3. I think this is what I liked about Week 17:

a. The block by Wes Welker on Giants safety James Butler, on a 6-yard Laurence Maroney touchdown run in the second half, was an absolute thing of beauty. If Welker's not one of the best all-around players in football, then I've never watched a snap.

b. Chad Johnson made a heck of a catch on the end line for a touchdown in front of his home folks in Miami, and then got blasted and lost his helmet in the process.

c. Chad Johnson, by the way, sounds like a man who wants out. Wouldn't be surprised -- nor would several of my NBC peers -- if Bill Parcells, who is not afraid of bigmouths, deals his first pick in the third round to Cincinnati for Johnson.

d. "You never would have thought we were an 8-8 team on our bench today, the way we wanted this one,'' said Donovan McNabb after the Eagles completed the long climb back to .500. They looked good. They're not scoring enough, but McNabb had a pretty positive December.

e. Good for Atlanta interim coach Emmitt Thomas. He got a win on his career coaching résumé, which 10 years ago I was sure would include a three-year chance to be someone's head coach.

f. Todd Collins, you're making yourself a nice future.

g. Kurt Warner threw for 27 touchdowns this year. Twenty-seven!

h. If Matt Schaub's any good, Houston's going to win 10 games next year and be the second wild-card team. You read it here first.

4. I think this is what I didn't like about Week 17:

a. The horrendous non-call when Plaxico Burress was yanked down with the ball on the way in the end zone against New England. What's a guy have to do to get pass-interference called in this league?

b. Records should be treated with more respect than how the Bengals treated the receptions title Sunday. The Bengals tried to get T.J. Houshmandzadeh the crown over Wes Welker by throwing to him constantly in the last half of the last quarter with an 18-point lead. Just didn't feel right. Carson Palmer threw the ball to him six times in a four-minute span, forcing the last one which would have forced a tie with Welker at 112 catches. But the extended handoff, which the throw was, bounded off Houshmandzadeh's fingertips. Titles should be won not by playing intentionally for stats, but in something approximating the natural flow of the game.

c. The Lions. Eight-week frauds.

d. It took JaMarcus Russell 12 seconds to be intercepted in his first NFL start. Literally. He was picked on a short screen with 14:48 left in the first quarter, on the Raiders' first play from scrimmage against the Chargers.

e. The meaninglessness of almost every 1 p.m. game. What a collective bore.

f. Anybody out there go to Chiefs-Jets? Why?

g. The Chiefs' first seven games: 4-3. The Chiefs' last nine games: 0-9. They scored more than 20 points once in the last nine games. Sheesh.

h. Speaking of lousy Missouri teams, the Rams lost their first eight and their last four. And no, I have not given up on Marc Bulger. I'd like to see St. Louis draft offensive linemen with every pick. For the next three years.

5. I think this is my Enlightened and Unselfish Football Player of the Year: Retired Chiefs running back Priest Holmes. He walked off the field for good on Nov. 21 because of a chronic neck injury. We spoke that day, and the conversation began like this: "Have you heard the wonderful news?'' Holmes asked. "I retired,'' he said. Then the Kansas City running back paused, and he started talking about spending more time with his three sons. "It's a gain as much as it is a loss,'' Holmes said. "You never want to walk away from a job that is so much fun. But as much as it's a departure for me, it's an arrival for another player, Kolby Smith, the same way as when I arrived someone else departed. It's not depressing at all. It's life. It's football.''

Why can't they all be like this? Why can't all retirements of guys who need to walk away happen like Holmes made his happen? The 34-year-old running back who squeezed every ounce of ability out of his 5-foot-9 frame, and told himself he'd walk away from the game forever if he ever again felt the same kind of tingling sensations in his shoulders and arms he'd felt in 2005. And when Holmes did feel those same sensations, nine days earlier against Indianapolis, he did what he vowed he'd do. He told coach Herman Edwards, unemotionally, that he was retiring. "The helmet couldn't protect me,'' he said. "I knew it was time. And that's OK. I loved playing. Now I'll love something else.''

6. I think, for those of you keeping score at home, the Patriots will have the seventh pick in the first round of the NFL draft, by virtue of their trade with San Francisco last draft day. I just heard general managers league-wide gag.

7. I think the two places to keep an eye on this week regarding coaching changes are Cincinnati and San Francisco. We know Atlanta, and probably Miami, will be open. After that, Marvin Lewis and Bengals ownership will meet early in the week, as will Mike Nolan and Niner ownership. I could see Lewis finding his way out if he can't get rid of the troublemakers. I think Nolan will work it out to stay in San Francisco. Lots of other rumors, but this is the time for them. And I'd bet a few will be right, because a year of two or three coaching changes, recently, is unheard of. I'm going to write about the best coaching candidates in the league on Tuesday morning. You'll all get a kick out of that, if you can see. New Year's Day, you know.

8. I think I wouldn't be surprised if Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski gets a feeler or two by NFL teams. He's on a few teams' radars.

9. I think a second straight rushing title by LaDainian Tomlinson ought to answer the questions you might have had about his regression. Remember September, when he looked highly average? Norv Turner leaned on him less than Marty Schottenheimer did -- Tomlinson had one game of at least 25 carries in 2007, compared to 16 combined in the last three years -- but Tomlinson had four 100-yard games in December and looks fresh entering the playoffs.

9a. I think Sean Taylor lives in the hearts of every Redskin. What an inspirational story, particularly with the unlikely tale of Todd Collins and Joe Gibbs rebounding. I think the Redskins will be the story of the week around the NFL, and a deservedly so.

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

a. I'm sure that Mike Wallace's interview of Roger Clemens will be one heck of a grilling. Wallace, a Yankees fan, has sat in George Steinbrenner's box and is an avowed admirer of Clemens. Apparently he did the interview of the suspected pitcher in his house. Somehow, I don't think this will rival a 1970s Mike Wallace interrogation of some dirty politician.

b. Saw Charlie Wilson's War, and was blown away by the story and by the actors who made the story come alive. Philip Seymour Hoffman is about as good a rumpled old CIA agent as you could imagine. Tom Hanks is his usual brilliant self. And Wade Phillips' daughter, Tracy, the seductive bellydancer, is, well, a pretty darned seductive bellydancer. A great, great way to spend 95 minutes of your life.

c. Coffeenerdness: This e-mail missive comes in from professor emeritus William J. Oostenink at Colgate: "Your comments in your SI.com column regarding the Barge Canal's coffee has individuals from all over the country writing in and ordering a pound or two. As an avid fan of the Barge since it opened 11 years ago I just wanted you to know that the favorable press has clearly been great for business. Perhaps more importantly, it has done wonders for the psyche/morale of the Barge Manager, Judy Schenk, who gives of herself so wholeheartedly to make it the kind of place that deserves recognition. If I were a young person looking for some hourly employment, she'd be just the kind of manager for whom I'd like to work and I'll bet that your daughter will confirm that assessment. Many thanks for your support of a great local institution.'' Barge employee Mary Beth King echoes your sentiment, Dr. Oostenink.

d. Love the Sports Illustrated cover of Belichick. Don't go conspiracy-theory on us, all you New Englanders who think it's us making him look Grinch-ish. Have some fun. Laugh. It's funny.

e. Is it my imagination, or does Tom Brady look more stylish 20 minutes after a football game than the rest of us looked on our wedding days?

f. Nice time to be a Boston fan. Sox won their last seven. Pats have won 16 in a row. Celtics exit 2007 with three single-digit losses in a 26-3 start.

g. Happy New Year. Be smart about drinking, please.