Wideout hardly mad about Madden

T.J. Houshmandzadeh isn't the first NFL player to complain that his rating on a John Madden video game is too low. But Houshmandzadeh has decided to do something about it.

He says he's boycotting the game.

The Seattle Seahawks receiver, who ranks sixth among NFC wideouts in the upcoming Madden 10, told ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd that he's bothered by his overall ranking of 91 and says his yards-per-catch numbers were dictated by the game plan of his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I understand I averaged 10 yards a catch, but it's the offense, not me," Houshmandzadeh said. "I'm not playing Madden no more until they get my rating right. ...

"I used to be the best in the world at Madden. I'm going to miss not playing it, but until they do me right, I'm not playing it anymore."

• THE WAITING GAME -- Florida quarterback Tim Tebow made news at the Southeastern Conference football media session by telling reporters he was a virgin and saving himself for marriage.

Wrote Clay Travis of Fanhouse.com: "We already knew Tim Tebow had the ability to kill a man with a forearm and get popcorn to pop by staring at kernels, now he's given yet another example of his superhuman powers.

"The most popular player in SEC history is saving himself for marriage. Unbelievable. I asked him this afternoon, and he didn't even blink before responding. He handled it masterfully, deftly. He even said he wasn't surprised to get the question. Talk about unflappable."

• UNPLAYABLE LIE -- Kayti Dryer, 23, trying to smuggle $135,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the struts of a golf bag, got busted when a customs officer at England's Manchester Airport asked her what her handicap was.

"She clearly did not know what they were talking about and had no idea it was even a golfing term," an airport source told the London Daily Mail. "It appeared as if she thought they were asking her if she had a disability."

Dryer carded a four on this one -- as in years in prison.

• TWITTER TALK -- A couple of tweets making the rounds last week: From Shaquille O'Neal: "Dear david beckham, I kno u heard about my shaq vs show, anyway u will never score a goal on me, I challenge you lil man."

From the Newark Star-Ledger's Steve Politi: "Nets enlisting investors for move to Brooklyn. Tooth fairy, leprechauns express great interest."

• FOOD FOR THOUGHT -- From golfer Boo Weekley, to BBC Sport, on why his British Open diet rarely ventured beyond chicken wings: "I only stick to things I can spell."

• IS THE "U" FOR UNSUCCESSFUL? -- Drew Curtis of Fark.com, on the upstart United Football League: "The league is going to fold faster than Superman on laundry day."

• ROIDS NO LONGER THE RAGE -- "Based on what I saw at the All-Star Game, I feel safe declaring that the steroid era is finally over," wrote Mark Kriegel at FoxSports.com. "I mean, LL Cool J was bigger than any of the ballplayers."

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