Mike: I agree with you on Gholston. The Rams have the luxury of being able to give Chris Long time because they are struggling. If they were in the hunt and a veteran was capable of doing a better job, you wouldn’t see him (and everybody knew Long was more NFL-ready, which is why he was drafted earlier). I know which team I’d rather be. To nitpick: Leon didn’t really “turn it around” after his first season. He has a true weapon as a rookie and even had a couple of 100 yard games. His productivity even went down in his second year, as he switched to being a full time return man.

Personally, I never had much faith in Hall because he kicked too low and had a few clutch ones blocked.

He was not “over the hill” in 2005. In fact, in the Jags game when Chad got injured and then Fiedler got injured, Chad had a scramble that almost resulted in a TD and who was leading the way downfield? Mawae. And. if Chad had simply followed him, he would’ve scored. Also, Sowell scored right up the middle behind Mawae and that’s when Henderson and Stroud were beasts. I saw no detioration in his skills. He got injured. Since he’s returned healthy to the Titans, it’s no surprise that their running game has taken off and he’s having a great season by all accounts. Kris better bring his A game, Mawae is very crafty, but he can be overwhelmed at the point of attack, but beware his downfield blocking; that’s where he’s best.

Winston Hill was a bit before my time and I have a bias for centers. Leaving Hill out (and his 8 Pro Bowl appearances, several in the AFL, are impressive and he was an LT), and I have no reason to dispute his greatness, the best Jets OL that I saw before Mawae was Marvin Powell. And, while I saw Herman at the end of his career, I don’t think he was better than Marvin. But, with all due respect to Joe Fields, who was a very good center, Mawae was just much better. Mawae is probably the greatest pulling center of all time. He is a 6-time Pro Bowler (and, IMO, a lock for a 7th this season) and a 2-time All Pro (he also has a great chance to get his 3rd this year and he was 1st or 2nd team All-Pro 6 times). All of his post-season honors to date were with the Jets. He’s a lock for the HOF and I hope he wears the green and white in Canton. And, if it wasn’t obvious, I stand by my claim that he’s the best OL ever to wear a Jets uniform; but, I have no problem with people saying Hill was the best and I know a lot of old-timers think it’s a travesty that he’s not in the HOF.

Mawae was over-the-hill and injured in 2005 when he wasn’t re-signed. He’s 37 and goes about 280. He better bring a gun if he wants to stop Jenks.