Posted by Will Brinson

There's really no need to chastise me for the title. I've already hit my head on my desk 15 times since I put it in there. As always, if you've got a link for the Hot Routes, follow us on Twitter @CBSSportsNFL or feel free to email links to will [dot] brinson [at] cbs [dot] com .

• It warrants mentioning what new Giant linebacker Keith Bulluck said to the New York Times before last night's contest that clearly decided who was New York's most important football team: “If you’re from New York, you know who New York’s football team is: the New York Giants,” Bulluck said. “I’m a Mets fan, but I know who New York’s baseball team is: the New York Yankees. The Jets haven’t won nothing since Broadway Joe. ” Who's excite for this "rivalry" to be as annoying as Red Sox - Yankees within the next six months? /raises hand

• Giants won the game, obviously, but Eli Manning got a little beat up -- if not for a certain backup wideout (more on him in a second), Eli's bloody head would have been the top story. Fortunately, Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News' "The Blue Screen" reports that Eli is "fine" and "normal."

• Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger discusses Shonn Greene, who certainly seems like he's fine with what  LaDainian Tomlinson brings to the team and the role he's being given. Just like the rest of the Jets, he just wants to move onto the Super Bowl parade.

• Like video highlights of football without feeling dirty for viewing them illegally? My man Brian Bassett at The Jets Blog has your one-stop spot for everything Jets and Giants related from last night.

• The guys over at Big Blue View handed the most kudos of the evening out to wideout Victor Cruz, who went b-a-n-a-n-a-s against the Jets with three TDs. Good quotes from Jim Sorgi as well, although I'm not sure compliments Sorgi is what you're looking for if you're trying to be a starter .

• Joe Namath apparently never recognized the name "Giants Stadium" and always referred to the old stadium as the Meadowlands. Which obviously means that he's approximately as insane as the state of Texas.

• Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network believes that Falcons' DT Kroy Biermann is set to become the next "great pass rusher" in the NFL . Baldy makes a great point about later-round picks becoming elite rushers (Jared Allen, Trent Cole, Elvis Dumervil) before putting on his Jay Bilas Cap and declaring that Biermann will have success because of his "motor." An aggressive double-digit sack prediction then follows.

• Al Harris (he of the Chicago Bears in the 1980's) missed the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl run because he sat out the season with a contract dispute. Sound familiar yet? Because Gary Myers of the New York Daily News believes Darrelle Revis could also suffer the same fate. Unfortunately, the Jets ALREADY WON THE 2010 SUPER BOWL. IT'S TOO LATE, DARRELLE! MUAHAHAHA ... Er, sorry. I watched "Hard Knocks" again this morning.

• Sebastian Janikowski cracks Unathletic Mag's list of "best guts in sports." Good for, um, him?

• The guys at "New Meadlowlands Stadium" (I'm waiting for their price to drop to seven figures before I cut the check and get it named "Brinsonland World Stadium") want to play the role of Switzerland , remaining neutral in the Jets-Giants semi-war. But, duh, that's just good bizness.

Josh Katzowitz and Andy Benoit resume their debate, this time taking a look at the top five kickers in the NFL.

Josh Katzowitz’s top five

5. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders

4. Matt Prater, Broncos

3. David Akers, Eagles

2. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots

1. Nate Kaeding, Chargers

Kickers might get less respect from fans than other position players, but hardly anybody shares the same kind of glory as a kicker after nailing a 52-yard game winner, and hardly anybody can feel the jeers after missing an easy 31-yarder that caused his team to lose.

With that, we start with Kaeding. A little bit of the shine is off him because of the three missed field goals in the 17-14 playoff loss to the Jets last year. But he’s still the most accurate kicker in NFL history (87.2 percent coming into this season). Gostkowski took over for former Patriots K Adam Vinatieri, and he made people instantly forget how good Vinatieri was for New England. Need proof? Check out this Facebook group (ignore the fact there are only 45 members).

You might be averse to 12-year veteran Akers, because people still remember his slump from 2005-07. But last year, he had one of the best seasons of his career and was the best kicker in the league. Prater has bounced around the league a bit, but he found his footing last year. You might not like my Janikowski pick. But he’s got one of the league’s strongest legs and he’s coming off the most accurate season of his career.

Andy Benoit’s top five

5. Olindo Mare, Seahawks

4. Rian Lindell, Bills

3. David Akers, Eagles

2. Ryan Longwell, Vikings

1. Rob Bironas, Titans

Regarding Kaeding being the “most accurate kicker in NFL history”, is it me or have there been about 10 different “most accurate kickers in NFL history” this era? Anyway, I can’t put Kaeding on the list for the same reason you shouldn’t.

Many people forget that Janikowski was a first-round draft pick. In that sense, he has been an underachiever. Gostkowski doesn’t have enough pressure kicks to his name yet. My first memory of Prater is when he admitted to a lack of confidence in 2008. Maybe he got his confidence back in ’09, but I will need at least three years to shake that first memory.

As for the guys on my list, I went with experience. Mare is a booming kickoff specialist - plus he made his last 21 field goals in ’09. Lindell is consistent even in the Buffalo wind (I know, I’m re-using my Brian Moorman analysis). Akers doesn’t quite have the range he once had, but he’s still reliable under pressure. Longwell was 26/28 last year. Bironas is the best long distance kicker in the game (5/6 from 50+ yards last season, range up to 60 yards).

Josh’s rebuttal

It’s surprising that we only have one kicker who made both of our lists. I thought about putting Bironas on my list, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Lindell might be consistent, but he was pretty crappy from outside 40 yards last year (58.3 percent). Could be a fluke, I suppose, because he’s normally better than that from long range. Mare has been pretty up and down in his career, but he is coming off two fantastic seasons, so I can see your point there. Even though our lists are almost completely different, it’s hard to get too worked up about it. I like my list. I like your list. Everybody’s happy.


Andy’s final word

To me, recognizing a great kicker is like recognizing a great free throw shooter. How nervous are you when a kicker lines up to attempt a game-winning field goal against your team? In a casual, unofficial way, that gives you some indication of how great a kicker is (or how great you think he is).

(Other positions: Safety | Cornerback | 3-4 Scheme Outside Linebacker | Punter )


--Josh Katzowitz and Andy Benoit

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