Tiki Barber, an All-Pro with 13,505 yards from scrimmage in 10 years in the NFL, was breaking one of football's unwritten rules when he criticized his coaches after a playoff loss last season.

But at least he had the track record to give him credibility and his ``we were outcoached'' remark after a loss to Carolina came at the end of what until then had been a good season for his Giants.

Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, four games and 17 catches into his career, has no such track record.

``Some of the coaches might be holding us back a little bit,'' Winslow said after the Browns lost in Cincinnati. ``We have nothing to lose. I don't mean to try and go behind their backs or whatever, but we're 0-2, we have nothing to lose, let's go.''

It's second-week whining, an exercise open to players, fans, talking heads, talk show callers and fantasy fans. All, of course, have the right to do it and some are correct _ as Barber was and as Winslow might be.

But it's only two weeks into the season, so SHUT UP!

Here are four things to stop whining about, and one observation from this corner.

1. Winslow and the Browns.

The Browns are bad and Baltimore comes to town on Sunday. Yes, quarterback Charlie Frye could throw deep, although that's not his game _ he's more mobile than strong-armed. And with the loss of LeCharles Bentley in the first contact drill of training camp, the offensive line isn't good enough to protect him long enough to throw deep, except on play action. Doing that requires the effective running game the Browns don't have.

So Romeo Crennel, Maurice Carthon and the rest of the staff believe there's little choice other than playing conservative to keep Frye on his feet. Ken Dorsey is the next alternative and he's neither mobile NOR strong-armed.

2. Jake Plummer.

There is increasing babble in Denver and elsewhere about replacing him with Jay Cutler, the well-regarded first-round pick. That will happen, maybe as early as next season. Yes, Plummer has no TD passes, four interceptions and a passer rating of 38.6. But he quarterbacked the Broncos to the AFC title game last season, and his 10 NFL seasons have been marked by ups and downs _ such as the time he tried to throw left-handed (he's right-handed) from his own end zone and had the ball intercepted for a touchdown.

But the Broncos are 1-1, haven't allowed a touchdown, and are a contender until proven otherwise despite only one TD of their own. Jake is still learning about new receiver Javon Walker, and will get better. Play Cutler and the season is gone; imagine him in Foxborough on Sunday night against Bill Belichick's confusing defence.

Think Eli Manning. Two years ago, with the Giants at 5-4, Tom Coughlin decided to play his rookie, who promptly lost his first six games. He was up and down last season and now may be emerging as a franchise QB in his third year.

Or think Carson Palmer, who sat his entire rookie season and became a star in his second. Or Philip Rivers, who sat for two seasons and is doing fine in his third.

3. Mario Williams.

The No. 1 pick in the draft by Houston, he's already been labelled a bust because he has just five tackles, one assist and no sacks. Yes, it was probably a mistake for the Texans to pass on Reggie Bush. But a bust? After two games? On a bad team?

Hold off. Yes, Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse and others were instant successes as rookies. But Michael Strahan, perhaps the most consistent DE of the last decade, is only slightly better this year than Williams: nine tackles, two assists, no sacks.

4. The Bears and Chargers.

Both are an impressive 2-0 and have their fans (and others) talking Super Bowl.

Hold on.

The Bears have outscored the dismal Packers and Lions 60-7. Rex Grossman leads the league in passing efficiency. Let them play someone good, hard to do in the NFC North, although it will be harder at Minnesota this week. And wait to see if Grossman holds up, both physically and on the field. Last season, Chicago romped through the league's weakest division, then was exposed at home in the playoffs by Carolina.

The Chargers have beaten the awful Raiders and Titans by an aggregate 67-7. Shawne Merriman, last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame by San Diego fans. Whoa!

Rivers has been fine, but let's see what happens after the bye week when he faces Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and friends in Baltimore. In fact, if he stinks there, people will write him off, also a mistake.

A far more legitimate question through two weeks is this:

Why is Tennessee playing newly signed Kerry Collins at quarterback over Vince Young?

Jeff Fisher is second to Bill Cowher among current coaches in longevity with one team and remains one of the league's better coaches. In other words, Tennessee's current dismal state is not his fault.

Yet, the Titans are using the statue-like Collins over the mobile rookie Young. Sure, the Titans were outmanned in San Diego, but a passer rating of 1.3?

One reason is Collins even is around is the friction between Fisher and Billy Volek after Volek got the starting job when Steve McNair was traded in June to the Ravens. Fisher said Volek lied to him (subject unspecified) after he got the job, creating irreconcilable difference that ended with his trade to San Diego.

``Billy threw this organization under the bus, along with a number of his teammates,'' Fisher said, an unusually strong statement from a coach who usually keeps problems in-house.

So the Titans are stuck with Collins, the NFL's least mobile quarterback, until Young develops. Young is probably more mobile than any QB other than Michael Vick, so what does Vince learn watching Collins stumble and fall?

One rationale is that a young QB can be traumatized by a lack of success on a bad team. Perhaps.

But that didn't hurt either Manning. This isn't Denver, a playoff team with a decent veteran. This is a team that might win four games if it gets lucky.

Young is playing a series or two per game. Just give him the ball full-time.

___

DIRTY DOZEN: The top six and bottom six teams based on current level of play:

1. Jacksonville (2-0). Beat No. 1 and you're No. 1.

2. Indianapolis (2-0). A 1-2 showdown this week.

3. San Diego (2-0). Chargers get edge over Bears because they've beaten two dogs by a total of 67-7.

4. Chicago (2-0). A touchdown worse than the Chargers: 60-7 over the Packers and Lions.

5. Baltimore (2-0). Yet another team that's played bad teams well.

6. Atlanta (2-0). Let's see how long it takes the opposition to figure out the Vick/Dunn option.

27. Washington (0-2). Dan the Fan paid $2 million for a coordinator with a horizontal offense.

28. Houston (0-2). Big 27-28 matchup with the Redskins

29. Detroit (0-2). And another: 29 vs. 30 when they play host to the Packers.

30. Green Bay (0-2). At least Brett showed he can still perform.

31. Tennessee (0-2). See Kerry Collins above.

32. Oakland (0-2) Consolation? The 7-51 points ratio is better than the pre-Al Davis 0-99 opening in 1961.