The Dolphins are going to chase Peyton Manning if he becomes available in free agency. That is already decided. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross loves the idea of Manning and has established him as the offseason quarterback priority.

Manning first.

Matt Flynn second. (Miami Herald)

After reading Armando Salguero’s post you can definitely understand why and it’s not just because he’s Peyton Manning. Salguero hit it right on the head when he said Peyton would be a cash cow, they’d win a few games and because of who he is they’ll sell tickets, more then normal. Memorabilia sales would also go through the roof.

He also goes to argue that this may not be the best direction for the organization which is also a valid thought. Peyton would give the team a short term boost but would it address the long term? I too doubt it.

Me? Give me a free agent chase of a great pass rusher. Give me a trade-up for Robert Griffin III or the selection of whatever rookie QB the personnel department gets most comfortable with. Give me the signing of 27 year-old Matt Flynn even. Get me some more improving and building for the long haul. Get me the short-term pain in exchange for the long-term gain.

I know I’m in the minority. I am like a salmon swimming upstream and the Miami plan and the Miami fans are big brown bears waiting in the middle of the flow to swallow me because of my opinion.

That’s fine. Let’s talk in two or three years when we’re right back where we started and you’re screaming for a young QB and a new coach and a new GM — again. (Miami Herald)

While adding Peyton wouldn’t be the best for the teams future it would definitely give the fans some excitement. In my mind, I’d go with Flynn and give him a chance while they build the team up around him.

What would you do?

@Jeff_McLane: I was going to do a should the #Eagles consider Peyton Manning story, but the whispers coming out of Indy are that his career is over.

I have to say again it all depends who or what you believe. In my opinion you can’t believe anyone at the moment. The person who said things the best was his older brother, Cooper.

“What I do know is Peyton is going to do every single thing a human being can possibly do to get ready to play again,” Cooper Manning said from his office in New Orleans. “Where, when and how he’ll play, that’s all up in the air. But as far as his body goes, Peyton’s smart, he’ll know what to do. Anyone predicting what will happen now going forward is just wasting their breath. But he is working as hard as anyone can work to get out there again.” (NFL.com)

I have no doubt in my mind that Peyton wants to play and his working his ass off to get back on the field. Unfortunately with the injury and surgery he’s had there is just simply no telling if he’ll be able to play again till the time comes.

There have been reports from doctors that it could take a full year just to recover normally from his neck fusion surgery and that timetable doesn’t include how long it could take to recover enough to play in the NFL. That’s a long time and a long time away from the game itself.

My thinking he will work his ass off like he’s been doing and try himself out in training camp. Anyone thinks that he’s close to retiring is insane. That decision won’t come till he sees himself that he’s no longer able to do what he’s done for so many years.

Personally, I’d love to see him retire. Not because he could wind up with a rival like the Philadelphia Eagles or Washignton Redskins but for his own well being. He’s still young only 35, he’s got a lot of years left him before him why risk putting yourself in a wheelchair for one last shot at glory?

If he does let go part of the staff who would he bring in to replace them? Geoff Mosher of the Delaware News Journal assume coaches from the Eagles staff. Target number one would probably be offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

Grigson, anIndiana native and former Purdue standout, leaves a front-office vacancy for the Eagles, but his departure could also cause some major changes on the coaching staff, especially if Grigson cleans house inIndianapolis and brings along some Eagles coaches to fill out his staff.

…..

If Grigson decides to cut ties with Caldwell, he could choose to bring in Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who has head coaching experience and has said he would like another chance. (Geoff Mosher of the Delaware News Journal)

Mosher brings up some great points as to why Mornhinweg could be a target. The Colts have the number one draft pick and will obviously take Andrew Luck. Well, Marty’s specialty is mentoring young quarterbacks. So teaming him and Luck would be great for the Colts future.

While this will negatively effect the Eagles it will be great for Marty as he’s been waiting for another chance as a head coach. He’s definitely done a great job, despite this years setback, in resurrecting the career of Michael Vick.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next week or so.

Red Light District Hockey – Ranking all five Winter Classics
Los That Sports Blog – Video: Red Bull Follows Deron Williams From Game In New Jersey To Party In New York
Fight Hub TV – Oscar De La Hoya “Canelo Alvarez could do damage against a Mayweather Jr.”
Guyism – VIDEO: Supercut of pun-master movie reviewer Gene Shalit is hilariously bad

Unathletic Mag – This Is Why Fans Should Avoid Running Onto A Football Field (Video In Post)
Lost Letterman – UCLA Fan’s Marriage Proposal Rejected
Sports Talk Network – Terrell Suggs: “We dont need God on our sidelines”
Caged Insider – JDS: Lesnar was right to retire, Overeem aint number two

Philadelphia Sports Daily – Lurie Says Andy Reid Will Return
Crystal Ball Run – Urban Meyer To His Players: No Twitter For You
Moon Dog Sports – Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Should Hire Bill Polian
Fight of the Night – Alistair Overeem’s UFC Deal Includes Share Of The PPV Revenue

As always home teams in caps.

INDIANAPOLIS 16, Jacksonville 10
New Orleans 32, ATLANTA 27
Houston 30, TAMPA BAY 20
CINCINNATI 27, Pittsburgh 24
UPSET – CAROLINA 26, Tennessee 21
PHILADELPHIA 26, Arizona 20
KANSAS CITY 27, Denver 24
Buffalo 24, DALLAS 18
CLEVELAND 20, St. Louis 13
MIAMI 23, Washington 17

Baltimore 24, SEATTLE 16
SAN FRANCISCO 32, New York Giants 26
CHICAGO 30, Detroit 23

New England 27, NEW YORK JETS 23
GREEN BAY 36, Minnesota 30

I’m going with Carolina as my upset based off of Cam Newton’s comments this week. Cam pretty much said his season has been a failure because he doesn’t have the wins. He’s become a leader on that team in a very short period of time and I think a comment like this will get his teammates to rally behind him.

There were two games that I went back and forth with because of late scratches.

Philadelphia – They’ve got no DeSean Jackson today because of his alarm clock not going off and causing him to miss a team meeting (cough cough bullshit). I still think the Eagles will win but lowered the margin of victory. Jackson hasn’t been much of a factor and well the Cardinals don’t have Kevin Kolb.

Washington – They decided to start Rex Grossman over John Beck. I had Miami winning this game but as of hearing this news I thought of flipping this game in the ‘Skins favor. Then I remembered what Grossman did in his last start, four interceptions on 22 passes.

I’ve got the Colts getting their first win this week against the Jaguars. Jacksonville has arguably the worst offense in the NFL and I think they’ll make Indy’s defense look better then it actually is. I also see Indianapolis players starting to play with more fire, much like the Miami guys did, as they near an 0-16 season. They’ve got a winnable game and the guys should come out fired up ready to get off the goose egg.

The late games today should be great.

I’ve got Chicago continuing the roll they’re on by squeezing out a win over the Lions. The reason, I don’t see Matt Forte turning the ball over in key situations again.

Much like last week my heart tells me the Giants will win but because of injuries I just can’t pull the trigger. They get Hakeem Nicks back but could lose Mario Manningham, and there is still no Ahmad Bradshaw. The 49ers defense is much better then the Patriots, so I’m not sure if Eli can carry them to a win again. If he does, his MVP chances could skyrocket (yes, I know Aaron Rodgers has that on lock down).

Patriots / Jets on Sunday Night Football should be a great game. The Jets are on a roll while the Patriots are actually on a two game losing streak. They’re tied for first and the winner is pretty much in control of the division. (Sorry Bills fans, I still have doubts). I think the Patriots pull this one out on the road, there’s no way they lose three straight. They look bad right now but you know Bill has been up their asses all week.

Last Week – 9-4
Season 70-30
UPSET – 4-3
LOCK – 5-2
Correct Scores – 0
Partially Correct Scores – 6

As usual home teams in caps.

DALLAS 26, Seattle 19
LOCK – Atlanta 33, INDIANAPOLIS 16
BUFFALO 31, New York Jets 20
HOUSTON 27, Cleveland 13
San Francisco 23, WASHINGTON 20
NEW ORLEANS 33, Tampa Bay 17
UPSET – Miami 22, KANSAS CITY 20

Cincinnati 23, TENNESSEE 20
OAKLAND 30, Denver 13
NEW ENGLAND 24, New York Giants 20
St. Louis 20, ARIZONA 16
Green Bay 27, SAN DIEGO 24

PITTSBURGH 23, Baltimore 20
Chicago 25, PHILADELPHIA 22

Lock is Atlanta over Indianapolis, pretty much needs no explanation. My upset does. Kansas City may be hot lately but I like how Miami performed against the Giants last week. If it wasn’t for an almost perfect game by Eli Manning they would have pulled off the upset. The Dolphins played with some urgency and I expect that again this week, the difference will be the Chiefs don’t have an Eli Manning.

I expect Buffalo to put some big points on the Jets defense. I know, I know how do I figure. Well Buffalo has been a high scoring machine at home this year, while the Jets defense has been very generous on the road.

The Patriots / Giants will be a great game but it pains me to say New England should pull it out. The Giants defense will terrorize Brady like they did in the Super Bowl. The difference this time isn’t a Plaxico Burress or David Tyree but it’s the lack of the Giants two best weapons, Hakeem Nick and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The 49ers are 3-0 on the East Coast this year and I expect them to beat the banged up ‘Skins to go 4-0, it will be close though.

Here’s my real shocker this week, more then the Dolphins. I think the Bears will go into Philadelphia and win Monday night. Yes, the offense was spectacular last week, they looked like the dream team they were supposed to be but who did they play, the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, their defense is good but the ‘Boys game planned for classic Andy Reid aka pass happy abandon the run. Chicago won’t make that mistake. The Eagles defense will tee off on Jay Cutler but I think the Bears will lean heavy on Forte, who should consistently get to the Eagles linebackers. If Cutler minimizes the turnovers and just make the passes he’s given the Bears could pull this off. I have these two teams very evenly matched this week, which means I can bust big on this pick. Meaning watch the Eagles go and blow the Bears out but I’m sticking with my gut, a Bears upset.

Last Week – 8-5
Season 61-26
UPSET – 3-3
LOCK – 4-2
Correct Scores – 0
Partially Correct Scores – 6

As always home teams in caps.

NY GIANTS 34, Miami 20
HOUSTON 23, Jacksonville 13
BALTIMORE 26, Arizona 13
LOCK – New Orleans 32, ST. LOUIS 16
CAROLINA 25, Minnesota 22
TENNESSEE 24, Indianapolis 17

Detroit 24, DENVER 21
BUFFALO 20, Washington 17
Cincinnati 23, SEATTLE 16
SAN FRANCISCO 26, Cleveland 20
New England 30, PITTSBURGH 24

UPSET – Dallas 27, PHILADELPHIA 25
San Diego 30, KANSAS CITY 17

- New Orleans is an easy lock against the Rams, especially after last weeks performancce

- I think the Cowboys pull off a huge upset in Philly tonight. The Eagles may have a 12-0 record coming out of a bye in the Andy Reid era but it’s not as good as it appears. Philly sports talk radio looked at those 12 wins and only 3 or 4 could be considered quality, meaning they’ve been blessed with easy games after the bye. Look for the ‘Boys to steal one late.

- Buffalo struggles with a depleted Washington offense but pulls out the win.

- Denver gives a struggling Lions team a fight but the savior, Tebow once again doesn’t have enough to complete the comeback but does enough to excite his fan base.

- Steelers / Patriots of course the Game of the Week. I think Brady leads the Pats to a late touchdown drive for the win.

- Carolina / Minnesota could wind up as one of the better games this week two. Hopefully it winds up a well played game by both rookie QBs and not a turnover filled mess.

Last Week – No Picks
Season 53-21
UPSET – 3-2
LOCK – 4-1
Correct Scores – 0
Partially Correct Scores – 6

1. Green Bay Packers
2. New England Patriots
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Detroit Lions
6. San Diego Chargers
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Pittsburgh Steelers

11. New York Giants
12. Tennessee Titans
13. Oakland Raiders
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Houston Texans
16. Washington Redskins
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. New York Jets
19. Chicago Bears
20. Philadelphia Eagles
21. Seattle Seahawks

22. Dallas Cowboys
23. Kansas City Chiefs
24. Cleveland Browns
25. Arizona Cardinals
26. Carolina Panthers
27. Denver Broncos
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
29. Minnesota Vikings
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Miami Dolphins
32. Indianapolis Colts

Quick Thoughts

- Detroit takes a slight drop after a tough loss but with it being against the also 5-1 Niners, they stay in the Top 5 but get leaped frog by those Niners.

- The Giants are also a mover this week after beating the Buffalo Bills. This was the first game all year where I felt the Giants played like a solid team, even with the few big plays they let up on defense. Because of that reasoning, I can’t yet put them back into the Top 10.

- There was a huge battle in the NFC Central between the Saints and Bucs, thanks to the Bucs win they move ahead of the Saints who take a slight tumble in the rankings.

- The Colts continue to bring up the rear at 0-6.

- The Eagles move back into the Top 20 thanks to their win over what was appearing to be a solid Redskins team. I think this is the beginning of the end to the Redskins season, thanks to the reappearance of the real Rex Grossman.

- The Raiders are now 4-2 and moving up my rankings quickly. With them adding a QB of Carson Palmer’s caliber I think they’ll be moving into the Top 10 quickly.

Here are the picks as always home teams are in caps.

LOCK – GREEN BAY 36, St. Louis 16
Buffalo 27, NEW YORK GIANTS 20
CINCINNATI 26, Indianapolis 17
ATLANTA 31, Carolina 27
DETROIT 26, San Fransisco 23
Philadelphia 23, WASHINGTON 18
PITTSBURGH 24, Jacksonville 17
OAKLAND 27, Cleveland 21
BALTIMORE 30, Houston 27
New Orleans 31, TAMPA BAY 23
NEW ENGLAND 34, Dallas 26
UPSET – Minnesota 24, CHICAGO 20
NEW YORK JETS 23, Miami 16

Very quick thoughts this week.

- Green Bay is the obvious lock by playing the Rams

- Most people will go WTF when seeing I took Minnesota as today’s upset but after seeing them last week there is a reason, Adrian Peterson. The Bears currently have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL so I expect Minnesota to just keep pounding the ball. Look for a very boring Sunday Night game.

- Expecting the Jets to beat the Dolphins but to struggle to do so.

- Bills and Lions keep on rolling.

- Eagles struggle with the Redskins but turn their fortunes around by pulling out a late win, instead of a late collapse. The win won’t be convincing enough though to change fans opinions.

- Panthers/Falcons probably one of the best games of the weekend. I think Falcons pull it out at home but if Newtown gets in a passing groove this could be an upset.

- Texans/Ravens is a game I really wanted to see a couple weeks ago. Now that the Texans don’t have Andre Johnson I go ehh whatever.

Last Week – 8-5
Season 44-17
UPSET – 3-1
LOCK – 3-1
Correct Scores – 0
Partially Correct Scores – 4

1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. New England Patriots
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Buffalo Bills
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. San Diego Chargers
8. San Francisco 49ers
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Houston Texans

11. Washington Redskins
12. Oakland Raiders
13. Tennessee Titans
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. New York Giants
16. New York Jets
17. Cincinnati Bengals
18. Dallas Cowboys
19. Chicago Bears
20. Atlanta Falcons
21. Seattle Seahawks

22. Cleveland Browns
23. Carolina Panthers
24. Denver Broncos
25. Philadelphia Eagles
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
27. Minnesota Vikings
28. Arizona Cardinals
29. Kansas City Chiefs
30. Miami Dolphins
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Indianapolis Colts

- I’ll start at the bottom of the rankings, that’s right that’s the Colts at the bottom. What a fall, guess all they really were was Peyton Manning. They pull up the rear because of that blown 21-0 lead in the second quarter of their game against the Chiefs.

- Even thou there were no losses by the Saints or Patriots, the Detroit Lions have earned the right to leapfrog them. As an undefeated team after Week 5 they deserve to be ranked #2. Never did I expect the NFC Central to have two undefeated teams at this point and the last two at that.

- The Bills jump back into the top 5 after their “upset” over the Eagles. Now that the Eagles are 1-4 can I actually call that an upset. Nope, I can’t the Bills are for real …….

- and the Dream Team is not. The Eagles may actually be a dream team, cause they’re dreaming if they think they even have a shot at the playoffs. That team is just a disaster.

- After a couple late comebacks the Giants looked like they were going to pull off another one, till an ill advised pass by Eli Manning got tipped and returned for a touchdown. It was a horrible loss, your classic trap game and now they have to regroup quickly as they’ve got to face those Buffalo Bills next week.

- The 49ers are quickly moving up in my rankings. They definitely look like they’re for real especially after destroying Tampa Bay like they did. If they can stay in the Top 10 we’re in for one hell of a season, you’d have them, Buffalo and Detroit. Wow.

That’s all for now, enjoy your Week 6 action.