Which uniform looks best on Petyon? (Image via Adam Schefter/Facebook.com)

So far, the story of the 2012 NFL off-season is Colts QB Peyton Manning, and where he’s going to play next season. The back-and-forth between Manning and Colts’ owner Jim Irsay has reached a near-comical level of he said-she said, with Irsay saying on Thursday that they’re currently in negotiations with the veteran quarterback. But the general consensus seems to be that Irsay is just posturing for the media, and that Pey-Pey has likely played his last down as a Colt.

Vegas released updated odds today on where Manning will play in 2012, which place the Dolphins as the favorite to land Peyton at 2.5-to-1, barely edging out “Does Not Play” (currently getting 3-1 odds), for those who believe Peyton’s neck injury could force him into early retirement. The Redskins are next in what seems like a perfect Dan Snyder move, followed by the Colts and Cardinals at 5-1, and Jets at 6-1.

My gut says Peyton will end up in either Washington or Arizona … what do you think?

SEE THE COMPLETE PEYTON MANNING ODDS AFTER THE JUMP

[Via R.J. Bell at Pregame.com]

UPDATED Peyton Manning odds
(next season’s team):

Dolphins: 17% ($100 wins $250)
Does not play: 15% ($100 wins $300)
Redskins: 13% ($100 wins $350)
Colts: 10% ($100 wins $500)
Cardinals: 10% ($100 wins $500)
Jets: 9% ($100 wins $600)
Seahawks: 5.5% ($100 wins $1,000)
Chiefs: 3% ($100 wins $1,800)
Texans: 3% ($100 wins $2,000)
Broncos: 2% ($100 wins $2,500)
49ers: 1.5% ($100 wins $4,000)
Titans: 1% ($100 wins $5,000)
Any Other Team: 10% ($100 wins $500)

Biggest adjustments from opening odds:
Cardinals from (25-1) down to (5-1)
Seattle from (unlisted) down to (10-1)
Chiefs from (50-1) down to (18-1)
Texans from (75-1) down to (20-1)

(special thanks to Cal-Neva sportsbook)

From today’s Cincinatti-Arizona game, watch Bengals WR Jerome Simpson execute a miraculous front flip over Cardinals’ LB Daryl Washington – who stands at 6′-2″ – and somehow stick the landing in the endzone for the touchdown:

(via mocksession.com)

[GIF Via Mocksession]

Video of the full play HERE.

Quite an improvement over the last time we heard from Mr. Simpson, when he was performing the most blatant flop in NFL history. It’s nice to see Jerome making history in such a positive way on this Christmas Eve.

And as this image shows, in addition to sporting a moustache and being a few pounds lighter than he is today, back then Rex also favored the Kenny Powers-esque mullet as his hairstyle of choice:

(Photo: Twitter.com)

Aeneas Williams approves.

See that blur on the right? Ouch. (Image via Sportsgrid.com)

With our regular feature, Hit Of The Week, ReadAndReact will find the most brutal tackle, block or run from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure. 

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We’re back with our HOTW, and this week’s victim wasn’t even suited up on Sunday.

Watch as Vikings WR Devin Aromashudo absolutely destroys an unsuspecting cameraman on the sideline during Sunday’s Vikings-Cardinals contest:

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Ooof. The poor guy had no idea what hit him, and took the full brunt of an NFL player running at full-speed.  Ouch.

Clearly nobody touched Cruz while he was on the ground (Photo: Getty Images via WashingtonPost.com)

This is undoubtedly the most controversial play of Week 4 in the NFL.

From yesterday’s Giants-Cardinals game, with New York trailing by 3 points and driving with 2:46 remaining, Eli Manning hit WR Victor Cruz for a 19-yard completion. At the end of the play, Cruz fell to the ground, put the ball on the grass and stood up to return to the huddle. One problem: Cruz wasn’t touched by a Cardinals defender while he was down, so theoretically, the ball should still be alive. Or that’s at least what most everyone watching the play assumed, and Arizona jumped on the ball, thinking they had secured a crucial turnover.

But not so fast. Referee Jerome Booger had blown the play dead, ruling that Cruz had “given himself up” on the play. Because of that ruling, and despite a challenge flag thrown by Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt, the play was not reviewable.

Watch the play for yourself, and decide if Cruz should have been ruled down:

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

On the very next play, Manning hit Hakeem Nicks for the go-ahead score, ultimately winning the game 31-27.

So did the Cardinals get screwed? The NFL issued a statement today, highlighting the applicable rule, Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1(e), states:

“An official shall declare the ball dead and the down ended when a runner is out of bounds, or declares himself down by falling to the ground, or kneeling, and making no effort to advance.”

Based on the wording of the rules, one could argue that the refs got the call right, since Cruz seemingly fell to the ground on his own volition, and gave up the ball in an effort to hurry back to the huddle. In fact, the NFLs VP of Officiating Carl Johnson has chimed in to say that the refs got it right.  

But it’s a pretty fine line for a judgement call like that, and Cardinals fans certainly have a right to feel like they got hosed on a play that ultimately cost their team the game. Especially considering the fact that Cruz himself said he thought he got touched by a defender, so he wasn’t necessarily giving himself up:

“I saw the guy coming and I wanted to get down,” he said. “I thought I was tagged down and I got up and was going to the next play. I thought I was touched so the ref called it down. I felt like I was touched, I thought somebody touched me. I guess in the heat of the moment you probably don’t feel it or you think someone touched you, but I definitely thought I was touched.”

Manning himself thought the Giants got lucky on the call:

“We got a break on that one I think,” he said. “I thought it was going to get ruled a fumble and I saw it pretty clear. I don’t know what the call was or why.”

That seems to be the general consensus, despite the fact that the league is seemingly supporting the call for now. And since former NFL VP of officiating Mike Pereira also thought it should have been ruled a fumble, this is probably one of those situations where the rule will be changed during the next off-season to help clarify (or at least allow such plays to be reviewed).

(AP PHOTO/PAUL CONNORS via AZcentral.com)

Panthers No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton had the best debut of any rookie NFL quarterback ever on Sunday, throwing for 422 yards and 2 touchdowns in a losing effort, falling 28-21 to the Arizona Cardinals. Newton’s performance destroyed the previous modern-day yardage record held by Peyton Manning, who threw for 302 yards back in Week 1 of the 1998 season, and ties Matt Stafford‘s 2007 Week 10 performance for most yards ever thrown for by a rookie. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the all-time record for a first-game by a rookie was 346 by Otto Graham for the Cleveland Browns in 1950.

Newton’s first professional touchdown pass came on this 77-yard strike to WR Steve Smith:

In total, Newton went 24-for-37 for 422 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception, plus 18 yards and 1 score on the ground. Both passing scores went to Smith, who finished with 178 yards receiving, with Newton completing passes to eight different receivers and making all the throws you could ever hope to see from your new quarterback.

Watch complete game highlights of the league’s newest superstar after the jump, via BSO:

Unfortunately for Newton, the Panthers surrendered two 4th quarter touchdowns, including an 89-yard punt return by Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson with 7:51 remaining that proved to be the difference in the game. But Panthers fans are understandably excited about their future prospects after today’s display.

Watch and listen as Breaston gets deep with his original poem, “A League Deferred”:

Bank on it, this will be the new face of one NFL team come Draft Day (Source: Jimrome.com)

The 2011 NFL Draft could serve as our last dose of football for an unfriendly amount of time (especially if you’re an Oakland Raiders fan). Although it’s going to be awkward to watch NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approach the podium before a packed house during a lockout, Draft Day (or, at this stage, Draft Thursday Night…) remains tangibly intriguing when a blue-chip quarterback has the chance to go No. 1.

It’s no sure thing, but with Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert rising up the board, it’s possible both could go in the top 10. One could argue that four of the first five teams to pick could go quarterback. I also wouldn’t rule out a team moving up for one the young guns — especially with Shanahan’s Redskins buried in the 10 slot — but this mock doesn’t include trades. Next month’s v.2 mock will take a shot at pinpointing some possible move-up/down scenarios. With that said, here’s my top 5 picks:

1. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton – QB, Auburn: Some don’t even have Newton in their top 10. I just don’t see Ron Rivera passing up this opportunity to bring in a franchise-altering passer with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Newton has his flaws, but there’s no way Carolina takes on the NFC South with what we’ve seen out of (granted, young) Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen. While it’s awfully tough to bypass some of the defensive line talent in this draft, I believe Newton will continue to rise up the board. It’s only mid-March. This quarterback’s gifts will only become more coveted as we approach late April. The Panthers are serious about Cam Newton and I expect him to end up as the top pick in this draft.

2. Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus – DT, Alabama: John Fox is going defense with this pick. At 6-foot-3, 319 pounds, Dareus fits well into Fox’s 4-3 scheme, and has the potential to wreak havoc as a 3-technique the way Warren Sapp did in Tampa Bay — and Sapp himself has showered praise on the prospect. For the many top-shelf defensive line prospects in this draft — it’s one of the more stunning DT/DE draft classes in years — Dareus might be the safest pick, as a guy without looming medical or off-the-field concerns. If Nick Fairley has more potential, Dareus appears to have the work ethic for continued growth.

3. Buffalo Bills – Patrick Peterson – CB, LSU: The Bills are courting Newton and no doubt Chan Gailey is enticed by his athleticism. If Carolina passes, Newton could land here at No. 3.  If he’s gone — and he is in this mock — the Bills will take Peterson, possibly the best football player in the draft. It’s unusual for a team to strike on a corner this high, but I don’t see the Bills taking Gabbert with this pick. Besides, in Ryan Fitzpatrick, they have a passer the team believes in and grew behind in 2010. The Bills need help all over the place on defense and go with the best player available here.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – Blaine Gabbert – QB, Missouri: If Carson Palmer wasn’t so inconsistent, you work out the issues, get him back in the house and move on. Palmer and the Bengals are at a crossroads, and with the QB making it clear he’s had enough in the Queen City, it’s time for Cincy to find his replacement. I’m not in love with Gabbert. Accuracy is an issue when you look beyond his short-field body of work. That said, with Newton gone, Gabbert represents a new dawn for Marvin Lewis.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Von Miller – DE/OLB, Texas A&M: Some are calling Von Miller‘s decision to join the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the NFL a risk. Is he an immediate problem? A guy with a renegade spirit? No. Another way to look at it — this is someone who has chosen to take a leadership role among his peers and represent his rookie class on a critical issue to the players (even if you think they already make too much). That aside, Miller is perhaps the most versatile defensive talent in the draft and music to the ears of the Cards. I keep hearing over and over that Arizona does not go quarterback with this pick — mainly because this could be it for Ken Whisenhunt, and you don’t risk a critical season on a rookie. You have to wonder if the Cards would surprise people and shoot for Newton or Gabbert is one is available.

For picks 6-10, go here.

For picks 11-20, go here.

This happened in the 4th quarter of yesterday’s godawful Broncos-Cardinals game … and since Tim Tebow still has yet to make an appearance at QB for Denver (despite the deafening calls of the local media & fans), there’s really no good reason anyone should have been watching this contest this late in the game. But if you happened to fall asleep and wake up with four minutes remaining, you received an early Christmas present.

Watch this Cardinals cheerleader run from receiver Brandon Lloyd - who was coming to a stop out of bounds after a pass reception - like he came at her with a hatchet:

ORIGINAL VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Hilarious. I could watch this over and over again. In fact, I went ahead and made that glorious banner GIF so I could do just that! You’re welcome.

[H/T WithLeather]

Are Sam Bradford and the Rams the best of the worst? (Photo: Getty Images via Zimbio)

Heading into the 2010 season, nobody had particularly high expectations for the NFC West. In fact, it was widely identified as the worst division in football. But I don’t think any of us expected that it would suck quite this badly … did we?

Look at it this way: At 3-8, the Arizona Cardinals – who have lost six games in a row – are only TWO GAMES out of first place in their division. The Rams and Seahawks are currently the best of the bunch at 5-6, but with five games left, it’s anyone’s division for the taking. And one of these teams is going to the playoffs … likely with a 7-9 final record, while a 10-6 (or even 11-5) potential NFC wild card team misses out.

So what happened? We kind of knew the Seahawks were going through a transition period with Pete Carroll taking over, and the two-time defending division champion Cardinals lost a lot of their best players in the off-season. But people had high hopes for the 49ers, who seem to have regressed in Mike Singletary‘s second year at the helm. Troy Smith may have brought some spark to the club, but with the loss of Frank Gore for the remainder of the season, I just don’t see this team scaring anyone down the stretch.

Does 31-year-old Brian Westbrook have any tread left on the tires for the 49ers? (Photo: Getty Images via Zimbio)

For my money, the St. Louis Rams are the team to beat in the NFC West. Sam Bradford has progressed quicker than anyone could have hoped, and is the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year. Also, Steve Spagnuolo‘s team are currently +4 in turnover ratio, which is often the most telling statistic in December and January. The rest of the schedule also favors the Rams, who have three division contests remaining, starting with the Cardinals (who are in shambles right now) next week.

It will be interesting to find out which team steps up to claim that coveted playoff spot, but really, do any of these teams deserve it? I think fans of the NFC South would probably say no, since a pretty good team from that division is going to be watching the post-season from home.