NFL Prognostication .... NFC EAST

Well I hate to admit it but the absence of T.O. takes some of the hype out of the division , but I believe all four teams will be better for it . Think about it ! With the ultimate head case gone we can actually talk X's and O's instead of being constantly inundated with T.O.'s daily drama .

Now a division that sports Ed Werder's lot in life can never be without it's share of distractions ( see J.J.'s totally awesome mega tron ) but that's OK . There is plenty of good NFC EAST football to talk about this year . But where to start ?

Maybe in Washington where everyone has all the sudden forgotten that new defensive star Albert Haynesworth once ( not so long ago ) attempted to ruin a defenseless man's good looks by stomping him in the face with his metal cleats ?

Or perhaps in New York where the star quarterback does not seem to be satisfied with his new 90 million dollar contract and continues to alienate the universe by participating in cookie licking commercials with his brother .

Or better yet in Philadelphia . Oh Phily .The city of brotherly love , one of the country's most memorable cities . The place where fans will give a warm standing ovation to a convicted dog murderer and boo the man that brought them to 4 NFC title games without a superior offensive cast.

And lastly in Dallas where ..................... not all that much is going on . What ? Really ? The stadium and the mega tron are the big stories so far ? Wow .

Anyway the actual football in this division should be compelling this year for all the right reasons . The Giants may miss Plaxico ( his sentence is another discussion ) but they still may have the most balanced offense of the four . Great running game and a gritty defense remain potent and if WR. Steve Smith has a breakout year then look the hell out . All NFL teams have talent but the Giants have no rough stretches on the schedule .

Nor do the Cowboys but that defense gives me a false sense of security . With all 3 running backs ( Barber , Jones , Smart ) healthy this year look for the Cowboy offense to be as good or better than they were with T.O. . The defense however makes me nervous . They will bring pressure for sure but I get the sensation that they will give up big plays in the secondary .

The Washington Redskins once again will be a team that gives a great effort and has enough talent to win some games but just doesn't . Cambell , Cooley and Portis are just not enough to overcome mediocre wide receivers and O - Line . If Haynseworth turns that Defense into the Ravens then maybe they go better than 8 -8 but I just don't see it .

So we come to the ultimate wild card . The Philadelphia Eagles . Some say that the Eagles had the best off season of any team in the NFL . I might have agreed before they signed Mike Vick . Not because of his criminal record but because of his play . I didn't think he was all that good when he got arrested . Granted he did some crazy things his first two years but after that it seemed to me that M. Vick was developing a serious case of Culpepperism . A.K.A. fumbelitis . The Eagles are gonna have a good team if Brian Westbrook stays healthy all year . DeSean Jackson is poised to have a monster breakout year . I just think the whole Vick thing will be a huge distraction .

PREDICTION ..............

( 1 ) New York Giants 12 - 4
( 2 ) Dallas Cowboys 9 - 7
( 3 ) Philadelphia Eagles 9 - 7
( 4 ) Washington Redskins 6 - 10