The 2006 Pro Football Idiotic Moments Countdown.

This has been a year of great change for the NFL. Among the highlights are a new Commissioner in office and a new collective bargaining agreement securing long-term labor peace. The sport is a form of entertainment. During this year, the players, coaches, and team executives alike have entertained us on and off the field. This has been a time of great success and prosperity for the league. Success does not come without its downside. Here is a collection of this year’s Pro Football Idiotic Moments.

10. The Houston Texans work out world-class sprinter Jesse Gatlin. At the same time, the NFL and the NFL player’s union media blitz a campaign about working together to tighten up the leagues drug policies. This is a concerted effort to boost the league’s image of being anti drug proactive. Gatlin at the time of the audition is awaiting an eight-year suspension for testing positive for a banned substance from his own sport of track and field. Does anyone see the irony here?

9. Detroit Lions assistant coach, Joe Cullen made the headlines for collecting two DUIs. The second brought notoriety, as he was found nude in the car. The coach did apologize for embarrassing the organization, the team, and his family. The cops who stopped him probably were not too thrilled the second time.

8. The Cincinnati Bengals lead the league in players arrested with the number currently at five and counting. Even as close as New Year’s Eve is, I may have to update the article at the rate the Cincinnati Bengals have been racking up that stat.

7. The Bengals Chris Henry has become a media star. I should say news media with five arrests in less than a year. Mike Brown the team president has expressed he will be closely monitoring these situations. I would assume Mr. Henry and Mr. Brown are real close by this time.

6. Once again, the Bengals work hard to maintain their integrity. The team Ahmad Brooks from the University of Virginia in the July supplemental draft. The university’s football Coach Al Groh expelled Brooks from the team for undisclosed reasons in March. Mike Brown claims a thorough background check revealed nothing pending and the players past transgressions were trivial. It is alleged some of those transgressions include failed drug test. I wonder if the tougher drug policies cite failing drug test as trivial.

5. The Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings despite their quarterback throwing for a game total of 34 yards plus three interceptions. Coach Lovie Smith proclaims he will not bench his quarterback. This is a very defensive minded team with a very offensive quarterback trying to lead them to the playoffs.

4. Carolina’s star wide receiver has a perchance of winning games. He is also been known to puking during them as well. During one game after Steve Smith upchucked on the sidelines, the announcer tells us game stats show that the Panthers lead the league in wins after Steve Smith pukes in the third quarter. Now, there is a something I needed to know.

3. During the New York-Tennessee game, Titan defender Pac Man Jones intercepted a pass meant for the Giants’ Plaxico Burress. After the interception, the Giant player forgot this wasn’t the National Flag Football League and tried to tag out the opponent instead of tackling him. Of course, if Plax didn’t pull up on the play there might have been no interception. Here is a good case for making all contracts based on incentives.

2. Also in that game, Titans quarterback Vince Young got a great big hug from Giants defensive lineman Kiwanuka gives before scrambling for a first down. I wonder if there is more behind this gesture.

1. The most idiotic pro football moment of the year goes to the Terrell Owens nationally televised suicide press conference. This was certainly one for the ages. First of all my girlfriend was not thrilled to have this on tape in place of her daily soap opera. Does anyone one know if Owens qualifies for a daytime Emmy?