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Sunday, Sept. 23rd                                                                                                                                                                      1. After watching the Houston-Indianapolis game, I can honestly say that Gary Kubiak really has put his stamp on the Texans. The team's overall best player, Andre Johnson, was out with a strained posterior cruciate ligament, which made the chances of continuing their modest four game winning streak slim at best. If that wasn't bad enough though, Ron Dayne didn't suit up and Ahman Green had to leave after the first quarter. So, they had to rely on thrid-stringer, Samkon Gado, to handle the running game duties. That was followed by a knee injury that took center Steve McKinney out of the game in the third quarter. Then, they lost their second-best receiver, Jacoby Jones to a separated shoulder. The most frightening injury occurred when reserve defensive tackle Cedric Killings fell limp to the ground after blocking on a kickoff return. For fifteen minutes, the Texans had to stand there and simply hope that their teammate would be able to walk again. After all of this adversity, they still had a chance to win the game, but finally faltered 30-24 to the Colts. I'm feeling pretty good about my Gary Kubiak for Coach of the Year pick.

2. The Cowboys look pretty good, and I'm ready to crown them (with apologies to Dennis Green) as the best team in the NFC. However, the showdown versus the Patriots on October 4th in Irving will provide the best measuring stick. I'm just not convinced that any of the teams in the NFC could seriously compete with New England, Indianapolis, or Pittsburgh.

3. For the love of all that is holy, Lovie Smith, will you please bench Rex Grossman!!! Even non-Bears' fans are sick of watching him look like he has no idea what he's supposed to be doing.

4. Once again, I hate to sound Madden-esque, but the NFL is much more enjoyable with Brett Favre jumping around like a little kid after every Packers' touchdown. Their win over the puzzling Chargers proves that the Packers will be around in January.

5. Where has that game been, Donovan? Just when you think it's time to bury the Eagles, they put an old fashioned whoopin' on the Lions. It may only be one game, but that's the Philadelphia team we were expecting to see this year. They couldn't have looked better.

6. Sartorially speaking though, the Eagles could not have looked worse. Mr. Lurie, I don't ever, ever, ever want to see those uniforms again. The design and color scheme looked like a parakeet exploded.

7. Ho-hum - another beatdown administered by the Patriots.

8. If I would have told you two years ago that the best, and most improving, division in football was the AFC South, would you have A) laughed hysterically, B) checked my temperature, C) asked me which alternative universe I came from, or D) "beat me senseless until I stopped talking crazy"?

9. DeAngelo Hall, paging Mr. DeAngelo Hall, Mr. Goodell will see you now. Seriously, I know that Steve Smith is extremely effective at psyching out his opponents, but that was brutal. Seeing Hall get into it with head coach Bobby Petrino just reinforces that even the most talented of athletes are mentally frail.

10. Maybe someone should have told Ken Whisenhunt that the last thing you want to do as a coach in the NFL is start a quarterback controversy. Instead, he accomplished the feat in a mere ten quarters. Once again, the Cardinals are trendsetters in the worst way.

Monday, Sept. 24th                                                                                                                                                                     1. After being torched by the Cowboys for 300 passing yards, the Bears found out that Nathan Vasher (groin) and Charles Tillman (ankle) will be out of this weekend's game against the Lions. That giggling you hear belongs to Mike Martz.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson looks as though someone shot his dog. When he turned down the Madden '08 cover, I thought he was in for the best season of his career. Oops!

3. The coverage of Vince Young is absolutely riveting. I can't remember so much uproar over a player's performance and the effect it has on his team's performance - in any sport. On one side, you have the Vince Young detractors that claim that the Titans' success is because of luck, stupid mistakes committed by the opposing team, Pacman Jones, an alignment of all the planets in the solar system, a strange gaseous cloud that seems to hover over whichever stadium in which Tennessee is playing - basically, anything but Young himself. On the other, Vince Young supporters believe that the football wunderkind is spending his weeknights curing cancer, walking on water, and making the world a better place to live. Personally, I'm pretty sure it's something in between.

4. Taking nothing from the Tennessee Titans, but the Saints just look like a shell of their 2006 form. Drew Brees looks rattled, Deuce McAllister looks sluggish, Reggie Bush looks frustrated, and their defense looks.....well, like the Saints' defense. They can't move the ball on anyone and can't stop anyone - not the recipe for a winning season. There's no way that this season could get any worse....

Tuesday, Sept. 25th                                                                                                                                                                    1. ...and I was wrong. It was announced today that Deuce McAllister is done for the season with a torn ACL. In addition, their prize offseason acquisition, cornerback Jason David, will be out for the next 4-6 weeks after fracturing his forearm.  

2. After today's announcement that Michael Vick tested positive for marijuana on September 13th, it's obvious that he thinks the public is incredibly stupid. Not long after he offered a "heartfelt" apology in which he announced he found Jesus, his name is once again involved in a negative light. Mike should be doing everything he possibly can to show the commissioner, the judge assigned to his case, and the people who support him that he is trying to change. Unfortunately, he obviously has not learned this lesson, and according to his actions, he doesn't care to do so.

Thursday, Sept. 27th                                                                                                                                                                   1. Carolina fans, let me apologize in advance for the following: you are three days away from the David Carr era.

2. Chicago fans, let me congratulate you on the following: you are finished with the Rex Grossman era.

3. Atlanta fans, let me torture you with the following: you will soon see, firsthand, what the Matt Schaub era would have been like.

Friday, Sept. 28th                                                                                                                                                                        1. I don't think there was a more thankful group of players in the league as the Houston Texans when Cedric Killings came walking into practice today. Gary Kubiak made him the honorary captain for the week. I wouldn't be surprised if they embarrassed the Falcons on Sunday. Now, if we could only see the same scene with the Buffalo Bills and Kevin Everett.

2. In a fantasy football note, owners of Larry Fitzgerald may be in really good shape this week. You may think I'm absolutely out of my mind because they're playing Pittsburgh. But, I've heard that there is a "very, very slim chance" of Anquan Boldin suiting up against the Steelers. So, Fitzgerald becomes the primary receiving option in a game where the Cardinals will have to throw a lot.