by BY BILL COATS bcoats@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8189 , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

In the meantime, hundreds of jobs will be won and lost - including the 32 most important and glamorous positions in the league. That is, the starting quarterbacks.

Nearly half the 32 teams in the league could have different QBs running things this year. Some of the newbies are oldies-but-goodies, such as Tom Brady in New England, Carson Palmer in Cincinnati and Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle. Each missed all or most of the 2008 season with injuries.

Two others swapped locations, with Denver's Jay Cutler going to Chicago for Kyle Orton in a trade.

A number of first-team-quarterback openings are up for grabs. At least 11 teams figure to have legitimate competition during camp to determine who will run their offense.

Here's a look at those looming battles:

NFC

Detroit - Matthew Stafford vs. Daunte Culpepper - The offseason departures of Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky left a classic matchup of a rookie trying to make an immediate splash vs. a veteran trying to resurrect his career. Stafford, a University of Georgia product, was the first player taken in the draft; largely because of injuries, Culpepper, 32, hasn't spent a full season as a starter since 2004 with Minnesota.

Minnesota - Tavaris Jackson vs. Sage Rosenfels (vs. Brett Favre?) - If Favre winds up with the Vikings, as now appears likely, the job is his; he's not coming out of retirement again to be a backup. Minnesota traded for Rosenfels, who started five times in each of the last two seasons for Houston. Jackson is a second-round draft pick (2006) who has suffered from inconsistency.

San Francisco - Alex Smith vs. Shaun Hill - Hill split time last year with J.T. O'Sullivan, who left for Cincinnati as a free agent. Smith is a former No. 1 overall draft pick whose career has been derailed by two shoulder surgeries. Hill is more dependable, Smith more intriguing.

Tampa Bay - Jake McCown vs. Byron Leftwich vs. Josh Freeman - Jeff Garcia, the Buccaneers' starter last year, went to the Raiders as a free agent. McCown, who backed up Garcia, and Leftwich, an offseason pickup, are expected to be the main competitors under new coach Raheem Morris. But Freeman, the Bucs' first-round draftee, was at Kansas State during Morris' one season there as defensive coordinator and will get a good look during the preseason schedule.

Washington - Jason Campbell vs. Todd Collins vs. Colt Brennan - Campbell is the frontrunner to be the Redskins' No. 1 QB for the third season in a row. Still, Washington flirted with a Cutler deal and also considered drafting Mark Sanchez. Plus, Campbell is entering the final season of his contract. So, the brain trust doesn't seem to have a ton of confidence in him. That's why Collins and Brennan will get a chance to unseat Campbell.

AFC

Cleveland - Derek Anderson vs. Brady Quinn - Coach Romeo Crennel stated firmly that Quinn would replace Anderson as the starter in '09. But that was before Crennel was fired and replaced by Eric Mangini, who has said the competition will be wide open. But expect Quinn to be given every chance to nail down the job.

Denver - Kyle Orton vs. Chris Simms - The Broncos acquired Orton in the Cutler deal with every intention of starting him. But new coach Josh McDaniels wants to see what he got when the team picked up free-agent Simms, who has played in just four games over the past three seasons, mainly because of a serious spleen injury.

Kansas City - Matt Cassel vs. Tyler Thigpen vs. Brodie Croyle - The Chiefs spent their second-round draft pick to acquire Cassel from New England, so he's the favorite. But Thigpen, the starter last year, finished strong in '08 after KC switched to a spread offense. Croyle is entering his fourth season and might not have many more chances with the Chiefs .

New York Jets - Mark Sanchez vs. Kellen Clemens - Last year, the Jets had a 38-year-old QB (Favre); this year, they probably will rely on a 22-year-old QB (Sanchez). The Jets traded up to get the Southern Cal product with the fifth pick in the draft, but new coach Rex Ryan has promised Clemens that he'll get a shot, too.

Oakland - JaMarcus Russell vs. Jeff Garcia - Russell, the No. 1 overall draftee in 2007, was mediocre last season, his first as the Raiders' full-time starter. He has the edge over the 39-year-old Garcia, but if Russell doesn't take a big step forward, coach Tom Cable won't hesitate to turn to the proven vet.

Tennessee - Kerry Collins vs. Vince Young - Collins resurrected his career last season after Young was forced to the sideline with physical and mental issues. Collins, 36, guided the Titans to a 10-6 record and a spot in the playoffs, and he deserves to keep his job. But if Collins stumbles and Young appears to have regained his footing, it could get interesting.

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NFL Training Camps

NFC

Team Site Starting dates

Arizona Cardinals Flagstaff, Ariz. July 29 Atlanta Falcons Flowery Branch, Ga. July 31 Carolina Panthers Spartanburg, S.C. Aug. 2 Chicago Bears Bourbonnais, Ill. July 31 Dallas Cowboys San Antonio, Texas July 29 Detroit Lions Allen Park, Mich. July 31 Green Bay Packers Green Bay, Wis. July 31 Minnesota Vikings Mankato, Minn. July 30 New Orleans Saints Metairie, La. July 30 New York Giants Albany, N.Y. Aug. 3 Philadelphia Eagles Bethlehem, Pa. July 26 San Francisco 49ers Santa Clara, Calif. July 28 Seattle Seahawks Renton, Wash. July 30 St. Louis Rams Earth City July 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa, Fla. July 31 Washington Redskins Ashburn, Va. July 29

AFC

Team Site Starting dates

Baltimore Ravens Westminster, Md. July 27 Buffalo Bills Pittsford, N.Y. July 25 Cincinnati Bengals Georgetown, Ky. July 30 Cleveland Browns Berea, Ohio July 24 Denver Broncos Englewood, Colo. July 30 Houston Texans Houston July 26 Indianapolis Colts Terre Haute, Ind. Aug. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville, Fla. Aug. 2 Kansas City Chiefs River Falls, Wis. July 31 Miami Dolphins Davie, Fla. Aug. 1 New England Patriots Foxborough, Mass. July 26 New York Jets Cortland, N.Y. July 27 Oakland Raiders Napa Valley, Calif. July 29 Pittsburgh Steelers Latrobe, Pa. July 31 San Diego Chargers San Diego July 26 Tennessee Titans Nashville, Tenn. July 30

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