Almost exactly a year ago, Joe Theismann was venting his feelings on being fired from his spot in the Monday Night Football booth. Theismann went on a media campaign to explain his displeasure with the new product and took every opportunity to bash Tony Kornheiser and Ron Jaworski. It's not that his thoughts on the new booth weren't right, but rather how he went about it. He just couldn't move on.

Well he's back again, and is coming across even more bitter towards Tony and the "Leader's" new "focus on Football" policy. Via ....

"I still think Tony's out of place," he said. "Tony was hired to do a job in a football booth that, first of all, didn't suit him. And it didn't suit the venue, the venue being football, period. Tony doesn't belong in a booth. What he adds and what he brings, ok, has a place. But it doesn't have a place in the booth, and I think he's gonna retire after this year....

"And you've got to remember, I got fired from ESPN because I talked about football. And now, their main emphasis after two years of trying to do it the other way, is going back to talk about football."

So I asked whether that migration would be gratifying to someone who's been so vocal about keeping the broadcast focus between the lines.

"No, it's not gratifying at all," he said. "I built that product. Remember, I started there. I started there in year two, I spent 18 years going through the games in the studio, then doing Sunday Night Football, then doing Monday Night Football. So to watch the product and not be a part of it, it hurts a little. To say it doesn't bother me, I would be lying. But I'm slowly getting over it. I mean, they've gone their way, I've gone mine."

Waiiiiit a minute. First of all, Joe, you did the exact opposite of "building the product". In fact you destroyed. Second, I know you're upset about getting fired, we all would be, but jesus man....move on! Maybe....just maybe....they used the "not focus on Football" line as a way of letting you down easy? Sure you "talked about Football", but you talked about it like a four year old who has English as a second language.

I don't mind people expressing their opinion on Tony Kornheiser not being right for the MNF booth, but Joe Theismann bringing him up whenever he can get press, just rubs me the wrong way. Pot meet kettle.

Theismann on Kornheiser and the Booth (DC Sports Bog)
Joe Theismann Rips Into Tony Kornheiser (Awful Announcing, Oct. 2007)

In its first year on ESPN, MNF decided that it would be smart to cross promote ABC shows all while the game was going on. The likes of Emmitt Smith (only talking DWTS), Hank Williams Jr talked about nothing while Christian Slater and James Denton battled to see who could piss off the audience more. While they did a much better job of keeping the guests in tune with the game in 2007 (Deanna Favre was amazing in October and the return of Jimmy Kimmel was hilarious), we still had to endure the likes of Drew Caray talking Soccer, Jimmy Johnson & Jeff Gordon talking nonsense, Russell Crowe talking Rugby, John C. Reilly talking "Dewey Cox" and my personal favorite Vince Vaughn talking about nothing.

The whole idea reeked of forcing reality shows and crappy movies down our throats. People could smell it from a mile away and weren't happy about it. Every mainstream site and blog hammered them for it and rightfully so.

Fast forward to today....After hearing accounts from people who attended the ESPN Monday Night Football Luncheon that took place in New York on Monday, (yes AA was invited, yes AA thought it was a trap so he didn't go) it seems to me that ESPN is attempting a re-branding of sorts for Monday Night Football. And, according to multiple sources, including Neil Best of Newsday, ESPN might not have any guests at all this season!

But here's a snippet that might even be newsworthy: When I asked producer Jay Rothman for his best guess about the number of booth guests this season, now that Brett Favre will be unavailable for the opener at Lambeau, he said, "Zero."

Then he added, "We may pull something off the eve of the election, but if we do we’ll do so at halftime."

Umm . . . the election? Was he referring to the President of the United States, perhaps?

"I don't know," Rothman said.

Umm . . . where is the game the night before the election?

Rothman: "Washington, D.C."

ZERO?!?! Well how about that? ESPN has been hammered over the past few years for being stubborn and not listening to their fans, but I think that's somewhat changing. Obviously not everyone can have what they want, but it's good that they understand how distracting and pointless a lot of those guests were and that they're (theoretically) making a change.

I also don't really have problems with guests as long as they are somehow linked to the game at hand. It would also be understandable to have the President on as well before the election. But inviting "Desperate Housewives" actor James Denton on, when he clearly knows nothing about Football, might have possibly been the worst decision in the history of Sports Television. I'm just saying.

President Bush to visit 'MNF' booth Nov. 3? (Newsday)

Okay, Joe Theismann is really starting to annoy me now. Not like when he was on Monday Night Football annoying, but annoying me for randomly talking trash about someone else at least once a month for the past six months or so. It was Tony Kornheiser multiple times for the first few months and Jaworski most recently, but now he's randomly targeting bad GMs. He's now calling out Detroit GM Matt Millen for some reason.

From the Detroit Free Press.....

Does Joe Theismann want Matt Millen's job?

Theismann said on Chicago radio station WSCR that Detroit Lions president Matt Millen "hasn't helped former players get into management because he's done a lousy job."

Theismann, who was recently axed by ESPN from "Monday Night Football" and replaced by Ron Jaworski, also said: "Could I or anybody do a better job (with the Lions)? I don't know. But it would be a wonderful challenge."

That's about the most random thing I've ever heard. I'm pretty sure you don't want Joe Theeeeeesman in charge of anything, but I could be wrong. And while he's wrong for bringing this up out of the blue he's right about one thing....anybody could do a better job than Millen.

Taking over for Matt Millen would be a 'wonderful challenge' (Detroit Free Press)

So ESPN has decided to take back their official slamming of Jimmy Kimmel's "classless and disappointing" comments, and is still backing the late night host. In a move that is Disnergy at it's finest (do you know if you die in their parks they take you out into the parking lot and say you died there?) ESPN's Executive VP for Content John Skipper has even called the host to smooth things over according to SI.....

Kimmel fits that bill as ABC's late-night host and a former member of Fox's NFL Sunday crew. He said ESPN's executive vice president for content John Skipper reached out to him in a phone call on Wednesday in an attempt to smooth things over. "I got a call from John Skipper who I like a lot," said Kimmel. "He was apologetic. The unfortunate thing for people who did not see the broadcast is now it looks like I exposed myself on national television. Really, I wasn't even making fun of Joe. I just thought it was a funny and inappropriate but harmless thing to bring up in the booth."

On Wednesday night, an ESPN spokesperson emailed a statement to SI.com: "We have had a great relationship working with Jimmy and we will continue to work with him in the future."

Kimmel said he read the Times piece online after midnight on Tuesday and "was surprised to say the least."

What the hell is going on? Here's what I'm thinking happened....Jimmy needs ratings which is why you put him in the booth in the first place. ESPN bashes him after he bashes Theismann. Jay Rothman gets a call from Disney/ABC telling him he's about to get canned if ESPN doesn't take it all back. Everyone forgets about the problem all together.

It's really that easy. And remember.....any publicity is good publicity. Bravo Jimmy Kimmel....I applaud you.

ESPN Is Pissed At Jimmy Kimmel And He's Not Coming Back (Awful Announcing)
Confused Kimmel reacts to ESPN's decision to ban him (CNNSI)

A week or so ago it was Dan Dierdorf, and now another one of Tony Kornheiser's peers is trashing him in the media. Joe Theismann via the Miami Herald had this to say about his replacement Ron Jaworski....

"Ron is a terrific football guy but he happens to work on Tony's show. It has become a three-hour Tony Kornheiser show. When I was let go, they explained they wanted more of an issue show and less about football. They've accomplished that.''

Seriously, if you had to pick between Tony and Joe....who would you go with? That's probably harder for me to choose between which kid I had to kill (if I had kids).

AROUND THE DIAL (Miami Herald)

(Thanks to Odessasteps for sending the tip)

That's right folks! Jimmy Kimmel will be back in the booth to talk about the game er, talk about sports ummmmm, to promote the Jimmy Kimmel Show (there we go)! Kimmel was in the booth last year during Week 12 and was pretty funny. I remember him asking Theismann how his leg was at one point and when Tirico asked him if he had any interesting guests coming on soon he mentioned Michael Irvin. He followed that with something along the lines, "So no....not really." Pretty funny.

Jimmy is not a bad choice, but please....please do not leave him in there for an entire quarter like Charles Barkley!

P.S.- Not only will Jimmy be in the booth, but he'll "drop by" the set of Monday Night Countdown as well.

P.P.S.- I love how Joe is conveniently cropped out of the ESPN Press Photo above. Too funny. Also, could you look less interested Tony?

Joe Theismann is officially done with ESPN. According to ProFootballTalk, Joe and the "Leader" have reached a settlement and Sunshine is officially released from his contract....

ESPN spokesman Mac Nwulu tells us that Joe Theismann is no longer affiliated with the network.

Here's the official statement: "We have reached a settlement with Joe Theismann to end his association with ESPN. We thank Joe for his many years of work for us and wish him well."

Seems like a smart idea considering they were paying the guy millions to do nothing. Oh I take that back....he had this article at the end of August on young players to watch. Great article....445 words of pure million dollar journalistic genius. Happy trails Joe. I'm sure our paths will cross soon enough (as soon as FOX signs you to a 10-year contract).

THEISMANN OUT AT ESPN (PFT)

I was worried about our friend Joseph. I hadn't seen him in months, and repeated calls to his publicist were not returned. We finally had one sighting last week, and we've got our second one today....

World champion quarterback Joe Theismann and champion pitmaster Chris Lilly this season will be on the virtual sidelines coaching sports fans who host friends and families at backyard tailgate parties.

Tailgate Week, created by Kingsford charcoal and ESPN, pairs the season's biggest college football games with recipes created by Theismann and Lilly that incorporate foods and flavors native to the schools' states.

Ha, okay....where to start? I'll just go straight to the quotes and bypass the initial reaction....

"Tailgating is one of my favorite football season traditions and hosting people in my own backyard is just as fun as grilling in the parking lot, if not more," said Theismann, who adds to the fun at his parties by making good use of his backyard to encourage a halftime game of tag football.

Nice! Tag Football at BBQs is sweet. I prefer cornhole, but a little Nerf never hurt anyone. Here's how I imagine the whole day going.

Backyard BBQ Attendee: "Hey Joe, What you got going on over at the grill over there?
Joe Theismann: "Well I'm glad you asked. What we have here is meat. Now meat you have to cook to eat, and well...if you don't cook it...you're still going to be hungry.
BBA: Umm okay? Thanks I guess. How about that game of touch Football you've got going on later on?
JT: "Well I'm glad you asked. In "touch" Football the object is to touch someone with not one, but TWO hands. If you are touched with TWO hands you can't score touchdowns. And if you don't score touchdowns you won't get your TWO hands on the Joe Theismann Invitational Trophy sitting by the Grill over there."
BBA: Thanks for that Joe. I'll just watch.

Joe Theismann Joins All-Pro Grill Team, Calls Plays to Bring the Tailgate Home (Yahoo)

Someone alerted me to the fact that Joe Theismann was calling the Redskins game this past Saturday with Mike Patrick. I missed the original airing but Comcast helped me out and provided the replay on Sunday. As a commenter noted, Mike Patrick called Jason Campbell ex-Redskin QB Doug Williams about 8 times in the first quarter. But that's not nearly the best part of the broadcast.

Mister Irrelevant found this clip of Patrick telling the audience that our old pal Joe, likes to "munch on the box"....

"Hey, Hey, Hey." What the clip missed was when Joe Theismann tried to detail exactly how he munched the box, and proclaimed this..."You munch the box because you want to score. And you have to score to win the game."

Joe Theismann Loves Munching Box (Mister Irrelevant)

From the moment that Reggie joined TNT I was skeptical that it could work. He was just another athlete put in an analyst position without anyone checking to see if he could put a sentence together. Well, he can't. Join my guest and I after the jump as we explain why. But before you do so.....enjoy this video of Miller's first day on TNT, I'll see you on the otherside.

That was enjoyable right? That living room was just gorgeous....and that Washington pick turned out to be Mugsey Bogues. Good stuff.

Please join me in welcoming my guest, none other than Bethlehem Shoals from Fanhouse and a site much more clever and intriguing than mine.....Free Darko. Here's how it went down. I get an IM from Bethlehem Shoals in the middle of the Jazz/Warriors game stating that he didn't exactly "like" Reggie Miller. I reply that I concur and that I can't believe he's top 50 in anything. Shoals than makes the perfect analogy for Reggie....

"Miller sounds like a kid playing dress-up"-BS

In a million years I couldn't have come up with a better comparison (I'm jealous in fact). It was perfect...he just sounds as awkward as his jumper looks. There is no real analysis, and Dick Stockton has no idea how to respond or identify with him. And that's when it hit me.....


Reggie Miller is the Joe Theismann of the NBA.

Not even a minute after telling this to Shoals, and getting a chuckle....Reggie proved my point. About the middle of the 4th quarter a Jazz player (Boozer I think) lost control of the ball and it hit off of a GState player's leg (Barnes' I think), and rolled out of bounds. Well, two refs had a mini-conference and gave the ball to Golden State and the Jazz players went nuts. A third ref came running in and the three walked away from the baseline to have a conference. That's when Reggie Theismann'd the whole situation......

"If I were Golden State I'd be upset. Even if it's the right call.....I don't agree with it"- RM

Umm what? I asked Shoals if he heard it and he replied yes. "What does that even mean?", he asked. I didn't have an answer....not even two seconds later.....

"Well I guess it's good that they had the conference and figured out the call."- RM

Huh?!?!?! That immediately gave me an epiphany, so I searched for old live-blogs where Theismann did the exact same thing. Here's just one example.....Week 8: Giants/Cowboys.

"That's definitely a fumble arm never went forward"- JT
(...one minute later)
"His arm was going forward"- JT

It all makes so much sense.....and then Shoals hit me with the Piece de Resistance.....

"He keeps saying stuff like "If you've never watched the warriors before" and then tells us that baron needs to bring the ball up every possession and the warriors aren't going to win without points in the paint."- BS

Basically just saying obvious things over and over again because he has no other way to give factual evidence or analysis of the game. The best part is the statement is a contradiction within itself......Shoals explains, "The Warriors won the last series with a variety of guys bringing the ball up and jacking up three's late in fourth. If he'd seen the Warriors before, he would know that they really could care less about that particular obvious advice."

Guess who that reminded me of? You guessed it! From the same Week 8 live-blog.....

"If you're tall your feet get out from the center of your body"- JT
"Here's a guy that plays well and will play well tonight."- JT
"You don't have many plays in your playbook that will get you 15 yards."- JT
"For the empty palm rule you have to have an empty palm"- JT

It all makes so much sense now.....That's it! Miller is Theismann! Theismann is Miller!

Thanks for helping me come to the realization Shoals, and check out his views on the game last night.

Oh and...F+ for Dick and Reggie these Playoffs. I don't know how you make two 220+ point games boring, but you succeeded.

Joe Theismann will not be polluting your airwaves anytime soon...if not ever. From Ben Maller via The Miami Herald....

Meanwhile, Theismann on Thursday rejected an offer to be a college football analyst for ABC and ESPN.

"Joe feels he's an NFL guy and wants to stay focused on the NFL," said Theismann's agent, Sandy Montag.

Theismann, who has four years left on his contract with ESPN, probably will do some NFL work for ESPN Radio (which doesn't carry NFL games) and espn.com. Although Theismann could try to escape his contract to pursue NFL work at another network, Montag said that scenario hasn't been discussed.

Hmm...interesting approach. I actually think Theismann would be perfect in a pregame role, or perhaps on Monday Night Countdown. Yes the show is terrible, but Joe could provide some balance. I think as long as he has some prep time to ready himself for what he's going to say he's fine. It's when he gets into the game.....gets flustered.....and starts saying things like, "The way to win football is to score touchdowns, and the Philadelphia Eagles are doing that."

Update: Great point by J from East Coast Bias in the comments...

I'm strangely disappointed. It is odd to see someone with so much (unearned?) pride as Thiesmann basically get shit-canned and then put into self-imposed exile.

It really is odd. For someone who has been labeled egotistical for his whole career it's definitely an odd move. I don't know if he's banking on Jaws failing and that he can go back in the MNF booth or what?

Here's a tip Joe.....Why don't you do College Football for 2-3 years? When your contract runs out at ESPN.....you head back to the Pro game, and you INSTANTLY know more about every Rookie than any other analyst. Makes sense right? Probably too much sense for someone SO egotistical.

I was thinking to myself last night that while Jaworski is great for TV Shows and on Radio.....he might not work out as well as everyone thinks he will.

I've watched Jaws twice on AFL coverage this year, and while it was entertaining....it didn't really blow me away. Now I don't know if it's just because the AFL game is so awkward and different, or if he just doesn't have the experience. I guess what it boils down to.....I think they fired the wrong person.

Yes...Joe Theismann is terrible as an announcer. He is the quintessential "Captain Obvious", but I have a question for you.....Was there one time last year when you said, "Wow. Tony Kornheiser is really adding something to this broadcast." I personally can say that number was about 2. And both times he was ragging on Theismann. (Click Read more the rest of the post)













I'm assuming that the reason they chose Ronnie was because he's a company man and he gets along with everyone. He's been on PTI a TON of times, and always volunteers his services for ESPN Radio. While he and Theismann both know the sport, Jaws seems to have a better world view of Sports and is in the know on most every transaction and story.

(I guess what I'm doing here is hashing out in my head if this is going to work, and I think the answer is no. ) You have Tirico who is great at times, but boring during others...he's just average really. You add Jaws who's really only called a handful of NFL games. And voila....you have a pretty average team all-around with some great upside.

So here's the rub.....you add Kornheiser and everything is awkward again. Like last year when he would ask ridiculous Football questions like, "Joe, what's a silent count?", and get a smarmy non-response.

Well this upcoming year he'll say, "Jaws, what's a silent count?", and get this....

"Before an offense can snap the football on a football play, everyone on the line must first come to a set position. If at any time prior to the football being snapped an offensive player moves, a false start penalty may be called. For offensive linemen, who depend on the cadence from the quarterback to determine when they should go, being able to hear and concentrate keeps them from making false starts. The silent count can also play a huge role in slowing down a very aggressive defense. Sometimes, if a quarterback falls into a trend with his snap count, the defense may be able to get a jump on when the ball will be snapped. And for anyone who has played or knows anything about the offensive line, any type of advantage by a defensive player can result in busted play. So, in order to neutralize the aggressiveness on defense, the offense may go with a silent count. The part that makes the silent count effective is that it's hard for the defense to get a jump on the ball when they're waiting on the snap of the ball. But, having a silent count may also work against the offensive lineman. Most offensive linemen will tell you that knowing when the ball will be snapped allows for them to get a small advantage off the ball. But when the offense chooses to use a silent count, most times everyone will be watching for the movement of the football putting both the offense and the defensive line on an equal playing field."

Is that really better? For some yes....I'd love all that info. But most will just bash Jaworski for being too "in depth" for the lay person. Here's the reason they gave Theismann for the firing....

“They gave me two reasons. One was, they wanted to make a change. The second was, in reviewing the tapes, when the conversation got back to me, I talked about football. I wasn’t given any indication that I was supposed to talk about anything else. I thought (football) is what we do. What disappoints me more than anything is if I wasn’t doing what they had hoped, I would have appreciated somebody (telling me)”

Maybe that was Joe's problem. He was too "Billy Packer" for Monday Night Football. He cared too much about the X's and O's to joke around and rib Tony K. With the direction MNF was/is heading in.....Dancing with the Stars and the "Entertainment" aspect.....Joe stuck out like a sore thumb.

It's not what I, or any other true Football fan wants, but when you gain more viewers than have ever watched MNF before.....you're not going to change the formula.

This is why I think they've set Jaworski up to fail.

“MNF” viewers “want to be engaged with issues and trends around the league, where their team is going,” and Jaworski “is the person to put in there for that”- Norby Williamson, Vice President of Studio & Remote Production



Theimann Photo (Six Pack Speak)
Ron Jaworski Is Amused By Your Complete Lack Of Football Knowledge (Talking NFL)
More Thoughts on MNF and Jaws (East Coast Bias)
Theismann Out (War Cry)

Oh man this is good. You get one door closed on you and another opens up. So Joe is still contracted by ESPN, which makes it unlikely he'll go anywhere else. ESPN is not going to just release him into the free agent pool (which includes Jimmy the Greek and the Boom Goes the Dynamite Guy). No ESPN will plan to move him to College Football....

Theismann's agent, Sandy Montag, said he was convinced there would be interest in Theismann from other networks. But, Montag said, Theismann is under contract to ESPN and would have to be released from it to go elsewhere.

A spokesman for NFL Network said all the announcers there are locked up, indicating there was no room to add Theismann. That could be a problem at other networks as well.

Theismann conceded the college football offer from ESPN is intriguing.

"I love college football," he said, "but not as much as I love the NFL."

And while I hate to do this (because I have no idea where he stole it from)....Neil Best adds...

Theismann, 57, still is under contract for four years, and ESPN will offer him another role. A network source said one possibility is Saturday night college games on ABC.

So who you ask would he be with on Saturday night Football???


Brent.....Freaking......Musburger. Hallelujah!!! Please ESPN/ABC.....I beg you!!!

Theismann Miffed by Removal from MNF (LA Times)
Theismann Blindsided (Newsday)

P.S.- Neil Best finally decided to give credit to ProFootballTalk.com in that story. Good job Neil.....you're learning.

From the original breaking news over at PFT (I don't care what Neil Best from Newsday says) to this....from the NY Times' Richard Sandomir (whom I trust and respect a tad bit more).

After one season as the lead analyst for “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, Joe Theismann will be dismissed and replaced by Ron Jaworski, the network is scheduled to announce today. Theismann is expected to be offered another job at the network.

I really don't know how to act for some reason. While others took Tony K. to task last year....I yelled and ranted about Theeeesmann. I even asked for both of their heads at one point. But in the aftermath of this whole thing....I really have no emotions about it one way or another. Maybe I'm just upset that Jaws will be good, and have a repoire with Tony K.....thus making my weekly live-blogs no longer any fun. Oh well....I'll find a way around it.

You know what I have emotions about.....Neil Best. (Read my rant after the jump)....

What the hell is it with writers of major newspapers these days? FYI- As blogs it's our "mission" to beat you to any and all stories, but what happens when we do? You f'ing steal stuff for your own.

Well ProFootball Talk had the story sometime Saturday....what does Best do? He reports the exact same thing at 5:56 on Sunday. No mention of where he got the story at all. Well this was an email to PFT.....

"You need to rip Neil Best for stealing your sh-t. I mean, he just completely ripped you off. . . . You need to pull out a little of that old school PFT whoop ass. Maybe a PFT pic featuring Newsday and Neil Best. I'm serious. This is just wrong stealing this. Neil had NO F--KING CLUE until you broke it."

If you were paying attention on the First Round Grades Post.....Neil has done this before. He mentioned in an article that Gus Johnson shouldn't have been yelling that he should have mentioned the intentional foul on Oden, and Xavier not fouling on the final shot. Well I wasn't going to bring it up, but this is from my post on Monday March 19th....

From the last post: Anonymous said...Gus Johnson is the WORST--Doesn't question if the Oden's foul was intentional, doesn't even bring up that Xavier should foul before the 3-point shot attempt. He's just a screamer like Dickie V with lots of sound and fury and signifying nothing. He belongs at the high school level.

When did Best's article run? March 20th. I don't want to start a war with Newsday because I like the paper. My first press came from them during the whole Song Girl ordeal. But seriously.....twice in two weeks? Just quote your sources and we're fine. Hell....mine was an anonymous commenter.....I would have quoted him if I could.

So Neil......see how I quoted both the NY Times AND ProFootball Talk up top? Learn the HTML code.....it's not hard you hack.



Update: ESPN has officially declared it to be true.....Jaworski Replacing Theismann (ESPN.com)

It's official.....Joe Theismann will be replaced on Monday Night Football. The rumor started at ProFootballTalk.com, and has since been confirmed.

Early word on Theismann's replacement is that it will be AFL Analyst Ron Jaworski. Not a bad choice in the least and there will certainly be more news to come Monday.

Special thanks to WBRS Sports and If I Ran... for putting the bug in my ear.

Here are the other accounts.....

Theismann To Be Replaced (USA Today)
But Who Will Exchange Witty Banter with Jim Belushi? (Deadspin)
We Have Nothing To Announce (Fanhouse)

Sorry folks....couldn't finish my bit on Nancy and Simms, so I'll get that to you tomorrow. Also, I hope you all got to hear my twelve year-old boy voice on SBL. Good times and special thanks to Jamie and CT for having me on. I was upset that I didn't get to rag on Joe Theeesmann using the word Samatics a few interviews before me (I think he meant semantics), but oh well.

I also knew that the "Ideal Announcing Team" Question was coming, and I forgot to mention my all-time #1 team.......Pam Ward and Mike Gottfried.

Sam T is on the Duke/UVA game tonight so join in on the fun. Also Eric from Extrapolater is going to be at the game and has some thoughts about it here.

P.S.- The live-blog is at 9pm in case you don't check start times like me.

So the results are in, and in case you care there were a grand total of 3 National Writers/Talking Heads that chose the Bears to make it to the Super Bowl. Those writers were Tom Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News, Katherine Smith of the Tampa Tribune, and FOX Sports' Brian Balldinger.

Here are the results from the rest of the major publications and other notables (ESPN idiots).....

Athlon Colts-Panthers
ESPN The Mag Dolphins-Bears
Pro Football Weekly Panthers- Colts
Sporting News Steelers-Panthers (Umm, how did that work out for you?)
Street & Smiths Panthers-Broncos
John Clayton Colts-Seahawks
Len Pasquarelli Colts-Seahawks
Michael Smith Colts-Panthers
Sal Paolantonio Colts-Panthers
Scouts Inc. Broncos-Seahawks
Merril Hoge Bengals-Cowboys (Good call there Young Hater)
Tom Jackson Colts-Panthers
Joe Theismann Colts-Panthers
Mike Golic Colts-Panthers
Sean Salisbury Colts-Panthers
Mark Schlereth Patriots-Panthers
Awful Announcing Redskins-Redskins (Actually I picked the Colts and Seahawks....had the Bears losing to the 'Hawks in the Conference Championship)

Seriously ESPN.....could we get some variety here. Do you all just copy each others work? Don't answer that. Bill Simmons could not be reached for comment after a RedSox'esqe comeback to knock the Pats out of the playoffs. He will however be calling the Saint Marys-San Diego game on ESPNU tonight. If anyone gets ESPNU please email me if he cries.

(Seriously though....a free t-shirt and/or post to anyone who can send me a tape of his performance. I'll pay all shipping and for the tape.)

Interesting story coming out of Miami.......

According to the Miami Herald via the The Big Lead

Daunte Culpepper confronted Steve Young after comments Young made during the X-Mas game this past Monday. Culpepper apparently was in a luxury box and heard Young say that "he's been missing meetings". Well Daunte decided to take matters into his own hands....

''I don't miss meetings,'' Culpepper said as he waited to confront Young outside the ESPN broadcast booth. ``That's not who I am. I'm working so hard to get back right now, and I don't need to hear someone who doesn't even know me say I'm missing meetings and I need to work harder.''

Culpepper felt so strongly about the inaccuracy of Young's allegations, he left his suite in search of him, a trek that led him a considerable distance from his box to the press box. Young came out of the broadcast booth nearly five minutes after Culpepper arrived.

The two quarterbacks spoke in a corner for several minutes. At one point, former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, a Monday Night Football commentator, also joined the conversation.

Young had this to say....

''I made the mistake of not calling Daunte himself,'' Young said afterward. ``He was doing rehab, he was doing all kinds of other things. He tells me he wasn't [missing meetings]. He looked me straight in the eye. Joe [Theismann] is going to fix it on the air for me.''

Well that's all well and good Young, but there's one thing you're over-looking.....YOU LIED! Why does ESPN allow this to take place? All the time people just say random crap on the air, and when they are called out they back-pedal and it's forgotten.

Yes Daunte hasn't been as vocal a leader as he should, but I really don't think he wanted to interrupt the season. The sad thing is that I was watching when Steve Young said that, and I believed him......straight up. Why wouldn't you believe him? Daunte has been painted as not a hard worker. He's taken a chain back from a paralyzed high school kid. And then there was the Sex Boat thing that got him bumped out of Minnesota. But to spin your lie about someone's character like you have some inside info is just wrong.

Damn, and I liked Steve Young too. Like TheBigLead says.....Peter King now looks good. He does straight up reporting and people respect him for it. Now just stop talking about lattes and I'll read your articles.