Nice story about ...woops!

Nice story by Pat Kirwan at NFL.com on why the 2006 rookie class produced so well. His list of the five most important factors was very observant. One thing that wasn't observant was later on when he did a hypothetical redraft; one of those if-they-reheld-the-draft-today lists. Placing McNeill 18th (who, by the way, finished 4th in rookie-of-the-year voting)??

Has Kirwan not been following the draft since ESPN started covering it? Premier OTs have been selected near the top since the days of Anthony Munoz and before. Now, McNeill has a long way before he steps into Munoz's HOF shoes but he's certainly off to size 12EEE start. These "analysts" are the same ones clinging to the notion that Michael Vick's potential still merits him being picked ahead of LT in the 2001 draft.

See Cameron run?

Lots of coaching turnover so far this off-season and as expected, Cameron's name is making the short lists. In fact, he's got a couple interviews lined up. Now, it's nearly every coach's dream to be the captain of the ship. So, it would seem Cameron would jump at any offer he received.

Clearly, if the Chargers' head coaching job also came open, he'd be on that list, too. Actually, that list has already been compiled and checked twice but unfortunately it resides in the head of AJ Smith and we're not allowed to do a "Being John Malkovich" enter and see.

In AJ's perfect world, he's allowed to fire Marty and (perhaps) install Cameron as his new coach. In AJ's "water world, " Marty continues to steer the ship Valdez and Cameron flies off to Tempe or wherever. This must be as excruciating a time to him as when he had to take Peyton's kid brother in '04.

Which playoff Marty to choose....

I'm finding myself unusually vexed figuring out which Marty will show up at the annual masked ball, that is the lovely NFL playoffs. Is it the one who let his OC run free like orphan Oliver Twist through a giant ToysR'Us store? Or is it the one whose playoff record has been well recorded even by historians of the Cretaceous Period? If it's the latter, I think I'd better get my soundtrack to the 'Crying Game' ready.

I'm also finding it odd imagining these as being the last days in which to write about Marty. At least, in the present tense. I mean, if he leaves, who can we blame if the team loses.... even just one game?