Top Topics - 01/17/07

Thanks to Around the Horn, I have nine questions to ponder tonight while my wife watches the 2nd 2-hour American Idol of the season. Using my handy DVR, I fast forwarded through the ramblings of the panel in order to find the questions from TR. So, without any further delay:

1. More or less pressure on Peyton this time around?
The Colts didn't blow through the league this year like they did last year. The defense was atrocious at times, but has been fantastic in the first two rounds of the playoffs. And, Peyton hasn't lost to the Patriots in two years. The Colts were derailed last year against Pittsburgh in the playoffs and have beaten the Pats the last two regular seasons. Sure, Peyton hasn't jumped the hurdle of NE in the playoffs. But, this year his team has home field for the AFC Championship.

I might be dancing around the question a little bit, but that's because I don't know if there is a good answer. Manning probably feels the same amount of pressure he usually does for games of this level. I don't imagine he's overly concerned about this installment of the Pats defense, especially considering he's already seen them. I'm sure Manning understands that he needs to get over the AFC Championship Game hurdle. But, he's probably felt the same amount of pressure in previous years. People are talking about the window closing on their Super Bowl chances, but Manning and his receivers are still playing at a high level. Also, the defense is playing as well as it has in a while and RB Joseph Addai is developing into a solid replacement for new Cardinal Edgerrin James.

Internally, no more pressure. Externally, there probably is more pressure this time around. But, I don't think that means anything to him at all.

2. Is Bush the "X Factor"?
In one sense, he definitely is. Reggie Bush, like Devin Hester for the Bears, could break a big play any time he touches the ball. He has great speed and elusiveness in the open field. But, he shouldn't be the focus of the Bear game plan. Without Tommie Harris in the middle, Deuce McAllister might deserve a little more attention. And, there is always Drew Brees and the Saints' big-play passing game.

Reggie Bush topped 70 yards rushing just once this season. He had 88 receptions, but only topped 70 receiving yards in two games. However, each time he topped 70, he went for at least 125 yards (126 rushing; 125 and 131 receiving). But, 13 out of 16 weeks ... let's just say it wasn't a lightning storm. In two other games, he topped 100 total yards from scrimmage. So, he accomplished that feat in less than one third of the games (5 of 17 when you include last week).

And, add to that, he fumbled twice last week. One was recovered for a lucky Saints first down. Then, late in the game, he missed a good pitch from Brees that could have cost his team the game. Maybe the play calling left a little to be desired, but Bush should have at least controlled the ball and kept it away from the Eagles.

Reggie Bush isn't going to be the reason the Saints win ... unless his talent is so mesmerizing that it causes Ron Rivera to lose focus on the other offensive assets the Saints roll out.

3. Warriors or Pacers made out better?
Unless the Warriors somehow managed to switch conferences with the Pacers as part of this deal, I'm going with the Pacers on this one. First and foremost, they got rid of Stephen Jackson. Also, they picked up a lot of hair on the heads of Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Troy Murphy - an Indiana guy from his days at Notre Dame. In all seriousness, Troy Murphy should really benefit from not having to face the power forward gauntlet known as the Western Conference, where you face Dirk, KG, Boozer, Duncan, Diaw, Brand, etc. With Murphy and Jermaine O'neal, Dunleavy should find some open shots and the Pacers are in line for a playoff spot so far, even though they're 4th (out of 5) in their own division.

That said, the Warriors got more athletic and should be fun to watch with Davis, Richardson, Jackson, Harrington, Biedrins, Pietrus and Ellis lighting things up in the uptempo West. Let's see some Warriors v. Suns or Warriors v. Nuggets once Carmelo gets back in the swing of things. They still don't have a shot at winning the West. Put that squad in the East and I'd like their chances a lot more.

4. Bonds' deal with Giants in doubt?
I hope it falls through. Not because I want Bonds to ride off into the sunset. I want Bonds to have one more shot at chasing a World Series and it would be great if he had some protection in the lineup. I don't see Pedro Feliz and Ryan Klesko doing that. Also, I'd like to see Bonds not have to play the field every day. I'm not afraid of balls bouncing off his head for HR's. I'm afraid of him needing days off because chasing after balls in the outfield grass takes its toll on his body, robbing him of precious AB's. Opposing pitchers take away enough of his AB's ... he should reclaim some of the potential AB's by moving to the AL and spending "off" days at DH. It would be nice if he was protected by Manny or Vlad or another big gun, too.

5. Lofton: front-runner for Raiders job?
I thought this name came out of nowhere. And, for Lofton's sake, I hope he doesn't get the job. He should continue up the ranks and look for a better opportunity for his first head coaching gig.

6. Bounce-back season for Mickelson?
Mickelson claims to have put on 15 pounds of muscle during the short golf off-season. I think his chances of having a "bounce-back" season are better than the chances he put on that much lean muscle. Mickelson is a fantastic golfer and should benefit greatly from being in better shape. He won't fatigue as easily during hot summer events. And, he should be more consistent with his swing because of it. He wasn't that far off last year and he should be back as a top 5 golfer on the PGA tour this year.

7. Reaction to "Instant Classic" (UT/OSU)?
This was the first time I sat down and watched Kevin Durant and he'll be fun to watch tear up a somewhat depleted Big 12 this season. Durant is really long and has a good stroke. He reminds me a little bit of Carmelo Anthony. He's good in the post and pulling up off the dribble. He can bomb from the college line. One question is whether or not he'll be able to extend that to the NBA range. Either way, he'll be a dynamic scorer all year and an impact player in the NBA next year.

Back to the game, it was great ... except for all the references to the walk-on for the OSU Cowboys. Walk-on, walk-on, walk-on ... the commentators couldn't let that go. Mario Boggan was fantastic. He was strong inside, hitting jumpers, nailing FT's, and hit a long two-pointer (his foot was inside the line on the "3") to pull it out in the end when no one else on the Cowboys could put the Longhorns away.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see enough of Kevin Durant v. Marcus Dove, the best OSU defender. The refs were far too quick with the whistle and it hurt the game. Also, Oklahoma State didn't have anyone to bring the ball up court once Eaton fouled out. JamesOn Curry refused to go left to beat the press. It was a fabulously entertaining game because every time OSU looked like they'd put UT away, the Longhorns clawed back and prolonged the dang thing. But, as good as the game was, neither of these teams is elite. They're good teams. They'll probably fight all year with A&M for Big 12 South supremacy, but they're a notch below the Kansas Jayhawks, who destroyed OSU by 30 recently. The Cowboys lack Kevin Durant and Texas doesn't have any experience. Put them together and they came up with one heck of a game, though.

8. Mike or Don better fit for Dolphins?
Neither, although Don Shula is looking better since he started on Nutri-System. Maybe, by losing weight, he's been able to regain enough energy to get back into coaching. Nah. The Dolphins can't hire Mike Shula. They can't do it because they can't take the guy Alabama fired before they stole the Dolphins previous leader. And, they can't do it because Mike Shula would, inevitably, fail in Miami and it's not fair to him to put him in that position. If Mike Shula was a hot commodity, maybe, but it would look like the only reason he was getting the job was because of his father and that's not a good situation anywhere, much less in the NFL.

9. Britney rebuffed by NFL Network?
How did Britney fall so far? Why did she marry K-Fed? So many questions I don't have an answer to. But, I obviously have no idea about this Hollywood-type stuff because I definitely would not have picked Prince to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl. I wouldn't pick Prince to perform at anything I might be watching, much less participate in the biggest single game in American sports.