Crack that Whip

Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy seem to have similar issues, and that is discipline. Both coaches saw their teams, the New York Football Giants and Green Bay Packers, lose because of mental errors. Yogi said baseball was "90% mental and the other half, physical." The same can be said of football, as well as any other sport. A offensive lineman can push around the defense all game long, but that will mean nothing if he is penalized for mental errors. Everyone will have a lapse in judgment, but when there are multiple culprits and the team loses because of that, something needs to change.

The Giants game on Sunday was disgraceful. The G-Men had every opportunity to win, but mistakes cost them the game. Eli Manning led the brigade with his ill-advised, left-handed, flip pass to Kevin Boss in the endzone, which resulted in an interception. Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled inside the redzone on a drive that would have kept the Giants within fighting distance. Worse than those though was Kareem McKenzie. He committed two(!) personal foul penalties after the whistle had been blown. It almost seemed as if he had money on the game against the Giants and needed them to lose. Twice he continued shoving Titans' players after the whistle, right in front of the ref. One of the calls occurred with the referee literally standing in front him. Compound that with three other personal fouls committed by the team, and 11 penalties total, and you can't expect to win the game.

The Packers also committed an inordinate amount of penalties with 17. Had they only been penalized 16 times, the Cheeseheads would be celebrating a win. On Da Bears final drive, Jay Cutler threw two(!) interceptions that were called back due to penalties; one being interference, the other being a personal foul. The Packers were dominating the game, especially on offense so you would expect them to finish the contest with a score, and not Da Bears. Though they did come close, you can't win a game with so many yellow flags.

The Packers should be able to rebound from this game. They are too talented, and their coach will whip them back into shape. The desire to win is clearly there with the Vikings and Bears as motivation to succeed.

The Giants, on the other hand are troublesome. The talent is clearly there, but the discipline and desire has been lacking since last season. After being disgraced last year, you would expect them to be playing with a chip on their shoulder. They could be playing under the radar, as the Jets are taking the public eye off of them. Instead they're playing like they were last year, without heart.

Both of these teams came into the season with large expectations. Green Bay having Super Bowl aspirations, and the Giants looking to recapture 2007. Neither will happen unless these teams buckle down and reduce penalties.

Redemption

Plenty of people make mistakes, whether it be breaking the law, or just making the wrong decision. Not everyone can redeem themselves from the mistakes they made, but on Sunday, two footballers took a leap on the road to redemption - Braylon Edwards and Michael Vick.

Braylon Edwards needed less than a week to be given his opportunity at redemption. After being arrested for drunk driving Edwards was punished by the team, and was forced to sit out the first quarter of Sunday's game. Future punishment by the league, and more importantly the law, is yet to be seen. After making this mistake, Braylon went and shaved his beardface. The debate continues as to which mistake was more grievous.

This lesson learned though may have been just what Edwards needed. He had a stellar three quarters on Sunday, and without him, the Jets would have lost that game. Miami took the lead, and less than one minute later, Braylon scores a TD. The Jets needed a long drive to burn minutes, and Braylon make a key catch and forced an interference call that led to a LT TD. Redemption. He will need more than this one game to be fully forgiven by fans, specifically card carrying members of MADD, but for many, Edwards just has to catch TDs and they'll forget about his 5 AM error. Shaving the beardface though is unforgivable.

Michael Vick's road is much longer than Edwards'. Edwards' offense could have been much worse, had he hit anything, or anyone; but if his windows weren't as tinted, he may have been able to make it home safe and sound, none being the wiser. Vick, on the other hand killed dogs, violently. Premeditated acts of violence against innocent animals. America loves most animals, but dogs in particular have a special place in our hearts. Upon learning that Vick was drowning and electrocuting dogs, America was in an uproar. Vick was a monster.

Just because Vick served his time in Leavenworth Penitentiary, does not automatically mean he would be forgiven. He needed to prove himself worthy of our attention and finally, now he is doing that. Had he remained a backup/wildcat, Vick's comeback would not be complete. After the last two games, albeit against the Lions and Jaguars, Vick is on his way to winning people over. Vick maybe playing better than he ever has before. He is not compiling absurd rushing yards, but his passing game is much improved. He threw for 3 TDs yesterday and rushed for 1 with zero interceptions this season. Redemption. He isn't the best, but he is a work in progress, and is progressing quickly.

Vick and Edwards still have work to do to be fully forgiven and feel redemption, but providing they keep excelling at their jobs and keep out of trouble, they will know the feeling. Now if we can just get Plaxico out of jail and back into the league, the NFL can rename itself the 2nd Chance League.

New Carmelo Nets

There is a rumored four-team trade soon to be completed involving the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Bobcats, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets. Carmelo Anthony is the key piece of the trade, and NJ would be acquiring him in this trade. Andrei Kirilenko from the Jazz, Derrick Favors from the Nets, and multiple 1st round draft picks would be heading to Denver. Utah would receive Boris Diaw from the Bobcats, and Charlotte would obtain Devin Harris from the Nets.

The big winner is Charlotte. Devin Harris has the talent to be a superstar point guard when playing at his best, and this could be Charlotte's year to leapfrog a few teams in the standings and advance past the 1st round of the playoffs. Harris would definitely help Michael Jordan's team. That is of course, if he plays his best. NJ did not see Harris' best last season and broke records of bad because of it.

The Jazz dump an oft-injured Kirilenko and obtain an inconsistent Diaw. Diaw has the ability to play like a Reggie Miller and nail daggers into team's hearts at the end of games. Problem is that his inconsistency makes him a non-factor in the clutch. Utah will clearly be rebuilding after losing Carlos Boozer and dumping Kirilenko is one step in the right direction. If they lose a 1st round pick in this deal though, the trade is pointless for them.

That leaves the main two teams of this deal. The Nets lost out on the LeBron James sweepstakes and their biggest move of the offseason has been acquiring Travis Outlaw. While having a cool name, Outlaw was not what the Nets' fans were expecting. The Nets wanted LeBron, but will definitely settle for Melo. They are paying a steep price for him though, giving up on Harris, who they traded Jason Kidd for (trade no longer looks good for NJ), and giving up on their 1st round pick of 2010, Favors, as well as future 1st round pick(s).

They absolutely need a Carmelo if they want to hang with the Celtics, Magic, Heat and Hawks. Losing their best point guard, and a beast in the paint, who would complement Brook Lopez perfectly, does not seem worth it. Can Jordan Farmar lead the offense for this team better than Harris can? Doubtful. Melo brings this team to the playoffs easily, but toppling the top four teams will be a vastly more difficult.

The Nuggets are stuck between a rock and last place. With Carmelo on the team, the Nuggets could be the team to take down the Lakers, without him the Nuggets can barely make the playoffs. Personally, I would be quite offended if I was Carmelo's teammates. Basically Carmelo is saying they are not talented enough to have him carry them to a NBA title, whether it be this year, his last under his current contract, or subsequent. The Nuggets are good, and Melo should have told the team, "Let's win this year." Decide where to go for free agency when the season is over.

I think I would like this trade more if the Nets received more than just Carmelo. Maybe throw in Kirilenko. I know I said earlier that he likes to spend his time in a suit instead of his uniform, but find me a player with a cooler nickname than Kirilenko. AK-47. I dare you.

Having Phun in Philly

As a self-professed Philly hater, this seems like an awkward topic for me to write about. It is phinally good to be a Philadelphia phan now though. The Phlyers are coming off a season in which they remarkably survived until overtime in game seven off the Stanley Cup Phinals. The Phillies are good, as usual. The Eagles are a highly discussed team in what is looking like a weak division. And the 76ers...errr...well three out of phour ain't bad, right?

The Phillies are looking to make their 3rd straight World Series appearance, emerging as the team to beat in the NL. The Cincinnati Reds may be the only team that can topple them. The Phils are making easy work of their divisional rival, Atlanta Braves, my choice to win the division. Thanks guys. The Phillies have what the Braves and San Fransisco Giants lack, a decent lineup. It may have taken all season, but the Phillies have put it all together when it really matters. They were hurt by injuries in the dog days, but stayed close, and now, led by their pitching, the Phils are going strong into the postseason.

The Eagles are currently the most talked about team in the NFL. More talked about than the Jets, who can always bring chatter when Braylon Edwards, Darrell Revis, or Rex Ryan's names are brought up. The Eagles are currently controversial because of their quarterback. First it was Kevin Kolb, now it's Michael Vick, and then it will be...? Kolb, their quarterback to replace Donovan McNabb, showed little greatness in preseason (which doesn't count) and in the half game he played this season (not enough time to judge).

Vick showed against the Detroit Lions (not a good team) that he can play like he used to. In his prime, Vick was the best athlete on the field. There was no competition. He may not have been the best QB, but he overcame that with his talent. Andy Reid was definitely wrong to name Vick as their starting QB after just 1.5 games played. To give up and possibly trade Kolb now seems to phanatical. What if Vick drops back to reality, and plays horribly against better teams (not the Lions or Jaguars)? What if he gets concussed given the offensive line issues? The Eagles would be finishing where I picked them to, at the bottom. (Based on the Skins improvement, the Cowboys string of good seasons, the Giants rebounding, and the Eagles rebuilding. OK, and yes, a tad bit of bias.)

So while I can't stand the phact that the Philly phans have a chance to cheer and not live in phutility as they had phrom 1980-2008. Two World Series appearances, one Super Bowl berth, and one Stanley Cup showing this decade prove that Philadelphia is a sports city to be reckoned with. Still not on the level of New York City and Boston (ugh), but growing stronger by the year, Philly is and will be the target of my sports animosity. That is until Boston decides to pull another comeback down 3-0.

Over the Limit, Under Arrest

Braylon Edwards was pulled over yesterday morning for having his windows too darkly tinted. The cops then smelled alcohol on his breath, and flavor-saving beard, breathalyzed, and arrested him. He was driving while his blood alcohol content was double the legal limit. This happened at 5:00 AM.

This is a huge step back for Edwards. After his game on Sunday, in which he actually caught passes (one for a touchdown and another completing a two-point conversion), his glorious beard seemed to be garnering power to improve his play, as well as fans. The beardface had people looking past his stonehands. I really can't say enough about that beard. It is beefy yet perfectly groomed; possibly the best beard I have seen, and I was roommates with a legendary beardface.

Example:

Edwards' will lose some fans because of this, and possibly some games. He was not suspended last year for punching someone in the face, IN THE FACE, at a club. Roger Goodell may look to this as an opportunity to teach Edwards a lesson. Drunk driving is a serious offense, and Edwards should know this, playing with Donte Stallworth, who killed a man while drunk driving. That is the absolute worst outcome when drunk driving, taking the life of another human being.

When will these athletes learn? Edwards is being paid millions; just hire a driver. Plaxico Burress was being paid millions; hire an armed bodyguard. I will gladly be an athlete's driver, and I'd do it for minimum wage, just to be able to hang out with a professional athlete. The NFL has a program for these players to ensure that they are given opportunities to do the right thing and not drink and drive.

So Edwards will, at the very least, be forced to pay a fine. If he catches touchdowns, fans will pretend the DWI never happened.The drunken beardface will continue to be a fan favorite as long as he's got that beard that powers his ability to catch the ball. Though he certainly dropped it this time.

It's on Fire

The playoff races are beyond heating up at this point. They're burning up. The AL Central, West, and the NL Central are locked up at this point, with the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, and the surprisingly still in 1st, Cincinnati Reds holding comfortable leads. The AL Wild Card will be runner-up to whomever wins the AL East. The AL East, NL East, NL West, and NL Wild Card are up for grabs to whomever wants it the most. Today, I make those decisions for them.

AL East -- I am clearly sticking with my preseason pick of the Yankees winning the division/World Series. The Yankees have struggled recently, and will be benching starters to keep them fresh for the postseason. They have to play the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-game series, starting today, and their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox for six more games. The Rays get to play Seattle, Baltimore, and Kansas City. The Yanks have the tougher road to win the division, but this series, at home against Tampa, could determine the outcome of the season. A sweep for either team would win the division, and a split could swing the ball into Tampa's favor. The Yanks are a tough team for anyone to beat, so I am holding strong with this pick. This could be a case of my heart getting in the way of my brain though.

NL East -- Again, I am sticking with my preseason pick of Atlanta to win the division. I also chose the Florida Marlins to win the Wild Card, so I am not the brightest bulb. Atlanta has six games left versus the Philadelphia Phillies, and the rest against the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins, while the Phils play the Nationals and New York Mets. Very even schedules cause the games Philly and Atlanta play versus eachother crucial. If Atlanta can take two of the three in Philly, and sneak another one in while the teams play the garbage of the East, the final series in Atlanta will be a playoff series, possibly to make it in the playoffs. Though I do think the runner up in this division will take the Wild Card anyway. Atlanta, like the Yankees have not been playing their best ball when it matters most. Philly can smell the postseason, and the revenge they want against the Yankees, so they'll be a tough mountain to scale. This, like the Yankees pick, is one of heart, not brains, given my stance as a Philly hater, but I have Bobby Cox backing me up.

NL West -- I love the fact that four of the teams I picked to make the playoffs preseason are looking as though they'll do as I said. The Twins and Yanks clearly are, and the Braves and San Fransisco Giants have a strong chance. I picked the Giants before the season started because of their pitching, led by two-time Cy Young Tim Lincecum. Much to my surprise, as well as everyone else's, the San Diego Padres have had the best pitching all season, to go along with their terrible hitting. The Giants have been the tortoise, slowly creeping up the division, to finally being on top. They do play the Colorado Rockies, who decide they want to play baseball mid-August, and go on a spectacular run every season. And the Giants close out the season against the Padres. It'll be disappointing for the Padres, given they've been in 1st place all season, but fans don't go to their games, so only the players will be disappointed.

The Triumphant Return of Michael Vick

Michael Vick fought like a dog to be where he is now. (Harsh). Philadelphia Eagles, your starting quarterback for week two is Michael Dwayne Vick, first black man to be selected first in a draft, ex-con, spectacular athlete. This will not be an article about whether he should be playing. Everyone deserves a second chance, and if the NFL or the Eagles have no issue hiring an ex-con, then he should be allowed to prove himself to the public eye. No, this will be focused on the QB "controversy" in Flip-Flip-Flipadelphia.

Andy Reid has already come out and said that Kevin Kolb is their quarterback once he returns from his concussion. But what if Vick excels this week; throws for 300+ yards, rushes for 100+, scores a few touchdowns and wins the game? Doubtful, yes, but it is Vick's best case, and Philly's worst case scenario. If Vick puts up those types of numbers, fans and even the players will be demanding that he continue to start. I say worst case scenario because Vick will not lead this team to the Super Bowl this year; he will just be a tease. And more importantly, Kolb's maturity would be delayed for one more season.

Kolb is the Eagles' quarterback of the future, and this is his season to mature into a top ranked athlete. Kolb is why they foolishly gave up on Donovan McNabb. McNabb is still a top ten quarterback in this league, and the Eagles would have been much better with him, than without him. Kolb may be a great quarterback someday, but he proved nothing in preseason, and nothing in game one before he got concussed. This is a rebuilding season, maybe a couple of seasons, in Philly. Fans may not appreciate that given their newfound taste for championships after the Phillies winning, but it is true. Kolb needs time to develop.

McNabb is lucky to be out of Philly. I am sure it was a goal of his to bring a title to that city, even though he was vastly under-appreciated. At his peak, McNabb was one of the best QBs in the league, just behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. He deserved better than what he got in Philly, both in terms of fan treatment and the talent he was surrounded with. His teams were always missing a little something, whether it be receivers, healthy running backs, better coaching, and McNabb received the brunt of fan frustration. Now in Washington, McNabb has a proven coach who likes to run the ball. McNabb will not have to excel for this team to excel. He just needs to adjust to a new gameplan, and do what he does best, win games.

So Philly gave up McNabb to bring up Kolb, and now they're settling with Vick. And their fans will have to see the Redskins rise above them in the standings and McNabb win games against them instead of for them. How demoralizing would it be for Philly fans to see McNabb bring a Super Bowl win to DC instead of Philly?

Well, they'd be dog fighting mad.

Cheat!

Darren Woodson on Derek Jeter: "It happens in every sport; we all cheat."

This didn't seem like as big a story when it happened, but nothing else must have happened in sports yesterday, because all ESPN is discussing is Derek Jeter. During an at bat yesterday, a pitch inside hit the knob of Jeter's bat for a foul ball. Jeter acted as if the ball hit his hand and was awarded first base. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was infuriated and thus ejected from the game.

What is the big deal? Jeter just made use of the the fact that baseball lacks replay. Video replay would have kept Jeter off first base, and Maddon in the dugout. It was clear that Jeter was not hit by the pitch and more clamor is being heard for replay. Expanded replay is definitely necessary and could have been used on that play, as it was late in the game with the Yankees down one run.

To call Jeter a cheater, while fun to say given the rhyme, is just wrong to say. Trying to get on base, down a run, with a couple innings left in the game, versus the team fighting you for first base is most certainly not bush league. As Woodson said, every player cheats. Jeter had to do whatever he could to get on first, and this was not the first time a player used their acting skills. Basketball, soccer, and even football players flop, why can't baseball players do the same?

This is only a story because of who flopped. Jeter is the model of everything that is right in baseball, so to see him do something "morally wrong" surprised many. When players like A-Rod take steroids, Jeter donates to charity. So when Jeter acts his way to first base, people are startled. Jeter really did nothing wrong though. Maddon admitted later that he would expect his own team to act such as Jeter did if given the opportunity. This is not as interesting a story as ESPN would like us to believe it is. They just don't have Favre or LeBron to fawn over, so they'll settle for this.

Awkward Situations

Two NFL athletes were forced into apologizing yesterday for their transgressions. Reggie Bush had to apologize as he forfeit the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005, after it was proven that he illegally accepted money from agents, and thus should have been made ineligible to play that season. Ines Sainz stirred up controversy recently when she came into Jets camp dressed similar to her outfit in the photo above (If your hot, flaunt it). She was allegedly harassed by some players, so Clinton Portis, from another team, just had to put his two cents in....

“You know man, I think you put women reporters in the locker room in positions to see guys walking around naked, and you sit in the locker room with 53 guys, and all of the sudden you see a nice woman in the locker room, I think men are gonna tend to turn and look and want to say something to that woman. For the woman, I think they make it so much that you can’t interact and you can’t be involved with athletes, you can’t talk to these guys, you can’t interact with these guys.

“And I mean, you put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody got to be appealing to her. You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she’s gonna want somebody. I don’t know what kind of woman won’t, if you get to go and look at 53 men’s packages. And you’re just sitting here, saying ‘Oh, none of this is attractive to me.’ I know you’re doing a job, but at the same time, the same way I’m gonna cut my eye if I see somebody worth talking to, I’m sure they do the same thing.”

Portis is no stranger to being caught in a storm of controversy because of his words. While having intelligent thoughts, Portis is terrible at phrasing what he means to say. He is right that female reporters have no business being in a male locker room, just as male reporters should not be in female locker rooms. It creates an awkward situation of steamy, naked, lust.

If opposite sex reporters are disallowed from the locker room, to keep fairness, no reporters should be in the locker room. Athletes should be entitled to their privacy, whether they want it or not. They can be interviewed as they're walking out of the locker room and the same answers would be given. The locker room is why there are so few women reporters, and keeping all reporters out of the locker room could solve this problem.

The harder problem to solve is agents in college football. Bush is exiled from USC for now, but he did the right thing by forfeiting rather than have the trophy be snatched from him. Give it 20 years and the Heisman Trust will exonerate Bush and re-award him with the trophy. Vince Young can keep his too, if they decide to award him with Bush's trophy. Young said he would keep it, but he shouldn't. Though he had a great season, and beat Bush in the title game, Bush won the trophy with 784 votes, the 3rd highest total ever.

Bush is taking this opportunity to prevent this from happening to other college athletes. Bush is most certainly not the only collegiate athlete to accept gifts, but he was one that got caught. Something needs to change, and it is in how these collegians are compensated. Schools, the NCAA, the conferences, and the coaches all profit from these athletes. For many of theses footballers, college is just a stepping stone to the NFL. Unfortunately, this is sensitive since the schools can not pay the athletes. How would that be fair for other students?

Most students need a degree to work in their field of choice. Athletes do not. It is wise for them to work to a degree as a backup plan, but their real degree should be in sports, whether it be communications, management, or business. We tend to forget that being a professional athlete is a job and going to college is just training to be a professional.

Reggie Bush should not have accepted the money and hopefully his punishment serves as enough incentive for others to stay away from agents, but collegiate athletes deserve some type of compensation for what they bring to schools, conferences and the NCAA. So much money is made from TV, memorabilia, and advertising that the players are being ripped off, especially the players that could care less about a college education.

How real is that education anyway? Professors aren't going to fail star players when that could take away money from the school. Most athletes' main focuses are on their sports, not studies. With playbooks becoming more extensive, how can athletes be expected to get a job, in addition to passing classes and keeping the coach happy?

This will be solved, but only after it gets worse. And when it is solved, Bush will be welcomed back with open arms. Until then he has to focus on providing me with more fantasy points than week 1.

Where you there when....?

The biggest sports city in the US, if not the world, can't seem to sell out stadiums. I say biggest solely based on amount of teams. New York has the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and if you want to include the Jersey teams, the Nets and Devils. That is a minimum of two teams in each major sport in the NYC Metropolitan area. There are clearly enough fans in the Yankee Universe, and most Yankee fans are Giants' fans, just as most Mets' fans are Jets' fans, so why is it that Yankee Stadium always has empty seats, and the Giants could not sell out their home opener in their new stadium? The Jets are hyped to win the Super Bowl this year, so why could they not sell out their Monday night-home opener?

Money.

Dirty, sexy, money. The Yankees charge an insane amount of money for their "luxury" seats. The Giants and Jets still need to sell PSLs, "personal seat licenses," in their brand new stadium. Such a ridiculous concept. I can't comprehend that everyone did not boycott purchasing their season tickets until the teams decided to drop PSLs. We are living in a recession and teams seem confused why seats remain empty. The true fans are being alienated because the true fans are the Bleacher Creatures. For the most part, the Creatures sit in the Bleachers because they can't afford to pay thousands of dollars to attend games.

While the NY teams struggle to sell out games, they still see most of their stadiums crowded with fans. Teams like Tampa Bay Rays though are a team that really frustrate me. Tampa is lucky to have 20,000 fans in attendance for games not against NY. (They're currently averaging 22,739 fans per game, and the stadium's capacity is 36,973. They are missing out on over one million fans this season.) Tampa is fighting for the best record in baseball and their ticket prices are like the Dollar Menu to the Yankees' steakhouse. So why isn't Tampa selling out games?

Tampa's issue appears to be fairweather fans. Tampa is a football town, even though the Buccaneers did not come close to selling out their opener either. (That was probably due to having Josh Freeman at QB.) The Rays, after a decade of futility could not build a solid fan base, aside from Dick Vitale. No one cared when they were bad, and now, as they take the lead in the AL East, fans only care a little. I was rooting for Tampa in the 2008 World Series, but now that city does not deserve it. The Rays should be moved out of Tampa since that city has proven that they do not support baseball.

All around the league attendance is down, even for good teams. Last year, all of the playoff teams were in the top half of the league in attendance, six were even in the top ten. This year, of the teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today, only three are in the top half, all three being in the the top ten; Philadelphia, NY Yanks, and the Twins, who hopped 12 spots in Target Field's inaugural season.

In the NFL, teams claimed to have sellouts this weekend but were not playing to capacity crowds. The Jets and Giants games were "sold out," but still had seats available. Teams should be going into every season expecting to win the Super Bowl, so their fans should as well. Given that hope, week 1 should be played in front of maximum capacity.

The biggest cause of attendance drop, besides high costs, is HDTV Sports Packages. Fans sitting at home get a better experience than fans going to the stadium. Replays, angles, crisp, clear picture, announcing; all of that gives the TV viewer better knowledge of what happens during the game. Going to the stadium gives you the opportunity to say "I was there when..." I love going to games, but with DVR, YES bonus cam, HD, why spend $20 for a baseball ticket, $15 for train/Subway, and an infinite amount on food/drinks?

Well, to say "I was there when...a perfect game was thrown," would be priceless.

Predictions: The Crazy NFC East Eights

Just to preface; I am least excited about predicting this division. I try not to be bias, but that will be hard to argue when I pick both NY teams to win their division, and I pick the Eagles to finish dead last. I will probably receive backlash from all of my Philly friends and when I am wrong, it will be thrown in my face. Honestly though, this is how I believe the cookies will crumble...

New York Giants: 10-6; 1st place

The Giants finished last season disgracefully, losing three of their last four, surrendering a combined 134 points in the three losses. An inconsistent season in which the G-Men were ranked 1st in defense to start the season ended with embarrassment, and being ranked near the bottom. With Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora on the front line and Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul as their second string defensive ends, the G-Men have plenty to prove after last season's debacle. The front line will need to excel given their questionable secondary.

On offense, Eli Manning is maturing into an elite QB, but will still play second fiddle to the better Manning, Peyton. That should be all of the motivation he needs to push this team to greatness. Throwing to Hakeem Nicks, the other Steve Smith, and Kevin Boss will produce some pretty big numbers and will hopefully help deflect focus off of the ground game, which is filled with drama right now. Essentially, Brandon Jacobs needs to accept his role as number two, where he excelled in 2008, for this team to win. And win, they shall.

Dallas Cowboys: 10-6; 2nd place

America's Team seems like a favorite of many to be Super Bowl contenders this season, as it seems they have been for a few seasons now. They do have an excellent team, and they finally got rid of Flozell Adams. This offense can prove to be unstoppable, with Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice running the ball and Tony Romo throwing to Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten. I don't know how teams can prepare to cover that many weapons.

Their defense will simply have to keep up, and having DeMarcus Ware bolstering their squad, will certainly offenses out of the endzone. So why aren't they winning more games? The expectations are set sky-high. Like I said, many are slating them to be in the Super Bowl, especially their owner, Jerry Jones, who wants to see them win the big game in his big stadium. Too bad it won't happen.

Washington Redskins: 8-8; 4th place

Donovan McNabb. He is going to thrive under Mike Shanahan. The pressue is off and now he can let the running game dominate the offense, which is what Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson will do. With the pressure off, McNabb can loft ones to Joey Galloway or Santana Moss, or drop underneath to Chris Cooley. This team lost seven games last year by less than a touchdown, and were shut out once. Those seven games could turn into victories with McNabb at the helm.

Their only question mark lies in Albert Haynesworth. And that is a big question mark. Both in size of gut and in magnitude of importance to the team. As McNabb said this week, the Skins can not win without Haynesworth stomping QB's faces. The Skins can only hope Haynesworth plays to his contractual potential to see this team succeed.

Flip, Flip, Flipadelphia Eagles: 4-12; 4th place

Sorry Eagles fans but this is a rebuilding year. I have not been impressed by Kevin Kolb in the least, even though Philly fans have nothing but faith in him. Most fans rejoiced at the McNabb trade, not fully realizing the grass isn't always greener. Kolb may be a good QB someday, but not this year. He's got a great receiver, DeSean Jackson, to throw to but he will struggle through his first year as the team's primary starter.

The Eagles have obviously done a good job at retooling their defense, dropping fan favorites, yet still dominate. Unfortunately, this year they will be without the legendary defensive coach Jim Johnson. Fans better hope he taught his replacement enough before passing away. ESPN seems to think so, ranking them 2nd among defenses for their fantasy pre-draft rankings. Because of Kolb, and the offense, the defense will be on the field too often and thus causing them to struggle. This is a rebuilding year, but next year could hold a lot of promise depending on how Kolb matures this season

It was all just Fantasy

I hate fantasy sports.

I should love them given the magnitude of my passion for sports, but I can't stand fantasy sports. They just frustrate the crap out of me. You enter the draft so hopeful and slowly the dreams of gloating at the end of the season are squashed. Whether it is a bad draft, key injuries, or players playing badly; fantasy is just no fun for me.

This is why I have avoided fantasy for years. This year I am in 2 leagues, but declined 1 that required a buy-in. There is no way I would put money on something left entirely up to chance. I guess I decided to care less about it, to ensure more fun would be had.

Already I am frustrated, though this time, I am to blame. I forgot the time of the draft and had to draft via droid since I was vacationing at the beach. Because of that, my receivers are booty.

I drafted Drew Brees in the 1st round, and it went downhill from there. I had created a pre-draft ranking, but never put the ranking in order. That, combined with technological issues resulted in this:

After Drew Brees was selected 6th, by me in the 1st round:

2. Michael Turner ATL (I was okay with this one, I didn't really want him, but he should put up solid numbers)
3. Dexter McCluster KC (running back/receiver that will barely see the field, who I wanted to select at the end as a sleeper)
4. Ronnie Brown MIA (I do not recall putting him on my wish list, maybe Yahoo! was trying to help me out after round 3)
5. Victor Cruz NYG (Guess not. Like McCluster, I wanted to take Cruz at the end as a sleeper given his dominant preseason)
6. LaDainian Tomlinson NYJ (I really wanted LT and he should lift this squad of randoms)
7. Baltimore Defense (Another pick that I was very happy about, though a defense maybe could have waited for another few rounds)
8. Chris Cooley WAS (Great TE that should see numbers rise with a real QB in town)
9. Carson Palmer CIN (How did Palmer fall to round 9? I saw him available and I had to take him)
10. Roscoe Parrish BUF (I don't even know how this happened. He has since been replaced by Kenny Britt TEN)
11. Josh Scobee JAC (Why was a kicker chosen so early? I don't understand you Yahoo!)
12. Santana Moss WAS (Probably the best receiver on my team and that is just shameful)
13. Dustin Keller NYJ (He, like LT will get a ton of looks from Mark Sanchez, even though there are better receivers on the team)
14. Cincinnati Defense (Like I said, Baltimore could have waited. I like both defenses I have though. Can't complain.)
15. Robbie Gould CHI (My favorite kicker in the league will probably start over my 11th pick)
16. Reggie Bush NO (My two best picks of the draft fell in the final 2 rounds. Reggae Bush should step up into his role as starting RB)
17. Steve Breaston ARI (He should see his numbers skyrocket given Anquan Boldin's absence)

As you can see, the draft wasn't terrible, but I am already frustrated. I am slated to lose by 29.46 in week 1 and I will probably end up dropping Victor Cruz and/or Dexter McClusterfunk depending on how they do to start the season. Here is my starting lineup for this week:

QB - Brees
WR - Breaston
WR - Moss
WR - Britt
RB - Brown
RB - Bush
TE - Cooley
W/T - Keller
W/T/R - LT
K - Gould
DEF - Baltimore

I will give periodic updates of my fantasy frustration. Go Team Bored of Sunshine.

Predictions: NFC North of Seventh Heaven

Green Bay Packers: 12-4: 1st place

This is the Packers' year. They've built to this point, and Aaron Rodgers has a chance to bring the Packers back to the promised land. It has to be this year because they are running out of time. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are getting a little old and if the offensive line allows Rodgers to be sacked as often as last season, he won't have many years in the league. He was sacked 50 times last year and fumbled the ball 10 times. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is fantastic so he has the possibility to be an MVP-caliber QB this season, but that won't happen if he is on his arse multiple times per game.

Their defense is worrisome though. AJ Hawk, Charles Woodson, and Nick Barnett are great, but the Packers gave up 51 points in their wild card loss to the Cards. That is disgraceful and hopefully that embarrassment fuels their fire to be the strong defense they were during the season. Their offense can only carry them so far, and if the Packers want to make a long run through the playoffs, 51 points in one game simply will not do.

Minnesota Vikings: 11-5; 2nd place

Just as this is the Packers' year, last year was meant for the Vikings. Brett Favre had a legendary year, and was one mistake away from having a true fairytale ending. Instead, we have to see if his shoulder, and ankle, and heart hold up for another grueling season. He will not be able to match last year's numbers, and the Vikings obviously need him to or they would have settled for Tavaris Jackson. This is a strong team, but they will be overtaken by the Packers for the divisional title this year.

The drop-off will be no fault of the defense. With the front line of Ray Edwards, the Williamses, Pat and Kevin, and the crazy, Jared Allen, anyone could play behind them and offenses would still be shut down. Edwards is the least known of the bunch and he had 8.5 sacks last season. As long as Favre keeps from throwing picks, Adrian Peterson holds onto the ball, and the defense continues their hunger for QB blood, the Vikings will make a decent run into the playoffs.

Da Bears: 6-10; 3rd place

This division and their schedule is just too tough. Jay Cutler is the QB that Da Bears dreamed of since the team began. A QB that can throw bombs and lead a team. Too bad all Cutler can do is throw bombs, and even then, half of the time those bombs are to the other team. Da Bears certainly have talent on the offensive side, with Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Desmond Clark, Matt Forte and Chester Taylor.

Da Bears have a talented defense as well. Tommy Harris and Julius Peppers up front, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher in the middle and Danieal Manning and Charles Tillman in the secondary will frustrate many teams. So on paper, this team looks solid. So why did I drop them so low? Jay Cutler. I do not trust his ability to lead the team without whining, and Da Bears will continue to struggle with him.

Detroit Lions: 4-12; 4th place

Another bad season for Detroit. Matthew Stafford will improve some, but the running game is not strong enough to keep the focuses of defenses off of him. Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson are certainly exciting toys for Stafford to play with, but they will not be enough to win games.

Just like on defense the drafting of Ndamukong Suh will bolster their front line, but it will not be enough. The Lions, like the Bears, have a tough schedule and a rough division. The team is used to losing, so once they lose a couple in the beginning, the Lions will yet again become cowardly and finish another season with their tail between their legs.

Next up: NFC East

Six Degrees of the NFC South

New Orleans Saints: 14-2; 1st place

The defending champs are clearly the favorite to win this division, and they need to. First the Saints had to rescue the city from Katrina's grasps. Now, New Orleans needs to be saved yet again after BP shat all over it.

SuperBrees to the rescue!

He better put up MVP numbers again, he's my fantasy football QB. He will. Reggie Bush, also on my fantasy team, has to put up a breakout season as the team's starting RB. Will the Super Bowl hangover turn into a headache of a season? Doubtful. Sean Payton is too good of a coach, and Brees, too good a leader. This team will flourish in probably the weakest division in football.

Repeating a Super bowl victory is hard, but the Saints certainly have a good chance. Their key leaders are still around, and the Saints will bring excitement wherever they go, especially in the Superdome.

Atlanta Falcons: 10-6; 2nd place

In another division, the Falcons have a team capable of winning a divisional title. Although in another division, they wouldn't be playing the Panthers and Buccaneers twice a season. A truly good team has to be able to win at least 3 of those 4 games. Great teams go for the sweep. I have the Falcons going for the sweep. Unfortunately, it will not be enough to make the postseason. There are one too many great teams in the NFC and the Falcons will just miss the promised land again, but at least they'll be continuing their streak of winning seasons.

The fact that the Falcons were able to rebuild so quickly following the Michael Vick debacle puts teams like the Browns, and the Lions to shame. The Falcons had a team built around Vick that struggled to succeed, and now, the team flourishes. Drafting Matt Ryan was huge, and having a strong running game allows him to accomplish good numbers. Their defense is solid and the offense has talent, so they should have the goal of postseason and beyond, but such is not in store for Hotlanta this year.

Carolina Panthers: 2-14; 3rd place

The only reason the Panthers are in 3rd place is because John Fox is a good coach. He has proven that with talent, the Panthers can be successful. This team however has no talent. Aside from the running game of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, this team is awful. Unless Matt Moore proves me wrong, the Panthers will have to wait until Jimmy Clausen becomes the QB they hoped for.

While not terrible, their defense is also not threatening to shut many teams down. Their scariest of men, Julius Peppers, is no longer a Panther. This team needs to rebuild and prepare for Clausen to attempt to take the league by storm. Clasuen will need weapons to thrive and the Panthers have time to add key pieces. Hey, at least they're not the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1-15; 4th place

Harsh.

If you were to ask me what QB I wanted least to start for my team out of those slated to start this season, my pick would probably be Josh Freeman. If you were to ask me what head coach I least wanted to lead my team, I would probably choose Raheem Morris. Putting them together just seems like the perfect recipe for failure, which is what the Bucs will do for yet another season.

I do like Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. He has the ability to make explosive runs and look like the best running back in football, but he also has the ability to get injured. Unfortunately an injury prone running back with a weak backup will not help Freeman grow. He does not have the receiving weapons and a very, very inexperienced coach will result in a worse season than last year. Ever since beating the Raiders in 2003 for the Super Bowl win, the Bucs seem to be headed in the same dysfunctional direction as the Black and Silver. The Bucs need an infusion of hope led by a strong draft and maybe a key free agent grab. Ronde Barber can no longer lead this team, and he should follow his twin to the broadcast booth.

Next up: NFC North

Still West: Cinco de Predicto

San Fransisco 49ers: 9-7; 1st place

Finally! Finally the 49ers will be back in the postseason. They'll be back, but just barely in what will be the most average division in football. The Niners threatened last season but this year their defense, led by their head coach Mike Singletary, will power this team forward. This team surrendered a total of just 3 touchdowns for an average of 10 points in their 6 games versus divisional rivals. Keeping teams out of the endzone wins games, and the Niners have proven to be capable of that.

Their question mark, ever since Steve Young's retirement, has been the offense. They have yet to find a successor to Young, and Alex Smith certainly is not that person. They do however have one of the best tight ends, Vernon Davis, and one of the best running backs, Frank Gore. Wide receiver, Michael Crabtree could have a breakout season. Smith does not have to be Steve Young or Joe Montana; all he has to do is keep from turning the ball over and the 49ers will succeed.

St. Louis Rams: 8-8; 2nd place

I probably have this team ranked way too high. They were God-awful last season, and drafting a marquee QB to fix things rarely works. Preseason doesn't always translate to the regular season.

I don't care.

Sam Bradford has looked fantastic. In the 3rd preseason game, the only one that really matters, since the 1st string plays 3 quarters, Bradford tore apart the Pats defense. He had the pocket presence, and accuracy of a veteran, not a rookie. He has Stephen Jackon to assist in keeping the pass rush off, and Bradford can definitely thrive this season.

Their defense will need to step up as well. Hopefully Bradford rejuvinated the entire team, not just the offense. Six times last season, this team gave up more than 30 points. You will not win many games when surrendering that many points, and the Rams proved that by not winning any of those games, with their only win coming against the Lions, 17-10. That might not have been a fun game to watch, but as long as Bradford remains healthy, the Rams' games this year will have excitement.

Seattle Seahawks: 7-9; 3rd place

Pete Carroll has nothing to prove. He does not need a Super Bowl to validate his coaching excellence. He tried coaching professionally in the past, both with the Patriots and Jets, with mediocre success. Players did not adapt to his Phil Jackson-esque, zen way of coaching. Now having proven his coaching intelligence, the Seahawks will listen better than the Jets and Pats did, and the Seahawks will improve. Just not yet.

The team, like the rest of the division, is just average. Their running game should be good, with Julius Jones, and Leon Washington, but their QB, Matt Hasselback is average. Their receivers, Deion Branch and Golden Tate, are average. Their defense will be average, with the exception of Lofa Tatupu. The only not average aspect of the team is their names. Lofa, Golden, Julius, Quinton (Ganter, the fullback), and Lawyer (Milloy, safety).

Arizona Cardinals: 7-9; 4th place

The Cardinals will be back where they belong. Pigs will stop flying and the Cardinals will not make the playoffs. They still have talented players, but too many subtractions were made without adding enough. Kurt Warner and Matt Leinhart were replaced by Derek Anderson, who was not good enough to play for the Browns. Anquan Boldin was cut off of the three-headed threat of Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Boldin.

On defense, they lost Karlos Dansby, but added Joey Porter. Their defense lost less than the offense, but this team gave up 90 points in their 2 playoff games. 90 points! This team will struggle with their new QB, and if their offense can't score, the defense will give up a lot of points every game.

Up Next: NFC South

Previews and Predictions, Quattro: AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6; 1st place

I am looking at a drastic improvement from the Chiefs this season. Matt Cassel is entering his second season with the team and he needs to become a strong leader for them. He has weapons in Chris Chambers, Leonard Pope, and Dwayne Bowe, but the best part of this offense is their running game - Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles, and not even on their depth chart but used in preseason, Dexter McCluster. I watched the Eagles vs. Chiefs preseason game, and McCluster was running rampant, breaking past tacklers before they could turn to face him. This offense could put up plenty of points, and frustrate defenses, which is why I am choosing them to finish so high.

The only worry is the defense. This defense was terrible last season, six times giving up more than 30 points. They will really need to step their game up now if the Chiefs are to succeed. Veteran Mike Vrabel must band this group together to keep opponents from scoring. Romeo Crennel, a great defensive coordinator but not so great a head coach, has signed on with the Chiefs. Their defense should definitely improve and under Todd Haley's second year with the team, the Chiefs will stun some teams this year en route to unseating the Chargers.

San Diego Chargers: 8-8; 2nd place

The Chargers lost LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles did not prove to be a valid successor, and now, they are without their premier receiver, Vincent Jackson, for the year. Sure, Ryan Matthews has a ton of hype and Sproles will be back in the backup role where he is best suited. The Chargers still have a top three tight end in Antonio Gates. But, their running game was nonexistent last season due to their offensive line. Will it be that much improved for Matthews to be able to thrive? No. The Chargers are going to implode this season with hot-head Philip Rivers leading the boom.

The Chargers defense should be good as usual with Shawne Merriman, Eric Weddle, and Quentin Jammer leading the way, but no longer can the Chargers just beat up on their divisional foes. The Chiefs and Raiders both look to be improved this season, and will challenge the Chargers more than previous years. The Chargers are an easy pick to make the playoffs, given their track record over previous seasons and a quarterback that can drop bombs. Like I said though, they will be easy to implode once Rivers' hot head boils over and the offense proves to be unstable.

Oakland Raiders: 7-9; 3rd place

This team will rise and fall on Jason Campbell's shoulders. They are definitely an improved team, but dysfunction will follow them until Al Davis is no longer owner. Him owning the team is cancerous. No, not cancerous, more like the swine flu, because it is contagious. Their head coach, Tom Cable, provided the dysfunction last season following an altercation with an employee. And their players provide dysfunction, though the main culprit, JaMarcus Russell, is no longer a Raider. Jason Campbell, while not an elite QB, is a massive upgrade from Russell. This team really has not had a real QB since Rich Gannon, when the team experienced its last taste of postseason.

They will be much improved with Campbell, but unfortunately still wildly inconsistent. They were just utterly terribly last season, but a surprisingly good draft could turn things around in Oakland. If Campbell falls, so too shall the Raiders. He is already showing signs of wear and tear, experiencing shoulder and wrist issues. If these current issues turn into injuries, the Raiders will certainly drop back down to the cellar, where they are used to being.

Denver Broncos: 7-9; 4th place

The Broncos followed a hot start with a disappointing ending last year. Starting 6-0 would lead people to expect the season would culminate in a postseason berth. Instead, they ended 8-8. That is terribly disappointing. Unfortunately, hope entering this season is being squashed by injuries. The most significant being Elvis Dumervil, their leading pass rusher from last season, and without him the defense is very vulnerable. Keep in mind, this is a defense that surrendered 259 yards to Jamaal Charles with Dumervil.

On offense, the Broncos seem to always have a strong running game, even though their running backs are constantly getting injured. Already, Lendale White has ruptured his Achilles tendon, though he would not have been a big factor on this team, with Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter expected to carry most of the load. Their biggest question mark though is the QB position. Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, and Tim Tebow all have plenty to prove. Orton needs to fend off the other two by excelling as a dominant QB, Quinn needs to prove the Browns should not have let him go, and Tebow has to prove the naysayers wrong and the Broncos right for taking him in the 1st round. These QBs are without Brandon Marshall, an elite receiver, to throw to so expect failure from this bunch.

Next week: NFC!

Predictions, the Third: AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: 12-4; 1st place

The Colts will easily win this division, yet again. After losing the Super Bowl, expect Peyton Manning to have another thrilling year. Given his excellent receiving corps, Pierre Garcon, Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, Peyton will continue to climb steadily up the record books. You could provide him with any receiver and his laser rocket arm will make them elite.

Not only will their offense be stellar, but their defense will be top flight as well. With Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on the ends with the goal of eating QBs for their Sunday meal, the QBs have to rush to throw the ball. When rushed, their safeties Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea are prime to strike for interceptions. As long as the linebackers can plug the holes to stop the run, this team will again be nearly flawless. Peyton, a winner knowing what it means to lose a Super Bowl, will be relentless in his attempt to win again to prove himself one of the all-time greats.

Houston Texans: 10-6; 2nd place

Unfortunately for the Texans, they are in the same division as the Colts, and I picked the Pats and Ravens to be the Wild Card winners. The Texans are doing well building a formidable team, but it will not be enough to reign in the Colts. Matt Schaub has potential for another great season, though it is hard not to when you have Andre Johnson to throw to. Their running game is a little suspect though, so their offense is slightly unbalanced.

A few bad seasons provided the Texans with some really good drafts picks, the best being Mario Williams. They have a solid team, but it will be just like last season, losing heartbreaking games to the Colts, and just missing the playoffs. The Colts are just too mentally strong to be toppled by an up-and-comer. The Texans will be an exciting team to watch, again, mostly due to Andre Johnson, but that will only last for the regular season.

Tennessee Titans: 6-10; 3rd place

This record seems very low for a team who finished 8-8 last season and has a lot of promise. Vince Young improved last year, and their offense has the weapons there for him to succeed. Nate Washington, Justin Gage, and Kenny Britt are all playmaking receivers, and having the best running back in the league certainly helps. Football players need to be mentally tough though, and I don't see that in Young. Plus, the team's management doesn't seem to have faith either. If Young starts off poorly, they will not hesitate to turn to their old man QB, Kerry Collins.

The defense really isn't that great; five times last year they surrendered more than 30 points. They were shut out by the Pats, 59-0. Granted this was early in the season, before Young rejuvinated the team, but this team is too shaky to pick as winners. They play the line of being great and being terrible, and I feel too many times this season, they will fall on the wrong side of that line.

Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12; 4th place

This team probably is not as bad as their record would suggest. They were definitely inconsistent last year, losing to Seattle 41-0, but beating the Texans twice, essentially keeping them from the playoffs. They, like the Titans have talent and good coaching, Jeff Fisher for the Titans, Jack Del Rio for the Jags. Inconsistency though will continue for the Jags, and they will be a punching bag for the division.

David Garrard is alright, Mike Sims-Walker is good, and Maurice Jones-Drew is fantastic. MJD won't be enough to carry this team to .500. The most important position in all of sports is quarterback. Given the Colts have the best in the league, with Peyton, the rest of the division fighting for 2nd. In order to garner enough wins to snatch away a Wild Card spot, the other three teams need to build overall great teams, and the Jags have not.

Tomorrow: AFC West

Part Deux: AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals: 11- 5; 1st place

The Bengals won this division last season, and should repeat behind their top five defense. That was their strong point last year, which complimented their fine running game. They choked at the end, losing twice to the Jets, which is typical of an Ohioan team (I'll get more to that later.) This team certainly has great potential, and could make quite a run into the postseason.

I am looking to see Carson Palmer take that step to become an elite QB. He has had the weapons downfield before, but now he has experience under his belt. This team should evolve from a running oriented team into a passing friendly team, if only to keep Terrell Owens happy. Their defense should not have to carry this team as it did last season. Cedric Benson could see an increase in yards per carry since many defenses will focus on shutting down Chad Ochocinco and TO, holes will be created at the front line. This team is complete all-around and should not have any trouble winning this division.

Baltimore Ravens: 10-6; 2nd place

Expect a repeat of last season, with the Bengals winning the division, and the Ravens winning a Wild Card berth. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, the Ravens equal the Bengals in terms of offensive weapons, and their defense is normally stellar. The flaw in their defense lies in their age and fragility. Ray Lewis is ancient, and though he has given no indication he in not an elite QB eater, he is quite old. They've been bitten by the injury bug during training camp, the biggest being Ed Reed. Without him, the Ravens' D is as vulnerable as the Jets'.

As long as the Ravens' new look offense can carry them through the initial games without Reed, his return should spark them into the playoffs. Boldin, Todd Heap, Ray Rice, and Derrick Mason are quite a display of talent. Providing Joe Flacco continues to improve, this team is a definite contender. He won't have the season I am expecting out of Palmer, but given those weapons, Flacco needs to maintain his ascent into stardom

Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-8, 3rd place

The Steelers have problems. Well, the Steelers have a problem. Big Ben Roethlisberger. He will miss a good chunk of the season and a team missing their "elite" QB will surely struggle. Their defense should be solid yet again, but their offense, or lack thereof could create chinks in the defense's armor, since they will remain on the field longer.

Big Ben imploded the Steeler's season before it even began. He may not be the best QB in the league but he is much better at decision making on the field than off it. This team will certainly struggle without his "leadership." Tomlin has a strong voice though, and will keep the team above the Browns, but the Bengals and Ravens have too good of teams to take down.

Cleveland Browns: 6-10; 4th place

Sure, the Browns acquired a proven QB in Jake Delhomme, sure they acquired Seneca Wallace, but they neglected to acquire something that has been left out of Cleveland's vocabulary for years: hope. Are Delhomme and Wallace going to be that much better than Derrek Anderson and Brady Quinn? Doubtftul. Not when they have no one to throw to, and a questionable running game. They had a despicable offense last year, and really, adding Delhomme changes nothing.

Their defense is not much better. This team gave up a lot of points last year, and will do the same this year. Coach Eric Mangini is looking less like Mangenius and more overrated as each season passes. This team needs to be remodeled from the bottom up. Changing out QBs is a start, but not when replacing with mediocre ones. Poor Cleveland. Fans won't have the Cavs to look forward to midseason anymore; it's going to be a few sad years for that city until either of the teams learns how to rebuild properly.

Tomorrow: AFC South