NFL Week 16: My Three Wishes

1. I wish I could be sure this change would help the Chiefs.

After 20 years of non-achievement, Kansas City President/GM Carl Peterson has finally seen the light and announced that he will leave at the end of the year. Cue much rejoicing in the NFL.

The problem as I see it is that none of this will change anything in the short term. Yes, it is always good to get shot of a failing regime, but you have to replace it with something better.

At the moment, despite all the high end draft picks and changes of quarterback, the Chiefs have been running on one offensive weapon—Tony Gonzalez—for years. It is going to take some very significant changes in playing personnel to rectify this. Even if you dump your GM mid-season, you can't change 40-odd players that quickly.

I'd like to see the Chiefs as a real force in the NFL again, but I don't think it is going to happen.

2. If we can't get rid of the Pro Bowl, can we at at least stop getting excited about it.

I know, I wrote about this last week. But it just annoys me that something so trivial is blown so far out of proportion.

Just look at the teams for February's Hawaiian snoozefest. Is there anything surprising among them? Not one bit.

If the game means anything, the only people who should care are those who missed out because of the shameless vote-loading by Oakland Raiders fans, which means that the AFC side will largely start players from a side that is currently 3-11 for the season.

John Abraham can also feel upset, because 16 sacks in a season really ought to get you the respect of both fans and your peers. Not to worry, someone with some common sense will drop out and let him in.

In fact, the only person who can be happy out of all this nonsense is Albert Haynesworth, who has an agreement with the Titans which allows him to become an unrestricted free agent as a result of this being his second successive Pro Bowl nomination.

Which means that the only purpose this game could serve is dealt with two months before the actual event. Yippee.

3. I wish Tarvaris Jackson luck.

Word is that Jackson's performance last week has got him the starter's job on Sunday ahead of a fit-again Gus Frerotte.

Frerotte's performances this season have been steady but unspectacular. Jackson's—Sunday aside—have been spectacularly unsteady.

The decision, if the rumours are true, is a huge gamble for coach Brad Childress, because a loss on Sunday and a win for the Bears on Monday takes the NFC North right down to the final match.

Chicago have a tricky trip to Houston in Week 17, but Minnesota host the Giants, who are not a side I would want to play if anything depended upon it.