That perception may be changing thanks to the NFL playoffs the last two years. A year ago, Audubon’s Joe Flacco took the Ravens to the AFC title game as a rookie.

This year, it’s Sicklerville’s Shonn Greene who is making a name for himself during the postseason.

Greene has had back-to-back 100 yard games as the Jets advanced to the AFC Championship Game where they will face the Colts. He’s the first Jets rookie to accomplish that since Freeman McNeil in 1982.

On Sunday, Greene had 128 yards on 23 carries, including the game-winning 53-yard touchdown run with just over seven minutes left.

The rookie from Iowa is making himself a household name. One more performance like Sunday, and he will find himself answering weird questions at Super Bowl media day in two weeks.

It now appears we know why Flacco had his worst statistical game of the year. During the final game of the season against the raiders — a game the Ravens had to win to make the playoffs — Flacco injured his hip.

Growing up in Audubon helped Joe Flacco prepare for the rigors of the NFL.

According to ESPN.com, Flacco was hurt so bad, he couldn’t sit on the flight home from Oakland to Baltimore. During the week, teammates doubted Flacco could play against the Patriots.

In fact, last Sunday he had to have fluid drained from his leg, which had swelled more than three inches.

We’re not surprised Flacco gutted it out and played. He’s an Audubon, N.J., native just like your DailyPhiladelphian. Us Green Wave alum are tough kids who can battle through any amount of pain.

Reports have Flacco feeling better and not limping — a total 180 from a week ago. As a result, expect a typical 200-plus yard passing day from Flacco which will surely help the Ravens compete with the Colts.

Recently, he voiced a desire to break the news via his Twitter account. He said he’d deliver actual news about his Bengals and other teams around the league. The idea was to cut out the ESPNs of the world, referring to them simply as “the middle man.”

Chad Ochocinco has yet to deliver anything close to news via the OCNN.

Ochocinco dubbed the initiative the OCNN — The Ochocinco News Network. The idea was creative and, if it’s more than just a publicity stunt, it could work. If nothing else, it could be a one-stop shop for all fantasy leaguers searching for information when planning their weekly line-ups.

Based on the first two weeks, the OCNN is a dud.

The first week, Ochocinco was on a bye. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to use his spare time to make some calls and come up with some “insider” news.

Unless you cared that the man was in New York or Miami, or couldn’t find a plane ticket to Green Bay to watch Favre return to Lambeau on Sunday morning, you were out of luck. The man gave us nothing.

Now, he may have trouble getting news about other teams because coaches and players don’t want to divulge any secrets, especially to an opposing player. Also, if a player divulges information to Ochocinco, a coach may be able to track the source simply by knowing who is friends with No. 85.

Ok, so now we get to week 2 of the OCNN and the Bengals were back to prepping for a game. At the very least, you could expect some breaking news about the surprising first place Bengals who sit at 5-2 entering their game against Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco and the Ravens this Sunday.

We got nothing. Not an injury update. Not a post-practice Tweet. Nothing.

Early Thursday morning, here is what the OCNN delievered:

OCNN breaking news–top of the morning to you all who’ve missed the early 5 am alarm,its not to late to get the worm,even though its biten

A few minutes later, we actually did get some actual NFL talk.

OCNN Topic of the Day–Is Roy Williams argument about being The #1 reciever but #2 Miles Austin is getting all the balls legit?

OCNN–this is one reason why there are rarely two extremely talented recievers on the same team,on ball,one QB=controversy at some point

With Housh and I there was no true #1,there were plays where Carson was comfortable throwing to me n plays he trusted Housh,we were open24/7

The skill level from #1 to #2 doesn’t fall of that much unless you are exceptional gifted so the trust the QB has in you makes you the #1

That was your breaking news football talk this week. And, unless you care about what 85 has to eat the night before the game, or what he wears on his way to the stadium, the OCNN isn’t going to deliver anything.

Pittsburgh (12-4). The defending Super Bowl champions are still the favorite to win the division with a strong defense and solid offense. Ben Roethlisberger’s legal issues aside, the quarterback is an efficient signal caller with a 62.4 career completion percentage. He won’t throw for many touchdowns, but he does get the job done. Willie Parker and the running backs should continue to pile up the yards. Hines Ward is a solid receiver despite being on the downside of his career, and Santonio Holmes, fresh of a Super Bowl MVP performance, is emerging as a real threat. This is still the team to beat in the AFC North.

Second year quarterback Joe Flacco will try to lead the Ravens past the Steelers.

Baltimore (11-5). Right on the Steelers heels are the Ravens. The two teams are in a dogfight for supremacy in the division each year. Second year head coach John Harbaugh and Audubon, N.J., homeboy Joe Flacco look to continue the progress they made last year as they reached the AFC title game. With a power running game led by Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, the Ravens will try to control the clock, which will keep Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the defense fresh. Also, the team has Le’Ron McClain who was moved back to fullback this year. McClain can carry the rock at any time. On defense, the team lost LB Bart Scott and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who is now the Jets head coach. Baltimore has been through this before when Marvin Lewis left. They will be fine as the Ravens challenge for a playoff spot.

Cincinnati (7-9). The jailbirds Bengals surprised everyone when they passed on felon Michael Vick. The team lost WR TJ Whosyourmama, and replaced him with Laveranues Coles. Otherwise, there is nothing much to mention. Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer are still the stars of the offense. The defense is average, even with Lewis at the helm. Cincinnati will fight to finish at .500. Lewis loses his job at the end of the year.

Cleveland (5-11).The Browns enter the season with two quarterbacks — Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. As John Madden has said, “if you have two quarterbacks, then you have no quarterbacks.” Quinn seems to have barely separated himself from Anderson and will start the season. Braylon Edwards must rebound from a down year for this offense to do anything. Jamal Lewis is a year older. The defense hasn’t done much to improve. The Dawg Pound is again at the bottom of the division. Sorry, Cleveland fans.