We recruited a lot of junior college kids. It was a necessity. We could never get a lot of local kids. I don't know who is going to take that job. I'm doing OK. I like my TV job.

49ers still need a QB

To me, the 49ers still have to look for a quarterback in the draft. Alex has done some good things. But in the end, can he win for you?

Quarterbacks get paid to play well in the fourth quarter, throw touchdowns in the red zone and move the chains on third down.

What's lacking for the 49ers is explosive plays in the passing game. When you run the ball, you're playing small ball and want to keep the game close. When you can't make big plays, it puts a strain on your defense.

Jacksonville (the 49ers opponent on Sunday) is in the AFC playoff hunt. It is a big powerful team with a talented running back (Maurice Jones-Drew) who is coming home.

On Raiders' upset of Bengals

If you give any team four turnovers, that's the great equalizer. You breathe life into a team. Make a play or two and you're going to win a game. The Raiders kept the score down against Cincinnati.

If the offense can just move the ball, you rest your defense. When you create a turnover, you feel like you are in the game. You create a short field. The Raiders can front-run with anybody at home.

I think the Raiders felt like there was some hope, that the quarterback would give them a chance to move the ball and wouldn't make mistakes.

On handling success

As good as you want to feel about the Bengals, can they handle success? They went out West to Oakland and said "Oops." I think Cincinnati is for real. But a loss like that creates questions.

The same can be said about the Steelers, who went into Kansas City, ran up over 500 offensive yards and lost in overtime.

As a coach, you hated playing teams on the road that had two or three wins. Players look at tape and see a team struggling. Players see the record, not the team.

What's great about this time of the year is that the season really starts. Teams that are in playoff contention play with a little more intensity. You control what you have to do and that's just win.

Favre is a celebrity

Brett Favre is not a star. He's a celebrity. He doesn't have to wear a uniform to be recognized. He has elevated the stars on the Vikings around him. You want to perform under that.

He's raised the expectations of players. Look at those receivers. Who are these guys? That's Brett Favre. He has lifted this Football team. And he's on a team that can help him.

What I think the Vikings are doing that is smart is they're watching Brett's reps in practice. If the Vikings wrap up the division early, it wouldn't surprise me to see Brett play a couple of series and sit out the last two weeks.

Monday Night showdown

That's rarified air being 10-0. But New England understands what the Saints are going through. It has been in this situation before.

The composure of the Patriots is, in my opinion, an advantage. Plus, the Saints have lost some corners. And they are playing a passing team. I don't know if they can slow New England. They're going to have to outscore them, which they can do with Drew Brees.

The thing the Saints have going for them is they're playing in the Superdome. But New England understands what time of the year it is. If the Saints are going to fall, this might be the week.