MORT'S MAILBAG: Aug. 5

Q: My friends and I are having a friendly debate as to who is the best QB of all time. Obviously, it's difficult to say who is truly the best, but my opinion is that it's Joe Montana. Who are your top five QBs of all-time? -- Mike, San Jose, Calif.
MORT -- Mike, I always agonize over this, but here is my list of the top five all-time QBs: 1. Joe Montana; 2. John Elway; 3. Johnny Unitas; 4. Dan Marino; 5. Otto Graham. Now, I can't wait for all the protests.

	Expect Michael Vick to be a star.

Q: Since he was drafted, you've said all along that you thought Michael Vick would be a star. How long before the San Diego Chargers become the Portland Trail Blazers of the NFL (Sam Bowie over Jordan)? -- Mike O'Neill, Atlanta
MORT -- Mike, I do believe Vick will be a star, although it will probably take another season or two. I don't think the Chargers will ever be embarrassed by this deal, though. They got LaDainian Tomlinson, who might be a perennial Pro Bowl RB; that enabled them to draft Drew Brees in the second round. They also picked up a CB, Tay Cody, who had a very good rookie season. And they are pretty excited about the second-round pick they used this year -- WR Reche Caldwell. Throw in Tim Dwight, the WR-kick return specialist, and I would say Chargers GM John Butler pulled off a deal that will prove to be a good one for both sides. There is no way the Chargers were ready to deal with the uncertainties and roller-coaster ride that comes with taking a "franchise" QB after the Ryan leaf fiasco.

Q: Before the preseason games start in earnest, give us your final four teams playing for the Super Bowl. -- Bruce Zimmerman, Tucson, Ariz.
MORT -- Bruce, you're putting the pressure on me, but I'm going to give it a try: Green Bay and St. Louis in the NFC; Indianapolis and Pittsburgh in the AFC. Of course, it's too early. The NFC is really a struggle because the Eagles, 49ers and Bucs are Super Bowl-caliber teams going into preseason.

Q: Although I'm a huge Patriots fan, do you really think a team that has traded two former and potential Pro Bowlers (Terry Glenn and Drew Bledsoe) and lost their biggest locker-room presence besides Belichick (Cox) can really compete in a division that will be as tight as the AFC East? -- Ryan, Cumberland, R.I.
MORT -- Ryan, as you know, the Patriots won the Super Bowl without any of those guys really on the field, although Cox and Bledsoe made contributions. The AFC East is a very tough division, but the Patriots should be highly competitive and capable of repeating as division champion if they stay healthy and Tom Brady takes the next step forward. They also get a psychological benefit of being "underdogs" again and having to somehow prove they're for real. I'm not saying it will be easy, but I don't dismiss the Pats.

Q: In your chat the other day, you were asked about eligible players who weren't in the Hall of Fame. Why hasn't Art Monk been elected? On the field he was great, over 800 receptions, over 100 in a season (in a rushing offense), the streak of consecutive games with a reception and several rings. Is it because he was reserved and never looked for the spotlight? -- Andy, Washington, D.C.
MORT -- Andy, I think Monk is going to be elected, maybe even this time around. True, he was not a charismatic media guy, but he had a lot of respect. I think the fact that he was a possession receiver, as opposed to a guy who had a lot of "big" plays, made him a less glamorous receiver.

Q: Do you think the Philadelphia Eagles will sign Antonio Freeman before the end of training camp? If so, how well will he fit in with the rest of the receiving corps? -- Chris Bennett, Phoenix
MORT -- Chris, word is that the Eagles are content and happy with their top three WRs -- James Thrash, Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell. Freeman would be an option if any of those guys are injured or backslide. He would fit in just fine. Antonio really is not a bad guy in the locker room.

Q: I've been hearing a lot of big talk from the state of Ohio this offseason. I was curious, what's your take on the situation? Who do you think should finish behind Pittsburgh in everyone's preseason polls and why? What are the key factors? -- Joel, Wichita, Kan.
MORT -- Joel, Browns and Bengals fans both have a higher anticipation this season. I think they will both fall short. The Browns' offense has a lot to prove. The Bengals' QB situation (Frerotte vs. Kitna) doesn't get me real excited. I see the Steelers winning the division with the Browns and Bengals right behind, in that order.

Q: What are the chances of the Chargers going to L.A./Pasadena in the next few years? After six straight non-playoff seasons, maybe a change of scenery is what they need. -- Michael Strange, Hartsdale, N.Y.
MORT -- Michael, no, I disagree. The Chargers are San Diego's team. However, if San Diego civic leaders don't wake up, there is a real threat of losing the Chargers to Los Angeles. It would be a shame. And San Diego would never host another Super Bowl. The Chargers' missteps have nothing to do with their location.

Q: Why is everyone making a big deal out of rumors of Warren Sapp playing offense for the Bucs? If they remember, Gruden talked a lot about Charles Woodson playing on offense for the Raiders and he barely played. -- Josh Gold, Santa Clara, Calif.
MORT -- Josh, thank you.

Q: With the Miami Dolphins picking up Ricky Williams and various strong offseason moves (Norv Turner), why do you continue to rate them behind the likes of teams (Oakland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay) who are far less superior? No one on ESPN ever gives Miami a shot to do anything, do they? One more question: what are the chances that Chris Chambers emerges as a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver and Randy McMichael (draft pick) starts at tight end and plays well? -- Dan, Rising Sun, Md.
MORT -- Dan, I definitely give the Dolphins a shot this year. I like 'em a lot. But they still have some question marks: The O-line and D-line. Those are two foundational units that need to prove they measure up. As for Chambers, yes, I see a true Pro Bowl receiver. McMichael, the tight end from Georgia, is having a very, very good camp so far and Norv Turner will utilize his tight end with the best of them.

Q: Why don't you give the Jets more respect? Their front seven looks great, Edwards is a great DB coach, good OL, great RB and Vinny and the WRs are gonna spread it out this year. Why no love? -- Keith Stephen, Strongsville, Ohio
MORT -- Keith, I don't know about the Jets. I like their front seven on defense, although this knee injury to John Abraham is a real blow. Herm Edwards is not the DB coach. He is a head coach and did an excellent job last year. The secondary is a question mark after losing Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman. The O-line has been one of the best in the league, but they lost RT Ryan Young in the expansion draft. And they lost a great O-line coach, Bill Muir, who went to Tampa. I think O-line coaches are as valuable as any O-lineman, and losing Muir is a negative. I love Curtis Martin. But Vinny and the WRs still have to prove they are going to the next level. I'll be paying attention.

Q: The word in Chiefs camp is that the defense looks good, but the offense is not looking up to expectations. I believe Priest Holmes will keep us from being miserable, but one Johnnie Morton doesn't seem to upgrade a whole receiving corps to me. I'm afraid we're in for a typical second Vermeil season. What do you think? -- John, Olathe, Kan.
MORT -- John, fear not. At least not right now. The report from almost all the NFL camps is that the offense is struggling while the defense looks good. Even in the Redskins camp, there was a lot of concern about the offense before their 38-7 win over the 49ers in the preseason opener. So, just chill for now. Panic if it's late September and the Chiefs' offense is sputtering.

Q: Your preseason poll has the Broncos about halfway down the list. I believe Brian Griese is back for a Pro Bowl performance and everyone looks healthy right now. They had a good offseason. If Griese can put it together, and Terrell Davis can stay healthy, do you think they have the team to win the AFC? -- Sean Riley, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
MORT -- Sean, the Broncos burned me last year (I picked them as a Super Bowl team), so I'm in a wait-and-see mode on them. They have a lot of "ifs" that if they all end up on the positive side, then they might make another run. Griese, Davis, Ed McCaffrey, the O-line, the secondary ... a lot of these things have to come together rather dramatically for the Broncos to win the AFC. But I never count out Mike Shanahan.

Q: Who do you think I should play opposite Terrell Owens for receiver? J.J. Stokes? Tai Streets? I would like your opinion. -- Stephen Oliver, Worcester, Mass.
MORT -- Stephen, all I can tell you (and much to my surprise) is that the 49ers are fairly excited about Stokes. They think he's having his best camp and that he's a different player. So go with Stokes.