2005-2006 NFL Tips, Picks and Odds

Steve McNair's back, but a lot of his NFL buddies won't be with him in 2005. The winds of change swept through the Music City this offseason, as some of the most familiar names in Tennessee Titans franchise history were set free for salary cap reasons.

Many of those veterans will be replaced with younger, less experienced players. It hardly sounds like a recipe for success after a dismal 5-11 season. Offseason surgery repaired McNair's sternum and lifted his spirits for the upcoming season. He hopes to return to MVP form this fall after suffering through an injury-plagued 2004 campaign.

He'll have to find a new favorite target following the departure of Derrick Mason, and the Titans must improve on both sides of the ball. Tennessee is expected to get most of its injured players back in time for the '05 season, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher says despite the turnover on the roster he expects to field a competitive team.

Coming off a co-MVP season, McNair had high hopes heading into last year. But an unusual sternum injury ruined his season, and he played in only eight games. McNair enters the 2005 season in the best shape of his life after dedicating himself to the offseason program. Many felt he opted not to retire because he didn't want to end his career on a sour note.

If he plays well - and stays healthy in '05 - it could reenergize him to keep playing several more years. This fall, he'll be working with one of the game's most respected offensive coordinators, Norm Chow. In McNair's absence last season, backup Billy Volek certainly proved he's capable. Volek completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns and was especially effective throwing the deep ball.

The Titans got 1,067 yards out of Chris Brown in '04, but they didn't get all of their questions answered about the talented running back. For the second straight year, Brown missed five games because of injuries. When he played, he was especially productive and provided a breakaway threat the team hasn't had in awhile.

Chow is expected to increase Brown's role in the offense even more this fall, and if the third-year back stays healthy he could take a lot of pressure off McNair.

Fisher doesn't want to hear any of the "rebuilding" talk. But face the facts - the Titans lost key players - and they're counting on youngsters to step in and produce all over the field. The Titans have been a popular Super Bowl pick in past preseasons, but no one will be picking them this year. In a division that continues to improve, they'll be fortunate to finish .500.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win AFC North Division:

Indianapolis Colts 1/4

Jacksonville Jaguars 4/1

Houston Texans 9/1

Tennessee Titans 12/1

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The Jacksonville Jaguars hope the growing pains are over for young coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback Byron Leftwich as they enter their third football season together.

Del Rio, who was hired as the head coach in 2003 after only six years as an assistant, spent two years growing into the job and building the team he wants while he made several changes in his coaching staff. Now he hopes to end Jacksonville's five-year playoff drought and end the Colts' AFC South domination.

Whether they make it probably depends on whether Leftwich matures this year into a quarterback who can carry the team. After being drafted in the first round in 2003, he endured the typical rookie struggles when he became the starter after three games due to an injury to Mark Brunell. Leftwich went 1-4 in his first five starts before going 4-4 in his final four starts as a rookie.

When Leftwich started out 3-0 last season, the Jaguars appeared to have turned the corner. But Leftwich was then injured twice - missing two games with an injured knee and suffering a concussion in the final home game against Houston. The Jaguars went 6-7 in the final 13 to miss the playoffs by a game.

Fred Taylor's health will be a major concern for the Jaguars this year. Taylor, who ran for 1,224 yards last year in 14 starts, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January. Del Rio said at the draft that Taylor won't be ready to play until June at the earliest, but the team expects him at full speed for training camp.

If they improve by a game or two this year, the Jaguars figure to have their first playoff team since 1999. Reggie Hayward was the only major veteran addition to a team that fell a game short of the playoffs last year, but the Jaguars hope that his improvement plus the development of some of their young players will be enough to vault them into the playoffs.

The key for the Jaguars is to get a fast start; they open the season with six of their first seven games against playoff teams. If they're in the race at the halfway mark, they should have a shot at making the playoffs.

NFL Football Betting odds: BODOG Sportsbook

NFL Football Player Props:

Who will be on the cover of Madden 2007?

Byron Leftwich 10/1

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Great weather, fine beaches and a top-notch NFL team, too? Man, those San Diego fans have all the luck. The Chargers, after years of wipeouts, finally rode a successful wave in the AFC West. They turned a 4-12 record on its nose last season and won their first divisional title since 1994.

So after the departure from eight straight non-winning seasons, what do the Bolts do for an encore? The Chargers seem primed to build on their recent stunning success, returning every starter and buoyed by a confidence seen in these parts as often as snow.

But it won't be easy. The Chargers play seven games against playoff teams, and their road slate has five contests three times zones away. Both Super Bowl participants, the Patriots and Eagles, will host San Diego.

But the Chargers remain convinced that their franchise is on the rise. With three Pro Bowlers in running back LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Drew Brees and tight end Antonio Gates, and a defense that is among the best at stopping the run, they might be right.

Brees went from being toast to the toast of the town in a reversal of fortune seldom seen in the NFL. He brushed off the acquisition of rookie Philip Rivers with one of the best seasons ever by a Chargers quarterback. Brees was retained as the team's franchise player, though the club still believes Rivers is the future.

Tomlinson was slowed by a groin injury for the majority of the season. All he did was rush for 1,335 yards, 17 touchdowns and say "aloha" to his second Pro Bowl invitation. This season should see Tomlinson return to health, but likely not the same workload he had before last year. With the emergence of Gates and a receiving corps bolstered by Keenan McCardell, the Chargers don't have to call Tomlinson's number every time they need yards.

This is a team on the upswing. Many of the skill players are in their prime - Tomlinson, Brees and Gates - and they are led by a head coach who knows how to win; Schottenheimer is eighth on the NFL's all-time list for victories. That being said, a demanding schedule awaits a team that went but 1-5 against playoff squads last season. And if the pass defense isn't enhanced by the pass rush, the Chargers will have difficulty staying among the elites.

But considering the acumen with which A.J. Smith is building this club, the Chargers are positioned to be an AFC West contender for years. While they will be hard-pressed to match last year's 12-4 mark, another trip to the playoffs should come the Chargers' way.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Who will be on the cover of Madden 2007 ?

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This time, the Kansas Chiefs didn't ignore the obvious and wish away their defensive deficiencies. Coach Dick Vermeil confronted them head-on, acquiring at least three new football starters and two more defensive players who should make significant contributions.

There's no question the Chiefs improved themselves defensively with the acquisition of three starters in linebacker Kendrell Bell, cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Sammy Knight. Linebacker Derrick Johnson, the first-round draft pick, and end Carlos Hall will be expected to help even if they aren't starters.

But there's also no guarantee the newcomers will make enough of a difference to put the Chiefs back in the playoffs after last season's disappointing 7-9 finish in the AFC West.

Trent Green had another big year for the Chiefs in 2004, and even though he will be 35 at the start of this season, he's showing no signs of slowing down. Green's physical abilities aren't the best in football, but he can make all the throws and is usually very accurate. He also understands the Kansas City system and what the coaches expect from him. He does well in executing their wishes.

When healthy, Priest Holmes and Tony Richardson give the Chiefs one of the NFL's best backfields. Holmes was on pace for another big season last year when it ended after eight games because of a knee injury. He's been unable to finish two of his four seasons with the Chiefs because of injuries. But if he's right, Holmes should be able to deliver the numbers the Chiefs have come to expect.

Richardson is a versatile back who gives the Chiefs a power-running alternative to the quicker Holmes. He's at his best as a blocker leading Holmes through a hole.

The Chiefs won't suddenly become a defensive powerhouse even though they will have a new look. But they do have too much talent to merely flounder around the middle of the NFL pack, as they did last season. So look for the Chiefs to be a playoff contender. If they can manage a strong start against a tough early schedule, the Chiefs should be in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs all season long.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Oasis Casino and Sportsbook

2005/06 AFC West Divisional Odds:

Kansas City Chiefs +200

San Diego Chargers +250

Denver Broncos +250

Oakland Raiders +300

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After a disappointing season in which the Baltimore Ravens fell behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North Division standings and out of the playoffs altogether, the team's front office overhauled its coaching staff and roster.

On defense, where the Ravens lacked the punch that had long made them one of the most feared teams in the NFL, the Ravens promoted line coach Rex Ryan to coordinator, replacing Mike Nolan, who left to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

The Ravens' offense, which has seldom matched the production of the high-scoring units coach Brian Billick had as coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, also underwent a major facelift.

The Ravens made several roster moves, signing former Pro Bowl cornerback Samari Rolle in addition to adding former St. Louis Rams starter Tommy Polley at outside linebacker. Offensively, underachieving receivers Kevin Johnson and Travis Taylor were let go, and the Ravens added former Tennessee Titan Derrick Mason, who led all NFL receivers with 96 catches in 2004.

Kyle Boller, a first-round draft pick in 2003, enters his third season as a starter, and he is embarking on a pivotal stretch in his career. The Ravens' passing offense has not finished higher than 27th in any of the previous three seasons, though Boller's statistics last year - he completed 258-of-464 passes (55.6 percent) for 2,559 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions -- were better than his rookie season.

Jamal Lewis entered last season as the team's biggest strength after rushing for 2,066 yards in 2003, but now he's a question mark. He rushed for just 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in a season slowed by injuries and a suspension.

Baltimore's busy offseason has it in position to contend for its second division title in the past three years. However, the Ravens were also considered by many as the division's top team entering last season, but injuries, combined with an inconsistent passing game, kept them out of the playoffs.

The Ravens appear to be a better team entering this season than the one that just missed making the playoffs last year, which bodes well for a team that believes it's a Super Bowl contender.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win AFC North Division:

Baltimore Ravens 10/11

Cincinnati Bengals 17/5

Cleveland Browns 16/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 9/5

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In the days and weeks after the Indianapolis Colts' 20-3 AFC playoff loss to the New England Patriots, team president Bill Polian and head coach Tony Dungy came to the realization that one thing had to change if the Colts ever wanted to make a legitimate Super Bowl run.

The offense is not the problem, despite the fact that it was held without a touchdown in the New England game. Rather, it was the overall play of the defense, and the shoddy tackling of the secondary in particular, that needed a major upgrade.

After winning back-to-back MVP awards and another AFC South plum, Peyton Manning returns with just one goal in mind - win the Super Bowl. Despite throwing for 4,557 yards and an NFL single-season record 49 touchdown passes last year, Manning is a man on a mission this year. League records and postseason awards are nice, but the Colts have come up short in the playoffs the last three seasons and Manning knows that he has the tools to lead Indianapolis a long way this year.

The 2005 season might very well be Edgerrin James' swan song with the Colts. James was tagged as Indianapolis' franchise player during the offseason and, after finding a slow market for veteran running backs, inked a one-year deal with the team. If a long-term deal can't be worked out between James and the Colts before the end of the year, the chances are pretty good that he will test the free-agent waters.

The Colts welcome back three receivers who had over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2004, led by six-time All-Pro Marvin Harrison. Harrison had 86 receptions for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns, followed by Reggie Wayne (with a team-high 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns) and Brandon Stokley (1,077 yards and 10 Tds).

With the strong possibility that James won't be back for the 2006 season, time is running short for the Indianapolis Colts' offensive triplets. Defense, as in past years, will be the all-important key to just how far Indianapolis will go in 2005. There has been improvement, but it hasn't come quickly enough.

Coach Tony Dungy's crew has come close in recent years, but until the Colts can find a way to get past those pesky Patriots, a Super Bowl run will remain just as elusive as it has already proved to be.

NFL Football Betting odds: BODOG Sportsbook

NFL Football Player Props:

Odds to win the MVP 2005-2006 Season

Peyton Manning 4/1

Player to have most Receiving Yards in the Regular Season

Marvin Harrison 5/1

Player to have most Rushing Yards in the Regular Season

Edgerrin James 15/2

Who will be on the cover of Madden 2007 ?

Peyton Manning 7/2

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The Cleveland Browns are starting over again. Entering their seventh season in the AFC North since returning as an expansion franchise in 1999, the Browns have their first general manager and third football head coach.

It was no accident that owner Randy Lerner moved 180 degrees in his thinking on the makeup of his football operation. After four years of former coach Butch Davis calling all the shots, Lerner wanted a clear delineation of duties for his general manager and coach.

The new setup gives GM Phil Savage full authority in the draft and the makeup of the final roster. Savage, 40, got his NFL start in Cleveland in the 1990s under former Browns coach Bill Belichick. When the old team was moved to Baltimore, Savage developed into one of the best talent evaluators in the league. He assisted in the drafting of 10 eventual Pro Bowl players in nine years with the Ravens.

For his coach, Savage turned to Romeo Crennel, who earned his third Super Bowl championship in four seasons as Belichick's defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots. Crennel, 58, also won two championships with the New York Giants under Bill Parcells.

One of Savage's first personnel decisions was to stabilize the quarterback position. He chose to trade for 11-year veteran Trent Dilfer, who earned a Super Bowl ring with Baltimore in 2000. Dilfer hasn't started 16 games since 1998, but he convinced Savage he was in great shape and was determined to finish his career with a bang. He signed a four-year contract.

Savage sees Dilfer as a transitional quarterback who can double as a mentor to rookie Charlie Frye and second-year prospect Josh Harris. Frye was a popular third-round draft choice from Akron who has the intangibles of Brett Favre, if not the rocket arm.

The Browns haven't had a true No. 1 receiver since they were reborn in 1999. They feel that first-round pick Braylon Edwards of Michigan will more than adequately fill that role. If Edwards is an immediate starter, holdovers Andre Davis, Antonio Bryant and Dennis Northcutt will battle for the other wideout spot.

Savage has enormous confidence in Crennel and coordinator Todd Grantham being able to incorporate and teach the 3-4 defensive scheme with a defensive roster that is lacking in playmakers. That side of the ball will take time - a few offseasons of acquisitions - to fully develop.

In the meantime, the offense on paper looks like it should be the team's strength. If the line can keep Dilfer healthy through 16 games, he has enough playmakers to help out the defense with possession time and points.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Bodog, leader in offshore sports wagering, has listed the Browns at 130/1 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Cleveland as the longest shot to win the AFC Conference at 70/1. In its odds to win the AFC North Division, the Browns are at 16/1, the worst in the division.

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Athough this is a rebuilding season for the Miami Dolphins, they are not starting from scratch. Their football roster is far superior to that of the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, two other teams with comparable NFL records in 2004.

Many NFL pundits believe that new Dolphins head coach Nick Saban is the closest thing to Bill Belichick. They are both control freaks, they plan exhaustive schedules for their players, and they have very high demands. Saban eventually plans on switching the defense into a 3-4 scheme, but until he gathers the right players, they will primarily use the 4-3.

The picture of the offense may look strikingly familiar to you: a questionable quarterback, a problematic offensive line, and a good running game. Gus Frerotte has a couple of similar characteristics to AJ Feeley, such as he doesn't throw the ball well when his feet are not set and sometimes he tries to make too much happen, but overall, he is probably the better choice at quarterback.

The receivers on this team are excellent, especially with the prospects of David Boston contributing as the third wideout, but the offensive line may not provide enough protection for the passing game to really flourish.

Ronnie Brown has missed considerable time from training camp, but he will be the starter when he does arrive. He is an excellent all-around back and should provide what Ricky Williams supplied in his first two seasons in Miami. As for Ricky, the only reason Saban brought him back was to prove that he still has trade value. If he regains his skills, some team will give up a fourth- or fifth-round pick for him by next year's draft.

Essentially, this is the same old Miami Dolphins we have known to hate and love over the past decade. The foundation is built around a strong defense, the offense will be able to run the ball, but there are still major reservations about the offensive line and the quarterbacks.

The roster is in transition, and the division is strong, so it would be asking too much to expect the playoffs now. A seven- or eight-win season for the Dolphins would be a great accomplishment. In two years, Saban will have more of his type of players, and by 2007, he might be able to make a real playoff run.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Bodog Sportsbook, an online sports betting, casino gambling and multi-player poker entertainment company with great betting lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts, has listed the Dolphins at 75/1 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Miami as the longest shot to win the AFC Conference at 38/1. In its odds to win the AFC East Division, the Dolphins are at 15/1 in the list topped by the New England Patriots.

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The 2005 NFL regular season is still more than two weeks away, yet it's already clear the Oakland Raiders made one of the league's biggest acquisitions of the off-season. And we're not only even talking about Randy Moss.

LaMont Jordan is incredible. The former New York Jets part-timer runs inside, he runs outside and he catches passes. You have to wonder if Kerry Collins will ever call a play for Mr. Moss.

OK, let's not get carried away. Moss will get his touches. So will Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel. In fact, every Raiders receiver - and Collins as well - will enjoy playing in a comfort zone this season because defenses will always have to account for Jordan.

The last time the Raiders had a back like this, Charlie Garner carried two aging wide receivers and a journeyman quarterback all the way to the Super Bowl. The offense was so good, the Raiders were able to win five times in 2002 when their opponent scored 20 or more points.

Perceptions aside, there is pressure on Collins on the eve of the season's first exhibition game. Collins responded to the tough times last year with a flourish. Now the ante has been raised. The hammer and nails are there. Time to build Godzilla. And he will be watched, closely.

He says he isn't going to try to hit five-run homers every time out, even though it may be tempting given the additions of Moss and running back Jordan to spice up the offense. Meanwhile, Collins comes into his second year in the Raiders colors with a confidence bred of survival.

Oakland's overall success will be dependent upon how well Collins plays. That might be asking a bit much because the Raiders need him to be more consistent and more effective than he has been. Collins is a streaky, hit-or-miss player who is prone to funks where he doesn't complete a high percentage of his passes and throws interceptions in bunches. That doesn't bode well for the Raiders in the long run.

It's going to be that kind of season in 2005. It'll be a rare Sunday when the Oakland defense keeps its opponent out of the 20s. But thanks in large part to Jordan, the scoreboard will get a workout whenever the Raiders have the ball as well. It should be fun.

Look for the Raiders to be an improved team. However, a tough schedule and a questionable defense make it unlikely that the Raiders will make the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season.

Bring on the Kansas City Chiefs. That Sept. 18 home opener ought to be a doozy for all Raider fanatics.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Bodog Sportsbook, an online sports betting, casino gambling and multi-player poker entertainment company with great betting lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts, has listed the Raiders at 26/1 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Oakland as a longshot to win the AFC Conference at 18/1. In its odds to win the AFC West Division, the Raiders are second best at 3/1 just behind the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A lot of pundits are predicting a tough NFL football season for the Buffalo Bills with first-year starter J.P. Losman at quarterback. But there are plenty of reasons for Bills fans to think that this could be a big year for the Bills.

One big reason expectations are high on Buffalo is coach Mike Mularkey. Mularkey has shown great leadership qualities after lifting the team out of its 0-4 start to a near playoff berth. Football experts also impressed that Mularkey has surrounded himself with a staff of seasoned coaches like Sam Wyche, Tom Clements and Jim McNally.

After undergoing two weeks of productive practices and participated in a controlled scrimmage in Green Bay, the Bills won't know where they stand until they start playing regular season games. This will mark the official season debut for Losman as the Bills' starting quarterback. Most top signal-callers don't play much in their first regular season game, but Losman will surely be making plenty of cameo appearances for the Bills.

Losman has already faced three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brett Favre in a scrimmage at Green Bay and got to measure himself against Colts quarterback and reigning league MVP Peyton Manning in a preseason game which the Bills won convincingly. What Mularkey hopes Losman picks up is how to handle pressure, read defenses and make sound decisions.

Fans are now to see how the entire offense will come along. The upcoming season will be an opportunity for Losman to continue to develop his timing with wide receivers Eric Moulds and Lee Evans. Running back Willis McGahee will surely play, but Mularkey is interested in seeing how the backup situation will shape up.

Eyes will be on the Bills' revamped offensive line as well. The unit has two new starters in left guard Bennie Anderson and left tackle Mike Gandy, who has been the more scrutinized of the two newcomers. However, it is uncertain how much of a challenge the offense will get.

The goal in Buffalo will be the re-emergence of a franchise that has gone five straight winters without playoff football, and last won a postseason game when Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Marv Levy were still in town. The Bills came close to ending their playoff drought last season, when they won nine of 11 following an 0-4 start but blinked on the final week in a home loss to Pittsburgh and finished out of the money.

The Bills appear to be ready to start the season but they are bound to make mistakes, and Losman is probably not ready to carry the load on his own. That puts a ton of pressure on a defense that, while talented, still lacks an elite-level pass rusher to scare the likes of division foes like the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

The Bills appear destined to finish third, and with enough improvement by the new-look Dolphins, could realistically descend to the AFC East basement.

NFL Football Betting odds: BODOG Sportsbook

NFL Football Player Props:

Odds to win the MVP 2005-2006 Season

Willie McGahee 35/1

Player to have most Receiving Yards in the Regular Season

Eric Moulds 13/1

Player to have most Rushing Yards in the Regular Season

Willie McGahee 13/1

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Before taking a chance and signing Kurt Warner, the Arizona Cardinals evaluated each and every one of the 277 passes he threw last season. And they came away convinced that Warner, who has finished each of the last two seasons as a backup to younger quarterbacks, still had the arm strength and accuracy that made him one of the most brilliant passers in NFL football history before a succession of shoulder, hand and finger injuries - plus a frightening concussion - led to his demise in St. Louis.

After a one-year stopover with the New York Giants last season, Warner is with his third team in three years, quite a comedown for a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who led the Rams to two Super Bowls during 1999-2001. He lost his job to Marc Bulger and became a salary cap casualty in St. Louis.

Actually, Warner was a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year honors last season as he led the Giants to a 5-2 start. But after two consecutive losses by a total of 10 points, Giants coach Tom Coughlin replaced Warner with rookie Eli Manning, the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Warner knew Manning would eventually replace him as the Giants quarterback of the future, but not as long as he kept the team in the playoff hunt. The Giants went 0-6 with Manning at quarterback before winning the season finale. His passer rating was 55.4 compared with Warner's 86.5.

Warner is still somewhat bitter about his season in New York. So Warner left New York and signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Arizona and a chance to play in a quarterback-friendly offense for coach Dennis Green, who had success with veteran quarterbacks Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon and Jeff George at Minnesota.

Warner, who is still the NFL's all-time leader in career completion percentage (65.9) and second in passer rating (95.7), has the benefit of throwing to three of the league's most talented young receivers in former first-round picks Larry Fitzgerald (2004) and Bryant Johnson (2003), and Anquan Boldin, a 2003 Pro Bowl starter. He also has a promising young running back in J.J. Arrington, the Cards' second-round pick from California.

Championships? Has the Arizona heat gotten to Warner? The Cardinals haven't won an NFL championship in 57 years, the longest drought in the NFL, when the franchise was based in Chicago. Since 1947, the franchise has qualified for the playoffs five times, winning one postseason game, in 1998.

But Warner remembers what happened in St. Louis, when the Rams had the league's poorest record in the 1990s, before he stepped in for an injured Trent Green in 1999 and emerged from grocery store stock boy to Super Bowl hero. He threw for 4,353 yards and led the league with 41 touchdown passes and a 65.1 completion percentage as the Greatest Show on Turf reversed the culture of losing football in St. Louis - a mentality created by the St. Louis Cardinals before their move to Arizona.

Clearly, the Cardinals have a chance at contending this season in a weak NFC West Division in which Seattle, 9-7, was the only team in the division with a winning record last year. And the Seahawks lost to St. Louis, 8-8, in all three meetings, including a playoff game.

Warner won't have to wait long to find out how the Cardinals will measure up against the Rams. In a cruel twist, the NFL has Warner facing his former teams in the first two weeks of the regular season - at the Giants on Sept. 11, and at home against St. Louis on Sept. 18.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Bodog Sportsbook, an online sports betting, casino gambling and multi-player poker entertainment company with great betting lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts, has listed the Cardinals at 35/1 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Arizona as a longshot to win the NFC Conference at 17/1. In its odds to win the NFC West Division, the Cardinals are tied with the Seahawks at 2/1.

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Drew Bledsoe set NFL passing records and got to the Super Bowl as a young quarterback for the New England Patriots and then-coach Bill Parcells. But they came up short of a title. Now, a decade later, the two will try again - this time for the Dallas Cowboys.

The last time they were together, Bledsoe was trying to establish himself among the NFL's top quarterbacks. This time, at age 33, he'll be trying to prove he can still perform up to his previous standard.

Bledsoe will be looked on to provide guidance to a team that was inconsistent on offense and finished 6-10 last season after making the playoffs in Parcells' first year. His leadership was apparent at practice, where he offered encouragement to teammates after every successful offensive play.

Parcells has noticed a difference, saying Bledsoe has learned additional facets of the game since he last coached him. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Bledsoe, 6 feet 5 and 238 pounds, needs only 192 yards to become the 10th quarterback in NFL history to accumulate 40,000 passing yards. He ranks in the top 20 on the league's all-time lists in completions, passing attempts, yards and touchdowns.

On the flip side, he has been known to hold onto the ball too long, having been sacked 402 times, including 140 in his three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, to whom the Patriots traded him after he was beset by injuries and made expendable by the rise of Tom Brady.

But is he the same quarterback who did not throw more touchdowns than interceptions until his fourth NFL season? Bledsoe has a firm grasp on the starting position, a welcome relief for the Cowboys after last season's quarterback carousel.

Bledsoe, who played nine seasons with the Patriots before joining the Bills for three, is one of four Super Bowl quarterbacks who this season will be looking to recapture their legacy. The others are Oakland's Kerry Collins, Cleveland's Trent Dilfer and Arizona's Kurt Warner.

Bledsoe will hand off to Julius Jones, a running back from Notre Dame who showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. The receivers include Terry Glenn, one of Bledsoe's favorite targets in New England, and Keyshawn Johnson. The Cowboys also have third-year tight end Jason Witten, who is coming off an 87-catch, six-touchdown season.

Although Bledsoe hasn't led a team to the playoffs since 1998, he had a pivotal victory in the 2001 AFC title game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bledsoe replaced an injured Brady and led the Patriots to their only offensive touchdown in a 24-17 upset.

Well, he may not be the same Bledose, but surrounded by talent and having been reunited with Parcells, he may have found a fair situation.

NFL Football Betting odds: BODOG Sportsbook and PinnacleSports

Online sportsbooks BODOG and PinnacleSports have laid down their football futures betting propositions on the Cowboys for the upcoming 2005-2006 NFL Season. BODOG has listed the Cowboys 30/1 to win the Superbowl while PinnacleSports had the Texas team at +3071.

As for them winning the the NFC Conference, Dallas was 12/1 at BODOG while in PinnacleSports, they are at +1443. Both sportsbooks listed the Cowboys as second favorite to the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East Division.

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Yes, the Houston Texans are making progress as the NFL's newest football franchise. Dom Capers' club went from 4-12 in their inaugural season, to 5-11 in 2003, to 7-9 last year, and are expecting to continue their upward trend in 2005.

Trouble is, more slow, steady progress probably isn't going to earn the Texans a playoff berth this season. A two-game leap to 9-7 would likely be just good enough to keep Houston on the outside looking in on a talented and crowded AFC picture, and to be sure, Capers and company are shooting for more.

That's why Houston made several quiet but pivotal changes this past offseason, in the hopes of shaking up the franchise in all the right places. Inside linebackers Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman, who had given the defense its identity for most of three seasons, were dispensed with, as were former secondary starters Aaron Glenn, Marlon McCree, Eric Brown, and Kenny Wright.

Offseason acquisitions in linebacker Morlon Greenwood (Dolphins), cornerback Phillip Buchanon (Raiders), and defensive tackle Travis Johnson (a first-round draft choice out of Florida State) were brought in to assist a unit that will have a fresh look under new coordinator Vic Fangio.

On special teams, return man J.J. Moses was given his walking papers in May, and Buchanon and speedy fourth-round pick Jerome Mathis (Hampton) were welcomed in to give the club some additional punch on punts and kickoffs.

If the moves pay off, the City of Houston could be looking forward to playoff football for the first time since Warren Moon guided the Oilers into the 1993 AFC Playoffs. And that's the only type of progress Texans fans are likely to applaud.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

PinnacleSports, leader in offshore sports wagering, has listed the Texans at +7923 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Houston as the third lomgest shot to win the AFC Conference at +3594. In its odds to win the AFC South Division, the Texans are at +1050, second worst in the division behind the Titans.

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Ever since the 1999 St. Louis Rams emerged on the football scene as the "Greatest Show on Turf," they have been known for their two outstanding receivers.

The combination of Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt might be one of the best the league has ever seen over a five-year span, but the dynamic duo might be on its way to becoming the NFL's most explosive barbershop quartet.

Ask anyone around Rams Park these days the biggest reason for optimism heading into this season and the answer will invariably involve the myriad possibilities of the offense. Those possibilities might not be so endless were it not for the emergence and development of the perfect compliments to the St. Louis version of Batman and Robin.

Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald didn't just arrive on the scene last season; they ran through it like world-class sprinters hopped up on Red Bull. Ask the Seattle Seahawks what they remember about their first meeting with the Rams last season and Nos. 83 and 84 will probably be mentioned followed by a slew of words that aren't suitable for print.

The Rams spent the better part of a year waiting for Curtis and McDonald to get with the system. Unfortunately, both suffered through miserable, injury-plagued rookie seasons.

Curtis played in four games in 2003, missing the first five games of the season with a broken fibula. McDonald played in eight games, but suffered a thumb injury that kept him out for four weeks. Those injuries didn't necessarily keep Curtis and McDonald out for the whole season, but they might as well have.

Thanks to Curtis and McDonald's development, if there is one thing that this team will be able to do, it's throw a variety of things at opposing secondaries. The only problem for those opponents is that whatever the Rams throw might be too fast to keep up with.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

PinnacleSports, leader in offshore sports wagering, has listed the Rams at +4081 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged St. Louis as a longshot to win the NFC Conference at +1711. In its odds to win the NFC West Division, the Rams are at +210, second best in the division behind the Seahawks.

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The Tennessee Titans are ready for their first test of Norm Chow's offense NFL-style, and Steve McNair is quite excited about it. After a forgetful season last year, the Titans are now expecting more touchdowns and fieldgoals under the former USC offensive wizard.

The Titans, who ended the 2003 campaign a heartbeat away from a spot in the AFC Championship, went down in 2004, and went down hard. With quarterback McNair spending most of the season nursing a bruised sternum that required offseason surgery, Jeff Fisher's club fell from 12-4 to 5-11, a mark that brought with it the indignity of last place in the AFC South.

A banged-up defense was stretched to the limit in the closing month-and-a-half of the season, and during an ugly five-game losing skid that dropped the Titans to 4-11, that unit gave up an eye-popping 41.6 points per game.

Fisher lured Chow away from the college ranks where he spent 32 years devising offenses that ranked among the nation's best year in and year out. He tutored three Heisman Trophy winners and was the assistant coach of the year three times. He had to replace Mike Heimerdinger, who left for the same job with the New York Jets. Chow was asked to simplify the playbook, and he has added lots of motion and shorter drops for McNair to help him get rid of the ball quicker.

After reaching the playoffs in four of the previous six seasons, the Titans are in rebuilding mode. Only 11 Titans have four or more years' experience in the NFL after nine starters were traded away in the offseason. Fisher definitely needs a new starting right tackle, wide receiver, two cornerbacks and top defensive ends.

Despite the obstacles, there is hope in the Music City that the Titans can take a San Diego Chargers-size leap back to the top of the division this season. At the very least, Tennessee supporters will take solace in the fact that this year's Titans can't possibly be last year's Titans.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

PinnacleSports, leader in offshore sports wagering, has listed the Titans at +9510 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Tennessee as the second longest shot to win the AFC Conference at +5111 behind the Cleveland Browns. In the NFC East Division, the Titans are at +1500, last in the division.

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The nagging question is whether the Eagles have enough talent at wide receiver to get back to the Super Bowl and win it. The answer is that the Eagles have the quarterback to get back to the Super Bowl, although, of course, Donovan McNabb still has to prove he is the man to win it.

If this becomes the Season After T.O., it will be up to McNabb to run an offense with Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen and rookie Reggie Brown as the wide receivers. You can assume that Andy Reid will add another legitimate wideout to the roster, but you can also assume he won't be as explosive as Terrell Owens.

However it shakes out, McNabb is the answer to the question. All the talk about young receivers struggling in Reid's system has missed a major point: When Todd Pinkston was a rookie, McNabb was in his second season and first full year as the starter. When Freddie Mitchell was a rookie, McNabb was in just his third season.

Reid's offense is just as complicated as ever, obviously. There is as much for Brown, the second-round pick from Georgia, to learn as there was for Pinkston and Mitchell. The difference is that the guy under center has mastered the system and has run it against every kind of NFL defense. The point is that McNabb's experience and knowledge can help make Brown, Lewis and McMullen more productive than Pinkston, Mitchell and James Thrash were at similar points in their development.

For the first five years of his career, McNabb worked under Reid's philosophy that it was better to have a bunch of good, solid, smart receivers than a superstar who demanded the ball. People close to McNabb made it clear that he hungered to find out what life would be like with a true No. 1 receiver.

McNabb found out last year that his collaboration with Owens was great fun to watch, and it will be a shame if that is lost. But there's no erasing the confidence McNabb picked up from it, or his awareness that you have to trust your receivers to make plays.

There is one more reason to believe that McNabb can be the answer to the most pressing question about this offense. After a year with T.O., and an off-season of being insulted by T.O., you have to believe McNabb would love nothing better than to prove that Owens wasn't the key to the Eagles' success last year.

They can go back without Owens, and the reason is No. 5.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

PinnacleSports, leader in offshore sports wagering, has listed the Eagles at +579 to win the Super Bowl. It has also tagged Philadelphia as the overwhelming favorite to win the NFC Conference and NFC East Division at +230 and -287, respectively.

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When sports fans think of Rocky Balboa, they think of a champion, an underdog who battled through adversity and rose to the top. Considering Chargers free safety Clinton Hart's long road to success, it's fitting that his hero is the Italian Stallion.

Hart's road has been a long, arduous journey. His father and older brother were both incarcerated when he was a teenager, and Hart passed up several football scholarship offers to stay close to home and keep an eye on his mother and younger brother.

The steps that eventually led him to the NFL weren't easy. Hart made just $162 per week playing for the Tallahassee Thunder, an AFL2 Team, and endured 20 hour bus rides throughout the season. He continued to chip away at the odds though, just like his idol Rocky.

Just one year later, Hart was named AFL Rookie of the Year as a member of the Tampa Bay Storm. His performance caught the attention of NFL scouts, and in 2002, Hart received a contract offer from the Philadelphia Eagles. As Hart planned, he was sent to NFL Europe where he spent the 2002 season with the Rhein Fire and Amsterdam Admirals before returning home to attend training camp with the Eagles.

During nine games with the Eagles, Hart tallied 61 tackles (39 solo), seven pass deflections, and one sack for a seven yard loss. Dawkins returned healthy for the 2004 season, so Philadelphia waived Hart in early September. Just one day later, San Diego came calling.

Hart has a tattoo emblazoned on the inside of his left forearm that reads "Psalm 23," a Biblical passage about being fearless when caught in one of life's many valleys. His mother tells him to read the passage every time she calls, so he keeps the reminder closer than most and rubs the tattoo six times for his family members while he's on the field.

His valley today is fighting for that starting job, as well as pushing his fellow teammates to reach that peak. Hart has made it through the valley and is now living his dream. He hopes to deliver a one-two punch on opposing offenses this season, one that Rocky Balboa would be proud of

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win 2006 Super Bowl:

New England Patriots +574

Indianapolis Colts +488

Philadelphia Eagles +566

Pittsburgh Steelers +1359

Atlanta Falcons +1504

New York Jets +1883

San Diego Chargers +3046

Buffalo Bills +5031

Denver Broncos +3933

Minnesota Vikings +1744

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The wrapping paper has looked very nice for two years, but maybe it's time to see what's actually inside the total package.

Maybe this is the year Carolina Panthers tight end Mike Seidman, once described by offensive coordinator Dan Henning as 'the total package,' really can do. More than ever, the opportunity is there.

For the second straight preseason, the Panthers have gone to training camp and handed Seidman a chance to emerge with the starting job. He spent the first week getting extensive work with the first team, and the coaching staff is hoping he can stay there.

At 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds, Seidman has the size to be a strong blocker. He also has shown enough athletic ability to make the coaches think he can be an effective receiver. That's a tantalizing combination, but it didn't always translate into playing time and production in Seidman's first two years.

Like many rookies, Seidman saw a jumbled picture when he came out of UCLA in 2003. He showed a few flashes, but his playing time was limited; he caught five passes for 35 yards. Seidman said he was starting to feel more comfortable near the end of his rookie season, but he tore the ACL in his left knee in the 12th game and had surgery.

Seidman's rehabilitation was unusually quick and he was back on the practice field at the start of training camp last year. He was getting a lot of work with the first team, but his knee might have put him in over his head.

His most memorable play of last season came Dec. 26 when he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass against Tampa Bay as he lay on the ground in the back of the end zone.

The competition is strong. Dependable Kris Mangum, the starter last year, has shown he can contribute as a blocker and receiver. Michael Gaines spent his rookie season primarily as a blocker.

Seidman is hoping this is the year he can finally do everything well.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: BODOG Sportsbook

2005/06 NFC South Divisional Odds:

Atlanta Falcons 11/10

Carolina Panthers 2/1

New Orleans Saints 9/2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6/1

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By the time they retired, there was little doubt that Dan Marino and Steve Young would be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They were dominant quarterbacks in the 1980's and '90's, Marino a strong-armed member of the storied draft class of 1983, Young a left-handed, fleet-footed refugee from the United States Football League.

Yesterday, they reached that milestone, heading into the Hall of Fame along with two former stars from early in the last century, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman.

Just before their induction ceremonies, Young, who threw a record six touchdown passes to lead San Francisco to victory in Super Bowl XXIX, said at a news conference that he came to Brigham Young from high school as a wishbone quarterback, yet he dreamed of being Roger Staubach.

Young won two most valuable player awards with the 49ers after replacing Joe Montana. Marino was introduced by his 20-year-old son Daniel, bringing tears to the eyes of the quarterback who set N.F.L. records with 4,967 completions, 8,358 passes, 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns.

Pollard and Friedman did not play in the postwar, television generation. In their time, the 1920's and '30's, statistics were kept unevenly, and there is little to remember their accomplishments by.

Pollard was one of the first two African-Americans in the National Football League and became its first black coach, with the Akron Pros in 1921 - a distinction that did not change until 1989 when the Oakland Raiders hired Art Shell.

Dr. Steven Towns, Pollard's grandson, said at the news conference that the time required for his grandfather to be inducted was difficult for the family to understand. Pollard's name is now synonymous, through the Fritz Pollard Alliance, with the campaign to increase the number of blacks coaches and general managers.

Friedman, who would have turned 100 last February, was one of the leading quarterbacks of his day. After completing an all-American career at the University of Michigan, he played for the Cleveland Bulldogs, Detroit Wolverines, Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers from 1927 to 1934. In his first four seasons, including two with the Giants, he passed for 53 touchdowns.

Red Grange once said that Friedman was "the best quarterback I ever played against." Friedman would later coach the City College football team and become the athletic director of Brandeis University.

In later years, Friedman grew frustrated with not being elected to the hall, and once accused the league of "arrogance beyond belief" for excluding pre-1958 players from receiving pension benefits. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1982 in his apartment on the East Side of Manhattan.

Today, his nephew, David, said, that his uncle's induction "has been a long time coming. A lot of people haven't heard of him, but when you look at his statistics, he's pretty impressive."

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Oasis Casino and Sportsbook

2005/06 NFC West Divisional Odds:

Seattle Seahawks +120

St. Louis Rams +200

Arizona Cardinals +220

San Francisco 49ers +3500

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Maybe this won't be Dick Vermeil's last year coaching after all. In January, at the end of Kansas City's tough and disappointing 7-9 season, the oldest head coach in the NFL honestly thought it would be. But now the bounce is back.

Despite his 69 years, the only man to coach teams to victory in both the Super Bowl and the Rose Bowl feels animated, energetic and eager. Everything will hinge on how the 2005 Chiefs do. Provided they compete and he still feels up to the job, Vermeil, who was the NFL's coach of the year in 1999, just might return for his 16th campaign.

He already hastily retired once and lived to regret it. Shortly after the Rams won the Super Bowl after the 1999 season, he unexpectedly stepped down and returned to his 114-acre estate in rural Pennsylvania.

It has been four seasons since Chiefs president Carl Peterson, Vermeil's friend from his UCLA and Philadelphia days, fired then-head coach Gunther Cunningham and talked Vermeil into taking his place. A 34-30 Kansas City record, with only one playoff appearance in 2003, has left Vermeil feeling dissatisfied, hungry to see the project to a successful conclusion.

But forcing an old friend into a painful decision is the last thing he wants. For now at least, amid the sights and sounds of Kansas City's scenic North Woods training camp, last winter's weariness has given way to a refreshing sense of renewal.

Vermeil feels but they've got to get the job done. That's what the Chiefs had hoped when they brought Vermeil to Kansas City. So far, they've only done it once and the Chiefs should have been a playoff team two other times.

Vermeil loves being a leader and coaching. When asked about this question: "Does that light still burn?". Vermeil quickly answered, "You're darn right it does."

NFL Football Betting Odds from: Oasis Casino and Sportsbook

2005/06 AFC West Divisional Odds:

Kansas City Chiefs +200

San Diego Chargers +250

Denver Broncos +250

Oakland Raiders +300

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Quarterback Drew Bledsoe looked like John Wayne as he took the field for the Dallas Cowboys' first practice of training camp. He didn't so much walk as swagger.

He arrived 45 minutes early, before almost everyone else. Not that it mattered. All nine cameras were trained on Bledsoe, intent on capturing his every move, as if his entrance might provide some hint about whether he is qualified to be the Cowboys' next quarterback.

Not since Troy Aikman retired five years ago have the Cowboys had a bona fide quarterback. They have paraded through a bevy of up-and-comers, has-beens and never-weres. But until Bledsoe walked on the field Saturday morning, nobody had shown any signs of being the real deal.

Bledsoe looked the part. And later, when reporters were peppering him with questions about whether he still has what it takes at age 33, he sounded the part. What everybody wants to know is: Can he still play the part?

Bledsoe already has a legacy - as a really good NFL quarterback who, not unlike former Cowboys quarterback Danny White, was never able to win a championship. He did not play when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl and had been traded away when they followed it up with two more.

What Bledsoe is trying to do is add a postscript to his legacy, and for his stage he has chosen a Cowboys franchise that has become almost synonymous with legendary quarterbacks. Don Meredith. Roger Staubach. Troy Aikman.

All of them reside in the Cowboys' exclusive Ring of Honor, and trying to follow them has humbled a good number of good guys. Although the Cowboys have a long history of legendary quarterbacks, they also have a recent history of subpar quarterbacks who, for varying reasons, proved incapable of extending that tradition.

Quincy Carter tried and failed, and tried and failed again. Neither Chad Hutchinson nor Vinny Testaverde provided a suitable answer to "Who's next?" Trying to answer that question, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has gone through seven quarterbacks since Aikman retired in 2000.

Parcells tapped Bledsoe as No. 8 this off-season because he believes Bledsoe still has that something that made him a great quarterback when they were together in New England.

Bledsoe says he has plans for his retirement. He just has a little unfinished business to take care of before leaving football for good. It is an exit worthy of The Duke himself.

NFL Football Betting Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win 2006 Super Bowl:

New England Patriots +568

Indianapolis Colts +598

Philadelphia Eagles +560

Pittsburgh Steelers +1381

Atlanta Falcons +1485

New York Jets +1831

San Diego Chargers +3032

Buffalo Bills +4746

Denver Broncos +3691

Minnesota Vikings +1718

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