History tells us big spending in Free Agency usually doesn't lead to championships. That's been evident repeatedly in baseball with the New York Yankees, and the New York Jets are the NFL's example from this season. Of course, the Jets used a combination of Free Agency signees and trading for veterans (Brett Favre, Kris Jenkins) to try to make a quick turnaround.
- The NFL hardly could've asked for a better Big Apple finale than Chad Pennington returning to Giants Stadium to face the Jets with a playoff berth at stake. Jets fans already are wondering whether the team would have been better off keeping Pennington than trading for Favre, and now Pennington gets a chance to drive the point home - literally.
- Last Sunday night's Panthers-Giants game was played at a championship level and was about as thrilling as a regular season game can be. How can you not want to see a rematch in the playoffs?
- Mike Holmgren sure sounds like he wants to coach again after getting a year or two off. He probably won't like the feeling of having his excellent career ending with a difficult, injury-ravaged season like this one has been for his Seattle Seahawks.
- The Pro Bowl voting seemed to be more valid than usual this season. But it's hard to imagine how Brett Favre beat out Philip Rivers for one of the three quarterback spots on the AFC team. Carolina's DeAngelo Williams also deserved to be picked, even if it meant leaving Washington's Clinton Portis off the NFC team.
- Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, here's one opinion of how the MVP race shapes up: 1) Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning; 2) Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson; 3) Williams; 4) Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth. No longer in the running: Portis and Arizona QB Kurt Warner.
- As was the case at midseason, Atlanta's Mike Smith remains the top candidate for coach of the year. But cases can be made for New England's Bill Belichick, Indianapolis' Tony Dungy, Miami's Tony Sparano; and Carolina's John Fox.
- If the Panthers win the NFC South and a get a first-round bye, GM Marty Hurney will deserve strong consideration for executive of the year. The team's offseason moves, particularly in the draft, have worked out very well.
