NFL Training Camp Roundup: Week 1

Ahh, yes, it's that time of year again. The time when the smell of torn turf and sweaty jock-straps fills the air around crowded coliseums and clubhouses.

The first week of the respective training camps for NFL teams kicked of this week. Here a quick look at what's been happening around the league:


Arizona Cardinals

From ESPN: Cardinals boast Fitzgerald while they quietly introduce new Defensive Coordinator. And it couldn't have come any sooner. During last year's Super Bowl, the Cards needed their defense to come up big in the 4th quarter, and it never happened. If Arizona hopes to repeat and make it to South Florida this year, new coordinator Bill Davis needs to step up.

They can ride Madden 10's co-cover boy this year.


Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons' wide receiver camp is starting to look like a Detroit street corner (or even Ford Field). With two major holdouts and now a season-ending injury to Pro Bowl WR Harry Douglas, the WR depth chart is looking a little empty.

Atlanta will yet again have to overcome off-season woes if they hope to do well in an increasingly tough division.


Baltimore Ravens

After a tough loss to division rival Pittsburgh in the last year's AFC Championship, the Ravens will be looking to shrug it off and start strong. With Derrick Mason returning Favre-style and longtime Steelers fan Snoop Dog stopping by at camp, Baltimore looks to be off to the start it needs.

If Flacco and keep up his momentum, the Ravens will be a tough team to beat this year.


Buffalo Bills

The best news so far is that Terrell Owens isn't making waves... yet. If he can manage to bottle the stupid long enough, the Bills might actually get some wins under they're belt.

It's sure going to take a lot of work, though, and keeping T.O. from acting out is a huge if.


Carolina Panthers

Despite what appears to be some minor special teams glitches, the Cats look like they're having a good first week. Last years South Division champs hope to turn that into league champs after getting stunned by the NFC Champion Cardinals last winter.

A lot will rest on QB Jake Delhomme's shoulders. Look for him to seek employment elsewhere if the Panthers end up below expectations.


Chicago Bears

The Bears have been starving for a reliable ball-chucker and Christmas came early (or maybe late) last spring when the acquired QB Jay Cutler. But other than that, the Monsters of the Midway have been rather quiet, according to Time Out Chicago.

Will we see some god-awful rehashing of the Super Bowl shuffle? Depends if Cutler is a boom or bust.


Cincinnati Bengals

As usual, the Bengals are dealing with a variety of off-season issues. Spring brought more legal troubles and camp brought more injuries that, yet again, the Bengals will need to overcome.

IF they could just stay out of trouble for a few months, they might rise to the level of mediocre.


Cleveland Browns

What can I say about Cleveland? New coach, new QB controversy, same old Brownies, so it's hard to tell.

No major injury updates, though.


Dallas Cowboys

Without the millstone of T.O. around his neck, QB Tony Romo is looking to develop someone to throw to. And according to the Star-Telegram, he's starting to find a target in WR Roy Williams.

Perhaps this will be the year Romo earns all the publicity he's gotten since joining America's Team.


Denver Broncos

With Jay Cutler leaving for Chicago, the Broncos look to start anew under Josh McDaniels. Is QB Kyle Orton really the answer? They're going to need a lot of help, especially after imploding against San Diego to lose a chance at the post-season last year.

Less experienced guys on Denver's D will need to pick up the slack now that safety Brian Dawkins is banged up.


Detroit Lions

A new logo and a fresh coat of paint isn't going to make up for crappy players and crappier management. At least this year the coordinators weren't hired based on their dating preferences.

Good luck winning one this year, Detroit.


Green Bay Packers

Head Coach Dom Capers talked to the AP about the switch to the 3-4 defense:

Speaking to reporters for the first time at camp, Capers said Tuesday that the defense isn't as consistent as it needs to be, though he sees signs of progress.

The Packer's D was seen a major contributor to a pretty nasty season last year, although most defenses look bad against Adrian Peterson.


Houston Texans

The Texans keep showing signs of shaking of the expansion-team slump, but come December, it never seems to materialize. Drafting DE Mario Williams looks more like the wise decision each year, and I predict they make at least a wild-card spot this January.


Indianapolis Colts

Looks like someone in the Colts' front office realized that Peyton Manning can't carry the team every year, and accordingly brought in Larry Coyer to beef up the D.

As evidenced by this article from the Examiner, any good defense is now being referred to as Blitzburgh.



Jacksonville Jaguars

It doesn't looks good for Jacksonville, having to switch around their roster so much during camp, as they failed to sign their 1st round draft pick for the second season in a row — not the type of streak you're looking for.

Expect this perennially decent team to sort it out by September.



Kansas City Chiefs

I don't know what's worse, going 0-16 like the Lions, or going 2-14 but giving up 54 points to Buffalo. I'm sure Kansas City fans are excited about a new regime and couple of decent draft picks, like DE Tyson Jackson, KC's largest contract in history.


Miami Dolphins

No one is more exciting in football right now than Miami. I mean, after all, it's not every day you re-invent the way an offense is run. The Wildcat is starting to filter down to lots of other teams looking put a spark in their offense.

On the flipside, defensive coordinators around the league have had all off-season to devise counters, now that the Wildcat is, well, out of the bag.


Minnesota Vikings

Now that the will he/won't he stuff with Favre is over (I think), the Vikings can settle in to getting ready for this season. After seeing what happened to the Jets last year, I'm guessing someone smelled the Ben Gay and decided to stay out of that one.

Peterson will, without a doubt, be every fantasy league's number one pick.


New England Patriots

I hope Tom Brady contracts AIDS.


New Orleans Saints

Looks like Reggie Bush is not going into this season at 100%, after getting his knee a little dinged up. Don't ask me about his love life. I don't care.

WR Robert Meachem is beginning to look like a real go-to guy for Drew Brees, which he's needed, and I expect the Saints to keep improving throughout the preseason.


New York Giants

The Giants open camp with a lot of expectations. Will this be the year Eli handles the adversity of professional football? Will a decent replacement be found for Plaxico Burress, preferably one with no holes?

Without any major injuries, the G-Men are having a quiet training camp so far.


New York Jets


Xander Diaz of the Bleacher Report said it best:

No More Mangini!

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are making moves and pulling out all the stops to try and get a team that congeals after last year's horrid season. They may not be quite as bad off as the Lions, but perhaps a logo redesign might get things going.

That thing's as old as Madden's humor.


Philadelphia Eagles

Philly's D looks pretty tough right out of the gate, even after loosing their middle linebacker Stewart Bradley earlier this week, and it looks like Donovan McNabb is still trying to find the right target.

Speaking of recent acquisition from the Browns Sean Jones, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott told the Express-Times, "(w)e want competition, and we've got great competition at the safety position and Sean is right in the mix there."


Pittsburgh Steelers

While still limited in practice, Super Bown XL MVP Hines Ward looks like he'll be ready for the regular season opener. And after losing but a few of their starters, the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers look poised to defend their title.

But who knows? After all, this will be the first camp that hasn't included team owner Dan Rooney since before WWII.


San Diego Chargers

After sneaking their way into the playoffs last year (some consider because of poor officiating, which never happens in the NFL), the Chargers will want to build on that momentum coming in to this year.

And there's no worse way to do that then to start off with a bunch of useless distractions. Dennis Rodman? Twitter? Yellow hair dye? And we thought Marty Schottenheimer was a joke.


San Francisco 49ers

One more year, one more QB controversy. Alex Smith was content on sliding by as long as Frank Gore was picking up the slack. But after Gore had an off year (he'll be much better this season, I'd wager), the brass in San Fran are looking elsewhere.

I don't blame them.


Seattle Seahawks

Nothing will derail a team on the rebound like a nasty contract dispute with a draft pick, but if they can work out a deal with Aaron Curry by preseason, I expect Seattle to be the elite team in the NFC West.

Yes, I know that's not saying much.


St. Louis Rams

These guys are going to be 2009's Detroit Lions, assuming the actual Lions aren't this year's Lions.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay front office is going to regret firing Chucky once they realize that no coach can win without any talent on the team.


Tennessee Titans


Despite losing WR Kenny Britt to a hamstring injury, expect the Titans to be dominant this year on the ground. They may not live up to last years start, but they will definitely make the playoffs.

Tennessee will use the McNair incident for inspiration.


Washington Redskins

Until Dan Snyder stops running the Skins' from the owner's box, there's not point in even discussing them. They're going to be mediocre...


(All team logos used in this post were done so befitting the rule that "logos for certain uses involving identification and critical commentary may qualify as fair use" clause under United State Copyright Law)