Kansas City Chiefs

While Chambers has been a bit of a castaway with the cheap Dolphins jersey and Chargers, he's seemingly found a home in Kansas through necessity; meaning that the Chiefs desperately needed a deep threat. Catching long bombs is really all Chambers does. The rest of the passes are usually flung Bowe's way when he's not being suspended or injured. In 11 games last season, Bowe managed just 589 receiving yards and only 4 touchdowns.

Yet the rushing game in Kansas still ranked eleventh overall (120.6 yards per game). Cassel's passing attack ranked a bottom feeding 25th overall with just 182.6 passing yards per game. You can't really blame Cassel. His offensive line is a mess and his best receiver options have been Chris Chambers and cheap Dwyane Bowe jersey .

I just don't see why people are so optimistic about this team. I think Thomas Jones is a very good running back, but part of the reason he became such a force in the NFL is because he was running behind Tony Richardson  and Alan Faneca in their primes. Jamaal Charles is a trusty back third-down option, but his 5-foot-11 and 199 pound frame isn't big enough to be an every down soldier.

In preseason betting he's been much better. Against the Bucs in Week 2, Cassel went 14-for-19, throwing 125 passing yards while notching a touchdown. The wholesale Chiefs jersey host the Philadelphia Eagles as +3.0 underdogs in preseason betting tonight.

On his new team, the problem for Cassel has been giving him a reasonable amount of talent. In 2009, Cassel managed just 2,924 yards and had 16 touchdowns with just as many interceptions. He was also sacked 42 times while posting a dismal 69.9 quarterback rating.

When Kansas City signed Matt Cassel to a ludicrous, 6-year, $63 million contract in the summer of 2009, they at least resolved their issues at finding a starting quarterback. I call the deal silly largely because Cassel had just one productive season in his entire college and NFL career, and that was with Randy Moss and Bill Belichik supporting him.

The Chiefs are slated as +700 dogs to win the AFC West which should confuse a lot of people who've been following football for the past few years. Boneheaded front office moves have left the Chiefs a blithering mess. They traded away Jared Allen who has become an MVP candidate with the Vikings, and also dealt Tony Gonzalez away with no discernable receiving options to fill the void.

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 What was once the most competitive division in football has become a wasteland of talent in the NFL. The AFC West is literally wide open this year even though the San Diego Chargers boast a hefty betting bandwagon as moderate favorites in wholesale NFL hatsFutures betting. While the Oakland Raiders might see a turnaround season if things go their way, a lot of handicappers are gallantly backing the Kansas City Chiefs as their upstart pick to win the division. How the hell did that happen?

Brian Urlacher has resumed his spot as centerpiece of the Bears' defense

There are no bad guys on our team, so it's not hard for people to fit in. We've got a great group of guys and I think we're going to keep getting better as the season goes on."

Harris is familiar with the defense, having spent his first two NFL seasons with the Bears in 2005-06. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2007 and reacquired a few months ago after the draft.

Peppers, who signed with the Bears on the first day of free agency in March, is a freakish 6-7, 283-pound athlete who possesses a rare combination of power, speed and quickness.

Asked how often he is amazed by what Peppers is able to do, Brian Urlacher said: "Every day. The things he does … his speed off the ball, his reaction. I watch film and [think], 'How does he do that?'"

After hearing both Lovie Smith and Mike Tice praise the starting offensive line's performance against the Chargers, right tackle Frank Omiyale not surprisingly agreed with his coaches.

"I thought we did pretty good," Omiyale said. "We stayed together. We communicated really well. Of course, [center] Olin [Kreutz], the stuff he sees, it definitely came into play early, the plays that he had. We feel good about where we're going. It's a good start, but we're Jay Cutler nowhere where we want to be."

After playing guard last season, Omiyale is happy to be back at his natural position. Well, sort of.

"I love being able to use my quickness and different things," he said. "But wherever I'm at, I'm going to make it happen. So it's not that much better. Just being on the field is nice."

 That is to say the middle linebacker's return from the knee injury that ended his 2009 season is a vital component to the success of Philadelphia's defense.

The Eagles learned the true value of Bradley when he wasn't around last Jay Cutler season - he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in training camp - as they struggled to replace their defensive signal caller. They tried Matt Wilhelm, Joe Mays and Omar Gaither, traded for Will Witherspoon, and even re-signed Jeremiah Trotter for a third time. None could hold down the job as well as Bradley, who had 108 tackles in 2008 and played traffic cop in the middle of the defense.


 Bradley says he has no doubt he can pick up where he left off before the injury.

"I've been clear off my knee for so many months now that it doesn't even feel like an issue in my mind," he said. "I've been running and doing so much speed work that I felt like I had a normal off-season. I feel as good as I ever have."

Assuming Bradley can wrap his arms around a full recovery, it will be the best tackle he has made as a pro.

Ten other NFL standouts coming back this season from injuries:

-Wes Welker, WR, New England: Welker, maybe the best slot receiver in football, is recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee. He didn't play in the exhibition opener but might be ready for Thursday's game against Atlanta.

-Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh: The Steelers were 4-1 with Polamalu last season, 5-6 without him. He's the unquestioned quarterback of that defense, and he's hoping his recuperating knee will be 100 percent by the time the season starts.

-Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis: Gonzalez, coming off a knee injury, is an excellent receiver. It will be interesting to see where he fits in the Colts' scheme now that Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie proved themselves in his absence.

-Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago: Sidelined by a severe wrist injury last season, Brian Urlacher  has resumed his spot as centerpiece of the Bears' defense. He says the injury has actually improved how he uses his hands.

-Rey Maualuga, LB, Cincinnati: A former USC standout, Maualuga started 15 games at strong-side linebacker for the Bengals last season before suffering a broken ankle. He's back now, and embracing his newfound sobriety.

-Kris Jenkins, DT, New York Jets: Even without Jenkins, among the game's best nose tackles, the Jets finished No. 1 last season in total defense. Now, Jenkins is back but star cornerback Darrelle Revis is holding out. Can the team still meet its lofty standards?

-Clinton Portis, RB, Washington: A concussion cut short Portis' 2009 season, and the running back finished with career lows of 494 yards rushing and a touchdown. He's 18 pounds lighter this season and competing for the No. 1 job with Larry Johnson, Willie Parker and Ryan Torain.

-Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami: When he's healthy, Brown can be a spectacular player. He has missed 20 games in the last five years because of injuries, heading to the sideline last season because of a broken foot. He and Ricky Williams could wind up joining Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris as the only tandem 1,000-yard backs in club history.

Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson likes the perspective

"We just felt to this point he's earned an opportunity to compete for a starting position," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Our intent throughout the spring and going into training camp was to work him exclusively at left tackle. Have been very impressed with his body of work to this point and we're going to give him an opportunity to compete with Daryn Colledge and Allen Barbre at the left guard position."

McCarthy said he began to think about the move during the middle of last week, talked about it with line coaches James Campen and Jerry Fontenot on Friday and Sunday night.

"It's a testament to Bryan," McCarthy said. "Bryan has come in here, I mean, he's talented, he's tough, he's doing things the right way. He's got a lot of football in front of him. He's got a lot to learn. We feel from an offensive line depth standpoint, this is the deepest group that we've had in our time here, and we're continuing to try to train the younger players at one position, which is tough, not really realistic, because you start looking at that depth chart and you're trying to get some clarity to it, and we feel by making this move it may add some clarity to it. Once again, not to be redundant, he has earned this right. He's been impressive. I like what I've seen from the individual drills through the group drills all the way through the team drills, and I saw it again Saturday night. So we're going to give him a shot."

Bulaga, who will likely be back at left tackle on Tuesday morning when Chad Clifton gets the practice off, said he's ready.

"I'm excited about it," Bulaga said. "I don't know who wouldn't be excited Donald Driver about getting in there and having this opportunity so I'm excited about it and try to take advantage of it."

Colledge said he didn't take Bulaga's move as a slight to him.

"I just think they want to get the best five on the field and they're giving him an opportunity to show off he can play both positions," Colledge said. "Obviously he's proved he can play a little bit of left tackle and he can play a little bit of left guard I think it makes him even more valuable to the Packers.

"I thought I played well, thought I had a good week. I had my up and down Donald Driver days but I think for the most part it's been an aggressive climb uphill. Feel positive. Had a good scrimmage, I graded out well and I'm hearing positive things from the coaches."

Thompson also doesn't like seeing his players get banged up in the preseason, and it was a banged-up Packers squad that returned to practice Monday. Fourteen players were missing from their 80-man roster because of various injuries.

"Football is a movement, contact sport, so things are going to happen," said Thompson, who played 10 years in the NFL.

Linebacker Clay Matthews, who led the team with 10 sacks as a rookie and earned a Pro Bowl spot last season, was on the team's extensive disabled list. He suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's scrimmage at Lambeau Field and will be out at least two weeks, coach Mike McCarthy said.

Matthews said he was "fighting off a fullback" when the injury occurred.

"It was nothing. I didn't feel like I opened up wrong or decelerated too fast," he said. "I think it's just one of those freak things."

The injury is to the same left hamstring that troubled Clay Matthews  early in training camp last year and kept him out of the first three preseason games. The two-week prognosis would leave the Packers without Matthews for their opening two preseason games, Saturday at home against Cleveland and Aug. 21 at Seattle.

Matthews isn't sure if he will be able to return by the Aug. 26 exhibition against Indianapolis at Lambeau.

"I'll be doing everything in my power to get back," he said. "Whether that's the third (preseason) game, fourth game or the start of the regular season, I'll be ready."

Matthews was training at left outside linebacker in the opening week of training camp after starter Brad Jones suffered a back injury on the first day. Jones has since returned and was one of only six linebackers the Packers had practice Monday.

Five players at the position were missing, including Clay Matthews and inside starter Nick Barnett, who was given a day to rest his surgically repaired knees.

"It seems like every training camp you go through a position that gets stressed," McCarthy said.

The Packers also were short-handed at wide receiver.

Donald Driver, who received a two-year contract extension Friday, was out because of tightness in his right calf.

"I had to get an MRI, just to check it out. It's good. I'll be fine," said Driver, who had surgery on his knees in the offseason. He said he plans to practice Tuesday.

Fellow receiver Brett Swain took a hit to his surgically repaired knee in the scrimmage and didn't practice Monday, but McCarthy said Swain will be okay.

Jordy Nelson, another of the team's wideouts, returned to the field after being knocked out of the scrimmage with a bruised side caused by a hit from safety Charlie Peprah on a long pass completion. Though he still had soreness Monday, Nelson felt he needed to practice because of the attrition at his position.

"You don't ever want anyone getting hurt, and we're getting a couple of guys banged up," Nelson said. "It's a part of training camp. They've just got to get back as soon as possible because it's wearin' and tearin' on other people."

A year ago, Mark Sanchez was a rookie quarterback for the Jets

This partly depends on the development of Mark Sanchez. I'm not sure about LT, he's over thirty and has showed many signs of slowing down. The running game scares me, as Shonn Greene did prove to be injury prone in his rookie year. When Holmes returns from his four-game suspension, he may become the number one target in the Jets offense.

Can Mark Sanchez Build on Last Year's Good Playoff Showing?

I've already been bashed because in the Dolphins preview I said I'd take Sanchez over Chad Henne. Mark Sanchez played very well in the AFC Championship against the Colts. The interceptions should come down from last year's total, since he was a rookie. Santonio Holmes should help his progression as well.

A year ago, Mark Sanchez  was a rookie quarterback for the Jets who just wanted to prove he deserved to be the starter. This year his attitude is markedly different.

"This is my team," Sanchez said. "This is my offense. You need to own it. . . . When you walk in a room, people should know: That's the quarterback. That's our guy."

Although some veteran players might bristle at the 23-year-old Sanchez getting on them when they screw up, he says that's a part of being the unquestioned leader.

"When they do something wrong, you got to let them know," Sanchez said. "That's probably the toughest part -- to try to find your way. It's a challenge to be a leader like that."

Jets coach Rex Ryan says the rest of the team buys into Sanchez as a leader because the players see his commitment.

"With all the preparation," Ryan said, "he knows and the team knows that nobody worked harder than he did."

Sam Bradford's long, difficult journey begins with St. Louis Rams

The Rams are paying Sam Bradford a fortune to become the Face of the Franchise. The NFL's first overall pick offers a beacon of hope for frustrated fans.

The team drafted him to become the catalyst for change, the Human Turning Point for an operation that lost its way.

But here's the problem: The Rams offense has miles to go — despite that mind-boggling investment (up to $86 million!) at quarterback.

That was evident Sunday morning. Fans who ventured out to Rams Park watched the defense manhandle the offense during training camp drills.

Rams defenders blew up the run again and again. They sat on the short pass patterns that remain the bread and butter of this ball-control scheme.

They forced Bradford and his fellow quarterbacks to check down to their running backs again and again.

"You know, I think that's typical this time of year," Rams coach Steven Jackson Spagnuolo said after the session. "Offense is so much timing and getting the ball out. It's really the first time the quarterback gets anybody pushed in front of him. Same thing with the run blocks. That stuff will even itself out, but for the defensive side, I was happy to see that."

Still, this scene was distressingly familiar for fans that endured last season's 1-15 fiasco. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and his staff face an enormous challenge.

There are no magic wands in this league. Bradford's arrival offers a starting point and no more.

Let's put it this way: Aside from Bradford, running back Steven Jackson and perhaps rookie wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, how many skill-position Rams would interest other teams?

Their most polished receiver, Laurent Robinson, has just 55 career receptions. He runs crisp routes but can't stay healthy.

Speedy Donnie Avery has 100 catches in two seasons, but he looks more like a No. 3 receiver than a true No. 1. The obscure supporting cast behind these two includes Keenan Burton, Brandon Gibson, Danny Amendola, Brooks Foster and Jordan Kent.

"A tremendous amount of competition. I'm enjoying watching it," Spagnuolo said. "There's a lot of quality guys there. Somebody will step forward. We're not going to tag them a one, two, and three. We're just going to have five, six, whatever we keep, wideouts that are going to help us win."

Jackson's backups include journeyman Kenneth Darby and fringe prospects Chris Ogbonnaya and Keith Toston, who played in college at Oklahoma State. No NFL team has less depth at this critical position.

The Rams' go-to tight end is Daniel Fells, who has 28 catches in two NFL seasons. Perhaps their most talented tight end, Fendi Onobun, is a former college basketball player.

And then there is the offensive line, which could feature inexperienced tackles on both sides — injury-prone Jason Smith and rookie Rodger Saffold.

Add it all up and Bradford faces a daunting challenge. That he is getting paid All-Pro dollars only adds to the challenge. That massive contract creates massive expectations.

Rookie Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez broke in on a playoff team with a great ground game, an imposing offensive line and a shutdown defense.

Rookie Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford broke in with one of the NFL's most talented receivers, Calvin Johnson.

Both still took a physical beating. Both still struggled. Both threw more interceptions (40 combined) than touchdown passes (25 combined).

So what should we expect Bradford to do? Fans want to see him start in Week 1, but what's the rush? Shouldn't the Rams build a strong offense before asking Bradford to run it?

Developing a viable attack will take time. Developing this quarterback will take even longer.

defensive end Jared Allen

This is a real hands-on opportunity, too. His ability to seal the ninth inning will have a significant impact on Minnesota's defense of the AL Central title.

"I played in the playoffs in the minors a couple of years. Obviously that's quite a bit different, but with what we do we're all competitive," Capps said. "It doesn't matter what the situation is. Every time I go on the mound, nobody's going to put more pressure on me than myself. As far as meaningful team-wise, it's been a long time. But every time I took the mound, no matter what the situation was it meant something to me. I always did my best, and it's not going to change now."

Capps wasn't a part of late-season excitement while pitching for Pittsburgh and Washington. His trade to the Twins on Thursday night thrust him into a new league and a new situation, but the All-Star closer sounded comfortable before Friday's game against Seattle after meeting his Twins teammates for the first time.

"Everybody was very engaging and made me feel at home right away, so I think it's going to be a good, fun second half," Capps said.

After Capps was acquired from the Nationals for prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and minor-league left-hander Joe Testa, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire called right-hander Jon Rauch and told him he would move back to the setup role he was in until Joe Nathan hurt his elbow and needed season-ending surgery.

"He says, 'Gardy, wherever you want me to pitch, that's where I'll pitch.' I'm sure he's a little disappointed, but like I said he's a professional and he wants to win," Gardenhire said.

Rauch declined to speak with reporters.

Capps downplayed any potential awkwardness about taking over.

"Bottom line: If we go out and put a ring on our fingers, nobody's going to care who does what," he said.

Capps was 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA and 26 saves in 30 chances for Washington, making his 5.80 ERA for Pittsburgh in 2009 look more like an aberration. The 26-year-old, who is making $3.5 million this year and won't be a free agent until after next season, has nine walks and 38 strikeouts in 46 innings. Better location has been a big help.

"He's a bulldog, a great guy, a great teammate, got a great arm," Gardenhire said.

Rauch will share the eighth-inning assignments, depending on batter matchups, with right-handers Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain and left-hander Jose Mijares. The trade for the Twins is also a measure of stability for 2011, when Nathan is expected back but without guarantee he'll be ready right away after coming back from ligament replacement surgery.

"That's just going to make this ballclub better," Capps said, adding: "If I'm the eighth-inning guy or the ninth-inning guy or the 10th-inning guy, that's all that matters."

It didn't take long after E.J. Henderson's gruesome injury last season for speculation to begin that the Vikings linebacker's career could be threatened.

Less than eight months later, he's taking snaps again at Vikings training camp, surprisingly having avoided the active/PUP list.  E.J. Henderson has yet to participate in full contact work, but he's making steady progress.

"I know it was a bad injury and I know some of those injuries can be career-ending," defensive end Jared Allen told the Associated Press. "So to see him back running, to see him back with a helmet in his hand, to me is awesome. It's inspiring."

Brad Childress says Henderson has been "religious" about his rehab "almost to the point where you have to hold him back."

Henderson quietly has deflected any attention from his recovery. "I just look at it as a little journey I took. Seven months and I'm back at it," E.J. Henderson said.