Now that you’re guaranteed NOT to confuse the Eagles’ Pro Bowl running back with former (fictional) Dolphins kicker Ray Finkle, let’s talk about the key player in Sunday’s divisional playoff game (that being Westbrook…you still with me?).

If Westbrook performs like he did week 14 (203 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs) consider the Giants’ season over. If Big Blue is able to collar him, like they did in week 10 (59 all-purpose yards, 0 TD), they’ll live to see the NFC Championship game.

To that end, we offer up the best sound bites culled from Wednesday’s press conference at Giants Stadium. Take a listen to what some members of the Giants “D” had to say about the biggest thorn in the Giants’ collective sides (that being Westbrook...see, I KNEW you were still with me).

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

Thursday night's BCS title game between Florida and Oklahoma offers an excellent matchup, featuring two Heisman quarterbacks in Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford. But will the winner really be the national champion? When will the NCAA finally create a fair playoff system? At least four other teams deserved the number one seed just as much as Florida.

Texas Tech lost to Oklahoma but won the rest of its games before bowl week. Alabama also ended its season with only one loss, so who's to say it shouldn't have had the opportunity to compete for a championship. Last but definitely not least is the most underrated program this season: the UNDEFEATED Utah Utes. Shouldn't a team with no losses be an automatic? It defeated four nationally ranked programs during the regular season and crushed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. In my mind they are the national champs.

Why do we still let a small group of people and computer programs decide who's best? There should be a playoff in which the top eight teams have an equal opportunity to compete for the championship. Each of the four first-round matchups can be made into a major BCS Bowl. These games should be followed by a national semifinal and a championship. This way we won't have to sit around for nearly a month before the big game. And sure, if the NCAA wants the money from the many pointless bowl games that feature .500 teams, then so be it.

Have we really come to the point where a college sport is so consumed by money that fairness is thrown out the window? What about the 70 schools not recognized by the BCS? Don't they deserve a fair shot at the title? No #1 high school recruit will ever attend such a school because a national championship would be out of the question. The whole system needs to change immediately! -Matan Cohen of The Huddle

So there I was last Sunday night after watching the Eagles beat the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. I turn on MSG to learn that the Knicks had beaten the champion Celtics! First thought: The Celts' Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen missed the flight to New York City OR they had all eaten at a restaurant threatened with closure by the NYC Health Department. But no, the Knicks REALLY did win. Coach Mike D'Antoni hoped the win was something to build on. Sadly, the foundation held for less than 48 hours.

A side note: Happy 40th birthday Thursday January 8th to Sensei Craig! Craig, you are a Hall of Fame martial artist and person. Your friendship is a great thing to me and many others. Life may begin at 40-but you have helped people of all ages improve theirs. Enjoy your day!

Turns out Jets owner Woody Johnson has taken the team's 40 years of futility to a new level. Woody needed less than 24 hours to fire Eric Mangini after the Jets late season collapse. He quickly claimed he and GM Mike Tannenbaum would work tirelessly to hire a new coach. But while other owners are flying candidates into town or flying out themselves to interview potential new hires, Woody was on vacation out of the country. That stupidity may have cost him the best guy on the board, Bill Cowher.

Cowher was on WFAN this morning. Listen here. Yes, it sure sounded like he isn't interested in coaching in 2009, but he wanted to speak to Woody Johnson. I'm sorry, but if I own a team (or any business) and I can hire someone to make my business better, I make darn sure I speak to that person ASAP. If I'm in Timbuktu, I call Cowher and say, "Bill, I'm on vacation for a week. Can we talk by phone or meet as soon as I get back?" Apparently though, 'The Chin' NEVER spoke to Johnson or Tannenbaum. I dont care who is/was at fault or what the misunderstanding was, but if I'm Gang Green, 40 years since a Super Bowl appearance and the worst current collapse since the Mets, I get off my butt and make sure that Cowher hears me. I give it a shot. If Cowher says no, he says no.

To make matters worse, turns out Johnson has missed ALL the interviews the Jets have had so far. THERE's leadership you can count on, right Jets fans? At this rate, Gang Green will have to hope Joe Namath lives to be 105 so they'll have a surviving Super Bowl Jet 40 years from now. As a Giant fan, I'm glad Pete Rozelle had the guts to clean up the Mara family mess and bring in George Young to be the GM in 1979. 4 Super Bowl appearances later, Big Blue is a marquee franchise in the NFL. Perhaps the current commish, Roger Goodell, could explain to Woody that having Cowher as coach is better for long term revenue than selling Brett Favre jerseys.

The Yankees free agent shopping spree continues. So long Jason Giambi (who WFAN's Steve Somers mockingly calls The Sultan of Shot) is soon to be back where the steroids began-in Oakland. Hello, Mark Teixeira. "Tex" will wear Giambi's number 25 because his favorite player growing up, Don Mattingly, is one of a legion of Yankees with their number rerired. Donnie Baseball wore number 23.

Check out the video board to hear more from the Yankees new first baseman.

New Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira takes to the field at the new Yankee Stadium after finalizing his eight-year, $180 million contract with the team:

Or at least it should. The Giants and Eagles will face each other this Sunday for the third time this season. The Giants know the Eagles and the Eagles Know the Giants. They split the two regular season games with the road team winning both games. The Eagles were the only team to beat the Giants at home this season. I think the running game (especially Brian Westbrook) will decide the winner.

Brandon Jacobs ran for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Giants win, and in the loss, he had just 52 yards and no scores. So the team who stops the other's running game has a fighting chance. One thing is for certain: The Giants miss Plaxico Burress. You cannot replace a 6 foot 5 guy who is a play-maker. Those guys don't come along all that often. Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon are good, but is it a coincidence that the Giants lost 3 of 5 games since Burress' accidental shooting? I think not.

The Giants are rested and they are home. Two pluses in their favor. But the Eagles are red hot and not scared of the defending Super Bowl Champs. You didn't ask for a prediction, but I'm giving one. The game will be a close one and not a high scoring one. I say Giants 23 Eagles 20. Cheesesteaks on me if I'm wrong.

Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and Al Harrington chipped in 30 to help the Knicks snap an 8-game losing streak against the defending champs.

Wasn't it just a year ago when the Celts beat the Knicks by about 60??

Anyway, if you're still having a tough time believing that the Knicks ACTUALLY routed the champs, we have the postgame reaction to prove it. Take a listen to Harrington, D-Lee and Chris Duhon.

PHOTOS: Knicks Upset Celtics, 100-88

David Lee talks about bad blood with the Celtics and what it felt like beating the top team in the NBA.

Chris Duhon talks about the Knicks' defense, grinding out a win, and Wilson Chandler's strong game.

PHOTOS: Knicks Upset Celtics, 100-88

Credit TheSmokingGun.com for this one. We all know that NBA Great Charles Barkley was stopped the other day in Scottsdale, Arizona for driving under the influence of alcohol. Barkley, always the straight shooter, didn't try to lie to the police. In the written report, police say Barkley admitted to having a couple of drinks. Ah, but his admissions didn't stop there.

While most of the players were tight-lipped, as I’m sure you can imagine, Q-Richardson and Tim Thomas offered some insights.

Believe it or not, every player we talked to told us the story was NEWS TO THEM!! Apparently there’s no internet access in the MSG locker rooms.

Here’s what the guys had to say.

Quentin Richardson on Stephon Marbury's possible move to Boston.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

That night he told reporters his days with the Knicks were numbered and “the team I’m going to go to, a lot of people will be SHOCKED.”

You weren’t alone if you thought that was just Steph being Steph…CRAZY, that is. But apparently, Starbury wasn’t kiddin’.

Reports are out today that the Celtics – THAT’S RIGHT – the Celtics…defending champs….the definition of team chemistry….want Marbury to help bolster a depleted bench (OHHHHHHHHHHH Baby...imagine if they get the deal done by Sunday. Celtics vs. Knicks at MSG).

Where to begin??

2) RAJON RONDO: The Celts young point guard is emerging as an All Star. He’s certainly benefited from the presence of Boston’s Big 3 (KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce). But none of those guys play point guard. Marbury does. He’s guaranteed to rub off on Rondo in SOME WAY. Sure, those other guys will still be around, but playing the same position as Marbury will mean close interaction between he and Rondo, and Marbury is such a headcase, that’s contamination the Celtics can’t afford.

3) KEVIN GARNETT: Remember the history of these two in Minnesota?? Marbury and Garnett had the makings of an All-Time NBA duo until Stephon “went diva” on the T-Wolves and forced a trade that landed him with the Nets. Word is that KG was FURIOUS at Marbury for that. Today’s report says Garnett has no issue with Steph coming to Boston, but how can that possibly be true?

Marbury still has the considerable task of negotiating out of his Knicks contract before he can join the C’s. But when one Celtics source was asked the likelihood of Marbury bolting for Boston, he said “it WILL happen.”

My goodness. Celtics fans can only take stock in knowing that when Marbury tries to implode their team, Boston will be able to cut ties with hardly any salary cap implications. Trust us, it’ll only be a matter of time.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle

I’ve always been fascinated by ways in which college athletes deal with adversity. Some hit a low point and are mentally unable to turn things around. Others have the self-confidence to come off the floor and take their game to new levels. Those are the athletes who have what it takes to succeed on the professional level and are sought out by coaches. This year, no one displayed more perseverance and guts than Rutgers’ quarterback, Mike Teel.

The local high school star from Don Bosco Prep in North Jersey entered the 2008 college season as a fifth year senior. Despite the team’s success over the past few seasons – the greatest in Rutgers’ history -- Mike Teel was never perceived as a topnotch quarterback worthy of being noticed by NFL scouts.

Teel threw for 931 yards in the three games before the showdown with Army. He then went on to break the school’s all-time passing record and led the team to a compelling 6-5 mark heading into Louisville. That’s when he simply erupted, throwing for seven touchdowns (six in the first half) and a team record 447 yards passing in the Scarlet Knights’ 63-14 victory. Yesterday, in the Papajohns.com Bowl against NC State, Teel delivered a solid performance that included 319 yards passing and two scores.

His 2008 statistics include a 96.5 quarterback rating, 3,418 yards passing, 25
touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 61.4% completion percentage. Mike Teel was the primary contributor to Rutgers’ seven-game win streak to end the season. If the Heisman Award were based on the second half of the season, Teel would be a top candidate. He is a true competitor who was able to battle through the worst of times and came out on top. For that, he deserves a shot at the next level.

Did you check out Woody Johnson at the Eric Mangini Firing Presser yesterday? I think the Jets' owner will send Brett Favre candy and flowers on Valentine's Day. Talk about star struck. You don't see this much catering to at Rosie O'Donnell's annual holiday party. For those of you who think its weird that Woody has such love for Brett the Jet, think again.

That's reason #1 why Mangini goes and Favre stays if Johnson has his way. Favre, like Shaq for exanple-IS A NAME now more than a player. Woody said yesterday that the head coach is the most important person in the building. Well, I'd venture a guess that many a potential coach wouldn't necessarily want a washed up 39 year old who will be 40 before the 2009 season is midway through. Woody, listen carefully: If it's a choice between Cowher and Favre or Cowher and current Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum-you pick Cowher. Same holds true for Schottenheimer or even Spagnuonlo. Why? Because your team hasn't won a Super Bowl since the final days of Lyndon Johnson's administration. The three guys I just mentioned all have winning pedigrees, OK, Marty ball has struggled in the playoffs, but if you get 12-4, 13-3 and lock up a #1 seed consistently, you'll take your chances. Spagnuolo is unproven as a head man, but you need defense to win and he's been a part of winners.

The guy Johnson SHOULD chase isn't Favre, but Cowher. He's still young enough to be your leader for a decade. Don't be too greedy. Consistent winning with a proven coach is better than a quick buck for a player that's done. If you had any REAL interest in winning, Chad Pennington would still be here. A good coach works with and around a team's strengths and weaknesses. That's why Tony Sparano is in the playoffs and Mangini isn't. Instead of Leon Washington and Thomas Jones 2/3 of the time, Favre blew out his bicep slinging passes around the field. He isn't 29 anymore, and can't get away with horrid mistakes like he did in his prime.

Sparano and QB coach Dan Henning let Chad use his accuracy, leadership skills and a strong running game to rack up 11 wins. You could easily say that Favre, not the Mangenius, was more to blame for the Jets collapse. Well, YOU wouldn't say that, Woody. You're in love with the wrong guy.