Well if you are like me, and enjoy having the power of knowledge over these types of people, here are a few quirky, somewhat stupid, Super Bowl facts that you can shove in their face. Now, if you would rather just tell these people to shut the f**k up, that is your prerogative as well.

Fact 1: 80 percent of all Super Bowl tickets sold go to corporate sponsors of the NFL and of the Super Bowl.

Fact 2: The first four Super Bowls were not actually called “Super Bowl.” The first two went by the title of “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” Impressive, sure, but not nearly as iconic as “Super Bowl,” a term not used until the third game, between the New York Jets and the Baltimore Colts. This was the first game between the champions of the AFL and NFL won by a team (the Jets) from the upstart AFL. Their victory was followed a year later by that of the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, a game which many feel cemented the eventual merger between the two leagues.

Fact 3: One out of every 12 people watching the game only does so to see the commercials.

Fact 4: If you wanted to buy a ticket for Super Bowl I, you could have gotten in for only six bucks. The cheapest tickets for recent Super Bowl games have cost hundreds of dollars or more.

Fact 5: The Super Bowl is not good for worker productivity. On the Monday following the Super Bowl, an average of six percent of the workforce calls in sick. Is everyone faking? Not likely. Read Fact 6 for reasons why people just might be telling the truth.

Fact 6: While it might be bad for productivity, the Super Bowl is good for one thing: the antacid business. Typically, antacid sales increase 20 percent the day after the game. Maybe all those people really are sick after all.

Fact 7:There have been hundreds of people throughout the years who have won Super Bowls. And of those players, quite a few have gone on to be coaches. But did you know that out of that group, only three (Mike Ditka, Tom Flores and Tony Dungy) have won the Super Bowl as both player and coach?

Fact 8: While there are certainly teams that have had their fair share of success in the Super Bowl (the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have all won the Super Bowl five times), those victories are typically spread out over a number of years. The UCLA Bruins won seven NCAA basketball titles in a row, and the Boston Celtics won eight consecutive NBA titles. Don’t expect the same type of dominance in the NFL. In fact, the longest winning “streak” in the Super Bowl is two games.

Fact 9: Since the 1998-1999 season, the losing Super Bowl team has gone on to have a winning record the next season only once. In fact, aside from the 2006-2007 Seattle Seahawks, teams that have lost the Super Bowl since 1998 have seen their average records go from a 13-3 to a lowly 5-11 the next year.

Fact 10: If you feel a little bloated the day after the Super Bowl, it’s understandable. In America, Super Bowl Sunday is second in food consumption behind only Thanksgiving Day. How much food is gobbled down? How about an estimated 14,500 tons of chips, 4,000 tons of popcorn and 8 million pounds of guacamole? Is it any wonder so many people call in sick the next day?

These 10 facts were provided by LifeWhile.

-Brandon Marshall dominated the Pro Bowl, hauling in six balls for 176 yards, and four scores as the AFC thumped the NFC 59-41.  Credit Marshall for showing up.  I understand it’s a meaningless All-Star game, but watching the offensive and defensive line play patty-cake on every snap was pathetic.  There is a fine line between “playing so nobody gets hurt” and “playing like a middle school powder-puff game”.  The Pro Bowl curb stomped that line like Norton in American History X.

-The NHL All-Star game (There’s an NHL all-star game?) took place over the weekend, With Team Charro… err… Team Chara outlasting Team Alfredsson 12-9.  Twenty one goals by seventeen players and I didn’t recognize a single name of anyone that scored.  Somewhere, Gorgon Bombay is shaking his head at the lack of American talent in the NHL.

-The Miami Heat outlasted the Chicago Bulls, no thanks to notorious choke artist Lebron James.  James had 35 points in the outing, but predictably disappeared in the final minute with the game on the line.  Reigning MVP Derrick Rose came to the foul line down 1 with 22 seconds to play, and clanked both freebies saving Lebron from certain scrutiny had the Bulls pulled out the win in one of the more exciting NBA match ups this season.

-When Lebron was in Cleveland, it took him 227 games to knock down his first game winning shot.  It’s taken Kyrie Irving 19 (Credit for that stat goes to @CavsWITNESS on Twitter).  Irving finished the day with 23 points, 4 boards, 6 assists and a steal, capped off by a game winning shot with two ticks left on the clock as the Cavs beat the Celtics 88-87 in Boston.  All hail King Kyrie?

-Novak Djokovic played tennis with Rafael Nadal for nearly six hours over the weekend.  When all was said and done, Djokovic claimed his third Australian Open title. 

-Rashad Evans bored MMA fans to death as he outlasted Phil Davis in the Octagon over the weekend, winning a majority decision and earning a title shot in the light-heavyweight division.  Next up for Evans is Jon Jones, who is currently under investigation for suspicion of being an Avatar.  Or at least he should be.

-Stoners of the world put down their copies of High Times magazine long enough over the weekend to watch Shawn White notch the first perfect score in X-Games History in the SuperPipe.  White, who seemingly borrowed his pants from a 1980’s hooker, continued his dominance in the world of snow boarding winning gold for a fifth consecutive year. 

-Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss prostitutes, the NFL, or anything else on your mind!

He is obviously the least confident person in the world, but in a weird way I feel bad for him. And if I wasn’t creeped out by anyone that posts anything on Craigslist, I would actually help this guy out.

Although, I wasn’t a quarterback or a linebacker, so I’m not sure I have the skills this guys is looking for.

But if you do, give him a call. I’m sure he is not in the least bit weird.

-In the 2007 BCS Championship game, Buckeye kick returner Ted Ginn took the opening kickoff to the house against the Florida Gators.  He was injured in the post touchdown celebration and didn’t see the field the rest of the game.  Florida outscored the Buckeyes 41-7 from that point on.

Fast forward to Sunday night’s NFC Championship game.  Ginn, the return specialist for the San Francisco 49ers, didn’t play and was replaced by Kyle Williams.  Williams had a disaster of a game, turning the ball over twice… the final fumble resulting in an overtime field goal by Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes to punch the G-Men’s ticket to the Super Bowl once again as they survived a trip to Candlestick 20-17.

Eli threw the ball all over the yard, connecting with Victor Cruz ten times for 142 yards in the contest.  The 9ers were lead by Vernon Davis who became only the second player in San Francisco history to have multiple touchdown catches in back to back playoff weeks.  San Francisco should be proud of their season, but not of their head coach.  Like a spoiled child who didn’t get what he wanted for Christmas, Jim Harbaugh pouted and refused to do a post game interview.  What’s your deal, man?

-Billy Cundiff… keep your head on a swivel, bro.  I have a feeling the people of Baltimore aren’t going to be too happy with you.  And they don’t seem to be a reasonable bunch.

With roughly 2 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Ravens coach John Harbaugh decided to go for it on 4th down, in lieu of kicking a 50 yard field goal to tie against the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship game.  If that didn’t shake Cundiff’s confidence, I don’t know what would.  The Ravens were promptly stuffed, but miraculously got the ball back and found themselves in position to send the game into overtime with a chip shot field goal.

Cue Billy Cundiff.  Cundiff shanked a 32 yard field goal with 11 seconds left, gifting New England a trip to the Super Bowl, squeaking out a 23-20 victory.  Forget the fact that Lee Evans dropped a potential game winning touchdown two plays before.  Forget the fact that Harbaugh could have used a time out before the shank to make sure the kicking team didn’t feel rushed.  All we will remember is that Billy Cundiff is the goat.

-There was a time when I refused to believe that we are living in a world where Eli may have more rings than Peyton.  Then I realized that we are living in a world where this woman stayed with this man… errr…. THIS man even though HE abused HER for close to a decade.  Perhaps the Mayans are right after all.

-Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and on-again off-again girlfriend Kristen Cavalleri have shared the news that they are expecting a little quitter.  Err…. baby.

-Finally, in sad news legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away over the weekend.  Rest In Peace, JoePa.

Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss the Super Bowl, Heidi Klum, or anything else on your mind…  Special shout out to @SportsBlogRT, doing great things for the sports blogging community!

Whether it’s being called out for paying too much attention to the media, or being thrown under the bus by a future hall of fame teammate, Flacco is just a guy that can’t seem to make anyone happy.

And now, the one group of people that he thought still had his back, the fans, are busting his balls too.

After seeing Flacco riding a skateboard down his driveway, a Ravens fan left a message with Ozzie Newsome’s secretary complaining about his team’s Quarterback.

Which makes me wonder…which of these two are crazier?

Flacco for riding a skateboard FOR THE FIRST TIME the week of the AFC Championship, or the nut job fan that calls Flacco’s boss to f**king tattle?

Just two more victories for the Ravens, and it won’t really matter.

What else did we learn this week?

-At the beginning of the playoffs, the Giants were the “trendy” pick to make a run.  This time, the masses got it right.  The Packers looked out of sorts from the get-go, dropping numerous passes and turning the ball over repeatedly as they fell to the G-Men 37-20 in Lambeau.  Earlier this year, Eli Manning was criticized for considering himself an “elite” quarterback.  Care for some ketchup with that crow, Troy Aikman?

-If God really does care about football, he’s 1-1 in the playoffs.  Tebowmania may have been the talk of the town, but Tom Brady will hear nothing of it.  Brady finished the day with 363 and SIX touchdowns as his Pats laid the lumber to the Broncos 45-10.  The game wasn’t close, and Rob Gronkowski is borderline unstoppable.  He looks like The Juggernaut out there!  Tebow on the other hand underwhelmed us all going a mere 9-26 for 136 yards Saturday night.  I guess they should have played on Sunday.

-I challenge you to name a final quarter in the history of meaningful football games that was more entertaining than the fourth quarter of the Saints and 49ers epic battle.  Seriously… check the play by play.  Four game changing touchdowns in the final four minutes were capped by Vernon Davis making a spectacular touchdown catch over the middle to send the 49ers to the conference finals.  Drew Brees filled up the stat sheets again, but it was his counterpart Alex Smith who stole the show with 299 yards, 3 touchdowns and not a single interception.  Suck his Kaepernick.

-Someone told me the Ravens beat the Texans, but I fell asleep in the second half of this horrendously unwatchable crap-fest.  Could two teams be less endearing?  If you liked this game, then you probably were a fan of the BCS title snooze fest as well.  Baltimore squeaked past the Texans 20-13.  Borrrrrrrring…..

-Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss the NFL playoffs, Tebowmania, or anything else on your mind!

Hey everybody, in case you had any doubt whatsoever, celestial beings are definitely watching over the Denver Broncos.

Don’t get me wrong. Clearly, God likes Tom Brady. But this year, he’s got different plans.

The proof is in the photos. Just look at them. Jesus was there!

According to the Huffington Post, the Broncos have no comment. I didn’t try to get a comment myself  ’cause I’m a lazy ass.

Wouldn’t it be f**ked up if Tim Tebow actually sold his soul to the devil and part of the charade is he has to act like a devout Christian in order to gain the following he so desired?

Nobody on that team better commit a felony or we’re going to have some really conflicted people’s heads exploding.

Psssst.

1.  Indianapolis Colts:  The rumor mill is abuzz with talk of the Colts selecting Robert Griffin III over Andrew Luck.  If anyone you know says that, punch them in the face.  The Colts stink, and have plenty of holes that need filled.  With that said, they won’t pass on the can’t-miss Stanford signal caller.

Who they will draft: Andrew Luck.  QB, Stanford.

Who they may draft: Trade the pick for the type of ransom that would make a Lannister blush.  Either way, Andrew Luck is going number one.

2.  St. Louis Rams:  The Rams have quite a few holes as well.  The line is terrible, their running back is slowing down and Brandon Lloyd probably isn’t coming back.  Furthermore, their defense isn’t exactly the Steel Curtain.  Lots of ways the new regime in St. Louis can go.

Who they will draft:  Matt Kalil, OT USC… if they keep the pick

Who they may draft:  This pick has “Dan Snyder Overpaying” written all over it.  I’d guess RG3 goes at number two to the Washington Redskins.

3.  Minnesota Vikings:  Tackle is a huge need for the Vikes, and if RG3 goes at two, this pick is a no brainer, it will be Kalil.  If not, Minnesota could address defense with the number three pick.

Who they will draft:  Morris Claiborne.  CB, LSU

Who they may draft:  Kalil if he is there, or deal the pick to the ‘Skins.

4.  Cleveland Browns:  The Browns focused on defense in the past few drafts, and the result has been an offense that has an Ambien-like effect on anyone who watches them.  Part of that is due to the lackluster play of Colt McCoy… part of it has to do with the skill position failures.  It’s time to bring in some playmakers.

Who they will draft: Robert Griffin III.  QB, Baylor… if he’s there.

Who they may draft: Justin Blackmon.  WR, Oklahoma State

5.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  The head coach is gone, and cornerback Ronde Barber isn’t far behind.  Using a top 5 pick on a cornerback when you play in the same division as Roddy White, Marques Colston, and Steve Smith isn’t an awful idea.

Who they will draft: Dre Kirkpatrick.  CB, Alabama

Who they may draft: Morris Claiborne if he doesn’t go to Minnesota at three.

6.   Washington Redskins:  I don’t think the Redskins will be picking here, but for the sake of consistency… The Redskins need a quarterback, and if they don’t move up to snag RG3, they’ll be forced to reach here.

Who they will draft: Landry Jones.  QB, Oklahoma

Who they may draft: Justin Blackmon.

7.   Jacksonville Jaguars:  Maurice Jones Drew won the rushing title facing 10 men in the box (that’s what she said) and Blaine Gabbert under center.  Giving this team a weapon on the outside has to be a top priority, but the secondary is also a cause for concern.

Who they will draft:  Michael Floyd.  WR, Notre Dame

Who they may draft:  Dre Kirkpatrick

8.   Carolina Panthers:  Cam can put points on the board in Carolina, but the defense is a wet paper bag.  Defense is likely, but they may want to give their young signal caller another big play wide out to pair with 89.

Who they will draft:  Devon Still.  DT, Penn State

Who they may draft:  Alshon Jeffery.  WR, South Carolina

9.   Miami Dolphins:  Matt Barkley would have likely been taking his talents to South Beach, but will return to SoCal instead.  That stings for Dolphin fans.  Depth on the offensive line has to be the pick for Miami in the nine spot.

Who they will draft:  Riley Reiff.  OT, Iowa.

Who they may draft:  David DeCastro.  OG, Stanford.

10.   Buffalo Bills:  Gotta stop Tom Brady twice a year?  Better load up on defense.  Marcel Darrius was a nice start last year.  Look for Buffalo to continue that trend.

Who they will draft:  Courtney Upshaw.  LB, Alabama

Who they may draft:  Quinton Couples.  LB, UNC

11.  Kansas City Chiefs:  Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassell will be back to help the offense, but they need protected.  Look for Kansas City to do just that at pick eleven.

Who they will draft:  David DeCastro

Who they may draft:  Riley Reiff

12.   Seattle Seahawks:  Marshawn Lynch is a free agent.  Should he leave, there is a gaping hole at running back.  Should he stay, look for Pete Carroll to add more pieces to an already solid defense.

Who they will draft:  Trent Richardson.  RB, Alabama.

Who they may draft:  Quinton Couples.

13.   Arizona Cardinals:  The Cardinals need to protect Kevin Kolb.  Or John Skelton.  Or whatever bum they line up behind center.

Who they will draft:  Jonathan Martin.  OT, Stanford.

Who they may draft:  DeCastro or Reiff, if either are still on the board.

14.   Dallas Cowboys:  Terence Newman makes Eric Wright look like Deion Sanders.

Who they will draft:  Alfonzo Denard.  CB, Nebraska

Who they may draft:  Stephon Gilmore.  CB, South Carolina

15.   Philadelphia Eagles:  So maybe the “Dream Team” defense didn’t work.  Time to retool, rework, and reload.  I look for the Eagles to address their defense.

Who they will draft:  Zack Brown.  OLB, UNC.

Who they may draft:  Luke Kuechly.  LB, Boston College.

Check back after the combine to see an updated version, and follow me on Twitter at JockPostDT to discuss what you like, what you hate, and your teams draft needs.

Every year players have breakout seasons, making their fantasy owners look like they know what they are doing. While other players decided to take the year off since they just got paid (i.e. Chris Johnson).  Let’s take a look at the players that had the most fantasy relevance this year, good and bad, and which will have a lasting affect going into next season. 

Quarterbacks

Biggest Surprise – Cam Newton/Carolina Panthers

Did anyone really see this coming?  If you say “yes” you are an Auburn fan, and you are the only person I will believe.  Newton put up numbers unlike any rookie anyone has ever seen.  Not to mention he did it playing for the CAROLINA PANTHERS! I hope Steve Smith gave him a nice Christmas present, because he helped rejuvenate his career this year.  Newton finished 5^th in fantasy points of all players.  If you are in a keeper league, you have to keep this guy.  The Panthers are going to get better if they can get him some young talent at WR.  If you want a QB early next year, I think he has made it obvious he is worthy of a 1^st round selection. 

Biggest Bust – Josh Freeman/Tampa Bay Bucs

While I want to put Michael Vick here, I won’t, just for the fact that when he did play he still put up solid fantasy numbers.  However, the same may not be said for Freeman.  He played every game this season and only averaged 13 fantasy points a game.  At the beginning of the season if I told you Andy Dalton, Alex Smith, and Joe Flacco were going to be better options at QB, you would have called me crazy.  Freeman and the Bucs had a horrible season after surprising everyone last season and tricking many fantasy owners to take Freeman andMike Williams early in the draft.  Next season I would recommend Freeman for a back-up but don’t plan on him being relevant any time soon. 

Don’t Panic -  Philip Rivers/San Diego Chargers

I trusted this guy to lead my fantasy team this season, hoping he would have the breakout year everyone was promising he would have.  Not so much.  While he finished the season strong, it was too late to save some owner’s fantasy season.  In his defense, Floyd, Jackson, and Gates were not on the field at the same time very much due to injuries.  But when they were, Rivers was able to show why he is a relevant fantasy QB.  I would still recommend taking him somewhat early next season.  He is still a top 10 fantasy QB, and will continue to be solid for years to come. 

Sleeper for next season – Andy Dalton/Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green and the Bengals WR core are young and talented.  Look for them to only get better, once they can have an off-season and get on the same page. 

Running Back

Biggest Surprise – Darren Sproles/New Orleans Saints

How many back-up running backs can finish a season a top-5 fantasy back?  I am going to say none.  Sproles probably did not get drafted by many this season.  I know he sat on an owners bench in my league until about week 10.  Sproles was PPR League gold catching tons of passes out of the backfield from Drew Brees, and even got a lot of red-zone looks.  If you are playing in a standard league he may not have helped as much, but he was still starter worthy.  You have to look at taking him in the top 3 rounds next season, because it looks like Mark Ingram and Sproles are the Saints future in the backfield.

Biggest Bust – Chris Johnson/Tennessee Titans

This is a prime example of “show me the money” from a pro athlete.  Johnson has been playing his ass off for years for the Titans, showing why he is worthy of that big paycheck, and worthy of the top fantasy pick each season.  This year he decided to take a vacation with that big paycheck and frustrate fantasy owners week in and week out.  While it was a down year for running backs, Johnson was still worthy of an every week start, but to be  a top 2 pick and only score 20+ points two times all season is worthy of the BUST title.  He will still be drafted in the first two rounds next season, but his top 5 pick days are over. 

Don’t Panic – Peyton Hillis/Cleveland Browns

Another guy that killed my team this season (can you tell I didn’t do well?)  No one really knows what Hillis’ deal was this season.  I am blaming it on the “Madden Curse.”  Wherever he ends up next season he will bounce back andbecome fantasy relevant again.  If he is around in your later rounds next season, be sure and save a spot for him on your roster. 

Sleepers for next season – Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Bush, DeMarco Murray, Michael Bush, Beanie Wells

Wide Receiver

Biggest Surprise – Victor Cruz/New York Giants

Did anyone know this guy even existed at the beginning of the season?  After becoming a full time starter, Cruz had 2 games under double digit points all season.  He finished 3^rdof all wide receivers in points behind Calvin Johnson and Wes Welker.  While I don’t see a repeat of this next season, he is definitely a player you want to grab as your #2 WR next season. 

Biggest Bust – DeSean Jackson/Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson made it clear he was not going to play hard until he got paid.  Unfortunately for fantasy owners, he never got paid.  Jackson has been pretty streaky in previous seasons, but you can usually count on at least 10 points from him.  This season he only scored double digits in 8 games.  That is not going to cut it for a #1 fantasy WR.  His value rests a lot on who is playing QB also.  As long as that is Mike Vick, you never know how consistent he can ever really be.  Next season make Jackson your #2 WR and you will be less disappointed when he doesn’t perform. 

Don’t Panic – Reggie Wayne/Indianapolis Colts

If he returns to the Colts next season with Peyton Manning, he is still worthy of a top pick.  A lot will be determined on who is his QB.  Granted, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky should only be on an NFL field during walk-throughs so if he goes anywhere with a decent QB he will return to fantasy relevance.  Even with the Colts s**tty season, he managed to be relevant for half a season.  Next season make him a sleeper pick for your team, you won’t be disappointed. 

Sleepers for Next Season – Nate Washington, A.J. Green, Antonio Brown, Michael Crabtree

Tight Ends

Biggest Surprise – Rob Gronkowski/ New England Patriots

All I can say about his season is “holy s**t!”  Gronk outscored many hopeful #1 WR’s this season and proved to be Tom Brady’s safety net when Welker was covered.  If you are in a keeper league it might be crazy to consider keeping a TE, but look at your team and see if you have anyone else that is more consistent.  I know I didn’t.  He probably won’t be drafted 1^st round in many leagues, but I would be sure and take him 2^nd round.  It’s hard to ignore 17 touchdowns in one season. 

Biggest Bust – Dallas Clark/Indianapolis Colts

Guess who had this guy?  Yes, one of many mistakes I made in this awful season.  Reggie Wayne managed to put up SOME points, I’m not giving Clark a pass just because he didn’t have Manning throwing to him.  Clark has been one of the most consistent TE’s the last 5 years and completely fell of the map this season. Just like Reggie Wayne, if Manning returns next season and all the good TE’s are taken.  Grab Clark, and look for him to return to fantasy dominance. 

Don’t Panic -  See Dallas Clark

Sleepers for Next Season – Jermaine Gresham, Fred Davis

He did it on the Saints last offensive play of the game, a 9 yard TD pass to Darren Sproles while NOLA was already sporting a 30 point lead. This gave Brees the record with 5,087 yards, and a game left to go.

The Falcons players and staff felt disrespected by this “classless” move, as well they should. They were being disrespected, because they couldn’t stop a leaky faucet. Be better at your jobs, gentleman, and teams won’t try to set records on you.

When you’re paid to play defense and get mowed through like whiskey at my family Christmas, you can only point the finger at yourself.

But who really gives a s**t anyway? Tom Brady is only 180 yards behind Brees, and if you think the Patriots aren’t going to do everything in their power to break that record, you are just an asshole.

Yo Atlanta, you mad bro??

-I want to see Alabama and LSU to play the most BORING game in the history of the BCS, forcing that sham of a system to crumble.  This one shouldn’t be a stretch…

-I want poor Chris Paul to find a home.  Though I believe he is SUPREMELY overrated, being jerked around the way that he is doesn’t seem fair.  “Hey Chris, you’re a Laker… just kidding, you’re a Hornet…  I mean you’re a Clipper… err… still a Hornet… oh and a Clipper again.”  What a joke.

-I’d like to see the Cleveland Browns training staff explain why they felt that quarterback Colt McCoy didn’t need a full concussion test after this hit.  I needed a concussion test from just watching Colt get crushed by that criminal.

-Speaking of criminals… I’d love to see these animals prosecuted.  This thuggery has absolutely no place in college sports.  Think their scholarships will be suspended?  They should be.

-I’d like to see Peyton Manning get healthy.  I’m not used to watching the Colts play this bad.

-I want to sit down with the NBA owners and let them know that they are doing it wrong.  Locking out the players because you’re losing money, and then turning around and handing Kwame Brown $8 million this year is a travesty.  How did you peabrains become billionaires?

-I would love to see Albert Pujols flounder with the Angels.  I don’t care that you didn’t hold an obnoxious press conference with Jim Grey, when you leave a city that loves you for a city that couldn’t care less about their sports franchise, you become Baseball Lebron.  You rat.

-I’d like Michael Phelps to lay off the hippie-lettuce.  2012 Summer Olympics are right around the corner…  USA!  USA!  USA!

-I would like to see Buster Posey, Stephen Strausburg, and Adam Wainwright bounce back next season.  These three are solid young stars that make the game more fun to watch.  And don’t cheat.  I’m looking at you, Ryan Braun.

-I’d like to see the Packers go 16-0 and win the Super Bowl.  Mainly because I am a minority owner in the franchise.  Go Pack Go!

-I don’t even want Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather to fight anymore.  Who cares?  Losers.

-I’d like to see some justice for these creeps that are accused of molesting children.  Seriously… what is wrong with these freaks?  Maximum sentences all around.

-I don’t want Andrew Luck to be as good as advertised.  I want him to be better.

-I want the Miami Heat to suck.  Like… REALLY bad.

-I want Ndomukong Suh and James Harrison to fight in a steel cage match.  Loser leaves the NFL forever.  Winner gets staph infection.

-I never want Tim Tebow to leave the spotlight.  I know he is a total cheese dick.  I know he doesn’t have the throwing mechanics that Mel Kiper jerks off to.  I know he rubs some people the wrong way…  but he is the best.  He is television gold, and he is fun to watch.  If you don’t root for Tim Tebow, you don’t root for America.  Stop being a communist.

Two high school kids in New York were suspended for creating a gathering of 40 students in the hallway of their school doing  simultaneous “Tebowing”.

The school suggests that it has nothing to do with Tebow’s religious beliefs, rather it was a safety concern that caused the suspensions.

“It causes a potentially unsafe situation with 1,500 people in the building,” Principal David Wicks said Thursday. “If you have 40 kids kneeling down in the middle of a hallway, and God forbid a fire alarm goes off, they could potentially stop someone from getting to safety.”

First of all, saying “God forbid” is a bit ironic. No way would God allow something like this to happen to fellow Tebow supporters. Secondly, if a fire did occur, it’s safe to assume the only kids that would survive would be the ones worshiping Tebow.

In the end, kids, it’s probably a good idea if you do not mock Tim Tebow. Even if it is in flattering fashion.

This is Tim Tebow’s world.  We are all just living in it.  What did Tim Tebow allow us learn this week?

- I love the NFL Red Zone channel on DirecTV.  I didn’t have to watch the first three quarters of sludge that Denver and Chicago called a football game, but they sure did let me know when it was Tebow time.  With 2 minutes left in the game, the Denver Broncos were down 10-0 against one of the most feared defenses in the NFL.  Tim Tebow doesn’t care.

Tebow connected with Demaryuis Thomas for a 10 yard touchdown pass to put the Broncos within a field goal.  Marion Barber inexplicably sauntered out of bounds near the end of the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a Matt Prater BOMB field goal that sent the game into OT.

In OT, Jesus forced a Marion Barber fumble, and Tebow worked his magic once again… putting his team in position to win for the sixth consecutive week.  Prater delivered.  Broncos win.  Tebow mania ensues.

- Houston beat the Bungals on a last second touchdown pass from TJ Yates to Kevin Walter, virtually eliminating them from playoff contention.  Rough week for Cincinnati.

- Christian Ponder got benched for the Vikings after turning the ball over 4 times against the Detroit Lions.  Once the first round draft pick hit the pine, the game got a lot more interesting as the Vikings scored 21 of the games final 27 points, but still fell short 34-28.

- There was a JP Losman sighting in Miami.  I assume you know how this game turned out based on that sentence alone.  Eagles rolled 26-10 as the Matt Barkley era cannot come soon enough to South Beach. Oh — and Tony Sparano got the axe as the Bill Parcells Experiment continues its dismantling.

- The Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Todd Haley after getting destroyed by the New York Jets 37-10.  In other news involving talentless coat-tail riders that nobody on the planet is surprised about, Kim Kardashian is already over her “marriage” to Kris Humphries and is dating again.

- New England squeaked by Washington 34-27 while Tom Brady, their goldenboy QB, looked to be a bit tarnished after a sideline argument with his QB coach.  He and Giselle must be on the same cycle.

- The Packers are awesome.  You probably already knew that.

- The Bills stink.  You probably already knew that too.

- The Cowboys fell to the Giants on Sunday night, after Eli erased a 12 point deficit late in the game.  I love when the Cowboys fail.  It just makes everything seem right in the world.

Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss Tom Brady’s in game break down, Tim Tebow’s magic, or anything else on your mind!

-The greatest rivalry in sports was renewed this weekend as Ohio State took the field in Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines.  Denard Robinson was magical, combining for 337 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Wolverines got the sweater-vest-less monkey off their back and won 40-34.  Hail to the victors, enjoy it while you can because as we learned earlier this week, Urban is coming to Columbus and things are about to go back to normal.

-Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas.  Tebow lead his Broncos to a division win over the San Diego Chargers 16-13 at Qualcomm Stadium.  It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win and Tebow certainly knows how to get it done.

-Alabama boat raced Auburn 42-14, as Tide running back Trent Richardson carried the load to the tune of 27 carries for 203 yards.  Though the Alabama defense proved once again that they are the cream of the crop, without even appearing in their conference title game, should they be considered for the national title game?  Not in my eyes.

-On Thursday, the biggest turkey around was Lions defensive tackle Ndomukong Suh.  There is a fine line between being a tough and aggressive player, and being a scummy dirt bag.  Suh curb stomped that line as Green Bay prevailed 27-15 over Detroit.

-Stanford hosted Notre Dame in prime time Saturday night, and Andrew Luck impressed.  Luck tossed four scores as the Irish fell to the Cardinal 28-14.

-Remember all those Chicago Bear fans that ridiculed Jay Cutler for being a sissy, claiming the Bears would be better without him?  Caleb Hanie thinks you’re all idiots.  With Jay Cutler, the Bears were the hottest team in the NFL.  Without him, they lost to the Raiders and have those same fans praying for a playoff spot.  Though the defense kept them in the game, Hanie’s three interceptions were too much to overcome as the Raiders squeaked by 25-20.

-Baylor scored 66 points against Texas Tech.  In football, not basketball like I had originally thought when I saw the score.  Is anyone’s NFL stock hotter than RG3 right now?

-Stevie Johnson dominated the New York Jets secondary all afternoon, until he dropped a potential game winner as time wound down.  The Jets squeaked by 28-24, as Sanchez and his boys continued to look subpar.

-USC embarrassed the UCLA Bruins 50-0 at the Coliseum Saturday night.  To answer my previous question… yes, Matt Barkley’s NFL draft stock may be hotter than RG3.  Barkley threw for 423 and 6 touchdowns in the drubbing. 

-Tom Brady is pretty good.  So are the Patriots.  Vince Young isn’t terrible.  The Philadelphia Eagles are.  New England beat the Eagles 38-20 in Philly, as Brady and Vince Young combined for 761 yards through the air.  “Fire Andy Reid” chants echoed through Lincoln Financial Field in the fourth quarter.  Maybe the fans mistook Reid for Santa….Cretins.

-The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech to secure a spot in the SEC Championship game.  As a reminder, Georgia is one win away from being crowned the BEST TEAM in the SEC, and lost to Boise State by 2 touchdowns earlier this year, yet pundits are calling for an all SEC title game.  Morons.  End this sham.

Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss Boise State, Urban Meyer, or anything else on your mind.

Michelle Obama was booed at a NASCAR race over the weekend.  Stay classy, hill-hogs.  What else did we learn this week?

- The Green Bay Packers improved to 10-0, as they downed Tampa Bay 35-26.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 299 and three scores continuing his quest to win the NFL MVP award.  Packers defensive lineman BJ Raji rumbled in for a touchdown, giving him as many rushing touchdowns this season as starting running back James Starks.

- Last week, I thought about writing an article on Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden and the travesty of him not being the Heisman front runner.  After watching Weeden toss three interceptions in an embarrassing 37-31 loss to Iowa State, I’m really glad I didn’t.

- Chicago improved to 7-3, as Jay Cutler lead the Bears to a 31-20 win over the Chargers.  The Bears are tough to beat with Cutler at the helm, but rumors are spreading of Cutler needing surgery to repair his thumb.  Feel confident with Caleb Hanie, Chi-town?

- Oregon lost to USC over the weekend 38-35.  Matt Barkley looked sharp for the Trojans throwing for 320 and 4 scores, but in the end Oregon missed a field goal with time winding down that would have capped an otherwise impressive comeback.  USC fans were thrilled to hear that the won Sunday morning.

- The Giants stink and Brandon Jacobs is 250 pounds of awful.  EVERYONE runs against the Eagles and their stupid ass “wide 9” defense.  Why the hell couldn’t you?  Vince Young led the Eagles to a 17-10 win over the Giants on Sunday Night Football.  The best thing about this game was how easily it put me to sleep.

- Oklahoma became the third top 5 team to lose this week, as Robert Griffin III and his Baylor Bears racked up touchdowns against the Sooners in the 45-38 upset.  Who’s ready for a LSU vs Houston National Championship?

- Andrew Siciliano called the Buffalo Bills “the definition of market correction” as Ryan Fitzpatrick and his boys were getting embarrassed by the Miami Dolphins 35-8.  I’m not sure it can be put any better than that.

- Clemson’s high powered offense managed a single touchdown against North Carolina State, knocking the Tigers from the BCS top 10 and likely this column moving forward.

- Matthew Stafford threw 5 touchdown passes but not a single one went to Calvin Johnson as the Lions rolled the Panthers 49-35.  In the loss, Cecil’s boy chucked another four interceptions as the Panthers dropped to 2-8.  Isn’t it about time we stop tossing Cam’s name around look at fellow rookie QB “Shawshank” for rookie of the year?  “Red Andy” Dalton has his Bengals in playoff contention, while the Panthers’ appeal is disappearing like a fart in the wind.

- Matt Hasselbeck led the Tennessee Titans in rushing yards on Sunday against the Falcons with 1 carry for 17 yards.  That should pretty much give you an idea of how the rest of the game went in the Georgia Dome.

- Michigan capitalized on a flurry of Cornhusker turnovers as the Wolverines beat Nebraska 45-17.  Michigan is on a roll, as they prepare for the annual showdown against the Buckeyes on November 26th.  With Denard Robinson and Braxton Miller under center, this duo of exciting quarterbacks should make the game very exciting.

- Follow me on Twitter @JockPostDT to discuss OSU/Michigan, Shawshank Redemption or anything else on your mind.

He has never really been known as a stone cold killer in the fourth quarter, but this is ridiculous.

Did you see that pass he just threw? F**king unbelievable. He tossed a lazy throw away pass right into the arms of a Bears player, effectively ending the game before any comeback could even be mounted. He looked uninterested and detached.

He never gave his team a chance. Sound familiar?

This seems to be the norm this year for Rivers, but you have to wonder — what the hell happened to him? When there’s any pressure at all, it’s like his brain ceases to operate. He has made so many stupid decisions late in the game its like we’re watching a different player.

Sound familiar?

He always came off as a douchebag, but when he was doing well people will put up with it. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot more Philip Rivers Face in the near future.

He now leads the NFL in interceptions. I think I’d rather have Jabba the Russell than him at this point when it matters.

And what’s up with that double time out/challenge crap Norv Turner tried pulling? Way to waste your last two timeouts in one play.

When I watch the Chargers I can’t help but wonder if these guys are even trying.

Speaking of LeBron. Check out Maurice Jones-Drew’s LeBron-themed touchdown celebration against Cleveland today. And just like LeBron, MJD lost.

Oh and Michael Strahan’s cake.

Andrew Luck has phenomenal accuracy. When the ball leaves his hand, it’s just as likely to sprout wings, a beak and fly away as it is to end up a “duck.”

Perfect mechanics lead to a tight spiral time and again, while Luck has the footwork and pocket presence of a seasoned veteran.

Always balanced, Luck puts himself in position to make every throw and has the athleticism to escape pressure. Standing 6’4”, the Cardinal quarterback looks the part while possessing maturity, preparedness and smarts. With a Stanford education in his back pocket, I’d venture to guess Luck would score higher blindfolded on the Wonderlic test than Terrelle Pryor did. (A seven? C’mon bro…)

Picking Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the NFL draft is an absolute no-brainer, but I’ve got news for everyone…

Andrew Luck is going to be a bust in the NFL.

Not a Ryan Leaf. Not a JaMarcus Russell. Not an Akili Smith. But a bust none the less.

Phil Simms, who knows a thing or two about playing quarterback in the league, doesn’t think that Luck can make all the NFL throws. He’s right. Luck lacks the big time arm strength that so many NFL teams have coveted in the past. The first time Luck under-throws a go route or lets a deep out sail, the critics will be watching, and they’ll beat that dead horse until it evaporates.

This time next year, you’ll be as sick of hearing about Luck’s lack of arm strength as I am of hearing about the Eagles “Wide Nine” defense. Thanks a lot, Schefter.

The arm strength isn’t the only problem. The PAC-12 ain’t exactly a gauntlet of staunch defenses and Stanford’s out of conference schedule is a bigger joke than the title of Jerry Sandusky’s autobiography.

Luck beats up on the Duke’s and the Colorado’s of the world, but against a team like Oregon it’s a different story. In fact, fellow Pac-12 signal caller Nick Foles of Arizona had better numbers than Luck against both Oregon and USC. Will a conference that defends like the French be proper grooming for the likes of NFL defenses?

Regardless, the main detriment to Andrew Luck’s success is one that he will never line up against across the football field, nor one he can improve on in the gym. His NFL pedigree, nor his pending Heisman Trophy can shield him from this demon.

His main deterrent is the mainstream media monster that has been created. No matter how great Andrew Luck turns out to be, he can’t be as big as ESPN wants him to be. They are setting him up for failure, just like they did with LSU and Alabama a few weeks back. Problem is, if he flops as bad as the “Game of the Century,” people won’t let it slide. (On a side note, if THAT was the game of the century, the next ninety nine years will prove to be quite uneventful.)

The NFL is a very hard place to win, and Andrew Luck is immediately being compared to fellow Stanford quarterback and two time Super Bowl champion John Elway. What an unfair comparison.

Luck will be drafted onto a putrid team, likely Indianapolis, and asked to do something that even Peyton Manning couldn’t: win multiple Super Bowls. Those are not easy cleats to fill, nor is that an easy task to conquer. With minimal playmakers around him, an inept head coach, and a defense that is used to playing with a lead, Luck will be asked to be as good as advertised right away, which is not likely to happen.

Speaking a 22 year old kid’s name in the same breath as Elway and Manning and Marino isn’t fair. It’s unfair to Luck, to the team that drafts him, and to the legions of NFL fans who gobble up every word that is spoken on NFL Live.

The poor kid is being set up to fail by the same mouths that will him to succeed every time the cameras roll.

Andrew Luck has the skill set to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL for the next decade, but unfortunately for Oliver’s son, that won’t be good enough. “Andrew Luck the player” will never be as good as “Andrew Luck the story”. That is why he will be an NFL bust…

…and THAT is a damn shame.

We’re about midway through the season and some teams are very surprising in a good way (the 49ers) and others not so much (the Vikings).

But for each team, who is the most surprising player so far this season? My picks for each team are below.

Feel free to call me an idiot in the comment section. But if you’re going to do that, you have to tell me who surprised you more.

AFC East

Jets
Joe McKnight – he barely managed to find his way on the roster, and now he is one of the most dynamic special teams player in 2011. So far this season he has run the ball 25 times, caught the ball 16 times, blitzed as a CB, blocked a punt that was returned for a TD, returned a 107-yard kickoff  return for a TD and averages 40 yards per kickoff return with 13 returns.

Bills
Ryan Fitzpatrick – When Fitz left the Bengals we figured that was the end of his career. The Bills signed him in 2009 and they were one of the worst teams in football. Then the Bills hired Chan Gailey and we laughed. No one expected Fitzpatrick to be signed up ever again after 2008, let alone tear up defenses like he has at the beginning of this season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up for an entire season.

Patriots
Wes Welker – Welker has been really good since he came over to New England from Miami, but he has been basically the best WR in the NFL not named Calvin Johnson. Not too many people saw that coming. He is 24 yards short of his total from last year (824/848).

Dolphins
Daniel Thomas – Honestly, finding a silver lining from this disaster of a season is a bit challenging. Even though Thomas was a 2nd Round draft pick, he has been solid (still no TDs though) and that has to be a nice surprise for Phins fans. Just ask Reggie Bush how the season’s going.

AFC North

Browns
Joe Haden – as we’ve already covered, Joe Haden could be the best CB in the NFL. It’s one of the lone highlights for a team that has a very hard time getting the ball in the end zone. is anyone else having a hard time staying awake while watching Browns games?

Steelers
Ike Taylor – Ike Taylor used to suck really bad. The Steelers signed him a couple years ago, hoping he would be a #1 CB. He ended up getting 1-2 stupid pass interference penalties seemingly every game. They almost cut his sorry ass, that’s how bad it got. For some reason, he doesn’t suck anymore. He has been shutting them down all season.

Bengals
AJ Green/Andy Dalton – This is obvious, but we can’t pick just one. The 1st and 2nd round picks for the Bengals this year could not be performing any better. Who the hell thought the Bengals would be 5-2 at this point? Definitely not Carson Palmer.

Ravens
Lardarius Webb – The guy who many Ravens fans blame for last season’s playoff loss has returned in 2011 to carry the banged-up Ravens secondary.

AFC SOUTH

Colts
Pat Angerer – In just his 2nd NFL season he has already nearly matched his tackle total from last year. In fact, he leads the NFL in tackles right now with 90. NaVorro Bowman ranks 2nd with 68. Bet you didn’t know that.

Texans
Antonio Smith – With Mario Williams out with an injury, Texans DE Antonio Smith has had to pick up the slack, with 4.5 sacks. In a season where a friend of his drowned in a swimming pool at his house, he has done a good job at keeping the distractions from negatively effecting his play on the field.

Titans
Matt Hasselbeck – OK so Hasselbeck hasn’t been a stiff his whole career, but after watching the Seahawks just basically give up on him, pretty much everyone else did too. At 36 years old and with a brand new team in a brand new system, he has been surprising. So far he has thrown for over 1,700 yards, with an 11/6 ratio. That’s an 89.2 rating. He probably has more rushing yards than Chris Johnson, too.

Jaguars
Jason Hill – Even though he doesn’t have many receptions (19), when he does catch it he takes it to the house. A team leading THREE of those 19 catches have gone for TDs. The most TDs he’s ever gotten in a season prior to this one was 2.

AFC West

Raiders
Darrius Heyward-Bey – Considering he almost got the JaMarcus treatment, it’s kind of hard to believe DHB is finally panning out. He is probably the most consistent receiver the Raiders have right now.

Chargers
Eric Weddle – Five interceptions so far this year ties him for the league lead with Charles Woodson. His previous season high was two. Hey Chargers fans, how overpaid is he now?

Chiefs
Jackie Battle – Jackie who? With Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones banged up, the 3rd/4th stringer finally got his chance a few weeks ago and hasn’t disappointed. Even though he got his first TD last week, he is averaging a solid 4.7 YPC.

Broncos
Von Miller – OK so it’s hard to say the 2nd overall pick is surprising, but any rookie that starts his career off with 6 sacks in 7 games still deserves a nod. He’s doing a little better than one of their other 1st round draft picks…

NFC East

Giants
Victor Cruz – In what is basically his first season, he is tearing up the league. Definitely the Giants’ best offensive weapon at this point.

Eagles
Shady McCoy – After a solid 2010 season, many of us wondered if he could possibly duplicate it in 2011. He is blowing away last year’s effort. At this rate he’ll have over 1,500 yards rushing and 16 TDs by year’s end.

Cowboys
Sean Lee – I don’t watch the Cowboys much because I f**king hate them. My friends who are Cowboys fans say he has been a badass. I wouldn’t know.

Redskins
Ryan Kerrigan – The Redskins season is turning into a nightmare of epic proportions. Kerrigan is pretty much the only bright spot on this team at this point. The college DE turned LB is adapting well, and he even scored a TD in his first NFL game after not having scored his entire college career.

NFC North

Bears
Matt Forte – I know what you’re thinking: “But Matt Forte has always been good!” I don’t think anyone thought he’d be this good. He has 672 yards rushing and 419 yards passing so far this season. He is playing the Marshall Faulk role in the Mike Martz offense perfectly.

Vikings
Jared Allen – I was going to go with Christian Ponder, but he’s only played in 2 games, so he still has plenty of time to suck. Jared Allen though, has TWELVE AND A HALF FUCKING SACKS. He also has a pick, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. We knew he was good, but this is some video game s**t right here.

Packers
Jordy Nelson – The former 4th stringer is now the Packers’ second best option at WR. James Jones and Donald Driver are wondering what the hell happened too.

Lions
Chris Houston – The biggest weakness on the Lions roster this year appeared to be the secondary. Chris Houston has four picks, two pick-sixes and is a league leader in pass deflections as well.

NFC South

Saints
Jimmy Graham – The 2nd year player out of Miami wasn’t expected to do a whole lot. Did you know he has more receptions this year than Calvin Johnson? He is on pace for over 1,500 yards receiving this year. If Drew Brees wants him to, he will.

49ers
Alex Smith – Maybe he started showing signs of efficiency late last year, but rarely does that mean anything. Everyone wondered who would play QB in SF this year, and when Harbaugh chose Smith everyone wrote the 49ers off. After what feels like a decade in the league, he is finally not sucking. Who says giving someone a 6th, 7th and even 8th chance isn’t ever going to pay off?

Cardinals
Beanie Wells – Yes, he was a first round pick. Yes, coming out of tOSU he was a beast. I watched every carry in Wells’ college career and while he was good (and sometimes great), I never thought he would make it through a game in the NFL. He was (and still kind of is) the very definition of brittle.  He averages 4.5 YPC and has 7 TDs. That sounds pretty good right about now.

Panthers
Cam Newton – Believe it or not, picking Newton wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Who would’ve thought it would’ve taken a rookie QB to resurrect Steve Smith’s career? We all thought he was very close to done. But I had to go with Newton, because even though he was the #1 overall pick last year, I think EVERYONE thought he would need more time to become a real threat in the NFL. Boy were we all wrong.

NFC West

Seahawks
Doug Baldwin – This undrafted rookie free agent is quietly becoming the next Marques Colston, leading the Hawks in receptions. Except he has Tarvaris Jackson, not Drew Brees, throwing to him.

Falcons
Corey Peters – Ever since that dumbass offsides penalty he earned against Tampa, Peters has been rock solid. Plus he’s got some decent hands for a DE (or was that just a s**tty pass?).

Bucs
Preston Parker – After catching just four passes last season, the Buccaneers were really counting on Parker to step it up this season. He has responded by becoming one of Josh Freeman’s favorite targets.

Rams
Chris Long – The son of Radio Shack spokesperson Howie Long came into the league with huge expectations. You could really say he hasn’t had a breakout season in his career yet, although he did pretty well last year. He’s already got 6 sacks, but god damn the Rams suck something fierce.

= = = = =

Those are my mid-season NFL surprises. What are yours?

His toughness has also gotten him some fines from the NFL – $42,500 in total. But no one ever said winning comes cheap. It’s the price you pay to help change a culture.

But Suh has also been called a dirty player, which is why he requested a meeting with Roger Goodell to discuss what he can do to improve his game (aka quit getting fined).

In Suh’s words, ”I have gained a better understanding how I need to continue to play the game to help my team win. “I look forward to the rest of the season and doing everything we can to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Detroit.”

When I first heard Suh requested this meeting, I assumed it was more of a smartass way to ask how he is supposed to “take it easy” while playing the most dangerous game on the planet (Well, 2nd most dangerous game).

What ended up happening, is Suh and the Lions took a step back in their quest for being considered a “scary” team. Playing nice does not win championships. If you play defense in the NFL, you should have the personality of a murderer. And last time I checked, most murderers wouldn’t go ask the cops for advice on how to kill people.

The Lions fans need a dirty, scary defense in order to be relevant. At 6-2, this has to be the best they have felt in years! Why change anything?

Personally, if I was Suh, I would make the dirtiest play possible their next game just to prove he will continue to play the way he has always played. And if that means being called a dirty player, so be it. Better than not being called anything at all, which is what Lions fans are use to.