The backstabber … add Demaryius Thomas to list of Tim Tebow detractors!

Add Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius 

Thomas to the list of people that trash Tim 

Tebow for no reason at all.

Add Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to the list of people that have stabbed polarizing quarterback Tm Tebow in the back – despite the fact that Tebow has never done anything to – or said one bad word – about Thomas.

When asked last week on 790 The Zone in Atlanta whether or not he would miss Tebow now that the team has veteran Peyton Manning running the show and Thomas ripped Tebow, even though he said he wasn’t trying "talk bad" about the controversial signal-caller.

"I ain't going to say I was sad because the only thing they (fans) remember is that pass," said Thomas, referring to the Broncos’ playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime that came courtesy of an 80-yard strike from Tebow.

"You gotta go back and look at the rest of the games. I wasn't getting no balls and you had to make some of these plays where some players were open and he is not making the throws. But I don't want to talk bad about Tim, but hey I am happy we got Peyton."

Okay, so Thomas wants everyone to know that he feels like he should have been getting more passes from Tebow and that the former Florida superstar isn’t quite the thrower that you need to be in order to have success in the NFL.

In other words, all Thomas did was bad-mouth Tebow while rehashing what most football people and even casual fans know – that Tebow need to become a better passer if he wants to become a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Unfortunately, what Thomas didn’t say was that Tebow has a ton of good qualities that far outweigh his inability to make big-time passes.

Tebow is a character guy that is arguably the best locker room leader in the entire league – and one that truly lifts the play of those around him, mostly because of his rock-solid belief that his team is never out of a game. Not only that, but unlike a lot of more experienced NFL quarterbacks, Tebow generally saved his best play for when it mattered most – in the fourth quarter.

Say what you like about Tim Tebow’s inability to pass the ball efficiently, but there’s one thing you must also call Tebow while trashing his passing – and that would be – winner!

Warner’s right … good for Goodell!

Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner 

was one of four quarterbacks the Saints 

offered a bounty for. The now retired legend 

agreed with commisioner Roger Goodell's 

punishment of the Saints.

As one of four quarterbacks targeted in the New Orleans Saints bounty program, Future Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handled the situation – and I agree with the Christ-loving Warner one million percent.

“I’m shocked like a lot of people, but not fully surprised,” Warner said. “One thing we realize about the commish is this has been primary from day one … he was going to protect our players. I am shocked at Coach Payton being suspended for a year and the various other things, but this is what Commissioner Goodell has done from day one. I love that he is trying to make statements to protect our game for the long-term.”

Manning to suit up for Denver Broncos!

Peyton Manning (L) is in while Tim Tebow (R) is out!

The Denver Broncos officially landed future Hall of Fame inductee Petyon Manning on Tuesday by reaching an agreement on a five-year, $96 million contract with the beloved signal-caller that they hope puts the franchise back into perennial Super Bowl title contention.

The Broncos will now look to move blossoming young quarterback Tim Tebow, less than one season after the polarizing signal-caller led the team to a surprising playoff berth – and victory over the defending conference champion Steelers.

By all accounts, it was the influence of former franchise quarterback John Elway, now the team’s vice president of football operations that sealed the deal for Denver.

Manning will turn 36-years-old in just a few days and will look to rebound after missing the entire 2011 NFL season because of multiple neck operations, making him expendable to his former the rebuilding Indianapolis Colts.

It’s a Brees … but not for screwed-up Saints

The New Orleans Saints need to sign 

franchise quarterback Drew Brees 

to a long-term deal - immediately.

You know Eye On Sports NFL fans, some things in life are so simple that they require absolutely no thinking whatsoever.

Of course, I always say that sports mirrors everyday life in myriad facets and one of the age-old truths is that, when you have a true, Hall of Fame-caliber superstar that is equally as phenomenal off the playing field as on it, that you give him whatever he wants to remain the face of your franchise until he decides to call it quits.

Having said that pro football followers, it’s clear that the New Orleans Saints are absolutely ludicrous – and no – I’m not talking about their insane bounty-laden locker room.

I’m talking about the fact that the Saints want to keep pinching pennies when it comes to paying franchise-quarterback Drew Brees what he rightfully deserves.

When it comes to NFL quarterbacks, Brees is easily one of the top three signal-callers in the game today, joining the ranks of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady as the game’s best triumvirate. Paying Brees an average of what Brady and soon-to-be-former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning make, is an absolute no-brainer, that the Saints should have taken care of a long time ago.

Now, they’ve used their franchise tag on Brees and he will make an average of about $16 million per season if he signs the deal. If not, he will hold out fr more money – and money I say he rightfully deserves after leading the formerly sad-sack franchise to its first Super Bowl title just a couple of years ago.

Now, in addition to having a mountain of bounty-related issues swirling about, the Saints have angered their team and community leader – and that was just ludicrous of GM Mickey Loomis and owner Tom Benson.

If the Saints don’t win more than eight or nine games in 2012, then don’t be surprised!

Madness in Miami … Flynn should be in, not Smith!

The Miami Dolphins foolishly let free agent
quarterback Matt Flynn sign with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Sure, I’m the biggest Miami Dolphins fan alive (yeah, I know they’re only two of us in the whole country) but I’ve to call things like I see it – and from where I’m sitting – I’ve got to say the Miami Dolphins dropped the ball in a big way in failing to sign quarterback Matt Flynn – all while wasting their time with mediocre veteran signal-caller Alex Smith.

The Miami Dolphins are foolishly
in talks with mediocre starter Alex Smith.

Instead of going after Flynn – the top free agent quarterback with the most potential (outside of Peyton Manning people) – the Fins foolishly spent a whopping five hours talking with Smith who has proven to be mediocre at best, despite posting the best season of his career this past season.

Well, Flynn met with the Dolphins on Saturday before leaving without an offer – and then signing a $26 million dollar deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The Dolphins dropped the ball in such a big way here NFL fanatics that I believe it could now set the franchise back at least another couple of seasons at the very least.

You Go T.O.! Owens shines in debut

Terrell Owens, now 38-years-old,
still has the body of a 21-year-old .

Why so many people still ‘hate’ on enigmatic wide receiver Terrell Owens is beyond me, but I choose to give the still-talented former NFL wideout the benefit of the doubt after being almost four years removed from his latest ‘team-dividing’ act of selfishness.

Despite being 38-years-old, Owens, performed very well for Buffalo and Cincinnati in his final two NFL seasons before sitting out this past one in a league-wide blackballing, I’ve gone on record numerous times to say that Owens, who still has the body of a 21-year-old, is a guy that looks like he could easily contribute to some NFL team’s aerial success in 2012, as a No. 2 wideout  and hell, a No. 1 for some teams (hello, Chicago, Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Miami, Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Kansas City).

Owens resumed his professional career after a year-long absence by suiting up for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League, a team he actually has an ownership interest in.

Owens generally looked like his old dominating self in catching three passes for 53 yards – and three touchdowns..

While it would seem that playing well for the Wranglers is a near-must if Owens is going to have any chance at getting back in the NFL, I don’t think it really matters very much, simply because everyone knows Owens still has ‘game’.

Nevertheless, it should be interesting to see if any NFL team is going to wise up and do the right thing and give the often mercurial wideout the  chance he so deserves at this late juncture of what his numbers say is a Hall of Fame career.

What are your thoughts on T.O.? Do you think he deserves another shot in the NFL or not? Sound off in the comments section, get your vote on … and have a great, sports-filled day!

My new hero … Randall Cunningham!

Cunningham, as a young
star for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Okay Eye On Sports readers, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m way too old to be ‘idol-worshipping’ any professional athlete like a wide-eyed teenager that is still hoping out some realistic hopes of making it in professional sports.

Cunningham and late son, Christian.

However, having said that, I am officially going on record right now to say that former NFL quarterback and now, ordained minister, Randall Cunningham, is not only my official sports ‘hero’ but that he should be every young athlete’s role model, particularly young African-American boys that may be under the impression that one they’ve made it to the pros, life will suddenly become easier.

Well, I am encouraging all young athletes – and their parents … (hell, let me just make that everyone) … to see ESPN’s E:60ultra-touching special on Cunningham, now the pastor of Remnant Ministires in Las Vegas.

Cunningham is now the pastor
of Remnant Ministries in Las Vegas.

Without giving too much of the video away, all I’m going to say is that Cunningham’s testimony, particularly that involving the recent death of his two-year old son Christian, is as powerful as anything I’ve ever witnessed and will undoubtedly help some folks think more about the ‘big picture’ than how much bling they’ve got and how much ‘paper’ they’re going to make.

Oh, yeah, I am now, officially, a huge Randall Cunningham fan – and I will be until the day I hit the dirt!

What are your thoughts on Randall Cunningham? Sound off in the comments section and have a great, sports-filled day!

Lin’s lovin’ the Lord too!

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.

From the late, great Reggie White and retired NFL superstar Kurt Warner to Denver Broncos polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow and now, New York Knicks impressive point guard Jeremy Lin, I’ve got to say, it’s a wonderful thing to see athletes profess their love of the Lord in front of millions of viewers.

While some sports fans don’t like to mix religion with their sports, I believe that only a fool can – and would – try to separate the two!

Why?

Because, first and foremost, the two have been, almost forever linked. Secondly, God is in everything we do – whether some folks agree with that fact or not.

Late, great NFL Hall
of Fame legend Reggie White.

Why else do you think prayer has always been a part of sports teams pre-game rituals, mostly, football, since the inception of the sport?

Having said that, I just want to say that it’s an awesome thing to know that Lin has joined Tebow and that young people all over the globe will want to become better people whether they practice Christianity or another religion of their choice.

To know that Tebow received a lot of backlash – and in some cases – outright hatred – because of his penchant for professing his love for the Lord, is a saddening fact of life today.

Former NFL
superstar Kurt Warner.

However, outnumbering Tebow’s detractors were a contingent of supporters like me, that praised him for living an exemplary lifestyle and being an upstanding role model for young people everywhere.

While Lin has now opened himself up to criticism from sports fans that like to keep religion and their beloved pastime separate, he’s also won over a huge following of like-minded Christians that are sick and tired of seeing today’s plethora of penitentiary-bound performers, no matter the sport.

After Lin lit up Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers with a career-high 38 points on Friday night' he told reporters after the game, "I just give all the praise to God."

At the start of the New Year, Lin’s facebook said that his resolution is to "love God more deeply and intimately by Dec 31 than I did on Jan 1."

On Twitter, Lin also said, "to know Him is to want to know Him more."

Last year, as a member of the Golden State Warriors Lin testified at River of Life Christian Church  that he considers everything in his life – including his coaches, his "tall" genes (6'3) and opportunities given to play – blessings from God.

"I look back and I realize these are His fingerprints all over my story," he said. "I realize I had to learn ... to stop chasing the perishable prizes of this earth ... and give my best effort unto God and trust Him with the results."

Say what you like about the sensational Jeremy Lin, but clearly this young man is being used to tell a story that only God could tell – and I’m enjoying the show as long as it’s running!

It’s RG3 if you ask me!

Passing on 'RG3' as the No. 1
overall NFL Draft pick could be an
epic mistake for the Indianapolis Colts. 

Okay EyeOn Sports football lovers, I know Stanford’s Andrew Luck has been deemed the consensus overall No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft for at least the last two seasons, but for me, I’d take Baylor’s Heisman Trophy-winning Robert Griffin III, the aptly nicknamed, RG!

While I do believe that Luck is the more, NFL-ready quarterback right now – and one that should go on to have a very productive career, passing on Griffin III could be a mistake of epic proportions, particularly seeing how important it is to have a mobile quarterback in today’s high-speed, high-impact era.

Eye On Sports would take Heisman Trophy winner
Robert Griffin III with the No. 1 overall draft pick.

What makes RG3 even more attractive to me – and many NFL folks around the league – is the stunning success that Carolina Panthers phenom Cam Newton unfurled in his very first season in the league.

Not only that, but Griffin is also known as a studious kind of guy that loves learning and has a work ethic that is second to none, questions that critics tried to put on Newton prior to last year’s NFL Draft.

Like Newton, Griffin genuinely believes e should be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and made that fact very clear at last week’s Super Bowl media functions.

Call me crazy, gridiron gang, but if I were running the Indianapolis Colts, I’d take Robert Griffin III with the top overall pick in a heartbeat!

Harrison’s Right for a Change!

It’s not often that I agree with anything that comes out of the mouth of idiotic Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker

James Harrison, the NFL’s biggest bi**h – but as sad as it is to admit, I agree with Harrison’s feelings on the New England Patriots.

Shortly after (like, immediately) the New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants 21-17 in the Super Bowl 46 this past Sunday, Harrison made the following post on Twitter.

"Told you, cheaters never win!!!!!!!!!" 

After picking myself up off the floor from laughing so hard – all I can say is – good going James. I – and a whole lot of other people – share your feelings on the Pats wholeheartedly, including teammate Ryan Clark.

The Steelers’ talented safety added his own Tweet, saying, "0-2 [in Super Bowls] post spy gate! Just saying!!"

After receiving some criticism shortly after his post, Harrison followed up by adding, "Lol, I'm sorry I couldn't help it!!!" "Come on people love or hate me more!" 

Me, I’, choosing to love James on this one!

How about you Eye On Sports football fans?

Are the Patriots  bunch of cheaters – or should we just forget their past indiscretions?

Let me know one way or the other!

Karma’s A Bi**h Bill!

New England Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick got a big dose of karma
after cutting reserve wide receiver
Tiquan Underwood on the
eve of Super Bowl XLVI.  

It’s pretty funny how I just wrote about how wrong New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was for cutting reserve wide receiver Tiquan Underwood just 24 hours before the biggest game of his life in order to add defensive lineman Alex Silvestro from the team’s practice squad.

The only problem with Belichick’s nonsensical plan – and one that many, including myself expected – was that neither Underwood – or his replacement – Silvestro – would even see the playing field and sure enough, Silvestro never got in the game. Only two Patriots defenders didn't play in Super Bowl 46 and Silvestro was one of them.

To make a long story short Eye On Sports readers, Tiquan Underwood was released for absolutely nothing – and mostly because Bill Belichick had to show the world just how ‘ingenious’ he is.

Some random comments from around the Internet generally agree that Bellichick was wrong – and foolish for making the late switch.

Travis from Mississauga, Canada

Why not cut him last week ? You let him practice all week, fly his people in, go thru all the festivities to cut him the eve of ? I'm sorry you don't conduct business like that.... Let that man have some dignity... Very embarrassing

Luv1138 from Irvine, California

Messed up. Why hours before SB 46? The guy must be devastated. Good luck Underwood, I wish you the best.

22Thumbs UpThumbs Down1 from New York, New York

And couldn't they have just cut OchoStinko instead? He's the least useful player on the roster.

Jason from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The hell with Bill, he has never shown any class and cutting someone the night before is uncalled for. They had 2 weeks to figure it out, so either the Pats are way behind on their planning for the game or the coach is an #$%$ clown!

Travis from Las Vegas, Nevada

That's cold blooded Belichick. That's embarrassing not only to the player but his family.

Needless to say, maybe Belichick’s thinking about karma today!

E Dubya On A Red-Hot, Philly Cheesesteak-Sized Roll!

After nailing both, the SU and ATS outcomes on Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown, yours truly finished the 2011 season on a perfectly-timed 6-0 'Philly cheesesteak-sized' roll to finish the postseason with an impressive 9-3 mark ATS (against the spread) – and put a ton of cash in my betting followers’ collective pockets.

I Told You So!

I don’t want to toot my own horn too much today (okay, I do), but I did tell my touthouse.com and sportscapping.com NFL betting backers – along with friends and family members everywhere – that the New York Giants were going to win all of their postseason games – including their Super Bowl XLVI matchup against the Patriots on Sunday! If you don't believe me, just take a look for yourself. Needless to say, when you’re good, you’re good!

New York's Defensive Lineman Factory!

Justin Tuck was a third
round draft pick in 2005.

Look, it probably shouldn’t have taken this long, but maybe somebody should try and find out just who’s behind the Giants’ masterful drafting of the team’s highly successful defensive lineman.

Osi Umenyiorya was a
second round draft pick in 2003.

I mean, really, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul!

Really?

New York’s new-age ‘fearsome foursome’ sacked Tom Brady twice (both by Tuck), hit him on eight other occasions and forced him to throw early on several others.

Oh yeah Eye On Sports readers, I wanna’ know who’s the mastermind behind the drafting of Tuck, a third round draft pick in 2005 and Umenyiora, a second round pick in 2003 – and I want to copy this guy’s method – like, immediately. 

Manningham’s Da’ Man!

 Giants' wide receiver Mario 

Manningham made a likely, 

game-saving catch late in the fourth quarter.

Four years ago, it was David Tyree making the catch of a lifetime to help the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII in one of the most thrilling Super Bowl contests in recent memory.

Manningham's catch will be
remembered for years to come.

On Sunday night, it was Mario Manningham playing the role of ‘Super Mario’ in making a huge, likely, game-saving 38-yard catch that came with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter and the Giants facing a two-point deficit on their own 12 yard-line, trailing by two points.

Quarterback Eli Manning threading the needle between two defenders to find Manningham deep along the left sideline and complete a play that turned out to be the longest play in Super Bowl XLVI.

"I knew I had to freeze my feet when the ball touched my fingertips," Manningham said. "Wherever I was at when the ball hit my fingertips, I just froze my feet and fell. I knew I was either going to get hit or hit the ground. I knew something was going to happen, but I knew that I couldn't let that ball go."

Manningham didn’t let go of the ball and now, he and his improbable catch are both a part of NFL Super Bowl lore.

"Words can't explain this,"  Manningham said. "Thank God I had great footwork and thank God for Eli's arm."

Jim Irsay is Certifiably Nuts!

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has already jettisoned
former chairman Bill Polian. Is 'franchise' quarterback Peyton
Manning next to go? 

Maybe it’s me, but I’m still trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with ‘certifiably nuts’ Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

First Irsay surprises everyone around the league – and on his own team by firing longtime vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, GM Chris Polian. While I certainly agree with his firing of head coach Jim Caldwell, I don’t think getting rid of his entire staff was the brightest idea, particularly if there was one or two assistant that deserved to be kept on board.

Next, Irsay surprises again by hiring Balimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to be the team’s new head coach, though I did like Irsay’s hiring of Ryan Grigson as the team’s new GM.

Now, Irsay is bad-mouthing ‘franchise’ quarterback Peyton Manning in the media – when everyone knows he’s going to part ways with the man that out his franchise back on the map before giving him the $28 million dollar bonus he is due in March.

I’m just going to say that what goes around comes around – and if Irsay doesn’t know that karma’s a b**ch, then I suspect he’s going to find out at some point in the very near future, even if the Colts do draft gifted quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.