great thread suggestion :^)1) carson palmer doesn't skip a beat, looks like a three year veteran and plays more like chad pennington(with a rifle arm) than joey harrington, actually improves on kitna's totals from last season with a stronger and more accurate arm, avails himself of one of the best WR trios in the NFL(chad johnson is the man, leading all afc receivers in yards & TD's), becomes a viable QB1 in 12 team leagues, and coupled with a stouter more experienced defense in marvin lewis' scheme, helps lead the Bengals to their first playoff appearance since a left handed QB from maryland was playing the pivot.2) bill parcells is vindicated this season for forgoing steven jackson to scoop up an extra first rounder in the losman trade, as thomas jones little brother rushes for 1,200+ yards, 40+ receptions for another 400+ yards & 8+ TD's... after marshall faulk retires after the 2005 season, jackson emerges as a star power/speed back hybrid for the rams, a faster, niftier ricky williams, and with his complete, well rounded game(blocks & catches willingly & ably) & hard charging running style, subsequently causes jerry jones & parcell's to secretly regret failing to make jackson a cowboy.3) moss plays through his plantar fascitis, and only sees a slight dip in production... instead of averaging the mind boggling 100 yards & 1 TD per game, he finishes with 1,400+ yards & 12+ TD's... that mostly due to the vikings getting back to their league-leading rushing attack(michael bennett gets 1,300+ yards), and culpepper being afforded a more diversified array of receiving weapons(headed by marcus robinson, and o. smith/mewelde moore could be terrific 3'rd down RB weapons)... i agree with funk that this is the year vikes get over the hump(added some nice pieces to the defensive puzzle getting strongest tackling CB in the league via free agency, and future superstar DE kenechi udeze and physical specimen LB dontarrius thomas, to achieve a semblance of team balance), & represent the nfc in the super bowl.* BONUS - boldin proves last year was not a fluke, & despite concerns that fitzgerald will vulture receptions, yards & TD's, he finishes as a top 10 WR, with about 10 less receptions and 100 less yards... but fitzgeralds presence helps deflect attention away from boldin & make it harder for teams to double team him... the outstanding duo(make that trio if bryant johnson's improved intensity & play is as good as advertised) & improved blocking from an O-Line denny green has put the fear of god into, and mccown weathers a rough initial few games, the cards actually sustain far more drives, ari jumps all the way from near 30 in scoring to between 10 & 15... and boldin ends up actually increasing his TD output, to 12+, finishing second among nfc WR's in that stat behind moss. fitzgerald doesn't quite replicate boldin's surreal production of last year for a rookie WR(he is really a sophomore whereas boldin was a junior)... in large part because boldin didn't have to play across from boldin last year(& won't any time soon until cloning is legalized :^), but flashes enough natural talent & WR ability to demonstrate he is also a big time, ascendant player... he finishes with the rare rookie WR feat of cracking the 1,000 yard plateau, about 80 receptions, and his great hops & his freakishly acrobatic/contortionist mid-air skills allow him to get in the end zone 9+ times. the cards don't have enough juice to overtake the rams & seahawks, and are still a year away, as they are a few defensive players & a RB away from a realistic playoff push.
lid!mine:1-Jamal Lewis in fact LEADS the league in rushing--again2-Josh McCown...top 10, and ahead of Vick3-Either AZ or Det gets to the playoffs
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