Hogs Haven: Who is sitting and who is playing this weekend? What's the word on Tony Romo? Will Terry Glenn be rested? The defense?

Blogging the Boys: Two guys who for sure won't be playing are WR Terrell Owens and C Andre Gurode. You can also pretty much count out NT Jay Ratliff and CB Terence Newman. Reserve safety Pat Watkins might also be out. After that, you'll see a lot of backups mixed in with some regulars. Tony Romo will probably play for a quarter to a half and Terry Glenn should play some of the game, maybe the first half or so.

HH: On any other year, you show me a 13-2 team that's already clinched home field throughout the playoffs playing as well as the Cowboys, and I'd tell you that team has a very strong chance of winning the Super Bowl. But this year is different given who you'd have to face (in all likelihood) at the end of the postseason: the Patriots. Are these Cowboys destined for a Super Bowl victory? (Ignoring that they won't beat the Redskins in the playoffs)?

BTB: I don't know what were destined for, but I wouldn't mind getting another shot at the Patriots. We actually were leading them late in the third quarter and it was a competitive game until the final eight minutes or so. We were also playing with major injuries in our secondary and had to cover Wes Welker with a little-used reserve. They definitely put us away at the end but with a few breaks here and there we could get the job done.

HH: Cowboys offensive-defensive MVPs... I'd take Tony Romo and DeMarcus Ware. How off am I?

BTB: Well you're dead-on with Tony Romo. He is the straw that stirs the drink. Sure, he has a lot of weapons at his disposal and a solid o-line, but he makes it all work. On defense, it's probably DeMarcus Ware but I'll make a case for some other guys. MLB Bradie James has been a machine this year stuffing the run and has also added the blitz to his arsenal. He leads the defense in tackles. OLB Greg Ellis has 12.5 sacks in only 12 games while Ware has 13 in 15 games. And while not MVP worthy, FS Ken Hamlin has righted a secondary that used to be porous and made it respectable even though we've had injuries back there. But Ware is the man, no doubt.

HH: I'm sure you are tired of this excercise but I want to hear it from a knowledgeable Cowboys fan. I was of the opinion that Bill Parcells was the best thing that had happened to the Cowboys in a long time, but the year he leaves this team has nearly unprecedented success and has a chance to fail at history this weekend against my Redskins (with 14 regular season franchise wins). Was Parcells the problem? Is Wade Phillips winning with his team, or was I just wrong about the Tuna?

BTB: I'll try to make it compact and with relevant details. Parcells took over a franchise that had fallen apart with three consecutive 5-11 seasons and immediately coached them to the playoffs. But he knew that the roster, as it was constructed, wasn't going to go any further. So he built a roster of his own players and he re-built a franchise, giving it structure and an expectation of winning again. But, we kept having December swoons and we fell short of our goals. So in some respects, he never accomplished what he set out to do. Theories range from he worked the players too hard and they were tired and beat-up in December, to he was too conservative on offense and defense, or that his coaching style wore thin on the players after a while. Wade Phillips, on the other hand was a breath of fresh air, both in style and aggressiveness on the field, and the roster immediately took to that. Wade rests players throughout the year and he's an optimistic realist. He gets the lion's share of the credit. Parcells re-built this franchise and built this roster, but it took Wade to make it reach its potential.

HH: MB3 is averaging 5 yards a carry and Julius Jones is averaging 3.7 yards a carry. At every stage of his career, MB3 has either matched or surpassed by magnitude what Julius Jones is able to accomplish on the ground. In 2005 they both had 3.9 YPC. In 2006 it was JJ's 4.1 against MB3's 4.8. This year it's even more pronounced, 3.7 for JJ and 5 for MB3. The only reasonable argument I recall for why MB3 was doing so much better than JJ was that he was getting the better carries, though now he's carrying the majority of the load and has succeeded over JJ more than ever. What gives? Isn't MB3 the better of the two running backs? Can I assert that confidently in argument?

BTB: There's no doubt that MB3 is the better back. The Cowboys keep doing it this way because it's been working. They are winning and they'd just assume leave well enough alone. But you can confidently assert that MB3 is a superior back.

Hogs Haven: Tell us about Eli Manning. Is he the future? Is there talk of replacing him?

Big Blue View: At the halfway point this season I thought Eli was playing at a Pro Bowl level. Of late, he hasn't played well. What I will say about Eli is that two weeks in a row when his team needed him in the 4th quarter he made plays. Eli is a middle of the pack QB right now who may still get better, but will never be the immortal guy Ernie Accorsi promised. Accuracy and decision-making are always going to be issues. He doesn't fear pressure situations, though. There is some talk of finding a better backup to push him, but not replace him.

HH: Same question on Tom Coughlin who, for reasons that escape me, gets heaped with criticism for the way he manages the team. The last I checked, coaches exist to win and management of players was a means to that end. And Tom Coughlin wins. Every year I say "This will be the season where Coughlin's management style burns him and the Giants bomb" and every year the Giants go to the playoffs. What do I know?

BBV: Amazingly, there are still Giants fans who would like to see Coughlin replaced at the end of  the year. On my site I constantly see the comment  "he has to win a playoff game to show me he should stay." I'm not buying that. Unless the sky falls, this will be three straight years the Giants have made the playoffs. Not too many teams have accomplished that, especially with the quarterback situation and controversies the Giants have faced. Coughlin has changed a lot this season is terms of how he relates to players, and they have noticed. Is he a Hall of Fame coach? No. Is he a good coach? Yes. His team reflects his personality now, and he deserves a contract extension.

HH: How much do you miss Tiki Barber? It appears that you miss him a lot less than many of us thought you would.

BBV: Who? Tiki Somebody? Guy by that name used to hang around and be a locker room pain in the ass. He's gone, and we're better off. Running back is not really the hardest position in the world to fill (see Ryan Grant, Green Bay, who couldn't even make the Giants this fall). If you can block, you can run. Besides, the Giants have four guys -- Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward (injured), Reuben Droughns and Ahmad Bradshaw -- who are or can be quality NFL backs. Tiki's retirement has improved the atmosphere in the locker room and helped Coughlin re-establish control of the team. So, in the end, as great a player as he was, his retirement has been a plus.

HH: You are the last, best hope that some team can overcome an undefeated Patriots regular season. What is it going to take for the Giants to beat the unbeatable behemoth?

BBV: Well, the one thing I will say about that is this. The Giants are an ugly 9-4. They have not played one game yet this season where something didn't break down or go wrong. I keep waiting for that one perfect game -- solid defense, no turnovers or penalties, no missed opportunities by the offense, a big play or two on special teams. If that perfect game comes against New England they have a shot. If they play their typical game where they keep settling for 3 instead of 7, or give away a couple of chances with turnovers, then they have no shot.

HH: Which Giants player who I haven't heard a lot about will introduce himself to Redskins fans in a bad way this weekend?

BBV: I'll give you a couple of candidates. Ahmad Bradshaw is a rookie running back who will probably only see time returning kickoffs. He hasn't taken one to the house yet, but he's come close now 5-6 weeks in a row. It's going to happen, and soon. Michael Johnson is a very impressive, big-hitting, playmaking rookie safety. The amazing thing is both of these guys were 7th round draft choices.

Hogs Haven: JP Losman or Trent Edwards (or Marshawn Lynch? Dude is 1 of 1 for 8 yards, a touchdown, and a 140 passer rating)?

Buffalo Rumblings: For the past couple of months I've steadfastly (read: maybe a little stubbornly) been on the Losman bandwagon.  I never thought he got a fair shake in Buffalo, so I figured he deserved this season to prove he has what it takes at this level.  But his development has been stunted since Day One here in Buffalo, and it became pretty apparent that Dick Jauron was leaning toward Edwards as his QB.  This was the right time to make the switch - we're 5-6, two games out of the final Wild Card spot and looking for a spark.  Maybe the rookie can provide it, maybe he can't - all we're sure of is that Losman was sparkless.  I think the kid's got it in him to pull off a couple wins here as the season winds down.

HH: On a scale of 1-Oh Shit how costly has the loss of Marshawn Lynch been? From what I gather, the dude was having a hell of a rookie season.

BR: If you can go past "oh shit", throw it up there.  I daresay that no running back in NFL (other than maybe Frank Gore) is as important to the cohesiveness of his offense than Lynch.  Never mind his 871 total yards - Marshawn currently has tallied all six of Buffalo's rushing touchdowns and 1 of the team's 5 passing touchdowns.  Yes, the Bills have scored 11 offensive touchdowns, and Lynch was directly involved with 7 of them.  Needless to say, with Lynch out of the lineup, we're missing our most explosive player.  With Lynch out, teams are able to double-team Lee Evans and let the likes of Josh Reed, Fred Jackson and Michael Gaines beat them.  Sounds scary, right?

HH: Given injuries to our own line, and I never thought I'd say this with too much conviction, I really do miss Derrick Dockery. How has he played so far? Ditto on Robert Royal, I like to check on former players.

BR: Dock is a good guard, but no, he has not lived up to his $49 million deal yet.  Buffalo still struggles along the line, and for the past few weeks Dock has been outperformed by Brad Butler, the right guard and a fifth-round pick last year.  All in all, he forms a very talented, athletic duo with Jason Peters on the left side of our line, and the longer they play together, the better they will ultimately become.

Does that mean you miss Royal?  You probably shouldn't, what with Chris Cooley being excellent and all.  Royal, due to injury, has had to change up his role a bit this year - due to his above-average run blocking skills, and with the loss of two starting H-Backs, the Bills have been forced to line Royal up in the backfield to block quite a bit.  As a result, he's being outperformed in the pass-catching department by Michael Gaines.  All in all I love Royal, however - he's energetic, a fantastic teammate and a leader in the locker room.

HH: 52-7, 56-10, functionally they're no different. I had to be coaxed off the ledge. How bad did it feel to get handled by the Patriots? It helps to get it out. I know exactly how you feel. What happened? Was it game plan? Execution? I found myself at a loss after the game to describe what went wrong, since there wasn't really anything that didn't. Was it any one thing or was it everything?

BR: Well, we've been getting handled by the Patriots for 8 years now, so unfortunately I'm getting used to that numb feeling you get after you play the Patriots.  What went wrong was that Tom Brady was playing, ultimately, against defenders that are third-stringers.  Did we really expect free safety George Wilson, a converted wideout, to cover Randy Moss?  John DiGiorgio to completely shut down Kyle Eckel? (OK, maybe I expected that one... Kyle Eckel, for God's sake.)  Buffalo was just overmatched, as is any team that faces the Pats this year, and our team is just too young and inexperienced to make any sort of run at a team like that.

I can't wait until Tom Brady retires.

HH: I guess it is fair game since you asked me about Coach Gibbs. Richard Jauron is 5-6 with just a 7-9 season in Buffalo behind him to brag on. You face Miami at home after this week, but then it is a mean streak against a surprisingly good Cleveland team on the road and closing out against the Giants and Eagles, two teams that have looked (at various times) very difficult to beat this season. Is Jauron back? What's the sentiment of Bills fans generally?

BR: At one point we were 5-4, but there's a very good chance we could finish 6-10.  Chalk that up, however, to the Bills just running out of steam after an energetic mid-portion of the season fueled by our scrappy reserves.  This team, ultimately, was too banged up with too many question marks (especially at quarterback) to seriously compete.  We think we've answered that quarterback question (fingers crossed), and the team is going to get healthy.  I believe that given the instability at QB, the injuries and the turmoil that's always created when a new coaching staff arrives as far as scheming goes, the fact that Jauron has this team near .500 to this point in his Bills career speaks volumes about him.  I really believe that he's finally the right coach to fix the Bills - he just needs a year or two more to get his house in order.  This team is on the right path.

Hogs Haven: Redskins-Cowboys rivalry has gotten some print recently, so here goes: It doesn't bother me one bit how Cowboys fans feel about my franchise as I imagine you feel the same about Redskins fans. I consider the Cowboys games to be the biggest of the year, only because I have no cause to get pumped up about Washington-Miami or even Washington-NYG or Washington-Philly. I like the history. That doesn't mean I live only to beat the Cowboys either. In any event, Grizz, do you personally consider the Redskins a game of consequence, rivalry, etc.?

Blogging The Boys: I consider it a rivalry game and probably always will. The history is so rich and the hatred so ingrained for the older generation of fans that for them, it will always mean a little more that just a regular season game. Having said that, the rivalry worked so well in the far past because both teams were shooting for the playoffs, and the Super Bowl. Both teams were elite in the NFL. Lately, neither franchise has done much in terms of the NFL landscape and that takes away a little of the heat. We need both franchises to become good again for the rivalry to really take off for a new generation. As I found out on my blog, a lot of fans who came of age with the Cowboys over the last 10 years or so seem to have more intense feelings for the Dallas-Philadelphia game. Cowboys fans really hate the Eagles now.

HH: Roy Williams, Pro Bowler?

BTB: Depends on what you're asking me. By a strict definition, he's a Pro Bowler because he goes to the Pro Bowl every year. But the selection process for the Pro Bowl is influenced by name and reputation as much as ability and on-the-field production. To me, it's just a fun thing that doesn't really gauge a player's worth or status. Roy Williams as a Pro-Bowler doesn't mean much to me; it's his actual production that concerns me. Besides, I don't really keep up with every safety on the other NFC teams - of course I know Taylor and Landry - but really, evaluating the strong safeties on other teams is not something I do. So I can't speak intelligently about exactly where Roy Williams stands in the pecking order of NFC strong safeties. But, as I wrote recently, I think Roy is actually playing a better, smarter brand of football this year. He's making sure tackles and getting into the correct position on defense instead of loading up for the big hit or trying to make the highlight reel. Wade Phillips has also found a way in passing situations to utilize him as a linebacker instead of a cover deep safety.

HH: The Cowboys are even better than they were offensively last year. There was a presumption that the defense would get better (and it has) as Phillips would be willing to use the personnel in a more creative manner than Parcells. How much of the offensive improvement is credited to Jason Garrett? Is he the real deal?

BTB: I have to believe that Jason Garrett is the real deal. The Cowboys offense is better this year even though last year we were among the league-leaders. A lot of that credit goes to Jason Garrett. He's an aggressive play-caller that wants to score on every play, but he's not reckless, he is smart enough to take what the defense is giving him. He tends to probe early in games to see what the defense is doing and to give Romo an opportunity to see different looks from the defense. But once he's got it figured out, he will exploit it the rest of the game. He will utilize whatever player on offense he thinks has the better match-up and from week-to-week that player, or players, can change. Plus, his rapport with the players and his professionalism with the media have all the hallmarks of a head coach. If he's not the Cowboys head coach post-Wade Phillips - whenever that may be - I'll be disappointed.

HH: Marion Barber the third or JJ? I'd take MB3.

BTB: MB3 is the better back.

HH: How do the Cowboys lose this game? What, if anything, worries you about it?

BTB: I'm worried every week. This is the NFL, a team can go down in flames on any given Sunday - or  Monday, or Thursday.  We're a team that has to overcome mistakes to win, so far we've done it pretty handily, but there's always the chance we won't. Tony Romo is like his idol Brett Favre, including wanting to make something happen on every play. So, like Favre, he will turn the ball over on occasion, usually though, he more than makes up for it with the rest of his play. In fact, if Romo is on, and he's been on almost every game, our offense is too much for the opponent. We also make stupid penalties, I'm sure we're still the most penalized team in the league, and we can make them at the worst time. In general, the Cowboys have the potential to beat themselves in every game. It's hard to say how you'd beat the Cowboys this year without their own mistakes helping, unless you do what the New England Patriots did and that's simply to out-perform the Cowboys offense.

Hogs Haven:Is Kellen Clemens the answer? If yes, in virtue of what, exactly?

Jets Blog: It's impossible to say whether Clemens is the answer or not yet, but he'll get some good tests  before the end of the season, starting with the Redskins defense.  I will say that Pennington was not the team's biggest problem, but at this point, the Jets need to evaluate their options. I do think that Clemens has a bright future, but we can't judge based on what he's done in the Baltimore game in the 4th quarter ... the defenders were playing prevent.  During the 2006 Draft, Clemens shot up many boards and was considered the first option of the second-tier QBs.  All the same, he's a younger Pennington type with a better arm for long throws.  People question if he can transition from a collegiate run & shoot QB though.

HH: On Mike and Mike, Greeny just called Herm Edwards the midseason coach of the year. I find this preposterous, but I don't know as much about Herm as you, as a Jets fan, would. Do you miss him? Did Mangini earn enough good faith among the faithful with last year's 10-6 record to survive a 1-7 start?

JB: I don't miss Herm at all.  I don't miss his poor attention to detail, to his over-reliance on veterans, to his relaxed attitude to preparation.  The biggest difference is, that his players liked him.  With Mangini it's more of a begrudging respect thing.

HH: Better receiver: Santana Moss or Coles?

JB: I guess it depends on who is throwing the ball.  Moss wasn't suited to play with Pennington, but overall, I'd have to say Coles.  His ability to make truly tough catches in the face of oncoming defenders is amazing.  Coles was basically the running back in terms of moving the chains in 2006 (since the Jets didn't really have one), he made this team go for Pennington.

HH: Were he to become eligible tomorrow, would Curtis Martin get in the Hall of Fame? Ever? Should he? (BONUS: Will you acknowledge that Joe Namath does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?)

JB: Curtis Martin embodies everything that you would want a Hall of Famer to be, minus the championship ring.  HOF voters are a fickle bunch, and a lot of it ... unfortunately, it seems comes down to championships [EDIT note: Sometimes not so much; Art Monk won championships].  I think that Curtis Martin will get into the HOF ... the voters seem to like him, but I don't think it will be on his first pass.

As a Jets fan, I can't objectively answer the question about Namath.  Among Jets fans, there is basically no arguing that he was the greatest Jet since he brought home the Superbowl win.  He didn't have a statistically amazing career, but his team beat the juggernaut of his day to win the championship, and Namath's style was a big reason to the NFL becoming appointment television.  Clearly football is a team sport though, and his induction represents more of what he and his teammates accomplished together.

HH: Who is the best player on the New York Jets that Redskins fans haven't heard of?

JB: I have answered some other players (like S Kerry Rhodes in week's past) but I would have to say the Jets' second round draft pick ... Inside Linebacker David Harris.  In his first start, as replacement to signal caller Jonathan Vilma last week against the Bills, Harris was credited with 17 tackles a handful of which were for loss.  I'd expect to see more Guards pulling this week (especially Kendall who is excellent at this) to meet Harris in the hole, but all the same, expect Betts and Portis to have their work cut out for them against this true 3-4 style Inside Linebacker.

Update [2007-9-21 10:41:30 by Skin Patrol]: Big Blue View has my answers up, if anyone is interested.

Hogs Haven: Who is running for the Giants on Sunday, and why should, or shouldn't, I be worried about it?

Big Blue View: Derrick Ward is the primary back w/Brandon Jacobs hurt. Ward has been excellent in two games, gaining 179 on 28 carries -- a 6.4 yards per carry average. He has also caught 8 passes. Ward is far from the problem with the Giants. In fact, he's been a very pleasant surprise.

HH: What has to happen for us to see Jared Lorenzen waddle onto the field?

BBV: Well, I would think  that someone would have to rip Eli Manning's right arm all the way off. Or, the Redskins will have to win by about 40.

HH: What would you say scares you most about the Giants defense going into Sunday?

BBV: Everything! Mostly the fact that they have given up 80 points in two games and played almost no defense. Truthfully, though, the Giants do play decent run defense. But, they have shown no pass rush and have not been able to cover anybody.

HH: Which Giants player are Redskins fans perhaps unfamiliar with, but will become very familiar with come Sunday?

BBV: Cornerback Aaron Ross. The Giants No. 1 pick has played pretty well in limited duty. He may start Sunday and even if he doesn't will play significant minutes. He might already be the best cornerback they have. Also, with some of the injuries to Giants wide receivers keep an eye out for Anthony Mix.

HH: Tom Coughlin... lame duck Coach?

BBV: Uh, Dead Coach Walking. Pretty much any way you want to describe it, I guess. I am not willing to say Coughlin has no chance to save his job at this point, but if this turns into a 5-11 or 6-10 season -- and it is threatening to -- he won't be around next year.

Hogs Haven: Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron was the quarterbacks coach in Washington from 1994-1996. The good news was Trent Green, who played with the team from 1995-1998. That bad news was Heath Shuler. What do you think of Heath Shuler's development as a football player in this National Football League?

The Phinsider: What a lovely way to start your 5 questions, Will.  Thanks.  But hey, 1 for 2 isn't bad.  In baseball, being successful just once every 2 times would make you the greatest player who ever lived, wouldn't it?

In all seriousness, though, if you only judge Cameron's QB expertise on what he did in Washington, then you aren't going to be overly impressed.  But you simply can not forget what he did with two quarterbacks in San Diego.  He developed Drew Brees when every NFL team, including the Dolphins, passed on him in the draft.  He then developed Phillip Rivers behind Brees despite being criticized for trading Eli Manning to the Giants for Rivers.  I guess Cameron and Marty Schottenheimer must have known something because, at this point in their careers, I'd take Rivers over Manning any day of the week.

Also, I think you're forgetting about perhaps the most valuable asset that Cameron brings to the Dolphins: his innovative offense and play calling.  If you watched any Dolphin games last year, you would have a boring and predictable offense featuring lousy play calling by Mike Mularkey.  In 2007 with Cam Cameron, that simply won't be the case anymore.

HH: Cameron has suggested and your stated at your site that Jesse Chatman should share the load with Ronnie Brown on the ground. You cited around a 70/30 load in favor of Brown, which sounds good to me. As we're also running a multi-back system, I'm aware that sometimes even runners as good as Brown and Clinton Portis lack in areas where others might excel. What are Chatman's relative strengths against Ronnie Brown?

TP: Like you said, having 2 running backs who you are comfortable giving the ball to is a great luxury to have in the NFL in this day and age.  However, Brown still does need to get a bulk of the carries because, as his statistics show, he's a player who gets better as he gets more carries.  So I'm hoping for a situation where, as the game goes on, Chatman gets fewer and fewer carries and Ronnie's workload increases.

As for the strengths of Chatman compared to the Brown, there are really 3 key differences.  All three, though, are things in which Brown can improve upon in order to become a more complete back as his career progresses.  First, Chatman is very familiar with Cameron's offense as he played under Cameron in San Diego.  Cam's offense is vastly different than the one Saban and Mularkey ran, so Brown will need time to get fully acclimated to the offense.  Second, Chatman seems to have better vision finding the hole.  This has been one of the knocks on Brown early in his career, though the other problem is that there haven't been many holes to locate thanks to poor line play.  Lastly, Chatman hits the hole with a burst while Brown tends to sometimes dance around in the backfield rather than burst through the hole.  This is something that has been a hot topic among Dolphin fans and, though Brown improved on it as the season progressed last year, still has plagued Brown throughout the preseason.

HH: Last year's Dolphins were really good defensively and really bad offensively. Just looking at their ranking in those categories from last year, my intuition, without being informed by anything else about the team, tells me that they improve offensively and get worse on defense. Is that a reasonable or likely conclusion or am I off (and if so, by how much)?

TP: I think you're off a bit on that assessment.  Yes, the offense should improve at least a little.  They now have a veteran QB who can read defenses and a coach who brings creativity to the offense.  So I think you're right on target with that one.

The problem with your statement is that I'm having a hard time seeing this defense get worse.  If anything, they will likely be even better in 2007 than they were in 2006.  First of all, this unit was a top 4 defense last year despite having Donnie Spragan as a starting outside linebacker.  The Dolphins certainly upgraded at that position with the acquisition of Joey Porter.  Now they have Porter and Jason Taylor rushing on opposite sides, meaning that offensive lines are going to have to worry about not one elite pass rusher, but two.  How do you game plan for that?  Also, Channing Crowder is entering his third year at linebacker and has looked like an absolute beast in the preseason.  Many people, including myself, agree that this could be the year Crowder makes a name for himself in this league.  Lastly, last year's weak spot, the secondary, has one more year of progress and experience under their belt.  For the first time, safety Yeremiah Bell will start on opening day rather than Travaris Tillman, who was terrible last year and got benched midway through the season.  Bell is a playmaker who seems to have a nose for the ball.  They also have Travis Daniels back and healthy.  Last hear, the cornerback was slowed by an ankle injury after starting 14 games as a rookie in 2005.  He'll certainly be a key player on this unit.  All in all, if I had to predict where this defense will rank in 2007, I'd have to say top 3 is pretty likely, behind the likes of Baltimore and Chicago.

HH: There is a guy on the Miami Dolphins that the Redskins probably don't know much about but will learn a lot this coming Sunday. What is that dude's name?

TP: I'll give you two names; one on offense and one on defense.  First, on the offensive side of the ball, Redskin fans are going to get to know David Martin, Miami's starting tight end.  Martin comes over from Green Bay where he spent the first 6 years of his career behind Bubba Franks.  And remember, Cam's offense is very tight-end friendly and Trent Green has been known to throw to his tight end as often as he throws to anybody else.  Martin is a player with good size, speed, and hands.  He's no Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez by any stretch of the imagination.  But he is a guy who can stretch the seam and keep the safeties from cheating over towards the wide receivers.  And look for Martin to also be a force in the redzone.

On the defensive side of the ball, you're likely going to get to learn about Matt Roth, a third year defensive end out of Iowa.  He's a player with great strength and who has a nonstop motor.  Last year, as Kevin Carter's backup, Roth picked up 3.5 sacks.  This offseason, Carter was let go because of how confident Dom Capers is in Roth as a fulltime starter.  Look for Roth to get pressure on the quarterback at least a few times.  But also watch him play the run.  He's very good at taking on two blockers, allowing the talented linebacking core to make plays on the ball carrier.  To sum it up, Roth is the kind if player who you are going to find to be quite annoying to play against.

HH: Is Chris Chambers overrated? Football Outsiders says yea but for some reason I can't get it into my head that this guy isn't a really solid WR. I think he must have performed a jedi mind trick on me because I'm totally convinced he's not the droid I'm looking for, in spite of what FO says -- and I consider them a reliable source.

TP: Yes, Football Outsiders, who I also consider a reliable source, hates Chris Chambers.  And why not?  His 39% catch rate is the 2nd lowest since 2002, when Jason McAddley had a catch rate of 36%.  So is he overrated?  Right now, I'd say yes.  He still drops way too many passes and has a knack for disappearing in big spots or for long stretches in a game.  But the public doesn't see that.  What they see are the highlight reel grabs that he makes pretty often.  

In fact, there were reports that the Dolphins were shopping Chambers but nobody was willing to pay the price tag the Dolphins put on him (which is unknown).  And his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, believes that this could very well be Chambers' last season in Miami.  I'd have to agree with that unless he finally begins producing.  He's had just one real good year in his underachieving career.  If Cameron can't jump start him, there's a real chance he's playing somewhere else next year.  And Will, since you like him so much, maybe you can convince Dan Snyder to send the Dolphins a 2nd round pick for Chambers.  What do you say?

Last year you were injured while making a tackle during a meaningless preseason game. If you were commissioner for the day, how would you fix the current system? Would you shorten the preseason? Eliminate it completely?

Man, you know, if I was the commissioner I'd do a lot different. Like the individuality of the game - you want to sell that to the fans, but you're really not letting the players be individuals. I would change that first and let players go out and have fun. A lot of the things that separate players and show the individuality of players is taken away - like celebrations or the dress code. I understand you want to make everyone look the same, but everybody is not the same. The way they market the NFL they're making major money and that's what it all boils down to, making money. They gotta get their money, but how much money can you make?

I say let the people go out and have fun. And I think the preseason should be about letting the people who are coming in, looking for a shot, have that opportunity. A lot of teams don't do that. You don't get the opportunity to go out and showcase your talent. You might get to play in one game or you might not. If you don't even get into your first game then no one will ever know if you can play.

The Good Guys: 1. Vince Young just sneezed. Was it a) an expression of his natural leadership b) evidence that the Titans will make the playoffs c) both or d) allergies?

The Bad Guys: 1.   C.  If you have seen Vince play for any length of time you know about his natural born leadership skills.   If he is sneezing it is not because of allergies.  He doesn't get sick or have any allergies.  You know that.   I cannot believe that you would even insinuate that it could be anything other than C.  Frankly, I am appalled by the question.

TGG: 2. Last year the Titans-Redskins game, which the bad guys won 25-22, was my "Oh shit, we're cooked" moment last year. Perhaps that was a bit unfair, as the 0-5 team we lost turned out to be a good bit better than its record, thanks in large part to Vincent Paul Young something or other. However, I also suspect that this team won some games after that that it might not have. Question being, were the 2006 Titans better or worse than their 8-8 record?

TBG: 2.    I'm going to go with push.   It is true that the Titans won some games they maybe shouldn't have, like the Giants game where Mathias Kiwanuka let Vince go and the Colts game where Bironas hit the 60 yarder (Brad still won't give the Titans credit for that win),    but there was also the other Colts game where Bobby Wade dropped an easy TD pass and the Jets game where Kerry Collins was the QB.  Jerry Seinfeld says he always breaks even.   I really think the Titans broke even last season.

TGG: 3. Playoffs: Pop a cork or moderated optimism?

TBG: 3.   Moderated optimism but did you watch the Rose Bowl when Texas played USC?   The guy wearing #10 for Texas that night, you know the guy who pretty much single-handedly won that game, his name is Vince Young, and he now plays for the Titans.  Now before you talk about how this isn't college and all that, I do know that the NFL is completely different that college.   I also know that there were a couple of games last year that he won pretty much single-handedly as a rookie.  He is going to be even better this year. I am drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid.   I really do think he can will this team to the playoffs.  (Insert laughter here)

TGG: 4. Which one of the many Titans wide receivers that no one has really heard of will we have heard of by year's end? (Hint: the answer is Joel Filani)

TBG: 4.  Sorry but Joel Filani isn't the answer.  Brandon Jones is the answer.   He was having a solid rookie year in 2005 until he tore his ACL.  He came back in 2006 but still wasn't 100%.   He stayed healthy all of last season and has had the entire offseason to get back to pre-injury form.  Vince Young will make someone a star.  (That's more fuel for your mockery fire)  That someone will be Brandon Jones.

TGG: 5. Best player on the team not named Vince Young?

TBG: 5.  The best player on the team not named Vince Young is Keith Bulluck.   This guy is a star that doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves.  He has averaged 139 tackles a season in the 5 seasons he has been a starter.   He is always around the ball.  If he played in a bigger market he would be a perennial Pro Bowler.

TGG: 6. Looking at your running backs, I see a unit that is far more intimidating in name than can probably be utilized consistently on gameday, given that RBBC usually is a committee of two, and you've got three (LenDale White, Chris Brown, Chris Henry). Questions persist about White's committment to the game, manifested in criticisms of his weight. Chris Brown is a guy no one talks about despite the fact that he is a 1,000 yard rusher (11 games, by the way) who managed a very intimidating 4.9 yards per carry circa 2004. Obviously he's some kind of injury case. Chris Henry is an alleged workout warrior who I felt the Titans drafted too high, but what the fuck would I know? Don't look now but Tennessee had 2214 yards rushing last season (5th), 4.7 YPC (6th), and they still have this "VY" guy who is apparently a professional football player. I'm not totally convinced that the loss of Travis Henry is that consequential, as running backs are probably more fungible than conventional wisdom suggests. In fact, I'm eschewing traditional stats and riding jock on Football Outsiders who have consistently rated him as a mediocre RB. Travis Henry sucks. With all that ranting and raving concluded, QUESTION: Titans rush for OVER/UNDER 2,400 yards next season. Don't be scrrrred.

TBG: 6.  I ain't never scrrrred.  The Titans will rush for over 2,400 yards this year.   Book it!!  The Titans have the best offensive line they have had in a long time.  They are returning the entire unit from last season.   On top of that, LenDale White has a renewed commitment after Fisher called him out for missing a practice.  He has been putting in extra conditioning work after every practice.   It appears that he will get the bulk of the carries.  

Chris Brown could be a star if it weren't for the injury problems.  He is the most effective when put in the role he will be in this season.   He will spell White and get 5-10 carries per game.  That should keep him healthy and effective.

I am in agreement with you on Chris Henry.  I don't know that he will be much of a factor in the running game this year.   He won't be inactive on game days like Brown was last year because he will be playing special teams.  He might get a few carries here and there.   I think he is a project.