Warner's Lock

When the Cardinals changed to the uniforms they have now, were they doing it to make them look European knowing Kurt Warner once played in NFL Europe or was it the logo change that helped? It's a real settle change but the new cardinal on the helmet looks like an angry one you don't want to tick off. The first year the Broncos changed to the uniforms they have now, they won back to back Super Bowls. That's a rare thing, but maybe it's what the Cardinals thought, but probably not.

More likely though, it was Denny Green going that helped. Why was he there in the first place, I have no idea. He is who we thought he was. Both Ken Whisenhunt Mike Tomlin are in their second year as head coaches and playing in Super Bowl XLIII.Tomlin is the youngest head coach to lead his team to the big dance.

Back to Warner, is he a future Hall of Famer? In 2006, my brothers and I took a trip to Canton and one of my brothers argued Warner's case for the hall. I laughed at the time but now he's got a case. Had Warner been retired in '06 I don't think he'd go in but look at how he's turned his teams around. He wasn't even supposed to start for the Rams but when Trent Green went down, the Rams had no where else to turn. He turned a laughing stock into Super Bowl Champions.

Ten years later, he's doing it all over again but for another team that often serves as a punch line. Again, he wasn't even supposed to be the starter. Most people thought the Cards would go with the young USC gunslinger Matt Leinart but they benched him for the veteran quarterback who lead him back to the promise land. We'll see how Warner does. Can he become the first quarterback to lead two teams to a Super Bowl victory? If so, his position in the Hall is a lock.

Championship Weekend

Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real, you swear it actually happened? What about the exact opposite? Has something ever happened that was so not likely so you swore it was just a dream?

I'm talking about the Cardinals hosting the NFC Championship game. In order to get there, they not only beat the Panthers, they demolished them. They did whatever they wanted on both sides of the ball and picked off Jake Delhomme five times and force a fumble. That's six turnovers from the veteran quarterback. Of course, you can't forget how Larry Fitzgerald dissected the defense.

Yeah, I've had flying dreams that seem more realistic then this. Evidently, So has Larry Fitzgerald, but his came true. What about those dreams where you show up to work in your underwear? Well, even if those come true, you can't embarrass yourself as much as Delhomme did. It appears his falling dreams came true.

Oh yeah, their playing the Eagles. Who saw that one coming? They weren't suppose to make the playoffs, nevertheless knocking out the defending champs. Speaking of Champs, the Steelers have had that title five times and are trying to make it six. The Ravens will try to put a stop to that this weekend. Hey, three of the four teams playing this weekend have bird names. What's something they all have in common? They all embarrassed the Cowboys.

Eagles vs. Cardinals We've all heard the term "follow your heart", but I've mentioned recently how doing that has gotten me in trouble. Well, at least it's cost me my picks when I went with my heart instead of my head. We can't always have both.

Philly is peaking at the perfect time and yes, McNabb is looking good. So is Kurt but he can't stop Bryan Westbrook. The Cards did shut down the Panthers run but can they do it here? Lately, I've been betting against both teams and here we are. Is my vote the kiss of death? If so, I'll take the Eagles, but I've been batting .500 this playoffs so there's no telling. With all the pointless rambling, I think Philly will win but I'll tell my head to shut up and go with my heart instead. ARIZONA WINS.

RAVENS VS. STEELERS My fear as a Cowboys fan is having a Pennsylvania Bowl. I can't root for the Eagles and I also don't want to Steelers to have a ring for the other hand. So yeah, I'm going for Baltimore but I just don't see it happening. Joe Flacco has had a tremendous rookie season and will have a great career. He's got little to work with and still produced great results but this week, he's against a team that has already beat him twice. It's going to be an extremely physical game. Both teams are known for their defense, and even more specifically, their safeties.

The losing team will be black and blue, without the uniforms that is. Yeah, unfortunately they will pay in yet another big dance and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will get his way. PITTSBURGH WINS

Well, it's time for me to go to sleep. If the Eagles and Steelers win, let me sleep in just a little longer. I have bigger and better dreams.

Dungy resigns

"We just felt this was the right time," ... "Don't shed any tears for me. I got to live a dream most people don't get to live"

Tony Dungy has been taking it one year at a time and announced Monday he will not return for another year. Dungy resigned as the Colts coach after seven years at the helm and a Super Bowl victory a couple years ago.

Dungy built the Bucs from scratch before Jon Gruden took over and lead them to Super Bowl XXXVII.

It's obvious that his players love to play for him and there's probably not a player in the NFL who wouldn't love to. He's respected by many around the league and by sports fans in general. Even if you're not a Colts fan, you still have to think the world of Tony Dungy. If you don't like him on the field, you can't not like him off it.

After reading his book, Quiet Strength, it felt like I knew him personally. In this book, he highlights his whole life, both the ups and downs. Vince Limbardi once said "It's not whether you fall down, but whether you get back up." and when Dungy fell down, he not only got up, he ran. He didn't make excuses. He made the best of the worst situations.

Tony Dungy is a man of faith. He's a family man and he has his priorities straight. His name belongs amongst guys like Tom Landry who told his players to priorities should be God, Family, Football.

It's going to be weird not seeing him on the sidelines but it's certainly understandable. Tony Dungy will truly be missed. Thanks for everything you've done Tony. You're truly an inspiration.