Regardless whether or not Panthers coach John Fox already knows if he’s benching veteran QB Jake Delhomme, we’re not likely to find out soon, judging by Monday’s news conference. It’s a decision that Fox likely will make later in the week after breaking down the tape and meeting with his staff, but he was vague enough in his comments that which way he’s leaning is still a mystery.

Either way, Fox’s decision can’t be an easy one, given both Delhomme’s status as the NFL leader in interceptions and his tenure as the Panthers’ starter since early in the 2003 season.

NFL Network’s Mike Martz knows a thing or two about Fox’s dilemma, having gone through a similar situation with his own veteran, Kurt Warner, as head coach of the Rams. Martz offered some insight into Fox’s decision-making process.

“There’s a loyalty between John Fox and Jake Delhomme that people need to understand,” Martz said. ”This is a guy in Delhomme who took the Panthers to the Super Bowl, has been in the Pro Bowl and played at a high level. I think the first thing they need to look at is what’s happened to Delhomme, why these turnovers are happening and look at it from a very analytical standpoint — make sure Delhomme is the problem.

“If you look at it over the long haul — and I’m not just talking about one or two games but the whole season — and these issues keep coming surfacing, then perhaps it is time to make a change. But if you keep seeing other issues that are involved that are out of Delhomme’s control, you need to change what you’re doing and go with him.”

And that’s the looming question for Fox to decipher — how much of this is on Delhomme? Once that’s decided, what are Fox’s real options?

“I do know this: Turnovers will demoralize a team faster than anything else and change momentum,” Martz said. “Right now this is a huge issue for the Panthers. If these turnovers are because it’s a disconnect with someone, or problems with protection, or he’s just making bad decisions, all of these things have to be looked at closely.”

Playbook analyst Brian Baldinger may have made the lamentable choice of picking the Titans to upset the Patriots in Week 6, but he made up for it by being the only one to predict the Vikings would upend the Ravens. Mr. Limb, meet Mr. Baldinger.

One of the interesting storylines this week involves the Raiders and Jets. After a solid start to the season, Oakland was outscored 96-16 in Weeks 3-5, before rebounding with a stunning win over the Eagles on Sunday. The Jets, meanwhile have lost three in a row after starting 3-0. So will the Raiders keep the Jets reeling? Well, Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann think so, but Baldinger likes New York to rebound.

Here are the picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees joined NFL Network analyst Marshall Faulk for an interview Monday, breaking down the 48-27 blowout of the New York Giants in Week 6. Brees discusses the keys to the win, as well as the Saints’ running game and the improved defense this season.

“We felt like there were going to be opportunities, but it all started up front,” Brees explained about moving the ball against the Giants. ”It all started with our ability to protect. They’ve got of the best front fours in the NFL in regards to rushing the passer, getting sacks, getting turnovers, and those types of things. We put that at a premium early on, realizing if we could protect and hold the ball a little bit, that we’d be able to push the ball downfield and get some big plays. Sure enough, we were able to do that.”

For more highlights from the game, check out the Saints video channel.

NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi reports that Jets NT Kris Jenkins will miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.

Jenkins was injured during the second quarter of Sunday’s overtime loss to the Bills after several players landed on his legs during a running play. Jenkins’ left leg was heavily wrapped after the game, and he left the stadium on crutches, according to The Associated Press.

According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, Jenkins tore the ACL in the knee, but had no other damage in the knee and is expected to make a full recovery.

Jenkins, the centerpiece in the middle of the Jets’ defense, earned his fourth Pro Bowl appearance in 2008, his first season with the team.

Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez sat down with NFL Network’s Stacey Dales to talk about his quest for a Super Bowl, what it was like to change teams and his status among the all-time great tight ends in an exclusive interview on NFL GameDay Morning. Gonzalez, who holds the all-time records for receptions, yards and touchdowns among tight ends, was asked if he considers himself the best to ever play the position.

“Confidently speaking, I think I have to go with, ‘Yeah.’ Why not? I’ve worked hard,” Gonzalez said. “I have the records. But, politically speaking, it’s really hard to tell. Because, tight end, it’s a unique position. It’s not just about catching footballs. You have to block, too. I’d like to think I’ve done a pretty good job with that.”

View the video above for the full interview with Gonzalez.

Count San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates among those who is surprised by the play of the Denver Broncos defense. Gates joined NFL Network’s Around the League on Friday, telling Kara Henderson he sees a different defense in Denver this season.

“You know what? I am surprised,” Gates said. “That’s not the same team [from] last season. They’re playing very hard, they’re playing together as a team. You get caught up in all the transitions of them having trades and losing key guys.  But I think, collectively as a team, they’re a much better team.”

Gates also discusses Monday night’s matchup against the Broncos, the leadership of LaDainian Tomlinson, the impact of the tight end position in the NFL and more. View the video above for the full interview.

Helmets off to Joe Theismann, the only Playbook analyst who correctly predicted the Broncos would improve to 5-0 last week. The Chiefs, who pushed the Cowboys to overtime, nearly made him look like a regular “Norman Einstein.”

The big question this week is whether any of the winless teams will break through. Sterling Sharpe likes St. Louis to get its first win, Brian Baldinger thinks the Titans to upend the Patriots, and Theismann is sticking with those Chiefs over his former team, the Redskins. Theismann also likes the Buccaneers.

Here are the picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi joined NFL Total Access Monday to chat with host Fran Charles about a number of topics, including the status of Bills coach Dick Jauron, trade possibilities with the Oakland Raiders and the struggling Redskins’ offense.

• In Buffalo, Jauron is once again answering questions about his job security. He declined to discuss his status with the 1-4 Bills, but acknowledged the criticism he faces.”I understand why you ask it,” Jauron said. ”I understand why you have to ask it. I’ll never respond to it. I just won’t respond to the question. I don’t see any reason for me to. It’s not a decision that I make. What I think is not of interest for me to hear talking to you, talking to the media. So I won’t respond to it. Again, I understand why you ask.”

• There are issues in Oakland. That’s not news. Coach Tom Cable acknowledged many of them Monday while meeting with reporters, saying “The problem is not who we’re playing, the problem is us.” As the trade deadline approaches on Oct. 20, Lombardi notes that the Raiders have called “a lot of teams” and everyone is available with the exception of about five or six players, a group that includes CB Nnamdi Asomugah and QB JaMarcus Russell. “The Raiders want to shake it up, and certainly, they should,” Lombardi said. “They’re 1-4, they’re pathetic offensively. They need to do something to kind of stimulate and change the culture of the football team.”

• In Washington, there is plenty of blame to go around. Quetions on coach Jim Zorn’s job security abound. As the offense continues to struggle, Lombardi believes that RB Clinton Portis and the team’s running game are a big part of the problem in Washingon. “When the Redskins struggle to run the ball, that means Clinton Portis and the offense struggles to move the ball,” Lombardi said. “Ultimately, this is what is going to cost Jim Zorn his job.”

***

In an interview on NFL Gameday Morning, analyst Deion Sanders denied any wrongdoing or improprieties related to 49ers rookie Michael Crabtree or Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant, who was suspended indefinitely by the NCAA last week after lying to officials about a visit to Sanders’ home.

Sanders said he hasn’t served as a go-between to connect players with agent Eugene Parker, including Crabtree, who ended his protracted contract holdout with the 49ers last week. On Sept. 4, Sanders told host Rich Eisen on NFL Total Access that two teams were interested in trading for Crabtree. The NFL started a tampering investigation following the comments.

On Sunday, Sanders said his comments on NFL Total Access in September were based on conversations he had with Parker.

“Eugene Parker told me that the San Francisco 49ers told him there were two teams that would trade for Crabtree, but guess what? We’re not going to trade him,” said Sanders, who added that the NFL hasn’t contacted him in regards to the Crabtree investigation, but he would cooperate if he was contacted in the future.

As for Bryant, Sanders said Parker was “not whatsoever” involved in the meeting at Sanders’ home and there wouldn’t have been any problems if Bryant hadn’t falsified his story to the NCAA.

“They wanted to question Dez about our relationship, and Dez was nervous about, ‘Why do these NCAA people have me in this room with a closed door questioning me?’ Now, had I been a liar or falsified any incident or evidence, my story would have collaborated with Dez,” Sanders said. “The kid said he didn’t come to my home. In actuality, he did.”

Deion Sanders will be interviewed by league insider Jason LaCanfora on NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning, which starts at 9 a.m. ET Sunday, and will discuss his relationship with rookie WR Michael Crabtree, who signed with the 49ers this week.

Sanders also will address the situation with Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant, whom the NCAA suspended this week. Bryant admitted that he wasn’t truthful with the NCAA when he said he didn’t go to Sanders’ house this summer — a visit that wasn’t an NCAA violation.

“I made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the NCAA,” Bryant said in a statement released by Oklahoma State. “I sincerely regret my mistake and apologize to my teammates, coaches, OSU fans and the NCAA.”

NCAA bylaw 10.1(d) prohibits players from knowingly providing false information to the NCAA regarding a possible rules violation.

Sanders also will discuss the advice that he has given to Bryant and other players whom he mentors.

Other NFL GameDay Morning highlights include Michael Irvin’s one-on-one interview with Broncos WR Brandon Marshall and a new Super Bowl Journey feature with Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, who’s joined by his new roommate, Braylon Edwards.

NFL Network Playbook analysts Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann were spot-on last week, picking the Saints and Vikings to emerge victorious in two of the higher-profile games of Week 4. Brian Baldinger, not so much. Baldinger was also the only one who picked the Cowboys to beat the Broncos. Oops.

There are a number of high-profile games this week, but the biggest might be Patriots at Broncos. New Broncos coach Josh McDaniels will take on his former mentor, Bill Belichick. Theismann is the lone analyst to pick the Broncos to improve to 5-0. Theismann is also the only one who believes the Chiefs will defeat the Cowboys for their first win of the season. Do you think the former Redskins quarterback’s battles with the Cowboys influenced this decision?

Be sure to check out the NFC Playbook on Friday at 6 p.m. ET to hear his explanation.

Here are the picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger caught up with DE Jared Allen on the field following the Vikings’ 30-23 win over the Packers on Monday night, which improved Minnesota to 4-0.

“The sky is the limit, but we have to go back and rest up,” Allen said. “We’re going down to play an 0-4 Rams team, they have nothing to lose. So, we’ll savor it, but it’s just another game. We have to move on.”

The NFL Network Playbook analysts were spot-on last week, as all three — Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe and Joe Theismann – picked the Bengals to upset the Super Bowl champion Steelers. Of course, they all whiffed on the Lions’ upset of the Redskins.

There are a number of high-profile games this week, including the New York Jets at New Orleans and Green Bay at Minnesota on Monday night. Baldinger believes Rex Ryan’s defense will slow down QB Drew Brees and the high-scoring Saints. Baldinger is also in the minority by thinking the Packers will spoil Brett Favre’s first game against his old team.

Here are the picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress joined Steve Mariucci and Mike Martz on The Head Coaches show on NFL Network on Monday, discussing the Vikings last-second win over the 49ers, the final drive led by QB Brett Favre and the rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.

When asked about what he’d like to improve about his 3-0 Vikings, Childress surmised: “You don’t crown anybody king here in this league at the end of September.”

Jets CB Darrelle Revis checked in via team cam today to chat with Kara Henderson on NFL Network’s Around The League. Among other topics, Revis discussed the top receivers he has faced this season, including Randy Moss, and the recent comments from the Patriots’ Pro Bowler about the cornerback’s play in the Jets’ 16-9 victory.

“First, I respect Randy Moss a lot. … Everybody knows that watched the game, they know what happened,” Revis said of holding Moss to four receptions for 24 yards and no touchdowns. “I’m not a guy that’s going to trash talk and go back and forth with this thing.”