BREAKING NEWS ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ~ TAMPA, Fla. - James Dungy, the 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, was found dead in a Tampa-area apartment, police said Thursday.  In a news release on its Web site, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said it “responded to the Campus Lodge Apartments this morning at approximately 1:32 a.m. The girlfriend of James Dungy had returned to the apartment and discovered Dungy.”  Police performed CPR on Dungy before he was taken to University Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Tony Dungy has left the Colts and is in Tampa, according to NFL.com.  Football suddenly is rendered irrelevant.  What an unbelievable tragedy for one of the NFL’s classic gentlemen.  Our hearts and prayers are with the Dungy family.

I SAW HIM TODAY AT THE RECEPTION…A GLASS OF WINE IN HIS HAND ~ The Colts’ Tarik Glenn is feeling anything but celebratory today and that glass of red just might be to calm him down.  Yesterday the Colts’ tackle was informed that he was voted on to the AFC Pro Bowl Roster only to be told 2 hours later that there was a mistake made in the tabulation of votes.  Glenn would not be part of the AFC Squad after all.  Replacing Glenn would be Jonathan Ogden.

Speaking from personal experience and winning awards for performance, I can’t imagine how Glenn must feel today.  I was once told that I won an award of distinction with my former employer only to be told later that there was some sort of rounding error and that I had not technically achieved the award which would have included a fabulous all expenses paid vacation for two.  A jubilant feeling was replaced with emptiness.

The spoils of the award were great, don’t get me wrong.  But more important to me, was the recognition of peers and a sense of belonging and satisfaction that the hard work and dedication to my craft paid off.  When it was taken, the feeling was worse than if I had never won at all.

Today Glenn certainly feels the same.

Fortunately for me, management reconsidered and found that they had erred in their calculation allowing me to keep the bestowed honor.  The NFL should find a way to do the same for Glenn.  I’m sure they can afford it!

I’M YOUR ICE CREAM MAN, STOP ME WHEN I’M PASSING BY…ALL MY FLAVORS ARE GUARANTEED TO SATISFY ~ No one asked me but in my humble opinion, Jon Ogden's trip to Honolulu in February has nothing to do with merit in 2005 and everything to do with reputation.  Emerging from this stench however is some good news.  Ogden will return to the Ravens in 2006.  Commenting on his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, Ogden said, "It's kind of like having a good desert but also having a crappy meal.  You know you'll feel a little better but the steak was bad. Hopefully next year, we'll get a little bit of both."

Let’s hope the snubbing of the Ravens inspires better play.  It certainly should save Steve Bisciotti a few dead Presidents.

For the rest of the Pro Bowl Rosters, try these links….

AFC PRO BOWL ROSTER

NFC PRO BOWL ROSTER

BREAKING THE LAW, BREAKING THE LAW…BREAKING THE LAW, BREAKING THE LAW ~ There was no breaking of Ty Law in 2005.  Many teams failed to take a chance on Law believing that the former All-Pro’s foot injury would prevent him from breaking on the ball and using his great burst to make up ground while passes were in flight.  Law made a believer out of some this season as he made his way on to the Pro Bowl roster for the fifth time.  However, due to a significant roster bonus which is said to be around $6million, this Jet might have other flight plans in 2006.  When asked to comment on the organizational view of Jets’ management that he would not be back with the team next season, Law said, "If I was a betting man, I'd pretty much say that, too.  The reality is I probably won't be back. I'm fine with that."

WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND TROUBLED…AND YOU NEED A HELPING HAND ~ The Vikings make their way to The Vault Sunday Night facing a must win situation, something that even their less than cerebral head coach understands: "It’s an exciting time because there are a lot of scenarios out there," said the somewhere out there Mike Tice.  "I did indicate to the team what the scenarios were. I did not want them thinking and being wrong. So I laid out the scenarios and it all starts with us winning a game against Baltimore.”

Tice continued, "Because all the scenarios you can paint, and all the pictures you can paint, will not be completed unless we win a game against Baltimore. So everything that is out there for us starts with beating a good friend, Brian Billick's team in Baltimore, on Christmas night, on national TV. And so another big game for us and you really wouldn't want it any other way, quite frankly."

And if you need tickets, let Mike Tice paint a pretty picture for you on Christmas Night.  He can get you a few, for a small fee of course.

YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME…BABY…YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME ~ The return of the Vikings to The Vault also marks the return of an old friend -- Travis Taylor.  Taylor had a decent start with the Vikings but has slowed considerably.  His numbers on the year are 42 catches, 496 yards, 11.8 average and 2 scores.  Both scores were against the Saints back on September 25.  In his last 3 games, Taylor has 5 catches for 50 yards.  Maybe it wasn’t the Ravens' offense after all.

WHEN THE CLEAR LIGHT OF A WINTER’S DAY, BLOWS COLD AND HARD AND THE FUTURE IS GREY ~ One of the most genuine good guys in sport has left us.  On the day before he was to celebrate the 65th anniversary of his being, Elrod Hendricks slipped away, falling to a heart attack.  A happy-go-lucky man, Elrod flashed a smile and offered a hand to all men.  He has been involved in professional baseball for 45 years, 37 of which where with the Orioles.  Elrod smiled often for a team that has had very little to smile about.  No. 44 will most definitely be missed.

AND OH, OH, I’M A DREADLOCK OF THE SUBURBS ~ According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello at least one NFL team executive plans to propose regulating the length of hair hanging from a player's helmet on game day. It is possible that at least several teams will propose such a rule.  The league isn’t pushing the idea, but individual owners are, claiming that the extended locks might prove to be a safety hazard.

Yeah sure.  Maybe they’re just a wee bit concerned about covering up the jersey and potential ad space for corporate logos. 

I DRINK ALONE…YEAHHHHHHHH WITH NOBODY ELSE ~ Looks like no one will be drinking at the Meadowlands on Monday night when the Jets host the Patriots in ABC’s MNF finale.  Alcohol won't be sold in response to nine arrests during the Jets-Saints game Nov. 27. One of those arrests stems from charges of a man stabbing two fans in a restroom.  Another is tied to a state trooper who broke his leg while trying to eject a fan who reportedly threw a beer bottle. Jets spokesman Ron Colangelo said Tuesday the ban was put in place to protect fans.

Wonder if they’ll take down all the beer ads in the stadium and stop airing the commercials on TV too?  Jets fans are a resourceful lot.  Speaking of lots, expect excess in the tailgate lot and smuggled flasks inside Giant Stadium.  Hey maybe they could give up some of those advertising profits to beef up security?  Nah!

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY’S OVER…THEY SAY THAT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END ~ As mentioned above, MNF as we know it will come to an end when the curtain falls on the Jets v. Patriots.  ESPN will assume broadcasting rights for Monday night games next season yet ABC won’t go too quietly.  They have some special things planned for Monday’s broadcast.

Former color commentator Dandy Don Meredith will be involved in the telecast.  ABC has dusted the moth balls off Meredith and he will participate with Al Michaels and former partner Frank Gifford in a taped, two minute opening segment.  Meredith will reappear later in the program to treat us to a final rendition of “The Party’s Over.”

Other treats according to the USA Today will include:

• Famous faces who popped into the MNF booth such as Ronald Reagan and John Lennon.

• A salute to ABC's Roone Arledge and former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.

• Clips from the greatest games, including the Miami Dolphins' defeat of the Chicago Bears in 1985, the highest-rated MNF telecast ever with a 29.6 rating.

Smart move by ABC to help boost its sagging ratings.  Last Monday’s game featuring the Ravens certainly didn’t help.  The Ravens 48-3 rout was the second worst rated MNF telecast of all time, bringing in an 8.2 rating.  The worst ever was a game from 2004 featuring the Bucs and the Rams.

Wonder what would have happened if Brett Favre hadn’t played?