Getting ready for camp A
Question: The clock continues to tick on the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, which expires next March. What are the chances of the players and owners striking a new deal in the next few months?Answer: About the same as Mel Gibson being named Man of the Year by the NAACP. Negotiations are proceeding at a snail's pace, and I don't really think we're going to see anything get done until next February. Wouldn't even be surprised to see it drag into the first couple weeks of March.
Q: What was the best tQ: What effect will Ben Roethlisberger's suspension have on the Steelers' playoff hopes?
A: Probably not as much as the departure of wide receiver Santonio Holmes and the Achilles injuries to right tackle Willie Colon and wideout Limas Sweed.For starters, if Roethlisberger can behave for a few months, Goodell likely will reduce his six-game suspension to four games. The Steelers play just one division game in the first month of the season — against Baltimore — and that game will be at Heinz Field.They'll rely heavily on their defense and the running of Rashard Mendenhall in Roethlisberger's absence. If Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch can keep mistakes to a minimum, the Steelers will be no worse than 2-2, and probably 3-1, when Roethlisberger gets back.
Q: How much better will the Redskins be with Donovan McNabb?
A: Not good enough to make the playoffs, but probably good enough to win two or three more games than they did last year when they finished 4-12.
Q: Can Mike Holmgren find happiness and contentment as the president of the Cleveland Browns?A: Unlikely. The Walrus is a hands-on guy. When he hired Tom Heckert as general manager, he said Heckert would have final say on all personnel matters. But he has spent much of the offseason looking over Heckert's shoulder, and the rest sitting in his lap. Most people around the league think he'll fire Eric Mangini after the season and take over as the head coach, which really is the job he's most qualified for anyway.
Q: Can the Vikings afford to let Brett Favre miss all of training camp again and just show up a couple of weeks before the start of the season and suit up?A: Sure, why not? Last year, playing for a new team, he showed up in late August and finished with the best touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio (33-7) in the league as the Vikings made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
Q: Can the Saints repeat as Super Bowl champs?A: When you've got a score-at-will offense like they've got, it's certainly doable. But they can't expect their defense to force 39 turnovers and score eight touchdowns again, and they did little in the offseason to upgrade their defense.
Q: Who's your sleeper team this season?A: The Texans. Matt Schaub is the best quarterback nobody's talking about.
Q: Which teams could be headed for the biggest fall?A: The Patriots and the Cardinals are my two prime candidates. The Patriots won the AFC East with a 10-6 record last year, but got drubbed by the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs and are in the process of retooling a defense that wasn't very good at pressuring quarterbacks last season (31 sacks).The Cardinals are hoping Matt Leinart can replace Kurt Warner, but that's far from a sure thing. They also traded away wide receiver Anquan Boldin and lost two of their best defensive players linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle in free agency. Don't be surprised to see the 49ers beat them out in the NFC West.
Q: OK, who's going to make it to the Super Bowl?A: Right here, right now, I'll say the Chargers and Cowboys. But check back with me again next week. And the week after that.
