Jeff Hart: Friday Linkfest for January 20, 2012

By: Jeff Hart | Posted: January 20, 2012

Even if Peyton Manning does return to the Colts next season, it will be like stepping onto a new squad. Jim Irsay has pretty much fired everyone but the grounds crew in Indy, retaining only six members of last season’s 2-14 coaching staff. It’s looking more and more possible that Rob Lowe could be right. Of course, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is feeling a little bitter about being scooped:

Massive football fan and current Vice President Joe Biden wowed the audience at a Bay Area fundraiser by declaring the San Francisco Giants were on their way to the Super Bowl. That has to be some kind of jinx, right?

More importantly, things are heating up between the players in the NFC Championship. Victor Cruz says he has a score to settle with Carlos Rogers. The 49ers defensive back aped Cruz’s salsa dance TD celebration following a pick-six on Eli in the teams’ first meeting.

And, following comments made by former 49er Jerry Rice that he was “soft,” Giants running back Brandon Jacobs is now encouraging the 49ers defense to hit him high. If I was Jacobs, I wouldn’t go saying that around Donte Whitner.

Meanwhile, the AFC is still looking for a new viral photo trend to latch onto now that Tebowing has been vanquished until fall. Dane Cook’s “Bradying” didn’t take, so now fans are turning to “Gronking.” Don’t worry, you don’t have to know any adult film stars to participate.

A record number of underclassmen have been granted eligibility for this year’s draft. This year’s 65 diploma-less hopefuls is nine more than last year’s then record-setting number.

Finally, free agency is still a couple months away, but NBC Sports wants all football fans to know that tampering season has officially begun. And, like all good journalism, NBC Sports is not releasing the names of any accused tamper-ers or tamper-ees, nor confirming any reports or running down sources. EXPLOSIVE STUFF!

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