The Top Seven: Potential Pleasant NFL Surprises of 2009

While there are always disappointments in an NFL season, there are also several pleasant surprises.

Last year there were players like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Steve Slaton, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and DeAngelo Williams.

Teams like the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens were all not expected to contend but all wound up in the playoffs, with the Cardinals getting all the way to the Super Bowl.

Who will surprise the NFL this upcoming season?

Well, let's take a look.

The Oakland Raiders Finally Get Cable

No, seriously. The Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders seem to have a couple key pieces in place in order to improve this team, and in a big way.

A solid defense (when they want to be) with guys like Derrick Burgess, Kirk Morrison, and Nnamdi Asomugha is a big deal. Yes, they lost Rob Ryan to the Browns, and that is a big hit, but the players have superstar potential.

Also, the Raiders have what can turn into a phenomenal running game.

Justin Fargas has shown he's a player. I'm a big fan of Fargas because he's a guy who goes to work and does his job. Also, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush showed that they have some talent last year and will create a scary three-headed monster in that backfield.

JaMarcus Russell took some strides last year but still has a ways to go, so the Raiders could see themselves taking advantage of a weak division and possibly ending with seven or eight wins.

Three Eagles' Rookies Make an Impact

Pictured are Jeremy Maclin (first round) and LeSean McCoy (second round).

Maclin and McCoy are in great positions to make an immediate impact for their new team, and should do just that.

Maclin has an opportunity to learn from a good player and an even better person in Kevin Curtis, while at the same time being able to pick the brain of DeSean Jackson, one of last year's rookie sensations.

If he can learn the routes, the rest will come on its own. He has the speed and athleticism to do some real damage right out of the gates.

Look for Maclin in Rookie of the Year talks.

McCoy is in the same position as Maclin. He gets to sit behind and learn from one of the best in the game in Brian Westbrook, while at the same time seeing about eight to 10 touches a game.

McCoy will get playing time based on the impact he creates early in the season, so expect to see him an awful lot. He could possibly even take about half of Westbrook's carries as the year progresses.

The one not pictured is tight end Cornelius Ingram.

Ingram was a big-time player for Florida before tearing up his ACL before the 2008 season. Because of his injury, Ingram fell into the Eagles' laps in the fifth round.

Over a year removed from his injury, Ingram says he feels 100 percent and is back up to speed. He claims he feels no side effects from the injury and is ready to go.

If he really is, Ingram will immediately become a huge red zone target for McNabb, and a nice change from the more possession-style tight end of Brent Celek.

Byron Leftwich Looks Like a Franchise Quarterback

Leftwich is a guy who has gotten a bad rap around the NFL.

People say he's too slow, he doesn't move well enough, his wind-up is too long, his decision-making isn't great, etc. etc.

I don't believe any of these to be the case.

Leftwich is a pocket passer, there's no doubt about that. But he moves well enough inside the pocket that it doesn't matter.

He won't scramble very often or very well, but neither do guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Carson Palmer.

He has dropped some weight, which will allow him to be a bit more mobile in and around the pocket, adding a new dimension to his game for 2009.

He does have a long wind-up, but so did Randall Cunningham. Now, of course, Cunningham could always move and scramble, or could he?

During his time with Minnesota, Cunningham was older and very rarely ever scrambled but rather stayed in the pocket and launched balls with that rubber-band wind-up of his to Randy Moss.

Leftwich doesn't have a Randy Moss, but he will look better than he ever has if given the opportunity to start in Tampa.

No Sophomore Slump for Last Year's Rookie Quarterback Sensations

They don't call him "Matty Ice" for nothing.

Matt Ryan had a very good year last year, but a lot of people are talking about a sophomore slump for the third overall pick in last year's draft.

Not going to happen.

Ryan will be working with the same people, in the same system, and in an improved offense as far as talent goes.

He still has that great running game, the defense looks to get better, and the Falcons went out and got him a quarterbacks best friend: a Hall of Fame tight end in Tony Gonzalez.

Tony G. will be a huge help for Ryan and a big reason why Ryan will not only avoid the sophomore slump, but perform better in his second season than he did in his rookie year.

Flacco, while not performing as well as Ryan did last year, also impressed in his rookie season.

While Flacco is more susceptible to a letdown this year considering the imminent drop in production from the Ravens' defense, he should be just fine.

He's still working with Cam Cameron, one of the best in the business, and like Ryan will have two good tight ends to throw to in Todd Heap and newly-acquired L.J. Smith.

As long as the Ravens don't ask him to pass too much and lean on Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Le'Ron McClain, they and Flacco should be just fine.

Devin Hester Has a Breakout Season with Jay Cutler

Devin Hester is going to break out this season, and he will do it as a wide receiver.

Receivers typically can only be as good as their quarterbacks, and while there are some to the contrary, usually that's the case.

Hester has been playing with Kyle Orton who is a capable quarterback, and Hester put up capable numbers.

The Bears really don't have any other options at wide receiver, so Hester will be the guy getting the majority of the passes anyway.

While that will cause him to attract more double teams, it won't matter because of the volume of passes coming in his direction.

With Jay Cutler throwing to him, look for Hester to be on that highlight reel every week and adding some wins to what could be a surprising Bears team.

The Houston Texans Will Make the Playoffs

What could potentially be a disappointment for the Colts in 2009, is a pleasant surprise for the Texans.

With the Colts suffering a letdown for the first time in years, the Texans have a rare opportunity to sneak by the Colts and Jags into the playoffs for the first time since their inception in 2002.

With a healthy Matt Schaub, a running back in Steve Slaton, who looks like he has more to prove, and an underrated wide receiver playing with a chip on his shoulder in Andre Johnson, the Texans will have a very scary offense.

But then what about the defense?

DeMeco Ryans, Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, and Dunta Robinson will lead that defense into doing just enough to help the offense thrive and push them into the post-season.

Brett Favre Will Not be Playing in 2009

First off, I'm a huge Brett Favre fan. I would argue that he's the best quarterback ever to play, but that's a different story.

Even with the admiration I have for Favre, the offseason drama is getting a bit unbearable. The media attention and real stories getting passed over to report that Brett Favre ate a sandwich today with bread that may or may not have been grown in Minnesota is getting sickening.

I have enjoyed watching Brett Favre's career and will always enjoy the highlights and the day he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame.

However, with that said, I will not miss the media circus surround his circumstances.