2008 NFL Preview - AFC North

1. Cleveland Browns (10-6 in 2007)
The Browns have more talent on both sides of the ball than any other team in the division, and a dominant offensive line - maybe the best in all of football. This will help Anderson (add Quinn in case he gets hurt) and running back Jamal Lewis replicate their 2007 success. They are explosive all the way around on offense and their defense has continued to improve. This put them just about on par with the Steelers talent-wise.

That - and the slightly easier schedule than Pittsburgh’s - will be enough to get Cleveland over the hump in ‘08. Although the Browns and Steelers have identical schedules, the x-factor will be their two games against the AFC East and West - Pittsburgh hosts San Diego and goes to New England while the Browns host Denver and travel to Buffalo. That’s a huge difference, and after a season where they got shut out of the postseason despite a 10-6 record, Cleveland might be able to ride that past the Steelers and to the AFC North title.

Key Additions: DT Shaun Rogers (trade, Detroit), DE Corey Williams (trade, Green Bay), WR Donte Stallworth (free agency, New England)

Key Losses: CB Leigh Bodden (trade, Detroit)

Predicted Finish: 10-6

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6 in 2007)

I feel like Mike Tomlin is going to have this squad just good enough to lose this tossup division. The Steelers will have a great 2back system with Mendenhall and Parker. Also Hines Ward will be good, but he'll be 32 years old this year! I'm not too worried because I think Limas Sweed and Santonio Holmes will be a great young tandem for years to come. Plus throw in Heath Miller at TE...this team will have the ability to outscore anyone in a shootout! That is if Big Ben survives. The offensive line is the biggest question mark for this team and if anything costs them talent-wise it will be the O-Line for sure. The D will be just a hair below what many would consider your standard Steelers D. Overall I think they have better all-around talent than the Browns. However their O-Line and schedule will be the reason why the Browns win the division.

Whatever struggles they have this year will have a lot more to do with their brutal schedule than the talent in Pittsburgh. Winning more than 9 games in a schedule that includes New England, San Diego, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Dallas, the Giants, and Philadelphia - as well as each division team twice - is asking way too much.

Key Additions: RB Rashard Mendenhall (first round pick, Illinois), WR Limas Sweed (second round pick, Texas)

Key Losses: OG Alan Faneca (free agency, New York Jets), DB Al Rossum (released, San Francisco), FB Dan Kreider (free agency, St. Louis), LB Clark Haggans (free agency, Arizona)

Predicted Finish: 9-7 wildcard playoff birth

3. Cincinatti Bengals (7-9 in 2007)

The Bengals have replaced the Ravens as the league’s biggest outlaws, and the number of legal issues facing this team has overshadowed on-field expectations. On top of that, the defense - even under defensive mastermind Marvin Lewis - is still subpar and not equipped to handle the better offenses in the league. The Bengals may have the offensive weapons to trump the Steelers and Browns, but can their own defense stop Cleveland’s offensive fireworks on the other side of the ball? As of now, the answer is no, and that could spell a long, frustrating season in Cincinnati.

Their D looks vulnerable to me (horrible tackling against GB in their 1st preseason game) and Rudi Gay is unable to carry the load anymore (although I think Chris Perry will come in and do a good job). The Chad Johnson thing is also pure chaos. Does he want to play on this team, or doesn't he? Seems like a locker room mess and major distraction. I mean come on! This guy asked his QB for help out of Cinci!

You know what they say about talent: “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Cincinnati has Pro Bowl talent at a lot of key positions, but they’ve had that same talent the last several years. It hasn’t won them anything. I think they are an improved team by getting rid of the troublemakers. I also think that Ben Utech will make a huge difference for Palmer and their offense. I just don't think they can win. This really looks to be Cleveland's and/or Pittsburgh's year.

Key Additions: LB Keith Rivers (first round pick, USC), WR Jerome Simpson (second round pick, Coastal Carolina), DE Antwan Odom (free agency, Tennessee)

Key Losses: Madieu Williams (free agency, Minnesota), DE Justin Smith (free agency, San Francisco), LB Landon Johnson (free agency, Carolina), LB/DE David Pollack (paralysis injury, retired), WR Chris Henry (legal problems, released), LB Odell Thurman (violation of league substance abuse policy)

Predicted Finish: 7-9

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-11 in 2007)

The Ravens have history of sneaking up on the league and being competitive when nobody expects them to. They did it in 2002 after a salary cap purge decimated the core from their 2000 Super Bowl run, and that’s the only way they can do it in 2008.

The parade of Pro Bowlers this team enjoyed in the early part of this decade are either retired, in other uniforms, or on the downside of their careers. Ray Lewis is no longer the most feared defender in football, Jamal Lewis isn’t running for 2,000 yards, Jonathan Ogden isn’t manning the blind side for his quarterback, and Peter Boulware isn’t racking up sacks anymore. On top of that, the Ravens have never had stability at the most important position in football: The quarterback position. Banking on Flacco to bring that stability is reminiscent of when Kyle Boller was supposed to do the same, and we all know how that turned out.

Now, Troy Smith has been starting for them in the preseason to this point so maybe they'll try to start the year off with him and fall to Flacco when he struggles. Who knows really. Either way though I think this isn't going to work out for them this year. This team will be near the bottom in the NFL again giving GM Ozzie Newsome more to work with. This is a new coaching staff and young team that will have to start off by taking their lumps early and often.

Key Additions: Head coach John Harbaugh (DB coach, Philadelphia), QB Joe Flacco (first round pick, Delaware), RB Ray Rice (second round pick, Rutgers)

Key Losses: OL Jonathan Ogden (retirement), QB Steve McNair (retirement), C Mike Flynn (released)

Predicted Finish: 4-12

Carson Palmer Should Grow A Pair

I hate the USC Trojans. I hated Carson Palmer in college and I'm not crazy about him as a slightly above-average QB in the pros. I don't like Ohio State either. I do however love College Football. I absolutely love the camaraderie and the rivalries that go along with college football.

So, when Carson came out and trash-talked the homestate Ohio St. Buckeyes I was absolutely loving it! I was very surprised, but impressed. I loved the thought that rivalries and college allegiances never die. I mean, Pro sports are all about the money. You can say what you want but it boils down to the green stuff. College football, on the other hand, is about heart and allegiance. You wear your team/allegiance on your heart and sleeve, not on your wallet.

Here's what Carson originally said:

"I cannot stand the Buckeyes. It's amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the crap I gotta put up with being back there. I just can't wait for two years from now when SC comes to the 'Shoe and hopefully we'll have a home game that weekend and I can go up there and watch us pound on them in their own turf. I'm really getting sick of it and I just can't wait for this game to get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin' and go back to the Big Ten."

Even if you're a Buckeye fan you have to respect that! I don't really see what's not to like about that. Carson has a lot of school and Pac-10 pride, both of which I appreciate. So I thought it was pretty cool when Carson Palmer ripped on Ohio State. This isn't anything new for Carson either. This is the same Carson who ripped Nebraska on The Jim Rome Show before USC ran through them last year. Like I said, always appreciate a guy with a lot of school and Pac-10 pride. Unfortunately just as Carson was racking up all the cool points, he had to go out and issue a statement.

“I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too. I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry unless both sides are great teams.”

PUSSY! Seriously dude, if you're gunna go out and say something like that you better stand by it. I'm glad that he just clarified the statement really, and didn't completely take it back. But don't get me so impressed with you and all jacked up for the college football season and then try to smooth things over. I just think it was a little weak of him. This just whole thing just got me even more pumped for the College Football season!

2007 AFC Predictions

With the NFL Season only two days away, it seems proper to do some predictions.

East
1. Patriots
Definitely the most talented team and best coached team in NFL. The WR corps will be very solid after adding Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Walker. Now that Corey Dillon is gone, I believe Laurence Maroney will be one of the top rushers in the AFC and should get plenty of carries and yards if he can stay healthy. The Defense is one of the best in the league which includes the best defensive front along with new addition at LB in Roosevelt Colvin.

2. Jets
The Jets are primed to show everyone that last year was no fluke. The Jets have plenty of question marks. Who knows who the starting QB will be by the end of the season. Chad Pennington is just too inconsistent, I see Kelly Clemens starting not before long. Thomas Jones was a great off-season pickup, it seems Jets' RBs always accumulate a ton of yards so Jones should put up some good numbers if he stays healthy. The defense is mediocre and young and will have a hard time stopping the run.

3. Bills
I still think the Bills are another year away from contending for the top spot. The offense should produce and be able to put up some impressive numbers; J.P. Losman looks like a true QB, Lee Evans is a great WR, and Marshawn Lynch will be a great back with his strength and speed. The defense will be holding them back after losing Nate Clements, London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes

4. Dolphins
The Dolphins have too many issues. Trent Green? Come on now. That alone speaks for itself...

North
1. Bengals
I truly think this is the Bengals' year to win the north. The offense is no doubt one of the best in the league with Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J.Houshmandzadeh, and Rudi Johnson leading the way. I think the defense will be very productive this year, the line is very underrated and the LBs and secondary are loaded with play makers who can create some turnovers and get some big stops.

2. Ravens
The Defense is stellar, including the best secondary in the NFL and will keep them in every game. But the offense seems to be stagnant at times. McNair is old and other than Willis McGahee they lack big play makers on offense.

3. Steelers
The offense will be great with Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, and Hines Ward. I think the Steelers can bounce back but Mike Tomlin won't center the offense around Parker, which is a huge mistake.

4. Browns
It's going to be a long season for the Browns. They have QB problems, not to mention a semi-tough schedule. Brady Quinn will be starting not before too long.

South
1. Colts
The Super Bowl champs will contend for another title. We all know the offense is great and will be able to put up loads and loads of points, but the defense still needs to improve. I think Anthony Gonzalez will be a great No. 3 WR and Joseph Addai is one of the premier backs in the league. Addai's role will expand and should put up some impressive numbers.

2. Jaguars
The Jags definitely have a solid defense but I dont know how far David Garrard is capable of taking this team. Maurice Jones-Drew is a solid back but they need the WRs to step up.

3. Titans
Vince Young is a good QB but still needs to find some kind of rhythm in the NFL. The offense doesn't have any other big-time threats. Give the Titans one or 2 more years.

4. Texans
Do I really even need to explain?

West
1. Chargers
The offense is splendid and guess what? Norv Turner said Ladainian Tomlinson will be even more involved in the offense, even though it seemed he was involved in about 90% of their plays last season. The defense will continue to be one of the best in the NFL.

2. Broncos
Denver will be improved from last season, I see Travis Henry rushing for over 1,500 yards. Jay Cutler will be more comfortable behind center and Javon Walker will have one of his best seasons yet.

3. Chiefs
The offense has plenty of holes to fill and will be worse than mediocre. The defense is pretty talented but won't be enough to get them above 5 wins.

4. Raiders
Still have plenty of problems on the offense but the defense is very promising and should help them win a few games. I am still baffled by the recent signing of Daunte Culpepper.

AFC Title Game Prediction:
New England over Cincinnati