Byline: Michael Wilbon

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon talked about the latest in sports news.

The transcript follows .

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washingtonpost.com: Wilbon's running a little bit late. Stay with us; he'll be here.

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Arlington, Va.: Yo Mike ... I have been a big fan of P.Ramsey, but slowly I am losing faith ... how realistic is it that the rookie will get a legit chance to play this year? Do we have to have at least one injury at the QB position ...

Michael Wilbon: Don't expect me to ever endorse rooting for a quarterback to get hurt so that your favorite guy gets to play...I don't go there. But I do think Patrick Ramsey will be on a short leash this fall, that he has about six weeks to show what he can do before Gibbs goes to Brunell. Do I expect to see Jason Campbell in his rookie seasson? Perhaps. Week 10, maybe? We can only guess. He's sure as hell not ready to play in the NFL at this moment. But I understand losing faith...Used to be that QBs weren't expected to be any good until their 4th, 5th seasons. But with the money they're being paid now, and with salary cap issues and the "win-now" mentality that greets every team in every sport, QBs have to excell by their third seasons or people get edgy...Ramsey isn't the only one in that position this season.

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Washington, D.C.: So, do you think next year the Nationals will be able to make the playoffs before football season starts?

Michael Wilbon: Football season begins Sept 11. At least, that's the first Sunday of the season. The regular season baseball finale isn't until the first day or so of October...So, no, the Nats will not have a 10-game lead in the wild card by Sept. 11. Anyway, why would that matter? I'm confused.

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Newark, Del.: Michael --

With this defense and running game, do you think the Redskins make the playoffs if the QB position is even average and we cut down on turnovers?

Michael Wilbon: The defense would have to be Ravens-like and the QB would really, really have to be error-free and just sort of stay out of the way. I don't know how feasible that is. But the defense would have to be smothering, and get help from special teams...It HAS happened, but it's awfully hard to count on.

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Potomac, Md.: You working Tony's shift today?

Michael Wilbon: I'm working the shift I work every Monday. What is Tony's shift?

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Washington, D.C.: The Post had an article this weekend about how the Redskins revenues have increased to $300 million because Dan Snyder has managed to squeeze money out of Fed Ex Field like no one else. Same page had a headline: Redskins lose to Bengals. I would love to see a story that shows the parallel COMPLETE LOSS of home-field advantage that has accompanied Mr. Snyder's turning the stadium into an entertainment casino with fans even subjected to blaring ads during commercial breaks instead of music or stats or other things to get the spirit going. And most people leave after the third quarter because of the parking nightmare so there is no one to root the team on for a last-minute surge.

Michael Wilbon: Sometimes, I simply turn the Chat over to you, the Chatters...not that I'm making this a habit, mind you...

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Richmond, Va.: Gibbs seems to liking Ladell Betts more and more. Does he have the potential to be a 1,500 yd. per season back or not? And do you think Betts is a better fit in this offense?

Michael Wilbon: 1,500 is a whole lot of yards...I don't know that we want to go that far, but there's no reason to dislike Betts, who seems pretty darn good to me...But I'm not going to argue against Clinton Portis...He had 1,300 last year in what everybody, him included, considered an "off-year."

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Allen, Tex.: Is LaVar going to be healthy? I think there is something wrong with his knee?

Michael Wilbon: Really? YOU think there's something wrong? Thank you, Doctor.

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Olney, Md.: Did you catch any of the Little League World Series this weekend?

Michael Wilbon: Good question. Bada answering coming: I didn't. I hardly ever do...And I'm not sure why that is. I played Little League baseball for 3 years...Little League ball is so fabulous. Maybe I can't watch it because I get too lost in the fantasy of it...too much memory lane...But there's also the golf factor. I love to watch golf...any golf, golf all the time. PGA, LPGA, Nationwide, Champions Tour...Golf Channel infommercials...Maybe that's more the reason I miss the weekend.

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Dallas, Tex.: I'm a Redskins fan in the Big D. Do you see the Skins beating the Cowboys at least once this season?

Michael Wilbon: I don't think either team is particularly formidable as we set here, 20 days before the start of the season...I'm not a crystal ball NFL fanatic who "sees" the matchups a month early...You'll have to watch all the ESPN football fanatic shows for that. But I know that for the Redskins to become a force in the division again they can't keep going 0-2 against the Cowboys every season.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Michael - How do you see da Bearsss finishing this year?

Michael Wilbon: Somewhere in the 7-9 range...Good defense, shaky situation at quarterback...Sort of like the Redskins, huh?

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Rockville, Md.: Wilbon you crack me up with your smart answers to people's stupid comments they make in here (See Arrington's knee). I think people make too much of what Ramsey has or has not done thus far in the preseason. As long as he learns from the mistakes he has made he will be better when the season gets here, but we will not know that until four or five games in so people should stop worring about it!

Michael Wilbon: Thanks...you and I seem to see this in the same light, but not many others do.

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The Tiger Scram: I really like this phrase ... Really, do you think he split because he knew the players ahead of him would come through in the clutch? How many times can you remember golfers just hacking it up when Tiger's close? I remember quite a few.

Will we be seeing Tiger on PTI?

Michael Wilbon: Hopefully. We've invited him. I don't know Tiger well. But I've been around him a little. I've told him I'd love for him to be on and he didn't tell me "no" which is probably at least not a terrible reply to hear. I would not have been leaving Baltusrol if I was in that situation. Goodness, mercy suppose the leaders had indeed falling back to minus-2? But, I think some decisions are result-oriented. Did you get it right? In this case, risky as it might have seemed to you and me, Tiger was right.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Do you believe in sophomore jinks, because Big Ben Rothleberger sure has set himself up for one with all his after season activities? What do you think?

Michael Wilbon: To what "activities" are you referring. I know Big Ben a little. He played some golf this summer, dated a golfer(Natalie Gulbis) and hug out at the ESPYs...But I didn't read where he submarined his entire season with some off-field antics...He can't possibly go 13-1 again, or whatever it was last season. So there's bound to be a "sophomore slump" of sort...He could play well, say, lead the Steelers to a record of 10-6, and still not play up to last year's standard...I like Ben. I think he's going to be fine and that the Steelers are lucky to have the kid. Are you a Redskins fan? If so, tell me who you wouldn't trade to get him right this second?

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Towson, Md.: Thanks for your professional insight in professional sports.I think the media is creating a quaterback controversy where none exists. Patrick Ramsey is a very durable quaterback at the down swing of learning curve.This is the first season he has been given the mantle as the starter and I believe he will come around if the fans will give him the chance and not destroy his confidence by booing.

Remember Mark Brunnel showed the same performance in preseason last year and bumbed out when the regular season came around. What's your take?

Thanks.

Michael Wilbon: I'm not as pessimistic as some, who want Ramsey out now based on two preseason games. But I'm not one who thinks he's simply a late bloomer. I think there's a possibility it won't work out for Ramsey as a No. 1 guy, the starter on a year-after-year playoff team. But my mind certainly isn't made up yet. Nobody's mind should be made...We don't know the ending to this. But the first six weeks are crucial to his career, absolutely critical.

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