Five Burning Questions Heading into the 2007-08 NFL Season

With the season coming up, I, as well as many other sports fans, are suffering from an outbreak of Football Fever. Not to worry fans, Dr. McVeigh*, has your prescription. Drink plenty of alcoholic fluids, and read this page to your heart's content. Also, some antibiotics if your temperature exceeds 103 degrees.

1. Can Eli Manning finally live up to his pedigree?

Long Answer:
After shunning the Chargers in 2004 because of their lack of future planning, Eli chose to go to the New York Giants. He seems to have made a poor choice, since the Chargers are the class of the AFC rght now, and the New York media is hounding Manning. This pressure has never been higher than it will be this season. For the first time, Eli doesn't have a marquee running back to pound it on the ground. It is yet to be seen is Brandon Jacobs can move from being 'Thunder' to Tiki Barber's 'Lightning' to an every down back. I think this year will be his coming out party. The problem with Eli is not his skill set, but his personality. Growing up with Peyton has given Eli somehwat of a complex. I think he is always used to being second fiddle to big bro. He is too quick to get down in himself when things go wrong in a game, because he doesn't possess the easy confidence that Peyton has. He is also mismatched with the rest of the Giants' stars, I think he is terrified of Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress, and when he makes a mistake in a game, he can't get past it. That being said, I think after seeing the praise and adulation that Peyton got after finally winning the big one, Eli is primed. Instead of giving him the biggest shoe of all to fill, I think he's gotten a taste for the big time, and he wants more. In this offseason he has bonded more than every with his new receivers, and I think this year he will take over the team, and for the better.

Short Answer:
Kind of, I think he'll do well this year, and win his first playoff game, but I don't think the team as a whole is a Super Bowl contender just yet.

2. Will Donovan McNabb be able to win over Philly fans?

No matter how hard Donovan McNabb seems to try, its never god enough for Eagles fans. He takes them to three straight NFC Championship games, and they get on him for not winning one. He finally does win one, and he gets blamed for giving up on the team in the Super Bowl. The blame both lies with him, and with the fans. The fans need to recognize that McNabb is a spectacular athlete, possibly the best quarterback they have ever had. Donovan is not exempt however, because he has the wrong attitude about the game as far as Philly fans are concerned. He doesn't have the overwhelming urge to win and dominate his opponents like Joe Montana and Brett Favre had. He doesn't beat himself or his teammates up over a mistake, and while that may be a perfectly healthy attitude, its not Philadelphia's particular brand of Vodka. The blue collar city wants an in-your-face leader who will be the unquestioned leader of the squad, and who hang his head in shame after each loss, even if it wasn't his fault.

Short of a drastic personality change or a Super Bowl ring, Donovan will never be truly accepted by Philly fans. He would do great on a team like Arizona or Houston, who would just be so grateful for a talented quarterback who knows how to win. If he stays healthy this year, the Eagles are always a threat in the post-season. To be a title contender, they need a game breaking receiver like T.O. or Randy Moss, but those guys usually bring their own baggage. The perfect receiver for them would be Calvin Johnson, so maybe they can arrange a trade after he wastes a few years in Detroit.

3. Will David Carr prosper with a new offensive line?

Its hard not to feel bad for David Carr. Well, until now. Before this upcoming season, he had been sacked 249 times in five seasons. Thats about fifty times a season. Ouch. He never even had a chance to show what he's got, because even if he wasn't being sacked, he was throwing to a mediocre-at-best receiving corps. Now the tables have turned. Not for Houston, who traded their only starter for a less talented one who has ridden the bench since 2004.

Once Carolina realizes that Jake Delhomme has been living off his one trip to the Super Bowl for the last three years (which they should have when he completely destroyed what could have been a great season last year), Carr will step in and surprise some people. A playoff berth is not out of the question, but it will be interesting to see how far Carr's talents can carry him when he's not getting the crap knocked out of him. With Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett as ready targets, it should be fun to find out.

4. Will the Patriots live up to the hype?

On paper the Patriots seem to be up there with the 2003-2004 Lakers and the 2004 Yankees, among the best sports teams of our era. The key words, 'On Paper'. Both of those teams lost en route to a championship. The Patriots have the mind of Bill Belichek, the arm and unflappable cool of Tom Brady, and a whole new arsenal of offensive weapons for him to choose from. There is no doubt that the star power on that offense will be hard for any
defense to contain. With Wes Welker, they have a fantastic slot receiver and a great route runner. With Donte Stallworth, they have a dynamite long ball receiver. With Moss, they have a superstar who is happy to be there and has the potential to blow up the game every time he touched the ball. Plus they have the second year Lawrence Maroney, who will only get better. Nothing is certain in this world of ours, but if I was a betting man, I wouldn't bet against the Patriots this season very often. I don't think that they will live up to the hype, they will create the hype as each week goes by. This team has the best chance to go 16-0 that I have seen in my lifetime.

5. Is Vince Young more than human?

I should rephrase the question: Will Vince Young survive the Madden Curse? If he does, then yes, he is more than human, he is a living legend. He had college career that was straight out of Hollywood. He turned around a crappy team in less than half a season, which also happened to be his rookie season. He stands up for one of his receivers by decking a cornerback who tackled too hard in training camp. He's got the arm, he's got the legs, he's got the heart and the head necessary for pro football success. The possible fly in the ointment? He graces the cover of Madden 2008, when Maddens 1999-2007 all features athletes who would suffer severe injury soon after. If he does escape the season without injury, I see no reason why VY can't lead his team to a wild card spot. If anyone can break the curse, it's Vince Young.

Coming Soon: Team-by Team Predictions, as well as the playoff picture, and Super Bowl Predictions

* - DISCLAIMER: Only an M.D. in British Columbia, as well as unincorporated provinces of southern Mexico.