Welcome to Starting 5 – a weekly column by Operation Sports!
Each week, Senior Game Editor Clay Shaver and Columnist Shawn Drotar will tackle the world of sports and sports gaming in a rapid-fire discussion.

Is there a question on your mind? Find out below how to submit your question for next week’s column!

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Starting 5 – Five hot-button topics in the world of Sports and Sports Gaming

This week, Clay and Shawn will make their picks for the upcoming NFL season. After reading this week’s issue, you’ll know everything that’ll happen in the next few months – unless they’re wrong – and then they’ll conveniently forget they ever wrote this…

1) Peer into your crystal ball and tell us about your NFC Picks?

Clay: NFC East: Eagles – clearly the best in the division. McNabb is a beast and is ready to take the next step.
NFC West: Seahawks – by process of elimination. I think the other 3 teams in the division are down (are the Cardinals ever UP?).
NFC North: Packers – because no one else has stepped up to challenge. Plus, I never bet against Brett Favre.
NFC South: Bucs – to defend. Defense STILL wins Championships (at least Division Championships…)
NFC Wild Cards: Saints & Rams – I like the Saints total team package and the Rams should have a Marshall with something to prove.

Shawn: In the NFC East, I’ll also have to go with the Eagles. They’re a rock-solid club, and a definite Super Bowl contender. The Giants will fight them to the end, however, and the Redskins may be dramatically improved, as well. The Cowboys will be bringing up the rear again, as their rebuilding program continues.

I think the NFC West is the Rams’ division to lose. The “Greatest Show on Turf” is back. Jeff Garcia’s balky back could spell doom for the Niners’ chances – but if he can play through it – San Francisco could surprise. The Seahawks are an enigma. They could either be one of the better teams in the league, or they could disappoint again. The Cardinals…are still the Cardinals.

The NFC North belongs to the Packers until proven otherwise. The Vikings can put points on the board in bunches, but they give them up just as easily. The Bears are just the reverse – blessed with a dominating “D”, but cursed with a pop-gun offense. The Lions are finally headed in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go.

In the NFC South, the Buccaneers still run the show. While the running back situation in Tampa is troubling, the suffocating Bucs defense is more than enough to keep them on top. The speedy Saints are coming on strong, and will be a team to fear in short order. The Falcons were overrated before Mike Vick’s injury, and for the next six weeks, we’ll see why. The Panthers still seem stuck in neutral.

The Saints are an easy NFC Wild Card pick, but the other spot could go to any of a number of teams. The Giants, Redskins, Niners, Seahawks, Vikings and Falcons all have realistic playoff hopes. Since I’m picking mine today, though – I’ll take the Redskins….it’s just a feeling…

2) How about the AFC?

Clay: East: Buffalo – thanks to Mr. Pennington. Jets don’t cut it with Vinny at the helm.
West: Raiders – age over beauty. I still think Gannon, Brown, Rice, and Woodson have enough in the tank.
North: Pittsburgh – because someone has to win. The other 3 teams are deep in transition. This is Pitt’s division to lose for the next 3 years.
South: Colts – because Peyton has to eventually show up. I like their speed too, but James has to stay healthy.
WC: Titans & Broncos – I like “The Snake” in Denver. I think the Broncos are a legit sleeper. Titans with a healthy George and Kerse can be contenders.

Shawn: While most media outlets have hopped on the Miami bandwagon, obviously Clay and I haven’t… I think New England will win the AFC East. They’re smart, solid, and play very well as a team. The Dolphins are an interesting club with a huge question mark at quarterback. They’ll go as far as Ricky Williams’ legs will take them. The Jets had a shot at this division until quarterback Chad Pennington was knocked out with a wrist injury. Now, they’ll struggle to make the playoffs at all. The Bills could become a very dangerous team if things come together.

The AFC West belongs to the aging Raiders for one more year…probably. This may be the deepest division in the NFL. The Chiefs are a sleeping giant with weapons galore. The Broncos could field an explosive offense, but their defense is suspect. The Chargers could end up as the most talented fourth-place club in recent NFL history. The AFC West division race will be one to watch – any of the four teams could win it.

Call me crazy, but I think the AFC North is ripe for the picking, and I think the Browns are the team to do it. With Kelly Holcomb entrenched as the starter, their quarterback controversy is over. Halfback William Green lived up to his billing at the end of last season; and the Browns are now ready to roll. The Steelers will be right with them all year long. The Ravens are starting a rookie quarterback, Kyle Boller, and teams that do so usually struggle. The Bengals are already looking towards next year.

The AFC South will be a two-team battle between the Titans and Colts. The Titans should pull it out, but it should be a tight race all season. The health of Titans quarterback Steve McNair and Colts halfback Edgerrin James are critical to each clubs’ chances. The Jaguars are a mess, and the Texans are still in baby booties.

The AFC Wild Card race should be as entertaining as the division races. I think the Chiefs and Colts will come away with spots. The Colts’ easier division schedule will give them the “Edge” (pun intended) over the Dolphins.

3) Who’s going to become the Rookie of the Year in 2003?

Clay: Call me a “homer”, but I like Detroit’s Charles Rogers to take home the hardware. He’s a real weapon on a team with no real weapons. Harrington-to-Rogers could become this decade’s next great hook-up.

Shawn: I agree with Clay – Rogers is the pick here. However, Kyle Boller could steal it if he puts up good numbers on a mediocre Baltimore offense.

4) Who’ll be taking home the league’s MVP award?

Clay: I mentioned that I think the Eagles are ready to take the next step. They do that with an MVP season from Donovan McNabb. I see some serious numbers out of the Philly QB this year - with his arm and with his feet.

Shawn: McNabb’s a serious candidate, but I’m going to go with Marshall Faulk. He’s healthy again, and motivated to prove that his best days aren’t behind him. Add that to a Rams’ offense that suits him perfectly, and Faulk’s numbers will be impossible to ignore.

5) Now the big one – which team will win it all? Who’s your pick as Super Bowl champion?

Shawn: I think the Rams have another run left in them, and they’ll face the Chiefs, along with their former coach, Dick Vermeil. The teams play a similar brand of football, and I’d take the Rams to win it in a shootout.

Clay: Eagles over Raiders in a potentially GREAT Superbowl.

6th Man – A little help off the bench

6) Your NFL “Fearless Forecast”?

Clay: If I’m going to be fearless, I’m going to stay close to home. I predict that the Detroit Lions flirt with .500 this year. 6 or 7 wins are easily attainable with their schedule with 8 not out of the question.

Shawn: I’ll stay at home, too. Denver will miss the playoffs, but it won’t be quarterback Jake Plummer’s fault. The porous defense will do the Broncos in, and further tarnish Mike Shanahan’s reputation as a coaching mastermind. It’s going to be a tough year for both Shanahan and Bill Parcells – two excellent coaches with two Lombardi trophies each – but their reputations exceed their true abilities.

24 Second Clock – Get one more off in 24 words or less

Clay: Records will fall this season. I smell a 2200 yard season…and the smell is coming from Miami. You heard it here first.