NE Pats. Is Karma a ...?

So many things start running through an overly imaginative writer's head when you see someone take out Terrific Tom--Tom Brady gridiron god, mack daddy stetson smooth, golden boy, carrier of supermodel bags and package picker upper--THE MAN--Tom Brady.

Is it karma, as a friend suggested, for spygate? No bad deed goes unpunished.

Just when Daunte Culpepper retires saying the commish said if a starting QB gets injured in a major way he'd be the first one called on the list and suddenly THE Premier QB in the league goes down. Did Daunte wanna hook back up with former teammate and stud WR Moss that badly?

Can you say Tanya Harding and her cast of bat wielding screw-ups? Were the refs in on the deal?

This was the one downer on an otherwise Christmas-like sports day.

The Panthers smacked a whammy on the Chargers (so what if that screwed up my pool). The Bears laid one on the C@!#$ like they should have a couple of Superbowls ago and Jet Favre played a nail biter against the recently replaced Chad Pennington in the sweltering heat of Miami. Aye!

Oh, tennis is still rolling along after 4 weeks or something like that. Yes, Serena Williams brought the U.S. Open trophy back to the U.S. Americans. And there's more for Monday night thanks to Tropical Depression neé Hurricane Hanna. Federer made it, hottie Nadal did not, but nice to see someone new try to take on Mr. Best of all Time.

OH and Carson Palmer maybe if you stop trash talking about The Ohio State University, maybe just maybe, you might be able to beat a rookie QB with a not-so great offense like you should. How's that taste Mr. USC?

Testaverde. This is who is hot!

Let's hear it for my fellow 40-something! Vinnie Testaverde brought it for the Panthers. No excuses football. He got cut from Patriots at the beginning of the season, hadn't played in 5 weeks, is 43 years old, traveled to another time zone, plane delayed and arrived just in time to practice, and learned the plays in a few days.

And that boys (Delhomme, Carr and More) is how its done won.

Now that's a guy with a very, very big pair.

Considering all the teams that have QB issues, the Panthers may be starting a trend—retired QBs.

Quarterback Roulette

Lately, teams are playing the "Whose the GUY? Quarterback Game." Smith and Crennel finally made the call for their long-suffering fans. Not really sure if the Cardinals really made the call or, if they did, not sure it was the right one yet. The Raiders...all I can do is sigh. How did such a feared team become that mess and still retain its scary, yet devoted fans?

When will the Panthers jump in this game? Delhomme's status is uncertain at the moment due to an injury and I don't think fans are really crying about it. When starter Donavon McNabb went down last year, fans were definitely upset--convinced that their promising season was toast. But backup Garcia laid it down, saved the season, and got a starting job elsewhere.

As much as I'd like to see that replicated here, well, the former Houston Texans starting QB David Carr is the backup. He played well last Sunday. And sometimes a person getting a second chance and clean slate excels beyond expectation. Just like an adopted dog. They just seem to behave better than the one you raised from a puppy. I hope this is what happens. As one reporter put it, Jake Delhomme might get Wally Pipped.

For the record, I'm not a Delhomme hater. I love the guy! He's got a great QB name (who doesn't love a Jake), he's passionate, a little daredevil, got that cajun blood pumpin', and from most accounts he's a great leader. When my brother trash talks him, I've always defended him and Fox for that matter.

But he hasn't come up with The Answer--a big, fat, diamond-encrusted Ring.

and as any Buckeye knows, it's not the accolades you accumulate throughout the year, or the Michigan game, the Heisman, or the other postseason hoopla. Not "We played for the National Championship."

It's "DID YOU BRING HOME THE FRICKIN' NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!"

Herm said it best, "You play to win the game."