Building up slowly to the weekend's final game, Pats vs. Chargers, Sunday, 4:30, CBS.

Battle of the bands: In the Chargers section of the San Diego Union Tribune today, Bolts' disco-fueled theme hot as ever. Listen to an mp3 of San Diego Super Chargers by Captain Q.B. and the Big Boys.

Patriots QB Tom Brady, former QB Doug Flutie and tackle Matt Light "sing" karaoke -- Garth Brooks' Friends in Low Places (lyrics) They were taking part in a fundraiser organized by Larry Izzo at the Avalon Ballroom in Boston to benefit the families of American troops in October 2005. The Boston Globe covered it (second item).

Peyton Manning joke: This is traveling on the Internets. I got it in email from my brother. You may have heard it with different characters, but I like it this way:

Peyton Manning, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Colts flag in the window. "This house is yours for eternity, Peyton," said God.

"This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here."

Peyton felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story mansion with a red, white and blue sidewalk, a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Patriots logo flag, and in every window, a Patriots towel.

Peyton looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I hold many NFL records, and I even went to the Hall of Fame."

God said "So what's your point Peyton?"

"Well, why does Tom Brady get such a better house than me?"

God chuckled, and said "Peyton, that's not Tom's house, it's mine."