Just look at how Emmitt had to hurdle over "trash" last year.

	That's right Vinny,you're the starting quarterback again.

Preseason football is no longer about developing young players, tinkering and refining offensive and defensive schemes and preparing starters to operate at peak performance. Preseason is all about survival. A victory in the preseason is considered coming away unscathed of any injuries. Rising stars Mike Vick and Chad Pennington both succumbed to major injuries with the latter fracturing and dislocating his wrist on his non-throwing arm, which may cost him the entire season. The Jets promising momentum built last year that started with the anointing of Pennington as starter has all but completely faded. Gone is top receiver and Pennington favourite, Laveranues Coles who high jacked a Brinks truck and made his way to Washington. Pennington is done for 12 weeks and possibly the entire year forcing the Jets to clean the formaldehyde off of 39-year old Vinny Testaverde and throw him back in as the starter. Going from Pennington to Testaverde is like reverting your lifestyle on Saturday from martini bars and trendy cocktail bars to science and comic book conventions followed by games of Risk. It's definitely not a positive forward progression for fans of the Jets.

Here's a suggestion for Mike Vick: throw the ball away if no one is open. Trust me, the Atlanta management will not get angry with you, especially if the play in question comes in the preseason. Vick fractured his fibula while trying to scramble away from Ravens defenders before being awkwardly tackled. It's a hard message of conservatism to teach Vick because instinctively he's a playmaker than can break open a big play out of seemingly nothing. Just try to be conservative with Vick in Madden 2004. It's impossible! You want to create something with him every time. You're always thinking you can break open a big 60-yard run.

Emmitt Smith may have supplanted Mark Messier as poster child for trying to extend the length of a once successful career by signing a deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Even if you disagree with Emmitt's decision you have to love his comment on what last season was like with the Cowboys: "I felt like a diamond surrounded by trash". I mean there's no way out of that one. You can't exactly say that you got misquoted. There is no other interpretation of that comment. Emmitt = Diamond. Other players, coaches and management on the Cowboys = Trash. It will be interesting to see how the Cowboys treat him in their October 5th match up this year.

Cover 2 is the copycat concept of the year. Team after team will attempt to deploy the Bucs successful defensive schemes. Problem is teams don't have players that possess that incredible athletic ability of Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and NFL defensive player of the year Derrick Brooks. There isn't a better set of DT's in the league than the awesome combination of Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland. This quote from Warren Sapp sums up my sentiments: "You can't just put this team on a Xerox machine, hit the 'print' button and expect the same thing to come out from the other end," Sapp said. "The last time I checked, the only guy around with a twin is (Ronde) Barber, and you can't clone what's here."

It's a pretty safe bet that the Super Bowl will once again be played from a neutral site as the Houston Texans host the big game this year. In fact there has never been a Super Bowl played where the host city was home for one of the two participants. The next two Super Bowl's after that will be played in Jacksonville and Detroit, which ensure that the trend will continue for a few more years.

The Arizona Cardinals look to be the odds on favourite of unseating the Lions and Bengals as worst team. The Cardinals 2003 season will be like the announcement of a corporation's earnings/losses. Have you ever seen or read about one of these announcements. I mean how bad is a company doing when a $250 million loss is better than initially expected. So the projection for the Cardinals this year is to go 0-16. If they win a single game then that takes on that same $250 million-loss-is-better-than-we-could have-ever-hoped-for feeling. Ahhh, lowered expectations. Get used to them Arizona fans.

A clear sign that your team is in for a tough season, Kordell Stewart is your starting quarterback. "Yeah, I'll take $10 on the Bears opponent to beat the spread."

Anyone else think Bill Romonowski should be carted to games ala Hannibal Lector? Dude is a crazed maniac that would be serving 5-10 in a county jail if he performed the same acts he displays on the football field as a regular civilian. During the Super Bowl pre-game show we were introduced to his tackle boxes filled with roid's and other performance goodies that he not only uses but he also has gotten his son to use. After his latest mauling of a teammate, a 2nd year backup TE just beginning his pro career, which included leaving the guy with a broken orbital bone, busted nose and potential end to his career, Romo can officially be labeled a psycho.

	In only one short year Shockey has become a huge popular figure.

Jeremy Shockey has quickly asserted himself as one of, if not New York's biggest sports celebrity with his party lifestyle, loose mouth and overall excitement that follows him. If Yankees slugger Jason Giambi and Shockey haven't already met someone needs to introduce them. These guys would produce the greatest nightlife stories. If you forgot, Giambi was the one that coined the three-star philosophy to life: "Play like an All-star, Party like a Rock Star and Hammer like a Porn Star". HBO needs to pick up this concept and make it a weekly show. Guaranteed entertainment!

So for the next six months all you fans need to do is sit back and enjoy the action of the best current league in professional sports.