College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

It’s turkey day across the border and that means one thing: a full plate of NFL football. Three games on the docket today. The Green Bay Packers (6-4) take their show on the road as their in the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions (2-8). Both teams are coming off big week 10 wins, but both got are dealing with some serious injuries. The Pack dumped the 49ers 30-24 and in the process lost both defensive end Aaron Kampman and corner back Al Harris for the season. Kampman leads the team in sacks and Harris is a great cover corner. The Lions beat the Browns 38-37 i n the final seconds of their game. Quarterback Matt Stafford dislocated his shoulder at the end of the game, but he’s toughing it out and will be behind centre today. Who knows how effective he will be.

Next up the Oakland Raiders(3-7) are in Dallas to take on the Cowboys (7-3). At first glance this one looks like it’ll be one-sided. Oakland is coming off a monster win over the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals last week and the Cowboys have struggled mightally on offence. The Raiders finally benched JaMarcus Russell and gave Bruce Gradkowski the starters job. He responded with two touchdown passes, including a last second score leading to the upset win. Over the last two weeks the Cowboys offence has been less then effective. Over the last two weeks the ‘Boys have scored two touchdowns. If they don’t get things together they may end up being the turkey in a Raider’s feast.

The last game is probably the best as the New York Giants (6-4) battle the Denver Broncos (6-4). Both teams limp into this one. Denver has lost four straight and they got pummeled 32-3 last week by the San Diego Chargers. New York has dropped four of five and needed overtime to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-31. The Giants come into this one banged-up, on three days rest and have to play in the mile-high air. If Denver can take advantage they just might end their skid.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

It’s the second straight edition of Thursday night football as the Miami Dolphins (4-5) are in Carolina to take on the Panthers (4-5). These teams are very similar. They have the same record, they love to run the ball and they play punishing defence. Also both teams are coming off big wins in week 10. Miami jumped out to a big lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and held on at the end to win 25-23. The Dolphins got a balanced running attack from explosive backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. Williams ran for over a hundred and Brown had 82 and a touchdown. What makes this duo so tough is that they’re good in a conventional offence and even deadlier in the wildcat formation. Yesterday the Dolphins were dealt some bad news. Brown is gone for the rest of the season with a foot injury. It’s the second time in three seasons he has dealt with an injury that cost him the remainder of the season. Brown is the focal point in Miami’s wildcat so it will be interesting to see how they adapt. Rookie Lex Hilliard takes his spot in the line up. Carolina is another team that relies on two very good running backs. The Panthers beat their division rivals Atlanta Falcons last week 28-19 thanks to the running of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. This duo combined for 174 yards on the ground and Stewart had two touchdowns. Carolina also got a boast from the return of 14-year veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad. Atlanta chose to double team wide out Steve Smith, so Muhammad had single coverage for most of the game and pulled in 6 catches for 91 yards. It’s a toss up who’s going to win this game, but one thing is for sure – if you like the ground game, this is one game you won’t want to miss.

Forget Deion Sanders. A current player has taken over the title of “Primetime”. Unfortunately for this player, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Jay Cutler has played in three primetime games so far for the Chicago Bears, and each start has been forgettable for the man who was supposed to be Chicago’s football saviour.  It all began in Week One, when the Bears faced off against NFC North rival Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Cutler, in his Chicago debut, tossed four interceptions to a new-look Packers defence, and the Bears fell 21-15.  Skip ahead to Week Six, and Cutler was at it again, this time tossing two picks at the Georgia Dome as the Bears fell 21-14 to the Atlanta Falcons. And then there was last night. On the NFL’s first Thursday-nighter of the year, Cutler throws five interceptions, and the Bears can’t even muster a touchdown in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

If you ask anyone watching those games, the Bears were the better team on the field. Not to say they were perfect, but Chicago could and should have come away with those wins. In those three games, Cutler has thrown three touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That ratio won’t even cut it in Cleveland. In Chicago’s non-primetime games, Cutler has 11 TD’s and six interceptions – three of which came trying to play catch-up against the Bengals in Week Seven.

In a discussion last night with some friends, I was asked if I’d rather have Kyle Orton at the helm, or Jay Cutler. It took me less than a second to answer: Cutler. The difference is simple. Jay Cutler can win you games, and he can lose you games (see Exhibit C – Week Ten vs. the 49ers). Kyle Orton can play games. He doesn’t win a game on his own, he doesn’t lose one for you – he just plays.

Any fan of the Chicago Bears has every right to be livid after watching last night’s game. Cutler tried to force the ball into too many dicey areas, and he was burned (picked off by a nose tackle? You’ve got to be kidding me). But before they go calling for General Manager Jerry Angelo’s head for making the move to get Cutler, consider watching the Denver Broncos passing attack. If Kyle Orton throws a ball over 20 yards, I’ll be amazed.

Chicago still has two more primetime games to go – next week versus Philadelphia Sunday night, and Week 16 versus Minnesota for the Monday nighter. For his sake, I hope Jay Cutler is able to handle himself a little better and cut down on the INT’s. If not, we may be looking at the NFL record holder for most interceptions in a season.

TWO POINT CONVERSION

- I don’t care if you hate both teams with a passion – watch the Bengals at Steelers Sunday afternoon. It will be the tough AFC North matchup the Ravens were supposed to give the Bengals last week

- ESPN’s John Clayton took a real chance when he predicted his Super Bowl match up earlier this week: New Orleans vs. Indianapolis. Wow, thanks for that John. Anyone can take the two undefeated teams and schedule them for the big game. Me? Right now I like the Steelers to play the Vikings

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

The last time the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts met was back in week 17 of 2006. Peyton Manning threw for two touchdowns and the Colts won 27-22. Out of the last six times these two teams battled the Dolphins have the edge of the Colts, beating them four times. Tonight in Florida these teams go it with a lot to prove. For Indianapolis they want to show the rest of the league that they’re still the dominant team that won the Super Bowl three years ago and should not be overlooked. Future Hall-of-Famer receiver Marvin Harrison is no longer on the team and his replacement, Anthony Gonzalez is out for two to eight weeks with a knee injury. Manning still has go-to wide out Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark. Both should expect many throws their way and will factor into the decision of this game. Defensively Indianapolis will miss the services of safety Bob Sanders for this one as he too is dealing with knee problems.

Miami wants to show everybody that last season was no fluke. They surprised the NFL by winning the AFC East relying heavily on the wildcat formation. Last week they looked bad, committing  four turnovers en route to a 19-7 lose to the Atlanta Falcons. For the Dolphins to be successful Chad Pennington needs to eliminate mistakes and they need to get the ball into the hands of running back Ronnie Brown as often as possible. Last season Brown was the key factor in the Dolphin’s wildcat offence, rushing for 916 yards, scoring 10 touchdowns along with 254 receiving yards. Miami also has to play sound defence, limiting the big plays and getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. A year ago linebacker Joey Porter had a career year leading the team with 17.5 sacks.

jamal anderson

Ahhh yes, once again fellow fans my theory is proven correct, There is no dumber animal (collectively speaking of course) on this planet then the professional (or at times amateur) athlete.

Today, I nominate Jamal Anderson, former running back for your, Atlanta Falcons to the dumb athlete hall of fame….

“Former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson has been charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanour marijuana possession after being arrested at an Atlanta nightclub, authorities said Sunday.

Anderson, a fan favourite who created the “Dirty Bird” touchdown celebration dance, played eight seasons for the Falcons before leaving the team with a knee injury in 2001.

Atlanta police spokesman Officer Otis Redmond said Anderson, 36, was arrested early Sunday at the Peachtree Tavern in Atlanta’s trendy Buckhead district.”

Now, who am I to point a finger at a guy for doing a little blow and smoking a joint? Here’s a novel idea Jamal, DO IT AT HOME!!

Seconds?

the rest of the story is here