The WR formerly known as Chad Johnson?

As the election season is about to embark into full swing, it looks like Chad Johnson's doing his best to remind us of some of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Like the right to be called whatever ridiculous name you see fit.

According to a report from Miami radio station 790 The Ticket, the colorful Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has legally changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. Johnson's latest desperate attempt to call attention to himself actually has a dual purpose -- it will allow him to wear his self-appointed nickname on the back of his jersey without violating the NFL's Big Brother uniform policy.

Everybody knows this guy's not quite playing with a full deck, but you've still got to admit he knows how to entertain.

By the way, here's an interesting sidebar to yesterday's news of Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones' reinstatement by the NFL. According to The Dallas Morning News, Jones -- a noted aficionado of the strip-club scene, was eating lunch at a local Hooters when he received word that his year-long suspension would end.

No one ever said the road to recovery wasn't a long one.

Pacman's back

Looks like another one of Jerry Jones' gambles is about to pay off.

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to receive word from the NFL later this afternoon that suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones will be reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell for the 2008 regular season. The NFL has yet to make an official announcement as of now (2 p.m. EST), but a blog entry on the Cowboys' web site reported that the team has been informed of the decision.

While then a member of the Tennessee Titans, Pacman Jones sat out the entire 2007 campaign for repeated transgressions of the NFL's personal conduct policy, the most notable being an alleged involvement in a Las Vegas strip club shooting in February, 2007 that left a bouncer paralyzed. The Titans traded the talented but troubled former first-round pick to Dallas during this past April's draft in exchange for a fourth-round choice.

The standout corner/return man was allowed to participate in this year's preseason games and showed little rust from the layoff. He's expected to play a key role in nickel packages for a Dallas secondary that's shaping up as one of the deepest in the NFL, and should help the Cowboys immensely on punt returns as well. In his two eligible seasons with Tennessee, Jones took back four punts for touchdowns.

Assuming he continues to act on his best behavior, the soon-to-be 25-year-old stands a good chance of becoming the latest problem child to resurrect his career in Big D. The Cowboys brought in noted team-wrecker Terrell Owens during the 2006 offseason and have been rewarded with two straight outstanding seasons from the mercurial wide receiver, while ex-Chicago defensive tackle Tank Johnson was a steady contributor for the team last year after being signed shortly upon being cut loose by the Bears following a series of legal problems.

The old and new at QB

The once-cloudy pictures regarding the quarterback position in a host of NFL cities became a whole lot clearer following last weekend's third series of preseason games. Some of the battle winners were expected (Chad Pennington), some a surprise (J.T. O'Sullivan), some more or less insignificant in the overall grand scheme of things (Kyle Orton beating out Rex Grossman).

To me, two of the most intriguing of the recent starting signal-caller decisions involve a pair of players at completely opposite stages of their careers. The Atlanta Falcons will waste no time ushering in the Matt Ryan era, as first-year head coach Mike Smith announced on Sunday that the rookie first-round pick will start the team's September 7 regular-season opener against Detroit. In Arizona, it's looking more and more as if 37-year-old Kurt Warner will begin the year as the Cardinals' top gunslinger and expected franchise face Matt Leinart will be starting off his third professional campaign on the bench.

Although Cards head coach Ken Whisenhunt has denied the rumors, which were fueled by a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Sunday, but the writing is clearly on the wall for Leinart. The former Heisman Trophy winner may have sealed his fate with a pitiful 4-for-12, three-interception effort in Saturday's exhibition matchup against Oakland. Whisenhunt has yet to formally announce a starter for Week 1, but the fact that Leinart -- the clear-cut front-runner entering training camp -- has yet to sew up the job at this late stage speaks volumes about the coaching staff's waning confidence in the 25-year-old.

In my opinion, the Cardinals are making the right move here. Warner's got the stronger arm and an obvious better grasp of the offense, not to mention he outplayed Leinart last season. Sure, having the two-time league MVP under center prevents Leinart from progressing as a quarterback. However, Arizona is in a position to win now in a wide-open NFC West division that appears to lack a dominant team, and Warner presents the best chance of doing so in the present.

Atlanta, on the other hand, is in no such position. The talent-deficient Falcons aren't going to contend with the likes of Chris Redman and Joey Harrington at quarterback anyway, so why not get a jump-start on Ryan's development? The argument against throwing the untested rookie right into the fire is the potential long-term damage that losing and struggling can do to a young player's psyche, especially ones that never experienced failure during their college years (like Matt Leinart). With Ryan, I wouldn't worry. I was in Blacksburg, Virginia's Lane Stadium that memorable night last October, watching the then-Boston College quarterback engineer two late touchdown drives in the final 2 1/2 minutes to beat my beloved Hokies after enduring an endless array of bone-jarring hits over the course of the evening.

In other words, Ryan's no basket case like Harrington.

Breaking down the injuries

And we're back in business.

My apologies to those who may have scouring this blog over the last 10 days or so seeking some new information or insight. Tony and I and the rest of the NFL staff have been feverishly working over the past week on our in-depth season previews, which are now available for your viewing pleasure on our NFL page. Previews for the AFC North, South and West and the NFC East teams were posted on Monday, with the remainder of the divisions now available today.

As I'm sure you all already know, a lot has gone on around the league since our last entry. Injuries have been the most prevalent theme among the recent happenings, many of which will have lasting effects on a number of expected contenders. Here's a quick rundown on the current status of some of the star players who are hurting at the moment, and the possible impact their absences will have down the road.

Osi Umenyiora, Giants (knee): Ouch. There's little question that the Giants' improbable run to last year's Super Bowl victory wouldn't have been possible without the relentless pressure their defense placed on enemy quarterbacks throughout the season. With Michael Strahan retired (we think) and Umenyiora, who led the G-Men with 13 sacks en route to a Pro Bowl nod in 2007, done for the year after tearing his meniscus in Saturday's preseason battle with the Jets, New York's x-factor likely has been taken away. The Giants still have Justin Tuck at one end and will shift Mathias Kiwanuka from linebacker into Osi's right-side spot, so the cupboard certainly isn't bare. But depth along the line has now become a huge issue for Big Blue, which will be hard-pressed to duplicate last season's league-best 53-sack total.

Of course, a return to active duty by Strahan would help solve some of those woes. I initially poo-pooed this idea when it first became speculation, believing there's no way the future Hall of Famer would want to leave his forthcoming cushy studio job at Fox and sacrifice the ultimate desire of any athlete -- the chance to go out on top. But now it seems the possibility of a comeback by the Giants' all-time sack king is growing stronger by the minute. The New York Daily News reported on Monday that Strahan's agent confirmed that the Giants have expressed interest in bringing the soon-to-be 37-year-old back and that his client is considering the idea. New York will have to pony up to lure Strahan back into the wars, but there's also no pass-rusher of his caliber currently on the market.

Shawne Merriman, Chargers (knee): The All-Pro linebacker is in Miami today meeting with a fourth doctor regarding his damaged left knee, keeping his fingers that he'll receive a different diagnosis than that of the first three specialists that drew the same conclusion -- that Merriman should undergo season-ending surgery. The 24-year-old is determined to be a part of a Chargers season that has a legitimate shot of ending in a Super Bowl, even if it means jeopardizing his long-term health. It sounds like Merriman is going to try to put off the inevitable for as long as he can, but I give him zero chance of making it through the year without missing any time.

In the meantime, the Chargers are prepping intriguing second-year pro Jyles Tucker for an extended role in 2008. The undrafted free agent showed plenty of promise in spot duty last year, including a three-sack, two forced fumble performance in the regular-season finale against the Raiders. The organization has shown its faith in Tucker by rewarding him with a five-year extension on Monday. He's no Merriman, but San Diego looks to have enough talent to get by if its best defensive player is forced to sit out the season.

Chad Johnson, Bengals (shoulder): Ocho Cinco says he'll be able to play through a partially-torn labrum in his left shoulder, but there are plenty of indicators that the Bengals are greatly concerned of whether the attention-starved wideout will be able to hold up. Warning sign No. 1 was the team's re-signing of problem child Chris Henry last week, just four months after president Mike Brown steadfastly swore that talented but troubled receiver would never don the tiger stripes ever again. Then came Monday's ESPN report that Cincinnati is shopping running back Rudi Johnson with the hope of obtaining a wide receiver in return. Good luck with that one. I doubt teams will be lining up for a player in obvious decline, hasn't been healthy during training camp and is a good bet to be released this weekend with the preseason re-emergence of Chris Perry as a contributor to the Bengals' backfield mix.

Peyton Manning, Colts (knee): Manning's status for the September 7 regular-season opener against Chicago appeared to be in question following Indianapolis' star quarterback's summer surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his knee, but those fears are beginning to be alleviated. The Colts activated the two-time league MVP from the active/physically able to perform list on Tuesday, and Manning is expected to begin practicing for the first time since the procedure today. That should leave him plenty of time to get ready for Week 1. Remember, Manning hasn't missed a game since joining the NFL in 1998, having started 160 consecutive contests.

Tom Brady, Patriots (foot): Come on. Brady's been listed on the Pats' injury report with a right shoulder problem three years running, and all he's done during that time is throw for nearly 12,500 yards and 100 touchdowns. New England had Randy Moss sit out practices for virtually all of last year's camp with an alleged hamstring problem, and we all remember how that worked out. The master of the cloak-and-dagger, Bill Belichick, is likely taking the same approach with Brady's mysterious foot injury. He won't need much practice time to take apart the Chiefs in Week 1.

Vikings encountering rough seas

There's one every summer.

I'm referring to the one or two NFL teams that the public latches onto prior to the start of every season and touts as an emerging Super Bowl contender, usually because of exceeded expectations the previous year and/or an impressive harvesting of talent during the offseason. The Minnesota Vikings are the ones wearing that badge in 2008, with the Cleveland Browns this year's chic pick among the AFC crop.

If early preseason events are any indication, the Vikes could be headed towards the same dreaded fate of the 2006 Carolina Panthers or last year's New Orleans Saints, two other buzz teams that failed to live up to their touted billing. Minnesota is enduring a remarkable run of bad luck over the past week, with a rash of injuries befalling Brad Childress' squad to add to the recent rumors of a lengthy suspension forthcoming for valued offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie.

Minnesota's string of misfortune began in last Friday's exhibition opener, when linebacker Heath Farwell and defensive end Jayme Mitchell each suffered season-ending knee injuries in the game against Seattle. The news got worse on Tuesday, when the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that starting free safety Madieu Williams could miss up to six weeks with a neck problem.

Williams was signed away from Cincinnati in February to upgrade a secondary that was statistically one of the NFL's worst in 2007, and his possible unavailability for the first couple of regular-season games immediately throws untested rookie Tyrell Johnson into the frying pan. Because they're reserves, the losses of Farwell and Mitchell don't seem too significant at first glance. But Farwell ranks among the top echelon of special-teams performers in the league, while Mitchell's absence further weakens the depth at an already-thin position for the Vikings. Kenechi Udeze, last season's starter at left end, is recovering from leukemia and also done for the year and pass-rush specialist Brian Robison will sit out most of the preseason after recently undergoing minor leg surgery.

Word broke Thursday that McKinnie, who's had multiple brushes with the law since entering the league in 2002, will be suspended the first four regular-season games for an arrest at a Miami nightclub in February, although the NFL has yet to confirm the report. If that penalty is indeed accurate, the Vikings will be without the massive left tackle for arguably the toughest portion of their schedule. Minnesota opens the campaign with matchups against Green Bay, Indianapolis, Carolina and Tennessee.

For the record, that's a trio of 2007 playoff participants and three of the premier pass-rushing right ends (Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Kyle Vanden Bosch) in the game. Looks like Adrian Peterson will be bracing for a very heavy workload come September.

At least the Vikings don't have to worry about facing Brett Favre twice a year anymore.

O'Sullivan era to begin in San Fran?

A leader in the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback battle appears to be emerging, and it's not Alex Smith. Or Shaun Hill.

Neither the former No. 1 overall pick nor the guy who filled in quite capably for an injured Smith late last season has emerged as the early preseason front-runner to run Mike Martz's intricate offense. Right now that distinction belongs to J.T. O'Sullivan, a quintessential journeyman with 26 career pass attempts over the course of his nomadic six-year professional career.

A report from Matt Maiocco from our friends at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on Tuesday stated Niners head coach Mike Nolan confirmed O'Sullivan's No. 1 status during an interview on a local radio show. The 28-year-old had been receiving the lion's share of snaps with the first-team offense over the past couple of weeks and started Friday's exhibition opener against the Raiders.

O'Sullivan, who's been on the active roster or in camp with nine teams since entering the league in 2002, didn't exactly distinguish himself in Friday's game, going 5-of-8 for 71 yards and an interception and producing zero points over four offensive series. Smith completed 5-of-9 throws for just 51 yards with the second unit.

O'Sullivan's primary advantage in the competition is his familiarity with Martz's system, not to mention the obvious faith the offensive guru has in the well-traveled quarterback. He spent last season as Jon Kitna's primary backup in Detroit, where Martz previously served as offensive coordinator.

Hill seems to be virtually eliminated from the race, as Maiocco pointed out earlier in the week that the one-time contender hasn't received any practice reps since August 6.

Here's a peek at the early returns at some of the other heated QB camp battles:

Miami: Looks like recently-signed Chad Pennington is the present and Chad Henne is the future. The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero noted on Tuesday that Pennington took 33 of the team's 58 practice snaps in Tuesday's session, with the rookie Henne getting the remainder of the reps. The Dolphins aren't going to keep four quarterbacks on the roster, so either vet Josh McCown or 2007 second-rounder John Beck are going to be somewhere else come September. Beck played a lot in Saturday's preseason game, which lends me to believe the team is showcasing him for a hopeful trade.

You're all probably aware of this by now, but Miami's Week 1 opponent is none other than Pennington's former club, the New York Jets.

Atlanta: Matt Ryan made a strong case to be the Falcons' opening-week starter with a highly-impressive NFL debut over the weekend. The ballyhooed and well-paid rookie hit on 9-of-15 attempts for 113 yards in Saturday's 20-17 loss to Jacksonville, and directed an 11-play, 74-drive that he culminated with a 25-yard touchdown strike to standout receiver Roddy White. That showing has got to be music to the ears of Arthur Blank and the rest of the Falcons' brass that are desperately seeking a new franchise face and image makeover in the wake of last year's Michael Vick saga.

Ryan's status for Atlanta's regular-season opener may hinge on the performance of a shaky offensive line that yielded five sacks to the Jaguars on Saturday. The Falcons aren't about to send their $72 million investment out on the field in a real game without assurances the front wall isn't at least reasonably sound.

Baltimore: Former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith began camp with the inside track on the Week 1 starting job, but the more experienced Kyle Boller seems to be closing the gap. Boller received the opening nod in Thursday's game with New England and was reasonably sharp, while Smith was an erratic 5-for-12 for 74 yards. Boller played most of the first half and completed 11-of-15 passes for 102 yards, but also had two turnovers (one interception, one fumble). Rookie Joe Flacco, the team's first-round selection back in April, is running way behind the top two.

Smith will get a chance to redeem himself this weekend, as head coach John Harbaugh announced after the New England game that the second-year pro will start this Saturday's test with Minnesota.

Chicago: No clear-cut favorite has yet to emerge in the Kyle Orton-Rex Grossman showdown. Orton got the start in Thursday's preseason lid-lifter against Kansas City and was a decent 7-of-10 for 56 yards. Grossman made good on only 4-of-8 throws for 44 yards but did toss a touchdown pass, although it was a dump-off that reserve running back Garrett Wolfe took 25 yards to paydirt.

Grossman will get his crack with the ones when he starts at Seattle this coming Saturday.

Lastly, I'll follow the lead of my compatriots and offer my take on Springsteen's top five albums. As an '80's child, there's arguably a bit of bias from that era on my part, but hey, beauty's in the eye of the beholder.

1. Nebraska -- An understated masterpiece. I like my coffee black and my music dark, and the haunting title track and "State Trooper" are two of the spookiest pieces in the Springsteen catalog. "Atlantic City" and "Highway Patrolman" make my list of all-time favs as well.
2. Darkness on the Edge of Town -- The predecessor of The Boss' melancholy trilogy, this one's so good that some of the unused songs ("Because the Night", "Fire") were turned into big hits by other artists.
3. Born to Run - The definitive Springsteen album, a perfect blend of fist-pumping anthems and somber tales of defeat.
4. Born In the U.S.A. -- Some may dismiss it as a pop album. I tend to view it more as Nebraska with catchier hooks and a lot more sheen.
5. The River -- The title track alone puts this in my top five. Would be higher, but I think there's a little too much filler.

At the half...it's Bruce!

OK, we're a little late with this one, but we had to chime in on the published rumor (unconfirmed by the league) that Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band have been selected as the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.

As a major Springsteen fan, I'm way more pumped about this than, say, Saturday's preseason matchup between the Cardinals and Chiefs.

So in honor of this thrilling revelation, here are boxing editor (and contributing NFL Editor) Lyle Fitzsimmons' top five Springsteen albums (comments by Lyle).

1. Greetings from Asbury Park -- "Lost in the Flood" might be the greatest song no one knows.
2. Born to Run -- "Born to Run," meanwhile, is the greatest song everyone knows.
3. The Rising -- More than any other wannabe patriot or lyricist, he got it right after 9/11.
4. Born in the USA -- Just a great, fun rock album... period. Even if Reagan didn't get the title track.
5. Tunnel of Love -- If you're 20 and hear it, you say, "ho hum." If you're 35, you say, "damn, this guy's good."

now, here are mine...

1. Darkness On the Edge of Town - Not sure which I like better, the darkness or the cynicism.
2. The River - The first disc of this two-disc set contains anthem after anthem.
3. Tunnel of Love - More darkness, more cynicism.
4. Nebraska - The first song is about a serial killer, after that it gets gloomy.
5. Greetings from Asbury Park - The classic debut. I'm guessing they won't do "For You" in Tampa.

Early prediction on the Super Bowl setlist, "Born to Run," "Glory Days," "Hungry Heart," "Dancing In the Dark."...in no particular order.

Preseason Week 1...Yawn (Mostly)

Not that Week 1 of the NFL preseason is usually chock full of interesting storylines, but this one was a yawner even by those ground-scraping standards. After the Brett Favre saga of the preceding month, I guess a return to some semblance of normality (I hate the word normalcy) was inevitable. And yes, I know the potentially most interesting game is to come, the Packers/Bengals tilt at Lambeau Field on Monday.

But until then...

The most notable injury of the week came to Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch, who will be out an estimated 4-6 weeks with a broken collarbone. Pittsburgh signed Byron Leftwich to take his place on Sunday, and if Leftwich plays well and picks up the offense, don't count on Batch being a Steeler much longer. Otherwise, not a lot of headline-grabbing stuff. Here are some one-line synopses.

Lions 13, Giants 10 - Giants QB David Carr (10-of-13, 104 yards, 1 TD) looked decent, for a change.

Jets 24, Browns 20 - Fourth-round Jets draft pick Dwight Lowery helped his case for a roster spot by intercepting a pass and also returning a punt 62 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Ravens 16, Patriots 15 - Kyle Boller (11-of-15, 102 yards) passed it better than Troy Smith (5-of-12, 74 yards) and Joe Flacco (0-for-3, 0 yards), but Boller also committed two turnovers.

Cardinals 24, Saints 10 - Matt Leinart (7-of-8, 91 yards) and Drew Brees (6-of-7, 40 yards, 1 TD) both looked sharp, but Kurt Warner didn't play for some reason.

Chiefs 24, Bears 20 - Neither Kyle Orton (7-of-10, 56 yards) nor Rex Grossman (4-of-8, 44 yards, 1 TD) was horrible for the Bears.

Steelers 16, Eagles 10 - Rashard Mendenhall (7 carries, 34 yards) and Willie Parker (3 carries, 20 yards) both ran it a little for Pittsburgh.

Seahawks 34, Vikings 17 - The Vikings defense looked sort of clueless, giving up 17 points in the first quarter before the Seahawks went to backups.

Raiders 18, 49ers 6 - None of the 49ers quarterbacks - J.T. O'Sullivan (5-of-8, 73 yards), Alex Smith (5-of-9, 51 yards), or Shaun Hill (10-of-20, 83 yards, 1 INT) - led a touchdown drive.

Redskins 17, Bills 14 - Rookie wideout James Hardy (Indiana) made immediate headlines (the good kind) for Buffalo, catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from J.P. Losman.

Panthers 23, Colts 20 (OT) - Carolina fans must be groaning after Jake Delhomme was just 0-for-1 passing on a pair of series.

Jaguars 20, Falcons 17 - Matt Ryan was a solid 9-of-15 for 113 yards and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White in his first appearance as a Falcon.

Buccaneers 17, Dolphins 6 - Ricky Williams (5 carries, 31 yards) and Ronnie Brown (3 carries, 4 yards) both played for Miami.

Texans 19, Broncos 16 - Denver's two most notable running backs - Selvin Young (4 carries, 3 yards) and Michael Pittman (5 carries, 13 yards) - had forgettable nights.

Titans 34, Rams 13 - Titans 1st-round rookie Chris Johnson scored on an electrifying 66-yard touchdown run.

Chargers 31, Cowboys 17 - With LaDainian Tomlinson again sitting out the preseason, Chargers rookie Jacob Hester (LSU) carried 13 times for 49 yards and scored two touchdowns.

What to watch for: Thursday

Lost in the shock and awe emanating from the Brett Favre trade are the five preseason openers on tonight's docket. Here's a brief synopsis of each:

New Orleans at Arizona: I mentioned this game first only because it's the lone nationally-televised one of tonight's crop. In reality, this is one of the least significant matchups of the preseason's first week. Neither team has much in the way of position battles, and both will be sitting any key player who's even remotely less than 100 percent. Those tuning in to see Jeremy Shockey's debut as a Saint will be disappointed -- the brash tight end is sitting out as he recovers from last December's broken leg.

Don't expect to see Shockey double-fisting in a University of Phoenix Stadium luxury box this time around, either.

Baltimore at New England, Kansas City at Chicago: Both of these tilts will provide the initial backdrop for two key training-camp quarterback competitions. New Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced on Tuesday that Kyle Boller will start against the Patriots, although most insiders view that decision as one based solely on seniority. Former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith is considered Baltimore's front-runner to start Week 1 and can cement that status with a good showing tonight. First-round pick Joe Flacco should also see extensive action, but he's running behind in the race at this stage.

In Chicago, Kyle Orton will get the first crack with the starting unit in his bid to wrest the starting job away from the much-maligned Rex Grossman, although both combatants are expected to receive an equal number of snaps against the Chiefs. If neither impresses on Thursday, it would be no surprise if the Bears set their sights on the newly-released Chad Pennington.

The Chiefs, a team that could conceivably be even worse than last year's four-win disaster, will not have either of their two first-round draft choices, offensive tackle Branden Albert (foot) and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (knee), available.

New York Jets at Cleveland: This one clearly lost some of its luster with the Jets' acquisition of Favre, which put an end to the looming battle between Pennington and third-year pro Kellen Clemens before it really even began. There's no QB controversy in Cleveland either, no matter what the Brady Quinn fanatics would like us all to believe. The Golden Dome-backers should get plenty of chances to see their hero under center tonight.

New York Giants at Detroit: There's little preseason intrigue regarding the defending Super Bowl champs now that Shockey has been jettisoned out of town and Michael Strahan's taken his act to the television studios. Fantasy enthusiasts may want to pay close attention to the Lions' offensive backfield over the coming weeks, though. Former Broncos retread Tatum Bell currently tops the team's depth chart at running back but figures to be pushed hard by rookie Kevin Smith, Detroit's third-round pick back in April who enjoyed a prolific career at Central Florida.

So...what'd I miss?

Had to go out of town for a couple of days, and had a feeling that the second I bolted my front door the Brett Favre situation would finally come to a head. And it did. Murphy's Law.

Late Wednesday night, the Packers dealt Favre to the Jets for a conditional 2009 Draft pick. The worst pick Green Bay will have is a fourth-rounder, the team will receive a third-rounder if Favre plays more than 50 percent of the Jets' snaps in 2008, a second-rounder if he plays more than 70 percent of the snaps and New York makes the playoffs, and a first-rounder if he takes 80 percent of the snaps and the Jets win the Super Bowl. Let's remember that that would be the final pick of the first round.

Also, it has been reported that the Packers will get three first-round picks from the Jets if they turn around and trade Favre to a team in the NFC North. Crafty move there.

On the flip side, the Jets will get either a fifth-, sixth-, or seventh-round 2010 pick from the Packers if Favre plays just one year with the Jets then retires.

The collateral damage here was that the Jets were forced to part ways with Chad Pennington, who replaces Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich as the free agent quarterback of primary interest around the league. Pennington lacks arm strength and is somewhat fragile from an injury standpoint, but the fact that he's smart and you can win with him make him attractive. Look for the QB-hungry Dolphins and Bears to show the most interest. Look for the Vikings and Bucs to stay away, since Pennington would be viewed by their fan bases as a consolation prize following the very public courtship of Favre on the part of both organizations.

So, how do I think Favre will fare with the Jets? My guess is that he'll be good, not great, and certainly better than Pennington or Kellen Clemens would have been. I'll make the comparison to Steve McNair in his first year with the Ravens. McNair, too, had played for one organization for his entire career and was thrown into the fire late after a June 8th trade. McNair's knowledge of Baltimore's playbook was limited, and though he didn't put up huge numbers, he was a tremendous leader and pulled out several games late in a 13-3 campaign for the Ravens. I expect Favre to have the same type of impact.

Does Favre make the Jets a playoff team? I think he does, but I thought an improved Jets club was going to win 9-10 games and be on the cusp of the postseason even without him. Does he make them a 12-13 win team that can challenge New England at the top of the division? I think not, but he will give Jets fans plenty of hope every time he takes the field. And that has to be worth something.

What's next for Pennington?

As I'm sure you all know by now, Brett Favre is officially a Jet, which means that Chad Pennington probably soon won't be.

Before I speculate on where Pennington may soon be landing, here's the particulars on the Packers-Jets trade, as reported by the NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Green Bay will receive a conditional fourth-round draft choice in 2009 that will turn into a third if Favre participates in 50 percent of the Jets' plays this upcoming season. If the 38-year-old is involved in 70 percent of the plays and New York makes the playoffs, the Packers will get a second-round pick. And if the Jets somehow reach the Super Bowl and Favre takes 80 percent of the snaps, Green Bay gets next year's first-rounder from New York.

It's a relatively low-cost move for the Jets, who could potentially have an extra second-round selection next year as a result of the Jonathan Vilma trade to New Orleans. It's also a pretty clear signal that the team has serious reservations about third-year pro Kellen Clemens as its quarterback of the future. At the very least, having Favre around for a year or (maybe) two should help convince a few fans to dole out their life savings for the exorbitant PSL's the franchise will soon be charging to pay for its new stadium.

The deal certainly carries greater risk for Green Bay considering the unproven commodity that is Aaron Rodgers, but at least it gets Favre out of the NFC and more importantly -- out of the hands of the Minnesota Vikings.

It's widely believed that Pennington, who when healthy had served as the Jets' regular signal-caller from 2002 until being supplanted by Clements midway through last season, will receive his release -- perhaps as soon as this afternoon. The heady 32-year-old will surely be looking for an opportunity to start, although I'm not sure many teams will be craving an injury-prone guy with questionable arm strength who hasn't been the same player since undergoing two major shoulder surgeries a few years back.

The team probably most linked as Pennington's next destination is Kansas City, where Pennington would be reunited with former head coach Herm Edwards. The Chiefs could use an established vet to compete with youngsters Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen, but keep in mind that KC is committed to a full-scale youth movement and still views Croyle as one of the centerpieces of those long-range plans.

Miami has been mentioned as a possible suitor as well, probably because Bill Parcells drafted Pennington while the Jets' GM back in 2000. The Dolphins do have some QB concerns, but I don't see that as a real good fit. Parcells likes his quarterbacks big and strong (i.e. Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde), and by all accounts Josh McCown has been pretty solid during camp as the caretaker until the Fish deem Chad Henne ready for action.

Here's an interesting thought: How about Chad Pennington as a New England Patriot?

Obviously, Pennington would have to swallow his pride as a backup in this scenario, but he's a far better insurance policy for Tom Brady than current understudies Matt Cassel and Matt Gutierrez. Plus he's got a strong connection with Randy Moss, Pennington's former teammate at Marshall who remains a good friend of the quarterback.

Finally, there's the revenge factor. It's hard to envision a better way for Pennington to stick it to his former employer than possibly winning a championship with his ex-club's most hated rival.

UPDATE (4 P.M. EST): The Jets have officially released Pennington to make room for Favre on the 80-man camp roster.

Jets back in Favre mix?

Buccaneers fans may want to hold off on ordering those No. 4 pewter jerseys for a little while.

Reports now indicate that the New York Jets have re-emerged as a candidate in the Brett Favre sweepstakes. A blog entry in this morning's Green Bay Post-Gazette stated that the Jets and Bucs are now engaged in a "bidding war" for the future Hall of Fame quarterback's services, and that New York has offered Packers GM Ted Thompson the best offer among the two suitors.

As I wrote earlier, the Tampa Tribune had previously stated this morning that a trade between the Packers and Buccaneers was likely and could be completed as soon as today.

Sending Favre to the Jets would make a whole lot more sense for Green Bay, both from a strategic and emotional standpoint. As an AFC team, the Jets wouldn't be in direct competition with the Pack for a playoff spot and they're also not on Green Bay's 2008 schedule. Tampa Bay hosts the Packers in Week 4.

It was initially believed that Favre did not want to play for the Jets, but a recent story in The Sporting News quoted the King's agent, Bus Cook, as saying his client would be open to a trade to either New York or Tampa.

Of course, Favre still has the right to change his mind. We're all well aware of that.

Favre finally jumping ship?

It appears the Packers are getting closer to trading Brett Favre, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to be the likely suitors.

The Tampa Tribune reported early Wednesday morning that a long-anticipated swap between the Packers and Bucs involving Favre will soon become a reality, and that the deal could be finalized as early as sometime today.

We'll have further details as events unfold.

What a weekend

Although there's still a month to go before the 2008 NFL season kicks off, there's been plenty of news coming out of camps to whet fans' appetites over the past few days. For those who spent their weekend getting away from it all, here's just some of what you may have missed:

First there was Friday's well-documented skirmish between Carolina Panthers teammates Steve Smith and Ken Lucas and the subsequent team-issued two-game suspension levied to Smith for instigating the fracas. As Tony previously mentioned, the Panthers' hard-line stance and harsh edict caught just about all of us observers off guard. I wouldn't expect any lasting repercussions from the incident, however, and don't count on Carolina getting rid of its most dynamic offensive player as a result. Sure, Smith's volatile personality can be a drain on his coaches and teammates, but the wideout's production and playmaking ability far outweigh whatever headaches he may cause.

Saturday was Hall of Fame day, with former Washington Redskin greats Darrell Green and Art Monk headlining the six new entrants into pro football's shrine of immortality. Neither the ceremony nor Sunday's preseason opener between the Redskins and Indianapolis Colts had much to offer the TV viewer, although Jason Campbell's brief performance under center did make an impression on me. The fourth-year quarterback looked sharp and comfortable running the new offense installed by Washington head coach Jim Zorn, which has some similarities to the system Campbell excelled in as a collegian at Auburn. If the Redskins are going to be a factor in the heavy-duty NFC East, they're going to need a big year out of their young signal-caller.

By the way, the 'Skins released safety Stuart Schweigert on Monday, one day after the former Raiders starter was toasted for a long touchdown by Colts' fourth-string receiver Onrea Jones in the Hall of Fame Game. If anything, the move lends some support to my hunch that Washington will take a hard look at the recently-released John Lynch relatively soon.

The Green Bay Packers managed to solve one lingering problem over the weekend, as the club came to terms with holdout running back Ryan Grant on a four-year contract extension. Of course, this bit of info was overshadowed by Sunday's arrival of a certain veteran quarterback to Packers camp.

As for the Favre saga, there are at least two things that are finally beginning to come clear. One is the likelihood that the franchise icon will not be playing football for the Green Bay Packers come September. Don't believe the reports of the forthcoming "open competition" between Favre and the star-crossed Aaron Rodgers during camp -- if the Pack had any real desire of having No. 4 back as their starting quarterback, they would have welcomed him into the fold weeks ago.

What's also becoming evident is that the Packers have backed themselves into a no-win situation from a PR standpoint. The organization took a major hit with the revelation of the reported $20 million dollar offer it gave Favre to remain retired, and the inevitable ridding of one of the most idolized players in team history clearly is not going to sit well with Green Bay's ultra-loyal fan base. Now if Favre does indeed wind up on another team this fall and stinks up the joint like he did in 2005, or if Rodgers shines in his long-awaited opportunity and leads the Pack on a deep playoff run, GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy will have at least some measure of vindication in the public eye.

All I know is, with each passing day in this never-ending soap opera, the odds grow stronger that the Waffle King will eventually get what he really wants out of this scenario -- the chance to further his bloated legacy by humiliating his soon-to-be former employers on the playing field in an enemy uniform.

As Exhibitions Go...

Anyone catch that game last night?

If not, the final was Redskins 30, Colts 16. It was mildly entertaining at times, which is really all you can ask of the preseason. No Peyton Manning or Jason Taylor, though Taylor was at least available for an interview with Adam Schefter on the sideline.

Sixth-round rookie Colt Brennan (9-of-10 passing, 123 yards, 2 TD) played extremely well for the Redskins, and before you denounce his numbers for coming against third-stringers, you should note that the Colts' Jared Lorenzen (12-of-21 passing, 93 yards, 1 INT) fared much worse against similar competition. Based on that performance, don't expect Lorenzen to be a Colt very long.

Not sure what this means, but the Redskins are now 5-0 in the Hall of Fame Game. They also won the event in 1965, 1975, 1989, and 2004. They made the playoffs in none of those previous seasons, but finished with winning records in '75 (8-6) and '89 (10-6).

Don't Count on Me Being Right

So, how'd that Steve Smith prediction work out for you, Moss?

Hours after I predicted Smith wouldn't miss any meaningful time after his scrap with teammate Ken Lucas, much of the world began reporting that the Panthers have suspended Smith for two regular season games.

I'm extremely surprised, to say the least, based on how similar incidents in the past have been handled by teams (see previous post).

But I have a feeling I know why this one is being viewed differently. The Bill Romanowski and Michael Westbrook incidents occurred during the reign of commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who looked the other way on many matters of law and order around his domain. Roger Goodell has taken a tougher stance, and the Panthers may have feared the league's involvement if the team didn't take a pre-emptive measure such as this one. It's possible that the NFL would have come up with a penalty greater than two games.

There is also the matter of Ken Lucas being a respected veteran player, not a nobody like Marcus Williams. The Panthers organization might have feared a divided locker room if Smith was allowed to walk away from this incident unscathed.

Saturday's move will be billed as sending a message to Smith and the rest of the team about bad behavior, but I believe it had much more to do with pacifying the league and the locker room than anything else.

Don't Count on the Panthers Suspending Smith

One day after his reported rumble with teammate Ken Lucas came to light, it is being reported that the Panthers are mulling over whether to suspend Steve Smith. Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. The Panthers might make some toothless gesture like suspending the perennial Pro Bowler for a preseason game, but there's little chance he'll miss anything meaningful.

The most prominent NFL teammate fights in recent memory (Bill Romanowski vs. Marcus Williams, Michael Westbrook vs. Stephen Davis) did not elicit suspensions. Laughably, Romanowski was suspended for one quarter of a preseason game (Williams, whose orbital bone was fractured in the fracas, later sued him), while Westbrook was fined $50,000 but missed no time.

And of course, the elephant in the room is that, other than arguably Jake Delhomme, there's not a player Carolina can ill-afford to lose more at this point than Smith. The Panthers won't admit that's a factor, but common sense says that it is.

Ready for some football?

Although it's tough to label Sunday's Hall of Fame Game between the Colts and Redskins under the category of NFL football, considering the majority of the participants of the league's annual preseason lid-lifter will either likely be searching for real jobs in a month or soon living out the dream of scout-team duty. And with the new 80-man camp roster limitations making coaches even less reluctant to risk injuries to starters, those tuning in this weekend can expect to get a heavy dose of the likes of Jared Lorenzen (pardon the pun), Marcus Mason (that's Washington's fourth-string running back) and Byron Westbrook (that's Brian's little bro, a reserve cornerback/return man for the Skins).

Two guys you won't be seeing on Sunday are Colts quarterback and franchise icon Peyton Manning and Washington's recent big-ticket acquisition, defensive end/Hollywood wanna-be Jason Taylor. Manning's working his way back from recent knee surgery, while Taylor is one of several Redskins regulars who aren't expected to suit up for the contest.

Both of Indy's top two defenders, safety Bob Sanders and end Dwight Freeney, also won't play as they both mend from offseason surgery. Two other starters, middle linebacker Gary Brackett (hip) and guard Ryan Lilja (knee), are also nicked up and will sit this one out. Longtime wideout Marvin Harrison, who's reportedly showed no signs of the nagging knee problems that wrecked his 2007 campaign, is planning to run out with the Colts' first-team offense for the unit's designated one-to-two series.

Running back Clinton Portis (rest), offensive tackle Chris Samuels (elbow), linebacker London Fletcher (rest) and safety LaRon Landry (hamstring) are among a truckload of Redskin vets that won't be in action. Washington has been hit as hard as any team by the injury bug during the early stages of camp.

I was hoping to tune in and see how highly-touted rookie receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas fare in Jim Zorn's newly-installed West Coast offense, but both Washington youngsters will also miss the game because of injured hamstrings.

Should be a very-pro Washington crowd in Canton, as the Burgundy and Gold faithful will no doubt be flocking to witness the enshrinement of legendary former Skins Darrell Green and Art Monk into the Hall on Saturday.

You can check out Tony Moss' preview of Sunday's tilt here.

Prediction: Favre Will Say No to Packers' Blood Money

If you think the Brett Favre saga is nearing a resolution, you're nuts. Either that, or I am (hopefully my wife doesn't feel compelled to leave a comment here).

It is now being widely reported that the Packers have essentially offered Favre $20 million cash and a lifelong front office role with the team if he agrees to remain retired.

If Green Bay ever had any illusions of winning the P.R. battle in this situation, they're pretty much gone for good. Favre just got a belt-high, 82-mile-per hour fastball, and all he has to do is take a normal swing to hit the game-winning grand slam. (Don't you love sports metaphors that describe sports-related situations?)

Now, all Favre needs to do is leave the $20 million on the table ($20 million he doesn't really need, by the way), and he'll forever be the conquering hero who's just in it for the love of the game. I would be completely and utterly shocked if he takes the money and runs, understanding full well that he'll tarnish his legacy with such a move.

No matter how much Favre claims to be considering the offer, this latest development makes it look to me like he is only closer to becoming a Minnesota Viking, not further away.