Sports Bytes

Lucianne.com earns "Quote of the Day" honors for asking whether Elin Nordegren (Tiger Woods' wife) "used a 9 iron or a putter" . . .

How sad is the state of the NFL this year? 16 of the 32 teams are below .500 . . .

Great job by the Jets. Unlike the other NY football team, they came out hungry, focused, and determined to keep their postseason hopes alive. This team will only get better because they play hard for Rex Ryan and they obviously buy into his system . . . However, if Mark Sanchez continues to scamper downfield instead of throwing the ball away, Gang Green will find themselves in need of a new franchise quarterback. This is not the NCAA. Defenders are bigger, stronger, and faster. Give them enough opportunities to hurt you and they will . . .

Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell showed why he is not, and probably never will be, an elite quarterback. Losing 27-24 with 1:48 remaining in regulation, the Redskins started their final drive on their own 16 with no timeouts. After throwing two incomplete passes Campbell connected with Randle-El for nine yards, setting up a 4th and 1. Instead of hurrying to the line of scrimmage and running a QB sneak to get the first down, Campbell dropped back into the shotgun and threw an incomplete pass at the feet of Santana Moss. Game Over. A quarterback facing 4th and 1 under those circumstances has to recognize that his priority is getting the first down in the quickest, easiest manner. If you are going to be a franchise QB you must be able to make those split-second decisions. Campbell could not . . .

The Colts officially clinched the AFC South today. But let's be honest, they had already done this unofficially as far back as Game 2 of the World Series . . .

I've never been a fan of the Vikings. In fact, I have often led the charge in declaring them overrated. But it is becoming impossible to acknowledge that this team may be the most-balanced in the NFC. Today they rolled over divisional rival the Chicago Bears, scoring 36 points while accumulating 537 yards. The Vikings are 9th in the NFL in total defense and 5th in the NFL in total offense. And for those who say, "Wait until they have to play outdoors in the playoffs", it appears that will not happen no matter which team wins home-field advantage. The only team right now with a better record than the Vikings is the undefeated Saints--another domed team . . .

According to ESPN, the NFL and NFLPA are close to an agreement that "would effectively prohibit a player from re-entering a game that he exits with a concussion-related injury." Also under discussion is a policy that "would arbitrarily prohibit a player from playing the subsequent week after suffering a concussion." Although the changes are welcome they are still far short of what is necessary to ensure the health of the players. Professional boxing is criticized for its brutality; yet, if a fighter is KO'd (in other words concussed) he is suspended for a minimum of 30 days. In some states the ban could last for as many as 60 or even 90 days. Meanwhile, the NFL is patting itself on the back for agreeing that players should not return to the field minutes after suffering a concussion. The NFL could learn something from the sweet science . . .

There is a lot of excitement in Yankees-land now that former CY Young Roy Halladay has said he is interested in playing in pinstripes. Halladay is among the best pitchers in the game, but are the Yankees willing to part with Joba Chamberlin or Phillip Hughes, and probably another top prospect, to get him? Truthfully, I would rather the Yankees sign John Lackey. Halladay's numbers are better, but Lackey is an excellent pitcher in his own right and I think he would more comfortably adjust to the pressures of playing for the Yankees. Lackey's a guy who wants the ball in the big game, someone who knows how to go for the jugular. He reminds me of Curt Shilling in that respect. Can Halladay handle the pressure of playing in New York? Who knows? Remember, the Bronx is Bizarro World compared to Toronto . . .

The NJ Nets deserve some credit. Imagine doing something 17 times and failing at it every time. That can't be easy . . .