What about Bob?

Wall Street is in freefall.

The most interesting Presidential race in recent memory is nearing its conclusion, with an important debate scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. eastern.

So what is the most widely read story on the Newsday website, as we speak? It's Dancing With the Stars' Kim Kardashian insisting she does not have gluteal implants.

Of course!

"All the butt implant rumors are just so not true and now just silly to me," Kardashian writes on her blog.

(If you think Kardashian has nothing to do with the NFL, think again. She is the girlfriend of Saints running back/returner Reggie Bush, who had two punt returns for touchdown in last night's loss to the Vikings.)

... as for the Wall Street collapse, I have been interested in seeing what advice the financial experts are espousing, especially in light of the fact I have a daughter about to go to college. It's all very interesting, but not very useful. So far, the best thing I've heard is what Best told me in response to an e-mail I'd sent to him that said of our country: "Oh, well, we had a good run."

Best's response: "Geez, dude, it's only friggin' money."

Intrepid reporter Jim Baumbach caught up with Jets legendary quarterback Joe Namath at a charity golf tournament today and got some good nuggets from the only quarterback to lead the green-and-white to a Super Bowl title.

The Jets hope B. Favre can do the same.

I hope to speak with B. Favre tomorrow, although the last time I said I'd hoped to speak with Brett F., P. Burress was in the news for missing out on a team meeting.

I cannot wait to see the Ernie Davis story when it comes out in a few days.

Of course, I probably won't see it until it comes out on DVD, because we don't get much spare time around here during football season. I suppose if we treated life a little more like Plaxico Burress, we could find a little more time to enjoy the family. But I cannot afford a suspension.

All joking aside, this looks like it will be a terrific film about the first African American Heisman Trophy winner. I remember seeing previews of the movie when the wife and kiddies saw a flick during the off-season. It was many months ago, however.

Any questions about the Giants?

Wonder what it's like to be Tom Rock?

Join TR for a chat today at 2 p.m.

Just spoke to TR, and he is anxiously awaiting your questions. He shooed me off the phone so he could psychologically prepare for the chat. I think he has his wife hit him in the shoulder pads or something.

(Ranking, team, record, last week's ranking)

1. Giants (4-0) (1): That 44-6 win over Seattle might have been their most dominating performance since the 2000 NFC Championship Game.

2. Titans (5-0) (2): You knew it was going to be ugly against the Ravens’ brilliant defense. But in the end, Kerry Collins got it done to keep the Titans unbeaten and keep Vince Young on the bench for the foreseeable future.

3. Redskins (4-1) (3): No more waiting for the Redskins to come back down to earth. They’re legitimately good.

4. Cowboys (4-1) (4): Now the Cowboys know how the Giants felt when the Bengals took them to OT a couple weeks ago. Dallas nearly blew it against the winless Bengals.

5. Steelers (4-1) (6): Hats off to Big Ben for a fine performance under difficult circumstances on the road in J’ville.

6. Panthers (4-1) (8): Carolina fattens up the record with a blowout win over hapless Kansas City.

7. Broncos (4-1) (10): Finally, the defense does something worthwhile. Broncos win a nailbiter over Bucs.

8. Bills (4-1) (5): Our beloved NKR took delight in seeing the Bills go down in Arizona. J.P. Losman did nothing once Trent Edwards went down with a concussion.

9. Bears (3-2) (12): Bears clobber Lions in Detroit, as Kyle Orton has his way against a pitiful defense.

10. Buccaneers (3-2) (9): Brian Griese or Jeff Garcia? It all depends on how quickly Griese heals up from elbow and shoulder problems he suffered against Denver.

Continue reading "Power rankings: Giants still No. 1, Eagles fading fast" »

The Cardinals' quarterback and former Super Bowl MVP has contemplated retirement in recent years - all the way back to 2004, when he was benched in favor of Eli Manning. But after seeing receiver Anquan Boldin get pummeled by Jets safety Eric Smith in a Week 4 game, the thoughts of retirement only increased.

Then again, after lighting up the Bills' defense in a blowout win on Sunday, Warner felt like he could play forever.

That was my sense in listening to Burress explain his reaction to being suspended by the Giants.

I wrote about this solipsism in today's newspaper.

I did not agree with Mr. Burress' rationale for missing work.

(I tagged this entry below with the word "solipsism" on the off chance it might get caught up in the Google jetstream ... you know, in case a lot of people Google the word because they might have heard it during a casual conversation ... or in a Boland blog post.)

The referee who was at the center of the controversy over a botched call near the end of a Chargers-Broncos game last month oversaw another questionable performance during last night's Vikings-Saints game.

The NFL hasn't yet handed out assignments for the Super Bowl, but my sense is Hochuli will not be refereeing that one.

Boland never did get back to Cleveland during his bye weekend for that Velveeta cheese dog, but he appears to have re-charged his batteries anyway.

In a throwaway line in today's crisply written Jets' report that was clearly designed to prompt me to give him credit for the word of the day, he described Cubs fans wallowing in their misery this way: "I’ve heard just about enough from solipsistic Cubs fans – including those in the media – about how miserable their sports existence is. Please. Stop. Not like they grew up in Cleveland or something."

"Solipsistic: extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one's feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption."

Not sure why EBola would use the word to describe Cubs fans. Sounds more like something to describe Neil Best.

Giant of the week: Domenik Hixon, WR. Making his first start in place of suspended receiver Plaxico Burress, Hixon was exceptional with four catches for 102 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a concussion.

Offensive player of the week: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers. Playing with a slightly separated throwing shoulder, without his top two running backs and behind a leaky offensive line, Roethlisberger put together a stunning performance with three TD passes to beat a tough Jaguars team on the road in prime time.

Defensive player of the week: Keith Bulluck, LB, Titans. He had seven solo tackles and six assists as the Titans held off Baltimore 13-10 to stay unbeaten at 5-0. The Titans intercepted rookie QB Joe Flacco twice and held RB Willis McGahee to 66 yards and no touchdowns.

Efficiency award: Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins: After four straight wins, including back-to-back victories over NFC East rivals Dallas and Philadelphia, the Redskins are looking as if they’re for real after all. Rookie coach Jim Zorn has stressed turnover-free football, and he’s gotten just that. Get this: The Redskins’ next three opponents are a combined 1-11 – Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis.

Goat of the week: Sage Rosenfels, QB, Texans. He had a colossal upset of the Colts within his sights. And then he put on one of the most colossal fourth-quarter collapses in recent memory. Two fumbles and interception late in the fourth quarter, and Rosenfels was finished. A 27-10 lead suddenly evaporated and turned into a 31-27 loss.

Gut-it-out award: Broncos’ defense. The Broncos were coming off a road thrashing at the hands of previously winless Kansas City, but they buckled down at home against the Bucs and survived a 16-13 win to improve to 4-1. Key stat: The Bucs didn’t have a pass play of longer than 17 yards.

Comeback award, Part I: Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals. He was so distraught by watching Anquan Boldin get hurt last week against the Jets that thoughts of retirement crept into his head. But Warner, who had six turnovers against the Jets last week, engineered a 41-17 drubbing of previously unbeaten Buffalo at home.

Comeback award, Part II: Kerry Collins, QB, Titans. He had a mostly miserable afternoon against the Ravens’ defense, but in the end, Collins found a way to lead the Titans on an 80-yard scoring drive to win it and keep Tennessee unbeaten at 5-0.

Matt Millen-is-gone-but-not-forgotten award: The Lions. They fired the embattled general manager in the bye week, which will most likely have to serve as the highlight for this team for many years to come. After all, the team he left behind was throttled by the Bears 34-7 at home.

Dead-man-walking award: Rod Marinelli, Lions. He has about a 100 percent chance of getting fired after the season.

Most-entertaining-losers award: Bengals. They take the Giants to overtime, and then make the Cowboys sweat it out until the final moments in a 31-22 loss. It took a spectacular catch-and-run for touchdown by Terrell Owens to seal it for the Pokes.

The Eagles' problems continue to mount. In addition to Westbrook's ankle problem, he now has cracked ribs.

Not good for a team that suddenly finds itself in last place.

That's a question the Giants will soon be forced to answer now that David Tyree is only two weeks away from potentially being removed from the team's physically unable to perform list. The Giants must make a decision on Tyree soon. Beginning after next Monday's game against the Browns, the Giants have a three-week window in which Tyree can begin practicing. Once he begins practicing, they have three weeks to either activate him, place him on injured reserve or release him.

To even think of releasing the man who made the most memorable catch in Super Bowl history would have been preposterous not long ago. But with more depth at the receiver position than any time in franchise history - yes, I said franchise history - it might be tough to find room on the roster for him.

I still say Tyree will be with the team somehow, some way. But it may take some creative thinking - or perhaps an injury or two elsewhere on the roster - to sort it all out. In the meantime, to all those people who suggested the Giants ought to trade away Sinorice Moss: Forget it. Yesterday's two touchdown performance should make you realize that general manager Jerry Reese should be completely greedy when it comes to keeping as many receivers - and as many running backs, for that matter - as possible.

This is a team ready for another Super Bowl run. No sense giving up depth at any position if you can help it.

A few minutes after the Giants beat the Seahawks 44-6, Giants center Shaun O'Hara was asked if fellow offensive lineman Kareem McKenzie was ok. McKenzie had suffered a concussion during the game and did not return.

O'Hara reported that McKenzie was fine.

"I called him Uncle Phil, because he looks like Judge Phil Banks from Fresh Prince [of Bel Air]," O'Hara said. "He gave me the finger, so I knew he was ok."

A call to arms for Islander505, Black N Gold, BBiB!, Tony A. - even Erik Boland - and whoever else feels like weighing in on the goings-on around the league.

If you have anything to say, go ahead and say it. If not, fine ... be that way.

I'm at Giants-Seahawks if you need me.

I threw this idea out last Sunday, but probably too late, since I only thought of it as Brett Favre was in the process of throwing six touchdown passes.

Anyway, the thought was to just have a place for Glauber Nation to post some comments and observations about the games on Sunday, since I will have to cover Giants-Seahawks and will have limited blogging ability. (Actually, I could have all the blogging ability that I want, but I thought it would be fair to those who buy the newspaper that I actually pay attention to the game and thus have some idea of what the hell I'm writing about. Then again, even when I do watch the games, I don't always know what the hell I'm writing about.)

Let's see how it works with some advance billing. At the very least, Black N Gold can spin a tale or two from his old hockey days, or Islander505 can jot down a few thoughts and/or rants, just for kicks. Or perhaps he can continue sulking over me winning Neil Best's weekly comment contest. Better yet, he can fill us in on some other instances where he's been thrown out of bars, whether they be in Cabo or Anchorage.

In the meantime, I-505 offers a blow-by-blow account of getting kicked out of Cabo Wabo twice in the same night. Something about a full moon of sorts. Click below to read all about our Commenter Bon Vivant.

Continue reading "Sunday discussion group" »

From Tony A., winner of the last two rounds:

"Playing with (Player or Coach) is fun because you get plays that allow you to make something out of nothing."

I'm gonna go with early Donovan McNabb.

Best seemed a bit crankier than normal early in the week, as evidenced by a few salty comments to readers, and I'd asked him on his blog whether there was anything wrong. He responded that a weekend at the old stomping grounds at Cornell had put him back in touch with real life, and it was taking him a while longer to get back into the self-indulgent world of the blogosphere.

Anyway, I responded with a highly self-indulgent comment on his blog - just to let him know I understood where he was coming from. Evidently, the words hit the mark, because he chose it for his "Comment Contest Winner!" Either that, or he was feeling guilty for throwing me under the bus about some comments we'd shared about what the Newsday back pages would be like now that baseball was over.

Either way, it's nice to end the week with a shoutout from Newsday's premier blogger. Especially knowing that the comment was considered better than anything Islander505, the greatest commenter in the history of the blogosphere, offered up during the week.

... and in case you're wondering, Best has gotten over his weekend getaway and is back in full, self-indulgent throat, especially after winning yet another montly page views war in sports.

And check out Best's column in today's Newsday, because he mentions another intra-office war of sorts, although this one's a bit more serious. Evidently, Mike Francesa took a few shots at Craig Carton.

The five biggest questions heading into Week 5:

1. Is this the week Tennessee falls? Could be. The 4-0 Titans are off to the best start in franchise history, but they go up against the resurgent Ravens in Bal’more on Sunday. Ray Lewis has this defense playing at nearly as high a level as the Super Bowl season in 2000, and rookie Joe Flacco has proven to be a relatively mistake-free quarterback. Tennessee’s defense is nearly in a class with the Ravens, and it could come down to how Albert Haynesworth & Co. respond against the Ravens. But if the Titans are in for a misstep, it could be here.

2. Will Aaron Rodgers start his fifth straight game in Green Bay? Brett Favre’s replacement has a bum shoulder but still hopes to play on Sunday. If so, he’d be only 270 straight starts away from tying Favre’s team record. If not, the Packers are toast with rookie Matt Flynn. Green Bay is home to Atlanta on Sunday.

3. Can the Redskins keep up the good work? It was an absolutely massive win in Big D last week, and now it’s on to Philly to face the Eagles. It might be too much to expect back-to-back divisional wins for the Redskins, but they should be in this one to the end. If Brian Westbrook comes back from an ankle problem, though, I think he means the difference for the Birds.

4. Is Minnesota’s season about to go kerplunk? Not many must-win games in Week 5, but Vikings at Saints is pretty close. Not only are there quarterback problems in Minny (sorry, Gus Frerotte is no savior, even if he is the better alternative to Tarvaris Jackson), but the defense has stunk it up, too. The Vikes gave up a first-round pick for Jared Allen, but he has only two sacks so far.

5. Can the Steelers survive without their top two running backs? They lost Willie Parker to a knee injury and then Rashard Mendenhall to a season-ending shoulder injury. Now it’s Mewelde Moore’s team. The Steelers were so desperate that they re-signed Najeh Davenport, who was cut in the off-season. Not only that, but Big Ben has missed practice time this week because of that separated shoulder. Steelers on the road in Jacksonville. Tough one.

The picks (straight up, not against the spread):

Continue reading "Five for Friday: Week 5" »

LTmeansLawrenceTaylor comes up with a beauty.

He has three quotes about the same QB, Player, Coach, Owner, GM, or other being...

“BLANK may not be there when you want him but he is always on time.”

“This is BLANK's world this is not the media's world.”

“I just feel like with BLANK you can't be defeated.”

So who is it?