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I'm inclined to root for Anderson to succeed. After all, with the stats that he has produced, he gives the every man a window of hope: "If he can do it, maybe I can too!" All jokes aside, though, Anderson has been given at least two more chances to succeed than most QBs ever get in the NFL. It's now up to him to show us all that either he deserves the chances that he has been given, or that maybe, just maybe, his luck will finally run out.

This season of bitter disappointment prompted yet another change at QB, and both cheap Quinn jersey and Anderson were cut in the off season. Derek's future once again looked bleak. Then Arizona Cardinal's starting QB Kurt Warner walked away from $13 million and retired, leaving the team in the incapable hands of QB Matt Leinart. The Cardinals definitely had a hole at the QB spot that needed to be filled, and even after all of Derek Anderson's miserable play, he was called upon to fill it. After the team's poor output in their second preseason game of this, the 2010 season, Anderson was named the starter of the third preseason game. Neither Anderson nor Leinart has looked anything aything better than average thus far, and all reports are pointing to old #3, Derek Anderson, winning the starting job for the season opener.

Quinn played so poorly in his first ten quarters of action that Anderson was once again named the Browns starting QB. The fans were happy with the change, but their enthusiasm quickly turned to disgust as Anderson swiftly posted one of the leagues lowest QB ratings and his worst statistical output in a season to date (3TDs, 10 INTs, 44.5% completions, 42.1 QB rating). Anderson would start 7 games, and Quinn finished out the year leap frogging Anderson as starter in a battle-of-the-not-as-bad QB. The team finished 5-11.

Still, Anderson was given the oppertunity to compete for the starting job with second year QB Brady Quinn in the Browns 2009 training camp. The new head coach liked what he saw from Quinn, and with fans calling out for change, Anderson ultimately lost the job. It didn't look good for the young QB, but fate wasn't done smiling on Anderson just yet...

The team opted not to trade Anderson for value, despite many teams showing interest, and the fans were all set for a playoff run. But the 2008 season would be quite a bit different than the last. The Browns were playing one of the 5 most difficult schedules in the league on paper. They started 4 different QBs over the course of the year with Anderson playing in only 10 games. He threw only 9 TDs to 8 picks, completing only 50.2 percent of his passes for a QB rating of 66.5. The team would finish 4-12, dead last in the division.

Even with the sting of a terible season-ending loss still on his toungue, an injury to New England Patriots jersey  QB Tom Brady that he suffered in the playoffs left a Pro Bowl spot open, and Derek Anderson had already been named the first alternate QB, putting him into the Pro Bowl. This turn of good fortune, compounded with his team falling just short of the post season, left Browns fans very optimistic for their new QB and the 2008 season.

The following year, Anderson started 15 of the team's regular season games. On the surface he looked successful, leading the team to 10 wins. Anderson threw 29 TDs to 19 interceptions, which does seem very respectable, but there were at least 12 more balls that bounced of the hands of defenders, and in some cases, bounced right off of their chests. Also, the Browns played what was quite possibly the easiest schedule in the entire league (AFC east, NFC west, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans). The Browns season finale would put the team in a win-and-get-in playoff scenario, but Anderson threw 5 picks in his worst outing of the season and the most meaningful game of his young career. The Browns would fall short of a win, losing 14-19, and ultimately miss the playoffs yet again.

The Browns had featured nine starting QBs from 1999 through 2005, and made the playoffs only once in that stretch as a wild card team. On December 13, 2006, Anderson would become the tenth. Starter Charlie Frye injured his wrist late in the first half of a game that the Browns were losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-14, and Anderson would enter the game in relief of the injured Frye. Anderson lead the Browns on a 31-28 comeback victory in overtime, throwing two TDs to TE Steve Heiden in the second half, and so was issued in the Derek Anderson "era" in Cleveland.

In 2005, Derek was selected in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens jersey (213th overall), but he would never play a down in a Raven uniform. He was cut on September 20th, 2005, and was signed by the Cleveland Browns the very next day. So began an NFL career that any good poker player would recognize as nothing more than a dumb luck hot streak.

Arizona Cardinals QB Derek Anderson's NFL career may be summed up best by the late Dean Martin with one simple question: "How lucky can one guy be?" His stats resemble that of a journeyman backup QB, with career totals of 46 TDs to 45 interceptions, 21 fumbles (8 lost), a pedestrian 52.9 percent completion rate, only 7,093 yards, and a woeful QB rating of 69.7. Yet somehow, he appears poised to begin the 2010 season as the starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals jersey .

The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings meet in a pre-season game in San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings meet in a pre-season game in San Francisco.

The San Francisco 49ers looked very good in their opening game at Indianapolis, especially the defense, but there were definitely some areas that needed some work.  Alex Smith was 3 for 9 for 37 yards with an interception as receivers had trouble holding on to his passes but back ups David Carr and Nate Davis had just three incompletions between them as the Niners appear to be in good shape this year. Frank Gore didn't play and back up Glenn Coffee retired in just his second year as he had no desire to play the game. Anthony Dix on was impressive carrying the rock 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown and Michael Robinson had five carries and a TD. The backfield will have a different look this week as San Francisco sign Brian Westbrook. Nate Byham had three catches for 52 yards to lead the team and Tony Curtis caught a touchdown pass. Reggie Smith, Mike Balogun, Diyral Briggs, and William James all had an interception while Bruce Davis had a sack and Nate Clements forced a fumble. Overall the Forty Niners looked like the contenders they are.

With all of the talk surrounding the Minnesota Vikings being based on whether or not he will return, now it will be when and how much will he play. Personally I would think Favre sees at least some light action in this game though I will update when we know for sure. In the meantime Tarvaris Jackson was two for four for 11 yards and Sage Rosenfels was a star throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Webb also had a touchdown pass and I think we see him possibly convert positions and makes the team because of his versatility. Webb ran three times for 24 yards while Toby Gerhart had eight carries for 24 yards and Ryan Moats had three carries for 16 yards. Garrett Mills had four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, Marko Mitchell had a 71 yard TD catch, and Logan Payne had seven catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. Jayme Mitchell had two sacks and Erin Henderson, Letroy Guion, Fred Evans, and Rhys Lloyd all had sacks in the winning effort. The Vikings look ready to avenge last years Championship Game loss to New Orleans and with Brett Favre back in the fold they are that much closer.

While Favre will be a factor long term, I don't expect him to be a factor in this one as I really like the depth both teams have at Running Back. I like the Niners at a field goal, at anything more it gets cloudy but I still like San Francisco's chances.

In each of his first five years he had a different coordinator. First it was Mike McCarthy. Then Norv Turner. Jim Hostler. Mike Martz. The revolving coordinator trend has stopped with Jimmy Raye. No wonder Smith has a newfound comfort zone.

He compares learning a new offense to a new language, with the additional pressure for a quarterback being the need and expectation that he is the best student.

"It's nice to feel like I am really fluent in this," Smith says. "If you're going to take ownership in something, you have to have that."

Raye senses the difference, too. During the offseason, the coordinator and quarterback spent more time breaking down defenses than they did last offseason when the priority was learning the offense.

Says Raye: "You can just see him flourishing, growing. It's becoming second-nature."

Whether this increased awareness translates into a better quarterback will have to be proven. The 49ers' season could hinge on whether Smith can finally live up to his lofty draft status. After finishing 8-8 last season and steadily adding key building blocks in recent years, San Francisco is a sexy pick to overtake Arizona and win the NFC West.

Much depends on Smith, who had a shaky outing (3-for-9, 37 yards, INT) in Sunday's preseason opener at Indianapolis.

"The next step is that leadership," says 49ers coach Mike Singletary, mindful of the morale-boosting effect of performance. "Being able to take an offense that might be stuck at some point in the game and being able to rally those guys together into believing in what we're going to get done."

Gonzalez and Bob Sanders could get their most important test so far in the Colts' preseason opener

Pure coincidence. I just happened to see this story headline: "With whom is Bell's toll OK?" The story is about a guy named Bell who wants to put up a toll bridge, or something. An editor was keen enough to see the opportunity for a nice play on words.

Also, pure coincidence: I had pulled at random a magazine from my Dallas Clark precious collection of old Life magazines. I do that often, and for a moment, immerse myself in the time depicted.
I've often said that the period from about 1937 to December of 1941 was generally a great time for about 85 percent of the population. We were gradually coming out of the Great Depression and we weren't in a war. Nobody had much money, but what little you did have would buy a lot. Anybody making $3,000 a year (I didn't know anybody like that) could live like a king. A brand new Chevy, Ford or Plymouth could be had for less than $700.

Small towns were the way they're supposed to be: around the courthouse, not sprawled all over the countryside. During that period, we got electricity, my brother was born, I started to school, Daddy got a pick-up, and he got a job—besides, I mean, farming our rocky 40 acres.

Radio was wonderful, with soap operas in the morning and cereal serials in the afternoon. And our town got a picture show.

This issue of Life is dated Jan. 6, 1941. It features a big section on Ernest Hemingway, particularly about the movie that was about to be made of his "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Famous photographer Robert Capra had made many photos of the area that would be the book's setting during the Spanish Civil War, and of guerrillas like the ones in the book, the people who were supposed to help Robert Jordan blow up a vital bridge.

And the movie does capture the landscape (shot near Reno) and the people perfectly. Hemingway wanted and got Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman for the leading roles, and the character actors were born for their parts.

I got hooked on Hemingway in the 11th or 12th grade. The last chapter Bob Sanders of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was used as a short story in a literature book. For a while, I read everything by Hemingway I could find. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is still my favorite Hemingway book, and one of my favorites period. (We will not mention some of his last works.)

The Spanish Civil War was a vicious, brutal war between those loyal to the Republic, the Loyalists, and the Franco-led fascist Rebels. The Rebels were backed by Germany and Italy. The Loyalists were backed by Russia and volunteers from different countries, including the U.S. Most people in frontier country, If they had heard about it, would have been, I like to think, on the Loyalist side.

There was no excuse for Anselmo to die.

I may have to go back and re-read "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Gonzalez and Bob Sanders could get their most important test so far in the Colts' preseason opener on Sunday, at home against San Francisco.

"It'll be nice to play a game," Gonzalez said. "I feel like I haven't played a game since high school."

Sanders has started just eight regular-season games the past two years.

"I'm excited to be back on the team," he said. "There is a position I'm still fighting for, and I have got to keep on working. Melvin did a great job in the last year proving he can play. I just want to make sure I can keep healthy and stay on the field."

Sanders cleared up any concerns about his long-term status.

"I am as healthy as I have been in a long time," he said.

Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns in 2008 while becoming Dallas Clark a trusted outlet for Peyton Manning. After he was hurt in the 2009 opener, he was nearly ready to return to the field several times.

It never happened.

"What probably hurt me the most was my own impatience," he said. "I was probably, let's say I was two or three weeks away from being healthy. I'd try to turn that into one, and boom, I'd have a re-injury. You just can't rush these things. It's a knee injury."

Gonzalez was impressed by his replacements. Garcon started 13 games last season and had 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns in the regular season. He had 11 catches for 151 yards and a score in the AFC championship game and scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Collie, a rookie last season, had 60 catches for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and 123 yards receiving in the AFC title game.

Jeremy Maclin immediately thought the worst

 At least it's something that is going on in the NFC East. After DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin survived injury scares in Philadelphia, the New York Giants' Hakeek Nicks has now escaped without serious damage.

The second-year wide receiver was taken from Albany, N.Y., to Manhattan this morning for an MRI on his knee and the results turned out good. So good, in fact, that Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports he could return to practice on Thursday. Hicks was initially injured Tuesday. He received an MRI in Albany and then for a better look the team sent him to the hospital it uses when at home.

Turns out he simply hyperextended his right knee and everything "checked out A-OK." That's good news for a team that still has some question marks at the receiver position.

Jeremy Maclin immediately thought the worst, and the worst for the Eagles' wide receiver was a repeat of the knee injury he suffered as a freshman at Missouri.

On Tuesday, Maclin's left foot got caught in the ground when he was making a catch, and his leg bent backward. As he lay there in pain, teammates and the fans grew silent because they saw him clutching his knee.

"Your initial thought is always the worst," Jeremy Maclin said. "Just because experiencing that before, I've already gone through that, so I don't want to do it again. It almost felt like it did when I tore my (anterior cruciate ligament) my freshman year of college. Luckily, this time, I kind of caught myself before it actually went all the way back."

The Eagles initially called the injury a hyperextension, then changed it to a "bone bruise."

"The two bones banged, and he had a little bit of a bruise," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Thursday. "He's feeling remarkably well."

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Wednesday that Maclin was "day-to-day." Reid's update was as optimistic. "I don't think it will be very long," he said.

Maclin didn't practice for the second straight day, however, and was not part of the injured crew that worked outdoors with the training staff at Lehigh.

Receiver DeSean Jackson (back) and cornerback Asante Samuel (hamstring) ran on one of the side practice fields, and running back Mike Bell (hamstring) and tight end Martin Rucker (hamstring) appeared to do a little more. Reid said each of those players was close to returning.

Cornerback Macho Harris (hamstring), defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (concussion), and center A.Q. Shipley (ankle) joined Maclin indoors. Shipley said he was gunning for a Sunday return.

Reid said that he was remaining cautious with guard Todd Herremans (foot), who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list with center Jamaal Jackson (knee) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee).

Feisty little dude

Reid said that the starting right-cornerback spot was still Ellis Hobbs' to lose.

"Yeah, it is that way right now," Reid said. "I love his attitude, too. He's a feisty little dude. He likes to play the game. And he's not going to take anything from anybody, and I appreciate that."

Hobbs, coming back from December neck surgery, got into a spirited fight with rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper on the first day of full-pads hitting.

Hobbs' competition was supposed to come from Harris, Joselio Hanson, Trevard Lindley, and Dimitri Patterson. Hanson has played mostly in the "nickel" spot. Lindley, a rookie, needs more time. Patterson's best shot at making the Eagles is on special teams, and Harris is injured.

Extra points

Tight end Cornelius Ingram, who suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, hasn't looked nearly as explosive as he did during last year's training camp. Reid said that Ingram "didn't have confidence in his leg" early in camp but that he was getting "a little bit better" each day. ... Linebacker Moise Fokou, who recently lost the starting strong-side linebacker spot to Akeem Jordan, has seen some time working out with the defensive ends during pass-rushing drills. Reid said Fokou mostly would play end in nickel situations. . . . The Eagles will return to Lehigh on Friday for just an afternoon practice.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Like the four quarterbacks with higher ADPs (Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo), Brady has 4,200-yard, 30-touchdown-or-better upside.  Unlike the four quarterbacks with higher ADPs, Brady invites concerns about durability, motivation and supporting cast.  Of the quarterbacks behind him, only Matt Schaub seems a legitimate challenge to Brady's current ADP.  Brady's QB5 ADP and mid-fourth-round draft cost feels right.  Still, the very reasonable ADP carries significant risk.  The 4,800-yard, 50-TD season of 2007 is a distant memory.  Wes Welker may not be himself until well into the regular season.  Although there are lots of possibilities, there isn't a clear third receiving option on the depth chart.  The Patriots chose not to improve their running game, which could put more pressure on a passing offense that may be fighting rust and inexperience.

Brady finished with 28 TDs and almost 4,400 yards in 2009, but ranked just eighth over all in a banner year for quarterback play.  There's lots of room for Brady to fall short of his ADP.  And that's only half the argument.  When you consider the long list of strong quarterback-by-committee options to be had four to seven rounds later in your draft, Brady's potential reward isn't worth the risk.

Jackson is a special running back.  Fighting through back problems and stuck playing for an offense with a weak offensive line and a lack of skill position talent alongside him, Jackson still managed a 4.2 yard-per-carry average over the past three seasons.  He has made the most of his few red zone opportunities and contributes significantly as a receiving option out of the backfield.  He's reportedly healthier after off-season back surgery and faces a relatively easy schedule in the first few weeks of the season. Based on his last three years, a season of 1,800 total yards, 50 catches and 8-10 touchdowns is possible for Jackson, making his RB6 ADP in a PPR league legitimate.  But the supporting cast and back surgery issues still loom.  Despite his effort and production in the past three seasons, he finished 8th, 15th and 15th in PPR scoring in those years.  Drafting him ahead of an elite WR and waiting to draft a player with similar upside after the turn in the second round or later assumes that Jackson will play to his ceiling.

Chargers Coach Norv Turner predicted that Mathews would be given nearly 300 touches and praised him as a complete back shortly after the draft.  With Darren Sproles likely to see nearly all of the passing down duty and a significant number of change-of-pace carries, 300 touches seem the height of Mathews's expected workload despite Turner's coachspeak.  But that number really isn't all that far-fetched.  LaDainian Tomlinson was on pace for 250 carries despite a brutal yards-per-carry average last season, and parlayed plenty of goal line work into double-digit touchdowns.  If Mathews starts well, 300 touches, 1,400 total yards and double-digit touchdowns are within reason, as is his RB12 ADP.  But with Vincent Jackson's suspension looming, with the need for Mathews to prove himself capable late in games and on passing downs and with continued question marks about San Diego's run blocking, the borderline RB1 expectation is much closer to Mathews's ceiling than his high RB3 floor.

Speaking of doing things it couldn't late in games last year, the offense's performance in the 2-minute period struggled just like the last time it was in a must-score situation — the overtime NFC wild-card playoff game at Arizona.

Though the 2-minute drill didn't end with the disastrous turnover like the playoff game did, Rodgers' first crack at a game-winning situation in practice wasn't a success.

Starting at his own 40-yard line and with one timeout, Rodgers threw short to tight end Jermichael Finley for an 8-yard gain and then hit James Jones in stride on a slant that he juggled but turned into a 15-yard gain. After Williams broke up the deep pass to Jennings, Finley committed a false start and then dropped a catchable ball on the next play. That put Rodgers in third-and-15 from the defense's 42. He threw a short dump off to running back Brandon Jackson for 7 yards and then called timeout with 18 seconds left and facing fourth-and-8 on the 35. Trying to get one more first down and then get out of bounds, Rodgers threw behind Finley to end the drive.

Flynn, who has struggled at times early in camp, looked better in leading the backups all the way down to the defense's 8-yard line with 2 seconds left. But on the final play, Flynn rolled to his right and threw a pass toward the goal line that was broken up by linebacker A.J. Hawk. Flynn was 5-for-8 passing for 42 yards on the drive. There was also a 10-yard interference penalty on the defense.

Press-Gazette reporter Pete Dougherty talks about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the third day of training camp.

Chargers: It's a 'relief' that Tomlinson is gone

LaDainian Tomlinson  has told anyone willing to listen he would be happy with any role this year with the Jets. His former Chargers teammates would likely disagree.

Tomlinson is expected to have a backup role behind second-year back Shonn Greene with the Jets. Last season in San Diego, Tomlinson's role diminished with Darren Sproles emerging as a consistent threat.

"That got real touchy the last 18 months," Chargers QB Philip Rivers told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Tomlinson's former teammates describe him as someone that demanded to be treated like a star.

"I don't know how everyone feels or if they felt it," Rivers said at Chargers training camp. "Maybe it was a little bit of a relief. Maybe it's a feeling of, 'I can do a little more without wondering what he thinks.'"

The Jets decided to release Thomas Jones, who had a career-high 1,402 rushing yards last year, and pursue Tomlinson. Some Jets have complained about losing Jones, who signed with the Chiefs, and his veteran leadership in the locker room. It's the opposite with the Chargers.

"Sometimes you would get the sense that people felt bigger than the team," tight end Antonio Gates said. "Not to say it was an issue, but we know it's not an issue for sure now."

"It's exciting," center Nick Hardwick added. "We're going to have to Darren Sproles come up with our own identity, and we don't know what it will be. We'll go through some battles and see. Things are going to start to emerge and develop. Guys are going to have to step up and assume roles maybe they haven't before."

Rivers is being looked at as the team's new leader.

"He has done a phenomenal job with opening relationships with people," Gates said. "… When you talk about great player, you have to be careful what you say. Obviously, I miss LT. I played with him a whole lot. But the reality is Philip and I have a more core friendship because of the openness.

"Me and LT had a wonderful relationship too. But sometimes you got the sense of stardom status and you can only take it so far. With Philip, I never feel that."

When the Jets signed Tomlinson in March, he said he would be happy with any role with the Jets.

"Absolutely. I have no ego," Tomlinson said. "At this point, it's all about having the opportunity to win a championship. The Jets made the AFC Championship game without me. How can I come in here and demand to be a starter? They were very good without me. I just want to have a role and contribute."

2010 Eagles defense will feature a number of new faces

We're just trying to find the best combination of the first three (linebackers)," defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "It really goes with the territory ... and it's absolutely not (a statement on Moise).

"If you've been around sports long enough, this happens all the time. At the same time, it's a challenge for Moise ... to rise up and respond to the challenge."

Jordan's not played too much on the strong side, but his overall experience Asante Samuel seems to be winning the day, and McDermott thinks he will be fine

"(Akeem) is showing us he can play any position ... he's physical, he's got a good feel for the game in both the run and pass game. The guy's a warrior."

This is not a settled position -- "Moise's best football is ahead of him," McDermott said -- and could change back at any time. But for now, it's Jordan.

New start for Arrington

So Kevin Kolb steps into an offense with Jeremy Macklin and Winston Justice as his DeSean Jackson two primary receivers. LeSean McCoy, Mike Bell, and Charles Scott are all in the rotation at RB, with McCoy being the starter and most likely work horse. The team is hoping Macklin really steps up in year two, and makes a huge impact on this offense. They would like to see him be Kolb's primary target. Brent Celek is the team's starting TE and he should play a big factor in their offensive production as well. The only real question on the offensive line is at RG, but that will get settled in pre-season.

The Defense will run a base 4-3 scheme and be led on the field by, well that seems to be the question as the 2010 Eagles defense will feature a number of new faces. Ernie Simms comes in to play OLB, they drafted Nate Allen to play FS. However this feels like a no name defense as the team looks for some guys to make an impact.

Before being slowed by a hamstring injury during a Sunday afternoon passing drill,Jeremy Maclin  the fourth-year pro out of Arizona was showing why Philadelphia signed the 225-pound back to an offer sheet in the offseason.

    "He and LeSean (McCoy) really complement each other well," head coach Andy Reid said.

With the departure of Brian Westbrook, Bell's bruising style should prove to be LeSean McCoy a nice change-of-pace to the shifty McCoy.

    "I have to open up my game," Bell said. "We're different from each other but because we have different styles we make the offense tougher to defend