September 06, 2010 | Volume 113, Issue 8

I thought, from that morning on, I would be scoring touchdowns ... all my life and never be touched or tackled.

This team has talent, but does it have toughness? If so, the playoffs are in reach

2009 Record: 9--7

Kareem Jackson, Cornerback

The talent is there—leadership and maturity are the pressing issues

2009 Record: 8--8

Derrick Morgan, Defensive end

A local product will try to revive Florida's fan-starved franchise

2009 Record: 7--9

Tyson Alualu, Defensive tackle

Holdouts at critical positions could scuttle Year 1 of the post-Tomlinson era

2009 Record: 13--3

Ryan Mathews, Running back

The ground game could be solid if Darren McFadden can stay on the field

2009 Record: 5--11

Jason Campbell, Quarterback

It's Kyle Orton's team—for now—and he looks ready to rise to the challenge

2009 Record: 8--8

Robert Ayers, Linebacker

The draft class of 2010 should set the tone for a long-term turnaround

2009 Record: 4--12

Thomas Jones, Running back

Resuscitating a once dominant defense? Looks like a job for Superman

2009 Record: 8--8

Steve Smith, Wide receiver

An explosive, every-down back is needed, and Felix Jones says he's ready

2009 Record: 11--5

Doug Free, Left tackle

New quarterback, new feature back and a new commitment to toughness

2009 Record: 11--5

LeSean McCoy, Running back

Mike Shanahan arrives to, ahem, adjust some attitudes in D.C.

2009 Record: 4--12

London Fletcher, Linebacker

Their prospects are Super—if they can see their former icon as just another QB

2009 Record: 11--5

A.J. Hawk, Linebacker

The Man returns, but will he have the weapons to repeat last year's magic?

2009 Record: 12--4

Adrian Peterson, Running back

An offensive whiz arrives on the Midway to inject some life into the attack

2009 Record: 7--9

Brian Urlacher, Linebacker

Is that the sun peeking through the clouds over the Motor City 11?

2009 Record: 2--14

Kyle Vanden Bosch, Defensive end

Bruce Schoenfeld's article captured the romantic essence of a lost art in baseball. I wish more writers would pay attention to the nuances and details of sports. To hear players speak of the...

A Lombardi Trophy doesn't mean there's no room to improve, especially on D

2009 Record: 13--3

Tracy Porter, Cornerback

A smart, low-risk offense will be the key to Carolina's hopes this season

2009 record: 8--8

Everette Brown, Defensive end

The defense must coalesce for this maturing team to contend consistently

2009 Record: 9--7

Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker

It's the Dungy blueprint: Lay the foundation, and a title will come. Eventually

2009 Record: 3--13

Josh Freeman, Quarterback

Mike Singletary's crew will go as far as quarterback Alex Smith can take them

2009 Record: 8--8

Frank Gore, Running back

New coach Pete Carroll hopes a jolt of intensity will result in wins

2009 Record: 5-11

Aaron Curry, Linebacker

An All-Pro receiver waits to see if someone—anyone—can get him the ball

2009 Record: 10--6

Kerry Rhodes, Safety

A berth in the playoffs is a long shot, but Steven Jackson runs on and on

2009 Record: 1--15

Sam Bradford, Quarterback

Every SI Story ... Every SI Photo ... Ever SI.COM/VAULT

ALL TOO FAMILIAR

This couldn't be the right room. It was only a clinic door, but when he swung it open, Wesley Walls passed through a portal to his future. He stood among bingo-hall sharks with their sock-hop...

In a pivotal scene from the upcoming drama, Vince Lombardi shows his Packers the play that will make them the first Super Bowl dynasty

Who's Hot

An ex--LPGA star's antimosque rant has divided the golf community

A Kentucky State Fair blue ribbon for home brewing was awarded to the maker of a bitter beer called Blackmail Ale, which features a picture on its label of Karen Sypher, the woman convicted of...

Claimed

1,000

Bud Selig

Book it: Stephen Strasburg will be back and firing full force

Eddie Swanson

The Interview

The Spurs prepare for the post--Tim Duncan era in familiar fashion: with an overlooked import, Tiago Splitter

Messy Divorce

By reinventing his swing, late-blooming Jose Bautista turned himself into this year's breakout slugger

The Cardinals appeared to wrest control of the NL Central by sweeping the Reds in a brawl-marred series in early August. After that, however, St. Louis dropped 10 of 15 games to fall five games...

Under fire for reasons on and off the field, Rich Rodriguez enters Week 1 with much already at stake

Kickoff Classics

Six-Point Landing

As rosters and roles come into focus, these players are looking even better than they did when practice started

Giving Props

CLOCKWORK FOOTBALL

GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, WHICH IS WHY THE BEARS TOOK A $91.5 MILLION CHANCE ON DEFENSIVE END JULIUS PEPPERS—HIS CRITICS BE DAMNED

PEPPERS BENEFITED FROM HIS THREE-SPORT BACKGROUND, BUT, SAYS HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH, "I THINK HIS BURST IS FROM GOD."

Here are SI's five most fearsome pass rushers for 2010 and beyond. They'll chase and drop quarterbacks for the next half decade.

HE HAS THE STRONG ARM AND DRAMATIC FLAIR. BUT FOR MARK SANCHEZ TO BE A TRUE STAR, HE MUST DEVELOP THE NFL QB'S SIXTH SENSE

PETER KING'S PREDICTIONS

My philosophy? Past performance is no guarantee of future results, August is packed with false positives, and there's no morals clause for the postseason. Expect the unexpected—and look for a...

A big, bad and ever-improving tackle should clear a path to the postseason