If you don’t renew somebody’s contract it’s the same thing as being fired isn’t it? Whatever you call it Joe Girardi won’t be back as manager of the Yankees next year. The Red Sox had more reason to get rid of John Farrell than the Yankees did in getting rid of Joe Girardi. Both deserved a better fate.

The Dont’A Hightower injury for the Patriots might be a tough one to overcome.

It’s wildcard weekend in high school football. I went 13-2 last week and stand at 95-26 overall. By the way why they are called wildcard games still baffles me. They are really quarterfinal games.

Here are my picks:

In Division 1:

St. Johnsbury over CVU

Hartford over Colchester

BFA-St. Albans over Middlebury

Burlington over Mt. Mansfield

In Division 2:

Burr and Burton over North Country

Bellows Falls over Lyndon

Fair Haven over Mt. Anthony

Milton over U32

In Division 3:

BFA-Fairfax over Springfield

Woodstock over Poultney/MSJ

Mill River over Missisquoi

In the consolation games:

Rutland over Essex

Rice over South Burlington

Brattleboro over Spaulding

Otter Valley over Mt. Abraham