Would Jerry Jones consider hiring Bobby Richardson as head coach?

It might not be a bad idea considering how the Dallas Cowboys faded while Bobby finished strong to win The Eagle's 18-Mammal Prognosticator Panel.

Bobby correctly picked Alabama to beat LSU in the BCS national championship game, a victory that denied Eagle sports writer David Campbell a co-championship.

Bryan firefighter Randy McGregor also had a chance to win this year's Prog Panel title heading into the last four bowl games, but he settled for third place, with sponsor Paul Atkinson of Atkinson Toyota taking fourth. KZNE SportsTalk host Chip Howard missed a chance to add another title to his record seven with a dismal 17-13 finish over the bowl games and high school state championships, dropping him to fifth.

So maybe we should look for Jones to hire Chip instead of Bobby.

Randy had the line of the year when he was asked which day would be better for him to get together and eat some pizza.

"Food? Either day will work for me but willing to do both," Randy said.

You gotta love those hard-working firefighters.

Our guest pickers claimed four of the top nine spots with Bryan's Kord Bratsen and College Station fire department captain Chris Kelly following the lead set by Bobby, a Robertson County firefighter for the Black Jack community.

It wasn't all good for the firefighters, however. Bryan's Ponch Gonzales finished last, two picks ahead of College Station deputy fire marshal Eric Dotson.

College Station fire department lieutenant Pat Quinlan was kind of jealous that Ponch claimed the basement.

"I guess I blew it," Pat said. "I was hoping to come in last. You see these firefighters are a sensitive lot, and I thought I would boost their spirits by letting them beat me like a bad dog. You understand, don't you?"

Sure. Every now and then when we're playing a golf scramble, the guys tank on a tee shot, so we use one of my drives. It works.

Pat also has a greater appreciation of those who try to pick football winners.

"It was a fun way to spend the season," he said. "I was yelled at by old friends I had not seen in years, like across the parking lot at Kroger's. Something like, 'Hey, loser, quit pickin' football and try pinochle.'"

It could be worse. He could be a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Wonder Dog Buddy Cessna saw his great season fade with a 16-14 finish that left him ahead of only two mammals. He blamed it on a high paw sprain.

Paul beat Eagle editor Kelly Brown by eight picks, avenging last year's loss that cost him a lunch. Kelly did beat Eagle publisher Jim Wilson by two picks.

We end the season with our Super Bowl picks listed below.

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Patriots 21, Giants 17: "Manning is not elite nor will he get that lucky again." -- Bobby Richardson, Robertson County volunteer fire department

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Giants 34, Patriots 28: "If a guy named Manning plays quarterback in Indianapolis, I'm taking that team." -- David Campbell, Eagle sports writer

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Giants 34, Patriots 31: "Eli will have a fourth-quarter comeback yet again." -- Randy McGregor, Bryan fire department

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Giants 24, Patriots 21: "Manning makes a last-minute 80-yard drive for a field goal with no time on clock. -- Paul Atkinson, Atkinson Toyota

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Giants 24, Patriots 23: "Is that an NFL question? Which Prognosticator Panel do you work for?" -- Larry Bowen, Eagle sports writer, who received national notoriety when Baylor football coach Art Briles took exception to Larry's innocent question to Robert Griffin III. We thought of sending Larry to the Super Bowl, but no Baylor Bear made it.

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Cowboys 12, Texans 9: "Seven field goals." -- Chip Howard, KZNE SportsTalk (obviously, his late-season collapse is not over)

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Giants 27, Patriots 17: "Both offenses will struggle at times with the way each teams' defenses are playing as of lately. But I feel that the Giants are going to have a strong third quarter and the Patriots are going to struggle offensively with the Giants front four on the D-Line. However if the Patriots can somehow contain the Giants D-Line and give Tom Brady some protection, could be in for a much higher offensive game. Giants can't give Brady too much time in the pocket." -- Kord Bratsen, Bryan fire department.

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Patriots 35, Giants 31: "Gronkowski catches the game-winner as time expires. We can only hope for that exciting of a game." -- Chris Kelly, College Station fire department captain

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Giants 28, Patriots 24: "About six weeks ago, I said the Giants are going to win the Super Bowl. Can't switch now." -- Robert Premeaux, Eagle sports editor

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Giants something, Patriots something minus six: "Dan Patrick picked the Giants and anyone who can get Kate Upton and Chrissy Telgan into his man cave is all right by me." -- Richard Croome, Eagle sports writer

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Patriots 31 Giants 24: -- Jim Wilson, Eagle publisher (Since I gave the pickers only 24 hours to make the selection, Jim didn't have time to produce a pick and a reason for it)

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Giants 21, Patriots 17: "I always root for the underdog." -- Dog Buddy Cessna

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Giants 31, Patriots 24: "The Giants D came on real strong at around game 10. I think Eli can play well enough to make it happen. Besides I'm a lifelong Steeler fan and don't want the Patsy's to catch up." -- Pat Quinlan, College Station fire department lieutenant

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Giants 17, Patriots 14: "In the Reenactment of the Battle of XLII, I pick the New York Football Giants to prevail over the Noble Patriots of New England in a shockingly familiar outcome." -- Emily Staples, South Brazos County fire chief

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Patriots 42, Giants 23: "Let's go with the Patriots. Brady has a hard time losing and he has the better looking wife/girlfriend or whatever she is. Plus I just don't care for little Manning ever since the draft and the San Diego thing." -- Eric Dotson, College Station deputy fire marshal

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Patriots 27, Giants 21: "AFC team to win this year. Go Texans ... next year!" -- Ponch Gonzales, Bryan fire department