Tom of Tampa feels that Tony Dungy doesn't get enough credit as a molder of head coaches. Lovie Smith, Herm Edwards, Rod Marinelli, now Mike Tomlin, all worked for Tony at Tampa Bay. You know something, you're right. I never stopped to add them up. Pretty impressive when you consider that the Vince Lombardi system never produced a successful head coach.

Pat of Ingolheim, Germany (or maybe it's Ingelheim ... the print is kind of blurred), wonders if the QB's with the real big arm, such as Favre or Culpepper, might have trouble with the subtleties of the game, "because they figure, what the heck, just gun it in there." Depends on the individual. Some are apt scholars as well as cannon-arms, some fit into your characterization. I know a personnel director who used to call them "mindless bombers," and likened them to KO punchers who didn't have to learn the nuances of boxing skills because they had the hammer. Favre is not in this category.

Part two: He's looking for a nice California Zinfandel (redundant) for under $25. And where, may I ask, can you find them in Germany? Ah well, that's not my problem. I'm partial to the Seghesio zins, especially the ones marked Home Vineyard or Old Vines, the latter pair which will, unfortunately, set you back a little more than the price you named. Rosenblum is the most prestigious producer and yeah, their zins are good. Ravenswood has a nice pair for $15 each, their '04 Napa Valley and '04 Old Vines Sonoma Valley. The latest issue of the Connoisseurs' Guide, to which I subscribe, gives its highest grade to the 2005 Dashe Dry Creek Valley ($22).

The e-mail of Phil of DePere, Wisc., has a nice ring to it: "Hey Doc, what's with all the hand-wringing about a guy (Shockey) not attending voluntary workouts? Did someone change the definition of voluntary while we weren't looking?" Hey, Phil, you ever been in the army? How about when they say, "I want three volunteers, you, you and you." And what if I'd have said, "I'm sorry, but you did say volunteer." Too strained an analogy for you? OK, what's been Jeremy Shockey's history? Tremendous talent, but always seems to be dragging some kind of injury around, right? Also a constant popoff. Given that kind of track record you'd think a guy would want to take one step backward and make a meaningful gesture in the cause of good fellowship, rather than pounding his shoe on the table and saying, "I'll do what I want to do."

Bill of West Harrison, N.Y., can't understand why everybody's stiffing the Broncos, after what he calls a "tremendous offseason," and not riding them into the Super Bowl. Well, I like some of the deals, don't like others. I mean are you all excited about them attempting to fortify their defensive line with Jimmy Kennedy, Sam Adams and Big Daddy Wilkinson? In the offseason the Broncos are what we call "catfish collectors." Swallow everything.

Part two -- Bill says it's enough with Randy Moss. He doesn't buy the hype. Z doesn't buy the hype. Let's go steady. The interesting thing about Moss is that whatever happens, he's going to get ripped (probably by me). If he tanks, then it's "we told you so." If he's great, then it's, "See that, he only tries hard for a good team."

Michelle, "hometown, Nebraska," or maybe that's the name of the town she's from, Hometown. Or maybe it's getting late and the Doc is starting to babble. Anyway, she's working on a project for a healthcare ethics class on the NFL's concussion problem. She wonders that if the NFL concedes that the medical profession might be right about the link between concussions and dementia, depression and Alzheimer's (and the league will go to great lengths to keep those conclusions from being widely accepted), "what are the chances that they'll start cracking down on borderline illegal hits, such as the one that sidelined Trent Green?" You never know. The NFL reacts in strange ways. I think the big fouls aren't penalized heavily enough, while the teeny weeny ones, such as the phantom brushing of the QB, are over-penalized. You know my own formula for dealing with the crippling hits. For the four of you who haven't read this at least a dozen times, it amounts to eye for an eye Biblical justice, suspension to match the amount of games a player puts another one out for.

Jeff of Pittsburgh says he's been a fan of mine for "long, long time," specifically, since the Giants-Bears "Sneakers Game" in 1934. His question -- what is my all-time favorite play by an offensive lineman? Jets-Bengals, early 1980s. Mark Gastineau, New York's great pass-rushing DE, has made his sack dance a media and fan favorite. On one particular goal line play, though, the Bengals run for a touchdown, behind a Max Montoya trap block -- on Gastineau. In the end zone, Montoya does his own little dance. Afterward in the locker room I asked him if that was his "trap dance," and he nodded, yes, and repeated it for me, something along the lines of the Mexican Hat Dance.

Gerard of Albany, N.Y., repeats an accusation I haven't heard for many years, that two of Joe Gibbs' three Super Bowl victories came in strike-shortened seasons, therefore..and you can put any negative ending on it that you want. So what does this mean, that he couldn't coach in regulation time? That his guys were sprinters, not distance runners? That the sight of picket lines inspired them to unbelievable frenzy? Finally, from Gerard, "Is there a chance he was overrated as a coach?" No. No chance. His guys won three Super Bowls, fair and square, and Gibbs was a terrific offensive innovator. Q2: Did Bobby Beathard get enough credit? A: Yes. Q3: Why does Gibbs go through so many quarterbacks?" A: Because Redskin decisions are by committee, and two of those committee members, Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, are stiffs.

Noting that I mentioned that Tom Brady sounded off last year about a lack of quality wideouts, Andy of Boston wants to know where, when, and what he said. Off the record, plenty. He was furious. On the record, the following, which he watered down for political reasons, but still is clear enough. This was during Deion Branch's holdout and a month before he was traded. I quote from Mike Silver's column from Aug. 1, 2006: "I have confidence that this will be worked out, but I'm glad we're not playing a team this week."