NFL Storylines to Watch for In 2009

When Jay Cutler was traded to the Bears for Kyle Orton, the Bears became an instant playoff team...hopefully. This is a team whose offense was ranked 26th in the league last year.

Cutler should definitely help them offensively, but without "true" go-to guys (and not the Manny, Moe, and Jack they have), it will be interesting to see if he is the savior that all Bears' fans seem to think he is or just another another product of the system.

What is this, Terrell Owens' 75th team in three years, that's what it sure feels like. I'm so sick of hearing T.O. this and T.O. that. Terrell, it is time to stop crying and become a man. You are on a team with a die hard fan base, not unlike the Eagle fan base you disrespected. Please stop acting like a child and play football.

It will be very interesting to see how T.O. feels about Trent Edwards throwing him the ball. I don't think T.O. will have anything to complain about in terms of number of times he is thrown the ball, but where the ball is thrown may be an issue.

The Brett Favre story should be made into a book, the book will be titled: "I Should Have Retired After Try Nine." This whole saga needs to end now. He is either going to be a Viking or playing golf with Charles Barkley, your guess is as good as mine.

Kurt Warner is an ageless wonder. When he took the Arizona Cardinals to the Superbowl last year, I was as surprised as anyone. He's still got it. He has two years to take this Arizona team back to the big game, that's all that's left in the tank.

I look for Warner to have another great season. Let's face it, I would have a great season if I had Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to throw to.

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel, I laughed. He is a product of the system. He will not, I repeat will not, do anything special in Kansas City, sorry.

It will still be something to watch, but the people who think he's Brady need some Visine. Just because he was picked in the seventh round does not make him Tom Brady. Although the Chiefs needed a QB, I think Cassel was the wrong choice.

Can Michael Crabtree perform? He sure performed at Texas Tech where he racked up 41 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards. This was a golden pick-up for the 49ers. Michael Crabtree will propel the 49ers into the playoffs this year.

I am not ready to dub him Jerry Rice before he even plays a snap, but it was highway robbery when San Francisco got him at No. 10. He will have the biggest impact of any player from this years' draft class...bar none.

With Detroit based car companies folding like lawn chairs and a football team that provides bags for their fans' heads, the only thing left to do is nuke the city.

Hopefully the Red Wings can pull out a Stanley Cup because Matt Stafford is not the savior of the Lions. It will be fun to see if he can win four games because he is a talented QB, but this is not the organization (or the city) you really want to start your career in.

Hopefully Albert Haynesworth can play like he's worth an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money. I am not looking forward to him playing in my division, but one guy isn't going to cement you a Superbowl birth and if I'm going to spend $100 million for a DT, he better have wings (and not the Red Bull type).

OK, so maybe this isn't a storyline everyone will be watching, but as a lifetime Eagles' fan, I'll be tuned in.

The Eagles had the best off season in recent memory. They filled voids in almost every area. Now, can Donovan take us to the promised land? The Eagles are poised to make a run this year, which hopefully doesn't end in the NFC Championship game.

Eagles' fans, we are in for a treat this year...enjoy!

They have this saying in Pittsburgh, "One for the Thumb." Can the Steelers get one for the other index finger this year? They are coming back as, basically, the same team and I don't see any reason to not put them back in the Superbowl.

Are the Pats really a favorite for just getting Tom Brady back as their signal caller? The short and sweet answer is yes. I look for the Pats to be in the AFC Championship against the Steelers. After that, who knows what could happen.