RUMOR MILL ARCHIVE

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

POSTED 8:05 a.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 12:59 p.m. EST, October 31, 2004

FINS CONTINUE PURSUIT OF RICKY'S COIN

Days after NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw called for a ban on contract language that allows teams to recoup from a player money that he already has earned, the Dolphins filed suit against Ricky Williams on Friday, representing the next step in their quest to recover $8.6 million.

Although the Associated Press expresses uncertainty regarding the reason for the lawsuit, it's a no-brainer.  The Dolphins already have secured an arbitration award from Williams.  But an arbitration award, standing alone, does not enable the team to collect the money by, for example, seizing money in bank accounts, putting liens on property, etc.

So the Fins must present the award to a court of competent jurisdiction and request that a formal judgment be entered.  The judgment order can then be recorded, and the Fins can pursue collection efforts in Florida.  If Williams has assets in any other state, the Dolphins can take the judgment order to that state and, under the terms of the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the other state's court system must permit the judgment to be pursued as to any property located within that state's borders.

The $8.6 million award is based on bonus money Williams received from the Saints in 1999, and on salary escalators resulting from Williams' achievement of specific incentive clauses in a contract that was restructured shortly after he was traded to Miami in 2002.

MORE RESENTMENT OF MANNING?

Thanks to the reader who shared with us an article from ProFootballWeekly in which a variety of players, coaches, and writers name the guy around whom they'd begin building a team.

Why is the article significant?  Because one of the players who offered his two cents gave the following answer:

"A quarterback. . . .  You want to go with a young up-and-comer, but if you were going to start a franchise, you want somebody that knows what he's doing and knows how to win.  And has a few championships under his belt.  The safe bet would be Brett Favre."

The author of this response?  Defensive end Robert Mathis.

Mathis, a 2003 fifth-round draft pick, plays for the Indianapolis Colts.

So why didn't Mathis point to his own quarterback, Peyton Manning?

Other players were, for the most part, smart enough to stay close to home when giving their answers.  Pats left tackle Matt Light picked Tom Brady.  Jets nose tackle Jason Ferguson tabbed Chad Pennington.  Packers corner Ahmad Carroll cast his vote for Favre.

The only exception, other than Mathis, was Broncos running back Reuben Droughns, who would start a team with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

But the differences between Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer and McNabb are obvious.  With Manning and Favre, most objective observers would, on paper, give the nod to Peyton -- especially in light of the fact that Peyton is seven years younger.

So why would Mathis spurn Manning for Favre?  Could it be that Mathis' rookie contract expires after the 2005 season, and that Manning's cap-busting contract will make it hard for Mathis to get a solid long-term deal in Indy?  And could it be that there's a general undercurrent within the locker room that Peyton was a piggy when it came to getting paid, and that the rest of them will suffer for it?

Our readers know that we believe a player should always strive to get paid his full market value.  Still, too much money for any one guy affects what the others will be able to get, and that inevitably will affect the manner in which those other guys respond to the one who's walking around with pockets full of money that otherwise would be in their pockets.

PATS STREAK WILL END . . . SOMEDAY

We're often accused of having biases in favor of the Patriots and the Steelers (which means that we've done a good job of keeping under wraps the team(s) we really like).  But assuming that we have soft spots for the boys from the 'Boro and the 'Burgh, we'd really be torn on Sunday afternoon at 4:15, when they square off at Heinz Field.

Yours truly was there nearly three years ago, when the Pats shocked the Steelers, launching New England into the Super Bowl, where the Pats shocked the Rams and embarked on a head-scratching run of greatness.

Though the rosters have changed more than two full seasons later, there are enough players and coaches wearing black and gold who remember the disappointment of that January 2002 afternoon, and our guess is that the Pats will find a foe with a high degree of motivation to put a stop to their 21-game winning streak.

And looking back carefully at the Patriots' record run of week-in, week-out success, we realize that they haven't faced -- on the road -- a team as strong as the Steelers. 

 In fact, the Pats have had close calls in most of their road games during their current streak.

The first road game of the streak was a 19-13 overtime win at Miami, during which the Fins missed a field goal late in the fourth quarter and in overtime, and the Pats pulled off an uncharacteristic 82-yard touchdown pass for the win.

Next, at Denver.  The Pats won 30-26 on a touchdown pass with 30 ticks left, following Bill Belichick's decision to call for a goal-post-doinking long snap out of punt formation, giving the Broncos a 26-23 lead with 2:51 left.

Next, at Houston.  Pats win 23-20 in overtime, via a field goal with 41 seconds left in the fifth quarter.

Next, at Indy.  The Patriots win a 38-34 shootout, stopping the Colts at the one in the waning seconds.

Next, at the Jets.  A late interception took the steam out of a potential game-winning drive for New York, preserving the Pats' 21-16 win.

Fast forward past two playoff home games and a neutral-site nail-biting Super Bowl.  Of six regular-season games in 2003, the Pats have already played four of them at home.  The two road games hardly were blowouts.  The Cards played the Pats tough in Week Two, and the Bills were driving for the game-tying touchdown at the end of their Week Four contest.

With six road games over their final ten contests, it's inevitable that the Patriots' luck will run out.  We think it'll happen on Sunday, and we have a feeling it won't be close.  Look for the Steelers to jump on the Pats early, on their way to a 27-13 victory.

And if we're wrong (and wrong we very well could be), we see tough games at St. Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland (which played the Eagles into overtime), the Dolphins (which spanked the Rams last week at home), and the Jets.  There's simply no way that they'll run the table, given this schedule.  The team (we suspect) knows it won't happen, the fans shouldn't expect it, and all of those media types with their noses buried into the franchise's bunghole should not start talking about the Pats repeating the feat of the 1972 Dolphins.

Then again, if they can beat the Steelers and the Rams . . . .  

SUNDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

Overshadowed for years by Joe Montana, Steve Young and his candidacy for the Hall of Fame will take a back seat to Dan Marino.

The Lions could be dumping defensive end Robert Porcher on Monday; since the trading deadline has passed, he'll have to clear waivers if released.

49ers QB Tim Rattay probably won't play on Sunday night against the Bears with a forearm injury.

Browns owner Randy Lerner says he's considering adding a General Manager in the offseason.

C Jason Ball has yet to work out with the Dolphins because he hasn't passed a physical.

Dolphins DE Jason Taylor was slapped with a $7,500 fine for driving Rams QB Marc Bulger into the ground following a sack last Sunday.

The Cowboys have placed WR Terry Glenn on injured reserve, as first predicted in this here space.

POSTED 7:27 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:25 p.m. EDT, October 29, 2004

OGDEN "EXTENSION" CARRIES $14M BONUS

Though our old friend Len Pastabelli insists that tackle Jonathan Ogden has signed a new contract with the Ravens, not an extension, we're sad (actually, happy) to report that Len's head is in his ample ass on this one.

Or maybe it just means that Hadley Englehard has changed his password for the NFLPA database.

Regardless, the official documents show that it is a six-year extension, not a new seven-year deal.  Under the extension, Ogden will receive a signing bonus of $5.686 million and a 2005 option bonus of $8.665 million.

Ogden will receive $3.47 million in salary this year, which is based on seven weeks based on the original $4.15 million salary and ten weeks at the new $3 million rate.  (He's already earned a $1.5 million roster bonus this year.)

His salary in 2005 will be $2 million.  In 2006, he'll earn $4.7 million in base salary.  In 2007, his salary moves to $6.11 million.  In 2008, his salary will be $7.515 million.  In 2009 and 2010, he'll make $8 million each season.

Of course, Ogden likely won't be operating under this new deal come 2009.  In fact, our guess is that the deal will be renegotiated in 2008 at the latest , or Ogden, now age 30, will get bounced to the curb. 

Though 2006, Ogden will pocket $24.52 million -- $26 million if the 2004 roster bonus is counted.  Through 2004, the number edges above $30 million (not $34 million, as Len P. reports).

DENNY DUMPS O-LINE COACH

Cardinals coach Dennis Green unexpectedly has reassigned offensive line coach Bob Wylie to a scouting gig, and has promoted Everett Lindsay to the position of offensive line coach.

Lindsay, a first-year assistant who retired from the game after getting cut by Green on September 6, spent several years with Green in Minnesota.

The reason for the change is unclear, and it remains to be seen whether Lindsay got the promotion because he's got the credentials -- as Brian Billick did when he abruptly became Green's offensive coordinator in the midst of the 1993 season -- or whether Lindsay is another Denny Green sycophant, like Richard Solomon.

EARLY SATURDAY ONE-LINERS

Maybe we're wrong here, but we don't think the best way to deal with a guy who just got nailed for DUI is to tell him to take the weekend off.

The Packers have reduced the playing time of suddenly ordinary DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

Oracle Corp. Larry Ellison didn't need a crystal ball to know that the York's aren't willing to give up the win-or-lose cash cow known as the San Francisco 49ers.

A strained groin has limited Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson over the past three games; he'll likely start against the Raiders.

POSTED 7:47 a.m. EDT, October 29, 2004

RICE TRIES DAMAGE CONTROL

With only one catch for 10 yards in his Seahawks debut -- which also resulted in a loss at Arizona -- receiver Jerry Rice apparently has had an opportunity to reflect on the brouhaha resulting from his decision to don number 80 in Seattle, even though the jersey previously had been retired in honor of Steve Largent.

Rice's strategy, unsurprisingly, is to blame someone else.

According to the Seattle Times, Rice said on Thursday that "he didn't come to Seattle intent on wearing the most sacred jersey number in team history, that he didn't ask the Seahawks for Steve Largent's retired No. 80 and that he didn't initiate contact with Largent."

Rice claims he came to Seattle not knowing what shirt he would wear.  He says that team president Bob Whitsitt told Rice that Largent wanted him to give the former 'Hawk a call.  One thing led to another, and Largent consented to Rice wearing the number.

Rice now says that Largent told him there could be a backlash, and that Rice wasn't sure he wanted to wear the number even as he held up the jersey at his introductory press conference.

Rice's wife, Jackie, also got in on the act, calling the San Jose Mercury News to say, "I hate for Jerry to be blamed for this.  It's unfair."

We've got a simple message to Mr. and Mrs. Rice.

Are you people f--king insane?

First, any efforts by Rice or his surrogates to explain away the decision are even more unbecoming to his legacy than was his decision to diss Largent by wearing the shirt.  Second, Rice's "they made me wear it" version is beyond pathetic.  Is he seven years old or is he a grown man?

Third, Rice's lame-ass explanation ignores the obvious.  There was a backlash, and he could have given up the number before Sunday's game.  Hell, he still can give up the number, if he's afraid that he's gotten off on the wrong foot with Seahawks fans.

But instead of putting Largent's shirt back on the shelf, Rice has locked himself in to making the same gesture in the future.  "The thing about that, though, because of what [Largent] did, he really showed me what this game is all about," Rice said.  "If somewhere down the road that should happen with me, I'm going to do the same thing. Because of him."

Bullshit. 

Rice knows in his heart that the chances of the 49ers picking up a late-career Hall-of-Famer who wears No. 80 during Rice's lifetime are minimal, at best.  Also, next time around, the guy won't be stupid enough to want to wear the number.  

Still, we're now crossing our fingers that Houston receiver Andre Johnson tears up the NFL for the next twelve years in Texas, and that he signs with the 49ers when he's about 36 or so.  

Then, Jerry will have a chance not to make good on his word.  

Until then, we believe that the Hall-of-Fame voters should agree among themselves not to put Rice into Canton in his first year of eligibility, as a penance for his initial decision to wear the number, for his ridiculous effort to shift blame to the Seahawks, and for his ongoing refusal to give up the jersey.

FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

The NFL remains committed to putting a team back into L.A. by 2008 (and the league will continue to say that at least until the ink is dry on the new TV contracts).

Vikings WR Randy Moss (hamstring) will dress on Sunday and play a bigger role than last week, when he participated in only two snaps.

Giants C Shaun O'Hara is questionable for Sunday with a leg infection, as is WR Amani Toomer, who has a strained hamstring.

Redskins LB LaVar Arrington, K John Hall, and TE Fred Baxter will miss Sunday's game due to injury.

The Dolphins have claimed C Jason Ball off of waivers from the Chargers. 

The Ravens have signed OT Jonathan Ogden to a seven-year contract extension.

Six Packers starters missed practice for the second straight day, including QB Brett Favre, who has a sprained right hand.

NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw wants to knock out contract language that permits team to recoup money that already has been earned.

The Eagles signed second-year WR Greg Lewis, who was undrafted, to a five-year contract extension.

The Bills home game against the Cardinals likely won't be on local television.

Falcons rookie WR Michael Jenkins supposedly will be getting more playing time.

Bears DT Tommie Harris isn't happy that he was fined $5,000 for a hit he placed on Bucs QB Brian Griese on Sunday; "They'll get money any way they can," he  said. "It makes you want to walk up to the quarterback before you're about to tackle him and ask to check out where you can hit him— 'Is it all right if I tackle you here?' . . . .  Come on, we're playing football here."

The crowded backfield in Minnesota will have even less elbow room on Monday, when RB Onterrio Smith returns from suspension; meanwhile, coach Mike Tice says that RB Michael Bennett might have gotten some fourth-quarter carries against the Titans if he hadn't been sulking on the bench.

Titans QB Steve McNair has not practiced after re-injuring his sternum last Sunday.

Chiefs DT Ryan Sims suggests that Falcons O-line coach Alex Gibbs is teaching the guys in Atlanta the same tricks he imparted to the Broncos:  "They're a cheaper version of Denver," Sims said.  "Chop blocks, leg whips, cut blocks, they do all that. I mean, be an athlete and block me one- on-one.  They're out here trying to get somebody hurt."

Redskins S Sean Taylor definitely will not play on Sunday following his Thursday DUI.

POSTED 8:33 p.m. EDT, October 28, 2004

'BOYS SUDDENLY THIN AT RECEIVER

A week after receiver Antonio Bryant was traded to Cleveland, it seems that Bryant would have gotten his long-coveted spot in the starting lineup if he hadn't been dealt to the Browns.

And Bryant might have nailed down a spot with the ones for the rest of the season, since there are rumblings that Terry Glenn's sprained foot might result in the veteran being placed on injured reserve.

The guy that 'Boys got for Bryant, receiver Quincy Morgan, is nursing a strained hamstring.  As a result, fourth-year receiver Randal Williams could be the No. 2 receiver, across from Keyshawn Johnson.

BOWENS DONE FOR GOOD?

A day after news broke that Dolphins defensive tackle Tim Bowens will be placed on injured reserve due to a chronic back problem, we're hearing that Bowens has known for much of the last year that the injury eventually would knock him out of action.

One source close to the action in South Florida predicts that Bowens won't return from the injury, opining that Bowens "has been on scholarship for two years now."

Bowens missed the first five games of the season with a herniated disc.  He started the last two contests before aggravating the condition.

REDSKINS RED-FACED OVER TAYLOR

Following rookie safety Sean Taylor's DUI arrest, we're hearing that folks within the Redskins organization are regretting the decision to burn the No. 5 overall pick on the former Miami product, since there's an expectation that Taylor will continue to have off-field problems.

Coach Joe Gibbs said Thursday, per the Associated Press, that it is "very unlikely" that Taylor will play on Sunday.

Taylor failed "some" field sobriety tests (i.e., more than two), and he refused to take a breathalyzer.

Questions regarding Taylor's character have swirled around him for most of the year, starting with a subpar pre-draft workout.  Though he has flashed great potential, he's got a long way to go before he becomes as good as he already thinks he is.  

Here's a hint -- drinking and driving isn't the best way to maximize potential.

TOUGH TALK FOR SHANAHAN

On the same day that Falcons G.M. Rich McKay told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli that "low blocks" will again come under the scrutiny of the NFL's competition committee, a league source takes issue with the decision of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan to justify his team's questionable line play by throwing stones at other teams, including the Steelers.   

Said the source, "Maybe if . . . Shanahan was watching Bengal film instead of Steeler film his team wouldn't have gotten its ass kicked on Monday night football.  Any time a coach resorts to that kind of sh-t he is all but coming out and admitting he is a pussy."

Of course, Shanahan and staff scoped out Steelers film after his team lost to the Bengals, but the point is valid.  No NFL coach should waste his time breaking down any film other than the film of the next opponent, and no NFL coach should go out of his way to defend himself against critics, especially in the middle of the season and on the first day of a short week of preparation.

POSTED 11:57 a.m. EDT, October 28, 2004

by Len Lasagna

TAYLOR GETS 5-OED

Profootballtalk has just learned that Redskin problem child/Safety Sean Taylor was busted for a DUI early this morning while the 'Skins are in the Bye Week mode.

More coming after Sean eats 9 pieces of pizza, 6 donuts and takes some BC powder.

POSTED 10:51 p.m. EDT, October 27, 2004; LAST UPDATED 12:05 a.m. EDT, October 28, 2004

MORT'S REPORT A BONE FOR SEXTON?

The same league source who told us on Tuesday night that Steve Spurrier is returning to the University of Florida also has 'splained to us that Chris Mortensen's Tuesday report regarding the potential interest of NFL teams in Spurrier most likely was a bone that Mort threw to Spurrier's agent, Jimmy Sexton.

The story apparently was intended to give Spurrier greater leverage in contract discussions with the powers-that-be in Gainesville.  In reality, and as we've heard from multiple league and industry sources, Spurrier has zero prospects in the NFL, now or in the future.  He had his chance, and he blew it.

So what's in it for Mort?  As we see it, the quo for this little quid-bit could come in many forms.  Most notably, Mort will get the exclusive scoop when Spurrier agrees to terms with Florida.  

Along those lines, Mort posted a new story on Wednesday night -- after our story was released -- regarding Spurrier's status.  Per Mortensen, Spurrier has told the school that he's interested in returning, and Florida officials have given him two weeks to make up his mind.

In other words, we were right again -- and we beat Mort to the punch despite his hand-carved pipeline to Spurrier's agent.

Although we recognize that puff pieces often are exchanged by reporters for future considerations, they're far easier to swallow when the articles are, you know, accurate.  Mort's story on Spurrier going back to the NFL was as gratuitous as it was contrived, and we guess that discerning readers will drop their regard of Mort by a notch or two in the wake of this one.

VIKINGS PUMPING IN PHONY FAN NOISE?

A league source tells us that the Minnesota Vikings have been accused of pumping fake fan noise into the Metrodome during one or more of their three 2004 home games.

In theory, the NFL is supposed to monitor -- and prevent -- this kind of stuff.  

The complaint, we're told, is that at least one of the teams the Vikings played at home this season believes that tape recordings of fans yelling and screaming have been played in the stadium at key moments to augment the natural din created in the domed stadium.

OWENS, OZZIE SQUABBLING

In the latest development indicating that, as to Terrell Owens, the line between pro football and pro wrestling is growing ever blurrier, the news items in preparation for the Eagles' upcoming game against the Ravens is that G.M. Ozzie Newsome made a racially-charged comment regarding Owens in the offseason.

The fact that Newsome himself is black apparently is irrelevant to Owens.

Regardless, Owens contends that Newsome told T.O.'s agent that "sometimes, a black man's got to be slapped."  The statement apparently was made during Owens' ill-fated twelve-day tenure with the Ravens, which was the result of a trade of his rights from San Fran to Baltimore after Owens' agent failed to timely submit paperwork enabling Owens to become a free agent.

Newsome was asked about the comment earlier this week.  "Please, why should I respond to that?" he said. "I did tell T.O. that he should check with the veterans we brought in over the years.  I told him to call Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe, Michael McCrary and Sam Adams, and they will let him know how we treat veterans here.  I'm not talking any more about it."

Owens interprets Ozzie's comments as an implicit admission that the statement was made.  "If you listen to his comments, he didn't deny it.  He's always said no comment or he doesn't want to go into it.  So if you're smart, you kind of know whether he said it or not."

Hey, T.O. -- it's sort of like when a guy denies that he said a dude is gay after saying, "if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, it must be a rat."  If you're smart, you kind of know whether the guy said it or not.

Apparently, Owens thinks the rest of us are pretty damn stupid.  

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin (knee) says he's ready to play this weekend against the Bills.

Vikings owner Red McCombs is trying to back away from comments to Sports Illustrated regarding topics such as Mike Tice's contract status and Red's desire to move the team to L.A. (sorry, Red, but any explanation other than "I was drunk off my ass" or "I secretly have Alzheimer's" isn't gonna fly).  

RB Willis McGahee has been named the starter in Buffalo, as G.M. Tom Donahoe's "Maybe I Won't Get Fired If One of My First-Round Draft Picks Pans Out" plan kicks into high gear.

Vikings WR Randy Moss (hamstring) took part in all of the team's 30-minute walk-through on Wednesday and half of the full-pads session.

From the "A Decade of Labor Peace Might Be Too Long" file, NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw thinks the players should get a larger piece of "local" revenue, which some teams earn in much bigger numbers than others.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan says that other players engage in "cut blocking" (hey, Mike, farting at the point of attack doesn't count).

The logo for Super Bowl XL brings to mind three other letters -- "B", "F", and "D."     

(They probably paid $50,000 or more for this thing, which looks like something my 8-year-old made on WordArt.)

POSTED 8:29 a.m. EDT, October 27, 2004

BUYER'S REMORSE FOR BEARS?

With Chicago middle linebacker Brian Urlacher struggling to stay healthy and effective since signing a $58 million deal prior to the 2003 season, we're hearing that the Bears are starting to wonder whether they made a sound long-term investment in the guy who was supposed to be the next great middle linebacker in a history that boasts Hall-of-Famers like Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus.

Since signing the deal, Urlacher has faded, due in part to the injury bug.  The team now wonders (we're told) whether the fifth-year pro is fra-gee-lay.

Urlacher played on Sunday after missing a couple of games due to a preseason hamstring pull.  He had only one tackle, and a forced fumble.  Not dreadful, but far from dominant.

The problem is that the Bears are pretty much stuck with him, at least for the foreseeable future.  He's due another $5 million roster bonus next year, but cutting him would result in a big cap hit due to the unallocated portion of his $13 million signing bonus.

The key, in our view, is that Urlacher needs one or two big fat guys in front of him.  Under Lovie Smith's lean and mean approach to defensive play, there are no wide bodies to keep offensive linemen off of Urlacher on a consistent basis.

TICE SAFE IN MINNY?

Although Vikings coach Mike Tice has a right to a job (or payment in lieu thereof) through the end of the 2004 season only, the November 1 issue of Sports Illustrated quotes owner Red McCombs as saying that he plans to pick up the team-held 2005 option on Tice's contract -- and to then begin talks on a long-term contract.

"If he [loses the rest of his games]," McCombs tells SI, "I'm still going to exercise the option.  Mike is going to stay with me as long as he wants to."

If it's true, it's news to Tice.  "I do not discuss my contract with Red," Tice told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  "I have a job to do and goals to reach."

A day earlier, McCombs openly questioned whether the 2004 Vikings are any better than the 2003 squad, which won its first six and then lost 7 of 10, missing the playoffs.

Are these statements inconsistent?  Maybe not.  All that any team reasonably can expect is a coach who will make the team competitive for a postseason berth on a regular basis.  Under Tice, the Vikings have built a team that can contend year-in, year-out.  And under this new age of parity, good teams (e.g., the 2003 Vikings) sometimes miss the playoffs -- and average teams (e.g., the 2003 Panthers) sometimes find themselves in the Super Bowl.

So even if the 2004 Vikings are only as good as the 2003 edition, it could be enough to get hot at the right time and make it deep into January.  

HUTCHINSON'S TIME COMING?

How bad are the Bears quarterbacks?  So bad that we're now hearing Chad Hutchinson might eventually get into the starting lineup.

Jonathan Quinn finally has been benched.  But rookie Craig Krenzel was far from impressive in his place, even though Krenzel got plenty of practice reps last week.

Krenzel will start this week, and now Hutchinson is emerging as the next option for a team that arguably has had more trouble than any other in finding capable signal-callers in the post-free agency NFL.  That's Chad Hutchinson, the former baseballer who was dumped by the Cowboys and who generated poor reviews in his initial practice sessions with Chicago.

As we recently reported, the Bears are looking for other options.  We still think Jeff George should get a look-see, primarily since there's no one else out there with any better credentials.

The whole issue is creating tension between the front office and the coaching staff, we're hearing.  After all, the coaching staff recommended that Quinn be the No. 2 guy.  Indeed, Quinn was signed within an hour after free agency commenced.

Now, it's clear that G.M. Jerry Angelo should have considered someone/anyone else to be the understudy to Rex Grossman.  Even though the Bears have found themselves in the throes of the worst-case scenario, part of what any team needs to do is plan for a path out of the nightmare.  

Sure, other teams are taking chances with inexperienced No. 2's, such as the Colts.  The difference, however, is that they've gotten lucky, so far.  

But our guess is that a lot more guys lose their jobs due to luck than to lack of ability.

WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

ESPN and Mel Kiper apparently have realized that they'll both be more successful together than apart.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook has a rib injury that will cause him to miss at least one, and possibly two, games.

Bill Cowher is 0-2 against the Patriots under Bill Belichick, but Cowher took seven of nine against Belichick when he was the coach of the Browns.

The Bengals are complaining about the cut block by Broncos OL George Foster, which ended the season of Bengals DT Tony Williams. 

The Jags have added LB Jason Gildon for the stretch run.

The Seahawks have come up with a great way to engage in damage control regarding the unretirement of Steve Largent's No. 80 -- profit from it; the team is selling retro-Largent jerseys for $130 each.

It sounds like Deanna Favre has the right attitude in place to beat breast cancer.

LB Mike Nattiel, who entered camp as the starting "will" linebacker in Minnesota but has since been demoted, has been told that if he doesn't improve soon, he'll be released.

POSTED 7:39 p.m. EDT; UPDATED, 8:42 p.m. EDT, October 26, 2004

SMITH BENEFITS FROM LESS PRACTICE

A league source tells us that Cardinals running back Emmitt Smith is having a career rebirth in his second season in Arizona because coach Denny Green has been limiting Smith's reps in practice.

Smith has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of Arizona's two wins this season.  He's also scored five touchdowns in six games.

Not bad for a guy who was slated to be the backup to Marcel Shipp.

And we're not ready to write off the Cards from the postseason race.  They're only a game behind the Rams and Seahawks in the loss column, and with a few breaks they could go 7-3 or better over the final ten games, especially with a quintet games against the Bills, Dolphins, Panthers, 49ers, and Buccaneers.

With a healthy and rested Smith, the chance of getting those seven wins, and maybe more.

SPURRIER WON'T GET ANY NFL SNIFFS

In response to a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Steve Spurrier still could get a job coaching in the NFL, two league insiders have told us that Mort is full of caa-caa on this one.

Spurrier "doesn't want to put the office time in to be a good coach," said one source.  "No f--king way he would be successful as a coach in the NFL.  He's too lazy."

When he came to the Redskins in 2002, Spurrier flaunted his disdain for hard work, publicly chiding guys like Jim Haslett for working long hours -- and producing less-than-stellar results.  

Our guess is that Spurrier is hoping to drive up his leverage for coming talks with Florida about a possible return, and that Spurrier has asked Mortenson, directly or indirectly, for a fluff piece that might help him get more coin from the folks in Gainesville.

For Mortensen's sake, we hope that he's merely giving Spurrier the Lewinsky treatment.  Indeed, we'd prefer to think that Mort is a whore, not a moron.

And before we get flooded with e-mails reminding us that Mort's story is chock full o'quotes from guys like Falcons G.M. Rich McKay and chronic attention hound Ron Wolf, our guess is that guys like McKay, who won't be hiring a new head coach after the 2004 season, would love to see someone like Saints owner Tom Benson hire Spurrier to replace the soon-to-be-fired Haslett.  

FAVRE'S WIFE HAS CANCER SURGERY

After Brett Favre missed practice to be with his wife on October 14 because she was "ill," we assumed that Deanna Favre was still having trouble getting over the death of her 24-year-old brother, and that Brett was making up for his relatively abbreviated appearance in Mississippi for his brother-in-law's funeral.

But, as the Biloxi Sun Herald reports, it turns out that Deanna Favre has breast cancer, and that Brett left practice on October 14 once he heard the news.  So our assumption in this regard was wrong.

According to the Sun-Herald, Deanna Favre recently underwent a lumpectomy at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.  She'll have up to five months of chemotherapy treatments.

Late last week, we heard rumblings that Brett Favre has asked the Packers for some time off at this difficult time for the family.  We've been unable to corroborate these reports, but they now make sense given these new revelations.  Then again, Favre hardly has seemed distracted during Green Bay's current two-game winning streak.

Over the past year, Favre has been placed in some difficult spots due to the intersection of his football career and his personal life.  In the end, he'll have to deal with the situation in the manner that he deems appropriate.  But based on the way that he has played since the diagnosis was made, our guess is that Deanna Favre has adopted the Adrian-Balboa approach for now, telling her husband to do one thing.

Win.  

BENNETT HAS LOST HIS STARTING GIG

Blazing-fast Vikings running back Michael Bennett isn't happy with the fact that he's returned from a knee injury to find waiting for him a nice, warm spot on the bench.

"I was very, very surprised," Bennett said regarding his lack of activity in Sunday's game against the Titans.  "I guess it was just one of those things that I don't know what I did to bring up any question marks."

Coach Mike Tice responded in typically blunt fashion.

"Mike's got to earn his way back into the fold," Tice said.  "At this point right now I don't have any inclination to start him."

Bennett technically was the "starter" on Sunday, but he got only one carry -- and gained no yards.  "Backup" Mewelde Moore, on the other hand, gained 138 yards on 20 carries.  Moore also broke a franchise record by gaining a total of 610 net yards in a three-game stretch.  

Making this accomplishment even more impressive is the fact that Minnesota's offense from 1973 through 1976 consisted of Chuck Foreman left, Chuck Foreman right, Chuck Foreman up the middle, and Chuck Foreman catching passes.

Back to Bennett, the problem is that he's been even less reliable that oft-injured Robert Smith in the Minnesota backfield.  After missing the first six games in 2003 with an offseason foot injury, Bennett wasn't available for the first five games of 2004, thanks to a knee injury.

And with Moore the current favorite for the NFC offensive rookie of the year award, it's going to take a string of mistakes and/or an injury to get Bennett back on the field.

In fact, Bennett might be more likely to fall than to rise on the depth chart.  After all, Onterrio Smith will be back after next week following a four-game suspension.  Before the suspension commenced, Smith was playing almost as efficiently and effectively as Moore.

For the Vikings generally, the performance of their running backs is a testament to solid play of their offensive line and their ability to find gems in round four (Smith in 2003 and Moore in 2004).

TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

Panthers RB DeShaun Foster is out for the rest of the season due to broken clavicle that wasn't healing fast enough to enable him to return.

Former co-defendant Angelo Jackson says that RB Jamal Lewis was supposed to share in the proceeds of the drug deal that triggered their joint prosecution, which contradicts the statements of Lewis's lawyer at his plea hearing.

After scoring 38 and 41 points in two weeks with coach Mike Sherman calling the offensive plays, Sherman will be keeping the duties "indefinitely."

The Vikings will determine whether WR Randy Moss will practice this week on Wednesday.

From the "Who Really Gives a Rat's Ass?" file, the logo for Super Bowl XL in Detroit will be unveiled Wednesday night.

The Redskins have released OT Kenyatta "Hot Water Burn Baby" Jones.

Jags RB Fred Taylor could lose his short-yardage duties to Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and/or Greg Jones.

With upcoming games at Kansas City and at home against Minnesota, the Colts fear that they could end up 4-4 at the turn.

Broncos RB/KR Quentin Griffin might have suffered a torn ACL on Monday night against the Bengals.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook might miss Sunday's game against the Ravens with a chest injury.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is going to dumb down the offense for suddenly ordinary QB Matt Hasselbeck.

Bills QB J.P. Losman is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning to full-contact work.

Titans QB Steve McNair isn't sure when he'll return from an aggravated sternum injury.

POSTED 9:37 p.m. EDT, October 25, 2004

TEAMMATES RESENTFUL OF MANNING?

The folks in Indy are mum and/or in full spin cycle when it comes to the topic of Peyton Manning and his sideline scuffle with receiver Reggie Wayne.  Rumors circulating through the league as of Monday night are that Wayne's shout-and-shove of Peyton reflects an undercurrent of resentment toward Manning for his cap-busting contract.

The thinking, per a league source, is that Manning was a "pig" when he didn't have to be.  With eight starters slated to become unrestricted free agents after the 2004 season, more than a few players are getting antsy about the effect of Manning's deal on their own ability to get paid.

As one league insider told us on Monday night, "The players know that it's going to impact all of them in coming years."  

Meanwhile, it turns out that Wayne isn't the only guy who was in the face of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on Sunday at the end of the team's loss to the Jaguars.  Peyton also was told to stifle himself by the game officials, whom Manning apparently was trying to instruct on the finer points of handling an instant replay review.

Sources close to the on-field action tell us that Manning was acting like a "f--king baby, and like he was the Commissioner or something."

We know it's heresy in some circles to dub Manning a big phony.  But we've heard it from enough league insiders to persuade us that there must indeed be something to it.  And with some of Manning's own players mustering the stones to take him on in the public eye, Peyton's authority over the team could be crumbling.

ROMO NOT GETTING A SHOT

Notwithstanding reports surfacing elsewhere that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo soon will be getting some game reps in light of the team's piss-poor performance, we're hearing that Romo looks poor in practice and makes plenty of mental errors -- and that his chances of playing are slim (unless, of course, Vinny Testaverde gets hurt).

The problem for the Cowboys, of course, is that No. 3 guy Drew Henson isn't much better.  Thus, look for the team to (again) look for available quarterbacks in the offseason.  As we reported over the weekend, Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson could be next year's Vinny Testaverde in Big D.

Also in Dallas, word is that receiver Terry Glenn will be out longer than reported with a sprained foot.  Though the official line is that it'll take two weeks before Glenn will return, we're hearing that it'll be more like 4-6 weeks before Glenn is healthy.

GREEN TO SIT AGAIN

Linebacker Barrett Green likely won't be in the starting lineup for the Giants on Sunday at Minnesota, which will make it two games in a row that the former No. 1 "will" 'backer will be on the bench.

A league source tells us that game film from Sunday's loss to the Lions showed that Nick Griesen played well