If the Mets and Yankees are on a collision course for a Subway Series, the NFL will take a back seat to baseball in October.
And then quickly remind us why it is the national pastime:
It isn’t a game of shadows.
We bet the NFL like there’s no tomorrow, especially the Super Bowl, the biggest single betting event man (and woman) has ever known.
We can watch it on Fox, we can watch it on CBS, we can watch it in November on the NFL Network, and this season, we can watch it on ESPN on Monday nights and on NBC on Sunday nights.
We will watch it in Cincinnati, we will watch it in Minnesota, we will watch it in just about every one of the NFL’s 32 cities because no fewer than 25 teams will be in the playoff hunt.
We will watch the games because nearly half of them, if 2005 is our guide, will be decided by eight-or-fewer points.
They will play in the rain, the snow, the sleet and the fog, and they will play for …
The Serby Awards:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
Peyton Manning (Colts). Someone needs to pick up the slack with Edgerrin James in Arizona. Because he has yet to get to the Super Bowl, we sometimes forget how good Roboquarterback truly is. Over Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
DE DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys). From Troy Aikman to Troy State. Over S Sean Taylor (Redskins).
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nick Saban (Dolphins). Bill Belichick’s worst nightmare.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF YEAR
TE Vernon Davis (49ers). Niners offensive coordinator Norv Turner made a star of Jay Novacek in Dallas, and overwhelmed QB Alex Smith doesn’t have any other options. Over RB Laurence Maroney (Patriots), RB-KR Reggie Bush (Saints) and TE Tony Scheffler (Broncos).
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF YEAR
OLB A.J. Hawk (Packers). Lombardi would have loved this kid. Over ILB Ernie Sims (Lions).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF YEAR
PK Mike Vanderjagt (Cowboys). He might say something stupid, but he also might win three games for ‘Boys.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR
Chad Pennington (Jets). No matter how many games he wins. He defied the odds. Over Daunte Culpepper (Dolphins).
RUSHING CHAMPION
DeShaun Foster (Panthers). A dark-horse pick. Maybe this is the year he stays healthy. Keyshawn Johnson helps the rushing game. John Fox prefers to pound it. Over Larry Johnson (Chiefs; Herm Edwards never met a 10-7 game he didn’t like, and Priest Holmes’ future is a mist), Cadillac Williams (Bucs) and Ronnie Brown (Dolphins).
SACK CHAMPION
DeMarcus Ware (17½, Cowboys). Tuna’s latter-day Lawrence Taylor is a rookie no more. Over Shawne Merriman (Chargers) and John Abraham (Falcons).
RECEIVING CHAMPION
Keyshawn Johnson (100, Panthers). He has Steve Smith opposite him. He has Dan Henning, his old offensive coordinator with the Jets, calling plays for him. He has capable Jake Delhomme, who doesn’t have a dominant tight end, throwing him the ball. He has motivation to make the Cowboys pay. Over Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals).
MOST EXCITING PLAYER
RB-KR Reggie Bush (Saints). Jets should have thrown in Chrebet’s Lounge for the chance to draft this guy.
GIANTS MVP
QB Eli Manning. Over MLB Antonio Pierce (150 tackles).
JETS MVP
ILB Jonathan Vilma (175 tackles). Over P Ben Graham.
UNSUNG GIANT
G David Diehl: As smart and tough as they come.
UNSUNG JET
G Pete Kendall. Wise, old glue helps the pups grow up.
OVERHYPED BOWL
Peyton vs. Eli (Sept. 10); Belichick vs. Mangini (Sept. 17); Chad Pennington vs. Byron Leftwich (Oct. 8); Tiki vs. Ronde (Oct. 29); Sean Payton vs. Bill Parcells (Dec. 10).
FANTASY FOOTBALL STEALS
H-Back Chris Cooley (Redskins); TE Jason Witten (Cowboys); TE Alex Smith (Bucs); TE L.J. Smith (Eagles); WR Derrick Mason (Ravens); TE Jeb Putzier (Texans); TE Ben Watson (Patriots); TE Tony Scheffler (Broncos); TE Heath Miller (Steelers); RB Maurice Drew (Jaguars).
UNLIKELY HEADLINES:
* T.O. to teammates: Grow Up!
* Theismann to Kornheiser: Pardon The Interruption
* Tiki Boycotts Media, Rips Giant Fans
* Star Magazine Welcomes Guest Columnist Michael Strahan
* Say Shockey, Short Brawled at Welcome Home Dinner
* Tuna Names T.O. Captain
* Mangini Opens Trainer’s Room to Reporters
* Bitter Leinart: Belichick Caused Paris Breakup
* Eli: I’ll Win Supe Before Peyton
* Donovan: We Miss T.O.
* Disgusted Coughlin: Tiki Outplayed
* New Commish: Point Spreads Mandatory on Helmets
* Jets’ Barlow Rates Top Five Dictators
* Parcells Horse Put Down, Blames Lo Duca
* Rice Rips Emmitt Dance Routine
* Big Ben Wears Motorcycle Helmet Under Center, Draws Hefty Fine
HOTTEST QB CONTROVERSY
Rex Grossman (Bears) must stay on the field and step up because Brian Griese is looking over his shoulder. Also: Mike Vick (Falcons) vs. Matt Schaub: Vick is on the hot seat, and remember, the Jets could not pry away Schaub from the Falcons during the Abraham trade talks. Plus the offensive coordinator, Bill Musgrave, was Schaub’s mentor at Virginia. Also: Billy Volek (Titans) won’t hold off Vince Young for too long. J.P. Losman (Bills) could get a quick hook. Even Byron Leftwich (Jaguars) isn’t safe with David Garrard opening eyes.
UNHAPPIEST SUPERSTAR
Brett Favre (Packers). He’ll regret coming back for another nightmare season with a rookie head coach (Mike McCarthy) and no supporting cast. Over Randy Moss (Raiders, whining over Aaron Brooks), and Chad Johnson (Bengals, when Carson Palmer struggles).
GRUDGE MATCHES
Keyshawn at Jon Gruden (Sept. 24); Mike Martz at St. Louis (Oct. 1); T.O. in Philadelphia (Oct. 8); LaVar Arrington vs. Redskins (Oct. 8); Dallas at Keyshawn (Oct. 29); Adam Vinatieri at New England (Nov. 5); Steve McNair at Tennessee (Nov. 12); Minnesota at Daunte Culpepper (Nov. 19); Indianapolis at Mike Vanderjagt (Nov. 19).
COACHES ON HOT SEAT
Marty Schottenheimer (Chargers); Brian Billick (Ravens); Jeff Fisher (Titans); Jim Mora (Falcons); Bill Parcells (Cowboys).
VINCE PAPALE AWARD
RB Mike Bell (Broncos). Over WR Brandon Childress (Patriots) and WR-KR Jeremy Bloom (Eagles).
MR. LOSER BETTING TIPS
Take the points early against Steelers and Cowboys; reverse Hondo early and often.
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NFC CONFERENCE (projected divisional finishes)
EAST
Giants
Cowboys
Eagles
Redskins
NORTH
Bears
Vikings
Lions
Packers
SOUTH
Panthers
Buccaneers
Falcons
Saints
WEST
Seahawks
Cardinals
Rams
49ers
AFC CONFERENCE (projected divisional finishes)
EAST
Dolphins
Patriots
Jets
Bills
NORTH
Steelers
Ravens
Bengals
Browns
SOUTH
Colts
Texans
Jaguars
Titans
WEST
Broncos
Chargers
Chiefs
Raiders
SUPER BOWL XLI: Giants over Colts 39-20
The thought of losing to baby brother in the game he’s dreamed of all his life is too much pressure for Peyton to bear.
