Random Thoughts (December 22, 2008)

There is a old saying in America that politics and war make strange bedfellows. Well, you can add sports into that equasion as well. In Week 17 of the NFL season, the Patriots need a victory over the Bills in Buffalo to push their record to 11-5 and keep their playoff hopes alive. With the way Buffalo has played lately (3-7 since starting 4-1), the Pats should be able to take care of business. However, to reach the playoffs, the Pats will need a little help. They can clinch a spot if the Jaguars (5-10) can upset the Ravens (10-5), which his doubtful. The Pats best shot at the playoffs, as well as their sixth consecutive AFC East championship, is for the Jets to defeat the Dolphins. Imagine, the Patriots relying on scum like Eric Mangini and a traitor like Ty Law. The Jets, for those of you not paying attention, are the team who have been putting their nose in the Patriots business for a decade, going back to when they stole Bill Parcells away from us in the days leading up to Super Bowl XXXI, to the constant raiding of the Pats roster (Curtis Martin, Law), all the way up to when they came to terms with Mangini in the days leading up to the Pats playoff game in Denver in 2005. For four hours next Sunday, it will be reality for all members of the Patriots organization and for fans all over New England to cheer on "Gang Green" and Brett Favre and Mangini. As sick as it will make us, it's the best chance that we have to defend our AFC championship and get a shot at redemption for the upset loss in Super Bowl XLII... Funny, the last time the Pats needed help to make the playoffs, in 2002, they needed Favre to come up big in the Meadowlands. Back then, Favre was a Packer and after the Pats stole a win against the Dolphins, the Jets laid a serious beating on Green Bay. Hopefully Favre won't let us down again... Now that the Yankees and Angels have announced they have withdrawn their offer to Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox are once again in the drivers seat to land the free agent first baseman... The Celtics keep on rolling, earning their 18th straight win last night over the Knicks. By the way, is there a point guard playing better than Rajon Rondo right now? The only other names even in the debate are Devin Harris of the Nets and Chris Paul of the Hornets... What a career for UNC's Tyler Hansbrough. He passed Phil Ford on Friday night to become the Tarheels all-time leading scorer and only needs a national championship to insert his name in the discussion of who is college basketball's greatest player... Enjoy Brian Urlacher tonight...