Last week was an especially brutal one for the NFL. A number of players who delivered illegal hits received hefty fines, and the league said further infractions may be met with suspensions. Players like Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather were not pleased with the news, but Bill Littlefield thinks the NFL may finally be on its way to making its players safer.

This week on Only A Game, a look at professional disc golf, complete with caddies, announcers, and – before you laugh – a $50,000 purse. Plus, the latest from the US Open, and Bill speaks with the author of Lost Dogs, a book that tells the story of the pit bulls that survived Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning aren’t just competing for the title of best quarterback in football, they’re also signing new deals to try to become the highest-paid player in the NFL. Bill Littlefield comments on the salary arms race between the future hall-of-famers.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says that he’s officially closed the books on "Spygate," but why won’t the scandal go away?  Bill offers a few thoughts…

It’s time to test the Pierce postulate: “The Super Bowl is good!” This week on Only A Game, analysis from Phoenix, a look at all the anti-Super Bowl activities for nonbelievers, and some good 17 syllable fun with Super Bowl Haiku XIV.

The Patriots may be the single most successful reclamation project in the history of professional sports.

In the best of all worlds, the game of games in this out-of-step, violence-addicted nation would find two soccer teams going at it on the big day, but that’s a dream for another decade, I suppose.

They’re talking of a dynasty, a team built for the ages…

Bill Littlefield looks at how evenly matched many NFL teams are this year, and wonders if the owners planned it that way.

Bill Littlefield offers verse on New England teams.