Eight in the box: Olympic winners

EIGHT: Olympics- Today, the city of Chicago is sending extra security downtown to brace for the announcement of Chicago as a possible host of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. In honor of the Games, we thought we would bring you what we like most about the competition — the glorious women. Starting us off is Australian pole-vaulter Melanie Adams. And yes, we already miss summer.

SEVEN: The ‘serial killer’- With the most anticipated Monday night game in memory coming up in the Metrodome, Vikings coach Brad Childress — knowing the emotional toll this game could take on his meal ticket, Brett Favre — told the media that he wants his QB to have a “serial killer mentality.” What? We’re still trying to figure out how Charles Manson relates to a Packers-Vikings football game. Nice move, coach.

SIX: JaMarcus- As the NFP’s Aaron Wilson pointed out this week, Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell isn’t playing so hot right now. His QB rating is hovering around 40, his high-priced rookie WR is on the side of a milk carton and Russell is on pace to break Ryan Leaf’s record for the lowest QB rating in a season. But things are looking up -- the Texans defense awaits.

FIVE: Paraguay getting it done- Sticking with our theme, we ventured down to Paraguay to check out javelin thrower Leryn Franco — reminding us once again that having the Olympics in the U.S. is a good thing. Not only is she smoking hot, she’s rumored to be pretty talented, too.

FOUR: More Favre- Thursday, in a conference call with the Green Bay media, Brett Favre stated that his relationship with the Packers is fixable. I don’t know about you, but I doubt that Favre will be invited over to GM Ted Thompson’s house for dinner any time soon, and when fans are burning your old jerseys to raise money for charity, it’s probably a sign that the relationship is over.

THREE: Show stopper- This week, Jags coach Jack Del Rio pulled the plug on David Garrard’s radio show — in which the QB was supposed to take calls from fans and preview upcoming games. I guess the Texans weren’t listening in when Garrard talked about the Jags’ offense last week, huh? Why I made that bet with Lombardi about the Texans going to the playoffs is beyond me.

TWO: See Ya, Brady- Eric Mangini gave Browns QB Brady Quinn the hook last week after the loss to the Ravens, and this week, WR Braylon Edwards was happy about the change. Besides the fact that new QB Derek Anderson will refuse to live off three-yard routes to the flat, Edwards chimed in by saying, “To be honest, we can’t do any worse.” Golly, things are great in Cleveland. Go Browns.

ONE: Miss Beard- We couldn’t talk about the best the Olympics has to offer without including the USA. And with so many options — including softball pitcher Jennie Finch — NFP Fantasy expert Joe Fortenbaugh made sure that his favorite, Amanda Beard, was included in the mix. Yes, she’s been in Playboy (from what Joe said) and any other publication that’s designed to occupy your free time. So why not here, where she belongs?

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Have a good weekend. He gone. Go Hawkeyes.

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