NFC North

NFC/AFC Championships 2013: Predictions Based on The Football Albums

This weekend, the NFC and AFC Championship rounds will pit such heavyweights as the Baltimore Ravens against the Peyton Mannings, The Green Bay Packers against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Blinding Highlights against the Atlanta Falcons and a game I won't mention for obvious reasons. We're h ... More >>

The NFL's Game Changer

Chris Kluwe is prying open America's last closet: major-league sports.

Bears 34, Cowboys 18: That's Just Romo Being Romo, and Dez Being Dez, and ...

It seems to have become a routine occurrence for the Cowboys in the Garrett Era: win one game, lose the next. One step forward, two drunken stumbles into the hot tub. Don't heap too much praise on any one player, lest you're prepared to be let down the following week. This time, it was the Bears wh ... More >>

According to Feds' Complaint, Sam Hurd's Drug Bust in Chicago Started With Deal in Dallas

​No doubt you've heard by now that former Dallas Cowboy Sam Hurd's in federal custody, having been popped by authorities in Chicago last night for trying to buy "five to 10 kilograms of cocaine, at $25,000 per kilogram, and 1,000 pounds of marijuana, at $450 per pound, per week for distribution in ... More >>

SMU, Packers and Cowboys Great Forrest Gregg Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease

​An old friends passes along this story from the Associated Press: Former SMU great Forrest Gregg -- Birthright, Texas's own, and a two-time All-Southwest Conference selection in 1954 and '55 -- has disclosed that he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Gregg, a first-round draft pick of the ... More >>

In Defense of... Wale's "Focused (feat. Kid Cudi)"

I'll level with y'all: The only things I've heard from Washington D.C. rapper Wale are his Seinfeld-themed mixtapes, 2008's The Mixtape About Nothing and last year's More About Nothing. The rest of his non-sitcom library has just flown past me, I guess -- even his debut album, Attention Deficit. Th ... More >>

Whitt's End: 9.9.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *When Jerry Jones admits his team has to "walk before we can run," that's code for "rebuilding." 8-8. *The Jets may well kill the Cowboys Sunday, but aren't we glad Dallas isn't opening up ... More >>

The Dumbest Column in the History of Tim Cowlishaw

Cowlishaw, surely you jest?​Love me some Tim Cowlishaw of Dallas' Only Daily. Known him and respected him for years, going back to our days as competitive beat writers fighting for morsels about the Dallas Cowboys in the mid-1990s. I annually rank him among the metroplex's 50 Most Powe ... More >>

An exciting Super Bowl game couldn't rescue North Texas from a disastrous Super Bowl week.

Packers 31, Steelers 25: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Can't believe I just watched Troy Polamalu play like Alan Ball. And James Harrison like Anthony Spencer. I know Harrison had a sack, but for the most part those playmakers were non-factors. 9. Biggest play of the game was Rashard Mendenhall's fumble at Green Bay's 36 on the first pl ... More >>

How Much Do Packers Like Highland Park?

​The Green Bay Packers were supposed to practice at SMU. Yeah, not so much. Instead, they wound up using the Highland Park Scots' relatively new indoor practice facility, which, from the looks of this glowing press pack, is worth every penny of the $4.5 million spent. From The Packers' Official Te ... More >>

Snow Day Video Round-Up. It's a Good Thing.

On the other side, a Green Bay weatherlady HQ'd at Ice Station Zebra -- pardon, downtown Fort Worth -- is fed up with this "Wisconsin weather" too, and TxDOT takes us on a command center tour and slippery drive-along in Dallas. But here's a sneak peek at today's Martha Stewart Show, which takes plac ... More >>

Whitt's End: 2.4.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *So, what's harder to predict: Weather or sports? Coulda sworn Ron Jackson, Pete Delkus and the boys said there was a 30-percent chance of 1-2 inches of snow on Friday. But I drove home l ... More >>

Alert Mayor Tom Leppert That the Super Bowl Hustle, Bustle Has Begun in Downtown!

Photos by Andrea GrimesPackers fans carved out some temporary Super Bowl graffiti on a Dallas Police car outside the City Tavern.​Crawled back out of downtown a few minutes ago just as a "Let's! Go! Packers!" chant got started on Main Street. We started with a couple beers at City Tavern -- where ... More >>

Eat, Drink and Don't Start Any Fistfights at These Fan Parties

He's more excited about the grilled "Cheese Head" sandwich than the actual game.​Visitors here for the Super Bowl are probably feeling right at home this week because of the weather, but you'll feel even more welcomed this weekend when every bar and restaurant in North Texas will cater to Stee ... More >>

Super Bowl XLV Media Day: My Top 10 Observer-ations

Brooklyn Decker? Meh.​10. Though the NFL did its best to pamper the thousands of journalists at Tuesday's Media Day, it was still an uncomfortable experience out at Cowboy Stadium. Waiting for hyper-thorough security checks of bags and body. The 100-yard walk from security (which was conduc ... More >>

Listomania: The 15 Best NFL Team Anthems

​This whole "Super Bowl" thing has been pretty unavoidable this year -- and, for obvious reasons, infinitely more so in these parts than in years past. Then again, with media all over the place, thousands of out-of-town-guests, and an alleged 100,000 hookers (or not) converging in the metroplex ... More >>

Super Bowl XLV is Here!

​The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers won't arrive until next week. But, make no mistake, Super Bowl XLV kicks off today. Precisely at 5 p.m., with the opening of the NFL Experience at the Dallas Convention Center. Drew Pearson will be on hand. So will Mayor Tom Leppert. And, if all ... More >>

Packers 21, Bears 14: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Awesome. In this microwaved society of information, I learned Bears' third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie -- thanks, Twitter -- was a former Forney Jackrabbit before Fox TV viewers. 9. Personally, I don't find Pam Oliver attractive. But when it's like 15 degrees outside and she's wearing ... More >>

Steelers vs. Packers: Which Championship Game Stings Worse?

The Cowboys have a history with both Super Bowl teams, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Even after all these years some of the memories sting. But which one more than the other? Is it Jerry Kramer's block in The Ice Bowl? (Grab a hanky and go to the 8:45 mark.)

Okay Cowboys Fans, Who Are We Rooting Against This Weekend?

Please. No. Can't take it.​Some of us -- guilty -- figured that this weekend your Dallas Cowboys would be hosting the NFC Championship Game, just one step from staying in town and becoming the first team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl in its own stadium. Those plans, to say the leas ... More >>

Accountability, Shame and Wealth: A Review of My 2010 NFL Predictions

​You can say I botched my 2010 NFL prognostications. But you can't say I ran and hid from my errors. There's hope for me surviving this thing, as I have Big Ten Buffoonery dough coming in, tonight's Megamillions jackpot is up to $330 million and I actually sneaked by with a profit b ... More >>

Whitt's Merten's End: 12.31.10

One of Sports Pickle's best photos of 2010​It's been a fun two weeks, sports fans. Richie's back on Monday, but before I give him back his blog, here are some week-end thoughts before I go. *Sunday's Cowboys-Eagles game looks like it might be the first NFL start for Stephen McGee as Jon Kitna ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 15

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 14

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 13

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 12

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

The Roy Williams Trade: Cowboys > Lions?

​On Tuesday, October 14, 2008, the Dallas Cowboys traded for receiver Roy Williams. In exchange, they sent to the Detroit Lions a first- third- and sixth-round draft pick in 2009. Matching him with Terrell Owens, the move was supposed to give the Cowboys yet another elite weapon en route ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 11

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

After Quitting on Folksy Coach Wade Phillips, the Dallas Cowboys Order Up a Shot of Red Bull.

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 10

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 7

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 6

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

Vikings 24, Cowboys 21: My Top 10 Observations

​10. Bad as this looks - and 1-4 is bad - the season isn't over. I know history says they have a 95 percent chance of missing the playoffs, but no one in the NFC is worth a damn. A 10-win season and, yes, a division championship is still possible. And much as he might deserve it, he ... More >>

Better Football? Dallas Cowboys vs. Dallas Desire

​Woe are the Dallas Cowboys. I still don't think their season is kaput, but it doesn't look good: *At 1-3, they're firmly in the NFC East cellar. *Sunday they play at the Minnesota Vikings, an equally desperate 1-3 team. *You'd think the Cowboys would have the motivation factor, what with B ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 4

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

You Are Now Free to Believe in Doug

​Watched some Packers-Bears on Monday Night Football last night and it hit me how good Cowboys' left tackle Doug Free has been this season. How's that you ask? Bears' defensive lineman Julius Peppers was all over the field in Chicago's 20-17 win. (By the way, when their opponents have the bal ... More >>

Dallas Cowboy Fans: Be patient. Your winless team is about to come to life.

Bears 27, Cowboys 20: My Top 10 Observations

​10. If I told you that Team A had edges over Team B in yards (410-308), plays (71-49) and time of possession (33:40-26:20) while holding its opponent to 1 of 11 on third downs and producing a special teams touchdown, you'd probably say that Team A had a 90-percent chance of wi ... More >>

Cowboys' Defense: Tough, But No Turnovers

​Hard to be persnickety about a defense that didn't allow a touchdown in the season opener, but at some point the Dallas Cowboys' pressure has to translate into points. Right? Continuing a troubling trend from 2009, the Cowboys harassed Washington quarterback Donovan McNabb and generally suff ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 1

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

Cowboys vs. Bears is ... Affordable?

​If you want to go to Sunday's Dallas Cowboys'  home opener against the Chicago Bears, good news: Over at StubHub there are more than 2,000 tickets available. And, get this, they are cheaper than 2009. The current average ticket price is $209, actually down from last year's $222. Pa ... More >>

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys Will End The NFL Season In Their Own Backyard (With A Little Luck And A Lot Of Health).

Super Bowl XLV: New York Jets Over Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl XLV preview?​Good news: Your Dallas Cowboys will play in Super Bowl XLV right here in our back yard, Feb. 6, 2011 in Arlington. Bad news: They'll lose to the New York Jets and - giggle - quarterback Mark Sanchez. So sayeth The Sporting News in its 2010 Pro Football Yearbook, whic ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 9

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

Tuesday's Unverified Fact About Green Bay

​The 'Boys travel to southern Canada on Sunday afternoon. To help us understand more about the town that Favre built, then abandoned...A doctor in Green Bay came up with the 'don't eat the yellow snow' warning following the famous Ice Bowl game, when many of Vince Lombardi's players became serious ... More >>

Monday's Unverified Fact About Green Bay

​The 'Boys travel to the frozen tundra on Sunday afternoon. To help us understand the land of unhappy cows a little better...Although Wisconsin is known for its cheeses, the Packers were actually named for the state's booming chocolate candy industry.**Source: A guy we know assures of of this beca ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 9

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

Golden Boys

Favre and Romo do battle

Beary Big