Matt Hasselbeck's Seahawks beat the Rams last Sunday thanks to a controversial drive for a field goal in the final minute of the game. US Presswire
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	MAILBAG Dr. Z will answer select user questions each week in his NFL mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Barry of Big Bear, Calif., noting the way the St. Louis-Seattle game ended, and the fact that 10 seconds were not run off after an illegal formation penalty on the 'Hawks, wonders if that might be a way for a team to stop the clock if it's out of timeouts. Just line up illegally. No, what stopped the clock was Matt Hasselbeck's spike, not the penalty.

The aforementioned Jacob of New Rochelle wants to know what the Jets will have to do to become a legitimate playoff team next year. Find a keynote runner around whom to build half an attack. Get a speed pass-rusher to come off the edge. Find one or two drive-blocking offensive linemen.

A double-header from TR from Falls Church, Va. -- Why are centers allowed to "flip, fiddle, twist and otherwise move the ball around before the snap?" Because they are not simulating the snap of the ball. That's the one that will draw the flag. Numero dos: Did Tiki Barber come up with his possible retirement announcement to give his teammates a "spark?" I thought they had matches for that. Nah, either he's deadly serious or he got a little bored and decided to liven things up a bit.

Aaack, it's spawning. Three from Jeff of Broussard, La. I'll repeat an earlier announcement. One question per customer. Two as an absolute necessity, if they're short. Three? Verboten, although I'll allow Jeff's trio just this one time because I'm in a forgiveness mode right now and he was especially flattering.

1) Saints should be higher. Answer -- let them beat a good team on the road. Cleveland and Green Bay gave them trouble. Carolina beat them.

2) Dolphins didn't beat the Texans and yet they're ranked higher. Answer --here's a secret for you. I don't really get too scientific down here in the basement. It's all done by instinct and feel.

3) Edgerrin James is not hitting the hole with any acceleration because he is trying hard to find the perfect hole. Answer -- he looks wrong for this offense, these linemen. They don't hold their blocks long. The hole opens and closes quickly, if there is one to begin with. Not good for a read-and-react runner such as James. Maybe if he'd have gotten more exhibition game work than the seven carries he had, he'd have found a more comfortable fit. Bang, slash, go ... Denver style ... seems to make more sense, but behind this line, a quick burst into the wall might get a guy's brains knocked out.

Thanks to Chris of Nanjing, China, for some really nice sentiments. Question: "Why are so many people down on Jamal Lewis (3.6 per carry) and not Chester Taylor (3.8), who clearly couldn't make a cut around a telephone pole?" Answer: Because Taylor runs hard and Lewis runs like a ... like a ... can I use this word, Andrew? I can't? Like Mr. Softee.

Good question from Chris of Atlanta. Are the Falcons cursed because they have Vick at QB. Wouldn't it be better to have someone who can accurately throw the ball, and use Vick much the way the Saints use Bush? First of all, we don't know how good a pass catcher he'd be, and that's what gives Bush the extra dimension. I've always felt that all the adulation the guy gets, from people such as ESPN's Michael Irvin, just hinders his development as a QB. I mean, how many other issues arouse such passion, on both sides of the Vick issue? But here's the biggest factor of all. He is a personal favorite of the owner, Arthur Blank, who would never let anyone mess with his fair haired boy. It's a terrible curse ... meddling owners.