Baltimore is a good darkhorse pick. McNair completely changes the makeup of that team. With Boller, they were hoping the quarterback wouldn't screw things up. With McNair, the quarterback will be an asset. That position might actually win a few games for them.

Derrick Mason has to be healthy. He caught 105 balls and lead the league in receptions the last time he had Steve throwing to him.

We'll see if McNair can stay healthy. If he does, the Ravens should be one of the better teams in the AFC.

The d-line should be much improved with Trevor Pryce and Haloti Nagata, assuming the rookie lives up to his potential. They should run interference for Ray Lewis, allowing him to come back strong. Losing Lewis and Ed Reed for long stretches were disasters last year, so their defensive struggles last year were an aberration.

I will be making my Super Bowl selection soon. I want to see how training camp developments go. I was considering Carolina and Baltimore myself, but that may be homer-ism. (I live in Richmond, so Caro and Balt are two of the teams I read about more often. I love Gibbs, and I love the job he did last year, but I just don't see our local 'Skins as a truly serious contender.)

I hate to say it, but the Cowboys have to get consideration. Their offensive line might be their downfall.

It's funny. In all the predictions I've seen so far this summer, I haven't seen anyone pick the Patriots to get back to the big game. Age may have finally caught up to them, especially on the lines. Dillon's older, but they drafted Maroney to spell him. McGinest going is a huge loss. They've probably seen their better days, but if no one else sticks out to me in the AFC, I may end up picking them.

I won't fall for the Colts hype this year. No matter how good they are against the lower echelon teams, they just don't seem to be built for the playoffs.

__________________
"The Gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us." - King Lear