Who would have thought that in week 17, there would be multiple games where both teams were fighting for postseason survival?  We had the Dolphins/Jets, Eagles/Cowboys and Broncos/Chargers.  We have to give thanks to the ones responsible for those games.

Thank you NFL schedule makers and their computers.

Because of you, the last week of the season was even more relevant as these highlight games made sure you got TV viewership and we got quality football that had postseason implications.  Normally, we have games in week 17 where one team needs to lose here for another team to have a chance there.  Not this year.  We had two games, the Cowboys/Eagles and Broncos/Chargers, where it was winner take all.  Going into week 17, the Dolphins/Jets game was going to be a winner take all based on how the New England Patriots game went.  In the end, the Jets were reduced to playing the spoiler role.  Miami prevailed to highlight one of the best turnarounds in NFL history matching the 1999 Indianapolis Colts.  San Diego became the first team since the 1985 Browns to go 8-8 and make the postseason.  In fact, they are the only team to be 4-8 during the season and come back to make the post season.  Those are two great comeback stories.

So San Diego and Philadelphia beat down their opponents and Miami won a close one, but we got a great week of NFL football leading into the Wild Card weekend.  These three teams play again to see if their Cinderella seasons continue.

Ironically, all 4 road teams came into Wild Card weekend as the favorites.  This weekend, we have already seen the left-for-dead Arizona Cardinals beat the upstart Atlanta Falcons.  Technically, Arizona has a 2 game home playoff winning streak as their last home playoff game before today was a win in the 1947 NFL Championship.  That’s a whopping 61 years between home playoff games.  One of the playoff favorites, the Indianapolis Colts, were caught in overtime and lost to the San Diego Chargers.  With LaDanian Tomlinson hurting, Darren Sproles took over and had a great game.  Like Michael Turner, this guy is starter quality playing behind LT.  That’s 2/2 in underdog home team wins.

The Sunday games started off with Baltimore making easy work of Miami.  Part of what sparked Miami’s playoff run was their soft schedule and weak division.  When the competition jumped a couple of levels in Baltimore, they were overmatched.  Like their first meeting earlier in the season, the Ravens were in control.  In the later game, the favorite once again won as the Philadelphia Eagles continued to ride the McNabb wave to another win.  After unfairly booing and benching McNabb midseason, he has led the team to playoffs and now a 2nd round game.

Once again, thank you schedule gurus for helping close out the regular season with a bang and set up the always enjoyable NFL playoffs.  You guys couldn’t have seen it when the schedules were initially released, but you guys hit some gems.

We must give Peyton Manning credit. At one point the Colts were 3-4 and considered finished. Not just in reference to their season, but to their dynasty. Manning and his receivers looked as if they had never played together. Most of the offensive line starters were missing in action and the running game was nowhere to be found. To top it off, the annual label of “small”, used to describe the Colts defense, had just gained new meaning as they were getting run all over like never before.

Manning was coming off 2 surgeries (which were much more serious than we were lead to believe) that caused him to miss training camp so the timing issues were forgivable. The defensive play was just horrendous. True they faced AP, Maurice Jones-Drew and the surprising Matt Forte and Steve Slaton but they performed worst than expected. People were quick to blame it on the abscense of the diminituive but destructive Bob Sanders but Manning just wouldn’t have it. After the Monday Night Football loss to the Titans, Manning apparently made a promise. He didn’t give the flashy and attention grabbing speech that Tim Tebow gave after their stunning loss, he let his actions speak for themselves. Today, on the brink of their playoff game against the San Diego Chargers, they stand at 12-4. They will put a 9-game winning streak on the line in yet another game in which they are favored.

But let’s back up the train a for a moment. Injured or not, they still have Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and several big names on that offensive line. We musn’t forget the contributions of Dominic Rhodes either. Not quite sure of the count of pro bowl years combined from their players but I’ll go out on a  limb and say it takes more than 2 hands. How many pro bowl years for the likes of Chad Pennington, Greg Camarillo, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Fasano, Davone Bess and their offensive line? I doubt you can use all 10 fingers. Yet the Dolphins sit at 11-5 in the playoffs a year after going 1-15. We can talk about the coaching, the defense, the desire to win, the wildcat formation and Bill Parcells all we want. The rookie Chad Henne would not have suceeded as the starter the way Pennington did. Simply because he lacks the experience, not the skill. Yet, Manning received 32 of the possible 50 first place votes!

Let’s recall that Indy did not even win their division. Let’s recall that their season did not come down to the last game in which they were major underdogs. Please remind everyone that our “star” receiver this season in Camarillo was lost during the season. Please remind everyone else that Pennington, while talented/determined, will never have the skills of Manning. Suddenly it counts to be more skillful and being favored in every game in MVP voting. Given, you take Manning off the Colts, they won’t win 12 games. You take Pennington off the Dolphins…wait we already know what happened there! So somehow, the MVP votes just don’t add up. How is it Kurt Warner managed 1 first place vote? Talk to any Cardinals fan, as I was previliged to, and they will tell you that without him they would have nothing. How is it Adrian Peterson managed just 3? Take the game’s best running back away from the Vikings and we’ll get a weekly reminder that field goals don’t win football games with Tavaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte as your quarterbacks.

Maybe someone should forward this to that panel of MVP voters.

Most NFL fans today gush at the site of a beautiful aerial attack during a game. There is no way to deny that we have been spoiled. Most viewers get to watch Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo (when he’s not knocked down), Drew Brees and all the other elite signal callers every week. When you combine great mechanics, excellent downfield vision and a cannon for an arm you get those “big plays.” But since when did the big play become known for only passing? What happened to those good old days of running backs fighting it out in the trenches and exploding for a huge gain?

Whether it was Gale Sayers, O.J. Simpson, Marshall Faulk, Tony Dorsett, Emmett Smith, Barry Sanders, Erick Dickerson or Jim Brown, the NFL has had its share of big time backs that could make the big play happen on the ground. Not to take anything away from today’s premiere backs in Adrian Peterson and LaDainian Tomlinson, but this has become a quarterbacks league. After watching quarterbacks and receivers headline the 06 and 07 drafts, the running backs finally had their time in the spotlight again this 08 draft.

We must remember that the only, and I repeat only back that everyone expected to carry a big load and have a big impact was Darren McFadden. Who could have imagined that he would have the least impact of all? Consider some of these familiar names: Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton. Three running backs that became starters when they were drafted as backups. Now consider these names: McFadden, Rashard Mendenhall, Felix Jones. Three running backs overhyped and expected to be starters or consistent contributers. Needless to say the rest is history. The first 3 deserved to make the pro bowl (only Johnson did) and the latter 3 were injured most of the season. Then you throw in Jonathan Stewart (836 yards, 10 touchdowns), Kevin Smith (fell 24 yards short of 1,000 yards rushing for the vomit-inducing Detroit Lions), Tashard Choice (outstanding in the final month of the season), Ryan Torain/Peyton Hillis (part of the very effective yet very injured Denver running back committee), Tim Hightower (10 touchdowns and the only sign of a running game for Arizona), Jamaal Charles (filled in during Larry Johnson’s suspension for Kansas City) & Ray Rice (part of Baltimore’s unpredicatable yet surprisingly effective committee). That’s not even detailing the contributions of Forte, Johnson and Slaton who were essential to the success their respective teams tasted.

So is it really a stretch to say that in 10 years we may look back and say this was one the best and deepest rookie running back classes? If Mendenhall didn’t injure his shoulder, McFadden didn’t have the nagging turf toe injury and Felix Jones was healthy this class would look even more impressive. When was the last time you could say that 11 rookies made significant contributions, 3 played at a pro bowl level and the number could have been as big as 15 if we subtract injuries and suspensions? Just for fun, we can consider that Michael Turner was also a first-time starter and look what he did (#2 in rushing yards and touchdowns). Maybe it’s time we stop looking for the 50 yard catches and remember that the best teams always win the battle in the treches. Maybe it’s time to cement these names in our memories because they will be here for years to come.

The Manning brothers should be set for a dual in Tampa on Feb. 1.

The final week of the regular season came to a close Sunday for the NFL and oh what an image it was. Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season will always be remembered for Brett Favre choking and the fall of “America’s team” in the Cowboys. Now let’s move forward to the playoffs where every team starts 0-0 for the road to Tampa. Here is my pics and analysis of every team.

AFC: 

• Baltimore Ravens: Hey a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach find themselves in the playoffs (wait, where have we heard this before? See Atlanta). Their defense is one of the top in the playoffs, but let’s keep in mind that players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are getting older and this is not the 2000 defense that can lead them to a championship. Joe Flacco will get a wake up call in the playoffs and will hope that Willis McGahee and McClain can stay healthy for the Ravens to have a shot at advancing. They will be going up against Miami in the first round and will face a team that is night and day from Week 1 to 7 to 17.
• Indianapolis Colts: Overshadowed by the play of his younger brother, Peyton Manning - quietly - is having an MVP season. The Colts have won nine straight games and are the hottest team in coming into the playoffs - other than the Miami Dolphins - and are my sleeper team to make it to the Super Bowl. They will have a tough run against teams like Tennessee and Pittsburg, but they have all the tools to make a run to Tampa. Thier defense is ready and they have all the weapons to make it to - and even win - the super bowl.
• San Diego Chargers: Another team on a role and one that got hot at the right time. The Chargers routed the Broncos to take over the AFC West in the final week of the season. The were second in the league in points per game with 28.9 and can light up a scoreboard, especially with Phillip Rivers at quarterback. The problem with San Diego is thier defense. They allow almost 350 yards per game - 25th in the league - and are dead last in pass yards allowed per game. Despite an offense that has former MVP LaDanian Tomlinson and a great QB in Rivers, I do not think they will get past the Colts in the first round.
• Miami Dolphins: I’m a homer, yes. But I have waited seven years for this chance to be in the post season and suffered through a 1-15 season last year so let me revel in the majesty that is Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano and the AFC East Champion Miami Dolphins. Yes, the Dolphins are the champions of a division that had the mighty Patriots and the 140 million dollar NY Bretts and a “very good” Bills team. Now Miami has a chance for redemtion against the Ravens, not just for Week 7, but for the last time Miami made the playoffs. Chad Pennington has had a career season in both passing yards and passer rating. He has been the most accurate and intelligent QB in the league this season and will lead the hottest team in the NFL - winning nine of thier last 10 games - into the post season. The Dolphins don’t turn the ball over - registering the lowest number of giveaways in NFL history this season with 13 - and that has to do with Pennington. Miami is ninth in points allowed per game and will have to use thier great pass rush to be able to advance in the playoffs.
• Pittsburg Steelers: Hinging on the extent of Big Ben’s injury, the Steelers are the most dangerous team in the playoffs. Thier defense ranks first in almost every category including points allowed per game, yards allowed per game and pass yards allowed per game. They can stop any offense that comes up against them and - with the resurgance of Willie Parker - are starting to get thier rushing game going as well. It will be a match up of epic proportions with them agaisnt the Colts should they meet in the AFC championship game.
• Tennessee Titans: Their defense is great. Their rushing attack is great. Their quarterback is great, well kind of. Kerry Collins has been a saving grace for the Titans and has been the MVP of a team that has shocked analysts since the start of the season. Ranking in the top 10 in most defensive categories, the Titans have the tools to get to Tampa, but the loss of a guy like Albert Haynesworth on defense could halt them from getting to the Super Bowl. Chris Johnson has been very impressive for the Titans and he will be key for thier run to Tampa.

NFC:

• Philadelphia Eagles: Turns out thier tie with the Cleveland browns about five weeks ago was the highlight of the season for the Eagles. After winning four of thier last five, the Eagles find themeselves in the playoffs after dismantling the Cowboys. McNabb has found his former self and their defense is finally playing up to par, but despite all that, I don’t see the Eagles getting very far in the NFC with teams like Carolina and the Giants waiting.
• Atlanta Falcons: Rookie head coach, rookie quarterback, rookie GM (had to be the curse of Bill Parcells). Atlanta along with Miami is the story of the year and just when we thought the fate of the Falcons franchise was locked up in a Virginia jail cell along with thier star quarterback, the drafing of Matt Ryan and the hiring of Mike Smith has led Atlanta to one of the best turn arounds in history. Behind a running game of Michael Turner, the Falcons have one of the most prolific offenses in the playoffs and are a dangerous sleeper team.
• Arizona Cardinals: As bad as it has been as a fan of the Dolphins to see them wait seven years to make the playoffs, its been worse to be a Cardinals fan. Finally capturing a division title, old man Warner will lead a team that has arguably the best receiving core in the playoffs, but will the Cardinals be able to just turn it on in the post season after hitting the cruise control the last three weeks of the season?
• Minnesota Vikings: AP for MVP? Adrian Peterson is that good and he has proved it this season, but can an incosistant quarterback and a defense that has had some internal problems with the Williams’ be able to make a run in the NFC? The Vikings are excellent running the ball and stopping the run, but I don’t know if that will be enough to advance.
• Carolina Panthers: The dual rushing attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewert have taken this team to new heights, but thier defense is the only question. They have trouble stopping the run, but play very well in all phases of the game and will give the Giants a run for thier money in the NFC.
• New York Giants: Maybe it would have been better if the Giants had not clinced home field advantage throughout the playoffs seeing as they won the Championship last season without stepping onto Giant Stadium in the playoffs last season. Nevertheless, the Giants are the best team in the playoffs right now and have the second best defense of any team competing to go to Tampa. They also have a guy named Eli Manning, who knows a thing or two about winning championships. As long as the Big Blue can stay healthy, they should be well on thier way to back-to-back titles.

After watching my Cavaliers beat the Heat and seeing Philadelphia and San Diego make the playoffs by beating down the team they were competing with, I switched channels and saw the the Independence Bowl and asked myself if there is such thing as too much college football?

Today is evidence that the answer is yes.  There are too many bowl games.

I feel bad for the committee for the Independence Bowl.  This game has been around for over 30 years and has had some good matchups.  However, this year had what could arguably be the least interesting matchup.  On one side, you have Louisiana Tech from the WAC.  LaTech is a young team that had low expectations.  They haven’t been to a bowl game since 2001.  They face Northern Illinois from the MAC.  The Huskies went 6-6 and did not beat a team that ended up in a bowl game.  Surprisingly, the 7-5 LaTech Bulldogs finished 2nd in the WAC and 6-6 NIU was 4th in the MAC West.  Normally, this is a Big XII/SEC bowl, but neither conference had enough bowl eligible teams to fill the slots.  While I’m happy to see non-BCS teams get a little of the spotlight, this is not what I had in mind.  I’ll talk about the BCS another day.

Bowl games used to be exhibition games that were more about fun than business.  Today, it’s all about ESPN, the sponsors and conference affiliation.  More games keep getting added with little to none taken away.

I love watching football games, but I want to watch meaningful football.  The regular season is meaningful because everyone is competing for at least a conference title, bowl bid or in the lower divisions, a playoff berth.  With the addition of the 12th game for FBS schools and the ability to use 1 FCS game every year for bowl eligibility, it had led to a glutton of teams that are 6-6 or better.  Looking at some of the BCS schools’ out of conference schedule, which is 5 games for the Big East and 4 for everyone else, it’s amazing how soft some of the schools schedule to almost guarantee that at least half of the wins needed are met.

Let’s compare our in-state schools and their out of conference schedules.  In 2008, Miami, Florida, South Florida, UCF scheduled a game against FCS competition.  Florida State scheduled 2.  Florida Atlantic and Florida International played Western Kentucky, a FBS transition team that will be full time next season.  FIU and FAU get a pass.  Even though South Florida has to schedule 5 OOC games, they only managed to get 4 against FBS competition.  So, the top 5 Florida schools all scheduled at least one game against FCS competition to pad the stats.  Across the nation, so many schools are doing this and many end up at 6-6 with a losing record against FBS teams.  Major fail.

Let’s change the rules.  Let’s keep the 12 games, but remove the FCS eligible win.  This will help lower the number of 6-6 teams being bowl eligible and might even convince some to not schedule FCS teams.  Let’s also get rid of some bowl games.  Let’s drop the Humanitarian Bowl (Boise, ID) and St. Petersburg Bowl.  In the case of the Humanitarian Bowl, if Boise State isn’t playing, no one is going to go to Idaho.  The Hawaii Bowl falls into a similar position, but we should keep a game there.  Maybe they should make it a little earlier so people can watch the whole game when at home.  The St. Pete bowl had the home town USF Bulls in it and they still had horrible turnout.  That’s a bad sign.  When the hometown team, who does not have a strong fan base, can’t bring people to the game, imagine how it would do when USF or nearby UCF isn’t in it?  This was a forced bowl made by ESPN and should get the axe.  The new EagleBank Bowl has some potential with the military academy schools, but the New Mexico Bowl has no local market to rely on for bolstering attendance.  The GMAC Bowl also doesn’t get enough people in the stands.  After going to the 2005 edition, it’s a trip that should remain available.  Drop the PapaJohns.com bowl too, or at least threaten to.  Perhaps this will give the city of Birmingham the incentive to fix Legion Field.  That place is by far one of the worst stadiums in the country due to how much it’s deteriorated.  New Orleans has proved to not be able to hold two bowl games well.  While the Sugar Bowl is a marquee game, the New Orleans Bowl struggles to put fans in the stands and has a very uninteresting matchup.  They have the Sun Belt champion against one of the lower Conference USA teams.  Sorry FAU (from 2007), that win was not impressive.  If they can bring in a BCS conference team instead of a middle of the road CUSA team, perhaps some local interest can be created.  After watching the Emerald Bowl, this one either has to go period or simply find a new venue.  That baseball stadium in San Francisco is a terrible place to play, much like Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.  One endzone was right against the left field wall and both teams had to share the same sidelines.

Lets recap:  Let’s axe the St. Petersburg, New Mexico, Humanitarian, New Mexico, PapaJohns.com, GMAC, Emerald and the New Orleans Bowl.  That’s 16 mediocre teams cut and it gives more value to the bowl games remaining.  If anything, we can cut these games and replace them with a few in better markets that are better organized and are not just some made-for-tv game.  It means the stakes are higher for teams fighting for a bid and especially in an economy in recession; helps keep money in the people’s pockets.  Some schools lose money on bowl games due to travel, guaranteed ticket sales and other expenditures.  This also prevents bowls like the Independence Bowl from being forced to take I-A table scraps and throw them on a field.  Don’t worry, NCAA, with the NFL gearing into the playoffs and the other bowl games remaining, we are not going to be short on our football fix.

Andre Goodman and the Dolphins defense led Miami to a 24-17 win over the New York Jets to capture the AFC East title one year after going 1-15. Photo: Al Diaz / Miami Herald

By DAVE GOLDBERG – Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — To grasp the magnitude of what the Miami Dolphins accomplished this season, imagine this:

The Detroit Lions in the playoffs next season.

That’s how bad the Dolphins were last year, a missed 44-yard field goal by the ultra-reliable Matt Stover in overtime, followed by a 64-yard TD play to beat Baltimore and keep them from becoming the NFL’s first 0-16 team. That was just a year and 12 days ago in a game the Dolphins entered 0-13, three games from ignominy.

Obviously, a lot can happen in a year.

For Miami, it started with the hiring of Bill Parcells to oversee the football operations. He then hired Jeff Ireland as general manager and Tony Sparano to coach, and a 1-15 team became an 11-5 team and AFC East champions.

“The biggest change is leadership. We made a lot of changes. We have leadership and we believe in one another as a team,” running back Ronnie Brown said after the 24-17 win over the New York Jets that wrapped up the division.

“We were able to change this around with a good coach who came in with pride and passion,” wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said. “We got a great quarterback and our D stepped up for us. That’s all you could ask for.”

You could also ask for luck, the luckiest happening being the circumstances under which they got the quarterback, Chad Pennington.

That involved Brett Favre’s retirement and unretirement from Green Bay and the ensuing soap opera that finally landed him with the Jets. To the New York management and its fans, that was supposed to mean playoffs at worst, Super Bowl at best, especially after Tom Brady was injured in the opening game of the season, bringing New England back to the pack in the division.

But the Favre trade did more for Miami than anyone else.

Favre was obtained on Aug. 6. On Aug. 7, New York released Pennington, its quarterback of eight seasons, and on Aug. 8, the Dolphins signed him. Suddenly, they had an established NFL quarterback and leader.

The only negative? The shoulder trouble that had forced him to undergo surgery three years ago.

That was OK with Miami. It was better than going with John Beck, a second-year man who didn’t have the confidence of Sparano or Parcells, or with Chad Henne, a second-round draft pick. Miami seemed ready to go with the impressive Henne if it couldn’t get someone more experienced. Hey, the way Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan performed this season in getting the Ravens and Falcons to the playoffs, maybe Henne could have done the same thing?

But Pennington was a much safer bet.

“Tell me what other player could arrive one day and be voted a captain the next?” asked nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who spent the early part of Pennington’s career as a Jets teammate. Well, Brett Favre for one, but that turned out to be a more disappointing story.

Pennington was revered by his new teammates, a combination of veterans such as Ferguson, Vonnie Holliday and Will Allen, and youngsters of varying degrees of promise like Ginn and Brown.

That was evident after Sunday’s game as they trooped into the cramped visitors’ locker room at Giants Stadium, donned the gray “division champions” hats handed to them, but remained somewhat subdued. They gathered inside the door in a circle, waiting for their quarterback, who stayed on the field a little longer, talking to ex-teammates and doing television interviews.

Pennington finally trotted down the corridor and through the door. Suddenly there were whoops and a few gray hats thrown into the air. Celebrate before their leader got there? Not on your life.

Sparano clearly thought the same way.

“Chad did exactly what we thought he would do,” he said. “He was a tremendous professional the entire week. He prepared diligently, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, he was in there grinding pretty good. He did exactly what he’s done for the last 15 weeks. He threw the ball well in here today. He guided this team.

“I know it feels special for Chad. More importantly, it’s just about the team, especially the guys who were here last year.”

The guys who were here last year?

They were nearly the Detroit Lions.

Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship. Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship. Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.

Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship. Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship. Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship.

Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.Kyle’s sample blog. UCF Football with QB Kyle Israel went 11-3 in 2007 en route to a Conference USA Championship. Kyle was helped by running back Kevin Smith who had the second most rushing yards for a running back in FBS history.

It was all too quick for Chad Pennington. The dates were August 6 and 7 of 2008. The first: the day legendary, soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was acquired by the Jets. The latter: The day Pennington was pushed, forced, shipped (enter any adjective you like) out of New York.

The following day was what changed his season and the faith of a franchise that was far south of the Jets - literally and figuratively - in Miami.

August 8, James Chadwick Pennington became a Miami Dolphin - and the rest is history.

December 16, the 2008 AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced and Pennington was beat out by none other than the man that replaced him in early August.

Sunday, December 28, Pennington will have the opportunity to show the New York Bretts what they lost by leading the Dolphins to a victory and an AFC East title over the rival Jets.

So if Pennington does in fact get the the last laugh and leads a franchise that fell one Greg Camarillo catch away from the stinkiest of stink in league history last season to a tie for the best turnaround in NFL history and a playoff spot, shouldn’t he be considered for the NFL MVP award?

Regardless of how far the Dolphins go in the postseason, Pennington deserves the crown. He is the most accurate QB in NFL history and has completed 2/3 of his passes this season. He has thrown for over 3,000 yards in 2008, something a Dolphin quarterback hasn’t done consistantly since the Marino days. The Dolphins went from the worst to first in the league in turnover margin, with all of that having to do with the quarterback play of Pennington.

He has led the Dolphins to wins in the fourth quarter in games against Seattle, Denver, Buffalo and Kansas City, just to name a few. He has a passer rating of 96.4 this season, second only to Phillip Rivers of the Chargers.

He may not have thrown for over 4,300 yards like both the Cardinal’s Kurt Warner and  the Saints’ Drew Brees have. He may not have as many touchdowns as Brees and Rivers have. But he does lead the league in heart, drive and meaning to his team.

No other quarterback has meant more to his team than Chad and he may not be the MVP of the league, but he is the MVP of the Dolphins and should be in the conversation.

Let’s play a game of charades (with words), shall we?

It is most commonly made of leather.

It holds something very valubale.

These days, its thinner than it has been in the past.

Any suggestions?

If you guessed a wallet, your correct!

So if in today’s economy everyone’s wallets seem to be a little bit thinner, why are Major league baseball players like C.C. Sabathia and soon-to-be rich Mark Texiera suddenly cashing in?

It’s an outrage that unemployment rates have sky rocketed, businesses continue to close at rapid rates and the New York (bleeping) Yankees are throwing out $160 million dollars like its dollar bills at a strip club.

Human beings work hard for thier minimum wage and 9-5 jobs, but Sabathia has just taken a $9.5 million dollar check to the bank today BEFORE he has even thrown a single pitch for the Yanks.

Florida Marlins President David Sampson said it well on an edition of the Dan Le Batard show on 790 The Ticket, saying the Yankees were spending money like “drunken sailors”. He issues an apology a day later for his statements, but was he correct?

Is it really smart to throw out so much money in an industry that thrives on its fan base and ticket sales?

It’s simple math. Bad economy + poor fans + not buying ticket prices = loss of money.

It seems the Yankees misplaced the memo and it’s a discrace to the rest of the economy.

Baseball contracts should not be above the economy and”America’s team” is doing a terrible job of representing “America’s crisis”.

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