NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

There is a lot of talk about whether or not Donovan McNabb will return next year or not; however, I think there is just as much question about Brian Westbrook. He received plenty of speculation during the regular season because of the multiple concussions he received and was openly worried about his mental health down the road. He had discussions with various media outlets about how players can sustain serious mental damage from the type of blows he took this season and admitted he was scared.

When he returned to the football field, his production was limited. This is partially because he isn't the same Brian Westbrook he once was and partially because the Eagles found the most success in the run game while he wasn't playing. During the middle of the season, the two-headed monster of LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver started turning it on. McCoy was expected to be a contributor the day he was drafted but was thrown into a larger role due to the absence of Westbrook. Weaver, on the other hand, brought a lot more to the table than many expected.

By the end of the year, McCoy set an Eagles rookie record for rushing yards in a season. Weaver finished second in rush yards on nine more attempts than Westbrook and helped out in many short yardage situations. Despite the success of McCoy and Weaver, Andy Reid still had inconsistencies in his play calling, showing us yet again how much he seems to hate running the ball.

In the Wild Card game with the Cowboys, McCoy and Weaver each received five carries while Westbrook didn't have any. Westbrook had one reception on the day that he took for 27 yards but saw no other touches. Could this be a sign that Andy is ready to move away from Westbrook and feature McCoy and Weaver next season? Does Westbrook even want to play another season? These are all questions that are unknown right now but will be answered this offseason. I would hate to see Westbrook go play somewhere else but he can't stay healthy and definitely isn't the same as the old Brian Westbrook.

What do you Brian Westbrook's future holds?

The Bills remain in search of a new head coach, and one coordinator that appears to not have interest despite Buffalo’s interest level is Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Reports today state that Schottenheimer has reportedly turned down the Bills request to interview him for their head coaching job.

ESPN.com, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that Schottenheimer has told the Bills he does not want to talk to them about the position this week or after the Jets' playoff run is over.

New York plays at San Diego on Sunday in the AFC divisional round. The Bills asked for and received permission Monday from the Jets to speak with Schottenheimer, who last week said he's happy in New York and hopes "I'm here for a long time."

Schottenheimer has previously interviewed for several other head coaching jobs, including with the Jets, who instead hired Rex Ryan last year.

It’s finally all over for future Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau. Following the Pats loss to the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card game Sunday at home, Seau has decided that he’s had enough, retiring for good this time. “I’m going to go surf. Yeah Warren [Sapp], I’m not going to give you another speech. . . . “Yeah, that’s going to be my last game,” Seau told Inside the NFL.

Seau first retired in August 2006 after 13 seasons with San Diego and three with Miami. But he signed with the Patriots four days later and played 27 games for them over two seasons. He retired again after the 2007 season, then came out of retirement for the final four games in 2008 before retiring after that season.

Seau played seven regular-season games this season, all as a backup, and made 15 tackles. In last Sunday's 33-14 playoff loss to Baltimore, he had a season-high five tackles.

The Chiefs have hired Romeo Crennel to come in an run the teams defense as the clubs new defensive coordinator. The agent for Crennel, Joe Linta, said today that the former Browns coach will start his new job in a "couple of weeks."

Crennel, who has been out of football for a year recovering from hip surgery, will coach in the East-West all-star game before joining the Chiefs and linking up with his old friend, Charlie Weis. The Patriots won three Super Bowls with Crennel as defensive coordinator and Weis as offensive coordinator. Last week, the Chiefs hired Weis as offensive coordinator after he was fired as head coach at Notre Dame.

Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli was also a part of the New England dynasty as director of personnel.

The NFL awards continue to be announced, and today to no surprise, Titans back Chris Johnson has been awarded The Associated Press 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. All Johnson did in 2009 was set a league mark for yards from scrimmage (2,509) and become the sixth player with a 2,000-yard rushing season.

He is the first NFL player to finish with at least 2,000 yards rushing and 500 receiving (503). hat earned the second-year pro 38 1/2 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Johnson easily beat New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who received nine votes.

“I kind of realize what I did and I feel like I had a dream season," said Johnson, who scored 16 touchdowns (14 rushing), second to Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, and tied the NFL mark with six consecutive games rushing for at least 125 yards.

Johnson still though had something to say about being passed over for the NFL MVP award, which went Saturday to Colts QB Peyton Manning, who won it for an NFL record 4th time.

"I didn't even get one vote at all (for MVP)," Johnson said. "Like the season I had, it seemed like, `What more do they want me to do?' That just felt like rookie of the year; it's a quarterback thing I guess."

After years of skepticism, I finally have proof that alien abduction exists – Sunday's Patriots/Ravens debacle. The Ravens showed up and so did the Body Snatchers, cleverly disguised as Our Boys. However, the clues were there to be seen.

Does anyone actually believe that was the real Tom Brady out there on the field, lobbing interception after turn-over? (Giselle, lock the front door because whoever's coming home is NOT your husband!) Randy Moss ran like a guy heading for the proctologist's office.

I don't think the Pod People had quite managed to inhabit the bodies of Edelman and Wilfork but they certainly were in control of the defense. There were times when Wes Welker was the only lively thing out there. And really, when Bill Bellichik strolled out of the locker room in a tuxedo, well, that nailed it.

Seriously, it was painful. Painful! Ouch, ouch, OUCH. It was painful to see such inept play. Painful to hear boos – boos!! – from the fans. Painful to think of how the mighty have fallen. But before we start consigning the Dynasty signs to the trash heap and sending funeral wreaths out to Gillette, I think we need to hold off on the dirges and the elegies and take a step back.

The Patriots, after all, won their division, the seventh time in eight years. Despite seriously inconsistent play through the season, they were frequently brilliant. Someone once said, "You're as good as your best work" meaning that's the attainable high and if that's the truth, then the Pats had it in them to be very good indeed. They struggled with grievous injuries throughout the fall, including a still-wounded quarterback, and the loss of Wes Welker was a body blow to the whole team.

Randy Moss remains a mystery. I don't mean to be an apologist for him and his baffling performance, but I will say that if he were a woman I might suspect that, as so often happens with us, our bodies take our emotions in directions we wouldn't necessarily choose to go, and vice versa. Just sayin'. I simply can't imagine that what's going on with him is intentional, that he's sulking or peevish or just plain bored. I hope he figures it out. And I hope he gets it fixed by next summer.

I'm not making excuses – the team as a whole should have found it in themselves to rise to the occasion. Even if they lost it should have been with integrity and heart and a valiant spirit (after all, who really can fault the Green Bay Packers after that amazing game with Arizona?).

Obviously, the Pats have their work cut out for them between now and the start of the new season. They can't get a do-over but they desperately need a make-over. They need to get healthy, plug the holes and find better ways to adjust to changing circumstances. I hope they challenge their assumptions from the top down and the bottom up. I hope the painful lessons of this year serve them well, not as the weight of defeat but as an engine for inspiration.

Dynasties are made to be broken – otherwise the game wouldn't be so much fun. But empires lost can still be empires regained: just think of teams, like the Steelers or the Celtics, who have come back from times of drought to recapture past glory.

It used to be that the very mention of the Pats struck fear into opponents. Back in the day, when Tom Brady had a couple of minutes to take his team into the end zone it was just assumed he'd get the job done. Those days might be gone – who knows. But championships can be cyclical and what was lost can still be found. If the Pats can take an unflinching look at what didn't work this season, and maybe more importantly what did, then I think we all might be singing a happy tune next year.

Who will be the starting Quarterback in 2010?

The Cleveland Browns Quarterback position is in a familiar situation with it being wide open headed into this offseason. Did Brady Quinn show you enough to be the man or not to be the man next year? Could D.A. possibly be the Quarterback of the Cleveland Browns? Kevin Kolb,Donovan Mcnabb, and Mike Vick one of these guys probably will be on the trading block. Matt Hasselback could be moved with Pete Carroll going to Seattle. Jason Campbell,Kyle Orton, Chad Pennington, Tavaris Jackson, and Kellen Clemens are possible NFL Starting Quarterbacks who are free agents, could the Browns land one of these guys. When do the Browns consider drafting Tim Tebow? Is 2nd round to early to consider him. Could the Browns draft a guy with the seventh pick? That question is a big one and once again it is going to be very interesting to see the outcome of this situation.

Will Josh Cribbs be returning kicks for the Cleveland Browns again?

We all know Josh Cribbs is not happy at all right now with the Cleveland Browns? Will this work itself out and Cribbs get his new deal and be happy in Cleveland. What role will Josh have on this team in 2010. What would the Browns get back if they decided to trade the most valuable player on the team?

How will the line backing core improve?

With the addition of Matt Roth the Browns have found a player on the defensive side of the ball. Roth and Wimbley hopefully will cement the outside linebacker position. D’Qwell Jackson will enter free agency and there it not for sure he will be back with the Cleveland Browns next year? Who would they bring in to help fill the void if Jackson left. They also need to bring in another starter even if Jackson stays and also another quality linebacker to add depth.

Will Jerome Harrison be the main guy next year for the Browns

Jerome Harrison is also a free agent and could get an offer from a another team that the Browns won’t want to match. In that situation who knows what will happen with the Running Back situation. If Harrison does stay will he be the man next season and get most of the carries? How will James Davis come back from injury? Davis had an impressive preseason and people are waiting to see him in Regular Season action. Will Jennings be on the team next year. He had some really impressive runs and was manageable in the Running Back position.