What about Bob?

Zach Thomas’ head-jarring tackle of Jets receiver Laveranues Coles will cost the Dolphins linebacker $7,500, Newsday has learned.

The NFL will fine the Dolphins’ linebacker that amount because he hit Coles with a helmet-to-helmet shot, which is a violation of NFL rules.

Coles was shaken up on the play, which occurred in the second quarter near midfield. He walked off the field gingerly, and was attended to for several minutes by the Jets’ medical staff. He also suffered a cut on the chin.

Coles went back in the game, but was a non-factor the rest of the way. He acknowledged afterward that he did not remember the hit, although the Jets have not said that Coles suffered a concussion on the play.

Coles is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

1. Chargers (13-2) (1): Philip Rivers scuffles in Seattle, but it doesn’t matter when you have LaDainian Tomlinson.

2. Bears (13-2) (2): Rex Grossman gets a breather in second half against Lions. A sign of things to come in the playoffs if he struggles?

3. Ravens (12-3) (4): Steve McNair a legit MVP candidate.

4. Patriots (11-4) (5): When you have Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on your team, you always have a chance.

5. Saints (10-5) (6): Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister do a number on Big Blue.

6. Eagles (9-6) (11): In your face, T.O. Jeff Garcia, another of Terrell Owens’ favorite targets, bests his old teammate and the Cowboys in a huge road win that could be a prelude to a divisional title.

7. Colts (11-4) (3): There is legitimate reason to worry about this team in January. They just can’t stop the run.

8. Cowboys (9-6 (7): Tony Romo looks ordinary against Eagles’ blitzing defense. Cowboys just aren’t Super Bowl ready.

9. Seahawks (8-7) (8): Sign of the times in the brutal NFC: Seahawks lose to Chargers, but still back into playoffs.

10. Broncos (9-6) (14): Jay Cutler has weathered the early storm and gotten the Broncos into position to make the playoffs.

11. Jets (9-6) (12): Little Leon Washington takes a screen pass 64 yards to set up game-winning field goal against Dolphins. Beat the Raiders, and the Jets play into January.

12. Titans (8-7) (13): Vince Young will be the most exciting player to watch in the NFL within two years.

13. Jaguars (8-7) (9): Jags need a win over the Chiefs to even think about the postseason. Even then, it might not be enough.

14. Bengals (8-7) (10): So much for a dramatic comeback against the Broncos. Botched snap on extra point that would have tied it instead dooms Bungles.

15. Chiefs (8-7) (16): Chiefs barely alive in playoff hunt after easy win over arch-rival Raiders.

16. Rams (7-8) (22): Upset special: Don’t be surprised to see the Rams make it to the playoffs. If they beat Minnesota and get some help along the way, they sneak in.

17. Panthers (7-8) (18): Chris Weinke wins for the first time since the 2001 season. Still not enough to save Panthers’ season.

18. Steelers (7-8) (17): Defending champs officially out of playoffs after blowout home loss to Ravens. One more game for the Bill Cowher era?

19. Bills (7-8) (19): Bills get a taste of Vince Young magic.

20. Giants (7-8) (15): Giants can win and get in the playoffs. But what makes anyone think they can beat the Redskins in Washington on Saturday?

21. Falcons (7-8) (21): Michael Vick becomes the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards, but it’s a hollow accomplishment. Falcons lose, and continue to expose Vick as an incomplete quarterback.

22. Dolphins (6-9) (20): If the Dolphins can find a quarterback, they can find the playoffs.

23. 49ers (6-9) (23): Season of improvement hits a speed bump in Arizona, and Niners are out of the playoff mix.

24. Packers (7-8) (24): Brett Favre barely squeaks past Minnesota in 9-7 yawner, but Pack actually has a playoff shot – albeit a slim one.

25. Redskins (5-10) (25): Jason Campbell lights up Rams’ defense; unfortunately for Redskins, Marc Bulger does same, getting best of Joe Gibbs in OT>

26. Vikings (6-9) (26): Yawn.

27. Texans (5-10) (29): How bad is Colts’ run defense? So bad that even Ron Dayne looks like a star.

28. Buccaneers (4-11) (30): This is all about next year now. Chris Simms re-ups for another two seasons, so he’ll be back under center in ’07.

29. Cardinals (27) (5-10): Late-season improvement may not be enough to save Dennis Green’s job.

30. Browns (4-11) (28): Just a woeful team.

31. Lions (2-13) (31): Let’s see if the Millen Man March Part II will actually see Matt Millen ousted this time.

32. Raiders (2-13) (32): Brady Quinn. Brady Quinn. Brady Quinn.

You are not alone in your angst over Big Blue’s ongoing swoon, which has seen them lose six of their last seven games. Check out some of these comments from a Giants’ fans website – Bigblueinteractive.com – and you’ll see some pretty intense – and somewhat hilarious – reactions to losses. This should make you feel better.

Title of the thread: “What’s the worst act of rage you’ve committed after a Giants loss?”

Some of the answers:

“When I was 17, I kicked a hole in my bedroom wall after we lost to the Bears on the first Monday Night game back in '87, the season after the Giants won their first Super Bowl....needless to say, my dad wasn't very pleased.”

“Threw a Christmas Tree out the back door after Flipper Anderson’s OT TD.”

“There are numerous holes in the wall of my attic (like a cardboard paneling). The biggest holes are probably from the Flipper Anderson game and a Philly loss circa 1989.”

“Tennessee this year. I took my garbage pails in the front of the house threw them in the street. Screamed... cursed out the team, repeatedly screaming "I hate my life" As neighbors came outside to watch, I was punching and kicking my car only to go back into my house sit down in the dark for an hour and began to re-evaluate my life, making a list of things that should be more important. I then cried myself to sleep. By the way- none of this was dramatized- its all true. I did just sit and cry after the San Fran loss, but no violence.”

“Threw a TV out my dorm window ater the collapse against the Vikings in '97. It fell 3 stories to a satisfying smash.(It was going in the garbage anyhow.)

“I plucked my eyebrows and eyelashes off after the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens.”

“Eye Lashes – do those grow back?”

“During the Eagles game in december of 2002 where we had not one, but two TD's called back on completely bogus holding penalties and our playoff hopes rested on the game, I threw a football at my window. Not only did it break the window, but it bounced off the sill straight back at me, at which point I caught it, turned 180 and threw it again, going right through a window on the other side of the room. I couldn't help but laugh … until I had to replace the windows later that evening.”

“Broke the windshield on my old Chevy Blazer. The tailgate windshield, by putting my fist right through it (as stupid as it sounds, it's even stupider when you consider I was actually trying to punch the column to the left). This is why you shouldn't drink around glass kids.”

Ah, to be a Giants’ fan.

1. Chargers (12-2) (1): It’s like LaDainian Tomlinson is from a different planet.

2. Bears (12-2) (2): Rex Grossman puts together a career day against Bucs, and all is well in Chicago. Bears have top seed in NFC playoffs, and it all goes through Soldier Field.

3. Colts (11-3 (5): Peyton Manning back on track with 4 TD passes; more importantly, defense shows stoutness against powerhouse Cincy offense.

4. Ravens (11-3) (3): Steve McNair gets his hand stepped on, but Kyle Boller actually looks decent in relief. Good news for Ravens fans, though. McNair isn’t seriously injured and will be back this week.

5. Patriots (10-4) (6): Patriots pummel Texans in bounce-back win at home. Only a matter of time before they clinch AFC East.

6. Saints (9-5) (4): Saints suffer rare letdown against Redskins. Maybe all that joy after beating Cowboys on road caught up to them.

7. Cowboys (9-5) (7): Patooeeey!! T.O. spits on D’Angelo Hall and gets rapped with $35,000 fine. But Cowboys beat Atlanta to clinch playoff spot for Tuna.

8. Seahawks (8-6) (8): Typifying maddening NFC teams, Seahawks can’t put away 49ers at home. Even so, it’s still tough to see them choke away the NFC West race.

9. Jaguars (8-6) (9): David Garrard looks miserable against the Titans, and Jags take major step back in playoff race. Looks like they might need to go into free agent market for a QB next year.

10. Bengals (8-6) (10): At Denver. Home to Pittsburgh. After losing to Colts Monday night, playoff push suddenly has element of doubt.

11. Eagles (8-6) (13): Jeff Garcia looks like the quarterback he once was in San Francisco, and Eagles are suddenly in the hunt. Incredible as it might seem, they can actually win the NFC East if they win their last two.

12. Jets (8-6) (16): Chad Pennington recovers from putrid outing against Bills to vanquish Vikings on the road. Jets still need some help to get into the playoffs, but their cause is not hopeless.

13. Titans (7-7) (15): Another fine day for Vince Young, and Pacman Jones’ interception return for touchdown helps seal the deal against Jags. We’re already thinking playoffs next year for this up-and-coming team.

14. Broncos (8-6) (17): Jay Cutler looks like the quarterback Mike Shanahan envisioned. Okay, so it was against the Cardinals. But the kid looked really good.

15. Steelers (7-7) (23): If this is Bill Cowher’s final season, he’s going out on a positive note after recovering from a dreadful start. RIght here, right now, Steelers are one of best teams out there.

16. Giants (7-7) (11): Strange but true: Giants can get into the playoffs at 7-9, and can be tossed from playoff contention at 9-7. Losers of five of their last six, this team is close to being done.

17. Chiefs (7-7) (12): Chiefs can’t come close to containing Tomlinson, so now it looks like the playoffs are out.

18. Panthers (6-8) (14): It’s almost official: The consensus NFC choice for the Super Bowl is done.

19. Bills (7-7) (20): J.P. Losman is looking like he belongs in the NFL. If nothing else, this season was worth it to discover that he can play.

20. Dolphins (6-8) (18): Is Nick Saban heading to Alabama?

21. Falcons (7-7) (19): Is Jim Mora headed for Washington?

22. Rams (6-8) (18): Rams hold sliver of playoff hope after 20-0 rout of pathetic Raiders.

23. 49ers (6-8) (27): They’re still playing for the future, but at least the turnaround appears much closer than last year. Nice job in road win against Seahawks.

24. Packers (6-8) (24): Brett nearly blows it in the end, but Pack holds on against pitiful Lions.

25. Redskins (5-9) (25): Redskins still playing hard for Joe Gibbs, even though the playoffs are out. Win against Saints proves they still care.

26. Vikings (6-8) (22): This is no longer Brad Johnson’s team.

27. Cardinals (4-10) (26): Only two more games for Dennis Green.

28. Browns (4-10) (28): Does Romeo Crennel make it to next season?

29. Texans (4-10) (29): Does David Carr make it to next season?

30. Buccaneers (3-11) (30): Bruce Gradkowski hits the bench, and Tim Rattay nearly pulls off miracle win over Bears.

31. Lions (2-12) (32): Lions force Brett Favre into three interceptions, but Jon Kitna throws two as Lions lose yet again.

32. Raiders (2-12) (31): Rock bottom? It had better be. Raiders are shut out at home by Rams in yet another horrific showing before the folks in the Black Hole.

Lamar Hunt hasn’t really gotten the credit he deserves for being one of the most influential people in the history of pro sports, probably because he shunned the spotlight and never cared much about publicity the way some owners do these days. Heck, the guy flew in coach class on commercial flights all his life, eschewing the private jet option most owners choose these days.

But make no mistake. Hunt’s contributions, not only to the world of football, but soccer and tennis as well, are almost incalculable. He was a founding member of the old American Football League and the Chiefs’ franchise. His fledgling league began in 1960, and only six years later, the historic AFL-NFL merger was formed. On Jan. 15, 1967, Hunt’s Chiefs were in the first Super Bowl.

Hunt succumbed yesterday to complications from prostate cancer. He was 74.

“Before there was a player, coach or a general manager in the league there was Lamar Hunt,” late Patriots owner William Sullivan said at Hunt’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “Hunt was the cornerstone, the integrity of the league. Without him, there would have been no AFL.”

The NFL would not be what it is today without this visionary. Once the merger occurred, he worked tirelessly along with other iconic owners like Wellington Mara of the Giants and Dan Rooney of the Steelers to help the league grow into the mega-billion dollar industry it is today.

Hunt’s contributions also reached professional soccer and tennis, and was instrumental in developing the old North American Soccer League, as well as World Championship Tennis.

Hunt was also one of the founding investors in the six-time World Champion Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. In all, he won a combined 13 championship rings from his disparate sports holdings.

A great owner, a visionary sportsman. Lamar Hunt will be missed.

1. Chargers (11-2) (1): LaDainian Tomlinson breaks single-season TD record, and Bolts look unbeatable. You ready for the playoffs, Marty?

2. Bears (11-2) (3): Rex Grossman responds to talk of a benching with a solid two-touchdown, no turnover performance against the Rams. And Devin Hester gets two more return touchdowns ... incredible.

3. Ravens (10-3) (4): Ravens beat Chiefs with another punishing defensive performance and another Steve McNair masterpiece.

4. Saints (9-4) (7): Sean Payton shows his mentor how it’s done as Saints bury the Tuna in Big D.

5. Colts (10-3) (2): That’s three losses in four games for a team that still can’t figure out how to stop the run.

6. Patriots (9-4) (5): Tom Brady comes up empty in Miami.

7. Cowboys (8-5) (6): A week ago, they looked like Super Bowl champs. After getting drubbed by the Saints at home, they look pathetic.

8. Seahawks (8-5) (8): NFC West title is still theirs, but it’ll have to wait after upset loss in Arizona.

9. Jaguars (8-5) (11): Huge performance against defense-starved Colts, as Maurice Jones-Drew has coming-out party.

10. Bengals (8-5) (9): Lay-up win over Raiders puts Bengals in good position for wild card.

11. Giants (7-6) (16): The season lives. Win over Carolina keeps Giants in wacky NFC wild card race.

12. Chiefs (7-6) (10): First home loss in 19 years could be devastating to Chiefs playoff hopes.

13. Eagles (7-6) (13): Jeff Garcia to the rescue. He’s won two straight to keep Eags even with Giants and one game behind Cowboys.

14. Panthers (6-7) (14): Jake Delhomme needs to get back in a hurry.

15. Titans (6-7) (19): Vince Young looks more special with each passing week.

16. Jets (7-6) (12): Jets choke on playoff opportunity in home loss to Bills.

17. Broncos (7-6) (15): Jay Cutler looks overwhelmed.

18. Dolphins (6-7) (21): Playoffs are almost out of the question, but Dolphins still playing with passion.

19. Falcons (7-6) (17): Huge game at home against Cowboys.

20. Bills (6-7) (23): Willis McGahee confounds Jets once more.

21. Rams (5-8) (18): Hard to believe Rams were 4-1 at one point this season.

22. Vikings (6-7) (22): Brad Johnson holds onto starting job by beating the Lions on the road.

23. Steelers (6-7) (24): Giants will be rooting for Steelers to beat Panthers on the road this weekend.

24. Packers (5-8) (27): Brett Favre gets back on track … just like everyone who plays 49ers’ defense.

25. Redskins (4-9) (25): That’s two out of three losing seasons in Joe Gibbs’ comeback.

26. Cardinals (4-9) (29): Nice win over Seahawks probably not enough to save Dennis Green’s job.

27. 49ers (5-8) (20): This defense is just awful.

28. Browns (4-9) (26): After horrid performance at Pittsburgh, Browns on the road in Baltimore. Only way they have a chance is if Ravens don’t care.

29. Texans (4-9) (28): Bad to worse. David Carr loses to Vince Young in Houston. Could this be the end of Carr with Texans?

30. Buccaneers (3-10) (30): Nothing to play for except draft positioning.

31. Raiders (2-11) (31): See above.

32. Lions (2-11) (32): Great to see coach Rod Marinelli is looking ahead to next year with Jon Kitna as his QB.

So, Terrell Owens fesses up that he may not have been listening to Bill Parcells when the Tuna was telling the Cowboys the day after a dramatic victory over the Giants what it took to become a championship team. T.O. admitted he was thinking more about the lavish birthday party he was gonna throw for himself out in L.A. the next day.

What is wrong with this individual? Is he incapable of getting through a week without drawing attention to himself?

As any scribe from the Bay Area who covered Owens during his tumultuous days with the 49ers will tell you: Duh.

Owens never ceases to amaze me at the stuff he comes up with to make himself the story.

Which got me to thinking about something I remember Parcells talking about 20 years ago. He said certain players had what he called "a warped sense of narcissism." In other words, they were incredibly wrapped up in themselves, to the point where they could think of little else.

One of the signs of this condition, Parcells said, was a player's incessant attention to his own body. Any time he saw a finely muscled player, one who was constantly looking at himself in the mirror and obsessed with looking good, he saw it as a sign. Sound like Owens?

He is a strange, strange man, a guy we've never quite seen before. He is as talented a player as there's ever been, but his obsession with drawing attention to himself is simply beyond description.

Say this much for Parcells, though. He has managed to get through a season of Owens so far with little collateral damage. The player has for the most part behaved himself and been a productive member of the team. With a different coach, his constant news-making acts might create an untenable situation.

But Parcells knows enough not to micromanage the situation. At least so far.

1. Chargers (10-2) (5): Okay, so they don’t get to the top spot without Indy losing to Tennessee. But really now, is there a major flaw on this team? Think not.

2. Colts (10-2) (1): The Giants shouldn’t feel so bad. A week after the Titans upset Eli, they do the same to Peyton.

3. Bears (10-2) (4): Rex Grossman had better get right in a hurry, or else the Bears’ Super Bowl season will end sometime in January.

4. Ravens (9-3) (2): Ravens had a chance to clinch the division in Cincy last Thursday, but come up small for first time in weeks.

5. Patriots (9-3) (3): Pats nearly upset at home against Lions, but pull it out in the end.

6. Cowboys (8-4) (6): Tony Romo not at his best through most of the game. But with the outcome on the line in the fourth quarter, his 42-yard completion to Jason Witten sets up the dramatic win and a commanding two-game lead in the division.

7. Saints (8-4) (8): With 4 TDs, Reggie Bush finally explodes with the kind of game the Saints have expected all along.

8. Seahawks (8-4) (10): After stinking out the place for most of the game, Matt Hasselbeck comes alive in the fourth quarter to beat Denver. Hawks will now breeze to NFC West title.

9. Bengals (7-5) (11): Now that the Bengals are actually playing defense, they’re looking like the playoff team we expected.

10. Chiefs (7-5) (7): Herm Edwards wanted to change the culture of losing on the road. Still not working. Chiefs 2-4 away from Arrowhead after blowing huge second-half lead to Browns.

11. Jaguars (7-5) (13): David Garrard shapes up, and the Jags end Miami’s winning streak.

12. Jets (7-5) (14): Chad Pennington puts together one of the greatest first half performances you’ll ever see as Jets demolish Pack at Lambeau.

13. Eagles (6-6) (16): Still hanging in. After getting thrashed the week before in Indy, Jeff Garcia rallies Eagles against Panthers to pull back into wild card race.

14. Panthers (6-6) (12): Looks like the Panthers just aren’t going to get it together in time for a Super Bowl run. Another lost opportunity in Philly on Monday night.

15. Broncos (7-5) (9): Jay Cutler era starts off with a few Football Follies moments. Broncos might be done.

16. Giants (6-6) (15): Giants put together much better effort against Cowboys, but it’s still not good enough. At Carolina on Sunday will go a long way toward determining their playoff fate.

17. Falcons (6-6) (20): Michael Vick finally gets his act together against the Redskins, but schedule doesn’t get much easier down the stretch.

18. Rams (5-7) (17): Marc Bulger & Co. lose to Cardinals at home, and Bulger rips several teammates who don’t give a darn.

19. Titans (5-7) (23): Vince Young is a delight to watch.

20. 49ers (5-7) (18): Looks like 5-5 was as good as the Niners were gonna get this year.

21. Dolphins (5-7) (19): Only question left: Does Nick Saban want to be a college coach again?

22. Vikings (5-7) (21): Vikes will be looking for a quarterback in the off-season.

23. Bills (5-7) (22): Bills come close against Chargers, just not close enough.

24. Steelers (5-7) (25): Bill Cowher might be coaching his last month in Pittsburgh.

25. Redskins (4-8) (24): Another lost season for Daniel Snyder.

26. Browns (4-8) (28): Was miracle finish against Chiefs enough to save Romeo Crennel’s job?

27. Packers (4-8) (27): After humiliating loss to Jets, Brett Favre wonders if it was worth it coming back.

28. Texans (4-8) (29): Winning a game with negative 5 yards passing? Only against the Raiders.

29. Cardinals (3-9) (31): Road win over Rams way too late to save Dennis Green’s job.

30. Buccaneers (3-9) (26): Bucs still need a quarterback.

31. Raiders (2-10) (30): Raiders need a quarterback, too. And a whole lot more.

32. Lions (2-10) (32): Jon Kitna comes close against Pats, but that’s as far as it goes.

So I'm hanging out in the green room this morning at Cold Pizza, the ESPN2 morning show I appear on a couple times a week, and two guys are in there talking about the Giants. One guy is wondering how bad it really was when Michael Strahan dissed ESPN reporter Kelly Naqi on Wednesday, and he railed at the pitiful state of the Giants' locker room.

I chimed in and gave some background on the situation, since I was at Strahan's locker during his meltdown. Then we got to talking about sports in general, and one of the guys opened up a newspaper and showed me all that was wrong with sports. "It's too much about the money," he said. "I'll open up a page, and I'll show you a story about money." He proceeded to go through the paper, and there were contract issues everywhere in the sports pages. "You've got more talk about money in the sports pages than you've got in the Wall St. Journal," he said.

We talked a few more minutes, and then a woman walked into the room and told me she had to do an interview with one of the guys, and would I mind giving them some privacy. "No problem," I said, realizing that one of the guys I was talking to must be "someone."

She starts talking to the guy, and they're discussing music, so I'm guessing he's in the business, although why he's at Cold Pizza is anyone's guess. So I tell the guy, "You know, I'll bet you are very famous, but I admit I don't know much about music, as one of my colleagues at Newsday frequently reminds me." (see: Giants beat man Arthur Staple).

I put out my hand. "Bob Glauber, with Newsday and Cold Pizza."

"Nice to meet you," he said. "Chuck D. I'm a Newsday reader. I read your stuff."

I'm talking to Chuck D!!!!! And his tour manager, Silbert Mani, who works out of Rockville Centre, is the other guy.

Anyway, turns out the hip hop/rap star is a native of Roosevelt, and his first job was delivering Newsday!!!

... ok, I really love this job.

PS: Staple rips me for admitting I like Dan Fogelberg - which I do - but I'll bet Grunge Boy never met Chuck D ... in your face, Staple.

A few more tidbits on my new best friend Chuck D:

A huge Mets fan, he wanted to be a sportscaster as a kid; he grew up listening to broadcasters Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner. He loved the Phil Rizzuto/Bill White tandem in the Yankees booth.

He grew up down the street from Eddie Murphy, and also lived near Dr.J.

He's a huge sports fan and was at Cold Pizza being interviewed about Muhammad Ali.

He'll begin a new tour - 56th Tour - starting next Tuesday in San Diego.