Random holiday takes

Here’s a rundown of some NFL thoughts for you to digest as you sit back and enjoy your Fourth of the July parties this weekend. …

APWhere is Marshall going to end up in 2009?

The Drama in Denver is getting pretty old in the national media right now, especially since reports are surfacing that troubled receiver Brandon Marshall mouthed off about the city back in ’07 after a DUI arrest. But if I’m the Broncos, I don’t give this guy anything he asks for.

He’s under contract, and yes, he’s a star — on the field. But until he shows this team some respect, I don’t meet any of his demands. Trust me, I have never seen an NFL player “sit out” a season and risk not getting a paycheck.

A decision between Brett Favre and the Vikings has to come soon — hopefully this week if I’m a member of that team. As a player, you want no controversy at the quarterback position, and right now, no one in Minnesota has any idea what’s going on. Where is the leadership on the coaching staff and the front office? Time to wrap this up, folks. Just make a decision and go with it.

Camps start later this month and this team needs a leader.

APWill Brady Quinn win the starting job?

If I’m Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, I don’t take a day off for the next three weeks heading into camp. One bad practice does not make a bad player, but neither of these two guys can afford to start off slowly when the horn blows to start that first morning practice.

I would work on my accuracy with the football every day, and I would continue to strengthen my arm in the weight room. Plus, I’d pull out my notebook and draw up coverages and blitz schemes that I might see in practice so I know what to check to at the line of scrimmage. Mental mistakes are the quickest way to the bench at this level.

If I’m Packers GM Ted Thompson, I might want to make it clear that there will be no negotiations with safety Nick Collins or WR Donald Driver — because there are sure to be some jealous faces when WR Greg Jennings walks into that first meeting of training camp with a big new contract.

The last thing this team needs is guys worrying about their own money while they’re trying to get ready to compete in the NFC North. Avoid all distractions in August. They always lead to bad things.

APMcCown may be on the outside looking in.

If I’m Bucs QBs Byron Leftwich or Luke McCown, I can’t wait for training camp to start. Rookie Josh Freeman already has made some brash comments since the draft, and there have been several reports that the team wants to start him. Fans love hope when it comes to the quarterback position.

But there hasn’t been one practice in pads, and both of these veterans deserve a shot to compete, not only against each other but to show the rookie that jobs aren’t just handed out in this league.

I’m curious to see safety Mike Brown compete this summer in camp with the Chiefs. He goes from being a mainstay — and a captain — of the Bears’ defense to basically not only fighting for playing time, but also maybe fighting for a roster spot.

We can’t go a week without seeing T.O. on TV, and we all can pretty much agree that the Cowboys knew they had to release him to make QB Tony Romo more comfortable. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Owens put up big numbers in Buffalo.

The number of receptions might not be as high as they were in ’08, but the Bills would be foolish not to look his way every time in the red zone — because that’s where he’s still great. And as long as he catches touchdown passes, he’ll be a seller on TV.

Did we forget about the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West? Everything you read mentions the Arizona Cardinals. Don’t count out the Seahawks and don’t count out Matt Hasselbeck when he’s healthy.

Enjoy the holiday weekend. I’ll catch you all on Monday.