Dan Arkush: (3:56 PM ET ) Hello, chatters. Let's talk some NFL.
Randy (Cheyenne WY): Whats up Dan love the insight! Give the Mid-West some Love. How do you feel about the Broncos off-season and draft? Do you think Keyshawn could end up in Denver? I think he would be a great fit.
Dan Arkush: (4:04 PM ET ) As usual, Randy, the Broncos were very aggressive. As far as their free agent additions go, I think Travis Henry should be able to fit right in to a long line of successful backs in Denver's system if he can keep out of trouble. Come to think of it, keeping out of trouble seems to be a key for a number of Broncos, including P Todd Sauerbrun, a good guy I've known going way back to his Bear days (he can be a bit goofy, but man does he have a cannon for a leg) and draftees Jarvis Moss and Marcus Thomas, who had well-documented problems in college. Mike shanahan and Pat Bowlen insist they're comfortable taking all these character risks. We'll see. As for Keyshawn in Denver, I don't really see it, but you never know. Denver is a very interesting team. Too bad the Chargers are in the same division.
Coop (Los Angeles, CA): As a Cowboys fan - I'm putting the over/under on Cleveland wins at 5 for this season. Your thoughts?
Dan Arkush: (4:06 PM ET ) I think that's probably about right for the Browns. But I like their long-term potential with Brady on board.
Evan (NJ): how do you see the Faneca-Rooney contract saga playing out? will he force their hand to trade him? They can't have a co-captain with such a bad attitude, can they?
Dan Arkush: (4:08 PM ET ) I like the way the new head coach was able to at least get Faneca to reconsider participating in the recent mini. I see Faneca playing out his contract and moving on to another team via free agency, with the Cardinals being a good bet. Will he be a problem in the mean time? My money's on Tomlin being able to keep him under control.
brandon: CA: The niners gave up more points than any other team last year. With all of the acquistions on defense in FA and the draft how improved should we expect them to be?
Dan Arkush: (4:11 PM ET ) They certainly have done a lot, but it remains to be seen how much better their pass rush will be, which is a big key. First-round pick Patrick Willis is eventually going to be outstanding, but as was the case with first-rounder manny Lawson last year, the light might not go on right away. Another very subtle but significant key is the new guy on the nose, ex-Raven Aubrayo Franklin. I believe the defense will be improved enough to make the Niners a legitimate threat in the tight NFC West.
Sunil (NY): Gimmie some hope that at least one team will want Ricky Williams on their roster when he gets cleared to play, that is if he will get cleared to play. What do you think Goodell's stance will be on him? It seems like he has changed and wants to be better
Dan Arkush: (4:13 PM ET ) I don't think the new sheriff is going to give Ricky a lot of leeway, and at the moment I just don't see Williams being able to stay clean. Sorry, Sunil.
eric, (ny): would you say Rex Grossman will have a "breakout" season since picking Wolfe and Olsen and switching Hester to the offense since many teams took away Berrian and the deep ball at the end of last year?
Dan Arkush: (4:15 PM ET ) Olsen certainly gives Grossman a badly needed intermediate target that you'd think would open up the passing game and give Grossman more options. But consistency is the key for Grossman, who looked brilliant early on last season but scarily ineffective when it counted most in the Super Bowl. Hey, I've always liked the kid. He's got a major-league arm, no doubt. But when he's bad, he's really bad.
Mark (NC): How do the Panthers look going into camp and what can I expect from them this year?
Dan Arkush: (4:18 PM ET ) Mark, as you know the Panthers were a popular pick last year to go a loing way in the NFC, and we all saw what happened. I was a little worried after they really did nothing this offseason except give Jake Delhomme something to think about when they added David Carr. But, man, did they hit a home run in the draft, picking up four excellent players with their fiirst 4 picks that I think really upgrade the roster. I also think Steve Smith will have a much better season with his new contract and rookie Dwayne jarrett as an intriguing complement. I see the Panthers really pushing the Saints hard in the NFC south.
Steve (Freeport, IL): Speaking of being really bad, how bad do you think the Packers RB situation is? Would they be doing themselves a favor by signing a veteran RB? C. Brown maybe?
Dan Arkush: (4:21 PM ET ) That might not be a bad idea, Steve. If anything, it might appease Brett Favre a little bit. Ted Thompson has his own way of doing things. A Vernand Morency/Brandon jackson tag team certainly doesn't strike much fear. Compare that to what the division-rival Vikes now have to offer with Peterson and Taylor.
Jessie (Rochester, N.Y.): Do you see the Bills making a push for the playoffs this year?
Dan Arkush: (4:23 PM ET ) Not really. I could see .500 if they're lucky. they just lost so much on defense and still have too many question marks on defense. I love the guys in charge, but the Pats and Jets both look much stronger to me in the AFC East.
Chico (Chicago): For as much heat as the 'Phins are taking about their draft. Is there a chance that a healthy Ginn will be the fastest player in the league?
Dan Arkush: (4:25 PM ET ) Oh, yeah, there's no doubt about that. But will he be healthy???? I still can't believe that, after all the medical red flags with Daunte culpepper, that they would commit to a guy whose availability this summer is so up in the air at the moment. But they love what they did,. Chico. We'll see soon enough.
Travis (Canada): Dan, as a loyal buying of your companies mags, I figure you could at least try to answer my question, since I keep you employed and all. What should the Saints do with some high paid vets that don't play to their cap value, also will clubs be looking at them as a quick fix/blue print to turn around their club this season?
Dan Arkush: (4:30 PM ET ) Travis, GM Mickey Loomis knows what he's doing, and I don't see him opening the coffers to players who are going to underachieve. the thing is, under Sean payton, I didn't really see any slackers at all. As for the Saints being a blueprint, I think that could be the case in that they used the perfect blend of helping themselves via free agency (Brees) and the draft (Bush, colston, etc.) and have really strong centerpieces both physically and mentally in coach payton and Drew Brees.
Brandon (PA): Why didn't the Eagles trade Mcnabb for some draft picks in the off season, resign Garcia for one year and draft Kolb, would have been a lot of less headaches.
Dan Arkush: (4:34 PM ET ) Brandon, you're squeamishness about the situation in Philly is understandable, with McNabb feeling the need to hold is own unsolicited press conferences and what not to assure everybody he's A-Ok with everything that's going on. But let's remember: Donovan was playing lights out when he got hurt last year, and if Andy Reid continues to commit to more of a run game featuring Westbrook, I think the Eagles will be in good shape.
Joe (New York): Do you think Eli will finally take a step foward and become the leader that the G men need?
Dan Arkush: (4:36 PM ET ) I think this is the year he really needs to turn it up a notch, much in the same way Grossman needs to put up or shut up in Chicago and Mike vick needs to click on a consistent basis in Atlanta. I like Plaxico's willingness to work more with Eli this offseason. that should help in the long run.
kenny banya, nyc: the players in dallas seem happier with wade phillips and his "laid back approach. do you think he will help with his personality...or are players just realizing the he is perhaps a polar opposite of the tuna and capitalizing on those differences as an excuse for last year's meltdown?
Dan Arkush: (4:40 PM ET ) They should be happy with Wade Phillips, Kenny. If you look at his track record as a head coach, you will find that it's not too shabby at all. Beyond that, he is a flat-out good guy with a totally different persona than Parcells, who is getting picked on all the sudden by the likes of T.O. and Julius Jones, who suddenly feels "un-robotized." It's interesting that T.O. isn't making as many waves. I think the chemistry will be much better in big D.
Larry (FLA): Dan--why did the Colts trade a #1 in '08 for OT Ugoh out of Arkansas? What did they see that others didn't? And comment on the rest of the Colts draft? THANKS!
Dan Arkush: (4:44 PM ET ) Larry, we've been asking that question a lot among ourselves at PFW because we really don't see the upside that the Colts see. They think he'll be the next Tarik Glenn, but hiw work ethic is going to have to improve a ton before that happens. As for the rest of their draft, Gonzalez could be a great new toy for Peyton in the slot to makes an impact right away. I see both corners Huges and Coe fitting in right away, and Quinn Pitcock is another good "system" fit. Bottom line: Polian always knows what he's doing. But the verdict is way out on Ugoh.
Kevin (Manassas): How good can Laron Landry be, and what are your thoughts on the Skins going into the second year of Saunders offense with Campbell?
Dan Arkush: (4:46 PM ET ) I think he can be very good, Kevin, but here's the biggest question: HOW MUCH ARE THE SKINS GOING TO PAY HIM???/ You can bet your bottom dollar that Sean Taylor is waiting for an answer to that question. As for the offense under Saunders in Year Two, I see substantial improvement. I also see a big bounce-back year for Clinton Portis.
Ted (Muskegon, MI): Do you think the Lions will at least finish ahead of GB and Minnie in the NFC North?
Dan Arkush: (4:49 PM ET ) I could see them pushing the Packers a lot harder than the Vikings, Ted. But they still have a long way to go before being anywhere close to a real factor. But mark my words: Calvin Johnson is going to make up for all that grief the Lions have had at wide receiver. I think he will be outstanding right from the start.
Jason (New York): Do you think Kellen Clemens will replace Pennington as the Jets starter in the near future?
Dan Arkush: (4:51 PM ET ) It's Chad show until further notice, Jason. He earned that status after the way he played last year. Clemens' time will come, but I don't see it coming any time soon unless Pennington gets hurt again.
josh, new orleans: Who will rush for more yards this year regie bush or deuce mccalister
Dan Arkush: (4:52 PM ET ) I'm going to say Deuce will have more rushing yards, but Reggie will narrow the gap and have a lot more total yards.
Jeff (Iowa): Is the hype over Atlanta's new offense overexaggerated in your opinion?
Dan Arkush: (4:54 PM ET ) Well, Petrino has a decent reputation. But I still think the Falcons' receiver corps leaves a lot to be desired. Vick will never get that completion percetage over 60 percent if he doesn't have reliable enough receivers, and right now, Alge Crumpler is the only guy that qualifies.
Todd, Houston: Will the Texans ever give their QB any help? AJ is amazing, and Ahman will probably be solid for another year, but the rest of the O is worthless.
Dan Arkush: (4:55 PM ET ) Todd, I'm not going to tell you anything you don't know, buddy. The Texans' biggest problem is a really crappy offensive line --- AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
Joe (Seattle): Are the Bears, Eagles and Seahawks the three best teams in the NFC right now?
Dan Arkush: (4:58 PM ET ) No. I'd put the Bears in the top three, but the Eagles are too iffy to me, and the Seahawks are starting to show some cracks.
Right now my top 3 in the NFC in no particular order are the Bears, Cowboys and Saints, with the Panthers right on the cusp. OK, friends, two more questions before signing off.
Ed (Jacksonville): Do you think the jags could be a good sleeper pick to make a big bang this season? They were hit hard with injuries last season and now Carr is gone and cna't beat them twice a year?
Dan Arkush: (4:59 PM ET ) Leftwich is the key, Ed. The defense is excellent and the running game is top-notch. But the QB play continues to be an enigma.
Dean ((WI)): Was it a bad move for the packers to not get Randy Moss???The packers do have double d(Donald Driver), Greg Jennings, Koren Robinson, Robert Ferguson, and Ruvell Martin????
Dan Arkush: (5:03 PM ET ) Dean, I'll say this: For a mere fourth-round pick, you can't pass on Moss, especially if he's running 4.29 40s down in Florida. But I think he's on the decline talent wise and has a lot to prove in New England. In the long run, I see him imploding again. I don't think Brett will be sorry the pack avoided Moss after all is said and done. Thank you, everybody. As always, it's been fun.
