Reader submitted blog from Dan L.-

Maybe I’m a little shortsighted in saying this, or maybe it's because when I hear the words “Hot Stove” I think of football season. But, I’m going to make a bold statement here, one that might shock the masses (and Mass). OK, deep breath. The Patriots-Colts rivalry has surpassed that of the Red Sox and Yankees. Take a minute and let that marinate like a stale fart.

The Sox/Yanks rivalry peaked during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Tempers were boiling over in every series between the two storied franchises. In 2003, we saw Pedro toss Zim around like a rotten pumpkin and an all out brawl, the likes of we haven’t seen since. And then, the 2003 season tragically ends with Aaron Boone's homerun in the ALCS.

The angst from that season carried over to 2004, and in most dramatic fashion, the Sox beat the Yanks (in Yankee Stadium no less) in a Game 7 situation, cementing the greatest comeback in sports history. Now, fast forward to 2007. The Sox/Yanks rivalry hasn’t come close to resembling what it was just a few short years ago. Now the biggest controversy is which team is going to spend the most. Personally, I liked it better when the Sox could always play the “We don’t spend nearly as much money as the Yanks” card. But that’s been thrown out the window this year. The Sox are burning money like Schottenheimer burns timeouts. Also, I can’t remember the last time the Sox brawled with the Yanks. In ’03-’04, these teams came to the games prepared to fight. Even after Judas Damon signed with the Yanks we haven't seen anything close to a scuffle, disappointing Sox fans to no end.

The Pats-Colts rivalry may not have that same type of intensity as the Sox-Yanks did in its prime, but it’s getting there. This Sunday will mark the third time in four years the Pats and Colts have met in the playoffs. Each of the previous two games featured a Patriots win, a frustrated Manning and ultimately the Lombardi trophy ending up in Brady’s hands. As Pats fans, we’ve had it good. We can’t complain about anything for the next 20 years (but we will anyway). Colts fans on the other hand, well, they’re frustrated to say the least. They’ve got the new Marino, one of the highest payrolls (a payroll that will kill them when Manning is done) and the inability to win the big one. So why is this rivalry surpassing the Sox-Yanks, when the Pats obviously have the upper hand?

Simple, the Patriots are the alpha dog in the league right now, yet no one wants to admit it. Every preseason every analyst from here to China picks the Colts to win the Super Bowl. And every time the Colts get close, it’s the Pats who shut the door on their Super Bowl hopes. Then there’s this: Peyton Manning is the media's darling, he’s the poster boy of what a great quarterback should be (at least in the national spotlight) but here in good old New England he’s just an overrated chump who can’t beat our golden boy Tom. Tommy Touchdowns was once again overlooked for the Pro Bowl this year (which is fine by me, since the Robert Edwards fiasco), while Peyton is starting the most meaningless game in sports.

Do you think Brady cares about making that squad? Or do you think he’d rather be celebrating another Super Bowl victory? As far as rivalries go, it all comes down to these two guys, the ultimate team player vs. the money hungry record breaker. Lets get it on!