You’ll have to forgive my tardiness. I needed to take a few weeks to grieve the loss of this NFL season. As quickly as it came, it has now left and left me alone to face a notoriously depressing and ruthlessly cold February. But now that the eyes of March are almost upon us, with the Combine beginning and the 2007 NFL Draft a mere 62 days away, I am finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

That being said, I would be remiss if I neglected to hand out my end of season awards. Again, not the most original notion but lets do it and have some fun in the process, shall we:

The 'Getting Out While The Getting Is Good' Award; Tiki Barber.
Barber has come under a firestorm of criticism since announcing that 2006 would be his final season. Criticism that is well deserved. Where does Barber get off, wanting to leave a sport, known for debilitating long term effects on its players, while he is in good health in order to pursue career goals in other fields. What has Barber done for his team, the New York Football Giants besides rush for over ten thousand yards, accumulate over five thousand receiving yards in his 10 year career, become a role model and an ambassador of the game, all the while avoiding scandal and arrest. (Wow. Maybe I deserve the sarcasm award)

The 'Highlander' Award; Matt Millen.
Much like the lead character in the popular Movie / TV series, this guy can’t be killed. Since taking over as Detroit General Manager in 2001, the Lions are a collective 24-72, reaching double digits in the loss column in each season. With such terrible seasons come high draft picks and a chance to rebuild, correct? This is where Millen has been at his worst, making top 10 draft picks out of Joey Harrington, Charles Rodgers and Mike Williams. A veritable Draft Blunder Hall of Fame. Yet Millen is still Detroit’s GM. Go figure.

The 'Space Mountain' Award; Tony Romo.
What a timultuous season it was for Romo. After being named the Cowboys’ starter in week 7, Romo won 4 of his first 5 games, tossing 10 Touchdowns versus just 2 Interceptions and in the process, invoked images of a young Brett Favre. Then Romo sputtered down the stretch, with 6 TD’s but 8 picks as Dallas lost 3 of its last 5 games and Romo resembled, well, an old Brett Favre. The Cowboys season abruptly died with Romo’s infamous botched hold on a field goal attempt in the Divisonal Play off round. Lets not offer Romo too much pity, after all, he still gets to go home to Carrie Underwood.

The 'More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same' Award; Arizona Cardinals.
New blue chip Quarterback, new state of the art stadium, new All-Pro running back to compliment the best wide receiver tandem this side of Indianapolis, results in…same old sorry Cardinals.

The 'Wake Up Call' Award; Houston Texans.
The only way I can explain the debacle that took place on draft day is that perhaps the Texans’ brass overslept and missed the entire first round. How else can you explain, despite desperately needing a running back and some explosiveness, passing on Reggie Bush in favour of defensive end Mario Williams who went with out a sack in the first 3 games, and the last 9 games of the season. Then with the first pick of the second round, Houston selected linebacker DeMeco ryans whose 125 tackles lead the league, on route to garnering Defensive Rookie of the Year honours. One of life’s great mysteries.

The 'If I Could Turn Back Time' Award; Miami Dolphins.
Figuring that a premier Quarterback is the missing link on an up and coming Dolphins team, Miami passed on Drew Brees in favour of Daunte Culpepper. Although both pivots suffered season ending injuries in 2005, Brees returned with a vengeance, throwing for over forty four hundred yards in his first year as a Saint, whereas
Culpepper started Miami’s first 4 games, throwing only 2 Touchdown passes, then was shut down for the rest of the year because of further problems with his surgically repaired knee.

The 'Nice Guys Finish First' Award; Tony Dungy.
His mind, as it pertained to football, was never a question. It was his stoic and reserved demeanor, his critics insisted, that would keep Dungy from ever winning a Super Bowl. When Dungy spent so many frustrating yet encouraging seasons in Tampa Bay building a contender, only to be unceremoniously dismissed a season before the Buccaneers would win a championship, it seemed that he had caught a bad break. The series of events that left Dungy and his new team, the Colts, defeated and eliminated from the 2005 play offs by the eventual champions, Pittsburgh, may have left one to wonder whether there was some higher power that would forever keep dungy from achieving his goal. After the Colts Super Bowl XLI triumph over Chicago, Dungy, whenever he decides to leave coaching, can be remembered as a man of class, dignity, integrity, and as a champion.

Gotta Go, ‘Rudy’ is on

The Yankees are on the verge of blowing this AROD situation in a big, big way.

If I were a gambling man, I would be willing to bet that Yankees fans, and baseball fans in general are sick and tired of this AROD / Derek Jeter soap opera. Rodriguez’ most recent, ‘he [Jeter] likes me, he likes me not’ comments have no doubt irritated Gotham’s faithful who, demand a thicker than average skin from their professional athletes. Newsflash! Rodriguez is not Sports’ first athlete with superior talent and a fabrigee ego. His contributions on the field are so impressive however, that it would behoove Yankees management to create a supportive environment or risk losing arguably, this generation’s dominant slugger.

When it comes to AROD, everyone is quick to point out his post season failures and there is no sugarcoating this fact. Rodriguez himself admits that his play off resume has been, for the most part an enormous disappointment. But what if he is a play off late bloomer. Despite the records that Peyton Manning piled up, people were much more concerned with his ‘cant win the big one’ label. One Super Bowl win later, Manning is considered one of the best signal callers in NFL history. It wasn’t that long ago that Barry Bonds picture appeared on the side of a milk carton every October. Then came his breakout 2002 post season and now Bonds is criticized for many things, but play off failure is not one of them. Rodriguez is one of the few players in baseball who, when right, can dominate a series by himself.

As unpopular a notion as this may be, Derek Jeter himself is a big part of the problem. No one can disregard what the Yankee icon has accomplished during his Hall of Fame career. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the greatest Yankees of all time and when it is all said and done, one of the greatest shortstops of all time. He is also unquestionably, the Bronx Bombers’ heart and soul, its undisputed leader, but shouldn’t his main concern as leader be doing whatever it takes to help Rodriguez feel comfortable? Regardless of Jeter’s personal feelings towards Rodriguez, getting AROD mentally healthy and productive would go a long way in assuring Yankee dominance. AROD may not come close to Jeter in terms of mental toughness but when he’s on, in terms of production, Rodriguez himself has few peers and like it or not, it is Jeter’s duty as a leader to do what it takes to help AROD get right.

Perhaps Boss Steinbrenner has had enough with the AROD saga and Rodriguez’ days in a Yankee uniform are indeed numbered. Seems like a good idea. The problem is that Rodriguez; unceremonious dismissal from New York may ultimately be what ends up giving him something to prove. Rodriguez has always been formidable, but add to that a burning desire to prove that he can be an unstoppable force regardless of his surroundings, a motivational fire intent on making the Yankees sorry that they ever doubted him?

Be careful George, be very careful.

Gotta go, ‘Family Ties’ is on.

So Tim Hardaway hates Gay people. No UTEP two-stepping around this issue from him.

It would be easy to dismiss Hardaway’s rant as the ravings of a bigoted imbicile and move on with our lives. After all, ego and self-importance are traits that have always been synonomous with professional atheletes. Perhaps Hardaway and other atheletes who share his views, fear the possibility of unwanted sexual advances from a gay teammate. Whether these fears are based in any sense of reality or in the athelete’s overs inflated ego is another issue.

Surely Hardaway will be lambasted in the media, his name placed alongside of Al Campanis and Jimmy the Greek in the foot in mouth, bigot Hall of Fame. Whether anyone agrees with Hardaway’s views or not, they are however, his views and Hardaway has a Constitutional right to speak his mind. Hardaway’s views are not to be admired but his determination in showing the courage of his convictions, knowing full well the firestorm to follow, demonstrates a bizzare, yet impressive level of courage.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I am stressing to note that I do not, in anyway agree with, or approve of Hardaway’s beliefs. I am however, defending his right to express his beliefs and his right to have these beliefs. The comparison of the gay/lesbian community to other minority groups does not apply because, to anyone with any religious conscience, homosexuality, unlike being black, asian, or female, is a sin. To ask anyone who holds a faith, to accept the gay or lesbian lifestyle is to ask them to abandon their religion. That is, of course, not to say that anyone should be treated poorly, discriminated against, or oppressed because of their lifestyle, but it is Hardaway’s right to disapprove of that lifestyle.

The bottom line is that Hardaway's views, as assinine as they maybe, are his views and he is entitled to them. As now, is everyone entitled to have their own views about Hardaway.

To know me is to know that I am an old school type of guy. I wardrobe of choice and preference is a tee shirt and jeans, I don’t have call display, and I don’t know how to down load anything off of the internet. Likewise, I don’t believe in touchdown dances, pimping of jerseys or leisurely home run trots.

You can only imagine how I’m feeling about Gilbert Arenas right about now. For those who needing enlightenment, Arenas had made a pre-season promise to torch the Phoenix Suns, coached by Mike D’Antoni, and Nate MacMillan’s Portland Trailblazers for 50 points apiece. The reason being that D’Antoni and MacMillan are Assistant Coaches as well as members of the United States basketball selection committee, the very committee that had snubbed Arenas when selecting the squad designated to compete in the 2008 summer Olympics.
Arenas looked like he might live up to his words in December when he lit up the Suns for 54 points. A similar result was expected when Arenas faced a very young and rebuilding Blazers team on Sunday. So what did Agent Zero go off for? 40, 50, 60!! How about 9 points on 3 of 15 shooting.

Now I really am trying to resist the urge to absolutely blast Arenas. Here is a player who has gone from 2nd round draft choice, drafted behind such household names as Kwame Brown, Kirk Haston and Michael Bradley, to All Star, making the concept of self motivation an art form in the process. After all, the reason he chose to wear zero is because that is the number of teams that drafted him in the 1st round.

The problem is that all of his anger and vengeance can reach a point where it starts to become counter productive. The trademark of great champions such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods forever will be their enduring ability to fight off complacency and keep that competitive fire burning. It appears that in Arenas’ case that fire that he has spent so much energy cultivating, may be on the verge of consuming him.

As I have said, I am uncharacteristically taking it easy on Arenas because it cannot be denied that he belongs in the NBA’S upper echelon of great players. The motivation that he derives from this vendetta against everyone who underestimated him will only take Arenas and more importantly his team, so far. If Arenas is ultimate goal is to one day become win an NBA title as it should be, he would be better suited shifting his focus from proving that he is a great player, to learning what it takes to be a champion.

Achieving this goal would command a respect that 50 point game are simply unable to accomplish.

Gotta go, 'Night Rider' is on.

So the Brett Favre retirement watch will have to wait for at least another year and I know that there are those who think that Favre's time has come and that he is doing nothing but tarnishing his legacy as one of the NFL's greatest ever Quarterbacks by continuing to play. Now I wouldn't call myself a Favre fan per say, although it is extremely difficult to not have a certain amount of respect and admiration for someone who has competed at such an elite level for so many years, while avoiding the off the field pitfalls that seem to derail so many atheletes.

Favre has however, beyond a doubt earned the right to decide when he calls it quits. Now I'm not going to sit here and read from Favre's very impressive resume. It is common knowledge that he is on the cusp of surpassing some of the football's most hallowed passing records. If Favre were to quit tomorrow, he would definitely belong in any conversation discussing the NFL's all time greatest signal callers. But he's not quitting tomorrow and this seems to bother some people.

Why? No one is claiming that Favre is at the level that he was a decade ago - Favre himself would surely conceed that as truth - but Favre is far from being an embarrassment at the QB position. This past season Favre ranked 6th in League passing yards, with anything but a stellar set of receivers. Sixth would rank this supposed fossil ahead of golden boy Tom Brady and the kid with the can't miss pedigree, Eli Manning. Favre's 18 Touchdown passes ranked him ahead of Jake Delhomme and Steve McNair. All of this during a Packers rebuilding year. Regardless of Favre's age and inevitable regressing of skills, the fact remains that he is still Green Bay's best option quarterback.

It's not whether or not Favre can still play - the numbers prove that he can - rather its that the Packers organization owes it to Favre to allow him to play. Sports fans have seen it time and again. Said athelete has a breakout season, bolts for the big payday and fans cry bloody murder over a lack of loyalty. Here is an athelete who for a decade and a half, has been an all-star on the field, a model citizen off of it, an athelete who has played through physical injury as well as personal tragedy and in the process, has almost single handedly restored pride and tradition onto a franchise that prior to his arrival, had fallen to the depths of football's oblivion.

The situation might be different if Green Bay had a blue chipper waiting in the wings, but Aaron Rodgers is anything but a sure bet so it becomes even more of an exercise in practicality rather than sentimentality. When it comes to a young and improving Packers team coming off of an 8-8 season, in the wide open NFC, like it or not, Brett Favre still gives Green Bay its best chance of winning.

As sure as death, and taxes, Brett Farve will be inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame 5 years after his last game played. When that game will be, only Favre knows. It's a decision that is ultimately, in his hands and his hands alone, and for a man that has done so much for one organization, for one city, that’s exactly how it should be.

So Super Bowl XLI is history.

The 41st version of the National Football League's post merger championship should be remembered as the Scripted Bowl, in that there weren't many surprises. As predicted, Peyton Manning had little trouble leading the Colts to victory, flawlessly running an Indianapolis offense that dominated the Bears in every statistical catagory. As expected, erratic Chicago Quarterback Rex Grossman imploded on the biggest sporting stage that this continent has to offer. As anticipated, Devin Hester spent the first 13 seconds of XLI showing the world that he is quickly becoming Football's most electrifying game breaker. Even Prince, as mandated, showed that he is not the riskee showstopper of a decade ago, nor is he an over the hill fogee, but a pleasant, albeit thoroughly uninteresting medium.

As time passes however, Super Bowl XLI should also be remembered as an NFL crossroads where torch was passed, from fading dynasty, to a possible heir apparent, and from the game's Golden Boy to the game's ultimate student.

The Colts played with an aire of poise and confidence rarely before seen, in giving Chicago a thrashing that was not done justice by the final score. This performance as well as its predecessor, Indianapolis' thrilling come from behind victory over its biggest tormentor, New England in the Conference Championship may be an indication that the Colts are, at long last ready to usurp the Patriots as perennial AFC favourites.

The struggles of the Colts over the last several seasons were mirrored by their leader. Manning was repeatedly forced to settle for individual records while the one prize that he valued most, a championship, was won by the Tom Brady led Patriots 3 times. Perhaps XLI did not have that one defining moment that would undoubtebly etche itself into our minds and memories. A moment like Steve Young, on the sidelines in the waning moments of a fifth 49ers championship, a game in which Young threw for a record 6 touchdown passes, jubulantly shouting, 'will somebody take this monkey off my back' - a reference to the immense pressure of playing in San Francisco, and in 4 time Super Bowl Champion and city icon Joe Montana's shadow. Or a moment such as 37 year old John Elway hurling himself towards the goal line, hammered by two Green Bay Packers coming from opposite sides, spinning Elway like a helicopter propeller, but landing and gaining a crucial 1st down, that would result in a Denver Touchdown, that would contribute to Elway's 1st Super Bowl victory and also contrivute to another moment, Elway triumphantly hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy, grinning from ear to ear.

Manning may not have provided us with any one specific visual to be linked to XLI but he, like Elway and Young before him has shedded his, 'greatest Quarterback never to have won a Super Bowl', label, and has added his name to the 'greatest Quarterback ever' debate.

Then again, maybe the moment in question came at the very end, with Manning walking onto the field as time expired, wearing a subdued grin, equal parts relief, and satisfaction. The look of a man weary from years of battle, but now victorious. The look of a man sincerely content.