Alas Christmas has come and gone,I trust that everyone had a great time with friends and family and just an opportunity to relax and enjoy the holiday. Let me start this week by wishing everyone an early Happy New Year! I really hope 2008 is a year of exciting and fulfilling times in every ones lives. And as has been the case the last several years, this new year my resolution is to get into great shape (funny how it never seems to work out that way! But my new motto for this coming year is "Look Great, In 2008!" Cheesy I know).

- Alright this week history may be made. The Patriots are in line to break several team and individual records with a strong game against the New York Giants. Obviously everyone is aware that a perfect 16-0 regular season is on the line, but along with that is the chance for Tom Brady to break Peyton Manning's single-season record for touchdowns thrown, and Randy Moss needs to more touchdown catches to pass Jerry Rice for most TD's caught in a single season.  Also the Patriots are on the verge of breaking the NFL's all-time scoring record, all this adds up for a very interesting match-up Saturday night in what normally would be a meaningless game for two teams that have wrapped up their playoff births and positions. I believe the Pats will break each of the records except for Randy Moss coming up just short of Jerry Rice. I only hope the Giants respect the significance of the game and actually put up a fight instead of sitting their starters as I suspect they may do at some point in the game.

1) New England Patriots: At least the whole nation will have the chance to see history being made, what with the NFL deciding to allow the game to be simulcast on The NFL Network, CBS, and NBC.

2) Indianapolis Colts: Can't wait to see them in January.

3) San Diego Chargers: Finally this team is playing like we all thought they were capable of.

4) Jacksonville Jaguars: Would look GREAT in the NFC right now! Just have the misfortune of playing in a conference with powerhouses.

5) Dallas Cowboys: Something has not looked right with them the last couple of weeks.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers: This team is freaking bi-polar!

7) Seattle Seahawks: Dallas had better watch out.

8) Green Bay Packers: Simply embarrassing to let yourselves get BLOWN OUT by the Bears.

9) New York Giants: What a season of ups and downs.

10) Cleveland Browns: This is suppose to be your year and you lay an egg against the crappy Bengals?

- Picture this: 1-13 Miami vs 14-0 New England. The leagues worst vs the leagues best. The team that has made history and gone undefeated vs the team that is trying to rewrite the record books. It's a game for the ages! Alright maybe I am going a bit over board but you really have to stretch to find any reason to think watching the Dolphins vs Patriots will be entertaining. But honestly I will be curious (at least for the first 10 minutes or so, will the game is still some what close) to see if the Dolphins muster up a little something extra this week knowing that the Patriots are just two wins away from becoming the only team besides the '72 Dolphins to go undefeated in the regular season. I believe that the Dolphins may come out and play with a little pride. But alas pride will not be nearly enough for this team, I am predicting the Patriots will roll 35-10.

- Speaking of the Dolphins, how about them getting Bill Parcells to lead the teams front office. In a season that has been extremely disappointing on the field, this move is pretty significant in my book. I gotta believe the Dolphins are more liking to have a turn for the good quicker then some of the other crappy teams in the league (i.e., the 49ers, the Falcons, and the St. Louis RAMS).  Gotta cut this weeks update short, NEED TO GET THAT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE!

1) New England Patriots
2) Indianapolis Colts
3) Green Bay Packers
4) Dallas Cowboys
5) Jacksonville Jaguars
6) San Diego Chargers
7) Cleveland Browns
8) Pittsburgh Steelers
9) Seattle Seahawks
10) New York Giants

- I guess the one good thing about Thursday night football in the NFL is that I am able to get bad Chicago Bears football out of the way early. Instead of wasting a perfectly good Sunday afternoon watching this sorry excuse for a team, I can waste a perfectly useless Thursday night watching my team not even show up (come on who does anything on a Thursday night anyway?). For those of you who are not aware what I am talking about, my beloved Chicago Bears got their dinners handed to them last night by an equally if not worse Washington Redskins team. No disrespect to the Redskins, but how this Bears team managed to lose to a Skins team that had essentially TWO!!!!!!! days to prepare for this game I will never know. The Skins have had virtually no ability to get ready for this week, having just played on Sunday and spending all of Monday in Miami mourning the death of a slain teammate. But yet they looked more then prepared in handing the Bears (my preseason #3 team need I remind you, shows how much I know what I am talking about!!) their 8th lose of the season. What a shame. But in all seriousness hats off to the Redskins for being able to pull this victory off. I am sure this win meant a lot to the Skins and their fans. (quick side note here: Somebody PLEASE get Joe Gibbs a rule book. Please.)

1. What the HECK is wrong with the Ravens, and their complete lack of self control?! How stupid and undisciplined can one team be that they would absolutely self-destruct the way that they did down the stretch in the 4th quarter? From silly procedure to penalties to completely uncalled for personal conduct penalties the Ravens showed absolutely no composure and looked like a bunch of whining babies.

2. The New England Patriots are the real deal. In case you were one of the people that kept saying "the Patriots aren't that great because they haven't really faced a challenge" or "until they show that they can win a tough game they are just like every other really good, potentially great team" well there you go! They are a great team. The greatest my generation has ever seen on a football field. Winning on in come-from-behind fashion, on the road in a hostile environment, against a team that plays some tough defense says a whole lot more about this team then any 40+ point blowout ever will. If they beat Pittsburgh on Sunday, this team WILL not be defeated in the regular season. Should be a great game.

1) New England Patriots
2) Dallas Cowboys
3) Indianapolis Colts
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Seattle Seahawks
7) Jacksonville Jaguars
8) Cleveland Browns
9) New York Giants
10) San Diego Chargers

It feels good to be back from the Thanksgiving break and back writing.  Right off the bat I would like to acknowledge the tragic event that took place this week in the world of football. As most of you know whether it be from hearing it on the news or reading Chris's update, Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was gunned down in his Miami home this past Monday and he passed away on Tuesday. To all Redskins fans that are mourning the loss of not just a great football player but a member of the Redskins family, I would like to offer my condolences. It really makes all fans stop and pause when something like this happens to one of the players on our sports teams.

We spend so much time following these teams and the amazing athletes that make up the teams that an event like this often feels like we have lost a member of our own family. At the same time I think that the reason something like this  shocks the sports world so much is that athletes have become mythical characters to us. We watch these extremely gifted men every week, spring through winter, and they seem larger then life: Nothing can touch them! Then something as tragic as one of our beloved athletes being killed happens we find ourselves asking: Or can it? Sean Taylor's murder just reaffirms that no one, in any walk of life is immune to senseless random acts of violence. My heart goes out to the family of Sean Taylor, especially his little baby girl.

- Will the real Eli Manning please stand up? Once again, as he has done throughout his short career, Manning is have his second half slump. He looked Rex Grossman like last week, throwing four interceptions to the Vikings and almost single handily causing the Giants to lose. It is high time that he step up and be the star QB the Giants expected him to be when they made him their franchise QB or if not them it is time to begin looking for another answer.

1) New England Patriots: I feel almost silly for even having to give an explanation for this one.

2) Dallas Cowboys: The only problem with this team is: Can they compete with the Pat's in the Super Bowl.

3) Indianapolis Colts: Is Adam Vinatieri human after all? Seriously, how could you miss a chip shot 20 yard field goal to cap off the comeback.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers: I would have loved to play in the rain soaked field that they played in on Monday.  3-0? that's like a bad baseball score.

5) Green Bay Packers: A lot depends on the health of Favre.

6) Jacksonville Jaguars: At 8-3 I'm not sure anyone thought they would be so close to contending with the Colt's for the division.

7) Cleveland Browns: Welcome to the Top 10 Browns!  This is an NFL Rundown first!

8) Seattle Seahawks: The cream of the crop of a very bad division.

9) New York Giants: This team will only go as far as their timid QB will take them.

10) San Diego Chargers: I know what your saying: How can I keep including this vastly underachieving team in the rankings!? I just can't seem to give up on this team, they are to good to be this bad!

- Let me start this week by acknowledging my incorrect pick of the Giants vs. Cowboys game last Sunday. I really felt that the G-Men were ready to step up and distinguish themselves as the class of the NFC but apparently I was wrong. The Cowboys just keep rolling (and racking up the points along the way). I have to give the 8-1 Cowboys the over the 8-1 Packers at this point in the season simply because I don't think the Packers would be able to slow down the Cowboys' scoring attack.

- Did anyone get a chance to see the Chargers vs. Colts game on Sunday night? Two things struck me as I was watching that game: 1. Peyton Manning may just be human after all (I mean come on SIX interceptions!! I thought I was watching Rex Grossman under center for the Colts). 2. What is the deal with the San Diego Chargers?! If it wasn't for those six interceptions by Manning, which won't ever happen again, the Chargers would not have even been in the game, let alone won't. Even with those six interceptions, plus two kick returns for touchdowns, by the Chargers special teams, they only won after a missed 25 yard field goal attempt by one of the leagues all time clutch kickers, Adam Vinatieri. The Chargers are not even close to the dominate team that everyone (including myself) predicted them to be this season. An offense that is loaded with such weapons as LT, Antonio Gates, Phillip Rivers, and Cris Chambers should not be struggling the way it is. It's crazy how some teams can go from being so good to pretty bad in just one season.

- I guess Ricky Williams is ready to stop puffing the magic green stuff for a while because the league has decided to reinstate the often high running back after serving a more then year long ban from the NFL. This guy just has not wanted to stop smoking weed long enough for him to have an NFL career. It is actually a real shame that he has wasted away some of the best days of his professional football life because of a stupid habit. He really was something to watch during his first couple of years in Miami. As the Dolphins work horse he was the leagues best running back. Now he is at best approaching the twilight of his career (the average career of an NFL running back is 4 seasons) and returning to a Dolphins team that is 0-8. What a waste, shame on you Ricky.

Power Rankings

1) New England Patriots: The consensus is that this team has the best shot of any team there has been to achieve a perfect season. Plus they seem to have the '72 Dolphins getting pretty nervous.

2) Indianapolis Colts: They need to get healthy and go on an offensive roll. Loosing Dwight Freeney for the season is a huge blow to the team.

3) Dallas Cowboys: Have earned their spot by continuing to win.

4) Green Bay Packers: Let me see hands of everyone who thought this team would be anywhere near this good this season.

5) Pittsburgh Steelers: Nice comeback against a much improved Browns team on Sunday. Not sure they can compete with the Pats and Colts though.

6) New York Giants: Took a step back on Sunday but I believe you will see them bounce back this Sunday.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Looked very impressive against the Titans this past week. Now they will get back their starting QB and gear up for the post season.

8) San Diego Chargers: I just can't give up on this team all together yet. They have to many play makers not to be better then they have shown.

9) Tennessee Titans: They looked bad on Sunday and Vince Young needs to mature as a QB and take that next step to elite status of QB's.

10) I learned my leason last week. That's what I get for listening to a reader who was a Lions fan and complained that I was snubbing their team by not having them ranked. And as soon a I put them in they go out and show why I didn't have them ranked in the first place. So this week no 10th place team!

This is a special Saturday edition of the Rundown this week, I am on the road this weekend and coming at you from my hotel room here in friendly Olathe, KS (that's a small town just outside of Kansas City for those of you who don't know and I am sure don't care). Starting us off this week I have to say that I was pretty darn close to picking the correct score for what turned out to be a really good game between the Colts and the Patriots. I had predicted 27-24 Patriots, and the actual final score was 24-20 (just thought I would give myself some props there, thank you very much).

This week I am going to cut the update short, except to say watch out for the Giants at home against the Cowboys, big revenge game as well as a statement game as to who is the best in the NFC. I'm going with the Giants 30 Cowboys 24. Aside from that the NFL's greatest team has got a bye this week so we will have to wait till next Sunday to watch them continue on their road to a perfect regular season (notice I said regular season, I am giving the rematch and Super Bowl edge to the Colts, gotta go with my heart on that one).

Power Rankings

1) New England Patriots
2) Indianapolis Colts
3) New York Giants
4) Dallas Cowboys
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Pittsburg Steelers
7) San Diego Chargers
8) Jacksonville Jaguars
9) Detroit Lions
10) Tennessee Titans

- As my team enters into their by-week I have one thing to say, "Thank God!" If you don't know, let me tell you: The Chicago Bears have been horrid this season!  And because of that I am extremely excited that they get this Sunday off, not because I think the off time may be beneficial to them, but rather I am tired of watching their sorry excuse for a football team (thank goodness for the NBA season starting here in Chicago).

Unbelievable how a team that went 13-3, and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, can come back and be 3-5 midway through the season, in real jeopardy of not even making the playoffs. Oh well, I have a lot of homework to take care of this weekend anyways.

- Maybe I'll take a break from all my studying to take a peak at the big Patriots vs. Colts match-up on Sunday afternoon. The two best teams, champs vs. champs, coaching great vs. coaching royalty, hall of fame quarterback vs. hall of fame (all-time great) quarterback: What More Could You Ask For!? This game has just about all the ingredients of an epic battle. Peyton Manning has his Colts on a role and I would dare say that he and his team will be playing with a chip on their shoulders over the perceived lack of respect they are receiving. With everyone ready to write them off and crown the Patriots, the Colts are out to prove who really is number 1, and I for one will be rooting for them. ALL of that being said:

Patriots 27 Colts 24 (have to go with my head over my heart).

POWER RANKINGS

1) New England Patriots: Were they playing a college team last Sunday? Or did the Redskins forget their real squad at home? WOW!!!! That was embarrassing!

2) Indianapolis Colts: They are not dominating teams like the Patriots are, but they are still winning and looking really good doing it, hopefully they get Marvin Harrison back this Sunday.

3) San Diego Chargers: I still stand by my original opinion that the game should not have been played in San Diego but that's why I am not running the league.  At least they gave the fans something to cheer about.

4) New York Giants: This is my biggest change this week. Yes I believe the Giants are a better team then the Cowboys. There I said it! Nice grind-it-out victory across the pond. (memo to the league: guys from now on lets keep the NFL's regular season games on this continent shall we)

5) Dallas Cowboys: But the Cowboys are not that far behind the G-men. They just need to make sure Romo doesn't become more preoccupied with his night life then the teams game day preparations.

6) Green Bay Packers: The old guy has still got it.  Hats off to Farve and his Pac.

7) Pittsburgh Steelers: Still not sure which team is the the real Steelers. The Steelers that have dominated in their wins? or The Steelers that have struggled against the Broncos and Cardinals?

8) Jacksonville Jaguars: Nice bounce back victory over the Buc's. They have to stay afloat until their QB can return.

9) Tennessee Titans: Not the prettiest team, but at 5-2 they have definitely begun to open some eyes. Look for them to dominate the Panthers this week at home and move to 6-2.

10) Again, as has become custom here on NFL Rundown, the 10th spot will be left vacant until some team proves they are deserving.

- Quick side note for my Very esteemed colleague, Chris, your Skin’s did me a favor by losing. I was getting kind of tired of keeping them in the rankings simply as a gift to you. They have now forced my hand.
 
Power Rankings

1)  New England Patriots: Again, Really? Do you need me to explain this one?

2)  Indianapolis Colts: No matter what you say they are still the defending champs and I think the Patriots need to be paying attention.

3)  San Diego Chargers: I hope wherever they end up playing this week, that they are able to stay focused.

4)  Dallas Cowboys: Good bounce back win, after falling to the Pat's.

5)  Pittsburgh Steelers: An elite team needs to be able to go on the road and pull out a game against an inferior rival.

6)  New York Giants: After a convincing win it's off to London for the surging G-Men.

7)  Green Bay Packers: What can I say Chris, they beat you Skins.

8)  Carolina Panthers: Apparently being in your 40's does not hinder ones ability to be an effective NFL quarterback. Way to go Vinny!

9)  Jacksonville Jaguars: Tough loss to the Colts, even tougher loss of their starting quarterback.

10)  Once again, as soon as the rest of the league decides to stop sucking I'll have a 10th best team.

Just the fact that a relatively unknown football program from Florida, which just recently joined a "power" conference, can even have been in the running for a national championship, speaks volumes about the parity and all around distribution of talent in the game of football these days. I love the USF's of the college football world. It is great to see such a huge "underdog" get so much attention and actually have something to play for.  I, like many fans, get sick of watching the same old teams, from the same old conferences make it to the big bowl games every year. What fun is it to see USC recruit the majority of the high school All-Americans out there and then beat up on every team they play each week by a wide margin? The competitive balance that we are seeing this year, and that I believe we will see even more in the years to come, is great for the game of college football.

1) New England Patriots: If you need me to explain why then I'm sorry for you.

2) Indianapolis Colts: Believe it or not I think that are a VERY close second. Their upcoming match up with the Patriots is the true "Game of the Year"

3) Pittsburgh Steelers: By virtue of their bye week they did nothing to make me believe they should drop.  I still have the memory of their 21-0 pasting of the Seahawks fresh in my memory.

4) San Diego Chargers: Are just now starting to show every why again they were considered an early season Super Bowl contender.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Hey it's my top 10 and I can't stand the Cowboys! So guess what?! I'm putting the Jags ahead of them this week.

6) Dallas Cowboys: Here's hoping "Americas Team" loses every game the rest of the season.

7) New York Giants: Have really started to play some good football after an 0-2 start.

8) Green Bay Packers: Nice bounce back after a disappointing lose to the Bears two weeks ago. Even though it was just the Redskins (sorry Chris).

9) Washington Redskins: For Chris' sake I am going to leave them in this week. (and the fact that the rest of the league stinks!)

10) Since the rest of the league stinks, I AM LEAVING THIS SPOT EMPTY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

My idiot of the week (no scratch that, idiot of the year) award goes to none other then Mr. Michael "I am so sorry for my actions, I take full responsibility for my actions, I want to be a good example for the kids" Vick. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! He was so unbelievable with his fake remorse, and the phony apology that every minority NAACP dope took to be the most sincere public statement since the great "I Have A Dream Speech." What a fraud this guy is! Now we find out Vick isn't all that concerned with following the law and being an example as he claims, apparently Vick has been puffing the green stuff with no regard for the fact that at this point he needs to be squeaky clean.

Kind of hard to believe we are already getting ready for the start of week 3 in the football season. A few quick hits for this week:

- First of all it is great to hear the news on Bill's tight end Kevin Everett. It is amazing to think that they are now saying he may WALK out of the hospital in a few weeks.

- You all know I wanted Bill Belichick to pay for cheating but was it just me or did NBC, Al Michaels, and John Madden make WAY to big of a deal about the whole thing last Sunday night? They could not talk about anything else!

- Speaking of last Sunday Night! San Diego, what an embarrassing display for a team that has such championship goals.

- Did anyone see the celebration put on by Terrell Owens after his touchdown catch on Sunday? Now, I have to admit, I normally think touchdown celebrations are a bit much and kind of dumb, but TO came up with a hilarious touchdown dance. I could not stop laughing when I saw him sneak behind the goal post and begin to crank his hands and simulate recording something with an invisible video camera. This clever celebration was a great way to poke fun at the Patriots for the whole sideline spying controversy, and I loved it. Hats off to you TO for being extra creative (of course I'm not quite sure any celebration is worth the $7500 fine the league slapped on TO for his little skit).

- Nice to see a few teams that have really had some rough times lately come out strong to start the season and at least give their fans something to feel good about. The Texans (that ones for you Benson) have been impressive so far, they finally have figured out the key to at least having a shot to compete is to keep your quarterback OFF HIS BACK! Through two games they have allowed only 2 sacks. And the Washington Redskins, hot 2-0 start, of course they haven't exactly set the world on fire by beating a bad Miami team, and an overrated Eagles team (second only to New Orleans in terms of most overrated).

- Finally, in the world of college football I just feel like I need to take a moment and speak to any heart broken Notre Dame (think that's how you spell Dame) fans. Listen, I do not mean to add insult to major injuries you are suffering right now (well actually I do) but it is a VERY real possibility that your beloved Fighting Irishmen could start the season 0-4 for the first time ever, and may not win a single game till a late season match up against Navy. Notre Dame 0-11? WHAT A JOKE!

POWER RANKINGS

1) New England Patriots: I had to do it! I don't like them but I certainly respect the ... out of them! This team looked phenomenal in their dismantling of the Chargers.

2) Indianapolis Colts: Clearly the other top team in the league. The Texans great start is going to hit a huge speed bump this Sunday.

3) Dallas Cowboys: This pains me on so many levels! I hate the Cowboys, but I am admitting they are a better team then my beloved Bears.

4) San Diego Chargers: This team is way to stacked to be anywhere near as bad as they looked on Sunday night. Look for a huge bounce back performance this week.

5) Chicago Bears: They won an ugly game on Sunday and really need to have a strong showing against the Cowboys. I may believe the Cowboys are better right now but the Bears can go a long way in changing my mind with a win.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers: They have had two very impressive offensive showings the first two weeks. I think this is the Steelers team we may see for the remainder of the season.

7) San Fransisco 49er's: Good for the Niners for getting back on track after several years of poor football.

8) Washington Redskins: Out of respect for their 2-0 start, here you go Redskins fans. Though I don't expect them to stick.

9) Denver Broncos: They have squeaked out wins against to very sub-par teams, but I really think they are better then a 2-0 team that has needed game ending field goals to win.

10) Cincinnati Bengals: I SO wanted to drop this team out of the top 10 for at least this week, but alas cooler heads have prevailed. STILL, WHO gives up 50+ points to the CLEVELAND BROWNS!!!!!!!!!!!! That game was such a joke! Who cares how many points you score if you CAN'T STOP ANYONE!

Roger Goodell is coming out of all this looking like a no-nonsense "whip these thugs into shape" kind of guy. I am amazed with the harshness and severity of some of the punishments that he has handed down, but very pleased at the same time. This commissioner understands that for as popular as his game may be today, you can not allow it to be over run by thugs and criminals or you run the high risk of losing a lot of your true core fans. Of course compared to the last commissioner it is not hard at all to look like a tough boss, I mean come on! We are talking about the same guy (Paul Tagliabue) who had one of the players under his watch kill a woman while driving drunk! And guess what? That player, Leonard Little is still playing in the league! Oh and it gets even better, after that incident the same player was again arrested by police for GUESS WHAT!? Driving Under the Influence. And still Tagliabue did nothing. The league has no one else to blame but its self and the bone-headed-do-nothing commissioner that once ran it.

-One quick side note, I take so much personal pleasure in the fact that smug Bill Belichick was caught red handed. Live by the creed "If your not cheating your not trying" all you want. But expect to be caught. And beyond that expect to be punished severely for cheating when you do get caught. So for all the idiot Sean Salisbury's out there, who I had to listen to this whole week saying that it isn't that big of a deal what Belichick did, and that he basically should just get a slap on the wrist, Shame On You Sir! What kind of attitude and example is that to set for young football players? To use the excuse that just because everyone is probably doing it, that makes it somehow less bad, is garbage, and is insulting to all the millions of fans who invest so much into these overpriced and over paid athletes and coaches.

1) Indianapolis Colts: Is this one even debatable at this point.

2) New England Patriots: I know I just finished ripping them, but they looked dominate on Sunday.

3) San Diego Chargers: Somebody tell LT that the regular season has started and that he may want to start playing in at least one preseason game next year.

4) Chicago Bears: The Bears did nothing to deserve to move down in the ranking this week. Their defense just showed how dominate they are and the offense went up against possibly the second best defense in the league last week.

5) Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo looks like the real deal in Texas.

6) Cincinnati Bengals: I have never seen a worse call to help one team win a game then the offensive pass interference called in favor of the Bengals on Monday Night. Just for that they lose one spot this week. Their offense needs to wake up.

7) Carolina Panthers: Had a solid week 1 showing against the Rams, Steve Smith is the MAN!

8) Seattle Seahawks: I still want to see if Stephen Alexander can return to his MVP type level of play.

9) Baltimore Ravens: They got robbed on Monday night but still this team may have big problems with a banged up Steve Mcnair (who may not play this weekend) and Ray Lewis dealing with a bad tricep muscle.

10) New Orleans Hornets: Is it evil of me to say that I am rooting against this team? Probably, but oh well, I am rooting against this team. More importantly then that someone needs to tell the Saints that the season has started.

Nothing beats the three hours of pure joy and often times agony that accompanies watching the greatest game in America. Europeans may not understand it, women may curse the man who invented it (no way husbands are doing any type of housework during football season!) but for true blue sports fanatics, Football IS KING!

1) Indianapolis Colts: NO doubt here, Defending Champs.

2) San Diego Chargers: This team is scary, I'm bracing myself for a long Sunday afternoon as my Bears face off against this offensively stacked team.

3) New England Patriots: Now that Brady has some real wide receivers lets see what he can really do.

4) Chicago Bears: They are the cream of the NFC crop, but they have a very big question that needs answering, Can their quarterback play like he is a pro?

5) Cincinnati Bengals: This team has teased us the last two plus years, it's time for them to show what they really are made of.

6) Dallas Cowboys: I hate putting them up this high, I can't stand Jerry Jones but they have what it takes to give the Bears a run for their money in the NFC

7) Carolina Panthers: This team has shown the ability to bounce back after tough seasons, plus they still have Steve Smith.

8) Baltimore Ravens: They are getting to be a pretty old team but they can still play some defense. This may be the last run for the team as it is currently built.

9) New Orleans Saints: This team is in my top ten simply out of respect (NO!!! not because of Katrina!) Just because they had a good year last year. But this year they come back down to earth.

10) Seattle Seahawks: The final team in weeks one top 10 is one that may just be temporarily occupying a spot that will be a revolving door. Shaun Alexander needs to have a bounce back season and Hasselback must perform like he did two seasons ago.

-Going out to Washington State in a few weeks. Which has got me thinking, "Wonder if the left coast really is as bad as many would have us think?" Being my first time in the West Coast I am kind of excited, I'm hoping to not have to live through any rolling blackouts (is that just California?) or any earthquakes.

-Football season is right around the corner! One the one hand it's kind of sad because it just means that the summer is almost over, but on the other hand it's FOOTBALL SEASON!!! What's better then spending a Saturday afternoon sitting around the house watching hour after hour of college football? (well ok, I can think of a few things, but you get my point) Be looking out for an all new and improved NFL COUNTDOWN section every friday coming this fall!

The topic of tattoo's and whether they are or are not appropriate is really one that many Christians do not even care to touch. Well, it's time to touch on it! It is really hard to be on any college campus these days (christian college or secular college) without seeing many young adults with tattoos. I have seen dozens of kids at my school with all types of tattoos like the New Testament Fish symbol, or a small cross or some type of personal tattoo maybe with a scripture chapter and verse. On the opposite end of that who among us hasn't come across that one person who it appears has covered just about every portion of their body with a tattoo? If your like I am, you know your thinking, "Wow! What a freak!" But it's not those idiots that I am addressing. I want to talk about those "normal" people who have gotten or may be thinking about getting some sort of tattoo on their body.

First, of all I need to come out and confess, "Hi, my name is Jonathan. And I have a tattoo." When we were younger we all did things that we might consider dumb, or things we did off of impulse without really giving it enough thought, those things we did that we don't feel really bad about for doing but we would probably do it differently now. In my case getting a tattoo was one of those things. Now I have to be perfectly clear here, I do not consider me getting a tattoo a BAD or SINFUL thing for me to have done. I DO however regret it, for a couple of reasons. The first reason being that I just did not give it enough thought and really think it through. I acted off of my desire to do something impulsive and just "do something crazy!" In other words it was an itch I had to scratch. The other reason for regret is that I really did not take into consideration how me getting a tattoo would affect others. What I mean by that is I never once stopped to think about how my parents would react to me getting a tattoo (since at the time I was still living under their roof) and if I did think about it I just selfishly disregarded how it would make them feel. I can look back on it now and chuckle to think about how my parents nearly disowned me when they found out, but I do feel bad for upsetting them the way I did. And it honestly wasn't worth all the trouble.

Don't make the mistake I made, which essentially was a slap in their face. The second thing is that you really have to be smart about any markings you put on your body, I think sometimes we as young people really forget the fact that Lord willing one day we will all be old and gray, and along with being older and grayer(and hopefully wiser) the way we look now is not the way we are going to look then! That cute little tattoo you put on your stomach now is not gonna look so cute when it is wrinkly and sagging! That tough guy tattoo you put on your hand now is gonna be a real pain in the butt when your older and you can't cover it up! Not to mention the fact that the more marks on your body the sloppier you make yourself look and the less respect you command in any type of professional or business setting. Try getting a potential employer to take you seriously with some crude looking tattoo showing on your body, it's not going to happen. All that being said, if your set in your ways and are determined to get one be smart and more importantly be tasteful.

OK enough side talk, on to the main point of this article. THE NBA PLAYOFFS. I recognize that after my horrible performance during the NCAA Tournament many of you have lost all faith in my ability to write on the topic of sports. I have to confess that my "picks" for the tournament were made more out of my desire to pick upsets and stay away from the popular picks, then they were based on any type of sound basketball knowledge and thought. I give my word that I will not make any such picks for these playoffs. So feel free to take these picks straight to the bank (and of course if you win any wagers as a result of my commentary, the standard 10% pickers fee does apply).

All right I have to go study for finals. Peace I'm out!

What would make a person so full of hate and murderous rage, that they would arm themselves and commit one of the deadliest acts in the history of our country? That type of twisted murderous thought process is not something that anyone of us can ever fully comprehend.  Yet there are those out there who are so deranged and so out of touch with reality that such an act is perfectly sane and the best solution to their problems. On Monday the 16th of April death and insanity visited the campus of Virginia Tech University, leaving in its wake 32 innocent people and one very disturbed individual dead.

I speak for the entire IPF family when I say that our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the 33 families that are so heavily affected by such violence. This type of event is really just a cold reminder to all of us of our own mortality and of the shortness of life. I am sure that when the thousands of students who attend VA Tech rose from their beds Monday morning they could never have imagined that their lives would be forever
changed in just the next few hours. They could never have dreamed that some of their brothers, sisters, classmates, roommates, professors, and friends would not live to see the lunch hour.

The part of this whole tragedy that makes me pause with amazement is the incredible stories of bravery and heroism that came from the halls of the classroom building where the vast majority of the killings took place. Stories of students taking charge and ushering their classmates to safety, and students risking being shot by blocking the door to keep the killer from gaining access to their classroom. But the most amazing account is that of the elderly Jewish professor, himself a survivor of the Holocaust, who after failing to keep the killer from entering his classroom, jumped in front of the madman in order to block his shots as his students had time to jump out of the classroom windows. I don't believe that anyone facing this type of horror ever attempts an act thinking "I'm a hero" or "I'm gonna do this so that people remember me." But I do believe it is the honor, privilege, and duty of those of us left behind to convey that distinction of achievement upon those who do commit such selfless acts, and who put the lives and well being of others ahead of their own. So for that Professor Liviu Librescu is without a doubt worthy of being hailed a hero, along with the others who on that day gave a helping hand.

The Victims of Hate:
Ross Abdallah Alameddine, Christopher James Bishop Brian Roy Bluhm, Ryan Christopher Clark, Austin Michelle Cloyd, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva, Kevin Granata, Matthew Gregory Gwaltney, Caitlin Millar Hammaren, Jeremy Michael Herbstritt, Rachael Elizabeth Hill, Emily Jane Hilscher, Jarrett Lee Lane, Matthew Joseph La Porte, Henry J. Lee, Liviu Librescu, G.V. Loganathan, Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan, Lauren Ashley McCain, Daniel Patrick O'Neil, Juan Ramon Ortiz, Minal Hiralal Panchal, Erin Peterson, Michael Steven Pohle Jr., Julia Kathleen Pryde, Mary Karen Read, Reema Joseph Samaha, Waleed Mohammed Shaalan, Leslie Geraldine Sherman, Maxine Shelly Turner, Nicole Regina White