NFL Insider

The Post's Mark Maske was online Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the resignation of Joe Gibbs from the Redskins and the latest news from around the NFL.

A transcript follows.

Mark writes the NFL Insider blog, and is the author of the new book War Without Death: A Year of Extreme Competition in Pro Football's NFC East.

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Mark Maske: Hey, everyone, let's get right to it.

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San Diego Short-circuits?: A gutsy performance by the Chargers to beat the Colts shorthanded on Sunday, but do the two faces of the franchise, LT and Rivers, give you pause against the Pats? I have a hard time imagining too many star NFL players who would sit on the bench with a twisted knee that was "nothing serious" with a playoff game in doubt -- did LT's reputation take a hit on Sunday and is he soft? As for Rivers, he reminds me more of Ryan Leaf with his antics. Does his hot head (not only to the crowd but to his teammates when things go wrong) get in the way of the team in pressure situations like what they will face on Sunday in Foxborough? Overall, will these two short-circuit the Bolts?

Mark Maske: I don't question Tomlinson's toughness. He said yesterday there were some questions about whether it was a serious injury or not. I do think you're right about Rivers. He needs to tone things down a bit, stop jawing back and forth with the fans and things like that and project some calm leadership for his team.

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Avon Park, Fla.: Is there a reason why Mike Singletary hasn't gotten an interview, much less a head coaching job? This time last year a lot of people around the league were saying that he is definitely head coach material. I heard that Atlanta was high on him. But he hasn't even interviewed there. Why not?

Mark Maske: That has been odd. For a while, I was thinking that the Falcons people already knew him and didn't feel like they had to go through the whole process with him again and he'd be a finalist for the job anyway. Now, the longer things go without him seeming to be in the mix, you do wonder. I don't have a good answer for you, really.

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Washington, D.C.: It is supposed to be extremely cold next Sunday at Gillette Stadium. How will this affect the Chargers, especially LT's knee?

Mark Maske: I wouldn't think it would have a huge impact on the game unless it's very windy or there are sloppy field conditions with snow or ice.

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Tarboro, N.C.: Hi Mark. What's your take on Gregg Williams's chances of locking up the Skins' head coaching job. If he is chosen, do you think he will retain Saunders as his offensive coordinator. Keeping Saunders will be good for that "continuity" factor don't you think?

P.S. -- Looks like Jerry Jones and those arrogant Cowboy fans will need grief counseling after that monumental loss Sunday.

Mark Maske: All along, my opinion of the Redskins' coaching search has been that the only reason not to hire Gregg Williams would be if you could land a heavyweight of a coach, like Bill Cowher. If Cowher won't do it, I would think the Redskins should, and probably will, hire Williams and keep Saunders in charge of the offense.

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D.C.: Is the only coach out there capable of stopping this Patriots offense Bill Belichick?

Mark Maske: The Chargers actually match up relatively well when it comes to their defense against the New England offense. The Chargers led the league in interceptions and they do have the pass rushers to bother Tom Brady a little bit. I just think you need to score 35 to 40 points to have a chance to beat the Patriots and I wonder if a diminished San Diego offense--with the injuries to Tomlinson, Rivers and Gates--can do that.

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Washington, D.C.: Why did Bob Sanders win the defensive player of the year award? He's not even the best player on his team (Dwight Freeney).

Mark Maske: I disagree. I thought Sanders had an excellent year and deserved the award. When he stays healthy, he is the biggest difference-maker on that defense. Freeney has the big reputation and the big contract, but the sack numbers haven't been there lately.

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Chevy Chase, Md.: Mark-

Is it the NFL's intention to allow touchdown celebrations like that of Brandon Jacobs -- who in the last two games has celebrated scores by violently pegging the ball at the stadium end wall, mere feet below the first row of fans -- while fining a guy like Chad Johnson for incorporating "props" into his routine? The rule as it stands completely misses the point. Has anyone in the league office noticed Jacobs's outbursts? Somehow, I wasn't nearly as offended when Randy Moss fake-mooned the crowd at Lambeau. Thanks.

Mark Maske: You're right. Sometimes what the league does--and doesn't do--in this area is just silly. All I can tell you is that if the celebration is deemed spontaneous and not excessive and doesn't involve props, it's supposed to be okay. I guess Jacobs's celebrations fall within those parameters.

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Memphis:1. Does anyone else look at Phillip Rivers and see Ryan Leaf with a better supporting cast? They seem to have the same lack of media-savvy/personality flaws.

2. Most hoped for future headline: "SB MVP Favre Announces he will Return: Calls Upsetting Undefeated Pats 'Awesome'"

Mark Maske: Rivers has played far better than Leaf ever played. He's a legitimate quarterback. And don't interpret what I wrote earlier as me saying I think Rivers is a bad guy. I just think he's been a bit immature at times and needs to be, shall we say, above it all a little more.

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Burke, Va.: What was funnier: TO's post-game weepfest of insincerity, or the look on Jerry Jones's face on the Cowboys' sideline as the clock ticked down to zero?

Mark Maske: I thought the T.O. press conference was fascinating. Oddly, I am personally giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one. I think he likes Romo and was sincere in sticking up for him. It's just a bit difficult to stomach in light of his history with Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb.

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Reston, Va.: How tough will it be for the Pats to game-plan for Rivers and/or LT and/or Volek and/or Turner? Granted, this is Bill the Brain, but is he going to have to go to college film of Volek and Turner to get a good read? And does he have Plans C and D, depending on whether the stars are healthy or not so much?

Mark Maske: It's a good point. I'm sure the Patriots will count on Tomlinson playing, though. And I don't think the Chargers' offensive approach changes that much if Volek is in there instead of Rivers.

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Washington, D.C.: The Jags were supposed to have a defense that could collapse the pocket and give Brady trouble. But in the end, the Patriots punted the ball for the fist time with only 29 seconds left in the game.

Will it be any different with the Chargers?

Mark Maske: I never thought the Jaguars had a defense that could give the Patriots troubles. You didn't see me saying that. The Jaguars didn't have anyone with more than eight sacks during the regular season. The Chargers are different because they do have big-time pass rushers like Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. They have guys in the secondary that can take the ball away, like Antonio Cromartie. I think the Chargers will be aggressive on defense unlike the Jaguars, who just sat back to take away Randy Moss and the big play but let Brady pick them apart 10 yards at a time. I don't think that's the right approach against the Patriots because Brady won't get impatient and they won't make mistakes. I think the Chargers will go after them aggressively. They might give up big plays and they might get blown out that way. But at least they'll give themselves a chance to force some turnovers and win the game.

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Detroit: How about some love for Eli Manning. This guy has taken so much heat (some deservedly so) for so long. It looks like he is becoming the player the Giants hoped he would when they made the trade for him in the draft four years ago. Also, he has done something that golden boy Tony Romo has failed to do, win two playoff games and he won two games sooner than Peyton did.

Mark Maske: You're right. Eli deserves plenty of credit. He's the good Manning right now.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Certain local radio sport talk pundits are convinced that Bill Cowher will be the next coach of the Redskins. That he would be a fool to pass up an offer that they surmise will be $4 million more than that of any other team. That the interview of Gregg Williams is just window dressing and he'll never be hired because Snyder doesn't think he's "sexy" and won't sell club seats like Cowher's hiring would. How off-base are these guys?

Mark Maske: I've always thought the job would be Cowher's if he wants it. So far, we have no indication that he wants it.

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Bethesda, Md.: I know there is some controversy and different opinions about Tony Romo's Mexico trip, but I was just wondering how much preparation do quarterbacks do before games? I know they watch film of the other teams defense, etc. I am just looking for more information on that. The way I imagine it is quarterbacks spending lots of time in the film room or bringing tapes home to watch, etc. And I would have to think that some quarterbacks prepare more then others. Thanks.

Mark Maske: The Cowboys players were off on those days. Tony Romo was not on vacation at a time when he was supposed to be in the film room. I don't think the guy ignored his responsibilities. I'm sure he prepared. I just think he was crazy to let that go public and set himself up for this sort of reaction if he didn't play well and his team lost.

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Philly: Rumors before the end of the season had McNabb heading off to Chicago and Andy Reid saying goodbye to coaching. Now that the season is over all is quiet on the Iggles Front. Was it all bluster or is this the quiet before the storm in Iggle land?

Mark Maske: You would think that if Reid was going to quit, he would have done it by now. As for McNabb, I still don't rule out him being in Chicago or Minnesota next season. Player moves don't start happening for another month and a half.

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San Francisco: Mark,

I hate to see a grown man cry... unless that man is Terrell Owens. This weekend, who wins the NFC, and who has a better chance against the Pats?

Mark Maske: I guess I would say the Packers, but I think either one would be competitive in the Super Bowl. We've already seen that the Giants can do the things that you need to do to stay in a game with the Patriots. The Packers have a defense that can at least slow down the Patriots a little bit, and you would think that Favre would rise to the occasion. Either that or throw about six interceptions, but he wouldn't be scared to throw, throw and throw some more.

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Washington, D.C.: Even if Antonio Cromartie shuts down Randy Moss, how do the Chargers account for Stallworth, Welker, Watson, Maroney and Faulk?

Mark Maske: That's the problem, isn't it? You can't. You don't. That's why that offense set the single-season scoring record. That's why I think you need to score 35 or 40 points yourself to be in a game with the Patriots. They're going to move the ball and score points. I think as a defense, the key is to be aggressive, try to put some hits on Brady and generate some turnovers to help your offense score 40.

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San Diego: It seems to me people are overlooking the Chargers' depth. That players named Volek, Jackson, Turner and Sproles stepped in for the better known players and did a superb job was probably not an accident. Sproles is a dynamite little runner who burned the Colts both times they played this season.

Mark Maske: That's true. But could they win a playoff game on the road if Volek had to play from start to finish? Remember, Rivers had thrown three touchdown passes before Volek took over. I think Michael Turner and Darren Sproles are good players, but would you rather give them 25 carries in a game or give LaDainian Tomlinson 25 carries in a game?

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DC: Is the debate between Brady vs. Manning over? Brady won 3 Super Bowls with less talent on both offense and defense than Manning had this year.

Mark Maske: Not to knock Peyton Manning in any way, but if the Patriots win this Super Bowl I think you could make a very good argument that Brady has had the greatest season a quarterback has ever had and already has done enough to be remembered as the greatest quarterback ever.

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Philadelphia: Is Baltimore still looking for a coach? Why is it taking so long for these franchises to select someone? I thought these things get wrapped up in like a week?

Mark Maske: Jason Garrett is scheduled to be in Baltimore today for a second interview. It's possible the Ravens could hire him by the end of the day.

I think you'll see things happen this week. A lot of the top candidates like Garrett, Tony Sparano and Jim Caldwell couldn't be hired until their teams lost in the playoffs, and now that's happened.

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NYC: I know you take the high road on the issue of officiating, bias and conspiracy theories, and I respect you, but the fact remains the officiating in the NFL games is not even-handed. The Chargers-Colts game was beyond pathetic, and it's getting old to continue to ascribe the simple notion of "mistakes" to flagrant errors that all go to one team's favor, especially when that team is the team any conspiracy theorist would predict to be the one to get the favors. The NFL now reminds me of the NBA during the MJ years, when Stern played everything according to a script. And I sincerely believe the NFL is at risk of losing its exalted status with fans if this nonsense continues.

Mark Maske: Certainly I had some doubts about some of the calls made in that game. But in the end, the team that deserved to win the game won it. The officiating didn't determine anything. The players and coaches did.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you expect more head coaching openings this offseason? Such as the Colts and Seahawks?

Mark Maske: Those are the two to watch. You couldn't be surprised if either Tony Dungy or Mike Holmgren walks away. Dungy said yesterday he'd make his decision this weekend.

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Omaha, Neb.: Are you finally ready to admit that the Packers are the best team in the NFC? It's okay to admit you were wrong (all season). Really, it is. I know it's en vogue in Washington the last 7 or 8 years to refuse to admit mistakes, but it would show true grit on your part. Same comment for your opinion on Favre's ability at age 38.

I guess my question is this: I know they're facing a washed up quarterback in decline and a team that will probably only win 4-6 games this year, but what do my Giants have to do on Sunday to beat the Packers?

Just show up, right?

Mark Maske: I said all season I thought the Packers were a very good team but I thought the Cowboys were a bit better. Don't forget who won when they played each other. The Packers deserve to be where they are. But given the way the Giants are playing, I think this is a very tight matchup this weekend and I wouldn't call it an automatic that the Packers will win. It all comes down to Eli Manning, to me. If he plays another game like the last three he just played, the Giants should win.

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Alexandria, Va.: With all due respect to Memphis, if "Super Bowl MVP Favre" beats the Pats, he'd be a fool not to go out on a high note.

Mark Maske: I don't think he'll retire after this season no matter how it goes from here. He's had a great year. He likes to play. I think he's a guy who will walk away only when it's clear to him that he simply can't get it done any longer.

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Fredneck: In hind sight, how did the flexible scheduling experiment work out?

Mark Maske: I think it has worked out pretty well from the league's standpoint and NBC's standpoint. I don't know that you would say it has worked out well from the standpoint of the other networks who have contracts with the NFL. CBS and Fox lose attractive games to NBC. ESPN pays more than NBC and doesn't get flex scheduling.

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Mark Maske: I'm going to run, folks. Thanks for the questions and see you here same time next week.

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