M-U-P-P MUPPETS MUPPETS MUPPETS!

There’s two weeks left in this NFL season and there are 6 teams that have already locked up playoff appearances. That leaves six more openings, and a staggering 18 squads still in contention. Now one would think that the remaining dozen and a half would spend the week going over game film, walking through two-minute drills, and doing whatever it takes to prepare for this weekend’s games. Ok, we’ll concede that snowball’s chance in hell the 6-8 Rams get in, but what of the rest?

What of the New York Jets?

The Jets face an uphill battle in the AFC to say the least. Yes, they’re 8-6, but need two wins and either a New England collapse, a Bengal blunder, or Denver and Jacksonville to surrender. So, really, football is fun, but why not have some REAL fun. Screw the playbook this week, Jets. Let’s read a coloring book instead.

With their road to the playoffs far from easy, it appears that the J-E-T-S have made a sudden left turn…onto Sesame Street.

Because of their respective kids’ infatuation with the long-running program of the Children’s Television Workshop, Coach Eric Mangini, QB Chad Pennington, WR Laveranues Coles and P Ben Graham taped several segments with Elmo and crew for a broadcast set to air next August. Now why, exactly, they picked a week leading up to their Monday Night Football appearance is a little confusing. Let’s break down this foursome, shall we?

Eric Mangini – Mangini wants you to all know that should Terrell Owens actually find a way to cause a Bill Parcells heart attack, the Jets’ head man will be glad to continue the tradition of manboobs on the sideline. In fact, take another look at the NYT photo – he kind of looks like he’s envisioning an Elmo entrée.

Chad Pennington – Sometimes it’s just nice to hang out with someone else who possessed Muppet arms.

Laveranues Coles – Upon trying to spell Mr. Coles first name, Big Bird’s head promptly exploded. (For non-NFLphiles, it’s pronounced Lah-ver-nee-uhs)

Ben Graham – Yes, they brought the punter. I think he agreed to drive, treat for lunch at Mr. Hooper’s, and not speak unless spoken to. Apparently, punters don’t need to watch game film during the week. One, two, three, KICK!

Now, the minds behind Sesame Street often come up with variations on the names of celebrities in order to create comical representations of them in full Muppet form. This includes Polly Darton, Marry Banilow, Bruce Stringbean, and Meryl Sheep, but sadly, excludes Teve Torbes.

(So let’s see, if we switch the J in Jets with the N in New York…oh no, that won’t work. We’ll have to bring on the real Jets instead.)