Welcome to the 4^th edition of our eight-week series taking an off-season look at the National Football League. This week we check in the AFC North where big expectations in 2007 were never quite realized as the member squads pounded each other into the middle of the pack and failed to notch a playoff win. It’s a tall order to crack the elite tier of the AFC so let’s find out what’s shaking in the land of the 3-4 defense.

Pittsburgh (10-6 regular season, 0-1 playoffs) Elite offensive line and linebacker play define Steelers football and plenty of changes have been underway. The departure of Alan Faneca (FA-NYJ) moves C Sean Mahan to RG while veteran pick up Justin Hartwig (FA-CAR) will hold down center. The rushing game, led by Willie Parker (321 for 1316 yards and 2 TD) and Najeh Davenport (107 for 499 and 5 TD), pounded out 135.5 yards per game but this was still a drop off from 2006 and 47 surrendered sacks was an embarrassment. Only T Tony Hill (4^th round, Texas) - who is coming off a broken fibula - was added on draft weekend while backup OL Starks, Essex, and Kemoeatu were re-signed. Instead, Pittsburgh scooped up Illinois inside rusher Rashard Mendenhall in the round one and got QB Ben Rothlisberger (3154 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT) his big target in 6’4” 212 WR Limas Sweed in the second. Sweed did little last season at Texas due to a wrist injury but was college football’s top receiver prospect in 2007 and also brings tough downfield blocking to the table - key to Coach Mike Tomlin’s attack. Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense (89.9 rush yards, 191.7 pass yards) lost another key free agent this off-season with LOLB Clark Haggans headed to Arizona. LB LaMarr Woodley (14 T, 4 S) moves to first string alongside Farrior (94 T, 6 ½ S, I) Foote (81 T, 3 S, I), and Harrison (98 T, 8 ½ S, I, 3 FR), LBs Keyaron Fox (FA-KC) and Andre Frazier (re-signed) add depth, plus more help was netted from the colleges. 6’3” 252 UCLA DE Bruce Davis (12 sacks, 15 ½ TFL) projects at OLB while Iowa LB Mike Humpal (127 T) is a hitter suited for the inside of Pittsburgh’s 3-4. Backfield starters LCB Ike Taylor, RCB Deshea Townsend, FS Ryan Clark, and SS Troy Polamalu all return plus DT Booger McFarland - who won a Super Bowl with Coach Tomlin in Tampa - may also yet be brought aboard.

Cleveland (10-6 regular season, missed playoffs) General Manager Phil Savage didn’t have a Day 1 selection, but he still made strong use of the draft. Facing a major quarterback need into 2007, this season’s 1^st round pick moved Cleveland up to grab Brady Quinn who is learning behind Derek Anderson (3787 yards, 29 TD, 19 INT) who recently signed a 3-year deal to lock up the position. Rush defense (129.5 yards per game at 4.5 yards/carry) was a major Browns issue but a 2^nd round pick to Green Bay grabs 6’4” 313 LE Corey Williams and a 3^rd round pick plus RCB Leigh Bodden to Detroit adds 6’4” 340 Shaun Rogers to join with 6’4” 320 RE Robaire Smith in what should be a tough unit to budge. Unproductive or little used defenders DB Kenny Wright (cut, drugs), DE Orpheus Roye (cut, age), CB Ricardo Colclough (FA-CAR), DE Simon Fraser (FA-ATL), LB Matt Stewart (FA-ARI), LB Chaun Thomas (FA-HOU), LB Keith Adams, NT Ethan Kelly, and NT Ted Washington have been let go while legitimate 2^nd stringers with a future CB Daven Holly, S Nick Sorenson, and LB Kris Griffin have been re-signed to welcome run-stuffing LB Beau Bell (4^th round UNLV) and DT Ahtyba Rubin (6^th round Iowa State) who could be a major sleeper. The moves on offense have been equally targeted and effective. RG Rex Hadnot (FA-MIA) joins a starting line that was already superb (4.3 yards per rush, 19 sacks) while key backups LG Lonnie Friedman and C/RG have been re-signed to secure critical interior depth. WR Joe Jerevicius is batting injury but WR Donte Stallworth (FA-NE) and TE Martin Rucker (4^th round Missouri) are big additions to WR Braylon Edwards (80 for 1289 and 16 TD) and TE Kellen Winslow (82 for 1106). Only the lack of help for re-signed RB Jamal Lewis (298 for 1304 and 9 TD) is worth criticism. Coach Romeo Crennel must make the playoffs with this team.

Cincinnati (7-9 regular season, missed playoffs) Thinking about the Bengals’ off-season gives me a headache so let’s stick to what we know. The NFL’s 25^th ranked stoppers (238.4 pass, 118.3 rush) lose 3 of their top 4 tacklers to free agency in LB Landon Johnson (109 T, S), DE Justin Smith (78 T, 2 S), and S Madieu Williams (74 T, 2 S, 2 INT) and keep LB Ahmad Brooks who missed 14 games in 2007 and spent his off-season getting charged for punching some broad. Starting LB’s Rashad Jeanty and Dhani Jones plus key backup Corey Mayes were re-signed while LB Darryl Blackstock (FA-ARI), DE Antuan Odom (FA-TEN), and DT Antwon Burton (FA-DEN) are impact pickups but then GM Mike Brown spends four draft picks on a linebacker that bench presses 260 pounds and limped on a bum ankle all season (1^st round USC LB Keith Rivers), a guy with a club for a hand (3^rd round Auburn DT Pat Sims), a guy thrown off his team early in the season (5^th round Fresno State DE Jason Shirley), and a guy with a drug arrest (7^th round Cincinnati DE Angelo Craig). Throw in a track guy turned football player from the Big South (2^nd round Coastal Carolina WR Jerome Simpson), a personal foul specialist that missed much of the year with turf toe (7^th round Louisville WR Mario Urrutia), and a guy with 4 years experience playing football (4^th round Kansas T Anthony Collins). That’s one hell of a draft weekend! On the bright side, QB Carson Palmer’s (4131 yards, 26 TD, 20 INT) line that surrendered just 22 sacks returns 4 of 5 starters with promoted C Eric Ghiaciuc a decent replacement for Alex Stepanovic (FA-ATL) in punching holes for backs Watson (763 yards/ 7 TD rush, 364 yards receiving) and Johnson (497 yards/ 3 TD rush). We pat the Bengals’ backs for cutting WR Chris Henry, kick them in the groin for keeping WR Chad Johnson, and send their better-deserving fans our condolences.

Baltimore (5-11 regular season, missed playoffs) GM Ozzie Newsome has ensured another top-flight defense, adding up and coming free agents to a slew of re-signings, while building offense through the draft. The franchise tag on ROLB Terrell Suggs (45 sacks in 5 years) keeps a dominating front seven (2.8 yards per rush, 32 sacks) intact, LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (FA-CHI) and LB Tavares Gooden (3^rd round Mia-Fla) will push RILB Bart Scott and LOLB Jarrett Johnson for first string, while the re-signings of linemen Gordon, Jones, and Parker plus backers Greisen, McClure, and Smith stacks the depth chart. Starting CB’s Chris McAlister and Samari Role are healthy but missed 18 total games in 2007 so the Raven’s picked up young cover men in S Jim Leonard (FA-BUF), CB Frank Walker (FA-GB), and CB Fabian Washington (trade OAK) plus brought back CB Prude and FS Winbourne to battle with draftees FS Tom Zbikowski (3^rd round, Notre Dame) and FS Hakuri Nakamura (6^th round Cincinnati) who bring return experience. Steve McNair retired and Kyle Boller (1743 yards, 9 TD, 10 INT) plays his final contract year so Baltimore gave 1^st round love to Delaware’s strong-arm QB John Flacco to battle 2006 Heisman Winner Troy Smith for the future behind a line that parts with 115-game starter C Mike Flynn. C Chris Chester Smith (started 5 games in 2007) takes over next to the re-signed RG Jason Brown while 2^nd round pick RB Ray Rice of Rutgers rounds out the backfield of Willis McGahee (1207 yards/7 TD) and 3^rd down back Musa Smith (264 yards/2 TD). WR Demitrius Williams and TE Todd Heap rejoin the aerial corps of Mason and Clayton after missing much of 2007 plus draft weekend netted big targets in 6’2” 221 WR Marcus Smith (4^th round New Mexico) and 6’4” 198 Justin Harper (7^th round Virginia Tech). Newsome and Harbaugh will build a winner!

Well it’s that time of year again, and time to start thinking ahead to the 2008 college football season. The college football season is guaranteed to have its share of surprises and disappointments, which makes predicting a pre-season top 10 a tough assignment. But we’re up to the task and ready to put in our two cents worth, and here is how our top 10 shakes out for 2008.

1. Georgia
The Bulldogs were as good as anybody down the stretch last season winning their last 7 games, and they return a lot of talent from that squad. Junior QB Matthew Stafford is back along with dynamite RB Knowshon Moreno, and they’ll be working behind a good offensive line that returns three starters. The Bulldogs had the 19th ranked defense in the country last season, and they should be even better with of 11 players with starting experience. UGA has tough road tests at Auburn, South Carolina, LSU and Arizona St, but I think this team will get to the SEC Championship and get a shot at the a National Championship. Expectations are high in Athens as Mark Richt has Georgia poised for a title run, and I don’t think the Bulldogs will disappoint.

2. Oklahoma
Sooners will have one of the best offenses in the country this season. Oklahoma should boast one of the best offensive lines in the country and they have plenty of talent working behind them. QB Sam Bradford is back and Oklahoma has a couple of good running backs in Murray and Brown that he can hand the ball off to. Senior wide outs Iglesias and Robinson are both back along with all conference tight end Brody Eldridge. Defensively the Sooners lose Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Curtis Loften, but this will still be a very good defensive unit that Bob Stoops puts on the field. The schedule is favorable for the Sooners as they don’t play Missouri this season and get Kansas and Texas Tech at home. Of course the Texas game is always a big game, and they could face Missouri in the Big 12 Championship, but OU has a chance to run the table this season and play for the National title.

3. Ohio St.
Buckeyes are off back-to-back debacles in the National Championship game the last 2 seasons, but this is a team that may well get a shot at the title again. Buckeyes will be strong on both sides of the ball this season. On offense QB Todd Boeckman is back along with RB Beanie Wells and a solid veteran receiving tandem of Robiskie and Hartline. The offensive line has experience and should be solid. Defensively the Buckeyes are going to be very good again this season. DE Vernon Gholston did bolt to the NFL, but senior standouts James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins are back to anchor the defense. Buckeyes have a monster test at USC in September and could enter the Big 10 schedule with a loss, but the conference schedule is winnable and the Buckeyes could be playing in Miami come January 8th.

4. USC
The Trojans may have some holes to fill, but this is USC and Pete Carroll and the cupboard is hardly ever bare. QB John David Booty is gone, but Mark Sanchez should fill in nicely and Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain is waiting in the wings if needed. USC does take a hit on the offensive line losing three starters, and it’ll be time for some of those blue chip recruits to step up. Trojans have plenty of depth at running back, and they’ll be looking for an underachieving receiving corps to step up this season. Defensively USC needs to replace two All-Americans in Jackson and Ellis, but sources say that USC defense may be even better this season. Ohio St showdown at home in September looms large on the Trojan schedule, but the rest of the schedule is favorable playing Pac 10 foes California and Arizona St at home. Can USC make a title run? I wouldn’t bet against them.

5. Florida
A lot of firepower back for Urban Meyer’s Gators this season. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is back to give defenses fits with his ability to run and throw the ball. USC transfer Emmanuel Moody and freshman speedster Chris Rainey will help alleviate some of the pressure in the running game, and wide out Percy Harvin will give some defensive coordinators sleepless nights. Gators will have to replace two starters on the offensive line as well as defensive standouts Derrick Harvey and Tony Joiner. Florida does return 8 starters on defense and they’ll hold their own this season. Urban Meyer a terrific coach and the Gators should be better than last years 9-4 squad, but tough road tests at Tennessee and Arkansas, and a date with Georgia at the worlds largest cocktail party, may keep them for a National title shot.

6. Missouri
Missouri Tigers the surprise team in 2007 will be no surprise for anybody this season. Tigers will once again be a force to reckon with, with the return of QB Chase Daniels. Daniels a Heisman Trophy finalist last season is a dual threat with his ability to run and throw the ball on the run. RB Tony Temple will need to be replaced, but Derrick Washington is a talent and he’ll be running behind an experienced offensive line. Nine starters back on the defensive side of the ball and a strong linebacking corps should make for another decent stop unit, despite the loss of DL Lorenzo Williams. Missouri will get a tough early test against Illinois, road games at Nebraska & Texas, and Kansas to finish the regular season won’t be easy. A duplication of last years 12-2 is possible for the Tigers, but it won’t come easy.

7. West Virginia
It’ll be interesting to see what this years Mountaineers squad can accomplish after the departure of head coach Rich Rodriguez to Michigan. Bill Stewart takes over the reigns at head coach and early departures by Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud to the NFL will make his job tougher. Still the Mountaineers have enough talent to win the Big East this season with Pat White at QB and super quick RB Noel Devine in the backfield. All 5 starters are back on the offensive line and this team will once again score a ton of points, but on the defensive side the Mountaineers have holes to fill. Major defensive contributors Dykes and Dingle on the line are gone and 4 of the starters in West Virginia’s 5 man secondary need to be replaced. Mountaineers are going to score a ton of points again this season, but the defense is going to give up a lot as well. Tough road game at Pittsburgh, but home dates with Auburn, Cincinnati and South Florida make for a favorable schedule. West Virginia should be a favorite to take the Big East, but lack the defense to contend for a BCS Championship.

8. Wisconsin
Look for Wisconsin to be on the upswing in 2008. Wisconsin will boast one of the best running back trios in the country with Hill, Smith, and Brown. Kansas St transfer Allan Everidge will take over the QB duties and having TE Travis Beckum back this season will help. 4 offensive line starters are back this season, which will help the Badgers get back to doing what thay do best and that’s running the football. Defensively Wisconsin loses CB Jack Ikegwuonu to the NFL draft, but they’ll still be a very good unit this season led by a strong linebacking corps. A lot of experience back for the Badgers and expectations will be high in Madison this season. Last year Wisconsin was an overrated bunch and finished 9-4. This years addition should improve on that record despite a fairly tough schedule that includes road tests at Fresno St and Michigan, and tough home tilts with Ohio St and Penn St.

9. Kansas
Kansas off an incredible 12-1 season last year may be a bit of a stretch to make the top 10 this season, but they’re still a good football team and we’ll put them in at number 9. Gutty Kansas QB Reesing was dynamite last season, but he’ll be asked to do even more this year as Kansas loses some very good personal. All-Conference RB Brandon McAnderson is gone but the offensive line returns 4 starters, so the new backs should have every opportunity to shine. The receiving corps takes a hit with the loss of Marcus Henry and Derrick Fine, but QB turned WR Kerry Meier and Dexton Fields will fill in nicely. Defensively the Jayhawks take a big hit with the departure of CB Aqib Talib to the NFL. Still Kansas returns 9 starters back on what figures to be one of the best in the conference this season. The schedule will be a tough one for the Jayhawks this season. Road dates at Oklahoma and South Florida will be very tough. Then there are the home dates with Texas and Texas Tech and a rivalry game with Missouri to close out the regular season at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The schedule will catch up with Kansas this year, but it should still be another nice year capped off with a bowl game.

10. Clemson
Sixteen starters back for Tommy Bowden and the Clemson Tigers, and they have a chance to be good this season. QB Cullen Harper earned All-ACC second team honors last season tossing 27 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. RBs James Davis and CJ Spiller are a dynamite thunder and lightning tandem out of the backfield, and WR Aaron Kelley, who led the ACC in catches is back for his senior season. The offensive line is a big question mark for the Tigers this season returning only 2 starters, but if Bowden can fill the holes, this team can be very good offensively. Defensively the Tigers have a lot of experience back from last year’s squad that ranked among the top 15 of most major defensive categories. Clemson should be the favorite in the ACC Atlantic Division and if they can get solid play from the offensive line, they will live up to the hype.

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When handicapping the weekend’s football card there are many different ways one can go about doing it, and in this article we’re going to take a look at four different angles that are easy to use and require little work on your part.

1. The Sandwich Game
Throughout the course of a football season every team is going to have games where they’re focused and ready to go, and every team is going to have a game or two where they just come out flat. Sandwich games are often those games where the players just aren’t focused, and they can be great spots to pick up some easy money. Basically, in a sandwich game I’m looking for a team coming off a big game in a situation where they’re playing a far lesser opponent, and they’ve got another big game on deck next Saturday. Let’s use this scenario as an example. Take a team like Florida playing a game at home against a Florida St., and then they face a Mississippi, and then LSU after that. In an ideal sandwich situation you want a few things to take place. First I always want the team we’re looking to play against coming off a win in that first game. In our example I would have no interest in a Florida team off of a loss, as they’d be in a fowl mood and looking to vent a little frustration. Secondly I prefer the team we’re looking to go against, in this case Florida, to be laying substantial points on the road in a non-revenge situation. If Ole Miss had upset the Gators the year before I would look to stay away, as revenge is always a good motivator in college football. Thirdly the bigger the game on deck the better chance that your go against team will be peeking ahead. In our example a Florida/LSU game could have huge implications in the SEC conference race as well as national implications. Obviously not every sandwich situation is going to be ideal, but checking the schedules and looking for these spots can pay big rewards throughout the college season.

2. Double Digit Rivalry Dogs
Later in the college football season we get into the rivalry games and double-digit rivalry dogs are always something you want to take a look at. I think this system works for a couple of reasons. First and most obviously it’s a rivalry game, and generally speaking the two teams involved have penciled in the game as one of the highlights for the entire season. Emotions always run high and you’ll get a big effort from both teams, but especially the underdog as they are generally trying to salvage something from the season, and that’s why they’re getting the big points in the first place. Secondly and maybe not so obvious is the time of year that the rivalry games are generally played. They play these games most often late in the season, and what that does is give the teams a ton of game footage for the coaching staffs to go over. Let’s face it, by the 12th game of the season there probably isn’t a whole lot of tricks and wrinkles to the offensive and defensive schemes that they haven’t showed somewhere during the season. Rivalries tend to go back and forth so revenge is always something to be very aware of here, and double digit rivalry dogs at home are doubly nice as the home crowd atmosphere is huge in college football.

3. Bowl Underdogs Getting More Than A Touchdown
Bowl underdogs getting a touchdown plus have been fairly easy money over the years. Once again there are several reasons as to why this is the case. Firstly if your playing in a bowl game your generally a pretty decent football team. I know with all bowls that they play these days the teams playing in the lesser bowls have become weaker and weaker, but they play each other and games are generally competitive. Secondly, as I noted in the previous system, they play these games at the end of the season. Game film is readily available for all the teams playing in Division 1A, so the coaches have all that film and generally they have 4 weeks to go over it and come up with ways to defend or attack the other team. Thirdly is the intangible motivation of being the underdog, and not only an underdog, but an underdog of a touchdown plus. Let’s face it everybody on and off the field knows the lines of these football games, and it’s always easier for the coaching staff to motivate their team when they feel that they’re that they aren’t being given any respect. Throw in the fact that they play these games on neutral fields for the most part and your going to get a competitive game that stays inside a touchdown.

4. Ranked Underdogs Versus Unranked Teams
The last system I’m going to talk about here involves top 25 teams throughout the season. It’s a very simple that has produced good results in the past although it was not a money maker in 2007.What we are looking for is any ranked team in the top 25 that’s getting points versus an unranked opponent, and I look to go against the ranked team, and I’ll give you an example. Last year Wisconsin went to Illinois ranked 5th in the country and was a 2 point underdog against an unranked Illinois squad. We played Illinois in that game and got the money as Illinois won the game 31-26. The odds makers are generally looking for a underdog money here as the average fan would see Wisconsin undefeated, ranked number 5 in the country, and getting points Joe Public will undoubtedly look at this game and take the points with a ranked team and Vegas makes a nice profit. Now you do have to check the injury reports to make sure there’s nothing happening there to cause a drastic line adjustment, but if the game is clean take the favorite. This may seem backward for some of you, but trust me you don’t want to follow the sheep here. Be on the side of the bookmakers and you’ll be surprised how often you cash in using this simple system.

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Welcome the third edition of your 8-week series taking an off-season look at the National Football League. This week follow the trail of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox through the Great Lakes region to check out what has been shaking in the NFC North other than the locals this unseasonably cool spring in the Midwest. This is our back yard so bundle up, leave your Big City troubles at the door, and we’ll throw a couple extra brats on the grill!

Green Bay (13-3 regular season, 1-1 playoffs) The Packers lose just 2 starters from a squad that came within a field goal of the Super Bowl in Brett Favre’s final season and begin the Aaron Rogers (20 of 28 for 218 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) era with a cupboard stocked deep. The young line (19 sacks allowed, 4.1 yards per rush) of the league’s 2^nd ranked offense (378.2 yards and 27.2 points per game) returns with another year of experience, joined by T Joe Toledo (FA-Mia) plus 4^th and 5^th round draft selections G/T Josh Sitton and T Breno Giacomini. WR’s Driver (82 for 1048 and 2 TD), Jennings (53 for 920 and 12 TD), and Jones (47 for 656 and 2 TD) plus TE Donald Lee (48 for 575 and 6 TD) - who seized the starting job from Bubba Franks (cut) - all return to welcome 2^nd round Kansas State draft pick WR Jordy Nelson (Big 12 records 122 catches for 1606 yards and 10 TD in 2007) who’s arrival likely ends the comeback of WR/KR Koren Robinson’s with the Green and Gold. Backs Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn are healthy again to share the load with RB Ryan Grant (188 for 956 yards and 8 TD) while quarterbacks Brian Brohm (2^nd round, Louisville) and Matt Flynn (7^th round, LSU) bring big time college football experience to the depth chart. Coach Mike McCarthy loses only DT Corey Williams (trade, Cleveland) from a defense that posted 36 sacks, 19 picks, and 22 fumble recoveries while allowing 18.2 points per game and added St. Louis free agent SLB Brandon Chillar (41 starts) to compete with Brady Poppinga alongside studs Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk (combined 236 T, 4 ½ S, 3 INT). Aging corners Charles Woodson (37 T, 4 INT) and Al Harris (63 T, 2 INT) get help from 3^rd round Auburn CB Patrick Lee while future Pro Bowler and lethal hitter S Atari Bigby (86 T, 5 INT) has been re-signed. Only 6 of Green Bay’s games this year will be against 2007 playoff teams.

Minnesota (8-8 regular season, missed playoffs) Brad Childress’s crew lost their final pair to end 2007, eliminating them from the post-season…to the relief of NFC contenders. No one was excited to face the #1 ranked team in both rushing offense (164.6 yards per game at 5.3 yards per) and defense (74.1 yards per game at 3.1 yards per) while banking 8 defensive scores. Backs Adrian Peterson (1341 yards/12 TD rushing) and Chester Taylor (844 yards/7 TD rushing) pounding behind the right side of McKinnie, Huchinson, and Birk will again be the plan of attack but don’t completely discount the Viking passing game this season. Minnesota swapped out Kelly Holcomb for Gus Ferrotte at the backup trigger and threw away a 5^th round pick on John David Booty (my finger, elbow, wrist, back, etc. hurts!) but we still think QB Tavaris Jackson (1911 yards, 9 TD, 12 INT) can succeed with his 6 top targets returning plus Chicago free agent WR Bernard Berrian. Even the remarkable job against both the run and pass (38 sacks) done last season by the Viking front seven - which adds Pro Bowl free agent DE Jared Allen (15 ½ S in 14 games) to backers E.J Henderson and Chad Greenway plus tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams - couldn’t hide their coverage liabilities. At safety Mike Doss, Dwight Smith, and Tank Johnson are gone while FS Madieu Williams (FA-CIN) is a major upgrade alongside Darren Sharper, Texan free agent Michael Boulware will be a valuable backup, and 2^nd round pick/tackle machine FS Tyrell Johnson (363 T and 13 INT in 41 college starts) from Arkansas State was a fine grab but little has changed at the corners. CB’s Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin, who combined for just 1 pick while opponents piled up a league worst 281.2 yards passing per contest, will again get the call. The Vikings are not a complete team but they are tough enough to grab a Wildcard spot.

Detroit (7-9 regular season, missed playoffs) The Lions collapsed under the league’s worst defense (393.6 yards per game) with a 1-8 finish, but Matt Millen has made the most of the off-season. Starters CB Fernando Bryant and SS Kennoy Kennedy are gone from a secondary that was toasted for 274.2 yards per game and 32 TD passing, joining LB Boss Bailey and DE Kalimba Edwards in getting cut. DT Shaun Rogers was traded to Cleveland for CB Leigh Bodden (88 T, 6 INT) who becomes Detroit’s #1 corner opposite the re-signed Stanley Wilson, backed up by Fisher (re-signed), Smith (re-signed), and Brain Kelly (FA-TB). Free agent SS pickups Dwight Smith (MN) and Kalvin Peterson (TB) are upgrades plus all this depth improves the Lions’ not so special teams coverage (12.1 yards per punt, 26.9 per kick). Quality draft day attention to the stoppers added blazing OLBs Jordan Dizon (2^nd round, Colorado) and Cliff Avril (3^rd round, Purdue) plus 3^rd and 7^th round DT’s Andre Fluellen (Florid State) and Landon Cohen (Ohio) add depth as does Seattle free agent DT Chuck Darby. Coach Marinelli’s explosive passing game returns starting QB John Kitna (63.3% for 4068 yards, 18 TD, 20 INT), backups Stanton and Orlovsky, plus all 4 top receiving targets but didn’t greatly help the league’s 2^nd-worst rushing attack (80.5 yards per). Top backs Kevin Jones (cut) and T.J. Duckett (FA-SEA) and their combined 916 yards and 11 TD rushing are gone, leaving Tatum Bell (44 for 182 and TD) and 3^rd round pick Kevin Smith (2576 rush yards for Central Florida in 2007) but the bigger problem is an offensive line that surrendered 56 sacks in 2007. Subtract free agent G/T Damien Woody to the Jets and add 1^st round pick Boston College RT Gosder Cherilus who struggled his senior season (7 penalties, 5 ½ sacks) while playing out of position. Much has been done and much needs to be done for this squad.

Chicago (7-9 regular season, missed playoffs) With 12 draft the Bears chose to largely sit free agency out, grabbing only WR’s Marty Booker (Miami) and Brandon Lloyd (Washington) to replace Muhsin Muhammad (cut) and Bernard Berrian (FA-MIN). Offensive line was the major need (43 sacks, 3.1 yards per rush) for Coach Lovie Smith, resulting in the release of RT Fred Miller (if you can’t block, can you at least stay onside?) and LG Reuben Brown with help coming from the college ranks. The 14^th overall pick snatched Vanderbilt LT Chris Williams (2 sacks last 1558 snaps) - allowing John Tait to move back to RT - while a pair of 7^th round steals purloined Georgia G Chester Adams and All-Big 10 Michigan T Kirk Barton. RG Garza and C Kreutz stay put while Terrence Metcalf, Josh Beekman, and John St. Claire battle for LG. Behind the upgraded line will again be QB Rex Grossman and backup Kyle Orton with Brian Griese traded to Tampa Bay for a second round pick that adds 6’2” 222 Tulane RB Matt Forte who rushed for 2127 yards and 23 TD for Tulane in 2007 and may take the top job from Cedric Benson (DUI arrest) and Adrian Peterson. 3-time All-SEC WR Earl Bennett (3^rd round, Vanderbilt) and 6’6” 218 WR Marcus Monk (7^th round, Arkansas) add firepower while TE’s Desmond Clark (re-signed) and Greg Olsen will get plenty of downfield grabs. The Bear 29^th ranked defense (247.1 pass, 122.9 rush) got less attention with DT Walker (cut), S Archuleta (cut), and LB Ayanbadejo (FA-BAL) gone while starters LB Lance Briggs and FS Brandon McGowan re-signed but their is hope for this group. SS Mike Brown returns from injury to help CB’s Tillman and Vasher plus 3^rd round Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison is a huge addition to a line that racked up 41 sacks last season. PR/KR Devin Hester (6 return TD in 2007) can’t carry this team again…can he?

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NOTE: A new article will be posted each Wednesday throughout the season breaking down a major match up for the upcoming weekend. For now, enjoy the above and plan on checking out our weekly analysis all season long.

Every year when I go to write this article, the first thing that I do is come up with a list of potential players that could emerge to be the top college player in the country. Most years there are a couple of players that jump out at you from what they have done in the past, but I always have to go digging to find those young players that will step up their game. This year, coming up with a list was the easy part. Narrowing down the list to come up with a Top-5 was the hard part. Of course, when you have a returning winner, you have to put him on top or near the top of the list. When Tim Tebow won the award last year, the first sophomore to ever win it, it opened the door to many other underclassmen to go after the award. Lets take a look at who may take home the hardware this season.

1. Tim Tebow – QB (Florida) – How can you not put last year’s winner on the top of the list. Last year Tebow set record after record, and with his Gators teammates starting to gain experience, look for Tebow and Florida to be even better this year. Look for WR Percy Harvin to be one of the reasons that Tebow’s numbers are even better.

2. Michael Crabtree – WR (Texas Tech) – Last season, Crabtree was the Freshman of the Year and, I believe only because he was a freshman, he didn’t receive an invite to the Heisman Ceremony. Crabtree set countless receiving records for Texas Tech, the Big-12 and the NCAAs. The return of his QB Graham Harrell should also keep Crabtree’s numbers increasing.

3. Chase Daniel – QB (Missouri) – Last season, the Missouri Tigers emerged as one of the bigger surprises in College Football. One of the main reasons was the arm of QB Chase Daniel. Daniel’s strong arm put the Tigers offense on the map, and his return for his senior year gives Tiger fans plenty to smile about. What gives Daniel something to smile about? Seeing Mr. Versitile Jeremy Maklin in the backfield and split wide gives Daniel that big weapon.

4. Pat White – QB (West Virginia) – If it wasn’t for an injury late in the year that slowed White down a step, he may have won the Heisman, and for that matter, his Mountaineer team may have been playing for the National Championship. White will be without backfield mate Steve Slaton, but he, like the others I have mentioned before, will have some help. Sophomore RB Noel Devine will be a solid compliment to White on offense.

5. Knowshon Moreno – RB (Georgia) – Of the top five players that I have mentioned here, Moreno is the least known. By the end of the year, things will change. Whether he wins the Heisman or not, college football fans will know the name Knowshon Moreno. Last year as a freshman he became only the second RB in bulldog history to rush for 100 yards in five straight games. The other was Hershel Walker.

Other Players to Watch – P.J. Hill – RB (Wisconsin), Sam Bradford – QB (Oklahoma), Chris “Beanie” Wells – RB (Ohio St), Ian Johnson – RB (Boise St), Todd Reesing – QB (Kansas), Juice Williams – QB (Illinois), Graham Harrell – QB (Texas Tech) and James Laurinaitis – LB (Ohio St)

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Welcome to the second edition of our 8-week series taking an off-season look at each of the National Football League’s conferences. This week we have selected the home of your 2007 AFC Champions with a look at what these franchises have been up to and the direction they are heading this upcoming season. Be sure to check in for a new article each Thursday the next couple months and away we go…

New England Patriots (16-0 regular season, 2-1 playoffs) Bill Belichick’s crew came within 35 seconds of running the 2007 table into the history books and returns both lines plus the bulk of offensive firepower that piled up 38.8 points per regular season game - 8.4 points per game more than the next-best Cowboys. WR Dante Stallworth left for Cleveland and Seattle’s TE Marcus Pollard was added while receivers Moss, Washington, and Gaffney resigned with the Pats but the real off-season action took place among the New England linebacker and defensive backfield ranks. Aging backers Rosevelt Colvin and Chad Brown are gone while Pierre Woods, Tedy Bruschi, and Larry Izzo have been resigned to battle Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas for playing time in the 3-4 but they will have plenty of incoming competition with the signing of LB Victor Hobson away from the Jets plus 1st and 3rd round draft picks OLB Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) and OLB Shawn Crable (Michigan). Throw in the possible additions of Junior Seau (may retire) plus Eric Alexander (team’s exclusive rights free agent) and New England is positively stacked at the position and likely deadly on special teams. In the defensive backfield the competition for jobs will be just as fierce with the return games again also getting a boost. Randall Gay, Asante Samuel, and Eugene Wilson rode the free agent train out of town while corners Fernando Bryant (Detroit), Lewis Sanders (Atlanta), Jason Webster (Buffalo), and S Tank Johnson (Minnesota) rode it in plus 2nd and 4th round draft picks scooped up Colorado’s CB/KR Terrence Wheatley and Auburn’s CB Jonathon White. The 3rd round selection of Kevin O’Connell likely sends backup QB Matt Cassell packing. A returning #1 offense, a younger and faster #4 defense, and beefed up special teams. Meet the new boss; same as the old boss!

Buffalo Bills (7-9 regular season, 0-0 playoffs) A squad that finishes the season with the 31st ranked offense and 31st ranked defense to miss the playoffs for the 8th consecutive year has plenty of needs and GM Russ Brandon has cut dead weight like CB Jeremetrius Butler (15 T), WR Peerless Price (7 catches), and RB Anthony Thomas (2.5 yards per carry) while filling pressing holes and banking $78 million to play 8 games over 5 years in Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Backup QB JP Losman was rumored draft day trade bait but the Bills sat pat and have 2 solid arms with QB Trent Edwards (1630 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT) and Losman while resigning C Matt Whittle and T Matt Murphy keeps depth intact for a line that helped rookie RB Marshawn Lynch rush for 1115 yard and 7 TD in just 13 games and backup Fred Jackson pile up 300 yards in just 58 carries. Buffalo’s key need was at defensive back where the Bills allowed 247.4 yards per game. Eagles free agent CB Will James was added and college football’s top cover corner Leodis McKelvin was snatched with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft in addition to 4th round pick CB Reggie Corner (Akron) and 7th round pick Kennard Cox (Pittsburgh). Just 26 team sacks in 2007 were answered with the acquisitions of DT Spencer Johnson (FA-ATL), DT Marcus Stroud (Jacksonville trade), LB Kawika Mitchell (FA-NYG) and 3rd round pick Virginia Tech DE Chris Ellis (8 ½ sacks in 2007). Coach Dick Jauron wanted to add a big receiver to his smallish corps (top four wire receivers 5’10” or less) and he got three with a steal of a 2nd round selection 6’6” 221 Indiana WR James Hardy, 7th round pick 6’2” 210 WR Steve Johnson (led SEC in yards and touchdowns), plus 6’6” 270 Atlanta free agent TE Courtney Anderson to compete at a position that will be back under new O-Coordinator Turk Schonert. Call us crazy, but we see a playoff team in the making.

New York Jets (4-12 regular season, 0-0 playoffs) A quarterback controversy is certain this season between QB Chad Pennington (68.8% completions, 1765 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT) who started the first 8 games of 2007 and QB Kellen Clemens (52.0% completions, 1529 yards, 5 TD, 10 INT) who took over at mid-season but at least it will happen behind a premier offensive line. As part of a house cleaning that included letting go starters FS Eric Coleman, NT Dewayne Robertson, and LB Victor Hobson plus key players CB Andre Dyson, WR Justin McCareins, and C Wade Smith to free agency and outright release, GM Mike Tannenbaum cut starting LG Adrien Clark and starting RT Anthony Clement. Big free agent bucks brings in LG Alan Faneca and RT Damien Woody to join LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, C Nick Mangold, and RG Brandon Moore to punch holes for RB Thomas Jones (310 for 1119 yards and 1 TD) while the passing game takes a back seat. New York’s defense was pushed around last year for 134.8 rushing yards per game so the Jets traded for Carolina DT Kris Jenkins and picked up free agent ROLB Calvin Pace from Arizona - each will take starting roles. As far as the NFL draft was concerned, Coach Eric Mangini didn’t get much immediate help, despite 2 first round selections. We disagree with the pundits who say that Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston (14 sacks in 2007 against Big 10 linemen) is overrated and a mistake at the 6th overall pick but he projects to ROLB in the J-Men’s 3-4 defense where they dropped coin to pick up Pace while using the 30th overall selection on Purdue TE Dustin Keller conjures up images of drunken, foul mouthed Jets fans screaming like stuck pigs for the ESPN cameras. Starting TE Chris Baker (41 for 409 and 3 TD) is decent plus free agency yielded TE Bubba Franks from Green Bay. Pour me whatever the guy in the Blair Thomas jersey is having.

Miami Dolphins (1-15 regular season, 0-0 playoffs) Losing 6 games by a field goal may tempt some to build on existing personnel, but GM Jeff Ireland and VP/Football Ops Bill Parcells are not those guys. Parcells is famous for cleaning house and bringing in big, tough guys which has sent packing starting QB’s Trent Green (cut) and Cleo Lemon (FA-Jacksonville), top receiver Marty Booker (cut), plus the squad’s second and third leading rushers Lorenzo Booker (trade to Philadelphia) and Jesse Chatman (free agent Jets) as well as offensive linemen L.J. Shelton, Rex Hadnot, Anthony Alibi, Marvin Dukes, and Joe Toledo with Chris Liwienski and Cory Lekkerkerker soon to follow. Oakland free agent QB Josh McCown takes over at the trigger while 2nd-year John Beck (60 of 107 for 559 yards, TD, 3 INT) and 2nd round selection Chad Henne battle for the future. LT Vernon Carey moves next to 4th round pick RG Shawn Murphy (son of baseball’s Dale Murphy) while the NFL Draft’s overall #1 LT Jake Long will start next to 49ers free agent LG Justin Smiley. RB Ronnie Brown (119 for 602 and 4 TD) and Ricky Williams return from season-ending injuries, while TE Anthony Fasano (trade Dallas) and WR Ernest Wilford (free agent Jacksonville) join WR Ted Ginn Jr. (34 for 420 and 2 TD. Defensively, DE Jason Taylor (11 of teams 30 sacks) doesn’t fit Parcells’s mold and may join DT Keith Traylor and DT Anthony Bryant who have been sent packing with LB Zach Thomas and LB Derrick Pope. Miami grabbed 3 defensive ends in the draft including 2nd rounder Phillip Merling from Clemson while free agency/trades bring LB’s Reggie Torbor, Charlie Anderson, and Akin Ayodele, DB’s Chris Crocker, Keith Davis, and Nate Jones, plus DL’s Jason Ferguson and Randy Starks. A new roster, a new Head Coach in Tony Sparano, and new results? The Dolphins couldn’t help but improve.

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***NOTE: Weekly college and pro football articles will be posted every Wednesday throughout the season for a major weekend match up so we hope to see you here every week and best of luck this year!*** - The Champs at #1 SPORTS

Dallas Cowboys (13-3 regular season, 0-1 playoffs). Head Coach Wade Phillips retains the key players that earned the NFC’s top seed in the 2007 Playoffs, but free agent losses of S Keith Davis, CB Nate Jones, CB Jacques Reeves, and RB Julius Jones have created some needs on the depth chart. Safeties Ken Hamlin (franchised) and Roy Williams will anchor the defensive backfield (18th-best at 233.0 pass yards allowed per game in ’07), and Dallas has secured the rights to CB Adam Jones with a 4th round pick to Tennessee. Plus they will certainly add talent in this weekend’s draft. Owner/General Manager Jerry Jones holds both the 22nd and 28th picks in the first round. Most mock drafts having the Cowboys taking Arkansas RB Felix Jones to pair with RB Marion Barber (204 for 975 and 10 TD) - who did not sign an offer sheet with another team and will return - as he did with Darren McFadden. The Boys have not selected an offensive player in the first round since 1997, and if they stay put, Arizona CB Antoine Carson or Kansas CB Aquib Talib are possibilities, as is Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, if they move up.

QB Tony Romo (4211 yards, 36 TD, 19 INT) and WR Terrell Owens (81 for 1355 and 15 TD) led the league’s 4th best passing attack last year. But the organization has made inquiries about adding a big name wide out through trade rather than draft. WR Terry Glenn comes off two knee surgeries and those first round picks could grab a player like Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson, Detroit’s Roy Williams, or Arizona’s Anquan Boldin. LT Flozell Adams has been resigned to guard the pocket and TE Jason Witten (96 for 1145 and 7 TD) also returns to an offense that finished second to only the Patriots with 28.4 points scored per game. Dallas’ 17-21 playoff loss to the Giants last season marked the 11th consecutive season without a post-season win for the world’s most valuable sports franchise.

New York Giants (10-6 regular season, 4-0 playoffs). With a Super Bowl win comes attention from league for your personnel, and Coach Tom Coughlin’s defensive crew (9th ranked overall with 326.8 yards per) took plenty of hits with FS Gibril Wilson (Oakland), DT William Joseph (Oakland), LB Kawika Mitchell (Buffalo), and LB Reggie Torbor (Miami) taking the free agent train out of town. To fill the hole at safety, General Manager Jerry Reese picked up Sammy Knight from Jacksonville, tendered a restricted free agent offer to their starting SS James Butler. Plus they have a young hitter in CB Corey Webster that could make the move. Linebacker presents a bigger problem. The acquisition of Texan LB Danny Clark is a start, and young LB Gerris Wilkinson may be ready for a starting job, but if Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo is still available at the 31st pick, the Giants would grab him in a New York second. Arkansas State’s S Tyrell Johnson, Miami-Fla S Kenny Phillips, Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison, and North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer are also certainly also possibilities in the first round.

36-year old DE Michael Strahan (57 T, 9 sacks) still hasn’t let the team know if he’ll return, but the biggest news in the Big Apple is the possible trade of 4-time All Pro TE Jeremy Shockey. The Saints and Seahawks are interested with 2nd round picks to offer, while Green Bay and Miami (he lives in Miami) also seem good fits. Miami’s 32nd selection overall might be enough and would give the Giants back to back firepower in the draft, while other teams would have to add a need position player for Reese to jump. If Shockey gets dealt, 2nd year pass-catching TE Kevin Boss (started last 6 games) and 2nd year blocking TE Michael Mathews (played in every game last season) get the call, plus TE Darcy Johnson returns from missing 2007 while rehabbing his surgically repaired knee. DE Justin Tuck, K Lawrence Tynes, RB Derrick Ward, and G Rich Seubert have all been resigned, while QB David Carr has been added from Carolina.

Washington Redskins (9-7 regular season, 0-1 playoffs). QB Jason Campbell improved enough last season, with 2700 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 picks before tearing a knee in Week 14, to boost the Redskin passing game to #15 in the league at 226.4 yards per game. But he faces another challenge this season. The knee is fine, but new Head Coach Jim Zorn’s West Coast Offense will be Campbell’s 7th new system in eight years of college and pro football. A new passing game requires new personnel, as incumbent receivers 5’10” Santana Moss, 5’10” Antwaan Randle El, and 6’0” James Thrash don’t fit the size profile for the West Coast, so disgruntled Bengal Chad Johnson is a possibility, and selections in the draft are a necessity. Owner Daniel Snyder and departed Coach Joe Gibbs spent years paying for overpriced free agents with top draft selections – leaving a grand total of seven picks in the top four rounds over the last four years – but this season the cupboard is full with nine selections including the 21st overall. Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly, Texas’ Limas Sweed, and Michigan State’s Devin Thomas all fit the bill for a big target, while an aging offensive line (all five starters and top two backups are all at least 30 years old) will also certainly get attention.

33 regular season sacks and 91.2 rushing yards allowed per game were decent numbers, but age at defensive line is also a problem, so ends Calais Campbell of Miami-Fla, Phillip Merling of Clemson, or Derrick Harvey of Florida could be heading to the nation’s capitol, as could tackles Sedrick Ellis of Southern Cal or Kentwan Balmer of North Carolina. FS Reed Doughty looks able to handle the job opposite of SS LaRon Landry, vacated by the deceased Sean Taylor, while the Skins will make do with CB Fred Smoot while CB Carlos Rogers rehabs from the knee surgery that cost him nine games in 2007. Not great and not young, but Washington returns all 22 starters that won four straight to end the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8 regular season, missed playoffs). Andy Reid’s crew failed to reach the playoffs last season, but they did finish with three consecutive wins and the numbers reveal a squad still among the best in the NFC. 250.3 yards passing and 123.4 yards rushing per game were good enough to rank 4th in the entire league. QB Donovan McNabb (19 TD, 7 INT, and 3224 yards in 14 games) has taken plenty of heat, but he did spread the ball around extremely well with WR Kevin Curtis (77 for 1110 yards and 6 TD) and WR Reggie Brown (61 for 780 yards and 4 TD) putting up strong numbers, while still getting 368 offensive touches for RB Brian “The Weapon” Westbrook (1333 yards/7 TD rushing, 771 yards/5 TD receiving). While Philly fans scream for a Big Time receiver, the Eagle’s offensive need is offensive tackle. T Jon Runyan (34) and T William Thomas (33) are in their second decade in the pros, with Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Otah possibilities at the 19th selection of this weekend’s draft.

An overall defensive ranking of 8th (230.4 pass, 95.8 rush) was dragged down by defensive backfield injuries to SS Sean Considine (missed final eight games), FS Brian Dawkins (missed six games), and CB Lito Sheppard (missed fourteen games last three years) with a major shuffle underway. CB Will James is gone to the Bills and Sheppard will likely follow as soon as this weekend. CB Assante Samuel (16 INT last 2 years) enters via free agency, S J.R. Reed and nickel back Joselio Hanson have been resigned, and more help will come from the college ranks. Sitting pat gets a player like Miami-Fla S Kenny Phillips in Round 1, while moving up could grab a cover/return monster like Troy CB Leodis McKelvin. DE Jevon Kearse and LB Takeo Spikes have been cut, but the Eagles have depth at their positions, plus with eleven selections in the draft, they will get plenty more.

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Every year you see a couple of NFL teams take all that extra money that they have under the salary cap and over-spend on high priced free agents. More often than not these teams seem for one reason or another to fall short of their main goal - the Super Bowl Championship. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that teams shouldn’t try to improve themselves through free agency, but they must realize that putting together a solid core of players and then adding a piece or two via the free agency market seems to be the recipe for success. That is why this weekend’s NFL draft is so important for both the teams that are in contention for a title and for the teams that are trying to pick themselves up from the bottom of their divisions. When it comes to the draft, you should expect immediate impact. It takes a couple years for these young players to adjust to the NFL, learn the system and jell with their teammates. The whole jell thing is the reason I believe the big free agent move thing seems not to work. If you take a look at the past couple Super Bowl champs you will see exactly what I am talking about.

First of all, we have the current holders of the Lombardi Trophy, the New York Giants. Of course, it all starts with the field general. QB Eli Manning was the first overall pick in the NFL draft in 2004. Yes, I know that he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but can you really count that after the draft day trade to the Giants. To go along with Manning, you have RB Brandon Jacobs, a fourth round selection by the Giants, out of a small school (Southern Illinois). There is Super Bowl standout WR David Tyree, who was a Giants’ 6th round pick in 2003. The entire starting receiving corps, besides Plaxico Burress, was drafted or originally picked up as a free agent by the Giants. On the other side of the ball, the defense was full of past Giants draft picks especially on the front line (Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, & Mathias Kiwanuka).

Looking at the Colts from the year prior and they also start with a former first overall pick at QB named Manning. Peyton Manning’s main weapons we also past Colt draft picks. WR Marvin Harrison (1st Round - 1996), Reggie Wayne (1st Round - 2001) & TE Dallas Clark (1st Round - 2003) were Manning’s favorite targets through the air. On the ground that year it was Dominic Rhodes (Colts Free Agent on 2001) and Joseph Addai (1st Round - 2006). All 5 starters on the offensive line were also either drafted or originally picked up as free agents by the Colts. On defense, 9 of the 11 starters had only played for the Colts in their NFL careers including DE Dwight Freeney (1st Round - 2002), S Bob Sanders (2nd Round - 2004) & LB Gary Brackett (Free Agent -2003).

So with all this said, this weekend which NFL will begin to build for a future Super Bowl. Here is a look at the first round selection order.

2008 NFL Draft Order
1. Miami
2. St. Louis
3. Atlanta
4. Oakland
5. Kansas City
6. N.Y. Jets
7. New England (from S.F.)
8. Baltimore
9. Cincinnati
10. New Orleans
11. Buffalo
12. Denver
13. Carolina
14. Chicago
15. Detroit
16. Arizona
17. Minnesota
18. Houston
19. Philadelphia
20. Tampa Bay
21. Washington
22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
23. Pittsburgh
24. Tennessee
25. Seattle
26. Jacksonville
27. San Diego
28. Dallas
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)
30. Green Bay
31. N.Y. Giants

*New England forfeited their original first round pick (31st overall) due to the Spy-gate scandal.

So who will be the newest stars to be selected and help lead their teams to a title. Will it be QB Matt Ryan (Boston College), OT Jake Long (Michigan), DE Chris Long (Virginia), RB Darren McFadden (Arkansas) or an unsung player taking in the fourth or fifth round? We will just half to wait and see. I guess with all the speculation and the coverage we could talk for days and days about it, probably until they kickoff the regular season. I guess that is why the NFL is the best pro sports league around.

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By Tom Hatfield, Razor Sharp Sports

Each and every year the big question for the top underclassmen in the country is should I stay in school or should I go to the NFL. Sticking around for your final season may be a loyal and responsible move, but is it really the smartest move? I don’t think you can look at the decision as a whole; each student-athlete has his own individual responsibilities, situations & goals. Lets take a look at what goes into making that decision and what the best move may be for these underclassmen

First of all, lets take a look at the situation of the Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who will be returning to Florida for his junior year. First of all, we are talking about a sophomore winning the Heisman for the first time ever. Tebow has a great amount of physical skill, but do his abilities as a QB fit in with an NFL style offense? He has size, speed and smarts, but right now I have to question his throwing ability and his experience. Another year or even two may help Tebow turn himself into the #1 prospect and a true NFL quarterback. The one gamble is the way Tebow plays, will he take a hit that could end his career before he gets to cash his first NFL check?

Then you have a situation like the one of Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. This two-time Heisman runner-up is a no-brainer top 5 NFL draft selection. He has shown that he has all the skills to be an NFL superstar. He has players like Reggie Bush who have similar skills, that are already having success. Plus the life of a Running Back can be short. A Running Back can only take so many hits in his career before he starts losing his effectiveness.

The next situation is that of a probable first round draft pick. This would be someone who may have a chance to move up in the draft next year, but then again may drop. As in the case of Illinois’ RB Rashard Mendenhall or Michigan WR Mario Maningham, I think the positives of playing in the pros far outweigh the negatives that may occur while playing that final year in college. A first-rounders original contract can almost guarantees financial freedom for the rest of the players life, as long as they know how to take care of their money. Also by coming out early, the player also may add an additional year to their playing career. As I said before, you can always go back and finish your college degree, but you may not always have the option of playing pro football. What may happen if this player stays in school. They may have a great year and move up a few spots in the draft. This would increase the players rookie contract some, but figure you lost out on a year of getting paid. They may have a good year and stay about the same in the draft, now same contract and 1 less year on their career. Finally they could have a bad season or get hurt, then they lose out on the big contract or even playing in the pros. The difference in a first round contract and a fourth or fifth round contract is four or five times to maybe as much as 10 times the dollar amount.

The final situation is that of a second or third rounder looking to go pro. This is where staying in school could and more than likely would help the player. By staying in school, you gain an extra year of playing experience, which is what these young players need. Sitting on the bench in the NFL doesn’t help these players at all. Also in the NFL, the contracts are not guaranteed. The signing bonuses for a second or third rounder may look nice to a college student, but over the long haul there is no security there. A college degree always added security to your future, plus an opportunity to move up in the draft and get a first round contract is definitely the way to go.

I understand there are many different situations and each individual has to look at his situation. As a whole I feel if you have the opportunity to be drafted in the first round, go for it, there is always time to go back and finish school after your football career is over or during the off-season. I do think though, if a player doesn’t feel strongly that he will be taken in the first round, the best thing to do is to stay in school and get that degree along with experience. Remember, there is no guarantees in life or with NFL contracts!

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I’ve never been a big fan of using line moves as a handicapping tool per say. But I do believe there are a couple of strategies the average player can use to increase his or her chances of showing a profit by seasons end. There are usually two schools of thought when it comes to line moves.

1. Fade the line move. Opening numbers are sharper than the inflated closing numbers the public has driven up all week long. Bet against the line move as the odds makers know best.

2. Go with the line move. Lines are moving because of perceived sharp money, so jump on the bandwagon; they must know something you don’t.

Obviously these 2 strategies are extreme and simplistic, but I think with some tweaking we can make a modest profit with both schools of thought.

The first strategy I’m going to talk about is fading the line move, backing public teams in high profile TV games. When the weekend lines come out Sunday night at www.freeplays.com, pay close attention to the high profile National TV games with a clear-cut favorite. Call it the gambler’s mentality or the nature of the beast, but inevitably the money will come in on the favorite, as Joe Public generally desires to back the clear favorite. Don’t believe me, just watch the action on those late Saturday College TV games of 6 points or more, or watch the moves on Sunday and Monday Night NFL games when the line is more than a field goal. It’s rare to see the underdog getting the play, and of course the odds makers are well aware of this. So with this in mind, our strategy gives us double value as an already inflated line becomes more inflated with the public’s passion to back the perceived favorite and chase the line moves.

A good rule of thumb is to assume the early week line is the correct line. A line move toward the favorite of 2 points should make you money over the course of a football season. Line moves of 3 points or more should garner extra attention. Of course line moves due to injuries or suspensions to players or coaches should be thrown out. So check with www.freeplays.com for any critical injury information that would cause the lines to move.

The second strategy is going with the line move on low profile games where the money is flowing onto the underdog. My basic thought here is that money moving on these types of games generally represents your sharper players. Lets face it; Joe Public knows nothing about the Arkansas St’s, the Utah St’s, and Buffalo’s of the world. So when a line moves toward an underdog here, it’s not the general public taking N. Texas +10 down to +8, it’s people who know what they’re doing, and have specific reasons for playing N. Texas.

Playing with or against line moves is an easy system for players who don’t have a lot of time to handicap games. Best advice is to follow the simple rules I mentioned above and pay attention to line moves at www.freeplays.com.

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