Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

NFL: team by team

NOTABLE LOSSES: OT Jon Runyan, TE Jackie Harris, LB Barron Wortham.

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

1. Tennessee Titans

NOTABLE LOSSES: OT Jon Runyan, TE Jackie Harris, LB Barron Wortham.

NOTABLE GAINS: LB Randall Godfrey, OT, Fred Miller, WR Carl Pickens.

THE LOWDOWN: The key for the Titans is twofold: New offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger has to cull greatness from Steve McNair the same way Les Steckel did last year, and the retooled defense with Godfrey and rookie Keith Bullock has to show up consistently. DE Jevon Kearse should be even better after posting 14.5 sacks as a rookie. Tennessee has the schedule, the home-field advantage and the hunger to win the Super Bowl after coming so close last season.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Word out of Titans camp is Pickens is playing unbelievably well. Fisher will insist on a conservative offensive approach, but as long as QB Steve McNair protects the ball and Tennessee punishes with Eddie George, Pickens should flourish.

2. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: LB Hardy Nickerson, DT Brad Culpepper, WR Bert Emanuel.

NOTABLE GAINS: WR Keyshawn Johnson, C Jeff Christy, G Randall McDaniel.

THE LOWDOWN: With lackluster preseason victories, the Bucs have dented the off-season optimism that came with Johnson's arrival. Still, the offense can't help but be better, even if it gets off to a slow start. The defense may have a few chinks in the armor after morphing into an impenetrable force late last season, but you have to believe this coaching staff will have them ready when it matters most.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: A good start. The Bucs schedule is fairly favorable early on, but they have to be ready by Week 4, when they embark on a three-game murderers' row: Jets, at Washington and at Minnesota on Monday night. What would help Tampa Bay make the Super Bowl most is having home field throughout the playoffs.

3. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

NOTABLE LOSSES: RB Larry Bowie, CB Darryl Pounds, P Matt Turk.

NOTABLE GAINS: S Mark Carrier, CB Deion Sanders, DE Bruce Smith.

THE LOWDOWN: You want to believe that Dan Snyder's unconventional spending spree will implode simply because teams are supposed to pay dues, diligently build for the future and someday reach the pinnacle. But Snyder just may get his wish even though it may cost the Redskins in the future. His veteran cache is older and maybe a step slower, but they're also a whole lot wiser.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: There could be a quarterback controversy if the 'Skins get off to a slow start, but that's unlikely. October, however, is another matter. We'll find out more about Washington after it plays three of last year's four conference championship participants (Bucs, Titans and Jaguars), plus rising Philadelphia and a beltway battle against Baltimore.

4. ST. LOUIS RAMS

NOTABLE LOSSES: C Mike Gruttadauria, OT Fred Miller, Coach Dick Vermeil.

NOTABLE GAINS: RB Derek Loville, DT Sean Moran, coach Mike Martz.

THE LOWDOWN: It's been a long time since a defending Super Bowl champion got such little respect, but there's a reason for that: The Rams didn't do anything to get better. Martz may find it more difficult to craft an offense when he's head coach, and the loss of Miller could prove pivotal. Still, the team does return NFL MVP Kurt Warner and an array of offensive weapons. As long as the defense is solid, they have a chance.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Everyone believes the Rams have a tougher schedule than last season, and that may be true, but it's still ranked 30th. St. Louis should feast on the benefits of playing in the NFC West again, and some of its most difficult games are at the TWA Dome: Denver, Washington and Minnesota.

5. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

NOTABLE LOSSES: LB Michael Barber, RB Darick Holmes.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Bernard Holsey, LB Rob Morris.

THE LOWDOWN: The Colts are one of the vogue picks to win the Super Bowl, but what have they done to improve their average defense (15th in total defense last season)? Adding Morris to anchor the middle will help, but Indy is still thin up front. The offense, on the other hand, can run up points in a hurry. Only two teams were better than the Colts' 26.4 points a game, but the team only surpassed that mark once in its last five games, and that was against Cleveland.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Indy has the league's third toughest schedule, but it should help that the AFC East won't be as strong. The Colts play at home only twice in the first seven weeks and have three consecutive road games in October: Buffalo, New England and Seattle.

6. DENVER BRONCOS

NOTABLE LOSSES: S Tyrone Braxton, CB Tory James, TE Shannon Sharpe.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Lester Archambeau, QB Gus Frerotte, DE Kavika Pittman.

THE LOWDOWN: The Broncos are going to bounce back in a big way and could very well be a surprise Super Bowl team. Denver shouldn't experience another injury-plagued season, and the running tandem of Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary should do damage. Sure, the quarterback spot remains uncertain with Brian Griese, but Frerotte is a capable reliever. The defense was ranked seventh in '99, but the Broncos didn't stand pat. Rookie CB Deltha O'Neal will pay dividends immediately.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Only three playoff teams are on the Broncos' schedule, and outside the division Denver should thrive against lesser teams such as Atlanta, New England, Cleveland, Cincinnati, New Orleans and San Francisco.

7. OAKLAND RAIDERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: DT Russell Maryland, TE Derrick Walker, LB Richard Harvey.

NOTABLE GAINS: K Sebastian Janikowski, P Shane Lechler, WR Jerry Porter.

THE LOWDOWN: Call me crazy, but I think this is the year the Raiders snap their string of mediocre seasons and make the playoffs. Oakland ranked in the top 10 in total offense, rushing, scoring, total defense and sacks, and was 11th in passing and turnover differential. Unlike past years, CB Charles Woodson will shadow opponents' top receiver and that should lead to more turnovers. RBs Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman are a good one-two punch, and Rich Gannon has finally found an offense that suits his talents.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Only St. Louis and Philadelphia have easier schedules than Oakland. The Raiders play only three playoff teams -- only one after Week 8.

8. BUFFALO BILLS

NOTABLE LOSSES: WR Andre Reed, DE Bruce Smith, CB Thomas Smith, S Kurt Schultz.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Erik Flowers.

THE LOWDOWN: Here's another team hoping to make do without a lot of additions. The Bills had the top-ranked defense in the league last year, but that was with the Smiths, and the loss of Thomas will hurt more than the departure of Bruce. The offense has shown some potency in the preseason with Rob Johnson at QB, but the Bills may need all the points they can get if opponents are successful attacking with three-receiver sets.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Buffalo has the league's most difficult schedule, including road games at some of the most difficult venues: Minnesota, Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

9. DALLAS COWBOYS

NOTABLE LOSSES: LB Randall Godfrey, DE Kavika Pittman, CB Kevin Smith.

NOTABLE GAINS: LB Joe Bowden, LB Barron Wortham, CB Ryan McNeil, WR Joey Galloway, TE Jackie Harris.

THE LOWDOWN: The off-season has given a lot of hope to the Cowboys, and for good reason. Galloway pairs with Rocket Ismail to form a dynamic tandem, and Harris should find plenty of room to operate in the middle. Questions lie in the secondary, and the linebacking corps is the shortest in the league, but as the defensive coordinator in '99, new coach Dave Campo crafted a unit that finished ninth in the league.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Close games. Dallas lost six games by less than a touchdown and did not have a loss by more than 10 points. The problem is that the Cowboys' kicking situation rests in Tim Seder's hands.

10. BALTIMORE RAVENS

NOTABLE LOSSES: G Jeff Blackshear, RB Errict Rhett.

NOTABLE GAINS: TE Shannon Sharpe, TE Ben Coates, WR Travis Taylor.

THE LOWDOWN: The Ravens won six of their last nine in 1999, and the conventional wisdom is the offense will be even better this year with the additions of Sharpe and Taylor. The unit will be in better shape if RB Jamal Lewis can quickly recover from a preseason elbow injury. Defense is the team's real strength, with Ray Lewis leading a ball-hawking unit that ranked second in the league last year.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Ravens have a tough start with only two of their first seven games at home. The rare slate includes three consecutive road games: at Cleveland, at Jacksonville, at Washington.

11. CAROLINA PANTHERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: S Brent Alexander, LB Kevin Greene, LB Michael Barrow.

NOTABLE GAINS: CB Jimmy Hitchcock, DE Chuck Smith, DE Reggie White, DT Eric Swann.

THE LOWDOWN: It's no coincidence the Panthers' notable gains are all on the defensive side. The unit ranked 26th last season, and even though Carolina won five of its last seven, it was usually in shootout fashion. Coach George Seifert is trying to get a few more good plays out of the likes of White and Swann, and it may work. The real key to the season is RB Tim Biakabutuka. He makes Carolina a real contender when healthy, but he's missed portions of all four of his seasons.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: A quick start. After opening at Washington, the Panthers could conceivably be favored to win their next seven games.

12. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

NOTABLE LOSSES: RB James Stewart, CB Dave Thomas, G Rich Tylski.

NOTABLE GAINS: LB Hardy Nickerson, QB Jamie Martin, WR R. Jay Soward.

THE LOWDOWN: Tom Coughlin's task this season may be more difficult than in the Jaguars' inaugural season. S Carnell Lake is on IR, RT Leon Searcy may not return until November or December, and RB Fred Taylor is likely to miss at least the season opener. Not to mention LT Tony Boselli is recovering from knee surgery, and Tony Brackens' contract unhappiness has been an annoyance throughout training camp. The Jags hope to compensate with help from its prolific passing combo of QB Mark Brunell and WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardle.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Nickerson is the kind of middle linebacker this team has always needed. How he jells with the unit will be tantamount to success.

13. DETROIT LIONS

NOTABLE LOSSES: S Mark Carrier.

NOTABLE GAINS: RB James Stewart, T Stockar McDougle.

THE LOWDOWN: The Lions have so many pieces in place, but it appears Bobby Ross will pay the price for not having a solid backup behind Charlie Batch. Batch may be healthy on opening day, but he's unlikely to be 100 percent and nobody else can truly carry the team. RB James Stewart will contribute, the receiving corps is full of playmakers and the defensive front seven are among the league's best. But instability at quarterback may be enough to keep Detroit out of the playoffs.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The schedule makers have Detroit set up for a late-season swoon. Four of its last six games are on the road: at the Giants, at Minnesota, at Green Bay and at the Jets.

14. CHICAGO BEARS

NOTABLE LOSSES: P Todd Sauerbrun, WR Curtis Conway.

NOTABLE GAINS: CB Thomas Smith, DE Phillip Daniels, S Mike Brown.

THE LOWDOWN: NFL GMs are buzzing about the Bears' improvement. The offense proved capable by averaging 345.2 yards a game last season, and the 29th-ranked defense should be improved with Smith and Daniels, the man who ended Trent Dilfer's career as a Buc with a crushing sack. If second-year QB Cade McNown can keep it together, a playoff appearance could blow into the Windy City.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Bears face eight playoff teams but only one after a Week 12 encounter with Tampa Bay. Five losses were by four points or less, but placekicking remained questionable late in the preseason.

15. GREEN BAY PACKERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: Coach Ray Rhodes, TE Mark Chmura, DE Keith McKenzie.

NOTABLE GAINS: Coach Mike Sherman, TE Bubba Franks, DT Russell Maryland.

THE LOWDOWN: You can never discount the magic of Brett Favre's arm, unless he can't throw because of ligament damage to his elbow. The injury has prompted Favre to miss most of the preseason, but he promises to be ready. The rest of the Packers may find it more difficult to deliver on such a promise. Green Bay has steadily been trying to revamp its flailing corps of linebackers, and its pass rush in the preseason was below average.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Packers may not be in decline, but with their third head coach in three years, they are in transition. It may take a season for Sherman and GM Ron Wolf to right the ship, but Favre will make them competitive.

16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

NOTABLE LOSSES: DE Phillip Daniels, WR Joey Galloway, S Darryl Williams.

NOTABLE GAINS: S Reggie Tongue, RB Shaun Alexander, WR Darrell Jackson.

THE LOWDOWN: If Jon Kitna falters, blame Tampa Bay. The Bucs defense exposed his weaknesses in a 16-3 win last season after the Seahawks started 8-2, and Kitna never fully regained his composure. The uncertainty surrounding Kitna is why the Seahawks aren't ranked higher. The young receiving corps will make more positives than negatives, and the rushing attack is in capable hands with Ricky Watters and Alexander. Defensively, the only real question is at middle linebacker.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: All four of the Seahawks' non-conference road games are in the Eastern Time Zone, meaning Seattle is in for some long plane rides.

17. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

NOTABLE LOSSES: C Steve Everitt, K Norm Johnson, LB William Thomas.

NOTABLE GAINS: DT Corey Simon, FB Stanley Pritchett, T Jon Runyan.

THE LOWDOWN: Considering the Eagles' off-season losses are negligible, and they return a defense that forced more turnovers (46) than any team in the league, you have a reason for hope. QB Donovan McNabb has shown signs of development, while RB Duce Staley and FB Stanley Pritchett provide a strong backfield. The offensive line should be much improved with Runyan aboard. Simon and the return of DE Hugh Douglas should help strengthen the defensive front.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Don't be surprised if Philly has some success. The Eagles have the league's easiest schedule, including games against New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

18. N.Y. JETS

NOTABLE LOSSES: Coach Bill Parcells, WR Keyshawn Johnson, defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Shaun Ellis, LB John Abraham, WR Vincent Brisby.

THE LOWDOWN: Belichick's departure may hurt the Jets more than losing Parcells. The defense overachieved thanks to Belichick's clever schemes, but without him the unit may give up big yards, particularly in the passing game. Offensively, RB Curtis Martin has never looked better, and the reshuffled offensive line is coming up aces. If QB Vinny Testaverde returns to form, the receiving tandem of Wayne Chrebet and Dedric Ward may be better than expected in the post-Johnson era.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Playing in the AFC East will take its toll, as will road games against Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Baltimore.

19. KANSAS CITY

NOTABLE LOSSES: LB Derrick Thomas, WR Joe Horn, S Reggie Tongue.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Shaun Ellis, LB John Abraham, WR Vincent Brisby.

THE LOWDOWN: Thomas' spirit will be missed as much as his talent, and how the Chiefs deal with his unexpected death will be key to the season. Kansas City finished 9-7 and would have made the playoffs if they hadn't blown a 17-point lead against Oakland. The Chiefs running-back-by-committee was the league's fourth best a year ago, but K.C. would love to see rookie WR Sylvester Morris become a complement to veteran Derrick Alexander.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Chiefs open with Indianapolis at home and Tennessee on the road, and only a handful of teams have made the Super Bowl after starting 0-2.

20. ATLANTA FALCONS

NOTABLE LOSSES: DE Lester Archambeau, DE Chuck Smith, C Robbie Tobeck.

NOTABLE GAINS: CB Ashley Ambrose, WR Shawn Jefferson, DE Brady Smith.

THE LOWDOWN: The Falcons get Jamal Anderson back after a knee injury cut short his '99 season. But even Anderson admits he won't be himself early in the season. Plus, Anderson won't find as much running room as he did when he gained 1,846 yards two years ago because the offensive line isn't as good. The team's best chance is for wide receiver Tim Dwight to emerge as a deep threat and make defenses honest. The defensive line will be hard-pressed to stop the run with Smith and Archambeau gone.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: A November to remember. The Falcons play host to Tampa Bay before three consecutive road games: at Detroit, at San Francisco and at Oakland. It will help that they will stay on the West Coast and train at Stanford.

21. MIAMI DOLPHINS

NOTABLE LOSSES: QB Dan Marino, TE Troy Drayton, FB Stanley Pritchett.

NOTABLE GAINS: QB Jay Fiedler, RB Lamar Smith, WR Bert Emanuel.

THE LOWDOWN: Miami still has one of the league's best defenses, and it could push the Dolphins to a much higher slot. But the question marks on offense make you wonder. The quarterback situation is in the hands of Jay Fiedler, but he has to learn Chan Gailey's new offense. The receiving corps has Emanuel and Tony Martin, but expected starter Lamar Thomas is out for the season, and O.J. McDuffie may not play until October or November. The running game averaged only 3.3 yards last season. Coach Dave Wannstedt has much to solve in the post-Marino era.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Dolphins have the league's second most difficult schedule, and five of their last eight games are against playoff teams.

22. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

NOTABLE LOSSES: QB Jeff George, G Randall McDaniel, C Jeff Christy, CB Jimmy Hitchcock.

NOTABLE GAINS: None.

THE LOWDOWN: Daunte Culpepper has had an impressive preseason, and it appears the off-season spent working with WRs Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Matt Hatchette will pay huge dividends. Also look for Hatchette to have a breakout season now that Jake Reed is in New Orleans. Too bad the Vikings have little defense to support their offensive weapons. Minnesota will struggle to get a pass rush, and inexperienced cornerbacks Kenny Wright and Robert Tate will be exposed early and often. Only a solid linebacker corps can offer resistance.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: No team has more playoff teams scheduled than the Vikings' nine, including the final five games of the season.

23. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NOTABLE LOSSES: TE Ben Coates, G Heath Irwin, WR Shawn Jefferson.

NOTABLE GAINS: RB J.R. Redmond, CB Antonio Langham.

THE LOWDOWN: When the Patriots play the Dolphins, the victor likely will win 2-0. Like Miami, New England matches what should be a solid defense under new coach Bill Belichick with an offense that will struggle. With standouts like DE Willie McGinest, CB Ty Law and S Lawyer Milloy, and Belichick's brilliant schemes, the defense will be ready. But the Pats will struggle to run the ball and protect Drew Bledsoe, who was sacked 56 times last year. Redmond was brought in, but Kevin Faulk has been more impressive in the preseason.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The AFC East teams are going to beat up each other all season, and the Patriots will suffer the most. Seven of the team's first nine games are against playoff teams.

24. NEW YORK GIANTS

NOTABLE LOSSES: S Percy Ellsworth, T Roman Oben, FB Charles Way.

NOTABLE GAINS: LB Micheal Barrow, RB Ron Dayne and C Dusty Ziegler.

THE LOWDOWN: Maybe Jim Fassel didn't pay attention to the part in Karate Kid when the importance of balance was discussed. During his tenure, the Giants have been solid on defense but anemic on offense. It appears the units are trading places. QB Kerry Collins may be ready to come into his own, WR Amani Toomer should end up in the Pro Bowl and RBs Dayne and Tiki Barber provide a nice inside-outside punch. The defense slipped in '99, allowing 22.4 points a game. DE Michael Strahan and CB Jason Sehorn have to return to form for New York to have a chance.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Only two of the first six games are at home. The key statistic will be turnover differential. In 1999, the Giants were 25th at minus-8.

25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: DT Norman Hand, RB Natrone Means, T John Jackson.

NOTABLE GAINS: FB Robert Chancey, WR Curtis Conway, WR Trevor Gaylor.

THE LOWDOWN: Coach Mike Riley appears to be one of the nicest guys in the NFL, but given the mythical fate of nice guys, that may not bode well for the Chargers. Much of their success will hinge on quarterback Ryan Leaf, who won the starting job. Given Leaf's problematic past, it's a risky outlook. The defense won't lend as much comfort as in past years because it's getting older (seven starters over 30) and Hand has taken his run-stuffing abilities to New Orleans.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Chargers could surprise if Leaf fulfills his potential, but the smart call is another 8-8 season because Leaf is almost sure to be erratic. Keep an eye on WR Trevor Gaylor and RB Jermaine Fazande.

26. ARIZONA CARDINALS

NOTABLE LOSSES: DT Eric Swann, C Aaron Graham, RB Adrian Murell.

NOTABLE GAINS: C Mike Gruttadauria, C Dusty Ziegler.

THE LOWDOWN: The promise of Arizona's '98 playoff appearance has faded like the desert sun. The Cardinals disintegrated last year, in large part because the team does not have a new revenue-generating stadium and the money to keep key players. DE Simeon Rice was a preseason holdout,and the unit continues to regress. QB Jake Plummer is looking to rebound from a subpar '99. RBs Thomas Jones and Michael Pittman may provide a spark, but the offensive line remains a work in progress. WR Rob Moore is out for the year.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Only two of the last seven games are at home, and six games are against playoff teams.

27. CINCINNATI BENGALS

NOTABLE LOSSES: QB Jeff Blake, WR Carl Pickens, LB Tom Tumulty.

NOTABLE GAINS: DE Vaughn Booker, S Darryl Williams, WR Peter Warrick.

THE LOWDOWN: No franchise lost more NFL games than Cincinnati in the last decade, and it doesn't appear the new millennium will change the trend. There's talent, but it's all young and developing. Start with QB Akili Smith, Warrick and fellow WR Ron Dugans, who have to make up for the loss of Pickens and Darnay Scott, out for the year with a broken leg. Defensively, the Bengals made some additions with Williams and Booker, but it's still a unit that allowed a league-high 28.8 points a game.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Watch how the Bengals perform against division rivals. Cincy hasn't defeated Jacksonville, Tennessee or Baltimore in three years, and it faces all three by Week 6.

28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NOTABLE LOSSES: CB Ashley Ambrose, WR Andre Hastings, LB Kevin Mitchell.

NOTABLE GAINS: QB Jeff Blake, WR Joe Horn, WR Jake Reed, DT Norman Hand.

THE LOWDOWN: Offensively, the Saints have enough pieces in place to really do some damage. If Blake, Horn and Reed click and RB Ricky Williams can stay healthy, points won't be a problem. Defensively, New Orleans does not look as sharp. LB Charlie Clemons has never played in the middle, CB Alex Molden was largely viewed as a bust by former coach Mike Ditka, and S Darren Perry was slated to be a backup before Rob Kelly went down with an injury in the first preseason game. New coach Jim Haslett may be a year away from contending.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: If the defense can solidify, the Saints will make a quantum leap. The fifth-place schedule will help.

29. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: LB Carlos Emmons, G Brendan Stai, T Justin Strzelczyk.

NOTABLE GAINS: QB Kent Graham, G Rich Tylski, DT Kimo von Oelhofen.

THE LOWDOWN: The Steelers don't have a quarterback who can inspire confidence. Kordell Stewart's rise and fall remains one of the biggest enigmas in recent memory. Graham is a journeyman and, while he can look good for brief moments, he's yet to sustain a full season of success. Perhaps it's unfair to cast such gloom for the Steelers because they have some talent beyond quarterback, particularly at receiver and linebacker. But even Stewart will tell you, life isn't fair.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: For players to believe in coach Bill Cowher, he has to make the right call at quarterback. He reportedly will play both Graham and Stewart. The quarterback quandary may ruin Cowher's tenure in Pittsburgh.

30. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

NOTABLE LOSSES: QB Steve Young, LB Lee Woodall, DE Marvin Washington.

NOTABLE GAINS: LB Julian Peterson, CB Ahmed Plummer, CB Jason Webster.

THE LOWDOWN: Gone are the days when San Francisco would reload with the league's best free agents year after year. They finally got capped by the salary cap, and there's little hope for a winning season. San Francisco readily admits it's building for the future, especially after last year's defense finished 28th. QB Jeff Garcia may generate some excitement with the Niners' trio of receivers, but they're likely to get outscored early and often.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: San Francisco fans can search for hope in the development of their rookie class. Peterson, Plummer and Webster have shown promise, and fellow general managers are raving about the job Bill Walsh did last April.

31. CLEVELAND BROWNS

NOTABLE LOSSES: T Lomas Brown, CB Antonio Langham, CB Ryan McNeil.

NOTABLE GAINS: S Percy Elsworth, T Roman Oben, RB Errict Rhett, DE Orpheus Roye.

THE LOWDOWN: What's to like about Cleveland? The development of QB Tim Couch, the veteran offensive line and the potential of first-round pick DE Courtney Brown. What's not to like? A young receiving corps that needs time to improve, a running game without a breakaway threat and a linebacking corps that may struggle in pass coverage. Chemistry will be better because veteran malcontents have been cast off, but the Browns still need a few more upgrades and maturity.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on the schedule, the chances of doubling 1999's two victories is good. But the schedule also has it's downside, with the Browns twice having to play three consecutive road games.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright