It hasn't been a good year for collecting fond memories of the NFL.
Bill Belichick, the best coach of this generation and maybe of all of them, was caught cheating. Bobby Petrino, the league's most cowardly coach, quit on his players. Literally. And a Hall of Fame coach and gentleman, Bill Walsh, passed away after a long bout with leukemia.
Pacman Jones was suspended for the season. Tank Johnson was booted for half a season. Michael Vick, once the face of the NFL, is behind bars. And, heck, even O.J. is back in court.
Darrent Williams was shot and killed earlier in the year. Sean Taylor was shot and killed later in the year. And lovable Max McGee died after falling off his roof in the Twin Cities.
But the year wasn't all gloom and doom. Good guys Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning won the big one. Together.
Bills tight end Kevin Everett pulled the upset of the year when he began moving his arms and legs after it was assumed he would be permanently paralyzed. He's now walking.
Tony Romo rebounded from that fumbled snap in January. He now has the smile, the money, the girl and the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Mike Tomlin parlayed his personality, success as Vikings defensive coordinator and the Rooney Rule into the most stable head coaching gig the league has to offer. And, oh yeah, he also has led Dan Rooney's Steelers back into the playoffs as champions of the AFC North.
