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Key Losses: TE Stephen Alexander, S<br />
Brock Marion, WR Az-Zahir Hakim, DE<br />
Robert Porcher<br />
Offense: Difficult to match four top<br />
receivers if the QB can get them the ball.<br />
Defense: Above average squad with solid<br />
front seven.<br />
Outlook: (10-6) Division ready to be had.<br />
Minnesota Vikings<br />
Last Year: 8-8 (Wild Card)<br />
Head Coach: Mike Tice (4th season)<br />
Key Additions: QB Brad Johnson, S<br />
Darren Sharper, CB Fred Smoot, DT Pat<br />
Williams, WR Travis Taylor, LB Sam Cowart<br />
Key Losses: LB Chris Claiborne, DT Chris<br />
Hovan, S Brian Russell<br />
Offense: No Moss, no mas?<br />
Defense: Once in a while wouldn’t hurt.<br />
Outlook: (8-8) Identity to be determined.<br />
Green Bay Packers<br />
Last Year: 10-6 (Division Champs)<br />
Head Coach: Mike Sherman (5th year)<br />
Key Additions: G Matt O’Dwyer, S<br />
Arturo <strong>Free</strong>man, S Earl Little<br />
Key Losses: DB Michael Hawthorne, S<br />
Darren Sharper, G Marco Rivera<br />
Offense: Brett Farve’s last stand?<br />
Defense: One of the worst in the league.<br />
Outlook: (7-9) Yes it is so.<br />
Chicago Bears<br />
Last Year: 5-11<br />
Head Coach: Lovie Smith (2nd season)<br />
Key Additions: WR Mushin Muhammad,<br />
T Fred Miller, K Doug Brien<br />
Key Losses: WR David Terrell, RB Anthony<br />
Thomas, QB Jonathan Quinn<br />
Offense: Young and improved.<br />
Defense: Problems squared.<br />
Outlook: (4-12) It gets cold in the Windy City.<br />
SOUTH<br />
Atlanta Falcons<br />
Last Year: 11-5 (Division Champs)<br />
Head Coach: Jim Mora (2nd year)<br />
Key Additions: LB Ed Hartwell, DT<br />
Brandon Mitchell, K Todd Peterson, P Toby<br />
Gowin, LB Ike Reese<br />
Key Losses: K Jay Feely, P Chris Mohr<br />
Offense: Michael Vick and a cloud of dust.<br />
Defense: Playoff caliber with penchant for<br />
the big play.<br />
Outlook: (14-2) Philly’s main competition<br />
for Super Bowl berth.<br />
Carolina Panthers<br />
Last Year: 7-9<br />
Head Coach: John Fox (4th season)<br />
Key Additions: CB Ken Lucas, OL Mike<br />
Wahle, CB Ken Lucas, TE Freddie Jones<br />
Key Losses: WR Mushin Muhammad, QB<br />
Rodney Peete, G Doug Brzezinski<br />
Offense: Hopefully healthier this year.<br />
Defense: Still one of the league’s best.<br />
Outlook: (9-7) Wild Card push.<br />
Tampa Bay Buccaneers<br />
Last Year: 5-11<br />
Head Coach: Jon Gruden (4th year)<br />
Key Additions: WR Ike Hilliard, TE<br />
Anthony Becht, DT Chris Hovan<br />
Key Losses: QB Brad Johnson, G Matt<br />
O’Dwyer, S Dwight Smith, CB Mario Edwards<br />
Offense: Retooled and refigured under<br />
Gruden watch.<br />
Defense: Ain’t what it used to be.<br />
Outlook: (8-8) In the mix if a few things break.<br />
New Orleans Saints<br />
Last Year: 8-8<br />
Head Coach: Jim Haslett (6th year)<br />
Key Additions: S Dwight Smith, G<br />
Jarmane Mayberry, TE Shad Meier<br />
Key Losses: S Tebucky Jones<br />
Offense: Stops and goes with the mercurial<br />
Aaron Brooks.<br />
Defense: Promise of ferociousness.<br />
Outlook: (8-8) How many times can this<br />
team save Haslett’s gig?<br />
WEST<br />
St. Louis Rams<br />
Last Year: 8-8 (Wild Card)<br />
Head Coach: Mike Martz (6th year)<br />
Key Additions: LB Dexter Coakley, DE<br />
Jay Williams, LB Chris Claiborne<br />
Key Losses: LB Tommy Polley<br />
Offense: Still wild, chancy and fun.<br />
Defense: Still goofy, iffy and full of holes.<br />
Outlook: (10-6) Back on top.<br />
Arizona Cardinals<br />
Last Year: 6-10<br />
Head Coach: Dennis Green (2nd season)<br />
Key Additions: QB Kurt Warner, S Robert<br />
Griffith, DE Chike Okeafor<br />
Key Losses: CB Renaldo Hill, TE Freddie<br />
Jones, RB Emmitt Smith<br />
Offense: Much improved with Warner’s<br />
veteran presence.<br />
Defense: Team’s strength and only hope.<br />
Outlook: (8-8) Not joining the “chic pick”<br />
bandwagon just yet.<br />
Seattle Seahawks<br />
Last Year: 9-7 (Division Champs)<br />
Head Coach: Mike Homlgren (7th season)<br />
Key Additions: DE Bryce Fisher, WR Joe<br />
Jurevicius, CB Andre Dyson, DE Joe Tafoya<br />
Key Losses: DE Chad Brown, CB Ken<br />
Lucas, DT Brandon Mitchell, WR Jerry Rice,<br />
LB Anthony Simmons, DE Chike Okeafor,<br />
WR Koren Robinson, CB Bobby Taylor<br />
Offense: Great and horrible all at once.<br />
Defense: Killed them late in games in ’04.<br />
Outlook: (7-9) Time to say bye-bye to<br />
Homlgren after another bad year.<br />
San Francisco 49ers<br />
Last Year: 2-14<br />
Head Coach: Mike Nolan (1st season)<br />
Key Additions: DE Marquis Douglas, T<br />
Jonas Jennings, QB Alex Smith<br />
Key Losses: G Kyle Kosier, WR Cedrick<br />
Wilson, DE Brandon Whiting<br />
Offense: The Alex Smith initiation rite.<br />
Defense: Nolan’s headache.<br />
Outlook: (3-13) Hey, it’s better than 2-14. ◆<br />
AFC<br />
EAST: New England Patriots<br />
SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts<br />
NORTH: Pittsburgh Steelers<br />
WEST: San Diego Chargers<br />
WILD CARDS:<br />
Jacksonville Jaguars,<br />
Oakland Raiders<br />
NFC<br />
EAST: Philadelphia Eagles<br />
SOUTH: Atlanta Falcons<br />
NORTH: Detroit Lions<br />
WEST: St. Louis Rams<br />
WILD CARDS:<br />
Washington Redskins,<br />
Carolina Panthers<br />
SUPER BOWL:<br />
Indianapolis Colts<br />
vs.<br />
Atlanta Falcons<br />
<strong>2005</strong> CHAMPIONS:<br />
Indianapolis Colts<br />
ULTRA for MEN 49
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