NFL Training Camp Schedules 2012: When & Where Top Super Bowl Contenders Report

Training camp for the 2012 season hasn't even started, and already, we're talking about who's going to be taking home the Lombardi Trophy next February.

But if there's one golden rule in sports, it's that it's never too early to start speculating.

Training camp is just days away, and soon enough, we'll get our first glimpses into the Super Bowl favorites' strengths and weaknesses as the start of the season looms. Here's a look at where and when the top contenders will kick off the preseason festivities.

You can see an exhaustive list of training camp schedules and dates here.

All odds via Bovada. 

Green Bay Packers (6-1)
Training Camp Start: Thursday, July 26 at 8:15 a.m.
Where: Ray Nitschke Field

Aaron Rodgers and his cohorts get their first shot at redeeming themselves from last season's unexpectedly early postseason exit at the hands of the Giants. The 2011 season once held so much promise—the Packers started off 13-0 and finished 15-1 overall—but they are the perfect example of why the regular season doesn't matter. Only the playoffs do.

Fortunately, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL leading the charge once again this year, so bouncing back shouldn't be too problematic. This is still one of the best pass offenses in the league, and one that finished third overall last season. You can get your first look at that prolific offense during training camp, and you can find the schedule here.  

New England Patriots (13-2)
Training Camp Start: Thursday, July 26, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Gillette Stadium

Once again, Tom Brady and the Patriots flubbed an opportunity to win another Super Bowl, and once again, the Giants stood in the way.

This season is a big one for Brady, who is still out to prove he can be the clutch, cold-blooded, two-minute-specialist quarterback he prided himself on being for the first six or seven years of his career. His last two trips to the Super Bowl have been fruitless, and it's been a while since the Patriots looked like the defense-first machine that made them so intimidating from 2001-2005.

When training camp begins, we'll see if the Pats have gotten any closer to getting back to the basics. Hopefully, those basics include shoring up a defense that finished 31st in the league in 2011. For now, you can get all your New England training camp info here. 

San Francisco 49ers
Training Camp Start: Full team reports on Thursday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Team headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif.

Of all the teams that were on the edge of glory last season, the 49ers seem to have made the most offseason improvements. They still have Alex Smith, who finally seems to be living up to the expectations that accompanied him into the league when he was drafted in 2006, and now, he has the kind of offense that will allow him to excel.

San Francisco made a slew of big-name offseason signings this winter, including Randy Moss, and it even plucked a couple of players from the team that beat them in the NFC Championship, signing Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham away from the Giants.

The 49ers were so close to getting to the Super Bowl last year, and they've only gotten better since then. Look for this team to make a serious run in 2012. In the meantime, here's everything you need to know about their training camp schedule. 

Houston Texans (12-1)
Training Camp Start: Saturday, July 28
Where: Methodist Training Center

This one is a bit of a surprise. But when you think about it, if it wasn't for some devastating injuries at the end of last season, the Texans could have been a very legitimate contender in the AFC. Instead, the regular season ended with three straight losses, and after beating Cincinnati during Wild Card Weekend, the Texans bowed out to Baltimore.

Last year, Houston finished second in the league in rushing, third in pass defense and fourth in rush defense. Presumably, if the key players can stay healthy—and if T.J. Yates proves worthy—this will look more like a team that went 10-3 through Week 14 in 2011 rather than the team that lost four of five to end the season. Here's where you can find all of the Texans' training camp info.