pass-first offensive scheme, and adjusted accordingly. The baffling decision to go away from their best offensive arsenal at the most critical point of the game – on a soggy field that worked in a run-heavy offense’s favor, mind you – was just as much a reason that the 49ers couldn’t hold on to the lead in the fourth than Kyle Williams’ special teams blunder.

This was nauseatingly apparent in the overtime period: on their first possession of overtime, with a chance to march down the field, the 49ers called another failed pass play for Alex Smith on first down, subjecting Frank Gore to get stopped for a two-yard loss on second and long. By then, the Giants had their offense figured out – that is to say, uncharacteristic of the 49ers offense throughout the regular season. Unfortunately for Williams, this wasn’t the talking point for national sports pundits after the game. Unfortunately, it perpetuated his place as the scapegoat.

The point is, if there is anything to blame, an increasingly anemic offense in the second half – along with head-scratching play calls by head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman – equally doomed the 49ers that day.

Still a great coach, Jim - but, c'mon.

Beyond that, the team came to Williams’ defense, not because they didn’t want to hold Williams accountable, as Mr. Miller would have you believe, but because the 49ers – like all professional athletes – can empathize with Williams’ plight. After all, no one wants to be that guy – the guy who many will point to as the goat. Professional sports is an arena where the mistakes are magnified to the nth degree, and the reaction to mistakes like the ones Williams made can be – and has proven to be – merciless and vicious.

This brings me to something Mr. Miller said that, while logical in a real-world sense, somehow has lost a place in the realm of sports fandom:

… [Would] it all operate better if we were able to simultaneously concede that Williams cost San Francisco the game, and, yet, not attach any real rancor to that?

And, this is where he loses touch. The truth is, in a world that aims to vilify and scapegoat any athlete that costs their team a game, a rare sports feat, or a championship, there just can’t be an instance where a sports fan can point to Williams, say that he cost the 49ers the game, and not attach rancor to it.

Sports fans – especially those of the hardcore variety – identify with their team to the point where they become a part of who they are. When their team wins, they feel like that they’ve won, too. On the flipside, they feel the pain of a loss just as much as they team does. And, when they lose – when they fail – they want someone to blame. They want someone to pay for their failure. Enter Kyle Williams, and his two muffed punts.

When you look at it that way, how is it even possible to detach rancor from the perception that Kyle Williams cost the 49ers the game?

Ultimately, fans don’t have the kind of foresight that the players do when one of their own makes a key mistake that seemingly costs them the game. That is what the fans focus on – not all of the missed opportunities to move the ball down the field in the second half; not the fact that the 49ers only ran the ball SIX times in the fourth quarter and overtime; not that Michael Crabtree was seemingly invisible the entire game, catching one ball for 3 yards. No – apparently, none of those things factored into the 49ers loss; it was all Kyle Williams’ fault.

You tried your best in a position you don't usually play? ... YOU SUCK!!! BOOO!!!!!

I’m not saying Williams isn’t accountable for the loss. If anything, he made some terrible mistakes, that contributed to the loss. And, to his credit, he has owned up to them. What I am saying is that he isn’t the only reason the 49ers lost. With the team assuring him that it wasn’t all his fault, the 49ers did two things: they supported a teammate who was in a place, psychologically and emotionally, no one deserves to be in; and they acknowledged their own accountability – that they lose, and win, as a team.

In the end, isn’t that what Dennis Miller wanted all along?

With Championship Sunday in sight, the play of (clockwise, from top left) Terrell Suggs, Vernon Davis, Justin Tuck and Rob Gronkowski could prove to be deciding factors in who advances to Super Bowl XLVI.

Championship Sunday is upon us. After a week of previews, analysis and stories featuring this year’s final four, it’s time to get to Brass Tax, and play the games to determine who goes to Super Bowl XLVI. So, let’s get to it:

AFC Championship: Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots

Time: 3:00 PM ET

Place: Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA

Both teams have contrasting styles, and are best known for completely different strengths. The Patriots are known for their high-flying offense, led by QB Tom Brady. He relies on his two TEs, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, for a majority of his production. Then there are his WRs, Wes Welker and Deion Branch, who have been quite reliable all season long. However, they haven’t been known for stopping opposing offenses, having the 31st-ranked team defense during the regular season. However, they have shown that they can stop middling offensive attacks, as they did against the Denver Broncos in last week’s divisional playoff.

Meanwhile, the Ravens aren’t known for any kind of successful pass-happy offense – QB Joe Flacco has only racked up 3,610 yards through the air. However, their strength lies in their defense, ranked 3rd in yards allowed and second in points allowed. With stalwarts in LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed, LB Terrell Suggs and NT Haloti Ngata, they are still one of the most feared defensive units in the NFL. They also have one of the strongest running games in the league, led by RB Ray Rice. With a matchup like this one, it may come down to which “liability” plays better – New England’s defense, or Baltimore’s passing offense.

With all that said, I don’t expect a blowout either way – even with Brady’s potential for explosive games through the air. After all, he has had trouble in the past against Baltimore’s defensive front, and they may cause him fits. And, if the Ravens hand the ball to Rice enough time, they may be able to keep the Patriots offense off the field, the scores low, and the game close.

However, I also don’t expect Baltimore’s defense to hold Tom Brady in check all game – and the fourth quarter is usually when Brady shines brightest. If the game is close, and the Pats are trailing, I can easily see a motivated Brady – who had been overshadowed by stories like Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees all season – get the last laugh with a game-winning drive.

Projection: New England 21, Baltimore 17

- – - -

NFC Championship: New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers

Time: 6:30 PM ET

Place: Candlestick Park – San Francisco, CA

After an unexpected run to the NFC title game, the Giants and 49ers offer another matchup of hard-hitting defenses and unexpectedly strong offensive games. Despite their struggles late in the season, there is no doubt that the Giants have been the hottest team in the league. With that hot streak comes a measure of intimidation and confidence, and the Giants are not lacking in either.

After taking the Packers’ pass defense to task, QB Eli Manning brings their scary offense to the potentially muddy field of Candlestick Park. With explosive weapons in RB Ahmad Bradshaw, and WRs Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks – not to mention sledgehammer RB Brandon Jacobs – they will prove to be another big test for San Francisco’s fourth-ranked defensive squad. Furthermore, they seem to have brought everything together, especially with their defensive front – complete with Osi Umeniyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck – they aim to knock the 49ers offense around as much as they did with Green Bay.

Despite their perceived weakness on offense, the 49ers will most likely play to their strengths on their home field on Sunday. After all, the rain is expected to pound San Francisco throughout the game, and they will need to rely on their eighth-ranked running game, led by RBs Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, to control the clock as much as possible to keep Manning and Co. on the bench.

QB Alex Smith has proven in recent weeks – capped off with his amazingly clutch performance in last week’s divisional playoff against the Saints – that he can be trusted with the game on the line. He will need to rely on TE Vernon Davis and WRs Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams more than ever. It will help that blocking TE Delanie Walker will be back from a broken jaw suffered earlier this season, to keep the defensive waves of New York from getting to Smith. If the 49ers’ defensive front – led by DE Justin Smith, and LBs Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman – can get to Manning as much as they did in Week 10, they can give themselves a decided advantage.

With all that said, the conditions in San Francisco could give the 49ers enough of an edge to, at least, somewhat neutralize New York’s passing attack. If that is the case, they can use their decidedly superior rushing defense to keep the score low, and possibly create some turnovers. While it is hard to go against the hottest team in the league, with one of the best QBs in the league, it’s even harder to go against a team brimming with confidence at home, with all the tools necessary to win in rough conditions.

Projection: San Francisco 24, New York 23

- – - -

QBs (from left) Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Alex Smith and Joe Flacco - despite their wildly diverse experiences in the NFL - are one game away from the Super Bowl.

The build-up to Championship Sunday continues for sports fans and pundits alike. Four cities – New York, San Francisco, Foxborough and Baltimore – are hopeful that they will survive and advance to the big show in Indianapolis. As the MSR continues its look into the conference championship games, it cannot help but look at the potential matchups that could take place two weeks from Sunday.

With that in mind, let us take a look at the possible storylines the fans and the media alike will undoubtedly focus on, should any one of these contests come to fruition:

NFC Champion New York Giants vs. AFC Champion New England Patriots

A Rematch of Super Bowl XLII: Many have said that the New York Giants of 2011 look eerily similar to the team that won it all in 2007. With a team that got hot at just the right time – and potentially springboarded their successful playoff run with a late regular season loss to a heavy favorite – it was hard to miss the parallels.

With the Giants and the Patriots on a collision course, the clash between these two teams in the Super Bowl, as an encore, would no doubt be the matchup of the decade. While the Patriots don’t have a 19-0 season on the line, it would be interesting to see if QB Tom Brady could exorcise his recent postseason demons, and win the fourth Super Bowl he had been denied four years ago in Glendale, Arizona.

A Potential Offensive Explosion: Of the four potential matchups, there is little doubt that another tussle between the Patriots and Giants will most likely not end in a 17-14 affair. While the Giants and their defensive line have played well in limiting opposing offenses in the past month, the Patriots are an offensive group that are near-impossible to shut down. After all, with the weapons Brady has in his disposal – including TEs Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, and WRs Wes Welker and Deion Branch – the Patriots have averaged nearly 33 points per game this season.

And, while the Giants only averaged 25.2 points this season, the passing game must be doing something right: QB Eli Manning finished the regular season 67 yards from the vaunted 5,000-yard mark. He has averaged over 300 yards in his two playoff games, and, should they get past San Francisco, it may take another 300-yard performance. The Giants’ trio of WRs – Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks – have been deadly as of late, with Cruz (1,536) and Manningham (1,192) topping the 1,000-yard mark this season.

NFC Champion New York Giants vs. AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens

Rematch of Super Bowl XXXV: It was the last time the Ravens reached the Super Bowl – a championship they ran over the Giants to win, with a stifling defensive team that allowed a record-low 23 points in their four-game playoff run. It was a classic case of strong offense vs. strong defense, with the Ravens showing their dominance, pushing Kerry Collins and the Giants offense around to roll, 34-7.

Eleven years later, the script would look strikingly similar: a stifling defensive team in the Ravens vs. a hot offensive team in the Giants. While no one would ever confuse Eli Manning to a quarterback like Collins, it would no doubt be a storyline few pundits or media outlets could really ignore.

Contrasting Signal-Callers: Eli Manning of the Giants is the consummate big-game and big-name quarterback. Drafted first overall in 2004, he was groomed to be one of the next great signal-callers. And, with a Super Bowl title under his belt, a near-5,000-yard season in 2011, a knack for game-winning drives (see Week 9 vs. New England) and an offensive squad that trusts him to make the big throws at the most opportune of times, Manning is now on the cusp of, arguably, being better than his older brother Peyton.

Compare Manning’s resume to that of Ravens QB Joe Flacco: drafted 18th overall out of FCS school Delaware, he was never really considered to become a truly elite quarterback. However, he was tagged as the franchise QB, and made good use of it – in his four years starting, he has made the postseason every season, making him one of the most underrated playoff QBs in the NFL. While both Manning and Flacco contrast so differently, one thing binds them – their will to win. Should these two teams meet in the Super Bowl, we will get to see which will is stronger.

NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers vs. AFC Champion New England Patriots

The Team of the ’80s vs. The Team of the ’00s: With the new decade still in its infancy, these two franchises have ruled two different decades, themselves. The 49ers, led by Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark and Jerry Rice, ruled the 1980s. With four championships – including back-to-back Super Bowls in 1988 and 1989 – San Francisco has been held as one of the league’s great franchises.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots established themselves as the team of this most recent decade, under Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Adam Vinatieri and Deion Branch. After coming out of nowhere to win it all in 2001, the franchise consistently churned out division champions, winning the Super Bowl two more times (2003, 2004), and reaching a fourth Super Bowl in 2007, as the only team to ever go undefeated in a 16-game regular season. It would be a historic Super Bowl matchup of two storied franchises.

Tom Brady History vs. 49ers History: It would be fascinating to see a matchup between Tom Brady and one of the franchises that spurned him back in the 2000 NFL Draft. While Brady was infamously taken at spot No. 199 in the draft, having been passed over numerous times by every franchise, it was the 49ers passing on Brady that may have hurt him the most: he grew up in San Mateo, California – less than 20 miles from his hometown team – and idolized Joe Montana as a child. Coming out of Michigan, it was no secret he would have loved to have played for the team he grew up with. Now, 12 years and three Super Bowl titles later, it would be ironic to see Brady go up against his hometown team to tie his QB Idol for most Super Bowls won.

Meanwhile, the 49ers would be pursuing history of their own: Not only would they be gunning for a first-ever Lombardi Trophy won by an offense ranked lower than 24th in the league, they would try to become the first team to go 6-0 in Super Bowls.

NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers vs. AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens

The Harbaugh Bowl Redux: When 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh left the Stanford Cardinal to join the professional coaching ranks, the NFL had a built-in season-long storyline, as Jim’s brother, John, was already an established head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. A regular season matchup between Jim’s 49ers and John’s Ravens turned into a media bonanza, being nicknamed the “Harbowl”, “The Harbaugh Bowl”, and so on. It went so far as to ask Ma and Pa Harbaugh who they would root for. After all was said and done, John beat Jim, 16-6, in a defensive game between two hard-nosed teams.

No doubt that, should Baltimore and San Francisco face off again – this time in the biggest game of the year – the media firestorm surrounding the Harbaugh family would go into overdrive. It would be the first time two brothers faced off, as head coaches, in a Super Bowl.

Alex Smith vs. Joe Flacco: Despite his success as a signal-caller, Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been criticized recently by sports pundits as a “so-called leader” who may or may not be trusted to win games down the stretch. He has even been criticized by teammate Ed Reed as a player who may not be able to get it done when it matters most. He has even been considered as a player who has held his team back – a team with a championship-caliber defense.

When taken in that context, Alex Smith may be Flacco’s kindred spirit. After being taken first overall in 2005, the 49ers quarterback has been much-maligned throughout his entire career. While going through seven different offensive coordinators in seven years probably contributed to his lack of production – and confidence – on the field, no one would argue that Smith has been doubted throughout his career. So much so, that, coming into the 2011 season, many in San Francisco assumed that Jim Harbaugh committed to Alex Smith at QB because of a twisted belief that, if they lost enough games with Smith at the helm, they would have a shot at Stanford QB Andrew Luck in next season’s draft. Despite his impressive production this season – including his game-winning performance vs. New Orleans last week – Smith is still doubted as a competent quarterback that can be trusted down the stretch.

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh took a 6-10 team and propelled them - including maligned QB Alex Smith (left) - to an NFC title game for the first time in 14 years.

San Francisco 49ers: To understand how amazing the 49ers’ run to the NFC championship has been in 2011, we only need to look back to the end of 2010. They decided to part ways with former head coach Mike Singletary, and the organization was still in relative shambles: the 49ers had a dubious 37-91 record since 2003, having not gone over .500 nor reached the postseason. Many Niners fans and pundits alike had already given up on QB Alex Smith, having to go through his seventh offensive coordinator in as many years in the league. And, despite a sound defensive team, many believed that the organization would most likely finish at the bottom of the standings, allowing them to draft another franchise quarterback.

Enter former Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was highly sought-after by a number of teams during the offseason. He had previously led his Cardinal squad to an 11-win season and an Orange Bowl victory, and was ready to move up to the NFL. He brought his enthusiasm, positivity and winning mentality to a team in desperate need of all three. Rallying around their head coach, with their now-famous victory cry, the 49ers would ride the momentum of early comeback wins vs. Philadelphia and Detroit to an 8-game winning streak, and finish the regular season with the second seed in the playoffs and a 13-3 record, not seen in the Bay Area since 1997.

In a year where high-flying offenses ruled the league, the 49ers won with an old-school style Singletary tried to instill into the team, but Harbaugh brought to fruition: a hard-hitting, stout defense; a strong running game; and an offense that rarely gave up the ball. Despite an offense that ranked 26th in the league in yards (310.9) per game, San Francisco finished the regular season with a rushing offense, led by RBs Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, ranked eighth in yards (127.8) per game. Meanwhile, DE Justin Smith, potential Defensive Rookie of the Year Aldon Smith, and LBs Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman led a defense ranked fourth in the league in yards allowed (308.1) per game, including a league-best rushing defense (77.3 yards per game), not allowing a rushing TD or a 100-yard rusher until Week 16.

However, doubts about Alex Smith continued to be the team’s perceived Achilles’ Heel for this team, throughout the regular season, and into the playoffs. This, despite the fact that Harbaugh worked miracles with the signal-caller, giving him the confidence to turn in career-best numbers (3,144 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs). Smith finally showed his mettle against an overpowering Saints squad in the Divisional playoffs. In a see-saw fourth quarter that saw four lead changes, Smith led his offense down the field twice for touchdowns – the last on a laser-strike to maligned TE Vernon Davis with 9 seconds left, and winning 36-32. Now hailed in 49ers lore as “The Grab” (or “The Catch III”, depending on who you talk to), it was a play that now has them at the doorstep of a sixth Super Bowl berth.

With Eli Manning at the helm, the Giants could finish a run as magical as their 2007 campaign, where they beat the undefeated New England Patriots to win it all.

New York Giants: Apparently, no one told these Giants that this wasn’t 2007. In any case, the similarities between the 2011 incarnation and the one that won it all four years ago is quite uncanny:

Both teams shot out to a 6-2 record to begin the season; both teams went down swinging to heavily favored – and then-undefeated – teams during the end of the regular season; both teams had a coach in Tom Coughlin who seemed to get the best out of his players while he was on the hot seat; both caught fire at just the right time, on both offense and defense, heading into the postseason; and both were in contention as one of the final four teams vying for a Super Bowl title.

Whether the parallels end there for New York will be settled on Championship Sunday.

While the Giants looked like a Super Bowl contender at the halfway mark of the regular season – they had just defeated AFC favorite New England on a game-winning drive by QB Eli Manning – they ran into a wall starting in Week 10, jump-started by a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Candlestick. They proceeded to lose four of their next five games, including a laugher in New Orleans in which many pundits pronounced them dead on arrival – some even suggesting that they quit.

And, that’s when they turned into the most dangerous team in the NFL. It began after a demoralizing loss to a sub-par Washington Redskins team in Week 15. Despite a 7-7 record, they were still in the hunt for a division title in a weak NFC East. With all the disrespect that had been piling up on the Giants, having been seemingly left for dead going into their final two games, the team seemed to channel that into a motivation not seen in recent years.

Led by Eli Manning’s 4,933-yard season, and his fifth-ranked passing offense (295.9 yards per game), they took their frustrations out on their cross-town, inter-conference rivals, the New York Jets, and clinched the division by soundly thumping division rival Dallas for the outright division championship. They rode the late-season momentum into the postseason by demolishing the Atlanta Falcons with a defense that, while ranked 27th overall during the regular season (376.4 yards per game), gave up an average of 316.5 yards in their last four games, and only 12.5 points per game in the last month.

Their stout defensive front – led by Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck – was key to their defensive turnaround. Combined with a balanced running game provided by Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and a big-play receiving corp of Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, and the Giants were primed to do to the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau what they had done to the Patriots back in Super Bowl XLII – avenge their regular season loss. And that’s exactly what they did, in a 37-20 beatdown predicated on a Hail Mary TD at the end of the first half, that propelled them to the NFC Championship.

After years of disappointment since their failed 2007 Super Bowl campaign, the Patriots are two wins away from their fourth Super Bowl title, and immortality for QB Tom Brady.

New England Patriots: The consummate franchise of the 2000s have been more known for their recent playoff failures than overall successes. And, considering their flame-out at the hands of the New York Jets in last year’s divisional rounds, Brady, Belichick and Co. were on a mission to show the league that they were still an elite team.

They did just that in their first six games before their bye week, going 5-1. While their defensive team looked unimpressive, their offense more than made up for any of their deficiencies. WR Wes Welker quietly emerged early in the season as one of the league’s most reliable and dynamic pass-catcher. And, while Rob Gronkowski was more known for his racy tweets with a porn star, he quickly became the best offensive tight ends (no pun intended) in the game.

Their only stumbling blocks came with two straight losses to a stout Pittsburgh Steelers team, and a Giants team at the peak of their early-season hot streak. From there, they never looked back, winning the rest of their games for a seemingly predictable 13-3 record. While it was business as usual for New England, they were perceived as being slighted. After all, QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were having phenomenal seasons themselves, and even with QB Tim Tebow was getting a majority of the national media attention.

Meanwhile, QB Tom Brady was somehow flying under the radar in MVP discussions, leading a 13-win squad with a statistically terrible defensive team, ranked 31st through the air (293.9 yards allowed per game). Fortunately, their second-ranked pass offense (317.8 yards per game) off-set their sub-par defensive performance. Clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, many pundits wondered aloud whether the Patriots – especially with a less-than-stellar defensive team – would come up short in the postseason like they have every year since 2007.

They would meet Tim Tebow’s Broncos for the second time this season. With all the talk about Tebow leading up to the game, it was perceived that Brady took it as another sleight to him and his team. He proceeded to take it out on Denver, demolishing the Broncos 45-10. Now, at the cusp of their fifth Super Bowl appearance since 2001, the Patriots will take their stellar offense, and suddenly-stout secondary, as far as it will carry them.

With their aging - yet highly effective - defense, Ray Lewis (above) and the Baltimore Ravens aim to do something they haven't done since 2000 - win a Lombardi Trophy.

Baltimore Ravens: While most of the press during the 2011 offseason focused on his brother in San Francisco, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh continued to roll along with his well-established defensive squad, a stout running game led by Ray Rice, and a continually-maturing QB in Joe Flacco. After a successful campaign that saw them at the cusp of an AFC championship berth – only to lose to eventual AFC Champions, and division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers – the Ravens were hoping to build on an offense coming into its own to complement one of the league’s best defenses.

Throughout the regular season, though, it was difficult to gauge where the Ravens would land in the NFL spectrum. After all, they would go on to win 12 games in the regular season. They had two big wins against Pittsburgh – one coming with a clutch last-minute drive by Flacco at Heinz Field – who were considered one of the best teams in the league at the time. They beat a red-hot 49ers team at home, who were in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, in the highly-anticipated “Harbaugh Bowl” last November.

With that said, they would follow up many big wins with just-as-inexplicable losses – all four coming at the hands of teams who missed the playoffs (Tennessee, Jacksonville, Seattle, San Diego). Furthermore, in those losses, they failed to stress their main strength in Ray Rice’s running attack, and there were questions abound about their heavy reliance on Flacco and their passing game. Despite pundits attacking the Ravens’ relatively ineffective offensive style, they managed to grab the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoffs.

Led by all-pro defensive stalwarts Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs, Baltimore used their third-ranked defensive team in yards allowed (288.9 yards allowed per game) to lock down on rookie QB T.J. Yates, RB Arian Foster and the Houston Texans, to clinch a berth in the AFC title game. With issues of dissension within the personnel ranks about their signal-caller, the Ravens will have to rally around each other, and Flacco, if they want any chance in stopping one of the best offensive teams in the NFL, up in Foxborough.

The NBA Finals usually start in Late May. But what if they started in Late July? They would if the NBA started like they did this year.

It’s been two weeks since the 2011-2012 NBA season began. The 66-game regular season, while exciting, should prove to be trying on a number of teams around the league. And, as basketball will soon become the main focus, as the NFL and college football begin to wind down, the NBA will heed the call with many of the marquis names – and teams – hunting for a playoff spot, and, ultimately, a championship.

But, the circumstances of the season’s late start has inadvertently brought up some interesting – if not hypothetical – possibilities for the future of the Association. After all, the recent NBA lockout brought on the abbreviated NBA season in the first place. And, after the players and owners kissed, made up, and signed a new collective bargaining agreement, the only question left was: When do they start?

Why not Christmas Day?

Ho ho ho. (No pun intended.)

Considering the timing of the new agreement, it made perfect sense: Besides the presents and the parades, the NBA owns December 25, in the realm of American sport. With that in mind, league officials structured a 66-game season that they set to start on Christmas. And, what do you know: the ratings for the Christmas Day start were up by as much as 77%, compared to last year. Obviously, that mostly has to do with the publicity the NBA had with its lockout, but the numbers are still significant.

With that in mind, it did get me thinking: with the popularity of the NBA, especially on such a popular holiday like Christmas, why don’t they just start an 82-game regular season EVERY December 25?

You're welcome.

Now, I realize that this year was obviously a special circumstance – the regular season simply could not start the regular season when it usually did – around the end of October – or, at least, that’s what they claimed at the time. So, why, you may ask, would the league – or should they – start the season nearly two months later?

Well, let’s think about it.

First of all, there’s the perception that the populace simply doesn’t care the NBA is going on until Christmas Day. The NBA on Christmas is such a huge deal in Americana simply because that’s naturally the best time to start caring about professional basketball: the NFL regular season is winding down, the MLB Hot Stove is technically in remission, and the NHL has proven in the past that it cannot take hold of the national imagination.

It’s hard not to notice that the NBA, most years, receives little to no huge fanfare in the public arena when it usually starts, around Halloween, anyway – sports fans are usually so engulfed in the World Series and the ongoing drama in the NFL and college football, it’s difficult for the NBA to come in and grab the populace’s attention. If the Association starts on Christmas, it has a pulpit to announce itself as having arrived, all their own.

So, lets take a look at an 82-game regular season, as it is currently set up, taking the template from the 2010 season:

October 26, 2010: Opening Day

February 18-20, 2011: All-Star Weekend

April 13, 2011: Last day of Regular Season

April 16 – May 26, 2011: Duration of the NBA Postseason

Keeping those four dates in mind, the duration of the NBA season actually clashes with many other major sports that spectators could easily pay more attention to. For example, the start date of the regular season – the last week of October – directly conflicts with a few major American sports occurrences, namely the middle of the NFL regular season; major college football matchups; and the lead-up to the NCAA basketball season. It’s not the most optimum start date to a professional season.

For that matter, the duration of the playoffs isn’t the best of times, either, as it also conflicts with other marquis sports. Think about it: April to June is associated more with the start of the MLB season, than anything in the NBA, which is actually kind of a shame. The end of the regular season isn’t given any favors, either – what should be considered the most exciting time of the regular season falls into the black hole of March Madness (February-early April).

Now, think about the prospect of a full NBA regular season that starts on Christmas Day – it would be a season that would begin two calendar months (60 days) later:

December 25, 2011: Opening Day

April 13-15, 2012: All-Star Weekend

June 11, 2012: Last day of Regular Season

June 14-July 24, 2012: Duration of NBA Postseason

Take another look at those dates: While the All-Star Break can be negotiable (so it doesn’t conflict with MLB Opening Day), it could create much more interest, just looking at the schedule from a seasonal standpoint. For example, the final weeks of the NBA regular season, in this hypothetical situation, would fall in the waning weeks of May, and the playoffs could have a ratings stronghold in the month-long span between June and July – a time when sports interest might be at its lowest.

Ultimately, under this schedule, the regular season would fall in an optimum time where the Association could take full advantage of traditional sports lulls, while avoiding interference with other sports (i.e. college basketball’s March Madness; NFL playoff races/playoffs; the NHL Playoffs). It gives monopoly to its own brand, without taking attention from other leagues – everybody wins.

Where schedule sensibility happens.

In the realm of professional sport, the bottom line is more money. Under the proposed schedule push, I think it could provide just that – in the form of more fan interest and, subsequently, more fan revenue, for both players and owners. Considering this was one of the key issues in the NBA Lockout, I would think that it couldn’t hurt to look into something like this.

Just sayin’.

Tim Tebow's miraculous overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers capped off a great weekend of Wild Card playoff football.

The dust has settled from an exciting Wild Card weekend, and now only eight teams remain in contention for the coveted Lombardi Trophy in 2012. Before this weekend’s Divisional Playoffs, lets take a look back on how four of those teams got here:

(6) Cincinnati vs (3) Houston

Saturday, January 7, 4:30 PM ET

Reliant Stadium

Houston, TX

LOOKING BACK:

With Houston in their first playoff game in current franchise history (they last reached the postseason in 1993 … as the Houston Oilers), many were unsure how rookie QB T.J. Yates would respond. After all, it was only his sixth career start, and he was going up against a hungry AFC North defense and an explosive offensive team in the Bengals, encompassed by WRs A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson. Many also believed that Bengals QB Andy Dalton – also a rookie, who had success on a much more historically dysfunctional team – was the better of the two.

Apparently, none of that mattered. On the strength of a strong two-headed running attack, led by RB Arian Foster’s 153 yards and 2 TDs, and a defense that stifled Dalton for three INTs, the Texans went on to win easily. Rookie DE J.J. Watt turned the tide by returning an interception for a touchdown, giving the Texans the lead for good.

Houston def. Cincinnati, 31-10

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LOOKING AHEAD:

(3) Houston vs. (2) Baltimore

Sunday, January 15, 1:00 PM ET

M&T Bank Stadium

Baltimore, MD

The Texans’ reward for their first-ever postseason win? The Baltimore Ravens. Call them the AFC North’s “Big Brother” to Cincinnati’s “Little Brother.” With as much offensive success they had on the ground against the Bengals, they will have a considerably more difficult time against a Ravens rushing defense that was second to only the 49ers in yards allowed per game.

As a matter of fact, when looking at the matchup between these two teams, they are very similar: both have a top-5 rushing defense, as well as a top-10 rushing attack (Baltimore is 10th in rushing, while Houston is 2nd). Both have underrated signal-callers who have stepped up their games in key situations, but have also underwhelmed at points during the regular season.

However, the team who succeeds the most through the air may very well win the game, despite Baltimore’s home field advantage (Houston is considered a dome team). If Baltimore does its job on defense and controls the clock with their running game (should they use Ray Rice correctly), QB Joe Flacco’s postseason experience may be the tipping point.

Prediction:

Baltimore 24, Houston 20

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(6) Detroit vs (3) New Orleans

Saturday, January 7, 8:00 PM ET

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

New Orleans, LA

LOOKING BACK:

Many expected this matchup, between the Lions and the Saints, to be the offensive explosion of the weekend, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. With two QBs who, combined, threw for over 10,000 yards in the regular season – the first-ever matchup between two such signal-callers – it would have been a surprise if this wasn’t a high-scoring affair.

And, while the Lions jumped on the Saints early, to take a 4-point lead into the second half, QB Drew Brees got his bearings and went on to blow out Detroit’s young secondary, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory. QB Drew Brees threw for a staggering 466 yards, to go along with 3 passing TDs. Saints RBs Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles added rushing TDs to put an exclamation point to their second-half offensive explosion. Lions QB Matthew Stafford wasn’t too shabby in his playoff debut, throwing for 380 yards and 3 TDs in the loss – two of them to WR Calvin Johnson – to go along with 2 INTs.

New Orleans def. Detroit, 45-28

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LOOKING AHEAD:

(3) New Orleans vs. (2) San Francisco

Saturday, January 14, 4:30 PM ET

Candlestick Park

San Francisco, CA

And now, we are treated to the NFL equivalent of “the irresistible force meets the immoveable object”: The Saints’ nearly unstoppable, top-ranked offense (467.1 yards per game in the regular season) vs. the 49ers’ fourth-ranked defense (allowing 308.1 yards per game in the regular season), who also possess the league’s top-ranked rushing offense.

While the sexy pick (and the seemingly most logical one) is the Saints, people shouldn’t sleep on the 49ers’ offensive game – they averaged almost 28 points per game at home this season. QB Alex Smith has not turned the ball over very much (a career-low 5 INTs this season), and has shown he can make big throws in key situations. And with RB Frank Gore controlling the clock, it will do a lot to keep the Saints offense off the field.

The Saints, meanwhile, with their high-octane passing offense, may also be slowed down enough on the grass of San Francisco’s Candlestick Park (as opposed to the fast tracks of the Superdome). If the 49ers’ underrated secondary can keep up with New Orleans’ receivers, they will give themselves a good chance in the 4th quarter, like they did against a hot Giants team in Week 10. Then there is the 49ers’ hard-hitting defensive front, powered by LBs Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman and DE Justin Smith, have the ability to get to Brees and the Saints’ backfield enough to keep them below 30 points. Don’t expect a shootout, but don’t expect a blowout, either.

Prediction:

San Francisco 28, New Orleans 27

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(5) Atlanta vs (4) New York Giants

Sunday, January 8, 1:00 PM ET

MetLife Stadium

East Rutherford, NJ

LOOKING BACK:

While the Giants got into the postseason by the skin of their teeth, they managed to win the NFC East and get a home game against a team that had previously seen the playoffs, in a 13-win campaign, in 2010. Many wondered, with the Giants’ up-and-down season, which team would show up to MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Then, the statement was made: they were the team that, despite their season-long struggles, could actually get to, and win, a Super Bowl for the second time in four years. Against Atlanta’s eighth-ranked pass offense, the Giants limited QB Matt Ryan to a mere 183 yards in the air. And, despite the Falcons’ 7th-ranked scoring offense, Atlanta could not muster a single offensive point. Meanwhile, New York relied on QB Eli Manning’s 3 TDs to dominate the game, after starting with a safety in the first quarter.

New York Giants def. Atlanta, 24-2

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LOOKING AHEAD:

(4) New York Giants vs. (1) Green Bay

Sunday, January 15, 4:30 PM ET

Lambeau Field

Green Bay, WI

In 2007, the New York Giants played the then-undefeated New England Patriots, and played them close, in a 35-38 loss. Many, including the team, said that it helped propel them to a Super Bowl run, where they ran through … the Patriots.

Fast-forward to 2011. In early December, the Giants, in the midst of a three-game losing streak, played the Green Bay Packers at home. Like 2007, they lost to the league’s only undefeated team at the time, 35-38. From there, the Giants proceeded to win three of their next four games, and break into the postseason. Now, they face that same team, with all the momentum in the world, going up against an all-world offensive team led by MVP candidate, QB Aaron Rodgers.With a rejuvenated pass rush led by Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul, it could be a long day for Green Bay’s offense.

While the Packers as heavy favorites to win it all, they cannot overlook the Giants with a potential matchup with either the Saints or 49ers in the NFC Championship. Despite all of the Karmic evidence of a Big Apple upset, the Packers should be ready for whatever the Giants have to throw at them, and more. They want to hold their coaching namesake’s trophy for the second year in a row. It seems that they will at least take that first step to doing so on Sunday.

Prediction:

Green Bay 31, New York Giants 28

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(5) Pittsburgh vs. (4) Denver

Sunday, January 8, 4:30 PM ET

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Denver, CO

LOOKING BACK:

It was the unofficial marquis game of the entire weekend, and it did not disappoint. With the most scrutinized figure in sports, Denver QB Tim Tebow, struggling entering the Broncos’ matchup against the heavily fortified Steelers defense, there wasn’t much hope for a victory. And, then, when it was least expected, Tebow Magic showed up again, in dramatic fashion.

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Steelers, led by a hobbled QB in Ben Roethlisberger, turned the tables on a Broncos team that thrived on playing from behind. With Denver in danger of losing the game late in the fourth quarter, the defense – led by DE Elvis Dumervil – kept the Steelers out of field goal range to send the game in OT.

Then, in the first-ever OT under new postseason rules (which I won’t get into here, but feel free to try understanding them for yourself), the Broncos won the toss. They needed a TD to walk off the field.

That’s exactly what Tebow gave them.

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Denver def. Pittsburgh, 29-23 (OT)

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LOOKING AHEAD:

(4) Denver vs. (1) New England

Saturday, January 14, 8:00 PM ET

Gillette Stadium

Foxborough, MA

Now the Broncos travel to play the best team in the AFC, against the best signal-caller of the past decade in Tom Brady, and the “Hoodie” in Head Coach Bill Belichick. The last time these two teams played, in Mile High, the Patriots dominated the Broncos in the second half, winning 41-23. While Tebow played, arguably, his best game against the Patriots’ infamously soft pass defense, Brady outclassed the young bucks by throwing for 320 yards and 2 TDs.

Not much has changed between these two teams, coming into Saturday. Despite their playoff win, the Broncos needed OT to beat a team that was injured in many key areas. With a week to prepare, and with, reportedly, former Broncos head coach (and the key figure behind drafting Tebow to Denver) Josh McDaniels joining New England’s coaching staff as a consultant/offensive coordinator, the Patriots will not be ambushed by a suddenly-dangerous Broncos passing offense. No one can discount Tom Brady’s playoff experience and aerial weapons – all signs point to an easy victory for the Patriots.

That’s why I’m picking the Broncos.

Despite everything that is going for the Patriots, and going against Denver, I’m still going to pick Tebow’s team. Why? Because, despite everything logical that dictates that New England should win this game … Tim Tebow defies all logic. (That, and I’m not sure if the brain trust in New England will know how to defend his option offense.) I’ll say that he defies logic for one more week and the miracle run continues.

Prediction:

Denver 25, New England 24

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This is the next head coach of Penn State University. And, despite the protests of alumni, he may be just what the team, and the school, need.

The Penn State scandal rocked the college football world. Not only did it uncover one of the most vile atrocities in college sports history, but it led to the firing of one of college football’s most cherished institutions: Penn State head coach Joe Paterno.

As the media attention focused on the school’s decision to keep playing in the wake of the detestable episode, some even suggested Penn State should have incurred their own “Death Penalty” – only imposed, infamously, to SMU in the mid-1980s; a punishment that the program has still not fully recovered from. However, the Nittany Lions, and the student body of Penn State, plowed ahead to the future of the athletic program. In light of this, many speculated who would take the reins in the university’s most trying time.

Then, the initial announcement came down a few days ago – the Nittany Lions would go with current offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, Bill O’Brien.

With no direct ties to the university or its alumni, the reaction was, at best, a mixed bag. For the most part, however, the alumni were not pleased. Take former All-American LB Brandon Short:

It’s unfortunate that Coach O’Brien … has not been made aware of the implications of him being in this position. I don’t envy him at all. He doesn’t have support of the vast majority of former Penn State players and the vast majority of the student body and the faculty won’t support him. I feel sorry for him.

Penn State alum LaVar Arrington went even further, saying that he would pull his support for his alma mater if they hired someone like O’Brien – that is, someone with no affiliations with the school:

I will put my Butkus (Award) in storage. I will put my Alamo Bowl MVP trophy in storage. Jerseys, anything Penn State, in storage. Wherever Tom Bradley goes, that’s the school I will start to put memorabilia up in my home. I’m done. I’m done with Penn State. If they’re done with us, I’m done with them.

And, apparently, he’s not alone. Many Penn State alumni want someone who was connected with the University – someone like Bradley, who served as interim head coach after Paterno was let go.

But – speaking as an outsider of Penn State, myself – I thought that was the problem.

I can understand that bringing in an outsider – let alone an outsider that wasn’t successful in the college ranks – was bound to upset people affiliated with the school, especially considering the tradition Penn State has had over the last fifty years. But, the point of the hire was to distance themselves from that era. Not because of Joe Paterno’s tenure – but because of the evil that lurked in the shadows of Joe Paterno’s tenure. Unfortunately, when people outside of State College think of Penn State nowadays, they don’t think of the career of JoePa – they think of this man:

And every despicable thing he had come to represent. No institution wants that stigma attached to them. Again, unfortunately, Paterno is connected with that dark era in Penn State’s history. Is it fair? I suppose that’s debatable. But, as of right now – if the school wants to truly move forward – they need to treat anything JoePa and Sandusky like a cancer. If the institution of Penn State – not just the football team – wants a fighting chance to put this behind them, the move for O’Brien simply had to be done.

As for alumni like Arrington – I can understand that they are angry. But, as has been said before, this horrific episode is much bigger than any individual alumni, or even the football team, itself. It’s about trying to make amends for a heinous mistake it made by turning its back on abused children.

Simply put, by condemning something like a coaching hire – considering the ordeal the school has gone through these past few months – Arrington and other alumni have put themselves in the same vein as the short-sighted students who rioted over Coach Paterno’s firing: individuals who cannot see that, through their objections, they are abjectly supporting a system that allowed a child molester to run rampant, and abuse God knows how many victims.

In Bill O’Brien, they are not trying to squash the rich history and tradition of Penn State – they are trying to wipe the slate clean of an era forever tainted by the actions of one Jerry Sandusky, and the inaction of those who could have stopped him. He represents a fresh start for both the team and the athletic program: with no connections to the old regime, he can move forward, running a football team, without having to answer questions about the dark, dark past.

But this is not to say that, through this move, the university is trying to wipe the last fifty years away as if it didn’t happen. The call for O’Brien is simply a buffer – however long it will last – between the tainted past, and a hopeful future. In time, perhaps the school can look back at the rich history of Penn State under Joe Paterno and give it the recognition it deserves – one that can move on from his unceremonious departure. Perhaps not. But, as of right now, the only thing the school can do is move away from a football era currently associated with something so unimaginably atrocious as the sexual abuse of children.

Ultimately, at the moment, Bill O’Brien represents the one thing Penn State – the team, and the school – could use right now: hope for the future.

The Packers, at 15-1, are the favorites to wear the championship belt, and win another Super Bowl.

The playoffs are here. The matchups are set. And those who were left on the wayside have an entire offseason to wonder what could have been. Meanwhile, those who were vastly overwhelmed during the regular season have some big decisions ahead, themselves: coaching changes, draft picks and potential trades to improve for the 2012 season. With all that said, and with Wild Card Weekend only days away, here are the final Macho Power Rankings for the 2011 NFL regular season:

1. Green Bay Packers (15-1) – Last Week: 1

It’s hard to believe that winning their 15th game would actually hurt Aaron Rodgers’ case for MVP, but that’s what happened: considering backup QB Matt Flynn broke all kinds of records in their win over a Lions team that needed it, how valuable is Rodgers over players like Drew Brees and Tom Brady?

2. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) - Last Week: 3

Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers did their job, beating division rival St. Louis to clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. And, they sure could use it – they have key players hobbling right now, including LB Patrick Willis (hamstring), WR/KR Ted Ginn (ankle) and TE Delanie Walker (jaw). They will need them with, in all likelihood, the Saints coming to Candlestick in two weeks.

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3) – Last Week: 2

While they didn’t secure a first-round bye, they made an example of the Carolina Panthers, 45-17. QB Drew Brees was a mere 24 yards from a magical 5,500-yard passing mark for the season, but nonetheless showed the rest of the league they have, by far, one of the best passing offenses in the league. Now they face another 5,000-yard passer in the Wild Card round, in Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions.

4. New England Patriots (13-3) – Last Week: 4

The bad news? They let a lousy team in the Bills jump on them for 21 points in the first quarter. The good news? Brady and Co. dispatched them in the next three, running up 49 straight, and securing the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Lets hope they don’t expect their first postseason opponent to allow the same.

5. Baltimore Ravens (12-4) – Last Week: 7

In clinching the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, the Ravens are finally on track with their offense, relying on Ray Rice’s 192 yards and 2 TDs to finish off division rival Cincinnati on Sunday. Now, they have the formula that usually wins in the postseason – strong running game, defense and special teams. Will they cultivate it to make the Super Bowl? Only time will tell.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) – Last Week: 5

QB Ben Roethlisberger is hobbled with a bum ankle. RB Rashard Mendenhall is gone for the season with a torn ACL. They struggled against the 4-win Browns and they won’t have S Ryan Clark in Denver for the wild-card game on Sunday. But, at least they have a postseason berth, and are still in the hunt to win the AFC. Now it’s a matter of getting players healthy and confident.

7. Detroit Lions (10-6) – Last Week: 6

It’s hard to believe that QB Matthew Stafford threw for 520 yards (to clinch a 5,000-yard season) in a LOSS, to the defending champion Packers. The good news? They had already clinched a playoff spot. The bad news? The loss dropped them to the 6-seed, and will now have to face off against Drew Brees and the Saints. Congratulations.

8. Houston Texans (10-6) – Last Week: 9

While they may have tripped themselves up in Week 17, losing on a last-second two-point conversion to the Titans, they still clinched the 3-seed in the AFC Playoffs, after losing both Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart midseason. Going into their first-ever postseason appearance, how will their offense, headed by RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, fare against the upstart Bengals’ D?

9. Atlanta Falcons (10-6) – Last Week: 8

The Falcons scored 42 points in one half to clinch the No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs, in Week 17. There is no doubt they have the offensive weapons to make a run in the postseason, including WR duo Roddy White and Julio Jones, but they must shake previous playoff failures and face off against a momentum-filled New York Giants team.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) – Last Week: 10

Despite losing to division rival Baltimore, the Bengals find themselves backed into the playoffs – their first appearance since 2006, and their third in 21 years. With the Red Rifle, and potential Rookie of the Year, QB Andy Dalton, and WR A.J. Green, the Bengals could make some real noise against Houston in the Wild Card round.

11. New York Giants (9-7) – Last Week: 11

After winning a de facto Play-in game for the NFC East title against the Cowboys, the Giants feel like they have all the momentum in the world heading into the postseason. Considering what DE Mathias Kiwanuka said recently, they may even have what it takes to make another underdog Super Bowl run.

12. Denver Broncos (8-8) – Last Week: 12

While they may have backed into the playoffs after a loss to the Chiefs – their third straight to end the season – the Broncos made it their own way. Now, with QB Tim Tebow playing his worst football all season, heading into a meeting with the Steelers on Sunday, the decked is stacked against them. While it hasn’t stopped them before, is the Tebow Magic gone?

13. Tennessee Titans (9-7) – Last Week: 16

Despite missing out on the postseason in Week 17, the Titans finished strong with a win vs. the playoff-bound Texans. Now questions will linger in the offseason about their offense in the AFC South, with an aging QB (Matt Hasselbeck) and a struggling franchise RB (Chris Johnson).

14. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) – Last Week: 17

Say what you will about the failings of the self-proclaimed “Dream Team” during 2011 – the Eagles finished strong, and saved coach Andy Reid’s job. After rattling off four straight wins to end the season, perhaps a full offseason will help the Eagles reach their full potential, and help them win the NFC East in 2012. It all depends on the health of QB Michael Vick, and the chemistry of their rebuilt defense.

15. San Diego Chargers (8-8) – Last Week: 20

Despite being out of postseason contention, the Chargers refused to lay down, beating division rival Oakland to keep them out of the playoffs. Now, head coach Norv Turner will keep his job for one more year. But, with a talented team headed by QB Philip Rivers and RB Ryan Mathews, how much longer can they possibly go without fulfilling their potential?

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) – Last Week: 19

You have to give Arizona all the credit in the world – as the early favorites to win the NFC West, the Cards seemingly fell on their faces, starting 1-6, with QB Kevin Kolb looking like a bust in Phoenix. They proceeded to finish 7-2, while handing the San Francisco 49ers their only division loss. With talents like Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald, they have a bright prospect for 2012.

17. Oakland Raiders (8-8) – Last Week: 12

With the AFC West title within reach, the Raiders managed to lay a massive goose egg against the Chargers, who seemingly had next to nothing to play for (save for head coach Norv Turner’s job). Now, head coach Hue Jackson is pissed, and the Raiders have a whole offseason to wonder what could have been.

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18. Seattle Seahawks (7-9) – Last Week: 18

Beast Mode ran into a surprisingly strong Cardinals D, to get stopped with 86 yards in a loss. Despite the struggles, RB Marshawn Lynch finished with 1,204 yards on the season. Despite losing their last two games, the ‘Hawks have a promising future in the NFC West, with a top-12 passing defense and the prospect of Lynch going into Beast Mode for years to come.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9) – Last Week: 22

QB Kyle Orton got his revenge on the Denver Broncos – for as much as that was worth – on Sunday. Nonetheless, KC finished at a disappointing 7-9 record, losing in what was considered one of the worst divisions in the league. Perhaps an offseason under new head coach Romeo Crennel – who took over for Todd Haley – may change things for the better. That, and getting QB Matt Cassel back from injury.

20. Chicago Bears (8-8) – Last Week: 24

With all the injuries (QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte) and misfortunes (five straight losses) that befell Chicago in the waning weeks of the season, they ended 2011 with a win. Then again, they lost franchise LB Brian Urlacher to a torn MCL. Man, this franchise was as snake-bitten as most down the stretch this season, weren’t they?

21. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – Last Week: 15

Another year, another relative failure in Big D. The Cowboys, with the NFC East title and a playoff spot on the line, got run by the Giants at MetLife Stadium. Now questions are abound – will head coach Jason Garrett be on a short leash next season? What will Jerry Jones do to improve their 23rd-ranked pass defense? What will their offense look like next season?

22. New York Jets (8-8) – Last Week: 14

You would think that, with the season – and a playoff berth – on the line, the Jets would come out gangbusters vs. a hot-and-cold Miami team. Unfortunately, 3 INTs by QB Mark Sanchez doomed them in a 19-17 loss. Now, with tepid endorsements of Sanchez from head coach Rex Ryan, rumors swirl that they may go after Peyton Manning in the offseason.

23. Miami Dolphins (6-10) – Last Week: 25

It isn’t how you start, but how you finish; and in the Dolphins’ case, that would be a 6-3 finish after an 0-7 start. As they ponder the possibilities during the offseason (losing DE Jason Taylor to retirement, for example), they now know they may have franchise players in QB Matt Moore and rejuvenated RB Reggie Bush. Should they continue their production in 2012, they may contend for a playoff spot next season.

24. Carolina Panthers (6-10) – Last Week: 21

Despite rookie QB Cam Newton finishing with a wildly impressive 4,000-yard season, his production didn’t amount to a winning team campaign. However, with a 4-2 finish to their 2011 season, their offense leaves little to be desired. If they want to compete in the 2012 season, they will need to shore up their 28th-ranked defensive team.

25. Buffalo Bills (6-10) – Last Week: 23

I can say this much for the struggling Buffalo franchise: they certainly looked like the team that started 5-2, having jumped on the Patriots in the first quarter, 21-0. Then, they reverted back to the team that lost seven straight after Halloween, giving up 49 straight. At least WR Stevie Johnson got to 1,000 yards receiving, and with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, could contend next season.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) – Last Week: 26

Looking forward to 2012, it seems they may have something with that running back of theirs – rushing champ Maurice Jones-Drew (1,606 yards) – who clinched the title with a 169-yard effort vs. Indianapolis. However, they need to address their passing attack, still ranked dead-last, and headed by rookie QB Blaine Gabbert (who threw for 92 yards on Sunday).

27. Washington Redskins (5-11) – Last Week: 27

Looking at the totality of their 2011 season, the ‘Skins finished with a 2-10 run, with no significant aspect of their game to hang their hats on. And, after a 34-10 loss to the surging Eagles, they are left with a top-10 pick in next year’s draft. With the media and fanbase clamoring for a franchise QB, who can they get with the No. 7 pick, what with QBs Matt Barkley and Landry Jones headed back to school?

28. Minnesota Vikings (3-13) – Last Week: 29

DE Jared Allen was SOOO close to, at least, tying the single-season sacks record against Chicago. Considering that 1) they’ve assured themselves the 3rd pick in the NFL draft, and 2) they still have some building blocks – especially on defense – to work with, Allen’s near-miss may not be the only bright spot for next season.

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29. Cleveland Browns (4-12) – Last Week: 28

Ending on a whimper, the Browns finished on a six-game losing streak. With a top-5 pick in their back pocket, what will they do – take a QB prospect like Robert Griffin III, or roll with either Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace, and shore up their 30th-ranked running offense? With many questions with this organization, that may be their first.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) – Last Week: 30

It was a season that began to look like they would go 12-4 with one of the hottest young coaches in the NFL, in Raheem Morris, after starting the season 4-1, beating the Saints on October 16. Then, they never won a game again, losing 11 straight to finish 4-12. Now, Morris is fired, and the Bucs are in need of a new identity, with a rushing defense ranked dead-last.

31. St. Louis Rams (2-14) – Last Week: 32

The Rams played the second-seeded 49ers close in St. Louis, but ultimately fell to tie the Rams for the worst record in the NFL. Fortunately for them, they will not be picking first in the NFL draft, and not having to face the dilemma of picking Andrew Luck, with franchise QB Sam Bradford still on the payroll.

32. Indianapolis Colts (2-14) – Last Week: 31

Despite their insistence that they would not lay down to clinch the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft – and God bless ‘em for trying – they still fell to the 4-win Jaguars on Sunday. Now, having recently let go of GM Bill Polian, they have a real dilemma on their hands: draft Stanford QB Andrew Luck and let go of current QB Peyton Manning, keep Manning and pass on Luck for a pick like Robert Griffin III, or keep both and risk stunting Luck’s growth as an NFL QB? Have fun with that, Indy.