Sportsmeat

Well, the sports world is finally ready to kick back into high gear, what with the very best sport on the planet coming in less than 24 hours. The Sportsmeat bloggers, however, are in midseason form, as we are late in getting any predictions or game picks out to you. Hopefully, those will come tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm here to help prepare you for the season.

First, a recap of last year's picks. Your faithful bloggers ... sucked. We picked exactly 50% of division winners (including all three of us hitting on the Pats, Colts and Chargers, and missing on most all others), and just 44% of all of the playoff teams. BBD won the divisional competion, nailing 5 of 8 (including the Packers) and BT "won" the total playoff picks, hitting 6 of 12. EJ wins a pride point for being the only one to pick a SB contestant (the Pats - though I only didn't pick the Pats as a way to be different. How dumb.) Nobody picked Tom Brady for MVP or Offensive POY (aren't those usually different players? Brady swept.) Likewise, everyone whiffed on Bob Sanders. I hit Adrian Peterson on Offensive Rookie, and everyone missed on Patrick Willis (though I knew he was going to be a beast. What was I thinking picking Gaines Adams??)

Now, some tidbits to get you ready to go. First, SI.com is unquestionably the place to go for sports analysis these days, and that remains true with Peter King's schmaltzy-yet-informative stuff (as well as Don Banks). However, ESPN has a nice feature with around-the-league blogs of training camps. I'm never that into the preseason, but they deliver nice bite sized nuggets on every team in the league.

A quick DYK: Did you know that Brian Westbrook's younger brother is in the league? Its true. He's a cornerback on the Redskins' practice squad. His name? Byron Westbrook. For realz. I don't even know how to jock about that. At least they aren't both named George.

During the preseason, Eagles tackle Tra Thomas blamed a back ailment on ... James Patterson?

This story about recently-cut Lion Tatum Bell swiping two bags full of newly-signed Lion Rudi Johnson's boxers would be funny on its own. But pretty much ever quote is hilarious. Bell seems to be a real treat. In one article shortly before his cut, he bashes Mike Martz and Wilber Montgomery, then blames his horrible preseason on the Lions O-Line.

A few quick notes on things to look for this year:

• Look for the Giants to come back to Earth. The simple fact is they were about the 8th to 10th best team last year, and got real hot when it counted. Even when you look at the playoffs, Eli wasn't anything great. However, here's hoping he continues to improve. The Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFL East, and the entire NFC for that matter.
• That said, keep an eye out for the Saints to return to the form of 2006, and for Drew Brees to be the second best quarterback in the league.
• Adrian Peterson will show that last year was not a fluke.
• Calvin Johnson will emerge as a legitimate top 6 or 7 wide receiver.
• The Pats will again be the best team in the league. Brady and Moss won't replicate their astronomical numbers of last year, but the team will still finish with 13 or 14 regular season wins.
  
• Brett Favre will not lead the Jets to the playoffs.
• This will be the year that the Jags finally knock the Colts from the top of whatever AFC division they are in.

More tomorrow.