Sunday at the Post

On behalf of everyone here at the National Football Post we want to extend our sincere condolences to Steve McNair’s family. Steve was a tremendous player with a rare competitive streak. He was, simply put, a winner. Our prayers go out to his family.

QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” -- John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

COUNT DOWN TO TRAINING CAMPS....19 DAYS UNTIL THE BILLS/BROWNS

Baltimore Ravens July 27 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)

Buffalo Bills July 25 (rookies and veterans)

Cincinnati Bengals July 30 (rookies and veterans)

Cleveland Browns July 24 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)

Denver Broncos July 30 (rookies and veterans)

Houston Texans July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)

Indianapolis Colts Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)

Jacksonville Jaguars Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)

Kansas City Chiefs July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Miami Dolphins Aug. 1 (rookies and veterans)

New England Patriots July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)

New York Jets July 27 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)

Oakland Raiders July 29 (rookies and veterans)

Pittsburgh Steelers July 31 (rookies and veterans)

San Diego Chargers July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)

Tennessee Titans July 30 (rookies and veterans)

Arizona Cardinals July 29 (rookies and veterans)

Atlanta Falcons July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Carolina Panthers Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)

Chicago Bears July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Dallas Cowboys July 29 (rookies and veterans)

Detroit Lions July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Green Bay Packers July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Minnesota Vikings July 30 (rookies and veterans)

New Orleans Saints July 30 (rookies and veterans)

New York Giants Aug. 3 (rookies and veterans)

Philadelphia Eagles July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)

San Francisco 49ers July 28 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)

Seattle Seahawks July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)

St. Louis Rams July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)

Tampa Bay Bucs July 31 (rookies and veterans)

Washington Redskins July 29 (rookies and veterans)

In honor of Independence Day, here are 32 independent thoughts for each team.

Next Sunday, the full Sunday at the Post will return.

ARIZONA The Cards have three defensive linemen with great talent but inconsistent production. Gabe Watson, Alan Branch and Calais Campbell are critical to the success of the Cards’ defense this year. If they play well, Arizona might avoid the Super Bowl hangover.

ATLANTA The Falcons must keep defensive lineman John Abraham healthy all season. If he misses time, they won’t be the same team they were in ‘08.

BALTIMORE I have a strong feeling that running back Ray Rice might have a big year for the Ravens. He knows the system and the protections now and might emerge as their main back.

BUFFALO Big year in Buffalo. I hope offensive coordinator Turk Schonert is ready for the challenges that await him running this offense. If he can handle the job, and the offensive line improves, the Bills might make some noise in ‘09.

CAROLINA DE Everette Brown, the Panthers’ second-round pick, and DT Corvey Irvin, their third rounder, need to play well quickly for Carolina to be good on defense.

CHICAGO If the Bears can play defense as they did in 2006, they’ll win the NFC North. I think former Lions coach Rod Marinelli will make a huge difference in their defensive line.

APOcho needs to have a big year in Cincy.

CINCINNATI All this Chad Ochocinco talk about turning it around this season makes me skeptical. It will be interesting to see if he really wasn’t trying last year or if he just doesn’t have it.

CLEVELAND The Browns have to hope that QB Brady Quinn can be the man. If he’s not, they might be picking Sam Bradford of Oklahoma in next year’s draft.

DALLAS We will all learn about “team chemistry” this year from America’s team.

DENVER The Broncos start the season with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Oakland. If they’re not at least at least 2-1 entering Week 4, it might get very ugly. I sense there is very little patience from the fan base in Denver now.

DETROIT One win in September is all it will take to get the team to believe. A new direction with a new quarterback and a new coach are positive signs in the Motor City.

APRodgers is set to have a very productive 2009.

GREEN BAY I expect a huge year from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense. If they stay healthy as a team, every NFC North game is going to be worth watching.

HOUSTON My man Matt Bowen needs to be an honorary captain for a game. Can the Texans win more than two on the road this season?

INDY Have you ever heard of Pierre Garcon? He’ll be the new Marvin Harrison in Indy.

JACKSONVILLE One of the strangest teams this offseason. I might be wrong, but I don’t see the Jags competing for the AFC South title.

KANSAS CITY Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey needs to take a step up this year -- a big step up -- along with DE Tamba Hali. If both play big, the Chiefs will surprise some this year.

MIAMI Ronnie Brown says he can be the great back the Dolphins need to be an effective offense. I hope he’s right.

APWhat kind of impact will Favre have on the NFC North?

MINNESOTA We all know Mr. Favre is coming to town, but what are the expectations after the signing? Is it Super Bowl or Bust? The Vikings can be a good team without Favre -- but can they be a great team with him?

NEW ENGLAND This team has everything it needs to be effective; in fact, it might be the most complete Patriots team during the Bill Belichick era. With a little pass rush, they can be very, very good.

NEW ORLEANS Gregg Williams, the new defensive coordinator, can make a huge difference for the Saints. With an increased physical style to their defense and a much more effective four-minute offense, the Saints have a Super feel to them.

NEW YORK GIANTS I like what the Giants have done this offseason, I really do. Plaxico Burress will be missed at times, but if Eli Manning can handle the wind in the Meadowlands, this team -- very talented in all phases – will be successful.

APThe new face of the Jets organization: Mark Sanchez

NEW YORK JETS Mark Sanchez is the face of the franchise now, but the Jets will have to win on defense as he grows. They’re a team that will be much better in November than they are in September.

OAKLAND I hope (I really do) that JaMarcus Russell wins the bet he made with his head coach, Tom Cable, about losing more weight before training camp.

PHILADELPHIA I hope Jim Johnson’s health improves in his battle with cancer. Nothing would make me happier than to see Jim, the team’s defensive coordinator, help the Eagles in some capacity. My prayers are always with him.

PITTSBURGH The Steelers must find a running game; they can’t always rely on big plays to win games. They must be among the top 10 rushing teams this season.

SAN DIEGO The Chargers are very excited about their third-round pick, offensive guard Louis Vasquez. They want to get back to being a more physical offense.

SAN FRANCISCO The 49ers, the team that perfected the west coast offense, need to find a quarterback. Is it Shaun Hill or Alex Smith? I’m not sold on either.

SEATTLE The Seahawks will be better than you expect, but they might be much better if they had a legitimate full-time running back on the roster.

ST. LOUIS Jim Collins, the leadership guru, is right -- the Rams must get good before they get great. I suspect they’ll be a six-win team, which is very good for them.

TAMPA BAY The Bucs paid Michael Clayton this year to be the Michael Clayton of his rookie year, not the Michael Clayton who was always in Jon “Love You Bro” Gruden’s doghouse.

TENNESSEE The Titans might not win as many games in ‘09 as they won in ‘08, but they also might not lose in the first round of the playoffs. This is a very good team that knows what it can do well and just keeps doing it.

WASHINGTON Can anyone other than Santana Moss make a play at wide receiver for this team?

STORIES TO SHARE....

“I Believe” comes from an unknown source, and I hope each of you can believe in many of these, as I do. Happy Fourth of July to everyone.

I believe …

That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe …

That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and, you must forgive them for that.

I believe …

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I believe …

That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe …

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe …

That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe …

That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe …

That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe …

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe …

That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe …

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe …

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe …

That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time!

I believe …

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe …

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe …

That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe …

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe …

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.

Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe …

That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe …

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe …

That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe …

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe …

That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe …

That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe …

That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I believe …

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe …

That the people you care about most in life are the essence of life.

Tell them today how much you love them and what they mean to you.