After much soul searching, I’ve come to the inescapable conclusion that I am not cut out for a daily yodel.

I much prefer a more deliberate approach, an approach not best suited to the hourly world of today’s NFL.

My hat is off to everyone who does contribute to the daily conversation of football on a minute-by-minute basis, but alas, I am not one of those.

I would like to note before I depart, however, that this rush to comment is having the unfortunate consequence of empowering those who trade in rumors. And the ensuing snowball effect invariably treats these rumors as indisputable facts, often times resulting in scornful and hateful false criticisms, occasionally even in the same breath.

Andy Reid’s ‘impending’ resignation last year, Brett Favre this year, someone new next year.

So as I bid you adieu, I hope my small band of readers will read ‘Pro Football Talk’ and similar sites with a rather large grain of salt.

Because last I checked, Andy Reid is still the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

.

How sad and sordid this whole Brett Favre-Green Bay Packer situation has become.

The he said-he said, the accusations of lying and misrepresentation, and the bitterness reminds me of my divorce (I kid, I kid).

Though perhaps most galling are the statements by Mike McCarthy that it is Favre’s mindset that is the real problem. That it is Brett who can’t get past his resentment.

The Packers have made it painfully (and publicly) clear for the past month that Favre is not welcome in Green Bay. And who knows how much longer Favre was made to feel unwelcome before that.

So if you don’t want the guy who led you to overtime of the NFC Championship game last year back as QB, the only three-time MVP in league history coming off one of his best seasons (and the only guy to lead you to the Super Bowl in the last 30 years), just say so. Just stop being disingenuous and suggesting that this is all Favre’s fault.

This whole affair is sapping me of my enthusiasm for a sport I have loved since childhood. And the prospect of Brett Favre in a Jets or Bucs uniform for his final seasons only serves to make me all the more sad.

Packers: Favre Appears Headed for a Trade (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Packers: Done with Packers, Favre Going to Bucs? (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
Jets: Jets Try to Land Brett Favre, but Bucs Close In on Deal (Daily News)
Buccaneers: Favre Spoke with Gruden; Trade Talks Resume (St. Petersburg Times)
Buccaneers: 10 Reasons Favre Will Love Tampa (Tampa Tribune)
49ers: If Favre Lands in Tampa, Niners Could Be Interested in Garcia (The Press Democrat)
Vikings: Favre Saga Coming to a Sad, Strange Ending (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Bears: Packers Message Clear: Please Leave (Chicago Tribune)

I launched Football for Breakfast one year ago today.

At first it was a bad Drudge Report ripoff tailored to the world of professional football. Still, it was effective in serving up daily news for all 32 NFL teams focusing on local hometown newspapers and blogs instead of the ubiquitous national feeds.

I then added a weekly column, Fourth and Long, patterned after Peter King’s SI.com column. To my surprise, it was very well-received — by the two dozen or so people who read it every week.

In January, I shifted the website into its current blog format and found myself, unsuccessfully, trying to jam my weekly column into a series of daily blog posts.

When February rolled around, a little burned out from the grind, I cut back to daily NFL news posts, planning to resume my column when time and mood allowed.

Now five months later, I’ve come to the realization that a weekly column doesn’t really work in this world of daily, even hourly sports analysis. That said, I think there was some pretty good writing in those columns. You can see some of the better ones I wrote here: McNabb’s Failure to Communicate (9/26); Bad Karma in San Diego (10/3); Schadenfreude (10/10); Rivers of Courage (1/22); The Impossible Accomplished (2/4).

So in the past week, I started dabbling with something new — short daily commentary and abbreviated daily news. And to my surprise, traffic is up significantly.

So get ready for the new Football for Breakfast. More short daily commentary, abbreviated daily news from hometown newspapers and hopefully a little more fun.

And since I do have comments turned on, do me a favor and let me know how I’m doing.

DiG…

P.S. And let’s not forget about the news. Apparently Brett Favre is contemplating a comeback!

Brett Favre News
Packers: Favre Breaks His Silence (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Packers: Favre Suggests Packers Haven’t Been Telling the Truth (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
Packers: Bond Between Favre, Packers Seems Beyond Repair (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
Ravens: Source: Favre Doesn’t Fit into Ravens Plans (Baltimore Sun)
Redskins: A Vision of Favre in Burgundy (Washington Times)
Buccaneers: Should Bucs Go for Favre? (Tampa Tribune)
Buccaneers: Tampa Bay May Not Be High on Favre’s List (St. Petersburg Times)
Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson Not Bothered by Brett Favre Rumors (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

AFC News Sans Favre
Colts: Manning Has Knee Surgery, Questionable for Opener (Indianapolis Star)
Titans: Haynesworth Decision Due Today (Tennessean)
Steelers: Steelers Situation ‘Inevitable’ (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Chargers: Pass-Rush Specialist Fred Dean Named to Bolts’ Hall (San Diego Union-Tribune)

NFC News Sans Favre
Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw Completes 30-Day Prison Sentence, NFL Investigates (Daily News)
Redskins: Colt Brennan Agrees to Deal with Redskins (Washington Post)
Eagles: Retiring QB Sagas Aren’t Unique to Green Bay (Philadelphia Daily News)
Cardinals: Dansby Unlikely to Get Long-Term Deal from Cards (East Valley Tribune)
Rams: Rams Not for Sale (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Stunning upsets in sports history.

42-1 underdog James Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson. The United States hockey team shocking the mighty Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The New York Jets of the fledgling AFL stunning the NFL champion Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Indelible moments etched in time.

And Sunday added another chapter to the chronicles of impossible sports upsets as the wild card and little-regarded New York Giants beat the unbeatable, blemished the perfect and derailed the destiny of the undefeated New England Patriots.

An upset for the ages with a quarterback who has been blasted in the New York press for four years as a non-achiever. With a coach one loss away from the unemployment line. With the outspoken Plaxico Burress playing on a sprained MCL (the same injury that so famously put LaDainian Tomlinson on the bench). With five rookies forced into action with critical games on the line.

A team of misfits. A team that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2000. A team that hasn’t seen their home field since December.

This motley crew did what no one believed was possible. Even after beating Tony Romo in Dallas. Even after beating Brett Favre in Green Bay.

This was supposed to be a coronation for the perfect Patriots. The crowning glory for inarguably the greatest team in NFL history with the No. 1 offense, the best quarterback, the best receiver and the best coach of all-time.

But something funny happened on the way to the ceremony. The inferior team in the divisional playoffs according to Wade Phillips, the less-talented team in the conference championship according to a Green Bay columnist, and the sacrificial lambs in the Super Bowl according to everybody proved to the world that you play the game for a reason.

And have no doubts, the Giants earned this victory. They outplayed the Patriots. They out-coached the Patriots. They out-muscled the Patriots.

Not convinced? How about holding the No. 1 offensive of all-time to just 14 points and 274 total yards? How about sacking All-World quarterback Tom Brady 5 times and knocking him to the turf too many times to count? How about Eli Manning’s fourth quarter stats, completing 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards, 2 touchdowns and a passer rating of 140.5?

And for those who still believe the Giants were lucky to win, just look at how many opportunities the Giants failed to capitalize on in this game. That quirky interception by the Patriots at the 10-yard line to snuff out a red-zone drive in the second quarter. Steve Smith dropping a Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the first half. Corey Webster slipping on the Randy Moss touchdown. Eli Manning failing to connect with a wide-open Plaxico Burress with 8:32 left to go in the game.

Every game has its moments. Its quirks. Its weird bounces.

How do you think the Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens that Monday night not so long ago?

Those acrobatic catches, those near-certain sacks that quarterbacks inexplicably avoid, those plays are what make football what it is. That is why they play the game.

Eli Manning marched the New York Giants 83 yards in the final 2:42 to win the game. And then the defense stepped up to stop the greatest offense of all-time on four consecutive plays to seal the victory.

You can’t take that away from them. And you can’t take away their world championship.

The New York Giants may not be better than the Patriots. But they were better than the Patriots on Sunday. And that’s all the matters.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

And the two weeks between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl are really no different.

The best is that only two teams remain, preparing to battle in the biggest sports spectacle the world has ever seen.

Two teams, two cities that can envision only victory and glory on the horizon, talking about destiny and a date with football immortality ignoring for a moment that their dreams are mutually exclusive.

And the worst is that this agonizingly long gap between games only serves to encourage these modern-day gladiators to talk trash. And when they do, we act surprised and put them up on a stage we conveniently built ahead of time. And when one of them has the audacity to publicly tell the truth that they actually believe they will win the game, we put them under a piercing spotlight with cameras and microphones for all the world to see.

And still we have another five days to fill.

This year is even more pronounced what with the New England Patriots flirting with a perfect season.

A perfect season.

Can you believe that in this day and age of parity and salary caps?

While Tony Kornheiser may have predicted the undefeated season back in April, remember that the Patriots were a team under intense scrutiny as the season approached. Career malcontent Randy Moss was rumored to be on the cut list before the season even began because he would never fit in with the ‘Patriots Way.’ Defensive leader Rodney Harrison was suspended for four games after admitting to using the banned Human Growth Hormone (HGH). And of course, Bill Belichick was found guilty of cheating and fined an unprecedented $500,000 by commissioner Roger Goodell just after the first game of the season in a scandal now known as Spygate. And yet 17 games later, they are on the cusp of the greatest season in the history of the NFL.

And to be honest, the New York Giants are no different.

Their All-Pro and telegenic running back Tiki Barber embarked on a very public retirement last season, preparing himself for the world of the Today Show and Football Night in America. And after the Giants lost their first two games, everyone, including (or more appropriately, especially) Tiki, excoriated then lame-duck head coach Tom Coughlin and under-achieving (or in some cases never-achieving) Eli Manning for their failure to produce once again. This was a team adrift without Tiki. A team adrift until a new coach and a new quarterback could salvage the legacy of Parcells and Simms. And even after they secured a playoff spot for the third straight season, everyone asked if they could win in the post-season, pointing to their failures of the past two years.

And yet it was in week 17, when the Giants were expected to rest their weary players with the undefeated Patriots coming to town that everything fell into place. Even though the Giants lost that game 38-35, the closeness of the score, the competitiveness of the game, the intensity of their play, was enough to carry them through the playoffs.

So now these two teams of hobbled warriors prepare for their final confrontation in Super Bowl XLII.

Two teams who can only see victory. Two teams that can only make history.

The Patriots finishing their quest for the greatest season in the annals of the NFL. The Giants pulling off the greatest upset in all of sport, heroically defeating the greatest team ever.

Come to think of it, maybe it’s only the best of times…

As long-time readers can attest, I’ve been a harsh critic of the San Diego Chargers ever since they dumped Marty Schottenheimer last February.

But one thing about the Chargers I can’t criticize is Phillip Rivers’ courage.

You can criticize his mouthing off at fans and at opposing teams. You can criticize his bad games earlier in the season. But you can’t criticize his heart.

Philip Rivers could barely walk Saturday night and yet he managed to courageously quarterback his team through the AFC championship against the juggernaut New England Patriots. And it has since been revealed that Rivers played the game with a completely detached ACL.

An entire game without the benefit of an ACL in his right knee.

Gone.

And if that wasn’t valiant enough, it turns out he had double-secret arthroscopic surgery on his knee to scope out loose cartilage only six days before the game. Philip Rivers has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he has a heart of a lion, finishing the game 19 of 37 for 211 yards on only one leg.

Which is unfortunate for running back LaDainian Tomlinson who could only manage to play two series in the same game with a sprained MCL.

Unfortunate because L.T. looks pretty bad in comparison.

Especially with all the talking L.T. has done this year.

L.T. used to be the class of the league. Only last year during his MVP season when he scored a record 31 touchdowns, he was famous for simply handing the ball to the referee after every score and following the Vince Lombardi dictate, “Act like you’ve been there before.”

But this season he had to add a touchdown celebration and yap. And yap some more.

Yet when his team needed him the most. When his quarterback gamely played on one leg, L.T. was sitting on the bench.

Okay, so you can’t make those cuts, you can’t explode anymore. But being on the field gives the entire team a boost.

Antonio Gates was on the field with a dislocated toe.

Philip Rivers gallantly played an entire game without an ACL.

In that situation, in that championship game, I think you have to be on the field. If you can walk, you gut it out. Even as a decoy.

This was a game the Chargers lost by only 9 points with four trips to the red zone resulting in four field goals.

A two point game at the start of the fourth quarter.

Imagine if L.T. could have given Rivers the opportunity for one effective play-action pass on any of those drives.

Convert one of those trips into a touchdown and suddenly you have a shot at glory. A shot at immortality.

Two wounded lions triumphing over the greatest team in NFL history.

But, alas, the Chargers never got that opportunity. Because while one of those lions was on the field, the other, during the biggest game of his career, was hiding on the bench under his cloak and his helmet and his mirrored visor.

A.J. Smith was right and I was wrong.

There’s really no other way to put it.

I have been highly critical of the Chargers general manager ever since he fired Marty Schottenheimer following their loss to the Patriots in the divisional playoffs last year despite having the best record in all of football at 14-2. I was even more critical when he hired Norv Turner as head coach on February 19 after all the top-notch coaching candidates had long been lured away. And when the Chargers opened the season 1-3, I let loose on A.J. Smith with both barrels.

Even last week after the Chargers came from behind to beat a wounded Titans club and earned their first playoff victory since 1994, I reminded everyone that the only thing that mattered was the divisional playoff game against the Colts. That earning a berth in the AFC championship game was the only measure of success for the Chargers last season according to A.J. Smith. So a win over the Colts and a berth in the title game should be the only measure of success this season.

Well, beat the Colts they did.

So no mealy-mouthed mea culpa from me. Not the ‘I’m sorry if I offended anyone’ non-apology. Nor my personal favorite, the less-than-apologetic admission, ‘I’m sorry you are offended.’

Let me say it without equivocation.

I was wrong. Spectacularly wrong.

Norv Turner has proven to be the right man for the job leading the Chargers to a 5-0 December and a 2-0 January this season. His Chargers beat the defending champions 28-24 without the leading rusher in the league for three quarters and without his starting quarterback for the final 15 minutes. They punished the #3-ranked defense on the road with Billy Volek at quarterback, Michael Turner in the backfield and a hobbled Antonio Gates at tight end. In fact, Norv is 2-0 against the Colts this season and you don’t beat the Colts twice in one season or force Peyton Manning into 8 interceptions in two games by accident.

Now let’s look at the two coaches who A.J. let get away last year. His offensive coordinator Cam Cameron went 1-15 in Miami and was so ineffective that he is already looking for another job. And his defensive coordinator Wade Phillips just dropped his playoff record to 0-4 after watching his Dallas Cowboys lose to the Giants at home despite a 13-3 record and the top seed in the NFC.

Coaching selections notwithstanding, A.J. Smith has also demonstrated the Midas touch by keeping the aforementioned Michael Turner when everyone wanted to trade him, stealing WR Chris Chambers from the Dolphins for a second-round draft pick and selecting an injured Antonio Cromartie in the draft, a gem who has rewarded the Chargers with a league-high 10 interceptions and three touchdown returns in only six starts.

In fact, about the only decision that hasn’t worked out for A.J. Smith is kicker Nate Kaeding who has run his field goal statistics in the playoffs to a woeful 2-for-6 including a missed game-winning 40-yard field goal in an overtime playoff loss to the Jets in 2005 and missed game-tying 54-yard field goal on the final play of the game against the Patriots last season.

So congratulations A.J. Smith and Norv Turner. Enjoy your victory over the Colts. And if you happen to knock off the unbeaten New England Patriots in the AFC championship game, I’ll be sure to serve myself up an extra large slice of humble pie.

This week’s Fourth and Long is being published two days early, since it seems a more timely topic than commercials starring Peyton Manning. That comes tomorrow.

To listen to A.J. Smith, Dean Spanos and the San Diego media, one would think Norv Turner and the Chargers just won the Super Bowl.

After Sunday’s game, Smith claimed that Turner is “…coach of the year, in my mind. He did a spectacular job… His leadership has been incredible.” Spanos added, “It feels really great. It’s been a long time coming, but you can’t say enough good things about Norv and what this team has done.” And Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune gushed that Turner is “…1-0 in January, unbeaten in December (and don’t give me that soft schedule junk; it’s the NFL) – and his players are buying his wares.”

And while the Chargers should be commended for winning their first playoff game since 1994 especially after such an inauspicious start this September, let me be allowed to make a few observations.

Lost in all the cheers and adoration is the fact that the Chargers barely beat a crippled Tennessee Titans team that played without five of their offensive starters. Lost also is the fact that they’ve been this far in the playoffs as recently as last year thanks to a 14-2 record and a first-round bye. And it was the loss to the New England Patriots in that divisional round of the playoffs that was viewed as such a colossal failure by A.J. Smith that Marty Schottenheimer had to pay for it with his job.

So before we crown A.J. Smith, Dean Spanos and Norv Turner the greatest management-coach tandem in NFL history for beating the punchless Titans on wild card weekend, let’s wait to see how the Chargers perform against the Colts.

Because if A.J. Smith is to be taken at his word at the end of last season, nothing short of a berth in the AFC championship game should be good enough.

And believe me, if Norv Turner and the Chargers do beat the Colts on Sunday, I will be the first one to publicly apologize and acknowledge the wisdom of A.J. Smith and the Chargers organization this off-season.

At least the first one to apologize on Wednesday when I publish my next column.

But to me, the bigger story of the past weekend was not the Chargers winning, or even the unbelievably exciting finish in Pittsburgh.

No, it was the New York Giants finally winning a playoff game with Eli Manning at the helm against the second-ranked defense in the league.

More importantly it was Eli Manning leading the Giants to victory by completing 20 of 27 passes with two touchdowns against a Buccaneers defense that dared Eli to beat them through the air. A defense led by Ronde Barber who publicly and unnecessarily disparaged Eli Manning on the radio.

Wasn’t it enough for Ronde’s twin brother Tiki to trash Eli all season?

One wonders what Eli ever did to the Barber twins to engender such animosity.

Did Eli’s pedigree threaten to overshadow Tiki in New York and Ronde in Tampa?

So it was refreshing to see Eli finally get his signature playoff win after years of being bashed by the New York press and the Barber twins for not being enough of a savior. This despite leading the Giants to three consecutive playoff appearances in his first three full seasons as a starter.

And if the T.O., Jessica and Romo show continues as it has the last few weeks of the season, Eli might just come out of this weekend with an even bigger prize. His first berth in a conference championship game, a full three years ahead of his brother.

Come to think of it, maybe we can get Eli and Peyton to match up against Ronde and Tiki in a tag-team wrestling match.

Now that would be something to talk about.

The NFL playoffs are finally here.

After 17 weeks, we have identified the top 12 teams for the greatest single-elimination tournament in all of professional sport.

Eight great playoff matchups in the next two weeks. Or, to be more precise, eight games in nine days.

Then three final games to determine the world champions.

And the best part is that it doesn’t matter if you’re undefeated like the Patriots or barely above .500 like the Redskins and Buccaneers.

Once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen… and usually does.

The Ice Bowl. The Hail Mary. The Immaculate Reception.

The Drive. The Fumble. The Catch.

The Music City Miracle.

So let’s take a look at the 2008 NFL Playoffs and see if any magical moments are in store for us. And along the way, we can see just how my predictions from six weeks ago fared…

#1 Seed New England Patriots: 16-0, check.

I predicted that the Patriots would run their record to 17-0 before falling at home to the 14-3 Colts in the AFC championship game.

So far so good, especially since the Patriots have looked vulnerable in the final six weeks of the season. And the lack of a powerful running game (the Patriots rank 13th) does not bode well for the Patriots in an inclimate weather game against top-notch opponents.

But give the Patriots credit. They’ve taken everyone’s best shot, beaten the Colts and the Cowboys on the road, and done what no team in history has ever done, finish a regular season 16-0. So if anyone is capable of 19-0, it’s Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots.

#2 Seed Indianapolis Colts: 13-3, check.

The defending world champions, even without Marvin Harrison, may be a better team than they were last year. Their defense is certainly improved and they have developed more weapons on offense. But to repeat as world champions, they will have to beat the Patriots in Foxborough, not an easy task.

But if the Colts do knock off the Patriots, no one will ever be able to say a word against Peyton Manning or Tony Dungy again.

#3 Seed San Diego Chargers: Now this is a surprise for me.

The Chargers went on a nice run at the end of the season even if the wins against the Colts and Titans were ugly and perhaps undeserved. But I like the Lightning Bolts in the rematch against the Titans, especially now that tight end Bo Scaife is out for the season.

But before Chargers fans get too excited about winning a playoff game, remember that last year’s 14-2 record earned the Chargers a first-round bye. That’s the same thing as a win Wild Card weekend. So before claiming the firing of Marty Schottenheimer a success, you better make sure you knock off the Colts and gain a berth into the AFC championship game. Remember, not making to the AFC championship was why Marty was fired in the first place.

And talking about karma, is it wise to sign general manager A.J. Smith to a big extension and contract before actually winning a playoff game?

#4 Seed Pittsburgh Steelers: What a stunning fall from mid-season when the Steelers were anointed the challenger of the Patriots and Colts. But a 10-6 record and an AFC North crown isn’t exactly a disappointment with a first-year coach.

Unfortunately without Willie Parker and OT Max Starks, the Steelers may have a short playoff run considering their opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, ran roughshod over the Steelers not three weeks ago.

#5 Seed Jacksonville Jaguars: Speaking of the Jags, is there a team on a bigger roll?

Right, the Patriots. 16 wins in a row.

Regardless, the Jags have been impressive down the stretch running the ball and playing hard-nose defense.

I really like this team.

Which, of course, means I’ve given them the kiss of death.

#6 Seed Tennessee Titans: Nice recovery down the stretch to make it to the playoffs, even it was against the Chiefs, the Jets and Jim Sorgi.

In only his second season, Vince Young has led the Titans to the playoffs. Now it remains to be seen if he can prove that the loss to the Chargers earlier this season was a fluke. Can Young pull off another upset?

I tend to doubt it, but if anyone can throw a team on his back, it’s Vince Young. Just ask USC.

Now for the NFC…

#1 Seed Dallas Cowboys: Top seed in the NFC, check.

Unfortunately since their win over the Packers, the Cowboys just have not looked right.

T.O. is out with an injury and might miss the divisional playoff game next week. Tony Romo has been in a funk since his relationship with Jessica Simpson went public. And the interviewing of half the Cowboys staff for opportunities around the rest of the league makes one wonder if ‘America’s Team’ has the right focus for a playoff run.

My hunch is that the Cowboys are primed for an upset, potentially resulting in Wade Phillips losing his head coaching job to offensive coordinator and wunderkind Jason Garrett.

#2 Seed Green Bay Packers: Number two seed, check.

Despite the Cowboys’ vulnerability, I’m simply not sold on the Packers this year. They’ve had a terrific run and Brett Favre has been unbelievable, especially at age 38.

But is it unthinkable for the Packers to have a bad day throwing the football and drop out of the playoffs in a hurry? Not at all. Look at how they played against the Bears only two weeks ago.

That said, with the NFC the way it is , it also wouldn’t shock me if the Packers made a return appearance to the Super Bowl.

#3 Seed Seattle Seahawks: No running game, check. A team that looks great one week and horrible the next, check.

Here is another NFC team that could be one and done or make it to the Super Bowl.

Aren’t ‘expert’ predictions great?

#4 Seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I genuinely don’t have a good feeling for the Buccaneers this year. I know some pundits have the Bucs as their dark horse. Not me.

A return to the playoffs is certainly an achievement and Jon Gruden deserves all the credit in the world. But the Bucs haven’t been healthy all season and haven’t looked sharp in over a month.

My guess is one-and-done.

#5 Seed New York Giants: What an inspired performance against the Patriots.

If the Giants can keep the momentum going, if Eli Manning can play worry-free for another four quarters and if the Giants’ receivers can stop dropping the ball, G-Men should pull off the upset in Tampa Bay and might even sneak into the NFC championship game.

#6 Seed Washington Redskins: Wow. Joe Gibbs proves again why he is a Hall-of-Fame coach.

This team was finished following a gut-wrenching loss to the Bills after the death of Sean Taylor. And I include myself in that group of doubters. But four impressive wins later with a backup quarterback who hadn’t played a meaningful down in ten years landed this gutsy Redskin team in the playoffs.

Can they beat the Seahawks?

I have a hunch they can. But even if they don’t, the Redskins have proven themselves champions..

So how do I see this weekend playing out? Don’t surprised to see three road teams walk away with victories.

As is the case with the NFL Playoffs, anything can happen… and most assuredly will.

This was originally published as part of my ‘Fourth and Long’ column from Jan 02, 2007 and can be found in its entirety here.

The NFL playoffs are right around the corner and like most seasons of late, a few teams competing for the final playoff spots are genuine surprises. Teams that were given little shot at succeeding this year, but are peaking at just the right time.I am, of course, talking about the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings.

That is until they lost this past weekend, inflicting near fatal wounds to their playoff chances.

So once again, what we thought would be the story of the week has faded into unrealized dreams.

Which leads me to believe that perhaps the most important event in professional football this past week may not have occurred on the football field.

No, the most critical event was the hiring of Bill Parcells as head of football operations for the Miami Dolphins.

We’ve seen this before when two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells came out of retirement to turn around the moribund New England Patriots in 1993. With all of their recent success, it may be hard to remember that the now dynastic Patriots managed only 9 wins in three seasons before Parcells arrived. By his fourth season with the team, Bill Parcells had them in the Super Bowl against the Packers.

Was there drama? Did Parcells utter the now (in)famous phrase, “If they’re gonna let you cook the dinner, they at least ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.” Did he quit the Patriots right after the Super Bowl loss?

Yes.

But Bill Parcells, in my estimation, is worth the trouble.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at his next stop.

The New York Jets suffered cruelly under the inept hands of Rich Kotite whose record over his final two and a half seasons was an appalling 4-35. Parcells invigorated this long-suffering franchise and turned them around in his first season barely missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. By the following year, he had the Jets in the AFC championship game where they lead the defending world champions Denver Broncos by 10 in the second half.

Did the Jets eventually fall to the Broncos in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game? Were they forced to endure the bizarre coaching shuffle from Parcells to Belichick to Al Groh? Did the Jets collapse not long after Parcells departed?

Yes, but it again depends upon how you feel about Parcells. This is a guy who has had success everywhere he’s gone. Does he joust with the press? Play head games with his players? Yes, but to me at least, he’s exhibited marked success everywhere he has gone including his last stop with the Cowboys.

Sure, Parcells didn’t win a playoff game while in charge of the Cowboys, but when he took over in 2003, Dallas had endured three consecutive 5-11 seasons. In his first year, Parcells led them to the playoffs. And last year, he set them up for an improbable playoff run by replacing Drew Bledsoe with the unsung Tony Romo, an inspired and gutsy call. If not for a gut-wrenching fumbled snap against the Seahawks, the Cowboys might have made a deep run into the playoffs. And this season, the Cowboys have locked up the number one seed that is surely a testament to what Parcells built.

And yet there are still critics calling Parcells a bully and a prima donna who used the Falcons to get a better deal out of the Dolphins.

Which leads me to an inescapable conclusion.

We defend those who we like.

We make allowances for their shortcomings by believing their faults are what make them human.

We all do it.

I like Bill Parcells. I look past his flaws and shortcomings and see, for the most part, only that portion of the picture that I want to see.

And if you can look past his flaws, you’ll find in a few years that he will have turned around the Miami Dolphins.

And a few years after that, he’ll retire once again to leave us to debate his success… and his flaws.

This was originally published as part of my ‘Fourth and Long’ column from Dec 26, 2007 and can be found in its entirety here.