Post by TheShadow on Jul 23, 2007 10:42:12 GMT -5
www.sportingnews.com/
by Dennis Dillon
The TEAMS
# I'm open! ... Over here! ... Throw it to ME! With five new targets -- WRs Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington and TE Kyle Brady -- QB Tom Brady will be the most popular man at Patriots camp.
# Pay no attention to that guy pedaling the stationary bike in Cowboys camp. Cast your eyes instead on the 3-4 defense, which will be much more active under new coach Wade Phillips.
# If you're vacationing in Wisconsin, get to Green Bay to watch the Packers. Players riding kids' bicycles to and from practice is a unique tradition. And it might be your last chance to see Brett Favre up close and personal.
# No matter what the thermometer says, the temperature will be turned up in the camps of the Browns, Bucs and Giants. Coaches Romeo Crennel, Jon Gruden and Tom Coughlin already are on the hot seat.
The NAMES
# Patriots CB Asante Samuel, Bears LB Lance Briggs and Chiefs RB Larry Johnson are expected to be MIA when their teams open camp. Samuel and Briggs are threatening to sit out the first 10 games of the season. It's all about money. Can you believe it?
# These transplanted veterans will provide instant playmaking ability for their new clubs: Patriots WR Randy Moss, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, 49ers CB Nate Clements, Falcons WR Joe Horn and Rams TE Randy McMichael.
# Coaches will be holding their breath that these rehabbing players will survive camp and be ready for the regular season: Giants WR Amani Toomer, Cowboys OLB Greg Ellis,, Texans LT Charles Spencer, Falcons DT John Abraham and Dolphins WR/KR Ted Ginn.
# A fun matchup to watch at Bengals camp will be swaggering WR Chad Johnson ag# ainst rookie CB Leon Hall. Before the team's minicamp in May, Johnson left Hall one of his football cards and a handwritten note that read: "This is the only way you're gonna touch me."
# Let's give it up for Andre Wadsworth, who is attempting the comeback of all comebacks. A defensive end out of Florida State, Wadsworth was the third pick overall (by the Cardinals) in the 1998 draft, but a series of knee injuries derailed his career. He hasn't played in an NFL game since 2000. Now 32, he's trying to make it as a linebacker with the Jets.
The DATES
# July 22 The Dolphins and Browns got the early jump by opening their camps. Rookies received their playbooks and assignments for carrying veterans' equipment to the locker room after practice.
# July 27 The Steelers will hold an evening practice at Latrobe (Pa.) High School. They're calling it "Friday Night Lights." Warning to Mike Tomlin: Watch out for a curly-haired car salesman who calls himself Buddy and poses as a booster.
# August 11 Arizona at Oakland. Sure, it's an exhibition game, but it will be QB JaMarcus Russell's pro debut. So paint your faces, put on your spiked shoulder pads and head for the Coliseum.
# August 28 Rosters must be cut to 75 players. The sounds no player wants to hear that day: a knock on the door followed by the words, "Coach wants to see you ... and bring your playbook."
# August 31 The Colts play the Bengals on the final night of the preseason. Don't blink or you'll miss Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer.
The NUMBERS
# 28-13 The combined exhibition records of the past 10 Super Bowl champions. Who says preseason results don't matter?
# 16 Teams that still go away to training camp: Bears, Bengals, Bills, Bucs, Cardinals, Chiefs, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Panthers, Raiders, Ravens, Saints, Steelers and Vikings.
# 464 Miles the Chiefs travel to their training camp in River Falls, Wis., the most by any team.
# 92The average high temperature in Jackson, Miss., from July 25 to August 19 -- the time the Saints will be in camp at Millsaps College.
# 81 The average high te# mperature in Flagstaff, Ariz., from July 27 to August 23 -- the time the Cardinals will be in camp at Northern Arizona University.
The PREDICTIONS
# Damon Huard will have the better preseason, but Brodie Croyle will start the season as the Chiefs' quarterback.
# Raiders coach Lane Kiffin will turn up the intensity to compensate for that last week of offseason workouts the club had to forfeit after the league ruled Kiffin's sessions violated the collective bargaining agreement.
# Rookie WR Calvin Johnson will be the sensation of Lions camp.
# Players will complain that it's too hot, there are too many practices and camp is too long. Oh, yeah -- the food stinks, too.
by Dennis Dillon
The TEAMS
# I'm open! ... Over here! ... Throw it to ME! With five new targets -- WRs Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington and TE Kyle Brady -- QB Tom Brady will be the most popular man at Patriots camp.
# Pay no attention to that guy pedaling the stationary bike in Cowboys camp. Cast your eyes instead on the 3-4 defense, which will be much more active under new coach Wade Phillips.
# If you're vacationing in Wisconsin, get to Green Bay to watch the Packers. Players riding kids' bicycles to and from practice is a unique tradition. And it might be your last chance to see Brett Favre up close and personal.
# No matter what the thermometer says, the temperature will be turned up in the camps of the Browns, Bucs and Giants. Coaches Romeo Crennel, Jon Gruden and Tom Coughlin already are on the hot seat.
The NAMES
# Patriots CB Asante Samuel, Bears LB Lance Briggs and Chiefs RB Larry Johnson are expected to be MIA when their teams open camp. Samuel and Briggs are threatening to sit out the first 10 games of the season. It's all about money. Can you believe it?
# These transplanted veterans will provide instant playmaking ability for their new clubs: Patriots WR Randy Moss, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, 49ers CB Nate Clements, Falcons WR Joe Horn and Rams TE Randy McMichael.
# Coaches will be holding their breath that these rehabbing players will survive camp and be ready for the regular season: Giants WR Amani Toomer, Cowboys OLB Greg Ellis,, Texans LT Charles Spencer, Falcons DT John Abraham and Dolphins WR/KR Ted Ginn.
# A fun matchup to watch at Bengals camp will be swaggering WR Chad Johnson ag# ainst rookie CB Leon Hall. Before the team's minicamp in May, Johnson left Hall one of his football cards and a handwritten note that read: "This is the only way you're gonna touch me."
# Let's give it up for Andre Wadsworth, who is attempting the comeback of all comebacks. A defensive end out of Florida State, Wadsworth was the third pick overall (by the Cardinals) in the 1998 draft, but a series of knee injuries derailed his career. He hasn't played in an NFL game since 2000. Now 32, he's trying to make it as a linebacker with the Jets.
The DATES
# July 22 The Dolphins and Browns got the early jump by opening their camps. Rookies received their playbooks and assignments for carrying veterans' equipment to the locker room after practice.
# July 27 The Steelers will hold an evening practice at Latrobe (Pa.) High School. They're calling it "Friday Night Lights." Warning to Mike Tomlin: Watch out for a curly-haired car salesman who calls himself Buddy and poses as a booster.
# August 11 Arizona at Oakland. Sure, it's an exhibition game, but it will be QB JaMarcus Russell's pro debut. So paint your faces, put on your spiked shoulder pads and head for the Coliseum.
# August 28 Rosters must be cut to 75 players. The sounds no player wants to hear that day: a knock on the door followed by the words, "Coach wants to see you ... and bring your playbook."
# August 31 The Colts play the Bengals on the final night of the preseason. Don't blink or you'll miss Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer.
The NUMBERS
# 28-13 The combined exhibition records of the past 10 Super Bowl champions. Who says preseason results don't matter?
# 16 Teams that still go away to training camp: Bears, Bengals, Bills, Bucs, Cardinals, Chiefs, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Panthers, Raiders, Ravens, Saints, Steelers and Vikings.
# 464 Miles the Chiefs travel to their training camp in River Falls, Wis., the most by any team.
# 92The average high temperature in Jackson, Miss., from July 25 to August 19 -- the time the Saints will be in camp at Millsaps College.
# 81 The average high te# mperature in Flagstaff, Ariz., from July 27 to August 23 -- the time the Cardinals will be in camp at Northern Arizona University.
The PREDICTIONS
# Damon Huard will have the better preseason, but Brodie Croyle will start the season as the Chiefs' quarterback.
# Raiders coach Lane Kiffin will turn up the intensity to compensate for that last week of offseason workouts the club had to forfeit after the league ruled Kiffin's sessions violated the collective bargaining agreement.
# Rookie WR Calvin Johnson will be the sensation of Lions camp.
# Players will complain that it's too hot, there are too many practices and camp is too long. Oh, yeah -- the food stinks, too.