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100:
What do quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Michael Vick have in common? They both won't play in 2007.
99:
Nothing against Marshawn Lynch (the Buffalo Bills broke a lot of teams' hearts by taking him at No. 12), but fellow rookie Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings will end up with more rushing yards. It's simple: better O-line.
98:
This will be the year new Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry scores more on the field than off it. For the first time in four seasons, he'll finally have more touchdowns (let's say, 12-14) than kids (9).
97:
San Diego Chargers football savant LaDainian Tomlinson outscored the entire Oakland Raiders team last season (186-168). It won't happen again -- not because LT isn't good for another 170-plus points, but because the Raiders' offense can't be that gruesome again … can it?
96:
I still think the Dallas Cowboys could have done better than Wade Phillips as their new head coach. That said, Phillips will do what Bill Parcells couldn't do with the Cowboys' 3-4 alignment: tweak it enough so Dallas finishes higher than 13th in total defense.
95:
Don't tell me Post-Concussion Syndrome isn't a real problem in the NFL. Why else would quarterback Jon Kitna and wide receiver Mike Furrey say the Detroit Lions would win more than 10 games in 2007? I figure 7-9, and that's only if Matt Millen isn't allowed within a Ford factory of the roster.
94:
If Donovan McNabb's surgically repaired right knee holds up, the Philadelphia Eagles will be the last remaining undefeated team.
93:
And then they'll get beat Nov. 25 at New England. You'll hear the 1972 Miami Dolphins popping champagne corks.
92:
For the first time since 2000, someone from Appalachian State better be selected in the NFL draft.
91:
Everybody keeps saying Rex Grossman is the key to the Chicago Bears' season. Nuh, uh. Grossman will be fine. No way does he throw another 20 interceptions or slop around with a 54.6 percent completion rate. Nope, the guy who absolutely has to deliver the goods is running back Cedric Benson.
90:
He will.
89:
Priest Holmes, who is on the reserve/non-football injury list until Week 6, will play again for the Kansas City Chiefs. He'll make an appearance for no other reason that the Chiefs owe their franchise career rushing leader a proper farewell.
88:
Sorry, LT, LJ, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, Steven Jackson and Willie Parker, but nobody is going to come within 200 yards of the 2,000-rushing mark.
87:
But if somebody does, it will be Parker.
86:
The Houston Texans didn't get a new offensive line, right? Until they do, it doesn't matter how much they paid quarterback Matt Schaub ($48 million --$7 mil guaranteed -- despite just two career starts), or that 30-year-old Ahman Green is the new starting tailback (as opposed to, you know, drafting Reggie Bush). Here's an idea: half-step drops for Schaub.
85:
NFC East finish: (1) Philly, (2) Dallas, (3) Washington, (4) Giants.
84:
NFC North finish: (1) Chicago, (2) Green Bay, (3) Detroit, (4) Minnesota.
83:
NFC South finish: (1) New Orleans, (2) Carolina, (3) Tampa Bay, (4) Atlanta.
82:
NFC West finish: (1) Seattle, (2) St. Louis, (3) San Francisco, (4) Arizona.
81:
Now that the Super Bowl hangover/motorcycle accident/lame-duck coach/got-sacked-nine-times-in-a-single-game phase of his career is done, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have a bounce-back year. He's much better than the 18-TD/23-Int numbers of 2006.
80:
Another Chicago Bear will do something stupid at 3 a.m. (park his Ferrari on top of the Sears Tower ... try a swim move on a cop ... attempt to buy North Korean nuclear launch codes), and yet head coach Lovie Smith will bristle when reporters ask him if alcohol was involved.
79:
The Saints' Bush won't rush for 1,000 yards, but he'll be in the vicinity. Count on his attempts, total yards and rushing average all to bump up.
78:
First coaching casualty: Jon Gruden of the Bucs.
77:
First coaching hire during the offseason: Jon Gruden.
76:
Brady Quinn will be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback by the Oct. 14 home game against Miami or, with the benefit of a bye week, the Oct. 28 game at St. Louis.
75:
If one NFC team is going to shock the world, it's going to be … the New York Giants. Workable schedule. Desperate team. Quarterback with something to prove. Better-than-you-think replacements for Tiki Barber (remember what Tiki says in those Caddy ads about opportunity?). Understanding, patient fan base. It all adds up to a possible mini-miracle.
74:
Runner-up: the Packers. In Favre We Trust.
73:
OK, this will be the year Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne catches more touchdowns than the AFC's Jerry Rice -- Marvin Harrison.
72:
Team with best chance to go winless: Falcons.
71:
At the halfway point in the season we'll be raving about the Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.
70:
No Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison for the first four weeks of the Patriots' season. Hello, 2-2 start. Seymour is on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, while Harrison is on the cheated/took illegal performance enhancer list. He'll miss one-quarter of the regular season. Meanwhile, Barry Bonds, who … argh, never mind.
69:
AFC East finish: (1) New England, (2) Jets, (3) Buffalo, (4) Miami.
68:
AFC North finish: (1) Baltimore, (2) Cincinnati, (3) Pittsburgh, (4) Cleveland.
67:
AFC South finish: (1) Indianapolis, (2) Jacksonville, (3) Tennessee, (4) Houston.
66:
AFC West finish: (1) San Diego, (2) Denver, (3) Kansas City, (4) Oakland.
65:
The Vikings' Peterson will catch more passes this season than he caught during his three years at Oklahoma (24).
64:
For the first time in his nine-year career, Cardinals running back Edgerrin James will reach 300 carries and not gain at least 1,000 yards. His rushing average has decreased in each of the last three seasons. Love the guy, but the numbers usually don't lie when it comes to running backs.
63:
Randy Moss won't be able to help himself. He'll pop off at least once this season about not getting the ball enough. Patriots QB Tom Brady will approach him on the sideline, in full view of NFL Films cameras and boom mikes, and tell Moss he has two choices: (1) Shut up and play, (2) Retire at 30 and spend the rest of his adult life in the exciting world of smoothie franchises.
62:
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young will break the Madden Curse.
61:
And the Titans will still struggle to reach .500.
60:
The All-Wish-We-Were-Starting-For-A-Contender Offense: Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, Browns RB Jamal Lewis, Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, Lions T Jeff Backus, Dolphins T Vernon Carey, Vikings G Steve Hutchinson, Chiefs G Brian Waters (save yourself the e-mailings-I know Backus and Carey are both left tackles, and Hutchinson and Waters are both left guards), Vikings C Matt Birk, Texans WR Andre Johnson, WR Larry Fitzgerald.
59:
The All-Wish-We-Were-Starting-For-A-Contender Defense: Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, Vikings DT Kevin Williams, Falcons DT Rod Coleman, Raiders DE Derrick Burgess, Titans LB Keith Bulluck, Texans LB DeMeco Ryans, Browns LB Kamerion Wimbley, Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson, Vikings CB Antoine Winfield, Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders FS Stuart Schweigert.
58:
Falcons coach Bobby Petrino will wish he had never left Louisville.
57:
You will do very well in your fantasy league if you stole one of these three players in the later rounds: Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, Patriots WR Wes Welker, or Redskins QB Jason Campbell.
56:
If one AFC team is going to shock the world, it's going to be ... the Steelers. They could be 4-0 going into October. They also get their bye week just before they have to go to Denver and then Cincinnati. Granted, December won't be fun (Cincy, at New England, Jacksonville, at St. Louis, at Baltimore), but there's still enough talent on this team to cause Terrible Towel sales to jump.
55:
Runner-up: the Titans. VY makes the impossible possible.
54:
The AFC wild-card teams will be the Bengals and Jaguars.
53:
Last AFC team eliminated from playoff mix: Broncos.
52:
The NFC wild-card teams will be the Panthers and Cowboys.
51:
Last NFC team eliminated from playoff mix: Rams.
What do quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Michael Vick have in common? They both won't play in 2007.
99:
Nothing against Marshawn Lynch (the Buffalo Bills broke a lot of teams' hearts by taking him at No. 12), but fellow rookie Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings will end up with more rushing yards. It's simple: better O-line.
98:
This will be the year new Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry scores more on the field than off it. For the first time in four seasons, he'll finally have more touchdowns (let's say, 12-14) than kids (9).
97:
San Diego Chargers football savant LaDainian Tomlinson outscored the entire Oakland Raiders team last season (186-168). It won't happen again -- not because LT isn't good for another 170-plus points, but because the Raiders' offense can't be that gruesome again … can it?
96:
I still think the Dallas Cowboys could have done better than Wade Phillips as their new head coach. That said, Phillips will do what Bill Parcells couldn't do with the Cowboys' 3-4 alignment: tweak it enough so Dallas finishes higher than 13th in total defense.
95:
Don't tell me Post-Concussion Syndrome isn't a real problem in the NFL. Why else would quarterback Jon Kitna and wide receiver Mike Furrey say the Detroit Lions would win more than 10 games in 2007? I figure 7-9, and that's only if Matt Millen isn't allowed within a Ford factory of the roster.
94:
If Donovan McNabb's surgically repaired right knee holds up, the Philadelphia Eagles will be the last remaining undefeated team.
93:
And then they'll get beat Nov. 25 at New England. You'll hear the 1972 Miami Dolphins popping champagne corks.
92:
For the first time since 2000, someone from Appalachian State better be selected in the NFL draft.
91:
Everybody keeps saying Rex Grossman is the key to the Chicago Bears' season. Nuh, uh. Grossman will be fine. No way does he throw another 20 interceptions or slop around with a 54.6 percent completion rate. Nope, the guy who absolutely has to deliver the goods is running back Cedric Benson.
90:
He will.
89:
Priest Holmes, who is on the reserve/non-football injury list until Week 6, will play again for the Kansas City Chiefs. He'll make an appearance for no other reason that the Chiefs owe their franchise career rushing leader a proper farewell.
88:
Sorry, LT, LJ, Frank Gore, Shaun Alexander, Steven Jackson and Willie Parker, but nobody is going to come within 200 yards of the 2,000-rushing mark.
87:
But if somebody does, it will be Parker.
86:
The Houston Texans didn't get a new offensive line, right? Until they do, it doesn't matter how much they paid quarterback Matt Schaub ($48 million --$7 mil guaranteed -- despite just two career starts), or that 30-year-old Ahman Green is the new starting tailback (as opposed to, you know, drafting Reggie Bush). Here's an idea: half-step drops for Schaub.
85:
NFC East finish: (1) Philly, (2) Dallas, (3) Washington, (4) Giants.
84:
NFC North finish: (1) Chicago, (2) Green Bay, (3) Detroit, (4) Minnesota.
83:
NFC South finish: (1) New Orleans, (2) Carolina, (3) Tampa Bay, (4) Atlanta.
82:
NFC West finish: (1) Seattle, (2) St. Louis, (3) San Francisco, (4) Arizona.
81:
Now that the Super Bowl hangover/motorcycle accident/lame-duck coach/got-sacked-nine-times-in-a-single-game phase of his career is done, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will have a bounce-back year. He's much better than the 18-TD/23-Int numbers of 2006.
80:
Another Chicago Bear will do something stupid at 3 a.m. (park his Ferrari on top of the Sears Tower ... try a swim move on a cop ... attempt to buy North Korean nuclear launch codes), and yet head coach Lovie Smith will bristle when reporters ask him if alcohol was involved.
79:
The Saints' Bush won't rush for 1,000 yards, but he'll be in the vicinity. Count on his attempts, total yards and rushing average all to bump up.
78:
First coaching casualty: Jon Gruden of the Bucs.
77:
First coaching hire during the offseason: Jon Gruden.
76:
Brady Quinn will be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback by the Oct. 14 home game against Miami or, with the benefit of a bye week, the Oct. 28 game at St. Louis.
75:
If one NFC team is going to shock the world, it's going to be … the New York Giants. Workable schedule. Desperate team. Quarterback with something to prove. Better-than-you-think replacements for Tiki Barber (remember what Tiki says in those Caddy ads about opportunity?). Understanding, patient fan base. It all adds up to a possible mini-miracle.
74:
Runner-up: the Packers. In Favre We Trust.
73:
OK, this will be the year Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne catches more touchdowns than the AFC's Jerry Rice -- Marvin Harrison.
72:
Team with best chance to go winless: Falcons.
71:
At the halfway point in the season we'll be raving about the Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.
70:
No Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison for the first four weeks of the Patriots' season. Hello, 2-2 start. Seymour is on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, while Harrison is on the cheated/took illegal performance enhancer list. He'll miss one-quarter of the regular season. Meanwhile, Barry Bonds, who … argh, never mind.
69:
AFC East finish: (1) New England, (2) Jets, (3) Buffalo, (4) Miami.
68:
AFC North finish: (1) Baltimore, (2) Cincinnati, (3) Pittsburgh, (4) Cleveland.
67:
AFC South finish: (1) Indianapolis, (2) Jacksonville, (3) Tennessee, (4) Houston.
66:
AFC West finish: (1) San Diego, (2) Denver, (3) Kansas City, (4) Oakland.
65:
The Vikings' Peterson will catch more passes this season than he caught during his three years at Oklahoma (24).
64:
For the first time in his nine-year career, Cardinals running back Edgerrin James will reach 300 carries and not gain at least 1,000 yards. His rushing average has decreased in each of the last three seasons. Love the guy, but the numbers usually don't lie when it comes to running backs.
63:
Randy Moss won't be able to help himself. He'll pop off at least once this season about not getting the ball enough. Patriots QB Tom Brady will approach him on the sideline, in full view of NFL Films cameras and boom mikes, and tell Moss he has two choices: (1) Shut up and play, (2) Retire at 30 and spend the rest of his adult life in the exciting world of smoothie franchises.
62:
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young will break the Madden Curse.
61:
And the Titans will still struggle to reach .500.
60:
The All-Wish-We-Were-Starting-For-A-Contender Offense: Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson, Browns RB Jamal Lewis, Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, Lions T Jeff Backus, Dolphins T Vernon Carey, Vikings G Steve Hutchinson, Chiefs G Brian Waters (save yourself the e-mailings-I know Backus and Carey are both left tackles, and Hutchinson and Waters are both left guards), Vikings C Matt Birk, Texans WR Andre Johnson, WR Larry Fitzgerald.
59:
The All-Wish-We-Were-Starting-For-A-Contender Defense: Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, Vikings DT Kevin Williams, Falcons DT Rod Coleman, Raiders DE Derrick Burgess, Titans LB Keith Bulluck, Texans LB DeMeco Ryans, Browns LB Kamerion Wimbley, Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson, Vikings CB Antoine Winfield, Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders FS Stuart Schweigert.
58:
Falcons coach Bobby Petrino will wish he had never left Louisville.
57:
You will do very well in your fantasy league if you stole one of these three players in the later rounds: Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, Patriots WR Wes Welker, or Redskins QB Jason Campbell.
56:
If one AFC team is going to shock the world, it's going to be ... the Steelers. They could be 4-0 going into October. They also get their bye week just before they have to go to Denver and then Cincinnati. Granted, December won't be fun (Cincy, at New England, Jacksonville, at St. Louis, at Baltimore), but there's still enough talent on this team to cause Terrible Towel sales to jump.
55:
Runner-up: the Titans. VY makes the impossible possible.
54:
The AFC wild-card teams will be the Bengals and Jaguars.
53:
Last AFC team eliminated from playoff mix: Broncos.
52:
The NFC wild-card teams will be the Panthers and Cowboys.
51:
Last NFC team eliminated from playoff mix: Rams.
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