Define success

Page 6 of 17 -- Hey, Nick, great column. I will be in town to watch the great game with Miami next weekend. We are staying at the Boston Plaza Hotel and was wondering if there is a hot sports bar around there to watch the Monday Night game. Please let me know.
Derek Taylor, DesMoines, Iowa

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A: A few blocks away you have Champions at the Marriott Hotel.

I can't believe how tough football is. In most sports it seems a small drop of in physical ability brings a small drop off in production. With Milloy in mind, although there are plenty of other examples, don't you find it striking how such a small drop off in physical ability can propel a player from elite status to middle of the pack or lower? The margin of error is so small. Am I reading this right or is there more involved? Also, what are people in the NFL community saying about the chances of Mr. Colvin coming back at 100 percent? Thanks, Nick.
Mark Flanagan, Worcester

A: I think it has to be more than just a small drop off. Because a small drop off, if the player has been in the league for a while, is hidden by a players knowledge and wisdom. Jerry Rice is a great example. Troy Brown is another example. As for Colvin, nobody hears anything. You can talk to him and interview him, but he won't tell you a thing about his injury.

Hi, Nick. I hope I'm not being rude but in the same mailbag you supported Kraft in the Kraft-Parcells break up and said that Chuck Fairbanks was a great coach -- which I find extremely inconsistent. Fairbanks was fired but under the circumstances what could old Sully do? Fairbanks' Colorado announcement during what should have been a title run for one of the most talented Pats teams of all time overshadows any goodness that he had as a New England coach! Parcells was far nobler still giving the Pats a chance versus the Pack. I can't let you get away with taking Kraft's side versus Parcells and your apparent ignoring of what Fairbanks did. Can you please not do that again? It hurts when you guys forget what Chuck did to us!
Brian A. Carey, Erie, Penn.

A: I remember that stuff very well. I felt just as you did -- Fairbanks walked out on us. But I can't deny he was a great coach and talent evaluator. You can't either, Brian. Try to separate what he did from what he was. He was a great coach. Anyone who played for him will tell you that.

If, for some reason, the Bills cut Milloy after the season and, for some reason, the Pats signed him, would his new salary count against the salary cap in addition to his cap number for next year?
Carl Thompson, Providence, R.I.   Continued...