Can The 2010 Tight End Class Become As Prominent As The 1983 Quarterback Class?

By: Tyler Ward

The 2010 NFL Draft class of tight ends could potentially be the best class of that position in NFL history. Even though they are just two years into their professional careers, they are already shaping up to be Pro Bowl caliber players.

Let's take a look at some of the prospects of the 2010 tight end class:

* 1st round, 21st overall: Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
* 2nd round, 42nd overall: Rob Gronkowski, New England
* 3rd round, 70th overall: Ed Dickson, Baltimore
* 3rd round, 93rd overall: Tony Moeaki, Kansas City
* 3rd round, 95th overall: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
* 4th round, 113th overall: Aaron Hernandez, New England
* 4th round, 114th overall: Dennis Pitta, Baltimore
* Undrafted Free Agent: Jake Ballard, New York Giants

This class could go down as one of the best classes of any one skilled position in the league's history, much like the 1983 quarterback class.

That draft class, 28 years ago, is famed because there was so much hype surrounding these players before they were selected in the draft and most of the quarterbacks ended up having solid NFL careers. You may recognize two of the names in that draft class... No. 1 overall pick John Elway and future record-breaker Dan Marino, two of the most prolific players in NFL history. Elway went on to be one of the most clutch players of his time and won two Super Bowls with the Broncos in the late 1990's. Marino went on to become an elite quarterback for the Dolphins, although he never won a Super Bowl. He currently holds many all-time passing records, including the single-season passing yards mark, which is bound to be passed this season by Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees... or all three.

The 1983 draft also featured Jim Kelly, who went on to play in four consecutive Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills, but was never able to win the big game. Tony Eason led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl appearance, but was beaten by Walter Payton's Chicago Bears, 46-10.

Todd Blackledge and Ken O'Brien went on to have solid careers in the NFL, but were never able to live up to the expectations that surrounded them. Although they were extremely serviceable, they are considered busts, when comparing them to other quarterbacks in the class.

That's where last year's class of tight ends comes into play. These tight ends have great potential, even though they have been at the professional level for not even two seasons. They have already showed that they will be in the NFL for a long time, as most of them are key components on their respective teams. With the way some of them are playing right now, there is a very good possibility that we will never see a tight end draft class like this again.

Jermaine Gresham, who played collegiately at Oklahoma, was the first tight end off the board with the 21st overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals. Although his stats aren't flashy, Gresham has proven to be one of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton's favorite targets this season. Forming a trio with Dalton and rookie receiver A.J. Green, Cincinnati could have one of the league's most potent passing attacks if they all develop correctly in the next couple of seasons.

Physically, Gresham is an intriguing and amazing specimen who is practically a wide receiver trapped in a tight end's body. He's one of the biggest at his position with long arms and huge hands. He's too fast for linebackers to cover and too big for cornerbacks to defend, making him a solid prospect that is treacherous throughout games.

Gresham is also a very dangerous threat down field and is able to make terrific catches due to his long arms and great hands. Additionally, Gresham is a great run-blocker and has helped out running back Cedric Benson numerous times throughout the 2011 season.

Given time to develop, he should become a top-five tight end in the NFL if all of the pieces fall the right way. Currently, Gresham has played in eleven games this season, registering 43 receptions for 452 yards and five touchdowns. During his rookie campaign, the former Sooner caught 52 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns.

Conceivably, Gresham has all of the right tools to become a great player and he will have many Hawaii visits in front of him.

Arizona's Rob Gronkowski was the next tight end chosen, as he was tabbed with the 42nd overall selection by the New England Patriots, who were trying to fill their biggest need. And they sure fixed their need and did it quickly with the selection of Gronkowski.

In 2011, the former Arizona Wildcat has become quarterback Tom Brady's favorite target as of late -- even more so than Wes Welker, who has practically been the main option over the last couple of seasons. Gronkowski has shown that he is one of the best at his position after setting the single-season record for touchdowns (15) by a tight end against the Redskins on Sunday -- and there is still three games to play. He also has the second-most touchdowns (25) through his first two seasons in NFL history -- only Randy Moss in 1998-99 has more (28) through his first two seasons.

Often, Gronkowski has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten, who is currently one of Tony Romo's main targets with the Dallas Cowboys. He has shown that he could perhaps be better than Witten, who has been one of the top tight ends since he was drafted by Jerry Jones and Co.

Gronkowski is perhaps the best tight end in the league when it comes to yards after the catch, as he always seems to get a good bulk of yards once he catches the ball, something most defenses dread.

Like Gresham, Gronkowski is a better-than-average run-blocker who consistently shows good balance and strength to absorb hits from defensive linemen and linebackers. He is one of the best blocking tight ends when the Patriots actually run the ball with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

The future great also has some of the best hands in the NFL and that is scary when you are already in an offense that consists of Welker and Tom Brady as your quarterback. Gronkowski has feasibly been the best tight end in the NFL this season and it looks like he'll continue down that path for years to come with many Pro Bowls in his future.

Watch out opposing defenses, Gronkowski will be a force once he reaches his full potential. Through not even two seasons, he has registered 113 receptions for 1,634 yards and 25 touchdowns.

With the 70th overall pick, the Baltimore Ravens chose Ed Dickson, who played collegiately at Oregon and was widely considered to be the best tight end in college football in 2009. He is currently the starter on an offense that usually revolves around running back Ray Rice, but he is still able to contribute to a team that likes to use tight ends during games.

Although quarterback Joe Flacco is still developing, Dickson has become one of Baltimore's security blankets when it comes to the passing game. He usually thrives in short-yardage situations, as shown by his stats -- 48 receptions, 458 yards, three touchdowns.

Dickson is not an explosive runner by any means, but he is still able to outrun players in the second level. Dickson is also able to get off of the line quickly, which mainly helps in short-yardage situations. Although his stats aren't great, he has shown to be one of Flacco's most consistent targets even though he is just in his second year.

The ex-Oregon Duck also has great hands and is able to make tough catches, especially in traffic. With his size and athleticism, Dickson is also a red-zone threat, primarily due to his extraordinary leaping ability. His touchdowns don't show it, but he is a beast in the end-zone, as he is able to either catch touchdowns or draw interest from other defenders.

Dickson will be a solid tight end in the future, once he fully develops. He may not be a perennial Pro Bowl nominee, but he will still flourish in his own way and could become Flacco's main receiving target.

The second tight end chosen in the third round, Tony Moeaki, was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 93rd overall selection. He is currently on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but should be able to return healthy by the start of the 2012 season.

Although he has a history of injuries that has stunted his development, Moeaki still has the potential and upside to become a solid tight end in the NFL if he could remain healthy. While at Iowa, he missed time almost every single year he attended -- dislocated elbow in 2007 (missed majority of season), broken wrist in 2008 (missed spring practice), broken foot, pulled hamstring and concussion in 2008 (missed significant time in regular season) and missed time in 2009 due to an ankle injury.

Despite the injury concerns, the Chiefs still believe that Moeaki can become a serviceable tight end for the Chiefs and I'm inclined to agree with them. He has great potential simply because of his size and build. He has the ability to use his size as a mechanism for blocking techniques. With that, he is a superb run-blocker that is able to hold blocks and get off the line quickly.

If he can remain healthy, he could become a great weapon in the Chiefs' offense.

Last season, the former Hawkeye caught 47 passes for 556 yards and three touchdowns and likely would have increased those numbers if he didn't tear his ACL prior to the start of the regular season.

Perhaps the most surprising player this season was chosen with the 95th overall selection last year -- and his name is Jimmy Graham, who chose to play football over basketball after he was told that he really didn't have a future in basketball or NBA.

A former basketball player who rarely did anything on the court, Graham only played one season of football at the University of Miami. But with his sensational leaping abilities in basketball, he became an intriguing NFL prospect and thus, was selected in the third round of last year's draft to the NFL's most explosive offense.

Standing at 6'7", Graham is able to tower over most, if not all, players on opposing defenses. He has exceptional strength and height, which makes him a down field threat in the Saints' offense. Graham is also perhaps the most dangerous tight end on goal-line and red-zone situations as quarterback Drew Brees just has to lob it up and Graham will come down with it practically every single time. He could eventually be known as the most dangerous tight end in the entire league.

Thought of as a reach in the third round, Graham has proved all of his doubters wrong, as he has become a fan favorite in New Orleans. He flourishes in Sean Payton's system and has proved that he is a humongous threat with 80 receptions for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns. With the season he's having, Graham has become the first tight end in Saints history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau.

At the combine before the 2010 draft, Graham showed impeccable speed for a player for his size (4.56 in 40-yard dash) and astounding athleticism (10-foot broad jump and 38.5 vertical jump). With those components, Graham is virtually unstoppable, as he is faster than linebackers and taller than cornerbacks. Graham has struck fear in opposing defenders this season, as he is perhaps the biggest and most genuine threat in the vertical passing game.

This season, he has already shown that he is one of the best up-and-coming tight ends in the league and he hasn't even reached his full potential yet -- defenses should start quivering now.

With the 113th selection in the draft, the Patriots chose their second tight end of the draft, choosing former Florida Gator, Aaron Hernandez.

Hernandez is usually on the field for most snaps, as the Patriots primarily run a two-tight end set that features Hernandez and fellow 2010 draftee Rob Gronkowski. Although his stats pale in comparison to those of Gronkowski's, Hernandez is still a formidable tight end that is considered to be one of the top up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL.

He was one of the most successful players at Florida and was a key part on their two championship teams. He blossomed into Tim Tebow's favorite target and his stats at Gainesville were exceptional, as he graduated as one of the most decorative tight ends in the school's history. Former head coach Urban Meyer had some kind words for him, stating "Aaron was one of the very best at his position I have ever been around. He has all the tools to be successful at the next level."

Primarily known for his pass-catching abilities than his blocking techniques, Hernandez is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. He knows how to get open and has great hands, which he uses excessively in the Patriots' offense.

Tom Brady likes to use the former Gator in red-zone situations, as evident by his stats. He has caught 59 passes for 607 yards and five touchdowns this season, while only playing in eleven games. Last season, he registered 45 receptions for 563 yards and six touchdowns, while starting in just seven games.

He also has good speed for a tight end (4.6 in the 40-yard dash) and is a considerable threat down field. With a two-tight end set the Patriots use, Hernandez will be able to get better and better.

The Ravens also chose their second tight end of the draft with the following selection, as they picked Brigham Young's Dennis Pitta with the 114th overall selection. His stats may not be as promising as the others in this class, but he still has the ability to become a solid tight end in the NFL.

The 6'5" Pitta is an extremely reliable receiving tight end, as he catches incredibly well and rarely drops passes. Pitta can also make spectacular catches, especially when it's over his shoulders. He is very acrobatic for a player of his stature, even though he lacks speed and explosiveness.

With Baltimore, he has been primarily used as a blocking tight end, usually lining up as a fullback or on the offensive line where tight ends normally are placed. His stats aren't great, as he has just 31 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns this season. However, Pitta definitely has the potential to become a top-15 tight end in the league.

The last player in this class wasn't even chosen in the first seven rounds and was forced to become an undrafted free agent. A former Ohio State Buckeye, Jake Ballard took over the starting reins after Kevin Boss tested the free agent market and left for the Oakland Raiders.

Not many people expected Ballard to play this well prior to the 2011 season, but he has become one of Eli Manning's primary targets over the course of the season.

With his 6'5" stature, Ballard has developed into a valuable starting tight end. He has great size, while weighing in at 250 pounds, which makes him a solid run-blocker for the Giants, as well. Ballard is also a good pass-catcher and has been a threat in the vertical game for a majority of the season. He has also become one of Manning's favorite down field receivers, as he has registered a good amount of receptions that totaled over twenty yards.

It looks as though Ballard will retain the starting role and become the next Kevin Boss for the Giants, maybe even better. He turned out to be quite a steal for New York, as he has caught 37 passes for 589 yards and four touchdowns this season. His 15.9 yards per catch rank among the top for starting tight ends in the NFL.

This class has also featured role players such as Seattle's Anthony McCoy, St. Louis' Michael Hoomanawanui, Green Bay's Andrew Quarless, Indianapolis' Brody Eldridge, Atlanta's Michael Palmer, New York Jets' Jeff Cumberland, and Arizona's Jim Dray.

Clearly, this class of tight ends has great upside and could possibly become one of the most elite classes in NFL history. All the players listed above have played significantly through their first two seasons and most will likely keep it that way for many more seasons.

Fifteen years from now, we will look back on this class and be amazed at how great it was. Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski are already top-five tight ends, while Jermaine Gresham, Ed Dickson, Tony Moeaki, Jake Ballard and Aaron Hernandez are already knocking on the door of the top-ten tight ends list.

This class will be just as famed as the 1983 quarterback class: Write it down.

New Form Of Drafting: Can Basketball Players Continually Make It As Tight Ends?

By: Tyler Ward

As of late, there has been a "new" form of recruiting in the NFL. And it consists of teams grabbing up and drafting former college basketball players and placing them as tight ends on NFL squads.

Currently, three of the best tight ends in the NFL were once college basketball players -- San Diego's Antonio Gates, Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham.

Gates, a former basketball standout at Kent State, went undrafted in 2003 and was eventually picked up by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He somehow latched onto the Chargers and never let go. He debuted with San Diego that very year, starting eleven games and catching 24 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns in his inaugural season.

Over the next four seasons, Gates eclipsed the 900-yard season mark in each of those campaigns. Combined, Gates registered 316 receptions for 3,973 yards and 41 touchdowns in that span. Included in that magnificent stretch was a 13-touchdown season in 2004, which was the highest season touchdown total, along with Vernon Davis in 2009, for a tight end until New England's Rob Gronkowski broke the record against Washington on Sunday.

In 2008, Gates tallied just 60 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns, the lowest totals across the board since coming into the NFL. However, the following season, Gates caught 79 passes for 1,157 yards (a career-high) and eight touchdowns. In 2010, the former basketball player had his third career ten-touchdown season as he caught 50 receptions for 782 yards and ten touchdowns.

Although he has played a lesser role in San Diego's offense this season, he has still caught 53 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns. He also missed a couple of games earlier in the season due to injury.

Since Gates was picked up by San Diego, they have consistently had one of the league's top offenses. Pairing up with Philip Rivers made Gates an easy target for the young quarterback and has perhaps helped him succeed since arriving in California in 2004.

Although injuries have recently sidelined him somewhat, Gates has still been one of the most dangerous tight ends in NFL history.

Gates' career stats are also better than any tight end that is currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- yes, even better than John Mackey, Mike Ditka, Ozzie Newsome and Kellen Winslow. These stats currently rank second all-time only to the next man, who also once played basketball.

Tony Gonzalez, perhaps the player that started this phenomenon, was a first-round pick (13th overall) by Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. Playing collegiately at California, Gonzalez was never thought to become the player that he currently is.

While at California, Gonzalez played both football and basketball and was eventually forced to choose between the two. With his basketball career questionable, Gonzalez ultimately decided to choose football and he forfeited his final year of eligibility to go pro in football.

And apparently, he made the right decision.

A bonafide future Hall-of-Famer, Gonzalez is the all-time leader in receptions (1,142), receiving yards (13,275) and touchdowns (95) for a tight end, which clearly makes him the best tight end in NFL history. He has also made the Pro Bowl an astounding eleven times, currently the most for any tight end in the league's existence.

Over his first two seasons, Gonzalez started 16 total games, while catching 92 passes for 989 yards and four touchdowns. During his third year in the NFL, the former California standout would flourish.

He started 15 games for the Chiefs in 1999 and registered 76 receptions for 849 yards and eleven touchdowns, successfully earning his first or many Pro Bowl appearances. From 2000-06, Gonzalez had a remarkable stretch, as he accumulated 553 receptions for 6,872 yards and 46 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl berths in each of those seasons.

Included in that stretch was a 102-reception campaign in 2004, a single-season record for catches among tight ends. The record still stands and it will be a tough record to break.

From 2007-08, Gonzalez had perhaps two of the best seasons of his career, as he caught 99 and 96 passes, respectively. He posted back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons (1,172 and 1,058) and totaled 15 touchdowns over those two campaigns.

The Chiefs sent Gonzalez to Atlanta prior to the 2009 season and he has still been able to put up good numbers. He has caught at least 70 passes in those three seasons and has also registered at least 650 yards and six touchdowns.

Gonzalez is arguably the best tight end in NFL history and it may not have gone that way if he chose basketball over football while attending California. But he made the right decision and chose the pigskin and has been the best tight end over the last decade. He is likely to go down in the history books as one of the best at his respective position.

The newest member to join this group, Jimmy Graham, played collegiately at the University of Miami and only played one year of football before being picked in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. While playing basketball, he was not tabbed as a player that would have an NBA future, so he decided to go the football route.

Although he had rarely played football, he was immediately noted as one of the top tight end prospects in the 2010 draft. And once the draft rolled around, Graham was selected with the 95th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints.

He started five games for the Saints as a rookie last season and accumulated 31 receptions for 356 yards and five touchdowns.

Entering the 2011 season, Graham was expected to be the starter and become one of Drew Brees' favorite targets. And he has become that.

Now twelve games through the season, Graham has looked like Brees' main target, as he has caught 80 passes for 1,101 yards and eight touchdowns. He is currently leading the Saints in all three categories, as he has developed into one of the best up-and-coming tight ends in the NFL.

With his 1,000-yard season, he has become the first Saints tight end ever to reach that plateau and it looks like he could go over that mark over and over again.

Standing at 6'7", Graham is a freakish athlete that also has a great pair of hands, as he is one of the best receiving tight ends in the game right now. He also has extraordinary leaping abilities, which makes him a great vertical threat, especially with his stature. Graham is also one of the scariest players on short-yard and goal-line situations, as he practically towers over every opposing linebacker and cornerback.

Clearly, Graham will flourish in the next few seasons, as he hasn't even reached his full potential. He also has Drew Brees as his quarterback, who is one of the best at his position with majority thanks going to Sean Payton, the team's head coach and offensive mastermind. With the stats he's providing, it also looks like he'll surpass Antonio Gates as the league's best tight end and Tony Gonzalez before him.

So, all of this brings me to the point I've been trying to make: Basketball players seem to make exceptional tight ends in the NFL. Basketball players are already very athletic -- and they also seem to have a great height and weight advantage over most defensive players. They are also much faster than linebackers, so they are able to run directly past them and into the third level of defenses. And when they get to that third level, they are able to reach over most cornerbacks and safeties.

When you look at it, these basketball-turned-football athletes are virtually unstoppable most of the time.

As of right now, it seems like a great idea to use a mid-to-late round selection on a former basketball player in hopes that they turn into the next Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez or Jimmy Graham. These players have paved the way for future athletes that have never thought of playing professional football

The height and freaky athleticism that these players possess makes them diamonds in the rough, and it seems like they will succeed, if they are given the chance to perform. Once you look at the statistics, these basketball-turned-football athletes are three-for-three when it comes to success. No players that have been continually used or placed in a starting role have been mediocre -- they've been spectacular.

So, it appears to be worth it to use a mid-round selection on a developmental player that could potentially make it as a tight end in the NFL. In the future, you will see more teams go this route in hopes of finding the next diamond in the rough.

New Orleans Saints: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

The Saints saw their 2010 season end in an extremely disappointing fashion after suffering an upset at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks during Wild Card weekend.

Considering most teams suffer from a post-Super Bowl hangover, do you think New Orleans will regroup and be able to come out on top of the always challenging NFC South or will they pick up where they left last season and struggle in 2011?

Let us know what you think after you check out highlights from the Saints.

ESPN Sport Science: Drew Brees Edition (Video)

By: Stephen Patterson

Falcons Stun Saints In New Orleans 27-24

By: Tyler Ward

The only game (so far) to go into overtime this weekend? The Saints vs. Falcons. And it was an exciting game. The NFC South showdown featured both teams facing each other in New Orleans, with the Falcons beating the Saints 27-24.

Saints kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime, which can almost be considered a guarantee in the NFL. However, he did not, and with 1:55 left in overtime, Falcons kicker Matt Bryant made a 46-yard field goal to seal Atlanta's victory. New Orleans seemed to be in control of the game and it looked like they were going to win the game on their first possession of overtime. The Saints started off overtime at their own 32-yard line and running back Pierre Thomas ran for 23 yards on the first play from scrimmage. They would next use five plays to march 34 yards down field to the Falcons' 11-yard line. Hartley came out onto the field and proceeded to miss the "easy" 29-yard field goal.

Hartley had recently played hero, as he kicked the Saints to a 25-22 win over the 49ers last week. However, his luck ran out this week. Hartley has missed 3 of 7 field goals so far this season after previously making 22 of 24 attempts in his career. And if ya'll remember correctly, Hartley was the one that kicked the Saints into the Super Bowl last season. After the game, Hartley told the media, "That was then," he said. "That was then. This is now, and I just lost a game we should have won."

New Orleans were clicking on all cylinders with the passing game. Drew Brees went 30-for-38 for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. The best wide receiver of the game, however, wasn't Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, or Devery Henderson. It was Lance Moore, who has been relatively quiet this season. Moore finished the day with 6 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns (dang, I wish I had him on my fantasy team!) Colston, Meachem, and Henderson were quiet the entire game, combining for 7 receptions for only 53 yards. The Saints also could do nothing on the ground game, with Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory combining to carry the ball 16 times for 43 yards (a. 2.7 average).

The Saints also lost the time possession battle. The Falcons held the ball for 45:50, while the Saints had it for just 27:15. Atlanta finished off the game with a long 12-play drive that spanned a little over 7 minutes in overtime, with Bryant kicking the field goal to end it.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went 19-for-30 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Unlike his counterpart, he did not throw an interception, which severely helped Atlanta win the game. Tight End Tony Gonzalez had his best game of the year, catching 8 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Roddy White added in the other touchdown, while catching 5 passes for 69 yards. 

Roddy White added after the game, "This is a character win. ... It shows the division that we are going to compete." And he may be right. Want to know a little fun fact? No team in the NFC South has ever repeated as the division winner. So, with that being said, the Saints may not retain their division title. I'm not superstitious, but you never know.

The Falcons also did something that the Saints could not do all game - and that was rushing the ball. Michael Turner carried the ball 30 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard game of the year. Turner left last week's game with a groin injury, and back-up running back Jason Snelling admirably filled in for him to finish the game and rushed for over 100 yards. Snelling also played well against the Saints, carrying the ball 14 times for 62 yards.

Ryan acted like Drew Brees in the second quarter, leading the Falcons on a 19-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 10:39 and successfully tied the game right before halftime at 14. The Falcons were able to convert on two fourth-and-short plays before Turner ran into the endzone on a 1-yard touchdown carry. 

The Falcons now puts them at 2-1 on the year, with the Saints also hosting the same record. They are now tied atop the NFC South. The Falcons will play the 49ers next week, with the Saints facing off against division-rival Panthers.

NFC South Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. New Orleans Saints (Head Coach: Sean Payton)

Key Arrivals: DE Alex Brown, LB Clint Ingram, WR Mark Bradley, CB Patrick Robinson (draft), DT Al Woods (draft)

Key Departures: DE Charles Grant, LB Mark Simoneau, RB Mike Bell, LB Scott Fujita, OL Jamar Nesbit, OL Jamaal Brown, DE Paul Spicer, QB Mark Brunell, CB Aaron Glenn

Drew Brees

SP: The Saints are coming off their first Super Bowl win in franchise history and will be attempting to become the first team to win the NFC South Division in consecutive seasons. While they have a majority of the core intact from last season, they did lose several defensive players that may hurt them this season. New Orleans will still have Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees under center, and as long as he is on the field, the sky is the limit for this team. Even on nights when the defense struggles, he is usually capable of finding enough points to still win the game. With all of the weapons he has at his disposal, it is almost impossible to stop Brees when he is focused. New Orleans will have trouble replicating the magic of last season, and I don't expect them to win quite as many games this time around. While they definitely still have the biggest home field advantage in the NFL when playing in the Superdome, they will likely struggle on the road this season a little more often this season. With that being said, Atlanta is their only real competition in the division this season, and I expect them to barely win the division for the second straight year.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

TW: Super Bowl Champions. Of course, I have to pick them to win the division. They are definitely the team to beat this season in the NFC, especially if Drew Brees plays similarly to what he's played the last few seasons. Pierre Thomas is a very serviceable back and I think we will see him rush for over 1,000 yards this season. Marques Colston is a top 15 wide receiver in the league, and I think he will have another solid season. Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson are also quality receivers, so they could possibly factor in well for the Saints' aerial assault. Their defense will also be stellar this season, with centerpiece Jonathan Vilma running the linebackers. They did get rid of Charles Grant, but added Alex Brown after he was released from Chicago. The Saints also get a shutdown cornerback, Patrick Robinson, who many considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in this year's draft. The Saints actually got better this offseason and they could possibly repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4

2. Atlanta Falcons (Head Coach: Mike Smith)

Key Arrivals: CB Dunta Robinson, LB Sean Witherspoon (draft), OG Mike Johnson (draft)

Key Departures: CB Tye Hill, WR Marty Booker

SP: This entire teams destiny revolves around two things: Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. If both players can't stay on the field this season, expect another disappointing finish to their year. Turner has been injury prone to say the least since becoming the team's starting back, and he will need to be healthy for all 16 games this season if this team wants to finish ahead of the Saints and guarantee themselves a playoff spot. They didn't lose any major players and made several impressive additions to their defense, especially signing Dunta Robinson to strengthen the secondary. Ryan is an excellent young QB, but when he missed time last season it definitely hurt. Chris Redman is a decent back up, but he isn't the best player in the world by any means, and often struggles in the regular season when called upon. The Falcons are coming of their first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history, and as along their key pieces stay healthy, look for this season to be the third. Their two games against the Saints are especially important for Atlanta, and they desperately need to split the two games or win both to be in a prime position to take the division. Whether they win the division or not, however, I still think the Falcons will be around in January in the postseason.

- SP's Prediction:10-6

Roddy White

TW: I like what the Falcons have done this offseason - they haven't lost that much through free agency, but they are getting back Peria Jerry and William Moore back from injury. QB Matt Ryan is a promising star in the NFL and could be due for a solid season. Michael Turner is coming back off an injury and he will have to play well if the Falcons wants to do well. Watch out for Turner to be among the top 5 in rushing yards this season.Roddy White has shown signs of stardom the past few seasons and I think he will be elected to the Pro Bowl again this season and not to mention, they have arguably the best tight end in NFL history, Tony Gonzalez. Their defense is very young, but there is a lot of potential surrounding the team. Jerry, Moore, Curtis Lofton, rookie Sean Weatherspoon, and the newly-signed Dunta Robinson should form a solid defense for the next few seasons. Also, look out for Kroy Biermann, who could be a surprise this season. I think the Falcons could be a sleeper team to make the Super Bowl this season and may supplant the Saints for NFC South supremacy.

- TW's Prediction: 11-5

3. Carolina Panthers (Head Coach: John Fox)

Key Arrivals: QB Jimmy Clausen (draft), QB Tony Pike (draft), LB Eric Norwood (draft)

Key Departures: DE Julius Peppers, QB Jake Delhomme, QB A.J. Feeley, WR Mushin Muhammad, DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu, LB Na'il Diggs, S Chris Harris

SP: While the Panthers took several prominent QBs in the NFL Draft, Matt Moore will likely remain the team's starter heading into the season. Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike weren't exactly terrific in their preseason debuts, but both players will likely develop into decent NFL quarterbacks. Armanti Edwards, who starred at Appalachian State and won three consecutive National Championships as the team's QB, has made the move to wide receiver and has shown a lot of promise during training camp. The team has a completely new look to it after the departures of former franchise players such as Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers, and they are definitely still in the middle of the rebuilding process. They are a few seasons away from being able to really be a threat at making a postseason run, and it will likely be under a new coach, as John Fox is in the final year of his deal and likely won't be re-signed. I gave Carolina the benefit of the doubt that they are capable of stealing a few games when I predicted them to finish at .500, but they could certainly fall well short of that and surprise no one.

DeAngelo Williams

- SP's Prediction: 8-8

TW: Like a few other teams, the Panthers are also on the decline. As of now, the starting quarterback is Matt Moore, which could possibly be a downgrade from the recently-released Jake Delhomme. Carolina did draft Jimmy Clausen in the draft and I think we will see Clausen start at some point this season. I just don't believe Moore will get the job done and if they want to compete in the NFC North, Moore will have to outplay Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. I'm not even sure that Clausen will do better than Moore, but only time will tell. Steve Smith will return at some point, but outside of Smith, they have no wide receivers, whatsoever. I also do not like what they did defensively after parting ways with Pro Bowler Julius Peppers. Peppers is one of the best defensive lineman and in the prime of his career, so why part ways now? Makes no sense. Carolina really wasn't a player in free agency and didn't do considerably well in the draft, in my opinion. They are definitely sinking.

- TW's Prediction:7-9

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Head Coach: Raheem Morris)

Key Arrivals: WR Reggie Brown, S Sean Jones, DT Gerald McCoy (draft), WR Arrellious Benn (draft), WR Mike Williams (draft)

Key Departures: WR Antonio Bryant, S Will Allen, QB Byron Leftwich, DT Chris Hovan, WR Mark Bradley

SP: The Bucs can expect yet another disappointing season in what has become a trend over recent years. sadly for fans of the franchise, they aren't moving in the right direction at all in my opinion. They have addressed their needs, but have done so with players that aren't going to take the team anywhere. Josh Freeman is not the answer this team needed at QB and I will say with confidence that he will never lead the Buccaneers to the postseason. And their best running back, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, can't stay healthy long enough to ever be productive on a regular basis. He has definitely a disappointment after being a Top 10 draft selection. Gerald McCoy might be the only bright spot on this entire team. Until the front office revamps the roster again in a few seasons, don't expect anything to change in Tampa anytime soon.

- SP's Prediction: 3-13

Derrick Ward

TW: The Bucs will still be in a rebuilding process. They won't do that well this season. First of all, I don't think Raheem Morris is a great coach. He's the youngest head coach in the league and I think he needs to be older if he wants to be a better coach. And I didn't like the Josh Freeman selection last year by Tampa Bay. I don't think Freeman is a quality starter and he will likely be one of the worst quarterbacks this season. There are just certain colleges that don't hve really successful NFL quarterbacks, you know?  Since 1965, Kansas State has only produced 7 quarterbacks who were selected in an NFL draft (the best being Steve Grogan) - that was ya'lls fact of the day. Anyway, their running game is also questionable and I expect Derrick Ward to have a mildly decent season - Cadillac Williams, even though he is still young, will never be a franchise running back. I think he will be a career backup, but a very good one. They drafted Arrellious Benn and Mike Williams, so that helps out the passing game, but they are still very young and have no NFL experience. Kellen Winslow should get a few passes thrown his way, as he will be a primary target for Freeman. Tampa Bay did, however, get Gerald McCoy in the draft, who I think will be a very good defensive tackle for many years to come. Other than McCoy, they really don't have much defensively. Defense wins games and I think they're going to lose a few games strictly because of their defense. They will definitely be struggling this seeason and will get another Top-5 pick in the draft.

- TW's Prediction: 3-13