NFL overtime change proposal sails wide right

ON FOOTBALL

Give the NFL this — it's trying. But don't hand the league much more credit. At least not when it comes to introducing the best overtime system for the league.

We all know that the current system is, well, unfair. And while our parents always taught us, "Life's not fair," we don't believe our parents when it comes to NFL extra periods. They should be fair. Both offenses should get a chance with the football. No one wants to see Brett Favre deprived of a chance to throw a back-breaking interception (or, maybe, lead his team to a game-winning field goal).

So the league's powers that be came up with this gem — if the team that starts with the ball manages only a field goal, the opponent gets a possession to "match" the three points or win the game with a touchdown. Of course, the first team can win the game without giving up the ball via a TD. Or the teams can go back and forth exchanging field goals until the bathroom lines at the stadium are so long, they snake around into the stands.

Bottom line: the proposal is gimmicky, not true football, somewhat fair but not completely fair and, more importantly, too different from the first 60 minutes of the game. Some people love the college football system, love its equal-opportunity nature. I can barely stand it. An overtime with no clock, no punting, no time management to worry about? 

That's not football.

The solution here — and this isn't the first time I've written on this topic — is simple. Overtime should be a 10-minute representation of the actual game. The teams play out the period, and whoever has the most points at its conclusion, well, wins! Now how 'bout that? Seriously. What's the problem with it?

At 10 minutes, it's not too long that players will complain about extra wear and tear. At 10 minutes, it's long enough that both teams aren't going to get that chance with the ball (and if one doesn't touch the pigskin, then it is undeserving of winning the game). At 10 minutes, it brings clock management, use of timeouts, field position and all that good stuff into play. In general, it's a true representation of the game of football, of every little nuance. 

What more could one ask for?

Of course, it's too simple a solution, too obvious, that it will never make the ballot. So for now, we'll have to settle for hearing about gimmicky ideas that could certainly make for entertaining overtime periods enjoyed by buffalo-wing chomping legions of fans. 

But the best solution? Ah, that'll have to wait. What's new?

The Super Bowl: Where wide receivers become household names

ON FOOTBALL

If you walked up to Santonio Holmes this afternoon and asked, "So, big-game player, how has your life changed since Sunday?" he might look you straight in the eye and say, "Not at all."

But there'd be a twinkle in his eyes, and you'd know the man is lying. Because there's no way that the Santonio Holmes of January 2009 is the same Santonio Holmes of February '09. It'd be ludicrous to suggest that the post-Super Bowl XLIII Holmes is the same guy who was relatively unknown outside of Pittsburgh prior to the game.

Because of one march down the field, and one catch in particular, Holmes has placed himself in Pittsburgh Steelers lore.

Earlier in the season, he was the guy who was suspended one game by coach Mike Tomlin for possessing marijuana. Now, fellas high as a kite might be discussing, in their elevated state, whether Holmes' catch was the greatest touchdown reception in Super Bowl history. (And they won't be tripping for doing so.)

In case you were locked up without access to the outside world the past couple days, Holmes and his Steelers completed a remarkable Super Bowl — replete with a plethora of spectacular plays — by scoring a 6-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left for a 27-23 victory.

And it was no ordinary 6-yard TD catch. After Ben Roethlisberger rolled out to his right and lofted a pass over the fingertips of a Cardinals defender toward the back-right corner of the end zone, Holmes hauled in the pigskin well above his head while falling out of bounds and, somehow, scraping the end-zone grass with both cleats.

Because of the play — and the Steelers win it created — Holmes will never be looked at the same. He'll never simply be considered a "pretty good receiver capable of making big plays down the field."

His life will also never return to its pre-Super Bowl form. For one, he'll make more money off of endorsements, contracts and who knows what else. Secondly, he'll get much more attention in airports, restaurants, the golf course, the club, wherever he goes.

I mean, damn, T.O. — if you really want all the attention, go be the star of a Super Bowl.

After all, it has become a theme year after year...

In 2008: Little-known Giants receiver David Tyree made the greatest catch in Super Bowl history, using his helmet to reel in a pass from Eli Manning on New York's game-winning drive that squashed the undefeated Patriots. Talk about a life-changing experience.

In 2006: Another Steelers wide receiver, Antwaan Randle El, showed off his versatility in throwing a perfect 43-yard trick-play touchdown to Hines Ward that helped seal Pittsburgh's 21-10 victory over Seattle. Randle El didn't make $500,000 that season. In the next two seasons, as a member of the Washington Redskins, he made over $5 million. The sad part: He's been nothing special during his time in D.C.; just ask any Redskins fan.

In 2004: Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch had a career-making game in New England's thrilling 32-29 Super Bowl win over the Panthers. The little-known receiver caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and won the MVP award. After two more seasons in New England — which were neither bad nor great — he all of a sudden got a pay boost of, oh, about $8 million to move out to the beautiful city of Seattle and play for the Seahawks. Why? Because of his reputation (in other words, that one game). This season Branch played in eight games and caught 30 passes.

So you can see the pattern. As amazing as Holmes was in hauling in nine passes for 131 yards and the MVP trophy Sunday in Tampa, it doesn't mean he's on his way to becoming, you know, a top-notch receiver.

How he's treated, of course, will say otherwise. Granted, the Steelers are possibly the smartest and most pragmatic franchise in the NFL. They're not going to bow down to Holmes, give him a key to their trophy vault and award him a salary bump of $5 million from his income of just over $2 million for the 2008 season.

But I wouldn't be surprised if Holmes — and his agent — attempt to get out of the current five-year deal he's locked into. And you can bet that if he becomes a free agent, he'll get long looks from other teams in need of that big-play receiver.

Think of it this way: Holmes has become a name brand. When you walk into the corner store, he's no longer the obscure, scary, dirt-cheap beer on the rack that only poor college kids buy. He's right up there with the Budweisers, Miller Lights and Sam Adams. Everyone knows about him. He's become a mainstream commodity.

And to think he accomplished this with one play. Sure, he was incredible the entire game-winning march of 88 yards — it began at the 22 but was immediately pushed back to the 12 due to a holding penalty. He accounted for 73 of the yards on four receptions.

But it was the game-breaking, improbable, will-be-seen-in-highlight-shows-forever grab that instantly made Holmes a household name across this country and will almost undoubtedly make him richer in the years to come.

Call it the "Average Wide Receiver's Key to Becoming Famous and Wealthy" handbook.

On Sunday, Santonio Holmes followed the manual to perfection.

Marvin Harrison: The NFL's quiet bad boy

ON FOOTBALL

Marvin Harrison is not your typical controversial NFL player.

He's never shot himself in a crowded New York City nightclub.

He's never called one quarterback gay, alienated himself from his next QB (and team) and done push-ups in his driveway while being interviewed.

And, no, he's never rained money on Las Vegas strippers.

But if the recent stories are true — and I, for one, think they are — Harrison isn't the quiet, goes-about-his-business, role-model type player he's always been perceived to be.

What he's accomplished, actually, is quite amazing. And I'm not talking about his prodigal 13-year NFL career that has included eight pro bowls and will certainly boost him up and into Canton one day.

It is remarkable, to me, that Harrison has managed to keep his profile under the radar his entire career. Even when he was hauling in hundreds of passes and catching every ball gunned his way by Peyton Manning, we never heard anything about Harrison's personal life.

Or his off-the-field personality.

Or ... as reported by a recent ESPN The Magazine article, the not-so-pristine incidents involving the so-called "good guy."

The story reported that in 2003, before an AFC wild-card game, Harrison grabbed a New York Jets ball boy by the throat after a ball the kid was fielding violated Harrison's "personal space" as he played catch with Manning. Later, at a medical station, the boy's neck showed marks from Harrison's choke job.

Until reading the article, I had never heard of such an incident. I read the sports page every day.

Maybe that's because the boy never pressed charges. All he asked for was an apology, which he never received.

And that's not all. The story reported that in 2005, three nights before the Pro Bowl, Harrison again grabbed the neck of an innocent teenager. This time, the kid had shown the audacity to keep pestering Harrison for an autograph. So what was the Pro Bowler's response?

He took a swing at the kid, "then grabbed him by the throat and put an arm around his neck." After some more physical play — hey, maybe Marvin thought he was on the football field, right? — Harrison and his friends ran off.

And, yep, I never heard of this, either, at the time. Hey, maybe I'm simply forgetful or ignorant. But something tells me I'm not the only one who thought, until recently, that Harrison was a quiet, minds-his-own-business class act. Reticent and reclusive, yes, but a good person, a good citizen.

(In case you were wondering, no charges were pressed in the Honolulu beatdown.)

Hopefully, now, people are starting to realize that the Marvin Harrison we think we've known all these years is a disguise. Not the football player — the man wearing No. 88, who's made all the great catches, ran all the identical routes and caught all the touchdowns is real. There's nothing fake about Harrison's on-field performances, nothing to diminish his storied career.

But Harrison the man is simply not who we've thought he was.

He may even be a criminal.

No charges have been brought — isn't that a theme here? — but it is believed by many in Harrison's home neighborhood in North Philly that after a minor argument last April near one of many businesses owned by the Philly native, he fired several shots in his home streets. He, allegedly, was aiming at the man whom he'd argued with, but instead struck a bystander in the back and shattered the windows of a car in which a 2-year-old kid and his father sat. Thankfully, no one was badly injured.

Later, police matched five shell casings found in the area of the shooting with a model of a gun registered to the wide receiver. The gun is a Belgian-made semiautomatic that, apparently, is a military-type pistol which, according to the magazine, "fires bullets that pierce 48 layers of Kevlar."

In one word, dangerous. It is a popular gun because it's easy to conceal. Now doesn't that fit Harrison?

Nothing has been proved. Harrison acknowledge the argument but denied firing the gun. And so on. A typical story involving an athlete denying any wrongdoing. That's the boring part.

What's interesting is the shock the story created. When I first read, in April, about the incident, I almost dropped my cup of tea. Was it a typo? Marvin Harrison, shooting? Pacman Jones, sure. Chris Henry, no surprise. But with all the wide-receiver divas in the NFL, Harrison was the last guy I'd suspect of being involved in such a thing.

Others were just as surprised. Even to this day, the story hasn't gotten nearly the attention of a Terrell Owens press conference. Or take the Plaxico Burress saga. Sure, Plax is an idiot for taking a gun into a club and somehow shooting himself in the leg. Now, he'll more than likely spend time in jail instead of catch Eli Manning passes.

But consider this: If the story involving Harrison is true, which man committed a greater fault: the guy who shot himself or the guy who shot at another man? It's an easy answer, folks.

I won't even get into comparing Harrison and Owens. T.O. epitomizes the word "diva," but he's never come close to committing a crime, let alone nearly choked a ball boy.

We've always loved Harrison for his business-like approach to the game while loathing Owens' look-at-me persona. Fair enough — Harrison probably remains to this day a better teammate.

But now it's time Harrison be judged for his actions.

Any innocent can hide in the shadows. But when his innocence enters a gray area, even a quiet recluse like Harrison must be put under the microscope.

Cardinals make pundits appear, well, stupid

ON FOOTBALL

In case you've been shacked up for the last 30-plus hours, the Arizona Cardinals are headed to the Super Bowl.

OK, let me repeat myself: The Arizona Cardinals — that team that pundits wrote off as "done" in late December; that team that pundits said had "no chance" at winning a playoff game; that team that pundits labeled "soft" — are headed to the Super Bowl.

The Cardinals will take on the mighty, tradition-filled Pittsburgh Steelers. They will, undoubtedly, be a big underdog come Feb. 1. People in the media will say things like, "The Steelers are simply too physical, too strong, too tough for them." And on goes the blabber machine...

Let me rewind the clock a mere four weeks. On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Cardinals played the New England Patriots. Well, that's a nice way to put it. In truth, the Cardinals let the Patriots bully them all over the snow-covered field in Foxboro, Mass.

The result was an embarrassing 47-7 spanking, which amounted to Arizona's fourth loss in five games. The Cardinals had clinched the anemic NFC West a couple weeks earlier, but after the debacle at New England close to no one considered Arizona a playoff team.

And with good reason. Because that Sunday afternoon, the Cardinals played more like an 0-16 team (no more Lions references, I promise). If Arizona played close to as bad as it did against the Pats in January, its season would end rather quickly — and in ugly, sobering fashion.

But here's the thing, which the mainstream media often seems to ignore. A team should never — ever — be judged on one game, or even three games, during a 16-game season. There's a reason the Cardinals won nine regular-season games. There's a reason they defeated a super-talented Cowboys team and won at Seattle, which is never an easy place to play regardless of how bad the Seahawks are.

And, most important, they made the playoffs. The postseason, people should know by now, is a completely different season. Records should be thrown out the window come January; head-to-head results from November don't matter (just ask the bitter Eagles, who destroyed Arizona on Thanksgiving).

The evidence is glaring. Just look at two of the three Super Bowl champions: Last season, the Giants barely made the playoffs as the fifth seed and won three road playoff games; In 2005, the Steelers were the sixth seed and had to win three road games.

Even the 2006 Colts had to win three playoff games, including a road game in freezing Baltimore, and overcome mighty New England in the AFC title game to reach and win the Super Bowl.

The point is that no team can be ruled out. Not even the Cardinals. Did I think I'd see them in the Super Bowl three weeks ago? Of course not. But I certainly wasn't ruling them out at home against a young, inexperienced Falcons team. And once they built up momentum from that game, it carried over the next weekend in Carolina and then Sunday against the Eagles.

Each week, they were doubted. The "experts" picked the other team, almost unanimously. The Cardinals proved just about everyone wrong. Now those experts are lauding them, throwing out all sorts of platitudes when praising the team they thought had no chance to win a single playoff game a few weeks ago.

I know this sounds simplistic, but when a pair of teams full of players who are the best at what they do meet — anything can happen. Any group of top-notch football players and coaches, with the right mindset and confidence, can win on Any Given Sunday.

So go ahead, place your bets with the Steelers. Call that defense impenetrable. Heck, I'll probably pick them to win too.

But I won't be the least surprised, shocked or amazed if the Cardinals pull off the upset and win their first Super Bowl.

It'd be an appropriate ending to what should be called their "Prove All Those Doubters Wrong" playoff run.

NFL should switch to timed overtime

ON FOOTBALL

These days, there aren't many American sports fans who don't love the NFL.

It's America's sports league, its new pastime. Television ratings are through the roof and then through another roof, stadiums are packed almost every Sunday (except, finally, in Detroit) and fantasy football is a worldwide phenomenon.

But I'm here to tell you, something needs to change. To spill the beans — or whatever's being spilled these days — the NFL's overtime system must be modified. Only, I don't want it to be changed to resemble college football's system. They both have flaws; here's the quick rundown.

1. What's wrong with the NFL's sudden-death approach?

— Initial possession is determined by a coin flip. And the team that gets the ball first, wins the most. Just view what happened Saturday: San Diego won the toss and scored, never allowing Peyton Manning and his offense to take the field. People can say all they want about defenses getting it done, but both offenses should have a shot regardless.

2. What's wrong with college football's each-team-starts-from-the-opponent's-25-yard line approach?

— If I had to choose one of the current systems, I'd take this. But here's what reeks about it: It completely eliminates two essential elements to any competitive football game — field position management and clock management. Since teams start at the 25, only a bad sack or penalty will knock them out of field-goal range. And even then, it's not like punting is an option. They have to go for it. There's hardly any decision-making involved.

And there is no game clock. So there's no managing of timeouts, or running a quick offense, or getting out of bounds. All of those aspects of a tight football game are eliminated. So while the system is equally fair to both teams — the big advantage it has on the NFL's — it simplifies the game. Overtimes should feature everything that a typical fourth quarter involves.

The above reasons are why I propose this overtime system for at least the NFL, and possibly college football as well: A 10-minute period, simple as that.

Sure, there'd still be a coin toss to determine who would get the first possession, but when was the last time you saw a 10-minute drive, especially when teams have timeouts? Yep, both teams would be given two timeouts to go with a 2-minute warning, allowing for plenty of game-management decisions in what would surely be a dramatic final couple minutes.

Then there'd be the interesting issue of tie games. Depending on the standings, some teams desperate for a win might go for a two-point conversion instead of a tie. Others might sit on the clock deep in their own territory. Think ties are meaningless? Just ask the Philadelphia Eagles, who are still playing because Cincinnati missed a field goal at the end of the teams' overtime way back when everyone thought Philly was cooked.

A couple ties a season wouldn't hurt.

Coaches might not like it, because they'd have to make many more tough decisions. In the current system, there wasn't a damn thing Tony Dungy could do as the Chargers marched for the winning score. Heck, there could even be some firings because of decisions made under this proposed system. But that's a moot point. Job security in the NFL these days is an oxymoron.

The main improvement is that both teams would almost definitely get the ball, the clock would be a huge factor, and as a fan you couldn't ask for a much more pulse-pounding 10 minutes of football. It would hardly elongate games, either, considering that many OT periods under the current format last seven to 10 minutes.

The NFL doesn't need many changes. But switching overtime formats would eliminate all the talk-radio garbage that hits the air following finishes like Saturday's. And it would make some games even more exciting.

Heck, perhaps it would even reel in those seven American sports fans who don't regularly watch the NFL.

Lasting memories from the 2008 sports year

There's an easy way to gauge how important, or remarkable, or special a day or event was.

A year passes, five years, even a decade — and you still remember many of the occasion's details. For instance, I'll never forget learning of the 9/11 attacks from a television in my history teacher's classroom. Most Americans, I'm sure, maintain a lucid memory of that morning now seven-plus years later.

That, of course, was a tragic day. During 2008, however, there were many memorable days — for good reasons — in the sports world. While the economy turned to slush, athletes and teams put together some of the most amazing performances I've seen in my relatively short 25 years on earth.

No, '08 wasn't a normal year in a lot of ways that are transparent to all of us. To me, now just a day into the new 365-day cycle, what stands out is how vividly I remember the year's greatest moments — not just what happened on the television screen in front of me, but what was going on around me.

For instance...

Sunday, Feb. 3: I'm sitting on the couch facing our 37-inch TV, my cousin J-bo on the adjacent couch to my left. The Giants have just shocked the sports world, upsetting the mighty, seemingly indestructible Patriots 17-14. And J-bo is giving it to me, letting me know in a clear, voluble tone that he picked New York to win while I made the safe pick. Ah, whatever. It was worth it. Best. Super Bowl. Ever?

Monday, April 7: Guess what? J-bo is right once again. This time, my friend Cosey is in town from Michigan to watch the national title game pitting Kansas and Memphis. And as Kansas brings the ball up the court trailing by three with the clock winding down (5 ... 4 ... 3), J-bo exclaims that the Jayhawks will make a 3-pointer to knot the game. And, sure enough, we watch in amazement as Mario Chalmers hits the shot of his life. It is the second championship game I've watched in 2008 — and both were the best of their kinds I've ever watched.

Sunday, June 15: I'm sitting in the living room of the waterfront community where the Lloyd Family Reunion has just begun. Family members whom I haven't seen for at least three years are streaming in, but my eyes are trained on the small TV about 10 feet in front of me. And I'm not the only one watching. Other Lloyds watch in awe as Tiger Woods calmly, daringly, dramatically sinks about a 15-foot putt to send the U.S. Open to a playoff. I'll always remember how the ball curled around the right edge of the cup before deciding to fall in. It couldn't have been better television for NBC.

Monday, July 7: This time, it's just me. I'm lounging on my aunt and uncle's couch this afternoon, absolutely captured by what I'm watching. One minute, Roger Federer hits the nastiest backhand up the line one can hit to stave off a match point. The next moment, every Federer groundstroke is chased down by the ubiquitous Rafael Nadal. It's the Wimbledon final, and it's the best tennis match — by far — I've ever seen. I wasn't able to watch it live the previous day because I'd been on a hike-gone-bad for the weekend, but I had my aunt DVR it. Then, Sunday afternoon and night, I had to avoid using my laptop or watching our crib's TV. It was brutal not being able to see the Yankees-Red Sox game, but I couldn't risk noticing the result of the match on ESPN's bottom line. I needed the element of surprise to truly enjoy it.

That, to state the obvious, is exactly what I did for about four solid hours on that couch. I won't forget how Federer played a great final three sets, but somehow hit possibly his worst shot of the day to end the match: He plunked an easy forehand into the net. And Nadal went into the stands, with darkness enveloping Centre Court, to celebrate his first Wimbledon title.

***I was living the outdoorsy, no-TV life in beautiful New Hampshire during the entire Olympics, so I didn't see any of Michael Phelps' eight gold-medal performances or Usain Bolt's three record-breaking runs. But, no doubt, those moments will not be forgotten for as long as those records stand (and that should be a very, very long time). One thing that won't skip my mind is viewing the amazing Sports Illustrated pictures of Phelps' victory by the slightest of margins in the 100-meter butterfly. And I'll always remember that the win was by one hundredth of a second.

Sunday, Dec. 29: Sadly, not all the memorable moments were positive. I'm at a table with my friend Bobby in the middle of Ann Arbor's Buffalo Wild Wings, an almost-empty glass in front of me and hundreds of football fans of all colors around me. Directly to my left stands a kid sports a Bears Brian Urlacher jersey. But at the moment, there is an assortment of cheers and groans. The clock has just wound down on the first 0-16 season in NFL history. And, get this, I got to witness the Lions' ultimate achievement of ineptitude from the state they call home. Only another 0-16 season could make the memory of this afternoon vague.

It's been that kind of year in sports. One full of moments that will be talked about for many years to come. Who knows? The Giants slaying of the Patriots has been called by many the greatest Super Bowl ever. Woods' performance on basically one leg was hailed as the most remarkable, brave display in golf history. And several tennis experts immediately claimed Nadal's five-set victory over Federer the sport's best match on that kind of stage — ever.

I saw most of the year's best moments. And I don't plan on forgetting where I was and what those around me and I were doing when those television screens portrayed such historical scenes.

Now 2009 has an almost-impossible act to follow.

The last thing these Detroit Lions need is hope

ON FOOTBALL

If you're a Lions fan — and, believe me, there are still thousands out there (somehow) — you should be ecstatic right now. You should be more excited now than you were at this time in 2001, 2002, '03, '04, '05, '06, and '07.

And you should ask for a Cheese Head for Christmas or Hanukkah.

Why? Well, it's obvious. The Detroit Lions have finally stunk so bad, have finally proved so incapable — from ownership, to the front office, to the coaches, to the players, to the vendors — that they're on the brink of history.

A loss in frigid Green Bay Sunday, where they haven't won since '91, and the Lions will be the NFL's first 0-16 team.

And when it comes to the Lions, 0-16 seems like the only result that will get people in the organization to take a long look in the mirror and exclaim, "Nothing is working!"

Since Detroit last had a winning season, going 9-7 in 2000, it has been consistently bad. There was the 2-14 campaign in 2001 and the one-win improvement to 3-13 the following year. Then came 5-11 seasons, with a 6-10 march to nothing sandwiched in-between. Under current coach Rod Marinelli, Detroit started bad (3-13), gained a quartet of wins to 7-9, and now, well, you know...

But not until now, and perfectly coinciding with all the other depressing news choking the Motor City, has a sense of despair overtook this morbid, one-playoff-win-since-1957 franchise.

I would always laugh after previous 5-11 seasons, when people predicted the Lions to make the playoffs; when a radio host actually picked them to advance to the NFC championship game; when, after drafting yet another "big-play" wide receiver, everyone gushed over how unstoppable Detroit's offense was going to be.

I'm not making this stuff up. I lived a 40-minute drive from Ford Field up until the 2007 season, and every August overly priced tickets were sold, prognosticators forecast division championships...and then, sometimes after a couple wins, everything went downhill.

I don't consider myself the smartest person, but I must admit I'm proud of never getting caught up in Lions Fever. Even last year, when Detroit got out to a 6-2 start and everyone from Monroe to Pontiac was asking about playoff tickets. Around 2003 I told myself that I'd never predict the Lions to make the playoffs—that is, until they actually made the playoffs (if that makes sense).

So the fans continued flocking to Ford Field, filling the already-heavy pockets of owner William Clay Ford, and the Lions continued to lose. And, sure, coaches were fired. But Matt Millen stayed on board as general manager, many ineffective players were retained, and there was never talk of an "overhaul."

(On a side note, how sad is it that after the Detroit Pistons made the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight season last May and lost to the Boston Celtics, fans called for Joe Dumars to blow up the team. Yet after the Lions put together a seventh consecutive losing season, there was no such talk?)

Now, at long last, the memo has been sent: The Lions suck, they're terrible, they're awful. The offense. The defense. Special teams. The coaching staff. All of it.

"The Detroit Lions are the worst franchise in major American professional sports."

If I had said that even a year ago, I'm sure there would have been plenty of dissenters. But now? Outside of some baseball fans in Pittsburgh, I think a good portion of American sports fans would agree.

"Over the past eight years, no franchise has been worse than the Detroit Lions."

But it's taken an 0-15 season — hopefully soon to be the first 0-16 campaign — to dampen the spirit of the team's faithful and sometimes, sadly, extremely docile supporters. Finally, Ford Field has experienced empty seats; five of the last six games failed to sell out, with Tennessee's butt-whoopin' of the Lions on Thanksgiving the lone exception.

Only 49,309 people attended Sunday's home finale against the Saints, a tidy 42-7 New Orleans victory. It was the second-smallest crowd since the stadium opened in 2002.

The Lions intentionally made the capacity of the stadium (65,000) about 15,000 less than that of the team's former home, the Pontiac Silverdome (80,311), in an attempt to avoid TV cameras panning oceans of empty seats during games. The move worked for six and a half seasons.

But a team that can't win — at all — changes things. Even in Detroit.

Now, of course, the positive thing (I guess) is that as long as things go according to plan at Lambeau Field Sunday, this franchise will have nowhere to go but up (I think). And it is my hope that wholesale changes will be made in an effort to do just that.

With Ford in charge, however, who knows what will be done. There's a good chance the Lions will never make the playoffs under his ownership. That's simply one of those sad facts of life.

But here's what will happen over the next eight months as a result of this historic season:

1. There will be no positive predictions for the 2009 team.

2. No returning players — if there are any — will allow themselves to get fat thinking about improvements that were made during the season and late-season victories that created meaningless momentum.

3. Whoever is coaching the team will ride his staff and players harder than a jockey rides his horse coming down the stretch run of the Derby.

4. And Lions fans will finally expect the worse, regardless of whom their team drafts, knowing that their team is terrible until it proves otherwise.

I, for one, can't wait until the 2009 season. Let's call it the "Season of Realistic Expectations for the Lions."

Then, maybe, we'll be pleasantly surprised when something good happens on the field.

Fantasy football: attracting NFL fans every day

ON FOOTBALL

Baseball may retain the moniker of "America's Pastime," but no civilized American can argue that it's this country's most popular sports league.

That honor firmly belongs to the National Football League, which will take center stage Thursday night when the Super Bowl-champion New York "Football" Giants take on the Washington Redskins.

I, for one, will remain more focused on baseball and college football for the next few months. Why? Because the end of a season -- baseball's -- is always more thrilling than the beginning of one, and I enjoy the college-football season more than the NFL's (at least until the bowls). Every games means so much more.

That doesn't mean, however, that I won't pay attention to nearly every NFL game each week, watching bits and pieces of several -- some from home, some from congested bars -- and keeping track of them all online.

And I hate to admit this, but fantasy football is a big reason.

Before I enter Fantasy Land, let me say this: I consider myself a sports nut. Translation -- over the years, I've developed a penchant for watching games that mean absolutely nothing to me just for the sheer excitement of the action, the drama of the final minutes. I consider myself rare in this aspect.

Being from Michigan, am I a huge Detroit Lions fan? No. I watch them when I can -- and bare with their losing ways -- but I'm no die-hard, blue-paint-wearing idiot (seriously, who would wear paint for the Lions?). But you can find me watching the end of a close Denver-Oakland game on a random Sunday evening. That's just the Sports Guy in me coming out.

But now, my interest in the NFL is headed to another level. For the first time, I am in two fantasy football money leagues this season. In one, I'm a joint owner. The other team is solely under my direction. That means checking the NFL news every day to see who's hurt, who's available and who's in their coach's doghouse. It's a bit time-consuming, but addictive as well.

And it's just another reason to watch the NFL on Sundays, Mondays and sometimes Thursdays. Normally, I might tune in -- on a mundane Thursday night -- to the final quarter of a Giants-Redskins season-opener. That is, of course, if the game is close. But with Washington tight end Chris Cooley on both my fantasy teams, I'm sure I'll watch more than a quarter this Thursday.

Call me a fantasy nerd. That, I guess, is what I'm becoming. Now, granted, I'm not even close to the upper echelon of fantasy players, who, among other things, keep track of Denver's fourth-string running back situation. Heck, I can't name the Broncos' second R.B. But random games mean even more to me now.

Not only will I hope for another epic Colts-Patriots game this season. I'll hope for a great performance from Tom Brady, whom I drafted No. 6 -- I know, risky pick -- ahead of the Colts' Joseph Addai in my solo league.

Of course, fantasy football also creates conflicts in a fan's head. For instance, my hometown Lions take on Jacksonville on Nov. 9. Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is on my joint team. What if it's a late-game situation and the Lions need a defensive stop, but I desperately need rushing yards from Drew?

Issues, issues.

I like to think that I'm still more of a football fan than a fantasy football nut, but I won't be able to determine this for sure until well into the season. It should be a revealing experience for me.

And I'm sure millions of other NFL fans experience similar conundrums. But no one's hopping off the fantasy bus. It's simply too intoxicating. Too easy to get hooked on.

To add to this, running a team doesn't take much time. Rosters are small and there's only one slate of games a week. Additionally, there's so much information available, you don't have to dig to find out who's probable, who's questionable, which running back's carries will decrease and which wide receiver has a bad rapport with his coach.

It's an easy game to play, and -- I'm hoping -- not that tough of a game to win (I'll let you know in four months).

I'm just glad I've resisted the fantasy baseball urge, and college football fantasy games are few and far between (and, with thousands of unknown players, don't interest me).

So for now I'll focus on the baseball playoff race and the beginning of the Rich Rodriguez era in Ann Arbor.

But simultaneously, I'll be keeping my eye on the number of carries the Broncos' Selvin Young, one of my RBs, gets.

Because if they dwindle, I might need to learn the name of that second-string guy out in the Rockies.

Let athletes retire when they're ready

ON FOOTBALL

I know this isn't realistic, but play along for a minute:

You're a middle-aged guy. You love your job. Sure, you've got enough money to buy a small island and still send your kids to Ivy League schools, but that's not the point. Did I mention that you love your job?

You're only 38 years old, and for your entire life you've poured your heart and soul into becoming as good of an employee at said job as possible. You know nothing else. Sure, you like to play poker with the fellas on Friday nights, but that's not exactly a time-consuming hobby.

The fact is, when you leave your dream job, when you decide to "retire," you really will be left with nothing. You'll spend more time with your family members, but even they won't be able to fill your days (heck, they're telling you that now). You're scared of feeling empty, as if you're wasting away the entire second half of your life.

When you could still be succeeding at the highest level of your profession...

Get the point? Are you in Brett Favre's cleats by now? If not, simply blame my journalistic skills.

But this isn't about me. Rather, this is about Favre, and every other professional athlete who decides they're not ready to retire -- and gets criticized for coming back.

That criticism is ridiculous. An athlete should get to be an athlete for as long as they can perform, for as long as an organization wants them. It's no different from other professions -- lawyers, doctors, veterinarians: Nobody ever tells them to retire at an early age and stay retired.

The problem here is a way of thinking about athletes. We see them as temporary forms of entertainment, as the leaders of our favorite teams. We don't view them as employees, as people interested in performing their jobs for as long as they can. Often times -- lost in the haze of ludicrous contracts -- I think we lose sight of just how much most athletes love their jobs, of the main reason why they've dedicated themselves to sports for so many years.

Favre is an example of what pro sports are all about. I'm not gonna say it's never been about the money for him, because at some moment in life -- before the big ranch and the multiple cars -- earning a living is the objective. But for the past several years, that certainly hasn't been a worry of his.

He plays because of his love, his passion, for the game. And if he wants to return to the NFL, he should go for it without thinking twice. Whether Green Bay takes him back or another team picks him up -- who the heck wouldn't? -- is up to them. There's no obligation there. But don't fault Favre if he indeed has that itch to play pro football again.

As some song goes, you don't know how good something is until it's out of your grasp.

I wrote a column over a year ago applauding Tiki Barber for retiring early. The New York Giants running back was clearly tired of the physical pounding his body took season after season, and he wanted to preserve his face for a broadcasting career -- which, by the way, is in full swing.

Barber was widely denounced for leaving the Giants at the age of 31 and with plenty of gas left in his tank. He shouldn't have been. The man had another calling, which he pursued only after giving all he had for the G-Men on the field. Some players aren't football lifers, many aren't like Favre.

Anyone who watched the Packers last season knows that Favre can still play, that his arm remains one of the league's strongest and his improvisational skills haven't deserted him. He came thisclose to leading Green Bay to the Super Bowl, and the memory of his last throw -- an overtime interception that led to New York's game-winning field goal in the NFC championship game -- has to haunt him.

In my mind, the Packers would be foolish not to welcome him back with open arms. Even if it's just a one-year deal, the decent chance to win one Super Bowl with Favre easily outweighs the uncertainty that will cloak Green Bay once the Aaron Rodgers Era officially begins. To simplify, Green Bay + Favre > Green Bay + Rodgers.

At least for now.

But if the Packers don't take Favre back, fine -- that's their decision. If he wants to play, he'll end up somewhere. And we should all relish the opportunity to watch him play again, just like we cherished the chance to see M.J. once again, and then again.

At the young age of 38, Favre might not be ready for retirement yet.

For the select few of us who love our jobs, we should be able to relate.

Young should be applauded for honesty

ON FOOTBALL

A professional athlete speaking honestly?

Especially about something that could bring criticism his way?

Get outta here.

That just doesn't happen -- especially in this information age. Rather, whenever an athlete says they didn't take steroids, I take that to mean, "Yeah, I stuck a needle in my behind several times." When a pitcher says he didn't mean to throw a 98-mph heater at a vulnerable batter's noggin, I translate that to: "Yeah, I was trying to decapitate him."

Yes, honesty is not a strong point of today's stars, particularly when talking about off-the-playing-surface issues.

Which is why I give a ton of credit to Vince Young.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback admitted in an NFL.com interview posted Monday that he thought about quitting -- yes, giving up the game of football -- after his rookie season of 2006.

It was a shocking revelation to learn about because Young is far from your regular player. He's Tennessee's franchise player. I've never been to Nashville, but I bet it's hard to take a tour of the city without spotting a pedestrian with a No. 10 Titans jersey.

Again, shocking -- but also sincere and, of course, that "H" word.

In some cases, I might criticize an athlete not for admitting such a thing, but for hiding it from his organization for so long. But not in this case. Here's why:

Even while Young was having myriad family issues during that season, he was also leading the Titans to an improbable string of six consecutive victories -- before dropping the season finale to New England -- that nearly landed them in the playoffs. As a rookie quarterback in the NFL, an extremely difficult job to begin with, Young overcame everything to excel on the field.

And he saved the possibility of early retirement for the offseason. He should be applauded for showing maturity in a tough situation (it's hard enough not having decent wide receivers).

If you want to call Young soft, go ahead. Of course, you'd be brutally wrong. Anyone who watched the 2006 Rose Bowl knows that Young is at his best when under immense pressure. His performance to top USC and win the national title was unbelievable.

He's a tough cookie. Now, I'd say he's even tougher for putting himself out there with Monday's statements.

The Titans must, obviously, sit down with Young and make sure he is still dedicated to being their play-caller. That's a conversation that has to occur. Too much is on the line for them to ignore these comments.

But from what Young said, he has overcome those thoughts -- thanks to his teammates and God -- and will continue to put that No. 10 jersey on.

And, for once, I completely believe this potential superstar. No lie detector test is needed. If I'm Tennessee management, I'm taking Young at his word.

It's refreshing to know that at least one big-time athlete isn't too embarrassed to tell the difficult truth.

Chad Johnson might regret trade

ON FOOTBALL

It wouldn't be an NFL offseason without a prominent wide receiver complaining, so I'd like to thank Chad Johnson for filling that role.

Ever since he danced, skipped and preened onto the NFL's big screen, the Cincinnati wideout has gotten a free pass from the media and fans. Unlike Terrell Owens, Johnson has not been ripped for his excessive post-touchdown celebrations -- even if they cost his team 15 yards.

The reason? He's still been a team player, not doing anything to damage the Bengals' chemistry. He hasn't bashed his quarterback -- like T.O. did in Philly -- or performed situps in his driveway in front of multiple T.V. cameras (another T.O. favorite).

Until now. With his actions this offseason, Johnson has followed T.O.'s lead. Or maybe he's picking up where the Cowboys receiver left off, since Owens has been on his best behavior lately -- even crying while defending his quarterback in January.

The past couple months, Johnson has hinted that he wants out of Cincinnati, but he never came out and made himself clear until Wednesday. He said all the cliches about wanting to be on a winning team, and on and on. He made a humorous appearance on "SportsCenter," during which the ESPN anchor asked him what he wanted to talk about.

Now, however, Johnson has made himself lucid -- life with the Bengals just isn't going to cut it for him anymore. Cincinnati, of course, has no plans to trade its No. 1 receiver -- a smart move -- which should make things interesting in the months leading up to the season. That's because Johnson said Wednesday he won't "report to anything."

I don't think Johnson realizes how good he has it in Cincinnati. Sure, the Bengals are coming off a poor season and haven't made the playoffs in two years. But look around the league, Chad. Only 12 teams make the postseason every year. Would you rather be on the Lions or Cardinals?

If Johnson is trying to pull a Randy Moss and get dealt to New England, he's out of his mind. It's not happening.

Johnson said Carson Palmer was wrong for saying Johnson had told him he'd attend June's minicamp. Palmer is the last guy Johnson wants to start a beef with. More than likely, he'll be throwing passes to Johnson in 2008. And most of the time, those passes will be right on the money.

Answer me this, Chad: How many NFL quarterbacks are as good as yours, are as adroit at hitting receivers in stride as yours? To further the question, how many of those quarterbacks would you have an outside chance of playing with?

Let's see. ... Tom Brady is out. Peyton Manning has plenty of receivers in Indy. That basically takes care of the AFC. In the NFC, Brett Favre is retired (at least for now). With T.O. in Dallas, you're not joining Tony Romo there. Maybe you could play with Drew Brees in New Orleans, but the Saints are no playoff lock. Ditto for Donovan McNabb and the Eagles and even Super Bowl champ Eli Manning and the Giants.

Johnson could hook up with Marc Bulger in St. Louis, but -- wait -- what was the Rams' record last season?

Johnson isn't helping himself, or his team, with this bonanza. If he would focus on simply playing football and helping his team win, the Bengals could be a playoff team in '08.

Seriously.

They won seven games a year ago. Add three wins, and they're playing in January. And we all know what can transpire in the postseason.

Maybe there's more to the situation. I'm no insider. Maybe Johnson doesn't get along with coach Marvin Lewis or can't stand Palmer, which is hard to understand. From all indications, Palmer is the ultimate team player who is dedicated to getting things turned around in Cincy.

This situation is completely different from Moss' stay in Oakland. That marriage was broken from the beginning, and Moss needed a new home.

Johnson doesn't. What he needs is to get his head screwed back on and focus on playing the upcoming season -- and getting in the end zone so he can celebrate -- for the Bengals.

He still has a chance to save his reputation, to not be labeled another T.O. But that will go down the shoot if he keeps down the same road he's traveling on.

Week 11 NFL picks

ON FOOTBALL

My picks were so defective last week, I hopped on a plane and spent two days in Philadelphia without cable TV or the internet to recuperate.

OK, that's a partial lie. The trip to Philly was a planned visit to see my grandma, but it did serve to help me kind of forget about the sports world for a couple days. Instead, I read an entire Walter Mosley novel and dined in some fine Northeast Philly restaurants.

It was a good time.

But now it's back to business. Coming off that dismal 6-6 showing, which put me at 78-48 overall, I have to reprove myself as an adequate picker of NFL games. With that said, I'm going to stop blabbering and make my picks.

Here goes:

At Green Bay (8-1) 28, Carolina (4-5) 10: I can't wait until a Thanksgiving Day game involving the Lions that actually means something when they host these Packers.

At Detroit (6-3) 24, N.Y. Giants (6-3) 21: Speaking of the Lions, this is a statement game. They have to show, after their flop in Arizona last week, that they're a playoff team. A loss here and a loss to the Packers, and they're just 6-5.

Tampa Bay (5-4) 17, at Atlanta (3-6) 13: As hard as it is to believe, if the Falcons win, they'd be just a game back of the Bucs in the division. But, no, I'm not picking a Joey Harrington-led team in a big game.

Cleveland (5-4) 26, at Baltimore (4-5) 12: Despite the loss to Pittsburgh last week, I was impressed with the way the Browns kept fighting back. That will help them this week.

At Cincinnati (3-6) 20, Arizona (4-5) 14: I know, I know. I said last week I'd never pick the Bengals again. But the Cardinals can't win on the road. Seriously, it's a proven fact.

At Jacksonville (6-3) 19, San Diego (5-4) 16: This is a pure guess. I have no idea who'll win. This could be the best game of the day.

At Seattle (5-4) 17, Chicago (4-5) 12: Even minus Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks are tough to beat at home.

At Minnesota (3-6) 18, Oakland (2-7) 13: Even minus Adrian Peterson, the Vikings have enough to dispose of the lowly Raiders in Daunte Culpepper's return to Minnesota.

At Houston (4-5) 28, New Orleans (4-5) 27: Huge game for both teams. The Texans need it a little more and make a statement at home.

At Indianapolis (7-2) 27, Kansas City (4-5) 10: Even without Dwight Freeney, the Colts will harass Brodie Croyle, who makes his first start of the season for the Chiefs.

At Philadelphia (4-5) 28, Miami (0-9) 14: The Eagles have been up-and-down, but even their worst showing won't equal a win for the Dolphins.

Pittsburgh (7-2) 24, at N.Y. Jets (1-8) 16: Could there be a letdown after the comeback win over the Browns last week? Don't bet on it. Still this will be tougher than expected.

St. Louis (1-8) 28, at San Francisco (2-7) 11: Battle of the morbid. I'll go with the Rams to up their winning streak to two games.

At Dallas (8-1) 31, Washington (5-4) 20: The more I watch the Cowboys offense, the more I'm impressed. Expect more of the same today.

New England (9-0) 28, at Buffalo (5-4) 18: The ingredients are there for an upset. Night game in cold weather on the road. Crazy upper-state New York fans. But, alas, these Patriots are immune to anything, including poisonous snakes (most likely).

Tennessee (6-3) 20, at Denver (4-5) 16: After being dismantled at home by the Jaguars last week, this is a statement game for Vince Young and his mates on national TV.

I'm out. Enjoy all the games except, well, that one in the Bay Area.

Week 9 NFL picks

ON FOOTBALL

It is almost time. After watching so much analysis on ESPN, I'm ready to punch Ed Werder in the noggin, Super Bowl XLI1/2 is finally upon us. In a matter of hours the 8-0 Patriots will take on the 7-0 Colts in Indianapolis. One of those ESPN reports noted that tickets are selling for as much as $1,800.

Whoa.

According to another report, there also are other games on this Sunday, as in other NFL games. I checked this morning's paper to verify this startling rumor, and was surprised to find out that it held water. There are, in fact, 13 "other games."

So let's see if I can build on a decent 9-4 week which propelled my overall picking record to a still-dismal 62-39.

At New Orleans (3-4) 24, Jacksonville (5-2) 19: The Saints continue to march after that 0-4 start.

At Detroit (5-2) 27, Denver (3-4) 20: I'm still not convinced the Lions are for real, but they're good enough to beat an underachieving Broncos team. The Roy Williams-Dre Bly matchup should be fun to watch.

At Atlanta (1-6) 16, San Francisco (2-5) 10: Do not watch this game.

Green Bay (6-1) 24, at Kansas City (4-3) 21: Another late drive by Brett Favre wins this one. He's having so much fun, he might never retire.

At Cleveland (4-3) 21, Seattle (4-3) 14: The Browns continue to act as the AFC's greatest surprise.

Washington (4-3) 17, at N.Y. Jets (1-7) 9: This will not be a pleasant first start for Jets QB Kellen Clemens.

San Diego (4-3) 31, Minnesota (2-5) 17: Chargers continue to roll, saving Norv Turner his job.

At Buffalo (3-4) 24, Cincinnati (2-5) 19: I am officially off the Bengals bandwagon.

At Tampa Bay (4-4) 24, Arizona (3-4) 14: Cardinals are a terrible road team.

At Oakland (2-5) 17, Houston (3-5) 14: Apparently people in Houston and Oakland will get this game on CBS instead of Super Bowl XLI1/2. Ouch.

At Philly (3-4) 31, Dallas (6-1) 24: The players on the Eagles dedicate this performance to Andy Reid and the hardships he's going through with his family.

At Pittsburgh (5-2) 17, Baltimore (4-3) 13: These Steelers are for real while these Ravens aren't as tough as they're rumored to be.

Super Bowl XLI1/2: New England (8-0) 34, Indianapolis (7-0) 31: While I am a huge advocate of getting outdoors on Sunday afternoons and enjoying the fall leaves, this is a game you might want to stay in front of the TV for. In fact, this game will almost certainly be better than the actual Super Bowl.

If these teams meet again in the AFC Championship Game, that will top this because of what will be at stake, but the real Super Bowl's got nothing on this game.

I expect plenty of offense from both sides, with the outcome coming down to who has the ball last. That will be the Patriots, as Tom Brady will march them down the field for the winning field goal.

OK, that's enough analysis. I don't want to be a hypocrite.

Enjoy the game everyone. Except for you folks in Oakland and Houston (hah hah hah hah).

Wednesday, 7/18/07's main point: Is Vick now the football version of Bonds?

ON FOOTBALL

As sad as it is to say this, Michael Vick isn't the only one.

Vick's not the only NFL player who has been involved with the grotesque, inhumane, sickening practice of pitting dogs against each other in a concealed area until one rips the other's head off.

I don't have proof. I can't name names. But I know there are others. All you have to do is listen to what Washington running back Clinton Portis said a while back about the ongoing investigation of Vick: "I know a lot of back roads that have the dog fighting if you want to go see it."

Portis isn't lying, folks. This stuff goes on frequently — especially in the South — and I'm sure Vick isn't the only NFL player (or other professional athlete, for that matter) involved.

He is, however, the only player who has been indicted, and his name makes this case huge.

Which reminds me of an investigation that is ongoing in another sport. Um, does the name "Barry Bonds" and the word "steroids" ring a bell?

Just as the federal government is determined to nail Bonds for what we all know he did — cheated — it is dedicated to convicting Vick for his participation in a dogfighting ring.

The evidence isn't quite as transparent in Vick's case. A book hasn't been written with loads of evidence against him. His dogfighting trainer isn't locked up in a Surry County jail, refusing to talk about his loyal companion. But it has become quite conspicuous that Vick played some role — whether it was running the ring, or simply betting on the fights — that should land him in a dirty jail cell and abruptly end his NFL career.

That's where the similarities stop. Bonds is a free man, hitting home runs, making millions, on the verge of history. Right now it appears unlikely that he'll get indicted for taking steroids, and I'm sure the thought of spending time in the ringer hasn't even entered his super-sized head. He's got it much better than Vick.

What's interesting is that the man in the most trouble — Vick — has been loved by NFL fans for most of his six-year career. His dazzling runs and cannon of a arm made football exciting in Atlanta and filled the Georgia Dome on Sundays. He became a favorite player for video gamers — Falcons' fans or not — and he was featured on the cover of Madden 2004. For his play (and the positive publicity he brought to Atlanta), he was awarded an NFL-record 10-year, $130 million contract in December of '04.

Only recent mediocre play, a couple other off-the-field incidents (the double-birdie to Falcons' fans, the special water bottle), and this current case have tarnished Vick's reputation as one of the most exciting and popular players in the NFL. Despite the federal indictment of Vick Tuesday, Nike still hasn't ended its sponsorship of the quarterback, instead reviewing the new information.

Basically, Vick really had to mess up to ruin his situation, and despite his irreconcilable mistakes, Nike — I guess — still believes he's a decent person to represent the company, which — I guess again — doesn't sell dog collars.

Bonds, on the other hand, has been hated by baseball fans for several years for his unruly attitude and now, of course, the overwhelming evidence that he took steroids. He couldn't land a Nike contract if he threatened the company with Greg Anderson. Unless he hits No. 756 at home, he'll be booed mercifully.

Baseball fans know that Bonds is just one in a first baseman's glove-full of steroid users in MLB, but they don't boo the other guys. Jason Giambi, the contrite one, is cheered at Yankee Stadium and treated indifferently in other ballparks. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who has lost several pounds in the past few years, is beloved in Detroit and was voted the starting All-Star catcher for the American League despite not having the best numbers.

The only player fans, the media and the government — it appears — want to indict, want to lock away, is Bonds, the man who could steal Hank Aaron's record, the man who will never apologize for anything.

And then there's Vick. This indictment is great news. I cannot wait for Vick to be banned from the NFL — the right move for commissioner Roger Goodell — convicted, and then sent to jail. As a dog lover who recently lost my beloved dog to cancer, it sickens me to think of grown men transforming innocuous animals into violent creatures that kill each other.

Vick should get no leniency in this case.

But let's not be too ignorant to realize that Vick's not the only NFL player — just as Bonds wasn't baseball's only steroid user — who has witnessed a brutal dogfight. The NFL and the legal system needs to send a strong message with this case that anyone who so much as knows about dogfighting will be strongly disciplined.

Maybe the NFL should amend its meetings that it holds with players about personal conduct to include a section on treating animals kindly. Whatever it does, it shouldn't view this case as isolated.

Michael Vick, I'm sure, is simply the bass in a pond swarming with fish when it comes to dogfighting.