This knowledge will put them in golden state

Let's just say Raiders owner Al Davis has a very old-school approach in running his team. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

There's a game in San Francisco Sunday and another in San Diego the following Sunday, so it's a brilliant move by coach Bill Belichick to keep the Patriots in California the entire time and not mess around with back-to-back, coast-to-coast flights.

Of course, with such a stretch in California, it would behoove Patriots players to get in tune with life out there, because . . . well, it's different. There's the avocado, for instance. It is served with everything. You can't order a cup of coffee - strike that, because no one drinks coffee in California; they drink lattes or cappuccinos. But the point is, even those come with a side order of avocados. You can also get side orders of tofu, figs, and soybeans. They're big on those, too.

Some of the best restaurants in the world are in California, none better than In-N-Out Burger, and if the Patriots don't eat there at least once a day, it would be disappointing. Double-doubles for all, except the offensive linemen. They're big enough to handle the 4x4.

Just this week, officials declared there's a new California state whine: Manny Ramírez. It's a little bitter, perhaps, for Bostonians, but the folks down in Southern California seem to like it.

There are sidelights that always tell something about our states. In California, for instance, the state bird is the California valley quail, while the state animal is the California grizzly bear (I guess you'd need to check licenses to make sure a grizzly from Oregon or Nevada wasn't slipping across the border, trying to pull a fast one over on you). The California state fish, to no one's surprise, is the golden trout. Then again, maybe it is a surprise to those who assumed that the state fish was caviar.

Only recently has California made a change to its lineup of state honors. The state fossil used to be the Smilodon californicus, but no more. Now it's Al Davis, and that affords the Patriots a unique opportunity because they're going to be out there while the state fossil is on rare public display. His press conference, in fact, may still be going on - you know, the one where he announced he was firing Lane Kiffin. Davis said that Kiffin told him he was 19 when he's really only 17, and that Kiffin agreed to play Daryle Lamonica, "but have you seen Daryle Lamonica in there this year? No, you haven't," said Davis.

To support his case, Davis brought out a letter he reportedly wrote to Kiffin, asking the coach to be a good boy.

He also displayed on the overhead projector letters he had written to Walter Camp, Pop Warner, and Amos Alonzo Stagg.

"I'm hoping one of them accepts my offer to be the Raiders' next coach," said Davis.

The picks
New England (-3) at San Francisco - The 49ers' quarterback, J.T. O'Sullivan, has been sacked 19 times in four games. So that's what the initials stand for - "Just Tuck." Pick: Patriots.

Tennessee (-3) at Baltimore - The Titans are 4-0 vs. the pointspread. The Ravens are 3-0 vs. the pointspread. But that's nothing when compared to what a Sumo wrestler does against the food spread. Pick: Ravens.

Washington at Philadelphia (-6) - The Redskins have won three straight and players are pointing to the fact that Al Saunders is no longer the offensive coordinator. Seems he ran an offense with constant motion that was accompanied by a playbook that had 700 pages. Holy handoff, Batman, who helped him with that playbook, Tolstoy? Pick: Eagles.

Cincinnati at Dallas (-17) - Ladies and gentlemen, in the same stadium at the same time we have Adam "Pacman" Jones, Tank Johnson, and Chris Henry. Bail bondsmen will be seated in Section 46, Row 12, Seats 1-17. Pick: Cowboys.

Tampa Bay at Denver (-3) - Quarterback Brian Griese has been intercepted six times over the last two weeks. Is Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden incensed? "He knows where I stand on turnovers," said Gruden. For the record, I stand staunchly behind turnovers, though I'm more partial to eclairs, unless creme brulee is an option, in which case bring it on. Pick: Broncos.

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville (-4) - The Steelers are down to just one running back, Mewelde Moore. And if anything happens to the letter "e" on the way to the game, they'll be down to Mwld Moor. Pick: Steelers.

Atlanta at Green Bay (no line) - Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a sprained shoulder, but should play. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins, however, is done for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Safeties Nick Collins (back), Atari Bigby (hamstring), and Aaron Rouse (knee) are hurt, and so is cornerback Charles Woodson (broken toe). Left tackle Chad Clifton is hobbled by a knee injury, and linebacker A.J. Hawk by a groin problem. The team song for the week is Peter and Gordon singing, "Go to Pieces." Pick: Packers.

San Diego (-6 1/2) at Miami - It's a tough break for the Chargers to lose Shawne Merriman for the year, but on the flip side, how about the Deccan Chargers? They've named the great Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman, Adam Gilchrist, as their team captain for this Indian Premier League season. Pick: Dolphins.

Kansas City at Carolina (-9 1/2) - Jake Delhomme has apparently recovered beautifully from Tommy John surgery, though it has required Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad to learn how to catch the sinker. Pick: Panthers.

Chicago (-3 1/2) at Detroit - This is the 157th meeting between the Bears and Lions. It would be the 158th, except that legendary jamboree with the Tigers mixed in never materialized along the Yellow Brick Road. Pick: Lions.

Buffalo at Arizona (-1) - Pondering this game, the thought occurs that one of the most disheartening feelings one can have is to reach in for a pistachio and discover that you cannot pry open the shell. Pick: Cardinals.

Indianapolis (-3) at Houston - This will be the 100th game in the history of the Texans' franchise. Wonder if they'll celebrate by not inviting Roger Clemens, just like the Yankees. Pick: Texans.

Seattle at NY Giants (-7) - Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes said he'll stay sidelined because his knee continues to swell up. But he's also got another sore spot - the knot in his stomach from watching his replacement, John Carney, go 9 for 9 on field goal attempts and 8 for 8 on extra points. Pick: Seahawks.

Minnesota at New Orleans (-3) - And when it crawls past midnight Monday and your eyes get droopy and you see No. 20 for the Vikings, Madieu Williams, be sure to sing, "So long, farewell . . . Madieu, Madieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu." Pick: Saints.

Last week: 7-6.

Season: 28-30-1.