NFL 2010 Season Preview: Top 15 Veterans Due for a Big Comeback Year

Guys like LaDainian Tomlinson believe that they are the best at what they do, and it's that type of belief that keeps them excelling at a high level.

Being that he is a former MVP and has multiple Pro Bowl selections under his belt, Tomlinson only sees success in his near future.

Here is the list of veterans due for a bounce back year in 2010.

And if you don't believe me, ask them.

15. Keith Bulluck

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 23: Linebacker Keith Bulluck #53 of the Tennessee Titans on the field in the game with the Houston Texans on November 23, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Titans won 20-17. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Although he cracked 100 tackles in his last year with the Titans, Bulluck is used to putting up over 130 tackles during a dominant year.

So now he gets a chance with the New York Giants to prove that he hasn't lost a step.

And if he succeeds, it will be exactly what both he and the team needs.

14. Nnamdi Asomugha

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

He's the reason why Darrelle Revis is holding out.

Last year the Raiders made Asomugha the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history and he is out to prove that he is still the best in the league.

Charles Woodson won the Defensive Player of the Year but most people think that Revis is the best cover corner.

So Asomugha will try to get back into the conversation. His biggest problem is that no one throws near him so he ends up with very few interceptions (one per year the last three years after picking off eight in 2006).

Still, don't be surprised to see him taking some chances and picking off some passes to prove that he is worth every penny of that contract.

13. Troy Polamalu

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PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 14: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Detroit Lions on August 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Steelers won 23-7. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

When he plays, few are better.

And the Steelers defensive becomes dominant. The problem is, because he tackles with reckless abandon, the injuries tend to pile up.

Having only played five games last year, if Polamalu stays on the field, he will dominate like he always does.

You could argue that he is their most important player. If he plays, the Steelers usually win.

But he has to stay healthy.

12. Clinton Portis

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 08: Clinton Portis #26 of the Washington Redskins against of the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 8, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

He is about to turn 29, which is old in running back years.

And he seems to make more news with the characters that he likes to play than he has on the field lately.

But there is no denying that his best NFL seasons were with Denver, where he was arguably the best back in the league in 2002-2003.

Those years were under Coach Shanahan.

And now they are back together. Deja vu all over again?

11. Bernard Berrian

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Bernard Berrian #87 of the Minnesota Vikings runs for yards after the catch against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won

In 2007 and 2008 Berrian averaged close to a thousand yards receiving and six touchdowns for the Chicago Bears when he was pretty much their go-to guy.

Now, he is healthy again and has a gunslinger for a quarterback, something he didn't have with the Bears.

He also finds himself as the go-to guy again, since Percy Harvin is battling migraines and Sidney Rice is out for at least half the year.

The forecast looks good for a big Berrian season.

10. Ed Reed

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the New England Patriots during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Ravens won 33-14. (Photo by Elsa/Ge

The holy trinity of great safeties in the league goes like this: Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu, and Ed Reed.

You might have them in any order you like, but that is the big three.

Recently they have all been banged up and all are due for comebacks.

Reed only played 12 games last year. He still found a way to make 50 tackles and score a defensive touchdown.

The Ravens are hopeful that he'll be ready for the season opener.

They are a different team without him.

9. Brian Urlacher

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CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Brian Urlacher #54 of the Chicago Bears awaits the start of play during a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Soldier Field on August 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Raiders defeated the Bears 32-17. (Photo by Jonathan Da

He played in only one game last year.

And most of his press lately has come by way of the feud he might or might not still having going with Bears all-time great Gale Sayers.

Urlacher has quite a bit to prove this year as his sack numbers were nonexistent even before the injury (none in 2008).

And now with Julius Peppers as part of his defense, he has even less excuses.

8. Mike Williams

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SEATTLE - AUGUST 21: Wide receiver Mike Williams #1 of the Seattle Seahawks signals first down after making a catch during the preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Qwest Field on August 21, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr

It's hard to call this a possible comeback because Williams never really arrived in the NFL. He was a bust for Detroit and weighed around 270 lbs when he was with the Titans.

There are defensive linemen that don't weigh that much. But now he is supposedly down to 225 and only the oft-injured Deion Branch stands in his way from being a starter for Seattle.

Definitely a strange story.

7. TJ Houshmandzadeh

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SEATTLE - AUGUST 14: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes during the preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Qwest Field on August 14, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

On the other side of the field from Branch and Williams is Houshmandzadeh, the big free agent signing from a year ago.

He put up a five-year low in receptions in his first year with the Seahawks and never seemed to be right.

Now with a new coach and system, maybe Houshmandzadeh can bounce back and have a year like the ones in Cincinnatti.

6. Albert Haynesworth

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LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 13: Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins plays defense during the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at FedEx Field on August 13, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Tough love is the key here. Either Haynesworth performs and earns his check or he will be gone.

Either he follows the rules and listens to his coach, or they will ship him out.

Either he is a good teammate and helps the Redskins win, or he will no longer be there.

I am an optimist, so I think he will straighten up and be dominant again.

5. Fred Taylor

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 19: Running back Fred Taylor #21 of the New England Patriots runs for a first quarter touchdown during the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on August 19, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Ge

Laurence Maroney is the Patriots starter and Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk also figure into the plans, but Taylor has the track record.

Because of injury he played only six games last year.

But now that Brady is totally back and Welker might also be, look for Taylor to snatch the starting job and the bulk of the carries.

He has one more good year in him.

4. Ronnie Brown

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FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Ronnie Brown #23 of the Miami Dolphons gains yards against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

In nine games last season he put up almost 700 yards, so he is still a really good back when healthy.

Ricky Williams can't do it alone, and is probably best as the second back. Brown also is more dangerous as the "wildcat" back for Miami.

Brown will put himself back in the conversation of best AFC backs not named Johnson, if he is healthy.

3. Haloti Ngata

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Haloti Ngata #92 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts to stop Kevin Faulk #33 of the New England Patriots during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Ravens won 3

Ngata was banged up some in 2009, missing two games, which is why his tackles went down from the year before.

But tackles don't tell the story for Ngata and the Ravens.

He allows Ray Lewis and the gang to get to runners and quarterbacks when he is healthy.

The man is massive and surprisingly quick.

The pass rush is totally different and much more intimidating when Big Haloti feels right.

2. Donte Stallworth

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LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 21: Donte' Stallworth #18 of the Baltimore Ravens fumbles the ball during the preseason game after being hit by DeAngelo Hall #23 and LaRon Landry #30 of the Washington Redskins at FedExField on August 21, 2010 in Landover, Maryland

We all know about his off-field problems with the DUI and second degree manslaughter, so I won't bring those up.

What I will bring up is that Stallworth showed serious ability with New Orleans a few years ago, but hasn't stayed in one place enough to build some consistency.

After catching 70 balls for close to 1,000 for New Orleans in 2005, his number of receptions is barely that much combined in the last three years.

But now he has a chance at a fresh start with a new quarterback. And with Anquan Boldin getting most of the attention, he has a chance to resuscitate his career.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson (tie)

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 16: LaDanian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets falls into the endzone for a touchdown that was eventually called back during their game against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 16, 2010 in East Ruther

The former League MVP thinks he can get back to being the best running back in the league.

But first he has to get the starting spot from Shonn Greene.

If he is a significant part of a team that wins the Super Bowl, like they keep telling us they will, I think that will be a big enough comeback for LT.

1. Jake Delhomme (tie)

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CLEVELAND - AUGUST 21: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns throws to a receiver against the St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Delhomme has been to the mountain top before. And he feels he can lead another team that no one expects to do much back close to the mountain top again.

When Delhomme lead the Panthers to the Super Bowl he was the talk of the league.

But now, just before that season, he has to prove himself all over again.

With the weapons surrounding him, I wouldn't be surprised if he made it all the way to the Pro Bowl...but not the Super Bowl.