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Giant hurdle remains for Cowboys
02:14 PM CDT on Thursday, October 18, 2007
SportsDay's Rick Gosselin answered questions about the NFL on Thursday, Oct. 18.
Rick Gosselin: Having spent the weekend in Green Bay, I missed the showdown of the two unbeatens here in Dallas. But I did see the second-best team in the NFC in the Packers. The Commanders, Eagles and Giants all could make it interesting, though, for both the Cowboys and Packers. OK, I'm ready for your questions ...
• • •
Who is the Cowboys' biggest threat in the NFC East?
Rick Gosselin: The Giants, with the Commanders a close second. I went to Green Bay thinking I was going to see the second-best team in the NFC play that day. I just wasn't sure who it was, the Packers or Commanders. Green Bay won, but I came away thinking the Commanders may be the better team. The Packers needed a 57-yard defensive fumble return to win 17-14. The Commanders are capable of playing great defense, and I think Jason Campell is getting better by the week. As a first-year starter, his learning curve could be rapid. He'll be a much better quarterback in December than he is in October.
But the Giants may match up best of all against the Cowboys. They can score with Dallas. They proved that in the season opener with an injury-riddled cast. And the new defense implemented by Steve Spagnulo appears to be in sync – finally. I think the three toughest games the Cowboys wil play the rest of the way will be the three roadies in the division.
• • •
Manning18: Does the NFC have any chance of winning the Super Bowl this season? Or is the AFC title game really the Super Bowl?
Rick Gosselin: No one thought the Patriots had a shot of winning the Super Bowl in the 2001 season against the St. Louis Rams and the Greatest Show on Turf. The Patriots even lost at home to the Rams during the regular season. But Bill Belichick turned the tables in the Super Bowl with a brilliant defensive game plan. The Patriots beat up on the Rams receivers every step on every route and stole both a victory and an NFL championship. I believe the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC and probably have an easier path to the Super Bowl than the Patriots. If the Cowboys win there, it will have to be coaching triumph – just like New England's triumph over the Rams in 2002. The Patriots, Colts and probably the Steelers are all more talented than the best NFC teams.
• • •
From e-mail: I realize it's not even the midway point of the NFL season yet, but we're already starting to hear some "best of all time" rumblings about the Patriots. Care to weigh in?
Jon
Rick Gosselin: I think what the Patriots have done in a salary cap era has been quite an achievement – winning three Super Bowls and going to a fourth conference title game this decade. Only four players started on all three Super Bowl champions for the Patriots. But the salary cap also has watered down the competition as well. I think it was just as tough for the Steelers to maintain their excellence in the 1970s because there was better much better competition in the AFC, and usually a great Cowboys team waiting for them in the Super Bowl. The same with the 49ers in the 1980s and the Cowboys for the first half of the 1990s. Just to win the division in 1992 the Cowboys had to survive competition from the previous two Super Bowl winners – Washington (1991) and New York (1990). I think greatness of a team is judged by whom you beat. I'm not ready to say these Patriots are better than the 1992 Cowboys or 1994 49ers. But the Pats may not be done yet. If they win two more Super Bowls, I'll reassess.
• • •
LT Bolts: There's been plenty of talk lately about college coaches on the hot seat (Franchione, Callahan, etc.). Which coach's seats are getting warm in the NFL?
Rick Gosselin: Heading into the season, the seats in Cleveland, Jacksonville and New York (Giants) were considered warm. But all three have exceeded summer expectations already with quality starts. The teams enduring the biggest struggles all have relactively young or new coaches – New Orleans (Sean Payton), Atlanta (Bobby Petrino) and Miami (Cam Cameron). Cincinnati, Minnesota and St. Louis are woth keeping an eye on. All are underachieving. But, remember, we're only six games into the season. Philadelphia was 5-6 last season and wound up winning the NFC East and a playoff game. That's why they play the games ...
• • •
MikeCurl: How much better are the Chargers after acquiring Chris Chambers from the Dolphins?
Rick Gosselin: This was a huge get for the Chargers. They viewed Vincent Jackson as a potential lead receiver heading into the season, but he struggled with the defensive focus on him. He's turning out to be a much better second option. Chambers is a lead receiver. He allows Jackson to slide comfortably into the No. 2 role. Chambers gives the Chargers quick strike capability with his speed. He'll stretch the defense, and that will make life easier for LaDainian Tomlinson. When the Chargers were 1-3 and in last place of the AFC West, I still thought they were the best team in the division. There was too much talent here for that team to continue its struggles. Adding Chambers, I think, will allow the Chargers to maximize their talent. I think the Chargers will again win the division and be a factor in the playoffs. They will probably have to hit the road, but that may be a good thing. Losing two home playoff games cost Marty Schottenheimer his job.
• • •
NFLfan: Why is the NFL's trading deadline so early? Any chance of that ever being pushed back?
Rick Gosselin: So you can't swing the balance of power with a last minute deal like you can in baseball. Football is all about parity, about everyone playing on a level field. You can still make dynamic deals in mid-October. I don't need to remind Cowboys fans of the Herschel Walker deal. I thought the Chargers made an impact deal in acquiring Chris Chambers and the Bucs needed a back, so they went out and got one in Michael Bennett. That said, I think you could push the deadline back to Halloween, give teams eight games to assess themselves instead of six, without scrambling the balance in the league. But it's been mid-October forever, so I don't see the NFL changing any time soon. There are so few deals as it is. Maybe if there were a dozen deals the NFL would consider a change. Two won't get it done.
• • •
the stork: After watching Green Bay, did you see anything that indicated the Packers will be a concern for the Cowboys should they meet in the playoffs?
Rick Gosselin: The Packers can't run the ball. They are one-dimensional. That dimension improved, though, with the addition of Koren Robinson this week. Donald Driver, Robinson and Greg Jennings give a powerful 1-2-3 punch on the flank. And I like how the Packers play defense. They have the biggest, most physical, most intimidating set of cornerbacks in the league in Charles Woodson and Al Harris. The Packers would be an underdog in any game they play with the Cowboys. But unless the Packers develop a rushing attack over the next two months, I wouldn't be that concerned with the Packers. The biggest concerns ought to be in the division. New York, Philadelphia and Washington all know the Cowboys and match up well with them. The three toughest games left on the Dallas schedule will be the three road games in the division. I wouldn't be surprised if the two NFC wild cards came out of the East. I think the Cowboys will play at least one division foe in January.
• • •
Chris/Denton: What happened to Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4 that supposedly would allow more pressure from the defensive ends? Are Chris Canty and Marcus Spears just that bad?
Rick Gosselin: The 3-4 is a linebacker-driven scheme. His starting linebackers at San Diego last season collected 35 of their NFL-leading 61 sacks. The wide-bogied linemen are there to occupy space and blockers, freeing up the blitz lanes for the linebackers. San Diego's two starting ends, Igor Olshansky and Luis Castillo, had a combined only 8½ sacks last season. Canty and Spears are there to play the run and get the occasional sack. If you want to point fingers, the Cowboys need more heat from the linebacker position.
• • •
the stork: Why doesn't Cleveland lose more? Don't the Browns know they are hurting Dallas' draft?
Rick Gosselin: I wrote back in August the Browns are closer than anyone thinks. There are six cornerstone positions for a championship team: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, left tackle, pass rusher and cover corner. If Cleveland's talent evaluators are correct, five of those cornerstones are already in place at QB (Brady Quinn), WR (Braylon Edwards), left tackle (Joe Thomas), pass rusher (Kamerion Wimbley) and cover corner (Eric Wright). The Browns are experience and a dynamic young runner away from Super Bowl contention. And Kellen Winslow Jr. is a great piece to have in your supporting cast. Quinn will probably get on the field in 2008. That's when serious playoff contention will begin. In the meantime, the young Browns are competitive as they gain experience. They kind of remind me of the 1990 Cowboys, who finished 7-9 as the Aikmans, Smiths and Irvins were learning how good they could be.
• • •
ZKretchmer: Why is Seattle struggling? And is Mike Holmgren on the hot seat at all?
Rick Gosselin: Something's missing. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander are both in their 30s and their careers may be leveling off. Those were the two pistons that drove the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005. The Seahawks also can't keep their receivers healthy. And the mystique may be gone at home. The Seahawks were 10-0 at home on the way to the Super Bowl in 2005. That loss to New Orleans at home the other night signals that all may not be well in the Pacific Northwest. But Holmgren has won a Super Bowl and taken teams to two others. I don't think he's in any trouble. I think when he leaves Seattle, it will be by his own choice. I still think the Seahawks will win the NFC West, though. They still have the best collection of talent in the division.
• • •
From e-mail: In your recent From the 50, you wrote how Shannon Sharpe might no longer be a lock for the Hall of Fame because by the time he's eligible, his stats won't look as impressive when compared to other TEs (like Tony Gonzalez, etc.). I think that's unfair because you shouldn't compare stats from different eras. A player should be judged statistically based on the era he played in. And Art Monk should be in the HOF. Period.
Chuck
Rick Gosselin: That's your opinion on Monk, and it's not shared by the voters. Seven times he's been a finalist and seven times he has missed the cut. With the explosion of statistics on offense, I think the voters are taking a longer, harder look at the stats and trying to determine if the player was all about numbers or impact. That's why it's been so hard for wide outs to get in lately. If the Buffalo Bills had won one Super Bowl, I think Andre Reed would have been in by now. And this committee has only voted to enshrine seven tight ends in the game's history. In the end, I think Sharpe gets in. The Broncos are underrepresented as it is. They've been to six Super Bowls in their history and have just one player enshrined (John Elway). When they get a quality candidate, he should get in. Sharpe is a quality candidate.
• • •
From e-mail: With about half of the college season done, what DBs and WRs do you think the Cowboys would be following as a potential first-day pick?
Joel
Rick Gosselin: Too early for me to tell yet. I don't dive deeply into the draft until the end of December when the bowl bids are awarded. I'm just trying to get through the NFL season at this point. But word is there are going to be several quality wideouts in this draft, especially if the juniors come out (as they always do). But that wouldn't be a concern had the Cowboys selected Dwayne Bowe instead of Anthony Spencer in the first round last April. Keep an eye on Bowe in Kansas City. He's got some special skills.
• • •
From e-mail: I was wondering about what you thought about Patrick Crayton's remarks about getting anothe shot at the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Do you think that Cowboys are in danger of looking ahead too much by assuming that they will be going to the Super Bowl? They almost lost to Buffalo by looking ahead to New England.
Jack
Rick Gosselin: I bet the Patriots would like to see the Cowboys in the Super Bowl just as much as Crayton would like to see New England again. The Patriots have already whipped the Cowboys on the road. You want a statement game? That was it – to the Cowboys and the entire NFC. The Patriots know they are a great team. They know it doesn't matter who they play or where. The Cowboys are still trying to figure out how good a team they are. Crayton may get his wish, though. The Cowboys have an easier path to Phoenix in February than the Patriots. But be careful what you wish for. The Patriots are the best team in the NFL.
• • •
Ben: Is the NFC East back on its way to being the best division in football? In a few years, when Tony Romo and Jason Campbell are both rounding into form, and if Eli Manning ever evens out, those look like three very good teams. Or is it the AFC South?
Rick Gosselin: The NFC East is starting to restore some of its lost glitter. If the Eagles are your worst team, you've got a pretty salty division. The NFC East was considered the best division in football in the 1980s and into the 1990s because that division was producing all the Super Bowl champions – Cowboys, Giants and Commanders. Right now the Super Bowl champ plays in the AFC South, so I'll give them the nod. Quarterbacks and defense can make a division special. The quarterbacks and defenses both appear to be locking in place this season in the NFC East.
• • •
Scott: How long do you think Mike Singletary would have to wait for an NFL head coaching job? I'm hoping he would rather take over at Baylor.
Rick Gosselin: Singletary is on the NFL's short list because of his name. But opportunity often hinges on the success of your team. The 49ers rank 20th in the NFL in defense and are struggling along at 2-3. That may hold Singletary back. I think he's at least a year away in the NFL. He may be wise to try to college avenue first. With his name, he'll be able to get back into the NFL any time he wants. So go the college route and prove you can be a head coach like Jim Harbaugh is doing. He's putting himself on the fast track at Stanford.
• • •
From e-mail: In your recent From the 50, you mention in the Darren McFadden Derby how the Dolphins need a QB, and might look at Jeff Brohm and others. So why didn't they draft Brady Quinn in April?
Chuck
Rick Gosselin: I'm still trying to figure out why the Dolphins took a kick returner with the ninth overall pick of the draft. They did take a quarterback with the second pick, John Beck. Cam Cameron must have liked Beck more than Quinn. But this season is lost. Get Beck on the field and see if he can be your guy. If he can't, there are three good ones in this draft. This season is already lost. It's time to find out if your young guys can play or not.
• • •
mtufenk: You were the only one from the DMN staff to pick the Cowboys over the Patriots. Good try. How much better do you think the Cowboys' defense will be with Tank Johnson in the middle?
Rick Gosselin: There's a reason Tank Johnson was a second-round draft pick and Jay Ratliff a seventh. Johnson is a more active player. But he's been a fixture in a 4-3. He'll be asked to play the inside in a 3-4. It's a different world in there. Better players make you a better team, though. The Cowboys will be a better team with Johnson. It'll be up to the defensive coaches to figure out ways for him to be productive.
• • •
Rick Gosselin: I appreciate you joining me this afternoon. I enjoyed the wide array of questions posed. I hope I gave you some insight. I look forward to chatting with you again in two weeks ...
02:14 PM CDT on Thursday, October 18, 2007
SportsDay's Rick Gosselin answered questions about the NFL on Thursday, Oct. 18.
Rick Gosselin: Having spent the weekend in Green Bay, I missed the showdown of the two unbeatens here in Dallas. But I did see the second-best team in the NFC in the Packers. The Commanders, Eagles and Giants all could make it interesting, though, for both the Cowboys and Packers. OK, I'm ready for your questions ...
• • •
Who is the Cowboys' biggest threat in the NFC East?
Rick Gosselin: The Giants, with the Commanders a close second. I went to Green Bay thinking I was going to see the second-best team in the NFC play that day. I just wasn't sure who it was, the Packers or Commanders. Green Bay won, but I came away thinking the Commanders may be the better team. The Packers needed a 57-yard defensive fumble return to win 17-14. The Commanders are capable of playing great defense, and I think Jason Campell is getting better by the week. As a first-year starter, his learning curve could be rapid. He'll be a much better quarterback in December than he is in October.
But the Giants may match up best of all against the Cowboys. They can score with Dallas. They proved that in the season opener with an injury-riddled cast. And the new defense implemented by Steve Spagnulo appears to be in sync – finally. I think the three toughest games the Cowboys wil play the rest of the way will be the three roadies in the division.
• • •
Manning18: Does the NFC have any chance of winning the Super Bowl this season? Or is the AFC title game really the Super Bowl?
Rick Gosselin: No one thought the Patriots had a shot of winning the Super Bowl in the 2001 season against the St. Louis Rams and the Greatest Show on Turf. The Patriots even lost at home to the Rams during the regular season. But Bill Belichick turned the tables in the Super Bowl with a brilliant defensive game plan. The Patriots beat up on the Rams receivers every step on every route and stole both a victory and an NFL championship. I believe the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC and probably have an easier path to the Super Bowl than the Patriots. If the Cowboys win there, it will have to be coaching triumph – just like New England's triumph over the Rams in 2002. The Patriots, Colts and probably the Steelers are all more talented than the best NFC teams.
• • •
From e-mail: I realize it's not even the midway point of the NFL season yet, but we're already starting to hear some "best of all time" rumblings about the Patriots. Care to weigh in?
Jon
Rick Gosselin: I think what the Patriots have done in a salary cap era has been quite an achievement – winning three Super Bowls and going to a fourth conference title game this decade. Only four players started on all three Super Bowl champions for the Patriots. But the salary cap also has watered down the competition as well. I think it was just as tough for the Steelers to maintain their excellence in the 1970s because there was better much better competition in the AFC, and usually a great Cowboys team waiting for them in the Super Bowl. The same with the 49ers in the 1980s and the Cowboys for the first half of the 1990s. Just to win the division in 1992 the Cowboys had to survive competition from the previous two Super Bowl winners – Washington (1991) and New York (1990). I think greatness of a team is judged by whom you beat. I'm not ready to say these Patriots are better than the 1992 Cowboys or 1994 49ers. But the Pats may not be done yet. If they win two more Super Bowls, I'll reassess.
• • •
LT Bolts: There's been plenty of talk lately about college coaches on the hot seat (Franchione, Callahan, etc.). Which coach's seats are getting warm in the NFL?
Rick Gosselin: Heading into the season, the seats in Cleveland, Jacksonville and New York (Giants) were considered warm. But all three have exceeded summer expectations already with quality starts. The teams enduring the biggest struggles all have relactively young or new coaches – New Orleans (Sean Payton), Atlanta (Bobby Petrino) and Miami (Cam Cameron). Cincinnati, Minnesota and St. Louis are woth keeping an eye on. All are underachieving. But, remember, we're only six games into the season. Philadelphia was 5-6 last season and wound up winning the NFC East and a playoff game. That's why they play the games ...
• • •
MikeCurl: How much better are the Chargers after acquiring Chris Chambers from the Dolphins?
Rick Gosselin: This was a huge get for the Chargers. They viewed Vincent Jackson as a potential lead receiver heading into the season, but he struggled with the defensive focus on him. He's turning out to be a much better second option. Chambers is a lead receiver. He allows Jackson to slide comfortably into the No. 2 role. Chambers gives the Chargers quick strike capability with his speed. He'll stretch the defense, and that will make life easier for LaDainian Tomlinson. When the Chargers were 1-3 and in last place of the AFC West, I still thought they were the best team in the division. There was too much talent here for that team to continue its struggles. Adding Chambers, I think, will allow the Chargers to maximize their talent. I think the Chargers will again win the division and be a factor in the playoffs. They will probably have to hit the road, but that may be a good thing. Losing two home playoff games cost Marty Schottenheimer his job.
• • •
NFLfan: Why is the NFL's trading deadline so early? Any chance of that ever being pushed back?
Rick Gosselin: So you can't swing the balance of power with a last minute deal like you can in baseball. Football is all about parity, about everyone playing on a level field. You can still make dynamic deals in mid-October. I don't need to remind Cowboys fans of the Herschel Walker deal. I thought the Chargers made an impact deal in acquiring Chris Chambers and the Bucs needed a back, so they went out and got one in Michael Bennett. That said, I think you could push the deadline back to Halloween, give teams eight games to assess themselves instead of six, without scrambling the balance in the league. But it's been mid-October forever, so I don't see the NFL changing any time soon. There are so few deals as it is. Maybe if there were a dozen deals the NFL would consider a change. Two won't get it done.
• • •
the stork: After watching Green Bay, did you see anything that indicated the Packers will be a concern for the Cowboys should they meet in the playoffs?
Rick Gosselin: The Packers can't run the ball. They are one-dimensional. That dimension improved, though, with the addition of Koren Robinson this week. Donald Driver, Robinson and Greg Jennings give a powerful 1-2-3 punch on the flank. And I like how the Packers play defense. They have the biggest, most physical, most intimidating set of cornerbacks in the league in Charles Woodson and Al Harris. The Packers would be an underdog in any game they play with the Cowboys. But unless the Packers develop a rushing attack over the next two months, I wouldn't be that concerned with the Packers. The biggest concerns ought to be in the division. New York, Philadelphia and Washington all know the Cowboys and match up well with them. The three toughest games left on the Dallas schedule will be the three road games in the division. I wouldn't be surprised if the two NFC wild cards came out of the East. I think the Cowboys will play at least one division foe in January.
• • •
Chris/Denton: What happened to Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4 that supposedly would allow more pressure from the defensive ends? Are Chris Canty and Marcus Spears just that bad?
Rick Gosselin: The 3-4 is a linebacker-driven scheme. His starting linebackers at San Diego last season collected 35 of their NFL-leading 61 sacks. The wide-bogied linemen are there to occupy space and blockers, freeing up the blitz lanes for the linebackers. San Diego's two starting ends, Igor Olshansky and Luis Castillo, had a combined only 8½ sacks last season. Canty and Spears are there to play the run and get the occasional sack. If you want to point fingers, the Cowboys need more heat from the linebacker position.
• • •
the stork: Why doesn't Cleveland lose more? Don't the Browns know they are hurting Dallas' draft?
Rick Gosselin: I wrote back in August the Browns are closer than anyone thinks. There are six cornerstone positions for a championship team: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, left tackle, pass rusher and cover corner. If Cleveland's talent evaluators are correct, five of those cornerstones are already in place at QB (Brady Quinn), WR (Braylon Edwards), left tackle (Joe Thomas), pass rusher (Kamerion Wimbley) and cover corner (Eric Wright). The Browns are experience and a dynamic young runner away from Super Bowl contention. And Kellen Winslow Jr. is a great piece to have in your supporting cast. Quinn will probably get on the field in 2008. That's when serious playoff contention will begin. In the meantime, the young Browns are competitive as they gain experience. They kind of remind me of the 1990 Cowboys, who finished 7-9 as the Aikmans, Smiths and Irvins were learning how good they could be.
• • •
ZKretchmer: Why is Seattle struggling? And is Mike Holmgren on the hot seat at all?
Rick Gosselin: Something's missing. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander are both in their 30s and their careers may be leveling off. Those were the two pistons that drove the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005. The Seahawks also can't keep their receivers healthy. And the mystique may be gone at home. The Seahawks were 10-0 at home on the way to the Super Bowl in 2005. That loss to New Orleans at home the other night signals that all may not be well in the Pacific Northwest. But Holmgren has won a Super Bowl and taken teams to two others. I don't think he's in any trouble. I think when he leaves Seattle, it will be by his own choice. I still think the Seahawks will win the NFC West, though. They still have the best collection of talent in the division.
• • •
From e-mail: In your recent From the 50, you wrote how Shannon Sharpe might no longer be a lock for the Hall of Fame because by the time he's eligible, his stats won't look as impressive when compared to other TEs (like Tony Gonzalez, etc.). I think that's unfair because you shouldn't compare stats from different eras. A player should be judged statistically based on the era he played in. And Art Monk should be in the HOF. Period.
Chuck
Rick Gosselin: That's your opinion on Monk, and it's not shared by the voters. Seven times he's been a finalist and seven times he has missed the cut. With the explosion of statistics on offense, I think the voters are taking a longer, harder look at the stats and trying to determine if the player was all about numbers or impact. That's why it's been so hard for wide outs to get in lately. If the Buffalo Bills had won one Super Bowl, I think Andre Reed would have been in by now. And this committee has only voted to enshrine seven tight ends in the game's history. In the end, I think Sharpe gets in. The Broncos are underrepresented as it is. They've been to six Super Bowls in their history and have just one player enshrined (John Elway). When they get a quality candidate, he should get in. Sharpe is a quality candidate.
• • •
From e-mail: With about half of the college season done, what DBs and WRs do you think the Cowboys would be following as a potential first-day pick?
Joel
Rick Gosselin: Too early for me to tell yet. I don't dive deeply into the draft until the end of December when the bowl bids are awarded. I'm just trying to get through the NFL season at this point. But word is there are going to be several quality wideouts in this draft, especially if the juniors come out (as they always do). But that wouldn't be a concern had the Cowboys selected Dwayne Bowe instead of Anthony Spencer in the first round last April. Keep an eye on Bowe in Kansas City. He's got some special skills.
• • •
From e-mail: I was wondering about what you thought about Patrick Crayton's remarks about getting anothe shot at the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Do you think that Cowboys are in danger of looking ahead too much by assuming that they will be going to the Super Bowl? They almost lost to Buffalo by looking ahead to New England.
Jack
Rick Gosselin: I bet the Patriots would like to see the Cowboys in the Super Bowl just as much as Crayton would like to see New England again. The Patriots have already whipped the Cowboys on the road. You want a statement game? That was it – to the Cowboys and the entire NFC. The Patriots know they are a great team. They know it doesn't matter who they play or where. The Cowboys are still trying to figure out how good a team they are. Crayton may get his wish, though. The Cowboys have an easier path to Phoenix in February than the Patriots. But be careful what you wish for. The Patriots are the best team in the NFL.
• • •
Ben: Is the NFC East back on its way to being the best division in football? In a few years, when Tony Romo and Jason Campbell are both rounding into form, and if Eli Manning ever evens out, those look like three very good teams. Or is it the AFC South?
Rick Gosselin: The NFC East is starting to restore some of its lost glitter. If the Eagles are your worst team, you've got a pretty salty division. The NFC East was considered the best division in football in the 1980s and into the 1990s because that division was producing all the Super Bowl champions – Cowboys, Giants and Commanders. Right now the Super Bowl champ plays in the AFC South, so I'll give them the nod. Quarterbacks and defense can make a division special. The quarterbacks and defenses both appear to be locking in place this season in the NFC East.
• • •
Scott: How long do you think Mike Singletary would have to wait for an NFL head coaching job? I'm hoping he would rather take over at Baylor.
Rick Gosselin: Singletary is on the NFL's short list because of his name. But opportunity often hinges on the success of your team. The 49ers rank 20th in the NFL in defense and are struggling along at 2-3. That may hold Singletary back. I think he's at least a year away in the NFL. He may be wise to try to college avenue first. With his name, he'll be able to get back into the NFL any time he wants. So go the college route and prove you can be a head coach like Jim Harbaugh is doing. He's putting himself on the fast track at Stanford.
• • •
From e-mail: In your recent From the 50, you mention in the Darren McFadden Derby how the Dolphins need a QB, and might look at Jeff Brohm and others. So why didn't they draft Brady Quinn in April?
Chuck
Rick Gosselin: I'm still trying to figure out why the Dolphins took a kick returner with the ninth overall pick of the draft. They did take a quarterback with the second pick, John Beck. Cam Cameron must have liked Beck more than Quinn. But this season is lost. Get Beck on the field and see if he can be your guy. If he can't, there are three good ones in this draft. This season is already lost. It's time to find out if your young guys can play or not.
• • •
mtufenk: You were the only one from the DMN staff to pick the Cowboys over the Patriots. Good try. How much better do you think the Cowboys' defense will be with Tank Johnson in the middle?
Rick Gosselin: There's a reason Tank Johnson was a second-round draft pick and Jay Ratliff a seventh. Johnson is a more active player. But he's been a fixture in a 4-3. He'll be asked to play the inside in a 3-4. It's a different world in there. Better players make you a better team, though. The Cowboys will be a better team with Johnson. It'll be up to the defensive coaches to figure out ways for him to be productive.
• • •
Rick Gosselin: I appreciate you joining me this afternoon. I enjoyed the wide array of questions posed. I hope I gave you some insight. I look forward to chatting with you again in two weeks ...
