October proved particularly harsh for Cubs fans. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander said the Cubs' most recent playoff disappointment was even worse than previous ones considering the momentum the team brought into the playoffs -- with an NL-best 97 victories to their credit.

Telander said Ryan Dempster's loss in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers was the real eye-opener.

"He was 14-3 at home this year," Telander said. "And he walks six batters in four-and-two-thirds innings. He was erratic. It destroyed everything."

Telander said nobody in the organization has taken the heat for the team's underwhelming October performance just yet, but heads might roll next year if the Cubs don't have a good season.

Matt Cassel's Patriots are 3-1. Tom Croke/Icon SMI

NBC's Al Michaels said that this season is chaos, especially in the AFC. Since Tom Brady went down, there is no favorite and everything seems to switch every week.

Michaels had a good point. Each week you hear all this pregame analysis. But is any of it ever right? It's almost impossible to predict where the NFL is going this year. Who's the favorite to win the Super Bowl? Not an easy question.

Michaels also had interesting things to say about concussions. Michaels said players are bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. There's nothing the NFL can do to protect players with all that speed on the field.

Michaels said today's game doesn't even resemble the game of the 1960s. Go on the sidelines and you'd be amazed at how fast and strong these players are. At the end of the day, there's no easy way to reduce the number of head injuries.

Dan asked Michaels about what compels him before he gets on air. Michaels said fear. He wants to be perfect every week. And even after everything he's done, he's still anxious about that.

The Dodgers' Derek Lowe could have a big series. Steve Green/Getty Images

Dan asked TBS' Harold Reynolds who to watch out for in the NLCS. HR said Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe and the Phillies' Chase Utley.

Reynolds is also impressed with the Dodgers' power pitchers. He said watch out for the rookie Clayton Kershaw.

Reynolds likes the Dodgers over the Phils because of pitching but he says it will be close.

Reynolds likes the Red Sox over the Rays in the AL because of their experience. Reynolds just did the Rays series and said he was tempted to take Tampa. He's really not sure who to pick in that series.

Kurt Warner told his wife he was considering retirement. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Kurt Warner said that he texted his wife after the Jets game and said he was considering retirement -- but at the end of the season, not right then.

Warner also said that the fact he through the ball to Anquan Boldin before the hit that almost seriously injured him was a factor. Warner said he took pride in protecting his receivers. To see someone as tough as Boldin motionless on the ground really affected Warner.

Warner said players sometimes have the mentality of "it's not going to happen to me." Then Warner saw Boldin, and Bills QB Trent Edwards get knocked out against Arizona the next week.  It really shook him.

Warner said every year he considers all the options. But he's playing for another chance at the playoffs and a championship. Warner said he thinks about the Rams' loss to the Patriots all the time. He's not playing for the dollars.

Warner said he never meant for his comment to Mike Silver to be a story. He really only meant to have the discussion with his wife. But he doesn't mind that it's out there, because it's a legitimate thought for any quarterback.

Warner had an interesting description of what a concussion feels like to Dan. He said it's like you're standing outside the situation. You feel OK, but nothing is as clear as it should be. The only side-effect he's had is some light sensitivity.

Warner said he saw Boldin last week and he was running around and looked normal. Warner hasn't heard exactly when Boldin is coming back.

Adam Jones allegedly fought with his bodyguard. AP

Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio talked to the reporter who broke the story on Pacman Jones. Florio is confident it's true. Florio says Pacman had an altercation with the guy who the Cowboys hired to keep track of Jones.

Florio had an interesting theory. He thinks the NFL may play nice with Jerry Jones' Cowboys so Jones will play nice during the next round of negotiating on collective bargaining. So Roger Goodell may not come after Pacman for this incident.

Florio also broke down the Marvin Harrison situation. The man who claims Harrison shot him is suing. Will Harrison testify if there's a civil case? Will he take the fifth amendment?

Florio also answered the SI Players poll question on the most overated QB. Florio says it's Tony Romo for sure. Dan asked him the most overrated running back. Florio said no question, Reggie Bush.

You guys gotta hit Dan Nation to play the new NFL fantasy game. Lots of fun. The good thing is, if your fantasy team is shot, this game resets each week. It's cheap, easy and you can wins stuff.

Big show coming up today. We'll talk lots of NFL, college football and MLB. Here's a look at the guest lineup:

Arizona QB Kurt Warner: The Cardinals signal-caller said he considered retiring recently. Did he mean it even though he's having a great year?

Baltimore LB Ray Lewis: Lewis is having another solid year and his Ravens almost knocked off the undefeated Titans last week.

NBC's Al Michaels: Find out what really goes on at Football Night in America as Michaels checks in from the road. Michaels and John Madden will call the Patriots-Chargers game on Sunday.

Chicago Sun-Times Rick Telander: Telander will catch us up on the aftermath of the Cubs' disastrous loss to the Dodgers.

TBS' Harold Reynolds: Reynolds will preview the Dodgers-Phillies and Rays-Red Sox series.

Also, we'll talk about Pacman's latest misstep, Donovan McNabb's blog and the NFL's most overrated quarterback.

Reggie Bush does not fit the mold of a traditional RB. AP

FOX's Howie Long had interesting comments comparing the Eagles' Brian Westbrook to the Saints' Reggie Bush.

Westbrook has a lower center of gravity and has that Emmitt Smith-like ability to avoid big hits. Bush has longer legs and isn't that kind of back. Bush is more deer-like. He may be faster, but Westbrook has the skills and build that works better for traditional between-the-tackle running backs.

Long wasn't criticizing Bush -- he thinks the Saints back is a good player. But Long loves his fellow Villanova alum Westbrook.

Dan asked Howie Long about LSU's Ricky Jean-Francois saying they're going to try to take Tim Tebow out. Long said that's a foolish statement, because it draws the attention of the authority.

Long also had issues with the NFL fining the Jets' Eric Smith for his hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. Long said he wasn't sure how a safety is supposed to stop. Ronnie Lott might not be able to play in today's NFL.

Deion Sanders pours ice and water on Tim McCarver. AP

John Smoltz said he was in the Braves locker room when Deion Sanders doused Tim McCarver three times. Smoltz said Sanders was a great teammate, but was all about himself at that time and was trying to make a sort of statement. Smoltz said he would not have done that, especially now that John is sort of in the media.

Here are some other opinions from Smoltzie:

1. Pitchers better not be afraid of walking Manny Ramirez or Ryan Howard. Smoltz said if the series goes six or seven games, someone like Howard should have double-digit walks.

2. Smoltz agrees with Dan that the Jason Varitek tag on Reggie Willits might have come out differently if it was at home plate instead of third base. But Smoltz says it was the right call, because Varitek had the ball for a while.

3. Smoltz actually liked Angels manager Mike Scioscia's decision to go with a suicide squeeze.

Manny Ramirez has had great success in LA so far. Chris Williams/Icon SMI

FOX baseball announcer Tim McCarver has several interesting things to say about Manny Ramirez. McCarver sticks with his statement that what Manny did in Boston was "despicable."

McCarver says Manny's unconventionality makes him a great hitter. But his teammates should have demanded him to follow some rules in Boston.

McCarver isn't worried about running into Ramirez, because Manny never talked to him before and probably won't now.

McCarver brought up an interesting question -- do you pitch to Manny. McCarver, a longtime catcher, says to avoid a hitter puts a pitcher in a bad position before the game even starts.

McCarver thinks one of the reasons Manny is so dominant is his ability to hit with two strikes. McCarver says he's never seen a hitter sacrifice less power on a two-strike count.

On another interesting note, McCarver thinks that the Rays are a slight favorite over the Red Sox.