It comes a point where your guys (R. Thomas, P. Kendall), even though tight solid, get old and you need to bite the bullet and plan for that.On Monday, after word leaked that Bank of America and MBIA hadresolvedtheir epic fiveyear, multidimensional litigation against one another, investors in both companiesjudged the deal. Shares in MBIA, whose structured finance arm had been widely considered to be on the brink of a regulatory takeover, closed 45 percent higher at $14.29, adding about a billion dollars to the market capitalization of the insurer holding company. Bank of America shares went up as well.

While the defense has been playing well, especially over the past two games, the offense has sputtered. After the loss of starting left tackle Chris Samuels to injury, Washington failed to protect quarterback Jason Campbell, who was sacked five times. Inexperienced lineman D'Anthony Batiste, a career guard, filled in for Samuels at tackle in Carolina, and Stephon Heyer is ex