Moderator

  (4:05 PM)

Hey folks, Dave will be here any minute. Send in those questions we're about to kick off!

David Fleming

  (4:06 PM)

Greetings all. Welcome back. For the record: Elmo's Army (my hockey team) won last night 5-4 after trailing 4-1 in the second period. I had two assists and a goal. OK, back to the NFL. Watcha got?

Paul, San Diego

Dave, what do you think of the McNabb/Limbaugh Controversy? Do you think it was necessary for Rush to resign?

David Fleming

  (4:10 PM)

Let me address this from a strictly football perspective: I have actually spent a good deal of time with McNabb and the Eagles over the last several years and it's just ignorant to suggest that McNabb is over-rated. Multiple Pro Bowls, NFC title games, an MVP candidate and a few years ago he accounted for 74% of the team's offense. Beyond that, if you bother to speak to actual players on the Eagles (even guys on defense), they will tell you to a man that as McNabb goes, so goes this team.

Andy - Milwaukee

Hey Dave. Love your column. Is a lack of a fullback killing Eddie George or is he really that used up?

David Fleming

  (4:14 PM)

Ah yes, the old 'love your work' use my question tactic, works every time, right? With Eddie, one has caused the other. I think he really misses having that Pro-Bowl level lead blocker, I mean that's one less hit on almost every carry, it adds up. It's just amazing to see how the brutal nature of the game just wears down even warriors like George.

Mike(Baltimore)

How have the Bears gone from division champs to duds in a course of just 2 seasons?

David Fleming

  (4:16 PM)

It's called bad personnel decisions. How many guys from that team are still around? Now they're 30th on defense and, did you hear Mike Ditka on the radio on MNF? He suggested with the talent they have they might go 0-16

Mike(Baltimore)

Priest Holmes - less,same, or more dynamic than Marshall Faulk of the previous 4-5 years?

David Fleming

  (4:19 PM)

More. More. Far more. He has taken the position that Faulk created--the versatile, swiss-army knife back who can do it all--to another level. Great story: last year was hanging out with Priest while he ran some errands. We stop at a car wash that was, no joke, just a few miles from Arrowhead, and the guy washing his car has no idea who he is...you gotta love that

John (Santa Barbara)

Who gets their first win "last" Jacksonville, San Diego, or Chicago?

David Fleming

  (4:20 PM)

John, you in one of those pools? Bears baby all the way...and send me my cut

Tom (Monroe NC)

Is Portis going to play this weekend?

David Fleming

  (4:22 PM)

He's running now but the team wants to see how he holds up under contact on Thursday, which, to me, usually means probably not

VikingGut (Austin)

Dave, My neighbor has already decided that Tice should name Gus Frerotte as his permanent starter. What's the appropriate response to this kind of statement? Should I hit him, mock him or just ignore him? Thanks.

David Fleming

  (4:25 PM)

Hmm. How about TP'ing his trees?

Chuck (Chicago IL

Who is more of a distraction to a team, David Boston or Brenda Warner?

David Fleming

  (4:26 PM)

I'd say David Boston. His teammates are still waiting for their apology. I mean, come on, even Ryan Leaf said he was sorry.

Mark (Kalispell, MT)

When will Keyshawn Johnson finally have a game this year?

David Fleming

  (4:28 PM)

Mark, with all do respect, you're way off. Please people, lift your heads up off the stat pages and WATCH THE GAMES. Keyshawn always draws double-teams, and thus, opens things up for everyone else, he blocks well downfield, he makes clutch grabs on third down and in the red zone...

Chris (Boston MA)

Is Simeon Rice the most devastating pass rusher in the game today?

David Fleming

  (4:31 PM)

From the outside, absolutely. One of the most amazing things I saw in training camp this year involved Rice. He's lying on his back during practice, right, and Gruden calls for the first team D to hit the field. Instead of rolling over and crawling to his feet, Rice springs, in one explosive, astounding movement, from lying on his back up to his feet, standing. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

Vu ( Chicago)

Do you see any letdown from my panthers? They have a tough schedule, but do you think they can make a playoff push?

David Fleming

  (4:33 PM)

Last week I watched Vu's Panthers physically dominate the Falcons on both sides of the ball. Anyone with a defense that good has a shot at the playoffs, but the jury is still out on Delhomme

Dusty (Montana)

I think that Minnesota will blow out the Atlanta Falcons and take advantage of Atlanta's weak secondary and Moss will have his best game yet. What are your thoughts on this game?

David Fleming

  (4:36 PM)

Not so fast, Dusty. Talent levels in this league are so close now that the team with the emotional edge seems to win most games. I just got back from Atlanta and I gotta tell you with injuries and off the field problems, the Falcons are a team with their backs up against the wall. And those kinds of teams are dangerous.

Mike(Baltimore)

Who did Warren Sapp remind you more of - Beyonce or Fat Albert?

David Fleming

  (4:37 PM)

LOL.

Peter (Philadelphia)

Terrell Owens, Philadelphia Eagle, what do you think?

David Fleming

  (4:39 PM)

Forget all the salary cap, trade stuff (the fact that no one trades anymore in the NFL) and franchise tags that would make this a very tough thing to pull off, I like the idea because, trust me, there are players on the Eagles who would stand up to T.O.

Curt - Indy

Do you see the Colts D as the real thing, or will they get run over later in the year?

David Fleming

  (4:41 PM)

The Colts D is for real. They swarm and play so fast you think the VCR is stuck on fast forward.

Ben (Bolivar, MO)

Will a team ever go 16-0 again? Is there a team who could do it this year (i.e. Kansas City)?

David Fleming

  (4:44 PM)

Not gonna happen. No way. Not with the level of parity in the league right now. I think you'll see everyone finish 8-8 before you see a team go 16-0. That said, one thing that just rubs me the wrong way every year is that scene of all the old Dolphins popping champagne when the last undefeated team gets beat. I don't care if they do it, but do it in private.

Jason (Orlando)

Will tampa bay be able to make another run without a running game? and are pittman and jones good enough to at least keep opposing defenes's honest?

David Fleming

  (4:47 PM)

Well, they didn't really have one last year. Pittman rushed for just over 700 yards in 2002 and the Bucs did just fine. To repeat, teams have to get better and this would of been a perfect place for them to upgrade their team but so far so good.

Trevor mukilteo, washington

is seattle a team to deal with in there 3-0 start, and can they beat Tampa Bay if they meat in the playoffs?

David Fleming

  (4:50 PM)

Seattle is in a perfect position right now. They have a hot QB, a stud running back and a new nasty D under Ray Rhodes and they seem to be flying under the radar screen. Maybe, people just can't stand to look at those Certs uniforms?

Ricky (St. Joe, MO)

Will the Arrowhead crowd and improved Chiefs D, reveal the real Jake Plummer?

David Fleming

  (4:53 PM)

Well, I don't think he's actually been in hiding so far this year. He's popped up more often than Shanny would like, that's for sure. If any place can rattle a QB it's Arrowhead. Sitting in the upper-deck of that stadium for a big game is like surfing a concrete sunami of humanity.

David Fleming

  (4:55 PM)

concrete sunami of humanity? Give it up people.

Angelo (new york)

Ok 2 minutes left in the game. Who do you want in the game at QB, RB, WR from any team and why

David Fleming

  (4:56 PM)

Favre/Jim Brown/Marvin Harrison

David Fleming

  (4:57 PM)

Speaking of 2-minute drill...ok...time for the SPEED ROUND

John (indy)

Tampa Bay or Indy on MNF?

David Fleming

  (4:57 PM)

tb

Chris Orlando Fl

Miami contender or pretender?

David Fleming

  (4:58 PM)

can't answer, need more data

John

Baltimore in the playoffs yes or no?

David Fleming

  (4:58 PM)

No

RL (dallas)

Big day for Hambrick this week, yes or no?

David Fleming

  (4:59 PM)

No, wait, he's playing the Cardinals? YES

Jeff (portland)

seahawks over packers?

David Fleming

  (4:59 PM)

book it

Jon (Rochester, NY)

Buffalo in the playoffs, ya or no?

David Fleming

  (4:59 PM)

yes

jeff detroit

bears 0-16 yes or no?

David Fleming

  (5:01 PM)

sure, if you're gonna be bad, be really baaaaad

Dave (Plymouth, MN)

Like the Nickname, "The Red Feury D" for Buc's D, Yes or No?

David Fleming

  (5:02 PM)

That's weak

JC (Scarsdale NY)

Peerless......comeback in the second half? yes or no

David Fleming

  (5:02 PM)

Big time

Ali (reston, VA0

Ramsey, Hidden jem or beginner's luck?

David Fleming

  (5:03 PM)

Hidden Gem ... as much as a guy taken in the first round can be

Darrin (Phoenix, AZ

K.C. in the super bowl. Priest=MVP??

David Fleming

  (5:04 PM)

Has a nice ring to it

Boomer (Toronto)

If you bought an NFL jersey for your child tomorrow it would be....

David Fleming

  (5:04 PM)

Derrick Brooks

Brian-Springfield,MO

Jem was an 80's toy doll for girls

David Fleming

  (5:05 PM)

thanks for the info

David Fleming

  (5:06 PM)

Can't end on Jem, no way

Jeff- Chanute Kansas

If you had to pick right now, who would your Superbowl teams be?

David Fleming

  (5:08 PM)

Tampa Bay and KC

Bud

taste great or less filling?

David Fleming

  (5:09 PM)

taste great

David Fleming

  (5:09 PM)

OK FlemFilers. Thanks, as usual, for the great questions. See ya in two weeks.