In Seattle, Jeff George replaces Trent Dilfer and will back up Matt Hasselbeck, and that's all you really need to know about the state of quarterbacking in the NFL.

But if you want more evidence, it's available: the Bears hope Jim Miller can play through his injuries because Chris Chandler proved inadequate as a backup; Shaun King is the Buccaneers' only healthy QB; Jeff Blake will be the Ravens' starter this week, the eighth starter in Brian Billick's 3+ years; Tommy Maddox is a new hero; Elvis Grbac's phone never stops ringing; Steve Spurrier flips a coin; Ray Lucas threw four interceptions in his first Dolphin start; Peyton Manning has become a guy who throws nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns.

	You can fall as quickly as you rise when you're an NFL QB.

In other words, don't expect to wait long before the NFL's great marketing and image machine cranks up a few promos featuring Michael Vick, Joey Harrington and Drew Brees. They could cure the disease, but didn't we once say the same thing about Tom Brady?

As an aside, it's not too much of a stretch to connect the dots between the inexperienced/inadequate/incompetent quarterbacks (let's say 16 of 32 fit one of those categories) and the number of wide receivers being left supine by big hits in the secondary. One requirement for the headhunter is a head to hunt, and the practice of throwing the ball where your receiver can make a catch without getting hospitalized is becoming a lost art.

It's hard to summon much sympathy for receivers -- the undisputed divas of professional sport -- but when you realize how utterly dependent they are on their quarterback, and you look around and see who's doing the quarterbacking, you can almost feel their pain.

Although, with the kind of pain they've been feeling lately, that's a big almost.

This Week's List

The bright side of Yao Ming's debut: He's setting himself up to be the NBA's Most Improved Player.

Obviously, it was that fifth drug that sent him over the line: William Ligue, the patriarch of the on-field Ligues of Chicago, says his system was full of alcohol and five other drugs when he and his son attacked Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa.

Introducing the first installment of "The Road to LeBron," an occasional ranking of NBA teams that are doing their best to recruit LeBron James: 1) Clippers (0-1 with a loss to the Cavs); 2) Cavs; 3) Celtics (worst loss ever, to Wizards); 4) Lakers (0-2); 5) Denver (destined to move up).

Would anyone mind if we waited at least a few months before we started worrying about this: A headline Friday read, "Bettman warns of work stoppage in 2004."

Just for the heck of it: Bennie Cunningham.

The problem with being player/boss: After Thursday's Wizard win over the Celts, Michael Jordan's former mistress has decided she'll drop her lawsuit in exchange for Kwame Brown.

Me, the cynic that I am, sees "third party" and immediately thinks one word -- girl: An altercation between Washington State linebacker Ira David and cornerback Jason Davis -- resulting in both being out of this Saturday's game against Arizona State -- concerned a misunderstanding over a third party, according to coach Mike Price.

When you're 80, maybe, but 20?: The line on Dajuan Wagner in the opener read, "DNP -- bladder."

Hey, Yao, don't feel so bad: Mike Dunleavy, Jr. -- 18.9 seconds of playing time in the Warriors' opening-game win over the Spurs.

And so, given the available facts, there's only one answer: Yes, the Warriors are a better team with Dunleavy on the roster.

This is being written now because it may never be factual again: Golden State Warriors undefeated, Los Angeles Lakers winless.

Just one simple question for Rick Fox: Given the state of your Shaq-less team, what the hell were you thinking?

Mahmoud Abdur-Rauf, where art thou?: Hornets owner George Shinn is conducting a pregame prayer before every game and has asked his players to salute the flag during the entire national anthem.

Next week: Mandatory goose-stepping to the free-throw line.

Showing a gross misunderstanding of the timeless seen-and-not-heard axiom: The Bengals, guaranteeing a win.

World Series update: Livan Hernandez still doesn't look like he cares all that much, but Kevin Appier has been throwing stuff all over the house all week.

World Series question: How come TV never gets the blame for low TV ratings?

And finally, how do you think they're ever going to find an impartial jury?: Billy the Marlin is taking the Marlins to court over his dismissal.

Tim Keown is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at tim.keown@espnmag.com.