NFC East preview
By Tim Polzer
Special to NFL.com
You can't throw a skinny post without hitting a high-profile quarterback in the NFC East. So don't be surprised if the next NFC Pro Bowl roster reflects which team claims the division after Week 17. The favored Eagles and Cowboys already have quarterbacks who have made the trip to Hawaii. The Giants are growing impatient for their own. And the Redskins have finally bitten the bullet in hopes of grooming their first Pro Bowl quarterback since Brad Johnson in 1999.
All four NFC East quarterbacks have something to prove and the best man will likely tip the division.
Donovan McNabb is back from an ACL injury that forced him to miss six games, plus the playoffs. He seems to have gotten over the Eagles using their first pick of the 2007 draft on quarterback Kevin Kolb, but he won't have Donte Stallworth getting open.
Tony Romo has given up holding for field goals, if not breaking into Journey karaoke tributes, which may have helped him put last season's playoff nightmare behind him. But he's riding a wave of hype and hope that has Dallas fans wondering if he's the next Troy Aikman or Clint Longley.
Eli Manning's slide after a promising debut and the success of Philip Rivers in San Diego has Giants fans rethinking that infamous draft-day trade. Questions of Manning's ability to lead the Giants were amplified by former teammate Tiki Barber during the preseason. He still has trouble getting Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey to play catch with him during the offseason and a certain brother can now hold a Super Bowl ring over his head.
After failing to milk another playoff run out of Mark Brunell, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is finally starting a young quarterback in Jason Campbell, who showed improvement during his seven-game stint last season. He will benefit from Washington's run-first, pass-second philosophy.
It's the past prime of McNabb and the promise of Romo that make the Eagles and Cowboys favorites to win the East.
Special to NFL.com
You can't throw a skinny post without hitting a high-profile quarterback in the NFC East. So don't be surprised if the next NFC Pro Bowl roster reflects which team claims the division after Week 17. The favored Eagles and Cowboys already have quarterbacks who have made the trip to Hawaii. The Giants are growing impatient for their own. And the Redskins have finally bitten the bullet in hopes of grooming their first Pro Bowl quarterback since Brad Johnson in 1999.
All four NFC East quarterbacks have something to prove and the best man will likely tip the division.
Donovan McNabb is back from an ACL injury that forced him to miss six games, plus the playoffs. He seems to have gotten over the Eagles using their first pick of the 2007 draft on quarterback Kevin Kolb, but he won't have Donte Stallworth getting open.
Tony Romo has given up holding for field goals, if not breaking into Journey karaoke tributes, which may have helped him put last season's playoff nightmare behind him. But he's riding a wave of hype and hope that has Dallas fans wondering if he's the next Troy Aikman or Clint Longley.
Eli Manning's slide after a promising debut and the success of Philip Rivers in San Diego has Giants fans rethinking that infamous draft-day trade. Questions of Manning's ability to lead the Giants were amplified by former teammate Tiki Barber during the preseason. He still has trouble getting Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey to play catch with him during the offseason and a certain brother can now hold a Super Bowl ring over his head.
After failing to milk another playoff run out of Mark Brunell, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is finally starting a young quarterback in Jason Campbell, who showed improvement during his seven-game stint last season. He will benefit from Washington's run-first, pass-second philosophy.
It's the past prime of McNabb and the promise of Romo that make the Eagles and Cowboys favorites to win the East.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:14 PM
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