Happy Thanksgiving!

[Ninong]

Charlie,

If the Saints can beat the Patriots, then they have only one tough game remaining: Cowboys in Dallas. Their other four games are against losing teams. Except for the Patriots and the Cowboys, all of the Saints' tough games are over and done with.

The Patriots and the Cowboys are really the only two teams left that could easily keep the Saints from going undefeated. The Saints would have to really underperform to lose to the other remaining teams. I think the Cowboys in Dallas will be an easier game than the Patriots in the Superdome. I just think Tom Brady is a much better quarterback than Tony Romo. And I think the Patriots will be really fired up for this game following their debacle against the Colts.

[charlie]

I know you are a Saints fan, but I really think they need to lose a game before they go into the playoffs, if nothing else than take the heat off of them. I got the Pats in this one for exactly the reason you stated. Falling apart on national TV is not one of their traits.

[Ninong]

Charlie,

I think this game could go either way. I was really shocked that the Colts came back and beat the Patriots. I couldn't believe my eyes. I know Peyton Manning is good but I didn't expect the Patriots to collapse like that in the second half.

To tell you the truth, I'm not a hardcore Saints fan. I follow them now that I live down here but I was really a hardcore Niners fans all through the eighties and nineties before Eddie DeBartolo was forced to sell the team to his sister, who destroyed it. Don't forget, I lived in the Bay Area from 1978 to 1999.

I became a huge Patriots fan after Tom Brady became their starting quarterback. Brady played for Junipero Serra HS in San Mateo when I lived there. He didn't get much playing time at Michigan, which is why I think he was drafted so late in the draft. It's amazing how some of the best quarterbacks of all time -- Brady, Joe Montana -- went late in the draft. In fact, Tony Romo was undrafted.

The Niners have made two disastrous first round QB picks in recent years. Back in 1997 they wasted their first round pick on Jim Durckenmiller and then in 2005 they blew 49 million bucks on Alex Smith, No. 1 overall.

The Patriots, the Colts and the Giants have been sort of my favorite teams. I can't bear to watch the Niners anymore. They have been such a disappointment under John York and now his son. Then, of course, there's the Bret Favre connection, so we root for Bret to win no matter who he's playing for or who the other team is, including against the Saints. If the Vikings play the Saints in the playoffs, we will definitely be pulling for the Vikings. I root for the Saints mainly because they're local and it's good for the economy.

[charlie]

God, please don't say Tony Romo is gonna go down in history as a great QB!!! That really hurts!!!!!

OK, got that off my chest!!!! Brady as far as I am concerned is maybe the best QB in the NFL today, and he has the hardware to prove it, I don't think the guy ever sweats or gets nervous.

I like the Saints too, I just think they need to lose at least one game before the playoffs start, the Vikes already did, and I don't really see them losing again, this may be the year for those poor Viking fans that have suffered thru 4 (?) super bowl losses, and they didn't look pretty in any of them. Brett Favre will be crowned king of Minnesota and will be forever more popular than even Paul Bunyan.

[Ninong]

I didn't list Tony Romo in the same sentence with Tom Brady and his hero, Joe Montana. I just meant to point out that Tony Romo is the starting QB for the Dallas Cowboys and he went undrafted, that's all.

I think Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the top two QBs of this decade. Drew Brees is having a very good year but he hasn't achieved superstar status. He's certainly one of the very best quarterbacks this year and has the stats to prove it. Let's see how he performs in the playoffs.

[charlie]

It's amazing how some of the best quarterbacks of all time -- Brady, Joe Montana -- went late in the draft. In fact, Tony Romo was undrafted.

Close Ninong, real close!!!!!!

Gotta agree, about Manning and Brady. Peyton is lucky he got his one ring because doesn't Brady have 3????

I think it is terrible the way they, (the media), has almost proclaimed that you cannot be a "great quarterback" until you have gotten that super bowl ring. Look at Dan Marino, I think he should be listed as one of the great QB's, but he never won a super bowl, so he hardly even gets mentioned.

[Ninong]

Close Ninong, real close!!!!!!

You're right, that was too close for comfort.

Tony Romo has had his moments -- both good and bad. Sometimes he's good.

Gotta agree, about Manning and Brady. Peyton is lucky he got his one ring because doesn't Brady have 3????

Yes, Brady has three. That's the same number as Joe Montana's MVP trophies. Montana should have four MVP trophies but they gave one to Jerry Rice just because Montana already had a couple at the time. Montana has four Super Bowl rings. Steve Young was the Niners QB for their fifth Super Bowl win.

I think it is terrible the way they, (the media), has almost proclaimed that you cannot be a "great quarterback" until you have gotten that super bowl ring. Look at Dan Marino...

Ah, yes, I remember Marino. He's the guy who was supposed to destroy San Francisco in Super Bowl XIX. Hmmm... That was Montana's second MVP trophy as he led the Niners to a 38-16 win over Marino and the Dolphins. It wasn't even close from beginning to end. I remember it well.

Dan Marino does have talent but it wasn't on display that particular day.

Look at how long it took John Elway before he finally won a Super Bowl. I think I remember Joe Montana beating Denver in another Super Bowl: final score 55-10. Another blowout. Even worse than when SF beat San Diego 49-26. The only two reasonably close Super Bowls San Francisco played in were their two wins over Cincinnati.

Montana's second MVP trophy came when he destroyed Dan Marino and his fourth Super Bowl ring and third MVP trophy came when he destroyed John Elway in the most lopsided Super Bowl win in history. Obviously both Marino and Elway had reputations for collapsing in the big game after performances like that.

[charlie]

Elway at least got his reputation as big game QB back, unfortunately.
But I guess he deserved it. Poor Dan Marino is left to selling diet foods along with Mike Golic and Don Shula!!!!!!

I think you can almost liken the careers of Drew Brees and Rivers out in San Diego. Neither of them has won a big playoff game for his team, but I think both of their times are coming. At least I hope so.

[Zach]

Sorry I'm a little late here, but Happy Thanksgiving all! Hope everyone had a good time and ate lots of food!

[charlie]

Football, turkey, football, turkey, football.............................. you get the idea