Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons. Billed as the AFC’s version of Brett Favre (who also retired just six weeks ago), McNair was the second black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. I’m sure we’ll see him soon as a commentator on ESPN or something.

[ESPN]

Back when the Sega Dreamcast came out, NFL 2K absolutely rocked my world. That game looked and played so much better than any Madden football game it was crazy. Then in 2004, EA, the people behind the Madden franchise, signed a 5 year exclusive deal with the NFL and NFL Players Association which killed the 2K football games completely. The developers took another shot at it this past year with All-Pro Football 2K8 but the game flopped without real NFL teams and current players.

It looks like 2K football will have to stay buried for another 5 years as EA just announced an extension to their contract until the end of the 2012 season. It’s really a bummer because, without any competition, EA isn’t forced to outdo anyone else. They’re able to just incrementally update Madden each year and release it as a new game with a fresh $60 price tag. They still sell millions of copies year after year though, so they must be doing something right.

[Joystiq]

VS

The stage is set for the biggest game of the year for all of American sports and the two teams facing each other are probably not the most likely foes. Well, the Patriots were pretty much a shoo-in since week nine when they beat the Colts but who would have picked the Giants? The Giants have done something no other NFC team has done: win three road playoff games to get to the Super Bowl and ten straight road games for the year. (more…)

Yeah, I’m a Green Bay Packers fan and I live in Orlando, FL. So what? I just have to say that tonight’s game against the Seattle Seahawks was freakin’ awesome. Even in blinding snow, the Packers managed to put up 42 points and move on to the NFC Championship. Now if Tom Brady would just lose, this would be the perfect night.

I started this season with a 9 game winning streak. 9-0…unstoppable. Then I lost two in a row. I wasn’t too worried about it until Friday morning when I learned that Brett Favre injured his shoulder and his elbow. It’s a scary thing when your main man is hurt. According to coach Mike McCarthy though, he’ll be fine by next Sunday when he will continue to kick some ass. Ok that’s not a direct quote but it’s the truth.

[AFP]

My prediction about the frightening future of Father Christmas is rapidly becoming true. U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson (try saying that 5 times fast) said in an interview:

“It is really important that the people who kids look up to as role models are in good shape, eating well and getting exercise. It is absolutely critical.”

It’s a slippery slope, my friends.

[Boston Herald via Fark]

I hate to say it but I think the Patriots are going to do it. 16-0 may be one of those records that is up there with the all-time home run record. The talent level in the NFL is like none other and most people can’t comprehend how hard it is to play the sport; that includes me. What the Patriots are doing this year is pretty impressive, and that is coming from a guy that would love to see Tom Brady snap his ankle in two.

What makes it even better is that the Dolphins, the team that holds the current undefeated season record, could throw up a turkey themselves and go 0-16. So alert the nation, Don Shula may do something crazy in these upcoming weeks. He cherishes that record way to much.