Wake-Up Call: Matt Leinart, Ben Roethlisberger, Jeff Fisher, Mickey Rourke, popcorn

First things first: The Arizona Cardinals are playing so well that they could well get to the Super Bowl. Of course, they have to get through the Philadelphia Eagles first for the NFC title. And then they could win it all now that quarterback Kurt Warner has regained his Super Bowl form. And what a hoot it would be if the Cardinals do just that and the fumbling (on and off the field) Matt Leinart actually gets a Super Bowl ring. Remember Matt Leinart? Let's see ... he played in four games for the Cardinals this season and had 1 interception, 1 TD, fumbled twice, completed 15 of 29 for 264 yards for a rating of 80.2.  Not fair, you say? OK, let's look at 2007. And 2006 was no different but noteworthy in that he had 8 fumbles in 12 games.

Add Arizona: If the Steelers beat the Ravens, then Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt goes up against his old team. Remember, he was offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh when Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to the playoffs as a rookie and the Super Bowl title in his second season. And will the Ravens' defense be off their game now that they know their leader, defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching vacancy?

Add NFL: Dan Patrick may have the best solution to the "blown call" from Saturday's Titans-Ravens game when the play clock went to 0: The ball should deflate when time runs out. Another solution? A buzzer goes off  in the officials' pockets. Meanwhile, the Titans (and ex-USC star) Jeff Fisher are still upset.

Add NFL: Tiki Barber doesn't miss playing for Tom Coughlin, the Giants head coach. But Sunday, he probably didn't even miss playing football. He was on the red carpet talking to Hollywood stars arriving for the Golden Globes, which was broadcast by NBC. Yeah, talking to Salma Hayek and Beyonce might be better than getting hit by the likes of Mike Patterson (and wasn't he fun to watch Sunday on that rumble downfield).

Add Golden Globes: Even after reading the stories about Mickey Rourke and his movie "The Wrestler," it still was numbing to see him at the Golden Globes. And he won. So although he may have lost that handsome, devilish look of "Diner," he hasn't lost the ability to act.

Late but not least: Totally Random last week mentioned the prank Sacramento Kings rookie Jason Thompson suffered through. 

Photo: Brandon Meriweather of the New England Patriots strips the ball from Matt Leinart of the Arizona Cardinals at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 21 in Foxboro. The Patriots won 47-7. Credit: Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Pop-up photo: Salma Hayek arrives at the 66th annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

Comments

[HardHat]

True about Matt Leinart.

As an NFL quarterback, Leinart is a complete fraud.

His latest in a long line of lame stunts is that 3 weeks ago, he leaked a story to Pro Football Weekly that he will threaten for a trade if the Cardinals have the audacity to re-sign their current starting QB, Kurt Warner. Warner has finished in the top-3 in most QB statistical categories for the past 2 seasons.

Leinart will not stand for competition on the roster.

He seems like a punk, a poser, and a loser.

He should have stayed in college forever.