MORT'S MAILBAG: April 2

Q: What do you think Dallas should do with their first round pick?--Ray Baldwin, New York
MORT -- Ray, I'm surprised Coach Parcells hasn't asked me this question first (ha-ha!). I think he has to get an impact player, whether that's a Terrell Suggs, a Terence Newman, a Dewayne Robertson. Maybe a long shot for that pick would be a quarterback like Byron Leftwich. Otherwise, I could see Parcells also trading out of the spot to pick up more picks, if he could find a willing partner (Al Davis?).

Q: Should the Miami Dolphins try to trade up for a first round pick, or should they concentrate on free agency?-- Jerry Hernandez, Kunsan AFB, South Korea
MORT -- Jerry, first of all, I just want you to know how much we appreciate your service to our country. As for the Dolphins, they don't have a first-round pick because of the Ricky Williams trade. But it would cost too much to trade into the first round. They also have an pretty solid track record with their post-first round picks, such as getting TE Randy McMichael in the fourth round last season. The only bone of contention I've had with the Dolphins is their reluctance to get a young quarterback to develop behind Jay Fiedler and whatever other veteran they acquire. Could that be Brian Griese? He's still young. I do know that Dave Wannstedt and Norv Turner think that Sage Rosenfels, who was signed after the Redskins released him, has shown some real potential as a young QB, which is why they are not likely to draft one next month.

Q: The Cincinnati Bengals have recently started talking about drafting Terence Newman instead of Carson Palmer with their first pick in the draft. I've heard Newman is the best corner in the draft, but how does he compare to some of the great corners of the past few drafts, like Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey? -- Chuck, Cincinnati
MORT -- Chuck, even though there has been talk about Newman instead of Palmer, I think that's a decision that will get second-guessed because it is the No. 1 pick in the draft. Now if the Bengals could get the Lions or Houston Texans to swap, then Newman is an obvious choice. In comparison to the others you mentioned, Newman has outstanding speed and coverage skills. He is faster than Woodson, but not as physical; he is not quite as big as Bailey, who also isn't physical. Like Bailey, Newman does have great ball skills - a must for any corner that is considered a top-5 pick.

Q: If Justin Fargas is available to the Lions in the 2nd round, should they take him? -- Mike, Michigan.
MORT -- Mike, my initial reaction is the Lions should definitely consider Fargas. That would keep in line with Matt Millen's mission to improve the overall team speed. Fargas has some risks, especially with an injury history and durability is a major factor. But since you are talking second round, I would certainly believe he is a strong consideration. And, of course, it would be ironic because he did transfer from Michigan to USC after Michigan moved him to safety.

Q: Is it harder to find an All-Pro Safety or an All-Pro cornerback? ?- Will, New York
MORT -- Will, that's an interesting question. I would say it's more difficult to find an All-Pro safety. Corners are so easy to identify coming out of college, but safeties are another story. A lot of those safeties are converted corners because something about them was a little lacking athletically. But when you find a good one, like a Brian Dawkins or a Darren Sharper, then your defense can become pretty special.

Q: Do you think the St. Louis Rams should trade Kurt Warner and try and pick up some veterans for the offensive line? I think they should!! Marc Bulger is the man in St. Louis now!! -- Joe Mathahs, Iowa
MORT -- Joe, as you know by now, Warner has been declared the man by Mike Martz. The Rams are still high on Bulger but there's a consensus in the organization that he still needs to physically mature. I also think that everyone in the Rams organization did a wise thing in letting the emotions cool down from a frustrating season for both the franchise and Warner. He certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt. And, as you can see, the Rams addressed their greatest offensive need when they acquired Kyle Turley. And they only gave up a second-rounder in 2004 to get him!

	Owens

Q: Now that the San Francisco 49ers have Dennis Erickson as their coach, I think they should try to trade guys such as Terrell Owens. If he doesn't get along with Erickson, I wouldn't be surprised if Owens is on another team on draft day, just like Keyshawn Johnson four years ago with the New York Jets. Do you think Terrell Owens will be traded on draft day? -- Chioke Hassan, Baltimore, MD.
MORT -- Chioke, I don't see Owens being dealt. I think Erickson has to give this a season. He's coming in with a fair amount of pressure because he's replacing a fairly popular coach in Mariucci who had success. Owens gives him a chance to be competitive. Erickson also has a great track record for developing relationships with players of diverse personalities. Owens' contract does have to be addressed after this season and I guess if somebody wanted to package a bunch of picks together, they could get the 49ers attention. I just don't see that happening at this time.

Q: Hey Mort, I have a serious issue that I haven't heard addressed yet concerning the Detroit Lion's hiring process of Mariucci. I understand a coaching search should include all qualified candidates, but Matt Millen has always wanted Mariucci. I didn't hear anyone complain when Bill Polian tabbed Tony Dungy the same way. The point is a team may know who they want without a search; therefore, no one's being excluded from the search because there is none. Moreover, the Lions tried to interview qualified candidates for the job and they refused. What is the point of interviewing others that would never hire just to meet the letter of the law? I guess my question is...when did Bud Selig start running the NFL? -- Stephen Shumock, Mobile, Ala.

MORT -- Stephen, this is obviously a hot-button topic. You raise an interesting point about Polian and Dungy. That is progress when a qualified African American coach can get fired one week, and hired the next. It happened with Ray Rhodes (Philly to Green Bay). And it would happen more if all the qualified African American coaches out there would get an opportunity to become a head coach. I think the Lions could have done better with the process. I think some of those coaches were ill-advised to reject an opportunity to interview for a job, even if they viewed it as a "courtesy" interview. I could even make a case that the most qualified coach was Dennis Green. But, given Mariucci's excellent coaching credentials, the fact that Millen originally wanted to hire him two years ago, and his availability, it is hard to criticize the choice. Overall, this is an ownership issue and it's a matter that the league is working hard on.

Q: Are the Seattle Seahawks a viable playoff contender in '03 or are there too many holes to fill defensively to get to 10-11 wins and the postseason? -- Mark Hansen, Santa Cruz, Calif.
MORT -- You had to like the way the Seahawks finished the season. Of course, the focus was on the emergence of Matt Hasselbeck at QB. The Seahawks will have to get a lot of mileage out of some veterans on defense, but I think they do have some good young players and this draft can help solidify a few spots. And Ray Rhodes has an outstanding track record as a defensive coordinator. I have a gut feeling that the Seahawks will make their playoff push this season.