The scene seems familiar:  Manning didn’t have his $98 million contract finalized in 2004 until the season was well underway; but that was coming off his rookie contract .  This time it’s different, now all of the NFL is waiting for and expecting a record breaking new contract from the Colts .

Sam Bradford’s new contract with the Rams guarantees $50 million, a record for a rookie, who has yet to even prove he can deliver on the field.  Now Manning ‘s agent, who also represents Bradford, has to convince the Colts  that their star quarterback is worth more than double that; because lets face it: he is.

Manning is the league’s only four-time MVP, he has taken the Colts to two Super-Bowls, and he is breaking every record in the books.  On top of his greatness on the field, Manning shows he is just as committed off-field.  He attends every team function, , pre-season work-out, meeting, and practice–whether it’s mandatory or not.  And unlike his peers–Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick– Manning stays out of trouble.

Manning is constantly referred to as the guy who will be know as the “Greatest of All Time,” and Jim Irsay needs to make sure he’s paid like the greatest.

Even though most players don’t–and probably never will– match Manning‘s credentials, his salary will set the bar for every other player out there, and you can bet every one of them is praying that Manning gets a ridiculous amount so they can negotiate higher when their contracts are up for review.

But in the worst-case scenario that Manning doesn’t get his contract finalized in the next couple weeks, every fan and player will fear it means only one thing: lock-out.  And with that we can all kiss the 2011 season good-bye since the NFL labor negotiations between owners and players is still uncertain.

The bottom-line is that everything football is riding on Manning ‘s contract: the season, the salaries, the players, and the fans.

Carolina, can you pass the pepper? That’s right the bears have signed elite free agent Julius Peppers to a NFL record breaking $42 million dollar guaranteed contract or up to $91.5 million dollar contract if they like his results. Umm, excuse me? $42 million dollars, I better see results.

But if your the Bears it would seem almost impossible not to see an increase in defensive performance. This season will bring the long  missed Brian Urlacher back to the field, who they lost for a good portion of last season due to injury, and with the new arrival of Julius Peppers they are sure to cause buzz among offensive lines. And getting in the head of the quarterback is half the battle right?

Which shouldn’t be hard to do if Brett Favre decides to return to the Vikings for another season. Just watch the highlights from last season’s Vikings/Panthers game and you’ll see why. Favre took a beating from Peppers and the rest of the Panthers defensive line. Put Peppers and Urlacher together, I can almost hear Favre’s fourth official retirement.

But if there is one group of people who have already gratefully acknowledged the arrival of Peppers it’s not the coaching staff of the Bears. It’s the locals. Peppers has made it known to Chicago-ans that he has arrived by dropping roughly $20,000 in champagne in and drinks at a local night club After signing his 91.5 million dollar contract.

I could think of few other ways to spend the $20,000 but then again I’m not striking fear into the mind’s of NFL quarterbacks much less that vending machine up the hallway from my office that ate my dollar.

The South Bend Tribune reported today that they have an insider that knows that Brian Kelly will announce to his team tonight that he will be heading to Notre Dame after the seasons end. The Cincinnati Bearcats have a team banquet this evening and that will be a topic discussed by coach Brian Kelly.

It will be interesting to see how this affects his team. They will be playing in the Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators on New Years day. Cincinnati players apparently don’t care what Brian Kelly does, they just want him to make up his mind and let it be made known publicly.

“Just make the decision fast, bro, so we can get it out of the way,” Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard said. “You know what you’re going to do. Just do it. We’re tired of worrying about it.”

This rumor has been in circulation for a few weeks now, but has finally been printed in the newspaper and now has a little bit of validity.

What a disgrace to sports. Absolutely pathetic.

I have to be honest, I loved every minute of that game.

Here is a photo of none other, Tim “the savior” Tebow crying.

Tim Tebow Crying

No news has reached the media so far about who might take Weis’s place but whoever it is will obviously have to be good.  Notre Dame doesn’t take mediocrity lightly.

Following the game, a triumphant Max Hall, quarterback for BYU, stated that he “hate[d]. . . everything about [the University of] Utah.” Saying that Ute fans are “classless,” Hall referenced an incident from last year’s rivalry game when Utah fans verbally assaulted, spit on, and dumped beer on his family.

According to Hall, the fans in question were escorted to their vehicle by the local police. Ending an embarrassing game for Hall and an unpleasant experience for his family, this experience embittered Hall.

Hall has since apologized to the university, fans, and team from Utah and to his own  team and coaching staff.In an interview this morning, BYU head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, says he ‘absolutely’ respects Hall for the way he handled the situation, calling him a ‘great leader’ and a ‘great kid’ who ‘has [Mendenhall's] support.’

According to  Mendenhall, “The apology [Max] issued (came) from him and no one else. . . . If anyone thinks they’ve influenced his apology, that’s a mistake; he woke up, did all of that on his own. . . . I haven’t talked to Max yet, nor has anyone else from our coaching staff. Max has done this completely on his own.”

Meyer got choked up in his press conference, yesterday, when asked about his “superman” of a quarterback. He claims he loves Tebow and the Florida Gators, but for some odd reason, I am willing to bet that he will be jumping ship within the next few years. Why? Because the guy is a complete weasel.Here are my reasons why:

1. Not a man of his words- When Urban Meyer was the head football coach at the University of Utah, he made it known to many people, multiple times, that he would love to have his dream job at Notre Dame after coaching the Utes. However, after a few successful years at the Utah, Urban Meyer was offered a few different head coaching jobs, one of them being at Notre Dame. Remember, his “dream job.” So, where did Urban decide to go? None other than Florida. Hmmm, I thought he said in press conferences and multiple news outlets that he wanted to coach at Notre Dame…

2. Recruiting Tactics- Here are a few stories to back up my thoughts on his recruiting tactics:

• Florida was ready to take all-star corner Patrick Johnson with what they thought was a bogus test score, but he committed to LSU.  How did Florida respond?  “Florida flagged my scores,” Johnson said.  “They called the compliance office. I’m not upset,” Johnson said.  “Florida made an issue about the ACT score.  They’re cowards.  They had to go behind my back.  But that’s OK.  We play them this year (on Oct. 11)

• You can’t tell the story about Jevan Snead enough (recounted in the book Meat Market).  The funniest thing I read in it concerned what Urban Meyer told Jevan Snead.  Snead had watched the Outside the Lines special on Tebow, which showed Meyer and OC Dan Mullen in the stands.  Problem was, Meyer had told Snead, committed at the time, that he was the only quarterback they were going after. When Snead asked Meyer about it, Meyer responded, “We are recruiting him for linebacker.”

• The University of Florida stayed on the four star pass-catcher well all the way through.  Things crescendoed recently after a conversation with Urban Meyer.  According to Stonum, Meyer had a compelling reason why he should become a Gator. “He told me that he talked to Coach Carr and Coach Soup and that they told him that I would be a much better fit in the Florida offense than I would be in the one at Michigan,” Stonum recalled. “I thought, wow, my coaches are selling me out?  I confronted them about it.  I asked Coach Carr and Coach Soup about it, and they said they never talked to that guy and that there was no way they ever said anything like that and that they think I should be a Wolverine.  I believed them.  Right then, I knew just how Florida rolled.”

3- Wishy Washy on Discipline- Who could forget a few years back when linebacker Jon Demps was kicked off the team permanently during spring practice because of marijuana related issues. But wait, Urban Meyer decided to change his mind? That is right. A few weeks before the season started, Demps was allowed to rejoin the team. Very interesting that Meyer changed his mind when they were really weak at the linebacker positions that year…

Honestly, the guy is a weasel and deserves no respect. When he was at the University of Utah, he wouldn’t even say the word BYU. Understandable that they are rivals, but going as far as not saying the name of the school, come on. We aren’t on the playground anymore. Have some respect.

I could go on and on, but this guy is such a creep. Keep getting choked up when you talk about Tebow. How about the two of you go have a fun little mission at a bed and breakfast once you decide to go against your comments and sign with Notre Dame?

That person said Clausen was “sucker-punched” by a fan as he left an establishment after having dinner with his parents.

The fan allegedly said something to Clausen and/or a female acquaintance.

A South Bend police spokesman said that no police reports were filed over the weekend involving Clausen, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The newspaper also reported that the name of the bar was CJ’s and that a bartender at the establishment said that Clausen had been there with family members and other Irish upperclassmen after Notre Dame’s loss to Connecticut on Senior Day.

The 56-pound dog, nicknamed “Loran’s Best,” was known as a laid-back mascot who seemed oblivious to crowd noise during boisterous games and would sit patiently as excited fans snapped photos of him. He often roamed the sidelines in a shirt with a ‘G’ stitched on it, sometimes resting on a bag of ice to cool off in his customized dog house.

The school said there would be a no mascot at Saturday’s game in Athens against Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, but that a wreath will be laid on his doghouse on the field’s sidelines. Sonny Seiler, the dog’s owner, said he likely wouldn’t name a replacement until next year.

“We are all in a state of shock,” Seiler said in a news release issued by the university. “We had no warning whatsoever.”

The 4-year-old dog made his debut as the mascot in August 2008 after his father, Uga VI, died of congestive heart failure. He had big paws to fill – Uga VI was the school’s winningest mascot, racking up a 87-27 record, seven wins in nine bowl appearances and a pair of Southeastern Conference championships.

But Seiler said the dog distinguished himself in his own way.

“He was 10-3 last year which is not bad for a freshman,” said Seiler. “Uga VII was not as active or mischievous as his father but more distinguished. He realized his role when he put his shirt on. He was well-behaved and always appreciated the significance of his role.”

The dog was the latest in a line of mascots that have been featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and in several movies. He also was a compelling symbol for football fans across the nation, said Damon Evans, the school’s athletic director.

“Just as his ancestors, he had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country’s No. 1 mascot,” Evans said. “He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country. We will miss him dearly.”