The Crystal Ball Week 13 Thursday Night Special

This week, Tom Brady, fresh off his latest sideline berating of his teammates, was announced as the new face for the fall 2011 line of footwear, outerwear and accessories for UGG. Yes, Tom Terrific is now following his wife into a modeling career, with this foray on the heels of his endorsement deal for Under Armour brand athletic apparel. Right now, my brain is hurting trying to corral all the jokes running rampant through my synapses.

Angel Martinez, CEO of Deckers Outdoor who makes the UGG brand, had this to say regarding Tom’s appointment as the company’s new oxygen consuming mannequin:

"We have decided that we needed to just get the word out there that it's a brand for guys, give guys permission to wear UGG. And who better to give guys permission to wear UGG than … Tom Brady. He's the guy every guy I know wants to be."

Angel must not know many guys, because most of the guys I know would rather punch Brady and take everything he has rather than be Tom.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must be honest and admit I do not like UGG boots. I find them far more of a fashion accessory than useful footwear. In geographic areas where you need to have warm footwear, these boots do not seem adequate to battle rain, sleet or snowy conditions. And in areas where these weather conditions are not an issue, you typically do not need to have thick, warm footwear.

Plus, in my own opinion, I think they just look silly. It’s like someone took the liner out of a winter boot and said, yeah, that’ll do fine. I have teased a friend of mine for wearing them, and he voraciously defended them. I bet he never buys another pair now knowing Tom Baby is the spokesman.

Regardless of my opinion, Tom turned the modeling experience he’s learned from being the NFL’s poster boy for 10 years into a way to make some extra scratch on the side and build his resume for his post football career. Good for him. I have only one question now. Will Roger Goodell get a cut of Tom’s UGG paycheck for keeping him free of any real contact, except for that blasphemer Bernard Pollard, for the last 10 years? I think it would only be fair.

Tonight’s Special

Houston (5-6) at Philadelphia (7-4)

Yes, we all know Andre Johnson was not suspended for his fight with Cortland Finnegan because the NFL wanted him available for their showcase game tonight. Let’s all move on from it. It will not matter anyway. Philadelphia has a head coach who loves to pass first and ask questions later, a terribly effective receiving corps and a newly transcendent Michael Vick under center. Houston has the worst pass defense in the league. What do you think is going to happen with or without Andre Johnson?

Eagles over Texans