Maybe its a sin to mention ESPN on a FoxSports blog, but there, I went and did it. Anyway, ESPN's first Power Rankings are out for the 2006 football season. Guess who's number one? Actually, I have little problem with the choice of Seattle as the pre-pre-season number one power ranking. After all, power rankings are a bunch of crap anyway, designed I think more to get people like me to write, rant and rave about them rather than to do anything of great importance. The Steelers are the number 2 team in their power rankings. That's not a slap in the face to the Steelers, in my opinion. Frankly, if you factor in the "chip on the shoulder" factor, then the Steelers should really be a mid-teen team - it's possible, maybe probable, that their attitude factor will be lost this year. After all, they did win the Super Bowl last year. And Seattle has reason for anger and that Washington-state size chip on their shoulder. ESPN's top ten are: 1. Seattle 2. Pittsburgh 3. Indianapolis 4. Denver 5. Carolina 6. New England 7. Dallas 8. Miami 9. Cincinnati 10. Washington I kind of agree with some of that. The Giants, Jags & Bears make up 11 through 13, and it's hard not to put them in the top 10. Frankly, I'm in some disbelief that Denver is ranked so highly. Yes, they return their core team from last year, but the Steelers exposed them at the end of the year. Are they really worthy of a #4 ranking? I would have placed them lower - still top 10 - you get the benefit of being in the top ten by making it to the AFCCG with the record they had - but #4? Indy at 3 is another "last-year" choice. I don't care what any Indy fan says, but I think that losing Edgerrin James is going to hurt Indy far more than they believe. If the Steelers and Chargers showed the NFL anything last year, its that getting to Peyton Manning is critical, and James was among the game's best blockers at running back for protecting the passer. Leaving Manning open to shots serious degrades his game. They'll win far more than they'll lose - their offense is just too good - but in critical games, the loss of James is going to impact this team. Two more surprises are Dallas and Miami cracking the top 10. ESPN has factored TO in their equation for Dallas. He, by himself, certainly upgrades their passing game instantly. Bill Parcells is such a strong-willed man - let alone coach - that he, by himself, may be able to put the necessary clamps onto TO and turn him into a true team player. If that does happen, Dallas will be a much better team. But if he can't do that - if TO can play his historical usual games - then Dallas plummets. Miami is a team on the rise in most people's eyes. First, they play in a relatively weak division, where the Jets are rebuilding and the Bills are simply floundering. Does Miami have enough horses to defeat New England? Hmmmm. But, they did it last year with a strong to great defense, and their offense got a giant upgrade when they imported Duante Culpepper. Knee injury or not, he's far and above their best quarterback on that team, and validates their inclusion in the top 10. Now, one team I'd personally put in the top 10 that isn't in there is Baltimore. Why? Simple - Steve McNair. Balitmore's offense was just awful last year without any real leadership from the QB position, but their defense kept them in nearly every single game they played. They still have Ed Reed and Ray Lewis at key positions on defense, and those two are still going to perfect at near the top possible levels. Now, having McNair - and two workhorse running backs - validates this offense. Look for Baltimore to slowly creep up all of the "power rankings" this year - I think they'll not only be a playoff team this year, but I think they could potentially get into the Super Bowl! That's it for now.