All the talk of cheating continues to swirl around the New England Patriots.  Do you remember when the world crowned them the team of the decade and mentioned them in the same breath as the Steelers, 49ers, and Cowboys of decades past?  Well, give them their asterisk.  These Pats are going to be linked to cheating like Barry Bonds is to getting shots in the glute - forever associated.  You may recall my criticism that the original penalty given by the Sherriff wasn’t stiff enough?  Well, I renew my desire to see more action taken.  The Commish for his part just wants this to go away.  A certain Senator with no other means of generating headlines for his aging career has different ideas.  This will not go away until something more is done.  And, as a New England resident and Patriots fan, I say thanks Bill Belichick for giving us this great decade - and an asterisk.

How about the Bucs grabbing the limelight as the first victim of this video tape scheme?  Monte Kiffin has to feel like Pamela Anderson - the next thing you know a private video-tape of you doing your thing shows up in the press.  Well, at least Monte does his thing… er, with great skill.  Such skill, in fact, that the Bucs defense managed to win the game even with Drew Bledsoe knowing the defense that was called an estimated 75% of the time. 

Jason Taylor’s dance steps were good enough to win him second place on Dancing With The Stars.  His on camera appeal may win him that future in Hollywood he’s had his eyes on for years.  But his dance with the Miami Dolphins looks to be at an end.  Here’s the problem for Jason.  He has locked horns with Bill Parcells.  Now it is a bravado showdown, and Bill will not allow himself to lose.  The team will lose for the sake of Bill’s winning.  Mark my words.  Dolphins coach Tony Soprano… uh, I mean Sparano, has made it clear that Jason has danced his way out of the family graces.  The only question now is whether Jason leaves stage-left or stage-right.  He says he still has a burning desire for football.  He meets this coming week with execs from two of Hollywood’s big movie studios.  We shall see.  Maybe he will be the next Brian Bosworth, eh?

Pacman Jones wants to play for the Cowboys.  The Cowboys want Pacman to play.  Defense and offense, as a matter of fact.  That’s telling.  The Cowboys have recognized that beyond T.O. they are not very accomplished at receiver.  Pac could be an answer.  Here’s the problem.  The Sherriff is taking his sweet time in ruling whether Pac can play - and every day this decision is delayed is another day on which Pac can find himself in the vicinity of someone being shot or robbed or… you get the picture.  If I’m Jerry Jones, I’m having Pac live on a deserted island until training camp begins, and then I’m assigning him a babysitter round the clock.  Like Ricky Williams peeing in a cup - Pac is a lock to find trouble given time to himself.

Some NFL vets are venting on the salaries being handed to rookies.  You think?  Matt Ryan was signed by the Falcons this week - his deal makes Peyton and Tom look poor.  Kevin Mawae and Jay Feely spoke out about it on a radio interview.  The proof will be in the pudding.  If Matt winds up with Peyton or Tom-like numbers one day, Arthur Blank was a genius.  But if he’s a Ryan Leaf-a-like…

To hear the radioheads talk, we should start planning for our 2011 NFL players strike now.  Not so fast.  You wait and see - the league owners and players had planned this opt out clause in the current contract expecting to use it.  I say they will strike a new deal.

Hey, and in the Buccaneers’ world, OTAs and all, we’ve made it a week or so without Chris Simms speculation.  I’m thinking he ought to get on Dancing With The Stars.  Maybe Hollywood would make him their next action hero.  On those matters that have hit the blogs these last couple of weeks, let me weigh in.  Garcia and Graham - pay them.  We’re not talking Matt Ryan money for either of them.  Shoot, we’re not talking Matt Ryan money for the two of them combined.  My guess is that both will get done and that right now we’re just blowing smoke about it because at this time of year there is little news in Bucdom to blow smoke about.  Greg White - ditto.  Come on, he was playing for the Arena League for crying out loud!  How many dollars do you need to throw his way to bring a smile to his face?  Dunn - be ready Buc fans for Warrick to live up to his promise that he didn’t return to Tampa to become a situational player.  I tell you he looks like Charlie Garner to coach Gruden, and it will become hard to keep him off the field.  Michael Clayton - yes, every season since that rookie campaign we’re out to label Michael a bust.  Not so fast.  Injuries have been more the issue that his skill.  Let’s see what he looks like now that he is finally healthy.  We may be very pleasantly surprised.  Mark my words.