Let the drama begin.  No, not the playoffs.  The finger pointing.  It’s all Brett’s fault.  He didn’t play in the sandbox with the rest of the little boys in the Big Apple.  Thomas Jones came out this week and said Brett was selfish, and kept all the matchbox cars to himself.  Other Jets players - under condition of anonymity - told similar tales of how Brett bullied them, gave them wedgies and took their lunch money.  Bad Brett.  Ah, but lest we forget, one Preacher wondered in print back in August if Brett’s segue into the big city might cause a few heads to roll… Eric Mangini… and grumblings to commence.  So, let’s be clear: Either Brett is done, or there will be a mutiny before the next coach even warms his seat.

Smiling like the cat who caught the bird is Mike McCarthy.  Stinks that the team didn’t make the playoffs, but pleased as punch to be done with Brett.  And young Mr. Rodgers is setting up a fine neighborhood for the future. 

How about Mike Shanahan being fired.  That’s like firing the Pope.  You don’t do that.  Twelve or so winning seasons out of fourteen?  Are you out of your mind Pat Bolen?  Pulling an Al Davis?  Mike says he’s willing to continue coaching somewhere else right away.  It won’t be with the Raiders, I don’t guess.  Maybe he lands in New York.  He did, after all, preside over the retirement of another Hall of Fame QB… and that guy STAYED retired.

Isn’t it funny how all the teams Marty Schottenheimer used to coach want him back?  I’m just saying.

Then there’s Bill Cowher.  I think Detroit.  Why not?  He’s got that big chin, and that team is accustomed to getting hit in the mouth and KOed.

What of the Bucs?  Here at TBO everyone is chiming in to fire Jon Gruden.  Give me a break!  He had about half the horses to run with as the injury bug took a serious toll.  He managed a respectable 9-7 with that - we could have been 5-11.  Watch the thing improve next year.  Gruden and Allen are doing a fine job for you.  I say Raheem Morris stays and the Bucs will show you something next season.

By the way, did you see that I went 14-2 last weekend?

Okay, on to this weekend’s slate.  I’m feeling like a road trip.  I live in New England.  It’s 7 degrees outside.  Of course I feel like a road trip.  But, this weekend’s Wildcard games have that kind of a traveling feel to me.  So, here you go: Atlanta over Arizona; Indy over San Diego; Baltimore over Miami; Philadelphia over Minnesota.  (Insert Willie Nelson: “On the road again… I just can’t wait to get on the road again…”