Jets will beat Patriots Monday to Seize Control of AFC East, prove they're ready for Super Bowl – Gary Myers, New York Daily News
In the End, They’re Mere Mortals – Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe
Yankees-Phillies Battle for Dynasty Seems Inevitable - Joel Sherman, New York Post
Celtics Pride is Old, Weary – Jim Ingraham, Cleveland News Herald
I’m not buying the rumors: LeBron will ultimately decide to stay home - Ian Thomsen, Sports Illustrated
Kansas Too Good to Lose – Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
Heisman Trophy Coming to Pittsburgh - Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
All the pieces are in place for Cowboys to make Super Bowl – Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News
Getting Starters Back Sets Stage for a Big Finish – Patrick Reusse, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Eagles Appear to Be Stuck with Vick – Ross Tucker, Sports Illustrated
This is the Jets' time. They will successfully execute a hostile takeover of the AFC East in Foxborough on Monday night in the most important regular-season game in their 51-year history.
They have a Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame quarterback, but this Patriots team doesn't belong on the same field as their 2007 team that went undefeated during the regular season.
They have a Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame quarterback, but this Patriots team doesn't belong on the same field as their 2007 team that went undefeated during the regular season.
In the End, They’re Mere Mortals – Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe
It was great while it lasted, but even a pigheaded Patriots pigskin buff must acknowledge that the dynasty is over…
They are just another one-and-out playoff team, and not a likable one at that.
They are just another one-and-out playoff team, and not a likable one at that.
Yankees-Phillies Battle for Dynasty Seems Inevitable - Joel Sherman, New York Post
Winning a championship is precious, being a dynasty historic. And that is what is available to the Yankees and Phillies now — the historic. Either team could make inroads to being the first dynasty since those 1996-2000 Yankees. ... The Phillies won it all in 2008, the Yankees beat the Phillies for last year’s championship and so a second title in this short timeframe would be ... validation of dominance, signature on an era. ... It feels like a bit of an inevitability now that we will get Yankees-Phillies again
Celtics Pride is Old, Weary – Jim Ingraham, Cleveland News Herald
OK, we can officially cross off the Celtics from the Cavaliers' "worried about" list for the playoffs. …
That includes Sunday's nationally televised exposure of the Celtics as a tired, aging, broken, bored, bewitched, bothered and bewildered band of championship imposters by a Cavs team that played good — not great — and easily held the wild-swinging Celtics at arm's length. … Many observers feel the Celtics are simply bored by the regular season, and that come playoff time they will ratchet it up and be the old Celtics.
Yeah, right.
That includes Sunday's nationally televised exposure of the Celtics as a tired, aging, broken, bored, bewitched, bothered and bewildered band of championship imposters by a Cavs team that played good — not great — and easily held the wild-swinging Celtics at arm's length. … Many observers feel the Celtics are simply bored by the regular season, and that come playoff time they will ratchet it up and be the old Celtics.
Yeah, right.
I’m not buying the rumors: LeBron will ultimately decide to stay home - Ian Thomsen, Sports Illustrated
I read the anonymous reports that LeBron James will sign with the Miami Heat and I don’t believe them. ... None of this Miami talk makes any sense to me. This extravagant charade is set up for James to go on TV Thursday to declare his loyalty to his hometown, to say he took a look around at more glamorous places and in the end decided there is no place better for him than Cleveland.
Kansas Too Good to Lose – Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
You tell me how the Kansas Jayhawks don’t win the national championship.
Seriously, I’m not even sure an injury to Sherron Collins or Cole Aldrich could derail these Jayhawks.
The squad coach Bill Self directs is that complete, that deep and that savvy. It’s the best college basketball team we’ve seen in the one-and-done era.
When this season is over, when the Jayhawks cut down the nets in Indianapolis, site of the Final Four, we’ll be wondering how these Hawks lost two games.
Seriously, I’m not even sure an injury to Sherron Collins or Cole Aldrich could derail these Jayhawks.
The squad coach Bill Self directs is that complete, that deep and that savvy. It’s the best college basketball team we’ve seen in the one-and-done era.
When this season is over, when the Jayhawks cut down the nets in Indianapolis, site of the Final Four, we’ll be wondering how these Hawks lost two games.
Heisman Trophy Coming to Pittsburgh - Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For the first time in 34 years, the Heisman Trophy is coming back to Pittsburgh.
Not necessarily to Pitt, although running back Dion Lewis has a big shot of winning.
To Pittsburgh.
Give me Lewis and Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. You can have the rest of the Heisman field.
Not necessarily to Pitt, although running back Dion Lewis has a big shot of winning.
To Pittsburgh.
Give me Lewis and Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. You can have the rest of the Heisman field.
All the pieces are in place for Cowboys to make Super Bowl – Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News
Now the Cowboys, coming off their first playoff win in more than a dozen years, are poised to go where Miami, Atlanta , New Orleans, Tampa Bay and so many other teams that reside in popular Super Bowl cities never could. … the fact that the Cowboys' roster is so unchanged from a year ago – at least where it counts most – is why I'm picking the Cowboys to reach that hometown Super Bowl by winning their first NFC championship in 15 seasons. … It starts not with Romo, but with a defense that should be the best in the NFC this season.
Getting Starters Back Sets Stage for a Big Finish – Patrick Reusse, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Really. This bunch is loaded…
Look at the defense. Look at Favre's weapons.
This is it, ye Purple of heart. This is the playoff season that ends with a victory.
Look at the defense. Look at Favre's weapons.
This is it, ye Purple of heart. This is the playoff season that ends with a victory.
Eagles Appear to Be Stuck with Vick – Ross Tucker, Sports Illustrated
Vick will be a starting quarterback again. It just might not be in the NFL. The recent announcement that the upstart UFL will launch a new franchise in Norfolk, Va., in 2011 seems to be a tailor-made opportunity for Vick to show what he can do on a consistent basis. It would be a huge boon for UFL ticket sales and probably the only real chance that Vick will have to prove he can still be a quality starting quarterback. After all, it seems unlikely that he will play for the Eagles much this year.
