Let the game begin ... and the yapping stop

Sunday can't come soon enough, and not just because I'm a football junkie. When the New York Jets and New England Patriots finally kick off at 4:30, the talking will be done the action can begin.

I'm very much sick and tired of reading about what certain players say about other players. In the grand scheme of things, it means very little, and I'm surprised fans get into it so much. I'm an X's and O's kind of guy, so I don't really care if Jets defensive back Antonio Cromartie calls Tom Brady an "A--hole," or if New York coach Rex Ryan thinks Brady relies more on his coach than Peyton Manning.

I find none of it to be newsworthy, still, writers can't seem to help themselves when a juicy quote is blurted out. Instead of a number of "he said-he said" stories, could we maybe get some kind of analysis of the game? Or is that too much to ask from the beat writers? Yet another example of how good sports journalism is going down the tubes.

Also, I don't really agree with the idea of bulletin board material. Do you really believe that Tom Brady is saying, "I wasn't really going to play that hard before, but now that he called me names, I'm fuming and will give it everything I have."

Come on. These guys are professionals, technically. Just go about your business and resist the urge to take that verbal jab. Because in the long run, talk is cheap.

Talkin' about playoffs

The marathon that is the college football season is over. Teams probably start spring practices in a couple weeks. Yet a playoff, some opponents say, would drag out the season and keep the student-athletes on the teams involved away from school for too long. As if they could spend any more time on the football field than they already do.

Auburn and Oregon had five weeks (and change) off between their respective conference championship games and the BCS national championship game. Seems to me they could squeeze in an eight-team playoff in about three weeks.

Those who claim the BCS works are either delusional or lying. As painful as the Rose Bowl outcome was — being a Wisconsin fan — a small, stupid part of me thought TCU’s victory could be the final straw in the razing of the BCS and the implementation of a playoff. But it won’t be. Auburn probably is the best team in the nation, but TCU taking down the Big Ten co-champ in Pasadena told me that the Horned Frogs — the seventh team in the 12-year history of the BCS to finish undefeated but without a national championship — can compete with the major conferences and deserve a shot at the title.

The playoffs (and NCAA tournament) are the best parts of every sports season. I don’t pay too much attention to baseball, basketball and hockey regular seasons, but playoffs are a different story. Same with college hoops. The regular season is cool, but I’m glued to the TV come tournament time.
The NFL season is great, start to finish, but there’s something magical about the playoffs. I’m not yet giving up hope that college football learns this at some point.

Speaking of playoffs …

Is it possible, with the Eagles’ elimination from the playoffs, that the 2010 Michael Vick love fest can finally come to a merciful end? I sure hope so. I’m so tired of hearing about what a great season Vick had, resurrecting his career and going from inmate to MVP candidate.
But his season is done, thanks in part to a stupid pass he made at the end of Philly’s loss to Green Bay. Vick is tremendously overrated and (I can’t believe I’m typing this) not only should he not win the MVP over Tom Brady, anyone who casts a first-place vote for Vick should have his or her voting rights revoked.

Two of the four first-round games didn’t turn out as I’d expected (damn you, Colts and Saints), but my Super Bowl picks remain alive, and I’m not wavering. The Ravens and Packers will meet in Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 6.