From Mort's Chat (9/8/05)

Nate (Houston): Mort, Last year alot of media were saying that Gibbs would have the ship righted by year 2, but this year 90% of the media have picked the Redskins to be bad again this year. What is your take? I think they have the potential to shock alot of people and win 10 games.

Chris Mortensen: (11:08 AM ET ) As we've gotten closer to the openers, I now list the Redskins as one of my potential "sleepers." Does that mean 10 wins? I guess it could but I don't see that many.

and

Chris (Seattle): Who is your "sleeper team" in both the AFC and NFC to be this years "bolts"?? Meaning they go from a horrible record, to a winning record and a playoff/wild card berth??

Chris Mortensen: (11:42 AM ET ) Well, those teams are the Cowboys, Redskins & Giants....the Cardinals... the Bengals...the Titans...and maybe the Bucs.

It's not exactly "on board", but he's not using us as a punchline...

I'd love to see how the Skins, Cowboys AND Giants all are going to go to the playoffs. That would be quite a feat.

Now, this makes me happy cause I really respect Mort.

I hate the Eagles, really dislike the Cowboys and have no feelings about the Giants, but it would be cool if the latter two went to the playoffs, of cousre with us included ...

I know last year was pretty dismal, but it's really surprising to me to see how many people are so down on the Skins this year.

I mean it is Joe Gibbs we're talking about. It's amazing that so many have been so quick to write him off. We're also talking about a top ranked D led by Gregg Williams.

Of course we're a little biased here, but I'm just having a hard time seeing a team that won't be improved in 2005.

I've always found Mort to be the most unbiased of all the ESPN experts. I like Golic too. But Mort doesn't hit you with any bias, he has nothing against Dan Snyder like Pastabelly, King, and Z do. He just calls it as he sees it.

He's not always right, but it's not like the experts are ever right. I agree with Mort on this one, the Skins have an opportunity to surprise people. Whether they will or not is up in the air, depends on turnovers, but you can't write them off to make the playoffs.

PS Anybody feeling the Buccaneers a little bit? They might be pretty solid. I still think a lot of Gruden, and Cadillac looks like the real deal. They still have Griese though, that's a big strike against them.

Don't expect to see too much of Bears rookie running back Cedric Benson on Sunday. With Kyle Orton at the controls, it's a safe bet the Washington Redskins will send blitz after blitz. Putting Benson on the field too much could get Orton pummeled because the rookie running back may not have enough experience in blitz pickup and pass protection.
-- Daily Herald

Coach Lovie Smith would not shed any more light on his plans for running back Cedric Benson in the Bears' opener Sunday at Washington. The No. 4 pick suited up in full pads for the first time Wednesday and got in some limited hitting.
-- Chicago Sun-Times

Hopefully on special teams

What a biatch

PS Anybody feeling the Buccaneers a little bit? They might be pretty solid. I still think a lot of Gruden, and Cadillac looks like the real deal. They still have Griese though, that's a big strike against them.

I can definitely see them being a surprise this year. Griese played pretty well for them last year, Cadillac Williams should be a great back for them, and Clayton was a nice find for them last year at WR.

I've always loved Gruden too.

PS Anybody feeling the Buccaneers a little bit? They might be pretty solid. I still think a lot of Gruden, and Cadillac looks like the real deal. They still have Griese though, that's a big strike against them.

I personally don't see them doing much and would have them ranked 3rd best in their own division behind Atlanta and Carolina and could slip behind New Orleans if NO plays up to their potential with the motivation to play well with what's happened down there.

I know last year was pretty dismal, but it's really surprising to me to see how many people are so down on the Skins this year.

I mean it is Joe Gibbs we're talking about. It's amazing that so many have been so quick to write him off. We're also talking about a top ranked D led by Gregg Williams.

Of course we're a little biased here, but I'm just having a hard time seeing a team that won't be improved in 2005.

What floors me is all the respect the Giants seem to get, with an unproven QB, yet the knock on the Skins with the media is Ramsey......go figure.....