15 burning questions (and answers) for NFL offseason

That said, most the key components of the offense are back in place, the defense — aside from some potential issues in the secondary — should be just as strong as it was last year, and the Patriots are still the consensus favorites entering the 2008 season. Jerod Mayo was a solid pick-up in the draft, the coaching staff is back, and Randy Moss was re-signed.

Things are fine in New England. But yeah, it's been a weird few months. No denying that. Whether any of it will matter come September, we'll just have to wait and see.

14. Why are so many big-name receivers unhappy?

Two reasons:

1. They're all Drew Rosenhaus clients. Seriously. Anquan Boldin, Plaxico Burress, and Chad Johnson — all Rosenhaus clients — are miffed and want more dough.

Hey Plax, get in line for a raise. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

2. Javon Walker. Blame the Raiders for signing what seems to be an absolutely absurd contract for a guy who has only played one full season over the past three years and whose 2008 is off to a dubious start following the weekend incident in Las Vegas, commend Walker for his management team's negotiating power, or just call it sheer luck. Any way you look at it, Walker's ridiculous six-year, $55 million contract (that includes $16 million in guaranteed money), reportedly sent major waves through the NFL's circle of big-name receivers. Walker's contract, which will earn him roughly the same as Randy Moss over the next few years, will pay him three times more than what the Patriots are paying 2007 NFL receptions co-leader Wes Welker. As it is, Welker will be making far more than Super Bowl hero Burress, too. If only every team spent their money like the Raiders did this off-season, maybe some of these receivers would be participating in off-season workouts.

13. What's with all the unsigned free-agent running backs?

The list is long and the list is mighty. Need a former go-to guy to carry the rock on the cheap? There are plenty of capable backs out there. Travis Henry, Cedric Benson, Shaun Alexander and Ron Dayne, to name a few, are all looking for work. While these big names interview and lobby for positions, guys like Selvin Young, Matt Forte and Tatum Bell are likely going to be starters on opening day. The NFL — there's really nothing quite like it.

12. Is Michael Strahan really retired?

Yes. And unlike "Today Show" roaming reporter Tiki Barber, whose No. 21 will be worn by rookie Kenny Phillips in '08, Strahan's No. 92 will never be worn by another Giant. Also unlike Tiki, he goes out as a winner. And also unlike Tiki (just one more), people in New York City actually cared which network Strahan ended up at.

11. What's the latest with "Inside the NFL?"

"Inside the NFL," HBO's longtime weekly football studio show, closed the curtains in February, airing its final show a few days after the Super Bowl. On the air since 1977, "Inside the NFL" had become an institution and part of the hardcore fan's weekly routine. Yet, like all great things, it's time had come. With the 24/7 beat of sports news, the advancement of the Internet, and the emergence of the NFL Network, there just didn't seem to be a need for a Thursday night show highlighting the games from the past Sunday. So that was that.

Or was it? In a great bit of surprise news that trickled on the wire recently, it turns out Showtime is picking up "Inside the NFL" for one more season, premiering the first episode of the 2008 NFL campaign on Sept. 10. Upon signing the deal with Showtime, Steve Sabol, the longtime chief of NFL Films, told members of the media, "This is the granddaddy of all highlight shows. The combination of our film and game sound with the analysis in the studio gives "Inside the NFL" a perfect balance of action and insight. That's why it's been so popular for so long." As for the on-air hosts, that hasn't been decided yet.

10. Which playoff team from 2007 has the toughest road ahead in '08?

The 2008 schedule will be no easy task for Mike Tomlin. (Rick Stewart / Getty Images)

The Giants will have it tough, for sure. It's never easy being the champs, and the NFC East should be particularly competitive. But no team has it tougher than Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers. A mere glance at their 2008 schedule can send shivers down the spine. In a seven-week span starting in late October, Pittsburgh takes on the Super Bowl champion Giants, the NFC wild-card qualifying Redskins, the AFC South champion Colts, the AFC West champion Chargers, the rival Bengals, the AFC champion Patriots, and the NFC East champion Cowboys. Umm ... in a row! That's downright horrifying. Steel Curtain fans expecting big things in Year 2 of the Tomlin Era may need to be patient, because that schedule is enough to keep even the strongest of teams out of the playoffs.

10. With the addition of linemen Alan Faneca and Damien Woody, the Jets offensive line now features four former first-round picks. So who's going to play quarterback behind that line?

As my longtime Jets season ticket-holding friend Matt told me this weekend, "Chad or Kellen. Flip a coin. And then, go with the other guy." Ah, Jets fans, you've got to love 'em. In truth, neither Pennington nor Clemens did anything to inspire the masses of Gang Green faithful last season, but they're apparently what's on the plate for '08. Pennington should get the starting nod, but Clemens will be under the gun, expected to perform at some point during the season. Rookie Erik Ainge will most likely be the third quarterback on the depth chart, but isn't expected to make any sort of impact. Clemens showed some flashes last season — he had a nice afternoon in the Pittsburgh upset and looked strong against Baltimore — but wasn't consistent enough to anoint as the starter. It'll be a two-horse race all season. And I'm not sure any of these horses are thoroughbreds.

9. Are the Bears the worst team in football?

Crazy, right? Less than 18 months ago, Chicago was playing in a Super Bowl in Miami. Now the Bears are being picked as the last-place team in the NFC North by just about everyone. It's been an interesting few months to say the least. In a bizarre turn of events, the Bears signed their two longtime underachieving quarterbacks, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, to one-year deals on consecutive days, failed to select a quarterback with one of their 12 picks in the NFL Draft, and didn't bring in any significant signal callers from the free-agent market. Mushin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian each signed elsewhere, and Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd were brought in as replacements. Yep, Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd are Chicago's No. 1 and No. 2 receivers this season. That's heinous.

Chicago also released Cedric Benson, a top-five draft pick from just three seasons ago, and squabbled over dollars with defensive leaders Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris. Though the offensive line should be improved with the addition of rookie Chris Williams, there's not much else to rally around in the Windy City. Are they the worst team in the NFL? Probably not. But they could be pretty darn bad.

8. What's up with Lindsay Lohan and this Samantha Ronson?

I have no idea, but I wish them the best. Next question.

7. Is this the year the Houston Texans finally make the playoffs?

Eh, probably not. Houston starts the season with games against four playoff teams from last season in their first five weeks, including the AFC South champion Colts and the AFC North champion Steelers. If they can win three of those five games, they'll be in good shape. If not, it could be another run at 8-8 for the Texans. The truth is, Houston, despite one of the most promising young defensive units in the league and an exciting passing game, still plays in the AFC's toughest division. They'll likely struggle to get past Jacksonville and Indianapolis, let alone Tennessee. It's a matter of timing. And from the looks of it, they may need to wait another one or two years to get over the hump (and out of the cellar), and surpass their rivals in the AFC South.

6. Who's your surprise 2008 MVP pick?

Don't be surprised. Drew Brees is an early candidate for MVP. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

Two years ago, I went with Michael Vick. It didn't happen. Last year, I said Jay Cutler. It didn't happen. This year? I like Drew Brees. I'm all about New Orleans this season. Consider last year a minor slip-up. More on that in weeks to come, but put it down now. New Orleans, with a revamped defense and an offseason to regroup, is going to win 11-13 games in '08. Brees will be their fearless leader.

5. Seriously, what's the deal in Arizona? If Matt Leinart's not a lost cause, why is Kurt Warner still taking reps with the first team?

It sure is fishy, isn't it? But from all reports out of Glendale, the Cardinals brass is still quite high on Leinart, the 10th pick of the 2006 draft. Despite the now-infamous "beer bong" pictures that circulated online and Warner's mastery of Ken Whisenhunt's offense, the Arizona Daily Sun reported that Leinart is still the team's No. 1 quarterback. Whisenhunt, of course, told the AP in early June, "It's going to be a tough job for Matt to keep because Kurt played at a high level for us last year, and he's been doing a lot of work in the offseason and he's looked sharp in these drills. It's not just quarterback. It's any position on our team. That's the way you'd like to have it."

You hear stuff like that and have to scratch your head. While fellow 2006 draft picks Vince Young, Jay Cutler, and Tarvaris Jackson are entering their second or third years as full-time starters, Leinart is still struggling to stay on the field.

4. Aside from Strahan, who else hung up the spikes this offseason?

How about this list? Brett Favre, Warren Sapp, Priest Holmes, Steve McNair and Jonathan Ogden. That's five former All-Pros, and three or four future Hall of Famers. Larry Allen still might call it quits, Junior Seau is a possibility, and you never know who else could "graduate" (Seau's term, not mine) before the start of the '08 season. One guy who's apparently not retiring? Orlando Pace, who is still recovering from right shoulder surgery and expected to start at left tackle for St. Louis come opening day.

3. Which team has the best chance of going from worst to first in its division?

Since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, at least one team every season has jumped from last place to first in its division from one year to the next. It was Chiefs in '03; the Falcons and Chargers in '04; the Bears and Buccaneers in '05; the Saints in '06; and the Buccaneers in '07.

The team to watch in '08? The St. Louis Rams.

I know, I know, we've all fallen for the Rams before. But this year, St. Louis is truly a legitimate darkhorse. Banged up by injuries all of last season, St. Louis should be healthy and much improved come the start of the 2008 campaign. Chris Long adds a demon on the end, and Marc Bulger, Orlando Pace, and Steven Jackson are all back on the offensive side of the ball. Seattle should be strong and Arizona is a wild card, but St. Louis could be the squad to watch in the NFC West.

2. What's the biggest game of the year?

Ohio State vs. USC on Sept. 13. Oh, besides that? How about these five?

Week 3: Jaguars at Colts
Week 6: Patriots at Chargers
Week 9: Patriots at Colts
Week 15: Giants at Cowboys
Week 17: Browns at Steelers

1. How about a pre-mature, mid-June Super Bowl XLIII prediction?

Here we go. Get the old homemade videos out, cue up the hype machine and let's start the cutaways to Archie and Cooper. As of mid-June, I'm thinking Giants-Colts for Super Bowl XLIII.

And this time, no Oreo cookies will be needed.