The 5-0 New York Giants, fresh off of a whipping of the pathetic Oakland Raiders, take on the 4-0 New Orleans Saints who are back after an early bye week.

The Giants hold a 14-10 all-time series edge but the Saints have won two of the past three games against New York.

The Saints won a 2003 matchup in the Superdome 45-7. This game is best known for then-Saints receiver Joe Horn's cell phone celebration.

Horn, who would set a team record with four receiving touchdowns in a game, pulled out a cell phone planted in the padding of the goal posts while celebrating a touchdown that put the Saints up 17-7.

Two years later, the Saints would travel to the Meadowlands to face the Giants in a "home" game. Hurricane Katrina had devastated New Orleans just weeks before and no definitive plans had been set for Saints home games.

New Orleans lost 27-10.

In 2006, the Saints won 30-7 in their most recent trip to Giants Stadium.

The Saints will win the game if they...

1) Start fast.

The Saints are 0-3 under Sean Payton in games played immediately after the bye week. It seems that the Saints' passing game, which depends so much on timing and accuracy, takes a while to shake the rust off when returning from a bye.

Here are some notes from the three most recent games the Saints have played after a bye.

2006: Baltimore 35, New Orleans 22 (home). Saints enter game at 5-1.

• Saints fell behind 21-0; trailed 28-7 at half.
• Offensive line played terrible.
• Brees threw three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns.

2007: Carolina 16, New Orleans 13 (home). Saints enter game 0-3.

• Saints had lost each of the past three games by at least 17 points.
• Saints were tied 6-6 at half.
• Brees threw two interceptions.
• This was the beginning of "CUT OLINDO MARE NOW!!!"

Mare missed two field goals in the game. He had a 20-yarder BLOCKED and also missed a 54-yarder with 2:12 left in the game.

Mare was acquired from the Miami Dolphins for a sixth round pick for his "strong leg." The Saints cut John Carney in favor of Mare.

Both Giants and Saints fans see the irony in this.

Carney replaced injured Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes last season and made the Pro Bowl. Now he's a member of the Saints (at least for now) after rookie Garrett Hartley test positive for Adderall.

Mare, by the way, is missing crucial field goals for the Seattle Seahawks.

2008: Atlanta 34, New Orleans 20 (away). Saints enter 4-4 after returning from London.

• Saints trailed 17-6 at half.
• Brees threw three interceptions.

Do you notice a trend?

The Saints start very slowly. Brees has one of his worst games of the season.

It didn't matter if the Saints were a good team (5-1), an average team (4-4), or a really bad team (0-3). They lost ugly.

2) Neutralize the Giants' front four.

New York has 14 sacks in five games. They are led by defensive ends Justin Tuck (four) and Osi Umenyiora (three).

Brees is actually statistically worse when rushed by only four defenders instead of being blitzed.

If the Giants can get pressure with four linemen, they will drop seven in coverage and make it difficult for Brees and his receivers.

3) Slow down the Giants' running game.

The Saints rank seventh in the league in rushing yards allowed, but they haven't faced the likes of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmed Bradshaw.

The duo has combined for 730 yards at 4.6 yards a carry.

Credit must also go to a physical offensive line that's led by guard Chris Snee.

The running game has helped the Giants enjoy an almost 13-minute advantage in time of possession per game.

The best way to slow down Drew Brees is to keep him off the field.

Three matchups to keep an eye on...

1) Jermon Bushrod/Zach Strief and Jonathan Stinchcomb vs. Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Mathias Kiwanuka.

I expect the Saints to use a running back to help chip these ferocious defensive ends, especially on the left side. Also look for tight ends Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas to stay in to block on third and long.

2) Darren Sharper vs. Eli Manning.

Sharper has a league-high five interceptions while returning two for touchdowns. However, Manning will be by far the most experienced and decorated (and richest) quarterback Sharper's faced all season.

3) Pierre Thomas vs. Antonio Pierce.

Pierce is the leader at linebacker for the Giants and leads the team in tackles. The Saints will be looking to establish the run game early as the offense looks to find their rhythm after a week off.

Thomas will get the bulk of the carries and has a deceptive ability to break tackles.

Predictions

Roman Harper will lead the team with 11 tackles.

Marques Colston will finish with seven catches, 121 yards, and two touchdowns. Most of his production will come in the second half.

Drew Brees will throw for 338 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions.

New Orleans will trail for the first time this season and fall behind 21-6 at half time because of a slow offensive start and poor field position.

New York 31, New Orleans 27

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Whether it's age, free agency, the opposition or the team's talent, there are a number of factors that decide a team's or individual's window of opportunity. 

The truth is that not every talented team or every great player will win a championship. 

Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls prevented a number of great NBA players from winning a title. 

John Stockton, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley are among a group of great players whose window of opportunity coincided with the prime of Jordan's career.

Whenever we have the discussion of greatest players to never win a Super Bowl, Dan Marino's name is often the first one to pop up.

Marino lost his only Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XIX to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. Since that was only Marino's second season, many thought that he would certainly reach the Super Bowl again.

However, fellow 1983 draftees Jim Kelly and John Elway would combine to win nine AFC championships from 1986 until 1998, the year before Marino retired.

Elway nearly finished his career without a championship as well. Elway's window of opportunity seemed be permanently shut closed after being blown out in his first three Super Bowls. 

Elway's window was re-opened with the arrival of RB Terrell Davis. Elway finally won his championship when he had a running game to complement his enormous passing ability.

The window of opportunity now applies to the New Orleans Saints. If the Saints are going to win their first ever championship, then they need to do so within the next three seasons.

A look at free agency tells the whole story.

By the end of the 2011 season, many of the Saints' core players will be eligible for free agency. 

It all starts with quarterback Drew Brees. 

He signed a six-year, $60 million contract three years ago and will command big dollars in 2012, even if he gives the Saints a hometown discount.

Brees is 30 now and will turn 33 when he becomes a free agent.

Even if Brees re-signs with the team, several of his weapons will be too expensive to keep.

Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Robert Meachem and Jeremy Shockey will all be free agents in 2012.  None of these players have ever tested the free agent market and may be tempted to do so.

Regardless, the Saints will not be able to afford all four of these players. 

That's not all for the Saints' offense. 

In 2011, young building blocks Adrian Arrington and Carl Nicks become restricted free agents. Because of the rules of restricted free agency, they will likely sign one-year tenders and become unrestricted free agents in 2012.

Whether it's an inflated cap number or free agency, the contracts of several defensive players play a role in the Saints' window of opportunity also.

Defensive backs Randall Gay and Tracy Porter will both be unrestricted free agents in 2012. 

Linebacker JoLonn Dunbar and defensive end DeMarrio Pressley will be restricted free agents in 2011 and likely will become unrestricted free agents in 2011.

Then there's defensive end Charles Grant.

Unless Grant ends four years of under performance with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the Saints may cut him before he becomes a free agent in 2014. Grant is scheduled to count $8.55 million against the cap in 2012 and $11.55 million against the cap in 2013.

Keeping the Window Open

In 2012, Drew Brees, age 33, could conceivably still have three to five good years left.  He would be the biggest offseason priority.

If the Saints want to keep this window open longer than three years, they are going to have to draft and develop good, young players. 

Players picked in the second half of the first round often sign for five years at just a few million dollars per season.  Players further down in the draft are locked up for three or four seasons at a price at or near the league minimum.

Young wide receivers Adrian Arrington and Robert Meachem should be cheap enough to re-sign and replace Marques Colston. They will just be entering their prime in 2012 as fifth- and sixth-year wide outs.

Over the next few seasons, I expect the Saints to make offensive line a big part of their draft priority. 

Not only could they be losing Carl Nicks, but every other starting lineman other than Jon Stinchcomb will be a free agent between now and 2012.

Defensively, the Saints will need to focus their draft priorities on the outside.

They will need to focus on replacing veteran defensive ends Grant and Will Smith and outside linebackers Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle. 

Smith's contract situation is similar to Grant's. He will count more than $6 million against the cap every year between now and 2014.

Fujita and Shanle will both be 31 win they become free agents in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

The mere fact that the Saints are in the "window of opportunity" discussion shows how talented and capable they are. Now is the time to cash in before that window slams shut.

Last season, only five playoff participants, and only one from the NFC, were also in the playoffs in 2007.

I'm taking a look around the NFL and gauging each team's playoff hopes.  Today, I'm judging the NFC.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

2008 Result: 9-7, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 14th in points, 26th in yards

Defensive ranks: 16th in points, 21st in yards

Biggest offseason gain: QB Jay Cutler, obviously.

Biggest offseason loss: The draft picks traded away to get Cutler included two first round selections and a third round selection.

Buyer Beware: Cutler doesn't have nearly the weapons in Chicago as he had in Denver.  RB Matt Forte led the Bears in receptions last year.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Detroit Lions

2008 Result: 0-16, worst. Record. Ever.

Offensive ranks: 27th in points, 30th in yards

Defensive ranks: Last in points, last in yards

Biggest offseason gain: QB Matthew Stafford

Biggest offseason loss: CB Leigh Bodden

Buyer Beware: There is nowhere to go but up for this franchise, but it will be a long time before they are playoff-worthy. Don't expect Stafford to have a rookie season like Matt Ryan's or Joe Flacco's. Their successes were aberrations in a league that's generally cruel to rookie quarterbacks.

Buy or Sell: SELL

Green Bay Packers

2008 Result: 6-10, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: Fifth in points, eighth in yards

Defensive ranks: 22nd in points, 20th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers is converting the Packers from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 look.

Biggest offseason loss: DT Colin Cole.  While just an average starter, Cole's girth would have allowed him to sufficiently hold down the nose tackle spot while rookie B.J. Raji prepares for life in the NFL.

Buyer Beware: Just because some of the elite defenses like New England and Pittsburgh run a 3-4, that doesn't mean that it will work immediately for all teams.  I expect the transition for the Packers' defense to take a full year because they are relying on two rookies, Raji and Clay Matthews, to assume major roles.

Buy or Sell: SELL, but watch out for 2010.

Minnesota Vikings

2008 Result: 10-6, division champs, lost in wild card round

Offensive ranks: 12th in points, 17th in yards

Defensive ranks: 13th in points, sixth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: WR Percy Harvin.  Of course, we all know that another person's name could be in this spot soon.

Biggest offseason loss: C Matt Birk

Buyer Beware: RB Adrian Peterson is a workhorse back with a punishing running style. He may not be able to make it through the season without missing a game or two or more.

Buy or Sell: BUY

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

2008 Result: 11-5, lost in wild card round

Offensive ranks: 10th in points, sixth in yards

Defensive ranks: 11th in points, 24th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: TE Tony Gonzalez

Biggest offseason loss: A collection of five defensive veterans, including linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley.

Buyer Beware: The Falcons have never had consecutive winning seasons.  The defense has a lot of room for improvement with the loss of five major contributors.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Carolina Panthers

2008 Result: 12-4, division champs, lost in divisional round

Offensive ranks: Seventh in points, 10th in yards

Defensive ranks: 12th in points, 18th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: DE Everette Brown

Biggest offseason loss: Now that CB Ken Lucas is gone, who is Steve Smith going to punch and be forgiven by in an effort to unite the team?

Buyer Beware: No rest for the weary down the stretch thanks to a Week Four bye.  They have three straight December games against the Patriots, Vikings, and Giants.

Buy or Sell: BUY

New Orleans Saints

2008 Result: 8-8, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: First in points, first in yards

Defensive ranks: 26th in points, 23rd in yards

Biggest offseason gain: Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.  Williams should have a more immediate impact in New Orleans than Capers will in Green Bay because he is not changing alignments. Williams promises an attacking scheme instead of the "bend but don't break" method the Saints have been used to.

Biggest offseason loss: RB Deuce McAllister is an icon in New Orleans, and his leadership will be missed.

Buyer Beware: A comparison of the offensive and defensive rankings sums up the Saints' problems over the past two seasons.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2008 Result: 9-7, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 19th in points, 14th in yards

Defensive ranks: 10th in points, ninth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: QB Byron Leftwich helps to ease Josh Freeman's transition into the NFL.

Biggest offseason loss: Tampa Bay lost a slew of veterans on both sides of the ball including LB Derrick Brooks and RB Warrick Dunn.

Buyer Beware: After gutting the roster, the Bucs are going to struggle in a such a strong division.

Buy or Sell: SELL

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

2008 Result: 9-7, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 18th in points, 13th in yards

Defensive ranks: 20th in points, eighth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: LB Keith Brooking brings leadership to a sometimes combustible locker room.

Biggest offseason loss: The Cowboys will miss Terrell Owens' touchdowns, but they won't miss his drops or the hoopla surrounding him.  I will go with LB Greg Ellis and the 20.5 sacks he's had over the past two seasons.

Buyer Beware: The Cowboys are 5-8 in December over the past three seasons.  Their last five games (four in December and one in January) are against teams who were all at or above .500 last year.

Buy or Sell: BUY

New York Giants

2008 Result: 12-4, division champs, lost in divisional round

Offensive ranks: Third in points, seventh in yards

Defensive ranks: Fifth in points, fifth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: The addition of LB Chris Canty, along with Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark, gives the Giants a very formidable trio of linebackers.

Biggest offseason loss: Not that they had any choice, but they will miss WR Plaxico Burress' big-play ability.

Buyer Beware: In addition to Burress, RB Derrick Ward is gone.  Ward had more than 1,000 yards last year and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Philadelphia Eagles

2008 Result: 9-6-1, lost in conference championship game

Offensive ranks: Sixth in points, ninth in yards

Defensive ranks: Fourth in points, third in yards

Biggest offseason gain: WR Jeremy Maclin.

Biggest offseason loss: We don't know if defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will miss any games as he battles cancer, so, until further notice, I'm going with S Brian Dawkins.

Buyer Beware: As recent surgery shows, RB Brian Westbrook often plays hurt and banged up. His presence is vital to the success of the this offense.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Washington Redskins

2008 Result: 8-8, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 28th in points, 19th in yards

Defensive ranks: Sixth in points, fourth in yards

Biggest offseason gain: $100 million man and DT Albert Haynesworth.

Biggest offseason loss: G Pete Kendall started every game over the past two seasons.

Buyer Beware: After starting the season 6-2, the Redskins finished 2008 on a 2-6 slide.

Buy or Sell: SELL

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

2008 Result: 9-7, division champs, lost Super Bowl

Offensive ranks: Fourth in points, fourth in yards

Defensive ranks: 28th in points, 19th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: Re-signing QB Kurt Warner

Biggest offseason loss: J.J. Arrington is a force as a kick returner.  He is pivotal in the battle for field position.

Buyer Beware: The Cardinals made the playoffs because they won one of the worst divisions in recent memory and then got hot enough to get to the Super Bowl.

Buy or Sell: SELL

San Francisco 49ers

2008 Result: 7-9, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 22nd in points, 23rd in yards

Defensive ranks: 23rd in points, 13th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: WR Michael Crabtree was the highest-rated player in many draft boards.

Biggest offseason loss: WR Bryant Johnson could have been a good No. 3 receiver for either Shaun Hill or Alex Smith.

Buyer Beware: RB Frank Gore has been injury-prone since his days at the University of Miami.  San Francisco needs him in order to be successful.

Buy or Sell: BUY

Seattle Seahawks

2008 Result: 4-12, missed playoffs

Offensive ranks: 25th in points, 28th in yards

Defensive ranks: 25th in points, 30th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Biggest offseason loss: DT Rocky Bernard.

Buyer Beware: I don't trust QB Matt Hasselbeck's back to hold up through a full 16-game season.

Buy or Sell: SELL

St. Louis Rams

2008 Result: 2-14, picked No. 2 overall for the second straight year.

Offensive ranks: 31st in points, 27th in yards

Defensive ranks: 31st in points, 28th in yards

Biggest offseason gain: Jason Smith gives the Rams a franchise left tackle for the next decade.

Biggest offseason loss: When you go 2-14 and look as bad as the Lions, you don't have much to lose. However, they will miss WR Torry Holt.

Buyer Beware: There are so many holes on this team that it will take at least two seasons before they make the playoffs.

Buy or Sell: SELL

Conclusion

There are nine NFC teams that I feel have a legitimate shot at the playoffs.  I expect the division races in the East and South to come down to the wire.  Five teams will be fighting for two wild card berths.

He exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2006 as his 15 offensive touchdowns made him a fantasy steal.

Allow me to introduce to you the fantasy steal of 2009: New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas.

Thomas is literally and figuratively a poor man's Jones-Drew.

In April, two months after cutting the franchise's all-time leading rusher Fred Taylor, the Jaguars awarded Jones-Drew with a five-year, $31 million contract.

Thomas is scheduled to make $460,000 this season and will be a restricted free agent in 2010.

The styles of both running backs are very similar.

Jones-Drew and Thomas run well between the tackles.  They each possess good speed, but neither is a blazer. 

Both running backs are assets as blockers. 

Who can forget Jones-Drew de-cleating Shawne Merriman?  If you need a reminder, click here.

Thomas is part of a group that consistently keeps Drew Brees from getting sacked.  Being a good blocker is a prerequisite for any running back in Sean Payton's pass-happy offense.

Both players are threats to run and catch the ball on offense and also contribute as kick returners.

Let's take a look at their 2008 offensive numbers:

Maurice Jones-Drew

Rushing

• 12.3 attempts/game
• 824 yards
• 4.2 yards/carry
• 12 touchdowns
• 23.9 percent of his carries resulted in a first down
• 6.1 percent of his carries resulted in a touchdown

Receiving

• 62 receptions
• 565 yards
• 9.1 yards/catch
• 2 touchdowns
• 43.5 percent of his receptions resulted in a first down
• 3.2 percent of his receptions resulted in a touchdown

Total Offense

• 259 touches
• 1,389 yards (27 percent of the team's total yards)
• 5.36 yards/touch
• 14 touchdowns (40 percent of the team's total)
  
• 74 first downs ( 24 percent of the team's total)

Pierre Thomas

Rushing

• 8.6 attempts/game
• 625 yards
• 4.8 yards/carry
• 9 touchdowns
• 33.3 percent of his carries resulted in a first down
• 7 percent of his carries resulted in a touchdown

Receiving

• 31 receptions
• 284 yards
• 9.2 yards/catch
• 3 touchdowns
• 48.3 percent of his receptions resulted in a first down
• 9.6 percent of his receptions resulted in a touchdown

Total Offense

• 160 touches
• 909 yards (13.8 percent of the team's total)
  
• 5.68 yards/touch
• 12 touchdowns (21 percent of the team's total)
  
• 58 first downs (16 percent of the team's total)

Jacksonville has far less weapons than New Orleans. Therefore, Maurice Jones-Drew means more to his team than does Pierre Thomas.

However, look for both players to see an increase in their roles for their respective offenses.

Jones-Drew will serve as the primary ball carrier now that Taylor is playing for New England.  His new back-ups have a grand total of 62 career carries.

Thomas is emerging as the Saints' primary running back.  His carries per game doubled from from 2007 to 2008.  He averaged 15.5 carries per game in his last six games.

The Saints desperately need a running back to emerge as a consistent force between the tackles. 

Pierre Thomas has done everything he can this offseason to prepare to fill that void.  He has added 10 pounds of muscle to endure the increased pounding, and has increased his squats from 495 pounds to 675 pounds to be better prepared to break tackles.

If it means anything, Drew Brees thinks that Thomas is ready to be the number one back.

Everyone knows about Maurice Jones-Drew.  In many fantasy football circles, he is sure to be drafted as one of the top 10 running backs. 

If you need a good second running back and a fantasy sleeper, Pierre Thomas would be a wise choice.

I have drawn two conclusions from these articles (and proceeding comments):

1. Some of these debates are absolutely pointless and ridiculous. 

LeBron is getting trashed left and right. Just a few days ago, he surpassed Kobe as the best player on the planet. It's not his fault that his teammates stunk it up.

When you can score or assist on 31 straight points, that's impressive. When you have to, that's sad.

On a side note, did Jeff Van Gundy really say that Kobe is the greatest Laker of all time? I didn't hear it live, but I heard about it on the radio.

That's an example of someone getting completely caught up in the moment and just blabbering incoherently. 

Kobe is great (and I don't throw that word around loosely), but I think it may be a little early throw "greatest Laker ever" around.

I always thought these debates were best done in the offseason.

2. My second conclusion is that many of you are too immature to involve yourself in a  debate between grown-ups. I guess that's because some of you aren't grown-ups. 

I have seen disagreements begin with, "You need to get your head examined," so many times that if I see it again, I may bang my skull against the wall, and then I'll have to, you know...get my head examined.

It's okay if someone disagrees with you. You don't have to hurl a personal insult whenever someone does. You lose all credibility when you do.

If you think that Bill Russell is the greatest player of all time because he has 11 rings, and someone else thinks that Kareem is the greatest because he has six MVPs and is the all-time leading scorer, then that's fine.

It's not like they said Nate Washington is better than Chris Paul, or the Eastern Conference is better than the Western Conference or that Phil Jackson will be a better coach than Red Auerbach if he wins his tenth ring (whoa, hold up on that last one).

Don't base your argument solely on statistics—they can be misleading. 

Allen Iverson is a great talent and is fifth all time in career scoring average, but I doubt that many NBA historians would consider Iverson to be better than other guards such as Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and John Havlicek. 

West and Robertson rank in the top 10 (sixth and ninth, respectively), but Havlicek doesn't even rank in the top 30. 

You have to consider the fact West, Robertson, and Havlicek all played without the three-point arc.

To compare Iverson to those three would be to compare rotten apples to oranges.

Even if you remain in the same era, it is difficult to compare two great players if they played different positions.

I am going to give you two anonymous players, along with their career accomplishments. You decide for yourself which player is better and then I will reveal the players' identities.

Player A

• 13th all-time in career scoring average
• 15-time All-Star
• NBA MVP
• Four-time NBA champion
• Has made 58 percent of his career shots
• Two-time scoring champion
• Olympic gold medalist
• Has more career rebounds per game than Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, and Garnett
• Averages 2.3 blocks per game
• Made one three-pointer in his career.
• Member of NBA's 50th Anniversary team

Player B

• NBA MVP
• 11-time All-Star
• Three-time NBA champion
• Two-time scoring champion
• Olympic gold medalist
• 10th all-time in career scoring average
• Averages 1.5 steals per game
• Has made over 1,200 threes in his career

Keep in mind that Player A is six years older than Player B and has played four more seasons than Player B. This allows him to accumulate more All-Star appearances and NBA titles, but his age has also contributed to a recent dip in his career averages.

Had Player A retired after his fourth NBA title, he would be a 14-time All-Star, but would jump to eighth in terms of all-time career scoring average.

As you may have guessed, Player A is Shaquille O'Neal and Player B is Kobe Bryant.

It's hard to compare centers to guards because they have different roles on the court.  Shaq pulls down rebounds and blocks shots, while Kobe steals and deals.

Shaq is perhaps the most immovable force to lace up size 22 shoes. Kobe is an excellent scorer and is a clutch three-point shooter.

It is silly to argue over which player needed the other more to win three rings. The facts are neither won until Phil Jackson came along.

Shaq has won without Kobe, but not without a very good guard to shoulder some of the load. Even if Kobe's Lakers defeat the Magic in the NBA Finals, he still wouldn't have won a ring without having an ultra-talented supporting cast.

By the way, there's no shame in that. Even Bill Russell had Sam Jones and John Havlicek to do the bulk of the scoring.

Michael Jordan always had Scottie Pippen, and he had Dennis Rodman for the second three-peat.

Now let's compare players across different eras who played similar positions. Again, I am going to give you two anonymous players along with their career accomplishments. You decide for yourself which player is better, and then I will reveal the players' identities.

Both players were guards.

Player A

• Basketball Hall of Fame
• Six time NBA champion
• 13 time All-star
• 10 time NBA Frst Team
• Led the NBA in a major statistical category eight consecutive times.
• NBA's 50th Anniversary team

Player B

• Basketball Hall of Fame
• Six time NBA champion
• 14 time All-Star
• 10 time NBA first team
• Led the NBA in a major statistical category 10 times (non-consecutive).
• NBA's 50th Anniversary team

Based on the six championships, you probably guessed that one of these players is Michael Jordan. Yes, he is Player B. Jordan was a 10-time scoring champion.

If you guessed that Player A is Bob Cousy, then congratulations. Cousy led the league in assists for eight straight seasons (CP3, you're only six away).

Look how similar the accolades are. 

To keep suspense, I purposely left out the MVP awards. I think most NBA fans older than age 12 know that Jordan won five such awards. Cousy, though, did win one.

Despite the similarities, the 30 year time difference makes this an unfair comparison.  Cousy, the Houdini of the Hardwood, was the first player who brought a lot of flash to the court. He was a slightly built 6'1" guard. 

The NBA was in its early years when Cousy played. There was no previously set benchmark for success when he came into the league.

Jordan, on the other hand, was a muscular 6'6" guard who understood the benefits of lifting weights and knew how to get into phenomenal shape (no, not performance enhancing drugs).

The league was nearly 40 years old when Jordan first donned a Bulls uniform. The records of other greats drove MJ to be better.

Your view of who is the best NBA player of all time is likely skewed by the year you were born and where you grew up.

I was born in 1983 and grew up in the deep South (It's amazing I can write a full sentence, isn't it?). There really weren't any local teams or players to latch on to when I was young, so I just watched whatever the national media allowed me to watch.

My guess is that many fans who grew up on the West Coast would pick Magic over Bird and vice versa for fans on the East Coast. They could probably regurgitate a top ten list of why one is better than the other, and they'd both be right.

My parents are in their 50s (sorry, dad). Many people in their generation would tell you that the Big O or Kareem was the greatest player ever.

Ask two men in their 60s or 70s, and they may argue between Wilt and Russell.

My brother is 12 and lives right outside New Orleans. He has been to a number of Hornets games. 

Guess who he just may think is the best player in the NBA?  If you said Hilton Armstrong, you need your head examined.

My son was born two weeks ago. He won't remember Kobe in his prime. He'll think Michael Jordan is just some terrible basketball executive.

It's likely that the player he will think is the best of all time is currently in fifth grade and being ranked by some scouting magazine (I wish I were kidding).

I never saw Russell, Chamberlain, Robertson, or West play. Kareem retired when I was six. All I know about these men are from stories, statistics, and brief highlights.

My era begins with Bird and Magic. Despite completely different styles of play, their accomplishments are almost indistinguishable.

Both players won multiple titles, three MVP awards, were 12-time All-Stars, were All-NBA First Team nine times, were named to the 1980 All-Rookie team (Bird was ROY), and were members of the 1992 Dream Team.

Magic may have more assists than Bird, but Bird could pass the ball equally well. It was Magic's position as a point guard that allowed him to have twice as many assists as Bird.

Both players had multiple teammates who were also members of the 50th Anniversary team.

They were rivals and were the best players of the 1980s. I believe that either one would have more MVPs and more NBA titles if the other didn't exist.

The 1990s were all about one man: Michael Jordan. By the time the 1990s rolled around, Bird's back went out, and Magic got infected.

Jordan's overall resume is better than both Magic's and Bird's. He won more titles, scored more points, and won more MVP awards. However, Jordan didn't have a rival with which to contend. 

The combination of John Stockton and Karl Malone came closest to knocking Jordan's Bulls off their throne. They faced the Bulls in the NBA Finals twice, but lost in six games each time.

Perhaps Jordan is the greatest player of all time. I won't get all fired up and go toe-to-toe with someone if that's their claim. However, I think he gets a little more hype than he deserves for three reasons:

1. Pure athleticism

MJ seems to be the most athletic player to ever play besides maybe LeBron James.  Maybe those older than me can make a case for Julius Erving, and I'm sure Hawks fans will tell me that Dominique Wilkins was more athletic than Jordan.

People are enamoured with elite athleticism. Just ask Al Davis.

2. TV

How many times have we seen Michael Jordan jump from the foul line to win a dunk contest?

How many times did he beat Cleveland with a tear-your-heart-out, last-second shot? I think I have seen that play 10,847 times.

One of these days he is going to miss that shot against my Jazz in 1998, and Stockton and Malone will finally get their title.

All of this exposure on TV leads to...

3. Marketing

This is the big one. No athlete, much less NBA player, has marketed himself the way Jordan has. You can't blame the man as he annually rakes in $40 million in endorsements. 

While Jerry West's silhouette is the official NBA logo, the "jumpman" might as well be the unofficial one. 

They could have made I wanna be like Mike the official jingle of the NBA instead of that tune John Tesh wrote for The NBA on NBC, and no one would have noticed. 

If you watched basketball on Sundays during the late '80s and '90s, you know what jingle I'm talking about.

Current NBA players are wearing his shoes 11 years after he was any good. 

Scores of kids that I have taught in middle school, who by the way were no older than five years old when he famously brushed aside Bryon Russell, think they are only cool if they are wearing Jordans.

If Magic or Bird had marketed themselves at the same rate that Jordan did, then maybe we are having a totally new discussion.

Who knows who is the best NBA player of all time?  I sure don't. 

What I do know is that most basketball fans already have in their mind who they think is the best player. You are not going to convince them otherwise no matter how much fact or fiction you throw at them.

I do know one other thing. I'll take that foursome you see in the picture along with any really good center against your best five players any day.

As long as we are going to debate, though, can we at least grow up?

They both arrived in New Orleans in 2006 and have consistently produced top-five offenses.

Brees finished second in the MVP voting in 2006 and was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2008.

Payton and Brees always seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to play-calling and personnel packages.

So why not implement a no-huddle offense?

I'm not talking about a part-time, two minute drill no-huddle. I'm talking about a full-time no-huddle offense. 

Sam Wyche, one time head coach of a good Cincinnati Bengals team, implemented a full-time no-huddle offense with quarterback Boomer Esiason. Esiason won the 1988 MVP award and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl the same season.

The Buffalo Bills, led by head coach Marv Levy and quarterback Jim Kelly, adopted the no-huddle offense after losing to the Bengals in the 1988 AFC championship game.

Starting in 1990, the Bills proceeded to win four straight AFC titles. Say what you want about their four subsequent losses in the Super Bowl, but it is more success than the Saints have ever had.

The Saints can pass and score with the best of them already, so you may be saying, "Don't fix what isn't broken," but the reality is that the Saints' offense could use some tweaking. 

Yeah, the Saints need to run the ball better, especially in short-yardage situations. Let's get real, though. Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis can talk all they want about getting or developing another running back to replace Deuce McAllister, but the Saints are still going to throw the ball 60 percent of the time.

The Saints are notoriously slow starters and often put up the bulk of their offensive numbers after the first quarter.

In the first quarters of games in 2008, the Saints were shut out six times and scored just 67 of their 463 points, only 14 percent. They scored a touchdown in the first quarter in just five games, but were 4-1 in those games.

For instance, the Saints scored 32 points in a loss at Denver but only scored three of those points in the first quarter fell behind 21-3.

The San Francisco 49ers shut out the Saints in the first quarter before the Saints exploded for 21 points in the second quarter.

The Saints twice used the fourth quarter to pad their stats in losses to division opponents after the game was out of reach. New Orleans scored 14 points in the fourth quarter in a 30-24 loss to Atlanta, and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter of a 33-31 loss to Carolina.

We can blame the defense all we want for the eight losses, and yes, they deserve a great deal of the blame, but perhaps that Saints would win a couple more games if they got off to better starts.

Brees is more of a player/coach rather than just a player and is more than capable of running a no-huddle. He knows his playbook and understands the nuances of the offense as well as anyone. His relentless film work allows him to read defenses and make changes on the fly.

New Orleans has enough versatile weapons to go an entire series without substituting.  Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas can both take hand offs and catch passes out of the backfield. Heath Evans, the new fullback, is a triple threat to block, run, and receive.  Jeremy Shockey is useful in both the run and pass game.

Versatility, which was one of the themes of the Saints' offseason, allows the Saints to exploit favorable match-ups.

Here's an example of how the no-huddle can help the Saints.

Let's say the Saints begin a game with Marques Colston and Lance Moore at receiver, Shockey at tight end, and Bush and Thomas at running back. If Bush and Thomas are both in the backfield on first down, then the opposing team is probably in their base 4-3 or 3-4 defense. If the Saints go without a huddle on second down, they can put Bush in the slot without allowing the opposing team to switch to a nickel defense.

Remember, if the offense doesn't substitute, then the referees don't have to allow time for the defense to substitute.

We are in age of defensive specialization. 

There are defensive ends who get paid millions to only play during passing situations.  They are good at rushing the quarterback but are poor against the run.

There are linebackers who are fierce against the run but are worthless in pass coverage.  This is how the Miami Dolphins ruined the Chicago Bears' perfect season in 1985.

Believe it or not, there are defensive backs who can't play the pass. We politely call them "in-the-box" safeties, such as Roy Williams and Roman Harper.

The no-huddle exploits defenses that are chock full of defensive specialists.

Not only would a no-huddle provide for favorable match-ups, but it will eventually wear down defenses. 

The Saints would not have to run a hurry-up offense just because they go without a huddle. Peyton Manning often uses a no-huddle and still waits until there are only a few seconds left on the play clock before he calls for a snap.

The Saints' offense is not as prolific as Saints fans and the NFL media seem to think.

It's a good offense but it could use a little bit of work. Throw in a no-huddle offense with an improved run game, and we could be talking about an "all-time" offense before everything is all said and done.

Arnoux tore his Achilles' tendon Friday night during rookie minicamp.  It was expected that he would make an immediate impact on special teams and compete for a backup linebacker spot behind Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita. 

The Saints hoped that Arnoux would then become a starter after a year in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' system.

Now, Arnoux's progression will be postponed a full year.

Regrettably, Arnoux's injury is just part of a growing litany of injuries experienced by Saints' first and second-year players.

Let's go back to 2003.  Jim Haslett, then the head coach, was enamoured with the speed and athleticism of linebacker Cie Grant.  The Saints used a third-round pick on the former Ohio State Buckeye.  He played in just seven games in his career, all as a rookie, due to injuries to his calf and patella tendon.

Another former Big Ten standout, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, has been bitten multiple times by the injury bug.  Ninkovich, the Saints' fifth-round pick in 2006 out of Purdue, showed promise to at least start his career as a pass-rushing specialist. 

Ninkovich has been unable to show his potential as a pro because of a pair of season-ending injuries.  He tore the ACL in his right knee during the 2006 season and then tore the MCL in his left knee during preseason in 2007. 

He was cut by the Saints and picked up by the Miami Dolphins.  He has since re-signed with the Saints and is trying to make contributions to the team that drafted him.

New Orleans lost not one, but two defensive draft choices to season-ending injuries last season. 

Cornerback Tracy Porter, the Saints' second-round draft choice in 2008 out of Indiana, appeared to be part of the answer to the Saints' secondary woes.  He was immediately inserted as a starter and picked off his first career pass against the San Francisco 49ers. 

Little did we know that the injury bug would rear its ugly head again, and Porter's season would be over the very next week against Minnesota.  Porter injured his wrist after he landed awkwardly while trying to defend a pass.  Porter played in just five games after being placed on injured reserve.

DeMario Pressley, a fifth-round pick in 2008 out of North Carolina State, was being counted upon to provide depth at defensive tackle.  Pressley, however, fractured his foot in the offseason, and never played a down as a rookie. 

The team has done a lot in the draft over the past several seasons to address the defensive depth, and it has yet to work out.  These injuries have played a major factor in preventing the defense from rising back to respectability.  The Saints haven't been able to develop young players into starters or effective backups because many of their drafts picks spend more time on injured reserve than on the active roster.

The amount of season-ending injuries that have affected the Saints in recent years is beyond ridiculous. 

The Saints are cursed.

Now, I am looking at the AFC's version of the civil war.  The AFC South posted a 10-6 edge against the AFC North in the regular season, but the playoffs were a different story.

The Baltimore Ravens avenged a regular season loss to the Tennessee Titans by upsetting them in an AFC Divisional playoff game.  The North sent two teams, including the eventual Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh, to the AFC championship game.

The South, on the other hand, didn't win a playoff game.

Each division's top teams are pretty even, but the bottom of the AFC South seems to be a little bit stronger than the AFC North's cellar dwellers.

All-AFC North Team

Offense

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger

Wide Receivers: Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Derrick Mason

Running Backs: Jamal Lewis and Le'Ron McClain

Tight End: Heath Miller

Tackles: Joe Thomas and Willie Anderson

Guards: Eric Steinbach and Chris Kemoeatu

Center: Matt Birk

Defense

Defensive Ends: Aaron Smith and Trevor Pryce

Defensive Tackles: Shaun Rogers and Haloti Ngata

Outside Linebackers: James Harrison and Terrell Suggs

Inside Linebackers: Ray Lewis and James Farrior

Cornerbacks: Brandon McDonald and Leon Hall

Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu

Free Safety: Ed Reed

Special Teams

Placekicker: Phil Dawson

Punter: Sam Koch

Kick Returner: Josh Cribbs

Punt Returner: Josh Cribbs

All-AFC South Team

Offense

Quarterback: Peyton Manning

Wide Receivers: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, and Kevin Walter

Running Backs: Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson

Tight End: Owen Daniels

Tackles: Michael Roos and Tra Thomas

Guards: Jake Scott and Chester Pitts

Center: Kevin Mawae

Defense

Defensive Ends: Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney

Defensive Tackles: John Henderson, Tony Brown

Outside Linebackers: Keith Bullock, Justin Durant

Inside Linebackers: DeMeco Ryans, Gary Bracket

Cornerbacks: Cortland Finnegan, Rasheen Mathis

Strong Safety: Bob Sanders

Free Safety: Michael Griffin

Special Teams

Placekicker: Rob Bironas

Punter: Hunter Smith

Kick Returner: Chris Carr

Punter Returner: Jacoby Jones

This is the first of a seven part series that pits one division against another.  I'm going bracket-style.  Eventually, I'll have the best division of the NFC versus the best division of the AFC.

Today, I'm going looking at the NFC: North vs. South.  It's an NFC civil war.  Will the North repeat in victory or will the South rise up?  By the way, the NFC South went 13-3 against the NFC North last year.

You, the esteemed readers, will decide which division moves on the face the NFC East/NFC West winner by simply answering the poll question.

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NFC North						AFC North
NFC South						AFC South
NFC East						AFC East
NFC West						AFC West

All-NFC North Team

Offense

Quarterback: Jay Cutler

Wide Receivers: Calvin Johnson, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings

Running Backs: Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte

Tight End: Greg Olsen

Tackles: Bryant McKinnie, Chad Clifton

Guards: Steve Hutchinson, Roberto Garza

Center: Dominic Raiola

Defense

Defensive Ends: Jared Allen, Aaron Kampman

Defensive Tackles: Pat Williams, Kevin Williams

Outside Linebackers: Lance Briggs, Julian Peterson

Inside Linebackers: Brian Urlacher, A.J. Hawk

Cornerbacks: Charles Woodsen, Antoine Winfield

Strong Safety: Kevin Payne

Free Safety: Nick Collins

Special Teams

Placekicker: Robbie Gould

Punter: Nick Harris

Kick Returner: Will Blackmon

Punt Returner: Devin Hester

The All-NFC South Team

Offense

Quarterback: Drew Brees

Wide Receivers: Steve Smith, Roddy White, Marques Colston

Running Backs: Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams

Tight End: Tony Gonzales

Tackles: Jordon Gross, Jammal Brown

Guards: Jahri Evans, Aaron Sears

Center: Jeff Faine

Defense

Defensive Ends: Julius Peppers, John Abraham

Defensive Tackles: Chris Hovan, Damione Lewis

Outside Linebackers: Thomas Davis, Scott Fujita

Inside Linebackers: Jon Beason, Jonathan Vilma

Cornerbacks: Ronde Barber, Chris Houston

Strong Safety: Jermaine Philips

Free Safety: Darren Sharper

Special Teams

Placekicker: Jason Elam

Punter: Jason Baker

Kick Returner: Clifton Smith

Punt Returner: Reggie Bush

Who would have guessed that Michael Crabtree would fall all the way to tenth or that Darrius Heyward-Bey would go ahead of him?

Rosters won't change very much between now and June 1. That's when we may see a few more veterans fall victim to the salary cap. Until then, here are my NFL power rankings:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The champs are...well...the champs! The Steelers didn't really lose much in free agency and drafted speedy wide receiver Mike Wallace (4.33 40-yard dash) to replace Nate Washington. Pittsburgh is on top of the power rankings mountain until someone knocks them off.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb, at 32 years of age, had one of his finest seasons. He started all 16 games and threw for nearly 4,000 yards. Now, Eagles' management has surrounded him with more weapons. They traded for left tackle Jason Peters and drafted wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

The loss of Brian Dawkins may be eased some by the acquisition of Sean Jones.

3. Carolina Panthers

Much of this lofty ranking is based on the assumption that Julius Peppers plays for Carolina. He is the unstoppable force that drives this defense.

The Panthers have the best combo of running backs with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They combined for 30 rushing touchdowns last year.  Carolina is always a threat to score with Steve Smith.

4. New England Patriots

Assuming Tom Brady is back and fully recovered from his injury, the Patriots should be back on top of the AFC East. 

New England began the offseason by bringing in older veterans such as Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, and Fred Taylor. Then, they used 12 draft picks to bring in a lot of young talent, especially on defense.

5. Indianapolis Colts

Another year, another first round exit for the Colts. Longtime Colts' assistant Jim Caldwell takes over for Tony Dungy.

Whenever you have Peyton Manning, though, you always have a chance to win. The Colts won nine straight games last season after Manning was able to shake the rust off after not participating in training camp.

6. New York Giants

The Giants made a concerted effort in free agency to address the defense.  They acquired three or four new starters during the offseason.

New York then used the draft to find a replacement for Plaxico Burress and actually used two draft picks on wide receivers. The departure of Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay gives Ahmed Bradshaw a chance to step up and fill the role of "change-of-pace back" needed to complement Brandon Jacobs.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Everyone knows that the biggest need on this team is quarterback. While that should not be overlooked, this team still has Adrian Peterson and a strong defense. 

Percy Harvin is this team's biggest x-factor. If he can have a similar impact on the Vikings as he did on the Florida Gators, this offense can really take off.

8. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' defense was weakened a bit with the loss of Bart Scott in free agency. Baltimore, though, continues to build around a strong running game.  They drafted Michael Oher and signed center Matt Birk away from the Vikings.

9. Arizona Cardinals

Despite appearing in the Super Bowl, I'm still not sold on the Cardinals. If they were in any other division in the NFC, they likely would have missed the playoffs altogether.

I don't know which Cardinals team is going to show up in 2009. Are they going to be the regular season team that threw the ball 63 percent of the time in the regular season or the playoff team that had a good run/pass balance?

The Anquan Boldin saga seems overblown. He was a non-factor in two of the playoff games. Trade him already.

10. Tennessee Titans

Last year's number one seed in the AFC drops to number ten for one big reason: Albert Haynesworth. He was the difference between the Titans' line going from good to great. Teams always had to account for his presence, and now they don't.

The Titans' attempts to address the receiver position included bringing in Nate Washington and drafting Kenny Britt. Washington was no better than Pittsburgh's number three option, and first round picks at wide receiver rarely make impacts as rookies.

11. Atlanta Falcons

The question surrounding the Falcons is whether or not Matt Ryan can build upon his outstanding rookie season and avoid the sophomore slump.  Management certainly has done all they can to make sure Ryan flourishes. They added Tony Gonzales to the arsenal of Michael Turner and Roddy White.

The defense took a big hit in free agency. They lost Dominique Foxworth, Michael Boley, Keith Brooking, and Grady Jackson on a defense that needed to be improved.

12. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were the first team to integrate the "wildcat" formation into the NFL. Running back Ronnie Brown was the trigger man in this formation.  Now, it appears that rookie quarterback Pat White may fulfill that role. White gives an added dimension in the wildcat because he is a threat to throw the ball as well as run.

The Dolphins addressed the secondary, their biggest defensive weakness, by drafting Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. They also signed Gibril Wilson to play in the box as a safety.

13. New Orleans Saints

The Saints have had an explosive offense for three years running. Now, they may have finally have a defense good enough to complement the offense.

New Orleans' biggest offseason move was to hire Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. They then went and brought in players such as Darren Sharper, Jabari Greer, and Malcolm Jenkins to fit into his aggressive scheme.

If the Saints' defense can just be decent, then they can make a deep run into the playoffs.

14. Houston Texans

The Texans did everything they could do to address a defense that ranked near the bottom last year. They signed veterans Cato June, Shaun Cody, and Antonio Smith and then spent the majority of their draft picks focusing on defense.

Despite an 0-4 start, the Texans finished with an 8-4 record. Unless another hurricane comes through Houston, the Texans won't have to play 15 straight games without a bye week.

15. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are as talented as any team in the league but somehow couldn't muster better than an 8-8 record last year. They are littered with pro-bowl talent all over the roster.

The good news for San Diego is that they will get Shawn Merriman back after a virtual year off.  The entire defense felt the impact of his absence. The secondary, which had 30 interceptions in 2007, had just 15 in 2008.

16. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo was not quiet this offseason. They added Terrell Owens to pair up alongside Lee Evans. The Bills were smart to sign Owens to just a one-year deal as his past locker room divisiveness is well-documented.

The biggest challenge for the Bills will be to avoid the second half swoon they had last year.

17. Chicago Bears

The Bears concluded the biggest story of the offseason by completing a trade to pick up Jay Cutler. The problem, though, is that Cutler won't have nearly the same weapons to throw to in Chicago as he did in Denver.

Surprisingly, the Bears have a lot to fix on defense, particularly in the secondary. The NFC North is not a prolific passing division and yet Chicago still ranked 30th in the NFL in stopping the pass. Picking up Josh Bullocks is not going to solve anything.

18. San Francisco 49ers

Right now, the 49ers are my pick to surprise people and make the playoffs as a wild card, but they have a lot of work ahead of them. First, they must find a quarterback to run the offense which is steadily adding solid pieces.

Michael Crabtree unexpectedly fell to the 49ers and will be immediately inserted into the starting lineup. They also drafted Glen Coffee to take some of the workload off of Frank Gore.

Coach Mike Singletary is a demanding coach, but his young team should respond well to his approach.

19. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas' offense was just average last season.  One reason for this was the loss of Felix Jones. Jones was the perfect complement to Marion Barber's smashmouth style. He was averaging nine yards per carry before tearing his hamstring in week six.

The Cowboys need Tony Romo to step up in December. He is just 5-8 in 13 December starts. If he doesn't he could cost Wade Philips his job. The Cowboys were the most talented team in the NFC to not make the playoffs last season.

20. New York Jets

After a year of Brett Favre, the Jets now know that their quarterback of the future is Mark Sanchez. Unfortunately, Kellen Clemens may be their quarterback of the present. I expect the Jets' offense to take a step backwards as they adjust to their new quarterback situation.

Head coach Rex Ryan brings in more credibility to a defense that ranked 29th in passing yards allowed. Maybe he can light a fire under Vernon Gholston.

21. Washington Redskins

This is going to be a "put up or shut up" year for Jason Campbell. He is now in his second season under Jim Zorn and complained about the Redskins shopping for Jay Cutler,  He has the weapons to be successful with Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, and Chris Cooley at his disposal. He also has the option of handing the ball off the Clinton Portis.

Washington made a big splash defensively when they signed $100 million man Albert Haynesworth. They also drafted Brian Orakpo and are trying him at outside linebacker.

22. Oakland Raiders

I was surprised as anyone when the Raiders passed on Crabtree to select Darrius Heyward-Bey, but we have to give the kid a chance to prove himself.  He may fit into the Raiders' offense nicely. I do know that JaMarcus Russell thrives on the deep ball. I'm taking the Raiders' draft on a wait an see approach.

My biggest question about the Raiders is not whether or nor Tom Cable can be successful; it's whether or not Al Davis will allow him to be successful. No Oakland coach has lasted longer than 32 games since Jon Gruden left in 2001.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars

If the Jaguars are to recapture the magic from 2007, David Garrard needs to return to his 2007 form. 

Jacksonville signed Torry Holt to give Garrard another weapon. The problem is that Holt is past his prime. He had his worst season since his rookie season in 1999.

24. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers proved to be worth the wait as the Packers ranked 5th in scoring and eighth in yards. Thee biggest problem for the Packers was their defense.

Green Bay is flipping to a 3-4 defense this season. While they didn't make much noise in free agency, they surely addressed their defensive needs immediately in the draft. They selected B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews with their two first round picks.

If the defense can step up, then the Packers can contend with Minnesota and Chicago. If not, they're 6-10 again.

25. Seattle Seahawks

Jim Mora (the former Atlanta coach and not his "playoffs!" screeching father) takes over in Seattle after Mike Holmgren's disappointing final season. Seattle finished an injury-riddled 2008 with a 4-12 mark.

If Seattle is going to return to glory, they are going to need Matt Hasselbeck.  He played ineffectively for seven games because of a back injury and was shut down for the year. He's going to get some extra help because he'll be throwing the ball to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Seattle has a decent chance to make a big leap from 4-12 record to the playoffs because of their weak division.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Derrick Brooks: gone. Joey Galloway: gone.  Jeff Garcia: gone. Warrick Dunn: gone. Are you sensing a theme here?

And that's only about half of the players the Bucs got rid of. Raheem Morris has only one veteran, Ronde Barber, on which to lean as a new era begins in Tampa Bay.

27. Denver Broncos

Whether you like it or not, Josh McDaniels is the new sheriff in town. He shipped Jay Cutler out of town and cut nine other players.

It looks as if McDaniels will use a balanced approach to his offense, at least in the first season. With either Kyle Orton or Chris Simms at quarterback, Denver won't be slinging the ball all around the field.

If Denver does not have a successful season, McDaniels will look stupid. If Denver makes the playoffs, he'll look like a genius. I think the Broncos still have too many holes on defense to seriously contend for even a wild card.

28. Cincinnati Bengals

As much as the NFL community piles on the Bengals for their ineptitude, I think they had a really good draft for once. Andre Smith gives Carson Palmer the blindside protection that he needs. The Bengals also picked Rey Maualuga to play alongside Keith Rivers, his former USC teammate.

The problem is that the Bengals haven't rid themselves of the me-first players that tend to destroy an NFL locker room. Until they do that, Cincinnati will continue to pile up 10-loss seasons.

29. Kansas City Chiefs

There is a lot of optimism in Kansas City now that Matt Cassel is the quarterback, but I'm still skeptical. In New England, he had Randy Moss, Wes Welker and a solid defense to back him up.

In KC, he's got Dwayne Bowe, and that's it. Tony Gonzales is gone and Larry Johnson is approaching the dreaded 30 year old mark. Johnson has combined for 1,433 yards over the past two seasons after accumulating consecutive 1,700-yard seasons in 2005 and 2006.

Pairing Tyson Jackson with his college teammate Glen Dorsey seems like a good move, but it will be a year or so before the young defense rounds into form.

30. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland was quietly active in free agency. They signed Eric Barton, Corey Ivy, and "Pork Chop" Womack among others.

They addressed many of their offensive needs in the draft. The Browns are building a formidable line with Joe Thomas and now Alex Mack. Of course, the biggest story in Cleveland this summer will be about Brady Quinn. He is the favorite to win the job over Derek Anderson.

The problem for Cleveland's offense is that they are relying on Jamal Lewis to carry the rushing load once again. He had 1,000 yards last season but only averaged 3.6 yards per carry. There aren't a whole lot more miles on those legs.

31. St. Louis Rams

The Rams were the worst team in the worst division. They were 31st in scoring offense and defense. The defense has infused some young talent over the past few seasons and now has Steve Spagluolo to guide them.

The offense does not have a proven wide receiver to Bulger can throw. Steven Jackson's violent running style has caused him to miss significant time in each of the past two seasons.

32. Detroit Lions

I don't care what kind of changes you made during the offseason. You went 0-16 last year. You must win a game to move off this spot. Enough said.