Well, It Sounds a Little Better Than Drew Drive

A street will be named in honor of Purdue quarterback Drew Brees in West Lafayette, Ind. It has a soothing name: Brees Way.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Brees said. “That’s a huge thing because the street is in a spot where a lot of people will be traveling. I’ll probably have to drive down the street from time to time.”

Like, every day, Drew?

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for most field goals of 50 yards or more in a game?

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No who’s-who: Bernie Lincicome in the Rocky Mountain News, on the anonymity of offensive linemen:

“My list of offensive linemen has one name, or did before I learned this week that Mark Schlereth had not been playing for a while. The name is Conrad Dobler. Dobler was dirty and loud. He wrote a book about being dirty and loud.

“I suppose Dan Dierdorf should be added too. Dierdorf is the guy who used to be on ‘Monday Night Football,’ the guy who never shut up and lost his job to a twit, Dennis Miller, who never makes any sense. See, this is what comes of linemen who open their mouths.”

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Convenient cover: Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia News, on Andy Ashby’s signing with the Dodgers: “For the second time in his career, Ashby will have the long shadow of Kevin Brown to hide behind.”

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Saliva inflation: Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle: “The Raiders’ Regan Upshaw was fined $30,000 for spitting in the face of Pittsburgh punter Josh Miller.

“Three years ago, Denver’s Bill Romanowski was fined $7,500 for doing the same thing to the 49ers’ J.J. Stokes. That’s inflation for you. Even spit costs more.”

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Growing up? Former Laker Nick Van Exel has been criticized for being a coach-baiting, moody player. Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post sees a new Nick:

“He comes to play most nights, he’s accountable, he tells it like it is, he doesn’t like to lose. You diss [him] all you want, but he can play for my team.”

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Tough defense: Steve Rosenbloom in the Chicago Tribune: “Sox public relations chief Scott Reifert tore his Achilles’ tendon in a pickup basketball game. It happened while he was being guarded by his wife. No lie.”

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So soon? Oklahoma plays Florida State in college football for the BCS championship Jan. 3 in Miami.

“With any luck at all,” says comic Argus Hamilton, “the people in Florida will have arrived at a final score by Valentine’s Day.”

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Trivia answer: Morten Andersen of the Atlanta Falcons, three against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 10, 1995.

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And finally: An unidentified fan, chastising Boston Celtic Coach Rick Pitino for begging officials for a call: “For God’s sake, Rick, you sound like Al Gore.”