In the NFL, there's a story for every letter of the alphabet. So, A to Z:
A for AGED - Forty-four-year-old Steve DeBerg of Atlanta, back after being out of football for five years. An example of the NFL's desperate need for experienced quarterbacks.,B for BRADY and BAVARO - Mark and Kyle. Bill Parcells would love Brady, his tight end with the Jets, to play like Bavaro, his tight end with the Giants a decade ago. No chance.
C for CORNERBACK - The deepest position in the NFL. Add rookie Charles Woodson and second-year men Shawn Springs, Sam Madison and Bryant Westbrook to Aeneas Williams, Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, James Hasty, Dale Carter and Cris Dishman. Doug Evans (Carolina) and Jeff Burris (Indianapolis) who joined the $5 million club in the offseason, aren't in the top 10.
D for DAVIS - Terrell, the Super Bowl MVP whose brilliant first three years have been overshadowed by ...
E for ELWAY - John, in his final season. Now that he's got his Super Bowl ring, he'll be celebrated in every stadium he visits.
F for FLUTIE - Doug. Back in the NFL as a bench-warmer in Buffalo after six MVP awards in eight seasons in Canada.
G for GEORGE - Jeff, whose talent hasn't kept him from having the second worst winning percentage of any quarterback who's started 100 or more games. No. 1? Peyton Manning's dad, Archie.
H for H-BACK - What does the "H" stand for anyway?
I for ILLUSIONS - Team records during the exhibition season - what the NFL calls "preseason."
J for JOHNSON - Rob, not Jimmy. He has only one regular-season start at quarterback in four seasons, but the Bills gambled $25 million that he will be a star.
K for KNEES - The injuries (two of them) that Jerry Rice must overcome. A catch in each of his first seven games and he becomes the all-time leader (at 184) in consecutive games with a reception.
L for LOMAS - Brown, the Cardinals' 35-year-old left tackle, second-year quarterback Jake Plummer's only experienced protector.
M for MARINO - Dan, the Dolphins' quarterback, who in his declining years still needs a deep threat and a running game.
N for NOLO CONTENDERE - The Dallas Cowboys, who won't contend for anything except the NFL leadership in court dates.
O for OPENING UP - The Chiefs offense with Elvis Grbac going deep to Andre Rison, Tony Gonzalez and Derrick Alexander.
P for PANCAKES - The blocks the St. Louis Rams hope Orlando Pace will throw after a holdout-plagued, injury-riddled rookie year.
Q for QUARTERBACKS - Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, rookies who are expected to succeed the aging Elway and Marino as signal-calling superstars.
R for REPLAY (instant variety) - Something you won't see this season.
S for SANDERS - Barry, not Deion. Somewhere around midseason, he should tie Walter Payton with 10 1,000-yard seasons, the most ever.
T for TD PASSES - If Brett Favre gets 30 for the fifth straight season, he ties Marino's record.
U for USFL - Steve Young, Doug Flutie and Reggie White, the last remaining stars from the spring league that died in 1985.
V for VICTORY - What the Kansas City Chiefs and Marty Schottenheimer will finally celebrate after the Super Bowl.
W for WARREN - Sapp, the dominant player on Tampa Bay's dominant defense.
X for X-RAY MACHINE - Too often used.
Y for YELLOW FLAGS - Too many.
ZZZZZZ - The noise provoked by the Chicago Bears.