ESPN Hashmarks

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley 

	Scott Boehm/Getty Images
	New Redskin Jason Taylor should signifigantly upgrade Washington's front four.

Now that you've had time to digest our latest ESPN.com power rankings, it's time to talk about making changes. In one day, the Redskins lost a key starter on defense, but then replaced him with one of the top pass-rushers in the game. Phillip Daniels is certainly a nice player, but replacing him in the lineup with Jason Taylor is a significant upgrade.

Linebacker London Fletcher has become the heart and soul of the Redskins' defense, but the team could definitely use more veteran leadership. In our previous rankings, the Redskins had shown up as No. 14 overall. In the two months since, they dropped two spots to 16th.

I think a lot of experts are still skeptical about quarterback Jason Campbell's future, and that's understandable. Backup Todd Collins led last year's improbable playoff run, so it's natural to reserve judgment on Campbell until he's displayed some consistency.

Still, I already thought the Redskins had a chance to be a factor in one of the toughest divisions in the league. If I had to vote again this morning, I would have the Redskins at No. 12 or 13. I'd still have them as the fourth-best team in the NFC East, but they're gaining on the Eagles, a team that's on the verge of having a bounce-back season.

I guarantee that the Cowboys, Giants and Eagles took notice to Sunday's trade. Despite all the offseason drama, Taylor remains one of the most respected players in the game. He'll turn 34 in September, but being in a new environment should give him more energy and focus.

How quickly can he make the transition from dance shape to football shape? I think it will take at least two weeks in training camp before he feels comfortable, but it's not something Redskins fans should be overly worried about.

Given their situation on the defensive line, the Redskins would be wise to take it slow with Taylor. There's no reason he should try to play in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3. He'll probably play at least a half in the third preseason game before resting up for the opener.

This isn't really connected to the NFC East, but it's an interesting discussion of steroids in the NFL. It's staggering how many Steelers players from the 1970s have died, although we don't know how many of those deaths were related to steroids.

Cowboys

• Another death in the Cowboys' family. Murphy Martin was a true original. Growing up in the Dallas area in the 1970s, we were fortunate enough to have Martin and Verne Lundquist on our local ABC affiliate.

• It's looking like Brad Johnson will once again be the backup quarterback. And talks with safety Ken Hamlin about a new contract are "ongoing," according to Jerry Jones.

• What are the odds of the Cowboys going 16-0? Calvin Watkins discusses that topic on the Cowboys Blog.

• Tom Curran of NBCsports.com has a list of NFL coaches on the hot seat. And Wade Phillips is near the top of the list.

• Newy Scruggs, a sports director for the Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate, doesn't understand why poor Wade Phillips didn't get a raise. Well, it could have something to do with Jerry having to pay for Wade's replacement a year in advance.

• The Cowboys have a talented cornerback that no one's talking about.

• Did you realize that Brett Favre was "overhyped" and "overrated?" Send your emails to Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News.

Eagles

• I forgot to share this Mark Eckel column about the Eagles' linebackers last week. A few scouts have wondered whether Stewart Bradley is suited to play middle linebacker.

• In case you left the office early for a long weekend, here's Paul Kuharsky's column on The Freak. Some good stuff here for Eagles fans.

• This is a big season for Eagles linebacker Chris Gocong, according to realfootball365.com.

Giants

• The New York Giants have been nominated for six ESPY Awards.

• Aaron Ross' fiancé, Sanya Richards, won the 400 at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials in Eugene, Ore. I called Ross about 45 minutes before the race, but he was obviously tied up.

• An Arkansas newspaper picks the Giants to win the NFC East.

• Most of the Giants' beat writers are on vacation right now, but you should bookmark this new link for Mike Garafolo's blog.

• Phil Simms looks at how the game has changed since he played. And what do his kids think of his playing days?

Redskins

• Thanks to Grant Paulsen of the Free-Lance Star for writing about the Redsins' wide receivers during the dog days.

• Seventh-round draft choice Chris Horton of UCLA is determined to make the roster.

• What do we know about Jason Campbell at this point? And I'm calling for a blog-wide ban on references to Bill Parcells' "show me the baby" line.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

I've just submitted my first manuscript for "The Life and Times of Tony Sparano: The Early Years," so I'm returning to full-time blogging status. Please enjoy this installment of NFC East Hashlines:

Cowboys

• As Jacques Taylor reports in the longest running weekly online newsletter in the NFL, Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart is doing something pretty cool for minority college and pro coaches. Stewart, who was previously with Wade Phillips in San Diego, has a passion for helping young coaches, and that's why he's giving up some precious vacation time to show them the way. Here's another story on Stewart from Clarence E. Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

• NFL head coaches, named linebacker Zach Thomas the smartest defensive player in the league, according to my colleague James Walker.

• Here's a promo to get you ready for HBO's "Hard Knocks." I counted at least five players in the preview who are no longer on the Cowboys roster, but hearing Steve Sabol's voice made up for the dated footage.

• The newest member of my old blog, Brian Davis, has a report about whether or not Joe Horn has talked to the Cowboys about their opening at receiver. Horn popped on "The Michael Irvin Show" on ESPN 103.3 FM on Tuesday.

• Linebacker Kevin Burnett doesn't think college players should have to wait so long to become pros.

• Goose Gosselin says we should tap the brakes with "future Hall of Famers." At least wait for Dr. Z to weigh in.

Eagles

• The Eagles have landed third-round draft choice Bryan Smith.

• Here's the Inquirer's story on Smith. Local beat writers are apparently on vacation, and we have no problem with that.

Giants

• Osi Umenyiora compares himself to A-Rod. Says he's not feelin' the love.

• I'm told Umenyiora did some nice work on "Mike and Mike" on Tuesday.

• Is anyone interested in a story about Olympic sprinter Sanya Richards and her fiance, Giants cornerback Aaron Ross? Let me know because I'm thinking about pursuing this angle.

Redskins

• Our friends at HailRedskins.com are previewing the tight ends Wednesday.

• Skip Wood of USA Today says the future of the Redskins depends on the Campbell-Zorn relationship. Really?

ESPN.com's Matt Mosley has post-minicamp analysis of all four NFC East teams:

• Cowboys: The player who will make the biggest impact on defense for the Cowboys this season isn't Adam Jones, it's linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
• Giants: Coach Tom Coughlin won't allow his players to use the team's numerous off-field distractions as an excuse.
• Eagles: Philadelphia's fortunes this season depend on Donovan McNabb's health.
• Redskins: The team expects quarterback Jason Campbell to make great strides under new coach Jim Zorn.

The analysts at Scouts Inc. offer their takes on which team has the best offense and defense in the division -- and which club made the most important move during the offseason. Scout Inc.'s Jeremy Green talks about the Cowboys and the NFC East with Dallas cornerback Terence Newman on ESPN's Football Today podcast.

And ESPN.com's Eric Karabell weighs in from a fantasy perspective, breaking down the key positional battles to watch during the Cowboys' and Eagles' training camps. He suggests fantasy owners keep tabs on the Terry Glenn situation in Dallas, while it's all about Donovan McNabb in Philly.

A SportsNation chat with the Cowboys' Newman starts at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

ESPN.com's Jeffri Chadiha and Marcellus Wiley break down the division on "NFL Live."

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

I just hung up the phone with Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' executive vice president of football operations. I was interviewing him for an upcoming story, but I thought you might be interested in a few of the topics we discussed.

Erasmus James: The Redskins didn't land the defensive end they coveted in the draft, but they did take on a reclamation project in James, who was a star at Wisconsin before becoming a major disappointment with the Vikings. Cerrato thinks James, who is recovering from a knee injury, could make an immediate impact. He said that new defensive line coach John Palermo, who coached James for four years at Wisconsin, vouched for the player. The Redskins have asked James to lose at least 15 pounds before training camp. He played at 275 with the Vikings, but Cerrato wants him to be at his college playing weight (255-260 pounds). He recently weighed in at 268 pounds. Cerrato said that James and cornerback Carlos Rogers will both be monitored closely during training camp and probably won't go full speed. But he's eager to look at James in a preseason game.

Jason Campbell: It's pretty obvious that Campbell was one of the biggest reasons Jim Zorn was hired as head coach. Cerrato, Zorn and Campbell hopped into Dan Snyder's private jet two days before the draft and flew around the country working out players. Campbell threw to Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and Kansas State's Jordy Nelson. It was another opportunity for Zorn and Campbell to bond.

"Jim has helped Jason bend his knees more," Cerrato said. "He's a lot more compact in the pocket, which helps him remain in more of a football position."

Zorn talked about what he would do to help Campbell improve during his 15-hour interview with Cerrato and Snyder.

"That was a piece of the puzzle," Cerrato said. "If your quarterback could improve, you might be talking about two more wins. Then you're at 11 wins."

LaRon Landry: When the second-year safety was a no-show for a voluntary OTA session, there were a few raised eyebrows around Redskins Park. Landry, who will play a huge role in the defense, didn't bother to let anyone know he wasn't coming. Cerrato was very diplomatic in discussing the issue, but it's obvious he had a "chat" with Landry about his communication skills.

"He had a family issue," Cerrato said. "But I talked to him about communication. I told him to just let us know what you're doing and everything will be fine. Jim's good about that. A lot of the veterans didn't work out, but they all had a legitimate place where they were preparing. He doesn't have a problem with that."

He said he was never worried about Shawn Springs not showing up because the cornerback has played some of his best football after skipping OTAs in favor of preparing for the season in Arizona.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

This is the seventh in a series of divisional reports examining pivotal injuries that could impact each NFL team heading into training camp and the regular season. ESPN.com fantasy sports expert Christopher Harris provides a "fantasy spin" on each player. We continue by focusing on a key injury affecting each team in the NFC East.

Team: DALLAS COWBOYS

Player, position, injury: Terry Glenn, WR, eventually needs microfracture surgery on right knee.

Rehab status: Teammates report that Glenn has been seen running and making cuts with no problem. But the Cowboys are holding him out of organized team activities because a season-ending injury would guarantee him his full salary of $1.7 million. The Cowboys want Glenn to sign an agreement that would cut his payout to $500,000 if he re-injures the same right knee.

Next step: Right now, Glenn is basically locked out of Valley Ranch. The logical next step is for he and the Cowboys to find some common ground. He might be willing to sign an agreement for somewhere in the $1 million range. If the sides reach an understanding, Glenn would be penciled in as the No. 2 wide receiver.

Fantasy spin: Draft Terry Glenn as a deep, deep sleeper for your fantasy team, but be very wary of making him one of your starting receivers. Granted, if his knees hold up, Glenn becomes an intriguing deep threat for one of the league's most explosive offenses. But it seems more likely that he'll struggle with injuries again, in which case Patrick Crayton will resume the starting role he inherited all last season. Crayton probably isn't an every-week fantasy starter, either, but he's certainly a safer pick than Glenn.

Team: NEW YORK GIANTS

Player, position, injury: Jeremy Shockey, TE, broken left leg.

Rehab status: Shockey is reportedly working out in sand pits in Miami to strengthen his legs. Several teammates have attempted to reach out to him, but he's apparently not returning calls.

Next step: The former Pro Bowl tight end is due at Giants Stadium for a mandatory minicamp June 11. GM Jerry Reese told me two weeks ago that he's talked to Shockey during the offseason and wants him to be a major part of the team. The development of 2007 rookie Kevin Boss has given the Giants some recourse if they decide to trade Shockey, but that scenario is unlikely at this point.

Fantasy spin: Provided he's healthy, Shockey seems like a better and better bet to begin the year as the Giants' starting tight end, a prospect which didn't seem like a sure thing just a month ago (when New Orleans was kicking the tires on a trade). He's always among the top 10 in red-zone targets, and '08 shouldn't be an exception. If Shockey can't get healthy or if the Giants do wind up trading him, Kevin Boss becomes an attractive fantasy replacement.

Team: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Player, position, injury: L.J. Smith, TE, sports hernia (groin).

Rehab status: Smith is 100 percent ready to go, according to the Eagles. He's been working out with Russian kettlebells this offseason. What's a kettlebell, you ask? It's a cast-iron weight that resembles a cannonball with a handle. Working out with them helps with all-around fitness, and from all accounts, the kettlebells have Smith in the best shape of his life.

Next step: Even when he played last season, Smith wasn't himself. He should give the Eagles a much-needed red zone threat. The injury shouldn't limit him in upcoming workouts with the team.

Fantasy spin: If Smith is healthy, the Eagles will use him in the red zone. In 2006, he got 18 targets inside opponents' 20, third among all tight ends. Donovan McNabb is comfortable with him. Last year's injuries weigh heavily on fantasy owners' minds, and Brent Celek has good potential as the Eagles' second-stringer. You probably can't draft Smith to be your starting fantasy tight end, though a return to health could mean more touchdowns.

Team: WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Player, positon, injury: Jason Campbell, QB, dislocated left patella.

Rehab status: Campbell came back strong in the Redskins' recent minicamp, but then he suffered a mild hamstring injury in the subsequent organized team activities. New head coach Jim Zorn doesn't expect the hamstring injury to be a lingering problem because he says Campbell doesn't have a history of those types of strains. Some Redskins might recall a rash of strains in the defensive backfield and on the offensive line late last season, an issue owner Daniel Snyder raised when speaking with prospective coaches.

Next step: Zorn has Campbell working hard to bend his knees and stay low while dropping back. It's still a bit awkward for Campbell and might have led to the hamstring pull. Campbell will be the unquestioned starter, but he might not have much margin for error following Todd Collins' impressive performance last season.

Fantasy spin: Provided Campbell gets right in time for camp, he's a No. 2 fantasy quarterback with the intriguing upside that comes from a guy with a big arm. Unfortunately, he's learning his eighth offense in nine years, and Zorn is installing a run-heavy version of the West Coast offense, which might not show off Campbell's strong arm. If Campbell continues to suffer leg injuries, Collins becomes the starter, though he's never played in a West Coast offense, either.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

A contingent of Redskins officials, including owner Daniel Snyer, vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato, head coach Jim Zorn and quarterback Jason Campbell had a busy day Thursday. Snyder's private jet landed near the Clemson campus to observe defensive end Phillip Merling's workout before heading to Norman, Okla., to get another look at wide receiver Malcolm Kelly.

But the final leg of the trip didn't show up in local reports. At 3:30 p.m., the Redskins called Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson at his home 20 minutes north of the KSU campus and asked if he'd be willing to work out.

"It didn't take me long to answer," Nelson told Hashmarks a few minutes ago.

The Redskins travel party landed at 4:30 p.m. and Campbell was firing passes to Nelson by 5. After the workout, Campbell complemented Nelson on his route-running skills.

"One thing he told me was that I stayed the same level through all my routes. He said that makes it easier for him to throw me the ball."

Washington is obviously serious about adding another receiver for Campbell. They haven't given up on Bengals receiver Chad Johnson and they've poured over film of every receiver in the rookie class. The Chiefs, Falcons and Bengals have also shown interest in Nelson, but not like the Redskins. I think it's a good bet the Redskins will take Nelson with the 51st overall pick if he's still available.

Former Raiders safety Vann McElroy, who is Nelson's agent, thinks he could slip into the first round. Some of the receivers projected to go in front of Nelson have character issues, and that's probably the Kansas State receiver's best strength. Nelson (6-3, 217) did impress scouts with his 4.51 at the combine and a 31-inch vertical leap. I think someone's going to get a really nice possession receiver -- and maybe more than that.

OK, I'm off to conduct some research at Jay-Z's sports bar. Talk soon.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

General managers picking toward the bottom of the first round report increased conversations with teams interested in moving up into those spots. The Seahawks' top personnel guys, Tim Ruskell and Ruston Webster, noted at a news conference yesterday that they suspected teams might be looking to grab quarterbacks in those spots. Webster said he expects four quarterbacks to go among the top 35 or 36 overall choices.

Dallas, which holds the 22nd and 28th picks this year, has become a willing partner in such scenarios recently. The Cowboys moved back from the 22nd choice in 2004 and 2007. Those moves allowed Buffalo to select J.P. Losman (2004) and Cleveland to select Brady Quinn (2007). Washington moved up to take Jason Campbell with the 25th choice in 2005, swinging a deal with Denver. And in 2003, the Ravens acquired the 19th pick from New England to draft Kyle Boller.

Several teams with early second-round picks could be looking for quarterbacks who figure to be available late in the first round. The Dolphins (32nd), Falcons (34th and 37th), Jets (36th) and Ravens (38th) come to mind as candidates, depending on what happens with Matt Ryan.

No draft has featured four quarterbacks taken among the top 36 choices since 2004: Eli Manning (1), Philip Rivers (4), Ben Roethlisberger (11) and Losman (22). Four also went in that area in 2003: Carson Palmer (1), Byron Leftwich (7), Boller (19) and Grossman (22).

An emotional Jason Campbell read the following statement at Redskins Park about 45 minutes ago:

"Sean was a dear friend to all of us. We're all like a family and it's like we lost a family member. Through this tragedy we all have to try to pull together, stay strong for each other. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, his girlfriend, his little girl.

It's a tough situation right now. Sean was a great person, I just wish that everyone had the opportunity to get a chance to know him because if you just sit down and you talk to Sean one-on-one, he's a special person, and you know, he's a great person and he had all the intentions of trying to do the right things for people in the community. If you just look at him from the way that he's changed in the last year, it's just been outstanding to have the opportunity to spend time with him because he's just a special person. He will truly be missed by all of us, we'll hold him close to our hearts, and it's just a tough situation right now. "

I've received numerous e-mails regarding why Sean Taylor was at his home in Miami on Sunday instead of with his team in Tampa. I'm told that he made the trip to check on his home, which had been robbed a week earlier, and to have his injured knee examined by a local specialist.

It took Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell nine games to locate a wide receiver in the end zone. But after a rash of injuries, he's simply hoping to find one on the roster.

In case you don't read my pal Jason La Canfora's blog, the Redskins' alleged No. 1 receiver, Santana Moss, is questionable for Sunday's game in Dallas because of a bruised heel. James Thrash, who scored twice against the Eagles, has a high-ankle sprain. Antwaan Randle El has played through a hamstring injury and Brandon Lloyd has checked out for the season with a broken collarbone.

At this point, it looks like 37-year-old Keenan McCardell and seldom-used Reche Caldwell could see significant playing time against Dallas. Oh, and Jimmy Farris is back in town for an encore performance.

Before T.O. took Sam Hurd on as his little buddy in Dallas, he had Farris in San Francisco. In a strange sidenote that will mean very little Sunday, Farris was at T.O.'s apartment last September when he had his accidental overdose (The DMN has air-brushed my name out for no apparent reason).

Anyway, all the injuries at receiver have caused Campbell to make some really cryptic statements regarding Sunday's game.

"How do you think it makes me feel as a quarterback?" Campbell told reporters Thursday while Jack Wagner's "All I Need" blared in the background. "Right when we start to do some different things as far as a passing standpoint goes, all your guys are getting hurt. It's like a bug going around. And to have them going out with one of the biggest games of the year coming up, and we're already short-handed, it makes it tough."

It's funny to read that Campbell is so upset about losing receivers he's rarely been able to utilize. Cowboys cornerback Jacques Reeves sat at his locker earlier today and asked reporters for the latest Redskins injury report.

"Thrash is out too?" he said. "Who else do they have?"

The player Reeves and the other Cowboys corners may fear the most is left tackle Chris Samuels.

"Did you see him hit [Charles] Woodson?" asked Reeves. "And he got Al Harris, too."

This is what it's come to with the Redskins' offense. Their most dangerous player is a left tackle.

(Save yourself the email. I know Clinton Portis is playing well. It was simply a throwaway line!)

Have a special, special weekend and I'll meet you back here Monday with more groundbreaking insight.

Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell is normally the last man on the scene when you need a "throw the bum out" piece. He's a man of nuance who believes in the eternal power of the obscure metaphor and a tweed sport coat.

That's why I was a little surprised when Boswell suggested that the end was near for legendary Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Following Washington's 33-25 loss to the Eagles, Boswell wrote:

"It's time to treat Gibbs just like anyone else in sports who must reprove himself constantly. Coming just two weeks after a 52-7 loss to New England, this defeat to a mundane Philadelphia Eagles team was a brutal demonstration of how far the Redskins still have to go to be a genuine contender, even after all of Gibbs's no-expense-spared rebuilding with a roster of mostly hand-picked players."

Boswell came close to calling for Gibbs' firing, but then returned to safer ground when he decided he might not have much company. The truth is that Redskins fans are starting to accept the terrible reality that their Hall of Fame coach might be at the end of the line.

And the worst part is that Gibbs' questionable decisions during crunch time suggest that he's a larger part of the problem than a lot of us would care to admit. He's being betrayed by the same run-first, pass much, much later offense that helped put him in the Hall of Fame.

His young quarterback, Jason Campbell, may turn into a fine quarterback someday, but right now he doesn't have a wide receiver he can trust, forcing him to rely heavily on tight end Chris Cooley.

The Redskins are facing a Dallas defense Sunday that specializes in stopping the run, so Campbell will have to throw the ball downfield at some point. If the Redskins lose to their hated rivals and fall to 5-5, Boswell have plenty of company.

As esteemed blogger Dan Steinberg points out, there's already a Fire Joe Gibbs Now Web site. And by the way, would someone at the Post please realize Steinberg's genius and stop making him write post-game sidebars on the Redskins' problems in the red zone.

This entry is dedicated to the all the fans who are hurting this morning. Know that you're not alone.

• The Bears met "The Real Adrian Peterson" on Sunday and they'll never be the same. Oh, and Devin Hester had an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown and an 81-yard touchdown catch -- and the Bears still lost.

• Chicago Trib blog provides a nice description of how it all happened.

• David Haugh thinks the Bears' late comeback only made it worse.

• Greg Cote wonders if the Dolphins are headed to an 0-16 season.

• Zach Thomas: We're Horrible!

• Thomas Boswell is trying to figure out where the Redskins stand after a tough loss to the Packers. Rough day at the office for receiver Santana Moss.

• Mike Wise talks about Jason Campbell's sense of history.

• Some very uncomfortable phrases early on in this Cincy Post column. And how bad is it for Bengals fans when Marvin Lewis is talking about how much progress the team made in a loss to the Chiefs?

• Paul Daugherty chose a similar path in The Enquirer.

• Gary Myers is calling for a quarterback change after Chad Pennington's third consecutive ineffective start.

• OK, so maybe we were premature in celebrating the rise of the Titans. They looked pretty bad against the Bucs yesterday.

• Richard Justice says the Texans have reached their first crisis point of the season.

• Bernie Miklasz wonders why Scott Linehan tried to get poor Gus Frerotte killed in Baltimore.

• For those of us who'd given up on a Rattay-Testaverde matchup, yesterday was a special day.

• Scott Ostler says it's time for Raiders to release their "secret project."

• Lane Kiffin didn't try to sugarcoat the loss to the Chargers.

• The Cowboys couldn't get off the field on third down.

• Jacques Taylor says Tom Brady will serve as a great model for Tony Romo. Especially his spring collection.

• Art Thiel thinks the Seahawks are in trouble.

• Steve Kelley says to hold off on those Seahawks playoff tickets.

• Gil Lebreton says the Cowboys have no defense for loss to Patriots.

You had to see it coming. When Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb told HBO that he felt like he received more criticism because of his skin color, beat writers raced to the lockers of other black quarterbacks for reaction.

Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell, who recently admitted to bookmarking Hashmarks, said he doesn't feel any extra criticism now that he's in the NFL.

"That's his opinion, and as an African-American quarterback, I have to support other African-American quarterbacks," Campbell said of McNabb. "But it's something I can't get caught up in. I look at all quarterbacks as the same. I support every guy who's playing the position.

"It's the hardest position to play in professional sports, and you get graded differently than any other position on the field. Nine times out of 10 the ball is in your hands, so everybody is watching you. Since you're in the spotlight, the mistakes get recognized. You need thick skin and a short memory."

If you're scoring at home, there are currently five other black starting quarterbacks in the league who are being asked to respond to McNabb's comments. I started to link to some of their comments, but the whole thing seems a bit silly. Steve McNair and Vince Young shouldn't have to weigh in on everything McNabb says because they share his skin color.

And upon further review, I don't think it's really my place to beat up McNabb for his comments. We sit around and complain that players aren't candid enough, but then we immediately condemn them when they say something that might be deemed unpopular.

McNabb couldn't help the timing of that interview. He didn't know he was going to stagger around the field and play poorly two nights before it aired. It's what the guy felt at the time, so I don't have a problem with it.

Tonight I plan to ask Tony Romo about the plight of the half-Hispanic quarterback. Details to follow.

• Since a couple of you thought I was too hard on poor Tank Johnson yesterday, here's something to ponder from our pal Colin Cowherd, who has recognized the power of Hash.

• I made a point to watch Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" last night. In an interview conducted three weeks ago, McNabb told James Brown that black quarterbacks face more criticism than white quarterbacks. The timing couldn't have been worse since McNabb was coming off a poor performance against NFC East rival Washington on Monday.

On one hand, you admire a guy who's willing to voice his opinion on a controversial topic, but in light of recent events, he came off looking like an excuse-maker. Paul Domowitch thinks the criticism of McNabb may have something to do with his reluctance to embrace the Philadelphia community.

I had a nice visit with Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell after Monday's game. Had I known about McNabb's comments, I would've asked him if he's received more scrutiny based on the color of his skin. Campbell played college football in the Deep South, where Sylvester Croom became the SEC's first black head coach in 2004. As Domowitch also wrote, the most valid reason to criticize McNabb is the struggle he's had with accuracy. Until the quarterback brought up race as a factor, I'd never given it a second thought.

•  FOH (friend of Hash) Kevin Sherrington writes in The Dallas Morning News that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has sent a strong message with his latest signing. And it's not necessarily a good one.

"Unfortunately, [Roger] Goodell's message to NFL players and kids alike is drowned out by the one Jerry Jones sends," writes Sherrington.  

Come on down, Tank. And here in Texas, you don't have to check your guns at the border, either.

• Our old pal Calvin Watkins discusses how Tank will fit into the vaunted Phillips 3-4 defense.

• Jay Mariotti says the Cowboys will regret making this move. And by the way, the suggestion by some of my friends in the Chicago media that Johnson was signed this week to provide the Cowboys with inside information is ludicrous. Jerry's in this for the long-haul.

So much more to come.

OK, let's do all this in one shot. For reasons I can't quite explain, I'm normally drawn to losing locker rooms. But tonight I decided to allot most of my post-game to the jubilant Redskins.

After a nice conversation with former Cowboys kicker Shaun Suisham that nearly ended in an awkward man hug, I closed in on veteran linebacker London Fletcher. This Redskins defense was awful last season, so it seems logical Fletcher's arrival from Buffalo has helped turned things around so far. He had six tackles and stayed in Donovan McNabb's face most of the night.

Until you stand next to Fletcher, it's hard to have an appreciation for how truly small he is. He's listed as 5-10, 245 pounds, but looks smaller than that. Starting defensive end Andre Carter said that Fletcher's "motivatonal words" made a huge difference in the huddle.

"He's inspiring us all the time," Carter said. "He pretty much refuses to let us get down. His level of communication is amazing."

Fletcher, now in his 10th season, made several TV cameras wait because he wanted to show off his new gray suit.

"We spent the offseason working on playing great on third down and in the red zone," he said. "We emphasized that in all our OTAs."

The Eagles were 4-of-16 on third down and failed to score a touchdown in four trips in the red zone...

• I visited with quarterback Jason Campbell for so long that he almost missed the team bus. A good sign for Redskins fans is that Campbell was much more concerned about the plays he didn't make, including missing Santana Moss on a deep ball in the fourth quarter

"I have no clue how I missed him," he said. "I can't get that out of my head."

Campbell said he thought the most important drive of the game was at the end of the first half. The Redskins took over at their 27-yard line with 1:42 left and drove for a touchdown.

"In my mind, that was winning time," Campbell said.

He's still capable of making poor decisions, such as the interception early in the second quarter where he locked in on receiver Antwaan Randle El. But he's doing a lot better job managing the game. He admitted to me that a huge part of the game plan was going after cornerback William James, who was starting in place of the injured Lito Sheppard.

• Eagles head coach Andy Reid said he called a timeout with 14 seconds left in the first half because he thought the Eagles only had 10 players on the field. The timeout gave Redskins coach Joe Gibbs time to re-think his decision, and Jason Campbell found Chris Cooley for a 16-yard touchdown.

The touchdown came after the Redskins had three consecutive penalties after reaching the Eagles' 1-yard line.

• Surreal locker room moment of the night: After I asked Redskins defensive end Demetric Evans a few questions, he stopped me and said, "Hey man, how do you think I looked?"

I was so stunned by the question that I ended up responding, "You looked great to me," which makes me feel a little weird now that I see it in print.

• Why did the Redskins have so much success stopping the Eagles on third down? According to several players, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams kept mixing up the defense. He called a lot of zones, which helped the defense account for running back Brian Westbrook. Fletcher said that Williams used to send him on the blitz all the time in Buffalo, so it makes sense that he was turned loose Monday.

No one for the Redskins came right out and said it, but they hinted that the Eagles were easier to stop because they weren't so fearful of McNabb making plays with his legs.

• In case you missed it, Brian Westbrook's younger brother, Byron, is on the Redskins' practice squad. He usually plays defensive back, but this week, he played the role of his big brother on scout team. I totally meant to ask Fletcher about that, but forgot.

Brian made some interesting comments after the game. He questioned his teammates' sense of urgency, as well as his own.

"I think today when we went out, we just didn't have that sense of urgency. We try to get the guys pumped up and things like that, but we didn't really have that sense of urgency from the beginning."

• Special shoutout to one of our favorite bloggers Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog. He worked the parking lot before the game and then managed to crank out a Donovan McNabb sidebar.

Jason Campbell stared down Antwaan Randle El all the way before that interception. Eagles cornerback William James baited Campbell into the horrible throw.

One of the biggest disappointments for the Eagles last season was the play - or lack thereof - of rookie defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley. After missing the first two weeks of training camp, he showed up with a poor attitude and questionable work habits. He finished the season with an embarrassing nine tackles and no sacks.

This offseason, Bunkley began acting like an adult. He dropped 10 pounds, and he worked hard on improving his technique. At Florida State, Bunkley was simply bigger than most players. The Eagles believe Bunkley's improvement, along with added depth on the line, will go a long way in addressing what had become a porous rushing defense.

The Redskins have run the pretty well early, but Bunkley is getting some shots in on Jason Campbell in the passing game. ... Eagles fans just let out a huge mock cheer when Reno Mahe was able to field the punt a few minutes ago.

J.R. Reed's muffed punt last week set up Green Bay's winning field goal. Mahe, whose  number is in my cellphone for no apparent reason, was released before the Packers game and then re-signed. In the offseason, he used to serve as a host a Chickie's and Pete's Bar in South Philly.

Look for Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell to go after cornerback William James, who is filling in for the injured Lito Sheppard. Right now, he's giving Santana Moss a lot of cushion in the flat.

James, a former Giant, is a pretty physical player, but so far, he's not attempting to jam Moss at all. Former Texas Tech player Joselio Hanson is replacing James as the nickel corner.

"Joselio's a little guy, but he's unbelievably competitive," said secondary coach Trent Walters.

You might think the personnel changes would prevent the Eagles from blitzing so much, but it's not Jim Johnson's style to back off.

Thanks to Hashmarks senior correspondent Ed Werder, we had a chance to visit with several members of the Redskins organization this week.

Head coach Joe Gibbs didn't like the way his offense functioned last year, so he and offensive coordinator Al Saunders holed up to reconfigure a few things. Yes, this is the same Saunders who once produced a 700-page playbook that was a surprisingly breezy read. The main point of emphasis is to take pressure off young quarterback Jason Campbell by feeding the ball to running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts.

"We had the bad start and then we discussed what we wanted the offense to be," Gibbs said. "Al makes all the offensive calls."

I don't want to read too much into an interview I didn't conduct , but when a head coach has to remind folks that his offensive coordinator is still making the calls, it's probably not a great sign.

Gibbs (left) also discussed the Eagles' blitz-happy defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, saying he expected him to come after Campbell every chance he has. A member of the Eagles organization told me last week that Johnson has installed 12 blitz packages in tonight's gameplan. If you're scoring at home, that's about seven more packages than the average defense.

 "You have to expect they're coming after you, so you're thinking you're going to blitz. They do such a great job of recognizing your sets, they audible a lot on defense and if they catch you in a set they like to blitz, that's what they're going to do. They're not willy-nilly with it. It's tough for any quarterback to play against what they do. I mean you watch the tape and they knocked Favre around pretty good, so the quarterback has to play great."

 

One of my favorite things about coaches over the age of 60 is their use of the word "willy-nilly" to describe things that are out of control. At some point this evening, this blog will become willy-nilly.

Gibbs also had some nice things to say about his running backs.

They're best of friends, and Clinton is a guy who is very unselfish. He goes all-out on every play. I've never had a player that plays harder without the ball in his hands. I mean, he blocks, runs routes and he takes on tacklers, so he wears himself out. Clinton will actually tap out. They are a great combination and Clinton definitely doesn't mind putting aside his ego as long as we're winning and, honestly, they generally decide themselves who is in there."

One of the main reasons the Eagles parted ways with veteran middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was their belief that second-year player Omar Gaither was ready for a larger role.

One might think Gaither would've been excited about the decision, but in fact, he may have been as upset as anyone on the team. Certainly more than quarterback Donovan McNabb, who used the moment to land some melodramatic jabs over something completely unrelated to Trotter's release, the drafting of Kevin Kolb.

Gaither idolized Trotter. He used to stay after practice to watch film of him, and hung on his every word. Trotter, though, handled his release in such a professional manner that it made the transition easier on everyone.

"When it happened, he was the first one consoling me," Gaither told me Friday. "He didn't have to do that. If he'd been upset, I'm sure some guys may have resented me. But that's just not his style."

Gaither called Trotter several times before he caught on with Tampa Bay. And when Trotter signed with the Bucs, he gave Gaither a call to share the moment with him. It's natural that everyone will compare Gaither to Trotter, but it's not necessarily accurate. Trotter was an inside linebacker trapped in a defensive end's body. He used his size to create havoc on blitzes straight over the center.

Centers always had their heads on a swivel because Trotter wasn't the type of player who went around people. At 6-1, 235, Gaither's much smaller than Trotter. He also has more speed, which the Eagles were craving. The NFC East is loaded at tight end with Jeremy Shockey, Jason Witten and Chris "Captain Chaos Cooley. Gaither and linebacker Chris Gocong have the speed to at least compete with those players in space.

A Charlotte, N.C. native, Gaither grew up watching Panthers linebackers Lamar Lathon and Sam Mills. He said watching Mills convinced him that you don't have to be a huge linebacker to have success.

Off the field, Gaither leads a pretty simple life. He does, however, have a passion for Papa John's pizza that borders on obsession. He said he averages at least four or five Papa John's pizzas per week. When he's in the mood for something special, he goes with the spinach and chicken. Otherwise, he's fine with sausage and pepperoni. He usually finishes off a large thick crust followed by a medium thin.

"I can usually kill that large pretty quickly," Gaither said.

He said it will be more important than ever to pressure the quarterback tonight since Jason Campbell is relatively inexperienced.

Unbelievable final play of regulation in Landover. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor attempted to bat down Jason Campbell's Hail Mary, but the ball ended up in the hands of Antwaan Randle El, who fought his way toward the goal line. Taylor ended up making the tackle at the 2-yard line.

The Redskins couldn't capitalize on a Dolphins fumble near midfield. Quarterback Jason Campbell has had his moment today, but he just missed a wide-open Santana Moss for a 20-yard gain.

And he missed him badly. The play before, Campbell should've felt the rush coming from the backside before he was sacked by Jason Campbell.

Meanwhile, Trent Green is checking down almost every pass, and he's even missing on those. One thing is obvious already: Jesse Chatman is going to play a huge role in this offense. Perhaps larger than Ronnie Brown.

Out of nowhere, my mother-in-law just entered the media room to serve me brunch. This is an odd way to begin the regular-season, but I'll take it.

End of the first quarter at Fed Ex and it's still scoreless. Jason Campbell has the Redskins on the move, though. Someone with Sunday Ticket on DirecTV help me out. I've purchased the package, but the channels aren't showing up. This is starting to worry me.

OK, we'll stay with this Redskins-Dolphins drive. Shovel pass to Ladell Betts for a big gain. Redskins have second-and-goal at the 5-yard line. Portis enters the game in goal-line offense.

On third down, Zach Thomas comes clean and sacks Jason Campbell. And it looks like Redskins veteran offensive tackle Jon Jansen is in bad shape. Thomas may have rolled into the back of his leg. He's being carted off the field. Just saw a replay. Jansen never had a chance to avoid it.

Ravens perspective:

• It was a rough night for the Ravens' alleged quick-strike offense. And Willis McGahee still hasn't done anything impressive during the preseason. He had four carries for 12 yards and then took a seat.

On a positive note, second-year cornerback David Pittman looked pretty solid filling in for injured starter Samari Rolle. He got burned by Santana Moss on a fly route, but bounced back to make several nice plays when the Redskins kept picking on him. It's sad that the most memorable hit of the evening came against poor Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham, an avid Hashmarks reader.

• In a surprising move, Brian Billick said the Ravens' offense may "go on one" the rest of the season because of repeated false start penalties. Ravens fans have to be holding their collective breath with the inexperienced Jared Gaither protecting Steve McNair's blindside right now.

Redskins perspective:

• If you need further proof how insignificant these games are, Roger Goodell pulled the plug on this with 11:38 left in the third quarter due to poor weather. Neither team did anything particularly impressive, but Redskins fans have to be concerned that their first-team defense has yet to make an interception or a fumble recovery after recording a paltry 12 takeaways last season.

• Our old pal and Washington Post Redskins beat writer also reports that quarterback Jason Campbell (knee) is ready to report for work tomorrow. He had a tough time sitting out last night's game because McNair has been one of his mentors. Campbell went through pre-game warmups and could possibly play in the Redskins' final preseason game Thursday.

• I'm taking a quick (three-hour) dinner break and will return with more later. I've got news on the Cowboys' kicking situation and the prestigious (for Texans fans) Governor's Cup. Much, much more to come.

1. New England- I keep hearing good things about this team. Sure, that secondary could be a little suspect without Asante Samuel, but the Patriots always find a way to patch things together back there. And Tom Brady has too many weapons for this team to not reach the Super Bowl.

2. San Diego- There are some subtle moves the Chargers have made to make tight end Antonio Gates even more of a weapon. The rookie Scott Chandler will help in that regard. You can poke holes in most rosters if you try hard enough, but I have a hard time doing that with the Chargers.

3. Indianapolis- I kept telling myself that all those defensive losses weren't going to hurt even though linebacker Cato June is one of the most underrated players in the league. Then they lose defensive tackle Booger McFarland, and I had to bump them down a spot.

4. Chicago- Still the best defense in the NFC by far, although I really like what the Eagles have done to shore up their run defense. If Rex Grossman can simply be adequate, this defense will win a lot of games.

5. Denver- Some will say that I gave into an angry Broncos fandom, but they'll only be half right. The truth is I realized my concern about Jay Cutler was a little over the top. The Broncos have way too many weapons on both sides of the ball not to be in my Top 10.

6. New Orleans- Reggie Bush will be much more of a consistent threat in the running game this season, and I think the Saints have improved their receiving corps. I also think defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs does a great job working with that defense, and he knows how to get those no-name linebackers to perform.

7. Baltimore- Yes, Adalius Thomas was a solid player, but I really like this Jarret Johnson kid. He was a two-time captain at Alabama, something that rarely happens. Overall, I still think the Ravens are the best defense in football. Throw in the addition of Willis McGahee on offense, and there's no reason this team can't challenge for AFC supremacy.

8. Philadelphia- I believe in the whole change-of-scenery thing, and Takeo Spikes appears to be a new man under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Andy Reid is known for being patient with young players, and I think that will pay off this season when former third-round draft choice Chris Gocong steps into the starting lineup. Of course, all of this hinges on Donovan McNabb's health.

9. Pittsburgh- Bill Cowher had a great run, but I think the change at the top will be good for this team. Look for running back Willie Parker to put up huge numbers this season, which will take some of the pressure off Ben Roethlisberger.

10. Seattle- I'm just not ready to write this team off, although I concede that running back Shaun Alexander does seem to be slowing down quite a bit. The Seahawks enter the season feeling much better about their secondary, and new special teams coach Bruce DeHaven will do an excellent job.

11. New York Jets- I may have been a little too high on the Jets, but I think Chad Pennington is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league and that Thomas Jones will be a really nice addition. Still can't believe the relatively huge payday they gave defensive end Kenyon Coleman, though.

12. Dallas- It should come as no shock that I think Tony Romo is going to live up to all the hype. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and assistant head coach/offensive line Tony Sparano are doing a great job getting Terrell Owens more involved. He was dominant at times during training camp, and the Cowboys need him to be that type of player. I also think new head coach Wade Phillips will have a dramatic impact on linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Roy Williams.

13. Carolina- Am I the only one who thinks Jake Delhomme might still have something? Steve Smith is one of the most explosive players in the game, and I think Dwayne Jarrett will complement him really well.

14. Cincinnati- It has been a rough offseason for the Bengals, but there's still plenty of talent on this roster. I think Carson Palmer is poised to have a season like he had two years ago. Rookie Leon Hall will help this team immediately in the secondary, but it's not like the Bengals made wholesale changes from a team that was pretty average last season.

15. San Francisco- I had to talk myself out of putting the 49ers a few spots higher. I think rookie Joe Staley is going to be a solid offensive tackle in this league for a long time and rookie linebacker Patrick Willis has tremendous upside. Running back Frank Gore has become an elite back, but I still think the Seahawks will be able to hold off the 'Niners for one more season.

16. Tennessee- I've talked about this team's nondescript group of running backs and receivers, but quarterback Vince Young's the type of player who can still find a way to win. Former Colts cornerback Nick Harper will help, but he's not Pacman Jones. It will also be interesting to see who fills in for Jones in the return game. He made a huge impact there last season.

17. St. Louis- I'm struggling to get a solid feel for this team. Still capable of putting up huge numbers on offense, but that defensive line doesn't do much for me. Just not enough experience for my taste.

18. Detroit- Not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon. Yes, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson could end up being one of the best tandems in the league, but the defense still has to stop someone. Roy Williams thinks this offense could average 40 points per game, and the Lions may need that type of production to make the playoffs. I do think Rod Marinelli has brought a new attitude to that team, and I like how the Lions played for him when they were out of contention last season.

19. New York Giants- The more I think about it, this team might be better off without Michael Strahan this season. I know that Mathias Kiwanuka has moved from defensive end to linebacker, but he could move back. I also like Justin Tuck. Of course, the biggest thing will be finding out if Eli Manning is ready to play with some consistency and confidence. It bothers me that the club had to talk to him about having better body language on the field. That's not a great sign.

20. Jacksonville- What's that saying about having three quarterbacks? Means you don't have any. Byron Leftwich has never been embraced in this town, and he doesn't have any great targets at receiver. I do like the Jags situation at running back a lot.

21. Buffalo- Starting to come around on this team a little bit. From what I can tell, the Bills may end up with a really talented offensive line, something that hasn't been the case for years. And I think J.P. Losman is showing signs of taking the next step.

22. Miami- Cam Cameron is doing a nice job of winning his team over after the club made a questionable first-round draft choice with receiver Ted Ginn Jr. The Dolphins still have a solid defense, so the offense doesn't have to do all that much for the team to stay in games.

23. Washington- Some of us have been a little too hard on this team. I think Jason Campbell has the chance to do some nice things, and you have to like their situation at running back. I also think Sean Taylor and LaRon Landry have an opportunity to be the best safety tandem in the league soon. Taylor has been destroying people in training camp, so the Redskins are ready to see some opponents.

24. Atlanta- You have to feel bad for the situation that Bobby Petrino has walked into. He felf like he was going to finally get some consistency out of Michael Vick, and he ends up with Joey Harrington. I just don't see any way this team makes a run at the playoffs.

25. Kansas City- This team's stock keeps falling. The Chiefs just lost their starting left tackle, and still no sign of running back Larry Johnson. I think he'll end up playing, but if Herm Edwards is really going to start Brodie Croyle he deserves what's coming to him. I just don't think this kid is ready to be a starter in the league, and for some reason, the Chiefs are forcing him to be.  

26. Green Bay- I think the Packers could be relatively solid on defense, but a soon-to-be 38-year-old Brett Favre will be surrounded by a rookie running back and a questionable group of receivers. I'd love to see him go out with a bang, but I don't think Ted Thompson has put him in position to do that.

27. Tampa Bay- I've read where a couple of people think the Bucs could be a sleeper. I don't see it. Maybe it's because they're schedule doesn't look too bad, but this team just doesn't have much at receiver beyond the aging Joey Galloway, and its offensive line will continue to be suspect. It scares me to think of Jeff Garcia running around back there behind that line.

28. Houston- I'm trying to be a lot nicer to Texans fans these days because they deserve better. Matt Schaub will be a serious upgrade at quarterback, but I still don't like that offensive line very much. And do we seriously think that Ahman Green is the answer at running back?

29. Arizona- I think the Cardinals are finally heading in the right direction, but haven't we said that in the past? New head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm are certainly a breath of fresh air, but as long as the Bidwills are running the show, I'll always have my doubts. Look for Al Johnson to have a strong season anchoring that offensive line.

30. Minnesota- Two words: Tarvaris Jackson. OK, that's not totally fair. I think the Vikings could have a solid running game if Adrian Peterson can stay healthy.

31. Cleveland- We spent so much time praising the Browns for their draft-day moves, but some of that good will was cast aside during Brady Quinn's holdout. I'm hard-pressed to find more than six wins on the Browns' schedule, so it's probably curtains for Romeo Crennel.

32. Oakland- The Raiders have too good of a defense to remain down for much longer, but that offense is going to struggle mightily. I keep reading that this will be a much better offensive line, but I need to see it with my own eyes. Tough, tough year with a rookie quarterback. But look for them to make a nice move in 2008.

• In an interview with the Daily News over the weekend, Jets guard Pete Kendall once again expressed anger over his contract situation and accused the club of launching a smear campaign against him.

He also addressed recent speculation that he was the one who turned in head coach Eric Mangini for violating league rules on offseason conduct.

Asked if he tipped off the NFL Players' Association, Kendall, the club's union rep, said, "I'm not going to confirm or deny any of that. I guess in the court of public opinion I've been tried, but I'm not going to offer a defense or accept guilt."

In other words, Kendall sang like a bird.

Apparently Kendall is viewed by some within the organization as a clubhouse lawyer, something coaches can't stand. I seem to recall Bill Parcells dumping deep snapper Jeff Robinson for that very reason, although it was billed as a money-saving move.

And if you're Kendall, it's probably never a good idea to rat out a guy who's been on The Sopranos.

• Falcons first-round draft choice Jamaal Anderson has been impressive, but still has lots of room for growth. And the rest of the defensive line's looking a little thin.

• Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti doesn't see any reason to sit around waiting for Tank Johnson's blood alcohol test results. He thinks it's time for the Bears to cut ties with Johnson, whose NFL Man of the Year campaign has hit a snag.

If it turns out Johnson was over the legal limit (0.8), he should be banned for two seasons. With his history, even if he passes the test, he should still be sidelined for the entire 2007 season for putting himself in this situation.

After suspending Pacman Jones for a full season, Commissioner Goodell showed mercy on Johnson by only sitting him down for half a season. Most of us applauded Goodell for his player conduct crackdown, but he can't be happy with the early results.

• I somehow missed quarterback Jon Kitna's prediction in March that the Lions would win 10 games this season. But now that he's thrown the ball to Calvin Johnson, he's grown even more optimistic.

"See, that was 10 games before I saw the schedule, too," the quarterback told WDFN-AM (1130) this week. "I'll keep to myself what I think we actually will win. But it's more than 10 games."

• Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell claims to be "Mediterranean" in this revealing video.

• The Saints held a jazz funeral for their 2006 season, complete with a black and gold casket and six-piece blues band.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, the 2006 season is no longer with us. Your eyes are on a higher calling -- the prize is the Lombardi Trophy," said a local pastor during the service."

I encourage you to start your day with this prayer.

• The Kansas City Star knows how to milk a Larry Johnson exclusive. After two Q&As last week, Jason Whitlock wrote a column about the disgruntled running back in Sunday's paper. The moral of the story: L.J.'s not playing for $1.7 million this season.

• Quarterback Brady Quinn isn't the only Browns first-rounder who might hold out.

• A powerful Minnesota legislator throws weight behind new Vikings stadium. And you have to love this retractable roof scam the owner's attempting to pull.