Each morning, I like to start the day off with a workout—usually a morning jog. I can clear my head, plan my day, and think about what’s going on around the NFC South.

 

New Orleans Saints

Joe Vitt jokingly said he was sure the Drew Brees contract would work itself out because Brees has nothing to fall back on. “What else is he going to do, he can’t sing or dance,” Vitt said to Ian Rapoport. Brees, also jokingly, fired back via Twitter.

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The Saints linebacker corps has been seen as an area of weakness in the past. But with the additions of Chris Chamberlain, Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne, there's a lot of depth now.

 

Atlanta Falcons

After watching the latest batch of players roll off of the NFL Network's Top 100: Players of 2012, Gregg Rosenthal doesn't "expect [Matt] Ryan to make the rankings at all this year."

Daniel Cox takes a look at the returner job that's "up for grabs" on Atlanta's special teams unit. After rookie minicamp, head coach Mike Smith told the media that he felt the guy who ultimately would win the job was already on the roster.

 

Carolina Panthers

Because of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, the Panthers will travel to Bradenton, Fla. to practice for "most of the week" in the Sunshine State prior to their Week 1 game against Tampa Bay.

It's all fun and games when it comes to rookie hazing. First-round pick Luke Kuechly has to carry the helmets of Jon Beason, Thomas Davis and James Anderson "about 300 strides" from the Panthers' practice fields to Bank of America Stadium.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Craig Smith projects what Doug Martin could do in 2012 for the Bucs.

A look at whether or not quarterback Josh Freeman will improve in 2012 (video).