Prisco's Monday Musings 

---There was some talk in New England Sunday that the time has come for the Jets to sit down rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Why? This is his team for the long run, so that accomplishes nothing. He is playing poorly, but he needs to work through it. Let him learn on the job. The Jets are 4-6 and their playoff hopes are all but dead, so let him play for the future. I'm not a big fan of the play calling of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. He needs to work on helping Sanchez more. It didn't help Sanchez that Braylon Edwards ran a soft route that led to an interception. He seemed to be jogging his route. Edwards also dropped a first-down pass.

---It's tough enough losing one key starter on defense for the season. But the Green Bay Packers lost two Sunday. The Packers lost corner Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman to knee injuries. Both will have surgery and are gone for the season. Harris had played well in adapting to Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme, which featured more zone coverage. Kampman might be the key to the defense, his rush skills a vital part of that unit. Rookie Brad Jones will likely start for Kampman, although Brady Poppinga. Jones started for Kampman against the Cowboys and played well. Tramon Williams will take over for Harris. Jarrett Bush will move up to nickel corner. Capers has a real challenge now with that group of players, but he's always done more with less.

---I heard more talk Sunday that the overtime rules need to be changed. That drum started getting banged again when the Giants beat Atlanta in overtime without the Falcons touching the ball. Here's an idea: Stop them. The Chiefs stopped the Steelers in overtime and then won it when they got the ball. The overtime system is fine. Don't change it.

---The Chargers released receiver Chris Chambers in part because they thought he slowed down. But Chambers looked good Sunday for the Chiefs with four catches for 119 yards. His 61-yard catch set up the game-winning field goal to beat the Steelers.

---I don't buy Mike Shanahan's interest in the Buffalo job. He'll talk to them, but I hear he doesn't like the quarterback situation. The ideal job for him would be Houston, but he'd be taking over for good friend, Gary Kubiak, and there is no telling if that job comes open. If it does I'm told he'd love to work with Matt Schaub. Shanahan is also eyeing the Cowboys and Redskins. Keep the Bears open as a possibility. Shanahan has two years left on his Denver contract.

---Mike Holmgren to the Seahawks sounds likely. He would take on a Bill Parcells role. But I don't think Holmgren and coach Jim Mora Jr. had a warm and fuzzy relationship when they were together. That will be an interesting situation to watch if Holmgren does take over. But let's not forger that Holmgren wasn't great making personnel decisions when he had that power in Seattle in the past.

----I've been a big proponent of Lions rookie quarterback Matt Stafford. He has it. We saw it Sunday. He threw five touchdown passes to beat the Cleveland Browns, the last coming on the game's final play -- with a separated shoulder. The kid is tough and he understands the passing game. The Lions have a keeper. His 422 yards passing were the most by a rookie in league history.

----Terrell Owens looked to be having fun playing in the Bills loss to the Jaguars. He had nine catches for 197 yards and a 98-yard touchdown catch. Where has he been all season?

---Peyton Manning went over 3,000 yards passing Sunday. That makes 12 consecutive seasons topping that number, which is an NFL record. It's expected now. The Colts have won 19 consecutive games, which is two off the NFL record of 21 set by the New England Patriots.

----The Ravens have had problems covering the pass all season long. Now they will have to do it without starting corner Fabian Washington, who is out with a torn ACL. Lardarius Webb, a rookie third-round pick, will likely take his starting spot. Webb is the corner of the future for the Ravens, but this might be rushing it a bit.

----The Steelers will bring in a quarterback with Charlie Batch out six weeks with a wrist injury and Ben Roethlisberger hurting with a concussion. The Steelers will consider somebody like Cleo Lemon or another veteran. They better hope Roethlisberger can go this week. If not, it's Dennis Dixon making his first start. Wonder if Byron Leftwich wishes he had stayed in Pittsburgh now?

---I love when sideline spats between coaches and players become a big deal. We had one in Dallas Sunday with Dave Campo and cornerback Terence Newman getting into it. The two had to be separated. It's heat of the moment stuff. No big deal. Campo gets feisty on the sidelines, so it's not surprise.

Manning is methodically chewing through Favre's records. I imagine he'll be breaking Favre's 4,000-yard record soon too.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

Manning is methodically chewing through Favre's records. I imagine he'll be breaking Favre's 4,000-yard record soon too.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote: