Moving On Without Gronk

The Pats pulled off an incredible 27-26 win over the Cleveland Browns, but the loss of Rob Gronkowski with a likely ACL tear could be devastating for the offense. Since the return of Gronk, the offense has improved immensely in all categories. He allows Tom Brady to do so much more with the ball.

Gronk is done for the season. They will go on without him, but how far they can go in the playoffs will be a big question. Players, coaches and fans cannot lament his loss because he is not going to be part of the 2013 season from this point forward.

Reed Not Leaving Easily

Jets safety Ed Reed fired back at critics who said his best days are behind him and that he was a shadow of his former self.

Reed will walk into the Hall of Fame, but his exit from the NFL isn't going the way he wished. Rex Ryan is one of his biggest supporters, but he might not be around to coach him after this season.

Reed said he has enough left to play for two more years. I hope he does. He is one of the best ever to play the position. Maybe, he can return to his former level of play. At his age, it's not likely.

I think Reed will be ones of those players who need to have the uniform ripped off his back before he gives it up. I admire that in anyone.

Playing In The Small House

Tim Tebow finally got offered a contract to play quarterback. The only problem is that it's not in the NFL. Instead, he was offered $200,000 to play for the Milano Seamen of the Italian Federation of American Football.

The eight team league begins in March and concludes with the Italian Super Bowl in July. The Seamen have the league's largest stadium with a capacity of 8,000. It's a far cry from the NFL. It's not even the Arena Football League, but it's a chance to show that he can still play.

I doubt he will accept their offer unless he gets an escape clause to go to a team in the NFL. Tebow could stay here and shop himself around when the free agency period starts in March. His phone has not been ringing during the regular season. It probably won't in March.

Who Throws The Ball On Sunday?

Tim Tebow must be wondering if he will ever get another chance to play quarterback in the NFL. Team rosters are full of veteran retreads and young ones who will be out of the league after a year or two.

The Pats play the 4-8 Browns on Sunday. They have four quarterbacks on their active roster and Brian Hoyer on IR. Brandon Weedon, selected in the first round of 2012, has been benched for poor play. Veteran Jason Campbell is out with a concussion.

They signed Caleb Hanie a few days ago, but he only has four career starts. They could also go with 2nd year Alex Tanney who they signed from the Cowboys practice squad.

It looks like the Pats defense could have their day with whoever plays on Sunday. Hopefully, the Browns quarterback doesn't pass for 300 yards.

Don't Ask Winslow

It seems like many fans know more about their team than the players. I can understand someone not knowing all of their teammates by name, especially if they get signed during the season.

Jets TE Kellen Winslow didn't know that his team was still in playoff contention. That is inexcusable, even if the Jets are 5-7. A loss this weekend will eliminate them, but Winslow should have known.

His gaffe was discovered after free-agent WR Donte Stallworth asked him to comment on Twitter about who he thought would be playing in the Super Bowl. Winslow picked the Broncos and Pats in the AFC Championship game and the Panthers and Seahawks for the NFC.

Winslow refused to answer questions from reporters, but went back on Twitter to try and laugh it off. With guys like him, it's easy to see why the Jets are 5-7 and ready for elimination.

Cutting Quarters

The group overseeing high school football in Massachusetts has made another mistake in the playoff format. They already had too many divisions and teams in the playoffs. Schools had a chance to go to a Super Bowl game at Gillette Stadium even if they had a losing record.

Now, it appears the teams playing on Saturday in Foxborough will be competing during 10 minute quarters instead of the usual 12. This allows for shorter games and more to be played.

It's great that the kids have the opportunity to play in a place like Gillette. A smaller roster of games would have been better. In this day and age, everyone has to be included. Kids need to learn that there are winners and losers. Not everyone gets a trophy on Saturday.

The Kick of a Lifetime

I didn't see the Auburn-Alabama game with its thrilling finish. I only saw the highlights. It was one for the ages. The 34-28 last play of the game loss knocked Alabama out of the top ranking in the national polls and dropped them to fourth. It probably cost them a third consecutive national title.

The final play will live on forever as one of the most exciting finishes to any football game. It started with a 57 yard Alabama field goal attempt by backup kicker Adam Griffith. Cade Foster, their starting kicker, was pulled after missing two field goals and having a third blocked by Auburn.

Griffith's kick was wide and was returned 100 yards by Chris Davis for the winning score. It was a highly unusual play, one rarely successful. All three players will be linked together as part of the game lore in the future.

It was the play of a lifetime by Davis and one that both kickers would like to forget.

Playing The Field

I think the NFL needs to take action against Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin after his controversial interference non-call last Thursday against the Ravens.

Tomlin claimed that he was watching the video board when Ravens returner Jacoby Jones was running down the sidelines for an apparent 100 yard kickoff return. Tomlin stepped on the field, causing Jones to break stride to avoid him. He was tackled after that.

Jones may have made it to the end zone. We will never know, but Tomlin's actions showed poor sportsmanship. He claims it was all innocent. Players get too close to the field all the time. No flag was thrown on the play. The NFL will review the film to determine if any action should be taken.

I think the league needs to fine him. Others say the Steelers should lose a draft choice. Tomlin's actions didn't effect the overall outcome of the game, but what if it did? How would the league react then?

The Costly Turnover

There has been a great deal of talk about the future of RB Steven Ridley with the Pats. His fumbles have come at bad times. He was benched last week after he coughed up the ball against the Broncos. How much will he play today against Houston?

Ridley has reached out to former RB Kevin Faulk who had his own problems holding onto the ball early in his career. He might be able to help, but Ridley is the one who can fix it.

Whoever has the ball, takes the blame for any turnover. It comes with the job description. In Ridley's case, he might not be here much longer if he keeps dropping it.

The State of Washington

It's hard to figure out why teams sign certain players. It's a very inexact science. All teams make errors on a regular basis.

The Pats thought they had their kick returner when they signed Leon Washington in the off-season. The eight year veteran was a two time Pro Bowler who had returned 245 kickoffs for an average of 25.9 yards per return. He also returned 168 punts for an average of 9.9 yards.

Washington was hindered by an ankle injury throughout the season. He  spent most games on the inactive list. He had one carry for one yard and returned one kickoff for 19 yards. Most of the time, it appeared that it was a game time decision.

He was immediately  picked up by the Tennessee Titans. Will he play on Sunday or continue on his carousel around the league? Is this the end for him or can he try another team next year?

Moving The Chairs

Jets QB Mark Sanchez said all the right things the other day about his future with the team. They have him for two more years with a salary cap hit of $13.1 million in 2014. The team could cut him and save $8.3 million.

The team will be making some big decisions at the end of the season. It's a big guess whether Sanchez or Coach Rex Ryan will return. Will the Jets try to grab another quarterback in the draft?

I don't think we will see Ryan or Sanchez with the team next year. It's a complete mess. It might be time to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.

They Play The Song Today

The NFL has played on Thanksgiving since the 1940's. In recent years, they went to three games, with a prime time battle at 8:30pm.

I have no doubt that network executives have thought of broadcasting four games. It would be difficult without starting one of them before noon.

I bet it was discussed in great detail, but they know it wouldn't work. The NFL would be on-board because it means more money in the coffers.

You can tell it's a big game, because they are showing the National Anthem before the start. They usually only do it during the playoffs because it steals valuable commercial time away from the broadcast. They made an exception today.