NFL Week 2

It's been said that some of the best football of the season is played early on, before injuries begin to take their toll.

So what do we know after Week 1, during which numerous underdogs pulled off road upsets? The NFL is as wide open as ever. However, don't get too excited yet because talent is the great equalizer, which is why I believe things will even out.

SORTING OUT THE EASTS:
We should get a much better idea of how two divisions will sort out this weekend. The "Easts" feature two intradivisional games apiece. ...
In the NFC, either Dallas or Washington will be 0-2 after Sunday night's matchup. The Redskins are coming off a tough home loss to the Vikings on Monday and have to travel after the short week. Not good news for injured RB Clinton Portis. The Cowboys' were undone by QB Drew Bledsoe's three interecptions and a surprisingly pourous defense at inopportune moments at Jacksonville. ... Meanwhile, the Giants, who had plenty of chances to beat the Colts on Sunday night but didn't travel to play Philadelphia, the only team in the division to win in Week 1. The Eagles' acquisition of WR Donte Stallworth and the return to health of RB Brian Westbrook give QB Donovan McNabb the weapons he needs.
In the AFC, the Patriots visit the Jets in a battle of teams that won in Week 1. New England's passing game struggled last week, and then it traded its top receiver (holdout Deion Branch) to Seattle this week. New York showed plenty of life under new coach, and former Patriots assistant, Eric Mangini. It will be interesting to see if Mangini's presence forces Pats coach Bill Belichick to change any of his game plan. ... Farther south, Buffalo visits Miami, the one team in the division that didn't win last week. The Bills' defense is reeling without S Troy VIncent (out for the season) and LB Takeo Spikes (doubtful to play). The Dolphins had no problem passing the ball against the Steelers in Week 1, but they rushed for less than 40 yards.

DRAWING A BLANK
The last time three teams were shut out on the same Sunday occurred in Week 3 of the 1991 season. How will last week's pointless ones fare? The Packers play host to the Saints, and I can't see Brett Favre and Co. laying a goose egg two weeks in a row, particularly if Ahman Green rushes for more than 100 yards again. I also don't envision a Jon Gruden-coached Bucs team pulling off that (de)feat two weeks in a row, particularly when this week's foe - Atlanta - might be without both of its starting defensive ends. That leaves the Raiders, who face a Ravens team that seems reborn with Steve McNair at QB and a healthy Ray Lewis at LB. The Raiders, who were held to 129 yards - total - by the Chargers on Monday might gain even less against Baltimore. The Ravens shut out the Bucs last week.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Pittsburgh (1-0) at Jacksonville (1-0). Two punishing defenses. Two run-oriented offenses. Two hard-nose coaches. Two super-sized QBs who show flashes of brilliance one week and are inconsistent the next. This Monday night affair won't be pretty, but I'll give Jacksonville the nod because I think it will run the ball better.

GAME OF THE WEAK
CLEVELAND (0-1) at Cincinnati (1-0): The Bengals, particularly Rudi Johnson, have run wild against the Browns during the past two seasons. Now it seems Cincinnati has improved its defense, holding the Chiefs' Larry Johnson to less than 70 yards in Week 1 and sacking KC quarterbacks seven times. This battle of Ohio shouldn't be a lot different. The Bengals will win by a bunch.

So what's the deal?

The deal is: I've been busy! More to come on the NFL this week, including Games of the Week, Games of the Weak and some trivia.

For now, a quick rewind of this past weekend's games (counting Thursday as part of the weekend).

FUNNIEST THING I SAW: Uber-intense Steelers LB Joey Porter doing the "Culpepper Roll" after sacking the Dolphins' Daunte Culpepper, then making a kicking motion.

NOW I DON'T FEEL SO BAD: I felt awful about the Bears shutting out the Packers, then I realized it could be worse after Monday night. I could be a Raiders fan.

WEEK 1 AFC SURPRISES: How good the Ravens looked (very) and how bad the Broncos looked.

WEEK 1 NFC SURPRISES: The Seahawks and Lions combine for 15 points. The Eagles were the only East Division team to win a game.

OH BROTHER: The Manning Matchup (otherwise known as the Colts at the Giants) lived up to the hype.

NFL news and reviews

News: The Raiders sign QB Jeff George, who has not thrown a pass in the NFL in five years.
Reviews: I guess Darryl Lamonica and Ken Stabler weren't available. ... Oakland, which acquired Aaron Brooks in the offseason and has promising Andrew Walter waiting in the wings, apparently isn't comfortable enough with either. That can be the only explanation because this is a head scratcher. On the flip side, many are whispering the Raiders' offense under new/old coach Art Shell is archaic, so maybe George won't have much to catch up on by going back to Oakland.

News: Kerry Collins, late of the Raiders, signs with the Titans, who spent a high No. 1 on QB Vince Young after getting rid of Steve McNair and have strong-armed Billy Volek starting now.
Reviews: It's not like this is going to be a contending team, where a veteran QB might mean the difference between a title or not ... or even making the playoffs or not.

News: Saints deal WR Donte Stallworth to Eagles for a reserve linebacker and mid-round draft pick.
Reviews: Either a brilliant deal for Philadelphia, which gets a young, talented receiver for Donovan McNabb, and a salary dump by New Orleans, which likely would not have re-signed Stallworth after this season. Or the Saints are right and Stallworth isn't worth what he will ask for.

News: Owner Jerry Jones demands to know who leaked information to the media that Terrell Owens was fined for being late to a meeting and rehabilitation session Friday.
Reviews: Jones and Coach Bill Parcells also want to know who leaked word of the war in Iraq. This is football, entertainment. While it's also big business, Jones' reaction speaks volumes about how overly serious the NFL takes itself.

News: Owens practices for the first time in 10 days. Cowboys players whispering Parcells has been more lenient with Owens than others.
Reviews: Parcells says those who have played for him know what he's doing. It's the other five billion of us on earth who wonder why he puts up with Owens.

NFC South key questions

If the NFC East is regarded as the best division in the conference, this might be a close second. As many as three teams have playoff potential, and two could go deep in the playoffs.

ATLANTA: Can Michael Vick establish himself into more of a passer and less of a run-first, ask-questions-later QB? Only two NFC starting QBs had worse completion percentages than his 55 percent, and his running leaves him open to big hits (and injuries). Will the addition of DE John Abraham spark the pass rush, and by extension, create more opportunities for turnovers? Was last season an aberration, or are the Falcons on a downward trend under Coach Jim Mora?

CAROLINA: Can DT Kris Jenkins avoid injury and return the pocket-collapsing presence the defense has missed during his absence due to injuries the past two seasons? Can RB DeShaun Foster remain healthy for an entire season? If he doesn't, who steps in: rookie DeAngelo Williams? Massive Eric Shelton? Nick Goings? Will WR Keyshawn Johnson be a factor or a distraction?

NEW ORLEANS: What impact will rookie RB Reggie Bush have on the field? Is RB Deuce McAllister fully healthy after tearing his ACL early last season? How much of an upgrade is QB Drew Brees over Aaron Brooks? His contract implies a lot, but Brees is coming off shoulder surgery, which scared the Chargers off from giving him big money. How much will the Saints miss C LaCharles Bentley, who signed with Cleveland (and got hurt during camp) and DE Darren Howard?

TAMPA BAY: Will the Bucs' aging stars on defense (DE Simeon Rice, LBs Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, and CBs Rhonde Barber and Brian Kelly) continue to play at a high level? All are 30 or older. How will QB Chris Simms adapt to being "the man"? He took over for Brian Griese after an injury last season. Will RB Cadillac Williams be the workhorse back Coach Jon Gruden wants or will he wear down as he did during parts of the 2005 season?

Next: The NFC North

Taking a look at baseball's top rookies in the AL

Recently, I had a chance to correspond with a major-league scout who offered his take on what is shaping up to be one of the better rookie classes in American League history. Excerpts of his comments appear below.

"How crazy is the AL rookie-of-the-year race? There are probably 4 or 5 guys who could win it hands down in any other
season, but this could get really tight. ...
"The biggest names have to be (Boston pitcher Jonathan) Papelbon, (Detroit pitcher Justin) Verlander, (Anaheim pitcher Jered) Weaver and (Minnesota pitcher Francisco) Liriano. All incredible impact players already, and with the exception of Liriano (because of his injury) each of them would have probably been a lock in a different year. ...
"There's a handful of guys who probably won't get much if any notice and are great players. Jon Lester has become a key to Boston's success and has put together good numbers in his first season. ... (Catcher) Kenji Johjima in Seattle - granted the age thing plays into it - but that didn't stop Ichiro, and he's had a solid year and would be one of the top guys most of the time. ... (Pitcher Joel) Zumaya will be overshadowed by his teammate in Detroit, but his 103 mph fastball has been outstanding and a major piece of the best bullpen in baseball. ... (Infielder Howie) Kendrick out there will finish the year with solid numbers in my opinion, and the people of Orange County will likely become big Howie fans before long. ... (Second baseman Ian) Kinsler in Texas is another rookie putting together a solid offensive season for a competitive team - leads AL rookies in batting average. Just behind him is (left fielder Nick) Markakis in Baltimore who started off really slow so he
hasn't gotten as much publicity, but he was the hottest hitter in baseball in the month of July - not hottest rookie, but hottest
player overall. ... Which goes right along with back-to-back shutouts from Jeremy Sowers in Cleveland - still to be determined how he finishes, but could be a decent year if he continues the way he's pitched lately. ... And (outfielder Melky) Cabrera in New York has stepped in and done a solid job for them in his first year as well.

"I can't remember the last time there were 12 legitimate candidates for rookie of the year in a league where
there's only 14 teams. And I might be leaving some guys out."