Ten free minutes for me, 10 free throwaway lines for you . . .

1. All arguments, real and contrived, have been spouted and shouted about Bill Belichick's gutsy and ill-fated decision to go for . . . well, you know. So I'm going to keep my opinion on the matter simple, then move along, because there's nothing more to see here:

While I had the same reaction you probably did during that split second when it hit you that, yes, Dan Koppen did just snap the ball to Brady, and yes, they are actually going for this -- mine was something like "Holy [cow]," except the word used in my household was not synonymous with "bovine" -- in the stunning aftermath of the loss, I still kept coming back to the thought that by going for it, Belichick, more than anything else, revealed his tremendous respect for both superstar quarterbacks.

He preferred the option of trying to get two yards from Tom Brady rather than trying to keep Peyton Manning from getting 65, 70, whatever it would have taken to reach the end zone.

I can't fault him for that . . . and beyond that, I'm glad the Patriots have a coach who is willing to disregard conventional wisdom in such a tense and crucial moment and do what he thinks is right.

He is not Grady Little.

Seems to me he is the exact opposite.

2. The results are always fascinating and insightful whenever Belichick agrees to be miked up on the sideline, as he was a week ago against the Dolphins. (Love how he foresaw Pat White's involvement in the Dolphins' game plan.) But man, I can't help but imagine the compelling audio had he been miked up this week.

3. Buster Olney is as good as it gets as a baseball writer, and I mean that sincerely -- his smart and newsy blog would be a must-read even without all of the links. But . . .

. . . well, it's just that when he tweeted yesterday that "[the] NYY are not interested in signing Holliday. They'll talk to [agent Scott] Boras to keep other bidders honest, but corner outfield not a priority for them," it was difficult to contain my cynicism, particularly when recent history is given full consideration.

I mean, really? We're going to do this again? We're going to take the Yankees at their word? If a denial of interest isn't a sign that the Yankees are slobbering over Holliday behind clossed, then we haven't been paying attention the last couple of seasons.

The Yankees are playing their patented, "Eh, what do we need him for, we have Bubba Crosby/Nick Swisher?" routine, then swoop in at the last moment and trump any and all offers.

The paranoia of a Boston sports fan in action? Perhaps. But we've seen this movie before with Johnny Damon . . . not to mention its sequel starring Mark Teixeira last year. And both times, Boras was the director.

4. While I can't see the Red Sox going for him unless the sticker price is greatly discounted -- and I believe Ken Rosenthal's suggestion here qualifies -- the idea of Miguel Cabrera is more than intriguing.

He's Manny in his prime, but without the charm.

5. Remember in those gloomy pre-KG days a few seasons ago, when there was talk of the Celtics swinging a deal with the Sixers for Allen Iverson? Yeah, good thing that didn't happen -- The Answer most certainly would not have been here.

I've always had tremendous admiration for Iverson's toughness -- I can't think of another little guy who was so fearless in attacking the rim, save for maybe the more elegant Isiah Thomas -- but apparently that pride that helped him become such a dynamic player is preventing him, at age 34, from recognizing that he's no longer the centerpiece superstar of his youth.

In other words: He should be a great fit with the Knicks.

6. Best sports news of the day? Easy: Royals' Greinke wins AL Cy Young Award.

Thank goodness, they got it right.

The kid had a vintage Pedro season, and around here, you know we don't throw around that phrase or praise lightly.

That he was a nearly unanimous winner -- he earned 25 of 28 first-place votes -- despite having "only" 16 victories for a non-contender is an encouraging example of enlightened thinking.