A hunch on Favre

I'll tell you why, Dan. I think whichever team Terrell Owens lines up against in his return to football is going to be a highly attractive game. The league and the networks don't have to burn Dallas vs. Philly on the opening week of the season. You don't want to take every attractive game on the schedule right out of the chute -- and there's no question in my mind that Manning vs. Manning is more attractive than Owens vs. the Eagles.

THE NO FUN LEAGUE. From Scott of Moncton, New Brunswick: "Once again the NFL wants to rein in the celebrations that in many ways are harmless and, more often than not, outright funny. In a world full of pressure and stress, these few moments of creative humor each Sunday are what the NFL should be promoting rather than banning. Kudos to Chad Johnson, Steve Smith and T.J. Duckett (his "start the car " routine from last year was an all-time classic). The NFL needs to realize that they are an entertainment product and they shouldn't take themselves so seriously all the time."

I couldn't agree with you more. I only hope the members of the competition committee read this, because it would be a shame if they legislate some harmless fun out of football. Next.

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. From Glenn of Hood River, Ore.: "Excellent theoretical discussion of why the playoffs shouldn't be expanded, though in reality you only needed that one sentence: 'There is no sane reason to expand the playoffs, unless money is the root of the issue.' It leaves no doubt that the playoffs will be expanded."

Glenn, I heard from a lot of people at the owners' meeting after my column was posted and only two of them disagreed with me. I just hope that this harebrained idea dies a rapid death this offseason.

WHERE DOES ALL THE DOUGH GO? From Joe of Bridgeville, Pa.: "I know in the past you applauded Tom Brady for taking less than market value to 'help the team.' The Patriots have plenty of cap space yet still let their clutch kicker, top pass rusher and other free agents walk. What good did it do for Tom to take less money if the team isn't going to keep its core players, especially Vinatieri?"

Another excellent question. I'm sure that's one that Tom is asking right now, too. I believe the Patriots are an extremely intelligent organization and have been smart in the vast majority of their personnel dealings since Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli took over in 2000. But I hope they know what they're doing this offseason, particularly as it relates to kicker. I don't have as much of a problem saying goodbye to Willie McGinest as I do to Vinatieri, even though I do think Vinatieri wanted to leave unless he was going to make well over $3 million a year in New England.

The big problem I see on the horizon is that other than re-signing Richard Seymour, which I believe the Patriots will do at some point this offseason, I don't know how they're gong to spend all of the cap money they have available. Having said all that, I think that because of how well they have managed the cap and their team, you have to have some faith and confidence that they know what they're doing. Nobody had much confidence in 2001 when the Patriots went out and brought in 17 lower- and middle-class free agents for next to nothing. But a lot of those players became the core of a Super Bowl champion. So I'm not ready to pronounce the Patriots dead yet.