MMQB Mail (cont.)

The Lions have considered trading Roy Williams, who will be a free agent after the season. 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

• TOO EARLY FOR THAT. From Chuck Daniels, of Mt. Morris, Mich.: "Peter, do you think there is any chance that the Lions would fire Rod Marinelli now, since the bye week is over? He may be trying to overcome Matt Millen's mistakes, especially on offense, but on defense, which is supposed to be Marinelli's area, we are Tampa North with all the former Bucs players here, but the defense looks worse than ever. I'm concerned that in trying to save his job [which I understand], Marinelli is going to try to do what is best for the short term [continue to play Kitna, keep Roy Williams] and not what is best for this franchise long term [see what they have with Drew Stanton, trade Roy for whatever they can get, etc.]''

Couldn't agree more on the trading Roy Williams part. I think, at the very least, they could get a prospective high second-round pick for him, and you're right, the most important thing for the Lions right now is the 2009 draft, not the 2008 season. But I'm not in favor of getting rid of Marinelli. It looks worse than bleak now, but what do you gain by putting in an interim coach now? Nothing.

In the off chance the players respond to Marinelli and make something good of this season, maybe the new GM (which I'm assuming will happen after the season) will want to keep him. I think he deserves three years. I think any coach does, barring him losing the team or showing incompetence. Neither of those have happened with Marinelli.

• I AM MAD, OBVIOUSLY. From Don, of Burbank, Calif.: "Great column, Peter. Look forward to it every week. How is it, though, that Washington beats Dallas last week, then this week beats Philly on the road while Dallas struggles to beat Cincy at home, and Dallas is still ranked above Washington? You mean that if those two teams play each other right now, you still like Dallas? Puzzling.''

You're not the only one to question that ranking, Don. I thought a lot about that Sunday night on my way home from NBC. And I realize the product on the field hasn't shown Dallas to be better than Washington so far. It came down to this: If Washington and Dallas met on a neutral field in Wichita right now, I think Dallas would win. I trust Romo a little more than Campbell right now.

The defenses are a wash, and I might like Washington's a little more, particularly after the goal-line stand at the Eagles. It's very, very close. If Dallas plays generously on defense at Arizona this week, I might change my mind. But here's what it comes down to for me, bottom line: I thought Dallas was the best team in football for much of September, and we've seen them blow out Cleveland on the road, score 41 on a tough defense (Philadelphia), and whack Green Bay pretty well on the road. I still like them a lot, and a smidgen better than Washington.

• IN MILES THEY TRUST. From Sal Altrui, of Vernon, Conn.: "Isn't it obvious the Cowboys need another receiver, maybe like Terry Glenn was a few years ago? Their other wideouts are not threats, so T.O. gets a lot of attention by the defensive backfields.''

I think so too, but Jerry Jones told me Sunday they think Miles Austin is the guy, and will emerge as a force in the last three months of the season. We'll see. He made it clear to me they're not going to trade for a receiver. But I wonder what happens a week from today -- the trading deadline is next Tuesday -- if the Lions suddenly hold a fire sale for Roy Williams and agree to take a third-round pick for him. Don't see that happening, but if it does, Jerry would have to think about it.

• IN DEFENSE OF ROSENFELS. From Matt Burk, of Pittsburgh: "Peter, as bad as his mistakes were, at least Sage Rosenfels manned-up, stood at the podium after the game, and took responsibility for the loss. Couldn't have been easy.''

Agree totally. I appreciate your point, and Rosenfels, by all accounts, is a totally class guy. That doesn't eliminate the two goatish plays he made.

• TRUE THAT. From Brian Twomey, of Simi Valley, Calif.: "First two games of the BoSox-Angels series ended at 1:25 and 1:29 a.m., respectively. There's some East Coast love. You East-Coasters always complain about this. Shouldn't I, as a West Coast baseball fan, get to see the start of night games here on the West Coast? Those games started at 7 and 6:30 p.m., just perfect for me to start watching after getting home from work.''

Good point, Brian. I understand. My rejoinder: Something like 48 percent of the TV sets in the United States are in the Eastern Time Zone. I guess I wonder about the wisdom of playing a playoff game, on a work night, when the vast majority of your potential audience is in bed by the second inning.