2008 NFL Season is over

for the Patriots, unless they can hire a new QB, pronto. Tom Brady's knee injury in the first quarter of yesterday's season opener was the latest in a string of injuries to key players (Giants' Osi Umenyiora, Colts' Jeff Saturday, maybe Titans' Vince Young, and just a matter of time for Chargers' Shawne Merriman), that will put this season's NFL predictions on the garbage heap, along with recently-retired Daunte Culpepper.

Culpepper's retirement letter made me think that he is gunning for the NFLPA's Executive Director's job, recently vacated by Gene Upshaw's death. Culpepper represented himself for the past two years, with pitiful results. Even though Culpepper said in his letter that representing himself was "an invaluable experience", I think it was more of a de-valuing experience. Culpepper's stock went down big-time after his 2005 knee injury. It should be mentioned that Culpepper was a go-big-or-go-home QB, with tremendous stats and athletic ability but also 94 interceptions and an amazing 93 fumbles in 92 career games. That, plus his recurring knee problem as well as his decision-making problems (interceptions and he ended his 2007 season with a hamstring injury that he incurred after challenging a teammate to a footrace during a practice midway through the season), have finished his career in the NFL.

Enough about Culpepper. Brady's absence on the field will be huge, galactic even. The pros and amateur pundits alike were thinking the Pats would go all the way this year, not 19-0 mind you, but that they would win it all in February. And why not? Almost all of their best players are back again this year, and the Kirk-Spock duo of Brady and Moss would tally another couple dozen TD's on their way to dominating the AFC East and their conference before beating whatever team the NFC could throw at them (let's say the Cowboys).

Pending Brady's MRI results, all the speculation of what could have been is blowin' in the wind. If Brady is out for the season, our predicted 13-3 season will be 10-6 at best and maybe worse than that. Brett Favre may actually bring the Jets to within striking distance of the division title, if the Bills don't have anything to say about it. As for the Dolphins, even with Pennington at QB and Parcells running the show, they are still last year's Dolphins. 'Nuff said about the Fish.

While Matt Cassel had the game of his (second-banana) career and proved himself competent enough to hold off the Chiefs, his success said more for the supporting cast than for his own ability. His bomb to Randy Moss from inside his own end zone was a good play, but watch the tape and you will see Moss slow down for at least 10 yards to make the catch. Ditto for the TD pass to Moss at the back of the Chiefs' end zone. Anyone but the 6'4" Moss with his golden hands would not have been able to pull down that pass to score.

The next scoring drive showed that Sammy Morris still has what it takes and that Laurence Maroney is one of the best jukers out there. I was surprised that Maroney's normally-effective straight arm, even applied twice to the Chiefs' Safety Jarrad Page, failed to get him to the end zone.

The defensive stand at the end of the game, when Belichick actually called plays from the sideline to save the game showed that Bill is not just a pretty face.

Moss, Maroney, and Morris, along with Wes Welker and the aging defensive and offensive lines, will have to step up enormously to salvage the Pats' season, especially with such a big question mark in the QB spot.

Doctor Hot Tub

So I was sitting at the Mic Mac Bar & Grill with my friend Dave, relaxing after working on the house that I am renovating. Dave was telling me about this recent experience when he was sitting in a hot tub in Calgary. Two young women get into the hot tub and one starts complaining about her boyfriend. After a while, Dave offers some advice. The women thank him, and then a married woman gets into the hot tub (how big is this thing, anyway?). She gives the young woman the same advice as Dave did. I thought this would be a great idea for a show, "Doctor Hot Tub", like Dr. Phil, but in a hot tub. I am publishing this now, in case someone else wants to take this idea. You read it here first!