MMBSD: Playoffs Race? We don't need no stinking playoff race

Yawn. You know I'm trying to remember the last time the playoffs where this well defined with 3 weeks still to go but coming up empty. With New England's thrashing of the Steelers and Romo's escape versus the Lions (umm why exactly does Romo's legend grow ? Why were they down in the first place?) the playoffs are all but set. In the AFC New England and Indy have byes. Pittsburgh and San Diego (both with two game leads) have the other two division spots. Pencil in Jacksonville as one wild card which leaves the Browns, Titans and Bills fighting for the last spot.

Titans have a defense but no offense with VY pushing Reggie Bush as potential sophomore busts o'year. The Bills despite two magnificiently Dick Jauran led collapses are sitting pretty. The only QB rookie to get serious PT, Troy Edwards out of the University of Calcutta, seems to be the QB of the future (on the plus side JP Losman if Brock Berlin can get a start, so can you). Over by the Lake, the Kardiac Kids Phase II keep their fans in fetal positions with closer than necessary wins. The offense when clicking is outstanding although the defense is the worst in the league statistically (but to be fair the statistics are only measuring stopping the run and pass). It all could come down to an Indy rest its starters end of the season game against Tennessee.

Bizarro AFC err the NFC is sad

Over in bizarro world (ie like the AFC but worst) its more or less the same. Dallas is the top dog with Green Bay the other bye. I'm sure Peter King will decide who will win that playoff game based on the dimple count. Seattle and Tampa seem to be in safe shape. For the record its just another worst to first season for the NFC South (every year the team with the worst record wins the division the next year). The Giants, despite Eli's best efforts, appear on cruise control for a road playoff game and Major Manning meltdown in the first round. Arizona , under the Warner and Carpenter Jesus are trying to outrace Minnesota and Purple Jesus and Washington and Gibb's Vengeful Jesus.

So keep an eye on the last spot playoff races because thats all we'll have till New England beats Dallas in the Super Bowl (anything less would be beyond surprising)

Draft Watch: For those (read majority of football teams) that have been eliminated the question of the draft is arising. Outside of the oncoming collapse of society that is the potential of an undefeated Patriots having a top 3 pick (they have the 49ers) the QB question looms large. If this season has taught us anything, and it hasn't, is that today now more than ever its a QB league. Find the lucky QB prize (ahem Tony Romo) and suddenly your team is playoff bound. Have to rely on Brock Berlin and well your screwed. There will be a lot of potential err washed up QBs with JP Losman, Kyle Boller, Leftwich, Rex Grossman, name an Oakland Raider along with potential QBs via trades in Derek Anderson and Donovan Mcnabb. Factor in 3 first round quality QBs and that might be the biggest question of the off-season

College Football:

Separated at birth?

There's a lull in College Football these days so I just want to note how tradition is going out the window. While the writer's and pundits have moaned the end of traditional dominant teams they have slobbered over the first sophomore Heisman Trophy winner ever. Given the uber hype surrounding Teeebow it won't be surprising if he becomes the second person ever to win 2 heismans.

The other odd end of tradition is the difficulty Michigan is having with its coaching search. Honk if you've turned the Maize and Blue down for a job. The count is possibly at 3 with Ferentz, Miles and Schiano turning them down. Not to say this is the end of the world but certainly a change of pace that the coaches of Iowa and Rutgers think they have better gigs than if they were at Michigan.

Random Notes: Troy Smith got his first NFL TD. For a player that achieved so much in college and had to go out on a sour note, I'm happy for his moment of glory. Even if its for the Ratbirds. If anyone even doubts that Lebron is the MVP of the league check out the Cavs without him. Anyone think the Celtics would take this kind of nosedive without Garnett. Fred Taylor might be one of those under appreciated running backs in league history. He has more yards that Tiki now. FTB btw. This week I face Gutsy in our fantasy football playoffs. I want everyone out there to send hatemail and dead fishes in newspaper to Gutsy. Is that too much to ask for?

Why should Cheers and Jeers get all the chicks? Megan Gales digs MMBSD land or so the restraining order says.