Because the Chargers were shopping Brees early last season even after allowing him a chance to win the job against Rivers, it is entirely possible they would have released Brees and signed another veteran backup to Manning.

Meanwhile, the Giants would have been unhappy with Rivers because he was their second choice. Maybe the Giants would have traded Rivers to the Pittsburgh Steelers and settled for Ben Roethlisberger. Maybe Rivers would be 16-1 as Pittsburgh's starter by now. Or maybe the Giants would have picked up Brees because general manager Ernie Accorsi likes Big 10 players and had success resurrecting Kerry Collins' career.

So it might have been San Diego's Manning against New York's Brees this week and nobody would have much to talk about. The NFL thanks Eli Manning for keeping up his end of the conversation.

Q: What are the chances of Drew Brees being benched? He looked awful against the Broncos, and it can't just be that he hasn't had time with Antonio Gates.
--Kelly Parsons, La Jolla, Calif.

A: It would be a surprise if Brees is benched anytime soon. Although his future is not limitless in San Diego, the Chargers are a better team than 0-2 and it would be foolish for coach Marty Schottenheimer to pull the plug on Brees and begin the Philip Rivers era until the Chargers are hopelessly out of playoff range. Even if Eli Manning outplays him this week, Brees by all accounts is better than a one-year wonder and has earned more respect than a quick hook. Given his age and quest for playoff success, Schottenheimer isn't exactly eager to start over with a young quarterback, not this year at least.

Q: I believe that Drew Bledsoe definitely proved he's not just an "old and slow" quarterback in his Week 1 victory over the Chargers. Bledsoe's quarterback rating was among the highest in Week 1. Has your opinion changed since the start of the regular season? How far do you think Drew can take the 'Boys?
--Jennifer Jones, Brookfield, Wis.

A: Although he could have used one more touchdown pass on Monday night, Bledsoe is still without an interception in two games and definitely is on the right track to keep coach Bill Parcells happy. He looks good enough to take the Cowboys to the playoffs as long as he keeps handing off to Julius Jones and the defense continues to overcome its youth. But remember that Vinny Testaverde took the Cowboys to the playoffs, too. For Bledsoe to get to another Super Bowl, his obvious goal, he has to beat Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles. That doesn't look like it can happen.

Q: Has there ever been a more boring "winning" team than the New England Patriots? Local sports radio chatter is filled with football fans who are bored to tears with the Patriots' boring winning ways.
--Richard Kairnes, Cranston, R.I.

A: Then send the Patriots on tour. Let them represent Arizona for a couple years, then travel to Detroit for a couple more. Cities that have waited the longest for a sniff at a championship would get first crack at housing the best team of the decade. Turn on the radio in other cities and see if anybody mentions how boring it is to see a team win. Talk radio needs to manufacture and encourage controversy in order to survive. Day after day, hour after hour, they have to fill the airwaves with whatever comes to mind or mouth. Sometimes, the blather begins to sound boring. Opinion is the definition of sport, so anything goes. If the people of New England think winning has become boring, let them try losing for a change. And if they think the Patriots are boring, they must have thought the Celtics were mind-numbingly monotonous. Sure wish there had been talk radio back then.

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