Bengals receiver Chris Henry was arrested early Thursday on traffic charges.  He also was found to be in possession of two bags of marijuana, and he was charged with drug possession.

The Bengals don't plan to take any action against the rookie third-round draft pick from West Virginia until the legal system runs its course. 

Translation:  "With 15 years since our last playoff appearance, he could confess to killing Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman and we'd still let him play."

Henry was available in round three due in large part to concerns regarding his attitude and character despite stellar play as a member of the Mountaineers.

Henry is the third receiver for the Bengals, behind Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.  Henry has 30 catches for 395 yards, and he likely will pass in both categories Browns first-rounder Braylon Edwards, who before tearing an ACL had 32 catches and 512 yards.

Of course, Henry could claim that the marijuana belongs to a friend or a brother or some other acquaintance or family member whose ability to earn a high level of income isn't tied directly to being convicted of drug offenses.  Based on what we know of him during his time up the road in Morgantown, we'd hardly be surprised if he tries to say, for example, that his former college teammate Pacman Jones had paid him a visit.

There's a school of thought in league circles that Texas quarterback Vince Young will return for his senior season with the Longhorns, and not declare himself eligible for the 2006 draft.

Why?  "Two words," one league insider told us.  "Mack Brown."

Brown is regarded as a master at convincing collegiate players to stick around when the NFL is calling.  Two years ago, for example, he persuaded running back Cedric Benson and linebacker Derrick Johnson to return for their senior seasons.

So despite the growing buzz that Young is eyeing a jump to the next level, many believe that unless Young has a monstrous performance in Pasadena, he'll be back.

And although we generally think that guys who are ready to get paid (legally) to play football should go for it, we also believe that a guy who with one more year might eventually be the No. 1 pick in the draft should consider waiting.  Besides, Young wants the Heisman -- and he'd be the unquestioned front-runner for it in 2006.

But if Young rips it up in the Rose Bowl (and presumed No. 1 overall pick Reggie Bush stumbles) Young should consider carefully whether he might be the first man off of the board before re-committing to the Longhorns.  We firmly believe that any eligible player who has put himself in position to be the first man off of the board should make the jump.

If there's any doubt in this regard, consider the example of USC quarterback Matt Leinart.  He passed on being the No. 1 pick in 2005, and his decision to return contributed directly to teammate Bush's presumed elevation to the No. 1 spot in 2006.

So wait until after January 4, Vince, before making a final decision.  If there's a chance that you'll be the first guy picked, now is the time to make the move.

BUYER BEWARE ON BUSH?

Of course, not everyone is convinced that a running back with an expected NFL shelf life of less than 10 seasons is worth a contract in excess of $50 million.  As one league insider explained to us on Thursday, folks who are quick to compare USC running back/receiver/kick returner Reggie Bush to Gale Sayers should keep in mind the full range of Sayers' pro career.

The Kansas Comet burst onto the NFL scene in 1965, and he excelled for the Bears through the 1969 seasons.  Injuries limited him dramatically in 1970 and 1971, and he retired before the 1972 campaign.

And, sure, injuries can happen to any player.  But could it be that Sayers' duties as a running back and a receiver and a kick returner and a punt returner made him more vulnerable to getting snapped, crackled, and popped?  And won't Bush -- if used to maximum capacity and ability -- be in precisely the same position?

There is, after all, a huge difference between the Pac-10 and the NFL.  Some of Bush's best work in 2005 came against collections of football players who wouldn't last a morning in an NFL minicamp.  When Reggie starts to get banged around by the big boys, will he still be as effective?

Let's also not forget the fact that Sayers, while incredibly effective in five NFL seasons, didn't exactly lift his team to lofty heights.  Indeed, Sayers and his Bears didn't play in a single postseason game.

We're not saying that Bush isn't among the cream of the current crop of players poised to enter the NFL in April.  But whether he's the second coming of Gale Sayers is an open question.  And even if he is, perhaps a team looking to build toward long-term success might be best served with a player with a lower risk of injury and a better chance at being a cornerstone of the organization for more than a decade.

DETAILS ON THE LOVE BOAT AFFAIR

As always, the folks at TheSmokingGun.com have gotten their mitts on the formal documents setting forth the salient facts of a high-profile criminal case. 

This time around, the web site has posted the charging documents of the four Vikings players slapped with multiple misdemeanors resulting from what was supposed to be a three-hour tour on the waters of Lake Minnetonka.

Per the paperwork, the boats were arranged by cornerback Fred Smoot (who vehemently denied any involvement in the matter) and defensive end Lance Johnstone, with Johnstone paying the tab for the crafts. 

"After the boats left the dock," the complaints read, "the crew started to notice that many of the female passengers were going down into a lower restroom area and changing out of the clothes that they had been wearing when they got on the boat and were emerging either scantly [sic] clad or nearly naked."

Then the ugliness began, forcing the boats back in roughly an hour after the trip began.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper was seen receiving a "lap dance" from "an unidentified, naked female," and he placed his hands on the "naked buttocks" of the female.

Ditto for running back Moe Williams, who was touching a different area of his partner's body.

Smoot's conduct was slightly more graphic, and we'll merely run a link at this point to the page of the criminal complaint describing his behavior.

Offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie took the whole thing to a new level, and we'll again let the link do the talking as to the details.

Each player was slapped with an identical trio of misdemeanor charges, and each charges carries maximum penalties of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

DAUNTE TO TAKE ENDORSEMENT HIT?

With Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper facing multiple misdemeanor charges resulting from the Love Boat thingee, some league observers wonder whether and to what extent the allegations might damage Culpepper's off-field income, including among other things a high-profile endorsement gig with FedEx.

As one league source explained, deals of this nature often contain clauses permitting cancellation -- and in some cases partial or complete refunds -- if the player is even charged with crimes involving moral turpitude, regardless of whether a conviction ever is obtained.

And even if the charges against Culpepper don't result in the immediate cancellation of his current endorsement arrangements, his connection to the Love Boat ordeal could make him radioactive when the time comes for other companies to cozy up to NFL players.

Reaction in some circles is that Culpepper deserves whatever he gets.  Not because of the moral aspects of the matter, but because Culpepper has the money to do things of this nature, if he so chooses, in a far more discreet and secure manner.

A league source have shared with us some additional facts regarding the incident that claimed the life of former NFL defensive lineman Darrell Russell.

As it turns out, the driver of the car in which Russell was riding was not a former NFL player.  Instead, we're told that the car was owned by Larry Parker, who played for the Chiefs and who, like Russell, played college ball at USC.  However, Parker was not in the car.

Per bits and pieces of info that are still coming together, Russell borrowed Parker's car so that Russell could pick up a mutual friend, who was at the house of a high-profile celebrity who for now will remain nameless (so that  we will not somehow tarnish said celebrity's otherwise pristine name and/or reputation).  

The friend, according to The Associated Press, was former USC teammate Michael Paul Bastianelli.  Per our sources, Russell went to get Bastianelli because Bastianeilli was intoxicated and unable to drive.

The story, of course, loses all logic and common sense at that point, given that Bastianelli was the one driving Parker's car when it collided into a parked bus with Russell in the passenger's seat.

We're also told that Russell had been reinstated to the NFL within the past month, and that he planned to try to catch on with a new team in the near future.    

Former NFL defensive tackle Darrell Russell has been killed in an automobile accident in Los Angeles.  Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1997 draft, was riding in a car that crashed into a parked bus.

The driver of the car is another ex-NFL player who has not yet been identified.  He also perished in the accident.

Russell became one of the top defensive linemen in the league, but his career collapsed under a string of suspensions for violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.  

A prosecutor on Thursday filed misdemeanor charges against four members of the Minnesota Vikings as a result of the October Love Boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper, cornerback Fred Smoot, tackle Bryant McKinnie, and running back Moe Williams were each charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct, and lewd or lascivious conduct.

Culpepper and Williams currently are on IR, so the question of whether the charges will affect their play is irrelevant.  McKinnie has been a solid contributor for the Vikings this season, and newcomer Smoot has been so-so after joining the team in the offseason with a big-money free agent deal.

Because there have been no convictions or guilty pleas, the NFL cannot yet discipline any of the men.  Vikings owner Zygi Wilf might try to impose some form of discipline on his own, but with the team riding a six-game winning streak and in the thick of the playoff race it's unlikely that he'd suspend McKinnie or Smoot now.

But the matter could have future ramifications for each man.  Culpepper is the presumed starter in 2006, but these charges might be enough to get Zygi to reconsider recent comments guaranteeing a roster spot for Daunte in 2006.  With cornerback Brian Williams playing well this year and poised to become an unrestricted free agent in March, Wilf could decide to send Smoot packing after only one year.

The most immediate challenge for the team is to ignore the news and focus on preparing for the 8-5 Steelers, who come to town on Sunday for the first time since 1986.  Both teams need a win to enhance their shot at the postseason -- and it's critical that the Meathead find a way to get his squad to fugetabout the charges filed against the quartet of alleged Purple Peter Wavers. 

We spoke with a league insider on Wednesday who offered great insights regarding the current logjam between the NFL and the NFL Players Association as to negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The current fight, as folks who attended last week's "crop report" meetings in Texas were told, is over the percentage of total gross revenues that will be earmarked for the salary cap.  But the real issue, as some believe, shouldn't be the salary ceiling for each team, but the floor.

And that makes sense to us.  Who cares what the spending maximum for each team is when no team is actually required to reach it?  The bigger issue is the minimum number of dollars that each team must devote to player salaries each year.  Indeed, more and more teams will be hovering closer to the minimum than to the max, especially if the final arrangement is based on total revenues without a deal among the owners to share money that currently isn't.

Then again, it could be that the league is pointing to the union's demands regarding the funding of the cap in order to deflect attention from the fact that a new CBA isn't done because the owners can't get their own house in order as to how those unshared moneys will be carved up, if at all.  The disparity between the richest and least-rich teams is growing, and the members of the Billionaire Boys Club can't come to an accord on how or if they'll share the obscene wealth.  Until they do, there can be no deal with the union.

But even when it's time to work out an extension to more than a decade of labor peace in the NFL, the minimum spending requirements should get as much, or more, attention from the union than the spending limits.

THE ROLL CONTINUES AT PICK2PICK.COM

The roll continues at Pick2Pick.com.  Parlay winner this past Monday night on the Falcons plus the over.  Last weekend top-rated 3-Star winners on the Falcons, Patriots, and Seahawks, and they have a 15-3 run with 3-Star picks.  They offer complete transparency with their Handicapper Rankings. Get Your Free Picks Here.

HASLETT WANTS TO KNOW HIS STATUS

Saints coach Jim Haslett denies a report that he told owner Tom Benson he plans to resign.  But Haslett says that he would like to know his status with the team soon.

"I haven't talked to Mr. Benson about any of it," Haslett said.  "I would like to know something before the end of the season, but that's up to him."

Haslett has one year left on his contract.  He has been mentioned for several possible head coaching jobs in other cities for 2006, including the Rams, Bills, and Texans.

Some league insiders believe that Haslett is willing to stay with the organization, if he gets a contract extension -- and possibly "final say" over the composition of the roster.  Absent an extension, Haslett could indeed ask to be released from the final year of his deal.

We wouldn't blame him if he did.  Why should he suffer through a second year of uncertainty and continual distraction if the organization hasn't made a commitment to him for 2007 and beyond?

NO FEDERAL CHARGES FOR VIKINGS PLAYERS

According to The Minneapolis Star Tribune, prosecutors could announce on Thursday misdemeanor charges against several Vikings players who were caught up in the Love Boat fiasco.

The charges will not include allegations that the federal Mann Act was violated in connection with the alleged transportation of the "entertainment" for the evening from other states.  If it had been proven that persons paid for the plane tickets used by the women who flew to Minnesota from points South, the frequent flier miles could have come with up to ten years in the hoosegow.

U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger told The Star Tribune Wednesday night that federal officials have reviewed the evidence collected by the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to file charges.

But why didn't the feds investigate this on their own?  After all, Deputies Fife and Dawg might not have been thinking about the Mann Act, if (as we suspect) they cultivated and packaged the evidence in a manner that could support charges based not on the events that unfolded on Lake Minnetonka, but on how the participants got there.

It's a very good development for the team and the organization, since any charges that ultimately are filed most likely will result in fines, probation, and community service.  And it's hard for us not to think that the feds exercised a little discretion (or a lot) to save the team, its ownership, and the coaching staff undue distraction and embarrassment, especially when we see this picture:

[Maybe the shirt should have said "I'm with Stupid," with an arrow pointing both ways.]

CHAD'S GUARANTEES ALREADY NOT COMING TRUE

Thanks to the reader who reminded us that Chad Johnson's recent string of bold predictions already is showing some cracks.

Last week, Johnson reported that the Bengals would face the Colts in the AFC title game, beat the Colts in the AFC title game, and along the way score 40 points every week.

For the first game after Johnson flapped his gold teefs, the Bengals scored only 23 points -- at home against the Browns.

Looking at the Bengals 2005 schedule-to-date, they've scored 40 or more points only once in 13 games.

Still, a 12-4 finish for the Bengals is looking like a strong possibility, and then the question becomes whether they get a bye -- or whether they end up having to host a team like the Chargers, Chiefs, or Steelers in the wild-card round.

And let's be the first to guarantee that, if the Bengals face Pittsburgh in Cincy in the first round of the playoffs, the Steelers will win.

NOT EVERYONE MISSES THE BLUE-GRAY GAME

In response to a story that was pasted into the Rumor Mill on Wednesday by PFT designated miserable guy Dante regarding the absence of the Blue-Gray Game (which gave millions of football fans something to watch on Christmas morning while trying to put together Junior's new Lego set), we heard from one scouting exec who thinks that it's no big loss.

One of the reasons for the dissipation in the overall talent in the Blue-Gray game might have been the ongoing proliferation of bowl games.  With fewer teams not going to bowl games, the pool of potential players necessarily shrank.

FINS, PATS HEADING FOR A SHOWDOWN?

Don't look now, but the January 1 game between the Dolphins and the Patriots could be for all of the AFC East marbles.

The 8-5 Pats currently hold a two-game lead over the 6-7 Fins.  And even though New England has been playing well of late, the potential absence of quarterback Tom Brady on Saturday against the Bucs, coupled with a win by the Fins over the Jets the next day, would tighten the race to a one-game proposition.

The next week, the Pats play the Jets in the final ABC Monday Night Football game ever.  A gimme for New England?  Maybe not.

And if two days before that the Fins extend their win streak to five with a win over the Titans, the winner of the contest between the Pats and Fins on New Year's Day will win the AFC East -- and the loser will miss the playoffs.

Let's be clear on this.  Miami must win the next two and the Pats must lose the next two for the January 1 game to decide the AFC East.  A tie in the final standings would go to the Patriots by virtue of having a better record in the division, so the two teams must already be tied at 8-7 when they square off on January 1 for the winner to automatically take the crown. 

There's a growing school of thought in league circles that Texans owner Bob McNair could be intentionally trying to skirt the "Rooney Rule" by introducing Dan Reeves to the organization as a "consultant" and then, in time, naming him the head coach.

The Rooney Rule requires that each team filling a head-coaching vacancy interview at least one minority candidate.  There is an exception that applies to the promotion of in-house employees, but it's unlikely that the loophole is fat enough to permit an owner to introduce a guy as a "consultant" and then several weeks later make him the new head coach.

Given widespread rumors (which we continue to hear from diverse league and industry sources) that McNair offered the G.M./coaching job to Jimmy Johnson before hiring Reeves, it's very plausible that McNair's unspoken deal with Reeves is that, after formal interviews are conducted for the soon-to-be-vacant coaching position, Reeves then will get the job.

Such an approach complies with the letter, but not the spirit, of the Rooney Rule.  And if the minority candidates see through the potential charade, McNair might have a hard time getting someone to sit for the job.

The hiring of Dan Reeves as a "consultant" to Texans owner Bob McNair could be fresh proof of a new trend.  Most modern owners made their money in some type of non-sports business, and they all realize that, when things aren't going well in non-sports businesses, the smart thing to do is to bring in an expert consultant.

With buzz in Buffalo that former Bills coach Marv Levy possibly will get hired by Ralph Wilson in a short-term, high-level capacity of some sort, we've got a feeling that more and more struggling teams will consider the fraternity of retired and semi-retired coaches and General Managers to help the owner make decisions as to the hiring of coaches and personnel execs.

It's not a brand-new concept.  Falcons owner Arthur Blank brought in Bobby Beathard as a "senior adviser" in early 2002, and some think that McNair's decision to hire Reeves was directly influenced by Blank's addition of Beathard.  Ron Wolf has done it (although former coach Butch Davis didn't use him at all in Cleveland), as has Bill Walsh. 

Other potential consultants include guys like Mike Ditka, Jim Mora Sr., Don Shula, and Chuck Noll.

With Dick Vermeil expected to retire after this season, he's another guy who could help an owner figure out how to fix a mess over which the guy (or, in St. Louis, the gal) currently is presiding.

The only problem, as we see it, is that the "consultant" could be too inclined to recommend some of his own cronies to be hired, as many expect Reeves to do for Ron Hill, Reeves' former right-hand man in Atlanta.

Those pictures of USC quarterback Matt Leinart that are making the rounds on the Internet (check out our Photo Archive in the left margin) supposedly were snapped on Saturday night.  And there's some talk that Leinart's growing reputation as a "party guy" could end up knocking him lower than No. 2 in the 2006 NFL draft.

Already, Leinart's decision to come back for his final year of college eligibility is costing him plenty of money, since he would have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.  Now that NFL scouts have had another year to eyeball Leinart, it's possible that he slips even farther.

Some folks already believe that Texas quarterback Vince Young will go higher than Leinart, if Young skips his senior season and enters the draft.  If, as a result, Leinart ultimately ends up at No. 3 or lower, the difference between what Leinart would have made with the Alex Smith contract and what he will earn in the 2006 draft could be staggering.

A league source tells us that the Saints have decided to bench quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Todd Bouman will start in his place on Sunday against the Panthers.

We're told that it was a coaching decision only, and that the move has nothing to do with Brooks' recent criticism of owner Tom Benson.

Brooks got the job in 2000, after then-starter Jeff Blake broke a leg.  Brooks led the team to a division title, and the first playoff win in franchise history. 

Brooks then won an open competition with Blake for the position in 2001.  The cousin of Michael Vick landed a fat contract after an unexpected holdout in 2002, but his play hardly has merited big-time pay.

With $6.25 million in base salary for 2006, Brooks undoubtedly is done as the quarterback in New Orleans.

Bills WR Eric Moulds seems to realize that his return to the team likely won't last beyond the last three games of the season.

Giants LB Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

Coach Chin got a little snippy about questions regarding Big Ben's bum thumb.

Groucho Wilf says that QB Daunte Culpepper will be on the roster in 2006.

John McClain of The Houston Chronicle believes that Dan Reeves eventually will become the coach of the Texans.

There are rumors making the rounds in Buffalo of a possible return by former Bills head coach Marv Levy to the organization, possibly as General Manager.

During a Monday speaking engagement presented by WGR radio, the 70-something Levy was asked if he'd still like to get back into coaching, and if he'd like to do it with the Bills.

Levy would say only that he has been contacted by two teams, and that "one of them isn't Buffalo."

Folks familiar with Levy's way with words think his statement that one of the two teams isn't Buffalo could be an implicit suggestion that the other one is.

With Dan Reeves recently joining the Texans as a consultant, it would be foolish to rule out Levy's return to the Bills on a short-term, high-level basis.

And although it seems that Levy's efforts to be considered for coaching vacancies in the recent past failed because age discrimination is still an accepted business practice in the NFL, our guess is that the 87-year-old Wilson won't be troubled by Marv's seasoning, if the rumors are indeed true.

HASLETT TO BUFFALO, TOO?

There also are rumors of Saints coach Jim Haslett landing in Buffalo next season.  Haslett was a Pro Bowler with the Bills, once upon a time.   

Haslett is still under contract with the Saints through 2006.  The thinking, however, is that Haslett will either get a contract extension from the Saints, or he will be permitted to move on.

Haslett's name also has been mentioned in connection with potential vacancies in Houston and St. Louis.

NFL BRASS PISSED OFF AT LACK OF BLUE-GREY GAME

(added by miserable guy Dante)

Notwithstanding some earlier rumblings that the annual Blue-Grey game was to be resurrected, this year's Christmas will once again not feature players from college teams who are not going to one of the 78 Bowl games.  NFL college scouting directors tell us that the game is missed because it allowed teams to get a head start evaluation of many less media-recognized college players, including many small college guys.

The reason for the nonevent -- lack of funds. Our suggestion -- have the NFL fund the game -- that's a hammer Tag and the boys they can hold over the schools when the colleges try to bong the NFL scouts' fleshies when the pro boys come onto campus.

For more insight on the college bowl games, check out our boys at Footballforecasters.com.

WILLIAMS GETTING A SECOND CHANCE?

A gruff head coach with less-than-ideal people skills who flamed out in his first NFL head coaching job should have trouble landing another gig, right?

Right -- if a guy named Bill Belichick hadn't turned his own second chance into one of the greatest runs by a head coach in NFL history.

So the thinking in some circles is that Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will eventually get another shot somewhere, when an owner concludes that his three below-average-to-poor years with the Bills don't necessarily translate to failure the next time around.

Williams is a respected coordinator.  As a head coach, the thinking is that he lacks the leadership and motivational skills to make a whole team come together.  Still, Belichick is no Dale Carnegie -- but Belichick has crafted a system that produces a lot more wins than losses, especially in games that matter.

With a relatively bare cupboard of candidates for all of the jobs that will come open in early 2006, it could be that someone out there takes a leap of faith that Williams could be the next guy to become a coaching star in his second try.

Word around the league is that Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis is on the short list of potential head coaching candidates for the Minnesota Vikings.

We know, we know.  The Meathead has done well over the past six weeks, turning a pathetic 2-5 squad into an 8-5 contender.

But the stink of the first seven games remains, with the Vikings still at minus-40 in the points scored versus points allowed comparison.  (The 3-10 Packers, in contrast, have scored as many points as they have allowed.)

And the stench from the team's horrendous start goes beyond the field.  Owner Zygi Wilf is regarded as a man of high moral character, and the concern is that the Meathead's involvement in a Super Bowl ticket scalping scam and his ultimate authority over the team that spawned the Love Boat scandal has sealed his fate, regardless of how the team finishes.

Lewis is attracting Wilf's interest because Lewis currently works for the Giants, the team that Wilf followed for most of his life before buying the Vikings.  And although we've heard some negative feedback regarding Lewis's past performance in job interviews, other folks around the league have a very high opinion of Lewis -- and some think he's destined to become a head coach in the 2006 hiring cycle.

Saints owner Tom Benson wants out of New Orleans.  He also wants the NFL to give him some financial relief.

The NFL is willing to oblige.  If Benson stays in New Orleans.

And so the high-stakes stare-down goes, with Benson reluctant to accept any money from the NFL because he doesn't want to commit to New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Benson is facing a potential mutiny in the locker room, with quarterback Aaron "Money for Nothing" Brooks most recently bitching about his boss. 

Here's our early prediction for 2006.  In the first season after a team goes 16-0 for the first time ever, another team could end up 0-16.

A league source tells us that the Packers will take a $2.8 million cap hit if quarterback Brett Favre is traded or released in 2006.

But letting him go, via trade or otherwise, will save $7.2 million against a cap number that otherwise will be $10 million.

We're not suggesting that the Pack plans to deal or dump Lord Favre, but how can the team not at least toy with the idea of clearing that much space by nudging a guy who has been holding the franchise hostage with his annual "Should I Stay or Should I Go" routine?

By continuing to hang around year after year, Favre is preventing (in our view) the Packers from forming the nucleus of its next generation team.  So even though some of the cheese puffs might huff if the team makes the first move in moving on, it's high time to tear off the Band-Aid and get ready for the future.  

Amid rumors that Ron Hill could end up being the next G.M. in Houston, if/when "consultant" Dan Reeves gives the word, some league insiders think that Reeves' end game could be a move back to the sidelines as the head coach of the Texans.

As the scuttlebutt goes, Reeves' relationship with Hill would ensure that the coach wouldn't have to worry about the G.M. undermining him, and vice-versa.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to mount that current Houston G.M. Charley Casserly won't survive the coming purge.

And maybe, just maybe, the move to bring in Reeves this week has created just enough of a distraction for the coaching staff and the front office to enable the team to lose its next three games without having to rely on a shanked 31-yard field goal.

A league source tells us that if the "consulting" work of new hire Dan Reeves results in a recommendation that Texans owner Bob McNair part ways with G.M. Charley Casserly, Reeves will also recommend former Falcons exec Ron Hill for the General Manager job.

Hill was Reeves' right-hand man in Atlanta when Reeves was the head coach and, as a practical matter, the General Manager.  Reeves was nudged out after owner Arthur Blank settled in.

And it was Reeves and Hill who traded to the top of the 2001 draft for quarterback Michael Vick, the guy who is now the cornerstone of the franchise.  This time around, Reeves and Hill might hold the No. 1 pick without trading for it.

We'd previously heard that Hill, who was fired by the Falcons in June, is looking for a new NFL home.

We're going to tweak the format of the Ten-Pack this week to address ten topics total, without regard to whether they deal with the games or the freak parade that covers them.  (We're not saying that everyone who covers the games is a freak -- we're only referring to the bona fide freaks.  And you know who you are.)

1.  Freeman And Company Got It Right.

We were ready to rip referee Mike Carey and crew a new poop chute in this space for that coma-inducing decision to wipe a safety off of the board for the Lions late in Sunday night's game at Lambeau.

After taking a handoff in his own end zone from Lord Favre, tailback Samkon Gado was bottled up short of the goal line.  So he pulled a Pete Banaszak, fumbling the ball forward and out of the end zone, where it was recovered by another Packer.

Two penalties were called -- intentional grounding in the end zone, and holding outside of the end zone.  The holding call was declined, and the grounding call was accepted, resulting in two points for the Lions.

After due deliberation, the intentional grounding call was wiped out because Gado was out of the pocket and had "thrown" the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

Several readers who contacted us on Monday argued loudly that the call should have been an illegal forward fumble in the end zone, and thus a safety.  Under the rules, however, an intentional forward fumble is treated as a forward pass.

And under the intentional grounding rule, the exception for throws made with the passer out of the pocket is not limited to the quarterback.

Nice work, zebras.  Seriously.

With that said, it's time for the Competition Committee to limit the grounding exception to the first person who touches the ball after the snap, which will prevent running backs who get caught in the end zone beyond the tackle box from chucking the thing forward like a hot potato.  It's a loophole that has no place in the game.

2.  "George is Getting Upset."

Brett Favre's Sunday Conversation with ESPN's Suzy "We Fear That If We Ever Hear Her Voice For More Than 90 Consecutive Seconds Our Heads Will Explode" Kolber was generally uneventful.

Until Favre committed the trademark act of athletes who don't get it.

He referred to himself in the third person.

Our guess -- Brett won't pack it in after this season, and he'll continue to run the "Chuck 'N' Duck" offense, either in Green Bay or elsewhere come 2006.  Not because Brett Favre loves the game or loves his team or loves his money.  But because Brett Favre loves being Brett Favre, and he's not quite ready to give it up yet.

We don't necessarily blame him for that.  The same thing that carried Brett to years of excellence is now keeping him from recognizing that the brown-haired, wide-eyed kid running around the field after taking the early lead in Super Bowl XXXI has deteriorated into an old gray Favre who ain't what he used to be.

3.  Vikes' Bubble Is About to Go Boom.

We've been watching the Minnesota Vikings carefully during their implausible six-game winning streak, and we still can't figure out how they're getting it done.  The offense excels only in spurts, while primarily avoiding fatal mistakes.  The defense bends plenty, but comes up with timely stops and/or turnovers when it's time to break.

Besides, who have they beaten during their string of victories?  The Browns.  The Packers.  The Rams.  The Lions twice.  Oooooo. 

The only quality win came against the Giants, and that was the fluke of all flukes, with three touchdowns coming on returns.

So even at 8-5 with three games to go, the bubble is going to burst. 

Violently.  Convincingly.  Permanently. 

And it could happen as soon as Sunday, when the suddenly rejuvenated Steelers come to the Metrodome for the first time since 1986.  Though the 'Burghermeisters didn't look too good when they ventured indoors last month, that one came against the Colts.  This time around, the Steelers will be facing a squad that has been winning not with speed and strength, but with smoke and mirrors.

4.  Sign Koren Now.

Speaking of the Vikings, we think that owner Groucho Wilf should have  Koren Robinson say the secret word now, so that he can get paid before he hits the open market.

Though Robinson's receiving numbers aren't stellar, he's still relatively new to the offense, and has been eased into the attack slowly.  But he has demonstrated gamebreaking skills through his ungainly, bowlegged jaunts on kick returns and, most recently, in an impressive, tackle-breaking touchdown run for the first score on Sunday against the Rams.  We think it's only a matter of time before he becomes the primary target in the offense.

The dude is big, the dude is strong, and the dude is a difference maker.  Yeah, there's still that whole "glug, glug" think to worry about, but those concerns can be addressed through proper contract language.  The key for now is to pay the guy a fair salary, before other teams start throwing money at him.

And throw money they will, especially if the Vikings make the playoffs and Robinsons gets to showcase his skills -- possibly in a return to Seattle.

Remember this.  Robinson was still getting his feet wet in Minny when quarterback Daunte Culpepper's knee imploded.  By the time Culpepper comes back, Robinson could be ready to fill the Randy Moss role in the attack, which could help Culpepper get back to being the guy he was when Moss was still on the team.

Under league rules, teams can use 2005 cap dollars for signing boni through December 31.  If the Vikes are smart, they'll be putting a package together for Robinson before then, to ensure that he'll be wearing purple for several years to come.

5.  Shaun Should Test The Market.

Speaking of Seattle, we think that running back Shaun Alexander should reject any overtures on a long-term deal until he's had a chance to hit the open market.  The team has dragged its feet all season, fearing that a huge bonus payment might caused Alexander to lose his edge.

Now, with Alexander in a legitimate footrace alongside Peyton Manning for MVP honors, we think that Shaun should ix-nay the alk-tay about wanting to stay in Seattle and allow other teams to enter the bidding.

In the end, he might very well end up back with the 'Hawks.  But given that the 49ers might not nail down the chance to land Reggie Bush, the next best thing for the Niners might be the guy who already has proven that he can play very well in the NFL.

6.  Pressure Mounts for Colts.

Look, we know that there's no such thing as a "good" loss.  But as the Colts continue to win and win and win, the pressure with each passing game could eventually become downright stifling.