Sean Farnham on FOX Sports Radio asked me an interesting question on Monday. Was the NFL pulling out of its preseason game in China because the league realizes that it can’t make the strides in Asia and Europe like the NBA has? That football is strictly an American game?

Well, the NFL isn’t thinking like that. The NFL simply wants to concentrate on its regular-season game in London this season where the Miami Dolphins will host the New York Giants. They will play in Beijing in 2009, the year after the Olympics. I do believe that if the London game is a financial success that there’s a better chance of London getting a franchise over Los Angeles.

The reason is pretty simple: high-brow fans with plenty of money, plus a modern stadium. The football fans in Boston and Philadelphia and Houston can tell you, even when being gouged, that the football experience is pretty special in a modern stadium. London has better soccer stadiums than Los Angeles does, plus any NFL fan who lives in California knows that politicians in the Golden State are never going to ante up for a $800 million stadium in Los Angeles or anywhere else for that matter.

When offensive linemen are collecting $10 million signing bonuses, you know the league needs to expand to locations where the fans will pay any price to sit and watch. The NFL Europe experience has whetted the Europeans’ appetite for the real thing, a real NFL game, and that’s the logic behind my beliefs.

The next best place to put a NFL franchise is Las Vegas, but the gambling mecca won’t get one because the league doesn’t want to admit that their fans actually bet on a game’s outcome. How silly. Off-the-record, most owners know that Las Vegas would be a financial gold mine.

If the game in London is a financial success, and fans also watch the game on satellite television throughout Great Britain and other European countries, you know the league will seriously consider another such event and the possibility of a European based London franchise.

London may be five years down the road. Conversely, Los Angeles has gone 12 seasons now without a single franchise and the NFL continues to be a financial giant and a television ratings’ success.

To this day, potential Los Angeles owner Casey Wasserman realizes that he should have bought the Dodgers instead of Frank McCourt. Had Wasserman bought the Dodgers, he could have developed a NFL stadium there or even relocated the baseball team in a new stadium near the Staples Center. With that opportunity lost, Los Angeles is down to the Coliseum option, one that the NFL can easily turn its back on.

Browns and Quinn

No NFL coach is on a bigger hot seat than Romeo Crennel in Cleveland. If the Browns get off to a horrendous start this upcoming season, Crennel could be gone by November. I don’t believe GM Phil Savage cares, either, because he didn’t really hire Crennel -- owner Randy Lerner did -- and because he wants to rebuild this franchise.

And there is growing speculation that Savage, especially if LSU’s JaMarcus Russell has already been selected, could decide to draft Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn with the third overall choice. The Browns, like the Raiders, need a franchise quarterback.

 

Cleveland fans have been hoping that Savage would draft Heisman winner Troy Smith of Ohio State in the second or third round. Smith, a strong-armed quarterback, could go anywhere from the second to the fourth round.

 

The Browns don’t really want to settle on Smith in the latter rounds because they know he will take attention away from their first pick. And they definitely wouldn’t draft both Quinn and Smith.

 

Turner’s value

 

Chargers running back Michael Turner visited Tennessee this week and his agent, Bus Cook, is trying to drum up interest in his client. The Chargers placed a first and third-round tag on the restricted running back, believing he’s worth the price and the high salary because he’s a perfect insurance should an injury befall LaDainian Tomlinson this season.

 

Turner, a former fifth-round draft pick, is viewed by some as a much better starter at his position than quarterback Matt Schaub, who moved from Atlanta to Houston for two second-round draft picks, besides the Texans and Falcons swapping spots in the first round. Chargers GM A.J. Smith believes Turner is worth a first-round pick and so do I.

 

Smith’s dilemma is does he trade him for less this year before he loses him for good in 2008 when Turner will be an unrestricted free-agent? There is no way that San Diego can pay both Tomlinson and Turner. New England has two late first-round picks, and there isn’t a running back available there that is as good as Turner. Plus, the Pats have some concerns over Laurence Maroney’s shoulder.

 

But Smith may not want to trade with the Patriots and then watch Turner run through the Chargers in a potential playoff game next season. The end result is that Smith may have to take less than first-round compensation for Turner in order to move him to a NFC team.

 

High stakes in Washington

 

By acquiring veteran linebacker London Fletcher in free agency, the Washington Redskins don’t seem to be a club that desperate for Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. And they may balk at paying a higher price than swapping first-round picks with Chicago, giving up their sixth pick while sliding down to 31st in the round.

 

Heck, there’s a chance that Butkus Award winner Paul Posluszny of Penn State might still be on the board, considering many teams have him rated at the top of the second round.

Detroit GM Matt Millen really doesn’t want Joe Gibbs to trade that sixth-round pick to Chicago. If the Raiders draft Russell, Millen wouldn’t mind swapping his choice for Washington’s sixth and another draft pick for the rights to Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson.

 

Owner Daniel Snyder attended Johnson’s workout and the word is that Gibbs wouldn’t mind acquiring him, believing he would give young quarterback Jason Campbell a truly great target.

Jack Del Rio and FOX Sports' Jimmy Johnson have a special bond. It's a solid relationship even though Johnson was the coach who cut Del Rio, basically ending his playing career.

"It was one of the toughest cuts I ever made," Johnson said recently, "but it was the right thing to do and Jack eventually understood."

Del Rio immediately went into coaching and after four years as an NFL assistant became the Jaguars head coach. Owner Wayne Weaver, who had grown weary of Tom Coughlin's autocratic approach, wanted a fresh face. He also wanted a bargain-basement coach. Del Rio simply wanted an opportunity and based on last season and the first two games of this season, he has paid dividends to the franchise and the Jaguars.

The first positive you notice about the Jaguars is that they play as hard as Jack did as a player. Instinctive and tough.

It might have been the lowest-scoring game in Monday Night history, but the Jags 9-0 dumping of the Steelers wasn't ugly. It was physical, relentless football. And the Jags were the last men standing.

"I don't think I've seen a defensive game like that since the '85 Bears," Terry Bradshaw told me today. "Or that Baltimore team that won the Super Bowl. There was some hitting in that game."

The Steelers managed only 26 rushing yards, the lowest total in Bill Cowher's 15-year tenure.

Del Rio is not a media-friendly coach in Jacksonville. Three seasons ago, he was ripped for having an axe and a chopping block in the locker room. His punter sliced up his leg. Del Rio could be accused of being a little over-zealous in the motivation department.

But one of his greatest qualities is that he's secure in what he believes. He signed ex-Minnesota coach Mike Tice to coach his offensive linemen when a lot of coaches wouldn't. He has another head coach in Dave Campo working with his defense, especially the secondary. Circumstances undid Tice in Minnesota and Campo in Dallas, but these two coaches know a lot of football. In two games, Tice has figured out protection schemes against two very solid and active defensive fronts (Cowboys and Steelers) to free up Bryon Leftwich, who has the slow delivery and rock-solid feet.

Well, Leftwich had enough time in both games to stand tall and make the necessary plays to win. Del Rio loves his quarterback because he doesn't turn it over and has tremendous character.

There is no doubt that Del Rio has a bright future. He can also opt out of his contract, which could put him in serious play if the right, big-money job opens up.

Raiders miss out on Volek

Although the Raiders were linked to Tennessee quarterback Billy Volek, they were never serious about parting with a high draft pick. Volek forced the Titans' hand to deal him to San Diego, where they received less compensation, but who can blame him? The Chargers have a brighter future than the Raiders right now, considering offensive coordinator Tom Walsh still thinks old-man Jeff George can play. George has lost his fastball, although he may be able to throw for 15 minutes in a game. The Raiders were bad last season, but at least they could throw the ball and Randy Moss had a couple touchdowns by now. Lamont Jordan hasn't been a factor, either.

Bad analogy

Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who gets paid for his football decisions, put an interesting spin on his reluctance to dump starting quarterback Jake Plummer for rookie Jay Cutler. Shanahan compared it to the time after John Elway when he elevated rookie Brian Griese, who wasn't liked by his teammates, over Bubby Brister, who was basically a backup. The Broncos and Griese went down in flames, finishing 4-12.

The only difference is that Denver's veterans do like Cutler (they also respect Plummer). It's almost like Shanahan won't make a quarterback change until he takes a serious poll of the locker room. This from a coach who keeps his running backs guessing on who will start opening day. Go figure.

Talk is cheap . . . Winslow isn't

The way tight end Kellen Winslow keeps popping off about not being on the field on obvious passing downs, you can bet two things: he will be in most third-down packages this week and if he isn't, Mo Carthon may not be the offensive coordinator in Cleveland next season.

What would the Green Bay Packers do if USC quarterback Matt Leinart were available with the fifth overall choice? Well, we’ve put Maryland tight end Vernon Davis there, but Leinart would be difficult to ignore even with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster.

Why? Well, there was a strong rumor last year at this time that 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy preferred Alex Smith to Rodgers. Well, McCarthy is now the new Green Bay head coach and his backup quarterback is Rodgers. This is why Leinart would be compelling.

Why is Leinart falling?

Well, it seems that Tennessee GM Floyd Reese has the call with the third overall pick and he prefers Texas QB Vince Young to the USC quarterback, who is preferred by the coaching staff. Remember, owner Bud Adams lives in Houston, Young’s hometown. It will be pretty easy for Reese for convince Adams.

Of course, such a pick could force head coach Jeff Fisher to re-think his future in Tennessee. Adams owns options on his contract for 2007 at around $6 million a season. If Fisher doesn’t get Leinart, will he ask Adams for his freedom in 2007?

Leinart as next Namath?

The Jets are actually worried about Hollywood Matt Leinart turning into the off-the-field version of Joe Willie Namath. Old-time New Yorkers would think that’s ridiculous, considering Joe Willie was a lot of fun to watch, on and off the field.

Donald Trump likes Leinart. Then, again, that could be interpreted in Jets’ headquarters as the kiss of death.

Raiders looking at Young

If the Titans pass on Vince Young, everybody in the NFL believes that Raiders owner Al Davis will pick him with the seventh overall choice. The Raiders may need Texas safety Michael Huff, but Davis and head coach Art Shell are thinking long-term.

Lions like Sims

New Lions head coach Rod Marenelli wants a defensive demon and it appears that Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims could be the team's first-round pick. Sims is known for playing at 100 miles per hour and some teams believe he must gauge his speed or he could actually end up hurting himself in the pros.

Bunkley the Bill

The Buffalo Bills are seriously thinking of taking Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley with the eighth overall pick, meaning that monster nose tackle Haloti Ngata could be available to the Rams at No. 11. And some teams believe the Dolphins will take Tennessee safety Jason Allen with the 16th overall pick. Safety is a big need for Miami.

Walker on the wild side

If they can get a second-round pick, the Packers will trade unhappy receiver Javon Walker. It’s up to the Saints and Broncos to make the call. Green Bay has decided not to re-work Walker’s contract and the club believes its better to get him out of town.

What about Rodgers and Walker to New Orleans for receiver Donte Stallworth, a second-round pick and a third-round pick?

Bush's eye black

Reggie Bush has all these problems with that free house outside San Diego, but one thing is certain: he won’t be wearing his familiar 619 eye black in the NFL. He will be allowed to wear it during training camp and at practice, but the league doesn’t allow “personal messages” on the field on game days.