Q: Ed, why does the NFL require injuries to be made public and specific? It was obvious that Shaun Rogers was aiming the crown of his helmet into Ben's bad shoulder. When you specify an injury it's like painting a target on the injured area. Could it be for the fantasy football players and the betting line?

Frank Bartolomucci, Biggs, Calif.

BOUCHETTE: Yes, it's because of the bettors. The NFL might not acknowledge that, but that's why they want a detailed injury report. If there weren't, bettors might try to pay people off for inside information on injuries and that's the last thing the league wants. Coaches, though, don't agree with the philosophy. They do believe foes aim for the injury. An angry Bill Cowher once confronted me because I wrote about a hand injury to one of his players and he insisted that opponents would target the injury because of it. Also, if injury reports weren't available, coaches would try to hide them altogether. Imagine if Roethlisberger could not play and the Steelers said he could. The Eagles would prepare all week for Roethlisberger, only to get Byron Leftwich. It would affect their game-planning. Coaches still try to play games with the injuries, most notably Bill Belichick in New England, but the NFL has cracked down on that more too.