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Faceoff: Bill must pay; Brady must play; T.O. or Moss; Chad or Andre

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CBS Sports.com pro football writers Pete Prisco and Clark Judge face off weekly throughout the season.


If the Patriots are guilty of spying, what should happen to Bill Belichick?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco It puts him in the Stupid Hall of Fame. It now brings into question everything he's accomplished -- if it's true. He would be the Barry Bonds of the NFL. All the praise he received for winning three Super Bowls would be tarnished like an old piece of silver. In terms of discipline, the league would have to act with authority. This is the integrity of the game we're talking about. That's the taboo area for the NFL. Belichick should face serious consequences, maybe even a suspension without pay. The team should lose draft picks and be fined. Owner Bob Kraft supposedly has Belichick on a short leash anyway. Word is the Kraft family, including Kraft's wife, aren't too enamored with the off-the-field stuff that has tainted Belichick's recent past -- see divorcee in New York -- and this could add to that. All teams spy on other teams to some degree. It's like speeding. Everyone does it. Just don't get caught. Belichick got caught. And now his reputation is tainted in a big way. Clark Judge What should happen? Well, that depends. If he knew this was going on -- and I can't see how he could not -- he should be fined and/or suspended. We all know he won't be suspended, but you're asking me what should occur. And I'm telling you when someone thinks he's above the law -- when someone starts tinkering with the integrity of the game -- he must be punished severely. Geez, did I say tinkering? These guys cheated, for crying out loud! If it's true, Belichick won't be hammered as hard as his club. The Patriots should lose a high draft pick -- or draft picks -- and be docked a substantial amount of money, say $500,000. Something, anything, to make sure others don’t try the same thing. Now, if I'm Robert Kraft, I'm mad as hell and I want to hear from my head coach. And if I discover he knew this was going on I make him pay a substantial part of the league fine. Kraft is one of the most liked and respected owners in the league, and I can only imagine the embarrassment and anger he must feel. Essentially, he's been told his employees don't play by the rules. Well, they will. Both he and the commissioner should make sure of it.
Should the Browns play Brady Quinn now or wait?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco Throw him in there. I hear too many stories about teams worried about the fragile state of young quarterbacks playing on bad teams. What if he struggles? What if he can't get it done? Will it ruin him in the future? I don't buy it. Peyton Manning played as a rookie, struggled some, and now look at him. All the quarterbacks I've spoken to over the years say there is nothing as valuable as playing time. You can't gauge the speed from the sidelines. Let Quinn learn on the job. He's a tough enough kid with the right mindset to go through the trials of playing quarterback as a rookie in the NFL. Clark Judge Only if he's ready, and considering his absence from camp, I can't imagine he would be. But they should start him as soon as he has the playbook down. Look, the Browns are going nowhere again, so they should get Quinn as much experience as possible. Presumably, he's their quarterback for the future, so make the future now. The only way he improves it to play -- but not if he's not prepared. I can't emphasize that enough. Sending him out there just because you want a change makes no sense and could retard his progress. So let Derek Anderson play and let Quinn sit, soaking up as much as he can until he's confident he knows the playbook. Then cut him loose. He benefits from the experience, and so do the Browns. Sooner or later, they must find out if he's their franchise quarterback. So make it sooner.
With their good starts, is it now OK to say you would take
Randy Moss and Terrell Owens on your roster?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco They'd be on my team. So what if they're troublesome at times. I would be confident in my own abilities that I could handle them. They're both worth the little aggravation they bring. We heard stories about how Moss has slowed down. It sure didn't look that way last Sunday when he had Tom Brady throwing him passes. Yes, Owens led the league in drops last year, but he played with a broken finger. That should mean something. Passing on guys with that kind of talent, players who can change a game with one play, is inexcusable for teams that lack playmakers. The Jacksonville Jaguars don't have any big-play receivers, yet they passed on both of them for character issues. That's foolishness. Give me Owens and Moss on my team all the time. I'll take my chances. Clark Judge No. Owens is an eruption waiting to happen. So he scored two touchdowns. Nothing new there. The guy plays hard and produces. His play is not -- and never has been -- the problem. His attitude has, and trust me, we'll be talking about a meltdown sometime this season. Owens is fine when everything is right. Wait until there's a losing streak or he's not getting the ball. Then you'll find why I don't want him on my team. He's divisive, turning players and coaches against each other and turning what used to be a football team into a circus act. No thanks. I'll cut Moss more slack, only because the issue with him is not so much what happens off the field as what happens on it. He has been hurt. He has seemed uninterested. He takes off plays. Maybe Bill Belichick straightens that out, I don't know. My problem with Moss has been durability. I'm just not sure he can last a season.
Which Johnson, Chad or Andre?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco Boy, that's a tough one. They're arguably two of the best in the league. They're also good friends, even though Chad loves to talk and Andre might be the quietest star in the game. It's really close, but right now I think I'd take Andre. He's bigger and stronger and has the same speed. He's been held back in his career by not having a real threat opposite him and by poor quarterback play. I call him the Unknown Superstar, and last Sunday he showed off his skills, catching a 77-yard touchdown pass. Chad can get it done, too. Just ask him. And I love his passion for the game. His antics are fun. They're both great players, but if I had to pick one right now, it would be Andre by a whisker. If I could have two receivers on my team, they might be 1 and 1A. Clark Judge It's a photo finish, but I'll lean toward Andre. He's younger. He's bigger. He's more physical. He's a better blocker. I don't know if he's faster, but the man can fly. Plus, he's not as flamboyant as Ocho Cinco -- and call me old school, but I like that. I don't want to go into games wondering if my wide receiver is more concerned about the opposing defense or style points. I just want him to produce touchdowns. Period. Look, you can't go wrong with either of these guys. Chad makes big plays and big catches, but he can be inconsistent. Andre is remarkably consistent, especially considering what he has had to work with in Houston. There was a time last year when he had six consecutive games with eight or more receptions -- and that's in the league's 27th-ranked pass offense. As I said this one is a close call, but I tilt toward Andre because the guy has more upside.
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