Cowboys face QB dilemma; Pats stick to philosophy

	The Cowboys said Drew Bledsoe is the starter for now, but their confidence in him seems shaken after his three-interception performance against Jacksonville. Bill Frakes/SI
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Not a lot of love for the big fella this week. Seems you don't like the Fine Fifteen at all.

But before we bash me, I will get to the two events of the week you seem most interested in: the Dallas quarterback situation and the Deion Branch trade.

I can't say with any certainty that the Cowboys are close to making a quarterback change. But there's no question it's coursing through their mind that Tony Romo would give them things the incumbent does not right now. Owner Jerry Jones said something very interesting on his weekly KTCK show this morning, regarding Drew Bledsoe's uneven play in Jacksonville.

"I thought he had time the other night,'' said Jones. "I haven't seen him have those issues with accuracy when he's had time before." You know what I call that? Greasing the skids. Another unclutch Sunday night against the quasi-desperate Redskins, and Bledsoe will be feeling Romo's hot breath down his neck.

The Patriots do things their way. Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli place a value on a player and on a position, and they will not be swayed. They were not swayed with Lawyer Milloy, Bledsoe, Ty Law, Damien Woody or Adam Vinatieri. And what has it gotten them? Some pretty good football. The Patriots are 48-17 in the regular season since they traded Bledsoe to Buffalo and 39-10 in the regular season since they whacked Milloy. Have they gotten too overconfident about their ability to plug in new guys for stars? Maybe. We'll see. But right now it's pretty naive, based on recent history, to say the Patriots are doomed.

On to the questions of the week:

WE'VE GOT A WITTY BEARS FAN OUT THERE. From John of Kawanee, Ill.: "You remind me of a teacher who has worked for the same school for 30 years. Not any good, but they can't get rid of him! Guess what? There are other teams that performed well that are not located on the East Coast! Not one word about the Bears' defense ... Baltimore ... blah, blah, blah. The Bears are much better but not a word about them. Well done, old man! Thank goodness for the protection of tenured professors!''

Touché. Very nice. The Bears were flawless Sunday in Green Bay. But those last three words are the most important ones: in Green Bay. John, the Ravens played a good team with a very good defense and kicked them into the Gulf of Mexico. The Bears have one of the best two or three defenses in football. Had they embarrassed the Bucs in Tampa and the Ravens won handily in Green Bay, I'd have reversed them in the Fine Fifteen.