50 Things We Learned During the NFL's Preseason Week 1

As is custom in any NFL personnel office after the first preseason game, we've analyzed and scouted each team and compiled notes on each one. What observations stand out from the crowd?

We'll take a look at 50 reactions, thoughts and comments regarding Week 1. How did Tim Tebow look? Are the 49ers set at quarterback? Do the New England Patriots have too many quarterbacks?

1. The Philadelphia Eagles Are Incredibly Talented

We knew the Philadelphia Eagles looked good on paper. In their first preseason game they proved that they also look good on the field. The Eagles' first-, second- and third-string offense all looked good.

The defense, as can be expected in a preseason game where little is shown, did enough in flying to the ball. The Eagles are still my preseason Super Bowl pick from the NFC.

The Eagles made another smart move this week when they signed former New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith, helping to insure against the chances that Jeremy Maclin misses more time with a mysterious illness that has kept him off the field this preseason.

Smith will only make the Eagles that much more dangerous should Maclin find himself back on the field soon.

2. The Detroit Lions Pass Rush Will Be Dominant

The fearsome five-some of Cliff Avril, Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Nick Fairley and Kyle Vanden Bosch are expected to shake up the NFL this season. If the Lions' debut against the Cincinnati Bengals is any indication, that indeed will be the case.

The Lions' front four, minus Fairley, who is out with a foot injury, constantly disrupted Andy Dalton's passing attempts. Unfortunately, in blasting off the ball so fast, the Lions opened up huge rushing lanes for Cedric Benson.

The Lions hope to limit Vanden Bosch's snaps this year, which could include a front four that feature Avril, Suh, Williams and Fairley lining up together.

Detroit has the talent on their defensive line to do damage in the NFC North, if they can train the overaggressive defenders to start looking for the run on their way to the quarterback.

As it is now, expect to see many draws and screen packages used against Detroit.

3. Colt McCoy Looks Ready to Take Over

It's tough to make definitive statements from one preseason game, but this article would be boring (or more boring) without them.

One statement that I can take away from the Browns' season opener against the defending world champion Green Bay Packers is that Colt McCoy is going to do very well in the West Coast offense new head coach Pat Shurmur is installing.

McCoy threw just one incomplete pass and looked like the field manager this team needs to surprise their AFC North foes.

McCoy's rookie season was promising once he took over, and he looks on pace to continue his development as the starting quarterback in Cleveland.

We can officially put to bed any thoughts of Seneca Wallace unseating McCoy in Cleveland.

4. The Detroit Lions Will Struggle to Run the Ball

Jahvid Best looked timid, Mike Bell looked old and Jerome Harrison struggled to pick up yards after contact. The injury to second-round draft pick Mikel Leshoure is looking more depressing to the Lions' hopes of unseating the Bears or Packers in the NFC North.

The Detroit passing game looked very good against Cincinnati, but their inability to run the ball consistently will be an issue all season if the team cannot find a back able to take punishment between the tackles.

The Lions must also improve the offensive line to a position that the blocking up front is opening holes on a reliable basis.

5. The Chicago Bears Will Struggle to Pass Protect

The Chicago Bears gave up nine sacks in their preseason opener, when at times it looked like the offensive linemen had forgotten that this was a live football game and not just practice.

Well, Jay Cutler and the Bears' quarterbacks weren't wearing red jerseys, and the Buffalo Bills' defenders were definitely hitting. If the Bears have faith in this offensive line, I feel sorry for Jay Cutler.

The Bears' pass protection was woeful in 2010, just ask Cutler and Caleb Hanie. Many thought the drafting of Gabe Carimi in the first round would answer at least some questions on the line, and it may do so.

The biggest weakness to date on the line has been and continues to be left tackle, where J'Marcus Webb shows on a regular basis why he should not be starting in the NFL.

6. Shawne Merriman Is Back

Perhaps a byproduct of the piss-poor blocking by the Chicago Bears offensive line, but Shawne Merriman looked like his old self in the Bills' opener.

Merriman consistently dominated Bears left tackle J'Marcus Webb, even opening up rush lanes for rookie defensive end Marcel Dareus at times. If Merriman can keep up this intensity and stay healthy, he's going to be a force for the Bills.

The Bills are by no means a playoff threat, but they will at least be entertaining with Merriman crashing the edge and opening things up for Dareus this season.

7. The San Francisco 49ers Need a QB

Neither Alex Smith nor Colin Kaepernick looked like a starting NFL quarterback as the 49ers were destroyed by Gregg Williams' defense in their opener against the New Orleans Saints.

The entire 49ers offense looked bad, but the quarterbacks were the worst. The team should be knocking on every door of available quarterbacks, and probably calling the New England Patriots about Brian Hoyer any day now.

The Jim Harbaugh era is not off to a good start if he must acknowledge that his instincts about Alex Smith were wrong. The signing of another quarterback in San Francisco will be met with relief from the fans initially, but they will also question why the team waited so long to jump into the fray.

You also have to wonder how long it is before the team calls the Cincinnati Bengals about Carson Palmer.

8. Julio Jones Will Be Dangerous in Atlanta

Julio Jones showed in the Atlanta Falcons' opener the talent that made him the No. 6 pick in the 2011 NFL draft. With Matt Ryan looking for Jones early and often, the rookie showed he belongs in the NFL. Jones is my preseason pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Jones' skill set will not only open up the offense for Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez, but his presence on the outside will keep safeties from creeping into the box to pile up against running backs Michael Turner and Jason Snelling.

Jones will have a major impact not only as a receiver, but as a decoy. Let's not forget he was the best blocking receiver in college football last year, too.

9. The New Kickoff Rules Work

Never before have I seen so many touchbacks, or been so bored by special teams play, as I was this weekend. If the NFL has done us a favor at all it is that we'll never miss action if we take an extra long bathroom break after touchdowns.

Expect to see more teams look for creative ways to beat the rules and to also to find ways to set up new blocking methods to allow the best return men a chance at the open field.

10. Tarvaris Jackson Is Still Not a Starting Quarterback

This is a special shoutout to all my Twitter followers who said Tarvaris Jackson would blossom under Darrell Bevell's offense in Seattle and become a legitimate starting quarterback.

HA! Sure, it's only been one week, but Jackson looked like the same ol' shell-shocked quarterback he was in Minnesota.

Pete Carroll will enjoy a brief honeymoon in Seattle after leading the team to a playoff win in his first season, but the fact remains that Carroll passed on quarterbacks Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallett in the draft.

That's something the fans in Seattle will not forget if Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst struggle.

11. Tim Tebow Throws a Nice Deep Ball

Those who read my work often or follow me on Twitter know that I'm not the biggest Tim Tebow fan. That much aside, the kid does throw a damn fine deep ball.

Mark Dell can attest to this, as can the three Dallas Cowboy defenders who tried to defend the one good pass Tebow threw in the Broncos' opener.

Tebow has long been accredited with the ability to get the ball vertical, and he did so in perfect fashion against a Dallas defense that apparently did not take his passing ability seriously.

I'm definitely not ready to proclaim Tebow a worthy NFL quarterback just yet, but it is encouraging to see him hit on a nice pass downfield.

12. Tim Tebow May Have His Head Taken off

Tebow fans will call it extending the play. I call it running around like a chicken with its head cut off, asking for an ear-shot, concussion-inducing hit leveled by a SportsCenter hopeful linebacker. Good quarterbacks throw the ball away instead of running back in forth in the backfield trying to make something happen.

Tebow has a ways to go before he's a quarterback John Fox can trust to manage the game. For all the running around that Steve Young did in his days with the San Francisco 49ers, he also did not throw interceptions. Young knew when to run and when to throw the ball away.

Tebow's best-case comparison is to Young, but he has to master the nuances of the position that Young knew so well before he's even close to being ready to start.

13. The New England Patriots Know How to Scout Quarterbacks

If Bill Belichick ever retires from the New England Patriots, my only hope is that he writes a book on scouting the game, much like his father Steve did. The younger Belichick should devote more than a few chapters on how he scouts quarterbacks.

Whether it's Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett, Bill Belichick and Co. know how to find quarterbacks. Let's not forget that the Patriots found Tom Brady with pick No. 199, either.

If I were handed the keys to the 49ers or Seahawks tomorrow, the first phone call I'm making is to Foxborough to see what the price tag is for a 2011 Brian Hoyer.

14. The Green Bay Packers Could Rock the NFL

The Packers unveiled a no-huddle approach in their preseason opener, and the offense took off under Aaron Rodgers' command of the team.

If Green Bay decides to use a no-huddle this season, and with five amazing wide receivers and one of the best tight ends in the game, they could be unstoppable offensively and cure a running back program.

Green Bay returns 20 starters from a Super Bowl-winning roster (not including injured players). If they continue to show new ways to dominate, like a no-huddle offense, they are going to be very tough to stop.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Are No One-Year Wonders

Many critics said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feasted on a weak schedule on their way to a 10-win season last year, all of which is true.

The Buccaneers I saw beating the backside off the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason opener were no charity case. Tampa Bay, and more specifically their defensive line, is for real.

The Buccaneers have built a solid roster solely through the draft. With the development of Josh Freeman into a star quarterback, and with steals like LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams found last year, Tampa Bay should improve upon their 10 wins of a year ago.

16. The New Orleans Saints Defense Is Better Than the Saints Offense

I love Drew Brees as much as the next red-blooded American, but it's the defense in New Orleans that will lead them back to a playoff run. For as great as Brees can be, he needs a strong defense helping him out.

Gregg Williams has the Saints defense in a position to blitz on every down this season, as his secondary is good enough to hold up in man coverage while the linebackers crash the backfield or replace incoming safeties being hurled at the quarterback.

There may be more talent on offense in New Orleans, but the overall play of the defense will be what separates the Saints from the opposition.

17. The Tennessee Titans Are Going to Be Bad

No matter if it's Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker in the backfield, the Tennessee Titans look like one of the worst teams in the NFL this year.

This will become even more true if the team cannot, or will not, work out a long-term contract for running back Chris Johnson, who is currently holding out for a fair-market deal.

With Johnson, the Titans will be bad. Without him, they may not win a game.

18. The Baltimore Ravens Have Closed the Gap in the AFC North

The addition of Lee Evans in Baltimore just must be enough to close the gap that exists between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

Pittsburgh looks weak at cornerback again this year, and if Baltimore can pressure the secondary with a legitimate deep threat like Evans, they may have a shot at finally taking over the division from Pittsburgh. The key will be the Ravens' ability to force Pittsburgh's safeties into deep coverage.

Pittsburgh excels by letting Ryan Clark play up in the box and having Troy Polamalu roaming center field. If either safety has to bracket Evans in coverage, Baltimore will tear up the middle of the field with Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith.

19. The Cincinnati Bengals May Be the Worst Team in the League

I was a champion for Andy Dalton before the 2011 NFL draft, and I still believe in him as a long-time starting quarterback in the league. However, he's definitely not there yet, and neither is the rest of his team.

The Bengals did look good running the ball while the first-team offense was in, but the defense looked horrible and the passing game could never get going as Dalton had little time to set up in the pocket.

He was also reluctant to go vertical with the passing game after throwing an interception on the team's first offensive play.

Cincinnati has enough talent to build a nice team, but in their current state, the team may be a favorite for the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2012 class.

20. The Houston Texans Are the Team to Beat in the AFC South

I hear you, Indianapolis Colt fans, but I really don't believe that Peyton Manning will walk onto the field in Week 1 like Jesus coming out of the tomb, shake off the dust and start chucking touchdowns.

Because that's what you all believe, right? That Manning is not only the Second Coming, but that he's also immune to rust and will come out after a five-month vacation from throwing a football to lead your team to an "inevitable" 10th straight playoff appearance?

The objective truth is that Manning will suffer from the layoff from football, just like any other human being would. Try not going to work for five months and seeing how good you are for the first few weeks, or even months, after the fact.

21. Jake Locker Could Be Starting in Tennessee Soon

I said before that the Titans are not very good, and they aren't. It's that belief that leads me to think that first-round quarterback Jake Locker will soon be seeing major minutes under center.

Locker looked surprisingly good in the team's opener, and more so, he looked surprisingly accurate.

Locker will push free agent signee and $9 million man Matt Hasselbeck for playing time as soon as it's obvious the Titans are out of playoff contention. Which, in all fairness, is about right now.

22. Brian Hoyer Will Be the Hottest Name on the QB Market This Season

The 2011 season will have a way of separating the teams who have quarterbacks from the teams who do not. It will be those teams who do not that drool over the potential to land Brian Hoyer, the promising No. 2 quarterback for the New England Patriots.

Hoyer not only comes with the pedigree of playing under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in New England, which cannot hurt, but he also looked impressive in action against the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting defense in the Patriots opener.

Hoyer has the athleticism and mobility that Brady lacks, which would make him very intriguing to any team running a West Coast offense. You hear that, San Francisco?

23. The Miami Dolphins Need Chad Henne to Step Up

The Miami Dolphins are pinning their 2011 season hopes to quarterback Chad Henne. Henne knows that this season will be his last chance in Miami.

If he disappoints, his days as a starter there will be numbered, as backup Matt Moore is capable of steering the ship in South Beach.

Henne has all the talent to become a starter, he just needs to step up and play like the guy who came in for Chad Pennington in his rookie season.

24. The New York Jets Need Wide Receivers

The New York Jets famously lost Brad Smith, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery this offseason. To replace them, the team signed Plaxico Burress. That's it.

And now Burress is experiencing injury problems after spending 22 months in prison. No surprise, I might add. The Jets should begin knocking on the door of anyone who has ever even thought of playing wide receiver in the NFL.

The lack of talent here is further proof of the arrogance of Jets' head coach Rex Ryan. Knowing the team would lose at least two free agents at the position, Ryan did nothing to entice other wide receivers to New York, instead Ryan and management focused their sole attention on landing cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, a player they didn't need and would ultimately not even sign.

25. Randall Cobb Will See Major Playing Time in Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers may be stacked at wide receiver with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and James Jones all returning from the team's Super Bowl-winning 2010 season. That doesn't mean the team won't be forced to find a way to work rookie Randall Cobb into the mix.

Cobb, an electric all-purpose athlete at Kentucky, has Percy Harvin-like ability and could be as asset to the Packers as a runner out of the backfield, a receiver and a return man.

Cobb may not be ready to start, but he will definitely give Mike McCarthy a new toy.

26. Rookies Are Struggling

It is expected each year that rookies pressed into early playing time will struggle. The 2011 season will feature even more bad play from first-year players trying to adjust to the NFL game in a few short weeks.

The NFL lockout dragging on through July not only limited the exposure the NFL's newest players had to their new systems and teammates, it also kept many of them from training at an NFL level.

The four preseason games will be a great chance for these players to get into "game shape," but it may not ready them for extended playing time this season.

27. Cam Newton Isn't Quite NFL-Ready

We knew when Cam Newton left Auburn after just one season that no matter when or where he was drafted, there would be an extended learning curve for the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

Newton proved this much in Carolina's preseason opener, but he also showed the athleticism and dynamic playmaking ability that made him college football's best player last season.

Newton may not be ready to overtake Jimmy Clausen as the starter in Carolina, but expect him to be handed the starting job once the Panthers are out of playoff contention.

28. Matthew Stafford Could Be Dangerous

It's easy to forget over two years how good a player was when he entered the league, especially with that player was the No. 1 overall pick.

Matthew Stafford left Georgia for the NFL and looked like a sure-fire franchise quarterback. Two surgeries and just 13 starts later, Stafford is trying to prove he is still the same player, and that he can stay healthy for an entire season.

Stafford showed in Detroit's opener against Cincinnati that he can still throw the football like an All-Pro. Now if the Lions can just keep him standing up right, Stafford might just show why he was the No. 1 overall pick.

29. The Rob Ryan Hire Was Overrated

The Dallas Cowboys' hiring of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was supposed to be a fix-all for the team after head coach Wade Phillips was fired.

Ryan, who last coached with the Cleveland Browns and is the brother of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, has so far proven nothing.

The Dallas defense looked pitiful in the preseason opener. And you can't blame the lockout here, as defenses are always the first unit to adjust after the summer.

Defense is based on reacting and reading what the offense is doing, and on running the play or scheme called by the coordinator.

Bad calls and weak execution haunted Dallas in Week 1.

30. Willis McGahee Should Start in Denver

Knowshon Moreno has yet to prove he was worth the No. 12 pick in the 2009 first round, as he struggles to hit the hole or break tackles.

Moreno was seen as a future All-Pro when he left Georgia, but so far he's shown only that the Broncos wasted a first-round pick on him.

One bright spot in the Denver backfield was veteran Willis McGahee, who showed the agility and burst that made him a 1,000-yard rusher in Baltimore.

McGahee was not expected to steal the starting job in Denver, but from early evaluations, the job should be his to lose.

31. Tim Hightower and Rex Grossman Will Start in Washington

So much for John Beck starting at quarterback in Washington. Mike Shanahan pulled one over on us all with his round about way of saying he could win with Beck under center.

Shanahan may have found his new backfield, though, in Rex Grossman and Tim Hightower. Hightower, acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade for Vonnie Holiday, is the type of one-cut power runner that Shanahan has excelled with in the past.

Grossman is mobile and accurate, two things Shanahan has always loved in quarterbacks. Grossman does lack the arm strength of a John Elway or Jay Cutler, the two most successful Shanahan quarterbacks, but he has the smarts to do something surprising if given time in this offense.

32. Eli Manning Continues to Unimpress

You may have noticed, but I've never been a big Eli Manning fan. Manning was overrated coming out of Ole Miss, he should have been drafted behind Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, and his "me first" attitude in refusing to play for the San Diego Chargers has never sat well with me.

Further aiding my cause is that Manning is one of the most apologized-for quarterbacks in the NFL. His supporters are too quick to blame a bad offensive line or dropped passes.

You know who had more passes dropped than Manning in 2010? Tom Brady, and he threw four interceptions to Manning's 25.

33. The Vikings Pass Offense Will Struggle

I too was sucked into the frenzy of Donovan McNabb being traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

On paper, it makes sense, McNabb is a perfect fit for the Viking offense and would step right into the hole left by Brett Favre.

McNabb, albeit with just three weeks to prepare, has not shown the ability that made him one of the game's most exciting quarterbacks during his time in Philadelphia.

One preseason game would be an unfair way to grade the McNabb trade, but the early signs are not good.

It does not help that the Vikings lost Sidney Rice to the Seattle Seahawks, or that they decided to cut long-time left tackle Bryant McKinnie late this summer. The Vikings have talent to surprise people, but the offensive line will be a huge question mark all season.

34. Kevin Kolb Is the Answer

Let the hate mail start right about now.

Kevin Kolb, Cardinals fans and foes, is the answer to the quarterback question in Arizona. The Cardinals were chastised for giving up starting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick for the former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback, but the question I continued to ask was, "If he becomes a Pro Bowler, was it worth it?"

That answer is yes, and my early prediction is that Kolb makes his first Pro Bowl this season in leading the Cardinals to an NFC West championship.

35. Sam Bradford Is for Real

You probably knew this if you followed the St. Louis Rams at all last season, but this Sam Bradford kid is pretty good. In fact, he's really good.

Bradford looked unaffected by the shortened offseason, or the fact that he's working with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in an entirely new offensive system this season.

If there was any rust on Bradford's game, the Rams found a way to dust it off before the team's preseason opener, because Bradford was in regular-season form.

36. Ryan Mathews Is a Draft Bust

Can we officially call Ryan Mathews a draft bust now, because I'm ready to.

Mathews looked like the third-best running back in San Diego, behind converted fullback Mike Tolbert and rookie Jordan Todman. Mathews, a former first-round pick, has yet to prove he can stay healthy or be productive at the NFL level.

His chances to earn the starting job in San Diego, and prove his worth, are running out.

37. Oakland Raiders Defensive Line Is Impressive

I tweeted during the Oakland Raiders' preseason opener that "either the Cardinals' offensive line sucks, or the Raiders defensive line is amazing."

After watching the starting defense this game, I'm prepared to say that while the Arizona line does in fact suck, the Raider defensive line will be one of the most surprising and dominating units of the 2011 season.

I fully acknowledge that the Raiders defensive line was good last year, so ease up before killing me in the comments. The point is, they'll be even better this year with a more experienced Lamarr Houston and further development as a unit.

38. Marcel Dareus May Win Defensive Rookie of the Year

I predicted earlier that Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons would win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Are you ready for a shocker? It will be Buffalo defensive end Marcel Dareus taking the trophy home for the defense.

Dareus, whom I previously said may not make a big impact in his rookie season while playing end in the 3-4 defense, is a beast. It also helps that Dareus lines up in front of linebacker Shawne Merrriman, who looked abso-freaking-lutely amazing in the team's opener.

If Merriman stays healthy and consistent, Dareus will face constant one-on-one situations against a guard who will be taking a big step outside to try to pick him up in a five-technique alignment.

If Merriman can crush the edge and draw the left tackle on every play, Dareus will have a huge opportunity to make plays at defensive end.

39. The Kansas City Chiefs Need to Wake Up

My front-runner all offseason to repeat as champions in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs looked lost in their opener at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The offensive line, which has to be considered the biggest weakness in KC, was helpless against an inspired Tampa Bay defensive line. If the Chiefs line can be owned by rookie Adrian Clayborn, how will they ever stop Elvis Dumervil in Denver or the Raiders front four?

Answer: they won't, and it will keep them from repeating as the AFC West champs. Kansas City fans need to hope newly signed tackle Jared Gaither is ready to go sooner rather than later.

40. Brady Quinn Deserves More Snaps

I'm predicting no less than 10 Tim Tebow apologist comments from this one.

Brady Quinn should be taking the first-team snaps this week in Denver. Yes, that Brady Quinn, the same one drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns and then forgotten while the team experimented with Derek Anderson and the deep ball through one improbable playoff run.

Quinn has never been given a fair shake in the NFL, including during his time in Denver. If John Fox really wants to open the quarterback competition up in Denver, he will give the quarterback who looked best against Dallas a real shot at playing time.

The Broncos know what they have with Kyle Orton, and they've seen what Tim Tebow has to offer, and right now neither one is very good. Let Quinn have the first team's reps this week and let's see what he can do. No harm done, right?

41. Matt Leinart Is Insane, but Right

Matt Leinart thinks he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL again, after flaming out in Arizona and failing to generate any interest on the free agent market this summer. Is Leinart crazy? Probably, but he also has a point.

The top-tier of quarterbacks in the NFL right now is better than ever before, and there are some intriguing young players in the second-tier who just might become stars in due time. The third-tier, though, is horrible.

Leinart may not be ready to challenge Peyton Manning for his job, but are you telling me that he couldn't compete in San Francisco, Tennessee or Seattle right now?

42. Sergio Kindle Is Back

One of the more inspiring stories of this preseason for me has been the recovery of Sergio Kindle, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker seeing his first NFL action after falling down a flight of stairs and fracturing his skull before his rookie season last year.

Kindle was a pass rushing terror and athletic freak at Texas, in fact he was rated as my No. 1 pass rusher in the 2010 draft class. Kindle, if he can prove he's healthy, should compete for a starting job opposite Terrell Suggs in the Ravens' 3-4 sets.

43. Ndamkong Suh and Nick Fairley Will Lead the NFL in Fines

Pro Football Talk ran an interesting story Sunday morning on whether Ndamukong Suh is a dirty player. Frankly, I love his intensity and hope he keeps it up. What's also worth noting is that Lions rookie Nick Fairley was also called dirty at Auburn. You think Suh won't have an influence there?

The combination of Suh and Fairley may break NFL records of the most roughing the passer calls, and they could very well lead the league in fines if Suh continues to slam quarterbacks to the ground after they've thrown the ball.

If Suh keeps it up, the NFL might have to make quarterbacks wear helmets and shoulder pads again! Oh, wait…they still wear those?

44. Andy Reid Will Work Wonders on Vince Young

I had been told from Twitter followers that Vince Young looked horrible at Eagles training camp, so much so that he might be No. 3 on the depth chart behind Michael Vick and Mike Kafka.

Young put those concerns to bed with a very good performance in the team's opener. Young showed the mobility and passing ability that led him to 30 wins and just 17 losses in Tennessee.

If he can work on his field demeanor and attitude, Young will be a hot prospect after his one-year deal expires in Philadelphia.

45. The Green Bay Packers Could Repeat

So much talk has been devoted to the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons making major improvements this summer, and they've deserved it by making efforts to improve.

The forgotten story, at least from where I sit, has been the fact that the Green Bay Packers are still pretty good.

Green Bay returns 20 starters, plus they get back Ryan Grant, who missed the 2010 season with injury. Green Bay won a Super Bowl without Grant or premier tight end Jermichael Finley, who is also back this season and should be a huge weapon in the red zone.

Yes, the Eagles, Patriots and Falcons look great on paper and were impressive through one game, but let's try not to forget the defending Super Bowl champions.

46. Preseason Games Are Still Exciting

If you weren't jacked up this weekend watching preseason football, there's a soccer section on this site that I hear is pretty good, you should check it out.

Maybe I'm alone, but I sat in utter joy absorbing as much football as possible this weekend. At one point, to my wife's dismay, I had four games on at once.

Football is back, and we should all be happy about that. We can argue as fans and critics about who will be the best, who will be the worst and the merits of backup quarterbacks, but all that matters to me right now is that we have a football season to enjoy this year.

47. The Rookie Wage Pool Is Brilliant

Here we are ready to kick off the second week of the preseason and not one rookie is holding out. How great is that?

No more Michael Crabtree's sitting out half the season trying to posture for money he hasn't earned. No more JaMarcus Russell's being the highest paid player at his position before he takes one snap. Never again will a top-10 pick who busts in the NFL cripple their franchise for the next five years.

The rookie wage pool was met with little criticism, and rightfully so, because it's up there with the digital first down marker as the best thing to happen to the NFL in a long time.

48. The Titans Need Chris Johnson, Now

The Tennessee Titans have one hope for winning this season, and he's sitting at home watching the preseason.

The Titans, and more specifically general manager Mike Reinfeldt, are positively insane if they will really allow the NFL's most electric player to miss a regular season game in a contract dispute.

The Titans are still paying Johnson off a rookie contract that he out performed the moment he took his first handoff in the NFL. The right thing to do, which we so often lose sight of, is to pay the man what he's worth.

49. Andrew Luck Will Still Go No. 1 Overall in the 2012 NFL Draft

Any thoughts that Andrew Luck would not go first overall in the 2012 draft were extinguished once the NFL preseason began and we could all be reminded just how bad some quarterbacks in this league are.

Luck remains my gold standard for what a potential NFL quarterback should be able to do, and how to do them. I

f you find yourself bored on a Saturday this fall, look for a Stanford football game and enjoy the best quarterback I have ever scouted in my eight years doing this.

50. Peyton Manning Is the Most Valuable Player in the NFL, Ever

If you missed the Indianapolis Colts attempt to play football without Peyton Manning, do yourself a favor and don't watch. Unless you are a fan of the New England Patriots or Houston Texans, then by all means watch with pleasure.

The Colts' play without Manning in their preseason opener forever erased any argument I will ever attempt to make against Manning being the MVP each year.

If you truly judge the MVP award on which player is most vital to his team's success, the award should be named after Mr. Manning.