Ten Predictions for the upcoming season

With the NFL preseason well under way, it's time to make some predictions that will inevitably be proven way wrong in the next four months. Regardless, here we go:

1. Calvin Johnson will not be Offensive Rookie of the Year. The number two overall pick in this year's draft has been considered by most, the best player in the draft class by a wide margin. And therefore, he is a heavy favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. But, in today's NFL, the only sure thing is the fact that nothing is for sure. Look for Marshawn Lynch in Buffalo to take the award.

2. The Patriots ARE as good as people think. It has been trendy to go against the trendy pick lately. Which means a lot of people are calling the Patriots overrated after many others called them Super Bowl favorites. Don't be fooled though. The Patriots were one poor half of football away from another Super Bowl appearance, and possibly victory, last season. This season they return all their strengths, and eliminated their weaknesses. If there's one thing I learned over the last six years, it's to not underestimate the New England Patriots.

3. Willis McGahee will make everyone in Baltimore forget about Jamal Lewis. Lewis gave the Ravens offense absolutely no big play ability. That, combined with McNair giving the passing game no big play ability, made that offense very stagnant. Meanwhile, McGahee has been stuck in Buffalo his whole career. Despite that, he has still had a relatively successful career. He can be the durable every down back that Lewis was, and supply some explosiveness that the Raven's offense has never had. McGahee will have a big season in Baltimore.

4. Trent Green will not start more than ten games for the Miami Dolphins this season. I can't figure out why everyone thinks that Green solves all of Miami's offensive problems. Did everyone forget how bad Kansas City's passing game was last season before he got hurt? Did everyone forget how Green had one of the worst performances in the playoff loss to Indianapolis? Trent Green is on the downside of his career, and he will just be another member on a Miami offense full of underperformers.

5. The Saints will return to the NFC championship game. Last year was no fluke. Coach Sean Payton has all the weapons, and he knows how to use them. The Saints offense is that good, and the NFC is bad enough that they will be able to get by without a mediocre defense.

6. Vince Young will struggle in his sophomore season. This is partly because of the simple fact that he set the bar pretty high in his rookie season, and it will be difficult for him to improve upon that at this point in his career. But also, it is difficult for a young QB when opposing defensive coordinators start to accumulate game film on them. Just look at Tony Romo from a year ago. The first five games of his career, he looked like the second coming of Troy Aikman. But, then opposing teams started adjusting. And he struggled like a young QB should. Vince Young should be a good, if not great, NFL QB. Just not this season.

7. Jeff Garcia will be successful in Tampa Bay. Garcia had a ressurection last season while replacing injured Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, leading the team to the playoffs in the process. However, he didn't fit in Philly's plans, and moved on to the Buccaneers. He will be a perfect fit for Jon Gruden's offense. Think Brad Johnson during the Buc's Super Bowl run a few years back. Both are smart, quick thinking guys, capable of running the west coast offense as good as anybody.

8. At least one participant in the Super Bowl will have gotten there because of their offense. I know the saying, "Defense wins championships," and I generally believe it, but times are a changing. The league is, and has been for a while, changing toward a more offensive, higher scoring game. And teams like the Saints, Colts, and Eagles are taking advantage of it. I expect one of them to be in the Super Bowl.

9. Ron Jawroski will be criticized for his performance on the Monday Night Football broadcast. Ok, so maybe this isn't much of a prediction, since pretty much everyone has criticized whoever ESPN throws into the booth. Personally, I think I will enjoy Jaws as part of the broadcast, but that won't stop the complaints from pouring in.

10. Andy Reid will be the Coach of the Year. Pretty simple here. The Eagles will amass a nice record, and Andy Reid has been a contender for the award for many of the past eight years. It is his time.