OFFICIAL 2009 NFL PRESEASON & TRAINING CAMP THREAD

[heat23]

[h1]2009 NFL PRESEASON SCHEDULE[/h1] [table][tr][td]HALL OF FAME WEEKEND[/td] [/tr][tr][td]SUN, AUG 9[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tennessee 21, Buffalo 18[/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]WEEK 1[/td] [/tr][tr][td]THU, AUG 13[/td] [/tr][tr][td]New England 27, Philadelphia 25[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Baltimore 23, Washington 0[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 10[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Oakland 31, Dallas 10[/td] [/tr][tr][td]FRI, AUG 14[/td] [/tr][tr][td]St. Louis 23, NY Jets 20[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Minnesota 13, Indianapolis 3[/td] [/tr][tr][td]New Orleans 17, Cincinnati 7[/td] [/tr][tr][td]San Francisco 17, Denver 16[/td] [/tr][tr][td]SAT, AUG 15[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Atlanta at Detroit[/td] [td]4:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Ford Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chicago at Buffalo[/td] [td]7:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Ralph Wilson Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cleveland at Green Bay[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Lambeau Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tampa Bay at Tennessee[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]LP Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Houston at Kansas City[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Arrowhead Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Seattle at San Diego[/td] [td]10:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Qualcomm Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]MON, AUG 17[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jacksonville at Miami[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Land Shark Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carolina at NY Giants[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]ESPN[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Giants Stadium[/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]WEEK 2[/td] [/tr][tr][td]THU, AUG 20[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cincinnati at New England[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Gillette Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Philadelphia at Indianapolis[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]FOX[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Lucas Oil Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]FRI, AUG 21[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tennessee at Dallas[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]FOX[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Cowboys Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Atlanta at St. Louis[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Edward Jones Dome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kansas City at Minnesota[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Metrodome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]SAT, AUG 22[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Detroit at Cleveland[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Cleveland Browns Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Carolina at Miami[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Land Shark Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pittsburgh at Washington[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]FedEx Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tampa Bay at Jacksonville[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Jacksonville Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]New Orleans at Houston[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Reliant Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Buffalo at Green Bay[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Lambeau Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]NY Giants at Chicago[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Soldier Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Oakland at San Francisco[/td] [td]8:15 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Candlestick Park[/td] [/tr][tr][td]San Diego at Arizona[/td] [td]10:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]U of Phoenix Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Denver at Seattle[/td] [td]10:30 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Qwest Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]MON, AUG 24[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]NY Jets at Baltimore[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]ESPN[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]M&T Bank Stadium[/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]WEEK 3[/td] [/tr][tr][td]THU, AUG 27[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Jacksonville at Philadelphia[/td] [td]7:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Lincoln Financial Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]St. Louis at Cincinnati[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Paul Brown Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Miami at Tampa Bay[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]FOX[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Raymond James Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]FRI, AUG 28[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]New England at Washington[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]CBS[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]FedEx Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Green Bay at Arizona[/td] [td]10:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]U of Phoenix Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]SAT, AUG 29[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Indianapolis at Detroit[/td] [td]1:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Ford Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]New Orleans at Oakland[/td] [td]4:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Tennessee at Cleveland[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Cleveland Browns Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Buffalo at Pittsburgh[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Heinz Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Baltimore at Carolina[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Bank of America Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]San Francisco at Dallas[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Cowboys Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]San Diego at Atlanta[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]CBS[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Georgia Dome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]NY Jets at NY Giants[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Giants Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Seattle at Kansas City[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Arrowhead Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]SUN, AUG 30[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Chicago at Denver[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]NBC[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Invesco Field at Mile High[/td] [/tr][tr][td]MON, AUG 31[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Minnesota at Houston[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]ESPN[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Reliant Stadium[/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]WEEK 4[/td] [/tr][tr][td]THU, SEP 3[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Detroit at Buffalo[/td] [td]6:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Ralph Wilson Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Philadelphia at NY Jets[/td] [td]7:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Giants Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Washington at Jacksonville[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Jacksonville Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]NY Giants at New England[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Gillette Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Indianapolis at Cincinnati[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Paul Brown Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Baltimore at Atlanta[/td] [td]7:30 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Georgia Dome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Cleveland at Chicago[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Soldier Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Miami at New Orleans[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Superdome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Green Bay at Tennessee[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]LP Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Kansas City at St. Louis[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Edward Jones Dome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Pittsburgh at Carolina[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Bank of America Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Arizona at Denver[/td] [td]9:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Invesco Field at Mile High[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Oakland at Seattle[/td] [td]10:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Qwest Field[/td] [/tr][tr][td]FRI, SEP 4[/td] [td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]RESOURCES[/td] [td]LOCATION[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Houston at Tampa Bay[/td] [td]7:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Raymond James Stadium[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Dallas at Minnesota[/td] [td]8:00 PM[/td] [td]NFL[/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Metrodome[/td] [/tr][tr][td]San Francisco at San Diego[/td] [td]10:00 PM[/td] [td] [/td] [td]Tickets | Travel[/td] [td]Qualcomm Stadium[/td] [/tr][/table]


Post everything training camp like:
Who are you looking forward to hearing from?
What position battle are you looking foward for?
What rookie(s) do you have your eye on?
Who gets cut?
Pictures
Etc.

 

[heat23]

Whip, I guess I'll kick it off


I'm looking forward to hearing from Tedd Ginn Jr
The position battle I'm looking foward to is WRs and CBs for the Miami Dolphins
The rookie(s) I have your eye on are Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Pat White and Patrick Turner

 

[heat23]

BUMP.........Training Camp starts tomorrow with the Buffalo Bills T.Os

 

[DeadsetAce]

 

[CP1708]

Gettin in that mode...............

 

[heat23]

Where are all my NFL heads?

 

[Chester McFloppy]

Originally Posted by heat23

The rookie(s) I have your eye on are Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Pat White and Patrick Turner

No.

 

[TheGift23]

I knew I wasn't the only one counting down til Training Camp starts

Freaking LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR (Even though I know that my team has very little chance of winning it all

) STILL

 

[heat23]

Originally Posted by Chester McFloppy

heat23 wrote:

---

The rookie(s) I have your eye on are Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Pat White and Patrick Turner

No.


Are you my eyes? No, than actually YES!

 

[CP1708]

I want to curb the wildcat a bit and focus the entire offense on third and 1 to run straight smash mouth football with Ricky and Ronnie in the backfieldtogether with an offensive line attitude to pull it off.

Last year we couldn't convert short distance running to save our lives.

 

[gunna get it]

PT


Cris Carter was just clownin on NFL Live. tombout "I heard Flozell Adams retired 2 yrs ago, he just aint told no one yet"

 

[jpzx]

Post everything training camp like:
Who are you looking forward to hearing from?
What position battle are you looking foward for?
What rookie(s) do you have your eye on?
Who gets cut?
Pictures
Etc.
-I'm looking forward to hearing Brett Favre say, "I'm back" because until theneverything is a non-story.
-There's not really any major position battles on the Vikings, but I'm looking forward to see who wins the QB job in Oakland.
-Percy Harvin, Pat White, Lesean McCoy, Hakeem Nicks, and some others.

 

[CP1708]

I wanna see Percy and AP together on that turf, and I wish Vick could join that fray rather then old man INT

 

[DeadsetAce]

Who are you looking forward to hearing from? Brady, Moss, Freddie T, Maroney

What position battle are you looking foward for? running back
What rookie(s) do you have your eye on? chung, butler, brace, tate
Who gets cut? bruschi

 

[scott frost]

Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

PT


Cris Carter was just clownin on NFL Live. tombout "I heard Flozell Adams retired 2 yrs ago, he just aint told no one yet"

Nobody had it out more for Flozell Adams than John Madden. He would always take shots at him when broadcasting Cowboys games...

Big question I got going into Pats' training camp is Vince Wilfork's contract situation. From the looks of it, they arent even close so it haspotentail to drag out.

 

[DeadsetAce]

Originally Posted by Scott Frost

Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

PT


Cris Carter was just clownin on NFL Live. tombout "I heard Flozell Adams retired 2 yrs ago, he just aint told no one yet"

Nobody had it out more for Flozell Adams than John Madden. He would always take shots at him when broadcasting Cowboys games...

Big question I got going into Pats' training camp is Vince Wilfork's contract situation. From the looks of it, they arent even close so it has potentail to drag out.

yeah. depending on how ron brace does, it could get dicey.

 

[heat23]

My boy Sean Smith signed his contract yesterday

. Vontae Davis, PatWhite and Chris Clemons are the only one's left to sign their deals!

 

[heat23]

The Bills/TOs report today.......Any Bills/TOs fans in here?

 

[heat23]

AFC East training camp preview

July 22, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Buffalo Bills
Training camp site: St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, N.Y.

Campfires: All eyes will be on Terrell Owens, but he's not the most significant storyline at St. John Fisher. The Bills' offensive line is a jumbled unit and needs to emerge from camp with proficiency. None of the projected starting five will play the same position as last year. Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is gone. Right tackle Langston Walker is flipping over to the other side. Right guard Brad Butler is replacing Walker. Geoff Hangartner is the new center. Rookies are expected to play guard.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/David Duprey[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]All eyes will be on Terrell Owens during the Bills' training camp.[/td] [/tr][/table]
A lot of parts must come together, but if they do, then the Bills' offense could be dangerous. They're adopting a no-huddle approach that will be fun to watch with a cast that includes Owens, Lee Evans and Marshawn Lynch. The Bills have been installing the offense for months, but the coaching staff's confidence in it will be dictated by how well Trent Edwards commands the no-huddle in camp and preseason games.

On defense, Buffalo's success may hinge on the defensive line. Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel is coming off a foot injury that rendered him essentially useless last year. The Bills drafted Penn State pass-rusher Aaron Maybin 11th overall. They also are hoping to get some production finally out of fourth-year defensive tackle John McCargo, who the Bills traded up to draft in the first round but so far has been a slug.

Camp will be a downer if ... the offensive line suffers an injury that prevents chemistry from forming. The main question about the Bills' front five is not that it's incapable. While there are doubts about Walker and Butler, many believe first-day draft picks Eric Wood and Andy Levitre have bright futures, and all of them can play multiple positions.

But nobody can dispute the value of cohesion and consistency along the offensive line. The sooner they learn to play their positions at a high level together, the less harassed Edwards will be. Any preseason volatility here would be harmful.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
Camp will be a success if ... the defensive front shows signs it can be a positive influence. Buffalo defensive linemen recorded 12.5 sacks last year. Right end Ryan Denney led the way with four. Buffalo ranked 22nd in rushing yards allowed per game and 21st in yards per carry.

Buffalo is the only AFC East team that runs a 4-3 defense. If the Bills don't stop the run and can't sack quarterbacks, what's the point?

Project to monitor: Some Bills fans are enamored with the possibilities of sophomore tackle Demetrius Bell, a seventh-round draft pick from Northwestern State who didn't play a game last year. Bell has a good frame (6-foot-5, 307 pounds) and is the son of former NBA star Karl Malone.

Bell is viewed as a potential discovery in the making, the second coming of Peters, who the Bills signed as a rookie free-agent tight end and converted into a Pro Bowl left tackle. Bell spent the offseason getting reps as the second-team left tackle.

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Miami Dolphins
Training camp site: team facility in Davie, Fla.

Campfires: Dolfans are eager to see how old friend Jason Taylor fits into defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni's 3-4 scheme, and a substantial factor is whether Cameron Wake will resemble the player who dominated in Canada the past two years. Joey Porter, the reigning AFC sack leader, will remain on the right side. That leaves Taylor (who has played almost his entire career on the right side), Wake and incumbent Matt Roth to divvy up the snaps at left outside linebacker. That battle will be interesting to monitor.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Jamie Mullen/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Jason Taylor (99) returns to Miami after spending last season with the Washington ********.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Second-round draft pick Pat White has generated plenty of excitement for what he could provide the Wildcat offense. Training camp will be the West Virginia quarterback's proving ground. He looked raggedy as a passer in minicamp. Chad Henne certainly will remain the No. 2 quarterback behind Chad Pennington, but White's value will be as a threat to throw out of the trendy direct-snap offense.

One of the Dolphins' big areas of need heading into the offseason was at receiver. They don't have a clear-cut, go-to target. Rather than obtain one, they tweaked. They drafted Southern California's Patrick Turner as a third-down and red zone option and Ohio State's Brian Hartline as another possession receiver. Ted Ginn is entering his third year and needs to show he was worth the ninth overall pick Miami used to draft him.

Camp will be a downer if ... Taylor's homecoming doesn't pan out. Despite fan enthusiasm for his return after a bitter, one-year exile, there are no guarantees. Taylor probably won't hold down an every-down role. He will be playing on the side opposite of his career success.

Acid reflux will be a common ailment for Dolfans if injury-prone center Jake Grove can't stay healthy. Grove, a free agent from the Oakland Raiders, was the Dolphins' top offseason acquisition after the staff identified stout blocking at center as their greatest need. It's the only major offensive upgrade the Dolphins made, but he has missed 26 games since he was drafted in 2004.

Camp will be a success if ... one of the rookie corners steps into the starting role on the right side. The Dolphins drafted Vontae Davis in the first round and Sean Smith in the second.

It takes a while for rookie cornerbacks to gain the coaches' trust, but the Dolphins lost last year's starter, Andre' Goodman, to free agency. They signed Eric Green, but he lost his starting job with the Arizona Cardinals last year. What a boon it would be if Davis or Smith show he's ready right away.

Newcomer to watch: Even his new teammates are keen on finding out whether Wake is the real deal. He dominated Canadian Football League offensive linemen, piling up 39 sacks in two seasons.

But he hasn't worn full pads in the NFL. The former Penn State captain went undrafted. The New York Giants signed him in 2005 but cut him before training camp began. Many Dolphins players have been impressed with Wake's raw athleticism but haven't been able to definitively state what they think of his chances until they see him in full-contact situations.

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New England Patriots
Training camp site: Gillette Stadium complex in Foxborough, Mass.

Campfires: Tom Brady's left knee not only is the top story of Patriots camp, but perhaps the NFL preseason, too. How Brady responds from having two ligaments reattached will determine whether the Patriots return to their familiar status as Super Bowl contenders. He looked impressive during minicamp, but what everybody wants to see is Brady against a live pass rush. One of his biggest assets is his pocket presence. We'll see if oncoming defenders affect him.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/Stephan Savoia[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Tom Brady has looked solid during offseason workouts as he recovers from knee surgery.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Vince Wilfork's contract situation could be a problem. The Patriots drafted Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace, but he's no Wilfork, the behemoth who anchors Bill Belichick's 3-4 defense. Wilfork is entering the final year of his contract and wants security. He skipped offseason workouts and his displeasure could impact his participation in training camp.

A couple of intriguing positions to watch will be outside linebacker and running back. The Patriots didn't bring in anybody to replace respected veteran Mike Vrabel, a Pro Bowler two seasons ago. Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable and Tully Banta-Cain don't make quarterbacks quake in their cleats, but maybe somebody will emerge. In the offensive backfield, Laurence Maroney is coming off a shoulder injury and, entering his fourth season, needs to produce. The Patriots also signed free agent Fred Taylor.

Camp will be a downer if ... Brady suffers a setback in his recovery. The Patriots won 11 games with unheralded reserve Matt Cassel last year, but does second-year backup Kevin O'Connell (without offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, no less) engender enough confidence to withstand Brady tweaking his knee?

If Brady encounters some turbulence, it's foreseeable the Patriots still could pull through as they did last year. But any Brady struggles will make Patriot Nation squirm.

Camp will be a success if ... somebody emerges as Vrabel's replacement and the Patriots come away pleased with their cornerbacks. New England's defense has some uncertainties, but finding reliable help at these spots will be huge.

The Patriots emerged from last year's camp unstable at cornerback. They cut Fernando Bryant just before the season and signed Deltha O'Neal, who was lackluster. This offseason they welcomed veterans Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden and second-rounder Darius Butler. They traded right-side starter Ellis Hobbs.

Tough cuts to come? The Patriots will have some decisions to make at running back. Maroney is a first-round pick entering just his fourth season. They identified Taylor as somebody they needed. Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk are old dependables. BenJarvus Green-Ellis showed he could play in the NFL when given the chance. It will be interesting to see how this position sorts out.

---

New York Jets
Training camp site: State University of New York in Cortland, N.Y.

Campfires: As much as rookie coach Rex Ryan's revamped defense will shape the Jets' season, quarterback battles always steal the headlines. When one of the candidates is the highest-paid player in franchise history and the highest-drafted quarterback since Joe Namath, you know it will be a molten topic. The Jets traded up to draft Mark Sanchez fifth overall. He's getting paid $28 million in guarantees. Unless he flops or veteran Kellen Clemens is brilliant, the rookie should start.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Rich Kane/Icon SMI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Vernon Gholston had a disappointing rookie season.[/td] [/tr][/table]
The Jets, however, likely will go as far as their defense takes them. It's difficult to tell how an aggressive, blitz-oriented defense is coming together when nobody's wearing pads or hitting. Training camp conditions will be the first real sense we'll get about how Ryan's methods will translate from Baltimore.

Ryan's defense will be aided substantially if he can get pass-rusher Vernon Gholston to contribute. Last year's sixth overall pick from Ohio State had an undetectable rookie campaign. The Jets need to get some kind of return on their investment, but the urgency is greater with outside linebacker Calvin Pace's four-game suspension at the start of the season. Gholston's opportunity couldn't be more obvious. He must have a terrific camp.

Camp will be a downer if ... Ryan's much-ballyhooed defense doesn't hum by the end of preseason. With all of the bluster, the signings of Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard and the Lito Sheppard trade, the Jets better be good on defense.

Purely from an entertainment perspective, camp will be a bummer if Ryan doesn't keep yapping like he did during OTAs and minicamp.

Camp will be a success if ... either Sanchez or Gholston emerges as a credible player. They don't have to be Pro Bowlers, but if one or the other demonstrates a level of competence to build from, then fans -- and general manager Mike Tannenbaum -- can breathe a little easier about the immediate future.

Sanchez, of course, is who the Jets need to come into his own more than any other player. They have the most invested in him. He might be the franchise's front man for the next decade. But if Sanchez sputters in camp and Gholston's game materializes, organizational confidence still would be buoyed.

Catch and release: The Jets haven't made the move fans hoped. They haven't landed an experienced receiver to play with Jerricho Cotchery. They lost Laveranues Coles but have opted to find a starter among last year's reserves and by turning over the bottom of the roster.

Chansi Stuckey and speedster David Clowney look like the best bets to emerge from this crew. Brad Smith and Wallace Wright also could end up with bigger roles, but the auditions will last right up until the regular season begins.

Trey Wingo, Darren Woodson and Tim Hasselbeck preview the AFC East.




AFC North training camp preview

July 21, 2009 12:00 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Baltimore Ravens/McDaniel College: Westminster, Md.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Baltimore running back Le'Ron McClain might not get as many carries this season.[/td] [/tr][/table]Campfires: Coming off an appearance in the AFC Championship Game, Baltimore is a veteran-laden team set at a lot of positions. So there aren't many training camp battles to look forward to.
One of the few�open competitions is the battle to replace Bart Scott, involving young linebackers Tavares Gooden and Antwan Barnes. Gooden, with his energy and athleticism, is the early favorite but will have to solidify the starting job with a good camp this summer.

Although the Ravens' coaching staff has downplayed it this offseason, there seems to be a shift in the backfield toward�giving more carries to the tailbacks -- Ray Rice and Willis McGahee -- and fewer carries to Le'Ron McClain, who is a natural fullback. McClain was the hot hand last year and led Baltimore in rushing with 902 yards, while Rice and McGahee were in and out of the lineup with injuries. But McClain only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and it appears Baltimore is hoping for more big rushing plays from its tailbacks. But similar to last year, all three components of the "three-headed monster" will get their share of opportunities.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
Camp will be a downer if ... the Ravens fail to find a replacement for retired receiver Derrick Mason. Baltimore already had the tall task of finding a young receiver to fill the No. 3 option. Mason's surprise announcement this month leaves the team in search of a top receiver. The team also plans to meet with Mason to see if it's possible he could have a change of heart.

Baltimore could stay in-house and hope Mark Clayton develops into a No. 1 receiver this season, which is a risky proposition. Or the Ravens could look outside at a veteran free agent such as Marvin Harrison, who is similar to Mason in terms of skills. Making a trade for a receiver such as Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall doesn't appear likely.

The Ravens have high aspirations this year and a starting lineup of Clayton and possibly Demetrius Williams isn't good enough to win a Super Bowl this season. Baltimore doesn't have many glaring weaknesses, but the hole at receiver could become a major issue if it is not addressed.

Camp will be a success if ... rookie right tackle Michael Oher adjusts to the NFL game quickly. Oher has a major responsibility of protecting one of the edges for second-year quarterback Joe Flacco.

Baltimore traded up in the first round to draft Oher, which shows how much the team likes the rookie from Mississippi. Barring injury, Oher will be the Week 1 starter at right tackle. So the Ravens coaching staff would love to see continual progress from the rookie during training camp.

Getting a kick: This year could mark the first time in franchise history that Matt Stover is not Baltimore's kicker. The 18-year veteran who has been with the team from its inception in 1996 was not re-signed by the Ravens because of declining leg strength on kickoffs.

The Ravens kept an additional kicker on their roster for most of last season to help with kickoffs, while Stover handled field goals and extra points. But Baltimore doesn't want to do that again, so they have Steve Hauschka and rookie Graham Gano battling it out for both duties.

Neither kicker got off to a great start this offseason. So Stover remains on call in case Hauschka or Gano do not perform well in the preseason.

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Cincinnati Bengals/Georgetown College: Georgetown, Ky.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/David Kohl[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Cincinnati linebacker Rey Maualuga will be given every opportunity to compete for a starting job.[/td] [/tr][/table]Campfires: When a team is coming off a four-win season, naturally there are a lot of interesting camp battles to look forward to the following year.
Perhaps the most compelling battle will be at outside linebacker between incumbent Rashad Jeanty and hotshot rookie Rey Maualuga, whom the Bengals were thrilled to land in the second round. Maualuga is a natural inside linebacker, but that position is already filled by team leader Dhani Jones. So Cincinnati's coaching staff is giving the former USC linebacker every opportunity to see the field, and Maualuga's best chance is to beat out Jeanty in training camp.

Also look for an interesting three-way competition at center between Kyle Cook, Dan Santucci and rookie Jonathan Luigs, and an interesting battle at safety between veteran free-agent signing Roy Williams and the underrated Chinedum Ndukwe.

Camp will be a downer if ... the offensive line fails to get it together. There are expected to be four players at new positions on the offensive line this season. That means developing continuity will be vital during training camp.

First-round pick Andre Smith comes in with a gaudy résumé and is expected to start at right tackle. The Bengals also will have a new center between the aforementioned Cook, Santucci or Luigs. Andrew Whitworth is moving from left guard to left tackle this season, and Nate Livings�probably will take Whitworth's place at guard. That is a lot of new faces in new places for Cincinnati.

Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Carson Palmer returns to form and remains healthy. It sounds simple, but two of the past four years Palmer has suffered season-ending injuries.

Last year alone, Palmer had his nose broken in the preseason and later suffered an elbow injury that forced him to shut it down for the year. With Palmer approaching 30 in December and Cincinnati's poor performance on the offensive line the past couple of seasons, getting Palmer to the regular season without a scratch should not be taken for granted.

Show and prove: Cincinnati's defense finished 12th in the NFL last season despite little help or points scored from its offense.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done a tremendous job with this scrappy group, and now that the Bengals expect to score points again, there is some talk of Cincinnati's defense becoming a top 10 group. With good, young players such as linebacker Keith Rivers, defensive tackle Domata Peko and cornerback Johnathan Joseph, Cincinnati's defense will be out to prove that last year was not a fluke.

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Cleveland Browns/Team training facility: Berea, Ohio
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Gregory Shamus/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Cleveland coach Eric Mangini has a big decision to make at quarterback.[/td] [/tr][/table]Campfires: The hottest training camp battle in the division is in Cleveland between quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. This is the�pair's third season together, but it's the first open competition between the two.
New Browns coach Eric Mangini has come in with no preconceived notions on either player in terms of draft status, who made it to the Pro Bowl, etc. So Quinn and Anderson legitimately have a clean slate this summer.

Quinn began offseason practices with a slight lead in this competition and probably didn't do anything to lose that advantage heading into training camp. But don't expect this battle to be decided until late in the preseason.

Camp will be a downer if ... neither quarterback emerges. The quarterback controversy between Anderson and Quinn has been a cloud hanging over the Browns for two seasons and the team needs to have a firm answer by the start of the regular season.

Mangini said he's going to be as diligent as possible in his evaluation, so when he does make a decision he plans to stick to it. The last thing a new coach needs is a divided locker room that doesn't know which leader to get behind for the regular season.

Camp will be a success if ... everyone buys into the system. There is some early skepticism with the Browns because many disagreed with the way Mangini came in and instantly changed the culture.

Players had to quickly learn that Mangini is a disciplinarian who doesn't care too much about feelings. If his players buy into his way of doing things, Cleveland has a much better chance for success in 2009. If not, it could negatively impact the product on the field.

Contract watch: The pending contract situations of Browns kicker Phil Dawson and return specialist Joshua Cribbs remain unresolved.

Cribbs sat out a portion of offseason workouts but eventually returned. Dawson didn't show up until mandatory minicamp and didn't have much to say when he finally arrived. If there continues to be zero progress with either player, this may be something to keep an eye on this summer.

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Pittsburgh Steelers/St. Vincent College : Latrobe, Pa.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/Jim Mone[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall needs to impress in training camp.[/td] [/tr][/table]Campfires: After returning 20 of 22 starters, there are few starting jobs open for the defending Super Bowl champions entering training camp.
The biggest battles involve reserve roles, where a pair of 2008 draft picks will be trying to earn playing time. Second-year player Limas Sweed is battling veteran Shaun McDonald for the No. 3 receiver role, which is an important staple�of Pittsburgh's offense. Former first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall also will be looking to impress the coaching staff so he can get more carries in a crowded backfield that includes�starter Willie Parker and solid backup Mewelde Moore.

Camp will be a downer if ... the Steelers suffer injuries. Although the coaching staff won't admit it, few teams need training camp and the preseason less than Pittsburgh.

Nearly all of its starters are back, and the two players filling in -- linebacker Lawrence Timmons and cornerback William Gay -- have been in Pittsburgh's program for a few years. As expected with a championship team, the Steelers already have very well-defined roles across the board and don't need exhibition games to figure that out. They just need to stay healthy.

Camp will be a success if ... the offensive line improves. Instead of spending money in free agency, the Steelers are counting on continuity up front.

It's risky considering the beating $100-million quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has taken in recent years. He has been sacked a whopping 139 times the past three seasons. As with any franchise quarterback, the offensive line keeping Roethlisberger upright and healthy is vital to Pittsburgh's chances of repeating.

Special delivery: Perhaps the most under-the-radar weakness for Pittsburgh during its title run last season was the lack of quality special teams. The Steelers struggled both with punts and in the return game.

The return of Daniel Sepulveda this year from a knee injury should be a nice, quiet addition to the Steelers. The team also drafted several players with return ability, such as rookies Mike Wallace and Joe Burnett, in hopes to get a boost in returns.



Qadry Ismail and Darren Woodson preview the AFC North.




AFC South training camp preview

July 23, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Bill Baptist/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]A healthy Chris Brown could be a big plus for Houston.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Houston Texans

Training camp site: Houston, Texas

Campfires: Weakside linebacker�appears to be the biggest battle for a starting spot. Xavier Adibi has bulked up in an effort to become more rugged and withstand the 16-game pounding. Zach Diles appears to be�an underdog here, as does veteran Cato June, who signed up after spending time in Indianapolis and Tampa Bay.

Finding a back to complement Steve Slaton is a big priority, but the Texans didn't spend much to increase their options. A healthy Chris Brown could do well in the role, but Houston is living on the edge if it's counting on 16 games from him. Undrafted rookies Jeremiah Johnson and Arian Foster are in the mix along with Ryan Moats and Clifton Dawson

The safety position remains an issue, with Nick Ferguson and Eugene Wilson in line to start now. But the team will allow for the possibility of Dominique Barber to nudge his way into the lineup.

Camp will be a downer if: Anything bad happens to Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson or Slaton. This is an offensive team keyed around that trio, and the loss of any of them for any extended time will be a huge setback.

Schaub's been labeled as injury prone, but it's really been more about being unlucky. It's not as if other quarterbacks would have played through some of the things he's faced. Still, Gary Kubiak's talked about how players can learn how to stay on the field, and he needs his signal-caller to do that.

Camp will be a success if: A defensive identity develops under new coordinator Frank Bush, who's pledged to be more aggressive.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]With new coaches overseeing the defensive line and the defensive backs, there is a real chance for new messages and approaches to have a� bearing on players and units.
The Texans need some preseason success on both sides of the ball to carry into the regular season, because another shaky start will be cause for concern based on the team's history. If Houston is to plot a course to its first playoff berth, it needs to avoid a poor�start.

Second time around: Slaton was a revelation as a rookie, and while there is uncertainty about who else will get carries, the line should be better. It's the second year for the group under Alex Gibbs running his scheme, which should mean better and more consistent play.

Additionally, not only does the unit have Gibbs and John Benton as coaching resources, but can look to assistant Bruce Matthews, the Hall of Famer who's now part of the staff.

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Indianapolis Colts

Training camp site: Terre Haute, Ind.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Donald Miralle/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Peyton Manning's receiving corps will be without Marvin Harrison this year.[/td] [/tr][/table]Campfires: Targets for Peyton Manning are crucial, of course, and that's why there is such a large focus on the three-way fight for the No. 3 receiver spot. Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Roy Hall will draw a lot of attention as that's sorted out. Garcon seemed to be getting a lot of positive reviews in OTAs and minicamp, with Hall not generating much buzz.
Returning defensive tackles Keyunta Dawson, Eric Foster, Raheem Brock (an end on early downs) and Antonio Johnson will be fighting for roles at a position that welcomed back Ed Johnson and has two young, thick additions from the draft in Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor. Getting bigger inside while maintaining athleticism was a priority for the Colts.

The plan at linebacker is for Clint Session to play on the weakside and Philip Wheeler to replace him on the strongside. But guys with starting experience like Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler will be looking to take the team away from that blueprint.

Camp will be a downer if: Left guard Ryan Lilja, perhaps the team's best run blocker, can't make it back�after the knee injury that cost him all of 2008. Trouble on the return path for cornerback Marlin Jackson (knee) would also be a bad thing.

With those injuries, the two surgeries on Manning's knee, a dinged Joseph Addai and a bunch of additional problems for the offensive line, the Colts got to show that they could survive. It's not anything they want to be in position to prove again.

Camp will be a success if: New head coach Jim Caldwell sets an early tone that gives the team no room for doubt about the transfer of power from his mentor, Tony Dungy. The�players also must take to the thinking of new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer (a bit more aggressive) and new, fiery special teams coach Ray Rychleski.

It�also would be great if Manning develops increased rapport with Anthony Gonzalez, who's graduated to No. 2 receiver with Marvin Harrison gone. Manning also needs to gain�a real feel for the guy who wins the battle for No. 3 as well as the young tight ends, Jacob Tamme and Tom Santi.

Off the record: Even with a new coach and changes on his staff, it's unlikely there will be any different emphasis on preseason results. Indianapolis is 3-15 in the preseason over the last four years and 51-13 in the regular seasons that followed.

The Colts have a good feel for how to get ready and don't have to worry about building fan enthusiasm with preseason wins. Everyone knows to look at smaller things early in the game to gauge the team's readiness.

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Jacksonville Jaguars
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Cary Edmondson/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Jaguars are hoping the addition of Torry Holt will spark the offense.[/td] [/tr][/table]
�Training camp site: Jacksonville, Fla.

Campfires: The Jaguars have more turnover than anyone in the division. The first question�might be how the secondary is assembled. Rookie corner Derek Cox and free agent safety Sean Considine seem to be battling for a job, with swingman Brian Williams' spot determined by the outcome.

Defensive tackle is a giant question mark, even if we presume John Henderson wakes up and returns to old form. Rob Meier is fine as a complementary guy playing limited snaps, but who's ahead of him? Third-rounder Terrance Knighton, 2008 late-season pick up Atiyyah Ellison and veteran Derek Landri will all have opportunity.

Newcomer Torry Holt is the top receiver and Mike Walker is second in line so long as he can stay healthy. After that? Three draft picks -- Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood -- will slug it out with Troy Williamson to set the pecking order.

Camp will be a downer if: David Garrard struggles. This is a crucial season for him to show that behind a quality line, with a solid run game and with a better group of targets he is indeed the player the Jaguars thought he was when he got that giant contract.

He needs help, but he also needs to show in camp that he can help some teammates become better players and get them the ball in advantageous spots. And while every team in the league is in trouble if it has a clear-cut starting quarterback who goes down, even Garrard detractors know there is no good alternative this year. Todd Bauman is the backup.

Camp will be a success if: Guys buy into the approach and philosophy new general manager Gene Smith and coach Jack Del Rio have set about instilling since last year's disappointing 5-11 campaign.

A lot is dependent upon whether�the good vibe continues and�locker room leadership emerges as the post-Fred Taylor era begins.�The team needs to see contenders�at the question mark positions (see campfires above) prove themsevles capable.�If those things happen,�then the team will feel good about itself when the regular season starts.

Changing character: Twelve players who had or were supposed to have significant roles for the Jaguars last season are gone. That's by choice, but it's a lot of�roles to fill. For his emphasis on character, Smith's being called "Clean Gene" by one Jacksonville sportstalk radio host.

Will good guys translate to good play? That's one of the big questions. Del Rio is sure to point out early that no one expected the 2008 Dolphins or Falcons to be playoff teams. He's asking his� team why it can't be a similar story in 2009.

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Tennessee Titans

Training camp site: Nashville
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Kirby Lee/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Kerry Collins-Justin Gage connection will be critical to the Titans' success this year.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires: Start at receiver, where Justin Gage and Nate Washington will line up as the starters. The hope is that No. 1 draft pick Kenny Britt will win the No. 3 spot and second-year man Lavelle Hawkins will be fourth in line. But beyond that? Chris Davis had a very good offseason and has additional value as a returner.

One guy won't replace Albert Haynesworth. The Titans will throw numbers at defensive tackle more than ever, which means plenty of snaps for Tony Brown, Jason Jones and Jovon Haye. Second-rounder Sen'Derrick Marks will fight to be in the mix as will Kevin Vickerson, the biggest interior lineman in the post-Haynesworth group.

The worst hit to depth came at cornerback, where Eric King went to Detroit and Chris Carr to Baltimore. DeMarcus Faggins, Ryan Mouton, Cary Williams and Jason McCourty will battle for the top backup slots. Carr's departure also created openings at the return jobs, where receiver Mark Jones will be a primary contender.

Camp will be a downer if: Chris Johnson shows any signs of something we could label a sophomore slump. The second-year running back tweeted up a storm in the offseason and talked about how he couldn't be part of a Smash-and-Dash duo with LenDale White anymore because he needed to stand on his own.

The guy is explosive and electric, but hopefully he arrives focused and stays locked in and healthy through the preseason and beyond. If not, the Titans could have an issue.

Camp will be a success if: The Titans can mix in some blitzes to help make up for what's lost with Haynesworth, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch can show he's back to form and the passing offense grows with some new pieces in the second year of Mike Heimerdinger's second stint.

If Kerry Collins can build on what he started with Gage and Bo Scaife last season and is able to build new rapport with Washington, Britt and Jared Cook, the Titans will feel good about their ability to complement an effective run game with the pass.



Trey Wingo, Cris Carter and Marcellus Wiley break down the AFC South and preview the season.




AFC West training camp preview

July 24, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
Denver Broncos
Training camp site: Englewood, Colo.

Campfires: A key to camp will be how well rookie running back Knowshon Moreno adjusts. The Broncos drafted him with the No. 12 overall pick�because they wanted him to have a major role in the offense. Denver coach Josh McDaniels envisions Moreno as a three-down back. Even though Denver is deep at running back, Moreno wasn't drafted to be a complementary piece.

The Broncos' offense is changing and the Georgia product can be the centerpiece of the unit if he has a strong camp. Moreno was impressive in the offseason and Denver wants to see him lock down a starting job in camp.

The Broncos want to see second-round pick Alphonso Smith take command of the nickel cornerback job. The team sent its first-round pick in next year's draft to Seattle to acquire Smith with the No. 37 pick. He failed to solidify the nickel spot in the offseason, battling with second-year player Jack Williams for the job. Expect the playmaking Smith to pull away from Williams as camp marches on.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Ron Chenoy/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Knowshon Moreno could become the workhorse in Denver's offense if he has a good camp.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Camp will be a downer if ... starting quarterback Kyle Orton doesn't make strides in McDaniels' system. McDaniels picked Orton to be his first quarterback in Denver after the Jay Cutler fiasco. McDaniels chose Orton over several other options because he thought the former Chicago quarterback could excel in his system.

Orton was named the starter over Chris Simms in June, partly to give him the most time in training camp with the first team. If Orton doesn't respond well to McDaniels' offense during camp and in the preseason, the Broncos will be quite nervous about their once-solid quarterback position heading into the season.

Camp will be a success if ... receiver Brandon Marshall doesn't miss any time due to a holdout and is recovered from a late March hip surgery. Marshall has asked to be traded. Yet, he recently said he planned to report to training camp on time -- he is due Monday because he is an injured player -- to avoid being fined.

If Marshall shows up with a good attitude and doesn't show any wear from the surgery -- as the team expects the case will be -- it will be a positive development after a rocky start to McDaniels' era.

Aged secondary: There is no doubt�Denver improved its secondary this offseason. The unit, which featured seven different starting safeties in 2008, was revamped. Veteran Andre' Goodman will now start opposite left cornerback Champ Bailey, the lone holdover. Veterans Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill were brought in at safety.

This is a solid group. But it is an old group. Dawkins turns 36 in October. Bailey is 31. Goodman will turn 31 next month and Hill will turn 31 in November. It is the oldest secondary in the NFL since at least 2000. The unit may be improved, but it will be interesting to see how this group's legs hold up late in the season.

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Kansas City Chiefs
Training camp site: River Falls, Wis.

Campfires: The Chiefs will be interested to see how their defensive line, which they have invested so much in, adjusts to the 3-4 alignment that the new regime has installed in Kansas City.

Former LSU stars Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are the centerpieces of the line. Dorsey was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 draft. Jackson was the No. 3 overall pick this year. Dorsey is a natural 4-3 tackle who will likely be tried at end. Jackson will play end. If Dorsey, who was so-so as a rookie, can make the transition to the 3-4, the Chiefs have a chance for an excellent line. Jackson may not be a dynamic pass-rusher, but he is an excellent run-stuffer and is expected to bring toughness to the line. Both of these former top picks have to show they are ready during camp to bring life to a defense that set an NFL record for fewest sacks last season with 10.

Replacing the legendary Tony Gonzalez, traded to Atlanta in April for a second-round draft choice next year, will be a big part of training camp. Second-year player Brad Cottam may have an edge. He is a blocking specialist. Journeymen Tony Curtis and Sean Ryan should get a chance to show what they can do. Whoever wins the job likely won't be a major part of the passing offense. New coach Todd Haley was not a big proponent of the position as the offensive coordinator in Arizona last season.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Kirby Lee/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Dwayne Bowe has had some problems with hanging on to the ball.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Camp will be a downer if ... Matt Cassel flops. Cassel is the guy in Kansas City. That became evident when the Chiefs gave him a monster contract earlier this month. Cassel will be paid more than $40 million in guaranteed money in the next three years.

Cassel was a surprise star for New England last season after he took over for an injured Tom Brady in the first game. The Chiefs, led by new general manager Scott Pioli, who witnessed Cassel's success first hand as a New England executive, are hoping the quarterback can enjoy the same success this year. Still, Cassel has a lot fewer weapons than he had with New England, and he will be working behind a young and unsettled offensive line. If Cassel takes his lumps in camp and in the preseason, the Chiefs may have some buyer's remorse.

Camp will be a success if ... the team buys into Haley's approach. The Chiefs were shell-shocked as they transitioned to the tough Haley, who was groomed by Bill Parcells. The Chiefs were used to the easy-going ways of Herm Edwards. Haley is much more demanding and harsher than Edwards ever was.

Haley is a certified screamer and he has expressed this offseason that his team -- which won a total of six games over the past two seasons -- needs to be better in all phases of the game. He also directed a mass weight-loss program because he thought his team was too heavy and too soft. A coach like Haley can either light a fire under a team or alienate it. His first training camp could indicate which way it will go. If the team is behind Haley, the Chiefs' rebuilding period could be shorter than expected.

Hold onto the ball: Cassel's best weapon is receiver Dwayne Bowe. He is a talented player and has a chance to emerge as one of the best young receivers in the game and team with Cassel as a top pass-catch tandem. However, he needs to learn to catch the ball consistently.

Bowe needs to work on his hands during camp. He struggled with dropped ball some during the offseason. He has struggled holding onto the ball in the past. While Larry Johnson appears to have some NFL life left, Bowe is the Chiefs' top weapon. If he drops balls during the season, Cassel's job will be even more difficult. Camp has to be a time where Bowe finds his ball-catching groove.

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Oakland Raiders
Training camp site: Napa, Calif.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/Paul Sakuma[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Raiders are hoping first-round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey can shore up their receiving corps.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires: The Raiders have tried to upgrade an offensive line that has struggled in recent years, especially in pass protection. The team has added several pieces and the situation at tackle will be watched closely.

The team brought in talented and massive tackle Khalif Barnes as a free agent from Jacksonville to compete on the left side. However, there were indications after the minicamp season that young Mario Henderson was playing well enough to be considered the favorite to win the job over Barnes. Barnes could still be in the mix at right tackle if Henderson wins the job on the left side.

The Raiders will also need to get some clarity at receiver. The unit has been one of the team's weakest areas for years and the Raiders need some reliable players to emerge during camp. The team is counting on youngsters Chaz Schilens, Johnnie Lee Higgins and Darrius Heyward-Bey. If these young players show they are ready to take the next step, Oakland's offense has a chance to be balanced.

Camp will be a downer if ... quarterback JaMarcus Russell doesn't make strides. Russell has to show he is ready to be an NFL quarterback this season, and training camp and the preseason will go a long way toward telling whether he is ready to make a move. This is Russell's second full season as a starter. He has had some moments, but he has been mostly inconsistent, including during this offseason.

Russell will have extra pressure on him in the presence of veteran backup Jeff Garcia. Garcia has not been shy in expressing that he thinks he should be the starter. However, the Raiders will only be masking a problem if Garcia, 39, is the quarterback. If Russell doesn't have a good camp and he doesn't show consistency is his passing and improved leadership, the Raiders will be in a tough spot.

Camp will be a success if ... the Raiders develop a strong plan on how to use their tailbacks. The Raiders have three solid runners in Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. All three players possess rare talents that can help Oakland's offense. The Raiders struggled to use all three well last season.

Training camp must be used to find a suitable role for all three players. This may be the NFL's deepest running back group if all three stay healthy. The Raiders can find their niche on offense with McFadden, Fargas and Bush. Finding a way to do it has to be a goal of camp.

Ready or not: All eyes will be on Heyward-Bey, a receiver who was Oakland's first-round pick, and Mike Mitchell, the safety who was Oakland's second-round pick. The selections of both players were roundly criticized on draft day. Heyward-Bey was the first receiver taken at No. 7, but he was considered a low first-round talent. Mitchell was not on the draft board of several teams, yet the hard-hitting Ohio University product was taken with the No. 47 pick.

The Raiders believe both players can be special and it is clear both players have some skills. Yet, because of the negative hype stemming from their selections, extra pressure will be on both players. Their every move will be watched in camp. Welcome to the NFL, fellas.

---

San Diego Chargers
Training camp site: San Diego, Calif.

Campfires: This camp will be about seeing what a promising rookie class can do in San Diego. For a veteran-based team, there is an intriguing influx of young talent coming to town.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Chargers' secondary needs Antonio Cromartie to return to Pro Bowl form in 2009.[/td] [/tr][/table]
First-round pick Larry English is expected to start right away and be part of an intriguing threesome of pass-rushing linebackers that includes Shawne Merriman and Shaun�Phillips. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, in his first full season in his role, has been scheming ways all offseason to use all three together. The Chargers believe English is ready to step in and make an impact right away.

Keep an eye out for two other rookies. Third-round pick Louis Vasquez will be given a chance to emerge as a starter at guard. Sixth-round pick Kevin Ellison will have the same chance at safety. He may have a steeper climb up the depth chart than Vasquez, but the Chargers think Ellison can make an impact as a rookie. The USC product was downgraded in the draft because of injuries, but he is skilled and he is a feared hitter. He could be the answer at one of the Chargers' few weak spots. But he needs to show his ability during camp.

Camp will be a downer if ... Merriman doesn't make strides from a serious knee injury he suffered last year. Merriman missed all but one game last season.

The Chargers have been cautiously optimistic about Merriman, but they have been bringing him along slowly. He has been working out on his own and the team will likely be cautious with him during camp. However, Merriman looks fantastic and he reports that he is doing well. The team expects him to be ready for the regular season. The Chargers' entire pass defense missed Merriman last year. If Merriman can't show he is getting ready for the season, the Chargers may be in store for another rocky season on defense.

Camp will be a success if ... cornerback Antonio Cromartie has a big camp and preseason. Cromartie had a disappointing season in 2008 after being a star in 2007. He suffered with injuries and off-field issues last season. He has worked out very hard this year and the Chargers were thrilled with him during the offseason. If he has a big camp, the Chargers should be in great shape on defense, especially if Merriman doesn't have a setback.

Is this it for LT? The Chargers and star running back LaDainian Tomlinson nearly parted ways this offseason before agreeing on a restructured new contract. Tomlinson just turned 30. He is coming off an injury-plagued season in which his production slipped.

He has said often this offseason he feels great. He needs to show he still has the skills that made him one of the greatest running backs in recent memory.





NFC East training camp preview

July 22, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Dallas Cowboys
Training camp site: San Antonio

Campfires: The one legitimate camp battle that will take place features second-year cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins. Terence Newman's the obvious starter, but Scandrick, a fifth-round choice, will challenge Jenkins, a first-round pick. Scandrick was the more complete player his rookie season, but Jenkins has vowed to win the job -- via his blog.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Al Bello/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Dallas needs Roy Williams to improve upon his first season with the Cowboys.[/td] [/tr][/table]
It might be interesting to keep your eye on the situation at left guard, where Kyle Kosier will try to hold off Montrae Holland and last year's fill-in, Cory Procter. Kosier has more experience, but Holland might have more athletic ability.

The running back rotation also will be intriguing to watch. The Cowboys have hinted about starting Felix Jones and returning Marion Barber to his cleanup role. I'm not sure it's the right way to go, but the Cowboys will certainly take a long look at it. Also take a look at the competition for the No. 2 receiver spot. Miles Austin appears to have the inside track, but Patrick Crayton's not ready to concede.

Camp will be a downer if ... Tony Romo and Roy Williams can't get on the same page. They had their moments during offseason workouts, but they didn't wow anyone. Perhaps Williams' dedication to weightlifting and conditioning will pay off.

I think the Cowboys also need Anthony Spencer to make a strong move at outside linebacker. If he doesn't take the next step or he ends up with another injury, it would certainly be a downer.

Camp will be a success if ... Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's able to implement a more balanced offense that utilizes the Cowboys' depth at running back. Garrett's under a lot of pressure to live up to his immense paycheck.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

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• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
Success also means strong performances from free-agent additions Igor Olshansky and Keith Brooking. The Cowboys need Brooking to be an upgrade over Zach Thomas, who never looked totally comfortable at his inside linebacker spot in the vaunted Wade Phillips 3-4. One more thing: The Cowboys need to agree to an extension with DeMarcus Ware. That would help alleviate any potential tension with the team's best player.

Surprise, surprise: I think Sam Hurd will have an outstanding camp and could actually challenge for the No. 2 receiver role. He really impressed me during OTAs -- when he wasn't working with the trainers.

---

New York Giants
Training camp site: Albany, N.Y. (University at Albany)


Campfires: I'll have my eye on the running back competition from the start. Danny Ware wants to battle Ahmad Bradshaw for the right to replace Derrick Ward. But he has a long way to go to win the trust of the Giants' coaches. Rookie Andre Brown could emerge during camp as a key contributor. The rookie running back has won universal praise early in his time in the Meadowlands.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]William Perlman/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Defensive lineman Chris Canty is one of the new faces the Giants are counting on.[/td] [/tr][/table]
At linebacker, free agent Michael Boley was supposed to shore up some of the deficiencies in coverage. Now he's banged up and will serve a one-game suspension. The Giants will have some strong competition at linebacker with players such as Chase Blackburn, Bryan Kehl, Danny Clark and the talented but oft-injured Gerris Wilkinson.

Of course, we'll all be watching the competition at receiver. Can Hakeem Nicks break into the starting lineup in training camp? We're about to find out.

Camp will be a downer if ... The Giants don't see some of their young receivers take the next step. Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith should be serviceable as the starting duo. But the team would love for either Sinorice Moss or Mario Manningham (or both) to emerge as a viable threat. That would free up Nicks and Ramses Barden to sort of ease their way into the regular season.

Oh, and we can't forget Super Bowl hero David Tyree. He's looking for another book deal.

Camp will be a success if ... All of the new additions on defense (Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, Boley, etc.) mesh early. I think Canty will flourish from the defensive tackle spot and he'll still be able to slip outside and rush in some situations. Those players should make Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora even more effective.

I also think it's time for Kenny Phillips to have a breakthrough season. If he has a strong camp, I think he'll be headed for Pro Bowl consideration.

Surprise, surprise: Give me Brown at running back. The Giants were thrilled to land him in the fourth round and Jerry Reese thinks he'll be in the mix for the No. 2 role behind Brandon Jacobs.

---

�

Philadelphia Eagles
Training camp site: Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh University)

Campfires: It will be interesting to see how starting cornerback Sheldon Brown conducts himself after expressing his desire to be traded this offseason. The Eagles brought in Ellis Hobbs to compete with Brown, so things could get a little awkward.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Rich Kane/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Eagles need a healthy Brian Westbrook if they hope to be successful in 2009.[/td] [/tr][/table]
I also think we've been pretty quick to hand Quintin Demps the starting safety spot next to Quintin Mikell. I'm anxious to see if former Brown Sean Jones poses a challenge to Demps during training camp.

Camp will be a downer if ... Brian Westbrook doesn't look completely healthy. He's had a couple of surgeries this offseason and he wasn't exactly a picture of health in '08. If he gets banged up again, that would obviously be a huge downer for the Eagles.

I also think everyone should keep a close eye on Shawn Andrews. Everyone assumes he can return to his '07 form, but it's not a lock.

Camp will be a success if ... rookies LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin make immediate impacts. I think McCoy could be one of the best picks in the draft. And I'm anxious to see if Maclin can quickly make the transition from the Missouri spread offense to Andy Reid's West Coast system.

And if Jason Peters looks like the Peters of '07, the Eagles will be feeling good heading into the season. I think Peters will be ready to go.

Surprise, surprise: Don't be shocked if Nick Cole pushes starting center Jamaal Jackson during training camp. I don't think Reid was overly pleased with Jackson's work last season, and Cole's a player who has shown impressive versatility. Just something to keep your eye on.

---

Washington ********
Training camp site: Ashburn, Va.

Campfires: Let's see if anyone challenges Stephon Heyer for the starting job at right tackle. I like the Mike Williams reclamation project, but it would scare me to begin the season with someone that rusty. Jeremy Bridges is another possibility.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Mitchell Layton/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The ******** made a big splash in the offseason by signing Albert Haynesworth.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Here's some right tackle analysis from Jim Zorn from earlier this offseason. The Skins definitely need to create more depth along the offensive line in case things break down like they did last season. I'm also interested in the competition for the No. 2 receiver role opposite Santana Moss. If Devin Thomas can push Antwaan Randle El for the backup spot, it would be great sign for the team. Also pay close attention to the competition between Todd Collins and Colt Brennan for the backup quarterback spot.

Camp will be a downer if ... the Skins don't see some major signs of progress from second-year players such as Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis. I don't expect a whole lot from Kelly early in the season, but Thomas needs to be a difference-maker for quarterback Jason Campbell.

I also think it's time for LaRon Landry to become the elite player we're told he's capable of being. If he has a lackluster camp, it would really put a damper on the '09 campaign.

Camp will be a success if ... Albert Haynesworth looks comfortable in Greg Blache's defense from the start. If you commit this much money ($40 million guaranteed) to a player, he better make an immediate impact. Early in camp, we need to see whether Haynesworth's making people around him better.

And I think rookie Brian Orakpo's transition to SAM linebacker will be something to follow closely. I'd rather see him rushing the passer all the time, but maybe he can do some damage as a stand-up guy.

Surprise, surprise: Keep your eye on a free-agent receiver named Trent Shelton who has bounced around the league on a couple of practice squads. If Thomas and Kelly are slow out of the gate, Shelton has the type of heart and determination to make them pay. Remember you heard it here first.



Trey Wingo, Darren Woodson and Tim Hasselbeck preview the NFC East.




NFC North training camp preview

July 21, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears will need a young receiver to step up in camp.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Chicago Bears
Training camp site: Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.)

Campfires
The only Bears receiver with a guaranteed job is Devin Hester. Otherwise, the position is wide open. Veterans Earl Bennett and Rashied Davis will compete with rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox for the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 receiver positions. If general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't like what he sees, the Bears could pursue a proven veteran later this summer.

The free safety position is also wide open as the Bears replace the departed Mike Brown. Craig Steltz ended spring practice atop the depth chart, but he'll have to battle converted cornerback Corey Graham. Former New Orleans starter Josh Bullocks is also on the roster as a third, if distant, option.

Although the Bears hope it never matters, they'll have to sort out their depth behind new quarterback Jay Cutler. Unproven Caleb Hanie is set to battle free agent Brett Basanez in a competition that, like receiver, could ultimately give way to a veteran from outside the organization. Hanie, however, is a favorite of coach Lovie Smith and will get every opportunity to win the job.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... the Bears realize this summer that they haven't given Cutler enough weapons. While young players don't always develop on a convenient timetable, it should be pretty clear by mid-August if the Bears have enough mature depth at the receiver position. Adding a veteran at the end of the summer is an imperfect solution and would limit his chances to develop a rapport with the new quarterback.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

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• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
The best-case scenario is if Bennett can parlay his familiarity with Cutler -- they were college teammates at Vanderbilt -- into a quick claim on the No. 2 job. That would lessen the pressure on the rookies and relieve the need to rely on Davis, who isn't a starting-caliber receiver. But if Bennett stumbles, the domino effect could significantly diminish the Bears' passing attack early in the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Smith can lay the groundwork for a revived defense. Smith has taken over as the de facto defensive coordinator and will call most defensive signals during games. He'll need to restore the Bears' core values -- producing a pass rush with the front four and making big plays in the secondary -- in order to meet the standard his defenses set earlier this decade.

It might be difficult to judge the success of this venture during camp and even in the preseason; Smith isn't likely to give away too much from a schematic standpoint before the regular season begins. But make no mistake: The origin of any improvement must come during technique and drill work in training camp.

O-verhaul
Quietly, the Bears shook up 60 percent of their offensive line this offseason. Center Olin Kreutz and right guard Roberto Garza are the only returning starters. Chicago is hoping that left tackle Orlando Pace, left guard Frank Omiyale and right tackle Chris Williams can breathe some life into a group that grew stale last season.

Pace is the short-term key. Injuries have caused him to miss 25 games over the past three seasons. His health and conditioning will be monitored carefully in training camp. It will be interesting to see if the Bears also work Williams at left tackle -- his natural position -- as a contingency should Pace suffer another injury.

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Detroit Lions
Training camp site: Team facility in Allen Park, Mich.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Rashaun Rucker/zuma/Icon SMI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Lions would like Daunte Culpepper to earn the starting quarterback job ahead of Matthew Stafford to start the season.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires
No Black and Blue battle will be more scrutinized than the competition between Lions quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford. Conventional wisdom suggests Culpepper will win the job as long as he maintains his offseason conditioning level. But coach Jim Schwartz has said Stafford will start as soon as he meets two criteria: when he is ready and when he surpasses Culpepper as the team's best option.

Stafford's status as an underclassman suggests he faces a steep learning curve this season. That, along with Culpepper's familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's scheme, imposes a two-pronged challenge for Stafford to win the job in training camp.

Another rookie, safety Louis Delmas, appears to be one of the few locks to start in the secondary. You would assume Phillip Buchanon will win one cornerback spot, but the other two starting roles seem wide open.

Anthony Henry could start at cornerback, or he could move to safety. Other safety candidates include Daniel Bullocks, Marquand Manuel, Kalvin Pearson and Stuart Schweigert. The competition will be wide open as the Lions look for defensive backs who are aggressive and eager for contact.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... every player on the roster suffers a season-ending injury on the first day of camp. Otherwise, there is nowhere to go but up for a team that went 0-16 last season.

Seriously, there is one position where Detroit is keeping its fingers crossed. The Lions signed 36-year-old nose tackle Grady Jackson to help tighten their run defense and also keep offensive linemen off their talented trio of linebackers. But Jackson missed all of spring practice after undergoing knee surgery in February. Jackson is as important as any player the Lions acquired this winter and he needs to get at least some practice time in training camp to ensure he will be ready for the season.

Camp will be a success if ...
... Culpepper can win the job outright, rather than become the starter simply because Stafford isn't ready. If Culpepper can recapture some of his previous magic with Linehan, the Lions will have a much better chance to be credible in Schwartz's first season.

And despite the protestations of modern-day thinkers, Stafford can only benefit from some time on the sidelines. That doesn't mean he should sit for three years. But rare is the quarterback who can start -- and succeed -- on day one. A rejuvenated Culpepper is the first step in the Lions' rebuilding project.

Linebacker city
Through trade and free agency, the Lions have put together a competent group of linebackers in Julian Peterson, Larry Foote and Ernie Sims. It will be interesting to watch defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham experiment with ways to utilize their playmaking skills.

Cunningham has said he plans to blitz 40 percent of the time this season. Peterson could make some big plays if he has maintained the athletic skills of his prime. The same goes for Foote. We'll get a good idea of how much each player has left in the tank this summer.

---

Green Bay Packers
Training camp site: Team facility in Green Bay, Wis.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Scott Boehm/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Packers are searching for a running back to pair with Ryan Grant.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires
At least two and possibly three positions on the offensive line are up for grabs as the Packers transition to a younger -- and, they hope, bigger -- offensive line. Jason Spitz seems primed to overtake veteran Scott Wells at center, while Allen Barbre is hoping to hold off rookie T.J. Lang for the right to replace Mark Tauscher at right tackle. And if Wells wins the center job, Spitz could move to right guard and compete with Josh Sitton.

Got all that? Because there's plenty of competition elsewhere on this team. The Packers moved back into the first round of the April draft to grab outside linebacker Clay Matthews, but a spring hamstring injury allowed second-year player Jeremy Thompson to grab hold of the job seemingly designated for Matthews. Thompson will spend training camp trying to hold off Matthews.

Elsewhere, the Packers will have an intriguing (if somewhat inside baseball) competition for their No. 3 receiver position behind Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. James Jones' playmaking skills would seem to give him the edge over 2008 top pick Jordy Nelson, but Jones' injury troubles last season make him an unknown quantity this summer.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... one of the Packers' two backup quarterbacks doesn't demonstrate substantial improvement. Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm got rookie exceptions last year, but neither ran the offense smoothly during minicamp last month.

Brohm's case is especially interesting. He flopped last summer after the Packers made him a second-round pick, by default leaving the No. 2 job to Flynn. If Brohm wants to restore his track as the Packers' top backup and a future starter (for another team), he'll have to get it turned around in camp this summer. Otherwise, he'll be buried on the depth chart for another year.

Camp will be a success if ...
...the Packers can demonstrate mental proficiency with the 3-4 defense. There is little doubt that retrofitting the personnel base will take some time. But if the Packers can master the different alignments and strategies typically employed by coordinator Dom Capers, they'll almost certainly improve their defensive proficiency from a year ago.

Capers and his staff are good teachers, and it's reasonable to expect Packers players to have absorbed the mental part of this new scheme.

A true one-two punch?
Training camp would be a nice time for someone to step in as a legitimate second option behind tailback Ryan Grant. One question the Packers would like to solve: Do they have someone on the roster who provides a stylistic complement to Grant?

Is Brandon Jackson the best answer? You could make an argument that his style isn't different enough from Grant to make him a viable option. Could that person be DeShawn Wynn? Or possibly Kregg Lumpkin? The Packers would like to leave camp with a firm idea on whether they have someone they can consistently rotate into the lineup for strategic purposes.

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Minnesota Vikings
Training camp site: Minnesota State University (Mankato, Minn.)
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Scott Boehm/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will be vying for the starting job or the No. 2 spot.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires
Whether or not Brett Favre ultimately signs, the Vikings will have an interesting competition at� quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels will be vying either for the starting job or the No. 2 spot behind Favre. If it's the latter, you have to assume the loser won't have a future with the team. The Vikings remain intrigued by John David Booty as a developmental player at the No. 3 position.

Most everyone is assuming that rookie Phil Loadholt will win the starting right tackle position. But he'll still need to demonstrate proficiency superior to that of incumbent Ryan Cook before officially joining the starting lineup.

Someone is going to lose playing time as rookie Percy Harvin grows more comfortable in the offense. That player seems likely to be slot receiver Bobby Wade, but we should get a better idea of how the rotation will work once camp starts. Harvin appeared all over the field during spring practice, but it's doubtful the Vikings will take snaps away from Bernard Berrian or even a healthy Sidney Rice to make room for him. Wade would seem to be the odd man out.

Camp will be a downer if ...
... the defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams fail in their legal attempts to stave off a four-game NFL suspension. Their case has been ongoing for eight months, but in reality the Vikings aren't equipped to maintain their top-ranked run defense without them.

Backup nose tackle Fred Evans is a competent player, but fellow backup Letroy Guion is unproven and opponents won't need to apply the double-teams they routinely direct toward Kevin Williams and/or Pat Williams. Unless Evans or Guion makes a substantial leap in camp, the Vikings won't be the same defense without the Williams Wall.

Camp will be a success if ...
... one way or the other, the quarterback situation is resolved.

One option is for Favre to give the Vikings their first unquestioned starter since Brad Johnson opened camp in 2006 as the No. 1 quarterback. In the absence of Favre, the other positive alternative is for Jackson or Rosenfels to take control of the job from the start.

The latter option would require a significant swallowing of pride. The Vikings have made clear they were looking to upgrade this offseason. But if Favre remains retired, either Jackson or Rosenfels is going to have to get past the Vikings' professional slap.

Inspiration
More than a few eyes will be on defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who has returned to the field about 18 months after being diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia. Udeze was still working to improve his conditioning during spring practices, but he expected to report to training camp at full strength.

Although their starting lineup seems set on the defensive line, the Vikings will give Udeze every opportunity to make the team. That could include a trip to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which would give him additional time to recover and regain his strength if necessary.



Trey Wingo and Tim Hasselbeck preview the NFC North.




NFC South training camp preview

July 23, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Atlanta Falcons
Training camp site: Flowery Branch, Ga.

Campfires: The offense is pretty much set with last year's starters virtually intact and the addition of tight end Tony Gonzalez. That's going to put the focus of camp on a defense that overachieved last year and will have five new starters.
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]
The hottest battles will be in the secondary, where the Falcons have to replace safety Lawyer Milloy and cornerback Domonique Foxworth. Atlanta's coaching staff is hoping second-round pick William Moore can step in and start at safety, but second-year pro Thomas DeCoud provides a decent fallback option if Moore's not ready. DeCoud had a strong showing throughout the offseason and isn't going to give up the job without a fight.

Cornerback might be the most intriguing spot to watch in camp. The Falcons are set with Chris Houston on one side, but it's a wide-open competition for the other starting spot and the nickelback job. The plan is to throw Brent Grimes, Von Hutchins, Chevis Jackson and rookies Christopher Owens and William Middleton out there and see who rises up. Keep an eye on Jackson, who came on strong in the second half of his rookie season last year.

Camp will be a downer if ... there are any injuries on the offensive line. The Falcons have a starting five that probably played over its head last year and very little depth. Veteran Todd Weiner retired after last season and the Falcons tried to replace the flexibility he gave them by signing veteran Jeremy Newberry. But Newberry retired earlier this week because of knee problems.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Paul Abell/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Tony Gonzalez gives quarterback Matt Ryan another target in the Falcons' passing game.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Coach Mike Smith is very good at mixing up the tempo of his practices, but he may have to be more cautious with his offensive line. Left tackle Sam Baker had back problems last year and center Todd McClure has wear and tear on his 32-year-old body. If some young linemen don't step up -- and there aren't many likely candidates -- the Falcons may have to keep an eye on the waiver wire for some depth.

Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Matt Ryan masters the offense he looked so good in as a rookie. That's a strong possibility. Although he already was very good, Ryan looked noticeably better in minicamp practices in the spring.

The Falcons didn't hold back much of the playbook from Ryan last season, but they're going to expand it significantly this year. The addition of Gonzalez suddenly gives the Falcons the pass-catching tight end they lacked last year. That should only help receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins, who blossomed with Ryan last year. And don't forget second-year receiver Harry Douglas. He showed some promise last year, but looked ready to take on a bigger role in offseason workouts.

The Norwood factor: One player to keep an eye on in camp and preseason games is running back Jerious Norwood. The Falcons realize they put a very heavy load on starter Michael Turner last season and they don't want him approaching 375 carries again. Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has to find a way to give Norwood some of Turner's carries. That's not as simple as just swapping them out. Turner is a power runner and Norwood is a speed guy. The Falcons need to put in some wrinkles to take advantage of Norwood's skills.

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Carolina Panthers
Training camp site: Spartanburg, S.C.

Campfires: The Panthers are returning 21 of 22 starters from a team that went 12-4. But the disastrous playoff loss to Arizona means that Carolina can't be complacent. Coach John Fox never has been able to put together back-to-back winning seasons and he needs to if he wants to stay off the proverbial "hot seat."
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Paul Spinelli/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Jake Delhomme and the Panthers need to put last season's playoff loss to Arizona behind them.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Fox needs to revitalize a defense that collapsed down the stretch last season and much of that responsibility will fall to new coordinator Ron Meeks. Barring injury or upset, the only new starter will be cornerback Richard Marshall, who will replace Ken Lucas. A lot of fans are wondering if Marshall is ready to be a starter. The coaching staff wouldn't have let Lucas go if Marshall wasn't ready. He's been a very good nickelback the past couple of years and should do fine opposite Chris Gamble.

The bigger question might be who's going to replace Marshall at nickelback? The Panthers seem to have rookie Sherrod Martin ticketed for that spot. That may seem a little risky, but Fox has a pretty good track record when it comes to playing rookie cornerbacks quickly. Marshall and Ricky Manning Jr. were able to step in and contribute as rookies.

Camp will be a downer if ... Steve Smith pulls a repeat of last year. Early in camp, Smith punched out Lucas, who was kneeling on the sideline. That led to a two-game suspension for Smith. The incident may have helped pull the team together in some ways, but the Panthers can't endure something like that again.

Things tend to get hot in Spartanburg, but Fox and his staff need to keep the ultra-competitive Smith cool. Smith's nasty streak is a big part of what makes him such a great receiver. But he needs to save that for the regular season and let the team get through camp peacefully.

Camp will be a success if ... the Panthers can put the Arizona playoff loss behind them. Losing badly at home was a terrible end to what had been a very nice season, and Fox has to eliminate any hangover from that. One of Fox's strengths is his ability to motivate and he's got to convince this team it can win big games when it matters most.

Fox has been adamant about sticking with quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had a disastrous outing against Arizona. That's a strong show of confidence from the coach. But Fox may have to spend part of camp convincing the rest of the team that the move is a result of confidence and not stubbornness.

It starts up front: Early in Fox's tenure, his defensive line was dominant and the team was built around the front four. That hasn't been the case in recent years. The back seven is very good, but it can become great with more production up front.

Although end Julius Peppers is the only big name on the line, the Panthers have the ingredients to be good up front. They didn't draft Everette Brown to spend his rookie season on the bench. He'll join in a rotation with Peppers, Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton. If Peppers can play at a level close to his $17 million franchise tag, there could be a lot of sack opportunities for Brown, Johnson and Brayton.

---

New Orleans Saints
Training camp site: Metairie, La.


Campfires: As far as pure numbers, the Saints have the most legitimate position battles in the NFC South. That competition should be a good thing for a team that underachieved, particularly on defense, last season.

General manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton did a nice job of creating competition with a bunch of offseason moves geared at making the defense better. Last year's biggest problem area was in the secondary and that's where the best camp battles will be. The Saints paid free-agent cornerback Jabari Greer big money and that probably makes him a starter.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Crystal LoGiudice/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins will battle for one of the starting cornerback spots.[/td] [/tr][/table]
But the battle for the other starting cornerback spot should be intense. The Saints used their first-round pick on Malcolm Jenkins, who probably has the most physical talent of any rookie on the roster. But Jenkins truly will have to earn the starting job because the Saints think very highly of Tracy Porter, who got off to a strong start before suffering an injury in his rookie season. Porter brings a high level of confidence and he's not going to give up a starting spot very easily. If the Saints open the season with Jenkins as their nickelback, they'll have far more depth than they've had in recent years.

Camp will be a downer if ... it's anything like last season. A rash of injuries started in last year's training camp and the plague continued through the regular season. That was a major reason why the Saints missed the playoffs. Even with added depth, they can't endure another season like last year. Payton ran the NFC South's most-intense camp last season and he may have learned from it.

The Saints have moved their camp back to their practice facility and a look at their schedule shows a large amount of afternoon practices in the indoor facility. There also are a fair amount of days where the Saints will practice only once. That should help keep the team fresh and cut down on the injuries. That's hugely important for a team that will open the season without starting defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant, who are suspended for the first four games.

Camp will be a success if ... Gregg Williams' defensive system takes hold quickly. Coordinator Gary Gibbs took the fall for last season's defensive failures and the Saints went out and spent big money to bring in Williams. Once viewed as one of the league's top defensive minds, Williams is looking for redemption after recent struggles in Jacksonville and Washington.

There will be some changes in the defensive scheme. But, more importantly, he'll be trying to install a mindset. Williams is known for having high-motor, aggressive defenses. The Saints haven't had anything that resembled that throughout Payton's tenure. There is plenty of talent in place and the defense showed signs it was developing an aggressive attitude in minicamp. If that continues, the Saints could have the one thing that's separated them from the playoffs the past two seasons.

Who will run the ball? That remains a huge question for a team whose passing game is pretty close to perfect. Payton's not going to take the ball out of the hands of quarterback Drew Brees, but the coach has made it clear he wants to develop a running game that's more consistent than last season.

With Deuce McAllister gone, the Saints have made it clear they plan to go with the tandem of Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Payton will use camp and the preseason games to experiment with their roles and try to put Bush and Thomas in spots that play to their strengths.

---

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Training camp site: Tampa, Fla.


Campfires: Fans are going to need rosters for this training camp. Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Jeff Garcia and Warrick Dunn are gone. Tampa Bay's youth movement, which starts with new coach Raheem Morris, is in full swing as the Bucs truly look for a new identity.

Starting jobs are open all over the place, particularly on defense. The Bucs have moved safety Jermaine Phillips to Brooks' old spot at weakside linebacker and are putting Sabby Piscitelli in Phillips' old spot. If either of those moves fail, the Bucs could always move Phillips back to safety, but the team is planning on this switch working out. It better because the Bucs have plenty of other questions elsewhere. Is veteran cornerback Ronde Barber still capable of playing at a high level? Is defensive end Gaines Adams finally ready to play up to his potential?
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]J. Meric/Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Play him or sit him? That's the decision the Bucs face regarding rookie quarterback Josh Freeman.[/td] [/tr][/table]
But the biggest question of all -- and the one most fans will be watching -- is at quarterback. Tampa Bay used its first-round pick on Josh Freeman and Morris already has dubbed him as the franchise quarterback. The Bucs initially threw out all sorts of hints that Freeman, who left college a year early, would sit as a rookie. But he came on faster than expected in minicamp and that could change the thinking. The Bucs probably will enter the preseason looking to start either Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich. But it's not out of the question that Freeman could outshine both veterans. If that happens, the Bucs would have to speed up their plan.

Camp will be a downer if ... none of the quarterbacks steps forward. The rest of the offense is pretty solid, but this team won't go anywhere without a quarterback who can make the passing game work. There are reasons why McCown has never been a true starter and why Leftwich has gone from being a franchise quarterback in Jacksonville to being just a guy.

McCown has enough athleticism to make you believe there's upside, and Leftwich still throws the ball very nicely at times. But nothing is certain with either of these guys. If Freeman plays like a rookie in camp, the Bucs may have to settle on a quarterback by attrition. That's not a great situation because if McCown or Leftwich starts slowly, fans will be screaming for Freeman before he's ready.

Camp will be a success if ... the new schemes catch on. The Bucs aren't going to look anything like Jon Gruden's Bucs. New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is installing a power running game and a vertical passing game. New defensive coordinator Jim Bates is going away from the famed Tampa 2 defense and going with a system that relies heavily on pressure from up front.

The Bucs are young in a lot of ways, but they'll need new leaders like Barrett Ruud, Derrick Ward, Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant to step up and lead this team through the transition process.

Whatever happened to Michael Clayton? After a brilliant rookie year, the wide receiver spent the past few seasons buried in Gruden's doghouse. A lot of people were stunned when the new regime handed Clayton a big contract, instead of letting him walk as a free agent. There's a reason for that.

The new regime believes Clayton can be a productive starter. Forget all the talk about what a good blocker Clayton is in the running game. Sure, that will help. But Clayton isn't getting big money just to block. He got paid because Morris, general manager Mark Dominik and Jagodzinski think he can be a solid No. 2 receiver.



Trey Wingo, Cris Carter and Marcellus Wiley preview the NFC South.




NFC West training camp preview

July 24, 2009 11:00 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Arizona Cardinals
[table][tr][td] [table][tr][td] [table][tr][td]Division Camp Previews[/td] [/tr][tr][td]• Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North
• Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East
• Thursday: NFC South | AFC South
• Friday: NFC West | AFC West

MORE
• Camp battles: AFC | NFC

• Schedule: Training camp dates[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]Training camp site: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
Campfires: Coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't afraid to make first-round draft choices earn their starting jobs. He benched Matt Leinart coming out of camp last season, then made talented rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wait until near midseason before becoming a full-time starter. The trend could continue this summer as rookie first-round choice Beanie Wells practices with the Cardinals for the first time.

Wells projects as the long-term replacement for Edgerrin James at running back, but Ohio State's late graduation prevented him from participating in minicamps and organized team activities. That means the adjustment period for Wells could take a little longer. Expect Tim Hightower to enter camp as the tentative starter.

Meanwhile, the situation at tight end remains a mystery. Arizona is carrying six tight ends on its roster, one behind the league high. Ben Patrick, the player coaches have tried to develop as a player versatile enough to help as a receiver and blocker, faces a four-game suspension to start the season. That could open the door for Anthony Becht, Leonard Pope or Stephen Spach to seize the starting job. I don't see a clear favorite, particularly with Patrick serving a suspension and Spach coming off knee surgery.
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Jeff Mills/Icon SMI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Will Beanie Wells be able to avoid the injuries that plagued him in college?[/td] [/tr][/table]
Camp will be a downer if ... Wells doesn't immediately prove he can avoid the long list of injuries that affected him in college. Arizona needs a more dynamic runner to run its offense the way Whisenhunt and offensive line coach/running game coordinator Russ Grimm want to run it. Wells has the physical ability to provide that missing element. Can he stay on the field and will he fight through some of the ailments that await every running back in the NFL?

The preferred scenario would include Wells breaking a few long runs during the preseason, setting up the play-action passing game that worked so well for Arizona when the team showed more balance in the playoffs last season.
Camp will be a success if ... the reconfigured coaching staff takes control of the team and helps Arizona build on the momentum from its Super Bowl season.
Whisenhunt has stressed continuity during the first two years of his tenure. He kept the same five starters on the offensive line even though right guard Deuce Lutui had penalty problems and center Lyle Sendlein sometimes struggled while playing through a shoulder injury. While the approach worked, continuity wasn't an option for the coaching staff once the Chiefs hired offensive coordinator Todd Haley head coach.

Whisenhunt's decision to fire quarterbacks coach Jeff Rutledge and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast shook up the staff considerably more.

Warner will miss the rapport he enjoyed with Haley. The two appeared inseparable at times and the relationship seemed to benefit Warner on the field. Can the newly configured staff fill the void or otherwise find ways to keep Warner and the offense rolling?

Money me: Key players Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett want lucrative long-term deals.

Franchise player rules will force Dansby to wait, and he should be content "settling" for a one-year franchise deal worth nearly $9.7 million. The volatile Dockett has also committed to letting his play do the talking, a good sign for the team.

While Boldin put aside his concerns to produce last season, his situation bears monitoring. Another year without a new contract probably equates to a higher frustration level. Boldin, generally the consummate pro, might have a harder time dealing with the situation -- particularly if the team fails to meet expectations.

---

San Francisco 49ers
Training camp site: 49ers headquarters (Santa Clara, Calif.) [table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Kyle Terada/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Can Shaun Hill distinguish himself to claim the starting QB job?[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires: The 49ers have quite a few position battles for team that finished strong and feels good about its chances for contending within the division.

The quarterback race will rightfully command the most attention. Coach Mike Singletary said the players will know whether Shaun Hill or Alex Smith should be the starter, at which point Singletary will merely affirm what they know. That means Smith's status as the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2005 will not afford him any advantage in the competition. Hill's 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter over the last two seasons gives him the edge.

On defense, Dashon Goldson would have to flop or suffer another injury for the older and less athletic Mark Roman to take back his job at free safety. Dre Bly has the edge over Tarell Brown at right corner. Kentwan Balmer, the 49ers' first-round choice in 2008, could push for a starting job at left defensive end.
Camp will be a downer if�... both quarterbacks flounder and veteran Damon Huard appears to be the best option. Unlikely? Perhaps. But the scenario isn't as laughable as it should be. Neither Hill nor Smith distinguished himself during the competition a year ago. Even if Mike Martz was playing favorites when he installed J.T. O'Sullivan as the starter, the fact remains that O'Sullivan enjoyed the strongest preseason of the three.
The new offensive system should better suit Hill in particular, and the 49ers have declared this quarterback race a two-man affair, ruling out Huard as a contender. Still, after years of backing up Trent Green, Tom Brady and Dan Marino, Huard wound up starting three of the first five games in Kansas City last season when the unaccomplished Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen were his primary competitors.
Camp will be a success if ... Hill validates his 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter, right tackle Marvel Smith makes it through training camp healthy and the push toward a full-time 3-4 defense validates Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson as promising pass-rushers.
Hitting on all three of those might be asking a bit much, but getting two of them right might be enough, particularly if the 49ers feel good about the quarterback situation.

On the receiving end: It's a little surprising to see the 49ers emerge with their deepest group of receivers in years after committing to Singletary's smashmouth approach. The change to Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was all about making smarter use of the players general manager Scot McCloughan and former coach Mike Nolan had acquired in recent years.

That meant -- and still means -- forging an identity in the ground game. Yet, while receivers Michael Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones and Josh Morgan will not be battling Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin for Pro Bowl berths this season, they do give the 49ers better potential than they've enjoyed recently.

Singletary's smashmouth roots should not and likely will not dissuade the 49ers from making frequent use of those receivers.

---

Seattle Seahawks
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]The Seahawks must get Matt Hasselbeck through training camp unscathed.[/td] [/tr][/table]
Training camp site: Seahawks headquarters (Renton, Wash.)
Campfires: The Seahawks weren't going to pretend that first-round choice Aaron Curry would have to prove himself in camp to earn a starting job. They put the fourth overall choice in the lineup from the beginning. No suspense there.

Most positions in Seattle appear settled. The situation at receiver should produce intrigue with Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and rookie burner Deon Butler fighting to get on the field with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and tight end John Carlson. Injuries will probably help sort out the situation. Burleson is returning from ACL surgery. Branch is entering his first full season since undergoing his own ACL procedure.

Don't be surprised if rookie second-round choice Max Unger pushes for playing time somewhere in the interior of the offensive line. He projects as the long-term starter at center if Chris Spencer plays out his contract and leaves following this season. If Spencer holds the job, Unger figures to find his way onto the field in one of the guard spots, perhaps this year.

Camp will be a downer if� ... quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's back injury flares up at any point along the way. Hasselbeck and the Seahawks say the quarterback has long since overcome the problems that helped limit him to seven starts last season. They didn't know the extent of the problem a year ago when they assured fans that Hasselbeck would be fine for the regular season. The issue is under control now, they say, but the very nature of back injuries should raise at least some concern heading into a pivotal season for the organization.�

Camp will be a success if ... Hasselbeck, left tackle Walter Jones and defensive end Patrick Kerney put to rest concerns about their long-term health. Beyond the obvious injury storylines, this camp becomes a success for Seattle if Curry validates coach Jim Mora's opinion that the linebacker's pass-rushing abilities are indeed far stronger than anticipated on draft day.

Seattle badly needs to restore its pass rush to better compete against the Cardinals' passing game in a broader effort to overtake Arizona in the division. Kerney is the key, but the Seahawks are also counting on pressure from other sources: Brandon Mebane, Cory Redding, Lawrence Jackson, Darryl Tapp and possibly Leroy Hill. Significant pass-rush help from Curry would offset Julian Peterson's departure while making it easier for the Seahawks to justify having drafted a linebacker fourth overall.

Learning curve: By all accounts, the two years Mora spent in the background watching Mike Holmgren operate should leave him better prepared to handle his second head-coaching job. The way Holmgren handled everything from players to the media differed quite a bit from the more freewheeling approach Mora displayed with the Falcons.

Lessons learned? Yes, but it will be interesting to see how the Seahawks' leadership -- operating without Holmgren for the first time since 1998 -- will respond under pressure if things go wrong early.

---

St. Louis Rams
Training camp site: Rams Park (Earth City, Mo.)
[table][tr][td]�[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]�[/td] [td]Will Marc Bulger be able to regain his old form behind a revamped offensive line?[/td] [/tr][/table]
Campfires: The Rams need to figure out what they have at receiver, linebacker and left cornerback after overhauling their roster.

Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Drew Bennett, Trent Green, Anthony Becht, Corey Chavous, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Leonard, Gary Stills, Jason Craft, Ricky Manning, Fakhir Brown, La'Roi Glover, Dane Looker, Travis Minor, Dante Hall, Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg were among the former starters and role players cast aside in the makeover.

None was irreplaceable. Getting rid of them was the easy part. Identifying and developing adequate replacements will take time.

Camp will be a downer if ... top draft choices Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis aren't ready to contribute right away. Coach Steve Spagnuolo has taken it slowly with both rookies, but he likely will not have that luxury once the regular season gets going. Smith and Laurinaitis probably must play and play well for the Rams to avoid trouble.

Laurinaitis' development is critical because the Rams appear so thin at linebacker after releasing Tinoisamoa. Even if Laurinaitis plays well, the Rams' depth at linebacker could betray them.�

Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Marc Bulger finds comfort behind an upgraded offensive line. Bulger can be a highly accurate passer when opposing defensive linemen aren't pounding the confidence out of him. The player who topped 4,300 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions three years ago hasn't resembled even remotely the scared soul seen under center for the Rams too often over the last two seasons.

The Rams' should start to regain some swagger on the line with 320-pounder Jason Brown taking over at center and the personably intense Smith at tackle. Right guard Richie Incognito won't be the only starter with some snarl, in other words. That should help provide improved protection for Bulger and leadership for the offense.

Fantasy spin: Running back Steven Jackson should not hurt for opportunities now that the Rams have landed a 320-pound center (Brown, free agent from the Ravens) and a 258-pound fullback (Mike Karney, late of the Saints). The Rams will try to develop their young receivers, but rarely should any of them represent a more formidable option than Jackson. And if he gets some luck with injuries, look out.

 

[heat23]

From Buffalo's training camp today:

Updated: July 25, 2009, 6:59 PM ET

[h2]Raucous Bills fans greet Owens at camp[/h2]

Comment Email Print Share
Associated Press

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Coach %+$! Jauron was in the midst of discussing the electric quality Terrell Owens' presence brings to the Buffalo Bills when, as if on cue, a roar of cheers and shrieks erupted from the other side of the field.

The cause of the commotion was Owens, of course. To the delight of the hundreds of fans who had waited after practice, the star receiver elected to hold an impromptu autograph session that lasted nearly 25 minutes and thoroughly drowned out anything his coach had to say about the Bills opening training camp Saturday morning.

[h4]AFC East blog[/h4]

ESPN.com's Tim Graham writes about all things AFC East in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation

Not that it mattered to Jauron, who's quickly grown accustomed to being upstaged by Owens after spending most of his vacation this past month fielding questions about T.O.

"It adds a lot of excitement," Jauron said. "I don't know how [the attention] can be bad."

It wasn't at all bad on this muggy day in suburban Rochester for the Bills and their fans, who got a firsthand taste of T.O.-mania. More than 5,000 fans combined to attend the team's two practice sessions, and a majority of them were clearly there to see Owens make his public practice debut in a Bills uniform since signing with the team in March, days after being released by Dallas.

It proved to be a circus-type atmosphere. There were fans who had 'T.O.' painted on their chests in Bills colors. Others brought their popcorn and spilled it on to the field. Many brought boxes of the limited edition 'T.O's' breakfast cereal that's available in local grocery stores. And there was certainly a large amount of No. 81 jerseys that dotted the stands.

Sound exciting?

"I'm used to it," Owens said with a shrug. "Everywhere that I've been, it's always been that type of reception."

But he did feel welcome?

"I know that the Buffalo fans are very very fanatical," Owens said. "So, coming out here, I expected nothing less."

Owens got the royal treatment, the type reserved for the likes of past stars, such as Jim Kelly, whenever he makes his annual visit to camp. And it was a raucous reception from a football-mad fan base that has grown discouraged by a team that has gone nine straight seasons without a playoff berth -- the longest drought in franchise history.

Fans began chanting "T.O.! T.O.!" the second Owens was spotted emerging from the locker room to take the field five minutes before the start of practice. They cheered Owens every time he made a catch -- and even the time he didn't after bobbling a ball out of bounds. And the loudest applause came when quarterback Trent Edwards hit Owens for what would've been a 60-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the afternoon session.

Owens returned the love by flashing an occasional smile as well as peace signs toward the stands. And he couldn't stop laughing when one fan, 32-year-old Steven Lasek, held up a box of 'T.O's' and began yelling, "This cereal is delicious."

"Yeah," Owens said afterward with a smile. "He's part of my P.R. team."

If that's the case, he had plenty of publicists working for him.

Wearing an Owens' jersey, Zachary Kiristis, 15, arrived at camp more than an hour before the first practice to make sure he had a place to stand as close to the Bills' locker room entrance as possible.

"I'm just dying to see this guy," Kiristis said. "This guy could be a game-changer, and we really need someone like that to turn this team around because we're terrible."

Kiristis even accepted Owens' reputation for being disruptive.

"I think we need a personality on this team," he said. "We need someone to bring cameras to Buffalo, and he's going to do it. I don't care if there's drama. That's cool."

Owens' arrival has already benefited the Bills, who's season-ticket sales are already over 50,000. Now it's a question of whether he can help spark what's been a sputtering offense.

Receiver Lee Evans is confident Owens will deliver.

"With him coming here, we see what we can do offensively and I think there's great optimism," Evans said. "We feel like now we have a real shot -- we have the potential and the talent -- to be able to make the playoffs."

The Bills certainly have the fans on their side for now.

Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud shook his head in amazement at the reception Owens received before noting: "I hope they're as enthusiastic when the season starts."

Time -- and T.O. -- will tell.
[h2]Notes[/h2]
Stroud experienced a slight pull of his left hamstring and called the injury minor, though he might miss a few practices. ... Fourth-round draft pick, TE Shawn Nelson, arrived in time for the afternoon practice after signing his four-year contract. ... The Bills have two practices on Sunday.

 

[gregory house]

Hopefully Kyle Orton doesn't disappoint. I'm not looking for him to be GREAT, but he should thrive under our offense.

 

[high class scum bag]

T.O has already been great investment for the bills...

 

[jpzx]

Bills Training Camp Day 1....(Edwards and T.O.)

 

[heat23]

EAGLES report today





Philadelphia Eagles
Training camp site: Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh University)

Campfires: It will be interesting to see how startingcornerback Sheldon Brown conducts himself after expressing his desire to be traded thisoffseason. The Eagles brought in Ellis Hobbs to compete with Brown, so thingscould get a little awkward.
[table][tr][td] [/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [td]Rich Kane/US Presswire[/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [td]The Eagles need a healthy Brian Westbrook if they hope to be successful in 2009.[/td] [/tr][/table]
I also think we've been pretty quick to hand Quintin Dempsthe starting safety spot next to QuintinMikell. I'm anxious to see if former Brown Sean Jonesposes a challenge to Demps during training camp.

Camp will be a downer if ... Brian Westbrookdoesn't look completely healthy. He's had a couple of surgeries this offseason and hewasn't exactly a picture of health in '08. If he gets banged up again, that would obviously be a huge downer for the Eagles.

I also think everyone should keep a close eye on ShawnAndrews. Everyone assumes he can return to his '07 form, but it's not alock.

Camp will be a success if ... rookies LeSean McCoyand Jeremy Maclin make immediateimpacts. I think McCoy could be one of the best picks in the draft. And I'm anxious to see if Maclin can quickly make the transition from the Missourispread offense to Andy Reid's West Coast system.

And if Jason Peters looks like thePeters of '07, the Eagles will be feeling good heading into the season. I think Peters will be ready to go.

Surprise, surprise: Don't be shocked if Nick Colepushes starting center Jamaal Jackson duringtraining camp. I don't think Reid was overly pleased with Jackson's work last season, and Cole's a player who has shown impressive versatility.Just something to keep your eye on.

 

[heat23]

[h1]NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp edition[/h1]

Week: Pre

Add Widget
ESPN.com

Training camps are opening. Rosters are bursting at the seams with prospects, each hoping to make that final cut before Week 1.

Why not wait until Week 1 to consider the league's hierarchy? This has been one of the busier offseasons in memory. Here we are with your ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp edition.

We've streamlined operations this season. Instead of 12 experts weighing in weekly, we have four who will cast their votes. See the box for details.

Little has changed from the top of the May 2009 Offseason Power Rankings, when the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts owned slots No. 1-5, respectively. Our panelists are counting on the likes of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Philadelphia halfback Brian Westbrook to overcome their respective offseason issues.

The symmetry ends at No. 6, where the San Diego Chargers displaced the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, now ranked 10th, plunged in the aftermath of wide receiver Derrick Mason's unexpected retirement this month. [table][tr][td] [table][tr][th=""]ESPN.com's Power Rankings[/th] [/tr][tr][td]The rankings were determined by a poll of four voters on ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton (AFC East, NFC East), Jeffri Chadiha (AFC North, NFC North), Paul Kuharsky (AFC South, AFC West), and Mike Sando (NFC South, NFC West). They voted on all 32 teams, and their last names are logged after their comments about the respective divisional teams.

[/td] [/tr][/table][/td] [/tr][/table]

On the upswing: the Minnesota Vikings. In anticipation of Brett Favre signing with the Vikings -- as we write this, the former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback still was undecided -- our voters moved Minnesota up five spots to No. 9 overall.

Other teams receiving significant promotions include the Seattle Seahawks (up four spaces to No. 18 overall) and San Francisco 49ers (also up four places, from No. 26 to No. 22, Seattle's old slot).

Nothing much has changed at the bottom of the rankings, where the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions occupy slots No. 30, 31 and 32, respectively. Look for our next edition of the offseason rankings just before Week 1.

(Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week -- in this case, in the May 2009 Power Rankings.)

[table][tr][td]2009 Power Rankings: Offseason[/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [td]RK (LW)[/td] [td]TEAM[/td] [td]REC[/td] [td]COMMENT[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]1 (1)[/td] [td]Steelers[/td] [td]12-4-0[/td] [td]They won the Super Bowl. What else do you need to know? (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]2 (2)[/td] [td]Patriots[/td] [td]11-5-0[/td] [td]Tom Brady won't throw for 50 TDs, but he has too much firepower to throw for fewer than 30. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]3 (3)[/td] [td]Giants[/td] [td]12-4-0[/td] [td]So who is Eli Manning's go-to WR now that Plaxico Burress is gone? Maybe Michael Irvin can offer to make a reality show out of that search. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]4 (4)[/td] [td]Eagles[/td] [td]9-6-1[/td] [td]Eagles' ownership did the right thing giving Donovan McNabb a contract extension. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]5 (5)[/td] [td]Colts[/td] [td]12-4-0[/td] [td]Reports of the Colts' demise are exaggerated. Bill Polian and Peyton Manning remain in place. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]6 (7)[/td] [td]Chargers[/td] [td]8-8-0[/td] [td]The Chargers could have the easiest path to a division title of any team in the league, and that's just being polite. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]7 (

[/td] [td]Titans[/td] [td]13-3-0[/td] [td]The second year of Mike Heimerdinger's offense can provide jump needed to offset defensive losses. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]8 (11)[/td] [td]Falcons[/td] [td]11-5-0[/td] [td]With a healthy line, this offense should know no bounds with Tony Gonzalez joining Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Co. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]9 (14)[/td] [td]Vikings[/td] [td]10-6-0[/td] [td]They're ranked this high in anticipation of Brett Favre joining them. (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]10 (6)[/td] [td]Ravens[/td] [td]11-5-0[/td] [td]The Ravens lost OLB Bart Scott, WR Derrick Mason and D-coordinator Rex Ryan. Expect a decline. (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]11 (10)[/td] [td]Panthers[/td] [td]12-4-0[/td] [td]Power-rankings voters still trying to shake visions of Jake Delhomme tossing all of those INTs in the playoffs. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]12 (9)[/td] [td]Cardinals[/td] [td]9-7-0[/td] [td]The defending NFC champs barely crack the top 12 and that came only with an assist from their generous divisional blogger. No respect. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]13 (12)[/td] [td]Bears[/td] [td]9-7-0[/td] [td]Jay Cutler can't do it alone. The Bears need to show they have legitimate WRs before they enter the top 10. (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]14 (13)[/td] [td]Cowboys[/td] [td]9-7-0[/td] [td]Tony Romo dumped Jessica Simpson. Jerry Jones dumped T.O. Maybe the Cowboys can concentrate on football. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]15 (15)[/td] [td]Dolphins[/td] [td]11-5-0[/td] [td]Many teams that go from worst to first experience a three-game drop the next season. The Fins are fighting the odds favoring an 8-8 record this fall. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]16 (1[/td] [td]Texans[/td] [td]8-8-0[/td] [td]The Texans have made defensive upgrades, but the secondary remains a concern. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]17 (17)[/td] [td]Packers[/td] [td]6-10-0[/td] [td]A lousy defense in 2008 is switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 this fall. Don't expect a quick turnaround. (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]18 (22)[/td] [td]Seahawks[/td] [td]4-12-0[/td] [td]Matt Hasselbeck's back held up through minicamps and OTAs, the first small step toward Seattle moving up in the rankings. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]19 (16)[/td] [td]Saints[/td] [td]8-8-0[/td] [td]One of the NFL's oldest teams needs better luck with injuries to rebound and contend for the division crown. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]20 (19)[/td] [td]********[/td] [td]8-8-0[/td] [td]The ******** made the best free-agent signing in DT Albert Haynesworth. They need a better offense to make the playoffs. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]21 (21)[/td] [td]Bills[/td] [td]7-9-0[/td] [td]T.O. should be good for double-digit TDs. Trent Edwards must cope with double-digit headaches and one-sided shouting matches. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]22 (26)[/td] [td]49ers[/td] [td]7-9-0[/td] [td]First-round draft choice WR Michael Crabtree gets a training camp crash course after rehabbing a foot injury. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]23 (20)[/td] [td]Jets[/td] [td]9-7-0[/td] [td]New coach Rex Ryan will make the defense better, but expect the offense to struggle as the Mark Sanchez era begins. (Clayton)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]24 (23)[/td] [td]Bengals[/td] [td]4-11-1[/td] [td]Big question: Can Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco become a dangerous duo once again? (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]25 (24)[/td] [td]Jaguars[/td] [td]5-11-0[/td] [td]Jags made good strides in adding youth and character, but that will take a while to translate into victories. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]26 (27)[/td] [td]Buccaneers[/td] [td]9-7-0[/td] [td]Bucs have fallen faster than any team this offseason, but they don't have to be this bad. Steady play at QB would fix a lot. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]27 (25)[/td] [td]Broncos[/td] [td]8-8-0[/td] [td]Maybe the Broncos' changes actually are ingenious and they're on the upswing, but it's hard to see it. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]28 (2[/td] [td]Browns[/td] [td]4-12-0[/td] [td]The same Rob Ryan who dismal job of running the Raiders' D is in charge of the Browns' unit. This can't be encouraging. (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]29 (29)[/td] [td]Chiefs[/td] [td]2-14-0[/td] [td]It's hard to forecast a quick turnaround, but it's happened before when there's good leadership in place. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]30 (30)[/td] [td]Raiders[/td] [td]5-11-0[/td] [td]The Raiders seem dysfunctional on many levels, but Denver and K.C. might be in their range. (Kuharsky)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]31 (31)[/td] [td]Rams[/td] [td]2-14-0[/td] [td]The Rams' projected starting O-linemen earned the highest average Madden 2010 ratings in the division. Hmmm. (Sando)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [td]32 (32)[/td] [td]Lions[/td] [td]0-16-0[/td] [td]The Lions lost every game last season. What else do you need to know? (Chadiha)[/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]Glossary[/td] [/tr][tr][td]The rankings were determined by a poll of four voters on ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton (AFC East, NFC East), Jeffri Chadiha (AFC North, NFC North), Paul Kuharsky (AFC South, AFC West), and Mike Sando (NFC South, NFC West).[/td] [/tr][/table]