The upcoming NFL season promises to be an exciting one. With so many moves in free agency there are many familiar faces at new places. Here are my thoughts on the upcoming season. I have gone through all 32 teams in the NFL and have come to the conclusion that I had way too much free time in my hands this summer. Enjoy.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys
Can and will the Cowboys be able to overtake the Eagles in the NFC East this season? Those are two questions that head coach Bill Parcells and the rest of the Cowboy faithful are hoping to get answered with a; yes’ this season. The biggest off-season move by the Cowboys was the release of quarterback Quincy Carter. The Cowboys now enter the season with 40-year-old quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who many think will not be able to finish a full season. In case that happens the Cowboys added former Michigan standout Drew Henson, acquiring him in a trade with the Houston Texans. The additions of Keyshawn Johnson and Marcellus Wiley should give the Cowboys a legitimate third down target and help at a pass rush,that has been lacking since the days of Charles Haley. With these moves, the Dallas Cowboys have a chance to make a move and finally be able to replace the Eagles atop the NFC East.

Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are the team many still believe to be the team to beat in the NFC East. With the additions of Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens, the Eagles are better at two key positions. Despite this, with the loss of Pro Bowl corner backs Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, the Eagles might be in a bit of trouble in the secondary.

Washington Redskins
Can Joe Gibbs and his new coaching staff help return the Redskins to the dominant force they were when he was head coach and leading them to Super bowl victories? Probably not. As long as the owner of the Redskins is Daniel Snyder, the Redskins will continue to be a non-factor in the NFC. The acquisition of running back Clinton Portis was a nice addition, but trading Champ Bailey, who was the next closest thing to shut-down corner since Dieon Sanders,was a move that I believe will come back to haunt the Redskins.

New York Giants
The Giants are hoping that they have found their franchise quarterback with Eli Manning, who refused to go to the Chargers in last year’s draft. Even though Kurt Warner was named the starting quarterback, he will be replaced by Manning as soon as he begins to struggle. The New York Giants’ biggest test this season will be having to out-play San Diego for next year’s first round draft pick.


NFC North

Green Bay
How much longer will Brett Farve be able to play at such a high level? As long as number #4 is under center and running back Ahman Green is in the backfield. The Packers have a great chance to shock the NFC north and make a deep run in the playoffs.

Detroit Lions
When the Lions drafted University of Texas star receiver Roy Williams and running back Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech, defensive coordinators all around the league had to cringe at the thought of having to devise a game plan to slow down third-year quarterback Joey Harrington and Charles Rodgers, who along with Jones and Williams, are going to be quite a potent offense and should surprise many people around the league this year.

Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings will once again be a tough team to handle and will be looking to rebound from that late season collapse that cost them a shot at the playoffs. With Culpepper and Moss, the Vikings are still going to be a dangerous team.

Chicago Bears
The Bears have a new head coach in Lovie Smith, who is the ex defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. Smith inherits a team that went 7-9 last season. With a tough schedule this year that includes road games against the Vikings, Bucs, Giants, Titans and Cowboys and home games against the Eagles and Colts, Smith might be in for a long season.


NFC South

Carolina Panthers
Can the Panthers repeat their dream season again? With the core of the team that came a field goal away last season of winning the Super Bowl, the Panthers have a definite shot at once again surprising teams around the league.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs made several big off-season moves this year, parting ways with Pro Bowler Warren Sapp, who seemed to have worn out his welcome, and with Keyshawn Johnson, who was basically fired and now a member of the Dallas Cowboys. The Bucs, who are coming off a 7-9 season, have many question marks heading into the season and will provide a challenge in the south this year. But, they will not be able to overcome the Panthers.

New Orleans Saints
Will this be the season that quarterback Aaron Brooks finally can help his team challenge the Buccaneers and Panthers? If not, he along with head coach Jim Haslett, will both be on the hot seat.

Atlanta Falcons
With the return of Mike Vick, who seems at times to be really overrated, should at least help an offense that seemed very anemic last season in his absence. Vick still does not have enough help at the wide receiver position to be any kind of threat to the Panthers or Bucs.




NFC West


St. Louis Rams
The Rams parted ways with quarterback Kurt Warner in the off-season, and now only have Marc Bulger, who at times last season seemed like the answer but still must prove himself for a whole season. The Rams still have a strong defense, and Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt, along with Issac Bruce, still have the firepower to be a threat in the NFC.

Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks seem to be the surprise pick for many. Can this be the year that Mike Holmgren and company can overtake the Rams? I don’t think so. Always beware of the surprise team that the so-called experts pick, especially a pick like the Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals
All you can say about Dennis Green’s return to the NFL is that he must have really missed coaching. Green has the tools to build a team in Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin and first-round draft pick Larry Fitzgerald, who along with quarterback Josh McCown, showed promise in the final three games of last season. They might help Dennis Green keep his coaching job.

San Francisco 49ers
As much as 49ers fans hate to admit it, their beloved 49ers, are rebuilding. The 49ers who got rid of seven offensive starters that included quarterback Jeff Garcia and wide receiver Terrell Owens, are going to younger players such as starting quarterback Tim Rattay and rookie wide receiver Rasahun Woods out of Oklahoma State University. The 49ers and the Giants, along with the Chargers, will be competing for nothing more than who get the higher first-round draft pick next year.

AFC EAST


New England Patriots
Here is a scary thoughgt for the rest of the NFL: the Patriots might be even better this season. New England aqquired running back Corey Dillion from the Cincinnati Bengals for a first-round draft pick, and now they have a legitmate home-run hitting running back. Dillion, along with Tom Brady and the Pat’s strong defense, helps make New England the top team to take it all the way this year.

Buffalo Bills
Travis Henry or Willis McGahee, who will be the starting running back for the Bills this season? Both running backs will have to have to find a way to share the load in the backfield or there will be problems in Bill country this season. Also If Drew Bledsoe can rebound from a sub par year, the Bills have a chance to be a threat to the Patriots. The Bills defense will help them stay alive should Bledsoe falter late in the season.

Miami Dolphins
With the sudden and surprising retirement of running back Ricky Williams, the Dolphins might have just sent their season down the drain. Also, with the quarterback position in question with Jay Fiedler and AJ Feely fighting for the job, head coach Dave Wannsted mght be gone even before the season is over.

New York Jets
Will Chad Pennington and the Jets be able to surprise some people this season? I don’t think so. There are too many questions on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball to make the Jets any kind of threat.

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals
When head coach Marvin Lewis took over the Bengals last season, he bought with him a sense of toughness and pride that the franchise had been lacking for many years. When most teams finish the season at 8-8 that can be considered a down year, but this is not the case in Cincinnati. With first- round pick Carson Palmer taking over the quarterbacking duties, for the first time in many years the Bengals might be on the verge of something big.

Baltimore Ravens
The Raven once again go into the season with a strong defense that will now feature Deion Sanders, who came out of retirement to help the Ravens try to make a run at the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Prime Time will not be enough. The Ravens are in the hands of Kyle Boller, who, despite a so-so 2003 campaign, will continue to have growing pains.

Pittsburgh Steelers
With the arrival of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is only the third quarterback in Steelers history to be drafted in the first round behind Terry Bradshaw and Mark Malone, no pressure Ben I mean its just Terry Bradshaw, what did he do for the Steelers? The Steelers, who finished 6-10, aquired Duce Staley, who should help create a stable backfield, along with Jerome Bettis, to help take some heat off of Roethlisberger in case Tommy Maddox should not make it thorough the season.

Cleveland Browns
The Browns finally gave up on quarterback Tim Couch and signed Jeff Garcia to take over for Kelly Holcombe, who failed miserably last season when he was given the chance to start. First round draft pick Kellen Winslow should help Garcia with a huge third-down target.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edjerrin James, the Colts will have to have all three players play at their best if they have any hopes of giving the Patriots any trouble this season. Manning who signed a $98 million seven-year, contract and shared co MVP honors with Titan Steve McNair, is ready to make the big step at take his Colts to the promised land.

Tennessee Titans
The Titans are hoping that running back Chris Brown can deliver a solid running game to help take some pressure of off quarterback Steve McNair. The defense will once again be a force against the run and out to prove that, despite the loss of Jevon Kearse, they are still a defense to be feared.

Houston Texans
No more excuses for Dom Capers. His quarterback is in his third year, when he should start to develop into a game breaker. He also has two weapons in running back Domanick Davis and receiver Andre Johnson to help him take the Texans to the next level. Still, the defense is weak, and the Texans are in a tough division, with no shot at the playoffs anytime soon.

Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars still have too many questions on offense and defense to be any kind of threat this season In the South. The lone bright spot should be the continued development of quarterback Byron Leftwich.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs still go into the season with all the offense needed to go all the way. But the problem area is still on the defensive side of the ball. Lots of offense and no defense is not the answer to be competetive in the AFC.

Denver Broncos
The Broncos traded away running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins for corner back Champ Bailey in hope of bolstering their defensive secondary. Now the starting running back job goes to second-year running Quentin Griffin and rookie running back Tatum Bell. Head coach Mike Shanahan is known for finding 1,000-yard rushers and should have no problem this season.

Oakland Raiders
When a team goes from representing the AFC in the Super Bowl one year and 4-12 the next, you know it’s time for a change. Goodbye, Bill Callahan, and hello Norv Turner. Turner is hoping to help the Raiders regain their black-and-blue mentality that seemed to have lost its luster last season. With the additions of Warren Sapp and Ted Williams on defense the Raiders are headed in the right direction.

San Diego Chargers
You know it’s bad when your first-round draft pick does not want to play for you and would rather sit out the entire season than put on your uniform. When quarterback Eli Manning turned a cold shoulder and was traded to the Giants for two future first-round draft picks, the Chargers did not panic. They simply went to their next best option, Philip Rivers. With head coach Marty Schottenheimer already on the hot seat, they better show some kind of improvement this season or he will be out of a job before the season even ends. The Chargers can at least look forward to competing for next year’s number one draft pick.

Ok so you are now done reading all that I think about the upcoming NFL season. I hope you all agreed with what I had to say. If not, then you don’t know anything about the NFL and are probably a NASCAR fan. So here it is.. This year I see the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers in the big game, with the Colts’ coming out on top, 27-17. I hope everyone is as ready for the upcoming season as I am. So here is to a great season of some football. It’s going to be a wild season.