MORT'S MAILBAG | Jan. 2, 2004

Q: Guess you caught Steve Spurrier's news conference where he more or less called you a liar. And this just because you cited "unnamed sources" who claimed intimate knowledge of his wife's desires! Personally, I like your coverage because you don't bother to stick to news, you just run around reporting whatever blows in the breeze. Keep up the good work! -- Ryan (Chicago)
MORT -- Ryan, you obviously wrote this before Tuesday's events, but I could not resist sharing it. Perhaps now you understand why Spurrier's calling me out Saturday night did not make me waffle when I reiterated my story on Sunday morning. Happy New Year!

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Q: Mort, I always trust your insider info, but who is your source in Miami? They had you putting your rep on the line by saying Spurrier would be replacing Wannstedt. I could see if you were wrong about who was replacing Wannstedt, but for Wanny to get an extension and you not have a clue is perplexing. And your prediction came after Huizenga said his decision was made. What gives? -- Evan (Boynton Beach, Fla.)

The real caveat to that report was that I said the Redskins would be willing to listen if anybody called.

MORT -- Evan, I almost regret reporting the story because I knew it would get twisted. But let's set the record straight on what I reported: I started off by saying this should not be framed as "hard news," but that Wayne Huizenga had privately started discussing various scenarios in case he fired Dave Wannstedt, and that one of those scenarios was possibly calling the Redskins to see if Steve Spurrier would be available. The real caveat to that report was that I said the Redskins would be willing to listen if anybody called. However, Dolphins team president Eddie Jones insists the Spurrier talk was never raised, although I have a very well-placed league source who says it was discussed briefly by Huizenga as a what-if deal. I don't think it would have ever happened and it was always anchored by whether or not Huizenga retained Wannstedt. By the way, those "sources" were also the ones that allowed me to report Sunday that Wannstedt was likely to get an extension with the team searching for a GM.

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Q: Can you explain to me how Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs beat out Green Bay Packers LB Nick Barnett for defensive rookie of the year? I know Suggs had 12 sacks, but Barnett had four times as many tackles (109 to 27). How does a starting LB only record 27 tackles? Barnett also had three times as many interceptions (three to one for Suggs). Is playing defense in the NFL all about sacks? Clearly Suggs is a great pass rusher, but when it comes to playing LB, Barnett is the complete package whereas Suggs appears (by the numbers) to be a one-trick pony. -- Brian Curley (Madison, Wis.)
MORT -- Brian, you make a very legitimate case for Barnett, but this league has always put a premium on playmakers, especially when it comes to the passing game. The Ravens had a specific plan for Suggs as a rookie to limit him primarily to nickel (passing) downs, and it worked perfectly because he made it work. Suggs not only had 12 sacks, he had 24 quarterback hits, he forced six fumbles and he recovered four fumbles. So he was worthy, but I would not have complained if Barnett had won the honor.

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Q: What weaknesses do you think the Miami Dolphins will have to address to be a playoff team? -- Robert (Clewiston, Fla.)
MORT -- Well, Robert, 10 wins usually gets you in the playoffs but it didn't happen for the Dolphins. I think they need to seriously address their O-line, add another WR, develop a young QB and continue to upgrade their defense. That sounds like a lot, and it is.

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Q: I was surprised that Bill Cowher was not fired. He has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1992 and his contract ends after next year. Could you see him on the hot seat for next season? -- Chioke Hassan (Baltimore, Md.)
MORT -- Yeah, Chioke, maybe for the first time I could see Cowher on the hot seat next year, so to speak. He may even reach a point where he wants to explore his options. The Rooney family obviously prides itself in patience and continuity with the head coach because they have only had two since 1969 -- Cowher and Chuck Noll. But at some point, just as Noll caught a little heat near the end of his tenure, Cowher will catch some, too, unless the Steelers make a big leap forward.

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Q: I've always been a fan of Norv Turner's, especially when he was coaching the Washington Redskins, and I always felt he got a raw deal from Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Why is it you never hear his name mentioned when a head-coaching job is available? Personally, I think he would be a good fit in Atlanta and could really develop QB Michael Vick. Snyder should never have fired Norv in the first place! -- Pete (Atlanta)
MORT -- Pete, Norv Turner would do a great job with Vick. I do think that he has gotten an unfair rap on his job with the Redskins, where he worked basically with less talent than what's on board now. He was 10 games under .500 in six years, but he started 10 games under when his first team (a bad one) went 3-13. He won a division title and he may have won another one in 2000 if Snyder had not fired him in December (or, had Snyder not forced Jeff George on him, either). But, right now, Norv appears to be off the head-coaching radar.

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Q: This is the first year that I've seen so many GM jobs up for grabs in the NFL. Do the minority-hiring policies apply to the GM position as well, and would Denny Green be a candidate for Miami's GM? -- (Stephen, Los Angeles)
MORT -- Stephen, I think this will become an issue very soon in the NFL. I even heard some rumblings about the swiftness in which Rich McKay was hired in Atlanta. But that was a case where the Bucs had put a tight window on McKay's opportunity to leave without compensation. Also, McKay's personal track record on diversity matters (he hired Tony Dungy and he tried to hire Marvin Lewis) certainly spoke well of that hire. I do hear some rumblings about Miami's list not including a minority candidate. Dennis Green is not a candidate for GM. He says he has the itch to coach again.

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Q: Why does no one question or criticize when Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan plays his third string against the Green Bay Packers' first team in Week 17? Yet these same people complain when teams like the Buffalo Bills don't show up to play? Why doesn't the league fine coaches for not starting their players in situations like this? -- John Haley (St. Louis, Mo.)
MORT -- John, the league will never dictate to a team about who they should play, only that the coaches and players give a full effort in competing that day. Shanahan's first priority is to look out for the welfare of his own team, and since the playoffs can be a grind especially -- for a team without a bye and facing some road games -- it is difficult to criticize his decision to rest his key starters.