Who will take advantage of Manning absence?
Attention, AFC South also-rans!Peyton Manning(notes) Bengals Fred Jackson Replica Jersey won't play in the season opener. (Hint: If the Colts say he's doubtful, then he's not playing at all). Bengals Fred Jackson Replica Jersey One report had Manning on the shelf for a month or more.With all due respect to Kerry Collins(notes), Bengals Fred Jackson Premier Jersey that means Aaron Rodgers Jersey On sale the doors is finally wide open for the Texans, Titans and Jaguars to finally make a move and break Indy's stranglehold on the division. Since the AFC South's inception in 2002, the Manning-led Colts have won the cheap Aaron Rodgers Jersey division every Bengals Marcell Dareus Jersey year but two, when the Titans finished ahead of them.The Colts actually started to look mortal last season, stumbling through the first three-fourths of Bengals A.J. Green Jersey the season with a 6-6 record before reeling off four wins in a row at the end to Bengals A.J. Green Replica Jersey claim yet another AFC South crown. The question is, which team, if any can take Brandon Jacobs Jersey Red advantage of Manning's Bengals Marshawn Lynch Authentic Jersey absence and potentially ascend to the AFC South throne.Most would probably say the Texans, who get the first shot at the Manning-less Colts on Sept. 11. But they still have to prove themselves by having a winning season before anyone is going to take them seriously. Only once in nine years have the Texans finished above .500, and, there are questions that abound this year. Can Bengals A.J. Green Authentic Jersey Wade Phillips take a 4-3 team and turn it into a 3-4 overnight and have success? It probably hinges on how quickly the defense's best player Mario Williams(notes) can make the conversion from powerhouse defensive end to outside linebacker, something that has apparently been cheap Aaron Rodgers Jersey a struggle.The Titans Bengals A.J. Green Authentic Jersey found themselves behind the eight-ball Aaron Rodgers Jersey Outlet as training camp started,but now have Bengals Carson Palmer Jersey a quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck(notes), their holdout running back returning in Chris Johnson and their best receiver Kenny Britt(notes) avoiding suspension.Still, there are a lot of working Aaron Rodgers Jersey Free shipping parts for new coach Mike Munchak, Bengals Marshawn Lynch Premier Jersey who is Bengals Marcell Dareus Jersey charged with cleaning up Jeff Fisher's mess,to fit together coming off a season in which the lockout ruined any early chance at team chemistry and the learning of the offense Bengals A.J. Green Premier Jersey and defense.As for Jacksonville, Coach Jack Del Rio is in must-win mode entering the last year of his contract. The Jaguars drafted a quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert(notes), but theirs and perhaps Del Rio's fortunes Bengals Marcell Dareus Replica Jersey may hinge on how well veteran David Garrard(notes) plays this year.For the first time, the Colts might Bengals Marcell Dareus Authentic Jersey not be the prohibitive favorite to win the AFC South, but Brandon Jacobs Jersey Red the question lingers, which, if any, of the other three teams are capable of knocking them off?Follow me on Twitter TitanInsider247 and terrymc13Terry McCormick covers the Titans Aaron Rodgers Jersey Outlet for TitanInsider.com
Falcons bolster secondary with Sanders, Hayden
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)Excuse Kelvin Hayden(notes) if Bengals Carson Palmer Premier Jersey his head is spinning abit.He's buried himself in an unfamiliar playbook. He's trying to becomefamiliar with different terminology. He's struggling to learn everyone's name onhis new team, including the coaches for the Atlanta Falcons.The cornerback called up one of Bengals Fred Jackson Authentic Jersey the assistants a couple of times over theweekend, going over calls and Bengals Fred Jackson Authentic Jersey formations. Now, if only he could remember who wason the other end of the line."It's a challenge," Hayden said Monday, standing in front of a locker thatwas identified as his by a Brandon Jacobs Jersey Blue handwritten placard. "I'm still learning thecoaches' names." Hayden is one of two experienced defensive backs signed last week by theFalcons to bolster their thin secondary, another step toward building a teamthat can make a run at the Super Bowl. In the very next locker was safety JamesSanders(notes), who landed in Atlanta under similar circumstances.Both were dumped by their previous teamsHayden in Bengals A.J. Green Replica Jersey Indianapolis, Sandersin New Englandmore for Bengals Marshawn Lynch Replica Jersey salary cap reasons than their performance on thefield.Hayden starred in the Colts' Super Bowl win in 2007, clinching the victorywith his return of an interception for a touchdown. Sanders started 49 games forthe Patriots and is coming off a season in which he set career highs with threeinterceptions and six passes defended."You can't coach depth. You can't coach experience," Falcons linebackerMike Peterson(notes) said. "Anytime you get a Bengals Marcell Dareus Authentic Jersey chance to add that to the mix, it's aplus."Given their resumes, both could eventually challenge for extensive playingtime, maybe even a starting job. The Aaron Rodgers Jersey On sale current starters look forward to gettingpushed by the newcomers."They are two proven players in this league," safety Thomas DeCoud(notes) said."Competition always breeds success. It will make Bengals Carson Palmer Authentic Jersey us better as a team and asindividuals."First, Hayden and Sanders have to learn the ropes with a new organization.They only signed with Bengals A.J. Green Jersey the Falcons in time to watch the final preseason game fromthe sideline. They practiced for the first time Monday, a dreary day in theAtlanta area Brandon Jacobs Jersey White as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee made their way northward."Of course, I want to get out Brandon Jacobs Jersey Blue there and play," said the 27-year-oldSanders, who got Bengals Carson Palmer Replica Jersey a locker right beside Hayden Bengals Marcell Dareus Replica Jersey and had lunch with him beforepractice. "But right now, my focus is on learning the playbook and this team.Without that, there's no way I can even be Bengals Marshawn Lynch Premier Jersey on the field."Sanders was quickly scooped up by the Falcons after being Bengals Marshawn Lynch Jersey cut by thePatriots. The 28-year-old Hayden took a little longer to find a new job, havingmissed the final four games last season with a neck injury that reportedlyscared off Bengals Fred Jackson Jersey some teams.Hayden said he's fully recovered from the latest in a series of injuriesthat have kept him from playing a full season since 2007."My neck is fine," he said. "I feeling good and ready to go."The Falcons lack significant depth behind DeCoud and William Moore(notes).Second-year player Shann Schillinger(notes) is the only other safety on Brandon Jacobs Jersey White the roster, soSanders should get Bengals A.J. Green Premier Jersey extensive playing time once Bengals Carson Palmer Premier Jersey he's familiar with the system.Pro Bowler Brent Grimes(notes) and Dunta Robinson(notes) are set at Bengals Carson Palmer Authentic Jersey the cornerbackpositions, but Hayden could fill a valuable role at nickel back. Chris Owens isstill on the roster, but has yet to live Bengals Carson Palmer Jersey up to expectations heading Aaron Rodgers Jersey Free shipping into histhird season. He was picked on mercilessly by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers(notes)in Bengals Marcell Dareus Premier Jersey Green Bay's playoff romp over the Falcons.After a winless preseason, Atlanta opens the regular season Sunday atChicago in a matchup of division champions from 2010."I'm trying my best to get out Bengals Marshawn Lynch Authentic Jersey there," Hayden said. "I might miss thefirst game, but then I feel like I'll be ready Bengals Marcell Dareus Premier Jersey to go."Sanders was pleased to wind up Bengals Marshawn Lynch Jersey with another winning organization afterleaving the Patriots."This Bengals Carson Palmer Replica Jersey is a good, young, up-and-coming Bengals Marshawn Lynch Replica Jersey football team," he said. "They havegreat players, great management, everything you could want in an organization.I'm thankful for the opportunity to be Bengals Fred Jackson Jersey here. I'm thankful to be an AtlantaFalcon. I look forward to helping us win some games."Notes: The Falcons filled out the last remaining spot on their practicesquad Monday, signing tight end Marquez Branson(notes). A day earlier, the team broughtback quarterback John Parker Wilson(notes), safety Rafael Bush(notes), offensive guard AndrewJackson(notes), offensive Bengals Fred Jackson Premier Jersey tackle Jose Valdez(notes), linebacker Robert James(notes) and receiversKevin Cone(notes) and Drew Davis(notes). With Wilson demoted to the practice squad,Atlanta plans to open the season with only two quarterbacks on the activeroster: starter Matt Ryan(notes) and Chris Redman(notes).