1.   Colts

Indianapolis is consistant. They will be fine but the AFC south this year is going to be tougher than its ever been. The room for error here is paper thin.

2008 Projected finish: 11-5

2.    Titans

What a scrappy, gutsy team. Look for these guys to build upon their surge from last season. Tennesse and Jacksonville will be in contention all year for the number 2 spot .

2008 Projected Finish: 10-6

3.   Jaguars

The Jags will also build upon last season’s success and battle for their playoff lives in the AFC. A dangerous wild card team

2008 Projected Finish: 10-6

4.  Texans

If only  Houston was in the NFC, they would be a playoff team. What the Texans did last year was great but they are a few components away from being a playoff team

2008 Projected Finish: 9-7

1.      Steelers

With a return to the familar 4-3 defense and a stable offense, Pittsburgh should not have any problems being relevant in the AFC

2008  Projected finish:  10-6

2.      Browns

Cleveland suprised alot of people last season. Look for them to be scrapping for their playoff lives

2008 Projected Finish: 8-8

3.    Ravens

Once again, it is up to the defense to carry this team. On offense, rookie QB Joe Flacco is expected to deliver. But the problem with that is its kinda imposible to do so without a solid offensive line ,

2008 Projected Finish: 6-10

4.  Bengals

The only thing changed  for the Bengals is Chad’s  surname. Marvin Lewis may want to start looking for another coaching job.

2008 Projected Finsh: 3-13

1.        Chargers

Well, it seems as if Norv Turner woke up. At the tail end of last season, it looks like he realized what he had. I see the trend continuing. The defense is a very talented and tough bunch, and LT will continue to be the dominant forse that  he is. I can see this team returning to the AFC championship game

2008 Projected finsih 13-3

2.    Raiders

Oakland is pretty much second by default. Look for rookie Darren McFadden to make an immediate impact on offense. Defensively, acquiring DeAngelo Hall from Atlanta is a smart risk. However, they are still  eons away from the playoffs.

2008 projected finish:  8-8

3.     Broncos

2008 is going to be a challenging season for Jay Cutler. In the offseason, he was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes and he lost his favorite target in Rod Smith. On the field the pressure remains on Cutler and the defense.

2008 Projected Finish: 8-8

4.      Chiefs

Larry Johnson and Rookie DE Glenn Dorsey are the only bright spots here. If Kansas City only had some receivers and a reliable QB, they would be at least decent.

2008 Projected Finish: 4-12

1.    Patriots

     I’ll tell you this right now, I dont believe that New England will repeat their record breaking 2007 season. However, I beleive that they are still a Super Bowl caliber team. While the offensive nucleus is still there, the defense and offensive line is a concern.

2008 Projected finish: 12-4

2.     Jets

Okay, Jets got Brett Favre, and that is splendid for Eric Mangenni. But the question remains, will that be enough to topple the Pats and to give the J-E-T-S a trip to the P-L-A-Y-O-F-F-S?  Well, I beleive that the Jets will make it to the playoffs but don’t expect Favre’s arm to get them there. Before Brett, the Jets beefed up their O-line with the additon of Alan Fanica and Damien Woody. This move should help Thomas Jones in the running game. Once the Jets get the running game established, Favre can then pick apart the defenses in play action

2008 Projected finish: 10-6

3.   Bills

Well, The only thing I can say here is: Marshawn, you need help. You cannot win games by yourself.

2008 Projected record: 3-13

4.    Dolphins

In my opinion, BIll Parcells f*cked up. First of all, he selected the wrong ‘Long’ in the draft. Second, he let go of Jason Taylor. Third, for all of Parcells’ talk about not wanting ‘thugs’ on the team, there is still  a ‘weed head’ in the backfield.

2008 Projected finish: 0-16

1.  Panthers

Carolina will be a contender in 2008: TRUST! The nucleus of their NFC Championshp team in 2003 is back. Their defense is getting stronger and stronger. In additon to the passing game, the duo of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will be a dangerous tandem in the backfield if used correcly.

2008 Projected Record: 12-4

2. Saints

The additons of TE Jermey Shocky is sure to bolster a offense that had so much promise a year ago.  The additon of Jonathan Vilma and Rookie Sedrick Ellis is sure a step in the right direction to make a sagging defense stronger. With all of that said, New Orleans will be fighting for their playoff lives this year.

2008 Projected Record: 9-7

3.  Bucs

Jeff Garcia was threatening to hold out during the offseason. Give him about 5 weeks within the season and he’ll wish that he would have set out the whole season.  There is not much to see from the Bucs.

2008 Projected Record: 5-11

4.  Falcons

Sigining Michael Turner away from the Chargers is a positive step. However, that is not enough to turn around this trainwreck. The lean years will continue.

2008 Projected Finish: 2-14

1. Vikings

This young team, powered by RB sensation Adrian Peterson will be a force to reckon with in the NFC this year. This team is some receivers away from being a complete football team. They’ll be fine this year nonetheless.

2008 Projected Record: 10-6

2. Lions

Call me crazy but I believe that Detroit will make a legitimate playoff push this season. First of all, Jon Kitna is the division’s best quarterback. Granted it is by default but he’s the best in the NFC north nonetheless. It doesn’t hurt matters at all to have the talented receiving duo of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson to help him out.

2008 Projected record:9-7

3.  Bears

Keep on having faith in Rex Grossman and see what will happen in your seasons in the future. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Devin Hester need the offense to help them out. I hate to see great defenses with sorry offenses.

2008 Projected Record: 7-9

4.  Packers

Okay, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, you got your wish. Brett Favre is gone, and you are backing Aaron Rogers.  I hope you are happy because your fans are not. Is Ryan Grant, Charles Woodson, Al Harris,and Donald Driver enough? Not this year and it isn’t their fault.

2008 Projected Record : 4-12

1. Rams

Luckily for St. Louis that they have Steven Jackson in the backfield, and the NFC West as a whole is weak as hell.   It is going to be up to Jackson to carry this team. Defensively, Look for rookie DE Chris Long to make an immediate impact. Who am I kidding, he pretty much have to make an impact.

2008 Projected Record: 9-7

2. Seahawks

This a sad way Mike Holmgreen to end his coaching career. Mike Holmgreen was a great coach, and had many successful seasons in Green Bay and as an assistant in San Francisco. He had some decent years in Seattle to be sure. However, the 2008 season for him will be mediocre at best.

2008 Projected Record: 8-8

3.Cardinals

If only this team can get thier Quarterback situation and Boulden back into the fold, this team could be dangerous. Until then, it is more of the same old tired story.

2008 Projected Record: 3-13

4.  49ers

O’ Sullivan as the starting quarterback for the entire season, after one successful preseason game? You’re joking right?  Frank Gore, Issac Bruce, Patrick Willis, it is up to you guys. Mike Nolan,  YOU’RE FIRED!

2008 Projected Record: 2-14

I apologize for being on the late show and lax with the preseason and offseason happenings.  The NFL regular season is only weeks away, and it’s time for the Red Zone’s season projections. Some of what I’ll say you’ll and some of it you will but when it’s all said and done, it doesnt matter what is on paper or screen. This year, I’ll start the Forecast with the NFC.

1.    Giants

The Giants are number one in the division for a pretty damn good reason. THEY ARE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS OF THE LEAGUE.  Granted, Strahan retired but the defense is still solid enough to win games. You can also expect Eli Manning to continue to ride the wave of confidence into a playoff berth

2008 Projected Record: 10-6

2Cowboys

Look, I dont care if Dallas won the divison a year ago; I’m still not convinced that this team is a legitimate contender. Tony Romo, faltered at the end of the regular season and choked in the playoffs again.  To Marion Barber, please help your quarterback. If you do, you’ll go further than 9-7 and you’ll probably win a playoff game for the first time in 12 years.  Defensively, the additions of The player formerly known as Pacman and Zach Thomas is not enough to help Ware.

2008 Projected Record: 9-7

3. Redskins

Honestly, I struggled with placing Washington third because, on paper, this is still a solid football team. They have offensive weapons in Clinton Portis, Randel-El, Satana Moss.  With the coaching of former Seahawks player and QB Coach, Jim Zorn, Jason Campbell can flourish. While the offence seems promicing, it is again the undersized defense that is the team’s weakness.  I’m not sure if Jason Taylor  can help the Defensive Line.

2008 Projected Record: 8-8

4. Eagles

Picking up Assante Samuel from the Patriots is a great addition for the defense, but what about the ‘O? How many times do Donavan McNabb have to tell the Eagles’ brass to get him some proven playmakers?

2008 Projected Record: 7-9

Last Season, we had the Bears’ Super Bowl Shuffle, Frisco’s 49er Rap, The Cowboys’ ‘Living The American Dream’ and the Raiders’ “Silver and Black Attack”  This season, check out the lyrical and artistic stylings of the 1988 Philadelphia Eagles, the 1985 Seahawks, the 1980-something L.A. Rams, and the 1990-Something Miami Dolphins.

(Buddy’s Watching You- Eagles)

(Ram It- Rams)

(Locker Room Rock-Seahawks)

(Can’t Touch Us-Dolphins)

Who’s the best? Who’s the worst?   Let me know.

Finally, the long running soap opera between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers ended last night when the team traded the iconic but disgruntled QB to the New York Jets for a conditional 4th round draft pick.

According to the NFL Network, the 4th round pick can change based on how Favre performs this season. The pick turns in to a 3rd round selection if Favre plays in half of the plays this season, a second rounder if he plays in 70 percent of the plays and New York reach the playoffs, and a first round pick if Favre plays in 80 percent of the plays and the Jets reach the Super Bowl.

Now, I dont know about the Jets reaching the Super Bowl but I do know that they will at least clinch a playoff berth. What they will do with that berth depeneds on the running game. In the off season, the Jets aquired Alan Fanaca from the Steelers and Damien Woody from the Lions to compliment D’Bricksaw Ferguson upfront. With these moves, the Jets’ front line should be better than last years. If Thomas Jones can remain consistant (He ran for 1,119 yards off of 310 carries last season) or improve, its going to help Favre and allow him to do a lot of play action passes.

As far as Favre’s targets are concerned, he is reunited with TE Bubba Franks, Laverneus Coles is relable, and Jerricho Cotchery is developing into a solid wide receiver. With that said, the Jets’ offense will be stronger than it’s been in years with Favre at QB.

In the trade’s aftermath, the question of the hour is “Who’s the winner here: Favre or the Packers?” In my opinion, they both won.  I say this because both sides got what they wanted. Favre is playing again and the Packers are moving into another direction. 

What Ted Thompson did was smart or dumb depending on how you look at it.  Hypothetically, if Favre is successful in New York, the Packers will be successful down the line.  Let’s say that 4th round pick turn into a 2nd round pick or even a 1st round pick, whoever that the Pack may wind up with could be a star.  Ted Thompson was smart anyway by trading Favre out of the confrence becasue deep down, the pack do not want to line up against Brett, and they do not want a media circus.

On the other hand, what Ted Thompson did was dumb. It was dumb because this leaves him and his team in a mess on and off the field.  Now, the Packers are betting on Aaron Rogers to lead the team to a winning record and a playoff berth. They are hoping that this often injured QB will develop into a something good. If the Packers are going to be decent this year, it is up to Ryan Grant and the defense to make it happen.

If Favre is a bust in New York, the Pack lost again if that 4th round pick becomes waiver material.

What do you guys think?