MMQB Mailbag: What's wrong with the Colts and is L.T. on the decline?

But what must change first is Manning's ability to seek and destroy defenses on first and second downs with some of his trademark deep strikes. When that happens -- and when he starts getting better protection -- the Colts will be back to their playoff selves.

Now onto your mail:

�€� SEEMS LIKE THE CLASSIC SECOND-GUESS TO ME. From Benny R., of Los Angeles: "I know this may come off as a total surprise to most people, but, in retrospect, don't you think the Chargers would have been better off trading LaDainian Tomlinson and keeping Michael Turner? The Chargers couldn't win the big games even with L.T. at his best.

Even worse, he always came off as a selfish baby when losing in the playoffs (criticizing Philip Rivers or Bill Belichick). It always seems like he has a horrible loser mentality at the first sign of adversity. As the supposed best player on the team, teammates look to him as the pulse of the team and he never sets the right example during tough times. I think the bold move would have been (or still is) to trade him for draft picks. This team has hit the ceiling. They remind me of those Dolphins teams in the '90s, when they were the popular team to appear in a Super Bowl, but could never quite get there. What are your thoughts?''

I've often thought teams get rid of running backs, or running backs retire, a year or two too late. It happened with the Jets and Curtis Martin, costing them LaMont Jordan (not a death blow, obviously). Happened with Shaun Alexander, who was worthless in Seattle last year. It may be happening with Tomlinson, but I would be careful talking about him in the past tense. He hasn't had a disabling injury yet. If the Chargers had jettisoned L.T. after last season and kept Turner, it would have caused fans to storm the gates -- plus, I'm not sure Turner would be doing any better behind a shaky San Diego line right now.

�€� 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.