The NFL can be called a lot of things but its move to put the Patriots-Giants on CBS and NBC as well as its NFL Network is perfect.

It keeps Congress off its back, it showcases its broadcast ability; it showcases its talent (Rich Eisen is one of the best in the business); it allows them to sell more ad spots.

It also puts the NFL on two networks on a Saturday night when many folks are on vacation. The rating should be high. So there is even more money for the juggernaut.

I still don't think cable companies should be forced to add the network, but this is the best way for the NFL to get customers to push the cable companies to add the channel.

The Tennessee Titans control the playoffs in the AFC. So during this holiday week, Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel and the Browns must decide the direction of the team going forward.

Obviously this season is not done, and the playoffs are still better than a 50-50 chance because the Indianapolis Colts aren't going to roll over for the Titans.

To me the bigger questions are what to do about quarterback, running back and linebackers.

Starter Derek Anderson played his worst game at the worst time but probably still will make a trip to the Pro Bowl if one of the QBs in front of him bow out due to injury. This happens every season. He also is a free agent. Brady Quinn is making a lot of money looking pretty on the sidelines. What to do? Sign Anderson. No one knows anything about Quinn other than he will struggle when he finally gets his chance. It probably will be costly but after making the playoffs or just barely missing, the franchise can't go with an inexperienced leader on offense.

Running back Jamal Lewis is also a free agent. He will go somewhere else. Don't overpay for a running back who in the past has been injury prone and who has a lot of mileage on his wheels. Some team will pay him big bucks, but he won't be worth it. Take a pass and draft a running back in the second round.

Linebacker is an area to address through free agency. Willie McGinest is old and might have one season left in him. Antwan Peek was good but injury prone. Kamerion Wimbley had no sacks against good teams but I wouldn't give up on him. D'Qwell Jackson and Andra Davis are serviceable. If this team is ever going to stop the run, the linebackers have to get better.

Like I said, still prepare for the postseason and a likely date with the San Diego Chargers. But thoughts already should be focused on the offseason.

That is the only way to make this season a building block and not a mirage.

Folks, one game back in September did not turn the Browns into a playoff team and the Bengals into a blundering franchise.

It has taken work for both teams to end up where they are.

The Browns have developed and followed a plan since GM Phil Savage arrived. He has made his mistakes and has had his share of good fortune, but in the end, the blueprint and the follow-through have the Browns thinking about the playoffs.

The Bengals have drafted players with great talent and no character, and other than the Oakland Raiders of the 70s, it just doesn't work. Coach Marvin Lewis seems to be a great guy, but with the lack of control of that franchise, no one would have been able to keep it from slamming into the wall. All you have to know about the bungling Bengals is that Chris Henry after his 3,974th suspension is back in uniform and playing … a lot. Most teams would have cut him instantly. If the foundation isn't solid, and it ain't, Mr. Mike Brown, the house will crumble.

Here is what Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks of Rich Rodriguez leaving West Virginia for Michigan.

Rich Rodriguez leaving West Virginia for Michigan is just another sign of the lack of respect coaches have for their players.

These guys aren't held accountable because no one will stick to their guns and fulfill a contract.

RichRod's departure is not as weak as Bobby Petrino's carpetbagging ways, but RichRod did say last year that he wasn't going anywhere and 20 some recruits signed on after that statement. Now if those kids, and they are kids, decide that the new coach doesn't have their best interests in mind, they can transfer but must miss a season.

If the NCAA won't put a stop on these changes and make contracts actually worth something, at least, it could let players at schools who change coaches go somewhere else without sitting out a season.

My first thought after reading the Mitchell Report is that Barry Bonds just got in the Hall of Fame.

Most sportswriters aren't going to keep Roger Clemens out of the Hall of Fame, which means they lose their reason to keep Bonds out.

And when all is said and done, there really is no other option.

We either put these players and others of that era into the Hall of Fame or we close the doors.

Testing is always behind what the athletes can do to mask whatever they are taking.

Bonds and Clemens will go into the hall as the best hitter and best pitcher in the Steroids Era.

Senator George Mitchell's report on steroids and other performance enhancers is set to be released tomorrow at 2 p.m.

My gut tells me that the baseball fans don't care who used and who didn't.

They want their teams to win and that really is all that matters.

So if it comes out that Manny and Thome used during the playoff runs in the late 90s, I don't think the Tribe fans will hold it against them.

In fact, I believe most folks think that these guys used because that is what everyone else was doing.

Other than Hall of Fame credentials, nothing will come from this report.

With the stadium set to be completed for the '09 football season, is this upcoming season make or break for Zips coach J.D. Brookhart?

I would think AD Mack Rhoades would not want to fire a coach AFTER moving into new digs. So I do think J.D. needs a good season next year to keep the pressure off. I think the program is moving in the right direction but I also think that new stadium needs to be full for every game the first couple of seasons to prove its necessity.

The only way to do that is win. Period.

Darren McFadden of Arkansas probably will be the best NFL player out of the finalist this year for the Heisman, but I don't think that should give him the award.

There is something to being a college player and not worrying about playing in the NFL.

Tim Tebow (likely NFL player), Chase Daniels (don't see it) and Colt Brennan (possibly).

So going on stats and having watched them play, Tebow is the best player. He ran for 20 touchdowns and threw for 31. That is a lot of points and for the most part they came against SEC teams.

According to several reports in Pittsburgh, the hangup on the Jason Bay-to-Tribe trade is Cliff Lee.

The Pirates don't want him in the deal. They want Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers instead, and Shapiro has said no.

Bay and Paulino for Gutierrez, Shoppach and Laffey or Sowers, is what the Pirates would do.

It is dead for now, but so was the Pirates trade to get Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez at this time last year. It took until the middle of January to get that one done with the Braves.

Even with Bay (another guy who even when he is playing well strikes out a ton), the Indians lineup is not on par with the Tigers and Yankees, but the Indians pitching is better.

The funny thing is that only 3 of the 4 (Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers and Indians) get to make the playoffs, and if the Rangers are horrible, there is a chance that two teams from the West, Mariners and Angels, could make playoff runs.

This I do know: At least, one very good team is not making the playoffs.