Q: Let's hold our breaths for a moment here and say the Browns finish the season 8-8. Regardless of the quarterback drama that will likely ensue at some point, how likely is it that Browns will shop either [Derek] Anderson or [Brady] Quinn in the offseason with at least a few teams likely scrambling for a solution under center? — Shawn, Cincinnati

A: I think it's unlikely the Browns will shop either player. Smart teams don't trade good players, they stockpile them. If this season has taught us anything, it's that the majority of the teams are going to need more than one quarterback to get through a season. The salary cap would not prevent Cleveland from keeping both. And no matter what happens in the final half of the season, the Browns will not be able to be so confident in one of the two that they will know they don't need the other. I would bring them both back, throw the starting job up for grabs and count on competition bringing out the best in both.

Q: Will the Raiders play JaMarcus Russell this season? — Denise, Tukwila, Wash.

A: There are only two scenarios in which I could envision Russell not playing. The first would be if is so lost from his long holdout that the coaching staff thinks he is totally incapable of leading the offense. The second would be if Raiders get hot and Daunte Culpepper starts picking apart defenses. In other words, the chances are very good that we will see Russell, probably before December.

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Q: Could the Saints make the playoffs? — Dave, Laramie, Wyo.

A: Why couldn't they? They are two games out of first place in the NFC South. Both teams ahead of them, the Panthers and Bucs, appear to be crumbling. The Saints are the second hottest team in the NFC with a three game win streak. And their schedule is such that they easily could win their division. If they keep playing like they did Sunday, the Saints could even win the NFC.

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Q: If the Bears can find a good corner in draft or free agency next year, could Charles Tillman be there answer at safety? —
Jordan, Grayslake, Ill.

A: The Bears probably could move Tillman to safety, but why would they? It's more difficult to find a very good cornerback than it is to find a very good safety, and Tillman is one of the better corners in the NFC. No one knows what kind of safety he would be. Move him to safety and you might weaken yourself at two positions. A position switch might make more sense later in his career as he loses some speed, but it wouldn't make much sense to me to make a switch now.

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