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I’m extremely happy the Eagles have benched Terrell Owens indefinitely.  I’m hoping it’s for the rest of the season.  I’m not sure who would even want TO on their team right now.  He’s definitely a great player, but the locker room problems and public outbursts he causes are just too much for any team to handle.  Many of his celebrations are also done in a mean spirit, but I’m actually fine with that and I’ve even defended it in the past.  That being said, Chad Johnson who also has a big mouth like TO, is hilarious with his celebrations and comments.  He’s had some of the funniest comments and celebrations I’ve ever seen and heard in the NFL.  Maybe I should make a list of the funniest things Chad Johnson has done, but that’s another topic for another day.  Back to the business at hand.  TO was given a second chance with the Eagles to prove he isn’t a problem to play with as he showed on the 49ers, but he blew it repeatedly.  I can’t see Andy Reid allowing him to play again without causing serious harm to his team.  I’d be really surprised if anyone on the Eagles team wants to see TO back.  My guess is he has no friends on the team. 

The Eagles did lose the game, but McNabb and the Eagle WRs played well in TO’s absence.  McNabb had two bonehead moves though, both coming at crucial times to top it off.  The first was at the end of the first half, when he thought he was going to be cute and fake like he was spiking the ball, fooling everyone on his team and resulting in a sack costing the Eagles a sure shot at a field goal attempt.  The second was the Eagles’ last play of the game. A better shot at making a desperation completion is when you lob it to the end zone, not zip it into coverage like he did.  Allow your WR to make a jump for the ball, maybe you could have gotten a tipped ball.  Instead, the result was an interception and game over. 

No Huddle

The Panthers kept it rolling with another win over the Bucs.  Quietly, the Panthers are showing that they may be the power to reckon with in the NFC.  The Bucs on the other hand will find out more and more each week how important Brian Griese is to this team.  Chris Simms won’t work out at the QB spot. 

Julius Peppers finally woke up and had a big game.  Is this going to be like last year when he suddenly woke up in the second half of the season and couldn’t be stopped?  Why not play great from the beginning of the season Julius?  Does it have to do with drive?  My guess is yes.  He must begin every season thinking his awesome talents will get the job done on their own, and then he finally realizes he has to try as well.  Better late than never. 

Cedric Benson finally got a chance to show how good he is when he replaced Thomas Jones after he left the game with bruised ribs.  He looked pretty good and helped the Bears get another win and a good lead in the NFC North.  Kyle Orton, of all people, looks to have the edge so far in the Rookie of the Year category.  My guess is that no one predicted this. 

Watching the Saints play at ‘home’ on LSU’s field, with lazily painted over field numbers was just an ugly site to watch.  The whole game looked unprofessional because of this.  The Superdome was already crumbling, and Saints owner Tom Benson was already looking to move.  The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina shouldn’t change this fact.  Benson shouldn’t be vilified for trying to find a proper city for his team to play in long term.

 The Bengals are well on their way to getting a playoff berth.  Marvin Lewis has done wonders turning this franchise around, something all his predecessors couldn’t do.  A lot of thanks must go to Carson Palmer, already one of the best QBs in the league.  He’s the best this year for sure. 

You know things are going bad when you put Kordell Stewart in as QB.  Better luck next year Ravens. 

Don’t look now, but Brad Johnson and the Vikings may start a late push to make the playoffs.  Tice’s time as head coach for the Vikings should be over regardless of what happens though.  This team is in dire need of better coaching.  And new owner Wilf will open his pocket book for a competent staff, unlike Red McCombs.  The Vikings still have a very good shot at winning the division, after all it’s the Bears who are currently leading, which doesn’t mean much. 

Jacksonville narrowly beat the Texans, as they do to most teams.  But no one as good as the Jaguars should narrowly beat the Texans.  A win is a win I suppose, but it goes to show that this team isn’t a big contender yet.

Best play of the day goes to Dick Vermeil.  What a gutsy call to go with a run, as last play of the game to win it, instead of kicking the field goal to tie the game.  I loved the call, and I’m happy Vermeil got the win, otherwise his head would have been served to him on a platter by the media, and I’m sure he knew that when making the call.  Vermeil should give a big thanks to Will Shields, who pushed the Raiders deep into their end zone on the rush, giving Larry Johnson a nice hole to jump through for the win.  That being said, the Chiefs aren’t as good as they were year’s past, despite improvements on the defensive side of the ball, and this probably has to do with the aging of the offensive line, the Chiefs’ strong point. 

The Jets actually made a game of it against the Chargers.  Brooks Bollinger is looking real good.  Perhaps better even than Pennington over the past few years.  The Jets should start looking to Bollinger as the future.  I’m not sure how he’d do over a whole season mind you, but he’s played very well in the few shots he’s had recently. 

The 49ers have obvious weaknesses on offense, but their defense is really starting to impress.  Despite the score, they were holding down the Giants for most of the game.  If only they didn’t waste their draft pick on Alex Smith though, although I’m sure they tried to trade down, there were just no takers, which doesn’t surprise me. 

Seahawks at Panthers for the NFC championship.  Or Panthers at Seahawks, whichever, it doesn’t matter.  These are the two best teams in the NFC, and that shouldn’t change come playoff time.  The Falcons and possibly the Eagles will figure into the mix as well.  Another good win for the Seahawks, albeit against a team they should beat.  But many teams often have trouble winning against bad teams.

Offensive Player of the Week:  Ladainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander get this award way too much.  That’s why this week it’s going to… damnit, they’re just too good to overlook.  It’s going to both of them once again. 

Defensive Player of the Week:  Julius Peppers gets the honors because I’m sure he’s about to go on a tear the rest of the season and I want to be the first to acknowledge that fact. 

Special Teams Player of the Week:  Neil Rackers for continuing his streak of field goals.  Will he break the record for most consecutive field goals this year along with most points?  It’s very possible. 

Dumb Commentating of the Week:  I find a big fault with all commentating right now and I’m beginning to hate hearing their idiocies week in and week out.  I can’t wait until Chris Collinsworth is back in the booth calling games (next year with NBC’s Sunday night broadcasts).  He said what he felt and wouldn’t coddle the superstars, in addition to the fact he knows so much about the game and how it’s played.  I love you Chris Collinsworth, so much more now that you’ve been MIA.  Um, I mean that in a manly way of course.    

Pet Peeve of the Week:  I guess this isn’t really a pet peeve; it’s more of an odd observation.  Why is it that old referees feel the need to bulk up?  I think it looks kind of weird to see these guys with huge arms.  Ed Hochuli has been the poster boy for his massive pipes, but now others are starting to show their love of pumping iron.  If it’s for good health, then I’m all for it.  If it’s to attract babes, I think they should go back to the drawing board. 

Top Ten:
1. Indianapolis Colts – I wonder if this will look dumb after the Monday night game.
2. Seattle Seahawks – Beating the teams they should by a margin that they should. 
3. Carolina Panthers – I’ve neglected them for too long so they get a huge boost. 
4. Pittsburgh Steelers – You should have won by more.  Batch is a good excuse though. 
5. Denver Broncos – Hope you didn’t go on any cruises during your bye week.
6. Atlanta Falcons – 3 NFC teams in the top 6?  The AFC is beating each other up. 
7. New York Giants – I’m still not sure if they’re for real.  Sorry. 
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – They’ll be a good team and not great team for a while. 
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Haven’t really played anyone, but look good regardless.
10. San Diego Chargers – I’m starting to feel they’re too young and can’t finish a game.