Sports Bytes (Dec 29, 2009)

The NJ Nets are playing so poorly that fans can purchase a near-courtside ticket on eBay or stubhub.com for less than the cost of a beer or a pizza at the Izod Center. The New York Daily News reports that tickets are selling for as cheaply as $7.00, while the cost of a beer or a pizza is $8.00 . . .

Ouch. The Philadelphia Eagles have lost their starting center Jamaal Jackson for the rest of the season because of a torn knee ligament. Eagles fans have watched enough football to know that a poor snap from a backup center usually occurs at the worst possible times . . .

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora believes he has reached the end of his career with Big Blue. Umenyiora was a major disappointment this year. Stopping the run was never his forte, but it was tolerated because of his pass rushing skills. But seven sacks does not a pass rushing specialist make. Entering the season fans expected the Giants' pass rush to be unstoppable with Umenyiora and Justin Tuck breathing down quarterbacks' necks. Reality has been far different though as the two have combined for only 13 sacks. To put it in perspective there are three players who alone have more sacks than Umenyiora and Tuck do together: Denver's Elvis Dumervil (17), Minn's Jared Allen (13.5) and Indy's Dwight Freeney (13.5) . . .

Is Mike Leach running a football program at Texas Tech or a gulag? . . .

Who is falling faster right now the Vikings or the Saints? Yes, the Vikes deserve credit for storming back from a 16-0 deficit to the Bears and sending the game into overtime at 30-30. But ultimately they lost. They have now lost three of their lost four games, and on Monday night they blew an opportunity to secure a playoff bye. The Vikes managed to make the 6-9 Bears look like an offensive juggernaut, surrendering 36 points to a team that averages only 18 points per game. Meanwhile, the Saints, who secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with Minnesota's loss, have lost two in a row and look very different than the offensive dynamo they were earlier in the season . . .

The Eagles look like the most dangerous team in the NFC right now; although with the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the NFL this season, that may change more than once before the playoffs begin . . .

Last night's victory over the Vikings was a big one for Bears coach Lovie Smith, but probably not big enough to save his job. This isn't Army defeating Navy . . .

22 of the 32 NFL teams have a record no better than one game over .500 . . .