Here we are…the final so-called “minor” bowls before the big bowls start on New Year’s Day. Don’t tell these teams their bowl is minor, though…this is their time, and they’ll go all out to bring a trophy home to their respective colleges. Swami McMullen dusts off the crystal ball for the last time this year and brings you the final “minor” bowls of the bowl season.

Insight Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Iowa State Cyclones

The Golden Gophers are on the way back from a 1-10 season, which they suffered in 2007. They are also trying to exact a little bit of redemption at the Insight Bowl after dropping a 31-point lead against Texas Tech in 2006 and lost by a field goal.

For the Gophers to get that sweet redemption, they need to shore up their offense (after switching to a new offensive set, they slowly devolved to the worst offense in the Big Ten) and establish a viable option at running back (they tried three running backs over the course of the season but never found a viable starter). This will also be a quarterback battle for next season, as Adam Weber has been inconsistent this year, and backup MarQueis Gray is nipping at his heels. If the offense comes in clicking, the Gophers could pull off the victory.

The Cyclones, like Minnesota, are trying to rebound from a dismal season. The Cyclones finished 2-10 in 2008. They run a more reliable offensive attack, similar to the offense Minnesota sees all season: using their offensive line and running backs to try and win the game in the trenches.

However, the defense is the problem for Iowa State, which is the mirror opposite of Minnesota. The key to this defense will be linebacker Jesse Smith. He leads the Big 12 in tackles and needs to have a big game in order for Iowa State to pick up the victory. In all honesty, this is a game where you have to pick the lesser of two evils. Iowa State has a good offense but a bad defense, and that will be the difference in this game.

Prediction: Minnesota 30, Iowa State 6.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tennessee Volunteers

This is a story of two very good rushing teams. For the Hokies, running back Ryan Williams has taken some of the onus off of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The offense as a whole has found balance, as Taylor has become more comfortable throwing the ball deep (averaging 17 yards per completion).

The defense is suffering slightly, as linebacker Zach Luckett blew out his knee in the regular season finale and will miss the bowl game and spring practice. If the defense, led by defensive ends Jason Worilds and Nekos Brown and linebacker Cody Grimm, can blow out the SEC leader in sacks, they should make this a very good game.

The Volunteers have two major distractions dogging them on their way to Atlanta: the college is under investigation for recruiting violations by head coach Lane Kiffin. On top of that, two assistants are leaving for Florida State and LSU.

However, quarterback Jonathan Crompton has blossomed as the starter, taking some of the pressure off of running back Montario Hardesty. Once Crompton turned into a reliable quarterback, the receiving game took off as well, led by wide receivers Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore.

If they play like they’ve been playing all year, they should make the short trip back to Rocky Top with a Chick-Fil-A trophy in their overhead bins. Expect a low-scoring defensive battle, with Crompton leading the Volunteers to a victory.

Prediction: Tennessee 10, Virginia Tech 7.

International Bowl: South Florida Bulls vs. Northern Illinois Huskies

It could be believed that the Bulls backed into this bowl, losing five of their last seven games after starting the season 5-0. The defense, ranked third in the Big East, is the key for South Florida. Led by defensive end George Selvie, the Bulls led the league in pass defense, allowing almost 200 yards per game.

However, they’ve only produced 25 sacks in the meantime, which is only good enough for second to last in the league. This is Selvie’s final game, and if he wants to make a good impression for NFL teams, he needs to step up and win in Toronto.

The Huskies have established the Mid-American Conference’s best rushing game, and they will face a very tough test in one of the stingiest defenses in the Big East. They also have a good scrambling and passing quarterback in Chandler Harnish, who overcame a knee injury so that he could lead the Huskies to two close losses at the end the season.

The defense, allowing only 21 points and less than 330 yards per game, exceeded expectations after losing a bunch of seniors. They are led by defensive end Jake Coffman, who is first on the team in tackles for losses and sacks. They say that defense wins championships, and given the explosive state of the Huskies’ defense, I give this one to Northern Illinois.

Prediction: Northern Illinois 27, South Florida 10.

Papajohns.com Bowl: Connecticut Huskies vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Huskies come into this bowl losing their five games this season by a total of 15 points. They are also extremely motivated after the death of one of their teammates, Jasper Howard. They are exceptionally strong on both aspects of the offense and are led by quarterback Zach Frazer.

However, it seems that the passing game is slightly behind the running game, so if the Gamecocks stop the run and force Frazer to pass, it could be a long day for the Huskies. The defense needs to step up in the wake of Howard’s death and linebacker Greg Lloyd’s injury if they want to win this game.

The Gamecocks are still being praised for their great performance against Clemson, when they rushed for 223 yards. However, that rushing attack is far from perfect, as they finished last in the SEC.

They more than make up for it, however, with their defense, which ranked 15th in the nation and only third in the SEC (behind BCS contenders Florida and Alabama). They will be in a fight against UConn, who averages 32 points per game. Their leader, linebacker Eric Norwood, just needs one more tackle for loss to move into fifth all-time in the SEC. If Norwood steps up to stop the running game and forces Frazer to pass, the Gamecocks will win this game, and that’s the way it will be.

Prediction: South Carolina 48, Connecticut 20.

AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels

The Cowboys usually have a true balanced defense, mixing run with pass in a perfect blend of offensive attacks. Star quarterback Zac Robinson is truly the key to the Cowboy offense; as he goes, so goes the team. With the suspension of wide receiver Dez Bryant, a new go-to receiver has sprung up in Hubert Anyiam.

The running game is led by a very good duo Keith Toston and Kendall Hunter. The offensive line must give Robinson enough time to make a play if they are going to leave Arlington with a Cotton Bowl victory.

The Rebels have relied on quarterback Jevan Snead a little too often this year. However, when he faltered, they did have a second option: running back Dexter McCluster. He is proficient in the rushing and receiving games. Where Snead has faltered this season (throwing 17 interceptions and only completing a little more than half his passes), McCluster has stepped up (only needing 15 yards to be a 1,000-yard rusher and 25 yards to be a 500-yard receiver). If the Oklahoma State defense learns how to stop both Snead and McCluster, it will be a long day for the Rebels.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 20, Ole Miss 3.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

This is a second chance for the Pirates, after they frittered away a 13-point lead to Kentucky in last year’s Liberty Bowl, and they have the offense to get that sweet redemption they’ve been waiting for since last year. The offensive line has allowed only one sack in the last seven games (they went 6-1 in that span).

The defense has forced at least one fumble in the last two-and-a-half seasons and has 19 takeaways in the last seven games. If they are able to take away Ryan Mallett’s passing game, this should be sweet redemption for the Pirates.

The Razorbacks’ offense is led by sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett, who has flourished since his transfer from Michigan (he led the SEC in passing yards, with just over 300 per game). The running game is weak, only accumulating 136 yards per game, but Mallett more than makes up for it. The defense needs to step up to match the high-powered offense (the Razorback defense allows just over 400 yards per game), and I don’t think they can.

Prediction: East Carolina 46, Arkansas 24.

Valero Energy Alamo Bowl: Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Spartans are coming into the Alamo Bowl with a depleted passing attack. Star wide receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell have been suspended. This means that quarterback Kirk Cousins needs another option besides top choice Blair White.

The defense has looked good against the run but needs to step up and establish their passing defense. The key to that is linebacker Greg Jones. He will need to get to quarterback Taylor Potts if they want to win this game.

The Red Raiders have been able to spread out the ball this season with quarterback Taylor Potts. However, the offensive line has looked porous at times, allowing 30 sacks this season, and has had teamwork issues. There is one bright spot: running back Baron Batch, who can give the offense balance by pulling off a good work day in the backfield.

The defense is also pretty good for a Big 12 team, giving up only 21 points per game. They are led by defensive end Brandon Sharpe. He should be able to get to Cousins most of the day and conquer the Spartans.

Prediction: Texas Tech 30, Michigan State 6.

GMAC Bowl: Troy Trojans vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

The Trojans have looked suspect on defense, giving up just about 140 yards rushing and over 400 yards total. They haven’t really played anybody of note except for Florida, and they were crushed 56-6. The defense needs to step up big time if they want to win. Central Michigan is ranked 25th and looks really good lately. This could be a very long day for the Trojans if they don’t step it up on defense.

The Chippewas have to deal with a very big distraction concerning the future of head coach Butch Jones. Rumor has it Jones is a leading candidate to coach Marshall next year. However, they do have a great leader in quarterback Dan LeFevour. He has had a great career for the Chippewas, breaking all kinds of records. He is the key to the Central Michigan defense, and he will be able to lead them to a victory in Mobile.

Prediction: Central Michigan 40, Troy 10.

There you have it…the final bowls before the major bowls start on New Year’s Day. Will the Spartans be able to overcome their passing woes to defeat Texas Tech? Will East Carolina be able to cap off another great year with another bowl victory? You’ll have to watch to find out!

We’re nearing the halfway point of the season, which means it’s time for coaches to take stock in their teams. Whose stocks are nearing boom levels? Whose stocks are nearing Great Depression stages? We break out the crystal ball to find out!

 

Houston Texans (2-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)

The Texans have an encyclopedia of injuries coming into this game, the biggest being defensive end Mario Williams (shoulder). He was an intimidating force on their defense, but with his participation in this game in doubt, the defense looks that much weaker. The offense needs to step up big time if they are going to win this game.

The Bengals have some problems on their line, with Tank Johnson and Andre Smith both nursing foot injuries. However, their offense still looks pretty strong, with only Cedric Benson’s (hip) playing time coming into doubt. Otherwise, the Bengals’ offense looks pretty strong, and should roll over the Texans on their way to Chicago.

Prediction: Bengals 24, Texans 0.

 

Detroit Lions (1-4) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2)

While the Lions have looked pretty good headed into this game, there is still a lot of work to be done, mainly in getting healthy. Matthew Stafford (knee) is questionable for the game, which takes out much of their leadership. Daunte Culpepper was impressive in his season debut, but the offensive line needs to get stronger (they’ve allowed seven sacks in two games since Culpepper came on) if they want to win their second game.

The Packers are relatively healthy coming off their bye week, with the only big loss being cornerback Will Blackmon (sprained knee). The offensive line got a big boost by signing tackle Mark Tauscher, which should make quarterback Aaron Rodgers feel safe in the pocket. They still need a lot of help on that line if they want to win this game. However, with the state the Lions are in right now, the Packers should have no trouble dispatching the Lions.

Prediction: Packers 20, Lions 7.

 

St. Louis Rams (0-5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

The Rams look absolutely terrible coming into this game, only scoring 34 points (least in the league) while allowing 146 (second worst in the league behind the Lions). Not only that, their leading rusher almost has as many yards as their leading passer (Steven Jackson has 30 less yards rushing than Kyle Boller has passing).

This is a team that is out of control, and they need to get some solid leadership if they want to have at least one win before the bye week.

The Jaguars are in crisis mode after a 41-0 dismantling by the Seahawks. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew spoke out about the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday; he couldn’t have been more right. In their final 10 drives last week, Jacksonville had seven three-and-out possessions, along with two fumbles and a failed fourth-down conversion.

This is a game of two teams that are headed down a road to a high draft pick. Whichever team bounces back from all of its problems the quickest will win this game.

Prediction: Jaguars 2, Rams 0 in overtime (I know this is kind of far-fetched, but these two teams are bad).

 

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

The Ravens’ defense might take a big hit this week if Ed Reed (probable with a knee injury) can’t play. However, what they lost on defense, they made up for on offense by signing wide receiver and Super Bowl hero David Tyree. This definitely shores up their pass attack, and gives quarterback Joe Flacco another option.

The bad news for the Ravens: They have to go up against a Minnesota team that is firing on all cylinders. While Brett Favre (foot, knee, and ankle injuries) is not at 100 percent, they still have weapons on both sides of the ball that could make life difficult for opposing teams.

With the Ravens in the weakened state they’re in, I expect the same thing to happen here as has happened to all of the Vikings’ opponents the last five weeks.

Prediction: Vikings 35, Ravens 10.

 

New York Giants (5-0) @ New Orleans Saints (4-0)

The battle of the undefeateds that nobody expected to happen is happening this week. For the Giants, it is a homecoming for quarterback Eli Manning as he comes home to the stadium his father, Archie, played in many years ago. Unfortunately, his start may be in doubt due to a heel injury he suffered two weeks ago.

They may also be without the services of their leading rusher, Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle and foot), which puts a slight damper in their offense. However, they have the rushing and receiving weapons to get the job done.

The Saints are coming off a bye week in which they got (almost) completely healthy.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey, a former Giant, says that there is no grudge against his former team, who traded him before training camp last year. On the other hand, there must be some satisfaction in beating your former team, and the Saints have the weapons (including Shockey) to do just that.

This is going to be a battle between two great teams. However, I believe that the Giants have just that little bit more to knock the Saints from the ranks of the undefeated.

Prediction: Giants 30, Saints 27 in overtime.

 

Cleveland Browns (1-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

The Browns are coming off a big win against the Bills, which they hope will put their season back on track. Unfortunately, they have to go up against a rejuvenated Steelers’ defense, as they expect to see safety Troy Polamalu, who has been out the past four weeks with a knee injury.

The Browns have to deal with injuries of their own, the biggest being running back Jamal Lewis (hamstring). The Browns seem to be making a bit of a comeback, but it needs to be bigger if they want to beat the Steelers.

The Steelers are having a bit of a good news/bad news week. The good news is they will most likely get back Polamalu for this game. The bad news is that they lost a big part of their defense, as defensive end Aaron Smith (shoulder) will be lost for the season.

They also lost a major part of their offense, as Willie Parker (toe) is out for this game. If they want to remain above .500, they must bounce back from their injuries, and they do have the depth to do so.

Prediction: Steelers 20, Browns 3.

 

Carolina Panthers (1-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5)

This game is between two teams that are in a downward spiral, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping soon for either of them.

For the Panthers, it’s all about getting ready for a long, hard road. After this game and another easy game in Buffalo, they have a tough five week stretch. In that stretch, they have to face two divisional games in which the teams are currently 7-1 combined (Atlanta and New Orleans).

This week and next week should be easy, but they have to solidify as a team if they want to survive those five big weeks.

Where the Panthers are bad, the Buccaneers are even worse. They’ve scored more points (68 to the Panthers’ 57), but they’ve allowed 140 (36 more than the Panthers and third-worst in the league).

Not only that, there have been talks that Josh Freeman might play next game, if not this game. They’ve been through three quarterbacks this season, which really hurts their leadership on the field. If Josh Freeman or Josh Johnson don’t produce this week, the Buccaneers look to be the front-runners for the No. 1 draft pick.

Prediction: Panthers 40, Buccaneers 10.

 

Kansas City Chiefs (0-5) @ Washington Redskins (2-3)

Chiefs coach Todd Haley replaced wide receivers coach Dedric Ward, citing that they needed to be “better across the board.” This poses a problem for a team that is in desperate need of stability, because now the receivers have to get used to a new coaching philosophy in only three days. This could make the passing game, which was already in turmoil after Matt Cassel’s injury, even worse (if that’s possible).

The Redskins will be the first team in NFL history to play six winless teams to start the season. However, they have not been able to capitalize on that, only going 2-3 so far. They will miss left tackle Chris Samuels this week (knee), but the Chiefs have little to no defense to capitalize on the injury. If the Redskins don’t fall apart like they did at Carolina, they should be fine.

Prediction: Redskins 20, Chiefs 0.

 

Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) @ Oakland Raiders (1-4)

Jeremy Maclin has really come into his own as a rookie wide receiver, becoming a viable weapon for quarterback Donovan McNabb and the third-best receiver on the team. This takes some of the pressure off running back Brian Westbrook (probable with an ankle injury) and gives McNabb another option that opposing teams have to defend. No matter how you slice it, it all adds up to one big headache for the Raiders this week.

The Raiders have a slight advantage coming into this game: the distraction of animal rights activists who can’t leave well enough alone. A local animal rights group has decided to protest during the game over Michael Vick’s dog problems.

This might provide a little bit of a distraction for the Eagles, but it’s not enough to help the Raiders. They have injuries across the board (highlighted by Darren McFadden’s knee injury), they can’t score (49 points scored, second worst in the league), and the team (the players that are healthy, at least) is in massive disarray. Until they get everything together, they’ll be an easy win for any opponent.

Prediction: Eagles 48, Raiders 3.

 

Arizona Cardinals (2-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (2-3)

The Cardinals come into this game needing to deal with a lot of injuries, particularly cornerback Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (finger). This puts a big hole into a defensive secondary that is near the bottom in the pass defense. They need to seal up those holes, especially the one left by Rogers-Cromartie, if they want to win this game against a very confident Seahawks team.

As was said before, the Seahawks are very confident, as they come off a 41-0 shellacking of the Jaguars.

They still need to work with injuries, particularly linebacker Lofa Tatupu (hamstring) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (ribs). They learned how to deal with it last week against a depleted Jacksonville team, but the Cardinals might give them a bigger fight than they had last week.

It’ll be a good game, but the Cardinals, with less major injuries to worry about, should run away with this game in the later stages.

Prediction: Cardinals 17, Seahawks 3.

 

Tennessee Titans (0-5) @ New England Patriots (3-2)

The Titans are still a team in crisis mode after a miserable game at Indianapolis. They have the eighth-best rushing game in the NFL, but it has only produced four touchdowns. This could be bad against a smothering Patriots defense.

However, with linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee), defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (ankle), and linebacker Adalius Thomas (unknown) possibly not playing this week, could this be the week the Titans break through?

The Patriots’ rushing attack took a big hit when they found out running back Fred Taylor (ankle) couldn’t go this week. Add that to Wes Welker’s (knee) injury and tackle Nick Kaczur’s ankle keeping him out and the offense looks pretty banged up.

However, their equally banged-up defense got a big boost this week when they signed linebacker Junior Seau. This should be that last little bit that the Patriots need to keep the Titans in the ranks of the winless.

Prediction: Patriots 20, Titans 14 in overtime.

 

Buffalo Bills (1-4) @ New York Jets (3-2)

The Bills have looked absolutely terrible in the last couple of weeks, dropping two games they should have won in Miami and Cleveland.

The fans are becoming more and more disgruntled, to the point where they even set up a billboard asking for coach Dick Jauron’s job. They must win this game if Jauron is able to keep his job for at least another week.

But, with two defensive mainstays on injured reserve (Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs both went down with knee injuries), how will the Bills even make it out of East Rutherford with their coaching staff intact?

The Jets haven’t fared much better, losing two big games (to New Orleans and Miami) that they should have won. They have to deal with big injuries on both sides of the ball, particularly Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) and Lito Sheppard (quadriceps).

However, they should have no problems with a Bills defense that is recovering slowly from injuries and an offense that can’t seem to do anything with the ball.

Prediction: Jets 49, Bills 12.

 

Chicago Bears (3-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (3-1)

The Bears are (almost) completely healthy coming off their bye week. However, after three weeks of easy play, including a win versus a decimated Steelers team, they face a relatively tough part of their schedule, starting this week.

The offense needs to vastly improve, as it ranks seventh in points scored but 22nd in total yards. If Jay Cutler can get the team on a couple good drives, the Bears should go into a tough game at Cincinnati very confident.

The Falcons lost a big part of their defense as they lost safety Antoine Harris last week (knee). They also face a pretty tough schedule as well, with games against New Orleans and Dallas on the horizon.

They need some confidence going into that tough stretch, and this might be just the game to do it in. If they control the game, like they have done the past couple of weeks, they should be fine.

Falcons win in a squeaker.

Prediction: Falcons 13, Bears 10 in overtime.

 

Denver Broncos (5-0) @ San Diego Chargers (2-2) (Monday)

The Broncos face a big divisional test this week, as they face a rejuvenated Chargers team fresh off a bye week. They also have to deal with the loss of safety Brian Dawkins (knee and shoulder). Dawkins hasn’t been really good in his career against the Chargers, but it is still a big hole in the Denver defense.

They will need a big game out of rookie Darcel McBath if they hope to stop Philip Rivers’ imposing pass attack.

Tight end Antonio Gates has gone on record saying that the next three weeks of the Chargers’ season (against the other three members of the AFC West) is a big stretch in their season. He is exactly right, as this stretch will dictate their whole season.

However, this is not a time for panic for the 2-2 Chargers, as all of their key players are healthy and they seem ready for the long haul.

However, I don’t think they have enough weapons to win this game. To paraphrase an old adage: “The Chargers cannot win on Phillip Rivers alone.”

Prediction: Broncos 30, Chargers 20.

So there you have it: Week Six in the NFL. Will we see more than one team fall from the ranks of the undefeated? Will any winless team finally break into the win column? Tune in to Week Six on a TV, cable box, or stadium near you to find out!

Week Five Record: 11-3; Over

In every sport, there’s at least one team that seems to “stack the deck,” meaning that they rack up all the talent so that no one else can have any, and said team wins championship after championship.

Sometimes, the team has so much talent, that great players languish on the bench when they could be starring someplace else. When I say “broken up,” I mean that the teams should get rid of some of their talent so other teams have a chance at having a good team.

McMullen’s Musings takes a look at teams that should do just that.

New England Patriots- The Patriots proved last year that they are stacked in most positions when injuries forced Bill Belichick to look toward his bench. Not only that, they always seem to trade up to get just the player they need to make them look even more stacked. Meanwhile, when other teams lose their good players to injury, they cannot find decent players to replace them. If the NFL does not want another 0-16 team, maybe the Patriots should share the wealth.

Manchester United- The Red Devils are so stacked, they are usually ten points clear of anyone else by mid-season. They could easily have enough top players to fill a second team and win the Premier League with them. Everybody likes a winner, but they also like competition. With Manchester United so stuffed with talent, I don’t foresee that happening any time soon.

Boston Celtics- The Celtics showed during this year’s playoffs that they don’t need a Big Three to get things done in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Garnett had to sit out with a knee injury, and the Celtics still held their own with some very stiff competition. They have enough good players sitting on the bench to do very well without any of them. We may see this in a couple years, however, as some of the Celtics are getting old, including all of the aforementioned Big Three.

Los Angeles Lakers- The Lakers have Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol, who might have blossomed just as well with the Grizzlies if he had stayed there. Not only that, they lured Lamar Odom from across the road and got some rising stars in Trevor Ariza and Andrew Bynum. Certainly, trading a couple of these players would not hurt their chances of winning more championships.

USC (College Football)- I know we can’t do anything about this, but because the Trojans have an immense amount of coverage (because they somehow seem to get in a major bowl every year, even with two or three losses, it seems), they are able to recruit more blue-chip athletes, and that just makes the Pac-10 even more lopsided. If we break USC up and spread the wealth amongst all of the Pac-10 teams, it might bring about the parity that the NCAA is so proud of.

New York Yankees- This is the team that everybody thinks should be broken up, and rightfully so: they are probably stacked three-deep on their depth chart with pure talent, while teams like the Blue Jays have one aging star who is probably on their last legs. Because they are in a convenient market, they are able to jack up the price for free agents, and that drives everyone else away. Unfortunately, all the Yankees get for hoarding all that talent is a little lighter in the wallet by way of the MLB’s luxury tax. If there is anyone that should be broken up, it is definitely the Yankees.

There have been a number of great players that have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From Joe Montana to Vince Lombardi, the greatest people to ever step on a football field are enshrined here.

But sometimes, great players just slip through the cracks. Here are the ten best players that should have their own bust in Canton, but somehow got lost in the shuffle.

10. Boomer Esiason (1984-1997 with Bengals, Jets, and Cardinals) Esiason led the Bengals during their golden age, taking Hall of Famer Joe Montana to his limit in his only Super Bowl appearance.

He also holds several career records for left-handed quarterbacks, including touchdown passes and passing yards. As a southpaw myself, I know that’s nothing to sneeze at.

He has also done a lot to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects many more people than we care to think. With all he’s done, Esiason is a great man and a great football player who should be wearing a yellow jacket.

9. Steve Tasker (1985-1997, with Oilers and Bills) I know the NFL does not like to put special teams players into the Hall, but Tasker was more than that, especially to the Bills.

He was one of the first men to establish himself as a star on special teams. He has also established himself as one of the league’s most feared hitters, despite his size. Even then, he still was elected to seven Pro Bowls.

He may not have had the gaudy numbers that some other special teamers in the Hall have, but he is still one of the best players Buffalo ever had, and should be immortalized in Canton some day.

8. Herschel Walker (1986-1997, with Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles, and Giants) Even though Walker hasn’t played in over ten years, he still ranks eighth on the list of all-time rushers. While he was voted to only two Pro Bowls, he was still a dangerous rusher in his time.

If you combine his numbers from both his career in the NFL and the USFL, he would rank second all-time in total yardage, and would rank as one of the most productive rushers in the history of the game. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Can the pros be too far behind?

7. Irving Fryar (1984-2000, with Patriots, Eagles, Dolphins, and Redskins) This two-time All-Pro set a precedent for drafts to come when he became the first wide receiver to be drafted first overall. He also became the first player to catch a touchdown in seventeen consecutive seasons.

He was a very consistent player even as he came to the end of his career, making his final Pro Bowl in 1997. He definitely is one of the best wide receivers nobody has heard of, and it certainly would be nice to see him in Canton.

6. Joe Theismann (1974-1985, with Redskins) Even though Theismann doesn’t have the numbers to compete with the other quarterbacks in the Hall, he was responsible for one of the most memorable injuries in NFL history.

He was also one of the first quarterbacks who could also be considered a threat to scramble, originally coming to the Redskins as a punt returner. Theismann was one of the best quarterbacks the Redskins ever had, and he rightly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

5. Jimmy Johnson (1989-1999, as coach of Cowboys and Dolphins) Johnson took a dismal Cowboys team and turned them into champions in just a few short years. He is only one of six coaches to coach consecutive Super Bowl champions, along with great coaches such as Vince Lombardi and Don Shula, who Johnson would eventually replace in Miami in 1996.

He was reported to have an IQ of 162; it certainly looked like he had that on the field. Johnson is one of the best coaches of all time, and it was a shame he wasn’t voted in in his first year of eligibility.

4. Terrell Davis (1995-2001, with Broncos) Even though Davis only played seven seasons, he was still one of the best players to ever put on a Broncos uniform. He was also one of only two players (John Elway being the other) to be named league MVP.

His career was plagued by injuries, but he was still a consistent rusher and could be considered a “diamond in the rough” when it came to the draft (he was drafted 196th overall in 1995).

He certainly played like one.

3. Tony Boselli (1995-2002, with Texans and Jaguars) Boselli was one of the best offensive linemen in the league during his career. He was consistent as well, only missing one game in seven seasons. He is also the first player to be inducted into the Jaguars’ Hall of Fame, a big honor for anyone on any team, no matter who you are. 

Here’s a fun fact: Boselli is one of the few players to play the inaugural seasons of two different teams.

2. Paul Tagliabue (Commissioner, 1989-2005) Tagliabue had some big shoes to fill after he succeeded Pete Rozelle, and most people might say he did a very good job of that. He established one of the strictest substance abuse policy of any sports league, and he made the NFL popular all over the world by bringing regular-season games to Mexico and Europe.

With the death of the NFL’s “farm league” in Europe, there was a big hole left there, and Tagliabue was able to fill it nicely with marquee games that people would be interested in. While he would be criticized for not bringing a team to Los Angeles, he will still be known as one of the best commissioners in the game.

1. Ray Guy (1973-1986, with Raiders) Guy can easily be considered the best punter in NFL history; in fact, he established the concept of “hang time” with his booming punts. He never had a punt returned for a touchdown, and is the only punter to be drafted in the first round.

Guy should be in the Hall of Fame by now; however, he just seems to slip through the cracks when voting time comes around. If he isn’t inducted in the Class of 2010, something is definitely wrong.