Braylon Edwards and Michael Phelps Make a Bet on Medal Count Versus Touchdowns

Attempting to compare Olympic gold medals and NFL touchdowns is an apple-orange type debate. One is a four-year culmination of hard work (unless you're a backstroker, then you just need to learn how to swim on your belly like everyone else) condensed into several hundred seconds celebrated on a world stage. The other is a week's worth of hard work condensed into several seconds celebrated on a ... Oh.

Well, maybe they are kind of similar, value and frequency aside. Which would explain why pool-pals Michael Phelps and Braylon Edwards are making a bet on quantity, which was confirmed by an NBC halftime report during the Notre Dame - San Diego State game.

The foot injury wasn't a complete loss. Edwards used the time on his couch to catch up with swimmer Michael Phelps' chase for history at the Olympics.

Edwards and Phelps have University of Michigan ties and struck up a friendship. Edwards bragged before Beijing that he would more than double Phelps' gold-medal total with touchdown catches. After Phelps' record eight golds, Edwards needs to set another franchise record.

So, as you can see, they actually made this bet before the Olympics. Whoops, Braylon.

Now the Browns wideout, who has been dealing with a Stallworth on his foot all preseason, has to beat his 2007 total of 16 touchdowns, since Phelps recorded eight golds at Beijing. (At least I think that's the number; I can't recall it being reported anywhere.)

So Braylon, you better get your focus on. And that means no watching Rich Rodriguez turn Michigan back into a powerhouse, and certainly no celebrating in strip clubs with a bunch of half-naked Playmates.

Of course, at this point we don't even know what the actual bet is -- only that 1/2 Olympic Gold = 1 NFL Touchdown. And that Braylon probably wants the replay tapes of that 100-meter butterfly released.

Michael Phelps

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, left, explains his technique to Shaquille Terrell during a swimming class at the Fosco Park, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (C) joins more than 175 US Olympic medalists, including swimmer Michael Phelps (front row 3rd L), for the 23rd season premiere episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at Millennium Park in Chicago September 3, 2008. REUTERS/George Burns/Harpo Productions, Inc./Handout (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

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Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps speaks at a news conference after teaching a swimming class for kids at the Fosco Park, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps explains his technique to kids at the Fosco Park, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps high-fives with kids after swimming class at the Fosco Park Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps explains his technique to kids at the Fosco Park, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 in Chicago.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Olympic men's swimming gold medalist Michael Phelps and his mother Debbie Phelps arrive for the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Oprah Winfrey, center, hugs Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin as gold medalist Michael Phelps, behind Liukin, applauds during the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Chicago's Millennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)