Bucs/NFL

T.O., QBs, holdouts and more intrigue

By JOANNE KORTH
Published July 23, 2006

The wait is over.

Let the debates begin.

As NFL teams report to training camps this week, here are five topics worthy of discussion seven whole weeks before the season officially starts in September. There are no right answers, but opinions are mandatory.

T.O. TIME BOMB: How many days will it take Terrell Owens to offend his new quarterback, the Cowboys' Drew Bledsoe?

I say six.

Owens has a well-deserved reputation for rubbing quarterbacks the wrong way. He alienated Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, guys no one else seems to have a hard time getting along with.

Bledsoe is a thick-skinned veteran who rarely airs his dirty laundry through the media, so we might not know about it. But it's bound to happen.

A snide comment.

A smirk.

A gesture.

T.O. can't help himself.

HEALTHY QBS: Four Pro-Bowl caliber quarterbacks will report to training camp with serious injuries to overcome: New Orleans' Drew Brees (shoulder), Miami's Daunte Culpepper (knee), Cincinnati's Carson Palmer (knee) and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger (facial fractures).

Of course, all are recovering ahead of schedule. Of course, all expect to start their season openers. Of course, not all will.

Someone is bound to have a setback. Roethlisberger, whose injuries were sustained in a June motorcycle accident, might also have psychological healing to do. Still, he remains the most likely opening-day starter of the bunch.

Watching replays of the knee injuries sustained by Culpepper and Palmer makes me draw up and wince. Both resulted in multiple ligament tears, Culpepper in late October and Palmer in January. Brees tore the rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder in the final regular-season game.

All were impressive in limited offseason drills, considering their injuries, but no one so much as bumped them breaking the huddle. We'll see who holds up when the pads go on.

HOLDOUTS: Which rookies will hold out?

Rookies might want to consider the disappointing season Bears running back Cedric Benson had last year after a long contract dispute. They say running backs are the least affected by missing training camp, but Benson's season never recovered.

We know who it won't be. Houston struck a deal with defensive end Mario Williams the night before they made him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Running back Reggie Bush claims he doesn't want to send the wrong message to the residents in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans by holding out for money. But does he mean it?

And until the No. 2 overall pick has a contract, will No. 3 pick Vince Young be in a hurry?

Would you?

FORWARD PROGRESS: Will fleet-footed quarterback Michael Vick be a better passer this season?

Hmmm, didn't we ask this last year? And the year before that. And the year. ...

Yes, but it remains germane.

To be clear, Vick's ability to throw is not in question. He can hum it, no doubt.

But his development as a passer has been slow, and that, in turn, has stunted the Falcons' progress. It will be interesting to see whether new quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave has an impact.

Head coach Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp have tailored the offense around Vick's strengths. But the passing game has to improve.

And that means Vick.

DYNASTY DAYS: After winning three championships in four seasons, the Patriots lost in the playoffs to Denver.

Is their run done?

In a word, yes. The dominant Patriots era is over. Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady remain a formidable combo, and in the weak-kneed AFC East the Patriots will again be champions.

But they won't win the Super Bowl.

[Last modified July 23, 2006, 02:08:31]