Is Tom Brady really worthy of being considered the best quarterback ever?, or the best football player ever?

I don't think so. Maybe I can't see the forest for the trees but he just doesn't make the cut in my opinion.

I saw an article today on SI.com where Frank Deford wrote that we are seeing three of the greatest athletes ever, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Brady.

I think he is off base with Brady being with those two.

Brady is in line to get his fourth Super Bowl trophy in seven seasons next Sunday. Terry Bradshaw got four in six. I do think both are Hall of Famers but neither should be in the same sentence with Dan Marino, John Unitas or John Elway. Brett Favre and Peyton Manning deserve mention, but Brady, I don't think so.

What do you all think?

We will have two features and fact boxes previewing the UA-Kent State men's basketball game Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center.

As for coverage of the game, we will have Tom Gaffney, Stephanie Storm and Patrick McManamon providing insight to the key MAC East game late Wednesday on Ohio.com and in the Thursday edition of the Beacon Journal.

As a football fan, I want to think that the Giants can beat the Patriots, but something keeps telling me that the Patriots are like the Bulls of the Michael Jordan era and the Oilers of the Wayne Gretzky era — they are not going to be denied.

The No. 1 factor in the Giants' favor is that there defensive line normally can get pressure on a quarterback without having to blitz. Working against that theory, is the fact that the Patriots hung 38 points on that same defense last month.

So how can the Giants win: pound the rock.

Brandon Jacobs is the key to any upset. If he runs for 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns — TOUCHDOWNS being the key word — then the Giants can win.

If Lawrence Tynes is kicking field goals, then Tom Brady will be hoisting the trophy on Februrary 3. And who really wants to watch that?

– It has been quite a change for LeBron James.

Last season, at this time, his play late in games was questioned. This season, he only seems to play in the fourth quarter, scoring at will at that, leading the league in scoring.

He won't win MVP this season, but I do think he has taken his place as the best player in the league.

– The rest of the Cavs still leave a lot to be desired. But with LeBron, anything will be possible in the playoffs.

– I can't argue with the contract extension for Mike Brown.

– The quiet offseason seems to have spooked Indians fans. I get any number of e-mails worried that last season will be a one-shot wonder. I don't think that will be the case. The foundation is in place for the Indians to be like the Twins have been recently. Always in contention.

– Any worries about the new defensive coordinator having little experience should be put to rest with Romeo Crennel in charge of the Browns. That is where he made his career, coaching defenses. Now does that mean the defense will suddenly be better? NO. Just ask Marvin Lewis of the Bengals. Another supposed defensive wiz whose defense can't play. It takes players to win on defense.

– Terelle Pryor seems to add more schools to his wish list each week. Now the No. 1 prep star in the country is said to be considering LSU. He added Oregon about a month ago, Michigan three weeks ago and Duke after that. At this rate, he will end up a Akron. Actually, I think he ends up at Michigan (he has had a long relationship with RichRod) with OSU a close second.

– Selena Roberts wrote her first back page column for Sports Illustarted this week. She is the best female sportswriter in the business and it shows. She recently left the New York Times to go to SI.

The perception of the Big Ten nationally is not good, and it did not get any better after Ohio State got smacked around Monday night by LSU.

But the real problem with the Big Ten has little to do with Ohio State.

Ohio State and Michigan most years (not this one for the Buckeyes) schedule, at least, one nonconference game that might give them trouble.

The other teams in the Big Ten don't. Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State don't venture too far from home and rarely pull off a big upset on the road against a nonconference team. When was the last time that Wisconsin played at LSU or at Auburn or at Georgia. Michigan always plays Notre Dame and usually plays another tough game.

What gave the Big East a boost this season was South Florida beating Auburn at Auburn. West Virginia beating an eight-win Mississippi State team, beating Maryland on the road.

Winning the past three BCS games that it has been in helps the Big East, too, but scheduling nonconference road games against other BCS schools is the real difference maker.

The Big 12 saw its middle teams in Missouri and Kansas win their bowl games.

There is a way for the Big Ten to break out of its funk, and the answers don't all need to come out of Columbus.

Here is a quick rundown of what is working in sports, what is not.

Romeo Crennel: working
Dolphins going on fifth coach in five years: not working

Winter Classic in NHL: working
BCS mess (Hawaii in game, Georgia didn't face USC): Not working

Jim Tressel: working
Bill Stewart at WVU: not going to work (these hires from within always seem to crash)

Big East football: working (3 BCS wins in a row)
ACC football: not working (No BCS wins since 2000)

SportsTime Ohio: working (And I am surprised)
NFL Network, Big Ten Network: not working

Indians: working
Cavaliers: not working

LeBron James: working
Larry Hughes: not working

Sprint Cup (Nextel Cup): working
FedExCup (PGA): not working

Stars of the 1980s: working
Roger Clemens: not working