The Super Bowl was everything a fan could ask for with three lead changes and an exciting finish that was the most-watched program in U.S. television history. While the celebration is still going on in New Orleans, here is the Super Bowl XLIV ripple effect. Blueprint to... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The final game of the 2009 season is finally here, and every angle has been over-analyzed by now. It's about time to sit down and watch two great quarterbacks battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy. While the Saints had the No. 1 offense in the... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Players play and coaches coach! There is such balance on most rosters that coaching can be a competitive advantage. Of course, both the Saints and Colts have excellent players, as each team is led by one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Still, without... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The old formula for a Super Bowl championship was to play defense and run the ball. The teams in Super Bowl XLIV have changed that rule. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints feature the No. 1 quarterback from each conference in terms of... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- During a season in which football fans witnessed a rise in the 3-4 defense's popularity, a funny thing happened en route to Super Bowl XLIV. Both teams participating in the big game sport 4-3 defenses. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and luckily for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, they have two of the best in the NFL. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are classic drop-back passers, so yet another Super Bowl has arrived... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- This is a unique year, with the Pro Bowl being held one week before the Super Bowl in the same city. There were many skeptics about this game, but after watching both teams practice for two days and interviewing 22 players, I came away with a different story.... more

MOBILE, Ala. -- I got a chance to see three South team practices in advance of Saturday's Under Armour Senior Bowl and talk with the Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who is in charge of this group of athletes. There was no doubt that the Wednesday practice was the best... more

MOBILE, Ala. -- The first practices of Under Armour Senior Bowl week are the only chances I get to sit and watch the players with no preconceived notion about them. It's an intersting way to begin the evaluation process. I can let the players' athletic ability, skills and... more

After 19 weeks of play, the NFL season comes down to four teams competing for the right to play in Super Bowl XLIV. A month from now, most football fans will struggle to recall which two teams were the losers in these conference championship games. None of the... more

Months ago, most NFL people felt the two best NFC teams were the Saints and Vikings. They finished the season as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, and now meet for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Two great quarterbacks, superstar running backs and 15 Pro Bowlers in... more

The Jets were fighting for their playoff lives back on December 27 when they visited the Colts, who already were shutting down the regular season with the AFC's No. 1 seed locked up. Peyton Manning and his teammates were still trying to complete an undefeated season, but when the... more

We're down to four teams in the race for Super Bowl XLIV. What did we learn from the single-elimination tournament this weekend? We saw a trend from last year reversed, one team defy all odds, a highly criticized philosophy come through, and a couple of teams get rewarded for the... more

The divisional round of the playoffs is the best weekend of football. Each one of the four matchups is a good one. This year, three of the four games will be played in domed stadiums, which guarantees weather as a non-factor. Domed teams are 27-15 in the playoffs,... more

Three pressing questions surrounding the Jets-Chargers divisional matchup on Sunday: 1. Can the Jets run on the Chargers? The Jets won an 'old school' game last week when they just ran the ball and played defense. It's a great formula for a northeast team with... more

The Cowboys finally won a playoff game last week after 13 years of frustration. Now Brett Favre must do what the Vikings brought him to Minnesota for. Win in the playoffs. Both the Cowboys and Vikings rank in the top 10 on offense and defense. Each team wants to run the ball... more

Top storylines for Wild-Card Weekend Last year, two No. 6 seeds not only won their Wild-Card Weekend game, but also advanced to the conference championships (Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles). So, is there a wild-card team poised to defeat a No. 3 or No. 4... more

These two teams are built in totally different ways. The Ravens have the fifth-ranked rushing attack with a big, powerful defense, while the Colts are a great passing team with a defense built around speed. In a lot of ways it's the 'old school' Ravens against the... more

Two high-powered offenses will clash this weekend when the Cardinals head to 'The Big Easy' to play the Saints. The Cardinals put on a show last week, winning an overtime thriller 51-45 over the Packers and their second-ranked defense. The Saints have the 25th-ranked... more

Finally, the regular season is over and all of the playoff spots have been set. There are 12 excited teams, a number of teams that will spend most of the offseason frustrated by the mistakes they made that eliminated them, and some teams at the bottom of the league that realize how... more

The first weekend of the playoffs is called "Wild Card Weekend," which is why I always feel bad for the division winners that have to play in the first round. Still, the four division winners that played this weekend had homefield advantage. Two of them advanced. Meanwhile,... more

?? Three pressing questions surrounding the Green Bay-Arizona wild-card matchup on Sunday: 1. Can Green Bay slow Arizona's passing attack? The Cardinals' passing game got them to the Super Bowl last year and it is the main reason they have a chance this year.... more

Three pressing questions surround the Baltimore-New England wild-card matchup on Sunday: 1. Can the Patriots win without Wes??Welker? The Patriots really counted on Wes Welker to move the chains, but he's done for the year after getting hurt in Week 17. When Welker played... more

?? Three pressing questions surrounding the N.Y. Jets-Cincinnati wild-card matchup on Saturday: 1. Can Cincinnati's corners neutralize the Jets receivers, so the safeties can play the run? Pro Bowl voters snubbed Bengals corners Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, but at... more

?? Three pressing questions surrounding the Philadelphia-Dallas wild-card matchup on Saturday: 1. Can the Eagles score enough? The Eagles were swept by the Cowboys in the regular season and scored just 16 points in eight quarters with only one touchdown in that stretch.... more

Ten hot topics for Week 17 Week 17 represents the last chance to make the postseason, be a spoiler or save a coach's job. There is a lot to play for, and contrary to what the Colts are doing by shutting players down, many teams will play to win. 1. Can Dallas finish... more

Brian Garfinkel / Associated Press With Brian??Westbrook healthy, expect the Eagles to show some Wildcat in the playoffs. In the final week of regular-season play, some teams will opt to rest players for the postseason, other teams will attempt to stay sharp for the... more

When I looked at my notes after watching every game played from Friday through Sunday, there were a lot more than six storylines that caught my interest. Week 16 had more than its share of surprises, and the ramifications will be felt in Week 17, in the playoffs, and right on through... more

10 hot topics for Week 16 It's Week 16, and there's so much left to decide. Six playoff spots are still available, playoff positioning has yet to be determined, and two new front-office executives are evaluating their new teams. Can the hot teams stay hot? Can teams... more

With two weeks left to go in the regular season, six playoff spots have been clinched and another six remain to be earned. With an eye toward the postseason, here's a look at a few trends to keep in mind as the regular season winds down and teams earn those... more

There were plenty of intriguing developments in Week 15. Here are six that caught my attention: 1. Help wanted: Clutch kickers Eleven games were decided by seven or fewer points this weekend heading into Monday night's matchup. That means kickers probably played a critical... more

10 hot topics for Week 15 With 24 of 32 NFL teams still in contention for one of the 12 playoff spots and turnover already taking place in some front offices, there are plenty of storylines worth noting. Here are 10 that I'm paying close attention to this weekend: 1.... more

For the next three weeks everyone will be talking about homefield advantage in the playoffs, and for good reason. Home teams win close to 70 percent of the time in the postseason. This year, three indoor teams have either secured homefield advantage for at least one game or... more

The "Six from Sunday" for Week 14 has to be amended. We've got five observations from the 14th Sunday of the NFL season, but we'll start with one from Thursday. 1. What's wrong with the Steelers? The Steelers are still the reigning world champion, but you... more

10 hot topics for Week 14 1. Most intriguing division There are subplots in almost every division when it comes to the playoffs but no division is like the NFC East, which has three teams still fighting for the title and a possible wild-card spot. The Eagles-Giants game at... more

David Duprey / AP Photo By pointing Denver's defense in the right direction, Mike Nolan might get another shot at a head coaching job. As we enter the fourth quarter of the NFL season with playoff hopes still alive for at least 18 teams, that also spells the end of... more

Thirteen is not known to be a lucky number, and Week 13 certainly was not lucky for a number of teams. Of course, luck is only part of the equation in the NFL. Here are six things that caught my attention: 1. Thirteen isn't lucky The Steelers were supposed to... more

10 hot topics for Week 13 1. Teams looking to rebound The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a three-game losing streak and need to stop the bleeding now. The Houston Texans also have dropped three in a row. I talked with players on both teams and they are angry. Not sad, not... more

December is here, which means we're in the stretch run of the NFL season. It also a good time to see what trends are emerging in the pro game. Passing wins championships? "Run the ball and play defense if you want to win a championship." It's an old coaching expression... more

?? Week 12 was chock-full of interesting plots and storylines. Here are six that caught my attention: 1. Sometimes we outguess ourselves I love coaching decisions that catch an opponent off guard, especially when a team knows it needs to take a risk to win. But there... more

Ten hot topics for Week 12 1. How many points will it take? The New Orleans Saints have scored over 40 points four times this season and have seven games with 30 or more. They average 36.4 points a game at home. But, here come the Patriots and their 37.2 points a game over... more

NFL coaches think of the season in four quarters. Right now we're closing in on the end of the third quarter of games, which is a good time to take a look at the teams that have remained consistent with their run-pass ratios and those who have started to alter what they were doing on... more

?? Week 11 had its share of major upsets, gutsy and prolific performances and, of course, more playoff intrigue. Here are six observations I took away from Sunday: 1. Making a case for Minnnesota I know the Saints and Colts are undefeated and sit atop most... more

10 hot topics for Week 11 1. Offenses hide the other side Three teams that have a concentration of injuries on the defense are lucky to have the right Band-Aid for the problem. The Colts' secondary is decimated, the Patriots' defensive line is beat up and the Eagles are... more

When the Jay Cutler trade was made this offseason, most football people were asking how a franchise quarterback in this era could possibly be acquired in a trade like this. Now the question being asked is: Was it really a good trade for the Bears? I still think it's a win... more

Week 10 had surprising divisional rematch games, critical injuries, teams fading in the playoff race, teams charging into the playoff race, the reestablishment of a critical component of NFL football and a tip of the hat to one group of players. The decision by Bill Belichick... more

10 hot topics for Week 10 The marquee game this week is New England at Indianapolis, where we could see 700 yards of passing. But that's just one of the Week 10 storylines to watch. Here are 10 things I'll be watching this weekend: 1. Young goes for... more

David Stluka / Associated Press Kurt??Warner threw for five touchdowns in the Cardinals' win over the Bears on Sunday. Trends that came to light in the first nine weeks of play in the 2009 NFL season could set the tone for the second half of the schedule. ... more

Some teams comtinued their mid-season slides in Week 9, while a few rebounded from bad games. One team's commitment to change paid off, perfection continued for two teams, and a new budding star emerged. Here are six things that caught my eye Sunday: 1. Some defenses... more

10 hot topics for Week 9 Week 9 is halftime in the minds of NFL coaches, who see the season in four quarters. Now is the time to look at mid-season adjustments. As Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said to me this week, "Hope is not a strategy." Game plans and... more

After just eight weeks into the NFL season, it's premature to speculate about a team going undefeated. However, there is already buzz about 16-0 surrounding the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. One coach who played the Saints told me he thinks it's unlikely... more

?? In Week 8, a living legend returned home, a winless team finally won a game when their best player put the team on his back, a team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, the most targeted tight end in the NFL was lost to injury, and a team won a game with 104 total net yards... more

10 hot topics for Week 8 There is no rest in the NFL. While, the commissioner was in Washington trying to convince public officials he is keeping the game safe, players and coaches -- and yes, even owners -- around the league were making key decisions and plans regarding... more

With recent quarterback contracts pushing toward $1 million a game for the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, what is Kyle Orton worth? I recently spoke to two former front office executives about placing a value on Orton, especially in light of what Jay Cutler just... more

The Week 7 lineup wasn't the best, and I surely missed the six teams on a bye, but there were still a number of storylines that unfolded and reshaped the season. Here are six from Sunday: Weekend recap Carson Palmer had five TD passes in Sunday's rout of the Bears,... more

10 hot topics for Week 7 There's plenty to watch this week as the NFL makes its way toward midseason. Here are 10 things I will be keeping an eye on: 1. Peterson vs. Pittsburgh 'D' Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is arguably the best player in... more

After falling at Minnesota for their third straight loss, it appears to be a tale of two seasons for the Ravens following a 3-0 start. Just as surprising, Baltimore seems to have gone from a running to a passing offense. However, coach John Harbaugh disputes that claim. In a... more

At the start of the season, many expected the NFC East to be the best division in football, but Week 6 put a major hole in that argument. However, among the six things that caught my eye on Sunday, the number of prolific passers tops the list. 1. Hot from the start ... more

10 hot topics for Week 6 Week 6 is the turning point for some teams. With so many teams at the top or the bottom of the standings, and very little middle ground, some expect this week to provide more balance. I don't see it that way, as the separation between the good and... more

For the first time in NFL history, there are five undefeated teams through Week 5. Conversely, there are four teams without a win and another five squads with just one victory. Simply put, there seems to be more bad teams this year than in recent memory. But beyond the wins... more

Week 5 was a great example of the lack of balance in the current NFL. Webster's Dictionary defines parity as "the state of being equal or equivalent." Six of the 13 games on Sunday were decided by 19 points or more. It has gotten to the point where a handful of... more

10 hot topics for Week 5 Week 5 is the first week in which teams are coming off a bye. Last year, teams went 18-14 after their bye, so I am anxious to see how the first four teams returning -- Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia -- do this week. For years, the... more

In the Minnesota??Vikings' 30-23 win over the Green Bay??Packers on Monday Night Football, Brett Favre led the Vikings to touchdowns on all three of their red-zone chances. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers failed to convert either of their red-zone chances... more

The completion of Week 4 brings an end to the first quarter of the regular season for most teams, a point at which NFL coaches like to assess their team. The second quarter begins with at least four undefeated teams and four without a victory. Last year, there were three undefeated... more

10 hot topics for Week 4 We'll be through one quarter of the season after this weekend, and this is the time when great teams prevail and average teams fall back. With more game tape available to evaluate what teams are doing, Week 4 represents the first bumpy road in what... more

Brian Garfinkel / Associated Press Kevin??Kolb threw for 300 yards in his first two NFL starts, the latter with his team leading from start to finish. It has been said that most passing records have been set in losing efforts. For the most part, statistics back it... more

Week 3 can be a turning point for some teams, especially for those that entered the weekend with an 0-2 record. Nine teams entered Week 3 with the burden that another loss would make it difficult to dig out of the ruins. Six are in the 0-3 hole, and a seventh -- Carolina --... more

10 hot topics for Week 3 Week 3 is the first week that coaches have enough game tape to evaluate their opponents and set a real game plan, which should make for tighter games. Formation tendencies, down-and-distance calls, blitz calls and coverage calls can now be diagnosed.... more

Bill Kostroun / Associated Press The Jets didn't get a sack, but intense pressure helped prevent Tom??Brady from leading his team to victory. The first defensive trend of the season is just as aggressive as offenses going no-huddle, a topic I discussed last week.... more

NFL players and teams work hard to correct mistakes on a week-to-week basis. For those who did it successfully after Week 1 losses, things look very different today than they did a week ago, when it appeared the world was caving in. On the other hand, there were a few things this... more

10 hot topics for Week 2 Sixteen teams enter Week 2 frustrated by an opening-game loss and can't wait to get on the field again. Last season, 10 teams that lost their openers fell again in Week 2, but three later won a division title, so all isn't lost.... more

Keith Srakocic / Associated Press Ben??Roethlisberger effectively ran a no-huddle offense in the Steelers' opening-night win over the Titans. While there is rarely anything brand new introduced to the game of football, the NFL game is cyclical and concepts can... more

The late, great Bill Walsh once said, "If a player does it once, then it's the coach's job to get him to do it all of the time." After an opening week with mostly predictable results and some big surprises, there are several coaches with lots of coaching to do.... more

10 hot topics for Week 1 Each week, the storylines emerge because of matchup, injuries, coaching styles, or a host of other internal forces that shape the week's action. Here are 10 things on my mind for Week 1. 1. Teams on the bad end of streaks Now that the NFL is a 24/7,... more

Every NFL season has its own personality, and the 2009 campaign already features emerging issues that bear watching. As more teams move to the 3-4 defense -- the Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are the latest to use the scheme -- will the experiment... more

At 13-3, the Tennessee Titans had the best record in the NFL last season and the Steelers won the Super Bowl, making Thursday night's Kickoff game between those two teams very interesting. But the fact that the Titans beat the Steelers in Week 16 last year, 31-14, without Albert... more

Paul Connors / Associated Press NFL teams are hoping their young receivers have the sort of season Steve??Breaston enjoyed in 2008. The 2009 season will be no different than any other in terms of all of the turnover in personnel. That means a number of young players... more

This year, the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos are all building their own version of a 3-4 defense after decades of using a 4-3 package. The 3-4 features three down linemen, four linebackers and a four-deep secondary. The 4-3 has four... more

Tom Brady goes down, Matt Cassel steps in. No problem. Matt Schaub goes down, Sage Rosenfels steps in. Umm, Houston, we have a problem. Or should we say, had a problem? When Schaub went down in Week 9 last season, the Texans were on a roll having scored 27, 27, 29,... more

Hannah Foslien / Associated Press Brett??Favre's arrival in Minnesota quickly ended the Vikings' quarterback competition. It is always nice if you know who your quarterback is long before the season starts. There is peace of mind when Peyton Manning or Tom... more

Bill Nichols / Associated Press With help from Lynell??Hamilton's 95 yards rushing, the Saints kept their impressive preseason rolling. Week 3 of the preseason really marks the end of the preseason for me. It is followed by a short week and meaningless games full... more

Week 2 of the preseason is a good time to take a look at the teams and players around the league. Here are a number of things that jump out as I look at the preseason games, and things I saw on my camp tour. 1. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck is back to his old form. Last... more

Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press Kurt??Warner and the Cardinals aim not to repeat the fate of former Super Bowl losers. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- As defending NFC West title holders and the reigning NFC champions, the Cardinals are in a far different place now than they... more

NFL.com illustration With Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson in his backfield, Vikings coach Brad Childress has multiple weapons to use. When Brett Favre signed with the New York Jets last year, it took him a good two months before he felt comfortable in his new team's... more

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars are a very refreshing team to watch as they develop a personality heading into the 2009 season. The players seem to embrace the long, hard, physical practices and they are out to remedy the poor season they finished months ago. Quarterback... more

Chuck Burton / Associated Press Quarterback Jake??Delhomme is back directing the Panthers offense at training camp. SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- In 2008, the Carolina Panthers featured a potent one-two punch in the backfield and an excellent offensive line to run behind. ... more

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Upstate New York farm country is the perfect setting for a team to focus on a new identity. There are very few distractions -- the perfect place to build the mindset of a football team. First-year coach Rex Ryan has laid out a vision for his team. After... more

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press With a healthy Tom??Brady back calling the shots, the Patriots seemed poised for a playoff run. FOXBOROUGH, Ma. -- Most teams would be proud of an 11-win season, especially if it happened without their No. 1 quarterback. The Patriots,... more

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre informed Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress on Tuesday that he will remain retired and not join the team this season. However, Childress and his players should have been prepared for such a decision since this journey began more than... more

Ed Andrieski / Associated Press Josh McDaniels and the Broncos are pondering what to do with unhappy WR Brandon Marshall. Every team knows that the passing game is critical to achieving wins. But not every team has a true No. 1 wide receiver. In fact, there may be no... more

Michael Vick has been reinstated to the NFL in what commissioner Roger Goodell calls a transitional plan. It's on Vick to live up to the promises he made in his life-management plan and presented to Goodell, with the help of mentor Tony Dungy. Now the question is: Can Vick still... more

In the NFL, around 80 men are on each team's roster at the start of training camp. But only 53 will make the team, another eight will be relegated to the practice squad and anywhere from one to four players will inevitably be placed on injured reserve or the PUP (physically... more

I have been at Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe this past week for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, in which 44 current or former NFL players and coaches are participating. Here are some of the things I found out after sitting down and talking football with many of... more

We all heard how Josh Freeman looked impressive at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' organized team activities last month and that the team might be reevaluating its quarterback position. We also heard how about the Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford and the New York Jets' Mark... more

NFL training camps don't begin until the end of July or, in the case of the New York Giants, who have the latest start in the league, Aug. 3. But with rookie symposium wrapped up this week and the offseason starting to wind down, it's important to note how successful teams... more

There's no argument here that the league is quarterback driven, but in turn, signal-callers are often influenced by safety play. Safeties impact a quarterback's decisions with the looks they give, the disguises they present and the plays they make. As one successful... more

Every June, just after teams close up the Organized Team Activities (OTAs), coaches go on vacation and teams shut down operations for a few days of golf and fishing. Study aids If you feel the need to do a little cramming before taking this final exam, here are a few links that will... more

Jonathan Fickies / Getty Images Aaron Curry and Jason Smith have plenty to smile about, given how well paid top-5 picks are in the current system. While the NFL's busy schedule does slow down a bit this time of year, it remains true that 'there is no offseason... more

Associated Press James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley led the Steelers' top-ranked third down defense in 2009. Every NFL defense works hard to get its opponent to third down. If they aren't successful on third down, however, their efforts were for naught.... more

Who is the most important player on the football field? Ask 100 fans and you would get well over 90 tagging the quarterback as the key player. That's not hard to understand when you consider he handles the ball every play, makes the decisions at the line of scrimmage, throws the... more

The use of modern training techniques, medical advances and healthy diets are all ways that players can extend their careers. But athletes must have all of these, as well as great talent and a little luck, to prolong their careers. Also working against current players... more

There's no hiding the fact that the Detroit Lions' 0-16 record last season was the most embarrassing moment in NFL history for a franchise. In a league where parity is supposedly built into the system, 0-16 is not supposed to happen. In 1996 the Jets went 1-15, which... more

Things haven't been this quiet at Valley Ranch in a long time. Typically, the Dallas Cowboys would be the offseason topic of conversation with big free-agent acquisitions, slick moves in the draft and, as always, a heavily debated reputation as the favorites for a trip to... more

Matt Cassel is one of the great rags-to-riches stories in the NFL -- or anywhere else, for that matter. Here's a guy who never won a starting job as a quarterback at USC and finished his college football days as a backup tight end, his biggest moment coming when he recovered an... more

It's that time of year when we inevitably hear about the big competitions going on around the league for starting roles in the fall. Unfortunately, all the players are still in shorts. Don't get me wrong, teams can get a lot of work accomplished in the organized team... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images The Giants slowed down the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII by blitzing Tom Brady, a tactic sure to be copied in 2009. The NFL is a better place with Tom Brady back in uniform, and all indications are that the New England Patriots' quarterback... more

The NFL can be an unforgiving place. The motto "What have you done for me lately?" is a way of life for most players throughout their careers. Every season, a number of marquee veterans find themselves at the crossroads of their careers. This year is no exception, as... more

Chris McGrath / Getty Images Wide receiver Steve Breaston emerged as a threat for the Cardinals in his second season, catching 77 passes. I talked to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston this week and he spoke like a polished receiver coming off a sophomore... more

It's May, and nobody really knows which teams are the best and the worst, but that's what makes the NFL so intriguing when the real games finally start. Fan rankings: ?? Your own NFL power rankings A team ranked in the bottom quarter of this list is sure to make the... more

Ed Zurga / Associated Press Pierre Thomas wants to prove he can be a No. 1 back, and the Saints appear ready to give him the chance. The job of the personnel department is to replenish the roster and put the best team on the field. Tough decisions must be made every... more

Michael Conroy/Associated Press Peyton Manning could lose Tom Moore, the only offensive coordinator he's ever worked with in the pros. Peyton Manning can't like the news coming out of Indianapolis regarding the Colts' coaching staff. Usually, it's the player... more

Fantasy football is a great way to learn about players and production in the NFL and it's important to take an educated guess on which recently drafted rookies have a chance to make an impact in year one. Get in a league with ten or more teams and the quality veteran talent runs... more

There were 256 players drafted last month, and not all of them will make NFL rosters in the fall. There are about 250 veteran players who were under contract in 2008 but are still looking for work. There is a natural attrition rate in the league. And yet, there might be a way to tap into all... more

It's not for me or any observer to decide whether Brett Favre's career is over. It's up to an NFL club to decide if he can still help a team win games. Even if Favre really does want to play, he does not control his future. That said, Favre must have the right... more

In analyzing the draft, there are many questions surrounding success rate and expectation. The pass-rushing dimension is one such question, especially the production of players taken in the first round. Teams are willing to pay a high price in the first round for a player who... more

Building a successful team doesn't happen overnight. The fans want to see instant results but it is unrealistic. The rare exception occurs when a team hits it at quarterback, like the Falcons did last year. They drafted Matt Ryan and everything looked better right away.... more

The draft is over but team needs continue. As one NFL head coach said on Tuesday, "we don't start throwing the waiver wire in the trash can because the draft is over." His point is that the draft is one part of the process to upgrade talent on a roster, but not the only... more

I hit the road July 27 going from NFL camp to NFL camp. I watched tape, interviewed coaches, owners, players, watched practices, observed games. Now, as the preseason camps and games come to an end for 2007, I have a number of issues I wish to discuss. 1. Have the Colts become the latest... more

?? The 2009 NFL Draft may be over, but it has yet to be determined if it was a success or a failure for any team. The draft can't be graded or judged for a few years, but it was certainly intriguing. Webster's dictionary defines intrigue in the following ways: 1) To... more

My final mock draft doesn't include any trades or the probable signing of Detroit's first pick. I did talk with Aaron Curry and he is ready, willing and able to sign a contract with Detroit if a Matthew Stafford deal doesn't get done. There has been a late rise in the interest... more

NEW YORK -- The top players are already gathering in New York, draft boards are completed by about half of the NFL teams, things are getting real quiet, and that means there are some serious conversations going on behind the scenes to establish trade scenarios. On my Sirius... more

The NFL Draft is a week away and there are about 18 underclassmen ready to be selected in the first round. I've been involved with selecting an underclassman in the first round and it didn't work out for our club or the player. (Pat Kirwan was a former director... more

Ric Tapia / NFL.com Whether it's fact or fiction, rumors of Mark Sanchez's rise up draft boards could have a big effect. With the draft just days away, teams now covet a certain player or two in the first round -- and they must protect their interests in any way... more

More mocks In his latest mock draft, NFL.com's Steve Wyche says some prospects will benefit from the shift by many teams to the 3-4 defense, including LSU's Tyson Jackson. Find out who else will shoot up draft boards. Read more... » Mock draft central | All-time... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Pat Kirwan will visit 14 training camps this year, including a visit with Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By Sunday, all 32 teams will be in camp and I will be out on my annual training camp tour. This year, I will hit 14 camps, plus the... more

  TAMPA, Fla. -- Passing is the backbone of the Arizona Cardinals' offense. Sure, it helped that they restarted their running game in time for the playoffs, but quarterback Kurt Warner and his receivers did the most damage during their Super Bowl run. In the three playoff... more

Every draft has a few storylines that make for interesting speculation. Are the junior quarterbacks worthy of a top pick? How far does Michael Crabtree slide, if at all, because of his foot surgery? And, of course, what do we make of the issues surrounding Alabama offensive tackle... more

Mock drafts The debate for No. 1 is under way. Steve Wyche thinks the Lions will select Matthew Stafford after Stafford's solid pro day. Check out more mock drafts from the experts at NFL.com. Read more... » Charles Davis mock draft: 2.0 » Jamie Dukes mock draft: 2.0 ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Chicago??Bears' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # Player ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Denver??Broncos' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # Player ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Buffalo??Bills' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # Player ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Arizona??Cardinals' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Atlanta??Falcons' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Baltimore??Ravens' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Dallas??Cowboys' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # Player ... more

Pat Kirwan breaks down each team's positional needs, listed in order of importance, entering the draft. More team draft needs: AFC: East | North | South | West NFC: East | North | South | West Houston??Texans' last five top picks Year Rd Sel. # Player ... more

Mock drafts While Pat Kirwan thinks highly of Eugene Monroe, where do NFL.com and NFL Network experts see the Virginia offensive tackle going in April's draft? How about other top prospects? » Davis: Monroe to Seahawks » Dukes: Monroe goes No. 2 to Rams Wyche: Monroe goes... more

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Monday was a great day at the NFL Annual Meeting. We had our Sirius NFL Radio show set up right outside the meeting rooms where the owners, general managers and coaches worked all day. On every break, we had guests on the show or the chance to talk over a... more

Brian Bahr / Getty Images Josh Freeman goes at No. 19 to the Buccaneers in Pat Kirwan's latest mock draft. DANA POINT, Calif. -- I arrived here early Sunday afternoon for the NFL Annual Meeting and got through the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel as quickly as possible... more

Before the attention of the NFL world turns to the annual owners' meetings next week and key issues such as a new collective bargaining agreement, the rules committee recommendations and the league's financial state of affairs, let's review the last couple weeks. ... more

David Zalubowski / Associated Press Jay Cutler's remaining contract makes him even more valuable to any team that might be interested in trading for him. The football topic that swamped the media last year was Brett Favre's relationship with the Green Bay... more

From now until the draft, I will get a chance to interview many of the top picks every week on my Sirius NFL radio show. Occasionally, my partner Tim Ryan and I will get a few minutes with the draft-eligible players off the air as well. And as we spend time with these young... more

Mock drafts While Pat Kirwan thinks highly of Jason Smith, where do NFL.com and NFL Network experts see the Baylor offensive tackle going in April's draft? How about other top prospects? » Dukes: Stafford has Cutler-like skills » Wyche: Is QB Lions' biggest need? ... more

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Ryan Clady's ability to perform as a rookie in 2008 will have teams considering drafting offensive linemen this year. Every offseason is an opportunity to remedy a problem, go in a different direction or get younger. For example,... more

Chris Graythen / Getty Images Despite the loss of DT Igor Olshansky to the Cowboys, the Chargers haven't been in a rush to sign free agents. We're in the thick of the free-agency period, and some fans are frustrated by their team's lack of activity. It's... more

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images With Kurt Warner set as Arizona's starter for the next two years, it might be time to consider trading Matt Leinart. Free agency is one week old and some teams have helped themselves, while others have taken a hit. Every year, after the... more

Mock drafts While Pat Kirwan thinks highly of Jason Smith, where do NFL.com and NFL Network experts see the Baylor offensive tackle going in April's draft? How about other top prospects? » Dukes: Stafford has Cutler-like skills » Wyche: Is QB Lions' biggest need? ... more

Free agency started with a bang, to say the least. That's because the average NFL team had $19.8 million of available salary-cap space when free agency began Friday and could be aggressive. In the first 36 hours of free agency, 22 of my top 50 free agents had new... more

» Kirwan: Top five players at each position | Schefter's top free agents Every pro personnel director in the NFL has a player board stacked by grade and position in order to react to player acquisition attempts when free agency starts. Usually, they will... more

Phil Coale / Associated Press Albert Haynesworth should emerge from free agency as the highest-paid defensive tackle. » Kirwan's top 50 free agents | Schefter's top free agents Here is how the free agents rank when split into their position... more

Now that I am back from the NFL Combine, it's time to take what the event taught us about the talent pool for 2009 and implement it in our first mock draft of the season. Mock drafts NFL Network analyst Charles Davis and NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche each broke out their... more

Here is an in-depth, position-by-position breakdown of the draft prospects as they prepare for the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Projected picks, by round Pos. 1st 2nd Total QB 2-3 0-1 3 Quarterback It isn't a strong year for quarterbacks,... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sunday marked the middle of a combine week of drills and evaluations for draft-eligible players. The wide receivers tore up the 40-yard dash, but top prospects were rocked by an injury, a disappearing act and -- in the case of the quarterbacks -- some... more

  The NFL Scouting Combine is under way -- drills begin this weekend and run through Tuesday. The combine originated as a means of reducing the cost of administering physicals to draft-eligible players before the selection process in April. It has become much, much more than... more

Charlie Riedel / Associated Press Kansas State's Josh Freeman is a big, strong-armed quarterback who could work up to first-round draft status. The NFL Scouting Combine, which starts this week, is a critical piece in evaluating draft prospects. Top players... more

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com RB Darren Sproles' future in San Diego is up in the air while the team figures out what to do with LaDainian Tomlinson. The New England Patriots kicked off the 2009 "tag" season by slapping a non-exclusive franchise tag on... more

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins leads a new crop of potential NFL stars who hail from New Jersey. Certain places are known as breeding grounds for NFL players. Western Pennsylvania and Ohio come to mind, as do Florida, Texas and... more

Brett Favre announced Wednesday that he is retiring from the NFL after 18 seasons -- maybe for good this time. That got me thinking about where the New York Jets, who had Favre as their quarterback for only one season, will go from here. Free agency starts Feb. 27, and part... more

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Linebacker A.J. Hawk could thrive in the Packers' transition to a 3-4 defense because he has the right size for the scheme. Editor's note: This is the first in a series of occasional offseason stories following the progress of the... more

With the games out of the way, it's time to examine the business end of football. The term "offseason" no longer applies in the NFL. Teams are torn down and rebuilt from February through June, and this year has all the earmarks of being volatile. Eleven new... more

Al Bello / Getty Images Many NFL teams will study what QB Kurt Warner and the Cardinals did against the league's top-ranked defense. The NFL treated its fans to a great game Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly beat the upstart Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in... more

  Five things to watch in Super Bowl XLIII 1. Beware of the trick play Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was trained by Bill Cowher, and Cowher used the trick play many times in the postseason. In the NFC Championship Game two weeks ago, a flea flicker resulted in a... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- As Super Bowl week moves along, conversations regarding Sunday's game are dominated by the matchup between the Arizona Cardinals' high-scoring offense and the Pittsburgh Steelers' top-ranked defense. But that might not be what determines the... more

The quarterback who can make the most plays in Super Bowl XLIII probably will lead his team to the championship. Arizona's Kurt Warner and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger both have Super Bowl rings and are in hot pursuit of their second prize. Each of these... more

The word "culture" has become the in-vogue term to describe the fiber of a franchise. Culture, in the NFL sense, means creating a winning environment based on shared beliefs and practices. A tale of two franchises Associated Press The Cardinals and... more

Super Bowl XLIII is set and it should be a great matchup between the Steelers and Cardinals. However, after two terrific games on Sunday, it's clear a few things are fast becoming part of the game. Let's take one last look back at the conference title... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- A number of things caught my eye Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Here are some quick thoughts on several key topics unfolding here, starting with two prominent prospects. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State The leader of the Nittany Lions defense is a legitimate top-10... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images DeAngelo??Williams didn't make the Pro Bowl team, but showed why he's among the NFC's top running backs Sunday. Week 16 couldn't have been scripted any better, as the results left us with as many questions as answers. 1.... more

MOBILE, Ala. -- Good senior college players gather here every year for the Under Armour Senior Bowl, which is their last opportunity to put on the pads and show the NFL general managers and coaches in attendance why teams should look at them in the April draft. In my opinion,... more

Championship weekend is like having two Super Bowl games in one day. Players can taste how close they are to heading to Tampa Bay, with just four quarters standing in their way. Teams actually will take a lot more risks this week than they will in the Super Bowl. Is it any surprise... more

The Cardinals got a bad deal when they were scheduled to play Thanksgiving night in Philadelphia, just four days after a tough home loss to the Giants. They already had three unsuccessful trips to the East Coast. Flashback: A Philly feast    Eagles 48, Cardinals 20... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Willie Parker missed one of two regular-season meetings vs. the Ravens, but may play a bigger role this time around. There are no secrets between the Ravens and Steelers. Both teams are built on defense, as Pittsburgh and Baltimore finished... more

It would be hard to find a single fan or analyst that had all four divisional games figured out, let alone predicted the winners. While the home teams looked good on paper and during film study, only the Steelers were capable of defending their turf. Since 2005, home... more

?? Last season, the New York Giants had to face the Dallas Cowboys for a third time for the right to advance in the playoffs, winning 21-17. This season, the Giants will do the same with another NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles return to Giants... more

The San Diego Chargers travel to Pittsburgh to bang heads with the Steelers in the final game of divisional-playoff weekend. Pittsburgh needed the bye last week to get QB Ben Roethlisberger healthy after he suffered a concussion in a meaningless regular-season... more

We're on to round two of the playoffs, and it will be nothing short of a heavyweight fight when the Baltimore Ravens show up in Tennessee to play the Titans on Saturday. These teams have faced each other 17 times since 1996 and the Titans hold a one-game lead... more

The Arizona Cardinals travel to Carolina on Saturday in a rematch from Week 8, in which the Panthers won at at home, 27-23. This time, however, there's a lot more at stake as the winner will advance to the NFC Championship Game. The Cardinals fizzled down... more

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens came away with a win at Miami. Can they continue their road success? With two road teams winning, including one starting a rookie quarterback, Wild-Card Weekend lived up to the billing. Let's take a look... more

The Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons enter Saturday's NFC Wild-Card Game going in two different directions. The NFC West champion Cardinals faded down the stretch after a 7-3 start, losing four of their last six games. The Falcons grew stronger as the season... more

The Indianapolis Colts recently have struggled against teams that run 3-4 defenses. Not this season. The Colts are 5-0 when facing the scheme, including a 23-20 road victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. But will that carry over Saturday night against... more

There will be no secrets in Sunday's NFC Wild-Card Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. Brad Childress was the Eagles' offensive coordinator from 2002 to 2005 before taking over as the Vikings' head coach in 2006. The teams'... more

Using a hard-nosed style and a no-nonsense approach, rookie head coaches Tony Sparano and John Harbaugh did what some people believed was impossible -- push their teams to the playoffs. On Sunday, their teams will meet in Miami. Sparano's Miami Dolphins tied the... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images The Cowboys finished a disappointing season with a blowout loss to the Eagles. Although the playoff field is set, it's time to take one final look back at Week 17. 1. What is wrong with Dallas The Cowboys proved once again that a... more

10 hot topics for Week 17 1. Wild day in the AFC East Three of the four AFC East teams still don't know if they will win the division, earn a wild-card berth or go home for the season. The only team not in the playoff mix is the Buffalo Bills, but they have an important role in... more

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Marty??Schottenheimer could be a good fit to follow Bill Parcells' lead, going from the sideline to the front office. Running an NFL franchise isn't easy. Can you evaluate personnel, manage a salary cap, negotiate contracts, select a... more

10 hot topics for Week 16 1. Home-field advantage at stake The winner of the Panthers-Giants matchup gets home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. The game features two running backs that should have made the Pro Bowl, DeAngelo Williams and Brandon Jacobs. Jake Delhomme is 3-3 on... more

Bill Kostroun / Associated Press Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo added a Super Bowl title to his r??sum?? last year. Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt made their mark in 2007, their first season as head coaches. Three rookie... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images Joey Porter has thrived in Miami's 3-4 scheme, recording 17.5 sacks for the resurgent Dolphins. Getting to the quarterback is critical to any football team's success -- perhaps second only to the quarterback's ability to throw the... more

Jeff Gross / Getty Images Tarvaris Jackson has compiled a 139.7 passer rating since returning to the field midway through Week 14. Just five of the NFL's 12 playoff reservations have been confirmed, so the last two regular-season weeks should be great to watch --... more

10 hot topics for Week 15 1. A flip of the coin It looked like the Saints were going to beat the Bears on Thursday night and remain a factor in the playoff race, but a flip of the coin in overtime changed everything. Drew Brees never saw the field and New Orleans fell. The outcome puts... more

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Although the Steelers prevailed, rookie RB Tashard Choice played like a starter for the Cowboys. Take a look back at Week 14: Kirwan's unsung heroes Jim Johnson Defensive coordinator, Eagles The Eagles went on the... more

10 hot topics for Week 14 1. Biggest rematch weekend of season The divisional rematches have been building over the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, there were four rematch games with three being won by the losers of the first game. Last week, there were five rematch games and three were... more

Elsa / Getty Images James Harrison's all-around presence on the field puts him at the top of Pat Kirwan's list of defensive MVP candidates. Most Valuable Player discussions can dominate my radio show on Sirius, with a number of interesting candidates on offense... more

Rick Stewart / Getty Images NFL teams combined to commit 50 fumbles in Week 13, well above the season average of 38 per week. Week 13 really saw the first turn in the weather across most of the country. Rain, snow, and wind were an issue in many stadiums and there was... more

10 hot topics for Week 13 Week 13 is big for rematch games and last week taught us something about the situation. A record total of 837 points were scored in Week 12, but that mark may not stand for long. While Donovan McNabb responded to being benched with a four-touchdown... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Returns for touchdowns, such as Ed Reed's record-setter on Sunday, have helped light up scoreboards. The economy may be in a downturn, but NFL scoring is on the upswing. There were a NFL-record 837 points scored in Week 12, the... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images As Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel matures, so does the size of his upcoming free-agent contract. In Week 12, three quarterbacks were shown the bench, and another was injured. The 'Beast of the East' may be in the AFC, and there are... more

10 hot topics for Week 12 Week 12 has its own personality. We will see just four divisional games but all of them are rematches. Can the loser of the first game win the second? There are five teams sitting with a 5-5 record, and a loss makes the playoffs a fading issue. The... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images Ronnie??Brown is a multi-talented offensive threat who can run or throw out of the "Wildcat" formation. I hear analysts on television refer to the Wildcat formation as a gimmick. Webster's dictionary defines a gimmick as "a... more

Week 11 had its own personality to say the least. We had a tie, the return of Tony Romo, Brett Favre making the Jets' front office look like a group of geniuses, seven division games, a statement game by the world champions, four teams with more than 200 yards rushing, a couple of... more

Each week I try to explore a league trend that is developing or has led to a team's success or failure. This week I am looking at first-down defense. If a team isn't winning on first downs, bigger problems are just a few plays down the road. I will also look at rookie... more

10 hot topics for Week 11 Week 11 marks the turn for home in the 2008 season. There are no more byes, division games dominate the schedule, some teams have their backs to the wall and a loss this week destroys their playoff dreams, and four games are rematch games from earlier... more

Week 10 had six division games, and I reminded our readers that head coaches consider division games on the road the toughest assignments. Two young quarterbacks continue to impress -- in fact, combined with first-year head coaches they are continuing to defy logic. Who are the... more

10 hot topics for Week 10 Week 10 marks the start of the second half of the season. Among the themes to keep an eye on in the final two months are the frustration purge in Oakland, backup quarterbacks carrying a few teams' dreams, a microscope on two new head coaches and Thursday... more

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Will??Allen returns an interception for a first-quarter score against the Broncos. This past week in the NFL, two things happened that caused me to look a little deeper as to what might be going on around the league. The Steelers... more

Ben Margot / Associated Press Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan has already led the Falcons to more wins than they recorded all of last season. It is time to make the turn at the half-way mark of the season and look at some mid-term exam results along with some second half... more

10 hot topics for Week 9 Week 9 marks the end of the first half of the season and records are starting to distinguish the contenders from the pretenders. That said, at least 25 teams feel they are still in the playoff hunt. Five games this week are division matchups that will start to... more

Is there anything less meaningful than a "power poll?" The funniest thing I heard about power polls this week was when an NFL coach said to me, "Power polls are like asking me what I had for dinner yesterday -- I can't remember, and I bet no one can remember last week's... more

Donna McWilliam / Associated Press With Tony??Romo out, Brad??Johnson has gone 1-1 as the Cowboys' starting quarterback. When your favorite team's offense looks shaky, don't create the illusion that a guy on the street or on your bench is always the... more

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Jake??Delhomme has the Panthers off to a perfect 5-0 start at home and first place in the NFC South. Week 8 is close to the halfway mark in the 2008 season and I don't know about you, but the year seems like it's flying by and... more

As I started looking through game tapes from last weekend, I found several interesting twists to game plans around the league. I have been impressed by what Jim Haslett has been able to accomplish in two short weeks in St. Louis with just a few basic adjustments. And defenses seem to be... more

10 hot topics for Week 8 Week 8 brings us a new head coach, three divisional matchups, two teams in London that are both coming off terrible losses in the States, new expectations for some teams and a number of ways to look at your favorite team. Enjoy the storylines for Week 8: 1.... more

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Coaches like Green Bay's Mike McCarthy are going for it more often on fourth down this year. It is important to re-examine the action from the week before, and the season to date, in order to get a feel for where the pro game is headed. ... more

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Steven??Jackson and the Rams used some different looks to cut big holes in the Cowboys' defense. /AP Photo Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish electrified the crowd last week with a 63-yard punt return score in a 34-10 rout of the... more

10 hot topics for Week 7 It's hard to believe we are already closing in on the halfway mark of the NFL season. Team depth is already being challenged around the league, the trading deadline came and went with just one player being traded. The NFL office has certainly gotten the... more

It is time to look at the game inside the game. The results from Week 6 remind us that the offense has to work with the defense if success is going to be the final outcome. The question is: How must the offense support its defense? Modern defenses are blitzing, zone dogging and... more

Paul Connors/Associated Press The Cardinals' special teams were just one of many things that were working against the Cowboys on Sunday. The NFL turned itself upside down in Week 6 with the Rams beating the red-hot Redskins, Houston winning its first game, the... more

10 hot topics for Week 6 Week 6 has a number of storylines I will be watching with interest as the games unfold on Sunday and Monday. Rookie running backs have gotten off to a great start and I wonder if defenses have a few tricks and schemes to slow down the youngsters. There are two... more

If there weren't wide receivers acting up every week, complaining, being fined, pouting on the sidelines, and thinking about themselves before the team, there wouldn't be much controversy in the NFL. As one head coach said to me this week, "Most of my headaches come from the guys... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images LaDainian Tomlinson and the usually potent Chargers offense could not get going in a 17-10 upset loss at Miami. As we make the turn into the second quarter of the season, a number of storylines have raised my interest. A travel subject that... more

10 hot topics for Week 5 So far, Week 5 of the NFL season has looked and felt more like the week after the end of the regular season. We have witnessed two head coaches being fired (in St. Louis and Oakland) and an owner hanging out his dirty laundry like no other owner has ever... more

John Russell / Associated Press The Lane Kiffin era is over in Oakland, the team made progress on his watch. The Lane Kiffin era is over in Oakland, but the foundation he was building as head coach of the Raiders is not. Last season, Kiffin's first as head... more

Chris Graythen/Getty Images Drew Brees has a 71.4 completion percentage and is averaging 16.2 yards per completion on third down. Every NFL coach thinks of the season as a four-quarter game. The first quarter just came to an end as Week 4 games are over. There isn't... more

10 hot topics for Week 4 Week 4 in the NFL has already shown us that desperation is the issue of the day. A general manager was fired, head coaches are on the hot seat, teams have benched starters and another loss will bring more changes around the league. Here are the 10... more

Winslow Townson / Associated Press Defensive coaches better compile a list of backs who can throw the ball as well as Ronnie Brown did on Sunday. Week 3 action in the NFL brought a number of issues to the forefront and reinforced a few more things that appeared to be... more

Chris Gardner/Getty Images Seeing Ben Roethlisberger get hit this season is becoming a trend, and it could spell doom for the Steelers. With three weeks in the books, there are some interesting trends starting to develop -- some good and some bad. How long can Ben... more

Elsa / Getty Images Larry Johnson and the Chiefs love to run on first down, but they gain 4 or more yards only 20 percent of the time. I Love the expression, "You've gotta win on third down." Of course, you have to win on third down, but your chances of... more

Ten hot topics for Week 3 Here are some key storylines to watch as the NFL heads into Week 3: 1. Jackson and Royal on hot pace The first two weeks of the NFL season have provided some exciting play from rookie receivers. Eddie Royal (Denver) and DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia) are... more

John Russell / Associated Press Safety Michael Griffin had one of Tennessee's seven sacks on Jaguars' David Garrard in a 17-10 victory. Here's one thing that stood out from Week 1: Quarterbacks are in trouble this year. Just look at New England where... more

Jarrett Baker/Getty Images No Tom Brady? No problem for the Patriots and QB Matt Cassel, who played mistake-free ball against the Jets. Every week there are so many interesting storylines that unfold from the games that they are worth exploring. Here are the subjects... more

10 hot topics for Week 2 The difference between Week 1 and Week 2 this year is so radically different that no one could have predicted all the changes. Tom Brady is gone for the year, as is Shawne Merriman. A total of four starting quarterbacks were knocked out by injury and... more

Andy Lyons/Getty Images Bears rookie running back Matt Forte had a big Week 1, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown. What makes the second round of the NFL Draft such fertile ground for talent? During Week 1, players drafted in the second round of 2008 draft made... more

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images Travis LaBoy and the Cardinals defense set the tone for a 23-13 win by stopping the 49ers on the opening possession. As Week 1 comes to an end I want to look back at some of the storylines I thought would drive the first week of action and see... more

10 hot topics for Week 1 Every season has a life of its own in the NFL, and when you break it down, every week has a number of hot topics that dominate the storylines. It's Week 1 in the NFL, and there are so many unknowns that 10 topics will not do the week justice.... more

Mark Humphrey/AP The duo of Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch may lead some teams to throw in the towel. The NFL game is all about matchups. Offensive coordinators spend countless hours trying to dictate the one-on-one battles that give them a competitive edge.... more

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images Playing on the Vikings' star-studded line, Jared??Allen is expected to terrorize quarterbacks. Sacking the quarterback isn't the most critical factor when it comes to winning in the NFL, but it is close. And when you break down winning... more

G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images Glenn??Dorsey is one of 24 rookies that will make their first NFL start in Week 1. While the final roster cuts are in, there will be slight changes to rosters over the next few days as teams claim or sign players in order to make their... more

Jim Rogash/Getty Images Many coaches in the NFL, including Bill Belichick, are turning towards a hybrid defense in order to slow down the opposition. The NFL is a very interesting place when it comes to the use of the English language. Coaches are notorious for grabbing... more

Whether your favorite team runs a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme on defense, any chance of stopping opponents always starts up front. Photos ... Best DTs ?? More photos The defensive tackles in a 4-3 scheme are asked to attack gaps and be disruptive in the backfield. The defensive ends in a... more

I always knew he was listening. Every afternoon on my Sirius Radio show, I knew Gene Upshaw had the station on and was listening with a sharp ear to our NFL conversations with the guests and fans. He was never opposed to calling in and taking issue with me if he opposed my view of the... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Monte Kiffin has helped players like Ronde Barber become stars and shape the Bucs' defense. --> Keeping up with the sophisticated offenses in the NFL is no easy task. However, four defensive architects do it better than anyone... more

There are a number of defensive coaches who are poised to do the things coordinator Steve Spagnuolo did for the New York Giants last year. It usually takes a combination of a creative mind, good communication skills, and the ability to sell what they want to do. And it never hurts if... more

Marc Serota / Getty Images What can be learned from Week 3 of the preseason? Chad Pennington and the Dolphins are hoping a lot. Week 3 of the preseason can be a good time to find out where teams stack up, as it tends to be the last time starters are in for an extended... more

Bill Kostroun / Associated Press Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has the plan many teams will be looking to mimic in 2008. Through 16 regular-season games in 2007 and two playoff contests, no team that faced the undefeated New England Patriots could solve... more

Paul Sakuma/Associated Press Former No.1 pick Alex Smith (11) is facing stiff competition for the starting QB spot. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Coach Mike Nolan and his staff put out the welcome mat when I arrived here for the 49ers' summer camp. I was permitted... more

Greg Trott/Getty Images The Raiders plan to use first-round pick Darren McFadden in many ways this season. NAPA, Calif. -- The trip to Napa Valley is a beautiful ride and the surroundings suggest a big-time franchise is waiting at the end of the trip. Of course, the... more

Matt York/Associated Press Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart appears ready to establish himself as a bona fide NFL starter. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The drive up from Phoenix to Flagstaff to visit with the Cardinals was a beautiful ride as the temperature dropped from well... more

Marc Serota/Getty Images Newly acquired QB Chad Pennington (left) might have the inside track on the No. 1 job in Miami. DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins are now under the watchful eye of the master of reclamation projects, Bill Parcells, who continues to make big... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images With Brett Favre in New York, Jeff Garcia looks to take the Bucs back to the playoffs. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Standing on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice field, you are quickly reminded how solid this franchise has been over the... more

Phil Coale/Associated Press Jack Del Rio keeps a close eye on his Jaguars at training camp. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are full of quiet confidence. The group is on a mission to finally overtake the Indianapolis Colts and win the AFC South. ... more

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images The Browns' need for a third wideout could have them calling for more of Josh Cribbs on offense. BEREA, Ohio -- After surprising many en route to winning 10 games last season, the Cleveland Browns have high expectations coming in... more

Chuck Burton/Associated Press The Panthers hope DeAngelo Williams (34) and rookie Jonathan Stewart will be a potent one-two punch. SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- In the offseason, Panthers coach John Fox and GM Marty Hurney sat down to talk offense. It didn't take long for... more

Ben Liebenberg/NFL.com The Class of 2008 provided many inspirational moments during their memorable speeches. CANTON, Ohio -- There are a few times every year that remind me the NFL does it right most of the time. Whether it's the Super Bowl, the draft or the Pro... more

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Brett Favre's status will be big news until a decision is finally reached. With training camps getting ready to open soon, there are a number of storylines that will shape this season. Here are five that will have a significant impact... more

Brett Favre coming out of retirement? What's the problem? Bill Parcells has retired a number of times. Michael Jordan changed his mind and Favre is allowed to change his mind, too. Some fans call my radio show at Sirius to strongly suggest that they have had enough of Brett Favre... more

Adam Pretty / Getty Images NFL Europa players may not have been household names, but they served a purpose in training camp. With the start of training camps nearly here, several topics will be bandied about over the next few weeks. However, one issue is sure to receive... more

As usual, there are a number of big camp battles starting to set up around the league, but this year more battles will be won or lost on the field because most teams have the salary cap space to let the best man win. In years past, often it was the cheapest man who won the... more

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images As a second-round pick in 2006, Greg Jennings would be a member of the free-agent class of 2010. It seems like a long time before the 2010 free agency period will be upon us, but it is amazing how many players haven't even started to... more

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Hoping to improve their run game, the Lions envision rookie Gosder Cherilus as the answer at right tackle. ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions got off to a fast start last year, winning six of their first eight games, but faded with just... more

Tim Roske / Associated Press Justin Tuck and the rest of the New York Giants are looking to prove doubters wrong in 2008. ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York Giants may have some new looks this year, but there is a familiar feel to the defending Super Bowl... more

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Bills coach Dick Jauron likes what he sees from his young team in training camp. ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Expectations are high around Buffalo Bills' training camp, and it goes far beyond the playoff guarantee that safety Donte Whitner made in... more

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Nobody can doubt Devin Hester's value as a return specialist for the Bears. Is it time for a franchise tag for returners? Every position in the NFL has a franchise and transition tag available for a club to use if they have a star player... more

Despite limitations in practice due to roster size and the unpredictability of who is lining up against you in preseason games, teams must still find a way to settle starting positions that are up for grabs this summer. The defensive camp battles look very interesting to me this... more

Morry Gash/Getty Images Lots of former and current NFL quarterbacks have an opinion about whether or not Brett Favre should walk away from the game for good. STATELINE, Nev. -- Football conversations have dominated the driving range and putting green this week at the... more

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images The Jaguars are the only team over the last three years to run the ball more than then they throw it. Will more teams look to copy that formula in 2008? The NFL has become a pass-to-set-up-the-run league over the past twenty five years. The... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Todd Collins stepped in for an injured Jason Campbell and helped the Redskins make the playoffs last year. As camps around the league open this week, the stars will deservedly get the bulk of the attention. However, the NFL is a war... more

June marks the end of the school year and it also means final exams. For football fans, the 2008 season beckons and training camp is only weeks away -- so it's time to finally put the 2007 season to rest with a final exam. Take this 20-question test in 5 minutes or less and grade... more

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images Shaun Alexander is a former league MVP, but has found no takers after being released by the Seahawks. I tried to get in touch with all the key free-agent running backs this week to come on Sirius NFL Radio and talk about their employment... more

AP The Eli Manning vs. Tony Romo debate has been raging over the airwaves this offseason. The No. 1 debate this spring on my radio show "Moving the Chains" on Sirius NFL Radio has been which QB is better, Tony Romo or Eli Manning? Cowboys fans contend the... more

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Albert Haynesworth was one of the best defensive tackles in the league in 2007 and now he wants to be paid like one. The collective bargaining agreement in its present form gives clubs the right to use the franchise tag on a player more than... more

Sometimes it feels like everyone talks about left tackles on offense as if they are the only linemen that count. Ruben Brown has been to nine Pro Bowls but he's hardly in the conversation as a Hall of Fame candidate. Larry Allen struggles to keep up with Jonathan Ogden when I pose the... more

Do you remember those days long ago when you graduated from college and started on the job interview circuit? Potential employers peppered you with inane questions and you fed them your rehearsed answers. Illustrious list of 2008 retirees Adam Schefter's take: Now... more

Grant Halverson/Getty Images Coming off a broken leg, Mathias Kiwanuka hopes to fill some of the void left by Michael Strahan's retirement. As the Michael Strahan era officially ended Tuesday and many looked back at a great career, one New York Giant was thinking... more

If there really is an offseason in the NFL, it's the month of June. There isn't much real football happening right now outside of the OTAs. Still, there's always something to talk about ... Tight squeezes in NY New York tight ends seem to find themselves in the news.... more

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images The Redskins' signing of Stuart Schweigert flew under the radar, but it was shrewd nonetheless. Here are some thoughts as NFL teams complete their springtime minicamps and OTAs: 1. What goes on in the spring, stays in the spring... more

It may seem like a strange time of year to talk about the Pro Bowl but it's never too early to take a look at the emerging talent capable of a trip to Honolulu. NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt was making a point the other day on his radio show about how 20-plus players made their first... more

May and June are the months to ask your football questions, and I will try and get them answered. There was a great response to the opportunity from NFL fans from places outside of the USA in the first week of inquiries. Here are five NFL fans -- two from England, two from Norway and one... more

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com Matt Ryan's $72 million deal with the Falcons raised a few eyebrows ... and contract numbers of fellow rookies. There is a great sense of relief in Atlanta that new franchise quarterback Matt Ryan is signed, sealed and delivered. I believe... more

Now that NFL owners have voted unanimously to end their agreement with the players' union in 2011, they still have all of 2008 and 2009 to negotiate a new CBA before the "trigger" points that are in place to encourage negotiations would fire and things wouldn't be as we know... more

While minicamps and OTAs are underway around the league, some consider May and June to be the slow months of the NFL calendar. With that in mind, it's the perfect time to learn more about the game. So let's look at this as an opportunity to go to school in order to be a better... more

May and June are considered the quiet months in the NFL, but there are still plenty of interesting developments to ponder and look forward to. Lets' tackle a few? Will bigger be better? As we continue to see defenses get faster and more athletic to handle all the matchup problems... more

While the free agency purge and the NFL Draft have come and gone, teams hold minicamps and continue to evaluate their rosters as they look to shape the club they will bring to training camp late this summer. While the premier free agents have been plucked from the market, many players --... more

As teams spend the next 60 days putting the final touches on their training camp rosters, they have to consider a lot of different factors. As they do for free agency and the draft, teams must evaluate the talent still available along with their own needs. But they also need to think about... more

The period of the year following the NFL Draft is when teams assess their talent and begin to develop personnel packages that feature their best player combinations. Finding the most effective matchups against offensive personnel groups is the biggest challenges facing defenses today.... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski and Jeff Garcia represent a half of the Buccaneers' current quarterback puzzle. The 2008 NFL Draft is over and minicamps are winding down. So what does an NFL personnel department do now in preparation... more

While the 2008 NFL Draft is in the books and minicamps are underway, there still are pressure points on a number of rosters. It is impossible to expect free agency and the draft to satisfy all team needs. When a roster has questions surrounding a position or two and the team gets to... more

Some final thoughts on the 2008 draft before we dive into minicamps and OTAs: Vikings had a crystal ball The Vikings traded for 26-year-old defensive end Jared Allen before the draft. In my discussions with the Vikings before and after the draft it became clear to me they knew they... more

Stacking a draft board accurately is a necessary start to drafting well but it isn't the only thing that makes for the right selections. There are driving forces that factor into picking players and many times these forces are specific to a club. Injury history of players... more

The draft is over but many personnel issues remain on the table for a number of teams and players. There are trades that didn't happen but still might. There may be some scary holes that still need to be repaired. Drafting decisions have shed some new light on just how some franchises... more

There has already been some serious business this week. The first pick in the draft is locked up with Jake Long going to Miami. The Jared Allen trade to the Vikings has stirred up the first round and the Chiefs may be much more flexible about trading out of the No. 5 spot. I also believe... more

Stephen Dunn/Allsport In 1991, the Jets wanted to pick Brett Favre, but were forced to settle for Browning Nagle. The draft boards are set, and in many cases under lock and key, in the days leading up to the draft. The risk of information getting out is such... more

Top safeties in 2008 draft: 1. Kenny Phillips, Miami Height: 6-2 ????Weight: 212 College stats: 33 starts, 241 tackles, 15 passes defended, 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles. Vital numbers: 4.48 40-yard dash, 4.27 short shuttle, 34 vertical Phillips is the... more

Top cornerbacks in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Leodis McKelvin, Troy Height: 5-10   Weight: 190 College stats: 36 starts, 173 tackles, 25 passes defended, 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles Vital numbers: 4.38 40-yard dash, 4.11 short shuttle, 38 ½-inch vertical ... more

Top linebackers in 2008 draft: 1. Keith Rivers, USC Height: 6-2   Weight: 241 College stats: 36 starts, 240 tackles, 18½ tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions Vital numbers: 4.51 40-yard dash, 4.38 short shuttle Rivers had a great pro day last week when... more

Top defensive tackles in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Sedrick Ellis, Southern California Height: 6-0   Weight: 309 College stats: 36 starts, 144 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Vital numbers: 5.0 40-yard dash, 4.73 short shuttle, 36 reps on the... more

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Devin Thomas had one standout season at Michigan State and is now considered the top wideout in the draft. Remember Mike Mamula, the workout warrior out of Boston College who parlayed a strong combine showing into a first-round NFL contract... more

Top defensive ends in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Chris Long, Virginia Height: 6-3   Weight: 272 College stats: 37 starts, 183 tackles, 43 tackles for a loss, 22 sacks, 3 forced fumbles Vital numbers: 4.75 40-yard dash, 4.21 short shuttle Long is a complete player.... more

Defensive players have dotted the top of most draft boards since the mock draft business began in earnest back in January. Virginia defensive end Chris Long remains an elite prospect along with fellow defensive linemen Vernon Gholston, Glenn Dorsey, and Sedrick Ellis. Others who have... more

Top wide receivers in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Limas Sweed, Texas Height: 6-4   Weight: 210 College stats: 124 receptions, 20 TDs Vital numbers: 4.50 40-yard dash, 4.33 short shuttle, 37 ½-inch vertical Limas stayed in college for four year and refined his route... more

Top tight ends in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Fred Davis, Southern California Height: 6-3   Weight: 255 College stats: 26 starts, 117 receptions, 13 TDs Vital numbers: 4.65 40-yard dash Davis was the premiere tight end during the season, and looked like a complete... more

Top running backs in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas Height: 6-1   Weight: 211 College stats: 35 starts, 785 carries, 4,590 yards, 41 TDs; 46 receptions, 2 TDs Vital numbers: 4.33 40-yard dash McFadden is tops on most draft boards and is a... more

The draft board is a volatile entity this time of year. Not only do the combine and pro-day workouts help scouts refine their grades on certain players, but individual team interviews and workouts can generate plenty of rumor and speculation, which can also push a player up the board or... more

Top 10 quarterbacks in 2008 NFL Draft: 1. Matt Ryan, Boston College Height: 6-5   Weight: 228 College stats: 32 starts, 8,963 yards, 54 TDs, 34 INT Vital numbers: 4.95 40-yard dash, 4.51 short shuttle Ryan is the premiere quarterback of the class of 2008. He... more

April is time for spring cleaning -- and the NFL is no exception. With the draft at the end of the month, a few teams are fairly tight in the salary cap and need to clean up the books to go forward. Three teams have to make some adjustments to stay under the salary cap or at least to... more

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Every so often, an apparent new trend pops up in the NFL that gets its legs for some unfounded reason. And it usually involves a concept that teams can get by with inferior players at a certain position. As one GM said to me at the owners' meetings this week,... more

With the draft just over a month away, it appears there could be quite a bit of movement in the first round. A number of teams are looking for a limited amount of talent at a few key positions. With that in mind, I've decided to incorporate trades in my first mock draft. ... more

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com A left tackle in college, Michigan's Jake Long could be headed to the right side in the NFL. The sudden and very tragic death of Heath Benedict from Newberry College, a young man I interviewed at the Senior Bowl and had on my radio show a... more

Michael Conroy/AP Just as he did at the NFL Scouting Combine, Virginia DE Chris Long impressed at his Pro Day. In terms of important days leading up to the NFL draft, March 18 will prove to be among the biggest. Six schools had their Pro Day workouts on Tuesday:... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images A knack for hard knocks has made Miami safety Kenny Phillips (1) a potential first-round pick. By my count, it's safe to assume that more than half the teams in the NFL are in need of a safety on some level and entered the offseason with... more

Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images A three-year starter for USC, Sedrick??Ellis finished with 17?? sacks and 28?? tackles for loss. As my draft board begins to take shape, and the many experts and prognosticators begin to release their own mock drafts, it looks like there... more

Most NFL teams run the ball just over 400 times a season and pass the ball somewhere between 450-550 times. We could discuss the passing and running of your favorite team all day long, but most teams also execute between the same number of special teams plays, and there is rarely a... more

The first week of free agency had an unpredicted flurry of signings, and the money used to sign the first 60 players came in about 17 percent higher than last year's first week of free agency. The players have to be excited that in a year where the free-agent talent pool was... more

Make no mistake about it, free agency is tied to the draft. Teams identify needs and react accordingly. Free agency starts before the draft and ends after the selection process, but general managers have to take educated guesses about where to acquire talent. Let's take a look at... more

When I was at the Jets I used to have a piece of paper on my desk when free agency was about to start that I looked at 10 times a day during the spring. It said, "Always remember the R's of free agency." It meant, put the right tag on the restricted free agents, re-sign the right... more

There have been more than 45 contracts completed in less than one full week of free agency, and the biggest concern to most football people is the issue of guaranteed money. I spent some time Monday morning with two former NFL head coaches and both were very concerned about the amount... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Ready or not, Aaron??Rodgers is the starting quarterback in Green Bay, where's he's replacing a legend. Dan Marino has long been retired and the Dolphins still haven't figured out how to replace him. Will the same problem... more

A week ago, the league converged on Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. Between sessions on the RCA Dome field it was a time for club executives to meet privately about other matters such as trades. The true depth of the talent pool at each position in the draft has yet to... more

Some initial thoughts while free agency begins to kick into high gear ... 1. Go slow The average team in the NFL entered free agency $15 million under the salary cap, but that doesn't mean they should throw the cash up in the air. Most GMs are preparing to go slow and let the... more

Ask anyone in Pittsburgh who Myron Cope was, and the answer would be the voice of the city. Cope was the most colorful announcer on the radio in the country. He spoke like a Steelers fan because he was one. He believed in the Steeler way and wanted to see great fundamentals from the... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- With a full year of scouting and the all-star games in the rearview mirror, there still is no consensus group of top five players in this year's draft class. Of course, a lot can still change as the evaluation process winds down over the last two months. The NFL... more

Every front office and personnel department worked overtime last weekend trying to get a grip on their own free agents, potential free agents around the league, the upcoming Combine for draftable players and what the market may be at each position. A number of front office people from... more

The end of the season gives me a chance to spend some time with NFL people and potential NFL players. Whether it's talking about a promotion, a termination, a retirement or the upcoming draft, the conversation is much different then it is during the season. The offseason is the business... more

G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams could be looking at a big pay raise this offseason. The more I watch the ripple effect of some of the factors creating stress on player negotiations these days in the NFL, the more I feel for team... more

Prior to Adrian Peterson's arrival on the NFL scene, the popular sentiment was more in line with the Denver Broncos philosophy that you can find a running back in the later rounds of the draft. Peterson, who rushed for 1,341 yards in 2007 for the Vikings, earned offensive rookie of the... more

The Parcells factor Bill Parcells is a decision maker. Some people talk about making the tough call, others make the call and don't look back. The Miami Dolphins have a former head coach in the top seat. Not a guy on the competition committee, not a guy with a law degree,... more

David Stluka/Getty Images He played tight end at Michigan State, but which side of the ball will Kellen Davis line up on in the NFL? MOBILE, Ala. -- Every year when I'm down at the Under Armour Senior Bowl there are always a few players that are better than... more

The Super Bowl is barely over and the business of the NFL just keeps marching on. Teams have to decide if they are going to use a "tag" on the best available player on their roster who has an expiring contract. Within days, some of the teams will elect to restrict one... more

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com USC quarterback John David Booty is showing a strong arm at Senior Bowl practices this week in Mobile, Ala. MOBILE, Ala. -- The Under Armour Senior Bowl is my first opportunity each year to dive into the draft class. Traditionally the game and... more

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With all due respect to a deserving Eli Manning, the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLII was actually a coach. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo came to New York from the Eagles with a fire-zone scheme that asked the Giants players to attack the... more

David Drapkin / Getty Images If Osi Umenyiora (above) and Michael Strahan can pressure Tom Brady, the Giants' chances of winning increase. PHOENIX -- The New England Patriots are on the steps of the ultimate accomplishment in a team sport. But no matter what the... more

PHOENIX -- Mention the New England Patriots to any one walking around town today and the conversation is about Tom Brady and the awesome passing game. There are times Brady makes it look so easy with Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth and Ben Watson. But the playoffs did a lot to... more

As Super Bowl XLII Media Day came to an end at the University of Phoenix Stadium it was the same old story about Eli Manning. It just seems so difficult for many people to let their guard down and just back him. Manning always seems to be on a roller coaster with the Giants fans. One day... more

We all know that Tom Brady is the guy that drives the Patriots' bus, but the defense has to live up to its end of the bargain if another NFL championship is to become a reality. I took a long, hard look at the Patriots' defensive game plan against the Giants in Week 17, and it... more

PHOENIX -- The teams are trickling into Arizona a week before Super Bowl XLII, with the Patriots landing here Sunday and the Giants arriving on Monday. There's no turning back now -- not that anyone really wants to. I couldn't help but think about how big this game really is... more

Otto Gruele Jr. / Getty Images Arizona State center Mike Pollak is a bit undersized but more than makes up for it with tenacity. MOBILE, Ala. -- Despite the fact that many top-rated offensive linemen often do not participate, the Senior Bowl has traditionally been a... more

The Chargers embarrassed the Broncos on their home field in what many consider the worst home loss in Broncos history in Week 5 (Highlights). The Chargers have gone 7-2 since that game while Denver has struggled to a 4-5 record. Denver has lost its last three road games giving up 102... more

When the Giants play the Packers on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, it will be a rematch of a Sept. 16 game in New York when the Packers easily beat the Giants, 35-13. Since that loss, New York has won 12 of its next 16 games. The Giants' pass rush, running game and the... more

Michael Conroy/AP Can LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers make it two consecutive victorious trips to the Eastern Time Zone? Championship Sunday is great football because the losers go home and the winners move on to the Super Bowl. No second chances, no ties, just two... more

What can we learn from the divisional playoffs? Here's one man's impressions as four teams gear up for the conference championships ... 1. Get a coach on the rebound Teams are always looking for a new head coach. The NFL usually averages about five to six openings a year. We... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

The divisional playoff game between the Giants and Cowboys is Round 3 of a heavyweight fight. Dallas won the first two rounds, 45-35 and 31-20, but that doesn't mean a thing if the Giants knock them out in the final round. New York is hoping to achieve something that has already... more

There are two popular storylines for the Seahawks-Packers NFC Divisional playoff game: The return of Mike Holmgren to his first head coaching position where there's a street named after him, and the infamous overtime coin flip in the 2003 playoffs between these two teams where Matt... more

This is a rematch of the Nov. 11 regular-season game won by San Diego, 23-21, in San Diego. Both teams played that game with backups in key positions. Marvin Harrison was on the sideline, but so was Chargers corner Quentin Jammer, who would have covered Harrison. But as I go through the... more

Someone has to play the undefeated Patriots sooner or later in the playoffs so here come the fearless Jacksonville Jaguars. They head into their divisional-round matchup against New England with a 5-3 record vs. playoff teams. But, of course, they're facing a Patriots team that is 6-0... more

When these two teams met on Dec. 9, the game went into overtime before the Chargers won it on a 16-yard run by LaDainian Tomlinson. There was no love lost between these two teams as Shawne Merriman popped Vince Young after a handoff and the Titans put a few extra hits on the Chargers... more

I spoke with both head coaches, Mike Tomlin and Jack Del Rio, every week during the season and watched their game tapes religiously. The Steelers and Jaguars know each other very well, both want to play a physical style of football, and each team would love nothing more than to turn this... more

Top storylines for wild-card weekend With only four games on this wild-card weekend, I have narrowed down the things I will be looking for during the four games. Here's a few things that I always wonder about on a playoff weekend. Record vs. playoff teams Team W-L ... more

Bill Parcells is back in the NFL but this time he is not the head coach or the GM. Parcells has a new title -- executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins -- and a new and improved business model. As people speculate about how he's going to operate from... more

The road to the Super Bowl Here's how the individual playoff seeds have fared in making it to the Super Bowl since 1990. Seed Super Bowl appearances, AFC Super Bowl appearances, NFC ?? Comment 1. 6 (35.3%) 11 (65%) ?? The No. 1 seeds have made it to the Super Bowl a combined 50... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 14 So many interesting storylines abound in Week 17 that it was difficult to get it down to the top 10. Bill Parcells starts a brand new endeavor in a most unusual way from projects past. Many of the playoff-bound teams will be reaching deep into their... more

Week 17 is the strangest weekend of the NFL season. Let's take a look at all the factors that make this weekend unpredictable. This year, there are 17 teams eliminated from the playoff hunt, but at least five of them feature young quarterbacks looking to gain valuable experience.... more

Things are just starting to gear up around the league as the regular season winds down. Teams are jockeying for postseason position or fighting for their playoff lives, players are being considered for individual honors and awards, and some of the less fortunate teams are already knee-deep... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 15 The 2007 season is winding down. Teams that have clinched a playoff spot wrestle with the concept of resting starters versus staying sharp. A number of teams can play the spoiler role, and as one middle linebacker told me this week, "If we can't... more

Defensive football is really a structure of triangles. Whether it is the alignment and responsibilities of the front seven or how zone coverage unfolds when a pass play has to be covered, the basic structure of all defenses is a triangle. A cover-two corner in the flat with an outside... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a... more

As we enter full swing into this season of giving, lets take a look at a few instances where some NFL teams will be "doing without," and see how each situation will affect the franchises involved. What's next for Falcons? Bobby Petrino quit! At least he could have stuck... more

With all apologies to Bill Parcells and the old school coaching fraternity, the NFL has become an offensive game. All you have to do is look at last year's Super Bowl, where the league's best offense ran over the league's best defense. The current NFL rules have been built... more

There are many factors that contribute to winning and losing every week. Which team has the better quarterback, who wins the turnover battle, a critical call by an official or a missed field goal can all determine the outcome of a game. One often overlooked issue, though, is field... more

Roster depth is always a critical issue in the NFL, but it seems more magnified this year with all the injuries. Brock Berlin was under center for the Rams. Vinny Testaverde gives the Panthers the best chance to win. Sage Rosenfels gets a win for the Texans. A guy named Shaun Hill had... more

Seconds after the Philadelphia Eagles played the Patriots close in Week 12, it seemed like they had advertised a blue print on how to beat New England. While the Eagles didn't beat the Patriots, the game tape might have provided a few clues about what things can be successful... more

The Patriots have done so well on offense this year that their punter does not qualify to be ranked among the other punters in the NFL. Chris Hanson has only punted 24 times in 11 games and unless the Ravens force him into a large number of punts, he will remain anonymous. That tells... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 13 This is the last weekend of football before the turn for home in the NFL schedule. Next week starts the fourth quarter and there are more than 10 storylines that will occupy my attention as I watch the action. I will spend Sunday at CBS Sports, in a room... more

Week 13 is upon us and it marks the end of the third quarter of the NFL season. Coaches always think of the NFL season in terms of four quarters, and at the end of this weekend, 12 games will have been played and four remain. There are a number of issues that appear relevant at... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

The Steelers were upset by the Jets last week, but that might work in their favor in Week 12. The Steelers (7-3) have responded to their two previous losses this season with great defensive efforts the following week. They shutout the Seahawks after a loss to Arizona and they surrendered ... more

Without a doubt, Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson has been one of the biggest surprise stories of the 2007 season. Anderson had to watch the Browns draft Brady Quinn in the first round last spring after giving up future draft compensation to acquire the 22nd overall... more

I went over the NFL's injured reserve list today and even though it's still early in the season, there are already 155 players on it. Without breaking down every contract, you can look at it this way: The list includes top-end players, such as Orlando Pace, who have salaries... more

Titans-Broncos is the matchup of two young first-round quarterbacks from the class of 2006. Vince Young has four come-from-behind wins in his short career and Jay Cutler has three. Cutler has a big strong arm and Young can beat you with his legs. The Titans like to remind Young not to forget... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 11 The regular season bye weeks are over and it is officially time to defend the top of a division, make a push to the playoffs, or take a look at a few young players to get ready for 2008. When you think about it, every team fits into one of these... more

I spent most of Tuesday talking with NFL players and coaches who are dealing with the task of rebounding from a shutout loss in Week 10 (Vikings and 49ers) or reacting to a rematch game they just had and the new NFL memo warning teams that ejections are a possibility for flagrant... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes who help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

The 49ers face Seattle on Monday night in what will be the eighth rematch game of the weekend. The Niners lost to Seattle 23-3 earlier this season and now have to travel to Seattle and deal with one of the toughest home field advantages in the NFL. 49ers QB Alex Smith has only once... more

Top storylines for Week 10 Week 10 in the NFL really is "Rematch Weekend." Sixteen teams meet for the second time this season. The focus this week is on eight games. It's hard to sweep a team in the NFL, and division splits between two teams are more the norm. But... more

Halftime adjustments are critical in football. Sometimes coaches expand a game plan, many times they reduce a game plan and they do it based on what they learned in the first half. So now it's time for us to learn from the first half of the season and get a second half game... more

It didn't matter if it was the AFC West or the NFC West, the only team that was safe this week was the St. Louis Rams ... who had a bye. The other seven teams all went down to defeat. Kansas City lost to the Packers, Denver got run over by the Lions, the Chargers were shocked in... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 9 There couldn't be any more hype and anticipation for a regular-season game than there is this week in the NFL for Patriots-Colts. I have written about it all week and almost forgot about the rest of the NFL schedule. There are some very important games... more

The big game between the Patriots and Colts is upon us. Despite the hype, both coaches know the loser is far from out of the Super Bowl hunt. In fact, there could be some advantages for the loser of this game. Remember in 2004 when the Patriots lost to the Steelers during the regular season,... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 8 As we approach the midpoint of the 2007 season, we still have two great teams undefeated and on a collision course for next weekend, when the Patriots and Colts meet. We also still have two teams without a win, as Miami travels all the way to London looking... more

The Miami Dolphins are one of the great franchises in the NFL and they are struggling like never before with an 0-7 record. They just lost their one special player on offense, running back Ronnie Brown, for the year with a knee injury and now they have to take a trip to London to play the... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

The Colts are trying to go 6-0 for the third straight year. The Jaguars couldn't care less about the Colts' fast start because all they remember is putting 44 points on the board last year when the Colts came to town. It might surprise you to know that both Peyton Manning and... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 7 The NFL schedule is now in Week 7, and we still have two undefeated teams and two teams without a win. Last year, the Bears and Colts hit the 7-0 mark at this point but we had no teams after Week 7 with a goose egg in the win column (the Raiders were... more

The style of play in the NFL is always evolving. This week I want to take a look at three issues facing coaches on Sundays. 1. The risk and reward of the 50-plus yard field goal attempt To date, NFL teams have attempted 35 field goals of 50 yards or more and converted 16 (or 45... more

The Giants face the Falcons on Monday night as thye look to improve to 4-2 and move to within a game of the Cowboys in the NFC East. Let's take a look at what we should expect from both teams tonight in the Atlanta. Since the Giants had their big goal-line stand to beat the... more

Top 10 storylines for Week 5 Here are some of the key Week 5 storylines to keep tabs on this weekend: 1. Can the Packers keep winning without a ground game? The Green Bay Packers are 4-0 and are defying all odds. How long can a team with the worst ability to gain four or more... more

Week four in the NFL is no different than the other weeks in the fact that there are story lines that make this a special segment of the NFL calendar. Here are the ten things I plan on monitoring as the games kick off. One of them is not waiting for Brett Favre to break the passing touchdown... more

When I was in the front office of an NFL team we always said we could never have enough running backs. In 2007, the same can be said about quarterbacks. As of Monday, nine teams had two quarterbacks on their active rosters: Arizona, Denver, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis,... more

On paper this game looks like a mismatch in many ways. The Bills are down to a rookie quarterback with one career start, a rookie running back and nine players on injured reserve. The Cowboys are firing on all cylinders. They are the best team in the NFC, undefeated, the No. 1 offense... more

As we reach the end of the first quarter of the season, solid trending information has surfaced, supplying us with an idea of what teams are doing, or trying to accomplish. Scoring is up this season about a touchdown a game from the same point last year; the Bears have given up 58... more

The Bengals face a tall order in this home game against the hottest team in the NFL. New England comes in with the No. 2 scoring offense and arguably the No. 1 defense in the league. Quarterback Tom Brady hasn't even tapped into all of his offensive weapons yet. Randy Moss and Wes... more

Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a trophy... more

Most of the NFL is shocked by the state of affairs with the Saints. Many people picked them as their preseason Super Bowl selection. They have a high-powered offense, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and a very bright young coach. But after an 0-2 start, they are far from regaining... more

There aren't many division games that receive more notoriety than the NFC East matchups. To get an NFC East game on MNF is always a very good football game. The Eagles are considered strong contenders for a deep playoff run and the Redskins are flying under the radar with few... more

Each week in the NFL has its own unique flavor. Week 3 in the 2007 season has so many developing stories that it was hard to limit this list to 10. But here are the things I will be looking closely at as this weekend's games are played: 1. The AFC vs. the NFC What a... more

Tony Romo made the Pro Bowl last year after a five-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thanksgiving. He looked awesome, but as coach Bill Parcells said back then, it's not time to anoint him. Romo finished that game completing 22-of-29 passes for 306 yards,... more

After speaking with five NFL head coaches, four assistant coaches and six prominent players on Tuesday, I surely got a feel for the trends around the league this week. First off, a number of players on winning teams told me that their coaches reduced the game plans from Week 1 to Week 2,... more

Tampa Bay, Houston and even Cleveland, for the moment, all feel as if someone is in the process of rescuing them from the ugly dark side of football. Jeff Garcia has given Tampa an offense that can support the defense on any given Sunday. Houston's Matt Schaub made the sacks go... more

(Note: For nine years, I have written the Unsung Heroes column during the season to bring attention to the people behind the scenes that help make some of the extraordinary things happen in the NFL on any given weekend. At the end of the year, the Unsung Hero of the Year is presented a... more

The season is still early, but there are two teams facing their second divisional opponent following a loss in Week 1. Arizona and Cleveland can't afford to go 0-2 in the division this week, yet that is the reality they face. The other intriguing issue this week, from my perspective, is... more

A look back at Week 1 before we go forward 1. Randy Moss had 9 receptions for 183 yards, which turns out to be the best single-game yardage day for any receiver in Tom Brady's career. If you ran the numbers out over 16 games at that pace Moss finishes with 144 receptions, 2,928 yards and... more

On my NFL summer camp tour a number of offensive coordinators said to me that the running game in the league today works best when you have at least one of the following three things ... a personnel grouping that has a heavy pass-to-run ratio, a formation that looks like pass or a down and... more

Here are two teams in the wide open NFC West fighting for an identity. Arizona only won five games last year, but four of them were in the division and they swept the 49ers. San Francisco spent a lot of money in the off-season to build up a defense that gave up 412 points and were outscored... more

These two division rivals split their games last year, with both home teams winning. The marquee matchup when Baltimore and Cincinnati meet is the high-powered Bengals offense against the Ravens' signature defense. When the Bengals beat the Ravens, it is through the air, and when they... more

Week 1 of any NFL season is filled with excitement and can be a good indicator of how the season is going to play out. Last year, the final four teams in the conference championship games all won on opening day. The four teams that couldn't generate one touchdown on opening day went on... more

Getting the final 53-man roster sorted out is always a struggle. Last-minute injuries can play a big role in who makes a roster. The style of defense or offense can also be a determining factor. For example, most 4-3 defensive units are going to keep 8 defensive linemen at a minimum... more

Each week I will discuss a trend in the game that looks to be evolving from my discussions with coaches and players, video tape study and observation. Let's start off the 2007 season with the famous "Tampa 2" coverage that has been the rage of NFL defenses for the past few... more

From the day the Super Bowl ended straight through the NFL Draft in April, everyone was talking about which draft picks were going to change the fortunes of their team. That's the perception, anyway. The reality is less than four percent of the opening day starters in the NFL will... more

The most interesting piece of football business this summer is the interpretation of Michael Vick's contract. It's clear he isn't playing for the Falcons in 2007 and his $6 million salary will not be paid. Consequently, the club will receive a $6 million credit to its... more

Since the 2006 season ended, we've been through free agency, the draft, OTAs, training camp. There have been trade opportunities and preseason games. And still, too many teams have questions surrounding the most important position on the field. Quarterback is the one place in... more

The third weekend of the preseason is hyped as the week we all get a great glimpse of what teams will really look like when the regular season rolls around. The starters are supposed to play at least a half of the game and possibly the first series of the third quarter. Do yourself a big... more

Preseason games can be very misleading to the casual observer who looks at the box score. A preseason win or loss isn't a great indicator of what the season has in store for a team. Most coaches don't bother to game plan the first two games, and the fourth game is designed for... more

OVERVIEW It was Sunday morning Aug. 12th, at 8 a.m. when I arrived at the Lions facility. The team had just won a preseason game against the Bengals, coming from behind in the fourth quarter to erase a 16-point deficit. That kind of thing doesn't happen very often to the Detroit... more

OVERVIEW The Jags rolled out the red carpet for my visit. I spent time with head coach Jack Del Rio, GM James Harris, 17 players, a number of assistant coaches and even had a chance for a short conversation with owner Wayne Weaver. There is some genuine excitement about the new offense under... more

OVERVIEW The Buccaneers won the division in 2005 and fell to last in 2006. In recent years, the NFC South has been a roller coaster ride with the team finishing last one year winning the division the next year. Tampa was last in 2004 and first in 2005, the Saints were last in 2005 and won it... more

OVERVIEW I must say that my camp tour visit to the Cleveland Browns is always one of the highlights of my summer camp tour. The franchise welcomes the visit, can't do enough to provide time with the players and coaches; they let me practically get inside the drills on the practice field... more

?? OVERVIEW Last year the Carolina Panthers were supposed to end their season in Miami winning the Super Bowl. When it didn't happen, someone had to pay for the 8-8 season. Some suggested it was Jake Delhomme's fault, others felt it was the games Steve Smith and other key... more

As I walked the streets of Canton Ohio talking football with the NFL greats this past weekend, the issue of what rookie draft picks are signing for was a hot topic. Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Matthews are all young enough to have been big-money earners during their... more

Well, almost all of the draft picks have signed and are in camp preparing to start their professional football careers. The hardest position to play is quarterback and now one of the two first-round selections is still at home waiting for the "right deal." What is the right... more

OVERVIEW The Atlanta Falcons have had one of the most upsetting off-seasons in NFL history. The face of the organization, Michael Vick, is in the battle of his life to clear his name, they lost DE Patrick Kerney in free agency to the Seahawks, RB Warrick Dunn is sidelined recovering from an... more

The day after the draft and everyone wants to declare the winners and losers. Not so fast. As I spent every waking moment with the 'Godfather' of the draft, Gil Brandt, we both decided that the teams are doing such a great job of evaluating talent and stacking their draft boards with... more

OVERVIEW Granted Bill Cowher is no longer the coach of the Steelers, but there is a consistency about the Steeler organization that transcends the coach. A day at Saint Vincent's College watching the 2007 Steelers prepare for the season under new head coach, Mike Tomlin, and it just... more

  As I pulled into the New York Giants camp I had a few preconceived notions about the state of affairs in "Big Blue" country. No one could replace Tiki Barber, letting Luke Pettigout go was a mistake, Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress should have been at the facility for the... more

OVERVIEW The Patriots were out in full pads and looking good in all aspects of their practices. A Bill Belichick practice covers so many aspects of the game from detailed fundamentals, to game situations, to cross training players at different positions that it... more

MIAMI (Feb. 5, 2007) -- Let's all give a round of applause for PeytonManning and the brilliant career that can now be defined by a worldchampionship and a Super Bowl MVP award. The Colts couldn't have won withouthis brilliant leadership, and he would be the first to recognize that hisrunning ba... more

  I am sure most NFL fans have noticed that the Patriots are fortifying theirroster for another Super Bowl run. The aggressive signing of linebacker AdaliusThomas early in free agency for big money was not in the typical Patriot styleof dong business, but if anyone claims they're sur... more

Let me start out by saying that if Dwight Freeney was on my team, I would doanything to keep him there -- we now know that means $72 million over sixyears. More specifically, it means $30 million guaranteed (41 percent of thedeal). Freeney played through injuries last year, his sack production... more

  I was in France all last week and learned that even the French have anopinion about what to do with Michael Vick. We all hear the different options-- a leave of absence with pay, a leave without pay, a year-long suspension,status quo, maybe termination. And anything in between.... more

Television, radio and the print media might have talked about all theevents, rumors and conjecture leading up to the Super Bowl to the point thatthere was nothing left to talk about. But the coaches and scouts watched thegame tapes -- especially of the previous playoff games -- and built a game... more

It is the time of year when speculation rules the roost. It's the quiet beforethe storm, and there's nothing to really do but guess what might happen. I tooka look at the history of eight critical areas of a football season and took afew educated guesses about what the outcome might be in 2... more

I am sure most NFL fans have noticed that the Patriots are fortifying theirroster for another Super Bowl run. The aggressive signing of linebacker AdaliusThomas early in free agency for big money was not in the typical Patriots styleof dong business, but if anyone claims they're sure of how... more

It is the time of year when speculation rules the roost. It's the quiet beforethe storm and there's nothing to really do but guess what might happen. I tooka look at the history of eight critical areas of a football season and took afew educated guesses about what the outcome might be in 20... more

Here are some thoughts on the first day of the 2007 NFL Draft, as well as anevaluation of needs yet to be addressed for each NFL team.Arizona Excellent first day ... like Levi Brown as a runblocker ... love the move up to get Alan Branch ... today, they need to find arunning back, a defensi... more