By Mark La Monica
This week's short list of sports figures who, if we operated in a meritocracy, would be forced to return a portion of their game checks for sub-par performances.
1) Eric Mangini
Quick review: 1:45 left on the clock, Jets at the Browns' 20-yard line, down by 5, all three timeouts left. Mangini elects to kick a field goal. Dumb move. Made even dumber by not kicking deep after that. Seriously? We're still baffled by this. Give up your parking space for the week.
2) Brian Billick
Timeout? Really? No, seriously? Did you and your staff really call timeout after your defense stopped Tom Brady and would have ended all the undefeated Patriots talk. Yep, you did. I just Googled it to confirm because I'm still flabbergasted over that one. Everyone in America knew the QB sneak was coming except for you and your coaches.
3) Anthony Smith
Anthony, we love your enthusiasm and the onions it took to make that guarantee. But you gotta back that up if you wanna work your way off Paybacks and onto Props. Or at least don't bite that bad, that many times on Tom Brady's playfakes.
4) Isiah Thomas
Hmmm, what should we pin on him this week? Ah, yes, getting smoked at home by Philadelphia Sixers and Andre Iguodala, the NBA's answer to Quincy Carter as the human turnover.