Jonathan Stewart’s January surgery was designed to remove a bone spur pressing into his Achilles tendon while also alleviating bursitis and tendonitis by shaving away excess calcium deposits and cleaning out his bursa sacs. Stewart originally thought he’d be limited to six games last season before requiring surgery, but his high pain threshold allowed him to get through the season. Though he had hoped to be cleared for OTAs, Stewart won’t begin running until June. The Carolina Panthers still expect to have him ready for training camp, but he could be limited early on — just as he’s been for the first two seasons of his career.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

New York: Free agent K Neil Rackers will visit with the Jets on Tuesday. Rackers reportedly turned down a $2 million-per-year offer from the Arizona Cardinals, and he doesn’t figure to do better with a Jets team that wanted Jay Feely to take a paycut. The Jets apparently aren’t ready to turn the job over to Nick Folk after all.

Philadelphia: Responding to a report that the Washington Redskins inquired about Donovan McNabb, the Washington Post says the team’s interest was “much earlier in the process.” Though Jay Glazer offhandedly “tweeted” the information, he did add that the Redskins’ interest was “more than just mild … they even talked players.” Mike Shanahan’s vote is reportedly “the only one that really counts” at Redskins Park right now, and he’s not believed to be seriously interested in McNabb. Glazer also reiterated that the Eagles have received offers from Buffalo and Oakland, but Andy Reid isn’t willing to banish McNabb to either team.

St. Louis: The player rep for Marc Bulger revealed that “there are a few teams waiting” for the quarterback to get released this offseason. Scheduled to receive $8.5 million, Bulger is as good as gone if the St. Louis Rams select Sam Bradford. GM Billy Devaney would trade him if he could, but no team is going to take him on at that salary. The Bears (with Mike Martz), Panthers, and Bills make the most sense as potential landing spots.

Baltimore: Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron expressed confidence that Oniel Cousins has “starter ability” at right tackle. “If Oniel Cousins winds up being the starter, we are playing with a starter,” said Cameron. “We’re not playing with a backup.” The team’s confidence in Cousins helps explain their apparent willingness to part with Jared Gaither for the right price. Cousins held his own in two games last season before LaMarr Woodley devastated him in a third game.

Rams GM Billy Devaney shot down reports that his club might acquire Donovan McNabb Wednesday, calling the rumors “absolutely false.” “Nothing to it,” another high-ranking Rams official informed Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Rams Post-Dispatch. “It’s utterly ridiculous,” Devaney added.

“I haven’t talked to Philadelphia about any of their players.” “They may have a trade offer, but not from us,” yet a third Rams source said. “Why would we trade for McNabb and then go watch (Sam) Bradford throw on Monday?” Expect McNabb to get traded on or around draft week.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Pittsburg: KDKA 2 in Pittsburgh reports that the woman accusing Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault has declined to be re-interviewed by police. Police already lack key physical evidence (Big Ben’s DNA), and now have an uncooperative key witness.

The woman skipped one previously scheduled interview. “Bottom line is, no cooperative victim under these circumstances, probably no crime,” said Robert Del Greco, an unbiased Pittsburgh defensive attorney. No charges would probably also mean no NFL suspension.

Carolina:  Panthers coach John Fox confirmed that the team has no interest in trading Jonathan Stewart or DeAngelo Williams. There were some rumors that Williams would be available thanks to Stewart’s breakout down the stretch in 2009, but they were quickly shot down.

Stewart is coming off another Achilles’ surgery and the Carolina Panthers need two elite backs anyway to implement their smash mouth style

Washington: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was noncommittal when asked Wednesday if Jason Campbell will be the team’s starting QB in 2010. “There’s competition at every position,” Shanahan said. “Rex Grossman was with Kyle [Shanahan] in Houston, he understands the system.

We’re going to…have all these guys compete.” Campbell should win a camp battle with Grossman handily, but any true competition would limit his offseason reps

Jacksonville: Free agent Torry Holt indicated Wednesday that he’s receiving little interest on the open market. Holt claims he spoke to a few teams recently, but he’s still in wait-and-see mode at this time. The 34-year-old also reiterated his desire to play for Mike Martz in Chicago, but the Bears aren’t showing strong interest in him.

Holt probably needs at least another year of solid production to solidify a spot in the Hall of Fame. Things may pick up for him after the draft.

2010 NFL Draft: Opinions of Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour’s passing were reportedly “mixed” after he threw for evaluators at his Pro Day. LeFevour didn’t throw to moving targets in Indianapolis, so he needed a big day to motivate his draft stock. However, LeFevour “struggled throwing the ball downfield,” which isn’t surprising considering his lack of ideal arm strength.

Receivers reportedly had to slow down their routes frequently to haul in his throws, with some “out-running LeFevour’s deep passes altogether.”

Cardinals signed OLB Joey Porter to a three-year contract. With Porter opposite Clark Haggans, the Arizona Cardinals now look like the Steelers West, 2005 version, at outside linebacker. Porter’s nine sacks last year seem good enough on paper, but he only had 11 QB hurries all season and turns 33 next week. He offers some leadership, but the Cards shouldn’t let Porter get in the way of promising young pass rushers Will Davis and Cody Brown.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Tennessee: Eagles failed to match Tennessee’s one-year, $1 million offer sheet for free agent DE Jason Babin, making Babin a Titan. The Tennessee Titans need defensive ends, but Babin managed just five QB pressures and 2.5 sacks off the bench in Philadelphia last season. The 30-year-old isn’t suddenly going to turn into an every-down player. He’ll be a situational pass rusher, rotating with speedy Jacob Ford and trusty Dave Ball.

Carolina: DeAngelo Williams says he is happy and thankful that the Carolina Panthers will keep him in a timeshare with Jonathan Stewart going forward. “The front office and coaching staff are single-handedly prolonging my career and (Jonathan Stewart’s) career. Thirty is like the new 50 in the NFL, especially when it comes to tailbacks,” said Williams, who turns 27 next month. “We’re each about 220 or 230 carries a year. I’d rather have that than 300-plus carries a year. It’s going to be close to a 50-50 split no matter want.”

Miami: A league source has informed Profootballtalk.com that Ricky Williams intends to continue playing beyond 2010. Williams doesn’t have a contract for 2011 and turns 33 in a couple of months, but he’s still playing at a very high level. He’s also in a whole lot of debt, and needs money. Williams, in a contract year, is due $4.35M in 2010.

2010 NFL Draft: Indiana (PA) CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah ran the forty-yard dash in 4.33 and 4.41 at his Pro Day workout. At 6’1/207, Owusu-Ansah has Raiders measurables. Also an interception machine in the D-IAA ranks, he has production to match. Owusu-Ansah is a legit second-round prospect, and it wouldn’t surprise if he went in the top 50.

2010 NFL Draft: NFL Network’s Mike Mayock predicts that Florida DE Carlos Dunlap will not be drafted in the first round. “His problem is he has a lot of average tape,” Mayock says. “I don’t see him going in the first round due to his lack of consistency.” Dunlap is a physical freak at 6’6/277 with 4.6 speed, but the depth of this talent-rich draft figures to work against him. He may be the biggest boom-or-bust player this year.

Free Agency: Free agent Pacman Jones did work out for NFL teams on Friday, after all. New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter James Varney was in the wrong spot when he reported that Pacman was a no-show. “He’s running the 40 right now and just did an interview with the camera crew we have there,” according to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. Only five teams showed up to Pacman’s workout.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi, the Cardinals’ asking price for Anquan Boldin is a third-round pick. While Boldin is going on 30 and would likely require a pricey multi-year commitment, Arizona’s demands appear to be plenty reasonable. Fellow trade candidate Brandon Marshall is roughly four years younger, but presents far more knucklehead factor, would ask for more money, and costs a first-round pick. The Arizona Cardinals will find plenty of suitors if Lombardi’s report is true.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Cleveland: The Browns are reportedly involved in trade talks for quarterbacks with “more than one team.” “It appears the Browns have concluded they are more apt to upgrade the quarterback position through trade rather than free agency,” according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The paper doesn’t have details, but hints that Brady Quinn could be part of an outgoing deal. The Cleveland Browns have been linked to Kevin Kolb, Matt Hasselbeck, and Donovan McNabb since season’s end.

Carolina: The Panthers have assigned a first- and third-round tender to restricted free agent Matt Moore. He’ll make over $3 million in 2010. While the move seems obvious from the Panthers’ standpoint, it’s also an acknowledgement from Carolina Panthers that Moore at least might be the team’s quarterback of the future. Moore has certainly shown enough promise to be a league average starter someday, particularly when play-caller Jeff Davidson has let him get aggressive. Moore has very sound pocket presence, an adequate arm, and underrated athleticism. He’s sure to beat out Jake Delhomme in any training camp competition.

Chicago: The Chicago Sun Times disputes multiple reports that Greg Olsen is on the trading block. Initial reports, via NBC Chicago and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, linked Olsen to the Patriots and Cardinals. The fits are odd on paper, though, because neither of those teams uses tight ends often in the passing game, and Olsen isn’t a blocker.

Indianapolis: Peyton Manning underwent surgery to relieve pain from a pinched nerve in his neck Tuesday in Chicago. The Indianapolis Colts call the surgery minor, but anything neck-, much less Manning-related is a big story. The team issued a statement saying he’ll be ready for offseason workouts, though it’s still a situation to monitor.

Denver: The Broncos have assigned first-round restricted free agent tenders to Brandon Marshall and Kyle Orton. Orton won’t get much interest, but as ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out, Denver has essentially extended an “invitation” for teams (mostly at the back end of the draft) to sign Marshall to an offer sheet. Should the Broncos not match, they’d receive that team’s first-round pick as compensation. The club is clearly willing to move on without Marshall by opting against giving him the first- and third-round tender. The Ravens should have immediate interest, and we wouldn’t rule out the Cowboys, Patriots, or Bengals making a move.

Philadelphia: According to Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post, the Philadelphia Eagles will not trade Michael Vick unless they get a second-round pick in return. Lombardi’s stance has softened since predicting early last month that the Eagles no longer planned to trade Vick. Now, he says Philly knows it could get a third-round compensatory pick in 2011 should Vick stay on the roster this year, and sign elsewhere next offseason. We still have a hard time believing any third-string QB is worth Vick’s $5.25 million scheduled pay.

Cowboys beat writer Todd Archer says there is “zero truth” to the Tashard Choice-for-Antonio Cromartie trade rumors. The rumor began from a post on Chargers OLB Shaun Phillips’ Twitter page, but was later taken down. The deal would only make sense for the San Diego Chargers, who need a lead tailback and are shopping their underachieving corner.

Choice is seemingly “stuck” as a third-stringer, but the Cowboys need him with Marion Barber apparently breaking down. They are also not in immediate need of a defensive back that can’t tackle. The rumors may persist because of Wade Phillips’ San Diego ties to Cromartie, but look for the Dallas Cowboys to shop Barber first, if any of their backs truly go on the trade block.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

San Diego: Chargers beat reporter Kevin Acee predicts that the Chargers will wait until March 4 to release LaDainian Tomlinson. Acee admits the transaction may happen sooner, but GM A.J. Smith has been known to wait as long as possible in this type of situation. The NFL will also be buzzing with transactions and restricted free agent tendering at the time, decreasing the bad publicity San Diego gets for cutting its longtime MVP.

Tennessee: Beat reporter Gary Eastwick doesn’t see Chris Johnson getting as many snaps in 2010 as he did in 2009. Johnson was on the field for virtually every offensive snap in 2009 as LenDale White and Javon Ringer became innocent bystanders. The Tennessee Titans have already hinted that they want to preserve Johnson even though he’s missed just one game in two seasons.

Arizona: Two people in contact with the Dolphins could “envision” the team offering a draft pick for Anquan Boldin, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The pick would be a third-rounder or later. Jackson is a columnist — not a reporter — but this is the second time in a week we’ve heard substantial rumors about Boldin and the Dolphins. Boldin is big and as tough as they come, fitting VP of football operations Bill Parcells’ profile, and would fill a glaring need as a play-making No. 1 receiver for Chad Henne. Jackson adds that the Dolphins aren’t interested in Brandon Marshall.

Carolina: During a radio interview, Julius Peppers said he doesn’t want a long-term extension from the Carolina Panthers. Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt says “it’s becoming more and more clear that Peppers isn’t going to be here next year.” Peppers is upset that the Panthers are giving him and his agent the “silent treatment.” Gantt suggests that the Panthers should put the franchise tag on Peppers with designs on trading him. The Eagles, Patriots and Falcons are rumored as possible landing spots.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Colts RE Dwight Freeney has a torn ligament in his injured right ankle. The injury “will make it difficult for him to play” in Super Bowl XLIV, according to Schefter. This confirms a Profootballtalk report that Freeney’s injury is more serious than the team has let on. Missing Freeney, even if it’s for just a few less snaps than usual, would be detrimental to Indy’s Super Bowl chances. Freeney, however, is widely known for his high threshold of pain.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Philadelphia: Sources tell ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli that the Bills will indeed consider Michael Vick for their starting quarterback job. This confirms beat writer Allen Wilson’s speculation earlier this week. New coach Chan Gailey likes mobile quarterbacks and the Bills can’t enter 2010 with Trent Edwards as their starter. The Buffalo Bills would likely only have to give up a conditional sixth- or seventh-round pick to land Vick.

Philadelphia: A high-ranking Eagles official told ESPN.com that “the odds are pretty good [that] [Donovan McNabb] isn’t going anywhere.” We tend to agree, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles aren’t listening to offers. If someone blows them away with a solid veteran on defense and a first-round pick, they’d be hard-pressed to reject a trade. The Philadelphia Eagles front office will deny they are shopping McNabb for many reasons, including their quarterback’s fragile ego. Kevin Kolb continues to wait patiently for his era to begin.

Minnesota: Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie has been dismissed from the NFC Pro Bowl squad after going AWOL late in the week. McKinnie has shown up for only one meeting and even missed the team picture.

Carolina: Julius Peppers said he “doesn’t have a preference” about where he plays next season. “I’m just trying to get on a team right now,” Peppers said. “I just want to get a contract.” Peppers’ fate for 2010 is still very much up in the air. The Carolina Panthers could pay an absurd $20.1 million to put the franchise tag on Peppers again, do a long-term deal or let him walk without any compensation. Just about every team in the league would jump at the opportunity to sign Peppers.

New England: Pro Bowl LG Logan Mankins, who is set to become a restricted free agent, isn’t concerned about his contract situation. Mankins wants an extension, but appears to be resigned to his fate. As a RFA, the New England Patriots will hold all the cards on the excellent run blocker and can bring him back on a one-year deal worth around $3M.

2010 NFL Draft: Michigan DE Brandon Graham was named MVP of the Senior Bowl Saturday.
Graham dominated practices all week, and he was the most disruptive player in the game Saturday as well. He finished with two sacks and a forced fumble. Graham is a tad short at 6’1, but he’s drawn comparisons to fellow Michigan product LaMarr Woodley as a pass rusher.

The Cardinals are still alive for the No. 2 seed in the NFC following Chicago’s Monday night upset of Minnesota and most likely will decide to play all starters in Week 17 after all.

While it’s still a long shot for coach Ken Whisenhunt’s team, the Cards now have something to play for. In addition to beating the Pack, the Cards need the Vikings to lose at home to the Giants in Week 17 and the Dallas Cowboys to beat the Eagles. They’ll know which approach to take early, as the Vikings play at 1ET and Arizona hosts Green Bay at 4:15ET.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson is believed to be the first player in NFL history selected for the Pro Bowl as both a position player and a kick returner. Miles Austin and Sidney Rice are the reserve receivers in the NFC, with Jackson and Larry Fitzgerald as the starters. Percy Harvin had a very strong argument as the kick returner, but it’s hard to quibble with the most explosive player in football this season.

Carolina: Panthers DE Julius Peppers has been elected to the NFC Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.
Peppers will earn a $1.5 million bonus, bringing his 2009 salary to $18.2 million. The Carolina Panthers defense has been on fire over the past six weeks, with Peppers leading the way. He’s up to 10.5 sacks on the season, with five forced fumbles.

Minnesota: Vikings CB Antoine Winfield admitted that he suffered a setback with his foot injury against the Bengals in Week 14. Winfield has been really bad in two straight games and it culminated with Devin Aromashodu burning him for the game-winning touchdown on Monday Night Football. Winfield clearly isn’t 100 percent. The Minnesota Vikings should consider shutting him back down until the playoffs.

Oakland: Raiders QB Charlie Frye will start for the Raiders against the Ravens Sunday. As expected, Frye gets the nod over J.P Losman and JaMarcus Russell. He threw for 333 yards last week, but was picked off three times and the Raiders didn’t score any touchdowns. Frye is not a long-term solution for the Raiders.

Oakland: RB Justin Fargas had his knee drained on Monday and is now questionable for week 17 against the Ravens.

Indianapolis: Colts WR Pierre Garcon has been ruled out for week 17 with a hand injury. Expect Hank Baskett to fill in for him.

Cincinnati: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has said that the results of the early games could have an impact on how much time the starts play on Sunday night. The Bengals would have a shot at the 3 seed if the Patriots lose to the Texans.

Kansas City: The Kansas City Chiefs have made it a goal to get RB Jamaal Charles to 1,000 rushing yards. He will need 139 to do it, so expect him to see alot of carries early and often. Since Larry Johnson was released, only Chris Johnson has more rushing yards.

According to Profootballtalk.com, the Giants have “no desire” to release or trade DE Osi Umenyiora after this season. The franchise reportedly believes Umenyiora’s comments following Sunday’s loss, which indicated he doesn’t expect to be back in New York next year, are simply Umenyiora latest attempt to get a new contract and/or he has been frustrated by the teams play. After missing all of 2008 due to knee surgery, Umenyiora’s rush numbers are way down and he’s been exposed by the run. Even if he returns to the New York Giants or signs with another team, Umenyiora has been exposed as a situational pass rusher.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Baltimore: According to his agent Ralph Cindrich’s Twitter account, backup QB Troy Smith has notified the  Baltimore Ravens that he wants to be traded. Smith “wants playing time” Cindrich writes and plans to “seek (a) trade” after the Ravens’ playoff run. One has to wonder why Smith decided to speak up a one week before his team attempts to secure a playoff birth against the Raiders on Sunday.

Tampa Bay: In an interview with Pewter Report, CB Ronde Barber threatened to retire if the Bucs do not retain head coach Raheem Morris. “Absolutely it will,” Barber said when discussing the impact Morris’ status has on his future. Morris has led his team to a 3-12 record and there is talk that Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be targeting target Bill Cowher as his replacement in the offseason.

New Orleans: X-rays came back negative on Pierre Thomas’ ribs Monday, though he remains questionable for Week 17 at Carolina. Thomas suffered the injury just before the half on Sunday and didn’t come back for the third or fourth quarters.

Carolina: The Charlotte Observer reports that Carolina Panthers coach John Fox and GM Marty Hurney will be “offered the opportunity” to stay with the organization in 2010 by owner Jerry Richardson. Fox, whose contract is up after 2010, will not be offered an extension. A potential NFL lockout in 2011 may have influenced Richardson’s decision, as the team could opt to reduce its expenses.

St. Louis: Rams RB Steven Jackson confirmed that he has a herniated disk but says that no surgery is needed and he plans on playing in Week 17. Jackson experienced new symptoms leading up to Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, and was inactive for the first time all season.

Miami: Despite missing most of the second half with a shoulder injury, Ricky Williams said after Sunday’s game, “I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Ricky suffered the injury early in the third quarter, missing out on a 2-yard touchdown vultured by Lex Hilliard. He sat out the remainder of the game with the exception of a 3-yard catch with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Colts have placed WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season. Gonzalez was expected to be a game-time decision for this week’s game against the Jets, so it appears that he had a setback during practice. Pierre Garcon is now a full-time starter in Indianapolis Colts.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Seattle: Seattle Seahawks RB Julius Jones (ribs) returned to a full practice Thursday and is expected to play Sunday at Green Bay. Jones will likely start on Sunday against the Packers and get more carries than Justin Forsett.

Carolina: RB DeAngelo Williams missed Thursday’s practice with an ankle injury that has been bothering him over the last few weeks. Look for Jonathan Stewart to see the majority of the carries against the Giants on Sunday.

Carolina: Panthers placed QB Jake Delhomme (finger) on injured reserve, ending his season. Delhomme is scheduled to earn $13 million in guaranteed money next season, which means he will return but might be a backup. Matt Moore has made some strides in his three starts this season and the Carolina Panthers appear to be ready to go in a different direction.

Oakland: Oakland  Raiders RB Justin Fargas did not practice on Thursday because of a knee injury. It looks like Michael Bush will get the start on Sunday against the Browns.

Pittsburg: Hines Ward (hamstring) returned to a full practice Thursday. Ward reportedly had a setback with his hamstring last week, but he ended up catching seven balls for 126 yards. It doesn’t appear that he’s in any danger of missing this week’s game against the Ravens.

Buffalo: Bills RE Aaron Schobel indicated Wednesday that he may consider retiring after this season. Schobel, 32, is still a very productive player and has seven sacks on the season. “I don’t know my future really, what I’m going to do,” he said. He is second on the Buffalo Bills’ all-time sacks list, behind only Bruce Smith.

Washington: Redskins coach Jim Zorn confirmed Wednesday that Jason Campbell will start in Week 16 against Dallas. Campbell suffered a stinger and was rocked repeatedly by the Giants on Monday night, as New York defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan took a page from predecessor Steve Spagnuolo’s pressure-filled book. Campbell also came out of the game with a black eye. He figures to face similar protection breakdowns against a Dallas defense that humbled Drew Brees in Week 15.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said he’s gaining confidence in Ronnie Brown’s ability to throw the ball out of the Wildcat. This is naturally the next step in the evolution of the Wildcat, as Brown must be able to throw out of it in order to keep the secondary honest. Sparano said Brown has been working on throwing regularly and if he is able to complete two or three passes per game, the Wildcat could be here to stay for the Miami Dolphins.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Houston: Texans QB Matt Schaub said he “could see [Kevin Walter] catching more balls” with Owen Daniels (knee) out for the season. Schaub praised Walter for his willingness to go over the middle and his hands, but did indicate later that Daniels targets will be spread out amongst a number of players.

Houston: Texans RB Ryan Moats will start at running back for the Houston Texans Sunday, according to ESPN’s Bob Holzman. Holzman got the news from Texans coach Gary Kubiak and relayed it to Adam Schefter. This certainly isn’t a shock due in large part to Steve Slaton struggling to hang on to the football. Slaton and Chris Brown will both likely be involved in the offensive game plan, but Moats is a good add for fantasy owners looking for a RB.

Carolina: Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad (knee) is out for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Muhammad did not travel to New Orleans with the team and will be replaced by the unproductive Dwayne Jarrett.

Kansas City: The Chiefs have released WR Bobby Engram. Engram, 36, only had five catches on the season and this appears to be the end of his career.

Kansas City: The Kansas City Chiefs have activated RB Kolby Smith (knee) from the PUP list. With Larry Johnson suspended, Smith will play behind Jamaal Charles and could take carries away from the new starting RB.
However, keep in mind that Smith is coming off major knee surgery and Charles is the better player.

Tampa Bay: Bucs WR Antonio Bryant said the long plane ride home from London was partially to blame for the setback he is having with his knee. It don’t do me no good to play for a game or two and then be right back and have to sit down again,” Bryant said. Its sounds as if Bryant’s attitude, not a bum knee or a plane ride, has already mailed in the season.

Washington: The Redskins have demoted Malcolm Kelly from his starting flanker job in large part because of his route running. At 6’4/227 Kelly was supposed to be a red zone target for Jason Campbell, but he has been a disappointment thus far in his career.

To date, I hold an average, but respectable 7-5 record on predicting NFL matchups.

Indianapolis Colts @ St. Louis Rams

Prediction: Colts 31, Rams 10. The Indianapolis Colts continue to roll and will win easy.

Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburg Steelers

Prediction: Steelers 28, Vikings 21. The Vikings will not go unbeaten in 2009. The Steelers are getting healthy and will slow down the Vikings running game enough to win.

New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prediction: Patriots 40, Buccaneers 14. The patriots are too good for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to even give them a scare this week.

Green Bay Packers @ Cleveland Browns

Prediction: Packers 35, Browns 14. The Packers have too much offense for the Browns to remain close in this game.

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

Prediction: Panthers 21, Bills 17. The Carolina Panthers will an ugly game.

Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys:

Prediction: Falcons 21, Cowboys 17. The Cowboys could win this game, but the Falcons are playing better at this point in the season.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Prediction: Chargers 17, Chiefs 16. The Chiefs could win this game in a possible upset special.

New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders

Prediction: Jets 21, Raiders 13. If the Raiders had any type of offense they will win this game.

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction: Bengals 31 Bears 28. Palmer beats Cutler in a shootout.

New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins

Prediction: Saints 28, Miami Dolphins 17. The Saints are too good.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Giants

Prediction: Giants 31, Cardinals 27. The Giants get back on the winning track against the Cardinals.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

Prediction: Eagles 21, Redskins 10. The Redskins are a mess right now and they’re probably looking for their next head coach behind the scene.

Houston Texans @Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction: Cincinnati 21, Houston 14. Look for Carson Palmer to continue to play well and the Cincinnati defense will do just enough to pull this one out.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

Prediction: Green Bay 31, Detroit 10. This one won’t be close as Aaron Rodgers will have a huge game.

St. Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 17, St. Louis 10. Can I pick a tie? No, that wouldn’t be fun.

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

Prediction: Baltimore 20, Minnesota 13. The Vikings running attack will be slowed down and the ageless one will not be able to pull this one out.

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Prediction: New Orleans Saints 28, New York 20. The Saints have too much firepower for a banged-up Giants defense.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburg Steelers

Prediction: Pittsburg 24, Cleveland 10. Who is starting at QB in Cleveland Browns again?

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prediction: Carolina 24, Tampa Bay 6. The Panthers running attack will be the difference in this contest.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

Prediction: Kansas City 13, Redskins 10. In my upset of the week, the Chiefs finally get there first win after being close a few times.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

Prediction: Philadelphia 31, Oakland Raiders 14. I’m being nice only giving the Eagles 31 points, they could easily go for 50.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Prediction: Seattle 28, Arizona 27. In perhaps the most exciting game of the week, Seattle pulls one out at home late in the game.

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Prediction: New England 17, Tennessee 14. Surprisingly Tennessee will keep this one close, but New England is clearly better and at home.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Prediction: New York 31, Buffalo 24. The Bills offense will get back on track, but the defense will not follow.

Heading into this weeks games there isn’t a lot of marquee match ups. There are a lot teams that are on the up swing this season playing big time teams, they will have to prove they are going to hang around all season. There are some intriguing games and it should be fun to watch which under dogs will have big weeks, and they will.

Dallas Cowboys – Arizona Cardinals
Yes, Arizona is playing in a big game, that hasn’t happened in awhile. Coming off last weeks blow out of Buffalo Arizona will be looking to ride that momentum when Dallas comes to town. These are the two highest scoring teams in NFC and looks like it might be a shootout. This game will be a battle of offense, and come down to which defense will make the stops in key spots. Kurt Warner is off to a great start at QB for Arizona and if he keeps it up Dallas will have there hands full. Dallas defense ranks 17th against the pass and Arizona is in the top 5 of passing teams in the league. Dallas cannot afford to lose this game, they need to keep pace in this division. On paper Dallas is the most talented squad in the league and they will need all that talent to win on Sunday. Look for Dallas to run the ball a lot with Barber and Jones and test the Cardinal defense. This should be high scoring affair, that will be close for most of the game. I will look for the Cowboy defense to step up and make some stops in the fourth quarter and lead the Boys to victory. I think the final score will be 31 – 24 Dallas, they are just the more talented team.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
After Jacksonville had a disappointing loss last week, they are in tough again traveling to Denver in week 6. In my opinion the Jags are better then there record and Denver is worse then there record. If Jacksonville wants to win this week they will have to slow down Cutler at QB for the Broncos. The Broncos have been all offense this year with a 3rd ranked offense and 25 ranked defense. Denver’s defense allows 130 plus yards a game on the ground and Jacksonville will look to exploit that by running a lot. Maurice Jones Drew and Fred Taylor will need to have productive days for there team to win. The Jaguars will look to make the game physical on both sides of the ball and jump on the opportunities the Bronco’s will give them. This is kind of a ying/yang game with Jacksonville wanting to slow the game down and Denver wanting to speed it up with big plays. If Jacksonville wants to win they will need to improve there 26th ranked defense against the pass and get some pressure on Cutler and force him to make bad decisions.  This is a tough game to pick, and I think it will come down to late in the game. I think the Jags D will step up and slow Cutler and allow the offense to run there plays. It will be a close game, but I think the Jags will win 24 -21 with a late field goal.

New England Patriots – San Diego Chargers
The two favorites in the AFC before the season, but things haven’t started the way either team expected. This game will be missing big stars like Brady and Merrien, but is still very intriguing. To win this game both teams will be looking to get there running games going and take some pressure off there QB’s. San Diego was embarrassed last week losing to Miami in a game they were heavily favored to win and will be looking to redeem themselves this week. With the Bills on bye this week the Patriots know that if they win they are back on top of there division, a place they are used to being. Chargers can’t afford to lose, Denver is playing good football and a loss just puts them further back in there division. This game will come down to which team can run the ball and which team can stop the run. Tomlinson is banged up in San Diego, but I don’t think you’ll see him have less then 40 yards this week. Both team will establish there run and clog the box on defense to stop it. I think this will be a close game again, but I think San Diego will win a close low scoring game. The Chargers are desperate, and will play with passion. The final score will be 21 – 17 Chargers.

Carolina Panthers – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Big NFC South game, that will go along way to determining who the best team in the division is. Carolina is off to a great start led by there defense that is only allowing 14 points a game. Tampa Bay is coming off a loss last week to Denver and will be looking to prove they are a playoff team this season. The Bucs are a balanced team, that are solid on both sides of the ball. This game  should be tight from the opening kickoff and be a physical affair. The game will go to the team that will avoid major turnovers and take advantage of there opponents mistakes. I love the Carolina defense and think they will have a pretty easy time with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay will put up a fight, but I think the Panthers will win 24 -14.

There might not be a lot of high profile games this week, but there is a lot of games that could define a teams season. Teams like San Diego, Tampa Bay, Miami and Jacksonville will look to prove they are contenders this year. Enjoy this weeks games and I hope your team is on the right path.

The New England Patriots were born on November 22, 1959 becoming a member of the new American Football League. In a naming contest, a team of Boston sportswriters decided to keep the history of the area alive calling their franchise the “Patriots”. The Patriots played in the first ever regular season AFL game on September 9, 1960 losing to the Denver Broncos 13-10. The Patriots finished the first season with a 5-9 record. The Patriots would improve over the next three seasons posting back-to-back 9-4-1 seasons and in 1963 finished tied for first place with the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots first playoff game came against the bills which they won 26-8. In the AFM Championship game the Patriots were dismantled 51-10 by the San Diego Chargers. The following season placekicker and wide receiver Gino Cappelletti was named the AFL Most Valuable Player. Cappelletti became the AFL’s all-time leadier in points scored with 1,100. In 1966 another Most Valuable Player came form the Patriots in fullback Jim Nance who lead the league in rushing twice in 1966 and1967.The Patriots would play in many different locations including Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox baseball team plays, Boston University Field, and in Harvard. The Patriots finally made their home at 70,000 seat Foxboro Stadium in 1971.

As the 1960′s and 1970′s went forward little success came around for the Patriots with a new low in 1970 with a 2-12 record. The Patriots would once again reach the playoffs in 1976 but would lose to the Oakland Raiders 24-21. The Patriots would make their first Super Bowl appearance against the “Monsters of the Midway” Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. The game was rout and the Bears won 46-10. The 1990′s for the Patriots saw them rise again to meet the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. The Packers would end the Patriots hopes again to a championship defeating them 35-21.

The 2000′s provided the New England Patriots with what they have been wishing for, a Super Bowl victory, not just one but three Super Bowl wins. The Patriots first Super Bowl win came against the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI with a 20-17 win. The second Super Bowl victory two seasons later against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII in another thrilling game with the Patriots winning 32-29. The next season provided the Patriots with the same result winning Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21. The Patriots would make a Super Bowl trip in Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants but lost 17-14. The Patriots were on the verge of going undefeated with a 19-0 record and do something that hasn’t been done since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, finishing a season undefeated. That year several NFL record were broken when the Patriots set the all-time scoring record in a season with points scored with 589, Tom Brady throwing fifty touchdown passes, and Randy Moss catching twenty-three touchdown passes.

Since 2001, the New England Patriots have won the AFC East seven times, four Super Bowl appearances, back-to-back 14-2 regular seasons, and a 16-0 regular season. Its safe to say that the New England Patriots are the team of the decade.

Along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers made their NFL debut in 1995 as one of the new NFL expansion teams of the decade. Eight years before the Panthers debuted North Carolina was one of the finalist to receive an NFL franchise. The support for the Panthers was overwhelming. There were rallies all over the state to show that the people over North Carolina was ready and would support on NFL franchise. One of the major factors for the Carolina community in receiving an NFL franchise was the privately owned and funded stadium by Richardson Sports. It was made official on October, 26, 1993 the Carolina were the 29^th NFL team.In their first season of play the Panthers set the NFL record for the most wins in their inaugural season posting a 7-9 record after a start of 0-5. The Panthers first win came in the 6^th game against the New York Jets 26-15. In an unprecedented turn of events the Panthers went 12-4 in only their second season winning the NFC West and making the NFC Championship game. The Panthers lost to the eventual champions Green Bay Packers 30-13, but noone could predict the Panthers would be so successful so quickly. Coach Dom Capers was named the NFL Coach of the Year for their outstanding success.

As the 1990′s went on the success of the Panthers went away as quickly as it came only recording an 8-8 season in 1999 which was their best since the 12-4 1996 season. In 2001, the Panthers had their worst season ever with a terrible 1-15 season. After a six year drought of not making the playoffs the Panthers once again came from nowhere and made an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the New England Patriots. Only two seasons after their 1-15 debacle, the Panthers nearly has the 360 degree turnaround they wanted. Although the Panthers lost the Super Bowl 32-29 they provided one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all-time losing on a last second field goal.

While the Panthers have only been in existence since 1995, they have had their share of talented, productive players which include wide receiver Steve Smith who won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2005 and defensive lineman Julius Peppers who is the Panthers all-time leader in sacks and was the 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year, linebacker Kevin Greene, corner back Tyrone Poole, running back Stephen Davis, and current starting quarterback Jake Delhomme. Another Panther great was Sam Mills who had his number 51 retired in and was inducted to the Panthers Ring of Honor in 2005.

The Carolina Panthers play in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and the Tamp Bay Buccaneers. Each team has one the division the last five seasons so rising to the top again for the Panthers can be attained. The NFC South is one of the divisions each team has a chance to win it seems in any given year, one team rises, then one team falls.