Ten Things I Think I Think

1. I think -- and I don't have inside knowledge of the case, just a gut feeling -- Marvin Harrison is in more trouble than his agent, or even he, thinks. He's one of those guys who almost demands privacy, so no one in our business really knows him. And few in his business, either. As one Colt source told me the other day, Indy players know Harrison better than the fans do, but not much better.

He's a guy, acquaintances say, who has never left his Philadelphia home behind, who spends 48 hours a week (Sunday night through Tuesday night) at home almost every time the Colts win and Tony Dungy gives players Monday off. He's a guy who guards everything about himself mysteriously. Very curious case.

2. I think Jeremy Shockey goes to camp with the Giants, has a few arguments with Tom Coughlin but plays the season out unhappily.

3. I think the Patriots really hoped Chris Long would be there at No. 5, Kansas City's pick, so they could try to wrangle him from the Chiefs for a draft choice. I also think the Chiefs loved him and would have had a decision to make -- more high picks, or the guy we really want?

4. I think I loved what Washington defensive coordinator Greg Blache said Friday, when he was asked about failing to get a high-round defensive end to chase the quarterback. "Yeah, we'd like to get some younger players and we do have some younger players that we are going to try to infuse into the program,'' Blache said. "But you can find football players other than in the first round.

"If you look at Tom Brady, Joe Montana, a lot of guys on our football team that were fifth-, sixth-, seventh-round players, or some guys that were undrafted free agents that can contribute. It's just a matter of finding guys with the talent, the desire and putting in the time to coach them. That's why they call us coaches. They don't call us interior decorators. We have to find guys with a passion for the game and coach them.''

I wish more coaches would have that attitude -- that they should coach the players who show up and ignore all the noise on the outside about what they don't have. If you have guys in your camp, they're obviously worthy of being candidates for an NFL roster. Coach them. Look what Mike McCarthy and an excellent teaching staff in Green Bay have done with safety Atari Bigby (college free agent), tight end Donald Lee (claimed off of waivers after being cut by Miami) and defensive tackles Corey Williams and Johnny Jolly (sixth-round picks).

5. I think we're making far too big a deal out of Lito Sheppard practicing peacefully with his Eagles teammates at minicamp. A good third corner is a necessity in today's secondary play because nickel defenses are on the field more than 50 percent of the time for most teams.

6. I think it's true that most Dallas people liked Rashard Mendenhall slightly over Felix Jones. Most, except of course the one who really counts. Clue: Initials are J.J.

7. I think that's a lot of pressure you're putting on yourself by wearing number 56 in New York, Vernon Gholston.

8. I think it's very, very hard for me to imagine Tony Dungy coaching beyond this year.

9. I think you're doing a heck of a job at SI.com, Mike Lombardi.

10. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week:

a. Saw Smart People the other day. Just OK. Two great performances. Ellen Page is brilliant, not as brilliant as the Juno Ellen Page, but a show-stopper. And Thomas Haden Church is a good, sort of ne'er-do-well uncle. Ellen Page is getting to the point that you have to go see whatever movie she makes because you can't miss what she does.

b. Coffeenerdness. Sirius Radio, my new very part-time employer, has those single-use coffeepods from Green Mountain that you may have seen. I challenge you to tell me the difference between one of those single-use jobs and a pot of the stuff. (Dark roast hint: Try Green Mountain "Lake and Lodge.'' That'll kick you up a notch.)

c. Spring, anyone? Anybody see it? Anywhere?

d. Scott Kazmir sure didn't look like the Scott Kazmir who won the strikeout title last year when he debuted Sunday at Fenway, not with a 90-mph fastball.

e. The Office is getting back to normal.

f. House is getting weird. Take a slice of that dialogue. Who really talks like that?