THIS WEEK'S FOX NFL SUNDAY PANEL

Czar: "Well, we have two more players — Kellen Winslow and Larry Johnson — suspended by their teams this week. Is this a growing trend? What does it all mean?"

Michael Strahan: "I think what needs to be addressed is why do teams sign some of these players to huge contracts? They had to know what kind of individuals they were dealing with."

NFL Week 17

Week 17 action

Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box


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Analysis

• Marvez: Mangini should blame Favre
• Whitlock: It's all about character

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Video

• NFL on Fox: Scariest playoff team?
• NFL on Fox: NFC playoff preview

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Photos

• NFL Week 17 snapshots
• NFL cheerleaders
• Worst teams ever
• NFL year in photos

Jimmy Johnson: "I agree with Michael on that, definitely. But if those teams didn't sign them, somebody else would have because they are all so talented."

MS: "What's interesting to me is that football players are always complaining that there are not more guaranteed contracts, but then in baseball where there are a lot of them, you don't have the same type of issues. I know Boston had Manny being Manny and that organization believes he quit on them. But Manny still shows up and performs at a high, high level."

JJ: "If I was handling the money, I would prefer to have a guaranteed yearly salary rather than giving any player $20 million up front in order to have a better salary cap number. I don't mind guaranteed contracts."

MS: "What you're saying is that some of these players don't mind losing a small game check when he has $20 million in the bank."

JJ: "Yes, that's what I mean. His game check would be a lot bigger, as it should be, but he would still have to show up and play. If you suspend him, losing a game check would really hurt his checkbook. Some players, with the money in the bank, they don't even feel like they have to show up and play."

Terry Bradshaw: "I have always thought that some of these signings were based on the general manager or owner appeasing their fans. I mean, the Giants had to sign Plaxico Burress and the Chiefs probably felt the same way about Larry Johnson. And look at Jerry Jones bringing in Pacman Jones."

Curt Menefee: "This league seems to have gotten to the point where coaches coach and owners own based on talk radio tomorrow and the internet tonight. Everything they do is more of reaction rather than doing what they believe is right for the long term. It's like they are saying, 'I'm going to get roasted tomorrow if I don't do this.'

"I mean the Chiefs knew all about Johnson, even when he ran 1,789 yards (in 2006). But I think they felt they would be viewed as cheap by their fans if they didn't sign him. I think too many teams are operating out of fear of public opinion rather than thinking what is the right thing to do."

TB: "The flip side of this, too, was general manager Carl Peterson of the Chiefs. At the last second, he was probably thinking, 'If I don't get a second-round pick for Tony Gonzalez, I'm going to get hammered by the fans because he's one of our best players and I've paid him a ton of money.' "

Czar: "You are right about that."

MS: "I really don't think he wanted to trade him because it would reflect badly on Peterson."

JJ: "Michael is right. Because if Tony would have been traded and then had two great years, it would make Carl look bad for giving him away for a low draft choice."

Czar: "What do you expect of the Cowboys this weekend? Can they turn it around against the Bucs?"

JJ: "You pull up the Dallas newspapers right now and there are two or three stories about getting rid of Wade Phillips."

TB: "If I am a player, and we are playing so poorly, and then we all go into the locker room after the game and the owner speaks before the head coach does? I don't want to hear that."

MS: "I know that Wellington Mara never did that."

TB: "Last Sunday in Dallas, it was Jerry who ripped into the Cowboys in the locker room. What Wade needed to do there was to stop Jerry and say his peace first. Football has really changed. When I played, I feared my head coach. It isn't that way today."

JJ: "Terry is right. But that isn't Wade's style, either."

Howie Long: "But where do they really turn there? The only option seems to be Jason Garrett. He seems to be the logical choice."

TB: "A lot of people are basing their opinion of Jason on that HBO show where he showed a lot of fire in the team meetings. On camera, by the way."

MS: "What's the deal with Wade suddenly taking over the defensive play calling?"

JJ: "I think that is simply window dressing."

Czar: "It looks like the Cowboys may have bigger problems on offense."

JJ: "You think they are going to be able to protect Brad Johnson on Sunday. They need Johnson because Tony Romo has said he won't be playing for the next two weeks."

TB: "I am sitting back and enjoying watching the Cowboys destructing here. They have some serious games coming up; Tampa Bay and then the Giants next week. I have to think that if this team doesn't give a better effort on the field, Jerry is going to have to do something. I think he will give in to the pressure. Listen, if they go 4-5 into their bye week, he seriously will have to do something."

Czar: "The Cowboys' biggest problem is that there are several good NFC teams and a team may have to have a 10-6 record to be a wild-card team."

HL: "It's amazing how it has totally flipped (with the NFC better overall than the AFC). Look, now you have Jacksonville talking about being a wildcard with a 3-3 record right now."

CM: "The wheels are literally coming off in Dallas. Did you see that (safety) Ken Hamlin came out and found his Escalade jacked up on blocks and $15,000 worth of tires and rims stolen?"

Czar: "Big game in Pittsburgh with the Giants coming to town. Who wins?"

MS: "I'm going to say age before beauty, so you go Terry."

TB: "Did you say age? Well, then I am going to say this is where the Steelers rise to the top and show their true dominance and total control. This could be a worse whipping on the road than the Giants experienced when they went to Cleveland. How's that for an out-there prediction?"

MS: "Well, seriously, I know the Giants will play a better game than they did in Cleveland."

TB: "One thing everybody has to know is that Ben Roethlisberger has lights out stepped up as a leader for this team. He's playing hurt and he doesn't have his best running back. Heck, the Giants have two or three good backs."