Random Shots
Ten games were on the early slate Sunday. The Red Zone Channel was running ads for Ritalin.

No truth to the rumor that the Cowboys are changing their fight song to this...

Nice story in Atlanta as Michael Vick returned. On a lot of levels. From the fans cheering for him, to how enthusiastically Donovan McNabb embraced Vick with the high five arm lock after Vick's TD, to the comic value of Vick throwing the ball into the stands after the score only to toss it right into the kicking net. Good for him. And good for the Eagles.

Here's the Vick warmup you did not see. Thanks to Kyle Lebeda of Katchop.com for that one.

Is it just me or does Maurice Jones-Drew get stopped at the one, WAY more often than he should?

First quarter of the Colts game and someone has apparently told Manning that only receivers named Pierre are allowed to catch the ball.

Oakland with the "Pennsylvania Double". Taking out both the Steelers and the Eagles. That's no small feat.

I looked up and Albert Haynesworth is writhing in pain on the field. That's a shock. Even less surprising is that he was back in the game a few plays later.

New Orleans and Washington was not exactly Steel Curtain vs. The Orange Crush. The Saints and Redskins totaled 867 yards of offense. And that's not counting the overtime.

Thank you Robert Meachem for turning up the heat on Fantasy Commissioners across the land. If there's one thing I've found that's important for a league - it's a good, strong but fair commish. And if you find one of those freaks who actually likes being commish, do what you have to do to keep him around.

Interesting response last week to the Random Shots column. You may remember I mentioned something about Charles Woodson donating two million dollars to a children's hospital in Michigan. Thought it was cool. Had several folks email me positive comments on the story. But one guy wrote, " I get it, you are an adult and recognize what is truly important in life, but I am pretty sure I can speak for an extremely high percentage of your audience, please spare us your personal opinions regarding real life stuff and stick to sharing a recap of what went on in the NFL the previous weekend." I politely let him know that Charles Woodson donating two million to a children's hospital is always going to make the cut for Random Shots. The good news for him though is that we have lots and lots of content that is serious 100% Football type stuff. He wanted to argue though saying " That's too bad you aren't inclined to rethink including that type of content, I cannot imagine why in the slightest you think your readers would have any interest whatsoever in knowing that kind of information, but it is of course your column, so I guess I will just have to skip over it in the future."

So we lost one. But it'll be better for him as he can stick to our other stuff that's more what he's looking for. I'm a big believer you can never please everyone. And when you try, you can screw up the entire thing if you're not careful.

Why were half the lights turned off for the Giants game? The field looked like a preview for The Road.

A big tip of the cowboy hat to Tim McKernan. You probably know Mr. McKernan better as the Bronco's "Barrel Guy". He passed away last week.. He missed something like four games since 1977. Wearing boots, a cowboy hat and a barrel. In Denver.

Who am I to question Sean Payton but I didn't understand the Saints kicking the field goal in overtime with a 2nd and goal from the 1. I guess there is the chance of going Jerome Bettis there but it just feels like more things can go wrong with that snap / hold / kick than with a handoff. I'm sure Sean is sitting by the phone waiting for my call...

Chris Meyers was funny calling the play as Seattle kick returner Ben Obomanu ran the ball back. Myers said, "By the time I said his name, he was at midfield."

The Texans had three different players throw an interception Sunday. Now that's spreading the ball around.

LaDainian Tomlinson broke Jim Brown's record and ran over towards Brown's luxury box and tapped his heart and then saluted to him. Brown didn't acknowledge him at all. After the game, he said all the right things.

I like this Tony Sparano team. They do the right thing. Miami's Channing Crowder snared his first career interception Sunday to stop Tom Brady's final drive. Crowder immediately went to the ground with the ball.

Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams did not play. But neither did Jake Delhomme so it evened out.

It's old news but I was reminded again Sunday night why the answer is always, long and blonde over short and y.

Those wacky Colts...

Ever notice that Jim Schwartz and Peter King have the same hair?...

I joked a few weeks ago that after praising Washington kicker Shaun Suisham in this column that I'd surely jinx him. Like clockwork, he cost his team the game the following week. With another missed field goal Sunday in the overtime game, nicest guy in the world Tony Dungy is saying stuff like, "I'd have to cut him before he cost me my job. But it may be too late for that." I don't know my own strength...

The talk has been about Vick for the Eagles. Truth is, he still doesn't look like the electric guy we knew. He's not special like he was. The real guy to watch in Philadelphia is fullback Leonard Weaver. That guy is a contributor.

You know when I'm not preaching winning the turnover battle, I'm on Red Zone efficiency. Tampa Bay was inside the Carolina 30 eight times and scored six points. Can't do it.

At least it sounds like QB Josh Freeman gets it. "That's just completely unacceptable," said Josh Freeman, on his five interceptions. "I want to play in this league a long time. Guys that throw a lot of picks usually don't last." Wise words.

Carolina lists Jeff King as a TE. And he wears #47. I like that.

Pay attention to what Steven Jackson is doing. The guy can't get well enough to make it onto the practice field all week yet guts out a cold game in Chicago with a bad back. For a team with nothing but pride to play for. That guy's a Football player. 28 rushes for 112 yards Sunday. "There is no shortcut to it," said Jackson. "I knew coming into this game, leaving last week, I was going to face an eight- and nine-man box and I knew it was going to be a rough one. So just try to gut it out."

Jay Cutler did not throw an interception. Yes, that's big news.

How about this one. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis won his 55th game with the Bengals, tying him for second in franchise history with Paul Brown. Paul Brown isn't bad company.

Why does Colts head coach Jim Caldwell even need a microphone? I've yet to see him say anything into his. Seems like a set of headphones would do.

Jacksonville - get out and support your team. That's embarrassing.

Houston is facing first-and-goal at the 5 and they think their best play is Chris Brown throwing a pass? Really?

Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil is a full grown man. He entered the game with as many sacks (14) as the Chiefs did as a team.

Tell the truth now - did you really see it playing out this consistently for Brandon Marshall in July? He's now had at least three receptions in every game this season.

Lots of intertwinedness (new word) with the Kansas City - Denver game Sunday. Josh McDaniels for Denver and Matt Cassel for the Chiefs. I'd forgotten too that Kansas City was the opponent when Brady went down last year giving Cassel his shot.

Limas Sweed, catch that ball. C'mon Man.

If I'm Al Davis, I cut JaMarcus Russell today. Let them know incompetence won't be tolerated. Of course that's easy for me to say as it's not my money. But I don't see a single thing that makes me think this guy has what it takes to be an effective NFL quarterback.

Besides, you've got Bruce Gradkowski channeling Joe Montana over there. Gradkowski now has two game winning drives in the final two minutes in the last three weeks.

Bill Belichick is absolutely killing my "Go For It On 4th Down" campaign. The Patriots missed another key 4th and 1 Sunday. I still say go for it.

Cowboys tackle Flozell Adams is a slow learner. He's been hit several times with personal foul penalties for cheap shots and was at it again Sunday against the Giants. Drew another flag for a late hit out of bounds. Sounds like it's time to get deeper into his checkbook.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton is saying he'll keep the pedal to the medal with his starters all the way to through the regular season as they go for 16-0. Jim Caldwell is saying his Colts will be business as usual resting once they've clinched everything. I like Payton's approach.

Was it not last week that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "We will not go gently. We will unleash in December." Coach, it's December.

Baltimore RB Ray Rice was less than impressed with Lambeau Field. "To be honest with you, it was just Lambeau Field," he said. "I didn't see anything special. They put us in the middle of nowhere and it's not a real exciting place. Everything about this place is terrible, to be honest with you."

Green Bay and Baltimore combined for 310 yards of penalties Monday Night. All the calls looked pretty legit to me. What are you going to do?
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