NFL 2008 Week 1 Picks

It's been 214 days since the gun sounded ending Super Bowl XLII. Over these last thirty weeks, teams have been plotting and shifting their strategies for the upcoming season through the draft, trades, free agency, and getting healthy athletes back. Contracts were finalized and signed, and some players even got reinstated from The Commish.

This season should not fall short of being thoroughly entertaining and historical including the ushering in of new eras while saying good-bye to old ones.

New regimes are beginning in Atlanta, Washington, Miami, and Baltimore.

Mike Holmgren will be leaving the city of Seattle where he transformed the Seahawks into a winner during his 10 year tenure. Ex-Falcons head coach Jim More Jr. will succeed him in 2009. Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy will also be coaching his last season with the Colts with assistant coach Jim Caldwell waiting in the wings and the team ushering in their new home, Lucas Oil Field.

It's hard to believe, but this is the last year that the Dallas Cowboys will play their home games in Texas Stadium. This rustic antique has housed some of the greatest moments in team and NFL history, but it will soon be an empty and eerie shell. Next year, Dallas will play in their breathtaking coliseum that could seat the whole city of Roanoke, Virginia.

What about those coaches who may not realize that this is their last season? Heading into Week 1, hot seats will already be warm for St. Louis' Scott Linehan, San Francisco's Mike Nolan, Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden, Oakland's Lane Kiffin, and the Bengals' Marvin Lewis. A non-winning season and/or a missed playoff berth just might cause these coaches to seek employment...maybe sooner than later.

Also this season, all eyes will be on the Patriots to see if they can go undefeated again while many wonder if the Giants can repeat or at least go deep in the playoffs to prove that last season wasn't a hoax.

Who will be the Cinderella team of 2008? Which rookie will catch everyone's eye and play like he's a veteran? Which team(s) will think they are operating on a solid foundation only to realize that they're on a thin sheet of ice as the losses just keep piling up?

No one knows the answers, but the journey to find them out begins September 4th.

• Washington Redskins at NY Giants: NBC, 7pm EST, Thursday Night - The NFL scheduling committee didn't show Jim Zorn much hospitality by bringing him to New York for his first game as an NFL head coach and facing the world champions. His offense will face a Giants defense that is banged up, but still aggressive and smothering. EDDIE'S PICK - NY GIANTS
• Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons: FOX, 1pm EST - When you first glance at this vomit-inducing contest, Detroit would be the default choice given Atlanta's recent history of being a disabled franchise. But, I chalk this one up to the 12th man. The crowd should be out in full force with the throttle all the way forward as new coach Mike Smith and QB Matt Ryan look to start the year on the right foot. EDDIE'S PICK - ATLANTA
• Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills: FOX, 1pm EST - Airline miles are going to pile up for these Seahawks players as they will be traveling east eight times this year, and it starts with a visit to Buffalo to face a Bills team that appears to have finally found their future general in Trent Edwards. This battle has the elements to be very entertaining to watch. EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints: FOX, 1pm EST - Or, will it be in Tampa? Reports are surfacing that this opener will be in Tampa due to Hurricane Gustav, and that the next game between these two divisional foes will be in New Orleans. Either way, the Saints are more talented than the Bucs going into 2008, and I don't think it will matter where they play. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ORLEANS
• St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles: FOX, 1pm EST - There's a renewed sense of expectancy in Philly as McNabb and Westbrook appear to be quite healthy. Only the Super Bowl will satisfy and the first challenge to get there are the Rams who have a happy RB in Steven Jackson to go along with an aging offense, and a defense that is still quite suspect. EDDIE'S PICK - PHILADELPHIA
• Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers: FOX, 4:15pm EST - When the Panthers' top weapon, WR Steve Smith, clocked his team mate, that pretty much sealed the outcome of this game. Smith was suspended by the team for the first two games which means defenses can now stack the box and contain Carolina's running game. The Chargers should roll at home. EDDIE'S PICK - SAN DIEGO
• Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers: FOX, 4:15pm EST - What can you say? San Francisco is like that collection of guys in the old black-and-white film clips that keep trying to fly by jumping off of roofs and running down mountain sides with wings of tin foil. They keep trying different materials and approaches, but nothing is working. EDDIE'S PICK - ARIZONA
• Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns: FOX, 4:15pm EST - Yes, Dallas has problems at wide receiver as well, but Terrell Owens is still on the playing field. The rest of the Dallas offense including Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and their two-back assault will be facing a Cleveland defense that has weaknesses at cornerback and pass rushers. Not a good combo. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans: CBS, 1pm EST - If you enjoy games that maintain high levels of physicality, then this battle is for you. Both defenses enjoy brain-altering hits that leave you disillusioned, and both offenses are grounded by the running game. Last year, Tennessee opened the year with a win in Jacksonville. Let's see if the Jaguars can return the favor. EDDIE'S PICK - JACKSONVILLE
• NY Jets at Miami Dolphins: CBS, 1pm EST - There's a unique level of expectancy and excitement when Bill Parcells moves into your neighborhood. This Dolphins team now has a brand new identity and level of discipline that should put a much better product on the field. They open the year welcoming their division rivals who have a new QB in Brett Favre while their old field general, Chad Pennington, leads the Miami charge. EDDIE'S PICK - MIAMI
• Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots: CBS, 1pm EST - Everyone in New England can breathe a sigh of relief. Tom Brady is going to start this home opener vs. a Chiefs team that ranked in the top five in nine different defensive categories last season. It's been eighteen years since the Chiefs won in New England. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
• Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers: CBS, 1pm EST - When you look at the talent level of each team, you don't need much time to realize that this is like picking up a grizzly cub with the mom 10 feet away. Ironically, when the Texans were an expansion team in 2002, they beat Pitt in Heinz Field 24-6. This game will be much different. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
• Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: CBS, 1pm EST - This pre-season has been bizarre for rookie Joe Flacco who started out on the bench as the #3 QB. One shoulder injury and stomach flu later, Flacco was thrust into the #1 role and hasn't let go. He faces a Cincy team that is porous on defense, but will go to the air often against this Ravens secondary that gave up 27 TD's last season. EDDIE'S PICK - CINCINNATI
• Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts: NBC, 8:15pm EST, Sunday Night - I think we all remember what happened the last time these two teams met. The Colts begin their quest for another world championship in their brand new home, Lucas Oil Field, as Tony Dungy's farewell tour begins as well. It will be very hard to puncture through this atmosphere. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS
• Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: ESPN, 7pm EST, MNF - Remember back in the day when this match-up would make your blood simmer? The Aaron Rodgers era begins in Lambeau vs. a Vikings team that very well be primed to make a Super Bowl run. This game was to feature a half-time presentation retiring Favre's #4. Yeah, that's not happening. EDDIE'S PICK - MINNESOTA
• Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: ESPN, 10:15pm EST, MNF - Yes, you're reading that right -- a second MNF game that will end on Tuesday. The Raiders hope they have a rejuvenated and healthy JaMarcus Russell to quarterback this team whose offense has the firepower to rack up some long-awaited points. They face the much-hated Broncos who are 8-2 vs. the Raiders since 2003. EDDIE'S PICK - DENVER

I will post the STANDINGS next week.

NFL 2008 Season Preview

AN EXCELLENT SEASON

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.

- Michael J. Fox

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins became the first team to win all 14 regular-season games, both playoff games, and then Super Bowl VII to go 17-0. To date, that was the best season any team had played. It was pure excellence, but not perfection.

In 2007, the New England Patriots put on a show for the ages after going 16-0 in the regular season. Then, they breezed through the playoffs beating Jacksonville and San Diego. But in Super Bowl XLII, the Pats were humbled by the New York “Cinderella” Giants. New England’s season was fantastic and made history, but they fell short of the standard set by Miami despite winning two more regular-season games.

What made New England's undefeated regular season so special was that they did it in a time of free agency, injuries, and celebrity culture. Accomplishing such a feat was like a 12-year-old kid with asthma reaching the top of Mt. Everest. But, even when it's attained, it's rarely ever going to be perfect.

Vince Lombardi once said, "Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."

What are we to expect in 2008? Where will excellence find a home this year? Will anyone even sniff the aroma that seeps out of that realm created by Miami and New England? Will we see another undefeated regular season?

Welcome to the 2008 NFL season.

AFC EAST

• NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: When a man of Bill Belichick's demeanor and proficiency is your head coach, expectations are at a paramount level. If his QB is Tom Brady who leads an offense that gives opposing coaches sleepless nights, then success is right around the corner. But, this criteria doesn’t guarantee them reaching their mission if they have a suspect defense especially in the secondary. That proved to be their pitfall six months ago in Super Bowl XLII. Through the draft and free-agency, New England hopes that it has addressed that fault while shoring up their linebacker corps as well. There is also a mystery surrounding General Brady's foot injury during this pre-season. Belichick has always been misleading about injuries, but this is something worth watching as the regular season approaches although I fully expect Brady to be out there Week 1. Barring a nuclear holocaust, expect to see the Pats in late January.

• BUFFALO BILLS: The last time Buffalo was in the playoffs many of this year's players were teenagers hanging out in arcades. Despite a slew of injuries last year, these youngsters underachieved especially on offense with QB Trent Edwards at the helm. Their defense also seemed to gel while RB Marshawn Lynch, who pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident during the off-season, proved that he's the real deal. Buffalo also drafted well by getting the best CB in the draft, Leodis McKelvin, and a great red-zone target in 6-foot-6 WR James Hardy. This city is hungry for a return to the glory years of the Jim Kelly era, and Edwards can take them there. This team is stocked with talent on both side of the ball, and they must get the most of each one of them plus stay healthy all year. If these two dynamics can happen, there's no reason to believe that the Bills couldn't be a dark horse playoff candidate.

• NY JETS: Expectations for this season mushroomed on August 6, 2008 when Jet Favre landed in the Big Apple. Not since the days of Broadway Joe has a QB of this stature worn the green and white. The soap opera in Green Bay is now over, and the Jets now have a new leader. Brett Favre will operate behind a revamped offensive line and target a nice group of receivers, but it won't be what he had in Green Bay. Despite a shaky state-of-affairs on defense, the key to this team is now how soon Favre can grasp the offense and how well he can get in shape. If the pre-season has been any indication, Favre will not have a problem running this Jets offense, but can he continue his impeccable history of avoiding injuries? New York also has a history of being inhospitable to athletes, like Randy Johnson and Isiah Thomas, who didn't meet their standards and were eventually run out of town. If Jet fans don't see W's soon, Broadway Brett may wonder why he wasn’t home hunting boar.

• MIAMI DOLPHINS: Wayne Huzienga may be the owner, but this is clearly Bill Parcells' team. When he took over late last season, you could see the thunder clouds forming on the horizon. Big Bill wears discipline and grit like a birth mark, and what has transpired this off-season is an overhaul with that type of blue-collar mentality dripping all over it. Along with ex-Cowboys Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland, who were hired as head coach and GM respectively, Parcells has conducted intense personnel moves via free agency (once again, thank you, Dallas), the draft, and trades. Thanks to the Favre adventure, Miami was also able to fill a critical need by signing Parcells' former #1 draft pick in Chad Pennington to be their QB this season. Losing Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor to the NFC East is probably going to leave a void on defense which won't be filled right away with that same level of skill and talent. This is going to be a fun team to watch if you like watching a new born calf trying to run.

AFC NORTH

• PITTSBURGH STEELERS: If you thought the two losses to Jacksonville at home towards the end of 2007 was brutal, then you haven't seen the Steelers 2008 schedule. Besides their divisional foes, Pitt faces the likes of Indy, NE, San Diego, the NFC East, and the Jags. In order to master these teams, the Steelers are going to need to win the battle in the trenches and that won't be easy with an offensive line that lost Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca and is now left with a group of mammoths who move like they have cement blocks for shoes. That's not to say though that this Pitt offense isn't going to continue to scare some defensive coordinators, especially after drafting RB Rashard Mendenhall and WR Limas Sweed. Defensively, this unit faltered late last season and then took some costly hits via free agency, but didn't do anything to plug the holes. Despite these weak welding spots, coach Mike Tomlin does have a solid structure and a weak division to be thankful for.

• CLEVELAND BROWNS: Cleveland fans have been through hell and back over the last few decades, but last season, they saw a light in the midst of darkness. Their offense burst forth like a hyena that had been caged for years thanks to the Cinderella season by QB Derek Anderson and the break-out performances by RB Jamal Lewis, WR Braylon Edwards, and TE Kellen Winslow. Anderson appears to be the front-runner to lead this offense again this year despite hometown favorite Brady Quinn waiting in the wings, so he must prove that he wasn't a one-year wonder if he wants to stay on the perch. The defense also matured, and Cleveland posted a 10-6 record and barely missed the playoffs. They proceeded to have a good draft, and Coach Crennel signed a two-year extension. If they can stay healthy and focused, this team has a great chance to stop the presses two years in a row.

• BALTIMORE RAVENS: A new era has arrived in Raven Land as languid head coach Brian Billick was drop-kicked in favor of the spirited John Harbaugh who served as the Eagles' special teams and defensive backs coach for the last nine years. Go figure. Then, Steve "Evel Knievel" McNair finally listened to his body and hung up his cleats leaving the QB position open for grabs. Troy Smith and rookie QB Joe Flacco are the front runners to win the starting job with Kyle Boller hurt right now. The task won’t be fun behind a line that lost left tackle icon Jonathan Ogden to retirement. The Ravens running attack is anchored by Willis McGahee, but he must stay healthy which is not likely considering his past and the depth behind him is shallow. Throw in a defense that is either aging or green, and you have a team which is in transition looking for its identity.

• CINCINNATI BENGALS: The circus has arrived in Cincinnati, and its ring leader is the Bengals brass. WR Chris Henry was arrested on assault charges and then cut from the team by coach Marvin Lewis (along with LB Odell Thurman who frequented the police blotter as well) and then suspended by Sheriff Goodell for four games. The charges were dropped so Cincy re-signed Henry (at the urging of owner Mike Brown) to help bolster their injury-ravaged receiving corps. This includes the cancerous Chad Johnson who demanding to be traded in the off-season and then publicly trash-talked Lewis when he refused. He now has a torn labrum in his shoulder -- but is refusing to have surgery. On draft day, Cincy allowed the Saints to leap frog in front of them and pick USC DT Sedrick Ellis who they coveted for a long time. Instead, they picked DT Jason Shirley...who was in and out of trouble his senior year due to legal issues. Cincy also has serious issues at RB as Rudi Johnson has lost his luster and is now on the trading block leaving them with the often-injured Chris Perry and Kenny Watson. Also, the Bengals underachieving defense has miles to go before they will allow Lewis and the coaching staff to sleep. It's going to be a long year.

AFC SOUTH

• INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Stability, honor, and excellence are not alien influences when you have a coach like Tony Dungy. His faith and respect in his players and the game are brought to life on and off the field. Controversy and distractions are about as common as seeing Britney Spears at a M.A.D.D. convention. As Dungy enters his final year as the Colts' head coach along with the beginning of a new era in Lucas Oil Stadium, you can expect this Indy squad to pay homage to their leader by putting a product on the field that will keep you riveted...as usual. Both sides of the ball are stocked once again with talent with twenty of last year's twenty-two starters returning. The only area of concern right now is the health of QB Peyton Manning who has missed all of training camp after having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee on July 14th. While he has nothing to prove in his final year along the Colts sidelines, wouldn't it be fitting for Tony Dungy to coach his final game on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay?

• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: It's hard to stay focused on the hike and your destination when you get a rock in your shoe. It's small and moves around, but you know its there and it becomes annoying and just a bit painful. It's hard to describe the renewed sense of comfort and purpose you feel when you're finally able to remove it. For Jacksonville, Byron Leftwich was that pebble and is now in Pittsburgh. This team is now David Garrard's, and he has a sterling cast with the likes of a punishing and explosive running game and a receiving corps that will finally be intimidating to opposing secondaries. This Jaguars defense was already stout, but after a defense-laden draft, look for this unit to be stellar. The elements are there. If everyone plays to their potential, and Jack Del Rio can keep this team focused and passionate, there's no reason to keep this team's name out of the drawing to be hoisting the Lombardi.

• TENNESSEE TITANS: There's no doubt that there's restlessness in Music City. Fans of the Titans (and former Oilers) were spoiled for many years as they rode the legs and arm of an iron-kettle QB in Steve McNair. Those days are over as McNair has moved off into the sunset, and Vince Young has taken the reins. While the Titans did make the playoffs last year, it wasn't due to the rocket arm and coolness of VY. He struggled last year throwing almost twice as many INT's as he did TD's. The running game was weak, and he had a hard time finding receivers especially in the pocket. Tennessee's success was the direct result of their defense which should be just as dominant this year if not more. This is a unit that offensive coordinators do not want to mess with, and it must be complemented by an improved offense. Trust me, Young can run like the wind and looks like a young Michael Vick, but he must master his pocket presence for this team to be a threat this year. It is vital that he erase those sophomore blues and prove to the city of Nashville that he's serious about winning.

• HOUSTON TEXANS: Things aren't going well in Houston. They had their best season as a team last year going 8-8, but the forecast is dismal for this squad which didn't do much in the off-season. Having ranked near the bottom in pass and total defense, one would think that they would be pretty focused and active in free agency and conduct a smart draft. Neither happened. On offense, it's all about injuries. QB Matt Schaub, RB Ahman Green, and talented receivers anchored by Andre Johnson must stay away from the operating table and rehab. If this can miraculously occur, then Houston has an outside chance of winning nine games which still won't be enough to make the playoffs. Defensively, the Texans have two people who can scramble your radar, but all you have to do is design a play that stays away from them and you're fine. Needless to say, Houston has a problem as it can't seem to gain much traction since its inaugural 2002 season.

AFC WEST

• SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: When Norv Turner was hired before last season, many wondered if it was the right hire. Four weeks into the season, San Diego was 1-3 and had scored 68 points while giving up 102. I'm sure Turner went home a couple of nights wondering if he should have rented. The Bolts then went on a 10-2 run and found themselves in the AFC Championship Game where they lost to New England. As the Chargers head into 2008, the players now know Turner's system, and the coach knows his players. One of the great things about Turner is that his game-calling is unpredictable, and he has 20 of 22 starters returning this year who are more mature and prepared for playing in this environment. QB Philip Rivers and L.T. appear 100% healthy, and the receiving corps should be able to spread out the defenses and keep them from stacking the box vs. Tomlinson. All these elements should lead to Turner opening up his offense more than last year. Combined with this stifling defense, look for the Chargers to be serious contenders in January.

• DENVER BRONCOS: This past off-season for Denver was an avalanche. Everyone's fear became reality when K Jason Elam left Mile High country after fifteen years and signed with Atlanta. GM Ted Sundquist was fired, and QB Jay Cutler was diagnosed with diabetes. WR Rod Smith said good-bye. WR Brandon Marshall suffered a bizarre injury to his hand, and was suspended for the first three games of this season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. RB Travis Henry was cut after testing positive for marijuana twice and losing the team's trust. They went on to also lose seven more player to free agency while welcoming twelve new faces not including a very strong draft class including OL Ryan Clady and WR Eddie Royal. This team has a lot of new faces and some uncertain dynamics swirling around the locker room entering the regular season, but as long as Mike Shanahan is in control, you can't completely rule them out of being a playoff contender.

• OAKLAND RAIDERS: Inspiration has been, at times, a catalyst for athletes and teams all throughout sports history. The jury is out on how the death of Gene Upshaw will affect the performance of Al Davis' Raiders this season. Upshaw was an oak in the Raiders family, and his void, while not as monstrous as it is at home, will be felt throughout the league. As far as the product on the field, this Oakland team is not void of immense talent, but the lack of maturity and confidence could be the Achilles' Heel for this team once again as it looks to improve it's 4-12 record last year. They have one of the deepest RB units in the league with the emergence of Justin Fargas into the #1 slot backed up by LaMont Jordan and rookie sensation Darren McFadden. QB JaMarcus Russell is still a bit green after only playing in a few games last season, but he's had a very good training camp and looks comfortable. Rebuilding is a word that Davis despises, but that is what this team is going through, and they seem to have the right pieces in place to be a threat in a couple of years.

• KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Entering this off-season, KC was at the pinnacle of creating significant progress considering the ample amount of cap space to sign free agents. But, a quick turnaround was apparently never the plan as they chose to sacrifice the hopes of 2008 by concentrating on the draft and using what they already had. They even traded their best player, Jared Allen, to Minnesota for a vat of draft picks which were used to grab three outstanding athletes in DT Glenn Dorsey, G Branden Albert, and CB Brandon Flowers who should provide instant help on defense and the offensive line. RB Larry Johnson should be nice and rested after spending most of last season healing from a broken foot and having his contract issues settled. The rest of the offense is just horrible. QB Bradie Croyle is very inconsistent and unreliable, the receiving pool is quite shallow besides Tony Gonzalez, and the line is a patchwork quilt. The defense will take a step back with Allen gone. Coach Herm Edwards' conservative approach to football should benefit with this team.

NFC EAST

• DALLAS COWBOYS: Love him or hate him, you can't argue one point about Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones. He loves to win. His passion for victory and success on the football field is the fiery force that propels this man each and every season. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of his maverick style or bizarre strategies if he believes that they will allow him and his team to be on the threshold of a world championship. So, you can imagine how despondent last season's playoff loss left him. It happened to the eventual Super Bowl champs, and was the 11th straight season without a playoff win. What transpired was the assembly of a more aggressive coaching staff, a trade for CB Pacman Jones, and a masterful draft including RB Felix Jones who will an excellent counterpart to Marion Barber. The rest of the offense is spectacular anchored by Tony Romo and T.O. while the defense is built on speed and thirst to break jaws. Both sides also have fantastic depth while their only crux appears to be special teams coverage. If Big D can stay healthy, there's no reason to doubt that Jerry might need to make room and dust a space in the team's trophy case.

• NY GIANTS: You can't stop or cheat destiny. The G-men learned that last year as they stayed the course and literally took it one game at at time. Coach Tom Coughlin kept his guys focused as they stuck to the same strategy each game by blitzing the QB, wearing down the defense with the running game, and protecting Eli Manning. The result was a world championship as New York capped off one of the most incredible seasons by the team and the NFL by defeating the undefeated Patriots. When the ball stuck to WR David Tyree's helmet like Velcro in mid air, you knew that it was simply their year. Heading into 2008, the Giants still have the firepower to shake the earth this year especially considering their weak schedule as they face only four playoff teams from 2007. A couple of familiar faces will be absent this year as DE Michael Strahan retired and TE Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints. The Big Blue still has their pulverizing defensive line, but they'll be without DE Osi Umenyiora all season after he tore his knee last week vs. the Jets. Despite this critical loss, the Giants should still be in the mix if they can avoid further misfortunes and keep attitudes in check.

• PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Football in Philly is more than just a game. It has the magnetism to trigger the state of the city's economy, rush-hour traffic on Monday, and the suicide rate. Eagles fans will be pacing the floor and taking their heart medication as they enter this season considering that QB Donovan McNabb will be playing for his Philly career. For the last four years, injuries have kept him from playing more than 14 games in a season, and when he has played the results have been below average. He enters this year healthy and full of vigor as he focuses on his first legitimate championship run since 2004 with really only one lethal target in RB Brian Westbrook. His receiving corps are consistently average, but keep an eye on rookie DeSean Jackson who could become the deep threat that this team has been lacking for years. On defense, coach Jim Johnson will continue his technique of applying pressure and creating turnovers which could get a large boost with the signing of CB Asante Samuel from the Pats. The key for this year is simply McNabb who must return to form if he wants to remain the golden child in the eyes of the Brotherly Love denizen.

• WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Something has happened to Daniel Snyder. His mannerisms over the last few years do not reflect the same impulsive owner who purchased the team in 1999. Maturity has brought more tolerance and meekness, but he's still a bit fickle. Upon Joe Gibbs' retirement in January, Snyder settled on Jim Zorn who has no head coaching experience and has never even called plays. He also put a harness on his Monopoly money-spending ways and only inked one free agent. This bizarre strategy will eventually show whether someone has been spiking his iced tea, or whether he's been to The Mountain and returned with stone tablets on how to lead the Skins back to the promised land. On paper, the elements are there. QB Jason Campbell and this offense appear to be the right weapons for Zorn's West Coast offense which has never been seen in Washington. The switch to Greg Blanche as defensive coordinator should keep this defense honest and aggressive especially with the acquisition of DE Jason Taylor. Time will tell if Snyder is on the right path, but the first year under Zorn could get pretty rough.

NFC NORTH

• MINNESOTA VIKINGS: On the flip side of the patience scale, you have Vikes owner Zygi Wilf who bought the team in 2005 and has watched this franchise flounder each of the last three seasons and miss the playoffs. After landing his prized possession in RB Adrian Peterson last year, Mr. Wilf decided to unlock all the safes and go on a shopping spree this off-season to make Minnesota a legitimate Super Bowl contender. What's transpired is a hungry platoon with a new identity after bringing in a cavalcade of fresh talent that vastly improved their nagging weaknesses on both sides of the ball. This included a trade for DE Jared Allen from KC who will greatly enhance the Vikings pass defense. QB Tarvaris Jackson has been under scrutiny since he took over two years ago, and he now has a chance to prove the naysayers wrong by better decision-making, avoiding turnovers, and staying healthy. Having more dangerous targets including the explosive A.P. won't hurt either. With Favre leaving the division, this also makes for a great opportunity to knock Green Bay off its perch from last year.

• GREEN BAY PACKERS: For the first time in sixteen years, Packers fans won't see #4 under center in Lambeau with a "G" on his helmet. Brett Favre and his legacy are woven into this city like high school football in west Texas, but the Packers brass decided it was time to start the Aaron Rodgers era even after Favre exercised his American right to come out of retirement. This team missed the Super Bowl by a minute last season, most of the starters are coming back, and the city's most beloved legend wanted to come back and give it another shot. But, GM Ted Thompson emphatically said no, and now his job hangs in the balance as Rodgers attempts to fill an icon's shoes and continue Green Bay's addiction to winning which began in Week 14 of 2006. Since then, the Packers have gone 19-4 including playoffs. Despite old age tickling the secondary, the Packers defense is young and prevalent and will have its work cut out for them the first three weeks of the season as they tackle Minnesota, Detroit, and Dallas. On offense, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics change with Rodgers leading the troops as he tries to escape the shadow of #4.

• DETROIT LIONS: Why do polar bears eat their young? What's behind the logic of making so many prices end in .99? How is Steven Seagal still being cast in movies? Why is Matt Millen still in Detroit? There are many mysteries that mankind will never answer, but the most baffling one in the NFL refers to the CEO and GM of the Lions. Since his arrival in 2001, Detroit is 31-81 including 8-48 on the road. He has also conducted horrendous drafts and ignited numerous protests around the city. And, he's the second highest paid GM in the league. Millen is also a huge defense guy along with coach Rod Marinelli, yet the Lions defense has been suspect at best for a long time now. QB Jon Kitna is an above-average QB with excellent targets at WR but no running attack, and both sides of the line need life support. While this has been the state of affairs for many years now, owner William Clay Ford seems infatuated with Millen which means that the chances of Detroit winning a Super Bowl during his tenure are about the same as meeting an Amish hacker.

• CHICAGO BEARS: Since their loss to Indy in Super Bowl XLI, Chicago has struggled and fought in every facet of the game except special teams which has been dominated by Devin Hester. Defensively, they are top-notch group, but their depth is shallow and the injury bug has been having a party especially in the secondary. On offense, where do you start? Kyle Orton is their starting QB over Super Bowl starter Rex Grossman. How bad do you have to be with this lackluster offense to be beaten out by Orton who scare no one. Their receivers are about a double bogey while the running back situation keeps falling in the lake. The Bears drafted Matt Forte, and then he won the starting job when Cedric Benson was cut so having an unproven back in this league can be tough especially if your offensive line is already in heavy transition. It doesn't get easy for the Windy City as their offense will be put to the test right away their first four games against Indy, Carolina, Tampa, and Philadelphia. I feel bad for coach Lovie Smith, but if stability and consistency can't find a home in Soldier Field, then the spiral will continue.

NFC SOUTH

• NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Every NFL season typically has a Cinderella team that grabs low expectations, chews them up, and then spits them out at the feet of the media and naysayers. While last season belonged to the NY Giants, 2006 was the year of the Saints who defied odds on the heels of tragedy and stunned the world by making it to the NFC Championship game and losing to Chicago. The tidal wave of that emotional high came to a crashing halt last season after RB Deuce McAllister tore his ACL for the second time in the last three years. This gave the load to the versatile Reggie Bush who struggled mightily and led to a partially torn knee ligament keeping him out the last four games last season. McAllister is looking strong in training camp which should free up Bush and give QB Drew Brees the target he's needed to go along with his potent receivers. The defense also crumbled as the pass defense allowed 30 points or more six times. Coach Sean Payton and Co. focused on the defense this off-season and brought in a slew of talent via free agency and the draft to strengthen this unit. Barring significant injuries, look for the Saints to prove that last season was simply a fluke.

• CAROLINA PANTHERS: Disappointment doesn't even come to close to describing how coach John Fox and Co. felt after last season's 7-9 record. If the first two weeks were any indication, Carolina looked poised to make some noise especially with the way QB Jake Delhomme had played. Then, it all stopped when J.D. hurt his elbow and three QB's carried the team the rest of the season. The offense lacked no punch ranking 29th in total yards, and the defense was average. For the first time in Fox's tenure, the Panthers failed to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. After a very busy off-season, this team will basically have a new look all the way around. Delhomme is back and looks excellent. WR Steve Smith will miss the first two regular season games for punching a team mate, but he will benefit greatly with the return of Delhomme and having a lethal running assault in DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart. The defense got a total makeover and became younger so look for a fast and aggressive group anchored by Julius Peppers. This season should be a nice turn around year for Carolina -- if Delhomme can stay healthy.

• TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Could this be the end? Is the Jon Gruden era drawing to a close? During Chucky's tenure, the Buccaneers have never experienced two straight winning seasons. After going 9-7 last season, history would say that Tampa fans are in for disheartening year. Their offense is led by QB Jeff Garcia who is getting up there in age and injuries, but is playing behind an improved offensive line. RB Warrick Dunn is back in the pewter and red and will lead a decent running corps to go along with a receiving unit that is old and ineffective. Defensively, the front line is getting better while the secondary is not in real good shape depth-wise. The linebackers are solid as granite but as humble as pie. You won't hear from these players in the spotlight, but you'll hear them pretty good if you have the ball. This squad has a lot of talented athletes on both sides of the ball, but every year there seems to be something that holds back their potential. It is going to be Gruden's job this season to keep this team on fire and motivated if he wants to have another winning season... and a job.

• ATLANTA FALCONS: Last season, the Atlanta Falcons were 4-12. If they match that record this year, new coach Mike Smith could win Coach of the Year. While Michael Vick was making license plates this off-season, Atlanta owner Arthur Blank stripped and gutted the Falcons and gave them a new identity. He hired Thomas Dimitroff from the Patriots to be his GM and then jettisoned many veterans including Pro Bowlers along with conducting a very good draft to add to the foundation. Smith comes over from Jacksonville with a strong conviction that running the ball down an opponent's throat is the only way to go. Ex-Charger backup Michael Turner along with third-year RB Jerious Norwood will lead the charge, and they should see plenty of carries due to the pitiful offensive line. This can't be good news for rookie starting QB Matt Ryan who appears to have the savvy and tools to take this team far. The defense is also going to need time under a new defensive coordinator to become cohesive and find their chemistry. Look for wins to become about as easy as beating Michael Phelps in a breast stroke race.

NFC WEST

• SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: In Seattle's first 23 years as a franchise, they won one division title, three playoff games, and posted a winning record eight times. Then, they hired Mike Holmgren ten years ago. Since then, the Hawks have five division titles, four post-season victories, seven winning records, and a Super Bowl appearance. This team owes a lot of gratitude to Holmgren who is coaching his last season so their challenge now becomes how to put together a season that sends their coach out in style. QB Matt Hasselbeck returns and now has a new RB in Julius Jones on the heels of the Shaun Alexander era coming to an end. The offensive line has struggled with establishing continuity but that should change under a new coach. While the receiving corps is very subject to injuries and has shallow depth, Hasselbeck has always found a way to put up points and keep them in the game. Seattle's defense is excellent and will be the difference in a division where points are plentiful and smothering defenses are scarce. Secondary coach Jim Mora Jr. has already been named Holmgren's successor for 2009, but Seattle wants to add to Holmgren's legacy.

• ARIZONA CARDINALS: After winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005 and then being the #1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the road ahead looked refreshing, vibrant, and full of success for Matt Leinart. It now looks like all of that may be a mirage for the young QB in this desert city. In the last two years, Leinart has put up feeble numbers while fighting injuries including last year's fractured collarbone. It was so bad that he was photographed at a party guzzling out of a beer bong and in a hot tub (not the rehab kind) with several young women who could have taken their swimsuits and collectively sewn one sock. He has done many TV ads, movie cameos, and talk shows while being a lukewarm QB for Arizona. His parents must be proud, but coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't as he has named Kurt Warner the starting QB heading into this season. Warner shined in the last eleven games of 2007 and his leadership is what this team needs right now anyway. Warner will continue to have the most dangerous receiving duo in the league plus RB Edgerrin James behind him along with a revamped offensive line. Add an exciting young defense, and Leinart will have plenty of time to think what he wants to do with his life.

• ST. LOUIS RAMS: I was in St. Louis on business after Week 6 when the Rams dropped to 0-6 and looked like a high school team. RB Steven Jackson and the offensive line were battling injuries, the defense was getting shredded every game, and coach Scott Linehan was making decision that made one wonder why he chose this as a career field. It was bad. The city's mood was dark and gloomy, traffic moved like they were driving in syrup, and fans were starting to cut holes in paper bags for their eyes. Entering 2008 carries a sense of hope and anticipation for every club, but not near to the degree as it will in Ram Country where the fans pray that last season was just a fluke. Jackson and the O-line are healthy, QB Marc Bulger and his squad have a new offensive coordinator in Al Saunders who is exceptional, and the defense is going still be a bit shaky but rookie DE Chris Long adds a nice dynamic to a line that ranked 21st in total and pass defense. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if injuries can be avoided and the coach can prove that last season was just the sophomore blues, then there is enough talent on this team to be increasingly better than 2007.

• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Besides the Golden State Warriors being a sound basketball team, it is not a pleasant experience these days being a San Francisco fan considering how bad things are with the lowly Giants baseball team and the Niners quagmire. Last season, they were 5-11 but looked much worse as their offense scraped the barrel in every category and the defense looked horrible at best. Heading into 2008, things look worse. They had a really sad QB battle going on between J.T. O'Sullivan and the very disappointing Alex Smith who is entering his fourth NFL season and still looking like a rookie. O'Sullivan has won the job and will have his old offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, who coached him in Detroit last season. The Niners running attack of Frank Gore and DeShaun Foster will be very good and probably get overworked considering the QB void and the tepid receiving corps. On defense, this unit should become more cohesive and aggressive as they benefit from a nice influx of youth and athleticism. Barring a miracle in the same context as Roger Clemens pitching again, coach Mike Nolan will probably not be around after his fourth straight losing season.

PLAYOFF TEAMS:

AFC DIVISION WINNERS - New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, San Diego

AFC WILD CARD WINNERS - Jacksonville and Denver

NFC DIVISION WINNERS - Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans, Seattle

NFC WILD CARD WINNERS - Green Bay, NY Giants

SUPER BOWL XLIII - Dallas over Jacksonville

Are You Ready?

Roger Clemens' reputation entered I.C.U. following the Mitchell Report.

A thrilling NCAA tournament culminated with the 37-3 Kansas Jayhawks winning the NCAA national championship.

Tiger Woods' legendary status as a golf icon skyrockets with an overtime U.S. Open victory for the ages...on a fractured knee.

Several chess moves among some key NBA teams created an electrifying playoff environment capped off with the Boston Celtics' 17th NBA championship vs. the rival Lakers.

Two legendary broadcasters, Jim McKay and Charlie Jones, left this earth and moved on to the Heavenly realm.

Eight Belles fractured both ankles just after crossing the finish line of the Kentucky Derby and was euthanized on the spot creating tidal waves of controversy.

The 2008 Major League Baseball season charges along with some fun plot lines to follow like the magnificent performance of the Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton including his "Ruthian" display of power during the Home Run Derby in Yankee Stadium which is in its final season.

Who would have thought that at the All-Star break that the division leaders would include the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and the Mets in the NL East (after a disastrous start)?

The sports world has been busting since the New York Giants shocked the planet by sneaking past the unbeaten New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII to become world champions on the heels of one of the most entertaining, thrilling, and historical NFL season in recent memory.

We saw Devin Hester have another dynamic year embarrassing opposing special teams. Tony Romo proved that he's for real...unless Jessica Simpson was at the game. The Adrian Peterson era began with an atomic explosion. The legendary Brett Favre played like a youngster and an immortal. Cleveland wore the glass slipper. New England achieved the unthinkable going 16-0 in the regular season despite the Spygate scandal. We also witnessed the other end of the spectrum as lethargy and noxiousness spilled into several franchises giving fans in cities like St. Louis, Miami, Oakland, and Atlanta reasons to move to another city.

This off-season has been far from dormant itself with all the signings, drafting, cuts, suspensions, trades, retirements, un-retirements, and soap operas. With the training camp season officially open combined with all this activity over the past five months, there is plenty of momentum and excitement beginning to swell as we stare at the first pre-season game in 13 days!

Stay tuned for the 2008 NFL Season Preview due out August 31st to recap this off-season and provide fuel (if you need it) for this upcoming 2008 season!

A Stadium of Dreams

In 1922, Tillinghast L'Hommedieu and Jacob Rupert paid $600,000 to William Waldorf Astor for a lumber yard at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx.

They needed a new home for their New York Yankees baseball team which they purchased seven years prior for $460,000. They were sharing the infamous Polo Grounds for home games with the NL's New York Giants who they began outdrawing in fan attendance.

They had also purchased a young rising star from the Boston Red Sox named Babe Ruth for $200,000. While at Boston, Ruth became an aberration of that time by putting up such powerful stats as a pitcher and hitter. His demands for a salary of $20,000 were not met so Ruth headed to the Big Apple.

The arrival of the "Sultan of Swat", plus the eviction notice from the Polo Grounds, gave the Yankees a need to find a home of their own. They footed the 2.5 million dollar construction bill for an unheard of 60,000-seat facility and Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. Babe Ruth hit a game-winning three-run home run against his former team, the Boston Red Sox.

While it was properly coined The House That Ruth Built, Yankee Stadium has become more than just a temple which houses the most storied franchise in sports.

It's the venue where Notre Dame and Army played many fierce battles including the game where Knute Rockne delivered his "Gipper" speech. From 1956 to 1973, the NFL's NY Giants played their home games there, including the NFL Championship game in 1958 which was coined "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and helped put the NFL on the map.

It has also been the site of many professional boxing matches, including the famous bout in 1938 between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling.

Three popes have celebrated Mass in this temple, and it was the home of the annual Jehovah's Witness convention for more than 35 years. A rally was also held here for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison in 1990, and this shrine hosted the memorial service for the victims of 9/11.

It has also been the site of several concerts and one marriage. Ed Lucas, a blind sportswriter who was a staple of the Yankees family for 40 years, tied the knot in 2006 on the same spot where Lou Gehrig gave his famous farewell speech.

Which brings us to baseball.

Due to the Yankees immense success over the last nine decades, it's no shock that Yankee Stadium has hosted more playoff games than any team in major league history. It's also hosted 37 World Series, and the Yankees have won 26 with 16 of those clinched at The Cathedral.

In addition to Gehrig's emotional address, baseball has witnessed many historical moments at The Stadium. Among these are the three home runs in Game 7 in the 1977 World Series by Reggie Jackson, Roger Maris' 61st home run, Mickey Mantle's 600' home run that missed leaving the park by 18 inches, George Brett's ballistic tirade out of the dugout during the "Pine Tar Game", and Don Larsen's perfect game in Game 5 of the World Series in 1956.

Character goes further than any skill when it comes to being evaluated by an employer or baseball scout. High morals were staples in the home of Tony and Linda Hamilton, and this included humility which they needed to apply to themselves when they watched their 7-year-old son, Josh, play baseball.

His throws from shortstop were leaving large welts on the hands of the first basemen. You would have thought they weren't wearing a glove, and their parents began complaining to Tony and Linda and called their young wonder a bully and freak. Pretty soon, everyone that tried first base would quit since all they did was duck. The results were the same in Little League.

When he was 13, he would tag along with his older brother, Jason, and watch him tear up the baseball diamonds at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, NC and American Legion games during the summer. His American Legion coach was Clay Council, and Josh later played for him as well which included many hours hitting batting practice. One day, Council said, "If you get to the big leagues and do the Home Run Derby, bring me and I'll make you look good."

Josh promised him that we would.

He continued to hone his skills and soon began making a name for himself at Athens High following in his brother's footsteps. John Thomas, the Jaguars baseball coach, said of Josh Hamilton, "...he was 6'3", 190 pounds, and I just knew -- from his size, from the way he shook my hand, from his demeanor -- that this kid had something special."

He was the ultimate five-tool phenom: Nice batting average, excellent power at the plate, ran the bases and outfield like a trained cheetah, fielded like a vacuum, and his arm was like a high-powered rifle with laser sighting. His fast ball registered at 96 mph while his bat swing befuddled the radar gun by being clocked at 110.

It became obvious that Josh Hamilton had every single tool he needed to carve out a life for him and his family. His parents knew it, his coaches and friends knew it, and baseball scouts knew it. That's why in 1999, at the age of 17, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (including a $3.96 million dollar signing bonus).

His parents quit their jobs and followed their son around the minors as he began his professional baseball career by playing for three different teams. In 2001, after a spring training work out in Bradenton, FL, Josh was in a car wreck. The vehicle that his mother was driving was struck by a dump truck that ran a red light. Josh, 19, soon found himself in a Florida hospital dealing with a severe lower-back injury while his parents went home to Raleigh to recuperate.

Tampa placed him on the disabled list, and for the first time in his life, he had a lot of spare time on his hands. During this hiatus, he made some new friends who worked at a tattoo parlor. It was with that crowd when he tried alcohol for the first time. They also had him try cocaine.

He was like a 200-pound marlin that grabbed the bait and raced the other direction.

Alcohol and drugs slowly superseded baseball and family. Repeated trips to the disabled list over the course of the next year only complicated the matter as he continued to give in to his addictions. In 2003, he was kicked out of Tampa spring training and sent back to the minor league camp only to take the rest of the season off for personal reasons. MLB then suspended Hamilton in 2004 after repeated drug test failures. He slipped into the darkest time of his life.

He snorted coke like it was being discontinued and daily drank a bottle of Crown Royal while burning up his signing bonus. There were times that he would wake up in a stranger's home or in the cab of his pickup and not know how he got there. One time, he awoke out of a trance in the middle of a highway with cars whizzing by him.

His wife, Katie, who married him in 2004 and had not left his side, kicked him out of the house three years earlier so he moved in with his maternal grandmother. He started having dreams each night of him fighting Satan with a baseball bat and would wake up in a pool of sweat. On some occasions, he would walk down the hall and get under the covers with her.

There's low, and then there's ---- low.

From 2004-2006, Josh Hamilton did not play organized baseball. During this time, he went to rehab eight times and attempted suicide three times. His body had wasted away physically as his 6'4" frame dwindled from 230 to 180. He did nothing to build up his body but tried everything to destroy it.

But in 2005, he found Christian faith.

Hamilton then surrendered to the numerous angels of mercy who were trying to help him. He applied for reinstatement while attending a friend's baseball academy in Florida, but was turned down. He did not give up and worked feverishly to achieve his once-attainable dream of being a Major League baseball player.

He continued his rehab and did everything he could to make amends with his family and others while trying to get his life back together. His desire to shape up and return to baseball became a consuming fire, and finally after eight months of being sober, MLB allowed Hamilton to work out with the Devil Rays' minor league players in June of 2006. He started playing in minor league games later that month and for the rest of the season continuing to clean up his act and be an inspiration to his teammates.

Also, that year, Hamilton dreamed one night that he was in the Home Run Derby in Yankee Stadium.

In December of 2006, the Devil Rays decided to not put Hamilton on their 40-man roster which made him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft (which allows major league teams to pick players from other teams' minor league squads and give them a chance to play in the majors right away for $50,000.)

The Chicago Cubs selected him and then sold him to the Cincinnati Reds for $100,000, but in order for the Reds to retain his rights, they had to keep him on their roster for the whole 2007 season. The fact that Cincy went after Josh Hamilton sent ripples across baseball and hit every general manager's radar.

He had a remarkable spring training last year, and won a spot on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster as a fourth outfielder. On April 2, 2007, Josh Hamilton was called upon to pinch hit vs. the Chicago Cubs and soon found himself on the on-deck circle making his major league debut. When his named was called, he received a 22-second standing ovation. As he approached the plate, Cubs catcher Michael Barrett said, "You deserve it, Josh. Take it all in, brother. I'm happy for you."

Due to some nagging injuries, Hamilton was not able to play a full season, but he did put up some staggering numbers. Incredibly, in 90 games, he had 87 hits, 17 doubles, 19 home runs, 47 RBI's, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .922.

During the off-season, the Reds needed pitching in a bad way so Hamilton was traded to the Texas Rangers for their top pitching prospect, Edinson Volquez. As Texas explored the possibility, they sent scouts to hear him speak at community groups about his recovery. Hamilton himself promised the Rangers brass that he would never get into trouble. Much like what John Thomas experienced, when they shook his hand, they believed him and knew he was someone special.

Hamilton tore up spring training pitching last March...and hasn't stopped.

In addition to remaining clean and trouble-free (when he's on the road, he won't go out without a friend by his side because he still doesn't trust himself), Hamilton began to put up numbers that would make Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth smile and shake their head. His story and stats also got the fans' attention, and Josh Hamilton was selected as the starting center fielder in the 79th All-Star Game -- at Yankee Stadium -- and this included an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Traditionally, the Home Run Derby is held the night before the All-Star Game. It's a contest that displays the majestic power of the players in the game. Eight power hitters are selected and must see how many home runs they can hit before registering 10 outs (any hit that isn't a home run.) The top four in Round 1 advance to Round 2 along with their home run totals. Round 3 is the championship round and you start with zero HR's.

Josh's dream two years ago was becoming reality, and he also had a promise to keep. He called his former American Legion baseball coach, Clay Council, to be his pitcher. Council, now 71, was going to be in Yankee Stadium for only the second time in his life pitching on the same mound where he watched Larsen pitch his gem.

The House That Ruth Built was in its final season, and on this hallowed ground, baseball fans witnessed a moment when destiny and redemption collided.

Josh Hamilton stepped to the plate in front of an audience that included fellow players and their families, his wife and two kids, his parents and in-laws, millions of fans on TV and radio, ... and Babe Ruth. What Hamilton went through just to be worthy of even standing there basking in the moment was astonishing and stirring.

What followed was a performance that would have made Roy Hobbs' jaw hit the floor as Hamilton hit 28 home runs in Round 1 (the second-place batter hit 8). And, I'm not talking about home runs that cleared the walls by inches. We're talking about shots that might not have landed yet.

Soon, you began to hear the crowd chant, "Ham-il-ton...Ham-il-ton..." Council had also kept his promise of making Hamilton look good.

In Round 2, Josh hit four HR's (along with only 4 outs) and then that home-taught humility appeared as Hamilton voluntarily withdrew from the round so that the attention could be on the other players.

He still advanced to Round 3 vs. Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, but lost 5-3. He had simply run out of gas. And, maybe he wanted to see Justin win it anyway.

This event reached a point where it wasn't about who won the trophy. Hamilton had gone through hell to make it that far. This night, Josh Hamilton celebrated how far he had come, and he showed the game of baseball that he plans on staying around for awhile.

But, one person revealed afterwards that he was ready to move on the next realm. Clay Council said that he could now die because he had pitched in The Tabernacle.

Top Ten Punishments for Sean Taylor's killers

Eric Rivera Jr. and his buddies came up with a plan. One of them, Jason Scott Mitchell, had attended a birthday party for Sean Taylor back in September of 2007 and witnessed the Redskin holding some bags of cash.

So, the decision was made to rob Taylor's home on November 26th. After all, the Skins were on the road so he wouldn't be home. Apparently, these young men didn't follow sports or they would have known that Taylor was injured and didn't go with the team to Tampa Bay.

Upon entering the premises, they were alarmed to find Taylor home, and Rivera allegedly shot him in the upper leg. Taylor died the next day.

Rivera was 17 that night, and according to the U.S. Supreme Court, anyone who is a minor at the time of the crime cannot receive the death penalty. It's also a law that anyone involved in the same case but less directly responsible who is a minor also cannot be executed.

The trial isn't until this August, but I wanted to go ahead and take some time to suggest some punishments for the judge to ponder before the sentence is handed down to any of those thoughtless individuals who get convicted.

10. Sent to a federal penitentiary whose constituency are full-blooded Redskin fans.
9. Participate in a July training camp conducted by Bill Parcells in a desert.
8. Dropped from a plane over the Amazon with only a parachute ---- naked.
7. Locked in a room with Hilary Clinton listening to her talk about foreign policy.
6. Taken to a Redskins home game with seats on the bench.
5. Strapped to a chair with head phones on listening to nothing but Michael Bolton.
4. Placed in a dunking booth above a pool of acid facing Joe Theismann.
3. Receive broken knee caps and then forced to run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
2. Lowered down and left on Abraham Lincoln's nose on Mount Rushmore right before a
thunderstorm.
1. Attend the next Taylor family reunion.

#4

Johnny Cash, Tom Landry, Nolan Ryan, and Roger Staubach are my Mount Rushmore.

Outside of family, these mortals were, and are, giants in my life; redwood trees that helped define my landscape as a zealous and passionate fan. They impacted their vocational sphere with such thunderous force that when they left, the void was deafening.

Cash, of course, never called it quits as he poured himself into his music and stayed devoted to his wife and family until the day he died. His music was a staple in my house and every car that I have ever driven to this day. His rebellious, edgy, and jet black persona with a guitar welded to his torso brought honesty and significance to the music industry, and his impact is still found in songs today. When he passed away, I was numb, achy, and wistful.

Tom Landry was forced off the NFL sidelines when Sheriff Jones rode into town and demanded change. It was like evicting an old-timer from his home, where he had lived his whole life, due to his land being cleared off for a shopping mall. He was a man of integrity, grace, and ingenuity and accepted this unannounced transitional phase of his life with such impeccable class. His departure from the game and life was a very solemn and dispirited time for me as a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Roger Staubach’s elusiveness, fearlessness, and leadership set him apart from the other NFL quarterbacks in his day. His undying commitment to winning led to a series of concussions which brought this unheralded career to a premature ending. When I heard that he was no longer going to lead my beloved Cowboys, I had equilibrium issues. Boy, did I fight tears when I watched Staubach’s retirement speech as he cried and paid tribute to “…the nuts and bolts of the Cowboys…the man who wears the funny hat on the sideline.”

Nolan Ryan defied all sports logic by dominating batters after the age of 40. He hurled his his 6th no-hitter at age 43 and his 7th when he was 44. At age 46, rookie Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox charged the mound after being nailed by a Ryan fast ball. Ryan grabbed him in a head lock and pounded his face six times with his pitching arm. Nolan said afterwards that it was the same maneuver that he used on his Texas ranch when trying to brand steers. Every time I watch this incident, my eyes get a bit misty as I remember Nolan Ryan and what he meant to the game of baseball. His work ethic, character, standard of excellence, and respect of The Game was unique to anything that Major League Baseball has seen to this day.

The fabric of all four lives are woven with the same eternal qualities and coated with an unbridled sense of manliness that was instrumental in my upbringing as a toddler singing Folsom Prison Blues, reading my Tom Landry comic book, and collecting my Roger Staubach and Nolan Ryan trading cards.

What made all four men special and anomalous is that their career didn’t define who they were. Despite their accomplishments and stature in the eyes of the fans and media, they had the fortitude and dexterity, if they so chose, to walk away and invest themselves in their family and other ventures all the while not needing their previous livelihood to give them their identity. It is this one single trait that, I firmly believe, is the difference between a star and a legend.

These same attributes are found in another individual who re-wrote the book on his profession and position, and brought tears to my eyes as I watched him retire this past March 4th.

Statistically, you could compare Brett Favre’s career records to that of The Beatles in the music industry. He is the all-time NFL leader in TD’s (422) and completions (5,377) averaging one TD pass for every 12.7 completions. He’s also thrown the football more times with 8,758 attempts which explains his dubious mark of most INT’s thrown at 288. He also holds the quarterback “Iron Man” record of 253 straight starts (including playoffs) and during that streak he has more regular-season wins (160) and has won more NFL MVP awards (3) than any field general in NFL history. Favre has also thrown for a little more than 35 miles.

But, if you peel back the numbers, you will reach the core of this human being whose life and performance on and off the field is comprised of the same parameters as these legends before him.

Much like the Man in Black, Favre battled alcoholism and pain killers early in his career, but found grace and redemption later on that saved his life and career. When he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, he quickly landed in coach Jerry Glanville’s doghouse due to his reckless behavior and wild lifestyle which included, as Favre later admitted, “drinking up Atlanta.” This led to arriving to meetings late and rare appearances in pre-season games despite his immense talent. Packers GM Ron Wolf was more concerned about Favre’s talent than his lack of character enough that he was willing to risk a first-round pick for him in February of ‘92. After a shoulder separation, he took his first Vicodin and what soon followed was his uphill battle with drugs that put him at a critical juncture in his life.

His turnaround and maturation began with his wife, Deanna, starting a family, and surrounding himself with virtuous men such as Mike Holmgren, who once said, “The thing that impresses me the most is what kind of a man and leader he has become off the field since I have known him. I have taken great joy in watching him develop as a person and father - perhaps even more so - than as a coach watching his quarterback.”

If I had a dime for every time Brett Favre avoided a tragic ending to a play by escaping out of someone’s grasp, twisting and turning like a hyper kid avoiding a shot at the doctor, and/or getting rid of the ball in a very unconventional way, I could buy Scotland. His Houdini-type tactics brought to mind the play of Roger “The Dodger” mixed with the dexterity of Landry. His enthusiasm, competitiveness, and nerve was a lethal combination for defenses as he only knew one way to win: Win at all costs and have fun doing it. When he got in a tight spot, his aptness and creativity would take over and then it was usually always followed by a grin as long as his list of accomplishments…no matter the outcome.

Tenacity defined Brett Favre. His toughness and grit in pure Ryan-esque nature were the ingredients for his long career in such an ultra-violent sport. These elements, for a lot of athletes in different sports, resulted in short careers and taking up golf.

Not #4.

His ability to shine bright while staring down uncertain and inconceivable odds is what set Favre apart, and that was illustrated in HD-quality on December 22nd, 2003. His father, Irwin, passed away the day before after suffering a heart attack while driving near his home in Kiln, MS. Favre was in Oakland with the rest of the team preparing for the Monday Night Football game vs. the Raiders. He decided to not desert his football family and started his 250th straight game. He was cloaked in stomach-gnawing emotion but also with a grace and fire to pay tribute to his father who had raised a great boy and had not missed one of Favre’s games since fifth grade. What resulted was the single-best performance that I have ever watched one player have as Favre passed for 399 yards on 22 of 30 attempts with 4 TD’s and zero interceptions. He buried his father the next day.

Another demonstration of Favre’s intestinal fortitude was his exploits on the frozen tundra. In Lambeau Field during his career, Favre was 40-5 when the temperatures were 34 degrees or lower. There was something about hypothermic conditions that transformed this warm-blooded, Mississippi boy into a thermal machine. A falling sheet of snow with the faint outline of a #4 green jersey and “FAVRE” inscribed above it with a geyser of steam shooting from the nostrils and mouth of this superhuman QB will forever be etched in our memory.

When you look back on Brett Favre’s career, you see a man who started out thinking he had the world in his hand only to watch that dream take a nasty spill and land in ICU. There appeared to be a higher calling for Favre as he found a path of healing and redemption that led to him making a meteoric impact in the sport that he loved growing up along the Gulf Coast. After 17 years of getting the hell beat out of him, Favre has decided to return to a different way of life; the kind of life that reveals who he really is — a man who loves being a husband and father, hunting boar, being immersed in his small town, and enjoying life to its core.

Brett, congratulations on entering this new, and much deserved, phase of your life. The NFL is not going to be the same without you.

NFL 2007 Forecast: Super Bowl XLII

Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. If I wasn't married and didn't have a family, it would be #1, but it does however supersede my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Opening Day. This event and all its elements creates an atmosphere that reminds me of the ingeniousness and splendor of this game.

Speaking of which, Super Bowl XLII represents the dexterity and excellence of a giant patriot in the NFL legacy, and his name is Bill Parcells.

Despite his Philistine approach to people and inherent obstinance, the Big Tuna knows football. He eats a bowl of 16-penny nails and drinks radiator fluid for breakfast, but you cannot argue and find much fault with his philosophy and strategy when it comes to crafting a football battalion.

Vince Lombardi and General Patton would have loved this kid.

Players and assistant coaches alike never sought approval from him nor knew where they stood with him and that was the way he wanted it. If you tried to seek these things out, you would fail because you weren't going to get it despite whatever you deemed success on any given Sunday.

His ideology was actually pretty simple: Control the ball on offense and play great defense while exposing the opponents' weaknesses.

That doctrine and even some of his stone cold character traits found their way into the brains of two assistants who served on Parcells' staff while with the NY Giants in 1990: Defensive coordinator Bill Belichick and wide receivers coach Tom Coughlin.

Both men have gone on to experience different levels of success in the NFL since those glory days with Bill Parcells and they face each other tomorrow in Super Bowl XLII, but the roads haven't been easy.

Belichick became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995 and developed a rapport with fans that included being evasive, tyrannical, and conceited not including his 36-44 record. He moved on to become an assistant coach for the Jets and Patriots under Parcells until he became the head coach of the Patriots in 2000. He has since achieved four conference, three world championships, and is a cult icon in New England despite the recent Spygate scandal whose outcome is still undecided.

Despite his mastery in this new millennium so far, Belichick did not appear satisfied in pure Parcells-like fashion and so he went out this past off-season and found an arsenal of talent to surround his Jedi QB Tom Brady, and to anchor a defense that made opposing QB's quake in their boots. This included the despondent and out-spoken WR Randy Moss who many figured to be on the decline and would clash with Belichick's "Team First" attitude. The result has been truly historic as New England has cruised to an 18-0 record entering Sunday's battle riding on a cloud of superior confidence and unselfishness.

Which leads to Tom Coughlin. After that 1990 season, he went on to become head coach of Boston College until from 1991-1993 and then in 1995, he became head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars and experienced two AFC championships before being fired in 2002. After taking a year off, Coughlin was named head coach of the NY Giants and quickly became the target of intense criticism over his unconventional decision-making, meticulous attention to detail, and his insensitive relationships with his players. Sound familiar?

After a 25-23 record over three seasons (including 0-2 in the playoffs), the NY media and even some players voiced their desire to see Coughlin kicked to the curb. After a scandalous training camp involving contracts and more personality clashes, the 2007 season looked bleak for the NY Giants and Tom Coughlin's coaching future. Their first two games were losses, but what transpired next was extraordinary. Despite a dark cloud of angst and inconsistency, Coughlin and Co. won 13 of their next 17 games that included an NFL-record ten straight road wins. During this stretch, Coughlin preached teamwork and composure.

That effort has landed him in Glendale, AZ to face his former colleague for the national championship, and you can bet that The Tuna will be watching.

EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND

STANDINGS

Cris Collinsworth: 1-1, 183-83

Cris Carter: 1-1, 178-88

Bob Costas: 1-1, 175-91

Dan Marino: 1-1, 174-92

Eddie Chinn: 1-1, 172-94

Chris Mortensen: 1-1, 169-97

Sean Salisbury: 1-1, 169-97