The Sports Monitor

I hope Joe Flacco gets everything he wants from the Baltimore Ravens. His agent thinks he deserves Drew Brees money. Flacco isn't in the same class as the Saints quarterback. So go ahead, pay the man. It'll only weaken the Ravens.

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.

Alex Smith to Vernon Davis. Seriously? Smith to Davis? The next Montana to Clark in 49ers' lore? That's what they're saying in San Francisco after Saturday's thrilling 36-32 win over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC divisional playoffs. It's a great win for San Francisco fans. And Davis' grab at the end of the game was one heck of a play. He took quite a hit in the end zone. But let's not make them legends just yet. So excuse me while a rain on their parade. Once Smith continues to perform at a level warranted of legends like Joe Montana, then throw him in that class. San Francisco's defense deserves some credit, too, for picking off Saints quarterback Drew Brees twice and recovering two fumbles. The Niners offense, however, continued to look like it was allergic to the end zone until the end of the game. So, San Fran fans, enjoy the win. It likely won't happen next week. The 49ers still are flawed and I would pick against them in

First, let's start off by saying that was one heck of a game between the Packers and Saints. It sure had the makings of a rout, but it turned into an entertaining opener to the NFL season, with the Packers stopping the Saints at the goal line to preserve a 42-34 victory. But let's look at the final play. The Saints, loaded on offense with weapons at wide receiver, tight end and with a pass-catching running back, decided to take the ball out of Drew Brees' hand (and arm) and give it to rookie running back Mark Ingram with the game on the line. One yard to go. Ingram didn't make it. Not surprised, because earlier on fourth-and-short the Saints failed. I know the Steelers get criticized for their play-calling, but the Saints need to be looked at for those two calls. Maybe it was a case of trying to catch the other team off guard. Whatever the reason, I'm left with the feeling of an exciting game and some questionable calls. Now, on to Sunday's gam

Ugly. There's no other way to describe Sunday's dismantling of the Steelers by the Patriots. Whatever Tom Brady wanted to do, he did. Whatever the Patriots defense wanted to do, it did. The final score really did not indicate how bad it was. Hines Ward's streak of consecutive games with at least a catch came to a painful end. Yeah, nothing went right. The Patriots' defense was supposed to be vulnerable. Their offense wasn't supposed to be as lethal. Heck, the Browns beat this team. And the Browns beat the Saints, too. What's that mean for the Steelers going forward? Their line looks bad -- real bad. The defense can't stop the pass. It's one thing for Drew Brees and all of his weapons to shred them. But Tom Brady doesn't have the talent at receiver that Brees does. Yet, Brady looked magnificent Sunday night. Even Carson Palmer looked good against the Steelers last week. There's no doubt injuries have taken a huge toll. Bu