Chad Johnson has 230 receiving yards and a touchdown to help the Bengals jump out to a 2-0 record. AP

HE LIKES THE BENGALS, AND HOW CAN YOU NOT? From Tony Bosch of Edgewood, Ky.: "Could you give credit where credit is due? Maybe the Vikes aren't that bad. Maybe the Bengals are really that good! Get over your Cincy-bias and get on the bandwagon now.''

Cincy bias? I love Cincinnati. Lived in Mount Washington for five years. Shopped at the Beechmont Mall. Loved Graeter's chocolate chip ice cream. When it comes to the Bengals, I'll have to be more convinced than I am right now. I'm very impressed with the offense, which has played five terrific games in a row, dating to last year, and the D totally flustered Minnesota on Sunday. This week will be a good test. The Bears have allowed 15 points and they do a really good job of disguising coverages and sending rushers from all over the field. If the Bengals go to 3-0 at Soldier Field, I'm going to have to politely request a reservation on your bandwagon.

YES, RAN CARTHON CAN REALLY RUN. From Julie of Randolph, Mass.: "Maurice Carthon has a son who's old enough to play professional football? Thanks for making me feel really, really old. P.S. -- I'm 40.''

Hey, I covered Carthon when he played fullback for the Giants in the mid-80s --when Ran was 4. Talk about feeling old.

HE WANTS JOE BURBERRY TO COACH THE PATRIOTS. From Christopher Hughes, of Brooklyn, N.Y.: "I think the NFL needs to implement a sidelines dress code for the head coaches. The three who really are making this an issue that must be addressed are Bill Belichick, Mike Mularkey and Mike Sherman. Belichick always looks like a slob. Sherman was wearing this faded green sweatshirt that looked like something he's been wearing to do yard work for the last 10 years -- like one of those sweatshirts that's been your favorite sweatshirt for a decade and your wife is trying to get you to throw out. The worst culprit yesterday was Mularkey, wearing khakis, a white T-shirt and a baseball cap. I thought he was a grounds crew member at first. If the NFL can be so anal when it comes to how the players look on the field, there's no reason it can't do something about the way the coaches are dressed. It wouldn't let Mike Nolan wear a suit, but it'll let Belichick go out there looking like he just rolled out of bed.''

Christopher, you might be a little bit too worked up about this. But I loved the letter. Personally, I don't care a whit about this.