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Here's a look at some hot topics that will be burning up the local newspapers when NFL training camps start up and how we think they'll play out.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Does the addition of T.O. make the Bills a playoff team?
Look for the Bills to be very competitive and to be in the hunt until the very end…but when it’s all said and done, they are not one of the premiere teams in what is a highly competitive AFC. Buffalo will face six very tough match-ups within their own division against the Patriots, Dolphins and Jets, not to mention the fact that they close out the season against the Falcons and Colts. Close but no cigar.
 Miami Dolphins: Which rookie will make the biggest impact for the Dolphins?
The popular pick might be Pat White, who is expected to play an intricate role on offense out of the Wildcat formation, but third-round selection Sean Smith figures to play a pivotal role as well, as one of the Dolphins starting cornerbacks. In fact, he has leapfrogged fellow rookie corner and first-round pick Vontae Davis on the depth chart. Smith, who has rare size (6’4) will try and buck the stereotype that cornerbacks can’t be tall and good. He’s the pick here.
New England Patriots: Will Tom Brady regain his form?
From everything you are hearing out of Operation Beantown, the news seems positive…very positive. Reports have indicated that Brady is near full recovery and has even begun throwing on the run during OTAs. You should fully expect to see a complete return to Mr. Bundchen, as he reminds us all once again why he is the best quarterback on the planet. Period.
New York Jets: Is Mark Sanchez the answer?
It appears that head coach Rex Ryan seems open to the idea of starting the rookie from day one. Thus far, Sanchez has looked overmatched in off-season workouts and has struggled to make the quick reads necessary to be successful at the pro level. The Hollywood act about to take place on Broadway has all the makings of a bad script.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Why did the Ravens fail to address their obvious need of a playmaking wide receiver on offense?
Baltimore has not completely ignored this area. Quarterback Troy Smith has reportedly been taking reps at wide out in an attempt to create more opportunities to get the ball in his hands. As of now, it appears to be another season of Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton starting at wide out but you can also be assured the Ravens are quietly monitoring the Plaxico Burress situation.
Cincinnati Bengals: Is Chad Ochocinco washed up?
Hearing Ochocinco speak recently, last year seems to have humbled the showstopper. That’s all fine and dandy but the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson needs to let his actions speak louder than his words. Despite last season, in which his longest catch was a meager 26-yards, he averaged nearly three yards per catch less than his career average (14.6) and had more than five catches in a game only once, at 31 years of age he is too young to write off…yet.
Cleveland Browns: Who will emerge from the quarterback derby in the Forest City?
It appears that Brady Quinn will be given every opportunity to win the starting job. Should he falter, the Browns could defer to the experience of Derek Anderson to lead the way. However, don’t be surprised if it is Brett Ratliff (acquired on draft day from the Jets) who prevails when the dust settles. The second-year pro from Utah garnered attention during pre-season a year ago, with a 122.6 rating, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes (32-47) with four touchdowns and only one interception while averaging over 10 yards per pass.
 Pittsburgh Steelers: What can we expect the defending champs to do for an encore in ’09?
Look for the team to transform their running attack with a heavy emphasis on second-year man Rashard Mendenhall, who projects to receive the bulk of the workload. Willie Parker is expected to take a backseat this year but will still receive 10-15 carries per game. The dark horse to keep an eye on here is fifth-round pick Frank Summers. Frank “The Tank” is the favorite to emerge as the team’s goal line/short yardage back, a void that the team has been looking to fill since the retirement of Jerome Bettis.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Can Steve Slaton do it again?
One of the pleasant surprises of the 2008 season, the little submarine did not receive 20 carries in a single game until week 12. During the final seven weeks of the season, Slaton totaled 737 rushing yards on 144 carries. He slid to the third round of the draft last year as teams wondered if he could withstand the NFL workload. Now, the naysayers will question whether he can do it over an entire season. It seems unlikely.
Indianapolis Colts: How much will the offense be impacted by off-season losses?
Little-to-none. The finger-pointer in Indianapolis, known as Peyton Manning, aired his gripes publicly during the off-season before recanting and letting us know that everything is just groovy. Considering that Manning calls his own plays, the loss of offensive coordinator Tom Moore and o-line coach Howard Mudd (both of whom returned to the team in a different capacity) is really not a big deal. It sounds like the blameful one was looking for a built-in excuse before the season started.
Jacksonville Jaguars: How hot is the current seat in which Jack Del Rio occupies?
According to Webster’s dictionary, the temperature must reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit to be considered boiling. If that is the case, then Del Rio may want to get checked for second-degree burns. After an 11-5 record and playoff run in 2007, the Jaguars won a mere five games a season ago. A repeat performance will surely cost Del Rio his job.
Tennessee Titans: What is the future of Vince Young?
The former first-round pick continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. This year he decided to let everyone know that he thinks it’s time for him to be the starter again. Well, don’t expect that to happen. Kerry Collins is entrenched as the Titans’ starter and Young’s gripes have fallen on deaf ears—he will serve as water-boy once again this season. At $4.6 million, his salary is manageable, but the Titans will need to make a decision during the off-season as his price tag escalates to $7.5 million and $8.5 million in 2010 & 2011.
AFC WEST
 Denver Broncos: Who will start at quarterback…and running back?
The quarterback competition is a dead-heat, with Kyle Orton and Chris Simms equally splitting first team reps. If Simms shows enough in the pre-season games to warrant the job, look for Denver’s brass to favor that option and use Orton as a fallback plan. The logic being Orton can win games but will only take you so far. At running back, pay no attention to the depth-chart shenanigans—Knowshon Moreno will be the starter.
Kansas City Chiefs: How will the organizational revamp translate onto the football field?
This team has a laundry list of question marks: Is Matt Cassel the real deal and who will he throw to? Can the offensive line be counted on? Do they have the personnel to fit their new 3-4 defensive scheme? And the list goes on. For the record, the best decision they might have made is to use Glenn Dorsey at end. This will be a more competitive Chiefs team and their play overall will improve…but their win total will not be much better.
Oakland Raiders: Can JaMarcus Russell take the next step?
If the next step means becoming a consistent, winning quarterback, the answer is “no”. While he did produce six touchdowns and just two interceptions during his final three starts of the season, Russell was not even ranked as one of the top-32 prospects by the NFL Draft Bible coming out of the 2007 Draft. Look for him to continue to prove us right.
San Diego Chargers: Is Philip Rivers an elite NFL quarterback?
Not yet. While he’s had some gutsy performances and has won the respect of his teammates, Rivers has yet to lead his team to the Promised Land, despite having a highly talented team assembled around him for his three years as a starter. In five seasons, Rivers has started six career playoff games, with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Hardly the stuff legends are made of.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Has Jerry Jones lost his marbles?
The wealthy oilman-turned-self-proclaimed-football-genius is giving Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis a run for his money in terms of becoming the league-wide laughing-stock. Last season, Jones thought it might be a good idea to bring in Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson. A year later they, along with Terrell Owens and Greg Ellis, are gone without any proven replacements on the roster. Let’s not forget the brilliant moves of trading a starting cornerback (Anthony Henry) for a washed up, backup quarterback (Jon Kitna) and retaining Wade Phillips (zero playoff wins in nine seasons) as head coach. Jerry, what is going on, baby?
 New York Giants: Will the Giants be able to make up for the loss of Plaxico Burress?
Without question, the Giants have stocked their roster with numerous alternatives to help sustain an effective passing attack. Replacing Plaxico Burress is no easy task but the additions of Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckham in the draft, to go along with Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, and Kevin Boss certainly provide quarterback Eli Manning with sufficient weaponry. It won’t be one person, but rather a committee of players that will get it done.
Philadelphia Eagles: Is this the best offense of the Donovan McNabb Era?
Until the recent injury to running back Brian Westbrook, it appeared so. The selection of wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the draft to pair alongside DeSean Jackson will really allow the Eagles to stretch the field. With more room to operate underneath, this will make the supporting cast even more dangerous. Another rookie, LeSean McCoy, has impressed early on and could be a suitable replacement for Westbrook. If B-West rebounds, this is indeed the most lethal assemblage of weapons McNabb has ever been surrounded by.
Washington Redskins: Did Daniel Snyder finally get it right?
Rather than opting for the glitz and glamour of offensive players, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder decided to take a defensive approach to the off-season. On paper, the moves look like a potentially huge boost. However, the signing of $100M dollar man Albert Haynesworth and selection of workout warrior Brian Orakpo in the first round of the draft won’t amount to the name-brand value. The Redskins are the true definition of paper champions.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Can Jay Cutler guide the Bears back to Titletown?
It was quite bothersome to watch the way Cutler reacted to hearing his name mentioned in trade rumors. It’s hard to imagine that someone that immature could lead a group of grown men to the mountain-top. Sometimes it takes more than just physical attributes to be the best. Cutler can be very good, but greatness is reserved for true champions. Speaking of which, the recent assessment of Cutler by Tony Dungy should not be taken lightly. Dungy is not a man who is quick to criticize.
Detroit Lions: How soon will Matthew Stafford start?
If there is any truth to the early whispers out of OTAs, we will see Stafford under center sooner rather than later. The number one overall pick has impressed the coaching staff with his strong arm and ability to learn the playbook. The smart move would be to have Daunte Culpepper serve as the crash test dummy to start the season, but look for Stafford to be handed the reins before the Lions week seven bye.
 Green Bay Packers: Will the shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment work?
The Packers have become the third team in the NFC to embrace the 3-4 defense alignment with the arrival of new defensive coordinator and longtime coach, Dom Capers. The key to this conversion revolves around how well the 265-pound Aaron Kampman adapts to making the switch from end to linebacker. He has been working closely with Kevin Greene, who mentored Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley last season. With rookies B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews also expected to play key roles, it may take the entire season or more for the new scheme to produce effective results.
Minnesota Vikings: Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson?
How about neither? With the recent report that Brett Favre has undergone surgery to correct his throwing shoulder, it’s clear that the ‘ol gunslinger is going to give it—yup, you guessed it—one more shot! Look for Favre to join the team in time for training camp and take the opportunity away from Rosenfels and Jackson.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Who will represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIV?
The answer right now would be the Atlanta Falcons. General manager Tom Dimitroff has established himself as one of the premier talent-evaluators in the league, adding franchise quarterback Matt Ryan in last year’s draft and following that up with defensive line anchor Peria Jerry in this year’s draft. The addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez was another vital building block and makes Atlanta a force to be reckoned with.
Carolina Panthers: How long will Julius Peppers remain in a Panthers uniform?
Probably the same amount of time as his head coach, John Fox, which would mean one more season. While the Panthers do realize that Peppers could inevitably walk after the season, they have held firm and are unwilling to trade him for the sake of trading him. Hence, whether he likes it or not, Peppers will spend the year in Carolina and then make a dash for the market in what may become an uncapped year. As for Fox, he too will likely be in search of a new home…but not by choice.
New Orleans Saints: Will the real Reggie Bush please stand up?
The Saints now enter year number four of the Reggie Bush experiment, which has produced a bag full of mixed results to say the least. It appeared he had begun to turn the corner on his way to becoming one of the emerging young talents in the NFL before a knee injury ruined his season. Now, it’s back to the drawing board. Expect fewer carries to lessen his workload but look for this modern-day Larry Centers to approach triple-digits in receptions and be counted on by quarterback Drew Brees as his most targeted weapon.
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: How do you foresee the quarterback situation playing out?
The Bucs have done a good job of compiling backup quarterbacks and disguising them as starters. Some things haven’t changed with the new regime. The frontrunner is Byron Leftwich, a good but always-injured quarterback. He has started a total of eight games over the past three seasons. Once Leftwich gets injured, it will be the Luke McCown show. That performance should play Tampa Bay right out of playoff contention, leading them to eventually hand over the keys to the kid, Josh Freeman. Sounds pretty convincing, doesn’t it?
AFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Was last year’s Super Bowl run real or a mirage?
This will greatly depend on Kurt Warner, who has done a remarkable job of reinventing himself with the three-step drop. But one hit can end it all. Should Warner go down, the Cards’ season will go with him. You can pretty much say that about any quarterback/team in the league but in Warner’s case, his past concussion history is certainly worth noting. It really shouldn’t come to a surprise to see the Cardinals miss out on the playoffs altogether.
St. Louis Rams: Are the Rams seriously interested in Mike Vick?
The answer is “yes”. St. Louis fans are suffering through one of their roughest patches in recent history and the community seems open to embracing the embattled one. There is not a legitimate quarterback on the Rams’ roster (Marc Bulger/Trent Green/Brock Berlin) and Vick may actually provide a better chance to win than any of those tomato cans.
San Francisco 49ers: Can Mike Singletary turn the 49ers defense around?
It may take some time, but Singletary is one of the greatest defensive-minded coaches in the game today. He realizes the necessity of a full training camp to implement the straight 3-4 scheme that the 49ers will return to after scrapping Mike Nolan’s ineffective 4-3 attack halfway through the season. The pieces are in place and a late-season run could be in store for the 49ers as their core group, which includes nine returning starters on defense, continues to gel.
Seattle Seahawks: Does Matt Hasselbeck have enough gas left in the tank?
It was frightening just how terribly Hasselbeck performed last season. Of course, he was bothered by injuries for the entire year but at 34 years of age, look for that trend to continue. The man with a head shinier than Mr. Clean produced 10 interceptions compared to only five touchdowns in seven starts, completing just 52% of his passes. The addition of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh certainly adds excitement, but it won’t matter. The shine has worn off and the tank is on fumes.
Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, College Press Box
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