Taking out the trash

IN WHAT HAS become a kinder, gentler NFL since Roger Goodell took over, yesterday the commissioner added his latest laugher to the file.

According to a report on ProFootballTalk.com, Goodell is looking to set guidelines during the offseason in an effort to scale down the amount of trash talk between teams in the lead-up to a game.

While he appreciates the passion, Goodell feels a lot of the talk has shown a lack of "respect for game." Last week, the league office issued warnings to teams in light of the back-and-forth - well, mostly forth from the Jets - between New York and the Patriots before Sunday's AFC Divisional Game in Foxborough, Mass.

It was actually Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie who took the weeklong rip fest to the next level, with his reported remarks about Patriots QB Tom Brady. We'd repeat them, but we rather not - even in our newfound attempts to be "loud, irreverant and fun."

But trust us, if and when this goes into effect, we're sure Cromartie's comments were the proverbial last straw for Goodell's latest mandate.

"There is a line you don't want to cross," Goodell said. "I think we have to define that and don't cross it. And that's what we want to work on in the offseason."

Mississippi State freshman Taylor Corley left out one little tidbit about herself when she tried out for the Bulldogs' cheerleading squad.

She's a Playboy bunny.

Apparently Corley appeared in last November's issue of the magazine under the name "Taylor Stone." According to blogs SportsbyBrooks.com and BadJocks.com, Corley's images, which have gone viral at this point, could get her kicked off the squad, since that kind of stuff generally doesn't fly within the Bible Belt.

On behalf of the people in awe of Tiger Woods' golf talents, we thank the Professional Golfers Association, which on this day in 1952 approved the participation of blacks in golf tournaments.

- Kerith Gabriel