With Vick out, Tampa will stay atop division

Defense will be the Buccaneers' mainstay again.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Vick is hyped as the next John Elway or more. He was supposed to carry the Atlanta Falcons past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South this season and, perhaps, on to the Super Bowl.
Then Vick did what comes naturally, scrambling in a meaningless exhibition game against Baltimore.
"Nothing was open and I had to do something to make a play," he said. "It wasn't looking good at the time and I just tried to get something going."
Instead, he got something stopped: the Falcons' momentum. He was hit from behind and went down with a broken leg that will keep him out for the first four regular-season games and perhaps more.
Not a good thing in a division that had three teams with winning records and a fourth, Carolina, which made a major push upward last season.
Vick's injury solidifies Tampa Bay's position as the favorite to win the division again. The most significant loss from last year's team is free safety Dexter Jackson, the Super Bowl MVP, who went to Arizona as a free agent.
But Jackson wasn't one of the stars of a dynamic defense and his replacement, former nickel back Dwight Smith, could have been the MVP himself with two interception returns for touchdowns in the Super Bowl.
Bucs
The heart of the team remains that defense, although the three mainstays -- defensive tackle Warren Sapp, linebacker Derrick Brooks and strong safety John Lynch -- have a few miles on them.
Still, none seems to have slowed and defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, who missed the postseason and Super Bowl with a foot injury, just signed a rich new contract. He will team with Sapp as perhaps the best inside tandem in the league.
As usual with Tampa, offense is more problematic. The offensive line and running game are so-so and there's no real deep threat at wide receiver.
Brad Johnson is a capable quarterback as long as he stays healthy, which he hasn't in most seasons. The backups are Jim Miller, Shaun King and rookie Chris Simms, who has looked sharp in exhibitions under the tutelage of coach Jon Gruden and is probably the QB of the future.
The top three receivers all are 6-foot-plus: Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius, who shined in the postseason. Thomas Jones was obtained from Arizona as insurance at running back behind Michael Pittman, who has legal problems that put his status in doubt. Mike Allstot remains the power back and a force near the goal line.
But since Pittsburgh ended its run of four titles in six years after the 1979 season, only three teams have won repeat championships: San Francisco (1988-89), Dallas ('92-93) and Denver ('97-98). Their quarterbacks were Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Elway, all a lot better than Johnson.
Still, the Bucs believe.
"I think it's going to be the hardest thing we ever try to do in our lives," Sapp says. "But I think this team is up for the challenge."
Falcons
Atlanta might be the biggest challenge if Vick is his old self when he returns. Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb had a similar injury last year, and his relative lack of mobility hurt in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Doug Johnson will be at quarterback and he's not bad -- he was 19-of-25 for 257 yards in a road victory against the Giants, a playoff team, in his only start last season, although New York played that game without both starting cornerbacks.
"Doug's a very fiery guy," says middle linebacker Keith Brooking, the Falcons' best defensive player. "He's told me, 'I like it when the D-lineman hits me as I'm throwing the ball. I like to pick myself up in front of him. That feels good to me.' Hey, not many quarterbacks are going to say that."
Even with Vick, there are questions about the Falcons, who last year were 9-6-1 and handed Green Bay its first-ever postseason defeat at Lambeau Field before losing in Philadelphia. The defensive line is light and can be run on, and soon-to-be 34-year-old cornerback Ray Buchanan is slipping.
Coach Dan Reeves is still trying to figure out how to play running backs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett at the same time. Dunn is a speed back and Duckett a power guy. The retirement of fullback Bob Christian may make it easier, but only if Duckett can play the position.
Saints
New Orleans has fallen apart in the last two seasons. The Saints lost their last four games of 2001. Last year, they dropped their last three to finish 9-7, missing the playoffs.
The offense is fine with QB Aaron Brooks, RB McAllister and WRs Joe Horn and Donte' Stallworth. But McAllister has been injury prone and there's no one behind him.
The defense still has problems. There are seven new starters from a variety of systems, including the first-round draft choice, Johnathan Sullivan, at DT, where growing pains are common.
Panthers
John Fox took over as Carolina's coach last season and improved the team from 1-15 to 7-9. Befitting Fox's background, the defense was second in yards allowed as rookie Julius Peppers had 12 sacks in 12 games before being suspended because he tested positive for an illegal supplement.
Peppers and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, a Pro Bowler in his second year, should lead a defensive that will be excellent again.
But the offense still needs help.
Rodney Peete remains the starting quarterback because, at 37, he hasn't done anything to lose the job. Jake Delhomme, a backup in New Orleans, still hasn't grasped the offense, and Chris Weinke, a third-year-man at 31, remains an outsider.
That makes the major addition heavy-duty running Stephen Davis, let go in a salary cap move by Washington. The Panthers also added Ricky Proehl, the quintessential possession receiver.