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An Interesting Article i found on CBS.com. Worth a read.
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It's T-minus two weeks to the start of the NFL season, which means the time is right to evaluate what we've witnessed this summer -- and I don't mean the decline and fall of the New York Yankees.
Training camps are today's subject, and I've just been through 13 of them. I saw the good, the bad and the Cincinnati Bengals, and I'm here to put it all in perspective before we have another Chris Henry arrest.
Five surest bets
1. Eli Manning to take off. I'm not saying he will win another Super Bowl, but he won't throw a league-high 20 interceptions again and suffer inconsistent play. I don't know if one game changes a career, but I think one postseason can. Manning was positively lights-out his final five starts of 2007-08 and seems a different, more confident quarterback now. Maybe that has something to do with no Jeremy Shockey, I don't know. What I do know is somewhere Ernie Accorsi is smiling.
2. Minnesota's Jared Allen to lead the NFC in sacks. He led the league a year ago despite missing two games to a league-imposed suspension. Now he's lined up next to two dominant defensive tackles, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, and you tell me who you double. If I'm a quarterback I learn how to duck.
3. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora as the NFL's best set of pass rushers. So the Giants lost Michael Strahan. Tuck will exceed his numbers in his first year of starting. The guy is a load, with the Patriots wondering before Super Bowl XLII how to block him. They couldn't. Guaranteed, Tuck and Umenyiora each hit double figures in sacks.
4. San Diego to lap the field in the AFC West. The way I see it, the Chargers might be the division's only team with a winning record. Look for them to push New England for home-field advantage.
5. Broadway Brett to knock the Giants off the back pages the first two weeks of the season. Week 1 it's the Jets vs. Parcells; Week 2 it's the Jets vs. Belichick. So the Giants are the reigning Super Bowl champs. It's about all that jazz, and no one has New York jazzed like Favre ... for now, at least.
Five rookies I can't wait to see
1. Kenny Phillips, S, Giants: He's not starting, but give him time. It won't be long. He's everything the Giants imagined ... and more. You thought Gibril Wilson was solid? Wait 'til you see Phillips. Already there are people here comparing him to Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins, and trust me, that's no reach.
2. Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos: I worry about the Broncos' receivers behind Brandon Marshall. Then I watch this guy. Denver had a chance to draft DeSean Jackson, but took Royal ... and when you see him you understand why. He makes all the tough catches and can stretch the field. "I thought he was the best receiver in the draft," said coach Mike Shanahan, "and he hasn't proven me wrong."
3. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: Now more than ever, the Eagles need a playmaker at this position. Jackson has been outstanding in preseason, leading the team in catches, and his value just accelerated with Kevin Curtis sitting down. One problem: Size. Jackson is 5-10 and 170 pounds, and those aren't numbers built to last over 16 games.
4. Vernon Gholston, LB, Jets: All I heard before the draft was how perfect he was for a 3-4 defense. Well let's find out. The Jets need a pass rusher like the Bay Area needs a new stadium, and some out there -- the Jets included -- believe Gholston was the best pass rusher in the draft.
5. John Carlson, TE, Seahawks: It has been years since Seattle had a tight end who could catch. All I saw during Seahawks practices was Carlson hauling down everything in sight. "We didn't draft John to watch," said coach Mike Holmgren. The coaching staff isn't just high on him; it's positively giddy. Starting September you'll see why.
Five guys on the verge of becoming impact players
1. Selvin Young, RB, Broncos: He was going to start anyway, but the broken elbow to rookie Ryan Torian means Young is pretty much on his own. There are a couple of things I like about him: 1) He's confident, and 2) he isn't afraid to say what he wants. And what he wants is a 2,000-yard season. You heard me: 2,000 yards. He ran for a team-high 729 a year ago. "I'm one of those people who doesn't want to be on the other side of the fence," he said. "I don't want to be the norm."
2. Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks: First he leaves Dallas. Now he declares war on the Cowboys in time for Seattle's Thanksgiving Day game against them. Beautiful. "I'm out to prove they made a wrong decision," he said. "I'm going to try to make life miserable for every team I face." Jones is a perfect fit for the Seahawks. He's fast. He's elusive. He can burst through holes. And he also promises to block, unlike another running back who started here.
3. Stewart Bradley, LB, Eagles: Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is happiest when he talks about his linebackers, and it's easy to understand why. They're young, smart, fast and promising. Bradley, a former outside linebacker who moved to the middle, might be the best Johnson has had in years. He was so impressive in the team's final three games of '07 Johnson moved Omar Gaither to make room for Bradley, then cut Takeo Spikes.
4. Paul Posluszny, LB, Bills: He has it all. He's tough. He's strong. He's handsome. He's articulate. And he can make plays from sideline to sideline. The NFL would be wise to get behind Poz. He's an ad campaign waiting to happen. He and the Bills are better for the injury bug that overwhelmed them last year because they're deeper and more experienced than ever. "Mentally," said Posluszny, "I know this defense so much better this year." Good.
5. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings: Bernard Berrian is supposed to be Tarvaris Jackson's go-to receiver, but don't forget about Rice. He doesn't have Berrian's speed, but he does make acrobatic catches and knows how to find the end zone. "I'm going to do whatever I can out there on the field to take this team to the next level," he said.
Five offseason moves I like
1. Turk Schonert as Buffalo's offensive coordinator. Something had to be done to wake up the league's 30th-ranked offense. Maybe hiring Schonert does it. Memo to Turk: Please, no passes to the flat when you hold a fourth-quarter lead.
2. Bernard Berrian to Minnesota. Once we said the Vikings didn't have a deep threat at wide receiver. So they went out and got one. Yes they overpaid. But they've given Tarvaris Jackson a weapon he didn't have. Smart.
3. Marcus Stroud to Buffalo. The defensive tackle has been on a tear in training camp, as if he has something to prove. He does. He believes he's a dominant player, and he's determined to demonstrate it to Buffalo, Jacksonville and the rest of the NFL. If he's right it's nothing but good news for the linebackers behind him.
4. Asante Samuel to Philadelphia. Do the math. The Eagles had a league-low 19 takeaways last year, including 11 interceptions. Samuel has a league-high 16 interceptions the past two years. So he played off receivers in New England. You either know how to play the position or you don't. Samuel definitely does.
5. Alan Faneca to the Jets. I don't like the gazillion-dollar contract the Jets gave him. It's three years guaranteed, and he turns 32 this season. But cut the Jets some slack. They had to upgrade the guard position. They wanted to give D'Brickashaw Ferguson a mentor. And they had to stop 53 sacks. They did all three.
Three coaches I worry about
1. Dick Jauron, Buffalo: One of the most decent people anywhere, but he must start winning. He will try without his best offensive lineman and with a young-but-improving Trent Edwards at quarterback. At least Jauron doesn't have to play with 17 players on injured reserve. Not yet, anyway. Best of luck, Dick.
2. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati: Once I thought the Bengals were on the right path, but that was when they dumped Chris Henry and Odell Thurman. Lewis said he would never, ever re-sign Henry, but guess what, folks? Lewis' reaction to Henry's reappearance doesn't bode well for the future of the Lewis-Mike Brown relationship.
3. Eric Mangini, New York Jets: The Jets spent millions to bring in veterans like Faneca, Brett Favre, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins and Damien Woody. Now the expectation is they start pushing New England. Lotsa luck. The pressure isn't on Favre to win now; it's on Mangini.
Five sneaking suspicions
1. The winner of the AFC North has no more than 10 wins, and that might be a push. Check the schedules: The division plays the NFC East and the AFC South, the two toughest divisions in football. Brutal. Guaranteed, only one playoff team emerges from here.
2. The quarterback competition in Arizona is closer than you think. I know Matt Leinart is the starter, but that doesn't preclude a change of course -- especially with Kurt Warner playing so well a year ago. Leinart has responded to his coach's challenge to "grow up" and seems to be playing with confidence, but Warner is not out of the picture as the opening-day starter.
3. The Buffalo Bills finish ahead of the New York Jets in the AFC East. The Bills are deeper than most people imagine, and if they stay healthy they should be OK. So they don't have Favre. They're deep at almost every position, though the Jason Peters holdout concerns me. It should concern Trent Edwards, too.
4. The coaching situation in Seattle is a bigger deal than anyone lets on. Mike Holmgren is this year's head coach; Jim Mora, an assistant, is next year's. That makes Holmgren a lame duck and should make assistants nervous -- especially if the Seahawks start poorly.
5. Running back Lorenzo Booker will be a hit in Philadelphia. He's what one AFC head coach called "a flash" and is perfect for an offense short of playmakers not named McNabb and Westbrook. He's fast. He's shifty. And he has soft hands, perfect for catching passes in the open field. One question: Can he stay healthy? If he does, the Eagles have themselves a steal.
Five biggest questions
1. Why should we believe in Brett Favre when, at 38, he's in a new system, with new receivers and new terminology?
2. How long a leash does Tarvaris Jackson have in Minnesota?
3. When do we see Joe Flacco start in Baltimore?
4. How does San Diego convince itself it can beat the Patriots?
5. How concerned should the Eagles be about Asante Samuel's hamstring injuries?
Five things I never expected
1. Cincinnati re-signing wide receiver Chris Henry. The Bengals deserve all the criticism they get for this stupid move. My indelible memory of Henry is quitting on a deep pass in Baltimore, with the ball intercepted. He's not a character risk; he's a character crater. I don't care how much talent he has; he's a nightmare waiting to happen. Marvin Lewis, I feel for you.
2. Flacco's perfectly even temperament. I can see why the Ravens fell in love with this guy. You watch him throw, he's accurate. You listen to him talk, he's unflappable. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said that when he points out a mistake, it not only is corrected immediately, it isn't repeated. The Ravens might have found the franchise quarterback that Brian Billick spent a career trying to find.
3. Matt Leinart's open book on his past. When I spoke to Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt at the owners' meeting he said the only question he had with Leinart was his maturity. "He needs to grow up," he said. Leinart seems to have gotten the message. He's doing everything the club has asked and was perfectly candid about the mistakes he committed off the field.
4. San Diego's quiet confidence. A year ago the Chargers were coming off a 14-2 season and talked a lot about the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Not any more. They reached the AFC Championship Game before they were dismissed -- again -- by New England. "We owe them," said tight end Antonio Gates. Well, they have their chance. They meet the Pats on Oct. 12 in San Diego. "We don't need to talk about it," said quarterback Philip Rivers. "We understand what it's going to take."
5. Jim Zorn's handling of the Redskins. I wasn't sure he was ready to make the jump from quarterbacks coach. Then I watched his team practice and his quarterbacks throw. I liked it. So do his players. I like his attitude about following Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, too. "I came to understand there's really no way (I could live up to that)," Zorn said. "So I decided to just admire it, show ultimate respect for it and do my job." Here's hoping he succeeds.
Five best places to pig out at training camps
1. The Coal Tower Restaurant, Pittsford, N.Y.: Simply one of my favorite places on earth. First, it's on the Erie Canal. Second, it's in a coal silo. Third, the food is marvelous, the service is outstanding and the prices are low. Get the blueberry pancakes. Heck, get anything here. Last year I raved about the milkshakes. I haven't had a bad experience since I've been going, and I'll be going again and again.
2. Graney's Irish Bar and Grill, Albany, N.Y.: I had a meatball sub one night; Buffalo chicken pizza the next. The kitchen aced both. And did I mention the 35 TV screens? Now you can see the Yankees strand runners wherever and whenever you turn.
3. Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, Rochester, N.Y.: I arrived at 5:30 and there was almost a full house. Locals tell me if you go later you can expect to wait. No thanks. I had the Big House Special -- half chicken and ribs -- and it was marvelous. So was my waitress, Carol, who kept the iced teas coming. Only drawback: the parking. Good luck on the streets.
4. Tav on the Ave, Mankato, Minn.: I didn't make it to Pagliai's this time, so that didn't make the list. Trust me, it would have if Bob Hagan and Tom West had been up for the place. The Tav is a favorite because of the wings. They're more like drumsticks, and they're outstanding. Atmosphere is good, too, with TV screens everywhere. It might push Graney's for best sports bar if it hires Nicky and Aubre.
5. Camino Grande, Georgetown, Ky.: Don't let the appearance of the place fool you. Yeah, it needs a paint job, but leave that to the owners. Your job is to go inside and order anything at rock-bottom prices.
Five biggest losses
1. Tom Nalen, C, Broncos: First the Broncos lose rookie Ryan Torian. Now Nalen, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, has another knee surgery. Not good. Everything starts with the center, and Nalen's absence means the Broncos turn to 35-year-old Casey Wiegmann.
2. Bobby Engram, WR, Seahawks: I worried about their receivers anyway. Now Engram will miss at least a month, and good luck, Matt Hasselbeck. That means Nate Burleson is your go-to guy. Someone find Jerry Rice's cell-phone number.
3. Jason Peters, LT, Bills: He's a Pro Bowl player, and the Bills need him ASAP. That's not to say Langston Walker can't do the job, but Walker is the starting right tackle. Now you've tampered with two positions. Peters should understand nothing will change overnight. There is no talk about a contract until he shows up ... and the 2008 season is nonnegotiable.
4. Ed Reed, S, Ravens: He wasn't practicing when I was there, and he's still not because of a shoulder injury. He's the NFL's top player at his position, and this is a team that relies on defense, defense and more defense. There's still a chance he could play in the opener, but it's unlikely -- with Reed saying the injury is "more in-depth than you've been hearing about."
5. Kevin Curtis, WR, Philadelphia: In my next life I'm opening a sports hernia clinic in Philadelphia. First, it's Donovan McNabb. Then L.J. Smith. Now Curtis. He is the team's No. 1 receiver, and without him the Eagles are looking at Reggie Brown as their top wideout, and he has a sore Achilles. Anquan Boldin, where are you?
Best and worst of the road
Best hotel (easy): The Del Monte Lodge and Spa, Pittsford, N.Y. I was so sold on this place I took my family back here last year. Service is courteous and efficient; the bedding luxurious; the setting (along the Eric Canal) picturesque; the TVs flat-screened. One more bonus: The Coal Tower is across the street.
Runner-up: The Water Street Inn, Stillwater, Minn. Rooms the size of the Astrodome, and it's just off the bridge -- perfect for a tour of downtown.
Best sports bar: Graney's, Albany, N.Y. If the burgers and 35 TV screens don't lure you in, Kristen, Aubre and Nicky will. This place makes me want to go the post-grad route at U of Albany, but only if I can study here.
Runner-up: Tav on the Ave, Mankato, Minn. It had my vote until Paul Schwartz of the New York Post turned me on to Mike Graney's place. Yowza. When does he start charging PSLs?
Best deal: Main Street parking in River Falls, Wis. Not only do the meters take pennies, a penny gets you 12 minutes; a nickel gets you an hour; and a dime gets you two hours.
Worst deal: $15 public parking for Bengals camp. Somebody tell these guys there's a recession, for crying out loud. Besides, they're coming off a losing season.
Best sign: On the marquee outside the Quality Inn in Flagstaff, Ariz: "Martians Welcome." Always good to know there's somewhere Chad Johnson can stay.
Most bizarre sign: On the New York State Thruway, Exit 42: "Seneca Lake Whale Watch." Is that in or out of the water?
Most comforting sign: On the front door of The Madcapper in downtown Stillwater, Minn: "The Madcapper Saloon and Eatery Bans Any Firearms on These Premises." I guess no one gets loaded here.
Lowest gas price: $3.53 at the Market Gas and Grocery in Faribault, Minn.
Biggest surprise: The barbecue chicken at the Frontier Room in downtown Seattle. It's the closest thing to Cornell chicken west of the Finger Lakes.
Biggest disappointment: Once I had Las Olas in Cardiff, Calif., as my favorite training-camp restaurant. No more. They charge $3 for valet parking, the place is too loud and the woman who waited on us was as cold as Lake Placid in February. Someone tell her she's in a customer-friendly business. Las Olas, adios.
Five best ways to get there
1. Route 17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff: You climb 7,000 feet, and nobody charges you for the luggage. Plus there's this: A speed limit of 75 mph.
2. Route 81 from Syracuse to Scranton, Pa.: No traffic, beautiful green hills and the original Dinosaur Bar-B-Q in Syracuse.
3. The New York State Thruway to Albany: I have just one word for you: Catskills.
4. The back roads from River Falls, Wis., to Mankato, Minn.: Here's what you will see on this trip: farms everywhere, the cozy river town of Hastings and corn, corn, corn.
5. Route 163 through San Diego's Balboa Park: Best route to the Chargers from the airport and the most scenic. Two lanes in one direction, eucalyptus everywhere and the California Tower overhead.
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It's T-minus two weeks to the start of the NFL season, which means the time is right to evaluate what we've witnessed this summer -- and I don't mean the decline and fall of the New York Yankees.
Training camps are today's subject, and I've just been through 13 of them. I saw the good, the bad and the Cincinnati Bengals, and I'm here to put it all in perspective before we have another Chris Henry arrest.
Five surest bets
1. Eli Manning to take off. I'm not saying he will win another Super Bowl, but he won't throw a league-high 20 interceptions again and suffer inconsistent play. I don't know if one game changes a career, but I think one postseason can. Manning was positively lights-out his final five starts of 2007-08 and seems a different, more confident quarterback now. Maybe that has something to do with no Jeremy Shockey, I don't know. What I do know is somewhere Ernie Accorsi is smiling.
2. Minnesota's Jared Allen to lead the NFC in sacks. He led the league a year ago despite missing two games to a league-imposed suspension. Now he's lined up next to two dominant defensive tackles, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, and you tell me who you double. If I'm a quarterback I learn how to duck.
3. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora as the NFL's best set of pass rushers. So the Giants lost Michael Strahan. Tuck will exceed his numbers in his first year of starting. The guy is a load, with the Patriots wondering before Super Bowl XLII how to block him. They couldn't. Guaranteed, Tuck and Umenyiora each hit double figures in sacks.
4. San Diego to lap the field in the AFC West. The way I see it, the Chargers might be the division's only team with a winning record. Look for them to push New England for home-field advantage.
5. Broadway Brett to knock the Giants off the back pages the first two weeks of the season. Week 1 it's the Jets vs. Parcells; Week 2 it's the Jets vs. Belichick. So the Giants are the reigning Super Bowl champs. It's about all that jazz, and no one has New York jazzed like Favre ... for now, at least.
Five rookies I can't wait to see
1. Kenny Phillips, S, Giants: He's not starting, but give him time. It won't be long. He's everything the Giants imagined ... and more. You thought Gibril Wilson was solid? Wait 'til you see Phillips. Already there are people here comparing him to Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins, and trust me, that's no reach.
2. Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos: I worry about the Broncos' receivers behind Brandon Marshall. Then I watch this guy. Denver had a chance to draft DeSean Jackson, but took Royal ... and when you see him you understand why. He makes all the tough catches and can stretch the field. "I thought he was the best receiver in the draft," said coach Mike Shanahan, "and he hasn't proven me wrong."
3. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: Now more than ever, the Eagles need a playmaker at this position. Jackson has been outstanding in preseason, leading the team in catches, and his value just accelerated with Kevin Curtis sitting down. One problem: Size. Jackson is 5-10 and 170 pounds, and those aren't numbers built to last over 16 games.
4. Vernon Gholston, LB, Jets: All I heard before the draft was how perfect he was for a 3-4 defense. Well let's find out. The Jets need a pass rusher like the Bay Area needs a new stadium, and some out there -- the Jets included -- believe Gholston was the best pass rusher in the draft.
5. John Carlson, TE, Seahawks: It has been years since Seattle had a tight end who could catch. All I saw during Seahawks practices was Carlson hauling down everything in sight. "We didn't draft John to watch," said coach Mike Holmgren. The coaching staff isn't just high on him; it's positively giddy. Starting September you'll see why.
Five guys on the verge of becoming impact players
1. Selvin Young, RB, Broncos: He was going to start anyway, but the broken elbow to rookie Ryan Torian means Young is pretty much on his own. There are a couple of things I like about him: 1) He's confident, and 2) he isn't afraid to say what he wants. And what he wants is a 2,000-yard season. You heard me: 2,000 yards. He ran for a team-high 729 a year ago. "I'm one of those people who doesn't want to be on the other side of the fence," he said. "I don't want to be the norm."
2. Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks: First he leaves Dallas. Now he declares war on the Cowboys in time for Seattle's Thanksgiving Day game against them. Beautiful. "I'm out to prove they made a wrong decision," he said. "I'm going to try to make life miserable for every team I face." Jones is a perfect fit for the Seahawks. He's fast. He's elusive. He can burst through holes. And he also promises to block, unlike another running back who started here.
3. Stewart Bradley, LB, Eagles: Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is happiest when he talks about his linebackers, and it's easy to understand why. They're young, smart, fast and promising. Bradley, a former outside linebacker who moved to the middle, might be the best Johnson has had in years. He was so impressive in the team's final three games of '07 Johnson moved Omar Gaither to make room for Bradley, then cut Takeo Spikes.
4. Paul Posluszny, LB, Bills: He has it all. He's tough. He's strong. He's handsome. He's articulate. And he can make plays from sideline to sideline. The NFL would be wise to get behind Poz. He's an ad campaign waiting to happen. He and the Bills are better for the injury bug that overwhelmed them last year because they're deeper and more experienced than ever. "Mentally," said Posluszny, "I know this defense so much better this year." Good.
5. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings: Bernard Berrian is supposed to be Tarvaris Jackson's go-to receiver, but don't forget about Rice. He doesn't have Berrian's speed, but he does make acrobatic catches and knows how to find the end zone. "I'm going to do whatever I can out there on the field to take this team to the next level," he said.
Five offseason moves I like
1. Turk Schonert as Buffalo's offensive coordinator. Something had to be done to wake up the league's 30th-ranked offense. Maybe hiring Schonert does it. Memo to Turk: Please, no passes to the flat when you hold a fourth-quarter lead.
2. Bernard Berrian to Minnesota. Once we said the Vikings didn't have a deep threat at wide receiver. So they went out and got one. Yes they overpaid. But they've given Tarvaris Jackson a weapon he didn't have. Smart.
3. Marcus Stroud to Buffalo. The defensive tackle has been on a tear in training camp, as if he has something to prove. He does. He believes he's a dominant player, and he's determined to demonstrate it to Buffalo, Jacksonville and the rest of the NFL. If he's right it's nothing but good news for the linebackers behind him.
4. Asante Samuel to Philadelphia. Do the math. The Eagles had a league-low 19 takeaways last year, including 11 interceptions. Samuel has a league-high 16 interceptions the past two years. So he played off receivers in New England. You either know how to play the position or you don't. Samuel definitely does.
5. Alan Faneca to the Jets. I don't like the gazillion-dollar contract the Jets gave him. It's three years guaranteed, and he turns 32 this season. But cut the Jets some slack. They had to upgrade the guard position. They wanted to give D'Brickashaw Ferguson a mentor. And they had to stop 53 sacks. They did all three.
Three coaches I worry about
1. Dick Jauron, Buffalo: One of the most decent people anywhere, but he must start winning. He will try without his best offensive lineman and with a young-but-improving Trent Edwards at quarterback. At least Jauron doesn't have to play with 17 players on injured reserve. Not yet, anyway. Best of luck, Dick.
2. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati: Once I thought the Bengals were on the right path, but that was when they dumped Chris Henry and Odell Thurman. Lewis said he would never, ever re-sign Henry, but guess what, folks? Lewis' reaction to Henry's reappearance doesn't bode well for the future of the Lewis-Mike Brown relationship.
3. Eric Mangini, New York Jets: The Jets spent millions to bring in veterans like Faneca, Brett Favre, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins and Damien Woody. Now the expectation is they start pushing New England. Lotsa luck. The pressure isn't on Favre to win now; it's on Mangini.
Five sneaking suspicions
1. The winner of the AFC North has no more than 10 wins, and that might be a push. Check the schedules: The division plays the NFC East and the AFC South, the two toughest divisions in football. Brutal. Guaranteed, only one playoff team emerges from here.
2. The quarterback competition in Arizona is closer than you think. I know Matt Leinart is the starter, but that doesn't preclude a change of course -- especially with Kurt Warner playing so well a year ago. Leinart has responded to his coach's challenge to "grow up" and seems to be playing with confidence, but Warner is not out of the picture as the opening-day starter.
3. The Buffalo Bills finish ahead of the New York Jets in the AFC East. The Bills are deeper than most people imagine, and if they stay healthy they should be OK. So they don't have Favre. They're deep at almost every position, though the Jason Peters holdout concerns me. It should concern Trent Edwards, too.
4. The coaching situation in Seattle is a bigger deal than anyone lets on. Mike Holmgren is this year's head coach; Jim Mora, an assistant, is next year's. That makes Holmgren a lame duck and should make assistants nervous -- especially if the Seahawks start poorly.
5. Running back Lorenzo Booker will be a hit in Philadelphia. He's what one AFC head coach called "a flash" and is perfect for an offense short of playmakers not named McNabb and Westbrook. He's fast. He's shifty. And he has soft hands, perfect for catching passes in the open field. One question: Can he stay healthy? If he does, the Eagles have themselves a steal.
Five biggest questions
1. Why should we believe in Brett Favre when, at 38, he's in a new system, with new receivers and new terminology?
2. How long a leash does Tarvaris Jackson have in Minnesota?
3. When do we see Joe Flacco start in Baltimore?
4. How does San Diego convince itself it can beat the Patriots?
5. How concerned should the Eagles be about Asante Samuel's hamstring injuries?
Five things I never expected
1. Cincinnati re-signing wide receiver Chris Henry. The Bengals deserve all the criticism they get for this stupid move. My indelible memory of Henry is quitting on a deep pass in Baltimore, with the ball intercepted. He's not a character risk; he's a character crater. I don't care how much talent he has; he's a nightmare waiting to happen. Marvin Lewis, I feel for you.
2. Flacco's perfectly even temperament. I can see why the Ravens fell in love with this guy. You watch him throw, he's accurate. You listen to him talk, he's unflappable. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said that when he points out a mistake, it not only is corrected immediately, it isn't repeated. The Ravens might have found the franchise quarterback that Brian Billick spent a career trying to find.
3. Matt Leinart's open book on his past. When I spoke to Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt at the owners' meeting he said the only question he had with Leinart was his maturity. "He needs to grow up," he said. Leinart seems to have gotten the message. He's doing everything the club has asked and was perfectly candid about the mistakes he committed off the field.
4. San Diego's quiet confidence. A year ago the Chargers were coming off a 14-2 season and talked a lot about the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Not any more. They reached the AFC Championship Game before they were dismissed -- again -- by New England. "We owe them," said tight end Antonio Gates. Well, they have their chance. They meet the Pats on Oct. 12 in San Diego. "We don't need to talk about it," said quarterback Philip Rivers. "We understand what it's going to take."
5. Jim Zorn's handling of the Redskins. I wasn't sure he was ready to make the jump from quarterbacks coach. Then I watched his team practice and his quarterbacks throw. I liked it. So do his players. I like his attitude about following Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, too. "I came to understand there's really no way (I could live up to that)," Zorn said. "So I decided to just admire it, show ultimate respect for it and do my job." Here's hoping he succeeds.
Five best places to pig out at training camps
1. The Coal Tower Restaurant, Pittsford, N.Y.: Simply one of my favorite places on earth. First, it's on the Erie Canal. Second, it's in a coal silo. Third, the food is marvelous, the service is outstanding and the prices are low. Get the blueberry pancakes. Heck, get anything here. Last year I raved about the milkshakes. I haven't had a bad experience since I've been going, and I'll be going again and again.
2. Graney's Irish Bar and Grill, Albany, N.Y.: I had a meatball sub one night; Buffalo chicken pizza the next. The kitchen aced both. And did I mention the 35 TV screens? Now you can see the Yankees strand runners wherever and whenever you turn.
3. Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, Rochester, N.Y.: I arrived at 5:30 and there was almost a full house. Locals tell me if you go later you can expect to wait. No thanks. I had the Big House Special -- half chicken and ribs -- and it was marvelous. So was my waitress, Carol, who kept the iced teas coming. Only drawback: the parking. Good luck on the streets.
4. Tav on the Ave, Mankato, Minn.: I didn't make it to Pagliai's this time, so that didn't make the list. Trust me, it would have if Bob Hagan and Tom West had been up for the place. The Tav is a favorite because of the wings. They're more like drumsticks, and they're outstanding. Atmosphere is good, too, with TV screens everywhere. It might push Graney's for best sports bar if it hires Nicky and Aubre.
5. Camino Grande, Georgetown, Ky.: Don't let the appearance of the place fool you. Yeah, it needs a paint job, but leave that to the owners. Your job is to go inside and order anything at rock-bottom prices.
Five biggest losses
1. Tom Nalen, C, Broncos: First the Broncos lose rookie Ryan Torian. Now Nalen, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, has another knee surgery. Not good. Everything starts with the center, and Nalen's absence means the Broncos turn to 35-year-old Casey Wiegmann.
2. Bobby Engram, WR, Seahawks: I worried about their receivers anyway. Now Engram will miss at least a month, and good luck, Matt Hasselbeck. That means Nate Burleson is your go-to guy. Someone find Jerry Rice's cell-phone number.
3. Jason Peters, LT, Bills: He's a Pro Bowl player, and the Bills need him ASAP. That's not to say Langston Walker can't do the job, but Walker is the starting right tackle. Now you've tampered with two positions. Peters should understand nothing will change overnight. There is no talk about a contract until he shows up ... and the 2008 season is nonnegotiable.
4. Ed Reed, S, Ravens: He wasn't practicing when I was there, and he's still not because of a shoulder injury. He's the NFL's top player at his position, and this is a team that relies on defense, defense and more defense. There's still a chance he could play in the opener, but it's unlikely -- with Reed saying the injury is "more in-depth than you've been hearing about."
5. Kevin Curtis, WR, Philadelphia: In my next life I'm opening a sports hernia clinic in Philadelphia. First, it's Donovan McNabb. Then L.J. Smith. Now Curtis. He is the team's No. 1 receiver, and without him the Eagles are looking at Reggie Brown as their top wideout, and he has a sore Achilles. Anquan Boldin, where are you?
Best and worst of the road
Best hotel (easy): The Del Monte Lodge and Spa, Pittsford, N.Y. I was so sold on this place I took my family back here last year. Service is courteous and efficient; the bedding luxurious; the setting (along the Eric Canal) picturesque; the TVs flat-screened. One more bonus: The Coal Tower is across the street.
Runner-up: The Water Street Inn, Stillwater, Minn. Rooms the size of the Astrodome, and it's just off the bridge -- perfect for a tour of downtown.
Best sports bar: Graney's, Albany, N.Y. If the burgers and 35 TV screens don't lure you in, Kristen, Aubre and Nicky will. This place makes me want to go the post-grad route at U of Albany, but only if I can study here.
Runner-up: Tav on the Ave, Mankato, Minn. It had my vote until Paul Schwartz of the New York Post turned me on to Mike Graney's place. Yowza. When does he start charging PSLs?
Best deal: Main Street parking in River Falls, Wis. Not only do the meters take pennies, a penny gets you 12 minutes; a nickel gets you an hour; and a dime gets you two hours.
Worst deal: $15 public parking for Bengals camp. Somebody tell these guys there's a recession, for crying out loud. Besides, they're coming off a losing season.
Best sign: On the marquee outside the Quality Inn in Flagstaff, Ariz: "Martians Welcome." Always good to know there's somewhere Chad Johnson can stay.
Most bizarre sign: On the New York State Thruway, Exit 42: "Seneca Lake Whale Watch." Is that in or out of the water?
Most comforting sign: On the front door of The Madcapper in downtown Stillwater, Minn: "The Madcapper Saloon and Eatery Bans Any Firearms on These Premises." I guess no one gets loaded here.
Lowest gas price: $3.53 at the Market Gas and Grocery in Faribault, Minn.
Biggest surprise: The barbecue chicken at the Frontier Room in downtown Seattle. It's the closest thing to Cornell chicken west of the Finger Lakes.
Biggest disappointment: Once I had Las Olas in Cardiff, Calif., as my favorite training-camp restaurant. No more. They charge $3 for valet parking, the place is too loud and the woman who waited on us was as cold as Lake Placid in February. Someone tell her she's in a customer-friendly business. Las Olas, adios.
Five best ways to get there
1. Route 17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff: You climb 7,000 feet, and nobody charges you for the luggage. Plus there's this: A speed limit of 75 mph.
2. Route 81 from Syracuse to Scranton, Pa.: No traffic, beautiful green hills and the original Dinosaur Bar-B-Q in Syracuse.
3. The New York State Thruway to Albany: I have just one word for you: Catskills.
4. The back roads from River Falls, Wis., to Mankato, Minn.: Here's what you will see on this trip: farms everywhere, the cozy river town of Hastings and corn, corn, corn.
5. Route 163 through San Diego's Balboa Park: Best route to the Chargers from the airport and the most scenic. Two lanes in one direction, eucalyptus everywhere and the California Tower overhead.
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