Elton John has nothing on me. I am still clinging to my bifocal-rose-colored glasses as my 49ers struggle against pants around the knees coaching. Somehow they control second place in the NFC West with a 3-7 record. That's the good news.

The bad news? Where do I begin?

The San Francisco Forty Niners have been floundering ever since John York and Denise DeBartolo York tossed Steve Mariucci out on his ear.
They tried Dennis Erickson and that was a big flop. They tried Mike Nolan, and although he sure was easy on the eyes and looked dapper in a suit, he just couldn't get the team going. Nolan's biggest failure was his inability to develop his number one pick, Alex Smith. Enter Mike Singletary shadowed by Mike Martz.

This tandem is the equivalent of oil and water.

Mike and Mike, one with head coaching experience, one without. One with offensive experience, one without. One with the passion of a former player, the other with the passion of a mad scientist.

One has to wonder if this marriage will survive the season. If it does, don't expect the coaching staff to look anything like it does now as the 2009 season begins.

Changes, they are coming, again. They have to.

Fans have been promised a new team, new faces, more wins, a taste of the playoffs, and so it goes. Here we are ready to play week 12 and the Niners are 3-7 by virtue of three wins over three very terrible teams, the Seahawks, the Lions and the Rams.
If you think that indicates progress then I have some resort property in Afghanistan for you.

Football Follies.

The 11-10 fiasco in Pittsburg lost gamblers millions of dollars. Oh, does the NFL condone betting? Of course not, but the truth is the NFL's success is due in very large measure to the obsession with fantasy sports and gambling. When the NFL becomes self righteous about beer and gambling they are disingenuous since these two products account for much of the interest and money spent for at and during the game.

Donovan McNabb is getting trashed because he didn't know that a regulation game could end in a tie. Why the fuss? It's the coach's job to know the rules, and I suspect that isn't always the case. Problem is the tie might be the Eagle's death knell in the NFC East.

Ocho Cinco was deactivated for Thursday's game (tonight vs. the Steelers on the NFL Network). Ocho Cinco is not a happy camper and is likely headed out of Bengal country at season's end. His talent will be a valuable asset to any team who needs a double threat, receiver and clown.

I have been pretty impressed with some old guys and some young guns recently.

Old Guys Rule
Brett Favre-lous, I for one did not think Brett should have un-retired. But he is the second coming of Ole Blue Eyes, just doing it his way.

Kerry Collins used to rip up the Niners when he was with the Panthers. He has fought his way back from alcohol abuse and is now playing at a very high level. This old guy does rule. Vince who?

Kurt Warner is another old guy that is setting the field on fire. Matt Leinart was poised to be the face of the Cardinals, but guess what; it's Kurt who will take this team to the playoffs.

Young Guns

There are a few notable young quarterbacks exceeding expectations in their first starting season in the NFL.

Matt Ryan, Falcons.
Trent Edwards, Bills

Matt Cassel, Pats

Joe Flacco, Ravens
Aaron Rodgers, Packers

With only 6 weeks left in the regular season, my rose colored glasses are decidedly fogged up with sweat and tears.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road .