Tom Mihalek / AP

If the Eagles were to get rid of Donovan McNabb, who would they get who is better?

Q: Hey Dan, what’s the deal with Jon Gruden and the Bucs? Their pathetic finish to the season makes me think they need some new blood in Tampa.
— Joey J, Clearwater, Fla.

A: It won’t be easy to find a better coach than Gruden, I can promise you that. But sometimes change is healthy — as Pat Bowlen obviously believes in Denver. Gruden has been in Tampa now for seven years. The rule of thumb is an NFL coach usually wears out his welcome after 10. Because of Gruden’s intense style, it’s possible he is ahead of the curve. Then again, it’s very possible Gruden accomplished more with this team than most coaches could have. Don’t be so quick to write him off.

Q: Now that Matt Cassel has proven himself as a NFL starting quarterback. Where do you think he will end up next year?
— Travis from Canada

A: The favorites at this point in the Matt Cassel Derby would have to be the Vikings, Lions, 49ers, and yes, the Jets. Where he ends up might be linked to where Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels ends up, or even where Patriots vice president Scott Pioli ends up, assuming both jump ship.

Q: Notwithstanding that he's the Giant coach's son in law, Can Northeast PA’s Chris Snee be considered the premier guard in the league today, in the same vein as another Northeastern PA great of the past, Mike Munchak?
— Ralph Chase, Scranton, Penn.

A: Snee is one of the game’s best guards, but hold on a minute. Snee just was voted to his first Pro Bowl. Munchak was voted to nine of them, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let’s talk in 10 years and see what we think about Snee then. The comparison is way too premature now.

Q: When will Marvin Lewis be fired? I cannot believe that they still have him in charge of that unruly team, there is no "I" in team but there is a lot of "I's" that play for the Bengals. Please let Carson Palmer go and play for a team that has a chance of winning in the near future. From a Steelers fan who respects Palmer.
— Debbie Ramey, Pikeville, Ky.

A: Marvin Lewis will not be fired any time soon. Unlike a lot of team owners, Mike Brown does not hire head coaches to fire them. He will stick with Lewis through thick and thin. But I don’t think Lewis should get the blame for the Bengals being “unruly,” as you wrote. I think that is the fault of Brown, who likes to give second chances to players who have run afoul of the law and been locker room problems elsewhere. My hunch is if it were up to Lewis, he’d clean out that locker room and build with character guys.

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