Is Red Sox Nation Going To Become SantaNation; Football Picks

Now that the New York Yankees are "out of the running" for Johan Santana -- after a self-imposed deadline by Boss Jr., Hank Steinbrenner (who is going to be a joy to torture, he has the old man's love of the spotlight but lacks the brains to be a real threat to the Sox) -- the Sox seem to be hitting the brakes on negotiations in order to get a better deal. It was one thing when Theo Epstein needed to compete with a Phil Hughes/Melky Cabrera/Ian Kennedy package from the Bronx. With the Yankees supposedly watching from the sidelines, Epstein is in no rush to put together a competing package. It may be that the Red Sox reported offer of Jon Lester/Coco Crisp/Jed Lowrie/Justin Masterson has shrunk. We might be looking at a package of Lester/Crisp/Brandon Moss/Kris Johnson instead. The Twins would still be getting players they can play immediately (Lester and Crisp) but not four major league ready talents. And we can thank the Yankees for this. Hank, poor Hank, you made the same mistake Sonny Corleone made with the Turk -- you let the other side know how you felt about a deal. The Twins knew they could hold you for ransom and they did so. And you backed out, opening the ddor for your archrivals to make a deal that doesn't deplete their farm system. "Now pitching for the Red Sox ... Josh Beckett, Johan Santana, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling, Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield..." As for the picks... NFL Chicago (+3) over WASHINGTON JACKSONVILLE (-10) over Carolina Dallas (-13) over DETROIT BUFFALO (-7) over Miami NY Giants (+3) over Philadelphia Oakland (+11) over GREEN BAY TENNESSEE (+1.5) over San Diego ARIZONA (+7.5) over Seattle Minnesota (-10) over SAN FRANCISCO NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Pittsburgh (LOCK OF THE WEEK) Cleveland (-3.5) over NY JETS DENVER (-6) over Kansas City BALTIMORE (+10) over Indianapolis New Orleans (-6) over ATLANTA Last Week: 8-7 Season: 92-75-6 Lock of the Week: 7-6