July 23, 2006|By BILL ORDINE | BILL ORDINE,SUN REPORTER
Skinny -- The Cowboys are poised for a breakout or an implosion. That's what you get with wide receiver Terrell Owens. That Bill Parcells is the coach makes this all the more delicious. The Cowboys' young defense, now comfortable in a 3-4, should just get better, and the kicking game with former Indianapolis Colt Mike Vanderjagt is greatly improved. Still, the Owens-Parcells show will get top billing from the start.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
Veterans report -- Today
Skinny -- The weight rests squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Donovan McNabb. With nemesis Owens gone and with a long offseason to mend from injuries, McNabb needs to assert himself again as one of the game's dominant performers. But do the Eagles have enough talent, especially among wide receivers, to support McNabb?
Division summary
Skinny -- The NFC East has re-emerged as the NFL's top division. If Parcells can keep Owens under control, Dallas has the talent to fight its way to the top.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Veterans report -- Thursday
Skinny -- Quarterback Chris Simms' continuing maturation is the most important issue for the Buccaneers; he has just 12 NFL starts. Coach Jon Gruden will work on Simms' game management and protect him by running Carnell Williams. Many regard defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin as the team Most Valuable Player because his No. 1 overall defense has kept the Bucs afloat.
Carolina Panthers (11-5)
Veterans report -- Friday
Skinny -- The Panthers simply ran out of running backs last season in the NFC title game against the Seattle Seahawks. In the offseason, they kept their team, especially the league's No. 3 overall defense, largely intact and added veteran wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and rookie running back DeAngelo Williams to the offense.
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Veterans report -- Thursday
Skinny -- The Falcons put some teeth into their defense with the offseason acquisition of ex-New York Jets defensive end John Abraham, a fierce pass rusher, and safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker. But the story in Atlanta is always quarterback Michael Vick, who, as he enters his sixth season, is expected to prove he can win with his arm. To that end, Bill Musgrave has been hired as quarterbacks coach. Interestingly, Musgrave was Atlanta backup quarterback Matt Schaub's college offensive coordinator.
New Orleans Saints (3-13)
Veterans report -- Thursday
Skinny -- A symbol of the city's efforts to make its own comeback from Hurricane Katrina, the Saints begin the challenge of rebuilding from a training camp at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. First-round draft pick Reggie Bush is already being hailed as a savior - perhaps an unfair burden. Along with a daily Bush watch in camp, there'll be close scrutiny of new quarterback Drew Brees, who is coming back from shoulder surgery.
Division summary
Skinny -- Carolina and Tampa Bay are the class of the division, but the Panthers are more balanced and one of the top three teams in the NFC.
NFC North
Chicago Bears (11-5)
Veterans report -- Wednesday
Skinny -- It was amazing that the Bears won 11 games with an offense that did its best work when it simply didn't commit a turnover, but that's testament to coach Lovie Smith's cover-2 defense. To help a wheezing offense, Chicago signed veteran quarterback Brian Griese.
Minnesota Vikings (9-7)
Veterans report -- Next Sunday
Skinny -- The Vikings are one of three teams in their division with a new coach. Brad Childress, the former offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, directed a pass-heavy version of the West Coast offense, and veteran quarterback Brad Johnson should be a good fit. Minnesota will run a cover-2 defense that has worked well for the Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Detroit Lions (5-11)
Veterans report -- Thursday
Skinny -- The latest coach in Detroit is Rod Marinelli, who is essentially starting from scratch. His quarterbacks are recently acquired veterans Jon Kitna and Josh McCown. Marinelli's first job will be to establish a team identity and restore some pride to a franchise that has had five straight losing seasons and six coaches (including interims) in 10 years.
Green Bay Packers (4-12)
Veterans report -- Friday
Skinny -- The Packers can be summed up in two words: Brett Favre. The team's offseason was dominated by the all-but-certain Hall of Famer's vacillation about returning for his 16th NFL season. Now that he's back, can the Pack rally to make it one that's representative of his illustrious career? Considering that they have a new coach, Mike McCarthy, and that their best addition is rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk, the odds are against it.
Division summary
Skinny -- Since the NFC North has three new coaches, that pretty much sums up the shape it's in. The Bears dominate.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Veterans report -- Friday
