If you've tuned into the NFL in, oh, say the past three decades, you've probably realized that The League goes out of its way to promote—and coddle—its quarterbacks. Seeing as how the gunslingers are the NFL's meal ticket, you can certainly see the logic in that decision—until now.
These days, for every Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Tom Brady, there's a Jonathan Quinn, Tim Rattay and A.J. Feeley. Hell, things are so ugly on the quarterback front that Brian Griese could very well represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl.
The plethora of mediocre quarterbacks is the main reason why, nearly three-quarters of the way through the season, 19 of The League's 32 teams are below .500. Even the 49ers, who are 1-10, haven't officially been eliminated from the playoffs.
The point: The NFL's product is as bad as it's ever been—so bad that Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who publicly decries betting on his sport, ought to be send Christmas cards to every oddsmaker in this town.
Packers +6 at Eagles Sure, Favre's 200 consecutive starts is incredibly impressive. But if you ask me, R-J gossip guru Norm Clarke's run of 2,167 consecutive columns with a factual error is a record to truly behold!
Vikings -7 at Bears Grossman, Quinn, Krenzel and Hutchinson. No, that's not a Chicago law firm suing Da Bears for failing to field one adequate starting quarterback this season; that's a list of Da Bears actual starting quarterbacks this season.
Texans +6 at Jets I'm not saying New York coach Herm Edwards is rushing bum-shouldered starting QB Chad Pennington back because he's not happy with Quincy Carter's production—Carter generated one fewer points in his three starts than Peyton Manning did in three quarters last week—but the New York Post reported that an application for The Real Gilligan's Island was spotted in Carter's locker.
Chargers -2.5 vs. Broncos What an amazing year: For the first time in a decade, my Bolts are on the verge of making the playoffs ... and Sandy Murphy is on the verge of returning to the brass pole.
Best Bet Patriots -7.5 at Browns. I gotta believe the next time you see ex-Browns coach Butch Davis wearing a headset—Davis jumped ship (or was thrown overboard, depending on whom you believe) in the wake of last week's 58-48 loss to the Bengals—it'll likely be at a McDonald's drive-through.
Last week: 4-1 (0-1 Best Bet)
Season: 34-26 (5-7 Best Bet)