FanHouse MNF In Chicago

I talked today to Desmond Howard, who won the 1991 Heisman Trophy at Michigan, about 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford and about the coach at Howard's alma mater, Rich Rodriguez:

"I thought that Sam was the most deserving of all the college athletes this past season," Howard said. "It rewards you for your body of work and Sam, even in the one loss he had to Texas, still played an outstanding game. So he had an outstanding season throughout. So I thought it was well deserved. He deserved the trophy."

As for the Michigan program, Howard said, "The state of the program right now seems to be at its lowest point. It's been the worst football season in the history of the University of Michigan. So it can only go up."

When I asked what kind of team Michigan will have in 2009, Howard said, "I do not know."

At an ESPN event today in Chicago, I pulled Monday Night Football play-by-play man Mike Tirico aside to ask him a few questions about his preparation for the games, Ron Jaworski's film study, and whether Tony Kornheiser talks too much about Brett Favre:



Tirico, Jaworski and Kornheiser conclude their season with tonight's Packers-Bears game.

There was a controversy in the NFL this season when Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs suggested that his team had a bounty out on Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, and then backed off those comments. But anyone who thinks bounties aren't a part of life in the NFL should talk to Jim McMahon.

Best known for winning a Super Bowl with the 1985 Bears, McMahon was once injured by a player on the Packers, Charles Martin, who openly talked about having a bounty on McMahon and other players on the Bears. And at an ESPN-sponsored event today to promote tonight's Bears-Packers game, McMahon said bounties are an everyday part of pro football.

Asked if he knew about bounties in the NFL, McMahon said, "Every week." He added, "I played for seven different teams. There are bounties out every week on everybody."

That's certainly not the image NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell likes to project of his league. So the question becomes: Has the NFL changed significantly since McMahon retired? Or do teams just do a good job of keeping their bounties quiet?