AFC EAST
DEFENDING CHAMPION AND FAVORITE
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
When: Veterans on July 28
New arrivals: WR David Terrell, CB Duane Starks, KR Tim Dwight, LB Monty Beisel, CB Chad Scott, QB Doug Flutie, LB Chad Brown, S Antuan Edwards, KR Chad Morton, defensive coordinator Eric Mangini.
Gone: Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, CB Ty Law, WR David Patten, G Joe Andruzzi, LB Roman Phifer, OL Adrian Klemm, NT Keith Traylor, DB Omar Lowe.
Top rookies: G Logan Mankins, CB Ellis Hobbs III, G Nick Kaczur.
What’s up: Coach Bill Belichick still hasn’t named a replacement for Weis. Somebody has to call plays, unless three Super Bowls in four years means team is on cruise control. Can LB Tedy Bruschi play after stroke? Terrell a world champion?
DARKHORSE
NEW YORK JETS
Where: Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y.
When: July 29
New arrivals: Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, WR Laveranues Coles, RB Derrick Blaylock, DT Lance Legree, QB Jay Fiedler, LB Barry Gardner, TE Doug Jolley.
Gone: Offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, RB Lamont Jordan, DT Jason Ferguson, WR Santana Moss, OT Kareem McKenzie, P Toby Gowin, PK Doug Brien, TE Anthony Becht, LB Sam Cowart, S Reggie Tongue.
Top rookies: K Mike Nugent, CB-KR Justin Miller.
What’s up: Jets came close in big games, so this is year coach Herman Edwards needs to get over the hump. New kicker might help. Bears took old one, Brien.
HOPING
BUFFALO BILLS
Where: St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, N.Y.
When: July 29
New arrivals: QB Kelly Holcomb, T Mike Gandy, G Bennie Anderson, RB Reshard Lee.
Gone: QB Drew Bledsoe, DT Pat Williams, OT Jonas Jenkins, S Pierson Prioleau.
Top rookie: WR Roscoe Parrish.
What’s up: Coach Mike Mularkey is banking on untested second-year QB J.P Losman to step in for Bledsoe. Bills disagree with Bears in thinking Gandy can play.
REBUILDING
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Where: Dolphins Training Center, Davie, Fla.
When: July 24
New arrivals: Coach Nick Saban, GM Randy Mueller, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, defensive coordinator Richard Smith, DE Vonnie Holliday, S Travares Tillman, DT Kevin Carter, QB Gus Frerotte, OT Stockar McDougle, S Tebucky Jones, CB Mario Edwards, NT Keith Traylor.
Gone: Coach Dave Wannstedt, GM Rick Spielman, QB Jay Fiedler, S Arturo Freeman, S Shawn Wooden, S Sammy Knight, LB Morlon Greenwood, DT Bryan Robinson, K Matt Bryant, RB Rob Konrad, CB Patrick Surtain.
Top rookies: RB Ronnie Brown, DE Matt Roth
What’s up: RB Ricky Williams is hovering again and Saban re-signed WR David Boston. Frerotte looks like the quarterback. Exhibition debut is against Bears in Hall of Fame game.
NFC EAST
DEFENDING CHAMPION AND FAVORITE
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Where: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.
When: Aug. 1
New arrivals: QB Mike McMahon, TE James Whalen.
Gone: LB Nate Wayne, G Jermane Mayberry, LB Ike Reese, DE Derrick Burgess, OT Ian Allen, WR Freddie Mitchell.
Top rookies: DT Mike Patterson, WR Reggie Brown, LB Matt McCoy, RB Ryan Moats.
What’s up: WR Terrell Owens doesn’t seem like a happy camper. When last seen, he was proving everybody wrong in the Super Bowl. Maybe he will do it again. Intramural squabbling seems like only barrier to Super Bowl repeat.
WATCH OUT
NEW YORK GIANTS
Where: State University at Albany, N.Y.
When: July 28
New arrivals: LB Antonio Pierce, OT Kareem McKenzie, K Jay Feely, DT Kendrick Clancy, WR Plaxico Burress, OT Bob Whitfield, QB Tim Hasselbeck.
Gone: S Omar Stoutmire, DE Lorenzo Bromell, RB Ron Dayne, S Terry Cousin, DT Martin Chase, QB Kurt Warner, WR Ike Hilliard, DT Norman Hand, DE Keith Washington, DT Lance Legree, OL Barry Stokes.
Top rookies: CB Corey Webster, DE Justin Tuck, RB Brandon Jacobs.
What’s up: This is Eli Manning’s first preseason as No. 1 QB. He looks like the only quarterback in division capable of challenging Eagles’ Donovan McNabb in near future.
DARKHORSE
DALLAS COWBOYS
Where: River Ridge Field, Oxnard, Calif.
When: July 28
New arrivals: QB Drew Bledsoe, CB Anthony Henry, DT Jason Ferguson, G Marco Rivera, CB Aaron Glenn, RB Anthony Thomas, S Izell Reese.
Gone: DE Marcellus Wiley, QB Vinny Testaverde, G Gennaro DeNapoli, LB Dexter Coakley, RB Reshard Lee, S Tony Dixon.
Top rookies: LB Demarcus Ware, DE Marcus Spears, LB Kevin Burnett, RB Marion Barber III.
What’s up: Coach Bill Parcells thinks Bledsoe has something left. The defense is being retooled to Parcells’ favored 3-4. Ex-Bear RB Thomas, who didn’t like backing up Thomas Jones, now backs up Jones’ little brother Julius.
STRUGGLING
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Where: Redskins Park, Ashburn, Va.
When: July 31
New arrivals: WR David Patten, WR Santana Moss, C Casey Rabach, S Pierson Prioleau, CB Brian Allen, LB Warrick Holdman, S Cory Hall, WR Kevin Dyson, CB Artrell Hawkins, S Tony Dixon.
Gone: LB Antonio Pierce, WR Laveranues Coles, DB Todd Franz, CB Fred Smoot, QB Tim Hasselbeck, KR Chad Morton.
Top rookies: CB Carlos Rogers, QB Jason Campbell.
What’s up: Disappointing return of coach Joe Gibbs starts year two at home against Bears. No. 1 draft choice last year, S Sean Taylor, doesn’t behave like Gibbs’ type of guy. Patrick Ramsey is the QB until Campbell is ready.
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dpierson@tribune.com
COMING THURSDAY: AFC, NFC WEST CAMP PREVIEWS
