Day 46: The Broncos, Andre Agassi, Jim Boeheim and more

HEADLINES

1) The Denver Broncos lost at home on Monday Night Football to the Steelers, dropping their second game in a row after starting 6-0. Can the Broncos hold off the charging Chargers?

Ben: No way. The Chargers are more talented and have always seemingly found a way to beat the Broncos when it counts. I think Orton is a solid quarterback for them, but he will not be able to keep up the level of play he's been on -- and neither will the defense. I think it's just a matter of time before the Chargers catch and pass the Bronocs for the division lead.

Boz: No. Kyle Orton and the Broncos offense is coming back to earth and it showed last night as the offense was only able to put up three points. The Chargers are playing good football and there is only two quarterbacks playing better than Phillip Rivers (Brees and Peyton Manning). The Broncos get a win this Sunday since they are playing the Redskins, but they host the Chargers in two weeks. Denver is only a game up on the Chargers and I don't think that the Broncos will win the division. I'm not even ready to guarentee them a spot in the playoffs.

2) Marat Safin has stated that he feels that Andre Agassi should give back all of his career winnings and titles to the ATP for failing a drug test and lying about it to get the positive test thrown out? Do you agree with Safin?

Ben: Seriously Safin? I guess giving back all his winnings from that season and the titles during that year would make sense, I guess. But, it turns out that Agassi didn't benefit at all from those addicitons and was actually on the worst stretch of his career when these incidents were taking place. If it was something you really, really wanted to pursue Safin, I'm not going to say its terrible -- but look at the results, Agassi was playing terrible and not winning money because of the drugs, they were not helping him in any way.

Boz: No. First of all, Marat Safin needs to take a look in the mirror and examine his career. He's not exactly the type of guy that needs to be judging another player. As far as Agassi giving back his career winnings and titles, I completely disagree. We've already covered on this blog that Agassi's addiction and failed drug test were during his worst year of his career where he didn't win any titles. It's not like he was taking a performance enhancer, but the exact opposite. A lot of people are being critical of Agassi, but it was your average guy that became addicted to a dangerous drug and kicked his addiction, we'd be applauding him for turning his life around. I'm not saying to applaud Agassi's decision to use crystal meth, but I am saying applaud his willpower to turn his life around.

3) Syracuse defeated Albany, 75-43, to clinch the 800th win of Jim Boeheim's career, becoming just the eighth division I coach to reach the 800 plateau. Where does Boeheim rank among the all-time greats?

Ben: He's a good coach, and probably in the top 20 of all-time coaches, but just because he amasses a lot of victories doesn't mean he's a good coach. He coaches at a BCS school that is able to recruit the New York area. He should win games. He has perfected the 3-2 zone and he has coached some fantastic teams, but to put him in a category with Bobby Knight or Coach K -- would just be wrong.

Boz: I would probably put Boeheim fifth all-time, which is saying a lot because there have been a ton of very good coaches in college basketball. My top five would be: (1) Dean Smith, (2) Bobby Knight, (3) Adolph Rupp, (4) Coach K and (5) Jim Boeheim. I've been a big Jim Boeheim fan over the years and it's been fun to watch a team succeed so much by playing a zone defense. When playing rec basketball leagues, I love to scheme with different defenses, going from man to zone. Boeheim has shown that he is the master of scheming defenses and I hope that he remains in the game for more years to come.

4) Two sources have stated that the Cleveland Browns will start Brady Quinn (once again) for the Browns' Monday Night Football game at home against the Ravens. Is it a good move for the Browns to keep switching quarterbacks?

Ben: Nothing the Browns do is a good move anymore. Switching QB's, trading WR's, releasing DT, it's all terrible for the Browns, and I don't see it improving in the next 2-3 years. They are bad, and I don't even see a glimpse of a rebuilding plan. There is no way that any move relating to the QB's will turn out good -- and this move falls under that category.

Boz: No. They've already benched Brady Quinn for Derek Anderson. Now they're benching Derek Anderson for Brady Quinn. The Browns offense is awful and the decisions being made for the offense are even more pitiful. I do think that Quinn is the better choice at quarterback for the Browns. Quinn is a talented quarterback and can be successful in the NFL, but he doesn't have a strong enough offensive line and not enough weapons around him to help him succeed with the Browns. Not many quarterbacks in the NFL would succeed with the Browns at this point.

TOSS-UP

1) Who will be the better rookie quarterback? Josh Freeman, Mark Sanchez or Matthew Stafford?

Ben: Matt Stafford. I like Stafford and actually think he and Sanchez will have comparable rookie seasons. I'm being a homer and picking Stafford, but I think he's learning more about every facet of the game from his time with the Lions because of their struggles at every facet of the game.

Boz: This is a tough call. Freeman is the flavor of the month right now and Sanchez was the flavor of the month earlier in the season. And I think that Stafford as the best arm. However, I'm sticking with Sanchez because he has the better team around him and with that defense, he doesn't have to be fantastic to win football games.

2) Which quarterback is having the better season? Kyle Orton or Jay Cutler?

Ben: Orton. Wins are the only thing that matters for QB's.  Orton has it right now, and he's also been more careful with the football this season committing fewer turnovers.

Boz: Right now, Kyle Orton. Plain and simple...Orton is 6-2, Cutler is 4-4. Cutler has more yards and more touchdowns, but it all comes down to winning games. Ask me this question again in week 14 and the answer might be different.

3) Which mid-major football team is the better team? TCU or Boise State?

Ben: Boise State. I like the Broncos, and while I think TCU will be a better BCS team and probably bump the Broncos from a BCS bowl, I think Boise has been soild, if unspectacular this season.

Boz: TCU. Boise State has beaten Oregon, but TCU has a win at Clemson and at BYU. The Horned Frogs are tough on defense and I am actually now hoping that they get a shot at the BCS title shot.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 38th Birthday Steve Young. Young was a fantastic QB for the 49ers, but also spent time with the Bucs and the USFL. He is one of the few QB's that have followed a legend (Montana) and became a legend themselves. Very few have been able to do it, survive the pressure and have a successful career. It might have caused him 20 concussions, but he was the perfect fit for San Fran at the time.

Boz: Happy 41st Birthday Sammy Sosa. Apparently you received a skin rejuvenation kit for your birthday because that was your explanation for why you looked ghostly in a recent picture. Sosa use to be one of my favorite players, but now I don't miss him one bit and I didn't even feel bad that Jason Marquis and Milton Bradley have since worn his #21 jersey.