There are a few people with ties to the NFL whom you might be glad you aren't these days.
Michael Vick, for example. Or Pacman Jones. And then there's that Simpson character.
But for the guys who are actually suiting up on Sundays, this is a great time of year for most everyone in the league. All teams have hope. The season's still young. If you're healthy, it's a good time to be an NFL player.
Unless, of course, you're Charlie Frye.
The season is two weeks old, and Frye already should be wearing a black cloud decal on his helmet. Let's recap:
The training camp battle for the starting job as Browns quarterback between Frye and Derek Anderson was so even that the starter for one of the team's preseason games was decided by a coinflip. Frye eventually won the job, and was the starter as the Browns opened against the Steelers.
His first pass was incomplete. He was sacked on his second attempt to drop back and throw. He ran for his life and gained a yard on his third attempt. His fourth dropback resulted in an interception. You get the idea.
Frye was 4-for-10 for 34 yards and the interception -- and was sacked five times -- in his quarter and a half of action before Anderson relieved him with the Browns trailing 17-0. With Frye and his hefty QB rating of 10.0 watching from the sidelines, his day doesn't get any better as Pittsburgh rolls to a 34-7 win.
Two days later, Cleveland became a No Frye Zone -- Sorry, Charlie, you've been traded to Seattle, to be a backup for Matt Hasselback and to fetch lattes for Mike Holmgren. From starter in the season opener to backup on a different club in less than 48 hours -- a neat trick for any QB.
Five days later, in his new digs, Frye watches as the Seahawks, who without him won their opener against Tampa Bay, falter in the fourth quarter and lose to Arizona. Meanwhile, his old pal Anderson throws five touchdowns as the Browns erupt for 51 points in an upset win over Cincinnati.
So in two weeks, he's played for two 1-1 teams, and he's 0-2. And riding the pine. But at least he hasn't been accused of stealing any of O.J.'s memorabilia.
The celebrity picks:
Lance Burton, Monte Carlo headliner
(3-3)
Texans +6 vs. Colts
Saints -15 vs. Titans
Browns +3 at Raiders
****
Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular"
(2-2-2)
Steelers -9 vs. 49ers
Browns +3 at Raiders
Panthers -4 at Falcons
****
Danny Gans, Mirage headliner
(3-3)
Colts -6 at Texans
Vikings +3 at Chiefs
Panthers -4 at Falcons
****
Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas
(5-1)
Steelers -9 vs. 49ers
Colts -6 at Texans
Patriots -15 1/2 vs. Bills
****
Hans Klok, Planet Hollywood headliner
(4-2)
Steelers -9 vs. 49ers
Patriots -15 1/2 vs. Bills
Jets -3 vs. Dolphins
****
Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas"
(1-4-1)
49ers +9 vs. Steelers
Texans +6 vs. Colts
Chiefs -3 vs. Vikings
****
Penn & Teller, Rio headliners
(3-3)
Eagles -6 vs. Lions
Patriots -15 1/2 vs. Bills
Giants +4 at Redskins
****
Rita Rudner, Harrah's headliner
(5-1)
Chiefs -3 vs. Vikings
Seahawks -3 1/2 vs. Bengals
Bills-Patriots over 42