A lot of questions are raised after Michael Vick got caught possibly trying to smuggle pot onto an airplane.

- If the Falcons were open to the possibility of dealing Vick before, as Chris Mortensen indicated, will this influence their thinking?

- If Vick was available, how long would it take Al Davis to pick up the phone and offer ... the #1 draft pick? Now there is some unfounded speculation.

- Is Vick already in the league's substance abuse program? It would hardly surprise. If he is, this could be another strike and possibly force punishment from the league.

- If Vick is going to smoke pot, like a large percentage of the NFL (and the general populace) , why can't he buy it whenever he gets off the plane??

- Will Vick ever get "it"? For all the money Vick makes, and makes the Falcons, they would be better off dealing him now and starting Matt Schaub if Vick isn't going to develop. His comments after the season throwing Jim Mora under the bus while claiming that he had a great season showed he still has maturity issues.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We just wrapped our Thursday morning Fix previewing the Conference Championships, which will be posted later this afternoon. I talked a little about what this win would mean to the city of New Orleans. My friends down there agree that any win from here on out is gravy.

One thing I think is unique about this Saints team is the connection between the team and the town. It's such a small town now, with about a quarter million people. There is already a shared experience living in New Orleans, even before Katrina. No town or team I know about inspires so much loyalty despite their faults.

My friend Sara was at one our favorite New Orleans restaurants Jaques-Imo's last Friday night Uptown (Jacques-Imo's also has a NYC location.) A spontaneous Who Dat say they gonna beat dem Saints erupted in the restaurant.

After the Saints win the following night, the same chant broke out at a G. Love concert. If the Saints make the Super Bowl, it will be two weeks of pandemonium in the Crescent City. We are planning a video segment next week if that happens. Sports ultimately serves as a distraction for most fans, and this one is pretty sweet.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 09:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I first read that Marty Schottenheimer passed on a 1-year, $4.5 million extension including a $1 million buyout, I didn't really understand it. The San Diego media couldn't either.

Schottenheimer will return to coach the Chargers in 2007, but only for the final year of his contract.

With some time to think about it (and watch NFL Network), I think he passed on a guaranteed $1 million for a few reasons.

1. The offer was a slap in the face. We should all be so lucky to have $1 million slaps in the face, but coaching contracts are guaranteed. It's my understanding that a buyout in the NFL is nearly unheard of. The Chargers weren't really committing more than next year to him.

2. Schottenheimer is 63 years old. Coaches lives are year-to-year, especially at that age.

Those two reasons are fairly inarguable. The next two are my own takes on the matter.

3. Schottenheimer probably feels confident he can win next season. If he wins (in the playoffs), they will pay him even more. And maybe he'll be able to force GM A.J. Smith out of power. If he doesn't win, even Schottenheimer will know it's time to move on.

4. If the team is in turmoil next season, it won't be a pretty situation. But I suspect Schottenheimer knows it could be a subtle rallying cry for his players. They all seem to love playing for Marty. Intensity is never a problem with the Chargers. That's why Marty wins in the regular season. In a way, Schottenheimer will be closer than ever to his players.

An NFL player always exists year-to-year. Their contracts aren't guaranteed. Now the Chargers coach will be in the same boat.

Other coaching news

Here's where we stand with the remaining vacancies

Pittsburgh - They finished second interviews with Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin and Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm. If the Steelers don't announce their choice by Friday, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is probably the pick.

Miami - Cam Cameron, Chan Gailey, and Jim Mora have all had second interviews. Mike Shula is also a candidate, but probably a longshot. A decision is expected Thursday or Friday.

Oakland - Reports that Chargers WR coach James Lofton was expected to get the job proved premature. USC assistant Steve Sarkisian met with Oakland for a second time Wednesday and is believed to be the favorite. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a darkhorse.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 08:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Before we put a bow on Classlesscelebrationgate, here's new tape (to us) from a local San Diego station. About halfway through, Philip Rivers loudly calls Ellis Hobbs the "sorriest corner in the league. Act like you've been there before!" Before getting the Patriots directly in front on him angry, Rivers assures them, "Y'all are acting like it."

First of all, Duane Starks is still the league. So Hobbs has a long way to go.

Also note the anchor's hushed toned when she points that, "That criticism came from two of the classiest players around. Hopefully they take some of it to heart."

We can only hope.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

You can tell a lot about a team from their local coverage. The two big Green Bay newspapers managed to squeeze out three football stories today, including headliners about three Packers rookies making the All-Rookie team. I didn't find another paper in the country even mentioning the team.

Meanwhile in Arizona, each local paper only devoted two articles apiece to the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt. One was an exceptional column by Paola Boivin, mostly about the dysfunction under the Bidwells. This part killed me.

"Did you know there was a player on your team this season who was so disgusted with his position coach that he went to Dennis Green and said, "I'm out of here unless you can assure me that guy doesn't speak to me the rest of the season?" And Green agreed?

The article gets at the pettiness involved between the Bidwell brothers, which sets the tone for the organization.

The Raiders are reportedly set to name Chargers WR coach James Lofton as their next head coach. Al Davis is always good for a shocker at this time of year.

More to come on this Wednesday, assuming the report proves true.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NFL Network's Adam Shefter reports Matt Hasselbeck may have a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, which would explain his shaky play down the stretch. If an MRI confirms the diagnosis, Hasselbeck will be out until training camp at the earliest.

Since it's his non-throwing shoulder, Seattle probably doesn't need to add talent at quarterback.

I give ChicagoBears.com points for chutzpah. Instead of trying to hide from the fact that the biggest play of Sunday's game was made by a guy recently raided for having 550 pounds of illegal ammunition, six guns, and marijuana at his house, the Bears website spins Johnson's story as one of overcoming adversity.

Johnson has also been arrested for separate charges of assault, unlawful possession of a handgun, failure to pay fines, skipping community service, and failure to submit to drug tests during his probation - all in the last two years. That's a lot of adversity to overcome.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 06:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

My new column is up at Rotoworld. I take a look at some veterans who could lose their starting jobs this off-season, including Clock Killin' Corey Dillon.

The Fantasy Fix crew enjoyed a rare weeknight field trip to Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn. I've lived in the area for three years and somehow never made the trip. It's an institution, and it lived it up to the hype. Our intern Brett Bandermark even behaved and stuck to drinking Coke's.

I just realized that the whole journey may have been our producer Harriet's thinly disguised way of getting Tiffany and I to blog about hanging out together. She's a sneaky one.