Of Jessica Biel, Roger Goodell and Mike Vick...

Coming from David (me), the webmaster of The Secret Fantasy Football Formula

I'm known better for using explicit phrases aimed at big screen tv's in bars on Sunday mornings in the Fall (I live on the West Coast), but when I think about football - fantasy or real NFL - I am often reminded of the phrase uttered over 2000 years ago by Quintus Horatius Flaccus, aka Horace, a famous poet. Back when I knew him, back in the day, he used to say "David, (that's me) many shall rise, that now forgotten lie; Others, in present credit, soon shall die."  

That phrase was just about as tailor made for the NFL as Jessica Biel is for - just about any Chuck or Larry.  This year in the NFL alone, nominees for forgotten men who got up could be: The New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees, The New York Jets' Chad Pennington, and Javon Walker of the Denver Broncos.

Nominees for guys whose credit is dropping could be a little more crowded:  Tank Johnson of the Chicago Bears, Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals, throw in Chris Henry too, Mike Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, and a surprise nominee for Roger Goodell.

You say, `why a surprise nominee for Roger Goodell?' and I say with the volatile world that is currently the NFL, it could be high time to dust off Horace's old saying and give it a little modern Extreme Makeover: Phrase Edition. Here's how I think it might translate nowadays:

Many men, held with high regard, soon shall die - provided that these men have only been alleged, indicted or presumed - not arrested or convicted. In the event of a wrongful act requiring discipline, if said man is held in high public regard and largely indebted to his franchise, these rules may not apply. However, all terms are subject to change at any time, given certain conditions which the creditor controls at will. Many other men shall rise that now forgotten lie.  

Who might rise and fall in '07?

This message came to you from David (me), webmaster from The Secret Fantasy Football Formula.