I have returned, now let's watch the tournament

    Goodness, it's been almost two months since our last meeting.
    The Falcons lost to the Packers. The Packers beat the Steelers. Baseball practice - the most overcovered event of all-time, along with golf - has started.
    Cam Newton went pro. Auburn still has possession of the national championship trophy. College football teams signed high school kids that nobody knows about, but losers throughout the land got excited about.
    And now, with a contented sigh, we have the NCAA Tournament.

On bowls, playoffs, ESPN/Texas and hoops

    Among other "years" that it's been, this has been the year of college football whining, with bowls being the latest topic.
    OK, folks, yet again, college football's bowl games set an attendance record. And we're not talking about the BCS games.

Don't be surprised in NFL playoffs

    People never learn. Clearly. Just talk to most of 'em, and learning is just not there.
    A few weeks ago, Falcons folks went loopy because ESPN's Trent Dilfer said the Saints could win in Atlanta.
    Now, why that was a shocking statement is befuddling. It wasn't shocking, it was objective and based on Dilfer's experience and of probably some film work.
    One needn't have NFL experience and access to video to know it was true and possible, one need only have a clue, some three-digit IQ moments and some common sense.
    New Orleans was the defending Super Bowl champ. Atlanta didn't make the playoffs last season. The Saints had earlier struggles but seemed to be righting the ship. The Falcons had a great record, but were anything but dominant or exceptionally convincing.

Rating the Falcons isn't easy, or clear

    How good are these Atlanta Falcons?
    Good, not great. Impressive, not dazzling. Overrated, underappreciated.
    The Falcons are perhaps a 9-5 team with a 12-2 record.
    Why?

Cam+integrity=Heisman?

    The great debate is over.
    OK, no it's not.
    To vote for Cam or not to vote for Cam for the Heisman, that's the question.
    Here's the first line from the Heisman Trust's mission statement, and it's causing a ruckus:
    "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award."

Cam's quiet, and UGA still can't cover anybody

    Let us give a high five that Camgate is having a quiet week so far.
    We're in the third day since Auburn and Cam beat Georgia, and it's been news-free. Somebody named Newton had a hand out, and Cam is at Auburn, which is 11-0 because in part defensive coordinators - and many defensive players - are a bit slow.
    That's not to say the UGA-Auburn game didn't leave a postgame residue that had nothing to do with Newton.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda

    A lazy throw and bad read on the game's first play.
    A nice throw off a receiver's hands and into those of a defender.
    Nobody touching the athletic quarterback running off tackle for 51 yards after almost all of his previous runs had been off the tackle.
    A throw into almost triple coverage without looking anywhere else in overtime.
    Having a fumble begging to be recovered by one team, which botched it three times and didn't cover it.
    Not covering a wheel route and allowing a back to get embarrassingly open for a touchdown.
    An interception slips right through a defender's hands.
    Receivers yet again running open, like they had fatal body odor issues.