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Pittsburgh Steelers starting right tackle Flozell Adams spent 12 years with the Dallas Cowboys. No one would blame him for having a little bitterness after the way he was discarded last offseason. But in a revealing interview (by his standards) with the media in Fort Worth on Monday, Adams didn't sound like a man with a score to settle.

"It's one of the things with the game," said Adams of his release. "Whether you’re a rookie or an old vet it's going to happen eventually. I just did what I had to do and picked a team I wanted to go to. I wasn’t crying or anything like that or boo-hooing. I was like 'OK, that's it. It's time to move to the next level,' and that’s what I did."

Adams' teammates on the offensive line surprised him Monday by wearing his Michigan State No. 76 throwback jerseys. Adams seemed genuinely touched by the gesture.

He was asked Monday to compare the Rooney family to the Jerry Jones family.

"They have different styles," Adams said. "They're both great organizations and I like being with the Cowboys and I like being here. It's a two-way street going in the same direction."

Please feel free to explain that last sentence to me at some point.

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Five nuggets of knowledge about the Week 6 games:

Can the Cowboys' offensive line hold up against the Vikings? We all know what happened the last time the Cowboys were in the Metrodome. Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards abused right tackle Marc Colombo and All-Pro Jared Allen wore out left tackle Doug Free in a divisional round playoff game in January. You'll recall that Free was forced into that game when Flozell Adams went down with an injury. I think Free will bounce back from a poor game against the Titans and play well against Allen. But the problem with Colombo last season was that he wasn't getting off the snap quickly enough because of the crowd noise in the Metrodome. The Cowboys have worked on their silent counts this week and feel like they're better prepared this time around. Starting center Andre Gurode has a degenerative condition in his knee and will likely be a game-time decision. I think he'll be ready to go, but if not, left guard Kyle Kosier would be his replacement. Montrae Holland would take over at left guard.

The Redskins must diversify their passing game against Colts. Washington tight end Chris Cooley and wide receiver Santana Moss are on pace to have career seasons. That's good news for fans, but at some point, there must be more diversity in this offense. Anthony Armstrong made a huge play in the fourth quarter against the Packers, so perhaps he's a candidate to be targeted. But right now, I think the Redskins are too easy to defend. The Colts have unbelievable pass-rushers in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but the Skins could counter some of their speed by running right at them. With Trent Williams back at left tackle, I think this is a game where the Skins needed to pound the running game like they did against the Eagles. But when they must pass, someone other than Moss and Cooley must step forward. Does anyone know what's happened to Fred Davis? This was supposed to be one of the best tight end tandems in the league, but Davis' season hasn't gotten off the ground.

Giants need to put the Lions away early. The New York Giants must assert their dominance early in Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Tom Coughlin has made the Lions out to be world beaters, but we know the score. Rookie running back Jahvid Best can burn a defense if he's allowed to have any cutback lanes. I think middle linebacker Jonathan Goff, who has been impressive so far this season, will have some one-on-one situations against Best. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is one of the toughest covers in the league. I think you'll see Corey Webster on him initially with some help over the top from Kenny Phillips. The Giants will try to make the Lions one dimensional from the start. Same thing they did against the Texans last week.

The Eagles have a huge opportunity against the Atlanta Falcons. It sort of feels like Atlanta's the best team in the NFC almost by default. Quarterback Matt Ryan's playing really well and the Falcons also have an excellent running game. The Eagles were gashed in the running game by the Washington Redskins, and I assure you that Falcons coach Mike Smith will try to do the same thing. With Brodrick Bunkley (elbow) out for this game, the Eagles must do a good job of gang tackling. We saw what happened to Quintin Mikell when he tried to challenge Washington's Ryan Torain in the open field. Atlanta's Michael Turner can't be allowed to get in a lot of those one-on-one situations. On offense, Kevin Kolb must be smart with the football while playing behind a patchwork offensive line. Andy Reid thinks left tackle King Dunlap will play better with a week of practice under his belt, but I have my doubts. Reid better make sure Dunlap has a lot of help.

Can Randy Moss make the Cowboys pay -- again? No one loves lighting up the Cowboys more than Randy Moss, whom Jerry Jones passed on in the 1998 draft (along with several other teams). With a full week of practice under his belt, Moss could be very dangerous against the Cowboys. Look for him to try to beat the Cowboys on a vertical route early in this game. The Cowboys have struggled against the vertical routes, as evidenced by losses to the Bears and Titans. This is not a smart defense right now, and Brett Favre and Moss will look to make them pay. And I don't believe for a second all this nonsense about Favre not playing because of tendinitis. This is panic time for both teams, and Favre's come too far and had too many unretirements to sit this one out.

ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins has a story today indicating that Dallas Cowboys left tackle Doug Free has graded out higher than any offensive linemen on the team. Flozell Adams was one of the best left tackles in the league for years, but it's looking like the Cowboys released him at the right time. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who mentored the great Larry Allen, has been bragging on Free for the past two years.

"He's playing awfully well," Houck said. "It just goes to show if you hang around long enough and you're dedicated in what you do and you got great preparation, look what can be done. He's got good talent and he's maximizing his talent, which is really good for us to see."

Coach Wade Phillips said he thinks Free has played at a Pro Bowl level through three games, and I'd have to agree. In fact, I think Free's probably the best left tackle in the NFC East right now. After watching Eagles left tackle Jason Peters pick up two more holding penalties against Brian Orakpo on Sunday, Daily News columnist Paul Domowitch said that a federal investigation should be launched if he ends up in the Pro Bowl again. Peters is definitely overrated and the Giants' David Diehl has shown signs of slippage. (That performance against Dwight Freeney was sad).

Trent Williams is going to be an excellent player for the Redskins, but I think Free has the edge right now. Thoughts? Concerns?

As part of our ongoing "Great Debate" series, ESPN.com's Matt Mosley and ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon were asked to discuss the Dallas Cowboys' chances of reaching the Super Bowl. You might have heard that it's being played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Will the prospect of becoming the first NFL team to qualify for a hometown Super Bowl give the Cowboys some extra motivation? We're about to find out over the next six months.

Now, let the debate begin:

Mosley: Tim, let's dive right into this thing without exchanging too many pleasantries because the two of us have never exchanged a lot of pleasantries. I wish we'd had this debate before the preseason games, because the Cowboys' first-teamers were embarrassingly non-competitive in matchups with the Chargers and Texans. But since I don't put one ounce of stock into the preseason, I'll argue that the Cowboys will become the first team in NFL history to play host to a Super Bowl in their own stadium. It sort of makes me queasy to espouse that type of optimism for this franchise, but I honestly think they have a lot of the intangibles that are necessary to make this happen.

The most important ingredient is quarterback Tony Romo. I think winning his first playoff game last season against the Eagles was huge for his confidence. I think we both agree that he has the talent to lead a team to the Super Bowl, but he desperately needed to get the Seattle-New York monkey off his back.

In 2009, Romo learned to put his teammates before himself. It was an important lesson for a guy who forged a reputation based on his devil-may-care approach. As backup quarterback Jon Kitna explained it to me last season, Romo realized that decisions he makes on the field affect everyone in the organization. He ended up with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions and was able to strike a nice balance between his improv work and his willingness to throw the ball away. He remembered Bill Parcells bellowing in practice, "The throwaway's a good play!"

Oh wait, I need to take a break and let MacMahon say something.

MacMahon: Glad to see Parcells’ wisdom is still fresh in your mind, Matt. Perhaps you recall his oft-repeated line about putting away the anointing oil in regard to Romo.

You really think one playoff win is proof that Romo is ready to carry the Cowboys to a Super Bowl? What about the next weekend? He failed to get the Cowboys in the end zone during a lopsided loss to the Vikings.

Of course, it’s not all about the quarterback. The Cowboys’ biggest concern appears to be their aging offensive line, which got whipped by the modern-day version of the Vikings’ Purple People Eaters. The Cowboys have to cross their fingers that right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier can come back strong from knee injuries that could sideline them for the season opener and beyond.

It would be wrong to rule out Romo as a potential Super Bowl quarterback, but it’s foolish to consider him the favorite in a conference that features a couple of guys who have done it before and have great supporting casts (New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Minnesota’s Brett Favre). Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is also arguably more likely to be a featured attraction at JerryWorld in February.

Perhaps I should pacify the New York branch of your Beast readership by mentioning Eli Manning, who has as many playoff wins on Texas soil as Romo.

Mosley: Tim, we both know that Wade Phillips let that Vikings playoff game get away from him when he opted for a long field goal attempt from a shaky kicker instead of doing the logical thing and going for it on fourth-and-1. And when Flozell Adams suffered an injury in the second quarter, the game was effectively over. But you're correct in saying the offensive line is a major concern. We've learned to appreciate the work of Kosier when he has been out of the lineup and his backup, Montrae Holland, hasn't exactly been a road-grader in the preseason. But wait, I'm arguing against myself.

As crazy as it might sound to longtime Adams apologists such as yourself, Doug Free will be an upgrade at left tackle. He's had a good preseason and the Cowboys' great offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who mentored future Hall of Famer Larry Allen, raves about Free's work on the left side. Once the season gets rolling, perennial Pro Bowlers Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis will return to form.

You talk about the Saints like they're invincible, but I seem to recall the Cowboys going into the Superdome last December and pushing them around. The Saints won a Super Bowl with someone named Jermon Bushrod playing left tackle. The Cowboys might be long in the tooth along the offensive line, but they have better units than the Eagles and Redskins for sure. The Giants have been just as banged up as the Cowboys throughout training camp, so those offensive lines are pretty close.

Last time I checked, Rodgers hadn't won a playoff game, so I'm not sure why every national pundit suddenly has him in front of Romo. And surely Favre's ankle can't hold a lot more lubricant. Without Sidney Rice in the lineup the first half of the season, Favre will be missing a major weapon. If the Cowboys can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs this time around, I think they'll get a bonus game at their home stadium.

Obviously I'm winning the debate at this point, but I want to give you some more reps. Other than being worried about the offensive line and the talented players on other teams, what's your biggest reason for the Cowboys not going to the Super Bowl?

MacMahon: No wonder you dropped out of Baylor Law School all those years ago. You do a fine job of shooting holes in your own case.

You blame Phillips (1-5 postseason record as a head coach) for making a poor decision in a playoff loss. Does his new contract somehow guarantee that won’t happen again? You mention that the Cowboys had a shaky kicker situation last season. Has that changed? They’re crossing their fingers that David Buehler can get the job done. He’s money on kickoffs and sprints against disappointing draft picks, but he’s never attempted a field goal in the NFL and was erratic at USC.

Of course, you could point out that the Cowboys had no reason to be confident in their short-yardage offense instead of just pointing the finger at Phillips for not going for it on fourth-and-1. After all, your perennial Pro Bowlers couldn’t pave the way for Marion Barber to get a yard on four tries against the Chargers in December. I hate to use actual facts in this debate, but Barber’s conversion percentage on third- and fourth-and-1 ranked among the lowest of backs with at least 10 such opportunities last season.

And you totally lost me with the Flozell Adams turn. You begin by saying how much the Cowboys missed him in the Minnesota massacre and follow it up by declaring that Doug Free is a significant upgrade. Sort of a false start, which is fitting.

Free is certainly an upgrade, but Jared Allen was far from the biggest problem for the Cowboys in the playoff loss. That was Ray Edwards, the Vikings’ other end, who wreaked havoc from the first time that annoying horn blew. Which gets us back to whether Colombo can get completely healthy.

But the biggest reason I’m skeptical about the Cowboys’ Super Bowl aspirations? Because I remember what happened when they were supposed to be Super Bowl front-runners a couple of years ago. I can’t just hop back on the bandwagon. I’ve got to see it to believe it.

Mosley: Tim, that's a fascinating conclusion you've reached. You need to see them reach the Super Bowl before you can be convinced they can get to a Super Bowl. And to compare this current group of players to the '08 "front-runners" is completely unfair. That locker room was home to Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and Terrell Owens.

With those players "safely" in Cincinnati now, the Cowboys have a completely different team. The arrival of Keith Brooking in '09 via free agency was a huge thing for this team. He's an excellent linebacker, but more important, he's a tremendous leader. He and safety Gerald Sensabaugh were big-time additions to this defense.

The Cowboys had one of the top defenses in the league last season, and they have a chance to be better in 2010. The other three NFC East teams have major questions. And I think the Saints are about to go through a Super Bowl hangover season. Which NFC East team has a better defense than the Cowboys?

Which NFC team has a better quarterback than the Cowboys -- outside of the Saints? You could make an argument for Favre, but all that lubricant in his ankle is going to bring him down at some point. And Rodgers has more pressure on him than Romo, because the Packers have a suspect defense.

You're making a passionate case against the Cowboys going to the Super Bowl, but in your heart of hearts, you know they have an excellent chance. I'm going to give you a shot at a closing argument here. To this point, all of your statements have been summarily defeated by a man with half a law degree. Time to sound the retreat, sir.

MacMahon: The Cowboys’ cheerleading team has clearly lowered their standards to let you join the squad.

I’ll grant you that this is a much more mature team than the band of misfits that melted down in 2008. The Brooking-T.O. swap certainly worked chemistry wonders, and guys such as Romo and Jay Ratliff have grown into good leaders.

The Cowboys should certainly be considered NFC East favorites, having won the division two of the past three seasons and adding Dez Bryant to their talented core. They merit consideration as Super Bowl contenders, but with their difficult schedule, I don’t see the Cowboys claiming home-field advantage. And I wouldn’t bet on them winning a playoff game in Green Bay, Minnesota or New Orleans.

You declare that the Cowboys have an excellent chance to play a home Super Bowl. I’d downgrade that to a decent chance. Go ahead and crack the anointing oil if you wish. I’m keeping the lid on my bottle until February.

You don't want to read too much into a preseason game, but Perry Fewell's unit looked pretty solid in the New York Giants' 24-17 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps inspired by his starting role, defensive end Osi Umenyiora was dominant against the run. Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka teamed up to cause some big-time minus plays against the Steelers' first-team offense.

Here are my quick-hit observations from Saturday's rumble in New Meadowlands Stadium:

• I don't think the final numbers for quarterback Rhett Bomar -- 13-of-26 for 167 yards -- tell the whole story of his evening. Though he had one awful interception on a tipped ball, I liked the way he used his legs to extend plays. Bomar's capable of making something happen when a play breaks down, and that's the main reason the Giants should keep him around at least one more season. He obviously has a lot more upside than Jim Sorgi, but you'd have a hard time trusting Bomar if Eli Manning was out for more than two weeks in the regular season.

• Nice interception by cornerback Corey Webster against Ben Roethlisberger. Webster has his confidence back, and he's playing with a swagger. Those are the types of plays that galvanize a defense. I think Fewell's done an excellent job of restoring confidence in all of these cornerbacks.

• Hakeem Nicks can't get drawn into a fight four plays into a game. Football fights with helmets on seem so redundant. And when you get tossed from a game that early, it can put your teammates in a bind. I'm sure Tom Coughlin will have a long visit with Nicks about that play.

• The Giants gave their old pal Flozell Adams fits at his right tackle spot. Tuck gained a small measure of revenge for that shoulder injury that Adams gave him last season by blowing past the aging player at least twice, once with a nice spin move. I liked how Fewell kept moving players around before the play. I think it confused the Steelers' offensive line.

• Steve Smith made a Victor Cruz-like catch along the sideline for 45 yards from Bomar. He turned what could've been an interception into a big gain. Cruz entered the game in the second quarter to a loud "Cruuuuuuz!" chant. But he struggled against the Steelers. The muffed punt inside the 10-yard line was tough to watch. Looked like he let the ball bounce off his knee. Just a really clumsy effort. But this will give him a chance to bounce back from a little adversity.

• Linebacker Keith Bulluck was only in there for a handful of plays, but I liked when he came racing through to drop Rashard Mendenhall near the line of scrimmage. Bulluck had two tackles and looked good calling out the signals during his short time on the field.

• It's fun watching Ahmad Bradshaw run the football now that he's healthy. He has a nice blend of power and speed. As I said last week, Bradshaw's the feature back on this team. He and Brandon Jacobs seem to have a great rapport, so hopefully things won't be too awkward. But I think it will be tough for Jacobs to watch Bradshaw get 18-20 carries in a game while he receives 8-9. That's going to happen.

• Excellent job by defensive tackle Rocky Bernard on the goal-line stand at the end of the first quarter. He showed a lot of power on that play, and I think it's something Fewell can build on.

• Aaron Ross' 44-yard punt return was a thing of beauty. And don't be too worried about Steelers punter Daniel Sepulveda fighting off blockers to make the tackle. As a Ray Guy Award-winner at Baylor, Sepulveda was known for his punishing hits.

• Jason Pierre-Paul can't break contain with Byron Leftwich. The lumbering Leftwich eluded Pierre-Paul in the open field, and there's no excuse for that.

• I'm hoping Bruce Johnson was supposed to have help from safety Michael Greco on that 68-yard touchdown. That was way too easy, and it brought back memories of matchups against New Orleans and Philly last season.

• Adrien Tracy was pretty active down the stretch and ended up with nine tackles. Regarding safety John Busing, I'm not overly impressed. He's always arriving a split-second late, and I'm being generous with that estimate.

• Phillip Dillard's a little eager at times against the run, and you'll see him overpursue. But I do like the energy he brings to the field.

• The thing I like about Bomar the most is that he gets the ball out of there quickly. He'll change arm angles and fire a ball into a tight window like he did to Sinorice Moss in the second half. The numbers weren't that great, but I sort of admired how he stood in there and took some hits. And he was fearless when it came to running for first downs. Maybe a bit too fearless for Coughlin's taste.

• I saw rookie defensive tackle Linval Joseph run a nice little twist with Kiwanuka on one play in the first half. Joseph's going to be starting by the end of the season.

OXNARD, Calif. -- For the past 12 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys never had a doubt who would line up at left tackle. Flozell Adams was maddening at times because the massive player often looked too passive. But if you talk to enough defensive ends around the league, Justin Tuck included, you'll realize that Adams has been one of the most dominating blockers in the game.

So in a year when his team has a legitimate shot at reaching a Super Bowl (in its stadium), why would owner Jerry Jones suddenly cut ties with one of the cornerstones of the offense? In his column for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Tuesday, Randy Galloway asked Jones that very question. Galloway believes that a knee injury to Marc Colombo is just further proof that Jones was premature in his decision to put Adams out to pasture.

"While the April release of Flozell was a surprise and a second-guess picnic, his absence presents the plus/minus situation of dumping age and salary but creating depth questions," writes Galloway.

I do an afternoon drive-time radio show with Galloway on ESPN 103.3 in Dallas-Fort Worth, so I know how fluid his opinions can be. At the time of Adams' release, he claimed that the Cowboys would take a major step back at left tackle. Now, he seems to be embracing the Free era while wishing Adams were here to serve as a $5 million swing tackle. But what does the owner who showed up in a Panama Jack hat Tuesday think about his decision?

"Everyone wants the luxury of a veteran offensive line, but with that, you have to take the chance on age getting hurt," said Jones. "It's kind of a trade off."

Jones professed his "love" for Adams in the interview with Galloway, but then he quickly added that the 2010 Cowboys are better with Free at left tackle. It's funny that some people in the organization pointed to Adams' rough debut with the Steelers in a preseason game as proof they made the right decision.

That's a pretty self-serving observation and it doesn't do justice to a guy who was the best left tackle in the NFC East for several years. As I've stated many times since Adams' release, I think it was the right move because Free's ready for the challenge. There will be some bumps along the way, but he showed that he has the chops to be a starter during an extended tryout at right tackle during the '09 season.

Taking a proud player such as Adams and making him a backup would've been embarrassing to him. And let's not act like a bunch of teams around the league have immensely talented backups at every offensive line spot. Eagles offensive line coach Juan Castillo does as good a job as anyone developing those types of players, but the Eagles would still be in trouble if Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson couldn't start the season.

If you believe that Adams is a better player than Free, then it's understandable to second-guess Jones. If you believe that Adams would've been a nice backup, I don't like your argument.

Thanks for your time this afternoon.

Just when you thought the Albert Haynesworth spectacle was losing steam, there are reports that the defensive tackle failed his conditioning test at Redskins Park on Thursday. He apparently passed the first portion of the test with flying colors, but the Post is saying that a bathroom break interrupted the second part. When Haynesworth returned to the field, he could not finish the test.

Unfortunately we don't have any footage of Mike Shanahan monitoring this test, but something tells me he was wearing a smirk on his face. Shanahan said that Haynesworth would have to pass the conditioning test before joining his teammates on the practice field. Now the player will have to work with athletic trainers on the side until he's ready.

I can remember the same thing happening to Larry Allen during Bill Parcells' first season in Dallas in 2003. And I believe Flozell Adams has been down this path before. And could someone remind where I read that Haynesworth was in the best shape of his life?

I just hope he's back on the field by the time the Beast arrives in Ashburn, Va., late next week.

The Dallas Cowboys will get a head start on the rest of the division by opening camp Saturday. The Eagles will have rookies and selected veterans show up next Tuesday, but the full team will have its first practice July 31. The Redskins open camp July 29, and the Giants get things going in Albany, N.Y., on Aug. 1.

Keep your eye on the Dez Bryant contract situation. The early start means the Cowboys won't have many first-round contracts to use as a point of reference.

With the Giants starting a week later than the Cowboys, I think New York general manager Jerry Reese will have plenty of time to take care of his top picks.

FOUR BIG QUESTIONS

Dallas Cowboys: Is Doug Free up to the task of replacing Flozell Adams at left tackle?

The Cowboys had better hope they have the answer to this question. Adams may have been in his twilight football years, but he was still one of the better offensive tackles in the NFC.

Free has limited game experience on the left side, but he displays excellent footwork and that should serve him well against speedy pass-rushers such as Brian Orakpo, Trent Cole and Justin Tuck.

Some of the Cowboys -- notably DeMarcus Ware -- were caught off guard by Adams' release, and they didn't immediately endorse Free. But I think those comments were made out of respect to the perennial Pro Bowl player. As camp approaches, Free's teammates are saying all the right things about him.

All the games he played at right tackle last season for an injured Marc Colombo gave him a tremendous amount of confidence. And offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who once tutored Larry Allen, raves about Free. It's a risky move by Jerry Jones, but it's one he didn't have to contemplate for long.

New York Giants: What is Osi Umenyiora's mindset heading into camp?

All eyes will be on the defensive end rotation early in Giants camp. Umenyiora was humiliated by his demotion last season and, he spent the first part of the offseason yapping about the slight. Reese does a nice job tuning that stuff out and he expects Umenyiora to bounce back with a strong season. But you can't demote Mathias Kiwanuka simply to assuage Umenyiora's massive ego.

We'll arrive in Albany for the Giants' first practice, so I'll keep you posted on that front. New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is off to a good start in terms of gaining his players' trust. It will be interesting to see how many changes he makes to the Giants' 4-3 scheme. I don't think the changes will be dramatic, but expect to see a lot more pressure. Fewell's specialty is in the secondary, and that's where New York had a miserable time last season. I think the pass coverage will be vastly improved. If it's not, the Giants could be in for another long season.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can Kevin Kolb quickly take command of this team?

Young stars such as DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek couldn't wait for the Kolb era to begin, so now we'll find out what that looks like. He's an accurate quarterback who has an excellent grasp of the offense after watching Donovan McNabb for three seasons. He'll make some mistakes, but he'll be helped by perhaps the best receiving corps in the NFL.

So far, Kolb's done an outstanding job of handling the spotlight. Now, things are going to get much more hectic. His every word and training camp pass will be analyzed. Kolb doesn't seem fazed by all of the attention at this point. Let's see how he responds the first time he has a lousy training camp practice as the starter.

I'm looking forward to watching Kolb in the first couple of preseason games. He'll get plenty of reps. The Eagles need to see how he responds when he gets popped in the mouth. And that's going to happen at some point.

Washington Redskins: Can Donovan McNabb take these pedestrian receivers to the next level?

The good sign is that McNabb elevated some mediocre receivers in Philadelphia over the years. I think Devin Thomas is on the verge of being a consistent threat and McNabb will give him every opportunity to become a playmaker. With no appreciable depth along the offensive line, the Redskins will need some luck. Jason Campbell played behind arguably the worst offensive line in the league last season.

It would only take an injury or two to basically have that same line again. McNabb needs to be on the same page with his offensive line coming out of camp. Even with all of the Albert Haynesworth drama, McNabb will be the most compelling storyline.

HOTTEST SEATS

Cowboys: Marion Barber. He's dropped about 10 pounds and looks much quicker than last season. But Felix Jones is poised to replace him as the feature back -- if he hasn't already. I could've gone with Roy Williams, but that almost seems redundant at this point. It's hard to say someone's on the hot seat when everyone's pretty much given up on him anyway. Unless he has some type of breakout season (12 TDs), then he'll be long gone in 2011. Barber has a legitimate chance to turn things around this season, so I'm putting him on the hot seat.

Giants: Brandon Jacobs. I could've easily gone with Tom Coughlin because his job will be on the line if he misses the playoffs again. But from a player standpoint, all eyes will be on Jacobs. He took some advice from Tiki Barber to heart and stopped trying to bang his body into everyone. But he may have taken things too far because he looked tentative at times last season. If he doesn't produce early in the season, Ahmad Bradshaw will be ready to replace him as the starter.

Eagles: Andy Reid. If the Eagles make the playoffs with Kolb, then it will be another feather in Reid's West Coast hat. But if the young Eagles flame out, there will be some backlash. It's rare to see such a wildly successful coach take such a huge risk. We'll know a lot more about Reid's legacy after this season. Too dramatic for you? Maybe so, but it's certainly a big season for him.

Redskins: Haynesworth. He'll be the focal point of the first few days of training camp. I'm not holding my breath that things are going to work out between Haynesworth and coach Mike Shanahan. If the defensive tackle pouts openly about his role in the 3-4 defense, Shanahan will be tempted to send him home. Should be fun to watch.

SECRET WEAPON

Giants wide receiver Ramses Barden. The guy basically took over training camp last season, but he wasn't ready to contribute on special teams. I think Barden will emerge as a weapon in the red zone. He has more length than Plaxico Burress and makes plays in traffic. The Giants have to find a way to get him on the field. I wouldn't be shocked if he finished the season with seven touchdowns. That would be a big leap, but it's something Barden's capable of accomplishing.

WILD BEAST PREDICTIONS

Cowboys: Safety Alan Ball will lead the division with seven interceptions.

Giants: Hakeem Nicks will have 1,250 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Seriously.

Eagles: Jeremy Maclin finishes this season with more yards and TDs than DeSean Jackson.

Redskins: Clinton Portis will go to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,280 yards and 12 TDs.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

In case you missed it, the Dallas Cowboys will attempt to become the first NFL team to qualify for a Super Bowl being played at their home stadium. And given their talented roster and strong finish in '09, Dallas has to be considered among the top contenders.

There's only one problem: The last time the Cowboys were considered the so-called Super Bowl favorites, they had a meltdown in '08. That team was already talking about skipping forward to the playoffs by Week 6 of the regular season. And I don't have to remind you about a certain wide receiver who was hell on a locker room.

Now, there appears to be no dissension on the horizon. The Cowboys had such a comfortable offseason that reporters were forced to seize on a Patrick Crayton storyline to generate traffic. I suppose the release of Flozell Adams caused some ripples, but I believe that Doug Free will be up to the task of replacing the Cowboys' longtime left tackle.

Dez Bryant's going to command a lot of attention, but it's not like he has a polarizing personality. On the surface, this locker room seems as stable as it's ever been. Even the most vocal critics of the organization are predicting at least 11 wins for the Cowboys.

Will it go to the players' heads? Two years ago, the Cowboys acted like the most entitled team in league history. And owner Jerry Jones certainly contributed to that wild scene, captured on film by HBO's cameras in the series "Hard Knocks." This team is attempting to fly under the radar, but I'm not sure that's possible.

The Eagles truly believe they've made moves to close the gap that was obviously there at the end of last season. Mike Shanahan is expecting to challenge the Cowboys immediately for the division title. I think the Cowboys are the unquestioned favorites -- and that's while they'll have to guard against complacency.

Jones has the Cowboys embarking on a barnstorming training camp tour that will include stops in San Antonio, Arlington and Oxnard, Calif. Most coaches prefer staying in the same place for training camp. I'm sure that's the way Wade Phillips would prefer it, but he's not going to stand in the way of Jerry selling jerseys in Southern California.

Will all the travel wear down the Cowboys before they even get to September? I think it's something that bears watching.

Here's that audio of our interview with Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff on Dallas-Fort Worth's ESPN 103.3 FM. And thanks for all of your questions for Ratliff. I asked him a couple of your questions on the air and then he and I discussed the Albert Haynesworth situation later in the day.

Kudos to my arch-nemesis Ubersamoyed for this excellent question: "Rat, I understand that you have have taken up MMA crosstraining as a means to supplement your football skills. My question is fairly simple....are you concerned that some of these MMA moves might become instinctive? As much as I find the idea of Manning being Superman punched or placed in Silva's famous "Thai Clinch" in a game, I'm not sure the refs would appreciate your good form. Are you training in only football intensive MMA moves?

As you'll hear in the interview, Ratliff is focused on "football intensive" moves during his training in Atlanta. He's a pretty intense dude. Says he doesn't watch any sports on TV except MMA. He's simply not interested in watching football at any level and tries not to read anything about the Cowboys or himself.

JBCigars2 asked the following question: "As a member of the D line, I'd ask him what his peers thought of Doug Free's ability to take over for Flozell Adams. They go up against each other every day and should know if there is a problem or not. I suspect you won't get an honest answer if there was a problem, but the response might be interesting."

I asked Ratliff about the releases of Adams and Ken Hamlin. He simply said "it's a business" and talked about how valuable those players were to the team. But he pretty much said that it will happen to all of the players at some point in their careers. Off air, I was quite surprised by how supportive of Albert Haynesworth that Ratliff came across. Pretty interesting.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Is everyone in Dallas on the same page about Doug Free starting at left tackle?

From the moment the Cowboys released perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams, I assumed his replacement would be Doug Free. But for whatever reason, the other NFC East teams aren't convinced. Free exceeded expectations while filling in for an injured Marc Colombo in '09, but he was overmatched when he saw emergency duty against Jared Allen in a playoff game.

The fact that Free has excellent footwork and quickness gives him the proper foundation to protect Tony Romo's blindside. Still, teams such as the Eagles don't seem convinced that Free will be up to the task. I recently took a peek at the Eagles' depth chart for the Cowboys, and they have Alex Barron's name next to Free's. They didn't do that with the other 10 positions on offense. And the Eagles aren't alone. There's a belief from the Giants and Redskins that Barron will eventually win the job because of his experience. That's not to say they're rooting for Barron, because they'd actually like Trent Cole, Justin Tuck and Brian Orakpo to have a go at Free.

So where's all this doubt coming from? I know that Free barely has any experience at left tackle in the league, but he was excellent on the right side in seven games last season. And his skill set is better suited for the left side. Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who's tutored some of the best in the game, told me recently that nothing seems to faze Free. He's seen more of a sense of urgency from the player since he was named the starter and he admires Free's work ethic. There's nothing to suggest that Barron's going to light it up in training camp and surpass Free.

But even some of Free's teammates seemed to have their doubts in the days after Adams' release. DeMarcus Ware, a man who knows how to embarrass a left tackle, was completely caught off guard by the move and expressed surprise. He's since rallied behind Free, but it's hard to dismiss his initial reaction. I've also pressed Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode on the topic. He had immense respect for Adams, but he's trying to say all the right things about Free.

From my perspective, I'd have more concern with Colombo right now than Free. That's not to say Free's the better player, but Colombo's leg injury was pretty significant and he probably should not have returned for the Vikings game based on his performance. He's one of the toughest players in the league, but you can only do so much on one leg. I think Barron was brought in with Colombo's durability in mind.

But the rest of the division seems to think Barron was brought in to replace Adams. I guess we'll find out soon enough. By the way, how would you rank the starting left tackles in the division as of today?

I'd go with Jason Peters, David Diehl, Free and the Redskins' rookie, Trent Williams.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

Dallas Cowboys' offensive line: Obviously, there's a big question mark at left tackle with Doug Free taking over for Flozell Adams. Free did an excellent job at right tackle when Marc Colombo went down with a leg injury. But his only experience at left tackle came in an emergency situation against the Vikings in the playoffs. I actually think Free will be a solid left tackle, but it's not going to happen overnight. And no one's talking about the fact that Leonard Davis had a poor season at right guard by his standards. Throw in the fact that Colombo's returning from a serious injury and you have the makings of a shaky offensive line.

Now that Free's starting at left tackle, who's supposed to be the "swing" player who backs up both tackle spots? I posed that question to offensive line coach Hudson Houck recently and he sort of struggled for an answer. Pat McQuistan might be in the mix, but he's never really mastered any position. And Jerry Jones has been throwing out Montrae Holland's name. Good luck with that. There's also the scenario where Davis would move to one of the tackle spots if necessary.

The Cowboys have been incredibly fortunate with injuries the last few years, but they should not count on that trend to continue. Right now, the depth along the offensive line is a major issue.

Rising

Stewart Bradley, Eagles middle linebacker: I'm not sure we truly appreciated Bradley's immense talent until the Eagles were embarrassed in back-to-back games at Cowboys Stadium last season. He's the rare player who can take on enormous blockers and also match speedy tight ends and running backs in space. Bradley was on his way to becoming a perennial Pro Bowl player before his knee injury in last year's training camp. But by all accounts, he's not suffering any lingering affects from ACL surgery.

The late Jim Johnson loved Bradley because he was able to quickly diagnose what opposing teams were trying to accomplish. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott tried his best to patch together a defense last season, but without Bradley, the Eagles were in trouble from the start. There's a swagger that the former Nebraska player brings to the field. Everyone talks about the Eagles' youth movement, but Bradley's sort of an old soul.

His return should provide a huge boost and he'll make young players such as Moise Fokou feel a lot more comfortable. I know that safety Quintin Mikell felt all alone at times last season. With Bradley on the field, the Eagles' defense gets an automatic upgrade.

IRVING, Texas -- During a recent trip to Valley Ranch for a rookie minicamp, I had a long visit with Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck about the rise of left tackle Doug Free. Here's the column I wrote for ESPNDallas.com today based on that conversation.

"At some point, Doug just started eliminating all the uncertainty," said Houck. "It's like he's standing over a putt, but in this case, he's getting ready for a pass-set or a drive block."

Are you feeling good about Free taking over for Flozell Adams?

In his Monday Morning Quarterback column on SI.com today, Peter King suggests that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones should send his second-round pick (59) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for 24-year-old left tackle Jared Gaither.

King thinks that Gaither, a dependable starter for the Ravens, would immediately replace Flozell Adams at left tackle. Under that scenario, Adams' projected replacement, Doug Free, would compete with Marc Colombo for the starting right tackle job. In the short term, I agree that Gaither would be a better solution than Free at left tackle. But given the depth of this draft, I don't think Jones wants to forfeit a second-round draft pick.

The Cowboys' scouting department believes that Free is better-suited for left tackle than right because of his quick feet and ability to work well in space. Gaither certainly brings more power to the table, but I don't think he's as athletic as Free. So while it's a very intriguing trade suggestion by King, I don't see it happening.

In the aftermath of the ill-fated Roy Williams trade, I'm sure teams see Jones as an easy mark. But during my recent conversation with the Cowboys owner, he convinced me that he's truly committed to making Free the starter.

Now if the Cowboys could get Gaither for a fourth-round pick, then we'd have something. But the Ravens aren't going to do that deal. Wait, I have a (fantasy) suggestion: How 'bout Martellus Bennett straight up for Gaither?

I think Jones would have to seriously consider pulling the trigger. Remember, he reportedly turned down a first-round pick from the Bengals for Bennett last offseason.

Let's take a quick spin around the division to see what's going on this morning:

Cowboys

• Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Tony Romo was not consulted before Flozell Adams was dumped.
• Ray Buck from the Star-T talked to several former Cowboys about their favorite memories of Texas Stadium.
• Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com has a really nice draft preview on Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant. Make sure you read what OSU's WRs coach had to say.
• Jerry Jones had tears in his eyes while watching the demolition of Texas Stadium, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
• The folks at DallasNews.com have provided a transcript of our conversation with Tony Romo on ESPN 103.3's "Galloway and Company" show in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
• Todd Archer, senior columnist for DallasNews.com, wonders if the restricted free agency market could finally get rolling this week.
• Right tackle Marc Colombo tells Archer that he probably should have thought twice about returning so quickly from a leg injury.

Eagles

• Mike Mayock, the main draft expert for the NFL Network, previews the quarterbacks for the Daily News.
• Sheldon Brown appeared to be calling out Asante Samuel in some recent radio interviews.
• Moving the Chains blog takes a look at the offensive tackle positions in this draft.
• Here's that blog entry about Jeff Garcia that we referenced this morning.
• The folks at the New York Times' Fifth Down Blog wonder if Kevin Kolb's ready for prime time.

Giants

• New Meadowlands Stadium will not be rushed into finding a naming rights partner. (But before the season might be nice).
• Former Steelers guard Darnell Stapleton visited the Giants last week.
• Judy Battista of the New York Times says the new three-day draft will change the way teams approach the second round.

Redskins

• Jason Campbell is still thinking things through, according to the Post.
• Jason Reid of the Post doesn't think Albert Haynesworth's willing to buy his way out of town.
• Watch Ellen Degeneres' mother taunt Kevin Barnes. And thanks to Matt Terl of Redskins Blog fame for continuing to monitor Ellen's show on a daily basis.