FanHouse MauriceWilliams

You've got questions. I've got answers. If not, I'll make them up. Each Thursday at 1 p.m. EST, I answer your queries on all things related to the NFL. If you have a question, send it over to NFLMailbag@aol.com. Don't forget to include your name and location. Click here for the archives. Rock'n'roll.

How will the Jacksonvile offensive be affected by the loss of both starting offensive guards? Is the running force with Freddie and MJD gonna be slowed down?
- Michael Gus, Kissimmee, FL

It, um, doesn't really look good now that Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams have both been placed on the IR. I really like Fred Taylor, and was glad to see him get the recognition he's deserved last year, but he is 32, and he and Maurice Jones-Drew really struggled against a physical Titans team. Which is a troublesome sign, as the Jaguars have built an identity on being a physical team on both sides of the ball. But if you take away that dimension to their offense, things don't look very good, especially if Jerry Porter's bum hammy keeps rearing its ugly head. Do you really trust David Garrard to carry a team for an entire season if the Jaguars can't get their run game figured out? I certainly don't. And the Jags face some physical defenses this year in Buffalo, Tennessee again, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Chicago, Green Bay, and Baltimore.

But there are other players whose value just changed with these injuries as well. They're not replacing the player in question, but the loss of that guy changes their own value – some in good ways, others in bad. Let's take a look.

Tom Brady's knee: And sure, Cassel gets himself a gig. But another first round fantasy pick also loses a decent amount of value in Randy Moss, who will now be trying to catch passes from a guy who has never had a starting job since high school. Wes Welker, ranked at or near the top-10 in WR himself, also loses value – though presumably less because he tends to run shorter routes that should be easier on what amounts to a rookie QB.

Vince Young's knee: Unless you play in the deepest of leagues, you don't own, nor did you really even consider, starting WRs Justin Gage and Justin McCareins. In fact, you may have been unaware that starters share the same first name. In truth, Collins is a better quarterback than the injured Young, so the two Justins both get a bump, albeit a small one in value. At RB, Chris Johnson's value spiked up with his performance in Week One, and there's no reason for that to come down without Young behind center. LenDale White also probably deserves to get a bit more love, since there should continue to be plenty of carries to go around.

The Pitt Panthers have long been innovators in the fight to do more with less. First, there was the notion to begin referring to the team as "Pitt," even though we know that "sburgh" is still there, don't pretend it isn't. Then there's Dave Wannstedt covering his upper lip with 80% of a moustache on a routine basis. Now, their passing game will be ever more efficient and wondrous, all thanks to one player's casual attitude toward academics:

Pitt receiver Maurice Williams will sit out the season after being declared academically ineligible.

"We believe Maurice can achieve a lot at Pitt, both academically and athletically, and our expectations are for him to use this as motivation for improvement," Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt said in a statement.

Williams was expected to start after a productive true freshman season; instead, he will redshirt. This (go Iowa) is probably good news (I root for Iowa) to teams facing the Panthers this season (HAHAHAHA SUCK IT WANNSTACHE GO HAWKS WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO).

(WE'RE GOING TO TOTALLY OWN YOU ON SEPTEMBER 20 BRING IT SUCKAS)

The derby to acquire Mo Williams's services at the point guard position -- a two way race between the Bucks and Heat -- has come to an end. And your winner is Mo's current team, the Milwaukee Bucks. They won because they were the only team that could offer him this kind of money: $52 million over six years.

"They stepped up big-time and made it clear how much they wanted him," Williams's agent Mark Bartelstein said on Saturday, referring to Kohl, the Bucks owner, and Harris, the team's general manager.

"Senator Kohl is truly committed to winning, and he stepped up big-time to keep Mo there."

Mo money Mo problems, I guess.

The 25-year old Wlliams, an absolutely fearless player, was widely considered the best point guard available in this summer's free agent pool.

ESPN's Marc Stein reports Milwaukee guard Maurice Williams is prepared to take less money than the Bucks would pay him to play for the Heat.

Eschewing free agent cash for a winning situation isn't unheard of -- Grant Hill did this last week. But for a young guy who's made only $6 million in his career to date? This is Mo's best chance for a big contract -- if he signs for four or five years, he's starting at the wrong side of 30 when his market again arrives.

I know we're supposed to be all for 'winning over money' and all that noise... but Mo needs to look out for Mo. Six years and $55 million is a lot different than five years and $36 million. Take the money.