Five To Follow - NFL News

Five To Follow
By Tim Sullivan
Posted: 5:00 am PDT 2006-09-04

Here are the NFL's top five newsmakers and storylines this week:

1. CARSON PALMER: There hasn't been this much excitement leading up to a season in Cincinnati since Ickey Woods was doing his shuffle. And it centers around this former Heisman Trophy winner who returned to action Monday for the first time since suffering a devastating knee injury vs. Pittsburgh in the divisional round last season.

So, it sure was nice of him to give everyone a preview of what's ahead for the Bengals (+230 to win the AFC North, +980 to win the AFC, and +2200 to win the Super Bowl on WagerWeb.com). Palmer went 9-for-14 for 140 yards and three touchdowns as Cincinnati hammered Green Bay 48-17.

"I'm sure," wide receiver Chad Johnson said, "he answered all the critics, questions and all the doubts that everyone had in their minds."

Not everyone.

"I definitely have a long way to go to get where I need to be," Palmer said.

Palmer looked good again Friday night against the Colts. In two series, he was four of six for 73 yards and a 14-yard touchdown pass.

2. DONTE' STALLWORTH: Donovan McNabb has someone to play catch with ... finally. Acquired from the Saints on Monday, Stallworth, who was never able to escape Joe Horn's shadow in New Orleans, immediately became the Birds' best downfield option and, in the end, could change the outlook of the entire NFC East (the Eagles are +325 to win the division on WagerWeb.com).
"I can help the team win games," he said. "If that's catching deep balls down the field or catching short passes and making long runs down the field, I can do it."

The Eagles, faced with a season win total of 8.5 on WagerWeb.com, still have work to do. But McNabb clearly isn't flying solo this year, and when you combine him with Stallworth and running back Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia has an adequate offensive trifecta --- something the Eagles failed to have last season.

"His running style is a physical running style rather than shaking-and-baking," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said of Stallworth. "He's a playmaker and typically catches the ball on a consistent basis."

3. J.P. LOSMAN: The former Tulane standout and 2004 NFL first-round pick, has another chance to create an identity in a tough AFC East (the Bills are +1100 to win the division on WagerWeb.com). He already has a rugged identity in western New York, as he is the only Bill to be living within Buffalo's gritty city limits. But the rest of the league needs to see something soon.

Being named the starter, as Losman was on Tuesday by new coach Dick Jauron, is a good start. But keep in mind, the Bills are slowly rebuilding, they have to face the Dolphins and Patriots a total of four times, and they could be a year away from contending.

"It's not time to slack or get comfortable," Losman said. "It's time to really get to work."

Of course, Kelly Holcomb is waiting, just in case Losman doesn't live by those words.

4. CHAD PENNINGTON: There really wasn't another choice, although Jets coach Eric Mangini led the media to speculate otherwise. Finally, on Tuesday, Mangini dropped his guard and named Pennington, surgically repaired shoulder and all, his starter for Week 1 and gave the No. 2 job to Patrick Ramsey.
Pennington, without the benefit of a strong arm, can still move the ball. But his supporting cast is shaky, and he is, after all, just one good hit away from returning to the sidelines.

Either way, it's good for bettors to know who the Week 1 starter is 13 days in advance. And thanks to Mangini, you now have an answer. Keep in mind, though, tat the Jets are still +1000 to win the AFC East and +4000 to win the AFC on WagerWeb.com.

5. GREG JONES: Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio had big plans for this former Florida State running back. He was to spell an aging Fred Taylor and lead the way on the goal line. However, he tore his ACL on Monday and is lost for the season, leaving more work for the guy they sometimes call "Fragile Fred" in Jacksonville.
I can't say enough about him," Del Rio said of Jones. "We're going to miss him."

Keep that in mind if you're considering the Jaguars (+1400 to win the conference on WagerWeb.com) to make a serious dent in the AFC.

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