Peyton Manning - None Better

· How about that Peyton Manning? Have you ever seen a quarterback operate better under pressure? With such leadership skills? He manages the clock so efficiently at the end of the game and everyone seems to know his blocking assignments at all times. Seriously, who is a better teammate than this guy? Wouldn’t it be great if the Patriots could somehow finagle a trade for Manning? No? Oh…

· Putting aside the family tragedy that Tony Dungy has had to endure in the last few weeks, when I saw shots of him on TV during the Steelers game, he had that “deer in the headlights” look. It doesn’t look like he knows what to do in pressure situations. I know Ron Borges thinks he’s the best coach in the NFL, but I think something is missing from his overall makeup. His confused look can’t be inspiring to his team, can it? I read today that he wants to return next season, but is also mulling over retiring. Colts fans have to be hoping for the latter. Otherwise, they will be sure to endure another heart-wrenching playoff loss next season.

· I don’t normally make predictions, but what the hell, let’s go for it. I don’t even know what the spreads are and I don’t care. I’m picking Carolina over Seattle. I’m not sold on Seattle and Carolina has that look that they had two years ago. As for the AFC, I’ll take Denver over Pittsburgh, but this feels like a pick ‘em. I guess I'll go with home field as my rationale. How psyched is Denver that they won’t have to go to Indy to get pounded for the 3rd straight year?

· Jake Delhomme seems to be at his best in the playoffs, but I can’t stand his antics. He seems to yell and run like a madman after every big play. Doesn’t he know he is embarrassing himself? I know that not everyone can be the picture of poise that is Tom Brady, but that doesn’t mean you have to act like a total goof whenever something good happens on the field. Give us a break Jake.

· A-Rod’s playing for the Dominican in the World Baseball Classic (or whatever it's called)? Maybe? Huh? And Nomar’s playing for Mexico, right? Since Hideki Matsui isn’t playing for Japan, can he play for Canada?

· Does Nick Cafardo moonlight as an employment agent for Patriots assistant coaches? He must be the happiest guy in Boston today as one of his “clients”, Eric Mangini, landed the head coaching job with the New York Jets. Cafardo seems to have a special mission at the Boston Globe: (in your best robotic voice) “I must work with all Patriots assistant coaches and secure them promotions with other organizations!” I’m sure Mangini was waiting for that job advice that Cafardo so gleefully gave him in Monday’s Globe.