4. I think the big winner in the USC workout Sunday in Los Angeles was tackle Winston Justice. Last fall I was told by a scout who works the West Coast that Justice was the second-best offensive lineman in college football, behind D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and if he came out in the draft he'd be a top 10 pick. The way Justice performed at the workout in strength and agility work justified that optimism. Now if he can just convince NFL teams that he's not the questionable character some of them believe he is (Justice has had a couple of off-field incidents that have landed him in hot USC water), he'll surely go no later than 12 or 14 in the first round.

5. I think it's looking an awful lot like Reggie Bush at No. 1 in the draft and Mario Williams, the North Carolina State defensive end, to the Saints. New Orleans currently sits at No. 2 but hopes it can trade down with the Titans or Jets to get some value for the pick and pay Williams a little less than the second selection in the draft would receive.

6. I think I'm a little less convinced than I was a week ago that Brett Favre will return as Packers quarterback. Something in agent Bus Cook's voice the other day tells me to be not so definitive in my belief. I asked Cook about last weekend's deadline for Favre to make up his mind and the agent said it was a phony deadline. "What are they going to do if he doesn't decide by then, cut him?'' Cook said, clearly annoyed. And then Favre came out and said he didn't want to go through another year like 2005; he wants to see Green Bay improve itself in free agency.

Well, GM Ted Thompson is not one of those quick-fix guys. He made it clear at the league meetings that he was trying to fix the team for the long haul and wouldn't spend all the Packers' cap millions like they were burning a hole in his pocket just to make one quick run at a Super Bowl. If Favre's waiting to see three helpful studs get signed so he can try for one more shot at the brass ring, he'll be waiting a long time. So I think he's going to have to make his decision knowing this could be another long year, which means he may decide to hang 'em up.

7. I think the seven-year, $49 million contract signed by Nate Burleson in Seattle is really a four-year deal worth about $3.5 million a year. That's sensible. Seven million a year for a second receiver is ridiculous. The real deal makes more sense.

8. I think Matt Leinart didn't do himself any favors by not running a 40-yard dash at the USC workout. He's getting a bit of a Hollywood reputation among scouts, and to not have done the sprint that everyone has to do before the draft -- a full three months after the end of the college football season -- makes some NFL types wonder if he's been preparing with enough vigor.

9. I think these are my baseball predictions of the week:

a. American League division winners: New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles

b. American League wild card: Toronto

c. National League division winners: Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco

d. National League wild card: Houston

e. World Series: St. Louis over Cleveland

f. MVPs: Grady Sizemore (Cleveland), Albert Pujols (St. Louis)

g. Cy Youngs: Rich Harden (Oakland), Pedro Martinez (Mets)

10. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week:

a. I found it incredible that the semifinals of the women's Final Four, not the opening game of the baseball season, featuring the world champion White Sox, was on ESPN Sunday night, shuttling the baseball game to ESPN2. Insignificant? I think not. What that means is that a huge number of TV households, including mine, had the choice of watching the Maryland-North Carolina women in high-def or the debut of baseball for the year in non-high-def -- because most cable subscribers don't get ESPN2 in high-def.

I'm sure this has something to do with some contract with the NCAA or some such nonsense, but this is a major slap in the face to baseball. I can see ESPN ditching a September baseball game for a September NFL game, but for a women's basketball game? Having had two daughters play sports, I love women's sports and I watched a good chunk of the Duke-UConn regional final last week, but to demote the first game of the baseball season below a women's game? I can't believe that makes ratings sense or common sense.

b. ESPN is nuts, absolutely nuts, for going into business with Barry Bonds with this self-serving Bonds on Bonds program. I don't care who has editorial control on this project. It's got the ESPN logo on it, so ESPN should take the heat for it. Where is the conscience in Bristol?

c. Harold Reynolds predicted Bobby Crosby would be the American League MVP. In his only full major league season, Crosby hit .239 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs. I suppose he might win it, but that sure seems like an odd pick to me.

d. I've never seen Lost, Grey's Anatomy or 24. I hear I'm missing a lot.

e. Episode 4 of The Sopranos: Paulie gone wild. Forgive your mother, big fella.

f. Saw two movies over the weekend. About time I saw Crash. Terrific film. What a great job by Matt Dillon as the prejudiced cop/good son with a conscience. I liked Inside Man a lot but I was left with many unanswered questions. I always leave a movie saying it was 10 minutes too long. This one was 15 minutes too short.