What is this the early 90s? Are Jim Kelly and Barry Sanders still playing? The NFL has two new darlings in the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions as both former basement dwellers start the 2011 season 3-0.

The Bills quieted most critics with an impressive win over division rival New England Patriots and have emerged atop the AFC East. While, the Lions are living up to pre-season expectations with solid defense and a health Matthew Stafford.

Can they both keep up the pace as the NFL heads into Fall?

Good and bad news for two of the best quarterbacks in the league...Michael Vick's hand is not broken, just bruised, and he should be ready to go next week. But, Peyton Manning looks like he'll be playing more of a coordinator role as Colts' owner Jim Irsay said there is an "outside chance" that Manning might play in December. Why bother at that point? The Colts season - now 0-3 - is looking very grim. Why risk another setback on a brutal hit in December?

In a not-so-shocking surprise Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh both announced they applied for membership into the ACC conference and that bid was quickly accepted. The timeline for when both schools will official join has not been set.

Now, UCONN has put their name into the ring as wanting to join what is shaping up to be the most powerful basketball conference in the land with a very solid football lineup. The ACC will also own some of the country's top media markets in New York, Washington DC, Atlanta and Miami. UCONN is trying to get ahead of the ACC looking into other New York metro schools like Rutgers, who is on the list to join the new conference that will stretch from south Florida through New England.

Growing up a Big East fan, this move is bitter sweet. Syracuse was a founding member of the conference and has great rivalries with Georgetown, Villanova and St. John's. These would all but be lost as those schools are strictly basketball schools. They are being left in the dust as the two-sport powers are merging to compete for the very lucrative television contracts.

On the other hand, it creates a new power in basketball while bringing back Boston College into what's looking like it will be an old-Big East "north" division within the ACC. Fans could have BC, Syracuse, Pitt and UCONN (if they apply/accepted) in a "north" division. And, to have these powers playing with Duke and North Carolina creates a great look for basketball fans.

The silver lining for the Big East is that they still have their traditional powers Georgetown, Villanova and the newly reborn St. John's. And, the continuing of a Big East-ACC challenge would allow the old rivalries to live on. But, they would lose all clout as a football conference, which would affect teams like Louisville, Cincinnati and the soon-to-join TCU.

Good or bad, it's the changing face of college sports. It seems like the Big 12 may soon dissolve with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech rumored to be joining the PAC-12.

The NFL came back with an incredible, wild first week of the new season. Who was the biggest suprise?

The Bills blowing out the Chiefs on the road. St. Louis losing not only the game but two key players. The Chargers were a bit luckier...at least they won. And, probably the biggest surprise...Cam Newton.

But, with the NFL, things can change on a dime. It was a great week and there will be more...starting with next Sunday.

Keegan Bradley was great yesterday, finishing off a miraculous comeback to win the PGA Championship for his first PGA TOUR victory.

How many players can rebound from a triple-bogey on the 15th hole of the final round of a major championship to win? Now, how many rookies do you think could pull off such a stunt? Bradley not only did that but then, after Jason Dufner stuck his approach shot on the first playoff hole near the hole, he showed the mental toughness it takes for big victories by putting his approach inside Dufner's...a la Ben Hogan. Then, made birdie-par on the three hole playoff for the win.

It was brilliant. And, I hope Bradley continues to play at or near the top of leaderboards for some time.

But, I can't follow suit and anoint him as a mainstay on PGA leaderboards, like many of those on television and radio. It seems whoever wins a big tournament the golf analysts bask in the glow about how great this player is and how they will become a fixture in golf fans Sunday afternoon entertainment. It is just not that easy...ask Louis Oosthuizen, who brilliantly maneuvered around the Old Course at St. Andrews to win the 2010 Open Championship.

Oosthuizen created the same buzz in the final round and after winning that Bradley is receiving, except Bradley is American. I say he is American because it gives the talking heads something their audience to cheer for - an American on Sunday.

Commentators need more players like Bradley to take the reigns for American golf. Yes, Tiger Woods missed the cut. Phil Mickelson was, once again, a non-factor. The only American that really still matters is Dustin Johnson, and can't carry the torch by himself. Anthony Kim was there but his injuries...err...partying ways...have slowed his progress. Ryder Cup heros Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley can't win. There is Steve Stricker, a solid player and top ranked American, but doesn't draw the young, fringe fan the PGA needs.

So, I hope Bradley continues his progress. He has the game, mental toughness and appeal to be successful on TOUR.

The New York Football Giants have taken a bit of a hit lately letting key free agents - namely Steve Smith and Kevin Boss - walk without really showing any public interest in retaining their talents. Now, and leading into training camp, star defensive end Osi Umenyiora is still holding out waiting for the team to stand by their word and make him on par, salary wise, with other top DEs in the league.

Umenyiora had a great 2010 season after spending much of the previous year battling injuries. The Giants have some depth on the d-line but need the leadership and emotion of Umenyiora. The team reportedly made Umenyiora an offer that he will surely refuse. It is an incentive-based contract with a low guarantee.

Fans are grumbling the team isn't doing enough but, that's always the case in New York. And, now they are about to lose their best defensive player. Why? The GM, Jerry Reese, defended his actions and called this team is a playoff team.

Yes, Umenyiora is under contract. But, are contracts really worth anything in the NFL? No, a team can release a player on a whim to save a few bucks and not have to fulfill the remainder of the deal. For fired coaches, they still get paid (unless there is a buyout) the term of their deals.

Why not give a veteran, star, fan-favorite, locker room leader a deal that will make him/fans/teammates happy?

Tim Tebow did, statistically, well last night in the Broncos pre-season opener. But, he is in no way in competition to start for Denver this season. In looking at things, he'd be lucky to be the backup with Brady Quinn seemingly in the lead in that battle.

Tebow is a big name, a great college player at Florida and the potential to be a solid NFL signal caller. Time is on his side (see Tom Brady). Now, Brady was a sixth round pick where Tebow was drafted in the first round. And, Brady is, arguably, the best QB, ever...love or hate him.

We are so used to seeing these guys thrown to the wolves right out of college and then criticize their failures. Tebow knows there is work to do. He wasn't a pocket passer in Florida's system and he certainly is not one now. But, he could be.

And, like Michael Vick, when he gets comfortable in the pocket, he could very well be one of the most dangerous QBs in the league. That will take another year or two.

With all the press Stevie Williams got for speaking his mind about "the greatest week of his life" after his...errr...Adam Scott's win at the Bridgestone Invitational, I wouldn't be surprised if Tiger Woods turns around and puts on an instant classic.

Woods hasn't had much motivation in the last two years to win. His knee is raw and he realizes the protective armor he built is destroyed. But, no one every really called him out the way Stevie did. Tiger works best with motivation and after all those wins with Williams on the bag to be called out like that...

He competes big in majors, even when down. It is not going to be as dramatic as the improbable U. S. Open win over Rocco Mediate but, it would be memorable. Then, all the talking heads of the golf world will drown us with "Tiger's back" and talk of the major wins record will resurface.

If he does win, don't be fooled. Tiger is not back. But, it is a major step forward in his transition from the fall.

Choose your bucket and take aim at the cart guy.