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Camp opens: July 30
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Where: McDaniel College, Westminster, Md.
Key newcomers: RB Mike Anderson (released/Denver); P Leo Araguz (FA/Seattle); C Chris Chester (2nd round/Oklahoma); DT Haloti Ngata (1st round/Oregon); QB Steve McNair (trade/Tennessee); DE Trevor Pryce (released/Denver).
The buzz: The acquisition of McNair, the 2002 co-MVP with Tennessee, will make camp interesting. Incumbent QB Kyle Boller, a first round pick in 2003, just never came around. Though battered and beaten down, McNair gives the Ravens a proven quarterback. Adding a couple of aging ex-Broncos in Anderson and Pryce might help. Either way, the Ravens are looking to bounce back from a horrendous '05 season.
Camp opens: July 29
Where: Georgetown (Ky.) College
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Key newcomers: DT Sam Adams (released/Buffalo); WR Antonio Chatman (FA/Green Bay); SS Dexter Jackson (FA/Tampa Bay); CB Johnathan Joseph (1st round/South Carolina); OT Andrew Whitworth (2nd round/LSU); QB Anthony Wright (FA/Baltimore).
The buzz: We'll never know what would have happened in the AFC playoffs had QB Carson Palmer's knee not been injured when he threw a 66-yard reception in the first quarter of the Bengals' first postseason game in 15 years. Doesn't matter. What does matter in Cincinnati is that Palmer (67.8 percent, 3,836 yards, 32 TDs, 12 interceptions) gets back under center as soon as possible. While their franchise player rehabbed, the Bengals tried to upgrade a defense that led the league in forcing turnovers (44) but finished 28th overall and 26th against the pass. Look for Joseph to be in the lineup early. He'll be another playmaker, but what the Bengals really need are better tacklers.
Camp opens: July 23 (rookies); July 26 (veterans)
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Where: Cleveland Browns Training Facility, Berea, Ohio.
Key newcomers: C LeCharles Bentley (FA/New Orleans); QB Ken Dorsey (trade/San Francisco); LB D'Qwell Jackson (2nd round/Maryland); WR Joe Jurevicius (FA/Seattle); LB Willie McGinest (released/New England); OT Kevin Shaffer (FA/Atlanta); DT Ted Washington (FA/Oakland); LB Kamerion Wimbley (1st round/Florida State); P Dave Zastudil (FA/Baltimore).
The buzz: Lots to do in Year 2 under Romeo Crennel. The Browns were aggressive in free agency, with the landing of Bentley, one of the game's best centers, and McGinest, an unquestioned leader of three world champions in New England, definite eye openers. Rookies Wimbley and Jackson should become instant starters on a defense that was 16th overall but 30th against the run. The biggest question is at quarterback. Charlie Frye, an '05 third round, showed mixed results as a rookie but is the unquestioned starter in what looks like a good AFC North. He'll be in charge of an offense that scored a league-low 232 points and just four rushing touchdowns.
EAST
Camp opens: July 28
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Where: St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, N.Y.
Key newcomers: SS Matt Bowen (Released/Washington); DT John McCargo (1st round/ NC State); QB Craig Nall (FA/Green Bay); WR Peerless Price (released/Dallas); TE Robert Royal (FA/Washington); FS Ko Simpson (4th round/South Carolina); DT Larry Tripplett (FA/Indianapolis); LB Courtney Watson (trade/New Orleans); SS Donte Whitner (1st round/Ohio State); CB Ashton Youboty (3rd round/Ohio State).
The buzz: Much was expected of the Bills last season, but they turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments of '05. So owner Ralph Wilson, 87, opted for sweeping changes, firing general manager Tom Donahoe and chasing away coach Mike Mularkey, then turning the front office over to Marv Levy, 80, to team with retread coach Dick Jauron. The Bills were bad on both sides of the ball last season (28th in total offense, 29th in defense).
Camp opens: July 28
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Where: Dolphins Training Center, Davie, Fla.
Key newcomers: S Jason Allen (1st round/Tennessee); CB Will Allen (released/N.Y. Giants); FB Fred Beasley (FA/San Francisco); QB Daunte Culpepper (trade/Minnesota); CB Andre Goodman (FA/Detroit); WR Derek Hagan (3rd round/Arizona State); QB Joey Harrington (trade/Detroit); SS Renaldo Hill (FA/Oakland).
The buzz: The Saban lovefest continued in the offseason when the team made the blockbuster acquisition -- for a mere second round -- of Culpepper, who fell out of favor in Minnesota. Last season, the Dolphins won with Gus Frerotte completing just 52 percent of his passes. Now comes Culpepper, a career 64.4 percent thrower with a big arm and scary mobility. The catch? He is coming off reconstructive knee surgery, which means his health will be daily news the next few weeks (his rehab reportedly is ahead of schedule). Ricky Williams' one-year drug suspension elevates second-year RB Ronnie Brown (907 yards, four TDs) to main-man status.
Camp opens: July 28
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Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
Key newcomers: WR Reche Caldwell (FA/San Diego); K Stephen Gostkowski (4th round/Memphis); K Martin Gramatica (FA); WR Chad Jackson (2nd round/Florida); RB Laurence Maroney (1st round/Minnesota); CB Eric Warfield (FA/Kansas City).
The buzz: On their way to their first offseason without a Super Bowl celebration since '03, the Patriots looked back on a defense that finished 26th overall and next-to-last against the pass. So what did Bill Belichick do to fix a unit that also lost LB Willie McGinest in free agency? He used his first two draft choices on skill-position offensive players, of course. In other words, Belichick hopes he can tweak the defense in camp. Of greater concern, though, might be filling the canyon-like void left by departed K Adam Vinatieri.
Camp opens: July 28
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Where: Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
Key newcomers: QB Kellen Clemens (2nd round/Oregon); WR Tim Dwight (FA/New England); OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (1st round/Virginia); C Nick Mangold (1st round/Ohio State); QB Patrick Ramsey (trade/Washington); DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen (FA/Steelers).
The buzz: The disastrous final season of the Herman Edwards era led to sweeping changes for the Jets, who are under new management. In GM Mike Tannenbaum (promoted from within) and new coach Eric Mangini (former defensive coordinator in New England), the team is in the hands of energetic 30-somethings. Their first moves were to use two first rounds to help overhaul the line of the No. 31 offense.
SOUTH
Camp opens: July 27
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Where: Houston Texans Practice Facility, Houston.
Key newcomers: FB Jameel Cook (FA/Tampa Bay); LB Sam Cowart (FA/Minnesota); C Mike Flanagan (FA/Green Bay); WR Eric Moulds (trade/Buffalo); TE Jeb Putzier (Released/Denver); LB DeMeco Ryans (2nd round/Alabama); WR Kevin Walter (RFA/Cincinnati); DE Anthony Weaver (FA/Baltimore); DE Mario Williams (1st round/North Carolina State).
The buzz: Three months ago, everyone figured Texans camp would be buzzing with Reggie Bush hysteria, but the team went with Williams and must live with the consequences. Houston had the No. 31 overall defense, ranked last against the rush (143.9 yards per game), forced the fewest turnovers (16) and surrendered the most points (431), so Williams needn't apologize to anyone. But a live wire such as Bush certainly would have made life easier for battered QB David Carr.
Camp opens: July 30
Where: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind.
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Key newcomers: RB Joseph Addai (1st round/LSU); CB Tim Jennings (2nd round/Georgia); K Adam Vinatieri (FA/New England).
The buzz: By now, the Colts have had time to decompress from an '05 season that was the most turbulent in the league. After starting 13-0 and dealing with the weekly pressure of going undefeated, coach Tony Dungy (and his team) had to deal with his 19-year-old son's suicide. Still, the question isn't how the Colts will bounce back from such a devastating end to the season, but rather how they'll deal with the defection of RB Edgerrin James to Arizona.
Camp opens: July 28
Where: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville.
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Key newcomers: RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd round/UCLA); LB Nick Greisen (FA/N.Y. Giants); LB Clint Ingram (3rd round/Oklahoma); TE Marcedes Lewis (1st round/UCLA); OT Stockar McDougle (released/Miami); CB Brian Williams (FA/Minnesota); OT Mike Williams (released/Buffalo).
The buzz: Nine of final 10 games last season were against opponents who finished 6-10 or worse. Now back to reality: In the first month, Jacksonville faces four teams that a year ago combined to win 49 games (playoffs included). The defense (No. 6 overall last season) has propelled the Jaguars to a 21-11 record the past two seasons, but now QB Byron Leftwich and friends have to reach the next level. Leftwich had fewer turnovers and more success inside the opponents' 20-yard line last year, but now he must deal with the retirement of WR Jimmy Smith, who led the club with 70 catches last season. Former first-rounders Matt Jones and Reggie Williams need to approach their lofty expectations.
Camp opens: July 28
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Where: State/Baptist Sports Park, Clarksville, Tenn.
Key newcomers: WR David Givens (FA/New England); FS Chris Hope (FA/Steelers); C Kevin Mawae (released/N.Y. Jets); LB David Thornton (FA/Indianapolis); RB LenDale White (2nd round/USC); QB Vince Young (1st round/Texas).
The buzz: The Steve McNair era is over; how long before the Young era begins? Billy Volek has put together some impressive statistics as a backup -- he had consecutive 400-yard passing games in 2004 -- and will keep the seat warm while Young learns the nuances of the NFL. If White comes to camp in shape, incumbent RBs Travis Henry and Chris Brown could have some free time on their hands. Defensively, the Titans ranked 19th last season and forced only 20 turnovers.
The three other AFC South teams made upgrades that should show this year. That might not be the case for Tennessee. Coach Jeff Fisher, now in his 12th full season, is about to start feeling the first serious heat of his Titans tenure.
WEST
Camp opens: July 27
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Where: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Centre, Englewood, Colo.
Key newcomers: QB Jay Cutler (1st round/Vanderbilt); DE Kenard Lang (released/Cleveland); WR Brandon Marshall (4th round/UCF); TE Tony Scheffler (2nd round/Western Michigan); WR Javon Walker (trade/Green Bay).
The buzz: The Broncos did not stand pat after reaching the AFC title game. Coach Mike Shanahan fired two cannonballs into his offense on draft weekend, making trades to move up and select Cutler and to acquire Walker, who missed almost all of last season with a knee injury. QB Jake Plummer was horrible in the home playoff loss, so Cutler represents a statement about the future. When the Broncos got hurt last year, it usually was because of their 29th-ranked pass defense.
Camp opens: July 27
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Where: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, Wisc.
Key newcomers: DT Ron Edwards (FA/Buffalo); RB Quentin Griffin (FA/Denver); DE Tamba Hali (1st round/Penn State); S Bernard Pollard (2nd round/Purdue); DT James Reed (FA/N.Y. Jets); CB Lenny Walls (FA/Denver).
The buzz: The Chiefs were just the fourth team to win 10 games and miss the postseason since the league expanded its playoff format in 1990. Along the way, they uncovered a superstar in RB Larry Johnson (1,750 yards, 20 TDs), who will go into camp as the focal point of an offense that ranked No. 1 in the league. Enter new coach Herman Edwards, whose greatest task might be easing the transition at the offensive coordinator post, where Mike Solari (former offensive line coach) must replace the departed Al Saunders, now in Washington. The defense always is a work in progress in K.C.
Camp opens: July 24
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Where: Napa Valley Marriott, Napa Valley, Calif.
Key newcomers: QB Aaron Brooks (released/New Orleans); LB Henri Crockett (FA/Minnesota); OLB Thomas Howard (2nd round/UTEP); S Michael Huff (1st round/Texas); DE Lance Johnstone (FA/Minnesota); CB Duane Starks (released/New England).
The buzz: After an 11-year hiatus, Art Shell returns to the Silver and Black. Shell was 56-41 as Raiders coach from 1989-94, doing so as the first black head coach of the modern era. His task will be getting the Raiders out of the modern-era mind-set of Norv Turner and back to the kind of old-school mentality in which Shell was groomed. It's not going to be easy. This team has weaknesses (especially at quarterback), needs to get tougher running the ball (Shell was one of the best offensive linemen of his era) and must be better than No. 27 on defense. Oakland's measly five interceptions ranked last in the NFL.
Camp opens: July 24 (rookies); July 28 (veterans)
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Where: Chargers Park, San Diego.
Key newcomers: CB Antonio Cromartie (1st round/Florida State); FS Marlon McCree (FA/Carolina); OT Marcus McNeil (2nd round/Auburn); WR Rashaun Woods (trade/San Francisco).
The buzz: Drew Brees was an outstanding quarterback for the Chargers the past two seasons, but his price, plus the cost of keeping a former No. 1 pick on the bench, necessitated the start of the Philip Rivers era. Rivers has just four games and 30 passes to show for two NFL seasons, and he'll take over a team that's 21-11 the past two seasons. Rivers needs to grow up quickly -- without much help at receiver, by the way -- or else TB LaDainian Tomlinson will see a lot of eight-man fronts. The Chargers were No. 1 against the run but 28th against the pass, so improving the secondary is vital.
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