NFL Preview: Bob Glauber's Hot Reads
Cam's the man
The NFL's No. 1 overall draft pick will start from Day 1. Cam Newton, Auburn's Heisman Trophy winner last season, will get the nod as the Panthers' starter after a preseason that had plenty of ups and downs -- just like the kind we're about to see in the regular season.
It's never easy for a young quarterback, and Newton will have plenty of growing pains. He knows the task is enormous.
"It's a big responsibility to be a starter in this league," he said. "I can't just sit back and say I've arrived, because we have a long way to go."
They sure do; the Panthers are coming off a 2-14 season and also have a rookie coach in Ron Rivera. The coach's message:
"It's not just about [Newton], but it's about the rest of us growing within our system," he said. "We didn't draft Cam to be the savior. We drafted him to help build this football team."
Kickoff rule here to stay
Players, coaches and fans alike have grumbled about the new kickoff rules, but they'll have to grin and bear it for at least the rest of the season. The NFL is not about to change the rule that moves kickoffs from the 30 to the 35-yard line, despite the likelihood that touchbacks will spike this season.
Touchbacks have been on a gradual increase since 1994, when kickoffs were moved back to the 30 from the 35. That year, 88.4 percent of kickoffs were returned, compared with 80.1 percent last year, the lowest since the '94 rule change. But the competition committee won't change the rule during the season, because it's more concerned about reducing injuries on the return and coverage teams.
Worst to first
One of the best things about the NFL is competitive balance. It gives just about every team hope from year to year. For the eighth straight year in 2010, at least one team finished first in its division after finishing last the year before.
And the chances of that kind of quick turnaround seem to have increased. Of the 33 teams to go from worst to first, 15 have done so the past 10 seasons. Last year, it was the Chiefs, going from 4-12 to 10-6 to take the AFC West title.
The other 14 teams to go from last to first since 2001: Chicago and New England in 2001; Carolina and Kansas City in 2003; Atlanta and San Diego in 2004; Chicago and Tampa Bay in 2005; Baltimore, New Orleans and Philadelphia in 2006; Tampa in 2007; Miami in 2008; and New Orleans in 2009.
Bad omen for Falcons?
The Falcons are considered a Super Bowl contender, but the preseason didn't exactly set the tone for winning. The Falcons finished 0-4. Not to worry, coach Mike Smith says.
Peyton's place
The Colts have their fingers crossed that Peyton Manning can return from neck surgery. He also has a number of milestones he can reach. He needs 4,000 passing yards to become the first with 12 seasons of at least that many. Manning also needs 22 touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (420) for second. Manning also needs 286 completions to surpass Marino (4,967) for second . And he needs just one 300-yard passing game to break his first-place tie with Marino for career 300-yard games (63).
Freeman: Under the radar
Take it from one of the NFL's oldest players: Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman is one of the league's best young ones.
"I think it's time to start talking about this guy as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game," 36-year-old Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said of the 23-year-old Freeman (10-6 as a starter last year). Freeman already has seven fourth-quarter comebacks on his resume, including five last year.
Belichick targets Parcells
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is seven wins away from surpassing Bill Parcells on the all-time coaches wins list. Belichick has 177 wins to Parcells' 183.
But Belichick still has quite a way to go before catching the NFL's all-time coaching wins leader. In fact, Belichick is only halfway there. Don Shula won 347 games.
But Belichick has passed Shula and Parcells in Super Bowl wins. Belichick leads both by a 3-2 count.
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