NFL WEEK SEVEN

Terrorism came to the NFL this week. At least the threat of it. A 20-year-old grocery store clerk who authorities say amused himself by posting prank Internet warnings of terrorist attacks against NFL stadiums was arrested Friday on federal charges that could bring five years behind bars.

Dante Hicks, in the movie Clerks:

"You get me slapped with a fine, you argue with the customers and I have to patch everything up, you get us thrown out of a funeral by violating the corpse, and then to top it off, you ruin my relationship. I mean, what's your encore? Do you, like, anally rape my mother while pouring sugar in my gas tank?"

CINCINNATI (-3 1/2) vs. Carolina - An Internet posting that claimed so-called "dirty bombs" would be exploded at seven NFL stadiums this weekend was a hoax, said Mike Snowden, who is director of both county agencies and the former chief of police in Cincinnati. Significantly, Cincinnati was not one of the seven. Probably not enough fans in the stands to merit it. The Bengals have allowed 532 rushing yards in the past three games. Pick: Carolina

N.Y. JETS (-3 1/2) vs. Detroit - Let's see, Game Two of the World Series or another demoralising NFL loss. Tough choice for Detroit residents this Sunday. Pick: Jets

MIAMI (-3 1/2) vs. Green Bay - It is rumoured that Hong Kong has pink dolphins. Miami has underachieving dolphins. Pick: Green Bay

Jacksonville (-9) vs. HOUSTON - Texans coach Gary Kubiak, on if he thinks his team is improving: "Yes, I think we're getting better as I watch us work every day. Have the results been good? No, they have not been good." Ah, not good. If it were only that simple. Pick: Jacksonville

New England (-6) vs. BUFFALO - Thinking too far ahead of the Bills, the New England Patriots have formally asked the NFL to ensure the safety of Patriots employees when the team hosts the Indianapolis Colts and their explosive president at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night, Nov. 5. Pick: Buffalo

Philadelphia (-4 1/2) vs. TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie Club kicked off its annual series of community events on Tuesday, October 17 with a trip to the bowling alley. Pick: Philly

Pittsburgh (-1 1/2) vs. ATLANTA - The fastest quarterback in the NFL faces the youngest one to win a Super Bowl on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pick: Atlanta

San Diego (-5 1/2) vs. KANSAS CITY - The Raphael, a boutique hotel across from Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, is offering a "Go Chiefs" package that includes a tailgate basket with two field box seats to a football game, as well as choice of accommodations. The basket will hold a 12-pack of beer and peanuts. Party time. Pick: San Diego

Denver (-6 1/2) vs. CLEVELAND - Since the start of the 2005 season, the Denver Broncos are 17-4. The Cleveland Browns are 7-14. You do the maths. Pick: Denver

Arizona (-1 1/2) vs. OAKLAND - The last time the Raiders started the season 0-5, the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Pick: Arizona


SEATTLE (-7) vs. Minnesota - Last winter in signing Seattle's Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota included a clause in his offer sheet - which came to be known as the "poison pill'' - that would guarantee Hutchinson the entire $49 million if he was not his team's highest-paid offensive lineman. Since tackle Walter Jones was already making more, the Seahawks couldn't afford to match the offer. Pick: Seattle

INDIANAPOLIS (-10) vs. Washington - "We've been up and down, kind of all over the place," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs lamented this week. "And that's not good as a football team." Pick: Indy

Monday night

DALLAS (-3 1/2) vs. N.Y. Giants "If I was a teammate, I would have hit him in the head with something," Charles Barkley, that NFL guru said of the Cowboys' Terrell Owens. "T.O.'s got such an overbearing personality, he'd be tough to play with." Barkley certainly ought to know. Pick: Giants

Last week ATS: Pitiful, pitiful - 3-9-1
Season ATS: 40-42-4