Most impressed with: With their 35-7 victory over the Rams, the Cowboys are now averaging over 35 points a game under new OC Jason Garrett. No wonder Jerry Jones aggressively pursued Garrett last offseason, even though his resume was limited to coaching quarterbacks in Miami for two seasons.

Least impressed with: After drinking massive amounts of Steelers Kool-Aid the past few weeks, I was disappointed with their performance against the Cardinals. But hey, there are worse things than losing to a talented Arizona team on the road. See below.

Wake up call goes to: The Chargers and Norv Turner’s grace period is over. In order to be considered an elite contender in the AFC, they can’t lose 30-16 at home to a struggling Chiefs team.

Play of the day: Andre Davis’s (5 rec., 117 yards, 1 TD) one-handed 35-yard touchdown pass while being interfered with by the Falcons’ Chris Houston was sweet. He basically gripped the ball with one hand and controlled it on Houston’s shoulder while being tackled in mid-air.

Stock Up: Lions…Stock Down: Ravens

Many applauds to: It wasn’t surprising to hear Brett Favre say he cared more about getting a victory than breaking the all-time record for TD passes…It’s amazing what the Browns can do with a real offensive coordinator – Rob Chudzinski is doing a great job…The Lions front seven is vastly underrated…Joey Harrington’s numbers since the Falcons signed Byron Leftwich: 54 of 73 for 584 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs…What an insurance policy the Colts have in Kenton Keith (10 carries, 80 rushing yards) for when Joseph Addai (136 rushing yards, 1 TD) needs a breather…It sounds a bit absurd, but Arizona fans have to appreciate the fact that Ken Whisenhunt is trying to win instead of just worrying about Matt Leinart’s development…Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has some of the best game plans in the game, and he always gets the most out of his players…

Cheap shots: Joey Porter should realize that he’s not in Pittsburgh anymore and therefore guaranteeing wins on a bad team makes him look foolish… I apologize to anyone who actually watched the entire Bills-Jets game…David Carr’s apologists had to cringe with how bad he played against Tampa…Baltimore racked up 418 total yards of offense and somehow only managed to score 13 points…The 49ers’ 2-0 start must seem like a distant memory…

Brian Westbrook is listed as questionable, but hasn’t practiced this week. He plays in the Sunday night game so owners have to decide whether or not to roll the dice if they don’t have Correll Buckhalter as insurance…Anquan Boldin missed practice again on Friday and will be listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh…Hines Ward is out for the Steelers, so expect Santonio Holmes to have a good game. Nate Washington also gets a bump; he’ll start in Ward’s place…Brandon Jacobs practiced this week, but doesn’t expect to play against the Eagles Sunday night. Derrick Ward will get the start, but Philly has a pretty good rush D, so be cautious…Kellen Winslow participated in a limited practice on Friday and should start on Sunday, but owners should make sure he is active prior to gametime…Brandon Jackson will probably miss Sunday’s game against the Vikings with shin injury…The news on Larry Johnson is a bit spotty. He didn’t practice on Thursday, but at press time there is no word about Friday’s practice. Michael Bennett would get the start if LJ can’t go…Calvin Johnson was limited on Friday and will be questionable going into Sunday’s game.

Shockingly, Michael Vick is in more trouble. Apparently, Vick doesn’t feel that he has to re-pay banks that loan him cash and rental cars.

1st Source Bank of South Bend said in a federal lawsuit it suffered damages of at least $2 million because Vick and Divine Seven LLC of Atlanta had refused to pay for the vehicles. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Last week, the Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in federal court in Virginia for more than $2.3 million that it said he had planned to use for real estate investments.

Just to remind those who might be unaware or have forgotten, when Vick signed his 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons in 2004, he also received $37 million in bonuses. I can’t imagine that an illegal dog fighting operation costs more than a few million maybe, so that still leaves over $30 million to spend, and I’m not even counting the money he got from his base salary or endorsements. So why, oh why then, could this guy not pay back the measly $4 million he owed to these banks? Not only that, but why did this unbelievable ass clown think he could get away with stiffing not one, but two banks? It’s amazing to me how he can even get dressed in the morning without some sort of assistance.

SPORTSbyBROOKS.com stumbled upon an article by the San Antonio Express-News, that Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione was sending out a secret e-mail newsletter to select boosters with information about his football team that he was withholding from the media. Franchione was charging a yearly fee of $1,200 to each booster.

The info included injury reports that were not provided to the media along with assessments of players by the A&M coaching staff that were much more candid than what was made available to the public.

Franchione: “I knew it was probably going to be controversial. I certainly didn’t mean for it to be that. When I knew you guys were starting to ask around a bit, I thought, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t do this.’”

The money collected was “used to underwrite his personal Web site, coachfran.com.”

Considering players can lose scholarships and receive hefty suspensions for receiving money from boosters, what made Franchione say to himself that this was a good idea? How unfair is it to Aggie fans that he was withholding information from the media so he could stuff it into his secret newsletter to boosters? Fans rely on the media to supply them with information they can’t normally obtain through just watching games, and Franchione completely undermined that whole process. How stupid and selfish.

Thanks to a bout of food poisoning, my week 3 recollections are a bit hazy. However, I was able to glean a few useful tidbits for fantasy owners, including Ronnie Brown’s return to a feature role, Marion Barber’s arrival in Studsville and Tom Brady’s heist of Peyton’s QB crown. It’s all in my latest column.

Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Carson Palmer or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Ben Roethlisberger, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

START ‘EM

QB: Chad Pennington has a nice matchup against Buffalo, who has yielded 286 yards and 2 TD per game to opposing QBs this season…Jeff Garcia is also a decent option for those in need of QB help. The Panthers have given up 252 yards and 1.7 TD per game through the air thus far…Everything is lined up for Brian Griese for his first start of the season. He faces the Lions, who have allowed a league-worst 296 passing yards per game this season, along with an average of 2 pass TD per game…At this point in his career, Steve McNair is a dicey start, but he has a great matchup with Cleveland. The Browns have given up an average of 263 passing yards and 3.7 pass TD in three games.

RB: Marshawn Lynch is a good start against the Jets, who have allowed an average of 121 yards and 1 TD on the ground in three games…Definitely start Thomas Jones against Buffalo – the league’s worst rush defense…He’s been spotty thus far, but Cedric Benson should be good for 90 yards and a score against a Detroit defense that is 23rd against the run and has allowed 2 rush TD per game.

WR: It seems strange, but the Ravens have been pretty mediocre against the pass (255 yards per game), and especially bad against opposing WRs. This means Braylon Edwards could be in for a big day…Dwayne Bowe is coming on and he’s facing a Chargers defense that has allowed 264 yards per game. He’s an option for those needing help at WR…Chris Chambers (vs. OAK), Wes Welker (@ CIN), Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery (@ BUF) all have favorable matchups this week.

SIT ‘EM

QB: Don’t count on much from Matt Leinart, who faces a Steelers defense that is on fire. He may also be reeling from being benched last week…Jay Cutler (@ IND) and Phillip Rivers (vs. KC) have difficult matchups this week…Be sure to stay away from Jake Delhomme if at all possible. Not only is he iffy to play, he faces a Bucs defense that is playing great right now; they’re allowing just 187 yards per game.

RB: Edgerrin James faces a Steelers defense that has allowed just 80 yards a game on the ground and has yet to allow a rushing TD…Rudi Johnson is out for Monday’s game against the Patriots, but you should also stay away from his backup, Kenny Watson. The Pats have yielded an average of just 74 yards on the ground and 0.3 rush TD per game…Jamal Lewis should be avoided, if possible. The Ravens are the league’s #1 rush defense (62 yards per game) and haven’t allowed a rushing TD yet this season.

WR: Those hoping for Andre Davis to produce again this week may be disappointed. Atlanta is 0-3, but they are pretty good at suppressing their opponents’ WRs…Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are still startable, but they are up against a tough Steelers D. The entire Arizona passing game figures to struggle…For those of you that haven’t heard, Craig Davis is now “Buster” Davis. He had a nice game against Green Bay, but don’t expect him to do too much against the Chiefs, who have been surprisingly good against the pass (183 yards per game).

SLEEPER OF THE WEEK

Ron Dayne (@ ATL)
I’ve been burned by Dayne before (haven’t we all?) but he shouldn’t be a bad start for those desperate souls dealing with bye week issues. With Ahman Green out, he figures to be the main ball carrier and he has a favorable matchup against Atlanta, who has allowed 142 yards a game on the ground.

TOUGH SLEDDING

Larry Johnson (@ SD)
The LJ saga continues. He’s still worth a start (assuming he plays), but he has a tender hammy and he’s facing a tough Chargers defense that has only yielded 88 yards per game. But there’s good news for Johnson owners: his schedule lightens up considerably after week 5 and he has two great matchups in weeks 15 and 16. Let’s hope he lasts that long!

Shawn Marion is grumbling again. Only this time, he’s officially requesting a trade.

Marion is fed up with another summer of the Suns considering to trade him. Marion is irked that the team is not willing to talk about a contract extension. After eight years in Phoenix, Marion wants to leave the Suns and has let the team know in recent weeks.

“I’m tired of hearing my name in trades,” Marion said by phone from his Chicago home Tuesday night. “I love my fans in Phoenix but I think it’s time for me to move on.”

It was apparent that over the last few years, Marion has been increasingly frustrated with the (perceived) lack of attention he gets playing in Phoenix along Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Earlier this year, almost a year after Nash won his second MVP award, Marion vented some frustration to ESPN’s Chris Palmer.

“Steve is the MVP of the league,” says Marion, “but I’ve had people tell me I am the MVP of the team.”

“I want the recognition,” says Marion, who got fewer votes for February’s All-Star Game than Shane Battier. “I feel I’ve done what it takes to get it, but for some reason it hasn’t happened.”

I’m not sure what Marion’s beef is here. He’s due to make $33.6 million over the next two years, and is the Suns’ highest-paid player. Phoenix is on a very short list of legitimate contenders and was one game (and two bench clearing infractions) away from upsetting the Spurs in last year’s playoffs. His current situation looks pretty good and there are any number of players that would jump at the chance to switch places with him.

He’s going to be 31 in the summer of ’09 when his contract expires and he is rumored to want a three-year, $60 million extension. Who can blame the Suns for wanting to wait and see what Marion’s game is like in two years before committing to such a Shaq-like contract?

He’s also upset about his name being bandied about in trade rumors, but that has a lot to do with his attitude about his current situation. Besides, trade rumors are a part of the NBA and players have to learn to live with them.

There are several interested teams, including the Lakers (who would swap Lamar Odom) and the Jazz (who would swap Andrei Kirilenko), but the Suns seem content to stand pat. They’re not going to give Marion away unless they’re able to get a really good player and some salary cap relief in the process.

Marion needs to realize he’s in a terrific situation. He needs to work his ass off this year, get his ring, and then deal with his future next summer.

Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez is hinting that he wants to stay in New York according to an article by the Lower Hudson Online. Rodriguez’s contract doesn’t expire until 2011, but he can opt out at the end of this season.

“This feels like home. It’s hard to believe that I played for another two organizations. So much has happened to me here – adversity, some success – that I feel like anything but New York feels weird for me now,” Rodriguez said.

It will be interesting to see if A-Rod’s return to the Bronx is going to be about timing. If the Yankees go on to win the World Series this year, the same fans that have booed him relentlessly in the past will certainly want his face on a plaque by the turn of next year. However, what if he barely hits .200 and the Yankees bow out in the first round again? Will another public outcry be enough to convince him to look for greener pastures? My prediction is that A-Rod is going to price himself out of a ton of markets anyway, and therefore will return to the Yankees regardless of how they finish this season.

What’s your prediction on A-Rod’s future? Will he return to the Yankees or will another team pony up for his services?

The Atlanta Journal-Consitituion is reporting that just 17 days after he struck a plea agreement deal in federal dog fighting charges and vowed to refrain from use of unlawful narcotics, Michael Vick tested positive for marijuana.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick tested positive for marijuana, has been confined to his Virginia residence, ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device and receive mental health counseling, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

It’s good to see that Vick will receive mental health counseling, because obviously there’s a screw or two loose in this guy’s head. It probably wasn’t a good idea for you to go out and smoke the hippie lettuce juice while you were on probation and likely to get tested, Mikey. Good thing you noted in your apology speech how you were going to turn your life around and start taking responsibility for your actions. You’re without a doubt off to an incredible start.

Somewhere Pacman Jones is on his knees thanking the moron gods that somebody is actually dumber than he is.

The people have spoken and they have said proudly, “We want an *!” Marc Ecko, the man who purchased Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th home run ball for $752,467, has officially decided to brand the piece of history with an asterisk. Ecko came to the decision after holding an online poll asking fans what he should do with the home run ball. The choices included donating the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame unscathed, blasting it into outer space, or branding it with an asterisk.

The HOF will still accept the ball, however, even with the asterisk branded into one of its sides.

“This ball wouldn’t be coming to Cooperstown if Marc hadn’t bought it from the fan who caught it and then let the fans have their say,” Petroskey told The Associated Press. “We’re delighted to have the ball. It’s a historic piece of baseball history.”

I think Ecko and the fans that voted made their point loud and clear. The ball will forever be enshrined in the HOF with a big, black branded asterisk on it. It’s remarkable to think that no matter what Bonds says or does in protest of Ecko’s decision, there’s nothing he can do about it. At least in this particular instance, the ball will forever serve as a reminder to him and baseball fans that he cheated.