The Chat House

Sports News

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 1:15 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the latest sports news and his recent columns.

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The transcript follows.

Discussion Archive

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Age of Aquarius: Are we in some weird sports cosmic plane right now with footballs bouncing off uprights and supports, teams being called back onto the field, Cuisinart college football polls, Randy and TO dueling banjos, home-run king indictments, Buffett advising ARod and Pats perfection? Will Al Gore be a guest on PTI to explain it is all due to global warming?

Michael Wilbon: Hi Everybody...I'm in Denver for tonight's MNF game, where who knows what in the world will take place...Per this first question, as strange as the sports universe seems these days, it has cycles like this all the time...Every year there's some stretch that defies logic, where a boxer bites off a chunk of his opponent's ear and a string of crazy things happens...That's why we love it. That's why reality TV tries to duplicate it. It's why they play the games and why we watch...

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New Orleans: Despite the losses, doesn't it seem that Jason Campbell is establishing himself as the current and future quarterback for the 'Skins?

Michael Wilbon: Yes sir...It's been a long, long time since the Redskins had a mid-20s guy establish himself as a franchise QB. Seriously...The Redskins got Mark Brunell old, Brad Johnson fairly old (though he did win a Super Bowl for somebody else)...Gus Frerotte and Heath Shuler weren't the real things, though Frerotte, for a guy who wasn't supposed to make it, has been around what, 13, 14 years...He's had a nice career, but he was never a guy you'd build around. The Redskins had Trent Green when he was up and coming but the sale of the franchise after Jack Kent Cooke's death led to him leaving for St. Louis...How far do we need to go back, to Mark Rypien? That's a long, long time. But Campbell seems to be that guy. The Redskins need to replenish his offensive line and he needs another deep threat, but my goodness he knows how to throw. He seems calm enough for a guy in his first full season starting...How could you be unhappy with anything you've seen from Campbell is you're a Redskins fan...or a Redskin?

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Accomac, Va.: So, who will be the head coach of the Redskins this time next year?

Michael Wilbon: Oh, can't you just let a few more weeks play out? Suppose they make the playoffs and then win a game or two? I don't know. Bill Cowher is an easy answer. We all know by know beyond a sliver of doubt that Dan Snyder is enamored of big splash hires. He's not going to seek out the next Ken Wisenhunt or Mike Tomlin...I don't believe you'll see Bill Parcells, but Cowher is on a TV set these days and we know that won't last for long.

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Detroit: I know many alums will be happy that Lloyd Carr is leaving, but even if Michigan should move in another direction, Coach Carr exhibited the kind of class that is sorely missing in college football today. Sure has a losing record against OSU and lost some big games, but he did so much for his players, for his school and the community. Michigan Football will not be the same without him.

Michael Wilbon: I'm not going to get into a debate about how much class Lloyd Carr has...or doesn't. I don't know. He seemed, mostly, to be a crusty, cantankerous, jerk to me...And that doesn't matter in the final analysis because he's been a great coach. He won one more national championship (a share, I think in 1997) than Bo Schembechler. Carr was good enough as a coach to get his team to recover from those shattering losses to open the season, both at home. Coaches are supposed to do a lot for their players, and the vast majority do...So, I'm not going to write him a love song. But the guy was a damn good coach, consistently. And if the Michigan alums want him out because of his record against Ohio State they're being silly and short-sighted. Michigan football steers clear of scandal, produces NFL players and fine college graduates annually...These schools and their idiot alums had better be careful about running off coaches as good as Lloyd Carr. Ask Nebraska. Ask Notre Dame.

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St. Louis: Hey Mike,

You've been fairly critical of Belichek this season, especially in regards to his personality. Have you ever had a chance to spend time with him or conduct an interview with him? Most people who spend time with him come away impressed.

Michael Wilbon: I've been both critical and praising, and wrote a column a week or two ago talking about spending time with Belichick who is very, very impressive. I'm appreciative of the time he granted me. Just because I like somebody -- and most people have NO idea how different he is socially -- doesn't mean I'm not going to deal with the issues he's involved in. He cheated. That's not arguable. The NFL fined him and his team for it. That's one piece. Now, he's the best coach in the league, period. He's probably the best over the last six or seven years. His teams are the smartest, best-prepared, most clutch teams in the league. Like most people, Belichick is complex...and that justifies observation that is both critical and praising.

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Washington, D.C.: The '85 Bears beat teams by an average of 16 points per game. The '07 Patriots are doing it by 22 ppg (in a parity driven era). If the Pats can run the table and go 19-0, will they be considered the best ever?

Michael Wilbon: Yes. Absolutely. No question in my mind. I don't know if they're the most dominant. The Bears still own that distinction after 22 years because they battered people, made them quit...quite literally made them not want to play. And they did it by 16 points a game with a basic offense, not this Star Wars thing the Patriots trot out every week. The Bears scared you, these Patriots awe you...

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Columbia, Md.: Wilbon,

Ravens/Browns... are you kidding me with that ending?

Michael Wilbon: How great was that? I was watching live on DirecTV (by the way, if you love pro football and don't have Sunday Ticket you're just...well...not with it) and screaming at the TV. I'm just glad the officials got it right. I don't care if they looked at the jumbotron or sneaked a peak at the replay or asked somebody upstairs to give a hand signal. Getting it right is all that matters. Kudos to the officials for doing so.

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Panic in D.C.: Hey Michael,

Don't you think that the Redskins are in a decent position. The next three games are Tampa Bay on the road and then Buffalo and Chicago at home. I think we could win all three of those games and find ourselves at 8-5. Isn't it a little too early to panic or call for the head of Gibbs?

Michael Wilbon: Refresh my memory...how many times have the Redskins won three straight this year? You're counting victories when they needed OT to beat the Dolphins and a great degree of luck to beat the Cardinals? At home? The Redskins are in it. Don't try to draw conclusions. They're in it. They've got a good chance to make the playoffs by winning two of the three games you mention...Last I checked, Tampa Bay has a better record than the Redskins, a more experienced QB and they're playing at home...The Redskins ought to beat the sorry Bears...but Buffalo is better than you think, too.

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LA, CA: There was nothing "weird" or "cosmic" about the fact that The Skins couldn't cover T.O. was there?

Michael Wilbon: I'm so sick of these zone defenses that let T.O. and Randy Moss just wander into the end zone with guys looking back in confusion because the corner thought he had help and didn't, or the safety thought the corner was going to run with the guy down the field and didn't...COVER THE @&$^$%#*)&(*^%&$^# receiver with two guys like in the old days. Double-team, man to man. COVER HIM! Coaches stay awake all night to devise this garbage? Hell, I can devise a scheme sitting here at my computer than will let T.O. run behind my guys all afternoon. How hard is that? Cover Patrick Crayton single, and double T.O. every snap. Make the tight beat you, or force the Cowboys to run the ball...Sure, Jones and Barber are capable of beating you. BUT NOT IN ONE PLAY! How bright is it to continually let the best receiver on the field run past you?

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Baltimore: Hello Mike: Who do you think will go first, Joe Gibbs or Brian Billick? (please say Billick)

Michael Wilbon: I'm not going to engage, week after week, in these silly "Who's going to get fired" garbage...So stop asking. Both teams have six games to play. Suppose they both make the playoffs, unlikely as it seems...Stop. There's got to be something more creative on your mind, and if not there ought to be.

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Boston: Word is that Lowell is staying with the Sox and accepting three years instead of four. With ARod, Posada and now likely Rivera and Lowell all staying with their teams, have free agents figured out the grass isn't always greener on the other side?

Michael Wilbon: For now. Temporarily. Then next year or the next a bunch of people will jump ship and we'll come to a different conclusion. Nothing last for long...

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D.C.: Michael

I agree with you about warning schools that if they run off their coach, the next one might be far worse, but all the folks in Michigan can see is that Ohio State ran off John Cooper because he couldn't beat Michigan, although he averaged more than 9 wins a year. OSU hired Jim Tressell, who is 6-1 against Michigan. So sometimes is does work out.

Michael Wilbon: And many many times, it doesn't. My point is, it's risky. Very risky.

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Pocomoke City, Md.: It looks like the Wizards will take it to the next level this year. But the question is -- next level UP or next level DOWN?

Michael Wilbon: Too early to know that. They've responded to the 5 straight losses to start the season with 4 straight victories, which is pretty decent. The schedule gives the Wizards a chance to get above .500 with a cushion if they can keep rolling for another week or two..Question, of course, is when Gilbert (if?) is going to be 100 percent physically. He isn't now. And in the meat of the schedule, the Wizards will need him to be...although I think it's a silver lining that they have to play without him a bit or with him playing reduced minutes. This team has been FAR too dependent on Arenas. Jamison can play. Butler can play. And so far I LOVE what I see from Brendan Haywood.

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Anonymous: Do you get into the NBA this early in the season or when can you really start talking about who are the good and bad teams.

Wiz: four in a row. Thats nice to see.

Michael Wilbon: I get into the NBA from Day 1 because I'm paid to do so. Hell, I got into it from Day 1 anyway because I love professional basketball. You need to see 25 or 30 games to have a really good idea, and sometimes we're looking at 40 or so. But 30 games should really give you some indication, presuming relative health thereafter.

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Bethesda, Md.: I noticed Randy Moss and TO don't celebrate touchdown passes like they used to. Any reason they've calmed down the flamboyancy?

Michael Wilbon: Randy Moss was never much into dances and choreographed stuff the way T.O. has been. I don't know this but I suspect it just got old and T.O. knows this might be his best chance to play for a championship team and simply cut the theatrics. Whatever the case, good.

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Annapolis, Md.: Did you watch the game between the Cowboys and Redskins yesterday?

I may be in the minority here, but I am patient and realistic when it comes to the Redskins -- and I was very pleased to see Jason Campbell unwind it yesterday and show what he can do.

I think he's the real deal.

What do you think?

Michael Wilbon: See above answer!

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New Orleans: While watching the Saints-Texans game, it was interesting to watch the battle between the No.1 and No.2 picks of last year's draft. Mario Williams definitely won.

Michael Wilbon: Great point. And this is why people need to stop drawing definitive conclusions after one year in professional sports. Mario Williams looked pretty darned good, didn't he?

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Washington, D.C.: Eddie Jordan has taken a lot of heat in DC, but he finally seems to have learned that the Wiz are a better team with two 7 footers on the floor at the same time. Imagine that!

If the new Haywood isn't a complete mirage, and Blatche steps it up we're looking at a pretty good team, no?

Michael Wilbon: Pretty good, yes. I think so. The Wizards need size and toughness, and Haywood and Blatche together provide at least the size. And it gives the team some flexibility, which is more important when you don't play shut-down defense. We'll see over the next couple of weeks whether the Wizards learn how to play that way...I think it will be beneficial in the long run.

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Washington, D.C.: No more questions about which NFL coach gets fired --

instead, which top-ranked BCS team will lose this weekend?

Michael Wilbon: Great question...I like Kansas over Mizzou and I have LSU LOSING to Arkansas! You think I'm out on a limb. I'm feeling pretty cocky after picking the Jets to beat the Steelers yesterday in my confidence pool.

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New Orleans: Hey Mike,

Are you looking over the edge of the Saints bandwagon and deciding if it's safe to jump?

Michael Wilbon: You didn't see me back off that puppy? I'm gone. I picked the Saints to lose yesterday, too...what a reality check for me.

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Fairfax, VA: Marty Shottenheimer was fired for being too conservative and having a run first defense. The Chargers GM wanted to open it up more. Looks like he didn't know Phillip Rivers as well as Shotty did.

Michael Wilbon: It was plain dumb to fire Marty Schottenheimer. Dumb and stupid...and the Charges front office is getting what it deserved.

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Vienna, Va.: Mike, what's the best way to get snail-mail to you? The Post, ESPN in Bristol, Atlantic Video over near Mt. Vernon Square? I have a recent magazine article inspired by your March Madness story about JTIII as compared to the experiences of his father, and I would like to share a dead-tree version of it with you. Thanks!

Michael Wilbon: Send it to Atlantic Video at 650 Mass. AVE NW, D.C. 20001...

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Reston, Va.: What is going on with Marvin Lewis and the Bengals? Are they going downhill?

Michael Wilbon: Going downhill? They're at the bottom of the hill already. This is a classic case of deciding talent trumps every consideration. Marvin Lewis, who I like tremendously, picked these players including the lawless knuckleheads that rendered the top of one of his recent drafts useless and took his team down. I'm not saying you have to take boys scouts in the draft. But you can't do what Lewis did...Now, even the great professionals like Carson Palmer and Willie Anderson seem affected. That team is a mess and I don't know what the quick fix is. They're wasting the best years of a golden-armed QB.

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Tenleytown, Md.: Okay, I'll bite..if you got LSU losing (and if you picked the Jets, you are HOT right now), who plays in the BCS title game?

Michael Wilbon: Hell, I'm hot right now...not necessarily two weeks from now when we see how all this plays out. Suppose Kansas and Arkansas both lose? We're looking at West Virginia vs. Mizzou? Or West Virginia vs. Ohio State (in case Missou loses to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game)...I don't know...I just want to see the BCS in a shambles every year until college football gets a playoff system.

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A-Rod Consults with Warren Buffett: I guess this shouldn't have been so surprising. Warren probably doesn't have much chance to heart to heart with people who are as loaded as he is...

Michael Wilbon: It's the smartest thing A-Rod could have done, consult Mr. Buffett. My question is, shouldn't he be able to get some sound advice from his agent, Scott Boras? Apparently not. Kenny Rogers bolted from Boras. Let's see if it's a trend.

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RE: Coaches: I saw what you wrote about the questions but please offer your insights as to whether Joe Gibbs looks like he's having ANY fun this season?

Michael Wilbon: I have no idea. I don't cover the Redskins every Sunday like I used to...I've seen Gibbs twice, after the Philly game early in the season when he was darned happy and two weeks ago after the Jets game when he was darned happy again. You'll have to consult the Redskins chat to get that kind of up close observation on Gibbs. But I don't think coaches in the NFL, or any professional sport, have ANY fun during a season. It's work, it's stress, it's sleepless nights and weeks. It's pounds gained or lost, hair turning white or falling out. You and I have fun watching. They face a firing squad of people every week asking, "Who's going to be first, Gibbs or Billick?" You think there's any fun in that?

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Washington, D.C.: Mike,

What is the deal with the Bulls?! It seems like every single player on that team is slumping. I don't buy the whole "Kobe trade rumors made us distracted" line, either. How are they going to turn it around?

Michael Wilbon: Good observation. The Kobe rumors did kill them the first few games, but they still stink. I saw the Bulls in person in Phoenix the other night, and a Bulls player who I will not name had a great theory on why they start 3-9, 3-7, 0-8 the last three years (before making the playoffs each season)...He thinks it's because every team plays as hard as is humanly possible the first two weeks, but only a few maintain that level the rest of the regular season. He says the Bulls will continue to play just this hard, most of the others won't, and the results will turn around...Fascinating, really...We'll be able to see whether he's right (again).

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Dallas: Everyone is always asking who the Patriots are going to lose to...ENOUGH!

On to more important things...so who are the Dolphins going to beat?

Michael Wilbon: The Bengals and Ravens...I've got the Fish winning twice...Okay, gotta run...Tony is screaming that he wants to get started with PTI prep...Back to D.C. first thing Tuesday, and we'll chat next Monday, post-Thanksgiving, from Pittsburgh. Everybody have a wonderul holiday weekend...Eat, drink...and GET ON A TREADMILL! MW

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