Live Q&As

Because the bookmakers can't afford to lose all the money bet on the Giants after they went to 80-1 underdogs with their record at 6-6 to win the Super Bowl. Honest answer: I just think oddsmakers don't think Pats defense is as bad as everyone thinks -- even the secondary right now. And I don't think they believe Eli Manning can win a shootout with Tom Brady, even though the Giants have been the best team in the playoffs

I interviewed one of them on the radio today, Ron Rivera. Someone can help me out with all the others. My feeling: for all the pass-happy offenses in the league, no one has yet to see a defense as dominant as those Bears -- even the Ravens in 2000.  And so many of those guys were smart beyond being tough.

Thanks for the nice words on the Fredericksburg Generals story running this Sunday in the magazine. This one caught me by surprise. A guy says, "Hey, I coached a minor league football team 15 years ago. Can you write about it? Oh, and Mark Moseley was the kicker at 47 years old." All of a sudden, a nice narrative develops and, yes, if someone from a film studio or literary agent wanted to talk about a book or movie, I'm sure Jamie King, myself and Mark would listen. It really is a story that transcends sports. Thanks for reading. I almost think it's "The Replacements" meets "The Great Santini" or "Slingblade."

Because I am a slow writer. (I am, but not that slow.) I think the coach, Jamie King, was hesitant about divulging personal details about his life right afterward and, let's be honest, no one really pays attention when you hear the words "Minor League Football," so it got lost in the shuffle. I was shocked actually to have not found any realy Google references about the significance of a former NFL MVP, the only kicker ever to win the award, being talked into playing for them.

Not currently. But interest could make that change quickly. And I feel like with the three drafts I wrote for the magazine over the past couple of months I already have enough for the book. By the way, thank you to David Rowell, one of the finest editors and writers anywhere, for his help and belief in the story. And my editors in sports for putting up with my crazy schedule.

Good point. It's such a delicate balance between loving the NFL for what people like Sam Huff and Ditka and Lott and LT made it -- a hard-hitting, mano y mano test of wills, against perserving brain cells for people after retirement. I don't know the perfect answer, but I do know until a coach or organization is fined big dollars for letting a guy back onto the field that shouldn't be there the culture change won't actually be genuine or lasting.

No, we should not be concerned about Tom Brady. I mean, he got Giselle. He won. Anything that happens to Brady in the Super Bowl at the hands of the Giants defenders will not change that he is married to a Brazilian model, has three Super Bowls already and was just given the mantle of "Greatest QB of all Time" by Joe Montana yesterday.  I will pray for Rex and Becks before Brady.

Your mouth to Tebow's ears. : ). Seriously, it would be further affirmation of the Generals story if it was ever told on a big screen or in a book.

Yes, sure. The 'Skins are already living off their Championship By Association from Last Season after beating the Packers prior to the Pack winning it all. The Pats have already studied both games. They believe the 'Skins have three advantages that New England hopes to incorporate before Sunday 1. Start a journeyman QB 2. Belichick plans to hire his adolescent son as OC and 3. They plan to take out a chunk of Lucas Oil Stadium to make room for party decks next season. (No, there is nothing the 'Skins can do to help the Pats prepare. Winning in February has nothing to do with winning in the regular season)

I think Myra Kraft's influence is heartfelt and real after her passing, but once the adrenaline spikes before the game and maybe in the first quarter two teams vying for the Lombardi Trophy will ultimately show what they're made of on the field. Unknown forces of the universe only help if you have horses and you don't make mistakes.

Great questions. Undercovered is how close Tom Coughlin was to probably losing his job several times in New York before his team suddenly pulled out a game and a season they desperately needed to stay alive. That guy has more lives than a cat.

Overcovered: Peyton's Place. If I have to hear my former colleague from this paper say, "Regenerated Nerve" one more time as if he's Trapper John M.D., I'm going to lose my cookies. No really. Right here on my computer screen. I can't take Peyton's medical condition being discussed one second more by my peers waiting for their bacon cheeseburgers in the hotel lobby. We're not doctors. We don't know.

Gronk sounds like a cartoon, doesn't it? It's like he's related to Shrek or something. Anyhow, yes, pinpointing an opponent's weakness, whether it be football or boxing, is part of the sport. But you can't go too far and do something stupid, like purposely further injure a guy. That's just low rent.

As a guy who admittedly writes more about people than Xs and Os, this is the most difficult eight-part question I answer today. Therefore, I won't. But I will say this: that 2-minute drill can be dangerous both ways: getting the Giants discombobulated one on end. And, if it doesn't work early, completely deflating to Brady and that offense's confidence. I saw this happen when I was in Foxborough two weeks ago against the Ravens early in the game.

The 'Skins have their issues, but one of the ways you get away from being that organization is to have the confidence to groom your own stars of the future instead of someone else validating your talent for you.  If Manning plays, I don't think it will be in Washington. In fact, I'll be downright shocked.  Joe Gibbs said on the radio show I do with Holden Kushner and Chris Johnson that the worst thing anyone going after Manning could do  was try to put him in a different offense. He needs Indy's offense wherever he goes. Jim Vance actually speculated on the show after Joe Gibbs left that was Joe saying between the lines, "Hey, Mike, don't try to make Kyle Peyton's OC. Let him be his own offensive coordinator."

Almost all true. But I do believe  Brady would take a measure of satisfaction from winning against a team that ruined the greatest season in the history of the NFL four years ago.  I think he's on a mission to turn the tables in this game.

Ha. I bet Mark and Jamie appreciate that. In doing that story, I really remembered that sports at the highest and lowest levels are about relationships. The competition is important, winning is monstrous. But in the end, you remember who you played with and what they meant to you.  Oh, and grueling losses. Everyone I know who competed well at any level remembers their crushing losses. 

Sally Jenkins had another great column this week about reppraising Eli Manning, how we misread quiet and quirky for not enough of a fiery leader. And we were wrong. Eli Manning is the most resourceful QB I have ever seen play who is not mentioned as one of the best of all time.

I will take Eli in a two-minute drill over everybody in a big game. Brees. His brother. Even Brady, who I think is the greatest QB of his generation.

Thanks Mom. You too, Dad. Honey, teach Oliver how to hit 'Send." Keep up the praise. I am so needy.  (I can barely file my story on time; I can't imagine anyone would trust me to deliver a screenplay in under five years)

Yes. Josh Dulac is absolutely one of our best people. I think Washington fans in general are among the most hopeful optimists I've ever seen in any big city I've worked or visited. Sometimes I feel as if the whole town is Friday Night Lights on HGH, just waiting for that next star to take them past the horizon in the NBA, NFL and baseball. It's really encouraging to see so many people not get jaded and cynical. But....and this is a big but....it's going on 20 years since Washington's last North American major-revenue sports franchise won a title. Boston is on the brink of their 8th in 11 years (Pats four if they win, Celts, Bruins and Red Sox twice.) At some point, there is a degree of enabling that occurs. And that enabling stops only one way: cut your favorite franchise off till it fixes itself.  Fans don't seem to think they have a say in how their team can get better. They do. They can choose not to financially support a bad product until it becomes a good product. When that happens, wait to see how long these "rebuilds" last. 

You must be a Steelers fan or not paying attention. This is Star Wars at QB, Forrest Gump vs. Rico Suave, this is a rematch of one of the greatest big games in NFL history and, my God, man, Snoop Dogg, Nas and The Roots performed downtown last night. Have you no goodwill in your heart for a little "Gin and Juice."

Stop. Listen. Look. Ice-Ice, babbeeee.

Yeah, I was a little disappointed. Especially when he sold out and did the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Wrap. You lose respect in the rough and tumble Cul-De-Sac world with that one.

Beautiful. I might steal that for my column Sunday at the game.

I fell over on this one. Thank you for making me laugh so hard. Yes, you can bill me. Or you can come and join our support group regularly 10 am. to 2 p.m. on 106.7 FM. I feel you've missed too many meetings. You need a sponsor like me.