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NFL Notes

Jon Kitna is not a very good quarterback. The 7.6 YPA is nice, but that's likely more a product of the Mike Martz engineered offense (as is the 44 sacks taken). He's just way too inaccurate, and this team is going nowhere until they improve the position…Brett Favre, on the other hand, is playing unbelievably. I could not have been more wrong regarding his prospects at this stage of his career…Anyone who wasn't too consumed with Thanksgiving witnessed a mini coming out party by Calvin Johnson, who was finally being targeted like the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft. Maybe his back is finally starting to get healthy, but it's fairly evident this is going to be a special player for years to come.

Marion Barber is terrific and a top-10 fantasy back in most formats, but it's pretty telling that the 103 rushing yards this week marked his season-high. He needs to get the ball more often than only in the fourth quarter of games already won…There's something to be said about beating teams you are supposed to, and the Cowboys have done that with ease this year time and again. Remember, they've only lost to the undefeated Patriots.

How bad was the timing on Atlanta's part to deal Matt Schaub this offseason?...Roddy White would probably be a top-15 fantasy WR if he had a capable quarterback…Reggie Wayne has had a fine season, but he's left an awful lot of yardage on the field with uncharacteristic drops over the last few games.

I refuse to accept the Panther loss ATS on my record, as the late week injury to Vinny Testaverde made all the difference. David Carr shouldn't be starting for a college team right now, let alone an NFL one…This Saints run D is underrated.

Completing a remarkable 84.2 percent of his 38 pass attempts Sunday, Carson Palmer was downright impressive…Not sure why DeDe Dorsey got more carries than Kenny Watson, but I'll always have a soft spot for Triple-D 2.0…It's too bad most Rudi Johnson owners likely missed the playoffs, because Cincinnati's schedule weeks 14-16 is ridiculously good.

In a keeper-league, I'd still prefer Antonio Gates over Kellen Winslow because of durability, but it's very, very close…I've slurped Braylon Edwards quite a bit this year, but he does drop too many balls still…Continuing our running conversation regarding starting a franchise, I'd make Matt Schaub a top-20 pick.

While in the minority, I've always viewed the Coen brothers as overrated. Not any more, as "No Country For Old Men" is a fantastic film and easily their best work. It's on the short list of my best movies of the year and hysterical too. Probably one of the funniest movies I've seen in years. Javier Bardem gives one of the finest performances in the history of cinema.

I'd love to see what David Garrard could do with an above average wide receiver to throw to…Remember Matt Jones' off-the-charts measurables at the combine? Shocking how that didn't translate into becoming an effective NFL receiver.

During a midseason draft I did before Week 8 this year, Justin Fargas and Ryan Grant weren't even drafted – just goes to show how ever-changing this league is…To say Brodie Croyle still has some work to do would be an understatement…The Raiders run D is truly atrocious, but Kolby Smith came through Sunday, showing good burst and shiftiness. He's going to get all the work he can handle from here on out.

Eli Manning has eight interceptions the last two games versus Minnesota – six of them returned for TDs. Even more worrisome for Giants fans was his postgame interview, in which he proceeded to answer questions about his shoddy play with a gee-gosh, happy-go-lucky grin on his face…Tarvaris Jackson still can't pass, but he is quite elusive…The Giants run D is very, very good…The opposite is true regarding Reuben Droughns…Chester Taylor is better than I thought he was.

Marc Bulger is one of the most injury-prone athletes in all of sports…How about that goal line stand by the Rams' offense? It started with Gus Frerotte missing a wide open Isaac Bruce from five yards away and ended with him fumbling the snap. The Seahawks did everything they could to give that game away Sunday, but clearly, St. Louis is more interested in the upcoming draft position…I'd be shocked if Shaun Alexander gets another start this year.

The Redskins were minus-six on the turnover battle Sunday yet still almost beat the Bucs. Tampa Bay was outgained 316 yards to 15 during the second half, as the team failed to gain one single first down over the game's final 30 minutes. It's safe to say the Bucs need a healthy Jeff Garcia on offense.

Arizona's run-first philosophy has officially been scrapped…Larry Fitzgerald will be worth an early second round fantasy pick next year…As far as skills go, Frank Gore is easily a top-5 running back in the NFL. It was only a matter of time before he busted out, although the offense has done about as good of a job as possible of slowing him down. Still, his proneness to injury will make him a risky first round fantasy pick next year…If he hadn't been sacked, Kurt Warner would STILL probably be looking for the open receiver while standing in the end zone.

Imagine what Andre Hall would have done had he not suffered a high ankle sprain during his first carry of the game…There are two major criteria I look for in fantasy running backs – do they catch passes and are they fast? Travis Henry strikes out on both, and I seriously regret recommending him…How about a hand for Mike Bell – the guy gets his first carry since Week 3 and promptly fumbles. Cecil Sapp should be owned in all deep leagues..As if the Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Javon Walker trio didn't already have a bright enough future, Tony Scheffler looks like a possible future star at the tight end position. The Broncos are going to own the AFC West over the next decade…You hate to see any injury, but any Cedric Benson/Adrian Peterson owner couldn't have been sad to see Benson carted away Sunday…Devin Hester is a pretty good special teams player.

Watching Ray Lewis try to guard Antonio Gates makes you remember how good he USED to be…Philip Rivers has quite possibly the worst mechanics in the NFL…The Chargers do an excellent job of blowing out bad teams while playing at home from time to time, but don't let Sunday's game fool you again into thinking this is a good football team.

So the Patriots are mortal, after all. Not sure what the team's plan is regarding Laurence Maroney, but I am positive their lack of running game doesn't hurt their chances of winning the Super Bowl…Wes Welker has an uncanny ability to get open finding the seam down the middle. He's a legitimate top-10 fantasy WR with New England throwing it 55 times a game.

I tried to find something more exciting to do during the awful Monday night game – like doing laundry. What a joke that was…The fact Ben Roethlisberger completed 85.7 percent of his passes during those conditions is pretty impressive…Sure, the sod didn't help, but I'm thinking Willie Parker is more banged up than he's letting on…What a return by Ricky Williams!