+ Matt Millen, resigned, fired, whatever, he's gone from the Lions. Performance-wise, I don't know when I've seen a fellow keep his job that long with that little to show. There is joy.
+ Donovan McNabb and the Eagles are looking real good. It's good to see his big arm let loose.
+ The Jets were... confused on Monday, and now:
You know the confusion is bad among the Jets when even the day after their Monday night thumping by San Diego, there was still confusion about exactly what the confusion was.
Clearing that up might be a nice starting point when the Jets drag themselves back to work this morning. Does Brett Favre really know the playbook after six weeks or doesn't he? Was that second first-half interception that San Diego plucked away to set up another Chargers touchdown Favre's fault, as Favre said it was, or was wideout Jerricho Cotchery right to insist he was to blame? If everyone was telling the truth afterward - they're all to blame - shouldn't the Jets be worried about, well . . . everyone after their 48-29 smackdown?
Why was the Jets' defense shredded so completely, too? Why was the secondary so badly out of position? Did Favre take such a beating because the Chargers' rushers knew the trailing Jets had to pass? Or was the Jets' rebuilt offensive line also struggling to read the pass rush in addition to not opening holes for running back Thomas Jones? Jones is fast becoming a tree-falling-in-the-forest question: Would Jones find the holes if the line made them?...
The Jets were badly discombobulated on both sides of the ball. Then they seemed powerless to stop it. Mangini harped yesterday about the Jets' four turnovers. But the Jets often seemed outfoxed, not just outplayed. The Jets haven't gotten better with more time together. They have gone from narrowly winning their season opener against Miami to missing a golden chance at home to beat a shellshocked New England that just lost Tom Brady to getting smacked in the mouth again and again Monday by the Chargers.
Some of that has to be coaching.
+ Favre injured his ankle but is still good to go this coming Sunday against Arizona.
+ Since Derek Anderson is sucking for the Browns... Brady Quinn might get a look. At least it'll bring the ladies back to the TV screen. Hell, with Tom Brady out, the NFL needs a new poster boy... and as a bonus, the new Brady loves to take pictures with his shirt off. Win win all around!
+ Plaxico Burress didn't show up for work on Monday or Tuesday... and is suspended for the game after the bye week.
+ The Steelers are starting Rashard Mendenhall (Willie Parker is out with an injury)! Hells yeah.
+ Lane Kiffin is... still a Raiders coach. Syracuse fans want to see him go to the 'Cuse and relieve Greg Robinson of his coaching duties. I mean they REALLY want the Kiffin. Keep an eye on the Has Lane Kiffin Been Fired Watch.
Trent Green will start in the place of benched Marc Bulger. The St. Louis columnists smell a scapegoat (I like the phrase "complete system failure"), and worry about concussion-prone Trent Green's cranium. The times are desperate and the seat is hot, Mr. Linehan.
+ The Chiefs are leaning toward starting Damon Huard. This week. Not even joking on that:
Edwards also said the Chiefs could go week-to-week on their starting quarterback from now until Brodie Croyle returns, which isn't likely to happen until Week 7...