This post begins my look at the NFC, by division.
COWBOYS: Is QB Drew Bledsoe in danger of losing his starting job to Tony Romo? Apparently not. Bledsoe's lack of mobility has been well-chronicled, and Dallas' offensive line struggles notwithstanding, Coach Bill Parcells has said he wants Romo to get more reps in training camp and that nothing more should be read into his increased playing time. ... I don't want to ask the next one, because everyone is, but - how long will WR Terrell Owens last in Dallas? His injury-plagued training camp has only added fuel to this topic. When he's on, he's one of the three best receivers in the game (with Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison, in my opinion), when Owens is hurt and or sulking, he can spoil an entire orchard. Who will emerge at RB? Health problems have held Julius Jones back the past two seasons, and short-yardage back Marion Barber might surpass him as starter.
EAGLES: Can QB Donovan McNabb stay healthy? And who will he hand off to and pass to? Philadelphia better pray for the former because, even with the signing of Jeff Garcia to back up McNabb, the Eagles will be in real trouble if McNabb goes down again. RB Brian Westbrook's foot injury also complicates matters for the offense. For now Ryan Moats will start, but the team worked out Stephen Davis this week, the guess here is it will sign him sooner than later. Receivers will be some combination of Reggie Brown, Todd Pinkston, Jabar Gaffney, Hank Basket (yes, he's in the wrong sport) and Greg Lewis. Brown should be McNabb's No. 1 target. Pinkston is an injury question mark, and has only returned to practice this week.
GIANTS: Can RB Tiki Barber keep it up? Every year prognosticators say Barber is too small or getting too old (he's 31, when backs usually are in decline), and every season he produces more impressive numbers than the year before. It's unlikely he'll top the 1,860 yards rushing he had last season, but he's also a receiving threat, as his 530 receiving yards indicate, so he will have an impact. Can the defense catch up to the offense, or at least close the gap? The G-men had the fourth-most yards in the NFL last season, but allowed the 24th-most despite the presence of stud DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and MLB Antonio Pierce. New York's answer was to change three-fourth of its secondary, adding CBs Sam Madison, Jason Bell and RW McQuarters and S Will Demps, and sign OLB LaVar Arrington away from division foe Washington.
REDSKINS: How serious is RB Clinton Portis' shoulder injury? Trading for former Falcons sledgehammer TJ Duckett means it's either more serious than being let on, or Coach Joe Gibbs plans to run the football 45 times a game, which would defeat the purpose of two of the bigger offseason deals Washington made. Is QB Mark Brunell's job in jeopardy? Doubtful. Gibbs likes veteran QBs, and it's unlikely Jason Campbell is ready to take over. How much of a boost will offseason acquisitions Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El give to the passing game?
Next: The NFC South.
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