Sean B. Fitzgerald It doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.

Thoughts on Week 17 and the NFL Playoffs

• Let me preface this by saying that I hate the Patriots. I hate them. I hate them more than nuts in brownies. I hate the franchise. I hate their players. I hate their coaches. And of course, I hate their fans. Because nothing is worse in this country than a cocky New Englander. But that fact that they are not in the playoffs is ridiculous. I don't need to go through why either. An 11-5 record should warrant a playoff spot. Especially since the 8-8 San Diego Chargers will be HOSTING a playoff game. Same with those 9-7 Arizona Cardinals. I think it's time for the NFL to go to some kind of system where strength of schedule, rankings, point differential, and overall record are taken into account and some sort of decimal is generated thus determining the best teams in the league. Yeah, that'll do.
• Speaking of those Chargers, the Colts got hosed. They have the same record as the New York Giants (12-4) and have to play a first round game AT San Diego. What. A. Joke. I can't believe Norv Turner made the playoffs. He's been on the hot seat so long, you can grill burgers off his ass. But he continues to skate by. He's the same caliber coach as any of the head coaches fired this year. But Marty Schottenheimer's talent keeps him winning.
• Mangini fired. It feels so good to type those words. Since I don't want to talk about the past, I'll think towards the future. And at this point, I'll take any of the potential candidates for the Jets head coaching position. Schottenheimer, Cowher, Spagnuolo, Gilbride, Me, anyone. Anyone with a pulse. Because Mangini didn't have one. I like some emotion with my coaches. The man looked catatonic after every play. I like to think it's because he was confused about what was going on and still was learning the game of football. Anyway, he's gone. It's time to move forward.
• Ladies and Gentlemen, your Befeated 2008 Detroit Lions!
• Even though the Jets did not make the playoffs (which they wouldn't have deserved anyway), there are four things I am happy about regarding Week 17. I am a Giants supporter and am happy that they have a first round bye and home field throughout the playoffs. They are clearly the best team in the NFC and could have a fairly easy road to the playoffs. We'll see. Obviously I am happy that the Patriots didn't make the playoffs. Their fans have had enough and no one deserves a crushing blow to their team than Bostonians. I couldn't be happier for Chad Pennington. He showed to the Jets, the team that ran him out of town for Brett Favre, how good he really was. Admittedly, I wanted Favre and if it was at the expense of Pennington, I'd take it. But Chad rubbed it in our collective faces. Definition of bittersweet. And finally, a team I hate more than the Patriots, are the Cowboys. I hate them because all of the supposed "fans" they have. I live in New York. I know more Cowboys fans than I do Jet fans. Why? Why are they fans? They never lived in Texas. I bet they couldn't point to Texas on a map. Yet nothing could get between them and their 'Boys. It's because their frontrunners. And nothing shuts a frontrunner up than 12 years without a playoff win. I hope they keep Romo for the next ten years. Overrated. He is "Favre: The Next Generation".

I'm fired? Okay.