The 2006-2207 football season is just around the corner and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh might both go 13-3 year. That is 13 arrests and three convictions! Actually, in the AFC I see larry Johnson of the K.C. Chiefs running for 2,000 yards and leading them to a championship. Herman Edwards is a defensive coach and rumors out of K.C. are tht the offense is having trouble scoring on the defense for the first time in years. Herm is also running their butts off and they will for the first time in years be in football shape. A little known fact is that the Chiefs were respectable for most of the season last year on defense and ranked 13th on the Aikman efficiency rankings. If you haven't heard about this, check it out;as the bogus yards only measurement for ranking is absurd.  The Chiefs are also 20-0 at home in December which can't hurt. For sure the Colts, Bengals and Patriots will be in the thick of it;but I see some new teams arriving this season. The Cleveland Browns will be a force to be reckoned with. With the addition of Charles LeBentley, two year pro-bowler, to open up holes for Droughns, the return of Kellen Winslow at tight end, the return of Braylon Edwards at wide out and the acquisition of Joe Jurevicius at receiver from the Seahawks, will really help second year quarterback Charlie Frye. Then on defense they got Willie McGinest from New England and Ted Washington to plug the middle. They actually played well last year on defense even though their personnel didn't match the new 3-4. This team should give the fans in the dog-pound something to cheer about. I look for them to actually take the lead in a very tough AFC North this year; because of early loses for Pittsburgh and Cincy. With Steve McNair quarterbacking in Baltimore and an improved Cincy team on defense, this could be the toughest division in football, rivaling the NFC East. I also look for Jacksonville and Miami to make a run for their respective division titles. The Jags 12-4, last year, are due and no team of recent history has won four consecutive dvision titles; a chore the Colts are trying to achieve this year.

In the NFC I see the Chicago Bears as a probable to have home field throughout the playoffs. They have the easiest schedule by far of the top contenders and with the addition of Brian Griese as a back-up to a healthy Rex Grossman and the first five draft picks on defense,this team is loaded for bear. Their defense, through 12 games last season had the highest ranking in history and then Mike Brown went down.This unit could set records this year and the offense will score more points. You've got to like the Seattle Seahawks on paper; but time will tell if they can break the jinx of recent super bowl losers. And for the record Pittsburgh will not be back to the big dance or even close. I think the Dallas Cowboys will take their travelling circus, featuring head clown Terrell Owens, around the league and be a dominant force. I really like that they ran a two tight end offense about 40% of the time last year and with all pro Whitten back plus Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasaon, they plan to create a lot of problems on mismatches in the passing game. They should be able to isolate a big tight end on a shorter corner or on a linebacker and that's not to mention teams can't double cover Terry Glenn this year. One unnamed AFC coach was asked how to stop this and he he just said, "I'm glad we don't have to face them until a possible super bowl match-up." In addition to the passing power, it will make teams play seven in the box and open up a tremendous season for Julius Jones and Marion Barber. The biggest hurdle besides Owens the Cowboys have to overcome is their schedule of tough dvision games, facing the tough NFC South and Indy and Jacksonville. This two tight end set up was good for the Chiefs last season and they didn't have an Owens on the outside.

In college ball, I am not a Notre Dame fan, so when I say watch out here they come, they are coming. With Brady Quinn settled in at quarterback. watch for second year coach Charlie Weiss to make a bid for number one. Ohio State should be right there too and they play Texas early without Vince Young. It was a close win last year for Texas but I think they will need more balance to pee on the big dawgs this year. I see Cal replacing USC at the top of the Pack 10 and big seasons for Michigan, Auburn, West Virginia and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers gave notice last year by whipping Michigan in a bowl game and even S.I. has them tabbed for 16th in their early top 25. If they can take out USC, without Leinhert and Bush, in their game three this year, look out--the Huskers are back. ala Paul Newman!