Picking up the Pieces while Shoveling Snow

--This season is Bill Belichick's best coaching job of his career.  Here are just some players who have missed significant time: Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, LaMont Jordan, Sammy Morris, Adailus Thomas, Ty Warren, and Rodney Harrison.  There is no way they should be sniffing the playoffs, but with a Ravens loss on Saturday night combined with 2 Patriots wins and they play the AFC East winner in the first round.

--Peyton Manning is having an MVP-type season.  Leading the Colts to 8 straight wins and the No.5 seed in the AFC while having a defense that couldn't stop Rutland High School's ground game is quite a feat.

--If Jordan Hill can dominate Gonzaga inside, what will Hasheem Thabeet do tomorrow?  It should be an awesome game tomorrow afternoon at Key Arena between UConn and Gonzaga.  Ten years ago, they played in the West Regional Final in Phoenix and both programs have taken off since then.

--Anyone have 22-5-4 in the Bruins first 31 games pool??  I'm loving the future of Kessel, Lucic, and Blake Wheeler.  

--I can't believe the Celtics have come out with even more intensity than last season.  This is quite a special start to the season.  Rajon Rondo should be an All-Star.  Ray Allen is on track after a slow start to last season while Pierce and KG are up to their old selves.  Wouldn't it be great to go into the Christmas Day game with the Lakers 27-2?

--Something tells me the best bowl game(non-BCS edition) will be the Holiday Bowl matchup between Oklahoma State and Oregon.  They better have replacement light bulbs in the Qualcomm Stadium scoreboard.

--Best BCS bowl game: the one no one will watch.  The Orange Bowl will be great between Cincinnati and Virginia Tech.  All others will be blowouts in favor of Florida, USC, Texas,  and Alabama.

--Where will Pedro Martinez pitch next season?

Here's to a great sports(and shopping) weekend and, as always, be on the lookout for #25 in a Red Sox uniform for the next 8 years.

***Check out the Northeast Sports Network online at http://www.neksports.net.  NSN is your source for Vermont sports news and information.  Throughout every season, there are numerous video and audiocasts of the best high school and college sports action around the state of Vermont.  Listen to the Jack Healey Show weekday mornings from 6 am-9 am and The Big Sports Show with host George Commo from 9 am-11 am.  Both shows can be accessed on http://www.nsnradio.net.***