Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow Add to the Madness of March

Tons of NFL news to get too, but first things first, how's your bracket looking?

After two number 15 seeds advanced to the Round of the 32, three double digit seeds advancing to the Sweet 16
and four teams from the great state of Ohio still in the tournament, my bet is not so good.

No. 15 Lehigh's upset of No. 2 Duke is arguably the
biggest upset in the history of the NCAA tournament.
(Donn Jones/AP)

Everyone's bracket is busted, including mine, thanks to (15) Norfolk State defeating (2) Missouri and (15) Lehigh upending (2) Duke in the second round. According to ESPN, of the over 6.45 million brackets submitted by fans on ESPN's Tournament Challenge, no one has a perfect bracket and only three of those correctly picked this year's Sweet 16. It's a shame that teams like Missouri, Duke, Georgetown and Florida St. will not be playing another game this season because they are really good teams, but it would not be the NCAA tournament without a few upsets.

I'm proud to say that I got selected a grand total of seven Sweet 16 teams correctly and my bracket is a solid 5,193,860th on ESPN's Tournament Challenge. I never have had a really good bracket during March Madness, but this year might be my worst year ever. I thought I had a really good bracket this year, but everyone is an expert until the first game is played. The tournament, though, has been really good so far which has made up for my bracket being completely and utterly wrong. 

We haven't had any buzzer-beaters, yet, but there have been some really good games, like VCU/Indiana, Purdue/Kansas and Florida St/UC, more on the Bearcats in a minute, and I think we have been set up for a really great finish to the year's most exciting sporting event. 

Therefore, here's who I like to get reach New Orleans after this week's games, chances are I will be wrong, but my luck with tournament predictions has to change eventually, right?

South Region (Atlanta)

Sweet 16

(1) Kentucky over (4) Indiana: The Hoosiers are one of two teams to beat the Wildcats this season and they needed a buzzer-beater December 10th in Bloomington to do it. Indiana was lucky to get by VCU in the third round and I really don't see them beating Kentucky for a second time this season. John Calipari will have his freshman ready this time around and the Wildcats win another close one.

(3) Baylor over (10) Xavier: The Bears have been one of the most impressive teams all season and I would really like to see them go toe-to-toe with Kentucky in the Elite 8. Brady Heslip hit nine three pointers in Baylor's 80-63 win over Colorado and if he gets hot again, the Musketeers will be sent packing. Xavier's Tu Holloway, who is one of the best players in the country, and center Kenny Freese had big games for the Muskies last time out against Lehigh, but they will face much, much stiffer competition in this one. Sorry Xavier fans, I think you guys will keep in close for a while, but I like the Bears to move on.

Elite 8

(1) Kentucky over (3) Baylor: This could be one of the best games fans will see in the tournament. There is so much talent on the floor from the Bears' Brady Heslip, Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy to the Wildcats' Anthony Davis, Terrance Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague and Darius Miller, that this one should be as good as advertised. I just think Kentucky has too much talent to be knocked out by Baylor, but the Bears will keep Wildcat fans on the edge of their seats for the entire 40 minutes. 

West Region (Phoenix)

Sweet 16

(1) Michigan St. over (4) Louisville: I expect a very low scoring game between the Spartans and Cardinals here as both teams are very solid defensively. Head coaches Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino are two of the best coaches in the business, but I think Izzo's team has the edge in this one. Michigan St.'s Draymond Green is arguably the best all-around player left in the tournament with his scoring ability, rebounding, passing, ball handling skills and defensive presence that I don't see anyone from Louisville being able to stop him. I see Green having a big game for Sparty as Michigan St. moves on.

Big East Player of the Year Jae Crowder will need to have
another impact performance for the Golden Eagles this week
if Marquette is to get back to the Final Four.
(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

 (3) Marquette over (7) Florida: I would loved to have seen Marquette match up against Missouri here, but Norfolk St. had other plans. The Gators demolished the Spartans from Norfolk St. in the third round, but I think they will have their hands full with the Golden Eagles on Thursday. Marquette's Jae Crowder was the Big East Player of the Year and he will have another big game to get his team to the Elite 8. Florida's Billy Donovan is a great coach though, one who has won back-to-back national championships, so his Gator team will not go down without a fight.

Elite 8

(3) Marquette over (1) Michigan St.: I originally picked Marquette to get knocked out my Murray St. in the Round of 32, but once again I was wrong. Marquette proved me wrong and I will not make another mistake by picking against the Golden Eagles in this one. The Big East may not have been the best league this season compared to the Big Ten, but I still would take a very good Big East team over a very good Big Ten team any day of the week. 

This is going to be a great game and I think Marquette will advance to the Final Four for the first time since a guy by the name of Dwyane Wade took them there in 2003. It may take a clutch three pointer or some pivotal free throws in the final minute of the game, but I like the Golden Eagles to move on. This sets up a Marquette/Kentucky matchup in the first national semifinal in New Orleans. A very intriguing possibility to say the least.

Midwest Region (St. Louis)

Sweet 16

(1) North Carolina over (13) Ohio: The injury to North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall is a major blow for the Tar Heels. Marshall had surgery Monday on his broken wrist that he suffered in a fall late in the game against Creighton on Sunday and it is uncertain whether he will play against the Ohio Bobcats on Friday. Marshall is one of the best guards in the country and the best passer in the entire nation, but even if he doesn't play, I think the Tar Heels have enough talent to get by Ohio. The Bobcats will give the Heels all they can handle though. 

(2) Kansas over (11) N.C. State: The Wolfpack have had a nice run, but I think it will end on Friday. They had a nice ACC tournament to play their way into the NCAA's and they upset San Diego State and Georgetown to get to the Sweet 16, but I think the Jayhawks will be too much for them.

Elite 8

(2) Kansas over (1) North Carolina: If Kendall Marshall was 100%; I would have taken North Carolina without a second thought. However, without Marshall being able to play at his full potential, I think the Jayhawks will get by the Heels and advance to the Final Four. The battle in the paint between North Carolina's John Henson and Tyler Zeller and Kansas' Thomas Robinson will be physical and could decide who wins the game. However, without Marshall facilitating the basketball for the Tar Heels, I like the Jayhawks. Carolina has the better team when Marshall is healthy, but he won't be healthy for this one. Kansas advances to New Orleans. 

East Region (Boston)

Sweet 16

(1) Syracuse over (4) Wisconsin: The Badgers may play the most boring style of basketball in the country, but that does not mean that they don't have a good team. Wisconsin doesn't win by lighting up the scoreboard; they win by playing solid defense. Problem is Syracuse plays great defense as well. They play a very tough 2-3 zone and I expect this to be a very low scoring game. I will be stunned if the winning team scores more than 60 points, so whoever gets there first most likely wins and I think that team will be Syracuse.

(6) Cincinnati over (2) Ohio St.: Battle of the Buckeye State is on. UC and Ohio State are separated by just 100 miles and you can bet everyone in Ohio will be watching this one. The Buckeyes have a great team, but I just can't pick against my Bearcats here. I have underestimated UC recently against Syracuse in the Big East tournament and last week against Florida St., but I won't let that happen again. It will be a game full of defense, physical play and tension, and that favors the Bearcats. UC will get big games from Yancy Gates, Dion Dixon, Cashmere Wright and Sean Kilpatrick to knock off Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes to advance to their first Elite 8 since 1996.

Elite 8

Dion Dixon (3) and Yancy Gates have both played a large
role in the Bearcats advancing to the Sweet 16.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(1) Syracuse over (6) Cincinnati: As much as I would like to see the Bearcats in the Final Four, I don't think they will get there. The game against Ohio St. will take a lot out of them both mentally and physically that you have to wonder if the Bearcats will have enough left in the tank for Syracuse. Cincy beat Syracuse once already this season and it is the NCAA tournament, so anything could happen. However, with the Orange getting a chance for revenge after losing to UC in the Big East tournament, I think they win a low scoring game and advance to the Final Four.

It will be sad to see UC's season end, but it was by far the best season in the Mick Cronin era. Being able to get to the Big East championship game and win two, maybe even three NCAA tournament games after the brawl against Xavier and suspensions that ensued is quite an accomplishment. I expect a lot from the Bearcats on the hard court next season, but it will be tough to fill the shoes of seniors Dion Dixon and Yancy Gates.

The Final Four is now set. To review, I have Kentucky facing off against Marquette and Syracuse going up against Kansas. If I'm right, don't count on it, but if I am, then I think we will be in for a very good Final Four from the Big Easy on March 31st.

John Elway brings Peyton Manning to Denver and sends Tim Tebow to the Jets

Denver has another Hall of Fame quarterback and his name is Peyton Manning. After much consideration, Peyton Manning decided to take his talents to the Mile High City and play where Broncos VP of Football Operations, John Elway, became a Hall of Famer. 

The Broncos have not had a successful quarterback since Elway retired in the late '90s after winning back-to-back Super Bowls and now Denver has a chance to win another title with Manning. Denver may not have been the most talented team Manning could have chosen, the 49ers obviously have better talent on their roster, but there was something about playing in Denver that appealed to Peyton. Whether it was the cold weather, sticking to a team with a horse for a mascot, or playing under the watch of John Elway, I think Manning made the right decision.

I grew up idolizing John Elway and he is the main reason why I became interested in football to begin with. The Broncos made a very wise decision bringing in Elway to turn the organization back into Super Bowl contenders and once again, he has delivered.

ESPN's Rick Reilly made a great point at the end of his column this week saying, "There is still no statue of John Elway in Denver. When they carve it, should he be carrying a football or a briefcase?" I say why not both.

Peyton Manning is taking over the reigns in Denver, which means the
Tim Tebow experiment has come to an end in the Mile High City.
(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

As for Denver's other quarterback, the lovable Tim Tebow, he is no longer a member of the Denver Broncos. Tebow was traded to the New York Jets on Wednesday for a fourth and sixth round draft pick in April's draft. It hard to believe that three months ago, Tebow led the Broncos to a home playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the first play of overtime and now he is on his way to the Big Apple.

Even the Statue of Liberty is Tebowing
after hearing that Tim Tebow is headed
to the Big Apple.
(The Daily News)

I personally hate the trade. Yes, for football fans and the NFL it will be nice having Tebow in the world's largest market, but I would have kept Tebow around for a year just as an insurance policy in case Manning were to suffer another injury. The Broncos could have found a way to still work him into the offense and maybe even have some plays designed to put him and Peyton on the field at the same time. Plus, who better to mentor Tebow than one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Peyton Manning. I understand though, that the NFL is a business and the Broncos needed to trade him. But why the Jets?

The Jets might be the most dysfunctional team in the entire NFL and I think the Broncos really did Tebow a disservice trading him to New York even if he favored going there over Jacksonville. Their head coach has no control whatsoever, the locker room is a mess with Jets players anonymously complaining about their teammates, specifically QB Mark Sanchez, who just received an extension a few weeks ago after finishing a terrible season with absolutely zero confidence.

How is bringing in Tim Tebow going to change that? It doesn't in my opinion, which is why the Jets trading for Tebow makes no sense.

I wish Tim nothing but the best in the New York because I'm a fan and I hope he can help turn things around for the Jets. However, it's going to be a monumental task, maybe one that not even Tim Tebow can pull off.

When the dust finally settles, who will end up the winner in this whole deal? The answer is Nike. That's right, this season Nike will become the official maker of NFL apparel, including jerseys, and with the league's two most popular players changing teams, you can beat jersey sales and Nike's stock are going to skyrocket.

How would you sum up Tim Tebow being traded to the Jets?
I would have to agree with the back page (right) of the New York Post.

Saints get pounded by NFL for Bounty Program

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell brought down the gauntlet and then some on the Saints Wednesday afternoon for their bounty program. Head coach Sean Payton will be suspended for the entire 2012 season without pay. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the so called "head" of the bounty program, was suspended indefinitely and will get reevaluated by Goodell after the season.

Saints GM Micky Loomis will miss the first eight games of the season without pay. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt is suspended for the first six games without pay and the team was docked two second draft picks, one in 2012 and one in 2013. The Saints will also have to pay a $500,000 fine.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton (left) and
former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will both miss
the entire 2012 NFL season for their role in the Saints
bounty program.
(AP Photo)

It was expected that the league would come down hard on the Saints for this and I think the punishments fit the crime. The NFL said, "Payoffs went to 22 to 27 defensive players for inflicting game-ending injuries on targeted opponents, including quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner. 'Knockouts' were worth $1,500 and 'cart-offs' $1,000, with payments doubled or tripled for the playoffs."

I understand the NFL is a very dangerous league and football is a violent sport, but for there to be large amounts of money put on injuring another team's star player is just flat out wrong. Teams will do anything to win, I understand that, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. Offering cash rewards for good special teams plays or giving a bonus to the player who makes the first interception is fine, but not when it's at the expanse of another player's health.

The Saints season is now in jeopardy without Sean Payton who is not only the head coach, but the offensive coordinator as well. This situation really casts a dark shadow on a franchise that has done so much to revitalize the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and it's a damn shame. Hopefully, though, these punishments will end all the other bounty programs out there, because you can almost guarantee the Saints program was not the only one.