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Q: Hey Dan, Drew Brees picked up right where he left off last year with my Saints. 6 TD passes! What are the odds he makes a run at Marino's yards record again or Brady's TD pass record?
— Reed, Lafayette, La.

A: If Brees and his supporting cast stay healthy, Brees could have a shot. I have a lot of respect for Brees and for the coach who calls his plays, Sean Payton.

But a lot has to fall into place for a record like Marino’s to fall. That’s why it is a record. One of the reasons Brees was close last year is the Saints were a miserable running team. If they can run the ball better this year (early indications say they can), they will be a better team.

But Brees won’t be throwing as much.

Q: Are the Bears toast? No Urlacher and Cutler looked like crap. Maybe we need to get rid of Lovie Smith.
— Joe Casolla, Berwyn, Ill.

A: You might want to wait until halftime of the second game of the year to start firing people, Joe.

Certainly, losing Urlacher is a big blow to the Bears. He was the heart and soul of the defense. They are not as good a team without him, no question. But they were not a one man team, either.

As for Cutler, that was unquestionably the worst game of his career. History says he is going to play a lot better in the future. So don’t overreact after one game.

Q: Kickoff Rules: I always thought no player could cross the 30 yd. line until after the football did. Why then do I commonly see the kickers non-kicking foot cross the line prior to him kicking the football and off-sides is not called?
— Robert, Houston

A: I’m not sure what you are seeing Robert, but this is the rule: No player can cross the 30 yard line until the ball is kicked. If he does, he is offsides, and that is a five yard penalty on a kickoff. Once the ball is kicked, players can start running.

Q: Hey Dan, there is a epidemic of obesity in this country and many of the nfl offensive lineman are clinically obese. Also, they have serious, documented health problems and a shortened life span. Obviously they are "fit" for the game as it is played today. Do you support rule changes that would speed up the game, making aerobic conditioning and lower bodyweight more effective hence eventually reducing the fatness of NFL players? Another thing that would help would be to widen the field. The field dimensions are the same yet the time to get across the field on average has shrunk over the last 70 years. 60 yards would give the faster backs the edge and require more running for lineman. And a more interesting game. Probably no one cares, too bad.
— Joe Page, Aurora, Ill.

A: While the health of players certainly is a serious concern, I don’t believe either the NFL or the NFL Players Association would support the type of rules changes you suggest. Changing the rules dramatically would be risky in terms of how it could affect the game. I would say the game is not broken, so don’t fix it.

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