MORT'S MAILBAG | Jan. 17, 2004

	Manning

Q: My take on Peyton Manning is that this playoff run started at last year's Pro Bowl. This is not the same quarterback that played last year. The kicker challenged his ability to motivate his teammates. This season the difference is very noticeable. Manning has become the best, true field-general quarterback currently in the NFL. I think this was all he needed -- that little extra push -- and it was from the kicker. The Indianapolis Colts are for real for many more seasons. It would be interesting to know if they realize this. - Tom (Memphis, TN)

MORT --Tom, there is no way Mike Vanderjagt's comments "motivated" Manning or his teammates. From the very day Manning stepped into this league, there was no more motivated or competitive player. He and Ray Lewis are on a different level than any player in the league, in that respect. Peyton Manning hasn't changed. Of course, he has gotten better. You get better when you play every year, every game, and prepare the way Manning prepares -- he's just now hitting his prime.

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Q: I was hoping you could help me out here: A few friends of mine believe that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is not a legitimate star in the NFL, and that there are at least 25 players that other GMs would pick over Brady if starting a new franchise. I don't think Brady gets the respect he deserves, especially considering all the great things he's accomplished at such a young age. Do you see Brady as a star in this league? If not, what else does he need to do to achieve that status? Thanks. - Sean (Washington, DC)

MORT -- I doubt there are 25 other players who would get the nod from general managers or coaches over Brady but please remember this: Football is the ultimate team game. Now, usually a quarterback is going to be the position that most NFL types would like to anchor as the so-called "franchise" player. Brady probably would be ranked in the top six or seven of quarterbacks. And by the way, I think he is a star. He gets plenty of publicity and he's on magazine covers, and nobody is ignorant to the fact he wins a lot of big games.

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Q: With of the hiring of Lovie Smith, there is just one head coaching position available (Oakland) and the most qualified assistant over the past three years is still on the outside looking in -- Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Am I missing something? Weis has taken an offense without an overly impressive running back or receiver, and an offensive line that is good, but definitely not great, and helped them win one Super Bowl and put them in position for another. Does he just interview poorly? Can it be true that he is overlooked because of the weight issue? Or, is it that he is cursed by his team's being in the playoffs so late in the season and teams do not want to wait for him? Or, is there a real reason that you hear around the league that I am missing? I normally believe the NFL rewards performance but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Keep up the great work! - Patrick (Tampa, FL)

MORT -- This is a great question (or questions) and a topic of discussion behind the scenes. Let me just say that by all accounts, Weis interviewed extremely well with the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills and there are indications that he was the runner-up in each case, although there is no prize for that. He may have even gotten one of those jobs had the teams been able to actually offer him a job.

I believe the best solution is that the NFL allow any playoff coach to be hired as a head coach, but with a freeze on all assistants' movement until after the Super Bowl.

However, the NFL only allows the bye-week coordinators to be interviewed and forbids an offer and, obviously, the hiring of any assistant coach whose team is still in the playoffs. This is a bad rule originally designed to preserve the integrity of the playoffs, so that there would be no question that those coaches are focused on their immediate tasks, as opposed to assembling a coaching staff; also, there was the idea that not all teams had equal access to the coordinators.

Dave Wannstedt and Norv Turner both were hired during the Cowboys' playoffs in the '92 and '93 seasons and it did not keep the Cowboys from winning the Super Bowls in those seasons. The major concern for teams not wanting to wait for these coordinators is that putting together is a coaching staff is considered almost as critical as hiring the right guy.

It is a very competitive market for the top assistants who are available. I believe the best solution is that the NFL allow any playoff coach to be hired as a head coach, but with a freeze on all assistants' movement until after the Super Bowl.

I actually told a Rams front office official last week that Lovie Smith had a much better chance of landing a job if the Rams lost to the Panthers. Sure enough, that's what happened. That's ridiculous. It's no coincidence that guys like John Fox and Marvin Lewis were hired when, as coordinators, their teams went 7-9. It allowed them to be available, focused and prepared for the interview process and ready to assemble a staff, as opposed to doing so in the same year their teams (the Giants and Ravens) played in the Super Bowl. Something needs to change.

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Q: Why was offsides not called on Jeff Wilkens' onside kick against the Panthers. A right-footed kicker has to step offsides to kick to the right side. You could plainly see he was offsides at the time of the kick. - Rob Conklin (St. Fort Lucie, FL).

MORT:Rob, I appreciate your question. You are speaking of Wilkins' plant (left) foot stepping over the line before he makes contact with the football on the onsides kick. This has been discussed by the NFL Competition Committee in the past and it has deemed that the kicker is the exception to the rule on the onsides kick, primarily because it is considered an exciting play.

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Q: Perhaps I have missed something. But how is it that the Washington Redskins were able to hire Joe Gibbs without following the NFL mandate (by which the Detroit Lions received a $100,000 fine?) that teams interview minorities prior to hiring? With the recent hiring of Dennis Green in Arizona, this thought occurred to me: If Washington didn't interview minorities, why wasn't the media all over that story? - Ken (Petoskey, MI)

MORT -- Ken, it's simple. The Redskins interviewed four candidates, two of which were African American -- Green and Ray Rhodes. In fact, I think Rhodes might have gotten the job if Joe Gibbs had not accepted Daniel Snyder's offer.

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Q: Here at my office, there is a hot debate over how the Redskins should use the fifth overall pick in this year's draft. (Others) say that OT Robert Gallery is the obvious choice, but I say that the Redskins should draft Steven Jackson to lock in the future of the RB position. He'd be running behind a decent offensive line that now has Joe Bugel to coach them. The third option is to trade back. Is there any indication on how this will play out? What are your thoughts on the Redskins' pick? - Curtis Mace (Richmond, Va.)

MORT -- Well, this is somewhat new for Joe Gibbs, who frequently did not have first-round picks (having traded them in the prior draft). He also seldom had poor seasons that allowed him to draft that high and, when he did, he had little success. In fact, in Gibbs' last draft, in 1992, the Redskins had the fifth overall pick and they selected Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, the Michigan WR. Howard was a flop as a receiver. I don't see Gallery as the logical pick, based on the assumption that Chris Samuels is re-signed. A back makes sense, but so does the best available defensive player. But that's the fun of the pre-draft talk and I'm sure we'll hash it out quite a bit in the next couple of months.

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Q: Something has been bothering me for a while now. Why did Ron Wolf leave Green Bay? He said he wanted to retire and take it easy, yet every time a GM vacancy comes up, he's always mentioned, and he will even "look" at the situation, but hasn't done anything. Was there something else going on behind the scenes? We sure would enjoy having him back in Green Bay. When Brett retires, we're back to a rebuilding mode. Thanks! - (Someone in Germantown, WI)

MORT -- Wolf is not looking to join the NFL in a full-time position as a general manager. He is interested in a "consultant" or "advisor" position, and I believe he will join the Cleveland Browns in that capacity. I don't think there's any bitterness between him and the Packers. As for "rebuilding" the Pack, you're basically speaking of the quarterback position. The team is fairly young and I think set to be a playoff team for the next two or three years. I expect Favre to play during that period, but the Packers do need to get a young QB on board to develop as a potential successor.

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Q: In an age where every player and coach is scrutinized, I'd just like to thank the Green Bay Packer organization for being who they are. The loss in Philly was tough but rather than complain or throw stones I think its time for fans to take the high road and thank their teams for the hard play and fun they provide us with. Nobody wanted that game more than Favre and Sherman! I've seen nothing but nasty things written about them since and I just don't think that's' right. Congratulations to Philly, and thank you to Favre and Sherman for what you have given us. - Mike (Madison, WI)

MORT -- Oh, you mean it's OK to be logical and well-grounded as a fan? I may have to investigate this development.