But alas, that’s who the former New York Giants running back turned to — as brother Ronde Barber was announcing his retirement from the NFL, no less.

Tiki Barber hosted Ronde Barber on his CBS Sports Radio show Thursday to talk about Ronde’s retirement, and in the process, he didn’t do anything to help his reputation of being egomaniacal. Tiki Barber has become known over his playing and broadcasting career for his dubious moments, the most notable being when he questioned Tom Coughlin while playing for him, criticized quarterback Eli Manning when they were teammates and used his broadcasting career to show everyone why he wasn’t as loved in the locker room as everyone may have thought.

On Thursday, as Ronde Barber looked at the end of a long, successful career, Tiki Barber wanted to know why his brother doesn’t attract the same vitriol he’s become used to.

Or, in fourth-grader-speak, “Why do so many people like Ronde and dislike me?” Tiki Barber asked.

Ronde Barber was a great brother, putting the blame on New York fans for being critical.

“That’s a great question,” he said. “[It's] probably because you live in New York, and I don’t know if New Yorkers like anything more than loving their stars than hating them. They look for faults and exploit them, or failures and exploit them, and it’s a national story when it’s up there.”

Giants fans and New York critics have since jumped on the opportunity to give Tiki Barber the what-for for asking the question, shaking their heads over the irony of it all.

Ronde Barber, however, looks like a pretty well-spoken guy. Anybody want to sign him up for a broadcasting gig?

Tiki Barber photo via Facebook/Tiki Barber

The Patriots claimed undrafted rookie running back Akeem Shavers off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late on Tuesday. This marks the third former Bucs player — Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount — that the Patriots have added since the beginning of the 2012 season, further adding to the curiosity surrounding Bill Belichick‘s relationship with Greg Schiano.

Shavers played two seasons at Purdue after transferring in from a junior college. He led the Boilermakers in rushing in 2012, carrying the ball 181 times for 871 yards and six scores during a disappointing 6-7 season at Purdue.

The Patriots cut fellow rookie running back Quentin Hines on Monday. So, adding Shavers helps to fill out the running back group entering OTAs.

Shavers joins mainstays Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden as well as new additions Leon Washington and Blount one the team’s depth chart at the position.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

It’s part of the game, of course. Every centerman cheats in the faceoff dots, probably to the point that it’s not necessarily “cheating.” After all, if everyone cheats, is it actually cheating?

Operating under the premise that everyone is cheating, then no one is better at it in the league than the Bruins. More specifically, Patrice Bergeron is one of the league’s best cheaters. He’s among the league leaders every season, and he’s at it again in the postseason as he makes life miserable for the Leafs in the dots. Bergeron has already won 35 of 60 draws in the series with Toronto. Bergeron went 12-for-20 in the Bruins’ Game 3 win, as the B’s won 45 of 75 draws as a team in the 5-2 victory.

That had Toronto center Tyler Bozak (12-for-29 in Game 3) answering questions about his faceoff struggles following the game. Part of the reason that happened, he said, is that the Bruins “cheated better.” In Bozak’s defense, he admitted that he, like everyone else, also cheats.

However, it was clear that the Leafs were getting frustrated by the situation, as they were bounced from the dot on multiple occasions.

“From our guys’ perspective, there were some things going on out there in the faceoff circle they deemed, I hate to say fair, because if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying, that’s my theory on face-offs,” Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle told the media in his postgame news conference. “But we were not taking up the position we would normally get being the home team. Usually, it’s visitor down, home team down, puck down. Our guys felt there were things going on in the faceoff circle with our guys getting bounced unfairly.

See what Bozak had to say in the video below.

After news that Belichick would host Schiano and some of his staff on a visit to New England next week surfaced earlier on Friday, now it appears that the two will also hold joint practices during the preseason as well, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

The extensive time Belichick and Schiano plan to spend together is a bit unusual for two NFL coaches, especially considering the Patriots and Bucs are slated to play one another in Week 3. Then again, the preseason practices can at least be justified, as the two teams are also set to meet at Gillette Stadium for a preseason game on Aug. 16.

The Patriots held joint practices with the New Orleans Saints ahead of their preseason game last season, so it’s not the first time they’ve done such a thing.

With the preseason game already in place, logic would suggest that the two teams will hold their joint practices during the week leading up to that game. So, anticipate the Buccaneers to be in town for those workouts from Aug. 12 to 16.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

The Patriots traded for running back LeGarrette Blount on Day 3 of this year’s NFL draft, adding the former Buccaneers lead tailback to an already stocked group of running backs, and Ridley admitted on Thursday that he was excited about it.

Ridley was the Patriots’ feature back in 2012 and plans to be again next season, but he knows the Patriots can use all the depth they can get.

“You’re looking at a guy who is 260 pounds, a powerful runner,” Ridley said of Blount. “We just had lunch, just talked a little bit, and now we’re excited about it.”

Even while he’s excited, Ridley isn’t willing to give the new guy any credit just yet. Blount will have to earn that first.

“You’re looking at a guy who is coming in here to a stable of backs,” Ridley said of the running backs already on the Patriots’ roster. ”The job is not going to be given to anybody, you got to work to get it. … With us four in there, I think all four of us can contribute.”

With plenty of questions remaining in their receiving corps, the Patriots will need some stable production from their running backs this season. So, they better hope Ridley’s intuition is right when it comes to Blount.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

While looking for a landing spot for return specialist Jeff Demps, the Patriots came across an opportunity to acquire a talented veteran running back. So, they sent Demps and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers and in turn landed LeGarrette Blount.

For Bill Belichick, the trade wasn’t personal wasn’t personal as far as Demps thinking about pursuing off-field endeavors as a track athlete. Instead, as always, it was all about getting value.

“Good value,” Belichick said of acquiring Blount. “If we can get a good football player, and the price is right. If it’s a good player at a right price, and it’s affordable. … We just felt the overall trade was good for our football team.”

Blount offers the Patriots just that, too: Value.

He went undrafted on his own draft day in 2010 because of some behavioral issues at Oregon — mainly this punch after a loss to Boise State. But he established himself as one of the NFL’s best young running backs during his first two seasons in Tampa, even eclipsing 1,000 yards in just 13 games as a rookie.

Just as he was beginning to realize his potential as a pro, Blount’s attitude got the best of him once again. The Bucs drafted rookie running back Doug Martin in the first round in 2012, which Blount took as a sign of disrespect. New head coach Greg Schiano soured on Blount, and it showed in his playing time. Blount was given only 41 carries in 2012, just one season after rushing a team-high 184 times the season before.

Blount’s issues seem daunting, but it’s nothing the Patriots haven’t overcome in the past. It worked with Antowain Smith and Corey Dillon. It seems to be working with Aqib Talib, too. Albert Haynesworth and Chad Johnson are the outliers here, but Belichick seems to have high hopes that Blount will be adjust like the former and not the latter.

“[We are] excited to have LeGarrette here,” Belichick said. “He’s a good football player. Happy to add him to our team.”

Still just 26, Blount has plenty of tread left on those tires. So, it’s less about him being able to make the roster and more about his will to do so. He will probably be battling with second-year back Brandon Bolden for a roster spot, and if the will is there then he will find a way onto the team come Week 1.

Blount has all the talent to be an impact player for the Patriots, but only if he is willing to conform to the Patriot Way. Surprising as it may be, Belichick does have patience. He’s willing to wait with rookies and new additions but not for repeat offenders.

If Blount really wants to make things work in New England — and he is more than capable of doing so — then he’ll need to prove it on the field, off the field and in the weight room.

This might be his last chance. We’ll see if he makes the most of it.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Just as reports of “aggressive discussions” about trading return specialist Jeff Demps began to sprout up, the Patriots made things official dealing him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Tom E. Curran of CSNNE. The club announced the deal via Twitter as well, adding the deal was pending the trade terms.

The Patriots agreed to deal Demps and a seventh-round pick (No. 229 overall) to the Bucs in exchange for running back LeGarrette Blount.

Blount was very productive in his first two NFL seasons, gaining over 1,700 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, but he took a backseat to rookie Doug Martin in 2012. Head coach Greg Schiano preferred Martin over Blount and the numbers proved that with Martin carrying the ball 319 times to Blount’s mere 41.

Blount won’t be expected to take on a feature role in New England, either. With Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen slated in as the Patriots’ primary backs, Blount will likely compete for the third tailback role with second-year back Brandon Bolden.

The hope is that he will add some good depth and can be the punishing between-the-tackles runner and take the lead in short-yardage like he showed during his first two seasons.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/LeGarrette Blount

On Sunday, Revis flew to Tampa Bay and underwent a physical with the Buccaneers that included a comprehensive checkup on his knee. Revis passed the physical, making the trade to the Bucs official, according to ESPN.

After much back-and-forth, the Jets traded Revis for draft picks from the Buccaneers. The Jets get the 13th overall pick in Thursday night’s draft as well as a conditional fourth-round pick in 2014 that could become a third-round pick if Revis is still on the Bucs’ roster on day three of the 2014 league year.

Revis will not be released before the 2013 season, meaning he is assured of making this season’s base salary, but his six-year, $96 million extension includes no guaranteed money. The contract makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.

Revis is just six months removed from ACL knee surgery and was cleared to run without restriction last Monday.

The Jets and Buccaneers have agreed to a trade involving the shutdown cornerback, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports. Cole also mentioned that Revis and Tampa Bay have agreed on a basic contract. The deal will be finalized by Sunday night or Monday morning.

The Jets cornerback was granted permission to meet with the Buccaneers and undergo a physical, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter tweeted that permission for Revis to take a physical for Tampa Bay “never would have been granted” if the Jets and Bucs couldn’t work out a trade.

A trade between New York and Tampa Bay has been rumored for months now. Revis would have been a free agent after the 2013 season, and the Jets will be able to get more for him in a trade than they would have in a compensation draft pick.

The Buccaneers hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The deal between both teams will likely include that draft choice and more picks. The Jets already hold the No. 9 selection in the draft.

Revis is coming off ACL surgery. He was injured in a Sept. 23 game against the Dolphins and missed the remainder of the season. He is ahead of schedule and has resumed running, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

There was a good chance the Patriots would find a receiver at some point on draft day when Sanders was still a possibility, but now that he’s out the pressure to find a playmaker only increases.

Fortunately for Tom Brady and company, this year’s draft offers an array of talent on the outside and the Patriots should have some good talent to choose from at the end of the first round.

Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson are projected as the top two wide receivers to come off the board, but there is still no telling whether they’ll be taken before the Patriots pick at No. 29. Either way, players like Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, California’s Keenan Allen and Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins are also available and could fit into the Patriots’ offensive system.

With all that in mind, let’s jump into this week’s mock draft and see who the Patriots and the rest of the league could have coming their way next Thursday night.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick for almost every one of these mocks, and there’s a reason: he’s the best player available.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The rumors about interest in Geno Smith sounds more like the Jags trying to stir up interest in the pick. If they keep it, Jordan makes the most sense.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Oakland needs a playmaker on defense. Floyd would give them a building block for the future.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
I still think Chip Kelly‘s eyeing EJ Manuel over Geno. So, drafting on defense and waiting another round for the quarterback seems like the right play.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Fisher falls out of the top four, but he won’t last long. The Lions need some help on the offensive line after losing Gosder Cherilus.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Milliner would give the Browns the best young cornerback tandem in football. Joe Haden would be jumping for joy.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Rumor has it that Bruce Arians is very high on Johnson. So, he’ll get his man at left tackle.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Kevin Kolb said he’s in Buffalo to win a Super Bowl, but he may not even have the chance with Geno in town.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
The Jets may have a chance to get Rhodes at No. 13, if they send Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers. Either way, they need to replace him somehow.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
There might be a little too much hype surrounding Ansah, but the Titans would be foolish to pass on his talent at No. 10.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Chance Warmack has the better grade from most scouts, but Cooper is more athletic and seems like a better fit for Mike McCoy‘s offense.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The tackles are all gone, but the Dolphins still need help in front of Ryan Tannehill.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
With Milliner and Rhodes gone, the Bucs may jump on Trufant early to fill their need on the outside.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
Richardson is a beast in the middle, and the Panthers will benefit from his big frame in trying to stop the run.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo’s pass rushing will help ease some of the Saints’ woes in the secondary.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Jeff Fisher may literally jump for joy if Austin falls to them here. He’s the best receiver in this draft and Sam Bradford desperately needs a playmaker like him.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jones is looking more and more like a fit in the Steel city.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys could be tempted by Cordarrelle Patterson, but addressing a major issue on the defensive line seems more important.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

19. New York Giants (9-7): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
I don’t know if Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese can stay away from the defensive side of the ball, but if they do then getting a right tackle is first on the agenda.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Ogletree could be the best linebacker in this draft five years from now.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Matt Elam, S, Florida
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Reggie Wayne is getting old and Andrew Luck needs a new toy.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Allen’s slow 40 time (4.72 seconds) might have turned many teams away from taking him in the first round. Then again, the Vikings were interested in Anquan Boldin earlier this offseason, and the two do have some similarities.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Instead of reaching for a safety, the Packers grab a corner who is built like a safety. Who knows, maybe that’s where Banks ends up playing.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Rather than getting Matt Schaub a receiver, the Texans find him some help on the right side of the offensive line.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
Seminoles go back to back. Carradine is an injury risk, but if he pans out the Broncos will have themselves a steal.
Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

29. New England Patriots (12-4): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Emmanuel Sanders didn’t end up in New England after all, which means the Patriots need a playmaker ready to come in and contribute immediately.
Previous pick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Losing John Abraham hurts, so the Falcons will look to replenish with a playmaker in the draft.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
The 49ers are a prime target to trade out of this pick, given their abundance of selections on draft day. But, for the time being, Williams seems like a good fit in Jim Harbaugh‘s defensive scheme.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International;

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
They just got Elvis Dumervil to bolster the pass rush, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for more help off the edge.
Previous pick: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

Dropped: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International; Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse;

Newcomers: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State; Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Previous Mock Drafts: Mock Draft 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0  | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0

Photo via Facebook/DeAndre Hopkins

The New York Jets were reportedly seeking a deal in which they can ship both Sanchez and Darrelle Revis out of town, but the only team interested in a deal for Revis, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has no interest in making such a move if Sanchez is in the mix, according to Pro Football Talk.

Sanchez, a four-year starter with the Jets, has been referenced in recent trade talks with the Buccaneers regarding a trade that would send him and teammate Revis to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is shying away from making such a trade because of Sanchez’s $8.25 million salary in 2013.

Rex Ryan‘s team has a hefty line of quarterbacks, but one name that has not been discussed in any trade is Tim Tebow. Two things are for sure: Tampa wants Revis, but they don’t want Sanchez.

On Sunday, the Jets said they will be forcing Revis to attend spring workouts if he wants to receive his $3 million roster bonus.

Many analysts believed the only thing preventing the Jets from dealing Revis to the Buccaneers was Tampa Bay’s unwillingness to give up a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Now, the Bucs want Revis and now say they are willing to give up a first-rounder for the Jets cornerback. Done deal right?

Not quite. Pro Football Talk reports that the Jets want more then that for their All-Pro guy. They want “a lot more” than just the 13th overall pick from the Bucs. What exactly New York wants is still uncertain.

The Buccaneers added former 49ers safety Dashon Golston on March 14, but they’re going to need a lot more help in the secondary to improve a pass defense that ranked last in the NFL last season.

The Patriots will face four NFC opponents over the four-week preseason slate, which includes games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and their annual showdown with NFC East foe New York Giants. They will travel to Philadelphia and Detroit, but the Bucs and Giants will come to Foxboro for a visit.

The Patriots do have a history of running joint practices with one of their preseason opponents, as they did with the Saints last year. Bill Belichick has a longstanding friendship with Tampa Bay Bucs coach Greg Schiano, which might make them a candidate for some joint sessions. Then again, the Patriots and Bucs are scheduled to play during the regular season, which might make Belichick less inclined to join forces.

The game against the Bucs is the only one with a set date for the time being, primarily because it’s slated to be nationally televised on FOX.

Check out the Patriots entire preseason schedule below.

Week 1 – at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 p.m. on FOX)

Week 3 – at Detroit Lions

Week 4 – New York Giants

The Patriots do know their regular season opponents for the 2013 season, which include the Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Bucs, Falcons, Panthers, Ravens, Saints and Texans along with their normal AFC East rotation. The regular season schedule won’t be released until April 16.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Galifianakis was hanging out with Nikola Pekovic, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Galifianakis — who we’re sure is a normal-sized human being — ended up looking like some kind of dwarf or hobbit when the photo was snapped. Pekovic is 6-foot-11 and 291 pounds.

Then again, this did happen to Watt, too, when he decided to get a picture with Yao Ming.

Check out the miniature Galifianikis in the photo below.

Pek might be the biggest Zach fan on the planet. Happy this intro was made. #betweentwoferns instagr.am/p/WTiHV-M97r/

—
Kevin Love (@kevinlove) March 01, 2013

Photo via Instagram/kevinlove

It’s Week 17 in the NFL, meaning it’s the final Sunday of regular season action before the postseason gets underway. Admittedly, there’s plenty that has already been determined in terms of this season’s playoff picture, but that’s hardly going to stop assistant editors Mike Cole and Ricky Doyle from breaking down the week’s slate of games.

Plus, the two survived a scare from the Mayans, another Christmas of eating unhealthy and the aches and pains of shoveling since their last podcast. They deserve to blow off some steam with some gridiron chatter, even if it requires Cole to call in from his place of residence.

This week, our two fearless podcasters are like two battering rams, differing in a number of their selections. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, though, it’s that Tony Romo and the Cowboys mustn’t throw up all over themselves again — although they probably will.

Check out the complete list of Week 17 picks below, and have a listen to the final podcast of the regular season at the bottom of the page.

Home teams in caps, lines courtesy of Bovada.lv.

Cole
BUFFALO (-3.5) over New York Jets
Baltimore (+3) over CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS (+7) over Houston
Jacksonville (+4) over TENNESSEE
Philadelphia (+7) over NEW YORK GIANTS
Chicago (-3) over DETROIT
NEW ORLEANS (-6) over Carolina
NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Miami
Green Bay (-3) over MINNESOTA
Kansas City (+16) over DENVER
Arizona (+17) over SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE (-10.5) over St. Louis
WASHINGTON (-3.5) over Dallas

Last week: 9-7
Season: 111-123-2

Doyle
BUFFALO (-3.5) over New York Jets
CINCINNATI (-3) over Baltimore
Houston (-7) over INDIANAPOLIS
Jacksonville (+4) over TENNESSEE
NEW YORK GIANTS (-7) over Philadelphia
Chicago (-3) over DETROIT
Carolina (+6) over NEW ORLEANS
NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Miami
MINNESOTA (+3) over Green Bay
DENVER (-16) over Kansas City
Arizona (+17) over SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE (-10.5) over St. Louis
WASHINGTON (-3.5) over Dallas

Last week: 12-4
Season: 111-109-4

Cox, a former NFL linebacker who was known throughout his career for his mean streak, grew furious while watching his team get its keister kicked by the Saints on Sunday. His frustration hit its peak after New Orleans started driving downfield — thanks in large part to a couple of penalties — following one of Josh Freeman‘s four interceptions. The result was a rather heated exchange between Cox and one of his players.

As Cox began to berate an official, linebacker Adam Hayward intervened, something Cox wasn’t too receptive to. He tossed Hayward’s arms to the side, at which point Hayward shoved the Tampa coach. Cox then gave Hayward a little finger-pointing treatment before the two were separated.

Losers of four straight, the Bucs now sit at 6-8. Head coach Greg Schiano might have even bigger issues, though, if he can’t get his team under control.

Check out the sideline altercation in the video below.

There’s still a lot that can — and certainly will — happen between now and the postseason, but some interesting revelations came to light in Week 9. Assistant editor Ricky Doyle and NFL writer Luke Hughes were chomping at the bit to discuss the action in the latest NESN.com podcast.

Suddenly, the Colts have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. With impressive quarterback play by Andrew Luck, continued inspiration from coach Chuck Pagano and a relatively weak AFC, Indianapolis continues to turn heads, and perhaps everyone should stand up and take notice.

Over in the NFC, it’s also time to start recognizing the special season that the Falcons are in the midst of. Sure, Atlanta’s victories haven’t always been pretty, but a win is a win, and Mike Smith‘s bunch has done a masterful job of grinding out W’s.

With Week 9 in the books, Doyle and Hughes also decided now is as good a time as any to hand out some midseason hardware. And while Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning remain the sexy MVP picks right now, Hughes can’t look past what Aaron Rodgers has done to turn the Packers’ season around.

Listen to all of the gridiron talk in the NESN.com podcast at the link below, or subscribe on iTunes to download it there.

Aaron Rodgers Deserves Midseason MVP Recognition for Turning Packers’ Season Around

Nicknames are usually seen as terms of endearment for professional athletes. Names like, “Sweetness” for Walter Payton, “Primetime” for Deion Sanders all the way up to today’s more common “Megatron” for Calvin Johnson and even “Matty Ice” for Matt Ryan headline the list of proud monikers in the NFL

But while many football stars enjoy their charming aliases, don’t count Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin among them.

Martin has shown a remarkable combination of power and speed on his way to becoming one of the leading rushers in football this season. Much of the power comes from he diminutive tailback’s incredible strength in the weight room.

Martin, who stands at just about 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, wasn’t the tallest guy on the Boise State football team in college, but he was one of the strongest. At the NFL combine earlier this year, Martin even benched the mandatory 225 pounds 28 times, tying the record for running backs. And it’s because of that unbelievable strength that Martin was awarded the nickname “Muscle Hamster” by his teammates at Boise State.

While most people might embrace the humor and honor behind such a nickname, Martin hasn’t exactly taken to it with great pride. During an appearance on the NFL Network’s NFL AM on Tuesday morning, Martin explained his clear disdain for his mighty moniker.

“It has to be the worst nickname ever,” Martin said. “I can’t shake it. It started in college, started back in Boise, with our linemen. I have a lot of bigger friends, and they’d call me the Muscle Hamster because of how much I could lift in the weight room.”

So, the muscle hamster may not be the most glamorous nickname in the world. It may not instill quite the same fear as the “The Assassin” did for Jack Tatum, or even “Beast Mode” does for Marshawn Lynch, but it’s definitely got a nice ring to it. And if Martin continues busting out anything similar to his 251-yard performance on Sunday, then he’ll have kids in the schoolyard likening themselves to the Muscle Hamster for years to come.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Rex Ryan

Ryan was voted the league’s most overrated head coach in a midseason poll conducted by the Sporting News. He was the overwhelming choice, receiving 35 votes as part of the poll, which asked 103 players from 27 teams about a number of topics.

Ryan is in the midst of his fourth season with the Jets, and the results so far this season have been rather inconsistent, with New York sputtering to a 3-5 start. If the Jets fail to make the postseason, it will mark the second consecutive year that they’ve missed out after going to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.

“Rex Ryan. His coaching style is over the top. Some of the things he does in front of the cameras are way over the top. You put that with the New York media and he has a pretty big reputation, I guess,” one AFC offensive player told the Sporting News. “I don’t even know if you’d call him overrated anymore because it’s gonna be a couple of years since he was in the AFC finals. He’s pretty funny, and he’s a pretty good coach. But not that good.”

Proof that one doesn’t need to be outspoken to be considered overrated, though, is Bill Belichick‘s place on the list. The Patriots’ head man received 16 votes, which has him ranked second. Philadelphia’s Andy Reid, Washington’s Mike Shanahan and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin round out the top five.

On the other end of the spectrum, there was a tie for the NFL’s most underrated head coach. Houston’s Gary Kubiak and Atlanta’s Mike Smith, whose teams are in the midst of impressive seasons, each received 15 votes to share the top spot.

Interestingly, Tomlin also finds himself in the top five of the most underrated coaches, finishing fourth, just behind the Giants’ Tom Coughlin. Seattle’s Pete Carroll rounds out the top five on that list.

Check out the complete results of the Sporting News poll below. Players reportedly were not allowed to name their head coaches for answers.

Most overrated head coach (number of votes in parentheses)
Rex Ryan, Jets (35)
Bill Belichick, Patriots (16)
Andy Reid, Eagles (9)
Mike Shanahan, Redskins (8)
Mike Tomlin, Steelers (4)
Jeff Fisher, Rams (3)
Jim Harbaugh, 49ers (3)
Norv Turner, Chargers (3)
Pete Carroll, Seahawks (2)
Jason Garrett, Cowboys (2)
John Harbaugh, Ravens (2)
Six coaches received one vote

Most underrated head coach (number of votes in parentheses)
Gary Kubiak, Texans (15)
Mike Smith, Falcons (15)
Tom Coughlin, Giants (11)
Mike Tomlin, Steelers (8)
Pete Carroll, Seahawks (6)
Lovie Smith, Bears (5)
John Fox, Broncos (4)
Jim Harbaugh, 49ers (4)
Mike McCarthy, Packers (4)
Joe Philbin, Dolphins (4)
John Harbaugh, Ravens (3)
Marvin Lewis, Bengals (3)
Greg Schiano, Buccaneers (3)
Leslie Frazier, Vikings (2)
Andy Reid, Eagles (2)
Six coaches received one vote

Aqib Talib, a supremely talented and superbly
careless cornerback, was traded from the Tampa Buccaneers at the deadline in
exchange for a 2013 fourth-round pick on Thursday. The Patriots also received a seventh-round pick in the deal.

A former first-round draft pick — 20th overall in 2008 — Talib
possesses the skills and speed necessary to be a shutdown corner in the NFL. But his off-the-field issues continue to derail what should be a perennial Pro Bowl-type talent.

Talib, 26, was an elite talent coming out of Kansas in 2008
with projections as a legitimate cover corner. But even then, behavioral problems
and character questions watched him dip beyond his talent grade in the draft.
The big issue remains that those problems have spilled into his
professional career.

During his four-plus seasons in the NFL, Talib has been
arrested once and suspended twice. Talib was suspended for the season-opener in
2010 stemming from an altercation with a taxi driver in August 2009. He was
then arrested in 2011 for allegedly firing a gun at his sister’s boyfriend.
Those charges were eventually dropped and Talib wasn’t suspended.

He’s currently serving a four-game suspension after
violating the league’s substance-abuse policy by testing positive for Adderall.
Not a great track record for someone being relied on to improve an already
revolving door in the secondary.

Having served only three of the four games on his
suspension, and thanks to the Patriots’ bye this weekend, Talib probably won’t
suit up for the Patriots until Week 11 against the Colts. But the Patriots have
already spent eight games struggling with a mediocre secondary, so his absence
won’t be a departure from the norm.

Off-the-field stuff aside, Talib remains one of the better
defensive playmakers in the NFL.

At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, he’s a big, physical corner. He has
great speed, especially considering his size, and he possesses elite ball
skills comparable with some of the best in the league.

Through 58 games in the NFL, not even four full seasons,
Talib has 18 interceptions and has returned three of them for touchdowns — impressive considering the small time span.

That playmaking mentality brings back memories of old friend
Asante Samuel, who’s a true opportunist in every sense of the word. While a
great compliment, Talib sometimes also suffers from the same route-jumping
tendency that made Samuel such a liability. Which is still only a minor flaw.

With Talib on board, even if only on an eight-week rental
given his expiring contract, the Patriots will also have some flexibility to
try and properly sort out their secondary.

Patrick Chung and Steven Gregory are both on the mend and
expected to return within the next few weeks, which should provide some more
depth. With them back in the fold, Devin McCourty could return to his more
natural cornerback position. Although, with Talib on board, McCourty, who has
performed more than admirably at safety, could be afforded the opportunity to
stay there long-term.

Whatever McCourty’s future may hold, Talib’s
presence should add some much-needed depth and ability to a desperately
deprived secondary. The experience of Kyle Arrington along with McCourty and
Chung — as well as the improvements of guys like rookie Alfonzo Dennard and
Marquice Cole — are important to the development of the Patriots’ secondary.
And if able to provide some stability, Talib will immediately alleviate
pressure off those players.

Talib’s off-field issues should certainly be of concern for
Belichick and the coaching staff. But for the failed ventures such as Albert
Haynesworth and Chad Johnson, the Patriots have also found success in the likes
of Randy Moss and Corey Dillon. Not to unfairly compare Talib to either player,
but there is proof that such risks have worked in the past.

The assessed risk also has to be tempered as there’s no
chance this deal ever goes through without Buccaneers head coach and Belichick
confidante Greg Schiano signing off on Talib. So, there’s at least some relief
in taking on such an unpredictable character.

Normally an underwhelming and for all purposes meaningless
event, the NFL trade deadline actually showed some spice this year. And Talib stole the show. But if Talib pans
out in New England, the Patriots will be the true thieves on this day.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter @LukeFHughes or send it here.