Tom Uhlman / AP

New Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles will provide a different kind of target for Carson Palmer, NBCSports.com contributor Dan Pompei writes.

Q: Can you tell me why the Jets aren't screaming bloody murder over Brett’s “retiring,” then lining up to go to the Vikings? I am sure they both wanted to get away from each other, and I am sure that if they don't have to deal with his contract they also are satisfied. But the Jets gave up so much (read: Chad Pennington, a wasted season, a lotta money) to get him, I am wondering why they'd release him so easily and not complain about bad intentions. And why aren't they seeking some compensation from the Vikings? What was the strategy of releasing Favre in the first place? Why not retain his rights until the Vikes come calling?
— Joshua Jet Fan, Los Angeles

A: Brett Favre might have never become a Viking if the Jets had tried to hold Minnesota hostage. Part of his attraction to the Vikings is the price is right. Unless there were multiple teams bidding on Favre, the trade compensation would not have been very attractive for the Jets anyway. And from the Jets’ perspective, they needed to move on from the Favre situation and put a new plan in place. The sooner they did that, the better.

Q: What are the chances of the Bucs acquiring a receiver such as Brandon Marshall or Plaxico Burress?
— Mike, Pine, La.

A: Not very good. At least not right now. The Bucs are saying they aren’t interested in Burress — and given the uncertainty surrounding him, how could they be? As for Marshall, I will be surprised if he plays for any team other than the Broncos in 2009.

Q: Hey Dan, what kind of season is Maurice Jones-Drew going to have with Fred Taylor out of the Jaguars’ backfield?
— Melvin Hayes, Pensacola, Fla.

A: I don’t think there is any doubt Jones-Drew is capable of more than he has shown in the past, and the added opportunities should enable him to become a more productive player. But the Jaguars will have to develop another runner to give Jones-Drew relief. Every team needs more than one good halfback, especially teams that like to run it as much as the Jaguars do. If the Jaguars ask Jones-Drew to do too much, there will be a point of diminishing returns. It isn’t that he is too small. Height has nothing to do with it for a running back, and he is plenty thick. It has more to do with the fact that no running back can carry the load all by himself for an entire season.

Q: The Pro Bowl for this year is to be played the week before the Super Bowl. Would the Super Bowl teams really allow their Pro Bowl players to play in that game and risk injury?
— Daniel Sikut, Buffalo, N.Y.

A: Players who are on Super Bowl teams will not be invited to play in the Pro Bowl this season because of the timing of the game. That means there will be more opportunities for players from the rest of the league. There could be 10-12 players in the game who normally would not have been invited. So the quality of the players will be diluted a bit, but it is a necessary evil given the importance of the Super Bowl.

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