Weekend Rundown

1. College is great. I loved it. When you're there, you want to stay forever, avoid the real world, and hit the weekend kegger. We all know how great it is. You know what's even better than the college lifestyle? $50 million guaranteed. Andrew Luck decided to return for his senior year at Stanford instead of being the No. 1 pick in April's draft and cashing a check that would set up the rest of his life.

Good "Luck" with that decision......Hey-O!

Don't get me wrong, Luck can do whatever he wants and make his own decisions that are best for him and his family. But I don't want to hear about "finishing his engineering degree." That can easily be done at any time. If the NFL wants to give you millions and millions and go down in history as a number one pick, you grab that opportunity unless you're scared to take on the challenge. 

Maybe Andrew Luck and his family see a bigger picture that I don't. However, if I'm a starting Division I QB, my ultimate goal is to be a Pro Bowl, championship-winning NFL QB. That's my a childhood dream so when the NFL comes knocking, I answer the door. I don't say, "Maybe next year."

Luck can still be a great NFL QB. Maybe he'll get drafted into a better opportunity than he would have this year, but that's as unknown as if he'll stay healthy until next year's draft. Good luck topping this season, especially without Jim Harbaugh.....

2. Never have I seen a coach blow up on the scene like Harbaugh. Listening to the bidding war over him by NFL teams the past week, it would seem like he's already won multiple Super Bowl rings. He's already built up by the media to be the "next great head coach." The 49ers seem like a good choice, Harbaugh is from the Bay area, and the team isn't that bad. They should have won their division this year. The problem becomes finding a QB, and, in the meantime, getting something out of the Smiths (Alex and Troy) next year. 

Based on what his brother John is doing in Baltimore and the Stanford turnaround, Jim Harbaugh seems like he will be a dynamic coach. Joining the NFC West also helps a first-year coach.

3. The media circus that Rex Ryan likes to create is entertaining, if nothing else. This week he took another unwarranted shot at Tom Brady. Ryan, discussing today's matchup with the Colts, talked about how no one is like Peyton Manning, no one studies like him. Then he said, "I know Brady thinks he does but I think there's probably more help from Belichick with Brady than there is with Peyton Manning." Why does Rex bother firing him up? That's been proven not to work. He goes out of his way to take a shot at the league's soon-to-be MVP when it's a long shot the Jets will even be around to meet up with the Patriots again. The NFL can always use more rivalry, coach-on-opponent smack. With Rex around, there won't be any shortage of it.

4. When this blog started a year ago one of the first posts were NFL Playoff predictions. Here are my Wildcard predictions:

Saints over Seahawks - For obvious reasons.

Colts over Jets - The key for the Jets is Mark Sanchez, it always is. He plays a little better on the road but you won't see me picking against Peyton Manning at home in the first round anytime soon. 

Ravens over Chiefs - I like the experience the Ravens are bringing to this game. A lot of pressure on the young Chiefs to make something of this miraculous division title. The Ravens went into New England last year and smacked Brady and Belichick in the Wildcard round so I don't see them getting knocked out here by the Chiefs.

Eagles over Packers - Tough call. I'll take the Eagles at home, who rested up last week. Aaron Rodgers has a QB rating of 107 against the blitz so there are plenty of concerns for the Eagles. Rodgers needs this win badly for his career but the Eagles are the wrong matchup for him to get it. Mike Vick wants a playoff win even more and I see a big game from of him. When Vick is rolling, the Eagles might be the best team in the league.

Notes Around the League

Shanahan

• The Redskins turned their whole organization over to Mike Shanahan. He signed a 5-year/$35 million deal to coach and have final say on all football decisions.
• The Skins got a couple major pieces that were missing at the start of the season: 1) A new GM- Vinny Cerrato got canned before Zorn. That's how bad he was doing. 2) New coach - Zorn was a joke. Should have never been hired.
• Next step: New quarterback. Jason Campbell is to quarterbacks as Jim Zorn is to head coaches. Portis got loose on Campbell during a radio show yesterday.
• Good move by Snyder and Washington to bring in an established coach. Shanahan will try to rebuild his image that took a hit in his last years with Denver.

Charlie Weis

• No surprise that Weis immediately signed with an NFL team. The Chiefs are betting on him return to glory as an offensive coordinator.
• The Chiefs moved very quickly to get Weis. Haley and Pioli were most likely planning this once he was canned at Notre Dame because of past working relationships. Haley worked with Weis with the Jets.
• Time will tell if Weis will be successful. Chiefs need better receivers and a much better defense. Chazz won't be helping with that. Cassell still has to prove himself. Still a lot of questions in Kansas City, but Jamaal Charles looks like a solid back. 
• First step for KC: Get Charlie a snot-rag. No one wants to see boogers and slime running down his face every game.

Rex Ryan

• Blowhard-of-the-year is at it again. In yesterday's press conference, Ryan said the Jets should "be the favorites" for the Super Bowl. Get over yourself, Rex. I'm all for confidence, but don't be stupid.
• That's the dumbest thing that's come out of his mouth since he said the Jets were "obviously out of the playoffs" three weeks ago.
• As much as Ryan trumpets is own horn, I'm leaning towards the Jets for an upset wild-card weekend.

Chris Henry

• Charlotte police will not charge Chris Henry's fiancee with any crime following an investigation into the accident that killed the Bengal receiver.
• This has to be a case of lack of evidence and witnesses. How can someone die from falling out of a truck you were driving and nothing happen? Vehicular manslaughter, anyone?

Quick Prediction: Texas over Alabama. I'm going with McCoy. A lot of the experts like Alabama.