The Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans probably make for tremendously strange bedmates in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday afternoon. Both have had the best seasons that they have had in years, and one will get to move through to the second round of the playoffs next weekend. Check out our Texans vs. Bengals odds, predictions, and keys to the game so you can make your NFL picks on all of the action!

NFL Playoffs Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans
Bengals vs. Texans Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Bengals vs. Texans Date/Time: Saturday, January 7th, 4:30 p.m.
Bengals vs. Texans Television Coverage: NBC

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Key #1: These two teams have to pretend like they have been here before
To say that there isn’t a heck of a lot of experience on either side of the ball in terms of the playoffs is a bit of an understatement. The Texans have never been to a playoff game in franchise history, and the Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since before the Oilers had ever thought about moving out of Houston. Neither rookie quarterback has played in a game quite like this one, though QB Andy Dalton did get a taste of the action last week against the Baltimore Ravens at home in a game that the Bengals were beaten in. QB TJ Yates has really been thrown into the fire this year, as two months ago, he still had never even suited for his first NFL game before injuries struck. Neither of these coaches, Gary Kubiak nor Marvin Lewis has ever won a playoff game as a head coach before either. The team that can successfully put aside the fears of playing in a nationally televised game like this one is going to be the one that ends up having the better shot to win this game when it is all said and done with.

Bengals @ Texans Odds at Wager Web Sportsbook
Cincinnati Bengals +3
Houston Texans -3
Over/Under 38.5
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Key #2: The ground game is key for both squads
We’ve already spoken about these rookie quarterbacks, and that obviously means that the running game is going to be crucial for both sides. RBs Ben Tate and Arian Foster combined for well over 2,100 rushing yards, and they near had 3,000 total yards between rushing and receiving between them. RB Cedric Benson doesn’t nearly get the publicity that he should, but he rushed for 1,067 yards this season, his third straight 1,000+ yard season with the Bengals. Both offensive lines have had their questions, especially with the Bengals. Benson did only average 3.9 yards per carry this year, and now, he has to run up against a defensive front seven that was amongst the most ferocious against the run all season long. Houston does have the best offensive line that it has had in team history, but that line still has never been in a moment like this one.

Key #3: Houston needs to overcome all of its injuries that it has suffered all season long
The list of injuries this season for the Texans has been borderline insane. Schaub and Leinart were knocked out for the season in successive weeks, and that came after Foster missed basically three full games, LB Mario Williams hasn’t played since the beginning of October, and WR Andre Johnson has only been in the lineup for a total of about five full games all year after dealing with hamstring injuries. P Brett Hartmann is out for the year with a knee injury, and DB Danieal Manning missed a month with a leg injury as well. It is amazing that this team has been able to hold it together in spite of all of this, and now, the pieces of the puzzle that have to limp onto the field have to find a way to get the job done even with all of the setbacks.

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The AFC South might be the most intriguing division in football this year, as there are a slew of teams that think they are going to be playoff bound with a ton of new faces in place. Take a look at how we see things shaking out with our 2011 AFC South picks.

The team that everyone is buzzing about is the Houston Texans (Current AFC South Odds: 1.75 to 1 at Oddsmaker Sportsbook). This is always the team that is the “Yeah, but” team in football, as it has never been to the playoffs in team history in spite of the fact that the talent level is seemingly always improving. Head Coach Gary Kubiak knows that this is the year that he has to get it right, or he will be out of a job. The defense was terrible last season, but bringing in DE JJ Watt, DB Johnathan Joseph, and DB Danieal Manning, along with new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips should push this team to the next level as long as QB Matt Schaub and the offense continue to put up points at a torrid pace.

This might be a do or die year for Head Coach Jack Del Rio and his Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South Lines: 6 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook), too. QB Blaine Gabbert is going to take over for QB David Garrard at some point in all likelihood, and we know that that probably won’t be good enough to take this team to the postseason. The defense has some major holes in it, and there won’t be so many last second wins in all likelihood like this team got last year. There are major health questions about RB Maurice Jones-Drew this year, and if he doesn’t stay healthy, the Jags are in big trouble, especially with backup RB Rashad Jennings already out for the season.

The Tennessee Titans (Odds to Win the AFC South: 9 to 1 at Oddsmaker Sportsbook) just have to be happy that they resigned the face of their franchise, RB Chris Johnson just before the final week of the preseason started. Johnson is the only thing that the Titans have going for them, as QB Jake Locker and QB Matt Hasselbeck don’t exactly scare the wits out of the other defenses in this division. This is the first time in over a decade that the Titans franchise is going to run on the field without Head Coach Jeff Fisher, who was dismissed after a relatively dismal season in 2010.

And yet the team that is still favored in this division is the team that has dominated it for the last decade, the Indianapolis Colts (2011 AFC South Odds: 1.15 to 1 at 5Dimes Sportsbook). Many think that this is the year that the Indianapolis dynasty comes crashing down, especially if QB Peyton Manning has any serious lingering issues with his neck injury. The offense is getting older but should still be able to put up some points, but the defense has never really been addressed. Head Coach Jim Caldwell will have to do a yeoman’s job coaching up this unit to get this team back into the playoffs in the stacked AFC this year.

2011 NFL Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 9/4/11):
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Odds To Win AFC South
Houston Texans 1.33 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 1.15 to 1
Jacksonville Jaguars 6 to 1
Tennessee Titans 7.50 to 1

Odds To Win Super Bowl
Houston Texans 26 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 23 to 1
Jacksonville Jaguars 125 to 1
Tennessee Titans 165 to 1

AFC South Super Bowl Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 9/4/11):
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Odds To Win AFC South Division
Houston Texans OTB
Indianapolis Colts OTB
Jacksonville Jaguars OTB
Tennessee Titans OTB

Super Bowl 46 Odds
Houston Texans 25 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 15 to 1
Jacksonville Jaguars 60 to 1
Tennessee Titans 60 to 1

AFC South Odds @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 9/4/11):
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2011 AFC South Odds
Houston Texans 1.75 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 1 to 1.20
Jacksonville Jaguars 7 to 1
Tennessee Titans 9 to 1

AFC South Odds To Win the Super Bowl
Houston Texans 35 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 15 to 1
Jacksonville Jaguars 65 to 1
Tennessee Titans 55 to 1

NFL Betting Odds @ BoDog Sportsbook (as of 9/4/11):
(Get a UNLIMITED 10% Bonus at BoDog.com When Using This Link)

AFC South Odds
Houston Texans OTB
Indianapolis Colts OTB
Jacksonville Jaguars OTB
Tennessee Titans OTB

Super Bowl Odds
Houston Texans 25 to 1
Indianapolis Colts 18 to 1
Jacksonville Jaguars 75 to 1
Tennessee Titans 75 to 1

The playoff push will be the main topic in the AFC on Monday Night Football this week, as the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans are going to be fighting it out with their postseason hopes on the line. The Texans probably need this one to have any chance of making it to the second season, while Baltimore at least has a little bit of leeway. Our NFL prop picks for MNF are always ready to go here at Bankroll Sports, and this Monday night is no exception!

Joe Flacco Over/Under 261.5 Passing Yards
We wouldn’t necessarily care what the name was on the front or the back of the jersey in this one. The mass majority of quarterbacks are going to be throwing for at least 262 yards against this Houston secondary no matter how much of a blowout the game really turns out to be. Save a three INT game for Glover Quin against arguably the worst starting quarterback the NFL has seen in years, QB Rusty Smith, the Texans have had absolutely no luck stopping anyone. Head Coach John Harbaugh has made a more concerted effort at throwing the ball this year to take some of the pressure off of RB Ray Rice and the running game. The offensive line is going to be able to let Flacco just stand in the pocket and pick apart this horrendous secondary, and there should be absolutely no doubt that he goes Over 261.5 Passing Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook) on Monday Night Football.

Anquan Boldin Over/Under 66.5 Receiving Yards
You know where we’re going with this one. All of the receiving options are particularly strong in this game for the Ravens, and this is probably the best of the bunch. ‘Quan is going to be matched up with Quin the majority of the game, and he is clearly the weakest link in that Houston secondary. Truth be told, Boldin has only gone past this number five times this season, and three of those five came in the first four games of the year. However, these secondaries that he has been going against haven’t been nearly as bad as the one that he is going to be facing on Monday. We tend to believe that this could be a career day for the former Florida State Seminole. Boldin should fly Over 66.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

Matt Schaub Over/Under 245.5 Passing Yards
Things really haven’t gone all that well for the Texans’ signal caller this year, as he doesn’t have the types of numbers that warrant him being a Pro Bowler this year as many suggested at the start of the season. Still, this is probably going to be a situation in which this team has to play from behind virtually the entire way, just as we saw last Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Though this Baltimore defense is only allowing 208.0 yards per game through the air, we have to remember that sack yardage does not count against us in this one. There have also been some dreadful passing games run up against these Ravens, including those of the Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), that of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that of the Cleveland Browns. This is a great spot, especially in the second half, for Schaub to go soaring Over 245.5 Passing Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook) against the Ravens.

Will Arian Foster Score a Touchdown?
Last week, we backed Foster on this prop on Thursday Night Football, and we are going to be utilizing him once again. Of the 33 offensive touchdowns that the Texans have scored this year, Foster has found pay dirt 15 times, virtually every other touchdown. He has touched the ball 296 times already this season and is clearly the goal line back as well. The only issue that we have here is if the Ravens just find a way to really shut the Texans down all together. But, seeing how this game is at home and that Houston is prone to scoring at least 20 points or so here, there is no reason to believe that Foster won’t get the job done and put six on the board at least once. He has scored at least one TD in eight of the team’s 12 games this year, giving us a great percentage on a very easy prop. Foster Will Score a Touchdown (-125 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

The Houston Texans are the team that has almost been able to finish off a number of epic wins this year… However, they have almost always fallen short and are on playoff life support again because of it. The Philadelphia Eagles are in significantly better shape at 7-4 right now, but a loss would be catastrophic. These two intra conference foes square off in the City of Brotherly Love tonight, and here at Bankroll Sports, we have your fantastic prop picks for the duel on the NFL Network.

Arian Foster Over/Under 82.5 Rushing Yards
Why the oddsmakers continue putting such little faith in Foster is beyond us. This is a man that leads the NFL in rushing and is averaging over 100 yards per game on the ground. To think that he could get to the 1,500 yard barrier without breaking a sweat is amazing. And now, against a defense that has been iffy at best at times, you think that Foster is going to stop? We certainly don’t think so. It always has and always will be the philosophy of HC Gary Kubiak that, no matter how good his passing game is, that he needs to establish the run in order to win games. The former Tennessee Volunteer is coming off of a game in which he carried the ball 30 times for 143 yards. In games in which he has at least 17 carries, Foster has gotten to this total six times against two in which he didn’t. He should get at least 20 carries on the day, and if he gets that, Foster will have no problem going Over 82.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook) on Thursday Night Football.

Will Arian Foster Score a Touchdown?
Here we go again with Foster. Let’s just do some simple math right here, shall we? The man has 13 TDs on the campaign in 11 games. Just right there, that’s an average of over a score per game. If he recorded a TD in at least 11 games this on this season, he would be a winner for the year on a prop of this juice. Okay, so he was held out of the end zone last week. Big whoop. Over the previous five weeks, Foster had eight TDs on the ground and one through the air, and he scored at least one in all of those games. He is the undisputed back down by the goal line, and he is the second best receiving option that QB Matt Schaub has. At some point, if Houston is scoring, it is highly like that Foster will be the man doing the deed. Foster Will Score a Touchdown (-130 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

DeSean Jackson Over/Under 68.5 Receiving Yards
Glover Quin, meet DeSean Jackson. D-Jax, meet arguably the worst starting cornerback in the NFL today. It doesn’t seem to matter who Quin is guarding, opposing quarterbacks just seem to find a way to get them the ball. Vick has an absolute rocket for an arm, and odds have it, Jackson will at least get one shot in this game to catch one pass that will cover this entire total. Knowing the Kareem Jackson isn’t all that much better on the other side of the field and that their safeties are a sieve, there is just no way that the Texans are keeping one of the most explosive receivers in the league under this total. Jackson will be a triple digit receiver this week, and he’ll easily go Over 68.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook) against the Texans.

Jeremy Maclin Over/Under 69.5 Receiving Yards
Do we need to introduce Glover Quin to Jeremy Maclin as well? Perhaps we should. Mr. Quin, this will be the other man that is constantly running past you all game long. Maclin should be the more consistent target of QB Michael Vick in this one, and as long as Vick doesn’t have a field day throwing all over the place to Jackson, Maclin should reach his total as well. He’ll go Over 69.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

It could be the biggest game in the history of the Houston Texans and one of the darker days in the last decade for the Indianapolis Colts. First place in the AFC South will be on the line, as the winner of this Monday Night Football betting affair will take over the lead in the division and be in the driver’s seat for the postseason. For Houston, this has never happened in franchise history. Of course, neither has winning a game in Indy, nor has sweeping the Colts. For Indianapolis, a loss would really be damaging to its postseason chances and could mark the beginning of the end of the Colts’ dynasty. You know that we have Monday Night Football props covered in this one, and you aren’t going to want to miss out on any of these great chances to make some coin on MNF.

Peyton Manning Passing Yards Over/Under 300.5
Simply put, this number just couldn’t be high enough for us. Manning is just going to tear this Houston secondary apart just like he did in Week 1 when he threw for well over 400 yards in one of the best passing days of the entire season by a quarterback. Many think that the Texans have the worst secondary in football, and based upon the fact that they are allowing 306.2 yards per game through the air, there is some really good justification for that. Unless the pressure gets to be too tough in the backfield for Manning, there’s no way that he doesn’t reach this number. Of course, nothing ever really ruffles the feathers of No. 18, so there’s no way that we are doing anything but playing Manning Over 300.5 Passing Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook) on Monday Night Football.

Arian Foster Over/Under 99.5 Rushing Yards
Are we certifiably insane here? Foster ran the ball 33 times in Week 1 and had the best rushing day of the season against the Colts, rumbling for 233 yards and three scores! However, we just aren’t so sure about the former Tennessee Volunteer’s chances in this one. Indianapolis has gotten significantly better against the run in recent weeks, and with LT Duane Brown out of the lineup serving a suspension, the Texans are missing perhaps their best run blocker in the lineup. There’s also something significantly different about playing this game from behind than from ahead, and we know that Houston isn’t going to march into Lucas Oil Field and absolutely beat the Colts down physically like they did in Week 1. Foster has a chance of getting to 100 yards on the day, but we tend to think that this is a bet for suckers only. The Texans are a passing team, and they’re going to show it on Monday. Go with Foster Under 99.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

Andre Johnson Over/Under 78.5 Receiving Yards
Let’s be real here for a second. Andre Johnson is a man amongst boys on the field, and it seems like he can single handedly take over a game when need be. He is the best player in Houston’s lineup and it isn’t even close, and there is no way that he is going to be taken out of a game like this like he was in Week 1. It’s not that Indy really did anything special to eliminate the Miami Hurricanes standout in the first clash of the year. It’s that the running game was working so well that there was no need to put the pigskin in the air. Don’t be shocked if Johnson gets involved early and often, especially after the bye week that should help heal any nagging wounds that have kept him on the sidelines at times this year. After that huge performance against Kansas City when he single handedly won the game, Johnson should have no problem going Over 78.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

Pierre Garcon Over/Under 3.5 Receptions
With TE Dallas Clark out of the lineup and WR Austin Collie considered extremely questionable, we know that someone has to step up to take over the reception load of one of the best tight ends in the game. Normally speaking, we would suggest that WR Anthony Gonzalez would be able to do that, but we aren’t so sure that he’ll be 100% effective even if he is able to start to play again for the first time since the very beginning of last season. We aren’t so sure that Garcon is going to be that man either, but if Manning is going to be throwing 45-50 passes in this game, we are very sure that at least a half dozen of them are heading in the Mount Union product’s direction. We find it very unlikely that Garcon doesn’t go Over 3.5 Receiving Yards (-155 at Hollywood Sportsbook).

The hot seat. Every coach finds himself on it at some point in his career. Some persevere, while others fold under the pressure. This year in the NFL, there are a number of coaches that are facing potential do or die situations. Check out who those coaches are, why they’re in trouble, what we can expect of them this year, and their odds to win the Super Bowl.

Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Bottom line: When you’re not a good coaching hire in the first place, you’re always on the hot seat. Gailey was an awful coach at virtually every stop along the way in his career, and this is probably going to be no exception. It looks like he has decided that QB Trent Edwards is the man to try to take his team from the ranks of the worst in the league to respectability. No chance. Edwards is, at best, the fifth best quarterback in this division, and he is clearly not the answer. Gailey will probably survive regardless, but this year has the potential to be a bloody one. We’ve seen coaches dismissed after one year before. Gailey might be the next in line.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Playoffs or bust. That’s the ultimatum that has been handed down from owner Bob McNair to Kubiak this year for the Texans. This is the only franchise in the NFL that has never tasted the playoffs, and by now, the fourth year of his rule in Houston, the Texans should be making the playoffs, particularly with the type of talent that the team has. The only problem is that the schedule is an absolute nightmare this year. Houston has also already lost its second round draft pick and projected starting RB Ben Tate, which really only leaves RBs Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. This could be a bad situation if Foster doesn’t pan out. Still, the top rated passing attack in the NFL from last year is only getting better with every pass that QB Matt Schaub throws. Every year this team gets better and better. Last year was the squad’s first season above .500. This should be the year that the playoffs are reached.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars (+10000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): Here’s a man that probably should have already been fired. Jacksonville has drafted poorly in recent years, and it is really catching up. The team simply isn’t that great. The decision to make QB David Garrard the starter a few years ago paid off in the short term but has crippled the franchise now that it really needs its boost, as the Jags are threatening to move to Los Angeles if ticket sales don’t pick up. Unless RB Maurice Jones-Drew intends on having a year like Chris Johnson did last season in Tennessee, don’t expect Del Rio to be heading anywhere but the unemployment line once the year is out.

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles (+3000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): It’s hard to think that the Eagles would part ways with Reid after all of the playoff years that this franchise has had, but this is the same team that just dumped QB Donovan McNabb unceremoniously to a divisional rival in exchange for a bag of peanuts and a box of footballs. Reid needs to at least finish .500 this year with new QB Kevin Kolb, or he might be out the door. The Eagles are searching for a new direction, and the fact that Reid only brought the team to one Super Bowl and never won the big one could ultimately cost him. If the standard of his job is going to be measured on the playoffs, the City of Brotherly Love will be watching the last season of Reid on the sidelines in green.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears (+5000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Bears made the biggest splash of the offseason last year when they acquired QB Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos. Cutler failed miserably, and the team flat out stunk last season. Now, Chicago was back at it again this year, picking up DE Julius Peppers, the best free agent that the open market has seen in years in the NFL. An 0-3 start to the preseason with just 36 total points scored isn’t a good start if you’re looking to put good mojo into your team for your make or break season. Somehow, Smith, just like Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati, finds a way to keep saving his job with one good year every so often. This could be that “every so often” year in the Windy City… but if it isn’t, it is high time that Smith goes.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers (+6000 to win Super Bowl XLV at JustBet Sportsbook): The Panthers know that this is probably going to be a down year, but Fox is just as much putting them on the hot seat as they are putting him there. The team did go out and dump QB Jake Delhomme after so many failed seasons, and they even brought in his eventual successor, QB Jimmy Clausen in the NFL Draft. However, Fox doesn’t want to wait for some rookie to groom. He wants to win and win now. The rushing attack is great with both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart capable of rushing for 1,000+ yards. However, the defense lost the aforementioned Peppers and has a lot of work to do to return to respectability. The Panthers are clearly the third best team in this division, and the end result could be a long, long season in which Fox either gets fired before its conclusion, or tells the team that he is not renewing his contract at season’s end.

In light of the on-going Michael Crabtree holdout, the NFL is in a situation that could blemish their image for some time to come. There was always the constant thought in the back of the fans’ mind that some of the players in the NFL were only in it for the money and in all rights, is a fair statement for some. However, there is an ever growing trend of holdouts and contract ultimatums that are sweeping through the NFL every year. Players are demanding more money at the first on-site of success and it seems like nobody is ever happy with their contracts. These increasing trends have fueled sour emotions from NFL enthusiasts. With the recent talk of removing the salary cap in the NFL, it does not seem like the money issues will be going away anytime in the near future. College players are often proposed huge amounts of money before they ever step on the field.  These players often want more money before they prove themselves at the next level. Then you have players who have breakout seasons and what’s the first thing they do they do? They cash in on the statistics, demanding for raises and contract re-negotiations. We take a look at 5 of the greediest players in the NFL over the past few seasons and give you some insight in to how foolish some of these contract debacles play out.

#5. WR Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons) – Roddy White became a force for the Atlanta Falcons in his 3rd season, catching 83 receptions for 1,202 yards and 6 scores. A year later in the 2008 season those numbers improved with help from one of the best rookie quarterbacks that ever stepped on the field. White ended 2008 with 88 catches and ranked 4th in the NFL with 1,382 yards. However, following the breakout season that resulted in White’s first trip to a Pro Bowl things took an ugly turn. Entering the 2009 off-season, White was to begin the 5th year of a 5 year contract worth 2.28 million for the season. However, that was not nearly good enough for Roddy, when he announced he would not return to the team until he got the type of money he deserves for being an elite NFL target. It just happened to workout for White. After days of negotiation, White was offered a contract for 6 years worth 50 million dollars, becoming the 2nd highest paid receiver in the NFL. The proposal was good enough to get White back on the practice fields immediately and satisfied for at least a few more years. However, the deal has not appeared to be beneficial to the Falcons considering White has caught just 15 passes for 119 yards through his first 3 games in 2009.  At this rate, he will be worth around $13,000 for every yard he produces for the Falcons organization.

#4. CB Dunta Robinson (Houston Texans) – Dunta Robinson was a first round pick for the Texans back in 2004.  He jumped out to an impressive start in his rookie season picking off 6 passes. The early success brought some big bucks to the Texans star cornerback.  However, Robinson has failed to repeat the success he has had in his rookie season. Robinson has had a season high, 2 interceptions since the 2004 season, and when his contract expired at the end of last season things got interesting. Robinson wanted money that a top 5 corner in the NFL would receive (around 23 million). However, Houston administration offered him just 18 million and evidently that was an insult to the young defensive back. While 5 million is a lot of money, it’s definitely not a soft proposal due to Robinson’s production in the NFL. However, Robinson held out from signing a long term contract and settled for 1 year deal making fewer than 10 million for the 2009 season. Robinson made even more headlines this season when his cleats were inscribed with the words “Pay me Rick” on the hill of the shoe. A statement aimed at Texans general manager Rick Smith. The move by Robinson to withhold from long term contract, reportedly cost the Texans cornerback 23 million in guaranteed funds.

#3. Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills) – Owens’ contract propaganda, like his career, may be coming to an end. But, that does not take away from the multiple contract tirades that were given over the course of his career. Owens burst on the scene 1996 with the San Francisco 49ers and did not really breakout until the 2001 season. After a few pay increases and stable years, Owens became unhappy during the 2003 season and wanted to “explore his options.” The move was to land a bigger contract and that he did in 2004, when the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a 7 year deal worth 48 million dollars. Evidently the contract was not good enough. A year later after making 7.5 million the season prior, Owens openly stated that he needed a new contract “to feed his family.” After tons of controversy during his tenure with the Eagles, Owens was given a 2nd chance by the Dallas Cowboys, when they gave him a 3 year deal worth 25 million. Owens became an effective force in Dallas in lure of an elite passing offense destined for success. After posting a 1,355 yard season in 2007, Owens received another contract renewal for 4 years equaling 34 millions and more importantly, a 12 million signing bonus. While the deal was never made a public affair, it was reported the Owens requested a salary increase following the big year for the Cowboys. However, that would be the last of the salary saga for the controversial wide receiver. Owens was cut from Dallas following 2008 after internal conflict and picked up by the Buffalo Bills, where he has yet to produce this season catching just 8 passes for 158 yards (as of week 4)

#2. QB JaMarcus Russell (Oakland Raiders) – JaMarcus Russell was selected as the number 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, but when the contract negotiations did not add up.  Russell’s career went from the highest of high to the lowest of lows. In retrospect, the holdout was simply ridiculous. Russell was offered a 6 year deal for 60 million dollar contract with a guaranteed amount of 26.5 million. However, that was not good enough for the rookie who had never stepped on the field. The lucrative part of the story was not that Russell was unsatisfied with the yearly figures, but was looking for 30 million in guaranteed money. It almost seemed like he had 28 million in credit card debt that had to be taken care of right away. The holdout lasted several weeks which was enough time for the Raiders future quarterback to miss both training camps and all of the preseason. As a result, Russell was so far behind that he played catch up for the remainder of the 2007 season, starting just 4 games. To make matters worse, Russell has yet to have any success in the NFL after demanding all the money before ever proving his worthiness. Russell currently sits ranked dead last out of all starters for 2009 with a quarterback rating of 42.4 which has included just 1 touchdown pass all year with 4 other interceptions.  In 2009, Al Davis is currently paying JaMarcus around 1.6 million dollars per touchdown pass.

#1. WR Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) – Whatever happened to proving your worth in your profession? Up until week 5, where negotiations were opened up again, the Michael Crabtree holdout was beginning to look like it could have ended up being the most ridiculous and foolish holdout in NFL history. After months of non-negotiations and each passing week of regular season action, it appeared that Crabtree was not going to play at all in his rookie season. The 49ers’ tenth overall pick in the 2009 draft was expected to be the first receiver selected in the NFL draft, but went 2nd behind Maryland’s Darius Heyward-Bey. Heyward-Bey and the Raiders reached a 5 year deal worth 38 millions, with 23.5 million guaranteed. However, Crabtree assumed that because of his name, he was worth more then what Heyward-Bey was paid by the Raiders.  He demanded that he get more than the 23.5 million guaranteed that Heyward-Bey received.  Evidently the 49ers have no interest in paying him that kind of money and doing so would give future rookies the impression that they can re-write the “slotting system” rules of rookie contract negotiations. So, “Crabs” and the 49ers organization haven’t reached any type of agreement after four weeks of NFL action. At this point, he has missed so much time of development and may no longer be worth the 20 million (plus incentives) that the 49ers originally offered him. Crabtree now has put himself into a foolish situation where he could miss the entire 2009 season. The question a lot of people are asking is what other team would want negotiate a deal with him for 2010 after missing an entire year of football? Even if a team were to negotiate with him, it would be unwise to offer him the type of money initially offered by the 49ers. However, the saga continues to put a bad taste on the perception of greed in the NFL. Crabtree’s public perception is also being ruined by this holdout, and if he doesn’t change his ways, so could his career in the NFL.