The Holiday Season is upon us. Though it is a difficult time for many people, the large majority of the country looks forward to this time of year. It is a time for spending with friends and family and leaving work on the back burner. Though it may look like Christmas outside as you stroll down your street and see Christmas lights adorning many houses, it is really Thanksgiving. It does seem that there is great overlap between the two holidays nowadays. Food overlaps both holidays (turkey), as do beverages (egg nog), not to mention activities (watching football and eating more dark meat than the Kardashian sisters).

It is also time to kick off the annual run of holiday classics; A Christmas Carol (any of the 8 versions), It’s A Wonderful Life, The Year Without a Santa Claus and, of course, The Wizard of Oz. Though The Wizard of Oz seems like a Halloween movie, its message of Giving to those Without resonates more with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course, I speak of Dorothy’s desire to help out the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. That message seems timeless and those characters can be found all around us in every walk of life, including the NFL. Maybe by citing those players here, some divine intervention will occur and help these less fortunate players out.

The Scarecrow – the character desperately needs a brain. That role was most recently played in the NFL by Cleveland Browns’ safety Hank Poteat for interfering with Bryant Johnson on a Hail Mary in the waning seconds of their game versus Detroit. Getting an interference penalty n the NFL on a Hail Mary is almost as rare as me giving a crap about any of the Twilight movies. To interfere with Lion’s WR Bryant Johnson makes this play even dumber….not a big receiving threat even when wide open The Browns are the right team for Poteat to be playing for.

The Tinman – the character desperately needs a heart. That role actually befits all members of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. I am shocked at the sheer number of second half breakdowns that this team has suffered this year. I know this unit’s strength comes from Troy Polamalu, but last Sunday’s meltdown was the worst of the year. The Super Bowl succession falloff is almost self-fulfilling with this squad’s play this year.

The Cowardly Lion – the character desperately needs Courage. No one is more need of some Courage than Jay Cutler right now. Cursed by the inept play-calling of Ron Turner, Cutler is now too gun-shy to try to complete a pass with any greater degree of difficult than a screen pass. His interceptions, particularly in the Red Zone, and the criticisms that they have garnered has made him choose to purposely overthrow the ball to wide-open receivers than attempt an accurate pass that could be intercepted. No QB can be successful without a single ounce of courage. Come on Jay, put ‘em up!

Last week was another rough one for position players in the NFL, this time it was the QBs taking their lumps moreso than the rest. So, the Waiver Wire has some activity again this week.

Waiver Wire for Week 12

QB: Matt Leinart (AZ) – Truthfully, anyone who owns Kurt Warner should already have Leinart as a backup. Of course, based on his performance, you should play almost any other QB before Leinart. One would think with the weapons that AZ has that I would strongly recommend him, but I have not seen anything that makes me want to do that after watching him play against Chicago and St. Louis. Tread lightly.

QB: Daunte Culpepper (DET) – Culpepper played really well when stepping in for Jon Kitna last year and is facing a very weak and depleted Packers defense. I would strongly recommend him if I knew for sure that Calvin Johnson was going to be in the lineup. He is Questionable with hand and leg injuries. Culpepper is worth a gamble in deeper leagues if you need a QB.

RB: Rock Cartwright (WASH) – Clinton Portis is still out with a concussion and now Ladell Betts is out for the season with a leg injury, so the job is Cartwright’s. It never hurts to have fresh legs in your line-up at this point in the season. Philly is not an ideal match-up, but the ‘Skins run the ball a lot, no matter who they are playing.

TE: Jermichael Finley (GB) Finley was recommended here after a break-out game in Week 4. However, he was hurt almost immediately afterwards and is just getting back into the rotation. He has the size and speed to roam free downfield and make big plays. He had 7 catches last week alone, so grab him if you need a TE if former MFS recommendations, Kevin Boss and Brandon Pettigrew, are not available.