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Adam Schefter reports that "multiple teams have already had preliminary discussions with St. Louis" about trading up to get the No. 2 pick in the draft. I put the chances that the Washington Redskins are one of those teams at 100 percent, give or take zero percent.

See, the Colts are taking Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick, and the Rams took a quarterback with the No. 1 pick two years ago so they don't need to use this year's No. 2 on Robert Griffin III. Other teams, though, really do need a quarterback and would love to pick second in the draft so they could get Griffin. These teams include the Redskins, Browns, Dolphins and maybe a surprise entry such as the Seahawks or Cardinals.

It is not surprising to learn that these discussions have already taken place. Before deciding how to proceed on a free-agent quarterback market that's likely to include Peyton Manning, it behooves quarterback-needy teams to have some sense of what the cost would be to move up to that No. 2 slot. If you're the Redskins, who have multiple needs all over the roster, and you're going to have to give up two first-round picks and more to move up, then maybe you decide the best bet is to stay put at No. 6 in the draft, let someone else grab Griffin and fill your quarterback need via free agency. If you find the cost is more reasonable than you expected, maybe you proceed with some degree of confidence that you can get Griffin.

Total confidence is unattainable, however, since the Rams (a) could stay put and draft franchise left tackle Matt Kalil or wide receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 2 and (b) almost certainly will want to wait as long as possible to make the deal in order to maximize value. The best the Redskins and other interested teams can hope for right now is to get some sense of what the cost will be to move up to No. 2 and then proceed with their free-agency plans thus edified.

These discussions could go right up to 7:30 pm on the night of April 26, which is about when the Rams are scheduled to pick. Given that they could select a useful impact player for themselves at No. 2, they have no incentive to make a deal as long as they have multiple desperate suitors on the line. If they don't get fair value for the pick, they could just make a pick and leave it to the Vikings, picking third, to strike a deal with Washington or Miami or Cleveland or whomever. And that'd be interesting, because the Vikings really want to trade their pick but can't because the Rams are picking ahead of them. Imagine if you traded for the No. 3 pick in March thinking it was going to be Griffin and then some other team swooped in and traded for the No. 2 the night before the draft.

No, this is likely to take a while to sort itself out. The Redskins and the other interested teams can only do as much research as possible to prepare themselves to make a deal when and if one presents itself. And they're going to take a look very seriously at their Plans B. Because only one team's going to get Griffin.

Some thoughts on the Philadelphia' Eagles impressive 26-10 victory against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday afternoon:

What it means: Well, I mean, I guess, technically you've got to say the Eagles are still alive. The victory moves them to 5-8 for the season, and if they can somehow find a way to play this well on defense the rest of the way and win their final three games, they could theoretically still win the NFC East at 8-8. It's a long shot, and it would require the Giants and the Cowboys to do a lot of losing. But this year in the NFC East, no one's very good. And as bad as the Eagles have been, you just can't put that little "x" next to them in the standings just yet.

Defensive clinic: It looked bad early for the defense, as Matt Moore beat Nnamdi Asomugha with a perfectly thrown 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall. But the Eagles' defense locked in after that. It got to Moore and eventually knocked him out of the game. Linebackers Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle made plays. Asante Samuel made a tackle and forced a fumble. It looked a lot like the way the Eagles had hoped they'd be able to play defense all season. And jeez, they went into the fourth quarter with a lead and never even looked as though they'd give it up. The defense had nine sacks, allowed 204 total yards, held the Dolphins to 3-for-15 on third downs and forced three turnovers.

Hoping it was rust, not ribs: Eagles quarterback Michael Vick played after missing three games with broken ribs, and he didn't look great. He hooked up with DeSean Jackson for a long touchdown, but ended the day 15-for-30 for 208 yards and an interception to go with the touchdown. It's possible he was rusty, and the Dolphins' defense has played very well lately, but if the ribs are still hurting Vick when he throws, you have to wonder what the Eagles will or even can do about that.

Weird day for Shady: Eagles running back LeSean McCoy entered the day ranked second in the league in rushing yards, but had just 38 yards on 27 carries against that tough Dolphins front. He did get two touchdowns to take him to 17 for the season (14 rushing, three receiving), but he wasn't his usual explosive self, and he lost ground to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew in the race for the rushing title.

What's next: The Eagles have a tough home game Sunday against the New York Jets, who are 8-5 and making their own playoff push. New York's once-feared defense isn't quite what it used to be, and the Jets' lack of big-time pass-rushers could allow Vick a little bit more time to throw than he often gets, so it's not an impossible game. They'll just need to protect the ball, and they'll have a chance to outscore Mark Sanchez and the Jets' offense.

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the Dolphins in Miami, here's one reason for Philadelphia Eagles fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, you get your quarterback back. After three games of Vince Young, Interception Machine (yeah, he even threw three in the game he won), Michael Vick returns from his broken ribs to see if he can't salvage something -- if only self-respect -- out of the final four games of the Eagles' season. There was some thought that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin would be back, too, but he was downgraded from probable to questionable on Saturday and now looks like a game-time decision with that hamstring injury. Regardless, the return of Vick will help the offense run better, might help get DeSean Jackson re-engaged and is the Eagles' best chance to win their last four games and give them even an outside chance at the playoffs.

Cause for concern: These are not September and October's Dolphins. Miami has won four of five since it's 0-7 start and has outscored opponents 139-54 over that stretch. The defense is playing inspired and getting to the quarterback. The offense is clicking as quarterback Matt Moore is getting the ball to Brandon Marshall and tight end Anthony Fasano and Reggie Bush is leading the run game. This may have looked like a pushover second-half game a few weeks back, but (a) so did Seattle and (b) these Dolphins are playing some of the best all-around football of any team in the league right now. The Eagles will have to play their absolute best -- something we've seen them do for a full game maybe twice all season.

A couple of Thanksgiving night thoughts now that I've had a chance to digest the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins, among other things:

This is the Romo you read about: How many times have you been told that you have to deal with the bad Tony Romo because of how good the good one is? Well, I'm sure lots of Cowboys fans were rolling their eyes about the two first-quarter interceptions. But there was Romo at the end, dancing away from pressure and finding Jason Witten on that big 23-yard gain, finding DeMarco Murray for a big completion while getting drilled and expertly moving his team into field goal range without poor decisions or unnecessary risks. Romo made the plays he needed to make to win the game, and that's what we're supposed to use to judge quarterbacks, right? Wins?

Running tough: Murray has found the going tough the past two games, playing without fullback Tony Fiammetta and against defenses that are strong up front. But for the second week in a row, Murray was in there grinding out the tough, between-the-tackles yards the team needs him to be able to get if the offense is to work as well as it can. He had 87 yards on 22 carries, which is good, hard running back work, and it's got to encourage the Cowboys and their fans that their rookie running back is tough and willing enough to handle it.

Defense a mixed bag: The Cowboys were tough up front, cutting off the Dolphins' run game between the tackles. But Terence Newman needed to basically commit pass interference on every play in his effort to stop Brandon Marshall. Marshall's touchdown catch was completely amazing for the fact that Newman was strangling him with two arms while yanking him to the ground. With Mike Jenkins out, the Dallas secondary suffers, and opponents know they can take shots down the field. The good news is that there are few receivers in the league with Marshall's size and physicality. The bad news is that the Cowboys' next game is against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. They need to sort out some coverage issues.

Automatic Dan: Could any Cowboys fan have imagined how good you feel about Dan Bailey with the game on the line? That was the rookie place-kicker's fourth game-winning field goal this year in the final two minutes or overtime. And while it was only a 28-yarder, as soon as they were in field goal range all you were thinking as a Cowboys fan was, "Just don't turn it over." You knew Bailey would make the kick. And what a feeling that's got to be for the Cowboys. They're relying on rookies at kicker and running back, and the rookies are among the most reliable players on their roster.

Loving Laurent: For most of the game, I was wondering if Romo had forgotten there were other people to whom he could throw the ball besides Laurent Robinson. But when the Cowboys get near the end zone, Romo doesn't feel the need to go anywhere else. ESPN Stats & Information reports that Robinson has been targeted in the end zone five times this year and has caught all five of them. I imagine Dez Bryant will still get his in the coming weeks, and Romo did remember his old friend Witten on that final drive when he needed him. But Robinson has earned Romo's trust in key spots very quickly.

In Summary: You may have wanted them to crush the Dolphins, and you may well be able to argue that they should. But this is a different Miami team than the one that began the season 0-7. Its defensive line is fearsome, and Romo will wake Friday morning with the aches and bruises to prove it. Matt Moore is playing very well at quarterback. Miami came in as one of the hottest teams in the league, and while a victory over a team that's now 3-8 doesn't stand out as one of the sparkling achievements of their season, the Cowboys can feel good, for the second week in a row, about a win that didn't come easily but came nonetheless.

As you get ready for this afternoon's Thanksgiving Day home game against the Miami Dolphins, here's one reason for Dallas Cowboys fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: The Dolphins' defense is tough up front, but they're not as tough in the secondary, and with Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson and Jason Witten, the Cowboys and Tony Romo have enough downfield passing game targets to overmatch the Dolphins on the back end. They'll try to run it with DeMarco Murray, but even if that doesn't work and they find themselves having to outscore the Dolphins through the air, the Cowboys should be able to pull it off.

Cause for concern: The Dolphins' passing game has been better lately, with Matt Moore getting comfortable at quarterback and looking often for big, physical No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Marshall. With cornerback Mike Jenkins out and safety Gerald Sensabaugh a game-time decision due to injury, the Cowboys could have trouble finding ways to contain Marshall. If he's able to get open, he could beat the Cowboys with some big plays.

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Miami Dolphins in their annual Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday afternoon. Each team comes in having won three games in a row. The Cowboys edged the division-rival Redskins in overtime on Sunday to claim a share of first place in the NFC East. And the Dolphins have really turned it on after their 0-7 start, outscoring their last three opponents by a combined score of 86-20. Here's a look at some of the things to watch for as the Cowboys try to make it four in a row against one of the hottest teams in the league:

Air it out: The Dolphins' defense is allowing 251.1 passing yards per game this year, which is the eighth-highest average in the league. Now, during their current three-game winning streak, they're only allowing 206 passing yards per game. Their defense is playing better, especially up front. But they can still be exploited in the secondary, and none of the teams they've beaten -- Kansas City, Washington or Buffalo -- came equipped with the kind of downfield weapons the Cowboys and Tony Romo have at their disposal. While the Cowboys have shown, since rookie DeMarco Murray took over as the starting running back, a commitment to the run, I'd look for them to take some deep shots against a weak part of this Miami defense and see if they can build an early lead.

Make Matt Moore uncomfortable: The Dolphins' quarterback has played very well in recent weeks, throwing six touchdown passes and one interception during the win streak. Miami has managed to get big production out of running back Reggie Bush to take some pressure off of Moore, and he's worked tight end Anthony Fasano into the receiving mix to complement the big, physical downfield presence of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. But Moore isn't likely to find the going so smooth if the Cowboys can get into the backfield and disrupt his timing. DeMarcus Ware should be moved around some in this game so he gets to attack the Marc Colombo side of the Dolphins' offensive line as well as the Jake Long side. It's on the Colombo side, Cowboys fans will not be surprised to learn, that they're most vulnerable.

The Fiammetta factor: With fullback Tony Fiammetta sidelined due to illness last week, Murray and the run game weren't as effective as they had been in the previous four games. That's not to say Murray wasn't good. His prior four games were a lot to live up to. But with Fiammetta out, there was a clear difference in Murray's effectiveness when running between the tackles. It looks as though Fiammetta will sit out again, so watch the Dolphins stack up eight-man fronts to try and take away Murray or at least dare him to try and run inside.

Is Sean Lee all the way back?: The Cowboys were the best defense in the league against the run in the early part of this season. Then, starting with the injury to middle linebacker Lee in the loss to the Eagles, they struggled against the run for a few weeks. Was their improvement in this department Sunday because the Redskins' run game is so poor, or because Lee is getting more comfortable playing in spite of his injured wrist? The Dolphins, with Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas leading their run game, will offer a more reliable test.

Home for the holiday: Romo is 4-0 in his career on Thanksgiving Day. He missed last year's game due to injury, but he and the Cowboys are thought to have an advantage here because they play a Thanksgiving game every year and are experienced in how to handle the short week. They're also at home, and playing with extreme confidence. While they can't take the suddenly red-hot Dolphins lightly, they have what they need to establish themselves as the better team early and control the game.

A few thoughts on the Washington Redskins' fifth loss in a row, this one Sunday afternoon to the Dolphins in Miami:

What it means: The Redskins may be out of ideas on offense, and if they couldn't win this game against a team that hadn't won all year until last week, it's getting hard to look at the schedule and pick out the remaining games you think they even can win. The switch back from John Beck to Rex Grossman succeeded in opening up the offense, and we got a little bit of a look at rookie wide receiver Leonard Hankerson. But the problem with Grossman is the interceptions, and he threw two that were very costly. The Redskins' answer at quarterback is not currently on their roster.

Bright spot. Sort of: Hankerson caught eight passes for 106 yards and looked like a second-half breakout candidate with Grossman able to get the ball downfield to him as Beck couldn't. But since this is the Redskins, there's bad news on that, too. The young man left the game with a hip injury and his status for next week is unknown.

Running back roulette: A week after rookie running back Roy Helu caught 14 passes for 105 yards, the Redskins named Ryan Torain the starting running back for this game. Washington's coaching staff believes Torain is its best runner but likes Helu better in the passing game and probably leaned on him more last week because they knew Beck would be looking to check down. Torain got 20 yards on 11 carries Sunday while Helu got 41 yards on six carries and caught three passes for 13 yards. Helu looks like the better back and should get the ball a lot going forward as the Redskins evaluate what they have for next year.

Kerrigan disrupts: Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan came up with two sacks and forced two fumbles as the Redskins' defense put on another admirable effort while the offense could do nothing to help.

What's next: The Redskins have a home game Sunday against the division-rival Cowboys, who clobbered the Buffalo Bills on Sunday for their second win in a row and are looking to get on a roll and challenge the Giants for the division title. Washington lost in Dallas 18-16 in Week 3 when things were still going well for them.

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the Dolphins in Miami, here's one reason for Washington Redskins fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Rex Grossman is back! What? That doesn't fire you up? It looks as though Grossman will get the start over John Beck at quarterback, and quite honestly there's reason to believe things will improve for the Redskins on offense. Not that they're going to turn into the Packers overnight, but in spite of his turnover tendencies, Grossman is obviously more comfortable running the offense than Beck. And the whole offense has to get back in sync. The Redskins have run the ball 26 times and thrown 80 passes over their past two games, and that's an awful ratio for a team whose hot start was built on the run game. Maybe with a less jittery quarterback under center, the offense will be able to relax and find better balance.

Cause for concern: The Redskins are banged up at safety, with O.J. Atogwe and LaRon Landry having missed practice this past week because of injuries. And the Dolphins are a team that can beat you deep if strong-armed Matt Moore can find huge wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Moore looked a lot better last week working tight end Anthony Fasano into the offense, and there's a chance Miami could put together a credible passing game against a Redskins team whose corners had better play tight.

As you get ready for the New York Giants' home game against the Miami Dolphins this afternoon, here's one reason for Giants fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, lots of reasons to feel good. The Dolphins have yet to win a game this season, and a lot of people think they might be trying to lose on purpose so they can get the No. 1 pick in the draft. I don't buy that the players are trying to lose, but they have played very poorly and are already on their backup quarterback in Matt Moore. Even their potential strengths don't match up well with the Giants. If rookie running back Daniel Thomas were healthy, they could maybe get a run game going against a Giants defense that doesn't stop the run well, but Thomas' hamstring will keep him out of this game. Top receiver Brandon Marshall is a mismatch for most cornerbacks, but the Giants' Corey Webster and Aaron Ross have the size and the speed to cover him. Basically, it's hard to see too many ways that the Dolphins might be able to win the game.

Cause for concern: I guess a winless team can be a desperate team, and the Dolphins really do have nothing to lose. They have the kinds of players, in Marshall and Reggie Bush, who can beat you with a big play, and if they hit a couple of those they could theoretically put the Giants on their heels and control the game. The Giants showed a few weeks back in a home loss to the Seahawks that they're not immune to a "trap" game in which they play down to their opponent. I don't see it happening here, but anything is possible.

With the Dallas Cowboys' and New York Giants' games still to go, I picked the Cowboys to watch first because I wanted to see rookie running back DeMarco Murray. So it was nice of the kid to catch a 48-yard screen pass up the left side on the team's first play from scrimmage. We've seen the Cowboys use the screen game a lot this preseason, with Tony Romo throwing to starting running back Felix Jones, and it appears as though the Cowboys would like to use the weapons they have on offense to spread out the defense when possible and trade on their speed.

Murray looks like a guy who can help with that. He looked excellent when they got him on the outside, in space, around the edge, able to pick up big chunks of yardage in those spots. That speaks to his athletic ability, which surely showed up on pre-draft tape, and wasn't really a surprise. What the Cowboys and their fans wanted to see from Murray on Thursday night was how Murray looked running between the tackles. With a little more than a minute to go in the first quarter, after picking up 9 yards on first down on a run to the outside, Murray drove hard through the middle to pick up the first down on second-and-1.

A few plays later, on a first-and-15, he showed good patience and made a critical cut at the line to pick up 3 yards when it looked as if he wouldn't get any. So he showed speed, power and judgment. Maybe a little more of a straight-line guy than you'd like him to be, but he clearly brings a lot to the table and should be a more than adequate replacement for Marion Barber as a changeup guy who can give Jones a breather here and there. I was impressed, and if the Cowboys decide to commit to the run game this year, it looks as though they'll have good options.

Some other stuff I saw in the Cowboys' final preseason game, a meaningless 17-3 loss to the Dolphins in Miami:

1. Speaking of running backs ... Phillip Tanner! This guy has been one of my favorite breakout preseason studs, and it was nice to hear Jerry Jones say on the broadcast that Tanner had made the team. I don't know what it means for Tashard Choice, and it sounds as though the Cowboys have yet to sort all of that out, but Tanner has played well enough to earn his spot. I just really like the way he runs -- strong, determined, feet constantly moving. He already has down some technique aspects of the running back position that coaches have to work to teach more talented guys. Interesting deep bench option for them, and he's good enough to make Choice wonder where he stands in terms of playing time, if not roster spot.

2. Rookie offensive linemen. Right tackle Tyron Smith didn't have his best game, getting beaten around the edge early in the game and picking up a false-start penalty later in the first half. But there are times -- more often than not, actually -- when he looks like an unstoppable mauler on that right side. I believe he'll be fine. Left guard Bill Nagy had a couple of tough moments as well (I believe the sack of Stephen McGee with 5:00 left in the half was on Nagy), but it says a lot to me that he seemed to be the one on the left side making the line calls with the starters (specifically Kyle Kosier) not in the game. The Cowboys consider Nagy a relatively seasoned rookie who knows a lot about how to play the position -- and a lot about the responsibilities of the other linemen as well. It wasn't surprising to see him with extra responsibility in a game full of backups, but I wonder if it affected his own play. Still looks like he could stand to get stronger. And finally, rookie center Kevin Kowalski, who I guess is now Phil Costa's backup at center, lost his helmet on a play early in the second quarter and kept mixing it up. Which isn't super-smart, but if you're looking for tough, crazy offensive linemen it's the kind of thing you like to see.

3. Montrae Holland surprised. He's been reduced to a backup role, but it's going to be an important one given the relative uncertainty with the starters on the offensive line. Holland came to camp overweight and had some injury issues that kept him out of action, so the Cowboys didn't know how much he'd be able to play Thursday night. But he played the whole first half and looked good, and that helps Dallas feel better about the depth it has on the line.

4. Defense? I don't know. Again, backups all over the field. Bryan McCann got beat by Brian Hartline when he tried to jump a route. Guys like Alan Ball and Barry Church missed tackles on Larry Johnson on Johnson's 22-yard touchdown run. Church made a couple of nice plays otherwise. I was a little more locked in on the offense in this one. Not sure there's much about the defense that bears serious analysis.

5. Receivers. Kevin Ogletree made a nifty after-catch move to pick up a first down near the goal line on a third-down play in the first quarter. Dwayne Harris showed some shiftiness on punt returns. And Michael Irvin, who was once a receiver, was pretty impressive in the broadcast booth! I thought he did a nice job of focusing on serious analysis even when the guys in the booth with him (including Jerry Jones) seemed more interested in trying to talk about Irvin and his career. Felt like he was trying to educate, which good color analysts who played the game at a high level should be doing.

Anyway, next game counts. See ya.

All right, all right. Enough complaining. Yeah, it's been five hours since the last post, but (a) I've spoiled you guys in just two months and (b) I wasn't going to show up in Bristol, do TV and then not go spend time chatting with my bosses who are in the very same building. I mean, they saw me on TV. They know I'm there. What are they going to think if I don't go up and say hi?

Also, the food in the cafeteria here is good.

Finally, the suit was not "mustard" as some have said. Get the color on your TVs fixed, grouches.

Anyway, I'm back, because I'd never abandon you guys. And one thing that came up this morning while I was on TV was that Ahmad Bradshaw's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, went on the radio in Miami and said Bradshaw would be interested in playing for the Dolphins if the Dolphins wanted him. I have no doubt that (a) this is true, (b) the Dolphins would love to have him and (c) this does not constitute any good reasons for Giants fans to panic about whether Bradshaw will be back with the Giants in 2011.

There are no sure things in free agency, and it could very well be that the Dolphins or some other team comes along and lures Bradshaw away from New York. If that were to happen, it would dramatically alter the Giants' offseason priority list and could adversely affect their ability to keep some of the other free agents they'd like to bring back. Bradshaw is their top priority, and if there is indeed going to be a three-day window before the market opens during which teams can re-sign their own guys, I'm sure the Giants would like to get Bradshaw locked up in that three-day window.

But Rosenhaus is Bradshaw's agent, and as such it's his job to get Bradshaw the best possible deal. And the way to do that is to maximize leverage. If no other teams are interested, the Giants have no incentive to pay him a dollar more than they want to pay him. So Rosenhaus, with this statement, is doing two things: First, he's putting in the Giants' heads that they're likely to have competition for Bradshaw. And second, he's inviting the Dolphins to be that competition, since they have a need at running back and would make sense for Bradshaw if he wants to leave New York.

I don't think Bradshaw wants to leave New York. I don't think the Giants have any intention of allowing him to leave if they can stop him. I'll bet he stays put. But he'll want to get the best possible deal he can get from the Giants if he does stay put. So Rosenhaus is just out there doing some agenting.

As we continue our Power Rankings series, it’s time to look beyond the player and examine what’s wrapped around his head.

Let’s blow the lid off this NFL helmet caper, shall we?

The NFL helmet has long been an obsession. Whether it’s the unmistakable star of the Dallas Cowboys, the beyond-the-gridiron meaning in Pittsburgh or the great helmet–change fiasco in San Francisco in the early 1990s, the NFL has been all about the helmet. After all, in football, we don’t look at faces, we look at logos.

Come on, who hasn’t spent a Saturday afternoon feeding countless quarters into a gumball machine full of worthless plastic all in the name of getting a complete set of NFL helmets?

So, we put our artistic eyes together (with the courtesy of professional help) and came up with our top 10 NFL helmets. Consensus? No, not even close. In a 2011 Power Rankings record, 26 lids collected votes. Eye of the beholder, folks.

Interestingly, two of the six teams that got no lid love received kudos from our guest judge. I’d take her word over mine. You should see what I’m wearing right now. Think John Belushi in "Animal House." Then take it down a few notches.

We’ve had our battles this spring when it came to ranking players, coaches and owners, but this task has to be the most subjective of all. It’s vanilla or chocolate. Or, in this case, purple or red.

Still, there were several helmets -- traditional teams seemed to catch the imagination -- that received more votes than others.

Fittingly, the winning helmet is of a team that has been scoring big during this entire series: the Pittsburgh Steelers. The black helmet received 50 voting points, cruising to an easy win. Second-place Indianapolis, and its famous horseshoe, received 41 points.

AFC North blogger James Walker was the only person to vote for the Steelers, who received top-10 votes from six of eight voters, as the No. 1 helmet. Only NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert (he received big-league redemption -- we’ll explain later) and AFC East blogger Tim Graham shunned the Steelers.

Walker explained that it was fitting for the Steelers’ helmet to win because it represents a gritty, historic city.

“Most helmets have a mascot or the team’s name or initials, but Pittsburgh’s helmet actually has in-depth meaning,” Walker said. “The colors of the diamond shapes each represent elements of steel, which was once a major industry in Pittsburgh. Also, Pittsburgh is the only NFL team with its helmet logo on one side. I think the uniqueness and tradition helps separate the Steelers.”

Here’s the rest of the top-10 list after the Steelers and Colts: Oakland Raiders (my first-place vote -- just look cool, baby), Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.

Below are some key aspects of the vote:

Walking the Runway: We are thrilled to have a celebrity presence this week. Former "Project Runway" contestant Peach Carr, a successful Chicago fashion designer and self-professed sports nut, lent her expertise this week.

Predictably, her opinion differed greatly from many of us slouches. Hey, sportswriters are rarely accused of being spiffy, snappy, hip or even presentable, so what do you expect?

The most telling of Carr’s selections was her choice of the San Francisco 49ers at No. 2. They were among the six teams shut out by the rest of us. I’d listen to the Peach, San Francisco.

Carr went with the hometown Bears as her top choice. The Bears finished ninth in our poll. Major fashion buttons to Seifert. He was the only voter to agree with the professional. Reached for comment, Seifert had this to say: “Yesssssss.”

Well said, Mr. Blackwell.

Carr placed the Houston Texans as her No. 6 helmet. It was also one of the six helmets the rest of us neglected.

You made it work, Peach. Auf Wiedersehen to the rest of us.

The Lone Vote State: In an upset, the Cowboys’ helmet finished sixth. Graham was the lone blogger to vote Dallas’ helmet first.

“I was shocked to see nobody else put the Cowboys at the top of their ballots,” Graham said. “That helmet is the most iconic of them all. The lone blue star is known immediately by grandmothers who never watch football. It's a classic look that strikes you whether you're watching from the stands or at home. There's no tiny print to read, no cluttered symbols to decipher. You see it, you know it. And it likely conjures a visceral reaction whether you're a fan or not.”

Going traditional: In addition to the 49ers and Texans, the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals were the only teams shut out by the eight voters. The 49ers are the only team in the group that has a history-rich franchise. However, the top 10 is dominated by tradition-rich teams.

NFC West blogger Mike Sando saw a trend.

“My thought is that success helps a brand become appealing in a lot of cases,” Sando said. “Would the Steelers' helmet really rank first if the team had tanked every year? I do not think so. Look at the Colts, Raiders, Packers, Cowboys, Browns ... all have storied histories.”

Kicking it old school: If the “throwback” helmets were allowed in the voting, I bet things would be different. My prized possession (probably says more about my collection of stuff than my sentiment) is my complete set of NFL throwback mini helmets. It is proudly displayed in my office.

There are some beauties in that collection. That’s one of the reasons I went with the New York Jets' helmet as my No. 2 choice. I like the old-style look. My favorite helmet of all time is the old-school New England Patriots helmet. I love me some Patriot Pat and couldn’t get enough of watching the Patriots when the league honored the AFL in 2009.

Put your thinking helmet on. What do you think is the most fashionable helmet in the NFL? Fill the comments section below with your thoughts.

The Dallas Cowboys rested their starters against the Miami Dolphins, but there were still some interesting developments Thursday evening. Third-team quarterback Stephen McGee won't make it to the practice squad after going 27-of-42 for 304 yards and a touchdown. If the Cowboys want to keep him, they'll have to hold a spot for him on the 53-man roster.

Here are some observations from the Cowboys' 27-25 win.

• Apparently the Cowboys wanted to get left guard Montrae Holland a little more work in the preseason. From what I'm told, he has a 50 percent chance of starting against the Redskins with starter Kyle Kosier trying to return from a right MCL sprain. On an early third-and-1, the Cowboys' offensive line didn't get any push and Tashard Choice was tackled at the line of scrimmage. Holland was called for two false starts on the second drive of the game. The Cowboys need Kosier to return in a hurry.

• I liked how outside linebacker Victor Butler pursued the running game from the backside. He came racing from the backside to knock down Ronnie Brown after a short gain. Butler also made some nice plays in coverage. Of the young backup linebackers, Butler's playing with the most confidence. On the Dolphins' first scoring drive, it was Butler who forced the field goal attempt by batting down a Chad Henne pass. Perhaps he's fired up about his alma mater Oregon State playing at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.

• Rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah appeared to bust coverage against Davone Bess in the first quarter. It was an easy throw for Chad Henne on third-and-long. Owusu-Ansah was fortunate to hop to his feet following a clothesline from Tim Dobbins on a punt return early in the game.

• Tashard Choice was the Cowboys' best offensive player Thursday. Watching him take a short pass and turn it into a 34-yard play was pretty remarkable. Choice couldn't find any holes in the running game. It's time for the Pat McQuistan era to end. The reserve guard doesn't play with any power and he doesn't move his feet very well in pass protection.

• It's obvious that Stephen McGee and Martellus Bennett have some nice chemistry. Bennett does a really nice job of getting separation downfield. If his head is in the game, he could help this team in a big way. I was really impressed with a play that McGee made late in the first quarter to find Manuel Johnson. He extended the play with his legs and did a nice job of throwing on the run. On the next play, McQuistan was beaten badly off the snap. He has really awful balance. And on the next play, Alex Barron was beaten on a speed rush by linebacker Cameron Wake.

• Rookie linebacker Sean Lee is having trouble shedding blockers. On the long run by Ricky Williams at the end of the first quarter, Lee got sealed by wide receiver Marlon Moore. It looked like defensive end Jason Hatcher was trying to come up the middle on a stunt and he got stoned by the center. Beautiful play by the Dolphins, but Lee has to be more physical than that. But he fought back and had a fumble recovery to end the same drive. Butler took over the game in the first half against the Dolphins' starters. Nice strip-sack of Henne early in the second quarter.

• That was a gorgeous throw from McGee on the 43-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd. Hurd did a really nice job of accelerating when the ball was in the air. Cornerback Sean Smith had good coverage until just before the ball arrived. Going to be tough to cut Hurd after watching that play.

• Second-year linebacker Jason Williams tried to cover a running back on a wheel route late in the first half and he never attempted to play the ball. Williams was called for pass interference.

• Big confidence booster for David Buehler to nail the 51-yard field goal at the end of the half. Wade Phillips gave special teams coach Joe DeCamillis a fist bump and appeared to shout, "Yeah baby!" Really good night for Buehler. He also made a 45-yard field goal. I still want to see what he does in the regular season, but this was an excellent tuneup for him.

• After tonight's game, I feel like Butler can give the Cowboys between seven to 10 plays per game and he could fill in nicely if someone gets injured. It looked like DeMarcus Ware loved watching Butler fly around Thursday evening.

• Sean Lee showed some excellent closing speed to sack Tyler Thigpen in the third quarter.
  

• I liked the way Manuel Johnson fought for the football tonight. The former Oklahoma receiver probably doesn't have a spot on this team but he gave some other teams something to think about. Speaking of other teams, I know a couple of scouts from around the league who are very interested in Cowboys rookie cornerback Bryan McCann. He'll get scooped up if the Cowboys try to sneak him through to the practice squad. Early in the fourth quarter, McCann didn't take away the inside against Marlon Moore and was burned for the touchdown. Terence Newman met McCann on the sideline to explain what he should've done.

• Quite a battle between Hurd and Jesse Holley on Thursday. Hurd had the big touchdown catch, but it was Holley who made play after play in the second half.

• Herb Donaldson might be a good practice squad candidate. He had some nice runs in the second half.

• I thought reserve cornerback Cletis Gordon had a rough night. He was beaten for a long pass by Roberto Wallace late in the third quarter and he just seemed a step slow in this game. And late in the game, Wallace reached up and caught one over Gordon's head. He just didn't make plays on the ball at all. And this is after he had a ton of interceptions in training camp. Really nice second half for Wallace. He beat rookie cornerback Jamar Wall on a back-shoulder route on the goal line.

• Big night for Buehler going 4-for-4 on field goals and nailing the game-winner. That has to make Phillips feel a lot better about his kicking situation.
• Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton wants to be released, his agent, Fred Lyles said.

Dallas Cowboys third-team quarterback Stephen McGee is about to get the biggest test of his NFL career. Not only will he start Thursday's game against the Miami Dolphins, but he'll play against Tony Sparano's frontline players.

As Jeff Darlington writes in the Miami Herald, Sparano was upset with his team's performance against the Falcons over the weekend and believes the starters need more work.

"We stunk the other night,'' Sparano said. "I mean, can I be any clearer with that? We were not good the other night against Atlanta. I didn't like any of it."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips briefly considered playing his starters after a lackluster performance in Houston, but he announced Tuesday that would not be the case. It doesn't sound like Sparano's worried about his old team's plans. He's focused on the fact that his team needs to find some rhythm before the regular-season.

"I have no real governor right now on how long guys will be playing,'' Sparano said Monday. "I just know they better be ready to play."

In other news, there's a report that Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland will seek out Cowboys rookie Dez Bryant either before or after Thursday's game.

AFC East blogger Tim Graham interviewed two NFL executives over the controversial question Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland asked Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant in a pre-draft interview. Former NFL personnel director Ken Herock said that nothing should be off the table when teams question a potential player. An excerpt:

"I don't feel there are any topics off-limits," Herock said Thursday afternoon. "If anybody thinks they're off-limits, put yourself in the eyes of an employer that's going to hire a 21-year-old and pay him $15 million or $20 million."

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