USC Wuz Robbed!

The thing is, there's a fine line that you have to be mindful of when it comes to loyalty to players. Yes, it's right to replace them when they no longer retain an usefulness to them, or becomes a problem like Manny, or whatever, but you know, it's easy to sit there as a winner and say players are totally replaceable. What happens if they continue this practice, and the team starts mismanaging themselves right out of contention? They'd lose goodwill with any prospective players that they might go after, because of their practices. It's why, in my opinion, that a lot of players in the late 90s, early 00s chose New York over Boston, because New York shows a strong sense of loyalty to guys that perform for them year in and year out, and even throughout their decline. Sure, that loyalty makes the Yankees slightly less successful compared to the Red Sox who changes their players like their socks, but Theo isn't going to always call the trends correctly, and when it starts to backfire on him, it's just going to collapse the whole thing. Of course, I may be wrong and the Red Sox finds a way to change their front office personnel like socks.

When it comes to handling one of their most recognizable stars and a long time locker room veteran/leader's retirement? Yes I'd bet on a long term plan.

Well the Dolphins do employ a former Argonaut, so it makes sense.

Ugh what is with athletes being completely devoid of common sense.

Yeah when I say easy, I don't mean a blowout. That's a silly jumping of conclusions. Just a win for Cincinnati where they have maybe a 7+ point lead throughout the game from 2nd quarter onward or something, ending with a score similar to Edwin's prediction.

I actually think it should be an easy win for Cincinnati. That's my reason for not talking it up so much.

You know, it would have been awesome to explain if Taker lost at Mania, that he only "lived" for as long as he was undefeated at the biggest stage of them all, and once he loses, he vanishes like a ghost.

It's still early, so I'd let it slide, but if someone got eliminated 7 rounds into, then yes, dead.

Well since he was after you, and I didn't figure on him making the pick before Gosunkugi did. Sorry, just an unfortunate matter of order.

And that whoever is scheduled to retire more imminently (may it be Taker or Shawn) loses.

I'm conflicted. I don't want to be seen as only having eliminated CBright to raid his talents, but this is a talent too good to pass up. And hey, someone had the option of selecting him before me, and passed. Therefore my pick: The Joker

What's your logic for this one? I'm just curious. I can see either team winning this game, but I'm inclined to choose the team that quite frankly don't know how to lose against the Big Ten. Of course, that could be homerism speaking. And at the Rose Bowl, which is almost a home game for USC. Yes Texas beat them there but it required a hell of a 4th quarter performance by Vince Young to do it.

You know what? Fuck it. CBright should have paid closer attention to this draft. He knew it moved down here and still failed to make up his picks. Therefore, he's eliminated and his talents re-released into the pool.

Vash the Stampede

Right. It was Timmy's turn, but it has expired. So now BlackFlagg's.

Gabriel Gray/Petrelli a.k.a. Sylar

I'm not a Varitek fan at all, but that's what I was thinking. How quickly some people turn on people just because they strike out a a few times more now. HOW DARE HE KNOW HIS VALUE? Well I don't think he's worth that much, but I don't blame him for thinking he is.

You also have to consider that Florida has also faced better defenses than Oklahoma. It goes both ways here. While Oklahoma can claim to have faced a better defense than Florida (TCU at #2 shockingly), it was at home. This one will be at a neutral site, and actually closer to Florida's home base.

Looks like next week could see two more teams joining Starvenger in clinching divisions with Danville possibly clinching the NFC North with either a win or a VX loss and myself clinching the NFC South with a win or a Fazzle loss.

You know the one good thing about this pairing? It forces Tebow to put up or shut up, after his comment about how he'd love to throw against the Big XII defenses. Well now he has a date with one of them this January. That said, Florida should run Oklahoma off the field in a laugher.

Probably finally saw the writing on the wall and figured they should just go ahead with the rebuilding. I'm fine with that. I've resigned to the fact the Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and few others are in better positions than the White Sox.

Terrible trade scenario. If Bailey's sucking in the NL, I can't imagine how he'd do in the Cell vs AL hitters.

Poor NoCalMike.

If Utah squashes Alabama and Florida beats OU in an ugly game, I'd be happy to see them voted #1 in the AP. Don't know why Boise State is so far out of the conversation though.

Yes it is a "remote" possibility. Is it likely? No. I can see USC or Alabama getting a shot at it if the title game sucks and Texas loses to Ohio State.