THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Blues are riding a five-game winning streak and currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot. What do you think the keys to this late-season push have been?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
You can point to many stats, but in my mind, the Blues are in the eighth spot in the Western Conference today for two reasons:

No. 1 — Preparation: This is Andy Murray’s top trait, and he gets a lot of help from assistants Brad Shaw, Ray Bennett, Rick Wamsley and Scott Masters (video). The Blues go into each game like a high school student taking a test with a cheat sheet. Their detailed preparation gives them a better chance of executing with less talent.

No. 2 — Team chemistry: The Blues have had decent team chemistry the past few seasons, but nothing like this season. The players in the Blues’ locker room genuinely care for each other and each other’s success on the ice. The Blues are one unit taking the ice each night, not 20 talented individuals with varying agendas.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Obviously, it starts with Chris Mason in goal. The Blues have the NHL’s best winning percentage since Jan. 3 and it’s no coincidence that Mason is No. 1 in the league in save percentage during that time (.925). The Kid Line has been incredibly effective; the star power of T.J. Oshie, David Perron and Patrik Berglund is shining through, just as Blues’ management predicted.

But there are other important factors. Defenseman Jay McKee is a +14 since Jan. 3 and has really stepped up his play. The return of Andy McDonald and defenseman Roman Polak from injuries has been a big help. Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has sharpened the Blues’ passing out of their zone, and he’s been a positive presence at the point on the power play. And while Brad Boyes is a minus-20 for the season, he’s a +1 since Jan. 3. And Boyes’ timing is good; when he scores a goal the Blues are 9-2 since Jan. 9.

Let’s not forget center Jay McClement, who is playing the best hockey of his career. McClement is often on the ice against the other team’s top line, but since Jan. 3 he’s at even in the plus-minus, is winning more than 50 percent of his faceoffs, and has nine goals and four assists. McClement is probably the team’s most unsung contributor.

And kudos to coach Andy Murray for holding this team together during the blitz of injuries.

JEFF GORDON
No. 1: Goaltending. This has been the team’s Achilles heel for some time. Chris Mason has been awesome. It all starts there.

No. 2: The kids are producing. Patrik Berglund got his second wind. T.J. Oshie is crushing people. David Perron is scoring big goals. The future is bright, yes, but the kids are good right now. Their recent play has been remarkable.

No. 3: The makeshift has held up, against all odds. Mike Weaver is playing great. Jay McKee has made himself a plus. Barret Jackman is holding up against top lines. Roman Polak is showing great poise for a young player. Give all these guys credit for pulling it together.

DAN O’NEILL
The key to any success in hockey starts with, and most heavily depends upon, goaltending. Like pitching in baseball, like quarterbacking in football, goaltending is the cure for any problem, the problem in any cure.

Chris Mason has given up some soft goals of late (follow the bouncing puck), but he has continued to make numerous clutch saves and give the Blues a chance. While Mason plays well, the Blues have to be effective on the power play. Special teams are crucial. For that to happen, they need more frequent contributions from their veterans, i.e. Brad Boyes and Keith Tkachuk.

Last but not least, they need T.J. Oshie and David Perron to keep taking whatever vitamins they have been taking, and share them with the rest of their teammates. They have been terrific over the last couple of weeks.

TOM TIMMERMANN
Chris Mason. 4-0-0 in the past four, 1.72 GAA, .930 save percentage. You can point at some other things, but without Mason, the Blues are cooked. Goalie play is a fickle matter, but you’ve got to give the Blues management credit for farming Manny Legace out and riding Mason. Talk about making the right choice.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
The biggest key of all in the Blues’ 5-game winning streak is that every single player on the team is contributing. That’s a little broad in scope, so I’ll narrow it down a bit below, but it is absolutely true. Everyone is pulling their weight.

As Bernie Miklasz noted in his “5 Minutes for Blogging” entry today, the offensive re-emergence of the “Kid Line” has been a driving force in this late-season push. T.J. Oshie has been leading the way with dynamic offensive play, gritty corner work and an amazing physical presence (Paging Mr. Nash, Mr. Rick Nash. Please come pick up your pride at the customer service counter.) Patrik Berglund and David Perron have elevated their games right alongside Oshie and it’s been a thing of beauty to watch.

It should also be pointed out that goalie Chris Mason continues to play at an elite level. Even though he’s not getting any rest, Mason is still carrying the mail. In this 5-game winning streak he’s stopped 126 of 135 shots (.933 save percentage) and made some absolutely huge saves, including in the shootout against Columbus with the game on the line.

Finally, the defensemen need to be recognized for the consistency of their play. They’ve been rolling with the same 6-man unit for a while now and they’re doing a solid job night in and night out. It may be an unofficial St. Louis pastime to find some poor defenseman and nitpick his every move, but right now there isn’t much to complain about.

It’s great to see it all come together, isn’t it?

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, Team 1380)
There has been an absolute revival of Blues hockey in St. Louis and it has been pretty amazing to get an up-close and personal view of what has taken place. There are several keys that have allowed the Blues to skate their way back into contention.

First off, head coach Andy Murray doesn’t let these guys off the hook when they make a mistake. He holds them accountable and doesn’t allow them to become complacent or satisfied.

Since the turn of the New Year the Blues have been one of the top hockey clubs in the NHL. You can’t be a playoff team in this league without goaltending and quality special teams. The Blues rank in the top ten in both power play and penalty killing percentage. Thanks to the consistent play of goaltender Chris Mason, the Blues also have climbed all the way into the top ten in goals against average. It wasn’t too long ago the team was ranked 26th in the league in GAA.

The team is playing their system almost to a “T.” How good is this team playing defensively? The Blues have done an outstanding job of controlling their scoring chances against. They don’t give up many chances, which allows the team to be in virtually every game. How many odd-man rushes or breakaways do you see the Blues allowing from game to game? (The goal by Antoinne Vermette the other night for Columbus was a player showing incredible explosiveness and beating two guys to a loose puck.)

The Blues have the ability to counter and score better than we’ve seen in recent seasons. When they create a turnover or force a mistake they have skilled players who can make you pay offensively.

The Blues became a bigger team by adding guys like B.J. Crombeen and Brad Winchester and they use their size very well. Management deserves some credit here, as well, for pulling off a two-for-one trade in which they’ve added two professionals in Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. This move was a major turning point for the season.

The bottom line is this team was picked to finish last at the start of the year and have used the underdog role as motivation. Throughout the last 30 games the Blues and coaches have maintained a level headed approach which has their focus where it needs to be.

Did I mention Oshie, Perron, and Berglund?

THE WATERCOOLER

Question of the day: Who did you select to win the Heisman Trophy?

(The following writers all have Heisman votes for the Post-Dispatch. The winner will be announced Saturday.)

BERNIE MIKLASZ
This is how I voted, in order: Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford. There is no right or wrong here. All three of these QBs are worthy of winning the Heisman. It’s an excellent threesome, maybe the best list of finalists I’ve seen since I’ve been voting. I think Bradford will win. And who can blame the voters if they go with his extraordinary passing statistics and winning touch for Oklahoma, the nation’s No. 1 ranked team? In a close call, I went with Tebow first on my ballot because he wins games with his passing, his running, his intelligence, and his fearless leadership. And in leading Florida to a spot in the national title game, Tebow had to subdue some very tough defenses in the SEC.

BRYAN BURWELL
I’ve been voting for the Heisman since 1980 and this was the toughest vote of all. I gave my pick by a slim margin to Colt McCoy, who I think was more important to his team than Sam Bradford or Tim Tebow were to their teams.

VAHE GREGORIAN
Even if Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell wasn’t invited to New York as a finalist, he is one of four absolutely legitimate choices for the Heisman. If I could, I’d probably split my vote between Texas’ Colt McCoy and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, though I really wouldn’t even argue against a vote for Harrell or defending Heisman winner Tim Tebow of Florida. In the end, though, I punched McCoy on my card. He shattered the major-college record for accuracy AND led his team in rushing and rallied Texas to what would have been the game-winning TD against Tech if not for a dropped interception and a Tech TD with one second left. I don’t put a ton of stock in this part, but his team also beat Bradford’s team head-to-head.

STU DURANDO
My vote went to Colt McCoy over Sam Bradford with Tim Tebow third. After analyzing and over-analyzing the statistics, I was swayed by his versatility. On a team where McCoy is the main offensive weapon, defenses still couldn’t find a way to stop him. He flourished despite the lack of a prominent running back. His passing numbers might not be as good as Bradford’s, but McCoy was also his team’s leading rusher by quite a distance. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry despite all of the yards he lost in sacks. His completion percentage is mind-boggling. And he beat Bradford and Oklahoma head-to-head, leading the Longhorns to 45 points, more than any team scored against the Sooners this season, by completing 21 of his final 24 passes.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

COMPETING AGAINST HISTORY: When you play for a storied franchise like the Boston Celtics, which has won an NBA best 17 titles, it can be hard when it comes to setting any new franchise records. But that’s what this year’s Celtics have done, after just winning the title last year. With a 122-88 shellacking of the Washington Wizards Thursday night, the Celtics have reeled off 13 straight wins. But that’s not a record. It’s their 21-2 start to the season that now stands as the best start in franchise history. And while there are many haters when it comes to the Celtics due to their historic success (and the fact it’s Boston), unlike many teams, Boston doesn’t really have any players that are easy to dislike. The Big Three produces, the role players do their parts, everyone stays out of trouble and the Green Machine just keeps rolling along.

T.O. UPSET WITH QB … AGAIN: Appears there is tension brewing between Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens and QB Tony Romo. Let’s see, first T.O. had issues with QB Jeff Garcia in San Francisco, saying Garcia’s arm wasn’t strong enough to get him the deep ball. Then he questioned Donovan McNabb’s heart while with Philadelphia. Now he’s upset because he feels Romo is targeting tight end Jason Witten too much. Apparently Owens isn’t the only WR on the Cowboys that feels this way, but given the history you have to believe he’s the ringleader. But just to make sure everybody knows he’s a team player, Owens made the following statement to the Dallas Morning News: “I’m not jealous of Witten. I’m not jealous of nobody. I can take the approach that I got paid, so screw everything, but that’s not me.

No, Terrell, that’s not you.

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A FEW THINGS TO PONDER

WHY PEAVY’S NOT A CUB: Padres general manager Kevin Towers said from the beginning that he wasn’t going to just give away pitching sensation Jake Peavy. But a six-for-one deal? That price was a little steep even for the Chicago Cubs, particularly since it included a top prospect and a couple of promising young pitchers. Chicago Tribune baseball writer Phil Rogers tributes Cubs general manager Jim Hendry for sticking to his guns and refusing to sell the farm, regardless of how good Peavy would have looked in Cubbie blue.

SINGING THE BLUES: After a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Anaheim Wednesday night, the Blues seemed to just roll over against Los Angeles last night. The play looked lethargic from start to finish. One has to wonder if that Anaheim game didn’t take an emotional toll on the Blues … a game that was there to be won only to lose late. Regardless, no free passes in a 6-2 loss to the Kings, who are just 12-12-4 and playing at about the same clip as the Blues, particularly after being beaten by them earlier this season 4-0. And as to Chris Mason stating his case to be the team’s No. 1 goalie while Manny Legace is out with injury; well, giving up four goals on 24 shots and leaving after two periods isn’t much of a statement.

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STAT OF THE DAY

50 – It’s holiday shopping time, and ESPN’s Bill Simmons offers up his list of the 50 worst NFL gifts.

THE WATERCOOLER
(Post-Dispatch columnists and beat writers share their thoughts on a question of the day.)

Question: Is there anything that the Cardinals did or didn’t do at this year’s winter meetings that surprised you?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
No surprises here, because I had low expectations, but I was caught a little off guard by their interest in Brian Fuentes. I assumed he’d be out of their price range. We’ll see what happens. But I do think GM John Mozeliak made good use of his time. He takes a methodical approach and the winter meetings were a prime opportunity for Mozeliak to set the table for deals to come later.

JOE STRAUSS
I’m surprised to the degree the Cardinals have shown their willingness to deal Rick Ankiel for pitching help. Likewise, it’s surprising the market is so tepid for a player of Ankiel’s talent, but the explanation can be found in the overabundance of outfielders in the free agent market.

DERRICK GOOLD
On Monday evening, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak dismissed his team’s chances of signing Brian Fuentes and doubted they would even engage the lefty in talks. At the same time, the market was pushing them together. I wasn’t so much surprised by what the Cardinals did or didn’t do at these winter meetings, but I am surprised by what these meetings and this market could allow them to do. The closer they needed and couldn’t afford has dropped into their bidding bracket. The starter they must have for depth will still be around in January. The Cardinals may have had a best-case scenario calculated for this offseason, but even their rainbow dreams and pigs-fly aspirations couldn’t have looked as good for them as what has actually happened. Now, all they have to do is pull it off.

RICK HUMMEL
I’m not surprised that nothing major happened for the Cardinals. Sometimes the meetings serve more as groundwork. They’ll get a closer sooner than later but there will be plenty of starting pitchers out there, even into spring training when needs can better be identified.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

BIG APPLE BITES BACK: If CC Sabathia had landed in St. Louis, I think folks here would be doing cartwheels. Not necessarily so in The Big Apple. In fact, New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica takes the Yankees to task today about the $161 million deal. Lupica points out that though the Yankees like to talk about their farm system, that’s just talk. He adds that the team shelled out the richest pitching contract ever just a year after they didn’t make the playoffs and right before they are about to move into a new ballpark … and they’ll ask the fans to pay for it. “The Yankees panhandle like this in broad daylight, by the way, and without a hint of embarrassment,” Lupica says.

Welcome to New York, CC.

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES: Blues goalie Manny Legace is day-to-day after being kneed in the head last night; here’s Chris Mason’s chance to show he’s the man … The Rams game will be blacked out locally this week; local football fans should now have the chance to see a good game on TV Sunday … The Cardinals appear to be leaving Las Vegas without pitching help; that just means the top of the tree hasn’t been pared enough yet … The Mets land closers Francisco Rodriguez AND J.J. Putz; that should clear away some of that pesky primo fruit … The Avalanche’s Joe Sakic breaks three fingers in a snowblower accident; it doesn’t affect the back injury that was supposed to keep him out until mid-January anyway … Pacman Jones’ is likely out for season due to a neck injury; at least no one else got hurt … Three Heisman finalists are announced; Chase Daniel is spared a trip to New York and can go ahead and start packing for San Antonio.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

DROPPING THE GLOVES: When Blues enforcer D.J. King went down with an injury earlier this season, I didn’t know if hometown boy Cam Janssen had the size needed to keep other teams honest. But the intensity Janssen brings to a brawl is something to behold and I’ve seen him bring the Scottrade crowds to their feet on many nights. Janssen may look small compared to some of the league’s other enforcers, but so far he has seemed to hold his own — and then some. And when the fight is over and he skates toward the box, Janssen just has this crazy-eyed expression that says, “Wow, that was fun.”

But how good is Janssen as a fighter? To answer that question I called up former Blues enforcer Reed Low and ask him to share his thoughts with me on the subject. Below is what he had to say:

REED LOW: Cam Janssen is pound-for-pound one of the toughest kids I’ve seen or played against since Tie Domi in his early days, when Domi used to beat down the biggest and toughest guys in the league. One of the things that makes Cam special is that his punching power is so much better than I have seen on a lot of guys twice his size. Mix that with his unusually long reach for a shorter guy and he can catch the big guys when they think they have him.

Before I retired, Cam and I used to train together boxing, and he hit the bag so hard it reminded me of Ivan Drago (Rocky IV). When Cam throws a punch in games, he pulls with the other hand to bring the opponent into him. That works for him because he is so strong that most guys can’t fend it off, and if they try and go toe-to-toe, Cam is willing and most likely to put the guy’s nose in line with his ears.

The biggest asset Cam has is his love of fighting. I had it too, and I loved to scare the other team and was a little crazy just to make sure that they knew I could go off. Cam has this burning in his blood and it is what makes him so good at what he does. He loves it … and I mean he loves it. Cam dreams about kicking people’s (behinds). He is working on his timing this year and he’s getting some ice time and trying to balance both jobs — which is by far the hardest job in the league.

But the best thing about Cam is that off the ice he has a huge heart and would do anything for anyone. He is the first to charity events and the last to leave. This is how most tough guys in the league are because they appreciate what they have and that people enjoy what they do. I hope that the league will recognize this instead of trying to eliminate it. This breed of player is far more that just hockey fighters, they are the fight in hockey. And without the Cam Janssens of hockey, it is nothing more than another Olympic sport.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In case you’ve forgotten how Reed Low patrolled the ice for the Blues, I nabbed this highlight video off of youtube. Enjoy.

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STAT OF THE DAY

11,271 yards — That Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor will miss the rest of the season because of an injury is not all that surprising given his injury history. What is surprising is that his 11,271 rushing yards ranks 16th all-time in the NFL. That’s pretty exclusive company. A look at Taylor and those above him in all-time rushing yards.

1. Emmitt Smith — 18,355
2. Walter Payton — 16,726
3. Barry Sanders — 15,269
4. Curtis Martin — 14,101
5. Jerome Bettis — 13,662
6. Eric Dickerson — 13,259
7. Tony Dorsett — 12,739
8. Jim Brown — 12,312
9. Marshall Faulk — 12,279
10. Marcus Allen — 12,243
11. Franco Harris — 12,120
12. Thurman Thomas — 12,074
13. Edgerrin James* — 12,002
14. LaDainian Tomlinson* — 11,535
15. John Riggins — 11,352
16. Fred Taylor* — 11,271

* active players

THE WATERCOOLER
(Post-Dispatch columnists and beat writers share their thoughts on a question of the day.)

Question: Does Mizzou stand any chance against Oklahoma in this Saturday’s Big 12 title game? Why or why not? And how about a final score?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Mizzou is facing a long night at Arrowhead. No chance. OU is highly motivated to advance to the national championship game. And on top of that, coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners will want to shut up critics who insist that Texas should be in this game instead. On the Mizzou side, Gary Pinkel has never beaten a team of Oklahoma’s caliber, and the Tigers are hopeless on defense. At least the parking lots will empty early. Final score: Oklahoma 62, Missouri 28.

BRYAN BURWELL
Of course they have a chance. It’s a slim one because the Sooners are playing as good as any team in the country right now, and Mizzou historically does not do well against OU’s bigger and more physical players. But under Bob Stoops, OU does have a habit of losing at least one big game that they shouldn’t, so maybe this is that one. Final score: Oklahoma 61, Mizzou 35.

JOE STRAUSS
Mizzou has an outstanding chance if Jeremy Maclin’s hip heals, Chase Daniel finds a cure for happy feet against the Sooner defensive front, the Tiger special teams go crazy, Coach P. doesn’t leave timeouts on the clock, Sam Bradford can’t hold the ball and Benny Hinn lays hands on the secondary. Oklahoma is good enough to compete in the SEC, maybe even beat Alabama (but not Florida). It’s going to take more than a few “nifty ball plays” for the Tigers to avoid tumbling from the Top 25. In a closer than expected outcome: Sooners 41, El Tigres 27. Remember the Alamo!!!

JIM THOMAS
When I watch the Mizzou defense, I feel like I’m watching the Rams. Namely, blitzes that don’t get there and lots of blown coverages in the secondary, complete with defensive backs pointing aimlessly into space, wondering what happened. Can’t see Mizzou hanging with this bunch. Final score: Oklahoma 52, Mizzou 24.

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MIDDAY HEADLINES AND QUESTIONS TO PONDER

PLAX SURRENDERS: New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress surrendered to police in Manhattan today to face a charge of handgun possession. Burress turned himself in three days after a gun he was allegedly carrying discharged and wounded him in the leg while he was at a New York nightclub. According to the New York Times Web site, Burress didn’t have a license to carry a gun in New York or New Jersey, where he lives. New York state law carries a sentence of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of carrying a weapon without a permit if it’s determined the person was going to use the weapon to harm someone, and up to seven years if intent to use can’t be proved. (More on Plax below)

MORE MASON TO COME? As reported by Jeremy Rutherford in today’s Post-Dispatch, Blues goalie Chris Mason has allowed just four goals on 134 shots in his past four games, lowering his goals-against average to 2.29 from 3.59 and improving his save percentage to .928 from .878. Against Atlanta on Sunday, he surrendered two goals on 30 shots, perhaps making a case to be the regular starter. Blues management and coaches were not happy with comments regular starter Manny Legace made after Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Edmonton. “I need some help out there,” Legace said. (Now I know the defense hasn’t played great of late, but I’m thinking a goalie needs to be worried more about what’s getting behind him than what’s going on in front of him.)

FAN FOR LIFE, AND DEATH: According to the Associated Press, lifelong Red Sox fans can now take their love of the team to the next level — eternity. A Massachusetts funeral home recently took delivery of the first Red Sox casket, which features the team logo on the exterior as well as the inside. Bob Biggins, co-director of Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home in Rockland, told The Boston Globe that families in mourning often want their loved ones buried with favorite items. In the past that’s included Red Sox paraphernalia; the casket takes it to the next step. (How long until the Yankees offer a similar casket with the words “Boston sucks even here” on it in an effort to continue taunting Bosox fans on the Other Side.)

IRISH WAKE: Can anyone explain to me what the heck has happened at Notre Dame? How does a school with that much history and tradition finds itself a mediocre-at-best program? Charlie Weis has seven years remaining on a 10-year contract and it’s looking like the ax could fall on him any day. Bob Davie obviously wasn’t the guy to follow Lou Holtz. Ty Willingham did alright but got chased quickly from South Bend. Are there any logical reasons this school can no longer recruit like it once did? And is there a high-profile, successful coach out there that would come to a school where so much is demanded from the football program and so much needs to be done to get them on course? I’m throwing this one to the masses because all the experts I listen to sure don’t seem to have the answers.

ALL HAIL THE CHIEFS: Rams fans should be elated with the Kansas City Chiefs victory on Sunday. That brings the Chiefs record even with the Rams at 2-10 — for those keeping track for 2009 draft purposes. Better yet, the Chiefs are showing signs of improvement, so the Rams may yet move ahead of them in the draft order. Since the Rams still go head-to-head with the 2-10 Seahawks, it’s a toss-up who wins that draft battle. I think it’s safe to say the 0-12 Lions have secured the No. 1 pick (with Matt Millen gone, any chance they still take another WR?). And at 1-10-1 and showing no pulse, the Bengals would have to be the frontrunner for the second pick. So the Rams could be looking at anywhere from picks 3 through 6. If they do as well at next year’s draft as they did with Chris Long at No. 2 last year, perhaps there is a ray of light.

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SOME THINGS I THINK I THINK

ANQUAN’S THE MAN: There are players who want to tell you how good they are (think T.O., Ocho Stinko), and then there are players who just show you how good they are. One that clearly falls into the Show Me category is Arizona WR Anquan Boldin.

Boldin, you may recall, showed up at training camp this year and lashed out at the club for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new deal. (Notice though, that he SHOWED UP at camp.) No new deal was forthcoming. Boldin, one of the league’s most consistent receivers in recent years, didn’t sulk like many of today’s athletes are apt to do, vowing instead that his unhappiness with his contract wouldn’t affect his play.

And you know what? It hasn’t. Through this weekend’s games Boldin leads all WRs in the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions (his more heralded teammate Larry Fitzgerald is tied for second with four other receivers at eight), he ranks fourth in receptions at 78 and ranks seventh in total receiving yards at 942.

Oh, did I forget to mention that Boldin is doing his job weekly with eight plates in his face and wiring in his jaw. Boldin missed two and half weeks after he suffered a fractured sinus and other facial injuries following a fierce hit by the New York Jets’ Eric Smith on Sept. 28 — a hit that cost Smith a $50,000 fine and a one-game suspension. Boldin underwent surgery, with doctors inserting eight plates to repair his face and wiring to align his bite — yet he has still found a way to play.

“I’m still in awe of what he does on a weekly basis, and what he’s done since he’s come back from that injury,” quarterback Kurt Warner said. “Just a special individual.” I couldn’t agree more, Kurt.

Teams can come up with marketing campaigns like “Bring It” all they want — and every club in every league does it — but I contend that if you had more players that “bring it” with the heart and skill that Boldin does week in and week out, perhaps you’d put fannies in the seats without the catchy slogans. Boldin should provide gut-check fodder for every player in the NFL.

If I could have one WR to build a team around, Boldin would be the man. You got somebody better? Make your case.

POOR PLAX: If someone were seriously injured after an incident like this, I wouldn’t touch it. But since Burress apparently walked into court Monday without as much as a limp, according to reports, I can’t help myself. It’s easy to become immune to news about athletes smacking women around or spitting in their faces at nightclubs, or athletes involved in shootings that leave people paralyzed, or even athletes convicted of murder. It’s all happened in recent years, some times repeatedly. So I guess the only thing I can say about the alleged Plax shooting is this: At least he hurt no one but himself … perhaps that kind of self-policing can be the best thing for sports’ bad boys.

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STAT OF THE DAY

GUESS THAT QUARTERBACK: A former Pro Bowler put up these numbers yesterday — 15 of 21 passing for 125 yards, two interceptions, and zero TDs. No, it’s not Marc Bulger. Those are the stats of once-mighty Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning. RB Joseph Addai can’t stay healthy (sound familiar?) and WR Marvin Harrison is getting old (sound familiar?) And in the wake of that, Manning is starting to look rather ordinary.