The sports world turned upside down

Today is May 7, 2007, and the sports world is completely out of whack.

Pulling a Peyton Manning? No longer does it mean to choke in the clutch like ... well, like Peyton Manning. Somehow, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback has started performing when it counts, and as a result the Indianapolis Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Dallas Mavericks, the winningest team in the NBA this season, were just driven out of the playoffs in the first round by the last-seeded Golden State Warriors, a team that hadn't played a postseason game in 13 years.

For a frame of reference, the last time the Warriors made the playoffs, the NBC show "Friends" had yet to debut, and the cast of "Saturday Night Live" included Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. Yet three nights ago, Baron Davis willed them to victory, and the Warriors ended up taking out the favorite to advance.

Things have gotten so weird that Kansas City Royals journeyman Ross Gload just ended a seven-game hitting streak. Seven games! For Ross Gload! That's six more than his previous best. This gives hope to minor leaguers all across the country.

Fortunately, when the NFL draft began last weekend, Detroit Lions President and CEO Matt Millen brought things back to normalcy by feeding his wide receiver fetish, selecting Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson with the second overall pick. This makes it four years out of five that the Lions have picked a wide receiver early in the first round, and only one, Roy Williams, has been even remotely successful in the NFL. Like everybody else, I had thought Johnson was a can't-miss prospect, but after being selected by the Lions, it seems that he is now doomed to failure.

This normalcy only lasted one day, for in the opening round of the second day of the NFL draft, it was announced that the New England Patriots had traded for troubled receiver Randy Moss.

The same Randy Moss who was lambasted in Minnesota and driven out of town for attitude and behavioral issues. The same Randy Moss who has averaged just 50 catches per season over the past three years and completely quit on his team in Oakland last season.

The Patriots have prided themselves in building a dynasty over the past six years through discipline, unity and phenomenal coaching. They have won three Super Bowls not always with the most talented players at every position, but with overachieving leaders who treat football like a business, combining to form the best example of a true team since Disney's "Mighty Ducks" movies.

The Randy Moss acquisition — coupled with the selection of Brandon Meriweather (another potential behavioral problem) in the first round of this year's draft — perhaps signifies a change in philosophy for the character-driven New England organization. If Moss didn't work out in Oakland, an eclectic team with a rabid fan base that has never shied away from obtaining players with character issues, what makes coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli think they can do any better in New England?

For this question, there are three explanations.

Explanation One: Randy Moss is a winner, and he just needs to play on a Super Bowl-caliber team. This is essentially the public stance that Belichick and the Patriots have taken so far. The Raiders were historically bad last season, and it is hard to believe that any player on the team put in full effort during a season with a 2-14 record. With the Patriots, things will be different.

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Explanation Two: The deal was so favorable (just a fourth-round pick) that the Patriots just had to go for it, behavioral issues and all.

If Moss becomes a distraction that threatens team unity, Belichick has let it be known that the Patriots will simply cut him without any qualms. By agreeing to a drastically reduced contract (only $3 million in guarantees!), Moss has signaled his commitment to the organization, making it pretty much impossible for them to resist.

Explanation Three: Bill Belichick has testicles the size of Saturn, and when considering acquiring a potential locker room cancer, he simply said, "Screw it, I'm Bill Belichick. Let's just do it."

So does this represent a change of philosophy for Belichick and company? Hardly. The Patriots are all about finding value, and this is just one more instance. Like it did with linebacker Bryan Cox and halfback Corey Dillon, the organization has a history of taking malcontents and molding them to fit the Patriots' standards.

If it works out, the trade puts the finishing touches on a monster off-season that has produced the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. If it does not, the team has still amassed enough talent, depth and, yes, character to win the championship anyway. In terms of bringing in marquee talent through free agency and trades, this year represents a dramatic departure from past examples.

Indeed, last off-season, the Patriots discarded their best receivers and entered the AFC Championship game with Jabar "Frying-Pan Hands" Gaffney and Reche "Big-Eyes" Caldwell as their top two wideouts. After losing a close game against the rival Colts, it's almost as if Tom Brady said, "Listen, Coach, I only have a few more years to be a Pro Bowl quarterback, and I just made high school receivers look like NFL pros. I'm sick of it — get me some targets."

Want a deep threat? The Patriots went out and signed the talented Dante Stallworth on short money for a one-year deal, and agreed to terms with the six foot, three inch Kelley Washington soon after.

Want a slot receiver? Come join us, Wes Welker. Now you can stop terrorizing us while wearing a Dolphins uniform.

Hey, you know what? Let's go out and sign the best linebacker in free agency. Adalius Thomas? Meet Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Roosevelt Colvin. Fortunately, as good as our offense will be this season, you four will have plenty of time to get to know each other resting on the sidelines while Tom and the boys march down the field on offense. Enjoy it.

With a team this good, the Patriots are counting their blessings. But anything can happen in football between now and Super Bowl XLII.

With a team this good, the Patriots are counting their blessings. While anything can happen in football between now and Super Bowl XLII, maybe Randy Moss will bring the Patriots back to the championship and return some balance to the sports world. Perhaps "Pulling a Peyton Manning" will again have some meaning, though a different one than it held previously.