Here’s an interesting question.

Assuming you are all fans of some team in the NFC East – which in my experience includes everyone in their right mind – in a hypothetical Super Bowl involving an NFC East team, which team might you be rooting against?

Say you are a Redskins fan, and it’s Dallas, New York or Philly in the Super Bowl: Which match up would have you supporting one or the other?

The genesis for this question was reading Michael Wilbon’s excellent column before the recent Washington-Dallas game, and of course my report from the game itself. Both Wilbon and I hit upon the blossoming “kumbaya” factor between erstwhile enemies among our respective camps. Washington does not hate Dallas quite the same as they used to, and I can say with authority we of the silver and blue don’t muster the same animosity for the burgundy and gold as in generations past.

Regarding the question, then: When I was a puerile idiot about sports – say, up until a year or two ago – I pretty much hated every team that ever beat the Cowboys. Come Super Bowl time every year, if the ‘Boys were not in it, I was rooting for the AFC.

Now, having achieved enlightenment, I take a broader view.

My wife and her entire family are Eagles fans, so as soon as Dallas is out of the mix, it takes the pressure of a feather swish to push me into the Philly rooting section. I know where my bread is buttered. My brother, absurdly, is a Cleveland fan, so similarly I’d have some moral obligation to support them if by some freak occurance the Browns made it to the big game.

As to the current New York Giants, I just like what this team has done. I LOVE what they did last year in demoting the New England Patriots. I think the Giants are one of the best organizations in sports, and if Dallas is not in it, I will probably root for Eli and the gang in the Super Bowl (though would not throw myself under a bus if Tennesee goes all the way).

The Redskins are another story, unfortunately. I reflexively root for any team that is playing the ‘Skins. I’ve done it since I was old enough to stay up for Monday Night Football. If it is Washington against Tennessee in the Super Bowl, my heart and soul and all that is good and holy in my consciousness will compel me to cheer on the Titans, the franchise that has never gone all the way, over the franchise whose fans automatically become a mob of gloating idiots whenever they get within sniffing distance of the postseason, and I will do it with gusto.

Ahem.

But back to the having-achieved-enlightenment idea. I do think I would honestly support the Redskins in certain scenarios if they were the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. I’d root for them over the Steelers, just because I think Pittsburgh stole that Super Bowl a couple years ago based on terrible officiating. I’d root for Washington over New England on general principles. I’d probably root for them over just about any other AFC team except maybe Cleveland and Tennessee.

So there, I have said it: There are quite a number of scenarios that would have me cheering on an NFC East team other than Dallas in the Super Bowl.

My question to supporters of Washington, New York, and Philly: How is your kumbaya mojo working? Ask yourself: What match up would it take for you to actually root for another NFC East team in the Super Bowl?