The Arizona Cardinals defense will be stung hard by the season-ending loss of safety Adrian Wilson.

He is to the Cardinals defense what Bob Sanders is to the Colts defense, a playmaking safety who can hit.

It was clear last week when watching the San Francisco 49ers run through the Cardinals that they are a different defense without Wilson. He is lost for the year with a heel and Achilles tendon injuries.

Wilson, who went to his first Pro Bowl last season, was finally getting some long overdue attention this year. Now he's gone for the rest of the season, which might mean Kurt Warner will need to throw for 400 yards every game.

The Cardinals also lost starting corner Eric Green for the year. He wasn't a great player, but anytime you lose a starter, it hurts.

Quick hits

• I love all the fuss being made about the so-called bounties in the NFL. Players have been putting together reward caches for years. They let fine money and other things build up and then give it out for big hits and other big plays. "What team doesn't do it?" said one NFC player. The Packers were told by the league to stop it and now we get word that the Patriots have been doing something similar. Really? They all do it. They're not called bounties. It's called rewards.

• The Jaguars lost two tight ends this week when George Wrighster and Greg Estandia were put down for the year with injuries. Both were placed on IR, Wrighster with a torn ACL and Estandia with a bad shoulder. This might not be such a bad thing for the Jaguars. They've used a lot of double-tight formations and even three tights a lot of the season. This might help continue to open things up for David Garrard in the passing game. It's also time for Marcedes Lewis to show he was worth a first-round pick. Lewis, who has played well lately, needs to show he can be a pass-catcher in the Tony Gonzalez mold.

• The more and more Colts receiver Marvin Harrison misses time and games, the more and more we have to wonder injured his knee really is. Harrison is likely going to miss Sunday's game with the Jaguars, the sixth game he's missed this year. The team has said in the past if some of those games he missed were playoff games, Harrison would have played. Would he really have? We have to wonder.

• The Falcons are doing the wise thing by talking contract with linebacker Michael Boley and his agent. Boley becomes a restricted free agent after the season. He has developed into a playmaker on defense, one of the few bright spots for a disappointing team.

• The Cowboys did defeat the Packers Thursday night, but that pass defense has to be a concern as they move toward December. I know corners Terence Newman and Anthony Henry have been hurting, but there were a lot of open receivers for the Packers.

I didn't know Sean Taylor. Most in the media didn't.

He was distant, aloof and shied away from interviews. The word some used to describe him was distrustful.

But I did admire Taylor. I admired the way he played the game both in college and with the Washington Redskins. He played with a passion, his range and athletic ability making him a terrific NFL safety.

I remember watching him play at the University of Miami and thinking then that he reminded me of a player I watched closely in college. That player was Don Rogers, the former UCLA great who had a terrific rookie season with the Cleveland Browns.

Little did I know then that both would have their lives cut short far too early. Rogers died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 23. Taylor died Tuesday morning the result of a gunshot wound following an alleged home invasion.

Two great players, two great tragedies.

It was later found that Rogers used cocaine. He did so eight days after the overdose of Len Bias. How sad?

Taylor had his share of troubles, too. In 2005, he was accused of bringing out a gun during a fight and was given 18 months probation. He also skipped a rookie symposium and was fined $25,000 by the league since it was mandatory.

But word recently was that he had changed. The birth of his daughter had softened him. Teammates noticed the change.

He was at home in South Florida when the home invasion occurred. Taylor reportedly heard sounds as a he slept, grabbed a machete and was ready for a confrontation. In the end, he took a bullet and it severed an artery.

Less than 24 hours later he was gone, another sad story of an athlete cut down in his prime. For me, it was a reminder of what happened in 1986 when Don Rogers died.

There is now a book out about Rogers. The title? One Moment Changes Everything: The All-American Tragedy of Don Rogers.

Now we have a sequel.

One Moment Changes Everything: The All-American Tragedy of Sean Taylor.

Sad, so, so sad.

Let the piling on Eli Manning begin.

He's an easy target. And he does deserve plenty of ripping for his horrid play in the New York Giants' 41-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. There's no way to sugarcoat the fact that he stunk it up in throwing four picks, three returned for touchdowns.

But don't rush to judgment and say Manning can't play. That's what the New York media wants to do. That's what some national writers want to do.

Look at the facts. Counting this season, he has thrown 63 touchdowns passes in his past 42 starts. You can't do that if you aren't any good. He has thrown 46 interceptions, which isn't good, and some of that is because he tends to get jumpy in the pocket because his offensive line struggles.

The Giants' tackles aren't very good. That's a recipe for pass rushers in your face and Manning simply will not take the sack.

He throws it instead. He has to learn to take the sack.

But let's not bury the kid. He's completing 60.4 percent of his passes this season, which is a career high. A week ago against the Lions, he was 23 of 34 for 283 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had a passer rating of 100.7 and the media was singing his praises.

One game, one horrible game, shouldn't change the way people think about him. There are those questioning whether he's the long-term answer. Hey, has anybody looked around the league lately to see the list of guys playing?

Of course he's the long-term answer.

But he does play in New York. And his name is Manning, which means more scrutiny than most.

Reid made the right call

I want to give big props to Eagles coach Andy Reid. Most coaches would have gone into New England with the idea they would try and play ball-control football to keep the ball out of the hands of Tom Brady.

Not Reid.

He decided he was going to attack and try and outscore the Patriots. Great move. It's the only way to beat a team like that.

Here's why: The Patriots will get theirs. So you might as well get yours.

Ball control won't work. Plus if you spread out the Patriots defense it will help expose the age in key spots. Those linebackers get a ton of attention, but they aren't great in pass coverage. Safety Rodney Harrison is a big hitter, but he isn't great in coverage.

So Reid did the only thing you can do. Hit them back the way they hit you.

Play to win, rather than not to lose.

That's the formula all teams need in playing the Patriots the rest of the way. Let it go.

Message for McCarthy: Keep Woodson off returns

I think Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy is the NFL Coach of the Year. He has done an amazing job getting his team to 10-1.

Having said that, I don't agree with using Charles Woodson on punt returns. Woodson, who is the best corner in the league this year, injured a toe in the Thanksgiving Day victory over the Lions while returning a punt.

Woodson might not play in Thursday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, which would be a huge blow. The Packers haven't revealed much about Woodson's injury, but a team source said it was doubtful he would play.

If he misses the game, McCarthy will take the heat for playing him as the return man. My criticism of using key defensive players on returns isn't just aimed at McCarthy. It's all the coaches who do it.

Deion Sanders was an amazing return man, but his value was far greater as a corner. I wouldn't have used him on returns either.

Here's hoping Woodson plays against Dallas. The Packers need him -- as a cover guy.

Quick hits

• I love the way Maurice Jones-Drew runs the football for the Jaguars. He runs hard. But by spotting him in and out of the lineup, the team never allows Fred Taylor to get into a groove. Taylor had 60 yards in the first quarter Sunday against the Bills, but finished with 104 in large part because he carried only 14 times. He needs more carries. I asked Taylor about not being allowed to get into a groove after the Jaguars beat the Chargers a week ago. His reply? "No comment on that," he said. Message taken. Give him the damn ball. Taylor is averaging 4.5 per rush, which is better than the five AFC backs ahead of him in the rushing leaders.

• Pencil in the All-Pro corners now, and surprisingly one of them isn't Champ Bailey. One would be Woodson and the other would be New England's Asante Samuel. He had two picks against the Eagles on Sunday night, one for a touchdown, and he's really playing at an elite level. It came at the right time, too. Samuel is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Cha-ching.

• You can't help but be impressed with Redskins veteran receiver Keenan McCardell. After being signed in October, he has become a factor for the Redskins. He had six catches against Tampa Bay on Sunday. At 37, McCardell is still one of the best route runners in the game. He knows how to get open. McCardell is eighth on the all-time receiving list with 880 catches. He is 60 catches behind Art Monk. McCardell told me once he plans to play until he catches 1,000 passes. Should we doubt him?

The Jacksonville Jaguars won a game Sunday, but losing middle linebacker Mike Peterson for at least five weeks with a broken hand is a damning blow.

Peterson is the spiritual leader of their defense and was playing at a Pro Bowl level before the injury.

Without Peterson, the team will likely move third-year player Daryl Smith into the middle and insert rookie Justin Durant on the weak side. Smith played the middle last year when Peterson was lost with a torn pectoral muscle.

Smith is capable, but the ability to lead the young defense will be missed with Peterson gone. He gave a fiery speech last Saturday night to the entire team before the Jaguars beat Tennessee.

His loss will be a tough one to take. Peterson was taking his injury hard and did not meet with the media after the game, which is something considering he's one of the most approachable players in the league.

Please explain ...

There were some strange coaching decisions Sunday.

Let's start with Tony Dungy in Indianapolis. Why did he eschew a field goal on fourth-and-inches with the game tied from the Kansas City 2 late in the game? He got the first down, but what happens if he doesn't?

That move made no sense. Then he didn't have the Colts try to score a touchdown, instead opting to take a knee three times before kicking a field goal. Did Dungy lose faith in his defense all of sudden? The Colts only gave up 10 points.

Another questionable move came late in the Rams-49ers game. Trailing 13-6 and facing a fourth-and-10 at the Rams 28 with 1:55 left, coach Mike Nolan opted to kick a field goal and try an onside kick. Why not go for it? You still needed a touchdown anyway.

The 49ers did the get the ball back deep in their own end late and ended up throwing a pass into the end zone on the final play for a chance to win, but the strategy made no sense to me.

The last coach to be singled out for bonehead moves is the Jets' Eric Mangini. With the score tied at 10 and his team facing a fourth-and-2 from the Steelers 31, Mangini decided to go for it. He should have kicked the field goal there, but got away with it when there was a false start. He then went for it on fourth-and-7 from the 36. Why not kick a field goal?

He did again a short while later. With his team down 16-13 with just over four minutes left in the game and facing a fourth-and-4 at the Jets 41, Mangini opted to go for it again.

Why not punt?

When will situational coaching improve in this league?

I've been calling for the Miami Dolphins to play John Beck since training camp.

Now they're throwing him in on the road in front of those nasty Philadelphia Eagles fans?

That makes no sense. Beck should have been playing since Week One, but coach Cam Cameron convinced himself that Trent Green wasn't a broken-down quarterback who could help the team get to the playoffs.

Of course we knew better -- and now know better.

But when Green got hurt, why did the Dolphins turn to Cleo Lemon? Beck is the future and at 26, he needed the work as soon as possible.

"I think John has made tremendous progress the last month," Cameron said this week. "I think he would be the first to agree. Obviously, Cleo (Lemon) and I talked and when we haven't won a football game you make a change. John gives us a chance to win a football game. I believe that. This is about this year. I think he's earned the right to play. I think you know how I believe that. It's not about next year. It's about us doing everything we can to win this year."

He may say that, but this is about next year. The Dolphins passed on Brady Quinn because they liked Beck more. That's fine. But why he wasn't playing a month ago -- at least -- is just dumb.

When I watched Beck practice this summer during a camp visit, he was sharp. He knew where to go with the football and he had the arm to make all the throws. He will be a big-time NFL passer.

It's too bad he had to wait until his team was 0-9 to get into a game.

Ricky Williams is back with the Dolphins and he says he's playing again to get his life back in order.

"My motivation for coming back to the NFL?," Williams said repeating a question, "Can we start with an easier question? My motivation is to get my life going again. Not being in football and being out of football. I was in a situation that I was out of football, and it makes it difficult. I want to get my life going. I want to create a better life for myself and for my family. Being a football player, for me, is a big part of that."

The doubters out there will say Williams is coming back from his league-imposed drug suspension for the money -- rather than the love of the game. Williams has never been a guy who was perceived as loving football. He didn't like that assumption when it was brought up Thursday.

"First I would question or challenge the fact that I haven't been excited to be a football player," he said. "I think anyone who puts film of me on, they see that I'm very passionate about what I do. On top of that I'll say my time away, and having a chance to reflect on my life, I guess, I'm in a place now where it's easier for me to appreciate what it means to be a football player. Because of that, I think that's a big reason why I'm here today."

I tend to think it's more about the money. But that's okay. Most of the players in the NFL play for the money anyway. Don't let talk of winning titles fool you. You can't spend them later in life.

Can we please stop the Vince Young love-fest?

The guy can't pass the football -- yet.

In a year or two he will be better at throwing the football. But after watching him play two of the past three weeks, he isn't nearly the player some portray him to be.

Does he have mad skills? You bet. But he's inaccurate throwing the football, which is why the Titans offense is pedestrian. Young has four touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

Ouch.

Yet the most-heard phrase in the league is this: Vince Young is a winner.

No, the defense wins in Tennessee.

Until Young learns to throw the ball better, the Titans won't be a serious Super Bowl contender.

That's not saying he can't do it. But as of right now, he isn't capable.

I'm not a big fan of the passer rating stat, but Young's is awful at 62.2. He isn't accurate down the field, either. When I saw him live two weeks ago, he didn't complete a pass to a receiver until the third quarter of his team's victory over the Oakland Raiders.

In the first half against Jacksonville Sunday he was 9 for 16 for 78 yards. He would finish with a career-high 257 yards, but he was picked off twice. Much of that yardage came after the Titans fell behind 21-3 as he tried to rally his team.

Young has to play better than that.

Can't pass on these two

They were there for the taking, but most teams passed on Randy Moss and Terrell Owens when they came available.

Dumb move.

Are they not the two best receivers in the league right now?

With Moss sitting out for the New England Patriots' bye week, Owens took center stage and dominated the Giants. Owens had six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys' 31-20 victory over the Giants.

For the year, Owens has 50 catches for 855 yards and eight touchdowns. He has a 17.1 per-catch average.

Moss has 56 catches for 924 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 16.5 per-catch average is slightly lower than Owens.

Both are having major impacts on the two best offenses in the NFL. And yet here they were the past couple of years there for all the other teams to get, but character issues stopped many teams from getting them.

That was stupidity. When you can get players who have the ability to stretch a defense, you get them. Then it's on the coach to make sure they fit in.

Are Moss and Owens acting up now? Didn't think so. All they're doing is catching passes and making defenses pay.

Arrest Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick. They stole those two receivers.

Quick hits

•  Last Monday, many were talking about the great game Adrian Peterson had against the Chargers -- and rightfully so since he set the single-game rushing record. That led some to say he should have been the first pick in the draft last year. This week we were reminded why backs should never be. Peterson suffered a torn ligament in his left knee after taking a hit against the Packers. It looked worse at the time, like possibly a torn ACL. As it turns out, it's only the patella tendon. He will likely miss a month. But what if it was the ACL? Could he come back and be the same back? That's the risk with runners. Quarterbacks with bad knees almost always come back. Runners don't always, although there are exceptions. Peterson is a great player. And I'm glad he's not hurt because I love watching him run. But the value in the draft is always at other positions, in part because of longevity issues.

•  Getting to 10,000 yards Sunday is a special feat for Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor. The amazing thing is Taylor has never played in a Pro Bowl, the only rusher over 10,000 yards who hasn't. I've known Taylor since he came into the league a wide-eyed kid. Now he's a full-fledged man and a class act. Two years ago, the Jaguars thought about ditching him. Now the coaches love him. He wears the "C" on his uniform for a reason. In the short history of the team, Taylor is Mr. Jaguar. He's been a heck of a player. And it isn't over.

•  Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett is playing like a man who wants to go to Hawaii. He had just three tackles against the Lions this week, but he was all over the field. He has 8 1/2 sacks, which is impressive. I had a feeling he would have a breakout season.

•  There's no sugarcoating it: Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri choked when he missed that 29-yard field goal against the Chargers Sunday night. Don't forget he also missed a field goal at the end of the half. What is it with him? He just isn't as confident a kicker as he was in New England.

•  Condolences to 49ers coach Mike Nolan on the passing of his father, Dick. It had to be a trying week for Nolan as a coach and a man. It had to be emotional to go through the week, especially being the son of an NFL coach who probably would tell him to coach on despite dealing with the death. Mike is a class guy. I'm sure his father was proud to see his son on the sideline, just like he once was.

The college football season is just about done. So it's time to unveil my top10 players for the 2008 NFL Draft.

As we move through the process, the top 10 will grow to be the top 32. I'll do one of those lists right before the end of the NFL season and another before the combine and one final one before the draft.

I can tell you this: Don't expect a ton of change in my top 10 from start to finish. I'm a big believer that the players are put there based on what they do on the field, not what they do at the combine.

1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. Jr.: This kid has a chance to be better than Adrian Peterson. Yes, I just wrote that.

2. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU, Sr.: Even on a bum leg he's a force. He will be a powerful inside player.

3. Chris Long, DE, Virginia. Sr.: I love this kid. He plays hard every play and is a one-man wrecking crew at times. He has a chance to be as good as his father, and that's saying something.

4. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville, Sr.: His team isn't very good, but he still is. I compare him to Jim Kelly.

5. DeSean Jackson, WR, California. Jr.: If you want a game-breaker, this is the guy. He can fly. He's not huge at 5-feet-11, 190 pounds, but he is a big-play threat.

6. Jake Long, T, Michigan Sr.: He would have been a top 10 pick if he had come out last year. He's the best lineman in a deep class.

7. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami, Jr.: In a league starved for pass rushers, this kid is huge (6-8) and has quickness off the corner.

8. Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky, Sr.: I wasn't convinced he could be an elite quarterback in the NFL before this season, but now I am. He's got a nice touch and he plays on an undermanned offense and still moves the ball.

9. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida, Jr.: Jarvis Moss was a first-round pick last year, and this kid is better. Teams craving pass rushers will jump on him early.

10. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College, Sr.: He's an accurate passer who has already shown he can get it done in a pro-style offense. He might move past Woodson before the process if done.

Others: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State, Jr.; Keith Rivers, LB, USC, Sr.; Brian Cushing, LB, USC, Jr.; Dan Connor, LB, Penn State, Sr.; Terrell Thomas, CB, USC, Jr.; Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State, Jr.; Ryan Clady, T, Boise State, Jr.; Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan, Jr.; Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri, Jr.; Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC, Sr.; Kenny Phillips, S, Miami, Jr.; Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia Jr.; Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, Jr.; Alex Boone, T, Ohio State, Jr.; Sam Baker, T, USC, Sr.; Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State, Jr.; Mike Hart, RB, Michigan, Sr.

Quick hits

• Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio did the right thing suspending Richard Collier and Justin Durant for two games after they were arrested for late-night incidents last Friday. Collier, a second-year backup tackle, probably wouldn't have played anyway. But Durant was scheduled to play a lot last week against the Saints' up-tempo offense. They both sat out that game and will sit out this week at Tennessee.

The interesting thing about their arrests early Saturday morning is that Del Rio had a long talk with his team last Friday about staying out of trouble and the importance of getting rest. A team source said Del Rio told his players he made mistakes as a young player and didn't always take care of things the way he should have. He told them not to make the same mistakes. He also told them this was a critical time for the team, being on a three-game road swing.

Running back Fred Taylor also talked to the team about keeping focused. So what happens? Less than 24 hours later, the two players were getting arrested for late-nigh incidents. That's just stupid. Del Rio treats his players like adults. But when you go out and do something as stupid as that, he had no choice but to suspend them.

• The Packers did a smart thing extending the contract of tight end Donald Lee. He is a nice pass-catching threat in the middle of the field. He's why they let David Martin go to Miami and sat Bubba Franks on the bench.

• With Tank Johnson now ready to play for the Cowboys, their defense will be even better. Johnson, who was suspended for the first eight games for violating the league's conduct policy, is a force when he's on the field. Johnson will give the Cowboys a good run player in the middle of their line.

What's been wrong with Larry Johnson?

That's the question many, especially Fantasy football players, have been asking this year.

Here's what's wrong with him and the rest of the offense: The Chiefs offensive line isn't very good.

In years past when Johnson and Priest Holmes were putting up huge numbers, the line was the best in the NFL. Now it's not even close to that.

The left side with guard Brian Waters and tackle Damion McIntosh is good. The other three spots are not. Casey Wiegmann can't get it done in the middle anymore and the right side is really a mess.

Right tackle Chris Terry, who took the job from Kyle Turley, really had problems Sunday in the Chiefs' 33-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs also have to use tight end Jason Dunn to help in pass protection, which limits what they can do down the field.

Maybe it was fitting that the Chiefs honored guard Will Shields, who retired this season, at halftime of the Packers game. It served to remind us what this team is missing.

In successive years, the Chiefs have had to deal with the retirements of Shields and tackle Willie Roaf. That's two great players.

Kansas City needs to find two premier linemen next offseason. The Chiefs can draft one and maybe sign one.

The way that line is playing, it won't matter who's carrying the ball. Johnson, by the way, suffered an ankle injury and might miss this week's game with Denver. If he does, Holmes will start.

Holmes, who missed two seasons with a hip injury, will find out what Johnson has known all year long.

The line isn't what it used to be.

Mighty Titan

For weeks, I've been writing about how well Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is playing.

He hasn't stopped playing at an ultra-high level.

There is no better defensive player in the league right now than Haynesworth. He had three sacks against the Carolina Panthers Sunday to give him five on the season. That's a big number for a guy who plays the run so well.

He's also making all the players around him better. Tony Brown, the tackle next to him, is playing at a high level as well since Haynesworth commands all the doubles.

In talking to Haynesworth last week, I got the impression he's grown up. He's not the same immature player who got in trouble at the University of Tennessee and then had some problems with the Titans.

His head-stomping of Andre Gurode last year seems to have helped make him a better man.

The skeptics will say it's because he's playing for a contract. He said it's because he's using better technique and he's matured.

Whatever it is, he's a beast on the field.

Quick hits

•  You know what's funny in our profession? It's how quickly some in the media forget how they blasted a guy when he turns back into a prime-time player. I'm talking, of course, about Randy Moss. Remember how he was ripped and seared last year? Bum. Some writers said he'd never get their Hall of Fame vote. Now a year later everybody is fawning over him. Moss has always been a special player. And I would have taken him on my team any day. He's the biggest deep threat in the game. There are a lot of teams out there who blew it by not trying to get him from the Raiders. The Jacksonville Jaguars, where his former coach Mike Tice is an assistant, were interested but owner Wayne Weaver said no in part because of Moss's baggage. The irony there is that the Jaguars have had more arrests this year than any team in the league. Weaver responded to the latest arrests of reserves Richard Collier and Justin Durant by releasing a statement Monday. In it, he said, "I am disgusted with the irresponsible behavior that some of our players have demonstrated. They are embarrassing themselves, our organization, and their peers. Anytime there is alcohol involved and being out in early morning hours shows a lack of respect for the code of conduct we expect from everyone in the Jaguars organization. These players will face significant discipline and that discipline will be more severe for repeat violators. Players are and will be subject to fines, loss of game checks and not playing in our games." Durant and Collier were both suspended two games by coach Jack Del Rio.

•  What is it with all these people questioning whether Eagles coach Andy Reid should resign? That's absurd. If your kids got in trouble with drugs, would you resign your job? Fans and the media sometimes forget that this is how men like Reid make their living. It's their job. It's foolish to think he should step away.

•  I love watching Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman play. The guy goes all out all the time. He had a sack against the Chiefs Sunday, giving him seven on the season. One other thing, he's a good quote.

•  How do you think the six teams that passed on Adrian Peterson feel now? The Arizona Cardinals should have taken him. But they were burdened by having Edgerrin James on the roster. James can still get it done, but for how long. Peterson could have teamed with Matt Leinart, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to form a heck of an offensive skill nucleus. Instead, James plods along. The Cardinals took tackle Levi Brown. He will be a good player, but he won't be as good as Peterson.

•  Why are the Miami Dolphins sticking with Cleo Lemon at quarterback? It makes no sense. The future is John Beck. Play the kid.

So how do you stop the Colts and Patriots offenses?

I enlisted the help of an AFC defensive coordinator for some advice and asked him a series of questions about those two offenses. He replied via e-mail.

Can you blitz them?

Coordinator: You can blitz Manning all you want, as long as your objective is to give up 40+ points. The key to both is to be able to generate pass rush from your front four without blitzing. Manning has had some problems vs. 3-4 teams (Pittsburgh, San Diego, Dallas) because they can "blitz" by bringing any of the linebackers or a safety while still only rushing 4 total (and not expose their secondary)

Can you play man against them or will they kill you?

Coordinator: Not a steady diet. Both will kill you. Even if you have a "shutdown" corner, both quarterbacks will find the open guy and wear him out (See Denver 2006 vs. Indy). They have too many weapons

Aside from the quarterbacks, what makes them so good?

Coordinator: They can beat you in a lot of different ways. Run the ball (even though New England is limited in that capacity right now because of injury), short passes (both quarterbacks can complete a high percentage of these), both are good screen teams, and both can go over the top with the deep ball. The quarterbacks have complete latitude to change plays at the line of scrimmage. If they see a weakness vs. the play that is called, they have the ability to get out of that play (no wasted plays) and then make you pay.

Why are their offensive lines, despite not having marquee players, so good?

Coordinator: Both have excellent coaches (Howard Mudd and Dante Scarnecchia). Both have a distinct philosophy of what they want to do, and they do a really good job of identifying and developing offensive linemen that fit that philosophy. A lot of their lineman wouldn't fit in other team's systems as well as they do with the Colts or New England. Both can plug guys in without a big drop in performance. Their players are multi-dimensional and can play various positions. This helps keep them injury-proof.

Are they among the best offenses ever?

Coordinator: At this point of the season, no doubt New England is. Over the last six years, there is no doubt that Indy is, even though their numbers aren't as gaudy this year.

• In his only comments about his pending four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud told me his failed test was based on a supplement given to him by a personal trainer.

Stroud was adamant that he did not take steroids or testosterone to improve his game or help him come back from the micro-fracture surgery he had on his ankle last year.

"It was something the guys I was working out with gave to me," Stroud said. "It was some GNC-type stuff. It is what it is. It's nothing I'm hiding from."

As for the steroids talk, Stroud shot that down in a big way.

"I've been doing this for seven years and I don't have to take any of that stuff to get ahead," Stroud said. "I have great God-given ability. It was something that was unfortunate. At the same time, rules are rules and I have to abide the rules. It's on me."

Stroud had the first sample tested last week and had a second sample tested Monday. The results of the second test will not come back until Friday at the earliest, which means he's likely going to be playing this week against the New Orleans Saints.

The league will usually wait until the following Tuesday to suspend a player because it doesn't want to influence the way a team has practiced in the week leading up to a game. So even if Stroud were to find out his "B" sample came back positive as well, he would likely play against the Saints.

"I'm definitely going to play this week," Stroud said.

As for the four-game suspension, he's prepared if he has to sit out.

"I'll take it on the chin and sit back and get ready for when I come back and come back like a madman," Stroud said.

The Jaguars did sign Grady Jackson to a contract this week, but that move was planned even before the Stroud news leaked out. Jackson filled a roster spot for the injured Tony McDaniel, who was placed on IR with a broken wrist.