Mediocre QBs can still win in the NFL

Professional football fans like to point to Trent Dilfer as the one exception of a mediocre quarterback who led his team, the Baltimore Ravens, to a Super Bowl.

Of course, there have been other average-at-best quarterbacks who have taken their teams to the big game, which gives teams like the Washington Redskins some hope this season.

The 'Skins have two quarterbacks, John Beck and Rex Grossman, competing for the starting job this year. Neither is highly regarded by fans or forecasters. But that could change if Beck or Grossman get Washington to the playoffs.

Most people believe that to win in the NFL these days you have to have an above-average quarterback. Recent history would support that theory to a degree. Yet, I can't help think about some of the teams of the past and how they were pretty darn good, even without star quarterbacks.

David Woodley (picture above) took the Miami Dolphins to the Super Bowl in the 1982 season. The Dolphins lost the game but nonetheless got there with a quarterback who I bet most of you under 40 years old never heard of before. Woodley was the Miami quarterback prior to Dan Marino. Marino, who many regard as one of the best QBs of all time, also went to a Super Bowl once, and lost just like Woodley. It was Marino's only trip to the title game, mostly because his Dolphin teams had no defense or running game. Marino was a star without a supporting cast.

I liked Woodley as a person more than Marino. I interviewed him many times in Miami. He was a quiet and modest guy, unlike many other NFL quarterbacks. His life came to a tragic end after his brief football career, but Woodley was certainly a winner while on the field -- mobile like Beck and a gamer like Grossman. Didn't have the arm of Marino but made the most of what he did possess.

So cheer up Redskin fans. Your quarterback situation might not be as bad as you think. As with that 1982 Dolphin team, it's the rest of the players who will need to contribute to a winning effort in D.C. this fall. So far, after a 2-0 start in the preseason, the supporting cast on offense and defense (both ranked No. 1) looks much improved.

All eyes in D.C. turn to the Redskins

The Washington Redskins will open training camp tomorrow in Ashburn, Va., just a few miles down the road from where I live.

Albert Haynesworth, the only Redskin player to not attend any of new head coach Mike Shanahan's "voluntary" practices and workouts, will be the focal point of the first few days. The all-pro defensive lineman is apparently in shape but still needs to pass a conditioning test before stepping on the field. Haynesworth was often injured and fatigued in his debut season with the 'Skins last year and has asked to be traded in the off-season. However, it appears the disgruntled 100-million-dollar man isn't going anywhere, at least for the time being.

Donovan McNabb, the old Eagle quarterback turned Redskin in the off season, will also get a fair amount of attention in camp. Some of his Philadelphia coaches said the QB still has a couple very good years left. If that is the case, I wonder why the Eagles traded McNabb to a division rival?

Running back Clinton Portis is looking for a bounce-back year and has plenty of competition motivating him. Shanahan has brought in a host of veteran backs. Portis has taken a beating behind a poor offensive line for the past couple of seasons. It seems unlikely that he will run with the same vigor that he showed while he played for Shanahan in Denver eight years ago.

Washington is a football town. You can't get away from it even if you wanted. It's actually kind of nice, especially when you consider that some NFL markets are having trouble filling their stadiums. Regardless of how bad the team has been in recent years, Washington always supports the Redskins. Football always brings a welcomed distraction from the world's problems.

McNabb tops the news in D.C. today

The talk in Washington today isn't about health care, unemployment, opening day at Nationals Park or the NCAA championship game. Nor is it about Tiger Woods or the Masters.

D.C. is abuzz about the trade for quarterback Donovan McNabb. With this one transaction it appears the Washington Redskins have gone from NFC East doormat to contender. Yes, the Redskins have also added a coaching staff, two Pro Bowl running running backs and a true general manager in this off-season. But the NFL is about quarterbacking. The Redskins now have a good, experienced one.

However, don't make Super Bowl travel plans quite yet. Other NFL stars have come to Washington late in their careers and fizzled out. Among the future Hall of Fame players who didn't get it done as Redskins: Jason Taylor, Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith. Even a coaching legend, Joe Gibbs, couldn't turn around this franchise on his second tour of duty.

The Redskins still lack an offensive line and have a sketchy secondary. McNabb will not have the caliber receivers to throw to here that he had in Philadelphia. He will, however, provide some leadership. That is something that has been missing for years at Redskins Park. If he stays healthy, McNabb could be embraced in D.C. like he never was in Philly.

"Et tu, Brute?"

Betrayal is one of the most difficult things for human beings to deal with. It comes in all forms and levels of intensity. Those who feel betrayed tend to react in a variety of ways. Logic doesn't always play a part in those reactions.

Take the NBC mess involving late-night television hosts Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. It appears from his comments that O'Brien feels betrayed by the network wanting to move his show to midnight in order to accommodate Leno going back to the 11:35 p.m. slot. Yet, some people might wonder why O'Brien is so upset. He stands to earn millions of dollars in this programming debacle. If O'Brien leaves the network, he's much more likely to land on his feet than the average employee who is shown the door at the factory he or she worked at for two or three decades. Shouldn't the financial safety net and the fact NBC still wants O'Brien to do a show cancel out any sense of pain and betrayal that O'Brien is feeling?

Apparently not. Emotions are boiling over.

When someone is rejected, deceived or betrayed by a person or entity they trusted, the pain can be profound. We think we know people, then suddenly something happens where perceptions are severely altered. Money doesn't seem to take the edge off of the perceived negative actions taken against someone. I am fairly certain wealth didn't ease the anger in the wife of Tiger Woods recently.

Classic movies such as The Godfather II center on the act of betrayal. And in the movies, as in real life at times, betrayal can have devastating consequences. Poor Fredo. Didn't even see it coming.

Not all betrayals start or end with a Michael Corleone-ordered bullet from behind. We are all betrayed in small ways each and every day by friends, employers and the government. The level of malice and intent vary, but the result is disorientating at best. Our sense of the folks we previously thought we knew is shaken to the core by a disturbing revelation. We wonder how we could have been so wrong in our prior assessments of something or someone, or how that person could be so mean or lack empathy. It's not uncommon to then reflect upon ourselves. What red flags didn't we see in a person or situation we got involved with?

Trust in others becomes a bit more difficult as we move along through life, particularly for those who have been betrayed more than a few times. In highly competitive businesses, I am sure betrayal is as common as pink slips. Just the simple act of office gossip can destroy trust, particularly when reputations are ruined. If it goes unchecked, entire office environments can become toxic. The same path to personal and institutional destruction can been found on sports teams, rock 'n' roll bands and families, where inevitably someone has been outed or done wrong.

Knowing who your enemies are can help you navigate away around conflicts and avoid feeling betrayed. Unfortunately, we don't always see the snake in the grass. It appears O'Brien, like millions of other people, got bit and wasn't going to be given the time he thought he should have to succeed. NBC is a major company. Empathy and patience aren't usually traits associated with large corporations. In fact, the lack of empathy, even in individuals, seems to be on the rise.

When the truth surfaces about a person who we previously thought to be in our corner, the pain can feel like a knife in the back, particularly when livelihoods and relationships are involved. Yet, I think as much as we all are the victims of betrayal at times, we also have been the cause of others feeling slighted. We might not have known we were betraying a trust. Maybe we didn't do it in a direct or malicious way, but the damage is often the same regardless of approach or who exactly was holding the knife. Sometimes we sense regret and can make up for our indiscretions, while other times it's simply too late.

I understand O'Brien's feelings. Just as I think Jim Zorn probably felt betrayed by what was going on in the front office and with his own coaches in his final days as coach of the Washington Redskins, O'Brien probably feels abandoned by his employer and perhaps even some people he considered friends. Sometimes we can't address our disappointments for various reasons, but it doesn't mean the act of betrayal did not occur. O'Brien has a public stage to voice his displeasure but needs to tread carefully as he tries to restore his pride. One of the best ways to confront betrayal is to rise above it.

Not even Sharpton backed Arenas

It's been a newsy day in Washington sports. First the new head coach of the Redskins, Mike Shanahan, was rolled out for his introductory press conference. Then just hours later, NBA star guard, Gilbert Arenas, was suspended from the Wizards.

The Arenas situation involving gun play in the locker room was spiraling out of control in recent days. The NBA commissioner finally took action. Read about it here.

One of the most surprising things about the whole Arenas gun-totting mess came a couple days ago when the Rev. Al Sharpton actually said that "Agent 0" wasn't being dealt with harsh enough. Sharpton, who is known for defending folks based on race, actually took a stance against a fellow African-American. Amazing.

The civil rights spokesman's logic was a bit convoluted and still somewhat race-tinged, but I applaud Sharpton for finally using some sense of fairness and rationality in judging right from wrong. In brief, what Sharpton said was that by officials not coming down on Arenas, they were essentially sending a message that gun play is expected and even accepted when it comes to black athletes.

Redskins a reflection of owner

John Riggins recently said that Washington Redskins owner, Daniel Snyder, isn't a good guy. Monday night's beat down by the New York Giants is proof of what Riggo was talking about. You see, the Redskins had some momentum late in the season. They were improving. Then last week, after a rare victory in Oakland, and with three games left for players and coaches to make a case for themselves and their jobs for 2010, Snyder brought in a new general manager. And with that odd timing, the end of the coach Jim Zorn-era was all but signed and sealed. Therefore, the team had less motivation to play for Zorn on Monday night. The team lost its incentive, its edge. The distractions created by the front office became too heavy to overcome. And Zorn, a genuinely nice guy, got caught in the Snyder web.

Don't get me wrong -- the previous GM, Vinny Cerrato, needed to be replaced -- but the timing of it appears suspiciously manipulative. It seems feasible that Snyder didn't want Zorn to succeed in these final weeks. A few late wins could drum up public support for keeping Zorn, which Snyder doesn't want to do. So he more than likely had his boy Vinny resign to create a new layer of uncertainty for the head coach and players. It's textbook corporate-like nonsense by another rich guy who thinks messing with people's lives and professions is a birthright. Why didn't Snyder just fire Zorn? Read on.

It's been apparent that Snyder wants Zorn out so he can bring in yet another big-name coach, even though few top-rated coaches would work for Snyder, which should be further evidence of all not being right in the owner's box. But Zorn is a smart cookie and isn't going to leave money owed to him on the table by resigning. Snyder should do the right thing and put Zorn out of his misery. And he should pay Zorn for his remaining contract year.

So when Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back, said disparaging things about Snyder, he was indicating that this is the way some people in power go about their business. They try to embarrass subordinates into quitting so they don't have to pay out contracts. They hide behind lies and deceit. They create an unfair playing field for those who fall out of favor and have an uncanny ability to create a climate of fear and mistrust. And ultimately, the product suffers from all these smoke-and-mirror tactics that have become all too common in businesses of all kinds. In a larger sense, this is why big business in America is failing. Too many top dogs have forgotten how to be human beings first and CEOs second.

The egos of some owners are large enough to believe they can repair the damage they create (see Jerry Jones of the Cowboys). Well, it hasn't happened for this team under this owner as coaches come and go like the seasons. Thousands of fans sat in FedEx Field in freezing temperatures Monday night to watch a team that has been directly or indirectly undermined by its own owner for years. It's not that Snyder wants to have losing seasons or drive away support for the team, it's just that he is pretty much what Riggins said he is. The Redskins are a toy for Snyder who doesn't seem to have that intuitive touch needed to be successful in sports. Being smug doesn't work in sports. It might work on Wall Street or in corporate board rooms for a while, but sports rely more on honesty, hard work and sincerity to motivate employees to physically perform. You have to know that the boss (owner, GM or coach) has your back in order to put your body at risk. Money generally doesn't buy championships in sports that require bravery and heart. "The Dan" confuses desire with heart. He might be a fan of the team, but he's not a good leader of men. His team is a reflection of himself -- profitable and well marketed, but without substance. It doesn't matter who the coach or general manager are as the years under Snyder have proven.

There was no fight in the 'Skins Monday night. They embarrassed themselves on a national stage. A large part of that is on the players. This was not a professional effort. If at least half these players aren't replaced next year, expect a similar record under new GM, Bruce Allen.

By the way, it seems rather obvious that the hiring of Allen was yet another public relations stunt. Allen's father, George, was a beloved Redskins coach, and his brother is a popular Virginia politician. I don't believe Allen's NFL track record is as stellar as Snyder claims. But Snyder knew few would question the hiring. Like many folks in power, Snyder appears to have some sort of need to be liked more than respected. Some folks might even applaud Snyder because of the ties Allen has to the Redskins and Ashburn, Va., where the Redskins train. But is Allen really the answer?

Hopefully, Zorn will soon get back to his native West Coast, either California or Seattle. Two years in D.C. has aged him. The lines on his face have become more obvious. Some bosses and jobs aren't worth that sort of stress, especially as one begins to get older. Zorn is still a hero in Seattle where he is remembered as the best quarterback in Seahawk history. He's still a straight shooter despite two years in Washington -- a place where spin and backstabbing are epidemic. Zorn might not be head-coaching material, but under Snyder, who is? The main reason the inexperienced Zorn got the job two years ago was because no one else wanted it. For the elite, seasoned coaches, there isn't enough money in the world to work for a dysfunctional organization under an owner who has failed to deliver a serious run at a championship or even a decent game-day experience for fans.

Cerrato takes the low road

Woke up to the news that Vinny Cerrato resigned as the Redskins' executive vice president of football operations today. For most fans in Washington, that's good news. The team has floundered under Cerrato's leadership. But a few questions remain.

First, how much was owner Dan Snyder involved in the poor decisions that the team has made in recent years? Is Cerrato truly responsible for the gridiron mess in D.C.?

What is the next move? The radio talk shows are buzzing that there will be more news later today. Possibly a new coach? Maybe a new general manager? Is Joe Gibbs coming back again?

Regardless of where the team goes from here, Cerrato made a parting statement that was less than classy: "I've had the pleasure of working with some great coaches such as Joe Gibbs, Greg Blache and Sherman Lewis, great people on the Redskins staff ..." Uh, what about the current coach who you hired, Vinny? You mentioned Blache, a coordinator, and Lewis, an adviser to the team for just a few weeks, but you don't mention the head coach, Jim Zorn?

When people at Cerrato's level fall, they generally don't fall far. They have enough money in the bank to last a lifetime. Failure in one place almost guarantees he will get a good job elsewhere in the upside down world of professional sports. He spent a lot of time doing a radio show, when some thought he should be spending that time improving the team, so maybe he will become a broadcaster.

I am sensitive to anyone losing their job these days, but Cerrato, like most top executives, will be just fine. The system is setup to protect these types of high-ranking insiders regardless of whether they have talent or not. More than anything, these guys know how to play the game (I cleaned that up because this blog is g-rated). In Cerrato's case, however, the game didn't respond to his maneuvers. And in a public arena like pro sports, it is hard to hide incompetency and failure. Fans wanted a change. The Redskins were becoming a public-relations nightmare. Snyder had to put aside his personal feelings for Cerrato and make a move. I am sure he took good care of his friend Vinny.

Update: Bruce Allen, the son of legendary Redskins' coach, George Allen, has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Washington Redskins, according to ESPN980. Allen was GM for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Senior Executive with the Oakland Raiders.

Odds and ends from Sunday's games

The most discouraging moment from Sunday's games: Atlanta fans cheering Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick late in the game. A convicted felon who tortured and killed dogs for entertainment, the former Atlanta player should never have been allowed back into the league. His return to Atlanta as a member of the opposing team should have produced a cascade of sustained boos for three hours. Fans boo former players who defect to other teams all the time for far less serious reasons. Yet, in Atlanta, Vick continues to have substantial support, which makes me wonder about that city.

The Washington Redskins had three of the most heartbreaking mistakes possible in their 33-30 overtime loss to undefeated New Orleans. Take away any of the mistakes and the Redskins would have pulled off the upset of the year. They missed a late field goal that was essentially the same distance of an extra point. And extra points have well above a 90% success rate in the NFL. Earlier, they intercepted a pass, and while returning it, the Redskin player wasn't paying attention to how he carried the ball and a receiver from the Saints took it out of his hands and ran the other way for a touchdown. The Washington secondary has done some bonehead things this year, like lateraling after a pick or leaving receivers wide open for touchdowns, but this took the prize for carelessness. Then, the Saints punter shanked a punt for just 20 yards, which would have given Washington great field position. Instead, the ball hit a Redskins player on the back and New Orleans recovered.

What's up with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Losing to Oakland? The defending champs are now in jeopardy of not making the playoffs.

With that all said, any week that includes a Dallas Cowboys loss is a good week. Even better on Sunday because the loss came against the New York Giants, who remain in playoff contention.

Even casual sports fans can see through this

Note: This post was updated (below) on Oct. 23.

If you listen to sports talk radio in the D.C. area, the soap opera that is the Washington Redskins is fairly entertaining, particularly on FM 106.7, which is the non-Redskins-affiliated station. No pulling punches on that station. But even more than being a show, the team's misery is quite an example of what happens when fairly direct, honest people collide with masters of spin in the world of business. Doesn't seem to matter what the business or issues are. Frankness does not mix well with deception.

Coach Jim Zorn was, in a sense, demoted this week when the team's quasi general manager, Vinny Cerrato, "suggested" Zorn not call plays anymore. According to Zorn's old teammate and former congressman, Steve Largent, Zorn was given an ultimatum. Stop calling plays or else. However, Cerrato denies that claim by Zorn's old pal from the Seattle Seahawks. Zorn himself stopped short of calling the suggestion an ultimatum.

It is clear to most people what is going on in D.C. It's the oldest game in the book and it's not played on the field. It's most likely management/ownership wanting to force someone out without having to pay them. In Zorn's case, he has about $4 million owed to him if his contract is terminated now by Cerrato or team owner, Daniel Snyder. If he quits, however, the team wouldn't have to pay Zorn. Even for a rich guy like Snyder, this is not the time to be throwing away millions. In addition, I think Snyder and Cerrato want to save face and not fire another coach, which is in essence would be an admission that they keep hiring the wrong people.

You have to wonder how Snyder and Cerrato have gotten as far as they have in life. Their antics have become so transparent that any casual fan in D.C. can see right through them. One doesn't even have to be a sports fan to understand this game.

To make matters worse, the new play-caller for the team is a 67-year-old retired coordinator who hasn't coached in five years. In fact, Cerrato in a recent interview didn't seem to know what the coach was doing when summoned by "the Dan" a couple weeks ago. The coach, Sherman Lewis, was calling bingo games when the offer was made to act as a consultant for the Skins. Now, out of retirement, he's going to be calling plays for the Redskins. This was Cerrato's decision and a ploy, some allege, to humiliate Zorn into quitting. After all, Zorn was originally hired specifically to run the offense as a coordinator, not a head coach. Then when Cerrato and Snyder couldn't find anyone to coach their team, they offered the head position to Zorn.

There are times when sports businesses practices mirror other industries. This is truly embarrassing because it's so public, but not that unusual if you consider what has gone on in corporate America recently with sketchy leadership. It's as dysfunctional in some ways as anything that has occurred at GM. But the results for the 'Skins are easier to judge. It's seen in the win-loss column, which currently stands at 2-4 against five of the worst teams in the NFL.

The majority of fans calling talk radio want an end to this nonsense and for Cerrato to be canned and for proven football people to run the front office, hire the coaches and pick the players. It's a mystery to many why Snyder retains Cerrato, but one theory is that Cerrato is weak and won't challenge "the Dan," who is the man really calling all of the shots, according to local commentators. Boy, talk about another typical trait of poorly run businesses. When ownership surrounds itself with yes men, nothing good can result in any business. Things will eventually deteriorate.

Hall of Famer, John Riggins, blasted ownership this week in a YouTube video. The ex-Redskin echoed many of the same charges heard from fans about incompetency at the top. Riggins is never at a loss for fightin' words, so some took big John's remarks with a grain of salt. But when former Indianapolis Colts head coach, Tony Dungy, took issue with what is going on in Washington, specifically with the manipulation of Zorn, people took notice. Dungy, now a television broadcaster, is far from a controversial figure. He's one of the more mild-mannered people to have ever coached in the league. He was also a winner.

The Redskins are part of the fabric of the D.C. area. I live a few miles from their headquarters and training facility in Ashburn, Va. While not a fan, I do root for them on occasion because Redskin wins do seem to lift the spirits of many people in these parts. But I also have been around the block a few times and realize no business can be successfully run by micromanaging bosses who play smoke and mirror games with personnel and the public.

Zorn is known to be an honest guy. He's not the most charismatic coach, but he won't spin things the way Cerrato does. And he won't hide in the shadows like Snyder, who essentially doesn't talk to the media during the season. Some say Zorn is too positive and should get angrier when things go south. But I get the sense his optimism is honest and real - not contrived. If he's a little naive, so be it. Better than being sneaky and insecure.

There have been a lot of not-so-great stories told about Snyder on the radio this week. Stories about him as a human being, not just an owner. Even a relative of the team's previous owner said some unflattering things about "the Dan." At least one story I know is true because it made the news a few years ago. Bucking area regulations, Snyder cut down trees on his property so he could have a better view of the Potomac River from his home. I guess, among other things, he's not a big environmentalist. That's not to say he doesn't do good work in other areas of his life. I just never hear about any potentially positive things from the media when it comes to the team's owner.

Where there is smoke there usually is fire. And the fire is burning bright at Redskins Park. Snyder has taken quite a publicity hit this week. Fans are literally screaming for him to sell the team. Even fans who aren't thrilled with Zorn are beginning to feel sorry for the guy. It seems people are not only thirsting for wins, but they also want some integrity restored to operations. They want a more fan-friendly owner who provides a better game-day experience and who rewards their longtime loyalty.

The worst fear is that Redskin fans will go from angry to apathetic. While the games are sold out years in advance, many fans aren't showing up on Sundays anymore, and some are selling their tickets, often to fans of opposing teams. Makes for an embarrassing home-game atmosphere when the opposition receives louder cheers than the Skins.

You can bet that next Monday night, when Washington hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on national TV, there will be even more talk about this latest fiasco. Philly fans will make the trek down I-95 to try to buy tickets from fed-up Washington fans. Plays will be called by a man who was calling out bingo numbers two weeks ago. And the Skins are finally playing a decent team that could destroy them. It could get very ugly. Many believe Zorn will be fired next week.

UPDATE. Team executive Vinny Cerrato announced on Oct. 23 that Jim Zorn would remain the head coach of the Washington Redskins for the remainder of the season. Stay tuned!

When things go bad for so long, look to the top

I don't think Jim Zorn is the main problem with the Washington Redskins. I rarely think that lower or mid-management is the root cause of dysfunction in any organization. While Zorn might not be Vince Lombardi, he's not a terrible coach in my opinion. As a quarterback, he was a pretty innovative and creative player. I doubt those characteristics disappeared when he went into coaching, and many other respected coaches around the NFL speak well of him.

The constants with the Redskins, through all the losing and mediocre seasons, are the owner and the guy bringing in sub-par talent. These are the people with the power calling most of the shots. The blame goes to Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, respectively. They are the people hiring and firing head coaches. They are the ones evaluating players and signing them to long-term contracts, which then pressures Zorn (and coaches prior to him) to play these below-average athletes. If he doesn't play them, then he appears like he isn't being a good company man. But it's impossible to make chicken salad out of chicken ... Well, you get my drift.

It won't matter who comes in next to coach this team. Snyder is wrong to think he can win a Super Bowl by running his sports franchise the way he runs his other businesses. That's one of the things I enjoy about sports. It tends to expose character flaws in a way big business doesn't. You can't bully your way to a championship. You can't create a monopoly. You have to do the work and be smart within the rules of the game. You have to build the business, build trust and retain good people. These are things Snyder struggles with.

As for Cerrato, c'mon ... look at his drafts. Unfortunately, Cerrato and Snyder are pals, so Vinny is probably safe.

When ownership or top management fails to hire and retain the right people, sports teams like businesses, tend to spiral downward. It is clear that in terms of judging character and skill the Redskins' front office is about as bad as any failed company. Luckily, taxpayers won't have to bail out this team, as the Redskins remain one of the most profitable sports franchises. Maybe when fans start staying home and don't buy merchandise, Snyder will revise his way of running the team.

Coaches are like mid-level managers in business. They can only work with what they are given. They are also vulnerable to being fired because upper management has to fire someone in order to deflect blame from themselves.

I am afraid Zorn will fall victim to Snyder if the 'Skins (2-3) lose to the Kansas City Chiefs next week, perhaps sooner if Cerrato sees he can save his own butt by firing the coach. But what really needs to change is the front-office structure of the Redskins. People of integrity and institutional knowledge must be hired to run the show. And Snyder needs to let them do their jobs. He's not a football guy. He's a rich dude who could afford to buy a team. He should be happy to be that and give the Redskin fans something to cheer about.

Odds and ends

My two picks to make it to the Super Bowl - the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens - are each 3-0 and won by large margins on Sunday ... After losing to the hapless Detroit Lions, I can only conclude that the Washington Redskins have far too many low-character players who are only interested in getting paid ... The New York Yankees clinching the AL East against the rival Boston Red Sox this weekend was sweet, but certainly not the ultimate goal for a team that has won 26 world championships ... My daughter and her husband were in Florida this weekend, attending an event at Disney World and sparking my memories of when she (pictured above) was a tad bit younger and living in the Sunshine State ... It appears that next week's episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm will start the ball rolling on the Seinfeld reunion ... Best German beer and brats in the area: Doner Bistro in Leesburg, Va.

Meeting celebrities is always fun

Brian Billick, the former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Baltimore Ravens, was in Federal Hill last night speaking at an event tied to a local radio talk show called "Chalk Talk."

Of course, if anything Ravens-related is happening in Baltimore, my daughter, Stephanie, is usually tuned into it. That's her on the right posing with Billick and a couple of her friends last night. Her husband, Kevin, is also a huge fan of the NFL team and wasn't shy about taking the microphone and asking the coach a question or two.

You can see the football stadium from Federal Hill as well as the Inner Harbor. The area reminds me a bit of Old Town Alexandria, Va., with a tad more tourism because of the harbor, aquarium and nearby football and baseball stadiums. Lots of bars, shops and residences. Has a safer, cleaner feel to it than the rest of Baltimore. My daughter tells me that one of George Bush's daughters lives in Federal Hill.

It's always fun to meet celebrities. Just the other day someone I had recently met was excited to have run into Chris Cooley, the Washington Redskins tight end, in a deli in Leesburg, Va. Not too long ago, I saw musician Dave Matthews strolling around Charlottesville, Va., with his daughters. I also saw Sen. John McCain at Dulles International Airport.

For whatever reason and at any age, rubbing elbows with these accomplished public figures seems to always give us a little boost, particularly if we can interact with them. My daughter was in awe of Billick's Super Bowl ring. Apparently, the ring was the size of a Smart Car. Some in the media have said Billick's ego is even bigger. Regardless, the coach-turned-broadcaster has a personality that can be very engaging. Can you imagine sitting through a talk given by New England Patriot's head bore, Bill Belichick? I'd take a pass on that event, regardless of how many Super Bowls the guy has won.