FanHouse Bobbymccray

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: Drew Brees is, to me, the third best quarterback in the league. And that's not just because I have a giant man-crush on him. Say what you will about your Tony Romos and Carson Palmers, but I'd take Brees over those two, especially as he appears to be in the prime of his career. All he's done since arriving in New Orleans is put up gaudy numbers through the air, but he plays a heady game based on quick (and good) decisions. He's also a good guy off the field and the unquestioned leader of the team. Mark Brunell was brought in as Brees' backup while project Tyler Palko continues to develop, and while you don't want to see the old lefty play at all, his arm looks good enough in camp to sustain for a couple of weeks if need be. Anything more than that, though, and the Saints are in trouble. Heat Index: 9

Running Back: Running back committees are a bitch for fantasy owners, but none have encountered a mess like this, where four backs are going to get a fair share of touches. Exactly how the carries shake out depends on Deuce McAllister's health; ditto for the productivity of the group. All four backs -- McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Aaron Stecker -- are talented, but Deuce is the only pounder that can keep the running game glued together. If he's in the lineup, expect Bush to flourish, with Thomas making a solid impact as well. If he's not, Thomas takes on a larger role and, though he rolled up Chicago for over 200 yards from scrimmage in Week 17 last year, it remains to be seen whether he can be a full-time NFL back. Luckily, Deuce has looked healthy so far. Heat Index: 7

The Saints' signing of ex-Jaguar defensive end Bobby McCray rectifies a glaring weakness on last year's defense -- the inability to get any sort of pass rush. With Will Smith and Charles Grant playing above their weight -- and, consequently, very slowly -- neither was very effective, and the team didn't have a specialist they could bring in on third downs while Grant moved his overstuffed frame inside. So in that sense, mission accomplished. But McCray's presence could have longer-term ramifications as well.

Last year, the Saints gave Grant way too much money, and in a contract year his better half in Smith is going to want even more. The team can't tie that much up in two above average ends, but while Grant is the lesser player he's also financially immovable. That leaves Smith's future in the ether.

My guess is this: the Saints draft a defensive end on the first day this year, and use that rookie and McCray to spell Grant and Smith accordingly. After this season, the team will put the franchise tag on Smith and attempt to deal him. If nothing works, they'll let him play one year with the tag and try again in 2010.

Or I could be way off, and the Saints will retain Smith. But with other players needing extensions in the near future and a surely nice return on Smith (I'm thinking a first-rounder, maybe with a later pick), the Saints would be wise to let the Pro Bowler go and spend the money elsewhere.

The Jacksonville Jaguars still have plenty of salary cap space to burn, even after the signings of receiver Jerry Porter, cornerback Drayton Florence, and backup QBs Cleo Lemon and Todd Bouman.

Maybe they should start focusing on the defensive line next. The Jaguars lost two potential starters on the defensive line over the weekend, with defensive tackle Marcus Stroud being traded to Buffalo for 3rd-round and 5th-round picks and defensive end Bobby McCray signing with New Orleans for 5 years and $20 million.

McCray was always ready to leave Jacksonville, as he racked up 10 sacks in 2006 but remained a backup behind Reggie Hayward and Paul Spicer in 2007 -- "here to go," as we used to say when I was a prostitute. Stroud, meanwhile, was sent away after a season fraught with injury and steroid trouble. Rob Meier filled in admirably for him late in the season, but the Jags know they can do better.

The only question is whether the Jags will attempt to upgrade that line in free agency or in the draft. Given the free agents currently available, I suspect Shack Harris will choose the latter.

After joining Jacksonville as a free agent in 2005, Reggie Hayward appeared to be the pass rusher the Jaguars needed, tallying up 8.5 sacks in the first year of his big $25 million contract.

Then in 2006, Hayward snapped his Achilles tendon in the first game of the year and missed the rest of the season. Fortunately for the Jags, he's back in camp and ready to pick up where he left off, thanks to the help of one very famous doctor.

Renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews performed the procedure to repair Hayward's left Achilles and, according to the defensive end, there's an approximate 1 percent chance for re-injury.

Those are pretty good odds. If those tendons hold up and Hayward returns to his old form, he and Bobby McCray, who had 10.5 sacks last season as Hayward's replacement, could potentially be the best pass-rushing combo in the league in 2007. You might want to take another look at how many points QB sacks are worth in your fantasy league.