ESPN NFL

Just about everywhere you look or listen there is speculation the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be in hot pursuit of wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

It makes sense on many levels, starting with the facts that the Bucs need a true No. 1 receiver and Jackson probably is the best available in free agency. There’s likely to be competition from Chicago and Washington and perhaps some other teams. The San Diego Chargers are also holding out a bit of hope that they can re-sign Jackson.

But the Chargers will only do that if his price tag is somewhere around $11 million a season. If it gets higher than that, he likely will walk and Tampa Bay’s a very logical place for one of the top members of this free-agent class.

The Bucs have about $43 million in salary-cap space and it’s become increasingly clear the Bucs want to do everything possible to put quarterback Josh Freeman in position to succeed. Jackson certainly would help in that regard.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Jackson may not sound like the deep threat so many think the Bucs need. But Jackson is a bit of a freak of nature when it comes to his speed, plus he uses his strength to get separation.

Just look at his numbers when it comes to yards per catch. Last season, Jackson averaged 18.4 yards per catch. That’s the second-highest total of his career and the highest (19.7) came in his rookie season when he was used as a third receiver.

That shows Jackson isn’t losing a step, which is a concern for a receiver who just turned 29. It looks like Jackson has several good years left and the Bucs shouldn’t let their infamous history of bringing in receivers scare them off. Jackson’s not Alvin Harper or Bert Emanuel, guys that were No. 2 receivers elsewhere that the Bucs thought could emerge as No. 1 guys. Jackson also isn’t Keyshawn Johnson, Joey Galloway or Antonio Bryant, guys who produced in the short term, but, for various reasons, didn’t last in the long term.

Jackson is a proven No. 1 receiver. Although he had some off-field problems, those appear to be behind him and teammates and media members who have covered him say Jackson doesn’t have the “diva’’ personality so many receivers do. He’s described as very quiet and always has been liked by his coaches.

If the Bucs are going to get Jackson, it likely will cost them around $12-$13 million a year. That’s a lot, but the Bucs have indicated they’re ready to spend money after going lightly in free agency in recent years.

Jackson is the one guy out there that seems like a sure thing. Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace is a restricted free agent and I don’t think the Bucs are looking to give up draft picks. New Orleans Marques Colston isn’t a speed guy and he’s been banged up at times in the past.

If the Bucs don’t get Jackson, then they need to look in a different direction.

Robert Meachem (Saints), Mario Manningham (Giants) and Laurent Robinson (Cowboys) are guys that can stretch the field, but none of them is a true No. 1 receiver, although they'd come at a much lower price tag than Jackson. But even adding a speed guy could make it easier for Tampa Bay’s current group of receivers – Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Preston Parker and Sammie Stroughter — to get open.

The Peyton Manning speculation will continue until Manning signs with another team, health permitting.

Longtime NFL agent Eric Metz, who represents Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and top assistant Russ Grimm, weighed in Wednesday with comments strongly suggesting Manning could be throwing passes to Larry Fitzgerald in 2012.

Metz, speaking on XTRA Sports 910, punctuated his interview this way: "I think they have a tremendous shot and I’d be very surprised if they didn’t pull it off."

Metz does not represent Manning. Tom Condon does. But longtime NFC West observers might recall Metz representing high-profile players in the division, including former Seattle Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway. Metz is putting Arizona and Miami atop the list of most likely destinations, giving the Cardinals an edge.

"He is going to win quicker in Arizona and they know how to do it, and that whole staff has been there before, so they know how to get right back there, and so does Peyton," Metz said.

Metz said he expects a resolution quickly, within a week. He says the Dolphins will want to have a resolution before Green Bay's Matt Flynn hits the market, and that the demand for Manning will be strong enough to accelerate the process. He discounted Seattle for geography and Kansas City for the fit.

Metz obviously has an interest in where Manning winds up. Whisenhunt and Grimm stand to benefit from Manning signing with Arizona.

"Only he is going to know for sure," Metz said, "but I would think it comes down to Miami and Arizona, and I think Arizona wins out."

INDIANAPOLIS — It's been fun discussing the idea of the Green Bay Packers using their franchise tag on quarterback Matt Flynn, especially after they signed tight end Jermichael Finley without using the tag on him.

The opportunity technically will exist until the March 5 deadline, and general manager Ted Thompson refused to rule out the possibility Friday. But I'm totally on board with this post from Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. It continues to be much more likely that Flynn will depart via free agency rather than be tagged as a franchise player and ultimately traded.

Thompson has been involved in with several instances of trading a franchised player, from receiver Joey Galloway when he worked for the Seattle Seahawks in 2000 to former Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams in 2008. But those instances were different. Galloway had been a holdout, and the Packers weren't willing to meet Williams' financial demands for a long-term contract.

Flynn is a longtime backup who projects as a backup for the Packers in 2012 but a possible starter elsewhere. Franchising him would violate the spirit of the NFL's franchise rules, and a source told Wilde: "[The Packers] don't do business that way."

As we've discussed, the Packers would realize a minimal gain and face significant risk if they franchised Flynn. They figure to receive a third-round compensatory pick in 2013 if he departs via free agency, while a trade could bring them a second-round pick.

The Packers would temporarily have to clear $14 million in salary cap space, and they would have to feel confident about their trade prospects will navigating NFL tampering rules that prohibit trade discussions during this time period. Otherwise, they would risk having Flynn stuck on their roster at a salary some $6 million higher than starter Aaron Rodgers.

We've learned our lesson about assuming the Packers' plans and likely path this offseason. Few of us thought a Finley agreement would come early enough to make the Flynn/franchise discussion even a remote possibility. But based on all the evidence, that's all it is: Remote.

No team in the NFL thought Doug Baldwin would quickly emerge as one of the most productive young wide receivers in the league.

We know this because the 32 NFL teams drafted 28 wide receivers in 2011, but not Baldwin.

NFC West teams drafted five of them, but not Baldwin.

Austin Pettis (third round, St. Louis), Kris Durham (fourth round, Seattle), Greg Salas (fourth round, St. Louis), Ronald Johnson (sixth round, San Francisco) and DeMarco Sampson (seventh round, Arizona) have combined for 22 receptions, 195 yards and no touchdowns.

Baldwin, signed as an undrafted free agent from Stanford, has 20 catches for 330 yards and two scores even though he played sparingly in the season opener.

How surprising is Baldwin's production? His college coach, Jim Harbaugh, surely did not see it coming. Harbaugh's 49ers were seeking a slot receiver in the draft. They went with Johnson in the sixth round partially because the 49ers' receivers coach, John Morton, coached Johnson at USC. There was no shame in the selection; the draft guides I saw rated Johnson over Baldwin.

Johnson failed to earn a roster spot. Baldwin is leading Seattle in targets, receptions and receiving yards. He caught eight passes for 136 yards and a touchdown during the Seahawks' 36-25 victory over the New York Giants in Week 5. His 55-yard touchdown reception against the 49ers in Week 1 helped Seattle erase most of a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter.

Among Seattle rookies, only Joey Galloway, with 349 yards in 1995, has gained more receiving yards than Baldwin through five games, according to ESPN Stats & Information (Hall of Famer Steve Largent had been second with 313 yards through five games in 1976).

Baldwin was initially reluctant to bite when I asked him how much motivation he gets from knowing his own college coach could have drafted him or signed him, but did not.

"There is definitely motivation that comes out of that," Baldwin said. "Obviously, I went undrafted, so there is motivation from that as a whole, but definitely motivation."

Baldwin's college career was up and down. He became disillusioned with his diminished role as a junior, as the Pensacola News recounted in a story available via PDF.

"He is one of the most mentally strong people I have ever met," said 49ers tight end Konrad Reuland, a rookie who played with Baldwin at Stanford and lived with him for a time. "He had his ups and downs at Stanford. He always battled back from any kind of injury or setback that he had. He’s just mentally tough. He went through a year where he didn’t play very much and came back the next year and was our best receiver."

Baldwin appears ideally suited for the slot. The Seahawks, despite having already had their bye week, rank eighth in the league with 203 plays featuring at least three wide receivers. Baldwin's presence helps account for some of that.

The Seahawks want him on the field and value what he offers from the slot in particular. So far, Baldwin has nine receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown from the left slot, seven receptions for 114 yards from the right slot and four receptions for 91 yards when lining up outside, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"In terms of physical ability, he is one of the quickest guys I have ever seen in and out of his breaks," Reuland said. "He’s got those cat-like reflexes and just explodes in and out of his breaks."

Baldwin has also proved he can bounce back from big hits, whether from opposing defensive backs -- one such hit drew a $15,000 fine -- or from the NFL teams that decided he wasn't worth drafting.

NEW ORLEANS -- As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers left the Superdome a few hours ago, they remained in the playoff picture.

They did their part by defeating the Saints, 23-13. But the Bucs (10-6) didn’t get the help they needed as the Packers and Giants won their games. The Packers ended up with the No. 6 seed.

There’s no playoff berth for the Bucs even though they reached what Raheem Morris constantly referred to as “the race to 10’’ wins all season. Ten wins usually mean a playoff berth, but it didn’t happen for the Bucs.

Still, you have to look at their season as a big success. Even in the New Orleans locker room, the Bucs were receiving high praise.

“I think Raheem Morris should be the coach of the year,’’ Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said.

That’s pretty high praise from an opponent. Let’s throw out some other superlatives about the Bucs.

• The 10-6 season following last year’s 3-13 record marks the biggest turnaround in franchise history. The previous record came when the Bucs went from 5-11 in 2004 to 11-5 in 2005.
• Quarterback Josh Freeman threw two touchdown passes. He now has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games, which breaks the 12-game record set by Brian Griese.
• Freeman finished the season with 3,451 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. The only other quarterback in franchise history to reach 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season was Brad Johnson in 2002. Freeman also finished with a 95.9 passer rating. That’s the second-best mark in franchise history. Griese had a 97.5 rating in 2004.
• Rookie receiver Mike Williams had an 18-yard touchdown catch against the Saints. That gives Williams 11 receiving touchdowns, which is a new franchise record. Joey Galloway had the previous record, 10 touchdown catches in 2005. Williams also finished with 964 receiving yards. The only rookie to have more receiving yards in franchise history was Michael Clayton (1,193) in 2004.
• LeGarrette Blount became only the third rookie in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Cadillac Williams did it in 2005 and Errict Rhett in 1994. Blount finished with 1,007 yards and he did it on only 201 carries. In Williams’ rookie season, he carried 290 times and finished with 1,178 yards. Rhett carried 284 times for 1,011 yards.
• With the Bucs' victory, the NFC South finished with three teams with 10+ wins this season (Atlanta – 13-3; New Orleans – 11-5; and Tampa Bay – 10-6). It marks just the second time since realignment in 2002 that a division has had three teams with double-digit wins in the same season (also the AFC South in 2007).

Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will be ready for training camp in 2011, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. The agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter that two teams have stayed in contact with Burress during his prison sentence.

He's scheduled to have a full release from prison in June 2011, which would make him available for training camp. Giants general manager Jerry Reese has never shut the door on a Burress return, but I think he's moved on with the rise of Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith. The Jets have shown interest in Burress, but a lot could change between now and Burress' release date.

Mike Shanahan entered the 2010 season with Santana Moss and Joey Galloway as his starters and he's been hurt by a lack of depth at their position. With Galloway being bounced and the Skins having to go with Anthony Armstong as the starter, surely they'd have some interest in Burress. Quarterback Donovan McNabb is very familiar with Burress and I think he'd sign off on the idea. It was McNabb who supported the idea of Michael Vick coming to the Eagles following his time in prison.

It will certainly make for an interesting offseason story.

The Shanahan family -- Mike and Kyle -- teamed up this week to let reporters know that an interception thrown by Donovan McNabb in the first half of Monday's 59-28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was actually Joey Galloway's fault. Mike was a bit more diplomatic than his son on the issue Monday, saying the coaching staff "liked the throw. He [McNabb] threw it. Had the right timing, had the right footwork. I liked the throw."

It's obvious that Shanahan was blaming Galloway, but he didn't use his name. Kyle then connected the dots Thursday and called out Galloway:

"I thought Joey could have done a better job on it," said Kyle Shanahan, who benched the veteran in the second half. "It was a tough look for Joey, but any time it's a pick, and the quarterback's throwing it on time, you could have done better."

Or maybe the Shanahans should have anticipated this might happen when they started a player who will turn 39 on Saturday. It's sort of silly to make someone a scapegoat following a 31-point loss. If Galloway had somehow run the route perfectly and prevented that interception, would the Skins have had a shot at staying within three touchdowns of the Eagles?

This reeks of a coaching staff that will spend the rest of the season trying to justify a long-term commitment to McNabb. It was obvious before the season that Galloway wasn't going to contribute to this team -- especially as a starter. There was a time when McNabb was talented enough to win while surrounded with inferior talented. We're about four years removed from that time. And placing blame on aging players such as Galloway isn't going to make this fan base feel any better.

Anyone disagree? Agree?

Desperate for a deep threat, the Vikings went for the home run but ended up striking out on Randy Moss.

The cost was a third-round pick and considerable embarrassment. After the Vikings decided Monday that they will waive Moss, the question is whether another team is willing to pay $3.388 million to rent Moss for the rest of the season with the hopes he can make an impact.

Moss' name did not appear on the league's official waiver report Monday. If Moss doesn't appear on the waiver report until Tuesday, the soonest he could be awarded to a team is Wednesday. Waiver claims are made in inverse order of the current standings, so Buffalo, the team with the worst record in the league, has the first shot to claim Moss. A team can claim him and pick up the final year of a contract that pays him $6.4 million a year. If no one claims him, the Vikings owe him the remaining $3.388 million of his deal and he’s available for about $450,000, with Moss picking the team he would like to join.

Whether it’s by waiver claim or a signing, here are the options available for Moss:

St. Louis Rams: This might not sound like a Rams-like move, but Moss has to be a consideration. Remember, the Rams were in the final mix to sign Terrell Owens before he went to the Cincinnati Bengals. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur knew Owens from their days together in Philadelphia. There isn’t a similar Moss connection with the current Rams staff. Thanks to the rapid development of rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams are 4-4 even though they don’t have much left at receiver after injuries to Donnie Avery, Mark Clayton and Danario Alexander. Moss could be worth the gamble in a waiver claim.

Seattle Seahawks: The team might be over budget after paying T.J. Houshmandzadeh not to be a Seahawk, but Moss would be the deep threat this team lacks. The Seahawks looked into acquiring Vincent Jackson. They made a bold move in the trade for running back Marshawn Lynch. Pete Carroll is the type of coach who wouldn’t mind Moss being a little bit of a risk. At USC, Carroll worked with many different personalities and egos.

Washington Redskins: This would be a natural move to claim Moss on waivers if owner Dan Snyder had his way. At wide receiver, the Redskins have Santana Moss, Joey Galloway and a lot of no-names. Money wouldn’t be an issue, so if the Redskins don’t claim him, count them out. But Moss would make great sense. Donovan McNabb has a good deep arm. If he could get some healthy running backs, McNabb would work some play-action passes to Moss. The question is whether coach Mike Shanahan is on board.

Miami Dolphins: After adding Brandon Marshall, the Dolphins aren’t looking for another receiver, but they could put in a waiver claim to prevent him from going back to the New England Patriots. Even with Marshall, the Dolphins have been among the worst teams in the league for explosive plays, so they could justify the move from the offensive standpoint too.

New England Patriots: For economic reasons, the Patriots probably wouldn’t claim him, but if he’s available for about $450,000, how fitting would it be to bring back Moss? The Patriots fleeced the Vikings for a third-round choice, and they could end up with the player for nine games.

Kansas City Chiefs: A year ago, the Chiefs got some positive results picking up wide receiver Chris Chambers. Moss makes even more sense. The Chiefs are 5-2 and in a good position to win the AFC West. General manager Scott Pioli knows Moss from their days together in New England. Matt Cassel might not have the deep arm that works best for Moss, but Moss could make the Chiefs even more dangerous on offense if they make the playoffs.

John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Before we start pondering how it happened or the precise moment it took place, let’s go ahead and throw out the obvious. Atlanta’s Roddy White is the best wide receiver in the NFC South and one of the best in the NFL.

There, I’ve said it, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized this has been the case for quite some time. You’re welcome to try to pinpoint the exact date that a guy who once seemed headed to being a bust became the best receiver in the NFC South. I couldn’t do it and, when I asked White, neither could he.

Fact is, White has just kind of grown into the role as some other guys have been backed off their claims. Narrow the time frame down from 2007 until today and White has been steadily surging while Carolina’s Steve Smith has been weighed down by a series of quarterback problems. Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant came and went in Tampa Bay. New Orleans’ Marques Colston has had to share Drew Brees’ passes with all those other targets the Saints have.

There is only one NFC South wide receiver who has caught passes for 1,000 yards in each season starting with 2007. That’s White, and he’s at it again. Through three games, he’s second in the league with 25 catches, which has resulted in 258 yards, two touchdowns and a 2-1 start by the Falcons.

“Roddy White is the complete wide receiver,’’ Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan said moments after the Falcons recorded one of the bigger regular-season wins in franchise history Sunday with a 27-24 overtime victory against the Saints in the Superdome. “He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast. He runs great routes. He works hard. You couldn’t ask for more in a wide receiver.’’

Funny, because once upon a time, there were people around the league who thought White was going to go down in history as one of the biggest receiver busts ever. Taken out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the first round (27th overall) in 2005, White was seen as a raw talent.

One person who worked for the Falcons at the time White first arrived admitted the brass in Flowery Branch had a huge case of buyer's remorse after they saw White in his first training camp and through most of his first two seasons. That person said there was a moment during White’s rookie season when an assistant coach stood up in a meeting and said White simply wasn’t good enough to play in the NFL and there was no argument in response.

But a strange thing happened after White bumbled his way through a rookie season that featured 29 catches and a second season in which he improved to 30 catches, but zero touchdowns. As the Michael Vick saga was casting a sad shadow over the Falcons and Bobby Petrino was about to do the same, White suddenly became a legitimate NFL wide receiver.

That may be the single bright spot to emerge from a very dark time in franchise history. The more you look at where White is now, the brighter that spot gets. As the world around the Falcons seemed to be crumbling, a convergence of events were taking place that would shock everyone and put White’s career on a good path.

“I guess the easiest way to put it was that I just finally grew up,’’ White said.

That’s the simple way to put it, but White is quick to point out that it was much more complex than that. He’s even quicker to point out that he had some help.

“I’d gone through life just getting by on being a good natural athlete,’’ White said. “That’s the way I approached it my first two years and, in the NFL, it’s not good enough to just be an athlete.’’

As Vick was going and Petrino was coming, two other subtle moves took place that would forever change White’s career for the better. Perhaps the only good move Petrino made in his short stint as the head coach of the Falcons was hiring his younger brother, Paul, to coach wide receivers.

“When coach [Jim] Mora and his guys were here, I was eating a lot of cheeseburgers and going at about 215 [pounds],’’ White said. “When Paul Petrino came in, he sat me down and said, 'You need to get back to where you were in college.' I got back to around 205 to 208 and I suddenly realized I was moving faster and jumping higher. But it wasn’t just that. Paul Petrino worked me so hard and pushed me to string together good practices, go out there and do it every day.’’

Paul Petrino got some help from another source. In 2007, the Falcons brought in veteran wide receiver Joe Horn, in large part because they weren’t sure if White could play. But Horn ended up being part of the reason White has been playing so well in recent years.

“Playing with Joe was the best thing to ever happen to me,’’ White said. “He was a guy who had been to Pro Bowls and he took me under his wing and really taught me what this league is all about. He’s the one who made me realize what’s expected of you if you’re going to be a good pro. He’s the one who taught me that you have to prepare mentally every day and you have to go out and practice hard every day. He’s the one who showed me that this game takes so much more effort than I was putting into it.’’

The results were pretty much instant. In a 2007 season in which the Falcons went through several quarterbacks with little success, White somehow emerged with 83 catches for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.

The next year, coach Mike Smith arrived and promptly drafted Ryan, who clicked with White right from the start. White had 88 catches for 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008 and 85 catches for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009.

“It was somewhat of a gradual process, but there was a good chemistry between Roddy and me right from the start,’’ Ryan said. “It just keeps getting stronger because Roddy’s a guy that works very hard and he’s always where he’s supposed to be.’’

White’s been to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons and there’s no reason to think he won’t be there again.

“The thing with Matt is, he came in from the beginning and was asking what kind of routes I liked running and where I liked getting the ball and things like that,’’ White said. “When you do that, you’re both sort of volunteering ways to get better.’’

In their third season together, Ryan and White have the Falcons off to a fast start. In the past two games (victories against Arizona and New Orleans), the running game has clicked, the passing game has clicked and the rebuilt defense has a faster, more aggressive look.

“The sky really is the limit for this team,’’ White said.

It’s kind of funny that the guy the Falcons once thought couldn’t play is leading the way. He’s soaring on the field and he has become a leader in the locker room. Before every game, there’s a little reminder of the past and how White got to where he is now.

“Before every game, Joe Horn sends a text,’’ White said. “It’s pretty simple. He just says, go out, play hard, play physical and play smart.’’

That’s what White has been doing, and that’s the other strange twist to all this. The guy who once couldn’t go past fast-food restaurants on the way home or stay out of the nightclubs is taking on the role Horn once did.

“You know, it’s hard to find a guy that will share information with you when we’re all competing for jobs,’’ White said. “But Joe did that with me and now I try to do it with Harry Douglas. I look at Harry like my little brother, but I also look at him as what I used to be before Joe came along. I’m always on Harry about working hard every day. The most important thing Joe taught me was that you have to put the game first.’’

White’s been doing that since 2007 and that’s what has put him among the best receivers in the NFL.

I can remember a time when Donovan McNabb owned the Dallas Cowboys. The specific play that comes to mind is the one that lasted 14.1 seconds on "Monday Night Football" in November 2004. In addition to producing that iconic completion to -- who else? -- Freddie Mitchell, McNabb threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Eagles to a 49-21 victory.

But those memories have faded in recent years. McNabb has lost seven of his last 10 games against the Cowboys, including all three matchups last season. Never mind that McNabb and the Eagles swept the other two NFC East teams in 2009. I think his recent failures against the Cowboys are a large part of why the Kevin Kolb era finally got off the ground in Philly.

And despite what McNabb has said publicly this week, don't think that last point's lost on him. In Philadelphia, every facial expression he made on the sideline was dissected in print, online and on talk radio. His air guitar session before last January's playoff game at Cowboys Stadium has come up several times this season, although he's quick to remind folks that it's something he'd been doing all season.

Perhaps the silver lining in the whole Albert Haynesworth fiasco is that McNabb has sort of flown under the radar at Redskins Park -- by his standards. Normally a starting quarterback with an ankle injury would generate plenty of headlines in the nation's capital, but it was a mere footnote to the ongoing catfight between Mike Shanahan and Haynesworth. For his part, McNabb seems incredulous to the theory that his recent failures against the Cowboys might have some bearing on Sunday night's season opener at FedEx Field.

"It’s a new year. You start all over again," McNabb told the Dallas-Fort Worth media Wednesday. "I think that’s probably the plus for all of us. Not just for me but for them as well. I’m sure they’re not excited about the way their season ended last year. Obviously, I wasn’t excited about the way my season ended last year. Everyone is coming into this game 0-0 and looking forward to getting their season started on the right note."

The reason McNabb might be a bit puzzled that so much is made of his disappointing play against the Cowboys is because he went 9-2 against them in the first six years of his career. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might have conveniently forgotten that record when he told the Philadelphia Daily News' Paul Domowitch last month that the Eagles might not be such a boom or bust team with Kolb at the helm.

But the 33-year-old McNabb hasn't dwelled on the past since showing up at Redskins Park. On the morning of his introductory news conference, he was already in the weight room with his new teammates, and on Thursday, he was elected captain. Shanahan and McNabb have restored a sense of credibility to the organization, but this process will take time.

McNabb told me recently that he called former Broncos greats John Elway, Terrell Davis and Rod Smith to ask them about Shanahan. The Redskins' quarterback had a close relationship with Eagles coach Andy Reid that by all accounts is still intact. But he didn't want to assume that things would be the same with Shanahan.

"I wanted to get a head start on knowing what type of verbiage he and Kyle [Shanahan] use, and I put pressure on myself to know what's going on inside their heads," said McNabb. "You know, I'm a jokeful kind of guy who likes to keep everyone loose, but I needed to know how they approached things too."

During a recent conversation inside his office at Redskins Park, Shanahan talked about how much he'd learned from working with Hall of Famers such as Steve Young and Elway. He said McNabb has some of the characteristics that helped those players lead teams to Super Bowls.

"Those guys could make plays when nothing was there," said Shanahan. "And [McNabb] has that same ability."

Shanahan said he's tapped into some of McNabb's knowledge of the Cowboys' defensive personnel. The Skins quarterback has a lot of respect for All-Pros Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware, but he also has an idea of where the Cowboys might be vulnerable.

"I think he knows them quite well," Shanahan told reporters Wednesday. "He knows the defense and he knows the personnel. Anytime you play within the division, obviously you know that team quite well."

How much will that knowledge help when McNabb's looking downfield for the aging Joey Galloway on Sunday? We're about to find out.

The recently released T.J. Houshmandzadeh has narrowed his choices to Oakland and Washington, according to Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times. Since the wide receiver has plenty of guaranteed money from his time in Seattle, he's expected to sign for close to the veteran's minimum.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan should make sure Housh is on the roster by sundown. It's not often you can find a starting-caliber wide receiver six days before the start of the regular season. As we speak, the Redskins have one of the thinnest receiving corps (in terms of talent) in the league.

It wouldn't take Houshmandzadeh long to replace veteran Joey Galloway as the Redskins' No. 2 receiver. Even at age 32, Houshmandzadeh's still capable of putting up solid numbers. He and Santana Moss would be a formidable duo. And if you could get Devin Thomas going, then Donovan McNabb would have something to work with. We'll keep you posted on this situation throughout the day.

Hope you guys are having a wonderful Labor Day.

UPDATE: The Baltimore Ravens reached an agreement with Houshmandzadeh on a one-year, $855,000 deal.

LANDOVER, Md. -- From the little things to the big moments, the soft opening of Mike Shanahan’s extreme makeover of the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Friday night had a whole new vibe.

In its preseason debut the new-look offense drubbed the Buffalo Bills, scoring 42 points -- this from a Redskins team that averaged only 16.6 points a game the past two years. During that span, only five teams in the league have been worse.

Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley -- who missed nine games last year with a broken ankle -- was back prowling the soft underbelly of the shallow secondary. And before the game, ageless middle linebacker London Fletcher gathered the whole team -- even the cantankerous Albert Haynesworth -- at midfield. No coaches, no cameras. Just a few words of encouragement, delivered with purpose: This year, let’s be a team.

And there in the middle of it all, anchoring the revitalized offense and attitude was No. 5, Donovan McNabb.

Let’s call it the “Five Vibe.”

"We haven’t had this kind of leadership from the quarterback position around here for a long time," said special teams coach Danny Smith, who is in his seventh season with the Redskins. "Now, if he can still play, we’ll be in great shape."

On Friday night, McNabb showed he can still play. For the first time in 12 years, he stepped onto a football field not wearing an Eagles uniform. As he walked up to the line of scrimmage for the first snap, McNabb hesitated for a moment and took in the whole surreal scene -- a career’s worth of old memories swimming around in his head.

"I thought to myself, ‘OK, this is it, this is real,’” said McNabb, whose first drive featured two passes that landed well off the mark. But he quickly shook off the early anxiousness.

The second possession resulted in a tidy 80-yard touchdown drive, including a 4-yard pass that young wide receiver Anthony Armstrong stretched across the goal line, giving the veteran quarterback his first taste of love from the burgundy and gold crowd -- and from the owner.

"He is special -- his form, his leadership," said Daniel Snyder, who popped up on the local broadcast of the game in the first quarter to add his stamp of approval. "He is the total package."

After a spotty summer performance in training camp by McNabb, perhaps Snyder felt the need to reassure the fan base. McNabb’s adjustment period has lingered longer than many in the Redskins’ organization had anticipated.

In fact, a week before the preseason game, McNabb was quoted as saying: "I would love to say I’m past it," suggesting that he’s not over the fact the Eagles traded him. "These guys have welcomed me as if I’ve been with the team for last couple of years and that’s what made this easier."

But Shanahan, for one, is not babying McNabb. He wants the learning curve to be quick. In the NFL, this whole rebuilding thing used to have a three-year shelf life. Not anymore. You get a year, maybe.

When asked before the game what he told McNabb about how to handle his debut in a Redskins uniform, Shanahan quickly shot back: "I don’t have to tell Donovan McNabb anything. He’s a veteran quarterback. He knows what to do."

Still, McNabb has needed an extensive instruction manual. After 11 years in Andy Reid’s offense, McNabb is trying to learn a new language -- and, early on, it showed. He frequently misfired during the spring and early summer in 11-on-11 drills, but has since become more comfortable.

"You’ve got remember," said former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, "that all the jargon is different, all the protection calls have new verbiage. He’s got all that swirling around in his head. He’s got to forget and remember at the same time. Not easy to do after you’ve been doing the same thing at this level for nearly a dozen years."

And the rest of the Redskins’ offense is adjusting to a remake of the offensive line, which includes a rookie left tackle -- first-round pick Trent Williams -- and a right tackle -- Jammal Brown -- who has not seen much of the field while he nurses a lingering hip injury.

Add the fact that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (Mike’s son) will be serving two masters. In Houston last year, Shanahan’s offense led the NFL with 4,654 passing yards. "Kyle’s system is different from the conventional West Coast offense," Theismann said. "He’s got the normal three- and five-step drop with that extra wrinkle to go deep."

But in Houston, Shanahan could call the deep ball and attack consistently because he had all-world wide receiver Andre Johnson. The Redskins will have to rely on veterans Joey Galloway and Santana Moss to stretch the field.

McNabb can deliver: 18 of the Eagles' 41 touchdown drives came in four plays or fewer.

But while the offensive coordinator will want to stretch the field, his father is rooted in the running game. Last year, the Redskins ran the ball only 40.3 percent of the time, the lowest in the last 11 years for this franchise. That kind of imbalance is not in Mike Shanahan’s DNA.

In fact, while the first-team offense was on the field Friday night, there were 10 called running plays and nine called passing plays. And McNabb’s favorite target was the tight end Cooley, who caught all three balls thrown his way.

An assistant coach said the last thing Shanahan wants is to put this whole season on the 33-year-old McNabb, who seems to be -- right now, at least -- auditioning for the long-term lead role here in Washington. Despite public pronouncements to the contrary, the Redskins and McNabb’s agent have not worked out a contract extension. So, McNabb is playing on a one-year deal.

"Both sides want to get a deal done," one of McNabb’s representatives said Friday.

But the McNabb camp is keeping an eye on the situation in Minnesota, where Brett Favre has one year left on his contract and where McNabb would no doubt love to be reunited with Brad Childress, who served as offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when McNabb had his breakout years with the Eagles. Favre’s departure, whenever that happens, also will drive up McNabb’s price. Why you would want to leave a two-time Super Bowl champion head coach, however, is anybody’s guess.

For now McNabb is healthy and seems very content. He doesn’t have to carry too heavy of a load and doesn’t have to think too far in advance. Just provide the vibe. Set the tone. Navigate the offense. Fletcher will handle the defense. And Shanahan will keep everybody in line (see: Haynesworth, Albert).

"I don’t have to do anything special," said McNabb. "I just have to be me."

For the Redskins in this rebuilding year, that should be enough. After that, who knows?

Sal Paolantonio covers the NFL for ESPN. His latest book is “How Football Explains America” (Chicago: Triumph).

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In sweatpants and a winter skullcap, New England Patriots receiver Torry Holt watched Tuesday morning's practice against the New Orleans Saints.

He missed Monday's practice, too, for undisclosed reasons.

Holt also might be looking in from afar when it comes to New England's final roster.

On the all-time leaderboard, Holt's 920 receptions rank 11th, and his 13,382 yards rank 10th. But the most significant number to him over the next month will be how many receivers the Patriots choose to keep.

Holt seems to rank sixth -- at best.

"However many we feel is best for the club," Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio replied when I asked how many receiver slots were available. "We've kept five. We've kept seven. It all depends."

Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman are back. Brandon Tate was a third-round draft choice last year. Injuries wiped out most of Tate's rookie season, but he has elicited praise from Tom Brady over the offseason. Taylor Price was a third-round pick in April.

Those are five receivers right there. When you consider keeping a sixth or seventh, he better add something beyond his listed position. Sam Aiken, for example, made 11 tackles and forced a fumble on special teams last year.

"You look at your club and you figure out the offensive or defensive component and then a special teams component," Caserio said. "The receivers are competing with the secondary players or the linebackers for a particular spot. We talk about 'the more you can do,' and that's important."

Holt doesn't play special teams, but the seven-time Pro Bowler can add leadership and be a mentor for the young receivers. Whether that's enough to make the cut is the issue.

The Patriots tried to make it work with faded veteran Joey Galloway last year, but cut him a few weeks into the season because it was a disaster. Holt's coming off career-lows with 51 receptions and 722 yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"He's got a lot of experience," said Caserio, a former receivers coach for the Patriots. "He hasn't been out there for a few days, but he's smart. He's a very instinctive receiver. He has good hands. He's a good route runner. When he's been out there, when he's had his opportunities, he's made some plays.

"I think his value comes into play off the field as well. He does a nice job working with our younger receivers. Torry's been a really productive player in this league. He's done things on the field that are good and behind the scenes, some of the things that you don't see, I think he's been invaluable from that perspective."

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 20

ASHBURN, Va. -- It’s 7:15 on a Friday evening at Redskins Park and coach Mike Shanahan has taken a short break from watching film of the morning's practice. The man who always appears to be five minutes removed from a tanning session is discussing a philosophy that’s served him well over the years, but came into question when he was fired in Denver after 14 seasons and two Super Bowl titles.

Now Shanahan and his hand-picked quarterback, Donovan McNabb, want to prove that both of their previous employers made a mistake. We’re talking about two of the most prideful men in the league, and in two separate conversations with the NFC East blog last Friday, they essentially said the same thing.

“Yeah, both of us are here to win a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said. “If you’re not in it to win a Super Bowl, then you need to find something else to do. I’m not ever going to comment on how things were done here before, but we had a philosophy that worked in Denver, and that’s what we’re going to follow.”

It’s worth noting that two years ago, players were hailing the unorthodox approach of Jim Zorn. He played music during practice and delivered lectures on designer jeans. He was sort of the lovable hippie -- right up until the team started losing. In ’09, the Redskins became the most dysfunctional organization in professional sports. Zorn couldn’t be shamed into resigning, so the Redskins simply stripped him of his dignity (and play-calling duties).

Dan Snyder hired Bruce Allen and Shanahan because he has lost so much credibility with Skins fans. Allen and Shanahan immediately began changing the culture at Redskins Park. This was a team crying out for some form of discipline, and Shanahan has delivered in spades. If a player doesn’t hustle between drills in practice, Shanahan will call their names after practice and tell them to run extra sprints. He also makes sure that every player keeps his shirttail in during those sessions. Shanahan can get away with this because of those two rings.

With one hire, the Redskins are once again relevant in the NFC East. Now, let’s take a closer look at their chances of making the playoffs:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Donovan McNabb elevate this pedestrian group of receivers to new heights? There’s a reason that Santana Moss seems to have a perpetual smile on his face these days. He didn’t even have time to complete routes last season because of the Redskins’ woeful offensive line. Now, coaches are showing him film of the Texans’ Andre Johnson and saying he could do similar things. McNabb invited Moss and the rest of the receivers to work out with him in Phoenix early last month, and you can already see the benefits on the playing field.

“I told them to bring their wives and girlfriends because I wanted it to be a family affair,” McNabb told me. “When you’re around the facility, you always feel like you’re being watched. I thought it was a great opportunity for us to bond away from everyone else and start developing some chemistry.”

But Moss is the only thing close to a sure thing. We're still waiting for former second-round draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to show some consistency. For now, they're listed on Shanahan's depth chart as third-stringers. McNabb may have to rely on the 38-year-old Joey Galloway to play a significant role in the offense. The good news for Skins fans is that McNabb once took receivers such as Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston to NFC title games on a regular basis.

2. When will Albert Haynesworth crack the starting lineup? Shanahan bristled when I asked him if Haynesworth was causing a "circus," but the coach must realize that the defensive lineman has dominated the headlines. I think the players were watching closely to see how Shanahan dealt with the brooding star. Now that he's finally passed the infamous conditioning test, Haynesworth will work as a backup defensive tackle. He'll eventually start at right defensive end, but it's not going to happen overnight.

Haynesworth could be a huge part of Jim Haslett's defense if he buys into what the coach is doing. I am eager to see whether this knee issue goes away in the preseason. Haynesworth needs more game repetitions than usual because of all the time he missed. If the knee prevents him from getting on the field, it will become another distraction.

3. Have the Redskins solved their issues on the offensive line? I think a lot of this season hinges on whether three new additions to the line play well. Jammal Brown was a Pro Bowl player for the Saints at one point, but he hasn't played since '08. He'll have to knock off some rust while learning how to play right tackle. Rookie Trent Williams has a ton of ability, but he's working with a much thicker playbook now. There were questions about his work ethic at the University of Oklahoma. So far, he's said and done all the right things in Washington.

And we'll see how Artis Hicks performs at right guard. I always thought he was a better option than Mike Williams (out for the year), but this unit needs a lot of work in the preseason. McNabb will bring a lot to this team, but he can't win a lot of games if he's constantly on his back. Ask Jason Campbell about that.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I was thoroughly impressed with free safety Kareem Moore. He was a sixth-round pick in '08 who didn't make much of an impact in his first two seasons. Now, it looks like he'll lock down a starting spot. He's had an excellent camp. He plays with a lot of confidence and he'll allow LaRon Landry to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

You knew that one of the veteran running backs would probably be out of the mix, but I didn't expect it to happen so early in the proceedings. Willie Parker is officially listed at the Skins' fourth-string running back. Hard to imagine him making the final roster unless there are injuries.

OBSERVATION DECK

• I talked to one longtime Redskins observer who actually thinks Larry Johnson will have more carries than Clinton Portis this season. I don't see that happening unless Portis suffers an injury, but it's obvious that Johnson's in excellent shape. He's finishing off every run and he actually has shown a burst at times.
• Lorenzo Alexander and Andre Carter have a nice little battle going on at left outside linebacker. Alexander has been running a lot with the first team, but Carter, 31, will get plenty of playing time. You knew Carter would have a little trouble in coverage, but he's actually been step for step with running backs on a couple of occasions.
• Haslett is the best thing that could've happened to Carlos Rogers' career. The cornerback thought his career in Washington was over, but now Haslett believes he can turn him into an Antoine Winfield-type player. Haslett will take advantage of Rogers' size and he'll let him blitz more than in the past. (Adam Schefter has more on Haslett.)
• Brian Orakpo told me after practice Friday that Haslett's playbook has at least 20 more blitzes than Greg Blache's old version. He said it was a little overwhelming at first, but now he's not thinking as much. Orakpo had a nice rookie season, but he's about to become a breakout star. It's pretty amazing to have this many elite pass-rushers in the same division.
• Kedric Golston and Adam Carriker were running with the first-team defense Friday. It looked like the Redskins were working on their dime package, which features two down linemen. I think Haslett will be very creative with his fronts. He'll have some of the same concepts that we've seen from Dick LeBeau and the Steelers.
• Cornerback Justin Tryon made a nice recovery on a fly pattern to Roydell Williams on Friday. But Tryon hasn't done a lot in this camp to move up the depth chart. I think he's behind Kevin Barnes and maybe even Ramzee Robinson at this point.
• If you need a "Rudy" type of player to root for, let me point you in the direction of former Kansas State receiver Brandon Banks. At 5-foot-7, Banks isn't exactly a red zone target, but he's quick and appears to have good hands.
• John Beck rolled right and fired a bullet to tight end Lee Vickers in team drills. Former TCU linebacker Robert Henson reacted with some loud expletives because he came close to breaking up the pass. Beck had too many balls batted down when he was with the Dolphins. His arm angle's been too low in the pros, so we'll see if Kyle Shanahan can fix that problem.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

In case you've been trapped under a rock or some other impediment recently, you know that Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has been connected to a Canadian doctor charged with supplying and smuggling human growth hormones. Moss hasn't addressed the topic publicly, but his teammates and head coach seem convinced that he'll be cleared of any wrongdoing. But while it looks like there's no threat of criminal charges, we all know about the swift hand of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's justice. If he determines that Moss did anything wrong, the receiver could face a suspension.

And it's not like the Redskins are flush with proven receivers right now -- unless you count a guy like Joey Galloway who has been proving himself for 16 seasons in the league. Galloway's been on the downhill side of his career for at least the past four seasons, so it's unlikely he could turn back the clock and become a consistent deep threat. Moss led the Skins with 70 catches for 902 yards and three touchdowns last season, but his 12.3 yards per catch is a pretty benign number. That's why it's finally time for the faces of the '08 rookie class to show some consistency. Either Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas -- perhaps both -- need to step forward and make plays for Donovan McNabb.

The good news is that McNabb has had some success when surrounded with pedestrian receivers. In his pre-Terrell Owens years in Philly, he threw to the likes of Freddie Mitchell and the immortal Todd Pinkston. So chucking the ball to Bobby Wade, Thomas and Kelly might not look that bad to him. Plus, he'll have the talented combo of Chris Cooley and Fred Davis at tight end.

But even if Moss clears the Dr. Anthony Galea hurdle, the Redskins still need for Thomas and Kelly to emerge. I think fans are sick of hearing about their potential. Kelly won the starting job at the start of last season, but Thomas was the better receiver down the stretch. Thomas only had 25 catches, but three of them went for touchdowns and 16 went for first downs.

"Devin Thomas has been hurt through most of the minicamps and OTAs," Mike Shanahan told reporters last week. "It's good to get Devin back and watch him in these OTAs because I didn't get a chance to watch him except for the first day in our minicamp. Malcolm, it's like all of the receivers, learning the system, getting the chance to show their skills. It's going to be an interesting question here over the next two months, three months. We got a number of wide receivers that are competing for a position. I like what I have seen thus far."

If the commissioner decides to suspend Moss, don't be shocked if Shanahan looks to T.O. for help. We simply don't have enough drama in the NFC East, so it's important to reunite McNabb and his old buddy. As you know, their appearance together on a recent reality show laid the foundation for reconciliation. I have to stop now because I'm getting emotional.