Sports

Football

ny-nfl2010-sg

As we prepare to open the curtain on what is sure to be an intriguing season of football in New York, we can already declare a winner even before the first kickoff for either the Jets or the Giants. 
There is no debate about which team won the summer-long, attention-grabbing competition. With all those personalities and all that time on "Hard Knocks'' and all that cursing from the coach, the Jets were the clear-cut champions of an unprecedented gabfest. 
But now comes the time when talk has absolutely, positively nothing to do with what really matters in an <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> season. This is no longer about words. 
This is about wins. 
And thank goodness for that. For all the entertainment provided by <a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Rex Ryan</a> and his merry band of marauders - and some of it was downright hilarious, even if it stretched the bounds of decency - it's time for the real storylines to emerge. And that can only happen once the Jets kick off on Monday night against the Ravens and the Giants host the Panthers in the first weekend of regular season football at <a href="/topics/New_Meadowlands_Stadium">New Meadowlands Stadium</a>. 
Finally, it is time for football. Time to stop the talking and start the walking. 
Of course, we don't expect the Jets to suddenly start shutting their yaps. But at least we'll get a better idea of whether their trash talking will translate into the kind of successful season they insist they'll have. Or whether they'll be eating their words should things not go right after last year's run to the <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> Championship Game. 
The Giants have been typically understated during the preseason - at least compared to the Jets - but they, too, have a lot riding on this season. 
Start with self-respect; after last year's second-half calamity, which saw them go from a 5-0 start with dreams of a <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> to an 8-8 finish with no playoffs, there is plenty to atone for. 
"What do we always say? 'Talk is cheap. Play the game,' " Giants defensive end <a href="/topics/Osi_Umenyiora">Osi Umenyiora</a> said. "That's how I feel. You can say whatever you want, but it doesn't matter at all because it's not going to decide whether you win or lose. You can have the best team on paper, but if you don't get it done on the field, it really doesn't matter." 
On paper, there is a lot to like about both teams. It doesn't mean they're destined for Dallas in February, but it should mean that both teams will have a puncher's chance of playing into January. The Jets are coming off a terrific, if unexpected, trip to the <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> title game, where they lost to the Colts. And the experience can only help heading into this season. 
The successful resolution to the <a href="/topics/Darrelle_Revis">Darrelle Revis</a> contract situation was a major sigh of relief, as he returns to a defense coming off a No. 1 ranking. The additions of <a href="/topics/Antonio_Cromartie">Antonio Cromartie</a> and <a href="/topics/Jason_Taylor">Jason Taylor</a> to a unit that already features star inside linebackers <a href="/topics/David_Harris">David Harris</a> and <a href="/topics/Bart_Scott">Bart Scott</a>, as well as nose tackle <a href="/topics/Kris_Jenkins">Kris Jenkins</a>, figures to be a formidable unit once more. 
And if <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a> makes the kind of progress we expect him to make in his second season, the Jets' offense can be that much better. Throw in the late-season emergence of tailback <a href="/topics/Shonn_Greene">Shonn Greene</a>, who is now paired with future Hall of Famer <a href="/topics/LaDainian_Tomlinson">LaDainian Tomlinson</a> and a more experienced receiving corps that will get <a href="/topics/Santonio_Holmes">Santonio Holmes</a> into the lineup after his four-game suspension to start the season, and there's legitimate playoff hope here. 
Not that it will be easy; the Jets' opening three-game stretch against Baltimore, New England and <a href="/topics/Miami">Miami</a> is brutal. And facing the NFC North teams this season is no small chore. But if they can weather the early-season challenges, there's no reason they can't get to the postseason. 
We see the Giants playing well into January, too. The defense can only get better under coordinator <a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell">Perry Fewell</a>, who takes over for after <a href="/topics/Bill_Sheridan">Bill Sheridan</a>'s disastrous run last season. And if the defensive line that includes Umenyiora, <a href="/topics/Justin_Tuck">Justin Tuck</a>, <a href="/topics/Mathias_Kiwanuka">Mathias Kiwanuka</a>, <a href="/topics/Barry_Cofield">Barry Cofield</a> and newcomer Linval Joseph performs up to expectation, we should be seeing plenty of improvement. 
<a href="/topics/Eli_Manning">Eli Manning</a> comes off his first 4,000-yard season, <a href="/topics/Ahmad_Bradshaw">Ahmad Bradshaw</a> looks like the go-to guy in the running game, and a young receiving group that features Steve Smith, <a href="/topics/Hakeem_Nicks">Hakeem Nicks</a> and <a href="/topics/Mario_Manningham">Mario Manningham</a> should produce at a high level. 
Sure, there's Dallas, Washington and Philly to worry about in the always competitive NFC East. But we'd be surprised if the Giants aren't major factors in the division. 
A New York-New York <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a>? 
Sorry, we're not going there. But we are saying there will be playoff football for both teams this year. 
So enough with the talk. Time to play.

Columnists

Bob Glauber

SPFBGLAUBER09

Time for talk is over: Jets, Giants must produce

You might want to enjoy this NFL season a little more than most, because you never know what's coming next year. 
With the league's collective bargaining agreement schedule to expire next spring, there is increasing talk of a lockout of the players beginning next March. The league and the NFL Players Association are at odds over how big a piece of the revenue pie the players should receive. 
The players contend NFL owners want them to take an 18 percent reduction in salaries, while the league contends it is more like a nine percent cut. Either way, there are no signs of an impending agreement on an extension, and the players are increasingly concerned about the lockout possibility. 
NFL commissioner <a href="/topics/Roger_Goodell">Roger Goodell</a> has said repeatedly in recent weeks that he still believes there is time to hammer out an agreement on a CBA extension. However, he also wants to have a deal that will be good for the owners in the long run. The league exercised an opt-out clause of the current agreement in 2008, triggering this year's elimination of the salary cap. It was the first uncapped season since 1993, the first year of the current system.

SPFBBOBBOX09

NFL lockout looming in 2011

Perhaps it stems from the sour way their championship aspirations were left shredded, laying among the confetti on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf that late January night. 
Maybe it's due to the almost non-stop publicity generated seemingly weekly with every sexy offseason acquisition, each move that kept leaving a championship-starved fan base intoxicated with anticipation. Conceivably, <a href="/topics/Darrelle_Revis">Darrelle Revis</a>' lengthy, 36-day holdout could've contributed to the never-ending feeling, the one that has the Jets anxious to get this thing rolling against the Ravens on Monday night. 
"The thing for the veterans that is so crazy, for all of us, it seems lie it's been a long preseason," right tackle <a href="/topics/Damien_Woody">Damien Woody</a> said. "I don't know why. We are just ready to go. We've been analyzed from head-to-toe, all type of different ways. Now, we are ready to just go out here and let's play these games that count for real, and let's see what it looks like then." 
The Jets' hype machine has been injected with turbo boosters, getting cranked up to a level that's uncommon for a team apparently tired of taking a back seat to the other <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> squad in town. They're the trendy pick to represent the <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> in the <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a>, and the return of their All-Pro cornerback from his monthlong boycott is like pouring in a fuel additive into a tank already loaded with 93-octane. 
There's a certain vibe around this organization that's unmistakable. 
"It feels very similar to USC - in the locker room, outside the locker room, on the practice field," quarterback <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a> said. "The kind of players we have, I mean I can remember just dropping back and throwing a ball underneath to Damian Williams or kicking a swing out to <a href="/topics/Joe_McKnight">Joe McKnight</a>. And now I'm doing it to <a href="/topics/Santonio_Holmes">Santonio Holmes</a>, <a href="/topics/LaDainian_Tomlinson">LaDainian Tomlinson</a>, and these guys are going and making plays for you. 
"So it's important to remember that and remember that feeling, and know that there's expectations and pressure." 
Those expectations arise from last season's end-of-season success coupled with all those offseason acquisitions. Besides bringing in a former <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> MVP in Holmes and a future Hall of Famer in Tomlinson, the Jets added the active sacks leader in Jason Taylor, traded for <a href="/topics/Antonio_Cromartie">Antonio Cromartie</a>, drafted Kyle Wilson to cover the league's best slot receivers and increased the secondary's physicality factor with <a href="/topics/Brodney_Pool">Brodney Pool</a>'s signing. 
Cromartie can barely contain his enthusiasm, thinking he can thrive with his new team and return to his <a href="/topics/Pro_Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> form. 
"Aw, man, my excitement is at 1,000 right now," Cromartie said. "I'm just going out and I'm just having fun every single day. This is something that I am definitely looking forward to, being a part of this Jet organization and going out on the field and playing like a Jet." 
By bringing in the likes of Cromartie and addressing a few needs defensively, the Jets believe they've strengthened last year's top-ranked unit, giving them what they believe is more than enough talent to win the <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a>. 
"Of course," linebacker <a href="/topics/Bart_Scott">Bart Scott</a> said. "You look at what we've got and you look at what we improved on from last year falling short. Every year is different, but I think we've got just as a good of a chance as anybody, and a better chance than most." 
As Sanchez mentioned, the Jets are stacked offensively. They should be one of the league's top offenses if they play up to their potential. The chances that lie ahead when Holmes returns from his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy already has <a href="/topics/Jerricho_Cotchery">Jerricho Cotchery</a> drooling with anticipation. 
"All of the weapons that we've brought in, I'm just like any other fan," Cotchery said. "I'm excited as well, being able to see Santonio come here, Braylon came here last year, and just all the weapons that we have on offense. I'm excited to look at it." 
Will all the Jets' talent translate into a championship, though? Are they truly ready for this run? 
"Well, the great thing is we get to prove it," <a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Rex Ryan</a> said. "On Sept. 13, we get to prove it and I think I know exactly what the answer is going to be. We'll see what happens."

New York Jets

SPFBJETS09

Ready, aim . . . Jets ready to fire

Cigar smoke. Fried fish. An 8-8 season. 
Sometimes you just have to open the windows and get the stink out. 
That's exactly what the Giants have tried to do for the last month or so. They came into training camp grumbling about the way the 2009 season ended, looking to avenge their fall from 5-0 title contenders to .500 playoff spectators. The word "redemption" was on everyone's lips. 
But now, on the brink of the 2010 regular season, the Giants say they aren't thinking about those 427 points allowed, second-most in franchise history. And they're not focusing on being outscored 85-16 in the final two games. Take a whiff. The smell of 2009 is just about gone. 
Maybe it's a good thing they tore down the old stadium. 
"There are no thoughts about last year," linebacker <a href="/topics/Michael_Boley">Michael Boley</a> said. "We look at this as a new year, it's something totally different. I don't think anyone here is thinking about what happened last year. We're just looking forward to bigger and better things." 
So forced is the <a href="/topics/Amnesia">amnesia</a> that wide receiver <a href="/topics/Hakeem_Nicks">Hakeem Nicks</a> even refused to acknowledge the 41-9 loss to the Panthers - the same team the Giants open up against on Sunday - when asked about it last week. 
Do you even remember that game? he was asked. 
"Nope." 
If only it were that easy to forget. The Giants know 2009 happened. They were there. They saw it. But like a monster under the bed, they just don't want to think about it or look for it. 
"Last year was a disappointing year, especially defensively," Boley said. "For us to start the way we did and then to end the season the way we did on such a bad note, it left a bit of a sour taste in our mouth." 
But Boley said the work they put in during the preseason helped rid that taste. So too has the new defensive scheme - and heartbeat - that coordinator <a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell">Perry Fewell</a> has brought to the team. The addition of Fewell was one of the few changes to the coaching staff, but it also represents a shift in defensive philosophy and temperament. 
The Giants' defense reflected the stoicism of <a href="/topics/Bill_Sheridan">Bill Sheridan</a> last year. Now with fiery Fewell in charge, the hope is that energy will return to the Giants defense and maybe even trickle its way over to the offense. 
Fewell's defenses may be hard to define - even the players say he uses so many schemes he's not really using one system - but they are turnover-obsessed. They give up short completions underneath, protect against the deep threats, and roll the dice as much as possible. They've also shown flashes of creative looks in the preseason such as having defensive ends at linebacker or defensive tackle. 
Of course not everyone on the Giants' defense was even here for 2009. They added players like <a href="/topics/Antrel_Rolle">Antrel Rolle</a> and <a href="/topics/Deon_Grant">Deon Grant</a> who had nothing to do with the way things played out. And <a href="/topics/Kenny_Phillips">Kenny Phillips</a> is back after missing all but two games last season, which turned out to be a big reason for the downfall. 
But even linebacker <a href="/topics/Keith_Bulluck">Keith Bulluck</a>, a 10-year veteran brought in just before the start of camp in July, said he senses that the team - and in particular the defense - wants to put 2009 to rest. 
"I think this defense is very motivated," he said. "I think a lot of people want to prove a few things individually, and I think that will make for a great team defense . . . I think that this defense is really ready to get out there and to see and to show what we've got." 
Bulluck wasn't a part of the collapse, so he's free to draw lines between the last few games of 2009 and the start of 2010. "From what I understand, they kind of put it on us pretty bad last year," he said of opening against the Panthers. But Bulluck has his own things to prove. Not only is he coming back from a torn ACL in December, but he was unhappy with how his defense in <a href="/topics/Tennessee">Tennessee</a> played last year. 
"I actually have a bad taste in my mouth from my season last year because I like playing on top 10 defenses, hard nose defenses, and last year I didn't play on one," he said. "I think this team has the makings of being one of the top defenses in the league." 
That would certainly clear the air.

New York Giants

SPFBGIANTS09

Giants seek fresh start after ugly finish

Giants linebacker Michael Boley

Mark Sanchez can probably recite that old "Toys 'R' Us" jingle by heart, a perfect tune if there ever was one to describe the Jets' franchise coverboy quarterback. 
All of 23 years old, Sanchez remains a kid in many ways, refusing to let the intense spotlight accompanying an <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> quarterback playing in New York's mega media market change him one bit. His charming personality and genuine likability factor are two key ingredients that could raise his Big Apple profile through the stratosphere, provided he wins more than he loses, of course. 
The jovial Southern <a href="/topics/California">California</a> native, who's about to embark on his second season, lets you in on part of his world in a chat with Newsday, discussing things ranging from football to women to video games: 
How beneficial has it been having a veteran like <a href="/topics/Mark_Brunell">Mark Brunell</a> around? 
Mark Sanchez: "I think Brunell's been a huge help. He always uses the analogy, when things get tough, the monotony kind of sets in, he's like, 'Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.' It sounds so cheesy, so cheesy, especially coming from him, like my dad, you know? But it's true and you have to be that way in this position." 
Saw you on "Hard Knocks" getting beat by <a href="/topics/Brodney_Pool">Brodney Pool</a> in <a href="/topics/FIFA">FIFA</a>. What's your favorite video game? 
Sanchez: "FIFA is huge with <a href="/topics/EA_Sports">EA Sports</a>. That's one of my favorite games. 'Madden' is fun and '<a href="/topics/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association">NCAA</a>' is fun and it's challenging. If you play 'Mario Cart' or something, anybody can learn how to play that real quick. 'Madden,' you've got to figure things out. [But] '<a href="/topics/FIFA">FIFA</a>' is even another level. You've got to know what kind of pass - lob pass, lead pass, low, high, chip shots, corner kicks, bend on the ball. It's so fun and it's challenging. It feels like you are out on the field. There's a lot going on. When I mess up, that's when I get so mad and heated." 
What's your all-time favorite cartoon? 
Sanchez:"<a href="/topics/Spider-Man">Spider-Man</a>. I've been a huge <a href="/topics/Spider-Man">Spider-Man</a> fan. Spider-Man was always my favorite because he's so unassuming. He's like a total nerd and then he's into the hot girl. She thinks he's a dweeb, and then when things go wrong he's always there to save the day. You know, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man." 
Speaking of hot girls, what's it like being adored by so many women? Please enlighten. 
Sanchez:"It's a compliment, that's for sure. But you've just got to be smart, and understand that's the lifestyle that you've kind of been thrust into. The most important thing, just like any of the external things away from football, is that if it's not going well on the field, I don't care how good looking you are. No beautiful external thing would ever satisfy me like playing well. So I'd rather play well than have a hot girl friend." 
We live in the New York metro area so what's been your weirdest encounter here? 
Sanchez:"Had a lady who wouldn't let me get out of the elevator because she swore to me that I was <a href="/topics/Adrian_Grenier">Adrian Grenier</a>. She's like, 'You're the guy from '<a href="/topics/Entourage">Entourage</a>.' I was like, 'No I'm not. But thank you, I've gotten that before.' She was like, 'Yeah, you are.' I was like, 'No, I'm not. Look, I have moles on my face, he doesn't have those. No. OK, you need to move out of the way.' She would not move. This lady was dead set on it and it was creepy. It was super creepy because I was by myself. I was ready to hit the alarm. Swear to God. It was weird." 
So then who are some of the celebrities you've come across and what's that like? 
Sanchez:"I've met <a href="/topics/Justin_Bieber">Justin Bieber</a> at '<a href="/topics/Saturday_Night_Live">Saturday Night Live</a>,' I've met <a href="/topics/Serena_Williams">Serena Williams</a>. I like it because you respect them so much, and you finally get a chance to meet them and get to tell them. And most of the time, you don't even end up telling them because you get so caught up in not wanting to be so cheesy. And then you're just like, 'Hey, good to meet you, respect what you do.' And you say it kind of on the low when you really wanted to tell them, 'Man, that is so cool, I'm happy for you. Good luck.' But you don't want to be over the top. They'll think you're a weirdo or something." 
All-time favorite <a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Rex Ryan</a>-ism? 
Sanchez:"He would say 'Boomerang ball' when I'd throw a pick. 'You'd throw that one and it'd come right back at you. It's all right, kid. Just stop throwing those 'Boomerang balls.' He would literally say that. The third interception of the game, he's like, 'All right, you probably want to cut out the Boomerang balls' here kid. You are making it tough on us.' I'm like, 'Dang it.' " 
If you weren't doing this <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> thing, what would you be doing? 
Sanchez: "Something in the entertainment business. I'd love to be in a band or something like that or in a Broadway show. That would be cool to me because it's a similar kind of feeling when we are playing in front of all those people." 
Worst dresser on the team? 
Sanchez:"<a href="/topics/Shaun_Ellis">Shaun Ellis</a>. Not even traveling. Just pretty much every day." 
Best dressed? 
Sanchez: "<a href="/topics/James_Ihedigbo">James Ihedigbo</a> or Bart [Scott] or J-Co [<a href="/topics/Jerricho_Cotchery">Jerricho Cotchery</a>]. J-Co is smooth. He doesn't try to show it too much. Bart and Dig kind of flaunt it a little more, where J-Co tries to fly under the radar but looks pretty fresh." 
A SCOUT'S TAKE ON SANCHEZ 
An NFL scout gives his take on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez: 
His greatest strengths 
“He is very agile in the pocket and uses his speed to his advantage. He has a big enough arm to make every throw he needs to. Sanchez has a particularly good pump fake that works most of the time in either buying him some time or forcing defenders to make a decision sooner than they’d like. Has good command in the huddle, with players around him feeding off his energy. Did a good job last year in overcoming interceptions problem by simplifying things late in the season.’ His biggest weaknesses 
“Will force too many passes, which got him into trouble last year. He did that a few times in preseason, so that suggests the problem isn't over just yet. Has learned to slide, but has to do it consistently or else risk injury the way he did last year.” 
— BOB GLAUBER 
&nbsp;

SPFBMARK09

Jets Q&A with Mark Sanchez

Eli Manning may still seem like a young up-and-comer, but he is entering his seventh <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> season and by the time it's over he'll be 30 years old. No longer a kid, he's one of the veteran players the Giants are looking to to turn things around after the disappointment of 2009. 
He recently sat with Newsday to talk about the Giants' upcoming season, some changes in the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>, a game he's looking forward and his favorite golfing partners. 
This was your first offseason since the one after your rookie year without reaching the playoffs. Did that feel different? 
Eli Manning: It's just long. We'd like to go through the playoffs, every season that's always a goal. The goal is to win a championship, to get in the playoffs and make something happen. Obviously it was just long. We're trying to come back and make improvements. We have to get better and get back to that and get back into the playoffs. 
Was it hard to reconcile a successful season statistically for you with a disappointing 8-8 record in 2009? 
Manning: I'm worried about the team. I like making the playoffs, I like winning games. That's what makes the season fun, not throwing for a certain amount of yards. That doesn't make things more fun. It's about getting wins and celebrating with your team and having those fun Mondays when you come in after a win and watching the film. That's what you look forward to. 
You have almost the exact same offensive personnel as last year. Why will they be able to improve? 
Manning: Guys are growing up. Last year we had a lot of young receivers and they're getting better, more experienced. Last year they did a lot of great things and made a lot of big plays, but we can get more consistent. We still have to make the big plays but in and out be more consistent. We have our running backs back healthy. A lot of it is the same guys that we've done some good stuff with, we just have to keep growing. 
You got a chance to face them this summer, so how does this <a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell"></a><a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell">Perry Fewell</a> defense differ from the systems the Giants have had in the past? 
Manning: Obviously there are different schemes, but some stuff is similar. He's just got great energy and enthusiasm and he gets his guys fired up. I think it's always a good challenge for the offense and as a quarterback going against different schemes every year at training camp. You have new coaches so you're learning and you get to pick their mind and see what they're doing. You get some work against a different look than what you normally got the last few years. 
You grew up in a football family. Did you ever think you'd have a regular job or career? 
Manning: I never knew. I liked playing sports and I enjoyed it. I wasn't thinking that this could be a possible career. It's just the way it turned out. I went to college and I wanted to do well in school and prepare for the real world, but I also enjoyed college football and worked hard at it. Everything worked out and I got the opportunity to come and play in the NFL and I'm grateful for that every day. 
There will obviously be a lot of focus in Week 2 when you play the Colts and Peyton. Is that something you are looking forward to? 
Manning: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. You don't know how many more chances you're going to get to look across there when they're signing the national anthem and see your big brother. He's in his 13th year and this is the second time. If it happens in four more years, you don't know what the situation will be in four years. It is a special thing and it doesn't happen very often. You try to enjoy it but not make it bigger than anything it is. We're playing the Colts and once the game starts it's a game. 
When we look at the running game we look at the running backs getting healthy and the offensive line playing together. What can a quarterback do to help get the running game back to where it was two years ago? 
Manning: It's a combination of a lot of things. The quarterback is responsible for getting us in and out of running plays. If we have a bad running play (called), we either have to throw it or run a different play. And you can have success throwing the ball. If you can beat one-on-one coverage and get the ball down the field for big plays, it makes defenses go into more two-high safeties and that opens the running game up as well. The running game and the passing game both benefit each other. If one is doing well, it should make the other one easier. 
Have you noticed any differences with the umpire behind you? 
Manning: I haven't. It hasn't made a big difference to us. We haven't done a whole lot of no-huddle. 
Some people have noticed a difference. 
Manning: Yeah, I know the Colts and Peyton, they do a lot of no-huddle and it does (affect them). The ball is not set, the defense is trying to substitute, they're trying to snap it quick and it's making it tough to do. I see the potential for where there could be problems with it. 
It looks like the league is moving towards an 18-game schedule. Any thoughts on what that will be like? 
Manning: We'll see what happens. I don't think there's a whole lot I can do about that. They tell us to play 18, we'll play 18. 
A&nbsp;SCOUT'S&nbsp;TAKE&nbsp;ON&nbsp;MANNING 
An NFL scout gives his take on Giants quarterback Eli Manning &nbsp; His greatest strengths 
“Eli’s career track has been on an upward trend, which is what you want from a quarterback. Sometimes guys have peaks and valleys, but Eli is one of those guys who is very steady. He has always had the arm to make all the throws, and his decision making gets better each year. He made a nice adjustment last year without <a href="/topics/Plaxico_Burress">Plaxico Burress</a> as his 'go-to' guy, and he makes the young receivers better. That's what you want to see in a quarterback — a guy who can adjust when the roster changes. His footwork has always been well above average, and he sees the field very well." &nbsp; His greatest weaknesses 
"There are times in games when he seems to get a little down, although that was more of a problem earlier in his career. But sometimes the offense will stagnate, and he needs to make a play to get things going again . . . He will occasionally force passes, although every quarterback does at some point. He manages to keep that to a minimum." &nbsp; — BOB GLAUBER

SPFBELI09

Giants Q&A with Eli Manning

Giants quarterback Eli Manning

<a href="/topics/Nick_Mangold">Nick Mangold</a> has the fame - two consecutive <a href="/topics/Pro_Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> selections, and now he has shared a recent <a href="/topics/Sports_Illustrated">Sports Illustrated</a> cover with the Jets' cover boy, <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a>. 
Mangold has the fortune - the seven-year extension he signed a few weeks ago that could be worth as much as $55 million, which makes him the highest-paid center in the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>. 
He is acknowledged everywhere as one of, if not the best, centers in the game, a remarkable achievement for a 26-year-old at a position where recognition doesn't come until a player is in his late 20s or even his 30s. 
The question is: How did Mangold get this good this fast? 
Intelligence 
Wherever Mangold has been, his football smarts have stood out. "Right when he got here, he had a great knack for picking things up in a hurry," said Jim Bollman, <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> State's offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. 
Mangold arrived from Archbishop Alter High School in Centerville, <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a> and, rare for a top offensive line prospect, did not redshirt as a freshman. Mangold played sparingly that first season, a national championship year, and stepped in as the starting center as a sophomore. 
"Most guys, through my experience, it takes them until the end of their second year playing to really get it," Bollman said. "You need a couple of springs before the light really goes on. Nick was ahead of that schedule for sure when he was here, and I don't see where it's changed much now that he's in the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>." 
When <a href="/topics/Bill_Callahan">Bill Callahan</a> arrived to the Jets before the 2008 season to coach the offensive line, Mangold already had two pro seasons' experience. 
In reviewing video of those first two seasons, Callahan saw what Bollman saw. 
"What he can see, visualize and be able to communicate in a very short period of time, we're talking about seconds, and be able to get out adjustment calls, that really caught me," Callahan said. "That really captivated me - this guy, the ability he has to see things, his vision is off the charts." 
Technique 
"He's a technician," says <a href="/topics/Kris_Jenkins">Kris Jenkins</a>, Mangold's teammate and practice foe at nose tackle the last two seasons. "Not to toot my own horn or anything, but it takes a special guy to block me one-on-one. He knows where to be and how to get things done." 
Bollman said Mangold's ability with his hands has always been his strength, in addition to good balance and a powerful lower body. It's not easy for a 305-pound lineman to look fluid in the middle of all the bodies crashing around on the interior of the line. 
"It's very smooth - where a lot of guys are jittery and bouncing all over the place, he's very smooth and very calculated and can see things fast," Callahan said. 
Guts 
"To be a good center, where you're the first guy who makes contact and the guy who everyone plays off, you have to have that confidence to make a call at the line and be heard by everyone," <a href="/topics/New_York_Giants">Giants</a> center <a href="/topics/Shaun_O%27Hara">Shaun O'Hara</a> said. "You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you don't have the confidence to see a defense and make an adjustment, you're not really doing your job." 
Mangold learned that early on with Bollman. "He wasn't just showing us what to do and where to be, but why we were doing it," Mangold said. "That's been a big help to me as my career's gone on." 
Mangold knows where all his linemen need to be against a given defensive front and isn't afraid to make the key changes at the line. "Who's got the courage to see something and make that call?" Bollman said. "That's what separates the good from the not so good." 
Responsibility 
When you've got the smarts, the physical skills and the confidence, you're going to be asked to do as much as you can. 
That's what <a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Rex Ryan</a>, offensive coordinator <a href="/topics/Brian_Schottenheimer">Brian Schottenheimer</a> and Callahan have done with Mangold, whose skill set is essentially the reason that the Jets were comfortable with Sanchez stepping in as a rookie. It wasn't just the veterans around Sanchez on offense, it was primarily that Mangold, who had made a seamless transition to pro ball and started all 16 games as a rookie with <a href="/topics/Chad_Pennington">Chad Pennington</a>, then all 16 games with <a href="/topics/Brett_Favre">Brett Favre</a>, could shoulder a heavier burden of making adjustments and shifts at the line of scrimmage, something a veteran quarterback does. 
"We just kept loading him up," Callahan said. "You can give him more and put more on him, and less on the quarterback, than most centers are accustomed to."

SPFBJFEAT09

Jets' Mangold sets standard at center

Jets center Nick Mangold

Having <a href="/topics/Osi_Umenyiora">Osi Umenyiora</a> stand up and give a speech about putting personal goals aside and playing as a team is a little bit like the Grinch, the Grinch himself, slicing the roast beast. But there he was at last week's Kickoff Luncheon, speaking on behalf of the defense, delivering a parable that he and his teammates will try to live up to this season. 
"Individually, the team is like stars, but the team is the sun," he said. "While we might all shine, when the sun comes up, we all disappear . . . That's the mantra this year: Team first, team last, team everything." 
Yes, <a href="/topics/Osi_Umenyiora">Osi Umenyiora</a>, who on the heels of the 2009 season threatened to retire rather than play as a backup, is putting the team ahead of everything. And he's also saying that he's happy. He still wants to play, probably still wants to start. But he's not letting that preoccupy his time. Instead, he's spent this summer quietly going about his business, competing with <a href="/topics/Mathias_Kiwanuka">Mathias Kiwanuka</a> at defensive end where it looks like Umenyiora will indeed be a second-stringer, and trying to step out from under that dark cloud that seemed to hover over him all offseason. 
"I'm happy," Umenyiora said. "I'm just happy to be around everybody. I love the guys, I love this team, and any time I get a chance to do what I love to do I'm happy and having fun." 
He might not be starting, but in <a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell">Perry Fewell</a>'s new defensive scheme, he'll get to play. Throughout the preseason Fewell has flashed some unorthodox alignments that include four pass-rushing defensive ends across the front and even ends like Umenyiora and Kiwanuka falling back as two-point-stance linebackers. 
Coughlin said he considers both Umenyiora and Kiwanuka starters. 
"They're both playing well," he said. "They're both doing everything we ask them to do and they're making good progress so those things (starting) will take care of themselves. But they're two of our better football players, I'll tell you that right now. They're outstanding." 
Kiwanuka said the competition, as far as he's concerned, ended the day training camp began. 
"The offseason is all about the individual," he said. "You spend the time in the offseason trying to ready yourself individually and you focus on what you have to focus on as an individual. But once the season starts, once camp comes, you've got to put all that aside and it's whatever is better for the team. For us, we know that if we win a championship then everybody is going to be happy." 
What would make the Giants happy, of course, would be if Umenyiora returned to his <a href="/topics/Pro_Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> form. He hasn't been there since he blew out his knee two years ago and missed all of the 2008 season. But he's shown that somewhere in him that kind of playmaker still lurks. 
Like when he made two stops in the backfield against the Steelers in the second preseason game. No, they weren't sacks. They were plays against the run, which is one of the reasons Umenyiora was benched late last year. 
"You know Osi, he's very competitive," <a href="/topics/Justin_Tuck">Justin Tuck</a> told the media. "When you all start talking about how he can't do something he loves to prove the fact that he can . . . All of us like to play with some kind of chip on our shoulder, some kind of 'He said I couldn't do this so I'm going to prove him wrong.' I'm hoping that he'll return back to the form of Osi. We've known him to be a <a href="/topics/Pro_Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> player and I know he still has that talent." 
If Umenyiora can start playing like he did before his knee injury, before his benching, before his offseason temper-tantrums, the Giants' defensive line could be one of the most feared in the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>. Oh, and there's one other 'if.' Umenyiora can play like a star, but he has to disappear when the sun comes out. 
"Everybody has to work well together," Umenyiora said, "and I think we have the opportunity to do that.''

SPFBGFEAT09

Umenyiora is Mr. Sunshine for Giants

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora

COACHING&nbsp;STAFF 
<a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Rex Ryan</a> spearheads a staff that remained mostly intact after leading them to the <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> Championship game. The colorful head coach continues to boast about his team, making sure he lets people know he doesn’t care if they’re turned off by his <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> XLV talk. The architect of the league’s top-ranked defense brainstorms with defensive coordinator <a href="/topics/Mike_Pettine">Mike Pettine</a> to dial up their exotic blitzes and they work well together. Offensive coordinator <a href="/topics/Brian_Schottenheimer">Brian Schottenheimer</a> has more weapons at his disposal and will surely hear the grumbles if the Jets don’t produce and aren’t among the league’s upper echelon. Special teams coordinator <a href="/topics/Mike_Westhoff">Mike Westhoff</a>’s wealth of knowledge makes his unit one of the best year in and year out. 
QUARTERBACKS 
<a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a> finished tied for second in the league with the most interceptions a season ago, and the second-year pro is going to have to greatly curtail that number for the Jets to have a legit shot at playing in the ultimate game in February. <a href="/topics/Mark_Brunell">Mark Brunell</a> was brought in as the primary backup and provide some veteran know-how, which the Jets hope aids in Sanchez’s development. The 39-year-old lefty finished the preseason looking much sharper than he did through the first three games, completing 11 of 17 attempts for 118 yards and two touchdowns. <a href="/topics/Kellen_Clemens">Kellen Clemens</a> took a pay cut to stay on as the No. 3 and graded out with the coaches at the highest level he has in his five preseasons. 
RUNNING BACKS 
<a href="/topics/LaDainian_Tomlinson">LaDainian Tomlinson</a> looks like he still has a lot left in the tank and appears primed to give the Jets a solid one-two tandem. Could he team with second-year bulldog <a href="/topics/Shonn_Greene">Shonn Greene</a> to top the 1,942 yards <a href="/topics/Shonn_Greene">Greene</a> and <a href="/topics/Thomas_Jones">Thomas Jones</a> produced a season ago? Seems possible with the burst and shifty moves Tomlinson has shown since arriving in March. Greene’s combination of power and deceptive speed could vault him among the league’s elite — provided he goes the way of the “h-word.” Healthy. As for fourth-round pick <a href="/topics/Joe_McKnight">Joe McKnight</a>? Well, don’t expect to see him suited up on game days anytime soon. 
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS 
Wide receivers coach <a href="/topics/Henry_Ellard">Henry Ellard</a> thinks this is one of the most talented receiving cores he’s been around, possibly rivaling the collection he saw in <a href="/topics/St_Louis">St. Louis</a> that included <a href="/topics/Torry_Holt">Torry Holt</a>, <a href="/topics/Isaac_Bruce">Isaac Bruce</a> and Az Zahir Hakim. <a href="/topics/Braylon_Edwards">Braylon Edwards</a>, <a href="/topics/Jerricho_Cotchery">Jerricho Cotchery</a> and <a href="/topics/Santonio_Holmes">Santonio Holmes</a> — when he comes back following a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy — make for a pretty good trio. Cotchery will find himself in the slot a lot once Holmes returns and he was the team’s leading receiver with 821 yards on 57 receptions. That should tell you how deep this cast, which can also throw out <a href="/topics/Brad_Smith">Brad Smith</a> in four-wide sets, is. 
OFFENSIVE LINE 
The core group that paved the way for a franchise-best and <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>-leading 2,756 yards rushing (172.3 per game) returns. But it appears replacing <a href="/topics/Alan_Faneca">Alan Faneca</a>, who was dumped because of a large price tag and declining skills, isn’t going to be as easy as the Jets thought. Matt Slauson steps in to replace Faneca at left guard, but needs to be more consistent. At least he’s sandwiched between Pro Bowlers D’Brickashaw Ferguson and <a href="/topics/Nick_Mangold">Nick Mangold</a>. On the right side, <a href="/topics/Brandon_Moore">Brandon Moore</a> and <a href="/topics/Damien_Woody">Damien Woody</a> can still get it done. 
DEFENSIVE LINE 
<a href="/topics/Kris_Jenkins">Kris Jenkins</a> returns to anchor a defensive line that held up well after the nose tackle went down with an ACL injury Oct. 18. The “Cookie Monster” is down to around 360 pounds and playing with a new sense of purpose to prove to people that he’s still got a few good years left in his massive frame. <a href="/topics/Shaun_Ellis">Shaun Ellis</a>, 33, enters his 11th season and is coming off a 61/2-sack campaign. <a href="/topics/Vernon_Gholston">Vernon Gholston</a>, <a href="/topics/Sione_Pouha">Sione Pouha</a> and <a href="/topics/Mike_Devito">Mike DeVito</a> will each play important roles up front as well. But don’t discount the loss of Ropati Pitoitua, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the second preseason game. He was an upcomer and his absence will hurt the Jets’ quality depth. 
LINEBACKERS 
<a href="/topics/Calvin_Pace">Calvin Pace</a> is lost for at least the season opener with a broken bone in his right foot, throwing a wrench, temporarily, into the Jets’ rotation. Long-time Dolphin <a href="/topics/Jason_Taylor">Jason Taylor</a> will play an integral role perhaps earlier than the Jets had hoped, but they feel the recently-turned 36-year-old can do the job and step into Pace’s spot. But once Pace suits up again and the Jets go back to their original plan, they expect it to aid a late-game pass rush that was non-existent last season and led to so many fourth-quarter defensive collapses. <a href="/topics/Bart_Scott">Bart Scott</a> and <a href="/topics/David_Harris">David Harris</a> may be the best inside duo in the league, serving as the team’s top tacklers last season. 
DEFENSIVE BACKS 
With <a href="/topics/Darrelle_Revis">Darrelle Revis</a> in the fold, the Jets feel they have one of the league's top secondaries. Revis had an out-of-this world season a year ago. <a href="/topics/Antonio_Cromartie">Antonio Cromartie</a> looks like he may flourish in the man-to-man, and rookie Kyle Wilson should play well in the slot. Reserves like <a href="/topics/Dwight_Lowery">Dwight Lowery</a>, <a href="/topics/Drew_Coleman">Drew Coleman</a> and <a href="/topics/Eric_Smith">Eric Smith</a> must step up and provide needed depth. Safety <a href="/topics/Jim_Leonhard">Jim Leonhard</a> is a constant, steady force, while <a href="/topics/Brodney_Pool">Brodney Pool</a> brings more of a physical presence than the traded <a href="/topics/Kerry_Rhodes">Kerry Rhodes</a>, but has to stay healthy. 
SPECIAL TEAMS 
Kicker <a href="/topics/Nick_Folk">Nick Folk</a> overcame his early-spring hiccups and quelled the Jets’ fears with a nice preseason, thanks in part to tweaking the way he approaches the ball. He nailed 7 of 9 attempts and hit 4 of 5 extra points, the lone miss clanking off the upright in the Jets’ loss to the Redskins. He’s been booming his kickoffs into the end zone, a sign there’s plenty of strength in his 25-year-old legs. Punter <a href="/topics/Steve_Weatherford">Steve Weatherford</a> isn’t flashy and averages about 42 yards per attempt. Brad Smith will return kickoffs again and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff is excited about what Smith, who returned a kickoff 106 yards against the Colts in December, can do back there.

SPFBJSCOUTWEB09

Scouting the Jets

COACHING STAFF 
Tom Coughlin is 64, has one year left on his contract, and is coming off a stinker of a season. Is his job in trouble? Giants brass says no, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll stick around if 2010 ends anywhere close to the way 2009 did. He’s brought in Perry Fewell to revive the defense that fell into a coma under <a href="/topics/Bill_Sheridan">Bill Sheridan</a>. <a href="/topics/Mike_Sullivan">Mike Sullivan</a> moves from coaching the receivers to quarterbacks coach, which should theoretically help the chem- istry between the two positions. The Giants have also doubled up on their Kevin Gilbrides. The offensive coordinator is back and his son, Kevin Jr., is an offensive quality control coach. 
QUARTERBACKS 
Eli Manning had the best statistical season of his career in 2009 . . . and it’s a season he’d no doubt like to forget. The key this year is for him to put up similar numbers and boost the team’s win total so the Giants get back to the playoffs. Manning showed that he’s not made of granite when he bled like a bluefish in the preseason opener against the Jets, but the Giants seem confident enough in his durability to bring in 10-year veteran Sage Rosenfels as his one and only backup a little more than a week before the opener. 
RUNNING BACKS 
This year, the lightning will come before the thunder. Ahmad Bradshaw will be the “starting” running back and will split time with Brandon Jacobs. The change in batting order may or may not be reflected in the number of carries. The Giants spent their free time last January marveling at how the Saints used their running backs, so look for a lot of balance in the workload and perhaps the development of a third go-to guy. That could be D.J. Ware. Both Bradshaw and Jacobs have looked good after offseason surgeries, which will undoubtedly help a group that was limping through most of the 2009 season. 
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS 
Steve Smith and <a href="/topics/Hakeem_Nicks">Hakeem Nicks</a> will make a very good 1-2 combination of targets for Eli Manning. They burst out last year and are both young enough to expect that they’ll just get better. The Giants also have <a href="/topics/Mario_Manningham">Mario Manningham</a> as a third receiver, and he can create plays in space. The Giants lost Domenik Hixon (knee in- jury), but a combination of undrafted rookies Victor Cruz and Duke Calhoun should be able to fill his role. Kevin Boss is coming around after ankle surgery. Be concerned about the depth at tight end, especially with Travis Beckum’s injury history. 
OFFENSIVE LINE 
The old guard held off a push from Will Beatty and other up-and-comers to head into the season relatively intact. That means David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara (if healthy), Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie across the front. But keep an eye on the de- velopment of Shawn Andrews, the former Eagles Pro Bowler. He could be sliding in at left guard, which would mean Seubert would become a backup at either guard or center. If O’Hara misses the start of the season, don’t be sur- prised if Seubert starts at center right away with Andrews at guard.Tom Coughlin is 64, has one year left on his contract, and is coming off a stinker of a season. Is his job in trouble? Giants brass says no, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll stick around if 2010 ends anywhere close to the way 2009 did. He’s brought in Perry Fewell to revive the defense that fell into a coma under Bill Sheridan. Mike Sullivan moves from coaching the receivers to quarterbacks coach, which should theoretically help the chem- istry between the two positions. The Giants have also doubled up on their Kevin Gilbrides. The off- ensive coordinator is back and his son, Kevin Jr., is an offensive quality control coach. 
DEFENSIVE LINE 
The good news is this seems to be the strength of the team. The bad news is it looked to be the strength of last year’s team and flopped. Justin Tuck’s shoulder is all healed up and he’s looked sharp in the preseason. It will be interesting to see how the Giants rotate their ends with Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and rookie Jason Pierre-Paul all seemingly deserving of playing time. Inside Chris Canty seems to have shaken the injury bug, Barry Cofield has fully healed from offseason knee surgery two years ago, and Rocky Bernard has shown flashes of the quickness the Giants thought they were getting in 2009. 
LINEBACKERS 
The Giants have only one returning starter in Michael Boley (he’s switched his number from 52 to 59 this season), and he’ll be their every-down linebacker who stays on the field in sub packages. Jonathan Goff inherited the middle linebacker job but is untested. He’ll have a lot to prove with many doubters watching every snap of his. Clint <a href="/topics/Clint_Sintim">Sintim</a> was penciled in as a starter outside but veteran Keith Bulluck moved back to that position just a few weeks ago after being brought in to compete in the middle. Bulluck also plays the middle in nickel looks, something Sintim does not. 
DEFENSIVE BACKS 
Corey Webster thrived when the Giants defense started using him as a press corner. How will he react to Perry Fewell’s off coverages? Terrell Thomas took advantage of injuries to become a starter last year and he hasn’t let go of the job. He was probably one of the most consistent defenders in ’09, which may not be saying much. Aaron Ross looked terrific in training camp as the nickelback, but his foot injury could derail that progress. After serious lapses at safety last year the Giants brought in Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant and also have Kenny Phillips back from knee surgery. 
SPECIAL TEAMS 
Tom Coughlin knew he’d have to have patience with a rookie punter, but how many 45-yard line drives will he be willing to tolerate? Matt <a href="/topics/Dodge">Dodge</a> has a very strong leg but shaky fundamentals that Jeff Feagles has been working on improving all summer. He’s also the holder for Lawrence Tynes and has done a respectable job at it considering it’s a new task for him. As for Tynes, he’s been kicking well, putting kickoffs at the goal line and showing consistency on his field goals. The addition of Darius Reynaud gives the Giants a speedster in both punt and kickoff returns.

SPFBGSCOUTWEB09

Scouting the Giants

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin

Things we like 
1. Having Revis back 
They can say what they want, talk about how they could've gotten it done without him. But the Pro Bowler's return is immeasurable. It allows the Jets to utilize their exotic blitzing schemes and wreak more havoc on offenses. All because his man-to-man coverage skills are off the charts. 
2. LaDainian Tomlinson 
We can shrug it off as coming against vanilla preseason defenses, but the future Hall of Famer has looked fabulous. His legs appear refreshed, he seems rejuvenated and he's out to prove he's far from done. 
3. The Santonio Holmes acquisition 
Sure, you won't see this tree bear any fruit until at least Week 5, but his football I.Q., effortless skills and genuine likability will be a great thing. 
Things we don't like 
1. Left guard 
Matt Slauson’s whiff on one block against the Panthers in the preseason nearly resulted in <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a>’s knee being shredded. It’s going to be weeks — if not months — before the Jets feel comfortable with what’s happening there. 
2. Giving off a cheap vibe 
The Jets maintain they don’t have cash flow issues, but some of the moves they’ve made – or haven’t made – seem to have a common theme: money. They released Laveranues Coles, telling him they’d bring him back after Week 1 when his salary wouldn’t be guaranteed. They also had interest in OLB Adalius Thomas, but won’t entertain signing him until after their first game for the same reason. Then, there’s the weird release of FB <a href="/topics/Tony_Richardson">Tony Richardson</a>, only to sign him back two days later. 
3. The constant <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> chatter 
It makes for good headlines and creates good copy, but there comes a time when clamming up and letting your play do the talking isn’t a bad thing. The Jets should adopt that theory every now and then. 
BEAT MAN’S PREDICTION 
Jets go 10-6, make playoffs 
The Jets have enough talent to unseat the Patriots and win their first <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> East title since 2002. They reach the <a href="/topics/AFC">AFC</a> Championship game for the second year in a row, getting tantalizingly close to <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> XLV, but ultimately losing in the same round. 
This is Roderick Boone’s second season covering the Jets for Newsday.

News

SPFBJLIKES09

Things we like/don't like about the Jets

Things we like 
1. The safeties 
Signing <a href="/topics/Antrel_Rolle">Antrel Rolle</a> and <a href="/topics/Deon_Grant">Deon Grant</a> were two key moves, and they should prevent those big plays from sailing over the secondary like they did last year. Having <a href="/topics/Kenny_Phillips">Kenny Phillips</a> back helps. Not having <a href="/topics/C_C_Brown">C.C. Brown</a> back helps even more. 2. <a href="/topics/Ahmad_Bradshaw">Ahmad Bradshaw</a> 
It took three surgeries but his feet and ankles appear to be good as new and he’s creating big plays out of nothing in the preseason. He knows when to stick his head into the pile and when to bounce it outside and find space. 
3. The free agents 
No, not the ones the Giants signed this offseason. The ones they signed last offseason. <a href="/topics/Michael_Boley">Michael Boley</a>, <a href="/topics/Chris_Canty">Chris Canty</a> and <a href="/topics/Rocky_Bernard">Rocky Bernard</a> have looked healthy and active on defense this summer. The Giants might finally get what they paid for. 
Things we don't like 
1. No returns 
With the loss of <a href="/topics/Domenik_Hixon">Domenik Hixon</a> and the early injury to <a href="/topics/Aaron_Ross">Aaron Ross</a>, the Giants have very little experience and not much explosion in terms of special teams return men. Maybe rookie Victor Cruz can change that. Maybe. 
2. Man in the middle 
<a href="/topics/Jonathan_Goff">Jonathan Goff</a> will be the middle linebacker after <a href="/topics/Keith_Bulluck">Keith Bulluck</a> moved back to his more comfortable outside position. The Giants have a lot of faith in Goff. We're reserving judgment. 
3. <a href="/topics/Dodge">Dodge</a> City 
After years of getting up to get a jump on commercial breaks when <a href="/topics/Jeff_Feagles">Jeff Feagles</a> trotted out onto the field, Giants fans will have to hold their breath over every punt this season with inconsistent rookie Matt <a href="/topics/Dodge">Dodge</a> doing the honors. 
BEAT MAN’S PREDICTION Giants finish 8-8, miss playoffs <a href="/topics/John_Mara">John Mara</a> said last year’s 8-8 felt “more like 4-12.” This one won’t, as the Giants will fight to the end and be playoff contenders with a winning record into December. But those three road games in the last four will be too daunting for them to overcome and they’ll miss the playoffs for a second straight season. This is Tom Rock’s fifth season covering the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> for Newsday, and his third season on the Giants beat.

SPFBGLIKES09

Things we like/don't like about the Giants

f it seems as if we've been through this before, it's because we have, and not so long ago. 
The struggle to sell spectacularly expensive tickets. Grumbling by fans displaced after years in the same seats. Nostalgia for the doomed stadium next door. 
Seventeen months after new Yankee Stadium and <a href="/topics/Citi_Field">Citi Field</a> opened their doors here we are again, with the arrival at last of regular-season football at <a href="/topics/New_Meadowlands_Stadium">New Meadowlands Stadium</a>. 
Only this time there are some additional downbeats the baseball teams avoided. 
Personal seat licenses, for example. And that name. Ugh. It's a sign of the economic times and as bland as the 82,500 seats in various shades of gray, lest they offend either co-owner by being green or blue. 
But if the Yankees and <a href="/topics/New_York_Mets">Mets</a> are a guide, once the games begin and everyone becomes comfortable, the stadium will be judged on its merits. 
Given that, what is the new place like for those who choose to pay the stiff price for entry? 
Remember, it's a football stadium, not a baseball "park,'' so don't expect the quirks of Citi Field or the majesty of Yankee Stadium. 
Like its predecessor, it is a concrete bowl designed efficiently to allow many people to watch their team play 10 times a year and to provide a scenic backdrop for the millions watching on TV. 
It serves that purpose well. But it also addresses the sorts of 21st century imperatives Giants Stadium did not. 
For example: expansive concourses, the better to stretch one's legs and to empty one's wallet. 
The array of eating and drinking options is impressive, but keep in mind this rule of thumb on stadium pricing: For food, double what would seem reasonable in the real world. For alcohol, triple it. 
There are other interesting pit stops in the stadium's nooks and crannies. 
They include the Giants' Legacy Club, which fits an impressive amount of memorabilia into a small space, including the team's three Lombardi Trophies. (Not open during Jets games!) 
Verizon, one of the building's four "corner'' sponsors, has a video board in its corner on which it will show other sports events in progress - including <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> games. 
Speaking of video, the most distinctive feature inside the bowl is the four massive boards located in each corner. 
Replay screens are nothing new, but having four that size is a plus. And it fits with the league-wide effort to replicate advantages of home viewing for fans in house. 
The Jets and Giants didn't always get along during the planning and building. But they needed each other to erect the costliest stadium in American history. (It totaled $1.6 billion or $1.7 billion depending whom and when you ask.) 
The trick was designing a facility that could be transformed quickly into the home of one team or the other, from the lights outside to the smallest merchandise kiosk. 
That has been done thoroughly, and often cleverly. Only someone looking closely last Thursday during the preseason finale would have known a team other than the Giants calls the place home, too. 
As I walked into a large souvenir shop off the entry plaza I assumed that at least there, surely, half the store would be dedicated to one team and half to the other. 
But no. The place was all blue, down to the color of the light glowing across the ceiling. 
It will be again Sunday. But by Monday, the <a href="/topics/Eli_Manning">Eli Manning</a> shirts will be gone, and the <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a> ones will replace them. 
How will fans feel about the new stadium? Truth is that will have a lot to do with what the guys who wear the shirts for real do on the field. It begins Sunday.

SPFBSTAD09

Giants-Jets' new $tadium debuts for real

Things we like
1. Train to the game 
A game-day rail spur from <a href="/topics/Secaucus">Secaucus</a> stops steps from the stadium via an indirect but sort-of-scenic (no, really) path through the Jersey swamps, er, meadowlands. Traffic? What traffic? 
 
2. Nonna Fusco's meatball sub 
The recipe, from the grandmother of chef Eric Borgia, is an example of the variety of quality food available. The price is an example of what you will pay for the privilege: $9. 
 
3. TV or not TV 
Your choice. In addition to video boards in each corner, the stadium is full of TVs so you won't miss a thing if you leave your seat. That's crucial given all the enticements to
leave your seat. 
 
 
Things we don't like
1. Personal seat licenses
PSLs erased both teams' long waiting lists and still left some seats unsold. The teams insist they were necessary. I insist they are like buying a house then paying rent to live in it.
 
2. Coaches Club 
People have every right to spend huge bucks for prime seats. The problem, as at Yankee Stadium, will be chairs left empty by fans taking advantage of unlimited food and climate control.
 
3. Gray day
Perhaps in 2050 Next Meadowlands Stadium will have seats that change color game-to-game. For now, the forced neutrality of the palette at the current stadium has led to a relentless grayness.
- NEIL BEST

SPFBSTADRAIL09

New Meadowlands Stadiums likes/dislikes

1) Can the Jets back up Rex <a href="/topics/Rex_Ryan">Ryan</a>'s bravado? 
Never before have we seen a coach so routinely predict that his team will win the <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> until Ryan this year. It's all well and good to be confident, but to make those bold statements on an almost daily basis is simply unprecedented. We suspect it was done not only out of confidence, but as a way to make his team believe that it can beat anyone at any time. There is plenty to like, from second-year quarterback <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a>, to second-year tailback <a href="/topics/Shonn_Greene">Shonn Greene</a>, to a defense that's coming off a No. 1 ranking in 2009. Even so, it's a tall order to go from 9-7 to the top. Either way, though, it's sure to be an entertaining ride. 
2) The Ravens have become the team to beat. 
A franchise quarterback in <a href="/topics/Joe_Flacco">Joe Flacco</a>. A dream running back in <a href="/topics/Ray_Rice">Ray Rice</a>. A potential dominant pass rusher in <a href="/topics/Terrell_Suggs">Terrell Suggs</a>. And a Hall of Fame linebacker in <a href="/topics/Ray_Lewis">Ray Lewis</a>. Put it all together, and this figures to be a special season for the Ravens. <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> special? We'll soon find out, but the Ravens believe their back-to-back playoff runs under coach <a href="/topics/John_Harbaugh">John Harbaugh</a> portend good things this season. Sure, there are issues in the secondary, where Dominique Foxworth is done for the year with a knee injury and <a href="/topics/Ed_Reed">Ed Reed</a>'s hip problem is still an issue. But with a defensive front that's tough to top and an offensive line that is emerging as a dominant force, there's a lot to like about this team. 
3) The Patriots are still a vulnerable team. 
Sure, <a href="/topics/Tom_Brady">Tom Brady</a> is the only three-time <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> winning quarterback in today's game. And <a href="/topics/Randy_Moss">Randy Moss</a> is still capable of great things. But even with the franchise quarterback and <a href="/topics/Pro_Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> receiver, there's still a long way to go for the Patriots. Not only are they in a tough division, but the defense is in transition big-time and still recovering from the recent departures of <a href="/topics/Richard_Seymour">Richard Seymour</a>, <a href="/topics/Mike_Vrabel">Mike Vrabel</a>, <a href="/topics/Rodney_Harrison">Rodney Harrison</a> and <a href="/topics/Tedy_Bruschi">Tedy Bruschi</a>. The good news: coach <a href="/topics/Bill_Belichick">Bill Belichick</a> is one of the best at re-tooling, but Belichick has his work cut out, especially with a young defense that will be learning on the fly. 
4) The Colts will have a tough time dealing with the Super Bowl hangover. 
Quickie quiz: When was the last time an AFC team lost a Super Bowl, then made it back to the Big Show the year after? Answer: The 1992-93 Bills, who were in the process of losing their third and fourth consecutive Super Bowls. It's no small task making a championship run the year after losing the Super Bowl - even if <a href="/topics/Peyton_Manning">Peyton Manning</a> is your quarterback. It's not a good idea to ever count Manning out, because he's still at the top of his game. But it might be asking a bit much - especially in a conference that is getting better and deeper - to see the Colts making another run to the title game. 
5) Can the Steelers somehow survive their early season challenge? 
<a href="/topics/Ben_Roethlisberger">Ben Roethlisberger</a> is suspended for the first four games, and the Steelers might have to go with the inexperienced <a href="/topics/Dennis_Dixon">Dennis Dixon</a> as the quarterback now that <a href="/topics/Byron_Leftwich">Byron Leftwich</a> has a knee injury. The Steelers have a strong defense and a strong running game, which at least gives them a chance. Even so, it's tough to see <a href="/topics/Pittsburgh">Pittsburgh</a> having a special season; not only does Roethlisberger figure to be rusty after the layoff, but the Steelers are in a division with playoff contenders <a href="/topics/Cincinnati">Cincinnati</a> and Baltimore. 
Rookies to watch 
The <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a> is no picnic for rookies making the quantum leap from the college ranks, but there are several who manage to contribute handily. DT Terence Cody was a beast in Ravens camp before undergoing minor knee surgery. He’s Baltimore’s second-round draft pick out of <a href="/topics/Alabama">Alabama</a>. RB C.J. Spiller, the Bills’ No. 1 pick out of Clemson, will give Buffalo fans some hope for the future. WR <a href="/topics/Jordan">Jordan</a> Shipley (third-round pick, <a href="/topics/Texas">Texas</a>) might catch more passes than T.O. in Cincy, and RB Ryan Matthews (12th pick overall, Fresno State) will now be the go-to guy in <a href="/topics/San_Diego">San Diego</a> after the Chargers parted ways with <a href="/topics/LaDainian_Tomlinson">LaDainian Tomlinson</a>. And CB Kyle Wilson (first round, <a href="/topics/Boise">Boise</a> State) who gained valuable experience in the absence of <a href="/topics/Darrelle_Revis">Darrelle Revis</a>, will still figure heavily in the Jets’ nickel package. 
Players we’ve seen the best of 
Just as young players experience breakout seasons, older veterans are entering their twilight years and just struggling to hold on. Two veteran defenders — LB <a href="/topics/Joey_Porter">Joey Porter</a> in <a href="/topics/Arizona">Arizona</a> and DE <a href="/topics/Richard_Seymour">Richard Seymour</a> in Oakland — have seen their better days. Same with guard <a href="/topics/Alan_Faneca">Alan Faneca</a>, who was released by the Jets in the off-season because of his diminished pass blocking. And <a href="/topics/David_Garrard">David Garrard</a> may have maxed out as the Jaguars' quarterback, although he still has a shot to redeem himself with a few less interceptions. 
Players ready for a breakout year 
One of the most enjoyable things in the NFL is seeing players go from having plenty of potential and then busting out with a big-time season. Happens every year, and it's about to happen now. A few would-be stars we see: RB <a href="/topics/Shonn_Greene">Shonn Greene</a>, who eventually nudged <a href="/topics/Thomas_Jones">Thomas Jones</a> from the starting lineup last year with the Jets . . . Colts wideout <a href="/topics/Pierre_Garcon">Pierre Garcon</a>, who is becoming a favorite target of <a href="/topics/Peyton_Manning">Peyton Manning</a> after catching 47 passes last season . . . Pass rushing LB Cameron Wake, who helped convince the Dolphins they could part ways with Joey Porter . . . QB <a href="/topics/Chad_Henne">Chad Henne</a>, who — despite an inconsistent preseason — should take another step forward . . . and don't be surprised to see one-time free agent RB <a href="/topics/Arian_Foster">Arian Foster</a> have a big year in Houston. 
Players who won’t let you down 
Need a completion on 3rd and 9? You’d be hard-pressed to find two more able QBs than the Pats’ <a href="/topics/Tom_Brady">Tom Brady</a> and Peyton Manning of the Colts. How about someone to make a punishing tackle at the goal line? Still none better than Ravens LB <a href="/topics/Ray_Lewis">Ray Lewis</a>. Got to have that offensive lineman to run behind on 3rd and 2? Browns T Joe Thomas will seldom let you down. And when you absolutely, positively need someone to make a play, Steelers S <a href="/topics/Troy_Polamalu">Troy Polamalu</a> is one of the best. 
Best uniforms 
Not only do they have a great venue to play in, but the Broncos have the coolest unis, too. Not that we didn't like the old days of the Orange Crush, but there's nothing wrong with the darker, sleeker look of today's team. In Baltimore, the Ravens have made purple NFL chic — hey, you don't like it? Then Ray Lewis will be in your face! And the powder blue of San Diego keeps the Chargers looking cooler than most. If old-time football is your preference, the Black and Gold of the Steelers is where it's at. And the Bills? Well, they might stink on the field, but at least they look good when they lose. 
Most underrated players 
These are the guys who don't always get the headlines, but who make enough plays to keep their teams in football games. How about Jets receiver <a href="/topics/Jerricho_Cotchery">Jerricho Cotchery</a>, who has become <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a>'s security blanket on third downs? Or Broncos receiver <a href="/topics/Eddie_Royal">Eddie Royal</a>, who will do his best to make Broncos fans forget about <a href="/topics/Brandon_Marshall">Brandon Marshall</a>. <a href="/topics/Jarret_Johnson">Jarret Johnson</a> has played linebacker for the Ravens (six sacks last season) and is now a defensive end after bulking up in the off-season. And Bengals cornerback <a href="/topics/Leon_Hall">Leon Hall</a> is coming off a six-interception season. Best defensive player for the Chargers you've never heard of: linebacker <a href="/topics/Shaun_Phillips">Shaun Phillips</a>.

SPAINTRO29

AFC: Jets talk, but Ravens walk the walk

1) It would be a mistake to write off the Saints. 
One of the easiest things to do in this parity-filled league is simply scratch off the previous year’s <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> winner and pencil in another team. Any team. Just not the one that won it the year before. But we get the feeling that — barring a series of significant injuries — the Saints will be in the hunt the entire way this year. There’s still a fire in the belly of coach <a href="/topics/Sean_Payton">Sean Payton</a> and quarterback <a href="/topics/Drew_Brees">Drew Brees</a>. And there’s still plenty of talent on both sides of the ball to withstand the inevitable challenge of playing opponents who are only too anxious to knock off the defending champs. We’re still partial to the Packers, but it’s not ridiculous to think the Saints will be playing in <a href="/topics/Dallas%2C_Texas">Dallas</a> next February. 2) <a href="/topics/Aaron_Rodgers">Aaron Rodgers</a> has already accomplished the impossible. 
The <a href="/topics/Green_Bay">Green Bay</a> quarterback has made Packers fans forget about <a href="/topics/Brett_Favre">Brett Favre</a>. With a strong statistical year in ’08 and an even better one in ’09, complete with a run to the NFC divisional playoffs, Rodgers has become the new favorite son on the Frozen Tundra. Now the next best thing: ousting the <a href="/topics/Minnesota_Vikings">Vikings</a> and Favre from their perch as the de- fending NFC North champs. All the Pack needs is some defensive improvement, and this could be one special year from Mr. Rodgers. 3 <a href="/topics/Brett_Favre">Brett Favre</a> can’t possibly play as well as he did last year . . . can he? 
When was the last time you heard a quarterback say he had a career year at age 40? How about never. But Favre’s remarkable performance last year, which came after a late arrival in training camp following a melodramatic un-retirement, was about as good as you could expect from anyone, no less a graybeard veteran of 19 seasons. With 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, Favre had by far his best statistical year. Now the question is: After a third straight melodramatic un-retirement, can he do it again? Logic tells you it will be very, very difficult. That and the fact that his go-to receiver last year — <a href="/topics/Sidney_Rice">Sidney Rice</a> — will miss around half the year with a hip problem. And another star receiver — <a href="/topics/Percy_Harvin">Percy Harvin</a> — is dealing with a chronic migraine problem. Throw in an off-season ankle surgery, and Favre figures to be merely human this season. 4) No, the Cowboys won’t be playing in the <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl"></a><a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> in their home stadium this season. 
In the 44-year history of the Super Bowl, no team whose home city hosted the game ever played in it. You’d figure the Cowboys would be a logical choice to end that streak, but we just don’t see it. Not with <a href="/topics/Tony_Romo">Tony Romo</a> needing to prove he can take the next step as a quarterback (hasn’t been further than the NFC divisional playoffs) and not with <a href="/topics/Wade_Phillips">Wade Phillips</a> needing to do the same. Not that there isn’t plenty of talent in Big D. But in a league that’s dominated by coaches and quarterbacks, we just don’t see the Cowboys having enough of either to make it to the Big Show. 5) NFC East . . . or NFC Least? 
If the Cowboys aren’t in for a special season, and if the <a href="/topics/New_York_Giants">Giants</a> are still a few players short of being a Super Bowl contender, and if the Redskins need some time to adjust to <a href="/topics/Donovan_McNabb">Donovan McNabb</a>, and if <a href="/topics/Kevin_Kolb">Kevin Kolb</a> needs some time to adjust to life after McNabb in Philly . . . where does that leave the NFC East? Widely regarded as one of the toughest divisions, there are warts on all the teams. But there are too many good players and coaches in the division to see such a precipitous drop-off. We see the usual razor’s edge finish. Our call: <a href="/topics/Dallas%2C_Texas">Dallas</a> wins the division; the <a href="/topics/New_York_Giants">Giants</a> are a wild card. 
Rookies who will make an impact 
It generally takes three years to determine whether or not a draft is successful, but we've got a pretty good feeling about this year's group in general, particularly in the NFC. WR <a href="/topics/Dez_Bryant">Dez Bryant</a> (first-round pick, <a href="/topics/Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a> State) adds a major element of explosiveness to the Cowboys' offense, although he was slowed by an ankle injury in the preseason. <a href="/topics/Sam_Bradford">Sam Bradford</a> (No. 1 pick overall, Oklahoma) won't immediately turn around the Rams, but they appear to have their QB of the future. And the Lions can build a defense around DT <a href="/topics/Ndamukong_Suh">Ndamukong Suh</a> (No. 2 pick overall, <a href="/topics/Nebraska">Nebraska</a>). The NFC East pass rush got collectively better in New York with Jason Pierre-Paul (first-round, South <a href="/topics/Florida">Florida</a>) and Brandon Graham (first-round, <a href="/topics/Michigan">Michigan</a>). 
Players we've seen the best of 
The <a href="/topics/Albert_Haynesworth">Albert Haynesworth</a> soap opera continues in Washington, where the star DT simply isn't the player the Redskins thought they were getting when they gave him a $100 million contract last year. QB <a href="/topics/Matt_Hasselbeck">Matt Hasselbeck</a> is still the starter in <a href="/topics/Seattle">Seattle</a>, but new coach <a href="/topics/Pete_Carroll">Pete Carroll</a> may have other ideas down the road. And it looks as if <a href="/topics/Brandon_Jacobs">Brandon Jacobs</a>' days as the <a href="/topics/New_York_Giants">Giants</a>' No. 1 back are over. In <a href="/topics/Dallas%2C_Texas">Dallas</a>, WR <a href="/topics/Roy_E._Williams">Roy Williams</a> hasn't been the same star that he was in <a href="/topics/Detroit">Detroit</a>. And G <a href="/topics/Alan_Faneca">Alan Faneca</a> has his work cut out for him with the Cardinals after the <a href="/topics/New_York_Jets">Jets</a> set him free. 
Players ready for a breakout year 
It isn't every day that a seventh-round pick gets a chance to start at tailback for a Super Bowl contender, but that's the opportunity now awaiting <a href="/topics/Ahmad_Bradshaw">Ahmad Bradshaw</a>, who supplanted Brandon Jacobs as the Giants’ No. 1 back. <a href="/topics/Darren_Sharper">Darren Sharper</a> had a terrific year in 2009 as <a href="/topics/New_Orleans">New Orleans</a>’ free safety, but he'll spend the first six weeks of the season on the sidelines (knee), while second-year man <a href="/topics/Malcolm_Jenkins">Malcolm Jenkins</a> takes over. After a holdout shortened last season for <a href="/topics/Michael_Crabtree">Michael Crabtree</a>, the supremely gifted 49ers WR now has a full off-season and training camp to launch his 2010 campaign. And after recovering from shoulder injuries last year, QB <a href="/topics/Matthew_Stafford_%28football%29">Matthew Stafford</a> is ready for the Lions. Looking for an under-the-radar pass rusher? Then DE Everette Brown is your man in Carolina. He'll get a shot now that <a href="/topics/Julius_Peppers">Julius Peppers</a> is gone. 
Players who won't let you down 
Need a completion on third and 10? Look no further than <a href="/topics/Drew_Brees">Drew Brees</a>, the reigning Super Bowl champion QB with the Saints. And <a href="/topics/Aaron_Rodgers">Aaron Rodgers</a> isn't far behind; in fact, the Packers' QB now has his sights set on Dallas next February. So does Dallas LB <a href="/topics/DeMarcus_Ware">DeMarcus Ware</a>, who is arguably the best pass rusher in the NFC, and perhaps the entire league. Michael Turner hopes this will be a special season in <a href="/topics/Atlanta">Atlanta</a>, and the burly tailback comes into the year finally recovered from ankle problems that hurt him last year. DT <a href="/topics/Darnell_Dockett">Darnell Dockett</a> is a force on the inside for the Cardinals, who will need all the defensive help they can get now that <a href="/topics/Kurt_Warner">Kurt Warner</a> has retired. 
Best uniforms 
It’s tough not to like the famous star on the Cowboys' helmet, so when it comes to the best uniforms in the conference, it's Big D that comes out ahead. Gotta love the bird motif in Atlanta, where the Falcons' red-and-black unis are all the rage. And if it's tradition you're looking for, then the Redskins’ <a href="/topics/Burgundy">burgundy</a> and gold fit the bill. Same goes with <a href="/topics/San_Francisco">San Francisco</a>, where the 49ers' uniforms bring back memories of Joe Montana and <a href="/topics/Jerry_Rice">Jerry Rice</a>. And what more history can you ask for than the green-and-gold of the Packers? 
Underrated players 
The Saints have plenty of stars, but it's players like unsung RB <a href="/topics/Pierre_Thomas">Pierre Thomas</a> who also deserve plenty of credit for the team's success. <a href="/topics/Jon_Beason">Jon Beason</a> has the misfortune of playing for a struggling team in Carolina, but it doesn't diminish his talents as one of the most active linebackers in the game. And <a href="/topics/O.J._Atogwe">O.J. Atogwe</a> won't be winning the Super Bowl in <a href="/topics/St_Louis">St. Louis</a> any time soon, but he's one of the top ball-hawking safeties around. Think of <a href="/topics/Arizona">Arizona</a>, and you think of receivers like <a href="/topics/Larry_Fitzgerald">Larry Fitzgerald</a>. But <a href="/topics/Steve_Breaston">Steve Breaston</a> is also a key. Looking for an unsung offensive weapon? Try FB <a href="/topics/Leonard_Weaver">Leonard Weaver</a> in Philly, who is equally adept at blocking, running and receiving.

SPNINTRO29

NFC: Saints have fire, but Packers catching up

1. Ravens: <a href="/topics/Joe_Flacco">Joe Flacco</a> coming into his own, and so is <a href="/topics/Ray_Rice">Ray Rice</a>. <a href="/topics/Ray_Lewis">Ray Lewis</a> has been dominant for years. Big season from <a href="/topics/Terrell_Suggs">Terrell Suggs</a>. Ravens looking Super. 
2. Colts: When you have <a href="/topics/Peyton_Manning">Peyton Manning</a>, you always have a chance. He's still at his peak, although it'll be interesting to see how he and rest of Colts deal with <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> loss. Hangover season? 
3. Jets: They've loaded up for a run at the <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> after last year's AFC Championship Game loss. Big questions are whether <a href="/topics/Darrelle_Revis">Darrelle Revis</a> can be as good as he was last year after missing all of training camp and whether <a href="/topics/Mark_Sanchez_%28football%29">Mark Sanchez</a> can hold it together. 
4. Chargers: Upset loss at home to Jets was a killer last year, but there's still plenty of talent with <a href="/topics/Philip_Rivers">Philip Rivers</a>, <a href="/topics/Shaun_Phillips">Shaun Phillips</a>, <a href="/topics/Shawne_Merriman">Shawne Merriman</a>, <a href="/topics/Malcolm_Floyd_%28football%29">Malcolm Floyd</a> and newcomer RB Ryan Matthews. 
5. Bengals: <a href="/topics/Carson_Palmer">Carson Palmer</a> gets another receiving target in <a href="/topics/Terrell_Owens">Terrell Owens</a>, although <a href="/topics/Jordan">Jordan</a> Shipley seems to have emerged as a go-to guy. Defense getting better, must now take next step. 
6. Patriots: They're in transition on defense, and they've got injury problems along the offensive line. But <a href="/topics/Tom_Brady">Tom Brady</a> is still Tom Brady, and <a href="/topics/Randy_Moss">Randy Moss</a> is motivated in a contract year. Don't discount them from the playoff equation. 
7. Dolphins: Could be a surprise team IF <a href="/topics/Chad_Henne">Chad Henne</a> elevates his game, <a href="/topics/Ronnie_Brown">Ronnie Brown</a>/<a href="/topics/Ricky_Williams">Ricky Williams</a> remain healthy and the defense finds a pass rusher in Cameron Wake. 
8. Texans: Seems like we've been saying, "This is gonna be the Texans' year" for five years now. If they can find a running game, and if <a href="/topics/Matt_Schaub">Matt Schaub</a> can stay healthy, maybe they can make a wild card run. Still a ways away from overtaking Indy in the division. 
9. Steelers: They'll have to deal with the four-game suspension of <a href="/topics/Ben_Roethlisberger">Ben Roethlisberger</a>, as well as a leaky offensive line. Defense, running game remain stout, so if they can withstand early-season problems, not out of the question they become a factor in the second half. 
10. Broncos: <a href="/topics/Tim_Tebow">Tim Tebow</a> is all the rage in <a href="/topics/Denver">Denver</a>, but it's still <a href="/topics/Kyle_Orton">Kyle Orton</a>'s team. If RB <a href="/topics/Knowshon_Moreno">Knowshon Moreno</a> can stay healthy, it's a plus. Defense hurt by injury to <a href="/topics/Elvis_Dumervil">Elvis Dumervil</a>, their best pass rusher. 
11. Tennessee Titans: <a href="/topics/Chris_Johnson">Chris Johnson</a> is one of the game's most dynamic offensive players, but <a href="/topics/Vince_Young">Vince Young</a> needs to continue maturing. Defense is young, but promising. 
12. Chiefs: Thought they'd be better last year, but maybe they make a jump under second-year head coach <a href="/topics/Todd_Haley">Todd Haley</a>. New coordinators <a href="/topics/Charlie_Weis">Charlie Weis</a> on offense and <a href="/topics/Romeo_Crennel">Romeo Crennel</a> on defense will make a huge difference. 
13. Raiders: The defense is certainly respectable enough, but it remains to be seen if newly acquired <a href="/topics/Jason_Campbell">Jason Campbell</a> can settle things down at quarterback. 
14. Jaguars: <a href="/topics/David_Garrard">David Garrard</a> is an efficient quarterback, <a href="/topics/Maurice_Jones-Drew">Maurice Jones-Drew</a> is a dominant running back, but a lack of receiving talent and questions on defense make the Jags a longshot. 
15. Browns: <a href="/topics/Eric_Mangini">Eric Mangini</a> saved his job by winning his last four last year, but this is still a team with marginal talent. Browns take a chance that <a href="/topics/Jake_Delhomme">Jake Delhomme</a> can be the guy at quarterback after he was chased out of Carolina. 
16. Bills: This will be a very, very tough team to watch. Outside of rookie RB C.J. Spiller, not a lot to like. Long year, Bills fans.

SPFBAPOWWEB09

Glauber's AFC Power Ratings: Jets trail only Ravens, Colts

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis

1. Packers: <a href="/topics/Aaron_Rodgers">Aaron Rodgers</a> might be the most prolific passer in the game this year. <a href="/topics/Ryan_Grant">Ryan Grant</a> more than adequate at running back. Biggest issue is whether the Packers' defense can stop the pass. 
2. Saints: Defending <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> champs haven't lost much from last year's team. <a href="/topics/Drew_Brees">Drew Brees</a> one of best team leaders anywhere. Solid receiving corps. Improving defense. Don't completely rule out another <a href="/topics/Super_Bowl">Super Bowl</a> run. 
3. Falcons: <a href="/topics/Matt_Ryan">Matt Ryan</a> was victim of a sophomore slump last year, but looks to pick up the pace in Year 3. Michael Turner an elite running back. Biggest improvement this year is the secondary. 
4. <a href="/topics/Minnesota_Vikings">Vikings</a>: Tough to see <a href="/topics/Brett_Favre">Brett Favre</a> duplicate last year's career year (33 TDs, 7 INTs). <a href="/topics/Adrian_Peterson">Adrian Peterson</a> a workhorse back, and defense is still very good. 
5. Cowboys: A rough preseason for <a href="/topics/Tony_Romo">Tony Romo</a>, but there's still plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. <a href="/topics/DeMarcus_Ware">DeMarcus Ware</a> heads a more than adequate defense. 
6. Giants: The big issue here is whether the <a href="/topics/Perry_Fewell">Perry Fewell</a> defense will be better than the <a href="/topics/Bill_Sheridan">Bill Sheridan</a> defense. If not, watch out. But if the "D" plays up to its talent, it should be a playoff run for Eli &amp; Co. 
7. 49ers: It's almost a process of elimination in a very mediocre division. With <a href="/topics/Kurt_Warner">Kurt Warner</a> out of <a href="/topics/Arizona">Arizona</a>, that leaves the Niners as the odds-on favorite. A legitimately good defense; a decidedly average offense. 
8. Redskins: Some folks are thinking they go from 4-12 to the playoffs, but we'll say it'll take <a href="/topics/Mike_Shanahan">Mike Shanahan</a> and <a href="/topics/Donovan_McNabb">Donovan McNabb</a> a full season to recover from the <a href="/topics/Jim_Zorn">Jim Zorn</a> era. 
9. <a href="/topics/Philadelphia_Eagles">Eagles</a>: <a href="/topics/Kevin_Kolb">Kevin Kolb</a> is at the helm now that McNabb is gone, but it might take some time for the young passer to get in synch with his young offense. Defensive makeover still a work in progress, too. 
10. Cardinals: QB <a href="/topics/Matt_Leinart">Matt Leinart</a> lost the starting job for the second time in three years. First it was to eventual Hall of Famer Warner; now it's to journeyman <a href="/topics/Derek_Anderson">Derek Anderson</a>. Loss of Warner, Boldin, <a href="/topics/Rolle">Rolle</a>, Dansby will hurt. 
11. Lions: They got their quarterback last year in <a href="/topics/Matthew_Stafford_%28football%29">Matthew Stafford</a> and their defensive stud this year in <a href="/topics/Ndamukong_Suh">Ndamukong Suh</a>, so the building blocks are there. Look for improvement from a team that's still a year or two away from thinking playoffs. 
12. Bears: <a href="/topics/Jay_Cutler">Jay Cutler</a> was a dud last year, so the Bears hope offensive coordinator <a href="/topics/Mike_Martz">Mike Martz</a> can change that this year. We won't hold our breath. Average defense, too. Could mean <a href="/topics/Lovie_Smith">Lovie Smith</a>'s job by season's end. 
13. Panthers: <a href="/topics/John_Fox">John Fox</a> comes into the year on the hot seat, and with major quarterback issues, it won't be a surprise to see him finish it in the same spot. In fact, unless Carolina makes an unexpected playoff run, Fox could be out. 
14. Seahawks: <a href="/topics/Pete_Carroll">Pete Carroll</a> gets out of <a href="/topics/Dodge">Dodge</a> - aka USC - just in time to avoid sanctions. But don't expect miracles; QB and RB issues will translate to rocky season. 
15. Rams: At least there's something to look forward to in <a href="/topics/St_Louis">St. Louis</a>: <a href="/topics/Sam_Bradford">Sam Bradford</a> has the makings of a franchise quarterback. Now come the growing pains. 
16. Buccaneers: <a href="/topics/Josh_Freeman">Josh Freeman</a> gets the nod at QB, although a broken thumb in preseason didn't help. Inexperience will again be a killer for the Bucs, who'll be picking high next year.

SPFBNPOWWEB09

Glauber's NFC Power Ratings: Giants 'D' must play better

Justin Tuck on the bench during a preseason game - cropped

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