Great Debate: Which NFL Preseason Contenders Should We Consider Finished?

Let's face it.

Parity is good. So good that nobody has any idea of who will emerge as the NFL's elite this season. We are nearly at the halfway point of the season and are left with far more questions than answers.

The only prediction many of us hit square in the forehead was that the Dallas Cowboys would suffer some type of meltdown during the season.

Contrastingly, many people (myself included) crowned the boys from Dallas, TX as the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Based on what they've done so far, it's safe to challenge the cliche that "Everything is Bigger in Texas."

Unless we are talking about egos.

Nobody can ever accurately predict a season's happenings, but the 2008 season has been particularly interesting.

Here are 10 storylines that Mark Schlereth would have to concede to not knowing. (Sorry Mark, but you never act like you're wrong. Instead of admitting it, you usually sidestep it like Reggie Bush returning punts against the Minnesota Vikings. We love you anyway.)

1. Tom Brady's season ending injury in Week One.

2. The Buffalo Bills defeating the Chargers, Jaguars, and Seahawks en route to a 5-1 record.

3. Bills QB Trent Edwards emergence.

4. San Diego flaunting a 3-4 record.

5. Dallas sporting a 4-3 record with losses to the Cardinals, Rams, and Redskins at home.

6. Pittsburgh posting a 5-1 record largely without RB Willie Parker.

7. The Cleveland Browns with a record of 2-4.

8. Indianapolis having a record of 3-3 with only one home win and Peyton Manning throwing eight TDs to seven INTs.

9. The New York Giants ruling the NFC East at 5-1.

10.The Atlanta Falcons second in the NFC South with a 4-2 record.

Those are just some of the storylines captivating all fans this season in the "Not For Long" league, or the NFL.

It hasn't been long at all for the Cowboys, since they were the class of the NFC East. Philly has to be feeling a little nostalgic also, as they were consistent toppers of the toughest division in football.

Both teams are now a combined 7-6 and are in the cellar of the division. Injuries to Tony Romo and Brian Westbrook can be partially blamed for that.

On a tangent, could second string Cowboys QB Brad Johnson look worse than in Sunday's butt-kicking at the hands of the St. Louis Rams?

Here's his stat line:

17/34, 234 Yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

Barely passing at a 50 percent clip, and many of those yards came when the game was already determined. If Johnson continues to play that way, won't Romo's injury be the second worse to Tom Brady?

Wouldn't Cowboys fans get on their knees and ask God why Gus Frerotte is wearing purple instead of blue? Maybe they can pick up Jonathan Papelbon now that the Red Sox are out of the ALCS. Just a thought.

Anyway, the Cowboys look like T.C Williams High School in Remember the Titans when they first played together. No team morale, no leadership, fights amongst themselves, and unsure of their talents even though they were the most talented team in the entire league.

Maybe Jerry Jones should call Denzel Washington to instill some fire under the Cowboys rear-ends.

I could see a T.O-Denzel conflict going like this:

T.O in the middle of game- "Just throw me the BALL! Damn! I'm the best receiver in the league! 1 reception?!..."

Denzel- "Come here, 81! Get over here!"

T.O- "Whaddya mean 81? I'm Terrell Owens."

Denzel pulling T.O's facemask- "I don't give a sh@t if you were Lynn Swann! Now dammit I said get over here! Shut up or you'll spend the rest of the game running around the stadium!"

That's what No Team Order needs, and his other 52 teammates.

The Cowboys aren't the only preseason contender in trouble.

With Week Eight fast approaching, many teams need to stand in the mirror and pray for an identity.

In the courtroom of the honorable Samuel Bell Jr., we will determine which preseason contender is all but fried steak this season. Ladies and Gents, I present the "Week Eight Great Debate."

Your Plaintiffs are:

The Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Your Defendants are:

The Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and the New Orleans Saints.

Cleveland Browns, present your case.

Cleveland Browns QB Derek Anderson

"We will still emerge as a contender this season. Yes, we had some things happen during the course of the first seven weeks. Braylon Edwards started slow, Jamal Lewis hasn't been himself, and I've been pressured and sacked a lot. I haven't been able to throw the ball with confidence in the pocket, and not to mention I have to stare right behind me at Brady Quinn waiting in the wings, and Kellen Winslow has been slowed by injury, too.

I lost my two and three receivers in Joe Jurevicius and Donte Stallworth, and we had some close games, too. I believe we can get back in the hunt because Stallworth and Winslow are back, we beat the Giants, and played the best teams well."

Verdict- Judgment for the Defendant- The Browns don't look well heading into games against the Jaguars, Ravens, and Broncos, and Anderson's leash is as short as ever.

Dallas Cowboys, present your case.

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo

"Everyone needs to calm down a bit. We are experiencing some trouble, but nothing the average football team doesn't run into in the course of a season. Injuries happen and the season in the NFL often reflects a scale. Sometimes you're up, other times you struggle. People forget that we defeated the Eagles, Packers, and Browns while losing close games to the Cardinals and Redskins.

We play Washington again, and I should be back for that game. We picked up Roy E. Williams, Pacman will return, and we could be 6-4 when I come back. The defense will play better because Terence Newman will return and team morale will go up."

Verdict- Insufficient Evidence- There is no clear evidence that Dallas will emerge from the cubbie hole they currently rest in. Romo's injury is somewhat unclear, Johnson looks bad at QB, and the playmakers aren't making plays.

Minnesota Vikings, present your case.

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

"We need to turn it up a bit. I'm not entirely disappointed with the offense, but the defense isn't making enough plays. We are right on the line of a 5-2 record, and we can make this better. I'm running well and on pace for a 1,300 yard season, Chester [Taylor] is doing a good job when he's in, and Bernard Berrian is making huge plays down the field.

We should've beat Chicago, but our defense looked out of sync and we made some terrible special teams errors. If we can eliminate those mistakes and not turn the ball over so much, we could reel off three or four wins in a row. And no, we don't need to change the QB position right now."

Verdict- Hung Jury- The jury can't agree on the fate of the Vikings. Frerotte shows flashes in the pocket, but makes questionable throws and Jared Allen and that defense isn't creating enough pressure on the QB. If Peterson gets really hot and Allen makes some sacks, things could change drastically.

Indianapolis Colts, present your case.

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning

"All the talk of us being done isn't bothering me at all. I know what this team is capable of, and we just need to hit our stride. Against the Ravens, everyone was crowning us as the favorites again to win the division, and now we lost to the Packers and we suck again. Football is a difficult sport and it takes time to get everyone on the same page.

I'm feeling better from my preseason knee surgery, my timing with Wayne [Reggie] and Marvin [Harrison] is making progress, and Bob Sanders will hopefully return soon. The injury to Joseph Addai is hard and our offensive line is showing some vulnerability, but we will correct things as we've done in the past."

Verdict- Judgment for the Defendant- This verdict can be answered in one statement: "Until the Colts are out of it mathematically, I'm not counting them out."

San Diego Chargers, present your case.

San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson

"This isn't going well right now, and nobody can point fingers to anyone. We just aren't playing well as a team, and it needs to change. There's no excuses, and we just have to man up and go out there and perform as a unit, and not individually. The fumbles, turnovers, and points we're giving up are too much to overcome and each game is to save our season.

With the talent we have on this team, I know we can turn it around. The line is becoming a little more consistent, my toe is feeling stronger, and the secondary will get back to making plays. We just have to be more tougher and accountable for our play."

Verdict- Judgment for the Plaintiff- The Chargers are all but done. Four losses, mediocre play on both offense and defense, and heavy hearts from early season losses may have very well done this team in. Sentence of missed playoffs with aging of star RB and early first-round draft pick.

New Orleans Saints, present your case.

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton

"The NFL is something. One minute you're the talk of the town, the next you're the dirt on the ground. We have what it takes to win football games. There's no need talking about the injuries to Bush [Reggie], Jeremy [Shockey], or Marques [Colston]. Every team has injuries, and you have to overcome them. Drew Brees is playing his heart out, and we just can't ride his success.

The guys are playing very hard every play, and we just need to sustain that energy every down. I see flashes of greatness with this team, but we have to believe in ourselves and act like we know it."

Verdict- Judgment for the Plaintiff- The Saints haven't quite looked right since their NFC playoff defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears. Brees looks amazing, but that's where it stops. With Bush out for significant time and an offense a little out of sync, the Saints may be the Ain'ts another year.

Sentence of missed playoffs, annoyed fans, early first-round draft pick and first team to be considered finished.

Final Verdict

The Saints are the team to write off at this point, with their inconsistent running game, predictability, inconsistent defense and injury to Reggie Bush. Without him, the offense loses the Barry Bonds of their lineup.

In a close second are the Cleveland Browns, who have consistently underperformed this year and looked terrible against an off Washington Redskins team.

Many people considered the Browns a sexy, seducing pick for the Super Bowl this season.

Unfortunately, they look about as sexy as a Meth-addict suing for emotional distress on Judge Mathis. Sorry, boys.