(NBC Sports) - ASK THE NFL EXPERT

It is one thing to rule the NFL. It is another to change it.

Oftentimes, the team that rules the NFL by winning the Super Bowl ends up changing it as well. It is a time honored tradition that every other team in the league studies everything the Super Bowl winner has done, and often imitates what has worked best.

Neither the Cardinals nor the Steelers took radical approaches to get to Super Bowl XLIII. They didn’t implement any cutting edge schemes that soon will be all the rage. But some of their philosophies still could spread to the other 30 copycats.

Among them:

Be open to competition.
Some teams put a high draft choice at the top of the depth chart and ordain him the starter. The Cardinals could have done that with Matt Leinart, but opted to open up the competition in training camp and preseason. As a result, Kurt Warner beat him out and played so well he was a contender for the MVP award.

Player development is imperative, but so is winning as many games as possible. If teams don’t play for today, tomorrow may never get here.

Don’t write off the aging quarterback who has been given up on by other teams.
There wasn’t a team in the league that thought Warner was good enough to start for them after he was let go by the Giants.

But this was a lesson that was hammered home by other teams in addition to the Cardinals.

The Titans had the best regular season in the NFL in large part because of Kerry Collins. The Vikings never would have made the playoffs if not for Gus Frerotte carrying them through a significant chunk of the schedule. Jeff Garcia had been sent packing by four teams in recent years, but he had the ninth best passer rating in the NFL this year for the Bucs.

Chad Pennington was the comeback player of the year for the Dolphins after being cut by the Jets. And the man who replaced him in New York, Brett Favre, put some life in the Jets’ season.

You can’t have too many good wide receivers.
After signing Larry Fitzgerald to a big-money contract extension, a lot of teams would have traded disgruntled Anquan Bolden. But the Cardinals kept him, and they still intend on keeping him.

What’s more, they used a fifth-round choice in the 2007 draft on Steve Breaston, who came on this year and would be a starter on a lot of teams in the NFL. Then, they used a third round pick in 2008 on Early Doucet.

The 3-4 zone blitz scheme has definite advantages.
The Packers have seen the wisdom of the Steelers’ ways, hiring a former Steelers defensive coordinator in Dom Capers and installing the 3-4 scheme the Steelers use.

The 3-4 allows teams to create pass rushers such as James Harrison, an undrafted free agent turned MVP. You don’t have to use a first-round pick to find an impact pass rusher in this scheme.

The other major advantage to the scheme is it isn’t the norm, especially in the NFC. The Packers will become just the third team in the conference to use a 3-4. That gives them an advantage when they play teams unfamiliar with their scheme.

Don’t be held hostage by your own players whose contracts are expiring.
The Steelers, who have a long history of letting stars walk and replacing them without a hitch, did it again this year. When it became apparent they couldn’t satisfy Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, they let him sign with the Jets. They replaced him with Chris Kemoeatu and did just fine.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, allowed Calvin Pace to take the free-agent money and run. To replace him, they signed Travis LaBoy, a cheaper option, and drafted Kenny Iwebema.

If it worked for the Cardinals and Steelers, it can work for a lot of copycats.

Q: What was more surprising: That the Bucs fired Jon Gruden or that Mike Shanahan is out of Denver?
Melinda, Dallas

A: It was more surprising to me that the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan. He was an institution in Denver who seemed to have the complete trust of owner Pat Bowlen. There had not been many indications of discord. Even Shanahan was shocked by the move. Gruden probably was not as taken aback by his firing, seeing the Bucs have not won a playoff game in six years. What was most surprising about Gruden’s firing was the timing of it. The Glazer family waited for almost three weeks after the team’s last game to show Gruden the door. What is interesting is NFL teams apparently have come to the conclusion that they don’t need four of the league’s preeminent offensive minds this season — Shanahan, Gruden, Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz. I have an idea some of those teams might think differently come next January.

Q: Can you explain the Cowboys' acquisition of wide receiver Roy Williams? Initially, it seemed like an effort to provide another target to complement Owens. Now, I am wondering if it was actually to provide an option to Owens and enable the team to release a player whose skills seem to be in decline. Or, was it both? Either way, Williams has not appeared to be a go-to type of receiver. He does not seem to have an initial burst of speed to get open quickly, so defenders seem to be covering him with little problem. Does the price (multiple high draft picks) seem too high for an uncertain contributor, or am I too quick to judge?
Don, Brentwood, Calif.

A: Don’t judge him yet, Don. The only thing we can criticize Williams for at this point is it took him a long time to become acclimated to the Cowboys' offense and quarterback Tony Romo. If Williams isn’t more productive next season — much more productive — than the trade will be remembered as a preposterous flop. But there is no reason why Williams can’t be more productive next season, especially if Owens is out of the way. The thinking in acquiring Williams was twofold. The Cowboys thought Williams and Owens could be a dynamic combination. And they also believed Williams eventually would be an ideal replacement for Owens. When the Cowboys acquired Williams, they weren’t planning on running Owens out of town this offseason. But Owens was neither productive nor compliant last season, and now it’s starting to look like moving him will be the most prudent way for this team to go.

Q: Do the chargers continue with LT in 2009 or will they release/trade him?
Slade, San Diego

A: I have a hard time believing the Chargers will get rid of LaDanian Tomlinson, but team management certainly has left the door open to that possibility. After the dust from the season has settled, I think the team will come to the realization that even though LT might not be all he was a few years ago, he still is a pretty good runner who will be difficult to replace.

Q: Why hasn't Ray Guy been elected to the Hall of Fame yet? He was arguably the best punter ever (with due respect to Sammy Baugh). The height of his punts was incredible, let alone the average, the net, and frequency of pinning the other team deep in their territory. And, how long will Tony Dungy have to wait before he's eligible for the Hall of Fame? I'm a Bucs fan but started watching the Colts when he went there. I'm happy for him, but his announcing his retirement is a sad day for the NFL.
Jim, Cabot, Ark.

A: Ray Guy has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in past years, but he is not a finalist this year. It’s always been tough for a punter to get in ahead of a player at another position, and it will continue to be tough. There are many deserving candidates for the hall of fame and too few spots to honor them all. As far as Tony Dungy goes, assuming he doesn’t return to coaching he will be eligible for the hall of fame in 2013, five years after his retirement.

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