The 50 Most Intriguing Questions Heading into the 2011 Preseason

The NFL preseason is so close we can taste it. Don't lose any sleep waiting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game to get here, as we have the answers to the 50 questions keeping you up at night wondering what will happen during the 2011 NFL preseason.

Will Arian Foster repeat his 2010 performance? Can the Seahawks repeat as NFC West champions? What surprises are in store for us this year?

Take a peek into our crystal ball as we break down the 50 questions on everyone's mind these days.

1. Can Marshawn Lynch Carry the Load in Seattle?

Marshawn Lynch did not have a great season statistically in Seattle last year, but his play in the playoffs for the Seahawks was good enough for people to step back and realize that this guy might have something.

Lynch rushed for 573 yards during his 12 games in Seattle, not great. It was his 131 yards against New Orleans that really opened eyes in Seattle.

Lynch has proven before, in Buffalo, that he can be a featured back and carry the load. Seattle is putting their faith in Lynch to handle the starting job.

Can he get it done, though?

Honestly, probably not. Lynch is a good runner, but he's also not a fast running back. He relies on breaking tackles and power to wear down a defense. He won't see the touches throughout a game to break down the opposition. Another negative, his offensive line isn't that good.

Lynch will probably be the starter, but that doesn't mean he is the answer at running back in Seattle.

2. Is Alex Smith Going to Show Any Differently Under Jim Harbaugh?

There is huge hope that the hiring of Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco will salvage the career for former No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.

Keep on dreamin', because it won't happen.

Alex Smith, at one point, could have been a good quarterback in the NFL. Multiple injuries and seven offensive coordinators later, Smith is suffering from what coaches call "paralysis by analysis."

He can't keep the many things he's been told to do over the years straight, and it shows when he drops back to pass and suddenly looks like the deer that plowed into my truck two years ago.

Smith may have the tools in practice, but what matters is how you play when the bodies start flying. Jim Harbaugh can't fix what Alex Smith doesn't have.

3. Will Vince Young Find an NFL Home This Season?

Vince Young is due a $4.25 million signing bonus on the 10th day of the 2011 league year—which means his days in Tennessee are just about over.

Young, for all his faults off the field, is still a winner and a major upgrade over some of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL today.

Young would be a fit in Minnesota, where he could start in front of rookie Christian Ponder, or in Arizona where the Cardinals are still rolling with John Skelton at quarterback. Perhaps the most obvious option is Washington.

Mike Shanahan could work wonders with Young's abilities and may be VY's best chance at ever becoming a legitimate NFL quarterback.

4. Will Rookie QBs Be Ready to Start the Regular Season?

Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert and Andy Dalton are all expected to play significant minutes in their rookie seasons, if not enter the year as starters.

But will they be ready?

There is speculation that Newton may be the most ready after spending all summer at IMG camp in Florida learning from Ken Dorsey and Chris Weinke about the intricacies of being an NFL quarterback.

While Dalton and Ponder were viewed as the most "NFL ready" before the draft, none of the five have had a look at how an NFL practice will flow or what to expect from an NFL defense.

In a word, no, the rookies will not be ready and any team considering starting a rookie at quarterback this season should think twice about giving a first-year player the ball before Week 8.

5. Will New Kickoff Rules Drastically Alter NFL Games?

The kickoff line will move from the 30-yard line to the 35 next season, with the spot for touchbacks remaining at the 20-yard line. The competition committee had originally proposed moving it to the 25, but instead decided to leave it as is.

How will this affect NFL games? Very little, actually.

With kick coverage players forced to line up five yards behind the line of scrimmage, this will basically even out the fact that kicks may go further. Good returners will still win the battle as coverage players struggle to beat the ball down field.

6. Does Jimmy Clausen Now Have a Chance to Claim the Throne over Cam Newton?

With the NFL lockout dragging on until mid-July, many believe that players with experience will be handed starting jobs over rookies once the season begins.

Perhaps the most high-profile case is in Carolina, where No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton will battle for playing time with 2010 second-round pick Jimmy Clausen. Can Clausen use the lockout to his advantage and steal the starting job from Newton?

Umm, no.

Clausen wasn't good in limited duty during the 2010 season, hardly flashing any of the skills that made him a second-round pick. Cam Newton may not be as seasoned, but his versatility as a runner and passer will make him the more dangerous player even in a shortened training camp situation.

7. Will New Cap Rules Drastically Change the Makeup of NFL Teams?

How will the NFL's decision to pay veterans instead of rookies top dollar affect your team's roster?

Probably not much in 2011, but in the future this could mean rosters with more youngsters and less veterans signed on the cheap.

With rookies commanding less pay, teams will be more likely to load up on draft picks and players with less than five years service in the NFL.

8. Can Plaxico Burress Be Effective in 2011?

After spending the last two years in prison, can Plaxico Burress really make that much of a difference around the NFL this season?

Actually, he just might be able to. Burress was never a speed receiver, so there are no concerns about him having lost a step behind bars. What Burress can do is get separation using his height and length against smaller defensive backs.

Burress may take several weeks to get acclimated to the NFL game again, but once he does, watch out.

9. Will Carson Palmer Play in 2011?

Carson Palmer has threatened to retire if the Bengals will not trade him. Will Palmer play in 2011 or sit out the season in retirement?

Palmer is worth something on the open market, and that's what the Bengals ownership has to remember. The team drafted Andy Dalton to replace Palmer and they feel that he's ready to go right away.

If that's the case, moving Palmer and getting a second-round pick in return is the smartest and best move for Cincinnati to make.

Palmer will play in 2011, it just won't be in Cincinnati.

10. Who Will Win the QB Battle in Seattle? If You Can Call It a Battle...

Matt Hasselbeck is scheduled to enter free agency, and while he may return the job is likely going to fall to either Charlie Whitehurst or JP Losman.

Not quite the 1989 49ers there, is it?

Whitehurst has the upper-hand at the job no matter who the Seahawks bring in. He's young, was hand-picked by Pete Carroll and looked good enough in two starts last season to give the team some hope for the future.

11. Will Sergio Kindle Be Ready for NFL Action?

Sergio Kindle was drafted with the Ravens' first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft as a pass rushing terror expected to complement Terrell Suggs at outside linebacker.

That was before he fell down a flight of stairs and fractured his skull.

Kindle missed the entire 2010 season while recovering, and for a while it seemed like he may never play again.

Kindle insists that he's healthy, and doctors have cleared him. If that's true, he could have a breakout season as a "rookie" in 2011.

12. Will Ryan Mallett Prove a Studious Selection by the Patriots?

The Patriots used a late third-round pick to draft a first-round talent from Arkansas, Ryan Mallett.

Mallet has everything you could want in a quarterback, but his off-field antics and rumored drug use caused him to slide on almost every draft board.

Then Bill Belichick stepped in.

Mallett will not be expected to do anything more than hold a clipboard for Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer during his rookie season.

Playing behind two consummate professionals should increase Mallett's understanding of work ethic, drive and film room study to a level that puts him ahead of most other developmental quarterbacks.

13. Are the Lions Poised to Make a Postseason Leap in 2011?

Few teams coming off a 6-10 season enter the 2011 season with more hope than that of the Detroit Lions.

Detroit brings back a healthy Matthew Stafford, who has been plagued with injury during his first two seasons. They also add Nick Fairley, Mikel Leshoure and Titus Young to a roster already loaded with young talent.

Can Detroit make a playoff run? Maybe.

They do play in the super-tough NFC North, so there's no way they win the division, but a wildcard birth may not be out of the question if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and their top three rookies play an immediate role in 2011.

14. Will Ryan Fitzpatrick Remain the Bills' Starting QB?

The Buffalo Bills aren't expected to do much damage during the 2011 season, which is probably why few people outside of upstate New York care who the starting quarterback will be for the Bills this fall.

Ryan Fitzpatrick did enough last year to hold on to the job for another year, even though Buffalo had their choice of quarterbacks with the No. 3 draft pick overall this year.

Fitzpatrick is the ideal game-manager, smart and efficient, but can he hold on to the starting job over the course of what figures to be a tough season?

That answer is yes, if only by default. Who will the Bills turn to if the road gets rocky? There's no one else on the roster worth playing.

15. Which Teams Will Struggle to Sell Games in 2011?

The economy is bad, the summer has been disrupted due to a lockout and NFL ticket prices are higher than ever. Which teams will feel the sting at the box office?

You have your mainstays, the teams that are always bad at selling tickets—Jacksonville, Buffalo and Oakland all rank at the bottom of the NFL's attendance lists.

And how about a few you maybe wouldn't expect—Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Minnesota and Detroit have all struggled to sell out in recent years.

16. What the Hell Is the Deal in Washington?

Hey, your guess is as good as mine here.

Washington needed a quarterback, real bad, but instead they traded back in the draft and used their first-round pick on an outside linebacker (Ryan Kerrigan).

Mike Shanahan seems set on rolling with John Beck as his starter next year.

So, really, what's the deal?

Two words: Andrew Luck.

If the Redskins finish with the worst record in the NFL, Shanahan is guaranteed the No. 1 overall pick and a shot at Andrew Luck.

17. Can Eli Manning Rebound from a Forgettable 2010?

In an attempt to be completely upfront, some of these questions came from a panel. I'm pointing this out only because I would never say that 2010 was Manning's only forgettable year.

Had I posed the question, it would have read "Can Eli Manning Ever Stop Sucking and Living Off his Family Name?"

Maybe I just answered their question with my own question. The point is, no, Eli Manning is never going to improve. He is what he is, folks.

18. Will Mark Ingram Claim the Saints' Starting RB Position?

Mark Ingram was selected at the end of the first round by the New Orleans Saints despite the team already having three established running backs on the roster.

What now?

Ingram will enter training camp as the penciled in starter, in our minds. He is the most explosive running back of the four and has the best all-around game.

Pierre Thomas can be very good, when healthy and not in Sean Payton's doghouse, but he doesn't have the same between the tackle power or vision that Ingram displays.

19. Does the Preseason Even Matter?

Maybe I'm old school, or a purist, but I love the preseason.

As a die-hard NFL draft nerd, my love for the preseason means getting to watch the players I held out hope for in rounds six and seven of the NFL draft get playing time and develop as players.

I still remember watching Terrell Davis destroy a 49er return man in Tokyo during his rookie season. That was the first time Davis entered my football world, and he went on to become an All-Pro running back. Without the preseason that moment would have never happened.

Keep the preseason, because it matters to the fans.

20. Will A.J. Green Replace Chad Ochocinco on the Bengals?

Chad Ochocinco, meet the end of your career in Cincinnati, Mr. A.J. Green.

Green was chosen with the No. 4 pick overall by the Bengals, signalling an end to the Ochocinco era in Cincinnati.

Not only will Green replace Ochocinco on the roster, he'll be better than him within a few years.

21. Where Will Sidney Rice End Up?

Chicago.

Oh, you wanted an explanation?

Sidney Rice will want to win, and he knows he can do so in Chicago. Rice will also want to go to an offense where he can clearly be the No. 1 receiver and play in a system that is designed to get the receivers the ball with room to run.

The writing is on the wall and Chicago is easily the best situation for Rice.

22. Who Will Be Named the Cardinals' Starting QB?

Derek Anderson, John Skelton or Max Hall?

Kidding.

The Cardinals have the three players above on the roster, but logic would say they must bring in another quarterback to take the starting job.

A July 19 guess would be Kyle Orton, in a trade with Denver.

Kevin Kolb may be the sexier pick, but I have a gut feeling the Eagles will get too greedy and ask for too many players in return for Kolb.

23. Can Arian Foster Repeat a Shockingly Effective, Largely Unexpected 2010?

Arian Foster tore apart the NFL in 2010, going from an undrafted unknown to the league's leading rusher.

And he did all that with a torn MCL.

Can Foster repeat his success from 2010 now that teams are keying on him?

Yes, he definitely can, but it will depend on Houston finding a legitimate No. 2 receiver to take pressure off Andre Johnson and keep the safeties from creeping up to stack the box against Foster.

Without a real threat opposite Johnson, smart teams will keep a free safety over the top of Johnson in a bracket coverage while moving the strong safety into the box to shadow Foster.

24. Will Arizona Find a Quarterback in Free Agency?

Not this year.

It is much more likely the Cardinals find their quarterback through a trade.

Let's look at the presumed free agent class at quarterback during the 2011 offseason. Vince Young, Matt Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb (maybe), Matt Moore and Alex Smith.

Do any of those guys look like an option in Arizona?

I would not rule out Young completely, or maybe Matt Moore, but neither seem like the sure-thing Arizona needs to settle their shaky quarterback situation.

25. Can Jay Cutler Win over the Bears Fan Base…again?

There is one sure-fire way for Jay Cutler to make Bears' fans forget all about his mediocre play in the NFC Championship game.

Win.

Chicago opens with three tough games at home versus Atlanta, on the road against New Orleans and then an at home rivalry game against the Packers.

If Cutler can get Chicago to 2-1 with that opening stretch, Bears fans will be eating out of his hands. If not, it will be a long season in Chicago for No. 6.

26. What Will Become of Reggie Bush?

Allow us to speculate momentarily.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw leaves the New York Giants to sign with the Miami Dolphins.

2. Reggie Bush, having been released by the Saints, signs with New York to replace Bradshaw.

Seems pretty cut and dry, huh?

The Saints have been vocal about the potential of retaining Bush, but I just don't see him getting the carries in a four-man backfield to justify his $11 million salary.

27. Will Tiki Barber Make an NFL Roster?

No.

Tiki Barber has spent the last four years sitting in a cushioned chair talking about the weather, the stock market and happenings of B-list movie stars. Barber is as close to football shape as I am, or maybe worse considering I did golf this weekend.

Tiki is "making a comeback" for one reason and one reason only: media exposure.

How many times had you heard Tiki's name in the last two years before he announced he would return to the NFL?

Exactly.

28. Can Kevin Kolb Help a Franchise on Such Short Notice?

This is a tough question. At face value the instant answer would be "yes," but look deeper.

There are five teams in the NFL right now, barring injury, who have a need at quarterback that they did not address through the draft. The teams with a need at the position who drafted players in the first two rounds will not consider trading for Kolb, so take them off your lists.

That leaves me with Buffalo, Miami, Washington, Seattle and Arizona.

Of those teams I would say Seattle and Arizona are the most likely destinations for Kolb. Buffalo likes Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami seems willing to stick with Chad Henne and Daniel Snyder is too crazy to actually make a smart trade.

Kolb could lead Arizona to the playoffs, that I believe, but only if they make major changes in free agency to the offensive line. Joe Montana in his prime would struggle behind the Arizona line.

Seattle has the parts on offense and defense, but that entire team seems thrown together. Chemistry will be an issue in Seattle, and that's something a new quarterback won't fix.

29. Can Sam Bradford Lead the Rams to the Playoffs?

Abso-freaking-lutely.

Sam Bradford is the right piece to the puzzle in St. Louis, where the Rams have assembled a damn fine roster of young players who have risen to the challenge and quickly become contributors on an improving team.

Bradford, and most importantly his offensive line, look playoff bound in 2011.

30. Is This the Year the Texans Beat the Colts?

To be very literal, the Texans and Colts did split their 2010 series 1-1.

To be more analytical, yes, this is the year the Houston Texans can finally overtake the Indianapolis Colts as the best team in the AFC South.

What reasons can I give? Here are a few.

1. Peyton Manning had two offseason neck surgeries, at 35 years old. I don't care if he's Jesus and Superman combined, that's serious.

2. Manning hasn't thrown or conducted a workout all offseason—Drew Brees had 39 Saints players in camp last month.

3. Manning's offensive line will feature two rookies, Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana, who have lost two months practice and camp time due to the lockout.

4. The Colts defense is not improving via free agency or the draft—Houston did get better (a lot) through the draft at positions that require less practice time (cornerback, outside linebacker).

31. Which Coaches Enter the Season on the Hot Seat?

Ah, it's always fun to tell other people they suck at their jobs (now I know how some of you commenters feel!)

Which of the 32 NFL coaches enter the season with hot seats?

Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills

Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars

32. Are Josh Freeman and the Bucs Ready to Win the NFC South?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2010 season with an "oh-so-close" record of 10-6, which in most years would have placed them in the playoffs.

Thank you, stupid playoff seeding system.

Tampa Bay is good enough to win the NFC West, but not their own division the NFC South. Not as long as Matt Ryan is the quarterback of the Falcons.

33. What Does Pete Carroll Have Up His Sleeve in Seattle?

Pete Carroll was not supposed to do this in the NFL, at least not yet. No one, and I mean not even the mothers of the Seahawk players, thought they could make the playoffs last year.

But then they did, winning the NFC West. But they did it with a 7-9 record, so there is NO way they could possibly win a game—especially since they were matched up against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. Right?

And then they beat the Saints, thank you Marshawn Lynch.

Say what you will about Carroll, he may be beating up on a weak division, but all that matters is who wins and losses. And so far Carroll is winning.

34. What Injuries Are Worth Watching in the Preseason?

Here is a run down of the players injured during or after the 2010 season that we're keeping an eye on early this year:

Peyton Manning, Colts (neck)

Dez Bryant, Cowboys (fibula)

Arian Foster, Texans (knee)

Jermichael Finley, Packers (knee)

Matthew Stafford, Lions (shoulder)

Sergio Kindle, Ravens (neck)

Dominique Foxworth, Ravens (knee)

1.     What injuries are worth watching in the preseason?

35. Which Backups Are Playing for Trade Value?

Here's a look at 10 current backups who will be playing for trade value during the preseason (in no order):

Kevin Kolb, Eagles

Kyle Orton, Broncos

Brady Quinn, Broncos

Matt Flynn, Packers

Brian Hoyer, Patriots

Shonn Greene, Jets

Steve Slaton, Texans

Josh Johnson, Buccaneers

Dennis Dixon, Steelers

Knowshon Moreno, Broncos

36. Which Team with High Hopes Will Struggle This Preseason?

Sure, the preseason may not matter at the end of the day, but momentum built in the preseason can carry over to the regular season.

Which teams expected to dominate this year might struggle in the preseason?

Indianapolis is historically bad in the preseason, not that it's hurt them in the regular season. Kansas City, Chicago and Carolina also routinely perform below average when the games don't matter.

37. Can Anyone Stop the Packers Offense?

Can anyone shut down Aaron Rodgers and the high-powered passing attack of the Green Bay Packers?

That's the question that every coach and defensive coordinator have pondered this offseason. How to stop the best in the game?

Of the teams the Packers will face this season, just three teams have the talented needed (on paper) to stop the Packers.

Atlanta: The Falcons have two good cornerbacks, athletic safeties and a defensive line that is athletic enough to pressure the Packer offensive line.

Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers, like the Falcons, have two cornerbacks able to line up against the Packers top two receivers. They also have a young, fast defensive line that will give the Packers front-five fits.

Kansas City: The Chiefs lack the talent at cornerback that the Falcons and Bucs bring to the table, but they make up for it with exceptional safety play from Eric Berry and a 3-4 scheme that has given Rodgers problems in the past.

38. Can Anyone Stop the Lions Defensive Line?

The Detroit Lions defensive line will be very good this year. Like, best in the league good. Check it out.

Lining up from left to right, the Lions will feature Cliff Avril, Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and Kyle Vanden Bosch in their starting front-four.

Pretty damn impressive.

The Lions are quick, strong and experienced. Suh alone is hard to stop, but putting Avril and Fairley on either side of him will make offensive lines fight over which player to double team...if they can double team any of them without sacrificing protection elsewhere.

39. Who Will Come out on Top in a Tough NFC East?

The NFC East has been called the most talented division in football in previous years, and while the NFC South may have a better claim to that title today, the East continues to be a hard fought battle for the division title.

The Eagles, Cowboys and Giants all figure to be heavily involved in the fight for the East throughout the season. Who will come out on top?

Philadelphia.

The Eagles are just too talented, with very few holes on paper and a threat in Michael Vick that Dallas and New York cannot account for.

40. Will New Rules Regarding Player Safety Be an Issue?

Will new players safety rules be an issue? Only in Pittsburgh.

No, really.

Pittsburgh features two of the NFL's most penalized cheapshot artists—James Harrison and Ryan Clark.

The NFL's crack downs on hits, concussions and breathing on the quarterback too hard will result in more penalties and more fines. And no team will feel that heat hotter than the Steelers.

41. How Many Games Will James Harrison Miss with Suspension?

James Harrison famously unloaded on commissioner Roger Goodell in comments to Men's Journal magazine, leading many to think he would be sat down by the Commish once the NFL lockout ended.

So, how many games will Harrison miss?

He should miss no less than four for comments about Goodell being "evil" and using a derogatory slang term for homosexuals in regard to his boss. How many will be actually miss?

Maybe one, and that's if the NFLPA doesn't interfere.

42. Which Team Will End the Preseason Hottest?

With a healthy Matthew Stafford and the rookie additions of Nick Fairley, Mikel Leshoure and Titus Young the Detroit Lions are our pick to finish the preseason with a car full of momentum heading into the 2011 season.

Stafford, when healthy, has looked the part of a franchise quarterback. Now is his time to prove he's the man to lead Detroit back to the playoffs.

43. Which Rookie Will Start the Preseason with a Flash?

Mark Ingram has the advantage of having spent the summer at Camp Drew, working out with 38 other members of the New Orleans Saints as the players worked out together to prepare for the 2011 season.

Ingram has the jump on fellow rookies as he has learned pass protection schemes, route combinations and has a good feel for the New Orleans playbook before camp begins.

44. Which Rookie Will Start off Slowly This Preseason?

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Christian Ponder with the hopes he could become the starting quarterback during his rookie season.

That may be the case, but Ponder will face a tough preseason before he's enshrined as the starter in Minnesota.

Ponder, for no fault of his own, enters the NFL with a difficult offense to learn in Minnesota. With limited reps this offseason, Ponder will find himself behind the eight ball with huge expectations.

45. Which Five Players Are Poised for Breakout Preseasons?

The preseason is about getting ready for the regular season, but it is also about developing young players and learning more about the players each team has invested precious draft picks in. It's a time to evaluate and learn.

Which five players will show during the 2011 preseason that they have "it" and are ready to take over?

Koa Misi, Linebacker, Miami Dolphins

Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Javon Ringer, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns

Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Denver Broncons

46. Which 5 Players Will Show a Decline This Preseason?

It happens to us all. We get older, slower, fatter and less motivated.

Which NFL players will start to feel the pull of age as they prepare for the 2011 season?

David Garrard, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back, New York Jets

Ray Lewis, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Brian Urlacher, Linebacker, Chicago Bears

47. Will Peyton Manning's Neck Surgery Affect His Preseason And/or Early Seas

Yes, and it already has.

Peyton Manning fans will tell you that No. 18 doesn't need the preseason or training camps to be ready for the season, and that's partially true. Manning doesn't need the training camp reps, but his teammates need those reps with him.

As great as Manning is, especially at calling his own game from the line of scrimmage, he cannot make the players around him better without reps.

How else will rookie left tackle Anthony Castonzo know which protection Manning has checked to if he's not had the reps to learn Manning's calls and tendencies?

Apologists will flock to the comments, but if you are being objective you will see it's true.

48. Can the Steelers Shake off a Super Bowl Loss and a Controversial Offseaso

The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced an odd offseason, with wide receiver Hines Ward getting arrested and linebacker James Harrison yelling obscenities at anyone who will listen.

How will this affect the Steelers, who have four of their first eight games against very tough opponents?

Pittsburgh is good enough to handle their first four games (@Baltimore, vs Seattle, @Indianapolis and @Houston) and come out with at most a 3-1 record. They then face three easy games before meeting the Patriots and Ravens in a back-to-back midseason hell week.

The offseason distractions won't keep Mike Tomlin's team from leading the pack in the AFC from early on in the season.

49. How Many Preseason Games Will Be Lost to the Lockout?

The 2011 NFL preseason is scheduled to kick off August 7 when the Bears and Rams face one another at the annual Hall of Fame game.

Our bet is that game will be played as scheduled and no games will be lost to the lockout.

Will the offseason be hurried, hectic and downright crazy? Yep, but it will be done.

If the lockout ends on Thursday the 21st of July, NFL teams will have three days to assess the situation and sign and undrafted free agents or current players before free agency begins on Monday, July 25.

That gives teams four days to sign free agents before an abbreviated training camp begins July 28.

50. Will Fan Interest Return as Soon as the Lockout Ends?

We sure hope so.

The NFL is the greatest game in the world, but it's also the only entertainment that truly involves the watcher throughout the year.

NFL fans are a unique breed, as are all sports fans in one way or another.

They'll come back, because we have nothing else to look forward to.