The Chat House

Sports News

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon talked about the latest in sports news.

The transcript follows .

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washingtonpost.com: Michael Wilbon will be with us momentarily. Thank you for staying tuned ...

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New York, N.Y.: Mike, what do you think about the $1000 fine against Dallas Maverick Darrell Armstrong for simply saying during pre-game festivities in Dallas yesterday night, "How about them Redskins!"?

Michael Wilbon: I thought that was so, so funny...incredibly gutsy...and yes, it merited a $1,000 fine. See, it's easy for fans to wear their stupid colors and wave the foam No. 1 finger when they're at home surrounded by people just like them. I would never wear a Bears hat in Chicago...but wearing one in Washington or New York is fun...So, I applaud D. Armstrong for having the guts to do that...Anybody know where he's from? He must be from the Tidewater area or some Redskins stronghold...I don't think he's from The District, though I must look it up before we stop Chatting.

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Fairfax, Va.: Hey Mike,

Great win! Can the Redskins survive this stretch run without Randy Thomas? I mean Ray Brown is older than you!

Thanks!

Michael Wilbon: Yes, I think Ray Brown can come through in long relief...Ray isn't quite as old as I am, but close. He's what, 42? I've got five years on him if that's the case, but it's easy to root for a guy who's 40-plus and still playing in the league. This is why coaches keep a guy like Ray Brown on the team...to step in with no notice when everything is at stake...and he may play very, very well. I wouldn't put it past him...But Randy Thomas, NFL folks were saying, might have been having the best year of any of the Redskins linemen...

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Washington, D.C.: Came down form cloud 9 last night just in time to watch my boys Blake and Dixon take it to my Bullets. I'm all torn up inside, glad to see them doing their thing but not at the expense of the 'zards. They're in serious dissaray their two best players Jamison and Arenas are marginal defenders at best and they're so trigger happy from 17 to 22 feet that the offense rarely gets in rhythm. I tried to get you last year in this space to admit Jordan cant get his guys to play D but you insisted he had to get credit for turning the culture around first. Ok culture changed...Defense-still MIA.

Michael Wilbon: I told you he had to change the culture first, then deal with the defense. I don't know that the culture is completely changed with just one playoff appearance. But in order to get back to the playoffs, they HAVE to play better defense and that might mean making a trade during the season.

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Rockville, Md.: Mike, I bought a Cooley jersey at the beginning of the season and my family looked at me like I was crazy. But that guy is real good. He is almost impossible to bring down and has great hands. He reminds me of a hard-nosed, old-school player. Is this guy overlooked or is he a potential pro bowler? Thanks!

Michael Wilbon: I'm not ready to turn Cooley into Kellen Winslow just yet, but Cooley is a very, very nice player. Good hands, enough moves, enough speed, more than enough strength...coaches say he's a good pass-route runner. Look, with Portis, Moss and Cooley, I don't want to hear the Redskins don't have enough offensive weapons, because they do. Would it help to have Patten, a legit # 2 receiver? Yes...But the Redskins have enough offensive personnel for the playoffs, especially if they're going to play outdoors in the cold at Soldier Field or Giants Stadium.

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Vienna, Va.: What do you think of next weeks game against the Giants?

Michael Wilbon: I think it ought to be a great game...Then again, I thought the Cowboys-Redskins game was going to be a great game and I was dead wrong. I thought Redskins-Cowboys was going to OT. But I can't imagine the Giants coming in here as unprepared and as unmotivated as the Cowboys came in here yesterday. I don't say this often...but the Cowboys effort can legitimately be questioned. The put forth what I think (and other former NFL players watching from the press box--both former Redskins and former Cowboys) was a doggish.

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Alexandria, Va.: Do you think a big win like this will hinder our ability to focus in on next week's game (much like the 49ers blowout)?

Michael Wilbon: Good question...very good question...I don't think the Redskins will get the Big Head this week. No way. Joe Gibbs won't let that happen. Remember, while I'm not a Redskins fan by any stretch, I drink the cool aid when it comes to Gibbs...The Redskins may very well lose, but they're not going to have that happen this late in the season with stuff on the line. If it does, I'll be the first person to say I was wrong...But I don't think so.

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Elicott City, Md.: When and if you see coach Gibbs before Sunday could tell him that he needs to tell the players not to be overconfident because we are playing the Giants at home and all.

thanks

Michael Wilbon: I'm sure Coach Gibbs will thank me and thank you for enlightening him on such a matter so important to you, my good man or woman.

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Seattle, Wash.: Don't you think the Wizards made a BIG mistake letting both Blake and Dixon go? Why doesn't this team ever have confidence in their own draft choices? If they think enough of a player to draft them, they should think enough of them to keep them. The league is full of ex Wizards doing great for their new teams. I find this very frustrating.

Michael Wilbon: Ernie Grunfeld didn't draft Dixon and he didn't draft Blake, so what are you talking about "keep their own" draft choices...They're not his. And I'm glad to see them playing well because I know both of them, like both of them tremendously...But if you notice, Portland is at or near the bottom of the standings, too...They can't help turn bad teams, but they can help good teams.

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Washington, D.C.: Hey Mike...

Darrell Armstrong is from Gastonia, N.C. Formerly Redskins country at least...I definitely had a good chuckle when I saw that on Sportscenter last night.

On to my question...Do you think our banged-up defense can handle the Giants many offensive weapons? With Lavar, Carlos Rogers, and other starters possibly out...I'd have to say I'm more afraid of Eli, Tiki, and Shockey then the lowly Cowgirls.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for the answer to the D. Armstrong question...The Cowboys really were stinky, weren't they? Yeah, the Redskins have enough in the way of defenders...doesn't mean they'll win but they're pretty decently fortified.

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nobaseballlindcagain, D.C.: Have you heard any news about the turnout at Freedom Plaza today? there were supposed to be pro and anti stadium rallies there today. Last summer I was celebrating the return of baseball...Now I guess that was premature. Is it really possible that it was all a pipedream?

Michael Wilbon: I believe the stadium will receive the necessary votes...I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this today because the vote is tomorrow and we're just guessing now. But I believe the stadium will pass. It could be very, very close, but I believe it will happen and Linda Cropp will try to cover herself in glory.

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Washington, D.C.: The redskins seemingly pulled Randy Thomas on every running play yesterday. Do you really think Ray Brown can do that? Will the Redskins have to change up their running game to account for the loss of athletic ability at the RG spot?

Michael Wilbon: Good point. They'll have to adjust, but that's what December and January are about anyway. Every team in the league has guys with sprains and pulls and guys who are out for the season. It's the reality of pro football. Still, I think Ray Brown is going to do alright.

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Baltimore, Md.: I can't let that fly by:

"I don't say this often...but the Cowboys effort can legitimately be questioned."

Please explain - lack of chemistry, poor coaching? Or as we all know deep inside they look better in jail uniforms rather than football jerseys!

Michael Wilbon: I don't know what it was, but yes, their effort has to be questioned. Parcells questioned it, which is why he called timeout late in the game and kept them out there. One member of the Cowboys traveling party told me after the game he'd do anything to NOT be on the flight back to Dallas...And we all know what that meant.

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Washington, D.C.: Can you answer this debate me and my friend have been having for a while. Is Allen Iveron going to the Hall of Fame?

Michael Wilbon: I think it's still too early to tell even though this is Iverson's 10th season...He's a great, great player but he hasn't won at either level, though he led a team to the Finals once. I realy and truly don't know and would have to ask some Hall of Famers what they think.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you doubt that Gibbs could turn around this franchise this quickly and put them in a position to play meaningful games this late into the season?

Why were so many writers so eager to write off the Redskins this pre-season. And I mean specifically guys like Len Pasquarelli, who seems to hate the Redskins.

Have these writers never been to Canton?

Michael Wilbon: I never understood not giving Gibbs the benefit of the doubt. His bust is in Canton. He won three championships with three different quarterbacks, with running backs changing and receivers (other than Art Monk) changing...I don't make the case that Gibbs is going to win another Super Bowl, but I always made the case Gibbs knows what he's doing and has to be given as much rope as is possible. The Redskins, remember, still might not make the playoffs. But they're heading in the right direction, for the first time since 1999.

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Washington, D.C.: How bout Parcells avoiding the post-game handshake with Gibbs yesterday? Wasn't it great to see the Tuna stewing all day!

Michael Wilbon: I'm not a fan, as you clearly are, so I don't have a personal stake in the Cowboys looking bad...But Tuna's reaction was predictable, as was his 6 minute press conference in which he was unfailingly polite to reporters. I presume he saved every bit of venom for his team after its doggish effort.

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Chantilly, Va.: Thanks to Rex Grossman and Da Bears, Redskins still have a shot at the playoff. Is Rex Grossman that much better than Orton?

Michael Wilbon: Grossman is a better passer and more decisive than Orton, the roookie...Even though Orton has started more games, he hasn't had two full training camps as the starter, as Grossman did. My problem with Grossman is that he's smallihs (5-11, 6-feet maybe) and injury prone. Orton is 6-4, seems like he can take a shot...but he is so indecisive and his teammates have no confidence in him moving the ball. When Grossman entered the game last night, I could feel Chicago levitate...See, Chicago has no split in its football loyalties, as is the case with baseball. Grossman coming in lifted the entire city in a way it has rarely been lifted since Michael Jordan left...Now, it was only a moment, and Grossman may have overrated himself (boy did he talk a lot of smack going into the game about why he should be in the game and not Orton). But the Bears looked like they can at least be an offensive threat now, where as they couldn't move the ball a lick before.

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Arlington, Va.: It's spelled Kool-aid Mike! Come on! You know you drank that stuff as a kid.

Michael Wilbon: Yeah, but I haven't consumed the stuff SINCE I was a kid.

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Washington, D.C.: Wilbon! Still undefeated in the pool? If not, which game got ya?

Michael Wilbon: No, my pool is week to week. I have a 16-0, then 13-3, then 12-4 last week...but I had to cover a lot of ground for a couple of 7-7 weeks mid-season...I'm 9-5 this week, so I could do double-digits for about the fourth straight week, but I've got Baltimore over Green Bay, and knows about that sorry game? I'm not going to win my pool; hope you're doing better.

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Washington, D.C.: I realize you aren't a fan. But you had to be impressed by the crowd chanting Randy Thomas' name as he was carted off the field. A classy move by the fans for one of the guys in the trenches.

Michael Wilbon: It was a classy move, and I expect that. Also, you think that doesn't happen in Denver and Green Bay and Kansas City? I'm not into crediting fans. I do like ripping them when they leave early or don't show after they've been given a bunch of credit...

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Washington, D.C.: The Bears looked great last night. How far do you see them going in the playoffs? Their D is possibly the best ever, and Grossman seemed to provide some needed spark. Just imagine... Bears vs. Redskins in the NFC championship...Final score...2-0.

Michael Wilbon: Well, the Bears and Redskins could play in the second week of the playoffs...for that matter, the first week of the playoffs. The NFC, in general, is too tight to call. It's hard to trust Carolina. And I'm higher on Seattle than most. I don't know. The Giants, we'll find out a lot about, next week. But yeah, the Bears look pretty darn good, especially if they can somehow become the No. 2 seed and get to play in the cold in January...

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New York, NY: I can't believe I just read that sentence about Rex Grossman elevating a city a la Michael Jordan? Rex Grossman?!

Are you kidding me? Who is this masquerading as Wilbon?

Michael Wilbon: He elevated the city when he walked onto the field...That might be the greatest moment Grossman will ever have. But trust me, the whole city discovered hope at the same time. And nothing moves Chicago like the Bears do when they're good...Jordan had, oh, 350 of those moments over 13 years...or double that. Grossman will be lucky to have another one...

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Raleigh, N.C.: Just wondering if you could explain what would need to happen for the Redskins to get a wild-card. Thanks and keep up the great work you and Tony do with PTI.

Michael Wilbon: The Redskins can clinch a spot next week if the Vikings, Falcons and Cowboys all lose...They'd get in as a wild-card. The Redskins can still win the division if the Giants lose twice, but I don't think the Giants are going to lose to the Raiders on the last week of the season. The Raiders can't even beat Cleveland in Oakland...The Raiders are awful...So the G-Men aren't going to lose more than once (to the Redskins) if at all. So, the Redskins most reasonable hope is to win this week and get those others to lose...I still have a problem seeing any NFC East team beat the other division teams three straight weeks...That's so incredibly hard...

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Alexandria, Va.: Marcus Washington had a phenomenal game overall, but his out-of-bounds hit that resulted in a penalty was ill-advised. Did reporters ask Coach Williams about it after the game?

Michael Wilbon: No, why would you? It was a boderline call at best. Washington doesn't get foolish penalties. And...the guy had a great game yesterday...not good...Great! He's one helluva linbeacker in an all-purpose sort of way...

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Scottsdale, Ariz.: Now that Ray Brown is in, do you think Ladell Betts will get more runs and be more important this week? If they call more "downhill" runs Betts is a big, bruising type back, let's hope he stops fumbling.

Michael Wilbon: I think there are enough carries for Portis and Betts...No reason to NOT play them both. You don't have to throw the ball 40 times a game to be good. The Redskins aren't the Colts. They don't have Manning and Harrison...Alright, I've got to run. We've got to prepare for PTI where we'll talk about all this stuff, including the Redskins beat down of the Cowboys...See you next week when we'll discuss, 90 percent, the Redskins vs. Giants and what's up for the playoffs.

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