Pete_Prisco

When the league's competition committee meets this week in Indianapolis, one of the things they will consider is changing the league's rule on forceouts, according to a league source.

I like the idea.

The current rule states that if a player comes down out of bounds, but is pushed out, the officials can rule a force out and the pass can be ruled a completion. That puts way too much judgement on the officials in a bang-bang play. So the league will consider making the rule a simple one: You're either in or out, no matter if you're pushed or not.

If a player wants a completion, he needs to be in bounds or get his feet down in the end zone for a touchdown -- even if a defender forces him out. That's a rule change the league needs.

Who can forget the ending of the Arizona-Cleveland game in which it appeared Browns tight end Kellen Winslow caught the game-winning touchdown -- on an obvious forceout -- only to be ruled out? If the rule were changed,  he'd be out no matter what since his feet didn't come down in bounds.

The rule change is in the early talks, but you can bet it will get heated when the committee meets again before the league meetings in late March.

I'm all for NFL players going back to school to ge their degrees. But does Vince Young really need to be at the University of Texas to do work on his degree?

Young is taking 15 hours this semester to get his degree, 12 of those on campus and three online. Why not take 15 online and stay in Tennessee to learn the new offense?

This is Young's most-important offseason yet. He's entering his third season with a big, fat incomplete grade as a passer, and now he has to learn a new offense. But instead of staying around the Titans facility to work with new offensive coordiantor Mike Heimerdinger, he's in Austin working on his degree.

Am I being short-sighted thinking he's making a mistake? This is a huge year for him and his teammates. When you're in a profession, you should be dedicated to the task. If he wants his degree, do it by correspondence classes and online stuff. It's doable. He doesn't need to be back on campus.

Go ahead, rip me. I know I'm taking on a taboo subject. But last time I checked, the Titans were paying him millions to play football, no to go to school.

With the Baltimore Ravens giving defensive end Terrell Suggs the franchise designation and the Kansas City Chiefs doing the same to their star defensive end Jared Allen the market is drying up.

So who's the next best?

It's either Antwan Odom of the Tennessee Titans or Justin Smith of the Cincinnati Bengals. My pick among those two would be Odom.

At 26, he's two years younger. He also has four years in the league, compared to seven for Smith. That's wear-and-tear on a body. Odom had eight sacks last season, while Smith had two. If a team signs Smith, they'll be getting a good run player who could be an 8-sack player. If they sign Odom, you might have a 13-sack player.

That's the type of chances good teams need to take. Signing Smith is the safe choice, but it won't be the slam dunk. Odom could be. I'd go with Odom. The Bengals aren't exactly a defensive powerhouse and they decided to tag a backup offenisive lineman in Stacy Andrews with the franchise tag, rather than Smith. That should mean something.

When in doubt, go young. Odom is the younger player, thus the better choice of the two.

So the New England Patriots are bringing in former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas for a visit.

Just what they need, another old, slowing linebacker. Hey, didn't they just lose a Super Bowl with four of those starting?

All year long, I made the rally cry that the Pats linebackers were old and slow and that it would show. It showed more than they let on during their run to an undefeated season. With both Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau set to become unrestricted free agents, it looks like the Pats are planning to travel an all-too-familiar path. How about drafting some guys with speed to play those positions?

Thomas is also being considered by the Cowboys, Saints and some others. For any of those teams thinking they're getting the same Zach Thomas, they should think again. He has slowed down some.

That might be why the Patriots are interested.