Failure in Denver rests on Bowlen's shoulders

• "The biggest failure in Denver was not the GM or head coach's fault — it was the owner trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. He and he alone is the only person to blame for losing a franchise quarterback. He interviewed the coaches. And all he had to say was, 'I have a franchise quarterback — he is not going anywhere. Can you work with him, and how are you planning to use him?' It was no secret that the Patriots were going to trade Matt Cassel. (Pat Bowlen) failed in the vetting process to find out if (Josh) McDaniels was going to make a run for him. It's not McDaniels' fault or (GM Brian) Xanders' — it's all on the owner. I evaluate it for what it is. And it starts at the top and works its way down. The owner needs to be held accountable for his part."

• "The Packers' offensive line is suspect and it has to protect a quarterback who has not been able to stay healthy. My prediction is that we will know a lot more about Matt Flynn before the end of the year."

• "If you look at last year's draft class — there are two second-rounders that have already been cut — Brian Brohm (Packers) and Dexter Jackson (Tampa Bay). There are two third-rounders who have already gone — Bruce Davis (Pittsburgh) and Bryan Smith (Philadelphia). ... Smith's optimum weight is around 233 and there was a chance he would lose too much speed if he got too big. The Eagles got him up to 250, and he can't carry the weight. He still has a chance if he drops some weight. He's on the Rams' practice squad now. If anyone could get it out of him, it's Steve Spagnuolo — so we'll find out if he can play. ... The others were overdrafted. Brohm was damaged goods coming into the league. Jackson was a small-school flash. Davis is just a guy."

• "If you look at all the quarterbacks that have been drafted in the second round, you'll see a lot of need picks. Kevin Kolb, Kellen Clemens, John Beck. None of them had the talent to be drafted where they were. You can go straight on down. Tarvaris Jackson had the talent, but he was nowhere near ready mentally when he came into the league. He was three years away. Quincy Carter, Marques Tuiasosopo, Shaun King, Charlie Batch. Go back the last 10 years and the only (second-rounder) who has made it was Drew Brees. Drew Stanton is No. 3 on a bad team. The jury is still out on Chad Henne and Pat White. There's something to be said about not reaching for quarterbacks."

• "Everyone always talks about the (NFC) East and how good that division is. Let me tell you the team I think is going to be average — I don't see the Giants being any better than 8-8. Who are their wideouts? Who is their tight end — Kevin Boss? Come on. They got (Brandon) Jacobs and (Ahmad) Bradshaw in the backfield — that is an issue. Losing (Derrick Ward) is going to hurt. They are banged up on the D-line that everyone keeps talking about."

• "What everyone forgets about Philadelphia is how good the defense has always been. You don't lose (defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson, Brian Dawkins and their middle linebacker (Stewart Bradley) and not have issues on defense. Dawkins was their emotional leader. He sparked that defense. You can't replace how much that means. He was the heartbeat."

• "Jim Zorn might have figured it out. Jason Campbell is a deep-ball thrower. The only way to win with him is to tailor an offense to his strengths, and I saw more of it in the preseason. He might be all right if they stay away from the short game that (Zorn) has always run. This game is about coaching and matching schemes to talent."

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