FanHouse Brian Moorman

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Offense -- It's almost impossible to decide how this team will perform in 2009. I have high hopes for Trent Edwards, being that he's a Stanford man and all, and frankly, I can't shake the feeling that Terrell Owens is going to return Lee Evans to superstar mode this coming season. After all, teams have to cover Owens, even if he's getting older and could be hurt half the time; with a second-string CB manning up on Evans as he streaks down the sidelines, well, I like his chances. In terms of running the ball, you also have to think that Marshawn Lynch's three-week absence because of suspension is going to hurt the Bills ... until you realize that Fred Jackson will be highly motivated and might just come out gangbusters to start the season. Which means that Dick Jauron will probably just give the carries to Dominic Rhodes. Heat Index: 5

The outcome of this game should not come as a huge surprise. The Bills were better than their record last year, have an offense on the rise, and the Seahawks offensive unit is currently best classified as "in shambles".

Okay, perhaps that's a bit strong -- there are plenty of signs that Seattle will end up being alright this season. Such as: Matt Hasselbeck's second half performance, the Bills scoring two touchdowns on special teams, Nate Burleson didn't even play in the second half and, um, the rushing game gained positive yards.

Or, to put it more accurately: the Bills played like a team that was interested in putting the rest of the league on notice. Which they did. Marshawn Lynch, a.k.a. Beast Mode (in whose style of prose I was tempted to type this entire recap) bulldozed in for an early 21 yard touchdown. Lee Evans got 102 yards on four catches. Robert Royal hauled in a TD. Brian Moorman (punter of you-got-jacked fame) threw for one. So, really, routine stuff.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The J.P Losman era has come to its logical conclusion. Which is to say, he probably won't be around after this season. Trent Edwards, the team's 2007 third-round pick is now the starter, and if the Bills are to have any chance to improve on last year's 7-9 record, it will lie largely with him. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch had a relatively quiet offseason until he accidentally ran over a pedestrian and bonked out before the cops showed up. The case has been settled, and he won't miss any time, which is great news for a Bills offense that can't afford to lose one of its best players. I suspect the hit-and-run victim might feel differently, however. Fred Jackson is more than capable behind Lynch. Heat Index: 8

Everyone knows tonight's Monday Night Football game is supposed to be a blowout: The Cowboys are one of the best teams in the league; the Bills are one of the worst.

So that's why I love what the Bills did on their first offensive possession: After coming up short on a third down, they called a fake punt, and punter Brian Moorman -- who's got serious speed, by the way -- tucked the ball under his arm and ran for a first down.

Moorman, you may recall, ran a fake punt in the Pro Bowl eight months ago, a fake punt that ended with Redskins safety Sean Taylor absolutely destroying him. But he wasn't afraid to put his shoulder down at the end of this run.

It's a small point, and one that maybe doesn't make much of a difference, given that the Bills proceeded to go three-and-out after Moorman's run. But hey, the Bills came to play tonight. And the subsequent punt turned out pretty well: Moorman landed it inside the 2-yard line.

And then things got even better for the Bills: Feeling pressure in his own end zone, Tony Romo launched an ill-conceived pass, and Bills defensive back George Wilson picked it off and returned it for a touchdown. Six minutes into the game, it's 7-0 Bills.

It took six years of stellar service and two Pro Bowl appearances, but Bills punter Brian Moorman is finally getting his due. The former NFL Europe standout signed a three-year contract extension with the Bills through 2012 that will make him the highest paid punter in the NFL.

"This contract reflects what Brian has done on the field and where he compared in a rising punter market," Moorman's agent, Paul Sheehy said. "It has been a few months in the works. We appreciate the Bills' willingness to do this since he had three years left on that contract. Without [Bills Vice President of Football Administration and contract negotiator] Jim Overdorf's time and creativity it wouldn't have happened."

Moorman was second in the NFL last season with a 39.2 net average per punt and was also ranked second with 33 punts downed inside the 20 yard line.

In addition to his on the field work, Moorman is very well respected for his contributions made off of the field. He is the co-founder of the Punt Foundation, which was created to help children in Western New York that are battling cancer or facing other life threatening illnesses.

If a special teams player almost breaks a record in the middle of the woods, would it make a sound? Apparently not. Dustin Colquitt tinkered with NFL history on Sunday. He almost became the first punter in the history of the game to average over 40 net punting yards. He came into the game with a 39.9 net punting average.

Who would have thought punting was important?

On the flipside of the punt, Colquitt's teammate was making a difference in a big way.