QUICK SLANTS
One NFL agent on Daunte Culpepper’s retirement. “How low were team’s opinions of him as an option when teams were having Gong Shows for quarterbacks every week and he wasn’t even getting invited?” ...

After the Giants season-opening win over the Redskins, Giants coach Tom Coughlin made a few references to failures in the “green zone.” If you’re wondering what in God’s name that is, it’s the area between the opponent’s 20 and 35-yard lines. ...

Only two quarterbacks were taken in the first round of April’s draft — Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. As fate would have it, both men got the open ing day start for their teams. Ryan went 9 for 13 for 161 yards and a touchdown (on his first NFL throw) in the Falcons win over Detroit; Flacco was 15 for 29 for 129 with a rushing touchdown that turned out to be the game-winner for the Ravens over the Falcons. This week, Ryan gets a tougher test against the Buccaneers in Tampa. The Ravens are at Houston on Monday night (Thanks, Ike!). Since 1970, only two rookie starters began their seasons 2-0. One was John Elway. The other was Ryan Leaf. ...

With the Dolphins playing at Arizona this week it will be interesting to see if Miami coach Tony Sparano plays free agent pickup Ernest Wilford at wide receiver. Wilford — who came over to Miami from the Jags — was inactive last week. That’s a serious indignity. Said Miami defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday, “As a veteran player, you go to a guy like Ernest and say, ‘Look, I don't know what's going on, but let's get it fixed. And I'm not the only player in here who says that.”

GAMES OF THE WEEK
1) Eagles at Cowboys: This one could be a shootout (easy Pacman, it’s a figure of speech).

2) Browns at Steelers: Is Pittsburgh really as good as they looked last week? And have people gone overboard with the Browns or did they just get caught in the Cowboys woodchipper?

3) Bills at Jagwires: The Bills caused eyebrows to arch last week with their dissection of the Seahawks. A win in Jacksonville against an albeit banged-up Jags team would mean the bandwagon will bursting on Monday.

4) Chargers at Broncos: Are there signs of life in the AFC West from a team not based in SoCal? Denver could announce its presence to San Diego this week in a grudge match.

5) Patriots at Jets: Another match of grudge. For giggles, the Pats should arm all sideline personnel with camcorders.

6) Colts at Vikings: It’s months from desperation time but neither of these teams needs the agitation that accompanies 0-2.

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