I've always taught my children to own up to their mistakes, so I need to do the same here.
My preseason Super Bowl prediction that had the Tennessee Titans walking off into the South Florida sunset in February with the Lombardi Trophy under their arm?
That . . . wasn't me. I let my wife make the pick. No, no, that's not it. The desk screwed with my copy. No, that's not it either. Les Bowen's trying to discredit me and broke into my house, hacked into my computer and changed my pick before I had a chance to e-mail it to the office. Yeah, yeah. That's it.
Ah, what's the use. Yeah, I picked the Titans to win the Super Bowl. You got a problem with that? Wasn't the first time I've been wrong and certainly won't be the last. Oh, and by the way, if you're looking for a great investment, check out newspapers.
Some other predictions that I got wrong in September and even a few that I got right:
What Was I Thinking?
* Coaches of the Year: AFC - Jeff Fisher, Titans; NFC - Jim Mora, Seahawks. The Titans are 2-6 and Fisher's defense already has been torched for 21 touchdown passes, which is nine more than it gave up all of last season. Mora's injury-riddled Seahawks are 3-5.
* Team on the rise: Seahawks. Hey, at least I didn't pick them to win the Super Bowl.
* Team on the decline: Steelers. So much for them having a Super Bowl hangover. Monday night's 28-10 win over the Broncos improved their record to 6-2.
* NFC Defensive Player of the Year: Giants DE Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora has just five sacks in nine games. Not bad, but not award-worthy.
* Where To Send Their Mail in 2010: Broncos coach Josh McDaniels - Canton (Ohio) McKinley High School. He appears to be a little more capable than I gave him credit for.
* Breakout Year: Jets WR David Clowney and Cowboys LB Anthony Spencer. Clowney looked great in the preseason, but is fifth on the team in receptions with 11. Spencer, the former first-round pick who replaced Greg Ellis, still is looking for his first sack.
Bull's-eyes
* First-round Hits: Vikings WR Percy Harvin, Texans LB Brian Cushing. Harvin already has five touchdowns, three receiving and two on kickoff returns. Cushing leads the Texans defense in tackles and has forced three fumbles.
* First-round Misses: Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Bills DE Aaron Maybin. You usually can't go wrong predicting a Raiders first-round pick to be a bust. Heyward-Bey was a big-time reach at No. 7 and has just five receptions. Maybin is a too-light pass-rusher who has yet to get within spitting distance of an opposing quarterback.
* Overrated: Cowboys WR Roy Williams. He'll never be worth the three draft picks Jerry Jones traded for him or the big contract he signed.
* Underrated: Jets RB Thomas Jones. Jones is fourth in the AFC in rushing, is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and already has seven rushing TDs.
* Rushing Leaders: AFC - Chris Johnson, Titans; NFC - Adrian Peterson, Vikings. Johnson leads the league in rushing and is on a 1,900-yard pace. Peterson is tied for third and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
* Breakout Years: Ravens RB Ray Rice, Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe. Rice, the former Rutgers star, has rushed for 573 yards and five TDs. He's averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Shiancoe has caught six touchdown passes from Brett Favre.
* Teams On the Rise: Vikings, Saints. They've got a combined record of 15-1 and are on a collision course for an NFC Championship Game meeting.
* Team On the Decline: Panthers. When Jake Delhomme is your quarterback, you'd better hope nobody stops your running game. Won 12 games last year, are 3-5 this year.
