By TOM JONES, St. Petersburg Times

Playing Tuesday morning quarterback around the NFL.THREE BEST PERFORMANCES

As a hockey fan, how odd is it to watch New Jersey and not see Devils goalie Martin Brodeur? How weird is it to see the Rangers without Jaromir Jagr?Brodeur is out at least three months with an elbow injury. Jagr has taken his game to Russia.

Phillip Fulmer has been the football coach at Tennessee for the last 17 seasons. He has won nearly 100 more games than he has lost (150-51). His teams played in five SEC Championship Games, won two conference titles and the 1998 national championship.

Looking back at the weekend in the NFL and ahead to this weekend.TOP THREE

A look back at the weekend in the National Football League and ahead to this weekend.TOP THREE PERFORMANCES

Scanning the sports world and shooting from the lip.BAD IDEA OF THE DAYSo the word out there is actor Kevin Costner has met with movie writer-director Ron Shelton about making a sequel to the 1988 classic "Bull Durham.'' In addition, the New York Post is reporting that actors Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon would be interested in reprising their roles.

Next week the Tampa Bay Rays will host the first playoff game at Tropicana Field. Typically, teams haul out one of the legendary stars from their past to toss out the ceremonial first pitch. You know, someone like Yogi Berra (Yankees), Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox) or Ernie Banks (Cubs).

On April 30 of this year, I wrote the following: If the Minnesota Twins offered me Delmon Young right now for Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett, I'd think about it for 0.2 seconds and then say, "Okay."And now I say: Whoops. And furthermore: Doh! Okay, I finally admit it. I was wrong.

The last time the Red Sox were in town, I poked a stick into the beehive that is Red Sox Nation by listing 10 reasons to hate the Red Sox. Why 10?Because we didn't have room to list 20.Anyway, there are a few things about the Red Sox that are okay. So, in the interest of fairness, here are 10 things about the Red Sox and their history that are cool.

Over the past couple of years, Boston has had its share of good sports fortune. The Red Sox have won a couple of World Series. The Patriots have become a team for the ages with three Super Bowl championships. And the Celtics returned to glory with an NBA title last season.