We want the difference in winning and losing in the National Football League to be complicated because pro football is complicated, filled with options on top of options for every play, of which there may be hundreds in a given playbook.

Get used to this, Tennessee.

It's time for the Friday mailbag

We have to start here. Wait, let's back up a step.

Many of you have seen the famous "Join or Die" political cartoon that predates the Revolutionary War — historians think it was done by Benjamin Franklin — and it seems to me that drawing of a segmented snake has a message for us as modern-day hunters.

Cole is the first pitcher with 300-plus Ks and a sub-2.50 ERA since the 1910s.

It may have been the first time such words have ever been uttered about the Tennessee Titans offense, at least since the franchise moved from Houston to Memphis to Nashville and changed its name from Oilers to Titans.

Like Stardust on the main stage, let's go to the polls and some sneaky important stats as we head into the final three weeks of the regular season.

However much it sounded like sour grapefruit — after all, Alabama is facing Michigan in the Citrus Bowl — Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had every right to express his opinion on Sunday that "We have made everything about the playoffs in college football."

Joe Burrow. Or is it Burreaux? Wow, what a season. And the question is not whether he'll win the Heisman, but if it will be the biggest landslide in Heisman history.

You don't need to see the world through Big Orange-tinted glasses to believe the Vols may just be getting started under Jeremy Pruitt and his staff.

Georgia's Bulldog Nation no doubt wants its 37-10 Southeastern Conference championship game loss to LSU on Saturday to be about talent, or lack thereof.

It's time to update life's certainties: death, taxes and Alcoa winning a state championship in football.

On this day, Dec. 6, 21 years ago, NFL officials ruled Vinny Testaverde scored on a 5-yard quarterback sneak against the Seahawks.

Almost to a man, the McCallie Blue Tornado said this resounding victory was unexpected.

OK, we're here and there are a lot of experts taking a lot of underdogs.

Deer season is in full swing, and it occurred to me that many of you hunters within the sound of my pen (or computer keyboard) don't have enough to argue about while you are at deer camp.

It would take a whole, whole lot for me to dislike Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney.

Which way Wednesday starts this way: Am I crazy for staying with the bang-up Bulldogs against the lethal LSU offense? Discuss.

Nearly 40 years later, Jim Higdon still remembers the Santa Train visiting his house.

This morning, on ESPN Radio Jason Fitz and Mike Golic Jr. listed a top four of NFL teams in how the college football playoff committee might view them.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga power forward Stefan Kenic was walking to class eight days ago when he got a message to meet with third-year Mocs coach Lamont Paris.

Gus Malzahn. Yes, we have been hard on ol' Gus — and he has deserved it — but Saturday had to be a sweet win for the Auburn head coach. He now has three wins over Nick Saban.