What about Bob?

Made it through Media Day relatively unscathed, considering the fact that thousands of reporters swarmed the Colts and Bears this morning and afternoon at Dolphin Stadium. There was the usual share of foofs, though.

A few of note: One television dude from Mexico actually conducted his interviews with a puppet, asking players from both teams what they thought of the big game … a couple of recent losers from American Idol tried to get Bears QB Rex Grossman to sing along with them, and Grossman passed. They then sang a version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” clearly mixing metaphors, yet clearly not giving a hoot. Just as long as they were on camera, that was all that counted.

… Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. played along with an interviewer who asked him straight-faced how he felt about playing against his brother, Peyton. Ricky answered as if he were asked the question all the time, and didn’t mind the banter. Of course, if you don’t know, Ricky Manning is black, and Peyton is white . . .
then there was the “media” guy who wanted to ask a question in Creole … and Dolphins defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday interviewing Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. Cute that Huizenga played along . . .

… Tank Johnson won the award for most forthcoming, as he openly discussed his involvement in his arrest on weapons charges several weeks ago. You’ll be reading more about that tomorrow . . . Marvin Harrison wasn’t looking forward to facing the media, what with his policy of rarely talking during the regular season. But he acquitted himself well, and got through it just fine. He even said he enjoyed it once he got rolling.

… we’ll check back later.

The Mrs. says the weather is lousy back home, so I apologize in advance for telling you that it is sunny and gorgeous here in South Beach. Then again, the natives are calling this a cold front, with high temps in the mid-60’s. Ha! Supposed to climb into 80’s by end of week … South Beach might be one of the coolest places on earth. Plenty of retro hotels like the Tides, the Sagamore, the Delano, and the Ritz Plaza. Absolutely gorgeous . . .

… Can’t help but get the feeling that many of the locals with Cuban connections are waiting for the day that Fidel Castro dies, at which time there will be dancing in the streets. Word is that a party is planned for the Orange Bowl if and when the Cuban leader passes . . .

… Bears arrived extremely early by most Super Bowl standards, and I suspect that they’ll be sick and tired of their digs at the Airport Hilton by the end of the week. They’re at the airport, for goodness sake! That’s no way to enjoy Miami. Then again, coach Lovie Smith doesn’t want them to enjoy things too much, and he’ll enforce a curfew beginning tonight ….

… Not expecting much in terms of controversy, what with two buttoned down teams and no Terrell Owens-type personalities on either side. Rex Grossman does speak his mind and might get a little flustered when answering questions about whether he’s the worst Super Bowl quarterback this side of Trent Dilfer . . .

… Colts don’t arrive until tonight – not accidentally, I presume. Remember, Colts president and general manager Bill Polian was formerly GM of the Bills, who lost four straight Super Bowls. Along the way, they partied deep into the night at their respective Super Bowl venues, so my sense is that Polian is doing everything possible to avoid any trouble on that front.

Talk to you soon …

BG

There has been plenty of talking about whether the NFL is too soft on quarterbacks.

I say they aren't. No way. In fact, the more protection that quarterbacks get, the better.

You can point to the Mathias Kiwanuka play against the Titans, where he let go of Vince Young on a would-be fourth down sack because he thought Young had gotten rid of the ball and he'd be called for roughing the passer. But that play is the exception, even if defensive players have been grumbling that the league is only interested in promoting offense.

Look at it this way. If the NFL let defensive players attack quarterbacks like the old days, then you wouldn't have enough quarterbacks standing to make the offenses go.

And for those old-timers out there who are tempted to say, "put skirts on 'em," resist that temptation. Top quarterback play is the lifeblood of the NFL. Therefore, the league is absolutely on point in doing everything possible to protect them.

... Have any thoughts on the subject? Lemme know.

Ran into legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula on set at Cold Pizza this morning, and he's going with the Colts over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He played for and later coached the Baltimore Colts, but he still has affinity for the team, even though they've picked up stakes and moved to Indy.

Another reason Shula is pulling for Colts is Peyton Manning. The coach points out that he, too, was chastised for "not winning the big one" in his coaching days in Baltimore, and that he can easily relate to what Manning has gone through.

Shula looks great, by the way. He's 77, but looks like he's in his 60s. Walks with a limp, courtesy of getting banged up in his playing days, but says he feels terrific. He'll be holding court in south Florida when the Super Bowl show hits town next week.

... Agree or disagree with Shula going with the Colts? Lemme know.

Kudos to the NFL for its continued vigilance in the fight against illegal steroids. Earlier today, the league announced new steps aimed at preventing players from using performance enhancing drugs. Some of the key points:

* A 40 percent increase in the number of players randomly tested each week during the preseason, regular season and post-season from seven to 10 per team. Last year, the number of random offseason tests was increased from a maximum of two per player to six per player.

* The additional use of carbon isotope ratio testing on a random basis to detect low doses of testosterone. All specimens now will be subject to random selection for CIR testing. Previously, CIR testing was only used to confirm positive tests for testosterone.

* The addition of erythropoietin (EPO) to the banned substance list. Testing for EPO will begin with the 2007 annual test that is administered in the spring or summer.

* Enhancement of the unpredictability of the year-round testing schedule to address the perception of gaps in the testing periods.

The NFL is continually ahead of the curve when it comes to combatting the use of steroids, and while it's pie in the sky to think the league will catch every cheat, pro football is doing the right thing by adding more tests and refining those tests. Commissioner Roger Goodell has told me before that he knows the situation will never be perfect, and that the league will always be looking for ways to improve the system. But at least he has the foresight to make every effort to crack down on violators.

So I'm sitting there in the second half of Sunday's AFC Championship Game, and I lean over and yell in Tom Rock's ear (you have to yell when the RCA Dome is amped up by crowd noise) and tell him, "I realize this is still your first year of covering the NFL, but you're watching one of the greatest games in NFL history."

Rock nodded and understood. It really was one of the greatest games ever. Incredible, really. The kind of game that is hyped up for a week, and then not only lives up to the hype, but exceeds it ...

A few more tidbits:
MANNING ALL THE WAY: Peyton Manning was as calm as could be in the huddle on his game-winning drive last night, and his teammates noticed. Tight end Dallas Clark told me Manning didn’t say anything special, mostly because he knew the players would do their jobs and he had complete confidence in them. Manning wound up going on the 80-yard drive to win the game, and answered a lot of questions about whether he could win the big one. Safety Bob Sanders told me Manning’s demeanor throughout the entire game was as if it was the first regular season game and there was no pressure at all.

DUNGY SAVORS THE MOMENT: Tony Dungy said he felt especially good for his players and the city of Indianapolis, but hadn’t yet completely savored the moment. I talked to him after the game, and he said it will begin to sink in shortly. One of the first things he’ll do on Monday is call Lovie Smith and congratulate him for being the first African American coach to make it to the Super Bowl. Dungy, of course, is the second, having accomplished it only hours later. The two are very close friends, although they probably won’t talk any more until after the Super Bowl. One of the things Dungy is happiest about is that he and Smith prove that you can be decent human beings and still get to the Super Bowl.

LESSON LEARNED FOR MARLIN JACKSON: Marlin Jackson made the game-saving interception in the final seconds last night, and if you noticed, he went right down to the ground and stayed there. Why not try and run the ball back? Jackson told me he thought back to last week’s Chargers-Patriots game, when Marlon McCree made a fourth-quarter interception instead of batting the ball down. He eventually fumbled after being stripped by Patriots receiver Troy Brown. McCree said he could see Brown out of the corner of his eye, and he said there’s no way he’s letting that happen.

What is Michael Vick thinking?

Okay, so Michael Vick gets stopped in an airport, is asked about a http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6381376?FSO1&ATT=HMA">bottle of water he’s carrying,
tries to throw it away and is now suspected of having a substance that smells suspiciously like marijuana.

Uh, Falcons fans, we have a problem.

The 26-year-old quarterback is not only struggling to become a complete player, but now his off-field problems threaten to add further problems to his career. So far, no charges have been filed, while police continue to investigate the matter. But even the suspicion of being involved with marijuana could lead the NFL to place Vick in their drug program– if he’s not already in it.

That’s besides the fact that the Falcons are beginning to have some serious reservations about Vick’s ability as a player. Former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino is now running the show after Jim Mora Jr. got axed, and Petrino is willing to work with Vick. But he’s also anxious to keep Matt Schaub, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

You’d better believe the Falcons are keeping their options open at quarterback, especially now that Vick’s off-field behavior is cause for concern.

Stay tuned on this one. It promises to get more interesting.

New Giants GM Jerry Reese says he's leaving the door open for Tiki Barber to re-think his plans to retire, that maybe the All Pro running back will change his mind about quitting once he heals up.

No way Tiki comes back.

I asked him at least a dozen different times, and so did just about anyone else who covers the team. He's done. Time to move on.

Get over it.

I like the direction the Giants have taken with Jerry Reese as the new general manager in place of Ernie Accorsi.

Reese is a solid choice, a guy who has paid his dues in scouting and personnel, and from all Accorsi has told me in recent months about his preparadness for the job, I think Reese is up to the task.

That said, he faces a very, very tough challenge performing on the New York stage, just as any other general manager of a Big Apple sports team. It's just not like anywhere else, because the scrutiny can be overwhelming.

But if Reese is willing to have a conviction on players like Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka, two pass rushers who had some question marks coming into the draft about their ability to become elite players, then I think we should trust that he will be similarly shrewd and assertive on the right guys.

Will he make mistakes? Of course he will. EVERYONE does, including the great personnel men over the years. But as long as he has his share of hits - and I assume there will be plenty over the years - Giants fans should feel encouraged today about the direction of their front office.

That said, do not forget about the contributions of Chris Mara, who was beaten out by Reese, partly because he is Wellington Mara's son and the Tisch family had reservations about putting someone with the last name Mara in such a pivotal front-office position. Not that Chris Mara doesn't have the background; he does. He has logged plenty of miles on the road looking for players, and his credentials are impeccable. The Giants would be making a mistake if they didn't use his formidable scouting/personnel talents.

I do not believe they will make that mistake, because they truly value Mara's credentials. He will be a big part of the front-office equation moving forward.

One of the best things about this week is the announcements of individual awards from the Associated Press, as voted on by a panel of experts. I’m privileged to be one of those voters, so I’ll share my thoughts on some of the key votes:

Comeback player of the year. I had Chad Pennington of the Jets, and he won. A number of quality possibilities, including Drew Brees, who also came off shoulder surgery, and Carson Palmer, who returned from a torn ACL. But I gave Pennington the nod because it was not only his second shoulder surgery, but he had to go through a four-way competition in training camp just to get his job back. Throw in restructuring his contract for the benefit of the team, and he got my vote.

MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson got my vote, and he won it. Brees was my other major consideration, and without either guy, those teams do not come close to what they did. Why Tomlinson? Because it was a transcendent season – maybe the best he’ll ever put together, and certainly one of the best we’ve ever seen from a running back.

Coach of the Year: I went with Sean Payton (vote hasn’t been announced). A very, very close call with Eric Mangini of the Jets, but Mangini didn’t have to deal with the relocation of his team, the uncertainty of whether the franchise will be there long-term, and a massive rebuilding job, mostly with players who weren’t there last year. Take nothing away from Mangini, who did a brilliant job getting the Jets back to the playoffs. I just thought Payton had the more daunting task.

Defensive player of the year: Jason Taylor of the Dolphins got my vote, NOT Shawne Merriman. Taylor got the award. And yes, I factored in the suspension Merriman was given during the season for violating the league’s steroids policy. Plain and simple: The guy got caught trying to increase his speed and strength with a banned substance. I don’t care if he ingested it unknowningly, or if it was mixed in with supplements. The guy got caught cheating, period. He is a great player and he will win this award one day, but now is not the right time.

Here’s the rest of my ballot:

OFFENSE:

WR (2): Marvin Harrison, Laveranues Coles.

TE (1): Tony Gonzalez.

T (2): Willie Anderson, Walter Jones.

G (2): Brian Waters, Shawn Andrews.

C (1): Olin Kreutz.

QB (1): Drew Brees.

RBs (2): LaDainian Tomlinson, Tiki Barber.

FBs (1): Lorenzo Neal.

Place Kicker (1): Matt Stover.

Kick Returner (1): Devin Hester.

DEFENSE:

DE (2): Jason Taylor, Aaron Schobel.

DT (2): Kevin Williams, John Henderson.

OLB (2): Audalius Thomas, DeMarcus Ware.

ILB (2): Brian Urlacher, DeMeco Ryans.

CB (2): Champ Bailey, Assante Samuel.

S (2): Brian Dawkins, Kerry Rhodes.

Punter (1): Brian Moorman.

The awards

Most Valuable Player: LaDainian Tomlinson.

Comeback Player: Chad Pennington.

Defensive Rookie: DeMeco Ryans.

Offensive Rookie: Marques Colston.

Defensive Player: Jason Taylor.

Offensive Player: LaDainian Tomlinson.

Coach: Sean Payton.

Well, what do you know … a coach who lied about what his intentions were before bolting for a better opportunity.

Welcome to the Nick Saban show. Saban kept telling everyone in Miami that he wasn’t interested in the Alabama job, even though the smoke never cleared once his name was mentioned in connection with the opening.

Well, a few hours ago, Saban made it official. He’s out in Miami, and in at Alabama.

Not a surprise to me, because I had the feeling all along that Saban was very, very interested in going back to the college ranks, simply because he never fit in with the pros and never truly let go of his passion for the college game.

He is Steve Spurrier without the panache. Spurrier lasted two seasons with the Redskins – the same amount of time Saban lasted with the Dolphins – and he was gone from Daniel Snyder’s fiefdom. The difference this time is that Saban had as much as he could ever have asked for in Miami, minus the meddlesome owner.

Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga is as hands-off as anyone in the NFL, and he let Saban run the show completely. Still, it wasn’t enough.

Dolphins fans were surely delighted when Huizenga didn’t take “no” for an answer two years ago in his dogged pursuit of Saban. But those same fans should shed no tears for a guy who just never warmed to what should have been one of the best pro jobs around.

Good riddance.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL! ... yeah, even you, Staple and Rock.

1. Chargers (14-2) (1): One of Marty Schottenheimer’s best coaching jobs. But it’s January now, and the only number that matters is 5-12 – Schottenheimer’s playoff record.

2. Ravens (13-3) (3): Why does no one talk about these guys in Super Bowl terms? It’s time to take them very seriously.

3. Bears (13-3) (2): Can there be any more angst for a potential Super Bowl team after a meaningless Week 17 loss to the Packers? Just ask Rex Grossman.

4. Patriots (12-4) (4): As the old saying goes: Whenever you have Bill Belichick as your coach and Tom Brady as your quarterback, you always have a chance.

5. Saints (10-6) (5): One of the most heartwarming stories of the year can get even better with a Super Bowl run. Saints get all-important week off to think about the possibilities.

6. Eagles (10-6) (6): Momma McNabb is worried Eagles fans will forget about her son if the Birds go deep into the playoffs. Keep worrying, Mrs. M.

7. Colts (12-4) (7): Terrible run defense against Larry Johnson in wild card round. Can you say one and done?

8. Jets (10-6) (11): Eric Manginius tries to beat the master one more time. But it may be asking too much to beat Belichick twice in one season … on the road, no less.

9. Seahawks (9-7) (9): Costly win over Tampa means Seahawks secondary will be hurting. But at least they’ve got some home cookin’ against the Cowboys.

10. Cowboys (9-7) (8): Did you see Tuna bury his face in his hands after Jon Kitna’s fourth touchdown pass? Could be more of the same in Seattle next weekend.

11. Chiefs (9-7) (15): Chiefs sneak in through the back door, thanks – as usual – to Larry Johnson’s heroics. Herm Edwards will call his number again plenty in Indy.

12. Titans (8-8) (12): You’d better believe defensive coordinators will study Belichick’s plan against Vince Young. It might be the only way to stop the guy.

13. Rams (8-8) (16): Woulda shoulda coulda. Rams got hot early and got hot late, but too cold in the middle cost them a playoff berth.

14. Broncos (9-7) (10): Nothing else matters after Darrent Williams was shot and killed. Our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates.

15. Jaguars (8-8) (13): Put Jack Del Rio on the hot seat in ’07.

16. Steelers (8-8) (18): If Bill Cowher steps down as expected, what a way to end it all – beating hated Bengals in overtime on the road.

17. Giants (8-8) (20): Tom Coughlin sticks around another week. But a loss at Philly, and there’s no guarantee he coaches in New York next year.

18. Bengals (8-8) (14): A season that held such promise goes up in flames at home on the final weekend.

19. Panthers (8-8) (17): Jake Delhomme comes back from a thumb injury, but it’s too late. One of the most disappointing teams of the year goes out with a meaningless win over the Saints.

20. Bills (7-9) (19): All in all, not as bad a season as we expected. But will the Bills ever get past mediocre?

21. Packers (8-8) (24): Post-game tears at Soldier Field tells you Brett Favre will hang ‘em up. Thanks for the memories. One of our top 5 players to watch … ever.

22. 49ers (7-9) (23): Niners ruin Broncos’ playoff hopes on the road to complete a halfway decent season. With Seahawks falling back a notch, can these guys contend for an NFC West title in ’07? Could be.

23. Falcons (7-9) (21): Jim Mora Jr. is out of a job, but don’t look for any sympathy from Michael Vick, who really is a coach killer ... just like Mora's daddy said.

24. Dolphins (6-10) (22): Alabama wants Nick Saban badly. We’ll see if he walks away, or whether Wayne Huizenga holds him to his contract.

25. Redskins (5-11) (25): Worst NFL season ever for Joe Gibbs, who vows to come back next year and make it work. We’ll see.

26. Vikings (6-10) (26): Brad Childress had better start talking to his players, or else he’ll have a locker room insurrection before long.

27. Texans (6-10) (27): Jake Plummer to the Texans in 2007?

28. Buccaneers (4-12) (28): Chucky devastated by injuries and aging defense, so he’s hoping turnaround next year. If not, then he might be gone.

29. Cardinals (5-11) (29): Dennis Green gets the heave-ho after three brutal seasons.

30. Lions (3-13) (31): Lions beat Cowboys in regular season finale. Must be time for a contract extension for GM Matt Millen.

31. Browns (4-12) (30): Romeo Crennel on the hot seat, regardless of ownership’s vote of confidence last month.

32. Raiders (2-13) (32): Could be over for Art Shell after just one season.