After two weeks without a mailbag session, I'm back to answer all of the questions or comments that you've been sending in. Remember that whatever you send in will be included, so send something in if you'd like to be featured in our next mailbag session. In this edition, most of you talked about news regarding the closing of the preseason.


On 8/13/06, Rip sent the following regarding my NFL QB Rankings:
"Actually, you were not too far off regarding Kerry Collins. He was one game shy of throwing for 4000 yards. He threw for over 3700 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, not to mention his RB, LaMont Jordan led the league with dropped passes and his receivers also let him down. In the Cleveland game, they dropped at least five passes. When a QB goes down, he will be signed."
Pokorny: Well, your prediction wasn't too far off in the case that a team would sign him. However, it didn't take an injury, as the Tennessee Titans pulled a surprise and are basically tossing Billy Volek aside. I don't think the move will hurt the Titans, but I don't really know if it'll help them either. Collins threw for a lot of yards with the Raiders, but he wasn't the greatest quarterback when it came to needing a clutch play.

On 8/14/06, J. Vince sent the following regarding Little John Flowers:
"He is hanging in there and I am elated. With age comes wisdom, and I believe this time around he will be there on the final roster."
Pokorny: Just a note to readers: When this message was sent to me, Flowers will still on the roster. Unfortunately, he was one of the men the Giants cut after suffering a hamstring injury. If another NFL teams does not pick him up, he will likely return to the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe next summer.

On 8/17/06, ESJr. sent the following to PFC Writer KDawg1 regarding his AFC North preview:
"You are right on with the Steelers. I know there are a lot of doubters out there thinking the Steelers lucked their way through the playoffs. Get real people! This team tied the Bengals with the best record in the division. It's not like they were 9-7 and lucky to get in. Two of their losses came at the expense of the inept Tommy Maddox. Sorry Tommy! This team deserved to win the Super Bowl as they proved they were the best team last year. They kicked some serious butt. True, they lost a few players but they will re-load as they have always done and if they can remain focused and put last year behind them and realize it starts all over again, then look out. Here they come again. Oh, in case anyone is brain dead out there, they absolutely love being pegged the underdog. The chip on the shoulder gets bigger. I'm out."
Pokorny: The Bengals and Steelers will be neck and neck for the division this year again, but the Steelers are not an automatic "in" for the playoffs. Last year, although they almost missed the playoffs, if it weren't for a tiebreaker they owner over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns and Ravens have both improved somewhat, and could hand the Bengals and Steelers one more loss than they had last year. The Steelers are coached well enough to survive with what they have, and heading into the season, they are still the team to beat.

On 8/18/06, Rodney sent the following regarding Chad Jackson signing with the Patriots.
"I think it's a very good choice, because Chad Jackson is going to be like Chad Johnson. Ya dig?"
Pokorny: That's a bold statement for a rookie receiver to play like Johnson does. Although Carson Palmer likes to spread the ball around in Cincinnati, Tom Brady likes to spread the ball even more on the Patriots. Jackson will get his fair share of catches this year, but it'll take a year before I can project his potential in the NFL.

On 8/20/06, Kyle posted the following regarding LenDale White:
"The best running back in the draft."
Pokorny: He was an underrated selection, but Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, Jerome Harrison, and DeAngelo Williams will probably see more action this year. White's attitude will be key in whether or not he has success in the NFL.

On 8/28/06, Brad sent the following regarding Koren Robinson being released:
"I'm glad they got rid of that low life *bleep* *bleep* *bleep*. He ain't no Randy Moss thinking he was going to get drunk driving over 100mph. I got myself arrested. He should of too."
Pokorny: Sorry, I had to bleep some of your words. I don't mind the words you said, but I had to due to agreements with revenue services. Anyways, Robinson is definitely a moron for doing what he did. He blew it in Seattle, and most people wouldn't have gotten a second chance. He got his second chance, and he blew it. Props to the Vikings for having the guts to cut him after already being thin at the position.

On 8/28/06, J.J. Perkins asked the following:
"Will Koren Robinson play this year for another team?"
Pokorny: Possibly, but it would probably be similar to what happened last year. When the Vikings picked him up, they used him as a kick returner mainly, and slowly worked him into the offense at the end of the season. Teams may be interested in him as a kickoff returner exclusively, but he won't get a large contract for that.

On 8/29/06, Brandon Slay wrote the following about Koren Robinson being released:
"Dats sum news right there."
Pokorny: Yes, indeed it is.

On 8/29/06, Jay Autry wrote the following regarding the Raiders and Jeff George:
"Great idea Art...ruin the team even more."
Pokorny: Well, signing Aaron Brooks wasn't an impact move to begin with. And, signing George doesn't really do a whole lot to help the Raiders either.

On 8/29/06, William sent in the following regarding Jeff George:
"He has lost-lost-lost it!!!"
Pokorny: Ditto.

On 8/30/06, Joe in San Diego sent the following regarding the Colts passing game against the New York Giants:
"More passing than running against the Giants just may be playing into a relative strength of their rebuilt defense this year and avoiding their apparent
weakness. Tim Lewis' secondary is set, with the addition of real live cornerbacks and a good free safety in Demps. Where he's still playing musical chairs is at both tackle positions, with new combinations of starters for each preseason game. The best DT so far appears to be Barry Cofield, the rookie drafted in the 4th round, and they've been looking on the street for DT help."
Pokorny: Thanks for the scouting report. So many people are caught up with the whole Eli Manning vs. Peyton Manning idea for the first game, that they aren't even paying attention to the aspects that'll be deciding the game, as you mentioned. The Giants may be weak up front, but they've improved their linebacking group, which was their major weakness a year ago. Against the Colts though, they'll need someone to plug those tricky draw plays that P.Manning runs so well.

On 8/31/06, Will Walker sent the following regarding PFC Writer KDawg1 and his AFC West Preview:
"Love your predictions for 2006. I'm not sure that any kind of stress is good for Plummer, and that "extra incentive" you mention may be the stressor that
cracks Jake. Here's what's fascinating: Jay Cutler has a better passing record than Jake in pre-season despite playing with the 2nd string line and 2nd string receivers. Cutler also appeared more poised and professional than Jake. Cutler is the future for the Broncos, and the sooner the future gets on the field, the sooner the future becomes the present."
Pokorny: Remember, Cutler also faced the second-string defense. Plummer did too well last year to suddenly throw him under the bus because of a preseason performance. Cutler is the future, but that will be a couple of years away unless an injury occurs.

On 8/31/06, Roger Staich sent the following regarding old quarterbacks:
"At 43, George Blanda quarterbacked, kicked(off, field goals, and extra points) and led the team to 6 or 7 come-from-behind victories(1970 season). Everybody wants to say Dirty Al is senile, & that Art is washed up. After they destroy the completely overrated Seachickens(with their ugly bald-no talent quarterback in their stadium tonight)they'll go on and humiliate the also overrated San Diego Chargers in Week 1 of the regular season.(how much starting NFL experience does Phillip Rivers have again?) I've been a fan since 1968, & seen much stranger happenings. Mark my words-Oakland will surprise a lot of naysayers in 2007/08. I see them squeaking into a final wild card spot & upsetting some idiot like Payton Manning(who will NEVER win the big one!)"
Pokorny: Anything can happen, but I sense a lot of homerism and too much optimism for a team that will probably finish last in the division again. To say that the Raiders have a chance to upset Peyton Manning is something that's simply not going to happen. The San Diego Chargers are not overrated either; they are heavily underrated. They still have the bread and butter of their offense in Tomlinson and Gates, and they lost too many games they should've won last year.

On 9/1/06, Beverly Fillinger sent the following on J.P. Losman being named the Bills' starting quarterback:
"It's about time!"
Pokorny: None of the Bills quarterbacks did a tremendous job during the preseason, but Losman was indeed the best of the bunch. Unfortunately, that still won't equate to much during the regular season.

On 9/1/06, Amy Walker sent the following regarding Sammy Morris:
"ChrisP,

I think its also important to point out that Sammy was taking medication for an upper respiratory infection and was given a high dose of Sudafed, which does have an ephedra like effect.

I'm a good friend of Sammys and I know for a fact that while he was home in Dallas for the off season, he put himself through rigorous workouts to get ready for this season.

He has also been fighting this thing since last year and could have just taken the suspension then and gotten it over with and played this year in Ricky's absence. It really didn't benefit him financially or career-wise to even try to fight this thing!

I'm not trying to cause trouble, it just bothers me because Sammy has a lot of character and wouldn't do something like this!

Whether you believe it or not, I just needed to get it off my chest!"
Pokorny: Thank you for your input on the situation. It's nice to hear this story from a different perspective, as the media can portray things in a negative image sometimes.

Thanks to everyone who sent something in. If you'd like to be featured in our next mailbag session, leave a question in the form below.