Pete_Prisco

---It's tough enough losing one key starter on defense for the season. But the Green Bay Packers lost two Sunday. The Packers lost corner Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman to knee injuries. Both will have surgery and are gone for the season. Harris had played well in adapting to Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme, which featured more zone coverage. Kampman might be the key to the defense, his rush skills a vital part of that unit. Rookie Brad Jones will likely start for Kampman, although Brady Poppinga. Jones started for Kampman against the Cowboys and played well. Tramon Williams will take over for Harris. Jarrett Bush will move up to nickel corner. Capers has a real challenge now with that group of players, but he's always done more with less.

---There was some talk in New England Sunday that the time has come for the Jets to sit down rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Why? This is his team for the long run, so that accomplishes nothing. He is playing poorly, but he needs to work through it. Let him learn on the job. The Jets are 4-6 and their playoff hopes are all but dead, so let him play for the future. I'm not a big fan of the play calling of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. He needs to work on helping Sanchez more. It didn't help Sanchez that Braylon Edwards ran a soft route that led to an interception. He seemed to be jogging his route. Edwards also dropped a first-down pass.

---I heard more talk Sunday that the overtime rules need to be changed. That drum started getting banged again when the Giants beat Atlanta in overtime without the Falcons touching the ball. Here's an idea: Stop them. The Chiefs stopped the Steelers in overtime and then won it when they got the ball. The overtime system is fine. Don't change it.

---The Chargers released receiver Chris Chambers in part because they thought he slowed down. But Chambers looked good Sunday for the Chiefs with four catches for 119 yards. His 61-yard catch set up the game-winning field goal to beat the Steelers.

---I don't buy Mike Shanahan's interest in the Buffalo job. He'll talk to them, but I hear he doesn't like the quarterback situation. The ideal job for him would be Houston, but he'd be taking over for good friend, Gary Kubiak, and there is no telling if that job comes open. If it does I'm told he'd love to work with Matt Schaub. Shanahan is also eyeing the Cowboys and Redskins. Keep the Bears open as a possibility. Shanahan has two years left on his Denver contract.

---Mike Holmgren to the Seahawks sounds likely. He would take on a Bill Parcells role. But I don't think Holmgren and coach Jim Mora Jr. had a warm and fuzzy relationship when they were together. That will be an interesting situation to watch if Holmgren does take over. But let's not forger that Holmgren wasn't great making personnel decisions when he had that power in Seattle in the past.

----I've been a big proponent of Lions rookie quarterback Matt Stafford. He has it. We saw it Sunday. He threw five touchdown passes to beat the Cleveland Browns, the last coming on the game's final play -- with a separated shoulder. The kid is tough and he understands the passing game. The Lions have a keeper. His 422 yards passing were the most by a rookie in league history.

----Terrell Owens looked to be having fun playing in the Bills loss to the Jaguars. He had nine catches for 197 yards and a 98-yard touchdown catch. Where has he been all season?

---Peyton Manning went over 3,000 yards passing Sunday. That makes 12 consecutive seasons topping that number, which is an NFL record. It's expected now. The Colts have won 19 consecutive games, which is two off the NFL record of 21 set by the New England Patriots.

----The Ravens have had problems covering the pass all season long. Now they will have to do it without starting corner Fabian Washington, who is out with a torn ACL. Lardarius Webb, a rookie third-round pick, will likely take his starting spot. Webb is the corner of the future for the Ravens, but this might be rushing it a bit.

----The Steelers will bring in a quarterback with Charlie Batch out six weeks with a wrist injury and Ben Roethlisberger hurting with a concussion. The Steelers will consider somebody like Cleo Lemon or another veteran. They better hope Roethlisberger can go this week. If not, it's Dennis Dixon making his first start. Wonder if Byron Leftwich wishes he had stayed in Pittsburgh now?

---I love when sideline spats between coaches and players become a big deal. We had one in Dallas Sunday with Dave Campo and cornerback Terence Newman getting into it. The two had to be separated. It's heat of the moment stuff. No big deal. Campo gets feisty on the sidelines, so it's not surprise.

 

Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown's season is over.

So now what with the Wildcat? You hate seeing a good guy like Brown go down again with an injury, this time with a Lisfranc sprain of the foot, but it might be the impetus to get Chad Henne more passing plays.

The Dolphins have to do that. Henne is their future. With Brown running the Wildcat, it stunted the growth of Henne, who showed in the drive to the winning points against Tampa Bay last week that he is ready for more.

Henne is a strong-armed, accurate passer who needs to get into a rhythm. The Wildcat doesn't allow that.

But I bet you the Dolphins use Pat White in Thursday night's game against Carolina as the Wildcat trigger, rather than letting Henne free.

If they do, it will be a mistake.

The kid is ready.

When Brown returns next season, he will play behind a quarterback who can get big chunks in the passing game.

What a novel approach that is in Miami.
 

Who should the Buffalo Bills hire to replace Dick Jauron?

Mike Shanahan? Jim Haslett? Kevin Gilbride?

They can't miss with any of them. I mean it.

Most of you will say Shanahan is a slam-dunk choice. He has the rings. He's done amazing things on offense, and we know the Bills need help there in the worst way. But he will cost a pretty penny. We're talking in the $7 or $8 million a year range. Bills owner Ralph Wilson didn't pay a coach over $1 million until Jauron.

Haslett and Gilbride would come a lot cheaper.

Both can do the job.

I've known both for a long time, and they are good football coaches. Haslett excels at coaching defense, while Gilbride excels on offense.

Both have been head coaches and both deserve another chance. Haslett is a former Bills player who would bring an enthusiasm and emotion to a team that needs it. The players will love him. He didn't get a fair shake in New Orleans (Hurricane Katrina) or St. Louis and his Florida Tuskers team is in the title game of the UFL.

Gilbride is an underrated offensive coach who didn't do a good job as head coach in San Diego, but he's learned a lot in recent years running Tom Coughlin's offense with the New York Giants. He was the offensive coordinator for the Bills in 2002 and 2003. The Bills had success in 2002 with Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, but then the team let Bledsoe's weapons leave and he struggled the next season.

Any of the three would be a good choice for the Bills.

Now that the Buffalo Bills have fired coach Dick Jauron, they have to take the next step if they want to succeed, no matter who coaches them.

Find a damn quarterback.

Since Jim Kelly left, they've pieced together a string of has-beens, over-rated players, traded first-round picks and done anything and everything to fill that position, even using a first-round pick on J.P. Losman, who is now playing in the UFL.

It's time they tried to draft another franchise passer in the first round. This time, they have to get it right.

It's evident that Trent Edwards isn't the answer. He is being benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick. Have you seen Fitzpatrick play? I think I could throw it better. Isn't Buffalo famous for wings. He throws like his is broken.

The Bills need to go into the draft next spring and take a franchise passer. Maybe Sam Bradford. Maybe Jake Locker. Maybe Jimmy Clausen.

Don't get seduced by the idea of getting Mike Vick or some other re-tread. They need a franchise player. Now.

Draft one -- and finally replace Kelly.

Those days of the K-Gun offense seem like years ago. It's time to do something about it.

 

---I know people are raving about Maurice Jones-Drew going down at the 1-yard line instead of scoring late in the Jaguars' victory over the Jets, and I liked it too. But I think the Jaguars should have tried to score a touchdown with a sneak with 20 seconds left, rather than wait to kick a field goal on the last play. Why risk a bad snap? I know it's an extra point, but anything can happen. Jones-Drew made the right decision, and coach Jack Del Rio was smart in telling him to do it, but after that let the clock run down and then sneak it in. If not, then you kick the field goal. It was a risky decision to put it on the final kick. By the way, the Jaguars are 5-4 with a soft schedule that just might get that team into playoff contention. If they make it, it would be an amazing job with that young roster.

---I'm starting to think Reggie Wayne is every bit as good as Marvin Harrison was in his prime. That touchdown catch he made to beat the Patriots Sunday night was amazing. What's even more amazing is that he called the audible on that play. The play call was a fade, but Wayne tried that earlier in the game and it was well defended. So he looked over to Peyton Manning and shook his head. "I did my C.C. Sabathia and shook him off," Wayne said. He gave Manning the signal for a slant. He ran it inside and Manning threw a dart that Wayne pulled in for a score. Sensational. Does Wayne ever get his due for being a great receiver?

---Word is some Patriots players were grumbling to the Colts players about Bill Belichick's decision to go for the first down late in the game on fourth-and-2 rather than punting. The defensive players weren't happy, even if they didn't say so in the locker room.

---Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is struggling. He has 10 interceptions in the past five games. Ryan is doing more on offense than he did last season, but he doesn't look as sharp. Ryan has to get it going in the final seven games. With Michael Turner out for a couple of weeks with a high-ankle sprain and Jerious Norwood already on the sidelines, Ryan will have to do even more. Jason Snelling will take over as the lead back. He is more of a grinder than a breakaway threat.

---When you watch the Cincinnati Bengals defense, one of the players who constantly shows up is defensive end Jonathan Fanene. He had two sacks of Ben Roethlisberger Sunday and seemed to be in the backfield a lot. He is an effort player who makes the most of his abilities. He isn't a pure speed rusher, but he knows how to get to the quarterback. The Bengals have done a nice job up front after losing Antwan Odom for the season.

----Keep an eye on Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne. Since taking over for Lofa Tatupu, he has been a pleasant surprise. The guy has a nose for the football.

---I guess with Jon Gruden signing a long-term deal with ESPN it means he isn't coming back to coaching. That's one less out-of-work coach that current guys have to worry about. But there are still plenty, including Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren.

----The Panthers take a big hit in losing left tackle Jordan Gross. He is their best offensive lineman. Gross suffered a broken ankle in Carolina's victory over Atlanta Sunday.

---So the end of LaDainian Tomlinson's career is a little premature. Tomlinson ran well against the Eagles Sunday and showed real pop.

---With a defense that was having all kinds of problems stopping the Chargers, why did Eagles coach Andy Reid opt for a field goal down 14 on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter? I think that was a bad decision.

---Beanie Wells is starting to look like the back the Cardinals thought he might become when they drafted him in the first round. He runs with power.

---The Bengals are bringing in Larry Johnson. That's a decent move, if he has his head on. They need a runner to help Benson out. He might borrow a page from Benson. Stay focused and shut your mouth and good things can happen.

---Who knew Bud Adams even knew what giving the finger meant?

Now that Brady Quinn is back in as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, it begs this question:

Why did they sit him down in the first place?

Quinn did not play well when he opened the season as the starter, which is why Derek Anderson replaced him as starter in Week Four. The Browns had to know they had a lock-on, not-scan-the-field passer in Anderson.

Did they know what they had in Quinn? Do they now?

Quinn's strengths are seeing the field and understanding the passing game. He doesn't have a big arm, which Anderson does. Maybe the big arm seduced the Browns, but does it matter if he has no one who can get deep?

The thing that disappointed the Browns was that Quinn didn't make the right reads when he was starting. If he doesn't do that, his arm can't compensate. He's then just a guy, on his way to bust-ville.

There are some who will say Quinn was benched in large part so the Browns could avoid paying him bonus money. I don't buy that. This is a team that spent $40 million to jettison the last front office and coaching regime and to re-do the team's facility at coach Eric Mangini's request.

Sitting Quinn down was a football decision. A bad one.

Now they have to make it right. They have to spend the rest of this season finding out if Quinn can be their long-term passer. If not, they have to go into the draft next April and get one. Somehow you can see Mangini thinking Chad Pennington could be his guy. He's a free agent, but that's not a good fix. They need a franchise passer, not a lollypop-armed quarterback who can't get the ball down the field.

Next spring that could mean taking Oklahoma's Sam Bradford or Washington's Jake Locker in the first round, or somebody who can win in the passing game. So far, the Browns have been dreadful throwing the football.

It isn't all on the quarterbacks. They have few weapons outside and they haven't played well on the offensive line.

Cleveland is averaging 121.5 yards per game passing, last in the NFL. In this era of wide-open football, that's pathetic. The rules mandate you must throw it now to win. The Browns haven't -- or can't.

In Quinn's four games, including three starts, he completed 59.7-percent of his passes, but threw one touchdown and three interceptions. He didn't take many chances, instead taking safe, check-down throws. His average per attempt was 5.3, which pales in comparison to the top passers who are over 8.0.

Quinn has to show that he's willing to take shots. Playing safe doesn't win. If Quinn doesn't show more an inclination to take shots, the Browns will have a new quarterback next year and it won't be Anderson, who they've soured on.

Mangini is making the right decision going back to Quinn, but the wrong one was sitting him down in the first place.

 

 

---The NFL will surely look into the Mike Smith-DeAngelo Hall sideline fracas that happened during the Falcons-Redskins game. After a late hit by LaRon Landry on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on the Atlanta sideline, some sideline pushing and shoving commenced. Hall, helping his teammate, got into the middle of it. Somehow, Smith did as well. Smith was trying to keep Hall from getting into it with his players and arm-barred him, while yelling at him to back off. Hall hit Smith's arm off of him, and it looked like Smith might have thrown an elbow, but he said he did not. Hall said Smith threatened to kick his ass. Smith is as mild-mannered a coach as there is, but he does get worked up at times on the sideline, which I like. His players love his passion and they had to love him taking up for them on the sidelines. He'll get a small fine, but it will prove to be worth it. The league didn't do a thing when Mike Singletary offered to fight Falcons guard Harvey Dahl a few weeks ago during a game, so nothing should happen here. Hall will cry victim, but the reality is it's not that big a deal.

---Playing not to lose rather than to win is a pet peeve of mine. The Giants lived it Sunday. After New York's Terrell Thomas returned an interception to the San Diego 4 with 3:14 left in the game and the Giants leading 17-14, they had a chance to lock up the game. But after a holding call on first down moved the ball back to the 14, the Giants threw a short pass and then ran it twice and settled for a field goal. Why not take a shot and try and win the game right there? As it turned out, the Chargers drove to the winning score and win 21-20. A touchdown would have meant they had little chance to win it. The Giants made a major mistake playing it conservatively there.

---The Cleveland Browns are now talking about adding a football guru. Does that mean Eric Mangini isn't it? Randy Lerner is on the hook for $40 million or so from the departed coaching staff and front office and would owe Mangini $35 million if he were to fire him. That's a lot of money. Then again, he allowed Mangini to spend $10 million or so to renovate the team's facility. How's that working? The Browns are said to be eying Ron Wolf, Ernie Accorsi or Mike Holmgren. How about somebody a little younger? Here are a few names: Cardinals Director of Player Personnel Steve Keim, Ravens Director of Scouting Eric DeCosta and Jaguars Director of Pro Personnel Terry McDonough. Those three know football. Hiring a guy like that would be a good change.

---Why did the Dallas Cowboys run the Wildcat offense against the Eagles? Didn't Tony Romo come into the game hotter than the asphalt in Phoenix on a summer day? So they take the ball out of his hands? That's just dumb. Romo won the game with his big play to Miles Austin in the fourth quarter. Don't take the ball out of his hands. Ever.

---Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris should be ashamed for his punch that led to his ejection Sunday. He has apologized, but Harris should know better. He wasn't there for his teammates, which makes it a selfish act. The word inside the Bears is that Harris is an odd sort who isn't as dedicated as he should be -- or at least he hasn't been.
There were scouts who thought he'd be that way coming out of Oklahoma. One thing's for sure: He isn't the same player he was a few years ago.

---Is the heat on Giants first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan? It is now. The Giants have had injuries on that side of the ball, but they just don't look the same. Where's the pass rush? Losing safety Kenny Phillips to injury was a real hit. They benched C.C. (Can't Cover) Brown this week in favor of Aaron Rouse, but he isn't Phillips either.

---The Baltimore receivers can't win in single coverage. I saw that last week against Denver live, and I again watched it Sunday against the Bengals. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton aren't good enough to win consistently. The Ravens need to get Joe Flacco a top-notch receiver. Bengals corners Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, who I've been touting all season, did a nice job in coverage against the Ravens.

---It's too bad Bengals receiver Chris Henry is out for the season with a broken forearm. He seems to have turned his life around. His deep speed will be missed, even if he hasn't been putting up huge numbers.

---The Carolina Panthers trailed by 10 with 20 seconds left and faced a fourth down at the New Orleans' 2. The Panthers should have kicked a field goal to make it a touchdown game and then tried an onsides kick and hoped for a recovery and touchdown. But John Fox went for it and when Jake Delhomme's pass was incomplete, the game was over. Bad move. It might not have mattered, but you have to play the percentages.

---I liked what I saw from Josh Freeman Sunday. The Bucs have their quarterback.

 

 

---The NFL will surely look into the Mike Smith-DeAngelo Hall sideline fracas during the Falcons-Redskins game. After a late hit by LaRon Landry on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on the Atlanta sideline, some sideline pushing and shoving commenced. Hall, helping his teammate, got into the middle of it. Somehow, Smith did as well. Smith was trying to keep Hall from getting into it with his players and arm-barred him, while yelling at him to back off. Hall hit Smith's arm off of him, and it looked like Smith might have thrown an elbow, but he said he did not. Hall said Smith threatened to kick his ass. Smith is as mild-mannered a coach as there is, but he does get worked up at times on the sideline, which I like. His players love his passion and they had to love him taking up for them on the sidelines. He'll get a small fine, but it will prove to be worth it. The league didn't do a thing when Mike Singletary offered to fight Falcons guard Harvey Dahl a few weeks ago during a game, so nothing should happen here. Hall will cry victim, but the reality is it's not that big a deal.

---Playing not to lose rather than to win is a pet peeve of mine. The Giants lived it Sunday. After New York's Terrell Thomas returned an interception to the San Diego 4 with 3:14 left in the game and the Giants leading 17-14, they had a chance to lock up the game. But after a holding call on first down moved the ball back to the 14, the Giants threw a short pass and then ran it twice and settled for a field goal. Why not take a shot and try and win the game right there? As it turned out, the Chargers drove to the winning score and win 21-20. A touchdown would have meant they had little chance to win it. The Giants made a major mistake playing it conservatively there.

---The Cleveland Browns are now talking about adding a football guru. Does that mean Eric Mangini isn't it? Randy Lerner is on the hook for $40 million or so from the departed coaching staff and front office and would owe Mangini $35 million if he were to fire him. That's a lot of money. Then again, he allowed Mangini to spend $10 million or so to renovate the team's facility. How's that working? The Browns are said to be eying Ron Wolf, Ernie Accorsi or Mike Holmgren. How about somebody a little younger? Here are a few names: Cardinals Director of Player Personnel Steve Keim, Ravens Director of Scouting Eric DeCosta and Jaguars Director of Pro Personnel Terry McDonough. Those three know football. Hiring a guy like that would be a good change.

---Why did the Dallas Cowboys run the Wildcat offense against the Eagles? Didn't Tony Romo come into the game hotter than the asphalt in Phoenix on a summer day? So they take the ball out of his hands? That's just dumb. Romo won the game with his big play to Miles Austin in the fourth quarter. Don't take the ball out of his hands. Ever.

---Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris should be ashamed for his punch that led to his ejection Sunday. He has apologized, but Harris should know better. He wasn't there for his teammates, which makes it a selfish act. The word inside the Bears is that Harris is an odd sort who isn't as dedicated as he should be -- or at least he hasn't been.
There were scouts who thought he'd be that way coming out of Oklahoma. One thing's for sure: He isn't the same player he was a few years ago.

---Is the heat on Giants first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan? It is now. The Giants have had injuries on that side of the ball, but they just don't look the same. Where's the pass rush? Losing safety Kenny Phillips to injury was a real hit. They benched C.C. (Can't Cover) Brown this week in favor of Aaron Rouse, but he isn't Phillips either.

---The Baltimore receivers can't win in single coverage. I saw that last week against Denver live, and I again watched it Sunday against the Bengals. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton aren't good enough to win consistently. The Ravens need to get Joe Flacco a top-notch receiver. Bengals corners Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, who I've been touting all season, did a nice job in coverage against the Ravens.

---It's too bad Bengals receiver Chris Henry is out for the season with a broken forearm. He seems to have turned his life around. His deep speed will be missed, even if he hasn't been putting up huge numbers.

---The Carolina Panthers trailed by 10 with 20 seconds left and faced a fourth down at the New Orleans' 2. The Panthers should have kicked a field goal to make it a touchdown game and then tried an onsides kick and hoped for a recovery and touchdown. But John Fox went for it and when Jake Delhomme's pass was incomplete, the game was over. Bad move. It might not have mattered, but you have to play the percentages.

---I liked what I saw from Josh Freeman Sunday. The Bucs have their quarterback.

 

Larry Johnson was once considered a bust.

Then he was a star -- or a perceived one.

Now he's a disaster.

The Kansas City Chiefs released Johnson Monday, the day he was set to come off suspension for his use of a slur to reporters and also his questioning his head coach on Twitter.

Once he clears waivers, which he will, Johnson is free to sign with anyone.

You can bet someone will take a chance on this headache.

Why?

The perception is he can still run. I wonder if he was ever as good as his numbers. The Chiefs had arguably the best offensive line in football when Johnson was putting up amazing numbers in 2005 and 2006. In each season, he rushed for over 1,750 yards.

But that's it.

In his other four-plus seasons, counting this season's seven games, he has a total of 2,457 yards. That's not very good.

There are those who will say he's been stymied playing behind some bad offensive lines the past couple of seasons, and that's true. But he also was a beneficiary of good ones.

So who is the real Larry Johnson?

Is he a feature back anymore? Was he ever, aside from two years?

Johnson turns 30 next week, the age when back usually start to slow down. Then there's the baggage. Is this a guy you want in your locker room?

Remember when Dick Vermeil said he needed to outgrow the diapers, which led to questions about him in his early years. He was once available for a ham sandwich in trade talks, that's how bad the Chiefs wanted to dump him, and there were no takers.

Now it won't even cost that. He's there for anyone who wants him.

Does anybody?

Is this a case of bust to star to bust in seven seasons?

It just might be, or the reality is he was never as good as his numbers.

I lean toward the latter, but his name will get him signed. And some team and its fans will rejoice until he starts pulling his Larry Johnson act again.

This guy isn't worth a ham sandwich -- let alone a contract.

When New England running back Fred Taylor was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he told me that Bob Sanders was the heart of the Indianapolis Colts defense, not the great pass rushers up front.

The Colts, then, are in need of a heart transplant.

Sanders was ruled out for the season Friday when it was revealed he would need surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon.

That's even tougher to take when you couple it with the loss of Marlin Jackson, the team's nickel corner, who suffered a torn ACL in practice Wednesday. The Colts will also be without starting corner Kelvin Hayden for another month because of injury.

But it's Sanders they will miss. When he's on the field, he's as good as any safety in the league. The problem is he's hurt way too much.

Maybe because he's missed so much time, the Colts will be OK without him. They have played well without him in the past.

And, oh by the way, as long as No. 18 is on the field, they'll be fine.

If the Colts beat the Houston Texans Sunday, the division race is over. Then it becomes about seeding and getting home playoff games.

It's in the playoffs that a loss of Sanders could show up. But even then, the Colts always seem to have capable bodies to fill in.

That's Bill Polian's style.

That guy named Manning helps cover all those deficiencies pretty well, too.

 

Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable has lasted through an alleged fight with an assistant coach, some serious allegations about spousal abuse, but he could be in big trouble in the next couple of weeks.

The National Organization for Women has publicly stated that it wants Cable fired for his alleged acts of violence toward women.

"Tom Cable's history of violence against women raises a question:  why is he still the head coach of an NFL team?"  Terry O'Neill, the President of NOW, told USA Today.  "Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well.  As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly.  Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories. The Oakland Raiders, properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations.  At the very least he should be suspended during this process. . . .  A man who has admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."

This is the kind of thing that could lead to Cable being let go. But you have to remember Al Davis doesn't get told what to do.

But, he does like money.

If this hits him in the wallet somehow, say goodbye to Tom Cable.

 

There are reports out Monday night that the Cleveland Browns have fired first-year general manager George Kokinis.

What a disaster this team is right now. They can't score, they can't win, they can't get any love from the hometown fans.
Cleveland, you sure you wanted the NFL back?

Kokinis is a well-respected scout who rarely talks, but the word was he was miserable in Cleveland. The reports today are that he was fired and escorted from the building.

Owner Randy Lerner has a mess on his hands. Lerner said coach Eric Mangini was safe on Monday, but for how long? Lerner is still on the hook for big money for former general manager Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel and his staff. Now this? Maybe somebody should escort Lerner from the building.

Oh wait, they can't. Cleveland fans can only hope.

---Bad situational coaching eats me alive. Rex Ryan is the culprit this week. When his Jets cut the Miami Dolphins' lead to 17-12 Sunday, he decided to go for two with 3:26 in the third quarter. Only a 5-yard penalty changed his mind. He kicked to make it 17-13. So when he scores again to make it 24-19 with 1:35 left in the third, he goes for two again.  Kick the point. The Jets missed, and he was chasing again. Miami scored to make it 30-19 and Tony Sparano did the dumb thing going for two. Kick to make it a 12-point game. His team missed as well. Are these guys dumb? Later, the Jets scored to make it 30-25. Ryan had to go for two then and missed.  So what happens? The Jets got the ball back late, down five.

---When I talked to Matt Schaub last week, I asked him about Andre Johnson. He praised Johnson, but he quickly brought up tight end Owens Daniels. He said having him in the middle of the field helps open up the outside passing game. Not anymore. Daniels is out for the year with a torn ACL in his right knee, which means the Texans have a big void in their offense. Joel Dreessen will replace Daniels, and watch out for rookie James Casey when he gets back from torn meniscus surgery in late November. When you lose a Pro Bowl tight end of that caliber it's tough to replace. Look for the Texans, who lead the NFL in passing yards, to get back to running the ball a little more. The surprise is that Steve Slaton isn't the player doing it. Ryan Moats had a big game last week and will continue to take away carries from Slaton, whose fumbling has been an issue.

---I ripped Brett Favre last week when he had the late-game meltdown against the Steelers, so I have to praise him for the way he played against Green Bay. He threw four touchdown passes and looked comfortable the entire day. He's the best screen-pass quarterback ever. I do mean that as a compliment. By the way, Favre is saying he played with an injured groin. What? How many maladies does this guy have? He was listed as limited with a hip injury. Is a groin the same as a hip? Liars.

---If you're looking for a Defensive Rookie of the Year, Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd has to be it. He has seven interceptions, two Sunday against the Texans. Byrd, the son for former NFL corner Gill Byrd, was a corner in college who has made a nice transition to free safety.  That will happen more and more as the NFL becomes more of a passing league.

----Heard in the Ravens press box Sunday: Former Colts player Bruce Laird saying Joey Porter of the Dolphins would have got it during pre-game warm-ups during Laird's playing days. Hate to tell you, Bruce, but the players are bigger, strong, faster, tougher and better than when you played. Don't romanticize about the old days.

---You have to give to Ted Ginn Jr. He gets demoted as a receiver, taking all kinds of heat in South Florida, and he responds with two kickoff returns for touchdowns of 100 and 101 yards. Take that, he said. He might not be worth the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, but he has talent. And he is open when he does play receiver. He just needs to work on those hands.

---If reports are true that Bucs corner Aqib Talib cursed out coach Raheem Morris when he came in late during the team's trip to London, it doesn't bode well for Morris. There were some who thought Morris was too close to his players when he was named coach, something he had to move away from, and this could be a sign of that. Is Morris in trouble? If the Bucs don't win he could be.

--I've been saying for a while that San Diego receiver Chris Chambers doesn't scare down the field and he was hurting the Chargers offense. San Diego coaches must have agreed. They demoted him Sunday and put Malclm Floyd into the starting lineup. Floyd responded with two catches for 64 yards, a 32-yard average. He has better speed, which should help the San Diego passing game. Then the Chargers cut Chambers. If you can scare down the field, you won't play.

---Nice to see Shawne Merriman still has a pulse. He whipped the Raiders tackles all day Sunday, getting his first two sacks of the season and spent the day in the Oakland backfield. Maybe that groin is getting healed up.

---Maurice Jones-Drew had touchdowns runs of 80 yards and 79 yards against the Titans, becoming the only third player in NFL history with two rushing touchdowns of 75-plus yards. Funny thing is, one of the others came this season when Frank Gore did in on September 20 for the 49ers. The other player was Barry Sanders in 1997.

---So Eric Mangini is safe for now? So says Browns owner Randy Lerner. But what if they don't win again? He's gone. Has to be. Why did he hire him in the first place?

 

If I had a team, Vince Young wouldn't be my quartertback.

I like my passers in the pocket. I like them to read the field. I like them to work.

Young does none of that.

But the Tennessee Titans need to play him, which is why the decision to start him this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars is the right one.

Whether Jeff Fisher likes Young or offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger wants him -- word is it's a no on both counts -- the Titans have to play Young the next 10 weeks. What's the worst thing that can happen: They lose all their games.

They've done that already anyway.

What the Titans will likely find out is that Young is what they thought he was the past two years, a run-around quarterback who can make some plays with his legs and not with his arm.

But his age says he deserves a shot to show what he can do.

I think he'll fail.

And I think the Titans will have Sam Bradford or Jake Locker playing quarterback next season as a rookie.

It will be rebuild time.

But they have to find out if Young has anything at all. The guess here is that he doesn't.

Memo to Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher: Start Vince Young.

Why? Not because he's the answer, but because you have to find out for sure he isn't. The Titans know Kerry Collins isn't the long-term solution at quarterback, but they have to find out if Young can be. The word is that inside the Tennessee building the coaches already don't think he is, but the next 10 games should decide that.

If he flops, then the Titans have to draft one. If he plays well, that would be a pleasant surprise to get.

Fisher said he will announce his starting quarterback for this week's game with Jacksonville on Thursday. Owner Bud Adams is said to be pushing for Young.

Does Fisher care about that? Probably not. If he were to get fired, he'd probably get a job next season. There is some talk he is looking at the Dallas job if there is a change there.

This will be an interesting decision to watch. It has to be Young, for a bunch of reasons.