There are a staggering number of media credentials that have been issued for Super Bowl 42 this week. Nearly 5,000 press credentials have been handed out by the NFL setting an all time record for press coverage of a single Super Bowl.

The fact that the Pats are 18-0 and looking to add a fourth Super Bowl trophy to their case along with the title as the “Greatest Team of All Time.”

Well as the Patriots and the Giants prepare for the Super Bowl in the Valley of the Sun nothing will go un noticed.

There that little thing about a perfect season hanging over New England and the Giants wanting to end the streak at 18-0.

There were a number of topics that were of interest on the network pre game shows this pas weekend. Let’s start with the topic of college football head coach openings:

Fox NFL Sunday feature of Grumpy old Coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer talking about Les Miles the LSU coach who is rumored to be the front runner for the opening at Michigan. Johnson and Switzer disagree on which is the better job, LSU or Michigan.

Johnson: “LSU is a better job than Michigan.”

Switzer: “Yes, talent wise but you can win more games consistently at Michigan versus LSU.”

It was a weekend when there were plenty of topics to talk about in the NFL and here were some of the best and the best and the worst things said.

Tonight is the opening night for America's Game. NFL football is by far our counties biggest and most popular sport and the gang at NBC led by John Madden is ready for all the fun.

Here are some quotes from Madden and his NBC mates about opening night and the season that starts tonight.

MICHAELS ON HOW MADDEN VIEWS START OF FOOTBALL SEASON:

"For John this is like New Year's Eve today."

MADDEN ON GETTING STARTED WITH SEASON:

Michael Strahan says to the Giants fans that he has come to a “fork in the road,” as far as his career is concerned.

This is day 11 of his absence from training camp and the Giants are hoping that he will join them soon however according to the All Pro defensive end that number is likely to grow much higher.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a great lawyer, he is a very detail oriented man who is not going to rush to either suspend or dismiss Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. The federal indictment for dogfighting charges hangs over both Vick and the NFL are issues that Goddell will resolve only after a great deal of homework is done, it is his way.

He was here in Washington to accomplish a couple of key pieces of business, first he met with NFL Players Association Union chief Gene Upshaw. He wanted to make sure that the union was aware of how he was going to handle the Vick matter.

In the best interest of Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons and the National Football League it is time for Arthur Blank the Falcons owner to urge Vick to take a leave of absence from the team while he gets his legal house in order.

Right now the most important thing in Michael Vick’s life addresses the issues that threaten his career and his life. He can use the time to rehab his image as well as take a full force attack on the the indictment. If he is found to be not guilty as he has said all along is the case then he will be fine and well on his way to saving his image.

Michael Vick who has been one of the National Football League’s most marketable and visible superstar’s will likely be suspended.

Both the Falcons, the NFL issued a statement calling for the withholding of judgment while condemning the allegations listed in the 18-page indictment — some include Vick being present at the execution of dogs. It also mentioned the league's new player conduct policy, which has led to the suspension of several other NFL players before the legal process has run its course.

Eight years ago ESPN lost out in a record NASCAR deal putting FOX, NBC and TNT in place as the broadcasters for the series.

But times have changed and while FOX and TNT are still part of NASCAR the NEXTEL Cup races are back at ESPN/ABC where they were when no one wanted them.

This week the NEXTEL boys will be off with the Trucks and the Busch boys racing in the St. Louis area next week ESPN/ABC will roar back into the Cup business.

(We all know that they have been home to the Busch Series this year.)