The Sports Monitor

Well, how can I put this? Tom Brady wasn't honest with us. Disagree? Before the Super Bowl, he stood in front of a host of media and said he didn't alter the football. Yeah, and Watergate was all about water. The Wells Report finally was released, and we have a "more probable than not" idea what happened. The footballs were altered. And Brady had a pretty good idea, too. On top of that, the Golden Boy of Football wasn't very cooperative with the investigation. It makes me sick. It's cheating. And the Patriots got away with it. Again. It's not performance-enhancing drugs, but this can be packaged in the same group of Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and Lance Armstrong. All denied doing anything wrong. Then things changed. Brady deserves to be suspended. How can the NFL have Lev Bell miss two games for marijuana use and Brady go unscathed? Now we need to see what commissioner Roger Goodell has planned. Hopefully it d...

Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he was "duped" by Aaron Hernandez. Does anyone really believe him? Plenty of NFL teams passed on Hernandez because of his history at Florida. The Patriots took a chance on Hernandez based on his exceptional talent. Hernandez took that opportunity and ran with it on the field. He was one of the top tight ends in the league. The Patriots rewarded him with a mega-contract. The Patriots acted like any college team or pro team, they rewarded a player that can help them win. If Kraft was angry, mad or extremely disappointed, then I'd buy it. You can't blame the Patriots for Hernandez's actions, and they have to be commended for cutting Hernandez. But duped? C'mon.

There's still about two days for this to officially play out, but the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn't be wasting any more time deciding the fate of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Tell him they won't match the offer by the New England Patriots and take their third-round pick. Sanders is a fine receiver, but I don't expect much more from him in the Steelers' offense. Sanders' stock didn't rise until the Patriots showed interest. Now, people want to make Sanders out as an indispensable part of the offense. He can be replaced. The Steelers need the cap room and they need the draft pick. They don't need Sanders as much. Give Kevin Colbert and staff some credit. They know what they're doing. Let's look at the team after the draft and see who else they sign as free agents.

I've seen one too many writers claim that if it weren't for a safety by the Giants at the beginning of Super Bowl XLVI, the Patriots would have been able to kick a field goal to win the game at the end. The theory, I gather, is since the Giants won 21-17, you would subtract two points for the safety, making it 19-17. Thus, a field goal wins the game. I say it takes a simple mind to adopt that view. Let's take away the safety, for argument's sake, making it 19-17. Think back to the Giants' last touchdown. They went for two, to make it a six-point game. I guarantee you that there is no way -- none -- that the Giants would go for two if the game was 19-17. They kick the extra point to make it 20-17. The Patriots don't get a chance to kick a field goal to win the game. The best a Patriots' field goal would do is tie the game. There's one other point I'd like to make. I'll even concede the Giants trying to covert two after their touchdow...

I get it. Eli Manning led the New York Giants past the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI Sunday night. He's a two-time Super Bowl MVP. I get that too. I understand the euphoria and the accolades beings thrown his way. But, please, don't call him the best quarterback today. I'll take Aaron Rodgers (remember him) and Drew Brees over Manning any day.

The comparisons between the Giants' Super Bowl championship four years ago and the one won Sunday in Indianapolis are eerily similar. I grew tired of it after the Giants beat the Packers. And it grew and grew and grew. And it became reality late Sunday when Tom Brady's Hail Mary fell to the turf. The Giants not only beat the Patriots again, they rallied for a late score to win it, just like in Super Bowl XLII. Strange stuff. It's also amazing how the Giants have owned the Patriots. There once was an old saying about how you couldn't beat Bill Belichick twice in a season. The Giants just did it. Personally, I think Belichick is overrated. I think Spygate tainted is other Super Bowl wins and his failure to win since those revelations confirms it to the doubters. Belichick needed this win. He didn't get it. The Giants -- and Tom Coughlin -- own the Patriots.

For a team favored to win the Super Bowl, I've seen way too many people pick the New York Giants over the New England Patriots. So many are picking the Giants that I'm sure the Patriots are playing the Disrespect Card as one of their rallying cries before the game. I'm not sure it will be enough for the Patriots to prevail. Tom Brady has the offense, but Eli Manning and the Giants aren't too far behind on defense either. The big question is whether super tight end Rob Gronkowski will play and, if he does, how much that high ankle injury will hinder him. Gronkowski is a big part of that offense, and without him or with him less than 100 percent, it slows down the Pats. Manning has the weapons, too. Victor Cruz emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the game. Hakeem Nicks is the other favored target who has plenty of upside as well. Each team has the ability to score plenty. But, in a season highlighted by high-powered offenses, I think the Giants defen...

After watching the two championship games Sunday night, one thing became clear. An argument can be made that the Ravens and 49ers both lost the games instead of the Patriots and Giants winning. That being said, which goat from the two games would you rather be Billy Cundiff, the Ravens kicker who missed a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the AFC Championship Game into overtime Kyle Williams, the 49ers punt returner who had to bad miscues, the last set up the Giants' game-winning kick in overtime I think I'd rather be Cundiff. And I made that decision before reports surfaced that Williams was receiving death threats. What's your take?

This entire postseason, we've heard all about the offenses in the NFL. Then they played the games. The defenses have stood out the past couple weeks, and I'd expect that to be the case for today's conference championship games. The consensus is a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl, and there's nothing wrong with thinking that. I'm not sold on it happening, however. AFC Championship Game: Ravens at Patriots It's all about Tom Brady in New England. He's gotten all of the hype, and after a six-touchdown pass game, he deserves it. However, it's the defense that people will talk about after the game. The Ravens know how to beat the Pats. They have the running game to keep the ball away from Brady and the Patriots' offense. The big question is whether the Ravens will get the play needed from their quarterback to win. Many people have their doubts, including members of the Ravens. Somehow, with Ray Rice running the ball, and the Ravens smacki...

I had a rough weekend picking the wild-card round. I had too many outside influences on my choices. Fantasy football leagues, home teams, allegiances all came into play. I've eliminated all the outside factors this week. It's time to bounce back. Saints at 49ers: Classic matchup between great offense and great defense. The Niners are at home and on grass, which should slow down the Saints, but I don't see how Alex Smith can lead San Fran past Drew Brees and the Saints. If the Niners are to win, the defense will need some turnovers and probably score at least one touchdown. The Saints are just too much. Saints 27, 49ers 16 Giants at Packers: Don't look now, but the Giants defense on a roll. They will face a serious test against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but they are peaking at the right time. Will it be enough? I don't think so. All season, Rodgers and Co. have come through, putting up the points when needed. The Giants might shut d...