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Who
do you think will take the AFC East? Post your picks on our Discussion
Board.
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your hot AFC East photo links at mail@outsports.com
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AFC EAST
2000 Preview, Photo Links Below
| How Jim Sees It |
How Cyd Sees It |
1.
Indianapolis Colts
What's to Like: The Triplets, Manning, James and Harrison. They give the Colts a stud at quarterback, running back and receiver. ... 21 of last year's 22 starters return, with the lone newcomer being an upgrade at linebacker with BYU rookie Rob Morris. ... Rest of division in turmoil, making Colts' playoff road much easier than 1999.
What's Not to Like: Jim Mora is 0-5 lifetime as a playoff coach. ... If Manning goes
down there's nobody capable as a backup.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: They'll be in Tampa playing in the Super Bowl.
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1.
Indianapolis Colts
What's to Like: Last year's big "risk" in the first round of the NFL draft was the Colts' taking RB
Edgerrin James. After one season, he was declared part of the next great NFL dynasty. Their offensive
line is one of the best in football and should continue to open holes for James and give QB Peyton
Manning time to throw.
What's Not to Like: Coach Jim Mora is 0-5 in the playoffs, and Manning has failed to win the big games
- both at U. of Tennessee and at Indianapolis.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: 13-3. Another home loss in the playoffs.
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2.
Buffalo Bills
What's to Like: Some terrific young players in WRs Eric Moulds and Peerless Price; CB Antoine Winfield, DE Marcellus Wiley, DT Pat Williams and LB John Holocek. ... Rob Johnson has a stronger arm than Doug Flutie and should bring the long game back. ... A tough place to play when the winds start blowing in November.
What's Not to Like: Major offseason shuffle. Losing Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith leaves
locker room short of veteran leadership. ... Quarterback controversy looms. If Johnson gets off to a slow start, Doug Flutie will lobby to play once he returns from his groin pull.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: The Bills are competitive but miss the playoffs in a transition year. |
2.
New England Patriots
What's to Like: They have one of the best secondaries in the League with Lawyer Milloy and Ty Law. Drew
Bledsoe is the best quarterback in the division and one of the best in the league. New coach Bill
Belichick will bring some discipline and smarts to a team that has been badly coached for three seasons
What's Not to Like: The fact that they don't have a go-to running back doesn't bother me as much as their
offensive line that saw Bledsoe on his back far too many times
for a winning game, but just enough for me.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: 9-7. They'll finish
behind Indy and a second-place finish won't be enough for a
playoff berth.
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3.
New England Patriots
What's to Like: Drew Bledsoe throwing the ball, Drew Bledsoe with his helmet off. ... Coach Bill Belichick is a defensive whiz and will mask Pats' weaknesses. ... New England looks great when the leaves fall.
What's Not to Like: Who's gonna run the ball? When Raymont Harris is your featured back you're in trouble. ... Will Terry Glenn ever decide to play hard a full season?
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: The Pats may
surprise and could win 9 games, but no playoffs this year. |
3.
New York Jets
What's to Like: They had one of the two or three best drafts in the League - Chad Pennington was a great
pick-up and could even have some impact if Vinny and Ray Lucas go down.
What's Not to Like: They lost their Pro Bowl wide receiver, their head coach, and their idiot
savant defensive coordinator. Plus, Vinny is reportedly not as crisp in training camp as one would like.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: 8-8. Curtis Martin misses the second half of the season with injuries and
a .500 finish means Parcells bails from the front office. |
4.
New York Jets
What's to Like: Curtis Martin is a stud at running back and never seems to tire. ... No more sideline shots of Bill Parcells in
double-knits.
What's Not to Like: They let Keyshawn Johnson go so now who's the go-to guy at receiver? ... Vinny Testaverde will be less mobile as he comes back from his Achilles' Heel surgery.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: New Coach Al Groh will be sick of the constant comparisons to Bill Parcells as the Jets finish below .500. |
4.
Buffalo Bills
What's to Like: They got rid of their tired old "big" three - Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed.
They also benched "The Chump" - Doug Flutie - which will give them a steadier arm at quarterback.
What's Not to Like: I hear Flutie Flakes are stale; despite a winning record in Buffalo, coach Wade
Phillips is still "Clueless Wade" and should manage to screw up at least a couple of games.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: 8-8. With a tough schedule, the Bills will skirt .500 but will be
watching the playoffs on TV. |
5.
Miami Dolphins
What's to Like: Hmmm ... I'm thinking. OK, how about Jason Taylor and a quick, young defense?
What's Not to Like: Damon Huard or Jay Fielder. Combined they couldn't carry Dan Marino's gym bag. You'll see the 'Fins run a lot because there's nobody to throw.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: Year 1 of the Post-Marino Era sees Miami in the basement. |
5.
Miami Dolphins
What's to Like: Well, the Heat have a chance to go to the NBA Finals....
What's Not to Like: Let's start with the head coach -Dave Wannstedt didn't do much as the coach of the
Bears or as an assistant for the Dolphins. Then let's move onto the quarterback - Damon Huard and Jay Fiedler? They sound like porn stars, not NFL
QBs. Finally, the defense - they're going to have to set every record in the books for this team to make the
playoffs, and they just don't have it this year.
What They'll Look Like by Season's End: 5-11. Wannstedt starts over where he left off - in the basement of a
division. |
AFC EAST HOT PHOTO LINKS
Buffalo:
Nice
Legs on Rob Johnson (AP
via Sportserver)
Rookie
Leif Larsen (Merline Net)
Indianapolis
Edgerrin
James, 1999 Rookie of the Year
(AP via Sportserver)
Peyton
Manning Between Two Guys
(AP via Sportserver)
Peyton
Sure Looks Fine (AP via
Sportserver)
Peyton
looks like he has no waist (AP)
Miami
New
coach Dave Wannstedt (AP via Sportserver)
Brock
Marion finds true love (AP via Sportserver)
New England Drew
Bledsoe and Jon Bon Jovi
(AP via Sportserver)
Terry
Glenn with a nice smile
(Merlin Net)
Drew
Bledsoe has a boo-boo (Kansas City Star)
New York
Nice-looking
QB Ray Lucas
(AP via Sportserver)
Stud
receiver Wayne Chrebet
(AP via Sportserver)
LB
James Farrior knows who's No. 1
(AP via Sportserver)
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