Purple People Eaters Look to Take a Wide-Open Division in Transition

With the start of NFL training camps, Between the Uprights will bring you a team-by-team breakdown of all 32 clubs vying for the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. We will start with the NFC East and work our way around the league.

The NFC North will be a very different looking division from only a year ago when the Green Bay Packers led the way with a 13-3 record. The 2007 Minnesota Vikings may have finished second at .500, but added the league’s sack leader and hope that quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will take the next step and lead the team to the playoffs, which they have missed since 200.

A strong backfield will go a long way in making that a reality, and adding wide receiver Bernard Berrian will make their offense well-rounded. On the other side of the ball, the Williamses and Jared Allen form a formidable group, which may be able to dominate the division. (more…)

Big Blue Looks to Avoid Super Bowl Hangover

With the start of NFL training camps, Between the Uprights will bring you a team-by-team breakdown of all 32 clubs vying for the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. We will start with the NFC East and work our way around the league.

This time, they won’t be able to sneak up on anyone. The Patriots are still shaking their heads that the Giants were able to defeat them in Super Bowl XLII. No one saw that coming, even the Giants themselves.

The team did fine in the post-Tiki Barber era, and will have to become acclimated with losing another steady veteran with the retirement of Michael Strahan. Both may have been controversial, but brought it to the field every Sunday. Strahan will be more difficult to replace than Barber was.

Eli Manning won the respect that he longed for, and may have gained the confidence to put him in the upper echelons of NFL quarterbacks. The offense will be similar to last year’s, the only major difference being tight end Jeremy Shockey’s absence. With the team surviving the stretch run with rookie Kevin Boss, general manager Jerry Reese felt comfortable moving the Pro Bowler to New Orleans in exchange for draft choices. (more…)

While Trade was a No-Brainer, Let’s Not Anoint Him Broadway Just Yet

You can’t go home again. That old saying rang true when Brett Favre had the door to Green Bay slammed in his face. The same place where he used to walk on water – and the Frozen Tundra – at first tried to be subtle in telling the grizzled veteran quarterback that they were all better off if he stayed away. But Favre wouldn’t accept that and forced a trade, one that even he called “unique” and surprising.

Perhaps the most unlikely of suitors were the Jets, and that’s exactly how this thing played out. When Favre was introduced during a hurried press conference in Cleveland, he, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and team owner Woody Johnson all appeared as if they stayed at the biggest party of the summer too late – exhausted, but glad that they did it.

“Did I ever think that this scenario would present itself?” Favre asked himself. “No.” That may be attributed to the fact that the legendary signal-caller would have preferred staying a Packer or being dealt within the NFC North. Neither was in the cards, so he finds himself in New York…er, New Jersey. (more…)

America’s Team Should Expect More Games from Pacman

With the start of NFL training camps, Between the Uprights will bring you a team-by-team breakdown of all 32 clubs vying for the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. We will start with the NFC East and work our way around the league.

Coming off a 13-3 season and a division championship, the Dallas Cowboys spent the offseason wondering what could have been following a tough playoff loss in Big D versus the eventual-Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The tears from T.O. may become a familiar sight with the addition of Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, the much-maligned cornerback late of the Tennessee Titans, who was reinstated by the league following a one-year suspension.

Is he talented? No question, but his off-the-field problems outweigh any good he may do between the white lines. With T.O and ‘don’t call me Pacman’ Jones around, it may be a race to see who could cause more commotion once the hugs and kisses and non-pressure of the preseason ceases. (more…)

Pre-Season Kicks Off Tonight with Hall of Fame Game on NBC Following Inductions Ceremony on Saturday

It has been a long stretch since the Pro Bowl back in February. Even for those lucky enough that have the opportunity to watch replayed games on the NFL Network. Once the games get going again - even something as menial as the NFL Pre-Season, there seems to be a little more juice flowing.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game begins the exhibition season each year, and tonight on NBC, the Indianapolis Colts will face off against the Washington Redskins, who have already shined in Canton, Ohio during HOF Weekend. On Saturday, Darrell Green and Art Monk were among the six inducted into the hallowed halls, and the two former Redskin players stole the show. Emmitt Thomas, a former Washington coach and player with Kansas City, Fred Dean, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman rounded out the rest. (more…)

Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson today announced that the team will return to Long Island on an annual basis during training camp.

“Long Island and Long Island fans are a part of our DNA,” said Johnson. “We want to ensure that the bond remains as strong as it is today. That’s why I am proud to announce our plans to return each year for at least one practice during training camp.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Jets training at Hofstra. The team’s headquarters will move to the state-of-the-art Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ in early September.

The New York Jets have placed DB Artrell Hawkins on the Reserve/Retired List.

Hawkins (5-10/195/Cincinnati/Johnstown, PA), in his nine-year career, appeared in 122 games and recorded 482 tackles (415 solo), 11 interceptions, 70 passes defensed and six fumble recoveries. He was originally selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. After six seasons with the Bengals, he had stints with both the Carolina Panthers (2004) and the New England Patriots (2005-06). He had signed as a free agent with the Jets, Feb.19, 2008.