NFL 2008 Commentary:

Another football season is upon us, and of particular concern around here will be the performance of the New England Patriots. As the Red Sox have the “Pink Hats”, there is a large contingent of Patriots’ fans who seem to have no clue about this team’s history of failure prior to 2001. Not only do they expect a Super Bowl championship on demand each February, they also want the team clicking on all cylinders in August. It ought to be funny watching these frontrunners bail from “Patriot Place” when the Belichick/Brady Era passes into history. (Let’s hope there’s a few more years left in the tank).

After winning all but one of their games last year, you'd have to think that there's nowhere to go but down for the Patriots. The likelihood of Super Bowl losers returning to the playoffs the following year is remarkably low. Nevertheless, losing the Super Bowl in such heartbreaking fashion will provide sufficient motivation to make another serious run at the title this year. They ought to hit Week 1 in ill humor and take it “one game at a time” from there, though the competition in the AFC East will be a lot harder as all three divisional rivals have improved.

Buffalo always presents a challenge and the Jets improved themselves considerably on defense. The Jets’ acquisition of Favre on offense is questionable. He joins a long list of players who left after their peak years to improve the lot of a struggling franchise. In most cases, it hasn’t worked out all that well. The days leading up to his trade received more media coverage than the Race to The White House. The staff over at “Cold Hard Football Facts” recently covered this phenomenon in detail. Maybe Favre will buck the odds, as the Jets also added perennial All-Pro Alan Faneca to cover his back. It would be foolhardy to count him out just yet.

If Favre doesn’t win a Super Bowl ring this year, he’ll certainly be in the running for an Oscar in the “Drama Queen” category. The sports media spun this tale as if it were a Dickens epic. Every day brought new twists, turns and subplots. After a tearful retirement press conference in March, he got the itch to get back off the porch once summer rolled around. It’s OK, people reserve the right to change their minds. That being said, he couldn’t reasonably expect that the Pack would drop everything and welcome him back to the table as if he hadn’t left. There was a $12M cap hit to consider as well as all of the off season preparations that Coach McCarthy and the team had undertaken. Three years ago, the Pack drafted Aaron Rodgers from Cal on the first round to eventually replace Favre. That time had apparently arrived, for better or worse. With a relatively new coach and GM, the team sought to develop the identity envisioned by the “new guys”. Favre was one of the few holdovers from the Wolf/Holmgren regime.

Favre gave the Pack and their worldwide legion of fans a million and one thrills over the past fifteen-plus seasons. He helped to restore one of the NFL’s flagship franchises to its preeminent status, and made Green Bay a place that free agents like Reggie White and Charles Woodson were eager to join. (Whether Lombardi would’ve approved of Favre’s “gunslinger” style is another matter altogether). On the flip side, his refusal to stick to a game plan often produced disastrous results, as was last witnessed in the overtime of the NFC Championship last year (“Ice Bowl II”). Favre and the Pack succeeded in large part last year due to McCarthy’s insistence that he stick to the script, which did not allow for much freelancing. Favre’s place in football history as a Mt. Rushmore quarterback is assured, and it will be interesting to see him in the AFC East this year.

At one point this summer, Favre was offered a ten-year “personal services” deal by the team to stay home which he wisely rejected. If he was going to stay retired, he didn’t need $2M a year to watch the leaves turn yellow. Instead, he wanted an unconditional release from the team and they wisely refused. Favre was under contract by the team prior to his retirement, and they retained his contractual rights. Why should they allow the employee a unilateral right to dictate his next destination and possibly compromise their competitive advantage? The question of whether he was coming back to Green Bay and the subsequent dissolution of his relationship with the team became an enormous distraction to the team and the organization. By the time camp rolled around, the Packers had already turned the page. Moving him to a non-conference team for a conditional pick was the best course for him and the team. He gets to play this year as a marquee attraction in the Capitol of the World. The Jets get some heavy media attention and a chance to improve in the short term. The Jets allowed Chad Pennington to walk away the Dolphins as part of the price for acquiring Favre. When Pennington’s healthy, he has generally played well against the Pats. Under the Tuna’s Watch, Miami is attempting to rebuild while being competitive. It ought to be interesting to watch how the team develops.

There is virtually no chance of the Patriots will go 16-0 this year, and the scrutiny that goes with being undefeated is probably something the team would not want to endure this year anyway. As the regular season rolled into December, the Patriots played increasingly tighter and they just didn’t appear to be having a lot of fun. This year, the schedule maker has provided them an opportunity to get off to a quick start, provided that everything clicks as well as it did last year. However, there are serious holes on both sides of the ball that need to be addressed. As we saw in the Super Bowl, the invincible Patriots can be defeated, as the Giants' defense hounded and pressured Brady all afternoon. Currently, the Patriots’ offensive line is in a state of flux. Considering the fact that their inability to block the Giants’ ends and blitzing linebackers was one of the primary reasons the team lost in the Super Bowl, improving the level of play in this area is a matter of importance. A number of key players on the o-line have already missed a substantial amount of time during training camp and Belichick was dragging in any spare body off the street with prior professional experience as a guard or tackle. The obvious concern is that opponents will try to use the same game plan that the Giants used with success to frustrate the Patriots’ game plan on offense. Last year, the Patriots’ offense smashed the record books and it's doubtful whether this group could come through with a repeat performance. If they’re able to establish a decent running game, a more balanced attack is a better way to play. After Sammy Morris was lost for the year in midseason, the Patriots’ offense was not as effective despite the numbers Brady posted. The pass-dependent attack was eventually confounded in the Super Bowl by a faster opponent who did not respect the running game. The Giants defense knew what was coming most of the time and played it almost to perfection because the Patriots lacked a bruiser who could pound the ball up the middle.

On defense, the line appears to be solid and is unquestionably the strength of the team. Seymour is in good health for the first time in two years. The linebacker situation is more of a question mark. Barring any unforeseen injuries, it looks like Junior Seau will be riding his surfboard this year. It’s sad in one way because Seau got as close to realizing his elusive championship as any great player ever had before it slipped through his fingers. But the linebacking corps needs to be more athletic. The returning veterans are another year older, and two rookies (Mayo and Crable) are being worked into the mix. The secondary, on the other hand, is a complete mystery. Asante Samuel left for megamillions in Philadelphia, and the team is trying to compensate by bringing in a mixture of guys who are past their prime, together with a couple of rookies who were drafted in April.

In their preseason opener, they lost 16-15 at home against the Ravens. There really isn’t much stock to be put into a glorified scrimmage. Everyone is starting over from scratch and the goal is to execute a few plays and hope that nobody sustains any serious injuries.

Most of the regulars didn’t participate and those who did played only a series or two before being removed. There were two injuries of note, free agents Tank Williams and Sam Aiken went out with twisted knees. Since injury information in Foxboro is guarded more closely than state secrets no one really knows that status of these players. (Williams was placed on IR a day later.) All of the rookies acquitted themselves well, as well as LaMont Jordan and Pierre Woods. The only real disappointment was the work of Matt Cassel, who appeared woefully unprepared to face live action.

Following the loss to the Ravens, the team signed veteran Pro-Bowl safety John Lynch, who was recently let go by Denver. While the team isn’t expecting an All-Star level of play from Lynch, he can still plug a few holes with his hard hitting style. (Note: Lynch was ultimately let go in the final round of cuts).

In Week 2 of the preseason, an approximate assemblage of the team traveled to Tampa Bay for a Sunday night date with Chucky and the boys. Brady didn’t bother making the trip and several of the starters on defense put in a token showing as the Patriots ended up getting routed 27-10. While the outcome is irrelevant, at this point everyone would like to see evidence of progress, not regression. The offense was terrible, and the defense wasn’t much better. Should Brady suffer any sort of injury that keeps him out of the lineup, this team will be in a world of trouble as none of the backups (“The Bumble Boys”) appear to be capable professionals. At some point, the team needs to consider the possibility of bringing in someone with professional experience as a fallback plan. There were few, if any, noteworthy performances and Belichick was not happy with the outcome. Brandon Meriwether was injured during the first half and didn’t return.

Camp is on the verge of breaking up and the team needs a dope slap, inasmuch as they’ve been uncharacteristically lethargic as a group. The team is now at a critical juncture in their preseason development.

The Patriots’ third pre-season game at home with Philadelphia was disturbing because they appeared to further regress. Preseason results are meaningless, the best scenario is to get the regulars some playing time and walk off the field without anyone getting hurt. That being said, there’s still a lot at stake as there are about 30 players who are fighting for their jobs and not many of them played as if their professional careers hung in the balance. Brady did not dress and many of the starters on defense were nowhere to be found, but that never stopped the team from playing with heart regardless of the date on the calendar. They were humiliated 27-17, but the game was essentially over by half time, after the Eagles ran back a kickoff for a touchdown followed by a punt return for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. McNabb methodically picked apart the secondary and the Eagles moved the ball pretty much at will in the first half. Wes Welker suffered a rib injury in the first quarter returning a punt and didn’t return. Cassel played into the third quarter and was largely ineffective, save for a pretty good run on the team’s first possession and a long pass attempt to Moss that was called for pass interference. Matt Guttirrez relieved Cassel and had a pretty good night, throwing for a couple of touchdowns in garbage time, including a very nice leaping catch by Chad Jackson in the corner of the end zone. Other than the brief sign of life in the fourth quarter, the team simply went through the motions. In some quarters, they’re already pushing the panic button.

On Tuesday, the “Turk” called as mandated by the NFL’s first cutdown day from 80 to 75 players. There were no surprises in Foxboro.

In their final game, the Pats traveled to the Meadowlands for a “Super Bowl Rematch” (at least that’s how the media billed it) with the Giants. The only thing this game had in common with last February’s was the laundry. Once again, the regulars (minus Brady) played sparingly and the Giants went up 19-0 before O’Connell came in to lead the offense to a couple of touchdowns late in the garbage time portion of the game. The outcome of preseason games may be irrelevant, but it is certainly disconcerting to see a team play so dispassionately, especially when there were so many spots up for grabs.

On the 30th and 31st, the Turk made his final visit to Foxboro and the decisions that were made speak volumes about the direction Belichick and Pioli will be taking this team in the coming year.

NFL Preview:

The boys from ESPN have had their say, so now it's our turn. Everyone always gets excited about the beginning of football season, where the pundits look at the teams on paper and pronounce a champion before the season is even started. More often than not, the so-called experts are often incorrect in their preseason assessments of the teams. All it takes is one injury to a key player to transform a powerhouse into a 5-11 has-been. Then there are the bottom feeders who catch lightning in a bottle and make an improbable playoff run. It's all part of football. Since an NFC team won the Super Bowl last year we’ll look at them first.

NFC East: This is the best and most competitive division in the NFL. All four teams have legitimate chance to earn a postseason berth. From this vantage point, three of the teams are likable while the favorite to win the Division and the Conference can only be regarded as loathsome. If each of the teams can remain in good health we won't know the eventual winner until week 16 or 17. The only caveat is that all of these teams have six intradivisional matchups and anything can happen...

1. Dallas (Projected Finish 13-3): On paper, this is the best football team in the NFL, and they ought to make it to January without breaking much of a sweat. That being said, there are guys on this current Cowboys' roster that would not have been allowed to breathe within five miles of the training facilities under Tom Landry's watch. The team's owner, "JR" Jones, has a penchant for collecting "names" to play for his toy, chief among them being the Drama Queen ("TO") and the Unrepentant Reprobate ("Pac Man"). Come football season, ESPN will glorify their antics as if the fate of the free world hung in the balance. If either of these guys goes off the rails for any reason, it may be detrimental to the team. Their coach, the good ol' boy "Son of Bum" is a laid-back sort who doesn't stir the pot, and why should he? The Cowboys won 13 games last year, and there's nothing to suggest any significant drop-off in play. Tony Romo is a very good, mobile quarterback surrounded by a highly talented group. There's Jason Witten at tight end, wide receivers TO and Patrick Crayton and Marion Barber all playing behind a massive and agile group of offensive linemen. The defense is stacked with All-Pros and they added Zack Thomas from Miami into the mix. The only foreseeable problem is that the Cowboys are under such enormous pressure to win that the lack of a firm hand at the controls may cause stress cracks as the team heads for the finish.

2. NY Giants (Projected Finish 10-6): The Giants caught lightning in a bottle coming down the stretch last year and were well deserved Super Bowl champions. But that was last year. This year, the pundits have pretty much written off the G-Men's chances, predicting that they will have a hangover season combined with critical losses on defense. Osi Umenyiora blew out a knee in the preseason and is lost for the year. Michael Strahan wisely rejected the team’s overtures to “unretire” and there were other losses associated with free agency. Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce are returning, but the rest of the front seven looks like a slice of Swiss cheese. Looking at the defense, it would be pretty easy to write off this team as a third of fourth place finisher whose only January football enjoyment will come from the comfort of their living rooms. But they're well coached on defense under Coughlin and Steve Spagnuolo, whose schemes utterly baffled the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. His skills as a coordinator will be tested to the max this year. On offense, Super Bowl hero David Tyree will start out on the PUP, and Plaxico Burress missed a large chunk of training camp with an alleged "ankle injury" while demanding a new contract. He needs to keep its head in the game and his mouth shut. Eli Manning is the unquestioned leader on offense, but it's still an open question as to whether what the football world saw at the end of last season was a fluke or a turning point. This year, he won't have to deal with any distractions in the huddle from Jeremy Shockey now that the big tight end has been peddled off to New Orleans for a draft pick. The offensive line returns intact from last year and the team has a more than adequate running game with the likes of Jacobs and Bradshaw. Kevin Boss stepped in and performed admirably after Shockey went out with a broken leg. Despite all of the losses and a real chance of encountering a hangover year, there is no quit in Coach Coughlin, who has no issues with motivating people. The veterans understand that the window to remain contenders is drawing to a close, and that should serve as inspiration enough for the Giants to have another really good year.

3. Philadelphia (Projected Finish 10-6): Based on their performance in the third preseason game against New England, the Eagles looked like world beaters. As always, Philly's success hinges on the health of Donovan McNabb. He has been injury prone over the last five years, but if he can stay healthy the Iggles will be a tough team to beat. Perhaps he will be fortunate enough to run the table, but his durability is something that can no longer be taken for granted. They're simply not the same team when he's out of the lineup. He benefits from the presence of Brian Westbrook, who is a legit gamebreaker both on the ground and in the air. The rest of the offense is pretty good, though Shawn Andrews missed a large portion of training camp and Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are approaching dinosaur status. The defensive unit is better, and even more improved with the addition of CB Asante Samuel from New England. The pass defense ought to be an awful lot of fun to watch.

4. Washington (Projected Finish 9-7): There is a lot of talent on the Redskins this year, and they will win more than their fair share of games. But they have the misfortune of playing in the most competitive division in the NFL and that's going to spell the difference between a trip to the playoffs and watching the postseason from home. Joe Gibbs has retired and Jim Zorn has come in and inserted his variation of the West Coast offense. Changing things around so drastically isn't accomplished over the course of four preseason games. It's going to take some time. Jason Campbell is young and talented enough to learn and prosper under Zorn's system. Clinton Portis is an outstanding runner and Chris Cooley is among the better tight ends in the league. Beyond that, there are a lot of holes on the offense side of the ball. On defense, Jason Taylor came over from the Dolphins in trade and he'll give the Andre Carter and the rest of the front seven a big boost. But there have been injuries in the secondary and this is perhaps the weak point of the team. Given all of the sweeping changes the team continues to work through, it's difficult to see them playing more than .500 in the Division.

NFC Central: If the Vikings had an established quarterback, they would run away with this division in a heartbeat. If the Packers had an established quarterback, for instance a guy like Brett Favre, they'd be a lock for the postseason. That's the wild card as to who is going to finish first or second. Both teams have a great shot for the postseason.

1. Green Bay (Projected Finish 10-6): Other than the departure of the aforementioned Favre, the Pack returns pretty much intact from the team that went into overtime and last year's Conference Championship. Now it's Mr. Rodgers' turn to see what he can do. He's been waiting in the wings as an understudy for the last three years and he will be given this unique opportunity to replace a football legend. It's not as if he's coming in from the cold having to learn Coach McCarthy's offense from scratch, and chances are good that there will be no problem sticking to the script this year. If he proves to be an adequate replacement the Pack will be just fine. As much as a question mark as Rodgers may be, the jury's still out on running back Ryan Grant. Was he a one-year wonder, or can he be relied on to carry the load as he did last year? There's no question about the quality of talent on the line or in the receiving corps with Driver and Jennings. They have one of the best defenses in the League led by Woodson, Barnett, Hawk, KGB and Kampman and if the offense clicks under a new quarterback, things could be very exciting in Green Bay this year.

2. Minnesota (Projected Finish 10-6): If Coach Childress was able to let AP and Chester Taylor tote the leather 40 times a game it'd be a banner year for the Purple Gang, but offense does not live on the running game alone. Tarvaris Jackson simply has not shown that he is an NFL-caliber quarterback so far in his brief career, and he's coming back from a knee injury that he suffered during the preseason. Other than this gigantic question mark at quarterback, Minnesota is a powerhouse. The O-Line is anchored by stalwarts Bryant McKinnie, Steve Hutchinson and (Harvard's Own) Matt Birk. The Vikes have an outstanding defense starting with Team Williams up front, and Jerrod Allen was signed from Kansas City and he'll be giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares all year long. On balance,(not to mention on paper), Green Bay appears to be slightly better.
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3. Detroit (Projected Finish 7-9): There is a considerable drop off in talent between the Green Bay's and Minnesota's of the world and the Detroit and Chicago's. It's simply the Lions' misfortune to have to play four of their games against very tough divisional opponents. The best thing going for the Lions is Coach Marinelli, who has brought discipline and toughness to a proud franchise that had seen these trademark qualities slowly erode over the years. Jon Kitna may no longer be slingin' the ol' pigskin 50 times a game under a new and more balanced system of attack but he'll still have rising stars Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson with whom to connect. The success of the new offense is predicated on the ability of Kevin Smith and Tatum Bell to move the football on the ground. The offensive line is mediocre at best and that may spell disaster. On defense, things appear to be more solid. Linebacker Ernie Sims hits like a tank and DT Cory Redding provides strength up the middle. If things break right for the Lions, they have an outside shot at a wild-card spot. On the other hand, they could just as easily go 6-10...

4. Chicago (Projected Finish 6-10): It's hard to believe that the Bears played in the Super Bowl two years ago. Last year, they went 7-9 under the dubious quarterback tandem of Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. It's simply astonishing that the team did not acknowledge this deficiency during the off-season and take affirmative steps to rectify the problem by bringing in one of the many established veterans who were available on the free-agent market. One of the good off-season moves they made was to cut bait with Cedric "Fumbles" Benson, another big time college back who fizzled in the pros. It appears as though Coach Smith will give Orton every opportunity to fail, and since this is perhaps the most anemic offensive group in the NFL it will be another long year at Soldier Field. Muhammad and Berrian both left in free agency, so there is not a great deal of experience in the receiving corps. The Other Adrian Peterson will combine with rookie Matt Forte to provide some semblance of a running game. The only excitement will come whenever Devin Hester gets his hands on the football, either on special teams or those rare occasions when he slips into the offense. There are never such issues on the defensive side of the ball, as first and foremost the Chicago Bears have always been The Monsters of the Midway. While this defense may not rival the group from 1985, they're not exactly the Little Sisters of the Poor, either. Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher have developed into one of the best linebacking pairs in the game. Tommie Harris is an immovable block up front, and the secondary is pretty good but there are holes in the defensive line, especially. If they had a half-decent quarterback, they may have been some buzz associated with this team, but points are going to be awfully hard to come by this year in Chicago.

NFC South: Anyone who suggests that they can accurately predict the outcome in this Division probably has a Bridge in Brooklyn that they're willing to sell cheap. Other than the Falcons, who are in a full-blown rebuilding mode, any one of Tampa Bay, New Orleans or Carolina could get hot and find their way into the playoffs, as these three teams are remarkably competitive.

1. Tampa Bay (Projected Finish 10-6): This time, Chucky has stacked his lineup with a collection of wily old veterans who have proven themselves in big games. If they are able to remain healthy, you have to like their chances, especially in those home games in September when it's hotter than all blazes at Raymond James Stadium. For all the criticisms about Jeff Garcia, the guy knows how to operate an offense. Joey Galloway can still get after it and the Bucs have a very good offensive line. Earnest Graham has supplanted Cadillac Williams as the featured back and Warrick Dunn has returned though he's on the back nine of a great career. On defense, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber are still holding down the fort with the able help of guys like Barrett Ruud and Chris Hovan. They ought to be a lot of fun to watch this year.

2. New Orleans (Projected Finish 9-7): Last year, the 'Aints reverted to traditional form and were the biggest disappointment of 2007. The Deuce went out in the season opener, and the team never really recovered from his loss. There is a ton of talent on this team, of that there is no question. They have a great quarterback with Drew Brees and discovered a real diamond in the rough with Marques Colston. The Saints filled a couple of holes by acquiring Jeremy Shockey from the Giants and linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the Jets. Bringing in star players from New York teams always seems to elevate a team's profile though one may wish to wait before blindly drinking the Kool-Aid. What they need to figure out is whether Reggie Bush is a football player or whether it's all been Hollywood hype. If he doesn't have a breakout season this year, then Bush had a lot of supposedly knowledgeable football people really fooled. The Saints will have a bounce back year this year, but count me among those who aren't quite yet sold on this team jumping right back into the mix of contenders after an injury-riddled 2007. The wild card with the Saints is what effect, if any, Hurricane Gustav may have on the Crescent City and surrounding Gulf Coast region. If, God forbid, the storm remotely resembles Katrina in terms of its catastrophic effects, the Saints could be pitching their tent in San Antonio and Baton Rouge, as was the case in 2005. That storm devastated a region and basically killed the Saints’ season. We pray such a scenario is never repeated.

3. Carolina (Projected Finish 8-8): It doesn't help matters that the Panthers suspended Steve Smith for the first two games of the year after foolishly beating up one of his teammates in a training camp scuffle. In the long run, Coach Fox' actions will probably build a more disciplined and cohesive group but the team will take a hit in the short term. Jake Delhomme has returned in full health and when he's hot, he's as good as anyone in the game (as Patriots' fans well remember from the Super Bowl a few years ago). Muhsin Muhammad has returned from Chicago and he will help with the passing game. On defense, Julius Peppers isn't getting any younger but is still a dominant pass rusher. Jon Beason had an outstanding rookie year at middle linebacker, and the rest of the defense is good. However the strength of the running game and interior lines on both sides of the ball may be the weakest among the top three teams in the division, and that's why I rate the Panthers as a .500 team this year.

4. Atlanta (Projected Finish 4-12): Matt Ryan is going to be earning that big fat contract from day one, as the Falcons begin the process of rebuilding after the disaster that was Michael Vick. To help Ryan, the team brought in Michael Turner from San Diego to carry the running game and reliable Roddy White ought to be a handy target. On defense, the Falcons have established veterans in linebackers Michael Boley and Keith Brooking will combine with DE John Abraham to make things rough on opposing offenses. Other than that, the best thing that can be said for the Falcons is that they have quite a few young, talented players. It's the experience that they lack in general and something that they will earn the hard way this year.

NFC West: This is the worst division in pro football, the only team with a reasonable shot at the postseason resides in Seattle and all the rest will be lucky to win eight games.

1. Seattle (Projected Finish 10-6): This is Coach Holmgren's last ride, and the Seahawks will probably make it a memorable one for him. The 'Hawks have a terrific defense, and Julius Jones should be a more than adequate replacement for Shaun Alexander. Matt Hasselbeck provides veteran leadership that quarterback but it's not the offense that will win games for Seattle. They should win a minimum of four divisional games and have a very good opportunity to play January Football.

2. Arizona (Projected Finish 8-8): The strength of this team is its receiving corps with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, but there remains the question has to who's could be the guy throwing the passes this year. Matt Leinart appears to fallen into disfavor with Coach Ken Whisenhunt, which says an awful lot about a guy who was pegged to be a "can't miss" franchise quarterback only a few years ago. For now, the Cardinals have turned to the old reliable veteran Kurt Warner, and if he stays healthy, the team will have a reasonably adequate offense. Edgerrin James is getting a little long in the tooth as far as running backs go, and the team seriously needs him to continue the pace he set in 2007, when he had an amazing 324 carries. While there are some issues on the offensive side of the ball, there is less doubt on defense, where Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett will be making things rather unpleasant for offenses throughout the League. It is a fragile team that could squeak into a Wild-Card spot with some luck or just as easily fade as a result of injuries. One must always recall that the Cardinals have won only two playoff games since 1920…

3. San Francisco (Projected Finish 6-10): The big change in Niner Land this year is the hiring of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Quite frankly, his star has been descending since the days of "The Greatest Show on Turf" when he was running the offense for Dick Vermeil back in St. Louis. He really didn't do much as a head coach, nor did his stint in Detroit work wonders. His latest reclamation project, J.T. O'Sullivan, has been named as the starting quarterback and has been bouncing around half of the NFL for the last several years carrying a clipboard. Is it now time to suggest that former number one overall pick Alex Smith is a bust? Nobody enjoys seeing anyone fail, especially when they've been thrust into a no-win situation with such high expectations. The 49ers have a long way to go before they contend for anything, which is a damn shame because it was only a few years ago that this organization was the class of the NFL. Frank Gore is a very good running back, and provided he stays healthy he ought to keep the Niners moving the chains on offense. On defense, Patrick Willis is developing into a beast. Beyond that, there isn't a whole lot to like with this team, and if they don't improve by season's end it will be the last one for Coach Mike Nolan.

4. St. Louis (Projected Finish 4-12): The Rams may be candidates for one of the worst teams in the league this year. After holding out for the better part of training camp, Steven Jackson returned and there are genuine issues as to how effective he may be given all the time off. There have been injuries on the offense line already, and moving forward if Orlando Pace is out of the lineup for an extended period it could be another long year. Marc Bulger has developed into a decent quarterback, but his primary target Torry Holt is not getting any younger. Randy McMichael is a fine tight end who will probably get more than his fair share of receptions, but other than that the Rams aren't exactly in the running for a playoff spot. The first half of their schedule is particularly rough and if they could come out of it 4-4 they may have the makings of a middle-of-the-road team, but that's a best case scenario. On defense, Chris Long will be learning the ropes working with a group that is still trying to discover its identity.

AFC Preview:

AFC North: This is a two team race, where the resurgent Browns and the Steelers will mix it up for the division title. The Ravens and the Bengals simply have no shot this year.

Cleveland (Projected Finish 11-5): Last year, the Browns finally made the transition from an expansion team to a legitimate contender in the AFC. They were big surprise last year playing well above expectations, but this year nobody's going to be fooled. Early last season, there were noises that Coach Crennel wasn't going to be around much longer, now it looks like he's going to be part of the picture for many years to come. All of those years of drafting early now appear to be paying dividends. They won 10 games last year and Derek Anderson (who was brought in to kill time for Brady Quinn) proved to be a big league quarterback. The strength of the team is its offense, where Joe Thomas had already developed into a dominant force on the offensive line in his rookie season. Jamal Lewis came over in free agency from the Ravens and had another nice year carrying the ball. Kellen Winslow finally arrived after injuries and inconsistent play ruined his first few years in the League while Braylon Edwards is a terrific deep threat. Suffice to say, putting points on the board is not going to be the primary concern this year. On defense, Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams came over in free agency to bolster the D-Line. The ageless Willie McGinest returns for another season in Cleveland, and his leadership and experience continue to be a terrific asset. While there are a few holes on defense, this is the year that the Browns are finally back on top.

Pittsburgh (Projected Finish 10-6): It's always hard to read between the lines with this team because they always project such a confident and intimidating front, as if visitors to Heinz Field should simply surrender before taking a snap. Coach Tomlin had a wonderful rookie season last year, as the team didn't skip a beat. Based on last year, Tomlin may have a long run on the sidelines similar to Coaches Noll and Cowher. Ben Roethlisberger already has one Super Bowl ring, and the offense is filled with talented players, with guys like Ward, Willie Parker, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. They tabbed Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois to complement Parker in the backfield. However, the offensive line was an area of concern last year, and this year Alan Faneca will be knocking heads for the Jets. On defense, the Steelers will be their usual dominant selves. Since the era of the Steel Curtain, advancing the football against Pittsburgh teams has traditionally been a formidable task. Up front, Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith are tough customers. James Harrison is the best of the linebackers and Troy Polamalu is among the best safeties in the game. The primary concerns with the Steelers advancing in the playoffs are their lack of depth in the interior lines. Should any serious injuries occur along the lines the team will struggle despite their offensive firepower. No matter what, this is going to be a team that creates a lot of problems for opponents all year long, and another trip to the playoffs is a very strong possibility.

Ravens (Projected Record 7-9): The good news is that the Ravens have a new coach (John Harbaugh), who ought to instill a renewed emphasis on disciplined football after several years of Brian Billick's laissez-faire approach to things. Harbaugh inherits some pretty good pieces to work with, especially on the defensive side of the ball where Ray Lewis has not appeared to have lost a step and will continue to make Sunday afternoons a painful experience for anyone who wanders into his territory carrying a football. There are also Chris McAlister and Ed Reed in the defensive backfield as well as Ngata and Suggs who will fortify the front seven with Lewis. If only the offense was of a similar talent level. Perennial All-Pro Jonathan Ogden retired, and somebody may fill his spot on the offensive line, but it is going to take a very special player to replace him. Willis McGahee is a terrific running back, but there will always be questions with respect to his durability. Todd Heap and Derrick Mason have been terrific targets for a number of years, but the question is who is going to be throwing that football. Joe Flacco was drafted from Delaware and is projected to be the quarterback of the future. He simply may be too inexperienced to answer the bell in Week 1. Troy Smith has shown promising signs of being an effective quarterback though the lack of depth at receiver will hinder whomever Harbaugh elects to start. It's going to take at least a year for Harbaugh's program to develop and the offense to find its way. Count on a lot of low scoring games down at M&T this year.

Cincinnati (Projected Record 4-12): If Carson Palmer had any brains at all, he'd simply play out the string down by the river and catch the next bus out of town as soon as his contract expires. He's developed into a terrific quarterback and it's simply a disgrace that the ownership and poor coaching of this team has completely undermined any efforts he's made to become a competent leader of the offense. Case in point: after firing Chris Henry during the off-season for his continued transgressions off the field, Ocho Stinko gets injured during a preseason game and the team promptly rehires Henry (not to mention naming him a Team Captain). This kid has shown no humility or contrition to warrant another bite of the apple, let alone being placed in a leadership position with the team. There has to be at least a hundred young kids with the talent and attitude that are the equal of Henry's who won't get an opportunity but Junior gladly reopened the door for the reprobate. Rudi Johnson was let go among the final cuts, so there’s a question as to who can effectively replace his carries. Willie Anderson was also released, and he’s among the better O-Linemen in the League. The personnel decision makers are what's really wrong with this team. Somewhere up in the sky, the team's founder, Paul Brown, must be shaking his head in utter amazement as to the mess Junior has created. If there was one franchise in the NFL that needs a top to bottom flushing it is the Bungles. A few years ago, Marvin Lewis came in with great fanfare and he was supposed to be a coach would bring order and discipline. His tenure as coach will be remembered as total chaos. There is talent on this team, and that's what's saddest of all. They've brought in a cast of unsavory characters and a couple of showboaters who appear to be more interested in squeezing every last drop of face time on ESPN than they are with being part of a winning football program. Say whatever you will about the inept ownership, it's a failure of an effective and strong coach to allow this sort of nonsense to continue year after year. Guys like Palmer, Kenny Watson and Houshmandzadeh are good team players. When he's healthy and his head is screwed on properly, Chad Johnson is a very good football player. But that's not what the Bengals and their fans get every week. On defense, they have some fine young players such as corner Johnathan Joseph and defensive end Antwan Odom. However, there are a lot of holes that haven't been filled on the defensive side of the ball that's going to make for another long year in the Queen City.

AFC South: Next to the NFC East, this may be the most competitive division in the league. While Indianapolis should finish first, it's by no means a lock as all of the other teams have been improved themselves in the last couple of years and there really is not much difference in the competitive levels between teams 2-4.

Indianapolis (Projected Finish 11-5): As long as Payton Manning is around to throw the football, Indianapolis will remain one of the favorites in the AFC. His big targets, Harrison and Wayne, may be a year older but they're still top-notch. Joseph Addai is entering the prime of his career and should be a lock for another thousand yard season. Manning missed the entire preseason after knee surgery, but he will be ready to go by Week 1. Of greater concern however, is the loss of center Jeff Saturday, who went down with a knee injury during the preseason and will be out a minimum of six weeks. That surely has to hurt. Other than that, all of Indy's offensive stalwarts will be returning to torment defenses all across the league. Everybody is back on defense as well, but the recoveries of Freeney and Sanders from injuries certainly bear watching. Sanders may be among the most exciting players in all of football, but playing like a human missile has cost him a lot of time away with injury. If Coach Dungy's team remains in good health, there is no reason why they can't be considered among the two or three best teams in the Conference. It's simply hard to expect anything more than 11 wins given the strength of the competition in the AFC South.

Jacksonville (Projected Finish 10-6): Last year, David Garrard stepped into the fray at quarterback turned in a fine performance, leading the team to a spot in the playoffs. There's no legitimate reason why they shouldn't return this year. They're well coached, solid if not spectacular on both sides of the ball and are well-balanced. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor give the Jags a terrific 1-2 punch from the backfield, and we'll have plenty of opportunities to run wild behind a massive offensive line. Marcedes Lewis has developed into one of the better tight ends in the league. Jerry Porter came in from Oakland to help Reggie Williams at wide receiver. But there are durability issues regarding both that may make things problematic for Garrard. On defense, the Jags are rock solid. They're a bunch of mean and tough veterans who play as a cohesive group. They may not play the most exciting brand of football, but they are consistent and barring injuries, another trip to the playoffs should be in the offing.

Tennessee (Projected Finish 9-7): As goes Vince Young, so go the Titans. While there is certainly no question that the Titans are a stronger team on the defensive side of the ball, they need Young to stay healthy and to mature into a team leader. While Young is not particularly blessed with a talented receiving corps, Alge Crumpler was brought in from Atlanta to fill the hole at tight end (provided he's motivated) and they do have an adequate running game that was enhanced by the selection of Chris Johnson from East Carolina. But the key is Young. If he plays with patience and consistency, the offense will put their fair share of points on the board. The defense will take care of the rest. Albert Haynesworth (who's looking for that windfall come next year) and Kyle Vanden Bosch anchor a very good defensive line. Linebackers Keith Bulluck and David Thornton both hit like trucks, and Cortland Finnegan has come out of nowhere to become one of the better young defensive backs in the league. Coach Fisher is the longest tenured head coach in the NFL, in large part because defenses always play with discipline.

Houston (Projected Finish 9-7): This is no longer an expansion team. Gary Kubiak came over from Denver last season and the team went .500, making the transition from wannabes to a young and exciting team to watch. The problem is the six games they have to play but in the division. If they win at least three, things could really be looking up, but that's a tall order. Matt Schaub has one of the premier targets in the league in Andre Johnson and Ahman Green (if healthy) gives the Texans a legitimate running game. On defense, Mario Williams is proving anyone who thought he was an unworthy number one overall first draft pick to be a complete chump. His abilities are simply off the charts. He is also aided and abetted by linemate Amobi Okoye, and DeMeco Ryans at linebacker and corner with Dunta Robinson. On the whole, the Texans are a team that's on the rise but as we saw last year, it will only take an injury or two at a critical spot and they will have to fight to keep their noses above the water.

AFC West: This is a one horse race with the Chargers seemingly possessing more talent than the other three teams combined.

San Diego (Projected Finish 13-3): The Chargers are among the NFL's elites. That being said, Shawne Merriman's decision to play through a serious knee injury is foolhardy, if not outright stupid on a lot of levels. He is not only risking his own professional future but others who may face a similar choice and are forced to play by coaches will use him as an example. Last year, the Chargers were thwarted in their attempt to reach the Super Bowl after injuries to Rivers, LT and Gates limited the team's effectiveness in the AFC championship. Except for Merriman, everybody appears to be ready to roll, much to the chagrin of all of the other teams San Diego will play this year. If you are a football fan, there are too many "household names" to count. The only question mark is whether Coach Turner can take all of this great talent and mold it into a champion. There are no weaknesses on the field here and anything less than a trip to the Super Bowl would be considered a big disappointment.

Denver (Projected Finish 9-7): For the last couple of years, people have been predicting the imminent demise of the Broncos and the reign of Mike Shanahan. While in 2007 they did suffer their first losing year in eons, the Broncos didn't stand pat to slide into mediocrity, or even worse. They still have the best shutdown corner in Champ Bailey, and Jay Cutler is developing into a very good quarterback, but not having Brandon Marshall out there as a target for the first three games certainly doesn't help. Since the glory days with Terrell Davis, the Broncos of always found a way of finding running backs from out of nowhere to post 1,000+ yard seasons. Now that they've added massive tackle Ryan Clady from Boise State, why should anything be different this year? In addition to Bailey, the Broncos defense is bolstered by D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil. Maybe this year's edition of the Broncos does not feature a gallery of household names as in years past, but they always have that Mile High advantage, and they are always a well coached group.

Oakland (Projected Finish 7-9): The once mighty Raiders appear back on the road to respectability. On draft day, they were sitting at number four and had a number of choices before settling on the dynamic running back Darren McFadden from Arkansas. Al Davis was a big spender during the off-season in free agency (why did he handout that ridiculous contract to Tommy Kelly?) and the team is hoping that JaMarcus Russell is ready to take the reins after having missed all of training camp last year. McFadden and Fargas should be quite effective running the ball, but the passing game remains a question mark due to inexperience. Javon Walker's potential contribution is a complete mystery due to off the field problems. On defense, they have first-rate corners in Nnamdi Asomugha and DeAngelo Hall. Gibril Wilson will be a big boost at strong safety and mentor for Michael Huff. The rest of the defense is pretty darned good, led by veterans Kirk Morrison and Derrick Burgess. The Raiders will be much improved over the last few years, but they still year or two away before regaining their legendary status.

Kansas City (Projected Finish 4-12): Despite having perhaps the best tight end it in all of football, this is an awful team. Jared Allen left for Minnesota via free agency and Larry Johnson has been run so many times that he is rapidly approaching the point of diminishing returns. There were a number of quarterbacks available in the draft that were the equal or better of Brodie Croyle, but the Chiefs chose not to draft one. Croyle may be a very nice young man, but he's not a big league quarterback. They have some fine young prospects in Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and this year's first-round draft picks, Glen Dorsey and Brandon Albert, but there's simply not enough depth around them to be consistently competitive. Under Coach Herm's "innovative" strategies, this is a team that's not going very far this year.

AFC East: Last but not least, we turn to the division that's closest to home and the one that's of most concern to New Englanders.

1. New England (Projected Finish 10-6): Patriots’ fans ought to look at the upcoming year as a “step-back” season. That’s not only because teams that have lost the Super Bowl historically fail to make the playoffs for succeeding year. If there is one team that is capable of breaking this dubious string, it is the Patriots because they have been the most intelligently run franchise under Belichick/Pioli (notwithstanding last year’s alleged “Spygate scandal”). Anyone who watched the Pats in preseason will tell you that they were a train wreck on both sides of the ball and appear to be ill-prepared to begin a new season. If anything, they played more like the 1970 Boston Patriots than the model franchise of this decade. Brady didn’t take a snap which may or may not be indicative of a big problem. If he doesn’t play, this team is going nowhere in a hurry. However, there are red flags and warning lights flashing with respect to the defensive backfield and offensive line. During the offseason and camp, Belichick and Pioli brought in a number of established veterans (Jason Webster, Fernando Bryant, Mike Flynn, Victor Hobson, John Welbourn and John Lynch) to supposedly fill these glaring deficiencies and none of them made the team. Additionally, Chad Jackson (a number 2 pick that they traded up to obtain three drafts ago) was also cut. To their credit, Belichick and Pioli have never been afraid of taking drastic measures to construct a competitive team, and their prior success affords them more than the benefit of doubt. However, the defensive backfield is young and inexperienced with the defection of Asante Samuel to Philly. When Ellis Hobbs is “the guy” who is expected to be a shutdown corner, offenses league-wide are salivating at the prospect of throwing in his direction. Injuries to the O-Line have created a patchwork that was ineffective during the preseason and will be exposed once things start for real. Maroney has yet to prove that he’s a dominant running back. His annoying “stand up” style of hitting a hole has not proven to be consistently effective. Wes Welker had a great season last year, but he’s injured and the focus will now shift to stopping Randy Moss. Outside of perennial media darlings Pittsburgh and Dallas, teams don’t get by on reputation alone for very long, and there are 31 other teams and millions of fans nationwide who’d love nothing better than to see the Belichick and the Patriots being taken to the woodshed.

Despite all of the holes, the Patriots possess collective attributes that most of the other teams lack. The core group knows how to win games, and six of their seven draft picks made the team. They remain the best-prepared and most well-coached team in the NFL. They enter this year with a mandate to finish the task that they set out to accomplish in 2007. Prior to Week 1, it’s no secret that the existing talent level is not the equal of last year’s. What is yet to be seen is how well all of the rookies on defense will develop. Over the years, the team has always found a way to plug in guys who are capable of fitting into the system, and despite their failures so far, fans should be confident that Belichick and Pioli have already targeted players who they believe are mentally and physically up to the challenge. They didn’t suddenly get stupid over the course of the offseason. The prediction here is that (provided Brady remains healthy) the team will use the favorable schedule in the early going to jell as a team and play with greater consistency and passion as the season goes along. While they may not be representing the AFC in Super Bowl XLIII, they ought to win the AFC East by one or two games. That may not sit well with the Foxboro Bandwagon riders (who are oblivious to the fact that the Patriots existed for four decades prior to 2001), but that’s how it’s probably going to play out.

2. Buffalo (Projected Finish 9-7): What the Bills lack in marquee names, they compensate with all-around consistency. The only negative coming into the year has been Jason Peters' holdout from training camp. In a short time, he has developed into their best offensive lineman who apparently does not want to pay his dues before cashing in on a big payday. Otherwise, this is a team that has drafted well and will give their opponents a very hard time. The hallmark of Buffalo teams has always been grit and determination, and this group fits the mold quite well. Quarterback Trent Edwards supplanted JP Losman last year and looks to be a real keeper. Marshawn Lynch had a very good rookie season running the ball and is poised for even bigger things. The Bills are looking for Lee Evans to rebound after a tough year catching the ball and Roscoe Parrish has yet to emerge as a legitimate threat on the other side causes Evans to be double teamed and limits his explosive capabilities. Coach Jauron's defense is filled with smart, talented players. They were beaten down hard last year with injuries yet still managed a respectable showing. The defensive front is anchored by Aaron Schobel and newcomer Marcus Stroud. Kawika Mitchell came over from the Giants to further solidify the linebacking core with Paul Posluszny, who missed virtually all of his rookie year after suffering a broken arm against the Patriots. In the secondary, Buffalo has a world of young talent in Donte Whitner, Jabari Greer and this year's first-round pick Leodis McKelvin. They have smart and disciplined special teams units as well. Last year, they won seven games with an injury ravaged defense. This year, so long as they remain healthy, they should be at least two games better and have a legitimate shot at a wild-card spot.

3. New York Jets (Projected Finish 8-8): The biggest story of the preseason was the Jets' acquisition of a certain #4 who used to play in Green Bay then unceremoniously "unretired". While bringing a famous quarterback to the big city is going to take up a lot of ink and get heavy play in the media, the Jets also did a lot of other nice things during the off season. Kris Jenkins came over from Carolina in free agency to plug a big hole in the D-Line and linebacker Calvin Pace came in from Arizona and will seriously upgrade the athleticism of the defense. So far, Vernon Gholston has been disappointing in training camp and in preseason games but his detractors should at least give the kid a full year under his belt. Last year's number one pick, cornerback Darrelle Revis appears to be developing into a legitimate player. David Harris and Shaun Ellis are also tough nuts to crack on the Jets' defense. The offensive line received a serious upgrade when All-Pro Alan Faneca came over from Pittsburgh. Now it's time for D'Brickashaw Ferguson to make the leap from heralded prospect to consistent performer. Favre benefits from having a first-class target in Laveranues Coles, not to mention Jerricho Cotchery at the other wideout spot. However, the running game may present somewhat of a challenge as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington will be holding down the fort. While they're serviceable runners, neither is the second coming of Curtis Martin. Favre's "second career" in the NFL ought to be a great deal of fun for fans in the greater New York area to watch. It's simply hard to say how much of an impact he'll have. He came into camp late, is learning a brand-new offense and no one knows to what extent he will be allowed to freelance within the established framework. He is being asked to transform a team that went 4-12 last year that is transitioning with a host of new faces into the playoffs. It's a lot to ask for anyone, even the Great Brett Favre, though a highly successful year is not beyond the realm of possibility. One would be foolish to bet against him.

4. Miami (Projected Finish 5-11): This ought to be the last year for double-digit losses down in South Florida. The Big Tuna is running the show from the skybox and it's not going to take very long for the Dolphins to turn things around. The first thing that they've done is to completely obliterate any mention of 2007. This is a team that's rebuilding almost from scratch with former Dallas assistant Tony Sparano calling the shots on the sidelines. As part of the process, they peddled off Jason Taylor to the Redskins for draft pick, which was a great move considering that even if he was in Miami this year, the team would be going nowhere without him. Zack Taylor is also gone, having signed with Dallas as a free agent. They were also able to sign Chad Pennington after the Jets let him go in the wake of picking up Brett Favre. When Pennington is healthy, he's always been a tough and solid competitor. Ricky Williams has also returned to the NFL after his suspension and some time playing in Canada. If he remains healthy (as well as clean) look for the enigmatic Ricky have a nice bounce back year in tandem with Ronnie Brown. Ted Ginn, Jr. is probably going to be Pennington's favorite target, but there is a question whether his lack of size and durability will prevent him from being a legitimate threat. As with every reclamation project that Parcells takes on, it begins with rebuilding the interior lines first. The Dolphins selected Jake Long from Michigan as the first overall pick in April's draft, and he is being looked at to be the anchor of that line for the next decade. Provided Long remains healthy, there's no reason why he cannot become a dominant force in the NFL. . Parcells inherited a few very good O-Line players in Samson Satele, Justin Smiley and Vernon Carey, so it's not as if the cupboard is entirely bare. The defense is another question altogether. Right now, it looks like Vonnie Holliday, Will Allen, Joey Porter and a cast of thousands which doesn't bode well. In their glory years, Shula and the Dolphins always seemed to find small college diamonds in the rough who developed into defensive stalwarts. Who knows, maybe they can strike lightning again. This year, the Dolphins are going to play as if there's nothing to lose. Playing without having any burden of great expectations is probably worth an additional three or four wins, and Pennington ought to be able to steal one game along the way.

With that, folks, here’s wishing for a fun and exciting new season.