5 Questions for Week 12

1. McNabb Benched...What's It Mean?

Donovan McNabb gets his job back this week against the Cardinals. But he might want to start searching his basement for boxes because after Sunday's benching against the Ravens, the Eagles icon appears close to having to clear out his desk in Philly. You don't come back from this kind of humiliation at this stage of your career. Not in the same city. Not when it comes just days after the football-watching world was given cause to question whether McNabb was really as sharp as he's been given credit for being all these years. Andy Reid threw McNabb overboard in an effort to jumpstart the season. Now he's helping him back into the boat since backup Kevin Kolb also sucked? What if Kolb looked, ya know, capable? What then? Meanwhile, it will be interesting to watch the legion of McNabb rumpswabs in the media pogoing to his defense - mostly former players - who are fundamentally unable to distinguish between criticizing the player and criticizing the man. Guys. It's all right to speak your minds and judge objectively and without agenda. McNabb's a big boy. He can take it.    

2. What's Matt Cassel's Future?

A couple weeks back, I sidled up to Matt Cassel and asked him if he had thought at all about what his performance will mean for him next year. He looked at me as if I'd just asked him to sniff glue with me in the parking lot. "Haven't even thought about it," he said. Well, terrific. So much for planning. Of course it's occurred to the boy that he's a free agent at the end of the season. And it's also likely he's realized that if JaMarcus Russell and Alex Smith can sign $50 and $60 million deals on spec and fall flat on their faces, a player with actual NFL experience that's playing like a borderline Pro Bowler should be able to command even more dough than them. There's been speculation in New England that the Patriots should franchise Cassel. They don't plan to. First, it would be an affront to the NFLPA and a clear violation of the spirit of the franchise tag. Second, it sends an awful message to the rest of the locker room if you're willing to keep a player from playing and making the money he's in line for with a BS move like the franchise tag. As for how he'll play at his next stop, it's worth noting that he's throwing to the most gifted wide receiver in NFL history, one of th best slot receivers I've ever seen and playing for arguably, the best coach of the modern era. His next stop might not have those bases covered.

3. How Many Job Openings Are Going to Emerge?

Let's see, Andy Reid's in the conversation now. And Romeo Crennel surely is as well. All three interim coaches. And Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren could both be stepping down (Holmgren definitely is). And then there's Rod Marinelli's job in Detroit not to mention the possibility, however unlikely, of Marvin Lewis and Herman Edwards being relieved. That's a lot of job openings, folks.

4. Who's Your MVP?

There are more than a half-dozen players who can be included in the conversation for league MVP. I've got Brett Favre. Matt Cassel. Albert Haynesworth. James Harrison, Justin Tuck. (I'd say the Giants whole OL if I could), Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Kurt Warner. Drew Brees as well, although MVP should only go to a player from an average to poor team in exceptional circumstances. It's a fascinating talking point, no?  

5. Should the Lions and Cowboys on Thanksgiving Tradition Be Scrapped?

Yep. Make the whole Thanksgiving Day slate flex games. With captive audiences from one side of the country to another, the networks deserve to be able to serve up better and more intrguing holiday fare than the same tired franchises every season on the last Thursday in November (this is aimed more at the Lions, Cowboys fans). Instead it's Lions vs. Titans? Oh. My.