Training Camp Previews - American Football Conference AFC EAST New England Patriots The Patriots could be facing a deja vu scenario when they convene for training camp following the lengthy lockout. Disgruntled guard Logan Mankins, who held out until the middle of last season because of a bitter contract dispute, remains at odds with the organization over his situation and is a threat to sit out at least a portion of the preseason, adding another potential worry to an offensive line thats presently in a state of flux. Right guard Stephen Neal retired in March and stalwart left tackle Matt Light is an unrestricted free agent who may not be back, especially with the team landing his possible successor with the first-round selection of Colorado blocker Nate Solder in Aprils draft. Outside linebacker will also be a position to watch with the news that top pass-rusher Tully Banta-Cain is coming off recent abdominal surgery and may be released, while the progress of young wide receivers Brandon Tate and Taylor Price is worth monitoring as well. With Tom Brady on the roster, New England is obviously set at quarterback, but the preseason could bring about an intriguing battle between holdover Brian Hoyer and big-armed rookie Ryan Mallett for the backup job. Miami Dolphins Chad Henne will be taking the first snap under center when the Dolphins break camp at their South Florida facility, though it remains to be seen whether the returning starting quarterback will be doing the same once the season starts. Miami is rumored to be on the lookout for competition for the inconsistent fourth-year pro, with Denvers Kyle Orton heavily mentioned as a potential trade target, as it seeks to upgrade an offense that produced the third-fewest points in the NFL in 2010. Even if management decides to keep Henne in the No. 1 role, the Dolphins need to add bodies at the position with injury-prone backup Chad Pennington taking the year off and third-stringer Tyler Thigpen exiting via free agency. Quarterback isnt the only spot in question on the roster, as running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are unrestricted free agents the team doesnt seem overly eager to bring back. Rookie Daniel Thomas, Miamis second-round selection in Aprils draft, enters the preseason as the front-runner in the backfield, though its presumed the club will add a veteran to lessen the youngsters load. There are also spots to be settled along the offensive line, with first-round pick Mike Pouncey expected to get a shot to win the starting centers job once hes signed. Buffalo Bills The first order of business for the Bills as they begin their second camp under head coach Chan Gailey will be to get first-round draft choice Marcell Dareus signed rather quickly, since the talented ex-Alabama lineman is being relied upon to help repair a defense that surrendered the most rushing yards in the NFL last year. Another camp priority is finding a suitable replacement for inside linebacker Paul Posluszny, who departed via free agency, and general manager Buddy Nix may have to look outside the current roster to fill that void. On the outside, oft-injured Shawne Merriman needs to prove during the preseason that hes over knee and foot problems which limited him to just three games last year, as the team desperately needs a return to form from the former Pro Bowler to jump-start a problematic pass rush. Elsewhere, this camp will be used to further the development of several young skill players fighting for time on offense, names such as second-year running back C.J. Spiller and wide receivers David Nelson, Marcus Easley and Donald Jones. Look for newly-signed Tyler Thigpen, whos familiar with Gaileys offense from their days together in Kansas City, to play extensively in the preseason as well to prep for a backup role to No. 1 quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. New York Jets Though the Jets head into Rex Ryans third season with few gaping holes on the roster, there will be a few position battles worth taking note of during camp. One of the most important ones is set to take place on the offensive line, where veteran swingman Wayne Hunter will be trying to hold off raw second-year pro Vladimir Ducasse for the right tackle job left open by Damien Woodys retirement, while there could be a vacancy on the defensive front if salary cap constraints dont allow the Jets to bring back longtime end Shaun Ellis, an unrestricted free agent. Muhammad Wilkerson, New Yorks first-round pick in Aprils draft, may get the first shot at filling that potential void if the rookie shows well during the preseason. Fifth-round choice Jeremy Kerley, a dynamite return man in college, looms as the favorite to take over free-agent defection Brad Smiths old role of taking back kicks and contributing in multiple wide receiver sets, and theres also a possible competition on tap at kicker between inconsistent incumbent Nick Folk and journeyman Nick Novak. The special teams unit may also have to break in a new punter if free agent Steve Weatherford isnt retained. AFC NORTH Baltimore Ravens The Ravens will be taking this years camp to a different locale, opting to remain at the teams locally-based training facility instead of its traditional stop at McDaniel College because of time constraints caused by the lockout, and may be doing so without a number of familiar faces on hand as well. Reports have surfaced that the club will part ways with four key contributors -- wide receiver Derrick Mason, tight end Todd Heap, running back Willis McGahee and defensive tackle Kevin Gregg -- to save salary cap space, though all but McGahee may be brought back at reduced rates. If thats not the case, then this camp will be an important one for young players such as nose tackle Terrence Cody, tight end Ed Dickson and rookie receiver Torrey Smith, the projected replacements for the veteran casualties. Cornerback will be a position to watch closely as well, with 2010 starters Chris Carr and Josh Wilson both unrestricted free agents and one-time regular Fabian Washington also set to hit the market. Gifted rookie Jimmy Smith, the clubs first-round pick in Aprils draft, is slated to step in on one side, and the reported cuts has fueled speculation that Baltimore may make a run at prized free agent Nnamdi Asomugha to fill the other void. Cincinnati Bengals A pair of rookies will be the focus of camp as the Bengals attempt to rebound from a both a very disappointing 2010 campaign and a extremely turbulent offseason. After futilely hoping that an unhappy Carson Palmer would have a change of heart and back off his threat to never again play for the organization, Cincinnati finally seems resigned to the fact that its franchise quarterback wasnt bluffing and appears to be ready to hand the reigns of the offense over to youngster Andy Dalton, the clubs second-round pick in Aprils draft. The former TCU standout will likely compete with a stopgap veteran, with ex-Raider Bruce Gradkowski a popular possibility, for the starting nod. The receiving corps got an intriguing addition as well following the Bengals selection of Georgias A.J. Green with the fourth overall choice in the draft, with the talented 23-year-old slated to fill the shoes of the departing Terrell Owens alongside (for now, at least) Chad Ochocinco. The biggest change on defense looks to be at middle linebacker, where Cincinnati appears inclined to let free agent Dhani Jones walk and move strongside starter Rey Maualuga into that position, so a replacement for Maualugas old post must also be found during the preseason. If the Bengals fail to re-sign running back Cedric Benson and well-regarded cornerback Johnathan Joseph, both unrestricted free agents, there will be competition for those spots as well. Pittsburgh Steelers After having to withstand a media firestorm surrounding the Ben Roethlisberger controversy during last years camp, the Steelers will have far less drama to deal with when they make their annual pilgrimage to Latrobe this summer. With valued cornerback Ike Taylor likely to be re-signed, the primary area to watch regarding the reigning AFC champions during the training period will be an offensive line that was hit hard by injuries all throughout the 2010 Super Bowl run. Starting tackles Max Starks and Willie Colon (an unrestricted free agent) are coming off neck surgery and an Achilles tear, respectively, while outstanding young center Maurkice Pouncey fractured an ankle during the playoffs. With veteran defensive mainstays such as safety Troy Polamalu, outside linebacker James Harrison and end Aaron Smith also battling various ailments throughout last season, look for most of Pittsburghs starters to see only sporadic action during the preseason. That should give ample opportunity for defensive end Cameron Heyward, the clubs 2011 first-round draft choice, and other rookies such as offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, cornerbacks Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen and running back Baron Batch to make strong first impressions. Batch in particular may be offered a long look, as the Steelers have a need for a third-down running back with previous title- holder Mewelde Moore uncertain to return. Cleveland Browns New head coach Pat Shurmur and his staff figure to have their work cut out for them when the Browns break camp in Berea, as the team will be implementing new schemes on both offense and defense as it puts the short-lived Eric Mangini era behind. Colt McCoy enters the year as the projected starting quarterback after showing well in a rookie audition last season, but how far the former University of Texas star progresses depends on how quickly he grasps Shurmurs West Coast offense and if a still unproven group of receivers can show improvement. This will be an important preseason for third-year wideouts Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie, both of whom will be pushed by physical rookie Greg Little, Clevelands second-round pick in Aprils draft. Also keep an eye on running back Montario Hardesty, a second-round choice in 2010 who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, as the Browns want someone who can ease the burden on leading rusher Peyton Hillis after putting him through a heavy workload a year ago. There will be spots up for grabs as well on a defense that is switching back to a 4-3 look under experienced coordinator Dick Jauron, most notably on the line. The Browns drafted massive tackle Phil Taylor in the first round and end Jabaal Sheard in the second back in April, and both will have opportunities to claim starting jobs. AFC SOUTH Jacksonville Jaguars All eyes will be focused squarely on Blaine Gabbert once the promising rookie quarterback makes his way to his first NFL training camp, though the absence of organized workouts caused by the lockout will give the Jaguars 2011 first-round draft choice an uphill battle to unseat incumbent David Garrard for the starting job during the preseason. Another major storyline heading into camp regards the health status of star running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who underwent knee surgery in January, so look for backup Rashad Jennings to be prepped for a larger role during the exhibition period. Expect general manager Gene Smith to be considerably more active in free agency than past years, with most of the attention paid to repairing a defense that was among the leagues worst last season. Jacksonville has big holes to fill in the secondary, particularly at safety, and outside linebacker with 2010 starter Justin Durant not expected to be retained. The Jags may also be in the market for a veteran receiver after cutting loose Mike Sims-Walker in March. Tennessee Titans Change is the central theme in Tennessee, where the Titans will have both a different head coach and quarterback to guide them into the 2011 season. Battle-tested vet Matt Hasselbeck takes over as the new leader of the offense, and the free-agent signing of the longtime Seattle field general serves the dual purpose of allowing the team to rid itself of malcontent Vince Young and bring the franchises signal-caller of the future, rookie Jake Locker, along at its own pace. While Locker still figures to see plenty of preseason action, one youngster who may be immediately thrown into the fire is fourth-round pick Colin McCarthy, a candidate to start at middle linebacker if the Titans cant retain free agent Stephen Tulloch. A defensive line that wont have leading sacker Jason Babin back is a spot to monitor as well, particularly in 2010 first-rounder Derrick Morgans recovery from a torn ACL the promising pass-rusher suffered in October. Theres also a budding crisis Mike Munchaks got on his hands on the eve of his first camp, with Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson set to stage a potentially prolonged holdout due to a contract dispute. His expected absence will give the team an extended window to evaluate third- year man Javon Ringer and rookie Jamie Harper, the two players vying to be Johnsons backup. Indianapolis Colts Peyton Mannings offseason neck surgery is one storyline to follow when the Colts begin their quest for yet another AFC South title, but the superstar quarterbacks contract status is what really holds the key to the clubs preseason plans. The team is feverishly working on a long-term agreement with the four-time league MVP, whos currently set to make $23.1 million on a one-year franchise tender, which would free up space to re-sign such core players as running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Clint Session and defensive tackle Dan Muir, all of whom are unrestricted free agents. On the field, the main purpose of camp will be to put in place an offensive line that could have two rookies, first-round draftee Anthony Castonzo at left tackle and second- rounder Ben Ijalana at right guard, starting in Week 1. Wide receiver will also be an area to take note of, with valued slotman Austin Collie attempting to prove hes fully over his concussion issues and brittle reserve Anthony Gonzalez coming off another injury-shortened season. Expect youngsters and backups to garner plenty of playing time when the preseason gets underway, as the Colts are traditionally one of the most cautious teams when it comes to injuries. Houston Texans Installing and familiarizing a modified defense that will have a host of new faces and a few returnees changing positions will be the No. 1 goal of Texans camp. Defensive ends Mario Williams and Connor Barwin are in the process of converting to stand-up outside linebackers in coordinator Wade Phillips 3-4 scheme, and how quickly they pick up the switch will go a long way in determining whether Houston can shore up a major problem area from last season. In addition, former cornerback Glover Quin enters the preseason as the teams projected starter at free safety, while Shaun Cody and second-year man Earl Mitchell will try to adapt to the nuances of nose tackle after previously serving as one-gap penetrators under the old system. The Texans also hope youngster J.J. Watt, the clubs first-round selection in Aprils draft, can make an immediate impact at defensive end, while fellow rookie Brandon Harris joins a secondary bolstered by two key free-agent additions, cornerback Johnathan Joseph and strong safety Danieal Manning. On the offensive side, theres now a three-man race for the two spots behind quarterback Matt Schaub on the depth chart after the Texans drafted North Carolinas Tyler Yates to compete with veterans Dan Orlovsky and Matt Leinart. AFC WEST Denver Broncos The quarterback position will be the primary storyline when the Broncos officially begin the John Fox era, as all signs point to 2011 also becoming the dawn of Tim Tebows ascension into the teams full-fledged starter under center. That means Denver will likely spend the start of the new league year fielding offers for veteran Kyle Orton, a sensible strategy considering his $9 million salary and present lack of available cap space on a roster that has an abundance of needs entering camp. Dealing Orton would help the Broncos find suitable upgrades to a defense that surrendered the most points in the NFL last year, as well as a complementary running back to returning starter Knowshon Moreno. There will be plenty of rookies to watch during the preseason slate, with both No. 2 overall pick Von Miller and third-rounder Nate Irving expected to given opportunities to start at linebacker and second-round choice Orlando Franklin a leading candidate to replace free-agent Ryan Harris at right tackle. Dont be surprised if Denver brings in battle-tested vet Jake Delhomme, Foxs longtime starting quarterback in Carolina, to serve as Tebows mentor if Orton is indeed jettisoned. San Diego Chargers General manager A.J. Smith and head coach Norv Turner will have their work cut out for them during the early portion of training camp. The Chargers will begin the season with 22 players headed for unrestricted free agency, a list that includes such notables as free safety Eric Weddle, wide receiver Malcom Floyd, third-down back Darren Sproles, linebackers Kevin Burnett and Stephen Cooper and backup quarterback Billy Volek. Early indications are that Floyd wont be back, which will have Smith scouring both the trade and free-agent market for a complement to standout Vincent Jackson, and finding a pass-rushing outside linebacker to team with sackmaster Shaun Phillips is a high priority as well. All the uncertainty should provide opportunities for a number of the teams 2011 draft picks, with first-round defensive end Corey Liuget, inside linebacker Jonas Mouton, wide receiver Vincent Brown and running back Jordan Todman all expected to get a chance to prove their worth during the preseason. Another young player to watch is second-year pro Donald Butler, a possible starter at inside linebacker who missed all of 2010 with a torn Achilles tendon. Oakland Raiders Believe it or not, the Raiders will be coming in to this turbulent offseason with a greater measure of stability than many of their counterparts after re-signing a number of key players from last years 8-8 squad. That list doesnt contain All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, however, and the consensus train of thought is that the coveted cover man will be playing elsewhere as the premier free agent on the open market. With free safety Michael Huff also unlikely to return, finding and developing depth in the secondary figures to be one of the main goals of new head coach Hue Jacksons first camp, as will bolstering an offensive line that struggled in pass protection last year and has three 2010 starters (LG Robert Gallery, C Samson Satele, RT Langston Walker) headed to free agency. Rookies to watch include center Stefen Wisniewski and right tackle Joseph Barksdale, both of whom will have opportunities to win jobs on the remodeled front wall, and speedy corners DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, two candidates that will compete with second-year man Jeremy Ware to be the teams nickel back. Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs head into this delayed offseason aiming to build off last years surprise 10-win turnaround, but the teams sluggish ending was clear proof that some fine-tuning is still needed, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The most glaring problem area was at wide receiver, where a capable option to draw attention away from Pro Bowl honoree Dwayne Bowe never emerged. With that in mind, the player to watch during the preseason will be rookie Jonathan Baldwin, a raw but exceptionally skilled first-round pick who seems to have a clear-cut path to the No. 2 wideout job provided the team doesnt bring in any serious veteran competition. The defensive line also looms as a potential problem spot, with nose tackle Ron Edwards departing via free agency, fellow 2010 starter Shaun Smith currently unsigned and Tyson Jackson having not yet come close to warranting his No. 3 overall selection in the 2009 draft. That uncertainty up front could provide immediate openings for two other rookie draft choices, end Allen Bailey and beefy noseman Terrell Powe, though there have been rumblings that the Chiefs have interest in San Franciscos Aubrayo Franklin, the top available nose tackle on the market. Kansas City has the cap space to be a major player on the free agent front if it chooses, though the prevailing belief is that general manager Scott Pioli will concentrate more on long-term deals for young cornerstones such as outside linebacker Tamba Hali and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr. Mike Vrabels recent retirement creates a battle to start on the opposite side of Hali, with career reserve Andy Studebaker and intriguing rookie Justin Houston the top candidates. Carlos Gomez Authentic Jersey .com) - The 18th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes go in search of their 10th win of the season, as they entertain the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Friday night. Robin Yount Brewers Jersey . 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Now comes an off-season of questions about manager Matt Williams decisions and a handful of key roster choices, including what to do about Ryan Zimmerman, whether to sign Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond to long-term deals, and how to upgrade an offence that fell flat in October. The window is not closed, Desmond said after the Nationals season ended Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of their NL Division Series, but it is closing. At 96-66 under rookie skipper Williams, Washington finished first in the NL East by 17 games and had the best record in the league. Its pitching staff led the majors with a 3.03 ERA, as Zimmermann, who threw a no-hitter in the regular-season finale, teamed with Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark to form as formidable rotation. The lineup lacked superstar numbers, but it managed to finish third in the NL in runs. Then came the post-season. Just like in 2012, when it won 98 games, a top-seeded Nationals club lost to a wild-card opponent in the NLDS. The pitching was fine — Washington and San Francisco each scored nine runs in the series — although Williams use of his relievers will provide fodder for months worth of talk-radio segments. Should he have lifted Zimmermann with two outs in the ninth in Game 2? Should he have gone through Game 4 without ever using Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Craig Stammen or an available Strasburg? Should he have picked one of those pitchers for the pivotal seventh inning, when the Giants took the lead for good, instead of Matt Thornton and rookie Aaron Barrett, whose wild pitch let the go-ahead run score? Those are our seventh-inning guys, Williams said.dddddddddddd Thats how we set this up. The biggest problem of all in the playoffs, though, was the lack of runs. The only batters who produced against the Giants were left fielder Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, who replaced Zimmerman as the teams third baseman in 2014. Rendon batted .400 in the NLDS. Harper hit .368 with three homers and four RBIs, which might raise an additional second-guess: Why was he batting sixth? The No. 3-4 hitters, right fielder Jayson Werth and 34-year-old first baseman Adam LaRoche, were particularly off. They went a combined 2 for 35 (a .057 average) with a pair of singles and nine strikeouts. They were hardly alone, though. The No. 1, 5 and 7 hitters — centre fielder Denard Span, shortstop Desmond and catcher Wilson Ramos — were 7 for 54 (.130) with 15 strikeouts, zero extra-base hits and zero RBIs. Its just frustrating to get to this point and not play to our capabilities, Span said. This will stick with me the whole off-season. When the Nationals eventually gather in Florida for spring training in February, the focus will be squarely on why a club so successful in the regular season hasnt been able to follow that up in the post-season. LaRoche might be gone, perhaps replaced at first base by Zimmerman. Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, a trade-deadline pickup, can become a free agent, and deposed closer Rafael Soriano could be gone, too. As things stand now, the Nationals have a contract option to keep Span for next season, while Zimmermann and Desmond can become free agents after the 2015 season. Were a good team and we had a goal in mind, reliever Jerry Blevins said. This wasnt it. ___ Freelance writer Rick Eymer in San Francisco contributed to this report. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '