MMQB Mail (cont.)

Titans running back Chris Johnson (right) scored a touchdown in his NFL debut. AP Peter King's Mailbag Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Peter King on Twitter

Now onto your e-mail:

• IS THERE A BRIGHT SIDE TO THE BRADY LOSS? From Jim Grzyb, of Eau Claire, Wisc.: "Hi Peter -- love your column, keep up the good work. Why is it that the injury to Brady is SO bad for the NFL? Football is a violent sport and people get hurt all the time. But the reaction is a bit much - half the comments I've been reading sound like the league should just shut down for the year. Like Randy Moss said, the show will go on, and I'll keep watching every Sunday and not go into hibernation for a year until Brady's knee heals up.''

Good point, Jim. Life does go on. I guess part of the comments come from the fact Brady is everything you'd want in a football player. The work ethic, the leadership, greatness under pressure, focus on team before anything else, the poster-boy aspect ... And to have that snuffed out takes away so much of what everyone looks forward to all offseason. The entire AFC was looking forward to knocking the Patriots off, the TV networks had the usual number of big New England appearances, and the Patriots were a great draw, love 'em or hate 'em. Now, poof. It's gone. Part of the hand-wringing, I think, comes from the shock of it all. But you're right. In the NFL, new stars step up every week. Matt Cassel will have his chance now.

• I DON'T HATE THE TITANS. From Will Brewer, of Nashville: "Why do you hate the Titans? We are a very good team. Why put the Jags at 4 and us at 14 in your Fine Fifteen when we basically controlled the game. Our offense looked more effective than theirs. This also means our defense looked better. Chris Johnson is the real deal, and until he proves his worth, we can win despite Vince Young.''

You could be right. That's the fun of the season. But I try not to change too much of my thinking based on one game, and my thinking beforehand was that Jacksonville was a top-five team in the league and the Titans were in the high teens or maybe a little better. One week can't shake everything you've thought through the offseason. The only exceptions to that for me this week were Pittsburgh and Cleveland. I watched much of the Steelers, and that is going to be one very scary defense.

• LET'S NOT ANOINT JOE FLACCO. From Conner, of Worton, Md.: "Joe Flacco played fairly well in my opinion against Cincinnati but I still have a fear that the Ravens are going to put a now healthy Troy Smith back into the starting lineup. I think Flacco deserves a chance to show what he can do against a better rated defense. Agree?''

If the only reason Smith didn't start is because of his tonsil problem, and if Flacco was shaky in the opener, why give Flacco the job for the year automatically because the Ravens win game one? I still would like to see Smith get his shot and Flacco carry the clipboard for a while.

• SELL, FORDS, SELL. From David Haah, of Greenville, S.C.: "Is it possible that the NFL could force an owner to sell his team when he consistently show that he cannot make decisions necessary to field a contender? Of course, I am talking about William Clay Ford and the Detroit Lions. Ford has failed to field a consistent winner and has owned the Lions since 1964. It has been too long since the Lions have contended. It won't change until the owner is changed. Proof of Ford's own ineptitude is the fact that he has kept Matt Millen as the GM.''

No. The league doesn't view the Detroit situation as untenable, and Roger Goodell wouldn't step in unless there was some sort of gross malfeasance. I do think if this season's another 3-13 clunker-type, the Fords might finally get up the gumption to fire Millen. (By the way, David, how's the Greenville Drive? Love that stadium. Cool place. Saw it in April.)

• YOU ARE RIGHT, NORMAN. YOU WIN. From Norman Anseman, of Lafayette, La.: "I have enjoyed your columns through the years, despite your love affair for the Red Sox. You are very insightful and talented and seem genuine. And as a fan, I must request that you PLEASE not go all political on us. I read you because I enjoy your take on the football and coffee and the Sopranos, but please do not start taking political stances. I raise this because your comments about Jim Zorn (which I agree was awful time management -- 90 percent of high school coaches could have done a better job) could be interpreted as anti-John McCain. I suspect that I am not the only person who is just plain tired of every writer, actor, etc. giving their political opinions. Can we please have an escape from politics? That is an invaluable resource that you provide to us. Please do not take it away.''

Norman, brilliantly said. I have thought a lot about this over the weekend, and it would bother me a lot if you, or anyone, thought I was taking any NFL stand because of political beliefs. (I don't know what your Zorn comment means, but if it implies he is a McCain supporter, I had no idea.) And so, even though I do have very strong feelings about this campaign, I am going to stuff a sock in it. I know football; I don't know politics. And though we should all have opinions and study this race closely because it's so important to our future, I don't think someone who has never been in Washington or been in national politics or studied it as a journalist should be telling you so-and-so's an idiot. But I am tempted.