Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 11: 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network (watch live look-ins)Miami at Carolina Miami OT Jake Long vs. Carolina DE Julius Peppers Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning held the same job in Carolina from 2002-06. Both teams... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 10: 1 p.m. ET, FOXAtlanta at Carolina Atlanta OT Sam Baker vs. Carolina DE Julius Peppers There???s a lot at stake for Atlanta in this NFC South game. The Falcons have three losses, with games coming up against... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 9: 1 p.m. ET, FOXHouston at Indianapolis Houston QB Matt Schaub vs. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning Houston has been playing well, but the Texans are 1-13 in the all-time series against the Colts. Both of these... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 8: 1 p.m. ET, CBSDenver at Baltimore Denver OT Ryan Clady vs. Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs These teams have split the six regular-season games in this series. Both teams are coming off their bye weeks.... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 7: 1 p.m. ET, FOXGreen Bay at Cleveland Green Bay WR Donald Driver vs. Cleveland CB Eric Wright This is the 17th game in the series, with Green Bay holding a two-game edge. The Packers have not played... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 6: 1 p.m. ET, CBSHouston at Cincinnati Houston LB DeMeco Ryans vs. Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson These teams have only met four times, with the Bengals winning three of those meetings. This is the first... more

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 5: 1 p.m. ET, CBSCincinnati at Baltimore Cincinnati OT Andrew Whitworth vs. Baltimore DE Terrell Suggs This game has become a key AFC North matchup, with both teams fielding playoff hopes. Both teams have very... more

?? I'm sure most people are interested in the big Monday night matchup between Packers linebacker Nick Barnett and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, right? No? Okay, then I guess we can look at the quarterbacks in that game??? Here's a look at all the key... more

Here's a look at the key matchups to watch in Week 3 action: 1 p.m. ET, FOXAtlanta at New England Atlanta QB Matt Ryan vs. New England QB Tom Brady Ryan returns home, where he enjoyed a stellar career at Boston College. Last season he became only the second rookie... more

Associated Press The sideline matchup between coaches Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick takes center stage in the Jets-Patriots rivalry. It will be tough to top Week 1 of the 2009 season for great games from start to finish, but anything in this league is possible. Let's... more

Associated Press High-profile QBs Jay Cutler (left) and Aaron Rodgers highlight the start of a new chapter in the Bears-Packers rivalry. So much has happened around the NFL since the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. Seven months... more

John Raoux / Associated Press Florida's Tim Tebow has another season to prepare to be an NFL quarterback. Editor's note: This is the first in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL Draft. Did you... more

Eric Gay / Associated Press Texas' Jordan Shipley has dominated every level of competition and he figures to get his shot at the NFL in 2010. Editor's note: This is the third in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for... more

Phil Coale / Associated Press Clemson's C.J. Spiller is small in size but big in playmaking ability. A big senior season could move him up in the first round. Editor's note: This is the second in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects,... more

Phil Coale / Associated Press Florida State's Patrick Robinson, left, is likely going to be a first-round pick in next year's draft. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL... more

Michael Dwyer / Associated Press USC safety Taylor Mays' speed and athletic ability put him at the top of the 2010 safety class. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL... more

Jeff Roberson / Associated Press Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon has the athletic ability and versatility to play for a long time in the NFL. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010... more

When you think back on the career of a Hall of Fame player, there's such a body of work that it's easy to forget a play here or there that was so important. Such is the case with wide receiver Bob Hayes. So for those who may not remember or didn't know about it in the... more

Michael Dwyer / Associated Press Boston College's Mike McLaughlin is a very intelligent player and a team leader for the Eagles. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL... more

Dave Weaver / Associated Press Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh doesn't only stuff the run and rush the passer, he can also intercept passes. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010... more

I first met Derrick Thomas in May 1988 at a preseason All-America weekend in Miami. On the first day, after arriving in town for a photo shoot that took place after sundown at what was then Joe Robbie Stadium, a group of us decided to go out for a late dinner. The group... more

Tony Ding / Associated Press Michigan's Brandon Graham has an impressive work ethic and was the Wolverines' MVP last season. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL... more

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Penn State's Dennis Landolt is one of many offensive tackle prospects who started their careers at another position. Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for... more

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Chet Teofilo has played tackle at California, but his future will probably be at guard in the NFL. Editor's note: This is the second in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL... more

John Froschauer / Associated Press Jermaine Gresham decided to stay at Oklahoma for his senior season and likely will be a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. (Editor's note: This is the fourth in a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects,... more

Jesse Penn, a linebacker that the Dallas Cowboys drafted in the second round out of Virginia Tech, liked to tell the story of how quickly his college teammate, Bruce Smith, established himself when they both arrived in Blacksburg, Va. All incoming freshmen on the Hokies' football... more

Many times people who are in a high-profile business are asked, "How did you get into this business?" I'm sure Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., has been asked this question on many occasions. For the record, here is how he became the owner of a professional football... more

In 1987, there was a work stoppage in the NFL and I was in the Phoenix area in late August trying to sign some potential players for the Dallas Cowboys' replacement team. After signing some players, I went to Arizona State University to watch practice in the afternoon. After... more

The Dallas Cowboys began using computers to evaluate college prospects back in 1963. Over the next 25 years, only two players -- Bo Jackson and Tony Dorsett -- received a higher overall grade than Rod Woodson, who will be enshrined this summer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ... more

The NFL's supplemental draft will take place July 16 at 1 p.m. ET. The supplemental draft began in 1977 as a way to accommodate players who weren't eligible for the upcoming college football season. That year, Notre Dame RB Al Hunter flunked out of school after the NFL Draft... more

Did you know: David Duprey / Associated Press The Bills' Eric Wood (picked 28th overall) was one of two centers selected in the first round of the 2009 draft. » Over the past 10 drafts (2000-2009), 31 tackles have been drafted in the first round. Top... more

David Duprey / Associated Press The Bills' Eric Wood (picked 28th overall) was one of two centers selected in the first round of the 2009 draft. » In six of the last 10 drafts, no center has been drafted in the first round. Top college senior G/Cs Check out... more

Since the tragic death of Steve McNair on July 4, much has been written and said about his legacy as an NFL quarterback. No question, in his 13 years as an NFL quarterback, McNair put his stamp on the game. But let's not overlook the unbelievable legacy he left on college... more

Ed Zurga / Associated Press NFL teams covet tight ends who can do it all, such as Tony Gonzalez, who was traded from Kansas City to Atlanta this offseason. Did you know? ?? Since 1999, two tight ends (Kellen Winslow II and Vernon Davis) have been selected in the... more

Associated Press Beattie Feathers (48) was the first to rush for 1,000 yards, doing so in 11 games in 1934 with the Bears. Did you know ... ?? The first NFL player to run for 1,000 yards was Beattie Feathers in 1934. In his next six seasons, he gained a total of... more

Pro Football Hall of Fame Hall of Fame WR Don Hutson might be partially responsible for the advent of the NFL draft. ?? From 1998 to 2008, more wide receivers have been invited to the combine (496) and drafted (311) than any other position. ?? Two receivers have... more

Denis Poroy / Associated Press Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers finished last season with career bests in passing yards and touchdowns. So much for trends. After a watershed 2007 season that produced the most passing attempts, completions, and yards since the... more

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Chris Chandler was the first QB taken in the 1988 draft, but he wasn't picked until the third round by the Colts. Did you know ... » Since 1967, only one year (1988) has no quarterback been selected in the first two rounds. In... more

ARLINGTON, Texas -- You can't do the Cowboys' new stadium justice with words. When you get on Interstate 30 in downtown Dallas, you can see the top of the stadium in the distance -- from 18 miles away. On Wednesday, the Cowboys opened the stadium with a ribbon-cutting... more

IRVING, Texas -- Former Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee shot up draft boards after showcasing impressive athleticism during his pro day and at private workouts. He went from being an afterthought to being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round. At the... more

After a fast-paced first day of the 2009 NFL draft, it's time for all 32 teams to take stock of the players still on their draft boards as they get ready for Rounds 3-7 on Sunday. We can do the same. Here's a look at the top-ranked players from my Hot 100... more

Winslow Townson / Associated Press With Pittsburgh's victory at New England, Ben Roethlisberger has notched 48 wins in less than five full NFL seasons. The NFL season reached the three-quarter pole, as they say in horse racing, and I don't know if there's... more

Scouting is an inexact science, but it is also a very thorough science. So much goes into the evaluation of college prospects, who will be taking part in NFL minicamps in just a few short weeks. After scouting games in person, watching hours and hours of game... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Tier Six (51-60): Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina; Paul Kruger, DE, Utah; LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh; Fili Moala, DT, USC; William... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Tier Four (31-40) Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: Three-year player is the Big East's all-time leader in... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Tier Five (41-50) Connor Barwin, DE/OLB/TE, Cincinnati: All-Big East as a tight end in 2007, then... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Tier Three (21-30) William Beatty, OT, Connecticut: Beatty might be a little bit of a reach this high, but he can... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Tier Two (11-20) Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: Started only two games prior to 2008, but has emerged... more

Mayock's top 5 prospects NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has WR Michael Crabtree rated as the third-best prospect in this year's draft. Here is the top 5: ?? 1.: LB Aaron Curry ?? 2.: OT Eugene Monroe ?? 3.: WR Michael Crabtree ?? 4.: OT Jason... more

» Latest pro day updates » Schools: A-G | H-M | N-R | S-Z Nebraska (March 12) Twenty-four NFL teams were on hand to see 22 Cornhuskers work out indoors on an Astrofurf field. Ironically, one of the most impressive workouts of the day was turned in by a visiting prospect... more

As the coaches, scouts and general managers from all 32 NFL teams converge on Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, some fans may still question exactly how this event fits into the overall draft picture. It is certainly a key part of the puzzle. In many... more

Every matchup in a Super Bowl is critical. But here are five that could be the most important when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals meet in Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Arizona QB Kurt Warner How important have quarterbacks been in past... more

Kevin Terrell / NFL.com Ken Whisenhunt has done what no Cardinals coach has ever accomplished, get his team to the Super Bowl. There are always high expectations for conference championship weekend. This one surpassed them all. In the AFC, we saw the top two defenses... more

Getty Images Ravens OT Jared Gaither needs to protect Joe Flacco from Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley and a ferocious defense. I've heard people say their favorite time of the NFL season is the Divisional Playoff Weekend, with two big games on Saturday and two big games... more

Andy Lyons / Getty Images As reward for a terrific rookie season, Ravens QB Joe Flacco gets to face Pittsburgh's defense for the third time. Football is said to be a game of momentum, and it's usually a good sign of things to come when a team scores first. But... more

Al Bello / Getty Images Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce will be following Brian Westbrook all over the field in their divisional playoff game. Chat with Gil NFL.com personnel guru Gil Brandt will answer your questions about key playoff matchups, and other NFL... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images With so many big names on Baltimore's defense, don't overlook little (5-foot-8) Jim Leonhard, who was huge in Miami. The dash for cash and glory started this past weekend with four very good and entertaining games. Last year's... more

Getty Images Peyton Manning is on fire and Antonio Cromartie has been struggling, but this is a key matchup for these two teams. Here's a look at some key matchups to follow in this weekend's games, in the order in which they will be played: Atlanta RB... more

John Bazemore / Associated Press Jerious Norwood had two touchdowns for the Falcons on Sunday. Don't be surprised if he is a factor in the playoffs. The final Sunday of the regular season marked the first time since 2005 that 16 NFL games were played in one day --... more

Getty Images Chad Pennington and Brett Favre both helped turn around the fortunes of teams that struggled mightily in 2007. Ten of the 16 games this weekend have playoff implications. Only one bye is still up for grabs -- Carolina and Atlanta both have a chance to lock... more

LM Otero / Associated Press Le'Ron McClain's 82-yard run against Dallas on Saturday night symbolized a crazy and unexpected weekend. Troy Aikman summed it up best during his broadcast of Sunday's Eagles-Redskins game when he said there has never been a... more

Getty Images James Farrior is Pittsburgh's leading tackler, and he'll be busy chasing Tennessee rookie Chris Johnson this week. There are so many meaningful games in Week 16 as we inch closer to the postseason. Here are some of the key matchups to watch: ... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images Bill Parcells' decision to unite Tony Sparano and Chad Pennington in Miami has resulted in a dream season. The only people who didn't like the Week 15 action in the NFL were those who had set aside time to fill out their holiday cards.... more

Al Bello / Getty Images Brandon Jacobs and Bradie James are familiar foes who will meet again in a crucial Sunday night game. With so many critical games on the docket in the final three weeks of the season, let's start off this week by crediting the NFL's... more

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Matt Forte didn't let cold weather bother him as he broke Gale Sayers' team record for scrimmage yards in a season. Nothing is predictable in the NFL, and that was proven once again in Week 14. The 49ers surprised the Jets, the... more

Getty Images Tampa Bay's underrated tackling machine, Barrett Ruud, will have his hands full against Carolina's DeAngelo Williams. Here are some key matchups to watch in Week 14 games: Dallas RT Marc Colombo vs. Pittsburgh LB LaMarr Woodley The... more

Getty Images Patriots QB Matt Cassel has been on fire, but he faces his toughest challenge yet against Troy Polamalu and the Steelers. Here are some key matchups to watch for Week 13: Chicago LB Lance Briggs vs. Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson These... more

Jack Dempsey / Associated Press Darren McFadden and the Raiders busted out for 31 points in Denver. Can they be a threat to the Pats in two weeks? Sunday's games started with a touchdown 13 seconds into the action and ended with a winning field goal on the final... more

Getty Images Albert Haynesworth has been unstoppable most of the season; Jets G Alan Faneca looks to at least slow him down this week. Here are some key matchups to watch in Week 12 action: N.Y. Jets G Alan Faneca vs. Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth Battle of the... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Cornerback Terence Newman played a key role in the Cowboys' win Sunday night against Washington. Week 11 had something for everyone -- win, lose??? or tie. It started Thursday night with the Jets-Patriots overtime game on NFL... more

Getty Images Dangerous pass rusher Alex??Brown has his sights on Aaron??Rodgers as the Bears and Packers renew their rivalry. Here are some key matchups to keep an eye on in Week 11: Chicago DE Alex Brown vs. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers The Bears-Packers series is... more

Chris McGrath / Getty Images Eli Manning completed 12 passes for 130 yards and two TDs before Donovan McNabb's first completion Sunday night. If you like scoring, then you loved Week 10. In 13 games played, there were 607 points scored -- an average of 46.6 points... more

Getty Images While Drew??Brees has posted astounding numbers, Matt??Ryan has astounded with poise beyond that of most rookies. Here are some key matchups to watch in Week 10 games: New Orleans QB Drew Brees vs. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan This is a big game for both... more

The 2008 draft lacked the superstar quality of 2007 -- I don't know if this year's rookie class is going to end up with the likes of Adrian Peterson or Joe Thomas or Patrick Willis. But there are a lot of players from the class of 2008 who will be around in this league for a long... more

Al Bello / Getty Images The Cowboys are going in the wrong direction, as evidenced on this play -- the first of Corey Webster's two picks. It didn't take long for the big plays to start rolling in Week 9. If you failed to turn on your set for the start of the... more

Getty Images Houston's Andre Johnson is the hottest WR in the NFL, but Minnesota CB Antoine Winfield will be ready for him. Here are some interesting matchups to watch in Week 9: Houston WR Andre Johnson vs. Minnesota CB Antoine Winfield Houston has won three... more

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Mathias Kiwanuka and the Giants put great pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked five times. Going into Week 8, the schedule didn't look like it was particularly filled with games that would create a lot of excitement. The... more

Getty Images Could Sunday's meeting between Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger be a preview of Super Bowl XLIII? Here are some key matchups to watch in Week 8: Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger This week's Giants-Steelers game,... more

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images Marion Barber and the Cowboys offense couldn't get anything going in Sunday's loss to the Rams. Week 7 lacked the close games we saw the previous week, but there was no shortage of big plays. We saw two big interception returns from... more

Elsa/Getty Images Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan have combined to win five Super Bowls and 295 games, but one will lose Monday. Here are some key matchups to watch in Week 7 of the NFL: Denver coach Mike Shanahan vs. New England coach Bill Belichick Mike... more

Getty Images Jim Haslett of the Rams and Brad Childress of the Vikings saw their teams pull out last-second victories. What did we learn from Week 6? Well, we certainly were reminded that anything can happen in the NFL, but that's nothing new. So what's new? How... more

Getty Images Jacksonville CB Rashean Mathis has a nose for the football, and he'll see plenty of action facing Denver QB Jay Cutler. Here are some key matchups to follow in this week's games: Dallas LT Flozell Adams vs. Arizona DE Travis LaBoy This... more

David Phillip/AP Photo Turnovers set the stage for an unlikely comeback, but the Colts still needed this one-handed grab from Reggie Wayne. In the always-fascinating chess match that is pro football, it's worth noting that even turnovers -- which would seem to be... more

Getty Images Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan square off Sunday in Denver. Before we get into five key on-field matchups that are worth watching this week, here is the most interesting -- as well as ironic -- coaching matchup of Week 5. While the NFL is still abuzz... more

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press Derrick Johnson and the Chiefs defense looked good enough against Denver to think they could be dangerous. Before the season started, we said the competitive balance in this league would be greater than ever. I think that the 13 games played on... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan completed 12 of 18 passes for 192 yards, 1 TD and no INTs in a win over the Chiefs. Once again, the weekend of NFL action had something for everyone -- upsets, comebacks, fast-paced games, long drives, last-minute... more

Getty Images With Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Williams on the field Sunday in Nashville, running the ball won't be easy. Here are some key matchups worth following in Week 4: Minnesota DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams vs. Tennessee DTs Tony Brown and... more

Getty Images Tony Romo has 632 passing yards and four TDs this season, but must watch out this week for Packers CB Al Harris. Here are some key matchups worth following in Week 3: Dallas QB Tony Romo vs. Green Bay CB Al Harris In regular-season games, Dallas... more

Jeff Gross/Getty Images Adrian Peterson has done his part for the 0-2 Vikings, but Tarvaris Jackson has to start making some plays. We all know that the New York Giants started out 0-2 last season and not only made the playoffs but went on to win Super Bowl XLII.... more

Getty Images Rookie quarterbacks Matt Ryan (Falcons) and Joe Flacco (Ravens) passed their opening NFL tests with Week 1 wins. Week 1 of the 2008 season was like going to a great cafeteria -- there was something for everyone's taste. For starters, it was the fourth... more

Getty Images The matchup between Flozell Adams and Trent Cole on Monday night may decide the winner of this NFC East battle. Here are some key matchups worth following in the Week 2 games: Philadelphia DE Trent Cole vs. Dallas OT Flozell Adams Two teams with a... more

Getty Images After a terrific rookie year, Browns LT Joe Thomas begins his second season against Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware. It's Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season, and here are some of the key matchups worth watching: Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware vs. Cleveland LT Joe... more

Petr David Josek / Associated Press A lightning-quick sprinter, Jamaica's 6-foot-5 Usain Bolt would be a perfect marketing fit for the Chargers. Someone asked me the other day what I thought about the idea of making Olympic gold-medal sprinter Usain Bolt a football... more

I first met Gene Upshaw in the fall of 1966, when he was a senior at Texas A&I-Kingsville. He played tackle, center and end at a time when A&I was part of the NAIA. Small-school guys weren't as easily noticed back then. Upshaw beat the odds and became the 17th overall selection... more

NOTE: Gil Brandt is in Canton for this weekend's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies, and will be chiming in throughout the weekend with updates and anecdotes: Thursday, July 31, 4:30 p.m. ET Sign here The majority of the 70 or so returning Hall of Famers don't... more

When you talk to Raiders owner Al Davis about cornerbacks, the first name he brings up is Emmitt Thomas. That's pretty impressive when you consider that a) Davis is a true football lifer who recognizes great talent; b) the Raiders have had some pretty outstanding cornerbacks of... more

Andre Tippett was a very good college player on a very poor team. When he arrived at Iowa in 1979, the Hawkeyes were mired in a streak of 19 consecutive non-winning seasons. They had not been to a bowl game since 1958. Not coincidentally, they won eight Big Ten games in Tippett's... more

As part of our scouting process with the Dallas Cowboys, we always asked college prospects to provide the name of an official from their high school they were close to -- someone we could call to research a player's background. Louisiana Tech's Fred Dean had given us the name... more

Former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green is the only member of the Class of 2008 to be elected in his first year of eligibility. The honor is well-deserved. Still, few teams recognized that Hall of Fame potential when he first entered the league. In every draft, there... more

I doubt you will hear my name mentioned when Gary Zimmerman makes his speech Saturday night at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, but it wouldn't be out of the question if he thanked me for the honor. After all, if I had done my job a little better, there's a good chance... more

The following story is from NFL.com's Fantasy Football 2008 Preview magazine, which is currently available on newsstands everywhere, as well as on NFLShop. If you thought the passing game went wild last year in the NFL, you were right. The 2007 season saw teams set records for the... more

With the 2008 draft behind us, NFL teams are looking ahead to minicamps, OTAs, training camp, preseason and the start of another season. But it's never too early to look ahead to next year's draft. With that in mind, understanding that so much can change in the next 12 months,... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Running back Ray Rice is the all-time leading rusher at Rutgers with 4,926 yards. Tier Six (51-60): Clifford Avril,... more

Day 1 of the draft is a wrap, and 56 of the 63 players selected were among my top 70 players in my Hot 100. That means 14 players among that top 70 are prime targets to be called early Sunday morning when Round 3 begins. Here are the 14 players: Jamaal Charles, RB,... more

Paul Sancya/AP Now that we know Michigan tackle Jake Long is the No. 1 pick in this draft, how will the next 99 picks pan out? The draft is a culmination of months of work. Scouts do a great job of going across the country and evaluating players for the big day, and... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Chris??Graythen / Getty Images Glenn Dorsey continued a recent tradition of LSU defensive linemen earning first-team All-America honors. Tier One... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Andy Lyons / Getty Images Louisville's Brian Brohm closed out his career as the Big East's all-time leader in passing yardage. Tier Two (11-21)... more

Tier 1 (1-10) | Tier 2 (11-20) | Tier 3 (21-30) | Tier 4 (31-40) | Tier 5 (41-50) | Tiers 6-10 (51-100) Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com Cal's DeSean Jackson terrorized opponents when he touched the ball as a receiver, returner and even on an occasional running play. ... more

In between the combine and the NFL Draft, NFL coaches and personnel -- not to mention the prospects themselves -- turn their attention to the various college "pro day" workouts. These are not as all-encompassing as the combine, but they are important enough for the key... more

» Latest pro day updates » Schools: A-G | H-M | N-R | S-Z Hampton (March 13) Fifteen NFL teams sent representatives and there were seven DL coaches in attendance to see eight Hampton players work out, along with six players from other area small schools. Prospects ran... more

» Latest pro day updates » Schools: A-G | H-M | N-R | S-Z Alabama (March 12) This was a great visit for the representatives from 30 NFL teams who attended, as they served a big lunch and the Alabama coaching staff was very helpful and cooperative. Thirteen players... more

When Dallas played Pittsburgh in Super Bowl X, 86 of the 87 players who were eligible to participate had never played on another team. All 43 Steelers were original Steelers. Of the 44 players on the Cowboys' roster, only Preston Pearson had played for another team (Pearson, in fact, was... more

The steady flow of NFL players, coaches and alumni making their way through the Super Bowl XLII media center isn't close to being in full force, but I did manage to speak to four guests who know a thing or two about pro football and offered some insight into the Giants-Patriots... more

Vernon Biever / Getty Images Craig Morton never saw Harvey Martin -- or the Cowboys' defensive game plan -- coming in Super Bowl XII. When the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off next Sunday, it will mark the 12th time that teams have met in regular... more

Throughout the year, we've talked about competitive balance in the National Football League and this year's postseason -- starting with wild-card weekend right on through the conference title games -- has proven the point. Of the 10 post-season games played through Sunday, the home... more

The Chargers and Patriots met in New England in Week 2, with the Patriots winning, 34-14, after jumping to a 24-0 halftime lead. The Pats held the ball for 35:46 and actually ran the ball more times than they passed it (32-31). Don't expect to see that this week. The... more

The Giants and Packers met in Week 2 at the Meadowlands, with Green Bay winning, 35-13. Since that game, many things have changed for both teams. The Giants turned things around after an 0-2 start, but it's actually the Packers who have been doing things differently since then as... more

All four divisional playoff games exceeded fans' expectations. That rarely happens, mainly because of all the pre-game hype from the media, but these games really had something for everyone. The four winning quarterbacks (five, really, since the Chargers needed two) were nothing short of... more

Here is my key matchup for Sunday's divisional playoff matchup between the N.Y. Giants and Dallas ... Justin Tuck, DE, N.Y. Giants   Leonard Davis, G, Dallas These two teams met twice in the regular season with Dallas winning both... more

Here is my key matchup for Saturday's divisional playoff matchup between Seattle and Green Bay ... Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle   Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay This game has many storylines, including the return of Seattle head coach... more

Here is my key matchup for Saturday's divisional matchup between Jacksonville and New England ... Paul Spicer, DE, Jacksonville   Tom Brady, QB, New England The Jaguars rank second in the league in rushing, averaging 149 yards per... more

Here is my key matchup for Sunday's first-round playoff matchup between Tennessee and San Diego: Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee ?? LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego These teams met less than a month ago, on Dec. 9, when the Chargers defeated... more

Here is my key matchup for Sunday's first-round playoff matchup between the Giants and Tampa Bay: Osi Umenyiora, DE, N.Y. Giants ?? Jeff Garcia, QB, Tampa Bay To be successful against the Giants, Tampa Bay has to block their front four -- and... more

Here is my key matchup for Saturday's first-round playoff matchup between Washington and Seattle: Shawn Springs, CB, Washington ?? Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle The last time these teams played was Jan. 14, 2006 in a 2005 divisional... more

Before we get into my all-rookie team for the 2007 season, here are some recent trends regarding playoff teams. The following stats are from playoff games from the 2000-2006 seasons: > Home teams have a record of 48-22 (23-12 in the AFC; 25-10 in the NFC). > The top two... more

Less than half the games on the Week 17 schedule have playoff implications. We'll look at some of the key matchups in the pivotal games, but first we'll tackle that other game that some people will be paying attention to -- New England's quest for the perfect season as it looks... more

Week 16 was shaping up to be fairly simple. In the NFC, the Giants and Vikings both could have locked up wild-card spots with victories; the Giants did their part, but Minnesota did not. In the AFC, Cleveland and Jacksonville were in the same boat -??? win and they're in. The Jaguars did... more

Not only do weather and injuries play a huge factor in setting lineups this time of year, but now fantasy owners have an extra challenge: Trying to figure out the mindset of coaches whose teams have nothing to play for. That applies to teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention... more

Here are some of the key matchups to keep an eye on this week: Cowboys DEs DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis vs. Panthers QB Matt Moore With the uncertainty of Tony Romo's thumb (he'll start, but how much will the injury affect his play?), Dallas needs a big defensive effort to... more

We've talked often this season about what a terrific job the scriptwriter has done, and he may have outdone himself in Week 15. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he is getting some help from the striking members of the Writers Guild out in Hollywood. As in any great drama,... more

Here's a look at key fantasy matchups for Week 15: Bengals at 49ers The usually potent Bengals offense has played two straight bad-weather games, but it?s still safe to go with their key players, in this order: QB Carson Palmer, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh... more

It's a fact of life in the NFL that the best rookies aren't always the first- and second-round draft picks. Everyone knows that even guys who go undrafted out of college occasionally make their mark in the pro ranks. It may be an exception, but in Week 14, the exception was the... more

Here are some of the key matchups to watch in Week 14 action: Cowboys DE Greg Ellis vs. Lions RT Damien Woody This is an interesting game, because Dallas historically plays in Sunday games following a Thursday game -- but they are just 4-8 at Detroit. Another tidbit of historic irony:... more

Here's a look at key fantasy matchups for Week 14: Dolphins at Bills Last week, at home against a weak Jets defense, Miami had just 187 net yards. The Dolphins have scored a total of 40 points in their last five games. Ronnie Brown has been out more... more

Week 13 started with a bang on Thursday night as the NFL Network featured two of the most popular teams in the NFL, Green Bay and Dallas. The Network's presentation was outstanding and the game even better, with the Cowboys victorious, 37-27. Nine early games on Sunday had many... more

Here's a look at key fantasy matchups for Week 13: 49ers at Panthers San Francisco still averages only 13.6 points per game, but last week's big game from RB Frank Gore gives hope he can have a strong stretch run. I like Gore to get some yards both... more

Here are five key matchups that I'll be keeping a close eye on for Week 13: Jaguars QB David Garrard vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning Eight of the 10 games played in this series between 2002 and 2006 were decided by 10 points or less, and a win by the Jaguars would put them in first... more

The scriptwriter outdid himself for Week 12. It all started on Thanksgiving Day, when Green Bay and Dallas set the stage for their big matchup this week on Thursday night. Green Bay has now won 10 of its first 11 games for the first time since 1936. Dallas has won 10 of its first 11 for the... more

Here's a look at key fantasy matchups for Week 12: Titans at Bengals Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher has a history of success against Cincinnati, and it doesn?t hurt that QB Vince Young is starting to really come on. Young has had two strong passing games in... more

Before we get to some of the key matchups to watch for this week, here's a quick Thanksgiving story. One of the two Thanksgiving Day games that took place on Nov. 27, 1952 was a matchup between the Chicago Bears and Dallas Texans. Midway through that season, the Texans were... more

Strange as it may seem, the bizarre scenario in Baltimore on Sunday that led to the Browns' overtime win over the Rams was not the first time that a Cleveland team had its game profoundly affected by a ball hitting the goalpost. Phil Dawson's game-tying 51-yard field goal at... more

As we approach Week 11 in the NFL, let's take a closer look at five intriguing matchups that will have a major impact on the outcomes of these games: Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Bills DE Aaron Schobel Through nine games, Brady is playing as good as any quarterback I can ever... more

The Week 10 schedule may have appeared a little bland, especially after the hype of Week 9's Patriots-Colts showdown, and the games certainly started slow. Nine teams failed to score at all in the first quarter of Sunday's games. Six more had to settle for field goals. But by the... more

Last week was a buyer's delight -- there were big fantasy numbers across the board. Week 10 is shaping up to be a little tougher. You've got to dig a little deeper this week to fill your starting lineup with players who have favorable matchups. We'll see if we can help... more

The first half of 2007 has brought surprises, disappointments, fantastic finishes, record-breaking performances and lots more. One thing that is a constant midway through any NFL season: A handful of young players will emerge as the stars of tomorrow. Some of the players highlighted... more

Week 9 had something for just about everybody. We saw individual records broken, team records broken and perhaps the most hyped regular-season game ever living up to its billing. The day started with a kickoff return TD by Leon Washington 13 seconds into the Redskins-Jets game, and it... more

We can talk all day about matchups in NFL games, but here's a brief history of how the matchups became so important in terms of actual game-planning. In 1971, Cowboys coach Tom Landry created a new position on his staff -- quality control coach. The first person to hold this... more

For those who think the running game in fantasy football is taking a back seat to passing, the numbers bear that out. Through eight weeks of the season, there have been fewer 100-yard rushing performances, more 300-yard passing games and more 100-yard receiving games than at this time last... more

We learned back in April, when the 2007 NFL schedule was first released, that New England at Indianapolis would be the marquee matchup of Week 9. It seems as if talk of this game began all the way back then, heated up somewhat in the preseason, and has kept rising over the past eight weeks.... more

Here's a look at key fantasy matchups for Week 8: Colts at Panthers Interesting Indy note: Who would have thought the Colts' defense would be ranked higher than their offense this far into the season? The defense is second overall and the offense ranks... more

Matchups take place in many different forms. It could be a player vs. player, like a pass rusher taking on an offensive tackle. Other times, it could be a player vs. player situation that has more to do with a team's offensive formation vs. an anticipated defense, based on previous... more

Monday's Colts-Jaguars game will be Peyton Manning's 150th in the NFL. In the 149 games he's played so far, he's got more completions that Brett Favre or Dan Marino had in 150 games, he's got the best completion percentage (54.2), the best passer rating (94.8), and the... more

Going into Week 7, there are several intriguing storylines. The biggest one: Will the Colts and Patriots remain undefeated on their way to a potentially colossal Nov. 4 game in Indianapolis? I'm sure CBS hopes so. While New England, looking for its first 7-0 start in franchise... more

Last week, we talked about quarterbacks having a tough time with 39 interceptions for the weekend. Well, Week 6 proved tough on running backs. Despite some outstanding individual efforts, 14 of the 24 teams that played on Sunday failed to gain 100 yards rushing. And there were only two games... more

The big Week 6 showdown between New England and Dallas is as big for fantasy owners as it is for the fans of the Patriots and Cowboys. Not only are both of these teams undefeated, they are scoring machines. New England has scored 182 points in five games; Dallas has scored 176. Only one team... more

We're not at the halfway point of the schedule yet, but this is a critical point in the season. Teams .500 or better after this weekend usually take a giant step toward the playoffs. In both 2005 and 2006, 11 of the 12 teams that made the playoffs were .500 or better after Week 6.... more

We always knew that it wasn't easy playing quarterback in the NFL, but Sunday was a particularly rough day for quarterbacks. No fewer than 22 different quarterbacks threw at least one interception -- for a total of 33 picks total. Cleveland's Derek Anderson, St. Louis' Gus... more

Since none of the four remaining unbeaten teams -- New England, Indianapolis, Dallas and Green Bay -- play each other, this has a chance to be only the second time in NFL history that four teams start the season 5-0. The last and only time it happened was in 2003, when Carolina,... more

Defenses are starting to adjust to the offenses. For the season, teams have scored 2,622 points, or 42.2 per game. The average has actually dropped a little from Week 3 to Week 4. Can defenses continue this trend or will the offenses start making adjustments? Teams are still passing... more

For all the examples we've seen of "competitive balance" in the NFL, I think it's fair to say this is the ultimate: The teams with the first five picks of the 2007 draft -- Oakland, Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Arizona -- were a combined 5-0 in Week 4 ... and they... more

Last week, we told you to expect a lot of scoring. Guess what? Teams combined for 751 points, or an average of 46.9 points per game. That's the sixth-most points scored in one weekend in NFL history. Week 4 should be another big scoring weekend, but from a fantasy perspective I... more

One thing is different right off the bat when you look at Week 3 this season as compared to Week 3 of 2006 -- all 32 teams are playing. Last season, the byes began a week earlier than usual, so fantasy owners had to scramble a bit to accommodate for star players who may have been off. ... more

With competitive balance being what it is these days in the NFL, these individual matchups we look at each week become more and more important in determining the outcome of games. Last week, for example, we said that San Diego's corners would have to make plays when Brett Favre... more

What we learned in Week 3 Fans, fantasy players and competition committee members alike are getting their wish -- for the third week in a row, scoring in the NFL is up. Life as a defensive coordinator gets harder each week. They are working longer hours, seeing more formations and... more

Here are some key matchups to follow when you're watching the Week 3 action in the NFL: Bears defense/special teams vs. Cowboys offense In their last three regular-season games played in Chicago, Dallas has scored a total of just 25 points. In the two games this season,... more

It's always imperative to check the injury reports, but it might be more important than ever this week. Among the slew of injuries last week, the status of several starting quarterbacks is in question. One thing we noticed last week is that teams are passing a little more than... more

When looking at key matchups in NFL games, one has to understand the different types of matchups to better follow the action. And keep in mind that studying the matchups is much more important to the coaches than it is to you and I. The Denver-Buffalo game last week provided a classic... more

Fans love scoring, especially fantasy players. For the second week in a row, scoring was up over the corresponding week from last season. With offenses spreading things out a bit more, we are seeing fewer 100-yard rushers and fewer 100-yard receivers. That said, the... more

Week 1 of the 2007 NFL season was like a great buffet dinner -- there was something for everyone. First and foremost, there was plenty of scoring. Last year, only one team scored more than 30 points in Week 1. This year, six teams topped 30 points, including two that scored more than... more

The first week of the season is not kind to fantasy owners. Defense usually has the upper hand for first few weeks of the season - offenses are still getting acclimated to what they didn't see from opposing defenses in the preseason. Case in point: Three teams were shut out in... more

  At the University of Missouri, Roger Wehrli played cornerback as a junior and led the nation in punt returns. He was moved to free safety as a senior and led the nation with 10 interceptions. Still he was not regarded as a first-round NFL talent, even after he switched back to co... more

  Here's a little-known fact about Charlie Sanders: Before ending up at the University of Minnesota, Sanders was the first African-American offered a football scholarship at Wake Forest??? and his host for the recruiting trip was future Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo.... more

  The first time I saw Michael Irvin was late in the 1985 season. I was down in Miami watching a Thursday practice prior to the Hurricanes' game against Notre Dame that Saturday. And when I saw No. 47 running circles around Miami's defensive backs, I turned to then-Miami coach Jimm... more

?? The first time I had heard of Thurman Thomas was in the fall of 1983, when he was a running back at Willowridge High School in Sugar Land, Texas. After the college season was over, a lot of college coaches used to come by the Cowboys offices during their recruiting travels and talk... more

  When Bruce Matthews came out of USC in 1983, here's the scouting report we had on him with the Dallas Cowboys: He was a player that did not do exceptional things when you watched him, yet his man never made a play.   In other words, you rarely saw Matthews "... more

  Talk about your classic tale of perseverance. Gene Hickerson was a true overachiever on his path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   Hickerson grew up in tiny Trezevant, Tenn. - a town of less than 1,000 people - and he did not play football until his brother,... more